Chapter Text
From the moment she first met the man, Della had one thing on her mind.
How dare he?! She was irreplaceable! No one is the family pilot besides her!
Was it childish at first? Maybe, but she was gone for a decade. She was allowed to be a bit selfish. Plus, the man was... something else.
An airhead? Scattered brain? Those words work, as well enigma...
After some time, Della came to tolerate the man. It helps he wasn't a jerk of some kind. And later on, she understood him a little. Especially finding out most of his reasonings back at the cave.
Seriously, how in the world did he crash without any huge injuries? She'll have to ask about that later.
She did had wondered something for a while since she seen that photo frame. It didn't tick her off at first, but now she has a clearer head she couldn't help it.
Della took a glance at the kid's, who were napping from their corn adventure. Sleeping as the two pilots take over the flight home. Eyes shifting towards back to the man in question as he hums a tone, hands firmly on the planes steering wheel.
What was Launchpad's relationship with Donald? She has an inkling on what it could be, but not enough evidence...
Launchpad was not aware for the storm cominghis way. Metaphorically speaking.
He was just thrilled with what to put in his scrapbook when he gets home. He didn't want Donald to miss the family's adventures while he's away relaxing. So, as a surprise gift, Launchpad had taken the task of document anything from his trips (with the ducklings help, of course).
Some might say he was being too much and should tone it down. Albeit it was true, he had been a lot to his past partners and a good chunk had said the same thing. However, with the sailor duck it was different for them. It's like they found each other's home in their hearts.
Oooh, I should write that down! He grin at the thought. Before he could reach for his journal, a voice broke through his thoughts.
"Hey, Launchpad. I wanna ask something that's been bugging me lately." Della spoke as nonchalantly as she could. Which wouldn't matter since the other duck's thoughts were some where else flew.
Launchpad, as usual, kept his smile. "Sure thing! I'll do my best to help!"
"Great."
"You know, this one time I-"
"Why does Donald have a photo of you in his house boat?"
Silence was not a common thing for Launchpad, but he couldn't muster up a response to that. He could tell the truth, but he wasn't sure how Della would react. He had told the rest of the family he wanted to wait for Donald to share the news to the (not) missing duck. It only seems right to let him break the news.
Alast, Launchpad wasn't the best at keeping secrets.
"If I remember what Uncle Scrooge had told me correctly, Donald and you didn't met till almost a year ago when he needed a babysitter." There was a hint of sorrow in her voice, but it still kept her same calmness. The larger duck almost wince at the realization.
Ah, she knows about the whole '10 years rift' between her brother and uncle. That's...good? Maybe? Better than not knowing...
Still, there's an elephant in the room. Gosh, if only. An elephant would have been easier to dealt with than this.
His hands tighten as he tries to come up with an answer.
"Uh...yeah, we became fast friends! Especially with all the adventuring and the shenanigans we've been through. It's crazy, let me tell ya!" He nervously said as he tries not to shift the plan too hard, his palms getting sweaty.
This was almost as bad as his interrogation from Scrooge when the old adventurer had discovered the odd couple's relationship status. It was like an interrogate part two, Electric boogaloo.
Della glared from her seat, leaning on the armrest as it makes the bigger pilot tense. "Go on, then." As much Launchpad admires the family's intense nature, it was not a good feeling to go through when he's the target.
"Uh well, you see. We actually, um..."
He couldn't tell the truth, it was only right for Donald to say it to his sister. Launchpad couldn't take that away from him!
There was only one way out of this mess.
"Brace yourself!"
"Don't you dare- Ah!"
Launchpad would probably get an earful and the kids would complain from being woken from their travel nap. It was worth the scolding if it met his boyfriend could have a bit more time.