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Multi was a calm person for the most part. Stoic, not always serious but he wasn’t someone who took risks unless it was necessary for research.
So he really didn’t know why after seeing Quackity in his new hat, he reacted the way he did. As soon as the scientist saw him, they only talked for a minute or two before he pressed his lips against his.
He didn’t know why. Truth be told, he wasn’t even controlling himself when he did it, it was completely on impulse. To him, it seemed like as soon as he saw Quackity’s face he couldn’t think about anything else.
Maybe it was because he’d gone missing, or maybe he’d been holding back too long and just couldn’t do it anymore. He didn’t know. He didn’t think too much into it, not when Quackity was actually reciprocating. He should’ve expected that, he should’ve expected he’d get kissed back but it still made him feel warm inside.
They were just outside the Polish Cave, anyone walking past them could see but neither of them seemed to care. They were too focused on eachother, too engrossed in the kiss to even think about anyone passing by.
Multi moved his hands from Quackity’s cheek, letting them roam to the sides of his head. He tugged on the hat once, hearing a quiet whimper escape the others lips. The thing was, it didn’t sound like a good one.
The scientist pulled back, looking down at Quackity as he pulled the hat off his head. The avian immediately paused and tried grabbing it back, but it was too late.
Multi had seen his wings.
They were burned due to the amount of times he had to jump into lava to communicate. He’d tried to take care of them as best he could but he couldn’t do it alone, and he didn’t want anyone to know about it. He didn’t want anyone worrying.
“What the hell is that?” Multi’s gaze darkened, the warm feeling in his chest dissipated. “Is that from the kidnapping?”
Quackity took a step back, the wings on his head twitching as he tried to hide them atleast a little. He didn’t say anything, he immediately looked away. He didn’t want Multi seeing the look on his face.
“Quackity.” Multi’s voice rang out once more. He needed to know the reason behind the burns, needed to know if there was more to this than what he knew. “Tell me. I need to know if I want to—”
“I already told you I can’t!” Quackity snapped, taking another step back. “I can’t tell you what happened, not if I want to make sure you stay safe.”
Multi sighed. He knew that, he did, but it was hard to focus on it with how worried he was. The state of the avians wings was really terrible. He just wanted to help.
“Okay… okay.” He said reluctantly, not wanting to drop the topic. But he knew very well that Quackity wouldn’t say a word no matter how much he’d try to convince him. “I might have something that could help. Come down to the reactor with me.”
Quackity stared at the scientist for a moment. He wasn’t too sure if Multi could help, he knew the scientist wasn’t a doctor of any sort, but it was worth a shot.
“…Alright. Let’s go.”
🪽⠀⠀⠀⠀𓈒 ◠ ⑅ 𐑞
Quackity sat on the railing, watching Multi run around, collecting numerous supplies that could possibly help him. The thing was, nothing of what he was gathering were actual medical supplies.
Q didn’t really trust this, but he trusted Multi.
The scientist finally walked up to the avian, putting down a multitude of materials infront of him. He looked down at it for a moment.
“Okay. I have an idea.” Multi hummed, leaning down to pick up a wetwipe and a sort of aloe vera cream he had laying around. He stood up, looking at Quackity for just a moment before reaching up to his wings.
But as soon as his fingers brushed against them, Quackity hissed and flinched away. That made Multi pause immediately.
Were the burns that bad? Would he harm Quackity anytime he’d touch them?
The last thing he wanted was to hurt the avian. He wanted to help him, but how was he supposed to help if he wouldn’t even be able to touch the wings? He couldn’t help but begin to doubt his abilities. Maybe trying to help would only make things worse, maybe Quackity would walk out of there with worse wounds than he had before.
The avian tilted his head and raised a hand to wave infront of Multi’s face. “Multi? What’s got you thinking?”
The scientist blinked and bit the inside of his cheek, taking a step back. “I.. I don’t know if I’ll be able to help.”
Quackity paused. He couldn’t really believe what he’d just heard. Multi had seriously dragged him all the way down here just to say “nevermind”?
“Seriously?” He asked, jumping off the railing. “You said you had an idea on how to help, you dragged me down here, and now you’re saying you won’t?”
He couldn’t believe it. He’d actually let himself believe that someone wanted to help him, only for it to end up a lie. He should’ve known. He should’ve known that he’d have to deal with it alone.
The situation in itself wasn’t a big deal, he could take care of his wings himself. It was just the fact that Multi retracting his words, saying he won’t help. It made Quackity feel unimportant, made him feel like he didn’t matter as much to Multi as he thought he did.
And that hurt so much more than it would with anyone else.
Because what if Multi didn’t truly care, and this was all an act that would end with Quackity being used again?
Multi got confused immediately. He’d shown he wanted to help, why was Quackity reacting like this?
“Quackity, I was—”
“No. You know what? This was stupid. I shouldn’t have gone down here with you, I should’ve known you wouldn’t help.”
Quackity pushed off the railing fully and turned around, already heading for the exit. The scientist stared for a moment before rushing up to him. He grabbed his arm, trying to stop him from leaving.
“Listen, it’s because—” Multi didn’t even get to explain himself before the avian ripped his arm away. He wasn’t having it. He didn’t want to listen to Multi explain himself because that didn’t matter.
“Save it. I don’t wanna hear you right now.” Quackity spat out, his eyes narrow as he stared at the scientist. He was upset, really upset, and he couldn’t see that Multi was just trying to care for him.
He then turned away and walked out of the reactor, leaving the scientist standing confused, alone. He stood in silence, unmoving for a good minute or two.
He didn’t understand why Quackity reacted the way he did. He felt like he’d never understand the way Quackity worked. What triggered him to the point of leaving? Sure, he took back his offer of helping, but it was because he was too scared the avian would end up hurt. Could Quackity not see that? He wanted to explain it to him but goddamn it, he just wouldn’t let him speak.
He sighed, finally tearing his gaze away from the door. What a mess he’d gotten himself into…
Multi walked back to his office and sat by his desk, staring at his computer screen. Maybe he should’ve just ignored Quackity flinching, maybe he should’ve pushed a little more. But what if that ended worse? What if he hurt the avian in an irreversible way?
But also.. what if now Quackity would never speak with him again?
God, Multi fucked up, didn’t he?
He immediately began messaging the avian, wanting to figure out what it was he had done that triggered the other in such a way.
Did I say something wrong? Are you mad at me?
No, he couldn’t write that. Why would he, Young Multi, ever sound so… pathetic? He couldn’t write something that pitiable, it put him in a vulnerable position.
And he hated being vulnerable. It made him feel way too exposed to any sort of danger.
He deleted everything, deciding to rewrite it from the start. He had to include an apology, he had to say sorry and explain why he acted the way he did.
I’m sorry. I’m just scared I’ll hurt you instead of helping.
He paused right before sending. What if Quackity meant it when he said he didn’t want to hear from him? What if by reaching out, Multi would just make things worse? He didn’t want to do that.
He’d never want to do that.
He immediately deleted the message again and gave up on it as a whole. Sending it was risky. Too risky. He’d rather go the safe route and stay quiet until Quackity decided to text him first. He had research to focus on anyway.
Right. Focus on his research. That’s what he would do. Ever since he started spending more of his time with Quackity, he’d been more and more distracted from his work. He had to get back to that, his experiments wouldn’t wait forever.
Meanwhile Quackity… well. He was waiting for Multi to come running after him, asking him to come back. But that never came to be. He realized he’d overreacted right after walking out the door, but his ego stopped him from coming back in.
So, he just teleported back to his house with the decision that he’d take care of his wings himself. Except he had one issue. He didn’t really know how to do it himself.
So instead of actually tending to his burns, he just sat in his bed in silence. Every move he had made to try treat his wounds just hurt him more, and the more stressed he got, the less gentle he was with them.
Fuck.
Maybe he should’ve stayed at the reactor.