happilyeverbeginning | if i couldn't be strong / would you still love me the same (scrooge x magica)

Magica's head spun, trying to understand what had just happened. She shook her head, sitting up. "Are you all right? That... thing nearly killed you!" The river was full of lost souls, and no doubt it wasn't capable of handling a living being. If it had even been a few seconds longer...

Swallowing, she glanced over the sides. "They must know we don't belong here... we've got to get out of here, before they try and take you away again!"

...Before they try to take you away again... It almost sounded like she really cared. "Yes.... I think I'm ok... it was just a shock. But...

" He triumphantly held up the filled bottle. "I have the cure!" Before something could be spilled he corked up the bottle and Magica put it back.

Then he grabbed her hand again and this time he really wouldn't let go until they were back on the surface. He pressed her hand firmly to his heart as he held it.

"Really... thank you for saving me. Only this brief dip into the water felt as if all my strength was being stolen. Let's get out of here!"

"You, stay back." After what he'd been through, he was in no condition to do anymore strenuous work - or at least she thought so. "I'll handle the rowing."

She'd come this close to losing Ratface, she was not going to lose anyone else, and if she saw that hand again, she was going to take that rowing paddle and beat it to smithereens! "What are you always like this? This is MY quest, so you shouldn't be putting yourself into danger all the time! The illusions, Charon, and now this... just... shut up, and let me do everything!" He was always like this! She couldn't stand it - especially since, obviously, it was her fault.

Surprised, he looked at her after her outburst. She had taken her hand back to maneuver the staff with both hands. So much for not wanting to let her go... but otherwise they would take far too long to get back to the shore, so he let her do it and sat down obediently.

"I'm glad I was the one. I came with you to help you and protect you. I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you..." He replied calmly after some time. "I knew the danger.

Magica kept her back to him, silently rowing. It seemed to stretch onto forever - the guilt of his sincere words eating at her. Eventually, she groaned, annoyed at having a conscience.

"... I lied." A pause. "Or, at least... I didn't tell you the whole truth... about the illusion earlier."

Scrooge wasn't sure if he wanted to hear the truth or not... Did he know the person who appeared to her? Was it really like it was with him? Would he set out to destroy that person if so?...

No, because if it was Magica's deepest desire, then he had to be happy for her... He swallowed hard.

"I have also told you nothing and... I don't think you want to know either..." he looked up at her. "But, what did you see? Please tell me..."

So that I can start to process it.

Maigca inhaled deeply, clearly not wanting to share. After a hard, heavy swallow, she closed her eyes, her face now the reddest it'd been all day.

"I did see you, and you were offering me the dime..." She trailed off, as if saying this was harder than puling teeth. As a result, her voice became quieter and quieter, becoming an embarrassed mumble.

"...In... exchange for... us... fooling around..."

"What do you mean, fool around? I mean, isn't it always so between us?" He asked in complete innocence.

Really, normally their encounters were never dead serious after all.

Magica thudded her head against the rowing paddle. Stupid old man! She gritted her teeth before trying again.

"Not that type of fooling around! The kind, you know, where, you and I..." She made a waving gesture between them. Nope, still nothing.

"Oh for - sleeping together!" And if she had to explain THAT any further, she would rather dive into the ghostly waters herself.

He stared at her with his eyes wide open as his face slowly took on the colour of a tomato. First she talked in riddles and then she goes like a bull at a gate.

But didn't that mean... that she secretly wished exactly that would happen? His heart was beating so fast and loud that Magica had to hear it.

"With me it was similar... as a thank you for my help, the illusion of you offered me the same..." He whispered sheepishly.

The words hung between them for a while. Until he got up and looked her straight in the face. "What was your answer...?

And here Magica thought she couldn't blusher any deeper. At this rate, even her feathers were going to turn red. Was this her punishment for descending into forbidden territory? If she wasn't rowing, she definitely would have buried her face in her hands.

"I said no! Of course I said no!" But she the winced, reminding herself that she was supposed to be telling the truth. One more hard swallow.

"...After a minute or two."

A minute or two. Did that mean that she had been giving in to the illusion for so long?

Calming, he put his arms around her hip from behind. "I'm glad you're telling me the truth. Honestly, I was jealous inside when I thought you had fantasized about someone else..."

It's so hard to talk when you have a lump in your throat.

"As for me, I knew it could only be an illusion because you would never lose sight of your goal of helping Ratface, but..."

He walked around her so he could look at her, but his arms still around her hip.

"I wanted it..."

He was glad to see that her cheeks were red too, that the whole thing didn't leave her cold.

"Maybe... when Ratface is rescued... well... may I kiss you then? Not as payment, but only if you want it too..."

It was quite possible that he ended up in the Styx, this time forever.

This is so embarrassing, embarrassing, embarrassing...But not the worst thing in the world. While Scrooge had a number of flings in his very long life, Magica had devoted her life to sorcery with no interest in romance. As a result, she didn't really know how to handle the real thing. She'd slap anyone who called her shy - even if it was the truth.

"J-Just as payment!" She said quickly, head ducked, struggling to row straight. "Just... to repay you for your help, and getting yourself into danger so much... Least I can do..."

If one listened carefully, you could hear how his heart burst into a thousand pieces at her words...

Embarrassed, he released his arms from her hip and took a step back. He felt really sick, now Magica knew how he really thought about her and she... had probably only staged everything to reveal his weakness.

"Never... I don't want to buy you, what do you think I am? I would never kiss anyone without f..."

Feelings, he wanted to say. But he had already embarrassed himself enough.

"What... did you think would happen?" Magica said slowly, feeling colder without his arms around her. "That after this we'd just live happily ever after? I never promised to stop going after your number one dime. You have your world, and I have mine."

Her rowing slowed, but didn't stop. "Lust isn't the same thing as..." that dreaded L word, she didn't want to say.

Lust without feelings, he had never understood this concept even though he knew that many people had no problems with it. But just the idea to get so close to someone without having feelings for them... No.

And the other way around, how could he get involved with someone he knew, was not feeling anything for him aswell?

While he was still thinking this thought, he realised that he had been lying to himself for half a day. Did he not try to persuade himself after the illusion it was only physical attraction? But if lust and love were so inseparably connected for him then...

It was the worst possible time to start to understand oneself. Yes, he looked the cruel truth in the eye. At some point on their long way together, perhaps years ago. Had he fallen in love with her. It had always been only a question of time when he realized that.

And now it happened at the moment when she made it clear to him that these feelings never had a chance...

His cheeks no longer glowed red. Any color had disappeared from his face. "Even someone smarter than the smartiest can make a mistake." His voice was monotonous, as distant as possible.

"You have saved my life, you owe me nothing more. We are even. Once Ratface is healed, you don't have to worry about me anymore." One last time he smiled warmly at her. "Nothing that happened today would change my decision to help you save him. I would do it again. After all..."

He had to take a deep breath once before he could continue speaking. "...it's not your fault that I misinterpreted our relationship..."

You could say a lot of bad things about him, but he was certainly not a coward and now that he had become aware of it, he had to get rid of those words.

"I love you..."

His gaze was still firmly on her. "But that does not oblige you to feel the same. And if you really desire me, you will also have to live with the fact that this desire will never come true. Not on this basis."

After these words he sat down again and looked silently over the water. He had said everything.

Edited 2018-12-30 16:25 (UTC)

Magica found it painful to look at him, but she forced herself to. Why was he always this way? Honest to a fault, even when it would hurt himself? Why couldn't be the cold, selfish brute everyone thought he was? What was it about her that brought out this sweet side? Annoying annoying annoying... she couldn't take it anymore!

"You do not!"

Things were about to get childish fast.

"D-don't be stupid! We've fought for years! I've endangered you, your family, your business, everything near and dear to you! All to steal the one item you treasure above all! I've tricked you, deceived you, lied to you, over and over again! You have no reason to trust me, let alone love me! There is absolutely nothing lovable about me!"

She was getting so angry and heated that now she couldn't control anything that came out of her mouth.

"I'm obnoxious and rude and selfish and violent and a pain in everyone's side and there is no one in this world who could like the real me!" Her family was just that - a familial obligation - and Rosolio only went after her for her looks (not to mention he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed.) No one could possibly like her!

Scrooge listened in peace as the wave of her tantrum swept over him. But he couldn't prevent the smile that slowly appeared on his face from getting wider the more she spoke.

When she finally had to breathe, he stood up again. It simply asked the courtesy to carry this matter out face to face. Probably everyone would think he was crazy if her words spread hope in his heart.

"Yes!"

He agreed full of fervor. "All this and much more. For example, you forgot how you like to fight with other of my rivals, even if those undertakings like to backfire." His face showed nothing but pure satisfaction. "If it were about any other person in this world, your arguments would be completely conclusive, but..."

He took a step towards her and lovingly stroked a few hairs from her face which were standing around her head due to her outburst.

"I am Scrooge McDuck, I am an ambitious, greedy old sinner whose heart desires adventure and danger. I am moody and stingy and for an appropriate treasure I have exposed myself and my family countless times to the most terrible dangers...". He looked slightly embarrassed to the ground, he was not proud of everything he had done, but that was irrelevant now.

"And you, Magica bring all this into my life. A single person who is just as cunning and persevering as I am. I noticed it again this week where you didn't show up. Without you my life has become much too dull for me. But you make my heart beat faster every time, in combativeness."

Carefully, so that she could avoid him if she wanted to, he embraced her in his arms. "And that's why I love you. You are the sun of my every morning..." his embrace was relaxed, he backed away a little to look at her mischievously. "Maybe I forgot to mention that you are breathtakingly beautiful in addition to all the fire that burns inside you. Not the most important point but definitely worth mentioning. How can a completely crazy scumbag like me resist this combination I'm asking you?"

His broad smile became softer as he put his forehead to hers. "Please don't say you're not lovable Magica. All it takes is the right angle to see your value. Anyone who doesn't realize that is not worthy of you. Besides... it' not true you ever betrayed me. As far as I remember, you've always kept our arrangements, and you've done it meticulously."

Edited 2018-12-31 15:46 (UTC)

Once again, Magica didn't resist his touch, although she was having trouble facing him. How could he say such embarrassing things with such confidence? She wasn't used to this kind of ridiculous praise - although he was making fair points about his own flaws. If she had the time, she could list all of his flaws!

... She could just as easily list all his good points too, she realized. Dammit.

If there was anyone who could find the value in seemingly worthless things, it would be him, wouldn't he? The richest duck in the world, who inspect priceless jewelry and artifacts, clearly had a fine eye for real beauty. At least he was admitting he was also crazy... And it meant she was crazy too.

"You really are a foolish old man..." She grumbled deep in her throat. "And you can't possibly think this could end well. I'm not going to change who I am."

With that said, she looked right at him, her face right back into its apple-red hue. "And I swear, if you're an illusion, I'll throw myself right in the river."

What better way to prove it than this - she suddenly kissed him, deeply.

Ok, that was... unexpected, but very welcome. He could sense it, she didn't kiss him out of pure lust... Feelings had obviously crept into her heart. Therefore he pulled her firmly into his arms and kissed her like he had never kissed anyone before.

It had not even been clear to him that such a simple gesture could trigger such feelings in him. A little firmer, he pressed her warm body against his. It was visibly difficult for him to detach himself from her again.

His eyes were dark with longing. Yes, desire paired with feelings, that was exactly what he wanted. His breath was heavy and his face was glowing red as he looked at her. Gently he kissed her forehead.

"I never asked you to change. After all, it is this obsessive drive that I admire so much about you." Tenderly he gently kissed her lips again while his hands framed her face, his fingers stroking through the silky hair. "Maybe together we can find something else for you to focus your talent on. But even if not... fight with me for my number one. As long as I can hold you in my arms again afterwards, everything is fine with me."

He couldn't resist giving her a mischievous look. "Well, after I have carried the victory away, of course." His grin became wider, had he already mentioned arrogance in the enumeration of his bad qualities, no? Well here it was. But finally he became serious again.

"But no matter what we do from now on, it won't happen until Ratface is completely healthy again.

Let's finally go hom... don't tell me you dropped the staff!"

They might've flirted more, dared more, or even bragged more - if Scrooge hadn't pointed out something extremely important.

"What?!"

Whoops. It turned out that during all these confusing feelings, yelling, and confrontation... Magica had, indeed, dropped the staff. Stunned, she turned over in the boat, staring at the staff that had floated away, far away from arm's reach.

They were stranded.

"... For the record, I blame you."

Scrooge stood next to her and saw the staff floating in the water. He didn't comment on her remark but just gave her a dry look. Somehow she was right, maybe he had chosen the wrong time to throw her completely off track. But now a solution had to be found.

"Hold on to me, I'll try to reach the staff."
But as much as he stretched himself, there was no chance. Besides, it caused a bad feeling in him to be so close to the water level after what had just happened.

If only they had a rope or something to steer the stick back to themselves. He looked around, there was absolutely nothing in the boat. But what for? A ghost whose only task was to carry the dead across the river didn't need any equipment.

It also didn't help that his heart was still beating wildly and his thoughts would rather just circle around Magice instead of dealing with the problem. Just looking at her was enough to distract him. She had kissed him, he was allowed to touch her... His cheeks turned red again as he involuntarily imagined her undressing for him...

Suddenly he stopped. "Strip! That could work!" Without further explanation he began to open the buttons of his jacket.

"WHAT?!"

Magica yelled at the top of her lungs - what was he thinking?! Had all this mushy lovey-dovey talk driven him crazy! She slapped her hands over her eyes, turning around.

"THIS IS NOT THE TIME OR THE PLACE! YOU DIRTY OLD MAN!"

He flinched at her scream and stared at her in bewilderment. "What? What did I do?" In the meantime he was also taking off his undershirt. "Why do you keep your eyes closed?" For a moment he was completely confused, his sudden idea had overridden other circuits in his mind. Until he noticed that Magicas face, hidden by her hands, was as red as the evening sun.

"Oh! You... you thought I..." Now he himself turned red in the face. "No, no, where do you think. I mean, not that exactly this thought hadn' brought me on the idea but... no, seriously, you think I wanted here... in the middle of Hades...?"

The situation had something funny, even if a part of him was seriously offended that she kept her eyes closed at the sight of him. "I learned this trick on one of my many journeys, a makeshift rope made of clothes. He knotted his jacket and shirt together so that he could reach an appropriate range. He dipped it briefly into the water so that it became firmer and then began to fish for the rod by throwing out his rope afterwards.

It took a few tries but eventually he managed it and the rod was within reach again. He unknotted his clothes and put them on the bottom of the boat to dry. Then he began to steer further towards the shore wordlessly, since Magica had her hands full...

"Do you really resent the sight of me?" He asked after a few quiet minutes. That couldn't be, could it? Hadn't she fantasized about him? Actually, he had always believed he had an attractive body, but Magica's reaction unsettled him. As it always was when someone's opinion meant something to you.

Only that Scrooge had this experience for the first time.

"Because I may be an evil sorceress BUT I AM STILL A LADY!" Honestly, Scrooge, were you raised in a barn? ... Well, actually, considering how poor his family was - gah, that was neither here nor there! "And the last thing I need is to be distracted when I'm on an important mission!"

Although she was clearly peeking between her fingers at him when he thought she wasn't looking.

Once she was sue he was redressed, she lowered her hands. "Next time, speak before you strip!"

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