Archive of Our Own

Quackity has always loved danger. Things that were too scary to comprehend, too dubious to accept. Even if he sometimes averted his gaze, he couldn't ignore its call. The adrenaline coursed through his veins like lava – deadly, yet impossible to resist. Nobody knew that side of him.  Everyone saw him as a bubbly guy, running around, befriending everyone, never acting suspicious.

That's why it was no surprise that the new member of the Polish Cave immediately caught his attention. To any other person Multi seemed like a cool, laidback guy with a sarcastic sense of humor and charismatic way of speaking. But Quackity was not any other person. From the moment they met, he could sense it.

The call of danger.

It flickered deep in his bluish eyes, barely noticeable under a friendly expression.

"It's so nice to finally meet you! I heard so about much you!" Quackity exclaimed cheerfully, trying to ignore the shiver that ran down his spine when their hands met in a handshake. "I hope your journey went smoothly."

"Oh, yes. This land is so rich with resources, it almost made me not want to settle down." Multi smiled lazily, scratching his neck.

"Not you with this scientific talk again," grumbled Ewron, averting Quackity's attention from the blue eyes that were quietly assessing him. "When he looks at the trees, he doesn't see the beauty of the flora, you know? He sees supplies and possible ways of using them."

"You, on the other hand see everything through a lens of attachment and nostalgia," Multi snarled back.

"If it wasn't for me, we wouldn't have all those cute pets in our base!" Ewron puffed his cheeks, snatching a red panda that was wandering around their feet into his arms. "And don't forget about the decorations! I actually made this stone cave feel like home." He gestured to the plush sofas, satin pillows and lanterns that drowned the surroundings in a warm hue.

It really did make a difference. Quackity remembered how cold and raw this place used to be. Now he found himself preferring their cave over his own house most of the times.

"You see a place to stay, I see development opportunities," Multi stated calmly, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I guess it's kinda practical." Quackity chimed in, because even though he was a sentimental guy himself, in a world like this, you had to be resourceful.

Multi raised an eyebrow, a hint of appreciation flickering in his gaze.

"No offense, but I think I already like you more than Ewron, and I've known him for many years now," he snorted. "Too many if you ask me."

"You know I can hear you, asshole?" Ewron scoffed, not impressed.

Quackity barked out a laugh, feeling more at ease with every passing second. He was a bit worried how the dynamics of the Hussars would change after today, but Multi turned out to be a missing puzzle piece. 

⌬ ⌬ ⌬

As the days passed, Quackity found himself drifting toward the Polish Cave more and more often. As expected, he and Multi hit it off pretty quickly, discovering shared interests and the mutual joy of pissing Ewron off. It was so easy to talk to him. Almost too easy.

Quackity naturally took it upon himself and showed him around the island. He watched with quiet joy as Multi talked to others and yet somehow, even in a crowded room, their eyes always found each other. Those blueish irises with dangerous sparks were driving him crazy.

For weeks he couldn't quite place where that ominous aura came from. Multi never said anything suspicious, weird or dubious. He was almost too normal, and it frustrated Quackity a lot. He craved to see a different, secret side of his friend. He knew it was there, he just didn't have proof yet.

And then after one particularly tiring day spent on wandering around the island, Multi didn't head straight to the base entrance.

"I wanna show you something."

"Oh? Is it a secret?" He couldn't help himself.

"I guess you can say that, yeah." Multi mused and strayed from the main path.

Quackity lingered behind, his gaze drifting from his friend's broad shoulders down to his hands – marked with visible signs of hard work. The callouses and scratches were definitely new, he was sure of that. He opened his mouth to ask, but Multi suddenly stopped, causing him to collide with his back.

"Careful," he snorted and caught Quackity by the arm, before he lost his footing and stumbled down the drop.

A very steep drop. 

"Where... Is this the top of your base?" He looked around the stone surface shaped into a skull.

"You sound like you were expecting something different." Multi smirked knowingly and sat under a nearby tree that didn't get chopped off during the construction.

"W-well, I thought it would be something more... hidden?" He flushed a bit, hating how easy it was to read him.

Maybe he was being too paranoid and there really wasn't anything more to Multi. Which was fine. Perfectly fine.

"But it is! Those morons never come here. After Graf built it, we thought about adapting it in some way, but as you can see, we never did, so it just became my spot." Multi’s gaze stayed on him a bit too long, as if he was deciding something. It made Quackity painfully self-aware of the damned blush creeping up his face. "I guess now it can be yours too."

"Do you come here often?" He blurted out just to say something and immediately realized how corny it was. "I mean-"

Multi snorted loudly. He had a nice laugh.

"Yeah, I chill here sometimes and just admire the view, away from the chaos below." He sighed, leaning more comfortably on the tree trunk. The movement was so instinctive, he clearly wasn't doing it the first time. 

"I thought you weren't a sentimental guy." Quackity teased.

"Never said I wasn't."

"So you admit you do see a beauty in this world."

"Of course I see it. Only a blind person wouldn’t see how much this world has to offer."

A warm hue of the setting sun glided on his skin. The white ends of his dreadlocks looked as if dipped in molten gold. Quackity couldn't help but wonder, what was really going on inside his head.

"What's your name?" He asked without thinking and quickly corrected himself: "Your real name. I know we all use aliases, and you don't have to tell me if you don't-"

"Michał," Multi answered without missing a beat, causing Quackity's heart to skip one. His eyes were even more intense in the sunset, more dangerous. "Yours?”

"Alex," he said quietly, suddenly out of breath.

"Nice, it suits you."

"You think it's a sexy name?" He half-joked, because this eye contact was getting too intense for his own good.

Multi raised an eyebrow and rested his face on the palm of his hand, suppressing a snort.

"Yeah, whatever helps you sleep at night, buddy." He shook his head with amusement.

"Come on, man, indulge me!" He hit his arm, pouting.

"I'm not Ewron." Multi flickered Quackity’s nose in response and turned his gaze back to the sunset.

"Yeah, you're right. You're Michał."

And Quackity was determined to find out who that really was. 

⌬ ⌬ ⌬

The universe was in his favor, cause soon enough he got his answers... and even more questions.

Just like any other day, he visited the Polish Cave to chill and watch some cartoons on a stolen TV with his friends. Before he even stepped inside, he already heard Ewron's loud screams and Nexe's raspy responses. The pair was arguing over something that was playing on the screen, while Graf sat in the back on a green couch laughing his ass off. 

"What's up guys?" He greeted them, popping his head through the front door. 

"Quackity, my good friend! Finally some normal company!" Ewron pushed Nexe out of the way and nearly suffocated him with a hug.

"Are you both trying to kill each other again? Just kiss already." He laughed, watching as Nexe got all red and cursed under his breath. 

"That's what I've been saying for years! You get me, Quackity." The assassin patted him on the back and led him inside. "Take a seat, we were just gonna watch a movie."

"Oh! What are we..." Quackity trailed off, noticing it was only three of them in the main area. No blue eyes and lazy smile in sight. "Where is Multi?"

"I'm starting to regret I introduced you guys." Ewron whined and fell on the pillows with an exaggerated sigh. "You two are basically attached to the hip, it won't hurt you to spend one evening separately."

"He's too busy to join us anyway." Graf waved his hand dismissively.

That piqued Quackity's interest.

"What is he up to?" he asked, but the Hussars suddenly fell silent, glancing between each other, as if deciding whether to tell him or not.

The silence stretched, electrifying his skin with curiosity. Graf opened his mouth, but Nexe beat him to it, not subtly stating:

"He's digging deep under the base, some kind of private project or something.” He gestured to the stone pillar in the middle of the room. "When I went down to bring him food earlier he didn't even acknowledge me. He's always been very passionate about his work.”

Multi never spoke to Quackity about any project-related stuff. He knew that he liked science but that's all. Opportunity to get answers finally presented itself to him and only a sheer amount of self-restraint kept him from sprinting to the elevator in the pillar.

"How long has he been there? Maybe someone should check on him?" He suggested innocently, hoping they won't spot his eagerness.

"Suit yourself. I'm not going there again. It's dark, wet and... just ugh." Ewron twisted his lips in disgust.

Now Quackity was practically vibrating. He needed to go down there. He stood up slowly. Graf took notice of his stiff movements, but only raised an eyebrow.

"Start without me guys, I'll be back soon with mister grumpy pants!" he shouted over his shoulder and entered the elevator.

His pulse quickened, as he descended further underground, into the darkness. It felt like stepping into a pit of hell – the thought alone sending shivers down his spine.

He didn't know why he was so fascinated by danger. Maybe he just wanted to see how much one could get away with.

Finally, he saw a light. The tunnel came to an end, opening into a vast cave lit by several torches. He didn't bring any weapon with him – not that he would need it, since Multi was also somewhere there, but maybe he wasn't the only thing lurking in the dark. Quackity made his way through the natural stone corridors carefully. As he squinted his eyes, a familiar silhouette came into view.

Crouched down, covered in dust, Multi examined a small, glowing object in his hand. A pickaxe lay discarded beside him.

"There you are! The guys told me-

"Quackity?!" The scientist jumped, panic flashing in his eyes for a brief second before turning into a pure euphoria. "Look at this! Look what I found!"

In his palm lay a green ore, not bigger than a lump of coal. It glowed intensively, like a million fireflies locked inside a stone. 

"Wow, that's-"

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Multi didn't take his eyes off the crystal. "This is what I've been searching for. This is the future I dreamed of."

Quackity has never seen him like this. He's usually reserved when not joking around, so the amount of emotions visible now on his face was overwhelming. 

"What is that?" He leaned over his shoulder to get a better look.

"Uranium." Multi finally turned to him, barely concealing a huge grin.

Their faces were close, closer than ever. And Quackity could see, clear as day, the thing he was searching for in those blue eyes all this time.

A hue of danger. 

⌬ ⌬ ⌬

Building a nuclear reactor was a natural next step. The goal was to create a renewable source of energy and stock on a nuclear weapon just in case. The rumors spread fast, and soon the Polish Cave became a power house nobody wanted to mess with. At least not officially. The other fractions began to gear up as well, but nothing came close to the pure destruction the uranium ore provided. 

It was a dangerous resource and Quackity often worried, if Multi was safe after spending so much time with it, but the scientist reassured him he took all the necessary precautions. 

Until that one frightful day. 

It was the night after the grand opening of Ewron's store – Żabka. They were celebrating in their base, drinking and laughing. Quackity felt like all the weight lifted from his shoulders. They earned this moment, a moment of peace and happiness.

Ewron was the first one to get absolutely screwed. Nobody knew how much did he drink but judging by his slurry speech and affectionate behavior with everybody, it was more than enough. Nexe wasn't better. He hopped on the table and started rapping to the beat playing from the speakers; Graf hyped him up, and soon Quackity joined in with some random ad-libs that made everyone laugh.

Almost everyone. 

Multi was sitting alone in the back, on a green couch. Unfinished drink dangled from his hand, as he looked through a portable device, checking the cameras in the lab.

Encouraged by the alcohol in his veins, Quackity sat beside him and put a hand on the device, setting it aside.

"You're always in the work mode," he pouted, gaining Multi's attention. "It pisses me off, you know? Can't you relax for a day?" He leaned into the scientist's space.

The smell of chemicals and soil hit his nose. It was strangely comforting. A bit disturbing but comforting. Because it wasn't any other scientist, it was Multi. His... friend?

"You know I can't leave the reactor unattended. I have to watch over it to keeps us safe." He offered a small smile and took a sip from his drink.

"I knooow, but it's not fair. I knew you first! Uranium is not that special!" He protested, not caring how that sounded. He was drunk and sad. 

Why was he sad though? Even after the nuclear reactor was established, they still spent a lot of time together. The scientist never did anything that made Alex feel abandoned. They trusted each other more than anyone else, so why did he had a feeling Multi wasn't fully honest with him?

"Wanna talk about being special, huh?" Multi muttered under his breath and averted his gaze, probably thinking the other didn't hear that.

"Yes."

"Yes, what?" The scientist tried to play it cool, but Quackity was not a first-time player.

The booze in his blood system made him bold and unfiltered. Without hesitation he grabbed a tie that hung loosely around Multi's neck and yanked hard, forcing him to meet his eyes. 

"I'm not deaf, nor stupid." He lowered his voice sweetly, inhaling the addictive scent of the scientist. His fingers itched to do something he might regret.

Multi stiffened. Those blue irises that drove Quackity crazy widened, stunned and flustered.

"You’re imagining things," Multi grabbed his wrist but didn't move. He let Alex hold him close, their breaths mixing, hot and shallow. 

The others were busy and nobody noticed what was going at the back. Quackity didn't even care if they saw. The only thing that mattered was right in front of him. 

"Be honest... am I special to you, Michał ?" The name rolled off his tongue unconsciously.

Multi held his breath, a tint of red colored his pale face. It reminded Quackity of that sunset they shared on top of the base. His eyes moved on their own, landing on the scientist's lips, parted, with visible marks of teeth – effect of his nervous habit.

"I..." Multi's eyes darkened.

Quackity didn't even register when he started to lean in, focused on those lips, that were calling him with a promise of danger. He was ready to take a leap. His hand slid to the scientist's neck, their breaths mingling together in a-

A loud alarm went off. 

They jumped away from each other. Multi scrambled to pick up the monitoring device and momentarily paled.

"What is going-"

Alex couldn't even finish that sentence, before the scientist bolted to the elevator. Everyone immediately went after him, their drunk state vanishing in a matter of seconds.

"Are we gonna die?" Ewron looked at Multi with panic, as they descended deeper and the alarm grew louder.

"No, if I get there on time." The scientist put on his protective googles and mask. "The pressure in one of the test tubes suddenly became unstable. I have to fix it before it explodes."

They got to the cave. Multi stopped in front of the decontamination chamber.

"You all stay here, it's too dangero-"

"Save that bullshit, we're not leaving you," Ewron growled lowly, already pushing past the scientist.

"No, wait-"

"Just tell us what to do." Quackity grabbed his gloved hand. The artificial feel of rubber was uncanny, but he squeezed his fingers anyway. Multi was caught off guard, even behind his googles, the blue shined brightly. 

Without any other words, they got inside and were immediately struck with an extreme wave of heat. The air was thick with toxic fumes, so they quickly grabbed spare masks from the wall and followed Multi.

"¡A la verga!" Quackity gasped, when they saw a crack in the tube, holding the acid inside.

"Kurwa, indeed. We're done," deadpanned Ewron. 

"Not yet." Multi already jumped into action. "Nexe, get a hydraulic tape from the storage. Graf, monitor other tubes, while I'll lower the pressure in this one. Ewron, shut the fuck up for a minute. Quackity, take this and tell me, if the temperature in the main reactor reaches the upper limit." He handed him a small device with a lot of flickering indicators. 

Sweat gathered on Alex's face. His palms were clammy but he held tightly onto the trusted device. The protective mask was suffocating. Danger was thrilling but also terrifying. The cold breath of death tickled the hair on his neck, as he monitored reactor's status, keeping one eye on the scientist. 

Nexe quickly secured the crack in the tube, meanwhile Multi and Graf fought with levers of various mechanisms, cursing under their breaths. It didn’t look good.

Suddenly, the ground shook violently. The foundation of the reactor swayed, as the heavy rumbling echoed through the metal walls around them.

"We’re gonna die!" Ewron screamed, panicking. “Guys, leave it, it’s too late, we gotta run!” He dragged Graf and Nexe to the exit.

And then the ceiling cracked.

A huge rock fell right on top of the tube they were fixing.

Quackity threw away the device, took off his mask and ran to Multi, who was still standing by the machines, unmoving. 

"Multi, what the hell are you doing?! Get out of there!"

The scientist turned around. His blue eyes were filled with horror.

The next thing Quackity heard was an ear-splitting explosion. Shards of glass went flying everywhere. The air was knocked out of his lungs, as he was pushed to the ground hard. His head hit the stone floor, and for a second he saw black. Blinking rapidly he got his vision back and then his heart stopped. 

Multi hovered above him, shielding him with his body from the radiation that bursted from the tube. His arms trembled, barely holding him up. He breathed through clenched teeth, his brows drawn tight with pain. The back of his lab coat was ruined, burned with acid. 

"Are you... are you okay?" He rasped. Blood trickled down his chin, dripping on Quackity's overalls. 

"What- What have you done?! Multi, why..." he choked on his words, tears blurring his view, as he reached with a trembling hand to the scientist’s face.

"Because... you're special." He managed to force out a small smile, before his arms gave up and he collapsed unconsciously on top of Quackity. 

⌬ ⌬ ⌬

After that incident everything changed.

Fortunately, the reactor didn't suffer any damages so the laboratory was rebuilt in a blink of an eye.

In a blink of a green eye. Because that was the color Multi's eyes took after he woke up.

They patched him up the best they could, but some things were irreversible. The radiation got deep under his skin, coloring the ends of his hair a sickly lime hue, making him look even more pale.

He insisted he was fine, but how could anyone be fine after something like that? Quackity wasn't sure he was fine himself, since he was also exposed to the explosion. No disturbing symptoms appeared so far, only his back ached a bit, but that was probably from when he was pushed to the ground.

Alex replayed that night over and over in his head, analyzing if he could’ve done something to prevent that catastrophe from happening. If he hadn't drunkly distracted Multi when they were celebrating, maybe he would have spotted the issue faster. If he hadn't ran to him after that rock fell from the ceiling, maybe Multi would have escaped with them safely.

It was eating him alive, and yet they didn't confront what happened between them since that night. Every time he caught the scientist alone, he was either kicked out of the lab or ignored. 

Everything changed. Multi changed. The difference in his behavior on the surface with other people and underground in his lab gave Quackity a whiplash. It was as if once he entered the elevator, something switched in his brain.

That's why one day, when he saw Multi outside the base, he decided to sneak in and wait for him in the lab. He knew there were radars and cameras installed everywhere, but he didn't care. He went through the decontamination and entered the reactor.

Avoiding patches of radiation that grew larger every time he visited, Quackity sticked to the walls, watching his steps. As he neared a white staircase, his hand met a little dent in the wall. It was almost unnoticeable. He pushed it instinctively. Quiet click was heard and then a door appeared behind his back.

He entered.

A room. Huge room with fake grass, houses, and a farm, drowning in artificial white light. Overlooking it was a small windowed area with a desk and a computer. His curiosity got the best of him so he peeked into every building. It looked just like any "normal" village.

Until he got to the church.

When he opened the door, his eyes stumbled upon a painting. Green irises glowing in the darkness, an extended hand, and a cryptic sign: Let me be your god.

"What the-"

"Why are you here, Quackity?"

He let out an involuntary squeak and spun around to come face to face with none other than Multi. Quackity immediately took a step back away from the church.

"Why are you here?" he repeated, keeping his voice low. In the sterile lighting he looked like a ghost with haunting, uranium eyes

"I-I... I just wanted to check on you, see how you're doing. We rarely talk these days." Alex averted his gaze to the ground. Fake grass creaked uncannily under his shoes. "What is this place?"

"It's an experiment." Multi was stoic as a calm lake, but his eyes were burning a hole inside Quackity – with all that radiation he wouldn’t be surprised, if that was actually possible.

"An experiment? You experiment here on something?" 

"Not yet.

Dread pooled in Quackity’s stomach.

"I saw that picture. What the hell was that? What do you mean by... god ?"

"Quackity," His name suddenly sounded wrong on Multi’s lips. "Can I trust you?"

"Of course."

The scientist regarded him from head to toe, squinting his glowing eyes, making him feel like an intruder. 

"The incident with the explosion attracted an unwanted attention to my reactor." Multi went back to the main chamber, Quackity right behind him. The green eyes scanned the surroundings strictly. "They are trying to break in. Everyday. They are in the walls, underground, in the ceiling." He ran a hand through his hair frantically, bitting his lower lip. "Diggin, trying to get inside, to steal my ideas, to destroy me, to hurt... people I care about." He glanced at him for a brief second with such vulnerability, it made Quackity's breath hitch. And then it was gone. In a blink of an eye, the scientist changed his expression to cold and determined. "I can't let that happen. I can't let them think they can toy with me like that."

Multi was switching through emotions so fast, it was almost impossible to guess what he was feeling. Alex wanted to console him, but a mix of fear and fascination grabbed at his throat, making him unable to form longer sentences.

"They? Who are they ?"

"Other people, fake friends, enemies, weird creatures." Multi shrugged as if didn't make much of a difference. "They are watching me, waiting for a slip-up, but that won't happen. No. No, I came up with a plan." He chuckled darkly, looking at Quackity from beneath his eyelashes. The glow of the reactor painted menacing shadows over his face. "I just need DNA samples."

"DNA?"

Quackity furrowed his brows as the chilling realization, that this whole bioenergy stuff was just a cover-up for something far more dangerous, settled in his mind.

"We can’t protect the reactor all by ourselves. We are outnumbered." Multi stepped closer, leaning into his ear, whispering: "And our enemies will only grow in number, because I have already extracted one sample of DNA."

"You... did?” Alex barely surpassed a shiver that shook his whole body. The worst part – he wasn't sure if that was a good one or a bad one. “Whose DNA did you take?"

"You don't need to know that." Multi smirked. "It's all for a better future. I need to keep you and the team safe. This is the only way. Evolution doesn't wait. You either adapt… or you get left behind."

The scientists took another step forward. Quackity's back hit a metal wall. His shoulder blades tingled weirdly, but he chose to ignore it for now. The scent of chemicals and soil made his head spin. Multi towered above him, close. Too close. The green gaze was getting under his skin more than any other touch.

"If... If you need my help, I'm here for you." He breathed out, trembling with anticipation, before voicing his most deranged thought out loud: "Do you need… my DNA?"

Some twisted and dark part of him desperately wanted to see all the horrors this world had to offer, despite the fear. It was making him sick.

Multi raised his eyebrows, probably not expecting such proposition to come out of his mouth. The corner of his lips twitched, before he erupted with laughter that echoed eerily in the nuclear chamber.

"Yours? Oh, that's so generous of you, but no." He ran a hand over his face, emerald eyes peeking from between his fingers with amusement. "I wouldn't want to hurt you."

"H-hurt me?"

The scientist took off his gloves and brushed a loose strand of hair behind Quackity's ear with unexpected gentleness.

"You know I don't see you like the others, right?"

"Y-yes...?" Alex let out a stuttered breath, his heart beating wildly against his ribs.

"Right, I told you that already." Multi smiled softly and stroked his cheek with his thumb. The touch evoking tingles and burning sensations. "So I hope you'll stay true to your words, because if you ever betray me...” He paused, taking a deep breath. “I will kill myself."

Quackity flinched, completely caught off guard.

He waited for a punchline of this incredibly sick joke to arrive, but it never did. Multi's eyes were determined, fueled by the insanity of that statement.

Alex’s breath shallowed. More than the fear of losing him, he was suddenly overcome with a thrill of knowing that Multi was willing to offer his own life for him. Only him. His head was spinning with a rush of possessiveness, he wasn't aware he was capable of.

Every sane part of him screamed at him to walk away.

He didn't listen.

"I would never betray you..." He murmured sincerely, looking up at the scientist. "I will stay even if-"

Quackity didn’t get to finish, because suddenly there was a pair of hot lips pressing hard into his. He let out a surprised sound, but before he could react, the scientist pulled away.

"Fuck-“ Multi kept his eyes down, panting heavily. “I don’t know what came o-"

This time it was Quackity who didn't let him speak, grabbing a fistful of his lab coat and yanking him back.

Their lips crashed violently, giving into the temptation that grew between them throughout all these months.

Multi's skin was hot as a furnace, and Alex cling to him even more, desperate for the flames to consume him whole. His hands slid around the scientist's neck, pulling his hair harshly. That earned him a low growl and teeth that sunk into his lower lip. Quackity let out a shaky sigh and Multi immediately took that chance to deepen the kiss. He pulled their bodies closer, encircling Quackity's waist tightly, as if he was afraid he would leave him. 

Alex’s head spun. He was getting drunk with every press of their lips and slide of tongue. Multi tasted like fire, like getting too close to the sun, like…

He tasted like danger.

Quackity was slowly losing his mind as the scientist’s lips trailed down to his neck, nibbling at his skin. Drowning in the intoxicating kisses, he didn't even feel when his consciousness began to waver. His head grew light, every thought dissolving into the soft hum of the reactor behind them.

"Quackity…?" He heard a distant voice of the scientist. "Quackity!"

The next second, he felt his knees give out, as he succumbed to darkness.

⌬ ⌬ ⌬

"... the fuck did you do to him?"

"...didn't do anything."

Snippets of conversation filled his ears, pulling him back from the abyss.

"...always spent so much time together, you must have-"

He groaned, trying to get a hang of his own body again. Everything hurt. His head was pounding and this time he couldn't ignore the scorching pain blooming between his shoulder blades.

"Easy. Don't move too much." Ewron's face came into view, as he cracked his eyelids open.

He was laying on a green sofa upstairs. The lanterns were dim, night sky peeking through the windows of the base. Nexe and Graf stood right beside him, holding bloodstained cloths, and a bucket full of reddish water.

Quackity blinked, disoriented. He didn't remember coming back up here nor collapsing. He looked around frantically until his eyes found Multi. The scientist was clearly pushed back by the rest of the Hussars who glared at him suspiciously. 

"What-"

"Quackity, look me in the eye and tell us," Ewron put a hand on his shoulder. "Did Multi do something to you?"

Memories of the last events flooded his hazy mind. The creepy poster, fake village, their conversation... and how it ended. His face immediately turned red.

"Oh god, he's got a fever now. Multi, what the fuck-"

"No, no, no." Quackity got up fast but was momentarily hit with nausea and collapsed back on the couch.

"Careful, don't strain yourself," the scientist murmured, trying to come closer, worry clear as day in his emerald eyes.

"No, you stay there." Ewron blocked his way. "One second you were with him downstairs doing god knows what, and the next you're bringing him up all bloody, with wings growing out of his back. You gotta expla-"

Quackity's face paled.

"Wings ? What wing..." he trailed off, looking behind with dread, realizing he was shirtless.

Yellow feathers sticked out from his shoulder blades, forming a small pair of wings, similar to a duckling. He whipped his head back to the Hussars, then back to the wings, hoping it was just a dream, but they were as confused as he was. 

"W-what... what the hell are those?!" He reached to touch them and flinched.

He could feel every sensation, as if they were just another limb.

"Mister Mad Scientist, explain right now," Ewron demanded, sending daggers in Multi’s direction. "Did you experiment on him?!"

"No!" Multi finally snapped. He put his hands in his hair in distress, avoiding Quackity's stare. "I... I don't know what happened. He doesn't even spend that much time in the lab anyway. We were just..." He stopped himself, as his cheeks reddened. Embarrassment was not something Quackity had often seen on him, and it made his heart race.

"You were what? I'm not sure we can trust your judgement, if you don’t remember your own actions." Graf crossed his arms over his chest.

"No, no, I remember, b-but... It’s not-" He drew a sharp breath, as his eyes widened with enlightenment. He pushed past his friends and got to the confused Alex. "It must be a side effect from that explosion! Since I got hit with most of it, it took more time to appear on you!" He raised a hand to the yellow feathers but didn't dare to touch them.

"Side effect? Like a... mutation?" 

"Yeah." Multi’s eyes were glistening with pure fascination.

"D-does that mean... I'm not a human anymore?" Quackity trembled, not knowing which scenario was better.

"I mean, nothing bad with not being a human." Nexe wiggled his dog tail promptly.

"I’d have to check, but that will require some lab test..." Multi scratched his neck, visibly uncomfortable with the topic now. It seemed that maybe not all of the team was in on his DNA extraction plan. "We can wait, you should rest and-"

"Let's- Let's do it now." Quackity made his decision on a spot, turning a blind eye on every red flag waving in his face. "I-I mean… better if we know, if it's dangerous before it develops into something we cannot stop, right?"

Multi was taken a back, but Quackity could easily decipher the eagerness in his eyes. He knew the scientist was holding back, afraid of causing him pain. Good for him, Quackity wasn't scared of pain. Or so he thought. 

He stood up slowly. The new weight of wings on his back was something he had yet to get used to.

"Wait, wait, wait." Ewron didn't looked pleased with the idea. "You are too weak to move. You can't just-"

"I'll be there, he'll be fine," Multi insisted, putting an arm around Quackity, careful not to disturb his wings. The touch on his naked skin evoke goosebumps all over his body.

"That's actually the part that worries me the most. The last time you two were alone, this shit happened." The assassin gestured to the yellow feathers. "Nah, I'm coming with you. Gotta keep an eye on your science bullshit."

"Fine."

Multi didn't even try to hide his annoyance. Without a warning he picked Quackity up in his arms and headed to the elevator.

"Wha-"

Alex had barely a second to react, clinging to the scientist for dear life. He dug his fingers into the collar of his lab coat and lowered his head hoping his long hair would cover the blush climbing up his face. Ewron's gaze stayed on them, as they made their way through the nuclear reactor and into the laboratory.

There Quackity was sat on a metal operating table in a small white room he's never seen before. 

"Huh, so this is where you do your crazy science shit," Ewron walked over to various machines connected to the table. "I always knew you were a creep."

"You flatter me," Multi snarled back with a glare. 

"O-okay, so how is it gonna happen?" Quackity asked, hugging himself. The low temperature of this room gave him chills, considering he was still very much shirtless.

"I need as much... Are you cold?" Multi furrowed his brows. Nothing could espace his attentive gaze.

Before Alex could answer, a white lab coat was wrapped around his shoulders. It held the warmth of its owner and a faint scent of chemicals mixed with soil. His heart skipped a beat. He wanted to thank him, but when he looked up, all thoughts deserted his head.

Multi was left only in a black shirt, sleeves rolled up exposing the veins on his forearms that glowed faintly green.

"Holy fuck." Ewron covered his mouth with his hand. "Bro, shouldn't you be the one getting tested?" 

"Already did that."

"And?"

"None of your business." Multi cut him off harshly, then turned to Quackity with much more gentle expression. "Now, I need as much samples as I can get. I don't mean to scare you, but the ones that matter the most will be painful." The corner of his mouth twitched with something wicked. 

Quackity gulped but nodded. After all, he needed to know what was going on with his body.

"Take what you need."

Ewron's eyebrows shot up.

"Wow, Quackity, maybe reconsider-"

"Great." Multi's lips stretched into a satisfied grin.

The call of danger was almost palpable in this small room.

And Quackity answered it.

The scientist prepared his tools, vials and needles, then washed his hands in the sink at the back and put on a surgical mask, instructing Ewron to do the same, so he won't accidentally add his – as he put it – "filthy cells" to the samples. Quackity sat patiently on the table, tugging the lab coat closer for comfort. The familiar scent of its owner calmed his nerves a bit.

"We’ll start with something absolutely painless and easy, hm?" Multi sat on a high stool in front of the table, between Quackity's legs, and grabbed his chin gently. "Open your mouth."

Quackity flinched, not expecting such order, his body tensed and on fire.

"That's kinky, bro," Ewron said, observing them closely. 

Multi rolled his eyes.

"I will make you leave, if you don't shut up," he sighed and clarified: "I need saliva."

That made sense. Totally. But Quackity couldn't help but gaze down at where Multi's lips were concealed by the mask at the mention of saliva. Shaking these thoughts off, he slowly opened his mouth, earning a grateful smile from the scientist, who put a swab on his tongue and his cheek. It was purely medical, but Quackity was having hard time focusing when those green eyes were so concentrated on his lips. 

“Next, I will need some hair and nails.”

“Now tell me that doesn’t sound creepy.” Ewron continued his commentary.

”One more word and I’ll fucking choke you,” Multi growled irritated.

”Don’t threaten me with a good time.” The assassin sent him a cheeky smile but obeyed. 

Hair and nails were fast and easy. Quackity almost felt like he was in some kind of a fucked up spa that lured customers with discount coupons to a sketchy basement.

After that Multi reached for a little trolley beside the table and grabbed a syringe. 

“I guess the painless part is over?” Alex chuckled nervously, watching as he prepared a very long needle.

“Don’t worry, blood isn’t the most painful sample I plan to take,” he said, probably wanting to reassure him, though it had quite the opposite effect.

”S-sure.” Quackity held out his right arm, while Multi tightened a belt over his biceps.

The needle pierced his skin without a warning. Alex hissed lowly but that wasn’t the worst pain in his life. He’s taken blood tests in the past – just a few seconds and it was over.

Unless it wasn’t.

Time passed, but Multi didn’t take out the needle, watching with fascination as dark blood filled the syringe. Only now did Quackity realize, the vial was much bigger than normal. He was starting to get lightheaded. Sweat gathered on his brow. A heavy sigh escaped his lips, as he fought with consciousness slipping through his fingers.

"You good there?" Multi spared him a glance, a tinge of worry in his voice.

"Mhm... just a lil’ woozy..." he mumbled. All sounds were muffled, as if someone stuffed his ears with cotton. 

He leaned forward, his head landing on the scientist's shoulder. A warm hand hesitantly made its way into his hair, stroking the strands gently. It calmed him a bit, almost making him doze off.

"No, no, come back to me, sleepyhead. We're not done yet."

Multi finally took away the syringe. Quackity lifted his head, his vision blurry. A soft gauze was placed in the crook of his elbow.

A bit of his blood dripped down the scientist's fingers and Alex watched Multi take off his mask and lick it clean, as if nothing had happened.

Was the blood loss putting such images inside his head or did that really just-

"Dude." Ewron sounded disgusted.

"This is my last warning," Multi stated coldly, storing the samples into a secure cabinet.

"Is it over?" Quackity slurred, brushing his hair away from his forehead.

"One last thing." The scientist turned to him, a glint of scalpel in his hand. "This is not gonna be pleasant, I'm afraid, but it's necessary for better results."

"W-what are you gonna do with that?" Alex eyed the knife, hugging the lab coat closer. 

Multi walked slowly behind his back without a word and Quackity immediately knew what was going to happen.

Cold sweat gathered on his neck. He didn't have a chance to prepare when the lab coat was lifted from his shoulders and a blinding pain pierced his body. His wings thrashed wildly, trying to escape from the blade. A broken scream got stuck in his throat, as he felt warm blood drip down his spine.

"All done. I just needed a small fragment." Multi came back to the front with a tissue covered in yellow feathers. "You did so good, Quackity, now you can-"

Multi froze. The sample almost fell from his hand, as his eyes widened, glowing menacingly, focused entirely on Quackity's back. 

"No way," Ewron uttered under his breath, following his gaze. "Did it...?"

"It grew back."

A hollow feeling settled in Alex’s gut. He reached back tentatively and touched his feathers. The wing was intact, fluffy, healthy and moving. No signs of injury or blood. How was that even possible? That pain was real, he was sure of that.

A loud clatter pulled him out of his thoughts. Multi pushed the stool out of the way and nearly jumped him. He put his hands on the both sides of Quackity’s legs, caging him to the metal table. 

"Cellular regeneration," he gasped, green irises burning with madness. "You posses a cellular regeneration. It’s- I can’t believe- I need a bigger sample of those wings."

"W-what?" Quackity recoiled back, hardly processing his words.

"Multi, stop this. That's too much. Let him rest, he's suffered enough today." Ewron ripped his mask off, stepping closer.

"Imagine, if we all got that ability. We wouldn't have to worry about losing a limb in a fight or having internal injuries anymore.” The scientist grabbed Alex by the shoulders. “Our bodies could gain invincibility, and after I modify that gene maybe even… immortality." His grin stretched wider.

"This is insane! Do you even hear yourself, Multi?!" Ewron pulled him away from Quackity, but the scientist immediately reacted. He elbowed the assassin in the stomach and as Ewron bent in half coughing, Multi didn't hesitate and kicked him hard on the chin, sending him across the room onto the wall.

Quackity watched as Ewron struggled to get up, spitting out blood on the floor. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. He was paralyzed.

"Don't look at him. Look at me." Multi made his way back to the operating table and took Quackity's face into his hands. "It's for the greater cause. I want to help you. Don't you trust me, Alex ?" he asked unexpectedly softly, considering the brutality with which he treated his friend just a second ago. "Your contribution could change history, rewrite it in our favor and make sure no one will ever hurt us again." Multi brushed his cheeks tenderly, staring at him, as if he was the biggest treasure in the world. 

"I-I..." Quackity's lips trembled.

Alarms were blasting inside his head, telling him to run, but the call of danger was louder. It lured him from behind those glowing green eyes into the abyss.

"I know it hurts, I know." Multi put their foreheads together. Up close his irises looked even more radioactive. His gaze crushed Alex’s walls with ease, bringing the most wicked parts of his soul to the surface. "I'll be right here. I won't leave you, never. But please… please let me take another sample," he practically begged, digging his fingers into Quackity's waist.

His heart tightened with fear, but deep down he already knew his answer. 

"Do it."

Multi’s face lit up and, on impulse, he pressed his lips to Quackity’s in a searing kiss, before gently cradling his head, and pulling him close to his chest. Alex clenched his fingers on the material of his shirt, as the scientist reached for the scalpel.

⌬ ⌬ ⌬

The wings grew back larger, but still not big enough for him to be able to fly. Nonetheless they quickly became an attraction, making everybody on the island absolutely enamored. Even Quackity himself had to admit, he grew quite attached to those yellow feathers as the time went on.

He had to reorganize his wardrobe so he could function properly without constantly running around shirtless. His feathers also turned out to be very sensitive, so he had to be careful moving around, though he still knocked things over unintentionally.

Other than that he felt great, but the Hussars regularly asked him about his well-being on behalf of Multi. Speaking of which – they didn't see each other since those lab tests. The scientist locked himself underground, but Alex also hadn't really seek him out. 

Whenever his thoughts drifted to Multi, his mind was flooded with memories of excruciating pain, hot blood and screams tearing his throat apart. It broke his heart – he didn't want to associate him with any of it. After all, Alex had given him consent. But still... the uneasy feeling lingered in his stomach, twisting it in a tight knot.

He wasn't afraid of Multi, was he...? The scientist’s morality had always been dubious – but that was what fascinated Quackity, not deterred him. He was conflicted, since the physical pain etched into his very cells clashed with the desperate yearning of his heart.

He promised Multi he would stay by his side, so he had to resolve this issue sooner or later.

With a new surge of determination he made his way to the Polish Cave. The weather outside was outrageous. Rain had been pouring all day, and by the time he reached the base, he was completely drenched.

He pushed the doors open, and immediately the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

Something was wrong. The cave was pitch-dark, heavy panting echoed from the main area.

"Kurwa..." Nexe was leaning against the elevator’s entrance, blood dripping down his brow. "What the hell was that?"

"Did he got you?" Ewron helped him to the couch, not looking any better. 

"Nah, only threw a couple of punches. I knocked that toxic shit out of his hand before he could..." Nexe trailed off, spotting Alex in the doorway. "Quackity...?"

"What... what is going on guys? What happened to you all?" He approached them, panic pooling in his stomach. 

They looked like they had just been through hell and back – clothes torn and dirty, scratches all over their faces, and blood soaking the bandages.

Before any of them could answer, a deafening rumble shook the ground below them.

"I think it's better, if you weren’t here right now, Quackity." Graf shot him a stern glance, patching his own arm up.

"What the hell was that noise?" Alex furrowed his brows and then it hit him: "Don't tell me it's..."

"He's finally lost it," Nexe muttered, clenching his teeth, as Ewron cleaned a cut on his head. "He attacks anyone who gets close."

"He tried to inject us with some radioactive shit, he's completely insane!" The assassin snapped, scowling.

Oh no...

Quackity leaned against the wall, feeling all the air leave his lungs.

"It's all my fault.”

"What? What the hell are you talking about?! How could that be your fault?" Graf looked at him bewildered.

"I... I shouldn't have let him do those tests on me." He ran his fingers through his hair, his chest tightening with panic. "I-I shouldn't have avoided him after. I didn't check on him even once. I... I-"

"No, Quacks, none of this is your fault. You meant well and... I mean, he did make some sense with all that cellular regeneration shit, but there was always something seriously wrong with him.” Ewron placed a hand on his shoulder, pulling him back from the dark spiral of his thoughts.

“He’s obsessed. Sits in the lab all day and night, I’m not even sure if he ever sleeps. When I went down there, he was muttering some cryptic shit to himself like a madman.” Nexe added. 

"It was a matter of time," Graf sighed. "Now we have to stop him, before he becomes a threat and blow us all up in the name of some greater good." He stood and took out the sword he had strapped to his hip.

Alex's blood froze.

"What?! No! There must be another way to solve this, we can't-" He drew a sharp breath, decision already forming at the end of his tongue. "Let me talk to him."

"Have you lost your mind?!" Nexe roared in protest.

“If you go down there, he’ll never let you go. You’d be stuck in his fucked up lab, until he runs out of samples he can take from you.” Ewron blocked his path to the elevator.

"Then go with me and stay in the decontamination chamber, while I’ll try to talk some sense into him. If anything happens, step in," Alex proposed, forcing himself not to imagine any scenario where he’d actually need rescuing. It was Multi, for god's sake, he would never hurt him... right? 

It took some convincing, but they finally agreed to his plan. Geared up and ready, they descended to the very bottom of the base.

Quackity paused at the doors – loud thrashing echoed from the other side. He took a deep breath, glancing last time at the Hussars, before he stepped across the threshold.

The chamber was cloaked in darkness – the nuclear reactor being the only source of light, casting a haunting glow in the center like a twisted beacon. Quackity moved cautiously, straining to pinpoint where those sounds of destruction came from.

Something cracked beneath his shoe. He looked down.

Glass. Broken syringes and shattered vials littered the floor, and between them… bloodstains. His heart skipped a beat, as he followed the red trail to the shadowed corner of the room.

A maniacal chuckle stopped him in his tracks.

There he saw him – sitting on the ground, lab coat grimy and burned at the edges. A syringe filled with a golden liquid glinted between Multi's fingers, as he injected the needle into his own forearm, cackling madly to himself. His green veins pulsed as the strange substance coursed through his body.

Quackity held his breath. 

Glowing eyes locked with his in the darkness.  

"Alex?" Multi rasped. "Alex! My treasure!" He got up on his feet, stumbling out of the shadows. "You've got to see what I've accomplished!"

When he stepped into the light, Quackity's stomach dropped. 

Multi looked utterly deranged. His lab coat was ruined, face pale with visible radiation outbreaks; golden liquid dripped down his left arm, seeping from multiple injection marks. But that wasn’t even the most terrifying part.

The scientist slowly turned around. From his back sprouted a pair of bat-like wings – gray and tattered, like the torn sail of a shipwreck.

"What the- H-how..?" Was the only thing Quackity could manage, voice trembling with disbelief.

"It's you! It's all you!" Multi ran up to him, sweeping him into his arms. "I injected myself with your DNA! Isn't it beautiful?"

"You what ?!"

"I mixed it with uranium, samples from cave bats, and some other chemicals I can't even remember," he boasted, as if they were having the most normal conversation. "With your help, we can all become superhuman! The possibilities are-"

Multi doubled over with a sudden coughing fit, spitting blood into his palm.

“How many times did you inject yourself with that…?” Quackity asked quietly, reaching out to rub circles on his back before stopping himself, unsure and worried.

"Why? You don't seem happy." The scientist frowned, wipping his lips. "It's all part of my research, a sacrifice for a better future. A future in which we will never die. Wouldn't you want that?"

Quackity froze. Death was something he rarely dwelled on; he knew it would come for him eventually – that was the only certain thing in this world. But an endless life? That sounded absurd…

Absurdly tempting.

His heart hammered against his ribs. Defying the laws of nature seemed even more thrilling than any other danger.

“I… I would, yeah.” He blinked, as this decision slowly settled in his heart.

“I knew you'd understands me.” Multi reached to his hand, intertwining their fingers and pressing a soft kiss to his knuckles. “Just imagine: you and me against the world, till the end of time.”

Quackity shuddered. Even in his wildest fantasies he didn’t dare to dream of something like that… but now, it was all he could think about.

Until another harsh cough tore through Multi’s chest, bringing him back to the current moment.

"Are you sure, you’re okay? You don't look good." Alex cupped his face gently. The scientist's skin burned his fingers. "You should take a break, get some fresh air and-"

A hand clasped tightly around his wrist.

"Why do you speak like them?" Multi growled, his expression twisting into a glare, as if Quackity was the enemy. Any trace of vulnerability vanished in an instant. “Did they send you? Are you with them now? Have you betrayed me?!” He grabbed his shoulders and shook him.

"N-no! What the hell?! I'm just worried about you!"

The scientist slammed him against the stone pillar, pinning both his wrists above his head, a paranoid smile splitting his face. His grip wasn’t as strong as it had been weeks ago, when he’d carried him to the lab. His muscles trembled with exertion, the body clearly at its limits.

"I knew it was too good to be true. Ha!" He scoffed bitterly, peering down at him through strands of disheveled hair. "In this world, attachment is an obstacle... and in the end we're all alone." He reached with his other hand to Quackity's neck.

"Snap out of it, pendejo!" Alex gasped for air, struggling against his weakening grip.

The doors of the decontamination chamber burst open. Graf, Nexe and Ewron rushed in, weapons drawn and ready.

”What the fuck are you doing?!”

"Let him go!"

"Michał, stop this madness! This isn’t you!"

The scientist let out a heavy sigh, sweat glistening on his pale skin. He bared his teeth, but his strength faltered, not causing any real harm. His eyes narrowed, as he struggled to keep them open.

Quackity freed his wrists and gently brushed Multi’s hair away from his face, offering him a soft but sad smile.

"It's okay… it’s okay, I'm here, sweetheart."

A single tear slid down Multi’s cheek, as if it was all he needed to hear. The tension drained from his body, as he finally gave in to exhaustion and collapsed. Alex caught him with ease, exhaling in relief, even though his heart still weighed heavy in his chest.

He came here to save him.

But maybe Multi never needed saving.

Maybe Quackity didn’t want to be saved either.

⌬ ⌬ ⌬

The rain had finally stopped. A new dawn rose over the land, painting it a red hue. The first rays of sunlight climbed up over the skull carved in stone, brushing against the skin of two people sitting atop it. Cool morning breeze swayed their hair in a gentle waltz. The world had yet to wake, but for now they enjoyed the peace and quiet.

Their hands found each other naturally, fingers loosely intertwined.

"Thank you… for not leaving me," Multi was the first to break the silence. He looked a bit better – tired but cleaned up. "I didn't want to scare you or... or hurt you. I wouldn’t forgive myself, if anything happened to you."

"I know," Quackity smiled softy. He didn't need the reassurance, but it was nice to hear it anyway.

Multi glanced at him, parting his lips as if to speak, but in the end he looked away instead. Words never came easy to either of them – both equally complicated and conflicted, and yet they fit together in their own strange way.

The path they had chosen wasn't gonna be an easy or a pleasant one, but there was no turning back now. 

"I won't give up on my research," Multi stated calmly, as if reading his mind. 

Quackity let out a fond chuckle, not expecting anything else from him.

"I know," he murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to the scientist’s cheek, before resting his head against his shoulder. "And I won't leave your side."

Multi stretched out his bat wing, curling it around Quackity’s frame, while fluffy, yellow feathers circled his waist in return.

"I know."