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The day started like any other for the scientist. Wake up, if he even went to sleep, but seeing as the radiation from the reactor progressed at a faster rate than he anticipated, he hadn't much time to sleep. It didn't matter, however. He enjoyed working to remedy the problem, but... it has been quite a few days since three certain mexicans messaged or talked to him.
Looking at his communicator, he sighed, seeing there was nothing new. Thus, he just continued to write formulas and make reports on the radiation levels in the reactor.
Multi could feel as his eyelids slowly became heavier and heavier. He had so much work to do, yet... couldn't bring himself to go further, because of the blurring of the words on the pages.
"A small nap won't kill me... "
Getting up to check the cameras one last time, he finally allowed himself to sit on the couch that was in his office. Only a couple of minutes, he figured.
Bad fucking idea.
He was woken up by a booming voice screaming as it seemed to run around, laughing.
Who in their right mind would run around an uranium reactor while laughing, talking in Spanish if not his darling duck?
Groggily getting off the couch, it seems like much more time than he expected passed, he slowly made his way to the reactor. The sight he was met with was half of what he expected.
Quackity, in shorts, a light, beach t-shirt and a beach hat on his head, was running after Nacho who was wearing a floating rubber ring around his waist. It was honestly a hilarious sight to be met with minutes after he woke up, though his mind could barely function right now. The sleep only served to make him even more tired, it seemed. He was at least thankful that he had packets of blood, he couldn't be bothered to be this hungry this soon after waking.
Grabbing a packet from the fridge, he needs to thank Quackity, Katie and the Polish team for donating it to him.
It seems that his little duck still hasn't noticed he has woken and came in the room, finally catching Nacho and scolding him, while the child threw curses at him.
"I told you, we need to talk to Multi first! Can't take you out without his knowledge, you are his child after all!"
Nacho didn't respond, instead turning toward Multi who was drinking blood from a glass.
"Dada. Dada, can we go to the beach?"
Finally taking notice of the dhampir feeding while watching them with a glint of amusement in his eyes, Quackity got up and ran in front of him.
"Multi! There you are!"
The scientists stopped and looked at the younger, raising an eyebrow.
"Beach?"
"Oh... um... about that..." Quackity laughed, slightly abashed at the earlier situation. "Do you remember when I told you I would go exploring for a while to see what other islands are around?"
Multi nodded, slowly sipping the last drink of blood. He noticed how the younger's eyes settled for a few long moments on the blood on his lips. He seemed to have swallowed quite hard at the sight... how cute.
"So, have you found something interesting?"
The dhampir's voice seemed to pull Quackity from his trance, a dusting of pink taking over his cheeks.
"I... I did." He turned his head away. "There is a beach on a smaller island to the south-east... I came to ask you if you would come with me." He finished, then frowned. "No, actually... you are coming with me, like it or not."
Multi slightly frowned it that.
"What is that supposed to mean?!"
"Have you taken a good look at yourself in the mirror?! When is the last time the sun has seen you? A century ago?!"
Quackity couldn't stop himself from raising his voice, but he took a deep breath when he felt Nacho hugging his leg, practically begging him to convince Multi to go, all of them.
"Księżniczka," the younger started with the nickname that he knew would make the mad scientist fold, "even Nacho wants to come. I will take care of him, I promise. It would do you some good to go away from the reactor once in a while."
Multi knew that staying for so long near the uranium couldn't be good, but he still had so much work to do...
"Plus!" The duck continued, the wings on his head spreading slightly as if to make a point, even quivering a bit in excitement, "Aldo and Roier said that they will meet us there, I already gave them the coords."
Musing over the new knowledge, Multi couldn't help but make a comment in mock hurt.
"So they sent you here to persuade me... they couldn't even bother to see their boyfriend..."
"Dada, can we go?" Nacho asked suddenly, and it was the last thing to break his guard. He couldn't disappoint his boy and he would give anything to see his boyfriends right now.
Taking a deep, theatrical sigh, he finally agreed.
"YAYYYYYYY!!" Nacho and Quackity screamed at the same time, fist bumping like their country won the football tournament.
Multi shook his head, but couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from raising.
○●○
He knew that going to the beach with Quackity will be a pain, but when the half-duck came back with beach clothes that fit him way too perfectly, there was nothing else to do other than accept. It still baffled him the perfect fit, even while rowing to the island the younger found.
Prior he has been told that Roier and Aldo have left earlier to prepare the beach a bit. He wasn't quite sure what that meant, but he would find out soon enough. Behind him, Nacho complained about the long ride, but it was to be expected. They would rather have the place to themselves rather than be stormed by the other islanders. Or at least at this moment.
Feeling himself almost loosing his mind, Quackity told him they were nearly there, an island finally forming in front of them. This instantly made the little boy excited and... oh lord. Roier and Aldo have not played when it came to the organization of this little island.
The soft sand was covered with four long towels, each a different color: red, blue, green, yellow; all striped, placed in pairs and umbrellas between them. Next to the green one a smaller, white towel with pink stripes was placed, most likely Nacho's.
A couple of stalls were also built, each stacked with beverages or food, kept in fridges. How they had electricity here was honestly a wonder, but Multi wasn't about to question anything, since this was probably one of the only times he can say he was on holiday.
They finally reached their destination, the sun now high up in the sky. The prince and crow-hybrid were waiting for them, their shirts already on the towels and their feet in the water, splashing at each other. Quackity couldn't wait to get on the island, opting to just jump out and swim to shore, getting himself all wet before someone else had the opportunity to. The two men seemed disappointed with the inability to splash the third mexican in time, but seeing him let part of his instinct out, diving and swimming freely warmed all their hearts.
Multi finally reached the shore, picking Nacho up and letting him run in the water with the floating rubber ring around his waist. Watching his child laughing and playing with the other three men put him slightly at ease. He knew he could count on them to take care of Nacho.
Thus, he took some time to explore this island. It wasn't as grand as many of the other islands, but it wasn't small either. He didn't go far, not wanting to worry his other boyfriends. Coming back to the shore, he took a peek at the stalls. Lemonade, water, some alcohol and... a few packets of blood. Where had they come from...?
He noticed that Roier was now watching from the beach as the duck and crow played with Nacho, a towel hanging around his neck. His hair was still a bit wet, but with how warm it was here, it would dry in no time.
The scientist made his way next to the prince.
"Aren't they adorable?" Roier asked, a fulfilling smile on his face.
"Mostly Nacho. I cannot understand how Kaczucha can keep that hat on and not lose it even in water.”
"Yeah, a wonder." the youngest chuckled. He took a step closer and let his head fall on Multi's shoulder. It was slightly cold and damp, but the scientist couldn't have cared less, even leaning his own on top.
Not long after he called to the ones in the water, reminding them that it wouldn't be a great idea to stay for too long in the sun, since at that hour it was easy to get a heatstroke.
Nacho ran to him at full speed, Multi catching him easily. Aldo ruffled Quackity's hair as they came out, the younger pouting at his ruined hair. Their wings, black and golden respectively, glistened in the sun as large droplets fell on the hot sand.
Multi brought from one of the stands a towel to dry Nacho and one to give to Quackity, while Roier already had one prepared for Aldo.
"Aren't going to help me as well?" the duck asked in mock disappointment when he saw that the dhampir only gave him the towel and turned to dry Nacho's hair.
"Even he doesn't need my help," he deadpanned. "I only want to make sure his hair won't remain wet so he won't come down with a cold."
The other two could be heard chuckling, but they gasped in surprise when Multi took the towel back and made a show of drying Quackity's hair.
"Quacks' getting the princess treatment..." Roier nodded to that statement, but Quackity couldn't live down his victory.
"He loves me more."
"He loves me best." Nacho stated, making all of them turn to the boy laying on the white and pink striped towel. The spider and crow started cackling, the scientist cracked a smile and the duck's face fell. He looked up at Multi, betrayed, but the older just ruffled his hair. He looked at the golden, delicate wings on his head, carefully drying them with the towel.
"I think it's time you all get hydrated," he murmured as he finished patting the wings with the towel, watching the younger tremble slightly. "And probably we should get a layer of sunscreen on as well."
Nacho felt like that was his time to shine and brought a few bottles and handed then out. One ended in Multi's hands and he applied it on Nacho's back before giving it back to him to finish. By then Quackity has gone to Roier to complain about Multi, but Aldo, who seemed to have already finished, came to hand Multi his bottle, knowing he had prioritized the child above himself.
"Doc, I think you need this, right?" he said, handing him his bottle.
"Yeah, thanks Aldo."
He accepted the bottle and started applying the sunscreen. He could feel Aldo's eyes on him as he did so, even feeling him closing the space between them. When he finished with almost all his body, the crow picked the bottle and placed some on his hands. Multi couldn't quite reach his back and that is probably why Aldo still remained close. Sneaky, lovely, bastard.
He got closer than expected, his whisper tickling Multi's back softly.
"Your shoulders and back are red. I think you got sunburned, doc." he finished his statement with a soft kiss to his nape, which made the scientist shiver. As Aldo was slowly working the sunscreen on his back, Multi tried to find a retort, but was unable, especially when he felt the general's soft touch on the reddened parts from the sun. They slightly stung, but the care he was given was short-circuiting his brain right now. He wasn’t sure if he was red because of the sun or something else...
"Someone is enjoying themselves." he heard Roier comment, to which both the duck and crow chuckled. He just took a deep breath as he felt the hands leave his back, missing the touch.
○●○
The sun slowly made it's way down the sky as they talked, napped or made themselves busy. Of course, Multi either talked or closed his eyes, the heat of the sun relaxing him like nothing else.
The food was almost half eaten, but the dhampir was already wondering why there was so much food here, if they were just going to stay a few hours. With time passing and none of them making a move to leave, he finally dropped the question.
"So... when are we leaving?" leaning on one of the stalls and sipping on some blood, Roier's, going off of taste, he watched as the sky transformed from blue to colors of orange and even purple.
"Tomorrow." the three said in unison. He couldn't even be mad anymore, he was too familiar with them to know that they won't let him leave, even if he wanted to.
"Fine."
He thought that maybe now it would be a good time to try the water, since he did his best not to go in the water the whole day. But of course, he wasn't free from being splashed by Quackity or Aldo.
He stepped in the water, colder than he would prefer, and he heard a slight flapping from behind. He didn't even have time to turn when he felt someone push into him and hug him as they fell in water. The melodious laugh just before they hit the water gave him all the answers as to who jumped him.
As they came up the water, the wings, glistening like gold in the setting sun, made a small, fond smile appear on his face for a fraction of a second.
"What was that about?!" he inquired, ruffling the dark brown hair.
"You were sulking the whole day on the beach! You need to have some fun from time to time!" the younger pouted as the wings on his head slightly fell.
Multi couldn't hold in a small chuckle at the pout, circling his hands around his waist. Quackity immediately brightened, draping his arms over the scientist's shoulders.
"I knew I was your favourite, Kziężniczka."
"Of course, Kaczuszka." he murmured, his breath tickling the duck's lips. He didn't pull away when Quackity pressed his lips to his, even leaned slightly in the kiss, his hands trailing over his back until he touched soft wings. He could feel the younger shivering against his hand, opening his eyes slightly to watch his expression, oh so cute...
"You know that a child is watching, right?" Roier said, bringing the heated moment between them to a freezing halt. They parted their lips, but didn't pull away, Multi throwing daggers at the spider prince over the duck's shoulder.
But, of course, being mad at his boyfriends wasn't something that happened on long term, and he knew that. Plus, the blush the statement brought to Quackity's cheeks was worth it.
Yet, in all this, Nacho seemed unfazed, jumping in the water between them, splashing everybody. No one could hold their laughter at that.
They bathed in the water for the remainder of the time with sun on the sky and just before the sun fully set, they prepared a camp fire.
The dhampir seemed to have failed to notice the sleeping bags in the stall with towels and sunscreen. He helped Roier bring them to where Aldo and Quackity were working on the fire.
After they set up everything, they sat down to warm and dry up.
"Roier, aren't you half spider?" Multi finally asked the question that was stuck to his mind since morning.
"Yes, what of it?"
"Do spiders enjoy water?"
"Oh, we do love water. Though most species of spiders just float on top."
That made sense, Multi thought. He hummed, satisfied with the answer.
During this time Quackity was running around the plaza, only now returning with sticks for all of them and marshmallows. Multi also grabbed one stick and put two marshmallows.
Now it was Roier's turn to ask.
"Aren't you a vampire?"
"A dhampir, to be precise." He responded, bringing the stick closer to the fire.
"Same difference," Aldo murmured.
"Not quite. I would have burned only trying to walk in the sun, much less dream of going to the beach. Plus, being half humans we can still eat normal food, but it's not as fulfilling."
"Then, why aren't we all transforming into dhampirs?? It sounds like you only have perks!" Quackity complained.
"Because you wouldn't transform into a dhampir, but into a vampire." he checked his marshmallows, then turned to Nacho, who almost burned them. "And knowing you, you would die of loneliness before a century is up."
Quackity pouted, eating his marshmallows sulkily. The other two mexicans couldn't keep a straight face.
Eating the sweets in a peaceful silence, the time passed, and the fire almost died down.
Finally getting into their own sleeping bag, they gazed at the stars and moon, which seemed to bless them with happiness and content.
Multi had so much work to do: find a cure for uranium radiation, keep the reactor safe, keep his child and loved ones safe, become a God. But when he was with his lovers, everything seemed much simpler. Lovelier.
And he was surely feeling content now, falling asleep surrounded by love and warmth.
Maybe they should do this more often.