Chapter 1
(They’re all humans)
Gyro was not excited for this camping trip. He liked his lab, he liked his equipment, he liked forcing himself to stay awake by drinking another coffee at 4 am, he liked ignoring his feelings for his intern, and he preferred talking to Lil Bulb rather than other beings. Though, he did like how he would get to spend a little time with Della. However, this trip just happened to be the day after he got nipples pierced. Great. Gyro didn’t care if they saw his tattoo, but they were going to the lake, which meant being shirtless. Which meant everyone would know that he got his nipples pierced. He decided that he’d spend his time either inside or jet-skiing. He could easily spend his time inside, just be working on another project. Yeah, that’s it. When he pulled up to the McDuck manor, Scrooge had stopped him when he started putting a second experiment into his truck.
“Gyro, this is supposed to be a vacation, not more work,” he said as he pat his shoulder.
“I’d rather not fall behind on these experiments. Can’t I take at least one?” Scrooge sighed, leaning on his cane.
“If it means you don’t stay up till four in the morning, fine.” Gyro sighed with relief.
“Thank you, Mr. McDuck.” He put his more important experiment in the trunk of his car, then started for the lab to put the other one back. When the door opened, he saw his intern packing up some paperwork. Right. Gyro forgot that his intern was going to be at the cabin as well. He tried to suppress his sigh as he picked up his other experiment.
“Oh, Doctor Gearloose! I, uh, figured I should pack up some paperwork for the trip, so we- uh- I don’t get super far behind.” Gyro was glad that the box for his experiment was so big, because it hid his smile and set down the box once his smile left.
“Well, intern, I hope I don’t have to remind you not to do your paperwork on the beach. Papers can get lost so easily these days.”
“Of course!” Gyro turned to leave, but his intern followed him with his briefcase practically overflowing with papers. “Are you excited about this trip?”
“No.”
“Really? But there’ll be a cabin, and a private beach! Not to mention, the nephews will be there which will make the week very entertaining!” Gyro had gotten used to tuning out his intern. This was no different. He walked and his intern talked. They reached the cars, and he realized that he’d have to drive his intern to meet everyone at the cabin. He pushed down his nervousness and got in the car, starting his playlist, hoping his intern would take the hint and be quiet. He didn’t need any more distractions while driving. He already had the tender pain of freshly pierced nipples. Why did he have to get them pierced yesterday? He knew that they were going today, so why? Was he drunk? That would certainly explain it. His mind was racing with many different thoughts, some scenarios that he immediately pushed down. He didn’t even notice that they were listening to ‘Holiday’. He didn’t mind the song, there was just one part that he couldn’t stand. He reached to turn the song, but noticed that his intern was bobbing his head, and decided to let it go just this once. His intern turned to him, obviously noticing that he tried to change the song.
“Do you not like this song?”
“It’s not that I don’t like it, there’s just one part that I don’t agree with.” The guitar and unintelligible lyrics continued. They were getting closer to the part.
“What’s wrong about it?”
“I just don’t agree.” The guitar solo started, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to keep it together.
“What do they say?”
“It’s just something that I’d rather they didn’t say.”
“I never noticed anything bad in this song.”
“Kill all the fags and don’t agree!” the singer continued. Gyro gripped the wheel and clenched his jaw, staring at the road.
“Oh.”
“Don’t.” Gyro changed lanes as he saw the exit coming up. They pulled up into a gas station about twenty minutes later. He stepped out and started filling up the gas. “If you want something, you pay for it yourself.” He shut the door and walked towards the building. He asked for one of the packs of cigarettes from behind the counter, and they asked for his ID. He pulled it out then sighed. “Never mind, I just remembered that I’m trying to quit.” The cashier just shrugged and put it back on the shelf. He turned his attention to the sodas towards the back of the store. He grabbed two caffeinated drinks and head back to the counter. “These’ll have to do.” He paid and walked back out to the car. It looked like his intern had something on his mind. “What’s up?” He regretted speaking as soon as the words left his mouth. He never made conversation with his intern.
“Nothing.”
“Ok.” He started the car without another word, glad that he hadn’t replied with anything. The cabin was just one more hour away. They rode in silence for half of the hour before his intern couldn’t stand it anymore.
