Chapter Text
papa had packed up all his and mama’s things already. you were standing outside, waiting for your parents to be done with setting things up. you rub your eyes, still tired from the nap you had just woken up from, still in your favorite ducky overalls. mama finally joins you at the front door, yelling at papa that she’s bringing you into the car and putting the suitcases there.
it didn’t take longer for you to be buckled up, snug and safe under the seat belt that sometimes was too tight than you were comfy with. you put your hand in between you and the belt by your neck so it doesn’t tickle and itch.
it’s gonna be so fun going on vacation with them! you look out the window, kicking your legs before mama looks behind herself towards you.
“ducky, your papa and i are having our honeymoon, right?”“i know that, mama!” you look down at your fingers, playing with the collar of your shirt, curious of the material.“we wanted so bad to bring you with, but the big bad adults said you couldn’t go with us.”
huh? that’s not fair! your eyebrows shoot forward as you look at mama.
“then why are you going,” you ask, genuinely upset that you aren’t allowed to be with your parents. not to mention confused that they wouldn’t change plans when they found you couldn’t go.
“we’ll be okay, your dad and i didn’t know how to tell you, but we have somewhere safe for you to stay! your papa has a brother!”
you don’t care! this can’t be real! you don’t wanna be without your family! little tears prick at your eyes.
“but i wanna go with you! tell them to bring me with!”
“i’m sorry, ducky. we can’t do that. we’ll come back in a month to come see you, okay?”
a loud wail follows after that. this is so unfair! how dare your parents go with a plan as sketchy as that? mama puts her hand on your leg for assurance.
“you’ll be staying with your uncle. i know you don’t know him so we’ll all have a picnic together first! you like your peanut butter and honey sandwiches, don’t you?”
“yeah,” you stop crying for just a second, hiccups interrupting your breathing quite a bit. “but that’s unfair! you goin’ without me! you’re leavin’ me behind!”
“no,” papa says softly. “you’ll just be staying with your uncle lucifer for a bit! we’ll call and check in on you. i want you to call too, just ask your uncle, okay?”
“just know we love you very much, okay? we’re not leaving you behind or anything, ever. we would bring you along if we could, sweetie. now, can you do mama a biiiggg favor and be good for your uncle?”
it’s unfair, but mama is asking you for a big favor, so you’ll try your best. still, your head is filled with worries.
“what if uncle is mean?”
papa laughs in the seat ahead of you. “uncle lucifer is not mean, don’t worry, ducky. not a mean bone in his body!”
hmmm, if he says so. tears are still streaming down your face as the car pulls into an open space. you’re good though, and will not cry loudly anymore than this. you look out the window to the bright skies and very green grass.
mama unbuckles and walks around the car to come get you as papa does the same, except he’s walking away from the car. mama opens the door on your side, quickly getting to work on unbuckling you.
“where papa going?”
“he’s talking to your uncle!”
you keep your eye on him until mama gives you your ducky stuffie and wipes your tears away, kissing your forehead softly.
“it’ll be alright, ducky. you’re already being so good. mama loves you.”
“i love mama too,” you respond. she picks you up, holding you as close as she can for a little bit.
“michael, when you get back here can you grab the food,” mama yells to papa. she opens up the trunk, grabbing a yellow and blue blanket from the back and finding somewhere nice to sit on the grass. she sets you down on the floor. you stand up, sniffling slightly still. every now and then new tears prickle at your eyes and threaten to fall down.
the blanket is layed out nicely in no time. “take your shoes off before climbing on the blanket. do you need help?”you nod, just trying to be close to mama as much as you can before you part ways. she helps you take off your shoes and carries you to the blanket, sitting you down on her lap, safe and snug. she grabs a tissue from her bag and wipes your nose clean with it. those gross boogers from crying were the bane of your existence.
you hear papa’s voice laughing from a little ways away and turn around to face him, noticing another figure walking beside him. they smile at each other as they make their way towards the blanket. like mama asked, papa has the basket of food in his arms.
you watch as papa sets the basket down, taking off his shoes as well before taking in the sight of this new person.
a man with blonde hair, maybe the same height as papa, smiles and takes his shoes off too. he looks at you warily, but he doesn’t look mean. you sigh rather loudly before turning your head towards mama’s chest.
there was silence for a second before papa speaks up.
“we just broke the news in the car,” papa laughs a little as he says it. like this is some silly situation! it’s not! “ducky, this is your uncle lucifer.”
you barely turn your head again towards the stranger sitting on the blanket with your family, trying to make the meanest glare visible. for a second, you see him tense up in unease at it. serves him right.
one second longer and you look a little closer at this man, whoever he is. uncle lucifer. you realize that the angel’s hair closely resembles a duck butt, where the tail swoops up. you smile, gasping as you point at the poor man.
“ducky!” you didn’t know uncle lucifer was ducky too!
he stiffens at your loud voice, eyes going wide in shock. papa bursts out into laughter.
“you’re right, uncle lucifer does look like a ducky doesn’t he?”
uncle lucifer laughs awkwardly at the comment. “pardon?”
“your hair! looks like a duck butt!”
“oh! i uh- i suppose you’re right,” he responds. awkward again. maybe uncle ducky is scared of you too.
“lu, ducky loves ducks. that’s why we use the nickname.”
“ohh, i see! that’s very sweet, ducky.”
mama hands you a slice of your peanut butter and honey sandwich—no crust, just the way you like it—on a napkin, safe from messes.
you’ve gotten a bit more comfy with uncle lucifer’s presence before asking mama permission to play on the playground. as always, she lets you, telling you to be careful as you run over and head right to the jungle gym.
you only get to play for about 10 minutes before papa calls you over, saying it’s time to go. you take as much time on the walk there as you possibly can. you even sneak in a few times down the slide as they pack up the blanket and food.
you skip over, and papa gives you your duck stuffie you had left on the blanket with everyone else. you knew they’d take care of him so you left him a while ago when you ran out to play.
“we gotta go now, ducky,” papa kneels down to face you, placing his hands on your shoulders. “you’re gonna be good for uncle lucifer, right?”
you nod, beginning to tear up again. in response, papa gives you a quick head pat.
“alright, give me a quack!”
“quack,” you respond back, laughing delightedly even though tears are streaming down your face. mama also kneels down, this time taking you into a large hug.
“i know you’ll do amazing without us, but remember to call the second you want to! just because we’re out of reach doesn’t mean we’re out of touch!”
“okay,” you cry out. “i love you.”
“we love you too,” they both respond before standing up. papa taking the blanket and basket and handing it to uncle lucifer.
“bye bye.”