Chapter Text
Schlatt felt cold. But, there was no way… his limbo’s temperature had been the same for the last thirty-seven years. He opened his eyes from the sleep he always chased, but could never hope to get, and his jaw dropped.
Dream stood in front of him, an open, glowing book in his hand. The masked man smiled sharply, seeming satisfied. He wore a black turtleneck bodysuit and low-rise sweatpants. His hair was longer than Schlatt remembered, pulled up in a messy bun.
Schlatt heard garbled speech coming from Dream and someone else, but they sounded like they were underwater. He closed his eyes again, not wanting to be overloaded by the lights and colors of life. The only lights in his afterlife were fancy candelabras lined up along the table, and the single candle in his birthday cake that never went out.
He felt someone pick him up, but he didn’t say a word. He turned his face into their chest, feeling oddly safe. He heard them chuckle softly, and they stroked Schlatt’s arm with their thumb as they walked. Their hands were warm, gentle. They were careful.
Eventually, he was set on something soft and plush, presumably a sofa. A very soft blanket was placed over him, and a motherly kiss was pressed to his forehead.
Schlatt fell asleep for the first time in thirty-seven years, feeling warm. And safe.
*****
“Quackity, I have a surprise for you.” Said Captain Puffy, grinning. The kind sheep hybrid in her long red coat was out of place in a golden casino bathed in lust and greed. Nevertheless, Quackity was happy to see her. It was always a pleasure to spend time with someone so kind.
“For me?? What for?” Quackity tilted his head at his friend, leaning against the broad side of a slot machine.
Puffy chuckled, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “It’s to say thank you for helping me at the Red Banquet.” She smiled and offered a hand to him. “Come with me.”
There were few people Quackity trusted. He trusted Slime, he trusted Sapnap, and he trusted Puffy. Puffy had always been kind to him, so he was always kind to her in return. She had a strict moral code she stuck to, and Quackity respected that greatly.
He took the sheep hybrid’s hand and let her bring him across the server to her house in Snowchester. Quackity tried to get her to say what the surprise was, but she would just laugh and change the subject every time.
Puffy pushed the door of her house open and went in first to show Quackity that there was no boobytrap (which he appreciated greatly). “In here,” she gestured to her sitting room, and Quackity’s jaw dropped.
“No way…” he shook his head and laughed, dropping to his knees in front of the sleeping ram hybrid on the sofa. “H-how..?”
Puffy bit her lip. “Had to make a deal with Dream.” Quackity’s eyes flicked to her hands instantly, searching for a weapon. She understood immediately. “Oh gods, no, Quackity, I would never kill you.” She laughed flusteredly. “No, I just had to get armor for him.”
Quackity’s eyebrows creased. “Whose netherite did you take?”
Puffy laughed, “Sam’s spare set in the prison.”
Quackity snorted. “That bitch is getting what he deserves.”
“Agreed.” Puffy shook her head. “He’s done so much shit, it’s about time someone put him in there.”
Quackity’s attention snapped back to the couch when he heard Schlatt moving. When he turned his eyes back to Puffy, she was smiling fondly. Quackity was still baffled though. “What… What made you bring him back? I thought you hated him?”
Puffy shrugged. “He’s my brother; I don’t think I can hate him. But I brought him back for you , Quackity.”
“But why?”
“I was talking with Wilbur and he told me about how Schlatt was in limbo. For the thirteen years they were stuck together, they learned a lot about each other. They talked about the things they did in their lives that they regretted, and how they would do it over again if they could.” Puffy sat on the floor next to Quackity. “Every bit of him regrets how he treated you– both you and Tubbo, really.”
“Yeah.. Wilbur told me about that.” Quackity reached out to inspect the stark white streak in Schlatt’s messy dark hair. “Hm..” His hand froze in midair when there was suddenly a pair of reddish-brown eyes staring back at him.
Schlatt blinked blearily, his gaze searching the room but not focusing. His eyes flicked between Puffy and Quackity.
“Hey,” Puffy offered her brother a smile. “Welcome back.”
Schlatt gasped softly and sat up. “Is this real?” He held his head, clearly dizzy. “Holy shit…”
“Oh, it’s real alright.” Puffy rested a hand on her brother’s knee. “I got Dream to bring you back.”
“No fucking way…” Schlatt shook his head. “I-I’m alive?”
“Yep.” Quackity choked out. This was difficult for him; he knew Schlatt was different now, but it was still difficult to look into the eyes of his former abuser.
It hurt. It felt like someone was clawing red hot nails down his back and laughing at the burns they left. It felt like a hammer pounding against his skull over and over and over again. It felt like someone was using a plastic fork to tear apart his skin. It hurt.
Schlatt’s eyes flicked to him, and the ram teared up. He slowly reached out and cupped Quackity’s cheek. Quackity wanted to flinch away, and he almost did, but he stayed firm. He didn’t want to show he was scared. “You…” Schlatt wiped his eyes with the heel of his free hand. “You’re still as gorgeous as I remember..”
Quackity’s jaw trembled and his breathing staggered as a sob tore through his body. He collapsed in a crying pile against Schlatt’s legs, squeezing his eyes shut. He felt Puffy’s small hand on his shoulder.
“I’ve made it so far without you!” Quackity sobbed. “I don’t need you! I never did!” His body convulsed violently with each sharp breath he took. He was angry and upset and confused. He didn’t know what to say.
He didn’t know how to feel.
“No. No, you don’t need me.” Schlatt said softly. “You’re incredible. You’re smart. You’re amazing.” He rested a light, gentle hand on top of Quackity’s head. “I took you for granted.” He was suddenly quiet. Quackity looked up at him. “I don’t expect you to forgive me.”
“Forgiveness is something you’ll never have.” Quackity spat coldly. He wasn’t sure if he meant it, if he was honest. He just wanted to hurt Schlatt in the same way he was hurt for such a long time.
“I know. And I respect that; I don’t deserve it.” Schlatt closed his eyes. “But I need a place to stay.”
*****
“So.” Karl began, his arms crossed. His eyes were dark with thunder, only emphasized by the dim light of the hallway. “He’s back, huh?”
Quackity looked at his fiancé, confused. “Y-yeah, he is.” He smiled a little.
Sapnap whisked Quackity up, cupping his cheeks. “Don’t worry, Bubba, we’ll protect you from him.” He kissed Quackity’s forehead delicately. “Everything’ll be okay.”
Quackity tilted his head. “I don’t think he’s going to hurt me though.” He held Sapnap’s wrist lightly. “Wilbur told me about how Schlatt changed when they were in limbo together. He realized how much he hurt me and Tubbo, and he wanted to be better.”
Karl scoffed. “You’re really gonna believe that?”
“Yeah, Quackity, you’ve gotta remember who your source is.” Sapnap chuckled. “Wilbur’s not very reliable.”
“I.. what?” Quackity shook his head, his eyebrows creasing. “Wilbur’s a lot of things, but he’s not a liar.”
“My love, don’t you remember L’manburg at all?” Sapnap stroked Quackity’s cheek with his thumb. “He was exiled for being a traitor! That’s, like, the epitome of being a liar.”
“Of course I remember…” Quackity didn’t meet Sapnap’s eyes.
Karl laughed and rolled his eyes. Quackity’s lips parted in surprise as he looked over at the brunet. “Sapnap convinced me to give you another chance, but I don’t see the point if you’re just gonna fawn over your revived ex.”
“F-fawn over?!” Quackity spluttered. “What do you think I’m gonna do? Get back together with a guy that hurt me?” He clenched his fists.
“I went back to you even though you killed me!” Karl uncrossed his arms.
Quackity sighed. “How many times do I have to fucking remind you; you agreed to that plan!”
“Whoah, alright, both of you chill.” Sapnap looked back and forth between them. “We agreed to not bring that up again.” He looked at Quackity again. “I think it’s a good idea to wait to be around Schlatt for now, just to be safe. I don’t wanna lose you.”
“You won’t… you’re not gonna lose me, Sapnap.” Quackity wrung his hands, feeling oddly anxious. “Do you- do you think I’m not capable enough or something?”
“No no no, that’s not it at all, Bubba.” Sapnap took Quackity’s hand and kissed his knuckles. “It’s just that it’s Schlatt . You don’t know what he could potentially do.”
“But Wilbur said–”
“What is it with you and Wilbur?!” Karl burst out angrily. “We don’t care what he says! He’s a liar and a terrorist.”
“Wilbur wouldn’t lie to me.” Quackity was getting angry. Why wouldn’t they listen to him?
“Yes he would.” Sapnap shook his head. “I’m sorry, love, but I don't think you know him as well as you think you do.”
“And how would you know?” Quackity scowled. “He’s changed. But I wouldn’t expect you to know since you haven't talked to him since he fucking came back.”
“We know.” Karl growled. “We know damn well.”
“C’mon, Quackity, look at who you’re talking about.” Sapnap’s eyes were no longer their soft dark gray, but instead a lightning storm.
“People can fucking change, Sapnap!” Quackity yelled.
“Yeah? Well it seems that you haven’t.” Sapnap spat.
Quackity blinked. “Wh-what?”
“You heard him.” Karl laughed.
“Sapnap, mi amor..” Quackity shook his head. “Wh-what are you talking about?”
Sapnap stared at him coldly. “You’re still chasing him after all this time.”
“Chasing him?!” Quackity scoffed. “Since when does believing in second chances mean I wanna date him?! I don’t!”
“Right. As if you don’t look at Wilbur like he’s the love of your life..” Sapnap stepped back from Quackity to stand next to Karl.
“What?!” Quackity was confused. “Since when does Wilbur… I don’t understand– do you really not trust me?”
Sapnap closed his eyes and went quiet. “No. I don’t think I do.”
The world shattered around Quackity like a vase of flowers. The water flooded his lungs and his tear ducts, his throat stuffed with the thorns and petals of terrifyingly beautiful flowers. The smell of roses filled his nostrils, quickly turning rotten and dizzying.
Tears jumped to his eyes. “I-I…” he clenched his fists. “I built a country for you. I built a place where we could get married. I built us a home , and this is what I get?” He laughed sharply. “A fiancé that thinks I’m a murderer, and another that thinks I’m a traitor…”
“Hey now, you left us , remember?” Karl bit back.
“You left me at El Rapids.” Quackity felt tears falling down his face. “You took George too. You left me behind! ”
“Y’know what, I’m fucking done with you!” Sapnap grabbed Quackity by the collar of his shirt. “This is why I’ve always loved Karl more !”
Quackity’s eyes widened and his jaw went slack. “Sapnap…” He had to be saying that just to hurt him, right? He couldn’t mean that.. there was no way.
Sapnap let go of him roughly, and Quackity fell to the floor. “Pl-please, amor, I’m sorry.”
“You think I’m gonna forgive you just like that?!” Sapnap scoffed. “Didn’t you literally make out with Wilbur during Karl’s birthday party?”
“No!” Quackity got on his knees, quite literally pleading. “No, that was all a joke! I love you!”
Karl chuckled, “Right. You ‘love us’.” He made air quotes bitterly.
“Wuh- why would I lie about that?” Quackity cried. He held his sides. “I was manipulated by Schlatt– I was only there to entertain him. I would never treat either of you like that. It was hell, and no one deserves that.”
“Oh I’m sure.” Karl pushed Quackity, and the man toppled backward, his beanie falling off. He scrambled to pull it back on. “You’re not above it, so don’t think that you are.”
“But wh-why?” Quackity breathed. “Why do you think that?”
Karl hummed, deceptively thoughtful. “I dunno, maybe it’s because you’re a lying disgrace and we hate you?!”
“Karl…?” Heavy tears flooded down Quackity’s flushed face.
“Get out.” Sapnap growled.
“Sap–”
“Get OUT , Quackity!” Karl screamed.
Quackity looked back and forth between his fiancés (ex-fiancés?) and shut his eyes. “Y’know what.. maybe if you’re so convinced I’m with Wilbur and Schlatt, maybe I just should be!”
“Fine! Then go be with them!” Sapnap spat.
“Fine!” Quackity stood, biting his cheek to keep his jaw from quivering. “I will!” He ran from the house, not bothering to get his things. He tossed his engagement rings into this waste of a kingdom as he ran.
*****
“Big Q, heeeey…!” Wilbur tried to greet his rival, but stopped in his tracks. “Whoah, what happened to you?”
“Fuck off, Wilbur, I don’t have the time or the patience to deal with you right now.” Quackity grumbled, wiping the snot from his nose. His eyes were red and puffy, and there were hot, sticky tear tracks on his cheeks. He hated looking like this; weak. Fragile .
“No, Quackity wait!” Wilbur stood in front of the shorter man so he couldn’t keep walking. “Are you okay?”
“Does it fucking look like I’m okay?” Quackity stared at the brunet with daggers in his gaze.
“Jesus Prime, if looks could kill…” Wilbur sighed. “Let me help you, Q. What happened?”
Quackity groaned. “Learn how to mind your own business, you zombie motherfucker.” He stepped around Wilbur and started speed walking toward his home.
“Please, Quackity, I just need to know that you’re alright.” Wilbur fumbled after him. Something fell from his pocket, but Quackity ignored it and kept walking.
“I’m not talking to you about this, so just go bother someone else, okay?” He was trying to be nice. Holy Prime, he was trying his best to be nice, but he was so angry in the moment that no matter what Wilbur said, it would just make him more upset.
But of course, Wilbur didn’t back off. He was Wilbur. “Quackity–”
Quackity whirled around. “What the hell are you not understanding?! Leave me alone!” He started running to his front door, silently praying that Wilbur wouldn’t follow. Quackity wanted to be alone. He needed to be alone right now. He was grabbed by his suspenders and dragged backward. “Let fucking go of me!”
He was pulled into an unexpected and unwanted hug. “Who hurt you?” Wilbur asked softly. “I’ll fuck them up.”
Quackity brought up his leg and smashed his foot into Wilbur’s knee. Wilbur released him and hobbled backward, writhing in pain. Quackity started running.
*****
A massive grandfather clock ticked in the hallway. It was loud. It made Schlatt’s head hurt. His heart almost jumped out of his chest when he heard the front door slam shut. Quackity stormed into the sitting room, his fists clenched. He was sobbing, periodically interrupted by hiccups. Schlatt knew it would be best to leave him alone, so he got up, but Quackity stopped him.
“No, Schlatt, wait, I ne-ed to talk to you.” Quackity stuttered. “Don’t leave.”
Schlatt wrung his hands. “You.. actually want me here?”
Quackity nodded, wiping his face on his sleeve. “Please. I need.. I need closure.”
Schlatt nodded immediately, rushing to stand across from him. “Anything.” He leaned forward anxiously. “What can I do?”
“Did you ever love me?” Quackity looked up at him with heartbroken, tear-stricken eyes. “Like, actually loved me? Or was I just your little play thing..?”
Schlatt smiled sadly. “Oh, I loved you.” He reached out and took Quackity’s hands in his own. “I loved you with everything I had. I still love you.” He shook his head. “I was horrible to you; I took you for granted. I don’t want to make the excuse that I was drunk and under pressure, because that’s so fucking unfair to you, but that is the reason. I love you, and you don’t have to accept it, but I’m sorry.”
Quackity stared at him for a long time with his big, pretty doe eyes. They soon softened and he cupped Schlatt’s cheek. “I may not be able to forgive you right away, but I think we can try to heal together.”
Schlatt’s ears perked up. “You’d.. you’d really give me a second chance?”
Quackity nodded, laughing wetly. “Yeah. I wanna give you what Sapnap and Karl just took from me..”
Schlatt blinked, “what do you mean?”
Quackity looked away. “I was engaged to them.” He wiped his eyes again. “They just dumped me.” He laughed sourly. “It all happened so fast, I-I.. I’m not really even sure what the reason was.”
Schlatt pulled him into a hug that Quackity melted into. “I’m so sorry.” The ram whispered. “You deserve better.”
“But what do I deserve?” Quackity was shivering in his arms.
Schlatt gave him a gentle squeeze. “Baby, I’d give you the world.”
*****
In the two weeks Schlatt had been alive, he learned a lot. He learned he had a grandson. He learned how Quackity had built an entire country from scratch. Most importantly, he learned to be hyper-aware of the things he did around Quackity. He never yelled. He never moved his hands too fast. He was as gentle as he could be with the duck-hybrid.
His favorite thing he’d learned was how to help Quackity take care of his wings. He remembered them being fluffy and golden a long time ago, but he could tell Quackity hadn’t been grooming them. He discovered Quackity hadn’t flown in months because of how bad his wings had gotten.
Once upon a time, Schlatt would take care of those wings. He was always so careful and gentle with it. But when he started drinking, suddenly his husband’s wellbeing wasn’t important anymore.
Sapnap and Karl used to care for Quackity’s wings too, but since Quackity had been abandoned in El Rapids, the poor things had been matted and torn. Schlatt could see chunks of missing feathers Quackity had pulled out due to stress.
It’s difficult for avians to clean their own wings, so they often have to rely on their partners or people they trust. Schlatt helped without complaint, even if they weren’t officially together.
In the month he’d been alive, Schlatt had gotten kissed twice.
The first time was chaste and sweet; Schlatt wasn’t expecting it. It was New Years Eve, and fireworks were about to fire from the space needle restaurant. He felt someone tap him on the shoulder, and when he turned around, he was greeted with a giggling Quackity, his face flushed from a wine buzz. Cherry wine, that was Quackity’s favorite. It had been since they met.
Schlatt tilted his head at the duck hybrid, smiling curiously. Quackity grinned back, tossing his head toward the clock. The other people in the tower were counting down, and Schlatt remembered what it was like to celebrate new year’s.
A kiss. Quackity was asking for a new year’s kiss. Schlatt wiped his sweating hands on his dress pants and nodded nervously.
As the clock struck midnight, Quackity stood on his tiptoes and pressed a kiss to Schlatt’s lips. Just as he’d guessed, Quackity still tasted like cherries and honey.
The second kiss was his idea. He was scared Quackity would say no, but he said it was okay. Schlatt was overwhelmingly relieved.
He shakily settled his fingers along Quackity’s shoulder. Quackity pulled the ram closer with a soft laugh. He stood on his tiptoes, just like before, and Schlatt kissed him delicately. Quackity hummed warmly into it, tilting his head a bit.
When they pulled back, Quackity’s eyes were shining brilliantly, even if he was blind in one of them. That reminded Schlatt…
“How- how’d you get that scar?” Schlatt asked softly. “If you don’t mind talking about it, of course.”
Quackity chuckled. “Yeah, uh, it was Technoblade.”
Schlatt blinked rapidly, confused. “ Technoblade ? Why?”
Quackity shifted uncomfortably. “Well uh.. Tubbo, Fundy, Ranboo, and I tried to kill him about a year ago. Tubbo was involved because he wanted revenge, like I did, but Fundy and Ranboo were just looking for something to do.”
“What’d you want revenge for?” Schlatt tilted his head.
“Techno killed both me and Tubbo in the fireworks blast at the festival.” Quackity wouldn’t meet Schlatt’s eyes, and the ram didn’t blame him. “We took him to the remains of Manburg, and we were going to execute him, but Ghostbur gave him a totem. Techno chased me into a cave, and literally put a pickaxe through my teeth.” He showed his teeth, revealing two shiny gold fillings. “He took out two of ’em.”
“I’m so sorry…” Schlatt cupped Quackity’s cheek lightly. “That sounds terrifying. I can’t imagine having to go through that, I couldn’t have dealt with it. Then again, I couldn’t have dealt with myself from the past.” He bit his lip. “How did you stay with me back then? I was so… abusive.”
“Yeah heh…” Quackity was messing with Schlatt’s hand, which he only just now noticed. “It’s because I loved you. I kept telling myself that it would get better, but it only got worse.” He looked up at Schlatt. “I know you’ve changed though. Wilbur told me about the talks you two had.”
“It makes me sick to think of what I put you and Toby through.” Schlatt shook his head. “He was so little.. I can’t believe he had to see what I did to you, and the fact I did it at all. I ruined both of your lives…”
Quackity cupped his cheek to make him look up from the ground. “You haven’t ruined anything. We’re healing.” He leaned in and kissed the bridge of Schlatt’s nose.
“I know but…” Schlatt sighed with exasperation. “I still feel horrible. I was horrible.” He felt like crying. He felt like shouting. Something to get those memories out. They’d plagued him for thirty-seven years, he wasn’t sure if he could take another day. “It’s good you’re healing, though. You two deserve to be happy. And I’m glad that Tubbo didn’t turn out like me with poor Ranboo.”
Quackity hummed. “Yeah, it’s good but.. unfortunately, Sam… Sam murdered Ranboo. Tubbo put the bastard in prison, so hopefully he can’t hurt anyone anymore.”
“With Dream?” Schlatt raised an eyebrow. “Oh wait shit, I forgot. Puffy told me that Dream escaped…”
Quackity nodded. “Yeah.. un- unfortunately…” he looked distraught, so Schlatt wanted to lighten the mood.
“Uhh.. when did you get a ‘live laugh kill’ poster?” He laughed softly.
“Hm?” Quackity looked to where Schlatt was pointing. “Oh,” he laughed. “That was a peace offering from Techno. We’ve been trying to be friends ever since he helped me at the Red Banquet.”
“The ‘Red Banquet’?” Schlatt asked, tilting his head.
“Oh, that’s right, you weren’t here.” Quackity swept a chunk of hair out of his eyes. “It was a ‘peace’ dinner arranged by Bad and his weird cult. It was actually just a trap to kill everyone as a sacrifice to that stupid fucking egg. I knew what they were doing so I got Techno and Purpled to help me put a stop to it before anything went too far.”
“Oh. Shit.” Schlatt blinked.
“I was trying to be friends with Purpled too, but he betrayed me.. he killed one of the only people I trust.” Quackity took a charred green bowtie out of his pocket. It was made of silky velvet fabric, and it had a small chunk of… was that slime?
“What was their name?” Schlatt asked softly.
“Charlie.” Quackity looked like he was about to cry. “He was the best person, and he wasn’t even human.” He clutched the bowtie to his chest. “I miss him.” He laughed bitterly. “Seems I’m always missing someone. ”
“Well, if it makes you feel better,” Schlatt gently took the duck hybrid’s hand, “you don’t have to miss me anymore.”
Quackity laughed wetly. “Y-yeah.” He stepped forward so Schlatt would hug him. “I have you back.”