Chapter 1: Prologue - 1
Chapter Text
Superheroes don’t wake up one day wanting to be one. They don’t walk out the house and just decide one day they want to take down super villains or fight crime.
That’s not quite how it worked.
It’s not like the movies where some otherworldly being comes down to them telling them of some destiny of theirs, presenting them with powers unlike anyone has ever seen to save the word from destruction, or waking up one day with muscles and powers and the sudden need to protect and saved, or even a child dreaming of protecting and saving those they loved and actually doing it.
At least it wasn’t like that for them. They’d already had the extraordinary powers since they were born, with no plans to wield or use them for anyone but themself .
Becoming a hero? For them, it was a complete accident.
Serendipity, also known Seren for short, as their full alias was too long for some, never intended for this to be their life. They never intended to be a shining light for people, a statue of hope and safety. They never intended to be a hero, it was never the plan they had seen when they looked into their future.
It just happened out of nowhere without a warning.
One save, on an ordinary night, was all it took draw them in, digging it’s claws in deep, never intending to let them deny or fight it’s pull of the thrill, the pull to protect and save. The pull to use their powers for good. They couldn’t even pinpoint an exact point that night of when it truly began.
The first time the person they saved, a young woman covered in bruises, looked at them with teary but grateful eyes? When they first heard the breathy, shaky cries echoing from an alley as they passed by? When the villain looked at them with eyes full of anger and insanity when they called to leave her alone? Or when they walked to woman home afterward, who pulled them into a shaky hug on her doorstep, whispering shaky ‘thank you’s’
They couldn’t pinpoint it, but in the end it didn’t really matter did it?
They were young when it happened, only a teenager. In anyone else that would have made them more innocent, with eye wide and an open heart. But in them, they was more jaded and guarded in their heart, more selfish.
Their life was different from others. A life of not knowing who to trust and who was genuine. Of grabby hands reaching out and greedy eyes leering, from friends, to acquaintances, to people they met once, even strangers. A life where they were blessed with power that bettered, and also ruined, their life, that left them beloved and scorned for. A power which they didn’t know how to use, if not to be selfish or taken advantage of.
That night changed them, and everything for them, forever though, because they finally found a way to use that power to not be selfish, and every day after that, changed them a little more.
It started the pieces starting to be placed and slid into place. The small trickle of water becoming gushing water. The small flickering flame becoming a thriving fire.
They saved more people. More lives. Their heart became more open and less selfish and more selfless. Their powers became less scorned and more loved in the hearts of the people. Powers that saved.
They became popular and beloved, and known for selflessness instead of selfishness. Known to the world by two different names, as two different people.
And no-one would never know, that those two names were the same person.
No-one knew that in one night, an ordinary duck with powers, and became a true superhero.
That Serendipity was born.
Chapter 2: Prologue - 2
Chapter Text
In the past, in the days before Darkwing and Gizmoduck and the other newer superheroes, there was only one.
They were known as the first of their kind. The first real superhero, that wasn’t in a comic book or on a movie.
A spectacle to the world that everyone awed at. Someone children and even adults idolised and adored.
Serendipity appeared to the world officially for the first time in the late 90’s, 1997 to be exact. Though to a few it was a few years earlier. The name Serendipity appeared in word of mouth at first. A vigilante that only few had seen or could describe. A name passed in whispers around the school yard or in the break room at work by those they had saved, but that most took with a grain of salt.
Until 1998, when the first official sighting was caught on camera. Blurred and dark footage, but footage nonetheless. That was when people started to believe and whispers became louder. It became a name spoke in crowds, through messages, in interviews and shows.
Serendipity started out as a hero who worked in one city, but eventually, through the years, became a worldwide hero, popping up in different counties and countries, taking care of a multitude of threats ranging from petty crime to world ending threats, even an alien invasion that was never made known to the public, the Moonlander incident wasn’t the first time the Earth had tangoed with Aliens, and teaming up with the Government to take out underground crime.
Serendipity was an elusive superhero, some even the Government couldn’t quite pin down, one that only few had ever heard their true voice, and only then in a low whisper. They was mostly silent in their earlier years, until they gained a way to mask their voice. Even then, no-one could tell you what they sounded like, what gender they were, how old they were, or what they looked like under their helmet. Not once had they agreed to an interview or a cameo on tv. Barely anything was known about the hero and what was were small crumbs that slipped through, people quickly eating up and begging for more, not even what their superpower actually even was. But even though not much was known, what was known painted well enough picture of the person their hero was.
Kind
Gentle.
Determined.
Driven.
Graceful.
Clever.
Strong-willed.
Reliable.
Caring.
Loving.
A good person through and through, and that was enough for most.
Serendipity’s heroics lasted for just over a decade, until one day they disappeared in 2008, completely out of the blue.
They were gone, like they had never existed.
The world sat waiting and waiting for years for their return. It was an upsetting day for everyone when they realised that Serendipity might not be coming back. The world cried and begged and pleaded, fans trying to hold onto hope that they would return but slowly losing it.
Crime rose, villains and criminals taking advantage, police and the government having to step up again to fill the gap the best they could.
After Serendipity disappeared, the world was never the same.
They were missed and loved, but even so, they never came back. People had began to theorise and fear that they had died and that was why.
Eventually, as time passed by, a name that used to be a world renowned and household name, became a distant memory, a name barely spoken unless to reminisce.
Serendipity became almost forgotten.
Years went by, and other superheroes took their place.
But even so, it was never the same.
Because no-one could every truly forget the first.
The world’s only Serendipity.
Chapter 3: Prologue - 3
Chapter Text
Serendipity had thought that they might do this forever, a thought that had never crossed their mind when they first started out.
It had become almost addicting, this job. One that no-one but themself had or could do (at the time at least).
It was a career that they had never imagined they’d love some much when they first started out.
The adrenaline pumping through their blood, the sharpness of their mind, as they dodged and weaved fighting against Earth’s most recent threat. The burn and ache of their muscles and lungs after a long battle. Sweet clinging to their feathers, sometimes blood staining their suit. It was fun and exciting.
And they were doing good at the same time, which made it even better. Saving lives, making sure families never dragged apart and parents could see their children grow. Making sure that no-one had to suffer.
They also got fame for it, which was another bonus.
They had never done it for that but it was nice to have all same. To be looked at in a nice and kinder light than the person under the costume was.
Seeing the gratefulness in people’s eyes, the sparse hugs and handshakes, hearing the cheers and praise of their alias in media and headlines was heart-warming , the merchandise was also pretty cool, a few which they’d swiped for themselves as little mementos. Still, they never bought into it fully, avoiding tv interviews, and any proper interactions with the people they protected and saved.
They told themselves that it was to preserve their identity as they were a pretty identifiable person under the helmet to the right people. But really, it was because they wanted to keep both of their lives apart. To protect their family sure, but that wasn’t quite true. The real reason was quite selfish. Really it was because they didn’t want their life under the helmet to poison Serendipity
Serendipity was a selfless hero, who risk their life every day to protect the people of Earth, a person who people loved.
The real them was a selfish duck, who selfishly used their power for themself, and person that most people hated.
They were different sides of the same coin. Two different kind of people.
They could never collide or meet. They would never let them.
Because it would ruin everything if they did. So they stayed separate. They did everything to make it so.
Until they lost someone outside the job. Someone they were close to disappeared, being theorised as deceased. They didn’t believe it.
That was when both sides began to bleed into one.
They did everything to find her, using their power and connections, even ones off of Earth to track her down and bring her home, neglecting their job.
No matter how much they searched and what they did, they came up empty and she was never found.
She became the first person in their entire life that they couldn’t save.
They fell into grief.
Both sides came intertwined and harder to pull apart.
In their neglect, another was almost lost. The life of a young girl, barely 5 years old, who nearly died in a house fire because they had been distracted, thankfully being saved by firefighters, though she did end up losing a limb.
That broke them.
In the 11 years that they had been a superhero, they had never cut that close or almost failed to save someone.
It made them become hesitant in their abilities.
It wasn’t the only time.
So many times afterward, there were so many close calls, too many. They began losing their confidence in being the hero their people needed.
The last had been what made them break.
A 17 year old boy, who had been beaten up by an underground gang that they had been tracking. They had gotten there too late, just as the boy’s head had been slammed into the pavement. He had ended up in a coma.
He had woken up 5 days later of course, completely fine.
But it didn’t matter to them. Because it never should have happened.
They had become sloppy, unfocused, unreliable.
The sad reality of their powers was that they only protected them, they didn’t account for anyone else, that fell completely to themself, and if they weren’t completely focused, well.… looked what had happened.
It also didn’t help that they had made a vow to never let their two lives meet, and all they had done since she disappeared was let them.
Enough was enough, they had decided one night. They had come to the realisation that they were more of a threat to the people they saved than the villains themselves these days, that they weren’t the hero they were meant to be, that they couldn’t trust themselves anymore.
So they made the difficult choice to disappear.
They watched in the days, weeks, afterwards.
They watched the news reports, reads the newspapers, heard the cries and pleas for their return.
They received the messages, emails and calls from the Government, their allies and friends, but ignored them.
Each one hurt their heart, making it squeeze painfully. They wanted to badly to give in, to return like they had never left. They missed it.
But doubt and hesitation held them back.
They would be fine without them.
Years past by, they watched the world change without them, watched their alias being forgotten and fading from people’s minds.
They watched new heroes rise up to fill the gap they had left, becoming the new shining light for people.
They were as jealous as they were glad. It was a weird feeling.
They lived their life as normal people did now, or what had been normal to them before they had even became a hero.
They hated it, but it was all they had, now that Serendipity was practically buried and dead.
But this was their punishment, and something they would have to live with for the rest of their lives.
Serendipity was gone and they weren’t coming back.
Chapter 4: Who is Serendipity?
Chapter Text
Present day - 2018
Gladstone ran his fingers through his short gelled curls as looked at himself in the tall mirror in his room.
It was 5 minutes past the time he was supposed to leave and he wasn’t quite ready yet, but he didn’t let himself worry or move any faster to rush, his luck would make sure he made it on time anyway.
A party was being held at the McDuck manor today, it was a late celebration for Della’s return, which was months ago now. But so many things had gotten in the way then, preventing them from all getting together all at once. Today was the time in years where all of them would officially be together.
He gave his reflection a grin, before deciding to stop pandering around, and actually headed out.
He opened his wardrobe and to get a jacket to wear. He closed his eyes and reached inside, allowing his luck to guide him, it was a little game he liked to do, even when it was always lead him his favourite green one which he always wore.
His hands wrapped around a fabric and he pulled, holding it up in front of him and opening his eyes.
His heart stopped as he laid eyes on the item, his eyes raked over it with shock.
It definitely wasn’t his jacket.
Instead, in front of him hung his once superhero suit, it's emerald and dark green spandex and armour still pristine and in perfect condition after so many years.
He lowered it, his fingers shakily ran over the textured material, his beak trembling as memories came flooding back. This year would be 11 years since he’d last put it on, 11 years since he’d taken it off for the last time, with a vow to never wear it again.
The time where he reluctantly had closed the page on what was, admittedly, one of the best times in life. Something he regretted now, even if then it was necessary decision.
So many times he found himself wishing so deeply that he could just put in back on and pick up where he’d left off, returning like he’d never even left in the first place.
But that was wishful thinking, he knew. The world was too different now. He was too different.
The world didn’t need him anymore when there were multiple other better superheroes to choose from.
There was no place in this new world for Serendipity.
He swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat as he gently folded up the suit with shaky hands and put it away, hiding deep in the back of his wardrobe, out of sight, before forcing himself to move on with his day.
He stood for a moment, taking a few deep breaths to reign himself back in and reached for his usual emerald green jacket. He quickly slid it off the coat hanger and slipping it on, before heading out of the house, even if he wasn’t quite in the mood to party anymore.
A taxi came by just in time, and he quickly hailed it, climbing inside.
Traffic was sparse today to his un-surprise, he knew his luck had something to do with it, and he arrived at the manor exactly on time.
———
To begin with, it was more of a dinner than a party.
Everyone sat at Scrooge’s long dinner table every seat filled, which had delicious food piled high.
He hadn’t realised just how many people had been invited to this celebration. There was of course the family; him, Scrooge, Donald, Della, the Triplets, Fethry, Webby, May and June. Then there was Lena, Violet, Fenton, Gandra, Drake, Launchpad, Gyro, Boyd, Gosalyn and Daisy. Most of these people he barely knew, aside from Lena, Violet and Gyro, but they were close to the rest of the family. He had been seated between Fethry and Drake, with Lena, Fenton and Gandra directly across from them, so he’d believed he forced to speak with most of them somewhat.
Thankfully, the everyone had decided to communicate in one large conversation instead of separate small ones. Currently the subject was superheroes, since Fenton and Drake, were both the newer big heroes; Gizmoduck and Darkwing Duck, and Lena, was a new starting out hero. Fenton and Drake were regaling stories to the table of missions and such.
It was the worst conversation that could have come up, especially after what had happened earlier, and one he tried his best to ignore and just focus on eating his food. It was difficult though, since everyone seemed completely interested in the topic that he unwilling found himself being drawn in to listen.
Della shook her head with a smile. “It’s so strange to me now that superheroes are basically the norm. When we were kids, there was no-one like that, at least not until Serendipity.”
He flinched, almost choking on the carrot that he had been eating when his old alias was spoken.
“Serendipity! Yes! I had almost forgotten about them!” Donald’s eyes lit up, a grin on his beak.
“Serendipity was my hero inspiration! Well aside of the official Darkwing of course.” Drake exclaimed with excitement. “Did you know a fair few of the fictional Darkwing’s battles in the show were based off real Serendipity battles?”
“Really?! I didn’t know that!” Launchpad uttered with awe. “That’s so cool!”
“Yeah, the director was apparently a huge super fan.” Drake grinned at his sidekick.
“I got to see them in person once, you know?! It was only a glimpse, but it was the best moment of my life!” Fenton piped up.
“Really?! That’s so cool!” Della and Fethry gushed in unison.
He felt his cheeks warm up under his feathers in an embarrassed flush, ducking his head to hide it. It was so weird to be surrounded by family, and people who knew him, and them unknowingly fangirling and gushing over someone they had no idea was actually him.
Sure he had experienced it before, when he was still heroing, since Donald, Della and Fethry already being huge superhero fans, had unsurprisingly also became big fans of Serendipity. It was surreal feeling for young Gladstone, who had never had so many good things said, however indirectly, about him. Even Scrooge had had some good things to say about him back then.
But he hadn’t realised that they still were fans. Even after his disappearance.
“Uhh….who’s Serendipity?” Louie asked, it was only then the fan-girling stopped, being replaced by shock as they noticed the kids looked lost and confused.
It wasn’t surprising that they wouldn’t know him, Serendipity had been gone before their time, disappearing only months before the the triplets hatched. He would be surprised if any of the new generation knew about him anymore.
“None of you know who Serendipity is? How do you not know who Serendipity is?!” Della looked the most shocked, looking almost disappointed with her children.
The kids all looked at each other and shrugged.
“No idea.” “Never heard of them.” Was the varied response.
“Serendipity was the first ever real life superhero. The one who paved the way for other hero like us to even exist.” Fenton informed proudly.
“They appeared suddenly in 1997, 1998 officially.” Drake took over. “They were a mysterious and elusive hero. Not much was known about them really, no-one even knew their gender, how old they were, or what they looked like under their helmet and blacked out visor, as they were really secretive. Barely anyone had ever having heard them speak in their real voice either because they regularly used a voice modulator to change their voice, and even then it was just a low whisper. In the years they operated and even afterwards, people were happy to find out even the slightest crumb of information about them. So many people in my school used to theorise all the time together about the person they could be under the helmet.”
“It was like that at our school too.” Donald agreed. “The theories I used to hear though were pretty crazy. A lot of people in our school fully believed that they were a disguised alien of some kind who came to Earth accidentally.”
He found a small smirk curling onto his beak of amusement. He remembered that one. He’d had to excuse himself to the school bathroom to laugh himself breathless.
Him an alien? What a strange and stupid theory. How dumb did you have to be to come up with something like that?
Drake continued to speak, his mouth rambling a mile a minute as the blurted out everything that was known about Serendipity, with the kids listening intently with interest.
“Wow, why haven’t we heard of this hero?” Lena asked in confusion, once the lecture was done. “It sounds like they were a huge deal?”
“Well..that’s because they disappeared suddenly, 11 years ago, in 2008, before most of you were even hatched.” Donald explained, taking over, his voice and face somber, it was matched by most of the adults, except Della, who’s face was full of disbelief.
“What?! I didn’t know that?! What happened?!” Della was in a state of shock, mouth agape.
“Nobody really knows. One day they were there, the next, they were gone and never came back. People theorise that they may have passed away, but no-one can say for sure.” Drake said softly. “I just hope that the theory isn’t true and wherever they are, that they are alive and okay.”
“Oh..” Della wilted, looking completely heartbroken “That’s…so sad.”
That was where he tuned out of the conversation, which continued on but he didn’t hear a word, his heart clenching, his beak pressing together.
He didn’t want to hear anymore.
By the time, he tuned back in, the conversation had moved onto a different topic, one he contributed this time to distract himself. By the end of the dinner, he had managed to forget that his secret superhero past had even been a subject.
After dinner they moved into the sitting room, where it became more of a party.
Music, dancing, alcoholic drinks (only for the adults, the kids got mocktails) and merriment.
The kids had congregated together, dancing, whilst the adults sat chatting.
It was nice.
By the time he returned home later than evening, he was in a much better mood than he had been when he’d left, alcohol thrumming in his veins.
He waved to the limo that pulled away from pavement, which contained Launchpad, who had given him a lift home, and unlocked his door with a content smile.
He switched on the light switch by the door, lighting up the dark hall.
He strolled down the hall, spinning his keys around a finger, then throwing them in their usual place, acrystal green bowl in the sitting room, before heading to the kitchen. Despite the late hour, he fancied a quick coffee.
He switched on the kitchen light, intending to head inside before he froze, his eyes making contact with something, or rather someone, who definitely shouldn’t be in there.
Sat at his kitchen table was a slim and tall mallard duck that he didn’t recognise with cream feathers and strange electric blue eyes, in a crisp grey suit, one of his coffee mugs held in their hands.
What the-?
Who was that?!
“Who are you?!-” He exclaimed with a mixture of surprise and shock. His hand blindly reached for the countertop beside him for a weapon, not taking his eyes the entire time off of the intruder. His fingers wrapped around the handle of a knife, which he quickly pointed towards the person. “-and what are you doing in my house?!” His tone took on a more threatening tone as his eyes narrowed, his previous battle experience taking over.
The person didn’t see put off or scared by the knife that they had pointed towards them, in fact they just smiled completely unbothered, their beak quirking up in one corner, their strange eyes swirling with amusement as they looked at him.
The expression took him off guard for a moment. He found the hand holding the knife slowly lowering, familiarity filling him from it.
But how was it familiar?
Why was it so familiar?
He just couldn’t place it, that was until they spoke-
“Hello Serendipity. It’s been a long time meega achi-baba (my friend)…” The person spoke in a smooth and deep voice with a strange inhuman sounding echo to it.
And in that moment, everything fell into place.
Chapter 5: Hello Old Friend
Notes:
The alien Language used in previous chapter, this chapter and onwards is Tanatalog, the alien language from Lilo and Stitch, because I am too lazy to create my own language lol.
Chapter Text
Gladstone stared at the person with surprise, the knife slipping from his fingertips and clattering on the ground, memories flooding back, the voice with a different face. “..X-Xion.”
———
Past - 2000
17 year old Serendipity raced down the metal halls of the government facility, his lungs burning with the urgency as he raced, his emerald cape flying out behind him.
Could this day get any weirder?! Aliens! Seriously?!
When he had woken up early for school this morning, he hadn’t ever predicted that his help would be called in to deal with an alien invasion!
When he had become the world’s hero, he had never expected to have to deal with aliens too!
The invasion had come on fast, too fast. A race called the Quentanian’s, from the Planet Quentania.
The government had been overrun, blindsided at first and then completely overtaken in a matter of hours. The aliens were intelligent, cutting off all communications from the government to outside of the country, so no calls for help, back up or even to warn the rest of the world would go through. Government agents were locked away and held hostage whilst the aliens took over.
It was all complete and utter chaos, chaos that he only knew of because a singular, lucky, agent who had managed to sneak away and contact him, before being recaptured.
Now he was rushing to save the planet all on his own, with barely even a plan, and it wasn’t even lunchtime yet!
The quiet hallways made uncharacteristic tension seep into his body as he moved blindly. He readjusted his gloved fingers of his gun, a sleek pistol, a new addition to his arsenal, as he stopped at an intersection, pressing his back to the wall and peeked around the corner calculatingly. He was usually reluctant to use guns in his work, but with the new threat it was unfortunately necessary.
He let out a relieved sigh when he saw no-one and continued on, his heart pounding in anticipation, the pressure of his mission heavy on his shoulders. If he failed, the world as they knew it was as good as gone.
His current plan was to find where most of the agents were being held, then at least he wasn’t alone and they could come up with a plan together. He prayed more than ever that his luck came through for him today. If there were any day for it to fail, he begged it wasn’t this day. He urged it to lead him to where he needed to go.
He stopped at another corner, just peeking around, when something ran straight into him, sending him tumbling to the ground with a yelp, a weight landing on top of him, sending his gun flying out of his hand and clattering to the ground.
He groaned, moving to sit up when his eyes met an inhuman being laid on top of him through the blacked out visor of his repurposed second-hand motorcycle helmet. The being had blue skin, wide blue irises without pupils and with black eyeballs, a mouth full of silver sharp teeth, light blue fins on either side of it’s head, a singular spiralled antenna on top of it’s head and a choker-like golden necklace fastened around which housed crimson red gem that sat above a set of gills. A Quentanian.
He made a noise and frantically pushing the alien off, him, scrambling backward on his bum to make some distance and grabbed at his gun.
He pointed the gun at the alien, who was sat rubbing it’s head with it’s long..tentacle?, a pained look on it’s face. His stance shaky from aiming a gun towards another living being, but held strong.
The alien chose then to look up, eyes widening as it noticed the gun, scrambling backwards with tentacled arms up. “Naga! Aggaba! (No! Stop!)” The alien exclaimed in a language that definitely wasn’t Earthly.
He slowly pushed himself to his feet, but didn’t take the gun or his eyes off of the alien as he did.
What should he do now? Shoot it? Or could it lead him to his allies? He mused.
Well the alien didn’t seem much a threat at the moment, so….
He quickly made up his mind. “Do you understand English?” He asked, his cheap voice modulator that was stored inside his helmet, masking as well as projecting his voice.
The alien tilted it’s head, it’s antenna, which it seemed was it’s ears?, uncurling and curling again, and gave a small nod. “Ih! Smish (Yes! I understand).”
He wasn’t sure what that meant, but by the nod he assumed it said yes. “Good. Do you speak any English?” It would make thing a whole lot easier.
The alien shook it’s head. “Naga Eeeenglissssh (No English)—.” The alien sounded out the word ‘English'. “- Tantalog, Soka (Sorry).”
So ‘No’ then. Okay, the hard way it was. At least the alien understood English.
“Of course.” He muttered lowly, before getting back to business. “Where are your people keeping the agents hostage? Take me to them and I won’t hurt you.” He ordered, keeping his voice firm.
He was expecting this to get ugly from here, maybe resistance, anger of even fear from his included threat. But the alien did something unexpected, it complied. It made a noise and jumped to it’s feet..tentacles and pointed back the way it came looking determined. “Aka tiki baba (There it is/It’s over there). Yuuga sasa! ( You, Follow me/This way!) Okie-taka? (Okay?)” The alien then gestured him forward to follow.
He stared at the alien for a few moments in confusion and suspicion, but decided to follow after it, lowering his gun for a minute, but keeping his finger of the trigger just incase.
“Meega Isa ‘Xionitris’. Cama’ahar teh tebtacres? (Me is/am/are Xionitris. What is your name?)” The alien asked as they walked in silence down the hall.
He wasn’t sure what the alien had said at all, all of it sounding like gobbledygook. “What?” He asked dumfounded.
The alien stopped for a moment, letting out a noise that sounded like a sigh. The alien turned to him. “Meega Isa-.” The alien pressed a tentacle to it’s chest. “-Xionitris.” The alien then reached towards him. He froze for a moment, readying his gun incase the alien attacked, wary, but the alien only pressed it’s tentacle to his own chest. “Cama’ahar teh tebtacres?” The alien repeated.
Oh! He believed he understood. “Your name is Xionitris. What is my name?” He repeated what he thought the alien had said, in English.
The alien grinned, showing off it’s sharp silver teeth and nodded. “Ih! (Yes!)
He couldn’t proud of himself for getting it. “Well my name is Serendipity.” He introduced, using his superhero name.
“Seee-rennnn-diiip-ittt-yyy.” The alien, Xionitris, sounded it out slowly, before looking at him for approval, which he gave, finding himself smiling in amusement under the helmet, before it nodded. “Serendipity.” It repeated again with a grin.
His smile widened, any tension of the situation and fear of danger from the alien almost fading away in an instant.
In that moment, he hadn’t realised that this interaction would change his life forever and how much this alien would soon come to mean to him.
———
“That’s me. Nice to know I haven’t been forgotten.” Their smile softened to something less amused and more fond. “It’s good to see you again Seren.”
He let out a breath. “Why do you look like that?” Despite know who the intruder was, he still couldn’t help but feel on edge, because Xion definitely wasn’t supposed to look like a duck. It felt so very wrong.
“A cloaking device. A blue alien would stick out quite obviously walking among humans no?” Xion explained, their ‘beak’ curling into a smirk. “But I can see I am making you uncomfortable. Would you like me to switch back?”
“Please.” He almost begged. The disguise was freaking him out.
Xion chuckled warmly and reached to their neck, twisting the device and in immediately the humanoid facade faded away to be replaced by a being with the Xion he knew and remembered.
“That’s better.” He felt himself relax, now faced with the appearance that he was used to. “You know? Seeing your voice come out of a duck’s mouth was really freaky.” He admitted.
“I’ll take that into account. This was but a test run.” Xion winked, a grin on their face showing off their sharp teeth.
He moved to sit in the seat across from Xion. “So, how did you find me? How do you even know who I am?” They may be old friends, but he had never revealed his identity to Xion, not even his true name. How did they find out?
Xion gave a sheepish look at that. “After you left, I tried to stay away. I know how much you wanted your superhero life and your civilian life separated and I didn’t want to ruin that. But eventually I missed you, so I decided to look into trying to figure out your identity. Not to come and find you, just to..keep track of you and how you were doing, that you were okay.”
He felt a smile pull at his beak. That was almost…sweet. “And now?” He pressed curiously.
The sheepish look fell, being replaced by a serious expression, their invisible lips pressing together in a frown. “The World is in danger Serendipity, and it needs you.”
He sighed, shaking his head. “Xi, I told you back then and that’s still the case now. Serendipity is no more. I’m done with that part of my life. Besides isn’t there two active capable superheroes around now? Why don’t you reach out to them instead to handle it?”
“But they are not you!” Xion argued fervently. “They are two incompetent supers, who barely have experienced anything the same as you have, the true grittiness and strain of being a superhero. Against this threat, they would barely stand a chance on their own without a knowledgeable and experienced guide.”
“What is this threat?” He asked with a raised brow. “And why do you think I’ll be able to handle it better than they could?”
“Because you’ve done it before.”
He blanched, dread filling him. “You aren’t saying what I think you are, are you?” He internally begged Xion to deny. Not him, anything but him.
But Xion gave a firm nod, confirming his worst fear. “I’m afraid so. Earth Days ago, ex-Sovereign Morch and his rebels broke out of prison and killed Sovereign Blark. We only received a video message from Narka on Quentania, warning us, this morning, since all communication devices had been damaged. They could be here any day now.”
“What?!” He exclaimed, jumping up from his seat. It was his worst nightmare come to life something that he’d feared ever since he’d defeated and put Morch on behind bars years ago.
“Seren.” Xion wore a look of utter seriousness but also sympathy for giving him such bad news. “He is coming here to finish what he started all those years ago, and for revenge on you.”
He stared in shock at his friend with only one word echoing in his mind at those words.
“Smitec (Darn it).”
Chapter 6: A Living Nightmare
Chapter Text
Space - Now
In the large expanse of space, flying in a cluster just passed Mercury, flew five large Quentanian ships. Inside of the leading ship, the largest ship of the group, on a large silver throne, sat a large alien creature that didn’t look Quentanian at all, lacking the Quentanian’s tentacles, their eyes and any of their features at all.
That was because he wasn’t a Quentanian at all, he was a Tantalogian, a long since extinct species. He was a large creature, at least 8ft sitting and almost 10 whilst standing, his limbs were thick like tree trunks, with large strong hands and feet, his body rounded and bulky but muscled under a silver body armour that covered his chest and torso, his face held 4 red eyes, 3 red and the fourth a unnatural milky colour, a long old scar stretching across it damaging it and making it unusable a shark-like mouth filled with hundreds of teeth and two slits on his bridge as a nose.
This creature was ex-Sovereign Morch, ex ruler of Quentania, and one of the most feared beings in the galaxy for his ruthlessness.
Morch stared out of the window of his throne room at the expanse of stars passing by, the look in his three working eyes almost sharp enough to draw blood if he so willed it, but on his lip spread a large unsettling toothy grin.
“We are barely 3 days away from Earth, my master.” A Quentanian approached from the side, stopping beside the throne, an older solider with turquoise pinprick eyes announced in Tantalog.
“Indeed.” Morch’s voice was so deep it rumbled like an earthquake. His already wide grin widened even further, stretching his cheeks. “So very soon I will have the revenge I have so craved all these years.”
The Quentanian wore a similar unhinged grin, standing beside the ex-Sovereign and staring out the window into space. “And you so deserve it my master. That little earthling meddled with affairs he had no business in, he deserves the consequences of his actions.”
The Tantalogian turned towards the smaller with amusement. “You have always been so loyal to me Lurch. I am lucky to have such a faithful subject like you still by side.” He purred, voice as sickly sweet as honey.
The Quentanian, Lurch, folded like putty in his hands, as always, eyes sparkling, back straightening. “Of course my master.” He replied, eager to please. “I am no traitor like most of my kind. My loyalty, my entire being, belongs to you my master. I will follow you always until my dying breath. You know that.”
Morch chuckled. “I do, and with you by side, we’ll make that Earthling pay, and watch Earth as we take what is mine. Can you just see it my weapon? Isn’t it glorious?”
“Yes my master, it is glorious, as it should be.” Lurch eagerly agreed, with a rapid nod.
“Yes.” The Tantalogian crooned. “As it should be.”
His eyes moved off of the small Quentanian and back out of the window. Within days, he would set the universe right as it should have been all those years ago, if it wasn’t for that infernal Earthling.
Count your days Serendipity, for soon enough, you will have none left.
—————
Earth - Now
Gladstone sat with his head in his hands, his shoulder shaking as he tried to calm himself down from the terror in his veins.
Morch was free. Morch was coming for him.
It was like a living nightmare that he couldn’t wake up from. A nightmare that he’d had many nights in the past, that had left him screaming at the top of lungs, something which had severely confused his Grandma when he lived with her. Imagining those terrifying angry red eyes towering over him, his large hand wrapped around his neck, stealing his final breath like he almost had.
He’d barely managed to stop him last time, his luck coming through at the last moment after failing badly, and now he would have to do it over again. How was he going to do it again?
He’d loved being a superhero, but fighting Morch had been the most traumatising and difficult experience he’d faced as a hero, at only 17 years old no less. Something he’d hoped to never have to face again.
It was why been held captive Toad Li Hua had been so terrifying for him, the demon’s large size bringing back too many bad memories.
He took another shaky breath, fingers digging into his forehead head as his terror only grew, leaving small indents.
“That’s enough of that.” Xion’s smooth voice broke through the terror for a moment, as their tentacles wrapped around his wrists, their coolness pressing against his skin almost soothingly and giving him something to focus on. He let Xion eased his hands away from his head and lower them down to the table, their tentacles then instantly moved to take his hands and squeeze them comfortingly.
Now with his hands not blocking his sight, he could see Xion’s endless icy eyes looking at him with empathy and understanding.
“Meega Achi-baba. Chi meetoh. (My friend, I’ve got you now).” They soothed, the familiar echoey-ness of their voice comforting. “It’s alright. You’re alright.”
“X-Xi-.” He gasped, tears pricking his eyes as his emotions flared . “I-I can’t do it again. I-I can’t-”
“I know I know.” Xion whispered softly, squeezing his hands. “But sadly you have no choice Seren. No matter what Morch and his rebels are coming for you whether you fight or not, and Earth doesn’t even stand a chance without you.”
Xion wasn’t wrong, even if he didn’t fight, Morch would still track him down.
He couldn’t run.
But that didn’t mean he didn’t desperately want to.
“There is a meeting tomorrow with the local heroes to make a plan.” Xion continued softly. “So don’t stress about it too much just now.”
He nodded mutely and despondent, swallowing the growing lump in his throat.
“I’m sorry. I wish this wasn’t true, but I will be by your side the whole while alright?” They promised firmly.
He looked at Xion, feeling lucky he had such a loyal friend by his side, even after 11 years of no contact. “Stay with me tonight?” Knowing what tomorrow held, he knew he would be to scared to sleep alone. “I don’t want to be alone.”
Xion smiled tenderly, if not a little sadly. “Of course meega achi-baba (my friend).”
Chapter 7: Lost Time
Chapter Text
Past - 2000 - Continued.
“Why are you helping me?” Serendipity asked Xionitris, even now less tense around the Quentanian, still feeling some suspicion of the sudden side change.“Shouldn’t you be against me and helping your people?”
Xionitris looked at him, looking almost resigned, a frown on their invisible lips. “Meega naga baaheth jihadi (I don’t want to fight). Meega naga isa kaphphong (I don’t want to be monster).” They said softly, before looking at him with their wide endless eyes.
He nodded. He didn’t exactly understand what they had said, but he got the gist from the their expression. It was obvious that they didn’t agree with what their people were doing. He found himself feeling sympathy for them and felt any remaining suspicion disappear.
Xionitris gave a small smile, before turning away and focusing on their trek. Not long later, they stopped at a corner, Xionitris peeking around gesturing for him to do the same. Stood in front of a door down the hall was two Quentanian’s armed with high tech guns. They moved back behind the corner.
“Le je impordement aka tiki baba (They are captured, it’s over there).” Xionitris muttered lowly.
“That’s the room?” He asked again to confirm.
The Quentanian nodded. “Ih (Yes).” They moved. “Meega tah (I go).” They pressed a hand to their chest and then gestured to the corner. “Yoouga iki boh boh. Ih? (You stay here. Yes?)” They pointed to him, then pointed to the ground, and then looked at him waiting.
He understood from the gestures what Xionitris was trying to convey. They would go and deal with them and he would stay there, hidden. He nodded. “Got it.”
The Quentanian smiled, pleased, and stepped around the corner. “Batookah! (Formal Greeting!)” He heard them exclaim, followed by different voices. repeating the word. It must be a greeting. He heard a cluster of other words and sounds, none of which he understood or could translate, so he didn’t bother to listen. He tightened his grip on his gun, surveying his surroundings to make sure he wasn’t snuck up on whilst waiting. He was so distracted by that that he didn’t hear Xionitris return.
“Yaka tak! (All clear!)”
He nearly jumped out of his skin as he whirled around, heart pounding. Noticing it was just Xionitris, he let out sigh of relief. “You scared the life out of me Xionitris!” He snapped, trying to slow his heart.
“Soka Serendipity.” The Quentanian let out a sound that sounded like a laugh, an echoey sound, a smile on their face, before it fell. “Yaka tak (All clear). Akootah! (Let’s go!)” They gestured at him to follow.
He assumed that meant they were safe to go on. “Alright, let’s go then.”
They turned around the corner and headed to the, now, unguarded, door, and let themselves in. Once inside, they were faced with a group of the hostage agents, handcuffed and lined up against the back wall, as well in the room was another Quentanian, who’s lilac eyes zeroed onto the strange suited and helmeted gander immediately, readying a high tech blaster and aiming it towards him. “Xionitris, Gaba? (What?)” She asked with a more feminine sounding voice in a harsh tone.
Before he could react, Xionitris unexpectedly moved in front of him, protecting him. “Narka, isa achi-baba (is friend).
The other Quentanian slowly lowers her gun, to his relief. “Gatchi nosty? (Are you sure?)”
Xionitris nodded, grinning. “Ih (Yes).”
The other Quentanian nodded slowly and lowered her gun fully, and Xionitris moved out of his way.
“Serendipity-.” Xionitris addressed him, then pointing to the other Quentanian. “-injibay meega matyr, (-that my cousin) Narka, Narka, Serendipity, isa achi-baba (is friend).” They, introduced, he believed.
The Quentanian looked at him, before giving a nod and holding out a tentacle and holding it out in front of her.
He looked to Xionitris, confused on what to do, before the Quentanian let out a sound that was definitely a sigh and gestured what to do, pressing both their tentacles together.
Oh.
He warily moved towards the other Quentanian and lifted his hand and pressed his palm flat onto her outstretched tentacle, even under his gloves, he could feel the coolness of it. He felt intrigue fill him at the strange experience.
Narka tilted her head at him, before smiling. “Ohufi achi-baba (Casual Greeting, friend).
He returned the smile nervously, though she couldn’t see it. “N-Nice to meet you Narka.”
Narka’s smile widened and she made a sound that was like a laugh, a soft sound, her shoulders shaking. “Toobaga (Dummy).”
He wasn’t sure what she had said, but she sounded like she insulted him. Rude. With a glance at to the side, he could see that Xionitrs was also laughing silently at what Narka had said, whilst the still locked up agents, who had watched the whole situation, looked completely lost with what was even happening.
He felt just as lost as them, and began to wonder how his life had become this crazy.
———
Now
“It’s nice to finally be able to see your face after all this time.” Xion spoke into the silence of the sitting room, led spread out on one of the couches under a baby blue blanket, and staring at the dim ceiling. “Back in the day, I always tried to imagine what you looked like under the helmet."
Gladstone rolled over to face him from the other couch, under a blanket of his own, a green one of course. They had decided to set up in the sitting room for a makeshift sleepover. “Yeah?” He pressed with intrigue. “Does the real me match up?”
“No.”
The answer was unexpected. He felt his mouth slowly begin to gape. He’d maybe expected a joke of some sort, but not an outright no. But Xion didn’t give him a chance to feed offended when they added. “The real you is much better than what my mind could come up with, because this is truly you Seren-.” Xion turned away from the ceiling to give him an earnest smile. “-and it can’t get any better than that.”
He found himself gaping, but this time for a different reason, his cheeks beginning to feel warm under his feathers, flustered with embarrassment. “..T-Thanks Xi.” He choked the words of out of his drying throat, at the unexpected compliment.
Xion smirked in amusement at his reaction. “No problem.” Their cockiness was rewarded with a pillow to the face. “Hey!” Xion pulled the pillow of their face and glared.
This time it was Gladstone who was smirking.
He had missed this, their banter and fun that they had shared in the past, though even then it hadn’t been quite like this. With his helmet on and identity concealed, they both never really got the chance to properly relax and comfortably hang out with one another or really know one another, only ever actually seeing each other when he was out as Serendipity.
His smirk slowly fell as he thought about it more.
8 years of Xion practically being held at arms length and then 11 years of no contact after that, he was lucky that Xion even wanted anything to do with him, that they even considered him a friend in the first place.
His smirk fell as he blurted out. “Do you hate me?”
Xion’s brow furrowed and they looked at him with the most perplexed expression. “Hate you? No! Of course not! Why would I hate you?”
Despite the relief he felt at the answer, he didn’t feel better about it. “Because you are my best friend and for 8 years, I kept who I am a secret from you and then went no contact with you for 11 years. Why wouldn’t you? Aren’t you even mad? You never even really knew me!” He burst.
Xion slowly shook their head. “I was never mad at you for keeping your identity from me, frustrated yes, but never mad, I know you had your reasons. Though yes I was a little mad, mostly after you leaving me behind.” They admitted, wearing a frown. “You were my best friend. I stayed on Earth for you, and you left me, alone.”
He winced. He’d tried so hard to keep both his lives separate during his career and then to put his hero life behind him after her retired, that his friendship with Xion had been affected in the process, something he truly regretted.
He met Xion’s eyes, earnest and apologetic, his voice holding a weight, a promise. “I’m sorry Xi. Even leaving my hero life, I shouldn’t have abandoned you and I’m sorry that I did. It was a mistake, and I won’t do it again.”
Xion stared at him for a moment, before their face softened, a knowing look in their eyes. “I know, and I forgive you Seren.” They smiled warmly, a smile that made him feel all warm inside. “But it doesn’t matter now, after this is all sorted out, even after you retire again, we can make up for lost time, right? And I can get to know you properly, the you beneath the helmet.”
Make up for lost time? Get to know him properly?
It was everything he could hope for. A real chance to be proper friends.
A small smile curled onto his beak. “….Yeah, I’d like that.” He answered softly. “-and you can call me Gladstone if you want?” He decided to offer. “You deserve to after all this time, to call me by my true name.”
Xion’s eyes widened slight in surprise before their smile widened. “Sure thing Gladstone.” His name rolled off their tongue like honey. “Though I think I’ll still call you Seren every now and then. If that’s okay?”
Hearing his true name from Xion’s lips, something he never thought he’d get to hear, sent a pleasant shudder down his spine like nothing before. “Y-Yeah, that’s okay. I don’t mind.” He found him stuttering, his face feeling unnaturally warm. Was it hot in here?
“Great.” Xion replied, grinning, before a yawn forced it’s way out of their mouth. They raised a tentacle to cover it. “Huh. It’s getting late, we should probably get some rest for the meeting tomorrow.”
He nodded mutely, from not quite having recovered yet, but also the reminder of the dreaded meeting looming on the horizon and that the worst and most dangerous enemy of his nightmares was on the loose once again. That tomorrow he was have to don Serendipity for this first time in over a decade.
He tried not to think about it too much now. It was tomorrow him’s problem.
For now, sleep was a priority.
“Jhua tehrqua (Good night) Seren.” He heard Xion say before they rolled over, snuggling under their blanket.
“J-Jhua tehrqua Xi.”
Chapter 8: New Suit, New Start
Chapter Text
The meeting was only two hours away, and he was a nervous mess. His palms were sweating, his thoughts were running a mile a minute and he felt like he was seconds away from fainting. Even so, it didn’t stop him from pacing his floor back and forth for the last hour.
Now he sat on his bed, his suit laid out in front of him, his helmet resting in his lap. It was nearly time to suit up.
This would be the first time he had put it on in 11 years. The first time he’d laid eyes on the full ensemble together in years, since it had always been pushed to the back of his wardrobe.
His thumbs traced the black, mirrored visor leaving slight streaks on the glass before they slowly faded, as he stared at his reflection that stared back, the two sides of him, one in which he’d abandoned.
Could he do this? Could he put on the suit and be Serendipity again like no time had passed? Was it that easy? He wasn’t so sure.
He had made a vow back then, a vow that he was going to break by putting the suit on again. It felt wrong.
“You okay Meega Achi-baba (my friend)?” He looked away to see Xion standing in the doorway, a large paper bag in one their tentacle.
He gave a smile which looked more like grimace. “Y-Yeah.” He didn’t sound very convincing, not even to himself.
Xion hummed. “Yeah, like I believe that.” They replied and approached, perching on the side of his bed. “The truth?” Their blue eyes met his, with an encouraging look.
He sighed, his grip loosening on the helmet and letting it fall into his lap. “I-I don’t know if I can put the suit back on Xi.”
“Why’s that?” They lightly pressed gently, resting a tentacle on his back, the coolness of the appendage seeping through his shirt grounding him a little.
He scrambled with how to explain. “I-I….I made a vow back then to never put the suit back on, and now..now I am. It doesn’t feel right, like a betrayal-a betrayal to my past self, you know?”
Xion paused for a moment before they gave a nod. “I understand. I actually have a gift for you that will hopefully help with that.” With that, they passed over the bag that they had brought with them. “Here.”
He accepted the bag with a confused look, but looked inside What he saw made him gasp. “Xi..” He trailed off.
No, this couldn’t be…
Folded up in the bag was his suit, but also not his suit, it was an upgrade, a serious one.
He pulled the body suit out of the bag, holding it in his hands. Under his fingers, the suit felt like it was made from more a sturdy but also flexible material than his old one, though it was still in his old colour scheme. Then he moved onto the helmet, which was similar to his old one, but looked more custom than the motor cycle helmet he used to use, with a more angular black visor, which felt like a firm glass rather than plastic when he knocked on it. It also came with a matching cape, gloves and shoes that still sat in the bag.
“I also made you an upgraded and more modern voice modulator, as well as upgraded of some of your old weapons and made a few new modernised gadgets, those should be rattling around in their somewhere.” Xion explained with a smile.
He felt his eyes begin to fill up with tears, feeling touched that Xion would do this for him. Sure back in the day, they had made him a few gadgets and upgrades, but that was then.
“Why? W-Why did you do this? When?” His voice trembled. Why when they had no idea that he would ever be Serendipity again? This would have taken so much time and hard work that might have ended up completely wasted.
“I had hoped that one day you would come out of retirement, and I wanted to be ready. I also thought that when that day came, a new suit could provide as a somewhat new start rather than picking up where you left off, a new Serendipity.” They tilted their head, their antenna bouncing as they did. “So what do you think? Does this make it easier? A new suit for a new start?”
He found himself smiling, the feeling from before fully fading. “I-It does. I love it.” He dropped the helmet and pulled the Quentanian into a hug without hesitation. “Thank you Xi.” He whispered gratefully.
Xion didn’t hesitate to hug him back, wrapping their tentacles around him. “No problem Seren.”
He felt himself relax into it, his face buried into the crook of Xion’s neck, his cheek resting on their golden necklace, it was nice. Xion’s scent drifted into his nose, something he’d never smelt before, something sweet almost like honey mixed with a sort of chemically smell that he couldn’t place. Despite the strange combination, the two scents worked well together as they flooded his senses.
The hug lasted and lingered for a while until either pulled away, and when they did they shared a smile.
It felt amazing to finally be able to do that with the Quentanian, his helmet in the past always hiding his expressions from the other. Xion had always managed to make him genuinely smile back then, something they never knew, whether with just being themself, or with some stupid joke or with just rant of technobabble that he barely even understood, they managed. In the years they’d been apart he missed that, he had missed them terribly despite how much he had tried to ignore it.
“I-I should probably get dressed.” He uttered eventually, breaking their moment even if he’d rather they just stay like this for a while longer. “We have to leave for the meeting soon after all.”
Xion nodded and moved to stand. “I’ll leave you to it. I’ll see you in a little while then.”
He watched the other leave and close the door behind them, leaving just him and his new suit. He turned to it and grabbed it, gently moving his old suit aside to lay it all out flat.
Once he was done, he looked down at it with determination. “Okay, let’s do this. New suit for a new start.” He repeated Xion’s words as encouragement.
It was time for Serendipity to come out of retirement to save the world once again.
Chapter 9: A Fan Encounter
Chapter Text
He emerged from his room just 20 minutes later, his body suit clinging to his body, fitting like a glove. A perfect fit. His cape floated behind him, a slightly weight on his shoulders, more weighted than his old one but manageable. His gloves and boots on covering the remaining appendages. All that was left was his helmet, but for now, he carried it under his armpit.
He hadn’t looked at himself just yet, avoiding every mirror as he walked back downstairs to where Xion waited for him.
Xion’s eyes lit up as soon as he entered the room mostly dressed, their eyes running over him, taking in his appearance.
He felt a little nervous for some reason being the centre of attention with Xion’s eyes focused on him. It made his throat feel dry, his cheeks warm, but he pushed it down. “What do you think? D-Do I look okay?”
“Morcheeba (Very nice).” Xion slowly stood, though didn’t take their eyes off him all the while and walked to him, stopping just in front of him, looking down at him. “Now all that’s left is the final piece.” The Quentanian held out their tentacles. “May I?”
He gave a nod. “Of course.” He handed them his helmet, the final piece. It was their right after all to see their hard work all together.
Xion took it from him, tentacles accidentally brushing against his hands for a moment, with a smile and moved closer, crouching slightly, their faces only a small distance away so close he could feel their cool breath on his cheeks. They lifted their tentacles and the helmet up and slowly lowered it over his head.
The helmet was snug, but fitted well. But that wasn’t what surprised him what did was that from this side, the glass was completely clear, he could see Xion’s smiling face clearly with no black tinge like the outside had.
Clever.
With his old helmet visor, the tinge had been quite hindering when the need came for proper colour identification, which wasn’t needed often, only when needing to be sure which colour wire to cut on a bomb, and even then, his luck usually aided him to the correct one, but it was nice to have a back up.
“Does it feel okay?” He heard Xion ask.
Another thing he noticed. The helmet was sound proof. The sound of Xion’s voice was clearly coming from inside the helmet to his ears, no longer slightly muffled.
“Feel’s great Xi.” His voice sounded normal to his ears, but from the way Xion’s face lit up, he was sure it came out differently to him.
“Good, your new modulator is working properly as intended. As you can see I added your modulator to the helmet, which muffles your true voice inside the helmet and projects the modulated version out for others to hear.”
So that’s what it was, Xion had added his modulator into the helmet itself rather than separated. He wondered what he sounded like now. His old modulator hadn’t been the most reliable in getting emotion across, would this one sound better? More emotive?
“What do I sound like?”
“More like a human rather than a robot like your old one, more emotive though it still obscures any hint of your gender or true voice.”
Cool. He would have to ask Xion to film him talking in the helmet later so he could hear it.
Now that his suit was complete, he’d decided it was finally time to look at it himself. He wordlessly moved to the long mirror on the wall and took a peek.
When he did finally look at himself in the mirror, he felt himself softly gasp.
There he was, Serendipity, staring back at him.
For a moment, it was like no time had passed. That it was a normal day of him gearing up 11 years ago. He felt his back straighten, the old confidence of his younger self flooding into his veins. It felt surreal.
Though the slight changes in his new suit shook him out of that quickly and snapped him back to the present day.
The feeling that flooded him now was nostalgia. Seeing himself was like seeing an old friend. He found himself smiling a little behind his visor.
“So what do you think? Did I do a good job? or what?” He felt a tentacle wrap around his shoulders, grabbing his attention.
He tore his eyes away from his reflection and smiled at the Quentanian, who was grinning back, even if Xion couldn’t see it. “More than good. You did amazing Xi. Thank you.”
Xion’s grin softened. “No problem Gladstone.” Before their expression got serious. “We should get going in a moment, we need to fill in the Commander before everyone else starts arriving for the meeting. I can give you a run down of your new weapons on the way.”
Right. The meeting. Morch. The whole reason he was suited up again.
He nodded. “Y-yeah, you’re right. We should go.”
Within minutes, they were in Xion’s car, something that was weird to say since Xion never used to drive, driving through the streets towards base whilst Xion gave him a verbal rundown of his new gadgets and weapons. He was still half suited up, with only his helmet off and resting in his lap as the took the familiar route that he used to take years ago. It sent memories flooding back along with the nervousness of what was to come.
Soon they arrived, him slipping his helmet on and concealing his identity before they drew up to the inconspicuous gate of what civilians believe to be a pie factory but was actually a front for a government facility.
A guard sat in a small pod beside the barrier, a young grey pigeon who looked like he was barely an adult, someone he didn’t recognise, but Xion did.
“Hey Bradley.” Xion greeted the guard with a polite smile, pulling out his ID and flashing it.
“Agent Xionitris. Welcome back.” The guard, Bradley, smiled politely before he inched forwards, eyes narrowing to see who else was in the car, before he jumped back, eyes wide in shock like he had seen a ghost, nearly falling off his chair.
He bit back a smile, which was made much harder as Bradley scrambled up from his seat and giving him a salute. “M-Mx Serendipity s-sir!”
Oh God. Mx Serendipity? Sir? He struggled to hold back a laugh, though Xion didn’t bother to, snickering loudly at his side with a grin. He gave the Quentanian a subtle elbow to the ribs to stop laughing at the poor kid, before focusing on the guard. “At ease…Bradley was it?”
Bradley retracted the salute, looking more timid and starstruck. “Y-Yes sir. T-This may be unprofessional to say but I’m a huge fan and have been since I was a kid. You were my idol growing up.”
Geez, what a way to make him feel old in his 30s. Though he supposed many put his age at much higher since no-one would truly suspect Serendipity having started out at only 15. “T-Thank you.” He tried to mask the amused warble of his voice. “It’s nice meet a fan after all these years.”
He watched the other bite down on his beak, as if to hold back a squeal, but still trying to act professional. Cute.
“Alright Bradley.” Xion spoke up with an amused smile. “There will be time for you to ask Seren to sign the merchandise collection in your barracks later. Unfortunately we have an important meeting to get to, so if you could let us in that would be great.”
“Oh! R-Right of course.” Bradley quickly nodded, ducking his head with embarrassment before fumbling with the barrier button before it slowly rose up. “T-There you go.”
“Thank you Bradley.” He thanked the younger with a smile he couldn’t see, but tilted his head in a nod to put across his thanks visually.
“N-No problem.” Bradley stuttered, bowing his head almost respectfully. “H-Have a good meeting M-Mx Serendipity, Agent Xionitris..”
A few moments later they drove through the barrier into the base and away from the flustered guard. “You are awful Xi.” He admonished, finally letting out a snicker of his own.
“What you were laughing too?! Don’t deny it!” The Quentanian shoved him with their free tentacle with a grin. “You are laughing now!”
“Well at least I restrained myself until we drove off-.” He shot back. “-and how do you know he’s got a merch collection in his dorm anyway?”
“He showed me once, or rather I found it when one of his roommates invited me over. It’s very extensive. I’m pretty sure he even had a plush doll of you that I hear he used to hug every night and still does.”
What? He didn’t even know they made those. “He does not.” He shoved back, though not hard enough to distract Xion from driving. “You’re making that up.”
Xion shook their head. “I’m really not, 2ft tall, detailed and hand-made and sewn by his grandma. Almost life-sized.”
His eyes narrowed in offence. Not this insult again, one he didn’t miss hearing. “I am not that short.”
“Well to me you are Meega Achi-baba (my friend).” Xion teased, eyes flitted to him for a moment, a teasing grin spread on their face.
“Toga meega patookie (Kiss my butt).” He pulled out his rare Tantalog. “Anyone is short to you Mx 9ft!”
The Quentanian’s grin widened as they let out a chuckle, shaking their head. “Oh, have I missed this.”
He rolled his eyes, turning away and looking out the windshield, with an annoyed huff, but even so a small smile spread across his beak anyway. So had he.