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Normal people's problems were always a mystery to him – but not a mystery he was willing to spend time solving. In his eyes it was more of a strange and unexplainable obstacle that distanced humanity from the real greatness.
When he first heard about the accident, he did not care. Newspapers were all around the island, spreading information about an ongoing dispute between some people, somehow involving the train they regularly used to transport lava supplies to the Polish Cave. Multi was not directly connected to the case, for a long time he didn't even know what was really going on.
It turned out, all of the Hussars were involved.
And then, even Quackity.
Sitting all day and night in the nuclear reactor, Multi was not aware how popular Alex got, and apparently how influential too. When one day he came down to the reactor, he surprised the scientist with a rather unexpected announcement:
"I’m gonna be a judge of the upcoming trial!” He stated, puffing his chest proudly.
Multi straightened his back, pulling away from the samples he was examining through the microscope.
”That’s… what?" He furrowed his eyebrows and tilted his head in confusion. "A judge? How?”
”It was decided that I’d be the best choice to help solve that case.” Quackity beamed, flashing him a wide smile. He seemed excited, even though Multi couldn't really understand why.
”Oh… okay. Do you need my… help with anything?” he asked, not sure if he could be of any assistance in such situation. He was not the most amicable guy around here.
Alex regarded him quietly for a few seconds, thoughts almost visible in his bright eyes, before he grinned:
”Actually, yes.”
Multi raised an eyebrow and rested his face on the palm of his hand, amused.
”Want me to bomb the hell out of that court during the trial?” He smirked devilishly, watching with joy, as panic flashed on Quackity's face.
”What?! No! No, no bombing!” He shook his head, and then leaned on the lab table, looking at him through his eyelashes. “I thought… Since you are not involved with any of the parties, maybe you could be on the jury?”
It was Multi's turn to be caught off guard. He blinked fast, not really comprehending the question he was just asked.
”You want me to be on the jury? To help make a verdict? Are you sure I’m your best choice?”
He never thought badly of himself. In fact, he believed that almost everyone on the island was beneath him. Still, he knew that, from a general perspective, he was hardly an example of morality and justice. Others either avoided him or treated him with caution. If he were the judge, there would be no trial at all. Hours spent talking, listening, examining evidence, and searching for the best solution just to appease the masses – it was all a waste of time. Only raw power could keep people in their place.
”Yeah, why not?" Quackity brushed a strand of Multi’s hair behind his ear, the touch pulling him out of his thoughts. "You’re smart, observant and-“
“But aren’t the guys, Graf, Ewron and Nexe, involved? Wouldn’t that make me biased?" He narrowed his eyes, looking at Alex up and down. "Wait, wouldn’t that make you biased as well?”
”W-well, no. I was not a part of the incident, and I can be very neutral." He scratched his neck.
”Oh, can you now?” The scientist lowered his voice, the corner of his mouth twitching. “And what makes you think I can?”
Quackity scoffed, as if he had just asked him the most stupid question in the world.
”Because you’d love to see one of them go to jail.”
Multi's smile dropped for a second, before stretching wider than before.
”You’re right, that would be so fucking funny. I’m in.”
⌬ ⌬ ⌬
When the day of the trial finally came, it turned out it was not funny at all.
Multi was nervous.
The unfamiliar feeling twisted uncomfortably in his chest, almost making him ditch the whole thing and stay in the lab for the rest of the day. The formal clothes he prepared the night before, suddenly felt like a costume. The black suit seemed too tight around his chest, making every breath just a little too shallow.
He tried to convince himself it was the radiation – after all, he had some really fucked up mixture of uranium and other samples coursing in his blood system – but when he arrived at the court house, he immediately knew the reason.
Quackity came out through the front door, greeting everyone with a smile. He was dressed in a judge’s attire – elegant, sleek, unmistakably official. An air of authority followed his every step. His gaze, though warm, concealed a quiet power, making everyone address him with respect. It was quite a sight.
“Did you hear me, Multi?” Quackity's voice was suddenly close to him.
The scientist blinked, not realizing he was standing still, while others looked at him expectantly.
”Y-yes?" He stuttered and quickly cleared his throat, scratching his neck. "I mean no, can you repeat?”
”I was asking, if you are ready," Quackity stated calmly, but his eyes twinkled with amusement, as he watched the scientist scramble to get a hold of himself. "All jury members are required to be inside before the trial starts.”
“Ah, yeah, I’m ready.”
He got to his assigned seat, and a wave of dread washed over him. The size of the courtroom was overwhelming, stretching endlessly, as if it wanted to swallow him whole. His nuclear reactor was way bigger, but he was in charge there – here, he was lost. The seriousness of the situation he got himself into, was slowly catching up with him. He glanced at the other members of the jury – some he knew, others he barely recognized. They were at ease, ready and determined.
Then the tall wooden doors opened and Quackity walked in, taking a seat in the middle of the room on an elevated platform. The center of power. He gave the jury instructions, informing how the case would be carried out and what would their responsibilities be, but Multi couldn’t focus.
The sight of Quackity in such role sent electric shocks through his body, like a defibrillator. It affected him more than he would have liked. Back in the reactor, Alex had often taken on the role of his assistant, mostly listening and helping. Here, in the courtroom, he was the one calling the shots. Whenever their eyes met, even for a brief second, Multi was overcome with pride and a strange need.
A need to listen… a need to obey.
“And remember, any affiliations you had with me as a friend, colleague or... whatever, can’t influence your judgement. I need you all to be unbiased and fair, is that clear?
Multi nodded his head, unable to speak. He didn’t trust his voice right now – it would betray him the second he opened his mouth. The neurons in his brain, always on high alert, seemed to stop working. He quietly admired how different Quackity looked in a grey suit, his yellow wings spread in all their glory – like a personification of justice itself.
And then the doors opened again and the trial officially began.
Multi did not care about that case. If it was up to him, he would have just blown the whole building up. But he was not the judge.
Quackity was.
And because of that, he cared.
Railway accidents, stolen trains, pregnancies, moving castles… it was all dull to him. He couldn’t care less whether Graf went to jail or whether the Regime won the case. And yet, contrary to those feelings, he found himself glued to a pen and a notepad. He took notes about things he didn’t give a shit about; about people he barely knew and their issues, he was not involved with. Watching grass grow would have been much more interesting, but he stayed in his place and did what he was told.
As the break time neared, Multi felt like he actually might be sick. His stomach ached and his head was spinning. He clenched his fingers tighter around the notepad, knowing he would soon have to actively participate in the discussion and act impartial.
He didn’t want to embarrass Quackity in front of the whole island. As a personally appointed member of the jury, he had to represent his trust. The mere thought of disappointing him made his heart sink. He didn't want to be the reason for distress and sadness in those warm brown eyes ever again.
“Thank you for all the testimonies. That concludes the first half of the trial," Alex announced, sealing the decision with a struck of his gavel, before standing up from his seat. "Now, me and the jury will go and discuss everything you presented. We will be back after a short intermission.”
Multi paled. The knot in his stomach twisting harder, making him almost double over.
”Dear jury members, please follow me to the conference room,“ Alex instructed, guiding them into the side corridor.
”Quack- Your... Your Honor, c-can I quickly go the restroom first?” The scientist interfered as subtly as he could, staying behind so the other jury members wouldn’t hear.
Quackity met his gaze and immediately shifted his demeanor from a stern, calculated judge to a gentle, warm smile.
”Yes, yes, of course you can, sweetheart.”
Multi dropped his notepad. The tips of his ears prickled with heat, while his bat wings sprang up, alerted. The others seemed too busy to notice. He didn’t utter another word and went straight to the bathroom.
Exhaling deeply, he closed the door, glad to be alone for a moment. He didn’t like being perceived outside of his lab coat and reactor. There were too many eyes in the courtroom – Ewron wasn’t even trying to hide his shit-eating grin, which he kept sending his way from the audience.
Multi splashed cold water onto his face, desperate to get rid of that embarrassing blush. With his fair complexion, it was momentarily visible, and he didn’t want anyone but Quackity to see him like that. He was starting to regret agreeing to this whole thing. Maybe it was Alex’s subtle way of torturing him for all the shit he had put him through before.
Not wanting to hold the jury up any longer, he exited the restroom, only to have his heart almost jump out of his chest.
”Are you perhaps… nervous?”
There he was – leaning against the wall in that fucking suit and a smug smile.
”Me? Why would I be?” Multi scoffed, trying to play it cool. He shoved his hand in his pockets and averted his gaze to the floor. "Why did you have to call me that ?"
"Call you what, exactly?" Quackity asked innocently, batting his eyelashes in exaggerated confusion.
"You know what." He gritted his teeth and looked up.
Alex bit his lower lip, visibly suppressing a smile.
"A sweetheart?"
"Shut up! What if someone hears?" The scientist looked around in panic. The corridor was empty, but you never knew who might be listening around the corner – like a certain assassin, for example. He approached Alex, lowering his voice: "Weren't you supposed to be unbiased?"
"I am. Nobody heard that." He shrugged, unaffected, clearly having the time of his life.
Multi couldn't have that. The only reason he was here right now, and not in his lab, was because Quackity asked him to. And now he was teasing him, provoking, as if he wanted the scientist to snap and burn the whole court to the ground.
Two could play that game.
Without a word, he stepped closer and placed one hand on the wall beside Quackity’s head, towering over him.
"And what if somebody caught you in a very compromising situation with a jury, hm?" he murmured, gazing down at him, his eyelids heavy.
Alex drew a sharp breath, furrowing his brows. He probably wanted to act unfazed, but Multi watched with satisfaction as a pink blush crept over his face and ears.
"They won't," he managed to spit out, his eyes drifting to the scientist's lips for a split second.
Multi smirked, sliding his other hand to Quackity’s waist. He leaned in, enjoying the shiver that ran through Alex, and stopped just before his lips to whisper:
“If we don’t win, can I nuke the island?”
The judge let out a shaky breath, almost giving in, before snapping himself back to reality and stepping aside, away from the scientist.
”I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.” He cleared his throat and headed down the corridor, without looking back.
⌬ ⌬ ⌬
Despite not caring about this case, Multi ended up contributing several useful remarks to the discussion. He flipped through his notes, trying to remain as unbiased as possible, fully aware that Graf was responsible for the train accident. Unfortunately, no final decision was reached, meaning they had to go back and listen to those confusing testimonies for another hour.
But there was one good thing about his participation in the trial – the rare opportunity of having the whole island in one place allowed Multi to profile potential sample “donors” for his project. He could also stare at Quackity being bossy in a suit, but that was just a bonus.
Another hour.
Another break.
Another jury discussion.
"This evidence is shit. On both sides." Multi leaned back in his chair, putting his legs on top of the table. He didn't care anymore, everyone in the room was equally tired and irritated.
"True, it's like they don't even know who sued who, and for what," Jeremy agreed, lighting up a cigarette.
"They just make demands," Quackity sighed, loosening his tie and resting his forehead on his palm. "But we still have to come to some conclusion and introduce a new law."
“Why don't we just drop a b-” Multi cut himself off, stomach tightening under Alex's sharp glare, “-binding decision on both sides?” he saved himself at the last second.
"What do you mean?" Tina asked. So far, she was the hardest one to convince, and if they wanted to go home today and close this case, they had to be unanimous.
"Force them to work together on those safety passages on the train tracks, and see if they manage to cooperate," Multi proposed, waving his hand in the air nonchalantly. "If not, they will just kill each other. One way or another, the problem will be solved."
The jury fell silent, exchanging glances, flipping through their notes for what felt like the hundredth time, hands sliding down their faces.
"That's a bit harsh, don't you think? Shouldn't we prevent another catastrophe from happening, not encourage it?" Pressea spoke up.
Hums of agreement and doubt echoed in the room, but before anyone could add something to the table, the judge stood up.
"I like that. I actually like that." Quackity nodded, his eyes sparkling with decisiveness. “Let's just dismiss the case and punish them equally for wasting our time."
"But-"
"Do you want to sit here until tomorrow? Because I don't." He slammed his hand on the table, silencing any voices of protest. Dark strands of hair fell over his forehand in a wild manner. His brown irises lit up dangerously. "Those morons came here unprepared, with muddled evidence and twisted facts, making demands left and right. And in the end it turns out the right person isn't even being sued. This is bullshit, case dismissed."
Multi's throat went dry.
"God, you're so..." He didn't even realize he had opened his mouth, until Alex's eyes went wide. The other members of the jury turned their heads to the scientist. "S-so right, yeah, you’re so right, we should go and close it for good," he finished, standing up and nervously straightening his jacket.
Luckily everyone was tired, so his little slip up was quickly brushed aside, as they proceeded to exit the conference room. Quackity stayed behind, gathering all the documents, but Multi felt his eyes following him as he went back into the hall with the others.
Seeing Alex in action, throwing orders left and right with such authority, made his head spin more than uranium ever did. Heat crawled under his skin, and he didn’t know what to do with it. He was still in court, for god’s sake. There were people around, and their relationship wasn’t public, at least as far as Multi was concerned.
That didn’t stop him from halting in the corridor. Quackity was just catching up to him, too immersed in his notes, muttering something under his breath. Multi quickly glanced around, making sure the other jury members were far enough, before yanking Alex by his tie and pulling him into a messy kiss.
“Wha-” was all Quackity managed to say before the scientist pushed him against the wall and attacked his lips again. “Stop- mphm!” He tried to regain control, but Multi was persistent. “Someone will see-”
“You’re driving me absolutely crazy, Your Honor,” he panted against his parted lips, then pulled away, even though all he wanted was to kiss him more.
Multi looked at Quackity’s disheveled state – hair sticking out wildly, attire ruffled, face flushed, lips swollen – and engraved this image into his mind for eternity. He wiped his mouth before turning around and heading back to the courtroom with the widest smile he had ever worn.
The judge appeared a few minutes later, a bit more composed to the scientist's disappointment. He didn’t spare Multi a single glance, though the tips of his ears were still slightly red. Once again, he took control of the courtroom, commanding everyone’s attention, as he announced the final decisions made by the jury.
The verdict was met with mostly satisfied reactions, though a few voices of protest still rose. Quackity was quick to squash them like annoying insects:
“You’re lucky the jury and I went easy on you. In all honesty, this case was a complete disaster. Most of the evidence presented here today was either irrelevant or did little to clarify what this trial was even about. In the future, I suggest you think twice before suing someone, unless you want to waste my time and face consequences far more severe than a mere warning.”
Multi had to admit, he was loving this trial much more than he anticipated. The way Quackity spoke sent shivers down his spine, electrifying the radioactive blood coursing through his veins. Yellow wings stretched behind Alex's back as he peered over the wooden railing of his platform, delivering a final strike of his gavel:
"Case dismissed."
And with that, the trial had come to an end.
People began leaving the courtroom in all kinds of moods, but no one dared to question the verdict any further. The room emptied slowly. Multi drifted with the crowd toward the doors. He made sure he was the last one, and before stepping across the threshold, he turned abruptly and slammed the doors shut behind him.
The commotion outside suddenly died down. Murmurs of confusion rose behind him, but Multi just slid the heavy wooden bolt into place, barring the entrance with a mischievous smile.
"Objection!" He exclaimed, leaning against the door.
Quackity straightened in his seat, alert and confused. Now it was just the two of them in the room, even the guards had already left.
"Huh? What are you talking about? What… what is your claim?" he asked hesitantly, still trying to maintain control.
The scientist pushed himself away from the door. He strolled lazily to the center of the courtroom, ignoring the pounding on the doors and the shouts of protest from people trying to get back inside.
“I object to this verdict, because you didn’t let me nuke this entire building to dust,” he stated calmly, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips.
Quackity's brows shot up before he let out a loud snort.
“You don’t give up, do you?” He leaned back in his chair with an amused smile. “I’m afraid you’re too late, the case has been dismissed. I don’t take any more complaints. If you want to appeal, you’ll have to submit a request for a new trial.”
His unfazed gaze bore into Multi’s green irises, setting his skin on fire, but he didn’t let it show. Instead, he walked toward the stairs and climbed up the judge’s platform.
"What are you doing? Nobody is allowed to come here beside-"
“Make me leave, then.” Multi challenged him, stepping up to the desk, idly brushing his fingers over the scattered papers.
"You're forgetting where we are." Quackity shot him a stern glare, but the corner of his mouth twitched. Only a blind person wouldn't notice the excited glint in his eyes.
And the scientist certainly wasn’t blind.
Alex glanced pointedly at the doors – the chaos behind them was growing louder. The wooden bar holding the crowd back shook under their attempts to break in. Multi couldn’t care less and stepped closer, standing between the judge’s legs.
“Maybe I should start caring about ordinary people’s problems more, if it means seeing you all demanding and bossy like this.” Multi lowered his voice, gazing down at him, his eyelids heavy with intent and want.
Something dark flickered in Quackity’s expression. The air between them thickened, the noise from outside dissolving, like a stone dropped into the acid. Alex shifted in his chair, stretching his legs out and putting his hands behind his head.
“Oh? You like me like that?” he murmured, cocking an eyebrow and wetting his lips with his tongue.
Multi followed every movement with his eyes like a predator, taking in the way Alex’s hair framed his face; the way his brown eyes challenged him from beneath long lashes; and how the teeth caught on his lower lip, urging him on.
"I like you in any way," he breathed, struggling to keep his emotions under control. He won’t lose the game he started.
Quackity assessed him quietly for a moment, his smug expression showing no sign of faltering resolve.
"You should know your place, Mr. Jury." He rose slowly from his chair, brushing invisible dust off his suit, as he stood in front of him.
A wave of heat surged through Multi’s body, tearing a sharp breath from him. His hands itched to reach out and take what he craved, but he swallowed the urge and bared his teeth.
"Oh? Should I? Show me where it is, then."
That was all it took to finally break Quackity. Multi didn't even have a second to brace himself, before a pair of hands grabbed him by the collar and pushed him onto the judge's chair. The air got knocked out of his lungs, and when he looked up, he was left speechless.
Quackity placed one foot on the chair, right beside the scientist’s thigh. His yellow wings spread behind him majestically, painting an image of a fallen angel, a symbol of pure temptation.
“I am the judge in this court, and I make the rules you will obey.” He leaned in close, and tilted Multi’s chin up between his fingers. His hot breath fanned over the scientist’s lips. “Is that clear, or do you need a reminder?”
Multi’s heart hammered in his chest, as if trying to break free from his ribs. His pulse roared in his ears as he stuttered:
“Y-yeah, I need-”
Quackity closed the gap immediately, cutting him off. Their mouths crashed in a searing kiss – nothing gentle or soft, just teeth and tongues clashing violently, trying to devour the other. Multi's hands shot forward, pulling Alex onto his lap, flush against his body. He encircled his waist, while his palm reached higher, pressing on a delicate spot just between his wings. Quackity arched his back, letting out a broken moan, that Multi swallowed with a hunger of a starving man, kissing him deeper.
“Not a very professional reminder, Your Honor,” he panted heavily, a string of saliva still connecting them as he pulled away.
"Shut up, you manipulator," Quackity shot back and dived back in, capturing his lips once again.
Multi could barely breathe, but he wasn't planning on stopping him. Alex was getting clearly impatient, his hands wandering frantically all over the scientist's body, trying to get under his skin. Multi wasn’t any better – throwing last bits of self-control out the window, he grabbed a fistful of yellow feathers.
Quackity’s breath hitched as he pulled away, his wings trembling uncontrollably.
"O-oh, god..." he gasped, resting his forehead on Multi's shoulder. The scientist could feel every tremor wrecking his body, reveling in the fact that he was the cause of that. "Don't do this here."
"Or what? Enforce the law, or else I won't obey," he growled, suddenly standing up and lifting Alex onto the desk. His wings knocked papers to the floor, case files and yellow feathers fluttering around them like confetti.
"You're insane," Quackity huffed bewildered and tilted his head back, exposing his neck.
"And whose fault is that, sweetheart?" Multi grunted, giving in to the offered skin, and leaving wet marks along Alex's throat.
A pair of legs tightened around his hips, pulling him closer. The scientist sucked in a sharp breath, biting down on Quackity's jugular before returning to those addictive lips. Restless fingers slipped into his hair, teasing and demanding attention.
Suddenly, there was a loud bang.
The bar holding the doors of the courthouse snapped. Angry crowd burst in with demands and protests, but their screams momentarily died down.
Multi raised his head, jaw tight.
Quackity froze, still lying on the desk, looking at them upside down.
For a brief second, the room went still. Then it clicked. Realization spread across people's faces – shock, disbelief, outrage. And then the crowd erupted all at once:
"What the fuck?!"
"What?! The judge... and the jury?!"
"Since when those two-"
"Oh, wow, this is gold." Ewron was one of the few that had the audacity to laugh.
"Judge Quackity, what is the meaning of this?!"
"I-I... I can explain-"
Without thinking, Multi grabbed the judge’s gavel and struck it hard against the desk, evoking instant silence.
"The case was dismissed," he growled, peering at them with a warning glint in his green eyes. "Now get the fuck out of here, if you don't want to face my judgment." A sinister smile stretched across his face, as he felt Quackity shiver beneath him. His bat wings twitched, coming to life, making him look almost demonic – like a devil holding an angel in a tight grip of corruption. "I'll count to four. One..."
That did the trick. Although this island had many brave individuals, always ready to pick a fight, it also had the intelligent ones – the ones who knew better than to clash with an unpredictable force. And Multi was that force.
He might not have been the strongest or most agile fighter, but he was mysterious enough to make them back away. He always had an ace up his sleeve – even now, vials of poison sat in the inner pocket of his jacket, capable of bringing down anyone who posed a threat to him or those he treasured.
“Guys, I wouldn’t start that fight if I were you.” Ewron turned to the crowd, shooting Multi a knowing smile over his shoulder. “Let’s just leave and pretend we didn’t see anything,” he said, proceeding to push the crowd back outside. “Have fun,” he muttered at last to the pair on the platform before closing the doors behind him.
Multi scoffed under his breath and looked back at Quackity, who was still lying beneath him in a mess of papers.
"That's it for us being low-key, I guess..." Alex sighed, running fingers through his own hair.
"I can still drop that nuke, If you wan-"
"Oh, shut up." He rolled his eyes, before pulling Multi in for another kiss.