2017 Ducktales AU
Donald x Reader x Gladstone
Female!Reader
A/N: Reader is the CEO of a store called Second Hand Headlines which is basically Hot Topic/Box Lunch/Spencer's type store.
I don't typically eat at the mall but today I was running late and I was hungry. I stopped at one of the restaurants to grab a quick bite when it started. Someone was yelling and people jumped out of the way as a duck landed in the fountain in the middle of the food court. He looked beyond mad about the whole ordeal, which made him look kind of cute. Some people laughed while others just complained about having been bothered. The security guard simply threw a towel at him like it wasn't the first time this had happened to someone.
I kinda felt bad and walked over to him, cutting him off before he could scream.
"Need a hand?" I offered mine. He looked up at me and immediately forgot his rage.
"Thanks," he mumbled, taking it.
"Are you okay? Did you hit your head or anything?" I immediately rephrased the question because if I had fallen into a public fountain, I would not be okay.
"'m fine,• he mumbled, clearly a little more than embarrassed.
I looked him over as he dried off. His suit was still dripping wet. I heard someone running up behind us. I glanced at the store front labeled Second Hand Headlines and sighed.
"How about a shirt from my store?" He looked like he was going to protest so added, "You look like you could use a win."
"You really don't have to," he blushed.
"Come on." I pulled his arm towards the door.
"I thought only Uncle Gladstone got free stuff." I heard a kid behind me whisper.
"I don't open till noon so you have the place to yourself." We got to my store and unlocked the door. "I'm ____ by the way."
"Donald," he offered a hand then thought better of it, "Donald Duck."
I immediately recognized the name. He was one of the inspirations for my store. Him, his sister, and his Uncle Scrooge were always in the papers when I was younger. Though I never made a product on them because by the time I had started up the store Della had disappeared and they didn't show up that much anymore. Also my store made money on happy head lines and not digging up painful memories.
He walked around and seemed overwhelmed. The walls were full of posters of famous people. They stared him down. Then again they were probably people he knew personally and people I simply admired. The shelves were stacked with movie hero's merch and viral memes on cups and hats.
It was a rather large store but I pointed to the clothing section.
"Find something you like. I'll get you a bag for your clothes." He muttered something about the Beagle Boy shirts that were in stock as I went to the checkout counter and pulled out a bag. "You can change in the back."
He appeared, clutching a band shirt. "Thank you."
"Of course." I glanced at the shirt. "Crimson Wing! Love them. Then again I love most of the stuff in here."
"Yeah, they're classics. One of the best." He smiled, picking up the bag.
"Changing rooms are in back to the left." He nodded like he knew. "Sorry, you just don't seem like the type to shop here."
"My nephews." He shrugged.
"Ahhh yeah that explains it." I nodded.
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" He pouted and I laughed. My store was known to be more trendy than I suspect him to be.
"Nothing," I looked him up and down and added, "Suit."
He glared before he stomped off. Cute. A minute later the door dinged opened.
"Sorry, we're not open." I looked over the desk and three small duck's were pressed on the glass.
"Omg! I told you!" The green hoodie yelled.
"Hello?" The red one waved.
"Woah!" The blue one added.
"Hi." I smiled and glanced up at male goose I assumed to be their guardian.
"Sorry," he apologized, "boys down."
They didn't budge.
"We love your store!" The blue one screamed basically with heart eyes.
"This is the biggest Second Hand Headlines in the country but I didn't think you worked here," the green one said, taking a selfie of us.
"We were just looking for our Uncle!" The red one explained.
"Oh, so you must be the nephews that shop here." I smiled. "Surprised you recognize me."
"Are you kidding!" the green one started. "You're only like my role model! How did you start up this all on your own?"
He sounded genuinely amazing. The goose saw I was entertaining them and started looking over the merchandise. He paused at bobble head of Darkwing Duck.
"We only spend all of our allowance at your store!" Blue one spoke over his brother.
"Well thank you. I found something I love and I knew others did as well and worked with that. It just grew from there." I raised an eyebrow at the red dressed one. "I take it you're not impressed?"
"Oh no. I've never been in here." He glanced around.
"Well how about you find something you like and you can keep it. All three of you go, now. Shoo before I change my mind." I laughed and they scattered.
"Oh you've done it now," the goose said, stepping up. "They'll destroy the store trying to find something."
"And you are?"
"Gladstone, though I doubt my cousin mentioned me." He shrugged and leaned on the counter.
"I should guest you where related." He raised an eyebrow. "The suits."
"Got to keep looking sharp." He laughed and popped the collar.
"I didn't know there was Junior Woodchuck stuff in here!" One of the boys yelled excitedly, probably red.
"Too cute," I laughed.
"Why thank you." He smiled and I hit his arm.
"I meant the kids." Though he was handsome, I thought. Someone cleared their throat beside us. I spun. "Oh that looks good on you."
"Thank you." The duck mumbled not looking at me. "Where are the kids, Gladstone?"
"Look what we got Uncle Donald!" They all ran up towards him. Red had a shirt, blue had a poster, and green one had a box that he seemed intent on hiding. Probably something he wasn't supposed to have.
"Gladstone," Donald growled. The other held up his hand in surrender. I was confused.
"It's fine, Suit. I told them they could have something." He blinked. Now he was confused. "No big deal."
"Thank you but you don't have to do that." He tried to pull the shirt away from Red but end up slipping to the ground.
"It's clear they're big fans and I can't let them down," I offered a smile.
"And this has nothing to do with him?" Donald glared at his cousin. My smile fell and glanced at the gander.
"No." That seemed to confuse all of them. Then it hit me. Gladstone. Gladstone Gander. He was known for his luck and I refused to have anything to do with him in my store. I laughed. "No if I would've realized who he was I would've thrown him out."
"Hey!" He crossed his arm.
"No offense. When I approve new merchandise I avoid your headlines for a reason." I smirked. His nephews snickered.
"Come on, Donny. We're running late." Gladstone tried to sweep his cousin away.
"Awe don't be bitter," I teased. "Got to find a way to keep you knocked down a peg."
He mocked hurt. Being in my store was an honor that I wasn't going to waste on the lucky gander.
"Don't be like that. You never even heard of this place," I challenged.
"That," he paused, "is true."
"See," I rolled my eyes and the kids bounced edger to get a word in edgewise.
"Can you add us to a collection?" Blue asked.
"Yeah we make headlines all the time!" Green added.
"We do! Why don't you have anything about us?" Red ripped his head.
I glanced at Donald. He seemed to he think the same. Then I leaned down to them.
"Send me an idea. I'll look at it," I said and their faces light it.
"Yay!" "Alright!" "I didn't think she say yes!" They started working on it and ran towards the exit.
"If that's alright with you." I looked at Donald.
"Oh yea but they should've said thank you!" He yelled after them.
"It's fine. Don't be a stranger, Suit!" I nodded and they headed out. I turned back the cashier and I heard them mumbling as they left.
"She was making fun of me." Donald mumbled, making me frown. I hadn't been.
"She was flirting with you, dummy." Gladstone mumbled to him. "She barely even noticed me."
"She was what!?" He said a little louder.
The kids walked back in but it was Red that handed me a piece of paper. He mumbled thank you for the shirt and he ran back to his brothers.
"My money's on Uncle Gladstone," Green said.
"Your money's always on Gladstone," Blue said.
"I think Uncle Donald has a chance," Red added.
I opened the piece of paper and both of their uncle's names and numbers were on it. I scoffed. Great, now I have to settle a bet.
Word Count: 1574