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Brett really does love puppeteering. It’s his hidden passion- the one that he’s mostly kept repressed since he was a kid and his parents didn’t respect him or show any love to him. He’s let it out more, at least a little bit. But, he really loves everything about puppets. He loves making them, he loves wielding them, and he loves playing different characters for them while making an attempt to learn ventriloquism on the spot.
It’s his one party trick that no one likes, which is weird because Brett is normally great at parties!
Luckily, the only person he cares about listening, does listen. And, although she thinks that stuff like puppets are stupid, she still gives Brett the benefit of the doubt, everytime he comes up with a new design and character to show her. She, (most of the time), stops her work, sits down, and watches Brett explain. Then she gives critiques or upsides or anything- because Reagan knows how much Brett puts into his puppets. And, since they became friends, she’s supported him, no matter what he wanted to do. She’s really the closest and best friend that Brett could have ever asked for.
So, he makes her a puppet.
He puts more work and care into it than he has any of his other puppets. It took genuine weeks of trial and error, comparing photos of her to make sure he got her eyes or hair right, making the mechanics of the moving parts the best he possibly can, (without asking Reagan for help, because this is supposed to be a surprise), and once he finishes with it, he couldn’t possibly be more proud.
Despite all of that, it still takes him almost another week to work up the courage to actually give it to her. He put so much effort and love into the small piece of fabric and yarn that he doesn’t know how he’ll react if she doesn’t like it. Even worse; if she pretends to like it.
These days, Brett has preferred people to be upfront with him, completely. After years of pushing down feelings, and everyone around him pushing down feelings too, Brett had found it hard to adjust to the world where he has close friends that he wants to open up to. Especially since his family condescends him at every move- never saying directly to his face how much he disappoints them, but always implying it by keeping him at the end of every priority list. He likes it when people can just be honest with him, without pretending, without condescension, and without any caveats- in the end he’d rather know he’s not loved than pretend that he is.
But all of that doesn’t matter anymore, because he has friends, and he has Reagan, and they all care for him. They’re honest with him. Especially much more than his family ever was.
So, four weeks after the first day that he started working on Reagan’s puppet, he takes a deep breath outside of Reagan’s office and pushes his way in, the puppet hidden safely behind his back.
“Reagan?” He calls out into the large room.
Reagan lowers down on a some sort of robotic monstrosity- Brett decides not to ask about it. “Yeah? Need something?”
Brett shakes his head. “I actually have something for you. But, if you don’t have time, I can come back later-”
“No, no,” she shakes her head, and then cocks it slightly at the hand that he’s hiding behind his back. “This is a good time.” She steps onto the floor, tripping as she does. (She’s only Reagan, after all.)
Brett takes another deep breath and holds out the puppet to her. “I made this for you. I really hope you like it,” he rushes in all one breath, before pressing his mouth shut, with exaggerated pockets of air in his cheek, and squeezes his eyes shut.
Brett, in the silence, can hear Reagan take a soft inhale before she gently takes the puppet from Brett’s open hands. He peeks at her face, which is overcome with awe and… joy?
She traces her fingers along the puppet’s faux-lab coat and button up shirt beneath that, and takes a few moments to admire the yarn hair that’s been brushed out. It’s the exact shade of her hair, which she seems to grin at. The puppet has a smile on its face but it's a firm smile- one that perfectly screams “Reagan Ridley,” crooked and all.”
“Jesus, Brett,” she grins. “I really love it. Like, a lot. No one’s ever done something this nice for me.”
Brett grins. “Well, gee, I mean- you’re my best friend, of course!”
“It’s really beautiful,” Reagan adds. “I think it’s your best puppet yet. I almost feel bad taking it.” She laughs to herself, still inspecting the puppet with silk delicate fingers across the fabric.
“No, don’t feel bad,” Brett glows. “I made it specifically for you, Reagan!”
Reagan looks up at Brett and smiles, before throwing her arms around him for a hug, while still being cautious of the puppet that’s resting firmly in her hands. Brett responds to the hug, after a moment of surprise, and places his arms around her back to squeeze her.
“Thank you so much,” Reagan whispers. “I hope you know that this is going on my desk.”
Brett grins into her shoulder. “I’m glad.”
Reagan releases him from the hug and walks the puppet over to the end of the room to put it on her desk.
“You know, I was afraid that you weren’t going to like it,” Brett confesses. “I worked so hard on it.”
Reagan glances back at Brett for a second with a contemplative look. “No, I don’t think I could ever hate it. It’s so thoughtful. Jesus, Brett.”
Brett smiles, once again. “Okay, uh, well, thank you! I’m glad you like it. I’m just going to- head out! Leave you to your work.”
Reagan gives him an amused smile. “Okay, then, you crazy kid. Go find Gigi, or something, I bet that she’s doing something fun. And, again, thank you. This was really considerate, Brett.”
Brett nods to her, the wobbly beam not leaving his face anytime soon.
“I know how much puppets mean to you,” she smiles. Then she nods at him, and he nods back, leaving the room.
He takes a deep breath against the door, his face still light with happiness. He pumps his fist in the air once, quietly cheering to himself, “Mission Puppet was a success!” with a grin.