Work Text:
Finally locking the door to his office after a long day, Chip sighed. All he had been thinking about for the past hour was getting home and taking a hot oil bath to loosen his stiff joints and relax a bit. Not to mention he had to buff out a few dents in his suit from a few fights with toons that had activated his override.
But all that was behind him… until tomorrow of course…. But he had a few precious hours of free time before he’d have to settle into charge for the night.
He walked down the darkened street, thinking only about how good that oil bath was going to feel…
Then he heard the oddest sound while walking past an alleyway. It sounded like a cat toon talking except… much smaller and high pitched. He shook his head, no matter how odd it sounded he wasn’t going to get in a fight with a toon right now.
But then it came again, it sounded like a distressed mewl. If a toon was in distress wouldn’t it just say ‘help’? It wasn’t like they couldn’t talk. He paused, tapping his foot. Curiosity was starting to eat at him. He grumbled and turned to walk into the alleyway. This had to be the stupidest thing he could do.
He scanned around the alleyway but didn’t see a toon… he heard the mewl again, and he turned his head, looking at a dumpster that contained the source of the sound. Maybe a toon had gotten stuck in there? He peered into it, ready to possibly gloat or report the stuck toon…
Except he didn’t see a toon… he saw something small, and fluffy with possibly the biggest saddest eyes he had ever seen. It had similar features to a cat toon, but it was so small… and was struggling to get around on all fours. It mewled up at him.
Chip didn’t know what this thing was, but it couldn’t have gotten into this dumpster on its own… which implied someone had to have put it in there… who could do such a thing to such a small creature.
Despite himself Chip reached in as best he could. The little thing flinched at first but Chip was able to scoop it up and pull it out of the dumpster. It mewled a few times as it looked up at him with those wide eyes as if studying him. Chip tried to be very careful, this thing was so small , it fit in the palm of his hand.
He looked around, a bit puzzled on what to do next. He looked back down at the small cat-thing. “Can you say anything aside from ‘‘mewl’?”
The thing just blinked at him.
Apparently not.
Well even so, the thought of leaving it behind made something in his core ache deeply. The small creature was so… vulnerable, so alone… and filthy.
He made his decision. He cradled the creature carefully and carried it with him the rest of the way home.
—
He placed the small creature on the floor for observation. He was crouched on his knees so he could get a better look at it as it sloppily walked around and sniffed at things, mewling on occasion as it made its own investigation. He couldn’t care for it like a small cog… this thing was organic after all.
He also supposed he should call it something other than ‘this thing’ or ‘this creature’. He tried to think, it was small… delicate… looked like it could blow away in the wind…
“Sawdust.” Chip decided. Yes that was accurate. ‘Sawdust’ looked back to him, and Chip decided that meant it must approve.
“As I recall, oil is damaging to small creatures… you need water to clean off your fur.” He said very matter of factly.
…. He didn’t have any water…
There was also the matter of organic beings needing to eat. That was another problem.
He silently panicked a little bit. He didn’t know the first thing about caring for an organic creature, how was he supposed to care for sawdust? He had purposefully cut himself off from caring about other things anyway… too risky.
But no… Sawdust needed assistance. And he couldn’t let such a tiny creature with those dewy sad eyes go without assistance.
He thought longer then had realized. Misty! Mx. Monsoon could make rain, and not just oil rain either. She could help him get water easily surely, and she was much better at caring for things than he was!
—
“Oh! It’s so cute!” Misty remarked now kneeling on the floor with Chip watching sawdust. “....what is it?”
“I don’t know, but someone had left it in a dumpster.” He remarked.
Misty gasped. “Who would do such a terrible thing?!”
“I don’t know, but now I have Sawdust here… I wouldn’t have called you over so late, but I need assistance caring for it…. And cleaning it off.” Chip told her honestly.
Misty looked up at him, eyes showing her smile despite her mask covering her mouth.
“You named it ‘sawdust’ that’s adorable!”
Chip’s core heated up and his internal fans flicked on at Misty’s words. “It… I… er… it seemed fitting…”
“It’s very fitting! Hello little Sawdust! It’s so nice to meet you!”
Sawdust mewled and came up to sniff Misty’s hand.
“Now lets see, I’ve noticed cat toons especially hate water, but there would be no other way to clean them.” She said thoughtfully.
“Perhaps if we’re fast.” Chip suggested. “I will get a towel.”
Misty nodded. “I could rinse her off and you can be ready with the towel.”
Good, they now had a plan of action. Chip fetched a towel and they brought Sawdust over to the bathtub. Chip hoped the water wouldn’t mess up the oil drain too much, but it’d only be a little bit.
They both got ready… Misty summoned a small little cloud that was just the right size for sawdust and quickly rinsed her off. Sawdust’s eyes immediately seemed to get bigger and they looked miserable, but at least they didn’t flinch. The water dragged the dirt and grime off the poor little thing and as soon as it began running clear Chip immediately went in with the towel and cradled Sawdust, drying them off carefully.
Once they were as dry as possible with the towel Misty created a gentle warm gust of wind to help dry Sawdust off further… It was then that their fur puffed up and Chip couldn’t help it, a small snort escaped him, and Misty chuckled.
—
Misty had also filled up a small bowl with water for Sawdust, and now the two had the puzzle of figuring out how to feed Sawdust.
Misty had tried to give it a pie that she had reluctantly taken from a toon that had gone sad trying to fight her that day, but Sawdust just sniffed it and looked confused. So it didn’t have the same diet as toons.
Chip tried to give it a few nuts he had seen small critters in the forest eat, but they didn’t like that either.
Chip caved and decided to take a picture and send it to a group chat with all his manager friends.
CRevvington:
Does anyone know what this is and what it eats? (Found it in a dumpster)
SpeedOfLight:
Damn, wish I had four legs, double the speed!
JrSurveillance:
Sandwich?
BurningBright:
It’s so small???
TreeSlayer:
Didn’t think ya’d want to take care of a furry creature Chip, Did ya try giving it nuts?
CRevvington: I did Spruce, Sawdust did not eat them. In retrospect, I do not believe it has the right teeth for nuts and plants.
TreeSlayer: You named it? HAH! Already attached I see.
SpeedOfLight: SAWDUST!???? <3 <3 <3
Burning Bright:
That’s… That’s adorable.
CRevvington: Why does everyone keep saying that its just a name.
BurningBright: Who else said it was adorable?”
RainCloud: Me! I helped get Sawdust clean. :D!
CRevvington: It was much appreciated.
LuckyStreak: It lookths like a thrange cath thoon! You’ve hith the Jackpot! You've dithcovered a new thpesies!
CRevvington: Buck you do realize you do not need to put your lisp into text right?
LuckyStreak: Wdym? What lithsp?”
CRevvington: Nevermind.
TheDaveBrubot: Can it master a slick dance with those extra legs? New star on our hands?
SpeedOfLight: In my experience Cats don’t dance.
TheDaveBrubot: They definitely can’t keep up with my steps!
SpeedOfLight: Eyyyy same here loooool
CRevvington: Everyone focus.
JrSurveillance: I’m telling you. Sandwich. I’ll have a goon bring you one.
CRevvington: I suppose its worth a try, thank you Cathal.
JrSurveillance: NP.
—
Chip set the sandwich that had been delivered in front of Sawdust. Both him and Misty watched hopefully and watched. Sawdust approached it and sniffed it, it gave the side of the sandwich a lick and Chip perked up. They then watched as Sawdust pulled the slice of sandwich meat out of the middle and began gobbling it up!
“Wow! I guess now we know Sawdust likes lunch meat!” Misty cheered.
Chip nodded. “I’ll have to source more, perhaps Cathal knows where to get just the meat.”
“Say Chip, what is meat made out of anyway?”
They stared at each other, they both realized they hadn’t the slightest idea. But as long as Sawdust was happy, they considered it a success.
—
Chip had said goodbye to Misty and settled into bed to charge for the night, putting a cover on his saw so he wouldn’t tear up anything in his sleep. He didn’t get his oil bath in the end, but at least Sawdust was successfully cared for. He wasn’t sure what he’d do when he had to go to work… but that was a tomorrow Chip problem.
Just as he was plugged in and drifting off, he felt the smallest little paw touch his chest. He opened his eyes to see that Sawdust had made it up on the bed with him.
“Oh, hello.”
Sawdust mewed and fully got up on Chip’s chest and sniffed his covered saw before rubbing it. Chip felt his core warm again. He carefully reached up and scratched the top of sawdust’s head. A low rumbling sound began emitting from the tiny creature that reminded Chip of the sound of his own saw motor on low. Sawdust looked content and moved to curl up in on top of Chip’s chest. Chip thought he couldn’t be very comfortable, but if this is where Sawdust wanted to sleep, he’d let them be.
He closed his eyes again and sighed more contently, happy with his new little friend…. And silently vowing if he ever found who abandoned sawdust in such a horrible place… he might not complain that much if his override took over to chase after them.