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Getting locked in the school house was not apart of CatNap's plans.
Honestly, they don't even go into the school zone much, not really having any job there. The others are meant to protect that area. The kids are walked to school and to home by DogDay, and the only time CatNap has ever gone there has been either a) to pick up a sick child or b) to help clean.
Which isn't often. Sure, they know how to clean, but they organize things in weird ways and apparently none of the other Critters like dealing with it. Which, fair, CatNap doesn't like the way they all organize either—
But CatNap doesn't go to the school much. So getting locked inside was the worst possible timing.
“This is so stupid!” CatNap hisses through their teeth, finally giving up and hitting the colored tiles, groaning loudly. They stare up at the doors, closed tightly, and are happy about their ability to see in the dark.
Because it's dark.
It’s storming in the outside world, they figure, shifting to stand, and they didn't do the monthly maintenance on the generator. It's the only thing they can think of to get them locked here. All because they wanted to see DogDay, for the love of… They don't even know if DogDay is here, as he usually leaves last and they saw everyone else leave. Shifting to their feet, they once again feel—
Feel small. Small and suffocated in a place they can get lost in while listening to the train chug away behind them. A soft whine leaves them, the gas mask almost a grounding comfort to let them know that they're okay, nothing can physically hurt them. They have a built in weapon. Nothing would be… Would be stupid enough to try and hurt them.
Right?
Right?!
A light is suddenly in their face, causing them to hiss and stumble back, shielding their eyes. “CatNap?”
DogDay! The light is pulled away, and there he is, a surprised look on his face. “Hi.” CatNap murmurs, blinking rapidly and shaking their head. “What is that?”
“... Flashlight? Kitten, what are you doing?” He asks, crossing his arms slightly, and CatNap kicks their feet. Kicks their feet because what are they supposed to say? They wanted to surprise DogDay and instead they're locking inside with DogDay… Which. Could be worse, it could be a staff member, Bubba, or Crafty. DogDay is a good person to be locked with.
“I wanted to see you,” they weakly admit, “give you a surprise hello. And now we're both stuck.” They murmur, walking to his side. He laughs, taking off his gas mask and attaching it to the rainbow chain on his jeans, holding his hand out.
“This is a good surprise, my sweet Kitty.” He purrs, kissing the gas mask on CatNap's face. “Now, c’mon, I didn't wanna be alone here anyway.” He speaks, and touches CatNap's wrist gently, his fingers trailing down to their palm before interlocking his fingers with CatNap's. “Let's go back to my classroom.” He hums, but CatNap barely manages to croak out an, okay, their senses overloaded with DogDay's warmth.
They're a broken record for sure, constantly thinking of DogDay as someone with warmth. But not even KickinChicken or Hoppy feel as warm as he does. It's almost like DogDay is the sun itself, making CatNap feel good, feel better.
Feel okay.
Walking into a room decorated with clouds, a sun, and plenty of colors, he can only assume this is DogDay's space. Only assume this is the spot DogDay spends a lot of his time. He carefully let's go of CatNap's hand and sits on a chair, spinning over to look at them as he pats his lap.
“C’mere, Kitty.”
CatNap doesn't need to be asked twice.
They walk over and put their hands on the chair, trying to gauge how to sit, before DogDay reaches up and carefully, gently, places his hands on CatNap's hips, causing them to freeze in place. DogDay gently laughs, maneuvering them onto the chair, their thighs straddling DogDay's, and he gently pushes their hips down, having them sit on his lap.
“See? That wasn't hard, Kitty.”
The flashlight brings some light to the room, but CatNap isn't sure they can take off their gas mask, as it's helping to hide their face, hiding their bright red face. However, DogDay is quick to hook his finger around the straps and tugs, asking for permission, and CatNap nods.
Gentle hands.
God, he has such gentle hands.
His fingers brush against their skin, moving through their hair and undoing the clip that keeps the mask in place, pulling it away, gently bringing his hands up to CatNap's face, his thumbs brushing them gently.
They can see his smile.
“My Kitty’s blushing, huh?” He teases quietly, and CatNap huffs, looking away from him. “I love you, Kitty.” He whispers, hands leaving their face.
“I love you, too.” They whisper back, leaning forward, resting against him.
Warm. So, so warm.
A broken record.
DogDay's hands run through their hair, his hands brush against their ears, causing them to jolt. DogDay clicks, beginning to scratch at the base of their ears, and CatNap purrs, claws digging into the other, kneading.
Kneading his skin.
Kneading the clothes.
DogDay just smiles down at them, gently trailing one of his hands down, those fingertips tracing down their neck, tracing their collar bones, pulling away for a bit only to then trace their ribcage, sides, before squeezing their hips.
“DogDay?” CatNap speaks, and the other hums as a response, tracing circles on their thighs. “What's your favorite thing about me?”
It's weird. They don't often talk about things like this, their relationship. Sure, CatNap gushes about DogDay to Hoppy and KickinChicken, but with DogDay, they don't really verbally say it a lot. “I love you” are just words, and words are just that; spoken, but lies can be spoken. CatNap usually prefers to tap morse code onto DogDay, despite the other not knowing what CatNap's saying, as he doesn't know morse code. But it's always awkward when they tap a message onto DogDay's skin, only for Bubba or KickinChicken to look at them, as they both do know morse code.
(Tap.. Tap tap… Tap tap tap, tap tap tap… Tap… Tap… Tap… Tap… Tap… Tap.
“CatNap! Not in front of the kids!” KickinChicken teases, elbows as he walks away, cackling as CatNap chokes, now hiding their face.
“What did they say? What did they say?!”)
With a slow movement, DogDay uses one hand up lift their chin up. “My favorite thing?... My sweet Kitty, I can't pick just one.” He whispers, brushing his thumb against them.
“You can't pick one?”
“God no. There's too many… Like your hair,” he smiles, giving CatNap another squeeze, “how it's soft and messy, with tangles, yet you're able to keep it clean. It's smooth and feels nice to touch, I love stroking it.” He whispers, and CatNap looks away. “Or your ears and tail… Your fur is super soft, I love the way you squeak and purr when I touch them, I love how you use your tail like an extra limb to hold coffee or other people.” He explains, and CatNap's face reddens.
“You pay attention.” They mumble. DogDay laughs.
“I pay attention to how when you laugh without your gas mask, you cover your mouth. I pay attention to how when you smile, you cover your mouth. I pay attention to each one of your little quirks, I pay attention to how you flap your hands and bounce on your toes when you get excited,” DogDay continues, smiling, “when you find something really funny, you tend to stumble in your laughter.”
“Okay! I get it!” CatNap whines, face bright red as they pull at DogDay’s cardigan, making him laugh. “You're making it a big deal!”
“You're my big deal.” He purrs, and CatNap huffs, raising their hands and carefully placing them on his shoulders, tail flicking as they lean forward and hesitate, confidence bubbling down. But DogDay hums, one of his hands pressing to the back of CatNap's head. “Do you want me to?”
“Huh?”
Their eyes widen. They watch him smile. “Do you want me to kiss you, Kitty?” He asks, tone playful. CatNap swallows and slowly nods, arms wrapping around his neck.
“Good Kitty… What a good Kitty.”
Gently, carefully, they're guided to his lips, and DogDay closes the gap with a kiss.
Sweetness ; they're sure he's what sugar tastes like. Sure that he’s the solution to when the world stops spinning, when they can't take a minute to themselves, he's there.
He's the Light.
(“A perfect Kitty~” DogDay teases, voice thick and heavy with sleep, CatNap squirming on their toes.
“No,” they mumble, and DogDay laughs. “I'm not perfect.”
“My sweet little kitty… c’mere, baby.”
He shouldn't be awake. They shouldn't be doing this.
But DogDay's voice is louder than their own logical thoughts; they should go back to work, go back on patrol, yet they crawl into DogDay's bed, the silk sheets a strange sensation on their skin as a kiss is placed onto their neck, making them jolt and push away, causing DogDay's eyes to widen slightly before they're back to being lidded, heavy. “Sorry. Shoulda asked.” He grumbles, slowly blinking as CatNap shakes their head.
“You're fine.” They whisper back, laying down right beside him, resting their head against his chest as he laughs, and they can hear how his heart beats, how his lungs function.
“Sweet little baby…”
The rest of the sentence is an incomprehensible mess of sleep as DogDay holds CatNap tightly in his arms, and they relax and close their own eyes to at least take a breather before ripping themselves away to continue their walk…
… But their head can't take away the memory, the feeling, of being kissed on the neck…)
Soft lips, gentle touches.
The hand cupping the side of their face, guiding them. Holding them safely, keeping them still—
With a loud BANG, CatNap jumps up, startled, before hissing and shielding their eyes from the sudden bright light. DogDay sighs, and CatNap feels the arms wrap around them, they're lifted into the air and moved…before a click , and once again, it's dark. “Is that better?” DogDay asks as CatNap opens their eyes, watching DogDay maneuver back to the chair, plopping back down.
“Yeah,” CatNap murmurs, pressing up to DogDay. “Where were we?” They ask, and a smile dances across DogDay's face, eyes lightening up with a mischievous glint.
“Mmm. Good Kitty.”
CatNap couldn't say how long they were in there kissing DogDay ; it didn't feel long enough. Didn't feel long enough to be real, didn't feel long enough to be… Well, enough.
Kisses to their lips.
Kisses to their nose.
Kisses to their temple.
Kisses to their cheek.
Kisses to their head.
Neck, collar bone, gentle bites and nibbles…
Always feeling safe, always feeling secure, always feeling enough. Their purrs fill the room, the only audible noise other than the buzz of the backup generator, making them melt into a blissful security, the warmth he brings makes their entire body hot, warm—
“What are—whoa, whoa, whoa, I have kids!”
And DogDay pulls away, CatNap blinks as they wipe the string of saliva from DogDay's lips, and wipes it onto their oversized shirt, looking behind him as the lights flicks on, Theodore running over and softly grabs CatNap’s tail. “I missed you!” He chirps, and CatNap smiles down at him, only for Theodore's eyes to widen. “You're hurt.”
“Huh?” CatNap echoes, brows furrowing. “What makes you think that?” They give DogDay a glance, who instantly looks away with a smug smile on his face, and they glance over at PickyPiggy, who found the two, and she looks only slightly unamused.
“Your neck is covered in bruises.”
Oh.
“I'm okay, I promise.” CatNap forces a smile, extending their claws as they grip DogDay's wrist, the male flinching as soft laughter leaves him, clearly not regretting his choices.
“Are you sure?” Another child echoes, running over. “That's a lot.”
“I'm fine, I promise.” CatNap speaks, grabbing their gas mask and whacking DogDay with it, who bursts out laughing, lowering his head as CatNap gets off his lap, and CatNap stretches, tail flicking in irritation. “How about we go play, huh? Who wants to play?”
“I do, I do!”
“Me! Me! Me!”
The two kids bounce up and down in place as CatNap nods, tail gently swishing behind them. “Let's go then.” They speak, watching the two race out before they snap their head at DogDay. “Rude.”
“Your purrs told me otherwise, Love." CatNap rolls their eyes, watching DogDay get up and walk with the two other Critters outside. “Have fun playing.”
“Yeah yeah.” CatNap mutters, already knowing all the kids would be bugging them about the “bruises”. “Shut up.”
DogDay laughs more, and CatNap rolls their eyes, walking away. In the distance, they can hear PickyPiggy begin to scold DogDay, but he doesn't seem to care. CatNap follows the sound of Theodore, one thought in their head…
… they wouldn't mind another blackout…