Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Someone has been visiting their prison a lot these days, though Catnap hasn't seen them himself. The other Smiling Critters talk about them though, frequently at that. Catnap can hear them talking to the other Critters too (and sometimes even laughing with them, surprisingly and confusingly), but they've never approached him yet.

He doesn't know why they're visiting almost every day. Are they another scientist here to poke and prod at them, continue what the others started further? He can't think of what else they could be, even if the other Critters haven't mentioned them doing any of it. Though they hadn't mentioned them doing much of anything, besides talking and sometimes indulging them with some treats. Though the latter part is to be strictly kept secret, for some reason. It's strange. 

Catnap had thought they were all on the same page about the workers here, and yet the rest of the Critters are indulging in one. He doesn't think he likes it very much, but he still doesn't know what exactly is going on.

He gets his answer when a grinning woman finally approaches his cell, lacking the white coat the doctors usually wore and instead wearing a plain yellow shirt and black pants. Something he knows the other workers always wear, which still makes his hackles rise either way.

"Hello, you must be Catnap," you greet, still smiling regardless. You then give him your name, and he doesn't respond either way. "It's nice to finally be able to meet you. I've already met the rest of the Smiling Critters, and become acquainted with them. So it's great to finally be able to do the same with you."

You sit down in front of the cell, setting a bag on your shoulder to the side. He eyes it in suspicion, but you haven't reached past the bars of the prison or even really gestured his way.

"I've been told you're really quiet, and your voice doesn't quite work the way it was supposed to. But that's okay, you don't need to speak if you don't want to, or if it hurts," you assure, making Catnap tilt his head in confusion. You go routing in your bag for something, making his hair raise and his focus on you a bit sharper. "I can do the talking for both of us, or not if you just want to sit in silence. I have some stories I can read to you though, if you'd like. The other Critters like it when I read to them, or some of them do."

You look up again with a grin, your focus once more on the cat.

"They talk about you sometimes, DogDay especially. It's really a shame you're not with them," you sigh, your grin falling with that. He's honestly not surprised by that, but is a bit touched. DogDay always makes it a point to hover whenever they're in the same room, and likes to yap.

You glance over him for a moment, your grin disappearing entirely and your look becoming a bit more concerned.

"You're... awful thin. Are you getting enough to eat? I'm gonna need to talk with them about that, and maybe bring in some more treats for you specifically."

Catnap's head tilts further, confusion setting in further.

"Why are you here?" He rasps, you jerking slightly at the sound and broken from your observations.

"Oh! Uh, no one... told you?" You ask, Catnap not responding and just staring at you. You wince a little, leaning a bit more to the side and glancing away from the toy. "Ah, well, uh, I was assigned to be a caretaker to all of the Smiling Critters! Which basically just means that I take care of all your needs and everything, like making sure you get fed and your areas are cleaned and all that stuff."

Hm, so a babysitter? Someone to watch them and make sure they're behaving, more likely.

"Honestly I was a bit surprised. I had thought I was being brought in to help care for the children, but instead I met all of you. Either way, I'm glad. You're all so amazing, you know?" You grin, hand to your cheek as you look over him. "I have really enjoyed getting to know your friends, and I hope we can become good friends too, Catnap."

He doesn't see that happening, but doesn't give you a reply either way.

You have to leave not long after, but you come back again. And again, and again. You chatter a lot, usually about nothing and everything which reminds him a lot of both Hoppy and DogDay to an extent. You'll tell him about things you saw that day, or things the children had gotten up to, or things the other Critters did. He doesn't respond much to the chatter, essentially just barely listening to it.

You're never there when he puts the children to sleep, but his cage is always a bit cleaner when he's put back into it. He's getting more regular and bigger meals lately too, which you had grinned at when you had seen it.

"Oh good, they've finally listened to me. I've been pestering them to give you all bigger meals since I first met you," you huff, looking satisfied honestly. "Really, they told me you were "designed" to look so skinny. But I couldn't imagine anything as big as you could really survive off of such small meals, and nothing should look so skinny that I can literally see bones ."

You really sound annoyed by how little they got to eat and the information you were given, which is something new to the cat. Strange.

After that little rant, you sit down in your usual spot outside of his prison and pull out a book. You don't start immediately reading though, settling the book in your lap and looking up at him again.

"Do you have a favorite treat? I know Picky likes her PB&Js and Hoppy likes carrots, funnily enough. How about you?" You ask, leaning your head in your hand. Catnap doesn't respond, but you don't look surprised about that. "Well, I can bring in a few things for you to try. But we've got to keep it a secret, I'm not actually supposed to be giving all of you any treats."

You put a finger to your smile and give him a wink, then turn your eyes down to the book. You read him a chapter from it, and Catnap just lays his head down and stares at you. Curious, and weird.

The visits from the "Doctors" don't stop, but you're never there when they are. They still poke and prod, and yell and are generally unpleasant. Nothing seems to have changed on that front and it's still just as uncomfortable, and upsetting, as usual. Some days, like today, are worse than others though.

"Are you okay?" You ask, looking actually concerned. You lean a bit closer to the bars, which you still have never passed or opened. "You look like you're in pain."

Catnap just growls, curling up tighter. You look even more concerned by that, sitting up more and searching with your eyes. You actually lean on the bars, then glare at them with a huff.

"Damn things. Wish they'd just let me go in there already," you mutter to yourself, likely not meaning to actually let him hear that part. It does peak his interest though.

You're... not allowed in his cell? Well, he supposes that's alright with him, one less human able to poke and prod at him.

You slump back, looking over him again with visible concern.

"Some of the others weren't feeling too well today either," you tell him, voice notably quieter and gentler. Concern plainly laced through it. "I hope you're not getting sick, though DogDay told me that wasn't it. No one was willing to explain it though."

Are you playing dumb or do you actually not know?

"Here, will this make you feel a bit better?" You ask, pulling a small container out of your bag. Catnap tenses, but you just pull the lid off and slide it through the bars. It's far enough away that he can decide if he wants to come out of his ball or not, and he decides to just eye the thing.

It... does smell pretty good though.

"I made it myself last night for you to try," you offer, then go on to tell him what's actually in it.

It's not actually the first time you've offered him something new to eat, but he is surprised you're actually still trying. He's rejected every other offering you've tried to give him.

He takes this one though, if only to get you to shut up and stop looking at him like that. The look of surprise on your face turns to joy and relief, and Catnap decides to look away if only because it makes his insides squirm.

.... He really doesn't like whatever you made, it tastes awful to him.

"Don't like it, huh?" Seems the disgust was clear on his face. "That's okay, we'll find something eventually."

You do eventually, and by the look on your face, you're incredibly proud of this fact. He huffs about it and settles in his too small prison cell, facing away from you. You laugh about it, instead of getting mad about it like any of the Doctors would have.

He gets used to this routine, you sitting outside of his prison and yapping on about this and that. Or reading a chapter of a story, occasionally sliding some cookies into his cell when you think you can get away with it. There's always the distance though, the prison cells separating him from you. He could still get you with the Red Smoke, but he also knows what will happen if he does.

But that separation is a mild comfort, you can't really reach him through the bars. Or you won't reach through them at least, since you probably actually could reach him. But either way, it's a comfort as much as it is an annoyance.

Which is why it's so startling when you do change the routine, reaching through the bars and gently tapping the tip of your fingers against his paw.

He jumps, hair standing on edge and a hiss struggling through his throat. You startle right back, leaning farther away from the bars and holding your hand to your chest.

"Sorry! I'm sorry, Catnap. I thought you saw me," you apologize, and actually look apologetic about startling him too. He's stunned again, not having ever heard a worker apologize to him, enough to quiet the hissing. "They're going to give me access soon, and let me go into your cell. So I can take care of your fur and give you a bath, like I do for the other Critters. I didn't want to surprise you with that."

He doesn't like the sound of that, but there's nothing he can do to stop that day from coming either. There's a Doctor there watching the whole time too, making him even more uneasy. He can't decide who to keep an eye on more, you or the Doctor.

"Hey, Catnap. Nice to finally see you face to face," you grin, reaching out a hand for him. He doesn't move, eyeing your hand cautiously. You pull it back, instead using it to kneel on your knees. "Well, let's get started, yeah? You look like you're overdue for some pampering."

He ultimately decides the Doctor, despite firmly staying outside of the cell, is the bigger threat to keep an eye on. Even as you wring a washcloth of water right in front of him and step closer.

You're... surprisingly gentle, carefully rubbing the washcloth down and through his short fur. You're especially careful around his face, even as he remains as still as a statue.

"You've gained a few pounds, good," you note, quiet enough he's sure he only heard it. There's a note of relief in your tone. "That's good."

You run a soft brush through his fur after washing him down, carefully petting through it afterwards. It brings out a rumble despite himself, making you pause for just a moment. You continue anyway, a little grin working its way onto your face. Catnap is more uncomfortable as the Doctor writes something on his clipboard.

"You're doing so well, Catnap," you mumble, scratching behind his ear. "Good job, Kitty."

The Doctor only leaves once you're outside of the cell again, and you leave with them. Catnap curls up in his cell, a fine tremble overtaking him. He... smells like lavender, he notes.

You don't stay away for very long, and you're alone this time. It's more of a relief than Catnap is willing to admit to, especially anywhere you or anyone else could hear him.

"I officially have access to open your cell whenever," you tell him, still sitting in your normal spot. It still makes him tense, even if you make no move towards doing so. "I won't unless you let me, okay? I promise."

He doesn't believe it, but you keep that promise. You don't enter his cell and you don't touch him again, you keep up the same routine as before. Much to his confusion.

It... makes him let his guard down, more than he'd like to admit. So, when you do reach out a hand again, he doesn't move away. He.. lets you in, despite everything telling him it's a bad idea. You let him curl around you, and you scratch his chin and behind his ear. He rumbles and relaxes, despite himself.

"You're a good kitty, Catnap," you murmur, surprising him still by feeling surprised by the affectionate kiss laid on his head.

You... make him feel warm, which is better than any of the other workers here. He.. supposes you're the only one that's really tolerable....

He likes you.

_____

DogDay really likes you, he liked you from the start really. You're so much nicer than any of the other workers here, there's a kindness in you that bleeds through every interaction you have with any of the Critters. And it's.. painfully obvious to him how oblivious you are to what goes on around here, either that or you're an incredible actress but he figures the former is a safe bet.

He let you get close to him, which allowed the others to feel safe enough to get close to you as well. He thinks they're all better for it, a bit of sunshine in this hell. Besides the occasional times they're let out to see the kids, that is.

"I've finally met Catnap," you tell him, settling yourself on the floor. DogDay flinches, Bobby and Bubba sharing a concerned look.

"You did?" DogDay encourages, settling his head on your lap.

"Mhmm. He's just as quiet as you said," you sigh, running your fingers through his fur. The other Critters come to settle around you too, Crafty shyly taking the paper and crayons you offer her.

"Did he do anything?" Hoppy asks, the question bursting out before she could swallow it.

"No, not really. He's been very shy, honestly," you say, continuing to comb through DogDay's fur.

"Shy? Really?" Bubba asks, you nodding with a hum. DogDay and the other Critters... find that a bit hard to believe, but they don't see any signs of distress on your face nor do they find any bandages. So.. they guess you're telling the truth, as surprising as it is.

DogDay had hoped you'd never meet the cat, but he supposes it was just a matter of time. As much as he wishes he could do more for Catnap, they're kept apart by the Doctors for some unknown reason. They hardly ever let him and the rest of the Critters meet with their missing member, and DogDay figures the cat is likely worse off for it. He wants to be there for him, but it's just not possible.

He still makes the most of when they're in the same room together, and he still thinks of Catnap as his friend. He hopes Catnap sees him the same way.

And DogDay knows.. there's something wrong with Catnap too, he's different from the rest of the Critters. DogDay isn't sure how, as he's sure they were created the same unfortunate way, but he knows it's there. Makes Catnap a bit more.. unstable and dangerous than the rest of the Critters. It's what makes him concerned for you interacting with him by yourself, even if he knows there's nothing he can do to stop it.

But.. maybe you'll be good for him? If you're making near daily visits like you do them, it'll be more interaction than he's likely getting before. And you are incredibly soft and kind, Catnap has to see that too. He hopes at least.

You never seem injured, so he takes that as a good sign. You're still interacting with them the same as you always have too, which is relieving. You still draw with Crafty, bounce around with Hoppy, solve whatever new puzzle you bring in with Bubba, indulge in Kickin's thoughts about outside, take Bobby's clinging in strides, and bring in new things for Picky to sneakily try.

You still take the quiet moments to cuddle with DogDay too, quietly reading him a story at the end of the day when the other Critters are asleep from a long day of playing with the kids and dealing with the other workers in the factory.

"Is Catnap really behaving, Angel?" DogDay whispers, looking up at you.

"Yes. He's barely done anything really. He spoke to me once and has never said a thing again," you sigh, running your fingers through the fur on his head and scratching behind his ear.

"What did he say?" DogDay asks, curiously.

"He just asked what I was doing there. I don't think anyone told him what was going on," you sigh, obviously frustrated by that. You shake your head, looking at him again. "He looks terrible too, DogDay. He's all skin and bones, I don't think they're really feeding him well. I hate the way you're all treated here-"

You forcefully expel a breath from your nose, slumping a bit more into his much bigger body. DogDay carefully nudges your cheek, leaning his head onto yours.

"I know, Angel. You're so good to us," he whispers, you looking even more annoyed.

"It's just basic decency to another living being, DogDay. You should've already been getting this treatment and the fact that you're not is appalling," you whisper, DogDay just sighing in response. He knows, but there really isn't anything they can do about it. Not really. "I'm worried about Catnap. I don't think he's well."

"I'm sure you'll take good care of him, just like you do for us," DogDay assures, nudging your head again. "He'll come around."

"I hope so," you sigh, moving to lay on him just as much as he is you. It makes DogDay curl a bit tighter around you, just a bit.

DogDay knows you care about all of them, he knows it and the rest of the Critters know it too. They can't help but to cling onto you, even if they're so much bigger than you. They crave your kind touch, much gentler than that of grabby children or the unwavering Doctors. Their little angel giving them a taste of heaven so far from their reach in the dank, dreary prison they're stuck in.

DogDay knows they're far more attached to you than they should be, and depend on you more than you'll ever know. To an unhealthy degree even, where they get anxious if you're running even a second late. He figures some of them might even break a little if you ever disappear on them, and even the thought of it makes fear crawl under their skin.

The Doctors know too, and love to use their access to you as a threat. Behave or they'll never get to see you again. They don't want anything bad to happen to you, do they? Then they better do as the Doctors say...

You never understand why they get so clingy sometimes, why they tremble or beg you not to leave. They never explain it, they can't or the Doctors will get rid of you, but you must assume it's just a bad day. You take it in stride, just as you always do, and comfort them until they calm down.

Part of him thinks the Doctors did this on purpose, DogDay is almost certain of it. Give them one good thing for them to cling to, then threaten to take it away if they disobey. It'd make sense, it's on brand for them. But DogDay can't find himself caring about their reasoning, just that you keep coming back to him.

"You've met our Angel?" DogDay asks, looking at the purple cat across from him. Catnap's usually limp tail gives a tiny flicker. "She's told us she's going to see you now. What do you think of her?"

".... Chatty," Catnap rasps, not giving anything else away.

"She is," DogDay chuckles, glancing away. He's quiet for a few minutes, then returns his gaze to the cat. "She cares, a lot. She takes good care of us, and loves us a lot I think. She's said she's worried for you."

Catnap stares at him, making DogDay shift a bit in nervousness.

"We all really care for her," he tells the cat, not quite meeting his stare. "I hope you will too. She could be a good friend for you, if you let her be."

"We shouldn't make friends with them," Catnap reminds, DogDay sighing.

"She's not one of them, Catnap," he promises, looking back up at the cat. "She's a good person. Believe me, Friend. She only wants the best for us."

Catnap frustratingly doesn't respond to that, but DogDay hopes he got his point across and that he won't hurt their angel when she inevitably crosses the bars to his prison. He knows it's going to happen someday, he just hopes that day won't end with you covered in your own blood.

He's sure the Doctors will be happy either way.

"You know, I had thought Bobby was the clingy one," you tease, scratching behind his ears again. DogDay just rumbles, leaning more into your lap. "I suppose I don't really mind it all that much though."

"I don't believe you mind it at all," DogDay grumbles, relaxing fully for the first time that day.

"Mmm. I suppose you're right," you chuckle, head tilting. "You and Catnap are very similar this way, you know."

"What?" He questions, peeking up at you.

"You both have a tendency to curl around me like this," you grin, scratching his chin. "You both also like to have your chins and ears scratched."

"Catnap has let you get close to him?" DogDay asks, a bit surprised by this fact. You nod with a hum, looking rather at ease.

"He has. He's come really far from when we first met," you grin, relieved. "He's gained some weight too, thankfully, though still hasn't said a word to me."

DogDay's honestly just surprised he's let you get so close, and that you've come out unscathed. He is relieved though, as it means Catnap isn't so alone anymore and hopefully it means you're safe with him too. It is always hard to tell what the cat may be thinking though, but the dog is hopeful.

"I'm sure he will, some day," DogDay assures, grinning easily for once. "He just doesn't like to talk usually."

"I know," you assure, nails scratching at just the right spot on his chin. You giggle as his leg kicks, making the dog fluster a bit. "I'm getting better at reading him, so it's getting easier to tell what he likes and doesn't like. He purrs too."

"He does?" DogDay asks, eyes widening. You nod with a bit of a smile.

"It's like being surrounded by a massage chair," you chuckle, shaking your head a bit. "He can be incredibly adorable sometimes."

DogDay nods, honestly a bit surprised about how close you've gotten to Catnap. But he supposes he shouldn't be, you just.. have a way about you. Given the time, he thinks anyone would be attracted to you like a moth to a flame. Except maybe the Doctors, DogDay isn't sure they have a heart to care that deeply for anyone....

"Anyways, do you want to hear the next chapter?" You ask, leaning over to grab for your bag. DogDay drags it closer to you, laying his head down onto your lap. You smile in thanks, digging the book out from the clutter inside it and start reading from the passage.

DogDay can almost pretend you're somewhere else, maybe in a field with the softest, greenest grass that they all dream of seeing. Or maybe in your house, finally safe and nice and cozy curled up together in your bed. Either way, free from this cursed place. It's a nice dream, and even if DogDay doesn't think they'll ever get to see it, he hopes for it one day. As long as you're there to hold his hand.

_____

Someone's approaching his cell, Catnap can hear them. Arguing, it sounds like. He thinks, not entirely too sure until they get closer. Then he's sure it's arguing, or desperate pleas for someone to listen. Either way, it doesn't sound like it's going all that well.

It.. sounds like you .

"But those cages are just too small . They barely fit in them! They need more room and proper beds," you argue, the Doctor you're talking to barely listening. "They can't even stretch out, it's cruel to keep them locked up in something so tiny!"

Catnap doesn't move or make a single sound, remaining completely still so neither of you notice him.

"You don't need to worry about that," the Doctor replies, Catnap able to hear the annoyance in her voice. "Just focus on what you were assigned to do."

"That's what I'm trying to do," you sigh, shoulders dropping. "Why do they even need to be in those cells? The Critters are good and they behave wonderfully. Why do they have to be kept locked up when they're not interacting with the kids? It's cruel to keep such intelligent and sentient creatures locked up nearly 24/7, especially in cages so small -"

"Look, just do what you're told or you won't get to see those things ever again ," the Doctor replies, spinning around to glare at you. "We let you have your fun for a reason, but quit questioning everything or you're going to regret it."

You freeze, right in front of his cell. You don't say another word, the Doctor huffing and spinning around to continue wherever she was going. You remain rooted in your spot, tears actually welling up in your eyes.

You curse, rubbing your eyes in frustration. When you look up again, you actually look startled to see him staring at you.

"Oh, Catnap," you sputter, quickly wiping your eyes again. You sniffle and put on a smile, but it drops when you can see just how much he's not believing it. So you sigh and step into his prison, sitting down with him. "I'm sorry you had to see that. They're... frustrating to work with."

You look as annoyed as you sound, glare aimed at the ground.

"How am I supposed to properly take care of all of you when they never listen ," you spit out, frustration leaking into every word.

"They never will," Catnap rasps, surprising you apparently. Judging by the way your gaze jumps to him, apparently you weren't expecting him to actually respond. "We are nothing but prisoners to them, experiments."

The Prototype had made that clear to him, if the way the scientists act wasn't proof enough.

"Even lab rats are treated better than all of you are. Actual prisoners are given more courtesy, it's no excuse," you grumble, leaning a bit more into the cat. Unconsciously, he thinks. "It's abhorrent the way you're treated. It's wrong ."

"The prototype will save us, don't worry," Catnap assures, resting his head onto his paws. You blink at him, obviously not having a clue who he's talking about. But you smile anyway, scratching behind his ear.

"I hope they do," you mumble, curling up just a bit more with him. "You all need to get out of here. And hey, you can come stay at my house when you escape."

Catnap rumbles at that, finding he doesn't actually mind that idea all that much.

"And..... And I'll try to help, in any way I can," you assure in a whisper, nearly leaning right up to his ear. "I'm sorry you have to go through all this. You deserve much better."

He starts rumbling again when he feels your nails scratching behind his ear pleasantly, trailing down to his neck and the back of his head after a moment. He can see you're lost in your mind after a moment, mindlessly scratching through his fur. It doesn't seem to be pleasant thoughts in your mind, and he wishes you wouldn't worry so much.

They will be saved, after all.

_____

You... had no clue the Bigger Bodies were even a thing, that there existed big, and smaller, living toys in the Playtime CO factory. If it weren't for your new husband, you probably never would've known.

Your husband is a scientist, one of the ones working on the Bigger Body initiative. Whose aim is to create large living toys that can help around the factory, which you guess... is a good idea in theory ? You have no idea how they created these, any of these , living toys, just that they're organic and need some of the same care as you do.

You think they need the exact same care , but what do you know? Apparently.

Your husband was the one to get you your “promotion,” telling you a bit about the work he does. You know he didn't tell you all of it, but just what you "needed" to know. Either way, he got you the job of caring for these living toys. Your first meeting with the Smiling Critters... could've gone better. You hadn't known you'd be caring for giant living toys instead of children, but you found them very sweet and easy to get along with after your initial shock.

Then you saw their pitiful conditions and started trying to improve it, which got you a lot of backlash from the scientists. Ultimately, you're just as powerless as the toys here. You don't get why they wanted you as caretaker if they won't let you take care of them .

For fuck's sake, Catnap was literally skin and bones ! They obviously don't care for the health of these living toys they've created! 

Good idea in theory, completely horrible in practice . 

Admittedly, you've gotten in more than one fight with your husband about this...

"You need to stop pushing these things," he insists, giving you a stern look that has you glaring back. "You're just making yourself enemies in the factory. I honestly don't know why you get so worked up about this, they're just things , Darling. Nothing more than experiments."

"They're more than that and you of all people should know that. You and the other scientists. They're living and breathing, sentient , beings. People . Not things ," you hiss back, tired of hearing that. Your husband says your name, exasperated.

"They're not people. If I had known you'd get so attached, I wouldn't have gotten you that promotion," he sighs, shaking his head like you're the one being ridiculous.

"I can't believe you," you huff, turning red from the anger. "You are not the person I thought you were. I don't know how you could even.... How you could even think like this. You've seen them, you all have. How could you not see the humanity in them? They experience the same damn emotions we do, they need the same things as us!"

"They're not human, and they never will be. You best get that idea out of your head right now," he replies, glaring back at you finally. "They're nothing more than tools, and that's it ."

"You're.. You're impossible!" You huff, spinning on your heels and marching right out of the room. Your husband calls for you, but you're already halfway out the door. You need some fresh air and room to think, away from him and this... this madness .

You don't look in the rear-view mirror to see him standing in the doorway, keeping on going until you reach your parent's house. Your mother is always happy to see you, even if you are ranting mad. You vent about the arguments, exposing as much as you can with Playtime's hush, hush clause of the bigger bodies project. Which just means you can't talk about them with anyone not in the know.

"Well, that seems like quite the problem," she hums, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't think it's something we're ever going to agree on," you huff, leaning back into the couch like a petulant child. You take a big breath, leaning your head back. "But it's just not... something I can ever fold on, and I don't think he's ever going to be willing to either."

"And it's something big enough to cause so much strife in your marriage? Last I saw, you two were like lovebirds," you mother comments, making you groan and cover your face with your hands.

"It's a serious problem and... I just can't.. morally stand for what's happening. It's not fair, it's not right . It's... It's horrific ," you groan, downright miserable. "But.. But I don't know if I can.. do anything to change it at this point. I don't even know where to start."

"Well... You could step back and look at things again, start with what you can do to start fixing the problem," your mother offers, which feels like good advice even if you're not sure it's really helpful. "You've got a good heart, you'll figure out a way. You've always had."

"I don't know if that's something my husband would like," you huff, dropping your hands to your stomach again.

"Well, then he can hit the road. If it's not something you can turn a blind eye to, and something he's not willing to help you fix or even opposes fixing, then he can get lost," you mother scoffs, shaking her head. "If it's something that's got you looking that miserable and angry, it's obviously something important. If he can't work with you on it, then maybe he's not the one."

"Do you really think so?" You ask, looking over at her. She nods, taking a sip from her coffee.

"Of course. I value your happiness over any marriage, honey. Do whatever you feel is necessary," she advises, patting your knee. You grin and thank her, staying the night at her home. But you have to go back home eventually, which your husband is happy about. Even if he tries to scold you about abruptly leaving after such a fight, and is unbearably clingy until you go to work the next day.

"Here, Babies. Come get something to eat," you call to the mini versions of the Smiling Critters. They come out of seemingly nearly every crevice Playhouse has to offer, hungrily growling until they get their share of the food you brought. A Catnap and DogDay stick closer to you, instead of running off like most of the other mini Critters do to feast on their portions. Those two like to pool their shares and eat together though, and you find it incredibly adorable.

They don't deserve this life either, none of them do. You're not even allowed to name any of the mini Critters, even just to make things easier.

The mini Catnap climbs up to nap on your shoulders once finished eating, the mini DogDay following at your heels as you roam the Playhouse looking for any of the mini Critters that may not have heard you.

You... You don't think you'll ever be able to fix the toy's lot in life in this place, you don't think anyone besides you and maybe the kids really care about them. Most of the people working here probably don't even know the toys exist, and you're not sure it would help if they did. If you wanted to improve the state of their lives, you'd just have to get them out of here entirely.

But... where would you even take them? It's not like they're easy to hide exactly, and you doubt they'd really be accepted into society. You live in a pretty remote place, deep in the woods. But your husband would have something to say about jailbreaking the toys, and if he found them they'd wind right back up where they are now. And that's speaking as if you could even break them out, Playtime's security for the toys is strict. You don't think you could even sneak out one of the mini Critters.

Your attention is drawn to Mini DogDay growling at something, making you turn to him to see what's upset him. A TV flickering makes you turn your attention to it in confusion, holding Mini DogDay to your chest.

"Now what's wrong with this thing?" You hum, smacking it on the side a bit until it finally settles again. You go to leave it there, but are stopped again by it flashing one more time. Your pout of annoyance turns to a look of confusion again at the words popping up on the TV.

You wish to help them? Help us?

"Help them? Who?" You ask, hesitantly.

The toys.

".... Who.. are you?" You ask, eyes narrowing and looking around in confusion. "If you're one of the scientists, I'll have to inform you this is a huge misuse of time and entirely unfunny-"

You've been told about me. Catnap speaks highly of you.

"Catnap? ....Are you the.... Prototype?" You ask, hesitantly.

Yes. You wish to help us?

"I.. I do," you reply, eyes narrowed at the screen. "The way they're... the Smiling Critters are kept, is abhorrent. And I'm guessing others aren't treated any better either."

There's a long pause, but then the TV screen changes again.

Good. We'll speak more later.

The TV just.. stops then. No more sentences or words, leaving you to blankly stare at it for a long moment.

"Well, that was weird," you murmur to the toys clinging to you. Mini DogDay just tilts his head, growling just a little. You sigh, then continue what you were doing. Eventually you have to set the two on the ground and encourage them to head back to where they belong. "I have to go take care of the bigger versions of you now, go on. I'll see you two later, okay?"

They both growl, but head back into the Playhouse proper. Then you stand again and continue on as normal.

The messages keep coming, sporadically and only ever in small partially hidden places, but they keep coming. Asking what you know and your motives, why you'd want to help them and if you really even know what they are. It becomes... obvious to you that something's.. That something very bad happened. You're still not entirely sure what, but something did. And likely continues to happen, right under your nose.

You stop asking the scientists to improve the toy's living conditions at this point, they're not going to do it. They won't listen to you and there's nothing you can do about it, so you're just going to do what you can right now. Offer them all the love and comfort you can give them, which seems to be more than enough for them. You're still plotting though, and observing what you can.

"Is something wrong, Angel?" DogDay asks, nearly making you jump.

"Huh?" You blink, surprised.

"You've been acting.. a bit strange lately," he replies, and you get the impression he's frowning. You sigh, shaking your head and smiling a bit.

"Just a little stressed," you assure, leaning more against the dog. "I'm alright, just... working through some things."

"Like what?" DogDay asks, nudging a bit more around you.

"Just.. Just a whole lot, with-" You're cut off by a call of your name, making you frown. DogDay curls a hand around yours, especially as the last person you wanted to see comes into view.

"There you are," your husband huffs, arms crossed. You raise an eyebrow, still not amused with him.

"What? I'm doing my job," you say, motioning to the frozen dog around you. You don't really like the way he immediately went still at the sight of the man, nor the way his grip tightens.

"Yes, yes. I can see you're playing with it-"

" Him ."

"Oh, whatever. I've come to get you for a surprise," he replies, motioning you to follow him. DogDay's grip becomes just a bit tighter, and you can feel a fine tremble in him.

"You know I'm not a fan of surprises," you frown, moving to pet DogDay while keeping your eyes on the man. He looks like he bite into a lemon, looking between you and the toy. He rolls his eyes.

"You've done well with the Smiling Critters, even one as difficult as Catnap, so we wanted to see how some of the other experiments react to you," he sighs, looking more than a bit annoyed. "It's nothing permanent, just a test trial. To see how things go."

You sigh, turning completely to DogDay to get him to let go. It really doesn't escape your notice of how tense he is at the sight of your husband, or how he had subtly shifted himself as if to shield you from him, but you know he's likely not going to leave without you. It doesn't escape your notice of how tense, and downright panicked, the other Critters look at you leaving with him.

Apparently they don't think you're safe with the man, or maybe they worry you'll leave them for him. One of the two, and you'll consider both at this point.

He's brought you to meet Huggy Wuggy and Kissy Missy, and some of the mini Huggies that are kept on leashes and you're warned not to get too close to.

None of them really seem to care that you're there, and the bigger two give a hug when you ask for one at the direction of the scientists. Neither seemed to really want to hug you, but they did. They seem... despondent at best, maybe a bit like they've completely given up or something like that at worst.

So your assumption of the other toys being treated as poorly as the Smiling Critters is seeming to be correct. You're not surprised, saddened but not surprised.

They want to make you the caretaker of the Huggy lines as well now, and you're not too thrilled with this. But you'll accept, just to make their lives a bit better if anything else. You don't like the implication that they're going to make you take care of every living toy in the factory eventually, you don't like that at all.

They're really trying to make you livid aren't they?

But, you do it. You take care of the Huggy lines just like you've taken care of the Smiling Critters, and are even able to get close to the mini Huggies eventually. They like to climb on things more than the mini Critters do, you and Huggy both being the preferred climbing posts.

The messages on the TVs continue too.

Do you know what they did?

Do you want to know?

Are you sure?

Alright.

.....

....

..

Your husband is really not who you thought he was, they none are . You.. You have to get the toys out of here, you have to stop them.

I want to put a stop to this. We want to. Are you really willing to help?

" Yes . How... How could they?" You whisper, hand coming up over your mouth in horror.

No matter what? They've killed people trying the same thing.

"Yes. They.. they need to be stopped. This... this can't keep happening," you nod, still in disbelief. You take a deep breath, straightening more. "I'll... I'll do whatever I can to help."

Good.

You think the Critters can tell you know now, they cling a bit tighter and are even less willing to let you leave. They seem more and more nervous with every passing day, even DogDay holds you closer and tighter than before. You comfort them to the best of your abilities, and can't stop yourself from wondering who they actually are. The only one that hasn't changed, aside from being a bit upset about your decrease of visits, is Catnap.

"You seem content," you whisper, scratching the large cat behind the ear. His purring gets just a bit louder, peeking at you with one eye. "That's good. I'm glad to see it."

Catnap just drifts back off into a nap, fitting of the feline.

Your husband has noticed a change too, and that change is you putting more distance between the two of you. You spend more time at your mother's these days, and she talks to you about getting a lawyer to draft up divorce papers. He's not happy about this, not in the least. But you can't find yourself caring too much about what makes him happy anymore, not after what you've found out he does.

The Prototype's plan is going to happen soon, and you've got to get yourself ready for it. You're.... not entirely sure what the plan is besides an escape, and you've got to make sure the cells are unlocked. Or at least make sure the Prototype has what they need to unlock them.

Your mother has a house in a remote enough area, you think. The house you lived in with your husband would've been more ideal, but you think you can make her house work. She'll be okay with the toys as long as you explain things, when you get them there. Assuming nothing happens while you get them out, at least.

You can do it.

"Darling, I think we need to talk."