Work Text:
Another boring day in the playcare.
Young Theodore Grambell was sitting alone in the play area, playing with his favorite toy, his well-loved catnap plushie.
He was used to playing by himself, pretending Catnap was a secret agent or a ninja or something super cool like that, saving lots of people rather than making them fall asleep.
Today he was just sitting alone, pretending Catnap was singing his favorite lullaby to him.
“I see the moon, and the moon sees me… I love you and you love me…”
He smiles, hugging the plushie happily. “I see the stars and the stars see me…”
Suddenly, his song was interrupted by an unknown voice.
“Hi!”
She says.
Theo jumps a bit, looking up at who said that.
It was a girl about his age.
She was wearing a yellow shirt and a pink skirt, and had blue eyes, with brown hair that was tied up into pigtails with pink ribbons.
She was holding a Dogday plushie much like his own.
“Uh… hello…” Theo says with a shy wave.
The girl smiles.
“My name is Mae, what’s yours?”
Theo gets up, still holding his plushie.
“T-Theo…”
He says shyly.
Mae smiles. “That’s a nice name.” she says softly. “Would you like to play?”
Theo smiles a little. “Uh, sure…” he says shyly.
“Cool!” Mae says, sitting down.
Theo sits back down with her.
Mae makes her Dogday walk over to Theo’s Catnap.
“Hello Catnap.” she says in a squeaky voice, making the Dogday wave.
Theo giggles and makes his Catnap wave back.
“How are you today?” Mae makes Dogday ask.
Theo makes Catnap shrug.
“Good!” May makes Dogday asks. “What do you want to do today?”
Theo thinks, then makes Catnap raise his hands together, pretending to sleep on them.
Mae makes Dogday shake his head. “Oh no, we can’t nap all day!” she says. “It’s such a pretty day outside, let’s go play!”
Theo doesn’t know how to make Catnap respond;
He then whispers to Mae. “Uh… Catnap doesn't talk…” he says, worried.
Mae giggles. “Just use whatever voice you want for him.”
Theo smiles. “Okay!”
He makes Catnap speak in a squeaky voice like Mae does for Dogday.
“But I didn’t sleep well last night…” He says. “I want to keep dreaming!”
Mae makes Dogday tilt his head. “What did you dream about?”
Theo thinks before making Catnap sigh. “Being your best friend…”
Mae giggles. “Aww, Catnap, you want to be best friends?”
Theo makes Catnap sadly nod.
“Aww!” Mae says, making Dogday’s tiny paws hold Catnaps. “Of course I'll be your best friend!”
Theo makes Catnap’s head perk up. “Really?”
Mae makes Dogday nod. “Of course!” she says.
“Now come on, let’s go play!” she says, making Dogday walk away.
Theo giggles, making Catnap follow.
The two spent the next 20 minutes or so making Catnap and Dogday go on all sorts of adventures around the playcare, from mountain climbing, to car racing, to finding treasure in the jungle, it was all so much fun.
When they got tired, they sat back down, smiling happily.
“That was so much fun!” Mae makes Dogday say. “You’re so cool, Catnap!”
Theo smiles and makes Catnap say “Thanks! So are you!”
Mae makes Dogday hug Catnap. “We’ll be best friends forever, Catnap!”
Theo giggles, making Catnap hug back. “Yes we will.”
Today wasn’t so boring after all.
~white fade transition~
That was more than 10 years ago.
But Catnap still remembered those happy days…
Well, maybe not happy... But happier than now at least.
“I miss you… Mae…”
He says, in his whispery, breathy voice.
Catnap then looked over the scrawlings he’d made on the walls as tributes to his savior.
He knows in his heart that 1006 loves him dearly, like his own child, and is going to save him and everyone else from this unrelenting hell…
But when…?
He was trying to be patient… but it was taking so long…
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d talked to 1006, and he dare not interrupt his sacred duties.
But he was getting so tired of waiting… and waiting… and waiting…
He sighed, lying back down on his giant cat bed, a fitting spot for him.
Might as well go back to sleep.
Suddenly he hears a squeaking noise.
He lifts his head up, looking downwards at the noise.
It was just one of the mini Dogdays, they oftentimes pass through looking for leftover scraps of food.
The little one walked up to his bed.
Catnap nods to it, then lies back down.
But the little toy squeaks again.
Catnap looks back at it, noticing it was trying to get onto the bed.
“What do you want…?” He asks.
The little critter didn’t answer, still trying to climb up.
Catnap rolls his vacant eyes, gently picking up the critter with his mouth and placing it in front of him.
The mini just wiggled until he set it down.
“Okay, what do you need…?” He said.
The mini still didn’t respond, instead just going to rub up against Catnap’s legs, squeaking happily.
Catnap was still confused.
Then, he noticed something he hadn’t before.
This particular Dogday mini had…
…two tiny pink bows tied around its ears.
A single tear rolled down his fuzzy purple face from his gaping, vacant eye.
Very gently and carefully, he picks the mini up with his paws, looking into its eyes.
The mini remains still.
Taking a deep breath, Catnap speaks.
“D-dog…. Mae…?”
The mini squeaks happily, hugging Catnaps nose.
Catnap holds the mini close, sadly sniffling.
He doesn't know how he never recognized her… until now…
“I… I thought I'd never see you again…”
Mae gently nuzzles against him, squeaking sadly.
Catnap gently pets her with one of his fingers. “I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you…”
The little plushie gently licks his nose.
Catnap giggles slowly. “Just as spry as ever…”
He then lies down, gently setting Mae down next to him, allowing her to curl up beside him.
Catnap wraps an arm around her. “Don’t worry…” he says softly. “I’ll protect you.”
Mae squeaks softly as she nuzzles into Catnap’s chest, falling asleep.
Catnap smiles as he falls back asleep, happy to have his best friend back in his arms.