Work Text:
You had been enjoying a quiet afternoon when there was suddenly a knock at the door. The sort that went "shave-and-a-hair-cut" against the painted wood and gave you a pretty good idea who was on the other side.
Standing up from your living room couch and wrapping your blanket around your shoulders, to padded over to the front door just as the knock came again.
This time you answered from the other side; "Two-bits"; before opening it. The late-winter chill blew right into your home, whipping around the two people who stood at your door-- Barnaby and Wally, two of your dear friends.
"Heya pal!" Barnaby said jovially, waving a paw as Wally said "Hello neighbour" at nearly the same time, low voice nearly unheard over his beat friend's.
"Hey boys!" you said, ushering them inside and closing the door behind them.
"What's brought you over to my little slice of warmth?"
Wally clasped his mitten-covered hands in front of him and rocked on his heels.
"We're going sledding." he replied, looking up at you. There was a pause where no one said anything, and you blinked at him.
"As the peanut said," Barnaby stepped forward and coughed, "we was goin' ta Poppy's ta do some sleddin' 'n was wondering if you'd like ta join us?"
You perked up at the offer, squinting at the snow outside before nodding.
"Oh, sure! Was just gonna spend the day reading otherwise."
You took the blanket off your shoulders and folded it up as you walked to the living room, looking down at your lounge clothes before shrugging. They'd be fine to go out in; you'd be warm enough with your winter gear.
Barnaby and Wally were still standing in the hall, and shuffled to the side as you opened your closet and pulled out your bin of winter hats and mittens.
"Think it's gonna be icy?" you asked as you tugged on your hat and mittens.
"It better be! Snow way dis lil pups movin' without some hail-p."
You scoffed, face twisted in a pained, amused way. You wrapped a scarf around your neck and shrugged on your coat-- only to realize, as you reached to do up the zipper, that your hands were mitten-clad. You stared down at them, puzzled, and before you could take them off Barnaby stepped forward.
"Need a paw?" he asked, a smirk crossing his muzzle as he did so. You sighed and nodded.
"Yeah, actually. Thanks. I kinda put this stuff on in the wrong order."
You hated getting snow in your sleeves, and with the ends of the gloves already in it was easier to ask Barn for him to do up your coat than for you to take them off, do it up, and then try to stuff the ends back in.
The dog puppet nodded and stooped down slightly.
"Ey, ya know what they say. Stitch happens!"
You pressed your lips together and gave him a look that he returned with a cheeky gleam in his eye as he pulled the zipper up to your chin.
"What? Come on, sock it to me."
"Your puns are awful." you replied, lips twitching, to which he pressed a paw to his chest with an expression of mock offense.
"I'll have you know my jokes are a coat above the rest! Button believe it, these puns are the most sew-fisticated ones you'll ever hear!"
You couldn't hold it back-- you laughed, and he laughed with you, delighted to make you break. Wally laughed too, though the wrinkles in his felt made it clear he didn't quite get the wordplay.
"Gotcha." Barnaby said, tossing you a wink. You rolled your eyes, having to hold yourself back from crossing your arms as he buttoned up your coat.
"Yeah yeah wise guy. Take advantage of your captive audience. At least we're near my first aid kit for when my ears start bleeding."
Wally gave you a wide-eyed, vaguely concerned look, and you mouthed "just joking" at him. He then looked disgruntled, as if wondering why you'd joke about that.
"Once mitten, twice shy, huh?" Barnaby continued as he flicked another button closed, "Ya just haven't heard good ones. Whoever you'd been forced ta listen to was a knit-wit."
You sighed heavily.
"You're right. Dude was big, blue, and distinctly canine with a stand-up act that was more of a lie-down snoozefest. Made me understand why comedy is the twin of tragedy. Thank goodness you're nothing like him."
He snickered as he leaned back.
"That's "tragedy" bit's a compliment, I'll have you know. N'trust me, kid. Exposure therapy'll make ya glove it, eventually."
"Doubt it." you shot back, moving to the door. Barnaby raised his eyebrows and looked down.
"Uh... Y'goin' out in your socks there pal?"
Your eyes followed his gaze, and realized you hadn't even put your boots on yet.
"Good gravy!"
You sat down on your entryway bench, grimacing as you realized you'd need help with this part too.
And by the way the smile stretched across Barnaby's muzzle and his eyes sparkled, you knew he realized the same thing.
You steeled yourself for the barrage of shoe-based puns your canine companion most definitely had tucked up his coat sleeve.