Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Cats are really cool creatures, at least according to Pluey. He loved them, much more than he loved rabbits. Rabbits...

Why? Why did he have to have those stupid rabbit ears?

Pluey was always an outcast. The other cat Shadowguys made him jealous. He didn't hate them. He was just... sad. He longed for the small, cute, pointy ears that they had.

The rabbit Shadowguys probably thought he was weird and scary. Cats are predators, so this cat Shadowguy with rabbit ears rabbit Shadowguy who thinks he's a cat Shadowguy was obviously dangerous. Why else would he choose to defy his nature?

He desperately wished he could talk to the other Shadowguys. To Battat and Jongler. To Tenna. But he couldn't. It wasn't by choice. He couldn't speak. Not even in saxophone.

Pluey decided to try to practice speaking again. He didn't get to say a single note.

Tears fell from his eyes as he coughed. The pain in his throat was nothing compared to the pain in his heart. A cat at heart, with rabbit ears, who couldn't even voice his desires.

Jongler heard a cacophony of garbled saxophone notes as they hopped by. They went to check on Pluey and sat down by him.

"...You's okay?"

No... Pluey thought as he sniffled and shook his head. Another mangled, battered note forced its way out of his throat.

"Whoa, take it easy, pal." Jongler said.

Pluey coughed once more and shook his head. How can I do that when I can't even tell you what's wrong?

Chapter Text

Pluey was so excited for the day. It was his turn to be Mike, which meant he got to be a cat! The days where Tenna treated him like a cat were the highlights of his week. He felt so... right.

"Hey, Mike? Da boss wants t' see ya." a random Zapper shouted from the hall.

"Coming!" Battat shouted back before turning to the Shadowguy next to him. "Break a leg, Plu!"

Pluey grinned from underneath his costume and excitedly ran to Tenna.

"Why did Tenna get a random Zapper to call Mike over?" Battat asked to himself as Pluey left.

≽^•⩊•^≼

Tenna sighed, not making a sound, and put a hand on Pluey's head, ruffling the fur on his costume.

Pluey made a low purring noise and kneaded Tenna's leg with his microphone paws, then gave him a questioning look. Tenna usually talked Pluey's ears off. He wished that was literal sometimes.

He pointed to his own mouth, then pointed to Tenna, who responded... well, tried to. His mouth moved, but no sound came out of it.

Pluey understood what Tenna was feeling. Despite having never spoke, he knew what it felt like to not be able to speak up for yourself.

Pluey didn't know why he did this, but he took off the head of his costume. Gee, Battat was going to kill him. He nervously looked up at Tenna and awaited a response.

Tenna smiled.

Pluey gasped. He was expecting anger or sadness, not a smile.

Tenna's screen flashed with a pair of symbols: 🎷❔

Dammit... why did he have to be the one Shadowguy who couldn't speak? He sighed a deflated note and shook his head, then pointed to his mouth.

Tenna's screen flickered again. 🔇❔

Pluey sunk into his costume with shame and nodded.

Tenna gasped, then grinned eagerly. Great. He was mocking him. The screen flashed with three symbols: 🪧🌐💬

Sign... connection... talk. Pluey tilted his head in confusion. He saw two more symbols appear on Tenna's screen: 💬👐

Pluey beamed with delight. He'd finally be able to talk! He nodded eagerly. He'd tell Battat and Jongler all about– Wait... Jongler was a Zapper! That's it! Pluey pointed to the door and put his costume head back on, then made a sudden disappearance.

Pluey busted into the Mike room with a huge grin. He cleared his throat with two sharp saxophone honks to get Jongler's attention. They looked at him with a confused expression(?) and hopped over.

Pluey got a notebook out of the pocket of his costume and began to write.

"Tenna silent... other Zappers... not able ta fix... maybe yous... can unmute... him..." Jongler read.

Pluey nodded and smiled, then wrote more.

"Tenna... teach me... sign langua–" Jongler gasped and pulled Pluey in for a hug. The Shadowguy squeaked slightly and wriggled out of their grip. "Sorry, Plu."

Pluey nodded and slapped Jongler's back affectionately.

Jongler called out Battat's name to tell him the plan. "Plues an' I are headed t' Tenna's room, 'kay?"

Battat nearly spat out the energy drink he was drinking. "But–"

"You's always worryin', Battat..." they chuckled.

The two of them cheerfully made their way to Tenna, hoping to solve his problem.

Pluey pressed Jongler's volume button, hoping that would fix the problem. They giggled from how ticklish they were and accidentally shocked Pluey. The fur on his costume stood on end. He let out the cutest little saxophone wheeze as he laughed.

"Can you two stop flirting or whatever and–" Tenna began. He gasped upon realizing that he was making noise and grabbed Jongler in a tight hug, not unlike the hug they had given Pluey.

"Hey– b-boss?"

"Oh! My apologies." Tenna released his iron grip on Jongler, who sighed in relief and hopped back over towards Pluey. "So, Mike, about the sign language lessons..."

Jongler decided to sit with Pluey and learn basic sign language as well.

Pluey was overjoyed. He could finally communicate even when he was unable to write! He took his costume off so he could "speak"... and frowned.

Those rabbit ears. Communication... or comfort. It was an impossible decision. He started to cry.

"Hey, Plu?" Jongler asked suddenly.

(What?) Pluey signed.

"Are you's... alright?"

Pluey silently put his costume back on.