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You didn't like sleepovers very much.
Sure the idea of them sounded fun at first, with hanging out with friends, playing games, maybe makeovers and dress up, and just eating a lot of junk food.
But then came the sleeping part, and eventually it would always end there, that was the whole point of a 'Sleep' over after all.
You were not good at that, no matter what you did, some nights you would just lay awake until the sun was up again.
When you were at your own home it wasn't as big of a deal, because you could just put on something to listen to on the radio, so you wouldn't be so bored while at least trying to sleep. But at a sleepover, you couldn't do that, because you'd wake everyone else up.
So, here you were, annoyed on Julie's Home floor, wide awake. Except you weren't. You were very tired. your body just refused to let you fall asleep anyway.
Sometimes you wondered what the rest of the neighborhood would dream about, but you never asked, because most of the time when you yourself slept, you just had nightmares. So you didn't ask them, because you don't want anyone to end up asking you about what you dreamed about in turn. Since you'd feel like you'd have to lie, so they wouldn't worry.
They already worried enough about you as it was. Being the only human in Home made them worry so much about if they would even be able to help you in ways you may need. You wouldn't lie sometimes it made you feel more like a lost pet the way they overwhelmed you with their worry. But at least they cared enough to worry about you? You didn't like thinking about it.
Why were you the only human here anyway-?
Someone shifted around the room drawing you out of your thoughts. But you just kept your eyes closed. It was probably someone going to use the restroom or something.
But after a moment, someone very gently laid a hand on your chest. Immediately making you tense, before jerking a hand around theirs, pulling it away.
”What are you doing?” You yelped quietly, trying not to wake anyone else up. Only to be met with the one and only Wally Darling, looking at you very confused.
He doesn’t answer you, just asking his own question instead. “Why aren’t you sleeping?”
Your eyes narrowed at him. “Maybe I was before you decided to paw at me.”
But Wally just tilted his head to the side slightly. “No. Your breath never evened out.”
“Oh…” Should you be creeped out that he even noticed that in the first place? Wally was always a bit odd though, most of the time it more endearing than anything. “Were you just listening to me breathe?” You raised a brow at him.
And he smiles. “Yes. I like listening to all of the neighbors rest.”
Right… “What in home for?” You question in disbelief.
Wally pulls his hand from yours, before laying both his arms on your chest, and laying his chin in them. “It’s nice knowing you’re all right there with me, even while asleep.”
Oh, that was kind of sweet.
But also-
"I'm not a pillow." You give him a lighthearted glare.
But his grin only widens. Clearly ignoring you. “Do humans not need sleep?” Something about the way he says it makes you think he already knew the real answer though.
Still you huff in amusement. “Humans probably need more sleep than puppets do- if I were to guess anyway."
His eyes narrowed at that. “Why aren’t you sleeping then?”
You sigh. “I don’t know. I’ve always slept badly.” Sometimes you knew it was because your mind would never shut up. But other times that just wasn’t it, your mind would be fully blinking, but you still wouldn’t fall asleep…
There's a beat of silence, before Wally asks. “Is there anything that might help?”
“I mean…” You hesitantly lay a hand on his back, and he softens from it. ”In theory. There’s many things that supposedly help others sleep better. But none of them ever did anything for me.”
You tried pills, tea, milk, different beddings and clothes, white noise, music, many kinds of lighting, and different places. Nothing ever helped. Or at least not enough for it to be notable.
Wally hummed at that.
“I don’t sleep either.” He says after a long moment of silence.
You raised a brow. Now that you thought about it, you never have actually seen him asleep have you? You only ever seen him laying down, but just as you weren't actually asleep, any of the others could not be either.
“It’s still good to lay down and rest, even if you don’t fall asleep.” He adds. And you smile.
“Oh I know that much to be true. We still got to get some energy back somehow.” Wally smiles at that.
“Why don’t you sleep?” You couldn’t help but ask.
There’s a long beat before he answers. “I don’t understand how.”
You raised a brow. Didn’t understand how? That almost implied he's never slept before at all.
“What do you mean?”
“Barnaby said it’s like shutting off your mind for a while. I don’t know how to do that. I try to think about nothing, but I’m always thinking about something. And I’m always still awake.”
Huh. That was… interesting.
Does he mean, he literally doesn't sleep? Like ever??
“Don’t you…” You raised a brow. ”Need sleep like anyone else?” You ask in slight confusion, and worry.
“No. I just need rest.” He says matter of factly.
“Is that healthy?” You couldn’t help but ask, but backtrack slightly. “I mean- Are you okay? I thought everyone needed sleep.”
Wally's expression softens. “I don’t know. Do I look sleep deprived?”
You stare at him for a beat. “No. But do I?”
There’s another beat as Wally stares at you very intensely. “No. Not really.”
“I do need sleep though.” You point out, trying not to let his stare stressed you out.
There’s another beat of silence.
“Maybe you get just enough?” he says, but he doesn't sound that convinced himself.
“Maybe.” Clearly if you didn’t get enough, you wouldn’t be as functional. Though you barely were as it was, you were just used to being tired all the time.
There’s another beat of silence as you both just lay there staring at one another.
"Are you just going to lay on me the rest of the night?" You raise a brow at him.
And he immediately tosses his arms over more of you, and lays his face on your chest now instead. "You're so warm."
Your face flushed. "Geez- Do you have to be so touchy?"
"You could push me away." Wally points out with a far too fond smile.
While that was true, he knew you weren't going to. if you really cared, you would have pushed him away when he originally laid down.
So you just rolled your eyes, before closing them again. "Goodnight." You say, choosing to ignore the fact that he was probably going to stare at you all night now.
"Sweet dreams." He says very softly.
Neither of you fall asleep that night, but having each others company made the night much less irritating.