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Penny was restless, they had escaped the nursery, and escaped the fate of going to the great beyond, but she couldn’t sleep under the moonlight stars.
She turned to face the other toys sleeping nearby, Spud, Bud, Pumpkin, Frosty, and Jester, they were all snoring softly.
The only other toy who seemed to be just as restless was the cocky asshole known as Spot, the stuffed Dalmatian attempted to make moves on any girl toys he came across, (minus Penny, as she would’ve whooped his ass) his plastic eyes were wide open, and he was staring into the sky with an almost…. Distraught and empty look, lacking his usual cocky grin that he was known for.
Penny before her better judgement, stood up, and began walking towards him, her vinyl flippers hitting the dirt with a small squelching sound, she stood before him.
“You okay?” She asked, her tone lacking the usual bitterness that it carried when it came to spot.
The Dalmatian shot up immediately, peddling backwards against a non-existent wall, finally he spoke, his cocky and arrogant tone returning.
“What do you want?”
“I can’t sleep either.”
Spots eyes blinked slightly, and he scooted to the side slightly, almost making room for Penny, Penny took this invitation and sat down next to him.
“I’ve got to thank you,” she spoke, “for breaking the child lock and getting us out of there.”
Spot looked slightly taken aback, his tone then turned soft, slightly vulnerable. “You're welcome.”
Penny nodded slowly, “I’ve got to thank you, it’s not nice either to not.”
“Even though you're fairly harsh with me.” Spot spoke rather bitterly, he looked at Penny slightly, his eyes softer than before.
“Listen, I’m hardened because, unlike some of the others. I was donated alone. My original owner threw out most of my friends…” Penny looked vulnerable, arguably for the first time ever. Spot looked at her, and then spoke:
“I arrived alone too… My kid outgrew me when they were around 8. He’d be 9 now…”
Spot clutched his arm defensively, “it’s a toys purpose y’know? To always be there for your kid… but then again, that purpose is meaningless.”
Penny nodded slowly, “Most of us toys knew this day would come… Where we’re no longer needed, or even wanted. But it still hurts…”
“Was your owner a tomboy or a-“
“A girly girl, yes, her room looked like somebody had exploded bubblegum…” Penny’s voice cracked slightly, “And I miss that colour…” Penny then wiped her eyes with a free flipper.
“My Marcus was a nice kid, me and him went everywhere together. Until he tossed me aside and moved onto sports….”
Penny's flipper had silently fallen on top of Spot’s paw, Penny snatched her hand back violently, shooting a bitter glare at Spot as she stood up.
“Goodnight.” Her voice spoke bluntly, “Don’t wake up.”
Spot reeled his hand back gently, and saw Penny revert back to her usual attitude with him. It upset him somehow, some part of his cloth chest tightened with hurt, and then a sudden bitterness.
“Quite the charmer aren’t you?” Spot spoke bitterly, “Don’t tell the others where I’m going.”
“Going whe-“ Penny spoke, turning around slightly.
“Goodnight.” Spot spoke bluntly, Penny shook her head dismissively and walked back to her spot, and she laid back down.
The following morning, the toys had woken up, however something was amiss. Penny woke up the toys like she used to do in the nursery, but stopped at where Spot had once laid.
All that was left was an empty place, where he once sat. Penny's eyes watered up with unsure and distraught tears as she stared at the spot.
She had always hated his arrogance and cocky attitude, but now. She had realised it was all a mask to hide his true self from the others. Much like her, Spot was a distraught, even depressed toy who had lost everything, his kid, his old friends. The two were much more alike than she had realised.
And Penny stood there, wallowing with regret, not knowing spot was a few miles away, just as saddened by this outcome. But if it meant finding another kid like Marcus, then it would be worth it….. right?