Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The air was thick with tension, but Dogday barely paid any notice to it.

He was still trying to process what just happened. His eyes were glued on the darkened monitors, watching a determined and furious looking Angel disappear through a series of maze-like hallways until they were finally out of frame from the camera's line of sight.

Once the initial shock waned, a surge of rage took its place, so much so he was unable to suppress the blood curdling snarl that escaped his maw.

It made him sick to his core. Only one scheming amalgamation benefited from deceiving Angel and sabotaging their attempt of contacting them. It was obvious, but how did he do it? How did he manage to use Catnap’s voice? Was there a new minion they had to be wary of with that kind of ability? There were too many questions and not enough answers.

The canine clenched his fists tightly. If anything happened to Angel because of this, he would happily remind everyone why he was imprisoned in the first place.

A shrill, sharp high pitch sound startled him, the awful noise going straight through his sensitive ears, forcing him out of his temperament as he cringed and attempted to cover them. Thankfully the sound stopped as soon as it started but he felt his stomach drop when he remembered who was beside him…

Catnap...The noise had come from his direction.

He glanced uneasily at the taller critter, who had his head bowed and although Dogday couldn’t see his face, he could clearly see harsh tremors rock his slender frame. It also became clear what the source of the terrible noise had been too, because Catnap's long nails were now deeply embedded inside of the metal desk, and the alarming thing was the feline didn’t seem to notice…or even care.

He reached out to him, to do what exactly? He didn’t know, but he paused halfway when the purple critter’s head shot up and he was met with frenzied eye lights. Fear painted his features and while understandable, it was jarring to him, because the canine had never seen Catnap look so terribly afraid before.

To see Catnap experience this degree of terror made his heart pang and whatever expression he wore seemed to snap Catnap out of it enough to speak, and with a sense of urgency.

“Dogday that wasn't me-” Catnap wheezed in between speech.“It was him-”

The more Catnap spoke, the more Dogday noticed just how awfully raspy he was.

“The Prototype can mimic voices-”

Oh. That disgrace had the ability to mimic? So they were intercepted directly by the prototype? Alright. Okay. That explained a lot, especially the feline’s heightened fear, but…He was struggling to pay attention to the details when he watched Catnap suck in another ragged intake of air, more laboured than the last, as though the feline was fighting against his very airways. Dogday was becoming increasingly worried, he hoped the feline wasn't about to experience a-

The feline's frantic tone sidetracked his thoughts, especially when his voice started to distort. “I haven’t b̴e̵t̶r̵a̶y̸e̶d̷ you, I promise-"

Betrayed him?

Ironically, despite how on edge he was earlier around him, (naturally, he did almost die and the mixed signals were driving him mad) Catnap betraying him hadn’t even crossed his mind. The intimidating cat toy may have mastered the stoic facade and wielded an impressive poker face, but one thing for certain was that Catnap was an awful liar in the flesh. Not even paranoia could convince him into thinking the purple critter was remotely involved in this turn of events.

Catnap tried to stifle a cough but failed when he realised his claws were actually stuck inside of the metal surface he unknowingly dug into. While the feline seemed momentarily distracted trying to free himself, Dogday observed the slender toy's ongoing symptoms with dread, but tried to think about the best course of action to help without being too invasive. Catnap was skittish at the best of times, but likely more so when distressed. He still wasn’t overly sure how to act around him...

Catnap eventually gave up his futile attempts of retracting his claws and groaned in frustration, the feeling of being trapped and getting no response from the shorter critter only seemed to heed his anxiety and desperation. “D̵O̷G̷DAY̶ plea̵s̷e̷-”

Okay, looks like he had to get a grip and just go with his intuition. There was no time for indecisiveness or panic.

“Hey hey, it's okay Kitty.” The canine shushed him softly and placed his paws over the shaking feline’s wrists. He managed to gently pry the stubborn claws out from the metal surface and once the wheezing cat critter was freed, he manoeuvred the taller toy to sit on the desk before them, and while Catnap obliged and didn’t question him, he appeared confused and very disorientated.

Once Catnap was sitting somewhat more comfortably, the dog toy gently held the dazed feline’s face and smoothed down the soft fur on his cheeks, watching him gasp, pant and swallow down coughs threatening to arise. Dogday noted that he seemed to be struggling though, judging by the way tiny amounts of red smoke escaped on each uneven exhale.

“First of all, I know that wasn’t you Nap. I know damn well who that was.” He felt Catnap sink into his hold, whether from relief or exhaustion he didn't know, but the dog toy had to release the other to sit beside him. He was quick to wrap an arm around the small of Catnap’s back, using his other paw to press lightly on Catnap’s chest to prevent the larger toy from curling in on himself, as he had started to lean forward in clear discomfort which he knew would make breathing harder for the feline.

He kept his voice calm, although inwardly, he felt quite the opposite. “I promise I don't suspect you, but right now, I need you to focus on your breathing Nap. So please try not to speak.”

It was vital they focused on the feline's health, because he had a high price to pay for producing and dispersing his advantageous poppy gas, and not just because it took a lot of energy out of him…

The truth was, due to the strain of the gas over time, Catnap grew up to have weaker lungs than the average critter and in addition, his voice box was made to be used minimally or it would result in him being more breathless with…unfortunate consequences.

In the past, Dogday could remember Catnap having what they called ‘bad days’ where he would have fits reminiscent of asthma attacks, which was not only dangerous to himself, but also to everyone around him if he lost control of his red smoke.

Thankfully incidents like that were few and far between, and never happened around the children, but it didn't stop everyone from worrying about future occurences…

Despite the danger and nature of the attacks, the scientists never explored them. Why? Because the surgeons cared little for their experiments and, as per usual, set aside any concerns for toys, the children or other workers in their pursuit for deluded perfection. Catnap, (and by extension himself, as the leader of the smiling critters and his best friend) had to learn to monitor the signs and act fast to prevent or lessen the episodes as soon as they began.

He however was not prepared to find out how much worse they could have gotten through the years... Especially when they lacked so heavily in supplies…

Perhaps he was becoming a tad reliant on them, but he wished at that moment that Angel was here with them. They were technically a doctor, they were medically trained and they could probably help Catnap better than he ever could.

He couldn't help but wonder how the purple feline dealt with these alone in the past decade. Any other toy with a health condition such as his would have been preyed on instantaneously at the slightest indication of a disadvantage or weakness...

A shiver followed by an awfully coarse cough from the feline brought his attention back and instead of trying to downplay his condition or snarkily claim that he didn’t need help, Catnap remained obediently quiet aside from his shaky breaths and simply nodded in resignation at the canine’s instruction. Dogday also could have sworn he felt Catnap lean against him slightly.

He didn’t know if he preferred this newfound acceptance and cooperation or not, but instead of fretting about the other's behaviour too hard, he addressed the cat toy gently while rubbing his back.

“Breathe in through your nose, hold for a few seconds if you can and exhale out through your mouth slowly. Try to follow my lead kitty.”

He guided Catnap through a series of breathing exercises, and watched as Catnap followed as best as he could. It was difficult to remain composed when the lanky critter had a few violent sounding coughing fits that nearly reset their progress, but after what felt like hours, (realistically it was minutes) Catnap’s breathing became more steady and measured, and he even managed to sit straight on the desk without Dogday’s assistance.

The canine had a moment of relief, but it was short-lived when the feline whispered croakily in annoyance, his voice box still bordering staticy.

“We do̷n̴'̴t̴ h̵av̷e the ̷t̶ime for th̵i̴s.” He glanced at the canine with a soft hiss, pulling away from the smaller toy's side when he realised he was nearly snuggling into him. “Idio̸t, y̶ou ̴s̴h̴ould h̵ave left̶ ̶m̴e-”

The shorter toy cut him off sternly. “Don’t even finish that sentence Nap, that will never happen.”

Dogday managed a smile. “I won’t turn my back on you. I know if the roles were reversed, you wouldn't leave me either.”

The feline looked away irritably to the floor, straining to get his words out. “I t̵ho̵u̴ght ̷c̴o̵nta̷c̷t̴i̴n̴g P̴opp̷y̶’̷s A̵ng̶e̵l ̶wou̶l̴d ̶go ̴u̵n̶de̵t̷ec̶t̷ed if we wer̶e q̴u̶ic̷k…I ̴s̵ho̴uld have ̵kno̷wn thi̶s̵ wa̴s a fo̷olish id̴ea.”

The canine shook his head, quick to interject and put his paw on the feline’s arm in an attempt to calm him down. “Nap, it wasn’t foolish and it’s not your fault. Neither of us could have predicted this. All we can do now is focus and figure out our options from here. I’m sure Angel-”

Catnap choked on a spine chilling laugh, startling the dog toy when he grinned maliciously and pulled his arm back to stand to his full height. “Figu̴r̵e ou̷t o̴ur op̷t̴io̴ns? He h̵as̴ eye̵s ev̵e̶ry̶where. We c̴an’t e̷scape fro̴m him̷…He̷ kn̴ow̴s an̷d we are g̶o̵ing to be̵ pu̴n̶ished. T̴his is̵ all P̴oin̴tless.”

Dogday stumbled to his feet as well, furrowing his brows. “Just because we’ve had a setback doesn’t mean what we’re doing is pointless. We can still get away Catnap! I know this looks bad, but you can’t give up when we haven't-”

Dogday trailed off when Catnap towered over him, the feline muttering coldly. “You never learn. Yet you g̴av̵e up̷ b̴ef̸ore. Y̵o̶u ̵shou̴ld̵ kno̵w bette̶r̴ af̴te̶r w̶hat ̴hap̶pe̶ned t̵o yo̵u.”

Dogday grit his teeth so hard that his jaw felt stiff, glaring back fiercely at the feline. He had no words. He knew Catnap was taking it out on him, that he was afraid, and that this was a large gamble for him to take, but he did not need to go that far.

At the same time, Catnap knew the moment those harsh words left his mouth that he crossed the line. Dogday didn't do anything wrong, he didn’t deserve this. He was the one hindering them and acting out of line. He always had to ruin everything whenever he got the slightest bit emotional. Why was he so emotional? He needed to be put in his place. He wished the canine would lash back, punish him, berate him for being so pathetic, anything...

But he didn’t insult him, or fight. He didn’t discipline him. He didn’t threaten him or walk out on him. He did nothing but glare, though he was clearly furious, his ears and tail drooping gave away just how hurt and taken aback he was and the guilt weighed heavier on Catnap's usually morally grey coded conscience.

He needed to apologise, he knew he had to, but he couldn't trust himself to speak. His mind was too loud and turbulent, opening his mouth only seemed to result in a vile word vomit or some unprecedented, childish temper tantrum, and not to mention his throat was aching and if he kept this up, he would break his voice box…again.

He really had to find a method of communication that was less taxing and allowed him to think things through…But what could he do exactly? He couldn't manifest a pen and paper into existence and it wasn't like he could play charades-

Wait.
Catnap resisted the urge to facepalm at his own stupidity, perhaps the lack of oxygen from earlier had turned him into an imbecile.

There was something he could try. It was one of the only gifts the Prototype had bestowed on him that he was truly grateful for.

The angry canine watched the feline, noticing how his ears flattened against his skull and how he raised his paws to make…Gestures?

No, it wasn't random gesturing. The movements were too deliberate and all too familiar.

☾ I'm really sorry. ☽

Catnap signed with slightly trembling paws. It felt foreign to converse with them again, when they were used primarily as weapons or for walking on all fours. He was also incredibly out of practice. What if his muscle memory was wrong?

But while Catnap fretted, he missed the way the other critter's eyes widened in recognition.

Dogday was fortunate to be one of very few toys who understood sign language. Once he learned Catnap was fluent in it, (how the introverted cat toy, who had been mostly isolated and unwilling to talk to anyone learned ASL still confused him to this day) he hounded any employee with training and badgered them relentlessly to give him lessons, going as far as using the excuse of being ‘the leader’ to learn as much as possible.

Thanks to that extra tuition, he used it to converse with Catnap. The way the younger feline’s eyes had brightened up from the knowledge that the canine could understand him still made Dogday feel warm to this day. He had been partially proud of the fact he could talk to Catnap in a way others couldn’t. It felt like an intimate secret between the two, even if he wasn’t as good as Catnap was and had to be corrected a few times.

He may have taken advantage of the leader role to get closer to Catnap back then, but it was in moments like this that he was glad he did.

The nocturnal toy waited in apprehension. It was a long time ago when they used sign language to communicate, (how Dogday learned back then was beyond him, he never thought to ask) but if the canine had forgotten, it was going to make this tense silence all the more awkward and his attempt to apologise a more challenging endeavour…

As if sensing his worries, Dogday crossed his arms and nodded, to show he understood though he still looked miffed. Understandably so. But Catnap’s shoulders lowered slightly, this was a start, and he continued, the movements becoming more fluid and confident as he settled into it.

☾ You're only trying to help and I was being pessimistic and needlessly cruel. I had no right to say that to you and I will try to do better. You're right. We have to keep going forward. ☽

A slight pause before he continued, albeit reluctantly.

☾ I'm scared for us. I know what he is capable of. ☽ He laughed shakily under his breath, as he struggled to meet Dogday’s eyes.

☾ He told me if I didn't take care of you myself, he would subject you to a slow death. He's not going to let me get away with betraying him. He would force me to watch. It would be a suitable punishment for going against his wishes... ☽

The feline quivered as he re-lived his last meeting with the one he had adored through his whole life, biting down hard on his tongue to keep himself from falling apart. He was so tired of feeling so frail.

☾ I can't bear the thought of seeing you suffer again. He knows torturing and killing you would break me. ☽

Dogday’s expression softened, the anger slowly ebbing away as the feline explained with such raw vulnerability. He watched how Catnap began to tremble again and the sight pulled on his heart strings.

“Oh Catnap…” He whispered and couldn’t stop himself from embracing the shaking feline who in turn lowered his head to rest into the crook of Dogday’s shoulder with no hesitation. Neither of them exchanged any words, with Catnap accepting the comfort and Dogday absorbing everything Catnap had shared.

The canine still couldn’t comprehend just how much Catnap actually cared about him, going to extreme lengths to keep him alive was one thing, but to confess that if anything happened to him, it would be enough to break him?

His eyes lights settled on the purple critter’s bandaged shoulders and he winced when he could smell the faint scent of iron.

Okay. He could believe it.

He swallowed hard and sighed, reluctantly pulling back from the hug when Catnap shifted and raised his head. “I forgive you Nap. I can understand being terrified, you haven’t had much time to process any of this and he acted sooner than either of us expected, but you must know we were going to be in danger regardless. No-one is safe here with the prototype suppressing us and ravenous toys lurking around. That is the harsh reality we have to face.”

Catnap bit his lip and held onto his tail, appearing smaller than Dogday thought was possible. He eventually let go to sign.
☾ How do we benefit from standing against him? What is the point of risking it all when suffering a miserable death is a high probability for us? Our odds are…unfavourable. ☽

Dogday had a feeling the feline would ask a question like this, he never saw himself becoming a ‘heretic’ in the first place. The prototype had dictated over their lives for almost over a decade now, conditioning his followers with brutality. Heretics were treated far worse, their lives were made hellish if death didn't catch them first, but Dogday understood living through feeling hopeless, enduring fear and surviving without completely losing his mind.

He couldn't help but smile sympathetically. “To be honest with you, I wondered the same thing before.”

Catnap turned his head to gaze incredulously at Dogday, who let out a dry chuckle as he re-adjusted his leather cuffs, the old restraints suddenly feeling tighter on his arms.

“You're not wrong either. I did give up. I thought, what is the point of living like this? I lost everything and everyone I cared for.” You included, part of his brain supplied absently. “Every day felt like hell. Living became so bleak. I didn’t even have the choice to die. The only choice I had was to give in and join you and the prototype or continue living and suffering…So why did I not give in when you tried to ‘save’ me?” He snorted and shook his head. “To be truthful, even if you offered to give me my legs back, as alluring as the thought would have been, I still would have refused and do you know why?”

He placed a paw over Catnap’s, interrupting the feline before he could sign an apology, which Dogday knew was at the tips of his fingers from the way he grimaced.

He didn’t want to focus too hard on lingering resentments and things that can’t be changed. He had a point to make.

“The reason why I never submitted is because I won't let anyone take advantage of me in any state of vulnerability. Not the humans, not the prototype, not you…To me, surrendering myself is worse than dying.”

When the taller critter still looked lost, he hummed in thought. “How about I put it this way. Rebels or as you called them, ‘heretics’ have something no follower under the prototype could dream of.”

Catnap seemed to have recovered, because in response he raised a brow, folded his arms and managed to deadpan quietly. “No sel̴f p̶r̵e̶s̶e̷rva̶tio̵n̵ and a d̴ea̵t̵h wish?”

Dogday let out a laugh from the audacity, even though he was caught off guard from it, he definitely preferred a witty, snarky kitty cat over an anxious and guilt ridden one. It helped to bring up the mood slightly.

“Ha ha, very funny, but no. We follow our own thoughts and feelings. We have freedom of expression, hopes and aspirations which no amount of intimidation, fear or torture will stop us.”

He held onto his sun pendant and smiled. “I won’t give myself over to a false freedom. I won’t be forced to do things against my morals or give away who I am to appease another.” Catnap listened intently and watched the canine as he spoke, remembering why he had been the one in charge of the rebellion and why once again, his ex God hated toys like Dogday the most.

The sunny themed toy didn’t stop there. “The prototype does not allow individuality or ambition. He expects everyone to abandon them, but we should embrace those factors because that is what makes us all unique and why we wanted to be free in the first place. No-one should dictate over our lives...We should follow our hearts. Therefore I would rather fight for the chance to escape this rotten place or die trying.”

Dogday realised he went on a tangent and laughed, scratching his cheek sheepishly. “I hope that makes sense.”

The feline’s intense gaze morphed into an unreadable expression, and after a while of Catnap being too quiet, Dogday grew worried.

“Catnap?” He prompted hesitantly.

The feline huffed out a sigh and looked to the side. " I̵ f̴in̴d ̶my̶se̸lf a̶d̵miri̶ng a̴nd̸ ̵e̵nv̶yi̵ng̵ yo̷u Do̵g̴d̴a̷y.”

"Huh?" The shorter critter tilted his head because, what exactly was there to admire or envy? Come to think about it, out of all the critters, wasn’t he the one that was labelled as boring?

But when Catnap started to sign again, he focused.

☾ You have a strong sense of identity and you know who you are and what you want…I thought I knew my identity, aspirations and beliefs… ☽

Catnap gave him a bitter grin.
☾ I’ve come to the realisation that none of them were mine. ☽

The dog critter's eyes widened. He briefly wondered if he was actually alive after all because that was the last thing he expected to hear from the prototype’s oldest devout follower. He couldn’t help but feel panicked though, the point of having this talk was to give him some hope…not give Catnap an identity crisis.

He tried to back track. “Wait Nap, you’re-”

Catnap simply raised a paw to stop Dogday from talking.

☾ It is true. I was whatever the Prototype wanted me to be. I'm still torn too. There is a part of me that believes you're wrong, that I’m being misled by you and what I've committed against him is unforgivable. I know those thoughts were ingrained into me, but I never questioned them or fought back before until now. ☽

Dogday opened his mouth, but thought better of it and closed it, because now that he thought about it, when was the last time Catnap could express himself freely to someone who wouldn’t harm him or shut him down? He wanted Catnap to feel comfortable enough to confide in him and he would listen and not interrupt him.

After a pause, the taller critter’s claws started to move again.

☾ He was the first one to greet me positively upon my creation, though he thought I was somebody else at first. ☽

Catnap glimpsed briefly at Dogday, noticing he remained focused and silent and he smiled slightly in appreciation and continued before he could feel embarrassed about opening up. It felt…nice to be able to talk to Dogday like this.

☾ I can remember this soul's previous life. A young child. He was an outcast that befriended the Prototype. He was his best friend, his God and he was so dedicated to him that he got into a tragic fatal accident in an attempt to free the Prototype from his confinement. ☽

☾ I later learned the Prototype, instead of fleeing, alerted someone to save the child. It was too late though, and I was born. ☽

Catnap took a deep breath and sighed as he reflected.

☾ The scientists were relentless. The workers feared me and I was secluded from other toys for being dangerous. The Prototype treated me kindly despite this and he kept me from being alone. The bond was instant. I believed everything he told me and it became an obsession to please him...You know the lengths I went through to do so. ☽

It was no wonder the Prototype called him Theodore sometimes, he practically followed that child's footsteps.

The feline furrowed his brows at the thought.
☾ I don’t have dreams or desires that don’t rotate around The Prototype’s ideals or that child’s beliefs. The idea of having a purpose that isn’t serving him…leaves me so conflicted. ☽

He didn’t know where to begin and he was scared to try.

Dogday patted his arm gently, wishing he could take away the confusion and tiresome mental battle Catnap faced. “I know you must feel so conflicted, but it shows me that you’re starting to acknowledge and notice your feelings more, which you weren't able to do before and it's a step. Try not to get frustrated with yourself Catnap.”

The shorter critter continued with a small smile. “It’s only natural you would cling onto the warmth the first person provided you with and do what you could to make someone you looked up to happy. You also woke up with memories that weren’t your own and that could have influenced you too...You haven’t really had the chance to explore yourself properly but…"

The canine’s smile widened, and Catnap felt his cheeks warm slightly from the sight. “But now, you can as we progress through playcare together. I’m sure you have some of your own wants and desires Nap, maybe some you wanted to have but couldn’t and so you had to suppress them. When Angel saved me, they gave me a purpose to stay and survive with them. From there, I regained my old hope and aspirations that I thought were gone for good…”

The smaller toy gently nudged his arm, his tail wagging slightly. “And I’m more than happy to listen to you go over your thoughts and feelings when you need it too. You won’t be alone through this kitty.”

The prototype with his cruel and manipulative nature may have disgusted him to no end, but he would be no better than him if he shoved his own hatred for him down Catnap’s throat. That was for the feline to discover on his own, so he would try his best to be patient and supportive for him. Turning on everything you were forced to believe in wasn’t exactly something you could accomplish in a day, let alone rebuilding yourself without someone influencing you.

Catnap in the meantime bit down a smile that was threatening to form.
Just how did this sweet mutt retain his gentle, sunny nature? How did he manage to motivate and support even the most cynical and difficult of toys such as himself?

Dogday was right about something though. There was one thing that he did want, which had stayed consistent through the time he obeyed the Prototype and he threw caution into the wind for.

The feline murmured, fondness laced in his jittery voice. “I̵t ̴see̶ms ̵I d̵o ̵ha̵v̵e one t̵rue desi̵r̴e aft̷e̶r̵ a̵l̴l.”

The canine’s ears perked up in interest.

“Oh?”

Catnap crossed his arms and watched the shorter critter with half lidded eyes filled with affection and amusement, waiting to see if he would take the hint.

He didn't wait long, as Dogday choked on his own saliva.

“O-Oh.” The canine tried to drown out the feline's quiet snickering by hiding his burning face with his long ears.

He couldn’t tell if Catnap was just teasing him or not, but the cat critter might actually end up killing him at this rate, with the way his poor heart was pounding in his chest.

While Dogday was having an internal dilemma, the feline's expression turned cold, as though a switch had flipped, his demeanour changed and Catnap's voice became more sombre and distant.

“An̶ot̶he̴r̵ t̶hi̷ng̴ I d̴o n̴ot un̴de̴rs̵t̵a̴nd. I kno̶w I a̵m no̷t wor̷t̶hy ̵of y̶o̵ur ̴com̴p̶a̵s̴s̵ion and I ha̵v̴en’t̶ ̵e̵a̵rn̵ed ̵it.”

Catnap clenched his arm tightly, staring at Dogday inquisitively with a blank face.

“W̵hy ̴e̴xac̵tl̵y ha̴v̶e ̴you b̶een so ̶k̷ind to̴ me? Wh̵a̴t̶ do you̶ ̵get̶ o̴ut of̴ t̴h̶is̶? You shou̵ld̵ ̵wa̶nt̴ ̴m̵e̶ dea̷d.”

Dogday frowned. Earning compassion? That wasn't something that had to be earned. Seeing Catnap become so uncertain and on edge rapidly was…

Okay, there was a time where he would have relished in making Catnap feel this way. In fact, he would also have enjoyed reminding him of every single rotten deed he carried out for his false god and telling him how he should perish alongside the prototype…but now, it wasn't appealing, far from it.

He wasn’t the only victim in the prototype’s web of madness.

And his feelings for Catnap strayed from the path of healthy and sane…

He furrowed his brows in concern. “You have nothing to earn from me, and do you really think I'd be with you right now if I wanted you dead?”

Catnap didn't issue a response, instead biting his lip and lowering his ears.

Dogday wilted. Catnap did say he was conflicted, he was also likely exhausted emotionally. But going from hot to cold and with such an intensity of mistrust and paranoia…He knew Catnap wasn’t going to trust him immediately and he understood it, but this sudden change did throw him completely off kilter…

He decided honesty was the only way to progress here. Lying or softening the blow wouldn’t get anywhere with Catnap like this.

He murmured lowly. “I would be lying if I said I didn’t want you dead before Catnap.”

He watched Catnap nod, he didn’t appear shocked to hear him admit that.

The canine continued. “But the hatred I felt is in the past. Let me be clear on that. I will tell you as many times as you need and I do not have some hidden agenda. I just want you beside me too because…”

He nipped his cheek and looked away, fiddling with his paws. “How I feel about you is uh, complicated. I don’t really know how to answer you properly, but I do mean what I said Nap.”

Catnap narrowed his eyes. “I ̵wan̶t to ̶beli̵ev̶e̵ you…”

It went unsaid, but Dogday knew what he was thinking.

‘But how can I tell you’re not fooling me too?’

What could he do to convince Catnap that he wanted him here with him because he cared about him?
Did he have to do something bold, such as admitting his true feelings to the feline?

Wait. No. He couldn’t believe he was actually contemplating it.

He wanted to confess to Catnap at a better time, when they were both preferably not in any life threatening circumstances, but realistically with the prototype and other toys watching and breathing down their necks, would they ever be safe? And there was always the possibility he could leave it too late. They could get separated or…

Worse.

The thought chilled him, but also gave him a new sense of clarity. He would regret not taking the chance to say anything if something were to happen to either one of them.

His next issue was figuring out how he was going to do this.

Expressing through speech was something he considered himself competent at, but at the same time, Catnap had been manipulated by sugar coated words for the vast majority of his life. He was struggling to trust Dogday’s words now, so was a confession really going to be enough to reassure Catnap he was ready to move forward and that he didn't harbour feelings of hatred anymore? If his words already weren’t sinking in, then what could he do to show him his sincerity?

An idea suddenly came to him, one that was daring and made his stomach do somersaults and fur stand on end.

Actions often spoke louder than words, he supposed but...Was that really a good idea?

After some anxious debating, he came to a decision.

‘I can do this.’ Dogday psyched himself and acted before he could backpedal out of cowardice.

He swallowed down his nervousness, managing to make eye contact with the feline and not lose face while he asked. “Catnap? Can you hold still for a moment? I want to do something.”

The purple critter simply blinked, wondering what the canine was planning but he nodded his assent and remained still, his curiosity getting the better of him.

After some hesitation, the shorter critter leaned in close to the other toy’s space, pressing his paws against Catnap's solid chest as he tried excruciatingly hard not to focus on the lean muscle underneath soft fur.

He also tried very hard to ignore his trembling palms and the heat pooling in his cheeks, because he had absolutely no idea how to go about this.

Regardless, he would not be deterred.

‘I can do this.’

The canine felt the taller toy go rigid, but he made no attempt to move away, instead Catnap watched him with an unsure frown, his claws hovering over Dogday’s sides as though he didn't know where to put them.

Catnap's hoarse voice filled in the silence. “D̷ogd̵ay? Wha̴t̴ ̵a̵re̸ y̶ou do̷in̶g?”

Dogday shivered, he could feel the feline's poppy scented breath ghost over his face from how close they were.

Okay. Maybe he couldn't do this after all.

“U-Um…”

‘Do it. Just DO it.’ His mind chanted.
‘Are you willing to walk away with your tail between your legs?!"

He took in a deep breath to centre himself and met Catnap’s confused gaze with a confidence he did not feel.

“Like I said before, I want us both to escape together.” He coughed to clear his throat, when his voice came out meekly. “I want to move forward and heal with you and yes, it will be challenging but I have faith we can do it. I do not hate you. I am far past that...and I will happily remind you as many times as you need.”

He watched Catnap contemplate over what he said with a cynical look and chuckled when he got the reaction he expected. It was kind of cute how open his reactions were becoming at least. “You still don’t believe me, do you?”

Catnap avoiding eye contact was enough of an answer and the final push he needed to motivate him. There was no going back now.

He gave the feline a sweet smile and despite his nerves, his tail wagged in anticipation. “If my words won’t reach you kitty, then you’ve left me no choice but to show you exactly how I feel.”

Before the feline could issue a response, he went on the tips of his toes to close the distance between them.

The moment their lips met, a small spark ignited between them and Dogday could feel warmth blossom through his chest. It was sweet, chaste, yet filled with years of yearning. Not even his dreams could replicate the feline's surprisingly soft lips, or the comfort of his arms wrapping around him when Catnap recovered from the initial shock and returned the gentle kiss.

Not wanting to linger, he pulled back and opened his eyes, unaware he had closed them to begin with, and drank in the sight of a dumbfounded Catnap. The feline’s pupils were blown wide, his cheeks flushed against his dark fur and his tail was raised and appeared poofier than before.

He couldn't help but admire him, Catnap looked far too adorable for his heart to take.

But when the feline continued to stare at him in disbelief, Dogday felt his earlier courage crumble.

He was mortified. What the hell did he just do?? What was he thinking??

“Ahaha w-well-” Dogday laughed awkwardly, moving away entirely from the taller critter, his face burning. “I’m sorry, I think our situation made me act on impulse but…I hope now I’ve gotten through to you?”

When the cat toy remained quiet, he tried to sound nonchalant as he turned hastily towards the exit.

“Alright. We can discuss this later, let's just-”

He let out a soft gasp when a long tail curled around his waist and spun him back round, the speed making him lose balance and fall against Catnap’s torso. Dogday looked up with wide eyes, his pulse spiking from the even closer proximity.

The feline purred loudly as he watched the dazed toy. “Not so fa̴s̷t Day̴. I n̸eed to̴ ̵s̴ee ho̷w ̶ge̴nui̷ne̴ ̵you ar̵e for m̷ysel̵f.”

Dogday shivered. What did he mean by that?

The canine gulped when Catnap raised his chin up with one clawed finger and whispered with a smirk. “Th̵a̶t w̶asn’t n̵ea̵rly eno̴u̵g̶h to̶ convi̶n̵c̵e̶ me̴.”

Then what exactly did he have to do?? He opened his mouth to voice his frustration.

But the feline took that as a chance to lean down and claim the startled canine's lips with such vigour, it made Dogday's mind swirl and go blank.

He didn't remember how he ended up pressed against a wall, with his wrists pinned, and whining into the feline’s mouth as he was rendered helpless in the taller critter's clutches, but he felt more like prey in the grasp of a predator in the feline's frenzy. Instead of fear though, he found himself melting in the other's hold, losing himself in the intoxicating taste of lavender and poppies and wanting more of it.

It felt like an eternity when Catnap released him, and he was left a flustered and panting mess. Only Catnap's strength kept him from sinking to the ground from his wobbling legs.

The feline wasn’t better off either, but he was far more smug about it than Dogday would have liked.

Thankfully Catnap spared him from any teasing, instead helping to steady the canine so he could stand properly and even pulled away to allow him to compose himself better. He was thankful for the space, needing a moment to recover from such a passionate, mind blowing kiss.

Where did Catnap learn to kiss like that anyway??

He smoothed down his ruffled ears and noticed the feline's eyes were following him. The whites in them were softer than before, watching the canine with warmth and the smile that graced his features was…

Catnap was already very attractive, but to see him look so happy and serene... He wished he had a camera to capture his beauty.

The feline then distracted him, rolling his eyes halfheartedly. “I su̴pp̶os̴e yo̵u’v̵e mad̶e th̷ing̵s ̵ab̵un̴da̴nt̵ly cle̴ar. I be̵li̶e̵ve̵ yo̴u…Fo̷r now.”

Dogday’s tail swayed swiftly behind him. He was oh so relieved Catnap accepted his somewhat impulsive version of a confession and maybe trusted him a tad more.

The feline’s own smile however became devious as he signed.

☾ You said whenever I need you to, you would happily remind me you don't hate me. I expect you to uphold that daily with your actions. Be a good boy and keep it up. ☽

“Yes of course I-" His brain caught up with him.
"Wait what?! Catnap!!” Dogday spluttered, a blush painting across his features as Catnap turned around to chuckle to himself.

The slender toy took a few steps towards the door, turning his head to the side to smile handsomely at the shorter critter behind him.
☾ Shall we go seek your Angel and explain ourselves? ☽

Dogday sighed and shook his head fondly, he supposed he could endure some light teasing to keep Catnap’s spirits high. He went over to the feline’s side and followed him out from the surveillance room to the ominous hallways.

Despite going through the eerie surroundings again, he smiled to himself when he could hear the faint sound of Catnap purring. They weren't out of the woods yet. If anything their trials and tribulations have only just begun. But he would cherish every moment of their new relationship to come...

But first.

“Kitty?”

The feline hummed in acknowledgement.

Dogday pouted at him. “If you pin me down against another wall or surface, I will kick you. You've been warned.”

The feline smiled mischievously.

“You̶ ̵we̴r̶e̵n’t̶ c̶o̵mp̴l̵ai̷n̶ing̵ ̵two min̴u̴t̴es a̵go̴.”

“...”

“O̶̽́̾̂Ẇ̶̛͂̍̓͘͠!  Ba̸r̶b̸a̶r̷i̴̻̇c ̴̧͆litt̵̕lȅ̷-”

At least they could have silly moments like this…For now.