Archive of Our Own ^beta

Wally Darling was looking forward to seeing his best friend today, including everyone else and getting involved with some fun games/activities. His canvas contained a finished painting with flowers and trees. He always loved painting nature the most. All the greens, yellows, purples, and reds. Oh, especially red, like an apple tree. Welp, no more time to get distracted by the painting. He had to join the others, otherwise they would probably become worried beyond belief. He very rarely was late making it to any place. Even though he left Home- giving it a kiss goodbye- and was the last one coming over to his friends, he still made it over to where they were on time. It seemed that Sally Starlet wasn't going to perform a play for once. She usually almost never skipped a day. Maybe she merely wanted a simple day off hanging out with friends. Everyone was standing outside of Howdy's store.

Wally greeted everyone in his monotone voice as per usual. "Hi, Julie. Hi, Sally. Hi, Howdy-"

"Hi Wally!" Julie hugged him tight.

"So, since I'm not making a play for us all today, what else will we be doing?" Sally asked.

"Hi, Frank. Hi, Eddie. Hi, Poppy-" Wally waved to each of them as Julie let him go.

"I was about to bake us another dessert, but just like you Sally, I wanted to keep today simple." Poppy answered.

"I was about to go butterfly hunting, but then you interrupted me from my peace and quiet." Frank sighed.

"Well, sorry." Sally rolled her eyes. "It's not everyday that we can hang out as a whole group outside of eating a meal together or me performing a play."

"Hi, Barnaby." Wally's voice just slightly changed. It sounded a bit warmer and happier in comparison to his other greetings. Even his facial expression brightened a little more. The big blue dog noogied the little guy's pompadour, but he made sure to not mess it up too much.

"Ay, my little buddy. How has mornin' treated ya?"

"It was great. I made another fantabulous painting. Home always enjoys watching me paint."

"As he always does." Barnaby smiled. His wrapped his arm around Wally's shoulders.

The duo were in their own little world when communicating towards each other. The others noticed, but continued conversing regardless.

"Juliet, Walliford, and others! I promise you all that I will make one of the best plays I possibly ever could tomorrow. To make up for not creating one today." Sally promised with endless energy and determination.

"Ah, Sally. Ya don't hafta work too hard for us. We don't blame ya for wantin' a break every now n' again." Eddie assured.

"I know, but it's my duty to keep you all entertained and happy. It's the most a friend could do."

"We thank you a lot, Sally Starlet. It is something we don't force you to do, but you involve us in your favorite activity and give us all a good time anyways. You will always be a really good friend." Poppy smiled. Some others began to partially repeat the same things to the shining star.

Sally became a teensy bit flustered for once. "W-Well, I thank you all for being great friends towards me as well. It takes a team effort, after all!" She scratched the back of her neck.

It was already noontime. Eddie and Frank bought some meat from Howdy's store yesterday and was doing a cookout for everyone today. Hot dogs and burgers. Barnaby started to feel his mouth moisten with hunger. Hot dogs will always be the death of him. He just knew it. Wally always preferred burgers a little more, but even then he never fully completed a sandwich, nor much of any other type of food for that matter. Everyone else isn't as picky as Wally can be. The neighbors munched on the food with great delight, talking amongst each other. Barnaby took 6 hot dogs while Wally took 1 burger. The yellow puppet ate in his usual Wally style of consuming food. Barnaby is the only one who is never that disturbed by his best buddy's capabilities. It helps that they both are really close friends. Once the blue dog already finished all his hot dogs, Wally only had taken a few small bites out of his burger.

Eventually, everyone was done with their food while still speaking to each other. Wally was staring blankly at his food, but it seemed like he was staring at something else; thinking about something else. Barnaby, as usual, was the only one to notice this. "Ay, Wally. What's ticklin' your brain?"

"Oh, I, uh..." Wally didn't know what to say. He usually had something to say anytime someone asked him a question, but he seemed a little more distracted than usual. "Uhhh... a worm?" Wally hesitated, trying to make an attempt at throwing a joke towards his comedic friend.

Barnaby chuckled. "Ya silly little goose." He noogied his friend's head once more, almost destroying the dark blue pompadour. "Hmm, perhaps I've wormed my way into your head."

"Yeah." Wally's grin went wider. "But I also want something else."

"Please," Howdy sighed as he overheard Wally and Barnaby's short conversation. "Don't tell me you want more apples!"

Wally smirked. That's all the caterpillar needed to know.

"Fine." Howdy grumbled. "But you'll only receive 3 apples. Do not ask for more."

"I promise, Howdy." Wally nodded. "Please find the best one too."

"That will probably take me too long, but I guess I'll do it since we've got nothing better to do today." Howdy rolled his eyes and smiled a little as he disappeared into his store.

"Do you ever get sick of eating apples everyday?" Frank looked a little disgusted.

"Nope." Wally answered.

"It's not that I hate them or anything... I only couldn't imagine eating the exact same thing everyday of my life."

"Ya catch butterflies everyday, Frank." Eddie pointed out as he wrapped his arm around his boyfriend's shoulders.

"W-Well!-" Frank crossed his arms over his chest stubbornly. "Th-That's different! Actual activities like hiking, hunting, and whatever else could never be boring because they're physical activities everyone enjoys doing. Eating or drinking the same thing, on the other hand..."

"Too repetitive?"

"Yes, Eddie. Even more so than Sally's plays."

"If I could, then I would drink orange juice every day!" Julie beamed.

"Well... whatever." Frank gave up. He always had a soft spot for his best friend. He always let her enjoy her sweet inner thoughts plague her mind.

It was the afternoon. Poppy and Sally had to go back to their homes and get their things prepared for tomorrow. Eddie and Frank stayed for a few more minutes, then Eddie had to return back to his job to finish up bringing mail to the other residents' homes. Frank had to return back to his home at that point. He could never stay in a group without Eddie being there with him. Now it was just Julie, Wally, Barnaby, and eventually Howdy came back with the 3 apples he promised to give to Wally. He made sure he chose the freshest one too. Wally almost wanted to bounce with excitement as he carried them in his small hands. Barnaby grinned at his friend's mostly hidden happiness.

"Awww! I want one now too!" Julie pouted.

"Uuuugh! Not you as well!" Howdy groaned.

"I promise I won't be as picky about it as Wally is about apples! I only want one! Pleeeease? Pretty please?" Julie begged.

"Fine. Barnaby better not be begging for more after this." Howdy grumbled to himself as Barnaby snickered at his good friend's expense.

"The last food I'd ever beg for is an apple. All I want is hot dogs, hot dogs, oh and did I forget to say hot dogs?"

"No, you did Barnaby." Julie giggled. "Hey! Do you want to hear a joke?"

Now it was Barnaby's turn to groan. "Oh no. It better not be as bad as last time, or every other time before that."

Wally had already eaten the other two apples as he kept the best one protected in his grasp. He watched them both intently.

"Oh, my jokes aren't that bad!" She slapped his shoulder playfully.

"I beg to differ. Right, Wally?" Barnaby mumbled under his breath towards his small friend. The shortest one in the group giggled in reply.

Julie was about to slap the huge dog's shoulder once more, but a little less playfully this time. Barnaby dodged away successfully. "Ho-Ho-Okay!" He laughed hard. "Share your joke with us. Tis what we've been waitin' for, after all."

She pouts at him for a short moment, then her smile returns back. "Here's one! What do you call an apple that looks sick?"

"Green? Like the Granny Smith?"

"No, Barnaby! Red, like Red Delicious!" Julie threw her hands up in the air with exasperation.

Wally really liked these jokes they were verbalizing out about.

"Yeah, but green is usually related to being sick. Ya know... someone bein' green in the face." Barnaby added.

"So can red too!" Julie huffed.

"Eh, it's whatever. You at least made some form of an attempt." The blue dog sighed.

"Ooooh! I really do hope I can make more jokes like you can!" Julie whined as Howdy finally came back and gave her a fresh apple. Howdy cringed at the thought of her going up onto Sally's stage and trying to be a comedian like Barnaby. Both him and the dog gave each other a look that only they could understand. They simultaneously agreed to never encourage her to become a comedian. "I've always wanted to be a comedian!"

"Ermmm... I think it's best if ya just stick with playin' games with everyone and keepin' happiness alive in this quaint town." He tousled her hair endearingly.

"Awww." She sounded a little sad. Barnaby had to resort to giving her a big bear hug.

"Hey, now! Don't look so blue!" He snorted at his own joke. "Only I'm allowed to!" Julie had to laugh at that. Wally shook his head but kept his signature smile on his face. "You're great at makin' everyone's day better or playin' some very fun creative games. It's the same as me being great at crackin' jokes, Howdy ownin' a boomin' business, or Wally paintin' his beautiful interpretation of nature in thousands of different ways." A slight blush colored Wally's face at the clear as day compliment thrown his way. "We all are great at somethin' we do or accomplish. No shame in havin' a weakness somewhere."

It was Julie's turn to hug Barnaby with all of her energy and strength. So much so that she almost was capable of lifting him off his feet! "Thank you, Barnaby! You're always such an amazing friend!"

"I'm glad we all had a chill day today." Howdy smiled. "I couldn't have asked for a better one."

"Me too, bud." Barnaby clapped Howdy on the shoulder. "Welp, I gotta go back home. Twas nice hangin' out with all of ya. Actually-" Barnaby turned to face Wally. "Wally? Don'tcha wanna stay with me tonight instead? Over at my place, or at yours?"

Wally's eyes widened for a couple of seconds, then his face returned back to its neutral state. "Yes, of course. I would love to stay at your place, Barnaby."

"Perfect."

"I will let Home know about this."

"Awright. I'll wait for ya." Barnaby left the store and entered into his house.

"It was nice seeing you and all the others today, Wally!" Julie smiled as she hugged him goodbye. As usual, he refused to hug back. "Hope you have an amazing sleepover!"

"Goodnight, Julie. Goodnight, Howdy." Wally waved to them both.

"Goodnight, little brat. Better be on your best behavior with Barns." Howdy winked.

"Of course." Wally's voice drawled with a subtle hint of sarcasm. "Barnaby doesn't deserve any more or less." He exited the store.

The short puppet walked over to Home. He stared deep into his dear house's eyes. "Home, I will be sleeping over at Barnaby's. Will that be okay with you?"

Home took a moment to think about it, then it looked back intensely into its owner's eyes and clicks the door closed with agreement.

"Good boy. I'm glad we've come to an agreement. Well, I hope you can sleep as well when you're alone."

Home creaked telling Wally that it will be fine. It hoped Wally wouldn't be gone on sleepovers for two nights in a row or more.

"I won't, Home. I couldn't do that to you. Have a goodnight. Sleep tight." He pet a small part of Home's face. It closed its eyes during the petting. Once Wally ceased his action, Home looked at him with love in its eyes. Wally gave the same look back. He gave a complete genuine smile for once. No sense of monotone or emotionless nothingness. The puppet walked away nearing towards Barnaby's place. Home closed its eyes for the rest of the night.

Wally knocked on Barnaby's door. The tall dog opened it. "Ya know Wally, ya can come right in since we have planned for ya to stay over." The comedian was slightly amused.

"Oh. True." Wally muttered awkwardly as he entered in his best friend's house. Barnaby closed the door behind them.

"So, whatcha wanna do? Listen to my jokes? Watch a movie or TV show together? Play a game?"

"Jokes first." Wally couldn't wait to hear some of Barnaby's best ones.

"Awright, bud! I expected ya to go for that first since I am a comedian and all that." Wally stared intently at his eccentric friend. "Ya know what an artist's greatest defense is? A paint gun!" Wally smiled bright. Barnaby loved this part about him. He always listened to every joke no matter how bad, mediocre, or good they were.

"Here's another one. What's a ghost's favorite lunch meat?"

Wally's eyes gave a questioning look. He tilted his head to the side.

"Booloney!"

"Good one, Barnaby. You never lose ideas."

"Indeed I don't! That would suck for a comedian to lose ideas for jokes. Awright, how many more do you want to hear?"

"Two more."

"Two it is!" Barnaby cleared his throat as if he was preparing to sing. "Don'tcha know that ya are the apple of my eye?" Wally giggled a little bit. That was a bit of a twist from a usual, simple pun.

"You've always been the greatest crowd for my jokes. C'mere you!" Wally walked over to Barnaby and he wrapped his huge arm around the short puppet's whole body. Both of them now cuddled together on the couch. He noogied Wally the final time that day. Also, he messed up the pompadour. Wally wasn't too bothered by that since the day had already mostly ended. To add on top of that, he's in the safety of his best friend's house and in his arms. He wasn't mentally nor physically capable at being annoyed losing the shape of his hairdo. "Ya don't know how lucky I feel to have ya as the bestest friend ever." Barnaby voice seemed to be dripping with emotion if only slightly. That startled Wally.

"Well, I feel the same way, Barns." Wally kissed the dog's cheek. For once, Barnaby blushed.

"Awww. Aren'tcha just a darling?" He hugged the small puppet harder, but not too much. He was always very careful with how he handled his dearest friend.

"Well, like I always say, aren't I just the most?" Wally smiled wide with full emotion.

Barnaby chuckled as he laid his forehead against Wally's. "Indeed ya are just the most. I can't handle ya sometimes! Ya can perceive that in a good or bad way. Either one is correct."

"Ha ha ha. You are right about that."

"Wally, I taught ya how to laugh. Didn't I?"

"It's weird. Sometimes I can laugh more naturally while other times I can't at all."

"I've noticed ya laugh more monotonously when we're all together as a group. Why is that, little bud?"

"I... don't know. Maybe it's too much attention? That's strange because I know everyone and I love them all like family."

"Pressure can get to people even if they know others who they hang out with. It's just the way it is, Walls. Tis okay. We all are different for a reason. Twould be quite borin' if we all were the same!"

"True." Wally nodded. The warmth of being cuddled into Barnaby was making him kind of tired.

Barnaby poked the short puppet in the side. "Remember what I said to ya earlier? You certainly are the apple of my eye." The silly dog bent his head downwards and nibbled the side of Wally's face in a playful manner. That was the joke that made the youngest puppet explode with laughter. Tears were forming in his eyes as he looked up at Barnaby with endless love as the dog continued taking a love bite out of his face. His adorable squeak of surprise from when his face was beginning to be chewed on sent a warmth of pride and happiness through Barnaby's chest.

"Barnabyyy!" Wally pretended to whine. "Stooop it. It huuuuurts."

"Well, what can I say? Love hurts. A naughty boy like ya needs a bit of tough lovin' every now and again." Barnaby winked to add on top of the jokes. Wally squeaked once more but from embarrassment as he hid his face deep in the big blue dog's soft, furry chest.

Eventually, Barnaby stopped the nibble torture and he finished his teasing off with a few kisses on Wally's forehead. "There. Have ya learned your lesson, younglin'?"

"Y-Yes, I haaaave!" Wally sighed with content and happiness as he actually hugged Barnaby back. That made the dog so giddy it felt like his tail was going to fall off. The yellow puppet let go of him and then decided to stick his tongue out at his close friend.

Wally was about to run away as he felt more giggles creeping up his throat, but Barnaby kept him in his grasp on the couch. "Ya see? You're a naughty little one. Quite a rascal if I do say so myself!" He laughed as Wally panicked a teensy bit trying to escape his iron grip.

"I ain't naughty!" Wally was a teensy bit out of breath and light laughs escaped his mouth here and there.

"Heh, I suppose you're right. A little bit of mischievous behavior once in a blue moon wouldn't hurt nobody."

"Yeah." Wally finally calmed down. They laid against each other in a comfortable silence. Wally supposed he could sleepover more often. Not so often that it would annoy Home, obviously, but being alone isn't always a thing he could do 24/7. Home did keep him company, but having someone he could moreso physically and verbally interact with seemed like a better option some days.

"So, ya wanna watch somethin'. If yes, then what will it be, my little darling?"

The blush never left Wally's face for the rest of the night as they chose a TV show they could watch. Not even ten minutes in and they both fell asleep. Barnaby's snores didn't even wake up Wally whatsoever. On the small puppet's face still remained a light blush but also a vivid smile of pure comfort and joy.