Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Pauline elegantly smashes a cup while Sol and Cam are out with Diane catsitting.

Diane: Paw?! What did u do?!

Pauline: licks paw and smirks and shuffles back to the couch to sleep

Cameron and Sol walk in at that very moment: I- 

Sol: THAT’S MY FAVOURITE MUG! gets over it quick but is being dramatic for fun

neat

Cameron (neat freak fr): Diane?! The kitchen’s a mess! What happened… actually in hysterics over broken glass on the floor

Diane: Cat did it.

Cameron: Why why why did we take her in?

Sol: Because you said and I quote “an emotional support animal is needed to help human beings cope with stress and emotions and is highly recommended for people our age going through a new phase in their lives; adulthood.  A cat is also the most self sufficient in keeping itself clean, easier to manage, extremely fluffy and cuddle material for said emotional support, and their fur is softer from your experience and opinion.” I just agreed with anything.

Chapter Text

Cameron: I’ve always supported you throughout everything. I sacrificed plenty for you. I’d do anything for you! I never did anything to dissuade you from your goals or ambitions. I’ve always been happy for you. Regardless of anything. I’ve put you over myself too many times to count, not that I wouldn’t again. I love you, you know that.

Diane: softens

Cameron: But this time, I’m actually doing something for myself. The one time I make a choice to pursue something I want, and you can’t even be happy for me!

Diane: I am happy for you!

Cameron: raises eyebrow Are you, really? Because you don’t seem like it. Your face is etched in that frown that you do when you find something repulsive. And since this entire thing started, you’ve been withdrawn and defensive.

Diane: …

Cameron: shoulders slump I just- why can’t you support me for doing I something I actually like? We’re supposed to support each other, as friends. As partners.

Diane: Well I do! I’ve always given you my support whenever you wish to do the things you love! This is just…different.

Cameron: Different?! How so?

Diane: …I don’t know. It just is.

Cameron: Could you tell me…please? I would like to understand. Looks at Diane with pleading eyes.

Diane: sighs I would too, but it’s just-

Diane: -LOOK OUT!!

Cameron: glances in front and notices they’re on a collision course towards a huge truck. In a last minute, desperate attempt to evade the truck, he hurriedly turns the steering wheel sharply. 

(The car swerves dangerously to the right and goes off track. They crash!! 😘)

Chapter Text

(Sol drinks a coffee from a new coffee shop while Alyssa livestreams them all.)

Sol: grimaces Ugh this is so bitter.

Everyone else: gasps

(All of this is caught on Alyssa’s live and at this point she and her friends are quite well known since she likes to post them all a lot.)

(In a few days, the shop loses ratings and ppl dont go there anymore.)

Chapter Text

(The gang and the lil ones, sans Cameron, are all gathered at Diane and Alyssa’s apartment. It’s way past evening and they have simply been relaxing and doing their own thing in the living room.)

Alyssa: Is anyone else starving?

Diane: Yeah.

Frey: Yup.

Sol: Oh definitely.

Lyra: I could eat.

Illaira: It is supposed to be dinner time.

Sol: What’s Cam gonna cook?

(A ping sounded.)

Diane: Cameron just texted me saying that he’ll be staying at the school institute till late night since some students need extra help. Plus some admin work, I think?

Everyone: …

Everyone: Wait-

Diane: Cameron’s not gonna be back?!

Alyssa: Till late night?!

Frey: whining But I’m starving …

Lyra: Ughhhh of all days I chose to come over, he chooses to stay at some school…

Illaira: chiding tone School tutoring is important, Lyra.

Lyra: Oh I know.

Sol: Why don’t one of us make dinner, then?

(Everyone else stares blankly at him.)

Diane: I would, but I’ve been specifically banned from making anything else other than Instant Noodles.

Lyra: wrinkles nose No thanks.

Alyssa: I could try to make something…but our fridge is out of ingredients. 

Sol: Then use mine and Cam’s??

Frey: chokes on their water that they were gulping down And use his stuff without permission?!

Sol: It’s my fridge too, you know.

Illaira: Yeah, but Cameron’s stuff is so organised . He’d flip if he saw his ingredients not in its original place.

Diane: Oh you guys are such worrywarts! It’ll be completely fine! C’mon Sol, let’s get the stuff and make the food already.

Sol: Sure! Do any of you have the key?

Alyssa: …It’s your apartment. You mean to tell me you don’t have the key to your own apartment?!

Sol: rubs back of neck I kinda left it behind. But you and Diane have a spare! I figured we’d just use that.

Diane: Funny story, I don’t remember where I kept the spare key.

Everyone: …

Frey: Oh my god we’re going to starve.

(Cue everyone flipping the apartment upside down to find the spare key to Cameron and Sol’s apartment. They spend nearly an hour doing so and none of them notice when Lyra sneaks out and comes back with three boxes of pizza.)

Alyssa: It’s nowhere! How could you lose it?!

Diane: I thought you kept it?

Lyra: Hey guys.

Everyone: simultaneously Hi Lyra.

Frey: Is that pizza?

Illaira: gasps It is!

Alyssa: Where did you get that?!

Lyra: I ordered takeout. I used your looks at Diane money by the way.

Diane: Oh Lyra, my genius sister! You’re the best!

Illaira: Jokingly Actually the genius one is me.

Lyra: sticks her tongue out

(They all settle down and finally have food and decide to watch a movie afterwards. Later on, Cameron returns to see them all snuggled together in the living room.)

Cameron: Sorry I had to work late guys. Have you eaten?

Diane: Yup! Thanks to Lyra.

Cameron: Oh that’s good. does a double take Why does the apartment look like it's been trashed?

Alyssa: Just sit down and get a slice, boy, it’s not like we trashed your apartment. 

Cameron: whispers to Sol What happened here?

Sol: We need to make another spare key.

(And no more explanation is given and they all have a massive sleepover The End!!!)

Chapter Text

(The gang are in Frey’s apartment.)

Alyssa: So…what is that?

Frey: winces It’s a cat.

Sol: Doesn’t look anything like Paw, does it?

Diane: Why is it naked?

Cameron: It’s a sphynx cat. It’s supposed to look like that.

Alyssa: And why do you have it? peers closer to the cat, curled up on a pillow on Frey’s bed.

Frey: Well, a colleague of mine asked if there was anyone who would be free this week to look after her cat. She just never told me what kind until just now.

Diane: Hmm, does it have a name?

Frey: purses lips to stop from giggling His name is Mr. Fluffy.

Alyssa: gapes you’re kidding.

Frey: shaking with laughter now No, I am definitely not!

Everyone: bursts into giggles

Sol: reaching out a hand to stroke Mr. Fluffy gently Okay, but he’s honestly kind of cute.

Alyssa: raises eyebrow

Sol: C’mon! If you look at him from this angle he kinda is.

Everyone: gathers to squeeze into Sol’s spot to peer at the cat from said angle.

Diane: Oh!

Cameron: Ooh.

Alyssa: You’re not wrong.

Frey: Huh, I guess Mr. Fluffy does have some looks.

Everyone: stares at Mr. Fluffy with wide, curious eyes. 

(The gang spend the rest of the week hanging out and pampering Mr. Fluffy, getting to know said cat. Despite their initial reactions, they all agree that Mr. Fluffy is quite charming.)

Chapter Text

(Alyssa and Diane are on their way back home from shopping. They’re strolling through the streets and the neighbourhood.)

(The sound of rustling from a nearby alley attracts their attention.)

Diane: Hello? What’s there?

Alyssa: Maybe it was just nothing?

Diane: No I’m certain I heard something. Let’s go check it out. heads inside the dark alleyway

Alyssa: calls out to her If you get murdered, just know that I’ll be keeping the new outfits you bought!

Diane: voice echoing Okay, you can have them!

Alyssa: Why thanks!

(Diane gets closer to the rustling noise and a head suddenly pops up from underneath the dirty cartboxes.)

Diane: Awww! Alyssa, come!

Alyssa: sarcastic So we can die together?

Diane: It’s a puppy!

Alyssa: Oh? comes closer to Diane and indeed sees a puppy. Aww it’s so cute.

Diane: Oh we have to keep it! Could we, could we? 

Alyssa: Well the boys already have a pet, so it’s only fair if we get one too.

Diane: Let’s get this little fella home then.

(They bring the puppy home and the first people they run into are Cameron and Sol, who were just about to leave their apartment to go get coffee. The two gape at the puppy Diane is holding in her arms.)

Sol: Is that a dog?

Alyssa: We found it abandoned in an alley. Poor thing was straving and dirty.

Cameron: “Was”? That puppy is still dirty! Diane, dear, why are you holding it without any proper protection??

Diane: The puppy is in a cardboard box though?

Cameron: Yeah and the box looks as dirty as the pup. sighs Forget coffee, Sol, we need to disinfect them now. 

Sol: I’ll go downstairs to the shop to get things for the new addition to the family.

Diane: petting the puppy with bare hands See that Flo? You’re a part of the family already.

Alyssa: Hold up, Flo?

Diane: I thought it’d match.

Alyssa: Short and efficient to pronounce, and it’s cute. I love it.

Cameron: Agreed, but Diane, honey, please stop touching the puppy before we wash him.

Diane: rolls eyes fondly and stops touching Flo

Cameron:  And wash your hands afterwards! Thoroughly!

(They clean up Flo and give him a good shower before feeding him afterwards with dog food that Sol had bought from downstairs. Now they are all scattered across Diane’s apartment, watching as Flo runs around.)

Cameron: Now that he’s all clean, he’s a great new addition.

Diane: Isn’t he adorable?

Sol: Do you reckon Paw would like him?

Diane: frowns Don’t cats hate dogs? And vice versa?

Alyssa: That’s just a stereotype. My dad’s family has three dogs and two cats and they all get along well.

Cameron: The only way to know is to see how they interact later. However before that, I think you guys might need to buy some items for Flo. Pets don’t just need food, you know?

Sol: Ah yes, trust the dude who spent hours researching on the benefits of a pet and how to take care of one just to justify having a cute cat.

Diane: Aw baby, you don’t need to a long winded logical reason to have Paw. It’s valid to want to have a cat because it’s cute!

Cameron: cheek flushes pink