Chapter Text
It was almost six months since you all left the factory. Everyone was still recovering, of course. There were panic attacks frequently. Nightmares happened nearly every night. It took a collective effort from you, Dogday, Celestia, and Bubba to calm everyone down. The minis moved to your room at night, preferring to sleep curled up against Catnap.
He was sleeping with you and Dogday again. You don’t know what they talked about but the two were back to being inseparable. Wherever Dogday was, Catnap was either nearby or watching from inside. He liked being outside, of course, but it overwhelmed him easily.
Celestia was finally close to integrating back into society. You were grateful for that. Food and electricity weren't cheap for all of these kids. You needed the help.
Especially since, with your missing hand, working had become hard. Your desk job wasn’t possible for you anymore, you just couldn’t grasp typing with one hand. You were moved to the mail room. Opening envelopes and scanning in paper work was challenging too but you figured it out fairly quick.
Then again, the switch in jobs forced you to take a slight pay cut. You were mad about it but there was nothing you could do. At least you still had a job.
People asked about your hand, of course. You said it was an accident. You were in a wreck and there was no saving it. It was the only thing you could think of to explain the very clean cut across your wrist.
Still, despite everything, things were okay. Things would be okay.
Today, you were at home with the kids. Celestia was relaxing on the porch outside as she tended to do. Bubba stayed with her. The energetic kids were running around in the backyard. The rest were scattered either inside or out.
Currently, you had Catnap in your lap, the minis in his, and Bobby right beside you. You were watching some kind of romance movie she’d really wanted to watch. You weren’t paying attention. Romance just wasn’t your thing.
She was pretty into it, though. She cried and laughed and by the end of it, gushing about how sweet the whole thing was. She was a sap for these kinds of things. Catnap was not at all interested, sleeping against your stomach. Your hand found its way behind his ear and scratched. At least until the minis realized you were giving him attention. They watched your hand until you gave either of them a pet too, practically shoving each other out of the way for affection. When they figured out you could pet both of them at the same time if they were close enough, they settled for that.
It was a good day.
At least until there was an aggressive knock at your door.
Catnap sat up with a hiss, picking up the minis and moving to the floor, under the coffee table. Bobby gripped your arm. You glanced out the window and saw the kids were no longer playing in the backyard, huddled behind the porch. Celestia was standing in front of them, calmly talking to them. Picky looked ready for a fight.
You stood, pulling yourself free from Bobby. She whimpered but you motioned for her to stay down.
You didn’t order anything, Celestia didn’t. None of the toys could have. There was no reason for visitors. So who was this? And why?
Looking out the window, you saw a beat-up old car haphazardly parked in the driveway. You were shaking just a little as you opened the door.
You can’t say you were expecting what you saw.
A girl stood there. She looked to be in her teens, maybe younger. White, bleached hair and vivid green eyes complimented her dark skin. She was holding a letter.
Your letter. The one Bubba sent you calling you back to the factory. She looked pissed.
“You,” She said, her brows furrowing. “You worked with my brother, right?”
“Um… I’m sorry, who’s your brother?”
“Devin. His name is Devin. I’m Nina. I’m dragging his ass back home.”
“Listen, kid-”
“I’m not a kid.”
“Okay, fine. How did you get that?”
“Found it in the factory. Your turn, where’s Devin?” Oh right. You had dropped it on your way in.
“You went to the factory? Jesus Christ, that place is dangerous. Why would you go there?”
“Um? To find my brother? He mentioned something about it before he disappeared. He doesn’t come around anymore, he just writes letters but I can’t find his house so I went to the factory. Found this.”
You sighed. Okay… This was about to be one hell of a mess.
“I can’t help you, I’m sorry.” You meant it. You didn’t know where Devin was.
“Well… You know something so tell me.” She wasn’t letting up, even crossing her arms to assert dominance. It would’ve been cute in any other situation.
Then her eyes widened. You glanced back, following her gaze. Bobby was peeking from behind the couch.
Shit.
“Listen, you have to go-” You tried, you really did. She was going to put you in danger.
“I know about them!” She blurted out, uncrossing her arms to motion to the living toy. “Devin used to tell me about them! I-I won’t tell anyone, I swear. I just… Want to find my brother.”
You sigh again. If she already knew about the toys, what was the harm? You invited her inside.
“Just start talking, kid.”
“I’m not a kid.”
“Sure.”
The next hour was spent with her on your couch. Catnap wouldn’t come out, keeping the minis hidden with him. Bobby warmed up to Nina nicely, though, sitting next to her. Nina didn’t freak out or scream. She smiled and took the bear’s hand.
Celestia had come in and you told her to bring the others in. Before long, everyone was sitting around the couch. Crafty’s head was against your knee as she sat on the floor and Celestia stood behind the couch.
Picky looked ready for murder.
But then Nina started talking.
Devin was young when he started working at the factory, around 20 or so. He’d be gone for long periods of time and come home smelling like roses or something she didn't recognize. Nina always asked why but their mother didn’t. Months passed and it didn’t stop but Devin grew more and more stressed. More angry, she said.
One day, he came home really late. Their mother stayed up waiting for him, Nina in her lap. She was around 10, she’d said. She was half-asleep when he came in but once he started talking, she had to listen.
Devin broke. He told his mother about the toys, the experiments, the orphans. His mother believed him, she always would. She’s just that kind of person.
She wanted to sue the company. Take custody of the toys herself. Devin warned her against it and she trusted him. It didn’t stop her from crocheting or baking things that the toys would never receive. She fell in love with them by extension.
It was a long night and Nina fell asleep partially through it but what she heard entailed awful things. Things she didn’t understand back then but she did now.
Devin told them stories. What Kickin had said or Dogday had done. What was Crafty's favorite color and how teaching Picky self-defense was going. Their mother didn't care for the toys learning it but he promised it was good for her.
Then Devin came home one day and he didn’t smell like anything. He was quiet for a long time. Nina tried to get him to open up about what was wrong. Their mother offered him a safe space but he just wouldn’t talk.
He moved out. He visited nearly every day and it seemed like he was getting better!
Then? Then he stopped. He stopped visiting after 10 years. He started writing instead. He mentioned he’d moved but his return address was a P.O. box. No one knew where to find him.
The letters still came but her brother’s absence was taking a toll on their mother.
Nina noticed how quiet she was, deflated and slow. She spent some days in Devin’s old room, keeping it clean and dusted for when he visited. After Nina had found her crying recently, something in herself broke.
She was going to find her brother and the toys he spoke so fondly love. She’d bring them all home.
When her story was over, you were left feeling conflicted. Devin was alive. He had fallen off the grid too.
You only had one thought. He had toys with him he was trying to protect.