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When you moved to Home, you really wasn't sure what to expect.
The neighborhood seemed nice enough at first glance. with it's colorful houses, and friendly neighbors. But looks can easily be deceiving. And you know how rude people can be. Along with how there could be some unforeseen problems with Home that you wouldn't know about without living there for a while.
And honestly you can't even really recall why or when you even moved here.
One thing you can say for sure though. Is you were not expecting one of the neighbors to visit you literally every day.
But yet, every day, Wally ended up at your door with a smile.
Most days he just came by to say hello, and ask if you needed any help with anything that day. Although sometimes he invited you to activities.
And You found it very sweet honestly! No one ever really check in with you like that before. And while you didn't need someone to, it was just nice that he cared enough to come by everyday anyway. And if you ever did need any help, you knew Wally would be there with a hand.
And even though you weren't super social, you always love being included, and having the choice to go out somewhere. You thought after saying no to hanging out just enough times, he'd stop inviting you all together. But to your surprise, he still tried to include you.
He never even seemed all that sad or disappointed when you said no, and would just accept your answer either way. But you did see how he always brightened whenever you did said yes.
That being said!
After a few weeks of the same song and tune, Wally still ends up surprising you.
With a knock at your door like usual, you open it to greet the other.
"Hey Wally." You grin.
"Hello You." He greets back with a bright grin. "I have something for you."
You raised a brow, as you now noticed he has his hands behind his back.
"Oh yeah? It's not a bug is it?" Don't get you wrong, bugs are great. As long as they're no where near you.
"Ha, ha, ha." He chuckles. "No." He brings his hands in front of him now.
"It's a apple!" He exclaimed. Said apple being in his palms.
"A apple?" You question, taking it from his hand. Why a apple out of everything?
"Yes. They're the absolute most! So I thought you'd like one too."
You smile. "Thanks Wally. Fresh fruits are always super delicious!"
He tilted his head to the side slightly. "Are they? I haven't tried that many."
"I think so! But I'm not sure if most would agree honestly." You shrugged. "I think a lot humans don't really like fruits or veggies very much."
"I see." He hummed.
There's a beat of silence. As you both just stand there.
You raised a brow. "So any fun activities you have planned for today?"
He has a very soft smile. "Oh no. I just wanted to give you that."
"I see. Well thanks again!"
"Do you need any help today?"
"Nah." You wave off with a smile. "But I appreciate the offer."
"Okay. I'll see you later then neighbor."
"Alright, bye Wally."
Closing the door back, you take a bite of the apple. It was clearly very fresh. As if just picked.
You never been that big of a fan of apples, but it's the thought that counts. And it's very sweet of him to even bring you anything at all, since he could have not done that.
.
Which is why you're even more surprised when he gives you another one the next day too.
Sitting outside this time, you're on the grass reading. And Wally sits right next to you with a grin.
You startled, bringing a hand to your chest. "Geez- You scared me Wally!"
"Oh, sorry." He apologize, but he doesn't sound all that sorry. "What are you reading?"
"A book about butterflies. Frank let me borrow it. Bugs are really interesting."
He hummed. "Yes. Frank told me butterflies would drink blood if they had the opportunity."
Wow, that's the fact he brought up? You two are more alike then you thought. "Yeahhh. I find it sad they die in a few weeks too. But then again even as caterpillars they have short lives too."
"That's true." He agrees. "Isn't Howdy a caterpillar?"
Uh- Right. You're not sure how that works. Since he's more humanized then other caterpillars were.
"I think so?" You just say, not really wanting to get into this.
There's a beat.
"I have another apple for you!" He now declares, bringing it up to you.
You're eyes widened at it. "Oh! Thanks Wally."
He brightens. "You're welcome!"
"Do you just have apples always hanging around?" You ask, taking a bite out of it.
He stares at you very intensely as you do so for a beat.
Before finally answering. "Yes. Have you heard? An apple a day keeps the doctor away."
Ah yes. You hear that all the time. "That's true. I never did understand why doctors were scared of apples." You joke.
He tilted his head to the side slightly. "Barnaby said that means apples keep you healthy, so you don't have to go see the doctor as much."
You smile. Because while you already knew that, it's sweet he'd explain it. "Oh yeah I know. I was joking."
"Oh. Sorry, I didn't understand it."
"That's okay." You reassures. "You wanting to keep me healthy is really kind of you though." You tease.
He just smiles. "Oh of course! You must be healthy to live a long happy life. Unless you want to be like the butterflies."
You barked a laugh in slight shock at the comment. "I'd take a happy life over a long one any day." You couldn't help but say. As it's the truth.
Wally stares at you for a very long moment.
"You are as beautiful as a butterfly." He states so very softly.
Warmth fills your chest. As your face flush slightly. "Um- Thank you?" You're really not sure how you're supposed to react to that.
"Would you drink blood if you had the chance?" He now also asks in curiosity.
You raised a brow. "Nah. That sounds really gross. And humans can get diseases from another's blood."
"Can they? That's interesting."
"Yeah, But I'm not fully sure how that works. Frank could probably explain it better then I can." You say, before adding. "Would you drink someone's blood if you could?" You ask, since he did.
He stares at you intensely for a long moment.
"Maybe if it was yours."
Huh... You're not sure if that's a compliment or not honestly. You think he meant it as one. But the thought was a little unnerving.
You hummed. "Maybe we should just stick to apples. At least they'll actually taste good." Wouldn't blood just taste like metal because of iron?
"Yes. They're so sweet." He agrees. "Do you prefer that over savory?"
"Eh, It really depends on the day for me."
He hummed. "I don't like very flavorful foods."
"Fair enough. Sometimes things are way too flavorful to be enjoyable."
You fall into silence after that.
As Wally gently lean onto you, to read over your shoulder. As you continue to read the book yourself.
.
The next day it was pouring rain, and Wally still showed up at your house with a grin.
"Oh boy- You want to come inside before your hair gets wrecked?" You step a side so he could enter the door to your house.
And he brightens. "Yes, Thank you."
"I just assumed you stay with Home today, since it's pouring cats and dogs out there."
He starts putting away his raincoat, boots, and umbrella "Usually, but I still wanted to see you."
"Aw came out all this way just for little oi me?" You tease.
His eyes narrowed at you, but still held a genuine smile. "Yes. And I wanted to give you this." He now hands you another apple.
You raised a brow, still taking it. "Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the gesture. But you know you don't have to keep giving me apples right?"
"I want you to have them."
"Okay. But why? I mean... Wouldn't you rather eat them yourself? Aren't they're your favorite?"
"Yes." He gently takes your free hand. "But you're my favorite too. So I want to share them with you."
Your eyes widened, as warmth fills your chest. How can he just say stuff like that so easily? "That's... Really sweet Wally."
He swings both your hands back and forth ever so slightly. "Will you share your time with me too?"
Aw- "Pfft- Of course! I would have left you out in the rain if I didn't want to."
He brightens. "What are you doing today?"
"Well, I was writing. But do you want to draw with me instead?" You enjoyed both a lot, so either would be fun to you. But you knew Wally would probably prefer drawing.
"Okay." He agrees easily. "What were you writing?"
"Eh, Just some short stories."
"Can I read them?"
Uhhhh, You're not sure about that one. You'll not sure how much he'd like them... But at the same time... It would be nice to share them. If it's just with him. "Well, if you promise not to tell the rest of Home about them sure."
"Okay." He tilted his head to the side slightly in curiosity. "But why? Don't you want to share them?"
"I'm okay with you reading them, and maybe Home. But I'd really rather keep them to myself honestly." Maybe at least until you know they won't judge you about what's in them.
He stares at you for a beat. "Alright."
"But for now, let's get drawing." You pull him over to your craft room.
"Okay! What are you going to draw?"
"Maybe I'll draw some bugs. There's great references in that book of Frank's." They also should be pretty easy, which will make sure it'll be fun. "What about you?"
He hummed in thought. "Maybe I'll draw a butterfly too."
"They could be friends!" You declared in delight.
"Yes! That would be the most!" He agrees, tightening the hold on your hand ever so slightly.
You set up some art supplies on a low table, along with the apple. While you have a high desk, it's better for when you're working on stuff alone.
You weren't sure if Wally would like markers, which is the main thing you used. So you set out crayons too, since you're pretty sure you've seen him draw with those before.
"Do you want to use the book for reference too?"
"No thanks. I know how the one I want to draw looks."
"Alright." You flip the book to a page with a super colorful butterfly. The more colors, the more fun to draw!
You both start drawing quietly.
You almost never draw bugs, but they were really fun. You should draw them more.
After a bit, you take the apple, and go to take a bite from it.
Only to immediately feel something gross and mushy from it. Maybe it was bad? You look inside the apple.
And there's a clear half of a caterpillar inside it.
You spit the piece out onto the floor.
"What the hell!?" That's so gross!
Wally eyes widened, looking towards you in confusion. "What's wrong?"
"There's a bug inside the apple." You wipe your mouth with your sleeve.
"There is?" He goes to take the apple from you.
Awe takes over his expression as he looks at it. "Wow. I've never seen anything inside a apple like this before."
Great, so you just have terrible luck...
Although-
"Now that you mention it, neither have I."
He pokes the caterpillar slightly. "I wonder if it was still alive in here eating away at the apple."
"I don't like the idea that I killed it just now..."
"Maybe it got stuck in here a few clock turns ago." He now says.
It's sad to think it'll never have the chance to become a butterfly... But that was how life was sometimes.
Wally sets it aside, before pushing his drawing towards you. "Here's my butterfly!"
You smile at the needed distraction. Picking up the page to look at better.
The main body looks brown and realistic, while the wings looks super soft like a pillow. With kind of a colorful checker board pattern.
"I love it! They look so nice!"
"Thank you." Wally says very softly.
You now push your drawing to him. "Here's mine!"
Just as said before, it's super colorful with almost all the colors from the rainbow, and it also looks like it has many eyes with the way the wings pattern looks.
He stares at it very intensely. Almost like he's trying to memorize it. "It's lovely!" He finally says.
"Thanks Wally!"
You both continued to draw after that. You drawing more butterflies. As Wally draws the bitten apple...
.
Outside in the forest the next day.
You're walking around looking for real butterflies to look at. They were always so pretty. Just seeing them flying around.
Because it rained so much the day before, They must not want to be out or something though. As you don't see any anywhere like usual. It was still really cloudy and muddy out.
Still you kept going further into the trees, just to see if you could find any. You probably shouldn't go too far though, or you might end up getting lost.
Frank's book said you'd be most likely to find them around sunny spots with flowers. So out here definitely wasn't the best place to even look for them, since everything would be shaded by the leaves of all the trees. And it wasn't sunny today anyway.
Everything is very stunning out here though. You always found all the trees vibrant colors fascinating. And the dew drops makes everything shiny.
You raised a brow as you continued walking. As you can see clear sunlight coming from beyond some of the trees.
What was that? It was still dark and cloudy everywhere else-
"There you are neighbor."
You startled as a voice called out from behind you.
Yanking around to face them. You're met with Wally.
"Geez! One of these days you're going to give me a heart attack Wally!" You huff out in half amusement.
He doesn't reply to that. Just tilting his head to the side slightly. Looking behind you for a second very intensely, before looking back to you.
Taking a step closer to you, he intertwined your hands.
"What are you doing all the way out here?" He tightens the hold ever so slightly. "You're not leaving Home are you?"
You just chuckle. Does it look like you were? Wouldn't you bring a bag of your stuff? "Nah. I'm trying to find some butterflies. It's not going very well though. They must still be sleeping."
He noticeably eases, the hold on your hand softening. "I see." Though he now starts to pull you back closer to the rest of the neighborhood. "I saw a few in Frank's garden this morning."
You brighten. "Really?" Hopefully they're still there! Maybe you should have went there first. There were so many flowers there. You also should probably give Frank his book back now.
"Yes. I saw the ones we drew too!" He swings both your hands back and forth gently, with a bright smile.
"Wow! It's like we could tell the future!" You laugh.
"Yes. Almost." He says, as you both walked.
Wait-
What was that light you saw though?
You faltered in your steps, looking back behind you both.
It was slightly further away now, but you could still clearly see it.
But you stumble forward a bit, as Wally just continued to pull you away from it.
"Wally-" You start, but he interrupts.
"I got you another apple!" He reaches out his other hand to you, a bright red apple in his palm.
And you stare at it in confusion.
Was he holding that before? You don't recall it being in his hand. Could a full apple really fit inside one of his pockets? That had to be it...
"Uh- Thanks Wally." You smile, hesitantly taking it.
"You're welcome!" He smiles back.
You look back to the light again. And as you do so, Wally tightens the hold on your hand ever so slightly. Before continuing to pull you with him.
Well... You suppose you'll never know what it was. But maybe it's for the best. It was probably just sunlight coming through the clouds slightly.
As you both walked, you scan the apple, looking for any signs of bugs this time. That was so gross you almost didn't want to eat another apple ever again. But you didn't want Wally to be hurt by you not taking them.
As far as you could tell, this apple was fine. So reluctantly, you take a bite out of it.
It was just a normal tasty apple. Thank goodness.
You continued to eat the apple while you walked.
And once to Frank's home, Wally pull you over to the tomatoes, pointing to a butterfly on one of them. "Here's one!" He declared.
You grin. finally! It was the one you drew, with all the eyes. They look so cute!
"Awww! They're just a lil guy!" You exclaimed, chuckling a bit.
Wally gets a very soft smile as you do.
You sit in the dirt to watch it fly around a bit. And Wally joins you.
They kept moving to different tomatoes, and then going back and forth from them again.
Until another butterfly flew next to it, now both on one tomato. The other one is the one Wally drew.
Now they both flew around together a bit. Never flying astray.
It was like they were dancing. It's really adorable!
Although... You scan the rest of the garden.
It was kind of strange that the only butterflies here happen to be the two you both drew...
But it was probably just a coincidence.
Nevertheless, you both just sat there watching them fly for a long while.
.
The next day, you walked up to Home with a grin. It was much brighter out today. You wondered if Home was bothered by the rain?
"Hey Home!" You greet.
It brightens, swinging the door open and closed as it own wave.
"Nice day we're having right? Does the rain, or snow bother you? Or is the sun more annoying?"
Home raised a blind as a brow. Before knocking in a clear pattern.
... --- -- . - .. -- . ... .-. .- .. -. ..-. . . .-.. ... -. .. -.-. . (Sometimes. Rain feels nice.)
"Rain really is so nice sometimes!" You agree. "If only it didn't soak my clothes." You huff in dismay.
Home walls shake as it chuckles.
There's a beat as you both look at each other.
Because you were a bit unsure about what you were about to do next.
But hesitantly you take out a notebook for Home to see.
"You know I've been writing a lot recently. And Wally asked if he could read them, and I thought you might want to read them too, maybe?" You cringe at your own hesitant.
Home brighten though, looking at the book curiously.
"I brought the newest thing I made. But It has a bad ending. So Uh- Is that okay?"
-.-- . ... (Yes.) More knocks ringed out.
You feel like a weight is lifted off your shoulders at that. You knew Wally wouldn't care about that, but you weren't sure if Home would.
"Is Wally home with you? I was thinking I could read it out loud for you both." You weren't super confident in doing that, but you'll never get better if you don't even try.
Home doesn't answer though, just staring at you. Causing you to raised a brow in confusion.
"Do you not want me to do that-?" You start to ask. only to get interrupted.
"Hello You! Hello Home!" Wally exclaimed behind you. causing you to yelp, as you turn around.
"Holy shit! Wally! You need to stop doing that!" You laugh, but the racing of your heart made you feel a bit dizzy.
"Oh. Sorry." He says with a smile. "You're so jumpy, like a cat." He teases.
You roll your eyes. But you hear Home chuckle along.
Great, you're being ganged up on. You think in half amusement.
"Whatever." You wave it off, trying to also ignore how the edges of your vision is blurry. "Look I was wanting to read one of my stories to you and Home."
He brightens. "Really?"
"Yeah. But don't expect anything too great." You go to sit in front of them both. Wally following suit, closer to Home. As you open the book to the needed page.
You clear your throat, before starting to read out the story.
"Once there was a caterpillar that couldn't figured out how to become a butterfly. It knew it was supposed to eat and conceal itself so that it could grow into something beautiful. But nothing tasted good. And it didn't know if it was meant to make a cocoon or not, or how to. And there was no other caterpillar around to tell them. So it just roamed instead. Looking for a bug like it.
It found red and white mushrooms that were twice it size. It found a rock shaped like a heart. Until it found a spider. The spider didn't know how to make webs either. So they started to roam together. They found beautiful red flowers that were a like a cozy bed. They found water that shined the rainbow off of it. But nothing they found were better then each other. They were happy together.
But one morning. The caterpillar didn't wake up with the spider. They both knew it was going to happen since neither of them could eat. But the spider didn't want to leave it alone. So it stayed there with the caterpillar. Snow even found them. Until the spider didn't wake back up either..."
You closed the notebook shut. "The end."
You wait for the other two reactions, as they both stare at you for a beat.
Wally tilted his head to the side slightly. "Why did the caterpillar die sooner?"
"Caterpillars can only live a few days if they don't eat. Spiders can live a few weeks without food."
"Oh." He hummed. "That's a very sad story."
"I know. Most of my stories are like that though."
There's a squeak from Home, and you and Wally both realize he's tearing up.
"Oh boy-" You didn't want to make them this sad! "I'm so sorry Home. Are you okay?"
Wally hops up, walking closer to them to give light pats to their wall. Saying very quiet 'There, there's'
.. - ... .- --. --- --- -.. ... - --- .-. -.-- .--- ..- ... - ... .- -.. (It's a good story. Just sad.) Ring out with knocks.
You ease slightly. "Thank you." Putting a hand behind you neck, you add. "I can read you both more later if you want. but just keep in mind they're all going to be like that."
--- -.- (Ok.) Ring out from Home. As Wally stares at you with a clear question on his tongue.
"What?" You raised a brow at him.
"Do you feel like those bugs?"
Yes.
"No comment." You say without even thinking.
Both of them stare at you, with what you can only describe as sadness.
"I feel like them sometimes too..." Wally says quietly
-- . - --- --- (Me too.) Home also says.
You give them both a sad smile. "Well at least we all have each other right? Like the two of them in the story."
They both brighten at that.
"Yes. That's true." Wally says softly.
There's a beat.
Before Wally asks. "Do you want to come inside? I have another apple I wanted to give you."
You couldn't help but chuckle at that. "Yeah, I'd like that."
Home swings the door open for you both.
And Wally intertwined your hands as you both walk through the door.
You haven't actually been inside Home very much. As most activities you were invited to were outside.
But Home was always really fun to talk to, even if keeping up with the morse code was very difficult at times.
Wally pull you over to the sofa. While the floorboards flipped around, pulling a small table with a bowl of apples on it into the room.
"Thank you Home!" Wally softly says.
As your eyes widened with slight amusement. "Oh wow! You really do just have aa bunch of apples laying around. No wonder you were able to share them with me."
Wally just smiles at you. "I eat one everyday. So it's good to have plenty of them, so I always have one when I want one."
You hummed in agreement. You always kept a lot of your favorite foods in your house, ready to eat as well. It's better to always have them as a option.
Raising a brow towards Home. "Do you have a favorite food Home?" Do they even eat...?
Home doesn't give a answer, just staring at you and Wally. Maybe that means he doesn't?
Wally grab a hold of one apple, handing it to you. Before getting another for himself. Refusing to disconnect both your hands.
You start to bite into your apple, but Wally just gently holds his like it was precious. While intensely watching you eat yours.
You eye him. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
He tilted his head to the side slightly. "Your teeth are interesting."
Oh. Right. Puppets don't have teeth. Not to mention Wally eats with his eyes. So probably everything about how you eat would be kind of strange to him.
"Thanks?" You just say, not knowing what else to say to that.
Wally brightens at that. Before moving to sit closer to you, leaning onto you gently.
You couldn't help but chuckle as warmth fills your chest at this. Leaning slightly on him in turn. Hopefully he won't get upset with you messing up his hair though, because it's pretty likely sitting like this.
It's really nice and cozy just sitting here. But you hated how your face started to flush. As you can see how Home is looking at you both with extreme fondness.
And as you sit here, Wally also gently runs his thumb against your hand. It's meditative, and so very soft, that you couldn't help but close you eyes. Just relishing in the feeling.
You're not sure how you're supposed to react to this kind of affection. But you definitely like it.
As your mind started to become all fluffy, you barely feel a blanket form around you and Wally both.
You should probably wake yourself up. But if either of the others didn't want you sleeping, they'd just wake you up themselves right?
So with that thought in mind. You slowly dozed off.