It Started With A Nap (A Mao Mao x Badgerclops fanfic)

Chapter 5: Party Planning

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US!?!?" Badgerclops shouted, outraged, "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW DIFFICULT IT'LL BE TO PLAN A PARTY IN THREE DAYS!?!?"

"Party?" A lead weight fell in Mao Mao's stomach, "Oh no! No part-"

"WE GOT SO MUCH WORK TO DO!!!" Adorabat screamed, right before she and Badgerclops rushed out the door, leaving Mao Mao with a smirking Tanya.

"Did you really have to bring it up?" Mao Mao asked after a few moments of Tanya staring at him with her smug expression.

"Oh come on Mittens, it's just your birthday." Tanya finished off her cobbler, but Mao Mao pushed his away. He didn't have much of an appetite anymore. The cat had stopped celebrating his birthday when he'd started out on his own.

"You know how I feel about my birthday." Mao Mao was visibly upset, his arms crossed across his chest and his brows furrowed.

"Your family isn't here Mao Mao." Tanya's tone was now serious and unamused, "No one is going to belittle you, or put you down, or make fun of you. It's time you start letting your friends show you they care."

"You don't think I know that!?" Mao Mao had stood up from they table and slammed his paws onto the ground. His eyes were clenched shut, mouth in an angry scowl. If it had been any other conversation, Tanya would have found Mao Mao's anger outburst normal, but this wasn't any other conversation. This was a conversation about Mao Mao's neglectful family.

"Mao Mao..." Tanya's voice was saddened now. She hated seeing her friend so upset.

"It's harder than you think, Tanya." Mao Mao grunted, letting his cape engulf him. He turned away from his ex-partner, his ears flattened against his head, and walked with a sullen pace to the dojo.

Tanya hated seeing her Mittens so upset.

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"It's the sheriff's birthday in three days!?" King Snugglemane exclaimed, one palm on each cheek for dramatic effect, "And you're only just starting to plan his party!?"

"We only just found out about it your majesty." Badgerclops said. Adorabat was at his feet, drawing something on a paper with her crayons, lost in whatever she was drawing, "We actually wanted to ask if we could have the party here, in your thrown room."

"Why of course!" The king sounded absolutely overjoyed, "In fact, I'll even have my servants help you! Consider it my present to the sheriff!" Snugglemane snapped his fingers, and suddenly his servants were scurrying to and fro to gather appropriate party decorations.

"Great!" Badgerclops wore a big smile now, "Adorabat and I will come help after we get our presents for Mao Mao!"

"Actually," Adorabat stood up an turned her drawing to Badgerclops, "I already made my present. What do you think, Badgerclops?" The badger leaned downed to inspect the drawing. It was a slightly crude drawing if Adorabat holding Mao Mao's hand, a pink heart surrounding them. Boldly printed words along the bottom of the paper read, "To: The Most Legendary Hero of All. From: One of your bestest friends, Adorabat. P.S. I
Love you Mao Mao!"

"He'll love it, Adorabat." Badgerclops said with a smile, patting the top of her head and making her smile. Mao Mao loved it when Adorabat gave him drawings. Badgerclops even knew about the special drawer in his desk where he kept all of them.

"I'll stay here and help with the party. You go get your present, Badgerclops." Badgerclops agreed with a nod as Adorabat rose from the ground and flew to help the king's servants. Badgerclops walked out of the castle, wondering what to get his crush.

"Let's see," the badger thought to himself, tapping his chin, "he doesn't need anymore weapons. It should definitely be something special, and that doesn't mean food. Wait! I know exactly what to get him!" Badgerclops began to race back to the arocycle. He'd have to use the illegal setting in order to get to where he could find the present in time, but Mao Mao wasn't there, so no one would care. He'd miss dinner, but what he was getting would be worth it. Well, what he was getting was only half of the present.

"Mao Mao is gonna love it!" Badgerclops had the biggest smile on his face as he climbed up on the arocycle and blasted off in the direction he needed to go.

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Mao Mao was pacing back and forth in the living room. Dinner had been an hour ago and Badgerclops hadn't been there. The arocycle was also gone. Mao Mao was trying to ignore Tanya and Adorabat's smirks at how worried he was. He honestly didn't get why they weren't worried too. Badgerclops NEVER missed a meal.

The sound of the arocycle's motor sounded from the garage, making Mao Mao's head whipped in the sound's direction. A relieved sigh escaped him as he entered the garage, Adorabat and Tanya hot on his tail.

"You're back!" The sheriff exclaimed, rushing at the badger who was now dismounting the arocycle. Badgerclops flinched, thinking Mao Mao would hit him for taking the arocycle without asking, but froze when he felt a pair of arms wrap around his belly. The badger glanced down to see the cat with his arms around him, Mao Mao's face buried in his white belly fur.

"Um...hi?" Badgerclops didn't notice two females staring at him and Mao Mao, expressions of pure delight on their faces.

"Do me a favor," Mao Mao said, taking a step back, "tell me before decide to take off with the arocycle for half the day." The sheriff's was tinged with annoyance now. Badgerclops rubbed his head guiltily.

"Yeah, sorry I took off like that. I was going to get something." As if it had appeared out of thin air, Mao Mao noticed that his friend was holding a small object wrapped in brown paper and tied off with a black cord.

"What's that?" Mao Mao gestured to the small package. Badgerclops blushed and hid it behind his back.

"Ah! Nothing important!" Mao Mao raised an eyebrow at how the badger's voice seemed to go up a few octaves.

"If it took you so long to get it, then it's important. Let me see." The sheriff reached around Badgerclops, but the deputy only held the object above his head.

"It's not important, Mao Mao!" Badgerclops couldn't help but laugh a little as the cat started jumping in attempt to grab it, "Just leave it alone."

"Let me see!" Mao Mao's curiosity was nawing away at him. He wanted to know what had caused Badgerclops to be out so late.

"Nope!" Badgerclops put his free hand on Mao Mao's head, trying to keep him away from the object he held. He couldn't help but laugh at his friend's relentlessness to get the object away from him.

"Let! Me! See!" Mao Mao knocked Badgerclops's hand away and jumped up again, this time he managed to jump up higher, almost reaching the object, but not grabbing it. Because of how much force was behind the jump, Mao Mao fell into Badgerclops, knocking them both over.

"Ow." Badgerclops groaned, the object still clutched in his hand.

"Sorry." Mao Mao turned his up towards the Badgerclops and froze. His face was so close to the badger's that he could feel his breath, and there noses almost touched. When Badgerclops realized how close Mao Mao was, he froze up too. The two stayed like that, staring at each other with rosy cheeks. Both thinking to themselves that they should move, but not wanting too.

"Oh my gosh this is so cute!" Adorabat shouted, not being able to contain her excitement anymore. Mao Mao stumbled off of the badger, embarrassment flushing his cheeks. Badgerclops stood up quickly, almost falling over again. Tanya was laughing by the time they had managed to completely upright themselves.

"Sh-shut up!" Mao Mao screamed, his cheeks still flooded pink. This only made Tanya laugh harder. It was about five minutes of Mao Mao shouting with pink cheeks before Tanya managed to contain her laughter. During that time, Badgerclops slipped the object behind a toolbox on his desk. He turned back and saw Adorabat wink at him, which he returned. Now he only needed one more thing to complete Mao Mao's birthday present.