Work Text:
“These are invitations to my birthday party! I hope you all can make it.”
Clay enjoyed passing out the little letters to his playmates, eagerly taking his seat after everyone has their envelope with their names written neatly on the front. He had his Dad write them. He has such good handwriting.
For once, Clay finds it hard to focus in class, his eyes easily darting to his classmates. They all had invitations, and whenever JD or Spruce had those, they always got excited. Always said yes. Always made it to the party.
Clay smiles through the entire day. Tomorrow, he’ll have his birthday party, and it’ll be a good party. It’ll be fun!
Because everyone will come.
He’s sure of it.
===
“Happy birthday, Clay!!”
He’s scooped out of bed by his eldest brother, Clay already a pile of giggles the moment he’s in JD’s arms. It’s his birthday! Today’s his party!
JD drops his baby brother to the floor, Clay giggling through falling on his face. JD plays with him so funny. “Excited for your party, Bug? It’s gonna be awesome!”
“Yeah! Awesome!” Clay agrees, rolling over on his back to look up at his brother. He’s all smiles.
That’s all John Dory wants today. For Clay to smile from beginning to end.
“Let’s get you dressed and ready then, birthday boy! Come on, we don’t have all day!”
Clay was pure energy, JD could always tell. He races through breakfast, and eagerly helps set up decorations and arrange the lil table for snacks and drinks and presents, makes the living room look perfect! He helps hang streamers with Mom, blows up balloons with Dad, he even gets to tie up the gift bags with John Dory and Spruce! He’s having fun.
Then, it was an hour before the party, and Clay couldn’t wait anymore.
“Imma wait outside for everyone!”
“Clay, I don’t think anyone's here yet-!”
The door to their Pod slams shut and JD sighs. He’ll check on him later.
Because everyone was coming, and they had to be ready.
===
Clay stares and stares at the clouds in the sky beyond the Tree line. He wonders what they must feel like. They look so soft, but research states they’re merely water. Are they wet? Wet and soft sounds like a nightmare…
He doesn’t move when the door creeks open, because he wants to be sure he can see his friends.
“Any sign of ‘em, Clay?”
He shakes his head. “Nope.” But, really, did he expect anyone to be as early as he likes to be? No, of course not. His friends weren’t like that. They thought his schedules were dumb.
He doesn’t think so, but that’s not his problem.
He sits and waits.
Because everyone was coming, and he had to be a good host.
===
“Still nothing, Bub?”
Clay shrugs, still not stopping his staring into the clouds. They always change, huh? So interesting… “It’s early. They probably got lost.”
Their Pod wasn’t hard to find, but that must be it.
Because everyone was coming.
Because this was his party.
Spruce ruffles his hair. “There’s a couple books by the door if you get bored and wanna read, okay?”
“Thanks. I’ll keep watch.” He says confidently. “I don’t wanna be a bad host.”
Because someone will come, and what host has a book to their nose?
===
Clay was finishing the last book in the pile. He liked this one, as long as he stopped before the end. He didn’t know a dog dying could make him distraught for days, but it did. The first parts are fine. Even the sad parts there are okay.
The door creeks open. Clay turns the page.
“Nothing yet, Clover…?”
He shakes his head. “They’ll be here.” Because he gave them invitations, so they had to come. That’s how invitations worked.
He hears his Dad sigh. A light tapping on the floor. “It’s lunch time. You’re Mom made critter burgers. Your favorite.”
He does like critter, but no one else did. Because it was weird to not like sugar. Clay still sets his book down by his side to keep reading as he takes the plate, however. Because he’s hungry.
He didn’t realize the sun had rose so high.
As the door shuts and Clay is left to wait, he stares at the clouds as he eats his burger and chips, tail thumping softly on the branch beneath him.
Maybe not everyone…but someone would come. Statistically speaking.
Someone would come.
===
“Oh, don’t you look comfy.”
He knew his Mom was kidding him. Clay was laid on his back, head tilted over their front porch as he stares at the clouds in the distance. The sky is growing orange… But he doesn’t want to leave.
What if someone comes?
“Do you…want to open some presents, honey? You know, I hear Dad got something pretty cool this year.”
“No thanks. Maybe later.” Clay says, shaking his head.
“I wanna wait for someone.”
Because someone would come.
…right?
===
“…lay? Clay!”
He jolts, sitting up quickly as he’s shaken awake, looking over to see JD crouched next to him, brows furrowed.
“You fell asleep.”
He did? Clay looks at the sky, seeing it’s started to grow dark. Oh. He took his nap here, then. That’s…not very nice. His neck hurts.
His brother keeps staring at him, with a face Clay doesn’t quite understand. Johnny’s upset, but he doesn’t know why. “I’m sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry for. But if you’re this tired, maybe you should come back inside?”
“No.”
Clay turns from his brother, returning to watching the branches and the darker sky and the moon beginning to peak into view as the sun sets…
“Someone might come…”
Because he’s not even sure anyone will.
===
Clay is crying when he’s brought inside the house, and for good reason. JD and Spruce have to watch as Dad brings Clay down the hall, whispering soft words of encouragement and promise that things would be okay to calm his son’s saddened sobs.
No one came.
The sky grew black, the stars dotted into view, and no one came.
John Dory assumes Clay would be sleeping with their parents tonight. He would do the same.
“John…?”
He’s gripping his fists, and gritting his teeth, and his tail lashes and he’s so fucking angry and it’s entirely because of those stupid kids.
All because…
“No one came.”