He swirled his glass cup of iced tea in a circle, the ice cubes making a 'ting' sound as they hit each other and the glass. He looked you up and down, sighing and placing his cup back on the counter.

"You kiddin', kid?"

You shook your head no, making the big blue beagle chuckle lightly. It wasn't much of a shocker, but he sure as hell didn't expect those words coming out of your mouth.

"I done knew he was like that, he even asked me how to work the way with ya. Tsk, didn't think he had the guts though."

You shrugged, you had heard around the neighborhood that a certain someone was planning to do something special for you. Almost everyone knew you and Wally were... something.

"You ever just try to let him down? Tell him you ain't together?"
"I have but he—"
"Never took your words? Figures."

Nodding, Barnaby handed his cup of tea to you. You noticed he never drank it so you accepted, taking a sip of the sweet black tea that had a comforting cold temperature to it.

"If you had to run away from the fella, what makes you think hidin' here will help?"
"It's the last place he'd look."

Barnaby thought otherwise, but for the sake of you, he'd let you stay at his house for a bit. He was just happy you trust him enough to do this.

"Don't count your chickens before they've hatched."

You looked up at him, puzzled, he then laughed and walked up to you, patting your shoulder.

"Ma' taught me that one, just know that stayin' here might not be the brightest idea you've had, I can help you get to som—"

The sound of a knock interrupted him, it was a familiar knock. Barnaby looked at the door, then looked at you. You both knew who it was.

"Ah— Alright, listen, head over to my room and I'll try to distract him for a bit till he leaves. Sound easy, right?" He lowered his voice, he had noticed the uncertain look that appeared on your face, in which
made him ruffle your hair with his big paw.

"Don't worry, kid."

He gave you a smile before gently pushing you towards his room. The door then closed behind you and you were left in a mostly blue but colorful room, you first spotted a picture frame that sat on the nightstand near Barnaby's bed. It was a picture of a sweet looking chicken holding a small blue puppy, that must have been Barnaby and his mother.

You remember him once telling you about his mother, "The Chicken that Crossed the Road." You smiled as you took ahold of the picture frame and sat on the big comfy bed.

It'll only take a few minutes, then Barnaby would surely come and tell you the coast was clear.

You then heard their voices through the walls, slowing down your breathing to listen.

"Well, ain't it the one and only. How ya doin', kid?"

A more than usual happy Wally smiled as he looked up to his tall friend when the door opened.

"I've been swell. Have you seen my sweetheart? I can't seem to find them."

Barnaby crossed his arms and shook his head, chuckling.

"Don't tell me ya lost them now!"

Wally shook his head no, his hands behind his back. As Barnaby looked at his friend more, he noticed it wasn't Wally's normal stance... He was holding something behind his back.

"May I come inside?"

Barnaby nodded and stepped aside for Wally to enter his home. It's like he didn't even give a chance for Barnaby to see what was behind his back as Wally spun around, scanning the living room and kitchen before his head then snapped towards Barnaby's room.

He then looked up at Barnaby.

"You'd help me find them."

It wasn't a question, more of him stating a fact. The beagle sighed and placed his paw on his friend's shoulder, knowing his cover was blown within an instance.

"Err... Listen, kid, they don't like how you're actin'."

His big eyes stared up at Barnaby, Wally then laughed.

"Ha ha ha ha! Always making jokes, Barnaby. You're so silly..."

"Kid, you ain't hearing me..."

Wally laughed more, one of his hands were placed on his chest as the other stayed behind his back. Barnaby took his hand away from Wally's shoulder as he continued laughing.

Wally sighed as his laughter calmed, "They're made for me. It hurts to know my bestest friend doesn't like the sight of us together."

"They said it themselves, you and them just ain't the healthiest together... Y—You scarin' them, Walls."

Everything went quiet. Wally simply stared up at Barnaby, smiling.

"I was afraid you'd say that. Hm... what would I say to the others about your disappearance..."

Barnaby backed away, scoffing.

"What you tryna say, kid..?"

Wally's hand that was still behind his back fell to his side, an axe being revealed. He then held it with two hands and rested his cheek on the dull side, the more sharp side faced towards Barnaby.

"Just let me get my dear back, then we can forget all about this."

"I ain't letting that happen. I knew they've been makin' ya... crazy—! Whatever you think the two of you have is... it ain't right!"

Barnaby yelled as he reached for the axe, Wally quickly moving back.

"But... Barnaby. You're my best friend, aren't you happy for me?" Wally gave fake innocence, though the hit of betrayal really did get to him.

"Happy? Not anywhere near that and neither are they!"

Wally had had enough. It was quite sad though. He'd have to get rid of his best friend, but if it was for you, then it was okay.

The two of you would be back together.

"I really don't want to hurt you, but you're giving me no choice.."

Wally laughed, swinging the axe towards Barnaby.

You gasped as you heard the commotion, quickly covering your mouth to not give yourself away. You knew he knew you were here though.

You tried looking around for someplace to hide though you only spot the closet, it wasn't the best idea, but at least it'd give you a few minutes to yourself before he got to you. You entered inside it, snuggled with your back against the wall, the dim space making you feel... safe.

You just hope Barnaby was okay, you heard him grunt in pain earlier, but Wally wouldn't want to hurt his friend. That isn't like him, not at all...

The door of the room opened slowly, leaving an eerie creaking as it did so. Sat in the closet, you rocked back and forth as your hand shut yourself up, wishing and hoping you'd be left alone.

"Hm~ Hmm~"

Humming filled the room and you knew it wasn't Barnaby's voice.

"Love... Ha ha ha. You should see the mess he made on me... My hair is ruined..."

You covered your ears, not wanting to let his voice linger in them. Turning towards the wall, you looked away from the doors of the closet.

"Ha ha. How fun. Hide and seek is my favorite!" He chuckled, no matter how hard you tried to ghost out his voice, it seemed to only grow louder like a horrible case of tinnitus.

"It's always fun playing games with you, dear. But now, you need to come out. My arms feel so empty without you..."

He spoke more, you then realized his voice was close to the closet. Sounds of him sitting down in front of the door frightened you, his demeanor felt so calm, but this was anything but calm.

"Knock... knock... I feel you, in there."

From the slight blinds of the door, you saw his piercing eyes stare back at you, dilating as you made eye contact. He clapped his hands happily as he saw you,

"I knew it! Aren't I just the smartest?"

He smiled, "But... to hide here, in Barnaby's house..."

Wally sighed, opening the closet door.

"I would have felt nothing if it were any of the other neighbors, but Barnaby... I could almost cry if I knew how..."

Wally looked down, his axe lied next to him, he patted it and reassured himself. It was for you. All of his doings were for you. Even if they hurt him, and made him lose others, it was still for you.

"But, that doesn't matter now! We should head to Home, I prepared something for us that is just the most! Oh, the expression you'll have...!"

He looked up at you to see the same happiness he had in return, though your face said it all. You were weak with unmotivation, you thought if you said another word of declining him that'd he simply ignore it or worse.

He'd kill you.

He noticed you glancing at the axe, which he pushed aside and laughed,

"Oh that... You needn't worry, dear. C'mon up, let's head to Home." You watched as he stood up, and brushed himself off. Bringing his hand out to you, you stared at it and felt your eyes tingle with a light stinging pain, tears began to build up in your eyes as your vision blurred.

You cried, you sat in that closet and cried as you realized you had nothing to do. You had no one to help you, you had no one to run to.

Wally had made himself your safe space, and he only smiled as he watched you cry. He felt his own type of hurt as he watched, but he, himself, was unable to show. He was unable to frown, and his smile couldn't be dropped.

He bent down again and brought you close to him, holding you in his arms as his hand rubbed your back.

"Hush... don't waste your tears on something you can't change. As much as it may hurt, I will be here to cover that wound with a colorful bandaid!" He giggled. Whatever metaphors he made didn't mean anything to you, right now you needed a moment to simply let yourself cry.

You felt miserable crying into Wally's chest, but who else was there for you? You didn't want to risk anyone else getting hurt.

"It is okay... I love you, sweetheart. So so, so much..."

~ 🌊