(NEW) smiling critters

Dylan and his friends sat in awkward silence as they heard the wind break another branch off the tree just outside his house and the rain pattered against the roof and windows so harshly that you'd think it wanted to join in on the sleepover. It was one of the biggest storms of the year, which was unfortunate for them since almost all of them were scared of wind. They were all 13, so they shouldn't've been, yet they were for whatever reason. All of a sudden, they heard a knock at the door; it must've been neil!
He was a little later than he usually was. but whatever, as long as he was here, it'd be fine. Dylan got up and opened the door to see the feline with faded purple fur hidden from the rain with a small umbrella. he smiled warmly and waved as Dylan pulled him in while neil closed his umbrella and tapped the water off on the pavement outside.

"hi Nini," everyone mumbled from under their blankets and in their sleeping bags. he waved back at them as he walked over to the end table and picked up the unplugged essential oil diffuser and filled it with water before walking back, plugging it in, and putting a few drops of lavender oil in the water before closing it and turning it on; all the while Dylan had wrapped the blanket he had draped over his shoulders when he answered the door over the both of them and was refusing to let go as Neil went around and did everything. once the boys were back on the couch, Dylan grabbed Neil by the torso and laid down, leaving Neil's head on his chest. neil never minded though, he was the one who normalized this sleeping position for them, so now they just always slept like this at sleepovers. Dylan loved feeling Neil's chest vibrate as he purred, and neil seemed to love both that warmth and the softness of dylan's chest.
The sound of neil purring like an engine combined with the hum of the diffuser as it dispensed the lavender scented mist all over the room had somehow muffled the sound of the wind and rain enough to where everyone could sleep comfortably. in the morning, the storm had completely stopped and the sun was shining through the windows and seemed to be trying to blind anyone who was in the way. Dylan woke up to the familiar sound of Neil purring. he smiled as he began petting behind his ears. Neil began purring louder, if that was even possible. Dylan loved these kinds of mornings, where it felt like he and Neil were the only yokai in the world; where time felt like it stopped and let them lay here in heavenly peace. he remembered the time mom told him that heaven is different for everyone. they were eating rye toast together on the couch swing outside when she told him that this felt like heaven to her; getting to sit outside with her son as sun rays were beating down on their fur. Dylan had to admit, that scene being heaven sounded pretty nice; but this, laying with Neil on the couch petting his head as he purred, is an ideal heaven scenario too. after what felt like seconds, he heard mom's door open as she walked out to the living room before stopping to stare at the kids as they slept.

"morning mom," Dylan whispered as she shifted her gaze to him.

"morning, baby. how'd you sleep?" she whispered back with a smile.

"good, how was work?"

"taxing, but at least a slept like a rock last night. I'm gonna make breakfast, then your friends gotta go home, Kay?"

"can Neil stay a little longer?"

"no later than 9, Kay? i don't want his brother to worry."

"ok."

Neil's brother was a little weird; he refused to give his number to mom, Neil claiming the reason being 'he doesn't like me giving his number out to strangers,' but he also refused to meet mom so he wouldn't consider her a stranger. It frustrated her a little because she had everyone's guardian's numbers just in case something happened and she'd have to call them. Neil also said he doesn't really leave the house, or his room for that matter, he just stays in there all day working. he didn't even leave to eat dinner with Neil or their adoptive siblings. needless to say, mom and Dylan didn't really like Neil's brother even though they never met him. Mom usually taught Dylan to not label someone until you get to know them, but he assumed Neil's brother was a special case because she seemed to not be following her own lesson. all of a sudden, he felt Neil move, prompting him to look down to see his best friend staring back at him.

"good morning, Nini. slept well, i assume?" he smiled as he scratched his head, making Neil purr.

"wanna help me get everyone up?" Dylan asked as he continued to scratch Neil's head. Neil responded by reaching his arms and tucking them under Dylan's neck, signaling that he wanted to stay like that a little longer.

"ok then," Dylan sighed pleasantly as his tail started wagging. they stayed there for a while as the sound of something frying in the kitchen as well as smoke wafted into the room. Dylan pulled Neil closer to his head so he could hear him purring since the sound of mom making breakfast was louder. eventually, Dylan sat up and placed Neil beside him. they both stood up and began shaking everyone awake. one by one they got up and began chatting and mingling until they had to go home and eat breakfast and spend time with their families. Well, except for neil, who stayed for a little longer.

'Thank you for letting me stay a little longer,' neil signed to georgia as he and dylan sat down at the kitchen table.

"It's no trouble, baby, i get it. If you want, i could give you a little something before you leave," georgia smiled back as she gestured to the stove.

'no, i'll eat at home. thank you, though,' he shook his head.

"are you sure? i'm pretty sure we have enough," Dylan asked his friend.

"baby, don't force him to eat if he already said no. he's probably not hungry," mom gently scolded.

'i'm really not,' Neil signed with a sheepish grin.

"oh, sorry Nini."

'it's fine, i get you just wanna make sure I get fed. I'll text you a photo of my breakfast when I get home, kay?'

"ok, you don't have to though."

'you sure?'

"yea, but I am happy you're gonna feed yourself for me. you're all skin, fur, and bones."
neil smiled at that as if it was a joke, but it really wasn't; he was super skinny. mom actually weighed him one day out of worry, but it turned out he was 'just a few pounds under' and it wasn't too too much to worry about as long as he quickly gained that weight back. from the looks of it, he didn't seem to do that, but he also never dropped pounds either, so Dylan had decided not to pry too much unless he got skinnier, and since Neil slept on top of him every sleepover, he'd be able to tell.

1241 words

chapter next week (also, yes,the title is an octonauts reference, i've had it on the brain recently)