Onceler x reader

Chapter 9:y/n

I think we'll meet a person from the past in this chapter ~

We woke up early the next morning, and set up the wagon with the boxes of thneeds. Uncle ubb and me were chatting, sharing food ideas while Once helped his mom carry some boxes out of the house. We left Bret Chet and aunt Griselda under the watchful eye of barbaloots and the Lorax as we all piled onto the wagon and set off towards town.

I was sitting in the back with uncle ubb and the packages. Once and his mom sat up front. "So what did you do in your free time before you met Onceler?" Uncle ubb said leaning back and taking a puff of a cigar. I don't know where he got it but it stank.

"Well, I hung out with some friends. We'd walk around the town, help out people. They liked to party a lot. And I always got dragged into them. Literally, the physically dragged me into a party. I would hide in a bedroom or somewhere away from the party. I got stuck cleaning up after them." I shrugged, leaning my head back.

Uncle ubb nodded. "Kids are gonna be wild." I laughed in agreement. Once had put his hand on my head, and just rested it there as he continued his conversation with his mom.

"I wonder if we'll bump into them. I haven't said anything to them since I came and lived with Once.." I said, shifting a bit in my little corner spot.

"Do you like it with Onceler?" Uncle ubb took another puff of his cigar, looking at me curiously.

"That's not even a question. I wouldn't trade my life with Once for anything." I said laughing a bit.

"Not even for money?"

"Money never really interested me. Yes it is necessary for survival, but I really don't enjoy having money. Being with Once is a lot better." I smiled and closed my eyes. "Money only caused problems in my family."

Uncle ubb nodded. "Yeah I know what that means. Not on good terms with your family?" He asked. I nodded. He took another puff, nodding.

"Well I welcome you into this family. We aren't the best. But I'm sure it'll feel better than any other." He said smiling.

I smiled back. "Thanks uncle ubb." I said. We were quiet for the rest of the way into town. Uncle ubb volunteered to stay in the wagon to watch over as me once and his mom all made deliveries.

Me and once decided to do deliveries further away. We walked off, heading towards one side of town.

We chatted about crazy theories we had, or what we would do with unlimited money. We neared our last delivery, around noon. I walked up and knocked on the door. I felt myself pale as I saw f/n (f/n=friends name). "O-oh. F/n, I didn't know this was your house." I mentally face palmed myself. If I'd pay attention I'd recognize the house. They threw a lot of parties here.

"Oh! Y/n! It's been ages. I didn't know you worked for the creator of the thneed." They said, looking inside the house, muttering to someone. They looked back at me and smiled. "Are you free to get lunch?"

I looked back behind me at Once who shrugged and nodded. I turned back around and put on a tight smile. "Yeah you were actually the last delivery, we" I motioned to Once behind me, "just need to let some other helpers know and we can meet up. Where you wanna go?" I asked.

They looked behind me at Once, before focusing their attention onto me again. "How about (cafe name)?" I nodded before handing them the box and smiling as I walked back to Once.

"See you in a few!" I said grabbing once's hand and walking off. When we were a good ways away, I breathed out.

"You ok? Old friend?" He asked to which I just nodded. I had agreed to meet up with old friends of mine.

———

After convincing his mom and uncle to go ahead and head back, we walked to the cafe. F/n waved us over to a table in the corner and I led him over. We slid into the booth and I felt Once's hand slide around my waist holding me close.

We chatted and had some lunch. I deflected a lot of questions about the day I ran off, not really keen on answering them. After a while once yawned and that was my signal that it was time to head home. "It was nice seeing y'all again, but we have to head back." I said, looking at Once to back me up.

"Hmm? Oh yeah, we have a lot of work to do and it's a good long walk back. It was nice meeting y'all." He smiled and shook their hands before leaving a $20 to cover out half of the meal.

"Aw.. ok. Hopefully we can see you again!" They said as we walked out, we smiled in response and walked back towards the house.

I looked at the sky, seeing night fall. "Shit, I forgot my coat again." I said frowning. Once laughed at my misfortune but he left his in the wagon, which was home. "You can't say anything you don't have yours either~" I said poking his chest.

He laughed and slung his arm over my shoulder. "Yeah I can't talk about your misfortune since I have the same one. Though we should actually bring our coats with us knowing it's getting colder now." He said watching the sky.

We walked through town, heading towards the edge of the woods. Sometimes we were stopped by fans and buyers of the thneed, who were complimenting how well they work.

We managed to make it into the forest with no problem, but we saw the Lorax, angry and stalking towards us. I swore I saw steam coming off of him.

"You broke your promise!" He said pointing at Once. I looked at him, and back at the Lorax. "They are cutting down trees, left and right!" He exclaimed.

Me and Once started immediately running towards the house, the Lorax trying to keep up. Despite Once's long legs, I ran a lot when I was younger and made it to the house a couple minutes before he did.

My heart dropped when I saw the sight. 20...30... almost 40 trees had been cut down. Once stopped right beside me and I looked up at him. His face mirrored my own. He spotted his mom yelling at some random people. "Mom. What is all of this.." he said. Motioning towards the damage.

"Well oncie, while you were off, doing whatever you were doing.." she shot me a dirty look, "I did inventory and checking on demand and decided that this will be so much easier to meet demands!" She clapped her hands excitedly.

Once stared at her in shock. "Mom that's not what I wanted to do.." he said quietly. She waved his remark away, strolling up to us.

"Hush, this is business. You gotta do what's right especially with supplies, and demands." She said pinching his cheeks.

"You're killing off the entire forest! That's not the right thing to do!" I said from the background. I felt something tug at my jeans and looked down to see pipsqueak. I picked him up and held him close.

Isabella shot me another dirty look. "Oncie the factory you wanted will be ready by tomorrow. Your welcome." She walked off, and began to yell at the workers again.

I followed Once into the house and he plopped down on the bed, seemingly in tears. I set pipsqueak down on the kitchen counter and walked towards him, my hand reaching out.

He looked up and without a word he left the house. I stared at the door, feeling empty. I sat on the bed and stared at the floor. I wasn't sure how long it was but Once finally walked back in, but I didn't acknowledge him, it was kinda painful to move.

"Hey you uhm... you hungry or.." he stood there awkwardly. I looked up wincing at the pain.

"Uhm I'm not hungry right now. I think I'm going to bed. Thanks for asking." I said, it was really quiet, and strained. He nodded and went to change. I followed suit after he came out.

I stood in front of the mirror as I pulled on my favorite pajamas. I took a deep breath and walked out crawling into bed beside Once.

"Good night y/n"

"Good night Once"

Isabella being a bitch- anyways. How are y'all? I'm tired and hungry-