Simon Smoke x Male reader (With Allister Gator)

Meeting Simon

You had been an employee at Playtime Co. for years. Watching children’s smiles brighten up their day made your work feel rewarding, but it wasn’t always easy. Bullies often spoiled the atmosphere, and you despised how they could ruin what should have been fun for everyone. Despite the challenges, you had your favorites—whether it was a toy, a fellow employee, or a child, the connection you had with Playtime Co. made it all worthwhile.

One day, whispers spread about an exciting new development: a Halloween version of The Smiling Critters, called The Nightmare Critters. You had always loved new toys, and the thought of testing these ones made you feel a surge of excitement. Your favorite had once been Catnap, but after the unfortunate incident where he, along with Bubba, Dogday, and the others, was burned during a failed experiment, things had changed. Those were the bigger body experiments, not the plushies. The plush versions were far more popular, and now the factory was buzzing with anticipation for this new release.

The day finally arrived for you to test the Nightmare Critters. As you stepped into the production factory, the smell of fresh materials hit you—mixed with something you couldn't quite place. Your eyes scanned the new lineup: a crow, a bat, a shark, a lizard, a sheep, and a red dragon. But something was off. Where were the other two?

“Hey Y/N, ready to test them out?” a co-worker asked, breaking your train of thought. You nodded, still confused.

“Why are there only six critters and not eight?” you asked, voice uncertain.

The employee smiled, a little too casually. "We’re still working on the last two. They’re... a bit temperamental right now," they said cryptically.

Shaking off the odd feeling, you refocused your attention on the Critters, but one, in particular, caught your eye—Simon Smoke, the red dragon. He had a rebellious look, like a teenage punk, with fingerless gloves and a gold dollar-sign necklace. There was something about his presence that seemed strong... and admittedly a little attractive.

You couldn’t help but stare, and then—was he winking at you? His grin widened, eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief.

"Well, hello there, pretty," Simon’s voice was rough, yet somehow calming, like an old teenager trying to sound tough. Your heart skipped a beat. Did he just... flirt with you? Was he bi, or gay? You weren't sure, but the thought raced through your mind.

Forcing yourself to refocus on the testing, you approached Simon. "Alright, let’s get started," you said, feeling your face flush a little. The first phase was scent testing. You leaned in slightly, inhaling. Burned wood and cardboard boxes. It wasn’t pleasant, but oddly... you didn’t hate it.

Checking the clipboard, you confirmed, "Simon Smoke, scent: burned boxes and wood."

"So? Am I still as fresh as ever? Can’t have my cool-guy image ruined," Simon quipped, his voice dripping with arrogance, though in an oddly charming way.

Next came the feel test. His skin had to mimic soft gator scales, and to test that, you’d need to touch him. Hesitant, you held out your hand.

"Getting touchy, huh? Go ahead, pretty. Feel away," Simon teased, flexing his arm.

Your fingers brushed his scales, and they felt... strange. Soft yet hard, cold yet warm—contradictory sensations that left you almost hypnotized. His skin was confusing but oddly comforting. You didn’t even realize how long you’d been touching him until he snapped you out of it.

"Hey, pretty, you’ve been holding on a bit too long. Feel phase is over," Simon said with a smirk. Blushing, you quickly pulled your hand back, embarrassed.

The final phase—appearance—was almost unnecessary. Simon was effortlessly striking, with his rebellious style and sharp features. He passed with flying colors. Just as you were about to wrap things up, chaos broke out. One of the other Critters, a pink bat, caught fire from a faulty wire, sending employees into a panic.

Water and foam were sprayed over the flames, and the clean-up crew swooped in to deal with the aftermath. You stared in shock as the pink bat was carried away, wondering how something so careless could happen.

Simon’s laugh rang out, snapping you back to reality. He was giggling—laughing, even—as though watching one of his own burn was a joke.

"What’s wrong with you?" you asked, horrified. You had admired him just moments ago, but this? This cruelty? It shattered your image of him.

"Lighten up, pretty," he said, still grinning. "Maybe we can hang out later, huh?"

You turned and left without answering. You thought Simon was different, but now you weren’t so sure. Disgusted and shaken, you made your way to your office, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling settling in your chest.

Suddenly, the lights flickered, and then everything went dark. You heard the distant sound of screams echoing through the factory. Footsteps thundered down the hallway as panic erupted. One of your coworkers slammed into you in their rush to escape, and you were thrown to the ground, hitting your head hard.

Your world faded to black...