Badgermao One Shots!

Pt.9~ You Should Be You🌟

     Art Credit to - @ Snoockers_ on Instagram! 💓 Be sure to go follow them! They're incredibly talented!! :0

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     ( Heyo, muffins! Sorry for the small break from chapters/one-shots! Tying to get back on that grind for y'all 😔👊 Also... This chapter low key gets depressing, but worry Owo!!! Enjoy!! ))

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     The black canvas of sky was painted with shades of dark blue and purple. Twinkling, white stars were scattered above. A dark cat sat beneath the aesthetically pleasing scene. He was stationed in the soft, shaded grass. The cat was in a criss-cross position, his arms resting on his thighs. His head was tilted up, looking at the peaceful view. The critter was sitting in front of the headquarters, him and his other deputies lived in.
     A large badger opened the door behind the kitty.
     "CREAK!" Went the door, tearing through the peace, and catching the dark cat's attention. His ears perked up, as his head and bright green eyes darted in the noise's direction. His pupils followed the larger animal's movement. The badger made his way down the stairs of the front porch.
     When Badgerclops made it to his destination, he slowly sat himself next to the black cat. The ebony cat looked away from Badgerclops, going back to watching the stars fade in and out. The two sat in silence. The badger slightly looked down at the small feline.
     "What's wrong, Mao Mao?" Badgerclops calmly broke the silence. The cat didn't face him though. He instead looked down at the grass below him. He crushed a patch of it between the fingers of one of his covered paws, trying to hold back tears. Mao Mao had a mixed expression of sadness and focus drawn on his face.
     'What do I say, what do I say?' The badger struggled with what to say next. He didn't want to hurt the fragile cat.
     "You need to talk to me, Mao Mao. I can't help you, if you can't communicate," Badgerclops sternly stated. The dark cat tried to block out the other creature's voice, but could only do so for so long. He let go of the grass, putting his arms back into his lap. His head was still facing downwards, but Badgerclops knew Mao Mao was still listening to him.
     "Go on," The badger signaled the cat to share his thoughts and feelings. Mao Mao gave a small groan.
     "I've helped this valley stay alive. Through chaos and defeating threatening monsters, I've saved lives, but they don't care," the broken cat continued, "I stayed to help everyone, but no one really cares. I'm not nice enough. I'm too aggressive," Mao Mao went on about not having the sweetie pies' approval. Badgerclops took in every word. He watched as the tiny cat angrily ranted beside him.
     "It would be so much better if I weren't- if I- weren't me," Mao Mao slowly mumbled his voice through the sentence. Small pools of water began to form around the cat's eyes. A stream ran down his cheek, as he swiftly picked up his arm and wiped it away. Mao Mao didn't like Badgerclops seeing him so vulnerable to opening up and letting people get to him. Badgerclops didn't know what to do. He silently and nervously watched his other-half breakdown right beside him.
     "You don't even love the real me either, do ya? I should've known you've never cared about me!" Mao Mao furiously yelled out, finally facing the badger. He got on his knees and pointed at the bigger creature. He had waterfalls flowing down his cheeks.
     Badgerclops was taken back by Mao Mao's words. Those words stabbed through him like a thousand sharp, little knives.
     'Wh-why would he think that?' Badgerclops was hurt. He thought he made it obvious how much he cared about Mao Mao- was it not enough? He looked at the cat in a panic, not sure of how to reply. He looked at Mao Mao's angered expression. Watching the tears fall down his face and drench his midnight-black fur. Both of them wallowed in silence for a minute. They waited for one or the other to speak. Neither of them knew what to say though. The air was so tense you could cut it with a knife. Mao Mao couldn't stay quiet anymore though,
     "You helped change me into someone everyone would actually like. You changed my voice, my appearance, my personality! You're the one I least expected to be willing to ruin me!" Mao Mao vented in rage and hurt. Badgerclops finally realized what the smaller cat was getting at.
     'Was it really because of that popularity chart? I was only trying to help him be happier... I never tried to hurt him.' The badger stared at the cat, as a droplet fell down from his only-working-eye as well. Badgerclops began to compose himself a little.
     "I-I didn't know that was going to hurt you so bad, Mao Mao. I thought it was what you wanted. I didn't want you to change, honestly. I didn't want you to act fake, but you agreed to what the king said, so I rolled with it! I helped you because I wanted to see you happier, but that just made things worse," Badgerclops confessed, as he calmed down and softened up a bit.
"I should've done better for you, and I now understand that! I just rushed to make you happy, but it turned into something we knew could never top the only Mao Mao, we know and love," Badgerclops dearly admitted. He looked away from the cat. The badger's statement hit Mao Mao hard. Mao Mao knew Badgerclops meant every breath. Mao Mao knew Badgerclops wasn't just spewing out gibberish. Mao Mao knew when Badgerclops would share something that was deep and near his heart. Mao Mao knew this was one of those times.
Mao Mao loosened up a little, as he sat up wide-eyed in front of the badger.
"I-I'm sorry, B-Badgerclops. I didn't understand. I -I really hope you can forgive me," the black cat anxiously stuttered in response, lightly wiping his own tears from his face. Mao Mao quickly turned his head to the side, trying to hide from his embarrassment. Badgerclops knew Mao Mao had given a sincere apology. He could easily read the devastated cat like a book. Badgerclops knew words couldn't show how he felt. Actions always seemed to speak louder. The badger swiftly pulled the tiny cat into a big hug, before the little guy could even have time to react.
Badgerclops kept Mao Mao in his lap. He had his large arms wrapped around the tinier kitty's body. Mao Mao's fuzzy head rested on Badgerclops's broad shoulder. The cat gave a slight, content smile, as tears continued to poor down, now drying onto Badgerclops's fur. The badger lifted the cat up to face him, still having Mao Mao stationed on his plump legs. Badgerclops stared into Mao Mao's mesmerizing, glistening, emerald eyes. The cat stared back into the badger's sparkling, almond-shaped eye, with a pleased expression. The two took a second before speaking, admiring each other.
"You know I love you, Lil' Mao. Nothing could ever change that!" Badgerclops exclaimed, as another tear rained down his face.
"Of course, Badgerclops," Mao Mao softly replied. The two nuzzled their foreheads against one another's. They lightly giggled at their action, as the chubby badger plopped onto his back. The small cat lightly laid back with him. Mao Mao stayed on the badger's stomach. He snuggled the back of his head into Badgerclops's belly, like he was a big, fluffy pillow. The two happily smirked as they peacefully watched the beautiful stars together. Each star they saw were different sizes and colors. Some were smaller, some were bigger. Some were lighter, some were darker.
Badgerclops gently pet the top of Mao Mao's fluffy head. He began to think to himself,
'If all those stars can be unique and theirselves, why can't you just do the same, Mao Mao? Just like those stars. You're here for a reason. You're just as bright and special, you really should start showing it.'