Archive of Our Own ^beta

Floyd was not having the best of days.

For the last few days he's been plagued by nightmares making it impossible for him to get any sleep.

On top of that his knees have been killing him which has no doubt been aiding in his unsleepyness as it's been difficult to get comfortable in his bed.

Floyd's been dealing silently, putting on a face hoping that none of the other Muppets will see through it.

But it was when he snapped at Janice during rehearsal, over something so nonsensical he doesn't want to think about it, that he just set his bass down and took a walk.

Thankfully, or rather unfortunately, his bandmates recognised his mood and gave him his space.

Well all but one.

Floyd took a deep breath of the fresh air as he left the Muppet theatre through the back door and made his way to the Mayhems van.

After shutting the van behind him, Floyd dug through one of the more hidden compartments for a joint and a lighter.

Kermit couldn't care less about what the band do or don't do in their free time, so long as it's away from the younger members of the crew, he can't tell them what to do. -not that they'd listen even if he did-

Floyd shook his head, and let out a sigh, he left the joint in the compartment and smoked a good old tobacco cigarette.

He heard the van door open then slam shut and then suddenly there was a heavy weight on his stomach.

Floyd groaned as Animal laughed, wiggling to get more comfortable on the seat with him.

How Animal manages to full body slam someone in the tight space of their van, will forever amaze Floyd. -When, of course, it's not him that's being jumped on, and majority of the time it is him-

"Animal" Floyd chastised with a laugh ruffling the drummer's hair.

"Got you" Animal laughed, Floyd smiled, "Yeah buddy you did" Floyd said, dropping his hand from Animal's hair.

"No no no" Animal shook his head, grabbing Floyd hand and replacing it back in his hair, "Pet?" he said

"Not right now, li'l Buddy, I ain't feelin' too good" Floyd said hoping Animal would leave him wallow.

Unfortunately for Floyd, Animal is pretty stubborn, "Animal not leave" Animal stated, "Feel better" he continued.

Floyd sighed, "Alright" he said, giving in and began petting through Animals hair.

Later as the beginning of the show approached and the Frog was freaking out over the missing drummer and bassist, Teeth made his way out to the van.

Floyd and Animal were asleep in the backseat, and it pained Teeth to wake them. Animal isn't happy when he's woken up even by a very apologetic Dr Teeth.

Animal grumbled and climbed off of Floyd, who groggily followed the other two back into the theatre, feeling a lot better than he did earlier.

He apologised to Janice for snapping at her and she thankfully accepted the apology.

Once in his outfit, Floyd began the long process of getting Animal into the Outfit they wear as members of the Muppet Orchestra.

"Hey Lips" Floyd called, walking over to the trumpeter pulling Animal behind him.

"Yeah" Lips looked up from the book he'd been reading, sitting in his newly appointed spot in the Electric Mayhem's dressing room.

"You mind takin' Animal for his walk, The frog wants us to run through tonight's sketch again before the show starts" Flod asked.

Lips was a little surprised, He's not sure whether it's over the fact Floyd asked him or that Animal actually looked happy for Lips to take him.

Animal usually reacted badly if anyone but Floyd tried to take him for his walk.

"Sure" Lips said, closing the book and setting it on top of his trumpet case.

Floyd nodded, "Just don't take your eyes off him for too long" He warned handing Animals chain over to him as Animal laughed, "One minute he's right next to ya and the next he's in Canada" Floyd continued laughing.

"We ain't too sure how he managed that either" Dr Teeth piped up his seat, "Fer sure" Janice added with a nod, "It was like a wild weekend" She continued.

That certainly filled Lips with plenty of confidence as Animal laughed manically chanting Canada over and over again.

There was a knock on the door and Scooter's voice came from the other side.

"Eyes on the wild man" Lips said, clutching Animals chain tight in his hand.

The walk mostly consisted of Animal pulling Lips along the path to the park not too far from the theatre.
At this time in the evening the park is pretty desolate meaning Animal had free reign of the place.

Lips sat down on a bench before letting go of Animals chain, keeping a watchful eye on him as he bounced from place to place and thing to thing.

Like a hyperactive child hopped up on too much sugar, Animal ran happily from the swings to the slide to chase Squirrels or trying to catch the birds.

Trying to keep an eye on both his watch and Animal at the same time proved difficult but he managed and eventually lips had to try and catch up with Animal because the show was going to start soon and Kermit was sure to blow a fuse if they arrived late.

Or Crazy Harry will anyway.

So after a brief chase Lips managed to grab the end of Animals chain so pe could pull the reluctant Drummer back to the theatre with five minutes to spare.

The two made their way up to the band's dressing room to change their clothing.

"Rock" Animal said, holding his hand out to Lips, where a small round pebble sat in his palm.

"Thank you" Lips said, took the pebble and put it on his pants pocket ruffled Animals hair.

As simple of a gift as it is, The rock just maybe his favourite one he's gotten over the years.

Animal Laughed and grabbed his drumsticks from their box and ran from the room, "Animal, you gotta put your jacket on buddy" Floyd called after him with a sigh, taking the jacket from its hanger and following the drummer from the room.

Lips chuckled as he unlatched his trumpet case to get his instrument before making his way to the orchestra pit.

A loud band started Zoot from his pre show nap.

"What was that?" he asked, looking around at his bandmates, Floyd was sitting on the other couch with his bass in hand, Lips was sitting on the floor beside him scribbling in their song book.

Teeth didn't seem to be there and Janice just walked into the room.

"Oh Gonzo, like totally knocked into Animals drums" Janice said sitting down on the couch next to Floyd.

Floyd mumbled something to her leaning back to kiss her cheek.

"Animals not gonna like that," Zoot said, closing his eyes again.

"So long as you don't move Teeth'll have it fixed 'fore we gotta wake 'im up" Floyd laughed, "Wha" Zoot said, looking down to find Animal curled up on the couch beside him, using his lap as a pillow snoring softly.

"Right" Zoot said, staying as still as he possibly could to not wake the chaotic fur ball in his lap.

When had Animal even curled up next to him? Zoot could have sworn Animal had been swinging on his hammock when he had fallen asleep.

Eventually Teeth returned to the room assuring the others the drums had been fixed before Animal woke up from his impromptu nap.

Zoot fell back to sleep and had to be shaken awake by Lips after Bobo knocked on the door letting them know they were close to going on air.

"Hey, who touched my Drum?" Animal questioned before he had even sat down at his kit.

Stupidly Gonzo, who had been within earshot, had admitted what he had done, and Animal managed to move before Teeth could grab his chain as the Drummer went berserk on Gonzo.

Kermit was looking for Janice, One of their guests had to cancel on them, so at the last minute Kermit is going to fill the spot with a 'veterinarian hospital' sketch.

Given how well it went the last time, the audience should hopefully enjoy it.

Piggy and Rowlf were all for it, the only person he can't seem to find is Janice, that is of course until he walked into the offices properly to find at least one member of the band, -they always seem to disappear when they're not needed for anything- to pass a message along to Janice .

He had checked their area of the studio first of course and the room was empty, except for some instruments so they had to be around here somewhere.

He first saw Sam standing by the water cooler and as he was walking past him he spotted what seemed to have caught the eagles attention.

Janice was sitting on the floor with Animal using her lap as a pillow.

It's a testament to how long he's worked with the Mayhem that he doesn't freak out at the sight, instead he greeted Sam, who said hello back then walked away and then asked, "Everything okay" with just a hint of concern slipping out.

"Oh fer sure" Janice said, dragging her fingers through Animal's hair as the drummer let out a big sigh, "Animal's been like having these like bad dreams and he hasn't been sleeping well" Janice explained.

"Uh huh, why are you in the middle of the hallway?" he asked, "oh Animal fell asleep, I'm waiting for Floyd, cause, like if anyone else tried moving him, then there's rully be trouble fer sure" She said.

Kermit nodded "Well anyway, we're planning on doing Veterinarian hospital again, you okay with that" Kermit asked, "Oh fer sure" Janice nodded as Animal let out a huff in his sleep.

Teeth woke with a jolt after what was most definitely a bad Dream, He doesn't remember much of it as he slowly became more aware of his surroundings.

But he was most certainly being chased by a giant dentist drill.

He shuddered as he climbed out of his bed and made his way down to the kitchen to get a glass of water, and maybe a glass of something a little stronger.

He didn't feel tired despite the clock showing it was nearly 2am, So instead of lying in his bed lamenting his life choices, Dr Teeth made his way down to the basement.

Maybe his keyboard can help clear his mind.

He got one foot on the stairs when the sound of uncharacteristically quiet drumming hit his ears.

Animal must be awake too, or he was sleep-drumming again.

That was a definite possibility.

Making his way down the stairs he was indeed met with a very much awake Animal sat at his drums humming to himself.

Teeth cringed slightly as he stepped on a loose floor board which got Animals attention.

Animal stopped drumming and turned to look at Teeth.

"You no sleep too" Animal asked, blinking slowly at him.

Teeth hummed, nodding walking around to his keyboard, "you mind if I join your late night Jam session?"

Animal perked up nodding wildly, "yeah Play with Animal" He said happily starting up his beat again this time accompanied with Teeth's piano melody.

Slowly over time the others woke up and slowly joined them down stairs one by one adding to the song as they did.