Prompt: Nerf Gun Battle. This follows how Dory and Nemo spend an afternoon, with family feels, background Dorlin fluff and a cameo from Hank!


Dory trudged along the sidewalk, her feet aching with each step. She had just gotten off work, and while her job at the information desk of the local aquarium wasn't particularly strenuous, it had been a long day. Friday always brought in a lot of business and she was more than ready to head home and relax.

But first she had to...do something. She gazed down at the writing on her hand. It was slightly smudged, but she could still make out Marlin's neat handwriting, 'Pick Nemo up from school - 3pm'

Right! She quickly checked her watch. Good, only 2:30. She had just enough time to head home and get changed. She picked up her pace, feeling grateful that her job and Nemo's school were both within walking distance from their house.

She made it home with time to spare, quickly throwing off her uniform and switching to her usual running pants and blue sweater. She took a few seconds to make sure she had her phone and keys before heading out, hastily locking the door behind her.

"Hey, Dory!" She looked down the hall to see Hank walking her way, dressed in his usual red plaid and jeans. He was probably heading home from his job too, though she couldn't recall what it was.

"Hi Hank! What's up?"

"Nothin' much. Where ya headed?"

"Um..." She gazed at her hand again, "Oh! I'm going to pick up Nemo. You wanna come?"

"Might as well. Haven't seen the kid in a while."

"Great!" She checked her watch again, groaning when she read the time. 2:48, she'd have to hurry. "Let's go then, I'm in a bit of a rush"

"Aren't you always?" She shoved him playfully as they walked. "What, I'm not wrong, am I?"


"...and Mr. Ray says that the ocean covers...that it covers 71% of the whole earth."

Dory and Hank walked along, Hank giving Nemo an awkward piggy-back ride while he told them about what he had learned that day. Nemo's class was having an ocean unit, a fact that the child was thrilled about. Nemo loved the ocean, to the point that he pretty much talked about nothing else. His room was decorated in posters about fish and marine life, he had lots of stuffed whales, sharks and fish and he had even covered his prosthetic leg in ocean-themed stickers. He especially loved to visit Dory at her work on the weekends, never getting tired of the familiar exhibits.

"Oh yeah?" Hank asked, shifting to try to carry the kid better. "Stop wiggling so much, I'm gonna drop you." Nemo ignored him and kept talking.

"Yeah! I said that seemed like a lot but he says it's true. What do you think, Dory?"

"Huh? About what?" She asked turning back to the pair.

"The ocean!"

"Oh, I like the ocean. I work at an aquarium after all." Nemo gave her a look and she sighed. "I forgot again, didn't I?"

"Yeah, but it's ok."

"Ok, we're here, get down." Hank interjected as they reached the front door to the complex, letting Nemo down gently and handing him back his bag. "Thats the last time I give you a piggy-back ride."

"Sorry."

"No you're not." He tousled Nemo's hair roughly, "Alright, I've got some stuff to do, see you guys around."

"Bye Hank!" Nemo enthusiastically waved as the man walked away, before turning back to Dory.

"Well I don't know about you but I'm pretty hungry," She said with a smile, "Let's get upstairs and get a snack!"

"Can we have pizza rolls?" He asked hopefully.

She laughed, "Yeah, but don't tell your dad."


Dory sat upside down on the couch, her legs kicking idly against the top as she watched the movie Nemo had put on. She was trying to pay attention to the story, something about a penguin who tap danced, so she hadn't noticed Nemo leave until she heard his hushed voice coming from the hallway.

"Red One, this is Command, do you have eyes on target?" He said, adding his own radio-like static effects.

"Affirmative, ready for attack." He continued, faking a deeper voice.

"Copy, Red One, fire when ready."

She sat up, turning her head in confusion as she gazed into the hall. She could hardly see him, hiding behind a table, shrouded in a shadow. It looked like he was surrounded by stuffed animals of various sizes, and he was holding a nerf blaste-

The realization hit her and she rolled off the couch, narrowly dodging a barrage of foam bullets. She stayed low for a moment, before shooting up and dashing to her room, jumping behind the bed and grabbing her own blaster. She checked to make sure it was loaded before peeking her head around the side. She couldn't see Nemo, so she waited, considering her options.

"Traitor! We have you surrounded, come out with your hands up and we'll think about letting you live!"

She smirked, his voice giving away his location further down the hall.

"You'll never take me alive!" She shouted, diving out from her room and rushing back to the living room. She felt a single bullet hit her leg as slid behind the couch, so she cried out, feigning pain.

"You're injured! Do you surrender now?"

"Death first!" She yelled, standing and firing at Nemo, managing to take out several of his stuffed animals before she was hit square in the chest. She dramatically fell, groaning and clutching her 'wound'.

Nemo stood, switching sides and running to Dory. He took her hand and pretended to cry.

"Oh no! How could this happen! Hang on soldier, don't give up!"

She spoke slowly as if in pain, "I'm sorry captain, I'm not gonna make it out of this one." She coughed, closing her eyes. "Avenge me..."

"No! She was so young!" He stared into the distance, "Your death will not be in vain."

Dory held back laughter, before jumping up and grabbing a throw blanket off of the couch, tying it around her shoulders and cackling evilly.

"I am Dorys evil twin, Tory, and I will avenge my sister's death!" Nemo screamed in mock fear and ran into the hall again as Dory grabbed her blaster and started shooting after him. Their battle continued, filled with lots of dramatic deaths, declarations of revenge and battle cries, until they were both riddled with foam, laying in the middle of the living room laughing.

"Alright, alright," Dory said, "I give up, you win." She smirked and leaned over, tickling him,"But don't get used to it, I'll get you next time."

Suddenly a buzz came from the couch, and Dory sat up, rummaging through the cushions for her phone. When she found it she pulled up her recent messages, humming thoughtfully as she read the text.

'Dory, I'm gonna be late tonight, go ahead and have dinner without me. And pizza rolls don't count as dinner. Neither do cookies. And make sure Nemo is in bed by 8. Don't stay up to late watching tv and make sure-"

She rolled her eyes, not bothering to read the rest of the text. "Looks like your dad's gonna be at work late."

"Awww." Nemo's shoulders slumped.

"Yeah, I know." She stood checked her watch for a moment before standing, fixing her rumpled clothes as she walked towards the kitchen "Well, I'm gonna go figure out dinner."

Nemo started to gather his toys, before noting that Dory was still standing in the doorway looking in confusion down the hall. He tossed his toys onto the sofa and walked over to her.

"Do you want help?"

She looked down at him with a blank smile. "With what?"

"Dinner."

She groaned, smacking her forehead and nodding. "Yeah, I do."


Together they managed to make a decent meal, eating the leftover chicken and green beans while the finished the penguin movie from before. With some prodding Dory agreed to having a few oreos for desert and put on a new show Nemo liked, but halfway through the first episode he started to nod off. She held back a laugh. He looked adorable, his face pressed up against the arm of the couch, hair messy and cookie crumbs still clinging to his face. She smiled fondly at him. Her life had changed so much since she started living with Marlin and Nemo. She had been alone for most of her life and having a home and a family was a feeling long overdue. The feeling had only grown as she found her parents, made friends with Hank and confessed her feelings to Marlin. Suddenly she had a life, a real one, and helping take care of Nemo was probably her favorite part of it. He was wonderful and excited and sweet. He had grown on her since the moment she met him, just like he had soon grown on her parents and Hank. She knew that as her family had grown so had his, and she couldn't ask for a better person to share with.

She let him sit for a moment longer before quietly clicking off the TV and gently shaking him awake.

"Come on sleepy head, time for bed."

She giggled as he groaned and sat up, rubbing his face adorably. She helped him stand and led him to the bathroom, heading back to her room to change herself, as he washed up. When he was done she trailed him to his room, helping him to bed as he took off his leg and got comfortable.

"Do you want me to read you a story?" She asked.

"No, I'm ok for tonight."

"Alrighty," She reached over to tuck him in, stopping when he spoke up again.

"Dory?"

"Yeah?"

"Now that you and Dad are together...does that mean that you're like my mom?"

Dory blushed, leaning back, "Um...well, I guess it could mean that." She smiled at Nemo, reaching over to hold his tiny hand in her own, "Do you want me to be like your mom?"

"Yes." He yawned, "Is that ok?"

"Yes, Nemo, that's ok." She smiled and squeezed his hand, before finishing tucking him in, "Now get some sleep, kay?"

"Kay..."

Dory reached over to switch off his lamp, leaving his shell shaped nightlight on so that the cute pattern danced on the ceiling. She walked to the door, moving to close it on her way out, when Nemo's quiet voice called out to her again.

"Dory...love you."

She couldn't help the adoring smile that spread across her face, matching the warm feeling in her heart.

"I love you too, Nemo."

She left the door cracked and turned to head to the kitchen, jumping slightly as she nearly plowed into Marlin. He looked quite the sight, slouching, the bags under his eyes more prominent and his hair mussed.

"Oh, hey Marlin. How was work?" She asked, keeping her voice hushed.

"Long." He sighed, before grinning as he looking down at the pillows, stuffed animals and nerf bullets that still littered the hallway. Dory mentally smacked herself, of course she forgot to clean up. "Looks like you guys had a busy day."

"Yeah. I was attacked by the resistance...or was I the resistance...Either way, war was the only option." she smiled sheepishly, "I'll uh, get this cleaned up."

"Don't worry about it, it's late." He gave her another smile as he turned to drop his bag and coat on the couch. "So..." he paused, turning back to her, "I heard you and Nemo talking."

"What?" She paused for a second, thinking back, before blushing again as the memory returned, "Oh, right...you heard that?"

He nodded, and Dory suddenly felt ashamed. She knew about what happened to Marlin's wife, and had been pretty hesitant about some things, especially after they started dating. She worried that she would overstep a boundary, still unsure of how she fit into everything in his mind.

"I..um, I'm sorry. I don't...I know I'm not his real-"

"Dory, it's ok." He reached over and took her hands in his, giving them a comforting squeeze, "Nemo never had the chance to know his mom, and...and if he wants you to step into that role, I don't mind. Besides..." He paused, looking down, "Because of the way I was after everything, Nemo's been pretty lonely his whole life. I'm glad he has you."

"Well," She shrugged, "I know what lonely feels like."

"Yeah, me too."

She pulled him into a quick hug, before stepping back and looking to the kitchen awkwardly. "Umm... I can't remember if I cooked anything..."

"That's ok, I'm too tired to eat."

"Kay."

He reached up and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, "Goodnight, Dory."

She smiled, returning the gesture before heading back to her room. She stopped for a second, blushing deeply and turning back to him.

"Hey, Marlin?"

"Yeah?"

"Um...can I maybe...sleep with you tonight?"

He smiled, "Yeah, Dory, you can." She grinned and walked over to him, taking his hand and following him to his room.

Later, tucked in close to Marlin, his arms wrapped around her, she couldn't quite remember all of the reasons she felt so completely content, but she didn't mind. She was home.