* I made a reference to the "Edgar & Ellen" book series. However, it's very subtle. I don't own Edgar & Ellen.

Requested By: Gawd of the Nobodies

Nightmares

(Perry's POV)

My hearing picked up on a medley of shuffling and stumbling. Fluttering my eyelids, I glanced up from the rim of the basket to see a small figure nervously making its way down the stairs.

Oh wait, I tilted my head to the side. What was that one's name, again? Clad in footie pajamas, the toddler nearly fell to the bottom step as he finally made it to the first floor. Releasing a shaky breath, the green-haired little boy almost sprinted to the living room couch. Ah, I remember! Ferb. Swallowing, he climbed onto the couch, his gaze drifting to his knees.

I merely shrugged and rested the side of my face on my bed. Many minutes passed.

In my eyes, the Flynn-Fletcher's were a group of people that fed me, gave me a place to sleep at night, and let me share the space under their roof. A host family, nothing more and nothing less.

A light thumping was heard. My eyes snapped open to see the young boy patting his hand against an empty space on the couch. Blinking and shaking my head, I let my eyelids slip close. Abruptly, the tapping stopped.

Near every minute of every day, those two brothers would either have the strong to desire to get me to play with them or carry me everywhere around the house. Thankfully, they weren't as bad as their sister. With all of that happening, I could be spending my time for more important things such as training, sparring, or gearing up for my first ever mission. I'm wasting all that time and energy on people that I'll only end up seeing for a few hours a day.

Rolling on my back, I briefly wondered what my nemesis would be like, how evil he was supposed to be. What was that noise? Chattering with frustration, my head nodded around the room, trying to figure out why I couldn't get any sleep.

I put my sights on Ferb as the boy made a small, but subtle, moan. No, it was more of a…whimper? Inhaling deeply, the child duplicated that sound.

I honestly don't know what happened. One minute, I was turning myself around, trying to ignore the racket. The next, my four legs were taking me to the living room.

Letting out a chatter, the little boy didn't even lift his head to meet my gaze. Then, nudging my bill against his hand, he flinched sharply and looked down at me. Grabbing under my arms, he hoisted me onto his lap. How strong can one toddler be? I formed a minor struggle in an attempt out of his grasp. That's when he made that innocent whining again. It was enough to make me stop, for he's never uttered that sound before. Ferb, for some reason, seldom talked. Perhaps he was just shy, unlike his energetic stepbrother.

Whatever was eating at the child, I humored him by pressing my side against him. He was quiet for a long while. Assuming that he was now happy, I started to aim myself off the couch.

"I had a bad dream." That was all Ferb said before he suddenly put his face against my fur. Really? That's what this is about? I stifled the urge to roll my off-focused eyes. Surely, he knew that dreams weren't real.

Swiftly, his eyes widened, almost in realization. Ferb held me for a moment before placing me on the floor. Odd... He must've guessed that I wanted to leave. Too bad my feet didn't allow it.

Ferb lay down on his side and curled his knees to his chest, sniffling as if ready to cry. With narrowed eyes, I mentally berated myself.

Again, I nuzzled the toddler's small fist. Before I gave him the chance to notice me, I jumped on the couch and curled up at his side. A loud clanking resonated, causing Ferb to jump and put me into a near-suffocating hold.

It's the pipes. My teeth gritted in exasperation. They make that noise every night. You know that. For a second time, he buried his face against my teal fur. Sighing, I let my eyelids drop. It's all right. My chattered was unusually soft. You're safe. That thought was coupled by his light snoring. Pausing, I sat up and looked at his finally resting form.

My basket remained vacant for the duration of the night. In that moment, it may as well have been my obligation to keep an eye on him. In addition, it was a lot warmer than my standard bed.

An hour later, the clunking of the pipes returned, followed by Ferb's apprehensive stirring. Half asleep, he let me go and pressed himself to the backrest of the couch. Don't worry, kiddo. I chattered, crawling back to his side. His arms hugged me closer and I yawned with pure exhaustion.

I won't let the monster get you. I finally fell asleep.

. . .

The clock struck a few hours after midnight as Ferb shuffled down the steps. As always and routine, he nearly tripped forward at the very end. With a tired stretch, I waited for him to pick me up and lug me to the living room.

Curiously, he stepped past my basket and took to the couch on his own. With an eyebrow raised, I lightly dashed to the room on all fours. Just as Ferb put his head to a couch pillow, I jumped to my hind legs, grabbed the blanket that draped over the backrest, and pulled the covers over him. Ferb scratched gratefully under my chin as I snuggled against the empty space beside him.

A few nights ago, Phineas and Ferb had told me about how I used to disdain sleeping in their beds and that I tended to avoid their company most of the time.

"Really," I told him that evening. "I don't remember."

* By chance, if the ending is confusing to anyone, let me know and I'll have no problem changing it. Also, I'm aware that Ferb was not a toddler when they adopted Perry, and that Perry should actually be slightly younger in the beginning of this one-shot. However, I needed it to fit the timeline of this chapter. Hope you liked it.