Chapter Text
OJ let out a groan, feeling a chubby hand pat at his face. He tiredly swatted it away and tried to fall back asleep. It was way too early to deal with whatever this was. All he wanted was a few extra minutes of sleep. A rarity for him nowadays. Something always needed to be done around the hotel or someone was up way too early complaining or asking about breakfast before the sun greeted them. He hasn’t seen a full night’s sleep in the past 13 years.
The chubby hand came down again, this time slapping his face harder. OJ jolted up and rubbed his face. It didn’t hurt that much, just a slight sting. If he wasn’t awake before, he definitely was now.
He rubbed the sleep away from his eyes and smiled tiredly at his 3-year old daughter. She sat politely in his lap– still wearing her sippy cup lid she always wore to bed– acting like she didn’t smack her father awake.
“Good morning, Paper Cup.” He yawned. “Did you sleep well?”
She nodded and snuggled into him.
“Aw, that’s nice. A bit early to be up, though.” He glanced at the clock. “It’s only 6:45- 6:45!?” He yelled, realizing how late everyone had slept in. He turned around and began to shake Paper awake.
“Wha happened?” Paper mumbled, lifting his sleep eye mask. He blinked tiredly.
“Paper! We woke up late! It’s 6:45!” OJ exclaimed and quickly began getting up.
Paper laid there for a moment. OJ’s words didn’t quite finish registering through his
“6…6:45!?” He yelled, finally shooting up from his side of the bed. “Did we not set the alarm?!” He asked, immediately jumping from bed and grabbing his glasses from the nightstand.
“I could’ve sworn we did!” OJ frowned as he took his cork out.
Paper grabbed Paper Cup, who still sat quietly on their bed, before leaving the room.
“You go get the girls up and I’ll get breakfast started!”
“What about your bow tie?” OJ yelled after him.
“What makes you think there’s time for that right now!?”
OJ knocked on his oldest daughter’s door, all decorated with faded and cute daffodil stickers. He didn’t bother waiting for her to answer, they needed to get up right now.
“Wafer!” OJ shouted. “Get up! The bus will be here soon! How did you forget your alarm too?”
She groaned and pulled the blankets over herself more. “I don’t wanna go to school..” She mumbled. “Too comfy..”
OJ huffed and walked over to her bed. He yanked the blanket off of her.
“Dad!”
“You’re already late getting up! Your father’s making breakfast, so hurry up!” He told her and walked out into the hallway.
“What’s for breakfast?” She yelled after him.
“Toast most likely!”
Wafer groaned tiredly and pulled the covers back over herself. She closed her eye and began drifting back to sleep. How soft and warm her bed was!
“Wafer!”
“Okay, fine! Sorry!” She sat up.
Paper quickly, but carefully ran down the stairs. He did have a toddler in his arms. He set Paper Cup down in her booster seat at the table and quickly popped some bread into the toaster. He pushed the tab down, but the bread popped right back up.
“Are you kidding me?” Paper mumbled and tried again.
“I think it’s broken.”
Paper jumped in surprise and turned around, seeing his daughter standing right behind him, bowl of cereal in hand. She crunched on a spoonful without a care in the world.
“Carton! You startled me! When did you get here?”
Carton thought for a moment. “Hmmm. Since my alarm went off! So like, 6:15.”
Paper stared at her. “Wha- Honey, why didn’t you wake us up?”
“I dunno.” The 10 year-old shrugged.
Paper again just stared and sighed. “Okay, well, we’re running late for school. Finish your cereal and get your backpack ready.” He said, practically smashing the toaster tab. That seemed to do the trick and the bread began toasting. While that got started, he poured some orange juice into a sippy cup and handed it to Paper Cup.
“I forgot where I put it.” Carton mumbled, mouth full of cereal.
Oh, how it took every fiber of Paper’s being to not freak out at that moment.
“Okay, well, can you go and find it, please?” He begged and shooed her out of the kitchen. “I need to make your lunches as quickly as I can!”
“But what if I can’t find it?”
“Then look harder.”
Carton ran off to go look for her backpack, leaving Paper alone in the kitchen to finish making breakfast and speedran packing their lunches. He grabbed a jar of peanut butter and jars of grape and strawberry jelly, quickly putting together two PB and J sandwiches, albeit a bit sloppy looking. No time for neatness right now, so he just packed them up along with an apple and juice box for each.
“Mm!” Paper Cup tried catching Paper’s attention. Once Paper turned his attention to her, she pointed behind him.
“You want more juice?” Paper asked.
She shook her head and pointed to the pantry behind Paper. Paper knew what she meant. It was the pantry that held a package of pop-tarts.
“No, sweetheart, no pop-tart this morning. Pop-tarts are not a good breakfast food.”
Paper Cup frowned and tried pointing to the pantry again.
“Sorry, but no pop-tart. I’ll make you some oatmeal.” Paper stated and grabbed a small pot to get started.
Paper Cup let out a whine and threw her cup on the ground in protest. Paper just sighed. He was too tired and it was too early in the morning to scold her about throwing things. At least the cup was empty this time.
“Morning, papa.” Wafer walked in, still groggy and tired. OJ walked in behind her. She already had her backpack ready, which Paper was thankful for. All of her keychains jingled together as she walked.
“Morning, sweetheart.” He kissed her forehead.
Wafer made a face. A face of disgust.
“What? You don’t like my kisses now?” Paper feigned offense.
“No, something smells burnt.”
Paper’s eyes widened. “THE TOAST!”
The toaster smoked a dark cloud and Paper quickly turned it off, dark pieces of overtoasted bread popped out. With how charred it looked he was surprised it didn’t catch fire. But there went breakfast. No way in hell is he serving burnt toast to his kids.
“Just grab a pop-tart.”OJ waved his hand, focusing on the oatmeal on the stove. Wafer quickly grabbed a packet from the pantry, tearing into it and munching.
Paper Cup let out a sound of disbelief. She watched as her older sister was able to eat a sugary delight while she was stuck with a bowl of oatmeal.
“I found my backpack!” Carton sprinted in, nearly colliding with Wafer with how quick she ran.
“Oh, thank goodness!” Paper smiled. He grabbed the two paper bags and handed one to both.
Carton opened it and peeked inside. “I don’t like grape jelly..” She mumbled. Paper playfully rolled his eyes and took the bags back, switching them with one another.
“There! Now you have a peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwich! Now go! Go! You’re already late!” Paper tried ushered them out the door.
Wafer gasped. “Wait! I forgot I needed a permission slip signed!”
“What?” Paper looked around for a pen and grabbed one from the table.
Wafer handed him her slip, a guilty smile on her face. Paper quickly signed it and stuffed it into her yellow backpack. “There! Now get out!” He joked, placing quick kisses onto Wafer’s and Carton’s cheeks.
“Bye dad!” The two girls waved at OJ before leaving through the front doors of the hotel.
“Bye, girls! Have a good day! Be good!” He yelled, finishing preparing his youngest daughter’s bowl of oatmeal.
And with that, their two oldest daughters left, leaving them alone in the kitchen. A kitchen that Paper would need to clean up.
“Two minutes ‘til 7. That has to be a record.” Paper leaned against the counter, accessing all the crumbs and stains he needed to clean up. He watched as OJ tried getting Paper Cup to eat her oatmeal and her refusing and pushing the spoon away. OJ just gave up and left the spoon alone, allowing Paper Cup to eat by herself.
OJ turned around and looked at his husband. “Y’know, you forgot something this morning.”
Paper looked at him confused. “What did I forget?” He asked, grabbing a few cleaning wipes.
“My good morning kiss.” OJ said, a flirtatious tone lacing his words.
“Really now?” Paper joked. “Alright, come here.”
OJ immediately got up and walked over to the counter, leaning against it. Paper laughed and gave a quick peck to OJ’s lips. He frowned.
“That’s it?”
“Okay! Okay! Fine!” Paper rolled his eyes and gave OJ another kiss. This one lasted much longer and deeper than a quick peck on the lips.
OJ sighed happily and closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of Paper’s lips on his. Relishing the feeling of Paper’s hands against his glass. He ran his own hands down Paper’s sides, careful not to give himself a paper cut. How Paper gave him butterflies even after 15 years of marriage was something OJ always wondered, but enjoyed very much.
A sudden splatter and the sound of a bowl hitting the ground snapped them out of their trance. Oatmeal was all over the floor and they both looked to see Paper Cup giving them a death glare and pointing back at the pantry.
“Daddy!” Carton’s voice boomed through the hotel, startling them both. She ran into the kitchen, Wafer coming up right behind her.
“Girls?! Why aren’t you at school?” OJ questioned.
“It’s Saturday!” Wafer exclaimed, showing off her phone screen.
It did indeed say Saturday.
Paper and OJ cringed and laughed it off, feeling slightly guilty about waking their daughters up this early on a weekend.
“Sorry, honey.” Paper patted Wafer’s head. “But y’know what you two can help me out with now that you don’t have school?”
“What?” Carton asked curiously.
“You can help me clean the oatmeal your sister spilled!” Paper pointed to the floor.
Carton and Wafer frowned and looked at each other.
“Maybe we should’ve just gone to school..” Carton muttered.