Work Text:
After months of planning and anticipation, the big day had finally arrived.
Tonight was the night of the big Walt Disney Animation Studios 100-Year Group Photo.
This would be no ordinary group photo, however. It would be the first ever photo entirely comprised of a century’s worth of Disney’s animated characters.
The toons that dwelled in the paintings in the halls of the Roy E. Disney Animation Building were all eagerly making their way to the lobby, where they would congregate in front of the studio entrance to pose for the picture.
Mickey and Minnie were frantically working on making sure every character was present and accounted for. Needless to say, with such an “animated” crew present, there was bound to be more than a fair share of chaos and antics along the way to the lobby.
Mickey was trying to stop Kaa the Snake from making a meal of an enthralled Clarabelle Cow. Luckily, Rapunzel was close in tow to make quick work of the hypnotic python with her trusty skillet.
Mickey chuckled awkwardly as the situation was quickly, albeit not-so-gracefully, defused.
His eyes were then caught by a certain photo on the wall.
It was a photo of a man… a very familiar man.
He stood posed in a dapper suit and tie, holding a film reel in his hands, and giving a warm smile.
This man was the reason that everyone was here today. The man that Mickey was proud to call “father.”
Mickey slowly approached the photo, smiling wistfully at his paternal figure. He removed his yellow boater hat in respect as he gazed up at the gentleman.
The mouse took a silent moment to contemplate the man who brought him into the world, and paved the way for all his friends to follow.
…If only you could be here today, he thought.
His gaze suddenly drifted over to his side.
There stood a monochrome, rubberhose rabbit. The rabbit also gazed up at the photograph in awe and reverence.
Mickey jumped and yelped a bit in surprise, which also caused the rabbit to snap out of his musings.
“O-Oh! Hiya, Oswald!”
Oswald fidgeted his hands and looked away bashfully, as if to apologize for starling Mickey.
“Aw, shucks,” Mickey reassured him with a grin. “It’s okay!”
The two toons both turned their gaze back to the photo.
“Gosh,” Mickey remarked with a chuckle. “Betcha never thought we’d see this day, huh, Oz? We’ve sure come a long way, haven’t we?”
Oswald heaved a soundless sigh as he continued gazing up at the photo with wide, sad eyes.
Mickey caught on quickly.
Despite being one of the first bonafide creations of the man who started it all, Oswald was absent for most of the studio’s history. All sorts of complicated issues resulted in the poor rabbit being separated from his father, and the rest of his family who would later come to be. He would eventually fade into obscurity, being forgotten for many decades.
It was only 17 years ago that a miracle happened, and Oswald was once again welcomed into the pantheon of Disney’s animated characters.
But by that point, his father was no longer there to welcome him back.
For a long time, he felt like a stranger where he should’ve felt like family. He was eventually able to settle in for the most part, but it all still felt so alien to him.
Mickey gently placed a hand on Oswald’s shoulder. The rabbit’s head slowly turned to meet Mickey’s eyes.
“H-Hey, Oz?” Mickey addressed in a soft, sympathetic tone. “I know it was a really rough road gettin’ here for ya… A-And I know there’s still a lot of lost time to make up for… But I’m really, really glad you could be here today.”
Mickey and Oswald both gazed upon the photo once again.
“...And I know that…” Mickey continued, “ ...he’d be glad, too.”
Oswald’s eyes welled up with tears. His body heaved inaudible sobs. He quickly turned over and took Mickey in a warm embrace, smiling graciously as he continued to silently weep.
Mickey returned the embrace, gently rubbing Oswald’s back to comfort him.
“Haha,” Mickey murmured. “Love ya, too… big bro…”
“Oh, Mickey! Where are you?” Minnie’s sing-song voice called from down the hall. “We’re in the lobby!”
Mickey chuckled sheepishly as he and Oswald took a moment to regain their composure.
“C’mon, Oz!” Mickey said encouragingly as he wiped the tears from his brother’s eyes. “Let’s go! You’ve earned this day!”
Oswald sniffled and nodded with a grin.
They both took one last look at their father’s photo before heading off to the shoot.
“Heh… Gotta go…” Mickey quietly addressed the photo with a loving smile. “But, thanks… On with the show…”
Oswald slowly waved goodbye to his father, silently extending his deepest gratitude, as he followed Mickey out to the lobby.