Love (Moonflower Fanfic)

by KitTheKat140

Summary:

Dandy was drowning with loneliness at Gardenview, until a new toon caught his eye. Devan swore Dandy wouldn’t be lonely again, promising lasting friendship between the two.

Dandy tried to stop himself from catching feelings, but he couldn’t resist him. He just couldn’t.

Notes:

i don’t really care for the ship, but i had an idea and ran with it!

Chapter 1: Pt. 1 ミ★ Alone

Dandy wiped the ichor from his nose, sniffling. He looked down at his hand, blackness staining it.

Devan rushed into the office, carrying a medkit. It swung back and forth, and Dandy felt his eyes moving along with the action.

Devan crouched down, getting to eye-level with Dandy, who was sitting on the exam table. Dandy shivered. The office was cold and bare, the only space being filled by the counter wrapping around the room and the boxes stacked on top of each other in the corner. It was clear they hadn’t got much time to work on this room yet.

Dandy was like a child, in a way. Devan had to care for him, and without much help from anyone else, it was hard to get anything else done in the building. Gardenview was new, after all, the fact that it was poorly planned apparent. Dandy didn’t know what Devan was thinking about doing, but he knew that it wasn’t going swell right off the bat.

A clicking sound of the medkit opening filled the room, echoing. Devan hunted for something, and Dandy tried to peer over the top to see what he was searching for.

“Tilt your head back, Dandy. Pinch your nose if it helps.” Devan instructed him. Dandy listened, titling his head back. He closed his eyes, the lights brighter than ever.

“Alright, Dandy. Take this and put in your nose. It should stop the nosebleed.” Devan handed the toon some tissues, crumpling them up for him to stick in his nose. While Dandy pushed the thin paper in his nose, Devan kneeled down, cleaning Dandy’s hand off.

“So…” Dandy started. Devan’s attention was grabbed, and then Dandy continued. “Is it just going to be me here? Are you going to be taking care of me forever?” The toon asked, fidgeting with his hands as he awaited an answer.

Devan looked down. “I don’t know, Dandy. Delilah is keeping information from me, so I don’t any details.” He breathed out a laugh, and Dandy was left confused. He heard of Delilah before, but wasn’t exactly sure what her role was in this. Oh, right. Delilah was his creator.

Dandy sighed, and Devan stood. He lifted a hand to his mouth, whistling. A jingling collar and the sound of crashing followed, and then Dandy was met with Pebble in the doorway. Without even getting a chance to greet his pet, Pebble ran at Dandy, slamming into him. Dandy was left winded, and once he got his breath back, he laughed. “You’re happy to see me, aren’t you, boy?” He giggled, scratching Pebble’s ears. The dog wagged his tail in response, panting with excitement.

“I’ll leave you two at it. When you’re ready, you can come to the kitchen. I’m making food.”

Dandy wasn’t paying attention, too focused on the dog in front of him to listen to Devan. He rubbed Pebble’s back, his mind wandering to Devan eventually. Not only was he his handler, but he was his caretaker and teacher. Dandy grumbled. He didn’t want a parent, he wanted a friend to understand him.

Dandy wasn’t sure if there were any more additions to Gardenview to be made, but he would be happy even if it was just him and Pebble. At least they had a connection.

Chapter 2: Pt. 2 ミ★ Arrival

Summary:

Dandy meets Delilah and a new toon, Astro, for the first time

He’ll find companionship in one, and distrust in the other

Dandy took the elevator to his room first, holding Pebble in his arms as he pushed the buttons. When he arrived to the floor, he set Pebble down. The dog had gotten full of energy on the way there, apparently, and Dandy watched him as he zoomed about.

He filled Pebble’s water bowl, and then returned to the lobby. Dandy dragged his feet as he walked through the hallway, not thrilled about food or really anything at the moment. He was too caught up in his thoughts, his mind venturing to things he didn’t want to think about.

Loneliness was consuming him. Even though Devan somewhat supported him, he still needed something more. Dandy longed for friendship, and he wondered if it was something Delilah took into account when making the toons.

Dandy wasn’t even near the kitchen, but could already make out voices in there. Multiple?

The voices changed, raising with excitement. Dandy leaned against the door, sticking his ear on the wood to try and hear through it. He could make out a few words, trying to pick apart who was causing all the commotion.

Devan speaking, saying something along the lines of “Are you sure he would be good for Dandy?” A female retaliated, and Dandy’s brows furrowed.

“I don’t care what’s good for him, Devan. He’s a toon, for God’s sake!”

Dandy gasped. He heard the sound of the door knob being twisted on the other side of the door, but it didn’t register what was going to happen to him right away. He fell as the door opened, hitting the ground with a thud and an exasperated sigh. He was so humiliated he didn’t dare face anyone, lying on the tile floor as if it were as comfortable as his bed.

“Dandy — uh, are you okay?” Devan awkwardly bent over, picking up the toon. As he was set back on his feet, he was forced to accept that he was going to have to do this anyway. Dandy scanned the room, and met two unfamiliar faces, one more intriguing than the other.

There was a female, as he suspected, and she was the same height as Devan. She had straight, brown hair, bangs accompanying the look. She wore a pink sweater and rainbow pants, and Dandy questioned her motivation. Her smile was unnerving, reeking of ill intent. In the end he chose to ignore this, shrugging it off and turning around to look at the other who had interested him.

There was someone across from him who was just a little taller than him. He couldn’t see their face well, because it was shielded with a blue blanket, but Dandy couldn’t help being curious.

He walked over, pausing when he heard Devan clear his voice. His attention was drawn to his handler, stopping in his tracks to listen to him.

“Oh, uh — I wouldn’t do that just yet, Dandy.” He warned, looking over at Delilah. “Let me introduce you to these two first.”

He motioned with his hand over to the female. She crossed her arms, side-eyeing Devan. “This is Delilah. I’ve told you about her before, haven’t I?” He laughed nervously, hoping and praying Dandy didn’t remember the conversation they had earlier. The flower had just nodded, and Devan sighed with relief.

Devan walked over to the one opposite Dandy, and crouched down. “Now, Dandy, this is a toon, just like you. He’s shy, so all he needs right now is someone who can understand that.”

The toon pulled his blanket away from his eyes, revealing the icy blues that hid behind. Dandy’s mouth fell agape, and he began to approach him again.

“Dandy, meet Astro.” Devan said, standing up and letting the toons interact.

Dandy stuck out his hand, and Astro hesitated, looking around the room for some sort of confirmation. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see that Devan nodded.

Astro returned the action, a star-hand jutting forward. Dandy shook hands with the new toon. He was freezing, despite having a blanket wrapped around him. Dandy contemplated getting him another one.

He didn’t realize that the handshake was long overdue to be done by now, and pulled away with embarrassment. Astro’s cheeks were flushed, and Dandy scratched the back of his neck.

“Astro’s handler should be here any minute now. Give him a tour of Gardenview in the meantime.” Delilah ordered.

Dandy tried to lighten the mood, smiling. “Alrighty, boss!”

Delilah scoffed, her mouth drawing to a thin line with annoyance. “Don’t call me that.” She fixed her hair, then walked out. They stood there in silence for a moment, and Devan mumbled something then gave him an assuring smile. “Don’t worry, Dandy. She’s not mad at you, I just… put her in a bad mood. Show Astro around for us, would you?”

Devan followed the same path as Delilah, walking out the door. Now that they were alone, Dandy was sure that he could get Astro to open up to him. Maybe they would even become friends. That was all that Dandy wanted.

Delilah lashing out like that was a little upsetting, but Dandy wouldn’t let that dampen his mood. He was too worried about the potential friendship that could come out of this.

“Come on, Astro!”

Chapter 3: Pt. 3 ミ★ Stars

Summary:

Dandy gives Astro a tour of the building, stopping to rest.

Dandy knows he will be the best of friends with Astro.

Dandy led Astro around the building. He wasn’t used to physical touch, and deeply craved it. It’s not like the feeling was there constantly, just at the back of his mind, so while leading Astro around he held his hand without noticing.

Dandy showed Astro the office he was in earlier, and the moon didn’t have much to comment about it. He barely talked during the whole tour, and Dandy tried to pry some information from him. Anything. His interests, favorite color, favorite food. Astro just wasn’t picking up on the hints.

With a huff, Dandy dragged Astro to the lobby next. He probably came in that way, because that was where the entrance to Gardenview was, but Dandy pointed out things you probably wouldn’t notice at the first look.

“There’s the bench where I sit with Pebble, and there’s the fountain. That’s—“ Dandy was interrupted by Astro clearing his throat. He pivoted, not realizing how much he was talking. Too much?

What followed was a sound so lovely Dandy was swept off of his feet. Not literally, but the feeling was close to it.

“Could, we, uh — sit down?” Dandy could have sworn the toon’s words came from heaven itself. Astro’s posture wasn’t the best, and Dandy could tell by how he was slumped over in his blanket that he was tired. That probably explains the blanket. It would be nice to be able to sleep wherever you wanted to.

Dandy spoke rapidly. “O-of course!” He pretended that he didn’t stutter, immediately taking them over to the main part of the lobby. It wasn’t finished, but it was the prettiest part of the whole building.

A circular flower bed sat in the middle of the room, with a single tree in the middle. Stone outlined the grass, forming a perfect spot for hanging out. Dandy could imagine a picnic taking place in the exact same spot.

Boxes were scattered around, but Dandy didn’t want to ruin the moment by pointing out the clutter of the unfinished area.

As they walked over to the flower bed, Dandy released the grip he had on Astro’s hand. Dandy’s eyes widened, wiping his hand on himself. Sweat coated it, the realization that this had been going on for a long time setting in.

Astro pulled his star-hand back, melting into his blankets.

“Sorry. I didn’t even realize I was doing that.” Dandy apologized. He knew Astro was characterized by his shyness, and Dandy didn’t know if he even liked the handholding or not, so he figured it would be better to limit physical touch before he knew him better.

“No, um… it’s okay. I didn’t mind it.” Astro admitted, slinking back into the depths of his blanket. Dandy laughed. “Just wasn’t sure if you were alright, Astro. Uh — c’mon, let’s sit down!”

Dandy sat down in the grass, patting a spot beside him for Astro to sit down. Astro plopped beside Dandy, and they sat in silence for a moment. Shockingly, it wasn’t awkward at all. It was even comforting, just knowing that someone was there, their presence all he needed.

“Astro, do you see those stars above us?” Dandy pointed out. Astro looked above them. Dandy was right.

There was a glass dome for the roof, and it perfectly captured the night sky. Astro’s jaw dropped with surprise, the constellations clear. It all seemed so close, too, like he could reach out and touch it.

“Thank you for showing me this. I… love space.” Astro told Dandy, turning away to prevent eye contact.

Dandy’s leg bounced with excitement. He had finally got something out of Astro! “You do?” Dandy exclaimed, louder than he thought it was going to come out. He shifted in his position. “Do you have anything else to tell me?” Dandy smiled, playfully trying to keep the conversation running. He didn’t usually snoop like this, but he didn’t want this to go to waste. He wanted to keep learning about this new toon…

“I don’t think so.” Astro turned to face Dandy again, this time an expression full of humor painting his face. Dandy could tell Astro was messing with him, but he decided not to probe him further.

“If you say so, Astro.” Dandy concluded.

He could tell their friendship was going to flourish. Soon they would become best friends, and Dandy was sure of that.

Chapter 4: Pt. 4 ミ★ Dream

Summary:

After an upsetting dream, or what Dandy would call a nightmare, he wakes up, realizing that he is in his bed.
He wishes that Astro was there.

Eventually, they had both fallen asleep. Astro had dozed off first, but it was as if the moon had cast a spell on him. Before he knew it, Dandy was asleep too. He didn’t remember what exactly happened, but all he knew was that he went to sleep right next to his friend. He was okay with that.

Dandy’s thoughts whirled about, and it seemed like an illusion inside his mind. He had never had a dream before, and it all felt so surreal to him.

He imagined the elevator he had taken to his room ran down. The door was covered in rust and grease, and he pounded on it, looking for a way to open it. He wasn’t sure what he needed to do, but this felt like the objective. Dandy’s fists turned red as he punched the metal, nothing happening in return. He whimpered, and suddenly the elevator door slid open. Dandy walked inside. At least the inside of the elevator was kept in pristine condition.

Silence filled the air, and it felt so eerie. Dandy backed away, discomfort overwhelming him. As he slid towards the door, it slammed down. It wasn’t a choice now. He was trapped in here, with no way to leave. Dandy gulped, wrapping his arms around himself. He never experienced something so weird before. He shivered, uneven prickles of hair raising on his arms.

He heard a creak behind him, but didn’t dare turn around, too afraid to confront whatever it was.

“Why are you scared? You created this.” Dandy’s teeth gritted, trying not to yell out in fear. It was his own voice that was speaking to him.

Dandy pivoted on his heels, turning to face himself. A shop had appeared out of nowhere, and Dandy had figured that was what the creaking was.

The other Dandy had a wicked glare in his eyes, not the usual inviting look he possessed. His smile reminded him of Delilah, and his heart started beating faster like it was going to leap out of him. He held his chest, gripping onto his skin.

“If you don’t believe it, just wait. You’ll see it happen. Everyone will.” The other Dandy said, disappearing behind his shop wall. Voices filled Dandy’s head, and they were all his own. Monster.

Dandy spiraled, collapsing to the ground. He held his knees close to his chest, rocking back and forth. The same word was repeated over
and over, and he couldn’t take much more of it. He wouldn’t be like this… or would he?

What was he going to become in the future?

—

Dandy woke, startled. He was in his own bed, the sheets pulled over him. He saw Pebble napping in the corner of the room, his water bowl empty. Dandy rubbed his eyes, wondering if he was still in his dream and there was another terrible thing about to happen.

He could hear footsteps approaching, but didn’t know where they were coming from. He thrashed his head around, looking for the source of the noise. “Woah, calm down Dandy. Nightmare?” Devan was standing at the foot of his bed, stooping over him. Dandy didn’t know what a nightmare was, but it was the closest thing to describe what he went through.

“Wah… where’s Astro? When did I get here?” Dandy asked, staring at Devan.

“It was getting late, Dandy. Austin had finally arrived, and when we got to the lobby, you two were sleeping like you hadn’t gotten rest in years. We thought it would be best not to wake you, so Austin took Astro to his room, and I took you to yours.” Devan explained. Ah, that made sense.

“Astro has a room?” Dandy tilted his head. He had just moved in, and he already had a room of his own?

“Well, yeah. You should see it!” Devan laughed. “It sure is roomy in there.” He said. Devan knew that Dandy was unsettled from the way he was acting, and wanted to comfort him. He could see from the way that Dandy reacted when he talked about Astro that the mention of the toon calmed him, so he decided to use that to cheer him up.

Devan exhaled, sliding over so that he was next to Dandy. Devan ruffled Dandy’s petals, turning off the light on the stand next to his bed. “You know what time it is. Get some sleep, Dandy. Dream about good things for me.” Devan said, and then walked towards the door. He pulled down on the handle, looking over his shoulder one last time, and then exiting.

Dandy wasn’t sure if he was going to get good dreams after that.

Chapter 5: Pt. 5 ミ★ Breakfast

Summary:

As Dandy grows closer to Astro, he asks the toon to take a tour of his room.

Hesitant as first, Astro hints that he wouldn’t mind. Dandy takes this as a chance to find friendship with the moon.

Notes:

Sorry for the late update!

Dandy woke up in a delirious state, half-awake and definitely not ready to take on the day. He wiped the sleep from his eyes, shaking his head. Soon everything became clear to him.

He saw that he was in his own room, and recalled the nightmare he had yesterday. His skin prickled with goosebumps at the mere thought of it. Dandy knew that he had to just forget about it, or else he wouldn’t be able to continue. He would have to store it in the back of his mind like he did everything else disturbing and embarrassing, stuff that wasn’t worth thinking about after it happened.

He kicked the sheets away from his feet, alerting Pebble who was snoring enough to fill the entire room. Dandy stood, and Pebble ran to his side, trying to climb on his leg. “Not now, Peb.” Dandy chuckled, stretching his arms behind his head.

As he walked towards the door, he squinted, seeing a paper taped to it. Coming closer, he realized that it was probably there for a reason. Duh.

Dandy peeled the paper off of the door, scanning the words on the page.

”Come down to the kitchen for breakfast. I know it’s late, but I let you sleep in because you seemed upset last night-

Dandy’s head whipped over to the clock, checking the time. It was already 10:00! Dandy shrugged, trying to appreciate the fact that someone at least thought of him. He carried on reading.

”Just wanted you to know that Astro is down here, too. Maybe that would cheer you up a little. Don’t know. Come down and find out. Love, Devan ♡︎”

Devan signed the note with a heart at the bottom, and Dandy’s face wrinkled with a smile. Astro would be waiting there. He discarded the paper, flying out of the door. Pebble watched cluelessly as Dandy ran down the hallway. He whined, waddling back inside.

★

Dandy’s feet pounded against the floor as he dashed down the hall. He stopped abruptly, not noticing that he was right in front of the door to the kitchen. He swerved, pushing it open at the realization that Devan never closed it. Must have heard him coming.

Dandy found himself in the kitchen. His eyes flickered, trying to find Astro. He had finally found the other toon, sitting down at a table and clutching his blanket. “Sorry, Astro. Didn’t mean to startle you.” Dandy apologized, out of breath. Astro shook his head, giggles escaping him. Gosh, what was so funny about him that made Astro want to mess with him?

Devan, stood in front of the stove, a pan in his hand. He spun around at hearing Dandy’s voice, the pan threatening to fall if he had just loosened his grip by a little bit. “Woah, didn’t see you there, Dandy. Go ahead and sit next to Astro, I’m making food.”

Dandy licked his lips, then hurried over to the table that Astro was sitting at. He was slouched in his blanket, like the last time the flower had seen him, his face buried in the soft material. It looked so well insulated that Dandy couldn’t help but wonder, once again, how Astro was always freezing.

Dandy took a seat across from Astro, pulling the chair out. It scraped across the floor, and Dandy gritted his teeth. Yikes. Sitting down, he tried to forget the screeching noise he just heard, brushing it off and turning to face the toon opposite him.

“So, Devan says you have a big room. What’s that about?” Dandy questioned Astro.

He nervously scratched his head, the tuft on the tip of his hat swinging side to side. “I do… it’s nothing much, really.” Astro replied, refusing to elaborate. Dandy tapped the table, his petals bouncing with the movement.

“Well… if it’s as big as he says, why don’t you show me around some time? If it’s allowed, of course.” Dandy offered. Astro’s uncomfortable expression transformed into one of amusement. His frown disappeared, his lips curling upwards into a smile.

“Um… I’ll consider.” Astro said. It was apparent that the moon loved to tease Dandy by now, and from the glint in his eye, this charade was still going strong.

“You aren’t as shy as you seem,” Dandy claims, shoving his elbows on the table. “Are you sure you don’t want to give me a tour of your room? Seems pretty great!”

Despite trying to be serious, even if it was in a joking way, Dandy couldn’t help but laugh. He covered his mouth, his chuckles tempting Astro to laugh, too. They were a cackling mess, Dandy much louder than Astro.

A sweet aroma drifted from the kitchen, and Dandy remembered the promise of food in his belly. It was awaiting him, and he would soon be devouring everything on his plate. Poor Astro would have to witness the whole thing. “I’ll see if Devan is done.” Dandy said, scooting away from the table and hopping out of his chair.

He tiptoed to the kitchen, hiding behind the counter and then peeking his head out. He saw Astro sitting there, waiting patiently for Dandy to get back. Dandy twirled about, spinning to see Devan standing behind him.

Dandy poked Devan’s leg. It had clearly spooked him, causing him to spill the syrup in his hand. He titled the bottle up, stopping the leaking. Glaring at Dandy, he set the glass on the counter. “What is it now?”

“Can I go over to Astro’s room?” Dandy requests, a lilt in his voice, trying his best effort to persuade Devan.

Devan laid a hand on his hip. “You two are really getting along that good?”

“Just let me go. Please.” Dandy pleaded, coaxing him towards the answer he wanted.

Devan’s expression softened. “I mean… do whatever makes you happy, I guess.”

Dandy was giddy at Devan’s response. “Really? Gee thanks, Dev.” The flower expressed his excitement, his eyes twinkling.

“Is that my new nickname?” Devan laughed. Dandy did the same, beaming.

Dandy wondered what it was like inside. Space-themed, probably. He could read Astro like a book, and he was interested in the pages.

Dandy rushed back to the table, a smile plastered on his face. “Breakfast is ready!”

Chapter 6: Pt. 6 ミ★ Visit

Summary:

Trying to work up the nerve to visit Astro’s room, Devan helps him build his confidence.

When he finally has enough courage to do so, he is met with his friend Astro standing at the door with open arms and a friendly smile. How could he ever doubt his friendship with this moon?

Dandy readied himself for the anxiety that was going to ensue after entering Astro’s room. Sure, he was excited to see his friend, but he’s never been in there before. What if Astro decides he doesn’t want him there anymore, and kicks him out instead?

He’s been prepping the whole day, but now that the time has come, he just couldn’t muster up enough courage to ask. Devan noticed the anxiousness pouring out of Dandy, his instinct being to immediately help the toon. Did he know what he was doing? Not really.

Devan was never the type to comfort someone, but when they were desperate for support, Devan found that he was able to aid them in whatever they needed. He found this important when taking care of someone, especially Dandy. He never viewed himself as someone who would end up being a dad, but this amounted to it when you put it into retrospective.

Devan fumbled for the keys in his pocket, sliding them out once he found them. Inserting them in the keyhole, he opened the door to Dandy’s room. After a morning of Dandy noticeably brooding and walking around with a scowl on his face, he locked himself in his room, and Devan knew something was fishy about it.

He opened the door, closing it behind him. Only then did the toon notice that someone was at the door. “When’d you get here?” Dandy asked, a paranoid laugh following the question. His feet were aching from pacing his room, his fingernails ridged from being bitten one too many times.

“I came to ask you what the heck you were thinking about,” Devan stated, putting a hand on his hip. He avoided curse words, not wanting to introduce his new toon to talk vulgarly. Imagine how that would look on the company…. seesh! “You’ve been acting weird all day. So, what’s up?”

Devan walked over to Dandy’s bed, squatting low to sit on it. He sunk into the mattress, surprised it was so comfortable for the size of it.

“Um… well, I, uh… I’m nervous about going to Astro’s room!” Dandy admitted, his face flushed with the embarrassment he felt. He fiddled with his petals, awaiting Devan’s response. How would he react to such a stupid thing?

“That’s it? There’s nothing you need to be worried about.” Devan assured him. “Come here. Dandy, I promise that Astro likes you. You two are already great friends. Do you want to see something?”

It was like Devan read Dandy’s mind, saying all the words that he needed to hear. He nodded, and Devan rifled through his pocket once again, digging through all the other junk he forgot about in there.

Devan pulled out a polaroid. It was of Astro and Dandy, sitting together at the table and eating.

“That’s us… when did you take that?”

“I figured you would want a memory of one of your first times together, so I decided to snap a picture while you were eating. Nice, isn’t it? You—”

Devan’s words went in one ear and out the other, like a waterfall pouring out of Dandy’s mind. He didn’t listen to anything Devan was saying, the words jumbled together into the back of Dandy’s subconscious. But, it’s not like he was trying to.

All Dandy could pay attention to was the picture. Dandy’s mouth was full of food, and Astro watched him, his blanket shaking with laughter. Dandy absorbed in every detail, his eyes glued to the photo. He saw the way Astro looked at him, so why did he ever doubt they weren’t friends?

Dandy guessed Devan’s strategy worked. He snatched the polaroid, and then stumbled to the door. “I’m going to Astro’s room. Feed Pebble for me, please?” Dandy requested, before bolting down the hallway.

…

“Sure thing, Dandy. Sure thing.”

ミ★

Dandy knocked on Astro’s door. He regained his confidence after the half-heard speech from Devan, even willing to take over Gardenview at this point. Hah, he wouldn’t do that. At least not yet.

His amounts of energy fluctuated when Astro had not come to the door for about a minute, and Dandy wondered if that burst of boldness he had felt was just temporary.

When he was on the verge of leaving, the door swung open, revealing Astro. “S-sorry I took so long.” Astro slunk into his blanket, his hat managing to cover his eyes as Astro tilted his head down.

“No worries, Astro. We all need some time to build up courage, don’t we?”

“Stop trying to use your charm on me. It’s not working.” Astro’s muffled laughter could be heard, and Dandy frowned.

“Then why are you laughing so much? Just admit it, you’re impressed at how good my charm is working.” Dandy nudged Astro with his elbow, wiggling an eyebrow. It caused the moon to giggle more, his shoulders bouncing with every laugh.

As Astro’s laughter died down, he stepped aside without a word, sharing the interior of his room at last. The walls were patterned with stars and sparkles, the background painted a blue that was reminiscent of Astro. Space-themed objects hung from the tall ceiling, and the room itself was so big that Dandy couldn’t tell where it ended. He squinted, trying to find the wall opposite him, but he couldn’t. The flower was left speechless, to say the least.

Space had never entered his mind, but now that Astro did, it was all Dandy would think about hereafter.

“This is incredible! You’re telling me you decorated this?”

Astro shrugged. Dandy was curious if the gesture was shyness or nonchalance. “Austin helped me with most of it. I just picked out the things I wanted put in here. I think it turned out nice, and I would ask your opinion, but I — I think I already have it.” Astro chuckled, and glided away from the door.

Dandy closed it behind him, a chill running down his spine. “Is your room naturally this cold?” Dandy questions, wrapping his arms around himself in an effort to protect his body from the freezing temperature. Perhaps this was why Astro was always cold.

“Mmm… it is. I got used to it. Do you… do you want a blanket?” Astro asked, recalling the conversation he had with his handler. Austin had told him to start asking questions, giving compliments, and try to shake off his introverted personality. He felt like doing this would help him, the advice seeping into his brain as something he’d always remember to consider.

“That’d be great, actually.” Dandy’s teeth were chattering already, and Astro could tell the toon wasn’t exaggerating. The toon hurriedly turned around, leaving. Dandy watched as he zigzagged through the intricate hallways of his room, eventually returning with a blanket dangling in his star-hands loosely. They begged for Dandy to take the blanket, reaching out for the Dandy’s hands and draping it over his fingers.

“Uff, thank you.” Dandy pulled the blanket over his shoulders, and it succumbed to gravity, falling down and hitting the floor. The blanket covered Dandy’s whole body, and Astro thought about how it really put the fact that Dandy was noticeably shorter than him into perspective.

“I look just like you now.” Dandy pointed out, his eyes wrinkling with a smile.

“I… I guess you do.” Astro could imagine himself morphing into Dandy, and made himself see the resemblance. He chuckled at the thought of them becoming one. How silly!

“C’mon, Astro. Why don’t we go sit down and watch something?” Dandy suggested.

“I, uh… can put on a space documentary.” Astro offered, his blanket still engulfing his face. He hoped Dandy wouldn’t make fun of it. How boring it would be to sit through someone talking about planets for hours upon hours. But really… what did he have to lose? He made it this far.

“Hey, I’m willing to watch a space documentary if it means spending time with you.” Dandy said it like it was nothing, but those words meant the world to Astro.

“R-really?”

“Yes, really! Now let’s go, we’re wasting daylight.” Dandy joked.

Astro led Dandy over to his bed, and they got situated. Dandy sat up on the edge of the bed, his head in his palm as he waited for Astro to find the remote. As soon as he did, the TV flickered on, bubble letters filling the screen with the name of Astro’s favorite show.

He made himself comfy, lying on his stomach and facing the screen.

This was all he needed, and he couldn’t ask for more. Astro never could have dreamed of a moment as special as this one, and didn’t want to leave it.

Notes:

this made me cry 😭😭
i love fluff

Chapter 7: Library ミ★ Informational chapter

Summary:

this scene isn’t canon to the book.

just wanted to say some things about my au in a fun way

While Dandy was wandering about, he stumbled upon a library. He explored it, walking around and running his fingers along the edge of the books. He’d never seen so many before. When did this library even get here?

While browsing another book, flipping through the pages, he bounced his leg in concentration, hence the falling of a book from the shelf in front of him. His attention was focused on the book on the floor instead, and he put the one he was holding back on the shelf.

Dandy read the cover, his eyes widening at the bold letters.

Delilah Keen’s Book of Toons

He was intrigued, turning the page to read more.

Toons were created to entertain, or impress the common people of today. They’d get so excited when they see a bouncy, colorful flower jumping about. So I thought, wouldn’t it be amazing to create such a thing? And then I thought, why should I stop at a flower? The more the merrier!

The toons I am planning to create first consist of a flower, a moon, a shell, a TV, and a strawberry. Their handlers are planned later on, and so are their names. I don’t think it’s that hard to create these tiny things, so I might even make more in the future.

After all of this, you might ask yourself: how do toons work? Well, I have the answer to that, my friend.

I didn’t create them with any reproductive system. They were only made to possess a certain personality and be a good character for the show my partner is planning to make, so why do they need such a thing?

Toons also grow very fast. One day they could be up to your ankle, and the other they could be reaching your hip. Their growth spurts happen randomly, but they usually stay little when first created, and then grow in the later stages.

Not much else is known at the moment, for this project has only just begun, but it is going swimmingly, so I assume it will turn out to be fine in the end.

Dandy closed the book, too stunned to speak for a moment. There was so much he didn’t know that was just revealed to him.

He couldn’t tell anyone about what he knew.

Chapter 8: Pt. 7 ミ★ New

Summary:

After leaving Astro’s room, Dandy overhears about the arrival of new toons.

He has to wear a suit and tie, which makes him uncomfortable. Astro finds a way to help Dandy struggle less.

At the gate, the new toons stand there in all their glory. Although Astro swore he was going to overcome his anxiety, he couldn’t take it, running to the bathroom. Would Dandy find a way to help Astro struggle less?

Notes:

⚠️ Emetophobia warning !!!

When Dandy overheard about the arrival of new toons at the gate, he couldn’t believe it. It was like getting new members in your crew, or like adding new people to the family.

Even though Dandy was stubborn and didn’t want to wear something, Devan made him dress up. He picked out an outfit for him.

It was a sleek black suit with a red tie dangling down from his neck. Devan hovered over Dandy, his tongue sticking out in concentration. Devan’s fingers crossed the material over itself, trying to adjust Dandy’s tie.

Dandy protested, claiming he didn’t need to wear this fancy outfit to meet some new toons. It wasn’t like they were going to be as special as Astro was the first time he met him.

“Hush now. It wasn’t actually me who made you wear this, Dandy. You know that, right?” Devan backed away as he finished tying the tie.

“Then who is making me wear this?” Dandy asked, folding his arms over his belly.

Devan rolled his eyes, the topic seeming to annoy him. “Delilah. Who else would it be? She says you should look professional and set a good example.” He playfully said, ruffling Dandy’s petals before realizing that he probably should keep them clean instead of messy.

“Here. Let me fix that.”

ミ★

Devan allowed Dandy to walk with Astro as they went to greet the new toons. He saw that Astro was wearing a suit similar to his, and it didn’t make him feel so uncomfortable and embarrassed. It was just that… Astro was wearing his blanket over the suit, of course. A sliver of it was visible, though, so that’s why Austin accepted it.

Dandy tugged on his tie, stretching it out and away from his neck. It felt like it was choking him, about to strangle him to death. Dandy gave up, failing to adjust the tie to his comfort.

As they walked down the hallway, side-by-side, Astro saw Dandy’s struggle. He tried to contain his laughter, but he found the sight of the flower unable to feel relaxed amusing. It may have seemed harsh, but Astro couldn’t resist.

When he couldn’t watch the toon beside him fight with his formal attire anymore, Astro waved his star-hands about. Dandy saw the movement out of the corner of his eye, his head turning. “What?”

“I can help with that. Just stay still.” Astro instructed. Dandy did as he was ordered, pausing in the middle of the hallway.

Astro faced Dandy, bowing his head. He furrowed his eyebrows, like he was trying to concentrate. Dandy felt his breath hitch, and it felt like he was going to be commanded to breathe next.

“I’ve been practicing this for a while.” Astro mumbled, clearly too focused to try to speak.

Just as Dandy thought he was going to turn purple from lack of air, a twinkling sound was heard. Dandy wondered if he was imagining it, but then a magic pair of hands drifted down. Their touch didn’t seem real at all, like they were made out of star dust or something else. It was a good theory.

With a rolling of their wrist, a new tie appeared out of thin air. Dandy watched Astro as all of this was happening. He was straining to perform such magic, the muscles in his forehead bulging. Sure, Dandy was grateful, but was this harmful to his friend? He tried not to worry about it, glad that he was getting a new tie and trying to avoid looking at the toon in front of him. Even though it was always so hard to look away when he started.

The magic managed to replace his tie, and make sure it was roomy. Dandy rubbed his neck, glad that the old tie was thrown in the trash. Good riddance.

When Astro was finished with his magic, it looked like he was ready to collapse. It left him swaying side to side, on the verge of falling. Tiredness appeared in his expression, and so sudden, too. Now was the time to worry.

“Hey, you okay? You fixed up my tie real good, so no worrying about that.” Dandy assured him. “Here. You can lean on me when we walk to the gate.”

“That’s… a good idea.” Astro replied, his lips curling to form a smile despite his condition. He was out of breath, a nap sounding like a good idea right about then, too.

He melted into Dandy, lying his head on the other toon’s shoulder. They continued to walk, and Astro grunted.

“Never thought it would be that tiring to do something as simple as that. It helped you though… didn’t it?”

“It sure did!”

ミ★

When they arrived at the gate, Austin and Devan were already waiting there. So were the new toons, in all their glory.

Astro straightened himself, clearing his throat. Dandy didn’t even realize how wrong it could look on the outside if they walked around like that, what a compromising situation they would be in.

Dandy stuck his hand out to each one of the new toons, introducing himself and Astro. “Welcome! My name’s Dandy, and that’s Astro.”

Astro wasn’t willing to introduce himself at first, his anxiety creeping back into him as he saw all the unfamiliar eyes on him. It was like they were seering into his skin, and he felt a burning hot sensation in his chest. A bubbling feeling arose in his stomach, like he was going to get sick. Austin advised him to go to the bathroom, and he did, throwing a star-hand over his mouth. After Astro ran to the bathroom, his blanket trailing behind him, Austin followed. “Do my part for me. I gotta go.” He snapped.

Well, that was one way to sour the mood.

Dandy heard the whole thing happen behind him, refusing to turn around and watch it happen. It might have seemed rude to his friend, but he couldn’t bear to watch him feel so anxious to the point of being nauseous.

Dandy chuckled nervously, trying to change the subject. “Um… where was I?”

“This is where we’re going to be staying?” A displeased, robotic voice came to the right of him. It sounded like it was being played on the TV in Astro’s room, a mere recording. But no. Apparently it had belonged to Vee, a new toon who Dandy had already introduced himself to.

“It seems nice!” A rather lovely voice, contrasting the tone of the other, came from right next to Vee. It was from Shelly, who had pink cheeks and a matching toothy smile. Her features were equally sweet, and it seemed like she was trying to lighten the mood and find the brighter side of the… turn of events.

Not paying attention to Shelly, the strawberry next to her looked like he was searching for something. “They said I would get a kitchen. Do you know where it is..?” He asked, beginning to walk. His scarf flapped behind him as he scouted for it.

“Do you want me to show you where the kitchen is, Sprout?” Devan offered.

Sprout, suddenly embarrassed at the fact he was going to walk around in a building he hadn’t even been in yet, stopped. “Oh, uh— that would be great!” He thanks Devan, turning around to walk with him instead.

“While I’m gone you’ll show the others to their rooms, won’t you, Dandy?” Devan raised a brow. Dandy nodded, and that answer was enough for Devan.

Dandy pivoted, trying to make the new toons as comfortable as possible. He wanted Astro to grow used to them, and to do that, he needed some way of proving that it was safe.

“Follow me!”

Chapter 9: Pt. 8 ミ★ Care

Summary:

After dropping the new toons off at their rooms, Dandy looks for Astro. A little help never hurts someone! And in such a rough time for Astro, the moon deserves it.

After dropping the new toons off at their rooms, Dandy frantically looked for Astro’s door. He wiped the sweat off of his forehead, panting as he ran down the hallway.
He stopped, resting with his hands on his knees as a way of regaining his energy. He raised his head, a door in front of him sparkling with big letters.

A S T R O

Dandy knocked, a desperation kicking in. He had to get in there.
He’d never seen Astro in such a state before. It made him severely uncomfortable, worried about the shy toon. He was sure that Austin would handle it, but he needed to check on Astro regardless. He might be okay now, but what if he’s not? Dandy just couldn’t shake off the anxiety weighing him down.
With a few more knocks, he thought Astro might be too scared to open the door now. Imagine you are relaxing in your room, then hear someone pounding on your door. He was really messing everything up.
Dandy thought about calling his name, but it would probably just cause more of a ruckus in the hallway. Besides, he was sure Astro wasn’t going to come to the door either way. Dandy clutched his chest, standing at the door as he tried to control his breathing. A little bit of hope made him stay there, and the other thing that was making him stay was the fact that he was too tired. Running everywhere isn’t exactly the best idea.

Just as Dandy was planning to leave, he heard a faint voice from inside Astro’s room. “Come in…” It echoed, ringing of familiarity. “The door’s unlocked.”

He heard coughing follow, and recognized the ill-sounding toon. “I’m coming, Astro. Don’t worry.” Dandy whispered, almost as a way of giving reassurance to himself.

He pulled down on the handle, closing the door behind him. The whole room seemed to shudder, the hanging decorations swinging about.

Dandy hurriedly looked around for Astro, using the method of following his voice to locate the sick toon. Dandy turned a corner, skidding to a halt when he found him.

He was sprawled across his bed, his blanket wrapped around his like always. He was like a bug in a cocoon, not willing to come out. Astro wore a sickly pale color on his face, obviously looking unwell. Dandy never would’ve known that anxiety could have caused this. He remembered Astro’s shy tendencies, but he didn’t know it was to this extreme.

Astro pouted. “I didn’t want you to see me like this. It’s embarrassing.”

Dandy sat on the bed next to him. Even though the flower tried to maintain eye contact, Astro averted his gaze. “It’s not embarrassing. You’re sick, Astro. Even though I might not fully understand why, you deserve to be helped.”

Astro sniffled, reluctantly looking over at the toon next to him. It was the least he could do. Dandy earned it.

When they met eyes, Dandy didn’t dare to look away. They shared a loving stare, and Dandy’s face felt hot. He rubbed his cheeks, being the first one to break eye contact. “Do you need anything?” Dandy asked, offering to make him something. He wasn’t great in the kitchen, but he would try his best if Astro wanted it.

“No…” Astro mumbled. His voice lacked energy, just below the amount of power he usually had.

“Are you sure? You don’t need anything?” Dandy repeated.

“Just stay with me. T-that’d be fine.”

Dandy nodded. Astro scooted over, and Dandy took the hint. He twisted around, changing his position. His short legs barely reached the footboard.

Dandy laid down in the bed, sinking into the mattress. It smelled like Astro, and as weird as it seemed, Dandy wanted to bathe in Astro’s scent. This was as close to that experience as it could be.

Dandy got as comfortable as possible, to almost show Astro that he was okay. The moon inhaled, and then released a breath. They didn’t speak, but Dandy thought that made it so much more special.

Astro was comforted knowing that he was in the presence of Dandy. His calming aura radiated off of him, and Astro felt like he could relax for the first time in forever. As he relieved the tension from his shoulders, he knew that this was all he needed.

He recalled the other day when they spent time together in his room. He never felt something like that before.

“We should… do this again.”

Notes:

sorry for the text clumping together at the start, i’m not sure why that happened!

Chapter 10: Pt. 9 ミ★ Announcement

Summary:

After a night of comforting Astro, Dandy slept in his bed, forgetting that there was a meeting in the morning. They hurriedly got ready, managing to make it on time to the meeting.

Little did Dandy know how important he would be from there on.

Notes:

SORRY FOR NOT POSTING!! I’ve been busy, but managed to write a new chapter!

hope you enjoy !!!

The sound of something hitting the floor wasn’t what Astro expected to wake up to, but was met with first thing in the morning. He clutched the sheets, pulling the cover over him. He broke out in a cold sweat, not daring to look over the edge of the bed. He didn’t remember what happened the night before, the thud so jarring it made him burst out of his dreams.

 

“What…” He whispered to himself, releasing the cover from his hands. He wiped the moisture off of his forehead. After sitting in silence for a minute, he knew it was a childish thing to be worried about. It was probably a pillow falling off of his bed, or the remote falling off of the bedside table. As he took a deep breath in, he inched over to the side of the bed, peering over the edge. What followed was a sight so comical it made the moon erupt in laughter.

 

Upon seeing Dandy, it all came back to him. How he sat in bed with him, his words tender and his actions soft. Now, with the flower’s limbs tangled as he lay on the floor, Astro decided to help him instead of continuing to laugh at the accident.

 

Dandy grunted, rolling over. His eyes fluttered open, and he scratched his head as his mind tried to register what was happening. His pupils widened when he saw the tip of Astro’s hat dangling in front of his face, the moon wearing an amused expression that harmonized with the calmness that was always on his face.

 

He sat up, fiddling with the carpet he was sitting on. “This is… embarrassing.”

 

“Don’t worry, this won’t make the news.” Astro joked, offering a hand. “I’ll keep it a secret.”

 

“Woah, we sure are getting informal, Mr. Moony. I’ve never seen your real hand before.” Dandy hesitated before taking Astro’s hand in his, jutting his own forward and then pulling himself up. He appreciated the help, but the cold lingered on his hand. Ah, just like his star-hands.

 

“What did you just call me?” Astro stared in awe, his mouth agape.

 

“Moony… what, do you like it?” Dandy teased, wiggling his shoulders. They both giggled, and Astro set his elbow down on his bed, resting his head on his hand.

 

“Maybe.” Astro tried to remain mysterious, flicking the tip of his hat as he thought. “But now… I have to figure out a nickname for you.”

 

“Well, I’ll give you time to think about that!” Dandy laughed, but a splitting screech from Astro broke his laughter. The moon sprung out of his bed, not giving Dandy a chance to process what just happened. He stood there in confusion, until Astro ran back with a calendar in his hands. He began flipping through it, and squeezed his blanket in panic when he saw the date. He pointed to a spot on the calendar, and Dandy saw that it was circled with a red pen.

 

“I can’t believe I forgot… look! They had a meeting scheduled for this day and we need to be there, along with the other new toons.” Astro became visibly more anxious by the moment.

 

“Don’t worry, Astro. We can get ready, and—”

 

“No, you don’t understand! We’re going to be late, we need to hurry! What if we come in late to our first meeting with the other toons and they stare at us? That would be so embarrassing.” Astro tried to make the other toon understand him. It was always so difficult explaining how he felt without seeming overly dramatic.

 

Dandy experienced Astro’s feelings firsthand, and knew that he shouldn't try to brush off his worries. It would make the situation worse. Dandy clasped his hands together, watching as Astro rummaged through the bottom drawer of his dresser, desperately searching for a change of clothes — or, well, blanket.

 

“I’ll be waiting for you at the door. We can leave as soon as you get ready so that way we’ll get there on time.” Dandy concluded, his eyes not leaving the moon’s body as he walked to the door. He noticed the crevices of his face, his skin emitting a soft glow. He relaxed at the sight of the toon, the moon calming him down without even trying. He couldn’t describe the feeling to anyone without seeming delusional or crazy, but it was true. Astro was effortlessly perfect, to Dandy, at least. He was happy to be friends, taking in a deep breath as the toon ran up to him with a new blanket wrapping around him.

 

“Thank you for being here… n-now let’s go.” A corner of Astro’s mouth lifted, a shy smile playing on his lips. His head turned back to the clock, checking the time. The stress was washed off of him when he saw the numbers ticking, knowing they weren’t going to be late. He pushed Dandy out of the door, not looking back.

 

Dandy didn’t protest. When Astro was happy, Dandy was, too.

 

★

 

They arrive at the meeting, closing the door behind them. Dandy stepped in front of Astro, acting as a shield for all of the eyes glued to them as soon as they walked in.

 

“Oh, there you two are. Sit down, the meeting’s about to start.”

 

Devan was standing on a platform at the front of the room, a microphone in his hands. It didn’t seem like he was scolding them, but not too thrilled to see them either. Dandy assumed it was safe to continue. Maybe something else was bothering his handler.

 

Dandy’s eyes darted to the row of chairs in front of Devan, faced towards the front of the room. Dandy guided Astro to the seats closest, and sat down next to him, assuring he wouldn’t get stared at. Dandy slouched, blocking anyone from seeing Astro. His brows furrowed, wondering if this was extreme or not. The thought was swept away by another. Dandy didn’t care. He just wanted to protect his friend.

 

Soon, Devan was accompanied by two other people on the platform. He recognized one, even though he wished he would have forgotten her devilish smile — Delilah. The other was unknown to him, but if he was associated with Delilah, he didn’t want any part of him.

 

Devan cleared his throat, leaning into the microphone. “Allow me to introduce Delilah Keen and Arthur Walton. They have a special announcement to make today. Be respectful when they are speaking.” After speaking, Devan handed the microphone over to Arthur. That must be who it is. Deep wrinkles, and a smirk that made the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Dandy was sure he already knew his kind, but was willing to hear him out.

 

“My name is Arthur Walton, and my partner is Delilah Keen. You, my toons, are in the main class. That means that you will represent Gardenview, be mascots, I should say, for the show we’re going to be creating.” Arthur read off of a piece of paper, his eyes scanning each line.

 

Dandy doubted Arthur’s intentions, looking over to see the reaction of the other toons. It was a mix of bewilderment and excitement. He could see Shelly’s face light up, and Sprout’s expression curled into one of confusion. He tried to ignore the computer, her face remaining the same — laced with indifference, just like the first time he met her.

 

He whipped his head around, assessing Astro last. He looked equally as surprised. Dandy tried to picture Astro on television, but couldn’t. He didn’t even like a few people looking at him, so how would he handle millions flipping on their TV to watch him?

 

“You will all have your own roles, of course. Vee, the game show host, showing her knowledge through questions and making kids eager to win. Shelly, the archeologist, teaching children about dinosaurs and all things ancient. Sprout, the baker and cook, making food and guiding people through the culinary arts. Astro, encouraging young boys and girls to be excited about space.”

 

Arthur paused, and Dandy raised an eyebrow. He held his breath, and Arthur flipped the page.

 

“And Dandy, the gardener. This is where you come in, my friend.” Arthur said, his sentence not seeming finished. Dandy’s head tilted, his petals swaying from one side to the other.

 

Delilah shoved Arthur to the side, gripping the microphone. “Dandy, you are going to be the star of the show!” She declared, an unsettling smile gripping her lips. “Aren’t you lucky?”

 

“Wait—” Dandy was cut off by Delilah, his eyes following her as she backed away from the microphone.

 

“If you were going to ask why, I have the answer. We chose this job for you because you seem ready for it. Your personality is perfect, indeed. Devan told me himself. And… you were the first toon to be created. You will represent Gardenview nicely, I’m sure of it.” Delilah wrapped up her speech with a bow, and Devan took the microphone in hand again, shaking.

 

“This meeting will be coming to an end. Any questions?” Devan skimmed the crowd. Dandy was left stunned, his jaw hanging open. They picked him as the star of the show. Him! He didn’t know whether he was delighted at the chance to represent Gardenview in such a way, or nervous about the prospect of him playing an important role in the show. Either way, he felt sick to his stomach.

 

“I need to go.” He almost kicked his chair over standing up, running to the door and slamming it open. He left in a manner reminiscent of Astro’s, holding his mouth to prevent him from hurling on the spot.

 

. . .

 

“Is this kind of thing normal here?” Vee asked rhetorically, twitching her tail.

Chapter 11: Pt. 10 ミ★ Fear

Summary:

⚠️ Emetophobia warning!! (Did I spell that right?) ⚠️ it is RIGHT off of the bat. this is your warning

After running to the bathroom, Dandy hears Devan approaching. After talking, Dandy realizes Devan helped him in a way he never even knew he needed.

He just doesn’t know if he can follow through with his advice…

Notes:

this chapter is very short, but it has a little of what Devan thinks! you should totallyyyy read C:

Dandy sped into the bathroom, flinging open the stall door and not thinking twice before throwing up. The toons didn’t get a bathroom for themselves, because they didn’t need it, so Dandy had to use the bathroom meant for the handlers. He leaned over the bowl, his body shuddering. He clutched his stomach, hearing the main door swing open. A voice echoed, and Dandy recognized Devan’s concerned tone. “Dandy? You in here?”

 

“Are you coming to congratulate me?”

 

“Well, maybe after…” Devan approached the stall, propping himself against the wall as he waited for Dandy. “But right now I was checking to see if you were okay. How’re you feeling?”

 

Dandy reached to flush the toilet, disgusted with himself. “Like I need to wash my hands.” He said, wiping his mouth. He came out of the stall, lightheaded.

 

Devan watched as he stood on the tips of his toes to turn on the faucet, rinsing his hands and then drying them. The towel glided over his fingers, and he sighed. “Now I know how Astro feels. That was horrible.” Dandy looked up at Devan, his eye possessing a twinkle. It was as if his handler knew something he didn’t. Dandy’s head titled, the action prompting Devan to say something. He crossed his arms, tapping his foot on the tiles.

 

“You always thinking about that toon, hm?” Devan asked, a lilt in his voice. Dandy didn’t want to admit it, but he was always thinking about ‘that toon’. Everything reminded him of Astro. To the blanket he slept with to the night sky, every last star he saw took the shape of Astro and his love for space. Dandy couldn’t believe it, but he would fall asleep to Astro’s voice recording if he couldn’t go to sleep — theoretically. He would even pretend to be… having a sleepover with him. Just the thought of ‘that toon’ made him feel safe.

 

Devan saw the way Dandy’s face blended into a smile, the toon blushing so hard that Devan could compare him to a tomato and Dandy would still be redder. In a way, he was happy for Dandy. He always enjoyed seeing them interact, and how they would walk together. Devan liked the fact that Dandy would stand up for Astro, protecting him in various situations. You have to look out for friends, right?

 

Even though Devan wanted to encourage friendship amongst the toons, he was wondering if their relationship was going too far. The day that they had come down the hall together, heads pressed together and suits ruffled, he developed a fear that wouldn’t go away. He just didn’t want it to be true. For now, he would let it slip through the cracks. He swore he wouldn’t think about it again.

 

Maybe it was because he didn’t want his suspicions confirmed, though. He took a deep breath in, exhaling.

 

“I’m happy that you have a friend at Gardenview, Dandy. I just… want you to remember something.”

 

Devan kneeled down, placing a hand on Dandy’s shoulder. The flower was snapped out of his thoughts, and his eyes met his handler’s.

 

“You always have more room for other friends. Astro is great, I’m sure, but there are new toons I want you to introduce yourself to. Truly. Tell them what you like, exchange words, just do something. Please, Dandy. That’s all I want you to remember.”

Notes:

i forgot to put this in the notes at the beginning, but thanks for 100 kudos! i appreciate it so much, so if you read the fic and like it, remember to leave kudos! it tells me you like it and want me to keep writinggggg

Chapter 12: Pt. 11 ミ★ A Sign

Devan had left without another word, leaving Dandy to soak in all of the things he had just said. As he processed the advice, his legs seemed to move on their own. He walked out of the bathroom, a glowing figure catching his eye. Was Devan saying that as a warning of some sort? Or was it a mere suggestion? Dandy was undeniably startled, but he continued towards Astro. It was all he could focus on at the moment, pushing aside Devan for now. He couldn’t help but wonder how Astro reacted to his… exit.

 

He approached the moon, appearing groggy and fixated on the ground. He broke Astro’s trance by waving a hand in front of his face, causing the toon to look up in surprise. He looked caught off guard, tilting his head when he recognized who was in front of him.

 

“Oh, there you are… I’ve been waiting for you ever since you left.”

 

“Sorry to keep you waiting.” Dandy fixed his petals, fluffing them up at the ends in an attempt to look good. He had a new mindset ever since the meeting, and that was to make himself presentable to the public. They wouldn’t want a grubby-looking star of the show, would they? (Maybe with that new mindset came a boost of ego, too…)

 

“It’s quite alright. It wasn’t long at all.” Astro reassured Dandy with a dip of his head. When it hung there too long, Dandy wondered if the moon had dozed off. He moved closer, flinching when Astro whipped his head up once again. Dandy could feel a gust of wind tugging at his flowers, styling them to look fashionable. Dandy’s mouth fell agape. If he wasn’t doing that, who was?

 

Astro broke out in a sweat, panting with his tongue lolling out. “There.” He spoke in between breaths, struggling to regain the energy he lost from performing his magic. “They found out what I can do, Dandy. They said I’d be useful in helping to set up the stage, so that means I won’t have screen time on the show.”

 

Dandy felt like he let out a long breath he didn’t know he was holding. If Astro wasn’t going to be on the show, that meant that he wouldn’t have to worry about acting in front of an audience. “I bet you’re happy about that!”

 

“I am…” Astro sunk into his blanket, his cheeks reddening. “But that means I won’t see you as much as I usually do.”

 

Dandy’s eyes shot from one corner of the room to the other, checking to see if anyone was watching. He sunk into Astro, wrapping his hands around his body. Dandy buried his face into Astro’s neck, and the moon froze for a moment before accepting the sudden embrace. He rested his chin on Dandy’s shoulder, Dandy’s touch as comforting as he imagined. Well, Astro didn’t imagine their first hug would be here, but he enjoyed feeling Dandy’s warm hands nevertheless. They melted into each other, and Astro forgot what he was even upset about in the first place.

 

“‘I won’t see you as much as I usually do’? I wouldn’t worry about it, Astro. I’ll make it my plan to see you every day. In fact, I’ll make it my plan to see you more than I ever have before—”

 

Astro’s giggles were muffled, cutting Dandy off. “I think I get it, Dandy. Thanks for… just being here. I didn’t expect I’d ever find someone like you when I came here.”

 

“You don’t have to thank me. I’d be here anyway.” He laughed, rubbing Astro’s back. They broke away from each other, and Astro shivered.

 

“I’d better leave. You must have things to do now that you’re… the star of the show.” Astro flashed one last smile at Dandy before gliding away. Dandy could hear Astro’s steps becoming softer as he walked further down the hall, and he was left with his own thoughts again.

 

Dandy felt himself growing more uneasy by the minute, so there was only one thing he could do to ease the tension that was building inside his body.

 

Dandy shuffled through the doorway, the carpet rustling as he moved. Three heads turned to look at him as he knocked on the wall, their attention grabbed at once.

 

“Weren’t you busy… I don’t know, throwing up?”

 

★

 

“Well, you’re all about warm welcomes, aren’t you… eh, what’s your name?”

 

“Vee. My name’s Vee. Yknow, for someone who’s going to be the star of the show, you don’t seem to remember much. Maybe they should have picked me, instead.” Vee brought a hand up to her chest, placing it there with triumph. That blasted computer already thought she won the argument. Dandy considered smashing her screen, but there were other toons in the room. It would be too violent. As much as Dandy hated to see Vee hold her head high with unmatched confidence, he had to keep his composure.

 

With a deep breath, Dandy tried to pick someone else to talk to. Although the sweet aroma in the air was quite distracting, he chose to approach Shelly. He walked across the dining area, watching as Vee had her eyes locked on him. Sprout was peeking around the corner inside the kitchen. Dandy just couldn’t have privacy, could he?

 

“I don't think I’ve properly introduced myself yet, Ms. Fossilian.”

 

“Oh, please. Call me Shelly.” The toon had an alluring voice, her toothy grin inviting. Dandy’s eyes fell to her dress, stained with mud. He couldn’t remember what Arthur had said about her role in the show. It was like Vee was messing with his mind by just being around her. All this new technology was rotting his mind already… he scoffed.

 

“Ah, I remember. You like dinosaurs, right?”

 

Shelly’s eyes lit up, and she clasped her hands together in excitement. What side of this toon did Dandy just unlock?

 

“You’re… you’re right! I didn’t expect you to remember, but… yes! I like dinosaurs.” She exclaimed, her hands flapping from the mention of her favorite topic. Would she be able to educate someone else on the importance of learning about the past, or a fun fact about—

 

“That’s great, Shelly… I actually have a friend who really likes space, maybe even on the same level as—”

 

“A-HAH!” A voice erupted from the other side of the room. Dandy was snapped out of his conversation, his head twisting to see a red blur running through the dining area.

 

“You—” Sprout gulped, his fingernails digging into his knees as he paused. “Just give me a minute…” Shelly and Dandy watched Sprout, a panting mess. They shared a look of confusion, the two equally puzzled.

 

“You’re always thinking about that moon, no matter what. I just needed something to prove it.” Sprout gasped. Dandy’s brows furrowed as he heard Shelly groan. She rummaged through the front pocket in her dress, pulling out a paper with the number 1 plastered on it. “Here…”

 

“You were eavesdropping on us! And you made bets?!” Dandy was in utter shock. He didn’t talk to these toons for a few days and suddenly he’s missing out on everything?

 

“Sorry, Dandy.” Shelly apologized, and Sprout folded the dollar and stuck it in his apron. She supposes she could just talk about dinosaurs to Dandy another day…

 

“The only thing alarming about this is that you spend more time with him than anything else. If I spent more than 10 minutes with these two I’d lose my mind. No offense to you, Shelly. Offense to Vee, though.” Sprout cracked his knuckles, ignoring Vee’s gritted teeth.

 

“What’s so wrong about having a best friend?”

 

“Nothing. But it’s getting a little weird that you can’t take your mind off of him. Just once.”

 

…

 

Maybe Devan was right.

 

…

 

Maybe Sprout was right.

 

…

 

Or maybe Dandy just needed to express what he actually felt about Astro.

Chapter 13: Pt. 12 ミ★ Help!

Summary:

#Author is sleep deprived
heheh… anyways. sorry for not updating in a while! i just got on vacation, and ive been busy leading up to this day! gosh has it been a hectic week, but im glad i got through it!

Notes:

i hope y’all enjoy this chapter… i tried my best, lol C:

Rested and groomed for the first episode, Dandy didn’t know if his looks were going to be enough. He was experiencing the same feeling as if he had just gotten off of a fair ride. Not that he had ever rode one, but he was dizzy, nauseous, and desperately wishing he was somewhere else. Sprout’s voice rang in his head, repeating the same phrase until Dandy got sick of it. But it’s getting a little weird that you can’t take your mind off of him. Just once. What did he know, anyway? It’s not like that annoying strawberry had a best friend.

Dandy rubbed the back of his neck, standing outside of Arthur’s office. He wanted Sprout to be wrong. Or else Dandy would be begging for forgiveness. He heard the door open, whipping his head up in alarm.

“Welcome to my office, Dandy. Come in, come in. I’ll discuss some plans for our first episode today, so have a seat…” Arthur’s voice faded into the background, Dandy walking inside his office and taking a seat. This was going to be a long day.

 

★

 

Dandy combed his petals right before he left his room, but he was doubtful that they would stay perfect throughout the episode. He just wished he had some… magic to fix whatever he needed whenever he wanted.

He stopped in the middle of the hallway, throwing his face into his hands. Had he just thought of Astro without even realizing it?!

He couldn’t take his mind off of the toon. He would say it was driving him crazy, but that would make him a liar. Not being able to take his mind off of the moon didn’t bug him, but it sure did bug the other members of the main cast. Devan, too. Even though he didn’t explicitly state it, Dandy knew what he meant. It seemed like everyone was against them for a reason unbeknownst to him.

Dandy’s restlessness wasn’t able to be cured just yet, his method for calming himself down quite ineffective. Everytime the new… issue crossed his mind he grew more anxious. He wished Astro was there to put him at ease, but alas, the moon was probably busy trying his best to avoid the dreaded screen. Oh. They were going to start filming, and Dandy wasn’t even there yet!

Dandy braced himself for the chaos that was going to unfold, and then ran down the hallway, not paying attention to the carpet bunching up as his feet pounded against it, or the blurred pictures of toons plastered on the wall. He was ready to take on the day, even if that meant facing his unsupportive “friends”. Dandy huffed, flinging open the backstage door and plunging into the unknown.

 

★

 

Even though the toons’ faces were buried in their scripts, Dandy could make out their faces. He could care less about the other mains — excluding Shelly, who was a little more bearable. He was searching for one face and one face, only. A face that would sooth his nerves before filming. He never knew he would’ve needed comfort from someone like Astro, but here he is — no offense to his best friend, of course, but Dandy was always the one lending a helping hand, not wanting to be helped.

He pushed through the crowd, elbowing Vee as if it were an accident… it wasn’t. As her head turned to try and catch the culprit, Dandy had already disappeared.

“Astro!” Dandy greeted the moon, acting like he hadn’t seen this beauty in a million years. Astro had been painting the backdrop for one of the scenes (at least that’s what Dandy assumed it was for). Everything else had been constructed beforehand, the props perfectly assembled. At hearing Dandy’s voice, Astro spun about, the tip of his paintbrush threatening to drip.

“Dandy.” Astro tried to emulate Dandy’s tone, the corners of his lips pulling upwards into a warm smile. Astro’s smile was one of the most welcoming things about the toon, something that makes you drawn to him. It’s a rare occurrence that Astro smiles, and Dandy can’t help but be absolutely amazed that he was the cause of that. Him? Be the reason Astro smiles? He wanted to capture the moment and frame it, but a camera wouldn’t show the same things that Dandy was experiencing right then and there. Love.

Dandy heard the door to the backstage slam shut. Drawing everyone’s attention, Arthur stood there, his hands clasped behind his back. “Everyone on the stage, please. Filming is starting. Chop chop, we don’t have all day, toons!”

“I have to go. Talk to you later?”

“Of course.” With that, Dandy parted with Astro. Was abrupt goodbyes becoming the norm between them?

 

★

 

After finishing filming the first episode, Dandy was beyond worn out. He felt ragged and tired. Having to keep up with his character’s personality was exhausting. He contemplated arguing that he wouldn’t even say half of the lines in his script in real life, but decided not to complain and just go along with it. The first episode was done anyway, so it was all in the past. He didn’t need to worry about it anymore.

After filming, Dandy made sure to catch up with Astro. He talked about the exhilarating nature of being a stagehand, but Dandy just wasn’t buying it. Guessing that painting and building just wasn’t for him, he brushed it off, going on about the tiring role he had to take on. Dandy felt like the conversation could go on for an endless amount of time, but all good things must come to an end.

“Why don’t I get us something from the kitchen since it’s getting late and we haven’t had dinner yet? Sprout’ll whip up something for us. ” Dandy suggested.

“That would be nice…” Astro giggled. Dandy noticed a difference in the toon. A wave of relief washed over him when he saw how his anxiety lessened. His panicked movements and shaky, frantic voice was diminished, the remaining worried accents flooded with relaxation instead of stress.

“I’ll be right back!”

 

★

 

As Dandy was passing the kitchen, he skidded to a halt, hearing voices emerging from the bathroom. He knew it seemed creepy, but he wouldn’t have stopped if it weren’t for the topic piquing his interest.

The voices were unfamiliar, Dandy being unacquainted with the behind-the-door people. He assumed they were handlers of the new toons, lacking the information he needed to come to a definite conclusion. Eh… what were their names? He never bothered to learn things on his own unless he really wanted to.

“So… have you seen that moon and flower toon? Supposedly they’re best friends.”

“Best friends my ass. Their conduct is completely inappropriate. I can’t watch it without wondering how they get away with it.”

“Didn’t they create this show to help children learn? This is not what they had in mind, for sure. I understand what you mean, Veronica.”

“What are they going to think when they go around… holding hands? It’s going to ruin Gardenview.”

A voice scoffed. “Watch. It’ll be all over in the newspaper, the headline reading

Gardenview takes a turn for the worst when the star of the show and his best friend are revealed to be gay

.”

“What a shocker it would be!” Someone exclaimed sarcastically, erupting laughter making the door vibrate. Dandy gasped when he felt the door being pushed open, scurrying away from the scene as if he’d been caught committing a heinous crime.

As the bathroom door squeaked open, Dandy found himself in the kitchen, where he was supposed to be a long time ago. He had lost his appetite, anyway.

Chapter 14: UPDATE

hey guys, just wanted to let you know that I am NOT dead!!!

the story isn’t being cancelled or anything, i am just BUSY right now! i am also participating in artfight this year, so i kinda chose to focus on that this month instead 😭😭

i hope you guys understand! just be patient, and the next chapter will come out before you know it!! C:

Chapter 15: Pt. 13 ミ★ Honey

Summary:

ANDDDD WE ARE BACK! My deepest apologies for making everyone wait. During July I was being SUCH a procrastinator, and that’s just not fair to my loyal readers! If you’ve stayed around and waited for me to post this new chapter, I want to say THANN YOU! People like you keep me writing! Enjoy the chapter.

The lobby was flooded with toons. Dandy had never known it would become so crowded, thinking back to when he was in the same lobby, sitting alone. Chatter filled the air. Silence was rare these days, but Dandy found himself happier than ever. Maybe it was the suppressed feelings, or maybe his dream had been fulfilled. He wouldn’t be lonely now, that was for sure. But then again, was he ever lonely? He shuddered, thinking of the toon he could recognize anywhere. He could even recognize him… in a large crowd.

“Hey, Moony! What’s up?” Dandy pushed through the group, trying to hide his excitement. He didn’t want to flaunt the fact he was… He just didn’t want his reputation as the Star of The Show to be ruined. Rumors have been spread before, lies have been told. Little did they know, it was never a rumor what Dandy felt. He just needed to come to term with the forbidden truth.

“I’m surprised you haven’t stopped calling me that.” Astro bit back a smile. Although he didn’t want to admit it publicly, he enjoyed being called that. All he cared about was that Dandy was thoughtful enough to give him a nickname.

“Should I stop?”

“No, no… I’m just thinking about how I haven’t picked out a nickname for you yet. How rude am I?”

“Well, you can’t be that rude if I’m still talking to you.”

“When did you get so smart, Dandicus? Hey, that has a ring to it.”

“That’s my last name so it doesn’t count, Moony.”

Astro playfully rolled his eyes, and Dandy grinned. “Don’t worry, I’ll give you some time to think.”

“I’ll need it…”

Dandy left with a wave, throwing a ‘bye’ over his shoulder. He needed time to think, too.

 

★

 

Dandy pushed his door open, the hinges creaking. He wondered when it got so rusty, remembering the building being new and clean like it was yesterday.

Dandy heard panting coming from the darkness that engulfed his room. He flicked on the light, searching for the source. There stood Pebble, greeting his owner. His tongue lolled out of his mouth, signifying his need for water.

Dandy bent down with relief, scooping up the rock in his arms. “You need some water, boy? You had me worrying there for a second. I… must be tired.” He sighed, lifting the jug of water next to Pebble’s bowl. He poured it in, watching the dog’s eyes light up. He freed Pebble, laughing as he watched him lap his water greedily. “Hey, it’s not going anywhere…” His lips curled into a smile, leaning over to stroke Pebble.

Thinking back, he wasn’t just tired. He was exhausted. Keeping up with a false identity 24/7 wore him out. He didn’t wish it on anyone. Although he didn’t know anyone else who had to hide something so horrendous like he did.

Yelping, Dandy fell to the ground. It seemed his legs didn’t feel like supporting him. Dandy pulled his legs to his chest, burying his face in his knees. “Gee, Pebble. What am I gonna go? I didn’t expect to be keeping this charade up for so long. I’m gonna have to confess to him one day, but I’m scared. I have nobody to go to because they’re all against me, and my own d-” He shivered. “Even Devan.”

Pebble whined, nudging Dandy with his snout. The flower wiped his reddened eyes, his fingers trembling. “No. I’m not going to cry. I promise. I’m not going to cry. That’s pathetic, isn’t it? No. I’m going to tell him how I feel, just get it over with. It’s not like anyone has to know. I can do it in secret.”

Dandy traced the pattern on the carpet he sat on as Pebble watched him. Even though he tried to overcome the overwhelming emotions that ate at him, he couldn’t get past them. He didn’t want to procrastinate, but fidgeting felt better than getting up and doing something about it.

…A thought occurred to him. Something that he never considered, yet it was so simple. Something that made this almost impossible. “Pebble… What if Astro doesn’t even like me like that..? Here I am contemplating telling him this, while he might think we’re just best friends. I’m terrible, Pebble. A total weirdo.” His eyes threatened to release the waterworks. Tears streamed down his face. He sobbed into his hands, already breaking his promise. He never knew something like this would be so hard, yet it’s the most difficult thing he’s ever done. He used to convince himself it’s okay, but in reality, it’s not. Why does everything have to be so complicated?

 

★

 

Dandy stumbled onto backstage, not surprised by the lack of toons. He had shown up early, forcing himself to get over his fear of being rejected. That would be less embarrassing than everyone finding out about… He grimaced thinking about it, fingers pointing and eyes burning into his back.

He had memorized Astro’s schedule. He showed up early to set up, always greeting the toons when they walked in. Astro seemed healthier and happier, as healthy as a toon could get, and Dandy played a part in it. He hoped their friendship wouldn’t end because of Dandy’s stupid heart. Even if it did, though, his loyalty to the moon wouldn’t falter. He loved him.

The floorboards creaked, and eyes peeking around the corner followed. Dandy yelped, his heart skipping a beat when the moon’s pupils dilated, muffled giggles escaping him. “Since when have you ever been early?” He asked, revealing his clothed self.

“Astro, I need to tell you something.” Dandy said, cutting to the chase. He didn’t want to waste any time, considering the fact that there was only so long before the recording started. Astro could tell he was being serious, his tone differing from his normal, mischievous and playful one. “You can tell me anything, Dandy.”

“Great.” Dandy spun Astro around, pushing him towards the closet. He didn’t resist, assuming he was just pulling his Dandy shenanigans again. Dandy yanked the pull chain on the ceiling, the light flooding the small room. Dandy took extra precautions, locking the door and kicking it to make sure it was locked. Astro’s forehead creased in confusion.

“Astro, please hear me out when I say this. The thing I need to tell you… you don’t understand how important it is. I’ve been waiting for a long time to say it.” Dandy pleaded, watching as Astro nodded.

“I don’t know why you’re so worried, Dandy. You know you can tell me anything, so just go ahead and say it-”

“I like you.”

The room became stuffier, and beads of sweat formed on Dandy’s face. What did the silence mean? Dandy felt like clawing the door open and running away out of shame. It was over for him!

“Haha, I like you too, Dandy. What’s the news? You’re my best friend.”

Dandy sunk into Astro’s chest, defeated. Gosh, he had to explain himself now. At least he didn’t need to look Astro in the eyes when he did. You’d have thought the moon knew more about crushes if he had a TV! Curse those space documentaries.

“Astro… I don’t want to be best friends anymore.”

Astro’s heart sank, his body numb. After all they had been through together, Dandy wanted to end their friendship… like that? He huffed. “Why? A second ago, you… you said you liked me. Is this a sick joke?”

Dandy froze, then pulled away from Astro. The moon’s nose twitched, tears pooling in the corners of his eyes. The sound of him sniffling was something Dandy couldn’t bear to hear, and Dandy lifted his arm. He gently wiped his tears away, and Astro melted into his touch despite being indifferent towards the flower. It was all so sudden he didn’t know how to feel.

“Moony, please listen. That’s not what I meant.” Dandy struggled to explain himself. He groaned in frustration, continuing to cup Astro’s face. “Look into my eyes. I love you, Astro. I was too much of a coward to say it before, and I ended up making you cry. I…I’m sorry.”

Astro hiccuped, his blanket stained with tears. “All this because of a… misunderstanding.” Astro laughed in between breaths. He could see himself in the reflection of Dandy’s eyes, embarrassed how wrong he was. Dandy’s expression softened. “I guess I should say I’m sorry, too. I mean… I messed up your confession. I love you, honey.”

“Honey? That’s new.”

“I had time to think. That’s your nickname. Take it or leave it.” Astro smiled.

“I like it…” Dandy held out his arms, and Astro whimpered.

“If we’re confessing things, I have something to tell you too. Or rather, show you.”

“Go ahead. Almost everything is shared with each other now, anyway. I’m surprised you still have secrets left.” Dandy joked.

“Brace yourself.”

Astro took a breath in. With that, his blanket slid off. Astro folded his arms over his chest, feeling exposed. He had never revealed his body to anyone except his handler. Having two sets of arms wasn’t the norm, and Astro didn’t want to appear any more peculiar than he already was.

Dandy’s eyes widened. Astro’s body left him speechless. The moon awkwardly rubbed his arm, his mouth drawing to a line. “You’re allowed to take it all in. I know it’s… weird. I meant to show you sooner, but-”

“Astro, you’re beautiful.”

Astro covered his face with the first set of hands, but blush still poured out through his fingers. He wasn’t expecting a compliment! “You aren’t disgusted?”

“Of course not! Why would I be disgusted? Being unique isn’t a bad thing. I think you’re very pretty.”

“Yeah, pretty lucky that you don’t find me gross.”

Dandy scoffed, offering his arms a second time. Astro pulled his hands away from his face, pausing. After a moment of silence, Dandy was suddenly wrapped in Astro’s arms. He buried his face in Astro’s neck, enjoying his touch. He slipped his hands around Astro’s waist, and he could feel the moon wiggle underneath him.

Astro’s cheeks grew warm, and he felt warmth spreading throughout his body. “Dandy… do you know what time it is?”

“No, but the recording is bound to start soon. Can I just have one more thing before we have to go out?” Dandy asked. He didn’t like to admit it, but in his spare time he read books about love, scouring the library for such. Delilah never made the toons with the ability to love, so he had to research what it was like and how to show it. He had already checked off most of the boxes for showing affection to someone, but he wanted to do one last thing.

He pulled away, keeping one hand around Astro’s waist, and bringing the other to his face. He carefully pinched his chin. “Uh… can I?” He whispered.

“Y-yes! Of course.”

Dandy imagined himself diving into Astro’s lips, plunging his tongue into his mouth. Except, the opposite happened. He took it slow, gradually inching closer to the moon’s face. It was their first time, after all.

Astro pulled Dandy closer, his heart racing from the ecstasy he was experiencing. Their scents mixed together, and Dandy found comfort in the tenderness of Astro’s lips.

“I wish we could do this forever…” Dandy whispered into Astro’s ear, his breath tickling him.

“This doesn’t necessarily have to stop after we leave the recording today.”

Dandy paused.

“Astro, they will never accept us. I love you, but it does have to stop. I’m afraid…” Dandy used the palm of his hand to rub his eye. He didn’t want to ruin a good moment. In fact, it might be the best thing he’s ever felt.

“I’m afraid they’ll never understand our relationship, Moony.”

Dandy found Astro’s hands, and they interlocked fingers.

“I know… but it’s okay. We have each other, and that’s something, right?”

Dandy sniffled. “Right. I-I hear footsteps. We have to go.”

Astro drew the blanket over his body, moving out of the way so Dandy could unlock the door. He fixed his hat, not wanting the others to figure out what he’s been doing. The last thing he’d want is to be perceived as promiscuous. The door creaked open, and Dandy peered out of the crack. He could make out a few faces, and they were all searching for them. He was certain of it.

Dandy poised himself, then pushed the door, allowing it to swing open. He didn’t want to seem suspicious, putting on a happy face for his fellow toons. Dandy learned that if you appear confident no questions would be asked. “Hello, everyone! Are we ready to record today?”

“Dandy, are you okay? Your eyes are awfully red.” Sprout looked at the flower with concern, setting down his tray of prop cookies. Shelly fidgeted, having the same furrowed brow as Sprout.

“Don’t worry about me, Sprout. Worry about your buddy, Cosmo! The episode is going to revolve around the two of you anyway, isn’t it?”

“C-Cosmo?” Sprout tugged at his scarf, averting his eyes. Dandy placed a hand on his hip, and Shelly and him shared a “care to explain?” expression. This was even more suspicious than the closet junk. What could he be hiding?

Dandy pondered for a moment, and then gasped. “Well, I’ll just be here until I have to go on! Have fun with Cosmo.”

Hypocrite.