Chapter Text
The quiet sound of wind can be heard next to him. There’s no wind in the Gardenview center as he turns around to find Astro sitting next to him, playing with his stars. Dyle jumped back, startled by the moon’s presence. He’s always standing at the train operating area so that he doesn’t need to worry about anybody randomly appearing right behind or beside him. How long was Astro sitting there?
“I was worried about you after your performance,” Astro started as he put away the stars that were infront of him. His eyes shifted to the idle train on the track, “Usually the trains would be moving by now, Dyle would already have gotten that taken care of wouldn’t he?”
Dyle tried to pull the collar of his shirt, but there was no collar to grab in the first place. “Yeah, he should. Maybe I should give him a piece of my mind Astro.”
Astro shook his head, the stars inside his face singed in the moment. “No, that’s not what he needs. He just needs to know that there are toons that care for him that he doesn’t see. Just like how Finn was searching for him and Yatta was waiting for the pieces of candy. Dyle must have been the one who's been doing that.” Astro concluded, his face merely inches away from his.
Dyle pushed Astro away. That is not true at all. Dandy can just as well be the one leaving those candies out and Dandy can just be the one they are looking for. It’s only a mere coincidence that they are looking for him. He doesn’t have time to spare to talk to Astro, he needs to figure out why he can’t complete the script.
“Perhaps the script is trying to tell you something about yourself,” Astro brought up as hops off the seat. He turned to Dyle once more, “You have a keen eye, I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” With that final statement, he left the lobby and into the elevator.
What did he mean about all that? Dyle dusted his body off once more and looked to his station. Something was sticking out from behind the stand, drawing Dyle towards the object. Behind the counter appeared many gift boxes or just objects wrapped with a single piece of ribbons. There were notes taped on each one of them.
Dyle noticed one of the toy trains that he couldn’t find a few weeks ago wrapped with a red ribbon. He picked it up and turned the note over, “Hey Dyle, sorry if you were mad about me taking this. I’ll return it if it means you’ll come back.” There was no name, but Dyle could take a genius estimate on who was the one who placed this here.
Next is a batch of cookies still warm to the touch. Condensation seeped into the bag and made the cookies a little soggy, but Dyle didn’t mind. The notes have chocolate stains covered on some parts. However the reading was still eligible. “Dyle make sure to take care of yourself, me and Cosmo made some cookies to cheer you up!”
There were a whole bunch of other things in there like a can of pop, a plush of some sort, some medicine, and eveyrthing in between. This was the most amount of get well gifts he has received, since he never ever got sick in the first place. It was endearing to him even, making him wish to be just his regular clock self again. He looked around to make sure nobody was watching and hopped over the counter. He hid the gifts in a crate and jumped back over the counter.
Just in time, Arthur came back to greet him. “How’s the star of the show feeling now? Are you ready to continue the shoot?”
Dyle looked back up at Arthur and then back at the crate where he hid the gifts. If he were to continue the shoot as is, he’s betraying his own self. If he declines, he’ll just be Dyle Timesly once more.
“Come on Dandy, you know what’s the right decision?” Arthur continued, his hands stretched out, pressuring Dyle to hold it. “This is your one last chance for fame! Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“No,” Dyle took a step back, “I don’t want this. At least not like this.”
Arthur’s eyebrows scrunched together and his foreheads creased, shaking his head. “What other way do you want it then?”
Dyle looked at his hands, then returned the glance back to Arthur. “To be myself…” Dyle started and remembered the lines in the script, “Sometimes toons are better at one thing, but it doesn’t mean you should just change. I am fit to take both roles, Dyle Timesly the operating assistant and Dyle Timesly, part of the show. I may be no Dandicus, but that doesn’t mean I have to be him.”
“Tch,” Arthur clicked his tongue, but then his eyes softened. Clapping his hands as if Dyle made such a grand speech, “I’m glad you realized yourself Dyle…”
“But at the end of the day, you aren’t made to be in the show Dyle,” Delilah appeared from behind Arthur. “What use do you have knowing you have the capabilities to act? We made you how you are. You aren’t going to break that mold.” They walked towards Dyle, reaching their hands out, grabbing his hands. Dragging him to who knows where. Just then Astro appeared beside him, tugging him back.
“Dyle…!” Astro called out, catching Dyle by surprise.
So he knew all along, that he’s been Dyle the whole time. Of course he would! No one knows Dandicus Dancifer himself better than his best friend. Who was he even trying to fool in the first place?
“Are you really just going to change yourself like that?” Astro recalled, his grip loosening on Dyle’s arms.
“Is Astro really going to help you achieve your dreams, Dyle? It’s better to continue doing as you are told then chase the delusion that you seek.” Delilah taunted, the pressure of her hands increasing.
“You don’t want to get into trouble right Dyle? Didn’t you see what you did back there? You were messing up your lines! That isn’t a star worthy performance isn’t it?” Arthur chimed in as they pulled Dyle closer and closer to what it seems to be a black hole in the fragment of his dreams.
“No, don't listen to them! This is just a nightmare, Dyle! You can perform great Dyle! I always obsesrved how diligently you can memorize the different tasks you have to complete each day.” Astro complimented, “I even have trouble trying to remember other people's dreams. The only reason you stumbled back at the stage was because deep down inside you knew you weren’t being true to yourself!” Astro called out, snapping Dyle out of their coercion.
Dyle gripped Astro’s arms tighter as Astro pulled him away from Delilah and Arthur, the two of them tumbling back to the darkness void. Dyle and Astro on the other hand also tumbled to the opposite side, landing right in the center of the Gardenview lobby.
Dyle turned to Astro who was breathing heavily, his blanket was nowhere to be found. slightly exposing his other set of arms. Astro caught Dyle staring at his arms and frantically looked around, turning his back towards him so Dyle wouldn't judge.
“There’s no need to be ashamed of it,” Dyle assured as he turned to face Astro. Astro continued to avoid Dyle’s face, so he thought of an idea. He unbuttoned his suit jacket and placed it over Astro’s back, earning a glance from the moon. “But if you would like, my suit jacket can cover up in the meantime until we find your blanket.”
This gesture earned a blush from Astro as he held the jacket to cover up his arms, “Thanks Dyle, I’m sorry for stalking your dreams like that.”
Well although it was unwarranted of him to do that, he wasn’t sure what his next part of the dream would look like if Astro didn’t intervene. “It’s alright.” Dyle looked up at the all too familiar setting of Gardenview. He knows that once he exits his dreams. He’s back to the usual train operating life that he brings back.
—-
He had indeed woken up and returned to his life as an operating assistant. Astro was still seen talking with Dandy as if yesterday’s Astro isn’t actually the one he actually talked to. However, the two of them were looking in his direction as they spoke. Are they really gossiping about him right in front of him?
The circus trio brust to his counter, confetti and balloons scattering everywhere like it’s a birthday party. Yatta was jumping up and down as Blot and Looey tried to cover her mouth.
“Mgmmmmgmhhhh!” Yatta tried to speak, pulling away from her friend's attempt to stop her. Even with two toons holding her back, she still manages to escape from their grasp. She hopped onto the counter, her face mere inches away from Dyle’s.
“DYLE! DYLE! We have a very big surprise for you!” Yatta revealed and Looey crossed his arms in an ‘X’ symbol and Blot just buried his face in his hands.
“A surprise?” Dyle pondered as more toons gathered around the commotion.
“I HATE SURPRISES!” Shrimpo hollered with Finn walking beside him.
“Yeah, you’ll have to sea it for your-shell!” Finn added as Dyle exited his station in curiosity. With one hand holding Finn’s and the other Yatta, they guided him into one of the empty studios. They opened the door to expose the train just like the one that goes in and out of Gardenview. Many of the toons had their hands out to show the works they have created.
Brusha walked up to him and handed him a packet of the storyboard. He sees sketches of himself talking with Poppy and Boxten as he guides them around the train. He flipped to the second page where Shrimpo has purposefully broken the train down and the three of them find the materials to restore the train back to its original way. Was that perhaps the reason she’s been standing at his station for the past few weeks?
“You would have to thank Astro for everything,” Brusha commented, “He knows the value of my artistic capabilities and allowed me to create art for the story board.”
“Nuh uh,” Scraps intervened as she and Goob walked towards Brusha, “We designed the props for many of the things for the set. Astro clearly values our artistic capabilities.”
As the two of them argue between which one of them is better, Brightney slightly pushes the two of them aside and hands Dyle another large packet of paper. On it were dialouges that complimented the storyboard that Brusha created. “During book club the past few weeks, Me, Astro, and Dazzle were thinking of the plot for a story for you! Please feel free to read through it and see if there should be anything tweaked.”
Squirm appeared from behind Brightney, his mouth drooling as he watched the paper being passed between him and Brightney, but covered his mouth. “I resisted the urge to eat the entire script, just for you Dyle!” Squirm announced and Dyle can’t help but smile.
Dyle looked at the script and back at the storyboard and then to the prop of the train. Everything was happening so fast. Finn wraps an arm around him and winks, “We wouldn’t have for-cod-ten about you, Dyle!”
Everybody did this…for him? The lights, the cameras. They all looked too heavy for just the mere toons to handle, so the big question is…
“How did you guys manage to get everything set up?” Dyle asked as the toons just smiled at his inquiry.
As if just in cue, Shelly brought out her toon handler and the rest of the toon handler following behind them. The 4 of them waved at the crow and Dyle just stood there flabbergasted.
“Shelly told me everything that occurred and I just can’t help but be part of this secret plan!” Sharon announced as she clasped her hands together in joy.
“At first I thought that maybe it was going to be too much work, but since everyone was insistent I just had to come along,” Austin reasoned with a hand behind his back.
“I don’t get paid enough for Sprout’s and Cosmo’s sheniangens in the kitchen, but this doesn’t seem like a disaster about to happen,” Sam shrugged as Cosmo and Sprout made a face at them.
“I helped Vee with the lights, since it’s too heavy for you guys,” Veronica, who actually managed to answer his question. Vee standing besides her handler, fixed her bow, proud of her achievement.
“Where’s Devon?” Dyle inquired and Sharon raised her hand to volunteer to answer.
“He’s busy with Dandy and some of the other toons for the new episode, so he’s kind of distracting them for us. Afterall, we probably aren’t even allowed to do all this.” Sharon whispered, but flashing a reassuring thumbs up “But’s okay, we are all taking turns covering for you guys!”
“Time is ticking, so we better get this show started!” Veronica remembered , getting everyone set up for the shoot. Dyle’s heart was beating fast from everything that had just occurred, but he was ready this time.
—-
“And there!” Dandicus handed Dyle the tape of the newest recording, “Anything for my greatest assistant!”
Dyle held the black tape in his hand, the title “Train Repair” was printed in the center so it wouldn’t get confused with the other episodes. “Dandicus…”
“I know. I know! Sometimes the star of the show has to let others-.” Dandicus went on but Dyle was so focused on the new tape in front of him that he didn’t hear anything else that went on around him.
“Honestly, when Astro first approached me with this idea, I never thought that much about it.” Dandicus suddenly shifted the topic, perking Dyle’s interest. “I mean Deliah and Arthur would get mad at us for even trying to do something we weren’t even meant to do.”
That’s true. That’s why the toon handlers made it such an effort to make sure Delilah and Arthur don’t find out they’re wasting previous resources on him…
“Don’t be so down Dyle!” Dandicus patted his back, “I mean in the end it came out right? It may have been done in a hurry, but that doesn’t mean everyone didn’t put their all into it.”
“Of course. I never discredited their efforts towards me” Dyle reassured as he placed the tape into his suit pocket.
“Anyway, it’s getting late and Delilah is probably looking for me, Dyle. Go get some good nights rest,” Dandicus dismissed as Dyle went back to his own chambers.
He went to his closet and placed his suit onto the rack and wore his favorite train pajamas. He then pulled out a cassette deck that he watched the previous episodes. He placed the back of the tape into the slot and closed the cover. Pressed the on button to find the television static into the title of the newest episode: Train Repair on the screen.
He sees Poppy and Boxten talking to one another before entering the train. On the train ride, Shrimpo can be seen dismantling the train, messing with the wheels and scattering it all over the place before stomping off. He then sees himself getting ready to start the train when the train wouldn’t move. Just seeing himself on the screen gives him a sense of pride and joy he never got to experience. Even if it’s not an official piece of media. After watching the whole episode, he pressed the rewind button, ready to rewatch the entirety once more. Before he could press play once more, a knock came onto his door.
Dyle looked at his pajamas and frantically looked around, trying to get his suit back on before the door opened on his own.
“Sorry for intruding,” Astro peeked his head in to find Dyle with half of his suit over his shoulder, but it didn’t cover the pajamas he was wearing.
“No, it's okay,” Dyle replied, but he felt his face burning from embarrassment.
“I wanted to check in to make sure the shoot didn’t take a toll on you, that's all,” Astro explained, steadily closing the door before Dyle blocked it with his foot.
“Don’t leave yet. You must have something you want to talk to me about, don't you?” Dyle called out and Astro nodded. Dyle opened the door for Astro and the two of them sat on his bed. The air was quiet despite Astro confirming he wanted to ask Dyle about something. Dyle gave a breath, there was one thing bothering him. He’ll just ask first.
“What made you want to make my dream a reality?” Dyle asked and Astro also simultaneously apologized “I’m sorry if your dream didn’t come into the reality you wanted.”
The two paused again. Did Astro think he was upset at the outcome of the shoot?”
“Sorry, what were you saying again? I cut you off.” Astro apologized again before Dyle continued.
“I mean I’m not that close with you compared to you are with Dandicus and the other mains. I’m sure you should have saved the resources to help them make their dream a reality?” Dyle explained, fidgeting his hands.
“Well,” Astro started, the two blue stars hovering as he stroked his hat, “There are dreams that I think can't be made into reality. For example Shelly’s. She wants to tame dinosaurs, but where can I find them? The only way I can do that is in her dreams. Next, there are dreams that I think toons can achieve on their own. Gigi often has dreams about collecting exotic items and Connie has dreams about pranking other toons. They do that all the time” Astro looked right into Dyle’s eyes. Dyle can’t help but blush at the close proximity they are at. “For your case, I think it would be difficult for you to find a way to make yoru dream a reality and…everytime I see your dreams. I just can’t help but want to make it become real.”
“Astro…” Dyle muttered as he clenched the blanket beneath him.
“But it isn’t my own efforts that made it reality,” Astro brushed off, “If anything I barely did any of the preparations, so if you want to thank someone it should probably-”
Dyle suddenly embraced Astro, catching Astro offguard. Dyle buried his face deep inside Astro’s chest, the fluffy exterior of his blanket covering his face. It wasn’t often Dyle craved physical affection, so this feeling was strange to him, yet he didn’t dare to let go. Astro closed his eyes and smiled, stroking Dyle’s chains with his stars. There were no words needed to be exchanged between the two of them any longer. Astro slowly hummed, the soothing humming sound forced Dyle’s eyelids close, entering a deep slumber.
Art belongs to @ray_b3am
Astro continued his humming as he set Dyle down onto the bed and lifted the blanket over his chest. Astro sat by his bed, watching Dyle’s clock hands slowly ticking and smiled.
“I’m glad I can make your dream into a reality, Dyle.”