Archive of Our Own

The moon laid lazily over Inkwell Isles, stars twinkling overhead, illuminating the ebony sky. 

Goopy pointed out towards the sky at another constellation, Hilda sighing in faux annoyance, hiding her smile. 

“What is that one in the shape of a ‘W’?” 

“That’s Cassiopeia. “

“Who’s that?” 

“Remember when I told you about Perseus and Andromeda?” 

“Yea! Perseus saved her from an island after slaying a sea monster! RIght?!” 

“Yes, well… Cassiopeia was Andromeda’s mother. “ 

“Oh… “ 

“She claimed to be prettier than all the sea nymphs, which angered Posiedon. He sent Cetus, the sea monster, to destroy Cassiopeia’s kingdom. In hopes of saving the kingdom, Cassiopeia had her daughter tied to a rock to satiate Cetus. That was when Perseus saw her and saved her. “ 

“That wasn’t very nice… “ 

“Don’t worry, Perseus used Medusa’s head to turn her to stone. “ 

Goopy snickered, bouncing up and down, “He couldn’t have just punched her and been done with it?” 

“I don’t think punching people was considered a viable way to kill people in Greece. They were very barbaric. “  

“Oh- “ 

Hilda turned her gaze back upwards towards the stars. Goopy looked up at her, bouncing a bit.

“Whatcha’ thinking about?” 

“I may go on a flight soon, I enjoy being up in the clouds. “ 

“Take me with you?” 

Hilda glances back towards Goopy, who was currently staring her dead in the eyes like a begging puppy.  “Why would you want to?” 

“Parce que je t'aime bien et que je veux passer du temps avec toi… I mean… I’m curious! I’ve never flown! I can only bounce so high y’know!” He chuckled, giving her a nervous, unconvincing smile. 

Hilda shrugged, “I… guess? No one has ever really asked before. “ 

“You could tell me more stories! They’re very, very interesting! Or, I could tell you about the time I beat Ribby and Croaks in a two-to-one match! That was fun! I don’t have any legs, but I still beat them! They can box, but they cannot bounce, not like I! H-Hey-! I have an idea! Let’s go flying now, while the moon is still high!” 

Hilda shook her head, ready to say ‘no’ until she again saw the way he bounced up and down excitedly at the idea. 

“Alright, we can go. C’mon. “ 

“YES!” He hopped into her arms, arms phasing around her sides. She gives a half-smile and hugs him in return. 

“Don’t get used to it, I still like being alone most of the time. “ 

“But you haven’t been shooing me away recently!” 

“No… I haven’t…” Hilda sighed, putting him on the ground. “I’ll need a second, alright?” 

“I’ll wait right here, amie!” 

Hilda summoned a cloud, reaching up to pull herself onto it. “Alright, get up here. “ 

Goopy bounced a few times, gaining momentum before launching himself onto the cloud. 

“You may want to hang onto my shoulders. “ Hilda warned him, before taking a deep breath. 

“Oh, why- AAH!” Goopy grasped onto her shoulders as the cloud disappeared from under them, shutting his eyes quickly. “Hilda, wait! I don’t wanna die! I don’t wanna- wait… “ 

He opened his eyes, glancing towards the ground in wonder. “Hilda! You never told me YOU could fly!” 

“I thought that was obvious?”

“Heh, well…” Goopy’s face went violet as he chuckled nervously. “I always assumed you just flew on your clouds… “ 

“Nope. Although they are a necessary part of my transformation. “ Hilda grinned, although Goopy wasn’t able to see it. “You said earlier you had a story to share. Something about battling those annoying toad brothers?” Hilda asked him before taking off at a moderate pace, a breeze chilling their faces, only slightly. 

“Oh, they aren’t all that bad! They just get a little rowdy, hehe. I was feeling particularly victorious that day, after all! These cup-headed brothers came through, thought they could rough me up. I mean… they did. But not without much trial and error! Anyways… I decided to pay the toad brothers a visit, we’re long-time rivals y’know? ‘Course, they were more on my level! “ 

“Cup-headed brothers, you say? I was rudely awoken by a pair of the same description, something about collecting contracts for the Devil and his henchmen Dice.“ 

“KING Dice, Hilda, he’s Mr. KING Dice! He’s quite snazzy y’know, in that purple suit of his! Il n'est toujours pas aussi beau que moi… “ 

“He’s sleazy and annoying. “ 

“Oh come on, he’s still talented!” 

“How so? By tricking poor citizens into gambling their souls away through rigged games and false promises of fortune and fame?” 

“Well… okay you’re not wrong… “ Goopy frowned. “Did he try to trick you, Hilda?” 

She sighed, slowing down to a cruising speed. “I was foolish, naive. I have always loved the stars. I only ever wanted to be like them. I’ve never gotten along well with people, I liked being alone. All I ever wanted, was to be one with the sky, the stars, the moon… “ 

“And?” 

“And so, I sold my soul to be able to. That’s why those Devil’s minions disturbed me. I… I wasn’t ready to part with myself. “ 

“That makes sense… I have a contract too… “ 

A silence fell between the two, distant but not unpleasant. Goopy looked ahead, watching the sun peak just slightly over the horizon. “Are we going to land soon?” He asked, breaking the quiet. 

“We’ll need to, I am not accustomed to being active in the day. “ 

“That’s alright. But may I stay with you? I don’t think you should be left alone right now. “ 

“Why not?” She scoffed. 

“Je me soucie de vous!”

Hilda bit her lip, irritated, “What is that supposed to mean?”

“You just admitted something to me that I doubt anyone else has, and I want to make sure you’re actually gonna be alright before I leave you. Friends should always be together, especially when one of them is sad! What I was trying to say is that I care about you!” 

The zeppelin halted, jerking Goopy forward quickly enough to fling him off her back. Without a second thought, Hilda caught him, staring deathly into his eyes. “Do you really mean that?” 

“Of course, why would I lie?” 

Her expression softened, “No one cares about what happens to me. “ 

“I do. “ He grinned up at her, an unheard hope that she’d believe him. 

“... “ 

Hilda moved to land on the nearby isle, not entirely sure where it was, but it didn’t matter. Goopy hopped out of her arms bouncing a bit on the ground as she transformed back into her normal form. 

“So… about staying with ya- “ 

“Fine. But don’t lea- “

“I won’t!” 

“ - don’t leave without warning me, first. “ 

“Oh- I thought you didn’t want me to leave at all. “

She groaned, sitting against a tree. “It’s up to you. “ 

“Okie!” He bounced over to her side, tucking himself under one of her arms. “Besides, ya need a pillow don’t ya?” 

Hilda chuckled softly, patting his head. “What am I gonna do with you?”  

Goopy’s eyes glowed up, starting to bounce again excitedly. “You’re smiling!” 

“I’m too tired to care anymore. I need sleep. “ Hilda slouched further against the bark. Not the most comfortable place in the world for a nap, but she didn’t care if he didn’t. 

They watched again as the sun creeped further, lavishing the sky in shades of orange and red as the light pushed away the darkness. To Hilda’s surprise, the energetic slimeball had already passed out next to her. Welp, even the energizer bunny needs rest. 

Hilda allowed a sigh of relief, a true smile gracing her features as she lifted Goopy into her arms. So he won’t get cold. She pondered for a while, far longer than intended as sleep was now escaping her. 

She’d never had a true friend. Not like the sleeping blueberry in her arms at least. But something else was stirring, a feeling she was afraid of understanding. 

All of his smiles, they made her smile, but if anyone else were to, it would mean nothing at all. He pestered her and pestered her, until she finally broke and let him in. Not another soul even cared enough to try from the first frown she give them. All of the times he begged to hear more about stars, when anybody else would roll their eyes. 

Hilda always thought of her zeppelins friends, but even they couldn’t speak, let alone care to listen to what she had to say. 

She pulled Goopy closer, careful not to wake him in the process. She didn’t want to let go. But friends let go all the time. She saw it from the skies. People came and went into each other's lives. Many promised forever, only to leave after a few short years. She saw ‘friends’ hurt each other behind their backs. And for forever, Hilda was glad to have no friends. So, what was this feeling? Love? 

Love was another laughing matter. But no better word could match the confliction she felt. 

Drowsiness soon made its way into her contended mind, and she let out a yawn. She blinked a few times, relaxing entirely before sighing. “I think I… “ 

“You what?!” Goopy jumped up suddenly, startling Hilda. “Why’re you still awake? Am I making you uncomfy?” 

“Um.. no. I-” 

“What’s wrong then?” 

“Well I, um. Why are you awake? That's the question.” 

“I can’t sleep for very long periods of time. I wake up every few hours on a normal day. A fun day? Good luck getting me to sleep at all! But what’s wrong? Stop thinking and start sleeping!” 

Hilda glared at him, an unheard memo to shut up. “I think I love you, ya idiot. “ 

“Oh- I love ya too, amie!” 

“You do?” 

“Yeah! Friends love each other!”  

“Oh… No, I meant- nevermind. “ 

“No, tell me! Please?” 

Hilda stared blankly at the oblivious slime, crossing her arms before turning away from him. 

“I want to be more than friends. “ 

Goopy turned almost entirely purple. “O-Oh! I’m sorry, hehe, I just, I never thought - “ He rolled back and forth a little. “I didn’t think you would ever want anything more than just a meaningful friend. But I admit, you’re quite pretty! Hehe, as handsome as I am, I didn’t think even I deserved Aphrodite herself - “ 

It was Hilda’s turn to turn red. “I- I wouldn’t say that, but… so… you and I then?” 

Goopy grinned. “Yeah, you and I. I bet we’d turn heads all over the Inkwell Isles, too! Ce sera juste toi et moi contre le monde. Nous serons inarrêtables! Your knowledge, my fists, we’d be undefeated!” 

She laughed, beckoning him back into her arms. “Tomorrow maybe, but I still need sleep. ANd how else without my new favorite blue pillow?” 

“YAY!” He snuggled into her chest. “Don’t worry! Since I’ll still be awake, I can guard you AND provide comfort, oui?” 

“Oui. “ Hilda relaxed again, closing her eyes. The world drifted away into nothing as she fell unconscious, for maybe the first time, truly content with her favorite boxing blue slime in her arms. 

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