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The soft glow of the dual suns peeked over the deep purple hills sparsely spotted with turquoise flora, bathing everything in their warm glow. This was one of many varied mornings for Barney, Junior, and their furry extra-terrestrial companion Honk. Hopping from one planet to another in an attempt to get back to their familiar blue Earth. With their only means of transportation being a cramped NASA lunar lander, it wasn't long for the two men to become more acquainted with each other, in good and bad ways. Good because it was nice to not be alone; bad because of the fact they got on each other's nerves equally.
But deep down, a fondness was shared between them. One that was strictly platonic. And yet... maybe there was something more, deep down?
That's what Barney believed. He sat alone outside the lander, absorbing as much peace and quiet before he had to do repairs to the craft and deal with whatever insanity this foreign planet and/or Junior presented. He stared into the lilac sky, freshly painted with pink, fluffy clouds. He hated to admit it, but there was something about that skinny, silver-haired doofus that he loved.
But that's silly, he thought, I dated a girl for two years before NASA. He drives me crazy! How could I love someone who's... who is...
His mind was drifting.
Who's so... kind and considerate. Gentle and fun. Carefree and--
"Morning, Barn!" Junior shouted from the lander. The sudden shout snapped Barney out of his thoughts. "Mornin'..." Barney mumbled in response, hoping Junior would leave him alone.
God, I gotta tell him at some point, Barney's mind racing at this point. But... what if he's not interested? What if he just sees me as a friend? What if he hates me? What if I make it awkward forever?
Noticing Barney's increasingly distressed body language, Junior approaches him with worry. "You okay?"
"Y-yeah. Good as I'll ever be." Barney takes a deep breath hoping to calm his nerves. "Say, uh, Junior... we've know each other for a while, right?"
Junior was noticeably taken aback by the odd question. "Well, yeah. The six months in college, plus the two years at NASA, and the however long we've been in space. Why do you ask?"
The moment Barney was dreading was now beginning.
"Junior, I'm not sure how to ask this, so I'll just say it directly. I've been thinking that you and I could be more... if you catch my drift?"
"Oh, like dating?"
Barney damn near had a heart attack! The shock caused him to lose his train of thought. Flustered, he attempts to compose himself.
"Y-yeah like that... if that's okay."
"Of course it's okay! I thought we were already dating. Is that what you were worked up about?"
Barney's mood quickly shifted from panicked fluster to heated annoyance.
"You mean to tell me I've been having sleepless nights over this? And that you never mentioned this to me?!"
"Well to tell you the truth Barn, I've never been in a relationship. I thought that after a while, there's like a psychic connection and like a mutual understanding."
As much as Barney wanted to be upset with his newly-discovered boyfriend, he couldn't bring himself to be. Instead he sighs and says "I love you, you big kook".
Junior smiles his dopey grin. "Aw, thanks".
The two nuts embrace.