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Everything was dark. The walls dripped with ichor. The drips of ichor crashed onto the floor, making pitter patter noises. Boxten’s breathing was ragged, he tried to slow his breathing but it was no use. It felt hard to breathe as he sprinted through the halls for a way out.
He swallowed the saliva building in his mouth, a lump forming in his throat as the lack of breath threatened for him to choke and gasp out. All he let out was a shudder. He stopped sprinting, his steps leaning towards the ichor-covered walls, with his shoulder and the back of his hand brushing against the walls as he ventured forward.
He saw a light at the end of the hall. An exit! His eyes widened and he regained his composure, now dashing through the hall with no pause. As he ran, he slipped on ichor. He tried to get up, but he felt something pulling him down. Tendrils made of ichor arose, wrapping around his arms and chest and pulling him down like quicksand.
He tried to scream for help, but it was no use, as the tendril wrapped around his head, covering his mouth and pulling him down further. He choked in the amount of ichor entering his nose and mouth, drowning in it and slowly losing consciousness. He closed his eyes, as he took in a pathetic breath.
Boxten woke up, gasping in fear and panic. He felt paralyzed after shooting up from the bed. All he could move was his eyes. His pupils dashed back and forth frantically, looking at the walls and looking down at himself. After a few minutes of being in a paralyzed state, he calmed his nerves, moving a finger or two.
He gulped, letting out a shaky sigh of relief, as he realized it was another one of his nightmares. This has been an ongoing pattern of nightmares that he couldn’t seem to wrap his head around. Why was Astro doing this? Does the moon hate him? Boxten grumbled, tossing his bedsheets off of his body and getting up to look around, just to take a breather.
As the music box was up, he decided to turn on the light in his room. Being in the darkness and having just awaken from a nightmare doesn’t mix well with him. He yawned, stretching, as he then reached for his doorknob and opened the door slowly. He cringed as the door made a loud creaking noise, trying to be as quiet as possible.
Once he tiptoed out of his room, he shut the door slowly. The door closed loudly with a click, and again he cringed. “Ugh..” He groaned. He prayed nobody heard him and his absurdly loud door. Boxten would then walk down to the kitchen when he would bump into something… Someone…
“Watch it!” The toon would whisper-shout. Boxten winced, rubbing his head, and repeatedly apologizing to the toon. Then, the music box would look up to see the toon staring down at him. It was Glisten in a pink robe.
“Wait… Boxten? What are YOU doing up this late?! I heard you from a mile away! You’re being this loud at night?!” Glisten grumbled, rubbing both eyes with his hand. It was clear the mirror had just awoke.
“Ah… Sorry. I- Um… Had a n-nightmare.” He mumbled the last part, he flushed in embarrassment. Glisten scoffed, unresponsive for a bit. The silence made the music box feel on edge and the atmosphere was thick.
“It’s… Fine. Let me get you a glass of water and I’ll take you back to your room after.” Glisten spoke up suddenly, Boxten was taken aback by his offer… It was too nice for Boxten to decline, as well…
Boxten thought for a moment longer, “Mm… S-sure.” Glisten put his hand on Boxten’s back, pushing him slightly to walk along with the mirror. Boxten fiddled with his hands, he felt a bit awkward that Glisten out of all people found him in this state, but at the same time, it could’ve been someone worse. Like Shrimpo. Boxten shuddered at the thought.
“Alright, sit down for a moment while I go get you a drink.” Boxten obliged, sitting down in one of the plastic chairs at the circular dining tables. The water ran as it poured into the glass cup Glisten fetched from the cupboards. It was a faint sound Boxten would hear while spacing out and letting his thoughts run wild.
A voice emerged, interrupting his thoughts. It was Glisten at his side, handing him his glass of water. “Here.”
“O-oh. Thanks, Glisten.” The music box mumbled, reaching to take the glass. When he attempted to take the glass, his hand brushed against Glisten’s hand slightly. He blushed, trying to take the glass as quick as possible without the mirror even having a second thought about it.
“Unh- Uh- Sorry.” Boxten had the feeling he needed to apologize, doing so, as he looked down into the cup. Glisten was unresponsive and the music box didn’t dare to look back up. The mirror just stood around, waiting for Boxten to finish up and calm his nerves.
Boxten gulped down the water, placing it down on the table, “Hey… Glisten?”
“Yes?”
“Why are you up so late..?”
“…” Glisten paused, “You woke me up. Do you realize how loud you were?”
“…Y-yeah, but you were-… You were exiting your room like normal?”
“I was gonna check what all the racket was!” Glisten pinched his face in exasperation, sighing.
“…I was just concerned. Sorry.” Boxten murmured. The music box was still worried about Glisten. What if he had a nightmare, too? He wanted to be there for him as much as the mirror had taken his time to be there for him.
Glisten just furrowed his brows before turning around and walking to the sink to splash some water on his face. Was it something I said? Boxten thought to himself, he frowned to himself.
“I- Uh. I’m finished… Do you wanna… Go back to your room o-or-.. If you want me to go back to mine’s, I-“
“I’m gonna stop you riiiight there. You talk SO much. Just… c’mon.” Glisten was already on his way to his room when Boxten got up from the chair.
“Hey… W-wait on me!” Boxten pushed his chair in, waving his hand out while sprinting forward.
When Boxten finally arrived, Glisten was already there waiting on him. “Welp, once you’re in your room, I’ll take my leave. Just making sure you’re.. um- Safe.”
“Oh- That’s- That’s very sweet of you… Uhm…” Boxten reached the knob and tried to open his door, but it was no use, it wouldn’t budge.
He twisted and turned it repeatedly, fiddling with the doorknob, and put his foot on the door even to try and pull the door open. It was no use though. He got tired and stopped trying to open it.
“Didn’t you realize that the doors automatically lock for safety measures? Honestly, I can’t believe you didn’t know that.” Glisten sighed in exasperation. Boxten gulped, “I am an idiot..”
“Yeah, just a bit. Hm…” Glisten thought to himself for a moment, “What if you come back with me to my room?” Boxten’s head shot up, “You don’t have to! Obviously. I can- I can just try getting someone like Rodger or maybe even Dandy to help open your door.”
“I- I don’t wanna cause too much hassle this late just over a stupid action… Mm…”
“I’ll come with you… It’s safer, anyway.. A-and, quicker.” Glisten held his hand out for Boxten to take. Boxten hesitated, but rested his hand on Glisten’s, with the mirror then tightening his hand and pulling Boxten along with him.
“Hmm, Boxy.. Your hand is sweaty.” Glisten teased, with Boxten flushing in embarrassment. “Don’t call me out like that…” Boxten groaned, as Glisten chuckled. “It’s funny! You don’t have to be all nervous.”
Glisten took his room key out of the pockets on his robe, inserting it into the keyhole and turning it, unlocking the door. Once the door opened, he pulled Boxten inside, taking the key out of the keyhole, and closing the door with his hip.
When Boxten looked around, it was… Pink. A lot of his decorations were pink, frilly, and clean. It was a nice sight. It really fit Glisten.
“I- I like your decorations! They suit you…” Boxten complimented, before realizing that felt a little too forward, so he shied away.
“Oh! Of course they fit me, dear. I pick them out myself, I know what’ll fit me.” He smirked, strolling over and sitting down at his vanity mirror.
“You can sit on my bed, I’m not gonna be there anytime soon…” Glisten yawned, coughing to cover it up.
“…You sound tired. I think you should take the bed.” Boxten crossed his arms, pursing his lip.
“Hahah! Me? Tired? Boxy, you’re hilarious. I’m not tired… Don’t worry about me! You can rest.”
“…I’m serious. Glisten, it’s… Late. I would like for you to get at least SOME rest…” Boxten frowned, trying to reason with Glisten can be hard sometimes, he’s a bit stubborn sometimes.
Glisten played with his makeup set, trying to avoid… something. Boxten could tell something was off.
“Glisten..?” Boxten inched towards Glisten, “Are you okay?”
Glisten would turn around, “…If it takes you not to worry, I’ll go lay down. I’m fine.” He then pushed himself up from the vanity’s chair, walking over to the bed and leaning back on the mattress.
“…Can I sit next to you- I mean- Would that be weird?-“
“Boxy, it’s fine. I wouldn’t want my guest sitting on the floor, plus you also need rest.”
“…I- Uh- Okay.”
Boxten walked over to Glisten’s bed, sitting down on the edge of it. Glisten was lying down, staring at the ceiling. “Are you not sleeping?” Glisten asked, turning to the side Boxten was on.
“I- I don’t know. I’m just… Afraid. I- I’m afraid what I’ll see once I close my eyes..”
“I’m right here, Boxy. You’re safe.” Those reassuring words brought a blush to Boxten’s face. The music box could only chuckle nervously and agree. He wasn’t alone this time.
Boxten would then get comfortable and lay down many minutes later, shuffling a little to give space to Glisten.
He still felt too afraid to close his eyes for longer than 5 seconds. He didn’t want another nightmare to happen. He was traumatized enough as it is.
The silence was so loud, it basically rung in the music box’s ears. A pin dropped could even be heard. He wondered if Glisten fell asleep yet, so he turned and the mirror was thankfully sleeping soundly.
A soft snore could now be heard from the other, making Boxten chuckle a little. He looked to his side, looking at the note at the nightstand. Boxten raised his back up slightly to reach for it. He would read it to himself.
I must hold everything together. I must be of assistance. I need to be perfect for myself and everything… Otherwise, what much am I worth? I’m perfect. I’m amazing. And the rest were crossed out or ink blots.
Boxten was able to put it back when he felt hands wrapped around him slightly. It was Glisten. Sleeping, but now he was cuddling against Boxten?
Boxten winced, how was he supposed to get out of this situation now? He reached his arm as far as he could to put the paper back and to not disturb Glisten.
He didn’t wanna disturb Glisten, but the mirror was quite literally cuddling with him. He would never hear the end of it once he was awake! But, on the other hand, it wasn’t all that bad. Friends cuddle, right..?
Boxten wasn’t even sure if they WERE friends, but he digresses.
Boxten inched closer, trying to set himself in a comfortable position, shuffling as little as possible. He observed the mirror’s sleeping form. Glisten looked exhausted, slight eye bags underneath with lightly applied makeup. He looked… Beautiful.
Boxten blushed at his thoughts, turning onto his back and closing his eyes to fall back to sleep.
…
Slowly… He drifted off, his eyes would blink open but he couldn’t fight his eyes falling heavy.
…He drifted off eventually, to a slumber.
…
Boxten woke up to him being sharply pushed.
“Ah- What the?”
“Why were you hugging me?!” Glisten’s face was extremely flushed, clearly he was embarrassed and/or genuinely didn’t understand what happened.
“I-“
“I know I’m irresistible, but- So forward of you!”
“..You cuddled me first…” Boxten looked to the side and mumbled.
“Now what was that?”
“Y-you cuddled me first.”
“Tch. Yeah, right…” Glisten sucked in his teeth, still flushed and rubbed at his arm.
“Glisten… I- I wanted to speak to you about something. N-not related to the cuddling thing! W-we can talk about that later-“
“Just get on with it!”
“O-okay! Sorry. I.. Um…” Glisten raised his eyebrow, watching Boxten keenly.
“I read a note on your nightstand… And… You know you are allowed to… Talk about your feelings. Right?”
Glisten stayed silent, so Boxten continued, “…Everyone is here for you. A-and..”
“So am I..”
Glisten frowned, looking away from Boxten now. He looked deep in thought almost. He then spoke up, “I- I just feel out of control. Like… Something will happen, Boxy. I don’t know what- But…”
Glisten sucked in a breath shakily. “It’s nothing, really. I’m not scared or anything, don’t get that idea.” It was clear the mirror was lying, but Boxten wouldn’t push forward the topic if Glisten wasn’t comfortable sharing.
“Alright… Just let any of us know if you’re not doing well.” Boxten rested a hand on Glisten’s shoulder, which Glisten turned to face the box.
They were way too close in proximity.
Boxten realized, his eyes widening before backing up a bit and chuckling. Glisten followed, chuckling slightly with.
But then Glisten put on a deadpan expression, “Do NOT tell anybody about that note. Got it?” He said sternly, looking Boxten dead in the eyes. Boxten gulped, chuckling nervously, “..Hahah, yep! Y-you got it!”
“Good!” Glisten cheerily exclaimed, “Let’s go have breakfast.” The both of them got out of bed, heading out of the door with their hands tangled together loosely.
I hope he’ll realize it’s okay to not be okay, someday. Once he does… I’ll be here. Just like he is for everyone. For me…