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Late mornings were the best.
It meant everyone was awake. No dreams. Astro could get his proper sleep, sleep that didn’t include shepherding the dreams of others. When Astro was asleep like this, he had the most peaceful of expressions, gentle and open.
Dandy loved the way he looked, the slightest of smiles as he slept, unworried about everyone else’s cares and woes. He was just too adorable . They often slept together nowadays—Astro would sneak into his room or vice-versa, but it wasn’t often that they woke up at the same time. Rather, that Dandy woke up before Astro and got the chance to savor the moment, cozy under the rainbow blankets, the lights dim.
Usually Astro got up before Dandy to help everyone prepare for the ichor operation, or to help those who had succumbed. Dandy… didn’t really like talking to the other toons if he could avoid it, and Astro had become a sort of go-between.
He didn’t want to think about that right now.
He focused back on Astro who was curled up on his chest and felt the lingering anxiety melt away. Dandy ran his hand across his face, very gently trailing his fingers over Astro’s cheek, and he was rewarded with a tiny sleepy whine. So cute! If Astro weren't sleeping, Dandy would squish his little face until he made more noises. But he wouldn't. He didn't want to ruin this moment.
They should sleep in. Just for a half an hour more. Maybe a whole hour. Yeah, that sounded good. Dandy let both his hands fall around Astro’s shoulders and sighed contentedly. Astro in turn snuggled even further into Dandy’s chest with a tiny heart-melting sigh.
He wished every morning could be like this. No tending to Twisteds, no dodging difficult questions. No guilt, no frustration.
Just warmth and one another. Just like old times.
With another sigh, Dandy let his eyes fall closed. For a moment, everything was right—they weren’t abandoned in an underground facility, they weren’t all going through a crisis that was all his fault and that everyone would hate him for if they knew the truth.
Astro groaned in his sleep. Was he waking up already? Sure enough, he was tossing in his sleep, a sign that he was on the edge of wakefulness, then his single eye opened and regarded Dandy groggily.
Astro smiled, chin propped up on Dandy’s chest, just over his green petal, and for a moment Dandy thought he might melt right then and there.
“Hi there, sleepyhead,” Dandy said with a small smile. He drank in the sight of Astro stretching all four of his arms underneath the blanket before settling once more.
“Good morning…” Astro mumbled. Then he groaned. “I feel… too rested. What time is it?”
“I don’t know…” Dandy trailed off. “We probably have time to sleep some more, though.”
Astro gave Dandy an unconvinced look. Dang it. It was worth a shot.
He sighed. “You’ve been working too hard lately. What’s a few more minutes of sleep?”
He was unswayed. Astro slowly sat up, and immediately Dandy missed the warmth, even if he got to have the wonderful view of Astro stretching once more in his short dark-blue dress—really it was an elongated shirt, but it barely skirted the knees and was just too cute on Astro.
“It’s better if we get the day started sooner rather than later…” Astro said. He rubbed his eye, and offered a hand for Dandy, which he took without hesitation, and let himself be pulled into a sitting position.
Hand in hand, they got off the bed.
The morning was over.
The hell that was the rest of the day awaited.