Chapter Text
Buzz Lightyear sat on the shelf in Andy's room, his legs swinging rhythmically. The afternoon sun shone through the window behind him, illuminating his back.
His thoughts were elsewhere. It had been a few days since he and the others had saved Woody from Al, and since some newcomers had come with them.
The three little aliens, Potato Head rescued. Of course, they had reminded him many times, even more than necessary.
And then a horse named Bullseye and a cowgirl with a red braid, a hat, and green eyes named Jessie. They were both rag dolls from Woody's Roundup, his own old puppet show.
Buzz remembered Woody telling him he wanted to go to Japan with them, and how he himself had exchanged place with another Buzz for a while, who (like him when he came to Andy's room) thought he was a real Space Ranger. He also remembered Stinky Pete, the prospector, who eventually betrayed Woody, but was disposed of at the airport.
And of course, when Buzz met her.
Jessie.
He remembered how he had approached her. Back on Andy's bed. How he had tried to compliment her on her hair. And then how she had grabbed him and called him, "The cutest space toy I've ever met!"
Those words got stuck in his head. In his mind. For some reason, he felt insecure around her. It was strange to him. A tough space ranger, who was undoubtedly supposed to save the galaxy from Emperor Zurg. Without any weakness.
But now she was his weakness.
He tried to deny it, hide it from his mission-filled brain, but he couldn't help it.
That long fiery braid, those green eyes, and her infectious smile kept making him think he has never met anyone like her before.
No, he had to clear his mind with something else.
He looked around the room and saw a few of his toy pals doing their usual stuff.
Potato Head played cards with Hamm on the other side of the windowsill and, as usual, he was loosing his pieces.
,,You shouldn't be losing these games to gambling, you stupid potato!" said his wife, Mrs. Potato Head, crossing her rubbery white hands.
Her husband grinned. ,,Well, I know I'm out of luck right now, but once I stop losing, I'll win those coins off that pork chop!"
Hamm just grinned broadly. ,,Hey, your already out your potatoe skin,you french fry. Plus, I just got your a nose and a mustache again."
Under the shelf where Buzz was sitting, Rex was trying to explain to the three green aliens things about dinosaurs from Andy's book he had gotten for his sixth birthday. But every time the aliens said something, it was usually "the claw" or a simple "wooo..."
And finally, Slinky and Woody were playing checkers. Slinky was winning with his red side. Woody, of course, was waving his rag doll arms in frustration as usual.
Buzz looked down at his arm. The one Andy had accidentally torn while playing that day, which was why the sad boy hadn't taken his favorite sheriff to cowboy camp in the end.
But when they got home, Andy fixed it and everything was fine again. Everything turned out better than he thought, better for everyone, for him, for her...
,,Hey Buzz!"Buzz was pulled out of his thoughts when he saw Woody waving at him from where the checkers match was taking place, which seemed to have just ended.
He immediately climbed down from the drawers and landed there, not forgetting to dust himself off and headed towards his cowboy friend.
,,You were looking thoughtfully at that shelf. Thinking of something space-themed, Lightyear?" Woody raised an eyebrow and tapped his hat in greeting.
Buzz swallowed as he watched Slinky slid the chessboard under Andy's bed, then looked back at Woody.
,,It's all right, Woody." Buzz smiled bravely, narrowing his figure into a typical space ranger position.
Woody looked at him, a soft laugh escaping his mouth at his straightened posture. ,,Whatever you say, Buzz."
He then watched as Slinky started putting back the checkers, and left alongside his slink clincking, before turning back to Buzz.
,,By the way, from what I heard at the family breakfast downstairs this morning, Andy is going to the movies with Mom and Molly tomorrow. He's taking one toy, and I think he'll probably choose you, because they're going to see some kind of sci-fi movie. And let's be honest, a cowboy doesn't sound like the ideal companion for some techno flick."
Buzz's eyes widened. "Really? Tomorrow? When?"
,,They're planning to leave the house at 2 p.m."
Buzz couldn't believe it, it was the first time he'd ever gone to the cinema with Andy. He'd only ever heard of it.
From the others' descriptions, it was like a big, dark hall with a big TV, lots of people sitting around eating popcorn, and having even had 3D glasses on.
,,Holy space cow, I can't wait to get back, I'll definitely boast, what you fellas missed," he said, sticking his tongue out.
Woody chuckled again.
,,Cool your head, space goof, I said he'd "probably" choose you, so don't get your hopes up into the sky."
Buzz grinned. ,,Okay, but still, you said it yourself, you wouldn't be the "best companion" for the movie, they'll see."
Woody shrugged. ,,You're right, but he could have chosen someone else, like... Potato Head, Rex, or Jessie, or...''
,,Did someone call me?"
Both boys looked in the direction of the voice. It was Jessie, standing with her hands on her hips, Bullseye by her side.
Buzz's heart skipped a beat when he looked at her.
Those deep emerald eyes, those cute little cheeks, that wide smile, those thin lips...
,,I'm just listing possible toys that Andy could take to the movies tomorrow, Jess."
Woody's words snapped Buzz out of his thoughts. The spaceman rubbed his head. ,,Yeah, miss, whatever he says, um... maybe... maybe some of us, maybe I... um."
Woody rolled his eyes at his friend's attempts at conversation, while the cowgirl opened her mouth in surprise.
,,Really? A movie theater? I haven't been there in years! The last time was with Emily, but I guess it must have changed in years, right?"
Woody nodded slightly. ,,Yeah, there's been some technical adjustments, but I can tell you it's basically the same - looking at a screen, eating popcorn, and large crowds of people sitting around you."
Jessie nodded and patted Bullseye on the head happily and purposefully. ,,I wish he could take me, but I think he'll take you, Mr. Spaceman."
She looked at Buzz with a smile.
,,Well gotta go to have a little rodeo here, see you at the staff meeting, boys!" she said, waving goodbye to both friends and heading off with her horse somewhere else, but Buzz swore he saw sadness behind her smile.
He sighed.
His eyes were longing and sad.
Now I wish, he could take her with him instead of me, maybe it could happen... she could recall times with Emily and be happy, I want her to be happy. Although I don't know exactly why.
,,Buzz, um, would you like to help me get ready for the staff meeting?"
Buzz looked at the cowboy and nodded, trying to get out of his thoughts again.
,,Of course, sheriff."