Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

— ☾✦ —

The predicament was funny— obviously not in a comedic sense, but in the fact that it's been happening to him of all toons. The sole person behind the magic of tampering with the minds of subconscious states.

Dreams, violent ones kept using up the spare hours he had to himself. Astro followed behind every advice he knew from the book, drinking something warm from the kitchen, reading several books before bed, and taking a stroll around the museum. He's even tried redirecting the topic in his sleep! but it just keeps spoiling, too far out of his control.

Next thing he knew, one night became several others. The eye bags and the slightly dulled stamina were a show. 

Hell, there was an assortment of times where he's been sleeping on the job, for most he gets reprimanded by straying twisteds, so during many of these runs he's accompanied by another toon for safety measures. Just to be safe.

But god it felt like he's the second coming of inconvenience.

With the rate of this run, the next floor would be their last until they had to reach back to the surface. It's been hours since Astro saw the sunrise, closing his eyes to envision it briefly made him sulk.

Time only sped up during the lack of visual stimulation. His body worked on its own to accommodate, leaning against the person who stood next to him, wanting power down. Which didn't take him far since he was quickly nudged awake by them. Softly however, it was Sprout. “Astro, you’re dozing again.”

Still, it discourages him by how often it keeps happening, more severely. “Oh… Sorry about that..” The crescent doesn't maintain eye contact, but he fixes his posture nonetheless. “Have you been doing alright? It's a little weird of me to ask but, are you..” the baker trails for a moment, his head tilted. “Resting okay?”

It took Astro a little long to finally speak up but coming from him, it sounded almost.. incriminating? Sprout had no ill intent but of course, Astro didn't like the thought of being the toon who needs to be nurtured from time to time. “Yeah..” Sprout exhaled through his nostrils, his brow lowering creases along his temple. “You look like a walking husk, I don't believe it.”

Astro would part his lips for a second, but only showed a weak frown the next after, shaming on the similar thing. “I’m just trying to figure something out, is all..”

The taller main brooded. “You know you can always come to me if you need someone to talk to.”

“I know. But it's really not much, just a disruption in sleep.”

“Is anyone bothering you from sleeping? I can deal with it if you need.”

“Sprout nobody’s bugging me. It's just a few bad dreams, I can sort this out myself.”

“Okay, but the offer still stands. I’d rather you reach out than deal with the problems yourself.”

“Okay Sprout.. I get it..” The moon grudges while his plant-based workmate only shakes his shoulder. “Alright alright!! I’ll leave you to it, just stay safe.”

— ☾✦ —

After one last miserable floor with the unkind toon counterparts, following the doors that had opened to the lobby for others to section themselves to a corresponding elevator, he heads down with several others to the toon rooms. Particularly the one built for side characters.

For the amount in terms of Gardenview’s roster population, spacing and budgets, the dorms were portioned by two to three floors. each built for around ten while toons of the higher pecking order had floors of their own. Astro could recall you living along the second variant of this built in motel.

Drowsy, irritable as well as to wander around a handful of extroverts, the television in the living room played for no audience. Toons talked about topics he finds uninteresting without his inclusion, the growing social anxiety made it less tolerable to sit still. Walking down the hall, skimming plates, reading the dorm addresses, it's similar to walking down a neighborhood, looking for that one friend you promised to visit.

Each little step from him, the soft puff ball at the end of his nightcap would sway softly with the disturbance. Turning his face, left to right until the familiar scientific name plate came into view, he closed in on the door. Carefully, Astro withdraws a hand from the depths of his pull over comforter, and knocked softly on the polished wood.

Hearing shuffling and several objects falling to the floor, and a muffled “Coming!” as well. The door opened, popping out a little ol’ you out from hiding. Already wearing your nightly pajamas, Astro returned the friendly smile you had shown him. “Astro! Fancy seeing you here.”

“Hey, would it be alright if I… Used your weighted blanket for a night?” Meekly he stuffed his chin into the fluff of his blanket. The moon knew there was no shame in asking for something simple. “Not at all! Let me fetch it for you.”

But fawning was an engraved instinct, it's hard not to.

Off you were into the depths of your bedroom, watching from the doorway and observing the path you had taken. Walking to the mattress to flop aside irrelevant bedding for the depressing grey piece, you pulled it free from the confines of your messy nest. You held it out to neatly fold for convenience and subsequently returned to him to bestow it under his request. “Here it is!”

… 

Goodness— God Astro forgot how heavy these were..

You made it look so easy to manage. Astro hadn’t taken into account the several pounds he'd have to deadlift. When his stars were held out to cup the object, expecting something slightly hefty, the center of balance was completely thrown forward. The only reason as to why his body wasn’t splat on the floor was the fact you were quick enough to wring out your hands to catch him.

Apologetically, when you were confident enough that your spacy friend wouldn’t spontaneously tumble over, you took back the (approximately) 15 pounds over your shoulder and stepped away, lending him some breathing space. “Sorry… Completely flew my mind, I can just carry this to your room if it makes it easier.”

Astro doesn't say anything. Dwelling on the idea, his room was quite the distance, not a chance he could manage it, so he complied, barely nodding. You turned off your lights, closed the door and followed the Planet.

In general without the weights you were considerably swift on your feet, often distracting in most cases with few hindrances. But after a while with the extra weight, there were times where you had to trot closer to the moon.

Usually when you start to lag behind, Astro would turn his head to check up on you, just at the corner of his eye to see if you were still with him. The distance from his floor was a small mile so at some point in the journey he deliberately slowed his gait to walk by your side.

To the moving room until the walled doors slammed themselves shut, waiting for his floor to come to you, the dead silence would spark a conversation. “So…” The toon aside from him was the first to take the floating hint. “How’d the run go? Did anything cool happen?”

“Nothing important I’d say… it's what you’d expect from a run.” It wasn't like there was a whole lot going on from his end of the line, his spacial awareness at the time of participating was… not the best as he's come to terms with, worse for wear actually.

First topic didn't go so far, but you had a little more to discuss to keep the gossip going, even if it was for a few more rich dialogues from Astro. “I recall last week when I was in a run, around thirteen floors we had like.. The worst twisted combo imaginable,”

Which did wring something out of him, still only minimal like always. “Oh..? Who’d you get?”

Your eyes would wander collectively, pulling out each finger when you listed the killers. “Gigi, Scraps, Yatta, Vee and Shelly, I think we had toodles but I’m not too sure.”

“That sounds like a handful…”

“It was!!! God, it took us like.. An hour to finish that floor. It was awful, wished you were there to help out.” You joked, lightly huffing a chuckle. 

He’s considering the idea… maybe next time he might..

The floor vibrated, gears making the surface feel uneasy, but the familiarity with the janky mechanics had outweighed any fears, until it all came to a stop. The faint sounds of distant tunes became the dominant ambiance, the several shades of blues and cold purples surrounded you. Darkly lit and cool against the skin, not a single sound made itself known.

Out from the lift, the crescent walked out first while you followed second. looking to see that you were near the planetary section, he led you to the other side of the floor. Where several book shelves huddled, where less eyes would pry, there was a door, overshadowed and desolate like it's just another part of a solid wall.

The measurements were considerably similar to the dorm rooms back where Astro had found you. When the door was opened, Astro walked inside, but stopped to look at the toon standing outside his doorframe. His friend stood in place, similarly just as clueless as him. His lips almost pursed, perplexed. “Are you not… coming inside?”

Your voice lowered to a whisper, but maintained at a reasonable volume since you still wanted him to hear you. “Did.. were you expecting me to..?”

Shoulders slacked, Astro shook his head softly. “I cannot carry the blanket, it’s too heavy for me.”

“I didn't want to intrude, it’d feel a little rude if I did.” Not a few beats too short, you walked inside with slight caution for the mess he’s created on the floor. Pillows, books and paper made everything look like a crime scene. The only thing you thought was normal was the bed. ”you can just set it there… Sorry about the room.. ” The Main uttered.

Speaking of bed, he stayed lamblike when a star bothered to point at the mattress. “You have nothing to be sorry for, there are minutes when I forget to clean. A little bit of disorganization doesn't hurt anyone.”

You paused.

“Unless you're Tisha..” you quickly interjected. “That's a different story.”

Following through with his request, you knew Astro as the type to be reserved from others in numbers, sometimes doing the same during one on ones, you two were rather close.. But regardless of any previous connections, it still grew apparent that something kept nagging his pulled over blanket. Ideally you would have asked, but hadn't grown the guts to press on the action of cross-questioning.

So you detoured from suspicion to avoid stressing him out. “If you need anything or you’re done using the blanket, just let me know so I can pick it up whenever.”

“I will, thank you.”

And off you went on your departure.

— ☾✦ —

Sunny skies shone the dome, sitting up against the rough bark getting along with children, a few of astro’s friends were nearby doing similar things. Mainly side characters that had no schedule pestering them to be elsewhere, the crescent didn't mind the attention. It was slow paced, gentle hearted.

“Whos that you're drawing?” The sleepy toon inquired. A child just across from him started drawing, sketching messily over paper. It's harder to decipher the details with the crude lines messing up the silhouette, taking in the smaller features, he had his guesses on who it was, but he asked anyway to keep her engaged. 

The young girl beamed, moving to point to the page, “It's me and Scraps trying to crochet! It was hard starting, but she helped me make a bracelet.” and then towards the two woven bracelets that coiled her small wrists. Assuming that the papercraft lent the adolescent her own given by the differences in quality. “That's kind of her..”

“I love Scraps, she's my favourite!”

Inevitably, the conversation died off, as it would around someone like him. Astro would continue watching the pencil, graze graphite into the lineless notepaper. Thinking, but with an empty head space.

…

Something caught his eye. Something entirely black, something large, something that wasn't supposed to be there. A suspicious silhouette standing too still for his liking.

By watching how it subtly moved, just by seeing wasn't enough to give him any warning. A sight of deceit, an illusion to mush his brain into doughy clay, the unknown a frightening sight, it gave the moon goosebumps. Vibrant, sharp petals adorned its head, in between the abstract pristine leaves were smaller green stems complimenting each line.

That sinister smile, paired with fangs. Red eyes caressing from a distance. Creeping on all fours, arms thorny with claws digging into the pine wood, hooves for its hind. The Tyrant knew he was there, helpless.

It made Astro feel ill to his core. It did not move, it did not talk. In fact, nobody acknowledged it but him. All the kids continued playing, running around excitedly, while his friends stayed put to watch them. it felt like an act of torture to see who would break first.

He waited… and waited longer.. Until Astro could discern it. A pierce, a painless stab foreign enough to elicit discomfort worth squirming from.

The blood, blacker than tar, weak and watery goo oozing into the fine woven fabric of his clothes. Like a hole allowing water to down pour without resistance, Astro’s body refused to act on it, the cruelty of sitting still to let the misfortune happen.

Suffering in the green blades of grass. Staring right back at those eyes, at the wine red glow.. It just. Kept.. Staring —

Astro jolted, scrambling to line up his spine against the head board. The struck of cold air glazing along cyan skin. Oxygen just now trying to seep back into the small cells stored in his lungs. Clearly shaken once again as of this week.

Scanning the room he couldn't read in several shades of black. His matching pajamas were pristine and lacked any wet ichor stains. The blue glow emitted from the main only allowed him to see what laid along his bed. The weighted blanket still keeping Astro’s lower body stable, no longer feeling chilly after letting it replace his comforter. Anything lighter was kicked aside, draping along the sides of the mattress, threatening to fall to the floor.

He thought the extra bit of pounds would help comfort him during deep sleep, but it only made it feel like it was doing the opposite of its intended purpose. Disheartening really, usually it would help solve his problems, Astro’s slept with your blanket several times before. It soothed his insomnia every time.

Purely out of irritation, the moon threw his night cap at the wall. But only the sound of limp cloth hit the floor. Like it did anything to help. It perturbed him greatly.

Going back to sleep would be Astro’s main go to answer when it came to coping with nightmares, just thugging it out or manage it asleep like he always did for others. leaving bed to drink something warm at most. But it's stuck to him to no ends of stopping. Tonight felt worse.

The clock seated at the edge of his dresser told him it was 1AM. Rough.

That same face he keeps meeting, the strange physical feelings he's been experiencing, it makes Astro antsy just sitting in one place. He turned on the projector, prompting to use its light over the one screwed inside his ceiling, Astro blindly searched for the comforter he normally wore outside. When he did, by muscle memory it was already turned over to coil his frame.

Out from his room for the one far larger than the confines of any smaller spaces connected to it, Astro wanders off into the elevator, flinching when the doors rudely close in on him. the moon still zoned back to contemplating something that made him feel a level of humiliation.

His eyes kept getting caught between square tiles and the numbered buttons hot-wired into circuits he couldn't see, all had braille dots protruding below each character. Absentmindedly, a star held down on one of the series of toggles.

Silence for once felt tense, uncomfortable to withstand the white ambient, it left the lift an eternal sensation, an awful taste if he could add.

The shakiness died moments before the doors allowed Astro entry. A display of five portraits of him and his friends paired with Toonhandlers each, with the middle slightly crooked. Holding less significance, Astro left looking for something more worthy of his time.

Toon rooms, second floor of the three, the door second to last.

He wants to come see you.

At least… He wanted to come see you, but he stood hesitant. The handle untouched. Probably looking like a creep listening for any sound produced from the other side. Knocking is useless when it comes to getting your attention at this hour. Not like he tried before but you were a deep sleeper at best.

One time it took fifteen minutes trying to get through to you, many would mistake you for a fresh carcass whenever it happens. It's silly.  

Starry palms twisting the knob clockwise until the latches allowed the wooden thing to move. He peaked inside, a continuation of darkness, barely lit up by his own bioluminescent light. The environment was familiar, the messy desk with miscellaneous belongings scattered along the room. Eyes narrowing where he looked.

Closer to the side of the bed, savouring the sight of peace leaving your muscles astray. Motionless with the smallest signs of life coming from the slow breathing. In the absence of magic taking control, Astro leaned in to give a couplet of experimental shakes along your arm. Upper hands touching skin of vague textures, while his lower remained hidden behind the sleeping cloth.

He thought it wouldn't do much, but it startled him to see you stirring. And here he thought you were sleeping dead weight!

Averting his eyes to literally anywhere else, turning his face from you, Astro felt his stress arise. He wasn't ready to ask! God is he stupid? It's like he can’t—

“Astro..?” The droopiest your voice has ever been around him, called without exasperation apparent.

Timidly, the toon slowly turned to look at you but his jaw stayed clamped tight against the tip of his tongue. Eyes barely open to see the glow. The upper part of your body rested against the arm that stood from the mattress. “For what reason, did something happen..?”

“I couldn’t… sleep…” Wimpishly, Astro blabbled. “I had a nightmare, but I wasn’t s-sure if you were okay with me bugging you for a night.” God he wanted to be buried 6 feet deep into the ground.

“Oh.. what about your exercises? Have you tried those..?” 

“I have, but nothing's worked.” 

After a bit of silence, the pressure made the Moon uncomfortable. Thinking it was a rude joke to barge in and wake you at such an ungodly hour, he was expecting to get pestered or downtalked for something so childish. “Do you want me to accompany you?” But by the sheer bluntness of your offer, it told him otherwise.

“What..?” Astro lowered his head slightly, watching you scratch the back of your nape when you tried elaborating. “Well I just thought that maybe if someone's with you, it’d help improve the quality of sleep.”

“It helped me whenever Connie and I would have a sleepover when we were younger. It's probably just preference, but I like the feeling of sleeping around others..” By accident you delve into the memory, maundering into a time in place for the sake of trying to get a point across. Looking back though, just by reading the look painted over his mask, you probably weren't helping as much as you’d hoped, but you tried. “But really though, you don't have to say yes to that, it’s just a suggestion. We can just go down to the kitchen for a warm drink if—”

“I don't mind.” That alone seemed to have really woken you up. “You don't..?”

The moon shook his head, affirming his decision. “Not at all..”

So you smiled, and wriggled free from the sheets until your feet could touch the floor. Cold as it was always.  “Well..? Did you already grab a drink from the kitchen? That could be a place to start.” knowing he doesn't mind the offer. You ought to bring something with you on this sleepover, hoping that a small addition would help ease the knotted nerves hidden under the blanket. “I haven't gone to grab a mug yet, I thought it wouldn’t help.”

Shuffling away from the bed to the closet, you pushed aside the folding shades that kept it covered. Messy was the word to describe it. A special something kept you preoccupied. Hands wandering until it met with the familiar wooden stem, you pulled it free from the depths of deep dark neglect. Dusting the thing clean to unveil a guitar to your sleep deprived friend. Beaming like a child who's proudly given their parent a drawing they made themselves. 

The fretted music utensil had its intricate designs unique to you. With colourful resin encapsulating colours similar to the ones of your own, it mixed nicely with the complimenting wood pigments, it was minimal in most areas, but the piece remained sweet like eye candy. Astro didn't say anything but his eye lit up considerably. “Maybe some music might..?” you offered.

“I don't think I’ve tried that yet.. I wouldn’t mind change.”

Chapter Text

— ☾✦ —

In the kitchen, Astro had sat along a nearby chair while you were busy rummaging the place. The volume hasn't changed since you two began moving. The ventilation kept humming, the air kept buzzing in silence. Dust became a singularity, whispering things quieter than nothing. Cups on the other hand kept gently clinking with each little contact.

The time spaced from the last time a word had been spoken was a trail he could not pin point. It just felt a little while. Stillness wasn't a problem to Astro since that's just how he is most of the time, but he does talk every once or so. Here was no exception. “How long have you had this..?”

Eyes flickering between the limp guitar, and the fact you were busy climbing the counter to reach the mugs. The lengths you take mused him. It counted as unnecessary since there was an alternative arrangement much easier for toons to help themselves . Astro just didn't bother pointing it out since you were rather insistent on doing everything for the night. “Were you not there? Since the day Delilah had finished tweaking the internal issues I've been having.. I think that was like… the week after I was created.”

“That’s when Arthur gave me the guitar.” you added, back still turned to him.

Shuffling aside glass cups rather intently, searching with the limited reach you're able to manage, the nearest cutlery that resembled a mug was enough to suit your needs… well.. Not your needs but you get the idea. “Want heated milk or just tea?” you asked.

“Tea would be nice.” And so that's what you’d be brewing for tonight.

Moving around with your face partially stuffed in the more reachable areas, those being the smaller storage spaces inside the counters.. You didn't know what those were called.

Your hands would crawl trying to grab ahold of the teakettle. The metallic object was rather lightweight compared to the other models you saw, its shell was made up of metal, the handle laminated in a fine polished finish. It's more traditional compared to the plastic ones requiring electricity to boil.

Aside from the heating canister being somewhat filled with enough water to fit the mug, it stood over the stove burner waiting for the contents to simmer under gradual heat.

…

Blankly, another question was thrown his way. “Do you know any music artists..?”

“.. there's Boxten.. But if you’re referring to other artists, then no. I don't know any.” Astro tucked in his chin, words coming out a smidge less clearer. “Oh. Bummer . I remember getting Vee to play a few that were like.. Made outside of Gardenview during our free time. I think I managed to snag a few songs from her, none of which are mine but they’re catchy!”

For how long has it been since? From the closing and the birth of another musical artist. Rather foolish that Astro hasn't caught onto this, well who could blame him? He’s stuffed his nose into your dreams, spent time around you, talked about ransom. But never not once in his day had you brought it up.

Maybe you were just somehow secretive about your hobbies..? That could be it.. Or perhaps you both just.. Forgot this was a thing.

His eyes followed you similarly to how pebble would when something would gnaw at his attention. Your face looking within the pantry for those emergency tea bags that Teagan so kindly stored inside, clearly the difficulty had kept you occupied.

Moving back his center spotlight to the acoustic. Charmed, smooth surfaces with small areas where dust refused to brush away, disregarding any tiny air rubble, the condition was untouched. Like it's freshly bought or lovingly cherished by its owner before becoming hopelessly abandoned.

The long strings that were stretched from the base to the smaller knobs hooked at the head. Each varying thickness probably displaying different volumes, though he assumed the fingerboard was where everything else was managed

But still… it appeared complicated just looking at it. Were his fingers even long enough to wrap around its neck?

A whistle started to blow. Screaming would better suit the description. For the amount it took the kettle to finish, the plastic film along the soft cardboard box had been tossed into the trash.

When the sound became too unbearable, which was literally seconds after it began to bawl, you withdrew the boiling kettle from the stove top and seated it on a cork pad. Everything else appeared straight forward; Take out the tea from the packaging itself, strip it from its plastic sheath, pour the hot water, submerge the bag and wait for the temperature to cool down.

You finished brewing and brought him his fresh batch and took back the guitar that Astro had passively looked after, hoisting the shoulders straps over your head.

“Should we sleep at my dorm or.. Head down to your floor?” you questioned, not wanting to pressure him into anything. “Mine, please.”

“Alright!”

— ☾✦ —

“Did your handler ever tamper with that weird… ‘ temperature dial thingy’ before they bailed on us?” A genuine question, straight out of the blue when you two were in the core of his floor. The lights here were dimmed— Actually, not dimmed. It's like walking through a room painted in black with no light to lend any guidance.

You knew not a single clue on where goes what, so you just stuck to where Astro brought you. “It always feels colder every time I come down to visit.”

“I believe it's always been that way.”

“Are you fine having it this cold?”

“I wouldn't mind having it a few degrees colder.”

“I take you like the winter season?” you’d joke, which got him to smile. “Very much.”

Returning to the doors you saw before, the interior was similar to prior’s visit. Slightly cleaner, still just as dark. The only thing allowing you to see was Astro’s naturally producing light and the projector, filming nothing but polluted white frames, a boring value in your eyes but questioning your friend didn't seem all that necessary. 

“song?”

“…” It's that dumb radio Dandys’ been gatekeeping, Astro doesn't know any. Dummy.

Your non-dominant hand waved in dismissal before scratching underneath your jawline. “Oh well— Pish posh! I might have a few in mind.. But I'm not sure if you’d like the ideas since they’re rather..” Half way in, you appeared uncertain. It's been a while since you’ve last played literally anything, although that didn’t imply that you didn't know how to play at all! But maybe it's the fear of getting a single note wrong that's making it unsettling. “Out of the norm to what you’re used to hearing.”

“That’s okay, I don't mind listening to something different.” Walking to the bed, you sat down to get into proper positioning to coddle your guitar. Not until you felt the bed dip, you became more contemplative to what genre would properly fit the mood. “I’d say it’d be refreshing.”

A struggle deciding what you could grasp in your mental library. Songs you knew vividly were nowhere near correlated with the arts created by well known, yet anonymous individuals during prior years of time. Immersing yourself into calm chords just wasn't your type of jig. In fact, the slowness made you become impatient. Too unsteady.

“God I wish Vee was here.” Is what you would have said aloud if Astro wasn't already patiently waiting. While you thought of a song, you plucked a string, but the note was so out of tune it nearly choked you from hearing. “Nothing loud right?”

“Something quiet.” Astro mumbled, just as you would assume. “I can try and see what I can do.”

Delicately, after testing the string tweaking and fine tuning, a series of pleasant music started playing. Along its wooden neck, your fingers would slide and press down on specific spots. Some landed in empty spaces along the string, while others covered the dots that occasionally littered the sectioned board. The other hand coordinated, plucking just enough force to elicit sound. 

Each thick thread that was plucked vibrated subtly. With n o obvious lyric for him to go off besides the tender sounds of your low hums, pronouncing each syllable of the abstract tuning. A mental scenery to fill Astro’s mind. Sweetly as it appeared. 

The moon would stare, watch your eyes zone free from what was considered the current moment. An almost dead pan looks with the concentration pent. Even if you two don't directly catch each other's looks, 

it's enough.

It's unarming.

It’s… endearing .

Different from the intimidation he’d feel from his peers. Obviously everyone welcomed him happily, with the exceptions of one toon of course, but still. The pressure’s usually what sets him off to self isolate.

The change for once wasn't gut churning, like the day everyone had to leave on the hiatus that had no known expiration date. He'd wish his guts were sturdy enough to let him ask for more of this.

Ideally Astro should have asked years ago.. Maybe he's just slow at what he does.

when his mind became grounded again, instead of seeing your same dead-pan expression, you were looking at him with some attention. Music still played like normal, your throaty purrs hadn’t died. But it just looked like you weren't entirely there to pick up on the atmosphere.

When the song slowly muted to a stop. In sync, you both glazed eyes and looked away like it was something improper. When someone would open their mouth to speak, they’d end up passing up the chance to the other person. Quite unfortunate since Astros’ the one to give others that chance. 

The silence deafened, he started. “I’m sorry..”

“For what?”

“...” Nothing besides a guilty look washed over him. So you took the initiative. “Wait— It's okay , I just wasn't sure if you were enjoying what I was playing, it's a little hard to read that look you have on right now.”

His head tilts. “My look?”

A hand would draw out, holding the palm up to make a statement. “Yeah— Wud— you’re frowning! It's like I said something weird.”

“Oh..”

“Did you like it at least..?” you were almost hesitant to ask. “It was wonderful.” But Astro sounded genuine enough to trust his word, you’ll buy into it.

...

“I know we don't have extra sets, but..” Astro started. Smiling sincerely at first, lips parted for another set of prompts to spew, but the sweet look he carried had already fallen into the more insecure look you’d see from his portrait photos.. 

It took him longer to really get something out with the lump he had formed in his throat.

“N-Nevermind..” he looks away, shaking his head feverously.

“No no no!! Astro spill it , what were you going to say..?”

“...”

“Did you want to play..?”

The difference in his expression was evident when you asked. All he does is look guilty, and guiltier when someone brings the attention to him .

Your voice turned small, whisper-worthy. “Astro, I'm not gonna beat you up for being curious.”

“I fear my appearance underneath would… Greatly disturb you—” he swallowed. “I don’t know how to play either..”

“Nonsense!! I’ve been through enough hurly-burlies in my time. Plus you’re close to me, and I doubt you could manage to scare me away with appearance.. Or experience, ”

“Unless you’re like… trying to kill me, that I would run from— but that's besides the point .”

“What—?”

You didn't bother letting him finish. “You’re free tomorrow, right? I can teach you.”

“I don't want to put you through the trouble..” Astros’ beating that damn bush again. “Too late!! lesson's already scheduled for tomorrow, I’ll meet you at your floor again….. Tonight? ” you sounded unsure if the last word was correctly used.

“Mn. I think it's just tomorrow night..” at least you gave him time. “Whatever works!”

…

“Don’t suppose you have extra bedding, right?” While you questioned, you got up to place your stringed instrument up against a nearby table. “I have an abundance.. Why?”

“Oh, just because.. Not sure if you feel okay with us being on the same mattress, so I thought to sleep on the floor.”

“It isn't comfortable though..” 

“Yeah well— I tend to move like… a LOT in my sleep, I’ve fallen off beds because of it.” That just made him frown more, and it's obvious you’ve noticed. “Don't give me that look, I might push you off!”

“I’ll get back on the bed.”

“What if I'm sprawled all over? You’ll have little space to rest peacefully.”

“Then I’ll improvise.”

“How?”

“... When time comes, I’ll think of something.” You eyed him with suspicion but he didn't return the gaze.

You two weren't really lovers, that's probably the thing that made it awkward, that and your sleeping habits. Astro as a toon was known to be really skittish to foreign topics, let alone the idea of intimacy. You've seen it first hand.

Back then when kids would clutter him, sometime during the first few weeks, he had to sit out that entire shift. It bothered him, made him nervous to no end. Trembling when he saw the sight of a child running to meet the toon. Took him a while to get use to the sudden bursts of attention. 

Eventually came to your conclusion that touch often gives him some sort of withdrawal, you weren't too sure but something about him being on the receiving end of physical affection made you ache.

That's not to say you don't like it! But it does make you nervous.

“Then.. can I at least hold a pillow so you don't end up being bothered?”

“I can do that.”