Work Text:
Rudie could hear the muffled sounds of fighting outside of his door. He sat on his bed, staring blankly down at his blankets. He could barely even remember at this point why everybody was fighting, not through his tears, which threaten to spill out of his eyes, to flood the room in his sorrow. All he wanted to do was decorate for Christmas, which was just around the corner. Spread some good ‘ol holly jolly cheer. If not, remind people what waits for them on Christmas Day; presents galore. But everyone was upset. And when he went to ask Bobette if she could help… she lashed out on him. Her words cut into him, deeper and deeper the more he spent reminiscing. He tried not to cry. Christmas was no time to be crying, right?
…
The fighting stopped. There was a knock at the door. Rudie sniffled.
“C-come in.”
Rudie weakly responded, his voice choking on unshed tears. He was trying. He expected Bobette to open the door, to apologize to him, but instead, the person he saw was… Goob. He stood tall in the doorway, looking at him with a concerned expression. Rudie already felt horrible.
“Is it alright if I come in…?”
Goob asked, his voice soft and innocent. Rudie wanted to push him away, to not bother him with his problems. But he couldn’t help it.
“S-sure.”
Goob closed the door behind him, looking around at Rudie’s room. The red-green lights, the posters of Rudie and his crew, and of various other toons, including Goob.
“Are you alright?”
Goob asked, sitting down on the bed, his large size making Rudie’s bed squeak.
“I know it doesn’t feel very good to get yelled at like that…”
He continued, looking down at Rudie with a soft, and neutral expression. Rudie avoided eye contact. He folded his arms together, trying desperately not to cry. If he cried, he’d cry forever.
“I-I-I’m fine…”
Rudie stuttered, feeling his throat burn up. Tears welled up in his eyes, and everything began to look blurry. Goob’s eyes filled with worry. He puts a large, red paw on Rudie’s shoulder.
“Are you sure? I’m here for you, Rudie. I know everyone is being a little rude to you.”
Goob tries to reassure Rudie. It only makes him feel worse. Rudie hangs his head, slowly beginning to sob.
“N-no, I-I-”
Rudie sobs, not even bothering to cover his eyes. Goob immediately wraps his large paws around Rudie, pulling him into his body. Rudie pathetically cried into Goob’s soft fur, too caught up in his emotions to be quiet. His nose begins to drip, and he can feel Goob’s fur slowly become stained with his tears. Goob moves himself more onto Rudie’s bed, rubbing his back gently as Rudie cries.
“I’m here, Rudie…”
Goob whispers softly, trying to calm him down. Rudie doesn’t stop. His body trembles, everything from his eyes to his throat burns with his tears, his muffled sobs flooding his room. Rudie can hear Goob whisper soft words, which he can barely understand. He cries for what feels like forever. He can barely even register if he’s sitting up or lying down. And before he even knows it, he exhausts himself, eventually falling asleep in Goob’s arms.