Chapter Text
It was a rather calm day in the circus—a quiet one—which was rare. Unfortunately for Gangle, it was not so quiet or calm for that matter.
°°°
Zobble was making their way back to their room after Caine had insisted they had one of their many crappy 'therapy sessions. Which by the way they did not appreciate... Then suddenly, they stopped in their tracks. When they reached their door, they heard something. Something from the room adjacent to their's: Gangle's room.
So, being the person they were, they took a few steps closet to Gangle's door. To their (un) surprise, the ribboned acquaintant seemed to be crying.
Zooble frowned before slowly raising their hand and bringing it to the familiar brown wood door.
Three times they knocked, softly. The sobs quickly appeared to stop, but if you listened closely, it was obvious they were just muffled by a pillow or cushion of some sort.
"Can I come in?" Zooble said.
Moments later a cracked voice spoke up, "...who is it?"
"Zooble."
After what seemed like an eternity, Zooble could hear the rustling of sheets and a second later, the door creaked open. Sure enough, Gangle was there, her tragedy mask present rather than her comedy mask.
It was a pityful sight, and unfortunately a common sight as well.
Zooble's expression saddened. Their mind immediately went to a certain purple bunny. He was usually the cause for Gangle looking like this.
"What did Jax do this time?"
"It wasn't–him.. this time." Gangle mumbled.
"So? What's the matter then?" Zooble's tone wasn't cold despite their words, if anything it was the opposite. They cared for Gangle deeply.
"Nothing ..it's stupid."
"No, tell me" Zooble pushed for an answer, they weren't going to just leave her like this without attempting to help.
With a slow nod, Gangle gave in. She would tell Zooble, just not in the door way. They understood that look and followed her into her room.
Closing the door behind herself, Gangle spoke up again. "It's just that.." she hesitated. "I don't know.. if I can survive this digital circus without you.."
With a frown, Zooble said, "You shouldn't be so dependent on me," they sighed "I'm not all together myself even though it may seem like I have all my parts together."
"Yeah.. you're probably right, but if you abstracted tomorrow I wouldn't know what to do with myself."
Though Gangle's words didn't come to Zooble as a surprise, they still didn't know exactly what to say. So, they sighed and thought for a moment.
"Look, Gangle, if I ever abstracted the best way would be with you–" Oh, that didn't sound right, Zooble thought. "As much as I hate it here, I'm sticking around because I have you. I'm doing those stupid adventures because I have you. I'm trying my best not to abstract because I have *you*. I care about you, and so do the others. Ragatha, Pomni, Kinger.. I have your back."
Gangle hadn't expected that speech from Zooble—but gods did she appreciate it..
Slowly, she began to smile, she wasn't thinking anymore. "I've always wanted to tell you something, but I was too afraid."
Zooble's eyebrow raised slightly. "And that is?"
Gods, this was not the right time for this.. what was Gangle thinking?
"I think my feelings of affection.. have grown for you, like more that a friend."
She hadn't realized what came out of her mouth until Zooble's expression turned into one of surprise.
As Zooble looked down at Gangle, they noticed her face. Despite the fact she had her tragedy mask on at the moment, she was so adorable.. her face was so full of this loving gaze.
For that reason, Zooble couldn't kept that surprised face for long. Their expression quickly, calmed to one similar to Gangle's.
Of course, this moment wouldn't last long because there's no time or room in the circus for calm, intimate moments.
Almost immediately, a certain purple bunny bastard burst into in the room.
Both Zooble and Gangle whipped their heads around. What once was a gentle atmosphere, crumbled in a matter of seconds. Zooble's expression turned irritated and they stood up, cautious.
Jax spoke up, asking, "Ooho! What'cha guys talking about?"
"Get the fuck out." Zooble spat.
Jax's ears flicked up and his face went blank for a moment before a rather sadistic smirk found it. With a slight chuckle in his tone he said, "All I hear is crying down these halls.. Shut up."
Zooble looked at him, dumbfounded, then they rolled their eyes and scoffed. How insensitive could he be?
"Won't you just get out?"
"Mm.. while I was, but I'm going to annoy you guys now." Jax was obviously taunting them, attempting to provoke them."What's this? A free therapy lesson?"
Gangle sighed in a frustrated manner as Jax began to walk around her room. The one time she has the guts to confess her feelings, and it's ruined.
Zooble's antennae flicked in irritation. However, despite their current feelings, they did not lash out. Instead, they just sighed and, in exasperation, asked him, "What do you want from this, Jax..?"
"Oh nothing, 'just bored."
They looked back at Gangle, both fighting the urge to sigh again. Zooble leaned down, closer to the girl and whispered, "I'll be back."
Then, Zooble walked out of Gangle's room. Of course, Jax being himself, was about to say something to the girl, seeing as Zooble was gone, but before he could he was bonked on the head with a bat. He froze, pupils dilating, and then fell over. He passed out. They smirked, almost proud, before dragging the purple rabbit by the ears out of Gangle's room, and into their own.
There, they opened their Zooble box and stuffed him in. The box can't open from the inside so he was stuck there 'til they opened it back up.
Zooble strode back into Gangle's room and sat back down on the bed. Then she started talking in a very worried tone as she turned away from Zooble.
"Zooble— I- I understand if you hate me and don't ever want to be my friend again, it was a stupid confession..."
She wiped a tear from her face after speaking. My gods! this was so embarrassing... Gangle thought and frowned.
Despite having said that, Gangle was surprised to feel a hand on her shoulder, one that turned her to face non other than her Zooble. They wiped the continuing tears that fell from her eyes before saying something that couldn't have consoled her more.
"I never said didn't have feelings either."
Those were Zooble's last words that fell from their lips before they kissed Gangle's.
For a moment that felt too short, the two sat there, gently kissing eachother. That was until Zooble pulled away, just enough to look at Gangle's face before resting their head on her's. Gangle quickly wrapped her arms around Zooble and held them tight, they followed with doing the same.