Chapter Text
Twelve AM on a Tuesday evening in Gardenview, Boxten and Astro were hanging out on the rooftop up above everyone else’s room. It was quiet, rather peaceful, and they were watching the beautiful stars out in the sky. They had been rumored to be together for a few months, and never confirmed or denied the rumors. They were just.. Them. They had been hanging out a lot more recently, which led the other toons to more debates and rumors about what they’re doing, and more were wondering what they were.
Boxten was this peaceful purple music box. He was always more on the quiet side compared to some other toons such as Poppy, who was always energetic and finding ways to be around more people. He was introverted, and did not interact with people who made him go outside of his comfort zone. He preferred to stick to talking to the toons who could help him stick to his usual routine, and that he’d known for years, not the toons that he had just met, such as Bassie and Cocoa.
Astro was somewhat similar to him, he was the average quiet toon, he preferred to sleep more during the night and not talk to many people. He apologized for everything, and was rather mysterious. He had the ability to manipulate the dreams of all other toons, and give them nightmares or dreams that’ll leave them blushing and kicking their feet for days. His face was half a moon, with one eye surrounded by the color of his head, light blue, and the other eye a beautiful eye surrounded by a black oval.
Boxten had been having nightmares recently, and Astro could not figure out why. Was it unexpected stress, anxiety or even trauma? He hadn't known. He was spending this time to spend some time with Boxten to hopefully provide him some sort of comfort and appreciation, maybe it would help stop his dreams. He had been trying to give him some dreams of him on an island in paradise, with his friends and family. But it seems that's not a good dream for him; maybe not at all. But he had been trying, and didn't want Boxten to think he had anything against him.
So, he went outside with him. From his view, he saw it as a way to comfort; a way to make someone feel at peace with their emotions. He didn't talk much to him in the first few hours, just a couple questions about his day and questions about his dreams. Boxten was absolutely mesmerized by the view. They were sitting on the rooftop of Gardenview's main lobby, where no one else was there, and it was peace and quiet. The view was a beautiful clear sky full of stars, with the moon fully visible, and a couple occasional shooting stars. After a while, Boxten got tired of the silence, and they both started to chat.
Boxten scooted closer to Astro, just a few inches, he had admired him for some time, yet they were not together; just friends. Astro had noticed this. He didn't say anything, but he couldn't deny that he liked it.
"The view out here is gorgeous!" Boxten had said, enthusiastically. It was a later than he usually stayed up; which was on average around 10 PM.
"I know, it reminds me of someone, so admirable, casual yet calming."
Boxten's smile had dropped slightly, not much but it was noticeable enough to get a look out of Astro. He didn't know who this person was, yet he hoped it was him. He didn't expect it though, he had thought Astro was trying to harm his sleeping habits.
"Have you been worrying about anything recently?"
"What?"
"Have you been worried about anything going on recently." Astro said, so charmingly and calm, as if there wasn't a million paranoid thoughts going on in Boxten's mind.
"No, I'd say I've been fine." Boxten had a quite nervous tone, it was obvious that he was lying. He had never had a reputation for being a good liar.
Astro unraveled the blanket around his body, revealing his four arms that he hadn't been previously comfortable to show anyone. He evened the blanket out, scooted a bit closer to Boxten, and placed it on top of both of them. He began to rub his back gently, the soft, firm way that a mother would rub the back of her toddler.
"Sorry if this makes you uncomfortable, I can tell something's wrong."
"It's fine really, I wouldn't worry about it. Boxten still sounded nervous, and it was still quite apparent that he was lying. He actually wanted Astro to care, yet he didn't want to show it.
"I've never felt this comfortable around anyone Boxten. I can promise you I won't judge." Astro stayed calm at all times. He hadn't wanted to make Boxten uncomfortable in any way, and was hoping that he hadn't done that already.
"I just.. don't think you'd be willing to help with this. It really doesn't matter, I'm fine."
"Please? Astro's voice sounded like music to Boxten's ears. It was so soothing in a way that he had never been able to feel or hear before. It made him feel so calm, so loved; to the point where he was even debating telling him.
"Who's that someone the view out here reminds you of..?" Boxten blurted out these words, his face turning red by the second. He was so nervous, it had become quite obvious that he had interest in him, yet it was not a direct approach.
Astro let out a low laugh
"Do you really care that much that it's stressing you out?"
"Maybe, just a little." He cared a lot, it wasn't jealousy, rather it was fear of it not being him.
"Well they have the most gorgeous eyes, a beautiful smile, they can "wind" my emotions up anytime. Probably because of their windup key.."
Boxten took a moment to process this.
It finally hit him after about 15 seconds. He was the only toon with a windup key, the one that booted up his music, that made him play music.
"But.. I'm the only toon with a windup key" he mumbled, so shyly. His face was tomato red, he was scared, and he didn't want to screw anything up.
"Mhm?" Astro had said, practically silent. It was just loud enough for him to hear.
Boxten began to gently rest his head on Astro's shoulder, his face still red as ever.
Astro's face had began to get a bit more pink at every passing moment. He had liked Boxten too, for a while. Infact, it was probably the first time that he had ever truly loved someone, in a way so pure, so admiring, a way that no one else had made him feel before.
He placed his top right arm over Boxten's shoulders, and the bottom one stopped rubbing his back to wrap around his waist.
"Are these the kind of dreams that you're looking for?"
"I'd like that.. with you." replied Boxten; shyly.
It was inching around 1 AM by now, and Boxten had began to yawn at certain moments.
"Are you getting tired..? You usually go to bed a lot earlier than this." Astro's tone was in a caring, loving one.
"A bit.. should we go to bed?"
"Only if you do."
"I don't want to end up having more nightmares though" Boxten still didn't have a clear idea as to why he was having nightmares, but he was hoping that by now Astro would have an idea of how to deal with them.
"I understand the kind of dreams you're looking for now, everything will be alright.."
"or maybe I could sleep with you.."
That second sentence was barely above a whisper, it was practically unbearable, yet Boxten heard.
Astro's breaths had slightly shorter intervals by the second, his breathing slowly getting quicker as Boxten still doesn't respond. His face is slightly reddening, and Boxten is staying silent.
".. maybe we could try that" Boxten sounded extremely nervous in that sentence and looked away shyly; but to Astro it meant everything. Even if it was just for dreams, or about his little question earlier, it still felt as if it meant something, even if it would've been short lived or a one time experience.
"Alright.. let's go then." Astro gently took his blanket off of him and Boxten, and wrapped it around himself, helping Boxten up and letting him keep close.
They walked slowly to Astro's room, a beautiful blue paradise, full of star-shaped lights, posters and plushies of himself. There was a large bed with a white mattress, white pillows; but a soft, large navy blue blanket with a yellow star pattern. Boxten admired his room, and complimented it, saying that it was pretty. He was quite nervous, he hadn't slept in the same bed with anyone, other than his toon handler, but he felt a bit more comfortable knowing it was with Astro of all people.
Astro laid down in his own bed, sliding under the covers at a quick pace, and patting the spot next to him for Boxten to lay down.
"You can lay here if you're still sure about this."
Boxten slowly slid into bed with him, carefully examining his surroundings. Astro lifted up the covers for him to come under, not moving his arms out of fear to make him uncomfortable.
Astro gently told him "goodnight" before closing his eyes, feeling more aware of his surroundings when Boxten's near.
Boxten slowly wrapped his arms around Astro, resting his head close to the other man's. Astro slowly rested into his movements, placing his arms around Boxten as well, and putting his head closer with his.
Shortly after, Astro fell asleep. He had manipulated Boxten's next dream into being about them being together somewhere hanging out, which he thinks is what he wants.
Boxten was awake for a while, feeling Astro's slowed, calm breaths on his neck. As he gently laid in Astro's arms, he was thinking about the possibilities with him, what their future could be like, if they'll get together in the future, if they will get together or not. But he had hope. He had never heard of Astro doing this for anyone else, which can sometimes be an indicator of possible attraction. He had also said the beautiful sky reminded him of Boxten, which could also be an indicator. These thoughts were starting to stress Boxten out, and was making him question everything about their possible future.
Boxten's stress made it harder for him to fall asleep. He knew he shouldn't be thinking about these; but it was the Astro Novalite, how could anyone not think this? He just wanted to be able to spend all of his time with him, and have them both simultaneously feel loved by each other.
After about 10 minutes of thinking, he finally closed his eyes, and felt his body get more relaxed at every second. He felt so calm in his arms, as if he was bathing in the ocean on a sunny day on the beach. After a few minutes, he fell asleep, and emerged into a dream. Before Astro fell asleep, he had planned out his dream.
His dream was them, together. They were laying on the grass right next to the water, watching the stars in the clear, nighttime sky. It was a beautiful day. They were together, smiling and happy, chatting about their future, and holding each other close. It was a beautiful sighting.
Until, Boxten felt something on his back, and Astro kept repeating a phrase. It sounded something like "make up, make up!"
It was Astro telling him to wake up.