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Soft music swelled from another room, a sweet scent faintly lingered, the twinkling lights swathed the space in a warm glow. A little television chattered with an old Christmas special, and sat cuddling a blanket on the sofa, was Sprout, his tired eyes watching the colourful visuals wistfully. Christmas had always been amazing to him, from the decorating, to the baking, the gifts, spending so much time with the others, seeing their happy faces, he loved it all.
But now, every year felt like it came with a bit of a gut punch. As the credits began to roll, he grabbed the remote from beside him and clicked a button, ridding the room of it’s main light source. Sitting there in silence for a moment, the lack of distraction made it easier for the strawberry’s thoughts to creep in.
His gaze drifted, staring into the little lights that decorated the walls. That underlying bitterness, that melancholy. He loved being with his friends, but something inside him was… envious. Christmas always felt like it was supposed to be a time for family. Scraps and Goob, Razzle and Dazzle, Cosmo and Ginger, Rodger and Toodles, he could go on - they all got to be with each other. They were so happy. He couldn’t help but yearn for that, for his own.
His eyes began to well up at the thoughts. What a pitifully unlucky Toon he was, sulking all alone on his favourite holiday. It’s not even like they’re… gone. He could go see Dandy’s stupid, happy face right now if he really wanted to. But he’s not the same Toon he knew, he wished he weren’t even thinking of him at all.
He’d probably just walk away again, anyway. That flower won’t even face him properly anymore.
Sprout scowled slightly before he pushed his brother from his mind, thinking of Gourdy instead, then Bassie. He sighed and sank into himself, resting his head down on his arm. Gosh, it felt like it’d been forever since spring. October had just passed, and even that felt like a long time ago now. It feels like an eternity when he’s not with them sometimes. And oh, how he wished his handler was still around too, he tried not to think of them. His vision blurred more as the tears continued to pool. He knew it’d make him sad, but maybe he should pay his cousins some more little visits this month, for the holidays…
The sound of heavy, mechanical footsteps caught the strawberry’s ear and he perked up a little, lost in his own thoughts he only half-processed the typical noise.
”Hey.”
A familiarly blunt voice spoke from behind him, recognising his leafy hair poking up from the other side of the couch.
”What do you want, Vee?”
Sprout huffed back jokingly, trying to brush off his thoughts, though his tone was still a little unintentionally soured. He turned his head to the robot as she moved closer and rested her arm atop the sofa.
“Just wondering what’s up.”
“Ehh… not much. Just watching old tapes.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“…You don’t look or sound right. You always make me talk to you, come on, return the favour.”
Dang it, she was right… He wiped tears from his eyes, they’d trickled a little anyway, the glossiness obvious. Vee walked smoothly around the sofa and sat beside their friend, looking to him expectantly. He let out a deep sigh as he searched for the words.
“…I just… get sad sometimes, about Dandy, and Bassie and Gourdy. I wish I could spend more time with them, and… that things were still normal, and Sam could be here.”
He tried to cover up his wavering voice with an almost rueful chuckle. The mechanical Toon stared at him thoughtfully, her expression firm and unyielding.
“I just miss having a family. A family that wasn’t taken from me, like everyone else has. It makes the holidays kind of… hard.”
“I’m not good with words, but I get it, you know. I do. We all miss what used to be. It is sad, Sprout.”
Vee started genuinely, after a moment of quiet.
“…And I know I’m not the same, but you’ve never been anything but family to me. I’ll be here for you, any time. And so will Astro, Cosmo and Ginger, all of us Toons. We’re all a team, okay?”
They offered their hand to him as they spoke, and he took it in his own. The Toon’s heart swelled a little, appreciating his sister-figure’s words. She wasn’t one to get into vulnerable things like this often. The corners of his mouth raised softly as he thought of all their friends, all the fun memories he and Cosmo had made in just the past days. He scooched towards her and gently leaned into her, resting the side of his head to her chest.
“Thank you, Vee… I’ll always be here for you too, no matter what. I love you.”
“No problem. That’s.. nice to hear.”
She smiled. The lights around them almost seemed to sparkle a little brighter.
“…You shouldn’t be over here just making yourself lonely, also. That’s stupid, Berry-boy.”
“Oh, come on! Can’t we just have one nice moment!?”
“Psh, only for a second, the time was up.“ She playfully ruffled his hair with a rough hand. “But my point stands. Come be with the rest of us, don’t be upset by yourself.”
“Alright, yeah, I will, you twerp…”