Chapter Text
It was Friday afternoon, and Dandy was busy with dinner.
The onions simmered in a saucepan, and the pot of water beside it had just begun to boil. The air fryer whirred softly as it roasted the chicken cutlet within. The remaining ingredients were laid out on the counter beside him, and Dandy hummed as he washed the dishes. He was careful not to let water splash upon his outfit. The colors of his favorite tie-dye shirt and matching sweatpants had long since faded, but they had been gifted to him years ago.
The kitchen of the Main-Cast Suite had been perfectly sized for the toons, and the appliances had held up surprisingly well over the years. And though Dandy was able to cook comfortably, he still had to use a stool. Although the portions the kitchen was equipped to handle were often too small, it wasn’t too difficult to work around– a few of the larger pots and pans had been taken from the cafeteria kitchens, which meant his only concern was the strength of the stove’s fire. There was no need to worry about opening hours or even the other toons. Ever since Gardenview had shut down, its only residents were himself… and Astro.
Soft footsteps were lost beneath the sound of bubbling food, and Dandy only noticed their presence when a shadow suddenly loomed over him, the swish of his tail slowed by the fabric of their shirt. “Oh–! Hey, Astro!” Dandy looked up and smiled. “Still going to be a bit… did you want a snack?”
Astro’s old blanket had been converted into a shawl that draped over his shoulders, and it helped to hide the awkward stitching of his modified dark-gray T-shirt. Loose, baggy, navy-blue sweatpants dangled less than an inch above the floor. He had grown much taller than any toon was ever meant to, only slightly shorter than most human adults. The ichor-fueled mutation had left him ‘off-model’, and so he too had been left behind.
Astro hunched over Dandy, and his lone eye drifted between the sink full of dishes and the colorful petals that framed Dandy’s face. He grasped their vine-like tail with his secondary hands, gentle as he traced over the small branches and baby-soft leaves that formed tuft-like foliage at the tip of their tail. This too, was off-model, another mutation. Another reminder.
Astro hummed. “No, I’m just… nervous, is all.” His gaze shifted across the stove, and he reached out with a star for the box of pasta that sat nearby. The star broke apart to form several miniatures that enveloped the box in glittering stardust. The lid was torn open, its contents poured into the boiling water. The cornbread batter that still sat within its mixing bowl shimmered as it was perfectly poured into the muffin tins, and the heat wave from the oven pleasantly flushed Dandy’s skin as Astro set them inside.
“Thank you…” The motions of Dandy’s hands slowed as he watched absentmindedly, then he focused his attention to properly rinse the soap off of the mixing bowls and knives. A frown crept upon his face as he gathered his thoughts. “I’m sure it will be fine. Austin wouldn’t tell you if he wasn’t sure, right?”
Astro didn’t say anything at first, though their primary hands made their way to Dandy’s petals to knead and massage the plump tissue. “I guess.” He sighed, and continued to pet Dandy for a moment longer before he pulled his hands away. “I’m going to go take a nap.”
“Oh.” Dandy’s petals slumped. “Did you want Austin to wake you…?” Astro didn’t like it when Dandy entered his room without asking.“No.” Astro ruffled his petals one last time before he took his leave. “I’ll be on the couch… Wake me when the food is ready.”
Dandy’s tail fell, his petals uncomfortably cold without the warmth of their hands. He shook himself off and set back to work, careful not to make too much noise. He set towels upon the counter to dampen the noise of metal on marble, and used soft silicone spatulas so that the pot wouldn’t be scraped. Cheese was shredded, tossed into, and melted into well seasoned cream, and veggies sizzled as they were sauteed over the red hot burner beside it. His tail flicked around the handle to the oven, and pulled it open as Dandy donned his oven mitts, then turned to pull out the fresh cornbread. He set it down in one breath and fetched the strainer in the next.
The scent wafted through the halls as Dandy mixed the cheese sauce and leafy veggies into the strained pasta. He transferred the chicken from the air fryer to the cutting board, and sliced the crispy fillet into strips. His petals twitched as a sound reached his ears, the distant clunk of the stairwell door.
Dandy prepared two large plates for Astro and Austin, and a small bowl for himself. He balanced the bowl in the branches of his tail while he held the two steaming-hot plates in his hands, and spared a glance at the microwave clock.
7 PM, just in time for Austin’s arrival. He hardly made a sound as he padded into the living room.
The main suite had its common area right outside of the kitchen, the elevator just a few paces away. It didn’t have as many original furnishings as the toon rooms; A simple grey couch sat in front of a coffee table, the TV and VCR combo sat upon a simple wooden stand. Beside the TV stood two tall bookshelves, which contained shelves of boxed VHS tapes, DVDs, and even a few video game cartridges beside their respective consoles. Some were gifts from Austin, but others were from toons who had chosen to remain in touch.
Astro lay on the couch, limbs curled up beneath a thick, grey blanket, and his favorite pillow rested beneath his head. His star-shaped eyespot glowed with a soft white light that dimmed and brightened in time with his breath.
Dandy placed the plates upon the table, then turned to Astro, hesitant as his hand hovered over the lump beneath the blanket. He swallowed his fear and gave them a few gentle pats across their back. Astro hardly stirred at first, but their legs curled up further beneath their blanket as he continued. It rustled as they shifted, and soon Astro’s cracked eye open, alongside a soft grumble in his throat. “Hmngh… Five more minutes…”
“Austin’s heading down.”
As if to make Dandy’s point, footsteps echoed from the stairwell, and the sleepy irritation on Astro’s face gave way to alertness. The scent of food made his stomach growl, and so he sat up and rubbed his eye, secondary hands hurriedly smoothing down his wrinkled shirt as he tried to make himself somewhat presentable.
The stairwell door creaked as it was pushed open, and from it stepped an older man with greying black hair and dark brown eyes that brightened in the light. He was still quite fond of the color blue, and wore navy blue cargo pants with a sky blue t-shirt. He pushed oversized glasses up his face as he leaned over to set a black, bulky backpack down near the stairwell door. As he stood, his eyes fell over Astro, glimmering with affection.
Dandy scurried back into the kitchen before Austin could see him. He hurriedly pulled the muffins from their tins, and his singed hands flapped about as he fetched the bread knife from the block and sliced the cornbread into halves. A dollop of softened butter was smeared upon on each side, and as they melted into the still steaming pastry, Dandy set those upon a single large plate for the group to share.
His tail twitched as he hurried back to the table, and suddenly Austin’s legs stood before him, and his petals flared out in alarm. “O–oh… Hi.” Dandy breathed out, before he darted around their side and back out to the living room. When he returned, Austin had washed his hands, and he set the clean glasses upon the counter while Dandy fetched soda from the fridge. A basic cola for himself, and some lemon-limeade for Astro and Austin. The man poured the drinks as Dandy passed the cans over, and once they were discarded in the recycling bin, the pair walked out together, glasses in hand.
Astro was curled up in his corner of the couch, plate in hand as he ate. His shoulders were relaxed as he savored the food, eye closed as he chewed. The pair set the drinks down, and Dandy settled down on the opposite corner, the center spot reserved for Austin, who made his way to the bookshelf to fetch a DVD. An animated film from the toons’ ‘favorites’ corner. They’d only need it as background noise, it didn’t matter that the pair had watched it dozens of times by now.
Austin took a moment to set it up before he returned to the couch, then finally took his place between the toons and began to eat his portion. “Thank you for dinner as always, Dandy.”
Dandy only hummed in reply, and his expression softened as he watched the toon and their (former) handler tuck into their portions, at least until Austin nudged his leg with their own as a reminder for him to eat, too.
The chatter of the movie filled the silence as the group ate. Astro finished his plate relatively quickly, onto the cornbread. Dandy was slower to eat, but was halfway through his portion when Austin cleared his throat. “So…” He began, and noted the way Astro froze mid-chew. “We had the meeting yesterday.”
Astro swallowed his mouthful immediately, and gave Austin his full attention. “What did they say?”
“Well, they aren’t sure if they’ll want you around the others yet…” Austin’s brows furrowed at the way that made Astro’s arms curl slightly close to their torso. “But~! Dr. Keen said she’d let you join the Holidays! As their co-worker, of course.”
Astro released the breath he had held, and his eye closed as the tension left his body. “That’s… fair. I… I’m happy with that.”
It wasn’t ideal, but it was the best that they could have hoped for. During their off-season, the holiday toons worked directly under Dr. Keen at her laboratory. While they weren’t his close friends, it would still be great to see familiar faces for the first time in over a decade.
“She just wants to see for herself.” Austin hurriedly said. “It might be a bit much, but Gourdy and Bobette said they’d keep an eye out for you, and I’ll be able to visit more often than I can here.” He grinned, clearly excited, before he glanced over at his backpack. “Though, uh…. She does want blood and tissue samples first, just so she can be sure.”
Astro fidgeted. “Right… Of course.” To make sure he really was ‘clean’.
Austin smiled, then turned to look over at Dandy, who picked at his food. Austin fixed his gaze upon them, and the flower-toon immediately looked away and shoved the empty spoon into his mouth as though he thought the man was blind.
“Dandy?” Austin’s brows furrowed with slight worry.
“Yea–mn?” His petals curled. Here it comes.
“She wanted samples from you, as well.”
Dandy’s eyes widened. “She–” The spoon clacked awkwardly against his teeth, and he pulled the spoon from his mouth. “–she does?”
Austin smiled and nodded. “She seemed understanding… but she will need extra from you. From your other form.”
Dandy glanced away. “Oh… okay.” Of course.
Austin hesitated for a moment, before he reached over to ruffle Dandy’s petals. “That means you need to eat, Dandy.”
His tail thumped once against the back of the couch as a startled hum escaped him. “Hn. Fine…” Dandy replied curtly, and took a large bite as Austin withdrew their hand. He chewed slowly, amused as he watched Astro’s stars linger around a third half of cornbread. Austin stood and the stars vanished, and the man moved to fetch his bag. “Astro, she also wants me to do a checkup for you, but we can do that later, alright?”
“Okay…” Astro sighed.
Eventually, the group finished their meal. Austin took their dirty dishes into the kitchen to clean them, and the two toons were left alone. The movie continued, vibrant colors and orchestral music that they’d both seen a million times before. The familiarity helped ease Dandy’s mind, though it still took a moment for him to properly gather his confidence.
“Um…” Astro’s eye turned towards him, but they hardly moved otherwise. “How… are you feeling?” Dandy picked at his fingernails, and his anxiety made him shift and shuffle in place as he struggled to hold Astro’s gaze.
It took Astro a moment to respond, silent as he pondered. His eye drifted to his own hands as he examined the emotions that thrummed through his mind and body. The dread that had once been ever present had faded, banished and replaced by the warmth of his hopes.
“I’m… relieved.”
Oh.
Austin chose that moment to return to the living room, sleeves rolled up and hands damp. He made his way to the stairwell, then brought his backpack to the couch and rummaged through its contents. He fished out the pack of sanitizing wipes and cleaned the table, and the sharp scent of alcohol stung their nostrils as Austin unpacked the bag.
Three sets of butterfly needles and their attached vacutainers were set down beside a tray of six blood vials, three small specimen containers, two pairs of prepackaged scalpels and scissors, one for each of them. The bag of sanitizing wipes was placed alongside a small first aid kit that held gauze, bandages, and an ink-based ointment specially formulated for toons. Finally, Austin set down a glittering black marble, and though it looked round, it did not roll away.
Astro’s gaze didn’t leave Austin’s hands as they pulled on a pair of disposable gloves, and he sanitized them as he turned to the pair. “So… did either of you want to go first?”
Dandy hesitated. His eye fixed upon the scalpel, and his petals curled in on his face. Anxiety curled in his gut.
Astro noticed their hesitation, and though he fidgeted himself, he heaved out a shuddering sigh and stuck his left primary out. “I’ll go.” His eye found Dandy briefly, before he turned away.
“Did you want Dandy to hold your hand?” Austin asked, as perceptive as ever.
Astro nodded, and Dandy shuffled over to sit beside Astro, whose brow furrowed at their quick response. He looked away as he grasped their hand in his own, and choked down a smidge of embarrassment.
Astro’s hand was large enough to completely envelop Dandy’s, almost human-like in its definition in comparison to Dandy’s stubby, rounded fingers. They could grip with a lot more force, and on bad days, it tended to remind him of Devan.
He didn’t want to think about it.
Austin pulled a fresh wipe from the bag, and swabbed Astro’s arm. “I’m going to start now, alright?” The man’s tone was gentle, and they waited for Astro to nod in response.
The older man concentrated as his finger traced a shape on Astro’s arm. The reaction was immediate, and Astro would have fallen off of the couch were it not for their hand on his shoulder that held him in place. Astro’s limbs had relaxed despite himself, numb as though his body had fallen asleep. His eyelid drooped as though pulled down by weight, and his voice left him alongside a slow exhale. “Oh…”
“I’m sorry.” Austin checked to make sure Astro was stable, before he moved his attention to the task at hand. This sedation was for the best. They wouldn’t feel any pain so long as it was active, and it would stop any flinch reactions while he worked. The rune would deactivate as soon as he dismissed it. “I promise I won’t take long.”
“Yeah…” Though his head tilted forward and his eye sagged closed, Astro squeezed Dandy’s hand firmly. “Hurry up…” Astro drawled. The rune had slowed his body and mind, and the sluggishness of his heart had left him cold and somewhat uncomfortable as he sat back against the chair. He leaned his head on Dandy’s as he focused his efforts on maintaining deep, steady breaths.
Austin prodded at Astro’s arm, and after a brief search, he found Astro’s vein. The needle poked through soft flesh, and though Astro didn’t react, Dandy’s tail rustled as he shuddered, a bit squeamish. The ink poured into the first vial, and once it was full, it was disconnected from the holder with a faint pop, and the second vial was slotted into place. The light blue ink was almost luminant, though not as bright as it should be. The hue was a shade too deep, an effect of ichor contamination. However, because it was not stained as dark as ichor itself, it served as clear proof that Astro’s addiction had been curbed.
The needle was withdrawn and replaced with a pad of gauze and steady pressure. Austin shuffled around with one hand, and turned once he had fetched a bandage to affix to the wound. He gave Astro a gentle pat on the shoulder before he helped Dandy fully lay Astro down upon the couch. Dandy resettled beside them as Austin set the used needle in the disposal bag.
Astro squeezed Dandy’s hand again, and the skin of his eyelid wrinkled as he further squeezed it shut. A heavier breath left them as he summoned his courage. He knew he wouldn’t feel it, knew that it wouldn’t hurt him, but still feared the sight.
Austin turned the TV volume up before he sanitized his hand with another wipe, then Astro’s upper arm. As the sharp scent of alcohol stung their noses, he packed some gauze below the incision area to catch the blood that would inevitably spill. The scalpel and scissors were removed from their packaging, and set neatly upon the table alongside the unsealed specimen container.
The soft sound of flesh tearing and scissors snipping tissue still felt audible over the explosions and orchestra of the TV.
Astro pushed down the unease that the sound brought, and thought instead of what it was all for. Though Austin made sure to take his time, he finished quickly, and with a final snip, he pulled the specimen away.
The cyan hue of Astro’s skin was layered over light blue flesh, and it reminded Dandy of a frosted cake. It was placed delicately into the sample container, and as it was sealed, the wound slowly welled up with ink. Even through the haze of Austin’s spell, the loss made Astro feel somewhat lightheaded. Dandy started to rub his back, and the slight tension that had crept into his limbs dissolved.
Austin filled the wound with the ointment, a thin grey slurry that absorbed Astro’s ink as it filled the gap. As he wiped away what had spilled, the sludge solidified into a wobbly, gelatinous material. Austin bandaged it with gauze and secured it with tape. It would fully cure within the hour, but it would take a few days for Astro’s body to properly repair the injury. The ointment simply helped give the healing process a head start.
As soon as he was done, Austin released the rune, and suddenly the world snapped back into focus. The wound hurt, but the painkillers in the ointment had already dulled the worst of it. The TV was louder than Astro would prefer, but the distraction wasn’t unwelcome.
Austin discarded the trash, replaced and sanitized his dirty gloves, then arranged the supplies for Dandy’s first collection. He picked up the black marble, before he turned to the flower-toon. “Your turn, bud.”
Dandy’s feet kicked against the couch and his tail twitched behind him, but he nodded and held out his arm. It was small in Austin’s huge hands as they sanitized his skin, before they traced the same shape over him as they had done with Astro.
Nothing happened.
Austin sighed. “Figures…” He grumbled, and without warning pressed the marble into the flesh of Dandy’s arm.
Dandy’s tail slammed against the couch, petals flaring out as something icy reached for his heart, then stretched behind it, beyond physicality. His breaths shook in short gasps as he began to hyperventilate, a horrid prickling crawling just beneath his skin. Tendrils pushed deeper, past the core of his bones, and Dandy shuddered and wriggled and—
Something within himself shifted, a resistance to an unspoken demand, her influence permeating his bones and demanding that he listen, obey, obey, obey—
He didn’t like it, he wanted it to stop, to leave him alone. Stay away.
Stay away—! Stay away! I will not bow to you—!
Austin pulled away, and the sensation abruptly vanished. Dandy recoiled into the couch. “I— I don’t—” His heartbeat pounded in his ears, and the organ slammed against his chest. His skin prickled and crawled and a violent shudder ran through him.
Austin tossed the marble on the table and knelt down to look Dandy in the eyes, face creased with clear concern. “It’s alright, you’re alright. I’m sorry. I just…” He looked away. “She told me that would work.”
Dandy’s petals curled in a subconscious attempt to hide. He absolutely hated modification. “I– I don’t want that.” He struggled to regain his breath. “I didn’t like it before, and I absolutely do not like it now.” His voice had a bit more bite than he intended, but his fingers wouldn’t stop twitching, his body was wracked with tremors, and when he focused, he could see the glint of red through the reflection of Austin’s glasses. When he looked down, and noticed that his soft fingernails had sharpened into small claws, and hints of color tinted the clear keratin. A moment of focus, and they receded.
“She isn’t going to like this.” Austin’s brows furrowed as he muttered, deep in thought, before his eyes shone with a spark of determination. He turned back to Dandy. “She won’t be happy with me, but she’ll just have to settle for bloodwork.”
Dandy huffed. “Why does she want my samples anyway?” It wasn’t as though she’d be his physician.
“For… study, mostly.” Austin admitted with a sigh. “It might give clues on how to reverse Astro’s mutations.”
Astro, who had slouched over on the couch and whose chest rose and fell with steady breaths, went completely still.
Dandy’s eyes widened, and the prickly irritation vanished immediately. “I— I don’t need a painkiller.”
Austin frowned. “No.”
“Why not?” Dandy pleaded. “If she needs these for Astro then I’ll give them.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Austin’s voice took on a sterner edge. “I’m not just going to hurt you like that. It can wait until we can get you an anesthetic.”
“Wait.” Astro spoke up. “What if I put him to sleep?”
“That still isn’t—”
“Austin— Please.” Dandy held his hand to his chest. “It’s the very least that I could do.” He shot a glance at Astro, but their focus was solely on their handler.
Astro had wanted to be cured for years. If he was turned back to normal, he could finally return to live with the other toons. He deserved that and so much more, and Dandy wouldn’t dare to stand in the way of that, even while it hurt him. If this could help in any way at all, then a little pain was nothing. Especially for all the trouble that he had caused.
Austin glanced between the pair, and his stern expression softened at Astro’s own determined gaze. He sighed, and relented. “Fine… but Astro, I’ll still need you to hold him.”
Astro nodded, but Dandy’s petals curled as anxiety curled in his gut. “Oh, you don’t have to—”
Astro’s head snapped down to affix him with a stern gaze. “No. I want to.” They spread their arms, an invitation. “Come here.”
Dandy hesitated for only a moment before he crawled into their arms. Their secondaries moved to secure him and their primaries settled upon his petals. The contact filled Dandy with a nostalgic warmth, but he shoved it in the back of his mind, and squeezed his eyes shut.
Austin shuffled beside them, and he took Dandy’s arm and pulled it into the cool open air. They sanitized the crook of this elbow as well as their gloves, the sharp scent of alcohol once again burned his nose. “Try to relax, alright?”
Dandy hummed, though his other hand curled a fist into his shirt.
The bite of the needle was slight but sharp, and as the ink was drawn a dizzying lightheadedness made his limbs twitch with restlessness. Anxiety made his lungs constrict, and he had to fight himself to draw deeper breaths.
Astro’s hands massaged and kneaded his petals, a familiar motion that made his tail quiver. At first, they smelled like fabric softener, but as he focused he could also detect hints of something burnt, like used charcoal. Astro’s true scent, faint traces of lunar regolith. One could only smell it if they got close. The nostalgia made his eyes burn. He had missed this.
Dandy’s body relaxed completely. He failed to notice the stardust that settled over him, that pulled him into the depths of sleep.
He drifted along the currents of the deep.
Until the sharp slice of the scalpel blade yanked him back to the surface.
Dandy’s leg kicked out, and his breath caught in his lungs. The flesh of his arm throbbed with a pain that rapidly expanded, the worst of it like a sharp tug on his nerves, insistent, constant. It dragged him above water that rolled in a desperate fight to keep him under.
His lungs heaved as his mind fought through the unnatural haze, and fear and confusion warred against the intentions of a vague memory. He knew that he was supposed to stay still, but he couldn’t remember why. It hurt— Something was actively hurting him—
Hands gently massaged his head, and thumbs rubbed over his cheeks. He sucked in a heaving breath and was met with the scent of fabric softener laced with gunpowder—
“This isn’t working.” A voice echoed through the sea.
“I’m almost done–” Another answered, distant.
A sob caught in Dandy’s throat, and his hand clung onto and pulled at something. “Stop–” His breath heaved, and the water continued to crash over him, threatening to drag him under.
Until suddenly, it was gone.
Tears streamed from Dandy’s eyes, and his heart hammered against his chest. His petals curled around his head in an instinctual attempt to hide as he struggled to suck in air, doing his best to gather his bearings.
There was a square of gauze taped to his arm, and gentle hands rubbed circles into his back. “That—” He managed to stutter out. “That was terrible.”
“I knew it was a bad idea—” Austin’s tone seemed almost pained. “She can make do with one—”
“No— No! Not that—” Astro released him as Dandy pulled a hand free to wipe away his own tears, and the throbbing pain in his arm spiked with the slightest movement. “Just… don’t put me to sleep. I didn’t like it.”
Austin’s hand slowed, before pulling away. “Do you… need a break?” His words were hesitant, unsure.
“I’m fine.” Dandy huffed, and sniffled hard in an attempt to force his breathing to smooth over. Astro loosened their grip as Dandy moved to crawl out from their arms. He settled down on the couch, and his tail curled around his legs.
Austin sighed as he moved to clean up, preparing for the third collection. “Alright… You can swap forms whenever you’re ready.”
Dandy didn’t reply, and even as Austin finished, they remained patient. Eventually stood and pulled his clothes off, folded them, and placed them upon the arm of the couch. He sat back down, eyes closed as he concentrated, attention focused inward as he searched for his ‘other’ self.
It had gotten harder to summon over the years as the ichor in his blood had thinned. But it felt as though some of it still lingered within his soul, rippling just beneath the surface. Once he focused and willed it to rise, it welled beneath his skin, and the once light green became mottled with near black splotches as the ichor seeped through.
He closed his eyes as it enveloped him, and an odd sensation ran through his limbs as his body softened, then expanded. His petals unfurled, the flesh thinning as the edges grew sharper. His fingers, limbs and torso lengthened and became more defined. The baby-soft fat that once made him marketable shifted across his body and broadened his shoulders and torso. His split apart into branches, filled out with stronger, firmer leaves than before.
When it had finished, Dandy was only slightly shorter than Austin, and the ichor that redefined him did not drip or stain the couch as it settled again beneath his skin. His colors returned as his body solidified, the strange sensation vanished. Dandy flexed his fingers experimentally and sighed. The tape had peeled and the gauze had fallen away, but all that remained of the previous incision was a slightly discolored square of flesh. He retrieved it from where it had fallen, and folded it over itself before he tossed it in the trash pile. “Okay…” He breathed out. “I’m ready.”
Austin approached, and Dandy held out his uninjured arm, a nervous glance thrown towards the supplies on the counter. He could see the other samples in a baggie on the table. Soft green ink with what seemed to be dark splotches. Austin swabbed the crook of his elbow, and surprise flickered over his face to see that the wipe was not stained. He prodded at their arm just as he had done with Astro, then lined the needle up with his vein. Then, it pushed in.
Dandy watched at first as the darker green fluid poured into the tube— before a hint of nausea made him squeeze his eyes shut. He focused on his breath and waited for Austin to be done.
A hand made its way to his petals, to rub the area behind them. Dandy relaxed and muttered a quiet “Thanks,” reassured by Astro’s presence.
Soon Austin was finished with the blood draw, but after they wrapped the wound a set of four arms pulled him down towards their lap. Dandy made a soft noise of surprise as Astro’s hands gently pat his head and stroked his petals, and a shudder ran through him to the tip of his tail as Austin swabbed his arm with cold alcohol. Stardust thickened the air around him and made it harder to move.
“Dandy.”
“I’m absolutely sure.”
“Alright. I’ll try to be quick.”
The first slice stung with an insistence that made his body jerk in reflex, and he did his best not to dig his nails into the couch.
Austin didn’t stop, didn’t hesitate even once as he continued the incisions. The scissors poked nerves and snipped flesh, and the scalpel cut deeper. Dandy whimpered and whined. His tail lashed violently, his lungs heaved for air. Astro’s hands rubbed along his shoulders, his back. A massage that attempted to soothe him as it also served to pin him down.
His teeth ground against each other as he grit his jaw. The next incision made his nerves scream, so Dandy wriggled his other arm free, shoved his hand into his mouth, and bit into the soft flesh. The branches of his tail creaked as they flexed and whipped against the armrest. Tears burned his eyes as they seeped out from beneath his eyelids.
Gentle hands wiped them away, and stardust pulled his hand from his mouth and gave him something else to bite into. Firmer than flesh, but softer than bone. As flavorless as air.
With a final slice of tender flesh, the specimen was finally secured, and the open wound throbbed and ached until Austin was able to fill it with the numbing ointment. Dandy sniffled and blinked away tears as the salve slowly eased the pain, and his muscles slowly began to relax from where they had been pulled taut. Austin wiped away the spilt ink with alcohol, and the area around the wound still felt tender as he bandaged it. As soon as they were done, Austin discarded his soiled gloves and pulled Dandy off of Astro, into his own arms.
Dandy’s petals and back felt cold where Astro’s hands had left them, but Austin did his best to replicate their warmth. “Good job,” His voice was soft and his chest rumbled beneath Dandy’s ear as they praised him. “You did so well. Thank you.”
For a short moment, Dandy was frozen. Some of it was shock, but most of it was fear. His hands trembled as he hesitated to lift them, to return the hug Austin with as gentle a grip as he could manage. He wanted to cling on, and his skin tingled and his eyes burned with the knowledge that they would inevitably let go. He didn’t want this to end.
But Dandy was dangerous.
So when Austin inevitably broke the hug, Dandy wiped away his tears and tried to shake off the longing that weighed him down.
“Astro, can you do me a favor, and put the samples in the freezer for me?”
Astro hummed in reply, then picked up the samples with all four hands, then moved silently to the kitchen. Dandy’s newest biopsy was a noticeably darker green than the other, a pronounced sign of ichor contamination.
Austin focused his attention on Dandy, looking him over, checking the bandages. “Do you want anything? Food, water?”
Dandy shook his head. “I’m okay… just a bit tired.”
Austin nodded. “Did you want to sleep in this form?” Dandy shook his head.
“Can you change back? That way I can fix your bandages for the night.”
Dandy nodded, then focused on his body. The ichor shifted, then rose up from beneath his skin to pull his body into the depths once more. His longer, sharper features returned to their soft, marketable shapes, the less functional, stubby limbs that once made him cute and profitable. The bandage and wrapping loosened and fell to the floor.
As he shifted, a sense of weakness chilled Dandy’s limbs, a fatigue that rose just as the ichor settled into his bones. He collapsed into Austin’s arms as they hurried to look him over, a curse falling from their lips as they moved to grab the last of the ink ointment and some gauze.
Dandy wasn’t bleeding, but his wound had reopened, the mottled green flesh of his newest gash glistening in the light. Austin was able to fill it with the last of the ointment tube, but rummaged through his backpack again as Dandy blinked blearily beside him.
A bar of chocolate was retrieved, opened, and pushed into Dandy’s lips. The first bite was hesitant, but upon hitting his tongue, his body was hit by a wave of raw craving. He hardly tasted it as he scarfed it down in seconds, and the wrapper was pulled from his hands and replaced with a portion of cold cornbread. After a few hurried bites, Dandy slowed down to chew. Austin wrapped his arm and dressed him while he ate, then let Dandy rest in the crook of his arm. Soon enough, the cornbread was gone, the lightheadedness soon to follow suit.
For a moment, Dandy felt warm.
Then the illusion was broken. “I’ll need to speak with Astro, privately.”
Dandy’s petals drooped, but Austin continued. “I still need to examine him, and I’ll have to drive the samples over tonight. I’ll need to leave as soon as I’m done.”
“...Alright.” Dandy couldn’t hide the disappointment in his voice. He pushed himself out of Austin’s grip and wobbled just slightly, still fatigued. “I’ll get out of your way, then.”
Austin reached out, hesitating for a second before his hand moved instead to rough up Dandy’s petals. “Thank you, Dandy. Truly.” He watched as their petals quivered and flared out from where they had curled, and their tail twitched behind them. “Take care of yourself, alright?”
Dandy hummed and waved a hand, before he padded out towards the main hall.
The main hall of the suite was quite long for a toon, as the suite itself served a dual purpose. It housed the bedrooms and general amenities of the main-cast, but it also served as an attraction itself. The walls were decorated with posters and knick-knacks that pertained to each toon, a display for all of what each one was supposed to be.
Beside the door to Shelly’s room sat a small display of ‘fossils’ that she once meticulously maintained, a semi-personal collection of replicas. Sprout’s door was fairly plain, though he had kept a few photos on display of the cakes and other large pastries he and Cosmo had been proud of baking.
Vee’s door had less decor, mostly stickers and posters that Walton had put up to decorate the area. Astro’s door was similarly plain, though quite a lot of effort had gone into the space themed stickers that decorated the walls.
At the very end of the hall sat Dandy’s room. It was mainly designed by Mr. Walton, with grass and flowers painted upon the walls, and a bulletin board decorated with photos of various keystone events. A short dog door had been installed for Pebble, but it was dusty with disuse.
Dandy reached up for the doorknob. It stood tall enough to be too high for toons, and low enough to be too short for humans. He opened the door, stepped inside, and pushed it closed behind him with a sigh.
Ever since the closure, Dandy’s room had always felt somewhat cold. Most of his room had once been dedicated to toys, treats, and bedding for Pebble. Upon his request, Austin had taken all of it back for them within the first year, and it had left the room mostly barren. Dandy didn’t have much to fill the space with. He never had many interests or hobbies— he had mainly busied himself by spending his time with the other toons. The enthusiasm they had for their own hobbies was not something that he could share, but for Dandy, their company had been more than enough.
Nowadays, the only ‘hobbies’ he had mainly pertained to Astro. He taught himself how to cook and bake to an acceptable standard. He would watch movies or learn how to play video games after Astro expressed interest in them. Most of his focus went towards Astro’s enjoyment, rather than his own.
It was an obsession that he had been created with, one that pained him when Astro had grown distant and cold, and even more so now, knowing that he was going to leave.
The ache in his heart was a constant reminder of what he had ruined.
Dandy turned off the light and stumbled to his bed. He hauled himself up and settled beneath the blanket, adjusted his petals, and lay his head upon the pillow.
He glanced at the alarm clock that sat on his nightstand. It was a simple black box with a digital display, with a built in radio that wouldn’t work underground. A gift from Devan from long, long ago. It was his only companion now.
10:38 PM.
Dandy squeezed his eyes shut, and tossed and turned, an attempt to find a comfortable position in order to sleep. But no matter how tightly Dandy curled the blankets around himself, he could not shake the chill that plagued him. The room felt all too large, and though air struggled to flow through the aging vents, the blanket was too thin, and leeched heat into the open air.
Maybe he could ask Astro if he could borrow a thicker blanket… No, no. They wouldn’t want to be bothered.
A glance at the clock. 11 PM. It was too late to bother them. Besides, Astro always locked his door these days. If he bothered them for something so trivial, it would only piss them off.
11:01.
Dandy shut his eyes and turned away. He had to get used to it. He’d be all alone soon, and he knew that he’d have to accept it. The sooner he did so, the better.
But the minutes ticked by, and the room only seemed to grow larger. All too wide. Too cold.
Another glance at the clock.
11:15.
11:30.
11:50.
Sleep eluded him.
The room grew larger.
At some point, his breath had begun to shudder and shake in his lungs.
Dandy kicked the blanket away, and it slumped to the floor as he scrambled off of the bed. He beelined for the closet, for somewhere small and enclosed because the room was too big and he was so tired and everything was just so cold—
He was unsteady on his feet and stumbled into the closet door, and his knuckles ached with how firmly he gripped the handle. He pulled it open and shoved himself past old boxes and clothes as he crept into a familiar corner.
The closet was just big enough for a toon to hide within, though Dandy had always been a bit on the smaller side. The feeling of the walls pressing on his body helped only slightly, though comfort was not the true reason he had fled here.
Tears dripped from his eyes, and though they were mostly clear, ichor still tinted them, and stained whatever they touched. He would have to change his clothes in the morning, but it was better than staining the bedding more than it already was.
Though it wasn’t as if anyone else would see it. Soon he’d be completely alone.
His heart ached, and his petals closed around his face. There was a part of him that had wanted to beg Austin for help, to get down on his knees just for the chance that he wouldn’t be abandoned again.
But Dandy knew full well that it was what he deserved.
The faint click of the bedroom doorknob went unheard, as did the soft, near imperceptible footsteps that slowly lurched across the room. It was only the sensation of hands placed on his shoulders that made Dandy squeak in surprise. His tail lashed out as his petals flared out in alarm, before wide eyes snapped towards, then recognized Astro looming above him.
Dandy choked on a sob as his petals curled in shame.
Astro was gentle, and a cluster of stardust enveloped Dandy and lifted him into the air. Dandy cowered as he drifted into their embrace, and they made no effort to untangle his limbs or pry open his petals. Their secondary arms scooped beneath his knees while their primaries rubbed gentle circles across his back and head.
A soft whine escaped him, and his breath shook as he resisted the upheaval in his lungs, and the sobs it would inevitably cause. Astro didn’t speak, though he did release a deep sigh as he slowly made his way to his own room. His hands continued their motions while his stars opened and closed doors.
Astro’s room was dark and quiet, and often felt much smaller than Dandy remembered, on account of the furniture Austin had bought to accommodate Astro’s new size. Some of the decor had to be moved, stickers and displays repositioned, repurposed, or replaced, all to better suit the full size bed that had replaced the toon sized one.
A bookshelf had been moved out of the room to allow a TV set to be brought in, and on its shelf was a number of documentaries that Astro often played as white noise. The bookshelf was full of titles that the book club specifically had sent to Astro, and not a speck of dust marred their pages. Boxes of older sets sat beside it, put away for the sake of being neat, but no less cherished.
Astro said nothing as he settled back down on his bed and pulled the blanket around the both of them, tucking it in diagonally so that both of their heads could remain uncovered. His hands stroked Dandy’s petals, as faintly flickering stardust brought tissues to dab away their tears.
Dandy stayed as still as he could manage. A part of himself wanted to turn and cling to Astro, and beg them not to leave. It wanted to lean into their touch and demand more of the affection that he missed so.
But he stayed still and worked to curb his tears as his breath shook in his lungs, until eventually that had settled into silence.
He wasn’t sure if it was Astro’s power or his own exhaustion that made his breath heavy and his limbs sluggish, but as it pulled him under, he heard the soft rumblings of Astro’s voice against his back. Even as he tried to focus on it, even as they continued to speak, the words didn’t register.
Dandy fell into slumber. He was warm, he was safe, and for a moment, he could pretend that he was loved.
He did not dream.
.
. .
. . .
. .
.
When Dandy woke, he was alone.
The blanket was still wrapped around him, and the pillow was placed beneath his head. The fabric had the faintest scent of charcoal.