Chapter Text
Goob and Looey stood in a room. Completely alone. Craft raised his head, clearly flustered with his cheeks slightly reddish. His eyes half-lifted as Balloon approached him, with distance now so low you could count centimeters between them on one hand. Looey's tail wagged, but not slow as usual. It waved left to right every spare second it had.
They stopped breathing, afraid if the other wanted to lean in first, but in the end they just slowly met each other’s lips. It was gentle, with Looey covering Goob's upper lips that felt so soft. A little smooch echoed across the room. One of them took a relieved long sigh. Balloon's fingers tensed at Fluffy Craft's shoulders. Not to bring closer, but just to let the other know they were here.
Goob felt awkward, with their mouths close to each other without any movement for too long. He couldn't stop himself from tilting his head, unintentionally making another wet sound. He deepened the kiss and that should have made Looey happy. Instead, for some reason it his tail dropped, with Looey flinching. And Goob noticed that, not doing anything else to scare away his partner. But it was already too late. Balloon's honest and intimate thoughts being replaced with scary scenarios.
What if something will go wrong? What if Goob accidentally bites Looey's tongue? What if Looey will unintentionally lick Goob's sharp tooth? Will Looey pop Goob's fangs? Is it even possible for them to do that safely?
Looey suddenly moved, almost pushing Goob's shoulders away. Their mouth forming a straight line that Goob couldn't see anyway, because now their lips were kissing inside of their elbow. Goob's stared frightened, blinking twice. The taste of Looey that still remained in a tip of his tongue now leaving a very bitter scent in the end. Craft felt somewhat betrayed, with ends of his eyebrows pointing down and eyes now observing every part of Looey.
"Why?" Goob whispered, his head now standing straight.
He hoped Looey would remember. Wouldn't push him away like he promised.
Looey forgot how to breathe, he stared back. Stared at a toon that asked him a direct question, but Looey knew he couldn't give him that. Not this second, not this minute.
"Did I do something… wrong?" Goob's voice remained quiet, now sounding even shaky.
"It's me, don't worry-" Looey quickly mumbled while looking at the door, hoping that some ghost or pinata would suddenly kick the door.
And Goob felt it. There was clear hurt that showed through his spiked fur. His long arms stretched and reached to his own chest, palm squeezing the not so fluffy neck fluff.
"Looey, are you sure?" Craft asked an innocent question.
Clown's breath hitched. When Goob's claws ran through his chest close to his heart, Looey quickly thought about those sharp fingers, but around themselves. They imagined how it would hurt them, pop his fragile skin and then heart. And it filled them with fear. They couldn't lie to themselves, to their special sometoon.
"Y-your fangs…" Looey shyly pointed at his own mouth as an example.
An awkward smile appeared on his face, but it didn't seem to reassure Goob in a slightest way.
"So it is me" Craft mumbled to himself, gaze locking to something unimportant on the floor.
Goob's thin black strings tangled around each other close to his stomach, mimicking what crossed arms would look on a toon with normal arms. He balanced on one foot for a moment just to remind himself where his body where.
"No, don't say it like that" Looey would've taken step closer if not his racing heart.
"I just don't see any other reason why you would hide that" Goob's foot that remained in the air for some time now took a step closer. "I thought you didn't like being pressured into answering, but how else can I know what's truly happening?"
Goob's eyes were filled with such unknown for Balloon tenderness that it made their tail flinch. Looey squeezed his palm into a fist, cheeks giving away the usual neon blush that already seemed like a tradition. Fluffy Craft softly sighed, untangling his arms to appear more open. He balanced his head to the side, mouth giving away a short smile. His palm appearing in front of Looey, not grabbing, but rather inviting the other to place their own hand on his.
And Looey's previous fist relaxed. But just for a moment, as now relaxed arm started to noticeably tremble. They probably hid the fact it was.
Goob looked at it with guilt, with sadness and fatigue. His arms dropping to the floor with a clear knock. Looey stared at them unable to speak, but even if he was about to do that, Craft already started to take confident steps to the door. Passing right past him.
Clown at first didn't realize that was happening, now it was his turn to confusingly blink his eyes. He immediately moved his whole body just to look at Goob, but he didn't look back.
"You need to calm down, Looey, I don't want to upset you even more" he spoke calmly, but his head was clearly lowered and pace more tired.
"No-no-no… Goob!" Looey took exactly four steps towards Goob, but it wasn't enough. "You can't leave just now" they stretched their arms towards Goob.
Craft finally snapped, suddenly turning to the Clown and quickly closing the distance between them. Balloon froze, watching as Goob's face appeared in front of them. They, of course, flickered. Their breath unable to be stable for just one moment because of both scary and desired thoughts.
"I-I-uhm… I…"
But Goob just continued to stare. Angrily. He even stood on a tips of his legs, just to appear more confident, dominant.
Looey shut his eyes, afraid of future. He hoped all of this could end, but the worst part was that it didn't even start. The warm breath of Craft disappeared, leaving a cold, goosebumps giving air between them.
"Why did you fall in love with me, if you are so afraid of sharp things?" Goob swallowed his previous confidence, "I see that you actually struggle, Looey. How you're trying to ignore it. But I'm sorry, I just-" He shook his head left to right, gaze locked on their shocked eyes.
Goob tried to complete his sentence, but instead covered his mouth with a palm. He took a little step back, lowering head and squeezed his lashes together. But Clown didn't mind, he took a step closer right after him, his shaking arms just as stretched as before. Goob opened his eyes that were now teary, glistening from warm lights in toon's room.
"I'm sorry, I can't look at you suffering with me" Craft brushed something off with his palm by the corner of his eyes, but Looey couldn't tell what it was because of how fast it happened. "I can't help you. You're afraid of me just being near"
Looey's arms fell down as Goob just opened the door and closed it.
They could have chased the other, could have tried to explain themselves. However they stood right next to the door, palm never reached the doorknob for the rest of the night. Their purple arm never seemed to calm down. Only with pressure they could’ve stopped its shudder.
He reached for his neck, index and middle fingers searched for his pulse. Rough, rapid rate bumped against his delicate skin. Balloon winced, slightly pinching himself. Despite ichor suspiciously quickly traveling his veins, he felt lightheaded, tired.
With a guilty expression Looey glanced at his bed. How will he fall asleep now, knowing he upset his special sometoon? He sat and bed under him softly creaked. But eyes seemed to shut on their own, slowly replacing the dizziness with sleepiness. And now they were laying, trying to get some rest.
It was a difficult night.
Difficult morning right after a useless dream.
It was hard to wake up, but at least no toon bothered them. The sadness they were going through last evening was unbearable. Right when Goob shut the door right in front of their face.
Looey would squeeze and stretch his ears almost popping them. He never realized how much it would hurt to hear Goob's voice so unsatisfied, genuinely tired. And it was all because of him.
However now it their emotions were stronger. Pity switching to some inexplicable anger that was hid deep down in their heart. Looey wanted to make it other toon's fault. They wanted, but they couldn't.
Balloon got out of bed, soft steps filling Gardenview. Almost too quiet this morning.
He had a quick breakfast, so quick in fact he forgot to eat food and just drank a cup of tea. He looked at this tea with both apathy and confusion, since he didn’t even remember how he got said cup. While no toon was looking, he left this poor item on a counter. As soon as he moved away from it, small red toon safely borrowed it. But clown continued to walk, too deep in his thoughts.
Looey kept slowly petting his elbow up and down, looking around. But his eyes never focused on anything. They were searching for something, useless silhouettes or situations immediately leaving his memory.
And sometoon also noticed it.
Connie hid behind a wall, waiting for another prey to approach her. Her ghostly tail carefully swung the air around her. And a clown passed her.
She smirked, waiting for them to also hide behind her shoulder, to join her into this silly prank, but they just kept walking. Too silent. Ghost raised her eyebrow, looking from her back at Looey, who seemed to wander around like some background toon. Her face tensed up, but for just a second. A chill grin appeared, she casually started to follow her friend.
"Ello, Balloon boy" she bumped into him in a friendly manner, waiting for other to react.
But they didn't. Their face quickly disappearing from Connie's point of view. However, that wasn't a big deal, she just continued to take the same path as them.
"What are you up to?" She muttered.
And Looey stopped. He looked at her, face completely still and serious. She smiled at him, but he just rolled his eyes and took another step. His palm turning into a fist.
"Looeeeyyyy~" Connie continued to bother him.
"Just what!?" Looey shouted, spreading their arms to the side.
He stared at the Ghost, just as scared and puzzled. Connie tilted her head scratching her neck. Of course there would be moments when Looey would snap at her, but she always knew the cause of it beforehand.
"Jee, why so tense, Loo?" She genuinely asked, her arms crossing and whole body giving a more clear distance.
Clown's eye twitched. They knew exactly whose pose reminded them of Connie's.
"Nothing" they mumbled, taking clear, even loud footsteps.
"Ooooh no! You're not going anywhere now!" She said clearly smiling and following Looey to their room.
It felt like for some sick reason universe specifically reminded Looey about Goob. About their first fight. Balloon squeezed his fingers into a fist, trying to hide the shaking hand again.
"You will tell me what's wrong" she said more to herself than to the other, but it still made Looey tense his facial expression.
Looey smashed the door in front of ghost's face and locked it. Too bad he forgot she was a ghost.
Connie flied right through the door, giving her friend a usual smile with half-lifted eyes.
"You will." She whispered.
Looey didn't sigh, didn't say anything, he just walked towards his bed and basically jumped on it face down. Connie kept him close company, watching other toon's actions. Her ghost tail giving out a fast wag as she giggled.
"Come oonn, you clown" she tried poking their ear, but the touch was barely noticeable because of her physic. "You know I will bother you all day in front of every toon if you won't"
Looey just groaned. Not the usual sound they make, but it was still clear and frustrated. Their tail now also giving a twitch. They hated how easy it was for them to be cheered up. Balloon rolled on their bed, now facing the ceiling, but not for long as Connie quickly covered it with her face. Looey slowly blinked, their left and right fingers interlocking on their chest and gaze still trying hardest to avoid the ghost. But Connie just played along. She hid her arms behind her back and kept quickly covering the areas Looey would stare at. Eventually Looey just angrily stared right at Connie, with her proudly smirking.
"Soooo?" She waited, hoping she pushed well enough.
Looey closed his eyes and loudly sighed. Connie already wanted to joke about him falling asleep, but she was quickly interrupted with Looey's deeper voice.
"It's personal" he tried to brush it off one last time, just in case if Connie will actually go away.
Instead, she happily fell onto the bed, her head laying on both of her palms, "Give away the tea" she excitedly said.
Looey opened his eyes and tilted his head, confusingly staring at Connie. But she just winked at him. That stupid ghost. Looey looked at the ceiling again, his eyes wondering over white wall above them.
"Connie?" They cleared their throat.
"Hm?" She immediately hummed.
"Have you ever been in a relationship before?" They started off shy, thumb petting another thumb.
"Uhh… Not yet…?" She shrugged her shoulders, "Have you?"
Looey's fingers squeezed each other. Connie got that sign immediately.
"NO." She sat up, eyes becoming the most open Looey has ever seen.
Looey swallowed the saliva that kept saving up in his throat. He blushed, slightly but noticeably.
"We've been dating for two weeks" Looey started to explain himself, "Nobody knows about this, I wanted to keep this relationship hidden for at least a month, but..." He stared at Connie, giving a guilty smile.
Connie's eyes darted across Looey's body language, and all of it screamed that it was true. Even their tail started to slowly beat the bed. She slowly tilted her head to look at the wall and then the ceiling when she layed on the bed again.
"…Two weeks" she repeated, "That toon must have a lot of stealth"
"Uhm…" Looey softly giggled, shaking their head, "No, not really…"
"Who is it?" She finally asked, making Looey's tail wag even more clearly.
"Goob" they didn't whisper, but voice was still too quiet for Connie to catch that.
"Huh?" She turned to look at Looey.
"The Fluffy Craft" they spoke more clearly.
Connie blinked. Blinked again. The uncomfortable silence filling the room. Only one question going through her head.
"HOW did this happen?" She shouted it out.
Looey couldn't help but form a straight line with his mouth, trying best to hide the stupid smile. His cheeks becoming warmer, neon purple and green covering his face.
"I just got lucky" he shrugged his shoulders.
The satisfaction of getting it off his chest, sharing his happiness made him finally show a proper smile. The thought that after all this time he and Goob were finally official made him feel like he was the luckiest toon in Gardenview. They are dating.
Or maybe were.
Clown shivered, sudden weight on their chest felt too heavy for them to carry alone. They took a shaky breath, horrific thoughts filling their mind. Connie stared, waiting for the explanation of their sudden mood change.
"We had a little disagreement-" Looey started to actually share the problem.
"Disagreement with the youngest Craft???" She interrupted them, but quickly realized her mistake when Looey looked at her. She cleared her throat, "Sorry, continue"
Balloon's mind switched to thinking about Connie. How she doesn't know Goob that well as he does. How whole Gardenview don't view him as a type to have an actual opinion. And it felt wrong, Looey knows he isn't like that. Goob is strong, he is more than the youngest Craft. He felt… Protective.
He shook his head, trying not to focus too much on Connie's accidental words. He was now recalling what he was about to say next, his brain slowly starting to realize that it was that part now that he needed to explain. Looey loudly cleared his throat.
"So… we had a kiss" Balloon barely got that out of themselves, waiting for ghost's reaction.
"Mhm, boys kiss, I get that" She teased them, her reaction suspiciously calm.
"Shut up" they jokingly said, taking a deep breath, "And… You know Goob has fangs, right?" Looey's ear twitched, feeling how another way of panic approached them.
"Did he bit you?" Connie suddenly asked, a clear smirk appeared on her face, "I’m not judging" she snorted.
"No he didn't" Looey rolled their eyes, "…But I was afraid he would and pushed him away. And he, of course, didn't really like that… Aaand…" They felt awkward, explaining something so private to another toon, "And he said something about «why you even love me if you hate sharp things»"
Looey turned to Connie, looking at her expression. It was now serious, actually listening. Not judging. And it felt nice knowing that.
"And I tried to do something about it, but he almost cried when he saw how I flinched every time" Clown exaggerated the situation just to get the message as fast as they could, "Then he just left and we never talked since."
"Mhm…" Connie stared at nothing, deep in her thoughts and nodding.
She wasn't really sure what to say. «Yeah man that's complicated»? She shook her head.
"He still loves you" Connie said whatever came to mind.
"Huh?" Looey's breath hitched.
"Even from your own words I can still feel that he loves you. And you love him, correct?" She started off strong.
"I, uh- I don't know… Maybe? I guess?" Looey blushed.
"Do you love him or not?" Connie's voice toughened, getting a little fed up with Looey's uncertainty.
"Yes, yes I love Goob" he clearly stated.
"Do you think you can survive without kissing him?"
"Well… yeah, I would, but Goob probably-" Looey was afraid. They knew their partner loved physical contact and they felt like they were obligated to provide it to him.
"Tell him that" Connie interrupted, "Tell him you love him despite everything. And probably learn how not to be afraid of everything sharp so he also won't freak out"
"Easier said than done" Looey tiredly sighed, he had this fear for two and a half decades, how he was supposed to get rid of it now?
"At least try so he won't be sad. Do something nice for him for once" Ghost sat up and then flew above the bed.
And that made Looey think. They actually started to question the ratio of all of the things Goob did for them and a few moments when Looey was just… There. They sat up, watching ghost fly away. Left ear twitched, as they blinked and Clown opened their mouth again.
"Don't tell any toon about Goob and I" he commanded, voice unusually tough.
"Wasn't planning to anyway" Connie mumbled and turned to look at Balloon before exiting the room, "It would be awkward if you guys will actually break up"
She finally phased through the door, leaving Looey completely alone.