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The room filled with light as the grand curtains closed. Blank mannequins made their way to the exit while muttering gibberish. Gangle looked over at an absolutely wasted Zooble next to her.
“Congrats on the award,” She giggled, but the following silence made her itch with subtle worry. “Zooble?” The ribbon girl extended a silk hand out to their colorful friend, but they shooed her away with an empty condiment container.
Zooble wiped the pink liquid off their lashes with the palm of their hand, saying nothing and just staring with dilated pupils.
“Uhm,” Gangle shrunk like a scared puppy. She leaned closer to Zooble, almost brushing their shoulder. “I think you’ve had a little too much,” Gangle let out a sympathetic laugh, and reached a ribbon for the stupid sauce.
Zooble instinctively snapped their arm opposite of Gangle. They held a serious and deadpan expression, but it melted into a tipsy smile upon seeing the ribbon girl.
The jumble of part’s zig-zag antenna and plastic dragon wing twitched subtly. Zooble dropped the container into their neighboring seat, forgetting about it completely, and sat up to lean closer to their friend.
Gangle drew back as Zooble pushed forward, keeping inches from her face.
“I can help you back to your room,” Gangle dove away from Zooble, and lifted herself out of the theatre seat. She gave Zooble an asking smile with her hand extended to them.
“I’d love that,” their voice cut through her like butter. Unnaturally quiet and deliberate, but undertoned with breathy laughs.
Zooble hurled themself out of their seat, and completely missed Gangle’s hand. She acted fast though, something about hunting your friends down with guns really sharpens your reflexes.
Her arm wrapped around Zooble’s, while she used the rest of her strength to lift her limp partner.
Gangle decided to stay quiet, she didn't want to risk the possibility of Zooble saying something personal or dangerous to their friendship. She kept telling herself whatever they would inevitably say would just be intoxicated comments and intrusive thoughts.
Zooble leaned into Gangle with their head inches below hers. They did not seem to mind Gangle’s slow pace or the fact that they left the bottle behind, all they seemed to do was absorb the other’s presence.
Gangle ignored the unnatural beating in her inorganic chest as well as she could. While Zooble fidgeted with her arm wrapped around them. They started by folding and flipping her hand around like paper, and then used their stabilizing arm to twirl her other hand around their yellow fingers.
Gangle’s mind spun with fantasies ripped straight from her sketchbook. She was filled with the same flurry of embarrassment and joy she got from writing out her thoughts.
Zooble began to trace lines over her ribbons, letting out quiet laughs at Gangle’s full-body shivers.
“You’re so sensitive,” They spoke in the same melodic tone. Only right against Gangle’s ear. Causing her to shiver more, and thus bringing more muted giggles
Gangle’s mind panicked with an overload of emotions.
Her thoughts overtook her so much she did not realize how long or far she had walked until she nearly slammed into a door.
“You ok?” Zooble whispered, snapping Gangle out of her trance.
Every ‘real’ sensation came back to Gangle. The weight of Zooble leaning against them, the hallway’s vacant silence being broken by artificial breathing, the sensation of Zooble’s abnormal hands twiddling with her own.
It was virtually as oppressive as her previous sea of thoughts.
Gangle gave a weak nod and looked up at the photo on the door. The picture was of Zooble, a flawless mirror of their current look.
She smiled at the image, and mentally recalled the day she realized the plaque changes depending on Zooble’s current look.
“Oh, I really need to stop,” Gangle scolded herself softly. Zooble let out a questioning hum that was directly ignored by Gangle. The mess of a lesbian immediately focused on the doorknob more profoundly than intended instead.
Her body felt stiff, like a force was keeping her from doing such a simple task. Zooble must have noticed, or it was just drunken blind luck, and languidly pushed the door open with their polkadot magenta leg.
The simple, and possibly unintentional gesture was just enough to return Gangle’s lost confidence. She lugged her limp friend into the chaotic bedroom filled with enough mirrors to make anyone feel claustrophobic.
Her foot tapped the back of the door to shut it while she scanned the room for a spot to put Zooble.
What she didn't think to check first was if they were even still awake. She sidled toward the open toy box and took a fleeting glance at Zooble’s supposedly sleeping face.
The ribbon girl lowered to her knees and draped their partner over the pile of pieces. As she turned to leave, a gloved hand grabbed her wrist with a gentle care.
“Stay,” Zooble’s voice floated barely above a whisper, and was dangerously close to an eager beg.
Gangle turned back around, returning to her knees and resting her mask on the edge of the box. Her free arm barely lifted her head into a tilt, while the other was still in Zooble’s tender grasp.
Everything in Gangle’s head screamed at her that staying would just get her hurt in the end; but a quiet, more desperate and pent up feeling deep in her chest begged her to stay.
Zooble’s gaze was fixated on the ribbon she held with fragile care as she spun it around and studied it closely. Their eyes followed the path from Gangle’s hand up to her enchanting face. They reached out a hand that wanted so bad but knew it couldn't be.
“Gangle?” Zooble murmured, hand frozen in air. Gangle alleviated her gaze to match Zooble’s, and could only squeeze out a thoughtful hum. “No, I need to know you're listening,” their voice masked a needy whine.
Gangle’s expression mirrored the confusion and understanding tearing through her mind. She leaned deeper into the box, keeping Zooble’s fleeting eye contact.
“I’m listening,” Gangle maintained a cool voice in hopes of hiding her beating chest. She swirled her arm around Zooble’s toying finger, and watched them journey back to meet her eyes.
“Please, stay.” Their eyes were intense but scared to lose the moment. Every word came out prepared and followed by watchful eyes taking note of what they said on her face. “I’ve never met someone like you… beautiful inside and out..” They trailed off.
Gangle drew back in surprise, covering her face with both hands. Zooble held out their other hand, eyes sad from being ripped of her touch.
“I’m sorry… I don't think I'm thinking straight right now,” They folded their arms and sank into their own touch.
Gangle removed her hands, processing the situation carefully. She scrambled to think of what to say, but acted before figuring it out.
Zooble looked down at their arms as a cherry red ribbon wrapped around them, and pulled them closer to the girl outside the box.
They extended their conflicting hands out and around her porcelain face. Their wary fingers barely made contact with her face, but their eyes wanted more.
Zooble slowly pulled Gangle in, but was pushed away by a ribbon over their ‘mouth.’
“Gangle..” Zooble purred.
“I don't want to..” Gangle reared her head, choosing her words carefully, “push anything while you’re.. Not fully you.”
Zooble let go of Gangle’s face, and returned to fidgeting with her hands. Their eyes gathered invisible words scattered across the floor meticulously.
“It’s not the stupid sauce,” Zooble shook their head tenuously, “I’ve always liked you,” they clung to Gangle like a lifeline.
“Zooble..” Gangle fought off every thought to fall into her fantasies.
“You’ve always been here with me, and,” Their voice wavered, “I need you.”
Gangle couldn't bring herself to talk, let alone move. She felt as if time had stopped and whatever decision she made next would only make her head spin more.
Zooble waited eagerly for a reply, smiling at the silence from their partner.
“So please..” Zooble made sure Gangle was listening, “Stay with me.” Their voice shook abnormally.
Gangle lifted herself up, telling everything in her eyes. She ignored the frantic thoughts trying to pry her from reality, and felt the uneasy comfort of silence.
Zooble held on to her tighter as she approached, acting like a reminder that neither of them were alone.
Gangle inched closer, fighting her muscles telling her to run.
Closer, she could see the tears glossing Zooble’s eyes.
Closer, everything felt real.
Close.
Their heads clinked together in a futile attempt at intimacy. Even so, Zooble cupped her mask in their large hands. Trying desperately to hold onto the moment forever.
The two felt like one, the piece missing inside both of them finally found.
Both lovers spent the night together in silence. Communicating through small gestures and hurting glances. Everything was quiet, it felt normal, even for just a moment.