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The garden had a way of never being quiet.
Even on its calmer days, there was always something, the rustle of movement, overlapping conversations, the occasional burst of laughter or argument. It all blended together into a constant, living hum.
Most Toons found it comforting.
Shrimpo didn’t.
Today, it just made everything harder to ignore.
It lingered near the edge of the garden longer than it should have, arms crossed tightly, gaze flicking toward the shop and then away again.
Toward the counter.
Toward him.
Dyle stood where he always did composed, precise, speaking to a customer with that same calm, measured tone.
Like nothing ever rattled him. Like nothing ever could.
Shrimpo’s jaw tightened.
It shouldn’t care this much.
That was the problem.
“…you really think that’ll last?”
The voice wasn’t meant for it.
Shrimpo stilled anyway.
A little further down the path, half-hidden behind a cluster of painted flowers, Dandy stood with Vee.
His posture was relaxed, his smile perfectly in place, but his tone carried something sharper underneath.
Vee’s screen flickered faintly. “Statistically, unlikely,” she replied. “Behavioral patterns suggest incompatibility.”
Dandy hummed, tilting his head just slightly. “Exactly. It’s hardly sustainable, is it? Someone like Dyle… settling for someone so…” He trailed off, smile sharpening.
“Temporary.”
Something hot and immediate flared in Shrimpo’s chest.
It didn’t wait to hear the rest.
Didn’t want to.
Because the worst part wasn’t that Dandy said it.
It was that a small, quiet piece of Shrimpo thought he might be right.
Dyle was…
Dyle was Dyle.
Calm. Put-together. Respected.
And Shrimpo was…
Shrimpo.
Loud. Difficult. Too much.
Too temporary.
Its grip tightened against its arms before it pushed itself away from the wall, movement sharp, purposeful.
Fine.
If that’s how it looked,
If that’s what everyone thought,
Then it would make it clear.
…
The walk to the counter felt longer than it should have.
Each step dragged just slightly, hesitation threading through its movements despite the fire still burning in its chest.
It could still turn around. Pretend this never happened.
Pretend nothing was happening.
But then Dyle glanced up briefly, and their eyes met..
..and Shrimpo kept going.
It climbed onto the stool in front of the counter, the familiar scrape of wood against the floor louder than it should have been.
Dyle had put that stool there weeks ago.
Hadn’t said anything about it.
He just… noticed that it would help Shrimpo, he always noticed things..
“Shrimpo,” Dyle greeted, voice smooth and even.
“How may I assist you?”
Like always.
Like this was normal.
Like Shrimpo wasn’t about to do something incredibly stupid.
It opened its mouth, yet nothing came out.
Because suddenly it was aware of everything.
Dandy, still across the hall.
Watching.
Other toons nearby, attention drifting over to them just slightly.
Too many people.
“Shrimpo,” Dyle tried again, quieter this time.
Still nothing.
A pause.
Then Dyle reached forward, taking its hand.
The contact was gentle, grounding in a way that made something in Shrimpo’s chest twist instead of settle.
“Darling,” he murmured.
That did it.
Shrimpo snapped back, scowling on instinct.
“What?”
Dyle tilted his head slightly, studying it.
“You came up here for a reason so please do tell.”
His hand slipped away again.
And Shrimpo felt the absence of it immediately.
“Yeah,” it muttered, gaze dropping.
“Shrimpo did.”
“Then?” Dyle prompted softly, leaning in before straightening again.
Because someone was watching.
Sprout.
Only for a second.
But long enough.
Shrimpo noticed.
Of course it did.
Everyone was watching.
Dandy’s smile looked just a little too satisfied now, like he was waiting for something to fail.
Waiting for Shrimpo to fail.
Its chest tightened.
Fine.
Fine.
“Thinking that…” Shrimpo started, then stopped, frustration bubbling over.
It gripped the edge of the counter, claws pressing into the surface.
Dyle’s gaze softened, searching its face carefully, like he was trying to piece something together without pushing too hard.
“Thinking what, dear?” Dyle whispered.
Shrimpo glanced around one last time.
Too many eyes.
Too many expectations.
Too many reasons to back out.
And one very loud reason not to.
Its grip tightened.
Then it leaned in.
Dyle froze.
Shrimpo’s lips pressed against his, quick, uncertain, driven more by momentum than confidence.
But real.
The world seemed to hold its breath.
Shrimpo pulled back just slightly, breath uneven. “...Is that ok?”
For a moment, Dyle didn’t move.
Then he nodded.
And this time, he didn’t look around.
His hand came up, resting against Shrimpo’s cheek,steady, warm, intentional and he leaned in again.
Slower.
Softer.
Like he was giving Shrimpo the chance to regret it.
It didn’t.
Shrimpo’s hand found his, holding on tighter than it meant to.
The second kiss lingered.
Not rushed.
Not accidental.
Something chosen.
Something real.
Then the world rushed back in.
“I thought Mr. Dyle hated Mx. Shrimpo?” Gourdy blurted, head tilting dramatically.
Bobette clasped her hands together, delighted. “Oh, that’s..unexpected, but I'm happy for them!”
Vee’s screen flickered faintly. “Well, I wasn't expecting that.”
Dandy went very still. His smile didn’t drop. But it didn’t quite reach his eyes anymore. “How… colorful,” he said lightly, though his tone carried a thin edge now. “I do hope this doesn’t become a distraction.” His gaze lingered.
On Shrimpo.
Long enough to feel deliberate.
Nearby, conversation had completely stalled.
Cosmo let out a low whistle. “Didn’t think Shrimpo had it in it.”
Looey nodded. “A bold decision that's for sure!”
Sprout didn’t speak at first.
He stared down at the tart in his hands, the glaze smooth, perfect, something he’d spent time getting just right.
Now going unnoticed.
His gaze lifted again, settling on the counter.
On the way Dyle held Shrimpo so carefully.
On the way Shrimpo didn’t pull away or hesitate.
Something quiet and uncomfortable settled in his chest.
Not sharp.
Not loud.
Just… there.
“It’s nice,” Sprout said finally, voice softer than usual. “I just hope Shrimpo understands what that means for them now.”
Back at the counter, the weight of everything crashed down on Shrimpo all at once.
Eyes everywhere.
Too many.
“Everyone’s staring,” it hissed, shoulders hunching. “This was a bad idea,I’m gonna-” Dyle didn’t let go of its hand.
The steady pressure stopped it.
“Let them look,” he said calmly.
His gaze swept the room once, briefly catching on Dandy, cool, unreadable.
Before returning his gaze back to Shrimpo. “There is nothing here that requires hiding.” Shrimpo hesitated, something in its expression cracking for just a second before it forced the scowl back into place.
“Don’t get used to it,” it muttered. “I’m still the meanest Toon here.” Dyle’s expression softened, just slightly. “Of course dear.”
A pause.
“The meanest Toon I know.”
Shrimpo huffed, stepping down from the stool, trying and failing to hide the heat in its face. It kicked a pebble on the way out, harder than necessary. Halfway across the garden, it glanced back.
Just once.
Dyle was still watching but with a small smile.
Behind the counter, everything settled back into place, papers straig
htened, posture composed. But when Dandy’s gaze met his again, Dyle gave the smallest, most deliberate nod.
Not smug.
Not obvious.
Just enough.
Then the garden returned to its usual rhythm, not the same energy as before but seemingly a little more peaceful, at least for Shrimpo and Dyle.