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Astro peeked his head out of the room, checking if the coast was clear. The cool air from his room vanished as he headed for the elevator, searching for an escape.
The harsh lights of the lift seemed almost blinding, making everything as white as milk… he would've liked some milk—seeing as he couldn't seem to fall asleep. He heard a familiar mechanical groan, and turned around to see Dandy popping out of his shop, sleepy but happy.
"Hello Astro! What brings you to my amazing shop?" He asked, resting his head in his hands.
Astro blinked slowly. "I couldn't sleep… I thought I'd go stargazing a bit…"
At the word 'stargazing', Dandy's flower petals perked up. "Stargazing? Can I come?"
"You… like it?"
"Like it? Man, I dig it!" He responded cheerfully.
Astro shifted the weight from his legs before mumbling again. "Alright, you can come…"
Dandy came out from his side door, smiling brightly and taking the stand beside his moon-friend, waiting until the elevator opened. Soft, melodic chimes of magic were heard from Astro, kind of like a quiet lullaby.
"So… what do you do in stargazing?" Dandy asked.
Astro stole a glance at him. "I thought you knew…" His confusion was evident in his voice.
"Well… I like the idea of looking at stars—but I was mostly excited that I'd do something with you, ya know?"
Astro blinked, taking a moment before speaking. "So… you just wanted to spend time with me?"
Dandy nodded. "Mhm. You're my best friend. And stargazing sounds nifty."
Astro considered his words, searching Dandy's face for any further input. The doors finally opened, revealing the lobby coated in dusk. The shadows seemed to stretch a bit further, and Dandy stepped closer to Astro, tugging on his blanket.
"What's wrong?" Astro noticed.
"Nothing! Just… the lobby looks a bit scary when it's night!" Dandy laughed it off, but his voice betrayed his nerves.
Astro held out his star hand, to which Dandy gratefully took. Hand in hand, they walked down the dark lobby, up to the tree the toonhandlers planted. Dandy sighed when he lay down, the petals laying flat on the ground.
"I feel sorta excited! Sneaking off with you… Nobody else knows!" He said.
Astro nodded.
"Ya know… sometimes I wonder…" He started off, "… why did our handlers leave? I mean, one day, Mr. Devan said 'Bye! See you two tomorrow!' to me and Pebble… and then he never came back!" Dandy whined.
Astro hummed quietly. "I'm sure they're just… sorting things out, y'know?" He chose his words carefully, walking on glass shards to not say the wrong thing.
Dandy fell silent, looking back up at the sky. The vast tapestry was consumed by the twinkle of stars. Amongst them, one sparkle stood out. He couldn't place the name of the color it had…almost greenish, but changing colours at the edges. Dandy pointed at it, beaming.
"See that star?" He pointed at it, "I'll name it… Dandicus Jr!"
Astro leaned over, resting by his shoulder to peer into his friend's perspective. He noticed a blue one. "And I will name that one Astro Jr." He potted with his magic apparage.
Dandy squealed. "Aww! Ours are together now, doll!"
Astro chuckled quietly. They fell quiet, watching the spots glimmer and pulse quietly. That familiar chiming was heard, and the soft sounds of their breaths. They were both lost in their own thoughts—or had a lot of things to say but didn't know where to start.
All of a sudden, Dandy jolted in place.
"What's wrong?" Astro said, raising his voice a bit in alarm.
"Astro—Did that star move?!" He yelped.
He stole a glimpse at the sky, not seeing anything off. He tugged his blanket closer, sighing in relief.
"It's not the stars—it's us. The earth spins…and…I think you get the idea…" He shifted back in relaxation.
Dandy moved closer, now yanking Astro's blanket as well. Astro stiffened. "Uhm…"
He glanced over at his moon friend. "Oh—is something wrong?"
"…my arms…—"
Dandicus laughed. "Oh! Those! Don't worry—I'm sure nobody will see!—like—if it comes off—which I'm not saying it should!"
"…I meant that I'm hiding my arms…"
Dandys lips pointed down. "…why do you hide them?"
Astro curled into himself a bit. "…everyone will think I'm a freak…you'd know from the episodes we watch together…"
"…I don't."
Silence stretched.
"…because you're my friend."
Dandy tilted his head. "What difference does that matter?"
Astro closed his eyes. "It's only your opinion versus others."
"…I just wanted to be warm."
The toon took a glance at the flower and sighed. "…just this once." He said, unravelling his blanket and sheltering both of them. Dandy yelped a bit in excitement, like a kid who was invited to a cool clubhouse. That sound made the other smile.
"How come that one disappeared?" He asked, stikcing his hand to point to a clump of stars.
Astro squinted. "…nothing seems off."
Dandy's face fell.
"…so…if I dissapear, no one will notice? Not even a bit?"
The toon pointed a the brightest star. "…See, you are that star. The North Star. It guides people. If it disappears…everyone notices…"
Astro closed his eyes.
"I—"
"…I mean, you're quite literally the star of the show…Arthur and Delilah customized this place for you." He glanced at him and his blue waning crescent deepened in embarrassment, "…sorry for interrupting you…"
The rainbow flower's face lit up slowly. "…really?!"
"…you are my North Star," he nodded.
Dandy hugged him "D'aww, you're so sweet!!"
Astro wrapped three arms back in return.
"…are you still scared?"
Dandy blinked. "A bit…but it's so bright, and you're here, and you're my closest friend, so I feel like you'd protect me! Right? Of course right!…"
Astro giggled quietly. "…I would."
They stayed silent, huddled and squished together for warmth. The blanket barely fit them both, but Astro shifted it a bit so it would cover Dandy.
"…Hmm…Astro!.." He drawled. "What would happen if one died and turned into a black hole right now?"
Astro chuckled lightly. "…that's not likely."
"But say what if!…" He shot back. Astro watched him carefully.
"…what if…you decide to go to bed?…you seem awfully tired."
Dandy sputtered. "No- no! I'm fine! I wanna stay longer with you!"
The toon hummed in suspicion. Dandicus' gaze darted around frantically, searching for an escape. Yet he found none. All he wanted was for this to last forever—and it lasted like what—five minutes?!
"I'm fine! Let's just continue!…"
Astro carefully tucked the blanket around Dandy, making him a soft and warm cocoon. After he was done, he hugged him close. "Sleep."
Dandy writhed like a fly in a Venus Flytrap, but the blanket was laced tight. Astro took in consideration that he would suffocate, and that it seemed a bit harsh…but he just wanted Dandy to truly sleep.
"Don't worry—I've got watch now…Plus, I'll wake you up before everyone else. I'll keep you snug as a bug."
The toon glanced at him. "What if you fall asleep too?"
Astro gave a tired laugh. "…Don't worry. I don't think I'll sleep."
"Well—what if you do?!"
"Goodness…do you ever stop overthinking?—" He said before immediately clasping a hand over his mouth. "Oh, no…I didn't mean it like that—"
Dandy giggled. "I know you didn't…and no, I don't. So what will become then?"
"…Don't worry. I've got it under control."
The flower finally slumped back, his continuous whining coming to a halt. "…fine."
"Have a deep sleep."
"…goodnight to you too, Mr. Novalite." Dandy mocked.