Chapter Text
The circus was unusually quiet. Not normal quiet, either. It was the kind of quiet that made Gangle suspicious. She peeked cautiously around the corner of the hallway. Nothing. No Jax. No Caine. No Ragatha. Not even Kinger wandering around talking about something completely unrelated. Gangle slowly stepped into the hallway.
“Hello?”
Her voice echoed. She looked around “Anyone?”
Nothing. Gangle smiled. “Maybe I finally have some peace and quiet.”
“Don't get too excited.”
Gangle nearly jumped out of her ribbon.“AH!”
Zooble was sitting on the floor against the wall, looking completely unimpressed. Gangle looked over at Zooble.
“Zooble!”
“What?”
“You scared me!”
“I said one sentence.”
“You appeared out of nowhere!”
“I've been sitting here for ten minutes.”
Gangle stared at them. “You have?”
“Yep.”
“Why?”
Zooble shrugged. “Didn't feel like being around everyone.”
Gangle nodded. She understood that. “Can I sit with you?”
Zooble looked at the empty space beside them. “Sure.”
Gangle carefully sat down. For a while, neither of them said anything. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence. Actually, Gangle liked it. Being around Zooble was strange. They didn't constantly expect her to talk. They didn't demand that she smile. They didn't tell her to cheer up. She could simply sit there. And somehow, that was enough. Gangle glanced sideways. Zooble was staring at the floor.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Really?”
“Mostly.”
Gangle smiled slightly. “That's better than nothing.”
Zooble looked at her. “You always do that.”
“Do what?”
“Ask if I'm okay.”
Gangle tilted her head. “Is that bad?”
“No.”
Zooble looked away. “It's just… unusual.”
Gangle fiddled with the edge of her comedy mask. “I like knowing people are okay.”
Zooble was quiet. Then they said, “Thanks.”
Gangle smiled. “You're welcome.”
A few seconds passed. Then Zooble looked at her mask.
“Why aren't you wearing your comedy mask?”
“I don't feel like it.”
Zooble nodded. “Good.”
Gangle blinked. “Good?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Because you shouldn't have to wear it if you don't want to.”
Gangle stared at them. Nobody had ever said that so simply. She looked down. “Sometimes I think everyone likes me more when I'm wearing it.”
Zooble frowned. “That's stupid.”
Gangle looked up. “Zooble!”
“Not you, Gangle.”
“Oh.”
“I meant the idea.”
Zooble shifted slightly. “You don't need to pretend to be happy all the time.”
Gangle's fingers tightened around the edge of her mask. “Even if I'm sad?”
“Especially then.”
Gangle smiled. It was a small smile. But it was real. “Thanks.”
Zooble shrugged. “Don't make it weird.”
“I wasn't!”
“You were about to.”
“I was not!”
“You absolutely were.”
Gangle giggled. Zooble rolled their eyes “See? That's better.”
“What?”
“You laughing because you actually want to.”
Gangle looked at them. “You're very nice sometimes.”
“Don't tell anyone.”
“I won't.”
“Good.”
They sat together for a little longer. Eventually, Gangle pulled a piece of paper from behind her back. Zooble noticed. “What've you got there?”
“Oh!”
Gangle quickly tried to hide it. “Nothing.”
Zooble raised an eyebrow.
“That's definitely something.”
“It isn't.”
“You're terrible at lying.”
“I am not!”
“You're holding it behind your back.”
Gangle looked down.
“…Oh.”
Zooble laughed. “Let me see.”
“No!”
“Why?”
“Because it's embarrassing.”
“Now I definitely want to see it.”
Gangle groaned. “Zooble…”
“Come on.”
“No.”
“Please?”
Gangle froze. Zooble had said please. She slowly handed over the paper. Zooble unfolded it. Their expression changed. It was a drawing. A drawing of the circus. Everyone was there. Pomni. Ragatha. Kinger. Jax. Caine. And Zooble. Zooble stared at the picture. “You drew all of us?”
Gangle nodded. “I thought it would be nice.”
Zooble looked closer. “You made Jax look stupid.”
Gangle smiled. “He was being annoying.”
“Fair.”
Zooble pointed to Kinger. “Why does he have a crown?”
“He said he was royalty.”
“Of course he did.”
Zooble continued looking. Then they stopped. There were two little figures sitting together in the corner. Gangle and Zooble. Gangle's face went red. “I can change that part.”
“Why?”
“Because it's embarrassing.”
“Don't.”
Gangle looked at them. Zooble handed the picture back. “I like it.”
“You do?”
“Yeah.”
Gangle smiled. “Really?”
“Really.”
Zooble pointed at the drawing. “Although you made my arms symmetrical.”
Gangle gasped. “I thought you'd like that!”
“I hate it.”
“Sorry!”
“Don't be.”
Zooble smiled. “I kind of like seeing myself normal.”
Gangle laughed.
“You're impossible.”
“Probably.”
Gangle looked at the drawing again. “Do you want to keep it?”
Zooble hesitated. “Can I?”
“Of course.”
Zooble carefully folded the picture. “Thanks.”
Gangle smiled. “Anytime.”