Chapter Text
A loud thunk rang out as Boxten’s head collided with the floor. As the stale night air settled around him, he took the time to get reattuned with his surroundings. From what he could see in the low light, he was back in his room – which meant what he’d just experiences was a nightmare. He sighed a quivering thank Arthur and got to work detangling his limbs.
Just as he was about to try standing, a knock on his door shook him. He immediately knew who it belonged to – there was really only one option. The door creaked open: just as he feared, he’d woken Glisten again.
“Boxten-…” The mirror’s gripe was cut short as his gaze fell on Boxten’s disheveled form: crumpled on the floor, clothes wrinkled and key twitching unrhythmically. He adjusted his robe and sighed. “Are you alright, Boxten? That must have been a nasty fall.”
A moment passed before Boxten could process everything going on. His usual stomach-dropping dread at waking Glisted had been completely overwashed by relief at the walking proof that he was alive, well, perfectly sane, and devoid of ichor.
“Huh? I… sorry..” He didn’t quite know what else to say. There were a million other words he knew would serve to better lull Glisten back to his own room, but none of them exposed themselves to the front of his mind.
Glisten stepped closer and lowered himself to Boxten’s level. His metallic hands were soft as felt as they held up the sides of his head.
“Are you hurt at all?”
“I… I’m not.”
“Glisten sighed. Under the dull light, Boxten could almost swear his mouth was bent into a smile.
Glisten readjusted from a crouch to a full sitting position. He took Boxten’s restless hands into his own and held them steady. “Was the nightmare that bad?”
“Promise you won’t leave. Promise!”
“I… promise.”
“Boxten, we gotta go!”
“You can’t leave… Don’t leave me!”
Boxten’s voice caught in his throat. He swallowed a sob and forced a nod out of himself.
“Don’t leave. Please, Boxten.”
“Please, Boxten.”
“Please-“
“Boxy?”
A light hand on Boxten’s chest shoved him back onto his bedroom floor. The gasp pulled into his lungs sent a painful wave through his body as it chilled his seering bones.
“S-“
“Nuh uh.” A finger pressed against his lips hushed him. “None of that.”
Boxten reached up and gently cupped Glisten’s hand in his. The taste of bile pooled in his saliva, but he swallowed it and shood the accompanying nausea by focusing his gaze on the Toon in front of him.
“Let’s get you back in bed, alright?”
Steady hands slid under the music box’s arms and lifted him to his feet. He let himself fall against his bed, then crawled in. His guest joined suit.
Boxten could feel the world letting go of him as his blanket was tugged over him. A clicking echoes through his skull as Glisten reached over him and wound his key. The feeling wasn’t the most pleasant – he’d much rather do it himself when he has the energy – but it didn’t hurt or anything. Glisten wouldn’t dare touch it if it did,
A small tune hummed inside his head, instantly stealing the tension in his muscles and whisking him away from real life.
__
A quiet smile graced Glisten’s face when Boxten visibly fell asleep. There were very few times he was as relaxed as when his music was playing; he could count on one hand the number of Toons who’d seen him in this state.
Glisten pulled him close and planted a kiss on his box top.
“Sleep well, Boxy.”