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It was no secret that Bassie wasn't really fond of Astro.
Bassie was a very private toon, and not many toons were privy to her thoughts and emotions.
Astro, however, was different: he seemed to know things about her that nobody else knew, and Bassie hated it.
Bassie would always have the same nightmare: Delilah's voice whispering from a purple flower, telling her she wasn't good enough. Cocoa, Flyte, and Eggson, all chatting, oblivious to Bassie's inner turmoil.
Then, somehow, drowning in ichor, feeling its stickiness encase her. But, right before the ichor completely overtakes her, she sees Astro's sympathetic face.
Every. Night.
She couldn't stand it, couldn't stand him, couldn't escape him and his stupid face. Just one night she wanted to have her nightmare in private, without some other toon (another main, no less!) in her business. Even worse, she couldn't seem to escape him during the daytime, either. A knock sounded at her door, interrupting her angry thoughts.
"Bassie? Can I come in? I know you're in there."
"Speak of the devil," Bassie grumbled, making no moves to open the door.
Another knock.
"Please?"
She sighed, relenting, and turned the doorknob, only to be greeted with that same compassionate face she unwillingly saw nightly.
"What do you want..? I'm sort of busy, you know, preparing for Easter and what-not."
Astro fidgeted.
"Well..I'm just worried about you..you've had that same nightmare for two weeks straight. That can't be good for your mental health."
Bassie scowled, not saying anything.
This talk again.
"Please, if there's anything at all that I can do for you–"
"Like what?" Bassie interrupted, stomping her foot a little and making Astro flinch.
"What could you possibly do to help? What do you know about how I feel, what I have to deal with?"
Astro swallowed, seemingly gathering his courage. "You know that I know more about you than anybody else. If any toon can help you, I can."
"But you can't!" Bassie growled, stepping closer to him and driving him further out of the doorway.
"You can't, because you're a main toon, Dandy's best friend, beloved by everyone. You've never had to fight for your place, never had to worry about possibly being replaced. You're Astro, and I'm just the seasonal Easter main, and not even very good at it, either."
Wordlessly, Astro took one hand to gently push Bassie back into her room, and followed her, shutting the door behind him. This action bewildered Bassie, leaving her speechless. It was completely unlike the moon toon to be so forceful.
"What's the meaning of this..?" Bassie whispered, her voice dying in her throat.
Her face flushed, yet despite wanting to turn away, she found herself unable to. It was like she was in a trance, trapped in Astro's gaze.
I've never been this close to him before..!
"You're too hard on yourself," Astro murmured, his eye half-lidded.
"So many toons admire you, myself included. The children love you. You're so hard-working, and you never give yourself a break, never appreciate yourself." Bassie sweated, unused to all of the praise, and she shuffled her feet, unsure how to respond.
Before she could think of a reply, Astro got closer to her. Bassie winced, yet felt a pair of arms wrap her into an embrace.
"I hope this is okay, but something tells me you don't mind."
Dimly, Bassie wondered if she was still dreaming..but the warmth of Astro's chest pressed against hers suggested otherwise.
She felt like a million hydrangeas were blooming inside her, like Flyte and Flutter were flying around inside her heart, all of her previous frustrations wilting away. She couldn't recall the last time she'd been hugged by anyone other than Cocoa (ugh, Cocoa!) and she was evidently touchstarved, subconsciously leaning further into Astro's embrace.
Astro smiled softly, humming a little. "You're really enjoying this, huh?"
The blush on Bassie's face intensified, but luckily he couldn't tell (or so she thought).
"Do you trust me now?"
She nodded, still entranced.
"Please, let me help you..I can take away some of your stress, at least for a moment. You just have to talk to me." Astro's voice almost seemed to echo in her head, and her lip quivered, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.
"I just..I'm so afraid," Bassie whispered. "So afraid of failing, afraid of being replaced. I feel inadequate."
"I know," Astro soothed her, caressing the back of her head lovingly. "If it's any solace to you, I don't think any toon could ever replace you. You're irreplaceable, at least in my eyes."
Bassie sniffled, closing her eyes. "You're so nice..I wish I could be as nice as you. I feel so bitter inside, I'm not the sweet, compassionate toon I'm supposed to be. Not like her."
"Oh, Bassie.." Astro let go of her, leaving her longing for more.
"You are. You may not be as cheerful and peppy, but you're still kind in your own way, I've seen it."
Bassie exhaled breathily, still reeling from the whole situation.
In the back of her mind, she realized that she was still only a few inches away from Astro.
Astro seemed to realize this too, and his face lit up with a blue glow, yet neither of the mains made any effort to create distance between them.
"Who knew that all you had to do to get me to talk was to get me alone in my bedroom?" Bassie joked weakly, instantly regretting it.
Gosh, why did I say that?! So awkward!
Astro chuckled, then sobered, looking at Bassie seriously. "You know I've been watching you for quite some time now."
"Yes, I'm well-aware," Bassie rolled her eyes. "You're definitely persistent."
"And yet my persistence has paid off," Astro smiled. "I've been waiting to have this talk with you until the right moment, and it seems now is the time."
Bassie shrugged, looking away. "I guess."
"Will you talk to me about how you feel from now on? I want your dreams to be a little more pleasant."
Another shrug. "Sure."
Astro frowned, sensing Bassie's walls go back up. "Seriously, promise me."
Bassie sighed, realizing it was too late to push him away again. "I promise I'll talk to you."
"Good!" Astro grinned toothily, the widest she had ever seen him smile.
He looks so cute, Bassie thought despite herself. Maybe talking to Astro isn't so bad.
"Well, I can leave you to your..whatever it is you were doing, if you'd like," Astro said, stepping back towards the door.
"Wait!" Bassie grabbed his hand. "Don't go..Stay for a while."
Astro smiled, and silently moved back into Bassie's room.
The two toons stayed that way for a few hours, sitting on the Easter toon's bed, chatting about whatever came to their minds. It was the most either of them had talked in a long time, yet neither of them minded. Before long, Astro noticed Bassie had fallen asleep, leaning against his shoulder, and he smiled, closing his eyes himself.
"Finally asleep, huh? Sweet dreams."
This time, when Bassie dreamed of Astro, it wasn't a nightmare.