Chapter Text
airy hadn't left the room with the tree since he left rodgers weird interrogation room. this building was too big to explore without getting lost several times. his lid was leaned up against the small brick wall that surrounded the patch of grass the tree grew out of, he'd taken it off so he could lie down flat on the cold floor. he stared up at the small skylight above, hands folded over his chest. stars twinkled beyond glass, and a full moon lit the sky, casting brilliant white light onto the trees leaves. all the toons were asleep, he assumed. nestled somewhere in their dorms. he hadn't looked around enough to know where those were. the lights coming from outside made him slightly homesick, a feeling he hated. he hoped he'd never see that bleak empty forest again. so he'd never have to spend another winter night freezing, with snow keeping him trapped in his drafty cabin. never have to spend hours fishing just to turn up empty handed, reduced to eating bitter dandelions to keep himself from starving. never have to wait out thunderstorms in his cave, afraid of the floodwater coming in and drowning him. he shuddered, pushing painful memories away. he was homesick, but he didn't miss living there. he hated to admit it, but he was glad he'd died. at least here he was safe from the elements. and he had some sort of company, though he hadn't talked to anyone since rodger. he wasn't sure how many hours had passed since then, enough for sunset to give way to the darkness of night. his heart ached with need for interaction with anyone. his first instinct was to push that away, shove it down so he wouldn't think about it... but i'm not alone anymore. but it still stung a little bit. yes, there was other people here, but they hadn't bothered talking to him.
it felt like another half hour had passed. airy wished he had a way to tell the time. he had nearly fallen asleep on the floor, which wouldn't have been the worst thing in the world, but it certainly wouldn't feel good when he woke up. sighing, he sat up, putting his lid back on. glisten hadn't found him a room yet so it was likely he'd end up falling asleep here anyway. he didn't have to yet, he could save sleeping for when he was truly exhausted. he sat down on the wall again, looking up at the stars. he felt his eyelids droop, before snapping open again at what sounded like footsteps, and a blanket being dragged across the floor. he turned his head, seeing just the back of another toon as they sat opposite from him and gazed up at the skylight like he'd been doing. why are they up so late..? all airy could make out about them from their dark form was the nightcap they wore, and the blanket draped over their shoulders. he watched them for a long moment, before taking a deep breath and walking to join them where they sat.
"hi." airy said. the toon turned to look at him. his face looked a bit like a crescent moon, his left eye was cast in darkness and looked like nothing but a dull glimmer of light. his blue blanket covered most of his body, held tight against his torso by hidden arms. he stared for a moment before replying. "hi."
"i'm airy.. um.. i'm new here, i guess." airy turned to look back up at the sky.
"astro. i hope you're settling in well."
"eh.."
their small conversation was punctuated by bouts of silence. honestly, it was pleasant.
"the stars are pretty tonight." astro commented quietly.
"yeah."
"are you tired?" astro asked after a while. airy blinked the drowsiness from his eyes.
"i don't have anywhere to sleep.." airy stated. he cursed how miserable-sounding that had came out.
astro gazed up at the sky, thinking.
"i have some extra pillows i can bring you." he said. i haven't slept on a pillow in years...
"that would be nice.." airy replied.
astro stood silently, walking off and disappearing down a hallway. airy wondered if he'd even come back. he wouldn't blame him if he didn't. i'm too awkward to talk to..
astro returned a few moments later. two pillows scrunched between his hands which were still hidden under the blanket. another, folded, blanket was balanced precariously on top of them. when he got close enough he handed the items to airy, then adjusted his hold on his own blanket. "...thanks." airy whispered. he clutched the feather pillows close, relishing the feeling of comfort they brought. he desperately hoped he wasn't dreaming all this. that he wouldn't wake up back in the woods. he almost wanted to cry.
"i don't like seeing the toons suffer.." astro went on, "there probably aren't any empty dorms right now. if you want, i can check if someone would be willing to bunk with you." he offered.
you don't have to do that for me...
"would you?" airy mumbled.
"yeah. you can spend the night in my room if you want." astro offered. airy desperately wanted to take him up on that, but he couldn't. he just couldn't. "i'll be fine out here, thanks astro.."
"okay. if you need anything, i'll be in my room. it's got a moon painted on it." astro informed him.
airy nodded. "thanks again.."
"it's really nothing.."
astro left airy alone again, but this time he didn't feel nearly as bad. i think i just.. made a friend. airy blinked, smiling. he set the pillows onto a bench, then took his lid off again and wrapped himself up in the borrowed blanket. and he was out like a light almost immediately.