Chapter Text
Zooble reading a magazine and Gangle comes over after an adventure. She asks them what they're thinking about and they admit her. She freezes. They explain that sometimes they imagine she's doing little cartwheels in their mind; it's cute and focusing on the movement of her ribbons helps them pass the time.
"Hey, Zooble?"
They hum in response, magazine completely forgotten, and fold their arms to support their chin.
"I... think about you too."
A smile crinkles the corners of their eyes. She's so sweet.
"Thanks Gangle."
She takes in a breath before wrapping them in a hug, their foreheads pressed together.
Before they can articulate how appreciative the warmth of this moment makes them feel, a familiar shout reaches them.
"HEY LOVEBIRDS, AT OUR SOFAS? REALLY?"
Gangle stiffens even as Ragatha shushes and Pomni elbows the ruckus-rousing rabbit.
Zooble denies any of them further satisfaction and scoops up Gangle without a word, briskly striding off for the hallway with their bedrooms to a guffaw and a dig at "our sofas?"
Only in the hallway proper does their anger fizzle out and they realize something important with a start.
"Oh, Gangle! I didn't ask, I was just so pissed, I'm sorry! I-"
They had been holding a silent, tense Gangle for minutes and she softly interrupted them with,
"Where are we going?"
"Uh, I wasn't really thinking, my room I guess? I mean unless-"
"No, your room is good."
Their eyes finally focus on hers. She's very serious and they hope things won't be uncomfortable, she deserves so much better than being afraid of someone they have to see every day. Her ribbons had been around them the whole walk and they knew she would have mentioned if she was dissatisfied with being held for so long. ...What had she been thinking about the whole trip while they had been stewing?
"Do you, want to walk?" they offer.
She nods and they lower her to the ground. They continue to their door, and to stiffle the tension they begin to notice, they offer the open doorway to her with a flourish. She giggles and steps through the threshold. Her laugh is a treasure.
She sits on the bed, smiling softly as they bolt the door to at least stymie a certain someone with too many keys.
They sit beside her, fully expecting more art time together, when she presents a question.
"Does it bother you when they make jokes like that?"
"Nah, f*** 'em, though I haven't heard anyone else make any comments like that, have you?"
"I don't think so, the girls and Kinger are too nice for that. ...Usually," she admits.
"Hmm, should I watch out for anything?"
Gangle backpedals, ribbons flailing, "NO! I mean, I don't think anyone else would bother, Jax is the only one who likes getting a rise out of people, I, umm..."
They offer her a raised eyebrow and a moment to collect her thoughts. The subsequent blush growing on porcelain cheeks is new.
"How, umm, do you feel about it?"
"About what?" They tilt their head, puzzled.
She mumbles, fiddling with her ribbon ends and turning slightly away.
"Hmm?" they press gently.
"Comments about... us."
They scoff, "Oh Jax is most likely jealous that two people can bond over art and lived experiences. Like how dare friends have and do stuff in common!"
"...Friends?"
They grab and squeeze her hand firmly, looking directly into her eyes.
"We're definitely friends. No matter what, no matter where. What we have is real and no one can take it away. I'm glad I met you, Gangle."
She offers a lopsided smile, tears still on her tragedy mask. "I'm glad I met you too, Zooble."
"Come here." They open their arms and she presses herself close.
"You're the best, my favorite person here, bar none."
They have to jazz her up a little bit, she deserves as much happiness as possible in this messed-up circus.
She nuzzles into their shoulder and they gently pull her down on top of them.
As long as their least favorite person doesn't call for their next least favorite to teleport the two of them out to another bogus adventure, they're content with holding the biggest sweetheart close for as long as she'll let them.