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Things have been really good in Gardenview. As usual, the sun shines from the glass ceiling above the tree, in the middle of the lobby. All the toons hang out around the place: talking, playing, anything really. But remember, these busy guys do a lot of work too! Extracting machines, surviving, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.
Ichor operation has been a fear for toons, especially toons like Boxten. The encouragement from others really makes him motivated, but there is always one voice that’ll echo through others, Finn. But these days, Finn seemed.. quiet. Never cracked a pun, never laughed loudly, nothing. He hasn’t been showing up to runs or meetups, it was like he was never there, at all. Boxten has felt worried about Finn, heavily worried. He was going to the toons’ rooms to check up on him, until some called Boxten’s name.
“Boxten!! Hey, over here!” He turned around, and saw Shelly. “Oh, Shelly? W-what do you need?” Boxten asked her, confusingly. He doesn’t really talk with her, so why would she call his name so loudly? “Ah, sorry! I, uh, I was wondering if you wanted to join a run with me and a few other toons?” Shelly said, putting her hands behind her back, putting her knees together. That’s when Boxten remembered, toons would always plan runs on meetups, to make sure to get the job done right.
That’s when he also knew, Shelly had been on runs. “…Huh. Didn’t you guys just have one a few hours ago?” Boxten asked, fidgeting with his bandana wrapped around his neck. “Right.. Finn had an endless nose bleed, and a few wounds so—“ “FINN?!” Boxten accidentally interrupted Shelly, he was deeply afraid of what could’ve happened to his ‘friend’. He grabbed her by the shoulders, and started shaking her rapidly. “Where is he? Is he in his room? Is he safe? Are you sure he’s okay?!” Boxten kept asking Shelly questions, over and over.
“Woah, woah! Uh, hey! Put me down, please?” Shelly’s voice wasn’t really clear due to the shaking, so Boxten let go of her. The ammonite fixed her dress, and cleared her throat. She breathed deeply and said, “Finn is alright, he just needs some time. I am not sure if he’s deeply injured, but he says he’s fine! I’m sure it’s really nothing to worry about.” Boxten put his hands down, and sighed relieved. “So, is he in his room?” He asked, making sure he knows where to find Finn. Shelly nodded, and pointed to the elevator on her left. “Alright.. t-thanks!” Boxten waved goodbye, and ran to the elevator.
Boxten ran, as fast as he could. He was too scared about what could’ve happened to Finn if he was never there for him, Boxten felt too helpless. He kept running towards different rooms, with toons shouting, “Hey! Watch it!” at him. Running and running, he held his hands on his chest, then gripping onto his bandana. That’s when he finally reached to the end of the hallway, near the door to Finn’s room.
Boxten took a deep breath, and softly knocked on the door. “Hey, Finn? Can.. can I come in, please?” He asked, waiting for a response. Finn said nothing, he didn’t even say no, just kept quiet. Boxten couldn’t wait, so he gently opened the door. Finn was sitting on his bed, staring at the large aquarium right beside him. Boxten carefully approaches him, hands together, while slowly observing his room. This was his first time entering
Finn’s room, and it was beautiful. The lights were dim, with more light coming from the aquarium wall. The ceiling, decorated with sea animal shaped paper, dangling from the wall, with strings supporting them. One wall from the room, carefully organized with fish hooks and fishing rods, and with a small book shelf filled with marine biology books. Near Finn’s bed, there were multiple tissues on the ground, covered with ichor (remotely close to blood). Boxten carefully sat on his bed, and he looked at Finn with a bit of relief, but also sad.
Finn was entirely covered by bandages and bandaids, from his wrist and his knees. He was wearing something that he never goes out with, a tank top and a pair of black shorts. His head was covered by his comically large cork, he really didn’t want to let any water spill on his bedsheets. “Finn..” Boxten carefully muttered, gently putting his hand on his shoulder. Finn slowly turned his head towards him, which led to Boxten letting a small gasp out of his mouth.
Shelly was right, his nose bleed was very bad. Finn’s face was entirely blank. No smile, no teeth showing, just a simple expression. This made Boxten know that was in fact, not alright. “You can talk to me, only if you want to” Boxten said to him, patting his back softly. Finn didn’t dare to speak out, or say anything at all. He slowly fell on Boxten, and laid down on his lap. Boxten carefully put his hand on his head, caressing it gently.
Tears slowly fall down Finn’s cheek, as he starts to shiver, as his temperature goes colder and colder. “I.. I just..” Finn tries to speak, but his voice kept shaking. He kept sobbing, unable to throw up any words out his mouth, and his body kept shaking. Boxten was unsure on how he could help him, but he thought the only way was letting Finn cry until Boxten’s shirt gets soaked by his tears.
Comforting someone like Finn is not easy. Having a close one who’s mentally strong, but also bottles their emotions when they are upset is pretty difficult, but you’ll get the hang of it. “You’re not, supposed to see me like this.” These are the only words that Finn was able to say, which made Boxten more worried about him. Even if Finn is usually an optimistic guy, it doesn’t mean that he is like that all the time. “Well, no one has to be.. happy all the time, Finn.” Boxten said, as he held Finn up and let him lean on his shoulder. “Everyone.. expects me to be like that.” Finn muttered, but it was loud enough for Boxten.
Boxten was really confused on how he should help his partner out, the only way to show that he cares is by giving him physical love. “Well, uh.. I don’t really see you that way.” The only few words left that Boxten had in his mind was let out, which made Finn look at him. His eyes are dull, and full of tears, unlike the way he usually seems. Both Boxten and Finn ran out of words to hit at each other. Finn kept looking at Boxten, not letting a word go out his mouth.
The two of them couldn’t let a single word go out their mouths. All that Finn could ever say was, “You’re.. too kind to me.” Boxten held his shoulder, slowly pulling him closer to his chest. “You deserve that kindness, especially of how kind you are to me too.” Boxten said, letting a small smile appear on his face. “I… I just really love you, Finn. I want to express my love for you, more often.” The words that came out his mouth made Finn look more closer into his eyes, and he smiled. It wasn’t the usual smile you see on finn’s face, but it was a small, yet true smile.
Finn laughed, and got up his bed. He stretched his arms and look at Boxten, his dead eyes gaining their spark back. “WHALE, this was a REEL tender moment for us, heh!” Boxten’s smile grew wider, and he decided to laugh with Finn. That’s when the two of them realized, that even if they have their downs, they still have each other in the end.
Boxten also got up from Finn’s bed, and decided to hug Finn tightly. It felt warm, his wooden arms meeting Finn’s fragile, yet shining glass body. “I’m so glad I got to help, I..” Boxten tried getting the most embarrassing, yet honest words out his heart, mind and soul. “I just want to see you help yourself as well, as much as you have helped me.” Finn’s smile grew softer, and he let his arms on his body. They hugged for a long time, it felt like hours were a minute only.
BUOY! All that sobbing got me hungry!” Finn said, letting Boxten go, then he laid his arms on the back of his head. “Well, I-I think Sprout and Cosmo have made dinner by now. Geez.. sure is late, heh.” Boxten chuckled, looking right at Finn, again. “So? What are we waiting for?” Finn walked towards the door, but Boxten began to yell at him. “Hey! Not with that outfit!” He sounded angry, but he was just playing around with Finn. “Ohh, right! Hah, it won’t REEL matter, right?” Finn nervously giggled, scratching his neck.
The two have both shared quite the laughs, yet also the same tragedies. But hey, not all toons are meant to be perfect, even if their personality was based on one thing. Even if Boxten is too shy, and even if Finn likes making puns, they’re still more than the things they are. Every toon is different, just like how those two’s love for each other will be. Isn’t that right? Boxten and Finn may show and express love differently, but if it’s love that they share to one another, then it is what matters the most.
The end.