Chapter Text
Glisten had been distracted recently. He still held his head up high, his smile never faltering but never quite reaching his eyes. His quips came after a beat of hesitation, his skill checks were failing more and more. Glisten was perfect, and the shame of the buzzer radiating throughout the dark room had placed a weight so great on the toon’s back that he simply couldn’t handle it. He pretended. A weight so heavy it made traversing the continuing floors harder and harder. He was tired. If it wasn’t for his friend distracting, risking his life while he stumbled and failed, they certainly would both be dead. One thing became very apparent during duo runs, more so than it was during group runs. They were codependent. One could not thrive without the other. The sunflower is always leaning towards the sun. Without Goob distracting, Glisten could not complete the machines and stay alive. Not in the state he was currently in. This was something he would never admit to himself. He acclaimed himself as a spectacular soloist, able to descend floors with ease and grace, speed and efficiency. He was getting sloppy though. Goob could not complete machines quickly. He knew his job, he enjoyed it, and he was good at it. He never felt lesser for his abilities and lack of others. He was satisfied with his job and fulfilled with the feeling he gained from helping others. His friends returning to the elevator without so much of a scratch, made up for all the scratches and cuts he’d return with.
Not so long ago, Glisten had been going on more and more solo runs. They lasted less and less time and he would return more and more bruised and battered. Goob would offer to help, he was the only toon that would go out of his way to talk to Glisten about this. The others were worried about the biteback they would receive from the other toon. He had never wanted to seem anything less than perfect and could get quite defensive. Goob didn’t necessarily see through any of Glisten’s walls. He simply understood what being a good friend was. It was being there. No matter what. So Goob would follow Glisten to his room, asking to come in. Glisten wanted the alone time. He wanted to hide from the world, he was ashamed. Goob noticed that. Noticed the noises that would come from Glisten’s room after a ‘bad run’. So, Goob made an excuse. He didn’t think it would work, and it stumbled out rather foolishly, but… it worked.
“Ah, Goob… How long were you following me?” Glisten questioned, standing in the doorway to his room. He had a tiny crack in the corner of his mirror, ichor splotches on his ribbon and body. Glisten wanted to clean up. He wanted to hide. But Goob was here, so he smiled. He was perfect. “Not long.” The response was short and awkward. There was a silence that lasted a few beats. A few uncomfortable beats. “Well my fluffy friend, is there anything I can help you with?” Glisten finally spoke up, chuckling nervously. Goob’s eyes widened slightly, and he stumbled over his words, trying to think of an excuse. Then he got his idea. ‘Help him with’ and ‘fluffy friend’. He had an idea, and possibly an in. “Uhm- Yes! Actually! Uhm.. Scraps isn’t… here.. Right now. And!! And, I need help brushing out my fur… My claws make it really hard…” He would be surprised if Glisten had bought anything he was saying. While he wasn’t necessarily lying, he also wasn’t all that confident in what he was saying. He hesitated but let out a sigh and tilted his head to the side, smiling with closed eyes, his sharp canines on display. “Help?” He let out, followed by a sad and breathy chuckle. Glisten listened, eyes drifting down to the aforementioned large tuft of fur sat on the other toon's chest. He sighed, and his smile changed. It wasn’t bigger or smaller, but it reached his eyes. “Come on in,” Glisten said softly as he took a step back, opening the door for Goob.
Glisten had told Goob to wait at his vanity while he cleaned up in the other room. So Goob did just that. Though he couldn’t help himself from looking around the others room. Just lingering glances, taking in the excellence of the room. He stayed seated, he wouldn’t want to stress Glisten out. But his eyes wandered, each little detail, each perfectly cleaned and organized corner, filling him with just an ounce more of adoration. Finally, Glisten returned. His bow was still secured around his waist but it was clean and neat now. His crack had seemed to be fixed and there was no sign of ichor on him anywhere. A pink robe, the edges dawned with a lighter pink fluff, draped gracefully over his shoulders. Goob couldn’t help his tail from wagging. Glisten didn’t notice.
“Much better. Perfect even!” Glisten smiled, almost triumphantly, hands placed on his hips. Goob nodded in agreement, watching every little move Glisten had made. It looked like he was feeling better. That put Goob at ease. “Alright, my very fluffy friend. Now, it is your turn.” Glisten smiled at Goob, moving to grab his brush. It was chrome with a G sculpted on the back. “Thank you!” Goob exclaimed, sitting back in his seat and willing his fervent tail to calm down. Glisten pulled up another stool he had hidden somewhere in his room. He sat in front of Goob, pulling his chair closer. Goob was surprised by the ease with which he had been dragged. Glisten was much stronger than he had imagined.
His arms hung down to the side, tail wagging steadily as his chin was tilted up. Glisten’s hand and brush alternatingly ran through his fur. Goob let out a content sigh and Glisten had busied and lost himself in the monotonous motions of brushing the other. Glisten was lulled into a strange relaxation by the softness of Goob’s fluff. Almost like petting a dog and the natural endorphins that it releases. Between his run from before and now the soothingness of this, Glisten had felt his eyes growing heavy. He had long since finished detangling the fluff, now simply brushing it because he enjoyed it. “You getting tired, Glis?” Goob asked softly, noticing the way his eyes fluttered, looking like they weighed a hundred pounds. Glisten chuckled softly, mostly air rather than sound coming out. “A little,” he admitted, looking up at Goob. “Do you wanna-” Goob began to offer for Glisten to stop but he was quickly interrupted. “No no! This is… nice.” Glisten admitted, looking back down to avoid the eye contact that was quickly causing his cheeks to burn. Goob just sighed and offered a small hum of acknowledgment, allowing Glisten to do as he pleased. It was relaxing for Goob as well so he certainly wouldn’t complain… He was slightly worried about the tired toon in front of him, however.
About another five minutes passed, and slowly, the hands moving to brush had halted, stalling even. Goob looked down, Glisten’s head nodding as he tried and failed to stay awake. Goob stood, picking up Glisten. He had to wrap his arms around him a few times in order to properly support him. He walked over to the boy's bed, pushing the drapery to the side using his shoulder and he attempted to lay Glisten down. A Glisten who was fussing about still being awake although he very clearly wasn’t. Goob placed the boy down, his hands awkwardly slinking off of the other. Glisten had tried to fight off the sleep but as soon as Goob had - haphazardly - pulled the comforter over him, he accepted it, eyes staying shut and breathing mellowing to a fine pace. “Goodnight, Glisten!” Goob said softly, a big smile on his face. He did a good job. Scraps would be proud! Quietly, Goob had left the room, shutting the door behind him with as much care as he could with his large hands and awkward arms.