DANDY'S POV
"Delilah... Please..." I tug on her sleeve.
"I know you want the Ichor back... But history repeats itself, doesn't it?" She sighs.
I sigh and look away. It does, doesn't it? It's not safe for the Ichor to just be there... Near me... Near THEM.
"Just think about how much worse it can be without Toon handlers keeping you under control. Without walls to keep you away from destroying and reaching humans... It'd be an apocalypse!" Delilah exclaimed, the stress audible in her voice.
"I'm sorry I did everything i did..." I sigh. "I'm doing this for them, not myself! We won't be able to live without power and that's the only way."
Delilah stops, pausing to think. She slowly turns around and i stare at her with hopeful eyes.
"I'll be your Toon handler. I know what to do if something goes wrong, better than anyone."
"You think i need a...?!" I lash out, but quickly stop.
I remember my anger. The way i lose control and hurt others. Bringing ichor back...
Delilah could've just said no and let us die, but this proves that she cares about us, even about me, after all that happened. Arthur left. He got scared of it all.
"I'm sorry. Thanks, Delilah."
"Let's be off then." Her voice takes a firmer tone, taking authority after my outburst.
We walk towards the abandoned building, my feet hurt from the asphalt I'm not used to walking on. I walk faster, hoping this ends more quickly.
"You said you and Astro are getting along now?"
"Haha... I guess we are." I chuckle silently.
"You told him about everything, really? Even about what's on the tapes?" She provokes me.
"Delilah, some things are best kept hidden. There's a reason secrets exist!" I feel a bit of anger boiling within me and i cross my arms with a pout.
"Best friends don't hide things from eachother." She whispers. "What about the source of the Ichor, huh?"
"The source is you, Delilah."
"The other source. The one back at Gardenview."
"He doesn't HAVE to know everything, Delilah!" I wave my arms, frustrated.
"If you say so..." She speaks with a mysterious tone.
She won't tell him... will she? Perhaps bringing her here wasn't the best idea...
Once we finally arrive, every Toon stares in surprise at Delilah. To be expected, i suppose.
"Whoa. There seems to be much more of you when you aren't scattered across Gardenview!"
"Delilah is starting the Ichor operation again..."
The room got filled with gasps and terrified looks before i even finish my sentence.
"...So we can survive. Get electricity. We'll use the ichor to power the building up. Nobody will get in contact with it." I continue over the gasps.
"Is there really no other way to power this up?! Dandy definitely has something to do with this. Come on, Delilah shows up out of nowhere with him...?" Asked Shrimpo.
"Come on... This is the best we can do! Who's with me...?" I ask, giving Astro a pleading look.
After a few moments, he slowly approaches us.
"I trust you, Dandy."
I see Delilah give Astro a concerned look, but i try to ignore it.
Shelly also shyly approached us, standing next to us.
"I'm looking forward to any way to live well." She smiles.
"I guess i should also get in here. My battery's running out soon." Said Vee as she stood in line with us.
Pebble soon also ran to my feet.
Sprout didn't come near us, just spoke in an annoyed tone:
"It was actually really my idea."
And another pair of gasps...
"We should get to work, Delilah" i tug on her shirt.
"Eager to get Ichor again, right Dandy?" Asked Teagan mockingly.
None of them really trust me anymore... Just Astro and Pebble. I appreciate them! I just hope more of them would see that I've changed.
"Delilah, how are you going to even bring Ichor here?" I ask her.
"I need a volunteer."
"To go back to your house and bring some Ichor...?" I ask.
"To twist and be my Ichor well for a while."
Everyone instantly backed away.
"What...?! Nobody wants to do that!"
"It's life or death." Delilah smiles.
I sigh, preparing to volunteer before Astro steps forward.
"I can... I've done it before..." Astro whispers as he approaches.
"No! You really don't have to..." I try to stop him, but he insists.
"Go right ahead, Astro." Said Delilah, interest filling her dark expression.
ASTRO'S POV
Think bad thoughts... When Dandy pushed me away... When he kept on teasing me... The way he turned on me...
What if he's still hiding things now?! He's great at that!
I already started hearing imaginary voices and footsteps. I remembered the times we were fooled into collecting tapes for Dandy, being terrorized by Twisteds...
I look down at my body. I'm taller... Is it working? Ichor-tears started to well at my eyes as i continue to think about the old Dandy. What if the fire wasn't an accident? I was the only witness, and i was unconscious...
I look around. All i see are the terrified expressions of the Toons surrounding us.
My eyes locked onto Dandy, who had a slight redness in his eyes as he watched me in my twisted form.
Is he smiling...? He's enjoying this?! It can't be... I've just been thinking about this stuff to help me twist, but i didn't think...
Delilah is talking to him. What's she saying? It's all blurry...
In a burst of rage, i pounce towards Dandy. Something held me back though. Dandy didn't even flinch. Delilah held me tightly, collecting any Ichor i create.
"Good night, Astro~" Dandy's voice echoed in my mind.
~ ~ ~
I suddenly jolt awake. I was on the ground. My body was still Twisted. Dandy was holding a blanket.
"Okay... No good night, then..." He whispered under his breath, taking the blanket away.
"What happened...?" I rub my forehead, feeling dizzy.
"We collected Ichor and successfully made an Ichor machine! Then we organized our rooms and everything." Dandy gave the news.
"No, not that! What happened to... Me?" I ask, looking at my twisted form.
"You Twisted rather quickly... Then you seemed to have had a sort of panic attack and blacked out. We collected plenty Ichor from you, then i stayed with you here."
"Oh.... Thanks... Why am i still Twisted though?"
"I don't know... Is there something still... Bothering you a lot?"
"Are you still hiding anything from me?" I ask, my voice shaky.
"Astro... What makes you think that?" He asks, not answering my question.
"Nothing... nevermind." I shake it off, hugging myself.
Maybe i shouldn't have asked.
YOU ARE READING
Love me, Love me not? (A AstroXDandy Fanfic)
Fanfiction*A DANDY'S WORLD FANFIC! When everyone stops talking to Dandy as the insanity of Ichor and tapes take over his mind, Astro remains by his side despite knowing the dark secrets he holds. Fighting guilt and despair, he tries to figure his feelings out...
