Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A sunny weekend afternoon was approaching. You were getting ready in front of a large, meticulously clean square mirror, adjusting your clothes. After all, this wouldn’t be just any other day: you had a date. Not just with anyone, but with the one you had always longed to meet; the one who once seemed far too distant to ever reach, but with whom you had finally managed to arrange such a moment. The toon in question was the handsome Dandy, owner of the convenience store on the corner of your street. He carried a warm smile, perfectly aligned colorful petals, and a friendly sense of humor… but he also seemed to hold many secrets within himself, as if stressed or overburdened.

You first met Dandy on a fateful night in his very own store. It was late, and everything else had already closed for the night, which made you blink twice in confusion when you saw that this particular establishment was still open to customers. You were hungry and had gone out precisely to find a place where you could get something to eat, so it wouldn’t hurt to take a look, right? Entering the store, you wandered down the aisles, realizing you seemed to be alone.

“Hello?” you called out, stopping in the middle of a corridor between two shelves, waiting for someone to attend to you. No response. The feeling that someone might be lurking, simply watching you, was a little unsettling. It almost felt like a scene pulled from a suspense movie… That is, if the slightly uncomfortable atmosphere hadn’t been immediately broken by the growl of your stomach.

Walking and scanning all the food within reach, you had the great pleasure of spotting a cup of instant noodles. It wasn’t exactly your first choice at that moment, but you were truly starving. Grabbing the item and sighing as you held it in your hands, you checked the price. “Not too expensive, I can afford this,” you thought, deciding to take it. Heading toward the register and stopping in front of it, you tapped your fingers on the counter like a drum, forming a simple melody as you waited. Taking the chance to look around, you tried to find something to distract yourself with, but the environment was fairly ordinary, like any other convenience store you’d find on a corner. The items on the shelves seemed neatly organized by category: food, utensils, decorations, among others. There was quite a variety of goods available, which was somewhat rare to see in this type of shop.

Too much time had already passed, and you were growing truly impatient. It wasn’t your fault, after all—having your stomach grumble every minute would make anyone anxious. “Could I just leave the money and take the food without an attendant?” you wondered. It was a risky bet, of course—they might think you were trying to rob the store in the dead of night if someone showed up—but you couldn’t see another option. Pulling out a bill and two coins from your pocket, you placed them on the counter and turned around, ready to leave, when suddenly, you heard a noise.

Not just one noise. Several. As if something—or someone—was approaching.

Frightened, you took a few steps back, on the verge of running, when suddenly something leapt at you. But it wasn’t anything to actually fear.
It was just a little stone-puppy, jumping at you and barking—adorably, yet firmly—as if it were trying to intimidate you somehow. As the saying goes: all bark, no bite.

“Pebble!” A voice you had never heard before rang out. By now, you were already kneeling on the floor, petting the tiny, adorable creature, who sprawled out as if begging for more of that massage. Looking up, you saw him—pushing open a door marked “Staff Only.” It was Dandy. At that moment, you didn’t even know his name yet, nor could you imagine just how important he would become to you.

You explained why you were there, noticing that the flower toon looked rather confused and flustered by your presence. Pointing toward the money you’d left on the counter, you gestured nervously, trying to make the situation clear. The last thing you wanted was for him to think you were committing a crime.

“I see…” he replied thoughtfully. “Well, that’s a relief. At least you’re not someone who came here to rob me or sabotage me. I just forgot to properly close the shop tonight, I apologize for that… And for Pebble too.”

His voice came out friendly, though tinged with exhaustion. Saying it was no problem, you gave Pebble one last pat before standing up, holding the item you wanted to buy in your hand. Looking at the toon before you more calmly now, you realized just how beautiful he was. The petals around his head formed a rainbow, and his large, round eyes gazed at you gently. For some reason, feeling that gaze on you made your heart skip for a brief moment. Apologizing for the inconvenience and saying goodbye, you glanced down at Pebble wagging his tail. Waving at him and hearing a soft bark in return, you prepared to head toward the exit in slightly hurried steps. What you didn’t expect, however, was for Dandy to walk you outside the store. Placing his hands behind his back, he smiled and said:

“I hope to see you here again,” using the same friendly tone as before. He rocked back and forth on his feet, as if already feeling more at ease, less nervous about your presence.

“Thanks for helping me so late at night,” you chuckled, covering your mouth with your free hand. “See you!”

As you turned to leave, clutching your dinner in hand, you couldn’t shake the feeling that made your heart pound so hard… No, it couldn’t be. You had just met him—it was impossible that you were already moved by the warmth of that toon’s voice and welcome…

But you were. Moved enough that you became kind of a regular at that little convenience store. Not for the merchandise being sold there, but for the one attending you. You eventually discovered his name—Dandy—from his work badge, and soon you were calling him by it during your visits. He asked for your name as well and began using it when speaking to you. Time passed, and you barely noticed how close the two of you had become, nor did you realize how happy the toon seemed to be whenever he saw you. Until suddenly, one day, while Dandy was helping you pick out some sweets to take home, your hands touched as you both reached for the same candy in the middle of the shelf. Feeling your face heat up, you quickly pulled back, giving him space to take what you wanted. But what you truly didn’t expect was for him to hold your hand instead—an act both desperate and embarrassed, yet tender at the same time.

“Look, I know we don’t know each other that well…” he began, his cheeks flushed pink between the petals. “But I really want to get to know you better. You’re one of the few people who don’t seem to hate me, and you have no idea how much that makes me happy and hopeful. So… would you like to go out with me?”

Feeling your own eyes widen and sparkle, you answered in pure joy, your voice coming out louder than usual:

“Like, on a date?!”

“Yes, like that,” he replied, visibly anxious, as if he desperately needed an immediate answer. Maybe, if you took even a moment longer, he might burst.

Smiling shyly, you held the toon’s hand with both of yours. Closing your eyes, you took a deep breath and finally responded, delighted:

“Of course I want to go out with you, Dandy!” you exclaimed, unable to contain your excitement. He immediately smiled too, pleased and satisfied with what he heard.

Soon, you exchanged phone numbers, saving each other’s contact and choosing a place and time to meet. The chosen spot was a park, filled with flower fields and beautiful trees. The day and time were set for Sunday, in the early afternoon. You could hardly wait to have a day just for yourself, in the company of the one who made you feel so good.

Time passed slowly. It seemed that the more you wanted it to move, the slower it went. You were already growing impatient, waiting for the moment to meet the toon outside his store and work hours. “It’ll be worth the wait,” you repeated endlessly to yourself… until the day finally came. You barely slept the night before, your nerves buzzing with anticipation. As you got ready, you paid attention to every little detail. The last thing you wanted now was for Dandy to think you hadn’t put any effort into your appearance.

Leaving the house, you noticed the weather was warm. A relief, right? It would’ve been a nightmare if it suddenly rained during your park date, or if it had been too cold. Walking through the streets, you felt grateful that the park was close to both your home and Dandy’s store, since it meant you could go and return without any issues. Reaching the entrance, you noticed the grass was neatly trimmed, and its scent told you it had just been cut. There weren’t too many people around, which was certainly better than a crowded place like that. The flower fields stretched all across the park, colorful and lovely. It was without a doubt a pleasant place to be.

As you looked around, you heard someone call your name from behind — but it wasn’t just anyone. It was Dandy. You quickly turned to see him, only to be struck by a sight that made your heart skip a beat for the thousandth time: the toon was hurrying toward you, waving. The petals around his head glistened, as did his eyes, and he was wearing an outfit that matched exactly the style you find most beautiful. He looked so happy to see you. When he finally reached you, he looked you up and down, slightly open-mouthed:

“Your outfit looks really nice today… Actually, you look absolutely amazing, as always,” he said with a smile. You noticed his cheeks turning red as he looked at you — a gesture that left you flustered, but not in a bad way. It felt wonderful to know he paid that much attention to you.

You both began your walk. Side by side, you were already starting to worry. It was hard to come up with something to talk about like this — after all, when you were at the store together, you could simply bring up the merchandise being sold or ask for recommendations. Scratching the back of your head as you thought in silence, you heard Dandy clear his throat, as if trying to get your attention.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked, leaning his body forward with his hands behind his back, almost as if teasing you after noticing your nervousness.

“It’s nothing big,” you answered, sniffing lightly and giving a little nibble at your lower lip. “I’m just… happy to be here with you, that’s all.”

Dandy laughed at such sweet words. You loved hearing his laugh. At first, it sounded heavy, as if weighed down with guilt and hesitation. But as your relationship grew, you realized it had become much lighter, more genuine.

“In that case, I’m happy to be here with you too,” he said, now trying to put you more at ease. “You seem a little shaky, want to hold my hand? Maybe that’ll make you feel more secure…”

You looked at Dandy, blushing even harder, then turned your gaze back to the path ahead. Holding hands with him? Was he really serious about that? It couldn’t just be a joke, right?
Well, you were on a date. It was normal for people in that situation to hold hands, wasn’t it? Nodding quickly, as if answering yourself with a yes, you noticed the toon beside you was already holding out his hand for you to take. Timidly, you placed your palm against his, and he gently closed his fingers around yours. A shiver ran down your spine at the sudden gesture, but feeling the comfortable warmth of his hand holding yours made you relax. Letting your shoulders drop, you smiled and sighed softly.

“See? I told you you’d feel better like this,” Dandy said cheerfully, swinging his arm along with yours as you walked.

After a few minutes, you decided to ask him about his life in general. He didn’t seem bothered by questions about the store or business, but when it came to other relationships, he grew more reserved and private, avoiding clear answers or simply changing the subject altogether. You couldn’t help but feel curious, but of course, you weren’t going to pry into Dandy’s personal matters. After all, he had just helped you feel more comfortable by offering to hold hands — the least you could do was make sure he felt comfortable too.

It didn’t take long before you both came across a small ice cream and milkshake stand. Just the thought of your favorite ice cream flavor made you practically salivate. The warm weather was perfect for it, and you glanced at Dandy with anticipation. He seemed to catch on right away, and soon the two of you were heading toward the stand. When it came time to choose flavors, you noticed you were the only one looking at the menu. Dandy seemed more interested in watching you, almost as if he were waiting for your choice. After you placed your order, you asked what he would like — and to your surprise, he said:

“I’d like the same flavor you chose, and don’t worry, I’ll pay for both,” he said, stepping forward and handing the payment to the woman taking your order. You tried to refuse, but he seemed very determined and didn’t let your pleas to split the cost sway him. “Consider it a thank you,” he said, keeping his smile. You wondered what exactly he was thanking you for, but decided to let it go and accept the kindness. As you enjoyed your treats, walking back along the stone path in the park, you finally found a topic of conversation that seemed interesting and foolproof:

“You like this flavor, then?” you asked, taking a bite from the top of your ice cream.

“Actually, I’ve never tried it before,” he replied after swallowing. “I just picked it because you seem to like it a lot, and I thought if you like it, it must be good,” he winked with one eye, as if flirting with you in some subtle way. Your entire face flushed violently once again, and not knowing what to say, you simply laughed in response. It seemed that the more time you spent with Dandy, the more you liked him.

Wait… How exactly did you like him? It wasn’t inherently romantic, was it? Dandy was just being friendly, and you were feeling happy because of his effort to make you feel comfortable… But you couldn’t deny it: the idea of having a serious relationship with him didn’t displease you at all. It might have been a bit early to think that way, but you would certainly be very happy if you had even a small chance with him.

The rest of the outing was super fun, yet calm, as expected. You and Dandy talked and played around with each other about anything, and it had been a while since you’d been entertained like this. After all, the toon’s presence had made you happy from the start, so it was only natural that it continued to do so. You shared dreams, wishes, stories… You were growing closer, both physically and metaphorically.

The sun was about to set, and the air had cooled slightly, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Feeling your legs tired from so much walking, you invited Dandy to sit on a wooden bench near a flower field, whose blooms formed a rainbow gradient. It couldn’t remind you of any toon other than Dandy himself. Sprawling on your side of the bench, as if melting from happiness at having found a place to rest, you watched him sit right next to you, letting out a gentle chuckle at your excitement. Both of you observed the sun slowly setting, in silence. Words weren’t necessary in a moment like that; just the presence of each other said everything that needed to be said. However, that quiet was soon broken by Dandy himself:

“Thank you for agreeing to go out with me. I’m really glad to be getting to know you better,” he said, sounding relaxed. It wasn’t the first time he had thanked you that day, which made you wonder why he was so grateful for your presence. “Honestly, it’s hard for people to even accept being my friend. I don’t have a very good reputation, you know? But you accept me, and you seem… even happy to accept me. I mean, you even spent an entire afternoon with me…”

You listened carefully to every word he said. He seemed so honest, so happy, so relieved… Ah, no. It was becoming hard to contain yourself. You wanted him to know how much you cared for him, even though you had only been friends for such a short time.

“What I mean is…” he continued. As he shared his feelings with you, for a brief moment, you felt a surge of bravery and courage. Turning to face him, with your hand resting on the bench, you said, along with him, who had also turned to look you directly in the eyes:

“I love you!”

What was that? Did you really just say that in unison? As soon as it sank in, both of your faces could be compared to two ripe tomatoes. Looking away, Dandy hid his face behind his petals while you swallowed hard, staring in the opposite direction. Both of you needed a moment to process what had just happened. While you were thinking, the toon beside you held your hand again, returning his gaze to you:

“You’re not joking, are you?” He seemed genuinely desperate for an answer. A confirmation. Anything that would tell him this was real.

“No, I’m not joking…” you replied almost immediately. “You’ve always been so welcoming to me when I come to your store, and I’ve always wanted to get to know you better!”

Sighing, yet without letting out his breath fully, Dandy seemed as if he might cry at any moment. And he did cry. But not out of sadness—out of happiness. As if he had found something he wanted to belong to. As if he had found something he wanted to belong to him. On another impulse, he hugged you. A hug full of affection and care, as if he wanted to protect you. You, unsure of what to do with the tears and his gesture, simply hugged him back, inhaling the pleasant scent of his floral aura.

“I’m sorry…” he murmured, his voice close to your ear. “I’m not half of what you think I am. But now, I want to be the best version of myself I can be, so that we can be together.”

And, embraced, you stayed close. The birds singing in the background marked the end of a first afternoon of many that you would spend like this. You were happier than ever to have found someone as sweet and willing as him, and Dandy was happy to have found someone as kind as you. You still had much to live, many questions to ask, and many adventures to experience, but what mattered was that you would go through all of it together. Who would have thought that a simple late-night trip to a convenience store could lead to the best relationship you would ever have?

Chapter Text

Having a friendship with a television star is not easy at all, especially when Vee, the biggest celebrity of the moment, keeps wanting to meet you in secret. In reality, she had already been the center of attention for quite a few years, so saying her fame was momentary was, in fact, an inaccurate statement. She could hardly step outside without being greeted by dozens of fans asking for autographs and taking photos, and because of that, measures had been taken to ensure the toon was always safe — measures she never really followed properly herself.

Today was no different. You were anxiously waiting for Vee’s arrival, who, for her part, sneaked out of her apartment to see you in your own home. You always wondered how she managed to get out without being seen, even though she drew so much attention all the time, and you had even asked her about it a few times. The answer, of course, was always something like, “It’s because I’m amazing, isn’t it? Obviously I can do it.” Either way, you couldn’t help but worry, at least a little, about the possibility of the toon getting caught. You didn’t want that at all, as it would mean she might be putting her career — or even something else — at risk. This ever-present worry grew stronger every day, and you seriously considered talking to Vee about it today. And you decided you would.

You paced back and forth in your house, doing your best not to bite your nails. This nervousness was always present whenever Vee was coming to see you. It was inevitable. The toon meant so much to you — it would be your worst nightmare if something happened to her, especially because she was always coming to see you. You would never be able to handle the guilt.

Vee was taking a bit longer than usual. You swallowed hard, thinking about what could have happened to cause the delay… until the sound of a horn echoed from outside, a loud and familiar noise you had heard so many times before.

Rushing outside, you proceeded to open your gate, watching as the vehicle pulled into the empty garage of your home. Looking through the window, you could already see her: it was Vee, wearing a black hoodie, an attempt at being discreet. The toon skillfully maneuvered the car into the best position, giving you room to close the entrance. Soon, you were walking in long, quick strides toward the car, your hands even more restless. As soon as the door opened, you let out a deep breath, watching as Vee stepped out, closing and locking the car behind her before quickly going over to hug you.

“Hello!” she exclaimed, visibly excited and happy to see you. Squeezing your waist firmly but still gently so as not to hurt you, she smiled. You, of course, hugged her back.

“Hi, Vee,” you said, smiling as well, as if all the nervousness from minutes earlier had vanished. Just the toon’s touch was enough to make you relax.

After a few seconds of hugging, you led Vee inside, subtly holding her hand. Vee seemed to blush a little at your gesture, but that was probably just your imagination.

Already in the living room, Vee sat down, taking a deep breath, legs crossed, eyes closed, and shoulders relaxed. It looked as if she had gone through a big scare or, at the very least, some situation you should be worried about. Sitting right beside her, you said:

“Sorry, I didn’t prepare anything for us to drink this time,” you sniffed, looking down, as if disappointed in yourself. “I was so anxious to see you that I forgot to make a proper snack…”

Vee let out a soft, laid-back laugh, turning her head to look at you. Then she held your hand again, trying to comfort you, while seeming to think for a moment about what to say.

“It’s alright,” she tried to reassure you. “I’m already happy just to have you here with me, and I bet you feel the same way, right?”

Letting out the air you had been holding in, you smiled, feeling a bit of relief and comfort.

“Of course, Vee. I’m really happy to have you here too.”

“Yeah, I know,” she replied in a playful tone. “I mean, obviously I know. You’re always happy when I’m around.”

Giving a sincere, genuine laugh, you then remembered what you wanted to talk to the toon about. Your expression shifted to something serious and thoughtful as you stared at the floor. Vee noticed immediately, now watching you with a worried expression.

“What happened?” she asked, her tone softer than usual, squeezing your hand a little tighter.

Turning your gaze to the toon’s monitor face, you swallowed hard, thinking about the words you were going to say. It wasn’t as if you wanted to stop meeting Vee — not at all, you cared for her deeply, you could even say that… you love her. But that’s exactly why you needed to think about her well-being and ask her to stop putting herself at risk. Just as you were preparing to begin your speech, Vee interrupted:

“I know!” she said, smiling again. “I know what you’re about to say.”

“What?” you asked, snapping out of your thoughts.

“You’re definitely going to say something about us meeting in secret and about me taking risks to do it, right?” Vee replied, sounding sure of herself.

Your eyes widened, startled by how accurately the toon had guessed your intentions. Not knowing exactly what to say, you decided to ask:

“How do you know?”

“Well…” Vee coughed, as if she needed to clear her throat — or the systems inside her television. “I just know that you worry a lot about me. And, to be honest, you’re right to worry. I’m aware of that.” The toon gave a small, sincere smile as she said those words. “But for you, I’m willing to take the risk. For you, it’s worth it.”

You blushed furiously upon hearing what Vee had just said. Vee had always been someone who, no matter how close you got to her, still felt unreachable. Hearing such sweet words coming from her sounded like music to your ears. Holding your breath again, you turned your face away, trying to hide your embarrassment. After a few seconds, the toon smiled — a smile you knew very well as “the typical smile of someone about to cause trouble.”

“What’s this?” Vee kept the expression while leaning even closer. “Is it that easy to fluster you? If I’d known, I would have said all that before you even thought about asking.”

“It’s nothing,” you replied, trying to come up with some way to change the subject at a moment like this. “Do you want to watch something?”

Switching to a thoughtful expression for a fraction of a second, Vee quickly smiled again. This time, however, it was an excited smile. The pixels on her screen shifted rapidly, signaling her enthusiasm.

“Yes, I do!!!” she said, in a slightly louder tone than she should have. “I mean… yes, of course!”

While Vee searched for a series or movie on a streaming service on your living room TV, you went to get your softest, fluffiest blanket for another amazing day of binge-watching with the toon, along with some pillows and cushions. When everything was finally ready, you exchanged smiles as you both threw yourselves onto the couch to get comfortable, covered up and positioned side by side. Your shoulders touched, and you noticed you could easily feel a certain restlessness coming from Vee. You two were really closer than usual, for some reason. Was she just as nervous as you in this situation? But wait—why were you even nervous at all? Ignoring those endless thoughts and questions swirling in your mind, you grabbed the remote next to you to hit play on the series Vee had chosen. It seemed to be a drama series, but without heavy themes. A light experience, so to speak.

As the episode went on, you felt more and more anxious. Your heart was beginning to beat harder—you’d be able to hear it if you paid close enough attention. Okay, Vee had been a great partner to you for some time now, and that’s exactly why you weren’t understanding what was happening. Was it Vee’s contagious glow starting to overwhelm you? You were clearly starting to overthink. Glancing to the side, you noticed the toon also seemed quite distracted, not paying much attention to the episode in front of her.

“Hey, Vee,” you called.

“Yes?” she replied almost immediately, looking at you. You kept your eyes on the TV—whatever was playing at that point. “What’s wrong?”

“Why am I worth it to you?” you asked, lowering your gaze. “I think there are plenty of people out there who would be better for you than me.”

Letting out a small laugh, Vee sighed before replying. “Do you really think that?”

You didn’t answer, but your silence said everything. Sniffling, you bit your lower lip in an attempt to contain the inexplicable feeling inside you. You knew you were truly important to Vee, but you couldn’t really understand why. Or maybe you just needed a bit of validation… Or, perhaps, both.

“It’s because I love you,” Vee said, briefly, still staring at you. You snapped your head toward her as soon as you processed her answer.

“Wait—what?!” you asked, visibly flustered. “In what way?”

“In this way here.” Vee leaned closer, pressing the flat surface of her monitor against your lips. A gentle kiss, yet full of feeling—the purest kind of love. In a mix of confusion and surprise, you didn’t take long to accept the gesture, returning it and closing your eyes. When it ended, your faces drifted apart, and you allowed yourselves to enjoy the moment in silence… which was quickly broken by Vee hiding her face between your shoulder and neck.

“Oh, how embarrassing! Why did I do that?” she exclaimed, clearly nervous. “I don’t even know if you love me too…”

Laughing at the toon’s ability to flip the atmosphere so quickly, you caressed the top of her monitor, trying to calm her.

“It’s okay, I love you like that too,” you finally admitted, feeling as if a massive weight had been lifted from your shoulders.

Lifting her head, stars appeared where Vee’s eyes should be.

“Really? You do?” she asked, anxious, as if her life depended on it.

“Yes, I do!” you smiled, seeing the perfect opportunity to tease your partner. “If I’d known I could fluster you like this, I would’ve kissed you first.”

As if you had short-circuited the toon, you laughed as she grabbed a pillow and threw it at you. It was obvious she was embarrassed, and you were simply giving her a taste of her own medicine, right?

Laughing harder than ever, you eventually stopped and just smiled at the one beside you. Settling in again, you shifted so you could rest your head on Vee’s shoulder, and she rested hers on yours.

“Vee,” you called once more. “So that means every time we saw each other like this… those were dates?”

“Yeah, I think so,” she answered, eyes closed.

And so, another date with the toon came to an end. It was the beginning of a new cycle for both of you—a cycle full of care, affection, and so, so much love. Entangling your fingers with hers, you both laughed upon realizing you hadn’t managed to watch a single episode of the series, but that didn’t matter anymore. What mattered now was your company, being together, being happy. And, no less important, loving each other endlessly.