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Astro crept back through the dark hallways of Gardenview making his way slowly towards his room. He pressed the elevator button carefully as he hugged his blanket a little closer to his body. His four arms tightly grasping the fabric as he eased into a comfortable silence now that he was finally safe from the infected floors. Sighing, he thought back to a bit before.
He'd just come back from a supply run, and he was feeling way sleepier than he had early that morning. No major injuries, other than Goob with many more colorful bandaids that he had when they started. They were happy to report back early, making great work of the lower floors and ascending the depths of Gardenview much quicker than intercepted. So, finally back at safety and a near three steps away from crashing on a nearby bench for a nap, the moon trudged out of the elevator and slowly made his way down the hallway to his own room. He could sleep anywhere, sure. But he'd much rather be in the comfort of his own room. So he continued his sleepy stumbling down the hallway humming a lullaby quietly as he walked, before stopping suddenly.
The empty hallway had no one around. He hadn't seen anyone on this floor and he wasn't expecting to see anyone, as many toons were in the diner for lunch. Yet he heard an odd noise. He almost missed it as he dozed in his own headspace. A growling noise coming from the end of the hallway. Astro felt himself tense, clutching into himself as he carefully walked forward.
Maybe he should get someone? But it could be nothing, and he'd rather not leave whatever it could be alone here to possibly sneak off elsewhere.
So Astro tried to put on his bravest face as he inched further towards the noise. He sneaked quietly, his stealthy nature aiding him in trying to spot whatever was making the noise. As he neared the end of the hallway near the door to his room, there was a loud thud. Astro stiffened. Whatever was making that noise was definitely in his room. The noise wasn't quite the thud Shrimpo might make while punching a wall, but it certainly sounded like whatever was inside had either thrown themselves into the wall, or tripped and knocked it's head.
With a shaky hand, Astro shook as he reached for the door handle, turning the knob slightly. He'd peek inside. And if it dangerous he could just hightail it out of there and get help. Taking a deep breath, Astro creaked open the door.
It didn't matter how quiet he was, because the creature inside heard him, and it stared right at him.
Astro’s eyes widened as his brow furrowed, “Shelly?”
The anominte blinked back in shock, seemingly stunned by his appearance.
Ever since the ichor operation, everyone had fallen victim to infection. They all had turned into twisted versions of themselves, and even after they may have healed their twisted counterparts remain. So revived and mostly well, they continue with the ichor operation. Nobody was super keen on it, but it was either that or starve at the hands of a dastardly flower. But a nasty side effect was very prominent in some, one of those toons being Shelly.
Astro quietly shut the door behind him, staring concerned at the shell. Her teeth were sharp like razors, and her legs had taken on the more animalistic and Jurassic appearance of her twisted counterpart. Her breathing was erratic, but still she growled and clicked at him as he approached.
The moon looked around him, his room once decently clean and tidy was destroyed. Items where thrown everywhere, a table and chair he used for tea were knocked over and on the other side of his room. His bed was still relatively put together, but he doubts that's because of some sensibility coming of the very unstable toon and rather that she hadn't made it to the bed yet.
“Did you destroy the place-” Astro started as he looked back around before his eyes landed on Shelly, “-looking for me?”
He watched as little tears started to roll off her cheeks before Shelly let loose the rainfall of emotions that seemingly were bottled tight. Her words were a mix of growling and screeching with a hint of embarrassment. She sobbed as her body began to slowly loose the ichor attached to her lower limbs, “I'M SORRY- I- WAH!”
A major side effect found by Rodger and Cosmo was what seemed to be a stress response. A way to protect their weak bodies. Several of the toons would often become twisted at unannounced and random times, later they decided it was a survival response they had all seemingly adapted to during the initial infection. All of them were prone to it, but it was especially common in Sprout, Shrimpo, Razzle and Dazzle, and Dandy.
Astro only recently discovered that Shelly was prone to it too, but she often locked herself away so she could ride it out rather than get others involved. While he was against the idea, she still did it anyway; sometimes hiding out for days before finally leaving with ichor running down her face and a crestfallen look in her eyes.
She continued to sob, apologies spilling out in an overflow. She apologized for ruining his room, for tearing the place apart, for even being in there in the first place. Astro watched with growing concern. He wasn't the best comforter, better at helping through little task like making a warm meal or helping someone sleep. He waved his hands around aimlessly trying to decided what to do.
“Hey! It's okay! Uh- don't cry?”
The shell wiped the tears stuck to her face as more began to replace them, finally Astro tried a concerned smile while meeting Shelly's gaze. She looked pained. Like her living being had been stripped away and all that was left was a little husk. Astro frowned, slowly opened his arms out to let her walk into a hug which she seemed to greatly accept. Her head rested on his chest as h held her tightly, holding her fragile head in his arms while she continued to cry a little quieter, “Shelly, it's okay.. Promise. Are you okay? What brought this on?”
The fossil shook her head, trying to form words but none would. He was patient, he would wait as long as she needed. Finally a little squeaky voice spoke, “Sorry, would you say that again?”
The fossil's lip wobbled a bit, “I thought you were gone…”
The moon gave her a questioning squeeze, “I would never,” he tried to assure her, “I was on a supply run earlier, so I only just got back. I'm here now, if that's okay.”
A soft sigh fell of the shell, “I'm sorry about your room..”
Astro smiled, “Shells, that's the least of my concerns.” His attitude seemed to lift Shelly's up, he rubbed his hand up her back, “But I would love to get some sleep, I thought I'd pass out in the elevator for sure.”
Shelly lifted herself, she seemed to try and escape to her own room but Astro was having none of it. He grabbed Shelly's arm and carefully dragged her to his mostly put together bed. She seemed hesitant at first only to be tackled into the bed by a hug and a little happy laugh that escaped them both as they landed on the soft mattress. Astro smiled at the fossil; she still seemed saddened and maybe a smidge paranoid, but she did look much happier. He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly, “I'll be here, whether you need me or not. That's a promise.”
Shelly smiled, genuinely smiled and returned his hug, “Thank you. Really, I mean it. Thank you.”
Messy rooms were for later, for now? All they cared about was being in the presence of someone who cared.