The Whole Universe
Howie and Ally talk about space together, and a little more.
The Whole Universe
Year: 6041
“What do you think of when you look at space, Howie?”
Ally and kits best friend were lying in the backyard of the Comet house, looking at the stars together. As Ally spoke, Howie frowned and blinked up at the sky as if trying to figure out pups answer. He honestly... Wasn't entirely sure he knew, actually. “...weww...” he began, swallowing, “I guess I tink of da stars and da pwanets? (˘･_･˘) Wike da ones we weawn about in school?...”
The kittycorn sighed, shifting and folding her hands over her chest. “Do you ever like... wonder what's out there at all? What lies beyond what we can see here...?” she murmured.
With a slight head tilt, Howie fixed his small eyes on the same sky that Ally lay beneath. Because of East Eroid being in Moorening, it was pretty remote, especially where they lived on the outskirts, and this made the stars very bright on a clear night. Maybe that contributed to some of Ally’s intrigue with space - the way she could look up at the sky and see so much.
“Uwwuhh... I guess I've tought about it befowe... But it scawes me a wittle bit... (;ŏ﹏ŏ) I-I mean, awiens couwd be anyting...” Howie mumbled.
The crickets were literal and metaphorical. Ally became quiet and all they could hear was the crickets chirping in the clear summer night. It took a bit for kit to speak again, but eventually she did. “...sometimes I feel like an alien,” she spoke simply and softly, with very little tone.
Howie glanced at Ally, wondering what she meant. “Why's dat?”
“... it's... a little hard to explain. Part of it is this inexplicable feeling of being drawn towards space and wanting to experience it... Another part being... this feeling of insatiable homesickness. I don't feel at home in my house. I-I...” Ally began to tear up. “I don't feel at home with my family. I know they love me, and I love them, but I feel like I'm not one of them. Like I don't belong. I-if I'm honest, the only time I ever truly feel at home... is when I'm with you. Like...”
The girl was dripping tears now. “L-like you're space to me. I've felt this connection with space ever since my dad told me about it, and I've felt a connection with you ever since the day we met.” The kittycorn wiped her eyes. “S-sorry if that's...weird...”
Howie was blushing. He couldn't help it. Pup felt really warm inside knowing Ally felt so fondly of pup like that... It was such an incredible honor to be seen that way by her. Especially with how much he liked her. “...w-wowie... I... I don't even know wat to say, Awwy... I... I-I feew da same way... (´；ω；｀)” He was trying really hard to not cry too. “You’we my bestest fwiend in da whole worwld...”
Ally looked at Howie, still teary-eyed. “... c-can I say something... a little weird...” she asked suddenly, tense. Howie also became tense, clenching his fist a bit.
“...o-of couwse, Awwy...” Howie answered, looking nervous about whatever his best friend had to say. Ally didn't seem to know how to say it either. She felt and equally looked incredibly awkward right now, sweating, with rosy cheeks. She was taking a long time to say anything. “...A-Awwy?” Howie echoed, trying to get her attention in case she'd spaced out (what an ironic way to put it).
“... you're not my best friend in the world. You're my best friend in the Rolas Metsys. In the Twix galaxy. The whole wide universe. You're... more than just a friend to me. I... d-don't really know what I mean by that entirely...” —(a slight lie)— “...but I know just as little about what's out in space... and... it still feels like home to me. No matter what's out there or no matter what I'm feeling. That's how I feel about you. I...I hope that's not...w-weird...” Ally stammered, obviously worried about how this would be taken.
Howie was incredibly flustered, painted crimson, seemingly still processing whatever it was Ally was implying. He wasn't entirely sure if she was saying what pup thought she was, and was very worried about misunderstanding and making things awkward. But ultimately he realized it was possible even Ally genuinely didn't know what she meant by it either. He tried to respond with that approach. “...u-uhwum... I... I awso feew dat way. I... don't weawwy know what it is eithew...”—(a huge lie)—”...b-but I guess we habe time to figuwe it out,” he said, giving one of his signature goofy smiles.
Ally returned the smile and pulled her best friend into a hug, and Howie felt a rumbling against his chest and could hear Ally purring against him. It was so healing. Purring always was healing. He rubbed her back and held her close. He glanced up at the stars as Ally remained in his embrace.
He didn't really care what was out there.
He had the whole universe in his arms already.
The End