...What?

Tony felt his whole body freeze the moment those words left her lips. He was at a loss for words. Well, he had a lot he wanted to say. His mouth just refused to go with them. Sketch continued to snuggle beside him and hug him tighter. He wanted to get out of her grasp or force her off of him, but he couldn't. Not because she was stronger than him or anything, but there was something refraining him from doing so...

What was it?

"S-Sketch?" He asked. She didn't respond. Instead, he could hear light snoring coming from behind him. He let out a sigh and stared off into the distance. He put a gloved hand to his cheek and felt an excessive amount of heat there.

Why did humans have to blush so often?

It probably meant nothing. He assured himself. She's a murderous lunatic like me. We don't ever make sense. I'm sure it was just the exhaustion getting to her. Maybe she couldn't think of any other excuse. Yes, that's it. Nothing to worry about.

He took his hand off his cheek and felt his eyelids start to drop. He didn't fight sleep this time and let his eyes close on their own. His hands crept on top of Sketch's as he started to drift off to slumber. The sound of the constellations moving around them faded out her snoring and set him in a state of ease.


"T-Tony..."

His black eyes fluttered open at the sound of a voice. He woke up earlier but had been trying to sleep in since. which was pretty rare for him. He could make out different colors from the blurriness of his vision. He rubbed his eyes with his gloved hands and blinked a few times until it focused.

The sight of Sketch on top of him was not what he'd been expecting.

"OH MY GOD!"

Sketch jumped back from his exclamation and fell off of him. Her head landed on the ground with a thump only a few inches away from him. Tony could still feel the heat on his chest and something moist on his shirt underneath. He lifted up his coat in confusion and rubbed it with his finger.

"Y-You're awake..." Sketch sat up and looked in surprise. Tony rubbed the back of his head and gave her an annoyed look.

"Yes. Why wouldn't I be?"

"N-No reason!" She stood. "I just thought you were...um...still asleep?"

"You know I'm an early bird." He stood with her, feeling a beating in his chest. "What were you doing?"

"Just...trying to wake ya' up!" Sketch replied with a wave of her arm. For some reason, he was unconvinced. She normally had that playful tone whenever she spoke, but it sounded somewhat serious when he woke up. No one could play him for a fool. He shrugged it off and looked around.

"What time is it?"

"I dunno'." Sketch shrugged. "You're the one who has a watch."

Oh. Right. He glanced down and checked the time. 4 A.M. Nothing too early or too late, from where they were. He'd still say he was on schedule. Day 4 or 5 since they've been in this hellhole. Maybe 6. It felt like a month, though. He looked back at Sketch and noticed she was fidgeting with her fingers.

"Something wrong?"

She looked up at him and noticed he was staring. She shook her head in response. "Nope! Not at all, Tony. I was just wondering when you're ready to start looking around again?"

"Anytime you're ready." He held back a yawn. "Why are you so eager to go this morning?"

"I wanna' get back home to our friends!" She replied. "It's getting a lil' cramped in here, don'tcha think?"

He looked around at the billions of mass of space around them, then back at her. The dull look he had on his face said everything. Sketch dismissed him with a wave of her hand and started walking in a different direction. He followed behind her at a moderate pace. It was a weird start to have Sketch leading them, but she seemed in a dominant mood this morning. Maybe she might find the way out?


Maybe not.

Much like when Tony led them, Sketch couldn't find anything for a full hour when she was filled with...erm...hope? He couldn't tell what she was feeling, actually. She normally was expressive enough that he knew before she'd say it.

Come to think of it, a lot of things were different about her today. The way she was avoided eye contact with him and kept her space. It concerned Tony. She didn't know what "personal space" was before and had no hesitation when it came to screaming in his face when it came to a normal basis.

Maybe he should ask about it. Women liked it when men knew if something was wrong, right?

"Sketch?" Tony asked. She looked behind her attentively.

"Hmm?"

"Is something wrong?"

She turned silent. A signal went off in his mind. Something was definitely wrong. Was it him? Or was she just missing their friends? He wanted to know. If something bugged her, then it bugged him. Sketch shook her head a few seconds after.

"Nope! Nothing's wrong."

"Are you sure?" Tony asked. He knew she was lying when she nodded in response. He let out an impatient sigh and looked around them. He never favored being nosy and hell if he'd act like he was. He already pushed a subject last night and that was the ONLY sign he wanted to portray of him being nosy.

Wait. Last night. A couple of memories came to him and were a bit foggy. She said something that put him off...something about her loving something? Oh wait. HIM! He hadn't heard that before...Maybe THAT was bugging her?

"Hey, Sketch?"

"Yes, Tony?"

"Did you mean what you said last night? He asked. Sketch stopped in her tracks and Tony had to halt so he wouldn't bump into her. She placed an inky hand to her chin in thought. He circled around her so he could look her in the eye. A few moments later, she shrugged.

"I don't remember. What did I say?"

"Hmmm...If I remember correctly," He made eye contact with her. "You said you loved me?"

She froze in her tracks after he said that. A smile came onto his lips when she did. Aha. He got her! The heat came to her face when she looked at him. She quickly turned away from Tony and crossed her arms, laughing.

"Oh, that?" She waved her hand. "I was just kidding, Tony! Just...wanted a laugh from you, is all. Did it work?"

"Hmm..." He went in front of her and leaned down, studying her face intently. "I don't think it was a joke, Sketch...Are you SURE you don't love me?"

"P-Please!" She gave him a nervous smile. "Me? Loving YOU? Gimme' a break, Tony!"

She nudged his arm playfully, but didn't get a response. When she looked at him, she saw the lack of any expression on his face. Just a moment ago he looked playful and happy. A mixture of guilt and concern churned in the pit of her stomach. He turned away from her and started storming off in a different direction. She panicked and chased after him.

"T-TONY! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?"

He looked back at her, then picked up his pace. Sketch had to hold up the ends of her dress so she wouldn't trip on them. She was able to catch up to him after a minute or two. When she did, she placed her arm on his shoulder and panted. "T-Tony...s...stop..."

"Why?" He snapped. "I'm just a joke. Remember?"

"I...didn't..m-mean.." She placed a tired hand on her chest, not being able to say anything more. He tsked and kept walking. She held the ends of her dress again and continued following after him desperately. Thankfully, he was going at a slower pace this time and she was able to catch her breath.

"C'mon, Tony!" She yelled from behind him. "It's hard to run in heels!"

"If loving me is such a joke, then you can find your way out alone." Tony replied angrily and kept walking. The fact that him going at a faster pace with her running said a lot about the two.

"B...But..." Sketch wiped the sweat out of her eye. "I didn't mean it!"

"Oh?" He stopped in his tracks. Sketch nearly tripped if she hadn't caught herself at the last second. She panted and placed an inky hand on Tony's back. She rested her head on it and continued: "I...was just...scared..."

"Why?" He asked. She took a couple of deep breaths.

"Because." She replied. "I didn't wanna' freak you out or anything...I was afraid you'd leave me if I told you something like that!"

"As a joke?" He turned to her. "Yes. I was just about to, actually."

"But it wasn't a joke!" She tugged on his arm. "I mean it, Tony. I do love you. I was just scared of you leaving me because of it!"

He sighed and placed his hand over hers. The ink came through his glove like it did before, but he didn't care. It was enough for him that she as honest for once. Everyone at the house constantly told him that no one would ever love or care about him. Hearing that from someone he cared about so deeply himself hurt like hell.

Is that why humans are so sensitive? His heart shattering felt a million times worse than having Sketch elbow his nose hard enough it bled. It made more sense, now...

"I love you, too, Sketch." He held her hand tighter. A warm feeling came to her and she smiled. She leaned in for a hug and held him as tight as she could. Which was pretty tight enough 'cause she heard Tony cough when she did. He pried his arms free from her grasp.

"I've just one question, Sketch?"

"Yes, Tony?" She asked, hugging him as if she'd never let go.

"Just what were you doing on top of me this morning?"