Toy Fic

AN: Hey, isn't anybody reading this…? I know this is an active fandom, it's apparent to me that three chapters and three reviews is very, very puny… anyway, if you're reading this, just, well, let me know that you're reading this, that's all I'm saying. Anyway, this chapter is full to the brim with some foofy JessieBuzz-ness, which I hope you enjoy… and I certainly hope you enjoy it enough to up my review count!

4. The Tub

Jessie jumped up to the bathroom door and turned the knob. The door swung outward, and Jessie herself swung inside, grabbing the inside doorknob and gently dangling one-handed.

"Here we are, Buzz," she said. "Just you and me."

Buzz walked beneath her, shielding his eyes from the bathroom light and looking around. "Right," he said nervously. "You and me. Great. Well… you, me, and the tub-toys."

Jessie followed his gaze to a small basket under the sink. A dozen chubby, brightly-colored sea creature toys were peering out at them.

"Oh, yeah, them," Jessie said, smirking. "Get on outta here, tub-toys!"

The diminutive critters scurried out through the door. Jessie hoisted herself up, balancing on the doorknob for a single tantalizing moment, then tugged on the doorframe and jumped, briefly nicking the light switch before landing perfectly on the ground, closing the door and turning out the lights in one deft move.

Buzz gaped. He hadn't noticed when the lights had been on, but…

"Thought I'd arrange us a nice candlelit boat ride," Jessie said, nodding appreciatively at Buzz's expression.

The room wasn't quite candlelit, but it was filled with tiny battery-powered lights shaped vaguely like candles. The bathtub was filled, and in it was floating a large toy pirate ship, stripped of its masts. It was a large sanctuary to its Playmobil crew, but for Buzz and Jessie… well, it was only large enough for the two of them, but that seemed to be what Jessie had in mind.

Jessie took a leap from the rim of the tub to the boat. "Hop on, Buzz," she said.

As Buzz gently stepped onto the ship, he noticed that music was playing from a speaker atop the bathroom cabinets. As the two of them sat down, facing each other, he tried to catch the words…

Jamais on ne redira que la course aux étoiles, ça n'est pas pour moi

Laisser moi vous émerveillez, prendre mon envol

"What song is this?" he asked. "What does it, um… what does it mean?"

"I don't know French," Jessie said, shrugging. "It's 'Le Festin', it's from some movie. I don't know. I thought it sounded nice."

"Yeah… yeah, it does," Buzz agreed. "So, Jessie…"

"Yes?" she said, smiling brightly.

"What's… why have you taken me here?" Buzz realized he had nothing to do with his hands, then realized that the deck of the ship was covered in food. He picked up a muffin and tried to take a bite, but his teeth scraped against hard plastic. "Ouch! It's um… haha, it's fake."

"Yeah," Jessie said. "Anyway, like I said, I just wanted you and me to be alone, and do some talking."

"Jessie, I… is this a date?"

"Well, since you ask, yes, yes it is," Jessie said, beaming.

"Um, uh, ah… wow." Buzz said. His hands started flitting around again, and he grabbed a piece of pizza, once again hurting his teeth. "Oh… that one's also fake."

"They're all fake, Buzz. Toys don't eat."

"Right, right, of course… um, so, a date."

"Yeah," Jessie said. "And… well, I'm hoping to keep the rough-and-tough cowgirl bit to a minimum, just narrow it down to being… a 'girl'. That's why we're alone, 'cause that's just… just for you."

"Is it?" Buzz said quietly.

Jessie smiled up at him. "You're cute when you got somethin' on your mind, Buzz. Like you're right about to speak… you're a good speaker until you remember that I'm around. That always kills your momentum."

"Yeah, yeah, it… does."

"Well, you don't have to be afraid, Buzz," Jessie coaxed. "Tell me what you're thinking about."

"What makes you think I'm, uh… thinking?"

Jessie shrugged. "I can tell, is all," she said. "Please tell me, Buzz."

"Well, I… I was thinking… why me?"

Jessie tilted her head to the side, not understanding.

"I know it's an odd question, but… I'm just wondering, why? Of all the toys in the world, how do you… how do you come to pick me?"

Jessie considered. "Well, long answer… you're funny and cute and sweet. You're easy to talk to. You got gadgets that are fun to play with. You're good at the buddy-action sort of playtime, which we have in common. You appreciate a good kid when you've got one, and you'll do just about anything to protect your friends. If I have standards, you cleared 'em, Buzz, you cleared 'em way uptown."

"Wow," Buzz said.

"Yeah, and I love how you're so shy around me, that's cute… and the way you care about everybody, and that squeaky sound your head makes when somebody punches you. Can I punch you?"

"If you must, but I'd rather you didn't… Um, you seemed to be implying that there was a short answer?"

"Oh, yeah. Short answer: there'll never be any toy but you for me. That's why you."

Buzz coughed. It was the only answer he could manage, but it was enough for Jessie. She laughed exuberantly.

"Ahem… well, thank you, Jessie," Buzz said. "That's hard to follow, but for what it's worth… I'm very happy that we're finally together. I've been waiting for it for a long time."