If asked about something like love, he would immediately reply with a gesture of complete dislike and then say that it was the most ridiculous and disgusting thing that could possibly exist. Just thinking about couples holding hands, giving each other romantic glances and telling each other how much kitsch they could think of; receive or give flowers or chocolates in a heart-shaped box and, above all, be so sentimental and affectionate to each other. All of this was even capable of making Gobbo nauseous.

He wasn't cut out for such a thing as love; at least that was what he kept repeating to himself. They were goblins after all. Magical beings with a thirst for mischief everywhere, lovers of tricks and whose objective is not to compete but to spoil the fun of other toys. They were creatures that preferred to remain isolated from the rest of the inhabitants deep in the forest and enjoy a miserable and peaceful life. And the fact that there was zero fun was key.

There was no way to accept a pathetic concept like love was. That included happiness and fun after all. How could the goblins afford something so humiliating and unacceptable that it went against what they wanted others to believe?

Love was the worst anywhere in Toyland. And nothing would make him change his mind.

The shorter goblin was definitely looking to avoid it at all costs. Luckily for him, they had already built their own tree house located many miles from Noddy and company but not far enough away that they couldn't observe from there what was happening every day. Valentine's Day was the only date of the year that Gobbo refused to leave the tree, even if he came up with an idea for a trick. He simply couldn't bear that date and preferred to remain oblivious to everything related to it. It seemed easy but it wasn't; he wished so. There was something that was complicating it.

Well, not something.

Someone.

Sly.

He was a complete challenge to Gobbo. Despite being a goblin as well, he seemed to be solely because of his appearance since his personality was the complete opposite of what it should be. He didn't understand how the activities and games of the toys managed to influence Sly and make him enjoy everything that he would have to hate. Not to mention his somewhat childish attitude and clumsiness when carrying out their plans. The two were so polar opposites that anyone who knew that fact would wonder why they were always together. Sometimes even Gobbo himself didn't know. But it was a good question.

Why were they always together?

How could a serious and bitter guy like him coexist with someone nice, naive and who was able to find the positive in everything, including a punishment imposed by the annoying Mr. Plod?

This was something that used to go through the mind of the shorter goblin particularly at night, when he was already lying down staring at the poorly placed and maintained ceiling. For a long time the only thing that occurred to him was that they were united by their passion for tricks; because he couldn't think of another reason. Perhaps he could add the fact that he sometimes needed someone else as a distractor when executing his plans.

However, as time went by, Gobbo felt that there was something else. Another reason. At first he had no idea which one and didn't care about, but little by little it became more difficult to ignore that feeling and intrigue began to invade him. This would increase considerably a few months ago, when he and Sly were under a tree in the forest doing nothing like they used to sometimes. While Gobbo was going through a catalog looking for the next instrument that might serve to spoil the fun of the toys, the taller goblin sitting next to him had fallen asleep.

"Aha!" thought the shorter goblin. "This one here looks interesting". Then he turned the page. "And that one is not bad at all, although the one below would also be good for us. I just hope it comes as shown in the catalog because if they do to us the same thing as with the double bike from the other time, I swear-". His internal voice was interrupted as he suddenly felt something fall on his shoulder. When he turned his head he saw in amazement that that something had been Sly who fell on him while the latter was still asleep. It wasn't really new, as his partner used to bump into him and occasionally ended up on top of each other as a result. Gobbo's reaction, especially when he was the one who ended up under the opponent's body, was the same: get upset, give Sly a strong push to get him away and scold him for being distracted. If there was one thing the shorter goblin hated, it was being very close to the other and having some kind of contact with that alien body, only agreeing to high five. So anyone would think that this was no exception.

But it was. Strangely it was.

For the first time and without understanding how or why, Gobbo didn't get the same reaction. While it's true that at first he didn't like it and made him nervous, something inside made him stare at Sly instead of pushing him away. The taller goblin seemed so relaxed, and even dared to say comfortable, in his new position. His face reflected calm, not to mention a small but remarkable smile typical of him. Gobbo knew that this was how Sly used to sleep, but he never laid eyes on his face for so long when he slept. As a result, his cheeks began to redden more and more conspicuously. How was it possible? Why was this happening to him? How is it that he still kept allowing their bodies to have contact with each other?

Why was Sly looking cute in that state?

Wait...WHAT?! Cute?!

Goblins hate cuteness. They hate it!...Right?

With his mind full of questions, the shorter goblin simply moved carefully, something very uncharacteristic of him by the way, the other's head, letting it face the rest of the body and with his chin resting on the chest. That done, he got up and walked rather quickly toward the tree house. But apparently he wasn't very careful because in a few seconds he heard that voice.

"Gobbo? Where are you going? Is something wrong?"

The aforementioned stopped his walk but didn't turn to see him because he still felt a certain burning in his cheeks. He wasn't going to let Sly see him like that. He never did and hoped he never would.

"No, Sly. Nothing's wrong" he answered and then raised the catalog. "I just saw some good instruments and I'm going to order them, that's all" he added, wanting to end the conversation there. The taller goblin rubbed his eyes and finally got up as well.

"Oh...okay. But what are they? Can I see them? Please, please?" he asked in a more cheerful tone and quickly approaching his partner. Sensing his footsteps, Gobbo tried to hide as best he could and not think about what had just happened.

"When we get to the tree I'll tell you" he said and started walking again. Sly followed him immediately and unsuspectingly.

It was from that event that Gobbo began to become more intrigued about that 'mysterious' new reason that made him want to be with his partner; added to other moments where similar things would happen to him. He found the company of the taller goblin less annoying or insignificant and more pleasant. His temper softened a bit compared to before and even though Sly was still somewhat clumsy and distracted. Sometimes instead of sighing annoyed or rolling his eyes indifferently, he couldn't help but smile at some silly comments his partner made, not because of the comment itself but rather because he liked to see and hear him; of course he prevented Sly from seeing that smile.

Could it be that he was under a spell or something? What was happening to him? He was not like that. How is it that something as simple as seeing the taller goblin resting calmly on his shoulder generated all that questioning? It was ridiculous.

But nothing compared to the dream that Gobbo had one night, where he had nobody else and nobody less than Sly in front of him. Then he did the unthinkable. He ran one of his hands down his back and waist when before he didn't dare; with the other he caressed that brown hair of which before he only saw boring curls; from there he went to the face he used to make fun of; he focused his gaze on those green eyes that hadn't hypnotized him before because he didn't see them carefully enough; he let Sly put his arms around his neck when previously any contact he made made his blood boil; and finally he kissed those lips that he once reassured himself would be the last place he wanted his own lips to end.

That dream was the last straw.

"No. It's not possible" thought Gobbo when he suddenly woke up. "I-It can't be..."

Was he falling in love with Sly? Was he having a crush on him? Was he showing affection for him? That was bad. Very bad. He wanted to get those thoughts out but he couldn't. Not anymore. He should be grossed out by the whole thing but it was almost impossible. And if Sly found out about it, he ran the risk of him leaving. He wouldn't have cared before.

But now he didn't want to.

Being the taller goblin his only friend, he couldn't imagine the idea of being alone. While it's true that Gobbo was surprised that Sly was still by his side and enjoyed his company despite how badly he treated him at times, nothing prevented that at some point the shorter goblin would go too far and what he said or did would break their friendship forever. Whether he wanted to deny it or not, that friendship was very important to him now and he wouldn't stop regretting if he lost it because of him.

Yet his apparent crush on Sly was clear. If he wanted to avoid losing their bond of friendship, he had to forget about that other feeling for the good of both of them. There was no way that goblins would fall in love.

Love was the worst anywhere in Toyland. And nothing would make him change his mind.

Because that love; that attraction could take him away from the one who was so important to him in his life.