One night, Toyland was going through the worst of the storms added to a strong wind that made each and every one of the branches of the trees creak. Although being honest, inside the goblin's tree house it wasn't much better. The planks of the wood creaked incessantly and due to its mediocre location there were no shortage of leaks and holes that allowed the entry of several chiflets.

Anyone would believe that with a storm like that that hovel would collapse in a matter of minutes. However, it had a protective spell capable of holding its steady. Some time ago, Big Ears gave it to him and Sly as a reward for having collaborated with Noddy and his friends to solve a problem related to the little wooden boy's home, although Gobbo only decided to help after knowing that he could get something in return. Money or food would have been good but he couldn't complain, since he was getting tired of reinforcing all those planks only to have them fall over again because of the wind.

Unfortunately the spell served to keep the structures in place and nothing else. It didn't prevent them from seeing the surprising lightning bolts through their windows and it didn't prevent them from hearing the rumbling thunder that made it seem as if the sky was falling apart. That weather should be ideal for the goblins, as it matched their taste for living miserably. As expected Gobbo had no problem with it. Sometimes it was difficult for him to fall asleep mainly because of the thunder as it bothered him to be interrupted by sudden noises, but after a while he managed to fall asleep.

However Sly didn't have the same luck.

A particularly loud thunder sounded and he couldn't help screaming in fear. At that the shorter goblin suddenly woke up.

"Sly" he said sleepily. "What's wrong?" He didn't understand the reason of that cry. Gobbo had to admit he was a heavy sleeper.

When he turned to see his partner a flash of lightning coincidentally illuminated the interior of the tree house, allowing him to contemplate him even for about three seconds. However, it was enough with that very brief period of time to realize that Sly was sitting on his bed with the blanket covering him up to his nose and with a very scared expression. Immediately Gobbo took a flashlight and pointed it towards the taller goblin. Thanks to that he could also see that he was shivering.

"Did you have a nightmare?"

"N-No" replied the other. "I-I-It was a th-thunder. You know that storms scare me". And as if it were a confirmation, another lightning bolt accompanied by another thunder caused him to hide completely under the blanket while trembled even more. Indeed, Gobbo knew of Sly's fear of that weather. But unlike the previous times where he only limited himself to telling him to cover his ears as best he could and let him sleep peacefully, for the first time he had gotten up from his own bed to get closer to his partner, which is why he finally managed to see and understand how truly terrified he felt.

He had even laughed at him calling him scaredycat of a silly storm. In a weather like that they would have to enjoy it instead of being scared. But tonight's was pretty strong; more than the shorter goblin had ever experienced. Even a new but powerful thunder came to unsettle him a little. Now that he thought about it, if he could get rid of the thunder and lightning, leaving only a huge cloud, he would consider it the perfect weather.

Slowly, Gobbo uncovered Sly who looked at him with fearful eyes. "It's okay, Sly" he said. "Nothing is going to happen to us. The spell of Big Ears protects us, remember?"

"Yes" he answered in a low voice. "But I wish we had a spell not to hear it too. Are you sure we don't have any?"

"No. Our spells are only for tricks".

"And what about that vacuum-type machine that sucks up any sound?"

"We got rid of it, Sly" Gobbo replied. "A while ago". The taller goblin sighed somewhat sadly. To top it off, another loud thunder startled him. However, instead of covering himself with his blanket, he unconsciously hugged Gobbo, who blushed quite a bit. When he realized what he was doing, he released him and pulled away as best he could. Sly knew perfectly well that his partner hated it. For his part, the shorter goblin turned around still noticeably flushed. If only he could; if only he dared to tell the other how he felt he would have let Sly hold him a little more. But he stood firm in his decision.

"I'm…I'm sorry, Gobbo. I promise is the last time I do that" Sly said, also a bit embarrassed by the situation. Once the former felt his cheeks grow cold, he faced him again.

"Yes yes, nevermind. Just try to relax and think about other things". Sly nodded and settled into his bed. Then Gobbo went to his. As he lay down his thoughts were spinning. That hug, although unplanned, had felt good. That contact between them was pleasant for him.

If he had to choose just one word to describe himself at that moment, it would be hypocritical. So many years making fun of anyone for the simple fact of falling in love and being sentimental; and now he hated to think of others making fun of him if they ever found out. It didn't feel so good to admit that he wasn't the only one who could criticize others.

The worst part however was that he forced Sly to share his contempt for love, regardless of the latter's opinion. Gobbo wanted his partner to think and act just like him, as if he was depriving him of having his own personality. It would be understood by the great contrast between their personalities, but the shorter goblin really had no right to do such a thing. Fortunately, Sly's naivety prevented him from becoming a second Gobbo. It sounded ironic but it was true. And to be honest, he couldn't imagine the other goblin as serious and grumpy; especially now that he had started to appreciate the way Sly was.

Gobbo would never allow anyone to tell him how to behave and what to agree on and what not. Yet he did the same with the taller goblin.

He was definitely a tremendous hypocrite. And being in evidence as such if he revealed the truth, risking also losing his friend, was something that would be extremely difficult to forget.

"Umm, Gobbo?" Sly asked, getting the other out of his thoughts.

"What?" he said turning his head towards him.

"It's just...I realized that you told me to relax and think about other things". The shorter goblin looked somewhat confused.

"Well, yes. Why?"

"I was already used to you telling me to cover my ears and let you sleep in peace. I'm surprised you didn't say any of that this time" Sly said with a slight smile. Gobbo was silent. Had that situation really happened so many times that it became a habit for his partner? It could be said then that he also got used to being treated indifferently by him. How come he never even complained about that?

When Gobbo had a problem or concern, Sly was there for him. He always tried to cheer him up with everything he could think of, trying to make him feel better. Sometimes he failed and simply let the shorter goblin figure it out on his own, mostly taking a short walk through the woods to relax. But despite that, there was never a single time when Sly didn't try to help him. He would ask to tell him about his concerns and even gave words of encouragement or some other advice. They weren't always the best but as they say, the intention is what counts.

On the other hand, Gobbo never did the same for him, being completely selfish and ungrateful. For the first time in his life, he would like to hear his partner call him that. He would agree instead of punching him in the stomach. However, he felt that it would never happen, since Sly didn't recriminate him on a single occasion; even looking like he suffered from memory loss.

How was he able to put up with that cold treatment he had been receiving for a long time and continue to be cheerful and understanding with him like it was nothing?

"Why did I allow myself to treat him like that?" He thought sadly. "I don't deserve someone like Sly. Neither he, nor anyone". For the second time during that stormy night, the aforementioned brought him back to reality.

"Gobbo? Gobbo, did you hear me? Or have you already fallen asleep?"

"What? Oh! No no, I'm still awake. Just thinking". Seconds after saying that and before the taller goblin could ask him about it, another rather unexpected thunder made an appearance and the latter would scream again. Gobbo got up, sitting on his bed, and switched on the flashlight.

"I want it to stop at once. I hate you, storm! I HATE YOU!" Sly yelled looking out the window. In response, another thunder; which caused him to hide his head under the pillow. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean it! I just want you to go away PLEASE!" His voice started to sound broken. "P-Please…"

The other goblin, for his part, didn't even know what to say. This wasn't funny; nor was it annoying. Hearing Sly almost sobbing upset him. Not because he considered him a crybaby, but because he thought that this was most likely not the first time that his friend had reached that point while he had not bothered even to check on his condition, knowing that the taller goblin wasn't okay.

Then he remembered what he had done moments before and realized. He tried to calm him down. He didn't raise his voice or scold him. He assured him that everything would be fine. He was close to him and didn't get angry at the unexpected hug he received. In short, he showed concern for his partner.

For the first time he was concerned about someone else instead of himself.

It was a change that felt pretty good. After everything he did for him, Gobbo understood that it was time to return the favor. And without realizing it he had already started little by little. However, he couldn't leave it there for tonight.

He got up from his bed again and went to Sly. Then carefully uncovered the terrified goblin and knelt closer.

"Sly...umm...I...w-well...Do you want...W-would you want to...umm…?" Damn it! It was more difficult than he thought. And to make things worse the blush came again; although he already anticipated it since he was uncovering him. Plus he wasn't going to let it be an excuse to avoid the situation again.

"Yes yes, I know, Gobbo" he replied, wiping away the small tears that were coming from his eyes. "You want me to let you sleep, don't you? Don't worry, I'll get over it. I'll use the pillow as you suggested". That innocent tone in his voice made the shorter goblin feel more guilty. He no longer wanted the other to feel that it was his obligation to think only of him and not himself as well. Just as Sly was about to cover his ears, Gobbo stopped him by grabbing his arm.

"No, Sly. Is not that". The aforementioned looked at him curiously. He took a deep breath and made eye contact with him. "If you want...if you want, you can sleep...with me". Sly was surprised to hear that and stared at him. Gobbo's face was redder than ever, but he didn't look away or lower or turn his head. The taller goblin took a few seconds to answer, generating an awkward silence. Besides, he had no idea how fast his friend's heart was beating because of it. Finally he gave him a look full of hope along with a smile.

"Can I? Can I really?"

"Just for tonight!" Gobbo clarified quickly. His smile narrowed a bit. Still he accepted gladly.

Once they were both in the shorter goblin's bed, the latter positioned himself on the far right and turned his back on his 'new occupant'. Meanwhile, Sly also lay down turning his back on him but took up much of the mattress. Slowly he approached Gobbo without touching their bodies. He didn't want to do anything stupid that would make his partner regret it. Plus the thunder stopped so often, which made him happy. That would mean the storm would soon be over.

Actually no.

A new loud thunder rumbled across the sky causing Sly to stiffen and grip the blanket tightly, uncovering Gobbo in the process. He clicked his tongue and turned around so he could see the taller goblin. It was there that he noticed the problem. Offering to sleep with him was not enough to help Sly. There was practically no difference with his friend sleeping in his own bed. His thoughts went back to nagging his mind. He knew very well what he could try, but wasn't willing to show too much affection. Nor should he underestimate his friend, as Sly was naive but not stupid. The chances that he would ask him about his sudden actions the next day were extremely high. He couldn't even come up with good lies to get away.

Okay. He was going to try.

"Sly?" he whispered.

"Yes?"

"Listen. You can hug me if you are scared. But don't squeeze me. Okay?" This time it was Sly who turned around, the two of them being face to face.

"Really, Gobbo? You really mean it?"

"Mhm". Immediately, the taller goblin passed his arms over the other, also resting his head on his chest. Gobbo for his part rested his left arm across Sly's body while brought his right behind his own head. The first two times thunder sounded, the taller goblin clung to his friend a bit but after a while he finally managed to fall asleep. Gobbo was busy imagining how he would have kicked Sly out if he found him in his bed before. He couldn't help but laugh a little in his mind before falling asleep as well.

Slowly the rays of sunlight entered the tree house. Gobbo woke up first. Not feeling any kind of weight on him, he turned his head to see that Sly was turning his back ok him. He detached himself from the pillow to confirm he was all right. And indeed, his face reflected calm. The same one from that time under the tree that practically started everything.

What would happen when Sly wakes up, he wondered. After all the pests he had talked about being sentimental and had tried to get into the taller goblin's head, the latter had the perfect opportunity to throw him in the face that he was a hypocrite. Well, he wouldn't use that term because it was one of those 'difficult' words that he didn't know what they meant. Yet laughing at him was likely.

And what about his crush on him? Would he dare to confess it? Would Sly really believe him or would just think he was joking? Not even he could believe what was happening to him.

Hold on. Would Sly really be able to leave him? If he didn't abandon him earlier for being trated like trash, why would he do so because he was in love with him? Sly agreed to sleep next to him and hug him without problems; without any obligation. It was even silly to think that someone like him would never want to see Gobbo again.

Also wanting to hide his feelings wasn't very comfortable for him. Sly was within four inches and his heart was begging him to do it. It didn't help that the more he refused, the more insisten his heart was. As much as he hated being wrong, Gobbo was no longer sure that love wasn't for goblins. And why couldn't it be? After all, there was no spell or enchantment that could undo feelings. His mischievous personality wasn't going to change either. He would remain the same in the eyes of the inhabitants of Toyland. What was wrong then?

That Sly didn't reciprocate those feelings.

"Well" he thought. "If you can't, that's fine. At least I know that I won't lose our friendship. I just know it". Not way was he going to let Sly love him by force. Nothing would be out of obligation anymore. With a smile plastered on his face, he hugged the taller goblin from behind, hiding his head at Sly's neck, falling asleep within minutes. He wanted to be well rested to finally confess to him.

However, he wouldn't get to see that Sly also showed a big smile at that gesture.
For a long time he assumed that Gobbo, despite his personality, cared deep, deep down for him. He just had a different way of showing it. But he did, because if he didn't really care, they wouldn't even be together. From the first day he would have left him after seeing his clumsiness. The only thing that saddened Sly was not being able to confess his love to the shorter goblin. He believed that goblins were also capable of feeling and being in love, but if Gobbo considered it an outrage there was no point in telling what he felt for him. It was more than likely that he didn't reciprocate his feelings.

However, what happened the night before came as a surprise to Sly. Especially with that hug from Gobbo. Could it be that perhaps he liked him too? He couldn't assure anything, except that his partner was showing his affection for him in a more open way and couldn't feel happier. They would talk about it during the day to answer his questions. Still Sly kept hopeful and his smile, like Gobbo's, remained intact even being sound asleep.