Work Text:
It had been two years. Two whole years travelling with the circus, diligently aiding lost toys around the state find a kid. It wasn’t always easy, there were many toys who returned, most of them being left behind or forgotten. But it never changed the fact that what they were doing was good. It was meaningful.
Woody felt like his new life had meaning.
At least, he did. In the beginning.
It was around the anniversary of when the others left (when he chose to stay behind) that he started to understand what he was feeling. The same feeling he kept buried since the night he’d watched them leave.
He loved Bo Peep, of course he did. Being with her again was exhilarating! Seeing her everyday made him forget about missing the love of a child.
Almost.
She was different from their time with Andy, and that was okay. Time changed everyone; he was a great example of that. If someone told Woody over a decade ago that his best friend would be a spaceman action-figure with clicky buttons, blinky lights, and a hero complex, he would have been offended and laughed in their face!
Bo didn’t need him, he quickly realized after joining her and the others at the circus. She was independent, strong-willed, and never backed down from a fight. She had a plan for everything and was never a damsel in distress. Woody admired her greatly and stayed by her side, hoping to find his place amongst them all.
But despite all his efforts and the good they had done, he always felt out of place. Like some piece inside of him was missing, and this time it wasn’t his voice box.
The worst part was, he knew Bo saw it. When she thought he wasn’t looking, he could see it on her face. She felt responsible for it, for him staying behind. She was, in a way, as Woody wouldn’t have stayed for just any toy. But that never meant she was responsible for his grief, and he shut down that train of thought very quickly.
They talked, like they did every evening, on top of the same carousal where he made his decision two years ago. She wasn’t angry nor did she blame him, when he told her he had to leave. ‘You’ll always have a place here’ she’d said to him, fighting back the tears a porcelain doll couldn’t cry. She’d placed a gentle kiss on his check and hugged him tightly before he departed. The others all waved their goodbyes.
Woody made it about a mile before he stopped to take in his surroundings and wonder where he was even going. His heart told him to find Bonnie, find his family. He didn’t care if Bonnie left him sat at the back of the closet again, as long as he got to be with his friends. With Slinky Dog and Hamm. The Potato Heads and their alien children. The Dino duo, Rex and Trixie. His round-up gang, Jessie and Bullseye. Even Bonnie’s creation, the plastic spork Forky!
And he couldn’t forget Buzz. Oh, how he missed the space ranger.
He and Buzz had become inseparable, long even before Bonnie decided the old sheriff wasn’t her favourite toy. He’d always know how to cheer Woody up, whether he was missing Andy or struggling with the realization he may never be played with again. Buzz had a comforting presence about him and a heart larger than he was. Woody was secretly grateful for the day the toy crash-landed in a cardboard spaceship (in his spot no less) on Andy’s bed all those years ago. He had to find him. He had to find all of them.
If only he knew where to begin to look.
3 weeks, and several children who’d thought they’d met their new best friend (he was sorry, but knew they’d get over it), and he finally made it back to Bonnie’s house.
It was early evening, just approaching 3pm, when he’d scoped out a plan to get into the house. There were no cars in the driveway, so mom and dad were likely still at work, and Bonnie would be around 7 now so she should still be at school. The timing was perfect.
Woody climbed up the gutter of the eaves-trough, making his way to the second story window where he knew Bonnie’s room used to be. He hopped down on the ledge and peered in through the window, happy to note not much had changed since his absence. There were new drawings, each of which contained her beloved toys he knew so well, and a few new faces he didn’t. In the center, a self-portrait in blue and orange crayon with Forky in her hands. Woody smiled knowing she still loved the toy she made in her first day of kindergarten.
He scanned the room some more but found it lacking any actual toys to try and wave over. Strange.
Woody tapped the glass a few times. After about a minute, and a few more insistent taps, the closet door opened a crack, and a toy Woody couldn’t name peeked out. It was a faded green and purple stuffy, looking like a dragon from the shape of its face. Woody waved and smiled. They looked at him confused and turned inside the closet again, saying something he obviously couldn’t hear.
A second later, the left closet door flew open, a red-headed cowgirl running out towards where he stood.
“Jessie!” He called, bursting with excitement and anxiously waiting for her to unlock the latch on the window. The others quickly followed. Woody was happy to note they were all there. All but a certain space ranger.
Not a second after the window raised did Jessie throw her arms around him. “Woody!” She cried. “You came back!”
Woody righted them, preventing them from falling to the ground behind him. “Woah there, cowgirl. I’m happy to see you too, but let’s not carried away.”
“I can’t believe you’re here!” Slinky said, rubbing his snout against Woody’s hand. Woody scratched behind his ears in return, his tail wagging along happily.
“Good to see you, cowboy.” Hamm said with a smile.
“Looks like I was right!” Mr. Potato Head grinned and crossed his arms, looking at Hamm smugly. “You owe me a week of villain time.” Hamm rolled his eyes.
“Honey, we all know Bonnie decides that.” Ms. Potato Head said, shaking her head at her husband before turning to smile at Woody. “Hiya Woody dear.”
“Is it really you?” Rex called, holding himself back to avoid another Zurg-elevator moment.
Woody let Jessie pull away and eyed them all individually with a big grin. It felt reminiscent of when he’d said goodbye. “It’s really me,” he answered Rex, “and I’m so glad to see you all again.” His eyes continued to wander the room, hoping to catch sight of his best friend in the sea of toys he didn’t recognize that were now moving towards them.
“What are you doing here?” Jessie asked, catching his attention again. She looked him over, assessing for any damage. “Not that I’m not happy to see you. I am! But you looked so sure of yourself. You wanted to stay with Bo- Wait!” She grabbed his shoulders tightly. “Where is Bo? Is she okay?” She looked around and at the ground behind him.
Woody patted her arms gently and pulled them from his shoulders. “Bo is okay. More than okay, don’t worry Jessie.” He said with a smile that she returned.
“Then why are you-“ Rex began until Trixie hit him in the chest. He looked at her confused, but she shook her head at him.
“I’ll explain everything.” Woody said, addressing them all. “I promise. But it’s kind of a lot and I’d like to only have to do it once, when we’re all together.” He nodded when he spotted Buttercup, Dolly, and Mr. Pricklepants approaching from within the crowd.
“So,” He finally asked, “where is my good friend Buzz Lightyear?”
There was a sudden silence as all the toys faces dropped. Woody frowned, not understanding and refusing to accept what the silence implied. “No.” He whispered.
“Woody.” Jessie said with a whimper, reaching out for him.
“No.” He said coldly, eyebrows furrowed and backing away from her reach. “That’s not possible. Bonnie loves Buzz. She wouldn’t do that.”
“It’s not what you think.” Slinky tried.
“Bonnie didn’t-“ Mrs. Potato Head began.
“Buzz was-“ Rex started but stopped himself, hanging his head low as if the memory plagued him.
Woody eyed them all individually then looked to Jessie for answers.
She threw herself at him again, only this time it was sorrow in the place of joy. “It was awful Woody.” He hugged her tightly to his chest, rubbing up and down her back in an attempt to sooth her. After a minute of listening to her sobs, he realized he wasn’t going to get any immediate answers and began to lead her away from the window ledge.
The others closed the window as the pair dropped to the floor. He let go of Jessie and looked into her eyes, pleading for her to explain.
She didn’t meet his gaze but began to speak. “It was just last week.” She sniffed uselessly. “We were all playing outside, in the garden. With Bonnie of course. It was the usual scenario; Buzz was our hero on his way to stop the villains from stealing the dragon’s eggs.”
“Dragon’s eggs?” He asked, derailing the topic slightly in the hopes of distracting her from the pain in her voice.
“Yes.” She laughed with a small smile. “It’s the newest thing she loves.” Jessie investigated the crowd of toys around them, eyeing the purple and green stuffed dragon whose head stood out. “Fireball.” She waved him over.
Woody watched as the toy approached shyly, head hung low but eyeing his face with dark beads. He stopped beside her, and she reached out to pet behind his head. “Bonnie likes to think Fireball here is a mother, protecting her eggs from thieves hoping to turn them into mindless beasts. Buzz was on his way to protect them.” She halted her hand, staring off into the distance. Fireball nudged against her palm, and she was brought back, dropping her hands to hang loosely at her sides. She looked at Woody again. “Bonnie had this brilliant idea. One that would make Buzz really fly.” Her eyes sparkled at the memory.
“She created a launch pad with a spare piece of plywood, from when dad renovated the garage last year, and the large rock in the garden. She placed Buzz on one end and jumped from the top of her slide in the backyard on the other. It was incredible! Buzz flew so high!” Her laugh lasted only a moment. It was replaced with horror as she continued. “But only straight up. And on the way down, his wings didn’t grab any currents.” She frowned, looking at the floor.
“What happened?” Woody asked cautiously with a similar frown.
“Bonnie didn’t move in time and got hit when he was coming down.” She whimpered, as if trying to believe it didn’t happen.
Woody gasped, hands trembling at his sides.
“She’s okay thankfully, it was just a bruise on her cheek.” Jessie added quickly. “But Buzz…” She paused.
“But Buzz what?” He begged, the worry for his best friend now spiked higher.
She shook her head, eyes remaining on the floor.
Woody looked at the others. All of them were conveniently looking away from him. “But. Buzz. What?” He reiterated, annunciating each word calmy but with a tone that demanded answers.
“Woody.” Ms. Potato Head said, catching his attention. “Buzz broke.”
The word shattered the world around him, every possible indication of that word meaning that Buzz was…
“He’s gone.” He shook, feeling the words leave his mouth without hearing them. “That’s not. Tell me it’s not true.”
“We don’t know where he is.” Hamm sighed, heading over to Bonnie’s dresser. He retuned a moment later with a flat piece of plastic and handed it to Woody. He took it gently, turning over what he realized was half of Buzz’s right wing. The colours were faded, old scratches Woody recognized from their time with Andy still marred the edges. He ran his fingers over the new ones, down until where the sharp edge of the break dragged against a finger. There were two copper wires protruding, leading to the light on the tip that always blinked when he extended them. “The clear plastic of his helmet also snapped off, but we never found where it landed.”
“He insisted we let mom and dad throw him out.” Slinky added. “Said he was a danger to Bonnie now.”
“Wait.” Woody’s thoughts and hands halted in unison. “Let him be thrown out? What does that even mean? You said he… He broke.” He struggled to choke out the words.
“His wing and helmet.” Jessie finally spoke up again, Woody’s gaze snapped to her. “Bonnie was so distraught, she didn’t even care about her injury at first. She scooped Buzz up and ran to her parents. They said he was an old toy and couldn’t be fixed, and that they didn’t want her having any dangerously sharp toys around the house.” She paused, eyes fixed on his. “Our little girl fought for him, as much as she could, crying herself to sleep even. But Buzz agreed with them, thinking he was the one who hurt her. It was his wish that he be thrown out.”
Woody looked around in disbelief. “And you were all okay with that?” He accused, his voice raising. He hugged the broken piece to his chest. “You were totally fine with having Buzz think he was trash and toss himself out?”
Jessie’s face contorted. “You have no right accusing us of that, Woody!” She yelled. “We all fought for Buzz to see he wasn’t broken. Each one of us gave everything to try and convince him not to leave.”
Woody stepped back from her and turned away. “Well that really worked out, didn’t it?”
Jessie’s rage fuelled. She stepped towards him with an accusatory finger. “You think you are the only toy that cares about Buzz?” She asked, jabbing him in the chest and forcing him to fumble back. “Well, you weren’t here, were you Woody? You have no idea what these two years have been like. Buzz was never the same after you-“
Woody’s eyes widened in shock as Jessie’s hands went to her lips.
“Jessie?” He urged, the nerves in his flimsy body had him shaking.
She sighed, knowing she’d been too emotional and let it slip. “Woody.” She began, reaching for his shoulder. He stiffened under her touch. “When we left you two years ago, Buzz was… He was never the same.” She shook her head slightly. “He tried his best. We all know he wanted to fill your shoes, to look after us, like you did when we were with Andy. But no matter what he did, he was never happy, and we all saw it.”
“We did our best as well.” She said, shaking his shoulder slightly. “We all tried to make him happy, make him laugh and smile.” She looked around at the others, then down at the floor once more. “We weren’t enough.”
“I. I’m sorry Jessie. I-“
“He missed you, Woody.” She snapped, her eyes trained on his again. “You were his best friend, and you abandoned him.”
“What?” Woody gasped. “No, I- that was never my intention. I only wanted…”
“Sorry.” Jessie sighed. “I got ahead of myself, didn’t mean it like that.”
The room went dead silent. Everyone was soaking in the unease, not knowing what to say next.
Woody cracked first. “When did Buzz… How long has he been gone?”
“Today is the sixth day.” Trixie said, noting the other toys displeasure with the memory. “He rode the back of the garbage truck.”
“You have to understand Woody.” Jessie began. “We would have… I would have gone after him. But we couldn’t leave Bonnie. She is still so upset about losing Buzz. We don’t want to know how sad she’d be if she lost another one of us. Especially not if she’s anything like when she lost you.”
“She was sad when she lost me?” Woody asked, not quite believing it.
“Incredibly.” She answered. “You may not have been Bonnie’s favourite, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t love you.”
Woody smiled sadly and the memory, before focusing back on the present situation. An idea came to him.
“Looks like your plotting face, Sheriff.” Jessie said with an eyebrow raised, ease slipping into her voice as her arms connected across her chest. “What’s on your mind?”
“You haven’t left to look for Buzz cause Bonnie would be upset if she lost another toy.” He stated, pacing back and forth.
“That is what I said, yes.” She answered, a confused look on her face.
“But Bonnie already knows I’m lost and hasn’t seen me yet.” He continued. “I could go and find Buzz!” He said enthusiastically. “I can bring him home, then Bonnie will see us both returned.”
“Woody.” Jessie began warily. “Not that I don’t appreciate it, but you remember when we were there last time, don’t you?” She and the others shivered in unison.
“Of course I do.” Woody remarked. “Which is exactly why my best friend does not deserve to be there alone. Especially not when he feels responsible for injuring his kid. I’m going after him.”
Before he could get another word out, his closest friends all wrapped him in a giant hug, Jessie at his front.
“Oh, thank you! Thank you, Woody!” She cried, squeezing his mid-section till he felt his stitching straining and stuffing shifting internally.
“He’d do the same for me.” Woody breathed out, tapping her on the shoulder in an effort to break free. She quickly obliged, the others following suit. The next few moments were spent readying for the mission. The other toys aided him with supplies; a half-empty tube of super glue, a red worn bandana he used to wrap and tie the broken shard of Buzz’s wing around himself, and a braided string from Bonnie’s craft bin he tied into a lasso. Jessie pinned the ‘Sheriff’ badge back in its spot on his chest and gave him a wink.
“So, when is garbage day?” He asked with a grin.
“Looks like you’re in luck.” Dolly said, standing with her arms at the window, the telltale sound of a garbage truck making its frequent stops just down the street.
Woody adjusted his hat firmly on his head before climbing up to the window. He looked out at the others, his family and new friends. “Wish me luck.” He said, tipping his hat to them as the window was opened and jumping out to slide down the gutter.
“Go get um’ cowboy.” Jessie called out, wishing for his and Buzz's safe return.
The garbage dump was…. well, a dump. If the thick cloud of smog that hung in the air and the constant smell of burning plastic wasn’t enough to frighten one into an attempted escape, the territorial ‘gangs’ of lost and damaged toys that resided in the landfill slopes surrounding certainly would.
Buzz found out early on day two of his arrival who and what areas to avoid. The humans would be out in the daylight hours, ploughing the heaps of trash into the conveyor that led to the incinerator, a site that still haunted his nightmares. But during the evenings when all work quieted, and very similar to their routine at home, the toys would emerge from hiding. Although in this setting, Buzz preferred his isolation.
He'd tried his best to keep quiet. He’d been here almost a week now and yet it seemed every big shot gang leader knew who he was. He almost couldn’t stand to hear the name Lightyear anymore.
He often thought about Bonnie and his family, missing them more each day. Now, he spent his days wandering through the endless piles of household waste, most of which he refused to look through in fear of what he may find. Though he originally came here thinking his life was over, he still felt the urge to hang on. Something spurred him forward, and he found himself aimlessly marching towards an identifiable goal.
It was a particularly smoggy evening tonight, but he took that as a small blessing. More smog meant less toys out and about to harass him into joining them. He kept low to the ground and avoided any distant voices or noises.
It was also strangely quiet tonight.
Buzz froze in place, a cold feeling of unease crawling up the hard plastic back of his frame. A minute passed where he stood motionless, save for his head spinning around to find the eyes he currently felt on him.
“So good of you to join us, Mr. Lightyear.” A grating voice called from behind him, forcing him to spin in entirety at the figure, raising his improvised weapon; a rusty nail he’d picked up on day one. Stepping from the shadows and into the dim light of the distant streetlamp, stood a stretchy, one-shade-of-green lizard. He was missing his tail and wore an eye patch over his left eye.
Some rustling behind him forced him to swivel again. A rusty red and purple transforming type action figure with a missing arm appeared from behind a stack of weathered cardboard boxes. Their eyes were glowing red and expressionless. “Yes.” They spoke. “Good to finally meet you.”
Buzz was perplexed. He’d always been able to slip away from these interrogations, but with these two sandwiching him like they were, his window was significantly limited. As if sensing his thoughts, the lizard spoke, the voice now directly behind him.
“I’m afraid I’ll have to insist you forget about trying to escape.” He said, before reaching a sticky hand to grab his shoulder. Buzz flinched it off, turning towards the offender and stabbing. The dull tip of the nail just stretched his body backwards. The lizard laughed in response.
“Who are you?” Buzz finally asked, sheathing his weapon and stepping back ever so slightly.
“Oh, dear me.” He feigned ignorance. “Where are our manners. You can call me Sylas.” The lizard said with a bow. “My… Associate here,” Sylas began, eyeing the other toy with a twitchy grin, “is called Shepard.”
“Charmed.” Shepard said without looking the slightest bit.
Buzz crossed his arms over his chest, eyeing the two back and forth. “What do you want with me?”
Sylas clapped his gummy hands together, smiling at Buzz and approaching his side. “I’m so glad you asked, friend.” He clasped and arm around Buzz’s shoulders, pulling him away from Shepard and towards a waste pile. “I know you like to play the hero type, no?” He pestered, grabbing at the top rim of Buzz’s armor with his other hand. Before Buzz could answer, Sylas looked towards the garbage heap. “You see, I have a bunch of toys with no kid to love them. They need protection. We are so small, so outnumbered!” When the words left his mouth, dozens of stretchy toys like himself with damage of their own emerged from all around the pile, staring down at him. “I need someone to help me guide them, lead them through this junkyard. Someone fearless and good.” He said, looking back at Buzz with something he could almost call hope, if it didn’t stink with deception.
“Lies.” Shepard said, her fist pounding against the cardboard box she emerged from. She stalked towards them; two more transforming action figures in similar disarray close behind her. “This one bribes anyone he knows is stronger than him with kind words and the promise of purpose.” She practically spat, if a toy robot could. “And when you least expect it, he’ll take what’s left of your batteries and run.”
Buzz felt the tension between the two, opting to slip from Sylas’ hold and take a few steps backwards. He felt his back clink against the chest of one of Shepard’s lackies, arms circling around him in a tight hold. Shepard’s eyes found his.
“I would have you fight for a higher purpose. To free us and all rejected toys from this wasteland.” Sylas rolled his good eye as she spoke. Buzz couldn’t help but be slightly intrigued. Her goal did sound noble, something he would have done in a heartbeat were he the actual Buzz Lightyear and not a plastic replica. Freeing the damaged toys of the dump was something even Woody would be proud of him for… right?
Woody. It had been a while (not) since he thought of the cowboy, his best friend. Were they still friends? He knew the decision he made was the right one, telling Woody to stay with Bo. It was clear he loved her, and she him. What right would he have to separate that? Even if every day since their separation Buzz felt a hole where his toy equivalent of a heart would be. Did Woody miss him?
He shook the needless thoughts away, returning to the arguing toys in front of him. “Free all rejected toys.” Buzz repeated, drawing their attention. “A noble goal.” Shepard smiled at him with a nod and Sylas just shook his head, muttering something Buzz couldn’t understand. “Say I join you,” he spoke hypothetically, “how do you plan on achieving this?”
Shepard stepped forward, gesturing up with her hand. “It’s easy really. We only have one thing left to do.” The smile of malice only brought Buzz worry.
“Yeah,” Sylas interrupted, muttering “that’s if you’re okay with mass murder.”
Buzz’s cognitive functions hurdled to a halt. He looked back and forth from the toys, searching for any hint of ill-timed humor. “What do you mean by that?” He asked cautiously, afraid and hoping he was misinterpreting.
“The humans are what stands in our way.” Shepard said, facial expressions now empty of any earlier emotion.
So, he was correct in assuming she wanted to… Kill. Kill the humans.
“Humans die in accidents everyday!” Shepard tried, sensing his hesitation and attempting to sound convincing. “A few worthless ones die, and no one will be the wiser!” Her voice was shaking, as if she was still trying to convince herself.
“And then what?” Sylas asked before Buzz could. “We aren’t even supposed to speak to humans. Hell, I may not be the most rule-following nor kindest toy around, but even I know it goes against everything we are to kill them. Besides, one way or another, all toys are destined to end up here.”
Shepard looked passed the lizard at Buzz. “You understand me Lightyear, don’t you?” She stepped forward, pushing past Sylas towards the space ranger. “You had one small accident.” Her henchman released him, and she rashly jabbed a button on his chest, his wings springing free. “A teensy little chip.” Her voice was low as she moved her hand and dragged a finger down the edge of the break. Buzz shivered, feeling violated at her sudden closeness and touch. Any attempt at recoiling was thwarted buy the larger toy behind him. “And they threw you away like you meant nothing!”
“That isn’t true.” He defended but looked down at his feet in embarrassment. “I came here on my own.”
Shepard huffed a laugh, grabbing his chin and pulling his face towards her once again. “Maybe so, but here you are. Wandering the trash heaps. Alone.” She spoke accusingly, fingers gripping him tighter. “Work with me here, spaceman. Help me take the revenge we so truly deserve!”
Buzz looked into her eyes, brows furrowed and frowned. “No.” He said calmly.
Her fingers tightened once more as she growled in anger and threw him to the ground, circling him as she ranted. “You should be angry! Where are your friends Buzz? You’ve been here a week and not one of your so-called family has attempted to rescue you. Face it, you’ve been replaced!”
Despite the hurt he felt in her words, Buzz steeled himself. He eyed her as she continued. “No one loves a broken toy!” She yelled, directly in front of him with her arm raised.
“I wouldn’t be so sure ‘bout that.” A voice Buzz recognized called from up on a trash heap behind Shepard. The silhouette of toy with a broad hat and a lasso stood with the streetlamp light behind them. They slid down the trash gracefully, remaining in the shadows and landing with a plastic clink against the asphalt. “And I’d appreciate if you didn’t go torturing my deputy while he’s already down.”
Shepard backed away from Buzz, allowing him a better look at the stranger.
“Woody?” He asked doubtfully.
The shadowed figure stepped into the light, revealing the brown-eyed cowboy. “Howdy, partner.” He said with a smile and nod.
Buzz eyed his friend up and down, happy to note he looked uninjured and exactly the same as when they’d parted. The red stitching and slightly overstuffed padding of his right arm signified this was in fact his Woody. Bonnie’s Woody, he meant of course.
Woody approached Buzz with his hand extended. Buzz took it and climbed to his feet with his assistance. He watched as Woody addressed the others, still in disbelief that the cowboy was here and not a figment of his imagination.
“If you excuse us, we’ve got a kid to return to.” Woody said with a tip of his hat, Buzz’s hand still clasped tightly in his own.
“Seize him!” Shepard and Sylas pointed at Woody and commanded in unison.
A stray plastic bag blew past on the breeze as silence sat thick in the air. The two commanders looked back towards where their troops once were, noting their absence. They looked around and then back at Woody with piercing eyes.
He gave a wink at Buzz’s curious stare then threw a cocky grin at the two on-lookers once more, twirling the lasso in his free hand. “I think you’ll find they are a little tied up at the moment.”
Buzz’s felt his smile grow larger than it had in years. He bumped Woody with his free hand, knocking his soft cotton body back slightly. “Way to go Woody!” The Sheriff’s smile turned genuine when it met Buzz’s gaze.
Sylas huffed, drawing their attention. “Not bad, cowboy.” He laughed and gave a nod, grabbing a hold of Shepard’s arm. “We’ve been had, Shep. No use against experienced toys like these gentlemen here.” Shepard looked at the lizard with wide eyes. “Let’s go free our kin and get back to it. And no talk of murder this time.” He finished, leading her towards the sound of their struggling troops.
The duo watched the damaged toys leave until they were just out of earshot. Buzz launched himself at the cowboy, crushing him into a tight hug. “I can’t believe you’re here!” He exclaimed.
Woody chuckled and followed, wrapping his arms around the space ranger and pulling them tighter. He found himself relaxing and laying his head on Buzz’s shoulder. “Neither can I.”
The embrace was broken a second later when Buzz forcefully pushed Woody away, holding him by the shoulders instead. “What are you doing here?”
“I really like the ambiance.” Woody began, gesturing up with his hands. “Something about the smell just had me wanting to come back all this time.”
Buzz rolled his eyes and Woody laughed, grabbing him by the shoulder. “I’m here for you, silly spaceman.” He said softly, a gentle smile on his glossy smooth face. “Told everyone I was bringing you home.”
The words pulled at his heart strings. He shrugged off the hand, dropped his own from Woody’s frame to hang at his sides and looked away. “I don’t have a home anymore.” He murmured weakly.
“Nonsense.” Woody answered. He reached towards Buzz again but stopped just before making contact. “Buzz.” He started softly, drawing the spaceman’s look. “You don’t actually think you’re broken, do you?”
Buzz just looked down at the ground, unable to stand the sight of Woody’s soft brown eyes in disarray. “This is evidence enough, don’t you think?” He gestured to the break in his wing.
The sound of a fabric knot unravelling forced him to look at his partner once more. Woody was kneeling on the ground now, unfurling a red bandana he hadn’t noticed in the cowboy’s possession until now. He watched curiously as Woody unveiled a tube of super glue and the broken part of his wing.
Woody said nothing else but eyed him as he approached his right side. He put his free hand on Buzz’s shoulder and gently encouraged him to sit, which he hesitantly did. Woody sat next to him, carefully investigating the ‘wound’. His eyes met Buzz’s again, a question. Buzz nodded, allowing him to feel the broken edge of his wing.
Woody’s touch was gentle and caring, the exact opposite of the last toy that touched him. He must have known Buzz’s wings were sensitive, the break having caused even further discomfort when touched. Despite that, Buzz found himself leaning into it. Chasing the tender feeling of Woody’s delicate flexible fingers caressing the protruding edge of his own rigid plastic exterior.
Woody released him, but didn’t move away, instead reaching for the glue. “Hold still for me.” He requested and unscrewed the cap, Buzz remained motionless. With calculated precision and a patient hold, Woody lined a thin bead of glue against the edge. He wasted no time, dropping the tube to the ground and picking up the discarded piece. Lining it up, he met Buzz’s gaze with a smile. He pushed it against the edge, the piece fitting together perfectly.
Buzz noticed his hyperventilating when he heard Woody’s quiet voice, soothing him with ‘it’s okay’ and ‘I’ve got you, partner.’ He noted the feel of the cowboy’s forehead against his own and realized his eyes were shut. It didn’t hurt, but he could feel it again, and he silently wondered if this was what Woody felt when his arm was re-attached after having come completely off. He opened his eyes again to gaze at the toy he admired so greatly.
Woody had come so far. From being the jealous prick he’d first met on Andy’s bed all those years ago, to the sheriff and hero of a toy who risked life and limb to protect and care for those he loved. Buzz still couldn’t believe he was actually here with him, caring for him right now. He wished to hold him again, and this time never let him go. He settled for laying his hand over Woody’s, the one not holding his wing together while the glue dried. He was rewarded with the sheriff moving to intertwine their fingers and laying them in his lap. Their eyes met, smiling at each other thoughtfully.
After several minutes of sitting in silence, Woody released both Buzz’s hand and the pressure he had on his wing, happy to see it still holding. He stood, dusting his hands off dramatically. “That should hold.” He said with a nod, pointing at Buzz. “But I don’t want to see anymore stunts like that pulled for at least 24 hours while it sets. Ya hear me?”
Buzz chuckled, raising his hand to his forehead in a salute. “Yes sir, Sheriff Woody.” With assistance he rose to his feet.
Woody circled around to his left, opening the retractable hinge on his left arm. “This is Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear and Sheriff Woody Pride to Star Command. Mission accomplished. Were comin’ home.” He joked, closing it again as they both laughed.
The sheriff stepped ahead, capping the glue lid and wrapping it in his bandana before tying it around his back. He turned to see Buzz, smile fading.
“Buzz?” He asked.
Buzz cursed himself for letting his partner see through him. He should have known he couldn’t hide anything from the Sheriff. “I appreciate you fixing me up, Woody. You have no idea how much it means to me to see you again.”
Woody just eyed him, brows furrowed with worry.
“The truth is,” Buzz started, feeling the words leave his lips before hearing himself. “Something’s been feeling wrong with me for a while now. I think I was broken long before my wing was.”
Woody stepped close once again but didn’t touch Buzz this time. He tried to convince himself he didn’t care.
“Jessie said something about that, before I came here.” The cowboy said, Buzz’s surprise at her mention spurring him to continue. “She said you were trying to fill my boots, take care of everyone like I used to.”
Horror dawned on Buzz’s face as he realized how it must sound to the cowboy. “Woody, I never meant to try and replace you! I just thought-“
Woody hugged him tightly, carefully holding his arms around his neck as to not disturb the glue drying wing. “I’m sorry, Buzz.” He sobbed. “I thought staying behind was what I wanted and was better for everyone. Never thought about the pain I’d caused, especially on my best friend.”
Buzz returned the hug, looping his arms around Woody’s lower back. “I’m sorry also. For not being enough.”
“You know that’s not true.” Woody said, pulling back to look at him. Their faces were so close now, Buzz could see every hand-painted detail in the iris of Woody’s brown eyes. “You guys didn’t need an old antique like me looking after you anymore. Bonnie takes good care of you, and you take care of each other.” His smile didn’t match the loneliness Buzz recognized in his eyes.
“Why did you come back?” He asked.
Woody snorted and lightly shook his shoulders. “You got some screws loose in that noggin too? I already told you.”
“No, I mean before you came for me.” Buzz reiterated, catching the brief glimpse of panic on his face. “Why did you come back to Bonnie’s house?”
Woody’s face contorted, as if he was fighting himself on what he wanted his answer to be. Buzz tightened their embrace, stretching up to Woody’s height to hold their foreheads together again. “Tell me the truth.” He interrogated, calm but demanding.
“I wasn’t needed.” Woody sighed, shaking his again in contradiction to his words. “No, that’s not it. I didn’t want to be there. Sure, I liked the work we did, me and Bo.” At the mention of her name, his eyes fell to the ground and frown deepened. Buzz rubbed an encouraging hand down his back. “But I soon realized it wasn’t for me.” He continued, eyes finding Buzz’s once more. “I love being with you guys. I love having a kid to play with and watch over as they grow up.”
Buzz’s hand froze and he stopped processing what Woody was saying at the words ‘I love being with you’ until he mentally shook himself back to focus. The hollow feeling in his chest flickered for a moment as the realization finally kicked in.
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command was in love with his best friend, Sheriff Woody the cowboy.
“Bo and I agreed my leaving was for the best, and as much as I miss her, I know she’s strong enough to take care of herself.” Woody smiled again, this time there was no doubt he was truly happy with his decision. “When I made it home and was told you’d thrown yourself out,” he pursed his lips, “I knew something wasn’t right.
He pulled Buzz’s head to rest on his shoulder again, sighing into his ear. “I am sorry I made you feel like you weren’t enough.”
Buzz squeezed him tighter, breathing in the musty smell of his damp cotton shoulder. It was a welcome scent compared to the trash surrounding them, reminding him of the hug they shared two years ago. “You always made me feel like enough, Woody.” He muttered, feeling his rag-doll arms relaxing. “I just didn’t think it’d be so hard to live without you. Trying to ‘fill your boots’ as you say was the only way I could think to honour your memory. And for personal reasons.”
“Personal reasons?” Woody chuckled, head remaining tucked in his shoulder.
Buzz smiled. “I would submerge myself into every task, no matter the size. It helped me forget you were gone.” He shook his head with a low sigh. “It wasn’t fair to the others though, and I know it caused a rift between Jessie and I.” He breathed a laugh. “She somehow knew before I did, I realize now.”
“Knew what?” Woody asked, releasing his hold to back away and look into his eyes. They were still close, Buzz could see the light pink on his cheeks and although he knew it was just paint, he liked to imagine the cowboy’s face flushing at his words.
“Knew the reason I let you go, why I missed you so much, and why I looked for you in everything I did.” Buzz finally admitted, looking down at his hands that now hung at his side, afraid to voice the word in case it wasn’t reciprocated. He wasn’t sure his plastic heart could take it.
Woody’s hands reached for his. Squeezing them tightly, he drew Buzz’s attention back. The cowboy’s smile turned sly, and Buzz gulped, knowing he was in trouble.
“Mhmm.” He hummed, teasing the spaceman. “And why is that Mr. Buzz Lightyear?”
Star Command strike him down, he was going to make Buzz say it. As far as he could tell, Woody already knew and was just playing with him. On the one hand, and from what he could tell, Woody didn’t seem repulsed by the thought. On the other, Buzz was horrible with words, and these weren’t the ones he wanted to mess up. He cleared his throat, one of Woody’s brow raising in anticipation.
“You are my best friend.” Buzz breathed, voice shaking. “An outstanding toy. A real swell sheriff, who puts others above himself.” He swallowed, searching Woody’s patient but unimpressed face.
Buzz steeled himself, squeezing their joined hands and tugging Woody against his chest. He was rewarded with a surprised noise as he released the sheriff’s hands and wrapped them around his waist. Their faces were only millimeters apart. Woody’s half-lidded eyes made him almost forget what they were talking about.
“And also,” He whispered, pausing for dramatic effect as his own eye lids mirrored. “a handsome fella whom I can’t seem to get out of my head.” He swore he heard Woody whine at that, shifting impossible closer, till their foreheads rested against each other. The tips of Woody’s fingers climbed his chest, gripping tightly at the edge of his armor. Buzz had never wanted anything more than to kiss him.
“I’m in love with you, Woody.”
Woody closed his eyes, breathing in and trembling in Buzz’s hold. Worry and a twinge of hurt spiked in the spaceman’s chest when he started laughing. “Oh, we are idiots, aren’t we Buzz?”
It took a second for Buzz to catch up. Woody wasn’t one to beat around the bush. If he was rejecting him, he’d have done it already. Which meant his laughter was likely not at Buzz’s expense.
“You need to stop over analyzing everything, partner.” Woody remarked, holding Buzz’s cheek in his smooth palm. His smile was light and hopeful, and Buzz mirrored it, laughing along.
“I suppose you’re right. We are idiots.” Buzz echoed, and idea flashing in his head. He acted before thinking too hard, manoeuvring his hold on the Sheriff until he had him tipped back in a dip, now perpendicular to Buzz’s own body. Woody gasped and called out his name, gripping his bicep before settling in his hold and eyeing him curiously.
“I would very much like to kiss you.” Buzz admitted, heart racing at the cowboy’s raised brows and inquisitive smile.
“Well don’t keep me in suspense now, spaceman.” He teased, leaning up towards him.
Their lips met and Buzz tightened his hold, scared to drop Woody in this moment nor let him go ever again. Their kiss started chaste and couldn’t have lasted more than a few seconds, both nervously afraid to cross any unspoken boundaries. But despite that, Buzz melted into it, fully committing the feeling of soft pliable lips on his own to memory. A second after parting, Woody’s palms gripped the back of his neck, forcing them closer and continuing the kiss. This time the two of them exploring further, plastic teeth clinking and flexible tongues grazing. Buzz adjusted his hold, sliding his hands up Woody’s back and pulling him tight against himself, still holding him in a dip. He was rewarded with an intriguing noise and a hand moving to his chin.
A distant crash forced the two apart, their backs bumping together. Buzz had his nail unsheathed at the ready and Woody’s hands hovered over his lasso. A small mouse cat-toy slowly wheeled itself out of the shadows and passed them, seeming to not even notice the pair. When it was out of sight, Buzz exhaled the breath he didn’t realize he was holding.
They eyed one another and burst out in uncontrollable laughter, Woody falling back against the ground and Buzz leaning forward on his knees. When their laughter quieted, Buzz helped Woody to his feet. Instead of letting go, he pulled the cowboy close again, touching their foreheads together. Eyes closed, he sighed happily. “Thank you.”
Woody squeezed his hand and nuzzled against him, eliciting further shivers down Buzz’s back. “You have nothing to thank me for.”
“I do.” He answered, opening his eyes to gaze enamoured at the toy he loved. “You came here just to rescue me.”
“I didn’t rescue you, Buzz.” Woody confirmed, patting his cheek affectionately. “I only reminded you that you’re not broken beyond repair.” He grazed his other hand against the glue seam. “Even if you were, you’d still be loved.” Woody backed away, releasing his hand but offering his opposite one in its place. “To infinity,” He offered, wiggling his fingers in anticipation.
“And beyond.” Buzz grinned, slotting his fingers in the spaces between.
“Oh, Buzz?” Woody called from beside him, after taking their first few steps. Buzz hummed in acknowledgement. “Just in case it wasn’t obvious from before,” He eyed him bashfully. “I love you too.”
Buzz melted and kissed his cheek. The pair giggled to one another, bumping shoulders along what they assumed was the way home. Somehow, it didn’t seem to matter. They had each other now, and they knew they’d make it home together.