I don't need no light to see you SHINE

1

TWs: Feeling lost/alone and self-deprecation. Stay safe :)

"What am I going to do, Uranus? It's been twelve weeks since Nine apologized to everyone, yet I feel like it isn't enough." Neptune paced in a circle, "Maybe I should visit him."

"Didn't you talk to him a few days ago?" Uranus questioned, his face scrunched up in concentration as he moved his paintbrush across the canvas.

"Well, yeah, but I still feel the need to do something- get him to come out of his shell more, y'know?" Neptune pressed his lips in a thin line, raising a hand to his chin.

"I might have an idea." A voice spoke.

"Oh?" Neptune perked, "What is it, Messier?"

"If it hasn't drifted off too far, there's a stray NovaStar on the outskirts of the Solar System. Its name was Pinwheel."

A grin stretched across the blue Celestial's face, "That's perfect!"

"What's perfect?" Uranus glanced over, switching out the colors.

"Messier said there's a NovaStar around here. All I have to do is find it and give it to Nine!"

"You say that as if it'll be easy." Uranus frowned, "Sure, NovaStars are bright, but they're the size of Jupiter's largest moon, which is small in comparison to us."

"Yeah, you're right..." Neptune puffed his cheeks out, thinking about it carefully. He let out a gasp as an idea came to him, "What if I get some of the Dwarf Planets to help out? They reside in the Kuiper belt, so they can help look for it."

Uranus hummed, "Not a bad idea, but are you sure you don't need help from me or the others?"

"Positive! You know me, cousin, I'll be fine out there!" Neptune grinned.

"If you say so, mate." Uranus paused his movements in favor of giving the other a soft smile, "Be careful out there."

"I will, also," Neptune turned to look at the canvas his cousin was painting, "Isn't this the fifth time this week you painted the Earth?"

Uranus froze, his paintbrush stopping just before the canvas. He felt his face flushing uncomfortably as he shifted from side to side. Slowly, he peered over at Neptune, "Maybe..."

Neptune squinted his eyes, analyzing his cousin's behavior. Uranus could feel the cold spots on his face shifting downwards, causing icy droplets to fall from his face.

"Oh, I understand now!" Neptune snapped his fingers, not noticing how Uranus' eyes widened, "I mean if I were as talented as you are at painting, the Earth would also be my muse."

Uranus blinked, his lips pressing into a thin line as he took in the other's words.

Oh.

Uranus laughed, albeit awkwardly, "Hahaha, yeah! You got me! The Earth does make for an inspirational model."

"Your paintings always convey him nicely!" Neptune complimented.

"Ah, thanks, mate." Uranus wiped the cold sweat from his face.

"Anyway, I have an adventure to go on! I'll see you later, Uranus!" Neptune bounded off in the direction of the Kuiper Belt.

"Have fun, mate!" Uranus called after him before sighing as he continued to paint, "Too close for comfort..."

« × »

"...But I find that lately, I've been crying like a tall child." Earth's voice could be heard throughout the atmosphere, a soft smile on his luminous face as he braided Luna's hair, "So please, hurry, leave me- please don't say you love me... 胸がはち切れそうで."

Mars couldn't help but stare at the scene, his eyes focused on the singing. He was in awe as he watched his best friend, completely forgetting the world around him as a hand waved in his face.

"Mars. Marrrsssss..." A gruff voice tried getting the other's attention before deciding to punch him on the shoulder, "Mars!"

"Ow! What was that for?" Mars held his arm, backing away from the hot-headed Celestial.

"You were staring." Venus stated, "Again."

Mars blushed, "N-No, I wasn't."

Venus crossed his arms, squinting at him, "Then what did I say?"

"Uh... about how much of an annoyance Mercury is and how lucky you are that you aren't closest to the Sun?"

"...Lucky guess," Venus grumbled.

"...And I would jump off of this ledge I'm on, baby." Earth continued singing, grabbing the attention of Mars, "Tell me don't, so I can crawl back in."

Venus rolled his eyes, "Why won't you just tell him?"

"What? Tell who what?" Mars asked coyly.

"Earth! Tell him you li-!" The rusty Celestial covered the other's mouth, whipping his head toward the Earth.

The lively blue Celestial didn't hear his name being yelled, or of the conversation taking place in the zone next door, "Yet now I find I've grown into a tall child... and I don't wanna go home yet, let me walk to the top of the big night sky."

Mars let out a sigh of relief, then felt a burning sensation on the palm of his hand, "Agh!" He retreated his hands, looking over them, "Did you have to lick my hand!? Ah... it burns..."

"Should've thought twice before silencing me then." Venus deadpanned as Mars huffed.

Unbeknownst to them, Mars wasn't the only one looking in the direction of the Earth.

« × »

Nine sighed, gazing up at the nebulae surrounding him. Even after a couple of weeks, he still felt the same- and no, he had changed his opinion about destroying the Solar System, deeming it a bad idea.

That was the only change that happened. Other than that, everything went back to normal.

He was still on the outskirts of the Kuiper belt, and he knew he couldn't change his orbit without something going wrong. The side effects of an orbit change could be catastrophic.

Despite Neptune visiting him every once in a while, Nine still felt lonely. He couldn't help it, spending decade after decade of spying and watching the Solar System, only to fail in his grand plan... maybe he deserved to be alone.

Neptune said Nine was invited to the planet meetings, yet he had declined with a heavy core each time the other offered.

After what he did, he couldn't get himself to talk to the Giants. He couldn't face them after what they did to him. Sure, they had reason to do it, but it still felt wrong somehow.

It all felt wrong.

He had another reason for avoiding the Giants, especially Uranus. Speaking to Uranus after so long made him feel uneasy, and he was grateful that he was a good actor. Uranus would hate him if he knew what Nine did to him.

Everyone would, he was sure of it.

So he just floated there, wasting away in his thoughts and the silence surrounded him no matter where he looked.

He let out another sigh. Deep in his core, he longed for something- anything- to happen; a change in which he didn't have to hide in fear.

« NOTE »

This story focuses more on the relationship side of things (romantic & platonic). Nine's redemption arc and Earth's healing process will also be included.

That being said, I hope you enjoy :)

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Comments are appreciated <3