I don't need no light to see you SHINE

6

TWs: Awkwardness/tension and denial of feelings. Stay safe :)

"Interesting... so you were also in the area." Messier spoke, "Do you know where Pinwheel is?"

"If I did, I wouldn't be here..." Wěi responded, "NovaStars can't touch lest you want to be sucked into a black hole."

Neptune perked up at that, moving his hands containing the objects further apart, "Well, do you know where they might be?"

Wěi hummed, "The edge of the Kuiper belt, the darkest part... I can sense something."

"You too?" Messier uttered.

"The edge of the Kuiper belt... that's where Nine resides." Neptune spoke, "Unless we can distract him somehow..."

"I can do it!" Sedna smiled.

"Really? But from what I remember, which is very little, he was always very focused." Neptune looked away, trying to think back.

"He is." Gonggong nodded, "Sedna was the only one who could gain his attention for more than a few minutes."

"Maybe he has a thing for Sedna?" Quaoar smirked.

"Wh-What!? That's preposterous!" Sedna jumped to the defense, her face flush with embarrassment and irritation, "We've just known each other longer, that's all."

Gonggong and Quaoar glanced at each other with disbelief tracing their features.

"Anyway, Sedna, you'll be distracting Nine." Neptune spoke, "Triton, Orcus, and Salacia are to look around. Quaoar and Gonggong, you two are on lookout duty; make sure Nine doesn't see you or the others."

"Wh-What about us, M-Mr. Neptune?" Io asked.

"Sorry, guys, but Jupiter needs you back." Neptune gave them a kind look, "And a part of me doesn't want to see him get angry."

"Awe..." Io frowned.

"Come on, Io, we can talk to them later," Callisto assured, bumping her shoulder into the other's.

"I'll bring the little ones along next time." Triton straightened his jacket, placing his hands in his pockets.

Io nodded, a small smile forming as he brushed past him, "Th-Thanks, Triton."

Callisto gave Triton a look, shifting forward, she placed a hand on his chest, "Thank you."

"For what...?" Triton felt his core flare up at the touch.

"Without you, me and Io probably wouldn't be here, with you or them." Callisto gestured to the group, "I never knew the solar system had so much to offer other than being a big... void of darkness."

"Callisto..."

"So, yeah," Callisto retreated her hand from the other's chest, clearing her throat as her face flushed warmly, "Thank you for that, or whatever..."

"Anytime." Triton nodded.

Io looked between them, a small huff escaping his mouth, "Y-You can flirt more later, c-come on, Callisto!"

The two moons looked at the other, their faces flushed and wide-eyed.

"We're not-!"

"Y-Yeah, yeah, yeah, you can say th-that all you want." Io turned around, "I-I don't want Jupiter to be u-upset, so I'm going to go on a-ahead!"

As soon as he left, Triton eyed Callisto with a quirked brow. Callisto met his gaze, crossing her arms, "What is it?"

"Ah, nothing." Triton shook his head, his head rubbing the back of his head, "I'll see you later, alright?"