I don't need no light to see you SHINE

11

TWs: Brief injuries/pain, bitterness, sleep deprivation, self-blame/self-deprecation. Stay safe :)

"Nine~? Helloooo~" Neptune flew around, head turning a full 180 degrees as he searched for his brother. He frowned, "He should be here..."

"Ack-!" A yelp sounded in the distance, "Ugh, stupid fragile crystals...!"

Neptune raised an eyebrow, following the voice. Moving a few asteroids out of his way, he blinked upon seeing Nine hunching over himself, clutching his hand.

"Nine, are you okay-?" Neptune shifted forward, reaching out to touch him, yet Nine slapped it away.

"I'm fine. I can heal myself, you-" Nine looked up at Neptune, biting his tongue as he looked at the other who had a worried and anxious expression on his face. Nine huffed before looking away, "Dummy."

Neptune tilted his head, watching as Nine plucked out ice shards from his hand. He waited a few moments, feeling the extra NovaStar in his pocket weighing him down with every second that passed.

"What do you want?" Nine barely glanced at the other, "You know I don't like visitors showing up out of the blue."

"Well," Neptune smiled, "I~ have a present for you~"

"...Why?" Nine appeared genuinely confused.

"Because you're my bro, and I love you...?"

Nine blinked, a deadpan look on his face. Rolling his eyes, he turned to face the other, "Alright, fine. What is it?"

"Close your eyes~"

"Really?"

"Just do it!"

Nine scoffed, yet closed his eyes, "This is ridiculous..."

Neptune grinned, pulling out Pinwheel's NovaStar, "Gimme your hands."

The other scrunched his nose, lifting his hands hesitantly. Neptune brought Nine's hands to a cupping position before placing the NovaStar in the palms.

"And... open!" Neptune wrung his hands together.

Nine opened his eyes, casting his gaze toward his open palms. His eyes perked up with surprise, "You're giving me your NovaStar...?"

"Ah-ah-ah, that's not Messier's NovaStar- their name is Pinwheel."

"Hello, new friend!" Pinwheel exclaimed. Nine jolted, the Novae nearly slipping out of his grasp.

"Nine...?" Neptune furrowed his eyebrows, noticing the brief look of panic on the other's face, "Are you okay...?"

Nine grunted, "I'm fine, it's just- why would you give something so valuable to me, of all planets, after everything I did?"

"I meant what I said."

"What...?"

"You're my brother, and I love you." Neptune gave him a small smile.

Nine averted his gaze, uttering, "That's not a rational reason..."

"Well, I'm not a rational planet!" Neptune grinned, becoming fluid in his motions as he wiggled around.

Nine rolled his eyes at the other's antics, a smile toying at his lips.

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"Saturn...?" Jupiter eyed the ringed Celestial.

"What?" Saturn glowered, his pen never leaving the paper in the notepad.