I don't need no light to see you SHINE

21

TWs: Injuries/pain, past manipulation/gaslighting. Stay safe :)

The Sun glared down upon his planets, watching Uranus and Neptune heal Nine's surface, the latter wincing when they came upon a deep fracture.

"I'm not cold enough to do this part..." Neptune frowned.

"Allow me, mate." Uranus waved his hand over the rupture, ice discharging from his palm as he went over it a few times, "I can only begin to imagine what your core looks like, Nine."

Nine huffed, "It's practically two halves- I don't know how I'm still alive."

"You said Pinwheel helped you, right?" Neptune asked, "Maybe that's what it is... the NovaStar is keeping you stable."

"Are you sure Neptune isn't the smart one?" Pinwheel chuckled, "I enjoy his little tidbits and theories."

Nine hummed, 'He's always like that, even before I was ejected. He can be smarter than Jupiter at times.'

The Sun crossed his arms, prompting everyone to turn to him. Nine felt a sense of relief; he knew everyone was staring at him with pity and he hated it. He loathed the attention.

"How could I let this happen...?" Sun uttered, shaking his head.

"This isn't your fault, Sun." Mercury spoke, "No one knew this would happen."

Except the Guardian did know this would happen, a memory flashing in his mind as he furrowed his brows and bit his tongue.

"How can I lead a system when they don't even listen to me!? I've tried everything, Almighty One." Sun had said.

"You let them walk all over you, Helios. It's time to make them listen." Sagittarius A* responded.

"But how?"

"You say you've tried everything, but did you try a more combative approach?"

"You mean like using my whip...?"

"Exactly! They don't listen to you because they think you're weak; a pushover."

"Wha- I am not weak or a pushover!"

"Then show them who you really are, Helios; a Star with great potential to become like me."

The Sun had grinned, nodding assuredly, "You're right! I'm the Star and they're nothing compared to me!"

Sun blinked, raising a hand to his temple, 'Why couldn't I see it sooner? It was using me from the start...'

"Your core is more damaged than I initially thought..." Uranus' voice brought the Sun out of his daze, "Neptune, you handle the back- I can do the front." The duo placed their palms on Nine's chest and back. Uranus glanced at Nine, "This might hurt a bit."

Nine sighed, "I've been through worse- bring it."

Uranus looked at him unsurely yet turned his gaze to Neptune, curtly nodding, "Three... two... one..."

The pain came instantaneously, the ice and water passing through both sides of him all at once. Nine held his tongue, his fists clenching as he held his breath. It wasn't worse than what Sagittarius A* did to him, but it was close.

A core acted like a heart for every Celestial. Without it, the Celestial's features and powers would disappear for good and they would eventually grind into nothingness.

"Almost..." Uranus uttered, placing his other palm on Nine's chest to exert more energy, "Neptune?"

"I finished- there wasn't much cracking in the back."