I don't need no light to see you SHINE

34

TWs: Crying/panicking/passing out/worrying/confrontation. Stay safe :)

"Well, this is great news!" Sun clapped his hands, grinning down at his planets, "Now that Neptune is feeling better, the solar system is one step closer to becoming normal, er... as close to normal as we can be, that is."

Nine scoffed, "Yeah, right..."

Sun raised an eyebrow, squinting at the white Celestial before turning to Uranus, "See to it that Neptune fully recovers from being in Sagittarius' clutches, and don't let him wander too far from his orbit."

"Understood." Uranus nodded.

"On the plus side, M87 should be confronting SGR A* any day now. In the meantime, everyone can return to their regular schedules of orbiting around me," Sun spoke, glaring at the Celestials, "And not moving from said orbits."

'As if that'll happen...' Most of the planets thought.

"Anyway, is that all you guys wanted to tell me?" Sun questioned, leaning back in his orbit. Nine held his tongue as he saw the other three shaking their heads.

"N-" Saturn was about to speak when he was interrupted.

"I have something to say!" Nine yelled, pushing his way toward the Sun.

The Sun raised his eyebrows with a curious look as he stared down at the Celestial, "Oh...? What is it, Nine?"

Nine's body was tense as he forced himself to meet Uranus' questioning gaze. He felt himself shaking, feeling all eyes on him. The Rocky Planets seemed to be listening in from where they sat, their card game cast aside.

A low sigh escaped Nine's mouth as his eyebrows knitted and his eyes wincing. He gulped, opening his wavering lips, "I'm sorry, Uranus..."

Uranus tilted his head, confused at the apology, "What for, mate?"

"I..." Nine closed his eyes, not wanting to see the other's expression, "I caused that collision."

"What...?" Uranus quirked an eyebrow before it hit him like a tidal wave. His eyes widened in shock and horrification, "You mean... you're the one who sent that asteroid hurtling toward me all those years ago!?"

"...Yes." Nine nodded, keeping his head low. He heard quiet gasps from the Rocky Planets as they huddled together. He felt his back burning from the Sun's red solar glare.

Uranus' eyes watered, icicles forming at the edges, "...Why? Why didn't you tell me...?"

"I-I didn't want to ruin what was left of our friendship..."

"Mates are supposed to tell each other everything!" Uranus frowned, a pained expression on his surface, "That's why it's called friendship, because it's built on compassion, equality, trust, and honesty, and you- you are none of those things..."

Nine closed his eyes, taking the harsh words as they penetrated his surface.

"Do you have any idea how much pain I was in for hundreds and hundreds of years? I felt like I was falling apart, yet by some miracle, I'm still alive, no thanks to you." Uranus' voice cracked as he tore his eyes away from the white Celestial. Tears fell from Uranus' eyes as he tried to keep himself together, "I trusted you, Nine... Neptune trusted you, yet... you're still the same as before- a traitor."

Nine choked, feeling the wind being knocked out of him. He opened his mouth to retort, yet nothing came out. He backed away, eyes wide. Never in his billions of years of existence had he not had something to say.