☆Solarball randoms☆

VESPERA AU

If anyone is confused on who Vespera is it's a moon I created for Venus!

If you guys like the story I could make a separate book dedicated to Vespera!

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Venus stepped back, his broad shoulders relaxing as he surveyed the room, taking in the soft glow of the string lights now neatly wound around the walls. They flickered gently, casting warm, calming shadows over the space, a stark contrast to the cold, sterile feel it once had.

It hadn't been long since he'd "adopted" Vespera. He'd always been wary of the idea-who needed to adopt a moon, of all things? The thought had always seemed absurd to him. But the moment he'd spotted her in that rundown orphanage, a neglected little sphere amidst a sea of others, he'd felt something shift within him. The decision was immediate, unexplainable. He had to take her in. She had looked so small, so lost in that dingy place.
He cleared his throat, trying to ease the roughness of his voice, his usual gruffness softened by a rare hint of warmth. "There. What do you think?" he asked, turning his gaze toward Vespera with an expectant, yet gentle look, waiting for her reaction.

Vespera stood still for a moment, taking in the vastness of her new room. It was a world away from the cramped, dim space she had been forced to share with others in the orphanage. The walls here felt wider, the air softer, and the space was hers alone-a rare luxury she hadn't known for so long. The lights, their gentle glow, seemed to wrap the room in a comforting embrace.

Her eyes flickered back to Venus, a soft smile tugging at her lips. She twirled a lock of her long crimson hair around her finger, the movement a nervous habit she often fell into when she felt awkward. "I like it," she murmured, her voice quiet but sincere, her smile growing as she took in the peacefulness of her new home.

Vespera's simple words stirred something deep in Venus, a sense of relief and pride that settled in his chest. It was an unfamiliar sensation, one he couldn't quite place. Maybe it was what 'parents' felt, that quiet satisfaction when their efforts seemed to mean something. But he would never admit that aloud-not to himself, not to anyone.

He leaned back against the wall, his muscular arms folding across his broad chest as he watched her. His sharp eyes studied her closely. It was clear she wasn't accustomed to this-this new space, this quiet, the freedom it offered. She seemed almost shy, her hands nervously twisting a strand of her long crimson hair, a little habit he had already noticed in her.

"Glad you do," he muttered gruffly, his voice low but steady. He didn't look away, his gaze fixed on her as he added, "I trust you'll take care of it." There was a weight to his words, a sense of quiet expectation. It wasn't just about the room-it was about this new chapter, this responsibility she had taken on, and the space she was now free to fill.

Vespera nodded, her quiet gesture enough to reassure Venus that she would take care of it, just as he had hoped.

She took a few tentative steps deeper into the room, her eyes scanning every corner. It felt strange to her, this sudden shift. She was used to the dingy walls of the orphanage, the musty, rotting smell that clung to everything. But this? This was different. It was clean, a bit dark but she preferred that type of aesthetic, it was inviting-a world away from what she had known.

"Thank you," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper, but it was filled with sincere gratitude. Her fingers, still twisting her crimson hair, paused for a moment as she absorbed the warmth of the space. It was the first time in a long while she had felt this... cared for.

Venus felt an unexpected tightness in his chest at her soft "thank you." The sincerity in her voice hit him harder than he cared to admit. He hadn't expected it to feel like this-like earning her gratitude actually mattered. He cleared his throat sharply, trying to shake off the strange sensation that settled in his gut, focusing on something else to push the feeling aside.