A star's light

Revelations

      Sol and Solaris grew closer in the time that followed. Sol didn't know how much time had passed exactly, but it can't have been much. (For reference it was about two Earth weeks.) Solaris told them stories of their system and the many shenanigans they and their siblings had done throughout the eons. Those stories were how they got to know Solaris as the older star didn't like to talk about themselves that much.

Personally, they thought the bigger star had some self-worth issues but they didn't press. Sol blinked and tried to get back onto their original train of thought. Oh right. They were thinking about what they've learned about Solaris. Through the stories and conversations they've had, they leaned about Solaris's love for storytelling and penchant for star jokes even if some of them were terrible. They liked Solaris they decided. They were nice.

Sol flicked their hair out of their eyes and went back to what they were doing. At the moment they were perched on Solaris's shoulder fiddling with their hair. The radiant strands bathed them in crimson light as the smaller star absentmindedly braided them.The other star was so big they were forced to use both hands to move beneath section of hair. They couldn't braid all of it they were far too small for that but they could work on bits of it. Solaris's head was already decorated with numerous small braids. What was done more? Besides Solaris never asked them to stop.

"Solaris" they asked. "When you were your main sequence how big were you?" They knew that the older star had long since left their earliest phase, even without being explicitly told. The crimson star's coloration and constant exhaustion was evidence enough not to mention their stories implied they had been alive for a very long time. It wasn't until they'd already finished speaking did they realize that might have been a sensitive subject. Luckily Solaris didn't seem upset as they just smiled and used their index finger to pat them on the head.

Sol scrambled for a hold as even that little force nearly sent them tumbling from their spot. "I was around 40 times your size and 1.35 times your mass." Catching Sol's pout they picked them up and looked them in the eye. "Hey none of that now" they chided. "You're not small." The younger star blinked in astonishment. "How did you know what I was thinking?" Solaris grinned at them if a bit smugly before replying. The elder star's sharp teeth were almost as big as they were.  "Aside from the fact it was written all over your face? All stars have at least a basic connection with the mind. Not that's not important at the moment." Sol disagreed but they knew better than to interrupt the other when they were speaking. "You're about average size and mass for a main sequence star. Some come way bigger and some come much smaller. You're the perfect size for who you are." Sol appreciated the effort to cheer them up but it didn't completely assuage their worries. But Solaris wasn't finished. "Besides" The bigger star grinned conspiratorially at them, "I don't think the galaxy or even the universe could handle you any bigger!"

Solaris ended the statement by using a finger to gently tickle Sol's belly. The young star shrieked in surprise as they desperately tried to flee the older star's assault. Yet resistance was futile because before they could even blink the massive star had them pinned down. Sol giggled uncontrollably as Solaris ruthlessly scraped their nail across their sensitive sides. They would deny things until the heat death of the universe and beyond but they were extremely ticklish. The play session continued until Sol was too tired to play anymore and their sides ached with laughter. The play had visibly brightened both stars with Sol's brilliant white rays bright enough to blind planets if they happened to be close by and Solaris's crimson hue visible from light years away. The smaller star wheezed in exertion as they floated to the Solaris's palm and promptly collapsed onto the warm plasma. "I'll get you for that" they vowed. The older star raised an eyebrow. "Sure you will. You look terrifying sprawled out like you've just traversed the entire galaxy, on my palm. I'm practically flaring with anticipation of your glorious revenge." Sol rolled their eyes as Solaris glowed brighter for emphasis. "Dramatic star" they jabbed. "Insubordinate child" they returned smugly.