I don't need no light to see you SHINE

42

TWs: Fluff overload, making out/suggestive behavior, past injuries, feelings of second-hand embarrassment/anxiety/intrusive thoughts. Stay safe :)

"Wow, that's great news, Sol!" Spica beamed as she hugged her friend, "I'm so glad that M87 was able to stand up to Sagittarius!"

"Heheh, yeah!" Sun returned the hug, "Though, it said Sagittarius was unlikely to change right away... that's why Mes is returning in a few months."

"Well, whatever happens, just know that we have your back." Spica let go, reaching out to take his hands, "We're not letting Sagittarius abuse us any longer!"

Sun blinked, not expecting the statement. A small smile rose on his face and he nodded, "Yeah...!"

She smiled, letting go to talk to Sirius, who was slightly smiling, for once.

Sun glanced around, chuckling a bit when he saw Proxima visibly vibrating with joy, their arms latched onto Regulus as they shook him. He turned his gaze toward Toliman, who was already looking at him, his eyes softer than ever whenever he stared at the other.

The Sun felt himself heating up from the inside, shying away from the stare to look down into the void below. There was a shift in gravity as Toliman drew closer, hand reaching out to intertwine his fingers with Sun's, prompting the Star to look up at the other.

Toliman gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, whispering so that only the Sun could hear him, "Hey."

Sun smiled, a light red flush crossing his face as he looked into the other's eyes, "Hey..."

Both were quiet for a moment or two, comfortably staring into each other's eyes for what seemed like hours when it had only been a couple of minutes.

Sun bit his lip, subtly growing uneasy as words caught in the back of his throat, holding back on what to say.

Toliman seemed to notice this, his eyes growing concerned, "Are you okay?"

"What? Oh, yeah! I'm fine! No need to worry about me!" Sun waved it off, and even though Toliman did not believe him, he opted to say nothing about it.

Continuing to gnaw on his lip, Sun gripped the hand he was holding, breathing out as he glanced at the intertwined fingers before looking into the Orange Star's gaze, "I love you!"

The atmosphere grew quiet as everyone stared at him, bewilderment on their faces.

'Ugh, why do I have to be naturally loud!?' Sun thought, taking his hand from Toliman's and covering his face in embarrassment.

Toliman blinked, not expecting the statement to come from Helios of all Stars- and to say it so soon.

Even so, Toliman felt his core flaring up at the words, his shoulders relaxing as a weight lifted from them. He reached forward, placing a hand under Helios' chin and gently lifting his head so they could look at each other. Helios' face was flushed red and eyes darting everywhere else except his.

"Helios, please look at me." Toliman pleaded lightly, his voice soft and eyes full of nothing but care for the other.

Hesitantly, the Sun slowly looked into the other's eyes, his dejected gaze wavering.

Toliman gave him a small smile, "I promised to love you until the very end, Sol... until space and time cease to exist."

Sun stared at him in awe, his eyebrows raising slightly, "Y-You were serious about that...?"

Toliman huffed out a laugh, "What do you take me for, Sol? You know I would never lie about something like this."

The Sun's eyes grew hopeful as he started to lean in, "So you meant it...?"