Work Text:
“Don’t be alone at a time like this Venus,” said Mercury, shooting him one of those pitying looks he was learning to hate.
“...fine.”
Venus followed Mercury, up ahead he could see the other planets all gathered together circling the latest addition to the solar system. Back when he first saw it, he thought it was Theia – no – he wanted it to be Theia. But everything was wrong about it, the voice, the lack of recognition, the fear. Now that he had a moment to step back, he was forced to see the moon for what it was and what it wasn’t and found himself extremely underwhelmed and disappointed. Despite being made up of what she was, the moon wasn’t anything more than that - a moon.
He turned his head away from the disgusting sight, planets making goo-goo eyes at the thing. He already regretted being here, everyone was making stupid faces, cooing at the moon in high pitched voices, something babyish, trying to calm the shivering thing that looked seconds from fainting.
It was pathetic.
He honestly couldn’t see the appeal, having what was essentially a mini planet buzz around you all day.
Heck, even planets like Saturn seemed more prone to running away from them when they seemingly spawned around him like jumpscares. He was of the same mind – he would honestly start screaming too if some moon popped up outta–
The planets cried out in shock when the moon suddenly bolted–
Headed straight for him.
“AHH!”
He felt his core pressure spike thinking the thing was about to body slam him and end his misery before it swerved and ducked behind him.
“Woah, w-what!?”
He turned to glare at the thing who peeked out behind him towards the giants with fear.
It was breathing heavily, before it looked up at him, face full of guilt, “I-I did what you told me but there’s so many of them!”
He blinked lost, what did he tell it to do? He barely remembers saying anything at all. He thought back: something about going back to his planet? Feeling more lost than anything he glanced over at the other planets raising a brow, spotting all who embarrassingly looked away with guilty expressions.
When Mars quietly suggested they give the little guy space, it was followed by hasty agreements and sheepish looks thrown at the moon in apology. Venus rolled his eyes and started making his way back to his orbit already over this. This was all a waste of his time.
Walking a few paces, his steps almost faltered when he noticed his pace was dragging a bit. Another blip of gravity was following him.
His eyes narrowed before sharply stopping feeling a smaller body softly collide into his back followed by a soft, “Oof…”
Still staring ahead he spoke evenly, “Are you lost?”
“Uh–” He heard it shuffle backwards and he was hyperaware of it staying within the bounds of his hill sphere like it belonged there, “N-No?”
He spun around and glared, “Then what do you think you’re doing!?”
The moon backed away still within his personal bubble, looking confused, “F-Following you?”
“I can see that,” he grit out, looming over it, “Why –?”
The moon stuttered, staring up at him with wide eyes, “Well uh, I-I don’t really know anyone else…?”
“You don’t know me either!” he snapped, before taking a step back tensing seeing the moon immediately followed his movements keeping close like some…some… – captured object.
Panicked. He looked inwards doing a quick mental check. No new connections. His shoulders tensely lowered, feeling his core pound. He didn’t capture this moon… doing stuff like that had to be intentional last he checked. It wasn’t bound to him… No – this moon was just following him, like some weirdo.
But that begged the question…
Why was it following him?
He eyed the moon carefully, maybe it was lost? – No, its real planet was there still, plain as day. He was roughly the same size as that developing sphere, maybe it was confused? He worried his lip, recalling how he was the first thing it saw. Was that how moons worked? Maybe he should ask Jupiter…
He asked it carefully, “You know I’m not your planet right?”
“Uh-huh.” It chirped.
“Then… ” his lip curled into a sneer, before pointing sharply towards the sphere, “Go back to your real planet!”
“I did!” Its voice pitched sounding more like a whine to his ears, “And then I was swarmed!” Its face fell in defeat, looking down, “I-I really did try…”
Venus tried not to let himself feel fazed, the thing had a pretty strong pitiful act for something just born. Crossing his arms, he leaned back. “Well they're gone now,” he grumbled, gesturing to the empty space, devoid of the extra annoyances, “you’ll be free to orbit that planet without being bothered.”
The moon looked over again at the sphere, biting his lip anxiously, before turning back. It gasped seeing Venus already moving off.
“W-wait!” The moon rushed him.
Stopping again, Venus threw his head back, staring upwards, “What is it now…”
“That–that planet…” The moon pointed towards it frowning, “he’s kinda quiet…”
Venus paused, looking down at it. He? He shook his head, the thing probably just misspoke… “Yes, she’s still forming,” he corrected, before casting the developing planet a mournful look, “...if you’re awake it shouldn’t take long for her to wake up either…” he murmured mostly to himself.
The moon made a noise in understanding then asked. “And how long will that take?”
“I dunno.” He admitted softly, eyes pinching worriedly.
“Oh…” it deflated.
Throwing the disponent moon a glance. He almost felt sorry for the thing, usually planets formed before their moons and were there to act as guides. No wonder this one was lost… oh well.
Mentally wishing it the best of luck, he turned away for the third time, making his way back to his orbit.
Before for the third time feeling that telltale blip of gravity following him.
He groaned frustrated, “I know for a fact I didn’t capture you!” He snapped, glaring behind him, watching the thing freeze. “And after accusing me of it too! What gives?”
The moons fidgeted, glancing down, then back at him. Down, up, down, obviously wanting to say something.
He snapped, “Spit it out already!”
“Can I…” it hesitated before blurting out, “Can I stay with you!?”
He recoiled, “WHAT!?”
The moon didn’t even flinch under his volume, “Just–just until my planet wakes up…” It peeked up at him hopefully.
He shook his head. “Uh-uh, no way, that’s not how any of this works here–”
“Please?”
He gasped.
Her eyes stared up at him. Threatening to fill with tears. “I…” It sniffed, bringing a hand up to dab it eyes looking confused by them for a moment, before blinking up again. “I don’t wanna be alone… p-please?”
Venus looked around frantically, “Mars… Mars!” he yelled.
The moon’s weaponized face fell confused, before copying his volume, “Why are we yelling!?”
Venus faced him–it , looking just to the left of it, like death avoiding those eyes, “Look brat! I’m not moonsitting you! You got that!?”
The moon huffed whipping his tears before his cheeks puffing out in annoyance, “My name isn’t brat–” the moon whined before his face brightened forming a smile like hers, “I’m Lu–”
“I don’t care!” He screeched. Before physically recoiling seeing that– its dejected face. The more he looked at the moon the more he was noticing glimpses. But it didn’t matter because the moon was so clearly not her.
He scowled, “If you want company so bad, I’ll drop you off to some other planet. Mars is nice…” he near pleaded. “remember him?
The moons face scrunched, “He–he was crowding me too!”
“Fine! Mercury then?”
A blank stare. “Who’s Mercury?”
“You’re about to find out!”
Mercury was making his way back to his orbit when he sensed Venus approaching and did a double take seeing Venus with the recently formed moon hanging limp tucked under his arm.
“Venus! What–what are you–?” he gaped.
Venus held the moon arms length in front of him.
“Here hold this!”
Mercury staggered when the moon was unceremoniously dumped into orbit around him. And he stared at the moon blankly trying to process the sudden events playing out before spotting Venus already booking it once the moon was dropped off.
The moon was staring after Venus a little tearfully, before turning to him.
“…”
“…sniffle...”
Venus sighed, finally back to his orbit and peace and quiet. Finally allowed to process the latest events. It was upsetting seeing the moon wasn’t Theia, didn’t sound like her, act like her. Theia wasn’t nearly as annoying or as clingy . He shuttered.
His gaze drifted back to the still developing core of his last hope. She could still be in there, there was still a chance… The Sun – everyone, didn’t know what they were talking about. The parts that made her who she was still in there, and he’d wait until the day that planet opened her eyes and Theia would look back and he’d say–
“You left me!” A voice practically screamed.
He jumped spinning around seeing the moon stomp up to him indignantly.
“Brat what?”
“It was hot over there! That bright thing was telling jokes! And Mercury told me to go back to my planet…”
He pinched his nose, “Well for once the pipsqueaks right, go back!”
The moon continued, “So I went back to you…”
“Why would you…” He massaged his temples, snapping, “Go back to your planet!”
The moon sat down with a huff, “I don’t wanna…”
“…you don’t wanna…” he echoed faintly, dropping his hands.
It continued sitting there crossing its arms defiantly.
Moons are so overrated…
He sneered, “Listen here you little–”
“VENUS!”
The planet looked over, the Sun was awake and staring at him sternly, his eyes briefly flickered to the moon beside him before raising a brow. Catching the message Venus sighed, “Come on brat looks like we’re being summoned.”
“Wh–what?” It asked nervously.
“That ‘bright thing’,” He quoted before pointing a thumb at the star. “you’re gonna meet him officially.”
Making his way over, the moon blatantly using him as a shield the whole way, Venus approached the star, crossing his arms sporting a bored look.
The Sun looked down, not even trying to hide the obvious head tilts trying to look behind him, “It has come to my attention that we have a new addition?”
“I guess…” he muttered quietly, sensing the Moon clutching onto him fearfully.
The stars eyes narrowed. “Why is it that he’s in your possession Venus?”
Venus bristled, “If you're accusing me of stealing, you can stop right there, the brat must’ve imprinted on me or something because it won’t stop clinging to me!” He shook his leg and the brat in emphasis.
The star frowned, eyeing the moon curiously, “That is strange…” he muttered before leaning forward. Softening his voice, he lightly teased, “Are you going to hide forever or do I not get to see you?” he asked, offering a sunny smile.
The moon peeked out from behind him, before squeaking in fear drawing back.
Venus rolled his eyes before scruffing the thing holding it up to the star like an offering, ignoring its shocked squeak.
“See ‘em now?” He asked the sun.
The star shot Venus a chiding look. “Now Venus,” his tone lightly scolding, “if your gonna look after this moon until his planet fully forms you’re gonna have to–”
He dropped the moon in shock. “Nope–stop right there!” He gave the star a beseeching look, “I didn’t agree to–” he gestured vaguely to the moon who fled back behind him who was now peeking at the star with more fascination than fear. “–to this leech at all. Can you get one of the other planets to look after him?” He practically begged.
The star wasn’t listening, eyes only on the moon once they shuffled out a little, “Hello little one!”
The moon peered up with wonder, “...hi.”
Venus deadpanned. “…did you hear a word I said?”
“Welcome to the solar system!” The star waved his arms out grandly before placing a hand over his core, “I’m your host star, Sun. And you are?”
Venus dragged a tired hand over his face unwillingly being put into this position. Usually only the giants had this introduction ceremony nowadays with their moons forming, being individually introduced to the Sun, after the star demanded he wanted to know each and every member who ever possibly formed in his system.
He never imagined he’d play a part in it.
The moon remained silent, before looking up at the stars patiently waiting face who smiled invitingly before turning her unsure eyes to him as if for – guidance? Permission? A treat? He blinked. The moon blinked back. Was there something on his face? Why was it looking at him!? Venus raised his brows, which seemed to do the trick since the moon soon replied, “I’m Luna…”
“Luna…” the star parroted happily, “That’s a pretty stellar name!”
The moon smiled shyly, “Th–thanks!”
Venus tapped his foot annoyed, fighting not to roll his eyes.
The Sun glanced at Venus carefully before asking Luna, “Are you having a fun time with Venus?”
The moon glanced up at the planet and his dull expression and dead eyes. It hummed thoughtfully, “I-I was a little scared of him at first and he’s kinda grumpy,” he whispered the last word and Venus did roll his eyes then, “but he’s been nice!” The moon smiled, taking hold of his limp hand smiling happily up at him.
Venus stared down at it. At what moment did any of his interactions qualify as nice!? It probably didn’t even know what nice was…
The star looked pleased, “Good! That decides it,” he nodded before turning a sly grin towards the planet. Venus tensed, the small hand grabbing his suddenly felt like a shackle. “Venus…” the star intoned, eyes twinkling, “until further notice you shall henceforth host the moon Luna, until his planet fully awakens.” He commanded with a cheerful (mean) smile.
He gaped wordlessly. “Wh–WHAT!?”