Chapter Text
From the moment Uranus had left the solar system, his mind, heart, core, whatever it was- had been screaming.
Moon, echoed in his head, again and again, louder and more insistent the further and further the ice giant had gotten. Moon, moon, moon.
That never happened before.
When he gained new moons? Sure. The last time had been with S2023 U1- or Violenta, as Uranus would call her as soon as she was old and stable enough for a name. It was annoying; he had the name- why should he wait? But oh well. So were the rules.
But his core, their bond, whatever was the source of all this chaos- had never done that when he left them. Nor had it when they left him. So... why was he so on edge?
The screams were almost deafening now. Moon, moon, moon, moon, moon, moon, MOON MOON MOON-
The ice giant pressed his hands onto his forehead to try and soothe the growing headache just as he took a deep breath. His core felt like it was beating out of his chest, and his arms shook- was it orbital sickness? Uranus had been out of his orbit for a very, very long time. But then shouldn't the rest of the planets be ill too? Or at the very least show symptoms? Since they apparently followed him.
Oh stars. They followed him. Uranus hadn't thougnt anyone would follow him.
Love, embarrassment and guilt cause his face to burn red, prompting the poor giant to lower his head until half of it was hidden away by the fluff of his jacket. He was half-tempted to pull up his hood so he could hide completely- but just as the thought came to his mind, a cold, cracked hand rested on top of his own. And Uranus left it at that.
Neptune nuzzled his head against Uranus' own with a soft purr- a sound the larger quickly responded to with the quietest chirp he could manage. If he had any tears left after the way he had broken down in front of everyone, he would have started crying again at the kind gesture. Which. Was bloody embarrassing on his part. Ew. He'd already made himself look like a bloody fool.
Seriously. First he sides with Planet X, a guy he barely knows, because what? He'd said some fancy, flattering words? Because he had told Uranus what he wanted to hear? Because Planet X had been cool, and understandable in a way Neptune, or his moons, or anyone else, never had been?
Which was unfair. Okay, the gas giants he was still mad at because they did have a habit of ignoring anyone who wasn't a rocky planet- but his moons? Neptune? Seriously? After his moons forgave him for that horrendous joke, after Neptune spent stars knows how long helping him search for said moons and tried to lift his spirits, after Uranus had been unfairly lashing out at the people he loved most- he chose Planet X over them?
Stars, he called Neptune so many awful things. He almost got his moons killed. He threw a bloody tantrum when Saturn had, rightfully, confronted him about it. Lashed out more at his poor moons and Neptune. And then what, ran away like a bloody toddler??
And they came after him anyway.
Earth had looked awful already. The rest of them were most certainly catching orbital sickness after this.
Because of him.
His breathing stuttered, muffled by the fluff. But as quiet as the sound had been, his cousin had clearly heard- a conclussion Uranus had no trouble drawing when the smaller's tail wrapped around his waist, and he purred more insistently against his cheek. The taller actually did tear up this time as he nuzzled back.
Stubbornly, Neptune's hand wedged under his where he had been balling his hand into a fist, and interlaced their fingers.
He squeezed.
Uranus squeezed back.
They must have slowed down with all their nuzzles and quiet noises, considering Saturn suddenly stopped moving, and turned to face them. In his arms, Mercury, Venus, and Mars had long passed out and had snuggled into the cape Jupiter had given to use as a blanket when noticing how the three had not been used to such freezing degrees. "Uranus? Neptune? Are you two alright?"
Oh, how wonderful his name sounded when said correctly.
Uranus let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. "We're good, mate."
"Uranus thinks loud is all." Neptune clearly tried to put some energy into those words- but his own tiredness seemed to be betraying him, causing his voice to slurr.
The ringed giant narrowed his eyes.
Jupiter peaked from behind him, a bit further ahead as he had noticed them stopping a bit too late. Next to him, the dwarf planets seemed just as ready to fall asleep on the spot. Although Uranus couldn't hear them, he watched the biggest one open his arms, so he assumed he was offering to carry them.
The sight stirred something in him he had just managed to forget about.
Moon moon moon moon moon moon moon-
"Ouch." Uranus hissed. Seriously. Fucking ow.
Neptune's hands were on him in an instant while Saturn rushed forward, his own energy already sparking to life and prepared to heal whatever is hurt. "Where?"
"I'm fine." Uranus said through gritted teeth, softening slightly when Neptune turned his face to look into his eyes. Oh, the concern. Just stab him, mate. "Just- just a headache is all."
"Is it your..." the smaller ice giant trailed off, gaze drifting to Uranus' back. The taller was already shaking his head.
"-No, no, not my wings. Just... uhm. You know that call thing? With our moons?"
"Without a new moon?" Both Saturn and Neptune grew a few shades paler, something Uranus at first didn't understand. Until Neptune abruptly pulled his arm towards himself, and lifted Uranus' sleeve to check his wrist.
...Ah.
"I-... no, no." Gently, Uranus put his hand on top of Neptune's shaky own, quick to soothe both their nerves. "My moons are fine, mate."
"Are you sure?" Saturn looked at his rings, just for a second, before he forced Uranus' other sleeve up, wanting to make sure no lost moon mark had appeared there either. It made him feel guilty all over again, as he hadn't even thought about that- and let alone who he just mentioned this in front of. Ugh. Way to go, Uranus. Add that to your I'm-such-a-great-fucking-fantastic-person list.
"I'm sure." He would know if one of his moon had died, right? Based on the way the other two giants had reacted when their marks had first burned themselves into their wrists...
...Uranus couldn't help a quick glance down, just because. But both his wrists remained clean. So none of them had died during his absence, at least.
Because you left them without an orbit, in an unstable solar system, after almost getting all of them killed.
Moon moon moon moon moon moon MOON MOON-
But then what was that headpiercing screaming in his mind for?
"...If you say so, Uranus." Saturn sighed. Then, much to his embarrassment and joy, leaned down to quickly kiss his wrist before he pulled his sleeve back down. "Maybe you just need your orbit, then."
"Maybe..." The ringed giant quickly shifted and reached with his free hand to kiss Neptune's hair too, not wanting to leave him out.
But then Uranus watched him panic again.
Quickly bending over to kiss the three bundles in his arms before rushing to his beloved to give him one too. Uranus watched as Saturn even bend down to kiss first Pluto, the Charon, then stopped. Probably asking if the other dwarf planets wanted one as well.
"..." Neptune gently pushed him forward, urging them to continue again. They were close to the solar system, he knew it- Sol's light had been becoming more and more distinct from the rest of the stars around them. Honestly, they were lucky Neptune and Jupiter knew how to navigate this far.
"It won't be long before he leave the belt." Jupiter informed them, arms now full with dwarf planets that had given up trying to fight him on being held. The ringed one and Charon seemed to have dozed off already- but the pink one, the red one and Pluto were still watching, albeit with drowsy eyes. (Stars, Uranus really needed to learn their names...) "Uhm... Pluto, do you want to come with or..."
"No thank you." The smaller politely responded, then grumbled. "I've had enough adventure. I wanna go back to my orbit."
"Then we'll drop you off when we are near."
"Ugh." Saturn complained, tilting his head back, but seemingly getting frustrated when his neck didn't pop as he wanted. He whined. "Oh, Sol is gonna be mad."
"He wouldn't be if you had stayed, Saturn." Jupiter sounded... exhausted. Which made sense. He hadn't even had time to rest in his orbit before Uranus had dragged him out again... the ice giant shuddered, and looked away before Jupiter could sense the guilt.
The ringed giant, meanwhile, pouted. "You told me to, and I quote, 'Put my rings to good use.' How am I supposed to know what that means?!"
"You know it wouldn't have killed you to tell him where you're going." Pluto seemed to be more comfortable around them now, at least. Uranus had already been upset about the dwarf planets, and he knew Neptune had been too- so at least something good came out of it.
His moons would probably never be comfortable around him again.
As a reflex, the ice giant squeezed Neptune's hand- but he wasn't wrong, exactly, was he? He had just barely managed to make things right with the stupid joke. This was so much worse.
And Titania- his sweet, brave Titania, had given him a chance to talk. To make it up to them. To explain himself. And what did Uranus do?
"I think we need to talk. After all... you supported Planet X, who was... going against us, and-"
"You're gonna lie to me too?!" He had lashed out, already feeling the jitters from having talked to Saturn.
"Well-" The poor moon shrank in on herself. "Its... a serious topic. I'm sorry if it isn't the best time, but-"
"Uranus, can you stop this and talk to us?"
"..."
"Uranus?" Neptune's voice was so soft, so kind in a way Uranus didn't deserve. The taller, sadly, did not respond, too busy holding back tears.
"You only care about yourself, and your fragile. Little. Ego."
He had messed up. Messed up big time.
Last time he had been begging his moons to please talk, and when they finally did he-
A sob escaped, despite his best efforts. He felt all gravities around him come to a halt the second it did. "Uri..."
"They hate me." He whispered, voice thick with tears. "They all bloody hate me."
All twenty-ni- eight, wow, of them.
And it was deserved.
"We're done."
Neptune didn't even ask who they were talking about. He just reached forward to drag him into a hug, and squeezed.
"Oh, Uranus..." Saturn murmured, moving all rocky planets into one arm so he could hug the ice giant with the other. "Now that is simply not true."
Oh it so was. "I almost got them killed, mate."
Neptune's face blanked. Saturn barely managed to surpress a wince. Uranus immediately knew he'd said the wrong thing- again. See?! he was so awful at talking! He should just shut up forever.
"But you didn't, my icy friend." The bigger ringed giant ended up saying, kissing his temple before he moved away again. "If anything, you made sure they were okay after. You even yelled at Planet X for them, and they saw it!"
Yeah. And then he went and yelled at them, too.
Moon moon moon moon-
When someone flicked the back of his head, the ice giant snapped out of. "Bloody hell..." He grumbled, rubbing a hand over the spot. Saturn made a pleased smile before he turned to follow Jupiter again.
Which. Rude.
But the screaming had silenced down to whispers, at the very least.
Maybe it was because he had left them on purpose this time? For someone who didn't even deserve it on top of that- who leaves without even saying goodbye?
As angry as Uranus was... he couldn't help the sadness that came with it. Tossed aside, just like that... again.
Neptune gently pushed between his shoulder blades, and Uranus stepped forward without complaint. The smaller smiled hesitantly when they looked at each other.
...Neptune hadn't.
Uranus lost track of how many times he had apologized by now. He'd said sorry when returning to the Kuiper Belt, again a million more times during his very uncool breakdown in front of everyone, so mine times in his mind- but he said it again anyway. "...I'm really sorry, Neptune. I am."
"Don't be." Neptune answered every single time, with that achingly kind look in his eyes. He nuzzled against Uranus' cheek again with a pleased purr, the sound lacking any kind of the misery the older ice giant had started suspecting was being masked with happiness. "Thank you for coming back."
The bigger ice giant felt that lump in his throat again. He felt happy, he truly did- but that didn't fix the guilt. "...Thank you for having me."
"I told you already." The smaller scolded in a lighthearted manner, pressing himself more insistently against his other half. "There is no universe out there where I would leave you behind."
...What had he ever done to deserve a friend like Neptune?
"...Thank you, mate." His own voice faded into a purr when the loving touches finally registered, as his body no longer fought to identify them as a threat. For now, at least.
Moon! Moon moon moon! MOON!
....Now if only his mind could do the same.
Moon moon moon moon-
The young ice giant woke up from his doze.
His first reaction was to grumble, and push his head further onto the asteroid it had been resting on, unwilling to wake up just yet. Screw the land of the living, let him sleep.
Who said he should wake up? Waking up is the worst. Uranus hated it, thank you very much.
He hated it even more when he woke up, and was surrounded by warmth. Let it be because Jupiter or Saturn had pulled him into their strong embrace to help him nap, or because he fell asleep while Neptune was reading and the two ended up cuddling together.
Or when he fell asleep, reading to his one moon Titania, the warmth of her small body and all the love he felt for his baby just enough to warm up his while being.
Let him remain unconscious! In the warmth of his blanket...
Moon.
But alas. The calls did not shut up.
Unwillingly, the ice giant shifted so he could see around him, prepared for the view of only one-
Only to turn surprised when a second celestial that definitely hadn't been there before he fell asleep was the first thing he saw, just a bit further than Titania orbited him.
It pulled.
Moon!
...Oh.
...
Oh!!
A startled noise slipped past his lips. His first reaction was to push himself up his arms and flinch away in shock- well. If he had been able to keep his balance, anyway. As the ice giant ended up loosing his grip, and faceplanted into the asteroid he had been using as a pillow.
"Bloody ow..." He grumbled, shakily pushing himself up and rubbing at his cheek until the ache passed- eyes zeroing onto the new creature the second he regained his bearings again.
...
When did that happen?!
"......Woah." He mumbled, eyes growing wider as realization suddenly dawned on him-
A new moon.
Oh stars he HAD A NEW MOON-
"Woah!" He repeated, much louder this time, as Uranus pushed the asteroid away and quickly rushed over to where the new little moon was (making sure not to hurt Titania by carefully pushing her aside- before he got angry at himself for doing that and scooped her up instead, placing her into the fluff of his jacket) and almosy immediately picking them up-
But Uranus held back.
He... hadn't expected this at all.
The knowledge that planets could have more than one moon had been recent- an accidental discovery made by Jupiter when his second moon was born out of nowhere, already so much larger than all the existing moons- Callisto, Titan, and Titania- they had. Uranus remembered Jupiter's pale face, Saturn's hysterical screaming about how he couldn't handle that before he fainted again, and Neptune... just being happy for them, for some reason. Uranus wasn't too sure.
("Sun, Sunny please, I- one was already, I can't have two-")
("Too bad, Zeus! I deal with the four of you all the time! You'll do wonderful.")
("......Oh my stars I NEED TO REMEMBER MORE NAMES?!")
("You didn't even name your own moon, Saturn.")
("Because what if they HATE IT?!")
(''...Two?" The only ice giant with a moon had numbly whispered, glancing back at his daughter whom he'd already made a horrible impression to. Neptune just patted his back, trying to get him to respond again.)
So. Yeah. He'd known the possibility he could have a second was there. He'd prepared to it accordingly all over again, having picked out the perfect name and all. Again, he had practiced his welcome speech to Neptune so many times his twin had begged him to please do something else he couldn't focus anymore, had even painted the page he'd prepared for them in advance all pretty-
But instead of doing all that. Instead of speaking the words that had been chosen with care, instead of hugging them and kissing their beautiful face the second he had laid his eyes on them, instead of finding Neptune, or the Sun, or literally anything at all-
Uranus stared.
Thei- his own gravity tugged at him, weaker than Titania, so tiny and fragile and oh so precious. The sheer softness of it brought tears to his eyes. His wings fluttered from excitement, from all the energy he could barely contain-
...Well.
At least he didn't react as horribly as he had with Titania.
"...Where did you come from, huh?" His voice was tender as he spoke, finally reaching with shaky hands for his second born. The precious little creature, even smaller than his oldest (Oh my stars his oldest, Titania had become his oldest) fit into his hands effortlessly. Immediately, Uranus felt the differences.
Just like with Titania, his surface wasn't done. Uranus saw bits and pieces of water ice, making him take in a sharp breath when he was able to connect the moon to himself, along with clear evidence of some type of rock. Oberon was colder, too. And smaller. .....And quieter.
.........
So. Good news. Titania wasn't the smallest moon anymore.
But at the same time, the bad news slammed into Uranus by full force, making his eyes widen and body freeze into place. Including his hands, which went completelty stiff- something his new baby clearly wasn't happy about, their delicate body turning to nuzzle into his fingers with a whine.
He had a smaller moon.
..........
He had a smaller moon?!
A panicked noise slipped out, only for him to bite his lip when the ice giant realized just how embarrassing he sounded. His face turned red, the feathers on his wings fluffed up from distress. Uranus squeaked again, then quickly looked left and right.
There was no one.
"..." The ice giant let out a sigh of relief. His fingers relaxed.
His core warmed when the little baby let out a coo, and attempted to curl up closer.
"...You won't tell anyone, right, mate?" He lightheartedly asked, pulling his new child close to his chest and relishing in the way his body slotted against him like a puzzle piece.
Moon.
Uranus' gaze softened. A single finger rubbed the little one's cheek lovingly, gentle smile widening with love when the moon leaned into his touch out of instinct. He melted. But in a good way. His insides feeling all mushy.
"Of course you won't." He purred, leaning down to nuzzle his nose. His sweet baby was warmer than Uranus, he observed with delight, gring growing wider and wider the more he got to gaze. The baby, as if almost sensing his touch, unconsciously reached with his hand... and took hold of the finger that was still resting against his cheek. "Because you're perfect."
Uranus could have cried, he really could.
But instead, he held it in, not wanting the baby's first memories to be of him crying. Did the moons remember, actually? None had awoken... still. But better not risk it.
His perfect little moons deserved nothing but the best.
"Hello, Oberon." He murmured, more prepared but no less loving, shifting him slightly until the ice giant was able to press his lips into the fuzzy hair, leaving a soft kiss. Oberon had that wonderfull baby fuz that pleasantly tickled his face. "I'm your planet, Uranus." He introduced himself, lovingly looking down at the finger Oberon still held captive.
....Weeeelllll..... until his poor Titania started crying.
...Ah.
Uranus, by now used to it, only chuckled instead of panicking. "And that is your big sister." He said, turning to the larger, who was unhappily kicking her feet and fluttering her wings. Always a noisy one, his sweet princess. "Yeah, yeah, didn't forget about you, bud."
He reached out, and with one, single tug, pulled Titania back against himself. Her cries softened into pitiful whimpers the second she smelt his scent, and completely faded away as she nuzzled and settled into the fluff of his jacket.
Uranus shook his head with a smile. "Jealous already, Titania?" He said, more to himself than either of them, pulling the two against him more securily. Their wings drapped over his hands, warming them gently. "Come on, mate, your brother is barely a couple seconds old."
......How long had Oberon been there?
...
Instead of having a meltdown about it as he did last time... Uranus simply opened his diary, slipped the now two moons clumsily into one hand, reached for a pen... and opened the introduction page that had been blank safe for the name he'd already picked so he could start writing. For the numbery things he would have to wait for Neptune... but things such as color, gender, or surface features he could at least do himself.
Ohhh my stars. Two.
Uranus couldn't wait to show Oberon off.
MOON MOON MOON MOON MOON MOON MOON-
"Pst, Uranus." A gentle voice awoke him from his doze, sounding above the screaming of his brain. The ice giant groaned sleepily, then stubbornly pressed his face into the fabric it was laying on, nudging into the spot where light couldn't reach his eyes. Ugh, no... he had been having such a nice dream. It made him all warm and fuzzy inside, something he'd missed in the kuiper belt. He wanted that back.
But instead of letting him be, a jeweled hand came up, nails scratching his scalp by stroking from the bottom of his neck to the top of his head. Uranus shivered, then let out a soft purr as he melted. "Time to wake up, dear." Saturn whispered, kissing the side of his head. "We're almost there."
...Ah.
At some point while going back, only the giants had remained awake. Saturn had slipped the sleeping rocky planets into the pieces of fabric he had wrapped around his hips while Jupiter had offered to carry the dwarf planets. The only reason said dwarf planets had agreed was because they weren't used to leaving their orbits- like at all. And had kept tripping and walking into each other. The rocky planets had simply grown tired because they had gone much further than usual and were quite tiny. Saturn had simply scooped them up and rocked them until they fell asleep.
Uranus... didn't remember falling asleep himself.
...
Wait who was carrying him-
Despite the sudden, panicked flutter of his core, Uranus awoke slowly, groggily blinking open his eyes while lifting his heavy head. Saturn beamed at him- or. Tried to. The unusual bags under his eyes revealed an exhaustion that hadn't been there before. Or maybe they had been, and Uranus just hadn't been paying attention. His brain felt... quite scrambled.
"There you are." The ringed gas giant murmured, leaning down to kiss between his eyes. Uranus' gaze wavered as his eyes slipped shut with a breathy sigh. "You can nap later, okay?" Saturn murmured, finally pulling away. Uranus tried not to let his disappointment show when Saturn's arms around him loosened to let him go. Oh well... at least his doze still had him in its clutches, dulling his brain enough for him to not panic about how he looked. Even if his core did pulse unusually loud.
When he was free, the ice giant stretched his arms high above his head, shuddering when his shoulderblades, ellbows, wrists and even the joints in his fingers all cracked at the same time, making his body sag with relief. Woah... he must have slept for a bloody long amount of time then. His wings beneath his jacket ached to do the same, fluttering uncomfortably, but Uranus wasn't in the mood to risk a flare. So he ignored it the best it could.
Moon moon moon-
Ah. Right on cue.
"Nooooooo." The ice giant looked at his side when three more, very unwilling voices made themselves known. And snorted at the sight of Jupiter, trying (and clearly failing) to keep the rocky planets out of his clothes so they could wake up properly. "It's cooold." Venus complained, grumbling when the largest scooped him up effortlessly let again. "Rude."
"You're mean, Jupiter." Mars whined. Like a child. "I don't wanna..."
Mercury seemed to be the only one not complaining, floating in front of Jupiter, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes and stretching his wings. The sight made something else in Uranus ache painfully, eyes growing hot once more. He quickly looked away.
"You'll be warmed in your orbits, Venus, Mars." Jupiter lightly reminded them, putting the two next to the smallest. Huh... had the dwarf planets left already? They must have, Uranus couldn't see them anywh- wow it was bright.
Ew. Light. Uranus squinted his eyes with a hiss.
"Why are we here?" Neptune complained, very obviously just having woken up himself- Uranus snorted when he saw just how grumpy his cousin looked. Oh dear. So Neptune was not a morning person, got it. "Me and Ura could have just gone to our orbits." He grumbled, body swaying shakily. Ah. Right... Neptune never left his orbit either.
...Perhaps that was why he looked more like Uranus with his mood, then, he thought guiltily.
"Sun will probably want to speak to all of us, Neptune."
"He barely knows when we're there."
That... was a good point.
"Well we're changing that!" Jupiter's loud voice spooked everyone awake, flinching away from the loud source. The largest, clearly not having expected that reaction, blinked sheepishly.
Saturn, the only one who didn't even flinch, stood on his tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "How about we change things after a nap, Jove?" He offered as a solution. His voice cracked strangely when he pulled away... and looked at Jupiter's frame. "You haven't rested a bit since you came back from your banishment..."
"And whose fault is that?" Venus' remark was very clearly aimed at Uranus, and he knew it. It was meant to be an inside thought, not words to be spoked aloud. But Uranus heard it. And hugged himself.
Mercury hit Venus' side. Mars hit his head. Not meant to harm, simply to scold.
Cold arms nudged themselves between Uranus' arms, wrapping around his middle and pulling his back against a smaller chest, mindful of the wings. Uranus relaxed at the familiar touch, tipping his head back. "Ignore them, Ura."
"I am, Toon." He didn't even think about the nickname. But clearly the right choice. Uranus' smile widened when he could hear the way Neptune's tail wagged.
Moon moon moon moon moon-
Only for it to be ruined when his head pounded angrily. Uranus winced.
The wagging stopped. "Does your head still hurt, Uranus?" Neptune asked in a concerned manner, letting go so he could be in front of him to check. The taller gently pulled him away. As much as he knew his cousin was acting with his heart, he couldn't handle anymore fussing about him at the moment.
"It's already fading, mate." He lied, hoping that would be enough to leave it. Neptune clearly wasn't convinced... but other matters became more important in those two seconds.
"What the actual..."
"Sun?" For Jupiter's distress made him turn around- what.
Uranus blinked, needing to do a double take at the sight.
Had... the inner solar system always been that full...?
'What happened?!"
Clearly it wasn't, with the way Jupiter freaked out.
Uranus' gaze swept over each tiny celestial on the other side, realizing with a growing dread that these were... moons? Well. Yeah, okay, they'd all left but... Uranus thought their little moon club was in the asteroid belt?
He came to a halt when he met a familiar pair of eyes- and his mind chose to scream in that moment, as if instinct finally got the point across.
MOON MOON MOON-
"Titania?" He asked. His heart breaking when her gaze hardened... and she looked away.
"Oh!" Sun's scratchy voice did his headache absolutely no favors. Uranus winced... but still, turned to the star. That was what he was supposed to, wasn't it? Like a parent scolding their child. "Sorry everyone! My solar system is not a HOTEL."
The cheerfulness in his voice completely left at that final part- behind him, Uranus could almost feel the way both the gas giants froze up from fear. It made him sad, but he understood why. Sun... did not look happy. At all.
"You leave your home... you find a NEW ONE." Gravity shook all of them at the final part, making Uranus remember just how strong the star they'd apparently disrespected was.
But instead of freaking out the second those words were spoken... the ice giant barely reacted, casting down his gaze.
...What had he done?
"Sun! Come on-" Jupiter plastered on a smile, though he certainly sounded about three seconds away from a meltdown. Which... yeah, he'd just come back, it made sense his nerves were fried. "i can explain what-"
"I warned you about this, Jupiter!" Sun spoke quickly, leaving no time for any of the excuses or nonsense. "You of all planets should have known I will NOT tolerate this anymore!"
Jupiter shrank.
"And you two!" Both Venus and Mercury yelped when his attention turned ot them, the two suddenly having a tight grip on each other's hands in hopes of grounding themselves. I am so disappointed in you!"
"We're done."
Titania's voice echoed in his mind, along with the calls for his twenty eight moons. Hesitantly, Uranus tried to meet her gaze again. But she wouldn't even lok at him.
"Sun, we can explain everything!" The apparently brave Mercury said, even if his grip on Venus' hand did become tighter. "But you need to listen to us! Please, Sun!"
Should Uranus take his example, and beg? Because clearly his awful apology notes weren't going to be enough this time.
Silence fell for a moment, doing nothing to soothe anyone's nerves. Jupiter's breath had started hitching, growing shorter and shorter, while Saturn tried to remind him to breathe. Neptune had stopped moving alltogether from the second that first shout had sounded, probably having gotten overwhelmed and now stuck with that spaced out look in his eyes. Uranus, without looking back, found Neptune's hand, and squeezed.
The only ones even slightly comfortable were the rocky planets, in front of everyone else as some sort of shield (Now wasn't that ironic?)
Sun seemed to be deep in thought. For a moment, Uranus could swear he saw his face flicker with... something. Sadness? Uranus certainly could understand that. He had felt awful too when his moons ran away.
But he didn't threaten to banish them.
(Bare minimum, Uranus)
"...I will not outright kick you out." The decision was unexpected, with the way Sun had seemed 3 seconds away from solarflaring all of them. But good news? Yay??
Uranus didn't know how to feel about it. Glancing at his side for mental support revealed Neptune didn't either.
Everyone else seemed relieved, at least... but why? When had this become the norm? Sun... hadn't always been like that. He shouldn't have been like that-
"But I do not want you anywhere near me." The comment was harsh, painful, everything Uranus didn't want to hear from his parent star. From his moons? Okay, yeah, his kids were mad he deserved it. Jupiter and Saturn? Ouch, but he'd gotten used to it. The rocky planets? Made sense, kids didn't like old people.
But Sun?
That brought back a whole lot of different emotions, mainly hurt and confusion. When did Sun start being like this? Why was it so normal now?
...Was Uranus like that to his moons?
"The inner solar system is now the home to two-hundred-and-ninety something moons!" That. Wasn't right. Saturn alone had two-hundred-and-seventy four moons. Did Sun not know how many celestials were orbiting him anymore-? "My new rocky planets!"
MOON MOON MOON MOON-
Now that finally snapped him out of whatever trance he'd been in, all the panic, fear, and hurt that had been trying to get to him slamming into his body at once.
"Wait what?!" Jupiter's voice raised with fear similarly, eyes growing wide with horror.
"Excuse me?" Saturn gasped, covering his mouth in shock.
"So from now on, all of you will inhabit the outer solar system." Sun decided, clearly pleased with himself, and- what?!
Uranus desperately looked over all the celestials that had just been... smushed together, trying to see if he could find his moons to spot their reactions. No, no, nono, he- he couldn't take his moons. Not his- not his babies-
None of them even met the criteria to become a planet! Titania and Oberon? Maybe, but they were smaller than Triton, who had been-
Uranus' head snapped to Neptune.
His cousin's expression had darkened. His predator-like gaze locked onto the star.
"S-Sun! You can't do this!" Mars called out in a panic, clearly trying and failing to spot his two itty bitty moons in the massive crowd on the other side. Just like he had done when Planett X took over, and fought the moons, and they all-
What had Uranus done?
"And if any of you dares cross the asteroid belt, then I'll turn you into the NEW. PLANET. X."
Perhaps he should be.
"Don't worry Mars." Earth appeared together with his moon from the other side of the belt, smiling reassuringly. In his arms, Mars' twins grinned at him, waving their little arms as far as they could go. The red planet let out a shaky breath of relief with a nod. "I got them."
"MAAARS!!" The kids happily waved. Tearfully, Mars waved back.
Oh, how Uranus missed his kids calling him like that.
"He can't- he can't so that!" Venus called angrily, almost stomping over to the other side, had it not been for Jupiter holding him back. "Those are our orbits! He can't just take them away!"
"He's the Sun, Venus." Mercury sighed with exhaustion. "He can. He did."
"It's not like we wanted to leave!" Uranus could feel the dirty looks boring into his back. But for once, couldn't find himself to care. Hell, he could barely give a damn that he basically took everyone's moons away, at the moment.
His longing was stronger than the guilt.
Titania finally looked at him again, so much anger in her gaze it hurt. And considering Uranus couldn't see any of his other moons... they must be so mad they didn't even wanna look at him. Rejected him. Again.
Moon, moon, the screaming turned pitiful, defeated, as if Uranus hadn't been listening to it! Which he was! All he wanted to do was go to the other side and beg his twenty-ni- eight moons for forgiveness, and he wasn't even allowed to do that!
But what would he even say? He wasn't good with words. That was a well-known fact. He barely made things right last time, how could he possibly-
A tiny baby next to Titania started crying.
Startled, his oldest moon... planet? Broke her gaze, reaching for the poor thing in a panicked manner that clearly didn't help at all. Their crying only worsened, so loud Uranus could hear it. Which... made sense. They looked young, from what Uranus could see. Super young. Still forming young.
Much too small to be seperated from their planet for so long.
Saturn had recently gained a ton of new moons, so... probably one of his.
The guilt came back full force, not just because thanks to him, the planets were seperated from their moons... but clearly, Sun wasn't thinking straight. He'd demoted Pluto for being too small, there was no way a creature that tiny could clear an orbit on their own. Was Sun planning to do it for them? Even so, that was a much larger path to clear than around their planet-
And... why was Titania the one trying to comfort them?
Moon.... moon!!
"Uranus." Neptune's voice was soft, tired, gravity gently tugging on his being until he had his reaction. Ah, geez... poor Neptune looked heartbroken. Of course he was. Uranus knew how much Neptune loved his moons. "Everyone's going to Jupiter's orbit... to talk and stuff."
About what? Was there even a point?
Oh stars. Oh bloody hell. Uranus had to face the rest of the planets now. After all that?! When it was clear who's fault it was that things couldn't go back to normal!?
Yep, yep, he's done, dead. Uranus should just go throw himself into the Sun instead. He doubted the star would care, he was an ice giant. Could make his moons happier that way too. Safe from the pathetic loser of a planet they had.
"Uranus, breathe." Neptune grabbed his hands and squeezed, hoping to both bring back some warmth, as well as hoping to prevent the meltdown that was clearly on its way. "They're safe for now. Come on."
For now.
Because the moons weren't truly safe. Not while they were orbiting the Sun.
Moon moon moon moon-
Uranus turned to his oldest a final time. Hoping... longing, that she would meet his gaze again. Anything at all. See how sorry he was. Even if he saw the truth plain as day.
They hated him.
And he couldn't fix it.
"...Don't cry." Neptune purred, but thankfully didn't crowd his space. Uranus loved Neptune's hugs, he truly did but- not right now. His body was locked up, he felt sweaty, his head bloody hurt and he just wanted to go back and have his moons and-
The baby in Titania's arms wailed-
-and their wings angrily fluttered until they were at full length, flapping and kicking as if trying to escape.
Uranus froze.
Behind him, he heard Neptune gasp- but he didn't turn around to see for himself. Didn't feel the way Neptune's hands stiffened around his own. He- he couldn't breathe, he couldn't, he-
M O O N .
S/2025 U1.
The designation suddenly echooed in his mind.
That- that couldn't be a Saturanian moon, or a Jovian one, or even a Neptunian one. Only the Uranian moons had wings.
That wasn't S/2023 U1. His darling Violenta wasn't that small anymore.
Titania, clearly clueless on how to calm... her sibling turned to Uranus, looking hopeless for just a moment- only a moment before she remembered she was angry, expression turning to stone once more. His heart shattered as she turned around, and left, heading to the other side behind Sun, hidden away by the rest of the moons that now resided in the inner solar system-
Taking his number twenty-nine with her.
Wait-
Wait.
"Wait- wait no-" Uranus, breath growing shallow, stuttered out, watching through blurry vision as her form- their forms disappeared. No. No no, she can't do that thats, thats his-
His baby.
Uranus had a baby.
That was being taken away.
The ice giant moved, barely aware of his own movements, only the constant thought of my baby, my baby, my baby, my- WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN-
"Uranus no!" Neptune stopped him before he could cross the asteroid belt. His arms wrapped around Uranus' waist, pulling back with all his might- and aided by the fact his gravity was stronger... Uranus couldn't break free.
He sure as hell tried, pulling back, kicking, shoving his arms against Neptune's chest- "Neptune- Neptune let me go." he hissed, not willing to give up now. He gave up too often, far too often, letting X manipulate him, not fighting hard enough for his moons, running away like a bloody child when things didn't go his way-
No. Not this time.
M O O N .
"You're going to get yourself banished!" Neptune hissed with a strange clarity in his eyes, bringing back some sense to Uranus with it. "How will you get your moons back if you're not here?!"
"As if he's ever bloody cared when its us, Neptune!" His voice cracked painfully, ending up on a sob, his already weak body starting to give in despite the fact that his core was beating so hard he thought it would stop. No. No no no no. Not now, not now, not-
"Wether he does or not, you and I are huge!" The smaller insisted desperately. He... sounded scared. Which finally got the older to stop struggling. "He will notice you, Uranus, the best we can do for now is stay put."
Gone was the fogginess in his eyes.
Neptune was crying.
...Oh.
Uranus upset someone again.
"Uranus? Neptune?" Jupiter's head came out from behind his cousin, looking oh-so-tired. His hair was messier than it had been moments ago, limbs shaky. "Are you two coming?" He asked, concern coming back when he saw the wetness trailing down Uranus' face.
"..." Horror was made him press his hand to his mouth, not wanting to start outright bawling his eyes out in front of everyone again. More and more tears dripped down, all the fight draining out of his body...
"...I don't know when that happened." His voice broke.
Neptune pulled him into a hug in an instant.
"I know, Uranus." He murmured, ignoring Jupiter's confused glance, encouraging the taller ice giant to wrap his arms around Neptune's body.
When his headache pulsed again, Uranus sobbed, burying his head into Neptune's shoulder. The fluff was mercifully soft against his hurting body, and he already felt awful and so tired from everything.
If... if this new moon was with Titania now. It meant this baby hadn't been born when Uranus was outside the solar system, for a moon that small couldn't go back or travel far on their own. And since they didn't have a name, but a designation his brain supplied him with... it meant that this moon was new.
So the only time they could have been born would have been-
"Neptune?" He could barely hear Saturn's voice over the screaming inside. "What's wrong with Uranus? Is... is it his moons? His his head still hurting, I can-"
He left them behind.
The thought made him wail.
Multiple sources of gravity flinched back, but the ice giant couldn't find it in himself to care, focusing on Neptune's distressed purring in a vain hope to soothe himself. "Uranus- Uri, breathe." Neptune pleaded with him, hugging him so hard his ribs hurt. The pressure was nice, all the good things that could only be Neptune, warm and fuzzy and soft. The ice giant did just that, taking a slow, deep breath in.
But even as he calmed down... even as everyone asked him what's wrong, as Neptune gently gripped his hand and dragged him towards Jupiter's orbit... Uranus couldn't help but look back with longing, hoping to catch a final glimpse of his beloved twenty-nine as he left them behind a second time.