Chapter Text
Galaxy woke to whispers, two voices giggling in the covers beside him and he forced his eyes open and sat up quickly. A pained gasp came from him and he gripped his stomach, the pain blinding and breathing heavily.
“Crap.” The voice he recognized as Pika was by his side in an instant. “Hey hey breathe slowly okay? Like this!” Pika pulled his arms away from his stomach and pressed one of his bandaged hands to his chest. Pika breathed slowly, shutting his eyes and breathing in and breathing out slowly.
Galaxy followed Pika, breathing slowly as the wheezes stopped. His hands trembling and his eyes wide as he blinked up at Pika. Pika smiled down at him, tilting his head.
“Better then, Galaxy?” Pika asked, looking at him curiously
The younger nodded, keeping his hand in place. He didn’t pull away from Pika, keeping his hand on the other and listening to the heartbeat. It was a calming sound. Something that helped him relax. Pika must’ve noticed because he shifted, Galaxy let out a quiet ‘eek’ when he was pressed against Pika. His body trembled slightly as he felt the warm contact on his shaky cold body, it wasn’t good for him to be cold after all.
“Alright let’s try something!” Pika said, his voice bright. “I can use lightning okay? Maybe I can-”
The other one that was there finally spoke up, their voice quiet but held an order.
“No. Stormz told us to go get him or Mugm when he woke up. Don’t jolt him with your lightning, you could hurt him.”
Pika pouted, “But Q..”
“No buts.” The other, Q said standing up and looking over at Galaxy. “I’m Quakitus. Me and Pika are twins. How are you feeling?”
Galaxy didn’t say anything, his eyes low and he wiggled his feet, his mind straying. He couldn’t talk and his body ached, he felt the burns on his hand from his own fire which made him more angry.
Galaxy wiped his face as angry tears burned in his eyes. He hated this. He gripped Pika tighter, he could never communicate with anyone. He was just so.. useless.
“How about this. On a scale of one to ten how do you feel just sticking up a finger.” Pika offered, wrapping his arms around Galaxy tighter. Galaxy nuzzled his head into the other, breathing to slowly.
He held up a shaky seven and Pika turned to Quakitus, “Can you go get Stormz? I think he’s in his room.”
Galaxy watched the other go, but moved his head back to the other shoulder. He opened his mouth and a small weak sound came from him. Pika perked up looking down at Galaxy again, his eyes wide. Pika ran his fingers through Galaxy’s hair carefully.
“Careful, don’t speak if you can’t. I know your voice hasn’t been used in a while. Stormz said so.” Pika smiled, holding the other close.
At the mention of Stormz, funnily enough, the door opened and he entered. Stormz’s eyes focused on Pika and he raised a brow.
“Pika, Mugm needs you. Go find him.” Stormz sounded tired and Galaxy clutched Pika closer.
Pika sighed, rolling his eyes and shifting to stand, carefully putting Galaxy back on the bed which made the smaller whine but he watched the other go.
“Q told me you had struggled breathing and that you were in pain.” Stormz said, his voice was low and concerned
Galaxy nodded curling up in bed and picking up the sound of Stormz’s heartbeat in his ears. It was strange hearing his heart rhythm, it was out of rhythm but he seemed to be okay. Except for the clear exhaustion in his face. Galaxy pointed to his heart tilting his head in question.
“I have an issue with my heart when I was born. I’m used to it.” Stormz said, moving forward. “Think you're up to letting me carry you downstairs?”
Galaxy thought about it but nodded, gripping his stomach once Stormz lifted him. He pressed his face against Stormz’s shoulder and breathed in. He gripped the others' shirts once they made it halfway down the long hall, his feet dangling as the other carried him. He looked up when he heard quiet awes and blinked at Pika who was holding a plate full of food.
“Hi! Figured you’d be hungry so I have some food for you!” Pika said, and Stormz carefully sat him down beside Pika he nodded in thanks.
Stormz gave a small smile back, and began to go for the exit.
“T-tha-ank.” Galaxy coughed hard, hugging his stomach and inhaling fast. Pika and Stormz at the younger in surprise, neither moving to help too lost in their own shock.
“Idiots fucking help him!” Mugm snapped, where had Mugm even come from?
He felt a set of hands helping him gently rubbing his back and water was in front of him. Galaxy gripped Mugm tightly, coughing and hacking loudly. He felt other people touch him and he let out a pained whimper as he buried his face in Mugm’s shirt.
“Breathe Kid. Pika go get dad to see if he has the inhaler ready. Galaxy needs it earlier than we thought and originally planned.” Mugm said, gripping Galaxy’s shoulder.
Pika ran out of the room and Stormz moved to help Mugm. Small wheezes leaving him as his eyes watered and he whined shaking his head as Mugm lifted him up.
“Sorry we have to get your breathing back to normal.” Stormz said, tilting his head up slightly and wincing at the wet cough that left Galaxy.
“Shh it’s okay Galaxy.” Mugm’s voice was low, carefully shifting Galaxy so his arms were above his head. It pulled on the others stomach wounds but the void hybrid ignored it more focused on helping the other breathe better than the aches he was probably going to feel.
The door opened again and someone Galaxy couldn’t recognize stood in the doorway raising a brow.
“Pika said you need the inhaler earlier.” Another void hybrid, and Galaxy wheezed looking up at him tiredly.
“Dad hurry up!” Mugm snapped
The older one raised a brow at the tone but moved forward anyways looking down at the young hybrid. He offered the small device to Galaxy looking at the other and coaxed the smaller to inhale.
Galaxy’s eyes fluttered as he breathed softly. Staring up at the other he felt a wave of exhaustion hit him, The other's white eyes making him feel more tired than what he originally thought.
“I’m Minute, the boys call me dad because I’ve taken them under my wing. I know that you’re still unsure about joining which is fine but we have to figure out how to help you.”
Galaxy trembled leaning against Mugm as short raspy breaths left his mouth, his hands gripping his stomach lightly. Mugm’s hands carefully grabbed him and pulled them away from him.
“Hey, it’s okay breathe for me Galaxy.” Mugm said, voice soft.
Pika and Quakitus stood off to the side watching nervously. Stormz noticed and stood up smiling at the two and walked over.
“Come on, let’s go find Astral. They need to chat for a bit.” Stormz said, coaxing the two out of the room. He shot Mugm a look of ‘tell me later’ and led Pika and Quakitus out.
When the door closed Galaxy gripped the shirt more. Breathing shakily but a bit more awareness and in his eyes.
“Feeling a bit better?” Minute asked, sitting beside the two on the couch.
Galaxy blinked staring up at the other, his tail resting against Mugm’s knee and he nodded slightly.
“I would say don’t speak for a little while, you can try and say simple yes or no’s but make sure you have this inhaler on you okay?” Minute said
Galaxy took a heavy inhale and nodded. His head tilted and he gripped the inhaler tightly in his hands. He smiled slightly and blinked at them.
“You almost died.” Mugm finally said
“Mugm we talked about this-“ Minute began, annoyance in his tone
“He deserves to know what happened to him.” Mugm responded, running his fingers through Galaxy’s hair much to the younger's amusement.
Minute sighed but nodded. “Once you guys finish, Galaxy needs to rest.”
Galaxy pouted, but looked back up at Mugm. He tilted his head up, his head pressed against Mugm’s chest as he smiled up at the older.
“Hey..” Mugm smiled back softly. “Do you want to know? We can always water and I can tell you when you’re healthier.”
Galaxy nodded, tilting his head in interest with the other.
“I need you to understand something. If it gets to be much, whether you like it or not. I’m going to stop, okay?” Mugm said, rubbing the other's arm.
Galaxy nodded, and Minute let out a small chuckle.
“When we found you, well. When Pika found you you were barely breathing.” Mugm held Galaxy’s wrist in his hands. “I couldn’t find a pulse on you and the amount of bruising you had I was pretty certain you probably wouldn’t make it.”
Galaxy listened, he didn’t say anything. I mean he couldn’t say anything anyways. He looped his fingers around Mugm’s hands quietly listening to Mugm speak.
“If Pika hadn’t found you, Galaxy you would’ve been dead.” Mugm said, his voice cracking slightly. He was trying to stay together for the smaller.
“The amount of dehydration and starvation that you went through it’s lucky that you survived as long as you did.” Minute finally chimed in, eyes shining with concern on Mugm
“You’re barely twelve. Nobody should go through that. Those people were fucking sick.” Mugm hissed, glaring at the ceiling.
Galaxy blinked, eyes forming with tears. They cared about him? He hasn’t even been here for more than a day. He doesn't even speak fully with anyone at all. Just a silent present and they cared this much…?
The first tears fell after that small timid cries filling the room as Mugm held him tight. Minute moved forward offering Mugm a health potion and bottle of water before disappearing out of the room.
Mugm continued to hold Galaxy until the cries simmered down now it was just small hiccups. Mugm leaned back against the couch adjusted to Galaxy sitting on him and offered him the water. Galaxy drank it slowly, his eyes half open.
“Tired? You did cry a lot and this is the second time you’ve been awake in a week.” Mugm said, helping the other down the health potion.
Galaxy nodded in response, shifting and curling up on top of Mugm. His head rested on the others chest, his legs on top of the other's stomach and his tail hooked loosely around Mugm’s ankle.
“I’ll stay here alright? Just sleep for now.” Mugm said, shutting his own eyes.
Galaxy nodded his eyes fluttering. It didn’t take long for him to fall asleep, the new calm environment making him more relaxed. Hearing another’s heartbeat, one that was carefully calm also helped.
Unknown to the two, later on when Minute and Stormz came to check on them they would see the two curled up together side by side. Mugm keeping a careful arm around Galaxy, and the younger looking calm and relaxed against Mugm.
Stormz coughed, trying to make it sound quieter.
“You said Galaxy could hear your heartbeat..?” Minute whispered
“Yeah.. yeah and I’m worried the others are gonna find out because Galaxy doesn’t know to keep it a secret.” Stormz said, voice wobbling
Minute glanced over at the smaller hybrid. “We could always just use the command block.”
Stormz huffed. “It doesn’t matter if we erase the memory if he can constantly hear it.”
Minute glanced back at Stormz. “Maybe we find a way to knock his hearing down a little. That would be my best idea to handle this. We know it’s gonna bother him as he gets older.”
Before Stormz could reply someone cleared their throat. The pair looked up and Stormz felt guilt away at him.
Mugm lay there, staring up at the two. His eyes held anger and a flash of betrayal.
“What do you think you’re doing.”