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I sit in the daycare at the security desk. In this specific chair, Solar sat. Now, I sit here with my knees to my chest and my chin against my knees.
“I can’t believe you.” I jump slightly at Moon’s voice. I look up at him with an eyebrow cocked.
“What?” I stutter out. “You know what the best option is here, Sun, or are you really that dense?” Oh. It’s not- it’s old Moon, again. “You’re pathetic, y’know? You know they need him and yet, here you are, being selfish and keeping them from seeing the brother they deserve.” I take in a shaky breath and nod softly. “You know they wouldn’t be acting like this if it were you.” I can feel as a tear escapes my eyes. Ever since Moon made it so we can eat, it’s like the nanobots have been expanding on it, making us able to cry and breathe. It was awesome; up until Solar passed. “Even now, you sit here thinking about yourself!” Moon scoffs out another sentence and I start trying to zone him out. I adjust slightly and type on the computer.
> / Computer?
>> Yes?
> / Can you set the portal to bring Solar back?
>> Not without a life ready to be given, Sun.
> / I have one. Just get it ready, please.
>> …Are you sure?
> / Yes, Computer. Please.
>> …
>> Calibrating portal…
“Atta boy.” I stand up and walk over to the ball pit. If I’m fast about this, I can get him back without them knowing much.-
“Going back on your promise, are you?” “Shut up, Moon. You’re not real.”
I turn around and, just as suspected, no one’s there. I take a deep breath and take out my phone. I press on Moonie’s contact and hit call.
It rings once.
Twice.
Three-
“Sun? What’s up?” Gods, he sounds exhausted. “Hey, Moon. I just wanted to check in, see how you’re holding up.” “Right- I’m hanging out with Earth and Lunar right now. Is there something you needed..?” Oh, shit.
“Ah! N-Never mind,” curse my stutter, “I just wanted to check in.”
“Sun? What’s wrong?” Earth’s calm voice is grounding. I can hear the worry in her voice. “Nothing, Earth. I’m okay. Don’t worry about it-.”
“Sun, the portal is ready.”
…
Seriously, Computer?
“The portal? Sun, what’re you doing?”
“Don’t worry, Moon. I’ll be okay.”
“Sun?” Lunar’s voice is scared. I can hear Earth texting through the phone and Moon typing on either his arm panel or his laptop, probably trying to either check what I’m doing or to stop it. “Hey, Lunar.” I sit at the edge of the ball pit on the small island, my feet barely hanging in. “What’s wrong, bud?” “I’m worried about you, Sunny. What’re you going to do?”
“Sun!” Monty’s voice startles me and I drop my phone into the pit. “Damn. What, Monty?” “Mind telling me why I’ve gotten a text from Earth saying to check on you?” I shake my head as their footsteps grow closer. “She’s just a worrywart, you know them.” She steps closer and closer until they’re at the rainbow bridge. “Stop, Monty. Don’t come any closer, please.” I look at her and their eyes lock with mine; theirs are filled to the brim with worry and fear. “Why, Sun? What did you do?”
I stand up and turn and look at her. “You look pretty, Monty. I don’t know if I said that. I’m glad Earth will still have you and the others.” Their face scrunched in worry. “Sun?” I stand there with my feet side by side and my arms crossed behind my back. “If they do care, at least they’ll get Solar back.” Monty’s face contorts into one of worry as she calls Earth. I shake my head and step back. “They need him more than they need me, Monty. I’ll be okay.” I let myself fall back and into the ball pit.
“Sun, no!”
-.+.-
The call cut off after Monty’s voice came through. I look at Lunar and Earth; Lunar is shaking and Earth is frozen. I turn back to my arm to see it’s still trying to connect. Of course, we had to hang out at the house without Sun.
I jump, Lunar yelps, and Earth screams when her phone starts ringing. “Monty?-”
“They need him more than they need me, Monty. I’ll be okay.”
We all freeze once again at Sun’s voice. It’s less bubbly and full of pain- it doesn’t even sound like him. The sound of something falling into ball pit rips me out of my thoughts and-
“Sun, no!”
“Monty? Honey, what’s going on?!” “Fuck! I think Sun’s gone mad! He jumped into the pit and was talking about Solar-”
Oh fuck.
I hop up and open a mini-portal to the daycare. I can hear Lunar and Earth right behind me as we rush through. Somehow, I managed to aim it right within the doors and I see Monty in the pit, trying to dig through the plastic balls. “Monty!”
She jumps up and looks over at us with pure despair in their eyes. “...Monty?” Monty meets Earth’s eyes and just breaks. She’s bawling and runs to Earth, rambling on about how they’re so sorry that she couldn’t stop Sun.
“Computer?! Locate Sun!”
“Unable to locate.”
“Why the hell not?!”
“Ugh…” I snap my head toward the portal. “Sun?!” I run forward as a hand reaches out from the ball pit. I grab it and pull it out; only to realise that it’s not Sun attached to the other end but, instead, it’s Solar. “Moon?”
“Solar!” Lunar runs up and tackles the other in a hug, Earth joining shortly after and Monty just stands there, staring at the ball pit, muttering “Come back, please.”
“Moon? I thought I- I thought I died? What happened?” I can feel myself flop down onto the island, my jaw trembling. “It’s Sun.”
The cuddle pile stiffens. “What do you mean, Moon?” I look at the three of them as Solar doesn’t break eye contact.
“He traded his life for yours.”
Solar’s rays retract slightly. “A life for a life.”