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A man sits on a bench in a park.
It would be a normal sight, except for the fact that his skin seems to have some sort of ethereal glow to it. His clothes are also strange: despite it being the middle of summer in Texas, he still wears a bright red winter coat with a fluffy white hood. Yet he doesn’t sweat at all, almost as if the temperature can’t affect him.
His attire isn’t the only odd attribute of his appearance: his hair is the same intense vermilion as the parka, and the most abnormal thing of all are the two cherry red stars painted over his eyes.
If you were to look at him through your peripheral vision, it might seem as though the stars are there instead of eyes.
Another man approaches. He’s dressed much more normally, simply sporting some black overalls over a white shirt. But he still has that same glow to him although much dimmer, and weird hair color — black with red bangs.
He sits down beside the much more brightly colored of the two, who can tell how tense he is as he does it. It wouldn’t be noticeable to anyone else, but to him it’s obvious.
“So… what new name did you choose for yourself?” the red head mumbles after a moment, wanting to break the awkward silence. “I doubt many mortals are going to hear you’re called ‘Star’ and not have any questions.”
“Only one I could come up with was Austin.”
He can’t stop an amused smile from appearing on his face. “Like the city they’re forcing you to live in? How very creative of you, Austin.”
Star rolls his eyes. “I know it’s shitty, shut up.” He scoffs. “Like you could come up with a good mortal name on the spot, Soul, get off my ass.”
Soul raises his hands up in defense, his eyes widening a little in surprise at the other’s attitude. “Hey, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were taking this so seriously.”
Star glares at him and opens his mouth like he’s about to argue, before just letting out an exasperated sigh and dragging a hand over his face. There’s no use in fighting Soul over this. “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be taking this out on you, it’s- it’s my fault, I…”
He trails off as he looks away from Soul, condemning them both to another bout of awkward silence. Neither of them are really sure how to broach the unspoken topic, or whether they even should.
It’s Star who finally speaks up, still staring off into space. “Did any of the other angels tell you why I got thrown out?” He says it without emotion, but it’s clear to Soul that he’s quite curious.
Soul shakes his head and fidgets a little with the sleeves of his coat, the sore subject making him feel like he’s walking on eggshells. “No, and I don’t think they even officially told everybody that you’re gone, either.”
“Yeah, why the hell should they…” Star mutters sarcastically with another eye roll, indignant towards the whole situation. “So, I’m guessing the others just assume I’ve snuck out or something?”
“Yeah. I think they only even came to tell me cause everybody knows we’re… close.” Soul bites his lip then looks over at the man with a bit of concern in his expression. “Do… Do you know why they’re forcing you down here?”
Star doesn’t say anything. He stays facing away, and after a moment Soul notices that he’s shaking slightly. He desperately wants to reach out and comfort the man like he always has when he’s upset, but everything is just so weird right now. Would he pull away? Would he get up and leave? Would this whole thing be fixed?
Soul tentatively reaches out and puts his hand on Star’s shoulder, who promptly turns around and hugs him. Soul is caught off guard but he doesn’t hesitate to reciprocate, wrapping his arms tightly around the other.
Star lets go after a moment, still refusing to look at the angel in front of him as he shakes his head solemnly.
“They uh, they didn’t tell me. But, um… I don’t think I care?” He frowns, frustrated and annoyed at his lack of understanding of himself. “I just- I don’t…” His voice suddenly gets much quieter, and he finally looks back at his companion. “I don’t know if I really want to go back, Soul…”
Once again the red head reads him like an open book, and it breaks his heart how scared Star is of his own feelings.
Honestly, Soul doesn’t know what to make of Star’s feelings either. All he’s ever known is Heaven, and it’s likely that that’s all he ever will know. He’s been aware that Star has always had a bit of fascination with mortal affairs, but to think that he actually prefers their messy world over the familiarity of Heaven’s order is almost unfathomable.
“Oh...” he mumbles, dumbfounded, and now Soul is the one avoiding eye contact.
Star scowls at the other, his vulnerability gone and walls back up. “I knew you wouldn’t get it, fuck this.” He abruptly gets up from the bench and is about to storm off before Soul grabs his wrist.
“Wait, please!”
He whips around to glare at the angel, but he can’t keep his fury burning that bright when Soul is looking at him so pleadingly.
“I… You’re right, I don’t get it, but…” Soul clenches his free hand into a fist and awkwardly stares down at the ground. “It doesn’t matter if I understand. You’re happier here, Star. Maybe that's why they cast you away. They figured that you weren’t going to feel fulfilled with your life unless it was a human one.”
Star’s eyes widen as the pieces click together in his head. “This isn’t a punishment.” he breathes out.
Soul nods his head slowly, a slight smile making its way onto his face. Seeing the sparkle back in Star’s eyes makes his heart warm, but it’s bittersweet. The reality of how difficult it’s going to be to see each other from now on is slowly sinking in — that’s something to dwell on later.
He lets go of Star’s wrist, preferring to hold his hand, and as always the contact comforts the both of them.