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Jupiter wrung his hands together, fingers pressing hard against his knuckles, his mouth thinned as he finally settled back into his orbit. He was back…but what now? Not everything was solved. Certainly not everything with Erebus, and certainly not…
It was more than he wanted to think about, so Jupiter sighed and closed his eyes for a moment—but the abrupt darkness made his core palpitate, and his eyes shot back open immediately.
“Jupiter?”
The familiar voice made his breath catch in his throat, and he swallowed hard as he turned around. “Saturn.”
Saturn was staring at him with the slightest of smiles, his hands clasped together in front of his chest. All the air rushed out of him at once as he noticed Saturn toying with the one ring left on his hands, every other one conspicuously missing. “Jupiter.” His voice was softer now. He looked almost disbelieving—and Jupiter couldn’t help but agree. Despite the fact that another Solar System wide meeting had led to him being allowed back (and they’d had more of those within the past while than Jupiter could recall them having for billions of years), he still felt almost… off.
He half-expected it to be another dream. That he’d wake up to the all-encompassing darkness, far too aware that it was his own actions that had led him there. That it was his fault in the end.
“I didn’t get to say goodbye. Back then.” Saturn looked abruptly fragile, shrinking in upon himself, and Jupiter had to squeeze his hands together to resist the urge to go to him. He needed to give Saturn that chance. “And… you lied for me.”
“Of course I did. You didn’t deserve to deal with the ramifications. Not as much as I did.”
Saturn frowned. “I may not have done it myself, but I certainly encouraged you, Jupiter. And Erebus… it took both of us to eject him, didn’t it?” Jupiter didn’t answer, and Saturn sighed, hands separating and dropping down to his side. “Oh, forget that for now. We can talk about it later. Right now…” Another tiny smile crawled onto his face. "I want a kiss from my favorite person.” He pouted, toying with his ring again. “I haven’t seen you in a while, after all.”
Jupiter felt disbelief crawl into his chest, followed closely by the warmth of absolute adoration. “Saturn…” But he couldn’t finish his own sentence, and both of them stayed in place opposite each other.
“Come on, Jupiter,” Saturn said after a moment, drawing every syllable in his name out long.
Jupiter pressed his lips together and stayed in place, a helpless little smile tugging at his lips despite everything. The urge to step forward was tamped down by a sudden… not exactly fear, but something like it. So instead, he spoke. "I don't think you can kiss yourself."
Saturn gave him a look of mock outrage, his brows pulled in. “You’re so mean to me,” he whined, splaying one hand across his chest. Jupiter let his head dip with a low laugh. Saturn smiled, looking up through his eyelashes before he spoke again. “You know what I mean. I’ve missed you.”
“Oh, alright,” Jupiter said, letting his smile bloom. “Come here.” He motioned with his head, and Saturn immediately lit up, beaming wide—he threw himself forward, and Jupiter caught him, letting them spin slightly with the momentum. He pressed one kiss to the crown of Saturn’s head, and then Saturn wound his arms around his neck and lifted himself up, so their eyes locked together.
“I missed you,” he repeated, the words so much more vulnerable than before, in a way that made Jupiter’s core constrict. “I’m…” He pulled in a shaky breath. “So glad you’re back.” His expression crumpled just slightly, his eyes sliding closed, and Jupiter felt his eyes burn in response. If only…
But he shook that thought off and focused on Saturn. “I’m glad to be back.” Jupiter leaned in and pressed a feather-light kiss to one of Saturn’s closed eyelids—and then the other, and his forehead, his cheekbones, every part of his face he could reach. Saturn started laughing even as tears slid down his cheeks, the arms wound around his neck tightening.
He finally stopped and lifted one hand up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind Saturn’s ear—his eyes opened, brimming with unshed tears, and Jupiter soothed one thumb underneath his eye. “I love you,” he said, blinking down at Saturn. Instead of responding, Saturn leaned forward and brushed their lips together, and Jupiter let himself melt into the clear adoration he’d missed more than he ever thought he could.
“I love you too, Jupiter,” Saturn finally breathed out once they’d separated, the words dissolving into the scant distance between their mouths. Jupiter stared into his eyes for a moment and then pressed forward into one more kiss, pouring everything he had into it—and when he pulled back, Saturn looked lost for a moment before his clarity returned, accompanied by a soft look in his eyes, a smile spreading wide across his face.
He let himself study Saturn’s face, the eye-bags and pallor making his prior exhaustion obvious, the gleam of tears against his skin equally so. “I am never letting you go again,” Saturn suddenly said, smile dropping into a frown. Jupiter let his own eyebrows raise, and he tilted his head slightly. “I’ll fight the rest of the Solar System if I have to. I’ll fight the Sun. I’ll fight everyone. I’ll go with you.”
“Saturn,” Jupiter let out a breath, his brows knitting; despite that, Saturn’s words made his core squeeze a little bit, stunned elation making him brush his thumb against Saturn’s cheek, wiping away more tears.
“No,” Saturn shook his head, arms winding tighter. “I’m serious. Do you know how horrible it’s been without you?” He sighed, pouting, his bottom lip stuck out. “And I can’t even imagine how horrible it’s been for you.” Jupiter felt an involuntary shiver wrack his body, and Saturn’s pout turned into actual concern.
“Not…splendid.” His mind flashed back to the inky darkness all around, the solitude, the distant brightness of the Solar System far in the distance. And he’d done that to Erebus… caused him to float alone there for billions of years. The thought made him thin his mouth, his eyes darting away from Saturn to settle on the pinprick lights of stars in the distance. At least they’d somewhat worked things out. He was back in the Solar System, and eventually they’d figure out where Erebus would orbit so that Earth’s life wasn’t too affected.
But right now… He swallowed hard and then let out an equally hard exhale, and a hand settled on the side of his face, urging him to turn back to Saturn.
“You’re home, Jupiter.” Saturn’s expression was soft, his exhaustion seemingly melted away under the pure affection visible in his eyes. Molten gold—and perfect as always. Jupiter sighed out another breath and leaned in to press his forehead against Saturn’s, his eyes sliding closed. And this time there was no sudden fear.
“I am home,” he finally said, after a tenuous moment of silence. But deep inside, Jupiter knew he wasn’t referring to the Solar System at all. Because anywhere would be home as long as he had Saturn with him.