Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Darkness.

That's what he's been surrounded by for more than a mega-annum.

No one to speak to, no one to connect with, nothing.

It gets quite lonely like this, but it's all he's known since his creation (how long ago was that? Time tends to blur when all you can see is black stretching far and wide). It's all he's seen since the beginning of his exploration, and he assumes it's all he'll ever see.

Of course, that's other than the occasional star or planet, heck, even the odd black hole or two! But the static like silence of the galaxy can make even the most jaded celestial crave some form of connection (a surprise he hasn't gone crazy yet). It gets to the point where even the smallest of conversations feel like salvation.

He shudders slightly, it's cold this far away from a star. Where they're nothing more than mere dots in the distance. When was the last time he's actually seen one up close?

He looks around the empty space. Not lost exactly, just... Searching.

There's light a couple (hundred) thousand astronomical units away. Should he take a look or move along? It has been quite some time since his last interaction (probably a decade or two... He's not counting). Maybe it'll do him some good? He doesn't even need to talk to anyone, he can just hang around for a bit. Not be completely alone for a few days. Nothing extreme, right?

He hovers in his spot, unsure of whether or not he should approach this unknown star. On one hand, his core yearns for contact, to be able to see another celestial at least one more time. On the other... He doesn't want to form attachments, or, worst of all, get stuck in an orbit. Caught in those ghostly chains he's seen some moon's trapped in. Locked with those strict rules he's heard some planets listen to. A true nightmare for him, he's always known he's an adventurer. Continuously on the move and wanting to see more. He's not meant to be in one place for his entire life. If that happens and there's no way out, unlike the plenty of other times he's escaped a planets gravity, he doesn't know what he would do with himself. But... Maybe it's a risk worth taking? No, MΩ®Ø§, you can't do it. It doesn't matter how lonely you get, never risk the little freedom you have.

He roughly shakes himself, eyes shut tight as he attempts to rid himself of the traitorous thoughts that run through his head. Thoughts of connection, of (blegh) friends, of having someone to speak to. Thoughts he shouldn't be having ever. Yet... No, don't. You can't, what if the gravitational pull is too strong this time? What if you can't escape it like you always do? It's too risky.

A sigh escapes his mouth, tired eyes sneaking a glance at the distant star.

Maybe he doesn't have to get close... He could just pass by the outside, see what's going on instead of actually enter whatever system they have. How bad could it be? Actually, scratch that. Everything can be pretty terrible. Let's stick to "I hope it can't get worse than this, though it probably will."

Mind made up, he's back on the move. With years of travelling without the aid of a gravitational pull, there's no struggle as he speeds forwards and towards the star.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Cold envelopes him, coming from all sides. Suffocating.

But it's fine, he chose this orbit. Only to save his cousin from the unbearable isolation that comes with it.

He looks at his moons, his perfect moons. He loves them with all his core, excited for when they're fully formed and ready to be named. They'll be his, and he'll be the best parent they've ever had! There to protect them from the loneliness, to shower them with all the love he has, to keep them safe and warm even in the freezing orbit. They'll be his kids. His to protect.

He smiles softly at the forming moons. He can't wait to give them their necklaces, the pendant a reminder of their connection to him. His astrological symbol to be worn on his kids, the trident reminding him of who he is protecting. A way to symbolise them as his that isn't as cruel as some planets do it. A way to show his care, his affection. Because Poseidon wants to show gentleness to his moons, to act as an anchor for them, to be a good example. To be someone they can trust and lean on.

He will not be like the other planets from out of this solar system. He won't be like those cruel and controlling beings. He won't allow revenge to affect the treatment of his children, unlike someone he knows. He would never forcefully burn his symbol onto his kids, he could never trace his finger over their skin and watch a glowing line forge the trident onto them. The mark sinking into their flesh and becoming a part of them forever. No, Poseidon would never do that to his young ones. Would never claim ownership of them as if they're just property. He wouldn't be able to handle seeing the glowing figure of his symbol be absorbed by their crust and leave that permanent claim (not permanent, but it might as well be with how few are released).

He's heard of some moons being scarred by this tactic, and it angers him to his core. Because it's magic. It shouldn't scar their skin, it should only mark them (it shouldn't happen at all). If it scars, it means the planet has wanted it to scar, wanted it to be painful. It's a sick, disgusting show of power. Something he shall never do, something his babies will never understand.

Because Poseidon is loving, and he'll protect his kids till the day he dies.

...

He was never prepared for them to die first.

Chapter Text

Rock and debris. Dust and ice. It's surrounding him, stuck in his gravity to flaunt his failure in his face. Mocking him, reminding him of how he screwed up, how he broke his promise. How did this happen? He swore to protect them; he had loved them to his very core. And now… they’re gone.

Anger surges through him, filling his very being. Clouding his eyes with a regretful rage. His vision blurs, tears forming but never falling.

No. He won’t let them fall. He won’t allow himself to cry for the mistake he made.

He blinks away the tears, the stray drops joining the mess of what would’ve been his moons. What was his moons. His children, his babies.

He had let his guard down, and it came at the biggest price. It was him, his gravity that did this, his lack of awareness. It doesn’t matter what had crashed into his forming moons; it wouldn’t have mattered whether or not it was an asteroid. It was still him.

Of course, the asteroid that did crash into his moons was also destroyed on impact. The crumbling rock mixing in with the moons remains, ice being crushed into a fine powder before dispersing into the solar system. Poseidon Neptune stares as the ice fragments float away from him, despite his gravity (the same gravity that pulled in an asteroid, the same gravity that caused this collision, the same gravity that brought his kid’s demise).

He mourns, succumbing to the silence of his orbit. Shifting from his planetary shape to his celestial body just to curl in on himself. To wrap his arms around his legs, to weep silently into his knees (because Neptune is a loving planet. He knew he could never keep the tears at bay).

He remains in that position, grieving the loss of what was once his kids.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

It’s hecking bright, and he’s not even close to the damn star!

Has he really been away from one for so long that even this is too bright for him?! He can’t even be 580 astronomical units away for galaxies' sake! Ridiculous. Maybe he should just turn back; this is close enough for him (and sure, the light's not that bad, but he hates it from here). Back to travelling through empty space for the rest of his life! But leaving means having to trudge through that annoying mess of ice and comets. Good gracious, that took forever. Maybe he should stay? Just for a bit? Remain in the gravity-less area of whatever system that star has and view things from afar.

Sounds better than the whole trip being for nothing. He moves along, gliding through the deserted space around him (He’ll soon find it’s not as empty as he thought). It’s at least quiet in a way that’s not stifling, silent in a way that makes it seem like he’s not completely alone (he should find that unsettling, he should find the thought of having company in a dark area menacing, but he can’t bring himself to). He could indulge in himself this one time; it’s not like anything can happen. (A blatant lie, but can’t he imagine for once?)

He puts on speed, racing through the clear space and allowing a small grin sneak onto his face. The thrill of going this fast one of the few ways to entertain himself. It’s- dare he say- enjoyable. Of course, only until he gets bored of it and wants to take a genuine look around, any good adventurer takes in the scene around them. Which is… just more empty space, but it’s a little warmer than usual. Not a large difference, but definitely noticeable to the dwarf planet, who’s grown used to the frigid temperatures of having no star to orbit at all.

He’s actually closer than he was before. Heck, he can even see some debris from who knows what. Rocks and asteroids dot what used to be clear areas. When did that happen?

He blinks harshly, spinning in his spot to get a grip on his surroundings (and maybe to help with the light).

Alright, star has definitely gotten closer, and there are asteroids here and there. How far had he gone? If he had to guess, he’d probably gotten closer by, like, approximately 30 astronomical units? Huh, he hadn’t noticed. Odd, he’s usually so aware of these things.

His eyes continue to scan the area around him as he begins to move. Slowly floating around to understand where he is. Based on the star's size from his distance (looks like a yellow dwarf, actually), he can’t be too far from it. Probably 558 astronomical units at most. Hm, he really should’ve been paying attention.

He’s still examining the situation when there’s a tug on him. Dragging him closer to whatever emitted such an action.

He startles, shifting to his celestial form by instinct. If his time as a rogue planet has told him anything, it’s that he needs to be able to fight back. Which he kind of needs limbs for.

He forces himself away from the pull, leaning with his whole body and trying to run with as much speed as he can to escape. It's too much! Why can't he get away?! There's a slight panic arousing inside him; if he doesn't leave now, he's going to be spotted by the planet emitting such a force. Who knows what'll happen then! He struggles, barely moving from his spot as he attempts to fight off the gravitational tug.

Something appears in the corner of his eye, and it causes him to try even harder to just run. To leave and not face whoever or whatever had caught him. When he has no effect whatsoever, he turns heel and faces the planet in an act of defiance. A scowl on his face as he clenches his fists, his whole body tense as he stares down the celestial.

Oh my star...

His eyes widen in surprise. This planet is huge! (Not the largest thing he's seen, but still terrifying!) Even if he's in his celestial body, this planet still towers over him, needing to lower themselves to be eye level with him. The other's eyes analyzing every part of the dwarf planet, judging... Staring. It's as uncomfortable as it is horrifying. Because what if he's stuck here? What if the planet doesn't let him go? What if he's simply crushed? Or eaten? Or-

"Now who might you be? I haven't seen another being out here for centuries."

He jolts back into reality at the planet's voice. Not deep, but not light. Kind of soothing? The words are connected smoothly, almost slyly. How would one even describe that? Conniving? It takes a moment to fully process what was said, to release the tight grip his hand has on his ragged jacket (it's certainly seen better days, at least three halfheartedly sewn on patches just barely holding on). He looks back at the planet, stressed yet still frowning.

"What's it to you?"

Stars above, his voice is terrible. It's normally raspy, yes. But it sounds so weak right now, hoarse from disuse and a slight tremble still sneaking its way in. Pathetic.

The planet grins, a coy smirk on their face as they look down at him. He hates it, he wants to poke the damn planet in their eyes, to just escape. But he's stuck in some gravitational lock, completely unable to move because of the sheer force this dumb planet is using.

"Oh, just a question." That voice rubs against him the wrong way, sweet in a low, manipulative way. This planet is not good news at all.

He hovers, leaning away slightly to try and keep space between him and the dark blue giant. He glares right back at them, not afraid to show his distaste.

What annoys him most is the fact that the planet only looks amused at that. Letting out a quiet chuckle (why is that voice so triggering?!).

"Ah, where are my manners? I'm Planet X."

Tch, this guy's manners here flew out the galaxy if they're still keeping him here.

"Planet X? That's a dumb name." He lets out a huff. If this planet's going to be rude, then he'll be rude right back.

The giant merely hums, entertained. What an ass hat...

"Why, it's not my actual name. But it's more commonly used, rather unfortunate."

Wow, what an explanation, truly remarkable. That's sarcasm, if you couldn't tell.

He rolls his eyes, scoffing. Forcing his internal panic down to keep that (not-so) mask of annoyance in place.

"And the best way to introduce yourself, of course, is to not even say your own name. Woooow." Sarcasm drips heavily from his words, impatience growing the longer be talks with the blue planet.

The planet in question chuckles again, eyes not leaving that stupid half-lidded state that just makes him not trust them more.

"You have a point. Call me Scotus."

... Why is he so compliant? "Scotus" or whatever has been listening to his complaints without question; he does it so easily that it just can't be real. No one just does what another person tells them to, whether off hand or not, without some motivation. What is that guy after? Are they just doing this so he's easier to manipulate?

"Yeah... Sure, whatever. Look, I'm just passing through, so if you just let me go, I'll be out of your hair."

He's so done, in all honesty. He just wants to leave at this point, preferably in one piece.

And to his surprise, the gravitational lock is released. Letting him go with full mobility. He looks down at his arms, then legs, and then back at Scotus. Blinking away the shock and shaking out his hands.

"Huh, I, uh, didn't expect that to work. See you around, I guess?"

See you never again, actually. His getting as far away from here as he can the moment he turns.

He remains still for a moment, thinking on if this was a trick or not. There's only one way to find out, he guesses.

He spins around so his back faces the blue jovian and floats off. Getting a good few meters away before a crushing pressure pushes on him from all sides, freezing him in place and making breathing difficult, his head spinning and ears ringing and it hurts and it won't stop and make it stop, please make it stop!

He collapses in on himself, hands grasping at his short hair and knees tucked to his chest. A gasp of pain and shock escaping him, eyes shut tight as he prays for the pressure to just go away and let him breathe. It's too much! It hurts and it's overwhelming and when will it end?!

There's that (unfortunately) familiar voice from somewhere around him. Sounding like it's thousands of miles away, like the sound itself had to swim through cotton just to make it past his ringing ears and echo in his mind. Head bursting with the pain it brings.

"See you around indeed. But, we're not quite done yet."

Stop it. Let him go. End the pain. It hurts, please!

"Screw off! I'm not some moon for you to keep!"

He shouts in his state of panic. Shallow breathing and blurred thinking. How can his thinking be blurred? Hah, that's funny. Blurred thinking, how does that even happen?

A conniving grin flashes in front of him. The only thing he sees when he dares open his eyes. That triggering voice echoing everywhere and he can't escape it.

"Maybe not, but I still haven't gotten a name."

No. There's no way in hell that he's giving this jovian his name. He can't let such information slip; he won't give Scotus the pleasure of hearing his name. Nothing good can come out of that, he just won't do it. Besides, he barely remembers his name himself; what would the planet ever gain from knowing it?

"That's none of your damn business...!"

He forces it out, past gritted teeth and loud ringing. Past the ache and constricted breathing.

He lets out a cry, the pressure increasing and crushing and hurting and stop!. He's being pushed on from all sides, unable to move past the agony, breathing shallow as a bright white flash of pain blinds him. Head throbbing and feeling like it's about to combust, hearing only that deafening ring. He's being pushed in, then pulled apart, and then that overwhelming pressure is back on him again, and it. Doesn't. End. Let it end!

"Cute, but not what I asked. So, let me ask you again. What is your name?"

No, no, no no no no. He won't, he won't give it up. Leave him alone! He's being crushed then pulled and he screams. Small chunks of rock (or is it flesh?) getting torn off his body. Floating around him in some sick dance. No, no no no, he doesn't want to. Please! Make it stop!

"I'm- My name's, my name's MΩ®∅§."

There, he has it. Now, just leave him be... He feels dizzy, not daring to look at the chunks of rock that came from him, lest he puke. He feels numb, wavering in and out of awareness. All of his senses are overloaded, and the only thing he can really decipher is that it hurts.

The sudden release brings more stress and confusion than it does relief. He’s left gasping for the air he’s been denied, relishing in being able to think a little clearer without that force weighing him down.

He grasps his arm, biting back another cry at the stinging sensation touching the open wound brings. How could- Why did?- This is agony.

The moment he thinks he's free, a hand wraps around his body. Closing tight and, stars above, putting intentional pressure on every open injury. His eyes burst open, glowering at Scotus with fury (and he'll never admit it, but also fear). Kicking at the inside of the planet's palm (when did they shift to their celestial form?) and struggling out of their hold. Now looking up at a huge anthropoid planet, irritated at their smug expression.

Who does he think he is? Who just treats someone like they’re nothing more than a mere plaything!?

“Why, I’m sure I can provide you a better name than that!”

Another flash of teeth, a fake sweet tilt of their head, their hair soft as if that’ll make up for how terrible the planet is.

He pauses, eyes wide as he stares at the giant. That voice, that sentence, it’s all… No, they can’t seriously be implying…

“… W-what?”

Screw his act, so what if his voice trembles right now?

The planet removes the glove on his right hand (No, c’mon! This can’t be happening!), letting the item float in his orbit as he points. Grinning.

His attempts of escaping the tight grip become more prominent. Not caring for the bolts of pain he gets with each movement, why should he when that hand is coming closer and the tip of the pointer finger is glowing and he knows what this means and he won’t let it happen and this can’t be real! This- it just can’t! Can it?!

The eyes of the giant emit a blue light, illuminating their face in a colour that’s too pretty for the situation at hand. Their once sickly sweet smile morphs into something manic, spreading wide with a down right evil grin. A symbol appears just above the blue planets head, and he freaks. It’s really happening, this is happening! He’s being branded! Hah! Ahaha?! How could this happen?! Why is it happening!?

He throws himself away from the hand as much as he can in such a tight hold, eyes staring in genuine fear at the symbol above his captors head. The image of a crow sitting in the empty space of a crescent moon the only thing he can see. It takes up his whole view, his focus trained on it like nothing else matters. This- no, this has to be some sick joke, right?!

The hand doesn’t stop, that almost cyan glow too bright and too much and get it away! It gets closer and closer and he can’t focus properly on anything anymore, even the astronomical symbol not keeping his attention too long. This has to be some sort of nightmare, heck, he hopes it’s some sort of nightmare!

All hope dies the second that glowing finger touches his cheek.

He screams in agony. It burns and stings and he feels like he’s on fire. But he can’t move, he’s forced to remain still as that finger is dragged over his crust, that burning pain following behind as a shining line is inflicted on his skin. He bites his tongue to quiet his cries as the white hot pain takes over all his senses, vision blurry and everything sounding like it had to swim through an ocean to just get to him.

The giant never loses their smile, looking downright entertained as they draw out their symbol on his face. Going slow so the torment lasts longer, so he can feel the flaming pain as the crescent is drawn. Followed by the flowy outline of a crow. The finger lingers for just a moment longer, even when then symbol is done. Even when his tears have finally been spilt. Even when he’s already passed out from the torture. Even when his head feels heavier than a black hole yet light as a neutrino. Even when he wakes back up only from pain. Even when all he can do is scream and cry and hope this all ends.

Nothing makes it past his ears, everything seems blacked out, blurred, blocked, all of it. He can’t see, he can’t hear, all he can do is feel. Feel the hurt, feel the fiery agony that comes from the newly drawn branding. Feel as that symbol sinks into his crust, feel each sting as it rests below his skin. Feel how it not only pains him from the outside but from inside as well. Feel the suffocating hold his captor has on him. Feel as the giant laughs at him, finding the situation humorous, like branding him was nothing more than a game.

He can feel the ghostly chains wrap around his torso and cling to his wrists and lock onto his ankle and he can feel an ache everywhere they touch him.

When the hand lets him go, he knows that he’s not truly free. Floating up in a fetal position as the flame like chains continue to wrap around him, and he can only cry as his eyes follow the bonds back to where they connect with the planets hand. He’s trapped. Taken from the only semblance of freedom he had. His head explodes with agony and he can hear the planets voice in his mind. Hear it echo and run through his thoughts as he screams.

.
.
.

"Welcome to my orbit, Thanatos."

Chapter Text

Silence, dark, blurry.

Blurry?

Why is it… Where is he right now? Quiet. More like static, maybe buzzing? Not quiet then. Loud. Ringing, buzzing, static.

Ringing, buzzing, static. Ringing buzzing static. Ringingbuzzingstatic Ringingbuzzingstatic! Why can’t he remember?!

He wakes, bolting up with a shallow breath. Hands tightly holding nothing but air.

What… what happened? Everything seems… different. A part of his mind feels blocked by a wall, unable to be accessed. Why? What…

Pain erupts from everywhere. His head, his face, his arms, his very being. His face. His face?!

His hand snaps to his cheek, reaching to rub the area. He hisses, gritting his teeth as his face flares up with a blazing ache. That’s not right, it shouldn’t hurt. It would only be like that if… No. That must’ve been a dream, right? It couldn’t have been reality because if it was, that would mean he got caught, and he never gets caught. He can’t be stuck in a planet's orbit, he can’t be claimed, he can’t be chained, he can’t be trapped, caged, imprisoned, captured. He can’t, that’s not- It’s not, it just can’t happen! Why would that happen? Heh, it’s ridiculous! Just his mind playing tricks on him! It can’t be real because that’s plain crazy! How would it even happen?! Ha… Hah! It’s stupid, really! (Why can’t he think clearly? Why is everything hard to remember?!)

He stands, stumbling at the sudden movement. Darkness wavering in the edges of his vision. No, not darkness again. He’s spent too long in the dark. He doesn’t want the dark. Where is he?

“Ah, Thanatos, your awake!”

He yelps, clutching his head and biting back a pained groan. What the…? No. Remember, it was just a dream! Right? Right?! None of that was real; it couldn’t have been!

The hand coming ever closer, the glowing sign overtaking his vision, the sadistic smile being flashed at him, the screams from his own throat, the burning sensation as he’s branded.

No. Push it back. Just a dream. Just some stupid, horrifying, chillingly realistic dream.

Just a dream, a nightmare more specifically. Not real. His imagination. Except…

“Have a good sleep, Thanatos?”

That’s not his name, it’s not… That’s besides the point, though. Because that voice, that goddamn voice!

More throbbing, more pain, more burning.

“I’m not some damn moon for you to keep!”

“Why, I’m sure I can provide a better name than that!”

It can’t be- it just can’t! It’s, no. No no nononono. It can’t! It just can’t!

His breathing picks up, gaze zeroing in on the giant in front of him. No, that’s the- no. Not real, it can’t be real! Why is it?! He grips onto his shirt, crumpling the white fabric in his tight hold, it’s not enough. He can’t breathe, he can’t breathe. His chest feels tight and he can hear his blood (water, just water. It doesn’t act as blood, does it?..!) in his ears.

Pain. Hurt. No, please no. Don’t let it be real!

“What’s wrong, moon?”

Moon.

Moon, moon, moon, moon, moon.

He’s not a- He isn’t, that’s not?! He’s a, he’s a… what is he?! Why is everything a blur?! Why can’t he remember?! He’s- It’s- He's a ðŵɐʁF PĿɒŋɜŧ

A what? Why does it sound like that?! Why can't he think of it properly? What's going on!? ðŵɐʁF PĿɒŋɜŧ! He is a Dŵaɼf Plɐneʈ! C'mon! Why is it like that?!

Breathe, calm, focus. Breathe. Calm. Focus. Screw this, what the hell is going on?! He reaches for his face again, finger ghosting over the area he was branded. It… it wasn’t a dream. It wasn’t some terrifying nightmare. It was real.

His head snaps up at the blue giant, his captor, his unwanted planet. This guy seriously- This bastard actually branded him! How dare the damn jovian! What type of asshole just?!- What the hell!?

“Get away from me! What did you do?!”

He shouts, scowling at the celestial. Shaking. Anger and fear and shock and confusion and- Breathe, calm, focus. Don’t walk yourself into a spiral.

Scotus gives a small smile. Soft, almost kind. But even an idiot can see the underlying implications. Even a blind celestial can sense the warning, the threat. The way that friendly face is only a poorly worn mask, the way that even when calm, this planet is still holding power over his head. It’s infuriating.

This guy’s hecking insane, there can’t be any other explanation for it. Everything still hurts, and all the planet does is smile like he’s the most innocent celestial in the galaxy. He clenched his fists, glaring at the planet and gritting his teeth. Fury reeking off him as he stares down the deep blue giant, scowl growing deeper when all Scotus does is laugh. Low and short, annoying. Grating.

“Me? Now, now. It’s nothing that bad, c’mon!” They draw out the last word, voice playful in an almost mocking way. Why the little-

“Weren’t you wanting company?”

… How did he?

“Weren’t you sick of always being alone?”

Shut up, they know nothing. They have nothing. It’s just assumptions, stupid guesses that are more true than they probably think. Right?

“Were you not tired of having no company for years on end? Having no one to talk to, all alone~ Isn’t it time you have someone to finally connect with? Someone to call a friend?”

Scotus floats around him in a circle, voice smooth and soft and oh so sweet, it almost feels real. But it’s not, their eyes are narrowed, and that smirk can’t be anything but a malicious grin. It’s not real, he doesn’t care. He only wants to manipulate him, to make him want to stay, to make him reliant on them. He won’t fall for it. He won’t, ever.

ɼədɐɔŦɘÐ snarls, gaze never leaving Scotus’s eyes, never letting his back face the giant. It’s a weak point; he needs to be able to see each movement the celestial makes, to be prepared.

"Why so angry, Thanatos? Didn't you want to meet someone? To talk with someone?"

No, get out of his head! Literally! Get out! That's not his name (what was his name in the first place?), this isn't what he wanted- stay away from his mind! Back off! He won't give in, he won't listen to those loosely strung words. He won't allow himself to just pretend nothing is wrong with this! Because none of this is right!

The burning, the crow, the smile, and the chains and the tight grip and the fear and the light, no. Let him go!

"Stop already! Stop messing with me!" He growls out, frustrated. Hurting. Scared. Suspicious. Annoyed. Dizzy. Tired- Breathe, calm, focus... Good.

"You don't know anything. Quit messing with my head!" It doesn't matter if all the memories feel like mush; what does matter is that this planet can't be trusted. What does matter is the fact that Scotus had branded him at one point or another. The new connection, the pain, the dizziness, all of it is because of him.

"Don't be mad, moon!" Stop, no. Don't call him that, he's not- he's not a moon! "I know the feeling, the feeling of being kicked out, of being sent away... Of being alone for centuries on end."

The dark blue giant comes closer, and he scowls at the involuntary flinch he does. Breathe, calm, fo... Focus? Right?

If the planet noticed this action, he never said anything about it. Or acknowledged it... No, they kept coming closer. Closing the distance between them that was uncomfortable as is, their gravity keeping him in place. Step back... get away. Stay away! Leave! Move! Don't come any closer! When he sees hands coming towards him, all he can see is that blue glow, the waves of power coming off the others hands, the way they had smiled, the way that unbearable heat set his skin ablaze, how he couldn't fight back, couldn't prevent it, couldn't leave, how those hands had only inflicted pain so far and they were coming closer.

He jerks away, throwing his whole body back as far as he can within the forced orbit, scrambling away from the hands coming ever closer. Keep them away!

When contact is made, he tenses, preparing for whatever Scotus might do, for whatever pain they would bring. Nothing. Just a palm beneath his feet, stable and gentle. The gloves the planet adorned making the makeshift platform soft. Huh?

He stumbles slightly when turning, not used to having something to actually, well, walk on. It's... odd, to move with something beneath his feet. When he rights himself and faces the planet, he steps back immediately. Startled by how close to Scotus he was, the giants face only a few meters away from the hand he's held in. Cheery-eyed and friendly (Does their smile naturally look so... evil, ooorr?). He frowns, brows furrowed as he lets his arms drop by his sides, rigid when looking at his captor. Floating up and off their palm at one point because it was too weird to keep standing.

Silence.

They’re just staring, what is going through their sick head? Why are they looking at him like that, like he’s an interesting asteroid that got caught in their orbit? Like some fancy object to do with as they please (that’s essentially all he is to the giant, isn’t it?)

“Stop playing games, I’m not your toy. Doesn’t matter what you think!” He growls, frowning with fists clenched as he tries to discreetly float away from the planet.

Scotus clicks his tongue, shaking his head like a parent would when disappointed in their child. But that voice isn’t caring, that face isn’t loving. It’s controlling, a way to hang their power over his head.

“I was just giving you what you wanted, Thanatos. What more do you need?” They tilt their head, looking down at him with a small, almost solemn, frown.

He can’t help but hate that sentence. Hate the way it sounds, loathe the way it’s said, despise the name being used. It’s not his, that’s not his name for stars sake! (He doesn’t remember his original… Blocked behind that barrier that’s growing stronger each minute, less and less getting past it the longer he’s with Scotus)

Their expression fuels the rage inside him; they have no right to be upset. They absolutely can’t be disappointed that he doesn’t like being here.

“Trust me, I know what it’s like! The feeling of being discarded and alone, I understand!”

Galaxies, do they ever shut up?! Stop trying to mess around with him! He won’t fall for such tricks!

He flies away from the giant, away from that hand that was still beneath him. Don’t turn back, keep going, go faster!

“Can’t say I didn’t try. Let’s do this differently now, shall we?”

He stops in his tracks, holding his head in his hand at the ache caused from the words. The way the blue planet’s voice ricochets off his mind, overtaking his thoughts and giving him a migraine. What… What was Scotus talking about?

He screams, throat hurting from the sheer power of it. Everything feeling like it’s being torn apart, every fibre of his being set ablaze in sudden jolts of agony. He’s blinded by the pain and light erupting from his face. The way the sigil beneath his skin glows a bright blue and old cracks resurface, emitting a light twice as vivid. Each old injury reopening at once, crust on fire, and head growing fuzzy.

“You leave without my permission, and the branding does the rest!”

It’s overwhelming. Injuries blazing yet everything numb, the voice clear but his thoughts a mess, memories slipping through his fingers and the light blinding and the pain unbearably prominent.

"You are to stay right by me unless told otherwise, understood?"

They float up behind him, hands neatly folded behind their back, and their head tilted slightly. No sign of regret. No tinge of remorse. Words flowing smoothly like nothing had just happened, like the luminous blue blood dripping down each crack on his face wasn't there.

When their hand grabs his face and jerks his head up to face them, he flinches away. Or at least attempts to. His efforts are in vain when all that the planet does is tighten their grip, smudging the thick ichor leaking from the reopened wounds (Huh, guess the water does act as blood)

"Understood?" They growl out, eyes narrowed and teeth grit.

He attempts to nod at first, only to be stopped by the hand still clutching his chin. Defeated and light-headed, he doesn't have to energy to keep resisting. Voice hollow and devoid of any feeling, he replies.

"Cyrstal..."

Scotus smiles, and his fuzzy mind pictures their teeth sharper than normal. He sighs from relief as he's released, gaze lingering at the blood left on the giants hands. His blood. He hates the damn sigil, the control the planet now has over him. The jovian in question looking pleased.

"Perfect. Let's hurry now, there's lots to be done, Thanatos."

... He'll never get used to that name.