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I was the only star in the galaxy: every eye fixed on me, every pen poised, every breath held to see what I would do. I opened my mouth, and before I could vocalise, all hands clapped together like a thunder, drowning me out. I was alone.
I was the subject of the world, discussed and disgusting - they shouted about me until they were blue in the face, and finally they cared enough about my whereabouts to come to us here in space. I was the prince of our kingdom, they all laid their lives down for me. And I was alone.
I was the prize he fought to get, and the point of his army. He looked at me like they did, and it felt familiar. I had no remorse in using him: we were allies in name but in truth we were alone.
I watched the sky fall. I heard them cry out. I knew I could help them. I waited. While I decided, they bled. I was alone, because I made myself alone.
I was curled up on the end of her bed, while machines hummed and people spoke in soft voices. I caught the glint of her eye - she was still awake. She shifted her foot to brush my side, and I shuffled against it. This is home.
I watched the world, but as it turned beneath the glass it became something new. The words she said made sense in a way nothing had since, and it struck like a chord with a memory - a real, raw, bleeding one. The girl beside me was reaching out to her through the years, not knowing what she was stretching her fingers to. She touched the part of my mind I call my home.
I watched the metal dragon recede to a small, fragile and pitiful thing. His fist beat the ground, he would have cried out, but for his dignity he couldn't. I couldn't look at him. I turned to the woman who was my guide, and she looked at me too with the same pity. I want to go home.
They imprisoned me. He was there. He carried with him the gift from her all those years ago. He flanked me against the end.
The two of them, by my side, against the end again, and again. They're by my side, and this too will become home.
I stood on the brink of my own memories in the rolling white, sickening and tempting. But even here at the farthest point, where I should have been losing myself - she reached me, and he was there. They're calling me home.
They're finished helping me unpack my things. I didn't really have much - half of it's her hand me downs. But she put it all away for me. He built some shelves. They tested the security and checked around the corners. Tight, safe, warm, quiet - with the view down the mountain slopes that went on forever, and the peak behind my that stretched up to the stars with me. It was perfect.
They're standing on my doorstep. She doesn't hug me, but puts her hands to her own arms and brushes the goosebumps between her gloves and her collarbone. He swizzles his focus lenses, and turns his head.
Wait.
Don't go.
Would you stay?
Hm? You got something else for us to do?
Yes, I need you to…
I just need you to.
No. No reason.
She's looking away and over the mountain. It's cold and lonely up here, nothing like what she likes. Power is limited, not fast enough for him to recharge as he'd like. It's perfect for me, not them.
Acceptable.
Yeah, we can stay if you want,
I do.
They are here, settling into the corners. I am not alone. I'm home.