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It had been a hectic couple of months in the solar system and Earth decided they needed a break. So he corralled all of the rockies down to his surface for the week, just to wind down after everything that happened.
Mars and Mercury had left early in the morning to go grab breakfast, leaving Venus and Earth in the small house he had acquired.
Venus had woken up around the same time as Mars and Mercury, but declined going with them. He wasn't much of a breakfast person (and he was just slightly worried about letting Earth wake up in an empty house. He wasn't leaving his sight. Not after this week).
Venus was led on the sofa, playing around with the tv remote, seriously, how did earthlings find this stuff entertaining, when he caught the faint sound of footsteps.
He looked up and saw Earth walk into the room, still rubbing his eyes.
"Morning."
Earth yawned.
"Morning. Where's the others?"
"They left for breakfast. I decided to stay and wait for your lazy ass."
"You're too kind."
Earth deadpanned before turning around and heading for the bathroom.
About an hour of mindlessly watching morning cooking shows, Venus heard a slew of swears come from the bathroom. Intrigued, he perked his head up to see Earth walk out with half brushed hair and the head of the brush tangled in his hair.
He stifled a laugh.
"Don't laugh! I'm going to have to cut it!"
"Stop being a baby. Just use oil to get it out."
Earth tilted his head.
"Oil?"
"Stars, you should've just kept straightening your hair. Come here, I'll do it."
Earth begrudgingly sat on the sofa where Venus just was, waiting for the shorter to grab the oil.
Venus eventually sat down and gently grabbed a lock of hair that was less stuck before grumbling to himself.
"You tried to brush your hair while dry?"
"Yeah? Why wouldn't I?"
If Venus could facepalm right now he would. He grabbed Earth by the arm and pulled him up.
"Shower. Now."
"Wh-huh?!"
"Clearly you don't remember how to protect your hair."
Earth let Venus lead him into the bathroom and began to strip. He hesitated when he got to his sleeves and boxers. Venus gave him an almost kind look. Earth hates how they all look at him with sympathy. Like a stern gaze might shatter him completely.
"I won't look."
That's all he says on the subject.
Earth's pretty sure if he said anything more he may break. Even if it's been a while since he's done anything, the scars still remain.
Once he's fully undressed, he looks to the still clothed planet. He smirks.
"What, not joining me?"
Venus splutters at that and Earth tries to hide his proud grin.
"You know how to wash yourself!"
"Yeah, but I don't know how to clean my hair evidently."
Earth's cat like grin grows as Venus relents.
"Fine! You tell the others about this and I swear!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. It's not like I haven't seen you naked before."
Venus goes as hot as his atmosphere, freezing halfway through unclothing himself.
"You're a prick."
"I know.'
Earth hops into the shower and waits for Venus to join him.
The warm planet joins him and turns the shower head on. He took a moment to relish the feeling of water upon his back.
He'd forgotten what water felt like. How it felt covering his surface all those years ago. He can't help but envy and pity Earth. He has what Venus always strived for but will one day lose it all and become just like him.
Once he's satisfied that Earth's hair is wet enough, he begins the process of detangiling the brush. He dabs some coconut oil on his fingers and slowly but surely works them through the bristles, loosening the hair.
The two do not talk during this process, scared of interrupting the domesticity of the scene. Earth will occasionally make whispered sounds of pain whenever his hair was pulled a little too hard, followed by a muttered apology.
Time didn't seem to move as they stood in that shower together.
The brush head was soon removed entirely from Earth's head, who breathed a sigh of relief.
But Venus wasn't done.
He grabbed a bottle of shampoo and poured a generous amount onto his hands.
"After this we're getting you some proper hair care stuff."
"Fine, mum."
"Don't be weird."
Venus massaged the shampoo into Earth's scalp and oh God, he's never known hands to be so gentle, let alone to him. It's enough to almost make him breakdown right here and now. Almost.
He's never been touched like this before. Never with such care.
Yeah, they've had their fair share of sexual encounters together but this was different. This wasn't two beings desperately chasing their own pleasure, this was much more intimate than that. Being cherished. Wanted.
It's a feeling Earth hadn't felt in a long time.
He leaned back into Venus' touch.
The two stayed like this for several minutes before Earth decided to break the comfortable silence that had covered them both like a blanket.
"How come you're so knowledgeable about this kinda stuff anyway?"
Earth felt Venus' hands freeze in his hair. A pit grew in his stomach. He shouldn't have said anything. He should've just let him continue in silence.
After what felt like an eternity, Venus' voice reached his ears, almost inaudible against the crescendo of the water.
"Theia had hair just like yours..."
Oh shit.
Earth how could you be so stupid.
You've seen her.
You remembered her.
How could you forget that even now your friends don't see you buy something else masquerading as their real friends corpses.
You're not even your own person.
You're two combined into one.
Pure entropy.
"...I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
The two fell into silence once more.
Just the sound of falling water and fingers raking through Earth's hair.
"I'm sorry I'm not her."
Venus stops dead in his tracks.
"What?"
"I'm sorry I can't be whatever she was. I'm sorry you lost two good friends only to get this in return."
Venus couldn't find the words to answer back. To tell him he was being stupid again.
Because its true.
Or, well, more accurately it was true.
The first few years after Terra and Luna had formed, Venus held such resentment towards the two.
They weren't Proto and Theia. They didn't deserve to take their place. And they certainly didn't deserve to develop life while his slowly burned away.
But then he actually got to know Terra. He was reckless, stupid, impulsive, but kind.
He actually found himself missing Terra when he eventually left, making way tor the Earth he knows today.
And he can't get himself to love him any less.
Earth stares at him through his soaked hair.
He looker tired.
So tired.
Venus motioned for Earth to turn around and when he did he cradled his cheek and stared into his eyes.
His eyes, just like the rest of him, we're unique. Greens and blues swirling into each other like tidepools. Not that he'd ever admit that out loud.
That's when Earth finally breaks. Once the tears started, they couldn't stop. Soon his whole body was convulsing with sobs as he clung to Venus' chest as if it were the only thing able to possibly ground him.
Venus stood there in shock, unsure of what to do.
From the moment of his formation, no one came to Venus for help. They would usually go to Mercury or Mars, or sometimes even Jupiter.
But never Venus.
Venus who would scream at them until they left.
Venus who tried to burn more bridges than he built.
Venus who was so toxic he killed his very own life.
Venus who despite what he tries to stop, can't help but love the planet right in front of him.
The planet currently clinging to him as if he were the last thing in the world.
It would be ironic if it weren't so real.
Venus urged his body to do something, anything and not to just stand there like an absolute idiot.
He eventually urged his hands to move, slowly carding through Earth's hair. He remembered seeing Saturn do this when the younger rockies got scared by something, before their orbits were all fixed.
He sometimes wonders if Earth misses the freedom of being able to move around freely.
That's a topic for later though, as right now he needs to focus on the planet in front of him.
Several minutes later the sobbing subsided into small hiccups. Earth didn't dare look up at Venus. Whatever expression he's making would break him.
"I'm sorry."
Venus sighed and reached over to turn the shower head off.
"Come on."
Earth looked at Venus quizically. Were they finished already? It seems like he'd done more crying than washing, but what can you do.
Venus was ever so gentle drying his hair. Usually Earth just let's it air dry or quickly runs a towel over it. But Venus is gentle, making sure it doesn't knot again.
"You don't have to be her, you know."
Earth freezes.
Don't. Please.
"What do you mean?"
"You can be your own person."
"...thanks."
The two fall into a comfortable silence once again.
Once fully dry, Earth flops himself onto the sofa, not really having the energy to do much else. Venus brings him a glass of water which he gulps down almost immediately. Thank stars. He doesn't want a headache for the third day in a row.
It was comfortable being around Venus. And that's him talking. Not a part of himself long since gone from this world.
Him.
Earth.
And if when Mars and Mercury come back to see the neighbouring planets snuggled together asleep on the sofa, they choose not to mention it.