Chapter Text
Theia couldn't help but stare at venus, observing the white vapors that formed clouds in his atmosphere swirl with grace along the deep, rich red clay and rocks that made up his surface. Oceans and streams carved beautiful patterns in the mountains of rock, rolling with his tilt as he slept. Theia wouldn't lie, she was absolutely jealous of Mars and venus for their watery surfaces. Having heard the praises Sun once gave to them for being able to withhold liquids despite being so close to the star. Yes, she had some form of liquids, but it was more chemical than living oceans of h20. Hers were frozen, deep within her crust, hidden under layers of her brown, dusty rocks.
Sometimes, she felt insecure about how pretty the others looked. Even mercury was gorgeous with his softer colors and pastel greys that shimmered like silver threads. She felt that she stuck out like a sore thumb, ugly browns with splotches of a tanner color dotting her surface. She hated how she viewed herself sometimes when next to the other planets, their vibrant colors compared to her dullness and lack of anything special hurt. But she kept those thoughts to herself. The other rockys were her friends, so she should be happy for them. And happy she was. She'd always compliment them, praise their surface and give them the love they so wanted from their closed off star. She'd make sure they knew how special they were. Even if it annoyed them.
Theia watched as Venus orbit finally took him behind the sun, now out of sight, much to her disappointment. Arms crossed and lounging on her back, theia decided to focus on her own emotions. It was good to go through them, not wanting any lingering negative thought to cling to her core and make her say something she shouldn't. It was always a battle with her envy, one she's getting better at, but a battle none the less. She wasn't exactly angry at the other rockys, just felt left out in regards of the 'life conditioned' side of things. Her orbit was between Mars and venus after all. She knew her gravity wasn't exactly the strongest, but neither was Mars. Her atmosphere could possibly hold in liquid like venus, but her magnet feild was lacking... but so was venus. It honestly confused her. What was it that she was doing wrong? She groaned and pressed her hands into her eyes- that was a thought process for another cycle. Right now, she needed to remind her core to not feel jealous of Mars and venus.
Taking a deep breath, she removed her palms from her eyes and gazed at the stars upside down. It was funny finding out venus slept upside down, Mars and her unable to hold back the teasing. But now that she was doing it, more so out of physical boredom, she could see the appeal. It was a great way to view things from another angle, literally. Back tilted and celestial body hanging upside down, she blinked as she spotted a very distant red star. It was small, definitely not the size of the sun even from where she orbited, but bright enough to see the red coloring. Red... her mind wondered towards a certain magma layered planet. Heat rising to her surface as a smile grew on her lips.
Proto.
He was so shy and awkward, but it just made her love him more. His gentleness when around her was something new. Yeah, Mars and mercury were always careful around her, but they never treated her like royalty. Venus never did it. She didn't really want that treatment to begin with, but the way proto did it made her feel special for once. His loving nature, caring attitude and the way he just always listened to her made those ugly thoughts and feelings dissappear. Just the thought alone of him smiling at her, bold and shy at the same time, was enough to send a giddy emotion into her core and make her silently squeal, legs kicking the air.
Thinking of his rough voice, speaking with Whispers of love had her dizzy, core thumping loudly against her crust before she took a few calming breaths. Proto had found a way to make her act like a new born planet, excited and full of wonder. He brought a sense of peace to her as well, always aiding her and even encouraging her towards her dreams of holding the fabled life the sun has spoken of. Proto did send her sympathetic looks like Mars did when she went on about how hard she was trying, proto didn't glare at her when she asked questions or fantasized about supporting the myth of life like how venus did. No. Proto would take her hands, smile and give her a nod of encouragement. 'If it's any planet that can do it, I know it'll be you.'
Theia rolled from her lounging position, uprighting herself as she looked towards the asteroid belt. Proto had gone into it, saying he needed to speak with Ceres. It still amazed her that a planet as old as the gas Giants sat in that belt. It also made her sad upon hearing from proto how paranoid Ceres was. Apparently, Ceres had seen alot of stuff regarding the giants. Proto never pried though, so she was left in the dark as much as he was. From where she sat, she could see Jupiter. The biggest of the giants, his back turned from the sun; theia unable to see his face. She frowned, remembering the one time Jupiter pushed proto away hard enough that he rocketed through the asteroid belt- surface bleeding out globs of lava from hitting any stray asteroids he couldn't push away himself. She recalled the fear she felt, seeing him banged up but ready to return to the fray so as to continue his mission in making the gas Giants realize how much danger the rockys are in.
Jupiter had always been scary to their little quartet, the only one not scared being proto. Yet, theia wondered in the back of her mind, was Jupiter just lonely? He couldn't be right? There were apparently three other giants on the other side, so maybe he was just... shy? Theia frowned. Her mind running through what Mars liked to call her 'over analyzing' mode. Jupiter acted more annoyed than out right aggressive. And at times, it seemed he really didn't have control of his gravity. So maybe he was scared? That didn't line up. But there was definitely something there theia could just barely grasp in regards to how the giants acted.
She blew out air from her lips, a sign she was giving up for now. Returning to floating upside down, just for the fun of it again, theia closed her eyes and allowed the suns gravity to pull her in her orbit. She'd let her mind rest, figuring she's done enough thinking for now. (That was a lie. Her mind was always way too active for her own good.) Sleep didn't come easy for her, it never did. Too much to do, too much to think. It was another reason she began to fall for proto... he somehow was able to keep her mind silent with just his presence. His gravity was warm, nice and cozy. The pull gentle and never once over stepping. His warm glow was like a dim star, not blinding like the sun. If one got close enough to him, they would hear how his surface always shifted. Lava pulling and breaking apart, cooling and repeating the breaking process. The cracking noise was soothing to theia, although typically for a rocky, that was a scary noise to ever hear. But for some reason, with proto, it was relaxing.
She didn't realize how much she missed hearing his vents go off and the lava cracking noise until proto would leave for whatever reason he thought important enough to protect them over. Floating in her orbit, Theia finally opened her eyes. Gazing out towards the space that sat behind her orbit, slowly following the pull of gravity.
That was until her eyes landed on the distant glowing red and orange spot making its way closer. Her core flittered, body twisting to an upright position. She was rushing to meet him half way, crossing into Mars colder orbit. The chill didn't bother her for once, not when her core knew she'd be enveloped into warm arms. Proto easily spotted her and smiled, slightly concerned at her leaving their orbit, but also happy to see her after whatever adventure it was he came back from.
Theia didn't even give him time to open his arms fully, astral body slamming into his chest; still very mindful of her celestial body staying away from his as she buried her face into his chest. Slowly, she felt the warm embrace of his arms around her. A hiss of hot air escaping his vents, her eyes looking up to see him staring down at her with a type of love that made her feel like the sun.
"Missed me that much?" A small smirk played at protos lips. A rare sight seeing the usually awkward and shy planet being cocky. Theia though has seen all the sides of proto, and she loved each and everyone of them.
"Thoughts became too much." She mumbled into his chest after returning her face into the armor clad torso. A soft, deep rumble that was protos laugh made her gravity feel weak.
"Let's get you back into orbit. Don't wanna ruin any chances of life."
Theia didn't even have to move, protos arms wrapped around her legs and his gravity gently lifted her up, surrounding her without pulling on her own. She merely leaned into his arms, eyes closing and smile on her lips. Finally, her mind seemed to slow to an easy stream of thoughts instead of the rushing current. Just listening to protos surface move and the vents in his armor hiss out.