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Saturn was the prettiest planet Jupiter had ever seen.
Of course, that wasn't exactly a high bar, considering Jupiter only knew four planets, himself included, and the final two were toddlers... But still! Neptune and Uranus were adorable. And Jupiter certainly wasn't pretty.
Saturn was the most beautiful planet in the solar system.
Who. For some reason, still hung out with Jupiter, who looked like a walking trashbag following him around. Seriously. Saturn knew he could better, right?
He did. Jupiter knew Saturn knew. The smaller planet was aware of exactly how beautiful he was.
And yet he chose to ask Jupiter on a date.
"A what now?"
"A date, Sol." The teen groaned, rubbing with his fingers right between his eyes, by now already tired of the conversation and... incredibly confused. Okay, fine, he could understand it if the star didn't understand the concept the first time. Or the second time. Or the...
But he'd been trying to explain what exactly they were going to do for almost an entire spin of his axes now! Surely it wasn't that hard to understand?! "Me and Saturn are going to go out on a picknick."
"But you do that all the time?" Sun tilted his head in a confused manner, oh so clearly trying to understand what was so special about something the two had been doing from the moment they'd first put their eyes on each other. "What's so different about it now that you need me to watch your moons?"
Because this time it wasn't as friends. This time, Jupiter could acknowledge that the fluttering of his core and the heating of his face meant something. This time, he could stare at Saturn's lips and hopefully hype himself to tell him enough about how he felt and not let his self-doubt swallow him whole because there was no way that Saturn felt the sa-
"Just for a rotation, Sol!" Saturn pleaded sweetly, putting on his best puppy eyes and blinking his lashes slowly. Ugh. The ice giants had recently taught him that one. It made him look even more breathtaking. "Me and Jupi-" he started, the nickname making his core beat faster. "-wanted to have our picknick in the asteroid belt! But our moons haven't woken up yet, it's too dangerous for them to be in there!"
Ganymede, Callisto, Io and Europa.
Chrysalis, Titan, and Iapetus.
Seven moons between them, all still in the slumber that came with formation.
"Me and Jupiter big." Saturn continued, his voice a tad quieter for reasons only the gas giants would know for the many millenia to come. "What if we pull the asteroids towards ourselves, and get them hurt?"
A very real possibility, with the two biggest planets of the solar system. Jupiter hated how big he was sometimes.
He pressed two hands against his stomach uncomfortably, almost as if hoping he could push away the extra mass there before their date. Ugh... he'd put on the biggest robed he owned, hoping to hide his body, and still his size was apparent. How could Saturn look past that?
"Hmm..." The star hummed thoughtfully, narrowing his eyes and leaning down to have a look at the little group of moons between them. Both gas giants bowed out of instinct, raising their hands to make the star-sign- only to freeze halfway when Sol made a wounded sound at the action. Right. Right... their star didn't like being seen as that. Even if he... was terrifying. But so good for his celestials still.
In the end... Sun sighed deeply, and carefully held his hands under the moons, scooping them up into his palm. Jupiter felt his anxiety spike as the almighty star took the smallest beings of the solar system into his hands- but its fine, they were fine Jupiter. There was no safer place for them to be.
"I don't get you planets." Sol shook his head with a lighthearted sigh, shooing the two gas giants away without sparing them a glance. His gaze was already on the babies in his palm, grin widening with mischief. "How about one of you wake up while those two are gone? It would be so funny."
"..." The two planets stared at each other, unimpressed, before refocusing their attention on the Sun. "Sun, do not encourage them to wake-"
"Shoo!" Sun waved them off again, long having lost interest. "Go do your 'date' or whatever weird thing you came up with. Don't stay out of your orbits too long!"
"It is not a-" Jupiter started, only to stop when Saturn gently nudged his arm. And gave up. "...Ah, bye Sun."
And with a wave at their star and goodbye kisses to their moons, the two lovebirds were off. "...Maybe we should have left our moons with Uranus and Neptune instead."
"Oh, I thought of that." Saturn shrugged, doing a happy spin on the way, making Jupiter's core flutter. Stars. Saturn looked so happy. "But Uranus wasn't in his orbit! I think he and Neptune are playing sharks again."
Saturn was fast. Which didn't make sense, Jupiter completed his orbit faster, by all logic he should be the one ahead- was it just another failing of his body? Was he too- "I still don't get that game."
Not now, Jupiter. Saturn, as oblivious as he was with everyone else, always seemed to be able to read his mind somehow... he would know something was wrong. And Jupiter would ruin their date. And then Saturn would see he could do better, and not go out with him again!
This had to go perfect.
"They're sharks." Saturn shrugged, letting his body be dragged back by Jupiter's gravity, causing him to twirl around the bigger giant. "What's there not to understand?"
"They bit me."
"You were the fisherman!" But then wouldn't that make him a shark too, being a fish man and all? Was he a different shark? Maybe they were Hammer Sharks and Jupiter was a Great White Shark? But he didn't want to be one of those, he felt more like a whale.
Jupiter's frown must have been funny, considering Saturn giggled. The sound instantly quieted his mind oh so wonderfully, his core beating faster and body growing hotter despite getting further from the Sun. It was one of Jupiter's favorite sounds. "What?" He giggled in reply, following the pretty one with his gaze as he did another spin. "What did I do?"
"Nothing, Jupi~" Saturn crooned at him, eyes narrowing playfully. "I love it when you think so hard."
...What did that mean-?
"Allow me." He said instead of asking, stepping in front of the smaller, towards the belt, and parting the asteroids by stretching out his hands. Saturn fanned his hands in front of his face, gracefully treading Jupiter's belt.
"My hero." He blew him a kiss, instantly heating Jupiter's face back up. "So strong!"
"It-" shaking his head, Jupiter, after regaining his bearings, quickly followed. "It was nothing!"
"Nonsense!" Grabbing his arm, Saturn dragged the bigger man to a specific spot in the belt he'd prepared in advance for them to have their date in, free of any asteroids to bother them. "You are a strong man, Jupiter!"
Strong? Saturn thought he was strong?
Trying not to stutter and stumble like a total loser, Jupiter collected himself as best as he could before he followed. After neatly putting the asteroids back in their place. He... didn't need it to become a mess.
...Wait wasn't he supposed to be complimenting Saturn back-?!
"And you're beautiful!" He blurted out the first thing that came to mind, only to cover his mouth with a horrified shriek when those words left his mouth. No, no no, that was too much and Saturn heard that all the time, correct correct correct- "I-I mean- You're the most beautiful thing in the solar system!"
Ohmystars ohmystars Jupiter shut up shut up shut up-
"Wait no-" He miserably cut himself off again, his face heating up even more when Saturn turned back to him, clearly confused. "You're not that beautiful!"
WHAT?!
Before Jupiter could start another panicked ramble where he apologized a thousand times, Saturn gently pressed a finger onto his lips. The biggest one silenced instantly, mind zeroing in to the beautiful face that was smilling at him, a faint blush dusting his face a pretty red. "You're very sweet, Jupi." Saturn crooned at him, holding back a giggle. The smaller one leaned in closer, stood on his tiptoes as much as he could-
And pressed a soft kiss onto his cheek.
And Jupiter's mind shattered instantly.
"Thank you." Saturn murmured onto his skin before pulled away, his body already mourning the loss, before the smaller grabbed his hand, and gently tried to drag him along. "Now come on!"
Saturn, by any logic, shouldn't have been able to sweep Jupiter off his feet. Jupiter was bigger, much bigger, and had the body to show for it too. His mass was also heavier- Saturn, the dainty thing he was, weighted less than water for Sagittarius A's sake! He shouldn't be able to pull Jupiter along, and cause him to stumble.
Saturn pulled Jupiter deeper into the belt anyway.
"Sit, sit!" Saturn encouraged, pushing Jupiter onto the picknick mat he had somehow aquired in space- hey, don't question it, their system didn't follow the rules of space time- until he sat in a somewhat comfortable position where he didn't have to crouch. Jupiter grumbled when a stray asteroid did tap against his head anyway, and tilted away. Saturn... had clearly tried to clear the space as much as he could. But it wasn't big enough for the biggest one of the solar system, sadly.
...Not that much for Saturn either, he noted, watching the smaller glare at any asteroids that dared to get too close to his hair, and wincing when he sat down. Huh. He supposed the belt simply wasn't big enough for the giants to sit in. Maybe their moons would use this cleared space when they woke up...
"I suppose I underestimated our size..." Saturn complained, brushing some more asteroids away from where he sat before cheering up instantly. "But no matter! Here!" Before Jupiter could ask, Saturn shoved a bunch of asteroids into his hands, half getting caught by his gravity and drifting around mindlessly. "I collected these for you!"
Confused, Jupiter looked down, only to feel a smile growing when he saw what Saturn had gotten for him. Golden asteroids. His favorite.
And incredibly difficult to find. "Aw, Saturn," He giggled, core beating faster again, even happier when he saw that Saturn's face was turning redder too. "You didn't have to."
He really didn't have to, Jupiter worriedly thought, feeling the concern intensify when Saturn pulled more of those golden treats out of his pocket. Saturn's vision was nowhere near good enough to see the difference between each asteroid, let alone pick out speifically the golden ones. Jupiter had offered to craft him a pair of glasses, but Saturn had cried, so Jupiter had dropped it. How long must it have taken to collect all those? "Does your head hurt?" He worriedly asked, automatically reaching out to cup his face, and pull the smaller giant closer to inspect- only for his brain to process what he was doing, and freeze.
He'd fussed over the other three planets plenty of times, yes.
But never in this context.
"I-I-" He stammered, grip growing slack and shaky and- sweaty?! Now?! Now wasn't the moment! Oh stars, Saturn would find out he was a loser and-
Just as he was about to pull away and apologize, slender fingers rested above his own, keeping him there. Jupiter held his breath, core beating so hard it was about to escape his chest, happily fluttering when Saturn's thumb gently rubbed over his hand. "What are you apologizing for, Jupi?" Saturn asked sweetly, tilting his head so his cheek rested in his palm. "This is nice."
It was, the gas giant thought faintly, the adrenaline slowly melting away, allowing him to breathe. "I... thought it might be too soon." He hesitantly murmured, exhaling when the smaller giggled.
"We cuddle all the time, silly." Saturn suddenly stopped holding himself up. Jupiter caught him, easily, that delicate, beautiful body slotting against his own perfectly. "And I like touching you!" Saturn added, happily nuzzling into his belly. "So strong."
Jupiter still didn't get the strong part.
Touches and cuddles like this weren't uncommon between the two. Jupiter loved hugs, and Saturn was a social butterfly, and Sun encouraged it all the time- so the cuddles and nuzzles weren't new.
Jupiter froze up as if this were the first time anyway.
Saturn, with a noise of complaint, held up a golden asteroid to his lips while shifting his body so he could lay down, head resting on his stomach and looking up oh so sweetly. Jupiter had no choice but to open his mouth, letting him pop the little treat into it, and humming happily at the taste. Maybe hard to find, but so worth it.
"Do you like them?" Saturn asked, resting his hand back on his chest. Jupiter nodded, leaning his body back, sighing in bliss when his weight shifted more evenly. Saturn moved with him, giving more of his weight, and kindly not saying about his belly that was probably in the way. "Good." He hummed, voice softer now. "I was afraid I'd picked the wrong ones."
Saturn hadn't been taking any for himself... was that Jupiter's cue to feed him some as well? Was that okay? Saturn did for him, so Jupiter could too, right? Right?!
Jupiter hated unspoken rules.
In a moment of bravery, he snatched the asteroid out of Saturn's hands before he could give it to him, and held it out to his mouth- or. Well. Shoved it into his mouth. Ugh. Very delicate, Jupiter.
Saturn, thankfully, didn't choke, only making a surprised noise before trying to chew. Giggling between bites. "Aww." Hummed the pretty one, nuzzling more into his belly. "So sweet."
"You... did start it, Saturn."
"Was that... not okay?" No no it was! It was! Jupiter loved it! It made him feel all warm and nice- oh stars Saturn looked worried now-
"No!" He shouted, shaking his head, only to become horribly aware of his volume and whisper the next words. "I like it."
His voice came out more like a growl. Instantly, he covered his mouth, turning horribly red. Seriously? Since when could his voice do that?! Why?!
And Saturn... blushed furiously himself at the growl, eyes widening with awe and mouth going slack. Oh stars. Did Jupiter scare him? He didn't mean to scare him!! "N-no, Saturn, I didn't mean-"
"That was hot." Blurted out the smaller, making him freeze.
And then his words seemed to catch up to him. And Saturn suddenly looked mortified, just for a second, and covered his face with his hands as the red worsened. "Stars, no, I'm sorry- was that too much? Oh, I've been too much this entire date Jupi!"
...What? "...W-wait, Saturn-" he stuttered out, trying to calm his nerves with a deep breath, cursing his core at the same time for how was it was beating. Was Saturn aware of it? Or was his body so huge, he couldn't even feel his core beat? No, no, now was not the time. "You didn't-"
"I'm sorry." Saturn got off of him, much to his horror, sitting straighter and quickly dusting himself off. His voice scarily solemn as he spoke next. "I know you... you get shy. I came on too strong. I'm sorry-"
"Saturn, wait." The grand planet hardened his voice automatically, the booming, confident voice that belonged to the largest planet of the solar system, effectively shutting up the smaller before he could make a run for it. Saturn could switch between moods easily, Jupiter knew that very well... but he didn't understand what Saturn was talking about. Too much? Saturn?
He took the smaller's hands into his own, giving them a gentle squeeze. Saturn's body relaxed, instantly, the tension draining from his frame allowing him to sag slightly. "What are you apologizing for, Saturn?" Jupiter worriedly asked, growing more concerned when his date wouldn't meet his gaze. Saturn having moodswings wasn't new. But getting upset for no apparent reason was.
"..." Saturn bit his lip, a nervous habit Jupiter always gently scolded him for. He tilted the smaller's head up without thinking, gently pulling his lip out of his mouth with his thumb. "Please?" He asked softly.
Saturn teared up, much to his surprise. Instantly. "Have I not been overwhelming you?" He asked, his voice uncharacteristically small. And catching him by surprise. "And being too much?"
"What- no?" Jupiter instantly denied, squeezing his hands as he observed Saturn's face, trying to get a hint at what the other was feeling. He was usually pretty good at reading how his other half felt. "Why would you think that?"
"You're constantly freezing up or feeling bad or not acting like yourself!" Saturn cried out of nowhere, snatching his hands out of Jupiter's not a moment later to tug at his own hair. "A-and I just keep making it worse!"
"Saturn." His hand was back at Saturn's cheek instantly, ignoring the tears that rolled down his cheeks, snapping his gaze back to himself once more. "You're not making anything worse."
"...Am I not making a horrible impression on you?" Whispered the smaller with a hiccup, gently leaning his cheek into Jupiter's hand.
Saturn? Saturn thought he was making a bad impression? On Jupiter?
...Was he confused?
Jupiter cringed, gaze darting down at his own, ugly body for just a moment, before forcing himself to look into those beautiful, wet eyes once more.
Did Saturn forget he was the prettiest planet ever? "...How could you make a bad impression, Saturn?" He asked softly, stroking his cheek with his thumb. Saturn shuddered, his eyes slipping shut, another round of tears dripping down. "You're so perfect."
"You are so smart." Saturn sighed tiredly, opening his eyes again to look at whatever was behind the biggest. "I couldn't even properly see how much I needed to clear the asteroid belt enough so we would have room..."
"Saturn..."
"You had to part the belt for me because I'm not strong enough to even touch your belt." His cheeks redened, just slightly, while a hand drifted to Jupiter's bicep... and squeezed. Jupiter sucked in a harsh breath, core going wild in his chest. "You are so strong..."
And his grip weakened. "...I'm sorry its not a good date, Jupi."
...Saturn thought he was ruining their date? Saturn? While Jupiter was right there, stumbling along like a baby deer?? "...I thought I was ruining our date." He admitted softly.
His smaller companion stopped crying, instantly, caught off guard. "...Why would you think that?" Saturn asked, very confused, and tilting his head in that adorable, questioning way he always did. "You've been perfect."
Perfect.
"I have not said one good thing ever since we started our date, Saturn." Jupiter groaned, tilting his head back. His mind was spinning. Saturn was worried about JUPITER not liking the date? "I've been constantly scaring myself thinking you wouldn't like me anymore."
"I've liked you from the moment we first met." Saturn blurted out. Then slapped his hand above his mouth with a tiny squeal, even more horrified by his own words.
But Jupiter heard it anyway. "...You did?"
After a moment of hesitation, Saturn made a quiet, embarassed nod, unable to look him in the eyes. "You were always so cute."
This was... not was Jupiter had expected. At all. "I like you a lot too." He mumbled out, because what else could he say? Saturn, how could you think I even stand a chance next to a god like you? That would surely scare him off! And then Saturn would never talk to him again, and-
That. Was exactly what Saturn was worried about as well.
"...I liked the cuddles."
Saturn looked at him for a moment, as if wanting to make sure this wasn't some cheap trick to tide him over... and then smiled, shakily, the last of his tears getting blinked away. "I like cuddles too."
"I like cuddles with you even more." Jupiter opened his arms in invitation, this time ignoring the negative thoughts which had been brewing in his mind as best as he could. Not now. He had to... stop worrying. Just this once.
Saturn was just as worried as he was.
That did ease his brain wonderfully.
The smaller carefully let himself sink back into Jupiter's arms, sighing happily when his head ended up on his shoulder- absolutely melting when those strong arms wrapped around his delicate body, and squeezed. "I like your hugs, Jupi."
"You do?"
"You always squeeze me just right." Saturn giggled, nuzzling into one of his muscles after making sure Jupiter was okay with it.
He was more than okay with it, the biggest thought, holding his breath when Saturn's breath puffed out against his neck. "Breathe, Zeus." Saturn reminded him, his voice a pleasant rumble that absolutely shocked his system- Saturn could sound like that? Since when? Why wasn't he doing it all the time? "Talk nerd to me." Saturn giggled after, gently nudging his head right against his throat.
Jupiter swallowed. "I... what?" he asked, snorting at the end of his question. "Talk nerd to you?"
"You know- your mythology stories you enjoy so much." Saturn took in a deep breath of his robes, his hand sliding right against the frantic beating of his core, spreading warmth wherever he went. "I believe last you were talking about... the god of... uh..." He made a face, that adorable little pout when he couldn't remember. Jupiter chuckled, and got more comfortable.
Saturn didn't move from his spot, sighing pleasantly when Jupiter's fingers tangled into his hair at the base of his scalp. "The god of the Sun, Helios."
"Yes, that one." Saturn didn't care about the stories. Saturn cared about him, for some reason. Jupiter felt himself getting faint again. "Ramble!"
"..." Saturn was willing to listen for him.
Jupiter smiled warmly, the love he currently felt soothing his nerves- and opened his mouth. "Well, a not so well known fact about Helios is-"
"JUPPIIIIITEEEERRRR!!" Was his only warning- before a far-too-fast body suddenly crashed into his back, knocking the non-existing air out of his lungs.
His back could take a lot. He was used to the pulling and tugging of the belt, after all. Still, caught of guard, he wheezed, knocking forward and accidentally disturbing Saturn in his lap.
A series of giggles behind him alerted him to whoever had disturbed their peace. And Jupiter, with a fond sigh, couldn't get mad. "...Hello, Neptune." he greeted. Shaking his head in a lighthearted manner when that itty bitty body climbed his back, settled on his shoulders, and looked upside down at him by hanging his head, lovely curls spilling everywhere.
The toddler smiled brightly, a clue about his clear contentment, along with the wagging of his tail that kept hitting his back. "I got you!!"
"You got me?" Jupiter played along. raising an eyebrow. He'd been about to question the lack of his other half, but then a cyanish blob zooming past his head answered him. And he shut his mouth. Ah.
"Yes!" The toddler let himself fall, easily caught in Saturn's arms- giggling happily when the gassy planet wasted no time pressing kisses all over his face. "Pfft, ma- Saturn!!"
"Aren't you adorable?!" Saturn, with a squeal, blew a raspberry into his neck, earning a happy shriek from the bundle in his arms. "Hello!"
The missing icy appeared in front of them quickly, powerful wings slowing their flapping so he could hover shyly above the trio instead. Jupiter turned his gaze from Neptune from a moment, not willing to leave Uranus out- the poor thing had such a shy nature sometimes. He nodded approvingly at the sight. "Your flying is getting better, Uranus."
He couldn't stay disappointed at the interuption with how the toddler's face lit up instantly.
"Really?" Uranus asked excitedly, feathers fluffing up and- ah. A lot of pin feathers were hiding between the molting ones. Probably the reason for their appearance... okay, Jupiter couldn't be mad about that. "You think so?!"
"I told you Ura!!" Neptune happily cheered, clumsy body falling again- his upper body ending up in Jupiter's lap, and lower in Saturn's. "You are great!"
"You thought you weren't, birdie?" he could be slightly disappointed that their date was cut short though. Jupiter already mourned Saturn's loving gaze, but it wasn't the icies' fault they hadn't been aware. Stars knew Jupiter had been blind of his surroundings when he'd been their age. "Why would you do that?"
Uranus quieted, instantly, nervously fidgeting with his fingers in that nervous stim he never seemed to quite notice- but Jupiter did. Oh dear. It wasn't near as harmful as Neptune when he would hit himself- but far more frequent. Why would he-
...Ah.
"Do you want cuddles, Uranus?" Offering to the light blue icy was far easier than offering them to Saturn. This was familiar. And comforting.
It took the winged one barely a second of him opening his arms before he dove right into them, accidentally pushing Saturn away and smacking Neptune lightly with a wing. His twin giggled underneath him, purring loudly and nuzzling into Jupiter's stomach, while Uranus nudged his head into Jupiter's neck, his own sounds of contentment vibrating pleasantly against his surface. Mindful of the sensitive wings, Jupiter, same as with Saturn, wrapped his arms around Uranus' back, and squeezed.
A series of cracks and pops sounded from his back, making the toddler melt into him with a happy chirp. "Have you not taken care of your wings, Ouranos?" He asked gently, at the same time adjusting so Neptune wasn't crushed underneath him. The smaller, who was already making grabby hands at him, wanting some love too.
"I... uhm..." Much quieter now, Uranus shook his head. His heavy wings drooped into his lap and spilled onto Saturn's, who didn't seem to mind. "...Mama?" he asked, much smaller, instantly causing Saturn's full focus to snap to him. It wasn't often either of the icies used such terms with the giants. But most of the time when they did, it was because they were upset.
"Yes?"
"Help? Please?"
Yep. There goes their date.
But a look between the gas giants showed that neither of them really minded. "Come here, birdie." Saturn scooped him out of Jupiter's arms, crooning when a softer chirp answered him. "Oh, you have such beautiful wings." He crooned, scratching between the feathers, and carefully parting them to check for any pin ones. "Lay down, Uranus."
With the older one out of the way, Jupiter settled Neptune far easier in his lap, growing concerned when the toddler stopped purring at him once comfortable. "Neptune?" He gently asked, reaching behind his ears to scratch, hoping to draw out more of the happy sounds. "You, uhm... good?"
Thank the stars his lack of talent in words wasn't just for Saturn, but for everyone!
But even more thankfully, Neptune was even worse at speaking a proper language than Jupiter was. "Mister Jupiter?" He cooed, looking up at him with innocent, but suddenly tearful eyes. Oh dear. "My tummy hurts." He suddenly whimpered, pressing up against his body. "A-and my tail is owie."
"Oh?" Worried about injury, the biggest took that powerful tail into his lap at no time at all- cringing at how dry the scales felt just from such simple touch alone. Ah. The two were absolutely horrendous at taking care of their animalistic features. "Did you eat, Poseidon?"
"..." A whimpery hiccup was the only response he received, nuzzling more and more into his skin. Jupiter sighed again, pulling that itty bitty body more against himself, and patting his back gently. "Shh," he rumbled, rocking slowly back and forth, pressing a kiss onto his cheek. At the same time glancing to his side.
Uranus was purring happily, the wing Saturn was working on stretched as far as it could go to grant better access. A huge act of trust, considering the first time they'd tried preening Saturn had accidentally ripped out a handful of feathers- but they were better at it now! He watched as the ringed giant pinched carefully, and tugged at a molting feather that had clearly been a big sense of comfort- Uranus melted. "...They couldn't eat the golden asteroids, right?" Jupiter asked, glancing to the pile of forgotten snacks Saturn had gifted him. "What had Sun done again so they could eat?"
"They hurt their teeth." Saturn hummed without looking up, aware of his delicate task. "Crush them and mix them with water asteroids to soften them up. Neptune, sweetie, do you have your bottle?"
"Mhm." Neptune shakily nodded, smearing his tears across Jupiter's robes. The older tried not to cringe at the wet texture. Not their fault, he had to remind himself again, annoyance instantly fading away when that trusting gaze focused on him.
"-And so, the little planet learned-" Jupiter finished the end of the story, his voice barely a whisper as to not rouse the two bundles in his arms. "-That asking friends for help is never a bad thing to do. The end."
And he slowly, carefully, closed the book in his hands and handed it over to Saturn, who was cooing lovingly at the sight. He'd cleaned up the pile of feathers so that they didn't become any trouble later, neatly bundling them up to dispose of later. Uranus' wings, now freshly preened and shiny, were curled around himself and his twin like a blanket, while his hand clutched at Jupiter's robes. Neptune was hugging an empty bottle he'd been drinking out of while listening to the story, having fallen asleep with it in his hands. His tail, which Jupiter had rubbed with a moisterizer to soothe the scales, was loosely curled around Jupiter's leg.
Jupiter, effectively, was stuck.
And Saturn had the audacity to coo at him. "So adorable," he grinned, folding his hands together. Jupiter shook his head.
"Can you free me?" He whispered, shutting up when Neptune murmured in his sleep. "Before they wake up?"
"They won't~" Saturn, despite saying that in a sing-song voice, already was preparing a nest to let the two sleep in, adjusting the blankets they'd brought into a makeshift bed. "You are a very comfortable pillow, Jupi. I should know."
He paused. And then added with a wink. "I want to continue where we left of."
Jupiter cleared his throat, tilting his head to the side so that Saturn didn't have to see the horrible blush.
Moving Uranus was easy. The older icy slept like the dead and could get comfortable anywhere, and so was transfered without any trouble. Neptune, who woke up when a needle dropped, was a different story; but through some combined effort, they managed, and the two toddlers cuddled up into each other automatically in their bed.
...They did enjoy his hugs a lot.
Saturn tucked the ends of a final blanket up to their chins, then pulled away to admire his work. Jupiter did a mental check himself- wings and tails taken care of, fed, kissed and cuddled, read to- yep. The twins were set.
Which meant that...
"I believe you were about to infodump to me." Saturn leaned into Jupiter's side, squeezing his arm again- he really seemed to like that arm- and kissed the top of it. "About Heisoos?"
Jupiter chuckled. "Helios." He corrected playfully, ready to go on a whole rant. "The first ever god of the Su-"
"Did somebody CALL ME?!" The star's booming voice, followed by a burst of light, spooked the duo to their cores, flying into each other with a yelp when those grand eyes looked down at them out of nowhere.
And instantly, both Uranus and Neptune, rudely awokened, started crying.
Sun froze, blankly staring surprised, as Jupiter froze up too, but the wonderful Saturn scrambled over to pull the two toddlers into his arms, and rock them. "Shh, shh," he shushed, pressing kisses onto both their faces- see how wonderful Saturn was?
"Oh." Sun raised an eyebrow, and slightly tilting his head. "I thought the date was just you and Cronus, Zeus?"
Which, yeah... Sun would never scare his icy babies like that on purpose. The star usually panicked far worse at the sight of his planets distressed, which Jupiter was slightly confused about... but something else seemed to be occupying his mind.
Jupiter, with a groan, glared at his star. "You were supposed to watch our moons, Sunny!" He pouted, crossing his arms. "A date is just for me and Saturn!"
"But Jupiter-" Sun softened up, worriedly glancing at his side, movements urgent. "You really should-"
"Nuhuh!"
"Shh." Saturn hissed at both of them, shutting them up effectively. The two sniffly babies were calming down, whimpering and sobbing into Saturn's robes as he rubbed their backs. "Go back to sleep, dearies." He murmured lovingly, lowering them back down. Glaring at the duo at the same time.
And then asked. "Was something the matter, my Star?"
What could there be the matter? Sun obviously didn't understand what a date was, despite how well Jupiter explained it- and that was rude! And-
Sun huffed, similarly to how Jupiter had done earlier...... as a soft smile spread on his face, voice... emotional? As he spoke. "Weeeelll, I thought a certain someone would want to meet his moon if they woke up~" He grinned, clearly attempting to rid of anh tears, as he turned around. "But I suppose they'll first meet me instead!"
Waking up? That didn't make sense. None of the moons had woken up yet, so that wasn't-
Wait a minute what.
"What?!" Both gas giants cried out at the same time, suddenly much more livelier than before. "Now?!"
Just like that? No warning or anything?! They just- wake up?!
"Which of us, Sol?!"
And those gentle eyes fell on him.
Jupiter's breath hitched. Widened eyes suddenly burning as it dawned on him.
One. One of his moons. Now? Really?! Now?! "Jupiter!!" Saturn squealed, quietly as to not wake the toddlers again, while excitedly slapping his shoulder, over and over. "Oh my stars!!"
......Now?
"Really?" Jupiter asked in a small voice, freezing again when Sol extended a hand to take him to his moons. Sun nodded in a gentler manner, tilting his head to the side.
"They'll wake up before you get there if you keep stammering, Zeus." He reminded gently, encouraging the giant to step into his hand.
Ohmystars it was happening.
Which one of them?! Callisto, his first moon ever perhaps?! Or Io, who kept squirming and moving even as he still slept. Or maybe Ganymede or Europa, his biggest or smallest, or-
Oh stars but what about Saturn.
One helpless look was all Saturn needed to prompt Jupiter to go, nodding encouragingly. "Go meet your moons, Jupi." He smiled letting himself sink into the blankets, and waved him off. "I'll be here whenever you are ready to proceed."
He would be. Because Saturn loved Jupiter.
A warm feeling that made his core sour.
"O-okay!" Jupiter happily called, quickly climbing into Sun's hand and waving Saturn off as he was lifted.
He would give Saturn a proper kiss after as a thank you for making him feel so special. Right after he kissed which of his moons woke up a thousand times.