Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A scream

A flash of light

That’s the only thing that gives away the creature of the shadows.

All that’s left in its wake are the unconscious, but badly bleeding bodies of two thugs as their previous victim calls for police help, despite the late hour.

Building by building, the dark monster leaps, trying to reach a particular place.

We’re going to be SO LATE!!! Why did I let you do this! This is insane! I’d nev-

‘Shut up’, the monster remarks. ‘We’ll be back in time for your precious bedtime. You’d be better off if you just went to sleep. I don’t need you awake to function.’

Like Hell I’d let you do who knows what with MY body! And it’s not like you don’t need sleep too!

The creature huffs as a familiar house comes into view. Avoiding any prying neighbor’s attention, the dark form manages to leap and crawl into a particular window above all the others. The small attic room with the stupidly multicolored, thick curtains.

Hey! Don’t you start with me! I think the sunset curtains match my room. Besides, Earth gave them-

‘I don’t understand why gift status means an item is any more important.’

As the figure steps in the room, it stands still as the blackness suddenly condenses and reveals the tall figure of a blond, thin man as the rest of the ooze-like matter sinks into his skin.

Bright blue eyes open and scan the room and he looks around.

“You wouldn’t understand because no one actually cares about you.”

…Your parents didn’t care about you either.

For his composure, Sun chose to ignore that statement.

And after all the excitement, it was all about following the motions. He walked by the bathroom, knocking the door as he made his way to the young twins’ room to make sure they were asleep. And sure enough, the two Bloodmoon twins were awake. After the twins grumble and Sun tucks them both into bed, he waits by the bedpost for around ten minutes before closing the door and knocks on Earth’s door. She soon opens it for her daily goodnight hug, to which he follows it with a check on if she took her meds yet. She says she did and they bid each other goodnight once more before Sun made his way back to the bathroom door.

Technically, there were usually 3 bathrooms, but one had a burst pipe and the second had a weird smell coming from inside it that no one could stand. After knocking on the door again and reminding Lunar that there were eight other people living in this house that could be waiting for him to finish up, the annoyed kid let him in as ‘he just finished, no need to rush him’. Sun quickly used his bathroom time to brush his teeth, floss, and wash his face. Once done, he let Solar run in to trade places as he went back to his room to put on his pajamas.

Oddly, even with a creeper watching through his eyes, he wasn’t that put off about the whole changing part.

You humans are just too sensitive.

And finally, he went to check the doors and windows to make sure they were locked before checking in on some of his brothers in their rooms and bid the awake ones a goodnight. Then, it was finally time to just clock out as the eldest brother for the da-

NO! You need to eat! We haven’t had dinner! AND IM STARVING!!!

With a groan, Sun slips back in his slippers before trudging downstairs, only to see Eclipse had the exact same idea.

Despite the pointed look from the copper-haired, grumpier twin, Sun just ignored his escapade and grabbed-

Apple! Apple! And with Peanut Butter!

Sun lamented the idea of making new dishes, so he just grabbed an apple to chew as Moon grew too silent…

Eclipse then got to witness Sun doubling back to grab the jar of peanut butter and just scooping it up with his hand!

Sun seemed to take no heed from Eclipse’s bewildered look as he trudged back up the stairs.

Eclipse took the moment to ponder… Sun had been acting real weird ever since his little scare last week, he thought. Did he actually lose some brain cells during the time of going ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ in the backstreets?

Earth had reminded them all to be kind as he mentally recovered, or rather started acting weirder and even more… standoffish. Maybe the others didn’t see, but he did. And also unlike them, he decided not to care.

So Eclipse scoffed to himself and went back to what he was doing: Cutting the pumpkin pie into fourths and grabbing a slice to pair it with some Squirt to eat in front of Solar.

Chapter Text

Earlier, during that said last week…  

Burning. Acidic scorching as the oxygen became too overwhelming. 

The black symbiote found himself on this planet, quickly having the try and find a host. But two homeless and one trash collector later, the symbiote still was trying to make do with yet another homeless person. 

This one, like the others, was very unwilling to bond. And while they suffered to the point of near death, the symbiote had to suffer separation and the burning of oxygen while also possessing the body enough to find a new host. 

The symbiote refused to give up. This was life or death, but by golly it looked like death was upon him. 

From what basic knowledge the symbiote was able to collect, Earth humans didn’t take too kindly to aliens, let alone being possessed by anyone. But someone should be persuaded soon! The symbiote could hardly take the constant pain anymore! 

As the possessed man found himself crawling some dark alleyway, clinging to life as the non-host looked desperately for something… someone to cling to. Wishing for a host that’d finally bond with it. 

… And sure enough, the creature saw through its host’s eyes. 

A man not looking anywhere but forward, tall in stature but small in attitude. 

A new victim… 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Sun felt his backpack get ever heavier with every step back he took. He had just gotten off of his shift for the daycare and today had been a very taxing day. Almost every kid showed up, many staff called out sick, and he was the only one willing to take on more kids than allowed in order to help the Daycare Admin have the time and strategizing to figure out which kid to put in which classroom. And of course he had to man one of the largest classrooms by himself since his assistant had to be pulled to help a newbie that couldn’t be left on her own with 7 toddlers. Not that he blamed anyone in particular, but he hopes next week will be better. And to top it off, the company gave everyone chocolate cupcakes as a sympathy gift... but Sun wasn't the biggest fan of chocolate, so he had to pass on the free dessert. 

Thankfully, it was Friday, so Sun was very happy to make it back home to watch a show, then shower before helping cook dinner, and eventually join the others in board-game night after resting enough. 

He was walking back when he noticed… a lot that wasn’t there before. 

Specifically, a supervillain’s debris. 

Yes, there are many villains and heroes in the world. But in his small town, there weren’t any reoccurring villains around long enough for the Superhero Division to grant the city’s request to have a superhero assigned to them. So for now, the city just uses the villain insurance to constantly repair the city and supposedly fund the cops and emergency services better. 

But regardless, repairs take time. And with how his usual route home is considered taped-off rough terrain due to the huge holes and knocked-down trees, Sun knew he needed to take a new route home. 

And luckily, he knew a potential way. But… he wasn’t looking forward to passing through the Montgomery Alleyway to do so, a dark alleyway fabled to be occupied by people who could take advantage of you and steal your wallet so sneakily that you wouldn’t know it’s missing until you’ve made it out of there. 

Thankfully, Sun hadn't brought his wallet. So he thought to himself: just walk and don't look. Bump into people if they try, but do not stop. 

With that, he secured his backpack, secured the zippers, and put his hands in his pockets. And taking a breath, he walked in. 

... 

It was dark. Not much to see. 

But that was fine. At least that makes it easier to get home on time and not worry the others! Especially since he... may have left his phone at home. 

It wasn’t his fault! 

It- 

Something suddenly grabbed him.  

Sun reflexively froze and looked, too used to children grabbing him, 

only to see a man hold him tight.  

He tried to kick, to yank, anything! But this withered man wouldn’t let go! 

“ ...Young one... stay here. I need... help.”  

“I-I can’t help you!” Sun blurted out. “Let me go!” 

“ Oh... I will see for myself.”  

Never had Sun thought he would kick a man in the face. Repeatedly. But here he was, running after he did exactly that so he’d let him go! He almost stopped as he heard a chilling scream, most definitely inhuman, but after the man was in sight of pursing him, he scrambled back to running away! 

While Sun did think of running home, there was no way in the world he’d lead this... thing back to his home! So, he made the stupidest decision and ran further down the alleyways. But he did good for a while! He had to admit, with childcare he made a very decent emergency runner. 

But... not a parkour master. He was eventually caught in a dreaded dead end. And to make matters worse, the man just stood there. Standing, but seemingly limping and breathing ridiculously hard. But Sun felt like he knew better than to try and kick him again. But how else could he possibly...? 

The man lunged. Sun narrowly dodged but he fell to the ground and could not scramble fast enough to purchase any pavement before the man grabbed his throat. He tried to do anything to get this man off, but froze as he realized the man’s eyes were inky black. And even worse? They were disappearing to rolled back ones as he suddenly felt something cold where the man was grabbing him. On reflex, he looked down. 

A black substance had just absorbed in his skin ! 

He screamed, clawing at where it went in, but feeling breathless too. The need to breath, eat, sleep, drink, while also not needing to blow a gasket in his head. And he collapsed right there. 

For anyone to find. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

“...Sun? Hey Sun! Don’t you be dead on me! Earth and KC will never let anyone leave again if you’re dead!”  

“WAKE UP!” 

With a gasp and a forced snort, Sun was startled awake. 

“Oh thank God! You’re not dead! I don’t need the extra chores to do if I became the new oldest.” 

Sun had to take a moment to collect himself before groggily looking to none other than his brother, Eclipse. 

“...What? Wha happn’?” 

“I don’t know! I wasn’t with you when you decided to go down Montgomery Alley , like an idiot! Well, I had to come down here to find you, but still! You’ve been missing and I just found you. Now come on.” 

Eclipse got up, dusting his pants before lending Sun a hand. Sun gratefully took it, trying to think back when the memory played back.  

The alleyway... 

The man... 

The chase... 

The goop. 

He quickly looked down to try and find any trace of it... only to find nothing as he lifted his shirt. 

“What? Suddenly expecting a six-pack?” Eclipse snarked. 

“It’s more likely to happen to me than you, toothpick.” 

“Excuse?!” Eclipse suddenly questioned. 

Sun was taken a bit aback. 

“Excuse? Excuse what?” 

“Did... But you... Oh, don’t try to make me think I didn’t just hear you call me a toothpick!” 

Sun just followed as Eclipse snatched his arm to lead him back on the public streets. Not even letting himself think over why he seemed to have been found in another part of the alley, he couldn’t help but wonder what Eclipse meant. 

...DId he call Eclipse a toothpick? 

...Well, it’s not like they weren't all toothpick-skinny. But Sun would have never said something like that out loud! That was mean! Or at least... he didn’t think he would... 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Earth was so ecstatic that Sun was alive that it took him so long before she released him from one of her infamously long hugs. True to Eclipse's prediction, the family had to have a whole dinner discussion about street safety from Earth. Sun had to explain his side of the story though, but Earth was quick to go easy on him before reminding the other siblings, who were bored from the meeting, not to do the same things Sun did. But at least Sun had some break from the Bloodmoon twins, who were just happy to have Sun help them with their food, as they still loved being spoon-fed. 

But soon, Sun was finally released from the dinner table along with everyone else. Lunar was quick to take the bathroom, the Copper Twins went to their room, Earth stayed in the kitchen to help and talk to KC, and the Bloodmoon Twins went to their rooms to ‘get ready for bed’. Normally, Sun would help the youngests with their bedtime routines... but he felt an urge to go into his room for some... time alone. The amount of people overwhelmed him... but why? If anything, he was used to never being fully alone in the house! He was the first adoption, after all. But he decided it was probably because he literally had a bad scare where he may have... 

Suddenly, he found himself going faster up the stairs and going in his room to look in the mirror. He looked for anything wrong: hands, arm, face, hair... 

Wait a second... 

Sun locked his eyes on a particular shine in his hair... a white streak. 

Damn it! He really did almost die! No wonder he felt like all his nerves were shot! He shuttered coldly as he stared up at it. Thankfully, his hair was already a pale yellow, so it was hard to spot. But his family was sure to notice eventually! He could try to hide it with dye, but there's no way he could keep a secret in this house! Not only did he have one dad and six younger siblings, he knew a few that were nosy and the youngest twins that were very attached to him! 

Suddenly, he felt suffocated! Like... he needed to leave! This house, these people...! 

With no hesitation in his body, he climbed his window and climbed aboard the roof. 

He had only escaped the house a few times... and never without at least one person knowing!  This felt so... strange to do as he practiced the motions of jumping on a tree to slide down and land on the ground. Quickly running, he found himself at the gate of the neighborhood faster than he’d thought. 

Fooooood.  

Something growled.  

Probably his stomach?  

Well, it was too bad. He didn’t exactly bring his wallet to buy food. 

Guess I’ll have to do everything then...  

The next thing Sun knew, he collapsed right then and there... 

Only to wake back up outside a bakery. Not even laying down. He was upright and walking, as if he was dreaming. And sure enough, the dreamy smell of chocolate filled the air... 

“Oh, hey Sun! Wanting to try some samples?” 

Sun suddenly realized his nose led him inside, just standing in the middle of the store. He approached the pink-haired woman and sighed. 

“Honestly Chica, I don’t know why I'm here. I’m just... hungry. 

As Chica hummed, Sun found himself pondering what she’d taste like if she were food. Maybe like the pastries she bakes...? 

“Actually, since you’ve been a huge help with promoting my business and you’re a good friend of mine, why don’t you try my newest cake! It’s a Brooklyn Blackout cake! I’m just hoping it isn’t too much, you know?” 

“Wait... how much am I allowed to have?” 

“As soon as it’s out of the oven, you can have the whole thing if you want! I don’t mind you taking it home to let the others try!” 

Sun nodded as he went to sit down. At this time, the bakery would normally be closed to the public, but Sun sometimes liked to talk to Chica. After all, he was the one that helped her gain popularity by partnering her with his daycare! He himself didn’t have much of a sweet tooth, but he was happy to pay to let the parents taste her goods during events. 

Hm... her name sounds like Chicken... what if she tastes like chicken ?  

“What?! NO!!” 

Chica gawked at Sun’s shout, to which he slapped his mouth shut. 

“Uh... I’m sorry, is something happening at home? Like a sudden chocolate allergy? I mean, you mentioned two new brothers, right?” 

It took a bit for Sun to find an excuse and uncover his mouth. 

“Sorry for that. I just... I kinda snuck out here. Not because anyone did anything! Just... wanted some alone time for a while.” 

Chica, in sweet understanding nodded. 

“If you still want to share, I could always send it to your house via delivery as an excuse.” 

Sun couldn’t help but smile. 

“Yeah. I’d like that.” 

Just then, the oven bell rang and Chica was quick to pull the cake out. 

Oh lord, it was an overwhelming delicious scent! Even if Sun didn’t exactly feel hungry due to dinner, this cake... it made him want to devour it whole! Screw flesh, he wanted that cake! 

Wait what? 

Sun quickly shook off the intruding thought as he went back to chatting with Chica until the cake cooled. Once done, she gave him the cake in a delivery box and a free cutter before wishing him a good day. Sun only lasted a quiet walk to the park before indulging in the moist richness that was the cake! It was the best thing ever, his rampage only stopping when he realized that the huge cake was pretty much halfway devoured by him. He felt uneasy at just how eager he was to eat it. 

Hmm... not bad for human food.  

Sun felt himself jump at the sudden voice. 

“Wh-Who’s there?” 

Oh Ssssun. Don’t tell me you only just noticed... 

“Shut up! Who is this?” 

Do you want me to shut up or talk?  

“I MEAN... only talk if it's to tell me where you are!” Sun exasperates as he even looks up. 

Heh. I’m in your head.  

“...What?”  

Suddenly, he felt cold as he got a clammy feeling of wetness. A strange black goop started covering his legs and torse before splitting off to form a body facing him, chest to chest. Sun felt himself tense as the blackness formed white slits for eyes and a huge mouth with huge teeth. 

I am Venom. Like it or not, you are now my new host.  

“New host? No. Wha-How did this happen?” 

I believe you and your... brother called it Montgomery Alley.  

“That was you?! The man’s black goop?!” 

More like what was keeping him alive. And trust me, I can kill you just as easily if you try to fight against the bond.  

“Wh-what bond?” 

As Venom, I need a suitable host to stay in to live. And I have found one in you. Cooperate, and you’ll live.  

“I-Is Venom your name?” 

Please. To you, my species is Venom. We are Venom.  

“Species? Are you-?” 

Aliens? In your primitive understanding, yes.  

“...So you don’t have a name. Wait, why-?” 

Why are you not more scared? That’s because I didn’t want you screaming and crying when we had this talk. Hence why when you mentioned your family never giving you privacy, I made you leave.  

“That was you!?” 

It was.  

“Even the passing out and the cake?” 

The cake was yours. I was going to go back to eat the guy I met in that Montgomery Alley.  

“But... you won’t anymore?” 

Not now. The... chocolate satisfied me.  

Sun made a note to collect more chocolate for Venom. 

Wait... 

“Can I call you something else in case I meet another one of your kind?” 

...I suppose. Not like it matters.  

Sigh took a breath and raised a hand in solemn greeting. 

“Then how about Moon? I don’t have a sibling named that yet.” 

The Venom squinted his eyes before absorbing back in through the handshake. 

Fine. You may call me Moon.  

...  

It got a little awkward after that declaration. But Sun finally started to feel tired, so he found his way back on the route home. Well, not after asking for a half-cake box from Chica to store the half of a cake, to which Chica tried reassuring him that it’s fine to have cravings, which made him more embarrassed.  

But as he made it home, he had to debate how he wanted to deliver the cake. He ultimately decided to place the cake in front of the door to come up with an excuse about Chica texting him about the ‘package’ so he’d publicly collect it. 

So up the tree he- 

Just jump.  

“Just... what?!” 

You can literally use your ability to jump to your room door.  

“You mean my window?” 

It’s a glass door in a way, isn’t it?  

“No! It’s not meant to have people through it!” 

Ah...I...   

...Shut up.  

Sun chuckled to himself as he just climbed the tree to the Venom’s grumbling. But as he climbed through the window, he paused. A smell of chocolate, peanuts, and slight mildew invaded his senses. 

Fooooood  

“No... that’s more like...” 

Sure enough, right there, staring at him 

is Lunar. 

Sun froze, one foot on the ground and one knee on the windowsill as Lunar looked at him, eyes wide. 

“Oooo! Did Brother Sun do something rebellious ?” 

Sun winced as he had to think of any excuse he could use. 

I could eat him. He smells of chocolate.  

“No!” Sun exclaimed, but cringed at how he remembered Lunar was right there . Before the teenager could say anything, Sun stopped him with a hand. 

“Don’t you dare turn this into blackmail. Because if you try, I’ll tell Eclipse you took the last of his Marshmallow Peeps last Christmas.” 

Lunar’s eyes widened at the audacity, but was quick to nod after Sun gave him a pointed look. 

“Good. Now, what did you want?” 

Lunar walked over to the door with a wave. Sun followed and immediately knew what this was when the smell hit him (from this far away???). Sure enough, Lunar brought him to the Bloodmoon twins’ room, where they both had clearly been tickle wrestling when one of them had gone too far, if the tears and big wet stain on the other’s onesie said anything. 

“Come on, Duston. It’s okay. Let’s get you cleaned and changed.” 

As the boy sniffed and took his hand, he asked Lunar to help put Russel to bed as he grabbed a new onesie for the twin in his grasp. 

He could tell the part of him that was disgusted came from Moon, while he himself was grateful that this was the twin that secretly liked baths. 

But since Lunar did nothing for the twins until Sun was there to do the hard part, Sun knew he’d make sure Lunar was the last to have access to the chocolate cake. 

Chapter Text

Great. Eclipse is being dramatically withdrawn again.  

Solar had not seen Eclipse all day and was starting to get fed up with it. He had three whole things to build, as per commissioning, that all needed software to be continued, which was Eclipse’s job! So a little bit before dinner, he gave himself the mission of checking on his twin before Earth made them all sit together for family time. Besides, he really wanted to see what was so important that it was worth hyper-fixating on, because there was no way that this WASN’T a new hyper-fixation.   

Every so often, the crazy twin would find something new to obsess over. Usually drama or some mystery to figure out. And who was the one who had to deal with it? That’s right, the sane twin.  

Down the steps to the basement Solar went, barely hearing the muttering of his twin as the madman stood off to a side, looking at some kind of board. It contained many papers and sticky notes attached to it via tape and pins; all connected with a red piece of string like some sort of conspiracy theory. This was only confirmed as Eclipse stood there with one of his old grey trench coats like one of those old-timey detectives.  

Solar approached and stood behind him for about five seconds before he finally spoke to his dramatic reflection.  

“What are you doing?”  

Eclipse doesn’t so much as flinch, since his twin telepathy seemed to consist of being able to know where Solar was in proximity to himself at any point of time.  

“I see you’re here, brother. Were you followed?”  

“Yeah, by the CIA.”  

After a pause, Solar sighed with exasperation.  

“No I wasn’t followed. Look, what’s this about?” Solar asked as he gestured an open hand to the board and his twin’s goofy outfit.  

“This, dear brother, is all the evidence of a massive investigation! All based on questions that have come to my attention.” Eclipse finally turns to Solar with a flourish of the coat around his shoulders, “ What the hell happened to Sun?”  

With a hit of his fist, Eclipse had the board reveal a sign that fell over the research, labeled ‘What the hell is wrong Sun?’  

“...Really. That’s what this is about?”  

“Yes!” Eclipse squeaked. “ He’s been acting SO weird! ...Weirder than his usual weirdo self.”  

”Like what?” Solar grumbled. “Let’s keep in mind that he was knocked out or passed out in an alleyway last week.”  

“Just Look!” Eclipse exclaimed, bringing out a teacher’s pointer stick and pointing it at an opened jar of peanut butter. Next to it is a science kit with the microscope presented on top of the box. “Exhibit A!”  

“ So that’s where it went .” Solar mumbled, recalling how the darn thing was found missing this morning and Lunar was upset he couldn’t have his signature sandwich for his fieldtrip that day.  

“It looks ordinary, but I found it in Sun’s room. And you know what I found in it?!”  

With a sigh, Solar got closer to examine the taped off ‘evidence’.  

“What did you find in it-Wait... You snuck into Sun’s room!? For ‘evidence’?!”  

“As if you don’t also go into the others’ rooms too! ... Besides, I needed the red string and tape.”  

“Yeah, but I at least leave things how I found them! You aren't so careful.” Solar groans as he drags his hand down his face. “You know how Sun is with his OCD crap.”  

“Oh, that’s Exhibit E!” Eclipse beams as he next uses the pointer to show Solar two pictures, to which Solar steps closer. They look like before, after pictures, with before being Sun’s normally spotless room with a mild amount of controlled chaos that is the children's art wall, and the after photo being literally the same room but with some random piles and misplaced items that wasn’t even close to being as messy as their own room.  

“... He probably has been having a rough time at the Daycare. You know how he sometimes crashes straight to bed on those days. And again, he’s probably still recovering from last week’s incident.”  

“Yeah, yeah. That's the big excuse. But back to Exhibit A! I found saliva in the jar! And it’s not Lunar’s... It’s Sun’s ! Not only that, I personally saw him use HIS HANDS to scoop peanut butter like a Neanderthal! ...Or Lunar.”  

Solar couldn’t help but stare in shock at his twin.  

“...You actually tested his saliva???”  

“...Maybe. Just an hour ago. With the lollipop method.”  

Solar didn’t feel like asking him what the ‘lollipop method’ was.  

“Okay, maybe, and this might sound crazy to you, but maybe you’re looking too deep into this?”  

“...Absolutely not.”  

...  

“Anyway, Exhibit B!”  

Eclipse then proceeded to show Solar a very... familiar shirt. Sun’s yellow work shirt.  

Solar sighed, “How did you get those without anyone noticing?”  

“This week’s my turn to do the laundry. But regardless! Do you see anything off about this shirt?”  

Solar takes a look after rolling his eyes.  

“All I see are wrinkles.”  

“Don’t you recognize this shirt in particular?!”  

Solar shakes his head, to which Eclipse sighs in exasperation.  

“This is Sun’s work outfit. His favorite one. And after certain someone’s accident, it got a hole in it. Or at least, not anymore!” 

Solar just rubbed his eyes, thinking to himself that he needed another coffee.  

“He probably finally fixed it before putting it in the laundry. Like you said, it’s his favorite.”  

“No! The hole is completely gone like it never happened! I can’t even find the smallest stitch! It looks as good as new!”  

“Then he probably got better at hiding his stitches, he’s done it for a long time” Solar tiredly reasoned. “I don’t see how any of this is him acting ‘weirder than his usual weirdo self.’”  

“But, stuff has been happening!” Eclipse said as he unpinned a piece of paper off of the tackboard to hand off to his twin. “Exhibit C!”  

Solar briefly scanned over the paper, noting that it was a worksheet.  

“I told Sun to fill this out.” Eclipse explained. “Just look at how he filled it out-!”  

“How many exhibits do you have?” Solar asked, looking up at Eclipse.  

“...Nine.”  

“Nine? Really?”  

“I’ve been working on this for hours! Don’t you dare judge me!”  

Really? This was the twin that everyone thought was the silent type? The introverted one? The brother that never cared about anything?  

Then again, most people hadn’t been attached from birth to this lunatic.  

With a sigh, he skimmed over the paper again, noticing the faint erased name behind Sun’s.  

“Is this one of Lunar’s old worksheets?”  

“Yes, and I had Sun take it this morning!”  

“Okay, do you realize that he’s not going to answer all of it correctly, right? He doesn’t want Lunar to make him do all his work for him.”  

“Au contraire, he actually was close to a perfect score. That is, if it wasn’t for an extra question I added.”  

Sure enough, an extra question read ‘What do two crows make?’  

Underneath was written ‘eggs’ in Sun’s messy handwriting. It was a little weird, as he didn’t seem to be in a rush this morning.  

“Okay, it is a little odd that he decided to answer all of them correctly. Also, that answer is reasonable, why do you think it’s wrong?”  

“Please! You’ve been in this house as long as I have! He was supposed to answer ‘attempted murder’!”  

“Oh come on. You can’t be resorting to using KC’s stupid jokes about animal group names.”  

But even as Solar said these words, he started to get a lessened confidence in his stance that nothing was going on. It was true that KC had told them that joke so many times that Sun, having lived the longest with their adoptive father, would have known it like second nature. Then again...  

“You know, it’s possible that he probably wasn’t thinking about it. You did give it to him in the morning...”  

“He’s literally a morning person!” Eclipse exasperated. “You know, for a blond he tends to be more keen then this. Hell, I’d accuse you of acting like a blond right now if we weren't gingers!”  

Immediately, Solar didn’t have any doubts anymore as he sighs and rubs his shut eyes.  

“...I admit, you had me in the first half, until you started stereotyping.”  

“I-I’m trying here! Look, how about this? How much do you know about astronomy?” Eclipse mentally reaches as he uses his pointer to reference a picture of the stars and their symbols.  

Solar usually had a high patience for his counterpart, but this felt like a boiling point as he had to keep himself from gawking.  

“Oh, don’t tell me you believe in aliens!” Solar remarks in an annoyed tone. Throwing his hands in the air, he blurts out, “Next you’re going to tell me that you think Sun’s been abducted by aliens and was replaced with a fake!”  

“... That’s... actually not a bad theory.” Eclipse says as he picks up a notebook to write in it. “I was actually going to discuss him being a Cancer, but this is a better plot point.”  

Solar thought he was checked out of listening to Eclipse as soon as space was brought up, but he reached a point where the audacity meter was overflowing and could literally take no more of this.  

“Nope. We’re done here! I’m taking this down.” Solar flatly announced as he snatched Sun’s work shirt back.  

“Hey!” Eclipse snapped. “My evidence!”  

Solar was quick to turn and keep the shirt out of reach as Eclipse made a swipe for it.  

“No! I’m putting this back before Sun starts wondering where it is!”  

Eclipse growled in reaction, but thankfully Solar saw Eclipse use the logic he knows his twin has.  

“...At least put them in the laundry? I didn’t start the machine yet.”  

“That’s what I was about to do. I can still see the dirt on it.”  

Solar then eyes the ridiculous tack board.  

“I’m also taking the red string back to Sun’s-”  

But before he can take more then a stop forward, Eclipse manages to block him off with his body.  

“No! He doesn’t need it!”  

Solar doesn’t even try to get around or through Eclipse, using his signature deadpan.  

“Well, we don’t need it here.” Solar comments as he gestures to the board with his free hand. “This whole thing is just you nit-picking.”  

In a swift moment, Eclipse snatches the hand pulling it back to get Solar just a bit closer... but makes no move for the shirt. With a huff, Eclipse looks up at Solar and he could swear that this was one of Eclipse’s few moments of sincerity.  

“No, it’s not. Look me in the eye and swear you don’t see anything wrong or different with Sun!”  

Solar takes the moment to try and connect with his twin, like those many times they had worked together to reject a world that wanted them to be separated, to truly trust only each other. And he couldn’t deny that Sun’s been different. But more like a slightly abnormal different. Sun hasn’t been replaced. Just yesterday, Sun had taken some time to watch his favorite show, despite how much more tired he looked. It was still Sun... if not acting a bit off.  

“Eclipse, I don’t deny your observations, but you keep forgetting that Sun has had a very stressful week. So yes, he’ll be tired and not think clearly. Yes, he’s focused on maintenance for specific amounts of time. And yes, he’ll be a little more reclusive after, do I even have to repeat, the whole alley incident. The only thing very different that I’ve seen is him eating well for once, which I’d rather not mention too loudly for fear or jinxing it. But other than that, I’ve noticed nothing.”  

Eclipse huffs and drops Solars hand, pacing a few before facing his wall of supposed evidence.  

“...He’s been snarkier with us. More annoyed sometimes. That’s not like him; that’s MY job. And when has he ever stooped to Lunar’s level when eating like a creature??”  

Solar rubs his eyes, feeling exhausted for his twin.  

“Just give it time. Maybe the incident triggered some kind of regret or deep feeling? I’d give it a bit longer before we confront him, since it’s still fresh and all.”  

Just then, a knock is heard from the doorway frame of the basement, with a shadow stretching past sight beyond the stairs.  

“Boys! Dinnertime! And in case you don’t know, we’re having lasagna! And before you ask, it’s made how you like it!”  

More like the only way to placate the whole family.   

Since there has always been family members that fight over whether lasagna needs more cheese or meat, Earth tends to have more meat on one side and more cheese on the other. He and Eclipse obviously demand the rightful claim to their cheesier goodness.  

But as Solar is about to make sure he has his fair claim, he hears Eclipse sigh before he hears shuffling. Turning around, he sees Eclipse taking down the pins and string and putting papers on another part of the table.  

“Tch. So much for passion projects.”  

Solar looked on for a moment. But just a moment, before he turned his face to the basement door.  

“Alright! We’ll be there in a minute!”  

He then walked over to where Eclipse was and started wrapping the red string in a neat loop.  

“It’s fine having passion projects. Just make sure they don’t get out of hand. Remember when Lunar tried to trap lightning in a bottle?”  

Eclipse snickered.  

“Heh. It was so stupid. He likes to pretend he’s a descendent of Zeus. That’s different.”  

“Yeah, and he almost gave himself away to Sun.  

...You don’t have to erase all of your evidence. Just make sure you have a good excuse for it if someone sees it- ”  

“ Hey guys? Have you seen my uniform? I can’t find it! ”  

As if nothing was expensive or fragile, Eclipse smashed down the board at Sun’s words beyond the basement door. Eclipse was SO LUCKY, they were unable to be seen at the basement door’s entrance.  

“THE TWINS ATE IT- I MEAN- WERE PLAYING WITH IT!”  

With a hiss, Eclipse pointed his gaze at the shirt in Solar’s hand.  

“ Quick, chuck the uniform at the twins!”  

Without registering his double’s words, Solar threw the shirt behind the desk.  

“Uh-yeah! Saw them take it out of the laundry!”  

“ Okay-? Wait- Why didn’t you stop them!? Oh, nevermind!”  

Sun’s footsteps fade away and Solar sighs an identical sigh of relief with Eclipse in the silence.  

Eclipse then quickly snatched the uniform and a spare battery before bolting up the stairs. From where Solar saw, Eclipse stood at the doorway for a moment before throwing, assumedly the battery, before brushing past as quietly as he could. He heard Sun and Earth yelp and figured Eclipse was probably going to throw the uniform in the bloodtwin’s room. They are so lucky the twins are mostly non-verbal.  

Looking around, he figures the basement will be cleared by Eclipse in adequate time before he pockets the neatly spun and tied string in his pocket and starts to walk to the stairs.  

“...I need a coffee.”  

Chapter Text

Today’s been a rough day. At least for Sun, that is.  

Moon was withering from boredom most of these days, passively watching as Sun dealt with small humans all day. All Sun wanted to do was their everyday life, which Moon would have not obliged by if he could help it. Though... it was fun to make snide remarks to the other caregivers working at the place. Especially when they weren’t using their brains.  

Their favorite moment today was when Sun’s least favorite co-worker had approached Sun about using his broom for her own room.  

According to Sun, each room of this ‘daycare’ had its own cleaning supplies, from soapy sprays, bleach sprays, brooms, trash bags, paper towels, and even several baby-wipe pouches. Every teacher used their items to clean their rooms throughout the day and then borrowed other cleaning stuff like ‘mops’ and ‘vacuums’ to deep clean the room at the end of the day. Still weird names for the items.  

However, this particular worker NEVER had enough of their own products. She was the usual teacher for the two-year olds, and definitely took care of the children well (according to Sun, as Moon had little concept of great childcare). But she had some... habits that made the job harder for Sun. Such as ‘borrowing’ his broom before naptime, which was Sun’s most convenient time to get sweeping done, and not ‘being able to return it until the very end of the day’ So when naptime was close approaching and the worker, whose name was Kaeley or something like that, asked for the broom, Moon took over and told her ‘no’.  

“Seriously?? You’re not even using it, and I haven't been able to sweep since yesterday!”  

“That sounds like quite a problem for you . If you still don’t have a broom after all this time, then go bother the leader about it.”  

Moon grinned as the worker gave them a pathetic death glare. And despite being seated with a child in their lap, they picked up the kid and made their way to the half-wall separating the pick-up zone and the rest of the room.  

“Now shoo and go take your hour-long bathroom break before the poor teacher subbing for you calls the front to ask where you are.”  

Moon propped their elbow on the gate door, preventing the worker from just coming in the room to get the broom herself. They may have not completely understood everything they accused her of, but they knew that’s what Sun sometimes thought in their head, though never carried though voicing for some reason. But they deemed it worth witnessing her having a small fit before leaving. They let Sun get back in control as they slipped back in their mind. As typical, Sun knew none the wiser and went about his happy way.  

To pass the time, Moon tries to poke into Sun’s memories. As their bond is new and not well established, there was only so much Moon could see. The memories they were able to dig into were mostly whenever Sun thought about it vividly or if there was a light, non-consequential memory attached to his thought process. Such as seeing a history of disliking that co-worker.  

Or perhaps that ‘incident’ a couple of nights ago. When Moon got hungry again and Sun tried to negotiate due to it ‘being late’ when they heard a scream. Two men cornering a woman in a ‘dead end’. Moon, for the first time, felt Sun’s permission to attack the two. That was, until Sun started freaking out as Moon was about to gain his just desserts. He ONLY complied due to the woman laying witness to it, and Sun didn’t want her harmed. Moon saw it as a meal left early while Sun seemed to regret that night, for whatever stupid reason.  

A few hours later, Moon finally finds their interest snatched when a small, toned sound rang from the ceiling, or ‘speakers’ as Sun mentally labeled them.  

A shared look between Sun and his assistant, then the assistant heading to the outside door as Sun corralled the kids near the reading nook.  

What’s the meaning of that noise?  

Sun flinched in a startle before sighing.  

“It’s a soft alarm.” Sun whispered. “It means there's been an attack nearby”  

An attack?  

“Supervillains.” Sun hissed. “No good humans that make it their life’s goal to ruin people’s lives for some sick thrill or purpose.”  

Sun directs the kids in a semi-circle on the Reading Corner’s rug as Moon got to glance at the assistant pulling a metal door over the outside door before moving to close the window blinds.  

Sun pulled out a book labeled, “Top 100 nursery rhymes”. Moon listened as Sun opened the book and uttered the first rhyme after reminding the children to listen up.  

“Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?”  

Moon saw flashes of some kind of queen in Sun’s foremost mind, watering plants with... blood?  

“With silver bells and cockle shells, and pretty maids all in a row.”  

The alien didn’t even have time to digest the new images when one kid blurted out, “Is this about the Bloody Mary ghost?”  

The children whispered and clamored as Moon tried in vain to figure out who this queen was and why her having torture devices was a simplistic poem.  

“Now hold on! Yes, it’s about Queen Mary! But not the ghost!” Sun interjected.  

A girl raised her hand.  

“Did she have a pretty garden?”  

“Yep!” Sun chipped, even as metal clasps and weapons can to mind. “And there were so many helpers to help her grow silver!”  

Then why are you imagining graveyards?  

“Sush” Sun hissed once more before addressing the kids again, something about further lies that had the kids changing topics. Moon barely listened but kept a listening ear for those... other nursery rhymes.  

Peter Pumpkin Eater, the announcement of a man having to control his partner via enslavement.  

Humpty Dumpty, a non-egg that shattered his head in a fall, to the dismay of government witnesses.  

Jack and Jill, two rulers that lost their status and were executed.  

They all looked and sounded much more friendly in the rhymes and illustrated pictures, but Moon couldn’t help but anticipate the next twisted story. However, Jack and Jill turned out to be the last rhyme the students had to repeat and talk about before the assistant announced it was snack time.  

The kids ran off and cheered as Moon huffed out  

“What is it now?” Sun whispered as a put the book away.  

Nothing of your concern, human.  

“It’s Sun.”  

You speak as if I didn’t know what you are called.  

“It’s my name?”  

I used your internet. ‘Sun’ is what you call the closest star. It’s not a human name, unless you are actually named ‘Sunny’.  

“I’m not. It’s just Sun.”  

Your parents were ‘special’ then?  

“My DAD allowed me to choose my name.”  

That mistaken child multiplier let you choose? What a weak willed man.  

“Okay-! You don’t get to talk about him! How-!”  

Careful. The others are watching.  

Sun felt the prickle of stares as he realized he had raised his voice, seemingly to no one. But he didn’t dare turn around. He had to make a plan.  

“Hey… Sun?”  

Frick! He had nothing!  

He turned to see the assistant looking at him with concern. Behind him, the kids watch with interest, some whispering amongst themselves.  

“…Yeah?”  

“Are you… on the phone?”  

Sun quickly showed his empty hands, brushed his hair aside to show clear ears, and patted his pockets.  

Being on his phone would be a big offense while he was on duty. Thankfully, the assistant seemed to believe him, but still looked concerned.  

“Is he talking to Even?”  

Both attendants looked back at Cassidy, who looked at the assistant with a confident gaze.  

Sun had to rattle his head, but quickly figured it out and played along.  

“Oh, this is Evan?” Sun asked as he gestured to an empty beanbag near the small bookshelf.  

The 5-year-old nodded, to the assist- Rosiebell’s shock.   

Sun then proceeded to look back and act shocked to find no-one sitting at the seat.  

“Wait… where’d he go?”  

“Evan says he’s tired of talking to you.” Cassidy said matter of factly.  

Rosie looked between the child and Sun in utter confusion until Sun stood back up.  

“I… am going to go to the restroom.”  

Rosie nodded as Sun quickly left and headed right to where he said he was going to go. Sun closed the door, locked it, and faced the mirror.  

“Okay, first off, when I said you could use the internet instead of asking me a million questions, why would you look up what my name means? Second, why do you keep mentioning my ‘parents’ versus the child collector or whatever you spew up! In fact, how’d you even find out about them anyway?! Last I checked, Google wouldn’t know ‘Sun’s parents’.”  

You act like I’m not able to read your mind.  

“...You say that, but there’s been so many times I have to tell you things! If you can read my mind, how come you don’t just... know!”  

We aren’t fully bonded.  

“This doesn’t count as fully bonded?!”  

No. As you’ve stated, I can’t oversee all of your mind. And you have no access to mine.  

“I’m supposed to be able to see your thoughts?!”  

It would be a pity gift as I take over whenever and however long I please.  

“... So not a slave. Got it.”  

Sun ran a hand down his face in contemplation, but then sharply looked back to his reflection as a thought hit him.  

“...Why haven’t you?”  

What?  

“Does it take time to bond?”  

In some cases.  

“So you can’t then.”  

Or I’m not going to... yet.  

“Oh please!” Sun exasperated. “You aren’t that patient, if at all. Hence every time I have to take the fall for your impulsive whims!”  

Sun heard a grumble and had a bit of a tingle as he could... feel Moon’s frustration? Right? Because it felt like he was mildly frustrated, but also not because he had no reason to be?  

The Bond.  

Sun shuttered at the idea.  

“So... if we bond... are we stuck together? Forever?”  

No. I either find someone better, or you die.  

“Bold of you to assume you won’t die before me.”  

Want to try me?  

“Uhhh...No?”  

That’s what I thought. Now hurry up. Last I checked, you have a job.  

“Fine. But this isn’t over!” Sun sighs.  

He quickly used the restroom before washing his hands and opening the door with a paper towel.   

And who’s Evan?  

“Some ghost Cassie claims she can see sometimes.” Sun sighs. “ I guess I’ll have to explain-”  

As he was about to walk back, he spotted several teachers gathering around the TV in the front office. He figured he needed to get back to work, but part of the TV audio froze him in his tracks.  

“...come to you live from the Summersault Aster Natural History Museum, where not long ago, a supervillain by the name of Goli-Wrath destroyed part of the building and has collected hostages!”  

The SANHM...  

Wasn’t Lunar going to some museum for a field trip today?  

Sun sped to the lobby, shoving others out of the way to see for himself.  

“Most of which seemed to be comprised of students from our local middle school-”  

Please don’t say , please don’t-  

“Tempiris Middle School”  

His heart sank as he felt his hands tremble. His heart beats faster as his brain throws a million thoughts a second.  

It can't be-  

But Lunar’s fast, maybe he-  

But if he is, he’s a smartass! He’ll get himself-  

“Wait... doesn’t your brother go to that school?”  

The question and a soft touch to his shoulders snaps him out of his spiral.  

What was he doing?! He needed to do something !  

But... the daycare’s in soft lockdown. And he isn’t that close.  

But there is an internet cafe that might be closer...  

Sun swings over the counter and frantically dials Eclipse’s number, as he may be the only one willing to pick up unknown numbers ‘for fun’.  

“ Mario’s pizza, where we substitute tomato for bl-”  

“It’s Sun! You need to drive to the history museum! Now!”  

“ Whoa, hold up. Did the tike break something? What’s with the-”  

“There’s a supervillain attack there!”  

There’s a moment of silence before he hears the sound of quick computer keys. Two more seconds and there’s swearing. A laptop slam and a yelp from Solar, then the sound of someone bursting through the doors as Solar demands to know what’s going on. Sun stares at the phone as the line gets hung up. But even with the assurance that someone’s on their way there, he finds himself shaking. Around him are others, trying to whisper condolences and assurances, some even making jokes that Solar will shoot the guy if he so much as touches Lunar, but it does nothing to help.   

In the end, he’s stuck. He won’t know what’ll happen. Even if he was able to be right there, outside the museum, he’d be stuck waiting.  

Waiting for the sorry excuse of a human to have his glories and hopefully not feel like hurting anyone.  

He was in that closet, hearing everything burn from inside.  

But what else could he do... but wait?  

Pushing it all down, he nudges past everyone and heads to his room. He thinks he re-greets his assistant and joins the kids with a smile.  

Maybe a game or two? Duck, Duck, Tick-Tac-Toe? Coloring and Macaroni? A book?  

He does remember to check his phone at some point, something approved by his assistant, to quickly inform the groupchat about what was happening. But Solar beat him to it, causing KC and Earth to clearly freak out and start asking Sun if he wanted to get out of work early.  

His boss already asked him soon after rejoining the class, and he declined. He wasn’t useful out there. Solar and Eclipse were already waiting for the police to bring them back their brother.  

He distantly wondered if any of his co-workers were going to accuse him of not caring, since he was going through the motions and keeping himself in his autopilot ‘calm mode’. Thankfully, no one looked at him in disgust. Just... pity and worry.  

Maybe they all sympathized with the fear of losing a loved one to a selfish monster’s rampage.  

Somehow, going through the motions kept him feeling sane as he hears whispers, over and over, telling him that all he can do good is his job. He’s no use going. Lunar wouldn’t even seek him specifically, as they were never very close.   

He didn’t even consider his coworkers as he cleaned up for the night. But... there was no-one left as he finished. Even though the real sun had set, he still hesitated to open the door to leave the building.  

The fire outside should already be out, but he didn’t want to face whatever was left.  

He ignored his phone and just walked home. After all, there was no use in delaying the inevitable truth of Lunar’s fate-  

HONK  

He whipped back to see a Mercedes in the parking lot. A familiar one.  

The car backed up to align him with one of the car doors.   

But all he could see was his own face, hollow and lost. He didn’t even know how to look away... until the window rolled down.  

The driver didn’t have to say a word, but the look was just as communicative.  

Get inside. You’re going home.  

Sun finally wills his limbs to move as he climbs in. He’s thankful KC’s chauffeur isn’t talkative, as he really didn’t feel like discussing anything.  

Was he ready to see Lunar alive and in the house? Or was he ready to face either Solar or Eclipse, ready to take him to the hospital? Or... the worst result...  

They were there too fast. It wasn’t long before he was pulled out of the car and escorted to the front door. He didn’t knock, but he stood as the door was rapped before the driver left.  

KC answers.  

But Sun shoves past him with a desperation he didn’t know he had.  

Lunar...  

Was standing on the table.  

With only a big Band-Aid on his forehead, he animatedly paced around, boasting with a grin about how he did... something. Not for long though, as Sun yanked him off and held him up by his shirt.  

“How many times do I have to tell you?! The table is not your personal stage!”  

“Wha- but-”  

“No buts Mister! You don’t get to scare me to death and then think it’s okay to disrespect our furniture like that!”  

“Sun...” Earth beckoned as she reached to take Lunar, but he quickly wrapped him in his arms so Earth couldn't take him away. She couldn’t! Not after what surely was a stressful day for everyone!  

He felt himself go rigid as he measured holding him tight enough to prevent escape, but not enough to hurt him.  

No... he’d never. Not his 14 year old brother. Not after hours of not knowing whether he’d live to complain about showers or cleaning his room, or to pose as a challenge in Mario Kart, or to pull pranks on Eclipse that ended up in a fight or a mess for him to clean up, or-!  

“Sun. I’m okay.”  

Sun finally looked from Earth to Lunar’s face. He wasn’t mad. Or upset or scared. He looked up at Sun with a strange smile, one paired with eyebrows twisted in concern and a look that saw what he didn’t dare to voice, even in his mind.  

Lunar could have...  

Died.  

But here he was: alive.  

Tears flowed, even before the captive embraced him back. He found himself sobbing into Lunar’s shoulder as he felt another pair of arms embrace them both, their thick curly hair not helping as Sun suffocated in his own released misery.  

Even as he felt Earth lower, he sunk down to hold his little brother, just for a bit longer. Just a little bit more... even if he didn’t feel satisfaction.  

Lunar would have been fine whether he left work or needed KC to pick him up from having a meltdown.  

So what did he do to earn his brother back?  

Nothing.  

And yet, he let himself feel relief.  

With a sigh and a small kiss on the forehead, he let Lunar go, even laughing a bit at how Lunar wiped it off with a disgusted act.  

Lunar knows he’s loved, and that’s all that matters... other than being alive. That’s very important too.  

With the release of adrenaline, everything fogs out a bit. He vaguely remembers Solar picking up Earth to take her to her wheelchair and KC offering to make Lunar’s favorite dinner, steak covered in chocolate with a side of fries, to which Sun immediately offers to help.  

KC seems hesitant but lets him prepare boiling the potatoes as Solar explains what happened. It turns out the supervillain, no, supervillainS were not arrested. But the big one mentioned in the news ran off looking burnt and the visibly smaller figure was found dead to mysterious causes in the Industrial Revolution exhibit.  

Due to the state of the two villains, people were speculating that there was a superhero that fought them both off, which was why most of the people in the museum weren’t severely hurt, including Lunar.  

Strangely though, Lunar didn’t talk about what happened to him much. Even as the family sat together for dinner. According to him, he was pretty separated from the group when the attack happened, and he quickly found a janitor’s closet to hide in during the whole time until the police was heard calling for anyone lost.  

Sun didn’t bother thinking too much about it. After all, he knows first-hand what it’s like to hide in a closet while everything burns outside. So after helping feed Bloodmoon and stomaching only a few fries, he excused himself to the bathroom and went to be by himself.  

Into the bathroom with the broken pipe he goes, stumbling as he lays himself down in the bathtub to get his thoughts in order.  

How was it that he felt so much better and worse at the same time?  

Why would he freak out so much and work himself up if everything was fine???  

If he had checked the group messages, he’s sure Earth or Solar would have let him know ASAP.  

He really let himself fret over...  

Not nothing.  

But in the end, Lunar was safe.  

Lunar wasn’t dead.  

That’s all that truly matters, that he’s safe with only a scratch that he’ll probably use as a ‘battle scar’ for future arguments.  

He laughed to himself a bit and sighed.  

After all, Lunar was fine. He just wished he did more than just continuing his job. He should have done... more.  

Like hurting the villains right back?  

Sun practically jumped up in shock until he remembered that his mind-mate was still there. With a groan, he leaned back in the tub.  

“Please. Did you not hear the part about guy being a SUPERvillain and how it probably took a SUPERhero to take him down?”  

Did you forget that I’m a mass of pure power?  

“...What”  

Let me remind you.  

Sun felt a cold shiver as the black goo overtook his body. But the next thing he felt... was huge. Like before, he felt cocooned by blankets, but also as if he was a bare as a baby. Sight was restored as he saw himself... from Moon’s eyes.  

The black figure was a little thicker than he was, but the height made him look even skinner, like Slenderman. The black goo made up most of their body, with white trimmings of color sporadically lined across their body. Thay had long thin arms, long claws, and an ever-grinning set of sharp teeth, The long appendage on their head swayed like a tail, close to the shape of a nightcap. Their eyes shone with red as they narrowed their eyes in smugness.  

“I am bigger than any human is. And certainly stronger. The only thing holding me back?”  

Moon formed back into Sun, widened eyed as he looked in the mirror, eyes with a pupilless stare he felt alien to. Then his lips moved.  

“You. I can transform if I so please, but it would be easier with your... acceptance. Relinquish control to me, and I’ll kill anyone that so much as looks at your family wrong.”  

No... I... I’m not a killer.  

“No. You’ll just pretend nothing’s wrong until the world drowns over.”  

He felt the comment sting, but it made him think... most bad people get away with what they do because no one stops them.  

Those supervillains... they may not be the biggest threat in his life.  

But just one act of ignorance after another, and innocent people get mugged, robbed, killed...  

And if he was now part monster... he’d live to be evildoers’ worst nightmares.  

It’s not like he hasn’t done so before. Why stop now?  

Fine. But I have rules.  

He sees himself with a smug look, cocking an eyebrow up with a smirk.  

“Oh really? You want to limit who you save?”  

No. Rule one, no one gets eaten.  

“Really? You’ll deny me of my natural sustenance?”  

You’ve been able to eat my food fine.  

“Like the pitiful scoop you called dinner?”  

I meant the four servings of lasagna I TOLD you I didn’t need!  

“Our stomach says otherwise. We’re eating to satisfy our combined hunger.”  

So my food is fulfilling then. You admit you don't need flesh!  

Eyes narrow back at him.  

“It is the best source of food if you don’t want to eat more of your human foods.”  

Well, I guess we’re eating more food then! Rule 2, you are NOT to kill anyone if you can help it!  

“I’m surprised it wasn’t your first condition.”  

There’s that grin again.  

Well... even I know that sometimes... but I mean it! We ‘humans’ have this thing called ‘police’.  

“Yes, your enforcers. I’m aware.”  

We let them get punished by the law. Rule 3, we only hurt others if another’s wellbeing is at stake.  

“And I’m supposed to know by...?”  

I’d think a ‘superior’ being like you can figure it out. But I’ll always be around to judge for you, not like I have a choice anyway.  

“No, you don’t.”  

And... expect more rules! I can’t think of any now, but if I tell you something, I need you to listen to me! I’ll explain when I am able!  

“And if I don’t?”  

You said you need my permission-  

“No, I said your acceptance makes it easier.”  

Regardless, this body was mine first! This is MY life! And I’ll be damned if you do ANYTHING that harms my family!  

There was a thick layer of tension as the two went silent. Then the remaining control was released to Sun after one roll of his eyes.  

I’ll... consider your terms. But go eat. We’re not going to stay hungry during any more of your incessant worrying.  

“I’m not hungry. And don’t you dare-!”  

“Sun?! What the hell are you doing with MY NUTELLA!?!?”  

He feels a growl die in his throat as he realizes the situation that he’s blinked into.  

Lunar, shrieking out as Nutella is dumped on some cold, leftover fried chicken.  

That fice !  

He tried to smile like it was a joke, but it was clear that it only made Lunar’s face shift from indignation to disgust.  

“Who are you and what did you do with my brother?” He whispered, stepping back.  

A quick glance proved that KC and the baby twins were witness to their behavior. Just great!  

Moon... tell me quickly what happened???  

Siblings split up our meal. Got fridge food like they recommended.  

Sun cleared his throat and looked back at Lunar.  

“I... wanted to see if chicken with chocolate was as weird as chocolate with steak.”  

The deadpan he got was enough for Sun to want the ground to swallow him up. But there’s no backing out of it now.  

He sighed and bit the chicken, only to spit it out at how cold it was, the breading getting soggier with the sauce. Quickly wiping his face, he dumped the chicken in the trash, dumped the plate in the trash, and rushed up the stairs.  

NOOO! Our dinner-!  

“We could have had dinner if you didn’t make an abomination of food like Eclipse makes!”, Sun hisses.  

Don’t test me...  

“I’ll get you some damn food! But we need to wait till everyone’s asleep!”  

Sun quickly enters and closes his door.  

“Look, I got those chocolate bars for a reason! Please, just tide with those until I get you some food! I don’t need my family thinking I'm a psycho!”  

Give me it now.  

Sun side-eyes his closet before opening it and finding the coat he was looking for, fishing out the bars from the pockets and tearing them open.  

He grumbles as he quickly eats up, already planning on how to sneak enough food to satisfy Moon for these next few hours. After all, he still had to wash the dishes, check the locks, checking in on Earth (as she clearly was feeling weak if she needed her wheelchair this afternoon, and helping KC with the Bloodmoons before bedtime.  

It’s a hectic life, but one he wouldn’t trade for anything.  

He’d never let anyone hurt his family again.  

Ever.  

Ever.  

Ever.