“Koruan?” Fenris stared as crystalline tears tracked down the other boy’s face. “Are you alright?” he tried to keep his voice soft, void of the panic that was swelling within him. “What’s wrong?”

Koruan absently drug a hand across his face, never tearing his eyes from the sky. He spoke as if half-asleep already, a trance-like lull. “I’ve never seen the night sky before.”

Fenris watched, in slight concern, as Koruan sat down roughly and laid on the ground. The boy seemed to not even blink.

He sighed contently. “It’s beautiful.”

Fenris eased himself down next to him and laid back. He’s seen the sky a million times before. It was always beautiful.

Tonight though, the galaxy seemed to have come out just for Koruan. The stars and planets, distant galaxies and the arms of this one all dancing together to create something stunning.

The rich black of the sky settled over them, a cover on their own terrarium, just the the two of them. Pin-pricks inlaid with crystals, celestial light behind each one, were the stars, shinning brilliantly in contrast.

The Tear was stark in the sky, glittering a milky white. A porcelain rip in the world gilded with stars.

The moons were grey against the night sky, almost translucent shining bright white in only a sliver of each. The stars emanating from the Tear and the Tear itself provided more than enough light to see by.

It all seemed to be centered on Koruan. As if he was the one who called the ensemble out to play tonight, out of its months of hiding and haze. The sky was crisp and across every fixture in the great dome above them seemed to be written across and placed as it was for him.

Fenris tore his gaze away, and faced Koruan. Suddenly, he felt he understood the Heavens decision. He was bathed in star light. The boy who looked so gaunt and tired and scared. He seemed so much more alive under the stars. They danced across his skin and hair, lighting a fire within his eyes. The splotches of discoloration seemed to take on the same porcelain glow. He was ethereal and beautiful.

That thought broke Fenris from staring. Firmly averting his gaze to the sky, he tried to focus on it again. He was failing. He felt his cheeks burning with a blush and was glad, not for the first time, his dark skin often hid blushes rather well. He scrubbed his face with his hands as if that would rid him of the blush. At the very least it would prevent him from sneaking anymore glances.

This wouldn’t go well if Koruan caught him staring. It felt a shame not to look though.

- WG (inspired by That Pretty Prison)