[Taken from the fanfic I'm currently writing]

• Characters are from the game "I Was a Teenage Exocolonist"; Tangent and Solana (Also referred as "you", because Sol is the character you play as)

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(Age 17, end of late Pollen)

Maybe you shouldn't think this way, but it makes you laugh every time you do — so naturally, you just can't stop comparing.

Because Instance is not fond of you. Never has been. In this life, in other lives, it's always the same. For some reason, she just doesn't like you. And you've never been able to figure out why. Sometimes people just don't like other people, you suppose.

So, by any means, you're trying your very best to not cross Instance. To just keep peace.

And by defalt, you try to avoid conflict with her more than with every other adult. You don't want to argue. Not that you're afraid to argue, with all the knowledge from previous years you would probably win — it's just that you don’t want to drag Tangent into the middle of it. That would only make things worse.

You can handle teachers. You patch things up with your parents after a day or two every time. But Instance? If you get on her bad side, things escalate quickly. Tangent would either try to calm her down or leave you two to resolve it on your own. And either way, it won't end well.

And as expected, Instance doesn't warm up to you. At least, not at first. Then you get closer with Tangent; and she stops Instant from snapping any time she is _particularly_ not fond of you. You and Tangent spend hours repairing robots and running experiments, talking quietly during breaks. More and more, you can feel the shift. Slowly, Instance watches as the two of you grow closer.

You've seen her watching the way Tangent smiles when she's with you, laughing quietly as she leans in or takes your hand. And unexpectedly, you've caught a moment of something fleeting in Instance’s eyes — a flicker of sorrow, of loss.

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You joke in your head from time to time about "finally getting mom's approval". You can't decide if Instance would be wonderful or terrible mother-in-law. It doesn’t matter, though, does it? Mostly meaningless question. It's not that you would ever find out. The thought hurts a little, but you can cope. After all, it's just a passing idea — one that quickly fades, even if it never quite disappears.

Then one day, something happens.

One day, you saw something you didn't understand.

You meet her in the corridor outside her research room, waiting several hours after your own shift ended.

Tangent smiles, and steps toward you as if on autopilot, but then, she stops. Her smile falters, and she pulls herself back, standing beside Instance. Her movement is hesitant, a quite noticible shift in her usual confident composure.

Instance looks down at her for a long moment, her expression unreadable. It's not a look of disapproval, or of judgment anymore. A hard, unyielding exterior, but with something unexpected beneath — something softer, and understanding. Then she looks at you. Then back at Tangent. Tangent meets her gaze, and you see the _subtle_ shift in her expression, the one not everyone can notice. Her shoulders tense as if bracing for upbrewing storm. She looks between the two of you, unsure of what to expect.

And then, as if something has shifted — maybe nothing at all, maybe everything — Instance gives a small nod. It's not much, but it's a moment of recognition, something celebretory, something rare. Tangent stares at her for a moment, searching for something more.

But Instance doesn't say another word, the only reaction was that one, singular nod, and you can see Tangent's shook. Almost as she can't believe what she's seeing. She looks at you, then back at Instance, who straightens up, holding her palms together in a gesture that's almost respectful, almost… Accepting. Tangent fights back a smile as, without a word, she steps toward you — and you see her composure crack.

And then she runs.

It's unexpected. The controlled, always-above-it-all woman you know turns into a whirlwind of energy, a lightness you're never seen before. She quickly reaches you, holding onto your arm almost desperately, and quickly runs from the room onto the open, her steps echo loudly in the empty corridor. It's so much enthusiasm; the kind you didn't expect. It's like she's forgotten herself — forgotten the weight of the world on her shoulders, or more precisely, forgotten the limitations she was putting on for years.

Outside the building, the night air feels different. Like the whole world is lighter. And you've never seen her so careless and sunny before. So unburdened. You can't tell what's going on as she firmly holds both your hands, making circles and tugging you along.

_Well that is TREMENDOUSLY out of character. What is going on?_

Everyone can see you. Everyone can see _her_, prancing around out in the open, acting like a child who's dream just come true. And she doesn't care.

As you laugh and hold her hands tight in return, you don't care either.

And then — without even a hint of a warning she pulls you into her chest, her arm looping around your back, the pressure of her grip firm but tender — in one seamless motion, she lifts you off the ground. You gasp as she twirls, her body guiding you with an effortless fluidity that feels almost like you're dancing, but it's far more unrestrained.

The twirl hug — just like you saw in movies. And read in books. Something you never expected to happen; not with _who_ you choose to give your heart for forever.

It's hard to realize in the moment, that all of this feels unfamiliar. _Way too unfamiliar _to be the path you took countless times before.

The suddenness of losing your footing takes you by surprise, but she's holding you tightly, spinning in circles so fluidly, her laugh ringing out like rainstorm.

There's a fleeting thought that she might drop you — it's not that you don't have trust in her, but when you think _"sport"_ Tangent is probably the last person to come to you mind. But you found yourself thinking that even _if_ she's being a little too confident in herself doing something so random, that's absolutely worth it.

All because her laughter is infectious, a bright and unrestrained sound that echoes through the mostly empty, starless evening streets. So light, so full of wonder, that it fells in your heart like it might just tear open the clody sky itself. It's a sound you never expected to hear from her in this way — free, unburdened, and _alive._

When she finally sets you down, your heart is still racing, and world is still spinning around — so much that you wonder if it's only _this_ world being moved. It feels like you're still caught in that moment, a part of the world that doesn't exist anywhere else.

Solana is left blinking in the sudden stillness, absolutely disoriented, the dizziness that lingers in your mind. Her hands remain on your shoulders, steadying you when Solana nearly falls over, but the joy in her eyes… It's something you didn't realize you'd been missing. Something you'd almost forgotten. It's raw, genuine — like she's finally let go of a weight she's been carrying for years.

She pulls you in once again, closer, holding you against her chest and still _laughing. _Your_ _breath coming in short gasps of laughter as well, heart racing — not from fear or the blurriness of the world anymore, but from the sheer intensity of what just happened.

She doesn't let Solana go immediately. Instead, she holds you for a moment longer than necessary, as if savoring the closeness, the rare vulnerability of the moment. She's practically glowing, and for a moment, you just stand there, lost in the enormity of it all.

– That was... – You struggle to find the words, your mind still reeling from the surprise of it all. – I didn’t expect that.

Tangent pulls back just enough to look you in the eye, and her smile is soft, almost shy now. Appologetic. Something she rarely shows you — something vulnerable, but real. The same look she gave you after crying in your sight for the first time.

– To be completely honest, I didn’t either. Sorry for…Well…

Tangent tries to say something else, but then something makes her lose her composure once again. She giggles, the same pure sound that brings warmth flooding into your heart. Her head drops back on your shoulder as she laughs.

– I… – She tries again, her breath catching in her throat. – I've never done that before. I don't know what came over me.

You smile, still a little dizzy from the emotions that have just washed over you. Solana just holds her in return, lifting herself onto tip-toes to settle more comfortably in the accepting hug

– I guess, it's an honor I got to be the first, – You whisper, trying to distinguish words through your own laughter.

You never expected this type of affection — never thought you'd be here, holding each other like this. Not after so many years, so many universes where things never aligned.

– Thank you, Sol, – She says, her voice soft, almost reverent. Her words are a quiet confession, one that wraps itself around your heart like a permission to stay together. She finally calms down, her shoulder slumbering. – For being here. For staying. For... Just… Everything.

You hide your face in the crock of her neck — more importantly, hiding an lovelorn smile that can't seem to leave your lips — even after so many years of heartbreaks.

– _I'm not going anywhere._

And for the first time, it feels true. Not just a promise or a hopeful sentiment. But a truth that's settled deep within your bones.

The wind picks up again, tugging at the loose strands of hair around your face, but it's no longer cold. With her here, holding your hand, everything feels warm. It doesn't feel like the world is closing in on you anymore. It feels like it's opening.

Solana doesn't need her to confess anything more. You don't need her to change. In this moment, you're both exactly where you need to be. And for the first time in forever, you feel like you're both finally moving in the same direction, even if that direction is still uncertain.

Tangent initiates another physical touch — something that takes you completely by surprise. Without you asking, or prompting it — she leans in, her forehead resting against yours, and in that instant, everything else fades. Without any intend behind it. And it's unexpected — because it isn't the touch with a hint of something more, and it isn't needed. It's the touch of someone who simply wants to be close. Something tender and innocently sweet.

Tangent tilts her head against your neck for a moment, and you can feel her breath against your skin — steady, calm, _real._

– You know what? I might as well just say it. I feel like I need you to know. You make it so easy, – She relaxes into the touch, her shoulders softening. – To just be myself.

She doesn't need to say any more. Just this — the fact that she's letting you see her, is telling. And as the stars above start to shimmer more brightly, as if the universe itself is celebrating with you, you smile, letting your heart settle for the first time in centuries.

And now, without any "maybe", you know everything changed. The map with written paths was now suddenly covered in splotches of paint, and new universe began to form from scratch.

For once, there's no rush, no urgency to change.

And probably, that wasn't even your doing.

_It_ was the moment you finally realized.

After millions of years, thousands of attempts and countless failed universes, something has finally shifted in a new, undiscovered direction.

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