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Neptune didn't feel well, at all. His skin felt like it was melting, he was itching all over. His body felt like it was on fire.
He looked down at his hands, when did he get so pale...?
He took a deep breathe, as deep as he could before a cough forced itself out.
Ever since the Sun changed their orbits, everyone has been feeling off. The rockies were at constant risk of getting destroyed by Jupiters gravity, Saturn was loosing his risk, Jupiter was feeling extremely stressed out, and Uranus was getting sick. But none of them were as bad as Neptune.
He was the farthest planet in the solar system for crying out loud! He shouldn't be this close to the Sun! The side effects were inevitable.
"You good mate? You're looking kinda... Pale?" Uranus spoke up, concern clear as day in his voice. He hated seeing his cousin in pain, yes he could be irritating and extremely childish at times, but at the end of the day they were family. Uranus cares about his family, cares about Neptune.
"I-im alright! I'm perfectly fine!" Neptune sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than he was trying to convince Uranus. He coughed again, his whole body shuddered.
"Neptune, you're not alright at all! Why won't you just admit it!?" Uranus yelled out louder than he intended. But that didn't matter, he was far too worried to care.
"What are you talking about? I am as healthy as a new born star-" he coughed again.
"Mate you're as pale as me! That's not normal!" Uranus was getting frustrated. He wanted nothing more than to slap Neptune for hiding his pain, and slap the Sun for putting them into this situation.
"I'm just trying out something new! Can't a planet change up their appearance once in a while?" He smiled, like nothing was wrong. Like he wasn't dying!
" It's not normal! Are you bloody stupid-" Uranus's outburst was cut short when Neptune doubled over, coughing violently. He clutching his chest as violent coughs wrecked his body.
"Neptune...?" Proteus. No, no, no. He can't let Proteus see him like that. You're fine Neptune, pull yourself together and smile! You can do this...
"I-im alright Proteus! No need to worry!" The exhaustion in his eyes betrayed him. "No you're not! I can tell you're not!" Neptune opened his mouth to respond, but the only thing that came out was more coughing.
He felt another hand pat his back, it helped soothe the coughing but didn't soothe the pain.
Neptune looked up, Triton. Why was he helping? He should be focusing on the smaller moons... Neptune was fine he didn't need anyone to care about him!
"We can't let you get any worse, we have to tell the Sun." Triton spoke, his voice stern and concerned. "No! Y-youll only make things worse!" Neptune pleaded "Neptune, you are sick. We have to-" Before he could say anything Neptune spoke up, in what was the most serious, bone chilling tone anyone has heard him speak in "You will stay here, and under no circumstances will you approach the sun without my permission. Is that clear?" Triton stuttered, it was the first time Neptune was this... Serious. "I-i...-" "IS THAT CLEAR." Neptune's tone left no room for argument. Triton swore that for a split, out of the corners of his eyes he saw Jupiter's face go pale.
Neptune started coughing again, Triton opened his mouth to argue, but immediately shut it once he remembered what Neptune said.
He and Uranus could only sit there and comfort him while he was getting worse by the minute. Neptune looked up, meeting Uranus's gaze "Atleast we look more like cousins now!" He motioned to him now pale blue physique. Uranus sighed and shook his head "You're too pure for your own good mate..." He said and sat down next to Neptune, gently scratching behind his gills...
He had to do something.