The storm starts to pass. The pod’s light slowly returns.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” Nero mumbles after a moment, with his body still distraught and pressed to mine. “I don’t trust myself enough when I am like this to be alone with another.”

“Why?” I ask him.

Nero sighs. “Emotions are…very overwhelming.” He pulls away and cocks his head to the side. “Where do you put them? How do you do it?”

The fact that he describes feelings like things that could possibly be stored in boxes makes me unable to hold back a chuckle. “You won’t hurt me, Nero. Calm down.”

“And you aren’t afraid?”

His question causes me to pause. Amidst the silence, Nero glances up to me with round eyes. “No.” I finally say with a scoff. “Look at you. Who would ever fear—”

He stares down at his knees again. “You didn’t seem too fond of me before we got stuck in here…”

“That—” My voice is caught in my throat. “That was…” My head hangs low. “Due to falsely based, ridiculous prejudices I had. However, now that I know you not a bad person, everything is all right, you don’t need to worry about me thinking ill of you.”

Nero purses his lips together. “And what about this?” he asks me as he raises his arm into the air. “My appearance is…so different from yours. This does not disturb you?”

I shake my head. A smile takes my lips. “Not really,” I tell him with a shrug. “I don’t mind it.” I wrap my fingers around his wrist and pull it towards us. “In fact, I honestly think it is quite beautiful, how you are.” The stars in his eyes shine brighter, and I can’t tell if it’s just my impression, or if there are actual changes in the live patterns that create ethereal shows of light across and beneath his skin.

Neither of us speak another word.

I rest my arms around his waist.

After a while, Nero finally stops shaking.

As I shut my eyes, he slides his palm over my knuckles. “Thank you, Aster. Your words are…very nice.”