“So…that’s the gist of it,” I mutter under my breath, with both my fists pressed to my knees as I sit across from him. “And…that’s also why I can’t control it.”

Nero’s skin is flushed a similar tone to the one that he was in my dream. “I’m so sorry.” His head hangs low. “If I would’ve known, I would have never—”

“It’s fine,” I say. “Just…can we forget this ever happened?”

“O-okay. S-sure.”

“Also…” I clear my throat. How can I say this without making things more awkward than they already are? I groan. I bury my face into my hands and shift on my spot. “Nero, please, do us a favor and use that fog that’s always floating around you to cover up.”

His head snaps down at his nether regions. He jolts. “Oh! I have one too!”

“Yes, yes! You do, congratulations!” I blurt as I shut my eyes and hold out my palms before him. “But I don’t need to see it! So do something about it, please.”

In a matter of seconds, Nero has conveniently arranged the fog around him in a manner that makes him much more decent than not.

The tension that once was leaves my shoulders. I huff. “Good… Thank you.”

Nero’s fists hit the metal beneath him. His punch makes the whole pod rumble. “Forgive me, Aster. I have brought you nothing but trouble so far.”

“It’s fine,” I tell him, still unable to face his gaze. “You didn’t know any better.”

He holds his knees close to his chest. “Yeah,” he mumbles in a voice so small that I’m surprised I even hear it.

Seeing him in such a vulnerable state awakens an urge within me to embrace him once more—one I don’t follow, of course; it would only make things more confusing for the both of us as things stand now.

…Yet, I can’t help but wonder why seeing him in such a vulnerable state does things it shouldn’t to my gut and…other regions I need to stop thinking about.

I shake away the thought of him and I together.

I blame it on being young.

I blame it on the lack of courting I’ve partaken in since the death of my people.

I couldn’t truly want this.

It’s the mood, nothing more.

“Say, Nero…”

He straightens up. “Yes?”

“I…” I gulp. “I didn’t try anything funny in my sleep, did I?”

He pauses. It’s a long, elongated pause that makes me dread his answer. “Why do you ask?” Nero finally says with a raised brow.

I cross my arms. “Because you woke me up, of course.” I don’t know why I’m so snappy. I really shouldn’t be.

Swiftly, he averts my gaze. “You were…trying to make love to my leg, Aster.”

“Oh…”

“I thought something was wrong.”

Something is definitely wrong, yes: with me.

“Nero,” I force myself to smile and point to the outside world. “Why don’t you…take a look at the beautiful planet outside our window and tell me all about it?”

Nero turns to face the window. His eyes widen.

I tilt my head, perplexed by his reaction. As my attention shifts in the same direction, my jaw drops. “Vlexidia,” I whisper, stunned to find my planet of ice still standing, as beautiful as the day I escaped from it, and watched it getting smaller and smaller from the window of my family’s ship until I could see it no more.

I press my hand to the window. Nero smiles. He mirrors my actions and spares me a glance filled with warmth. “I cannot wait to visit it,” he tells me, while the fear that grows in my stomach makes me want to throw up.

I don’t want to go back.

I don’t want to see the ruins.