Stolen Stars (LaES Lumini AU)

Yelling, Yelling, Yelling

Lunar's POV the entire story! This takes place after both the other books, and probably around the time Nexus was going off the deep end. Solar didn't die yet in this AU, so that's not canon here. 

"No means no, and that's final."

I glare at Moon and his dumb words. I could hear Sun stacking barrels behind me, trying to ignore the arguing. "And why not?"

Moon doesn't look up from the computer he's typing on. "I don't want you seeing Eclipse and tackling him again."

"It wasn't that bad! Besides-"

"Lunar, you broke his jaw. That's pretty bad."

I take a deep breath. "Besides, that was one time! I got all that out, no biggie."

Moon sighs and looks over at me. "I don't care, Lunar. For this week, you're not going anywhere else in the pizzaplex without anyone with you, and we're all busy right now."

"Lunar?" I hear Sun call behind me. His voice was friendlier than Moon's, which made me angrier. "We still need your help here, anyway. We can play a game later, or watch a trashy show, or-"

"No!" Sun nearly drops the barrel at my yell, but I don't care. I turn to Moon. "I'm at least gonna walk around right now!"

Moon's eye twitches. He opens his mouth to argue back, but Sun places a barrel on the desk. "Moon," is all he says. Moon himself just groans.

I take the chance to shove past Sun and exit the daycare. I hear them start to talk behind me.

"Sun, he's dangerous while he's angry. He gets that from me."

"You forget I know you, Moon. More than you think. And we both know him. He just needs..."

I stopped listening. I didn't need them talking about what they thought I needed. Neither of them knew me as much as they thought they did.

~~~~~

The atrium was quiet, which is weird for such a big place. The only sounds were footsteps and LEDs humming everywhere you looked. I stepped onto stage and looked out onto the floor as if an audience was there.

"What is with them?" I found myself complaining. ""Lunar, you're dangerous!" "Lunar, calm down!" "Lunar, Lunar, Lunar!"" I stomp on one of the Glamrock's podiums, breaking the glass. "I'm not gonna go tackling Eclipse! That happened only twice, I-"

I freeze.

I had stopped walking, but I still heard footsteps.

I look around. Lighter footsteps than the Glamrocks, not light enough to be family. Quick, confused steps, like someone who's lost.

"Hello?" Calls the guest. Hard to tell if the voice is female or male. "Is anyone there? I can't get out."

Oh. Just a guest from business hours. I sigh and grab my keys. "I'll meet you on the second level!"

"O-okay!"

I walk up the escalators, which were shut off by now, and turn to look for-

Oh god.

A tall... someone was rushing toward me. They were clearly trying to hurry so I didn't have to wait, yet slow enough I wouldn't think they wanted to attack me. They were wearing a dark blue hoodie and light gray sweatpants. They looked too androgynous to use anything than 'they'. They seemed to have gray hair, but it was obviously dyed since they seemed my age, maybe a little older. They were... a little cute.

They reach me and smile awkwardly. At least, it seemed like an attempt at a smile. "I'm very sorry, uh..." They seem to be trying to tell my age.

"I'm 20." I say bluntly. I was still sour about my conversation with Moon. "It's fine. I'll just get you out of here." I turn and walk to the elevators. The stranger follows close behind me.

They clear their throat as I press the call button. "I assume you work here, with that uniform?"

I yank my hat off, suddenly self-conscious about my PJ-like uniform. "Yeah. At the daycare."

They nod. The elevator opens, and we step through.

"Will I be able to get out?" they ask slowly. "I heard the doors lock automatically with a gate after a certain point."

"That's at midnight. It's..." I pat my pants to find my phone, then realize I don't have it. It's probably on the desk at the daycare. "... not midnight yet. You're fine."

They sigh in relief. It was so hard to tell their personality. Were they stern or cheery? I couldn't tell. Though, they're probably a bit scared after being locked in here for hours, so they're probably different than this normally. 

Actually, now that I'm looking at them, I could swear I've seen them before. "Hey," I ask, "do you take anyone to the daycare?"

"I do, actually. My younger sister, Nebs - Nebula."

"Oh, you're with Nebula!" I remembered them now. They never spoke , so I never payed them much mind. "She's quiet."

They nod again as the doors open. I gesture for them to go first, then follow.

"What pronouns do you go by?" I blurt out. "I can't tell."

They pause, deep in thought. Maybe they fluctuate like Monty, or just haven't figured it out yet. Finally, they say, "They." A little reluctantly.

"That's fine."

We reach the front doors. A guard had locked it, so I just used my keys to unlock it. I hold the door open for them. "There you go!"

"What was your name?"

"Lunar!" I smile. "And you are?"

They try to copy my smile. "Gemini."

A lot of astral-themed names, like my family. "I'll see ya around!"

They nod for the 5th time, then walk out into the darkness. I hear something start up and breathe again as I lock the door. 

They were really tall... and really pretty... I hit my head with the heel of my hand and yawn.

For some reason, I had completely forgotten about my fight with Moon while talking to Gemini. Weird.