Work Text:
Earth let out a shaky sigh, reflecting on everything that happened recently.
Lets see.. Luna randomly disappeared leaving him with unstable weather conditions, he got depressed and.. Nearly.. No, no. Mercury said not to think about it. What else.. Oh, right, he nearly got obliterated by multiple asteroids during the moon revolution, almost froze because of the Suns stupid orbit change idea and nearly had Luna crash into him.. Was there anything else..?
No wonder the Earthlings were acting out.. After all the strange events lately they probably don’t want to let their guards down.
Earth winced, another spark of pain shooting through his body as more drills pierced into his sore surface. He was mostly used to it and usually could still continue with his day whilst hiding the pain without it bothering him but after everything that happened, human activity was skyrocketing.
He looked to Luna, who was seemingly zoned out, not paying attention. Luna seemed.. Upset, to say the least. Earth wasn’t sure why.. It had been a day since Luna nearly crashed into Earth and ever since Luna was.. distant. Earth was sure Luna was upset, but every time Earth reached out Luna pulled away. He didn’t understand. He didn’t know what he did wrong. If Luna would tell him what he did, or said he could fix it! He could change it and everyone would like him..! Right..? He could just remove that part of him.
Earth winced as another bolt of pain danced through his body. He needed a distraction..
Right. A distraction..!
Perhaps he could see if Mars wanted to play cards? Nono, the other rocky planets were probably sick of it after their long held tournament. Earth didn’t want to bore them. Didn’t want to irritate them. Didn’t want to be alone again.. not again.
Earth felt himself shudder as another flash of pain spiked through his body. What were the Earthlings doing anyways? Why did they need resources so bad?
Irritated, Earth let his mind wander to his Earthlings. He could feel it. He could feel them.
He could feel people dancing, hear them singing. He could feel as they raced, fought, cried.. He could feel them running, swimming and even reproducing- erm, gross.
He could feel the drills penetrating his surface.. Hear doctors screaming medical junk, planes soaring through the skies, children crying, roars of animals, the ticklish walk of bugs, fire and smoke, humans building, rage rooms, glass shattering doors slammed people falling animals hibernating waves smashing trees being cut ambulances, sirens, drowning crying bleeding screaming jumping lifting running singing dancing stop please boats sinking birds chirping cars speeding caves collapsing animals stumbling icebergs melting houses collapsing humans cheering football cricket volleyball axes smoke it’s overwhelming Was he shaking? Earthquakes tornados hurricanes tsunamis- Its getting hotter, he’s getting warmer, burning blistering piercing mining removing replacing jumping fights crowds parades carnivals riots screams explosions I cant take it. Spinning.. Head spinning.. Blurry vision.. Ears.. Hair.. Head, pain..? When did I start gripping my head? Buses cars planes trains cranes building shouting hiding screaming crime Stop please stop Too much.. Its too much
Sound travelled to his ears, but it was only received as a dizzying, piercing loudness that shot pain through his ear and right into his head. Everything was so loud.. His surface so loud.. Earth tried to move, to get away but his body shook and trembled harshly, he was.. on the floor..? When did that happen..? Everything buzzed, light overwhelming, everything spinning as he struggled to perceive his surroundings, light overwhelming overwhelming overwhelmed overstimulated Too many eyes too many hands.. Piano, rockets, Computers, Lights, Roads, Cities, shaking, shaking..? Pain, wind kicking pain burning..?
Couldn’t breathe.. Was he breathing at all? A strong burning sensation filled his lungs, filled his stomach, filled his head..Oh my god what was happening to him?! No no panic panic help stop please panic, panicking stress fear panic Was he gripping his head tighter..? Hide.. Hide just disappear just disappear.. Invisible. Invisible.
Earth covered his ears with his hands, his fingers wrapping around his head clenching painfully tight. He had collapsed onto the floor, just sitting there, shaking as he struggled to breathe, hyperventilating. His body tweaked with panic, with anxiety as his body fidgeted restlessly. Everything itched. Everything hurt. It was loud. So, so loud. Earth was sweating, his breath short and shallow as hot flushes throbbed in his face.
He was dizzy, it was consuming him. He trembled, flinching harshly as he felt a hand briefly meet his arm.. H-hand..?
He tried to see, to see if someone was there but all he could see was the spinning world and the increasing bright light straining his eyes from the sun. His stomach churned, a choking sensation building in his throat as his breathing escalated.
A hand.. A hand..? Something… Someone grasped lightly at his constantly tightening hands on his ears, holding his hands lightly and gently tugging them away. PANIC PANIC DANGER. REFUSE RETREAT PANIC Earth clenched his hands tighter, fearful. The unknown member loosened their hands, acting as if preparing to give up, but soon tried tugging at Earths hand again.
Earth tried to see. Tried to hear. His breaths became shorter as he frantically searched and turned trying to find whoever was here, but he found nothing. Only a sense of familiarity. A warmth… A trust..? Earth trusted this person..? How? Why..?
Earth loosened his grip on his bright red ears, allowing the person to relocate his hands into theirs as they held Earths hands at his lap. Earth continuously tensed and clenched his hands, but the person just returned the action.. Calm. Grounding.
Once again, Earth flinched hard, ducking as another hand reached for his head. What was happening..? Was he in danger..? Who was it..? What should he do?! Come on Earth, get it together… Get it together..!
The hand reached out again, stroking slowly and comforting through Earths hair. Safe.. Safety. The hand continued to stroke patterns through Earths hair, the light becoming slightly more bearable. He could hear voices now.. Voices he couldn’t understand.. whispers. He continued to squeeze his hands, receiving squeezes back. The touch was grounding. His senses slowly returned as his heart rate began to slow along with his breath. He squeezed his eyes closed, focussing on the calming touch he was receiving..
“Earth..?”
Earth blinked his eyes open. The world still spun, his vision still blurred, but he could make the one distinctive red planet in front of him.
“Mars..?” Earth asked, his voice shaky, quieter than a whisper as he breathed out the red planets name.
“Can you hear me now..?” Mars asked quietly, not wanting to overwhelm Earth. The other replied with a nod. Mars felt a pang of relief flush through him as he watched Earths trembling body calm down. Earth was still wavering in place, looking like he was gonna tip over, but he was calmer now.
“You’re safe Earth.. You’re safe.. It’s just me and Luna.. focus on your breathing, okay buddy?” Mars asked calmly, returning a hand squeeze to Earth. He started imitating taking deep breaths, willing the other to follow. Luna watched, concerned and fearful for his planet as his hands flowed through Earths hair comfortingly.
Earth soon enough followed Mars, taking deep, shaky breaths. He began to relax further until eventually he sat there, relaxed staring at his hands that still trembled along with his lightly shaking body.
“Earth..? Are you ok..?” Luna whispered, concern and worry overtaking his voice.
“I’m fine..” Earth says, turning his head slightly to look at his moon as their eyes met. Earth couldn’t help but note the look of sympathy and concern in Lunas eyes. “Just got a headache still, thats all.” He continued, turning his head back to look at Mars.
Mars had a look of relief washed on his face, trying to plaster a calm and relaxed look over his clearly worried and fearful face. He began to caress Earths hands lightly with his thumbs.
“You really scared us Earth.. By the time Luna called me over you were completely overstimulated and were having a panic attack.. You couldn’t see or hear us either.. Do you wanna talk, buddy..?”
Earth tensed. Yet he didn’t know why. He had nothing to hide. Nothing to be ashamed of. He could open up. He actually could. He could actually speak to Mars about his problems instead of hiding them from him. Like how he hid his hallucinations and attempt from him, realising Mars would “call him out for being arrogant and attention seeking.” So.. So why was he scared..? Why was he tensing up..? What was he so afraid of..?
“Earth?” Mars asked, seemingly confused and worried about the sudden silence.
“I.. I was just overwhelmed.. Overstimulated by the Earthlings.. All the noise.. Everything happening on my surface at once- it was just.. overwhelming. Im sorry, I-“
Mars pulled Earth into a tight hug. Earth melted into the sudden touch as his vision cleared up and he stopped shaking. Luna joined the hug too, clinging tightly onto Earth protectively.
“Don’t.. Don’t apologise.. It’s not your fault.” Mars began, a warm comfort in his voice, “Im sorry for undermining your struggles with the Earthlings.. Im sure they must be acting up due to everything that has happened recently.”
Earth tensed at his words. Mars had no clue. No clue what it was like to have life. No clue as to how painful and overbearing it is. And he speaks about “undermining his struggles?” He doesn’t even know the start of it!
“Earth.. Don’t scare me like that again..” luna added, his voice trembling, tearful as he hugged Earth tighter. Earth instantly felt his irritation disperse as he gently pulled one of his hands away from Mars, reaching around Luna, holding him gently.
“Im sorry, Luna. I didn’t mean to scare you..” Earth replied soothingly.
After everything that happened, after all the pain prior, Earth was grounded in that moment, and for the first time in a while, the pain inflicted on him by the Earthlings was invisible. He was free.
Thanks to them.
Im sorry yall, Its mostly 3rd person because its easy TT. I tried to smoothly switch up the POV from Earth to Mars and back at some point but I think I just made it confusing…
Anyways, thanks for reading! Damn, 1741 words is crazy though-