Compiling all 4 parts of the story into a full work, like on AO3! (Yes, this also means I might post it on AO3. Maybe. Who knows?) To those of you who have read all 4 parts or some of it: trust me! I've edited it and some things have been changed (emphasis on some). Plus, it'd be a shame to miss out on the gradient text!
Star popped into the universe of The Magnus Archives, far after the 2 years she had originally come here. Of course, she visited after having done everything she needed to, and felt satisfied enough about it.
She appeared in the Institute, walking over to the Archives hoping to find Jon, Martin, or someone else. She needed a hug, or a listening ear, desperately. Although she wouldn't admit that, ever.
It's been such a long time since she'd been here, at least a few months. The Archives looked far more organized, each filing cabinet sorted by Fear, seeming as though Uzi had visited far more than her for that outcome. Things weren't as she remembered them, at least not exactly. Some furniture was moved.
Seeing as the place was practically empty, she broke the silence.
"Anyone here? It's me again."
Some shuffling was heard, coming from one of the bookcases as if someone was rearranging papers just a moment ago. But they stopped and walked over.
It was Jon. Of course it was.
She gave a little bit of a shy wave.
"Oh, Star! Been a while since we last talked, hasn't it?"
"Yeah, I suppose it has. Umm......how have things been going? After the whole... the-world-almost-ended-but-we-managed-to-stop-it-thing?"
"As normal, actually. As if nothing happened."
Oh! That's...good? And how's Martin?"
Jon's face almost lit up at the mention of him.
Star took her bag off, held it up by the straps, and pulled out some photocopies of her poems.
"I...started writing poetry! I brought some poems with me, in case you, or Martin, wanted to read them. You can show them to the others if you'd like."
She handed the papers to Jon, and he, after glancing at them for a little, placed them on a nearby table.
"Oh? You, writing poetry? How come?"
"Well...someone came into my life, helped me get back to the light after almost 2 years of darkness."
"Just a little someone called Apollo,"
"Apollo?" The Archivist looked nothing short of surprised. "Like, the god?"
She nodded, which made him whistle.
"Wow...How lucky must someone be, to be able to meet a god?" he mused.
"Anyway, enough about that. I uh..."
Her mask slipped little by little, and Jon noticed that something was wrong, not quite right.
They locked eyes for a moment.
And, then, without warning, Star hugged him. He froze for a second, but adjusted quickly, wrapping his arms around her too.
"I just...I don't know. Things haven't been going the greatest," she admitted. "I know just a second ago I seemed, y'know, cheerful, but that was an act."
"I was almost sure of it, actually. You can't exactly fool me."
"I know." (pun not intended)
She buried her face in his shoulder, hugging him tighter. Finally, some comfort at last. He, almost on instinct from the several times this has happened before, started trailing his fingers up and down her back, in comforting motions. That. That was exactly what she needed. She melted.
"Can we stay like this for a little while?" she mumbled.
He sighed as he held her closer. "As long as you need."
After somewhere around five-ish minutes, Star released the hug. She was feeling far better after that, that moment of another human's touch. Taking a step back, she realized how much she needed that.
"Thank you for, um, letting me hug you for that long."
"I knew you needed it. Who am I to deny that?"
"So. Do you want to see the others? I'm sure they miss you."
She paused for a second, then shook her head.
"Maybe later. I have...someone else I want to see." After a glance at the pile of poetry on the table, she continued. "But, offer still stands; you can show em my poems. Let me know what Martin thinks of them."
"Very well then. I'll see you around, eh?"
With that, Jon walked away, pile of papers in hand. Star grabbed her backpack, walked the other direction, away from the Archives and up to...Elias' office. When she got there, she knocked on the door. Around 5 seconds later, a voice was heard, saying:
And so she lightly opened the door to his office, and walked in.
"Star. What a pleasure it is to see you."
"Hi," she said flatly, walking over to take a seat in front of his desk, setting her backpack on the floor beside her. Her expression was...distant.
Elias, sharp as he is, noticed something off immediately. He was never going to admit it, but he was the slightest bit of concerned.
"What brings you here today?"
"You ask that as if you don't already know. I get the feeling you saw exactly what happened with Jon and I downstairs, and also overheard the conversation. You. are. not. slick." She punctuated each word, her tone accusatory.
He laughed, almost ominously.
"My, my, my," he began. "You haven't talked to me like that in ages."
He adjusted his position, now sitting in his chair in a more casual one; hands clasped together and behind his head, and one of his legs being propped up by the other.
"What's wrong, though?" he asked, definitely not using compulsion at all. Definitely not. Of course, he could just know that. But he wanted to let her talk, vent it out. She needed to, after all.
Star very well knew what he was doing, felt the pull of the Beholding. However, she didn't fight it. Instead, she began explaining.
"I've just. been feeling drained again. Alone, empty. Like 2 years ago, but...duller. Not quite the intensity it was previously. Maybe it's because school's over and it's summer now, and I've been cooped up in my house. I've been feeling exhausted, not physically, but mentally, because even if I've been staying up trying to fill that void, it stays. I barely have the energy to finish the rest of my bucket list. Over half of it requires for me to make plans, go out, and see people," she was counting each of those things on her fingers, then crossed her arms, sitting back into the chair. "And...I'm not really feeling up to it. Not just yet. And it doesn't help that my mom has been telling me to go out of the house for the past few days! It's been taking a toll on me. And I'm sure it seems clear by now."
He hummed in acknowledgement.
"I see. And you came to me, why?" he asked. "This seems like something Peter can help you with better than I."
"'Cause with you I can actually gather my thoughts and speak clearly," she replied, simply. She looked directly at him. "And I know exactly why, but despite that? I appreciate it."
A flicker of surprise passed through his face, though it was quickly contained right after.
"Well. That's a first." He cleared his throat, shifting his position again. He put his elbows on the desk, intertwining his fingers and propping up his chin with his hands. "Do you, perhaps, need advice for that situation of yours?"
"Fair enough. Well, first and foremost, I think I must agree with your mother. Staying inside, of course is going to mess with you like this. Arrange a hangout with someone, get your fresh air. You'll be surprised by how refreshed you'll feel."
Star literally pulled out a notepad and a pen out of her backpack, and wrote intensely. He raised an eyebrow, leaning forward.
"Are you...taking notes of my advice?"
She nodded, still jotting down notes, her gaze focused.
"Very well." He continued casually. "After that, maybe you'll get the motivation you need to carry on with your goals. Perhaps you can also talk to your friend about your little conundrum, see what they have to say."
She paused her writing, looking at him, about to speak. That was, until she got cut off.
"And before you tell me that you don't want to be a burden, you're not. Aren't friends supposed to to help you and give you advice when you need it? After all, you do that on the daily. You deserve to have that favor returned, in one way, shape or form. Don't you agree?"
"Perhaps you can also try to fix your sleep schedule. I know you've probably thought about this already, but if you want it to work, you're going to have to actually commit to it."
Then a record scratch can be heard in the distance. Star suddenly realized something, putting her pen and notepad onto the desk.
"Hold on. Why are you actually helping me-"
"I'm not heartless. I think I've proven that during our interactions, haven't I? I'm helping you because I want to. You don't deserve to be suffering like this."
She stood up, walking over to the other side of the desk.
She pulled him into a sidehug, as difficult as it was while he was. literally in a chair. But count on Star to make it work anyways.
She did. Then Elias stood up, turned to Star, and (after hesitating for a moment and questioning his life decisions) properly hugged her.
"I think, after everything you've been through, you deserve at least two proper hugs today."
Aaaaaand that was it. She teared up, and wrapped her arms around him too, tightly. She buried her face into him, crying quietly.
"You're going to ruin my suit," he protested. Even though he honestly didn't care.
"You asked for this the second you hugged me," she muttered in between sobs.
"Unfortunately, it seems so."
This was relieving. Finally releasing pent up emotions, no longer being suppressed. Being held by someone during this storm, nonetheless. She felt comforted, lightweight, and seen all at once.
She could stay like this for a while.
After around 5 or 10 minutes, Star's sobs died down. She wiped her tears and let go of the hug. The emptiness was almost gone, but part of it remained; despite that, it felt good to finally get her emotions out. It had been cathartic, almost.
"You're feeling better I see," Elias observed.
"Yeah, for the most part. Thank you."
"There's no need to thank me, Star. I know you've been struggling and I'm glad I can help you in some way, at the very least."
She wasn't sure how to respond to that.
"I. I am too? I guess?" Wow. What an amazing reply— SHUT UP, WILL YOU? "Anyway. I think...I should go. Thanks again."
Elias hummed, and let her leave. He watched as she turned, headed to the door, and stepped out. The door to his office was closed once again. He sat down to gather his thoughts for a moment.
Meanwhile, the girl walked a few paces away from the office, and lingered in the hallway. She paused, suddenly thinking of—or perhaps remembering—a way to get rid of or make peace with the loneliness and emptiness inside her.
"Let's see if I can still do this..."
She closed her eyes and inhaled. Clenching her fists, she pictured the seaside landscape of the Lonely. Then she felt fog enveloping her. She opened her eyes, just to see a place full of fog; she was by the sea, near the docks and the lighthouse. The Tundra nowhere in sight, not just yet.
"Huh." She breathed out, seeing the condensation in front of her. "Despite the time that's passed, I still got it. Didn't think I had it in me."
She walked over to one of the docks, sitting down at the edge of it. She watched the waves, listened to the melody of the ocean, and took in the empty landscape. Her emotions were amplified slightly in this desolate domain. Made them clearer, a little easier to work with.
She closed her eyes and suddenly got hit with one too many flashbacks of several things; doubts regarding her friendships, people she used to know, family that was no longer with her... Then the dam broke, the waterworks began. Again. Of course they did. She moved her legs up, hugged them to her chest, and curled in on herself, crying. She moved back a bit, closer to the shore and not too close to the sea. A little later and she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Star," she heard a voice speak. "Don't let the memories overtake you. Stay in the present."
It was none other than Peter Lukas. The fog enveloped them, and the memories became fuzzier, not as easy to remember. She stopped crying almost instantly. He knelt beside her, proceeding to sit on the dock. He let her lean on him, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"Now, what brings you here? I haven't seen you in quite a while..."
"Here specifically, or this universe in general?"
"I wanted to get this feeling of emptiness away, cry it out. But I...admittedly was not expecting something that strong."
"I see. The Lonely will do that to you sometimes. Do keep that in mind for next time."
"I will," she replied, her voice seeming distant.
Peter snapped his fingers in front of her face.
"Now. Would you like to leave, or would you prefer staying a little longer?"
"Then I'm staying with you." His reply was swift. He wasn't going to risk Star breaking down again.
"Fair enough. I won't say no to that."
Star leaned into him, and the Avatar turned to face her, wrapping his arms around her. So much so that she was practically sitting on his lap. She didn't mind it, not at all; this was very much the kind of comfort she needed. More closeness. In turn, she wrapped her arms and legs around him, completely sinking into his embrace. She closed her eyes, resting her head on his shoulder. Her body relaxed significantly, and Peter felt that as he ran his hand up and down her back.
Is she going to fall asleep? he wondered. It wouldn't be the first time, and definitely not the last. His suspicions were correct, as the child in his arms went absolutely limp. Thought so.
He picked her up, and stood up, carefully balancing so he doesn't fall off of the dock they were standing on. The fog wrapped around them, this time to transport them elsewhere. Simply so he doesn't have to walk all the way to and up the lighthouse. The fog receded, revealing that he was now standing in his bedroom in the building. He walked over to the bed, and laid Star down in it. He tucked her in, and sat down in a chair by it. He waited for her to wake up, watching over her.
He was going to stay, to make sure she was okay.
A few hours later, Star shifted slightly and eventually woke up. She blinked a few times, rubbed her eyes and turned on her side (wow that rhymes), only to be face-to-face with Peter.
"I...I fell asleep, didn't I?"
[insert disappointed Madeline expression]
"...hhh, I knew I would. Why didn't you stop me or at the very least wake me up??"
"You looked peaceful for once. You can't blame me, now, can you?"
"Ugh, fair enough. I forgive you."
She sat up on the bed, looking at Peter.
"Were you seriously waiting here the whole time?"
"Would you have preferred to wake up to some place you've never seen before alone?"
"Wait. Speaking of. Since when did you have a room in the lighthouse?"
"Since always. I've just never shown it to you. It's one of the few places I can actually get some alone time."
She pushed herself off the bed and stood up.
"I...think I should head back to the Institute. Maybe say hi to the others."
Peter nodded. The girl closed her eyes and clenched her fists. C'mon. Imagine the exit, imagine the Institute... He waited, to see if she was actually able to pull this off. She opened her eyes and, shocker, she was still standing here.
He stood, walking over to her.
"Here. Let me help you." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Getting out of this place is always more difficult than coming in."
He closed his eyes and focused. Soon, the pair felt the fog wrap around them, transporting them away from the Lonely. Then it dissipated and, when they opened their eyes, they were now standing in the halls of the Institute.
"Anytime. And, remember if you ever need a break from the world, you're always welcome to head to the Lonely. Just let me know before you do, though."
"I'll be going then. Tell Elias I said hi, hm?"
"I will-- oh. As if he doesn't already know."
The fog appeared once again, and he walked into it. Moments later, both he and the fog were gone. Star walked through the hallway of the Institute, heading down to Archives. Maybe I'll see Mar-
Her thoughts got interrupted as she heard, you guessed it, Martin greeting her.
"Star! It's so good to see you again!"
As soon as she got off the last step of the stairs, she practically threw herself at him, arms open wide. He, of course, caught her, wrapping his arms around her too.
She tightened her grip around him, but soon released the hug.
"Decent, mostly. As you probably heard, I now have a god on my side."
"So I've heard. How'd you manage that?"
"He just...appeared one day. After I started dabbling in hellenic polytheism. I genuinely didn't think he would show up like that."
"And then you started writing poetry," he drawled.
"Oh! So Jon told you about that then--"
She cut herself off when she heard someone approaching.
"Well, well, well, look who it is!"
She ran over to him, also hugging him. He briefly hugged her and patted her on the back, then released the hug.
"How've you been, squirrel?"
"Can we. NOT reference that?"
"Okay, okay. Anyway. Uhh..."
Sasha came into view too! Hurrah!
"SASHAAAA!!!! Hii!!" She waved rapidly to her.
"Hey, Star! Good to see you've come back."
"Yeahh, I couldn't stay away from y'all, or this universe, for that matter, forever. I was bound to make a return eventually."
Then she noticed that someone was missing.
"Oh, also," she began, looking around, "where's Jon?"
"Currently busy recording a statement," Martin answered. "He'll return eventually, so don't worry."
"Mmkay, fair enough." A pause. "So, who's up for a bit of a break? Maybe we could chat, catch up on everything... I'm sure I missed a lot."
And so, up to the break room they went. They each got something to drink (and, of course, Star had plain, cold water) and sat down at a table. Eventually, Jon arrived too. They all caught up on events and things they'd missed. And, for once? Star felt at home.
