18
“Everything alright?” They asked. “Did something happen?”
Quark fought for the words. “It's complicated, I... I don't know how to say it.”
Then, Pulse was sitting right next to him, caving the bed in where Quark tipped into their side. “Start from the beginning. Try your best.”
It wasn't easy. There was a lingering bashfulness from the night before, remembering the body that was under those casual clothes.
“It's silly,” Quark was composed nonetheless, feeling more perturbed by their skepticism than anything else.
It kept him from blushing, for a change.
“This book—I don't know, I don't know why or how or anything really, but something about all this seems wrong.”
“Wrong?” Pulse tilted their head. “Wrong how?”
“Like... Maybe wrong is not the word, but this world—do you ever feel like this was what it was supposed to be like?”
When Pulse didn't say anything, Quark continued.
“It feels like something is being hidden from us. From all the stars. I'll admit, it's a crazy thought, but my body feels like this was supposed to be like this. That maybe me being a star is the wrong version of me. That part is the real me.”
Pulse remained quiet. “It's stupid, I know, but—”
“It's not.”
The two stars locked eyes.
“When you put it that way, it makes sense. I can feel it too.”
“Right?” Quark sounded relieved. “But I don't know what to do about it. I want to figure out what's going on—”
“—because something is being hidden from us.”
“Yes!”
“You know what that means?”
“Huh?”
Pulse stood, grabbing Quark's hand in solidarity.
“It's time to start breaking some rules.”