Prism sat very still as Lunar brushed his fingers over the faint discoloration on his chest. His bright brown eyes were thoughtful and intense. The wounds were healing well, and he was pleased by the progress. He stood up straight and clasped his hands in front of him.

"It looks much better," he announced. "I believe you can go without the bandages now. They're all sealed, and the skin is less irritated than it was." He turned to look at Sandy. "What do you think, Sanderson?"

Sandy smiled and spoke in symbology. "I think we should use the Tellerine cream to finish him off. Twice a day for two weeks should ease the scarring. Do you agree?"

"Perfect," Lunar said. "Mix up a batch, and we'll get him covered."

Prism relaxed back into his chair, stretching his limbs. The pain had lessened considerably over the last couple weeks, but it still ached, and he couldn't move smoothly. He watched as Sandy mixed up the cream, adding ingredients with barely a glance at the book. A knock sounded at the door and Toothiana flitted in with a tray of food. Nightlight came in behind her, carrying another two. He wouldn't look at Prism as he set the trays on the desk. He inclined his head to Lunar then hurried out, keeping his head down. Lunar frowned.

"He still won't talk to you?"

"Or look at me," Prism admitted. "Do you have any idea why he's so angry with me? You and Jack were fine after vehemently lecturing me, but he's refusing to speak to me at all."

Lunar shook his head, his glow dimming noticeably in the candlelit room. "You've tried?"

"Many, many times," Prism answered. "I can't exactly force him to talk to me. I have no authority over him."

After a moment's thought, Lunar nodded. "But I do. He will be in after lunch."

"He won't like it," Prism warned.

"I don't care. We need to get this sorted. You still cannot feel fear. It's not natural. So he will come and speak to you, even if I have to order him to do so."

Prism nodded as Sandy turned and held out a bowl of red cream. The two men worked the cream vigorously into Prism's chest and arms until his skin was a dull pink. That done, Prism shrugged into his new robe, one made of silk to match his pajamas with the same symbols on the sleeves, and reached for his tray. He enjoyed a meal of curry, commenting that Toothiana was certainly a great chef. The other two wholeheartedly agreed.

By the time he was done eating, he was tired. Sandy helped him to lie down and Lunar smiled and told him that he would send Nightlight in once he found him. Prism lay in his comfortable bed, luxuriating in the warmth and half-awake thoughts that whirled through his mind. He must have actually fallen asleep because he was startled awake when his door slid open and Nightlight slunk inside. The boy was very dim, and he seemed a bit wary as the door closed behind him. He stood very still for a moment then gripped his spear and looked at the ceiling.

"The little Lunanoff said you wish to speak with me?"

Prism rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and nodded. "Yes. Yes, we need to talk. Please take a seat."

Nightlight didn't move for a moment then walked over and sat on the edge of the desk chair. His foot tapped nervously and all of his attention seemed to be on his spear. Prism watched curiously. What was wrong with Nightlight? He felt like he should know the answer—it tickled his mind, just out of reach—but he couldn't grasp it. He finally leaned back and sighed.

"I suppose you know already that I lied to Jack, and through him, the rest of you." Prism paused until Nightlight nodded. "And you probably also know that I've spoken to the others." Another pause, another nod. "And I have reason to believe that you know that I've been trying to speak with you for a few weeks." A longer pause, a curt nod. "And now that I have the opportunity, I want to clear some things up."

Nightlight shrugged one shoulder, so Prism swallowed then continued. "You know that I've had a rough time this past year. You've been privy to my anxiety attacks and flashbacks and all the mental and emotional mess my life has become since Shadow Man died. And I thought I was making progress a lot of the time. I was happier than I had been since I was a child. But sometimes, especially after an anxiety attack or a flashback, I felt horrible, useless, pathetic, like I couldn't even control myself. So when it got worse, when I literally started tearing myself open, I was ashamed. So I lied."

Prism paused, scanning Nightlight's face. He looked stressed, his eyes bright with some emotion, and his fingers were nervously tapping the desk. Prism tried to meet his eyes, but Nightlight wouldn't look at him. He decided to continue.

"And I knew it was a bad idea, but only after the fact did I consider what I'd done. And when it happened again, I couldn't bear to face Lunar and Jack with my lies, so I lied again. And again and again. And so on. It got very bad very quickly. And I understand that I shouldn't have lied. I am truly sorry for any pain and anger that I caused you, and I'm sorry that I betrayed your trust. So… are we still friends?"

Nightlight's lips tightened and he shifted in the chair, still tapping his foot. He finally swallowed and looked at Prism. There was something raw in his eyes.

"I was angry that you would not trust me. I can understand that, to some degree. There were many times in the early years that I lied to the Tsar and Tsarina. And they are sticky as well as tricky. But that is not why I have been avoiding you."

Prism leaned forward, reaching over to clasp his hand on Nightlight's knee. "Then what did?"

Nightlight frowned. "Can't you tell, Prism?"

"No. Should I?" Nightlight tilted his head in confusion, and it struck Prism hard. "You're afraid," he said numbly. "You're afraid and I didn't confront you about it."

The boy of light looked down sadly. "I thought perhaps that you did not trust me. Or you were not ready to speak of my fear. So I stayed away at first. And then when you wanted to talk, I grew even more afraid. All the time I had made me think alone about my fears. And it only grew. So I avoided you." He looked up, his lantern-like eyes searching. "Perhaps I was missing something?"

"I haven't been able to sense fear since I lied to Jack," Prism sighed. "I didn't know you were afraid or I would have come to you sooner. I'm sorry Nightlight."

Nightlight smiled at him. "I forgive your lies, Prism. You have many things that have scarred you, more than just physically."

A niggling feeling began to spread through Prism's awareness as he relaxed in relief, and it was familiar and sorely missed. He processed the fear, getting used to reading the images and sensations that the emotion often brought. And he was surprised by how intense the fear was. It was almost terror.

"What are you so afraid of?" Prism murmured, more to himself than Nightlight.

The fear blossomed in his mind, and with it came images. A flash of Prism, screaming and flailing, clawing himself open while lying on the highway, filled his senses and he understood. He pushed back the blankets and stood up with a grimace. Reaching over, he knelt down and grasped Nightlight's hands.

"You're afraid of what happened, what you saw," he said gently.

Nightlight's bottom lip trembled, and he nodded. "I don't understand what happened, Prism. I have never seen somebody inflict such damage on themselves. It terrified me. I've tried to understand, but I believe it is a grown-up thing that I cannot comprehend."

Prism could see that line between boy and man again, and he softened even more. "Oh, Nightlight. I'm sorry you had to see that. It was a panic attack."

"You never did that with your other panic attacks," Nightlight pointed out.

"True, but my other panic attacks were not as intense."

"Oh," Nightlight murmured. He thought about it. "What's the difference?"

Prism smiled. "In my usual panic attack, I would flash back to times when I was weak, in pain, or feeling another strong emotion under Shadow Man. In the kind that makes me hurt myself, my mind gets fuzzy and my memory falters, but I remember flashes of thought. It's a completely different flashback to a time when I was being directed by Shadow Man to do something aggressive against my will. They are distinct from each other due to the memories and feelings that lie behind them. Does that help explain it, Nightlight?"

Nightlight took a moment to consider the explanation, his lips turned down in thought. He finally nodded slowly. "Yes. But what am I to do when you have the second kind? I felt helpless watching you do that to yourself. But I honestly didn't know how to help."

Prism looked down for a moment in embarrassment before shrugging and looking back up. "Honestly? I'm not sure. You'll want to ask Lunar or Jack about that. I'm not the one who has to deal with calming me down."

After a moment, Nightlight nodded and sat up straight. Prism could sense the fear easing a bit, and he was sure that Nightlight would calm even further once he'd had time to mull over the information. But there was another niggling worry in Nightlight's heart, and Prism addressed it at once.

"I'll be okay, Nightlight. It might take time, but I'm going to be okay. I'm trying to make an effort to open up to all of the Guardians, and I'm trying to trust them. I've had trouble doing both of those things, but I'm trying. Give me time, and I will be okay."

Nightlight swallowed, slipped onto his knees, and embraced Prism, burying his face in the man's dark robe. Prism hugged him back and let Nightlight cry against him. He ran his hands through Nightlight's hair, comforting the boy as he sobbed out his relief. After a few minutes, Nightlight sat back and let out a shaky sigh. He scrubbed at his eyes and smiled at Prism. His light was brighter, and his fear was settling into a new shape.

"Thank you, Prism. I feel better," he said.

"Good," Prism said. He ruffled Nightlight's shimmering hair.

Nightlight stood up and his thin, strong hands grasped Prism's hands and helped him up. Prism grimaced as he stretched then sat down on the bed.

"How do you feel?"

Prism rolled his shoulders. "I still ache from the impact. But it's manageable. And my wounds are mostly gone."

He parted his robe to reveal his pink-hued chest. Nightlight studied the remains of the injuries then nodded. "The cream should help with the scarring. That's the one I used when Lunar burned his hands trying to bake cookies. Not a bit of scarring remained, and that was a terrible burn."

"I'm sure it will look better in a couple of weeks," Prism said. He tied his robe shut again and looked at Nightlight. "How about we go and talk to Lunar and Jack about how you can help if that happens again?"

Nightlight inclined his head. "That sounds like a good idea, Prism. Can you walk alright?"

"I'm a bit slow. But I can manage if I can rest every once in a while."

"Very well. I believe the little Lunanoff went for a ride with Jack on the Lunar Moths."

"Good. We'll get them a snack then head out to talk with them."

Prism eased himself up then followed Nightlight out of the room. He felt balanced for the first time in almost a year. His fear sense was spreading out, and he was grateful that there weren't a lot of people around as he re-acclimatized himself to the sensations. The Moonmice and Lunar Moths had a different kind of psyche, being animals, and they were all at peace. He could feel Sandy two halls over, worrying about some nightmares he'd encountered the night before. It was a gentle pulse, and Prism sighed in relief as it washed over him. How had he not realized he was going around with one sense completely blinded?

He limped along, stretching and extending his fear sense as he readjusted to using it. Nightlight's fear was assuaged for the moment, and it was shifting and shivering as he no doubt mulled over their conversation. And he wasn't the only one relieved. Prism felt alive and vibrant, and he nudged Nightlight playfully. Nightlight giggled and stuck his tongue out. Prism laughed, and his prismatic display bathed the hallway in a strange reddish light amongst the rainbows because of the Tellerine cream. They both laughed at the strange refraction, and Nightlight knew then that Prism really would be alright. In time.