Counting Stars - Aonung x Neteyam

Part 1

- Maybe they want a minute to themselves, the last few weeks haven't been easy. - I replied after being quiet for a while. - Any couple would be more tense if they spent that much time apart. - he replied with a grimace of disgust. I laughed and nudged him with my shoulder.

- I was happy for them, but more so for me. I was a little on the verge of insanity in there. I needed to get out. - I finished softly, looking down at the water and then up towards the sky. I looked at him for a few seconds, not knowing what in the name of all that is holy had possessed me to notice him. - Are you also afraid of another star showing up? - he ends up muttering.

- Of course, I am. - I said, turning my eyes back to the water. I hated that part of me that couldn't show any weakness. I knew he didn't mean it, but I felt like he was making fun of me. - Sometimes I count them. - I ended up saying, I felt guilty after everything that had happened, a part of me still blamed him for what had happened on our planet. Although it would never be his or his family's fault. There were things that were hard to get out of your head and my parents had tried very hard to put the fear of strangers in our heads.

He looked at me funny and I just rolled my eyes. I pushed him across his chest until we were both lying there looking up at the night sky. He made a groaning sound but settled back in no time. I looked at him for a few more seconds, just to make sure he hadn't hurt himself.

There was nothing in the world that could make Neteyam doubt about his principles. He knew what was right and what was wrong. He trusted the feeling in his chest, in his stomach and in his soul. He asked Eywa every chance he got and he was never wrong. Deep inside him, no matter how lost he was, he knew right from wrong.

And at this moment the boy knew with all the certainty in his heart, that the sea boy lying next to him who pointed to stars and called them by name was his destiny. He was the man Eywa would show him, he was all that was right. He knew it how he knew the sun would rise tomorrow, how he knew the moon was illuminating his face right now, he knew it so strongly he couldn't even imagine denying it anymore.

- Where did you learn all this? - I whispered with a smile. Aonung turned and stopped in mid-sentence.

- Don't you have elders and scriptures in the forest? - he replied, raising an eyebrow.

- Yes, of course, but I hadn't seen anyone talking about the stars. - I continued without taking my eyes off him.

- You're the one who brought it up. - he sulked, crossing his arms. I smiled and tapped him with my good arm. He made a sound with his throat and said nothing for a while. Then he added in a very low voice. - Before I was afraid that a new one would appear and I wouldn't notice. I started counting them to be sure. - I blinked absorbing everything he had just said.

It was the first time he had opened up to me like that. That he was vulnerable. I didn't want to mess it all up by saying the wrong thing. And I wasn't the best with words so I just reached out and slipped my fingers through his. His hand was much smaller and almost lost in mine. There was a second when I thought he would pull away, he was tense and I almost thought I had finally blown it.

But nothing bad happened.

His fingers laced mine and he just gave me a little squeeze. I looked up at the sky again, as he was doing. I tried to count and remember the names of the stars he had told me. As time passed, he moved closer and his head ended up rescued on my shoulder. I sighed heavily and knew that, even if I put all the effort in the world, I would never be able to separate from him.

Maybe he would marry a woman who would be perfect for his tribe or maybe I would end up with someone from the islands, content with what I had. But I would never go far from here, he would be part of my future, in whatever way he wanted. As a friend, as a protector or as a partner. My destiny was by his side, no matter what. I couldn't help but think, it was all ironic in the end.