Counting Stars - Aonung x Neteyam

Part 1

- What's happening. - I said in a hoarse tone, not sure it even sounded like a question.

- Something in the syrup had a bad reaction in your body. You have a fever, so you must sleep on the shores. My mother was taking care of you until a few hours ago, when she went to sleep. She told me to stay with you until your mother wakes up and can stay with you. - I opened my eyes again as he spoke and looked up at him from below. He had one of his hands on my forehead with some kind of cloth. It felt cold and was actually helping my headache quite a bit. I noticed that almost half of my body was submerged, leaving out my chest and head. Aonung was leaning on the wooden bars they used for fishing, using his body as an anchor to keep mine afloat.

- Okay, I don't really remember what happened, but thank you. - I mumbled, closing my eyes again. I noticed how his leg moved under my head and as I moved, I felt a net holding my body.

- You don't have to thank me, you are sick, we take care of everyone here. - he said in a firm tone. I decided not to answer because I didn't know what to say and because I was still tired. My skin was burning even though I was submerged in the water and my head was spinning. Suddenly I remembered that this was supposed to be Lo'ak's night. I cursed under my breath. - Are you in pain? - he spoke in a tone of urgency. I brought one hand up in denial and then rested it on his other leg. His skin was icy cold in comparison.

- Today was supposed to be Lo'ak night. He shouldn't have missed his celebration, it's important to us. - I said trying to keep my eyes open.

- They have decided to postpone it until you are better. But I could tell he didn't seem angry. He went with my sister for a swim, according to him to wash off the paint. - His tone was serious, but I could tell he wasn't entirely mad. I smiled a little. There was something funny about seeing him protect his sister so eagerly. Knowing my brother, there was nothing they were doing that wasn't her idea.

- Yeah, I guess when you find your person, you start to not care when things get done as long as it's with them. - I murmured letting the waves cool my skin and calm my mind.

Aonung didn't respond, but his hand continued to cool my forehead. I noticed after a while that his other hand was holding my neck and every now and then his thumb played with the hair on my neck. The rhythm of that touch and the coolness of the water made me fall asleep without realizing it. Just before I lost consciousness, I remembered that I had dreamed about him. I didn't remember exactly what, but his hands were on my skin.

Aonung was an expert at many things, from fishing to remembering all the herbs his mother insisted he should know. He was also good at defending his family and had recently discovered that he was good at fighting for those he loved the most. He was proud and smart, knowing when to fight and when to stand back.

He was also, unfortunately for many, a very good liar. Not only to the people around him, but also to himself. At a very young age he realized that perhaps he was not like the other boys in his village.

Almost all of his friends were prepared both mentally and physically to grow up, meet someone and have extended families. Although they were more interested in the physical part, obviously. He had caught his friend Rotxo more than once making out with different girls in the village and sometimes their hands got lost tracing each other's skin. He had never felt the way they felt, with the almost frantic need to feel another person against you.

Occasionally he had felt overheated or wanted to kiss someone, but it was a passing thing. From time to time, he would share caresses here and there with friends. It felt good, he couldn't deny it, but he didn't see himself killing or dying for it. She didn't see herself as her parents, who could spend hours talking and looking at each other as if they were the only thing that mattered in the universe. They definitely didn't look like his sister and the new addition to the tribe, like they had found their place in the world.