Nightshade: A SimLit | Chapter 93: Written In The Stars

"You were really great today, Orion," Skylar said, approaching the rocket's control panel with her aforementioned partner falling into step by her side. Having recently resumed work after the beginning of the new year, the two had just finished a space mission: her first as a full-fledged astronaut, finally out of training. Spacecrafts were technologically advancing rapidly, allowing for faster space travel in shorter durations, so their relatively simple mission had only taken them a week. "I think you're the best commander that NASA has. You're truly remarkable."

He blushed. "I-I'd say you were the remarkable one today. I've never seen someone learn to be an astronaut as fast as you have, and not only have you been fast, but you're genuinely good at it. I'm really proud of you... and I'm honored to have you as my partner."

He couldn't have known how much his words meant to her. After a lifetime of discouragement and being told that she couldn't achieve her dreams, that she couldn't be an astronaut nor was she meant to be, one of the highest-ranking men at the largest space administration in the whole world was praising her talents and expressing his honor to work with her. It was surreal, leaving her fumbling over her words in response. "I-I... that means so much for you to say, but I couldn't have done any of this without you. I can't take the credit for my achievements."

"No, I can't take the credit for your achievements. You had so many things in your way, but it's you who overcame every obstacle to follow your dreams. I helped you in every way I could, but I'm not responsible for your talent, or your intelligence, or your hard work and determination. That was all you, Skylar. And I don't think I know anyone that's as amazing and inspiring as you are."

If she wasn't too exhausted from the mission to process her emotions, she might have gotten teary-eyed. "...thank you so much."

Orion smiled. "There's no need to thank me." He paused. "By the way, um, I was thinking... before we head back, we should do something fun to celebrate your official astronaut status. You know, like... taking a detour."

"A detour?" She was both concerned and intrigued. "We have strict orders to return after our mission is complete. I didn't take you for a rebel." 

There was an unusually excited glint in his eyes. "I really want to show you something. It won't take long to get there. Our boss won't know the difference in an additional day added to our trip."

Skylar hesitated. "Well..."

"Please? I promise you'll love it."

"Fine," she sighed, "I can't say no to a face as cute as yours." 

His smile widened and his cheeks flushed a deeper pink. "Good, because I don't want you to."

---

Sixam; a place that Orion thought he'd never set foot on again. The sight of it resurfaced painful memories that he long ago buried deep inside of him, but in a way he was happy to return to his home planet. It still did feel like home, even if only a little. He made sure to land the rocket in a rural area, far away from the vast civilized area of the planet. Bringing a human to a city full of aliens certainly wasn't a good idea, no matter how friendly said human may be. The lush, exotic parts of Sixam were far more interesting anyway, or at least they would be to someone who'd never seen them before. 

As the two walked a short distance away from their rocket ship, Skylar was in silent awe. There were a hundred questions ready to spill out at once about the marvelous place they were in, but she couldn't find the words to ask them with. 

"Before you ask, yes, this is Sixam. Just... don't tell anyone I took you here." Orion glanced at her. "If the government found out the location--"

"You don't have to worry, I won't say a word," Skylar interrupted reassuringly. "This place is absolutely breathtaking... even more than I ever imagined it to be."

"You've barely even seen the beginning of it," he said. "Come with me."

There was a bounce to his step as he started forward, followed closely by Skylar, who was soaking in every inch of everything she saw. "What is it like living here?" She finally asked. "What's the culture like? The architecture? Fashion?"

"Alright, stop nerding out and I'll tell you," Orion teased. "Sixam is... well, it's a lot different here than what humans are used to. Aliens are way ahead of humanity in terms of technological advancement... like, um, there are flying cars and stuff."

"Flying cars?" Her eyes widened. "I had no idea."

He nodded. "Yeah. Also, almost everyone is immortal thanks to anti-aging technology. Like the serums humans can get now. As for culture, there's too much to explain. Uh... the food is kind of strange and there's a celebrity known for holding the alien abduction world record? Also, sci-fi is an unsurprisingly popular genre here."

"Fascinating. Tell me more."

"I'm doing a bad job of explaining things, but fashion and architecture are bold, geometric, futuristic... and tattoos in that same kind of style, or space-inspired, are really popular here. Just about everyone has one."

"Is that why you got yours?" Skylar gestured at his covered arm with her eyes.

"Because it was popular to do? No, my parents pressured me into getting it when I was a teenager. They hoped it'd help connect me to my alien heritage more," Orion replied. "I honestly didn't want a tattoo. It was painful."

"Oh," she said quietly. Truthfully, she wanted to inquire about his parents, but he already told her enough about his childhood over the time they'd known each other for her to know it was a sensitive topic for him. "Well... it looks good on you anyway, at least."

"Thanks." His smile was quickly fading. "I wasn't really too sure about coming back here, but I really wanted you to have the chance to see Sixam."

Skylar frowned. "You didn't have to do this just for me..."

"It wasn't just for you. I think in a way I wanted to come home again. My life only got worse after I ran away," he sighed. "I left because I wanted a better life than what I was being forced into. Sometimes I wonder if I'd have been better off if I stayed..."

"Do you... regret running away and leaving your whole life and family behind?"

Orion paused. "...no. I did the right thing by escaping a terrible situation, even if my life got worse for a while. There was a light at the end of the tunnel for me, and this is the journey I had to take to get there. Besides," he continued, his voice lowering to a near whisper, "if I never left Sixam, I would have never met you."

Somehow, their hands slowly found their way to each other. The grip was gentle, almost hesitant at first, but gradually tightened into a desperate clasp, as though they were holding on with the intentions to never let go again.

Their footsteps came to a stop at the edge of a cliff, overlooking a seemingly endless canyon that joined together with the skyline and faded into space. Cerulean waterfalls spilled into the abyss below them and shining crystal mountaintops rose high in the background. 

Skylar looked to him, then out into the horizon. "I've never seen anything as beautiful as this in my whole life..."

"Neither have I," he responded softly, but his eyes were on her.

Her face lit up more brightly than the sky as she turned to look at him once more. "Do you want to stargaze? I bet we could see nearly every star and constellation here. The sky is so clear... definitely not like back home."

"Sixam runs on clean energy, so there's far less pollution. That's why the sky is so clear." He smiled up at her. "And... I'd love to."

"Okay..." Returning the smile, she sat down on the ground and patted her leg. "Come here."

Momentarily confused, Orion opted to just sit down beside her. Her request was made more clear when she pulled him down to rest his head on her lap. "You'll see the stars better laying down, but the ground isn't very comfortable."

He sincerely hoped she didn't notice him blushing.

They stayed like that for a long time, pointing out the intricate patterns of constellations above them. There was nothing out there but the two of them and a sky full of stars, but this place didn't have a lonely feeling at all; it felt full, like it was the entire universe they gazed upon, held just out of reach of their fingers. Yet, out of the whole universe, of all the possible outcomes and combinations for not only their lives but everyone else's, destiny had chosen to draw them together, to intertwine their lives together and lead them to this place, on this day. It was an existential concept. Why had they met? Why was this the path that fate had sent them traveling on together? It was destiny's design. There was a purpose.

"Hey, there's Monoceros," Orion pointed to a faint constellation above him, "the unicorn constellation."

"Of course you'd point out that one," Skylar teased.

"Well, if Monoceros is there, that means..." He shifted his hand to the west. "...this one is--"

"Orion," she finished for him, "which is my personal favorite, not that I'm biased." Their eyes met and his face flushed. She could feel the warmth of his blush even through her gloves, and gently, she stroked her thumbs along his cheeks in an intimate but soothing gesture.

 His lashes fluttered as he closed his eyes and sighed softly. "...does that mean that I'm your personal favorite?"

"My personal favorite what, exactly?" Skylar chuckled. "Wait, don't answer, it doesn't matter. You're definitely my personal favorite."

 "You're my favorite, too," he giggled, his cheeks heating up even more. His heartbeat was rapid. There were butterflies in his stomach that shouldn't have been there. He was trying so hard to bury his feelings, to pretend that they weren't there at all, but the efforts were senseless. What happened on Christmas night was something he still hadn't forgotten, as much as he wished he could. His heart was betraying him and every promise he made to himself that he would never go through this kind of pain again. But Orion couldn't keep denying that he was in love, and it was terrifying. Even though he knew this must have been love, in a way, he didn't even know what love was. For so much of his life he was completely unloved; hated by his parents, ravaged by Tiffany, betrayed by his own children. It was something that his life just didn't intend for him to experience, yet deep inside of him, he yearned for it more than anything. But how could he be foolish and seek it out? If love only ever resulted in pain before, nothing would make this time any different. Skylar might make him feel good now, but if he let her past his defenses and through his walls, what would she do once she was inside? He had already fallen apart once. He knew he couldn't piece himself together a second time.

He had to put an end to his ridiculous feelings before it was too late.

Hastily, he sat up and scooted to sit beside of her, avoiding eye contact at all costs. "S-So... um..."

"I really can't thank you enough for bringing me here," Skylar said. "I don't know if I ever want to leave. I could stay here forever with you..."

He swallowed the lump in his throat. "Y-You could...?"

Before she had the chance to finish her response, a shooting star bolted across the sky, twinkling brightly before completely fading out of their sight. "Wait, did you see that!?"

Orion grinned. "Yeah, a shooting star. You know you have to make a wish when you see one, right?"

"Really?" Skylar's lips curled into a slight smile. "Did you make a wish?"

"...I did," he replied.

Her curiosity got the best of her. "What was it?" 

"I-If I tell you, then it won't come true..."

"Aww, that's no fun. Come on, please?"

"Fine," he sighed. Luckily for her, he was bad at saying no. "I wished..."

"...that we could stay like this forever."

Skylar looked at him with slightly widened eyes and a surprised expression. She didn't expect that his wish would have anything to do with her, much less that it was something so deeply personal. What did he mean by staying like this? Physically, where they were now, staring off into the entire universe? Or was it more of an emotional request, a desire for an eternal bond? "...Orion, I--"

"Sorry," he interrupted, "my wish was probably stupid..."

"No, wait," she said gently, "I want to tell you something. When I was a young girl, my parents... they always told me that I shouldn't become an astronaut, and my fascination with science and astronomy was ridiculous. It hurt me to be discouraged by them, especially then. I remember telling them with the deepest conviction that it was my purpose. That... my destiny itself was written in the stars..." She placed a hand over his and glanced up at the constellation shining brightly above them.

Orion.

"...I know now, without a doubt, that I was right."

Only when his eyes locked onto hers did he realize their close proximity, foreheads nearly pressed together. "Skylar..."

She didn't notice him moving closer, or the fact that she, too, was leaning in. "W-What I'm trying to say is..."

"...I love you..."

Their lips met before she could continue any further. The kiss was gentle -- cautious, even -- at first, and she could tell that he was tense, but it quickly melted away along with all of his rational thinking. Their hearts pounded in unison, nearly hard enough to burst out of their chests. Despite the seeming calmness of the moment, it was exhilarating.

Skylar carefully trailed her hand up his back, pulling him in closer and deepening the kiss as she did. Orion failed to return anything but eagerness. He had never felt this way before -- so alive, so overwhelmed with love, so certain that he needed more of it. His resolve was wavering. His self control was slipping away. In the moment, there was no fear left, no doubts plaguing his mind...

'No, what am I doing?'

The moment ended and everything came back to him at once.

He parted from the kiss more harshly than he intended to. "S-Skylar, I'm so sorry, but I-I... I can't do this..."

"N-No, I'm sorry!" Her voice sounded frantic. "I didn't mean to upset you, I... I shouldn't have done that, I wasn't thinking and--"

"You didn't upset me," he shakily corrected, "I-I just... it's so complicated..."

She relaxed, but only slightly. "Do you need to talk about it? I'm more than willing to listen..."

Orion sighed heavily. "I... I feel the same way about you, and I've known that I have for a while, but... I'm really scared. I have so much trauma from what Tiffany put me through. I never want to go through anything like that again. And I know you'd never do that, but it doesn't change the fact that the trauma's still there deep down and nothing will make it go away. You deserve better than someone who's so broken. I'm not a good candidate for a relationship... I'll be nothing but a burden on you, and I-I would want to take things really slowly... too slowly for any reasonable person, a-and... I want to be with you, even if the thought is intimidating, but I just... don't know if it could work..."

"...you... actually feel the same way about me?" 

He nodded silently.

"...I understand that you're scared, but you're not broken. I don't want to hear you talking about yourself so negatively," Skylar began. "What she did to you didn't break you. When I look at you, I see so much more than the scars she left. I-I want you to know that you could never be a burden to me, and... if you really want to be with me... we can take things as slow as you need to. There's no pressure, I promise... I love you for who you are, and that's all that matters to me."

"R-Really...?"

It broke her heart to clearly hear that he had a hard time believing it, but she smiled anyway. "I promise. If you give me -- us -- a chance... I won't take it for granted. I wasn't looking for a relationship either. For my whole life, I hated the prospect of them. I thought that a man would just get in the way of my dreams, like everyone else has. But... you've been nothing but supportive, and honestly, you made it impossible not to fall in love with you. You made me realize that everyone deserves love. You're so full of it, and you spread it everywhere you go... you deserve to be loved in return, Orion. I understand if being in a relationship is too much for you, but regardless, I really believe that we met for a reason. You're so, so special to me... whether you're a friend or something more than that."

"You're really special to me, too," Orion said, managing to return her smile. "You're right... we did meet for a reason, and I know deep down that this love is real... and that this is a chance I have to take. But... please promise that you'll be patient with me. I-I know I'm asking a lot of you, but I don't want things to move too fast all at once... I need time." Truthfully, he felt guilty about his request, like he was dragging her along for a long haul when he was far from worth waiting for... but he couldn't help loving her, as selfish as it seemed to him.

"I have all the time and patience in the world," Skylar said, leaning against him. 

 "T-Then... can I tell you something?"

"Of course you can."

His smile widened. "...I love you too."