Work Text:
The sky was painted dark hinted with blue and purple, sprinkled with white dots that shimmered like diamonds in the sky, it was a.. peaceful night.
Amato sat on one of the benches, in his hands he held an orange cap. It has white small spikes poking out on top, the sides was tainted with tad yellow spots resembling a dinosaur, and the back was pinned with a small lightning shaped B. This was his gift to him from his last 13th birthday
He breathe, looking up, gazing at the celestial expanse. Despite seeing these kind of scenery everyday, he couldn't help but feel at awe. There was a major difference between seeing the galaxy from your home planet, observing it's beauty from the ground than watching it from a spaceship, where you're surrounded by it's expanse. If he were to ask he prefers first one.
He then shuts his eyes.
Memories of his past played in his mind, reminiscing the times where he and his boy would go out in the night and enjoy these kind of scenes together.
He remembers his curious eyes sparkle with fascination as he gazed at the vast, They would sit on anything as long as they can see the best view of the sky, either on a bench, on the grass, or even on the steel bar railings infront of the convenient stores.
Together they would chat all night about his day, he would tell him every detail that had happened to him at school, at his soccer practice, or even the dinosaur books he had read. Anything they could think of Throughout the night.
Everything was just perfect.
Suddenly a warm breeze blew on him, curtailing the cold he's been feeling all night.
He opened his eyes, turning to his left, only to see him again.. he saw the boy.
He sat there, wearing his usual attire.
He seems so peaceful, eyes fixated at the sky. He gazed at the boy, seeing his eyes glimmer like the stars. This warmed his heart. A smile formed on his lips, a slight chuckle escaping him.
He shifted his gaze back at the sky before speaking "it's been while since we last did this did we.." "yep" the boy replied with a glee tone.
Amato breathe again before asking "so how was your day?" The boy grinned "it was fun‘he started’ me and Gopal played with his new video game all day" he said reverting his optics at the man "t-that's great, w-what else did you do?" He spoke his breath getting shaky, the boy shifted his gaze back at the vast, seemingly thinking, "ah, me and fang played checkers earlier and i won thanks to tok aba's tips, then we all headed back here on earth, the commander gave us a week off so we decided to plan to go to the beach, everyone is very excited, we were already thinking of fun water games to play, well except for yaya she's not too fond in swimming, for obvious reasons" the boy continued holding a sheepish smile.
It was silent for a while, a tear started to glisten on the corner of his eye. He looked at him again, his heart tugged seeing his face, he can't unsee the image of his son lying lifeless covered with crimson red. He brushed it off, wiping the tear.
The boy hummed at the sight of the man "what's wrong? Are you ok? You seem...gloomy" he asked tilting his head "what? Of course, nothing's wrong boi, I'm fine" the boy frowned shifting his eyes back at the vast "ayah...look at those stars, ‘ pointing his finger at the sky’ they may seem far away but they'll never leave you, they'll always be there for you watching from a far, guiding you through the dark"
The man looked at him holding back his tears before he finally lets them stream down his cheeks.
"Aren't you...mad at me?" The man asked
The boy Went silent shortly and blinked a few times before speaking "not at all ‘he smiled sheepishly’well.. I did got upset..but resentment had done nothing to me but pain" the boy replied with a frown
"I'm scared boi" the teen leaned in to embrace him, amato returning it back "I don't know if I can live without your presence, the letters you send me containing all your stories and adventures..I regret everything..
I'm scared that you'd leave me again"
the man spoke silent sobs between every word "but I won't leave you ayah, no one really leaves, sometimes you won't see them‘he points a finger poking his chest’ but if you use this you will" he looked up giving him a warm smile
"I love you son" he whispered kissing his head not letting him go from his embrace.
He shuts his eyes once more, another warm breeze blowing on him, soon opening his eyes to see the boy gone from his arms left with the orange cap.
Amato fixed his composure, realizing he was leaning against the bench the whole time, dried tears staining his cheeks as he held the cap close to his chest
"Happy birthday boi" he spoke gazing back at the stars whispering his final farewell to his son, grateful for the moment he had with him despite their time being limited.