Astronomy:When Stars and Planets Align.

chapter xii

North didn't get a chance to talk to Night yet about this whole thing, and it seemed like Night was avoiding him, too. Night didn't even bicker with him and just accepted whatever North was saying even though North knew the younger was probably fuming inside. North didn't like that at all. It was all so foreign to him. It wasn't like them. It wasn't their dynamic. Granted that Night couldn't remember half of his life and probably didn't know what their dynamic was.

"Dr Night." North addressed the younger who was busy grading some papers in his office. Night looked up at him with doe eyes brown eyes, which looked a bit glassy, probably from irritation.

"Are you okay?" North asked.

"Yes, Prof North, I am. Why wouldn't I be?" Night said in response.

"It's just that you don't seem like yourself." North replied.

"I am sorry, Prof North, but we've only known each other for a few days. How would you know what I actually am like?" Night said in response, which triggered something within North.

"Your favorite color is baby blue. Your favorite food is spicy food, especially anything from the Isaan region. You want to travel to Norway one day so you can see the Northern lights because you've always been fascinated by them. Your favorite constellation is Aquila, but you also like Orion." North replied, not actually sure what he was doing, but it felt like he had to say it.

"How did you - how do you know all of that?" Night asked, flattering a bit. The cold persona he had put on in front of North dissipating.

"I know you better than you think Night." North said in response.

"Do we know each other? Did we know each other from before?" Night asked. He sounded hopeful yet maybe a little scared. North didn't know if he should tell Night all about their history, but he also didn't want to lie to the younger.

"We used to be close to you and I." North said in response, and he heard Night inhale sharply.

"Why? Why didn't you tell me?" Night asked, eyes glassy as if holding in unshed tears. North so badly wanted to hug him, to bring him comfort.

"I didn't know how to." North said honestly, "I had thought you disappeared on me. I was hurt, worried, and hopeful at the same time. When the police informed your cousin and I that your case was put away years after your disappearance because there was nothing they could do. I- I was hurt and disgruntled, but..." North trailed off.

"My cousin?" Night asked. Eyes brimming with tears and cheeks flushed.

"Yes. Sun. She's married to my best friend. They are both like sisters to me, and they are the closest thing to a family for me." North replied. He could feel the corners of his eyes pricling with tears.

"I- I have a cousin, and she thought I disappeared." Night said, dazed, and it seemed like he was summarizing the information being provided to him. As if he was trying to make sense of it all.

"You also have a baby cousin. She's the cutest thing in existence. She's very smart too. The staff around here usually jokes that she's my daughter because I always brag about her so much." North said fondly.

"I- can I meet them?" Night asked, his voice thick with emotions.

"Of course. Sun wanted to drive here the first time I told her you were back, but she had a work engagement. That's why they are coming over on Friday." North said in response.

"I-" Night took a steadying breath, "Thank you." Night said a little bit more composed.

"No need to thank me Night. I think Sun will be happy to see you after all of these years. She was worried sick. We all were." North replied.

"Were we close?" Night asked.

"Yes." Was North's answer. They were more than close. Night was the one boy he had loved more than anything. The one person he possibly still loves more than anything. "We were very close." He added, his throat tightening up, and he felt like he was going to cry.

"Can I hug you?" Night asked, and North nodded because he didn't trust his voice to be steady enough to give a verbal response.

"I am sorry for worrying you. I didn't know. I didn't remember. I hardly have any memories of my mother, let alone..." Night said, sniffling. North could feel the dampness of warm tears of his white dress shirt to know that Night was crying. He instinctively tightened his arms around the younger.

"It's okay. It's not your fault." He said softly. His voice was unsteady as he blinked tears away.

"North I-" he heard Ella's voice, and they broke the hug with Night subtly turning away to wipe tears off his face with the back of his hand. "North, what did you do?" Ella bellowed.

"I didn't do anything." North defended himself. He really didn't do anything, kinda. The point was he didn't deliberately make Night cry.

"Dr Night, are you okay?" Ella said, pushing past him.

"I am okay, Prof Ella. I just got a little emotional." Night said with a small smile that didn't reach his eyes. His eyes were glassy and red-rimmed.

"Did North do something to you? I know he can be a pain in the ass sometimes. Arrogant and egotistical, but he means no harm." Ella said, slandering him.

"I am right here, you know?" North said.

"No. Prof Ella P'North didn't do anything. He has been very helpful, actually." Night said with a small chuckle.

"Oh that's- that's surprising but good. I am glad you are okay." Ella said, squeezing Night's shoulders a bit.

"No apology?" North said to Ella, who in turn rolled her eyes.

"No. Because I wouldn't have been surprised because you've made everyone who's ever worked with you cry. The executive director specifically asked us not to give you any TA's or interns. So, was I wrong in assuming you made Dr. Night cry?" Ella said in rebuttal.

"You know P'Ella, you make me sound like a villain." North complained.

"You are one." Ella said in response.

"You know P'Ella if you keep being mean to me. I am going to start to think that you are in love with or something." North said and the older rolled her eyes at him, looking exasperated with him.

"Anyway. I came to bring you guys your invitations for the Friday event and materials regarding the event so you can look it up." Ella said handing Night an enveloped set of documents. "Bye for now and good luck with this one. Remember Dr Night if he gives you any problems contact me." Ella said to Night completely ignoring North.

"The crush you have on me isn't at all subtle P'Ella." North said to annoy the older as she left his office.

"You and P'Ella seem really close." Night commented.

"Oh yeah she's really cool. Probably one of the rare people who gets my personality in this workplace." North replied.

"Do you like her?" Night asked sounding a bit hesitant like he didn't mean to ask that question and it just slipped out of him.

"I mean I guess. She was my mentor and although I was stubborn as a mule she never gave up on me you know. She's always been patient." North replied.

"Oh. I see." Was Night's response. And then it clicked. North laughed a bit.

"Night. Did you mean to ask me if I like like P'Ella?" North asked and laughed when Night became flustered. "Night I am gay." He said.

"Oh. Oh. I- gosh this is so unprofessional of me. Sorry for- I will just go and prepare for class or maybe die of embarrassment whichever comes first." Night said a shade of red at this point which was amusing to see.

"See you in class nong'Night." North called out as the younger hurriedly and clumsily walked out of his office.