worth [naib/eli]

chapter 11

Naib had never been this happy since... who knows when. He and Eli's family got along really well, and they didn't mind Naib practically living there. They made him feel at home, and Naib wished he could feel like this forever.

The two of them finished their meal. "Do you want to go outside?" Eli asked Naib. It was getting dark out, and they could probably look at the stars then. They made their way to the empty space in the backyard, laying down next to each other, shoulders brushing. The moon was bright and round today and the stars shimmered like crystals. It made Eli feel a little braver.

He sat up, pulling his knees towards his chest and looking at Naib. He had his eyes closed, his chest rising and falling in a steady motion. Eli couldn't help but blush. He had his eyes on Naib since they first talked to each other. It was a brief interaction but it sparked something in Eli. "Naib," Eli breathed out, almost a whisper. Naib opened his eyes and stared into Eli's blue orbs quizzically. "I..."

"You're really pretty, you know that?" Eli blurted out, before hiding his face in his hands. Naib was doing a double-take, blood rushing to his cheeks. "I- I'm not," Naib couldn't help but laugh at Eli's reaction. "Is this a confession?"

"Maybe... Yes," Eli mumbled into his hands. Naib tried to hold in his laughter but failed. Eli looked up. Naib was covering his mouth, his body shaking from laughing so hard. He was so different from the Naib he knew at school. He was also especially pretty today, his face practically glowing from the moonlight. Eli broke into a smile, before poking Naib playfully.

Naib calmed down, grinning at Eli. "Well, I think you're pretty too," Eli blushed even harder if it was even possible to turn that red. Naib shifted himself closer to Eli, their knees touching. "I'm grateful... for you being my friend, and sticking with me through... everything," Naib was looking at the sky now, his face softening. "But why me? You probably could be with anyone in the school. I'm... worthless compared to them." Naib looked away then. Eli took Naib's hands in his own.

"You're worth everything, Subedar, don't ever doubt that." Naib gripped Eli's hand. Eli never addressed him by his last name, and it made every word so powerful. Naib buried himself in Eli's shoulder, trying not to cry in front of Eli.

Eli pulled Naib into an embrace. "I love you, Subedar," Naib smiled, looking up at Eli's face again. "I love you too, Clark." Eli connected his forehead to Naib's. Naib moved in, kissing Eli by the lips.

---

"Please, no PDA. I'm allergic," William said when he saw Eli and Naib approach, hand in hand. Naib laughed. He had gotten closer to William and he'd help William out with any academic-related problem, while William would protect him from anyone who has shit to pull. But most of the time that is something Eli was in charge of. "We're cute, admit it." Naib elbowed William jokingly and he made a disgusted face in response, shaking his head but grinning. Eli laughed and the three of them made their way to school.

Norton had been suspended after the school found out about all the problems he had. Eli still thought the punishment wasn't severe enough, but he was happy to hear that Norton got pulled out of their school eventually. Naib was showered with kisses when Eli found out.

That was when William got the PDA allergy.