Astrophile

Star Boy

The days seemed to blur by in passing shades of color; the olive green of Ranboo's soft eyes, the glinting gold of a tiny toy that Sam was building, the lush, pearly white of Ponk's hair as he read a book near the fire.

Everything was so familiar.

Maybe even too familiar.

For the past few days, Tommy had been distant, more withdrawn from the world around him. When questioned about it by Ranboo, he had responded with a far away smile.

"Just thinking." He had replied.

Now, Tommy was stooped over a box full of cogs and parts, his fingers gently grazing the smooth metal of each item. His mind was elsewhere and Ranboo watched him, his eyebrows pinched together as he stared down at his distant friend.

What could he possibly be thinking of?

"Tommy."

Tommy jumped and toppled off of the box he sat atop. He landed on the ground with a thump and groaned. It must've hurt a lot.

"What the fuck, man?"

"What do you mean? I'm not the one staring into space and stroking metal instruments!"

Tommy was quiet, his head turned downward so that his hair would cut his eyes in shadow.

Ranboo stepped forward, his hands outstretched. "Tell me what's wrong. I've been worried for you and you've been acting so weird lately."

He breathed in a slow breath, his dangling brown hair tickling his eyes as he exhaled.

"You know, Tommy, you can tell me anything. Anything. Even if you murdered someone, you could tell me and-"

"What if we explored the world?"

The question startled Ranboo and he stepped back.

"What?"

"What if we left this town? What if we went to different places and learned about the world? Learned more than what the books could teach or what we are confined to here."

Tommy's eyes cut from the depths of his shining hair, his blue eyes sharp and calculating.

"Tommy, I don't understand-"

"Remember what the librarian said? She said that I should go out there, to not be trapped here in this cage. And maybe she's right! Fuck yeah, I love Sam and Ponk. But we can't reach our full potential here. There's nothing more that they can teach us. We have to be brave and go out there and take the knowledge we need. That we deserve."

"I think you're being hasty-"

"I'm tired of waiting, Boo. We shouldn't be confined here anymore."

"Aren't you scared?" Ranboo blurted, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

"Of what?" Tommy challenged.

But he knew that Sunny knew what he had meant.

"You know."

Tommy's voice was very soft when he spoke.

"We can't be afraid anymore. We have to be brave, Ranboo."

His Adam's apple bobbed and his eyes were gentle, the lovely blue of them pulling Boo in like a net.

"Will you join me?" Tommy asked as he extended a hand towards Ranboo.

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