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“Once upon a time, in a time not so distant from our own, there lived two kings. They were happily in love. They had science and each other. They had a kitty cat named Gio and a puppy dog named Herald—“
“Tatí WE have a puppy dog named Herald and a kitty cat named Gio!!” Naph exclaimed with as much joy and exuberance that a 5 and a half year old could fit into their little body.
“We do! Now let Tatí finish the story, okay?” Viktor smiled, tucking a stray piece of hair behind his ear.
“Okay!” Naph squealed, hazel gold eyes shining with excitement.
“The kings loved their puppy dog and kitty cat very, very much. So they had science, each other and their pets. The kings loved each other very, very, very much. They loved each other so much they got married and soon there was a baby in one of the king’s tummy.”
“How did the baby get in his tummy?! Did he eat it?” Naph asks with genuine concern, little brows furrowed together.
Viktor honestly tries to stifle a laugh from that question. It doesn’t work. He bursts out laughing.
“No, my light, he didn’t eat a baby. They, eh, did magic together.” Viktor says with a shrug.
“Woah! Magic is the coolest!!” Naph says with some faux wisdom.
“Indeed. The story, my light?”
“The baby took 9 months to make his entrance into the world. His name was Naph. The kings loved their prince so very much. The older king, Jayce, had to go visit the newly formed kingdom of Zaun for peace talks. He didn’t want to leave King Viktor and Prince Naph alone, but this was one of his jobs. He had to make peace talks with them. But someone didn’t like King Jayce all that much. So when King Jayce was due to return from Zaun, he didn’t come back. An evil sorcerer turned him into a star. The brightest star in the sky. To mock King Viktor.”
“But Tatí? Why's this special? Where’s my papa?” Naph asked, terribly confused.
“Someone… turned your Papa into the brightest star in the sky. Like the story.” Viktor said, stealthily wiping his tears.
“Can he come back? Can’t you undo the spell?” Naph asked.
“No, my light. There’s no way to come back from being turned into a star.” Viktor sighed.
“So he’s a star forever?” Naph asks with tears welling up.
“I’m afraid so.” Viktor frets, pulling his son closer.
“Can he hear us?”
“He can hear us, see us, and be with us every night.” Viktor affirms.
Naph nods with a newfound solemnity. “Tatí?”
“Yes, lásko?”
“Can we have Papa’s favorite tonight?”
“Of course we can.” Viktor smiles gently.
The night goes along as smoothly as it can after the fact. Dinner is arepas con queso and Guláš. Naph eats the meal with gusto and after that he insists that he can take a bath all by himself! He’s 5 and a HALF. He’s a big boy now!
Viktor nods along sagely, thinking it over. “I hear you when you say you’re a big boy now. I will respect that. But Tatí has to fill the tub. I will be outside the open door if you need something. Those are my terms.”
“I accept!” Naph says with puffed out cheeks, little hand outstretched like a tiny tycoon.
Viktor takes Naph’s hand and shakes it. A deal has been struck. So Viktor fulfills his half of the contract. He readies the bath and sits outside the bathroom, door open. Naph fulfills his half of the contract and bathes himself.
Viktor helps Naph change into his pyjamas and helps him settle in for the night.
“Tatí?”
“Yes, my light?”
“I love you.”
“I love you more.”
“I love you most!”
“I love you utmost!”
Naph dissolves into a puddle of giggles in his unicorn pyjamas.
“Good night sweetheart. I will see you in the morning.”
“See you in the morning Tatí!”
And with that, Viktor flicks on the star projector and walks out of the room. He’s got the door almost closed when he hears the soft thud of little feet on the floor. He listens carefully.
“Hi Papa! Tatí told me what happened. You got turned into a star by a bad guy! Is it hard granting all those wishes? You must have to grant a lot! A bajillion! A gazillion?! But you can hear us!” Naph started.
Viktor wasn’t going to fucking cry. No, he absolutely wasn’t.
“I have a lot of wishes! But I wanna just tell you the important ones. So you can pick which one you wanna grant! Tatí says choices are important. My first wish is that you send someone to make Tatí happy. Like super duper happy! He looks sad a lot. We don’t have a lot of pictures of you around. A lot of them are in Tatí’s room. Sometimes when Abuela Ximena is watching me I go in there to look at you. Don’t tell Tatí that. ‘M not sposed to go in his room without asking. I like your smile a whole bunch!” Naph starts off.
Viktor’s throat feels tight with a swell of emotion. He was… trying to protect Naph from his ache. At least in his room he could cry in peace. Even if it has been 5 years since Jayce’s death. He doesn’t want their son to see him cry.
But Naph continues.
“My second wish is that one day, I get to meet you! But I think I need a shooting star for that! Tatí says they’re not really shooting stars. That’s just what they’re called. They’re really called meatier-oids. Evangeline says shooting stars make wishes come superduper true! She knows because her mommy is a meatier-ologist! She studies meatier-oids so she knows everything about space! Maybe she knows how to turn you back! Cause stars live in space! That’s a fact! Facts are true things Papa! Is space lonely, Papa?” Naph asks.
Viktor has a hand clasped over his mouth while choking back tears. Oh, their sweet little boy. He’d have to talk to him about what meteorologists actually do, but he’s proud of their son's deductions from the words. And remembering that facts are something that is objectively true. Their smart boy.
“I have one last wish Papa. Can you send me a friend? Or an angel? The nicest one you know! No one at school wants to be my friend. Cause I don’t have a Papa. But you’re busy! They say cause you’re gone that you don’t love me. But you’re granting so many wishes every night! Is it hard granting all those wishes Papa? I’m gettin tired Papa. I love you all the way to Pluto and back!”
Viktor is now in tears. He finally poked his head in. He can’t tell anyone what he saw next. But there was Jayce, sitting on the bay window seat, carding his hand through Naph’s soft curls.
He and Viktor locked eyes. Jayce had unshed tears in his eyes, gunshot wound to the forehead visible. He wore his smile though. That same bullshit smile when he’d messed up and was apologizing for it. His toothgap is on display. He mouths softly to Viktor, like he’s in fear of disturbing Naph;
“I’ll find him a friend.” before disappearing into nothingness. Viktor wants to chase him down. But instead he pads to Naph and gently picks him up. He holds him tightly to his chest and plays ‘The Star Song’ as Naph calls it, from The Princess and The Frog. Viktor plays the instrumental version and croons along softly.
“Look how he lights up the sky/ma beau Jayce/so far above me, yet I know/his heart belongs to only me/J’tadore/J’taime/Jayce/You’re my king of the night./So still, so bright/to someone as beautiful as he/who loves someone like me/love always finds a way, it’s true./and I love you, Jayce./Love is beautiful!/Love is wonderful!/Love is everything, don’t you agree?/Mais oui!/Look how he lights up the sky/I love you, Jayce.”
“Te quiero mucho Jayce. Miluji tě tak, tak moc.” Viktor sobs out, putting Naph into his bed, tucking him in.