Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Gathering the truth

The squad room was in ruins.

The sharp scent of gunpowder and burnt wiring still lingered in the air. Bullet holes lined the walls, scattered case files lay crumpled underfoot, and the faint hum of damaged electronics filled the silence. The fluorescent lights flickered slightly, as if the building itself had felt the impact of the attack.

But despite everything—

They were still standing.

Santa let out a long, exhausted breath, dragging a hand through his hair. "Well. That sucked."

Dunk, still gripping his gun, stared at the shattered glass doors. "I don’t get it." His voice was edged with confusion and frustration. "They had the firepower to wipe us out. Why stop?"

Joong, crouched behind an overturned table, checked his gun before straightening. His jaw was tight, unreadable. "Because they weren’t trying to kill us."

Perth, still at his workstation, pulled up the corrupted surveillance feeds. His fingers moved quickly, eyes darting between broken data points. His voice was calm, clipped—but there was tension in his shoulders. "They didn’t even push inside."

Sky stood near the wreckage of the whiteboard, arms crossed, surveying the damage. "They were sending a message." His voice was steady, too steady.

Santa scoffed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, message received. Loud and clear."

A beat of silence followed.

Then—Dunk blew out a breath and collapsed into the nearest chair. "I swear to god, we need a raise."

Santa smirked. "You don’t even do enough work to deserve one."

Dunk shot him a glare. "Excuse me? I got SHOT remember."

Joong sighed, rubbing his temples. "That was your own fault."

Dunk threw up his hands. "Okay, you fall through a skylight ONE TIME and suddenly it’s all your fault?"

Perth, not even looking up from his screen, deadpanned, "Yes."

A small chuckle rippled through the group, tension easing just a little.

But Nani remained silent.

He stood a little apart from them, hands clenched at his sides. His gaze swept over the bullet-riddled walls, the shattered windows, the debris that littered the ground—

And for a moment, he wasn’t here.

The scene blurred. Familiar. Too familiar.

Smoke. Fire. Blood on his hands.

Gunfire echoing in the night.

A voice calling his name—Run, Nani. Don’t look back.

His breath hitched.

It was happening again.

---

The Squad Pulls Him Back

A hand landed on his shoulder. Firm. Grounding.

Nani blinked. Reality snapped back into focus.

Santa’s voice was uncharacteristically light. “You good, pretty boy?”

Nani exhaled slowly, forcing himself to nod. “…Yeah.”

Santa didn’t move. Didn’t remove his hand. “You don’t look good.”

Joong, watching from nearby, crossed his arms. "If you're going to lie, at least do it convincingly."

Dunk, sprawled in his chair, waved a hand. "Dude. If you're gonna have a breakdown, can you do it AFTER we clean this mess up?"

Nani shot him a flat look. “Wow. Thanks for the support.”

Dunk grinned. “Anytime.”

Perth, typing away, didn’t even glance up. “We all process trauma differently. Dunk’s just an idiot about it.”

Dunk scoffed, holding a hand over his heart. "Wow. Hurtful."

Santa, still watching Nani closely, squeezed his shoulder once before letting go. “You need to sit?”

Nani shook his head. “I’m fine.”

Joong hummed, unconvinced. “Right. That’s why you’re standing like you just saw a ghost.”

Nani’s chest tightened. A ghost.

Because, in a way—he had.

Sky, silent until now, finally spoke. “He’s not pushing this time.”

The squad turned toward him.

"Jason, he wants us to play his game."

Sky’s dark gaze was locked onto Nani—not just watching, but assessing.

Making sure he was still here.

And Nani?

Nani met his eyes.

And felt something shift.

Because Sky knew.

Knew what it was like to carry ghosts.

Knew what it was like to feel a past creeping up, threatening to swallow you whole.

And he wasn’t looking away.

Not from him.

Not from this.

A moment of silence passed between them.

Then—Perth broke it.

"So, uh... just putting it out there—HQ got SHOT UP. We should probably tell someone?"

Joong pinched the bridge of his nose. “God, I hate that you have a point.”

Santa sighed, shaking his head. “Yeah, yeah. Let’s call Dad.”

Nani frowned. "Who?"

Dunk smirked. “Chief Sakda, obviously.”

And just like that—things felt a little normal again.

Even if normal wouldn’t last.

-----

A Father's Worry

The squad had barely begun clearing the wreckage when the heavy double doors slammed open.

Chief Sakda strode in first, his usual easy-going demeanor nowhere to be seen. His sharp gaze swept the room, taking in the damage—the bullet-riddled walls, the shattered glass, the squad standing amid the wreckage.

Then his eyes landed on Sky.

And just like that, his entire expression shifted.

His voice dropped, quieter, but filled with weight.

“Are you hurt?”

Sky, standing near the ruined crime board, met his gaze evenly. “No.”

Sakda took two steps closer, looking him over. “Don’t lie to me.”

Dew followed closely behind, his usual calm, composed expression marred with something much sharper. He looked at the bullet holes in the walls—then at his younger brother.

“Sky.” His voice was measured, controlled. Too controlled.

Sky sighed, knowing exactly what was coming.

“I’m fine.”

Dew’s sharp green eyes flickered toward Joong, Santa, and Dunk. "Is he?"

Dunk snorted. "Physically? Sure. Mentally? The jury’s still out."

Santa smirked. “Our fearless leader is too stubborn to die.”

Sky shot them both a flat look. “You’re not helping.”

Dew ignored them, turning back to his brother. His voice softened, just slightly. "I told you to watch your back."

Sky exhaled. "And I did."

Dew's jaw tightened, but before he could say more—

Sakda turned to the squad.

His gaze lingered on Nani.

Nani, who stood slightly apart from the group.

Nani, who looked too still.

Nani, who had nearly been taken.

Sakda exhaled, dragging a hand down his face.

"Damn it, kid."

Nani blinked. “…Me?”

Sakda shot him a look. “Yes, you.”

Dunk grinned. “Welcome to the family, Nani. You now officially qualify for a disappointed father speech.”

Santa leaned against the table. “It's a rite of passage, really.”

Sakda ignored them, stepping closer to Nani. His voice dropped slightly, quieter, more serious.

“Are you okay?”

Nani hesitated.

Because…was he?

He wasn’t injured.

He wasn’t dead.

But was he okay?

Sakda waited. Patient, but not letting him escape the question.

Nani exhaled. “…I will be.”

Sakda’s eyes softened just slightly.

“Good.”

He patted Nani’s shoulder once—solid, grounding.

Then, looking at the squad again, he muttered, “You idiots are going to give me gray hair.”

Joong smirked. "Already happening, Chief."

Sakda shot him a look. "Watch it."

Dunk whistled. "Damn. Sky really is your favorite, huh?"

Sakda didn’t even hesitate.

"Obviously."

Sky groaned. "Can we focus?"

Then—before anyone could answer—

The doors opened again.

And Chief Thanawat walked in.

----

Damage Control

If Sakda was the kind of superior who treated his squad like family, then Head Chief Thanawat was the kind of man who commanded a room just by existing in it.

Dressed in his signature dark suit, his sharp eyes scanned the wreckage with unreadable precision. But when they landed on Nani—

Something shifted.

It was brief—a flicker of something deeper, something personal.

Then, he turned to Sky.

"Report."

Sky didn’t hesitate. “HQ was targeted. Precision attack. Message sent, not a full takeover.”

Thanawat nodded, already expecting as much.

Behind him, Captain Ohm and Chief Peeta followed, looking equally grim.

Ohm muttered, “We’ve got damage control in place. But this isn’t just a security breach.”

Peeta’s voice was sharp. “It’s a declaration.”

Santa scoffed. “Yeah, we figured.”

Thanawat’s gaze flickered toward the wreckage, then back to the squad.

“Effective immediately, this facility is compromised.”

Dunk’s brows shot up. “Wait, wait, wait—you mean—”

Thanawat’s tone was final. “You’re relocating.”

Silence.

Then—Joong exhaled. “…Figured that was coming.”

Perth, already pulling up maps on his tablet, murmured, "I can scout alternate locations.”

Thanawat gave a small nod but then-

A voice crackled through the speaker.

"Sir, Agent Laurent is here. He’s demanding a private meeting."

The squad tensed.

Thanawat didn’t even blink.

"Demanding?" His voice was calm. Too calm.

Sky exhaled slowly. "That didn’t take long."

Sakda folded his arms. "They never waste time when they want something."

Dew, standing beside Sky, muttered, "They think they can push us around."

Thanawat smirked. "Let’s remind them they can’t."

He turned to the intercom.

"Bring him here."

A pause. The officer on the other end hesitated.

"Sir, Agent Laurent requested to speak privately—"

"And I requested him here," Thanawat cut in smoothly. "Unless Interpol plans to issue orders inside my department?"

Silence.

Then—

"Understood, sir."

Sky’s lips twitched slightly. "That was fun to watch."

Thanawat didn’t react. He simply turned to the squad. "Stay."

Dunk, slouching in his chair, muttered, "Damn. And here I thought I’d get a break."

Santa smirked. "This is the break."

Joong, still watching the door, didn’t relax. "Laurent’s going to be pissed."

Perth’s fingers hovered over his keyboard. "Good."

Then—the doors opened.

And Agent Laurent stepped inside.

---

The Stand-Off

Laurent entered like he owned the place.

Dressed in a crisp dark suit, his expression perfectly composed, perfectly unreadable. His gaze flickered over the wreckage, the bullet holes, the tension in the air.

Then, his sharp blue eyes landed on Nani.

Something unreadable flashed across his face.

But before he could speak—

Thanawat stepped forward.

And just like that, Laurent’s attention snapped to him.

Thanawat didn’t move aggressively. Didn’t raise his voice.

But he didn’t need to.

His presence was enough.

His tone—smooth, cold, dangerously controlled.

"You’re in my house, Agent Laurent."

Laurent’s jaw tightened slightly. "Interpol has jurisdiction in international—"

Thanawat cut him off.

"This is Thailand. My jurisdiction."

Laurent’s lips pressed into a thin line.

Sky watched the exchange with interest.

Santa muttered under his breath, "Oh, this is going to be good."

Laurent exhaled sharply, adjusting his cuffs. "Thanawat. We don’t have time for this."

Thanawat tilted his head. "Then don’t waste it."

Laurent’s patience was wearing thin.

He gestured toward Nani. "You know why I’m here."

Thanawat’s gaze flickered—just briefly—toward Nani.

Then, smoothly, he turned back to Laurent.

"Yes. And the answer is no."

The squad stilled.

Laurent blinked. "Excuse me?"

Thanawat stepped closer, his voice low and firm.

"Interpol wants Nani. They don’t get him."

Laurent’s lips curled into a tight, humorless smile. "That’s not your decision."

Thanawat smirked. "It just became mine."

Silence.

The tension crackled.

Laurent’s jaw tightened. "Interpol has the resources to protect him. You don’t."

Thanawat laughed softly. "You mean like how you protected Thanom?"

Laurent froze.

The squad tensed.

Sky’s grip on his arms tightened.

Santa and Dunk exchanged a sharp look.

Even Nani felt his breath hitch.

Laurent’s composure cracked. Just slightly.

Thanawat’s voice was deadly quiet. "Tell me, Laurent. Should I trust you with another life? Or will this one end the same way?"

Laurent’s fingers curled into a tight fist.

But he didn’t speak.

Because he couldn’t.

Because he knew.

Thanawat wasn’t just rejecting Interpol’s authority.

He was making a statement.

A declaration.

Interpol had lost Thanom.

They wouldn’t take Nani.

Laurent exhaled sharply, forcing himself to regain control.

"Thanawat," he said slowly, carefully choosing his words.

"We’re both after the same thing."

Thanawat’s voice remained cold. "No. You’re after information. I’m protecting my people."

Laurent studied him, gaze sharp.

Then—he sighed.

"Fine." His voice was clipped, unwilling. "We won’t take him."

Nani’s stomach twisted.

Sky’s expression didn’t change. "But?"

Laurent smirked slightly.

"But we’re sending backup."

The squad exchanged glances.

Thanawat’s voice was neutral. "Backup."

Laurent nodded. "A team. They’ll assist in securing a new location. And they’ll be watching."

Santa muttered, "So, babysitters."

Laurent didn’t deny it.

Thanawat let the silence drag. Let Laurent feel the weight of the moment.

Then, finally, he exhaled. "Fine. But they take orders from me."

Laurent hesitated.

Then, reluctantly, he nodded. "Understood."

-----

Laurent gave one last look at Nani.

Nani held his gaze.

And for the first time—Laurent looked like he actually wanted to say something.

But he didn’t.

He simply turned and walked out.

The doors closed behind him.

The squad exhaled.

Dunk whistled. "Damn, Chief. That was—"

Santa smirked. "Hot?"

Dunk rolled his eyes. "No, intense."

Joong sighed, rubbing his temple. "I can’t believe that worked."

Thanawat didn’t even acknowledge them. He simply turned back to Nani.

And this time—his expression wasn’t just the cold, professional leader.

It was something else.

Something personal.

His voice softened just slightly.

"Now that Interpol is out of the way..."

He met Nani’s gaze.

"We need to talk."

Nani froze.

Because he knew what was coming.

And he wasn’t ready for it.

But ready or not—it was time.

-----

The truth that buried for three years

The silence in the room was thick.

Heavy.

Unbearable.

The doors had shut. The outside world had faded.

Only five remained.

Thanawat.

Sakda.

Dew.

Sky.

Nani.

For a long moment, no one spoke.

Nani stood stiffly, arms crossed tightly over his chest, his mind still reeling from the attack at HQ.

Sky was beside him—close, steady, unreadable.

Sakda sat at the head of the table, looking more tired than usual. Dew leaned against the wall, arms folded, a rare seriousness in his expression.

And Thanawat—

Thanawat stood near the window, looking out as if collecting his thoughts.

When he finally turned, his sharp eyes locked onto Nani.

And everything shifted.

"Let me tell you a story," Thanawat began.

His voice was low. Controlled.

But there was something beneath it.

Something tired. Worn. Haunted.

Nani inhaled sharply. He already knew where this was going.

Three years ago.

The operation that changed everything.

The mission that nearly killed him.

Thanawat took a slow breath. "There was an operation. Highly classified. Off the books."

Nani clenched his jaw. "I know. I was in it."

Thanawat’s gaze didn’t waver. "Yes. But there’s more you don’t know."

Sky, arms crossed, frowned slightly. Listening. Watching.

Thanawat’s voice remained steady. "There was only one person who knew your true identity in that operation."

Nani exhaled sharply. "Thanom."

Thanawat nodded once. "Yes."

Silence.

Then—

Thanawat’s next words were soft but shattering.

"Thanom was my partner."

Nani froze.

The words slammed into him like a punch to the chest.

The air in the room shifted.

Sakda closed his eyes. Dew stiffened.

And Sky—

Sky’s fingers tightened against his arms.

Nani’s breath came too fast.

His vision blurred at the edges.

He couldn’t process it.

He couldn’t breathe.

Thanom.

The man who had saved him.

The man who had died for him.

The man he had spent three years grieving—

Had been Thanawat’s everything.

His partner. His love.

His life.

Nani staggered back a step.

His legs felt weak.

His mind reeled.

Because suddenly—it all made sense.

The way Thanawat protected him.

The way Interpol’s betrayal still burned in his eyes.

The way Thanawat had fought to keep Nani out of their hands.

Because Nani wasn’t just some undercover agent.

He was the last piece of Thanom’s unfinished story.

Thanawat’s voice was quiet but firm.

"Thanom died protecting you."

Nani’s hands curled into fists. "I KNOW THAT!"

His voice was too loud.

Too broken.

Thanawat didn’t flinch. He just kept watching him.

"He didn’t do it for duty, Nani." His voice softened. "He did it because he believed in you."

Nani’s breath hitched.

Because that—

That was worse.

Thanawat inhaled slowly. "I should have hated you."

The words stabbed.

Nani’s stomach dropped.

Thanawat’s gaze flickered. "I wanted to."

Silence.

Nani’s entire body felt cold.

He forced himself to speak, voice hollow. "So why didn’t you?"

Thanawat held his gaze.

"Because Thanom wouldn’t have wanted that."

The room was suffocating now.

Sky hadn’t moved.

But Nani could feel him beside him—solid, steady, warm.

And right now, he needed that.

Because Thanawat’s words were tearing him apart.

Sakda finally sighed, breaking the silence. "Thanawat came to me after that mission."

Nani turned, heart still pounding. "What?"

Sakda’s gaze was soft and heavy. "He came to me asking for help. You were badly injured. Your records were erased. You need protection."

Nani’s chest tightened.

Sakda exhaled. "I didn’t know the full story. But I knew one thing."

His eyes flicked toward Sky.

"You needed someone who wouldn’t just protect you."

He glanced back at Nani. "You needed someone who wouldn’t stop looking for the truth."

Dew’s voice was quiet. "That’s why you put him under Sky?"

Sakda nodded. "I knew Sky wouldn’t just keep you alive. He’d make sure you survived."

Everything clicked.

The reason Nani had been assigned to this squad. The reason Sky had been the one to watch over him.

And suddenly—

Sky stiffened.

His sharp mind connected the dots a second too late.

His eyes darkened. "You put him under my protection—without telling me anything?"

Sakda exhaled. "We couldn’t risk compromising his recovery."

Sky’s jaw clenched. "You used me."

Sakda’s voice was firm. "We trusted you."

Sky didn’t look convinced.

His eyes flickered toward Nani—searching.

And Nani—

Nani just felt numb.

Because none of this changed the past.

None of this brought Thanom back.

None of this erased the guilt in his chest.

Thanawat finally spoke again, voice quieter now.

"You weren’t supposed to carry this alone, Nani."

Nani swallowed hard. "Then why does it still feel like I am?"

Thanawat’s gaze was unwavering. "Because you haven’t let go."

The words ripped through him.

Nani couldn’t breathe.

The weight in his chest was suffocating.

He was drowning in it.

Thanawat’s words echoed in his head.

"Thanom died protecting you."

"He did it because he believed in you."

"You weren’t supposed to carry this alone, Nani."

But he had.

For three years.

Every day.

Every night.

Every moment he thought he had forgotten—

He had carried it alone.

His hands curled into fists, his nails digging into his palms. His pulse thundered in his ears.

His chest was too tight, too full—

He had to hold it in.

Had to stay standing.

Had to—

His breath hitched.

The sound barely made it past his throat. But Sky—

Sky heard it.

And that was all it took.

Before Nani could react—

Sky was there.

A hand on his wrist—gentle but firm. A quiet pull—not forceful, but unyielding.

And then—

Arms around him.

Warm. Solid. Real.

Nani’s breath caught.

His entire body locked up, stiff, frozen—

And then—broke.

His fists loosened. His shoulders shook.

The first breath was sharp.

The second—unsteady.

The third—silent.

And then—

He sank.

Not all at once. Not dramatically.

But enough.

Enough that Sky held him tighter.

Enough that his hands found the back of Sky’s jacket.

Enough that, for the first time in three years, he let himself lean on someone else.

The silence in the room was heavy.

No one spoke. No one moved.

Dew looked away, jaw tight.

Sakda exhaled slowly, closing his eyes for a beat.

Thanawat’s expression didn’t change—but there was something in his eyes.

Something that said he understood.

And Sky—

Sky didn’t say a word.

He just held Nani closer.

Like it was obvious. Like it wasn’t even a question.

Like it was already decided.

Nani’s breath was still uneven.

Sky could feel it—against his chest, his shoulder, his fingers curled in Nani’s jacket.

And so—

He did what he always did.

Grounded him.

Sky’s hand slid to the nape of Nani’s neck, his fingers steady, soothing.

A quiet touch—anchoring.

His voice, when it came, was low. Quiet. Unshaken.

"You’re not alone."

Nani’s grip on him tightened.

Because that—that was what broke him the most.

Because for the first time in three years—

He wasn’t.

-----

The moment stretched. Too raw. Too real.

But before anyone could speak—

Sky’s phone vibrated.

Once.

Twice.

Then—a third time.

Urgent.

A silent message.

Sky didn’t let go. Didn’t pull away.

He just exhaled. "We’re not done here."

Nani swallowed hard, pulling back just enough to look at him.

His eyes were red-rimmed. Tired. Exposed.

And Sky?

Sky looked at him like he had already decided.

Like he was going to protect him. No matter what.

Then, finally—

Sky glanced at his phone. Checked the message.

And his jaw tightened.

Something had happened.

Sakda saw it. "Sky?"

Sky didn’t answer immediately.

His grip on Nani’s wrist didn’t loosen.

But when he finally spoke, his voice was calm. Colder. Sharper.

"We have a problem."

And just like that—

The moment was over