Chapter 31: Chapter 31: The Unspoken Promise

The steady beep of the heart monitor was the only sound in the room.

Sky lay motionless. Bruised, battered, breathing—but unconscious.

The doctors had called it a miracle.

A fall like that should’ve killed him.

But Sky Wongravee was too stubborn to die.

Nani sat beside him, barely moving, barely blinking.

His own wounds ached, throbbed, screamed—but none of it mattered.

Because Sky wasn’t awake.

And until he was—Nani wasn’t leaving.

---

The Fear of Losing Him

Nani’s fingers curled into the sheets.

The doctors had said Sky was stable.

That his injuries weren’t as fatal as they had feared.

That he would wake up.

But when?

No one had an answer.

And Nani—Nani couldn’t breathe.

His chest felt tight, like something was pressing down on him, suffocating him from the inside.

His hands trembled.

Not from pain.

Not from exhaustion.

From fear.

Because Sky hadn’t moved in hours.

And what if—

What if he never did?

---

Nani gritted his teeth, swallowing against the lump in his throat.

This was his fault.

If Sky had just let Jason go—

If Sky hadn’t tried to protect him—

If Sky hadn’t thrown himself into that fight—

If, if, if.

Nani hated that word.

Because now—Sky was here.

Unmoving. Unconscious. Barely breathing.

And it was all because of him.

His fingers tightened into fists.

"Wake up," he whispered.

His voice cracked.

He cleared his throat and tried again.

"Sky… please."

No response.

Nani’s breathing stuttered.

His vision blurred.

He couldn’t lose him.

Not like this.

Not because of him.

A broken, quiet voice escaped.

"I—I don’t know what to do if you don’t wake up."

His fingers found Sky’s hand, gripping it tightly.

His own hands were so cold.

But Sky’s were even colder.

Nani hated that.

He hated everything about this.

He hated how helpless he felt.

He hated how much it hurt.

He hated how much he needed Sky to wake up.

But mostly—

He hated himself.

Because he had promised—promised—that he wouldn’t let anyone else get hurt because of him.

And yet here they were.

Sky was in a hospital bed.

Because of him.

---

Outside the hospital room, Dew leaned against the wall, arms crossed, exhaustion weighing on him.

Sakda stood beside him, looking through the glass window at his youngest brother.

And at Nani—who refused to leave Sky’s side.

Auntie Malee sighed. “That boy is going to collapse before Sky even wakes up.”

Dew exhaled sharply. “You think he’d listen if we told him that?”

Sakda shook his head. “Not a chance.”

Dew muttered, “Figures.”

Joong, sitting on one of the chairs in the hallway, stretched his legs. “How long has he been awake?”

Perth, still glued to his laptop, didn’t look up. “Since they brought Sky in.”

Dunk, pacing back and forth, sighed. “This is not healthy.”

Santa smirked. “Yeah, well, neither is falling off a cliff, but that didn’t stop Sky.”

Dew ran a hand down his face. “We need to get him to rest.”

Joong arched a brow. “And how do you suggest we do that?”

Santa grinned. “Drug him.”

Auntie Malee slapped the back of his head.

Santa yelped. “Okay, okay—kidding! Damn.”

Dunk, ever the unfiltered one, muttered, “Why don’t we just roll another hospital bed in there?”

Sakda exhaled heavily. “Because that’s not—”

Dew suddenly straightened.

“Wait.”

Santa’s eyes widened. “Wait, wait, are we actually doing this?”

Dew didn’t answer. He simply turned to the medical staff.

“Move his bed in there.”

The nurses hesitated. “Sir, that’s not—”

Dew shot them a look.

“Do it.”

---

Nani hadn’t moved in hours.

He hadn’t slept.

Hadn’t eaten.

Hadn’t even let go of Sky’s hand.

His body screamed for rest, but he refused to listen.

Until—

The world tilted.

The room spun.

And black spots clouded his vision.

His fingers slackened.

His grip on Sky’s hand loosened.

He swayed—

And then collapsed.

Right onto Sky’s bed.

The nurses rushed forward, but Auntie Malee stopped them.

“Let him be.”

Dew sighed, rubbing his temples. “He’s going to be pissed when he wakes up.”

Sakda’s lips twitched. “Then we’ll deal with it later.”

Minutes later—

Nani’s hospital bed was placed right beside Sky’s.

And even in his unconscious state—his fingers searched.

Until they found Sky’s hand again.

And this time—he didn’t let go.

-----

The hallway outside Sky’s hospital room had become an unofficial base of operations.

Takeout containers were stacked on the chairs. Coffee cups—some fresh, some long abandoned—littered the nearby table. Half of the squad looked ready to pass out, but none of them made a move to leave.

Because no one was going home until Sky woke up.

Santa was slouched in a chair, balancing a juice box on his knee. “Okay, but—” He waved vaguely toward the hospital bed where Nani was now half-draped over Sky’s arm. “Are we sure Sky’s not going to wake up and murder us for this?”

Joong smirked, arms crossed. “He’s going to murder you first.”

Dunk, sitting on the floor with his head against the wall, nodded. “Then me.”

Perth, still glued to his laptop, hummed. “I’d say I’m safe, but I did help hack into his medical records, so…”

Santa sighed dramatically. “Well. At least we die as a team.”

Joong rubbed his temples. “Can you not be this annoying when we’re all exhausted?”

Santa grinned. “No promises.”

Dunk, ever the agent of chaos, nudged Joong with his foot. “But, bro, be real—are we not going to talk about how Sky and Nani are basically clinging to each other?”

Joong sighed. “Dunk—”

Santa leaned forward, hands on his knees. “No, no, let’s talk about it.”

Dew, who had been standing silently, finally snapped.

He turned, facing all of them with a scowl.

“Are you all actually serious right now?” Dew hissed.

The squad went still.

Because Dew never snapped.

His jaw was tight, his posture rigid—his exhaustion had finally boiled over.

“You think this is funny?” Dew’s voice was low, sharp. “Sky almost died—I watched it happen.”

Silence.

Santa swallowed. “Dew—”

Dew exhaled harshly, dragging a hand down his face. “I saw him hit the water. I was the one screaming his name. And maybe—just maybe—shut the fuck up for five minutes.”

Santa looked genuinely guilty.

Even Dunk, for once, didn’t have a snarky remark.

Joong sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “You’re right.” His voice was softer now.

Perth, still staring at the screen, muttered, “We just don’t know what to do.”

No one did.

Because this wasn’t a case they could solve.

No plan, no strategy, no backup team could force Sky to wake up.

So they were helpless.

And none of them were used to feeling that way.

Sakda finally broke the silence.

“Sky will wake up.” His voice was calm and steady. Certain.

Dew exhaled through his nose. “And if he doesn’t?”

Sakda’s gaze flickered to the glass window.

To Nani—curled up beside Sky, refusing to let go.

He turned back to them.

“Then he’s got a damn good reason to fight his way back.”

The squad didn’t respond.

Because for the first time since the battle ended—

They actually believed it.

-----

A Fragile Return

The world felt heavy.

Like he was drowning in a haze too thick to escape.

Sky tried to move—failed.

Every muscle ached. His ribs throbbed with each slow, unsteady breath. His mind felt sluggish, like it was wading through water.

Something was different.

The quiet wasn’t empty.

There was warmth beside him.

The scent of antiseptic lingered in the air, mixing with something softer—something familiar.

Then—a voice.

Gentle. Steady.

“About damn time, boy.”

Sky’s brows furrowed. His eyelids felt like bricks as he forced them open—

Bright lights. A ceiling he didn’t recognize. A steady beeping.

A hospital.

He was alive.

His gaze shifted, blurry at first. Then—Auntie Malee.

She stood beside the bed, arms crossed, but there was relief hidden beneath the usual sharpness in her voice.

Sky blinked slowly. His voice came out hoarse. “...Ma?”

Auntie Malee exhaled, shaking her head. “No, I’m the Grim Reaper, here to take your dumb ass for scaring us half to death.”

Sky let out a weak chuckle—which immediately turned into a wince.

His ribs protested the movement, pain sharp and unforgiving.

Auntie Malee tsked. “Don’t be stupid. You’re full of stitches. Stop moving before you undo them.”

Sky swallowed, licking his dry lips. There was something missing.

Someone.

His fingers twitched against the sheets—and there.

Something solid. Warm.

A presence beside him.

Sky turned his head slowly.

And his heart stopped.

Nani.

Not in a chair. Not across the room.

Right beside him.

Lying on a hospital bed pushed close against his.

His body curled toward Sky, as if even in sleep, he refused to be apart.

Sky swallowed hard.

Nani’s face was pale, his arm heavily bandaged. His breathing was slow, steady—but there were dark shadows under his eyes, signs of exhaustion clinging to him like a ghost.

He looked—fragile.

Sky hated it.

Auntie Malee must have caught his expression because she sighed.

“He didn’t leave your side for three days,” she murmured.

Sky’s fingers curled slightly.

“Three days?”

Auntie Malee nodded. “Didn’t eat. Barely slept. Stubborn brat refused to move until his own body gave out.”

Sky’s chest ached—not just from the wounds.

He exhaled slowly, and the gaze was still fixed on Nani.

Auntie Malee’s voice softened. “He needed to know you’d wake up.”

Sky licked his lips, voice quieter.

“...And now that I have?”

Auntie Malee smirked, patting his leg. “Now he can yell at you properly.”

Sky’s brows furrowed—but before he could ask—

Nani stirred.

Sky froze.

His breath caught as Nani’s lashes fluttered. A small frown tugged at his lips before his eyes slowly opened—

Dark. Bleary. Confused.

Then—

His gaze landed on Sky.

And everything cracked.

Nani’s breath hitched. His entire body went still.

For a moment—neither of them moved.

Then—Nani lurched forward.

Too fast. Too desperate. Too much.

His hands clenched into Sky’s blanket, his voice hoarse, breaking—

“You—fucking—idiot.”

Sky let out a weak breath. A ghost of a smile.

“Good to see you too.”

------

The hospital room felt smaller.

Or maybe—it was just Nani’s anger filling every inch of it.

Sky barely had time to register the relief in Nani’s eyes before—

Smack.

A weak fist hit his shoulder.

Then another.

And another.

Nani wasn’t strong enough to actually hurt him—but that wasn’t the point.

“You stupid, reckless, self-sacrificing idiot—”

Another weak punch.

“—do you even know—”

His voice cracked.

“—what it felt like—”

Another hit. Slower. Shakier.

His fingers curled into Sky’s hospital gown instead.

His breathing came uneven.

His entire body trembled.

“You almost died.”

The words wrecked him.

Sky exhaled slowly. His hand came up—soft, careful—

And covered Nani’s.

“I didn’t.” His voice was low, steady. Meant only for him.

Nani’s grip tightened.

“You could have.”

Silence.

Raw. Heavy. Real.

Sky didn’t answer.

Because he couldn’t.

Because he had almost died.

Because even now, seeing the way Nani’s entire body shook, knowing the hell he had put him through—

He wasn’t sure if he regretted it.

Because he would do it again.

Again and again.

If it meant keeping Nani safe.

Nani’s breath hitched. His forehead dropped against Sky’s chest.

His entire weight pressed against him.

A surrender.

Sky inhaled sharply.

He felt everything in that single movement.

The exhaustion. The fear. The relief.

The way Nani clung to him, like he had almost lost something he couldn’t bear to lose.

Sky’s arms came up—slow, deliberate—

And wrapped around him.

Tight. Solid.

His fingers pressed into Nani’s back. His chin rested lightly against his head.

And for the first time since waking up—Sky could finally breathe.

---

Nani hated crying.

He hated feeling vulnerable.

But right now—he didn’t care.

Because Sky was alive.

Warm. Breathing. Here.

He squeezed his eyes shut, inhaling the familiar scent of gunpowder, antiseptic, and Sky.

For three days, he had begged, prayed, bargained—

For this.

For Sky to come back to him.

His fingers curled tighter into the fabric of Sky’s gown.

He never wanted to feel that fear again.

“Don’t do that again,” Nani muttered against his chest.

Sky’s lips twitched. “No promises.”

Nani pulled back immediately, glaring.

Sky met his gaze, unbothered. “What?”

Nani smacked his arm.

Sky barely flinched.

“Not funny, asshole.”

Sky exhaled, his smirk softening.

Then—his hand lifted.

Brushed against Nani’s cheek.

Slow. Deliberate.

The touch was so light—as if Sky himself wasn’t sure this was real.

Nani stilled.

Sky’s fingers lingered.

A quiet moment.

The world narrowed to just them.

“I’m here, Nani,” Sky murmured. Low. Certain. Meant for him alone.

And fuck.

That was it.

That was all it took.

Nani was gone.

The breath left his lungs.

His fingers curled into Sky’s wrist.

Sky’s gaze lowered—to his lips.

Nani saw it. Felt it.

A heartbeat.

A choice.

Nani leaned in—

And—

“AHEM.”

They both froze.

The warmth, the tension—shattered in an instant.

The door swung open.

Santa and Dunk stood there—grinning.

Joong leaned against the doorway, smirking.

“Wow, Captain.” Santa grinned. “You wake up and immediately try to kiss Nani? Bold.”

Dunk whistled. “If I had to suffer through three days of Nani ignoring all of us, you two better kiss properly right fucking now.”

Sky sighed.

Nani groaned, burying his face into Sky’s shoulder.

“I hate all of you.”

Dunk snickered. “Love you too, pretty boy.”

Joong crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow at Sky.

“Well?”

Sky blinked. “What?”

Joong smirked. “You gonna kiss him or not?”

Sky’s lips twitched.

Nani, still hiding his face, muttered, “Sky, if you even think about it, I swear to—”

Sky cut him off.

With a kiss.

It was soft. Certain.

A promise.

Santa’s cheering could be heard down the hall.

Dunk’s whooping was loud enough to wake the dead.

Joong smirked, shaking his head.

Nani, burning red, shoved Sky back.

“I fucking hate you.”

Sky grinned.

“No, you don’t.”

Nani groaned.

Santa clapped a hand over his heart. “Ah. Love.”

Dunk threw an arm around Joong. “I think we all won a bet.”

Joong smirked. “You mean I won a bet.”

Nani sighed deeply.

Sky just pulled him back into his arms.

“Get used to it, Nani.” His voice was soft, teasing. But underneath—it was something deeper.

Something unchangeable.

Something that said—this wasn’t going anywhere.

And Nani—

Nani let himself believe it.

Just this once.

He let himself believe in Sky.

------

Nani still hadn’t let go of Sky.

Sky still hadn’t let go of Nani.

Santa and Dunk were still grinning like idiots.

Joong was watching everything unfold like a proud older brother.

And then—

“Okay, okay—let me through. I have a lot to say.”

The squad turned.

Perth strode in, laptop tucked under his arm, glasses slightly crooked.

His gaze swept over Sky, scanning him like a walking medical report.

Then, he exhaled sharply.

“Good. You’re not dead. That would have been incredibly inconvenient for my tracking systems.”

Sky blinked. “…Thanks?”

Nani groaned. “Perth. Seriously?”

Perth ignored him. He wasn’t done.

He leveled Sky with an exasperated stare.

“Do you know how much I had to deal with while you were unconscious? Do you? Because let me tell you—watching Nani refuse to sleep, eat, or function while ALSO trying to manage Chief Sakda breathing down my neck was an absolute NIGHTMARE.”

Santa snickered. “Tell him how you really feel, Perth.”

Perth adjusted his glasses.

“I will. Because I haven’t even STARTED on the part where Dunk cried.”

Dunk choked. “I DID NOT.”

Perth deadpanned. “Bro, I literally have video evidence.”

Dunk turned red.

Santa gasped dramatically. “Oh my god. Send it to me.”

“You’re all insufferable.” Nani muttered, burying his face in Sky’s shoulder again.

Perth smirked. “And yet, here we all are. Thriving.”

Sky, amused despite himself, tilted his head. “So what you’re saying is… you missed me.”

Perth clicked his tongue.

“I’m saying you caused unnecessary problems, and I would like a formal apology in the form of silence.”

Dunk grinned. “Aww, Perth. You love us.”

Perth ignored him.

Sky just shook his head.

Then—his gaze flickered to Nani.

Still pressed against him.

Still not letting go.

His voice softened. “You okay?”

Nani sighed deeply.

And finally—finally—he allowed himself to just breathe.

“…Yeah.”

Sky squeezed his hand.

The room settled.

The chaos, the teasing, the insanity of their squad—it was everything Sky had fought to come back to.

And even with all of Perth’s complaints—Sky wouldn’t trade it for anything.