Chapter 32: Final Chapter: A Place to Belong

The hospital felt like a cage.

For weeks, Nani had been stuck in the same white-walled room, watching the world move on without him. His body was healing, but his mind…

His mind was still in that burning compound, still in the water where Sky had disappeared, still in the cold grip of Jason’s hands.

And now—now he was leaving.

But instead of heading back to his own place, instead of disappearing like he always did, Nani found himself in Sky’s home.

No—Sakda’s home.

Sky’s entire family had decided.

Nani was coming with them.

And no matter how much Nani tried to argue, they wouldn’t take no for an answer.

---

Welcome Home

Sakda’s house was warm.

Not just in temperature, but in the feeling of home.

It smelled like freshly cooked food. The kind Auntie Malee made with love and way too many ingredients.

It sounded like laughter. Dew and Santa bickering over who would help carry Nani’s things inside.

It felt like something Nani had lost a long time ago.

And that—that scared him.

He stood at the entrance, fingers curling slightly at his sides, hesitation keeping him frozen.

He shouldn’t be here.

He didn’t belong here.

But then—

A hand curled around his wrist. Firm. Steady. Warm.

Sky.

“Come inside,” Sky said softly. No orders. No force. Just… an invitation.

Nani swallowed.

He should say no.

He should run.

Instead—he took a step forward.

And for the first time in years, he let someone bring him home.

-----

The moment Nani set foot inside, he regretted it.

Because he wasn’t just being invited in.

He was being adopted.

Auntie Malee immediately fussed over him, demanding he sit down, checking if he was eating enough, asking if he wanted extra pillows in his room.

Dew smirked. “Just say yes, or she’ll keep asking.”

Nani blinked. His room?

Dew answered before he could ask. “Yeah. You think you’re sleeping on the couch?”

Nani hesitated. “…I don’t need a room.”

Sakda, passing by with Sky’s discharge papers, gave him a look. “Well, too bad. You have one.”

Nani opened his mouth. Closed it.

And then—

Dunk smirked, arms crossed. "Why does Nani get his own room? He should just stay with Sky."

Silence.

Nani’s brain short-circuited.

Sky, who had been sipping water, choked.

Santa let out a loud, delighted laugh. "Ohhh, you’re just saying what we’re all thinking."

Joong, ever the responsible one, sighed. "Dunk, leave them alone."

Dunk raised an eyebrow. "What? They already shared a hospital room. What’s the difference?"

Nani groaned, burying his face in his hands.

Sky cleared his throat, looking away. "Not happening."

Santa smirked. "Sounds like a great idea to me."

Dew, looking far too amused, muttered, "Sky does sleep better when Nani’s next to him."

Sky turned to glare at his own brother. "You too?"

Sakda, rubbing his temples, finally snapped, "Enough! Nani gets his own damn room!"

Dunk grinned. "For now."

Santa snickered. "Temporary arrangements can always change."

Nani groaned again.

This was his life now.

And somehow…

It didn’t feel so bad.

-----

A Love That Stays

The house was quiet.

For the first time in weeks, months—maybe even years, there was no gunfire, no running, no shadows lurking in the dark.

But Nani still couldn’t sleep.

He lay on the unfamiliar bed, staring at the ceiling, mind tangled in thoughts he couldn’t escape.

He didn’t know how to exist in peace.

He had spent so long fighting, hiding, running—what was he supposed to do now?

A quiet knock.

Nani barely had time to process before the door opened.

Sky.

Messy hair, loose sweatpants, a simple t-shirt that somehow still made him look ridiculously good.

Nani swallowed.

"Can't sleep?" Sky’s voice was low, rough from exhaustion.

Nani exhaled, rubbing his hands over his face. "Yeah."

Sky didn’t hesitate.

He walked in—like he belonged there.

He didn’t take the chair, didn’t hover by the door.

He sat on the bed, right beside Nani.

Close. Too close.

Nani’s pulse kicked up.

The bed dipped under Sky’s weight. His scent lingered—clean, warm, familiar.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Then—Sky sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I hate it when you do that."

Nani frowned. “Do what?”

Sky turned, gaze sharp, unwavering.

"Look like you don’t belong here."

Nani froze.

Sky’s fingers twitched against the sheets.

"You do," Sky murmured, voice steady, firm. "You always have."

Nani swallowed hard. His chest ached.

He wanted to believe it.

But some wounds weren’t so easily erased.

Sky must have seen something in his face, because he exhaled sharply.

Then—he reached out.

Not hesitantly. Not carefully.

With certainty.

His hand caught Nani’s jaw, tilting his face up.

Nani barely had time to breathe before Sky leaned in.

Slow. Deliberate.

A second. A hesitation. A choice.

Then—Sky kissed him.

Warm. Solid. Unrushed.

A promise more than an action.

Nani’s breath caught.

Sky’s lips pressed against his—soft but firm, demanding yet patient.

And Nani—Nani melted.

Because this was different.

Not an accident. Not a moment stolen in desperation.

Sky was choosing him.

Sky had always chosen him.

And now—Nani had to choose, too.

Sky pulled back just slightly, just enough for his breath to ghost over Nani’s lips.

His voice was low. "You’re still thinking too much."

Nani’s fingers curled into Sky’s shirt. His voice came out hoarse. "I don’t know how to stop."

Sky smirked, eyes dark. "I can help with that."

Then—he kissed him again.

Deeper this time.

Not just a question, but a claim.

Mine.

The heat between them shifted—something heavier, something urgent.

Sky pushed forward, pressing Nani back against the mattress.

Nani gasped against his lips. Sky swallowed the sound.

His hands—warm, steady—skated down Nani’s sides, fingertips brushing bare skin where his shirt had ridden up.

Nani shivered.

God.

How did Sky do this to him so easily?

He should stop this.

Should slow down.

But when Sky’s lips left his mouth, trailing slowly down his jaw, his throat—Nani forgot how to think.

His breath hitched as Sky’s nose brushed his pulse point. "Sky—"

Sky hummed, the sound vibrating against Nani’s skin. "Still thinking?"

Nani barely managed to shake his head.

Sky chuckled, lips pressing to the corner of his mouth. "Good."

Then—he pulled back slightly, eyes burning into Nani’s.

And for a moment, neither of them spoke.

The air between them crackled—charged with something too heavy to ignore.

Then, softer—quieter—Sky murmured, "Tell me to stop."

Nani inhaled sharply.

But he couldn’t say it.

Because he didn’t want Sky to stop.

Because for the first time in years, he wasn’t running.

He was falling.

And he wasn’t afraid.

So instead—Nani reached up, fingers curling in Sky’s shirt, dragging him back down.

His lips found Sky’s—answering with all the things he couldn’t say.

And this time—neither of them held back.

The space between them disappeared.

Sky’s lips were warm, demanding, moving against Nani’s like he had been waiting for this—for them.

Nani couldn’t think.

Didn’t want to think.

All he could do was feel.

Sky kissed him slowly, deliberate, like he had all the time in the world to learn the shape of Nani’s lips, the way he tasted, the quiet, breathless noises he made when Sky pressed closer.

It was intoxicating.

Overwhelming.

Nani clutched at Sky’s shirt, nails digging in just slightly. He didn’t care if it wrinkled, didn’t care if he left marks.

Sky wasn’t leaving.

Not now.

Not ever.

Sky groaned low in his throat, breaking away just enough to rest his forehead against Nani’s. His breathing was ragged, his fingers still gripping Nani’s hips, keeping him anchored.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Just the sound of their breaths mingling in the dark.

Then—Sky pulled back, just enough to look at him.

His fingers brushed along Nani’s jaw, softer now.

His touch was steady, grounding.

Like he was memorizing Nani—this moment.

Then, softly—Sky whispered, "I love you."

Nani’s chest tightened.

His heart stopped.

Then started again—too fast, too loud, like it was trying to catch up.

Sky’s eyes were steady. No hesitation. No doubt.

He meant it.

Sky Wongravee didn’t say things he didn’t mean.

He never did.

Nani’s throat felt tight. "Sky…"

Sky’s lips twitched, just slightly. “No take backs.”

Nani exhaled, something breaking open inside him. "You idiot."

Sky smirked. "Your idiot."

Nani let out a breathless laugh. Then—quieter, hoarser—he whispered, "I love you too."

Sky’s body went still.

His fingers curled just slightly against Nani’s skin.

Then—he kissed him again.

Slower this time.

Deeper.

Like a promise sealed with every breath.

And this time, Nani kissed back—without fear.

Because this was real.

This was theirs.

And Nani wasn’t running anymore.

-------

For the first time in a long time, Nani woke up feeling safe.

The warmth pressed against his back was comforting, solid, real. The steady rise and fall of Sky’s breathing was a quiet anchor. The faint scent of his skin—clean, familiar, something uniquely Sky—lingered in the space between them.

Nani blinked slowly, adjusting to the morning light filtering through the curtains.

This was new.

Not waking up in a safehouse. Not jerking upright in fear. Not alone.

This time—he woke up in Sky’s arms.

He let himself stay there for a moment.

Not thinking. Not worrying. Just feeling.

Then—a quiet grumble.

Sky, still half-asleep, tightened his grip. “Go back to sleep.”

Nani smirked. “Lazy.”

Sky nuzzled closer. “Warm.”

Nani huffed a laugh, feeling an unfamiliar lightness in his chest. “We have to get up.”

Sky’s arms didn’t move. “Five more minutes.”

Nani shifted, trying to turn over—only for Sky to pull him back.

Nani sighed. “Sky.”

Sky exhaled against his skin. “Fine.”

But he didn’t move.

Neither did Nani.

Because, truthfully—he didn’t want to.

Not yet.

Not when he had finally found something worth waking up to.

---

By the time they finally got up, Sky’s entire family was pretending not to notice.

And failing.

Auntie Malee bustled around the kitchen, humming louder than necessary. Sakda was reading the newspaper—upside down. Dew was very deliberately not looking at them while aggressively buttering his toast.

Nani narrowed his eyes. Suspicious.

Sky, completely unbothered, grabbed the coffee pot. “You’re all being weird.”

Auntie Malee gasped. “Us? Weird? Never.”

Dew coughed. “Morning, lovebirds.”

Sky didn’t blink. “I’m disowning you.”

Sakda flipped the newspaper. Still upside down.

Auntie Malee smiled sweetly. “Eat before you leave, dear.”

Nani—who had been quiet this whole time—was now considering walking straight out the door and never coming back.

Sky, sensing this, nudged his shoulder. “Just eat.”

Nani scowled. “Fine.”

Auntie Malee beamed like she had won a battle.

Sakda’s voice, too casual, slipped in. “So… same room, huh?”

Dew choked on his coffee.

Sky sipped his coffee calmly. “What about it?”

Sakda hummed. “Just checking.”

Nani sighed. This family was going to kill him.

Santa and Dunk weren’t even here yet, and he was already being roasted.

But, either he is ready or not, this his family now.