Protect you

The room was quiet, save for the soft hum of machines that monitored Sky’s fragile state. Nani sat by his bedside as he always did, his fingers intertwined with Sky’s motionless hand. It had been months since the day Sky had slipped into a coma, and still, Nani waited, refusing to leave his side. The world outside moved on, but Nani’s life had frozen in place, tethered to the faint rise and fall of Sky’s chest.

Every day, Nani poured his heart out to Sky, whispering words of love and longing, hoping that somehow his voice would reach through the fog of unconsciousness. “Sky,” he murmured one evening, his voice breaking. “Please, wake up. I need you. I can’t do this without you. You promised to be by my side, remember? You promised…”

Sometimes, Nani would fall asleep holding Sky’s hand, his head resting on the edge of the bed. Other times, he would force himself to stay awake, terrified of missing the moment when Sky’s eyes would finally flutter open. His meals were brought to his chambers, but he barely ate, his appetite lost in the weight of his grief and hope.

Rumors began to spread throughout the palace and the kingdom. Some whispered that Nani should let go, that Sky was gone in all but name and wouldn’t wake up. But Nani didn’t care. Let them talk. Let them doubt. His love for Sky was unshakable, and he would wait for as long as it took.

“I don’t care what they say,” he told Sky one night, his voice steady but laced with pain. “I’ll wait forever if I have to. You’re worth it, Sky. You’ve always been worth it.”

The days blurred together, and Nani’s only solace was the time he spent by Sky’s side. But everything changed on a quiet evening when the peace of the palace was shattered.

Nani was seated beside Sky, his eyes fixed on his peaceful face. He reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from Sky’s forehead, marveling at how serene he looked even in this state. “You’re so stubborn, you know,” Nani whispered with a sad smile. “Even now, you’re making me wait. But that’s okay. I’ll wait for you, Sky. I’ll always wait.”

The sound of the door creaking open broke the silence, and Nani turned, expecting to see a servant. Instead, a dark figure stepped into the room, their face obscured by a hood. Nani’s heart froze.

“Guards!” he screamed, leaping to his feet.

The figure moved with alarming speed, drawing a knife from their belt. Nani’s instincts screamed at him to run, but he couldn’t leave Sky. He couldn’t abandon him. Summoning what little strength he had, Nani threw a punch, his fist connecting with the assassin’s side. But it was like hitting a wall. The intruder barely flinched, their attention locked on Sky.

“No!” Nani yelled, lunging forward as the assassin raised the knife. He threw himself over Sky’s body, shielding him with his own. The blade never came.

A sudden, guttural sound filled the room, and Nani looked up in shock. The assassin’s knife was stopped inches from his back, held in place by a trembling, bloodied hand. Sky’s hand.

“Sky?” Nani whispered, his voice trembling.

Sky, his eyes half-open and filled with pain, stared at the assassin. His body was weak, his movements sluggish, but he managed to twist the knife from the attacker’s grip and knock them to the floor. The assassin crumpled, unconscious, and Sky turned his gaze to Nani.

“Nani…” he murmured, his voice barely audible.

Nani’s heart shattered. Tears streamed down his face as he reached out, cradling Sky’s face in his hands. “Sky… you’re awake…”

But Sky’s strength was fleeting. His body sagged, and he collapsed into Nani’s arms, unconscious once more.

“Guards!” Nani screamed again, his voice filled with desperation. This time, they came, storming into the room and dragging the assassin away. One of the guards explained in hushed tones that the intruder’s target had been Sky, hoping to end his life to force Nani to move on. But Nani barely heard them. His focus was entirely on Sky.

The royal doctor arrived moments later, examining Sky with practiced precision. Nani hovered anxiously, his heart in his throat. “Why?” he demanded. “Why did he wake up, only to… to…”

The doctor sighed. “Your Highness, it’s remarkable. Sky’s body is still weak and healing, but he broke his coma to protect you. It seems your cry for help reached him, and he forced himself to wake up, even though his body wasn’t ready.”

“Will he wake up again?” Nani’s voice was barely above a whisper.

The doctor placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “He will, Your Highness. But his body needs time to heal. His will to protect you is strong, and that’s a good sign. He’ll wake up when he’s ready.”

Nani sank to his knees beside Sky’s bed, tears streaming down his face. He clutched Sky’s hand, now wrapped in bandages from the wound he’d sustained saving Nani. “Even now… even when you’re so weak… you still protect me,” he whispered. “Why, Sky? Why do you always put me first?”

His tears dripped onto the sheets as he leaned down, pressing a trembling kiss to Sky’s forehead. “You’re the strongest person I’ve ever known,” he murmured. “And I swear, I’ll wait for you. No matter how long it takes. I’ll wait forever, Sky. Just come back to me.”

Unable to stop himself, Nani leaned down further, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to Sky’s lips. It was a promise, a plea, and a declaration of love all in one.

What Nani didn’t know was that deep within the darkness of his coma, Sky heard him. His consciousness, fragile but persistent, stirred at the warmth of Nani’s words and touch. Though his body wasn’t ready to wake up yet, his heart swelled with determination.

Nani curled up beside Sky, his head resting on his arm, exhaustion finally overtaking him. For the first time in weeks, his dreams were peaceful, filled with the hope of a future where Sky would be by his side, awake and whole.

And somewhere deep within his coma, Sky smiled. He would wake up. He would heal. For Nani, he would do anything.