Chapter 46: A Fragile Heart
The stark, sterile smell of the hospital hung in the air as Leo's eyelids fluttered open. The blinding white light from the overhead fixture made him squint. His chest ached with a deep, searing pain, and as the fog in his mind began to lift, the memory of what had happened slammed into him like a tidal wave.
"Kai…" he murmured weakly, his voice raspy and dry.
The door burst open as if summoned by his words. Kai stormed in, his face a mess of emotions—panic, relief, and frustration. His usual composed demeanor was nowhere to be found. He looked as though he hadn't slept in days, his eyes rimmed red.
"Leo!" Kai rushed to his side, dropping into the chair by the bed and grabbing Leo's hand. His grip was firm but trembling. "You're awake… Thank God."
Leo looked at him, his vision still blurry. "Kai… what… happened?"
Kai took a shaky breath, trying to keep himself together. "You were shot, Leo. I—I brought you here. It was… close. Too close."
As Kai spoke, flashes of the previous night came back to Leo: the chaos, the sound of gunfire, the sharp pain in his chest, and Kai's frantic voice calling out to him.
"I told the doctors to save you… I begged them." Kai's voice cracked, and he looked away, his jaw clenched tightly as if holding back tears. "Don't ever scare me like that again."
Leo closed his eyes for a moment, overwhelmed by the weight of it all. "I didn't ask for any of this," he whispered.
Kai snapped his gaze back to him, his expression fierce. "I know. And I'm sorry. But I promised to protect you, and I'll die before I let anything happen to you again."
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The next day, the room was quiet except for the faint hum of machines monitoring Leo's vitals. Kai sat by the window, staring out at the cityscape, his mind racing with thoughts he couldn't untangle.
A weak voice broke the silence. "Kai…"
Kai turned immediately, his heart clenching as he saw Leo awake and looking at him with tear-filled eyes. He rushed to the bedside. "Leo, are you okay? Do you need something? Water?"
Leo shook his head, his tears spilling over. "I don't want this anymore."
Kai froze. "What… what do you mean?"
"I mean… this life, this danger, this pain…" Leo's voice cracked as he sobbed. "I can't do it. I'm not strong like you. I just… I just want to go far away, Kai. Far away from all of this."
Kai's chest tightened as he watched Leo break down, the weight of everything clearly too much for him. He reached out, cupping Leo's face gently. "Leo… listen to me."
Leo looked up at him, his tears streaming down.
"You're not weak. You've been through so much, and you're still here. That makes you stronger than you realize," Kai said, his voice steady but thick with emotion. "But if leaving all of this behind is what you need, then I'll make it happen. I'll take you far away from everything—everything but me."
Leo sniffled, his gaze softening as he searched Kai's eyes. "Why do you care so much? I'm not worth this. I'm not worth any of it."
Kai's grip on his face tightened slightly, his jaw clenching. "Don't you ever say that again," he said fiercely. "You're worth everything, Leo. To me, you are everything."
Leo's tears fell harder, and he finally allowed himself to lean into Kai's touch. For the first time, he let himself feel the safety and
comfort Kai offered, even if it was fleeting.