Caelum had fallen asleep in the hospital and Kieran struggled to carry him out silently without him waking up. He walked slowly as he took him to the car, smiling and telling nurses "Don't worry, he's mine." and "don't worry, he's not dead" with a lovely smile.
The smile slid across his cheeks, a smile that had not been seen in a long while. He carried him like a princess and he knew Caelum would not be happy being carried like that. He just kept giggling to himself.
Outside the hospital, Charles stood by his car. Kieran glared at him as he dropped Caelum in the car. He didn't want to wake him up after all he had been through. He needed all the rest he could get.
"You're happy huh? Happily holding the man I held tight for months and took care of?! Taking what was already mine?!" He spat out of anger.
"If he was yours, he wouldn't come back to me. Get lost, Charles. You're not needed anymore." Kieran said calmly. Like he was avoiding a fight. Charles would kill him with one punch and he knew very well.
Charles laughed and walked off, Kieran was about to open the door when—
"You'll regret this, Mr. CEO. I assure you" Charles yelled as he walked out. He didn't even look back, he just kept his head up and walked away. His voice shaky like he was fighting tears. Kieran drove off.
********
Caelum woke up confused a new disoriented. Wondering where he was. He was used to Charles being on the chair in the corner half asleep and grumbling but then he felt warmth.
Not the artificial heat of hospital blankets or IVs, but real warmth. Human. Steady breath against his neck. Fingers lightly curled around his wrist.
Kieran. His own.
Caelum blinked slowly, eyes adjusting to the soft morning light filtering through the blinds. It had indeed been a while. The air still held a faint antiseptic scent, but there was something else—lavender, roses, maybe. Clean. Calm.
He tilted his head just enough to see Kieran's face. Trying his best not to wake him up. He looked relaxed in sleep, lips parted slightly, brows softer than he remembered. So different from the man who had once gritted his teeth at every emotion. Different from the man who had sent him to the hospital to begin with, different from the one who had left bruises on Caelum's heart.
So close now.
Carefully, Caelum lifted a hand and brushed his thumb across Kieran's cheek. It was warm. A little rough with stubble. Real. He didn't know how to feel.
Kieran stirred, his arms tightening around Caelum instinctively. He murmured something incoherent, barely audible, and pressed a lazy kiss to Caelum's shoulder without waking. Caelum kept playing with his hair.
Caelum smiled for the first time in weeks. It felt too good.
"You're awake," Kieran mumbled minutes later, voice still gravelly from sleep.
"I should be asking you that," Caelum replied softly. "You snore very loudly."
"Lies, you lie." Kieran said with one eye open.
"You gonna stay here all day with me in your massive arms or feed me like you promised?"
Kieran yawned, stretching slightly. " Teasing me. I see. Breakfast first. Arguing with Charles later."
Caelum groaned dramatically. "Oh God, please don't. Let me digest in peace."
Kieran chuckled, kissed his cheeks again, and slowly pulled away to sit up. "I'll cook something good. Real food. Not that hospital sludge."
"Praise be," Caelum whispered, collapsing dramatically back into the pillows.
They shared a few soft laughs, a few quiet touches.
It was peace.
For now.
Kieran carried Caelum to the dining hall. He had struggled but later agreed. He put him down carefully and found the apron. Caelum's eyes watered. It was exactly where he left it. Still stained with the wine...he felt like he was home.
Kieran made hot chocolate first before he dived into cooking and Caelum wait there, swinging his legs and they both sang their song.
"How did you learn all the lyrics?" Caelum asked as he walked up to Kieran.
"You were gone for a while, I had enough time to learn" he smiled with his eyes. Kieran was excited and Caelum was as happy as ever. The once cold and dreaded house, was now comforting and lively.
They had breakfast together, laughter spilling between bites and warm glances. For the first time in months, the house felt alive again.
Kieran called Ness first, barely able to contain the news.
"HE'S AWAKE!!" he screamed, the moment she picked up the call.
"Huh?" She said, sounding confused but the second she heard Caelum's voice, she burst into tears.
"You had the boss worried sick!" she cried, voice cracking with emotion. The sound of her sniffles was loud enough to echo through the speaker.
"I ought to slap you, Caelum, but I'm just glad you're okay."
Caelum chuckled softly, touched. "Missed you too, Ness."
Eventually, they started a group call with the rest of the company staff. It was the first meeting ever that didn't involve spreadsheets, deadlines, or the threat of someone getting fired.
There was no agenda — just celebration.
"Wait, are you guys dating now?" someone gasped.
"I knew it!" another chimed in.
"I always shipped you two," a third added, and suddenly, the whole call lit up with playful cheers and teasing approval.
Even Kieran, who rarely smiled in front of his staff, didn't hold back this time. His hand stayed curled around Caelum's the entire call and that drove everyone on the call crazy.
For once, it wasn't about work.
It was about joy.
Outside Kieran's gates, a man leaned against a sleek black car, his face hidden behind tinted glasses.
He didn't smoke, but he held a cigarette anyway—burning, untouched. The ash clung to its edge like silence waiting to fall.
A phone in his black coat pocket vibrated once.
He pulled it out.
"He's awake," the voice from the phone spoke.
The man didn't answer at first. He watched a Kieran carry Caelum and dance around. A look of disgust slid down his cheeks.
Then, finally, he flicked the untouched cigarette to the pavement and crushed it beneath his boot.
"I know" he said quietly.
He turned back toward the car, opened the door, and stepped inside.
"Then let's begin."