Chapter 46 46

Chapter 46 46
Azxel had been acting free like nothing had transpired in the last few days with him and Jaelen, he acted normally. It was as if everything that happened was erased from his brain.

“Why are you smiling so brightly today.” Azxel asked Sky who was smiling at him, refusing to eat the food the staffs had placed in front of his table.

“Because you haven’t realized, today is our birthday..” Sky said chuckling.

“My birthday?” Azxel asked like he didn’t know about it.

“Yeah, you and me. I checked your details at the nurses office and saw we were born the same day. Don’t tel me you don’t know your birth date?” Sky chuckled.

“I’ve never known. Mum had always known.”

“Then, how about we go back to your normal hair color today?” Sky asked ruffling the pink and blonde hair striped of Azxel.

“No,” Azxel said immediately.

Sky’s hand paused in his hair.

“I like it this way,” Azxel continued, calm and certain. “You chose it. I’ll keep it, beside you said you like me different.”

Sky smiled wider, clearly pleased. He leaned back in his chair, finally lifting his fork but still not eating. “That’s my boy.”

Azxel smiled back and took a bite of his food. Sky watched him closely, his eyes wide and sharp despite the relaxed posture.

After breakfast, Sky took him by the wrist and led him out of the cafeteria without explanation. Students stared and whispered to themselves. Azxel noticed but didn’t care. Being seen with Sky felt right. Besides it was powerful and safe.

They stopped outside the infirmary. Azxel frowned slightly. “Why are we here?”

Sky leaned down, smiling against his ear. “Your birthday gift.”

Inside, the lights were dimmer than usual. Too quiet. Sky signed something quickly at the desk while Azxel stood beside him, obedient, detached.

A nurse looked up. “Sky, you can’t—”

Sky cut her off with a glance. The nurse stiffened, then looked away.

They were led into a small room. Sky closed the door behind them.

Azxel sat when Sky told him to. He didn’t ask what was coming. He trusted him.

Sky rolled up Azxel’s sleeve with careful hands. “This will help you sleep better,” he said mildly. “No bad dreams and no noise.”

Azxel nodded. “Okay.”

The needle slid in. Cold spread under his skin. His eyelids felt heavy almost immediately.

Sky cupped his face, his thumb brushing his cheek. “Happy birthday,” he murmured.

Azxel smiled, slow and soft, already fading. “Happy birthday… Sky.”

His head tipped forward.

Sky caught him easily.

Later, much later, Azxel woke up alone in Sky’s room, tucked into the bed. The jacket was folded neatly at the foot, gone from his shoulders.

For a brief second, something tugged at him. A name and a feeling.

Then it slipped away.

Azxel turned onto his side, calm again, and went back to sleep.

Azxel woke up again, this time slowly. The bed was empty, Sky wasn’t there.

For a moment, he just lay still, staring at the ceiling. No panic cam and no rush of fear. Just a quiet blankness where something should have been. He sat up, rubbed his eyes once, then stood and left the room.

When he got back to his own room, he stopped at the doorway.

There was a large box on his bed.

Wrapped neatly in clean edges. A ribbon tied carefully, like someone had taken their time.

Azxel walked over and sat down. He didn’t smile. He didn’t frown. He pulled the ribbon loose and opened the box.

Inside were matching clothes, other couples’ items. Things meant to be worn together folded perfectly but on top of them sat a rough looking plain book without a name. It looked Lila a little old diary.

Azxel picked it up and opened the first page.

‘My life.’

He blinked slowly trying to understand the two words written on it. Something stirred faintly in his chest, like pressure without a shape. He closed the diary, put everything back into the box, and stood.

He didn’t hesitate.

He took the box and went to Sky’s room again.

Luckily, Sky had gotten back to his room, leaning back in his chair when Azxel entered. He looked up and smiled when he saw the box.

“You….,” Sky said easily.

Azxel placed the box on the table and took the diary out, handing it to him. “This was on my bed.” He pointed at the diary, “and this too.” He gave him the box.

Sky took it.

He opened it. The smile on his face didn’t fade but it sharpened.

‘My life.’

Sky stared at the words for half a second.

Then he snapped the diary shut.

Without another word, he stood, walked to the side, and tossed it into the metal bin. He struck a lighter. The flame caught quickly, curling the pages black as Sky watched, amused.

Azxel stood there, silent.

Sky chuckled softly. “That doesn’t matter.”

The fire crackled.

“I gave you the best gift already,” Sky continued calmly. “I made you rest. It was Quiet. And…..” Sky chuckled staring deeply into Azxel’s eyes. “There was no noise in your head.”

He turned back and then turned back to Azxel again, his eyes shining bright. “You don’t need that.”

The diary collapsed into ash.

Sky stepped closer and pulled Azxel into him, with one arm firm around his waist. Azxel went without resistance, his forehead resting against Sky’s chest.

Sky leaned down, letting his lips brush his temple, his voice low and pleased.

“How about I take you for therapy?”

He chuckled again, tighter this time, holding Azxel closer as the last of the fire died behind them. “ That would be the best gift ever.” Sky chuckled again.