Unexpected

Chapter 4

Five months had passed since their wedding, and although their relationship was far from perfect, things had undeniably changed. Sky could feel it, though he kept most of his hopes to himself, not wanting to push Nani any further than he already had. Their connection felt tentative, like a delicate thread that could snap with a single wrong move, but it was a connection all the same. And for Sky, even the smallest shifts felt like milestones.

Nani was still cold, still distant, but his walls had cracked, if only a little. They no longer argued with the same harshness, and their fights, while frequent, held less bite. Sometimes, Sky caught glimpses of something almost soft in Nani’s eyes, quickly hidden behind his usual cool indifference.

---

One evening, Sky returned home later than usual, exhausted from a day full of meetings. As he set his bag down and loosened his tie, he caught the smell of food wafting from the kitchen. Curiosity piqued, he followed the scent to find Nani standing by the stove, stirring a pot. The sight was a surprising one—Nani rarely cooked, and Sky couldn’t remember the last time they’d shared a meal that hadn’t come from a restaurant or takeout box.

“Wow,” Sky said, smiling as he leaned against the doorway. “Didn’t know I’d be coming home to a chef tonight.”

Nani turned, giving him a mild glare. “Don’t get too excited. It’s nothing fancy.”

Sky shrugged, still grinning. “I’ll take ‘not fancy’ any day. Thanks for doing this.”

Nani huffed, clearly not keen on being thanked. “I was hungry. Thought I’d make something for myself. You just happened to show up at the right time.”

Sky’s grin widened, his eyes sparkling with that familiar, puppy-like enthusiasm. “Well, I’m still grateful. Let me set the table?”

“Fine,” Nani replied, as if he were reluctantly allowing Sky to participate.

They sat down to eat, and the meal was surprisingly quiet, absent of their usual bickering. Sky noticed Nani occasionally glancing at him, and once, their eyes met. Sky didn’t look away, holding Nani’s gaze for just a moment longer than usual, his expression open and warm.

As they finished up, Nani’s voice broke the silence. “You’re… eating too fast. Slow down, will you?”

Sky chuckled. “Hey, I’m just impressed. I didn’t know you could cook like this. Might have to put you on kitchen duty more often.”

“Don’t push your luck,” Nani muttered, though there was the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

---

Later that week, they found themselves at a small event hosted by Sky’s company. It was meant to be a relaxed evening—networking, some light drinks, nothing too formal. Sky, ever the social butterfly, was in his element, charming clients and colleagues alike. Nani, on the other hand, kept to the edge of the room, maintaining his usual air of detached sophistication.

At one point, as Sky was laughing with a group of coworkers, he glanced over and saw Nani standing alone, a glass of wine in hand. Without hesitation, Sky excused himself and walked over, nudging Nani’s shoulder lightly.

“Having fun?” Sky asked, his voice playful.

Nani arched an eyebrow, clearly unamused. “Thrilled,” he replied, his tone dry.

Sky laughed, undeterred. “Come on, it’s not that bad. At least the food’s decent, right?”

Nani gave him a look, but Sky saw a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “I suppose,” he muttered.

Taking a breath, Sky ventured a little closer. “You know, you could actually talk to people. Make a new friend or two.”

Nani sighed, giving Sky a sidelong glance. “Not everyone is as… relentlessly social as you, Sky.”

“True,” Sky conceded, chuckling. “Guess that means I’ll just have to keep you company. Can’t have you hiding in the corner all night.”

Nani rolled his eyes, but he didn’t push Sky away. Instead, they stood there in silence, sharing a rare moment of quiet companionship. Sky took note of the way Nani’s gaze softened as he looked around, his shoulders more relaxed than usual.

As the evening wound down, they walked to Sky’s car together, the cool night air brushing past them. Sky, still riding the high of the event, turned to Nani with a smile.

“Thanks for coming tonight. I know these things aren’t really your scene.”

Nani shrugged. “It’s not a big deal. It’s… part of the arrangement.”

Sky’s smile faded just slightly, but he nodded, accepting the answer. “Well, I appreciate it anyway.”

They drove home in relative silence, but it was a comfortable one, neither feeling the need to fill the space with forced conversation.

---

The following weekend, Sky found himself waiting for Nani to finish getting ready for yet another family gathering. As he sat on the couch, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of excitement, the kind that had become all too familiar in these past months. He’d grown to treasure these small, shared moments, even if Nani wasn’t exactly warm. There was something there, something that kept him going, that filled him with quiet hope.

When Nani finally appeared, dressed in a sleek, black suit, Sky’s breath caught. It was as if seeing him for the first time all over again—the sharp lines of the suit accentuated his figure perfectly, making his beauty all the more striking.

“You… look great,” Sky managed, his voice a bit softer than usual.

Nani raised an eyebrow, his gaze cool. “Are you going to keep staring, or are we leaving?”

Sky chuckled, a bit sheepishly. “Right, right. Let’s go.”

As they made their way out, Sky held the car door open for Nani, a gesture he’d done countless times but which now felt loaded with unspoken words. Nani gave him a brief nod, slipping into the seat with an elegance that still left Sky a bit awestruck.

During the drive, Sky stole quick glances at Nani, who seemed preoccupied with his thoughts, staring out the window. For a moment, Sky considered asking him what he was thinking, but he held back, not wanting to disrupt the fragile balance they’d built.

---

By the end of the night, Sky couldn’t help but feel a sense of quiet contentment. They hadn’t argued, hadn’t exchanged harsh words. Instead, there was a subtle warmth, an understanding between them that had taken months to cultivate.

As they stood outside their home, Nani hesitated, glancing up at the stars. Sky watched him, the way his expression softened just slightly, the way his gaze held a hint of something almost wistful.

“Thank you for tonight,” Sky said gently. “I know it’s not always easy for you.”

Nani looked at him, surprise flickering across his face before he quickly masked it. “It’s… fine. Like I said, it’s part of the arrangement.”

Sky nodded, his heart clenching a little. He knew Nani wasn’t ready to admit that things were changing between them, but he could feel it, in the way they lingered together in the quiet moments, in the way Nani’s walls were slowly crumbling.

And for now, that was enough. Sky held onto that glimmer of hope, knowing that even the smallest shift in Nani’s guarded heart meant everything to him.