In Lines Of Love ~ Kimchay

25. Omega Drop ( pt8 )

"Khun Kim, you could probably move him to another room with a bigger bed," Pete said on the second morning, his voice gentle but firm as he sat on the edge of the couch near their bed.

His hand hovered over Porchay's hair, hesitating to brush it aside. "He'd be more comfortable there. And honestly, he probably wouldn't even notice the difference right now."

Kim, hunched over Porchay's frail form, didn't respond. His hands, steady but tense, adjusted the blanket for what must have been the tenth time that hour. His jaw was clenched so tightly Pete thought he might crack a tooth.

"Khun Kim?" Pete prompted again, his tone softening. "I'm not saying you're doing anything wrong, but-"

Kim's head snapped up, his eyes sharp and brimming with exhaustion. "Don't," he cut in, his voice low and rough. "Don't tell me what to do with him."

Pete blinked, taken aback by the venom in Kim's tone. "I'm not trying to-"

"You don't get it, Pete," Kim interrupted, his voice shaking with restrained anger. "You don't know what it's like to see him like this. To wonder if he's even going to wake up again. To feel like it's your Damn luck or fault that he-" He broke off, sucking in a shaky breath as his gaze dropped back to Porchay. His hand trembled as it rested against Porchay's clammy forehead.

Pete's lips parted to respond, but the words died in his throat. From the doorway, Vegas's voice cut through the tension, calm but carrying an edge.

"Leave him alone, Pete." Vegas leaned against the frame, his arms crossed, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of unease as he watched Kim. "He's doing what he needs to do."

Pete turned to glare at his Mate, frustration bubbling to the surface. "Are you seriously saying I can't even check on Porchay because Khun Kim's acting like this?"

Vegas stepped into the room cautiously, keeping his distance from the proximity of younger unconscious omega. "I'm saying," he began evenly, "that if this were us, you'd be defending me the same way. You'd call it love."

Pete let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. "Love? Khun Kim's spiraling, Vegas. Look at him." He gestured at Kim, whose entire frame seemed to quake under the weight of his emotions. "This isn't healthy."

Kim's head shot up again, his glare sharp enough to cut glass. "Don't you dare talk about me like I'm not here," he hissed. "Don't act like you know what I'm feeling, what we've been through."

Pete opened his mouth to argue, but Vegas placed a firm hand on his shoulder, stopping him. "Let it go, Pete," Vegas said quietly. His gaze flicked to Kim, his voice softening just enough. "You're not helping."

Pete bristled, but the look in Vegas's eyes made him pause. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine," he muttered. "But I'm not leaving without saying my piece."

He turned back to Kim, his expression softening despite the tension in the room.

"Khun Kim, I know you love him. I know you blame yourself for what happened. But you can't carry this alone. If you don't let anyone in, you're going to destroy yourself-and that won't help Porchay."

Kim didn't respond immediately, his eyes fixed on Porchay's pale face. Finally, he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "If destroying myself means he'll be okay, then I'll do it. I'll do whatever it takes."

Pete's heart clenched at the raw desperation in Kim's words. "That's not what he'd want," he said quietly. "Porchay wouldn't want this."

Kim's hands tightened into fists. "He's not here to tell me what he wants, is he?" His voice cracked, and he quickly looked away, ashamed of the tears that threatened to fall.