Shadows of Identity

---

Nani came out of his room.

Sky was already on the couch.

Neither looked at the other.

They walked past each other like ghosts.

No eye contact. No greeting. No playful teasing.

Nothing.

The whole apartment felt off.

Tee glanced at Dew.

Junior nudged Mark and whispered, “Are they fighting?”

Mark frowned.

“Yeah,” Dew murmured. “And looks like it’s serious.”

During breakfast, Nani barely touched his food. Sky left early without a word.

No one said it aloud—but everyone noticed.

---When their shift finally ended that evening, and most of the team began packing up, Mark and Tee didn’t let Nani leave.

Tee crossed his arms, blocking the door. “Alright, spill.”

Nani blinked. “What?”

Mark joined him, lips set in a frown. “You and Sky. Something happened. You’re both walking around like ghosts, and it’s making the rest of us feel like we’re in a funeral.”

“I don’t want to talk abou—”

“We care about you, idiot,” Mark cut in. “You don’t get to shut down and act like nothing happened when it clearly did.”

Nani lowered his eyes. His shoulders sagged like someone had cut the strings holding him up.

“I… went to my old apartment last night.”

Tee’s eyes widened. “Alone?”

Nani nodded. “I saw a message on MJ’s old phone… they threatened me. Said if I didn’t hand over files MJ had, they’d hurt someone again—like they did to me.”

Mark’s jaw clenched. “What the hell, Nani—”

“I didn’t tell anyone because I was scared. I had to check if the key we found fit anything,” Nani whispered. “And I found a locked box in the bedroom. I think… MJ hid something.”

Tee stepped closer, voice softer now. “And Sky caught you sneaking back in?”

“Yeah. He was furious. Said I was risking everything. That I could’ve died again. And I—I snapped too. I didn’t want him to treat me like I’m fragile. We both yelled. He said things. I said worse.”

Mark sighed and rubbed his face. “Okay, first of all, you’re reckless.”

“I know.”

“But also…” Tee said gently, “you’re not wrong.”

Mark nodded. “You’re grieving, confused, and trying to survive. But Sky’s not wrong either. He’s angry because he’s scared. Because he cares about you more than he knows what to do with.”

“He thought he lost you once,” Tee added. “The idea of it happening again—of watching you walk into danger alone—it must’ve scared the hell out of him.”

Nani’s eyes filled with tears, lips trembling. “I didn’t mean to hurt him.”

“We know,” Mark said. “But maybe it’s time you stop carrying this all on your own.”

“And maybe it’s time Sky learns he can’t protect someone by locking them in a box either,” Tee muttered.

They both sat beside Nani, arms around him, silent for a moment.