The billionaire's Salvation

He shot up with a gasp.

His chest heaved as though he'd been running, lungs clawing for breath, eyes wide and unfocused in the dim glow of the bedside lamp. Sweat clung to his skin, his shirt soaked and clinging like a second, suffocating layer.

For a moment, the darkness still clung to him.

He looked around, panic clutching at the edges of his vision.

But there was no locked basement.

No belts. No rope.
No cold, blank faces.

Just the warm, soft fur pressed against his side.

"Luna..." he whispered, voice breaking.

The little silver-grey cat stirred, lifting her sleepy head from his pillow. Her ears twitched, and in a second, she was crawling onto his chest, purring as if to ground him-remind him where he was.

Here.

Now.

Safe.

Virat buried his face into her fur, arms wrapping tightly around her tiny frame. He held her like she was the only thing keeping him from shattering.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his breath trembling. "I didn't mean to wake you..."

Luna mewed softly and licked his cheek.

He laughed, quietly. Brokenly. It almost sounded like a sob.

His fingers gently moved over her back, feeling the rise and fall of her breathing. Steady. Calm. A rhythm that didn't hurt.

"I'm not there anymore," he told himself, again and again, like a prayer. "I'm not there. I'm not that boy. I'm not..."

But the scars on his back knew.
The shadows behind his eyes never forgot.
Even now, with degrees and white coats and sterile, shining hospital floors, that basement still lived in him.

And some nights... it came back. Just like this.

But Luna stayed.

Even when no one else had.

----

The apartment door opened with a soft click.

"Home, finally," KL Rahul muttered, dropping his stethoscope onto the entryway shelf and shrugging out of his white coat. He was still in his scrubs-turquoise blue with tiny cartoon elephants on the pocket. A kid at the hospital had given him a sticker earlier that was still stuck to his shoulder. He hadn't bothered peeling it off.

He sighed, stretching his shoulders.

Twelve hours of high fevers, tantrums, flu shots, and a baby that tried to bite his ear off-and all he wanted now was to crash on the couch, throw a pillow at Virat bhaiya, and argue over what to order for dinner.

But the apartment was too quiet.

His steps slowed as he walked through the hallway. The living room lights were still off. No music. No TV. Not even the scent of Virat's usual ginger-lemon tea.

Something felt... off.

He found the bedroom door slightly ajar.

Rahul peeked in.

Virat was sitting on the floor, back against the bed, with Luna nestled in his lap. His shirt was clinging to him with sweat, and his eyes-red-rimmed, unfocused-were staring straight ahead.

Rahul froze.

Another nightmare, he realized.

He'd never seen one fully play out. He just knew they happened. Knew that sometimes his big brother woke up shaking or sat silently for hours without saying a word. Knew that whenever he tried asking about the past, Virat would deflect with a quiet, "Not tonight, Rahul."

But tonight?

It looked worse.

"Bhaiya..." Rahul said gently, entering the room.

Virat blinked, like he was just now realizing he wasn't alone.

Rahul knelt beside him, but not too close. "It happened again, didn't it?"

A beat of silence. Then a faint nod.

Rahul exhaled slowly and sat down, cross-legged beside him. He didn't press for details. He never did. Not because he didn't care-but because he knew how tightly those memories were locked behind Virat's ribs.

Instead, he spoke softly.

"You know, today this tiny girl in the children's ward made me wear a pink tutu and called me 'Doctor Barbie.'"
Virat blinked.

Rahul continued, straight-faced, "She also demanded I give her a lollipop, a teddy bear, and a unicorn. All in exchange for letting me check her sore throat."

"...Did you?" Virat's voice was hoarse, a whisper.

"Of course I did," Rahul said, offended. "You think I have the guts to argue with a five-year-old dressed like a dragon princess? I value my life, bhaiya."

A soft, broken chuckle escaped Virat's lips.

Rahul smiled. There it is.

He didn't push further. He just nudged Luna gently off Virat's lap and leaned his head onto his brother's shoulder.

"I don't know what you went through," Rahul murmured. "But if you ever want to talk... even just a little... I'll listen. No questions. No judgment."

Virat didn't reply.

But he didn't pull away either.

And that-that-was something.

Rahul eventually stood up, brushing off his scrubs. "I'll go warm some food. You haven't eaten, have you?"

Virat shook his head.

"I made paneer curry last night. And there's rice." Rahul paused. "Also chocolate pudding. You know... for your inner child."

Virat huffed a tired laugh and finally got up with a groan. "Thanks... Rahuliya."

Rahul looked over his shoulder with a scowl. "Dont call me that."

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Double updates.
I am very sorry and also very happy.
Have a good day people.
Mwaahh