Work Text:
May 7, 2005
One woman looks fondly over her house’s yard, filled with screams and laughs as two little boys run around it. The first one, a little bit taller and a lot thinner clearly enjoying himself being ahead with at least five big steps, hugging a yellow bag of chips in his arms, as the second one chases after him, complaining endlessly, all the while a bright smile stretching his chubby little cheeks. The mother smiles at them before pretending to be serious and yells: “Win! Team! Stop running, you’re going to fall and hurt yourselves”.
The taller stops in his tracks, right in time for the other to run into his back and fall. “Team! Omg are you okay?” Win gets on his knees all worried about the younger, but Team just finally snatches the bag of chips from his hands, laughing. Win’s mother shakes her head as her friend comes next to her; “Team! Stop eating chips, we’re going to cut the cake.” Both boys’ ears perk up at that and they start running towards the house under the disbelieving eyes of their mothers.
.
“Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday to you~” In the living room, with the rest of the guests, Win’s father appears holding a blue birthday cake with seven candles proudly standing and goes towards his smiling son. “Make a wish baby boy.” Win closes his eyes and clasps his small little hands together tightly for a while, before opening them again and powerfully blowing his candles. While everyone is clapping, little Team slips unnoticed from his mother’s knees with a frown.
After Win escapes from the hugs and kisses of his parents and hugs all the family and friend guests wishing him a happy birthday, he notices that his best friend is missing. “Where is Team ?” That’s when he feels a little finger poking his shoulder. As he turns around he sees the five year old handing him a yellow bag of chips, with the most blinding smile you can give with two front teeth missing. “Happy birthday, Hia Win.” The birthday boy laughs and ruffles the younger’s hair affectionately. “Thanks, Team”.
September 21, 1973
Team straightens his shirt nervously in front of the door while taking a peek inside at the numerous rows of chatty students. Saying he’s nervous would be an understatement, as this was his first year teaching a university classroom on his own, and curse his luck it had to happen in the middle of the student uprising currently happening throughout the country. He takes one final deep breath, before opening the door.
The chatter barely stops for a moment as they look at the intruder in curiosity, before it starts again, completely ignoring him. Sighing, he puts his bag on the desk before going back to the middle of the classroom, right in front of the board. He clears his throat once and gets completely ignored, he tries a second time in vain. So he musters some courage and tries to yell with authority; “SILENCE!”
It seems to have worked as the students suddenly stop talking and finally give him some attention. Pleased with himself, he starts to sound completely confident as he says the few words he’s been practicing since the night before. “My name is Teerayu Siriyothin, I am going to be your algorithmics teacher for this year.” He pretends not to hear the whistlings and surprised exclamations about how young he looks for a teacher and continues. “I know this is a really difficult year for everyone and some of you may have a hard time concentrating on your studies. I understand this and I want you to know that I am here to help y-”
He gets interrupted as someone suddenly opens the door with a lot of noise. He turns around to see a tall young boy dressed in quite an eye-catching style, to say the least, with high waisted flared jeans, a yellow shirt with most of the buttons open, and peace sign earrings. His long brown hair held up in a ponytail and a red armband showing he had just been protesting.
Team tries to hide his surprise as the boy looks at him and asks “Who are you?”, with the rest of the students scoffing. He regains his composure and says “I am Teerayu Siriyothin, your algorithmics teacher. And you are ?” The long-haired boy raises a surprised eyebrow while looking at him intently, before licking his lips and smirking. “I am Phawin Wanichakarnjonkul, Sir ”, he introduces himself with a wai , all the while still smirking.
Team hopes he’s not blushing as he says, “Right, take a seat please, Mr. Phawin. We’re going to start the class right away.” The boy obeys, after intently looking at him up and down again. ‘God help me’ is what Team is thinking as he takes out his lesson sheets and feels a burning pair of eyes on him.
June 21, 2014
In a luxurious hotel in the middle of Paris, a blonde man hesitantly knocks on a door before entering it when he hears the room owner signaling him to come in. He looks at the man standing next to the window, looking nervously at the beautiful landscape laying in front. He slowly turns around and Win smiles fondly at his soft black hair, his shining big eyes, his cute little nose, and trembling lips. He approaches him with big steps and straightens the velvet fabric of his tuxedo jacket, before glancing down at the younger man’s hands.
He smirks “You still don’t know how to tie these ?”
Team just makes a face of agony at him “Hia, I swear, it’s not the right time for your teasing right now”.
Win laughs and shakes his head but takes the bowtie from the black-haired man’s hands and starts working it around his neck. Meanwhile, Team is fidgeting around with his sleeves and awkwardly looking around the room.
When Win finally looks satisfied with the black bow he tied for the younger, he places his hands on his shoulders and sighs. “Team, look at me”
After a few seconds of hesitation, the younger executes, biting his lips.
Win grins at him “You look amazing, you know that ?” and before Team tries to deny this, he adds “Actually, no, scratch that. You look breathtaking and I don’t care if you know it or not, that’s the only truth”. He pauses a little before wiggling his eyebrows at the other “and I’m sure a certain someone downstairs agrees with me”.
“Hia…” the younger whines, embarrassed, which only makes the blonde chuckle.
“Loosen up a bit, Team, will you ?”
He pushes him a little further to face the window again, looking at the Eiffel Tower peeking up from behind a few buildings.
“Look at you! You’re one of the most amazing people I’ve ever known and the best friend I ever had. You’re beautiful, you’re kind, you’re hardworking, you’re funny, you’re fiercely protective of your loved ones, you’re the best godfather my daughter could’ve ever wished for and you’re in damn Paris right now, because this is supposed to be the happiest day of your life!”
Team looks up at him with small nervous eyes “I don’t know Hia… Maybe, maybe this is all a mistake. I-I mean it’s wrong and-”
Win strongly shakes his head and holds Team’s face with both hands, forcing him to look him straight in the eyes. “No, Team, no . This isn’t wrong, there is nothing with this.” He takes a moment to breathe deeply before shaking his head again. “I am here, your parents are here, your siblings are here and there is a man waiting for you to spend the rest of his life with you.” He pauses again and looks deeply into the younger’s eyes. “He loves you, Team. And you love him too right ?” Team hesitantly nods “Yes, but-”
“There are no buts” Win cuts him off “You love him, he loves you, and all the other people who truly care about you are here and want you to have the happiness you deserve more than anyone else in this world.”
Team gets teary-eyed and the blonde gets alarmed. “Hey, hey, no. No tears under my watch. What kind of best man would that make of me? Letting the groom cry even before the ceremony !?” He makes a big show of being mockingly horrified, which succeeds in eliciting a small smile from the man of the day. “Nah, nope, not happening. The only expression I ever wanna see on this beautiful face, especially today, is happiness. You understand me, Nong ?”
Team wipes the one traitorous tear threatening to fall away and smiles as wide as he can, despite the nervousness and slight doubt still remaining. He nods at the elder “Alright, Hia, I will try to”.
October 10, 2000
In a small hospital in Bangkok, a young boy is jumping and running excitedly in a corridor, exasperating his father.
“Win, please, calm down a little”
The four years old boy turns a blinding smile to his father, proudly showing his small teeth. “I can’t, I’m so happy !!” The man briefly shakes his head at him with a fond smile, before turning his worried gaze to the room beyond the glass window.
As he finally hears a piercing cry resonate, his eyes automatically tear up and little Win stills for a while, his eyes comically getting so wide before realization hits him and he starts jumping up and down again with screams of joy. “It’s the baby, right? Right Daddy it’s the baby, it’s finally here !”
His dad nods his head emotionally at him and gives him a small hug “Yes baby, your brother is finally here”.
After a little while, a nurse comes out of the room with a small baby draped in blankets, that she carefully puts in the man’s arms “Congratulations, sir. Both your wife and son are perfectly healthy”.
The man peeks at the beautiful little face staring at him in his arms, then at the excited young boy who’s looking at them with twinkling eyes. He smiles lovingly, before lowering the baby in his arms to Win’s level and whispering “Hello there Little Team, meet your Hia Win”.
April 8, 1782
Teerayu slowly opens his eyes, waking up in a daze, unaware of when exactly did he fall asleep or where he is. He blinks a few times and looks around the small dark room he’s in. There aren't many things in it, let for the mattress he’s sleeping in straight on the floor and a small table opposite it. There is no window and the only source of light comes from the door, along with a lot of noise.
The cacophony triggers him and he suddenly remembers the situation he’s in. His father, King Taksin the great passed away, betrayed and killed by one of his most trusted generals. The prince remembers fleeing with his mother and some of his siblings, but then he remembers his mother being shot by an arrow through the heart. He remembers the fall, he remembers the blood, he remembers the piercing screams and then the blackout.
He suddenly starts shaking, his eyes tearing up, his lips trembling. Where was he? Captured? Was he also going to be executed? Where were his siblings? Just as his panic rises, his tears falling and his body sobbing, the small door opens up.
Prince Teerayu tries to muffle his cries and closes his eyes, to try and escape the guard that was surely coming to kill him. Instead, he feels a strong arm hugging him, long fingers threading through his hair, and a soothing voice whispering in his ears “Shh, it’s okay, Your Majesty, you’re okay”. As of instinct, he hugs the body back tightly and when his fingers touch long soft brown hair, realization suddenly hits him.
Sure enough, as he pulls away and looks through those calming brown orbs shining through the dark, he recognizes the beautiful face of his loyal personal guard, who’s been by his side since childhood and whom he considered to be closer to him than his own brothers. “Hia..” he sighs of relief, but then remembers everything, and confusion flashes through his eyes. “What happened? How- how…”
He can’t seem to form proper sentences in his stances but the older understood anyway and started explaining. “We are in my hometown, Your Majesty, far far away from Bangkok, you should be safe here, no one knows you.” As he sees the confusion still present through his prince’s furrowed brows, he further shares. “You fainted, while trying to escape the palace. I arrived with the other guards right at that moment and decided to split up to be less noticeable. Each of your siblings went with their personal guard.”
Teerayu nods of understanding and fearfully asks a question he deep down knows the answer to but tries to deny. “How about Mo- Mother ?” he sobs as he sees the sorry look on his guard’s face. The long-haired man suddenly makes a deep bow.
“I, Phawin Wanichakarnjonkul, personal guard of Prince Teerayu the first of his name, deeply apologize for being late and failing my mission to protect my prince and his mother.” He holds out his sword with both hands and bows his head again. “Your Majesty has every right to execute me.”
The young prince just looks at him in disbelief, wiping his tears. “What are you talking about, Hia? Why would I execute you? Are you crazy ?” He shakes his head. “Besides, I am not even a prince anymore, remember ?”
The guard finally looks up and Teerayu could see relief in his eyes as he puts his sword away. “I could never kill you, Hia. On the contrary, I should thank you for saving my life.”
Phawin shakes his head “I only did my duty and I truly apologize for your mother.”
The younger man tries not to break down again at the reminder that his whole life has suddenly turned upside down, both his parents passing away, he may not ever hear from his siblings again, or even know if they’re alive, and he shall now live as a normal boy hiding his true identity from the world and fleeing his late father’s enemies. He had to be strong to try and survive, but at least he had a loyal friend by his side.
“Just promise me you will stay by my side and protect me” he almost pleads as he throws himself on the older’s arms.
A hesitant hand reassuringly pats his head, as he barely hears the whispered “Always”.
December 13, 2027
As Win comes back from work and opens the door to his house, he’s surprised by the unusual quietness that he finds. He locks the door with a frown, before he starts hearing muffled giggles from somewhere. The frown gets replaced by a small smile as he starts curiously heading towards the source of the sounds. He passes the kitchen and living room and starts climbing the stairs, wondering which of the rooms is the sound coming from, as they get a little louder. He passes his head through the first door, and though the light is on and the floor is full of toys scattered everywhere, there is no one to be seen and the two boat-shaped blue and red beds are empty. He stops at the closed door right next to it, and even if he knows no one would logically be here, he checks to make sure and a warm smile appears at the sight of the newly arranged pink nursery before he closes the door again.
As he makes his way to the door on the far end of the corridor, he hears a definitely louder giggle resonating and another hushed voice whispering “Shhh you’re going to wake him up”. He raises an eyebrow and smirks, wondering what are his boys up to, before quietly passing his head through the door to see what’s going on.
Inside the room, on the king-sized bed, a dark-haired man is soundly sleeping, while two small boys are sitting on either side of him, bright smiles betraying the looks of concentration in their eyes as they draw messy lines on their dad’s face, makeup tools scattered all over the bed. The sight makes Win shake his head in disbelief as a hearty laugh escapes him.
Hearing the laughter, the five-year-old twins stop what they were doing and one of them drops the lipstick in his hand, startled. They guiltily turn to look at the man, gazing fondly at them before running towards him happily “Papaaa !”
Win laughs loudly and struggles to hold both the boys who jumped right in his arms. He plants two loud wet pecks on both their cheeks, ignoring their grumbling pretense of being annoyed while rubbing their cheeks (their dad’s behavior really seems to have been transmitted to them) and grins at them “What are you naughty boys doing to Daddy ?”
“It was Thee’s idea!”
“It was Thorn’s idea!”
It’s Win’s turn to giggle as he shakes his head again at his sons “You guys really are twins for a reason”. The ruckus of laughs, accusatory screams and giggles seem to affect the sleeping man who starts turning in bed, awakening, which alarms the boys who jump down from Win’s arms, running away and screaming in fake fright “Daddy’s waking up, Daddy’s waking up!”
A wide smile still adorning his lips, Win climbs on the bed and feels his heart warming up at the sight of his husband sleepily rubbing his eyes and opening them. Years later, red lipstick on his cheeks and black lines around his eyes, Team still has the same effect on him as the first day he saw him in the university’s swimming pool. As the unaware man looks up at him, he brings up his phone to immortalize this moment “Hey there, sleeping beauty”
Team rolls his eyes at him but gives him a quick kiss nonetheless and Win can’t stop the giggle escaping his lips, both at the fuzzy feeling his husband’s kisses still get him and at the mess their children made on his face. Team frowns “Why are you laughing at me, Hia ?”
The older one smirks at him, takes one of the mirrors already on the bed, and passes it to him. He throws himself comfortably on the pillows next to Team, as he watches him widen his eyes at his reflection on the mirror “CHONLATHEE, CHONLATHORN, GET HERE RIGHT THIS INSTANT”
Win laughs, before backtracking at the murderous look his husband is throwing at him “You seriously let them do this without saying anything??”
He lifts his eyebrows and holds up his arms in defense, exclaiming “It was too late when I came !”
Team just shakes his head and sighs at the giggles he’s hearing from the other room “We really shouldn’t leave them with Manaow anymore” he says with resignation, to which Win amusedly agrees, before turning his gaze absolutely fond and bringing the black-haired man to his arms.
“I have good news, baby”
Team looks up at him with nervous and expectant eyes “Did you pass by the orphanage ?”
Win ignores the moisture forming in his eyes as he nods “Yes, they said everything is okay”. At this, Team sighs of relief and hugs him tight, both incredibly happy at the thought of their little family soon welcoming a new addition.
May 7, 1998 (TW - homophobia, cursing, implied character death)
It’s very early in the morning, the sun is barely rising and the wind is chilly against the cold and brutal waves crashing noisily on the smooth sand. A single figure curled up against itself in the middle of the deserted beach is shaking unstoppably.
He raises his head and stained cheeks to look at the sea. This place that was once his safest haven on Earth now looks so scary and treacherous. The dark water, constantly moving, fast and harsh, the salty smell that makes him choke on his tears, the waves sounds that keep haunting him. He closes his eyes and blocks his ears with his arms, as he cries harder and screams. But he only sees it clearer in his head now, he sees the hand trying to reach out, he sees the head disappearing, then he sees the pale face and cold body. He hears the screams, he hears the cries, he hears the gasps, then he hears himself weakly and helplessly whispering “Hia” as he falls powerlessly to the wet sand.
Flashback
“-Hey faggot
-He’s not even a fag, I don’t know what the fuck he actually is
-He’s a slut that’s what he is
-Isn’t that right pillow biter?
-You think fucking some ugly bitches is gonna make you any more of a man than the bugger you are?
-Like anyone would want him anyway, that’s why he’s broadening his inexisting chances.”
Team stops in his tracks in shock in the middle of the library, as the laughing and insults continue. He doesn’t spare a look at the group of bullies standing next to the table he was previously at and keeps looking at the boy sitting there on his chair, his head down, trying as best as he could to ignore the harsh words being mercilessly thrown at him. He keeps looking at this beautiful boy being bullied, while nobody bats an eye. The librarian pretends she doesn’t hear a thing, while all the other students sitting at nearby tables either pretend the same or worse, are laughing with the heartless seniors.
When they finally get tired of their little show, they come towards him and shoot him an amused look before one of them points his finger at him “Be careful who you hang out with, Champ, or you’re gonna end up in a very bad situation”. They all snicker and get out of the library with a lot of unnecessary noise.
As he looks back at his senior, the boy quickly puts his head down, he looks ashamed. Team sighs and goes towards him, sits back on his chair and puts the calculus book he went looking for on the table. “Look, Nong Team, if- if you want to try and look for someone else to tutor you, that’s completely fine. You don’t have to worry about me” His tutor suddenly tells him with a smile he must have meant as reassuring, that looks nothing but sad and makes his heart hurt even more than it was.
“Why would I do that, Hia ?” Win just looks away and shakes his head. The younger tries to take his hand but he removes it as if he was burned. Team suppresses a sigh “I don’t want to. You tutor very well, I’ve been getting so much better grades!” he tries to say enthusiastically, but as he sees his elder trying to argue, he adds “Plus, I like spending time with you”.
To say this was the truth was an understatement. Win caught his eyes since the first day he set foot in this university. He was laying alone in the garden, it looked like he fell asleep and a soft smile was floating on his lips. He looked truly angelic and Team was taken aback by his beauty, before he got shocked to see the boy brutally woken up by some of his classmates under insults and hits.
Later, he heard some of his friends talk about Win having been one of the most popular boys when he first joined university, before his bisexuality was accidentally revealed to everyone and everyone started hating and bullying him. That broke Team’s heart. Especially since they lived in the same dorm, and he had occasionally seen the boy interact with the workers there and the ladies making food nearby. Win seemed like the most kindhearted and genuine person he’d ever met.
So when he knew the boy was the top 1 student in most of his classes, he jumped on the occasion to ask him to be his tutor, as he on the other side, was failing most classes and had to keep his swimming scholarship. Win seemed taken aback by the proposition but ended up accepting. Since then, they spent quite a lot of time together and Team’s assumption was right; his tutor was one of the nicest people ever. Which made the harsh treatment he was getting even more heartbreaking, because he absolutely did not deserve it.
“Team…” he sounded tired, “you can’t. You- It’s bad for you.. to be seen with me. You’re our university’s star swimmer and you have a lot of friends. You shouldn’t associate yourself with me. I- I don’t want my re-reputation to hurt you.”
The younger felt himself tear up at Win’s words. But he also got angry that the boy was so detached from everything, that he accepted all that happens to him without even trying to fight back, but genuinely cared about others. While he was trying to think of appropriate words to articulate, Win packed his books in his bag fast and took off.
End of Flashback
If only he said whatever was on his mind right away, if only he didn’t take the time to pack his bag before running, if only he ran faster, if only he swam harder, if only he reached his hand… If only, then the boy would’ve been here now, he would’ve been celebrating his 21st birthday, he would’ve been alive and well.
Team can’t stop his sobs.
October 11, 2020
He can’t reach him. He just can’t. He tries so hard to go deeper under the crashing waves, but the other one seems to have reached the bottom already. The stream is just too strong, even for him. “Team” He tries to call for him, he tries screaming. “Team, baby” But he can’t, the salty water gets in his throat. He’s choking, he’s drowning… “Baby, I’m here, wake up!”
The cold feeling of the water surrounding him suddenly starts to fade away, as he feels a pleasing warmth instead. He finally can breathe and opens his eyes to see the reassuring and loving ones of his Hia. “You’re okay, Team. I’m here, baby.” He feels the strong arm holding his naked body and the gentle hand playing softly with his hair strands. He sighs of relief and newfound comfort, as he slides his arm around his equally naked boyfriend. “Better?” Win asks, before kissing the younger boy’s temple. “Better.”
Team can finally relax again in the warm embrace of his lover. He looks around his dorm room, to the scattered clothes, the light strings, the messy half-eaten yellow cake on the table that used to have the shape of a chips bag, before his eyes finally land on the new gold rope bracelet that adorns his wrist. He smiles as all these details remind him of the night before’s birthday celebration.
Caressing the identical bracelet on Win’s wrist, he slightly raises his head and kisses the smiling lips that perfectly fit his. “Thanks for always being here, Hia. I love you.” Said Hia brings him even closer to himself and grins before whispering “For you, always, my love” that makes Team snort at the cheesiness. But really, it’s just out of habit, as his happy and pleased face shows his true feelings and he asks a cheesier question even, as they’re slowly drifting back to sleep.
“Hia ?”
“Hmm ?”
“Do you believe in soulmates ?”
“Of course, baby. I am pretty sure I would find you and love you in any time, place, and circumstances, always.”