Work Text:
Sorn shot upright as the light from his phone screen illuminated his dark room, the ding letting him know he got a text. He had been nodding off, but was fighting off sleep as he waited for this exact moment. It was nearly 3 in the morning and fatigue had been pulling Sorn’s eyelids down for a few hours now, but the excitement thrumming under his skin was enough to keep him awake.
Just now getting off work.
That had said that he would be off an hour earlier, but it wasn’t uncommon that he worked later than expected and Sorn tended to wait at least half an hour from the original time That got off to expect a text or call. Even if Sorn was asleep, That would always text to tell him he was leaving work and heading home to give him peace of mind when he woke up. There were many nights after everything that had happened with Tan and Bun that left both That and Sorn shaken. There were too many nights for Sorn to count when he had woken up in a panic, hands searching for something -- someone -- to hold onto and finding nothing. He would always call That, sometimes just to hear his voice and know he was okay, sometimes that wasn’t enough and he would ask him to come over or let That know that he was coming over to his place. That had done the same thing just as often (if not more).
Tonight, however, was not one of those nerve-wracking, panic-induced nights. Tonight, Sorn couldn’t fight the grin off his face as he typed out his own response.
Come get me, he sent before adding another message. Or I can meet you at your place.
Less than a minute passed before his phone began to vibrate, his screen letting him know that That was calling him. He answered, whispering into the phone because it was late and quiet and it felt wrong to break that tranquility just yet.
“Hey, Phi,” he said quietly, unable to keep the smile out of his own voice.
“Hey,” That spoke just as quietly. Sorn could hear a grin in his voice as well, making his own heart swell. “Are you sure you want to come? It’s later than I thought it would be, I don’t want to keep you up any longer. You should already be asleep, as it is.”
Sorn was already pulling his shoes onto his feet as he kept the phone tucked between his ear and shoulder. It was cute that That cared this much about his sleep, but sleep was far from the first thing on his mind right now. Having heard That’s voice, he was already wide awake.
“Come get me and I’ll just spend the night at your place,” he said confidently, knowing that That would never turn him away. Hearing That’s huff of laughter, he added a reminder. “Or I’ll just meet you there.”
“No, no. I’ll come get you. I don’t trust you to be awake enough to drive and I’d rather just make the trip. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” Sorn’s smile broke his face again.
“Be safe.”
“Always.”
***
Sorn felt like he had been waiting for hours by the time That’s motorbike pulled up in front of his house, but his phone told him it had only been around fifteen minutes. That didn’t stave off his excitement, though, as he hurriedly left his house and locked the door behind him. That waved from where he was still seated on his bike, the soft glow of the streetlight illuminating his face just enough to make out his smile, and Sorn all but ran from his front door to meet him.
“Hi,” That said as Sorn immediately started to climb on the bike behind him, wrapping his arms around him.
“Hi. How was work?” Sorn leaned his forehead against That’s shoulder as he spoke, squeezing around his middle. Sometimes the realization that he got to have this, that he got to hold That and hug him and press his face into his neck, was enough to stop his heart from beating for a minute. Even if the two had yet to exactly define their relationship, this was more than Sorn ever would have expected when the two first met (not that he had exactly expected anything at all when That was pushing him off of his bike and kicking him).
“Not too interesting tonight, but there were like three fights tonight and of course I’m the one that has to break them up-”
He launched into a story about how nobody else working would help him stop drunkards from throwing fists as he started driving, the wind causing him to lift his voice a bit to be heard. Sorn jumped in to add commentary and thoughts here and there, his words a bit muffled from where his face was still pressed into That’s shoulder but still heard due to the closeness.
Before long, Sorn felt the motorbike slow to a stop, still listening to That talking animatedly about his night. He sounded tired, but the lilt in his voice indicated that he didn’t care. But when he shifted to move and Sorn still didn’t untangle himself, he cut himself off and turned his head to look down at the other boy.
“Sorn? We’re here.” He sounded concerned, which made Sorn grin. Cute.
“I know, I know.” He paused, considering getting off of the bike, but decided against it. He craned his neck to look up at That. “Carry me inside? I’m tired.”
That narrowed his eyes at him, knowing that he was not too tired to walk inside. Sorn grinned cheekily, knowing that he would get exactly what he wanted. It wasn’t like That to deny Sorn anything and they both knew it. He got his confirmation a second later when That sighed in defeat and unwound Sorn’s arms from his abdomen. He climbed off the bike and turned back to Sorn, leaning down for Sorn to wrap his arms around That’s shoulders. That lifted him and he wrapped his legs around That’s waist, burying his face in his neck. He felt That press a kiss to his hair and sigh again.
“You always know how to get what you want, huh?” he said as he began to walk towards the door of his apartment. It was a bit of an awkward movement since, for all of That’s physical strength, Sorn was long. He struggled for a minute to pull his keys out of his pocket, then to unlock the door, then to maneuver inside without slamming Sorn into the door frame. The entire time, Sorn was laughing quietly at him. He huffed. “You really don’t get to laugh when you’re not being helpful.”
“Yes, I do.” Another grumble answered and Sorn laughed again. He couldn’t see where they were in the apartment with his face shoved into That’s neck, but it was a small place and he knew when his arm brushed against the door frame that they were walking into the small bedroom. His suspicions were confirmed when he was placed gently onto the bed. He loosened his grip on That’s shoulders and unwound his legs from That’s waist, but as That stood to leave he tightened his grip once again.
“Where are you going,” he pouted, much to That’s apparent amusement.
“To shower, I feel gross. Do you think you can handle being without me for twenty minutes?” He was teasing, but Sorn was inclined to say that, no, he could not handle it -- or at least he didn’t want to. But he decided he would allow it and reluctantly let go of That’s shoulders and moved to pull the blanket over himself. That chuckled and leaned down to press his lips to Sorn’s forehead in a chaste kiss before turning to grab a change of clothes from his dresser. Soon, he left the room to shower and Sorn was left alone.
As much as he would whine at That leaving, he really didn’t mind being left for a bit. The bed was warm and soft and smelled like That, and he took the liberty of burrowing deep into the pillows. Sorn never would have guessed that That was the type of person to indulge in things like many fluffy pillows when they had first become friends, but his bed was constantly covered in them. They were all soft and plush and big, and Sorn had been so excited the first time he laid eyes on them. That had been embarrassed, his face and neck flushing bright red as he started to make excuses. Sorn had cut him off, telling him that it was awesome and that he wished his bed was like this. That had blushed harder.
Now, Sorn was hugging a pillow to his chest, his back propped up on several others. He let his eyes fall shut as he waited and didn’t notice when he drifted off, the sound of the shower running in the next room lulling him to sleep. He only woke again when he felt the bed dip next to him. His eyes fluttered open and he shifted towards the body next to him, his arms reaching out to grab it around the middle and pull it close and discarding the pillow he’d been holding.
“I didn’t mean to wake you,” That whispered into the dark room as he wrapped his arm around Sorn.
“Wasn’t aslee-” His lie was cut off by a loud yawn, almost immediately disproving his statement. He laid his head on That’s chest.
“You’re a bad liar. Go back to sleep, it’s okay.”
Sorn was quiet for a minute, thinking about what he was going to say next. He didn’t want to sleep, not yet anyway. He wanted to talk about what they were -- their relationship to each other -- and, while he wasn’t scared to have this conversation like he used to be, he wasn’t sure how to ask without sounding stupid. He finally settled on just blurting out the first thing that came to mind.
“That, are we dating?” Sorn felt That’s body tense in shock, but it relaxed almost immediately as he started laughing. Loudly. And a lot. “Phi, don’t tease me! It’s a serious question!”
“God, I hope we’re dating, Sorn,” That spoke once he calmed his laughter. “I don’t tend to cuddle my friends. Or kiss them. Or carry them inside just because they want me to. Or pick them up at school all the time- okay, okay, sorry.” That cut himself off, still chuckling, after Sorn hit his chest lightly. “I thought we were on the same page, I’m sorry.”
“We were on the same page,” Sorn said quickly as That ruffled his hair in apology. “We are on the same page. I just didn’t know if we were or not. I didn’t want to assume and get it wrong.”
“Sorn, there’s nothing that you could give me that I wouldn’t be beyond grateful for. If you only wanted to be friends, I would be content. That I get anything at all with you is more than I thought I could have.” Sorn raised himself up on his elbows so that he could see That’s face.
“Well, I don’t want to just be your friend. I want to be your boyfriend.” He watched as That’s eyes widened and his lips parted in a smile. Before Sorn knew what was happening, he was being yanked down by a hand on the back of his neck. His lips hit That’s with a little more force that either had been ready for and their noses bonked together, but neither of them cared. Sorn smiled into the kiss, pulling back to press his forehead to That’s. “Are you sure you don’t do this with all your friends? Because I’d hate to find out I’m not very special.”
“Shut up,” That laughed. “Now you’re just fishing for compliments. And you’re not gonna get them.”
Sorn feigned a pout and lowered his head back to That’s chest. As soon as That couldn’t see him, he was smiling widely again. He reached back to pull the blanket up to his shoulders, covering both of them. They laid like that for a few minutes, That’s hand rubbing slow circles in Sorn’s back. The world was quiet around them and it felt like they were the only two people alive in the world. Sorn could lay like that forever.
“Go to sleep,” That’s voice whispered into the silence. “It’s late. We’ll go out and do something tomorrow, we haven’t done anything fun in a while.”
“Is it a date?” Sorn’s voice was teasing, but there was an edge that gave away how close to sleep he was.
“Yeah, it is.”