Work Text:
Across the vast dark sky, glimmering stars decorating their restricted vision, the crescent moon dangles excitedly in between faint clouds, Tian standing by his side, looking exceptionally beautiful and gorgeous as nature seeps into his bones, becoming one with him. The calming night breeze whirls around his figure, dancing with his overgrown bangs and blows his oversized t-shirt (Phupha's t-shirt) in a routine of one-two, one-two.
Standing in the middle of the field, surrounded by blooming daisies, Tian blossoms most spell-boundingly, a single flower that Phupha wants to pluck with his sinful, undeserving fingers- to breathe in the herbaceous scent of innocence and purity.
Phupha feels unworthy still. Tian was once a distant astral in his galaxy, so elusive and out of his orbit. Two different worlds separated by a thin line of selflessness and sacrifices; a star in the sea and a fish in the sky. Phupha did not give up on their love, but the voices in his head, the whispers in his heart reflected the fear of Tian finding someone better as he embarked on a voyage towards new dreams and wishful tomorrows.
Even so, Tian came to him again, landed in front of him after long, agonizing years in the States. He was there on the cliff, glinting in untainted ivory, smiling at Phupha as he waited for the ranger to embrace him anew. That was enough for him to discard all mistrusts once circulated in his head and trusted their love. Tian did; he waited and believed in their shapeless promises and wordless pledges, all the while being a thousand miles apart from Phupha.
It still feels unreal to have Tian by his side, sharing the same space, waking up from the same bed, and gazing at their sacred stars together. Phupha must be dreaming, but Tian's eyes are sparkling as their orbs collide, and the ache in his heart intensifies tenfold.
"Why are you looking at me like that, chief?" Tian asks, whisper-like, amused by the dazed look on Phupha's face.
Phupha steps forward, delicately taking the other's hands with his and allows their fingers to meet in a searing kiss, "Tian," he calls, love and infatuation laced every syllable prettily.
Tian's eyes soften, brown galaxies shimmering along with a silver spheroid, "Hm?"
The moment appears so fragile against the cooling breeze, and Phupha feels an explosive sensation drapes his ribcage with hot lava, oozing out from his chest and burns his whole body to the ground, "Sometimes, I find it hard to believe that you are here with me, in Pha Pun Dao."
Tian giggles, his whole body vibrates in a melodious tune and the daisies mirror his movements, swaying in sheer glee. But when he notices Phupha's eyes droop in subtle sadness, Tian caresses their adjoined fingers in concern, "Why, chief?" He asks, the yellow regale in his orbs transcend into grey and blue, "Did something happen? Did I say or do something wrong? I am sorry, I know I-"
Swiftly, Phupha pulls Tian into his arms, engulfing the other in his territory and breathes out the suffocating air from drowning his heart, "No, Tian," it is Phupha's turn to laugh airily, "you did not do anything wrong. You never did."
"Then, what is it, chief?"
Phupha draws in the soothing smell of mint, their shared softener, and the floral nuance of daisies from Tian's skin, "I still could not believe you came back," he pauses, overwhelmed by the sudden spiral of waves coiling in his chest, "to Pha Pun Dao, to me."
He feels the graceful tug of lips imprint on his shoulder as Tian's smile nurtures into a grin, "You waited for me," the latter smoothens the tension by drawing various shapes on his back, "of course, I would come back, chief."
The ranger pulls away, his heart longs to look at Tian's face as he asks, "what if I did not wait? What if I did not come to the airport that day?"
Tenderly, Tian cups Phupha's cheeks with his hands, trailing untold confessions across gold skin, "I would still come back to you."
A mist waltzes in Tian's eyes, enhancing the caramel dash to the fullest, "But our story would be different. Maybe I would play hard to get, and you would have to find more ways to win over my heart again. Maybe you would have to take another bullet for me to love you as much."
The power Tian has on him is unexplainable, groundbreaking, mocking all laws and principles. When Tian is happy, Phupha smiles, and when Tian is sad, Phupha's heart constricts and shatters.
And now, as Tian chuckles heartily, concealing the sadness with a smile, Phupha pulls the latter into a hug again. As natural as breathing, as easy as loving Tian, the teacher snuggles to his neck, pecking his collarbones twice, and Phupha kisses the crown of Tian's head thrice.
"Stop thinking negatively, Chief Phupha," Tian hums, his voice chimes in his ears, "Do not doubt what we have. Did not we promise? To build a future here, together?"
Tian plants a fond kiss on his chest, long and unwavering, "And, do not doubt my love for you."
Phupha moves their bodies back and forth, flip-flop and combat boots rustling against the green grass, "We did," he tightens his arms around Tian's waist, "and I did not question your love, Tian. I distrusted myself. I am sorry."
Tian hits him on the chest hard, a stifled snicker echo again, "You do not have to apologize, silly." He looks up and flashes Phupha a million-baht smile, "I am proposing some ways to make up for your overthinking shenanigans."
Intrigued, delighted, Phupha asks, "What is?"
The latter ponders for a while, looking at the flowers trapping them, the stars suspended from the sky, and back at Phupha, "You can continue to love me forever. Love me the way only you can, chief."
Under the vast night sky, luminous stardust painting their merged world, the crescent moon dangles happily in between cotton clouds; Tian fits flawlessly in his grasp, radiant and astounding as nature seeps into his bones, becoming one with him.
Phupha pulls away from the hug, Tian whining at the loss of warmth, but the ranger suavely places a brief kiss on his lips and bends down to pick a stalk of daisy. He stands up and takes Tian's left hand, tentatively wraps the frail flower around the latter's ring finger.
The daisy blossoms elegantly around Tian's ring finger, the heart of Phupha glistens around his index finger, and his heart swells, combusts.
He stares into Tian's captivating and surprised eyes, searching for his heart and soul. Once he finds it, Phupha locks them with his own, commencing an eternal oath between them, "I promise. It is going to be a real ring soon."
Tian is beautiful this way. The stars twinkling in his eyes, a sheen of unshed tears filling his blatant universes, the wind whistles as they twirl Tian's silky hair into a passionate tango, and the daisies flourishing, a sea of white and green reflects Tian's ethereal existence blindingly.
A smile loops Tian's lips, jubilant, challenging, trusting and hopeful, "Let's see."
With that, Tian lunges forward, enveloping Phupha in an embrace and laughs wholeheartedly. The daisies quiver in excitement as Tian continues to chuckle, the stars radiating their silver rays ceaselessly as Tian tightens his hold. And Phupha feels all the love Tian channels into his touches, lost in a maze of brown eyes and dazzling smile. And Phupha thinks this is perfect. They are perfectly imperfect.
Phupha catches the sight of his ring around Tian's index finger, winking at him victoriously, and the flower around Tian's ring finger stores a vibrant future for them both. Indefinitely, always, and forever.