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Kinn was fully aware that taking care of a pet was hard work and took lots of responsibility. But responsibility was something he’s had for as long as he could remember. So, while the prospect of having multiple dogs in the manor was something he shook his head at, he accepted it and took it in stride, much to Big and Ken’s relief. It wasn’t like he was going to kick all of the canines out, There was more than enough space for all sixteen of the dogs — perhaps more if Big and Ken decided to lose their marbles again — and more than enough staff and other people in general, to take care of them.
Not just that, but the dogs also seemed to be much more well-behaved than he would’ve thought them to be. They were excitable and had all the normal quirks of a dog — shedding, running around violently, occasionally barking, and more — but they were never irresponsible. Observing them, he noticed they never broke anything or bit anyone like most canines put into a new environment.
He was pleased by this, as were the others.
He could see they were more relaxed around the pets and he smiled.
“Do you want to introduce us to them, Big, Ken?” He called out, his family and other bodyguards nodding in agreement.
They nodded. “Okay,” Ken responded. He whistled and the dogs’ heads shot up, ears perked. He ushered them around and pet them all gently on top of their heads.
“Okay, so, to preface, they are all male,” Big began. “This is Sarawat and Tine. They’re an Australian Cattle Dog and Finnish Spitz. Then we got Pha the Belgian Malinois, Wayo the Cairn Terrier, Ming the Golden Retriever, Kit the Alaskan Klee Kai, Forth the Doberman Pinscher, and Beam the Finnish Lapphund.”
Ken took over for Big, speaking next. “This large lad is Leo the German Shepherd, Fiat the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. These two are inseparable, pretty much. Then, we have Ram and King whom you’re all acquainted with — Ram’s an Australian Shepherd and King a Shetland Sheepdog—” King’s head turned to look brightly at the group, tail wagging incessantly, letting out a resounding bark, “—Sean’s a Belgian Tervuren, White is an American Eskimo, the fluffy Samoyed is Tharn and Type is the Shiba Inu with an attitude.”
Type spun around, quickly nipping at Ken’s fingers. The man looked unfazed and scratched behind its ears, it growling in contentment.
Kim spoke up after their voices dulled down. “So…how’d you get Ram and King to work with knives and keys?” He asked the question everyone else was curious about.
Big snorted, smirking. “They’re rather smart; they already knew how to do it. Then they taught the others.”
“Oh shit? They can all do that?” Pete blurted out.
The two grinned, nodding their head. “Yep. They’re the best of the best—” Ken ruffled the fur of Ming, “—isn’t that right you precious little beans?” He cooed in English.
“Anyways, we’re gonna go shopping with N’Chay, so the dogs will be keeping you company,” Big stated, “So see you later.”
Without waiting for a response, the pair left, leaving the dogs in the living room full of dogs of various sizes and colors with the mafia men. When the shock wore off, everyone started going around to introduce themselves to the dogs; it was welcomed in full.
However, Kinn noticed that one of them was separated from the others, head laying flat on the cool marble floor, letting out quiet whines. Kinn frowned and softly approached them at eye level. His footsteps caught their attention and as they stared him down, he didn’t move. He knew that they could take it as a sign of danger if he made a sudden jolt of motion.
Sniffing, the dog made small steps towards him and tilted its head curiously, tail pumping up and down. It circled him and after making a few rounds, it’s beady eyes stared up at him, before scrambling up and onto his lap. It nuzzled its head into the warmth of his chest and Kinn’s posture went relaxed. His eyes softened and he placed a light hand on the small dog’s head, carefully petting its back with his other limb. Kinn’s fingers twitched and turned the nametag around its neck. He hummed.
“Wayo,” he whispered to himself, “You’re safe here, okay?” He whispered, despite under the impression that the dog might not even understand him.
It was then that Kinn sensed another presence behind him. He bent his neck backward and blinked in barely concealed surprise at who it was. “Hi, Kim.”
Kim was accompanied by the Belgian Malinois. Kinn’s brow furrowed. “Ah. Is that Phana?”
His younger brother gave a slight nod of his head, before sitting down next to Kinn. The older flinched, not expecting him to do such. “Do you need something from me?” Kinn asked.
Kim clicked his tongue, words never escaping his lips; he struggled to begin what he’d always wanted to say to his older brother, and Kinn gave him a reassuring smile, and shit Kim hated that smile. That smile reminded him of a time where he and his brother got along, before Tankhun was kidnapped, and before Kinn was forced to mature quicker than kids his age and step up to the plate — step up as the heir of the Theerapanyakun Main Family.
Most of all, he hated it because it reminded him of the time when he were all happy; running and laughing without a care in the world, oblivious to the chaos going on around them. It reminded him that he once only used to care about making his brothers happy and getting hugs from them.
Now, all it evoked from him was annoyance and anger at his brothers. For leaving him by himself. For abandoning him. For shutting themselves off from him — making him think he was the one at fault for their emotional stunts.
He loathed visiting their manor. Sometimes though, he wondered if he were to go back, would Tankhun and Kinn greet him with a bright demeanor, a genuine smile, and a ruffling of his hair?
Yet, despite all of this, he still loved them.
“I’m sorry—” he blurted out.
Kinn blinked, turning to face Kim. “For what?”
“Just, everything ,” his voice hitched, fists clenched. Phana nuzzled his head against the boy’s side and Kim’s tense body, relaxed. He let out a deep sigh, hand patting the dog on his head. “I know I caused a lot of issues. So, I’m sorry.”
Kinn’s eyes widened in a stunned manner before they flickered with something else entirely — exactly what, he couldn’t decipher… A silence washed over them and Kim internally winced, thinking he did something wrong, and as he uncrossed his legs to get up, an arm shot out at his limb, and he stopped in his steps. He pursed his lips and sat back down.
“What? I said my piece already, Kinn.”
“I know. You didn’t listen to my response, though.”
Kim scoffed. “I don’t need to. Probably gonna respond by scolding and reminding me that I’m a failure to this family like Uncle and Pa constantly did.”
Kinn’s eyes narrowed. “Excuse me? They did what now?”
He rolled his eyes in response. “After Pa stopped considering Tankhun as heir and put you into that spot, he started getting on my case about me wanting to pursue music in high school and after. Said that there was no room for a child that couldn’t serve a purpose to the family.” He shrugged dismissively. “I’m over it, though.”
When he looked back at Kinn’s eyes, he was shocked to see a fury burn bright in his irises.
“I’m not though,” he grit out. “You are my younger brother. It’s my duty, my responsibility, to take care of you, Kim.”
“And that’s the problem! I’m just a burden to everyone! You only take care of me because it’s part of your stupid duty. You don’t actually care about me!” Kim barked out.
Another voice snorted from behind them. It was Macau playing with another dog, a strand attached to a treat twirling around the canine. Without diverting his attention, he stated, “Kinn really does love you, you know. He has the same look in his eyes that P’Vay has when he saw me being mistreated by our step-mother. There’s a reason he glared and nearly punched me when I smack-talked you a few years ago.”
“He what now?”
Macau shrugged. “Can’t explain it to you except that Kinn is protective of those he cares for and loves about. You’re no exception, cousin.” He walked away, following the Finnish Lapphund.
Slowly averting his gaze to the ground, he placed his fists to the sides and he heard the loud sigh from beside him. “Well, Macau is right. I did and still do love you so much, N’Kim. I would burn down the world for you and P’Nu.”
Kim gave no reply, but Kinn knew better — he was just processing it all. He gently wrapped his arms around his brother’s waist, careful to not disturb the dog in his lap. Although, it was in vain as the Cairn Terrier hopped off onto the ground and went chasing after the larger dog who watched it with a careful eye.
Even as he felt his shirt getting wet, he continued to hold his younger brother in his grasp. “You’re alright right, you’re alright, little one. I’ve never hated you, and neither has Tankhun. You’re not a disappointment, and we’re so proud of you. You’ve been so strong for so long,” he whispered gently.
“I-I—” Kim sniffled, voice muffled, “—can we go back to being family. Vegas and Macau included? I know that Chay has made them softer and more kind, so…”
Kinn beamed down at his brother. He ruffled Kim’s hair. “Of course. If that’s what you so wish, then I’ll go along with it.”
Kim wrapped his hand around Kinn’s. “Thank you, P’Kinn,” he mumbled, barely audible.
“Of course, little lamb."