Chapter Text
Pete loves Macau with every fiber of his heart. After all the time they spent together taking care of Vegas in the hospital and supporting each other through those terrifying moments, the two really grew closer. However, it wasn't until Pete moved in with the brothers that his relationship with his in-law reached this point where Pete sometimes can't say whether he saw the teenager more as his best friend, little brother or son.
Yet, even though he was willing to kill and to be killed for that boy, Macau's habit of trying to make him a widower before his thirties was starting to drive Pete insane.
Though he still uses the spoiled brat mask he created to survive in his position as a mafia prince, Macau is such a sweet child. His bodyguards worship him and do whatever he wants, not out of duty, but because they can't say no to his puppy face. Venice, even so young, is obsessed with his big brother and sometimes refuses to go with anyone other than the oldest. And Pete, well, Pete became fond of the youngest that first night in that hospital, when the teenager quietly thanked Pete for not leaving him and his brother alone in that place. Time and proximity only made that feeling stronger.
All these feelings Macau provokes in those close to him obviously also extended to Vegas. Before the death of their father the two were already close, but after everything that happened, it seemed that a weight was lifted from the lives of the members of the minor family, and the brothers were finally able to demonstrate how much they loved each other without the fear of their father's reaction, without him branding them as weak.
Still, as much as the brothers now felt free to cuddle and watch a movie or to sing together in the kitchen while preparing dinner without fearing being interrupted by their father's screams, that didn't keep the teenager from constantly trying to kill Pete's fiance with a heart attack. He was indeed still a spoiled mafia prince, after all.
Macau was always playing pranks on his brother, using his clothes without permission and questioning his orders. After Vegas nearly had a nervous breakdown when Macau scratched his favorite bike, the kid took a break from testing his brother's patience, at least until that morning.
"I booked a tattoo for next Thursday." Macau evenly spoke, as if he hadn't just dropped a bomb in his brother's lap.
"What??" Vegas was so handsome at that moment. His man dressed only in his pajama pants while cooking their family breakfast was one of Pete's favorite scenes. Unfortunately, after Macau's speech, the vision was suddenly broken by Vegas' scream, which, astonished, knocked half the food out of the pan and onto the floor, nearly burning himself in the process. "Great." Thought Pete. Now second-degree burns would also have to be among his concerns whenever the teen messes with his brother.
"A tattoo" Macau spoke sweetly, performing an innocence they all knew he lacked. "On Thursday. What part of what I said didn't you get, bro?"
Vegas was breathing fast, looking at his brother with a really red face on, as if he had just run a marathon, while the youngest continued eating his breakfast serenely, without a care in the world. Pete decided to cough quietly, snapping Vegas out of his stupor
"You're not getting a fucking tattoo." Vegas growled as he approached the table where the rest of the family was seated.
"Vegas! No cursing in front of the baby." Pete exclaimed as he covered Venice's little ears, seated on his lap and drinking his bottle.
"Ye, you can't curse in front of me, Vegas." Macau said with the typical Theerapanyakun brothers' smirk on his face, a smirk that Pete hoped and feared Venice would inherit.
"Stop playing around, I won't repeat myself, you're not getting a freaking tattoo." Vegas looked angrier by the second, especially after his brother's joke.
"Hia, please!" Macau whined, appealing to the word that always softens Vegas' heart. "Why can't I get a tattoo?? P'Pete has one! And you're always disgustedly talking about how much you like it."
After that Pete had to blush, Vegas liked his tattoo a lot. He could tell by the number of times Vegas had spread licks and bites in the phrase on his hip.
"Pete is a grown man who can make his own decisions. You just admitted that you are only a little baby. No tattoos." Vegas turned his back to the table, ending the conversation, and returned to the stove to finish what was lacking from the breakfast.
Macau pouted, which made Pete smile, that face really made the boy look like a little baby. Then suddenly he opened a huge smile, making Pete sigh, he already knew what the boy would do: use his secret weapon.
"Phi!" Macau exclaimed in a fake crying voice. "Please talk to Hia, I really want to get a tattoo!!"
Pete sighed again and dropped his eyes to his own lap, where Venice was playing with his plush bunny now that he had finished his bottle. Pete only looked up again when he heard his fiance sitting in front of him, putting more food on the plates of the three of them.
"Love, at least hear him out" Pete would never pass over Vegas’ authority, but at least he could try to mediate the situation. "After all, he's nineteen, old enough to make his own decisions."
"Cau, it's not just a matter of age" Vegas groaned, but already replied more calmly than before, clearly considering what Pete said. "You are one of the most inconstant people I know. One day you like one thing only to lose interest in the next" Vegas was clearly thinking about all the hobbies his brother became obsessively interested in, only to abandon in the blink of an eye. Of all the expensive clothes bought under the pretext that he wanted a new style, just never to be used again. Of all the overwhelming loves that didn't last because the boys always ended up boring him. "How can you be sure that this tattoo is really something you'll want for the rest of your life? I just don't want you to do something and regret it later."
"Hia, I'm not that inconstant" Macau rolled his eyes but softened his speech. "I understand the concern, but I assure you that I thought a lot about it before making this decision. I spent months thinking about the design, I researched several tattoo artists until I found a studio that I trusted and that had a professional with the style I wanted. I also have been in touch with the tattoo artist for several days, getting the perfect design. I promise I won't regret it."
Vegas gave a loud sigh, clearly giving up. "Well, since it looks like you've already arranged everything behind my back, it seems there's nothing else I can do. Just know that if you get a stupid tattoo and regret it later, I won't pay to have it removed."
Macau squealed, then got up to do a cheerful little dance, making Pete laugh and forcing Vegas to hide a smile. After another squeal, he attacked his brother's face with kisses, left one more on Pete's cheek and the last one on Venice's head, before running out of the kitchen, presumably to break the news to Porchay.
Vegas tries to keep sulking, but in reality he could never say no to something that would make his little brother happy. He will keep worrying but would end up giving in eventually. Knowing this, Pete reached out to squeeze his fiance's hand, reassuring him that he had done well.
"Don't worry love, your brother is a responsible kid, I'm sure he wouldn't do something so serious if he weren't sure what he was doing."
"I guess… I just worry about him. Do you mind supervising all of this? Making sure the place is safe and that he doesn't do something ridiculous? I believe I will get a headache just by thinking about having another conversation about this tattoo."
"Sure, I can talk to him later."
"Thank you my love" Vegas sighed in relief. "Now, give me the baby. I need to enjoy it while this one isn't old enough to give me a daily headache." Pete laughed, passing Venice to Vegas, who hugged his son, whispering in the little one's ear for him to take as long as possible to become a teenager.
Later that day, Pete was lying in his room, Macau beside him watching a movie and Venice sleeping on his chest. Using the fact that Vegas was in his office checking some documents, Pete asked Macau for information about the place where he would get his tattoo.
Macau excitedly started telling him all about his idea, showing him the sketches he and the tattoo artist had made, and finally, passing the studio's Instagram link.
The design was stunning and matched Macau's personality, a boat with geometric details in black and gray, Vegas would have nothing to complain about.
While the youngest turned his attention back to the movie they were watching, Pete opened the studio's Instagram link on his cell phone, verifying that it was indeed a serious place. After viewing several photos and reading numerous reviews, Pete confirmed that the site appeared to be safe, hygienic and with well-done works.
Satisfied, Pete was about to lock his phone when he saw a tattoo that caught his attention, the art was gorgeous and quite different from the black and gray style chosen by Macau, it had clearly been done by another artist. Pete opened the image wanting to see more details of it, and inspiration immediately hit him.
Before realizing what he was doing, Pete sent a message to the artist responsible for the drawing that caught his attention. The girl responded so quickly that, even before the film ended, Pete had already told her his ideas, made some adjustments following her suggestions and scheduled a session for the same day and time as Macau.
Lying next to his fiance that night, Pete debated whether to tell him of his decision. However, looking at a sleeping Vegas, he decided he'd had enough emotions for one day. Moving closer to the other, Pete fell asleep with a mischievous smile on his face, thinking about the surprise his beloved would have the following week.