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Phaya was confident enough to admit, at least to himself, that he was hiding. The last few days, he had systematically scoured their rather large training camp, paying particular attention to the coast along the ocean. While failing to locate any usable evidence, he had stumbled upon an alcove, hidden underneath a small cliff with larger rock formations that hid him from anyone on land. It was his new favorite place to seek alone time. Being surrounded by nosey, noisy recruits 24/7 as well as demanding instructors left little time to breathe, not to mention Khem was a handful even when he was dead asleep. Here, he could look through the pictures and notes on his phone and steam in private that their combined efforts hadn’t turned up near enough evidence. Although this investigation earned him a new, even if reluctant, bolster a few nights ago. Smiling at the memory, he flicked through the photos till he came to the picture of the rope around Lieutenant Tem’s ankles.
“There is something here.” He pinched, then widened his fingers to zoom in on the intricate knot when he heard footfalls on the cliff above him.
Whoever they were, they were running at a dead sprint.
Clothes landed to Phaya’s left, just in the sand on the other side of a rocky half wall. It was clearly a recruit uniform, but the number wasn’t visible. He snapped his eyes out at the ocean and caught only the side of the splash, the person a little too far to his right, his vision blocked by the rocky cliff. He waited, but a head didn’t appear. No one came up for air.
“Shit.”
Phaya dug his feet into the sand and grabbed two rocks. He started to hoist himself up to rescue whoever had just jumped. He hoped this wasn’t another situation like Lieutenant Tem when he heard more footfalls, this time coming toward the beach. Diverting his tactics, Phaya slunk down further so he could spy on the ocean and the beach, but whoever it was in either place would have a hard time spotting him if they didn’t know he was there. The low light from the setting sun positioned behind the cliff side cast his alcove in darkness.
Phaya was just about to open the camera app on his phone when Yai’s tired voice carried out over the ocean. “Wily, fast, little, rascal fish brother.” Yai ditched his shoes and socks and rolled up his pants, wading in till the water was just below his knees. “When has running away and jumping in water ever been an effective form of stopping a conversation with me?” He yelled while gesturing wildly at the empty ocean.
Phaya could answer that, never.
Then the implications of what Yai said hit Phaya, he looked back out at the water alarmed. If Yai was screaming into the ocean, that means Tharn was the one who dived into the water. Sans clothes. And while Phaya would like to be focusing on the last detail, Tharn had been under the water for a significant amount of time. He looked back at Yai, because the man wouldn’t let anything happen to Tharn. Yai seemed frustrated but calm, glancing at his watch, then staring back out at the ocean.
“I can wait here all day and I know you can’t hold your breath forever. Although, I am sure you have sprouted gills since we were kids.” Yai continued, as if Tharn could hear him. Phaya knew he should announce his presence, but his curiosity was just too peaked. Tharn was a closed book with everyone except Yai. Phaya had been trying to glean information about his Bolster, but had been thwarted at almost every turn thus far. So, what is a little reconnaissance between friends? He was sitting here first before they came barreling in anyway. Settling down, he waited for Tharn enjoying the view of the orange and pink sunset reflected on the water. It was moments like these where we wished he had paints or at least some colored pencils.
After a couple more minutes, a head emerged from the ocean, breaking the glass surface. Damn, Tharn had been holding back in training when it came to the water stunts then. He didn’t even seem winded; he didn’t gasp for air, just laid back in the water and started floating. Tharn looked at peace.
Of course Yai broke the revelry. “We can do this two ways rascal brother. I can continue to yell out at the ocean and air your dirty laundry to anyone who walks by, or you can march your ass closer and we can talk like civilized adults.” Yai clapped his hands together once.
Without even looking at the beach, Tharn’s head disappeared under the water once again.
Yai laughed. “That’s what I thought.”
When Tharn appeared again, he was closer to the shore. Damn, the man was a fast swimmer. Then Tharn stood and Phaya swallowed a gasp. Tharn looked ethereal, the sun glinting off the water sliding down his defined muscles. His sun kissed skin glowed in the low light. He slicked back his hair, as he glided toward Yai like a siren slowly rising from the depths. He came to a stop when the water was just below the waistband of his boxer briefs.
So he wasn’t completely naked. Shame.
Tharn took a bracing breath. “Leave it P’Yai. I am fine.” Tharn said.
“No can do because I call bullshit, Tharn. You pushed yourself to the point where your nose bled.” Phaya’s eyes swept Tharn’s face but found no blood, only his forehead a little pinched.
“It’s not that big of a deal, just a small nose bleed. See, I am fine now.” Tharn held out his hands at either side of his body.
“How’s the head? A single event causes a headache and who knows how many you attempted for before I found you? I would bet a night with Sand your head is in migraine territory by now.”
Tharn looked away for a second. Everyone already figured that out that the younger man couldn’t lie convincingly to his big brother. When his gaze found Yai again, his gaze had softened. “I know you are worried, but I am an adult. I can control it now.”
“The fuck you say.” Phaya had never heard Yai’s voice sound angry. Even Tharn’s eyes widened. Yai continued speaking sternly, pointing his finger at Tharn for emphasis. “You don’t control it. You may be able to induce it at times, which is what you were trying to do today, but it is no way under your control. Do you remember what happened the last time you pushed this hard?” Tharn made to interject, but Yai raised his hands. “I’ll answer the question, no you don’t know, but I do. Back then, your nose bled, just like it today. But then your eyes rolled back in your head and you seized. Then, little brother- dammit- then your heart stopped. I had to bring you back, performing CPR until your heart started beating again. I don’t think I will ever forget the sound or feel of your ribs breaking under my hands. Then I ran with your unconscious, limp body over two kilometers to find help.” Yai’s voice strained, cracked. Phaya could feel the pain and fear radiating from the man.
What is going on? Tharn had been nothing but strong during training, meeting every goal while saving Phaya’s ass too many times to count. He had showed no signs of any health concerns.
Sometime in the past Tharn had died, even if just for a moment, his heart was no longer beating. The thought of losing him was ice in Phaya’s veins, even the amulet hidden under his shirt seemed to chill with that revelation. The thought they would never have met in this life was unbearable.
What was affecting Tharn now, and how was he pushing himself? Was he over working himself in training? That made little sense since he soundly cleared hell week and now they were only training half days. Did Phaya miss signs that Tharn was struggling?
Phaya had more questions than answers.
Tharn stared at Yai. “Okay, P’Yai. Okay.” He nodded. “I will be more careful.”
“Please Tharn. I cannot lose you. I already agreed to help you in this investigation shenanigans, isn’t that enough?”
“I hear you, P’Yai. I won’t do it on purpose again.”
“Does it really mean this much to you? That you would risk your life? Because you are already risking your future by participating in this backdoor investigation.” Yai smiled mischievously and wiggled his eyebrows. “Or does he mean that much to you?”
Jealousy. Phaya’s hand fisted.
“You made your point.” Tharn splashed water at Yai, back to his diversionary tactics again. “Go away. I want to be in the water for a while.”
“Fine. Go commune with the fishes. I swear you heal faster when in the water, anyway. Don’t stay out here too much longer, though. I know your head is hurting, so you need sleep.”
“You are a mother hen, you know that?” Tharn started backing away into deeper water. “I don’t know how P’Sand can stand your constant nagging.”
“Another reason for you to stay alive. P’Sand would kill me painfully and slowly if anything happened to you. She needs her gossipy drinking buddy.”
“I. Am. Not. Gossipy.” Tharn yelled back like this was a well-worn argument and then dove into the water.
“Are too. Gossipy, wily, quick, rascal, little fish brother.” Yai said affectionately before he pivoted and headed toward the main building.
Phaya didn’t know what to make of that conversation. Although leaving Tharn, who apparently had a headache and a recent nose bleed, alone in the water, seemed ill advised. He had learned during their drinking session at their instructor’s restaurant that if you wanted to know something about Tharn, you absolutely don’t ask Tharn unless his guard is down. Which wasn’t often since his defensive walls were built sky high. So it wasn’t like Tharn was going to tell Phaya anything of consequence if he stayed. Maybe Phaya should go question Yai a little, although the older man was also good at diversion when he was sober and especially for Tharn. The man took the older protective brother role seriously.
Phaya stared at the smooth expanse of water. Whatever Tharn had done had already given him a nose bleed today, and Phaya didn’t want to think about the rest of what Yai had said. It would be best if Phaya stuck around to make sure that Tharn was okay and to see him back to the bunks. Decision made, he checked around the area, making sure Yai didn’t double back. Satisfied he was alone and Tharn was once again under the water, Phaya emerged from his hidey-hole and grabbed Tharn’s pants and shirt. Walking onto the beach, he found a spot well away from the water. No need to tempt fate, but he loved the smell of the salt water and the feeling of the warm breeze that blew from the ocean.
After a while Tharn emerged again, he lifted his face toward the sunset as he treaded water. Phaya couldn't help but be enamored with this man who seemed to embody everything that was opposite. When Tharn turned toward Phaya, he startled. Slowly, Tharn made his way toward the surf and eventually onto the sand. Phaya enjoyed every bit of exposed skin, not to mention the wet, clinging black boxer briefs that left very little to the imagination. And boy was Phaya now imagining a lot. Tharn, for his part, met Phaya’s gaze steadily. Not how Phaya expected a virgin Tharn to react. His Bolster continued to surprise him. Phaya lifted his hand with Tharn’s clothes. Tharn grabbed his pants, throwing them on, before sitting in the sand next to Phaya, using his shirt like towel for his face and hair.
“Investigating?” Tharn broke the silence.
“Yeah, then I saw a crazy man swimming in the ocean at twilight without a lifeguard.”
“Only crazy to you because the water hates you. It loves me, however.”
“Headache?”
Tharn turned toward Phaya, alarmed. Interesting, so he was afraid of Phaya hearing his conversation with Yai.
Phaya took pity, and because he would not admit to listening in on a private conversation. “Your eyebrows are pinched.” Phaya tapped his own forehead.
Tharn’s face showed relief for a microsecond before he schooled his features. “Hmm, yeah. Don’t worry, Yai already nagged me about it.”
“When did you meet Yai?” Phaya figured that was a safe question to weasel out some life story. Phaya wanted to know more about Tharn and not just to figure out why he had nosebleeds.
“He just left a couple minutes ago, didn’t you see him on the path?” Tharn pointed over his shoulder.
Oops. Phaya course corrected. “I meant how you two first met.”
Tharn hummed thoughtfully and fell silent for a moment, a distant look of remembering the past. “I don’t remember a time I didn’t know Yai.” Tharn answered. “We were friends always, but after my parents died I went to live in the Temple. Yai’s home life wasn’t that great, so he basically lived at the temple as much as possible already.”
Phaya was shocked, that was the most information Tharn had ever volunteered about his life. He had been ready for Tharn to deflect by answering his question in such a way as Phaya could tell there was more to the story and Tharn was holding back. Instead, Tharn had offered a small glimpse of his hardships. “I am sorry you lost your parents.”
“It was a long time ago.” Tharn’s tone rang false, it affected him more than he wanted Phaya to know. “Did you grow up in France?” There it was, deflection, but Phaya had managed to squeeze out a couple details out of his Bolster.
“No. Bangkok with my grandmother. I was only in France for a few years.” Phaya answered.
“What about your parents?” Tharn’s eyes were a warm brown with flecks of green and gold throughout.
“Died in a freak flash flood right after my little sister Paranee was born.”
Tharn’s eyes widened. “In a freak flash flood?” His voice wavered slightly.
“Yeah. I was with them. The water level rose almost instantly. Somehow, a tree branch caught me and pulled me out of the water. They weren’t so lucky.” Phaya studied Tharn, but the other man schooled his features again, looking back toward the last remaining sliver of light.
“I’m so sorry. I can understand why you hate the water so much.”
You don’t know the half of it. Phaya thought, but just hummed.
“I have a question then.” Tharn sounded hesitant, but turned his head and looked at Phaya square in the eye. Tharn was a heady mix of shy and bold, secret smiles and brazen glances. “If water has brought you so much grief and fear, then why do you seek out the beach so often?”
Phaya could answer this one. “Be near the thing we are afraid of and it will lesson the hold it has on us.”
Tharn's downcast and resigned look surprised Phaya. Before Phaya could figure out what to say, Tharn was standing up, holding out a hand. “Time to hit the showers and sleep, we have another full day tomorrow.”
Phaya accepted the hand and they fell in step as they walked toward the dorms. He might not have all the answers he would like, but at least they didn’t snark at one another. Not that volleying back and forth wasn’t fun. Phaya will just keep a closer eye on Tharn. Speaking of closer eye. “Actually, could you sneak into my bunk tonight?” Tharn looked at him with wide eyes. Phaya hid a smirk behind his hand. “I really miss sleeping with my bolster and you seem to be the same size as my one at home.”
Tharn shoved him to the side. “I am not your bolster, Evil Jellyfish.”
“You keep telling yourself that, Bolster.” Phaya laughed and knocked an elbow into Tharn’s ribs. “Question, where are your shoes?”