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Phayu woke up to the gentle warmth of the morning. The sun was shining through the windows, making everything toasty, along with the line of heat that came from where Rain was pressed against him. Both arms wrapped around Phayu's chest, legs tangled together, and his face squished into Phayu's shoulder. It was his second favourite way to wake up in the morning. (His favourite being more active and a lot hotter).
He trailed gentle fingers up and down Rain's bare back. When they had first started dating he sometimes worried that his hands were too rough on Rain's delicate skin, continuous work in the garage had left thick calluses and roughened palms. Touching the silken soft skin of Rain's body had felt almost sacra religious, like a defilement, but the way Rain begged for Phayu's touch was enough to remove that particular insecurity. He drew intricate but random patterns, watching with keen eyes as Rain slowly rose to consciousness.
First a scrunch of the nose, then an uptick of breathing, and finally Phayu's favourite part, Rain's doe eyes slowly blinking open. He could watch his sweet boy wake up everyday for the rest of his life and feel satisfied.
Rain grumbles and presses his face harder into the space of Phayu's shoulder, “What time is it?”
He rubs gently at the base of Rain’s head, “A little after eight. We still have time.”
Rain hums, wiggling until he somehow managed to fill in the non existent empty spaces between them. They would need to get up soon, as they had a family brunch to attend today. One where apparently Khun-Tharn would be and, allegedly, wanted Phayu to attend.
Phayu still hadn't wrapped his head around the fact that Khun-Tharn seemed to accept his presence in Rain's life. They'd had a few civil conversations, and had both been present during lunch dates. It was a stark contrast to the cold front he had received for almost three months. He still didn't know how to process it, some part of him thinking this was all a trick. Like any second Khun-Tharn would convince Rain to break up with him (Phayu knows that Rain wouldn't let that happen, but he could still be worried).
He allows the two of them to enjoy the quiet of the morning, before dragging Rain out of bed. Phayu does not want to be late, lest he sours whatever Khun-Tharn thinks of him.
***
They pull into the driveway just as Pai and Sky show up. Phayu refuses to drive Rain on the bike if his parents are going to be around, but Pai clearly doesn't care. Sky is plastered to Pai's back (something Phayu loves about the bikes), wearing his matching motor jacket.
Rain bounds over the second Sky's feet hit the pavement, his energy levels reaching peak while they were driving over.
“We saw each other two days ago.” Sky grumbles as he pats Rain’s back.
“How was the drive?” Phayu asks, letting Pai put his and Sky’s helmets in the back of his car.
“Nice, good weather. You should have taken your bike.”
Rain snorts, grabbing onto Phayu's arm, “P’Phayu doesn't want my parents to see me on it. He's worried they'll get mad.”
He pinches Rain's nose earning a noise of protest, “Clever boy.”
“Phi.” He bats the hand away, “I doubt my Pa would care. He rode a scooter most of his life.”
Pai laughs, they start tracking towards the door, “There's a big difference between a scooter and one of our bikes.”
“I know that-” Rain is cut off when the front door is thrown wide open.
Rain launches himself at the women with a surprised shout, startling everyone.
“Aunt Thanya!”
The woman folds Rain into a hug, her own shriek of excitement echoicing. Phayu should probably feel some form of jealousy, but is just shocked. She's an attractive woman probably in her mid-thirties, all long lines and delicate features. Familiarity pinged in his mind but he couldn't place it.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were still overseas? Rain asks, pulling away just enough that his words can be heard.
She waved a hand in dismissal, “We wrapped up early, and when P’Type said you were having a family brunch I just had to come. I hope you don't mind?”
Rain quickly shakes, dragging his aunt back into a tight hug. “Oh,” Rain pulls away again, this time turning to Pahyu, “Aunt Thanya, this is my boyfriend P’Phayu, and you remember Sky. That's his boyfriend P’Pai.”
Rain is barely able to get the introductions out before Thanya is practically beaming at Phayu. “You're the boyfriend I've been hearing about. P’Tharn has been withholding on the gossip, I had to get it from P’Type.” She pulls Phayu into a hug before he can get a word out, “It's wonderful to finally meet you.” She pulls back to get a full look, “Oh Rain you managed to get a handsome one.”
Rain sputtere, pushing his aunt away to latch onto Phayu's arm. This Phayu knows how to deal with.
“Thank you aunty,” he politely waiis, “I apologize I didn't know any of Rain's family would be coming, or else I would have brought something.”
Thanya waves the comment away, “Honesty it wasn't until this morning was I even sure I was coming.”
“Thanya! Is that Rain?” From the hallway Khun-Tharn emerges, dressed down for a casual brunch. Phayu forces himself not to stiffen when he appears not wanting Rain to pick up on it.
Thanya rolls her eyes turning back to Tharn, “Phi why didn't you tell me that Rain’s boyfriend is so charming?”
Tharn stops short at the divide into the entryway. His eyes dart between Thanya and the rest of the group. Behind Phayu he can hear Sky muffling a laugh. It is an amusing sight, Tharn looking caught out by someone half his age, if it wasn't for the fact it was about Phayu.
“If it wasn't for P’Type I wouldn't even know Rain had a boyfriend! You're not a very nice Phi.”
It hits, this is Khun-Tharn’s sister. Phayu doesn't know what to do with the information, stuck between the knowledge that one of Rain's family members seems to like him and the fact that it's Khun-Tharn's sister.
She huffs turning away from her brother. “let's go in, I want to hear all about how you two met.”
***
They ate on the back patio, the morning breeze cutting through the creeping heat.
Rain, with little prodding, had launched into a recount for Thanya on how Rain and him had met. His aunt listened attentively, asking questions and squealing as Rain explained how Phayu had wine him over.
“Ao, P’Type it's like how you and Phi met.” She explained once Rain completed the story.
Type seemed to blush, “I wasn't that easy to win over.” He snapped with little heat.
“Well you did give P’Tharn the run around,” she turns back to the table, “you should have seen it. My brother was so love struck from the first minute and P’Type made him work for it.”
“Aunty,” Pai leaned forward, a mischievous grin on his face, “How did Uncle Type and Uncle Tharn meet? I never got the story.”
At that moment Khun-Tharn makes a noise, shooting Thanya a look. That grabs Type’s attention, who frowns.
“What, you don't want the kids to hear how we met? If Thanya doesn't, I can definitely do it.”
“Ao, Type don't do this.”
Thanya snorts, leaning forward to whisper at the group, “P’Tharn was very insistent when he met P’Type. They were roommates for school, and then in only a couple months P’Tharn was able to convince P’Type to move in with him.”
“Really?” Pai asks, edging the conversation forward.
Thanya nods, “P’Tharn wouldn't allow P’Type out of his sight. P’Thorn, our older brother, liked to joke that P’Tharn already had the wedding venue picked out when they first met.”
Type humps, shooting a look at Tharn that Phayu has seen on Rain's face a million times. ‘I’m going to say whatever I want and you'll deal with it’ kind of look. “I don't think you even know what no means, you were relentless.” Type turns back to the group, “Like a dog with a bone.”
“Ao Type,” Tharn wraps an arm around his husband's shoulders, “you make me sound horrible.”
“Because you were.” Type instantly fires back, ignoring Tharn's pout. “If Rain or Sky had dealt with even half of your crap I wouldn't be letting them date.”
Phayu absolutely refuses to look at Pai, knowing they will both be in deep trouble. He isn't sure exactly what constitutes ‘half’ but neither of them had been soft in their persument.
Thanya giggles, “P’Type always gives Phi a hard time.”
“He knew what he was marrying.” Type turns to Tharn, “are you regretting it?”
“No.” The answer is instant, Phayu can sympathise. If hesitated for even a second with Rain he would be in deep trouble. He'd have an upset brat on his hand, and while he did enjoy cheering Rain back up sometimes he would like not having to deal with that all together.
“P’Type don't be mean,” Thanya chides, “he's been through enough already. If your Pa didn't scare him off, nothing well.”
Phayu blinks, “You've met Pa’s Pa?” That surprises him, he couldn't think of this sweet women meeting someone that Rain spoke about with pure venom.
“Before Tharn and I got married, my Pa wanted me to date Thanya.”
Rain coughs on the bite of his food and Pai chokes on his drink. Sky's mouth drops open, and even Phayu can't stop his eyes from bugging out.
Rain, after clearing his throat, stares at his Pa, “You never told me that!”
“It never came up.” Dismisses Type.
“How did Grandpa even know about Aunt Thanya?”
“He was obsessed with this drama she was in, thought she was the best.” Type rolled his eyes, “Nearly keeled over when we told him.”
Pai whistles, “That must have been awkward.”
“Came in handy, we used Thanya to distract my Pa during the wedding.” Type nods at her, “Thanks again for that.”
“I'm just glad everything went well. Oh!” She turns to Phayu, “Have you gotten to meet Type's family yet?”
Phayu shakes his head, letting his arm drape across the back of Rain's chair, “Beside Pa and Khun-Tharn I haven't met anyone.”
Phayu realised his mistake the minute it left his mouth when Thanya’s brows shot up. Type had told Phayu to call him Pa after a few lung dates with Rain. Type had recognized Phayu's devotion to Rain from minute one, and knew that wedding bells were somewhere in the future. Tharn had not extended that same sympathy. Normally it wouldn't matter, he rarely was with both of Rain's parents for the difference to matter. Phayu was a lot of things, but getting his boyfriend's dad in trouble with his little sister was not something he wanted to do.
He forced the conversation forward, “I've been busy with work, and Rain just finished exam season so we haven't had a lot of free time to socialise.” Ignoring the fact that they had dinner at Phayu's parents every other week.
Thanya hums, “Well you should come to visit our place. I'm sure our parents would love to have you.”
“Aunty,” Sky asks, “Is Uncle Type's Pa really that bad? I've never met him.”
“Good,” the venom in Tharn's voice shocks all of them into silence. Only Rain and Type don't look affected by that one word.
Type gives a broken smile, “He's not the best.” And Phayu knows that Type's Pa had threatened Tharn but now he wonders. Eventually the conversation pushes forward, back into safer topics. Phayu tries to relax back into it, Rain already having calmed down, but he can't help but notice the dark look on Khun-Tharn’s face.
***
Sky and Pai are the first to leave, some other engagement forcing them to rush out right after the food has been eaten. From the eye roll Sky gives, Phayu was willing to put money on Pai having booked something without Sky’s approval. Rain and Type end up chatting with Thanya, neither having seen her for a while.
Phayu, needing to move around some, offers to clean up. He takes the dishes back into the house, scrapes off the excess food, and begins the task of washing. It's surprising how many dishes a group of seven can produce.
He's getting to the pots when Tharn appears beside him, grabbing a tea towel and begins drying the dishes Phayu has placed on the rack.
Phayu can't say anything, allowing the tense silence because he doesn't know what to say. After Rain’s Grandpa was brought up Tharn had gotten distinctly quiet, excusing himself at the end of the meal.
“Did Rain ever tell you the story about how he came out to us?” Tharn asks, as he puts down another pot.
Phayu shakes his head.
“He did it the last time we were all down to visit Type’s family.” That surprises Phayu, with what he can piece together that would have been the worst time to do it. But knowing his sweet boy, he probably realised it and then couldn’t keep it in for long. He’d seen it before the way Rain would come to some kind of realisation and it bursted out right after.
“We were out on the beach,” continues Tharn, still not looking at Phayu, “One of Type’s childhood friends does rentals and other things, so we had spent a couple hours out in the water. Both Rain and Type were completely whipped out, which had them whining about said exhaustion.” Tharn snorts at whatever that memory looks like. “Even though Rain was twelve I still ended up carrying him, he hadn’t hit his growth spurt yet so it wasn’t hard. I think between the sun and exhaustion from playing his filter just turned off, he was half asleep when he told us that he thinks he likes boys as well as girls. We didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, and Rain was asleep in a minute.”
Tharn sighs, setting the last pot down and bracing his hands against the counter in front of him, “I never told Type but I was beyond relieved he didn’t say it in front of his Grandpa. I have no idea how he would have reacted, I don’t know if it’s me that he doesn’t like or the fact that it’s a queer relationship in general. That was the same trip that Rain made us cut short, he hasn’t seen his Grandpa since then.” Tharn looks at Phayu and there is something there that makes Phayu freeze, like he is staring into a glimpse of his future. “That man made my life a living hell for as long as he’s known about my existence.”
And Phayu gets where this conversation has been going, striking him all at once. Phayu hasn’t thought of Khun-Tharn as a bad person, just as something he would prefer not to deal with. He’d been honest with Rain, no matter what he wouldn’t be the reason to come between Rain and his parents, but that didn’t mean Phayu enjoyed it. Tharn is a protective father, his reactions being fueled by love, something Phayu has seen in his own family. He had never outwardly rejected Phayu, instead cold fronts and side comments.
“Your father-in-law does not sound like the nicest man.” Phayu eventually comments.
Tharn chuckles, “I wouldn’t have been able to do it for anyone but Type. He is my everything.”
“That’s Rain for me.”
Tharn’s look is this all knowing father look, “I know. And I’m glad that Rain has found someone who can love him the way that he deserves.” Then Tharn really surprises Phayu and clasps him on the shoulder, it’s quick barely a moment but it leaves Phayu reeling.
And then he’s gone, disappearing back into the house without even a word. Phayu is left standing
there with suds on his arms and a bewildered look as he realises what just transpired.