Chapter Text
It's Porsche's first official meeting as head of the second branch (formerly known as minor family) and Kinn had encouraged Vegas to attend. As a show of goodwill, a demonstration of unity and Vegas' compliance with the shift of power.
If Vegas had been in no position to deny the impeccably polite request – with his father dead, himself barely out of the hospital and his little brother as defenseless as he could possibly be – Kinn needn't mention it. It would have been downright tacky.
They all know the only reason he is here, smiling at Porsche instead of putting a bullet between his pretty, bright eyes for taking what used to be Vegas’ birthright, is brute strength.
Strength Vegas himself does not possess right now. He's hopped on painkillers strong enough to make everything feel floaty and far away. Vegas has never dabbled with pills, preferring other methods to self-destruct, but honestly, this is not the worst feeling in the world.
The only downside is that they make his skin itch, especially the spot underneath his collar bone where the soulmark is barely hidden by the blood-red silk shirt. Vegas chose the bold colour to make a statement, but now that he's looking at Porsche's pleasantly smiling face, he's not sure the message is being received.
They finish their little play at unity and Vegas cannot wait to get out of here. He's the first at the door when it swings open and a boy almost stumbles into him, followed by Kim.
"I'm so sorry", Porchay Kittisawasd, who Vegas has only seen unconscious so far, says. Then his big eyes grow impossibly wider. He puts a hand over his chest, the same spot that Vegas himself can feel flare up.
"Oh", the boy says and there's a sort of wonder in his tone.
"What?" Kim immediately wants to know, fussing over Porchay, over Vegas' little soulmate, like a mother hen. "Are you hurt? What happened? Chay, talk to me."
But the boy only has eyes for Vegas. He’s sweet and soft and everything Vegas never ever wanted. Vegas knows he's not a good man by any stretch of anyone's imagination, but surely this is too much.
Of all the people he could have had a connection with for it to be fucking Porsche's fucking baby brother. Who is not only a child and probably the most boring person in the compound but also viciously guarded by Vegas' insane younger cousin.
Kim is going to make a big deal out of this, Vegas just knows it. Because Kim doesn't have a soulmate and therefore, his little boyfriend shouldn't have one either and if he had to have one at all, it certainly should not be Vegas. Vegas vows to sleep with both eyes open from now on.
"I... I think", Porchay is looking back and forth between them.
Vegas, being incredibly done with his life in general and this moment in particular, pushes past the boys.
"Fuck my life", he mutters.