Work Text:
It’s a familiar route to Suvarnabhumi airport, one that Phuwin has done countless times considering how well travelled he is, but the drive to the airport this evening is different. For the first time in a long while, he’s not in the passenger seat and being driven there by his parents. This time, he’s in the driver’s seat and certainly not the one who’s going overseas.
Just being reminded about that irritates Phuwin enough for his grip on the steering wheel to tighten. It’s not that he wants to be the one who gets to travel abroad. What bothers him instead is the reason why he is driving to the airport.
While Phuwin is thankful that he has had his fair share of opportunities to work overseas, right now at this very moment, it annoys him that it is opportunities like these that are occupying so much of Pond’s time and making him a little too busy for Phuwin’s liking.
It’s actually kind of funny. Everyone thinks Phuwin is the busier one among them, but the truth is, Pond is equally, if not, busier than him especially since the number of his overseas work engagements increased. It’s a happy problem - Pond’s popularity has grown internationally which only bodes well for both of them, but travelling overseas for work is so time consuming and makes scheduling local activities tough. Phuwin knows he shouldn’t feel this way. It’s childish of him to even feel upset, but he can’t help but be bothered by what these overseas work stints are doing to Pond and him.
Usually, he enjoys the drive to the airport but the journey there this evening is proving to be a challenge. A furrow creases Phuwin’s brow, his lips press together in a thin line, muscle memory guiding his car along the familiar route, as he rants to himself.
Then — poke.
A fingertip presses firmly into his cheek.
Phuwin blinks, jolted from his thoughts, and turns his head briefly to the left, sparing a glance at his passenger prince that he almost forgets is in the car with him.
“What was that for?”
Pond raises an eyebrow, his expression somewhere between amused and exasperated.
“You were gone, Phuwin.” Pond states a little too serious, “It didn’t seem like you were actually focused on driving…”
Phuwin opens his mouth, closes it, and ends up giving a sheepish half-smile, “Right…”
“10 baht for your thoughts?” Pond jokes, his tone gentle now.
“You’ll be a billionaire if I told you everything…” Phuwin mutters, looking at the road ahead of him.
“And here I am thinking we don’t have any secrets between us.” Pond ponders out loud.
Phuwin stays silent, guilty as charged, and pretends to be fully focused on navigating the highway. His jaw is tight, not in anger, but in that quiet tension that comes with holding in too much for too long.
“You’re really not going to share what’s bothering you?” Pond attempts again, “I’m going to be away for a few days, and I hate to leave you like this, Phuwin.”
“Ok... fine.” Phuwin huffs and pauses for a moment before he begins, “Just so we’re clear, I’m talking to you as a colleague… got it?”
“Uhh, sure…” Pond doesn’t understand why Phuwin has to make that clear but he decides to go along with it.
“So, I have a-” Phuwin clears his throat as his fingers flex slightly on the steering wheel, “Well, friend… who I care a lot for. Like, a whole lot.”
As curious as he is to instinctively find out who Phuwin is referring to, Pond swallows his question and chooses to prioritise being a good listener.
“Lately, he’s been really busy.” Phuwin laments, “I barely see him outside of work.”
This instantly sends alarm bells ringing in Pond’s head. He stiffens in the passenger seat, his stomach twisting inside, hands balling into fists as his mind races to list out the usual suspects that Phuwin has close ties with, close enough to affect his mood.
“Even at work, it feels like he only appears when he needs to, and then he’s gone once the schedule is over.”
Who? Who on earth has gotten Phuwin’s attention?!
A flicker of something sharp and bitter rises in Pond’s chest unbeknownst to Phuwin who somehow isn’t holding back from sharing his thoughts anymore.
“Oh and that reminds me, when I do see him, he’s always so focused at work.” Phuwin bites his bottom lip before he mumbles to himself, “Always so serious these days that we don’t seem to have as much fun as we used to before.”
Pond narrows down the possibilities to the cast of Scarlet Heart.
“It also doesn’t help that he has all sorts of schedules overseas now…”
Phuwin doesn't get to continue because he is interrupted by Pond.
“Is this about Fot?” Pond blurts out after a process of elimination in his mind, “Or P’ Tay?”
Phuwin pretends not to hear Pond, though he can’t help but roll his eyes at how absurd Pond’s guesses are. It’s both cute and infuriating how daft Pond can be at times.
“I thought I could finally spend some time with him tonight but-”
“Well, I told you, I could have taken a taxi myself and you would have time-”
“Seriously, Pond, if I didn’t offer to drive, how else would I find time with you?”
The silence after Phuwin’s big revelation is deafening.
Phuwin sneaks a peek at Pond and finds him looking exactly like a deer caught in headlights, his eyes wide, unblinking, but fixed on Phuwin.
Phuwin gulps, feeling like a fish out of water. He starts to regret spilling all his thoughts and exposing this side of himself to Pond. He suddenly feels too vulnerable that his instinct tells him to retreat.
“I told you, I’m saying all these to you as colleagues…” Phuwin knows he’s speaking nonsense but it’s the only escape route he pathetically prepared for himself, “So you don’t have to care about what I said.”
“But you’re complaining to me about… me?” Pond is still in shock but at least he has his voice back.
“I wasn’t complaining.” Phuwin retorts weakly, lips pushed out in a stubborn pout, “I was just stating facts.”
“Phuwin…”
“Don’t.” Phuwin recognises the tone of remorse when Pond utters his name, “You wanted me to share what was troubling me so I did. Don’t feel like you have to do anything about it. I’m fine. Really. Just needed to rant, just wanted you to know…”
“I miss you too.” Pond finishes Phuwin’s sentence for them, “I feel it too. It’s never enough. I just... never have enough time with you. And work? I always have to remind myself to be professional especially with you because if I’m not…”
Pond draws a slow, deliberate breath as he shakes his head, “Honestly, I don’t know what will happen. I just know I can’t afford to risk it. Our careers… and more importantly, us. You’re just too important to me.”
Phuwin doesn’t know he needed to hear that from Pond until Pond says it. Almost instantly, the frustration that has been bothering him the entire time dissolves into a calm resolve to understand, to reassure, rather than react. He reaches out, finding Pond’s thigh and squeezes it.
“Sorry… I shouldn’t have acted like a spoilt brat.”
Pond takes Phuwin’s hand, entwining their fingers, before he rests their interlaced hands on the center console. His thumb moves slowly, absentmindedly, brushing over Phuwin’s in a soothing rhythm.
“Don’t be. You’re entitled to be like that with me, you know?” Pond smiles, squeezing Phuwin’s hand.
“Oh?” Phuwin glances sideways at him, a smirk tugging on the corner of his lips.
“Just not all the time.” Pond quickly adds.
“I’ll consider.”
A slow smile creeps across Phuwin’s face before it reaches his eyes, softening them with a light that wasn’t there a moment ago.
“So… are we ok now?” Pond asks, wanting to be very sure that Phuwin will be alright when he is overseas.
Phuwin hums before adding as an afterthought, “Depends on what you’ll bring back for me from Manila.”
“Wow, you’re really using that entitlement immediately.” Pond glances over at his partner with a bemused smile.
“Hey, I’m driving you to the airport.” Phuwin reminds Pond, “It’s the least you can do for me.”
“There are other ways I can repay you…”
Grinning, Pond makes sure Phuwin catches him looking at his lips.
He does, and as soon as he realises what Pond means, Phuwin pulls his hand out of Pond’s and places it back securely on the steering wheel.
“I, uh, need to concentrate on driving now.”
“Of course.” Pond laughs, “We can always settle this when we get to the airport.”
Phuwin decides not to acknowledge Pond and puts on a stoic expression; but when Pond takes his phone and purposely selects 'Love Song' to be played in the car, he considers taking Pond up on his suggestion.
(If you must know, he does let Pond have his way when he drops him off at the airport because it’s the least Pond deserves too.)