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Chapter Text

With a soft breeze blowing through the city on a pleasantly mild night, Prapai and Phayu sat chatting under the tent before the event. The two friends talked of everything and nothing. It was a rare moment to just sit before things really kicked off. There was no rush this particular event- everything had been meticulously prepared beautifully and the set-up had been smooth. Phayu's crew knew their jobs- and he had complete faith in them that everything would be done with exactitude. He was really only needed in case any issues arose, so he was free to chat with his good friend.
Pai was naturally relaxed and enjoying the night air. Perhaps other racers that night might be feeling excitement, anxiety, and anticipation of the upcoming races, but Prapai lived for it. He sat back in the folding chair more like a king on a throne, secure in his reign, sitting idly by and admiring the crowd.
It was still early- people were slowly making their way through security. Some checked out the bikes on display and made bets, arranging races for the night, others made their rounds to make their presence known at the event- their chance to see and be seen, giving them a sense of prestige- and chat up their connections.

"When are you going to race me again, Ai'Pai?" said a woman in full racing leathers. Prapai looked up to see Star, a regular at the races approaching. A friendly grin formed on Pai's lips and greeted Star "Hey, Star! Good to see you."

She cocked one graceful eyebrow while the corner of her mouth crept into a knowing smirk- they were once again playing this little game...

If Prapai was hands down the best racer in the circuit, Star was second. She was unlike every other woman at the racing event. While other women wore the hottest name brand outfits, showing off copious amounts of skin and sex appeal or were there simply as the arm candy of their racing boyfriends, Star was the only female in racing leathers. All black with bold orange accents- the exact shade and color of her hair- which fit her medium build exactly as it had been tailored to her specifications. Her helmet had also been painted to match. The left side of her head was shaved to the skin, showing off the silver earrings that went along nearly the entire outer edge of her ear.

Once her custom helmet was on her head, you'd not immediately know she was a woman at all- something she occasionally enjoyed using to her advantage. She'd raced several men who'd challenged the "young master" on the custom-painted orange Ducati- and had reveled in the pleasure of their shock and disgust when she smoked them and took off her helmet after.

Standing with Star was a dramatically beautiful girl friend, Vee. Star was not especially visually attractive, but standing next to Vee she paled in comparison. This fact bothered neither one of them- they'd been friends since middle school. Star knew exactly how striking Vee was, and agreed 100%. It was actually due to that fact that Star did not always invite Vee to join her here...

The very first time Vee had come to support her at the races, a particularly loathsome male racer with a filthy mouth had challenged Star- if he won, he wanted Vee. One silent look was exchanged between Star and Vee before Star accepted. The prize she claimed immediately after winning? She took his car!

So Star usually came alone to the events, but every so often, this friend would join her, usually carrying her massive, bulky camera bag. As a professional photographer, Vee loved shooting the events and many of the racers had begged for prints of shots she'd caught of them during races. (Prapai even had a few at his house.)

Most people thought that Vee was Star's faen since they seemed so close and she was the only companion Star ever brought to the races, but they didn't care what was said about them. Both of them were straight and completely secure of themselves even only in their mid-twenties. They openly told each other that they loved each other- which only fueled the speculation. But for two women who'd been through so much together and in each other's lives as long as they had- there was no other word for it. They loved each other like sisters- closer than some of their actual blood relations.

Star had been attending this event for ages and had challenged Prapai to a race six months ago. Both were aware of and familiar with each other after this much time. The bet itself was superfluous, neither cared about winnings- they were simply racing for the enjoyment and thrill of it. He'd accepted and it had been one of the closest and most exciting races anyone could recall, but Prapai was finally declared the winner.

To say Star was a sore loser would be inaccurate- she was just frustrated. She had beaten every other racer at any event she attended- only Prapai remained. Star was positive that she could beat Prapai. So she had challenged him every race since, raising the stakes a little more each time to the point that they had just reached ridiculous heights, but he still refused to oblige...
Star assumed it was because Prapai thought she was unworthy to race again- which said more about her own feelings than his!

In all honesty, Prapai was pretty sure Star would beat him if they raced again, too, he'd once sheepishly admitted to Phayu- so at every event he would gently sidestep the challenge in order to keep his place. A shameless move, perhaps, but- what could he do?

This game of theirs was actually a bit thrilling for them both- she kept coming back every time to challenge him again and he would dance around her. Prapai had become her only competition and he didn't really want that to end. Since he'd also beaten everyone who challenged him, the events didn't always promise a lot of true excitement, but with the assurance of seeing Star there every event Pai had something to look forward to. He enjoyed seeing her at the events and going through the motions of making their "trash talk", watching her smoke any idiot who challenged her- truly just enjoyed her company!

The fact that they had never slept together came as a surprise to all- because it seemed like all the sexual tension they needed was there. And in fact, Prapai had offered to "comfort" her after her loss to him, but she had turned him down.

There'd been no hard feelings or residual awkwardness since- it was a friendly offer. She knew his personality and reputation- she didn't confuse herself with thinking that Prapai was attracted to her, she viewed him only as a fellow racer.

Prapai's interest in her had hovered since she was a capable racer- until that night... and he met Nong Sky.

Prapai and Star would not race once again tonight... Phayu would unexpectedly leave the event early and Pai disappeared with a new playmate once his races were done.

--

It had taken several months for Prapai to realize that she talked and treated him differently than most. With him and his friends, Star was easy to talk to and intellectual- not just about the bikes and racing, but in other subjects. She could not only hold a conversation with anyone, but she could hold her own against them. At first he couldn't understand why she could be so warm when talking about bikes and engines with Saifah, Phayu, and the other mechanics, but suddenly turn around and speak to a challenger with ice laced in every word- but one race night a couple of months ago, he finally caught her switch.

With anyone who treated her as a "dumb female" or spoke down to her, she was an ice queen- ready to skewer them with some of the coldest insults Prapai'd ever heard- from man or woman! But to anyone who spoke to her as an equal- or at least as long as they didn't make assumptions about her based on her gender- she could be the warmest person. She genuinely cared about people who she approved of.

In fact, sometimes Pai nearly thought of Star more as "one of the guys" rather than a random female in their midst. She'd sooner have engine grease under her fingernails than nail polish.

While Star was not the most beautiful or stunning woman at the race by far (in truth, she was quite average-looking besides the fiery orange hair), she had something else that made her unbelievably attractive to some, including Prapai- her confidence- but that same trait, for many, eventually became a turn-off.

She was a formidable beast, not only on her superbike, but in the boardroom. She was unbending and could be described as "harsh" or cold when the situation called for it. Her father was the CEO of a very respectable company in Bangkok. They had dealings with more companies than anyone realized. Her father had planned to hand over the company to Star as his only child, but he heartily disapproved of her appearance and lifestyle choices.

When she'd first shaved the side of her head as a teenager, her father was brutal, saying she was a disgrace to him and the family.
When she continued to go her own way and bleached and dyed her hair orange the first time, he'd been admitted to the hospital.
When she bought her own Ducati and started racing, he'd threatened to disown her completely.

Star had been completely unfazed as she knew that not only would that leave him without a successor but also that she was more than capable of still doing her job well. She'd even laughed at her father saying that if he wanted to pop out a male heir at his age, he'd still have to wait until the young master was old enough- meaning Star would still be in charge... It infuriated her father!

As punishment, her father had forced her from the public eye- she was forbidden to attend formal events, dinners, or celebrations. Her IG account and social media presence had been taken from her and were managed by a PR team.

Not having to attend those functions though, provided Star with time- time to acquire skills she wanted.

Even as a teenager, Star commanded with her presence, something her classmates neither possessed nor understood. She excelled in school not because her parents expected her to but because she drove herself to be the best. She took courses in foreign languages and anything that she thought might serve her well in her father's business.

She took martial arts classes where, usually due to lack of female students, she was always up against the physically stronger male students. Some refused to fight her and those who did spar with her hated it because she fought like a tiger. Star preferred it this way though- she liked the challenge. Anytime she sensed her sparring partner going easy on her, she would start to verbally insult and dare them to hit her as hard as they could. This had resulting in her going home several times with a few bruises and perhaps a slightly wounded pride, but inside she felt gratified...

The moment she graduated high school, she was deemed old enough to work at her father's company. With her physical appearance still grinding on her father's mind, Star was only allowed to work behind-the-scenes from home, and she moved in ways that left her family speechless- she was so bold! She'd created a name for herself in the industry simply from her emails and business deals- something she actually preferred as she didn't have to schmooze people she didn't like to begin with.

Star started business school already as a full-time employee for her father. Her classmates would often try to invite her to parties, social gatherings, but she always turned them down. They couldn't understand why she always seemed to have more homework and worked later than everyone else. Some thought that perhaps she had a learning disability- none of them were aware that she was actually reviewing business contracts for her father to find loopholes and errors. She had the eyes of a hawk.

She'd become so busy with work that she'd finally been given a secretary from her father to assist her. That secretary, Arthit whom she called Khun Sun, became her face in the industry while she pulled the strings. She would research, dig, and weave until she could command or control nearly anyone or anything she set her sights on.

She had only honed that skill to a precision edge now in her mid-twenties.

It was not until her graduation from business school, where she had excelled with honors, when she was ready to take a bigger piece of her father's business that she finally stepped into the limelight. She wanted to make a sensational splash- "Khun Sun, find out what company my father is attempting to woo this week. I want all the info you can find."

Banished by her father from the public eye, Star had unexpectedly shown up at a formal event he was hosting to woo the young CEO of a Korean company, Shin Yoo-Beom. She entered the hotel ballroom in a simple, yet stunning long black dress, only her toned arms exposed, the only jewelry a simple broach under her left collarbone and a simple long silver necklace- but it was the long, straight black hair down to just below her waist that made people take notice. Her makeup was simple but flawless and dripping with her unshakable confidence and, needing little else, the effect in the room was dramatic.

She approached her father, talking to the young CEO in halting and awkward Korean. Her father initially smiled and greeted this young woman who approached them, though he looked as though he had a rotten oyster under his tongue- he needed to keep Yoo-Beom's attention for just a bit longer!

He was left speechless when this woman brushed non-existent hair off the shoulder of his suit and addressed him as "Father"- he had not recognized his own daughter! Gone was the orange-haired rebellious child. She was the epitome of elegance and grace.

She didn't wait for her father to introduce her, she held out her hand out to the CEO and took over the conversation while her father continued to falter in his shock. With her natural ability to say what others wanted to hear- she charmed CEO Shin for the rest of the night, speaking flawless Korean. Her entire outfit that night had been tailored to his tastes.

She even took the opportunity to craftily snake her hand into the crook of his arm at a strategic moment.

Prapai and his family had actually also been invited and were present that evening.

Along with the rest of the guests, Prapai had noticed the beauty in plain black when she'd entered the party, though he didn't have a particularly good look at her from the opposite end of the ballroom. Other women present wore bright, bold gowns, dripping with diamonds, beads, sequins, baubles, and other flashy accents. It was exactly that fact that made this woman stand out even more. Suddenly everyone else seemed gaudy in comparison to this simple pillar- like she'd stepped out of a classic old movie.

There was also an air about her that drew his attention. He had even briefly considered possibly trying to convince this woman to accompany him back to his condo during the course of the evening- if the opportunity presented itself- until she'd tucked her hand into the arm of the evening's guest of honor. Oh well! There was no lack of company this evening.

Less than an hour later, when Prapai was alone for a moment, he was pleasantly surprised to find the same woman suddenly standing by his side at one of the tall tables scattered around the spacious room. Perhaps he'd not be going home alone tonight after all...

Standing closer than was expected, she immediately started casually- yet quietly- complaining about the boredom and irritating guests present- as though they were confidants. Prapai was shocked at her brazen familiarity!- Had he already slept with this woman?

Pai tried to converse with her, still trying to pinpoint how he knew this woman that he still didn't recognize. The voice he knew he knew...

She wasn't really looking at him, her eyes smartly darted around the room. He'd tried making casual references to places where he thought they might have met when she stopped and looked him dead in the eye. The dark eyebrows half hidden under her heavy black bangs furrowed.

"Ai'Pai! Please tell me you're kidding me right now?!"

Suddenly the flare within her eyes illuminated Pai's struggling memory and his eyes bugged- "STAR?!"

People standing nearby turned for a moment at the exclamation. Star didn't even flinch under their scrutiny. She merely leaned closer and grilled him, "Who the hell did you think I was?"

Prapai took a step back and scanned her from head to toe. Then laughed in spite of himself. He'd certainly never thought that he'd see Star like this! A dress?! Heels? Make-up?!

The smile that plastered itself across his entire face told her everything. He was gonna use this against her as long as he could!

After he razzed her a bit longer on her current appearance (which eventually brought the only true smile on her face that evening as she tugged at her ear), she had to excuse herself. Her eye had been half trained on her "target" during her entire chat with Pai- the CEO Shin "looked lonely" and his eyes found them chatting together... She needed to go back before he lost interest- though she did take a brief moment to touch Pai's arm that held his drink and leaned in for just a moment.

Pai almost leaned back away from her. The woman, who just an hour ago he considered trying to bed, was too close. They didn't have this kind of relationship.

With a sneaky grin gracing the corner of her mouth, she whispered- "I'm gonna use you just for a moment- I think he needs a little shot of jealousy... Now I'm gonna go add fuel to that fire."

Grabbing her drink and saying nothing else, she made her way back to his side. Sure enough, Shin Yoo-Beom's arm was now domineeringly wrapped around her waist. Prapai found himself the focus of the CEO's scrutinizing eyes for a moment. He raised up his champagne glass in a toast and grinned.

Hours later, Star was finally able to escape the event; she made her way down to the parking garage

Hours later, Star was finally able to escape the event; she made her way down to the parking garage. The valet had offered to fetch her car for her, but Star truly didn't care for someone else driving her car- they always moved the seat and messed with her mirrors.

Sometimes she even caught the nauseating scent of a valet's cologne soaked into her upholstery- what did they do??? Bathe in the stuff?!
(She'd once had to find someone to urgently clean her car late one evening after an abysmal event- even with the windows down, she couldn't handle the stench.)

And no one was EVER allowed to touch her bike.

So she simply claimed her key from him, gave a generous tip and walked herself down. Once in the dark safety of her tinted car, she yanked off the wig and cap and threw them unceremoniously in the back seat. She had a headache from the tight cap and the heat of the wig- but the banal chitchat of the evening had done nothing to help!

The heels were thrown into the floorboard of the passenger seat. She readjusted the seat and mirrors, catching a glimpse of her face- I cannot wait to take off this makeup! - and peeled out of the parking garage.

Star only called for a driver when she is drinking, but since she'd rather drive, she rarely ever drank — and even if she did, she would find ways to drink more water than booze. They'd only served champagne at this event. Star loathed champagne, so she'd not even really sipped the glass she held for appearances more than anything.

Alcohol could lead to loss of inhibitions and more importantly- loss of control.
And Star wanted absolute control- over her father, over men, her life, her work.

That was why she speculated she loved her "babies" so much. Cars and bikes had no opinions, no demands. They had to obey her- without question. As long as she took care of them and loved them, they would always do everything she asked.

So of course, she treated them like the treasures they were.

From that day on, her father granted her more latitudes and allowed her to be more active in the company, even giving her and Khun Sun an office in the main headquarters building downtown— all provided that she maintain this facade at all times. That was their deal.

His only other stipulation was that she had to keep her- "activities"- completely confidential. If anyone associated with their business ever found out, the Ducati would be destroyed in front of her. But if Star could perform her professional duties without ever being discovered, he would cease interfering in her private life. She agreed to her father's terms- that was all she wanted.

So long as she could race...

Star's new appearance meant that he could now take her into society and parade her around as his daughter. Her father explained to everyone that she'd been away at school overseas but had recently returned. Her family had long worried about her ability to marry. Now with this "ideal daughter", her parents used her as an attraction to potential business partners and important members of society. She would smile, charm, and enchant- all the while inwardly dying.

As her calendar filled with dinners, receptions, formal events, conventions, and conferences, so did her list of "potential suitors". As the heir presumptive of her father's company, she became a prime target for men trying to gain some footing in their business. She felt hounded day and night.... It was exhausting!

Though they pursued her incessantly, she had never given any of them so much as the time of day. They all treated her like a mindless woman, which infuriated her to no end. Graduating from a top business college with honors meant nothing to them, they acted as though she'd been to charm school.

Slowly over the next few months, Star had begun to form an official engagement with the Korean CEO to secure the deal as she was unattached and had no real interest in anyone. Star figured "two birds with one stone"- secure the deal and get her family off of her back. And there was one benefit for her- being "taken" would mean that a lot of the buzzing flies around her would back down... The fact that she felt nothing for him didn't bother her in the slightest.

But Vee hated it. Vee knew everything about Star- her double life, her horrible family relationship, everything. And for the life of her, Vee couldn't understand why her best friend would agree to marry a complete stranger for business!

To Star?- it was just a game. One she planned to win.

--------------

Author's Note: Okay, boring character intro over! Now I can get to the good stuff! :)

Chapter Text

The Korean CEO invited Star out for a date one weekend for lunch and shopping. He took her to a pricey restaurant of his choosing but the food wasn't even that appetizing to Star- it was the typical "expensive" fare found at most restaurants that were chosen for the name rather than the taste.

He took her to a pricey restaurant of his choosing but the food wasn't even that appetizing to Star- it was the typical "expensive" fare found at most restaurants that were chosen for the name rather than the taste.

The wig was hot, the clothes uncomfortable- and to make matters worse, she was bored out of her mind. She'd been mindlessly listening to Yoo-Beom across from her drone on about something or other- she truly wasn't paying attention, to be honest- she needed only nod and smile at intervals.

After eating, they strolled through the open air shopping district. They were passing a little BBQ restaurant when Star noticed a familiar face across the dining area.

It only took her a moment to recognize the young man sitting down with her racing foe- that sweet younger boy he'd been pursuing! She'd been able to meet Sky only briefly a few times now and though she didn't get to spend a good amount of time with him (Prapai was truly keeping his newfound treasure close), she already liked him. She knew that he was just 20 years old, but he spoke well and was interesting to talk to.

As she glanced at the one-dimensional man walking next to her, Star instantly preferred speaking to the two men at the other table.

Star gently tapped Shin Yoo-Beom's arm and asked him to wait for her a moment as she saw some acquaintances she needed to say hello to. He acquiesced and told her he'd wait for her. She cheerfully wove her way through the tables away from her date. The smell of grilling meat made her mouth water- why couldn't they have eaten here???

Prapai often attracted the attention of people he knows while they are out and about- it's inevitable, and Sky was slowly getting used to it. Most of them only seem interested in P'Pai and ignored his very existence- unless they are being nosey and inquiring about their status.

Sky's jealousy flares when occasionally they turn out to be former flames of P'Pai's.
P'Pai's anger flares when they refer to Sky as just another passing fling.

"I thought that was you, Ai'Pai! I saw you from across the restaurant. Hello again, Sky!"
Sky's eyes went wide- he didn't recognize this polished woman who approached their table and was speaking to him so casually with such a warm smile.
It was not until P'Pai called her Star that Sky finally put two and two together and his face dropped.

Prapai noticed and laughed, "You didn't recognize her, did you, Sky? It's happened to me a few times too when I see her around town." Star glanced at Pai and chuckled at his admission then whipped her head in Sky's direction with humor laced in her warm eyes.

The flawless surface of this lady in front of him was suddenly cracked as the fiery and feisty woman he's met a couple of times flared up, unmasking herself, then swiftly sank beneath the exterior once again.

Sky's eyes did a quick up and down of her, which reminded Star exactly of Prapai's first reaction!

"Sky, please don't judge me right now, I hate this damn look." Star's head shook slightly side to side, eyebrows scrunched and her eyes shifted left and right, smoothing down the black wig over her left ear before tugging on the earrings in her earlobes.

Prapai laughed at her obvious discomfort- so Star threw him a withering look! All Sky could do was gape until she unexpectedly turned back to him and asked how his schoolwork is going. She even asked after his parents!

Sky muttered some answers, still in awe of this duality and discovered that he kind of liked this strange woman more and more.

Star wanted to hear all about the model he was working on after P'Pai dramatically showed off the bandaged finger on his left hand.

She practically ignored Sky's pouting date, asking him what the assignment was. Her attentiveness to him endeared her to Sky. Sure, she was a little over-the-top in terms of her personality, but she seemed genuinely interested in what he had to say. And she was actually easy to talk to!

Ahem...

She looked to her left, and Sky followed her gaze behind him where a dignified-looking man in an obviously expensive suit cleared his throat, obviously waiting for her and looked annoyed- the 'shabbiness' of the restaurant bothered him.

Star found herself loathing this man...

"I have to run, he wants to go shopping." Her eyes rolled so hard Sky nearly burst out with laughter. He just barely managed to keep it in!

With all the snark Prapai has come to know from her dripping on every word, she said "Pray for me, Ai'Pai!"

Star then looked back at Sky and like the snark has been switched off like a light, with all the sincerity in the world- "It was so nice to see you again, Sky! I hope to see you with Ai'Pai at the next event-???", she left the end of the sentence open but gave a subtle, knowing wink referring to the race. (Star respected the rules so much that she never mentioned the word "race" in public- a trait that had endeared her to P'Chai and P'Pakin.)

Sky stammered for a moment that his final exams were coming up shortly so he might not be able to go. He would be incredibly busy. Star looked visibly disappointed.

"Well then, I wish you the best on your exams and I hope to see you after. Okay?"
Sky smiled and waved, "Okay, P'Star."
Her face gave him the warmest look- "Sky? Please- just 'Star'."
Sky nodded again.
She wished them a wonderful rest of their meal and day, excused herself and left on the arm of the dashing CEO.

As Star left, she almost felt bad for interrupting their date. Prapai looked so happy! She found herself wishing she was having as much enjoyment on her own date...

Star and Shin Yoo-Beom made their way to the valet station to retrieve her car before going shopping.
They made pleasant enough conversation while waiting, when the purr and growl of a well-tuned engine announced the return of the valet driving her Aston Martin DB12.

When the valet stepped out, her fiancé put his hand in the small of her back, directing her to the passenger side and opened the door, motioning for her to get in.
"I'll drive."

All of the good humor from her friendly chat at the restaurant evaporated.

Star's knee-jerk reaction screamed, "Who the fuck do you think you are?! This is my car!" A fire raged in her chest, but after this many years of saying what men wanted to hear and petting their egos, she was able to restrain herself in time and replied with only the tightest smile, saying, "I thought your driver came with you today."

"I'll tell him to head back alone. This is too much car for you. I'll never understand why your father lets you drive it."

Star fought internally with herself- should she tell this bastard where he could go shove his understanding or should she continue to play the "good girl"?

With as much outward calm as she could manage, she gently lowered herself into the passenger seat- a seat that felt so foreign and uncomfortable. The driver's seat was perfectly fitted to her body- she'd sat on this side maybe twice ever! As he closed her door, her soul screamed. And it wasn't the only thing...

Minutes later, metal against metal parts squealed and cried for help as he ground the gears of her car. "This car really needs some work done- it's not safe."

Star's teeth were also grinding. Not safe from YOU, you mean???
She made a mental note to take her poor baby to Phayu and Saifah's shop after this- as soon as she could eject this clown from her driver's seat! His driving was atrocious! Slow and haltingly hesitant. This little prince had obviously had a driver his entire pampered life.

When they finally arrived at the stores, Star's hands ached from being balled into silent fists of rage and indignation.

He pulled her into another very nice restaurant after their afternoon shopping spree, of which Star recalled nothing- not what she tried on, what he said, what he bought for her, nothing. Her mind still jammed with the mournful sounds of her car. How would she get the keys away from him? He could not drive it again- EVER!

As he ordered food for her, her brain suddenly kicked out a solution.
"You've been so good to me all day to celebrate our 6-month anniversary of dating! I feel awful for not having something prepared for you..."

He looked up from the menu, somewhat perturbed. Internally, Star's face broke into an evil grin. HA! He didn't know!

In truth, they'd only been dating officially a little less than five months, but this man's brain was crap with dates.

Adding perhaps a little more sweetness than she should, she turned to the waiter and asked for the wine list. "Let's have some wine to celebrate!"
Shin Yoo-Beom, putting on all of the outward appearance of remembering the "anniversary", immediately shot her down, claiming that since he was driving he shouldn't partake.

But Star was sneakier than he knew- "You won't even celebrate our 6-month anniversary with me? We could just call for someone to drive us home." Though she detested the practice, Star pulled the best pout she could manage and "sulked".
He gave in and a bottle of wine was ordered.

Through the most careful manipulation, Star managed to pour four glasses of wine for him as she barely finished half of her glass. His driver was called to come and fetch him.

As she watched his car drive off after dumping him in the backseat, Star walked back to her car, twirling her car key on her finger and texting Saifah that she needed to come in the next day.

She apologized to her precious Aston Martin the whole way home.

Chapter Text

The screams coming from the crowd at the finish line were barely audible over the sound of the engine beneath her but also muted by the helmet, blood pumping in her ears.
But as Star stopped the bike and turned off the engine- the sound amplified. She hoped she'd at least given them a good show.

The nighttime Thai heat and humidity was sticky. When rocketing along the city streets on a bike, sweat could be cooled by the night air rushing over her body, but now static on the street surface, droplets of sweat gathered and ran down her neck, slinking beneath the hot leather racing suit. The moisture-wicking under-suit kept her from passing out, but it was still hot! The hairs that were too short to be gathered in her braid clung to her sweltering face and neck.

She removed her helmet and watched as the little punk who'd challenged her was just now pulling up. It hadn't been a race- it had been a slaughter!

Though sweat glistened all over her face and neck, Star's face beamed with her win.

If he hadn't insulted her before the race started, Star might have let up a little and shown pity- though he still would not have won!

The stranger had walked up to P'Pakin's tent first thing that night. Three friends had followed him and stood back a bit.

Prapai, Saifah, Phayu, and Star had been chatting amongst themselves with a few mechanics and, without any manners or greeting of any kind, he'd interrupted them- saying he wanted to race against the best racer there! His brazenness was nothing new- they'd heard and seen it before. Little looks were exchanged amongst the seasoned group, silently questioning one another. No one knew who he was- they figured it must be his first time.

He stood there posturing for a moment before Prapai finally stood up from his chair, put a gentle- albeit insincere- grin on his face and addressed the young man. "Well, that would be me, nong."

The challenger sneered and opened his mouth to speak but before he could even get a sound out, Prapai continued, "Unfortunately, all my races for tonight are taken, I'm afraid..."

Star had to lower her head to hide the smile on her face. Saifah smirked and turned, pretending to be busy with something on the table behind him.

The challenger tried to shoot Prapai daggers with his eyes, sensing he'd been insulted- but to the group of people in front of him, it looked like he was throwing a tantrum. Star made the mistake of looking up again after composing herself and the moment she saw the cheeks puffed, a snicker escaped her mouth and she had to drop her head again. Her shoulders shook as she tried to stop herself from cracking up.

This time the young man was sure he'd been insulted. He bristled. Prapai still stood in front of him, looking perfectly congenial- seemingly completely unaware of the taunt- but no one else under the tent would meet the brash man's gaze.

Prapai kept that grin fixed where it was, "But, since I am unavailable, let me offer a substitute- how about you race Star?"

Star's eyes looked over to Pai at mentioning her name. Her eyebrows in a high inquisitive arch. Was Prapai seriously throwing her the scraps? She'd really rather not.... Until—

The young man looked around, trying to suss out which one of the other men was Star. (Apparently everyone else present wearing mechanic overalls wasn't enough of a hint for the poor boy!)

Star noticed his eyes flitting from person to person, but passing over her, so she finally threw up just a few fingers on her hand to grab his attention.
Without much enthusiasm but still cordial, Star chimed in, "Sure, I can race him."

He finally regarded Star leaning against one of the tables in her full racing leathers, and snorted, "Her?!"

Star's eyes sharpened instantly. Her face still wore the calm and pleasant mask she'd perfected, but inside, she fumed.
She pushed her body away from the table and strode towards him. The friends who knew her sensed the change straightaway. She was about to eat him alive! As much as they feared her, they were also excited- watching the "Ice Queen" destroy a cocky challenger was always a delight!

She stopped directly in front of this upstart. "Am I not acceptable to you, nong?" Her tone still had a sweet sound to it.
He looked her up and down with a sneer on his face. "Who'd race a girl?"

Star's head tilted heavily to the side in a coy little move she'd used on men before to make herself seem cute and weak. She wanted to play with him for just a moment. "I'm trying to get better at racing but I can't do that unless I race against people better than me...". Star's eyes widened as much as she could manage. She'd seen Pai use those puppy eyes before but she wasn't sure she was pulling it off.

He scoffed at her. Loudly proclaiming, "I said I wanted the Best, not the rest!" His friends guffawed behind him.

Star halted her little charade. Time to end this.
All warmth and sweetness was siphoned out of her voice now- "Then why don't you put your daddy's money where your fat mouth is?"

The aforementioned mouth just hung open, stupefied! His eyebrows were lodged somewhere near his hairline. Had this woman really just said what he thought she said?!

Phayu and Pai had to admit to themselves: they liked that one! Saifah wished he had popcorn at that moment.

Star continued, "If your ignorant ass knew what was good for it, you wouldn't barge in here, challenging Ai'Pai like a moron. You'd have done your damn homework before sauntering into an event you know nothing about against established players that are beyond your ken."
She took a step toward him and he involuntarily backed up a step. She casually crossed her arms across her body and what should have been a relaxed stance instead dripped of threat and danger.

"But since you seem to think yourself a real hotshot on a bike, why don't you borrow a pair of balls from one of your friends and race me? You win?-... and you can make this 'girl' do whatever you want- no limit." The end of her tirade had no anger in it- her face never even betrayed the slightest look of anger. The Ice Queen was spitting nothing but ice barbs.

His eyes glanced at the other men in the tent- even the mechanics had paused their work to take in this little trash-talk session. He could sense his friends behind him. All those eyes on him compelled him to accept- he couldn't have it known that he'd backed down from this -woman!- at his first event!

The bets were made. None of Star's friends put any money on this race- the outcome was already decided and the odds too stacked, but a few mechanics did momentarily abandon their work to run over to see the finish.

Star was still plodding through the crowd, everyone congratulating her on her win, slowly winding her way back to P'Pakin's tent. She didn't have another arranged race for a bit, so she had time to relax a little, maybe even watch some of the other races.

She didn't have another arranged race for a bit, so she had time to relax a little, maybe even watch some of the other races.

Pai was looking a little mopey tonight.

——

Star had noticed the 2-week long "quiet" a month or two back where Ai'Pai hadn't posted much on social media.

She'd just finished a horrible meeting at work and was browsing her social media while Khun Sun briefed her on her afternoon schedule when she realized she hadn't seen much of Prapai & his adorable boy's face lately. She brought up his account on IG and didn't even have to scroll. The last post he'd made was an adorable photo the two of them, their hands intertwined in the dark of his car, illuminated only by the dashboard, with the hashtag #official (Star had liked it instantly!)- but it was from nearly two weeks ago! Nothing since then!

The only time she'd seen Prapai in person during those two weeks, the look on his face was unlike anything she'd ever seen. The light was gone from his eyes.

She didn't know what had happened, but thankfully, Star had long ago learned to never poke a sleeping bear. With that look on his face she wanted so badly to ask him what was wrong, but simply knew better. Instead, she'd tried to keep their small passing chitchat light.

Star had had no time to check in with him again about it when a major business deal nearly fell through and she became swamped with work, and by the time she'd smoothed over the issues- whatever it was had passed by the following race event last month, because Prapai was on Cloud Nine!

Naturally he won all of his races, but Star got the sincere feeling that the grin plastered on his face and the chipper tone in his voice that night had nothing to do with a single person present at the race.

The whole crew had teased and chided him all night after seeing his IG posts- he and Sky were officially dating! Star had hoped to see Sky that night, but Sky and Rain were deep in finals and couldn't come to the event.

Star had gone back to the tent that night after one of her races looking for Pai to ask how his lovely faen was doing, but Phayu informed her that he'd left early. His boy had called. She and Payu exchanged a knowing look- they expected nothing less.... Sky had their friend positively wrapped around his finger!

——

Now a month after their relationship status update, she'd teasingly asked him what was keeping him down while setting up the bikes earlier, and Prapai confessed that Sky had told him not to come by his dorm that night- he'd see P'Pai later. That explained his grumpy mood perfectly to everyone else- but Prapai still visibly pouted.

Star had seen all of Prapai's and Sky's IG posts in the past month- Prapai and Sky were boyfriends- and flaunting it!!! She still wanted to sincerely congratulate them both- but in person. She was pretty sure what the reactions would be: the puffed up and proud Prapai and the shy Sky... How she wished Sky had been able to come tonight! She'd have to wait to compliment them until she saw them both together again.

Star was just a few feet from the tent when Phayu's boy Rain ran into the tent and pounced on Phayu.

"P'PHAYUUUUUUU!!!!" Rain threw himself bodily on Phayu's back, arms wrapped around his neck. The mechanic, having just heard his faen's voice but not enough time to turn, stumbled forward slightly with the energetic weight of Rain thrown against his whole person. Rain slid down the taller man's body and the moment he released Phayu from his hug, the mechanic turned around. His rough hands planted themselves on Rain's hips.

"Nong Rain. You just get here?"
"Yes, phi! Rain would have been here sooner, but I had to pick up Sky!" Rain seemed to positively bounce in place- dating for three months had done nothing to lessen his excitement of being with his Storm god.

"Sky came with you?" Phayu looked around but didn't see the other boy.
Rain turned, thinking Sky was just behind him but he was nowhere to be found. He was still craning his neck, trying to find his friend. "Yeah- Sky wants to surprise P'Pai!"

Star had overheard the whole exchange and was delighted! Sky had come after all! Though she immediately thought that there was someone else who would be MUCH happier at this news!

Star looked around, scanning the crowd and spied Prapai and Sky not far off.

Pai was absolutely glued to the boy's body. They looked like they were not even aware that they were in company- they seemed to be in their own bubble of happiness.

Star's mouth tugged into the stupidest grin- Pai was a lost man! She'd have to haze the hell out of Prapai later... She internally lit up at the idea of tormenting him later. Tonight was going to be FUN!

Star decided to leave them be for the moment- she'd congratulate them when they came back down to Earth. She instead joined Phayu and Rain under the tent.

Rain gave Star a sweet wai and asked, "Star! Did you just finish a race? Did you win?!"
Star just grinned and nodded.

Phayu immediately started asking how the bike had performed for her.
Star paused for a moment, recalling the race moments ago, "Actually, it lurched a bit off the starting line... Something perhaps with the clutch- between first and second gear? I'm not sure."

Phayu looked thoughtful then nodded once, saying in his usual brisk manner, "I'll have it looked at, thanks. Any other issues?"
Star shook her head, "Nah, she performed great. Purred like a kitten."

Rain started to look a little lost at their conversation. A kitten? Here at the race? Who'd bring a kitten to a race? Was it a stray? Could he hold and play with it maybe? Where was it?

Phayu immediately gave instructions to his crew to put Star's bike back in the truck to return to the shop. He didn't want anyone else riding it that night, not if the clutch might be loose. Who the heck had ridden it before Star? Probably some cowboy...

Saifah walked over at that moment and with a brief greeting to Rain, tapped Phayu on the shoulder to inform him that the next race was about to start and they needed Pai.

Star thought of the two lovers a little ways off, "Do you really need to bug him right this moment?"

The twins blinked at her - she knew that the races wait for no one. A challenger could argue that they were insulted if their opponent didn't arrive for a race. So Star scratched her eyebrow and pointed, "He's over there."

Phayu, Saifah and Rain looked in the direction she indicated to the partners standing between the trailers. Phayu nodded to Saifah, "I'll bring him over" and made his way over to the couple.

They couldn't hear what was said from the tent, but Prapai's body language made it perfectly clear- he didn't want to leave his boy!

The racer finally and reluctantly dislodged himself from his faen- but not without a quick peck first!

Phayu dragged Sky back to the tent, but they didn't have much time as they needed to quickly make their way over to the starting line.
"I'm babysitting his baby", Payu half-grumbled to Star and Rain, but he wasn't truly annoyed at Pai's request.

Phayu liked Nong Sky a lot- not just because he was his faen's friend, or his friend's faen!- and not even because he was a nong in his faculty, but because Sky was smart, talented, and diligent in his schoolwork. He was an excellent counterweight for Rain and just a nice person- a good friend.

"Baby, help me keep an eye on Nong Sky tonight, alright? I need to tend to some things. If security drags him off, Ai'Pai will try to kill me."
Rain nodded obediently.

Even though Sky was basically a new face at the races and Rain had been here several times now and knew the general rundown, the situation was humorous to the Storm god. Phayu grinned to himself- Rather than Rain looking after Sky, it would probably be more like Sky looking after Rain!

Star welcomed Sky as though they'd known each other much longer than was the truth. "Sky! I missed you at the last event! So you're done with finals now, yeah?"
Sky nodded and smiled. Here he'd just been making fun of Rain for acting like a regular here at the illegal races and Sky found himself being treated the same way- like he belonged.

Star kept inquiring about finals while she took off her racing gloves and unzipped the jacket she wore. The gloves and helmet were dumped onto a table while Sky only got a few words out before Rain grabbed his hand and tugged him in the direction of the the race about to begin.

"Hurry up, Sky- let's go! We'll miss it!" Rain made a beeline for the middle of the crowd, pushing his way between attendees.

Sky just managed to say "Sorry, Star!" as he disappeared into the mass of enthusiasts.

Star just grinned to herself and finally peeled herself out of the top half of her suit- freeing herself from the broiling racing rig, the night air not doing much to cool off the sweat but the under-suit was doing it's job. She tied the sleeves around her waist. She'd catch them after Prapai's race.

A few racing acquaintances saw her and she ended up chatting and walking around the area.

When she finally arrived back to the tent, she became slightly alarmed- the mechanics informed her that Phayu, Saifah, Prapai, and their young faens had ALL left the event. The event wasn't even half-over! What on earth could have taken them all away?! Star's brain raced- if it had just been one pair or the other, she'd have waggled her eyebrows and made suggestive jokes, but not ALL of them...

Phayu and Saifah took this event for P'Pakin very seriously. They wouldn't both walk out- leaving no one in charge.

Star tried to calm her mind, but felt on edge the rest of the event. Understanding that anything important enough to pull all of them away would be at the forefront of their concern- she decided against trying to bug them now, rather- she'd try to catch up with them later...

Chapter Text

Star halted her little charade. Time to end this.
All warmth and sweetness was siphoned out of her voice now- "Then why don't you put your daddy's money where your fat mouth is?"

After the presumptuous challenger left with his friends, Star could just hear the insulting whispers of the departing group and grinned, completely unfazed. She returned to the table she'd been leaning against- before "dealing with" his mouth and started to gather her gloves and helmet. She needed to get her mind in the game.

Suddenly Prapai was standing over her shoulder. There was a heavy sarcastic tone in his question, "Star- uhhh, you do recall that all of us are here with "daddy's money", right? I mean, we're not exactly self-made here..."

Star smirked. "Like HE knows that?!" She arched her body to slide her arms down the sleeves of her suit and lift it up onto her shoulders.

Pai chuckled, "I'm just pointing out that you— kind of insulted all of us?... I mean, YOU depend on daddy's money, too..."

She stared at Prapai- "You seriously think that my Ducati was bought with my father's money?! Every penny was my own. As if my father would ever allow me to gamble with his money at illegal races?!- even if I'd ever lost..." She tilted her head- a smug face beaming at him, and lowered her volume to a half-whisper "- which I have not!".

"You pay for all of this yourself- out of pocket?" Pai couldn't claim that without lying through his teeth. His first bike had been a gift, the first of several. He thought of the bikes, the gas, the maintenance, the parts, the repairs, the track time rental fees, the equipment- adding the numbers in his head... It was no small chunk of change!

Star looked at him like he had just asked if she'd exchange tongues with him. "Not ALL of my money belongs to my father! I've built myself a nice little nest. But yes- all of my racing money is my own."

"So where did you get the principal from?"

Star pulled the zipper up her racing suit, effectively sealing herself in, and looked sentimental for a moment. "You remember when I told you my grandfather died when I was 13 and I got a little inheritance?"
Pai nodded.

"Well, it wasn't much- most of his money went to my cousins."
Star's grandfather had nearly a dozen children, all of whom had multiple children as well, whereas Star was an only child. Once the money was evenly divided, there wasn't much to go around. But in his will, her grandfather had one wish for Star: for her to be happy. That was it. No requests, no rules, no stipulations. She hadn't exactly been her grandfather's favorite- Star openly believed that her grandmother, who adored her, was the one who'd forced her husband to write such a clause.

"I didn't do anything with it for the first few years... Then I found something that made me happy." Star fondly recalled the first time she sat on a super bike. "So I took that little money and invested it."

"You started investing as a teenager?!"

"I had my grandmother to guide me. She helped me find a good broker, and ever since, instead of presents during holidays or birthdays, she gifts me the money she would have spent on something else— so I invest that, too." Star shoved her racing gloves deep into the gaps of her fingers, fitting them perfectly.

Prapai pressed, what company could a teenager have invested in?
Star tugged at her right earlobe, the mismatched earrings were pinched and spun. "Uhhh, your— father's company, actually!"

"HAAN?!" Pai's jaw dropped. Star was a shareholder in his father's company?!

Star almost looked apologetic! "Actually, I didn't know it was your father's company back then! I didn't even know YOU then!
"My father was just starting to do business with your dad back then and I always heard him talking about it. Well, to be completely honest, my father was always griping about your dad..."

"What did he say about my father?!", Prapai asked indignantly.

Star chuckled as she finally picked up her helmet and started to head towards the starting line- naturally, Pai followed. "That he was an 'innovator'... That was the word my father used. An 'innovator', and that concerned him. He thought your dad was being too brash and too much of an idealist for such a young man to establish a firm hold on such a new company. He even said that your dad might be ousted by the Board... But that word intrigued me. Because usually- so long as they hold true to their goals or dreams- innovators are the ones who change the world..."

They had just finished wading through the crowd and were now in the open space reserved for the opponents.

Pai had never heard Star speak of his father that way- well, he'd not really heard anyone speak of his father in that way. Usually, they just talked about how dangerous and lethal he was...

Star continued, "So my grandmother and I met with your dad to explain my situation- but mostly because I wanted to hear his growth plans for the future. After I heard his ideas, I invested."
Since Star was still very young and it was her first investment, Prapai's father, Kinn had promised her that if she lost her money, he'd return it to her- with a slight "fee" of course... But the electronics company had prospered, and Star had reaped good returns, eventually spreading that money into other companies.

"And did you have any suspicion that he was...-" he let the sentence trail off.
That one corner of her mouth uplifted again, "Yeah, we knew."
"And that didn't bother you- or your grandmother?"
Star bent over to give a last look at the bike waiting for her. "Every businessman has some dirt under his nails..."

Prapai was still trying to process all of this. Star knew his father- from way back!

"Actually, the first time I put together that you and your dad were related, I nearly bust a gut! Though, after I thought about it... I should have seen the resemblance!" She gave Prapai the craziest flash of her eyes paired with an evil grin.
And with that, Star donned her helmet and fastened the chinstrap.

Chapter Text

The next month passed Star like a blur. Meetings, dinners, events- she barely had a moment to herself. The only relief was the next invite from P'Pakin!

Another Friday night- more like Saturday morning: 2:45 AM. The city streets are nearly empty at this hour, nearly...
Star walked up to P'Pakin's tent where Phayu, Prapai and the mechanics are all occupied with the bikes, preparing for the evening.

"Phayu. Pai. Hey, Saifah." The brief, informal greeting she reserves for her closest friends.
They all crisply acknowledged her back.

She is here alone tonight, but already has a couple of races arranged and is in a great mood- it is a perfect night for racing! She is so wrapped up in her own enjoyment that she failed to notice the lack of warmth in their voices.

Her orange hair in a tight French braid to fit under the helmet and stay out of her face, the left side was growing out into the shortest fuzz, which she would occasionally rub with her hand. It always reminded her of velvet for some reason!

She surveyed the area, scanning the faces, before finally inquiring of Prapai- "Where's Nong Sky?", a warm grin plastered on her face.

Phayu's eyes dart to the face of his friend. Prapai managed to keep his face composed, recalling the events that happened at the last race, but he never met Star's eyes. His fist involuntarily clenched.

Though they have the promise from P'Chai and P'Pakin that they will never see that asshole Gun at the event ever again, Sky is not quite confident enough to return here- not that Pai would bring him right now. He doesn't want Sky out of his sight even for a moment and he has to race at P'Pakin's behest-- he can't protect Sky every moment here. He's safer at home with his mother and siblings. No one will hurt him there.
It's all still too fresh of a wound...

Without looking up from the racing gloves he was sliding onto his hands, Pai states "He's at my home with my family. He's not really ready to-...". He nearly said too much. "He might not come to the races for a little while."

The smile evaporated from her face. A flicker of something twitched her eyebrows as she took in Pai's tone of voice. The last time she saw them together, if Pai had told her that Sky was at his family home, he'd have referred to his faen as his wife, or something... But he would certainly be bragging and showing off. Any excuse to show Sky off!

Something was not right.

Star is far too familiar with Prapai and his personality to not notice the clipped words- the lack of a smile on his face. She'd never truly seen Prapai angry before... and suddenly wondered if she was seeing it for the first time. What on earth had caused this?

Glancing at Phayu, he also refused to meet her gaze- He knows. Two impenetrable walls.

Saifah was not as polished as his twin at wearing a mask to conceal his thoughts and feelings. His eyes darted between Phayu and Prapai, and then made the monumental mistake of looking at Star.

She'd start there.

Star assumed a tone of disappointment, but kept it light even adding a mild smile. "Well, that sucks!- but he's on his long break now, yeah? So will I be able to catch you two around town sometime soon? Maybe we can grab a meal together?"

Prapai made a quiet grunt, noncommittally. Sure, maybe.

Pai felt absolutely no desire to reveal the truth- because, to be honest, he and Star are not that close and it's just no one else's damn business!

Prapai and Phayu excused themselves, thankful for the distraction of the next race. Poor Saifah failed to notice Star cornering him.
"Alright- what can you tell me?"

Saifah wasn't a fool, but this woman could be frightfully intimidating, he found. He held out for a while but eventually stammered just enough information to reveal that Sky had been "harassed" by someone at the previous race... but in spite of himself, let it slip that P'Chai had helped them resolve the situation.

That was plenty for Star.

Within the first hour of the event start, whispers were already spreading.
In this environment fueled by adrenaline and ego, it was not long before everyone was openly talking about the fact that two people- soon it was said to be Gun and Petch- were recently banned from the event for life!

It soon became the hottest topic of conversation of the night amongst the guests. Short of any show of violence at the event or brazenly speaking about the event in public, no one could recall any reason for a life ban.

Several people recalled seeing them both at the previous event, but they'd kept mostly to themselves and a few people even claimed that they'd left early. They hadn't even raced that night— they hadn't done a thing wrong.

By the end of the night, the Rumor Mill eventually spiraled out of control: word had it that Gun didn't just stop coming to the event because of his banishment, but some people said that Gun was in the hospital and might never walk again!

Only three men under P'Pakin's tent seemed uninterested in the gossip.

Prapai's face was a stone, but his blood boiled beneath the skin. His mind was aflame. He hated the very sound of that bastard's name... He would definitely not permit his baby to come here again until all of this talk died down completely- it might take a while, but— He absolutely must not come here!

Prapai had sold the condo less than a month after the "incident". Neither he nor Sky would ever go back there. Pai's happy memories of Sky and him in that room were eroded by that one night... Maybe someday they would get their own place, but for now—

For perhaps the second time ever, Prapai's heart was not here at the race; it was wandering around his family's home- in their bedroom, the kitchen, the living room- wondering where in the house Sky was at this moment. So long as he was safe and happy...

But Star is like a dog refusing to let go of a bone...
She was not considered a ruthless businesswoman for nothing!— She pieced the few puzzle pieces together enough to get the gist...

With the rumors and the info provided by Saifah, she went straight to P'Chai for more information- she had zero intention of asking for specific details because she did, in fact, respect Ai'Pai and Sky's privacy, she just— needed 'further information', or even just clarification. She could not abide that the racing event she loves so much had been dirtied by scandal.

P'Chai only diplomatically revealed that another racer had caused Sky some pains, and though P'Chai assured her that the situation has been "taken care of", Star's heart went full-Fury within her chest. Someone had done something so awful to that boy that they'd been banned for life and dealt with by P'Chai... This was no "little matter".

That single thought ricocheted in Star's mind the remainder of the night and robbed her of any enjoyment of the event. Every race she participated in, she was chasing after this formless truth that seemed just out of her reach- at least for the moment. No one could touch the orange demon on wheels- but there was no celebration.

She finally left after her last race- glancing over at Pai standing under the tent as she walked past, but not stopping to even say goodbye.

Chapter Text

TW!: mentions of Abuse/Sexual assault/grape

More than anything else in school, Star had always excelled at research. No matter the topic, the subject, the era, the purpose- once she started, she was insatiable. She'd often be found at the library with a stack of books, as many as she could physically carry at once- but always running back for additional volumes.

The librarians began to abhor her presence- Star would doubtless see another book mentioned by an author and if the school's library didn't have it, would approach the Reference Desk to request new books to be added to the collection or to be borrowed from other libraries. It never failed. She was personally responsible for over fifty books being added to the shelves.

If the school refused to purchase the book due to being too expensive or couldn't find it at another library, Star would purchase them herself. Once her report was finished, if the book wasn't something she wanted to keep, she'd donate it to the library.

Star could usually be found alone at one of the largest tables in the library (meant for groups!), the entire tabletop covered with open tomes. The stack of books she'd pour over were endless, where the titles ranged from the exact topic she was supposed to be researching to fringe topics that may only make a passing mention of whatever she was after- looking for every little nugget to be better informed. If she came across something she was unfamiliar with while reading, she'd return to the stacks.

She'd been kicked out of the library after closing time more instances than she could count.

A few of her classmates ridiculed her, asking why she didn't use the internet for her research, but she'd silently ignore them. The internet may have all this information as well, but she didn't trust every site. Printed media generally required sources to back up their findings.

While everyone else's reports would be cookie-cutter recitations of the same handful of sources, rehashing the same repetitive facts- her reports were always filled with information no one else had ever read anywhere.

Once, one of her professors even accused her of making up the facts to enhance her work. She'd silenced him instantly by pulling up the reference list at the end of her report- which was several pages long, where she'd cited over forty-five books. (The assignment had required a minimum of five and many students struggled with that.)

Her tenacity when studying any given topic was the singular trait that made her so interesting to talk to- she knew about so many topics and could recall the craziest facts.

So when Star began investigating everything about Gun's history with Sky on her own- more to destroy Gun than to learn about Sky- it was only a matter of time. She'd find everything she desired.

Finding out that Gun was Sky's ex was just the tip of the iceberg.

The most recent attack on that sweet boy was horrible enough, but in the course of her digging, she discovered that Sky had a past— the most horrible secret.

Since she could not ask Prapai or Sky directly, and she knew that she couldn't ask Rain who knew Sky best of his classmates and friends (as it would eventually make its way to Sky's ears), Star went deep.

She dug into his past, looking for traces of Gun.
As Sky was not even out of university yet, Star instantly deduced that they must have dated while Sky was a student. Easy start.
Gun had no connections to Lopburi where Sky lived with his father, which greatly simplified things. She only needed to go back about five years.

She found out what schools Sky went to, had his records pulled, and even managed to track down some of his classmates and friends from when he first moved to Bangkok. The classmates were completely useless- they only knew that Sky worked and studied hard. They knew nothing about him dating anyone.

The friends, who admitted that they were "juvenile delinquents" with Sky, were more informative. One of them was now a perfectly normal salaryman, and the other didn't fare quite as well, apparently never growing out of his delinquent phase. Star met with both separately to ask what they remembered about Sky and see if they remembered anything about Gun.

Both inquired how Sky was and she was able to tell them that he was doing very well now- he has a loving faen, he's in college and studying hard. They both looked relieved at this news since Sky "went through so much back then..."

With slow and meticulous excavation during their discussions and conversations, Star was able to find out that Gun would abuse Sky- who'd occasionally show up with bruises and even cigarette burns. The more she learned, the more she wished she could stop her ears.
Sky's history was darker than she'd ever imagined- yet he's such a bright and happy kid with Pai!

They even mentioned the piercings! They'd been roughhousing with Sky one day and he'd pulled away as the fresh piercings were sore- that sweet little boy has nipple piercings?! Star was dumbfounded- he really was a little hellion in school!

Gun had done the piercing himself.

One of the friends speculated that Gun might've been into S&M based on hints he'd caught from an exchange with Sky around that time, but personally, the man admitted that he thought Gun "just liked hurting people". This caused Star to really stop and think.

Using the two young men's testimonies and dates, Star was able to roughly narrow down when Sky was dating Gun. Sky was FIFTEEN- a mere baby. Gun would've been around nineteen at that time. Even if Sky had been consenting, Gun was a criminal asshole. He'd bedded a CHILD!

(Author's note: Apparently the age of consent in Thailand is 15, but in my book, that is a child. Also- I may have Sky's age wrong when he dated Gun, but I'm gonna stick to this.)

The anger boiled in Star. Not sure what step to take next, Star remembered that Gun is a complete braggart- always has been.

She'd seen a sweet post from Prapai that day on Instagram of him and Sky, smiling and happy.

Star got an idea and went to find Gun's account. She'd followed him ages ago but never really paid his posts any attention until finally the algorithms had weeded him out.

Her first instinct was to go back to when he was nineteen, but his account only went back about five years. Damn!

She browsed the mindless crap he posted: photos of his latest purchases, designer brands, cars, jewelry, and photos with friends at events- anything that gave him any bragging rights, including a photo of him and Petch- flashing a massive grin at the camera that most people would find charming and bright- but Star now only saw as the most disgusting and vile face of scum. How could you do this to Sky?

Petch had been tagged in the photo- she clicked his name and found his account as well. She was not friends with Petch at all - Star found him abrasive at events and didn't follow him on social media. She contemplated following him now, but thought he might not approve the request.

Suddenly, Star's second Instagram account popped into her mind. Her main account (which she had finally regained control of after proving her aptitude to her father) was dedicated to her Ducati, racing, and under the name Star, but her second account- made for business purposes- was under her family name.

Petch had certainly never heard her given name and the profile photo was with her black wig and sunglasses. Perhaps he'd just see a pretty girl and approve. She checked the entire account (honestly, a shell of an account compared to the love-filled personal account) to make sure that there was no possible way to link it to the girl Petch only knew as 'Star' and followed him, making sure to send a personal note with the request, saying that she thought he was handsome. GAG!

Within moments the request was approved- typical! Star immediately scrolled to his early posts, but it seemed like Petch joined Instagram after Gun. They even posted the same early photos together. He was a leech.

But in the first post's caption, Petch said he was moving over from Facebook. Star found both Gun's and Petch's old Facebook pages- the idiots had not actually deleted them. She went back to when Gun was nineteen and read all of his posts. Surprisingly though- NO photos of him and Sky.

Scrolling through the posts, Star realized that she must not be seeing all of them. They are few and dated far between- his last posts before he left for Instagram were practically daily BS.

Star ascertained that his security settings must be set to "Friends Only". Petch's posts are more open, but not of much help. She finally informed Khun Sun that she needed someone to hack an old Facebook account. Khun Sun wrinkled his brows for a moment at the odd request, but did as he was told.

Her gut simply told her that there is something there.

The IT team got back to her quickly- Gun's password had been ridiculously easy to crack. The young narcissist that he was- he'd used his own name with some numbers at the end. Once into his account- making sure that Gun would receive no security warning (Star really needed to treat her IT team for this one!), she was able to see his albums, posts, everything.

Once into his account- making sure that Gun would receive no security warning (Star really needed to treat her IT team for this one!), she was able to see his albums, posts, everything

She scrubbed through the entire year when Gun was nineteen. She found a few selfies of Gun mugging for the camera while smoking, trying to look like the models in magazines that made smoking look sexy- but since it was Gun, Star found them utterly repulsive.

In the bottom of one photo on the bed behind Gun, Star noticed a second hand barely visible in the corner- too far away to be Gun's hand, especially since one is holding the cigarette and his other hand was holding the camera. Could this be little Sky?

It was too small to give her any info, but she noted that Gun had posted with a couple of hashtags. The next couple of posts gave her no info. But there was another photo of Gun with Petch and two other guys, all flashing massive smiles at the camera at some hot spot in town talking about their plans for the evening.

The next post was another selfie of Gun- what a narcissistic asshole!- showing off a new eyebrow piercing and asking if everyone thought it made him look hot. There were some hashtags at the bottom- #hot #newpiercing #eyebrowpiercing #piercing #five, and a tag to Petch and two other accounts. The comments were mostly women telling him how hot he was, and similar bullshit, and even a comment from Petch thanking him for an amazing night.

After some quick clicks, Star easily connected the two other accounts to the two guys from the previous post. Then the trail dried up- nothing- no mentions of Sky, no more photos that gave her any info.

How could Gun have dated Sky and not posted a single photo?! Pai's account was practically dedicated to Sky once they started dating- actually, scratch that!- before they were official, Pai had been posting vague references to Sky- pictures of the clouds and the Thai skies, rainbows, anything that made him think of Sky- that made him happy.

Petch's account was of no real help either. A few photos of himself and Gun at restaurants, bars, events- frequently thanking Gun for a great night out.
After days of searching, Star felt stuck.

Khun Sun came in the next morning to find Star sitting at her desk, lost in thought. "Cancel my meetings for the day- everything."

He noted the furrowed brows on her forehead just under the wig.

She'd been like this since she was a child. When her mind was really chewing on something, her mother would scold her for knitting her brows into a little knot on her forehead, warning her that she'd get wrinkles there.

Since Star heard very little when she was concentrating like this, he left without excusing himself. Throughout Sun's entire tenure with her, he'd only seen his boss this way a few times, so he cleared her schedule for the day without further question- including one that if Star had been clear-minded she would not have cancelled. That meeting had to be rescheduled with much apologies to the other party. It took him a few hours to do all this and handle his normal duties.

Around lunchtime, he went into her office after a perfunctory knock which, if his boss was still in her same state, she didn't hear anyway. He put down a glass of water and some food. "Boss, please be sure to eat something. This is not the first time you've forgotten to eat. Some studies even say that using intense mental brainpower can mess with your blood su-"

He was cut off as Star's eyes went from unfocused on anything in the room to suddenly flickering and looking at him. "What did you say?"

He looked at her to realize that she is seeing him for the first time today. "I said you need to eat."
She blinked "No, not that part—"

"Oh-" her secretary suddenly tried to recall where exactly he read that intense mental strain can cause exhaustion after prolonged time, "I read somewhere that intense mental—"

"No. You said it's not the fir-..." Star's voice cut off- like the breath in her chest had been ripped from her. Her lower lids which had been scrunched up all morning until her eyes had been slits finally lowered, the eyes that had been so dark and brooding just moments ago began to flicker around her office, not seeing anything but the thoughts racing through her head as she attempted to pin the one she wanted down.

Suddenly Star's stomach dropped, her heart threatened to jump from her chest. Star seemed to be talking to herself- "Oh god, please... Let me be wrong about this..."

With speed like a hawk snatching up its prey that shocked Khun Sun, Star grabbed her keyboard and became a flurry of activity. She clicked back to the photo of the eyebrow piercing.
That one hashtag... - #five.

Star's heart now threatened to stop entirely. No way. No- he couldn't be that much of an asshole... Star's heart and mind pleaded to a holy being she didn't even worship.

She looked at the eyebrow ring glistening above Gun's conceited face. Her eye drifted to the left ear and counted four other piercings. This was his fifth piercing?

Star's hand tightly covered her mouth, torn between two ideas- one that tried to tell her that it was nothing and another that made her stomach churn. Her eyebrows that had been tightly knotted all morning now slowly drifted up into a face that her secretary rarely ever saw- Star looked frightened.

He slowly walked around her desk to look over her shoulder. All he saw was a photo of a young man smiling at the camera. Did she know him somehow?

The timeline was right. Still Star didn't want to believe it. She somehow managed to sit straight again, her hand dropped to her lap. Her voice was a husky whisper- "I need financials."

Khun Sun instantly knew she was giving orders again. He pulled out a pad because he sensed something very off. "On?...", he prompted after a moment.

Her voice was gaining strength- and wrath... "On Gun Pingmuang. But I want everything. His financials, his family's, their businesses, slush funds, private accounts- everything."

While still scribbling, the seasoned secretary asked without looking up "What are you looking for?" He heard Star say- softer- "Payoffs."

He glanced up at her again- she was still looking at her computer screen, her face looked resolute. "You start there. I'll try to find dates and narrow it down. By the time you locate all those accounts, I'll tell you more." She went back to searching on her computer.

She always started with the money. The money never lied. And there were always records- if you knew where to look.

Once he finished taking down her instructions, Khun Sun knew that was it- she wouldn't speak again for a while and he left.
He had plenty to do.

(Author's note: Apologies to the actor Dunk Patak Pingmuang, who played Gun. I don't know anything about Thai last names, so I borrowed yours. This is in NO WAY a reflection of you as a PERSON, but I tip my hat to you as an actor! You made your character Gun SO abominable that I hate him!)

Chapter Text

TW!: mentions of Abuse/Sexual assault/grape/suicide

Hours later- long after the sun had gone down and most employees had gone home, Khun Sun was able to give his boss an update- they'd found several accounts but didn't think they had them all just yet. They knew that Gun's father had a slush fund in the Cayman Islands, but couldn't access it yet.

Star looked drawn. The food he'd delivered earlier had been nibbled at some point, but now sat there abandoned, going to waste. Her computer printer was running continuously.

Her wig (which never left her head in the office as a rule) hung off the edge of the couch cushion clear on the other side of her office. It had been thrown there hours ago when she found the first real proof of her theory.

She hadn't even made it to her office bathroom and had collapsed onto her knees, vomiting into the little trashcan near her leg under the desk when the full realization hit her. The trash bag had been tied closed and taken out.

She'd been right- and for the first time, she truly wished that were not the case.

Her face was the cold mask that her secretary knew from meetings- composed- but the underlying weariness in her eyes was still noticeable. She had a stack of printouts in front of her while the printer continued to spit out copies- photos and social media posts, news articles. She'd been sifting through social media accounts all day- following link after link to various accounts, crosschecking dates and locations. Many of the printouts had precise, tight handwritten notes or post-its attached. Dates had been highlighted.

She'd organized everything by date and there were seven bundles of varying thicknesses, neatly paper clipped and stacked. The front page of each bundle had a photo of Gun, showing off a new piercing.

The glasses she wore only in the office were pulled off and thrown on her desktop. She rubbed one eye socket, her eyes strained from staring at the screen for so long, even with the blue-light filtering lenses.

She grabbed the last sheets off the printer and paper clipped them together into the last pile. She held them all out to him. "I've found five... There's at least one more, but I can't find them on my own. We'll need additional help on that, but at least we know the rough time period. I think he finally got smart... or at least smart enough to stop bragging...". Venom was laced in every word she said.

Khun Sun was still unsure what exactly they were talking about, but after he looked at the printouts, and started to piece together the full implications, he wished he could have remained ignorant.

As he continued to read over the info, Star talked to no one in particular...
"Gun has very specific — tastes. What he does with the boys... No one- just knows their preferences like that! One doesn't start out knowing they like hurting people in order to get off... They have to experiment and practice. Evolve... Gun escalated..."

Beneath each bundle's cover photo of Gun's new piercing was a number, 1 through 7, and a date, a few of them had names— of the victim.

The fifth bundle was really just one sheet- it had no name, but Star alone knew— it was Sky's.

Under the photo of the new eyebrow piercing, her handwritten note simply said "Leave alone". If Sky wanted to bury that part of his life, Star would respect it. Besides, they had enough proof now to never need to bother that sweet boy.

Star sat looking tired but composed. "Five boys now that we know of, six, including— ...".

She swallowed hard. Her voice remained flat and composed, like she was briefing a board of directors on a budget. Her arms tightly crossed across her chest.

"All under sixteen. Only two reported it. They were hushed up. I rang up a friend in law enforcement and called in a favor. He managed to get me copies of the reports. They're included in the printouts. We may need to talk to the investigating officers to see if they'll talk. — One boy killed himself...". Her voice hitched and faltered.

Midway through flipping a page over, Khun Sun froze. His eyes shot to Star. Her orange hair was tied back into a messy bun, contrasting to her polished business clothes which had wrinkled- her eyes were unmoving, but she saw nothing in front of her.

She finally managed to say, "Gun has seven piercings that we know of..."

Star's composure flickered, as though a tear threatened to escape against her will, but she mastered it once again before finishing. "We need to find that last boy."

Khun Sun slowly nodded. According to the bundles of paper in front of him, the last boy was the most recent — At least as far as they knew.

In the following week, a flurry of activity kept people going in and out of Star's office all day- and only continued into the nighttime. Her exhausted secretary felt he was aging prematurely from the extra hours, but as he saw his boss pushing through, all he could do was support her to the best of his ability.

She'd stopped eating regular meals, he had to practically force her to stop and stuff something into her mouth. Even those meals were spent going over the materials and new information they'd found.

Khun Sun quickly ascertained that when they had to discuss the actual crime- the violation itself- that was what would cause Star to cease eating. So he tried to avoid those conversations as much as was possible, but as long as she was focused on the other elements- the financials, the cover-up, the villainy- she could manage and forge ahead. He found himself worrying greatly for his boss. It's sheer hatred that's fueling her.

All financial accounts had been located and when crosschecked with the dates Star had ruthlessly unearthed, they were able to find payouts ranging from ฿75,000 to ฿1,000,000.

Star even discovered in the itemized financial transactions that Gun had used a credit card to pay for his piercing appointments and even located the parlor and the piercer.

The fucking coward didn't do his OWN piercings...

That had given them even tighter time frames to look at. The pages of documents they were accumulating now seemed to grow exponentially. Boxes began gathering in Star's office. She liked hard copies, but also kept everything saved onto an external hard drive.

She kept a few things in her safe- including another bundle, sealed closed, that she hoped she would never have to show anyone ever. A bundle that made her heart drop at the very thought. They need never know...

And they had finally found the last boy. Seven.

Discovering him had been arduous... and only possible due to one woman's obstinate nature. It all started with one single charge in Gun's father's financial records...

Out of everything that they'd uncovered, there was a mysterious three-month long retainer on a private doctor. At first, they thought that it was for one of the elder family members and dismissed it, but one person's brain kept circling back to it... She found herself unable to sleep as the strangeness of it invaded her consciousness.

Finally digging into it properly, they'd discovered that the doctor was treating a "young male" in an apartment Gun owned.

Unable to find any other information, it was Khun Sun who suggested looking for surveillance footage in the area. It was a high-end area, surely there were cameras.

What they'd seen was a boy being forcefully dragged into the building by Gun and several other males. The same additional males were seen quickly running from the area hours later and the doctor arrived with a nurse an hour and a half after that. Gun left the building shortly after they arrived but stopped to light a cigarette just outside the door, his snake-like body looked completely relaxed.

Short fingernails dug into the palm of one pissed off observer.

The secretary started searching for the nurse immediately. As the doctor was in the bastard's employ- and well paid!- it was highly unlikely he would talk. But the nurse, who left the building hours later looking visibly upset... She could be malleable.

Star continued to watch the footage. In three months, while countless people including the doctor and nurse came and went from the building- with the odd exception of Gun himself!- Star never once saw the boy emerge from the building. There were other exits, but no cameras, so nothing was certain.

Until one day, Gun finally showed up! Less than an hour later, a small fragile-looking body stumbled from the building's front doors and collapsed to the ground. Star watched in utter disgust as Gun entered the frame, stood behind him and laughed, pointing at the poor child, saying something that she could only imagine...

Gun went back into the building, while the boy shook like a leaf on the pavement. Finally, he stood shakily and stumbled off.

They'd tracked him as far as they could and finally needed to get help to identify him. Rather than sending an official or a man, Star went herself to the boy's address to meet him.

When she arrived, a husk of a boy answered the door. He'd finally let her in after much soothing and pleading, but the small body's posture and the way he moved within his own home told Star volumes...

Though no bruises or wounds were visible on this boy's skin, the damage was still apparent. He was broken.

Star thought that he might actually be reluctant to speak to her about what had happened to him, but she was shocked to find him willing. In actuality, it was the fact that he wanted to report the rape that had caused Gun to lock him up in the apartment. He'd been chained to the bed after declaring to all of his rapists that he would report them to the police.

He subconsciously rubbed at his wrists as he told her everything they'd done to him. Star had to swallow back to keep from vomiting several times.

When Gun had arrived at last and released him, he'd been practically thrown into the street, and informed that three months had passed.

Star inwardly cursed- he could have reported him for involuntary confinement at least!- but how could she say that to this boy? Gun had not just hurt him physically, he'd mentally manipulated him to think that no one would help him...

Star finally wanted to go to the police with all the evidence they'd collected, but knew that the statute of limitations had long expired for the victims to report it. The two who reported their rapes had been paid off before it went to court.

A violent desire to destroy everything within her reach had overwhelmed her when Star thought about that damn statute of limitations. WHY?! Why was it so damn short?! Three months was NOTHING! It could take that long just for a victim to accept what had happened to them- to recover from the physical damage- let alone get up the nerve to report it! And the stigma of being a victim was bad enough... If their families didn't know what had happened —

The internal frustrations and contemplations spiraled.

The law will not help her- or them.

The only one who CAN press charges against that complete waste of human flesh Gun and Petch was— no. Star rejected asking him.

But by not reporting Gun, he would have the chance to hurt someone else... He would never change. His father could easily cover it up- like he had many times before.

Khun Sun suggested letting social media destroy Gun and his family. "If we leak everything we have on him, the internet will eat him alive-"
"No!- No... I don't want his face and name out there, day in and day out..."

"Why?" Her secretary was baffled.
"Because, Khun Sun, there's one person who never needs to be reminded... I don't even want him to hear that name again." Star stewed in the mire of her own thoughts.

--

A few days later, Star called up and asked to meet up with Prapai and Sky, now that he was on his long break from school. She gave no reason for wanting to meet up with them- she couldn't think of an excuse.

Truth was- she was torn.

Star was keeping so much under the surface, all of the history and pain she'd uncovered- but she wanted to spend time with these two. To just see them. She'd been so steeped in such horrific findings recently that her own mood had taken a dark turn. Her usual smile and laughter had been noticeably absent.

She honestly didn't know if Sky would be the usual cheerful young man she'd met before or if he would still be tormented by what had happened at the racing event- but she was quickly relieved to see that they both appeared to be and sounded— Happy!

Sky sensed the slightest change in her, but didn't really know this woman he's only met a few times well enough to read her face. Pai failed to notice much beyond Sky- the honeymoon phase was in full swing!

Star chatted him up- when she could PRY him from Pai's roaming hands! He confessed that they just got back from a trip to Lopburi together to visit his father. He was prepping for his third year. He'd basically moved into Prapai's house now and that family has been spoiling him like mad.
He didn't admit that Prapai was helping him find a therapist.

Sky was recovering from the ordeal.

He's now surrounded by new family, new friends, and of course, his faen. He's flourishing, basking in the warmth of Pai's love- the very thing she wanted to protect...

Star finally knew what to do...

--

Star gathered up all the evidence- everything except the one sealed bundle, hidden deep in her safe- and went to see P'Chai.

"I have a personal request. I need to see P'Pakin."

P'Chai, well aware of Star's brisk way of speaking, initially tried to gently brush her off- she could speak to P'Pakin at the next race event.

She didn't wait for him to dismiss her again. "This is not a suitable topic to be discussed there." Besides- Star refuses to wait. There was a sense of urgency bubbling within her.

P'Chai considered what could be so important to Star that she'd make such a bold request.

She'd been on very amicable terms with P'Chai for some time now. From the very first event she attended as the mechanic brothers' guest, this woman had been a force of nature. She'd introduced herself to him with absolutely no hesitation, as though they were at a business meeting rather than an illegal street race. There was no wide-eyed look of unfamiliarity that most newcomers had, she looked as though she could have been the host of the event!

Panachai quickly noticed what everyone else had- this woman was unshakably confident in herself.

While many people held a sense of fear when addressing P'Chai, whether due to his imposing appearance, his aura, or merely his reputation...- with Star, that feeling was more rooted in respect.

And the more dealings he had with her, the more he'd seen of her at events and heard about her from their mutual associates, the more that respect became reciprocated. She was capable, direct, and skilled. She'd risen quickly through the ranks of racers until she'd made a name for herself. She never bragged about her abilities, she simply proved them, time and time again.

Sensing this woman would not be brushed off, P'Chai asked what the business was regarding.
After giving P'Chai a brief summary of why she wanted to see P'Pakin, the man with the cool demeanor and calm voice that could strike fear into any enemy merely informed her that that particular situation had been "taken care of".

"A beating and banishment is not enough for-...!" She cleared her throat to try to calm herself. "Please just let me speak with him."

P'Pakin's right-hand man studied the candid face- something was warring inside this woman that he'd never seen or heard before. She never let her personal feelings interfere with business dealings. Panachai saw a shadow of himself in Star...

He told her that he would talk to P'Pakin and let her know. Though the hard features of her face remained, the finest glimmer of light shone on her heart. She left the information with Chai as a little "incentive".

Within hours of P'Chai reviewing the files and handing the hard drive to him, Pakin agreed to meet her the next day.

Chapter Text

TW!: mentions of sexual harassment/molestation

P'Pakin arrived at the coffee shop after Star. He drew the eyes of several patrons and a few employees with his natural good looks and impressive presence.

Sitting pensively at a fairly secluded table in a little tea and coffee shop in this quiet part of town- quite a ways from her father's company, away from the concerned parties- Star sat staring blankly out the window into the warm afternoon light. Her drink already sat on the table, a few sips had been taken, but now it sat forgotten.

She'd arrived earlier than agreed upon to collect her thoughts and try to calm herself.
She was always the first to arrive for meetings, whether with friends or business partners- something she equated to showing respect for other's time, as "Time is money".

P'Pakin both admired and appreciated that- she would not waste his time.

P'Pakin rarely- if ever!- granted personal meetings like this unless he wanted something. Though he held a respectable place in professional Bangkok business and social circles, his name would often be spoken in hushed tones around town as well. His invitations were never ignored, but very few people dared to make direct requests of him like this. Panachai filtered most of his— "less upright"— dealings until the mafia boss really only needed give a nod or a word for things to be taken care of to his satisfaction.

After exchanging their customary greetings and ordering his drink, Pakin sat quietly across from her.

Though Star was dressed casually in jeans and a loose dark t-shirt, leaning back in the hard wooden chair, her right leg casually crossed over the left, hands clasped on top of her lap, looking every bit like a girl just meeting friends for a weekend cup of caffeine- the ruthless businesswoman was very much sitting at this small table with Pakin.

Sitting across from each other, they made quite a pair!

Although she had weighed the option that morning of wearing her professional clothing and wig as an outward sign of respect for Khun Pakin, who wore his usual, respectable crisp suit (as he had dealings to attend to both before and after this one), Star opted for something comfortable. Though the topic to be discussed was highly sensitive in nature and very personal, they were in a public place, not a cold conference room.

Besides, Khun Pakin knows full well who she is, and in this situation, she finally concluded that she needed to be faithful to herself rather than put up a front for the sake of face. She'd rather deal with him honestly- which was more honorable in her opinion.

Personally, Pakin chose to deal with Star this way as well.

The older handsome man sipped his coffee as he finally got to see her prowess from the boardroom in person, Star offered a business arrangement with P'Pakin. She was incredibly persuasive...

Pakin had to admit to himself, he was glad that they moved in slightly different circles in the business world and that he never had to sit opposite this woman in a boardroom. He much preferred the laughing, confident orange-haired racer than this formidable Fury.

Even in this casual situation, that eye-catching hair pinned up in a subdued bun, piercings on full display, and no makeup, this woman was in control. Her proposal was fair and well-planned out.

He studied her carefully- he'd liked Star almost from the moment he met her... She was a fantastic racer, skilled, talented, and smart. Ignoring her appearance, Pakin thought to himself, she reminds me so much of Fa...

His mind switching back to this business at hand- the man wondered if this was really an acceptable deal, after all, Star wasn't exactly an "involved party", she was merely a friend of a friend... He still marveled at how she had collected such detailed information!

The packets given to him by Chai the night before contained material that just baffled him- sensitive and highly personal, not at all the style of information that he usually collected on people.

As he'd absorbed the details, Pakin's young lover's face had drifted into his mind... He'd known Graph since he was a child. What if it had been him? That was what had finally convinced him to accept the meeting.

P'Chai and several other trusted men had certainly done a number on Gun and Petch. If they'd been foolish enough to touch Pakin's boy or Chai's boy, they would no longer be breathing.

But Prapai had been very clear in his agreement with P'Pakin- he did not want them killed... As much as P'Pai desperately wanted it himself- he'd had to stop himself when he considered that Sky might not love him if he was a murderer. He'd have to settle for less.

But the look in Star's face finally told Pakin that if he didn't assist her in this little deal, she might do it herself... She had no such reservations.

And as the terms were highly advantageous to himself and would put Star firmly in his control, Pakin didn't mind getting his hands dirty- again.

He put his coffee cup down on the table. "Star- I have to ask... Why? Why does this matter concern you so much? Do you truly know Nong Pai and Nong Sky so well that you would do this?"

"Khun, I want to help protect my friends."

This much Pakin knew without a doubt: Star had proven herself to be a loyal person. She was devout to his races and his rules- she'd followed them to the letter, never speaking of the events in public. He'd also learned through his trusted man's more frequent interactions with her that she was fiercely loyal to her business partners, and of course to her friends who, though few and select, had earned her fidelity. At the first sign of betrayal, however, she was unmerciful.

Star was a dying breed. Pakin definitely wanted her within his circle.

He even entertained a fleeting thought: given a few years, this Fury had the potential to become his equal in the underworld or even a successor.... If she chose that path.

He continued to press, "Hasn't Nong Pai protected his boy well enough on his own?"

"Ai'Pai is the best person in the world to protect Sky. But there are things he doesn't know- shouldn't know... victims he can't protect. Rather than get him involved, I want him to focus solely on protecting— no..." She interrupted herself. "On loving Sky."

For the first time he noticed how Star simply referred to Sky by his name. Whether this little student was aware or not, Pakin knew that Sky had a protector in the business world, watching over him like a fierce personal goddess of vengeance.

But the mafia boss remained unconvinced. "That still doesn't answer my question...". The calm and collected man who could make most people tremble with words like that studied Star's determined face, his hands folded in front of him.

Star's unfaltering eyes drifted down to the smooth, worn tabletop between them. The ice in her chai tea latte had completely melted into a layer of clear liquid floating above the remaining milky drink.

Those dark eyes fixated on that cup for a long while. Pakin waited.

She lifted the neglected cup to pull the slightly damp napkin out from beneath. She politely asked a passing waiter for their pen and wrote a note on the dry corner of the napkin before placing the pen back on the table. Every move had a tense sense of purpose.

Her hand covering the napkin, she hesitated for a moment. Without raising her eyes to look at Pakin, she leaned forward, sliding the napkin across the table, leaving a faint moist streak behind it.

He regarded her again- she didn't look at him or the napkin, her eyes were unfocused. While she seemed completely unattached, he noticed a hard swallow of her throat. Pakin plucked the napkin off the table and read the one sentence written in her usual impeccable handwriting.

His eyes shot back up to her face, which remained as unmoving as stone.

—

A powerful and statuesque man now sat alone at the small table of the coffee shop.

Star surely had not wasted his time. In fact, she'd been so succinct and to-the-point that she'd left early; he still had some time before he needed to leave for his next engagement. His mind weighed over everything that had passed.

"They cannot be allowed to continue hurting others because no one speaks up."

Star's words still hung heavy in the air.
She looked at nothing, saw nothing. Her thoughts had taken her to another place and time where P'Pakin didn't exist.

Then Star's slightly glazed eyes blinked— and when her lids rose again, her pupils were once again facing him head-on, as though someone had flipped a switch, returning the confident businesswoman to the table. The flicker of vulnerability was gone.

She had casually reached across the table and reclaimed the napkin from Pakin's fingers before crushing it in her palm. With no ceremony or warning, she dropped the napkin into her unfinished drink, the fibers beginning to absorb the liquid and expand, the ink bleeding into a blur. A faint ribbon of blue ink danced through the watery layer before she raised her straw and stabbed it through the napkin, driving it to the bottom. The two liquid layers disturbed by the movement danced, swirling in the cup and mixed, becoming one.

No words needed to pass between them. She'd no need to ask that he never reveal it, and he had no need to assure her.
In a flat, composed tone, Pakin had simply said "We have a deal." Before he could say more, Star had stood and left the coffee shop. Their business was concluded.

Pakin found himself staring at the napkin at the bottom of the drink- Why had she given him that information? Had she felt forced to reveal that in order to convince him to accept her offer?

He wished he hadn't pushed her.

The train of thoughts continued to plague him until a passing waiter offered to remove the cups from the table. As the chai filled glass was lifted, the liquid inside was disturbed and churned. The napkin was now nothing but wisps of fibers swirling in the watery tea like thin clouds, like an intangible memory.

P'Pakin stood up, straightened his shirt front and suit jacket and left for his next appointment.

The following week, news outlets reported the scandalous story of a well-known education official who was accused by an unknown female victim of sexual misconduct when he'd been her high school teacher.
The story soon gained significant traction as additional victims started coming forward. Though the statute of limitations had expired, as he had originally started molesting them over a decade ago, a recent victim encouraged by other victims' testimonies finally surfaced and he was arrested.

What overwhelmed people who continued to follow the story most was the sheer amount of evidence that was lodged against him, including financials that showed payoffs to the victims' families.

Pakin listened to the news story with seemingly no emotion.

Oddly enough, no news outlet was reporting Gun Pingmuang, the wealthy son of a local businessman, being missing.

—

Knock knock knock
A sharp rap sounded on Star's office door one afternoon later that week.

Khun Sun opened the door and escorted a messenger into the room; he approached her desk and laid a lumpy manila envelope down on the tabletop then, without a word, turned and walked out. There was no writing on the outside of the envelope, and the messenger wore no vest or identification- they were most certainly not from a professional service.

It was quite apparent to the recipient who the envelope was from. It was extremely lightweight, but had something hard in the bottom.

She opened the flap, turned the envelope upside down and six earrings along with a USB key poured out into her palm. Each piece of jewelry had traces of dried blood on them. She recognized them instantly.

The USB key was fished out from among the small metal pieces and tossed onto the desk.

The graceful and powerful palm holding the rings bounced a few times, letting them shuffle around. After considering them in her hand for a moment, she swung her arm out over the basket on the floor and unceremoniously dumped them in the trash and went back to work.

Only a handful of people in the entire world knew for a fact that Gun's body would never be found.

(Author's Note: Again, sincerest apologies to actor Dunk Patak Pingmuang! This work of fiction is in NO WAY a reflection of you as a person, but instead a salute to an actor who made a villain so atrocious that I had to write this freaking thing in order to k!ll him!)

Chapter Text

Life moves on, days pass, routines continue.

Though he has yet to agree to anything, in an effort to make their second race as fair as possible, Star asked Prapai his weight and proposed to race on identical bikes in identical conditions so that their skill alone will determine the winner.

Prapai finally realizes that she will never stop until they race again.

So two identical bikes were purchased and Star agreed to wear weights around her waist to raise her weight. Since Prapai is a larger frame with a muscular build, she could not add enough weight to her medium build frame safely. But the additional weight is odd and she needed to become accustomed not only to the weight difference while on the bike but also the new bike itself, so she invited everyone to the circuit for some laps- P’Pakin generously offered his track to them as the venue to practice. No lap times, just a chance for them to get used to the unfamiliar bikes and she to the weight.

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, with perfect weather and everyone was in a joyous mood. Prapai and Phayu of course brought their precious boyfriends along with them to the track. Saifah, who’d recently broken up with his faen, was particularly bitter and ruthlessly teased the couples.

He, Star, and Star’s friend Vee, the three single people of the group, stared at the happy pairs giving them cavities with their longing looks and sweet words. The three looked at each other with unspoken teasing. These lovebirds are helpless…

While standing around, Sky found himself and his pal Rain chatting comfortably with besties Star and Vee. He asked how the two ladies had met and they laughed while recalling their days in middle school and high school.

“Oh! Sky! When Vee first met me?- she hated me!” Star pointed accusingly at Vee, but Sky couldn’t tell if she was upset or- proud of that fact?
Vee only laughed and said it was true. “Well you were a bitch!”

Sky’s eyes widened and looked back and forth between the two. They spoke so frankly with each other! But they were both laughing. Star flatly admittedly that Vee was right- she had been a bitch back then…

They told stories of some of the crazy things they’d done- including illegally sneaking into off-limits areas and backstage at a WRC rally they’d attended together in a foreign country. The two architecture students, eyes full of guilt, quietly looked at each other.

The two girls bantered with ease, teasing, and understanding- they seemed closer to being sisters than friends.

Vee turned to the original speaker— “How did you and Ai’Prapai meet?”
At just that moment, P’Pai had joined them and stood at Sky’s hip. The young man froze up- the memory of his first meeting with his faen: sneaking into the venue with Rain, being lured away from the event to P’Pai’s condo, the rapid removal of clothes, the heat—

Sky’s ears threatened to spontaneously combust, the blush beginning to spread to his pale cheeks. Beside him, P’Pai grinned from ear-to-ear, his eyebrows arching up, also remembering that night.

Sky curtly said, “We met at the street race—“, his eyes quickly checked P’Pai.
Before P’Pai could add any further details, the embarrassed boy turned- “How did you meet P’Pai, Star?“

The lady was not fooled, in fact she was impressed! Sky was mighty cunning in his ability to steer the topic of conversation away from himself. Maybe I’ll ask Pai later…

Star openly told him how she’d taken her beloved bike in for some maintenance one day to a new auto shop. Her old mechanic (that she treated lovingly like an uncle or dear godfather who cared for “her baby”) had retired, but recommended this shop as a very dependable place for her bike and her business. Star had been extremely hesitant at first- she detested new auto shops, new mechanics!

She’d gone to many other shops around town before meeting the older mechanic- but every male grease monkey had treated her as a brainless twit- some had even tried to grossly overcharge her for services that she neither needed nor asked for.

She’d been propositioned multiple times and one mechanic even offered to teach her how to “really ride” the Ducati, since it was “too much machine for such a little lady”. He even had the audacity to put his disgusting hand on her baby’s gas tank, running it down to the warm, black leather seat as his eyes simultaneously ran down the length of Star’s torso- his meaning quite apparent.

Honestly, Star would have preferred he put those hands on her body directly rather than touch her bike with such salacious looks.

She’d grabbed his wrist and pushed him to the ground. Pulling the cloth she used to wipe her helmet visor of bugs from her back jeans pocket, she wiped the bike where his filthy hand had tainted her baby’s surface.

When he stood and tried to get physical with her, Star turned on him so suddenly and with no trace of fear in her face. Her dark eyes challenged him, her mouth a thin, resolute line- mentally begging him to push her- to give her an excuse to lay hands on this asshole. Seeing that this female didn’t cower or flinch, he resigned to insulting her, calling her the most deplorable names he could think of, but Star nonchalantly threw her leg over her bike and sped out of the shop.

(He lost his job shortly thereafter and struggled to get hired at nearly every shop he applied to.)

However, the kind uncle assured her that the family who ran this shop were knowledgeable and respectful. Their twin sons were credible and quickly building themselves a reputation around town.

So, she’d made an appointment and showed up one day. Prapai had just happened to be visiting the shop that day as well and was chatting with the twins when the noise from a bright orange Ducati’s engine caught their attention.

The rider, wearing jeans, a leather racing jacket and helmet with accents in the exact same shade of orange, dismounted and walked into the office.

As the saying goes, “It takes one to know one”!- the three instantly wondered about this bike and its rider. They walked up to get a closer look at the bike and spent a few minutes admiring it, never touching. They saw the bike wasn’t just in beautiful condition but the aftermarket mods told them immediately that this was not just a regular “weekend bike” for pleasure cruising. It was packing some serious power!

Phayu remained squatting next to the bike outside, mentally making notes of the changes he would make, while Pai and Saifah proceeded into the reception area and found a woman sitting back on the black leather couch- the jacket unzipped, her elbow resting on the custom helmet next to her hip- scrolling on her phone.

The number of luxury cars inside the shop, including a pair of Lamborghinis- one, a bright orange Huracán (that made her heart flutter)- assured her that she was in good company. The waiting room was modestly decorated- not over-the-top with the typical, macho “car-porn” in many shops she’d seen, no heavily oiled bikini-clad female calendars on the wall— but tastefully done. Either they’d hired a pro interior decorator, or had excellent personal taste- but either way, Star felt comfortable. The full floor-to-ceiling glass windows provided all the eye candy one could want.

Though Prapai and Saifah’s eyebrows had shot up at the initial realization that it was a woman, the thought ended there. They both immediately started asking about her bike and complimenting the work done on it, causing her to look up and engage.

They never once made any illusions to her being a girl or questioned her abilities. No one insinuated that the bike belonged to a boyfriend or husband or that she was a “backpack”. They never spoke down to her.

As a result, they’d all ended up outside, standing around her baby and chatting. She listened to Phayu’s suggestions on how to improve the performance “if (she) wanted” and pointed out that one part installed on the bike was under recall- the very thing she’d come there for to have swapped out. She’d been a regular customer ever since.

The other mechanics in the shop liked Star for one strange reason- she would “hover”. While they could all tell, based on her questions and explanations that she had a good working knowledge of her bike, there were things she admitted that she didn’t know. She’d laugh saying that she wasn’t “a professional mechanic!”- she needed their expertise.

Star treated everyone there- from owner to receptionist to mechanic- with the utmost respect and brought them many laughs during her appointments. Star had laughed heartily one day when she spied the female swimsuit calendar on the wall above one of the mechanics’ stations - and a MALE swimsuit calendar next to it. Equality! She liked that!

While they would work on her baby, Star would stand nearby watching like a hawk, absorbing their tasks. She’d sometimes lean in and ask questions- she loved when they would motion her over to show her issues firsthand or point out things to her.

Finally Phayu had enough of this gargoyle haunting his service bay and half-jokingly told this woman to "just put on some overalls or go back to the waiting room!”

With his “permission”, Star instantly peeled off her jacket, tossed it aside and borrowed a pair of overalls, slipping them over her jeans and tank top. The other mechanics could only laugh. Now, at any checkup or maintenance of that orange bike or her luxury day car, it was a toss-up over who would actually do the majority of the work- them or her!

It was Phayu and Saifah who had finally invited Star to the street races. She’d only really gotten to know Prapai better there, though she’d been familiar with his father’s electronics company they’d never met in society. It provided them endless amusement a year or two later at a formal gathering they both attended, where they were “introduced” by their fathers for the first time and had to pretend they didn’t know each other.

Pai nodded along with her tale - he’d seen Star at Phayu’s shop only once or twice after that first time, as their appointments never really overlapped. When she made her debut at P’Pakin’s event soon after, he’d not been surprised at all. They’d introduced her around to their other friends, Oat, Aek, and Tho and she’d slowly become part of their circle.

All day, Pai’s hands seemed to constantly be seeking Sky’s hands… his shoulder… his waist… his hip… Sky didn’t mind holding hands with his P’Rahu, after all- everyone here knew that they were faens, even his arm over the shoulder was fine. But that shameless Black Giant’s octopus hands would sometimes make Sky feel self-conscious and flush in front of their friends- in public, couldn’t he at least not?! But P’Rahu did not give a damn.

Though outwardly keeping the beast at bay, that’s not to say that Sky wasn’t also having similar thoughts along those lines…

When not batting off one of those sticky hands, he found his eyes drifting all over Pai’s racing suit, the soft leather folds gathering in various — strategic — spots of that broad body. The hump on the back of the jacket that would protect Pai’s spine also prevented Sky from being able to feel the shoulder blades that he loved touching so much. If not for the Kevlar-reinforced seams, Sky entertained the thought of ripping those clothes from his faen’s body.

Rain had once bragged about how hot P’Phayu looked in his racing suit, and Sky had seen P’Pai in his various leather motorcycle jackets many times before, but this was his first time seeing his man in full racing leathers, and Sky had to admit— the effect was indeed stimulating.

The chatty group finally broke up as there were things to do- they’d be starting shortly.

While everyone had split off, busy with various tasks, Star headed to a back room to grab a pair of racing binoculars for Vee so she could watch a little better.
Vee had held up her enormous camera with telephoto lens. “I can see with this!”
“Vee! Don’t just watch the race through the camera- actually WATCH! It’s really an experience. Please? I don’t mind if you snap some pics- you take the best photos!- but take them after you actually SEE what the race is like, okay?”

Star opened the door, and before she could switch on the light was immediately stopped in her tracks by the sounds of intense kisses and heavy breathing.

On the far side of the room illuminated only by the soft, warm sunlight streaming in from a window just behind them, Prapai and Sky stood, ferociously kissing each other, hands roaming over and under each other’s clothes, the table edge pressing into the jeans of Sky’s thighs.

The upper half of Prapai’s racing suit hung from his waist, Sky’s shirt is untucked and halfway up his torso as Pai’s hands slink underneath. Then abandoning the young man’s nipples that he adores so much, the muscular hands deftly glide over the jeans at his hips to cup both of Sky’s buttocks and lift him onto the tabletop, their lips never separating.

Before she is noticed or interrupts, Star silently backed out of the room and just before the door closes completely, she snaked her hand in the thin gap and silently engaged the door lock from the inside, then pulled the door shut as quietly as possible so as to not alert the couple, hoping they are too distracted to hear the click of the lock.

Stepping just away from the door, which thankfully was solid, Star just grinned to herself. Guess Vee will have to do without binoculars…

The lovers emerged about fifteen minutes later, rejoining the group. The very top edge of a fresh hickey peeked just above Sky’s collar, unseen by everyone except one sharp-eyed woman. Sky’s face was still slightly flushed and Pai seemed especially energized and eager to get going.

Star acted ignorant, but grinned again, trying to hide the smile under her gloved hand.
He got his “fix”.

Chapter Text

TW!: Auto accident (no blood though!)

Finally the two racers and one exceptionally skilled mechanic hopped on the awaiting bikes. (The architect-by-day and mechanic-by-night had been convinced to join them for a few laps when Saifah pointed out to his twin that Rain’s eyes were lustily checking out Pai in his racing leathers. Since they had a date that evening, Phayu suddenly thought it wasn’t such a bad idea to give his boyfriend a little “incentive” for later…)

The first few rounds around the track were driven slowly, weaving the bikes left and right, warming the tires and getting the feel of the new bikes. Star already felt the difference of the weight belt. It affected her equilibrium and balance, but she was quickly adjusting. This new bike was nothing like her baby, but it was alright. Prapai also noted the differences from his own bike, but while they both had to deal with new machines, he wasn’t also dealing with additional weight.

All three of the riders were very familiar with this track, so the laps felt more like pleasure-cruising than race prep.

After the third practice round, they all stopped at the starting line. The bikes sufficiently warmed up and ready to go, they revved the engines- giving their spectators a little thrill, building the excitement of this mock race. Vee found herself bouncing behind the chain link fence in anticipation. Though she’d been around the illegal street races with Star before, this was her first time at an actual track and for the first time Vee was truly beginning to understand why Star loved doing this.

She suddenly grabbed at the camera hanging from her neck and snapped a shot, freezing the moment in time- three riders stacked in a neat line: red, blue, and black and orange, as if a triplicate carbon copy, identical in shape and posture. All three hunched forward, poised over the middle of their bikes, gloved hands gripping the handlebars, twisting the throttles.

Roaring engines, the smell of tarmac, rubber, oil, and gasoline filled the hot afternoon air. The Thai sun baked the pavement- seemingly liquifying everything above its surface.

Three riders watched, unmoving, when a member of the field crew activated the starting lights.
The small handful of spectators a ways away held their collective breaths. The tension was terrible!- and so thrilling!

Red-
Red-
Red-
GREEN!
All three bikes sped off. Being the closest to the inside of the first turn from the starting line, Prapai was the first to take the inside line, followed closely behind by Star and Phayu. They changed positions several times over the next four laps.

Star was aggressive in the turns but occasionally faltered somewhat due to the belt at her waist. She inwardly cursed herself for setting such a ridiculous rule for their race. If she didn’t have this damn belt on right now, she’d have smoked Pai in that last slalom!

Pai was thoroughly enjoying himself, throwing a millisecond glance over his shoulder to check Star’s position behind him. Though racing on the city streets illegally held a certain level of danger and thrill, being on the track with Star like this felt like racing go-karts as a kid with friends. More like harmless fun than anything dangerous. It was also a chance to show his honey how skilled he was and— thinking back to their little dalliance in the back room earlier- Pai only grinned bigger inside his helmet.

Phayu, who wasn’t really here to beat anyone, was also savoring the experience. Every time they passed the pit area, he would glance over at the boy who watched him with unbroken focus, once even reaching up to wave. Rain nearly burst with excitement and waved back.

Even though Star was feeling some mild annoyance knowing she was not performing at the height of her abilities, she was definitely feeling the exhilaration.

The straightaway was coming up and Star saw an opening, snaked past Pai in the next tight turn to get ahead of him and then really opened up the throttle. Lowering her body, she pressed her chest down on top of the bike’s warm gas tank to be as aerodynamic as humanly possible- the wind ripped over her helmet as the needle climbed up to nearly 320 kmh.

A delighted grin pulled at one corner of her mouth when suddenly!—

Though distorted by the inferior mirage over the track, Star managed to notice from the grass to her left ahead of her, a white animal of some kind run across the track, and stop directly in front of her. She managed to pull her bike to the left side of the track, intending to pass behind it with plenty of leeway.

Her mind immediately hoped that both Prapai and Phayu behind her would see it as well- or at least notice her moving off the clean racing line and follow her lead.

Now close enough to see it clearly, she determined it was a cat. She worried briefly over its safety, wishing it would continue off the track quickly when suddenly!- the now frightened cat, seeing the loud machine coming its direction, tried to hastily retreat back from where it came, skittering directly back into Star’s path as she was barreling towards it.

Shiiiii—!!!!

At that speed, she was now practically right on top of the poor animal! Star let up on the throttle and deftly corrected again but the new weight was still too unfamiliar and when she yanked the bike back to the right, nothing reacted as expected. Suddenly, Star felt weightless as the tires slid out from underneath her.

It felt like time stopped.

CRASH!

Pai and Phayu saw the whole thing happen. They could only watch as the bike skid off towards the inside of the track before somersaulting end over end, while Star’s body was thrown like a rag doll to the left. Thankfully neither of them had been following her too closely or else they might have struck her or been hit by the flying bits of debris as the bike seemed to disintegrate.

Pai was the first to reach her. The tires of his bike crunched over pieces of plastic, carbon fiber, and wreckage from the destroyed bike now lying in a small, hot oil pool in the center of the track. He flung himself from his bike and ran to her side. She laid motionless, flat on her back, and something about the position of her body seemed odd to his mind but he had no time to figure that out.

Inside his helmet, all Pai could hear was the fast, hot breaths coming from his mouth and the blood pumping through his ears. He frantically clawed at the buckle at his chin and threw his helmet away; it rolled off abandoned, stopping somewhere in the grass as he crouched at Star’s head.

Phayu also jumped off his bike and rushed to her side, quickly evaluating the situation, before sprinting back on foot towards the pit area.

Saifah, Sky, Rain and Vee, separated from the bit of straightaway where the accident happened by a partition, had no idea what happened. A terrifying screeching sound had been heard and then the paralyzing silence as the whine of the motorcycle engines had gone silent. Their heads all swung back and forth, left to right, their necks stretched as high as they could crane. They should have been coming around the next bend, but nothing.

Time seemed to both speed up and slow down simultaneously. Pure silence colliding with agitated thoughts.

The next moment, they saw Phayu vault over a partition wall, running toward them with only a wide-eyed look visible through his helmet. His arms waved wildly in the air. Something was very very wrong…

Saifah didn’t need to be told before he ran around the chainlink fence and jumped over the short divider in front of them, running in the direction Phayu had just come from; pulling his cellphone from his pocket, he was already dialing emergency services.

Sky’s stomach dropped.

When they finally understood that Phayu was screaming at them to call for an ambulance, Sky’s body was already moving forward on its own, scrambling over the same divider.
No- please no!

They all ran towards the accident. Sky arrived just after Saifah and saw the figure in a red racing suit- the same one he’d stripped from P’Pai’s body less than an hour ago- unharmed?- hunched over a prone body in a black racing suit. Pai was holding Star’s helmeted head on the tarmac, her eyes closed, repeatedly calling her name. The distraught tone of his voice sent chills through Sky’s blood. “Star? STAR!”

In a deep recess of Sky’s mind, his relief over his lover’s undamaged body washed over him like a flood- calming him slightly, but his worry was immediately transferred to the woman lying on the pavement.

Star’s face, from seemingly only moments ago, popped into his mind. A mischievous grin across her face and a soft twinkle in her eyes when he and P’Pai came out of the back room. Her gloved hand tucking a strand of hair behind her ear- the tiniest star stud earring he’d ever seen among them. A little eyebrow flick telling him that she knew what had transpired between the lovers. The afternoon sun glowing on the orange hair in tight double Dutch braids- one much smaller and thinner than the other due to the shaved side of her head. Her bright laugh as she shared some joke with her friend.
All that life and vitality that she had now seemed like someone else, compared to this lifeless mannequin wearing her damaged racing leathers.

Vee and Rain took in the scope of the scene with shock on their faces. The helmet on her head was missing half of the black paint, a rugged slash through the custom orange stripe, bare carbon fiber material now visible. The new bike she’d been riding lay across the track, debris and parts sprinkled all over.

Vee’s hands immediately clasped against her face before she screamed, “STAR!”.

She rushed to Star’s side and before she can grab Star to try shaking her awake, Pai’s hand stopped her. The image of Star’s body flying in the air in front of him on the track, as if in slow-motion, replayed in his mind. Then the blur of tumbling limbs flying, seemingly, in every direction as her body hit the ground and the strange angle of her body lying on the ground now- these images would not leave Pai’s memory for months.
“Don’t move her!”

Prapai then tried to inject some calmness into his voice and take control of the situation. “She might have a spinal injury. We have to keep her absolutely still.”

That information blanched the color from Vee’s face. Tears began to fall as she sobbed violently over the unmoving body of her best friend. Her trembling hands reached out to gently touch Star’s body. The whole scene felt so unreal that Vee’s mind was not processing what she was seeing- she needed to touch. She felt the warm leather, the solid mass of her friend underneath. It did nothing to calm her- it only told her one thing: it was real.

No blood was visible, but that did nothing to calm the experienced men standing on the tarmac. They knew very well that it wasn’t blood on the outside that determined how bad the injuries might be.

Saifah was still on the cellphone, giving emergency services specific, clear instructions on how to get to the track and the exact spot where they were located. Phayu, hearing his younger twin’s directions, let go of his tight grip on Rain’s shoulders and ran off in a direction opposite the pit, to a side gate for emergency vehicles to unlock it for them- it was the closest and most direct access point.

The other field staff, having seen the accident and communicating via their radios, readied themselves at the main gate and every access point to the track in case the ambulance failed to follow Saifah’s instructions and went to a different entrance.

Saifah’s eyes kept scanning the area, looking from the gate where they should be coming in, to the pit area, and back to Star’s body. He cursed to himself that if this had been an official event, the ambulance would’ve been onsite and they wouldn’t have to endure the agony of waiting!

After what felt like ages, an ambulance finally made its way through the side of the racing circuit, expertly directed by Saifah and Phayu.
Star’s unconscious body was loaded into the ambulance and, after what seemed like another eternity to the group of people standing in the scattered pieces of demolished bike, finally drove off.

Vee cried uncontrollably, visibly shaking. She had seen Star racing so many times in the ten plus years that they’d known each other and was so skilled that Vee had forgotten that accidents could happen. Her best friend had become almost superhuman in Vee’s eyes after all this time- to be on a bike was like slipping on a second skin. It was her natural state of being. Speed was Star’s domain. How could this happen?! How could Star be hurt?!

Vee’s body threatened to just crumple to the ground before Saifah finally walked over and pulled her in to his chest, comforting her with a hug. Her shaking shoulders continued as she imagined the worst. Saifah tried to tell her that Star would be fine, though he had no idea of the extent of the damage to Star’s body. He’d seen this level of damage to a superbike in racing before- he’d seen accidents before- it was a given in this sport. But this girl was unfamiliar with everything here, so Saifah, being the kind man that he was, thought it best to try to calm her down enough so that she wouldn’t also be needing a hospital trip.

The group made their way back toward the pit area, split into different cars and drove to the hospital. Saifah drove the shaken Vee. Prapai was clearly in no shape to drive, so Phayu drove him with Sky and Rain in another car.

In the front seat, Rain barraged his boyfriend behind the wheel with questions, wondering if Star would be okay, if Phayu had ever seen an accident as bad as this, how it happened, and every other question that he needed answered to calm his restless mind.

Phayu tried to calm him with a quiet and measured tone in his voice- neither promising everything would be alright nor allowing Rain’s brain to entertain the thought that Star might be in life-threatening danger. The exact same thoughts were racing through the mechanic’s brain, but he kept it to himself.

The driver's eyes flicked to the rear view mirror and saw Sky and Pai in the back seat- Pai looked shaken. Pai was the closest of the four of them to Star — he’d held her head in his hands. Phayu knew similar questions were racing through Pai’s mind at this moment as he stared out the car window, seeing nothing.

Sky was silent next to him, his whole body turned in the seat to face him, his big doe eyes never leaving Pai’s face, his hands tightly clasping P’Pai’s. Sky could sense just the slightest tremor in that hand- though he didn’t know how much of it was adrenaline, shock, or fear.

P’Pai had once had to explain to him the shaking of his hands after a particularly exciting race- that the pure adrenaline coursing through his body caused his hands to vibrate. Star, standing nearby, had laughed and confirmed it- telling Sky that it was the “high” every racer was chasing every time they got on a bike. Star…

The image of her body on the tarmac- seemingly lifeless- flashed in Sky’s mind.
As frightened as Sky was for Star, he knew P'Pai was more concerned over the well-being of his friend- all Sky could do was try to console him by simply being there.

Chapter Text

By the time they all arrived at the emergency room, Star was already in the operating room. It had been determined that she had suffered multiple thoracic injuries- three broken ribs- as well as all three major bones broken in her left leg and a nasty concussion, but she was not in as bad of a condition as might have been expected, considering the circumstances.

Vee, though still shaking, seemed to be fortified by that information. She’d been unconsciously clinging to Saifah’s arm through the whole update of Star’s status and finally loosened her grip, breathing normally for the first time in over an hour- she was even able to help provide Star’s contact information to the registration desk.

Star’s parents were called. The news had sent her mother into hysterics. Her father arrived alone at the the hospital with only his secretary. His cold demeanor immediately chilled the air in the sitting area outside the operating room. He scanned the six people, recognizing the racing suits as something his daughter wore- these were the undesirable acquaintances she took up with- the ones that led her to this…

He stared each one of them down, looking for the one who would tell him what happened.
Prapai thought for a moment that he should be the one to do it since he knew Star best and had seen the accident first-hand— but suddenly found that he couldn’t bring himself to tell Star’s father the details or even look the man in the eye. His legs didn’t even seem like they would let him stand at all.

He told himself that he was the reason Star was so adamant about racing like this. A small weight of guilt hung in Prapai’s chest.

Phayu was quicker and stood up, gesturing that Star’s father walk with him- away from the doors and from the group.

Pai watched them walk away before putting his head in his hands, hunching over. Prapai’s mind was racing- Was he to blame for this? If he’d just agreed to Star’s challenge at the last event, would this never have happened? Could he have prevented this? Why did Star have to match his weight?! She was a woman- he was a man! Was it really SO damn important to her? Why did she have to be so stubborn about this? Why did that stupid animal have to—?

Sky’s hand pressed the middle Pai’s back- like a dense fog lifting from the warmth of the sun, Pai’s mind quieted. He tried to focus on the four shoes on the linoleum below his head- the black racing boots on his own feet and the green cloth sneakers to his left.

Sky found himself thinking that if it were his beloved P’Pai inside that operating room, he’d be just as distraught. Actually, Sky knew he’d be even more upset.

Star was just P’Pai’s friend, after all. For a brief moment, Sky began to think that he might ask if P’Pai would never race again. He couldn’t bear the idea of —… He didn’t even want to think about it!

But he also knew how much P’Pai loved racing. He pushed the thought away for now.

Hours later, the operation finally over, Star was wheeled out and taken to a recovery room while they waited for her to wake up from the anesthesia. Her father didn’t even hesitate, once he heard that the doctor expected no major complications, he turned on his heel and returned home. It was her own damn fault.

Phayu and Rain had left over an hour earlier to get food as none of them had eaten almost all day. Rain had asked Sky if he wanted to go too, but Sky only looked at Prapai, still sitting outside the recovery room looking miserable, before telling them to go ahead. He’d stay to comfort P’Pai.

After Star woke up, Saifah was able to drove Vee home. She’d seen Star and had been assured that her friend would recover. Though still groggy from the drugs, she was alive. That was enough for Vee. She promised she’d come back with Star’s clothes and essentials. With her eyes closed, Star only hummed something that sounded like acknowledgement.

With everyone else gone, only Prapai and Sky remained. After trying to talk to Star for a short while in her private room, she fell asleep. Unable to do much else and seeing the nurse giving them dirty looks, the couple finally left the hospital.

The moon now high in the orange-black sky, the stars shimmering as though nothing particularly special had happened that day.

They fell into a cab and quietly headed home.

—

The following morning, P’Pai woke up and rolled over to see Sky’s sleeping face inches from him, the soft morning sunlight bathed him in a glow that Prapai loved. He sleepily reached out to touch that cheek, the cast shadow of his hand dancing over that nose, those lips, the lashes, and smiled softly to himself before the events of the day before finally pushed their way to his consciousness. Star’s accident.

He’d tossed and turned last night, trying to fall asleep until Sky had laid on his chest and his weight and warmth finally forced Pai to drift off to sleep.

Sky slowly opened his eyes to see P’Pai looking at him. “Mmmm- you’re awake?”
“Good morning, baby.”
Sky happily closed his eyes again against the light shining in his face. “Morning.”

They could hear noises coming from the kitchen downstairs as someone prepared breakfast for the house. Some voices in the hallway could be heard passing their room.

Pai half-whispered to his lover, “We should head down soon, or my siblings might eat our share.”
Not yet re-opening his eyes, Sky simply hummed in the negative, “Mmmm- Nong Phan is on a diet.”

Prapai softly laughed- for the first time since yesterday. This boy— He wasn’t even trying to make me laugh and yet! He can do it, even when I feel like this.

Sky smiled at the thought of Phan who was pursuing a girl who went to her school and, after hearing that she liked lean girls, had started eating like a rabbit. Sky had tried to tell his “sis” that she was already a healthy thin build, but to no avail. Nong Phan spent most meals looking longingly at everyone else’s plates as they scooped up foods she loved.

Sky sometimes even tag-teamed with P’Plerng to pass the plates right under her nose, just to torture her.

Sky stretched like a sleepy house cat in the morning sun, the sheets gently rusting, before asking Pai, “So what should we do today?”

P’Pai quietly said, “I’d like to go visit Star today.”
Sky’s smile vanished and his eyes finally opened. He’d forgotten about yesterday, too.

The older man raised himself up on one elbow to look at his beloved and also block the bright sunlight from those beautiful honey-colored eyes, looking apologetic. “You don’t have to come with me. I can go by myself- I just want to check in on her- see if she’s—“
Sky interrupted him, “I wanna go, too. I’m going with you.”

They got dressed, ate breakfast and headed back to the hospital to be there when visiting hours started.

Turns out they were not the only ones who had the same thought. Phayu and Saifah were also there, a bouquet of vivid orange roses and Gerber daisies wrapped in bold black paper clutched in Saifah’s hand. The four men solemnly entering the hospital room had not expected for laughter and smiles to greet them.

Vee, who had stayed there overnight, whipped her head around and greeted all of them. She also looked much better today. She and Star had been laughing about something together, though Star had to control the laughing as it hurt the aching ribs, even with the monumental amount of painkillers she was on.

In the late morning sunlight, her orange hair seemingly on fire against her pillow, Star laid on the hospital bed in a full-leg cast, temporary neck and back brace, and a cast on her left arm. Fresh abrasions and bruises everywhere. She looked an absolute mess.

And yet, still- there was that smile.

They took a moment to survey the damage.
She had a slight case of road rash in spite of her gear, which had been not only shredded in the accident but had been cut from her body during surgery. The doctors praised the safety equipment she’d worn for saving her life. The now heavily damaged racing helmet sat on the small table beside her bed, like a trophy.

She mourned the loss of the custom racing suit more than she did the broken bones. Then she arched one eyebrow and curled her mouth into an exaggerated frown in an “oh well” look, “Guess I’ll just have to order another one!” A second’s pause before she instructed Vee to hand her her cellphone. “OH! I’ll order it now. I’ve still got their old receipt here somewhere!”

A laugh that felt almost like a cough was practically pulled from Prapai’s chest. He scoffed at this woman- this insane woman!

The mood of the room was one of jokes and humor. Star demanded that everyone sign her leg cast, though she whined and pouted like a child that they hadn’t given her orange fiberglass casting tape when they set her bone.

Prapai found himself smiling and laughing again within minutes- as if yesterday hadn’t really happened. Their visit was a cheerful one.

Sky noticed more than once while everyone sat around her hospital room that Star’s eyes seemed to fall on P’Pai for a moment when no one else was looking. She was closely watching his faen- Sky wished he knew exactly what she was thinking in that moment. Then her eyes flicked to meet Sky’s. Under that stare, he froze like a deer in headlights.

Suddenly, with absolutely no preamble at all, Star asked everyone if she could chat with Sky for a minute alone. Too many eyes to count bounced back and forth from Star to Sky, wondering what had been said. No one was more surprised than Sky.

When no one moved, Star finally said with a half-grin, “Go get some damn coffee or something for a second- I wanna talk to Sky!”

Having known Star for so long, Vee understood the assignment and immediately started scooting everyone out of the room, offering to show them the coffee machines or the cafeteria, amid protests from Saifah and Prapai.
Right before she closed the door, she sweetly poked her head in and asked if Sky wanted anything. He just shook his head and said he was okay.

With everyone gone, Sky turned back to the woman on the hospital bed. What had he done?
Star only looked at him with an affectionate, soft look that he couldn’t quite understand. “How’s Ai’Pai?”

Sky didn’t understand the question, his eyebrows twitched. Was she asking if he’d been injured yesterday?

Star cut to the chase- she didn’t know how much time they had. “Is he blaming himself? -- For this?”

Sky’s face smoothed out as he realized what she was asking. That explained the looks before. Star knew. She knew that P’Pai was upset. He slowly nodded.

Star simply nodded in return- well, tried to nod in the neck brace- then a slightly pained face wrinkled her features for a moment. “I thought he might.”

Sky didn’t know what to say. P’Pai had been too upset last night to talk to him about what he might have been thinking, but the tossing and turning in bed had told Sky enough. Did he think he was somehow responsible for the accident?
Finally, not knowing what else to do, he’d thrown himself across P’Pai’s restless body to hold him down.

“Sky?”- her voice brought him back. He looked down at her, the worry and concern in his wavering pupils.
“What happened was an accident. Accidents happen all the time- especially for people who dabble with speed. Or—... have a torrid love affair with it, like I do.” She cracked a crooked grin and chuckled softly, trying to lighten the mood.
Sky’s face maintained its troubled expression.

She grew serious again.
“I always knew something would happen, Sky. It’s something I accepted a long time ago, but it’s a risk I was willing to accept.
“Ai’Pai’s been in a few accidents, too. He knows this. It’s something we risk every single time we sit on our bikes. But it can happen to anyone- not just racers. Anyone who gets anywhere near a motor vehicle.”

A pause followed before she finally said, “I need your help.”

The quiet voice replied, “My help?”

“I need you to help me reassure him that this was- in no way- his fault.” She punctuated every word that followed- “I don’t blame him in any way.”

Sky could see from her open and frank face that she wasn’t angry- she truly didn’t blame P’Pai at all! Sky’s heart didn’t know what to do in his chest. Even in her damaged physical state, this woman seemed more concerned over his Black Giant’s feelings.

She continued- “If he starts to get down on himself about this, please pull him back. You have a power over him like no one I have ever seen. If anyone can do it, you can. I could say all this to him until I’m blue in the face, but I truly think that if you help me, we can convince him. Can I depend on you?”

Sky nodded. This was a solemn promise between two people. For the first time, Sky realized that Star was a very good friend.

Just at that moment, the door opened and four loud voices invaded the room as their friends returned with steaming and iced cups of coffee, arguing about something silly.

Vee was loudly telling them about how Star’s hot, young male doctor seemed to pay her very close attention, coming in possibly more often to check on her injuries than was needed.

Not giving them all even a moment to catch the serious tone of the discussion they’d just had, Star watched Prapai hand Sky a drink he’d brought back for him and indignantly asked. “Wait- Where’s mine?”

All five people suddenly stared at the invalid.

Vee stated, “No chais.”
Saifah immediately jumped on the bandwagon and teasingly asked, “Are you even allowed to have caffeine in your condition?”

The look on Star’s face clearly said she’d skin him alive.

“That’s it! Somebody get me a wheelchair! I’ll go get my damn chai myself! There’s NO WAY I am staying in this damn hospital without my chai!”

She dramatically yanked back the blanket with her one good hand and actually looked like she might get up from the bed and do it, in spite of all the contraptions holding her immobile, before Vee threw herself bodily over her (though in actuality hovering just above the injured person), “pretending” to try to stop her.

At first, the four other people in the room could only watch on in confusion. Until they realized that it was like a mini-play that they watched with growing amusement.

Star went on a long, loud rampage about being treated unfairly, about the lack of caffeine in her IV, and somehow descended into joking about having races in the hallways once she got her hands on a wheelchair! She would not stop going on about it until she solicited a promise from Phayu that he would “modify it for her” so she could beat the other patients in the ward.

Saifah was bent in half, laughing until tears formed and nearly spilled his coffee. Phayu just shook his head with a grin, asking if she wanted a turbo, which drew an excited look from the still flailing patient.

“GET ME A CHAI!” Her voice could be heard clear down the hallway.

Sky heard the bright, unbridled laughter of P’Pai next to him and found himself laughing, too.
Over the next few days, Pai’s sense of guilt was slowly lifted and ebbed away.

Indeed just as Vee had predicted, Star’s doctor came by to check on her during their visit. He seemed momentarily intimidated by the four men standing around her bed, practically filling the room (this patient was certainly surrounded by a lot of fetching specimens!)- but recovered and made his way to her side. Vee’s face lit up and made eyes at Star, wiggling her eyebrows and grinning as the doctor lifted the blanket, examined her legs, arm, neck, asking about her pain. Star endured the silent teasing from her friend and calmly answered his questions.

Star also sensed that this doctor was perhaps being a little more “handsy” than he needed to be. Even after his examinations were completed, he left his hand on her a little too long. She didn’t mind men being forward with her, she was used to it- but she was more turned off by his choice to do this in front of her friends.

No need to call him out in front of them and ruin the good vibe they’d built up, Star made a mental note to address this if he did it again.

Vee meanwhile mentally “paddled away” for this new ‘ship’.
The moment he left, reminding her that if she needed anything to let him know, the quips and ribbing started. A symphony of wisecracking from every person in the room. Star could only grit her teeth and bear it!

As they began to wind down their visit, Phayu brought them back to a little business.
“So they’re ordering you to undergo physical therapy?”
“That’s kind of a given, I suppose…, huh?” as her eyes looked down at the back brace and leg cast, her head held in place by the neck brace.
“How long are they telling you?”
With a twist of an annoyed attitude, as though she were not discussing her ability to walk and move again, she said “Something like six months, depending on my progress?…”

Star flicked her eyes at Prapai and said with a slightly arched eyebrow, “So I guess this means our rematch will have to be postponed, huh, Ai’Pai?”
Prapai just grinned, shaking his head, this woman will never give up.
“Just get better soon, Star.”

--

As the four made their way to the parking garage, Phayu wondered out loud to himself, “I wonder what happened with her father…”
Saifah immediately answered, “He’s threatening disownment again. But he can’t really do it- Star’s too good at what she does now. So he’s made up some story about her going on vacation to Europe or something.”

Pai and Phayu stopped dead in their tracks. Since Sky’s hand was firmly held in P’Pai’s, his forward momentum was halted and he was jerked back. He’d been lost in thought thinking about the private chat earlier.
Pai stared at Saifah- “How did you know that?!?!”

Saifah said rather matter-of-factly, “Vee texted me last night.”
Phayu’s eyebrows knitted themselves together, “Why is she texting you?- Wait-… How do you have Vee’s number?”

Phayu and Pai stared at Saifah, whose eyebrows rose slightly into an innocent enough looking face and slowly replied, “We exchanged numbers last night. When I drove her home… So I could get updates on Star’s condition.”

The nervous eye darts did not escape Saifah’s older twin or his friend.

-----------------------------------------------

Author's Note: ((has to smack herself in the face!)) I am ALWAYS the one complaining that all dramas seem to have a dang HOSPITAL scene and What did I go and do?!?!? I MADE A HOSPITAL SCENE!!!!!!!!

Chapter Text

In the early morning hours while the Thai moon sat lazily in the pitch sky, when the hospital ward was nearly abandoned except for the tell-tale squeak of rubber shoes of a nurse walking their rounds, in one private room, an orange-haired woman shifted uneasily in her hospital bed.

Her teeth ground against each other, the muscles in her jaw ached, and soft groans escaped her throat. One fist gripped the sheets until they threatened to rip. Her body was covered in a layer of sweat, her clothes and sheets now soaked- the pain meds had worn off and she was in agony.

Vee had left earlier at the end of visiting hours. Now alone in the room, Star was free to drop the mask. Keeping Vee from worrying was her main concern; her best friend had broken down earlier, sobbing and clutching at her free arm, recalling the accident before the injured woman was able to distract her and make her laugh again. She had to downplay this pain in company, but now her face was carved with deep lines of an unrestrained grimace.

((groan))
The waves of pain up and down Star’s body were perhaps the worst she’d ever experienced in her life. Every single breath caused shooting and stabbing pains in her torso. The shattered bones in her leg and wrist felt like they sheared against one another. A headache unlike any migraine ever threatened to make the food in her stomach come back up. Tears slipped beyond her control down the sides of her face to her ears, her neck, her hair, her pillow.
((plop plop))

She’d pressed the damn button of the remote they’d given her, but when she asked for more painkillers, she was informed that she couldn’t have another dose for another hour. The nurse had seemed truly apologetic, but stood firm as regulations were there for a reason. So the poor woman was left to endure… Her blood pressure was steadily rising while Star tried to accept and abide, swallowing the screams of her torn muscles, cracked bones and cut skin. She exhaled loudly into a room that only echoed them back to her.

It was going to be a long night…

—

The ward bustled with morning activity. Visitors chatted away with their loved ones. Nurses filed in and out. The bedridden racer had finally slept last night when the pain meds kicked in. Everything was manageable now, except… The aroma of hot coffee kept passing the open doorway. It had been three days since she’d had a chai. Star began to think that life was not worth living…

Besides missing her bike- and her daily morning latte!- Star’s biggest complaint about the hospital was just feeling like she was cooped up. She hated having to ask for help with so many simple tasks. Her freedom and independence were vital to her survival.

Her father had insisted that she continue working quietly, in spite of her situation- and even in spite of the lie he’d spread that she was “on vacation”. Since the accident was "(her) own fault", he demanded that she take responsibility. She accepted it with almost no issue. Khun Sun delivered a laptop and tablet so that she could work from the hospital bed- though her doctors vehemently disapproved. Star didn’t mind as it at least kept her busy. She promised that she would be careful.

She missed talking to people. The nurses and doctors that would breeze into and back out of her room were too busy to chat for more than a minute or two- and Star would never presume to keep them. Vee texted daily asking if that hot doctor of hers had made a move yet, and she occasionally got messages from other friends- but only her select friends from the race track knew that she’d been injured at all.

Star’s first physical therapy appointment was a little over a week after the surgery. Most of the bruises had turned greenish-yellow and brown, the worst still held some of their dark red-purple hue. Finally free of the confines of the Evil Neck Brace!, but still in a full leg cast and temporary back brace, it was really just a cursory appointment to meet with her physical therapist.

She was wheeled down to that wing of the hospital and waited for about fifteen minutes before her doctor came in. A well-built man in his late twenties in blue scrubs came into the room. Not “drop dead gorgeous” like Ai’Phayu or Pai, but not bad-looking either, he introduced himself as Dr. Thepnakorn. He looked at Star with his pleasant face and said that she could just call him “Dr. Chai”.

A goofy grin slowly grew across her face like rabid weed. Star had to bite her tongue to keep herself from laughing, but the sparkle in her eyes gave her away. He observed her with a questioning look.
“I’m sorry!” She said.

He smiled a friendly smile, but knew there was more she didn’t say. The patient but expectant look on his face finally prompted Star to elaborate.

Her natural wide grin was planted firmly on her face with the situation that she found funny- “Chai is my favorite drink. Also, I— know someone else with that name. So at least your name will be very easy to remember!”

His smile never wavered as he took in her smiling face, “Yeah, it’s not terribly unique. And your name is—…“, he paused as he opened her medical file in his hand.
“Please, just call me Star”, she interrupted.

He looked back up from the file. “Okay, Star.” He stared at her for a breath.
Her face was friendly. He’d already scanned her file before coming in; this woman had been in a serious accident- was in a back brace, had broken ribs, multiple broken wrist and leg bones- this woman HAD to be in some serious pain, and yet here she was, laughing over something as simple as her favorite drink. Interesting.

Dr. Chai tossed the medical file onto the nearby treatment table and perched on the edge of it, crossing his ankles to give her his full attention. “So!— tell me what happened with you!”

Star spent the whole appointment telling him openly and honestly about the accident, the injuries, and her pain situation, deftly avoiding mentioning anything about the illegal races she participated in and only alluding to wanting to “best her racing rival”.

Dr. Chai was an excellent listener- he’d occasionally stop her to ask a question or needing elaboration. He was thoroughly impressed that she raced motorcycles.

He listened very carefully to her description of the accident itself- “All of this because of a CAT?!”, he asked incredulously.
Star blinked at him before flatly answering, “Well— yeah! I couldn’t just hit him!”
Dr. Chai let this sink in. Did this woman really care about a single stray cat so much that she wrecked her body and bike in order to not hurt it?

(Ai’Phayu, Ai’Pai and Sky had come to visit her the previous day. Sky, who loved plants, had given her a Pothos ivy- which Star was sure would probably be dead in less than a week as she had no luck with keeping living things alive! Sky tried to assure her that this plant was very “forgiving”, and gave her instructions on the simple care needed. Prapai and Phayu, the devils, had brought fresh flowers- along with a stuffed white cat plush. It had been hurled back at them as they cackled in delight, along with some choice words…)

The doctor and patient’s conversation flowed naturally and they seemed to have a good rapport.

“At least my baby wasn’t hurt!”, she exclaimed with relief, after telling him about the accident.

Dr. Chai’s smile flickered for only a moment and his eyes subconsciously looked to her left hand, though he couldn’t see any sign of a ring due to the cast. He hadn’t recalled seeing any pregnancies listed on her medical file… and the hospital had run a basic pregnancy test when she was admitted as a precaution, which was negative.
“Oh, how old is your baby?”

Star was confused. What an odd question!
“You mean like what year was it manufactured…?”

Now it was Dr. Chai’s turn to be confused. Did this woman seriously just refer to her child’s conception as being “manufactured”?!

They stared at each other for a moment, both confused about the odd turn the conversation had taken.

“No”, he corrected. “I mean, how old is your kid?”

Star’s eyes widened once she realized and started laughing until she had to put a hand to her aching ribs. “Ow, ow, ow!!!”

He immediately regretted asking and tried to apologize but Star only waved her good hand up and down, trying to signal that she was okay.
Still trying to keep from laughing again and her eyes moist with tears, she clarified- “I meant my Ducati- my ‘baby’!”

He hung his head in embarrassment and covered his face, laughing at himself over their misunderstanding.

The staff outside the examination room wondered at the bursts of laughter from behind the closed door.

This gave Star the golden opportunity to brag to someone new about her prized baby, bringing up pictures on her cell phone. Dr. Chai leaned over Star’s shoulder, one hand resting on the arm of her wheelchair, to look with her while she swiped and gave explanations for some photos, until she turned toward him in her excitement and nearly swiped his cheek with her lips. She’d not realized how close he’d gotten…. Star wasn’t embarrassed really, just— surprised.
He smelled amazing! And his eyes were—

The doc simultaneously realized how close he’d inadvertently gotten and slowly stood back up. She handed him the cellphone so he could scroll himself.

Photos of Star in her full racing leathers, helmet on with no features even showing except a small strip of skin at her neck, sitting or standing next to her “baby”— almost all of the photos were taken by Vee, so the quality was insane- with colored lighting (usually orange that perfectly matched her bike, racing suit and hair, or a vivid blue), dynamic angles, and every single one looked like they came out of a racing magazine.
Some of the shots made him think of one of his favorite sci-fi films.

Star was quietly studying his face as he scrolled- he really was kind of good-looking. It wasn’t obvious, “in your face” good looks- it was more subtle, but this was an attractive man!
And his smell wasn’t some overbearing cologne that made her wrinkle her nose… It was some mild soap and— something else?— Star couldn’t pin it. But it was delicate— delicious…

At the end of the album were a handful of more “candid” photos taken at the racing events late at night with only the available street lighting— Star’s helmet in her hands- an intense, focused and serious look on her face, then another- that same bright smile on her face, her hair slightly messy and stuck from sweat on the back of her neck, after what the doctor assumed was her win.

Dr. Chai saw the short double Dutch braids and grinned. Cute!
He leaned down once again to ask about these photos.

When she finally looked away from him and back to the phone he held in front of her, Star realized that he’d scrolled a little further than she intended!- took her phone back and pressed the button that turned the screen black.

“Sorry, I should stop talking about my bike. I could seriously talk about that the whole appointment. We should probably get back to the important stuff…”.

Dr. Chai loved the energy and excitement this woman had, she was one of the most animated characters he’d ever met.

They wrapped up their first appointment and Dr. Chai reminded her to make her next appointment with the staff outside as she left. He watched as the nurse wheeled her out, but couldn’t see her at all until the nurse got the wheelchair outside the door and moved aside to make an adjustment.

That vivid orange hair- the roots had grown out and the entire left side of her head sported a fresh patch of short, pitch black hair- her natural color. As she patiently waited for the nurse to do whatever she needed to do, Star gently tugged on the earrings in her right earlobe. Then Dr. Chai lost sight of her as the nurse closed the door behind them.

“Just Star”, huh? Chai laughed to himself and took the file for his next appointment from his staff, thanked them, and went back to work.

—

Within seconds of the nurse informing her that the attending had relented on the chai requests, Star had practically BEGGED the woman to take her down to the coffeeshop on the first floor! The nurse snickered as Star looked more like a child going for ice cream, an excited bounce even in the wheelchair. The eyes that shimmered, looking up at the menu made the woman think of children on Christmas morning. Once the coveted cup of chai was finally in her hand, all was right with the world.

It actually took a voice calling her name before she could take her eyes off the cup and the mouth off the straw!
A male voice- “Star, right?”

Star looked up- “Dr. Chai!”

The physical therapist was grinning at the picture in front of him. His patient, two casts, a back brace, in a wheelchair and covered in bruises, had been sucking down her drink like it was going to run away from her. The cup was already half-drained. Now she looked up at him- guiltily?
“So this is the famous chai?”

She never blinked, “They said I could! I’m not here through bribes or threats!”

He laughed, “I’m not going to take it from you, if that’s what you’re thinking…”

“As if you could!…”, she arched an eyebrow with such an attitude, as though she could take down this full-grown man threatening her latte, even with only one good arm. “You touch this cup and you are gonna be missing a hand!”

The man now barked with laughter that could be heard across the room! He didn’t even hear the employee telling him that his coffee was ready. His reaction amused Star to no end. She grinned until her eyes became crescents, an evil look of delight.

Constant foot traffic buzzed, a voice from a PA made announcements and paged doctors, but it all went unnoticed by two people chatting and laughing over cups of caffeine.

—

Four weeks after the accident, when her wrist cast finally came off, they began treating that first. The ribs were still extremely tender and not yet healed, so they couldn’t do much yet, but at least there was no more back brace. Dr. Chai gave her a foam ball and hand gripper to repeatedly squeeze and rebuild the wrist and hand muscles. As she painstakingly typed up emails and reports for her father one-handed on the laptop, the other would flex and compress. She improved quickly.

The next physical therapy appointment was after Star’s leg cast was finally removed six weeks after the accident and she was put into an adjustable brace.
The moment the cast was cut off by the doctor, Star had noticed the color of her skin and the atrophy that had already occurred. The scars from the surgery bothered her less than the loss of her leg muscles- scars, after all, were “BATTLE WOUNDS” to wear with pride! But the sickly look of her leg!!! - her muscular legs were one of her favorite physical features!

She made sure to air these complaints to Dr. Chai!

He seemed completely bemused by her wailings as he closely checked the healing scars and made his assessment. He made sure to recommended a great skin cream for scars and told her that- with work- they would bring her leg back to its former glory.

Star dramatically joked, “As long as they MATCH!”

The nurses and staff outside began to whisper among themselves about the laughing overheard during this particular patient’s appointments.

At the three month mark, her primary doctor- who’d replaced "Dr. Handsy"!- finally gave her the green light- her ribs were looking great. She was free to graduate to crutches!
The moment she was independently mobile, Star roamed around the hospital endlessly, chatting up the nurses, doctors, staff, janitors, and patients. A young boy from the Pediatric ward she befriended named Prem, who was also on crutches, would “race” her in the hallways. She always let him win- loving the look of excitement on his face. All the activity would wear her out, but for as long as she could manage, she had to move!

And of course, every morning she would swing herself down to the coffeeshop to pick up her chai. The shop staff had long since stopped asking her what she wanted to order and would instead start making it the instant they saw her in line. By the time it was her turn to order and pay, the drink would be on the counter.

The physical therapist had bumped into her a couple of times there and, once he realized that it was a morning routine for her, started making it part of his routine as well. It wasn’t guaranteed that they would see each other, but- it increased the chances. They would chat, sometimes she would escort him to his office, other times he would follow her to wherever she wanted to wander.

He was amazed when he saw his patient Prem knew Star!
Little Prem had finally gotten his discharge from his doctor and was going home when they bumped into him in the lobby. Chai was a little hurt that Prem greeted and hugged Star first before even taking notice of his physical therapist! The boy gave a respectful wai to the doctor before prattling on to his “racing friend” about going home and how he was going to have all of his friends sign his cast, just like hers. Of course Star had drawn a little star at the knee for him.
She had a natural way of talking to this kid, the doc thought.
As Prem and his mother left the hospital, Chai thought that Star actually looked sad for a moment.

Dr. Chai had started Star off with simple, basic stretches and over the next few weeks, slowly upped the difficulty. Under his careful tutelage and support, her leg was indeed starting to improve.

After the really intense stretches that would sometimes bring Star some pain as they tried to push through to increase her strength and flexibility, Dr. Chai would finish their session with massage treatment. During this part of the sessions, the two were free to chat about anything and everything. He’d ask about her other injuries and how they were healing; they’d talk about beliefs, hopes, dreams, music, movies, tell silly jokes, talk about their boring day- just anything that came to mind.

Their chats were fun and warm.

The physical therapist began to realize that he looked forward to her appointments every week. More than any of his other patients. Perhaps more than he should…

Chapter Text

One afternoon session, as Chai was working out the tense, growing muscles reforming in her leg as she lie on her stomach on the treatment table after another rough workout, he asked what she wanted to do once she was back to 100%. She grunted as he’d found a particularly tough spot behind her knee, “Uhh!—“ then softly she said, “ I want to race again…”

Even though she’d finally been discharged, still in the leg brace and crutches, the doctor knew she hadn’t been anywhere near a motorcycle since the accident- almost four months now. Driving a car was out of the question, let alone a superbike. She seemed down- was it due to that?

“You want to get back on the bike?… The thought doesn’t scare you at all?”, he asked gently. He’d personally treated numerous patients who never drove again after major vehicle accidents, a few swore to never even get in a car again. Sometimes the mental trauma of these accidents was worse than the physical.

There was no hesitation, but her voice sounded more like a quiet confession than her normal tone. “No. I could never be afraid of my bike. I need it. I miss it.”
The man had barely heard the last words, but he felt the deeper meaning.

Chai had seen some of his patients go through rough phases during their recovery like this. Sometimes they felt like they weren’t progressing fast enough, sometimes the depression being stuck in the hospital for long stays wore them down, a lack of family and friends around- there were many reasons.

This was a less shimmering side of Star he’d not seen before. Like she was really opening up to him for the first time. Like he’d cracked some outer tough layer and was discovering that this woman was not always the bright, laughing, smiling woman she projected to the world. He felt a strange sense of honor at that thought…

He found himself wanting to get her back to her baby that she loved so much. To see that smile on her face, like in the photos she’d shown him.
Ever since she’d left the hospital, Chai had missed seeing her for their morning coffee meetups and their strolls around the wards. Even his staff had commented on his slightly more melancholic mood, though he was better on days “that patient” was coming in.

He pushed his own issues aside- he needed to buoy her up if he could.
“Well, I think you are making fantastic progress here. If that is your goal- we will make it happen. I will get you back on the Ducati again!” His cheerful voice washed over her as she lie there.

She raised her head and looked over her shoulder to see him in her peripheral. “You aren’t going to try to talk me out of it like everyone else?”
He couldn’t contain his mild shock before the words shot out of his mouth, “Who’s trying to talk you out of it?!”
She turned her head back, putting her chin back down on her folded arms in front of her, “Everyone.”

He relaxed his tone again to match hers, he was afraid she might clam up on him and he wanted to help her if he could. Half of this job was not just listening to the body, but the heart and mind. “Like your father—?“, Chai started. They’d briefly touched on her father’s disapproval in their last session.

Star snorted with disgust. “He has NEVER approved… No, I mean nearly everyone is trying to convince me that I should never ride again. Even Vee… said she wanted me to stop.”

Saying it out loud finally made the feelings Star had been bottling up start to shake and quake within her. She didn’t want to admit how much it hurt that her best friend in the world had asked her to give up the one thing she loved most. Though Star was not one for crying, her face contorted, forcing the liquid building behind her eyes to disperse elsewhere.
She realized that not facing the doc right now helped her in admitting this. If she’d been looking at him, she wasn’t sure she could keep it under control. The minute imperfections in the plain white paint on the wall was studied as if it was the finest painting in any museum.

Chai remembered that Vee was her best friend. If this woman’s best friend and biggest supporter had actually had the courage to ask Star to quit racing, something she loved with every fiber of her being, it might very well feel like her whole world was against her… even if that one friend had been the only one to say it.

Star went quiet for a long time.

Chai finally asked, “When are you hoping to race again?”
Her eyes were closed as the doctor was working out another particularly rough patch of her leg and let out the softest groan. “What do you mean?”
“One month? Two months?”

Star slowly opened her eyes, and looked over her shoulder again.
His professional tone was back. “It’s good for you to have a goal. Let’s set a date. Pick a day you want to get back on the bike. I will get you there.”
A spark started to glow inside Star’s eyes.

After chatting about it together a little bit more, Dr. Chai instructed his staff to schedule Star’s appointments two to three times a week.
As Star made the appointments with the receptionist, she found herself smiling. But the smile speedily left her face— she realized that she wasn’t actually thinking ONLY about the chance to hop back on her cherished baby!
She had been thinking about the fact that she would now get to resume seeing and talk to this man several times a week… She truly enjoyed his company. The realization freaked her out!

Little did she know, Chai was hiding his own joy at the idea of once again getting to see her more often.

But the next session two days later saw Star walk in with her crutches, looking brooding, pensive.
Not starting with his customary questions on her stretching or healing progress, he immediately asked, “What’s going on? You okay?”

Star’s dark and graceful eyebrows and mouth were fixed in parallel straight lines on her face. “Can we just-… work first?”

"Sure." Chai had to respect that. He wondered if Star needed more time to process something or to formulate what she wanted to say. So he quickly laid out his new plan for her remaining treatment, including dates, goals, and landmarks. She nodded occasionally and once more when he finished.

Then he put her physically through the wringer, pushing her to the utmost limits.
She never once complained. Normally, she’d crack jokes about the doctor being paid to torture her or something- but she was unusually quiet.
She silently endured the intense exercises designed to stimulate the growth of muscles in her leg and renew the flexibility of her torso. Only a few quiet grunts being forced from her throat, and only talking when he asked her questions and even then only one or two word answers.

Star watched Chai’s face closely as he tried to rouse her with positive words and encouragement. But what she saw underneath the handsome face was - pride?
There was no disapproval, no anger, no disappointment. When she made progress, he looked proud of her. The words that came unbidden and unrestrained from his mouth, encouraging her. When she struggled, he still encouraged her- said he believed in her.
She wondered if he said these things to all of his clients. Was he just using a script?
She tugged on the earrings in her ear.

It wasn’t until he was massaging out her leg at the end that she finally seemed to speak for the first time since the start of their appointment. It was the quietest hour he could remember.

“Today my father demanded that I never race again.” Flat and emotionless.

So that was why!…
Chai sensed that she needed to speak so he said nothing and waited, continuing to massage the calf.

“But I don’t care what he wants. He could make me do anything but give up racing. That was the deal…”

Chai was unfamiliar with a “deal”- she’d never mentioned it before.
Star slowly opened up that her father had visited her that day, as well as her fiancé.

Dr. Chai’s warm hands halted momentarily at that word. Something else she’d never mentioned before. Chai felt— left out.
All the chats they’d shared over coffee and chai, all the sessions they’d had, was there really so much about this woman he still didn’t know? But he had to chide himself- of course there was. What were they to each other? Just a physical therapist and his patient. Nothing more. Why had he thought he knew her so well?

Star kept talking- found herself admitting things that she normally would only share with Vee, when bitching about her father. She told him about the deal, the dual life she led to appease her father in exchange for her freedom to race, everything. She even brought up a photo of herself in the wig for him.
Chai didn’t recognize the woman with long black straight bangs covering half her face. The makeup on her face, while tasteful, seemed fake. Finally, he figured out what about it bothered him so much about that woman- her eyes looked dead. No luster, no life. Like a doll.

She even admitted that she had entered into an agreement to marry the CEO her father wanted for his business connections. She laughed at her folly, calling herself a “sacrifice” for her father’s endeavors and ambitions. She’d been dating him for so long, dragging that engagement out for so long- why? Sure, mostly it was to appear as demure as Shin Yoo-Beom liked, but— she finally had to admit to herself- she didn’t want to marry him. She didn’t even LIKE that man…. Vee had been right from the start.

That man- her “fiancé” (the word dripped with malice and hatred from her lips)- had finally found out that she was not, in fact, vacationing in Europe. The lies devised and spread by her father had been uncovered and he had come and stood in front of her that afternoon.

Her irate father had called her at home earlier that day, telling her to quickly cover herself- her fiancé was on his way!

Instead, Star had immediately called Saifah at the shop.
When he picked up, she blurted out, “Ai’Saifah- I don’t have time to explain! Bring Phayu, come to my place right now and drive my bike to the shop! Hide it there! Do this for me?! PLEASE?!”

Saifah was at a loss for words. Was Star seriously panicking?! He stammered an agreement and said they’d be there soon.

Star said she’d leave the key under the tire and texted him her address rather than wait for him to pull it from her bike’s records. Time was of the essence!
Before hanging up, she begged him again to please watch after her baby! She’d explain everything later!… Even if the twins only arrived moments before her fiancé and father, it was enough time to hide her baby!

Forty minutes later, she had stood silently in the living room of her father’s house and listened as her fiancé tore her apart and her father made the most heinous apologies for her, swearing that she would never disobey the seething CEO again.

That “개새끼” had stood there and forbade her from ever sitting on a bike again. (Chai didn’t know much Korean, but he knew that word!)

The wig that her father had put on her head before forcing her downstairs had been violently yanked off and thrown in her face. Her dear sweet fiancé insulted her hair, saying they would shave it off so he’d never have to see it again. He’d even grabbed her ears, criticizing the piercings. He berated her for the unsightly scars on her legs, complaining that she would be forced to wear long dresses at all functions. No bathing suits ever.

Chai’s heart ached at the thought of such rough treatment at the hands of her father and the man she was going to marry.
He slowly nodded and tried to focus on the muscles of her leg in his hands.

He found the scars on Star’s leg utterly beautiful. The surgical doctors had done excellent work and they’d come a long way with the cream he’d prescribed. Star had obviously taken great care on her own as well. They were really only noticeable up close, when you pushed or pulled the skin- like he was at this moment. Her warm, pliable skin moved like a large ripple over a smooth, watery surface from the deep pressure of his fingers.

She was still unloading this burden.
Her bastard fiancé swore that if she ever touched a bike again, he’d leave her without so much as a second glance. Her father had practically fallen to the floor at the jerk’s feet when he heard that.

Chai thought to himself- Of course she would have to obey her father and fiancé… - and waited for her to continue.

“So I told him to kiss my ass.”

Chai’s hands froze mid-movement and his chin dropped. “You WHAT?!”
“I dumped him.” She said it like it was the most obvious conclusion in the world.

The shocked man could barely process everything she said, Star explained it as if she were summarizing a drama series— she’d discovered that while she and her father had been “not quite truthful” about her appearance, her fiancé had lied about much, much more.
It wasn’t her father’s company who needed him- he needed them! That was why, even with all his complaints about her appearance, lifestyle, and hobbies, he hadn’t dumped her or called off the engagement!

Without revealing quite how she’d accomplished it, she explained that she’d uncovered proof that his company was on the verge of collapse (also conveniently leaving out the little fact that she herself had greatly contributed to that situation!), and that not only was he corrupt in business, he’d also been keeping not one- but TWO mistresses.
She was the chosen “wife” for her connections and her father’s company, while he got his rocks off with the others.

Dr. Chai gaped.

Star had sent the proof of his business misdealing and embezzlement to the police and the proof of infidelity to both women- one of whom was pregnant. She concluded by saying that the scumbag was “finished”.

Her father had also received a copy of everything and had been rushed to the hospital after he had suffered a mild heart attack.

“When did you discover all of this?!”

Star looked almost embarrassed- “Actually, I only got the last bit before our last appointment… I’d known about the business stuff for a while.”
But it wasn’t truly embarrassment (unless you count being blindsided by the mistresses they’d located in Korea), but more mild guilt- mixed with victory!…

Star swung herself out of the office on her crutches at the end of their session and it wasn’t until he was typing up her progress report 25 minutes later that he stopped- Wait. She seemed so pleased with herself for getting rid of her fiancé… So— nonchalant. Then why did she have that look on her face when she came in?
Dr. Chai knew she wasn’t so fond of her father as to be upset about his heart attack… So- why that face?

—

But the look on her face had not reappeared and her usual smile had returned by the following appointment.

The news outlets reported that her former fiancé had been arrested and multiple lawsuits were being filed against him. His company’s stocks tanked- Star had been right: He was finished.

Star’s father was currently hiding in his hospital room from the press, unable to face anyone as he’d been touting his close relationship with the Korean CEO all over town. There were even quiet mummers in the business world that the old man might be forced to step down from his position and “retire”.

The victorious woman burst into the medical office the day the news of the disgraced Korean CEO broke, bringing the whole staff coffee, sandwiches, and sweets to celebrate her “liberation”! The ladies in the office had no idea what exactly she meant by that, but had they known Star had just thrown her own fiancé to the wolves, they might not have congratulated her so wholeheartedly.

The physical therapist stood off, watching the woman who seemed to glow again, quietly sipping his coffee. His heart didn’t seem to know what to do… He knew he was elated at the idea that she was- well… single! There was no denying that!

But internally, he started to worry- the news had revealed some information about the woman engaged to the humiliated CEO. Star had never really talked about her wealth and status when chatting to him, at least not in those words. He’d always thought she was just slightly well-off.

Chai was forced to reevaluate everything she’d ever said in their sessions, now seeing the hints that had been there all along. This woman was a little out of his league…
He debated with himself if that lessened the way he felt about her.

Whatever he felt, it certainly didn’t change the way Star treated him. Their sessions, while dwindling, continued and she still brought light and laughter to his office.

-------------------------------------

Author's Note: Bad news, babies! This story is kind of winding down!
I think the next chapter is the last full chapter. Then I have kind of an epilogue and at least one (possibly two) "deleted scenes"/special chapters- including Gun's actual demise!

I think I fulfilled everything I wanted with this little "novella" of mine. I got my happy Prapai & Sky, I got rid of Gun, & there was some motorcycle racing! Overall, I feel pretty happy with it.

I hope someone- anyone!- is looking forward to the end of Star's tale.

Chapter Text

Occasionally, Star struggled with the more complex stretches, not understanding quite what the doc meant. He would always patiently demonstrate the stretches in front of her first, carefully explaining the muscles he was wanting to stretch and build up.

She would sometimes just cut through all the formalities and ask him directly, “Look- I’m not a doctor, just tell me where I should be feeling this stretch!"

That would always make Dr. Chai laugh and he would point to the area on his body where, if she did the stretches and exercises correctly, she should feel the effects. If she still seemed to not feel what the doctor was describing, with her express permission, he would physically guide her through the movements with his hands.

And that was how, during one session, Star found herself lying on a mat on the floor, with her left leg being pushed across her body by the doc. His hand was pressing down on her left shoulder, stressing that her shoulders needed to remain flat on the floor in order to really get the full effects of this stretch while his other hand held her calf and pressed down and away.

As he leaned fully over her body, pushing her leg down towards the floor opposite him, she finally felt the pull he had been describing and let out a shocked, “OH!”, her eyes widening.
Dr. Chai immediately stopped pushing down further, but didn’t lift up- “Are you okay?”

Her body still twisted, she half-laughed, half-groaned, “No yeah! I’m good!… I just— feel a little like a pretzel all of a sudden…”

She grinned evilly as Dr. Chai lost all control, bent over, still holding her leg and shoulder down, and laughed- this woman never failed to crack him up during their sessions.

He finally managed to curb the laughter and looked down at her, lying directly beneath him: that warm, smiling face looking up at him, eyes glistening, loose hair spread out beneath her like flames.

A sudden thought flit through his mind that shocked himself as highly inappropriate and unprofessional. He tried to push the image away quickly. As he continued to look down at her, trying to maintain his demeanor and professionalism, her own smile slowly relaxed until she stared up at him with an unreadable look on her face.
An eerily similar thought had just run through her head as she looked up at this man, leaning over her- the curves where his neck met the trapezius muscles of his broad shoulders just visible in the wide gap of his scrubs that hung loosely down towards her.

The smell of him… The warmth of his beautiful hands on her shoulder and calf— she suddenly wished they would move… elsewhere.

She suppressed the sudden desire to reach up, grab the v-neckline of his scrubs, pull herself up and bite down on that splendid, meaty shoulder muscle.

The only sounds in the room were the air-conditioning, the hum of florescent bulbs, and the ticking of the wall clock.
Outside the room, staff could be heard on phones.
Internally- two hearts were thundering in two chests.

I shouldn’t think of him that way…
I shouldn’t think of her that way…

There was no childish blushing or clearing of the throat, the doctor diligently continued the stretches. A hard swallow was the only indication that the thought of her on the floor beneath him had affected him at all.
Star observed him, allowing him to twist her leg into the correct positions.

Both tried to assume the appearance that they were not affected by their wayward thoughts.

The physical therapist finally got the nerve to ask something he’d been wanting to ask since learning about her engagement.
“Who pursued whom?”

Star raised her head off the treatment table to look at him while he focused on the beautiful feet in front of him. “What?” They’d moved to the massage portion of the last ten minutes of their session.

Chai tried to sound as collected as possible, “Did you pursue your fiancé-“
“EX-fiancé, thank you very much!”, she corrected.

He chuckled, “My apologies- EX-fiancé. Did you pursue him or did he pursue you?”

She dropped her head back down and hummed. “Mmmmm… Both, I guess? I kind of forced him to pursue me, but I targeted him first.”

She finally revealed how their heinous relationship had started. How she’d used him to rid herself of the “flies” that buzzed around her. She even shared a few stories of some of the things he’d said and done during their association that pissed her off to no end.

“So what you’re saying is that you’re highly desired in the dating market, huh?” He tried to make it sound as light as possible, like a joke, but he was deflecting his true feelings. The idea that all these wealthy men had pursued her and none had succeeded made him feel- small.

Star laughed heartily. “Nahh, just- not interested in dating?… No, that’s not it either…”

She didn’t seem like she was going to finish the sentence, so Chai forged ahead, “So you’ve never truly pursued someone sincerely? I mean- without a motive?”

Her hand reached up and tugged on her earlobe. The small star-shaped stud earring was spun round and round. “Just hadn’t- found anyone who interested me— who… saw me for who I am rather than what I have…. No one was I was attracted to.”

Chai didn’t know what to do with that information.

After the session concluded, Dr. Chai handed Star his business card along with the printouts of her stretches they’d just covered for the week before she headed out.

Star had collected more business cards in her life than most people would dream of; many of them actually ended up in the first trash can passed after walking away. She’d seen some the most ostentatious designs and pretentious cards- metal cards- laser engraved- holographic- she’d seen it all. This card was one of the cleanest she’d ever seen- simple, to the point, and somehow it seemed humble. Kind of like the doc himself… she thought. But everyone who usually handed her a business card was wanting something from her, which was why she glanced up at the doc.
“What’s this for? I have the clinic’s info.”

He looked at her face before looking down at the card in her hands, ignoring the screams of his soul and pounding in his chest but determined not to let his face or voice betray the tremors he felt, and as calmly as he could manage said, “That’s my private number.”

Star looked again. Sure enough, there was his cell number.

“In case you have trouble with the stretches this week and want to get clarification faster- call that number rather than my service. I don’t want you to hold up your stretches waiting for a call.” He paused for a moment before he bit the bullet and added, “You can call me anytime.”

The doctor lied to himself and Star at the same time. While he internally chastised himself for his earlier thoughts- he, in fact, was secretly hoping for something more than just calls about stretches and exercises. He wondered if in the course of chatting or messaging with her about that, they might eventually communicate more- casually- much like their sessions. He desperately wanted to continue talking to this woman. And two or three times a week was no longer sufficient… He needed more, even if just a text or phone call…

And one last thought that hung heaviest in his mind- their sessions would soon be coming to an end.

Star slowly and gently dragged the corner edge of the card in her hand repeatedly underneath the bare fingernail of her index finger, staring this man down. She could still just catch his scent lingering on her clothes. Was this doctor bolder than she thought?
A flat “Okay.” That was all she said as she left the office.

As the door slowly closed behind her blocking his view, she passed by a trash bin.

—

It was dark outside when Chai walked into his small studio apartment after work, greeted by the massive black cat he’d found abandoned years ago and named Xeno, who loudly yowled and demanded food. He dropped his stuff at the door, kicked off his shoes and made himself something to eat- AFTER feeding the little monster first.

As he waited for the microwave to beep, he thought of Star’s face in the office earlier before she walked out. Had he made a terrible mistake? Would this woman report him for harassment? With her money, she could annihilate him without blinking! Did he overstep? What was he thinking?!

Xeno jumped up on the small island, but kept out of arm’s reach, as he didn’t actually like being touched. Chai looked into the round green eyes, “Xeno- I screwed up, I think.”

He hung his head in frustration. Why was this woman twisting him all out of shape?
Xeno cleaned his face and offered neither support nor condemnation.

Beep beep beep

Chai pulled the hot leftover meal from the microwave and threw it down on the dining room table, grabbing a pair of chopsticks.

DING!
Three bites in, he got a message notification on his phone.

Chai dug his phone out of his scrubs’ pants pocket. A text from an unknown number.
[“Don’t you have my cell phone number in my medical file? Why didn’t you just text me first? Why make me do this?”]

Chai’s eyes slightly widened- she actually texted!

He food in his mouth nearly went down the wrong tube in his excitement upon reading those words! Chai unlocked the phone and smiled at the three sentences on the screen. Of all the responses he’d hoped for- imagined- considered- this had never occurred to him. And yet, he knew instantly that it was her. She didn’t even mention stretches or make excuses- this woman’s directness was so damn attractive!

He was still trying to decide what to type in response when another message appeared.
[“Hello???”]

He jumped.
Of course! She could see that he’d read it! Haha!

He took a deep breath and started typing- deciding that if she was going to be direct with him, he would be straightforward as well- [“I wanted to be sure that you were willing first.”]
Whoosh! (Sent)

He hesitated a moment before adding, [“Unwanted advances are not always appreciated.”]
Whoosh! (Sent)

His messages were instantly marked as read. Three dots bounced as she typed, then disappeared. After a moment, they appeared again, but disappeared again.

Chai started to wonder why she—
Rrrt-rrrt-rrt!

The phone suddenly vibrated in his hand at an incoming call. He was so stunned he nearly dropped the phone. The same unknown number. He accepted immediately.

Star’s voice came over the speaker: [“This is much faster than texting… So- what? You’re asking me for permission?”]

Chai wondered if his heart was trying to burst its way from his chest, “Permission?”

Star: [“For you to pursue me. Isn’t that what we’re talking about?”]

Chai chewed on his lip- he decided to go all in, “Actually, I was thinking that maybe you could pursue me… You’ve never done that before, right? Usually it’s them pursuing you?”

...

Silence- until Star said : [“So you’re seriously asking me to pursue you?”]

An excited grin spread across Chai’s face, he wanted to tease this woman- “Why? You afraid I’ll turn you down?”

A single laugh. [“Ha! … You know-?…

... I can’t resist a challenge.”]

Hours later, Chai’s cold dinner was eventually thrown into the trash, uneaten. His face was gonna hurt tomorrow from the smile that seemed cemented there now…

End
(or is it?!)

------------------------------------------

Author's Note: Hey guys,
Sooooo... this is kind of as far as Star's story goes. This would be like Volume 1. Volume 2 has not been written, and I don't know if I need it?

As I said at the very beginning, I had three main goals here. 1) More Prapai/Sky! 2) More racing 3) K!LL Gun. I never intended it to turn into a hospital/love story, but I liked where it took me.

But never fear! I have an epilogue mostly finished and at LEAST one Special Chapter of Gun's demise.
I also MAY have written a steamy scene of Star and Chai. If there's interest- I will post that as well.

Please comment with your thoughts on this story- I'd love to hear feedback.
Take care!
((gets to writing her second Prapai/Sky story))

Chapter Text

Author's Note: Okay, everyone- when I saw that I had a PHYSICAL REACTION to writing this chapter- I am NOT KIDDING! The moment I finished my rough draft, I practically stumbled to the bathroom because I was dizzy & when I looked at my reflection, my lips were WHITE! This is a VERY dark chapter- please proceed at your own risk!

But if you want to see Gun destroyed- this is it.

-------------------------------------

TRIGGER WARNINGS!: Physical & sexual assault/physical torture/blood/burning/murder

Work for the day was completed and the sun had long since set. The clock on the computer hinted that everyone went home hours ago, but if she wasn’t mistaken, Khun Sun would still be just outside the door at his post.
An intercom button was pressed and a telephone speaker outside projected the unmistakable tone of the boss- “Khun Sun- Go home! You’re making me feel like an evil boss!”

“I’m here as long as you need me”, the faithful man’s voice returned in Star’s office.
“You're no longer needed tonight- please go home. ((pause)) And treat yourself to dinner on me, okay? Use the company card. Goodnight”, and the phone clicked.
He was being chased out!

Arthit gathered up his bag, his coat, and the umbrella he always carried in case of emergency and made his way to the elevators, his leather shoes muffled by the carpet.
He waited patiently for the lift to come up. The man who had no one waiting at home for him, not even a fish, knew that his employer would drive herself and mentally hoped she’d get home safely, worried the long hours might make her drowsy.

As the doors closed in front of him, he began to ponder what he might grab on the way home… By the time he reached the lobby of the company’s headquarters, he’d decided on a little sushi- nothing extravagant, even if the boss was paying. Perhaps a dessert?

Star waited until she heard the lift doors close and the faint sound of the descending elevator died away, leaving her utterly alone on this floor. The hum of air conditioners and the buzz of florescent lights the only real sounds lingering at this time of night.

She lifted up a report laying spread across her desk to uncover the plain USB key that had been delivered by private messenger earlier. Sent by her new “business partner”, Khun Pakin.
She reached around the back of her monitor to slide the key into the rectangular slot. Bringing up a blank window, the contents of the portable disc popped up- a single video file. No file name.

—

[“Are you sure you don’t want to come and watch?”]

Khun Pakin’s voice was deep and clear.

The resolution on her face floundered for a moment. Though P’Pakin was comfortable with this type of thing and this world- Star was in unchartered territory.
Her grip on the phone tightened. Her free hand suddenly reached for her earlobe and began to tug repeatedly until the skin started to turn pink as she contemplated. This is what she wanted. This is what she’d spent hours debating and planning. This is what she was asking P’Pakin to do. Was she really going to just let him deal with it and not watch it firsthand? Would she be able to handle—? Would she be satisfied? Would she appear weak?

Pakin was perfectly aware of what he was asking and that this woman was probably not cut out for actually watching it directly. Her demands had been extremely specific- tit-for-tat- but… there was a sick creativity to the details that he had to accept- impressed him. Therefore, he did not rush her for the answer.

Finally her mind was made up, she straightened the multiple rings in her ears so that they all hung straight. And gave her answer.

—

The video was encrypted, naturally. The security code had been dictated by the recipient herself.

The thumbnail preview image showed a dark space, three men in black attire standing around the figure bound to a chair in the middle of the frame- the shoulders and faces of those standing were strategically cut off. The piece of human trash sitting was perfectly centered.

A thumb hovered over the keyboard, the slightest tremble before-

Clack.
She punched the space bar and the video began to play.

A single empty and worn wooden chair in a dark space, concrete floors and no windows. Industrial. Remote. Private.
Only a single lightbulb above the chair provided any illumination.

A male voice off-screen confirmed they were recording and scuffling sounds were heard from behind then got louder as they approached the video device, until two men all in black dragging a third still dressed in hospital clothes entered the frame.

He’d been abducted from an expensive private hospital where his family had kept him under an alias, but had been easily tracked down through financial records already in someone else’s possession…

His hands had been bound prior to entering this room. The legs were not bound- there was simply no need. The target couldn’t run, both of his legs had been incapacitated. His Achilles tendons had been not merely cut but removed entirely. His body still showed some bruises from his last “accident”, as had been previously arranged by another party.

They practically dropped him onto the wooden chair. His arms were roughly pulled behind the back of the chair.

A third male entered the shot- possessing an air that instantly conveyed that he controlled the others who obeyed him without question. Dressed completely in black, though his suit seemed better somehow from the others, he seemed more like a menacing shadow than human.

The right hand man of the Thai Mafia’s crime boss stood in front of the chair and said something softly to the broken male half-sprawled there. The head hung low against his chest, the black hair stuck out in every direction from the beatings and confinement already endured, but he lifted his face at this figure’s approach.

The face was purple and swollen, only one eye could see clearly. A gauze bandage covered an older injury above his left eye- that of a piercing that had been forcefully wrenched from the left eyebrow.

His left ear no longer had one single earlobe so much as multiple small tabs of flesh where several earrings had been torn out one by one… The two cartilage piercings had given a little more resistance. Blood trails led from the mangled ear down his neck to his thin cotton top, which was soaked and stained. The once proud and cocky Gun muttered something that couldn’t be picked up by the microphone.

SCREECH!
All three men standing suddenly turned at the sound of a heavy metal door opening behind the camera. Hands reached for concealed weapons but didn’t draw. A single powerful hand had arrested their movement instantly.

The deep voice was unmistakable- if you were an acquaintance of P’Chai- “I didn’t think you would be joining us.”

The faintest sound of footsteps coming closer, followed by the scrape of a metal folding chair being dragged across the concrete floor echoed within the space. The chair groaned as someone sat down. A single dark shoe appeared at the very edge of the screen as one leg was crossed over the other. A dark black shade over a slightly lighter shade of black.

A muffled voice could just barely be heard answering and the center figure turned back to current matters.

The hands and ankles were now zip-tied to the chair. The blood-soaked top was easily ripped open, exposing a bruised chest, dark red-purple, green and brown splotches bloomed all over the torso. The disheveled scumbag shook his head faster and faster as the lead man approached with a pair of pliers in his hand in perfect silhouette.

The mic couldn’t pick up all that was said, only the quiet mumblings of the standing man as his hands gestured in front of the wide-eyed cretin, the light just picking up the reflection of tears streaming down Gun’s face.

The pliers pinched and twisted at one nipple. Gun groaned through his gritted his teeth until they threatened to break and shatter. Then with a swift whoosh! the swollen and bruised bud of skin was ripped off entirely.

The previously hard to hear audio now threatened to blow the speaker as the head shot back as far as it could go- agonized howls between strained breaths- the heaving chest now glistened with a torrent of blood streaming from the mutilated pec.

The sticky tissue was plucked from the plier’s teeth and flung to the concrete.

P’Chai strolled to the other side of the whimpering creep, resting his free hand on the shuddering shoulder. Rapid breaths hissed between clenched teeth. He clearly knew what was coming next…
Sniveling proceeded a symphony of wailing as the second nipple was mauled and finally separated from the surrounding flesh. The bloody lump was discarded onto the floor.

The detestable villain was left alone for a moment while the higher-up gave quiet orders to the others and consulted with the person just off-screen.

When the initial pain finally seemed to ebb and Gun’s breathing reached something slightly above normal, the shadowy figures began to move again. Two dark trails of blood flowed down his torso and soaked the top of the hospital pants.

The dark, intimidating figure rolled up his shirt sleeves and held out one hand to a subordinate. An unopened glass beer bottle was passed over, while the third man in the room removed the thin hospital printed pants and underwear. The fully exposed area showed even more bruises up and down the legs, as well as the bandages on both ankles.

The two underlings, always keeping their faces away from the camera like the pros they were, grabbed one leg each and spread the bruised thighs wide open.

Never before had this bastard felt so vulnerable and helpless.

Terrified eyes could only watch in horror as P’Chai stood directly between his trembling legs- Gun wanted to scream, beg, plead- negotiate, if possible- for them to cease, but there was no one here to help him… He did not yet know what else awaited him, but he didn’t have to wait long.

The foreman pointed at Gun’s body, but still facing away from the camera, the mic still couldn’t catch it. The two men kneeling on the ground suddenly yanked on the leg each held, bringing Gun’s ass forward until it was situated on the very edge of the chair.

The naked man’s fear was increasing ten-fold by the second.

P’Chai put his left foot on the seat of the wooden chair behind Gun’s hip and left hand on the back of the chair, blocking the view from the camera. (He wasn’t exactly used to filming “content” due to the nature of his profession and forgot the camera was there.) Only Gun’s legs on either side of the man in black could be seen straining violently as the figure leaned over him, accompanied by the escalating whining and whimpers- until a violent howl erupted from his soul- the man’s throat red and raw from screaming. The wooden chair groaned as though it might collapse first.

When P’Chai stepped away, the bottle was now rammed up Gun’s anus. Torn open inside and out, blood dripped down to the floor.

The man completely unfazed by what he’d just done walked over towards the side of the frame and picked up a towel and wiped his hands as calmly as if he’d just washed a dish in the sink. Chai stood off for a moment, letting the pain set in- and the screams die down. Then walking back in front of the camera- a perfect silhouette, blocking the view, his hands on his powerful hips- still looking every bit the attractive, well-built man that he was from behind.

Gun’s view of this man would have showed only the spine-chilling mafia enforcer he’d never personally crossed in his life.

But none of that mattered to Chai- he had a job to do. And he would not fail his boss. His orders would be carried out to the letter.

With perfect execution, Chai swiftly kicked Gun in the groin with so much force that the bottle inside shattered, sending shards of glass throughout the ravaged internal cavity and alcohol into the lacerations. The body tried to curl after the impact, but the zip-ties held firm and cut into his wrists. Liquids now rushed from the bleeding orifice, beer and blood mixed into a grotesque cocktail with chunks of glass “ice”. Excruciating pain racked Gun’s body.

The two men released their hold on Gun’s legs and walked out of frame. The lead man still stood in the center, unmoved by the torture being unleashed on this being that was even lower than a beast. One hand returned to the hip, his torso twisted as it turned to the figure out of frame and said something. “— you think?” was all the mic picked up.
Again, the response was too low to be heard, but hearing his answer, the torso turned back to the giant piece of human excrement in front of him.

The shadow stood there for a few minutes, again, letting Gun just FEEL the pain bestowed. Being in this mafia family since he was seventeen had taught this man many things- when it came to torture, rushing was not as effective as patience. Not that they wanted any information from Gun- they already knew everything. No, they just needed to draw it out.

Gun’s… attacks and violations on his victims had lasted hours. He needed to suffer just like those innocent young boys…

Even Panachai had been disgusted by the evidence provided by Star. All the times he’d seen Gun at the races, or elsewhere, he’d had no idea that this sleazebag had been capable of the things he’d done. It soothed Chai’s conscious that he was carrying out supreme judgement and not just following orders. Destroying this- creep- would not disturb even one moment of sleep.

The man walked off to the darkened edge of the frame and casually leaned his backside against a small table where the bottle had come from, quietly talking to the owner of the foot.

The timer on the video file steadfastly ticked away until nearly 30 minutes had passed. The only activity was the limp body in the chair calling out for anyone to let him go, swearing he’d disappear from the country, do whatever they want, swearing in pain, whimpering and sobbing. His body was beginning to swell from the savagery inflicted. A footprint bruise appeared on his groin where he’d been kicked.

One of the subordinates walked into frame with an instant camera. He stood at various angles around the blubbering figure in the center, intermittently raising the camera to his face and pulling out the prints. He forced Gun to look up once or twice, the humiliation of this paled in comparison to the anguish of his body.

The prints were handed over to the superior. He waited patiently while the prints developed. No need to shake them- no rush. After about fifteen minutes, he looked through them all, shifting them one by one to the back of the pile. One was selected and the rest were tossed to the tabletop.

He walked over and leaned against the back of the chair, only a bearded chin of the face was visible in the frame. He spoke into Gun’s mutilated ear, and though the camera couldn’t pick up most of the conversation, the words, “- show this to your parents-“ were just audible. The miserable wretch shook his head and continued to softly plead and beg to this man. He was running out of tears, now he could only manage hoarse sobs.

The shadow returned to his place against the side of the small table, carelessly tossing the print to join the others. Another pause in the proceedings to let the creep’s body ache and allow his mind to inflict more suffering upon itself. Mental torture had been expressly requested.

After the brief interlude, when the large man finally pushed himself away from the table and approached Gun, a look of hope filled that face. He turned his eyes up to the concealed countenance above the frame and managed a broken smile, grateful that they’d finally felt he’d suffered and pleaded enough- right?

The shadow said nothing, just stared down at him. It took a few steps back towards the table and put out an expectant hand.

A handheld propane torch was immediately passed over and turned on. A blue and orange flame sparked to life and, like a teardrop, stood out against the dark room. As the eerie figure in black came back to the center, he addressed no one in particular.
“I recently promised someone that I would stop smoking, so I had to find an alternative…”

The lowlife’s breath sped up to a frantic pace as the realization washed over him…. He looked back and forth from the tip of that torch to the face of the man holding it, his brain not accepting that this could possibly be happening to him.

Desperate and forlorn pleas began softly at first- almost making him appearing pitiful and remorseful… then quickly turned into blood curdling screams as the flame tip was applied to the man’s crotch. The hair on his body instantly singed and the flesh turned shiny red then blackened as it was passed over the area repeatedly, like high-end restaurants searing an expensive steak.

The screams that reverberated off the walls only ceased when his lungs ran out of oxygen. The pain searing through his body brought so much agony that the lungs refused to inhale again and went limp, passing out.
The video’s progress bar continued.

They did not want him unconscious, so Gun was revived and awoke to the most immense pain he’d ever experienced in his life. Blackened skin and blisters covered his groin and thighs, the still functioning nerves in his lower body misfired, sending deep throbbing waves of pain throughout his entire being. Some nerves were destroyed entirely. His voice was completely gone.

Finally, a bucket of cold water was thrown on him, causing some of the burnt flesh to come away in sheets. The cold burned the sensitive nerves as badly as the heat- perhaps more.

Overwhelmed by the torment, they struggled to keep him awake- his body was trying to shut itself down to escape from the suffering.

The shadowy figure of death approached Gun one last time and stood in front of him. Gun was just clinging to his sanity when the deep voice spoke a boy’s name.

Then another.

A third.

A strange, haunting look of understanding and remembrance invaded Gun’s twisted face.

Four more names. One by one, listed slowly and deliberately.

He was no longer capable of screaming, of begging, of anything. Only ragged dry groans. The life left his eyes. He knew- he would never leave this room.

The soiled pliers were handed over again, along with a shining blade.
The two subordinates took their positions on either side and grasped Gun’s arms and held his head back- though he looked like he had little energy left to fight.

The jaw was forced open to reveal the raw mouth, the vile grin that once graced his snake-like face was a distant memory. The despicable tongue that once controlled and frightened young boys was gripped firmly in the pliers and before he could liberate it from the firm pinch — was severed entirely.

Paying no heed to prevent additional harm, the knife had cut so cleanly that it only stopped as the blade hit bone.

The mouth cavity began to rapidly fill with blood rushing from the open lingual artery. Veins on Gun’s sweaty neck strained and popped. Bubbles danced on the surface of the thick deep red liquid as the last oxygen came up from the lungs- a howl from deep within roared but was muted.

One hand pinched the nose closed. The pooling blood suddenly drained as it was sucked back into the lungs, desperate to breathe. Gun aspirated, but was unable to expel the blood from his lungs as there was no air remaining.

Bloodshot bulging eyes began to glaze over while blood surged into the mouth again- his rapidly beating heart was bringing about his own end.

The hands constraining him let go, Gun’s body was limp, his head fell back naturally and the bastard drowned on his own blood.

The three men in black walked off screen and got ready to dispose of the evidence.

Only the foot just visible in the frame remained, watching the man bleed out. When the body relaxed completely and the head rolled and fell to the chest, the blood that had filled the mouth and dripped out the sides of his lips now poured down the front of the almost unrecognizable body. After the chest had ceased rising and falling, the single foot stayed unmoving for several minutes.

Then the shoe disappeared from frame, and hard footsteps were heard walking back behind the camera.

—

The file stopped playing.

The hard copies of all of Star’s research were meticulously burned to nothing but ash, as was the smashed USB key and the handful of photos- both wiped clean of fingerprints beforehand. Nothing would be recoverable.

The USB wasn’t a present - it was a warning.
You’re involved and I have proof. Don’t ever cross me.

This was the price she paid.

---------------------------------

Is everyone okay after that? ((provides free chocolate to anyone who needs it))

Chapter Text

Star had been very much missed at the racing events during her recuperation. Her accident had not exactly been common knowledge but it finally reached ears and became widely talked about- even the drama of Gun and Petch’s banishment became old news and eventually died out completely.

Her social media accounts received numerous messages from people wishing her a speedy recovery (puns were intended!). They made her grin.

Star also missed the excitement. So when Pakin’s next invite arrived, she debated whether she would go while still on crutches, but she finally caved. She knew being around all those beautiful bikes and hearing the races would hurt her soul as she would not be able to participate, but running away was not really in her nature.

Vee had come over to help her dye her hair and catch up. One of Star’s favorite things in the world was to have someone else “play” with her hair. She could have easily gone to the salon and had it done professionally, but having Vee do it was like reconnecting. Bonding time.

When the vivid orange hair was finally back in top form, Star was beginning to feel like herself again.

She didn’t wear any of her riding gear, but just comfortable jeans under the brace and a black tank. It wasn’t until she was standing there in the night air, surrounded by the sounds she knew so well that she felt oddly naked. She missed the feeling of that heavy leather.

She was met by countless people asking how she was, how the accident happened, and every other question imaginable. She finally found some respite under Pakin’s tent.

When Phayu and Prapai were not occupied, they sat and chatted with her while she rested her legs. Saifah didn’t come along this time.

Phayu was worried about his little brother. “Saifah’s been weird lately…. I think he has a new faen. He’s always looking at his phone during work and grinning like an idiot, but he won’t tell me anything about them. He’s never home and always going out.”
Pai chimed in, “So you don’t even have an idea of who he’s dating?”

Star was looking at her own phone- wishing to text a certain someone but figured he’d be asleep this late- “You both know her.”
Two heads whipped around to look at Star.

She looked up at the silence, “It’s Vee.”
Two male brains ticked away and produced no outcome.

Star half-laughed, “My friend, Vee!” She seriously thought they knew already.
Two jaws simultaneously hit the floor. They hadn’t seen or heard from Vee in ages, “Since when?!”

Star went back to looking at her phone, “You mean when did they start dating or when did they start liking each other?”
Finding it hysterical that these two friends of hers seemed completely oblivious, she continued, “Well, I can’t answer for Saifah, but I think Vee probably liked him from the first or second time she came here with me. When she showed me the photos she took that night, there were a bunch of Saifah! Just him standing around and working on the bikes. I think it was his smile.”

Phayu and Pai’s brains finally started catching up and immediately tried to do the math of when Star first brought Vee.

Phayu’s brows contorted, “Saifah was still with his faen back then!”

Star nodded. “That’s why she didn’t make a move. Vee would never hit on someone who’s already taken.”
The mechanic and the racer were flabbergasted. How had Saifah kept this a secret this long?

The phone in her hand vibrated and her face lit up instantly. A single text- [You home yet?]
Star suddenly shot up and grabbed her crutches, “I’m gonna head out first, guys! See ya.”

Phayu suddenly remembered, “Oh hey, Star! We’re getting together at my place just to eat and hang out tomorrow. You wanna join us?”
Star thought about the phone in her back pocket, “Sure. I’ll swing by. Text me.”

--

The patio area of Phayu and Saifah’s house was filled with rambunctious laughter and chatter. Most everyone had slept in after the races that went into the wee hours of the morning, but now the late afternoon had everyone refreshed and enjoying their weekend.

Rain and Sky were there, of course. Saifah and Vee were noticeably absent. After Phayu’s texts and calls to his younger twin, teasing and reprimanding him for not telling him about his new faen, Saifah wasn’t quite ready to face the music!

Vee hadn’t exactly admitted to her relationship to Star yet, but figured she knew already. It was still very early on and the new couple was on pins and needles.

Star arrived last of the group, swinging in on her crutches- and her friends immediately took note- she was accompanied by a man!
He helped her over to the patio, taking great care to ensure she didn’t stumble.

Sky and Rain greeted her enthusiastically, and she said her hellos, followed by a pregnant pause. Possibly for the first time ever, the woman wouldn’t meet the questioning eyes of her friends. She debated if this was the right decision, but with one look at Chai’s face felt reassured.
“This is Dr. Chai."

Chai picked up where she left off and introduced himself to everyone as her physical therapist to which Prapai gave her with an inquiring look, a subtle arch of his thick eyebrow. Star caught this and looked busted!

While everyone else greeted Chai warmly and he immediately integrated himself into the group with his natural conversation skills and friendly attitude, Prapai leaned over to Star’s ear. “Do people usually take their physical therapists out in public with them? Don’t people usually just have appointments? In an office?” Prapai had been in one or two accidents and knew the routine.

Star couldn’t meet Prapai’s eyes with that crooked grin and tried to change the subject.

After a few drinks, of which Star could not partake due to the pain medications she was still on, the group sat around as the sun set and relaxed. The sky turned shades of pink, orange, purple and blue. The air was thick but soothing.

Finally Rain couldn’t take the anticipation anymore and the topic was breached.
“So Star! Are you and P’Chaiiiii-…?” The way he practically bounced on the edge of his seat next to Phayu at the possibility of juicy gossip put the two in the spotlight.

All eyes were on the woman who had her leg elevated on an empty chair and the man sitting next to her who seemed to have eyes for no one but her. Their chairs were so close together that their hands need only extend a pinky to touch the other. Star actually shifted in her seat and started tugging on the soft earlobes someone next to her loved so much. She silently looked over at him.

Chai smiled- he loved seeing this side of Star. She’d sounded so hesitant on the phone when she asked if he wanted to come with her and meet her friends- not because she was unsure of herself, but more- she was worried about exposing this man to that group…
Having heard so much about them, Chai had accepted instantly.

Knowing Star’s reluctance to share personal details, the warm man simply said, “We’re still figuring that out…”. Phayu grinned knowingly. If Star didn’t want to share, his boy would never get it out of her. Rain visibly deflated and turned a pouting face to his faen. Phayu grabbed his head and pulled him to his chest. Sky smiled at the new couple and silently wished them well. Prapai just shook his head and laughed. They’d eventually get the story out of Star, but until then it’d be fun to watch her squirm.

Star eyed the man beside her and reflected on how she arrived at this time and place with this person.

She was used to being chased for her connections and money, but Chai wasn't interested in either. He just wanted her. And she genuinely likes him- feels… supported by him.

He is completely unaffected and unbothered by her dominant personality and controlling tendencies. In fact, it’s one of the things he says he finds most attractive about her. In all of their sessions at the hospital, he’d taken the time to get to know about her, the accident and why it occurred, the backstory of the rivalry between her and Prapai. (He once joked that he’d “have to keep an eye on that one…”)

Star had laughed when Chai and Prapai greeted each other earlier and he looked back at her, silently asking if this was the one he’d heard so much about. It even looked to Star like Chai tried to puff himself up the tiniest bit in front of Prapai. She could only hide her grin behind her hand.

This man embraced her love of speed and was actively trying to get her well enough to race again- something that most men had forbid (like her father and her now former fiancé), especially after such a horrible accident. But Chai is well aware that racing is the flame that keeps her going in life, a flame he is stoking and strengthening.

Little did Dr. Chai know, however, that her love of speed was wavering against the flickering love that is sparking in her heart by his very presence. In a world full of men who want to tell her what to do and not to do, she’d found one who simply supports her in her decisions and wants to be there for her.

Later in the evening, P’Pai pulled Star to the side and softly spoke into her ear. “By the way, please don’t ever mention to Sky about me offering to take you to bed? He really hates my playboy past.”

Her eyebrows arched up in a playful way, never taking her eyes off Sky who was animatedly talking to Rain, Phayu, and her new “toy”, but a sly and slightly evil grin tugged at the corner of her face for a moment. Hearing the cocky and usually shameless Prapai speaking this way tickled her. Her initial reaction was to use this against her ‘foe’…

“Don’t worry- there’s no need to bring up a non-event. Nothing happened between us in that way— and besides…”. A full and graceful smile spread over her face like a gentle breeze. “I like him.”

Neither Prapai nor Sky would ever find out about the strings she had pulled on their behalf. She would never reveal what she knew. The single bundle of papers that she’d kept in her safe- never wanting to read again- had been burned.

For the fellow racer she respected and the younger man who she now thought of as a sort of adopted little brother, she’d lurk in the shadows and try to quietly make sure no one disturbed their happiness.

She finally tore her eyes from Sky and looked at P’Pai. Without a hint of teasing or her usual snark, simply said- “I think you need him. You both seem so very happy- there’s no way I would threaten that. Not even as a joke.”

P’Pai looked visibly relieved. He’d always liked Star and respected her as a racer.

“Thank you for letting me meet your someone, Ai’Pai.”

Star started to make her way back in the direction of the group but an uneven plank caught her crutch momentarily. Before Prapai could even react, her man noticed immediately and came to her side, all of his focus on her and her condition. As he steadied her shoulders then hips, Star’s eyes danced over his facial features that suddenly reminded Prapai of someone admiring art in a museum or perhaps a new car model in a showroom, taking in every feature and curve.

The same look Star once gave only her beloved Ducati— it is now unabashedly bestowed upon the man holding her arm and walking with her to the rest of the group. Prapai grinned to himself and then walked over to stand next to his Sky.

THE END

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I hope someone enjoyed my little "love letter" to Love in the Air & Prapai and his Sky! <3