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Chay was finally starting to get used to living at the compound. When Porsche had first moved him in he had been terrified. He hadDespite the fact that he knows the guards are there to protect him, his instincts keep telling him that they are going to beat him up and demand money that he doesn't have.
His therapist said he definitely had some trauma from the loan sharks but he was working on that. He now got along quite well with several of the guards. Mainly Arm and Pol since he spends a lot of time with Tankhun and they are practically tied to the man's hip. And despite the fact that there is about a decade between them he finds he has a lot in common with them.
He has also had developed a new hobby. Chay had never liked fighting. He knows how to throw a punch and how to protect his head and that is about it. But he did really enjoy watching people spar. He had loved watching Porsche competing in martial arts when they were younger so it really should be no surprise when he starts watching the guards sparring.
The compound had an observation room that looked down into the gym. He'd been shown it when he was given a tour of the compound's public spaces but he has never seen anyone else in there other than some maids doing some routine cleaning. So he is a little surprised when he walks in and sees Pete, Arm, and Pol standing right by the window and quietly talking.
“What's going on?”
All three turn to look at him. Pete gives him a welcoming smile.
“Chay! How are you?”
“I'm fine, P'Pete. But seriously, what's going on?”
He can hear the sound of someone landing harshly on the mats. Arm looks back to the window and grimaces.
“Khun Kim is… breaking in the new recruits.”
There’s another loud thump, this time followed by a cry of pain.
“Breaking them in?”
Chay walks up to the window. When he looks down into the gym he sees Kim standing in the middle of the room surrounded by five body guards, all on the floor in one position or another. Even from far away Chay can tell that Kim is irritated.
“Stand up, all of you.”
Chay internally shivers at the tone of Kim’s voice. The guards all stand as fast as they can although it is obvious that they are all tired and hurting. Kim gives them a disapproving look.
“That was sloppy. It’s five to one and I took you down in under a minute. Again, and actually try this time.”
All the guards nod and get into position. Kim just stands in the middle of them, waiting for one of them to attack. Chay may not know much about fighting but he remembers something that Porsche always used to say. Whoever strikes first loses. The first guard moves, rushing Kim who easily flips the man onto his back. That sets things off, the other four guards all trying to attack at the same time. But the fight is over almost as soon as it began. Within a minute all five guards are back on the ground and Kim doesn’t have a single scratch on him.
“Pathetic. Get up, all of you!”
“He’s going really hard on them.”
Chay looks away from the gym and at the other in the room. All three of them are watching the scene with a sympathetic look. Pol looks at the other two.
“Khun Kim has always been brutal. Remember when it was us down there?”
The other two shiver at the memory. Chay gives them a confused look.
“He’s done this before.”
They all nod and Pete speaks up.
“Khun Kim has always tested out the new guards, at least since he was a teenager.”
“Why?”
“He’s the best fighter in the family, some would argue in the Thai underworld. Of course we all know that we could never beat him but he wants to test out the guards to make sure they are at least capable.”
Arm cuts in.
“We all came in in the same training group. Khun Kim was only fifteen at the time but I have never been beaten in a fight so fast. Although I feel like he definitely went harder on us than he is right now.”
Pol shakes his head.
“No, he’s being equally hard on them, if not more. You’re just remembering it being worse because we had to deal with Chan’s disappointment after.”
The three older men all let out a sad sigh at remembering Chan. They hear another round of bodies hitting the floor. Chay turns back to the gym just in time to see one guard stand up and take a step forward.
“Khun Kim, maybe we should take a break. All of us are tired and-”
“I don’t give a fuck if you are tired! How do you expect me to trust you to protect my family if you wimp out the second you get tired?!”
Chay’s eyes widen. He’s never heard Kim yell. Kim has always kept his voice steady, at least every time he was with Chay. Even when Kim was scolding him for almost taking that pill he hadn’t yelled. Chay actually looks directly at Kim for the first time since he came into the room. Kim was wearing a tight fitting black tanktop, again something new for Chay. The lack of sleeves allows Chay to see the variety of scars on his upper arms and shoulders, even from this far away. He had his long hair pulled back although there were a few stray pieces hanging in his face. Although it’s clear the guards have yet to touch him he is sweating, the gleam making his muscles more visible.
It takes a good few minutes for Chay to realize that he is ogling Kim. He takes a step back and shakes his head a little. He absolutely should not find this scene attractive in any way. Pol looks at him.
“Are you okay, Khun Chay? Your face is a little flushed.”
Chay touches his cheek and feels how warm it is.
“Uh yeah, it’s just a bit hot in here.”
Pol exchanges a look with Arm but before either of them could say anything their attention is pulled back to the gym.
“Get your asses up. The only way any of you are leaving this room is if I am satisfied with your performance or if you break your legs.”
Chay feels a tight feeling in his gut and takes another step back from the window.
“Excuse me.”
Chay pretty much runs out of the room and down the hall about thirty feet. He leans up against the wall and takes a few deep breaths. He doesn’t know what is wrong with him. He’s still mad at Kim, rightfully so after all he has put him through. And he has never liked people being violent. But something about Kim yelling at and beating on a bunch of guards absolutely did something for him.
Suddenly Chay hears someone clear their throat and he jumps when he sees Pete standing about three feet from him. He hadn’t even noticed him walking up to him.
“P’Pete, I’m sorry for running out so rudely.”
“It’s fine. But are you okay? You seem really flustered.”
Chay stays silent, not really sure how to explain that he ran from the room because he was afraid watching Kim beat the guards up would give him an erection. Pete watches him and Chay can tell that despite his silence he is figuring it out. He can see it in Pete’s eyes when he puts it together.
“Ah, I see.”
Chay starts to panic.
“It’s not like that, I’m not like that.”
“Chay, It’s okay.”
“It’s not! I hate violence and I shouldn’t-”
“Chay!”
Chay goes silent and lets Pete speak.
“Chay you have nothing to be ashamed of. Kim is an attractive man, we all have eyes and can see that. And seeing an attractive man getting all sweaty would make a lot of people flustered.”
“But it’s not just him being sweaty.”
Chay feels ashamed the second the words leave his mouth. Pete just gives him a reassuring look.
“I know. But trust me, it could be a lot worse.”
“How?”
Pete sighs and looks around before stepping closer.
“I once got hard watching Vegas pull someone’s teeth out.”
Chay’s eyes go wide.
“Oh…. wow.”
Pete quietly laughs.
“Yeah, I know, I have issues. But like I said, there is nothing to be ashamed of. I’m pretty sure the men of that family could do anything and make it hot.”
Chay laughs, glad to know that he wasn’t being judged.
“Thank you for not judging me.”
“Of course, you don’t have to thank me.”
Chay nods although he disagrees. He then sighs.
“I need to find something else to do for the afternoon. I don’t think I could go back in there.”
Pete hums in agreement. He then perks up.
“You’re good at video games, right?”
“I’m decent, why?”
Pete grins.
“Macau absolutely loves playing multiplayer games but both Vegas and I are horrible at them. I love the kid but he has become insufferable about winning. I think he needs a little humbling.”
Chay grins, seeing what Pete was suggesting. It’s been a while since he left the compound. And Porsche was saying he thought he and Macau would be friends. Plus, he really needed to put as much distance between himself and Kim as possible.
“That sounds like fun.”