Work Text:
Pond started his car again and drove back to the company building, where concert practice was already happening. His schedule had been packed tight these days, one thing bleeding into the next without ever really stopping. His bag was already packed too—zipped, waiting by the door—for Khao Yai tomorrow. Another job. Another place. Another night not fully his own.
There was always somewhere else to be.
He had an event in the evening, then drove back to Central World to meet fans—with Phuwin.
It had been eight days since he last saw him.
Eight days since he last held him close.
Eight days since his body had remembered what it felt like to be without him.
Long enough for the absence to stop screaming and start settling—quiet, heavy—right in his chest.
Phuwin had come back to Bangkok yesterday. Pond knew that. He’d known the second Phuwin’s flight landed. And still, he hadn’t gotten a chance to see him. Exams were coming up. His schedule barely left him room to breathe, let alone think, let alone choose what he wanted.
And still—if it were up to him—he would’ve gone to Phuwin anyway. Tired, unprepared, consequences be damned.
Phuwin knew that too.
That was why he’d been the firm one this time—calm, serious, responsible in a way that always made Pond sigh but listen. Any rare free time Pond had needed to be spent studying, not running himself thinner for love.
Just a little longer, he had said.
We’ll see each other tomorrow.
That was how the fan gathering happened. They announced it only yesterday evening since it wasn’t an official meeting. Still, they both missed it—missed seeing their fans together, missed standing side by side again, sharing the same space like they used to.
What they didn’t expect was the crowd.
An insane one.
They’d known their fanbase had grown, sure—but this? This felt unreal. Faces everywhere. Voices overlapping. Phones raised. Lights flashing. It felt like half of Thailand had decided to show up all at once.
Too many. Too fast. Too loud.
And yet—through all of it—Pond’s eyes kept finding just one person.
After everything finally ended, Pond dropped his mom and grandma home first. They’d come to see his event, proud and glowing in that quiet, grounding way that always reminded him where he came from. Tonight, though, he wouldn’t be going back to his own place.
Tonight, he’d be staying at Phuwin’s condo.
That was Phuwin’s promise.
So he could “make him study.”
The excuse shouldn’t have mattered—but it did. It made Pond smile like an idiot the entire drive. He missed Phuwin so badly that he’d barely held it together in front of the fans. He’d seen him only an hour ago—close enough to touch, close enough to feel—but not enough to hold.
And already, he couldn’t wait to see him again.
Pond was in the middle of dance practice when someone entered the room. He glanced up at the mirror without thinking—and then froze.
Because there he was.
Dark eyes. Familiar posture. That presence Pond felt even before he saw it—looking straight at him.
Just like that, his focus slipped.
He missed a step. Then another. His timing went half a beat off, his body still moving but his mind already gone, already pulled toward the person who had quietly taken over his entire gravity.
Joong noticed. Of course he did. He watched for a moment longer, then let out a soft sigh—one that said yeah, okay, I get it—and decided to call it a night.
They got into Pond’s car. Pond went unusually quiet, hands steady on the wheel, eyes fixed forward like he was afraid that if he looked over, he’d lose whatever control he had left.
Phuwin noticed immediately.
“Aren’t you going to say anything?” he asked.
“What do you want me to say?” Pond replied, still not looking. Phuwin laughed softly, shaking his head.
“Why are you acting like you’re seeing me for the first time?”
“Because you keep looking at me,” Pond said. “It’s distracting.”
That only made Phuwin laugh more.
Pond’s left hand slid over, instinctive, and hooked around Phuwin’s fingers. Casual. Familiar. Like it had always lived there. He kept his eyes on the road, but his thumb traced slow circles over Phuwin’s knuckles—unthinking, muscle memory doing what his heart wanted.
He lifted their hands briefly, pressed a quick kiss there, then put them back down like it meant nothing.
It meant everything.
“Focus,” Phuwin said, trying—and failing—to sound serious. “I don’t want to die yet.”
He leaned back into his seat, hoping the darkness would hide his face. Pond smiled.
“That doesn’t work anymore,” he said. “I can see it.”
“See what?”
“Your face,” Pond replied. “And your hand. Both red.”
Phuwin yanked his hand away. “Stop it.”
damn.
Phuwin kicked off his shoes and placed them neatly in the rack before turning on the lights. The condo looked exactly like he remembered—clean, warm, lived-in. It had been weeks since he’d last been here, but it still shone. His mom had definitely been here.
Pond stepped in behind him, dropping his phone on the table with a soft thud.
Before the sound even finished echoing, Phuwin grabbed Pond’s left hand and pulled him in—fast, sudden—into a hug that felt like he’d been holding his breath all evening just to do this.
Their bodies pressed together instinctively. Phuwin wrapped his arms around Pond tight, like if he didn’t, the moment might slip away. Pond smiled into the hug, no hesitation, arms sliding around Phuwin’s back, holding him just as close.
“What happened to you so suddenly?” Pond asked softly.
“I missed you,” Phuwin sighed into his shoulder—body surrounded by Pond’s scent, by Pond’s warmth, by just Pond.
“But you refused to see me yesterday,” Pond said, and even without looking, Phuwin could hear the pout.
Phuwin nuzzled into his shoulder, fingers threading through his hair.
“Don’t start again, please,” he murmured. “You needed time to study. If you didn’t use it yesterday, you wouldn’t have any today either. I promise I’ll help you finish your degree.”
Pond loosened the hug just enough to cup Phuwin’s face in both hands. He pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, then looked into those dark, familiar eyes—eyes that always felt like home.
“Missed you too,” he said quietly.
Phuwin exhaled, slow and warm, smiling. “Yeah. I know.”
He hugged Pond again—tighter this time—like he wanted the world to shrink down until it was only them.
They stayed like that. Still. Close. Breathing each other in.
Phuwin chuckled softly against Pond’s shoulder. Pond felt it immediately.
“What?” he asked.
“It’s just…” Phuwin smiled to himself. “I dreamt of this. A few days ago. Just… us. Holding each other like this.”
Pond went still for half a second.
Then, instead of answering, he gently shifted backward, pulling them both down onto the wide sofa. Phuwin barely had time to react before he landed on top of Pond, laughter escaping in small bursts between breaths.
“You did that on purpose,” Phuwin said, voice muffled but teasing.
“Obviously,” Pond grinned.
Phuwin adjusted until it felt right—until his body settled like it already knew this place. He tucked himself closer, arms snug around Pond, burying his face into the crook of his neck.
Pond’s heartbeat was steady beneath him. Calm. Familiar. Phuwin focused on it without thinking.
Pond’s hand moved once, slow and grounding, pressing gently against his back.
“Today was insane,” Phuwin murmured. “I didn’t think that many people would come just to see us.”
“Same,” Pond laughed softly. “But… I’m really happy.”
Phuwin lifted his head. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m happy too,” Phuwin said. “And thank you. For staying with me. Through the hard parts.”
Pond’s hand tightened slightly.
“Always.”
There was a beat of silence—comfortable and full—before Pond spoke again, slower this time, like he was choosing every word.
“I know you hate showing things like this to the world,” he said. “But part of me feels like… I want to propose to you in front of our fans. I don’t know. I just feel like they should witness that moment.”
The room went still. Not tense—just quiet.
Phuwin stared at him for a moment, heart thudding a little faster, warmth warmth and panic and longing all at once.
He actually thought about that? He imagined it?
“Phi Pond?”
When Pond finally looked at him, realisation hit all at once.
“Uh—ha, no—don’t—” he rushed out, words tripping over each other. “I mean, I’m sorry. I didn’t say it because I’m planning to propose soon. We still have things to do before that. I just meant… when the time comes, if I ever do, I want it to be like that.”
Pond finished his whole explanation, convinced he’d cleared the mess. But when he looked at Phuwin again, the expression hadn’t changed.
They were both red now.
“W-why are you looking at me like that?” Pond asked, suddenly unsure. “Did I say something wrong? Or you don’t—”
“You think about me,” Phuwin interrupted softly, “to the point where you imagine proposing to me one day?”
The look on Phuwin’s face in that moment—open, stunned, warm—was something Pond knew he’d want to remember forever. Sure, they’d had deep conversations before—but never about this. Never about the kind of future where they became one. So it felt strange to Phuwin, hearing Pond talk about it so casually, like it was the simplest thing in the world.
“Of course,” Pond said. “You’re the person I love.”
“But what if we don’t make it to that point?” Phuwin asked. He didn’t blink, like he was trying to take in every emotion Pond was letting show.
Pond took a breath. “I don’t know. Maybe… maybe not.” He paused, then continued, quieter but certain. “Because right now, you’re the person I want to spend my whole life with. You’re that person for me, Phu. I’ve never had anyone like you.” He looked at him, steady.
“So in this lifetime, if I ever get down on one knee, it would only be for you, Phu.”
Phuwin took a long, quiet look at Pond for a few seconds. Not because there was nothing to say—it was because there was too much, too many feelings he couldn’t put into words.
Then he leaned in and kissed him. Slow, deliberate, like he was memorizing every curve, every warmth of Pond’s lips. His hands rested lightly on Pond’s shoulders, steadying him, while his lips pressed softly, lingering, tasting, learning.
Pond smiled into the kiss, small and sure, and Phuwin tilted his head slightly, deepening it just enough, letting their breaths mingle. Every movement was careful, a conversation without words. Pond’s hand moved to Phuwin’s cheek, feeling the heat, the quiet tremble beneath the skin. That’s when he felt it—tears slipping down Phuwin’s face. Pond pulled back immediately, even as Phuwin chased the kiss, whining softly.
“Phu? What’s wrong?” Pond asked, his voice gentle, laced with concern. Phuwin looked at him, new tears slipping through his lashes.
“I just… I don’t know what to say,” he admitted. “Should I say yes? Should I confess back? Or do you even have any idea that you just… unofficially proposed to me right here, on this sofa, in my condo—like this—on a random Friday?”
Pond threw his head back and laughed, and Phuwin started lightly hitting his chest.
“Stop laughing like an idiot,” Phuwin said, sniffling, now thoroughly embarrassed. Pond took hold of the hand Phuwin had been hitting, leaned in, and pressed soft kisses to both of his eyes before resting his forehead against Phuwin’s.
“Can we move to the bedroom already?” Phuwin’s voice made Pond laugh again.
“I’d prefer hearing your answer first, though,” Pond said in a teasing tone, smirking. Phuwin wanted nothing more than to smack that handsome face.
“Stop that and come with me before I get a crazy idea about what I’m gonna do with you tonight,” Phuwin said, rolling his eyes. He’d had enough embarrassment for one night.
“Aren’t you gonna take a shower first?” Pond raised an eyebrow as Phuwin got off the bed—because he always needed a shower before starting something. That was his Phuwin.
“No. We’re going to make the most of the time we have. Come on.” Pond’s mouth gaped as Phuwin said it. Damn, Chiang Mai really had changed him.
Phuwin grabbed Pond’s hand, pulling him off the sofa—and Pond followed, wrapping his arms around Phuwin’s back, burying his face in his neck like the puppy he was. Hearts light, laughter lingering in the air, the night still young around them. All he knew was that he was falling for Phuwin more every day.