Work Text:
When Mok woke up, his head was pounding in pain.
He soon realized that he couldn’t move.
Mok had been tied up to what seemed to be a chair, with harsh ropes scratching the skin of his wrists and ankles as he tried to wriggle free.
Opening his eyes was a struggle. The soft fabric tied around his head worked as a perfect blindfold, leaving Mok in darkness. The air was cold and humid, and no sound came from around him: he must be underground and alone. He couldn’t feel the weight of his gun hanging from his belt, nor any other weapon usually hidden in his clothes.
No panic. Mok had been trained for this.
He wriggled his wrists through the pain, trying to loosen the tight rope around them. His fingertips brushed against it, hoping to understand the knot before attempting to untie it.
Recalling his last memory was a struggle, but Mok eventually got it: dinner at Khun Thee’s mansion, after his shift had ended. Khun Thee had invited Khun Peach to spend the night. Mok couldn’t remember noticing anything unusual or outside of Khun Thee’s usual routine. Every other thought felt fogged. Slow. Confused.
Khun Thee... Where was he right now? Did something happen to him? Did Mok fail at his only job: protecting his boss? And what about Khun Peach? But if it was Khun Thee that they had been after, why was Mok still alive?
His head was spinning, to the point where he felt nauseous. Every further attempt at reasoning resulted in a sharp pain in his temples.
Fuck. Mok must’ve been drugged.
He drew a big breath in.
Keeping clearheaded was a priority. He had to untie the knots, remove the blindfold, hide behind the door, and attack whoever was keeping him there. Steal a gun. Find Khun Thee.
Focus, Mok… You have to…
Creak…!
A shrill sound broke the silence.
Mok flinched. His heart pounded hard in his chest. A shiver ran down his spine.
Then the bang of a door pushed closed. The jingle of dangling keys and the click of a lock. The sound of steps approaching, along with a voice, echoed in the desolation of the room.
“You’re up, aren’t you? I thought I could stare at your pretty sleeping face some more,” the stranger sighed. “That’s a pity”.
Stranger? No, that wasn’t it…
Was Mok’s brain messing with him? Why did that voice sound exactly like…?
“Khun Rome…?” Mok muttered.
A warm hand came to cup Mok’s cheek. A thumb gently brushed over it, and it felt familiar.
“Have you missed me? We haven’t seen each other in almost a year.”
“…What’s… going on?”
The blindfold was untied from behind his head. Mok squinted, trying to adjust to the faint light in the room.
Even though his vision was fogged, he could clearly recognize Rome, crouched in front of him.
Rome? It didn’t make sense…
“Good morning, phi.” Rome’s smile looked as kind as usual, even under such disturbing circumstances. He ran his fingers through Mok’s hair, then gently patted his head. “Don’t be scared, it’s just me. Do you need some water?”
Mok took the chance to look around. He tried his best to focus his tired eyes: the only source of light was coming from underneath a wooden door. No windows. He still had his uniform on, but none of his weapons.
Busy trying to make sense of the situation, Mok didn’t answer the question. Rome offered him a sip of water from a plastic bottle anyway, and it was like heaven for Mok’s dry mouth.
Still, his body heaved, and his eyes struggled to stay open.
“…Where’s Khun Thee?” Mok finally managed, out of breath. He felt like he could pass out again in a matter of minutes. No, Mok had to keep a clear head. He had to stay conscious, otherwise…
“P’Kian?” Rome raised his eyebrows and chuckled, as if that question was funny to him. “He’s probably desperately looking for you right now” he said, eyes focused on screwing the bottle’s cap back on, before they were on Mok again.
“What… do you need me for?”
Rome shrugged. “I told P’Kian what I wanted, but he just didn’t listen. So, I took the matter into my own hands.”
Mok furrowed his brows. “I… I don’t understand.”
“There’s nothing you need to understand, P’Mok. You’re here with me, finally. Isn’t that what we wanted?”
Mok’s eyes widened.
“Not like this. Let me go.” He struggled against the ropes. He could free himself, but then what? Rome didn’t seem like he would let go of him that easily. Other than that, Mok couldn’t even lay a finger on his boss’ little brother.
“Hey, relax. I’m not going to hurt you.”
“I said… let me go!” Mok panted.
“I’m doing this for you, ok? P’Kian is using you as his human shield. Last time you even got shot!” Rome raised his voice, and the sudden change of tone made Mok’s head hurt even more. Still confused, Mok vaguely remembered what Rome was talking about. A few weeks prior, Mok had found himself in a crossfire trying to protect Khun Thee’s life. But that was part of job, something Mok had agreed to and Rome couldn’t seem to accept.
Rome inhaled, then continued: “How could I have lived if something had happened to you? I know you’re loyal to my brother, but can’t you stay with me? You’re safer here. Here with me.”
“I was just… doing my job! That’s my job, Khun Rome…”
“You don’t get it, P’Mok… You really don’t, huh?” Rome sounded exactly like the spoiled kid he met years before, whining whenever he didn’t get what he wanted. Mok realized Rome was now old enough not to ask for permission. “It’s not like you have a choice. I chose this for you. I know what’s best. Can’t you trust me just this once?”
Mok stopped trying to reason with Rome. He remembered Rome had fought with his family on the matter, lashing out at them like never before. Rome had invited Mok to run away together, where they could love each other away from rules, risks and responsibilities. Mok had to decline. That just wasn’t possible: Mok knew that their different duties were meant to keep them distant from each other. It was painful, but they had to accept that. Even though he knew Rome was stubborn, Mok couldn’t imagine he’d go to that extent.
Mok just kept on aimlessly pulling on the ropes as they harshly rubbed against his wrists. Mok had the impression that with every small movement, his body was getting closer to collapsing.
“Stop struggling, Mok. You don’t have enough energy right now. You’re only hurting yourself.” Rome’s voice was gentle again as he put his hands on Mok’s shoulders. “The drugs are still circulating in your body. You should rest. When was the last time my brother let you rest properly?”
“I… I don’t want to rest… I want to…” Mok muttered, his eyes struggling to keep open.
Rome’s hands now cupped Mok’s cheeks. That kind of touch, usually familiar and loving, was enough to calm him down. “Shh, P’Mok. Stop resisting, please. It’ll be ok soon, I promise”.
Mok looked into Rome’s dark eyes, finding kindness mixed with something darker, more sinister. Rome probably knew what he was doing was wrong. He knew that as soon as his family found out what he’d done, the consequences would be too big for him to bear.
Mok didn’t want that for Rome. He wanted him to become the successful leader he was meant to be. Just knowing Rome was fine and out of danger was enough for Mok to keep living peacefully. Mok would have supported him from afar and loved him in silence, helped him get out of trouble just like when Rome was a kid. But this time, Mok couldn’t pull them both out of the mess Rome had created for them.
“How about I untie you and let you lie in bed?” Rome asked, as he undid the knots restraining Mok’s legs. “…I don’t think you have enough strength to fight back anyway,” Rome muttered to himself, a sadistic grin appearing on his face.
Mok, now unresponsive, had stopped his pointless fighting. He just silently enjoyed the feeling of his limbs being freed, blood flowing again to his hands and feet. He weakly wriggled them out. That’s when he realized the rope burns, stinging like a million needles. Rome was right, Mok was really hurting himself. Resisting only resulted in pain.
Even now that he had the chance, Mok knew he couldn’t fight back. But even if he had been able to, he could’ve never hurt Khun Rome. Not even in exchange for his own freedom. Not in a million years. Mok could’ve never hurt Khun Thee’s family, nor the man he loved. Rome probably knew that as well.
In his current state, Mok couldn’t fight neither the drugs nor Rome.
So he just let Rome untie him and walk him to a small bed. There, Rome gently pushed him to lie down.
Rome grabbed Mok’s left wrist, handcuffed it to the bed, then hung the key on a small hook on the other side of the room, before coming back to him. Mok stared at it, shining in the distance.
“Ask me if you’re hungry or need to go to the bathroom, ok? Ask me for anything you need. I’ll take care of you, phi.”
Mok barely nodded, his eyes already fluttering shut, as Rome joined him on the bed.
Mok’s head was pounding in a pain so strong it hurt to do anything else but...
No. If he closed his eyes right now, he would…
“Are you comfortable? Come on, close your pretty eyes now.” Rome stared at Mok intently, until he complied. Then Rome hugged him from behind, playing with the sweaty strands of Mok’s hair that stuck to his forehead.
“You know, I own a private island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. We’ll sail there on my yacht. Tomorrow.” Rome whispered. His warm, soft breath tickled Mok’s neck as he spoke. “I have it all planned out. Sadly, I’ll have to keep you tied up until we arrive. I’m sorry about that, but I don’t want you doing anything stupid. Otherwise, you know I’ll have to drug you again, and we don’t want that.” Rome’s hand now softly brushed along Mok’s arm, and it felt so… soothing. Like Mok could just stop his pointless fighting and surrender. Surrender to sleep and to Rome. “I really hope you’ll comply, P’Mok. You’re usually so good at following orders, aren’t you?”
Mok nodded before he even realized it.
Yes, he was. He couldn’t fail at such a simple order. He just had to stay put. Let Rome handle the rest. It was easier that way. It was the only way.
Rome chuckled, content.
“And then in a few days, you’ll wake up, and you’ll be on a heavenly beach with me in the middle of nowhere. White sand, palm trees, tropical fruits… Take it as a well-deserved vacation. We’ll have plenty of time to enjoy ourselves before P’Kian manages to find you. Until then, you’re mine”.
There was so much Mok would’ve liked to tell Rome, but no coherent thought formed in his empty head.
“I hope you’ll forgive me for this. I love you, P’Mok.”
That was the last thing Mok heard before everything faded away…
The first thing Mok heard as he woke up again was the murmuring sound of waves.