Work Text:
The practice has ended.
Khun watched how others were already packing, folding their clothes and chatting with each other, trying to ignore the way some of them were looking over to him, but it didn’t matter. Adrenaline from the practice is still pumped through Khun, feeling alive.
Dance was what Khun loved.
Dancing with Earn was even better.
His heart was beating fast when he thought about the routine he and Earn worked hard.
Turn right, left, another left and lift.
Being lifted high made Khun feel like he could soar the sky – like he could become a dragon himself, biting on his lower lip as he felt the drum beat still settled deep within his chest, but then again, perhaps it wasn’t the rhythm of the drums before, but his own heart.
The temple courtyard was no longer busy.
Khun still didn’t change, the red tassels hanging from his pants as he slowly moved to the side, looking around because he was looking for only one person. With everyone leaving, it would give them the privacy to finally spend some time together.
Perhaps.
He was still here – Earn.
Khun knew he was still here because he had seen him a few moments ago – still needing to change himself, his hair was damp from sweat and Earn walked into the back, probably looking for Khun? His chest twisted at the thought and he slowly made it over to the side, slipping inside one of the rooms down the corridor.
It was a storage room.
There were many items scattered around – old drums, some of them already broken, dust gathering on the top of them. The smell of wood lingered in the air as Khun slipped into the storage room.
He and Earn were no strangers to that storage room.
It was all they had, little stolen moments like that in the storage room…
Khun waited.
Earn would be there, eventually, waiting for the coast to clear up a little bit and it truly didn’t take too long for Khun to hear footsteps coming closer and he peeked from the door and his eyes widened when he saw Earn. He couldn' t see his face, but it was him.
The outline of his shadow was his.
The sound of the footsteps belonged to Earn.
And just as the man passed by the door, Khun quickly grabbed his wrist and pulled him inside, locking the door right away and Earn yelped when he was suddenly dragged inside of the storage room, eyes wide, but his expression soon softened when he noticed who it was.
Khun.
Earn found himself trapped against the wall behind him, Khun looking up at him and Earn chuckled, gently cupping his face, his hands trembling with need because he had been missing Khun too much. With how everything had been hectic lately, the two of them barely had any time like this alone.
Dancing together was one thing, but this…
“Hia,” gasped Khun, voice trembling as he leaned closer and Earn sighed.
Both desperate, they didn’t waste any time.
Earn was desperate, he knew Khun was waiting for him at the storage room and he leaned in, crashing their lips together in a needy and desperate kiss. Khun placed his hands on top of Earn's shoulders, pressing his fingers firmly without his white shirt and he didn’t want to let go.
Earn gasped into the kiss and he melted into it completely.
Khun soon felt those warm and strong hands onto his waist, pulling him closer. Their bodies were pressed together, Earn needed to feel Khun as close as he couldn’t. They were in a hurry for more as Khun gasped when Earn kissed him again, pressing into him harder.
This was all they had.
Moments like this, stolen in a dusty storage room.
It was what kept Khun sane as he clung onto Earn, their kisses turning slower a little bit and he leaned up, going on his tiptoes and he kissed Earn even harder, desperate to feel more of him.
Behind the locked door, lips on lips, they could be together. For a moment, Khun could forget why the two of them weren't supposed to be together.
Earn kissed him again, deepening the kiss as he grabbed a handful of Khun’s hair at the back of his head and pressed him even closer, slowly turning them around, pressing Khun into the wall, trying not to knock anything down onto the floor, but they had been always careless when they tried to get a fix of each other.
Earn had ended up breaking quite a few of the old drums in there, but it didn’t matter. Earn gently brushed Khun’s hair back and he was so gentle. Khun gasped and slowly pulled away, grabbing onto Earn tighter because it wasn’t fair.
Why did Earn have to be so gentle?
It was what always made him unravel, but he loved it. He loved whenever Earn would hold him like he was precious.
“Hia,” panted Khun against Earn’s lips.
Earn only smiled, gently stroking his hair as he then leaned in to kiss him again, slowing down a little bit as he gave Khun a much longer kiss, the other feeling his knees trembling and he clung onto the older one.
It didn’t matter how many kisses the two of them shared so far, but Khun’s knees always felt weak when Earn kissed him like that. The kisses managed to make him stop overthinking, he forgot all about the looks and the gossip that was going around. It made him forget about the whole world being against the two of them. Like this, locked behind the door, it almost felt like it was possible.
That it could be so simple…
Khun let out a shaky breath and Earn pulled away, pressing their foreheads together as they both panted, trying to catch their breaths. Khun tucked a strand of hair behind Khun’s ear, the touch so gentle that it made Khun’s throat tighten a little bit and he gasped.
“Khun,” sighed Earn and that sound was Khun’s favourite. Earn was so gentle and he only smiled, leaning into the touch when he felt that large and soft palm resting against his cheek.
“Hia,” replied Khun, almost shy now.
The look on Khun’s face was troubled. Earn kissed him again, but the frown remained.
“Why look so sad?” asked Earn and Khun looked up, trying to avoid it, because it would be wasting time. They didn’t have much time, having to hide their relationship wasn’t easy, so… Khun didn’t waste any single moment.
Earn said it was possible for them to be together. Khun almost believed it. He wanted to believe it, but it wasn’t so simple.
“Nothing,” said Khun. “It’s nothing.”
“You’re a terrible liar,” said Earn and smiled. “You say one thing, but your eyes cannot hide what you feel.”
Khun swallowed thickly, shaking his head.
“Being with you like this,” whispered Khun and Earn gave him an eager nod. “It almost makes me think that I’m allowed to have you.”
Earn frowned and he slowly slid his hand down to Khun’s neck, his fingers slowly going under his chin, tipping his head back, so that he was now looking up at him. But, his eyes kept travelling around, he wouldn’t look at Earn because he was foolish for thinking like this.
“You are,” said Earn right away.
Khun laughed bitterly.
Earn felt the weight on his chest as well. He felt guilty because he knew just how much Khun was hurting. Having to hide their relationship wasn’t easy and if it was up to Earn, they wouldn’t hide it.
But, Khun insisted.
He always said that they needed more time. Khun didn’t want Earn to suffer because of him. Because the two of them weren’t supposed to belong together, Earn didn’t care as he had already made up his mind a long time ago. Ever since he laid his eyes on Khun for the very first time.
Khun belonged to him.
It didn’t matter how.
“I don’t know what-”
“Mm?” asked Earn.
“I mean it’s stupid – look at us. We are standing in the storage room,” whispered Khun and he shook his head. Earn deserved better. He was the one who chased after him first, Khun was the one who pursued him, so he felt like it was his fault for making Earn…
“Yes,” said Earn and looked around. “It’s pretty dusty here, but I don’t mind. I love you.”
Khun’s face heated up.
“Hia.”
Khun tried to scold him, but Earn only grinned and brought his face closer.
“You’re so cute,” sighed Earn and Khun looked down. “Won’t you tell me you love me too?”
Was Earn pouting?
“I do, but,” whispered Khun. “I wish this was easier. It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have-”
“No,” said Earn right away. “I’m not letting you do this. No.”
Earn’s voice was gentle and he was so soft, Khun biting on his lower lip and he sighed. Earn couldn’t bear to see the way Khun’s face twisted in pain and he swallowed.
“It doesn’t have to be so difficult,” said Earn.
“Your family on’t-”
“I don’t care what they-”
“Even if you say you love me, your family-”
“Khun,” said Earn softly. “How many times do I have to tell you?” he asked softly. “All that matters is you and me. Nothing else.”
Khun closed his eyes. Could it really be so easy? Perhaps, but… Wouldn’t Earn be risking it all for him? It didn't seem fair, he loved Earn too much to make him risk all of it.
But, he would be happy.
Earn choosing him…
Khun was done with pretending that it was enough for him. The little stolen moments weren't enough anymore, even if he wanted to believe that, but he was getting greedier. He wanted more. Every single time Earn put his hands upon him, Khun longed for more.
So, he pulled Earn closer and kissed him again.
The kiss was soft, but needy and Earn kissed his lips one final time before they parted again.
“Look,” said Earn. “I love you, not anyone else. I want you, Khun, mn?” he asked, gently holding his face and he brought his face closer. “Nothing else matters to me but you.”
Khun bit into his lower lip.
“Don’t you want to stop hiding and just be happy?” asked Earn and Khun held his breath, but he nodded because it was what he wanted.
“I don’t want you to regret-”
“Never, understood?” asked Earn. “I will never regret choosing you. My heart belongs to you.”
“But, I’m only a dog, I don’t…”
“Yeah?” asked Earn. “Then, how do you expect this dragon to soar in the skies if he doesn’t have his wings?” asked Earn and Khun’s eyes widened. “If I don’t have you, I have nothing. My wings are clipped without you in my life,” he said, desperate to make Khun understand.
Khun’s eyes welled up.
Could it really be so simple?
For them to be happy?
All the risks…
Khun wanted Earn.
“Do you not wish to be with me?”
Khun’s lower lip shook and he shuddered.
“More than anything,” whispered Khun.
“Then, let me take care of it,” said Earn. “I won’t let anyone decide how I should live my life.”
Khun felt a little spark of hope inside and he swallowed thickly as he leaned against the other one and he bit into his lower lip.
“Then,” said Khun. “Is it really okay? To be with you without hiding?”
“Yes,” said Earn and smiled. “I don’t care what others think, what matters is you and me, Khun. I will handle things with my father, I promise. I just.. I love you.”
Khun chewed on his lower lip and his fingers shook.
“Can… Can I really have this? Can I really-”
“Yes,” said Earn again and tears slipped down Khun’s cheeks. Earn made sure to wipe them all away.
“But, they-”
“I’ll take care of it. Have I ever lied to you?”
Khun thought about it.
“There was that once… you said you could cook, but you burned everything,” whispered Khun, voice small, but playful as he finally decided that it was enough of all of this. Hiding, pretending like it didn’t hurt, like he was satisfied with a little stolen moment like this.
Earn never lied to him.
Khun wanted to be happy.
Earn always claimed he was the happiest with him, so they belonged. Together.
No one else should have mattered.
Earn chuckled when he heard Khun and he shook his head, pressing his lips over his forehead and Khun looked up at him. Like that, leaning against the wall, looking up at him, his eyes full of hope, made Earn’s chest swell.
Yes.
He and Khun were going to be happy.
For once, he would put himself first.
Earn would have a long talk with his father later, not taking no for an answer, but right now his priority was getting to kiss his boyfriend again and for once, being locked in the storage room with Earn didn’t hurt anymore because Khun could finally see that he was allowed to have all of this.
Khun belonged with his hia Earn.