Work Text:
~♤
It wasn't the gunshot sound or impact that registered to Thee first. It was the wet sensation of his shirt clinging uncomfortably to his stomach. He looked down at the source. Damn he never regretted wearing a white shirt more than this.
The pain it didn't hit all at once. It started seeping in and settled to his bones as the adrenalin started to wear out. His legs gave out, knees painfully hitting the cold concrete floor of the warehouse, doubling over clutching his stomach as pain started to seep in like the blood on his shirt.
"Boss!" Mok’s voice was a distant, distorted roar. Through a hazy vision, Thee saw the man who shot him, crumpled on the floor. Mok's eyes widened when he saw his boss. He quickly abandoned the man and ran towards Thee.
"Boss, stay with me please" Mok panicked trying to stabilize Thee. He tried inspecting the wound and it was bad. He put extra pressure on it and called for help.
"Mission success the heir is dead"Rome's voice bursted over the intercom.
They came to Italy to handle one of the mafia gang's heir who's been continuously troubling not only their main mafia business but also Thee's perfume business. So Thee flew with Mok and his men to take care the heir along with Rome, obviously hiding this fact to his husband Peach.
"Khun Rome we need help here Khun Thee is Shot" Mok voiced through the intercom.
"Boss stay with me please" Mok shook Thee as he realised he's loosing consciousness.
"P- Peach he's going to be mad" Thee whispered before blankness slowly engulfed him.
Rome and other men arrived carrying Injured Khun Thee to the car with an urgency.
~♤
Its been 2 hours since Thee was rushed into emergency surgery. Mok and Rome didn't leave the waiting area outside the operation room. Mok held his head low, hands still stained with Thee's blood. Rome ran a comforting hand on his back, his face unreadable.
"I- I should have protected him I should have took the shot for him I don't know how I missed it" Mok said his voice swaying.
"Calm down Mok it's not your fault, don't say like that. P'Kian will be fine he's a fighter" Rome tried calming him down.
The sound of Mok's phone rang through the cold hospital hallway. It was Peach
Peachayarat, who has no idea that his husband is on a cold operating table, fighting for his life miles away from him. Ofcourse Mok can’t tell him that. So he attended the Phone, mentally preparing excuses.
"Hello Khun Mok what's happening. I've been calling P'Kian past 3 hours. But he isn't picking up. He said the meeting would be over by now." There was worry evident in his voice.
"K-Khun Peach the meeting is running late due to some business partners. But everything is fine. Khun Rome is also with him." Mok added so Peach may be in ease.
"I see, it's okay Khun Mok, please ask Your boss to call me as soon as the meeting is over" Peach added
"Sure Khun Peach" Mok replied Ending the call. He felt bad lying to Him but he has no other option right now. He hopes Khun Thee wakes up soon.
~♤
Its been six hours since Thee was wheeled into the operating room. Everyone is getting anxious. Their dad Mr Lee also rushed to the hospital hearing the situation.
The operating room opened and the doctor emerged. All three of them quickly got up anxiously.
"We've tried our best to stabilize him. He's lost a quiet significant amount of blood and the bullet hit his vital area of the stomach. The next 24 hours is crucial as he's not out of the woods yet" The doctor updated his situation to them.
"He'll be fine right" Mok asked innocently
"We're giving him the best care and there is high chance He'll improve. You should stay strong amidst this." The doctor replied and left, leaving the arsenies and Mok alone with their thoughts.
Their father, Rome and Mok visited Thee one by one. He lay there, hooked on to a bunch of machines and a oxygen mask breathing him life. Mok can’t help but let out a stray tear he's been holding all night.
"Please please be okay" Mok whispered looking at Thee's unconscious body.
Just as he exited the ICU, his phone lit up with Peach's name.
"Hello Khun Peach the meeting is still running late" Mok tried
"You're expecting me to believe that? Who does a meeting nonstop for 10 hours. Tell me the truth Mok, what's happening." Peach asked seriously.
Mok looked at Big boss and Rome, Mr lee signalled Mok to tell the truth...
"Khun Peach listen to me clearly without panicking" Mok started slowly.
"I'll send my men with Khun Thee's private jet, please come here we don't know what to do"Mok added.
"Wh- why you need me to come there Mok, is this some kind of surprise by your boss. Tell him I'm mad at him, tell him I'm not coming"Peach added trying to laugh
"Khun Peach we actually came here with Khun Rome to take care of a heir, and there was some complications, Khun- Khun Thee is shot" Mok breathed out
Those are the words Peach never wanted to hear in this lifetime. His world tilted in its axis
"M-Mok that's not funny." Peach stammered. "He's always fine. Give the phone to him let me speak with him I promise I won't scold him" He added frantically.
"The doctors are giving him the best care Khun Peach but he's still unconscious as he lost a lot of blood" Mok said. The doctor also said he's not out of the woods yet but Peach doesn't need to know that yet.
On the other end Peach's sob broke the silence. It made Rome and Mr lee look elsewhere.
"Khun Peach calm down you have to stay strong for him" Mok tried, his own tears threatening to fall.
"Mok- Mok prepare anything- anything to let me reach there fast please he- He'll be afraid if he wake up and didn't see me" Peach sobbed on the other line. Ms Natlada descended the stairs at this time. She understood that Peach knew the news.
"Peach" Ms Natlada called out slowly.
Peach started crying more when he saw her. She quickly crossed the distance between them and embraced him tightly. Peach started crying in her arms.
"Peach- Peach calm down He'll be fine. They're fighters and Kian he's the strongest" Ms Natlada tried hard to calm the crying boy in her arms.
"I- m scared mom" Peach replied trying to wipe his flowing tears.
"I can understand dear we'll go there okay" Ms Natlada replied wiping her own stray tear.
~♤
It was the worst flight ride ever. He felt sick to his stomach and his tears won't stop. If it wasn’t for Ms Natlada grounding him he would’ve been even worse.
They then boarded on a car sent by Rome and reached the hospital. Peach literally ran to the ICU block. He stopped taking a look at the situation. Mr Lee and Rome slumped on the chairs. Rome's clothes still dusty. He saw Mok pacing in the corridor, his clothes stained with blood, probably his husband's. The air smelled like durt and gunpowder. Peach hates it. His sob broke the silence. All three men just realised the presence of Peach in the room. The air shifted.
"Is that P'Kian's blood Mok?" Peach asked eyes not leaving his bloody shirt.
"Khun Peach" Mok tried
"Just tell me Mok" Peach raised his voice.
"Yes Khun Peach" Mok replied, his voice betraying him. He felt really incompetent.
"Wh- where was he shot?" Peach asked
"In the stomach Phi" Rome answered instead. They knew they can't hide anything more from him.
"Why- Just why he- he promised me he won't get hurt. He promised me his life is about musk and lavender scent. Not concrete and gunpowder" he screamed vulnerably
"P'Peach I'm so sorry" Rome don’t know why he's apologizing and Mok don't know why he's crying.
"I- I need to see him" Peach moved wiping his tears but Rome stopped him.
"The doctors are working on him now we need to wait" Rome replied
"But Mok said he's fine?" Peach asked innocently.
"He- The doctors said he's not out of the woods yet. I- I didn't tell that to you over the call. His blood pressure suddenly dropped. Its a code blue. The doctors are with him" Mok replied his voice giving out at the end.
Each word landed like a blow to Peach. He can’t take it more. He felt sick. He ran to the nearest washroom and emptied his stomach content. This news was too much to him.
Rome and Mok waited for him with a bottle of water. Peach took the bottle and drank everything in one go. He slowly walked over to the chairs outside the ICU and plopped down in one, near to where Mr Lee and Ms Natlada is seated. He didn't make a sound, didn't shout didn't yell. He silently sat with his eyes closed. Few tears still flowing down from them. Even though he didn't speak anything. Everyone knew something in him permanently broken today.
They've faced it, its a part of their life. They only felt bad that they couldn't protect Peach from this harsh reality of their world.
They waited silently in the cold hospital corridor for Thee to be okay.
~♤
Its been a couple of hours since they reached the hospital, since the doctor called code blue. Nobody spoke, Peach was still in the same place, eyes closed, toying with his wedding ring, mind racing with a lot of thoughts. He imagined a blood stained Thee, lying on a dusty ground. Was he scared? Was he alone? Did his men find him late? Was he feeling a lot of pain? Peach mind filled with a lot of unanswered questions.
And all he feels is pain. The faint tremor in his hands never subsiding.
His spiralling was interrupted by the sound of the ICU door opening. Peach opened his eyes and stood up so fast that it made him Dizzy. The arseni doctor emerged out with a nurse. Everyone waited anxiously to hear what the doctor had to say. The doctor who's a trusted person of arseni took in the presence of a new person in the room
"Are you Khun Thee's husband" The doctor asked
"Yes I am" Peach spoke, his voice hoarse.
Everyone saw the hesitation in the doctor's eyes. Peach realised his presence has something to do with it.
He desperately walked over and tugged his sleeves.
"Please say what happened before I loose my mind" Peach said desperation evident in his voice.
The doctor cleared his voice "As I already told he's not out of the woods yet. I will not lie to you. He had a internal bleeding and his heart stopped beating on the table. We needed to work to revive him but the blood loss is taking a toll on him. We stablized him. He's a fighter. The next 24 hours are crucial." The doctor finished and patted Peach's shoulder before walking away. The nurse behind him gave Peach a plastic bag which he realised was Thee's belongings. There was his watch, his wallet and his wedding ring.
Peach reached inside the bag and took the ring in his hands. It was uncomfortably sticky with drying blood.
The damn ring which Thee swore He'll never take off was now in Peach's hands covered in blood, possibly Thee's own.
It was the last straw for him.
Peach felt dizzy, the pain he felt wasn’t in his head. It feels like the bullet which hit Thee found its way and lodged itself in Peach's chest.
He didn't scream. He didn't even cry. The air simply left the room, leaving his lungs empty. The shouting of his family sounded like a distant murmur. The last thing he felt wasn't the impact of his knees on the cold tile, but the sharp edge of Thee's ring digging into his palm as he gripped it tight, refusing to let it go as the darkness engulfed him.
~♤
When Peach regained consciousness, the first thing he felt was the ring still in his clutched palm. Nobody dared to remove it. He slowly opened his eyes and was met with the harsh hospital fluorescent lights harassing his senses. He tried blinking away the bright spots. Someone stirred near him.
"P'Peach are you okay." It was Rome's voice. Another hand helped him sit up straight. He realised its mok.
"How long was I out" Peach asked voice raspy.
"Its been 2 hours Khun Peach" this time Mok answered.
"And P'Kian" he asked, desperately hoping that those 2 hours changed something.
"Nothing new Phi" Rome replied.
"I have to go- I want to be with him" Peach informed frantically. Trying to rip off the iv line from his arms.
"Let me call the nurse Phi please wait" Mok called for the nurse and removed his iv line. He desperately got of the bed, ring still in his hand His legs were jelly, his head was a mess but he doesn’t care. He was rushing to be by his husband's side. But before seeing him he needs to do one thing.....
The bathroom in the ER was too bright, the white tiles reflecting a harsh light that made Peach’s head throb. He didn't care. He was standing over the sink, the water running cold, ignoring the nurse who had told him he needed to rest.
In his hands was the ring. Peach looked like it personally hurt him. So he begin to scrub, with the paper towels and hospital soap, till his fingers burn. He scrubbed obsessively without leaving a spot.
"I put you on his finger, like a seal to my promise how dare you get bloody huh?" Peach was talking to the ring, because he's hating the silence thats currently engulfing him. Mok stood sentinel near the door having a eye over him.
He only stopped when the band reflected the light back, his fingertips skin peeling. He wiped off the ring in his own shirt, and clutched it hard.
"Take me to him Mok I need to see him with this ring on" Peach informed.
~♤
The nurse let Peach into the ICU room Thee is in the first thing he realised is the room is cold, too cold for his Thee's liking.
Peach tried to suppress his choked cry but failed terribly when the nurse opened the second door, and his eyes fell on his husband in the hospital bed. He slowly walked over to the side, pulled the uncomfortable hospital chair and slumped down. He didn't dare to make another sound. He knows his P'Kian doesn't like when he cries. He wiped his tears off hastily and took his hands carefully in his. It was cold and lifeless, pierced by tubes giving him life. He took his clean ring from his pocket and slid it slowly in his ring finger and kissed it gently, just like their wedding day months ago. He took a proper look at his husband. His sharp jaw had a bruise his face pale still handsome, was covered by a oxygen mask breathing him life. He's wearing a cheap hospital gown, Peach noticed.
"The material is so flimsy, its barely covering him and it doesn't have his name engraved he's going to be mad" Peach spoke to himself chuckling thinking of his husband.
Peach remember how his husband likes to listen to him talk so he started talking, about random things like how his day went. How his coffee tasted in the morning, how his work was tiring and how angry he was Thee didn't come home for dinner. The only reply he got was the steady beeping of machines.
"You know P'Kian, I was mad when you didn't come home for dinner yesterday. You promised you'll come, you promised we'll watch a movie soaking together in our bathtub. You also promised me you'll never take off the ring." "Thats three broken promises Khun Thee."
He leaned his forehead to their intertwined arm
A fresh tear escaping his eyes
"But I swear.... I swear I won't be mad at you when you wake up okay? I'll be by your side always, I'll never leave you in the bed alone in the morning, hell I'll even stay at your office when you ask me, I'll never go to any team dinners so you don't have to eat alone. Please please just wake up and come back to me" Peach's voice wavered at the end, he squeezed Thee's lifeless hands and cried silently when he didn't squeeze back.
~♤
Peach didn't realize falling asleep crying, but what he’s realising now is a slow movement of a hand in his. He jumped up straight and took a look at his husband's face and see his eyes fluttering. Peach scrambled up from his seat.
"P'Kian can you hear me does it hurt" Peach asked crying in relief
Thee signalled trying to speak something, the oxygen mask getting in his way. Peach slowly reached out and pulled the mask down for him to speak.
"I told you to never cry lookpeach, that's one broken promise from you too" Thee rasped out, breathing with difficulty. Peach let out a teary sigh of relief.
"Wait I'll call the doctor" Peach informed. Thee closed his eyes, a single tear flowing down.
~♤
The doctors rushed in to check on Thee and Peach was asked to wait outside. He took this moment to inform the others about the situation.
Mok silently cried in relief,Ms Natlada praying, Rome and Mr lee sighed in relief. They were interrupted by the doctor emerging out.
"Well he's out of danger. The recovery is going to be cruel but good news for now is that he's stable. We'll continue monitoring him" The doctor informed leaving the family in relief. They went in to check him out.
"Kiann you scared mum" Natlada said crying softly as soon as she laid her eyes on her son in the bed, weak but awake.
"Don't worry mae nothing will ever happen to the great Theerakit Kian Lee" Thee tried joking but voice still wavering. Natlada stepped forward and took him into her embrace. Mr Lee also stepped forward to rest a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"We were scared son" Mr lee said out loud showing his vulnerable side out.
"Aw why are you leaving me out"Rome sulked and stepped forward hugging Thee and their Mum together. Peach and Mok stood nearby looking at them, Thee's eyes landed on them.
Mok straightened up "Boss I'm- I'm really sorry I was supposed to look out for you always, I could have prevented all this" Mok uttered guilt weighing him down.
"Calm down Mok it's not your fault, never look down on yourself again" Thee consoled him.
They were all content but they noticed how Thee didn't look at Peach and how Peach didn't speak anything
Rome cleared his throat "Alright its been more than 24 hours now that Phi is okay can we all go change and rest"
"You all go and rest mom will be with Kian" Ms Natlada announced
"Its ok I'll stay with boss" Mok offered. Peach bit his lips figeting with his ring. This was noticed by both Rome and Mr Lee they made a silent agreement.
"You're the one who needs rest the most Mok we both fought nearly 100 men come with me please" Rome used the unresisatble tone to Mok
"Listen to Rome, Mok and Nat You should also come with me. Peach will take care of Kian" Mr Lee also chipped in. Peach looked up at them in anticipation. Everyone suddenly understood the situation.
"You can take care of him alone Peach?" Ms Natlada asked. Peach nodded
"Then lets leave for now and come back later, Take care P'Peach" Rome rushed Everyone out of the room. Now its just them in the room. Thee still refusing to make eye contact with Peach.
Peach walked forward and slumped in the chair facing Thee. Not a single word was exchanged between them. The silence killing both of them. Peach sighed his eyes burning, before he knew he was crying small sounds escaping from him. He felt the fight in him leave. Thee whipped his head fast in Peach's direction hearing the sound leaving from him. He felt his heart stop for the second time in the day.
"Lookpeach" Thee called out slowly.
"Go back to being silent if you have nothing to tell me" Peach spoke voice stern.
"Its not like that Lookpeach. I know I messed up I'm sorry" Thee spoke genuinely guilty. Peach didn't reply.
"Come here Lookpeach let me hold you I want my charger back" Thee asked vulnerable. Peach raised his head to look at his husband and instantly folded. He dragged his chair to sit closer to his bed and silently opened his arm, inviting him. Thee reached out and Peach hugged him gently not disturbing the bandages and wires.
"I'm sorry lookpeach please talk to me you were talking too much when I was unconscious and now I'm awake you're not talking to me" Thee was pouting.
"Did u actually hear everything" Peach asked looking down at the man in his arms.
"I heared you clearly, I just wanted to reply to everything you said to me. And when I heared you cry, I felt my heart stop-"
"Don't.... Don't complete the sentence, that word is banned from now on got it?" Peach uttered sternly.
"Were u scared lookpeach" Thee asked with his puppy eyes, still little dazy due to the meds.
"You'll never imagine how scared I was. I thought my husband was stuck in a very boring meeting and I'll pepper him kisses when he comes home. But what happened, you were actually bleeding your guts out and I didn't know. That was the worst part" Peach spoke his heart out.
"I'm fine now Lookpeach I won't leave you alone that easily I'm the one and only Theerakit Kian Lee" Thee tried joking
"Seriously P'Kian why did you lie. Next time tell me the truth and go please" Peach uttered seriously. Thee remained silent for a moment
"Peach, this side of my world is ugly, its blood and chaos and when I married you, all I wanted is to give you a normal lifestyle to my maximum ability. You are meant to be with cameras and lavender scents Peach. Not guns and blood. I thought- I thought I'm protecting you. But I understood I'm only leaving you alone in the dark." He squeezed Peach's arm in comfort.
"Next time I'll tell you everything I promise lookpeach"
Peach let out a watery chuckle wiping his tears.
"You're already in debt for three broken promises Khun Thee, if you break this one I'll surely throw away all your favourite silk robes" Peach playfully scolded. Thee laughed his wound still restricting his movements.
"Speaking of clothes what did they put me in, its more in between than what you wear and it feels like plastic. I don’t like it." Thee spoke in a uncomfortable expression.
"I exactly know you'll tell this. Don't worry P'Kian I'll tell them to prepare something for you, now rest." Peach pet his hair and tried to lay him down, but Thee only clung tighter.
"Don't let go lookpeach I've already stayed enough time without holding you" Thee pouted. Peach genuinely wondered how this Puppy is capable of killing people.
"I'm not going anywhere P'Kian you really need to lay down and sleep I'll hold your hands tightly how about that" Peach reassured
"Promise lookpeach"
"Promise P'Kian" Thee gave his signature smile and laid down on the bed with Peach's assistance. Peach as promised took Thee's hand in his.
"Does it hurt be honest" Peach asked with a difficulty.
"It hurts and its uncomfortable too but I'll be fine as long as I have you with me"
Peach smiled "Then you know I'll never leave. Lets make sure you're fine, we're fine forever."
Thee squeezed his hands. Peach stood up and kissed Thee's forehead gently.
"Sleep baby your charger is here" He started threading his hands in his hair lulling him to sleep. Thee slept with a smile in his face.
~♤
Thee was shifted to Thailand a couple of days after and was cared by the doctors and his family in the comfort of his own house. Recovery was a slow and painful process, but Peach stood by Thee, holding his hands and guiding him in every step as per his promise. He didn't have any complications and was heading on the right path to healing.
~♤
After a couple of months Everything slowly slipped into its place, the business running smooth. Mom and dad even took a vacation together. Mok, after a lot of assurance from both Thee and Peach was able to get rid of his guilt. He still stood by his side as his most trusted man, his friend. Rome was able to relax, focusing his concentration more on chasing Mok.
Thee was cleared by the doctor to start engaging in regular works and movement, and guess what Thee did as the first thing......
"This guy is very bad why is he always flirting with the main lead's man" Thee spoke frustrated.
Thee and Peach were soaking together in their bathtub. Peach holding Thee from the back and Thee comfortably resting his head in his husband's abs, their positions switched due to Thee's injury. The scar sat above his Hip bone, near the stomach, still pink and fresh but healing. He still feels terrified thinking of the day but scars do take time to heal.
"I made up for one more promise lookpeach." Thee tilted his head to hold Peach's eyes
"I told you to forget it Kian it's okay, just focus on recovering." Peach reassured gently.
"I made you cry lookpeach." Thee was still guilty.
"Scars takes time to heal P'Kian. We'll be okay" Peach spoke resting his head in Thee's shoulder. Thee quietly hummed getting comfortable in this position.
He knows scars take time to heal but when they heal they form a beautiful reminder of the pain, the endurance and the wisdom that is gained.
Thee and Peach felt a different kind of intimacy after all those fight, all those feverish nights were Thee work up in pain and Peach kissed away his pain.
Peach placed his hand over the scar, slowly caressing it. Thee rested his hands over Peach's hands, their wedding rings gleaming together.
"I love you P'Kian"
"I love you my Lookpeach"
Both of them smiled Thee looking at Peach with a unexplainable look in his face.
"Can I kiss you Lookpeach" Thee asked.
Peach responded by locking his lips with Thee. They shared a soft lazy kiss in the sanctuary of their Bathtub, under the lavender scented candles. Both were content, a assurance of a underlying love, a love that grows and a love that never let go of each other.
♤~Fin~♤