#sornthat

It hadn’t even been a nice one, with That sneering and calling him a “stray dog” as if he wasn’t the one running around with too much free time to fight random people.

That’s friends had snickered as they’d stood behind him, cornering Sorn together because of reasons that didn’t matter anymore. Probably hadn’t mattered back then, except that something had made them want to target the younger boy.

“You got pet names for each other already? You into the kid, That?”

“Shut up!”, That had hissed while Sorn had kept as quiet as possible, not wanting any attention.

That had looked at him, fury behind his eyes and Sorn had swallowed.

Fuck.

He hated getting new bruises. It was always so difficult to hide the...

“What are you doing here?”

The voice had surprised them all, making That and his boys instantly step back with a frown and even more when the voice was joined by the man in question, a rather broody, dangerous one, tall and massive, his brows like a cloud, promising pain and violence and nothing else.

“You again?”

This guy had been talking to That, Sorn had been sure, and That hadn’t been happy about that. At all.

So much, in fact, he’d taken off with a curse on his lips, leaving Sorn standing with this criminal next to him.

A criminal who hopefully wouldn’t threaten him now.

Sorn almost wished That back. Almost.

The mountain had stepped closer, one heavy hand landing on Sorn’s shoulder.

“Was he bothering you?”

Sorn had nodded because what else had it been.

“Just a bit of threatening and beating me up, Sir.”

The “Sir” hadn’t been part of the plan, but it had come out nonetheless. Out of fear or respect, he hadn’t known, because the hand had still been heavy on his shoulder.

The guy had nodded in response, his intense brows drawing even closer together while he’d apparently been thinking ... about something.

Finally, he’d let go of Sorn with a sharp pat to his back.

“I’ll have a talk with the brat. Take care.”

And then he’d left, leaving Sorn with a very absurd sense of existence and reality. As if this hadn’t happened right now. As if this was a fever dream he was having while he had actually been beaten up already.

‘Stray dog’, That had called him and the words echoed in Sorn’s mind on his way home, not leaving him alone until he had fallen asleep.

~~~

“Hey, Goldie!”

Sorn froze, his mind reeling with the combination of those words and this voice, which didn’t fit. At all.

That appeared by his side almost out of breath. Just a tiny bit, maybe. As if he’d hurried to reach him before he could enter the bus.

They weren’t friends yet, just ... acquaintances, really. At least that was what Sorn guessed That would say. Sorn was one to find new friends easily and helping That had made him think of the man as an almost friend.

Still, being called ‘Goldie’ was a new one and came out of nowhere.

Better than ‘Stray dog’ though.

“Goldie?”, he asked dumbfounded, when That smirked up at him.

That rolled his eyes and patted Sorn’s shoulder as if he was pitying him for not understanding.

“Like a Golden Retriever, you know?”

But Sorn didn’t, not really. And so he stared, ignoring the way That’s hand stayed at his shoulder, unbelievable heat soaking through his shirt. So, not only his temperament was fiery, was it?

That rolled his eyes once more: “The way you follow this Bun guy? You’d do anything if he asked, wouldn’t you?”

Sorn opened his mouth because this was ridiculous. Just because he admired the man and had realised he was the best option to save Nan? This ... really ... what?!

“Sounds like you’re jealous.”

Both turned at the voice interrupting them and Sorn stared at a new guest on the scene. If he hadn’t known better, he would have believed That was this guy’s brother. Long lost or not, but the way their smirk seemed to be the same was worrisome.

That jumped back, his hand leaving Sorn with a burning mark on his shoulder, which he didn’t dare to rub yet.

“Tan!”

This Tan strolled around the corner with such a shit-eating grin, Sorn wondered why his cheeks didn’t hurt from restraining it. Or maybe they did but he was used to it.

Also, wasn’t this the man who followed Doctor Bun around?

Sorn was suspicious.

“I’m not jealous!”, That huffed and Sorn couldn’t help the smile when he saw the way That’s shoulders hunched and something akin to a blush seemed to spread across his neck. Or maybe he was only imagining it, but he wondered if That’s cheeks would be hotter if he’d touch them.

Which now meant that he wanted to touch them.

Just for science, of course.

“Sure?”, now That and Tan were standing in front of each other, like siblings fighting, “Because pet names aren’t for everyone, are they?”

That shot a quick glance to Sorn and Sorn wanted to ask what it meant, the stressed gaze and wide eyes, but the next second, That was dragging Tan away, despite his protests about how he had plans and was here for a reason.

‘Goldie’, Sorn frowned and finally rubbed the spot at his shoulder with his thumb. What a dumb comparison. Although Golden Retrievers were cute for sure.

But that probably wasn’t what That had had in mind.

~~~

“My teddy bear”, That murmured and Sorn felt his face heat up in record time and for multiple reasons.

First of all because That’s head was in Sorn’s lap, where he’d decided to take his post-rescue-nap.

Second, Bun and Tan were in the room and they had heard everything and they were definitely watching. He didn’t even dare to look up, but he knew. He simply knew and his neck was starting to heat up, making him wish to rub it but not daring to.

No part of this situation made his heart calm down in any way. Especially not That saying it half asleep and barely conscious, with his head in Sorn’s lap.

His head. In Sorn’s lap.

If anyone had overlooked this bit.

No, none of those facts calmed down his embarrassed heart or racing pulse.

Why had the very first calm moment after running away to be this? Why had That to do this to him? As if he hadn’t been stressed out over the last few days enough for a lifetime?

This guy really should take pity on him and let him calm down. Just for one evening, please. Just one!

But opposite to his racing thoughts, Sorn didn’t do anything about it, his fingers only freezing while he was turning a page, the letters dancing in front of his eyes.

He wanted to ask ‘What?’ and ‘Why?’ and ‘What the fuck?’ but instead he stared at the man in his lap, a content smile on his lips and his eyes closed.

The lack of a reaction didn’t even seem to bother That, because he proceeded to cuddle closer, somehow and hold on to Sorn’s shirt with one of his hands.

As if he was afraid Sorn would go away suddenly.

As if he could vanish.

Sorn didn’t know what to make of it.

Or how to calm his stumbling heart.

Instead, he continued to stare at the book in his hand, ignoring the human heating pad curling itself around him as well as Bun’s and Tan’s stares and chuckles and failing miserably at both tasks.

And That, the lucky bastard?

Slept till the morning without a worry in his thoughts.

Sorn hated him.

A bit.

A tiny bit.

They had saved each other after all.

~~~

“Babe, come on! It’s not so bad!”

Nan snorted and Sorn felt like falling.

Except, he was actually falling, thanks to stumbling over his own feet while they’d been walking to That’s bike and then crashing promptly to the floor, an ungraceful mess with his limbs everywhere.

“Sorn!”

That was instantly by his side, worry written all over his face as if this was one of the worst situations he’d ever been in. No wonder Nan was hollering next to them.

“Sorn? Really? So, he’s not Babe anymore?”

That’s eyes widened, which Sorn could see perfectly clear right in front of him and he froze. For a split second. Then, he helped Sorn to get up, even though Sorn wished him far away right now. About ten centimetres maybe. Or half a metre, so be sure. Just to calm himself down, of course.

“Shut up.”

That tried to be calm, but there was more heat behind those words than was necessary.

Once again, Sorn wondered how much would be stored in those cheeks right now. Or this neck.

Luckily, his hands were busy brushing off the dirt from his trousers.

“Woah, calm down”, Nan said with held up hands, but her grin was teasing and Sorn knew she wouldn’t forget this slip easily. She was, after all, way too smart for that. She and her almost medical degree.

“I was just joking”, Nan said, even though no one believed her and then turned, “Lunch is on me, losers!”

That threw a short and shy look towards Sorn from below, making him seem even more adorable than usual. Adorable and approachable and before Sorn could even overthink, he’d lifted his hand and brushed his fingers against That’s neck, the heat seeping into his own skin, never to leave again.

That stopped in his tracks and Sorn did too but kept his hand where it was, not daring to even breathe as he stared and wondered and feared and ...

With a cough, That turned towards Nan again, avoiding Sorn’s gaze while also pressing back, right into Sorn’s hand.

He could feel the shivers running down the other man’s back and he wished he could catch them and treasure them, keep them in his hands, his heart.

For the rest of lunch, That barely looked him in the eyes, but below the table, their legs were pressed together, the heat seeping into their veins with no way to stop.

Nan never stopped smiling this day.

~~~

Sorn was moping, there was no other word for it. He was moping and he was being ignored.

That had been hit on during their night out and was currently bickering with Tan who, of course, had the time of his life with this fact and the knowledge that That had reacted like a panicking chicken, staring at the woman with wide eyes and nothing to say.

Sorn wasn’t even moping because of that.

He was moping because That had definitely been blushing and staring at her with eyes Sorn knew too well.

Knew from numerous times That had watched him or looked at him when he thought Sorn wouldn’t see or when he forgot or ... Sorn had believed it was something special, okay? He’d believed the casual touches, the tender glances and desperate words had meant something.

He’d imagined and he’d wondered and he’d waited.

All of it just to see That react exactly the same way to a random woman.

Okay, maybe not exactly the same way, because it couldn’t be, could it?

Sorn was special after all, wasn’t he?

If only because of their shared history, their saving-each-other-practices and the way That had become more of a family than Sorn had ever had.

Sorn curled his hands into fists and didn’t even stop when he realised it. When he realised how violently he was suddenly reacting.

Suddenly, ha ...

“I’m not into her, okay?!”

That sounded desperate by now and Sorn wanted to save him somehow, wanted to believe him. But also ask him if it was true. If there was nothing and if that meant that there was also nothing between them and ...

Fuck it.

Fuck it all and fuck That especially. And Tan.

Sorn has had enough and he wouldn’t endure this even a second longer.

With two short strides, he was next to That and Tan and before either of them could react, he took That’s hand into his own.

As if he was confident.

As if he was sure.

But maybe he was, right now, right here.

“He’s not into her”, he said, almost convinced himself, “Right, my love?”

For once, it wasn’t Sorn who froze on the spot.

For once, it was the world that froze and Sorn was the only one moving and breathing, his own heat seeping into That’s cold fingers, slack in his grip.

There was no thought going through That’s mind right now, Sorn was sure, as he watched the man stare at him with his mouth agape, no sound to be heard.

Tan, who’d been in the process of lifting his hand, was equally stunned and completely lost in his tracks.

Even if all would go to shit, Sorn knew, he would forever have this moment to remember.

Right?

“Right?”, he squeezed That’s hand some more and looked at him as if he could pull an answer out of this man. As if this man was even able to reac...

As Sorn was being pulled into a crushing kiss, his lips burning from the sensation, his soul aflame and his hands occupied with pulling That closer, he heard Tan’s laughter like a distant echo in his ears.

Sorn didn’t care.

Sorn didn’t care because he had That’s lips against his own, That’s hands at his back and neck and because he didn’t want to leave this moment and place ever again.

~~~

“Told you so”, Tan laughed and Bun and Nan handed him some bills, grumbling, “Jealousy always works.”

“It doesn’t”, Bun huffed with a frown.

“Are you sure, Babe?”, Tan wiggled his eyebrows and Bun was close to strangling his boyfriend.

Strangling AND kissing him.

Nan rolled her eyes: “Stop flirting, really. And jealousy is dumb. This only worked because they were both a hundred kilometres behind the finish line already.”

“I don’t care”, Tan shrugged.

“Does your win at least cover the cost for the girl?”

“Barely”, Tan laughed, “But she deserves it all.”

“The girl?!”

All three of them turned to look at a very dazed Sorn, who was still clinging to a very furious That, holding his finally-boyfriend’s hand while preparing for a serious rant.

And while he was spitting fire at Tan and Nan and Bun, he never let go.

Bun thought it was very romantic and Nan accused them of being a bad influence.

Which they probably were.

Tan didn’t stop grinning.

~~~

“You’re like a tower.”

Sorn blinked, not able to look away from his boyfriend who was staring at him with so much love in his eyes, it was impossible to miss.

The love turned to worry though when Sorn didn’t react, but just before he could say something else, Sorn blurted out.

“You were flirting?!”

That seemed taken aback.

“What?”

“All those times? Those horrible pet names and comparisons, you were flirting?”

“What do you call horrible?”

Now it was That who was moping and Sorn quickly took his hands into his own, smiling in the way he knew That couldn’t disagree with.

“I mean those times when you called me stray dog and Goldie? Were you flirting?”

The telltale signs of embarrassment became visible as That’s eyes widened and his shoulder hunched and his hands started fidgeting in Sorn’s grasp.

“What? No. I mean we didn’t really know each other and ...”

His face must be hot again, Sorn thought, watching his boyfriend with exploding love in his chest. So much, in fact, he leaned forward and checked his boyfriend’s temperature. With his lips.

And as That shut up to pull Sorn down again with more force than necessary, Sorn was grinning. He’d take every weird pet name every day for this. For That. For them.

He, in fact, loved them all. Each one of them.

“What’s so funny my adorable giant?”

Taking a deep breath, Sorn decided there was only one rewarding and worthy way to shut That up. Not all pet names needed to be heard.

‘He just called me adorable ...’

Or maybe they did.