Work Text:
‘Over-greet hoomlynesse engendreth dispreisynge.’
–Geoffrey Chaucer
What these words by Mr Chaucer meant,
Was that... familiarity breeds contempt.
Yet familiarity kept Alan and Gaipa bound,
For they built a love on familiar ground.
Chapter: Gaeng Som Soup is Non-Negotiable!
"—under my protection and as long as they're in my territory, not a hair on their body is to be touched." Alan's jaw clicks, grip tightening around the phone pressed to his ear.
"Khun Lertwongsa was my father. It's Khun Alan." There's a sharp finality in Alan's voice and Gaipa closes his André Breton paperback, tucking it in the crook of the cushions.
They're on Gaipa's couch; Alan is seated on the rear end with Gaipa's head in his lap. It's familiar— Alan on a work call, threading lazy fingers through the shorter boy's hair and Gaipa nose-deep in a book.
That's how most of their evenings are spent– in uneventful familiarity.
Unless Gaipa has to be at the University for his thesis work and Alan's running around in a fancy car, guns ablaze.
Guns are rarely blazed, to be honest; Alan's work environment has gotten relatively safer these past couple of years since Alan took over the family business, and the knowledge has been a comforting lull in regard to Gaipa’s nightly sleep.
Yet, if Gaipa smiles to himself in the middle of a lecture sometimes, fantasizing about his boyfriend in some Bond movie they've watched the previous night, that's nobody's business but his. Certainly not his thesis adviser’s and their amused brows’.
"No."
There's a loud muffled voice on the other end in response.
"I run things differently around here," Gaipa blinks, zoning in from his horizontal perspective in the speaker's lap; the jaw muscles in his boyfriend's face are working at an alarming pace, right hand twitching in displeasure.
Alan's about to go off.
Of all the many things Gaipa admires in the man he loves; his unbridled passion is right there at the very top... next to his unwavering loyalty. Alan's an all-in kinda guy, which in conjunction makes him a goes-off-completely kinda guy. Especially when what's at stake, is something he fiercely believes in.
"I do not condone that."
Gaipa slides off the other guy's lap and sits cross-legged facing him. They're still close but they've lost all skin contact and Alan unfurls further. "I am not going to repeat myself. Do I make myself clear?"
Gaipa waits.
"In that case, they can give me a call themself."
Alan needs his space and Gaipa knows well when to give him that.
"How's that–"
"No."
"I see."
"Uh-huh—" Click.
The call dies and the taller of the two swears under his breath, shooting up to pace the room.
Gaipa waits.
Alan tosses his phone at the table next to his laptop, fingers working to loosen the tie around his neck. The action is urgent, almost desperate, as if discarding the piece of cloth will loosen the knot Gaipa knows is closing up Alan's throat.
A final pull to the tie strap and the meek thing falls to the ground.
Gaipa waits.
...still on the couch in his cross-legged state, concerned eyes following his boyfriend; he waits.
"Those fucking assholes! Mindless vultures, every single one! Selfish sons of—" Gaipa waits and Alan purges.
It's only when the pacing starts to slow, faltering steps preceding exhaustion, and words are lost to fury; it’s only then that Gaipa whispers:
"Alan," Arm reaching out to his boyfriend and Alan finally halts, taking the offered hand and letting himself be led back onto the couch.
Wild saucer eyes, flushed up cheeks; Alan's wound up like a coil when Gaipa helps him down a glass of water.
The shorter guy squeezes his partner's hands into his slender ones. "Try to follow my breathing closely, yes? I'm right here, my love."
Alan nods, shuts his eyes.
...breathes.
Matching up Gaipa's breathing until his sharp disarray of breaths soothes into controlled shallow ones.
When the taller guy opens his eyes again, he's far from Khun Alan. He's just Alan. Gaipa's Alan.
"What am I gonna do, Gai? I can't just let... they're innocent, you know it's not fair I... I can't." Alan's voice breaks for the first time that morning, his eyes doing the kicked-puppy-bit, a rare occurrence that only ever happened in Gaipa's presence.
Gaipa opens his arms in question and Alan nods.
The shorter guy shifts back, guiding his boyfriend along so Alan's leaning against him; back against chest and head tucked under Gaipa's chin.
"Talk to me?"
And Alan does.
....like he always has.
Gaipa listens.
....like he always has.
They discuss Alan's work issue, trying to work a way out. From spit-balling to careful deduction, they exhaust every possibility they could think of.
Halfway through, nimble fingers find their way to Alan's temple, working in soothing circles. If Alan were a wound-up guitar, every touch from his boyfriend broke a taut string.
Yet another familiarity that found a home in their lives.
"How about...." Gaipa starts and the two mull over this new idea carefully until something finally clicks—
"Wait Gai, that's actually..." Alan sits up abruptly, turning to face his boyfriend with stars for eyes, "That might truly work!"
"I think so too."
"You realise what that'd mean? We won't just win, we'll have the upper hand. Gai, this is brilliant!" Gaipa can hear the gears turn behind his boyfriend's big brown eyes. "You're brilliant!"
Gaipa's smart, street and book alike, and he's never needed anyone to tell him that.
Alan, who finds it 'hot', never misses a chance to appreciate his partner's smarts.
"Was really a team effort, but I'll take the compliment."
Gaipa does a tiny courtesy bow, smiling a playful smile. For his efforts, a chuckling Alan cups his face and smacks a kiss to his forehead.
"Oh, your brain needs to be kissed on a daily basis."
"Mhmm–" Gaipa leans in, bartering their smiles for half a dozen sweet pecks. "If only my thesis professor was as appreciative as my boyfriend."
Sour-candy-faced-Alan makes a grumbling appearance. "It's in his best interest not to be."
Gaipa raises an amused eyebrow. "Is it, really?"
The little rivalry his boyfriend has, with his thesis adviser of everyone, is ridiculous. Professor Jim is as unthreatening as one can be. Nevertheless, teasing Alan over it has turned into one of Gaipa's favourite sports.
One thing about a romantic relationship that's founded on a close friendship, is you never stop being friends. You simply take the easy confidence, the mundane familiarity, the silly teasing and banter; and you re-wire it along the lines of romantic love.
Alan gives his boyfriend a solemn nod, "Oh yea, trust me," and presses their lips in a deep, sound kiss.
They kiss.
And they kiss.
Then they kiss some more.
When they come up for air, Gaipa whispers, "Six years," and proceeds to take Alan's top lip between his own, languidly consummate. "Mmm, we've been together six years, my love..." Another soft pull of the lip, "And I've known you much longer." Tug. Lick. Kiss.
Alan's barely listening.
If one were to objectively critique, Gaipa is worshipping Alan's lips... so generously attentive, a true devotee... and who is Alan to be anything but putty in his lover's arms.
Gaipa had figured early on that the moment his lips were on the taller guy, Alan was a lost cause... bordering on senselessness. And Gaipa being someone who loved challenging his partner, more often than not, would talk in situations such as their present one while Alan struggled to catch up.
"I've known you a lifetime," When Gaipa pulls away at last, Alan chases after him mindlessly. "and you still get possessive in a heartbeat?"
Alan tilts his head to the side in an adorable iteration of a lost kitten, blinking away the brain fog, "All the more reason to be, don't you think?" A full, dangerously dizzy smile, reaching his eyes.
Gaipa would be lying if he said he didn't want to consume that smile all over again.
Alan smiled in absoluteness.
Gaipa was a sucker for full smiles.
...sunshine smile of one, reflected right onto the adoring eyes of the other.
"What I think, is that you're cute." Gaipa scrunchies his nose to make a point.
"I can disarm and tackle you to the ground before you can blink, sweetheart." Alan shifts and in a fraction of a second, he's towering over Gaipa's frame that reclines from muscle memory.
Oh, how Gaipa loved a challenge and his Alan!
"Without a doubt." A grin splits Gaipa's face while heated eyes carry out a conversation of their own.
"I'm not cute. I'm cool."
And Alan is cool. If Gaipa were in a Jane Austen novel, he'd fan himself dramatically every time his boyfriend entered their home. That doesn't mean it is exclusive of the softness that Gaipa, oh-so-dearly, adores.
"Debatable."
"Gaipa!?"
"Alan!?" Gaipa parrots the tone back.
A gentle nudge from Alan, and a willing Gaipa drops further so he's flat on his back with Alan fully on top of him.
"Admit that I'm cool."
"Hm, my boyfriend is cool." —an honest admission.
"How cool?"
"Very cool," Gaipa affirms with giggling eyes and is awarded with a satisfied grin from the guy pressing down on him.
"Now say that I'm not cute."
"Do I have to?"
"Yes!" — a chuckle betraying Alan's faux seriousness.
Gaipa nods and proceeds to think about it for a beat, only to whisper, "Pass."
"Say it!"
Lips pressed into a line, Gaipa shakes his head firmly like a bratty kid refusing to share candy with his friends.
"C'mon, Gai!" Alan whines, and Gaipa caves in.
"Alright alright, I'll whisper it in secrecy." Gaipa beckons with a nod, "C'mere."
Eager, Alan leans closer, only for Gaipa to leap and bite at the tip of his nose. The taller guy squirms like a wet kitten, letting out a very real, and very ultrasonic screech.
Alan gets off of Gaipa at lightning speed, who follows right after. "Case in point, Khun Narak ja!" Without missing a beat, Gaipa pecks his boyfriend's scrunched-up nose, right where he bit it. Alan jumps again like he felt the Ghost-of-Tickle-Past.
"You know I have a sensitive nose tip!" Alan complains as Gaipa slides off the couch to avoid retribution, "You're such a meanie, sometimes."
"As long as I get to make my point..." Gaipa picks up the discarded tie off the ground, handing it over to Alan. "I really don't see the need to change."
Alan huffs.
Gaipa kisses his boyfriend's huffy lips with a set of pouty ones... and just like that Alan's a happy puddle.
"You have a call to make."
"I have a call to make." Alan echoes, smiling.
"Video call?" Gaipa confirms; running a hand through Alan's hair to fix their state a little.
"Wouldn't wanna miss the look on their faces when I put my terms forward."
Gaipa nods, "Then you start with it and I'll be back soon."
"Where're you off to?" Alan tugs at Gaipa's sweater, catching the helm by a pinch.
"I'm making you some Chicken Soup, to help with your headache."
Alan softens; grateful, "Okay," only to prompt, "Wait no, it's my day to cook dinner."
"I'm sure you can think of ways," Gaipa flutters his eyes suggestively, "to pay me back for my kindness."
"That I can do!" Alan nods vigorously.
"Excellent."
Pleased, Gaipa's on the move when Alan calls out, "Pork Ramen?"
"Huh?" —a confused halt.
"To pay you back. I'll make you Pork Ramen Soup."
Gaipa crosses his arms in disbelief. "Try again."
"Tom Yum Soup?"
Gaipa picks up the nearest object; a Shotgun Plushie he brought Alan for his 21st birthday and throws it at the offender.
Alan catches it, on reflex.
"Khao Tom!" Alan quips with twinkling eyes.
Shaking his head fondly, Gaipa crosses the room to enter the kitchen. "Keep guessing, Khun Alan. I'm confident you'll get there!"
"Gaeng Som Soup with a side of surprise," Alan calls after his boyfriend, a soft finality in his voice as he turns on his work laptop. "The offer is not up for further negotiations, Khun Gaipa!"
The End~