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Pond always considered himself as smooth and charming. The kind of guy who would have everyone's attention as soon as he walked into a room with nothing but that lazy grin of his and a wink. Most of the time, he was right.
With Phuwin though, none of that ever mattered.
Phuwin had a way of unravelling him without even trying. Just the mention of his name would have his ears burning red and face splitting into a grin.
And right now—Phuwin was on their couch in an oversized sweater too big, which Pond obviously deduced as his but it looked better on Phuwin. His brown hair fell in soft strands and his fingers were mindlessly tracing the pattern of the throw pillow.
Pond was practically vibrating next to him, one leg bouncing excitedly like a puppy–a golden retriever to be exact–sat next to it's owner.
Phuwin's eyes flicked up to him, a slow blink, one a cat would give to it's owner before speaking in a low but smooth voice, "You're staring."
"I was not staring," Pond said with a blink.
Phuwin tilted his head, the way he always does when he shows that he has got Pond figured out, the corner of his mouth already twitching with a smile, "You always do, especially when you think I'm not looking."
Pond laughed, too quick to be considered casual as he leaned back against the couch, running a hand through his hair, "I can't help it, you're too pretty. Sometimes I can't believe you're mine."
Phuwin rolled his eyes but the pink tinge on his cheeks gave him away. That's the thing about Phuwin—he acts all composed, catlike but in reality only Pond could get him like this. Pond also knew his tiny tells, the eye rolls only he got, the twitch of his lips when fighting a smile, down to the way his fingers would still when Pond got too close.
The way Pond said his name—it was the same way as everyone else but Phuwin liked the way it sounded spilling from Pond's lips and he always drank it, like the first sip of water on a hot summer day.
"You're ridiculous," he said softly before raising the throw pillow a little to cover half his face.
Pond smiled, that fond smile that always seemed to light up differently for Phuwin, "And that's why you love me."
Phuwin lowered the pillow before looking him in the eyes, "Unfortunately."
Pond's heart thumped in a different rhythm now, the kind that only picked when Phuwin said something this casually—like to him, this, them was as easy as breathing. Like the world didn't tilt on it's axis the first time Phuwin kissed him.
Silence stretched, a beat too long before Pond reached for the throw and dramatically flung it around them both.
Phuwin let out a yelp, startled by his boyfriend's sudden movement.
"Shhh, it's just us now, we only exist on this couch," Pond answered before wriggling under the blanket so his head could pop out next to Phuwin's.
Phuwin let out a laugh, half fond and half exasperated, "You're such a puppy."
Pond's grin only stretched, "Exactly, I'm your puppy. Loyal, slighty energetic and always at your feet."
"You forgot noisy."
"And you forgot cuddly," he says as his hand wraps around Phuwin's waist, pulling him closer until they are pressed against each other under the blanket.
Phuwin sighed, almost like he felt defeated but his head found Pond's shoulder anyway, it always did. Pond melted and he buried his nose in Phuwin's hair, inhaling the scent of Phuwin's vanilla shampoo, "You're purring."
"It's called breathing, you know, the thing that happens when you're alive," he muttered with a laugh.
"No, you're purring, just like a cat," Pond insisted.
Phuwin let out an actual laugh this time, "Ah, Ah, whatever you say puppy."
Pond grinned, like a loser in love because that's what he was when it came to Phuwin and he wouldn't trade it for the world.
The next morning came like every other morning—golden light spilling into the room and Pond nearly suffocating Phuwin.
Phuwin stirred first to a heavy weight pinning him down, Pond's large arm sprawled across his stomach and their legs tangled. It was almost like Pond was trying to morph them into one. His breath puffed against Phuwin's exposed collarbone.
Phuwin sighed with a smile, his hand coming to move the hair from Pond's eyes, "Do you have to sleep on top of me every night?"
"Consider me your very own weighted blanket, you know people pay good money for those," Pond said, eyes still closed and his deep morning voice muffled.
Phuwin rolled his eyes, fingers now threading through Pond's hair, "You're impossible."
And yet—he didn't push him off, he never did because he loved waking up like this. Wrapped up in Pond, sure it was a little suffocating, a little too warm but it was also safe. He loved how Pond always seemed to cling to him, even in his sleep, like the thought of not having Phuwin is his arms even unconsciously was unbearable.
Later, Pond stumbled into the kitchen in an oversized shirt and sweats, his hair sticking out in multiple directions like a puppy that's just rolled through grass. Phuwin was already there, making breakfast.
"This feels so domestic Phu," he says, wrapping his arms around Phuwin's waist from behind, placing a soft kiss on his nape, "You're like my elegant cat-wife."
Phuwin chuckled, "Cat-wife?"
Pond kissed his cheek, "Yes. Cat-wife, impossibly beautiful, a little aloof and judges me constantly but you're secretly, hopelessly in love with me and I'm the golden retriever husband."
Phuwin scoffed though the way his lips curved betrayed his amusement.
They ended up cooking breakfast together, well more like Phuwin did the cooking while Pond hovered, stealing bites and kisses, "You make chopping onions less teary and more sexy," which earned him a threat of being stabbed from Phuwin.
By the time they were sat around the table, steaming plates set down, Pond had a dopey look on his face.
"You know, I could do this forever," he said after taking a bite of his eggs.
Phuwin blinked, "Eating egg breakfasts?"
Pond snorted, "No. This. Us. Cooking together, soft mornings, the whole domestic act."
Phuwin's fork paused mid air and he looked at Pond with his messy hair, sparkling eyes and grin, his heart doing a flip down into his stomach.
He masked the flutter with an eye roll, "Just eat your food Pond, you're so ridiculous."
"You obviously love me being ridiculous, look how red you are," Pond said, smugly taking a bite of his toast.
Phuwin didn't answer, just shoved his fork in his mouth to mask the smile breaking out.
Later that day, they decided to go for a grocery run. Well mostly because Pond had eaten all of Phuwin's snacks during their impromptu movie night two nights ago. The weather was warm and when they got to the store, Pond insisted to carry the basket.
Phuwin trailed behind him, his strait cat-like and eyes darting around the aisle. That was until he noticed a girl sliding up to Pond. She was pretty, long black hair, a bright smile but—she leaned in too close when she spoke.
Phuwin obviously did not like that.
"You're cute, do you come here often," she asked, voice loud and too chirpy for Phuwin's liking.
Pond moved, startled by the sudden invasion of his space and the over-enthusiastic person who decided to speak to him, "...Uh, yeah I mean sometimes...for food?"
The girl giggled and Phuwin's eyebrows twitched.
He stepped forward, one smooth motion and held onto Pond's arm with a quiet precision, placing a hand on Pond's chest, pushing him back lightly to create more space between them and the girl. He looked at the girl, his smile polite but pointed, his eyes though, told something different.
"Excuse me, he's taken," he said, his voice was soft but there was an underlying sharpness that stung.
The girl let out a soft gasp, her eyes darting between Pond and Phuwin's unblinking gaze as it dawned on her.
"...Oh, I didn't think–I mean, I didn't know," she said with a forced smile.
Phuwin tilted his head, "Well, now you do."
The girl flushed before muttering something about apples and running down the aisle.
Phuwin turned, looking through the aisle for his favourite cereal like nothing happened. Pond started, eyes wide, "Phu—"
"Hmm?" Phuwin asked without turning, "You looked like you needed me to save you."
Pond gasped in mock protest, "No, I didn't!"
Phuwin would've believed him if he didn't turn around to Pond's tail waggling grin that was threating to break. Pond grabbed Phuwin's hand, pulling him closer, "Oh my God, you were jealous."
Phuwin's ears and cheeks flushed as he tried to pull his hand from Pond's grip, "Jealous? I wasn't jealous."
Pond was almost buzzing, "You were. So jealous, I could feel it rolling off in waves. You literally hissed at her like a cat."
"I did not hiss."
"You so did. 'Excuse me, he's taken,' like that, I felt it," Pond said, leaning in so close that other shoppers felt the need to give them space, "You're so cute when you're marking your territory."
Phuwin rolled his eyes but his ears gave him away. Pond pressed kiss to his temple, "Mine," he whispered softly.
Phuwin froze before muttering lowly, "You're unbelievable," but his hand never left Pond's.
Later, when they got back home, Pond obviously carried all the bags refusing to let Phuwin help because, "Cats aren't supposed to carry heavy things." He dramatically dropped them on the kitchen counter, puffing his chest out.
"See, strong Golden retriever husband," he said proudly.
Phuwin started unpacking the bags, "More like overgrown puppy."
"Mm, your puppy," he said, nuzzling against Phuwin from behind.
Phuwin paused what he was doing as Pond spoke the words into his skin—though they were playful he could feel the heavy undertone of sincerity.
"Yours," Pond muttered softer than before.
And now, Phuwin didn't deflect with an eye roll or sarcasm. Instead he turned, pulled Pond down and kissed him—the kind that was soft and slow, deliberate with every smack of their lips. The kind that made their lungs burn with how much love they were pouring into each other.
When they pulled apart, Pond was beaming, Phuwin eyes held way too much love and fondness for the older.
"Yours," he murmured softly, saying the word back to Pond.
Later that night, the bathroom was filled with steam. Curling softly over every edge. The bathroom smelt of lavender soap and vanilla, the scent hanging in the air along with warmth and the heat lingering on their skin.
Pond leaned against the porcelain tub, boneless, his hair slicked back from and lips swollen from too many kisses. His chest rose and fell steadily, a satisfied grin on his face.
Phuwin straddled his lap, knees on either side of Pond's thighs and his body curved comfortably along Pond's. The water lapped gently around them, reaching around their waists and glistening on their skin.
He reached for the sponge, dragging it lazily down Pond's skin, scrubbing away the chaos they had just tangled themselves in.
"You're staring again," Phuwin said without looking up.
"Of course I am," Pond said, no hesitation just a voice laced with affection, "You're the prettiest thing I've ever seen, think I'd waste my time looking at the tiles instead?"
Phuwin snorted as he dipped the sponge into the water before squeezing it out over Pond's shoulder. The droplets ran down and Pond shivered—not because the water was cold but because Phuwin's hands were on him.
Whenever Phuwin touched him, Pond felt like he lit up from the inside out.
"You always say these things like breathing," Phuwin said, finally listening his eyes.
Pond slid his hand onto Phuwin's waist under the water, his thumb softly rubbing against the wet skin, "It's true, I don't even have to think about it, just comes out. Just like how a dog wags it's tail when it sees it's favourite person."
"Comparing yourself to a dog again."
"And you to my favourite person," Pond immediately said, grin widening.
Phuwin's lips twitched and he leaned forward, bracing his hands on Pond's shoulders causing their foreheads to touch, "You're so crazy."
"And you love it," Pond whispered, the same line as always but this time it came out softer, almost reverant. Like a sweet prayer.
Phuwin sighed but there was no denial. Instead he settles his weight on Pond, cheek resting on his shoulder. The water rippled around them, warm and slow.
"You tired me out tonight," he said after a beat.
"The good kind though right?" Pond asked, voice carrying a tone of mischief.
"The worst," Phuwin said flatly before tilting his head to look at Pond, stars in his eyes, "But also the best."
Pond's grin softened—something smaller and tender. He cupped Phuwin's face, his thumb caressing the youngers jaw.
"You have no idea how long I've dreamt of this. Waking up next to you, laughing together in the kitchen and even the small, dumb things," he said, voice thick with emotion, "And now, it's real."
Phuwin blinked, "It's real," he echoed.
The sponge drifted, long forgotten. Phuwin curled his arms loosely around Pond's neck, fingers toying with the wet hair at his nape, lips hovering a breath away, teasing, "You say it like we're already married. "
"Maybe I want us to be," Pond said before kissing him, slow and unhurried, like that was a promise he was going to keep, when he pulled away he seemed shy, "I could even marry you tomorrow if you say yes."
Phuwin's eyes softened and his chest tightened, "You'd get bored of me."
"Never," Pond said way too quickly, his gripped around Phuwin's waist tightening, "No one ever gets bored of air or seeing the sun rise everyday. That's what you are to me, something I need—something constant."
Phuwin's lips parted as his breath caught and Pond only smiled, resting their foreheads together, "You're mine Phuwin and I'm yours, completely."
Phuwin huffed a laughed but it trembled around the edges, "One day, you're gonna drown us both in your sap."
"At least it's warm," Pond said with a shrug.
That pulled a real laugh from Phuwin as he smacked his chest lightly as he leaned in to kiss him again with the force of someone surrendering to the inevitable.
Water sloshed around them as Phuwin curled tighter around Pond, straddling him more comfortably. Pond's hand ran down his back, softly, steady and grounding.
They stayed like that for a long time, skin damp, hair wet and words floating around them like lazy water bubbles refusing to pop.
Eventually, Pond's eyes found Phuwin's again, the love so full it almost hurt to see, "Promise me something."
"What?"
"That you'd let me stare at you, forever."
Phuwin arched an eyebrow, "That's your request?"
Pond smiled softly, "Yes, i don't think I'll ever stop looking at you."
Phuwin rolled his eyes but his chest swelled with warmth, he placed a kiss to the mole under Pond's eye then to his temple, "Fine, as long as you promise to never finish my snacks."
"Deal," Pond immediately said, though they both knew he probably would finish Phuwin's snacks again.
Phuwin laughed, settling against Pond again. The water was starting to cool but neither of them made an attempt to move because in that moment—in the silence, soft touches and softer words, they had everything they wanted.
As simple as it was, the domestic bliss to them, was everything.