Archive of Our Own

It was one of those quiet evenings, where the air was slightly heavy, and everything and everyone seemed to prefer silence over the occasional chitter chatter that was characteristic of the Arseni Estate.

Or maybe, it was because Mok was twenty three, and in less than twenty four hours, he'd be appointed officially as Thee's right hand man and bodyguard. An appointment, which was heavy- which was honestly, an understatement. 

The next day, Mok would have to follow rules that were not part of his life till that point. 

Mok didn't care for most of them anyway, as the mere fact he was taken under the Arseni family wing was something he was grateful for. These rules were nothing in comparison to what he was provided with after his parents were brutally taken from him. Food, a roof over his head, education, a friend like Thee, but most importantly, Rome.

It was laughable, really. Mok hadn't seen Rome for nearly a decade because of the family rules, didn't even know how he looked like. Would he have grown up to be a fine young man like his brother, Thee, or would be still be the mischievous boy who showed him what love was like- what love could be, and was the light at the end of the tunnel for Mok, who was at the lowest point in his life?

He absently toys with the chain on his neck, something that was too small on him- but he hadn't taken it off since the day Rome left the Estate. The light heaviness on his chest due to the chain bought him comfort.

It reminded him of the last thing Rome had told him before he was sent away to somewhere else- all in the name of safety.

I love you.

Even though thirteen was too young, and Mok knew that those words came from the attachment that comes from just being a mere child- he knew that Rome truly meant it, even though he was thirteen too.

And now, as the day of his appointment as Thee's right hand man neared, the only rule that gave him a sinking feeling- was the one that they couldn't love. It was not allowed.

It was a harsh reminder that in the world Mok was in, love was a luxury, a liability, and because he experienced a fleeting moment of it when he was much, much younger, it became something that he secretly wished to find him one day too. 

But as he hears footsteps approach him, he quickly dismisses those thoughts.

Come next day, he would not be allowed to love anymore. And stuck in the Arseni Estate, there was no way he could experience anything in the short time frame either.

Forget it, Mok.

"Hey," Thee greets him casually, and Mok straightens, the months of training kicking in. Thee had told him to be informal when they were alone, but at some point, Mok knew that he had to act different if the day that he ever had to take a bullet for Thee came. That way, it would be easier for Thee, to move on. It would be easier for Mok too.

He greets Thee formally, and this earns him a disproving shake of the head. But then, Thee gestures for his hand, and when Mok gives him a confused look, he grabs Mok's hand himself, and places a key in it. More specifically, they were keys to a car.

Mok looks at Thee in confusion. "What-"

"Today is the last night you'll truly be free, my friend. The last night you don't have to follow any rules," Thee says, patting Mok's shoulder.

Mok looks at the set of keys in his hand, and back at Thee, who clicks his tongue. "I'm telling you to go out and have fun. This is the least I can do for you as your friend."

Thee was right. But Mok had never left the Arseni Estate unless necessary.

"Today is your last chance man. Don't waste it by sitting here. Go out. You won't regret it," Thee encourages, and with that, he was gone.

And Mok, for the first time ever, reconsiders things- because it was the last time he would have freedom.

In less than an hour, Mok finds himself in a club.

Mok had never been to a club in his life despite his age. The music was loud, people were brushing past him every five minutes, but then again, this was the last day of freedom for Mok.

So, he let's himself enjoy it despite everything.

He dances with random people on the dance floor, orders cocktails that he hadn't dared to try in the past, and finally, finds himself in the arms of a stranger after less than ten minutes of meeting him. 

A very attractive stranger at that.

Not just in terms of looks, but the way the man talked- words which were sweet, not overly so, but sweet nonetheless. Even though he was flirting, there was so much genuineness in those words, that Mok, despite not knowing the man's name, or anything about him for that matter, follows him to the corner to be alone.

"I have to say, you are the most beautiful man I've ever seen," The stranger tells him, his gaze dark, and his intentions obvious- yet there was sincerity. He drags his finger up and down Mok's arm, his eyes glued to Mok's face. "But I can tell you're running away from something."

"Aren't we all?" Mok asks him, letting the stranger pull him closer. The emptiness stop his chest felt strange, because he had taken the chain off in fear of losing it, and also because the way the other man looked at him made him feel warm everywhere, warmth of the pleasant kind. The stranger chuckles and nods. "I suppose that's true. In that case... I should stop wasting time and get to the point, right?"

Mok had one night, and he knew he had to make the best of it. So he nods, and when the stranger inches closer, he grabs the man's neck, and crashes their lips in a kiss.

A kiss- that should have just been a kiss, and not more, because Mok hadn't planned or prepared for anything more. 

But the stranger pulls him onto his lap and deepens the kiss, the quality of the lip lock intense in a way Mok had never thought he'd want in his life before. 

While it was true he wanted love, this was a whole new territory, but the alcohol, and the knowledge that this was the last day he could do anything he wanted pushes him to take everything given to him.

They soon end up in a hotel- and it should have been ridiculous, because they were strangers, didn't know each other's names, and something told Mok that there was a chance that it couldn't end well- but then the stranger presses him onto the mattress, and takes him to heights he had never thought possible. 

His vision blurred, and there were moments where he was overwhelmed. The stranger offered to stop, always checking on him, always concerned, always so sweet and nice and- Mok couldn't help but pull the man back, to try every configuration and make use of every surface in the room.

The box of protection that was hastily purchased before coming to the room was empty, and Mok falls asleep in the man's arms, because he was exhausted, and it would also be the last day he could sleep in anyone's arms in his life.

When day break arrives, Mok is the first to awake, and the first to leave- but not before he leaves a note.

Mok takes on the role of Thee's right hand man and bodyguard as the memories of the night with the stranger continue to linger in his thoughts.

The thoughts stay even when a month passes, and Mok finds himself wondering at random times during the day, if the stranger thought about him too.

"Young master Rome is coming to stay with us for few months, did you hear?" One of the other bodyguards tell him one day.

Of course, Mok had heard it. 

He didn't know what to think, because weirdly, he felt anxious and restless.

Maybe because it was due to the weight of what Rome had told him before he left. Would Rome remember it?

But then again, it wouldn't matter, because now, Mok now served Arseni as Thee's right hand man, expected to take a bullet for him. Rome was not the boy who held him in the gardens when he cried about his parents anymore. He was the other Arseni Heir that Mok would be expected to protect too.

However, the anxiety doesn't fade. Mok thinks of the night with the stranger to keep himself occupied.

The day of the young master's return arrives like any other day would, except, the house was buzzing with energy due to the increase in security detail. Mok tells himself the combined energy of the house is what made him anxious too.

He waits inside the mansion, hearing the sounds of the car, preparing himself mentally for whatever was to happen. He knew nothing would happen, but something told him that this meeting would be significant.

The doors of the mansion opened, and the young master walks in, returning to the place he once used to call home after way too long.

Rome was tall, his voice was slightly deeper, and his features were sharpened with maturity. 

But most importantly, he was also the very attractive stranger that Mok had spent the night with.

The realisation settles in Mok like a blow to the chest. 

Out of all people-

Before Rome could see him, he rushes out of the lounge, quickly whispering instructions to another bodyguard, and making up and excuse about a task he had to do.

Once he was alone, Mok lets himself breathe, lets his hands shake. Out of every person in the city, Rome was the man, who, for the lack of better word, had fucked him relentlessly in the hotel- in ways that he hadn't even known was possible.

Rome, who was once the boy who held him when he couldn't sleep as the nightmares of his parents kept him up.

Somehow, in the last day of his freedom, he'd managed to find a way to sleep in his arms yet again.

Mok didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Because not only was Rome, who was once very important to him, back in his life- he was also the man who'd taken him to the stars before he'd ended up in his current predicament.

Movement at the corner alerts him, and before the intruder could react, they are pinned to the wall by Mok- who realises too late that it wasn't one.

It was Rome, who's expression goes from excitement, to realisation, to shock, and finally settles on something like despair. It was hauntingly similar to the day he was taken from Mok.

Even after a decade, Rome's expressions were the same. 

"Out of all people...." Rome starts, his tone one of disbelief. "It had to be you?"

And for the first time ever, Mok finds himself at odds with the rules of the Arseni Family.