me and you (two) to the end

by onlysadpain

Summary:

“Can I get your number?”  Prapai asked with his phone held out.

Shin scratched his neck but took the phone, unable to say no without it being awkward. “I gotta warn you though that my partners won’t appreciate it if you use it to flirt.”

“Of course,” Prapai said before his eyes widened. “Partners? As in multiple?”

“If a majority of the trade is done through the Bangkok Port then…”

 

The words of the negotiation between the two biggest mafia families in Thailand slowly got tuned out by Shin, and only became a background murmur.

 

For the past hour, the Sia family and the Theerapanyakun family had been sitting in an office, attempting to agree on an arms deal.

 

Shin had never felt so out of place before; seated with intimidating strangers. With their dark suits, smirks, and dangerous remarks. The Theerapanyakun were renowned in his father’s line of work, and their aura rubbed him the wrong way.

 

Or maybe he was too uncomfortable in the presence of people with few limits, as he sometimes forgot his own dad was also involved in the underground world.

 

“As Prapai suggested,” the current head of the Theerapanyakun family, Kinn, said. He spoke of his son’s proposal with a pleased grin, and Shin couldn’t help but feel even less adequate. “Even if it’s closer, there is a bigger risk using the Bangkok Port. So if it’s a container port you’re looking for, the Songkhla Port my son pointed out should be more favourable.”

 

Kinn continued to discuss the different locations, and Shin felt his head draw a blank. While it all made sense, it felt like he was a child accidentally seated at the adult table.

 

Even the future heirs of the other family seemed to be in a different league to him, so much more secure in themselves. The two men, introduced as Venice and Prapai, looked ready to take over from their fathers at any moment. With their shoulders relaxed and guns peeking up from the waistband, barely concealed. While Shin couldn’t even remember the last time he fired a gun. 

 

He glanced at the men, but neither seemed as lost as Shin felt. At times, they would weigh in with their opinions too. Venice looked closer to boredom as he listened in, and Prapai looked as if he could follow along just fine.

 

Shin felt like an embarrassment next to them. If his father wasn’t as accepting as he was, Shin might have prayed Thana would have received a better son who could take over after him. 

 

“Or is there a specific reason you picked Bangkok Port?” Vegas coldly asked. His eyes narrowed and the dangerous glimpse in them burned.

 

Theerapanyakuns were known to be headstrong and unforgiving, and their children seemed to follow in their footsteps. The firstborn of both sides of the family was exactly what people looked for in a leader. Venice and Prapai led by example, and even as a child Shin had heard about the rigorous training the children had been put through.

 

And then there was Shin, who had no idea what he was supposed to do or how to intimidate anyone; hell he wasn’t even interested in being a part of this life.

 

From a young age, Thana’s right-hand man had insisted Shin needed to be prepared for the future. The man suggested the child be trained in an orderly fashion, to be whipped into shape to realise the seriousness of the situation.

 

But Thana had always been weak for his son. Being an only child had led Thana to spoil Shin. Thana had acknowledged that his son took after his mother, who herself never had a care for the criminal world too. So by nature, Shin had grown accustomed to a life without the obligation of taking over the family business, as to say.

 

With the freedom Thana granted his son, Shin was never afraid of telling his father how he really felt, even if it might complicate both their lives. And neither of them had been surprised when Shin had politely declined to take over the business, even though he was the sole inheritor.

 

Thana had long since accepted that the day would eventually come, and just waited for the words to leave his son’s mouth. So with the encouragement of his father, Shin instead invested time in exploring what his future might hold.

 

So his father had promised he would stand behind his son’s life choices, as long as Shin attempted to learn parts of their business. It was all a precaution for the worst imagined scenario if anything went wrong and the succession needed to take place.

 

But Shin had hoped his father would allow him to shadow behind him, or once again follow some of Thana’s staff to learn. Not be in the midst of a heated discussion, right by his father’s side.

 

If Shin didn’t know better, he would have thought Thana tricked him into showing himself as the future successor of the Sia family. But his father had merely introduced him as his son, and not a future of the family as the other family’s son had been.

 

It had brought some calmness to Shin and made his palms sweat a bit less. 

 

Until the minutes passed and the bargaining took a sharper turn, and he began to feel eyes on him. Because Shin was seated opposite Prapai, and the man wouldn’t stop looking at him. By the man’s side Venice sat, and he seemed to have caught on to whatever his cousin tried to do. 

 

Out of his eye, Shin could see Venice roll his eyes at Prapai’s focus point.

 

With a catch of embarrassment, Shin realised it must have been because he was the only one not getting involved in the discussion. But it didn’t matter what they thought. Shin was only there to please his father, and he intended to keep it that way.

 

Would the Theerapanyakun parents be as accepting, if Prapai or Venice were the ones in my position?, Shin could only wonder. 

 

He didn’t know much about either Kinn or Vegas, not past the few rumours he had gathered from bodyguards. From the tension in the room, Shin could only guess they were on the right path.

 

Kinn was settled against the chair’s back and nothing on his face revealed how he thought the negotiation was going. But there was something more frightening in the unknown, rather than the annoyance on Vegas’ face.

 

“If you think we will agree on a 20/80 deal, then we might as well walk now,” Vegas grunted. His hand was dangerously close to his hip, almost itching to take the gun out. “An offer like that should be counted as a mockery of our family.”

 

So Shin ripped his gaze away from the older man and turned towards Venice.

 

Even without knowing which son belonged to which part of the family, it was easy to spot by how they acted. Venice’s hard gaze was nearly identical to Vegas’, both more expressive than might be good to lead on. But the son seemed less impulsive. Nothing in him indicated a shootout might occur, so Shin let his worried heart settle.

 

Compared to the pair, Kinn and Prapai seemed more collected, listening intensely to Thanas frustrated argumentation. It was hidden behind something more calculative.

 

“Don’t make an enemy of me,” Thana chuckled, but it had an edge to it. “I’ve made my fair share of sacrifices for you, and it’s about time you do the same. You can at least give me something to work with.”

 

A battle of eye contact ensued between the men, and neither seemed ready to back down.

 

Uncomfortable, Shin adjusted his glasses. 

 

He tried to ease his nerves and stabilise his breath. But it felt like the temperature was growing higher by the minute. His usual linen shirts had been traded for something more appropriate according to his father.

 

But now Shin could feel how the material stuck to his back. It was embarrassing, to say the least.

 

Venice and Prapai barely looked affected by the sudden shift in tone while he only wondered how trigger-happy Kinn might be. Or even worse, Vegas, who looked three seconds away from shooting.

 

“If that’s what’s putting this to a standstill, then I am willing to make it more favourable for you. But,” Thana said. “It depends on what I can receive back.”

 

With a relieved sigh, Shin could see how Kinn’s inaudible whisper reeled Vegas back. And once again, the both parts began to discuss their potential trade.

 

Shin couldn’t care less about the negotiations taking place. Just as long as he could leave the place safely, and go back home to Miw and Neo.

 

With the freedom he gained when Thana accepted his rejection, Shin fell in love with art at university; and fell in love all over again when Neo appeared in his class as a nude model.

 

Shin’s world flipped for the first time when Neo kissed him on the floor of an old gymnasium; and then Miw made his head swim with questions when she crashed into his life, with her soft lips against his.

 

He had put his head into painting again until he had been pulled into their life by pure coincidence. His father had ordered him to follow his best staff to see how they worked, and there he found the two together.

 

It shouldn’t have surprised him, as they both belonged to the same path of work with sex work. But putting the two of them into the same space had never occurred to Shin until they leaned against each other and bickered with laughs.

 

Seeing the two of them together hadn’t given Shin the painful feeling he thought; instead, he only found himself wishing to be in the middle of it all.

 

His father who had remained a secure point for him all through his life to fall back on had found his son unable to recall anything about the ‘training’ of his work, except how beautiful the two looked underneath the purple fluorescent lights. 

 

A few years prior, Shin had broken down in their kitchen out of fear and confessed his sexuality as if it was a sin; a weakness not allowed in the life they existed within. He only calmed down when Thana reminded his son of the other crime families in the country, who all existed in a variety of different ways of life.

 

And if Shin was surprised by the development of his feelings, then his father had been astonished. Thana had only blinked slowly when Shin turned up at his father’s office, confused by the height of emotions he experienced. 

 

Not only did a man named Neo occupy his heart, but more surprisingly a woman called Miw too. 

 

Yet, once again, Thana had opened his arms without further questioning Shin’s life choices. The judgment only came when he found out about their work, as never truly believing their intentions with his son.

 

The events had spiralled until Shin had agreed to learn more about his work if his father would finally stop speaking against his relationship.

 

Now he was there, stuck in a meeting while being observed by a stranger. He couldn’t even tell what was so interesting about him to make Prapai try to catch his gaze.

 

While Shin had heard of Venice and Prapai throughout his life, he had never meet them as he was someone who stayed clear of public spaces.

 

“Is that a deal, then?” Vegas’ voice suddenly pulled Shin out of his thoughts.

 

The man blinked a few times and realised he had zoned out through most of the meeting. But he would rather have it that way, so he could leave as fast as possible. Shin had no idea how they did it — how they could sit for such a long time and just dwell on something so uninspiring.

 

“Yes.” Thana grinned and extended his hand across the table.

 

Shin’s body itched as the meeting turned to its end and handshakes took place. His eyes constantly went to the door, and he had to hold back from pulling out his phone.

 

As more casual conversations began, Shin tried to catch his father’s attention as discreetly as possible.

 

Thana rolled his eyes but nodded towards the door. Shin excused himself as quietly as he could and slipped out of the room. He only gently closed the door before he hurried away from the glass walls so he could find a spot out of view.

 

Unlocking his phone, Shin pulled up the group chat with his partners. Shin’s thumbs worked quickly over the screen, announcing his freedom.

 

The meeting is over :-)

 

It didn’t take long for three dots to appear next to his boyfriend’s picture, signalling Neo’s incoming text.

 

woohoo

 

If Shin didn’t find Neo as endearing as he did, he would have rolled his eyes at the lacklustre message. But he knew Neo wasn’t big on texting, and much rather spoke on the phone. For him to be first to reply, must have meant he was waiting for their cue to pick him up.

 

He replied with an exclamation mark and was about to push his phone into his pocket when Miw’s picture with three dots showed her typing.

 

Shin stared at his phone. His stomach flipped when another message dropped into their group chat. It was crazy how easily he could miss them in a small amount of time.

 

We will be there soon. Neo couldn’t choose which shirt to wear. The ever-difficult decision of a crop or a slightly shorter crop top !!

didnt wanna make ur pa hate me </3

He already hates you though

 

ouch

 

A smile came to his lips before Shin tried to sport a neutral expression. 

 

If someone outside of their relationship read their message, they might have assumed they were less than friends. But it was just their way of showing affection for each other. Not a day went by without his boyfriend and girlfriend bickering, always needing to one-up each other. 

 

While focused on the group chat becoming spammed with insults between Neo and Miw, Shin failed to notice how someone came his way.

 

“Shin?”

 

The sudden sound made Shin jump, and he turned around quickly. His glasses slipped down at the spin, and he pushed them up. 

 

Once turned, Shin saw how the rest of the group had vacated the conference room, and now Prapai was standing before him. The rest of them stood spread to the side, participating in lighthearted conversation. 

 

All except Venice who leaned against the glass wall by himself.

 

“Yeah, uh, Khun Prapai?” Shin said politely.

 

A smirk grazed Prapai as he stared down at Shin. The few centimetres between them seemed a lot larger, as the other man exuded confidence.

 

Only then did Shin notice their proximity and took a small step backwards.

 

Prapai’s need for a conversation made no sense to Shin, as he hadn’t been particularly included in the deal their parents tried to make; not in the way Prapai had been.

 

“No need to call me Khun, Shin,” Prapai smiled, his eyes shining with mischief. “Just call me P’Pai.”

 

Shin gave him a small smile at the words, but awkwardness crawled over his skin. He wasn’t meant for this; meeting strangers and mingling. If this could even be called mingling?

 

No, he was craving to be back at his university dorm. Cramped up in the way too-small sofa, with Miw and Neo by his side, watching some bad romcom, to take his mind away from anything to do with violence or crime.

 

Just anything other than being stuck in an office space, with too many visible guns.

 

“Of course, P’Pai,” Shin nodded and tried to ignore how Prapai’s cheeks squished up by his bright smile. 

 

For being a future mafia heir, Prapai was strangely cute. And not as cut edge as Venice, whose eyes currently stared intensely at the scene. It made him shift with unease.

 

Shin’s pulled attention drew Prapai’s curious gaze too.

 

Venice was looking expectantly at them, and he crossed his arms over his chest with a frosty expression. His fingers tapped against his watch, but it was not towards Shin. 

 

No, it was directed towards his cousin.

 

“Can I get your number?” 

 

Oh.

 

That’s why.

 

“I’m sorry, I’m already in a relationship,” Shin said and cringed as he realised Prapai might not have meant it like that at all. “If that’s what you meant, sorry I just assumed. Otherwise, I’ll of course give you my number! But if it has anything to do with the deal, I think my father is the person to speak to, P’Pai.”

 

The smile on Prapai’s lips faltered a little at the rejection, but he took it in a stride.

 

“Well, it was meant as a way in to get a date, but I can take your number as a friend in case we cross paths in a meeting again,” Prapai reassured. “Networking, you know.”

 

With those words, the man handed his phone over.

 

In another world, Shin would have straight up told him they had no more business with each other. But he had a streak of unwillingly being a people pleaser, and it didn’t stop now.

 

So Shin scratched his neck but put in his phone number, unable to say no without it being awkward to give the phone back empty-handed. “I gotta warn you though that my partners won’t appreciate it if you think there’s a way to flirt.”

 

At least some boundaries were set that way, even if it felt a bit like bragging to mention his relationship.

 

“Of course,” the other man nodded with a laugh before his eyes widened. “Partners? As in multiple?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Shin didn’t care to elaborate on it. 

 

He was used to the reaction by now, even though it had quickly become quite old to explain his relationship to people who frankly had no say in it. But it always felt wrong if he was to just exclude one of them, claiming that his boyfriend or girlfriend would mind the flirting. It was just tiring to justify their relationship’s existence, which seemed to irk everyone.

 

But the man surprised him.

 

“That’s neat,” Prapai casually said, as if he spoke about something as mundane as the weather. “Does it mean I have a shot, then?”

 

Before Shin could reply, dreading to reject Prapai for a second time, he was saved by Neo’s loud footsteps and Miw’s complaining over Neo’s long legs. Shin could recognise the sounds from anywhere and turned towards them with a bright smile.

 

With a quick wai to Thana, the two continued past the others in the open area. Their focus was solely on Shin, and the man felt a calm spread through him.

 

“Hi baby,” Miw said and pulled him in for a quick kiss.

 

Neo’s hand settled on Shin’s shoulder, leaning down to press a wet kiss to his cheek. “Are you ready for us to kidnap you?”

 

With a faked frown, Shin used his palm to wipe away the saliva from his cheek.

 

A few months ago, Shin might have been embarrassed by the public display of affection, especially in front of strangers and his father. But being with Miw and Neo had taught him there was nothing that could embarrass them, and he needed to learn to be the same. 

 

His partners took a double take at his clothes.

 

“Did your dad play dress up with you?” Miw asked, and let her eyes trail over her boyfriend’s form.

 

The black suit was form-fitting, but so unlike how Shin usually presented himself.

 

“Yeah, I’m so ready to get out of these clothes,” Shin groaned, done with the entire ordeal. It was one thing to be there, but another thing to be dressed up too.

 

“I’m ready to get you out of your clothes too,” Neo said smugly with a wagging of his eyebrows, but stopped when Miw lightly punched him in the stomach. He clutched his stomach in faked pain and sulked. 

 

Too focused on his partners’ antics, Shin had forgotten that Prapai was right there, and had been needing a new rejection.

 

“This must be the people you talked about,” the man said and let his eyes wander over the two people.

 

Miw and Neo might have been offended by being checked out after just showing their relationship status if they were anyone else. But they were anything other than normal, never to turn down someone’s appreciation.

 

Until Prapai’s wandering eyes grazed over to Shin too.

 

Instantly, Shin could feel their hands back on his body. Neo’s bigger hand settled on his lower back, secure right above the curve of his ass. Then Miw’s hand travelled underneath the suit jacket and settled on his ticklish waist.

 

It wasn’t unusual for them to show their possessive nature over him; Shin would be lying if he said he hated it.

 

“We leave you alone for a few hours and you already have a new admirer?” Neo teased. 

 

Miw’s fingers stroked against the shirt as if etching to touch the skin underneath. She leaned in closer, her lips pressed against the shell of his ear. “Maybe Neo was right about kidnapping you.”

 

Shin hated how quickly his cheeks gained a pink hue, and Miw laughed at the reaction.

 

“It’s not like I can control it,” Shin muttered.

 

Prapai leaned back against the wall, confidence dripping off him.

 

“Shin only told me he had multiple partners, but he didn’t get any further,” Prapai said. “So.. does that mean you’re looking for a fourth?” 

 

A pleased grin stretched out on his face. There was nothing malicious about it. He only seemed eager at the idea of being involved with three beautiful people at once.

 

But Miw quickly shut him down with an icy look. With her arm around Shin’s waist, she pulled him closer against her and Neo’s chest. “We are alright, thank you.”

 

Miw never appreciated when someone tried to take her boyfriends away, even if it was someone as handsome as Prapai.

 

At the interaction, Neo looked over the heads of his partners, and right at Prapai. His arm extended until he could hold it around Miw’s shoulder, effectively squeezing Shin in between them.

 

“Shin is satisfied as it is with the two of us,” Neo smirked and winked at Prapai before he dismissed him.

 

With his taller frame, Neo dragged his boyfriend and girlfriend away from the man. As they passed the crowd of mafia men, Neo and Miw seemed less than intimidated. Instead, they focused on teasing their flushed boyfriend.

 

As they walked towards the entrance, Shin’s eyes met Venice’s, and he could see the amused expression Venice sported. He was clearly enjoying seeing Prapai get put down one notch.

 

“Goodbye, Mister T!”

 

Neo’s boisterous voice rang through the air and Shin could practically see his father’s regret of ever accepting the man to be his son’s boyfriend. 

 

“Yeah, yeah. Bye Neo.” 

 

Thana sent the taller man away with the shooing of his hand, clearly not amused. Kinn and Vegas stood beside him looking entertained by the sudden commotion.

 

Then Thana nodded towards the woman clinging to his son. “Miw.”

 

With a wave goodbye to his father, Shin let himself be pulled out of the building. He was so ready to just go home and forget about the eventful day. Instead, Shin could focus on how his partners seemed ready to swallow him alive.

“Who did he think he was, asking to be our fourth?” Miw complained. 

 

Neo let out a laugh at the tone she had but didn’t refute her complaint. “I think it might be our fault. We haven’t left any visible hickeys in a while, which could ward off people like him.”

 

Shin’s eyes widened and his head snapped towards his boyfriend. But it seemed like Neo had already won their girlfriend over to his side.

 

“I think you’re right,” Miw smirked. “Maybe next time, Shin needs to look more claimed than he did today. He looked awfully put together, didn’t he?”

 

Shin grinned at how his partners acted.

 

Maybe he should let people flirt with him more often if it leads to them acting possessive like this.

Notes:

yes i will rewrite the canon so Shin's dad is a supportive dad idc !

finally i wrote a 3wbf fic. the show is so special to me and watching it as it aired was an experience. I'm still so mad it hasn't received the attention it deserves

also me vs never writing a linear story. like i swear every fic i write goes present, jump backwards to explain something, just forward to present again... apologies to my readers 3