Chapter Text
Rome only ever misses Mok and wants nothing in life but to hug him again, he spent years yearning for his love.
He didn't expect a lot when he comes back, he knew that Mok would most likely act unbothered or even annoyed by him but it doesn't matter for all he wants is to hold him again.
But what Rome didn't expect when he got home was this.
A girl
A little girl who keeps calling Mok 'papa' and his phi Kian 'uncle'.
—
Well not literally a little one since she looks like she's in highschool but still.
"Who are you?" Was the first thing that came out of Rome's mouth, his tone equally irritated and confused as the kid stared back at him with wide eyes.
She just stared at him and shouted that an intruder had come in, multiple men came out ready to fight only to see their boss's son standing infront, looking irritated and serious.
"Sawadeekhap Khun Kritdanai, welcome home" the men all said in unison.
The girl looked even more confused before realizing who was infront of her, she blinked fast before opening her mouth in shock.
She looked at the butler beside and urged her to bow to the young master, she did as told and bowed slightly before running inside to find her 'papa' as she shouts it.
"Who's that? Who is she calling papa and why are you letting random kids in our home?" Rome demanded from the men.
Before any of them can answer, Thee came out of the door with his dramatic flair and Mok following close behind.
Rome smiled at the sight of his lover and walked over to him, completely ignoring his older brother.
Thee only sighed and signalled his men to leave, he turned to his brother who buried his face on Mok's neck, oblivious to the fact that the other had tensed up with the affection.
"Khun Krit, we should head inside" Mok softly said to the other.
Rome looked his lover in the eye and answered in a soft, wounded voice, "Why are you calling me that Mok? Don't you love Rome anymore?" He said with a puppy eyed expression.
Thee rolled his eyes at his brothers antics and walked inside, leaving the two lovebirds clinging to each other.
Mok tried to hide his smile as Rome continues to cling to him, "Khun Rome, we should head inside, there's also someone you need to meet".
Rome reluctantly let go of Mok's body before putting distance between them, the secretary turned to go but Rome catched his wrist before intertwining their fingers.
"Now we can go inside" he said with a grin.
Mok sighed heavily before pulling Rome in the house, knowing that the mafia will be shocked with his news.
—————
"WHAT?! What do you mean you have a kid?!" Rome's voice echoed through the office as he stared at Mok and Thee in disbelief.
He couldn't believe what he had just heard.
Mok has a kid.
His Mok has a kid.
A whole goddamn kid.
"Khun Rome please calm down" Mok's steady voice cut through him, he stared at his lover with pained eyes.
"Does Mok love someone else now? Is that why you have a kid." The mafia asked sadly, his eyes not leaving Mok's face.
Thee held his laugh as his brother held Mok's face with tears threatening to fall from his face.
"Is that why Mok doesn't answer Rome's texts lately? He doesn't like him anymore?" Rome continued dramatically.
The bodyguards face was red from embarrassment and tried to speak but Rome kept interrupting his attempts.
"Khun Ro–"
"If you wanted a kid you could've just told me Mok, why must you adopt one behind my back?".
Thee couldn't help his laughed this time as Mok kept getting silenced by his brother, indeed they are by blood with how dramatic Rome is being.
He cleared his throat and spoke with an authoritive tone, "Rome, let him speak, you keep interrupting Mok how would you get your answer?"
Rome glared at him before settling down next to Mok again, he held his lovers hands like he was waiting for a pregnancy announcement.
Mok cleared his throat before facing Rome slightly, "Khun Rome, it is true that I have adopted a kid however I don't have anyone else nor do I love someone else aside from you".
His words made Rome smile cheekily but it disappeared as quickly as it came when the other seems to realize something.
"But why did you adopt someone Mok? You're too young and the kid looks too old to be adopted" that earned him a glare from Mok who doesn't seem to like what he said.
"I've known Elle since she was 8 Khun Rome, it wasn't my plan to adopt her but I did after a traumatizing incident happened".
Rome's brows furrowed with what Mok said, he didn't know about the girls existence or even that Mok knows someone outside of their family.
"Would you like to meet her Rome? She's a very nice kid, takes after Mok" Thee said teasingly.
His brother shot him a glare before clinging again to Mok, "Of course I wanna meet her, I need to see if someone else had stolen my Mok away" he said with puppy eyes.
Thee grinned at him and said that the girl is hiding in her room, Mok nodded at his boss and pulled his lover away.
—————
Rome still couldn't believe what he found out, let alone seeing who Mok's kid actually is.
The girl from earlier, the one who called him an intruder and shouted papa like her life depended on it.
She looked at him with wide eyes and hid behind Mok, acting like Rome will shoot her if she breathes in his direction wrong.
Rome tried to calm his breathing but irritation can still be noticed by the way he moves his jaw, he has a lot of questions that need to be answered or else.
"Okay Mok, can you please explain to me why you adopted a kid? Or why you didn't tell me? Or why out of everyone, I'm the only one who was kept in the dark?" He asked all at once breath.
The girl just kept quiet and tugged on Mok's sleeve, seemingly encouraging him to speak.
Mok sighed heavily and had all of them sit on the girls bed, he started by telling Rome that he first met the girl 'Elle' at the orphanage that his mother was helping.
Thee and him were visiting it on behalf of his mother when the kid herself had ran to them holding a small daisy and handed it to them.
His fondness of the kid started on that day, so he made it his monthly mission to see the kid just to ensure she's safe.
But a few months ago a fire broke out in the orphanage, it was orchestrated by a gang of human traffickers to kidnap kids.
When the Arseni clan had found out about it, it was already too late as the kids were already taken by the group, it took Mok and his men days to track them down.
The kids were already taken to Hat Yai for shipment to another country, they barely managed to save them in time if not for the girls brave move of calling Mok through a burner phone.
Because of what she did, the gang suffered a major loss and vowed to get revenge on the Arseni clan for interfering.
"They once again tried to kidnap her in order to get even with me and Khun Thee but she's escaped once again, so when we managed to settle the problem with the gang and all the kids had been relocated, we decided to take her in".
Mok explained more, he looked over at the kid who smiled at them widely before continuing the story.
"I didn't really adopt her as my kid but she started calling me papa when she first got here, so we just let her as long as she doesn't call me that outside".
Elle then decided to chime in the conversation, "No need to be so worked up Khun Kritdanai, I only call Uncle Mok papa whenever I need help or in trouble, the auntie who raised me said that by doing that, people would assume I have someone to protect me and wouldn't dare hurt me." She said with a cheeky smile.
Rome narrowed his eyes at her and asked in a stern, serious voice, "Are you a kid? Why do you believe in such things? What if you put Mok in danger by what you do?" He scolded her.
His tone made Elle flinch a bit as he sounded angry, she doesn't know why Rome suddenly got serious or why he looks like he'll commit murder anytime.
"Khun Rome calm down, Nong doesn't mean any harm, it's what she's used to do we let her do that and besides nothing bad has ever happened with her here." Mok said then gently held Rome's wrist.
He pulled Rome closer before resting his forehead on the others shoulder, "Nong is a great kid Rome, she's just like you, strong-willed, hot headed and stubborn, I'm sure you'll get along well."
A pillow flew to Mok's head as he finished his sentence, they both looked to see Elle pouting at him, "That sounds like an insult don't you think?" She sulked.
Mok chuckled at her sulking and ruffled her hair like a puppy, that earned him a small whine and a hit with a pillow. Not only did Mok not get irritated by her actions but he even returned it by flicking her forehead. They did a bit of back and forth before the two left her room.
Rome couldn't help but notice the dynamic between the two, normally no one dares to provoke Mok like that aside from him and his Phi Kian, so seeing someone else do it without fear made him realize just how deep the bond between the two is.
And it made him think that maybe, just maybe, he'll be able to accept this arrangement as long as his Mok is happy.
—————
The morning sun kissed Rome's face as he turned to face his lover, they had deep talks the night before where he reluctantly accepted the girl as Mok's kid even though the two had said that they're not father-daughter.
Rome planted a soft kiss on Mok's face before admiring his artworks, truly he had missed him and the marks on his body is a proof of that, he smirked knowing that he'll get scolded for it later.
He quietly left the bed to shower and have the maids prepare a supper for them, he has a lot of plans for the day and he doesn't want anything to ruin it.
But of course something or someone did.
—————
"What do you mean the kid got into a fight?" Rome hissed at the butler.
The older guy kept his head down before stammering out the response, "The s–school had called Khun Krit, they said they couldn't reach any guardian so they called the house instead, they said that Nong Elle threw a chair at a classmate".
The mafia couldn't believe his ears as irritation flood him, it's only been a day since he knew the kid and yet she's already causing him trouble.
"So, what do they want?" He asked coldly, the butler still kept his head down before answering, "They need to talk to a guardian Khun, anyone that's looking after her will be fine as they said".
He sighed heavily and sent him away, he went back to their room to see Mok already sitting at the edge of the bed, his eyes dark as he talks to someone through the phone.
"I understand, I'll be there as soon as possible" end call.
Mok took a glance at Rome before standing up, the other walked up to him and calmly put his hands on the broad chest, "I need to go to the school, there's a problem" Mok said with softness.
Rome knew that he's talking about the incident so he showed a small smile to his lover, he brought his hand to his lips and left a kiss on the back of it.
"Is this about the fight?" He asked gently. Mok stared at him for a few seconds before sighing, "Yes, seems she got into a fight again" he murmured.
The mafia's brows furrowed at the word 'again', "So this happened before" he exclaimed, not even asking.
Mok just gave a slight nod before giving a strained smile, he squeezed his lovers hand and rest his head on the broad chest. "Don't think badly of her Rome, she doesn't bite unless someone else does first" he explained to soothe his boyfriends irritation.
They both decided to go so that Rome can also familiarize himself with the kids surroundings, after all he decided to extend his stay until his birthday so he can be with Mok longer.
—————
The school was nothing like he expected.
Sure it's clean and decent but he didn't expect an Arseni kid to actually attend a public school especially since that kid is under his P'Kians care.
He took a look around and saw various students either playing soccer, running around, walking or doing whatever normal kids do.
He turned to his lover as they walked side by side, "Is this the right school? Why is it small? Why is it public? Why are you letting an Arseni kid study here, isn't it dangerous for her" he asked continuously.
Mok had a small smile on his face hearing
Rome's worry for the kid, "Don't worry Khun Rome, she's safe here we have undercover guards wherever she goes".
His words made Rome nod as they continue walking to the disciplinary office.
—————
They were still a bit far when they spotted Elle sitting outside the office, infront of her was a family berating her.
The two can hear the mother shouting things such as "Uneducated brat", "Mentally challenged orphan" and "Stupid kid".
Her words angered something in Rome but his lover was faster, Mok walked big steps and got in between Elle and the mother.
His presence scaring her as he looked at them with fierce eyes, "How dare you all my kid mentally challenged? How dare you call her uneducated?" He said with a low, deep voice.
Rome then stepped beside him then sneaked a glance at Elle, she had her head down whilst playing with her fingers.
Her face has scratches, as well as bruises, her uniform ruined in some unpleasant ways, like someone tried to tear it apart.
She looks... pitiful, like someone had stolen her favorite stuffed animal and destroyed it.
Rome would have caved with her looks but the small smirk she's hiding says otherwise.
"We will settle this formally, I would not let you talk to my kid like that" Mok's voice snapped them both out.
Elle looked at Mok like he's an angel meant to save her. Rome looks at him like nothing else matters around them.
After a while of back and forth with the other kids parents, the principal had finally emerged from his office and let them all in, Elle held tightly at Mok's sleeve while walking in, she also glanced up at Rome before sticking her tongue out.
He almost burst out laughing at how she's playing the victim.
Well turns out she is the victim, the school had acquired a video from a classmate that showed what really happened.
~~~~~
Elle was sitting by her desk when a paper plane flew to her head, she looked up and saw her classmate, Jinn laughing and pointing at her.
She didn't think much of it because she doesn't like school drama, after all she's not in a soap opera where the main character gets bullied.
But the guy didn't back off and instead walked over to her, his friends tailing him like pathetic flies.
"Is it true that you've seduced at older man to get here?" Jinn asked.
Elle stopped writing when she heard his words.
Her? Seduced? She doesn't even talk to other people, let alone men.
She stared up at his pathetic little face and scoffed, "The fuck are you talking about? In which soap opera did you get that from?" She answered fiercely, though her hands was starting to shake from the attention she's getting.
She doesn't like where this is going, she doesn't want to get into trouble again.
Jinn smirked and got closer to her face, "I saw you at the entrance earlier, you were dropped off by a rich guy, tell me did you seduce him?".
Khun Mok, this stupid guy is talking about her damn guardian dropping her off.
"Oh fuck off Jinn, don't you have anything better to do? Why are you always on my business? Do you need attention that much?" She mustered out.
Her words angered Jinn that he grabbed her by the collar of her blouse, she got pulled off her seat and almost got dragged before she pushed his hands off.
Both of them looking at each other with burning eyes, Elle gripped the chair next to her to regain composure while Jinn told his friends to grab her.
They all hesitate as none of them really wanna get into a fight, but Jinn being the egocentric asshole he is wouldn't agree to be humiliated like that.
So he ran towards her like a stupid antagonist and tried grabbing her again, Elle dodged his hand and even managed to twist it—a move she learned from Mok.
Their classmates scrambled away as the two got into a fist(more like cat)fight.
Elle pushed him away using the twisted hand and made her away to walk out, Jinn hurriedly pulled her hair like a bitch and threw her back, her back hitting a desk—causing her to fall.
Two classmates tried to intervene but Jinn was quicker and immediately jumped Elle, like literally jumped on her.
His knees hit her face as they both fell on the ground, he seized the chance to hit her with a book on the face, Elle struggled but managed to kick him off her.
Before Jinn could stand again, the girl had already picked up a chair and threw it around him, to make him stop, but the teacher saw otherwise and thought she intended to direct it at him.
He stepped in between then and roughly pulled them out of the classroom.
~~~~~
"Based on the video, it is Mr. Jiratanni who started the fight however we can see that Ms. Jenelle had been more aggressive" the teacher tried to reason.
But the two were having none of it especially after hearing the full story from Jinns friend themselves.
Rome looked at Mok's calm face, but he knew that beneath that calm exterior, a burning anger was awakened. One thing that Mok doesn't like is people looking down on others and thinks they're above them.
The principal coughed and tried speaking but Mok got ahead, "I can sue your son" he started staring straight at the kid
"I can sue him for verbal abuse, harassment and physical assault" Mok continued, the parents looked mortified by what he said.
Then he turned to them, "And you, I can also sue you for verbal harassment as per what we witnessed earlier outside".
Rome felt a smirk coming but he held himself back, letting his lover take care of the matter himself. Mok then turned to Elle who was staring at him with wide eyes, "Do you want papa to sue them?" He asked with a soft voice. The sudden use of the word 'papa' made Rome stare at him.
She immediately shook her head and spoke up with trembling voice, "No, no I don't want that, I just want them to stop targeting me or my other schoolmates" she said.
"I only fought back that's it, but we shouldn't sue anyone papa, it's a bit extreme" she continued. Mok stared at her for a while before running a hand through her hair, a gesture that made Rome's heart soften by the naturality of it.
He then spoke, "Allow me to speak, I'm her dad and I think a little disciplinary action wouldn't hurt no?" Rome said with his stern voice.
The two turned to look at him, Elle's eyes full of curiosity and fondness, "He hurt my kid, accused her of something just because he looks down on her and tried to frame her? That's already criminal-like but since she doesn't want any legal interference then we should atleast conduct a punishment" the mafia continued.
The parents faces now turning white with every word he spoke, Jinn breathing heavily on the chair.
Perfect, now you're scared.
"But he's a—".
The principal cut the dad off, "I think that's the best decision Khun Kritdanai" he said almost whispering.
After all, a mafia boss is the one that spoke, they can't really deny him what he wants.
"Then it's settled, we hope you choose a proper punishment principal" Mok spoke again before standing.
"Do give us a call for an update, right now I need to bring my daughter to the hospital and if I see that my daughter had suffered serious injuries, then be sure to hear from my lawyer." Mok said, his voice getting lower with each word.
The intensity made everyone in the room hold their breaths, the three walked out with Rome leading them both to the car.
The car ride home was silent as none really wanna speak about what happened, Elle had only spoken once and that is to tell Mok that she doesn't wanna go to the hospital.
A silent agreement was made as Rome contacted their private doctor instead to check on her.
And with the quiet flow of the ride, Rome thought of something.
The kid really is the same as Mok. A fearless fighter who wouldn't let anyone look down on her but also like him...someone who fights with her hands rather than with words.
That thought made Rome chuckle a little,making the kid look at him suspiciously while Mok just sighed at him.
Oh my love, where did you find a carbon copy?