Chapter 21: The Rescue

Content warning ⚠️: graphic descriptions of violence and corpses. Viewer discretion is adviced.

Est.

Est woke up on the cold, hard floor in an unfamiliar room, a sharp pain throbbing in his neck and the side that had been hit during the collision.

He groaned quietly and tried to sit up with his arm, but the ache made him struggle, head panging, mouth tasting like copper.

He wasn't bound by any chains or rope.

That surprised him.

He looked around quietly... and that was when he saw the men.

The two of them stood by the door side, their rifles pointed straight at him. The black metal glinted in the low lighting and it looked both cold and menacing.

Their faces were hard, eyes watching every move he made.

Est gulped nervously.

Neither of the men spoke, just kept pointing their guns at him. The room was quiet save for the loud groan of the roof above them.

The house must be large and ancient, Est thought. Because of what that meant, it made his heart beat faster.

Whoever had taken him had money and power.

Still, he didn't panic.

Or he did but he didn't show it.

He had been in similar situations before.

He only ended up hurting himself when he panicked.

He slowly sat up and scooted backwards on the floor until his back pressed against the wood of a bed, the frame digging into his spine. He kept his hands over his bent knee, feeling for the knife he'd secretly inserted into his sleeve.

It was still there.

The small metal gave him a sense of hope. Unlike before, he wasn't completely defenseless.

He took a deep, steadying breath and calmed himself.

He wasn't dead yet.

The thought brought a strange, bitter-sweet feeling to him.

While he was somewhat relieved, dying right now seemed much easier than whatever the future had in store for him.

As long as Will was alive, he knew he'd never truly be safe.

He sighed again, and took a better look around his surroundings without moving his head too much.

The room had new, elegant wallpaper, a grand oak door that the guards was stood in front of, a small table by the side, and two windows draped by embroidered curtains.

That solidified his earlier thought.

Whoever kidnapped him had money. Old money. Or the type of money that could buy old money.

Could it be that fucker Hong? Est pondered.

Most likely.

He had openly threatened to murder Est after all.

And Est did try to kill him first.

Fair game.

Est thought about Pavel then, and wondered if he made it. He wasn't sure. He'd been knocked out before he could see or do anything.

The thought that he might have sent an unwelcome chill through Est.

One of the armed men noticed his sudden jerk and watched him closely, before muttering something to his colleague. It was in a language Est recognized but didn't understand.

Japanese.

Of course, Est thought gritting his teeth with sudden irritation.

Of course, it was them. The Yakuza.

Of course he'd gotten caught up in another one of Will's endless acts of violence.

When will it end? He wondered, leaning his head back against the bed frame and half-closing his eyes, sighing in utter defeat.

He pressed his sleeve closer to his chest, letting it rest like a source of comfort, a silent promise.

He wasn't dead. Not yet atleast.

If he somehow managed to make it out of here alive, maybe he would take Tui's suggestion.

And finally find a way out of this hellhole that had become his life.

~~~

Will

After sealing the kiln with mud, William closed the heavy door with a soft but drawn out clang. Then he pulled off the thick gloves and wiped sweat, mud and ash from his forehead with the back of his hand.

It had been a long day.

It had become especially harder with Est's unexpected arrival weighing in on him.

William had wanted him to stay.

But he sent him away for both their sakes.

He didn't deserve someone as good as Est.

And Est would be stupid to keep coming after him like this.

But still...

How had Est found him?

William rubbed his face again, brows furrowed, half curious, half fascinated.

Had he really let Est in, deeply enough that Est couid read now him like pages on a book?

Or was Est just good at peeling away all the layers he'd set up to protect himself?

Either ways, none of it mattered.

He would keep Est away. He had to.

At that exact moment, the back door burst open with a loud pang.

Pavel stumbled outside, breathing heavily, bleeding from his side, shirt torn and bloodied. His body were covered with small cuts and scrapes and he held his left shoulder at a strange angle.

It was very clearly broken.

The frightened June stood behind him, trying to help him up but she didn't seem to know where to put her hands.

William's heart lurched. "Pavel?" He rushed over and caught his man before he could drop completely.

Pavel leaned heavily against him, blood soaking through his shirt onto William's.

"What happened? Who did this to you?" William asked.

Pavel's looked up at him, trembling from his pain. "They took him." His voice was a hoarse, broken sound.

William froze, eyes widening, staring at Pavel's bleeding face. The workshop suddenly felt too small, the air too tight to breathe.

They took him.

Est.

FUCK!!!

Fear mixed with deadly rage rose inside William. His jaw clenched, tight enough to crack bone. His hands behind Pavel curled into fists so hard his knuckles turned white and his hand shook.

No! No! No! No!

NO!!!!

He'd fucked up!!

The weakness he'd shown before, the risk he took because of Est, had come back to bite him in the ass.

He'd let Est in. Had given him space to make demands he couldn't say no to.

And William had listened, when he shouldn't have. When he should have stuck to his gut instinct.

He should have KILLED THEM ALL!!!

But he let Est make him weak.

And now that weakness might cost him Est's life.

No...

Never again.

He wouldn't hold back anymore.

This time, he would wipe them all out. No more mercy or consideration. No more second chances.

William helped Pavel to the wooden bench and lowered him carefully.

Guilt stabbed at him for a moment when he saw how badly Pavel was hurt. He had only just recovered from the gunshot wound during the last ambush. And now here he was, paying another price for William's mistake... again.

That chipped away at William.

But the guilt quickly drowned underneath the rising wave of anger.

He stood up straight, pinching the bridge of his nose hard, trying to control his almost blinding rage, set his heart at normal pace again.

They had Est now.

But not for long.

He knew there would be no demands. No calls for negotiation.

Rui only wanted one thing.

Vengeance— cold and final.

He couldn't get irrational now— not if he wanted Est back in one whole piece.

He had to become the man he needed to be right now.

He would find Rui, get Est back and erase this problem. Completely.

William picked up his phone with shaky hands, and dialed a number. The line rang twice.

A rough voice answered then. "Sir?"

"Earth..." William said, his voice low and cold. "Gather as many men as you can within the next hour. And get Book to call me asap. There's a tracker he needs to locate."

"Understood, Sir."

"I'll send you an address. Get Aou here immediately." William ended the call then and sent a location pin.

Then he took a long, deep breath.

The backyard was quiet save for the distant honk of a truck and Pavel's labored breathing.

The smell of clay burning seemed distant now.

He could only think of Est now, of his innocent, cat-like self waking up somewhere, surrounded by guns, half afraid, half demanding.

Est's sharp tongue and temper would most likely get him killed quick.

William's breathing tightened again. His heart twisted in his chest.

He glanced back at Pavel, who now lay flat against the bench, half conscious, face pale under the bruises.

A fierce, protective feeling overcame him.

Fuck, William thought darkly. The anger in him didn't fade. It sharpened into something cold and calculated, clear and final.

He had to get Est back. He would get Est back by all means necessary.

And he would make them pay all for this.

This time, he would end it for good.

William walked back inside, towards the backroom that was his home, the only place he truly found peace. He opened the closet and stepped into an adjoining room where he had his arsenal of weapons hidden.

He was going to shed blood tonight.

~~~

Est

Est sat on the cold floor for what felt like months even when it had only been been a few hours.

He didn't dare to move much. The pain in his side slowly eased, but it never fully went away. It still hurt to breath sometimes, but he tried to keep it as quiet as possible.

He had to be careful, especially now when it seemed like him being alive was some sort of threat.

So he swallowed his discomfort and waited, eyes half-open, listening for any new sounds.

The armed men stood like statues around him, guns never lowering. They occasionally chatted in Japanese, but they were mostly quiet, at alert even when they didn't need to be.

No one was coming for him.

He'd probably be dead first before anyone arrived.

That inevitability pressed down on him, hard and unshaking. Then he found his mind wandering against his will.

He thought about his mom— how he hadn't told her he loved her enough. He thought about Sparkles— his baby he would never get to see or hold again.

He thought about the book he would never get to finish. Somehow, that thought haunted him the most, so much so it actually made him chuckle.

Daou would probably still publish it, make a martyr out of him, and write an outrageous obituary about how he mounted a very hung horse... and never came back down.

That made Est not want to die a little more.

Then in a much quieter moment, he thought about William. His face, his voice, his laugh, his very being that Est had fallen fall despite all his efforts not to.

He thought about the mess that had brought him here. A bitter, painful feeling rose and settled in his chest.

Would this be his life now?

Always having to look over his shoulder? Or maybe learning to move forward with a gun constantly by his hip?

That wasn't living. At least not to Est.

He might actually have to eat the bullet with glee this time, he decided miserably.

Eventually, the door creaked open, pulling Est from his thoughts, making his heart pound even harder.

An older man stepped inside, his movements slow but sturdy, receiving respectful bows from the armed men.

He had gray hair that was neatly pushed back, small shiny eyes, a set lip and he wore a crisp, expensive suit. He looked to be in his early to mid-fifties.

And he walked with the help of a polished, intricately carved wooden walking cane.

In any other situation, Est might have found him handsome, attractive in the way he liked.

But right now, only fear twisted his chest.

The man said something in Japanese and the armed men nodded quickly. Then the older man turned and walked straight to Est,  stick thudding on the floor with each step. When he was in front of Est, he crouched down to his level, holding his stick for balance.

His eyes were eerily calm, empty, but shiny all the same.

"Hello..." He said in fluent Thai. "My name is Rui."

Est stared at him, silent, breathing slow. His heart kept pounding, and he gulped nervously.

"Do you know why you're here?" Rui asked.

Est slowly shook his head.

Rui's let out a quiet but slightly annoyed breath. "Est— that is your name right?"

Est nodded silently.

"I'm going to be very frank with you... things will be more difficult if you lie to me." Rui's tone was low and even, but Est could hear the warning beneath loud and clear.

He took a shaky breath. Then answered quietly. "William.."

Rui nodded. "Yes. William. You are his lover, yes?"

Est frowned then, brows crinkled. "No..." He shook his head. "You've got the wrong idea. We're not—"

Before he could finish, the end of the cane swung hard and at the speed of lightning, landing against the side of Est's head. Raw pain exploded across his skull and Est gasped sharply as warm blood oozed down his forehead and into his eye.

Rui stood up slowly, walked to the small side table and shrugged off his suit jacket, draping it against the back of the chair. Then he turned to the armed men and spoke quickly in Japanese, tone firm.

The men bowed again, deeper this time, almost hesitant. They gave Est one long, uneasy look before filing out of the room.

The large oak door shut behind them with a loud creak that echoed through the house.

Then it was quiet again. Just the two of them.

Somehow, that was even more terrifying for Est.

Rui reached into his pockets and pulled out several thick golden rings, throwing them on the table with a carefree flick. One by one, he began to slide them onto the knuckles of each finger.

The metal clicked softly as he spoke. "To end his attacks on my business..." Rui began, voice calm. "Your William forced my only son to commit suicide right in front of me." His tone didn't waver, but his eyes burned red, shining with barely controlled rage. "My boy— Jimmy— he was always stubborn. Strong-minded. He was also very ambitious..." He paused, eyes glistening with memory. "I knew that fire would get him killed one day. But... he was still my son."

Est took a nervous breath with the admission.

So that was what happened?

What shook William into isolation?

Picturing it almost made Est laugh.

Maybe he did laugh, because Rui turned towards him, brows lifting in question. "You think that's funny?"

Est actually chuckled then, eyes glistening with mirth. "You know, I saw your son once. He almost had me killed." He said, feeling a small sense of vindication for Will.

Rui moved closer, adjusting the ring on his finger in a way that was menacing. "I'm sure he did not mean to harm you... You just happened to be in the wrong place, at the wrong time." He said softly, a stark contrast to his obvious intent.

"I was hunted like an animal." Est cut in, voice rising along with his temper.

Rui looked away, jaw clenched tight. The conversation was not steering as he expected. "This isn't about you. This is about my son and William."

"Then why am I fucking here??!!!" Est exploded, chest heaving.

It went quiet then. Silence stretched, thick and endless.

After a moment, Rui spoke again, shunning his question. "I begged William to spare my son's life... told him take me instead."

Est stared at the older man for a long moment. And then he realized something. This wasn't grief, not really. It was just his bruised ego dressed up as twisted sick love. A hollow, self-righteous kind of grief.

Rui was just another piece of shit... just like his son.

Just like Hong.

Just like Will.

They were all cut from the same rotten cloth.

He let out a low scoff, lip curling in disgust.

"But why the fuck would he take you?" Est asked, deciding to taunt rather than reason. "You're not the one who ambushed him..."

He then dragged his gaze over the older man from head to toe, smirking darkly. "And you're fucking old, you'll be dead soon anyways."

Rui laughed out then, shoulders shaking with the force. But the sound was empty. "You're funny." He said drily.

"I'm not joking..." Est said, voice cold. "Your son was piece of shit and Will did the world a huge favour getting rid of him. I'm glad he's fucking dead."

Rui's expression darkened, something dark and twisted settling in its place. "You think my son deserved that? To gut himself open, in front of his father, in front of his kin??"

Est didn't hesitate. "I think he fucking deserved worse. I hope he burns in hell." Est spat.

A flicker of something ugly crossed Rui's face. Then he let out a short, cold laugh. "You have a sharp mouth, pretty one...." He said. "I'm going to fuck it before I send your head to William."

Est didn't flinch even when he wanted to.

He refused to show fear, not to this twisted, fucked up sicko.

His fingers closed on the inside of his sleeve, conspicuously slipping the knife out.

Rui caught his movement, looked at him with a small, vindictive smile. "Are you going to fight me?" He asked.

Est shook his head slowly. "No..." He lied.

"Good..." Rui said. "It will only be more painful if you resist."

Rui walked forward and reached down for him.

In that instant, Est slashed upwards with the knife. The blade cut across Rui's arm and blood welled up immediately.

Rui pulled back slightly and looked down at the cut soaking up his sleeve, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

He then sighed deeply, almost sounding regretful. "I warned you not to fight back."

"STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME!" Est screamed, panting, his voice cracking from adrenaline and fear.

Rui stepped back calmly and bent to pick up his wooden cane. Then he moved towards Est again.

Est backed away, knife pointed, keeping distance between them. They slowly circled each other in the middle of the room, the air tightened, the mood deadly.

Rui moved with surprising grace for his age, calm and confident. He also hadn't called in the guards back yet.

That only meant one thing, he believed he could handle Est alone.

And he probably could.

That thought sent a cold spike of fear through Est.

And in that moment, all he could think of was how much he hated Will and Hong for dragging him into their fucked up mess.

He cursed the day he met them.

Soon, Rui had backed him against the wall.

There was nowhere left to run.

Rui approached slowly, cane tilted on his arm.

Est looked around quickly and grabbed a small vase from a nearby drawer.

He knew he couldn't win in a real fight.

He'd only even been in a few back in high school. And back then, he'd gotten his ass whooped each time.

He didn't have the skill or technique.

But he had instinct, a high tolerance for pain, and more importantly, he had the knife in his other hand.

He wouldn't die as some helpless victim.

Not today.

Not like this.

Rui suddenly flicked the stick with lightning speed. It struck Est's hand, and the knife clattered loudly to the floor.

Fuck!

Without thinking, Est threw the vase at Rui's head. The older man shattered it mid-air with one powerful swing of the stick. Pieces of the ceramic exploded across the room and he went unharmed. Not even a single scratch.

That was when the beating began.

The stick came down hard on Est, again and again.

It hit his arms, his shoulder, his back, his already injured side. Each blow sent fire spreading through his body.

Est raised his hands to protect his head, but a heavy strike landed on his shoulder, making him cry out. Another hit his ribs, and the pain nearly made him black out.

His body burned.

Every muscle screamed. 

He soon tasted copper in his mouth.

His body weakened quicky from the strikes, almost depleted.

Rui only stopped then, when Est stopped moving, already collapsed in a heap on the floor.

Sighing heavily, Rui tossed the stick to the floor and wiped his brow with his sleeve. "Young people are so foolish these days. You underestimated me because I'm older..." He said, tone casual. "In my prime, I would have torn you apart by now."

Est dragged himself onto his hands and knees, coughing up blood, the dark fluid splattering on the floor. His whole body writhed with pain.

"Stay down..." Rui ordered, voice curt.

Est didn't listen.

So Rui kicked him on the stomach, sending raw pain shooting down his spine. Another kick landed square on his hip bone.

Est grunted aloud, the raw pain splitting his nerves.

But he didn't stop moving. He kept trying to push himself up.

"I said stay down!!!" Rui lifted his boot to kick him again.

But Est reacted on pure instinct.

He grabbed the man's leg and bit down hard into his calf. Rui screamed in shock and pain, stumbling backwards.

Est looked at the knife lying a few feets away, and took his chance. He lunged for it, ignoring the pain in his side. His fingers closed around the handle.

Rui moved fast and just as he approached again, limping and furious, Est stabbed upwards into his thigh, probably knicking an artery.

Rui let out a stomach-curling scream, the sound echoing off the walls as blood spurted from his wound.

Est didn't stop. He pulled the knife out, and stabbed again.

And again.

And again.

Each strike moved higher up Rui's body and blood rushed from the wounds.

He expected the door to fly open any second, those same guards rushing in and pouncing on him to save their master.

But it remained shut.

No one came to rescue him.

Maybe the room was soundproof.

Maybe Rui had told them not to come back in no matter what.

Est didn't care.

He only cared that it remained locked

Rui dropped to the floor, clutching his bleeding legs, screaming for help. "HELP! Someone—"

Est climbed over the weakening man, clamping a bloody hand tightly over Rui's mouth, muffling his cries. With his other hand, he kept stabbing.

Into his torso, his waist, his chest, his neck. Everywhere his hand could reach.

Each strike made a wet, twisted, squelching sound. Blood splattered across Est's face, his clothes, the floor, warm and sticky.

Rui kept screaming under Est's palm, the sounds muffling into broken, desperate grunts.

His body started shaking violently. His eyes began to fog over, slowly losing focus.

But Est didn't stop.

His arm grew tired, muscles burning with exhaustion, but still he kept driving the knife down again and again.

Tears of fear, rage, and adrenaline mixed with the blood on his face. His breathing came in short, ragged gasps.

He wouldn't stop. Wouldn't be helpless.

Not today.

Not ever again.

~~~

William

William sat back on the expensive leather seats of the high security Humvee, his hands bunched into a fist so tight his knuckles paled.

A long convoy of about fifteen other cars followed closely behind him, headlights cutting through the evening sky like a beacon.

He knew stealth was what he should have gone for in a situation like this.

But he was also going in blindly.

He had no idea how many men Rui had or how much fire power.

He had only managed to gather about a hundred men in such a short time, but still, it should be enough for what he needed.

Still he couldn't remain calm. His heart pounded painfully in his chest.

"Fuck!!!" He hissed.

He'd been cursing under his breath the entire way here.

He couldn't help himself.

He'd been so fucking stupid.

He had Rui in his fucking den... and he spared him. He'd shown dignity and mercy when he should have been cold and precise. Without scruples.

Now Est was the one paying the price for that weakness.

The thought made his stomach turn painfully. His mind strayed to places it shouldn't have, despite himself.

What if Rui had already hurt him?

What if he had broken him?

Or worse?

What if Est was already dea—

William shook his head sharply, trying to push the dark thoughts away.

No, He couldn't think like that.

But it was hard not to.

Hours had passed since Est had been taken. Too many hours.

And William knew Rui's reputation all too well.

The man was a Samurai, a gifted martial artist, the best fighter the yakuza had ever known. In his prime, people said he had slain over a hundred men in a battle for his clan.

He had never lost a fight before... not until William came along and ripped everything from him.

Even now, in his fifties, Rui could probably still break a strong man in half.

And for someone as delicate as Est...

Fear gripped William's chest like a cold, dead hand.

He imagined the worst.

He feared Rui would throw Est's head at his feet the moment he arrived. William felt bile- sick and twisted— slowly rise up his throat.

The convoy soon closed in on the large mansion. From a distance, William could see the big house sitting quietly on its grounds.

The lawns looked empty, but he knew better. They knew he was coming.

But they were waiting.

This was obviously a suicide mission for Rui.

William had taken his son from him. Now Rui wanted to take something back, even at the cost his own life.

William just prayed he wasn't too late."Stop the car." He ordered, his voice low and firm.

The driver pulled over sharply. William grabbed his Glock from the seat, then tucked a second gun into his holster, before stepping out into the warm evening air. The other cars stopped behind him, doors opening as a few men poured out quietly.

"Circle the perimeter..." William said, cold and calculative. "Remember the formation. Don't shoot first or blindly. If they shoot, shoot back. Stay sharp."

Earth, Pavel's next in command, stepped closer. "Be careful, boss.." He said quietly, worry clear in his voice.

William gave a single nod and slammed the car door shut. Then he ran into the thick bushes, moving fast towards the concrete fence.

With a powerful run and jump, he scaled then tall fence and landed with a heavy thud on the other side. He aimed his gun sharply, ready to strike at any moment.

No one came up behind him.

So William kept moving, his movements careful and precise, like a predator hunting in someone else's territory.

He circled the house slowly, staying in the shadows.

But there was nothing.

No guards outside, no movements. It was completely quiet.

Too quiet.

Was this a setup?

A trap?

Most likely.

Still, the tracker said Est was here.

Or had they found the tracker and cut it out?

William sucked in a shaky breath, heart rupturing.

He couldn't remember the last time he felt real fear like this... It had been a very long time. So long, he tightened his hand on the gun to stop from shaking.

Time wasn't his friend right now. It was ticking fast and every moment Est was in the hand of this enemy was a second closer to his grave.

Unable to wait any longer, he did something he never thought he would do so openly. "Rui!!!!!!!" William screamed into the night, his voice raw and loud. "SHOW YOUR FACEEEEE!!!"

Only silence and the wind rustling the leaves answered him back.

He couldn't waste more time.

William flipped his gun and smashed a window with its handle. Glass shattered loudly and the sound set off an alarm in the house..

He opened it, climbed through carefully and dropped into the house, boots thudding softly on the floor.

The room was dark and empty and no one came running towards his sound.

William kept moving though, with stealth and precision, gun raised, eyes scanning every corner.

"Rui!!!! Come out!!!!" He called out again, voice echoing through the halls. "It's me you want, not Est! Come face me!"

There was no answer.

A cold dread started creeping into William's bones.

Something felt wrong.

Very wrong.

He had a strong feeling they weren't here anymore.

Or at least, not in the way he hoped for.

He walked towards the grand staircase, his footsteps light and careful on the wooden floor.

"RUIIII!!!!" He called again, scanning every corner.

Still nothing.

He moved up the stairs slowly, each of the wooden step creaking under his weight, the sound loud even in the steady drone of the alarm.

At the top, he slowly looked to his left and right. His instinct told him to go right.

So he followed it, heading towards the bedroom at the end of the long hall. Gun pointed forward, he pushed the door open.

There was nothing. The room was empty.

Frustration burned hot inside him, unsteadying him deeply. He pulled out his walkie-talkie and clicked. "Earth, there's no one here!!" He whisper- cursed into the device, patience thinned. "Are you sure Book got the location right?"

Earth's voice came back quickly. "Yes boss. The tracker points here."

William slammed the walkie-talkie hard onto the ground, and stomped on it. It cracked to pieces from the impact.

Anger and terror surged through him, rendering him unstable.

All reason flew out the window.

Gun no longer aimed, he stormed out of the room, shoving each door open when he passed. "EST?!!" He shouted, voice growing hoarse. "EST!!! WHERE ARE YOU?!?!"

Room after room turned up empty.

He checked bathrooms, looked under beds, ripped open wardrobes.

There was nothing.

His men were breaking into the house now too, calling out to him from downstairs. Some turned off the alarm and other doors flung open.

But William didn't stop.

He couldn't stop.

Not until he found Est.

His breathing grew faster with each empty room, more frantic. At the last door in the hallway, his fingers shook, his breathing shortened as he turned the handle and stepped inside. "Est?" He whispered, voice barely audible, cracked.

The room was... also empty.

William's hand came up, and he clawed at his hair with both hands, breathing turning short and harsher. A single drop of water hit the wooden floor between his boots and when he looked down, another dropped.

Confused, he touched his own cheek. It was wet. With real fucking tears.

His fingers trembled even faster. His whole body began to shake without control.

"What—?" He whispered brokenly, eyes wide with pain and panic.

No, this was bad.

Very bad.

If he already hurt like this and Est was gone— truly gone— the pain would never stop. It would eat him alive like a parasite.

And he would become even more unstable.

William did not understand why he cared so much. Or why it hurt so bad.

Maybe it was guilt. Maybe it was the debt he owed for Est saving his life. Maybe he'd come to have a sense of responsibility over him.

Maybe... he just wanted to protect him a little more than others.

It couldn't be love.

No, that was stupid.

You don't treat the people you love the way he treated Est.

So why was he crying?

William shook his head.

No. Whatever it was, this wasn't... him. This was someone else in his body.

And that frightened him more than anything.

So he wiped at his face furiously, trying to stop the the tears.

But they kept coming, a slow, endless rush

He couldn't make them stop no matter how hard be tried.

"Khun William?" Earth suddenly called from behind him.

William paused, almost flinching, his breathing short and ragged.

He couldn't let his men see him, not like this— broken and crying. "Wha—?" He tried to ask, but his voice cracked mid-syllable.

Earth paused, a little struck, obviously seeing through William's broken shield.

He had been working for William for almost six years now. But he had only ever seen his cold side.

He had never seen his boss like.... this.

This frantic over anything... or anyone. When he spoke again, his voice was softer this time, much careful. "Khun Est... he's downstairs."

William didn't care about hiding his tears anymore. His head snapped around quickly, looking at Earth like he'd just been handed mercy on a diamond platter.

Without a word, he rushed forward and pushed past Earth, moving quickly past the hallways then down the stairs.

His heart pounded harder with each step he took.

Earth had said Est was there... but he didn't say whether he was alive. Downstairs, his men had gathered around a particular door on the right end.

They wore bewildered looks on their faces as they tried to make space for him to pass. Some quickly stepped aside when they realized it was him, others froze when they saw the tear streaks on his face and wet lashes, too astonished to speak.

William ignored the looks and pushed through the crowd of bodies. And his heart thundered in his ears the closer he got.

At the very edge of the door, the men turned and parted silently for him.

William stepped forward.

And the sight that met his eyes terrified him.

Not just because of the blood and violence, but because it dragged up dark memories from a time he seemed to frequently recall these days. Disturbing images flickered in his mind, but William blinked them away hard and stared, his eyes wide and glassy.

Est was kneeling on the floor, covered in blood from head to toe, knife pointed straight at the door. His inner shirt and trousers were completely soaked through and his face was smeared with the thick dark red colour.

Next to him laid Rui's mangled corpse, also drenched in blood. Whatever colour his expensive suit had originally been was now impossible to tell.

He looked like he had bled from every part of his body.

Est's eyes looked feral and unfocused. His breathing came harsh and uneven. His hand shook helplessly even as he gripped the knife, pointing straight at them.

He looked like a frightened abused animal.

And that broke William's heart.

William took one slow step forward, then another, boot thudding against the floorboards.

Est's hand shook harder, a clear warning.

"Boss." One of the men called, trying to pull William back.

Will raised a finger to silence him. Then took took another careful step forward.

Est's grip didn't waver, but he shook even more violently the closer William got. He didn't say a word, just kept the blade pointed straight at William, until he was stood right in front of him.

William looked down at Est then. And beneath the blood covering on his face, he could see the ugly bruise on Est's forehead.

He slowly glanced at Rui's dead body. Deep puncture wounds covered the older man's body from head to toe.

Their fight had clearly been brutal.

Est still kept the knife pointed at him. One more step and the blade would meet William's stomach.

William exhaled slowly and held out his palm.

Est looked at the open hand, then up at William's tear streaked face. His body still shook impulsively and his emotions were very unstable.

He felt fear, anger, relief, worry, love, hate all at once.

The moment tightened between them, taut with tension.

The men behind William clutched their guns tighter, ready should Est try to do something stupid.

Est's breathing harshened, jaw clenched tight... as though he was fighting a terrible inner battle.

His eyes darted between William's face and the offered hand.

One part screamed to let go, to submit to William.

The other just wanted to end it all. Once and for all.

Finally, after a long internal debate, Est cracked. His breathing evened and his heart settled into something that was close normal.

Slowly— shoulders shrunken— he placed the bloody knife into William's open palm.

William closed his fingers around it, thumb brushing over Est's finger, then the sticky handle. He carefully slipped the blade into his pocket.

Then, without hesitation, he reached down and scooped Est into his arms with effortless strength, lifting him off the bloody floor, clothes peeling off the ground with a loud thwack sound. Est's blood covered arms came up and circled around William's neck securely.

William turned around and carried him out of the room. The men quickly stepped aside, creating a path for them to pass seamlessly. He carried Est out of the house, past the gardens all the way to the waiting car outside the gate.

There, he tucked him into the back seat, belting him in gently, as if he was the most fragile thing in the world. Est looked completely worn out, eyes heavy and tired.

"Where are you taking me?" He asked, his voice weak and rough.

"Don't worry..." William reassured him softly, brushing a bloody strand of hair from Est's forehead. "You'll be safe with me."

He then moved back and shut the door carefully before turning to Earth, who'd been following closely behind. "Take the body and bury it. Clean everything up and fix the window. When the cops arrive, nothing happened here."

Earth nodded once, and moved back to the house.

William walked around to the other side and got in, settling in next to Est, who'd already fallen asleep.

William studied his pretty, blood covered features, protective instincts flaring again. He made a quiet promise to himself that he would never let something like this happen again.

The driver started the car, and the vehicle roared to life, pulling out of the scene as they drove back into night time Bangkok.

~~~

Nut

Nut drove through the quiet streets with Hong sitting next to him in the passenger seat.

The mood inside the car was heavy and tense, had been since they got the call.

Hong wore a simple blue sweater and kept biting the side of his finger, staring out the window.

Nut glanced over at him a few times, worry clear in his eyes. He sighed eventually as he turned at an intersection and kept driving.

They soon arrived at the cheap motel located on the outskirts of the city.

The surrounding officers had already sealed off the outdoor area with yellow tape.

Nut parked the car and stepped out, taking a wary look around. Then he moved towards the officer in charge with Hong following closely behind.

They met the man standing near the doorway and Nut flashed his badged. "DSI"

The man nodded. "I'm Officer Force. We've been waiting for a while now."

Nut looked at Hong, then back at the officer. "Took us a while to get here. Has anything been moved?" He asked.

Officer Force shook his head. "No, sir. We just sealed off the area and left everything exactly as we found it. Forensics are already inside doing their sweep."

Nut nodded. "Thanks." He said and stepped forward. They grabbed some gloves and plastic bags for their shoes, putting them on before stepping into the room together.

The odor hit first. It wasn't strong enough to nauseate yet but it was just enough to sicken. The sight hit them harder.

The two young boys were both lying naked on the bed. Dead. Their bodies looked pale as a ghost and flies already started to perch off them.

Hong's face twisted.

Nut gave him a worried look.

Then patting his shoulder, he moved forward. "Sawadee Krub." Nut greeted with a wai.

"Sawadee Krub." The forensic team paused to return their greeting, then continued their job.

"Has the other boy been identified?" Nut asked quietly.

"Not yet..." Officer Force replied. "We only identified Luke from the information he provided when he paid for the room. His school bag is just on the chair over there."

Hong sighed wearily and walked to the small table, going through the neatly arranged contents of the bag. Surely enough, he saw the ID, credit cards along with the a few bottle of pills and untagged bags of powder. He swallowed hard, his throat working visibly.

"And where is his car?" Nut asked as he moved closer, looking at the second boy. Recognition flicked instantly.

Shit.

It was Mick Metawin— the crying kid with the overprotective parents. Nut felt a heavy weight drop in his stomach.

He wanted to run his hands over his face and scream out his frustration.

This was completely fucked up.

"The car is just outside." Officer Force answered.

Nut took a deep breath and turned to the officer. "This is Mick Metawin. He was close friends with another overdose victim."

Hong turned then and took a closer look. His eyes widened. "Fuck—" He muttered under his breath.

A brief silence settled over the room before one of the forensic analysts spoke, voice careful. "Noted. We'll log him as a tentative ID until it's confirmed."

Nut cursed again, fighting back the urge to scratch an itch in his head.

Four friends, three of which were dead now.

This didn't seem like coincidence.

"So... what happened here?" He asked eventually, still a little shaken by that reality.

"Neighbour heard a violent confrontation and called us..." Force explained. "By the time we arrived, they were already dead."

"Any signs of forced entry?" Hong asked.

"There was some noise, but no broken locks or windows. We heard there were multiple voices inside."

"How many?" Hong asked. "Could have been just the two of them?"

"Neighbour isn't sure. Just said it was loud and seemed violent."

Hong sighed again and stepped closer to the bodies. There he examined them carefully. "There's no bleeding..." He noted. "But there are bruises on their bodies and their noses and lips are blue. Looks like fentanyl."

Nut looked at Hong with concerned eyes.

Even though Hong kept a composed face, Nut could tell this unsettled him deeply.

It should unsettle anyone.

And even while it angered him, drove him, Nut had seen too many dead bodies over his many years as a cop and had grown somewhat numb to the sight.

But Hong was different.

He wasn't used to this kind of darkness, and that secretly tugged on Nut's protective instincts.

He wished he could protect Hong, keep him far away from all of this.

Hong turned to him. "What do you think?"

"Possible homicide?" Nut answered, somewhat unsure.

Force looked between them, frowning. "Homicide? Looks like a double suicide to me." He pitched in.

"They're both unclothed." Hong said. "No visible struggle from the sheets on the bed... and their positions are too composed for a violent overdose."

"Exactly." Nut agreed.

"So you think the drug dealer killed the boy, then killed himself?" Force inquired, fascinated.

Hong shook his head. "No... we're most likely looking at a third party killer here."

"Meaning someone else was here?"

"Yes... and from the looks of things, they know what they're doing."

Hong paused for a moment. Then he strode into the adjoining bathroom and took a look around.

The tiles were wet, water still clinging to the walls in a way that seemed amiss. But it was such a small cubicle of a space, a shower perhaps, could have done that.

He turned to the forensic team. "Sweep for prints everywhere. Start with the bathroom— be thorough."

The men nodded and moved.

Hong turned around. "Your theory is also very possible Officer Force. With no witness sightings of a possible intruder, it's our most plausible lead."

Nut nodded. "Yes. We don't rule out anyting yet. We still need to investigate further."

He thanked the men with a wai and then stepped outside to interview the neighbours.

An older woman in a faded robe stood near her door, looking shaken.

"Sawadee Ka." They greeted.

"Sawadee." She wai-ed, though her gaze darted between them suspiciously.

"Did you see or hear anything unusual today?" Nut asked gently.

She nodded slowly. "There were loud thuds on the walls earlier. It sounded like a fight. I heard voices— young voices, arguing over the loud TV noises. I really can't remember..."

Nut took note of that, scribbling on his notepad. The TV had been turned off in the room.

"After that, there was a shout." She continued. "That was when I called the police."

"Did you see anyone leave the room after the screams?" Hong inquired.

The woman shook her head firmly. "No. I stood by my window the whole time. No one came out. The door were closed until the police arrived."

Nut and Hong exchanged a look.

"Thank you for your help..." Nut said sincerely. "If you remember anything else, please call us."

"I will." She said before shutting her door quietly.

They moved to speak with the motel manager next.

He was a tired-looking man in his forties, standing nervously by the office. "What time did the boys check in?" Nut asked.

"Around 2 pm this afternoon." The manager replied.

"How did they pay?"

"The boy Luke, he paid in cash."

"For how long?"

"For the week..."

Hong arched a brow at him. "Did you check their ID's"

"I did sir. The one paying was of age."

"The other one was a minor." Nut corrected.

The manager scratched his head nervously. "Look officers, they were two young boys, looked about the same age. And it was obvious they were lovers. Didn't think much of it at the time."

Nut nodded silently, though he was judging.

"Was there any visitors or strange activity after check-in?" Hong asked.

The manager shrugged. "None that I saw. I just stay in the office all day. I heard some noise because it's usually quiet here, but nothing that made me check."

Nut scribble down neatly. Then: "We appreciate your cooperation. If the police needs the security footage or records, we'll be in touch."

They both left the office and walked back towards the crime scene. The coroners had already arrived and were moving back and forth.

"Have the bodies been taken?" Nut asked one of the forensic team members.

"Yes, they just loaded them." The man replied.

"Who is performing the autopsy?" Hong asked.

"It's Dr Namtam..." The man answered. "She'll start first thing in the morning."

"Checked for fingerprints?" Nut confirmed.

"We found a few. We'll run them through the system soon. I'll let you know what comes up as soon as we get results."

"How about the car? Anything?"

"Found a few fingerprints too, but nothing else."

Nut nodded. "Okay... Good. We'll be back tomorrow. Make sure the scene stays secure till then."

The man nodded.

He and Hong got back into the car and sped off back to the city.

The drive away from the motel was long and quiet. Hong rested his face against his hand, staring out the front window with distant eyes.

Nut kept glancing over at him, his worry growing with each second. "You okay?" He asked eventually, voice soft.

Hong nodded slowly. "Yeah... I'm fine."

But he didn't sound fine. His voice was too flat, too tired.

Nut reached out and gently patted Hong's hair, his touch warm and careful. "You don't have to pretend with me."

Hong didn't answer, but he leaned slightly into the touch.

They drive to Mick's parents' house was a tense one. The meeting was somehow even worse.

Mick's mother broke down the moment she heard the news, her cries strangled and raw.

"NO!!!! NOT MY MICK!!! NOOOOOO." She sobbed, her voice cracking with pain, while her husband held her back.

Then she blamed them.

"This is your fault!!!! Both of you!!!! YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT US ALONEEEEE! NOW MY SON IS DEAD" Fat, ugly tears streamed down her face as she pointed at Nut and Hong in accusation. "You were supposed to protect him! But you KILLED HIM!!" She broke, her words sharp with sorrow.

Nut and Hong could only apologize and leave as the father stared daggers at them.

Luke's father was a much different case.

When they arrived, he opened the door and stood in the doorway of his messy house, clearly drunk, holding a bottle.

When they told him about his son, he barely reacted. "Oh..." He muttered with a slur, eyes glassy. "Well... shit happens, I guess."

He took a huge swig from the bottle and turned away without another word.

The contrast between the two families left a heavy impact, especially within Hong.

As they walked back to their car, Hong moved ahead with long, hurried strides. His shoulders were tense, and he seemed eager to get away from the house.

"Hong?!" Nut called out, but Hong didn't answer. "HONG!!!" He repeated, much louder this time.

Hong paused, shoulders rising and falling heavily. But he didn't turn around.

Nut walked up to him then and gently turned him by the shoulders. "Hey... are you okay?"

Hong sighed deeply and wiped his face. Then with another sigh, he shook his head, looking up at Nut. His eyes were tired and troubled.

Nut understood.

Without saying another word, he pulled him into a deep, comforting hug, wrapping his arms around Hong tightly, pressing him close against his chest.

Hong was stiff for a moment before slowly relaxing into the embrace, letting Nut's warmth seep into him.

"You should talk to me..." Nut said softly into his hair, still holding him. "Let it all out."

Hong was quiet at first, heart still heavy in ways that made hin weak. Then eventually, he opened up, voice coming out small and deeply unsettled. "I'm just... affected by all the deaths recently. It's too much."

Nut pulled away and cupped his face, nudging him gently. "Hey... talk to me. Tell me what's really wrong. I'm here."

Hong looked at the earnestness in his eyes. And it cracked something open in him. "They were just children, Nut..." He said, voice breaking with the confession.

It almost surprised him how much he cared now, how months before a case like this wouldn't have moved him.

What was happening to him?

"And Luke?" Hong added, voice frail. "He was a lot like me. It's just so... sad knowing if I died like that, my parents wouldn't even have a fuck to give." He wiped his eyes again, his heart breaking. "It's just— thinking about it is one thing. But actually seeing it... it hits alot harder."

Nut held him tighter. "Hey... you're okay. You're okay. You're not going to die like that." He reassured, a fierce light in his eyes. "And your parents? They don't matter anymore. I'm here now, Hong. I'm the one who will care for you now." He stroked Hong's chin softly. "I've got you, Hong."

Hong's lashes grew wet with unshed tears.

Nut wiped them away carefully with his thumb. "Hey... don't cry. It's okay..."

Hong shook his head, a single tear slipping down his cheek. "I just— i didn't know how much I needed to hear that from someone." He confessed.

Nut wiped the tear away, smiling softly at him. "Well get used to it then... i'll keep telling you everyday."

Hong chuckled weakly, and another tear slipped free.

Nut swiped the tear again and leaned in, capturing Hong's lip in a slow kiss. Hong opened his mouth and just let Nut pull him in, stealing some of his warmth and light. The kiss was deep, full of passion, comfort and emotion.

Hong tightly fisted Nut's shirt with both hands, bracing himself against the heavy weight of everything he was carrying right now.

And Nut?

Nut was his anchor.

When they finally broke apart, their foreheads pressed together.

Hong's voice came out low, barely a whisper. "I love you, Nut." He confessed without meaning to, still lost in the moment.

Nut's breath caught in surprise, eyes widening slightly.

Hong almost panicked. "You don't have to say it back." He added quickly. But then he paused, stroking Nut's cheek, staring deep in his eyes. "But it's true... I love you, Nut. I have for a while now, and I don't think I can hide it anymore." His voice was lower, a little shy, very vulnerable.

Nut was still stunned speechless. He only nodded slowly, a little disoriented. He then kissed Hong again, much slower this time.

Afterwards, they hugged, holding each other tightly, drinking in the scent of each other and the cool night air around them.

After a long moment, Nut asked quietly. "Do you want to go to my place tonight?"

Hong pulled back slightly, blinking to clear mist off his eye. "Really?" He asked, eyes lighting up.

"Yeah..." Nut said. "I don't want you to be alone tonight."

Hong smiled then. He nodded eagerly, a little childlike, and hugged Nut again, burying his face in his chest.

His heart still felt uneasy, so he still needed Nut to absorb some of the heavy weight off him.

He also wanted to hide a little from his abrupt confession.

Nut hadn't said it back. Not yet.

Their relationship was still fairly new, but Hong was already giving all he had.

He needed Nut to say those words back soon. He had to say it back, Hong thought as he clutched the back of Nut's shirt tightly.

Otherwise, he wouldn't know what to do with himself.

Nut held him for as long as he needed, strong arms wrapped securely around him.

~~~

The car drive to his place was long and quiet, but throughout, Nut never let go of Hong's hand.

The apartment was an old brick building, tucked away in a quiet corner of the city where the streetlights never worked and the moon was the only constant source of light at night.

Nut's apartment was on the fourth floor of the building.

There was no elevators, so they slowly walked up the stairs together, Nut's palm never moving from its place on the small of Hong's back.

The touch was comforting but claiming all the same. It made Hong a little dizzy, but he somehow managed to reach Nut's apartment without falling into his arms.

At the door, Nut turned the key in and pushed it open, allowing Hong to step inside first.

The room was dark, but moonlight poured through the windows Nut left uncovered, painting soft white stripes across the wooden floor and furniture, highlighting the dust particles floating lazily in the air.

Hong took a curious look around, soaking up every minute detail.

The apartment looked barely lived in— just a simple couch against one wall, a small wooden table in the center, a work desk and a kitchen that seemed almost untouched, with only a single glass flipped on the counter.

From where Hong stood, he could see straight into the one-bedroom through the open door on the left side. The room looked neat, though the sheets on the bed were slightly rumpled, probably because Nut didn't smooth them out when he got up this morning.

Nut locked the door behind them with a soft click. Then he carried both their bags and dropped them on the living room table.

When he turned around, he asked casually. "You want something to drink?"

Hong didn't answer with words.

He stepped forward and cupped Nut's face with both hands, feeling the slight stubble from the day under his palms. Then he kissed him, deep and possessive.

Nut froze for half a second, surprised by the sudden hunger that came without warning. His heart skipped, eyes widening slightly in the dim lighting as Hong's lips moved over his.

Hong pulled away with a soft, wet sound, eyes shinning with raw need. "Kiss me back." He said softly, more order than plea.

Then his lips were back on Nut, sucking them in with a passion that surprised them both. And Nut's body surrendered into it completely.

He leaned in, savoring the warmth of Hong's mouth, the faint taste of his mint gum still clinging to him, mixing with something sweeter that was just Hong.

Hong's fingers slid into Nut's hair, gripping the short strands gently but firmly, tugging just enough to send a spark down Nut's spine.

Nut's hands found Hong's waist and he held on tight, fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt, pulling their bodies flush together until he could feel the heat radiating from Hong's skin, even through his sweater.

The kiss deepened even more.

Their tongues met, clashed, hot breaths mixing in heavy shared gasps.

Nut felt pure heat rush through his chest and down his stomach, pooling lower and lower, making his pulse quicken and his heartbeat race.

His mind— usually so guarded and calculated— lost its ability to think properly.

Hong pushed him backwards, guiding him towards the bedroom with rough, insistent steps.

Nut let himself be led, trusting the hands on him, until the back of his knees hit the edge of the bed.

He dropped down heavily, the mattress dipping under his weight, and looked up at Hong with dark, hungry eyes. His hands stayed firm on Hong's fit waist, thumbs stroking slow circles over the shirt under his sweater, feeling the warmth and the subtle flex of muscle there.

Hong climbed onto his lap, straddling him with easy, familiar grace that made Nut's brain a little fuzzy. The weight of him felt alleviating, perfect and much needed.

Hong looked down at him with a sultry gaze. running his thumb slowly over Nut's swollen bottom lip, eyes burning with desire.

Then he leaned down and captured that lip again, kissing him open with lips, teeth, tongue— messy, desperate, full of all the tension they had carried for too many evenings now.

Hong first shrugged the sweater off with a soft thud on the floor, lips still locked together, eyes open, capturing every shift in expression as Nut breathed and moaned in his mouth.

Then he reached down for the hem of his own shirt and pulled it over his head in one smooth motion, revealing his toned muscles. His spotless, smooth skin glowed softly in the moonlight filtering from the window in the room.

Nut pulled back and drank the sight before him— the subtle ridge and curve of Hong's abdomen, the way his chest rose and fell with quick, eager breaths. The small, pink nipples already taut from the chilly night air and anticipation.

Nut gulped loudly, and his eyes gleamed with raw appreciation.

He memorized every line and curve, the way Hong's body looked strong yet soft and inviting. He leaned forward and pressed his mouth to Hong's collarbone, sucking with just enough pressure, send marks blooming red on his pale skin.

Then his lips trailed lower, kissing across his chest until he found one nipple. He sucked it into his mouth, gentle at first, tongue swirling, pulling an impulsive jolt from Hong's body.

Then he sucked the other one, this time harder, teeth grazing lightly as he flicked over the sensitive bud.

Hong gasped sharply, his head falling back, exposing the long, elegant line of his throat. "Fuck... Nut..." The words came out breathy and broken, as his fingers slid up and gripped Nut's hair tightly.

The words, the touch sent a sharp spark through Nut, igniting something raw and primal in him. He wrapped his arms around Hong's back, holding him closer while he continued to lick and suck, switching from one nipple to the other with wet, hungry sounds.

Hong's fingers tightened in his hair, soft, broken moans slipping out with every pull of Nut's mouth, his hips shifting restlessly in Nut's lap.

His sounds were music to Nut's ears. His hand lowered and cupped the curve of Hong's ass, gripping possesively.

Hong gasped, and pulled his nip out of Nut's mouth with a wet pop sound, pushing him down on his back onto the bed with surprising strength.

Nut laid back, breathing hard, the sheets cool against his hot skin. Hong pushed Nut's shirt up with eager fingers, revealing his lean but firm build.

Nut angled his upper torso and pulled the shirt off the rest of the way, leaving his chest completely bare. Then he dropped the shirt on the floor, and laid back, allowing Hong to drink in every inch of him.

And that Hong did.

His eyes and hands roamed everywhere, the broad expanse of his chest and shoulders, the large eagle wings that stretched beautifully from Nut's shoulder down across his arms— the dark ink looking somewhat alive with every breath Nut took.

Hong's eyes darkened with lust and something softer, more tender. It was almost as if he couldn't believe they've gotten this far.

He shifted down, fully seating on Nut's hard crotch, a low groan escaping the tattooed man. Then he lowered his head and kissed Nut's chest, right over his heart, lips lingering there for a moment as if sealing a silent, intimate promise.

"You're so fucking beautiful, Nut." He murmured against his skin, voice thick with want and emotion. "Every part of you... I just can't get enough."

Nut's body felt impossibly hotter, and he closed his eyes, letting Hong have his way.

Hong's lips kept moving lower, tracing the lines of Nut's abs with slow, open-mouthed kisses, tongue dipping into the grooves of muscle. "So strong... so perfect." Each word was punctuated with a kiss, wet and reverent.

Nut's breath hitched, chest tightening with unexpected emotion.

No one had ever spoken to him like this— like he was something worthy of being worshipped, like his body and soul were carved from gold.

It made his heart feel warm even as arousal burned through him.

Hong's fingers reached for Nut's belt, fingers deft and eager. He looked up, eyes gleaming with pure want. "I want to suck your cock, Nut. Can I?"

Nut made a weak sound in his throat. He nodded his head, voice coming out rough, almost strained. "Yeah."

Hong didn't hesitate. He climbed off him and quickly unbuckled the belt, the metal clinking softly with each tug and pull. He then dragged it off, dropping it with a clatter on the floor. He then reached for Nut's waistband next and slid his jeans down his legs, the fabric dragging roughly against skin.

Nut stood up from the bed to step out of them, kicking them aside. Hong stayed on his knees on the bed, and kissed his way down from Nut's neck to his abs, simultaneously hooking his fingers into the waistband of Nut's underwear.

He drew them down slowly, teasingly, watching with heavy-lidded eyes, lips still working on his skin.

Nut's hard cock sprung free— thick, curved slightly upward, slapping against his V line, already hard and heavy.

Hong let out a low, hungry moan then, not just at the sight, but the glint of metal shining at the tip of his cock. The silver ring glinted right at the flushed head, accentuating the smooth curve, making Nut's cock look even more obscene and tempting.

"Fuck... what is this?" Hong asked, pleasantly surprised, voice still raw and needy. His eyes were locked on the ring, pupils blown wide with a new type of heat.

Nut looked down briefly, then back at Hong. "Oh? That... I've had it for a while now." He answered through heavy, laboured breathing.

Hong felt a hot burst of need almost flush him away. If he thought he was obsessed with Nut, this only made it worse.

He seemed possessed now.

The sight of that cock ring— shiny, piercing the thick head— sent a fresh rush of arousal straight to his own cock.

It made Nut's cock look bigger, harder, filthier. Hong wanted to feel it pressed against his mouth, wanted to taste the cool metal against his tongue.

"Fuck, you're going to be the death of me Nut." Hong kissed Nut again, sloppier, filthy, desperate for the contact. "You're so fucking sexy. And you're sooo big... that ring on you makes me wonder if my hole could take all of you." Hong whispered, almost in awe, eyes shining with undiluted need.

He wrapped a hand around it, giving it a few tugs, deliberately pulling at the piercing with each stroke so the metal tugged against sensitive skin.

Nut hissed between his teeth, eyes closing briefly through the sudden rush of pleasure.

"And you're so fucking thick." Hong added, moaning obscenely. "Exactly how I like it. What a gift you are, Nut. You just know how to drive me crazy, don't you?" Hong murmured hot against his skin. He then slipped his tongue out and mapped a wet path from Nut's cheek to his ear, savoring the burn of salt on his tongue.

Nut might have blushed at the lewd words, but he was too painfully hard. "Can you take it?" He asked faintly, a hint of worry bleeding past the lust in his voice.

Hong grinned, biting his bottom lip, wicked and sweet at the same time, eyes sparkling. "Hmm... With pleasure, Sir."

He lifted his hand to the tip of Nut's cock and rubbed around it slowly a few times, smearing precum all over the head and his piercing, tugging another pleasured sigh from Nut.

The metal felt warm from Nut's body heat, and Hong couldn't stop staring at how it made the head swell even more prominently.

He gave it a few long strokes, feeling it throb hot and heavy in his palm, veins pulsing under his fingers while the ring added that perfect extra pressure. "Fuck—" He moaned, mouth watering delightfully as Nut bucked deeper into his palm.

With one last soft kiss to Nut's mouth, he sat back on the bed, coming face level with that hard cock. He opened his mouth wide, tongue pressed flat against his teeth. Then he took Nut's length inside, lips stretching wide around the thick shaft, metal brushing against the roof of his mouth. 

The warm, wet heat made Nut groan deeply, mouth falling open, hips jerking impulsively even when he tried to hold back.

Hong kept pushing forward, until he felt his uvula push up and his throat stretch wide against the intrusion.. Only then did he stop, gagging softly, mouth full, tears gathering at his eyes.

Then he pulled back slowly, drawing an unsteady shake from Nut as he sucked greedily, closing his lips around the ring, sucking in the pre-cum smeared there.

Then he swallowed him again, taking him much deeper, hitting the back of his throat with every bob of his head, cheeks hollowed out. His hand reached up and fondled Nut's ballsack, maintaining the same slow rhythm as every up and down stroke.

Nut could only writhe and moan, liquid pleasure burning over him as he watched his cock disappear and reappear from Hong's mouth. "God Hong— so fucking good."

Wet, slurping, gagging sound filled the quiet room.

Hong reached up and wrapped his slender fingers around the base, pulling back to spit Nut's pleasure back on his cock, slicking up the length for better friction.

Then he went down on him again, moaning loudly around the length, the vibrations shooting intense pleasure up Nut's spine.

Sweat beaded Hong's forehead. His jaw hurt. But he kept his eyes open, locked on Nut's as he pushed further, taking more, until the head— and the cool edge of the ring— slipped even past the tight ring of his throat, completely cutting off his airflow.

Nut cursed out then, bucking deeper, a strangled moan tearing out of him. "Hong— fuck— jesus—"

Hong remained still, occasionally gagging and choking on Nut's dick, eyes watering immensly.

But he didn't pull away.

The feeling of the metal pressing against his throat only made his cock harder, his pants soaking up his own wet desire.

Tears slipped down his flushed cheeks as he closed around him, spit and pre-cum dripping from the corners of his mouth and down his chin in shiny trails.

"Hong... sssss— Hong fuck!" Nut moaned his name in praise, voice hoarse, one hand gently threading through Hong's hair as he watched the way Hong's lips and throat stretched obscenely around him and the ring, the sight burning into his memory.

Hong finally pulled back with a loud, dragging sound.

But he didn't even stop to catch a breath.

He kept going— sucking, licking along the underside, deliberately tonguing the piercind with wet flicks, playing with it while he slurped wetly on Nut's cum, moaning continuously.

And each motion unravelled something in Nut. His body shivered and bucked, sweat sheened his skin, current pulsed through his blood stream, and lewd, broken moans poured from between his lip like a broken faucet.

Hong lost himself completely to the act, eyes finally fluttering shut in pure bliss, ears devouring each moan, each sigh of approval from Nut.

His hand worked what his mouth couldn't take, swirling gently with every stroke, and tugging at the ring, the slick sounds filling the quiet bedroom.

Nut felt a muscle in his thigh tighten. His stomach spasmed. He quickly gripped Hong's hair tighter, and kept his head still, breathing ragged. "Shit— baby, stop."

Hong stopped obediently, and Nut pulled his red cock out of his mouth with wet sound.

Hong finally gulped in air, breathing hard, lips shiny and swollen, a string of spit connecting him to Nut's cock and the gleaming ring for a second before breaking.

For a split second, worry flashed in his teary eyes. He thought Nut might have changed his mind again.

But Nut pulled him up and kissed him fiercely, tasting the salt and slickness from himself on Hong's tongue.

Without breaking the kiss, his hands moved down to Hong's button, unclasping it, before  roughly pushing his trousers down, taking his underwear with it in one eager motion, fabric pooling at Hong's knees.

Hong's hard, red cock slapped against his pelvis, throbbing even harder with the raw dominance in Nut's action.

Nut took a look down at him, breathing through parted lips, committing the length and shape to memory.

Hong's legs were also smooth, shapely, and his skin was flawless, glowing in the moonlight.

Nut then kissed his way down Hong's body, from his collar to his chest, lips lingering over his hip bone and then his thighs. They trailed even lower, kissing around Hong's pubic region, leaving wet trails, hot breath ghosting the areas Hong wanted the most, but never quite reaching there.

Nut dropped to his knees properly this time, dragging the trouser and underwear the rest of the way off, Hong stepping out of them. Then his hands gripped Hong's hips tight, sitting him firmly on the bed again, tapping his side lightly.

"Hold your legs up..." Nut ordered, voice husky with need.

Hong's heart lurched.

He obeyed without hesitation, lying back and grabbing the back of his thighs, pulling them towards his chest, exposing his hole completely to Nut's lust ridden gaze.

The position left him vulnerable and open, his breaths coming in harder and faster.

Nut rubbed his rough palm over the smooth curve of Hong's ass, spreading him even wider. Hong's hole was small, tight, puckering in and out like it couldn't wait for Nut to bury himself deep.

Nut didn't make Hong wait.

He leaned in, tongue flattened, and licked a slow, long stripe over Hong's hole, tasting the warm, intimate skin.

Hong shuddered hard, a full-body tremor that made his legs shake slightly. "Oh my—! Fucking god..." Hong cursed shakily, voice cracked with pleasure.

He jolted when Nut swiped him again.

And again, breaths turning ragged, moans raspy.

Nut took his damn fucking time.

He licked and sucked with focused hunger, tongue circling the tight ring of muscle before piercing in, pushing inside as far as he could.

Then he ate him clean out with messy, hungry strokes, swirling deep, flicking rapidly, sucking again with wet pops.

Hong looked down at Nut's head between his legs and almost came from the sight alone. Just a hand on his cock and he felt like he could burst open.

His hands flew to Nut's hair, tangling in the cropped length and he fisted it tightly, pulling Nut's tongue even deeper in his hole. "Ah yes Nut— mhhmm fuck baby, your tongue feels so good in me..." Hong moaned, hips grinding and twitching uncontrollably.

His body writhed on the bed, legs shaking with every stroke of Nut's tongue.

He kept moaning obscenities, fanning the flame between their bodies even hotter. "Oh yeah— don't stop Nut— please— eat my hole just like that— fuck!" He pleaded in broken gasps, eyes impulsively rolling backwards, then downwards, not wanting to miss a single thing.

Nut groaned against him, the taste, the heat, and the way Hong was falling apart making him even harder, cock aching, the ring even tighter around the tip of his swollen head.

Hong's body burned with passion like never before. He couldn't take it anymore.

"Nut please— I need you..." He begged, eyes misty, cock straining against his belly.

Nut pulled away then, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, breaths coming in heavily. "I don't have any lube or condoms."

Hong sat up quickly, panting wildly, and kissed him, deep and possessive, hands framing Nut's face tight.

"It's okay..." He murmured between kisses, voice urgent and wrecked. "Spit will do." His hand reached down and stroked Nut's hard cock slowly, thumb brushing over the swollen head, tracing his piercing. "I want you. I want to feel this pressing inside me." He thumbed it harder.

Nut's breathing stuttered. He caught Hong's wrist gently, halting his movements, eyes searching Hong's with quiet intensity. "You sure?"

Hong nodded eagerly, eyes desperate. "Yes... I'm clean. You can trust me."

Nut still looked at him, a little hesitatant. "I know, Hong.... But do you trust me?" He asked, much quieter, vulnerable.

Hong smiled despite the feeling like he was about to explode. Only Nut could make him feel hot and warm at the same time. "If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't have sucked your dick five minutes ago."

Nut paused for a moment, before letting out a low laugh, tension easing from his shoulders. "Your mouth—"

Hong cut him off with a desperate kiss, moaning into his mouth, the sound vibrating between their bodies.

Hong lifted his legs again, spreading them apart. He then grabbed Nut's hand and guided it below to his entrance. "Put your fingers in me..." He whispered against Nut's lips. "Stretch my hole... make space for you."

Nut growled low in his throat and kissed him again.

He then pushed forward and pierced through the tight ring of muscle with his middle finger, pressing in slowly, feeling the smooth heat clench around him.

Hong hissed loudly, savoring the slight burn as he pushed his hips back against the intrusion eagerly. "More... give me more." He begged, voice lust laden.

Nut pulled back and added a second finger in, working them in and out carefully, scissoring gently to stretch him open.

Hong moaned sinfully, and rode his fingers, breathing fast and shallow. His hand lowered to stroke Nut's length, sliding up and down with weak, uncoordinated movements. "Mhhmm... more. More. More."

Nut spat down on his hand and slipped another digit in. Then another, stretching him full.

Hong felt like he could pass out out from the heat and passion. The air in the room was thick, a heady intoxicating blend of sweat and other body fluids.

He took everything Nut gave him, but somehow, it was never seemed enough.

Hong couldn't remember the last time he wanted anyone this badly. "Please, Nut..." Hong kept begging, voice wrecked, greedy, even with four fingers stretching him wide. "I want your cock. Please fuck me now."

Nut shook his head, voice strained with desire and restraint. "You're still too tight, babe. You're not slick enough. And I don't want to hurt you."

Hong whimpered in frustration, shaking his head in negation, eyes glassy. "Then eat me out more. Spit in me." He laid on his back again, spreading himself open.

Nut kissed his way up Hong's outstretched legs, leaving soft possessive bites and wet trails, before coming back down to the space between his legs, swiping up that stretched hole.

He ate Hong out deeper this time, messier, tongue working alongside his fingers, pushing and curling deeper.

Hong's hand found his own nipple, flicking and pinching it as waves of pleasure rolled through him, making his back arch off the bed, pushing Nut even deeper.

Nut kept spitting, pushing the slickness deeper, fingers scissoring, curling around Hong's sensitive prostate.

But still, it wasn't enough.

After long minutes of stretching and licking, the wet sounds echoing in the space, Hong had enough. He was shaking with need, full body glistening with sweat. "Nut... fuck me. Please. Please. I need you inside me."

Nut finally relented, his body equally painfully hard from the long wait.

He stood and kneeled on the bed, leaning over Hong. Grabbing a pillow from the side, he pushed it under Hong's back, elevating his lower half to ease any discomfort. Then he pinned Hong's legs to his chest with his weight, the position intimate and dominating all the same.

Nut kissed Hong then, softly, almost tenderly. "It's been a while since I've done this, so I might not last very long." He admitted with a hoarse voice.

Hong nodded hungrily, breathing ragged, one hand coming behind to press Nut's ass cheek. "It doesn't matter. We're gonna be fucking all night anyways."

That pulled a small, breathless laugh from Nut. He reached down, spit on his hand, and slicked his cock thoroughly, mixing it with his precum, making the silver ring glisten.

Hong whimpered as Nut then pressed the head against his entrance, pushing in slowly, carefully, eyes never leaving his face the entire time.

The stretch was... immense. Hong's body tensed and shook with each inch.

He first felt the thick head stretching him open, and soon he felt the hard edge of the bent-over hooped ring pressing past his rim, then his prostate, sliding inside with a delicious, heavy pressure.

"Oh fuck— N-nut-t..." Hong gasped, eyes rolling backwards as the metal rubbed along his inner walls with every inch Nut sank deeper. It created this firm, unyielding ridge that dragged perfectly against his sensitive spot, making everything all the more intense.

Nut grunted at the tight heat closing around him, holding Hong down with every moan and shake, the pleasure so immense, it almost bordered on unbearable.

When Nut finally bottomed out, buried to the hilt in that tight, scorching heat, Hong let out a broken whimper of pure satisfaction, tears of overwhelming sensation pricking his eyes again.

The cock ring sat right against a sensitive spot in his walls, a constant, filthy source of pleasure and pressure.

Nut remained still, giving him time to adjust, breathing hard against Hong's neck, fighting every instinct to move.

"Move..." Hong begged merely seconds after, voice trembling. "Please fuck me, Nut. I want to feel it... Please split me open until i'm nothing but a hole for your pleasure."

Fuck!! Nut thought.

That mouth—

Nut started moving, thrusting— slow but deep at first, savoring each drag and clench of Hong's velvety hole. Each stroke pushed the cock ring up and down, the smooth metal dragging along Hong's walls and pressing firmly against his prostate.

Hong moaned, bucked and twtched, arching to meet every stroke, hips rolling up, fucking back. The stretch burned at first, Nut's large cock occupying every space in his body.

It was pain so delicious it made Hong unbearably harder.

But soon— almost to his disappointment— his hole softened and eased around the length, making passage smoother, easier. The added sensation of the ring made the pain fade quicker into a blinding pleasure that sent his toes curling.

Hong kept his eyes open for most of it, either on the large cock splitting him open, or on Nut's worshipful eyes, one trembling hand buried in Nut's hair, the other roaming everywhere he could reach, before pulling his neck down for sloppy, messy kisses.

"You feel so good fucking me like that..." Hong would murmur between kisses, voice raw with heat and passion. "God you're so big baby... I can feel you everywhere— ugh— That ring... it's hitting me— uh yes, right there baby. Mhm... yes, I love you... fuck— I love you so much, Nut."

The words hit Nut like a drug, breaking down all of his defenses, leaving him weak and pliant to Hong's words.

Soon his rhythm faltered, chest tightening with something far bigger than lust. Raw, unfiltered pleasure coiled fast and tight in his gut.

Before he could hold back or even process it, he came hard, hips jerking erratically as he spilled deep inside Hong, a low, guttural groan tearing from his throat.

He collapsed onto Hong's chest, heat and slight embarrassment flooding his face even as his body pulsed with the powerful aftershocks, heart hammering wildly.

Hong only held him tighter, arms wrapping tight around his shoulders, grinding his hips slowly, against him to draw out every lingering sensation, clenching around the cock and the ring still buried inside him.

"Fuck— That's it... cum for me... breed me." Hong moaned in pleasure, still circling his hips slowly. "Mhm... It feels so good having your cum inside me, Nut. Give it all me. Give me more."

The filthy praise and the way Hong kept moving, clenching around him deliberately, made Nut's cock twitch and harden again, almost immediately, surprising even himself.

Without a word, he pulled out suddenly, making Hong whimper at the sudden loss and the way the ring dragged on the way out, a trickle of cum already leaking out of his hole.

Then he flipped Hong onto his stomach with strong hands, pressing him waist down against the pillow. Hong arched his back beautifully, pushing his ass up invitingly, ready for Nut's claim.

Nut gripped his hips firmly and pushed back inside with one long, endless thrust, the slide easier now with his own release. The cock ring popped back inside, dragging firmly against Hong's walls again.

Hong screamed aloud, the sound muffled slightly by his face pressed against his sheets. He reached back with both hands and spread his cheeks farther apart, helping Nut thrust even deeper. "Harder... yes, fuck me harder, Nut. Right there, right there, ngh."

Nut lost control.

He slammed into him with renewed force, skin slapping loudly against skin, the bed creaking under them.

Hong's hole was still so fucking tight, pulsing around him, gripping him like it never wanted to let go.

With each brutal thrust, the cock ring rubbed relentlessly against Hong's prostate, sending sparks of electricity flying behind his eyes. His toes curled against the bed, his hands on his ass shook violently.

"Fuck— Nut, I love you! I love you so much, Nut..." Hong gasped, looking back over his shoulder with wet, shining eyes. "I'd do anything you. Own me— ugh. Claim me... I'm yours. I'm only yours, Nut. Put your mark on me— Fill me up until I'm leaking your cum for days."

The words snapped something primal in Nut.

They fed a hunger he hadn't even known he possessed. He planted one foot on the bed beside Hong's hip for better leverage and fucked him harder, deeper, faster, muscles straining.

Hong's loud moans dissolved into low, broken cries that filled the small apartment as the cock ring kept rubbing and pressing perfectly inside him with every stroke. His eyes fogged, his expression twisted into something animalistic. His body started shaking beyond control, hole clenching unrhythmically.

Nut grunted loudly. He felt every flutter and pulse. The sight, the sound, the slick, sinful feeling— it was too much.

He closed his eyes and came again with a deep, raw groan, pumping more cum into Hong until it started dripping past his cock, streaming down Hong's thighs in warm, messy trails.

Nut collapsed fully on top of him, chest pressed to Hong's back, head resting on his shoulder.

Both of them breathed hard, bodies slick with sweat, hearts pounding in loud, unrhytmic sync.

Hong turned his head and kissed Nut deeply— slow and tender— infatuated, possessive despite their exhaustion. "I love you..." He repeated again and again against Nut's lips, voice rough but meaning every word.

Nut still saw sparks behind his eyes, breathing heavy and ragged, mind blissed out and floating.

But Hong kept kissing his mouth, his cheeks,  his ear, his nose, murmuring words of love and praise between each one, gentle hands soothing over his thigh from behind.

"I love you."

"You're my everything, Nut."

"I belong to you. Please be mine only."

"I'm yours. Only yours."

God, Nut thought. Hong was going to be his undoing. In that hazy, floating moment, Nut couldn't hold back anymore.

He whispered to him. "I love you too, Hong."

The words were quiet, a little unsure, but in the moment, they were real, pulled from somewhere deep he rarely touched.

Hong went still for a moment, heart stopping, absorbing those three words he'd been desperate to hear from the beginning. Then it picked up again, fluttering wildly in a way that made him want to scream aloud.

He broke out in laughter, the sound a soft, sweet rumble against Nut's skin.

They lay like that for a long while, breathing together, hearts slowing down but still beating unevenly, bodies still joined and trembling with aftershocks.

Finally Hong asked softly, voice low and vulnerable. "Do you... really mean that?"

He held his breath, waiting for an answer that may not be sincere.

Nut studied his face for a long moment, turning a little more so he could see his face better in the moon light.

Then he nodded weakly. "Yeah. I'm... sure I love you."

Hong's breath caught. His eyes quickly filled tears, this time of a different kind.

He leaned forward and kissed Nut again, slow and deep, pouring all his emotions out, one hand reaching back to tangle gently in Nut's damp hair, holding him even closer if that was even possible.

They kissed for a long time, clinging, unwilling to let go.

When they finally broke apart, Hong whispered against his lips, voice sincere. "I love you, Nut. I love so much..." He smiled, eyes crinking softly as the words he couldn't say hung over them, a quiet promise.

'You're mine only now... And I'm never going to let anything tear us apart.'

Nut closed his eyes, and just stayed still in him,  holding him, body joined together, heart finally beating in sync as one.

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I have a lot to say but imma just shut up🤭 kudos and comments are deeply appreciated both in the DMs and on here :))) See you next week❤️