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Once upon a time Tin craved moments with his mother, craved her attention. Tonight he wants none of it, wants the opposite. No luck. In a mansion with this many hallways, he walks into the one with her in it, runs into her while he's Can-less."Tin! Step out with me for a second."Tin doesn't drink, not with other people around, not since he became the "bad" son who smudged their family name. But for tonight he'd gladly make an exception. Especially now, out on the terrace with his mother. Especially now her interrogation begins."Tell me, what is your plan with this one?"Tin forces himself to relax, to not jab his fingernails into his palms. "We're dating." And living together, he doesn't say. "It's serious." Like it could be forever, he doesn't say."I can tell." She gives him a look, her cat eye makeup especially sharp tonight, the tails of them whips. "You told Tasha about him. You told me. I can't remember the last time you attended one of these soirees, much less brought a date."Tin says nothing though he thinks plenty, like how he's never trusted anyone before or wanted anyone this close. How he still doesn't want to be here, showed up solely because of Can, because Can accepted her invite.Then she taps her wine glass. "One little problem."Here it comes. Tin downs an imaginary shot."He's not Tasha. Or even Susie.""Just because he's a guy-""He has no name."One nail. Tin allows himself one to scrape against his skin, to diffuse his annoyance, little licks of anger. "His name is Can.""You know perfectly well I meant last name.""His last name is Kirakorn.""Precisely."Tin adds a second nail, harder, exhales, harsher. "Despite what you might think, Can's not with me for name or money. The name he doesn't recognize. The money he doesn't want. Just today, he refused to let me pay for his tuxedo.""So," his mother swirls her drink (why isn't it his?) and takes a sip. "It seems he's the one with the strategy - sell you a virtuous image, make you fall for him, and then-" She cuts off, cuts her eyes over to look beyond Tin.Tin turns and there he is, the man of the hour, of all his hours. Tin loosens his fist."Sorry to interrupt." Can wais, smiling bright at Tin's mother as he straightens up. "I got lost coming back from the washroom and saw Tin. Hope it's okay if I join you."No, Tin wants to say, you don't need to hear this. But a more selfish part of him sighs yes, is relieved that Can's here. Relieved and a little impressed. So few dare hold The Mrs. Medthanan's gaze. Fewer dare challenge it. And yet here Can is, walking fearless in all his naivete into the lion's den. "Can, is it?"Can nods politely, shifting from foot to foot, suited in his tailored white tux. It's been hours and yet this look still floors Tin, throws him off kilter. It's Can. Except even better. Tin's attracted to him as before. Except now even more.He wishes they could go, sayonara, say goodbye, derail this train wreck before it rides.Alas, too late, the inquisition has begun."Sports Science?" His mother asks, as if the words were 'spider spit' instead. "And what is your plan after university? What can one do with a Sports Science degree?"Tin cannot believe how predictable, how trite she's being right now. He warned Can about this. And yet Can still said yes to the invite, yes to meeting her. She's your mom, Tin. You met my mom. And Tin wanted to say that's not the same. Your mom loves you. The words stuck in his throat though. They sounded petulant even in his head and what if he was wrong?He should have known. His mother always prioritizes their name, their reputation. Everything else slots secondary. He slots secondary.Without thinking, Tin reaches for Can's hand, for his warmth. Can feels a little clammy but he squeezes back, like maybe he needs this connection too, the encouragement."Mmm, some people become coaches, or physical therapists, or trainers, or researchers. I want to become a trainer! My dream is to open my own gym one day," Can says. "I want to help people get into shape and keep moving." He pumps his arms, pumping Tin's too. "I want to help people get healthy and stay healthy.""Then why not become a doctor? You can help more people."Tin breathes in and out, and wishes he could summon alcohol - in, in, in. But Can's hand is in his and Can's grip screams I got this.Tin looks over to check on him. And gets smacked in the face with that side profile, that little curl of hair kissing his forehead.Then Can pushes his lips out on a pout, and fuck, that's cute (and kissable) and cute."Not healthy people," Can says. "Doctors help sick people. I want to help healthy people stay healthy so they don't have to go to doctors. Also, you've probably noticed, but I'm not very good at standing still. I'd make a terrible surgeon."Tin snorts at that, at the image of Can as a surgeon. He'd look cute in scrubs, but no, Tin cannot imagine Can standing still for hours. Minutes are hard enough. Even now Can's moving, using Tin's hand, all of it - wrist, palm, and fingers - as a fidget toy."So, what can a small gym owner bring to the table?""Mother."Can swings his arm back, effectively tucking Tin behind him, as if he's trying to protect him. And it's alarming, (alarmingly sweet), and Tin's never quite felt like this.The last time he and Can clashed over his mother, Tin ended up kissing him. This time, he wants to kiss Can too, but for an entirely different reason (save the same thick base layer of attraction). Then Can says, "A lot of pork skewers!""Excuse me?" His mother sounds bewildered and Tin wants to laugh. Of course. Of course Can brings everything back to food."Well, I don't want to use the Big Mac index because Tin doesn't like fast food," Can explains. "But we both like pork skewers! My friend Good did some research before and a successful gym owner can bring in quite a lot. So, we'd be swimming in pork skewers!" Tin could hear the grin in Can's voice and it makes him smile too."Also, I bring me!" Can's saying. "I'm a positive person. I like making other people happy. And well, laughter is the best medicine!""My dear, if Tin ever needs a doctor, he has access to the best specialists in the world."Can nods, agreeing readily. "Tin is blessed as your son. Unfortunately, not everyone is as lucky as Tin. Also... " Can pauses and slides him a look, squeezes his hand. And squeezes it again. "Tin's lucky too because he has me. We haven't dated very long, but I li- I love him."Tin's heart does something weird, goes ba-bump like a train over the tracks. Can just said that. Out loud. To his mother. Tin stares at the back of Can's head, his stupid, brave head. Taking a step forward, he leans into Can's side, for solidarity. When he looks at his mom, she has a frown on her face but also something else, something almost wistful."Love," she tuts. "Love comes and goes.""Maybe." Can grips his hand tighter. "But there's that phrase: 'It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.'"Tin looks at Can in wonder. When did he learn that? Can's English is getting better by leaps and bounds these days.Still, just because he's impressed (and in love) doesn't mean his mother is. For a beat, the air stacks silent, coils tense.Then his mother laughs. "There is that. I will see you around, Can."~Can collapses against Tin as soon as Mrs. Medthanan rounds the corner, taking the scent of her perfume with her. She's stunning but in a scary way, a hundred percent Tin's mother in looks."Does she hate me? Why did she laugh? Is that a good laugh or a bad laugh? Did I say too much? Do I have food on my face? Am I-"Can's eyes fly open wide when Tin kisses him. They're out on the terrace where it's lit with the brightest LED lights. More than that, they're within sight of Tin's family. Hastily, Can pushes Tin away."Are you trying to get me killed? They're going to kidnap me and my ma and Ley - even Gucci! - and they're going to lock us up in a submarine where no one's ever going to find us and-"Tin's fingers on his lips stops his stream of words. Tin shakes his head. "Cantaloupe, I thought your dream was to open a gym. Why are you spinning horrible thrillers instead? No one is going to kidnap you. If anyone were to, it'd be me. Because you look..."And Can flushes at the scan Tin gives him, the thorough head to toe.It gets ten times worse when Tin leans in, lips against his ear, to whisper. "I can't wait to get you home, get you out of this tux."It feels like a promise, and Tin's good for his promises Can knows.He snaps out of it when Tin tugs on his hand and leads them back to the party. Oh well, it looks like he has no choice but to eat more. At least that he could do.~Tin's having the longest day, stuffed full of waiting. Waiting this morning for Can to pick out a tux. Waiting while other people, (okay fine, the tailor), touched Can while he couldn't. Waiting this afternoon while Pete kidnapped Can to fuss over his hair and makeup and shoes. Waiting with Ae no less.Waiting this whole evening to get Can alone while Can flitted around the venue, from food tray to food tray, chatting with everyone - his mother, his father, their business associates, even the waiters (and about food more likely than not) like the adorable, naive nong that he is.Part of Tin is happy that his family has fallen for Can just as he has. Part of him doesn't buy it and thinks it's all an act. And part of him is pissed off because Can wouldn't stop talking (and eating) and talking while looking like that."No." Can grips his hands once they're back inside their apartment. Grips his hands and takes them off his person.And Tin's thrown. Why, why when he finally has Can alone?"This is new," Can points to his tux. "You can't rip it, Tin. Go - go get some pineapple juice. I'm going to go change."Tin's stunned for a second but comes to his senses when Can brushes past. Quick as he could, he grabs Can around the waist and spins him back. "At least let me kiss you while you're wearing this." He nuzzles against Can's forehead. "And what if I promise not to damage your tux? Will you let me take it off?""Ai Tin!" Can draws back and looks at him, voice sharp but eyes soft, and Tin takes his chance, bows down and kisses him like he's been wanting to kiss him this whole, long day.When Can's arms come wrapping around his shoulders, when his hands come wrapping warm around the back of Tin's neck, Tin finally relaxes. It feels like proof that yes, actually, Can still likes him best.But then he unrelaxes because Can's licking him back and this heat between them spikes, bubbling louder and spicier, no longer on simmer.Before it can burn, Can pulls back, eyes searching his. "Okay. But go slow. You're not popping even one button on this suit!"It feels like a challenge. Good thing Tin specializes in challenges. He lifts a corner of his mouth in a smile.Wordlessly, he runs his hands down the lapel of Can's jacket, making sure to press his knuckles as snug as he could against Can's chest as he does so. Still holding Can's gaze, he unfastens the top button.Can's mouth goes slack and he looks down at Tin's hands. "I didn't mean this slow.""Shh," Tin tugs him in closer. "Working here. Not popping even one button.""Ai Asshole." Can sounds a little breathless.Tin goes slower still, downright caressing the second button as he teases it free. Too bad it's a two-button jacket. He worms his hands inside the flaps and slides his palms up, rubbing Can's sides.Can bursts out laughing. "That tickles!"So Tin drags his hands higher until he locates the numbs, thumbs at them in circles to see Can squirm.Can's breathing comes faster, hotter, little puffs of air. He flicks his eyes between Tin's hands and Tin's face, and Tin's oddly reminded of their altercation in the locker room ages ago. The same tension zips in the air now, pulling tighter and tighter, till they're both breathless. Except now Can's licking his lips and tilting towards him.Tin dips his head closer and rubs his cheek against Can's temple. With a crawl of his fingers, he eases the jacket off of Can's shoulders."Oie, Tin, pretty sure you can take my jacket off without touching me this much." Can groans."Pretty sure you can let me take your jacket off without complaining this much, Can.""It's not complaining! It's constructive criticism!"Tin snaps Can's arms back as he yanks the tux jacket down a little faster. Can gasps, and Tin can't help the smirk. "Better?"Can swallows noisily but otherwise doesn't say anything. Not even when Tin starts mouthing along the shell of his ear.The sleeves of the jacket are narrow and Tin takes his time freeing Can's hands. If he slots his fingers through Can's as he does it, it's purely out of necessity, the need to touch, touch base with Can.Then he takes off for their bedroom."Wha- where are you going?" Can follows right on his heels."You're hanging it up?"Tin lifts an eyebrow at him. "It's new." He mock whispers.Can rolls his eyes and starts fiddling with the bow tie. And that wouldn't do.Tin hurries over to bat his hands away."Ai Tiiiiin." Can whines.So Tin stops altogether. "More constructive criticism?"Can huffs and grabs Tin's face and kisses him. And for a glorious minute, Tin lets him. Can's so good at kissing now, knows just how to slide the temperature up, up, up until Tin's mind goes blank from want, from need.Still, he made a promise.With a finger to Can's chest, Tin nudges him away and undoes the tie. And then one by one, the buttons. "How many are there? Why are they so small?"Can huffs. "I bet yours have just as many. And they look tiny too." Can plucks at one."Hmm! You have my permission to pop as many as you need."Can flicks him on the chest. "Stop showing off! Just because you can afford it doesn't mean you should be wasteful. Someone worked hard to sew all of these on, you know? Maybe they even stabbed their fingers with a needle while they did that. You shouldn't treat their work so shabbily."It always surprises him the things Can says. Tin's used to the society gossips and the business talk, all the cold, selfish words people brandish on a daily basis. No one's ever talked to him the way Can talked to him from the start, unfiltered fire and innocence and truth."All right." He tilts Can's face up by the chin. "Permission withdrawn."Can shakes his hand off and flicks him again."What? Someone toiled over this. I have to show some respect, right?"Can huffs and starts undoing his buttons.It takes them a bit. "That's it. I'm designing a button-up with zippers," Tin says as he finally peels Can's shirt off."You're designing a button-up shirt with zippers? Do you hear yourself?"Tin kisses him quiet. "The buttons will be fake and the zipper will be real.""Okay. And where is the slider supposed to go?""Shut up, Can. It's a work in progress." Tin kisses him again. Really, it takes so much kissing to shut Can up. Not that he's complaining.With his fingers splayed wide, Tin presses against Can's lower back and thumbs at the valley of his spine. Easily, Can arches for him, warm and pliant.With his other hand, Tin cradles the back of Can's head. It's a familiar curve now, from the soft warm skin of his nape to the soft short hair further up."Ai Tin," Can says when Tin kisses down his neck. "I- I have to tell you something."~Can always feels zapped when he's close to Tin. One way or another, Tin always riles him up. And right now, the way Tin is tonguing patterns down his neck, Can has to stop it if he's to have any chance at conversation.And he does need to talk to him. It's been on his mind all day. It's been on his mind all week if he's honest."I grabbed the wrong phone. You got a text this morning and I thought it was mine. I thought something happened to my ma or Gucci or Ley. So I grabbed your phone and I- I saw."Tin lifts off his neck to stare at him. "What did you see?""Then I got my text too." Can hurries on, trying to breathe in the face of Tin's hot stare. "It's the same. All negative.""The text from the clinic." Tin connects the dots.Can nods. Yes, the text from the clinic that says they're both clean.Tin's stare dials hotter. "Can." Tin says his name like a question.So Can answers him. "Yes. When Pete helped me with my hair, I asked him about it. And I'm cleaned up and-"Tin groans into his mouth and works his zipper down, pulls the rest of their clothes off. "That's why it took forever.""It wasn't forever! I wanted to know everything but Pete was so shy. But he gave me links and I-" Can cuts off on a moan when Tin swipes his tongue over a nipple and tweaks the other. "I-" He can't finish his sentence with the way Tin's working him over, all soft wet of tongue and sharp pinch of fingers."For," Tin pushes him down to bed, "ever.""But you want me ready for you, don't you?" Can says, because riling Tin up is his favorite pastime too.Tin doesn't answer him in words. But Tin does answer him, all hands on, mouth on, tongue on. And this is familiar, the heat and taste of Tin, but also unfamiliar, the nerves and anticipation of him.Tin flips him over and kisses down his spine, parts his legs and settles in to kiss him there. To kiss him wet and lick him open.Can's higher brain function malfunctions with Tin on him. Still, he tries. He flings out an arm and opens the top drawer. The lube he locates without trouble and plops down on the bed. The condoms he has to rummage around for. Tin's stuck them in the back, behind the chargers and some pens and papers.He's tearing one off the strip when Tin sinks the first finger inside him. Can groans and Tin echoes him."You're loose," Tin says. "Did you do this?"Can looks back at him and nods. He kept running to the restroom for a reason tonight. He thought Tin would ask but he never did."Fuck." Tin slides another finger in and scissors them. And Can still likes it better when Tin does this for him.So he says so."Cantaloupe." Tin lubes up his fingers some more and adds another digit to rotate inside him.The pressure feels familiar now though not yet fantastic. Then Tin dips down and licks him and yeah, that's- that's getting there.Of course, Tin's not Tin if he doesn't go for the win. Tin twists his wrist and finds the spot and Can cries out because yes, he's so close already.Tin reads him perfectly, keeps at it till Can's shaking. When Tin takes his fingers out and flips him over, Can thinks they're going to do it now and holds out the condom.Only, Tin ignores him and dips down to suck him into his mouth.Can squeezes his eyes shut. He can't. It's too much. "Ai Tiiin," he thrashes a bit on the bed. "I'm so close. Are you going to fuck me or not?"Tin groans around him and pulls off. He plucks the condom from Can this time but instead of putting it on himself, he tears it open and rolls it down over Can."Huh?" Can blinks at him. Did Tin want him to-? Not that he's opposed to it but..Tin rubs a thumb over his cheek. "We're both clean, so we don't need a condom, right?""Oh." Can's heartbeat upticks."Do you trust me?"Can nods, nods firmly. To this Tin, earnest vulnerable Tin, he can never say no. Plus, he does trust him.Tin smiles at him, the smile that's worth the world. "But I want you to come first." And with that, Tin sinks his mouth back tight over him.Between Tin's mouth and Tin's hands and Tin's promise, Can lasts not at all.He's vaguely aware when Tin cleans him up and rolls a new condom over him. He's still catching his breath when Tin rearranges them, putting him on his elbows and knees. Can huffs at the breach of fingers. You did this, he wants to say. I did this. Can we move on?But before he can voice any of it, Tin's there, slicked up but thicker than fingers, pushing into him."Shit." Can grabs at the sheet, twisting it in his fist."Fuck." Tin curses into his spine and squeezes his waist.And Can has momentary buyer's remorse. This is... a lot. He should have known. He's blown and jerked Tin off enough times to know his girth. And yet."Are you okay, Can?" Tin pets at his hips and down his thigh, kisses tenderly at his back and it's a contrast to the way he's a hard pulse rammed inside.Can bites the sheet and tries to breathe. "Mmm," he gets out.Then Tin starts stroking him again, tight and fast right over the condom. "Mmm!" Can groans louder, getting more into it.Tin shifts behind him and starts rocking in small increments. And the rhythm of the movement, the sound of Tin's rough breathing turns Can on enough to soothe most of the bite, make it feel good."You can go faster."Tin strokes him off faster, and while that's great, Can has to groan. "I meant this." And he reaches back to grab Tin's thighs. Tin gets it. Then Can gets it, gets it fast."Oh my god." He slides forward and turns his head, resting his cheek against the cool bed sheet.His hair's a mess and he may be drooling, but honestly Can's beyond caring. The burn's gave way to a bright rush of fuck yes. He cries out and rocks back, trying to match Tin thrust for thrust, again and again.Tin works out at the IC gym these days. Can's heard about it in passing but never thought much of it. Right now he's thanking all the machines, all the weights Tin must have pressed because yes, fuck, yes.Can's about to come when Tin blankets him along his back and dips his head down to kiss him, to suck out his noises, suck out his senses.And Can's only human, young human. He comes again, moaning into Tin's mouth.~Tin's about to die. Of feels of all sorts.Can's always felt amazing, but amazing's never felt like this. Inside of Can, connected to Can, Tin feels everything. Every little breath Can takes, every little noise. Every big noise too. And all the squeezes, like these fast, tight ones as Can rides out his high.Tin picks up his pace and chases after Can. He'll probably never be as fast as Can, but the race is always exhilarating. He advances, advances and makes goal. He collapses, collapses with his arms full of Can.~"So."Tin turns his head to look at him. There's a sheen of sweat on him but somehow he still manages to look beautiful, like sweat too is an accessory.Then Tin smiles at him. Really, life is so unfair."So?" Tin prompts."So, the condom was a good idea."Tin raises his eyebrows in agreement. "Laundry's not my favorite."Can laughs because yeah, sounds right. Even with the mini laundromat in their apartment complex, doing laundry this often is a lot of work. Can tries to tidy up the place as per their agreement. But Tin's the one who's taken it upon himself to do their laundry because he wants to help.Then another thought occurs to him. "Do you keep a diary?"Tin frowns at him. "No, why?""Oh. You have pens and paper in your drawer. I thought it's for writing."Tin's frown clears. He reaches in the drawer and pulls out the papers in question."Don't be jealous," Tin says.So of course Can flushes tight with jealousy. "What, are those love letters?" He tries to joke, to brush it off.Only, Tin says, "Mmm."And what the fuck honestly. Can makes to roll back around and get up from the bed.Tin stops him though, stops him with a hand on his back. "Here, read it." He hands a sheet over.Can stares at him, at the smile in his eyes and Tin couldn't be this cruel, right? He takes the offering and looks at it and gets even more confused."This is mine. It's my letter to you. It's my apology letter. This is not a love letter, Tin."Tin takes the letter back, tucking it carefully between two other sheets of blanks. "Excuse me, but it's a love letter to me. And it's the first letter you wrote me.""You kept it." Can's shocked enough to state the obvious."You wrote it." Tin says simply and Can really wants to kiss him and maybe blow him but maybe later. Kissing though - Can edges closer and turns Tin's face to his. "I'll write you better letters."Tin's smile blooms and then Tin reaches over and kisses him first.But Can's okay with that. Either way, they're kissing. They're partners, a pair. And they don't even have laundry tonight.