Archive of Our Own ^beta

Just one drink, Thap had promised on the drive to Ton and Pokpong’s house.

The thing about Thap was, he was only an occasional drinker. Whenever he did allow alcohol to cross his lips, though, he tended to drink a little too much… and he was much more of a lightweight than he dared to admit.

Tonight was a special occasion—Ton and Pokpong’s house-warming party—so Thap knew he would not be able to spend the night without at least one drink. Just one drink, he reminded himself, for In did not drink at all and Thap was… well, he was a needy, overbearing drunk, and both should be able to have fun—In should not have to act like a baby-sitter. He did not want In to be forced to abandon the party just so he could take care of his drunk husband. That was to say, tonight Thap was going to behave. For In.

“Wait, I need something,” Thap said, tugging the hem of In’s shirt once they had parked.

“Hm?”

“I need to recharge my battery.”

The big smile he showed his husband told In everything he needed to know.

The fortune-teller rolled his eyes, a recurrent occurence ever since meeting that annoyingly endearing doctor. “Again? You’re so needy, phi Thap.”

“What can I say, I’m addicted to you.” In could not help but smile fondly, even if Thap’s current smirk was nothing short of infuriating. “So, can I?”

“When have I ever said no to you?”

The truth was, even though In naturally appeared fed up with him, he indulged Thap often when they were alone.

Beaming, the needy man brought his upper body closer to In, hands cupping his jaw, the curves of his palms molding perfectly against In’s jawline, as if they were meant to be pressed together like this, as if Thap was meant to cradle In between his hands, as if his entire world was meant to be held so close, from where he could admire the one he had offered his whole heart to—the one and only it beat for.

They exchanged tender smiles, ones that conveyed all the words they meant to say.

And then, their lips met, sun and moon reuniting at once, two souls disparate, so different that they had clashed upon first meeting—and yet, intertwined and unable to part—like yin and yang, water and fire, opposites essential to each other. Kissing In felt like finally, finally coming home.

Hands came to rest on Thap’s waist, inciting him to get even closer. What had begun as a slow kiss turned more passionate as Thap nibbled and sucked In’s lower lip, causing the latter’s lips to part in surprise, allowing Thap’s tongue to slip in.

Thap was not one to do things by half, especially not when he wanted something. In had witnessed this wild side of his several times before, in and out of bed. He could only pray he would not end up with bruised lips, that would tell every guest what they had been up to.

They parted when an engine roared nearby, or rather In broke it off, because Thap had no issue making out in front of people. In’s PDA had limits… Thap’s, not so much.

They stared at each other for a moment, their chests heaving in unison, both their faces flushed. “Have you recharged your battery?” In asked, still feeling the cold of Thap’s wedding ring on his jaw.

Thap’s grin said it all. “Yes, perfect, I’m feeling so energized right now.”

“Good.” In reciprocated the gesture, then opened the car door. “We better go or we’re going to be late.”

They greeted the hosts with hugs, then Dao. There were around fifteen people in total, most of whom strangers. In stuck with his husband at first, his introverted self not quite comfortable amidst all these people he had never met. In spite of his introversion, In quickly got along with Ton and Pokpong’s friends, who were immediately warm and friendly with him. Still, that was a lot of noise for someone like him with a liking for quiet, so he ended up in the kitchen with Dao for calmer conversation.

His husband popped up after some time. “In, are you okay?”

“Yeah. Just a little overwhelmed by all the noise. Don’t worry, phi Thap.”

Thap went to stand behind In, wrapping his arms around In’s waist and resting his chin on In's shoulder to give him a back hug. “I’ll stay with you then.”

In squeezed Thap’s hands. “Phi Thap, you’re a social butterfly. Go have fun!”

“Are you sure? What about you?”

“I’ll join you in a bit.”

“Okay,” the older man conceded. “Tell me if you need anything, hm?” He planted a kiss on his husband’s cheek before leaving the two best friends on their own.

Once In had the necessary energy to go back to the lively living-room, he and Dao joined the guests and hosts. In took place in the empty seat beside his husband—smiling at the idea that Thap had kept him a seat—then squeezed his knee to indicate his presence.

“Hi,” In greeted.

“Hi,” Thap mirrored, except his cheeks were now rosy as he sipped the yellow beverage.

“How many drinks have you had?”

“A few,” Thap replied sheepishly, head bent down and his eyes refusing to meet In’s.

“It’s not his fault,” Ton interjected, “we kept toasting and downing our drinks each time. He’s just a lightweight, as usual.”

In gave a nod, a little smile tugging at his lips. Such a big boy yet unable to handle his liquor. That was kind of funny… and cute.

“Phi Thap,” he called, squeezing his knee again so the ashamed man would look up, “that’s okay you know? You drink once in a blue moon. Don’t hold back just for me.”

Thap and his puppy eyes were terribly endearing. It made In want to pinch these pink cheeks of his. “But if I drink too much you’ll have to take care of me and it will ruin the party.”

“I don’t mind taking care of you, silly. I’m your husband. Husbands take care of each other.” In affectionately ruffled the tipsy man’s hair. “Even though you’re a needy drunk. Not that it’s a huge change, you’re already needy sober.”

“Hey!”

“It’s just the truth!”

While In lost himself in pleasant chit-chat with the other guests, Thap joyfully talked to absolutely everyone, pressing his side to In’s, as if trying to show the people present that In was his and his alone. In secretly liked Thap’s possessiveness, not that he would ever admit it.

They had been talking for quite some time now when a yawn came over In. Slowly, he rubbed his eyes and checked the time on his phone. It was already past midnight and some of the guests had effectively gone home, now that he noticed it. Even though he was beginning to feel tired, he kept it to himself and simply switched to listening mode to save his remaining social battery. Parties were not In’s forte, but they were Thap’s, and so In refused to ruin his husband’s fun. Tomorrow was their day off anyway, so they would be able to sleep in.

Thap was askew on the bench, not quite lying but not quite sitting either, bent backward with his upper back resting against In’s chest and his head against In’s always comfortable shoulder—his favorite spot to rest. The alcohol in his system was making him feel dizzy and drowsy, and he knew he would regret drinking so much in the morning. For now, though, he was having fun. Plus, In had taken to patting his head, and Thap relished the affection offered by his husband.

“Phi Thap.”

“Hmm?” Thap replied absent-mindedly, his eyes closed.

“Drink some water. It’ll help with the hangover.”

It was not a question but an order, it seemed, for In resumed his hair-patting activity until Thap had finished his glass of water.

“Good boy,” In whispered, pressing a kiss against Thap’s temple.

That did something to Thap’s sanity; however, he was long gone and had moved on to something else a minute later.

That moment of peace was over too quickly for In’s liking. Everyone—including Thap—had gotten up for a dance, a fast-paced music on the speakers.

“In, dance with me,” Thap pleaded, hand pulling In’s in an attempt to get him up.

“I don’t know…”

“Dance with me, please? In?” Thap fluttered eyelashes at him, and In was just a man… so he indulged him.

That was when the energetic music turned into a slow, romantic one, and In’s arms curled around Thap’s neck, that they began dancing—or rather attempted to. In was not a skilled dancer, and Thap was an absolute disaster. He had gracelessly engulfed In in his arms, tightly wrapping them around In’s waist and holding him close. “Phi Thap, what are you doing?”

“Hugging you.”

“Weren’t we supposed to dance, huh? What happened to that?”

“I’d rather be hugging you instead,” Thap said, and that was all the warning In got before he was being kissed in front of everyone in the middle of the dancefloor. Surprised, he instinctively kissed back for a few seconds, before slowly pushing him away with hands on his chest.

“That’s enough,” he said shyly, feeling his cheeks redden. Thap’s public displays of affection never failed to make him shy. He buried his face against Thap’s shoulder… until the older man tripped over nothing but emptiness and nearly made them fall pathetically on the floor.

“Look at you, being absolutely wasted.”

“I’m not! Who’s wasted?”

“Sure thing, dear. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

“Thap, another drink?” Pokpong asked from the other side of the room, and Thap rushed to the table to accept the offer. In face-palmed, knowing the night was nowhere near over. He sat by his husband’s side and watched over him, letting Thap rest his weight against him so as not to fall.

When finally the hosts had passed out, In took it as their cue to leave. “Let’s get you home big boy.”

They waved goodbye to the remaining guests then In supported Thap’s body as they walked to the car, Thap staggering every step of the way.

“You’re so handsome…” he said in his drunk voice.

In smiled, amused. “Thanks.”

“You’re so handsome…” Thap repeated. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

“Yes I do, actually. I’m a married man.”

Drunk Thap was decidedly terribly amusing.

“No!” Thap screamed, but it sounded more like a whine than anything else. “Divorce him. You’re so handsome… Why not me?”

In tried to contain his laugh. “Phi Thap, we’ve been married for three years.”

“Really?” It was hard for In not to burst into laughter when Thap had this idiotic smile plastered on his features, making him look adorable. “I’m so lucky… You’re all mine… All mine…!” The drunk man deliriously rubbed his cheek against In’s, causing the sober man to laugh in a mix of exasperation and fondness.

“All yours, yes. Now let’s go home.”

In carried his husband to bed. Thankfully, he did not request late night noodles this time. But because In was a good, respectable husband, he still gave Thap a sponge bath as per his request.

“I love you sooooo much. Like this!” Thap spread his arms to show him the extent of his love, before refolding them only to hug In tight against his heart.

“You big baby. I love you too.” In made no move to leave, and instead turned off the light. “Let’s sleep, hm? I’m really tired.”

“Nong In… Good night, my nong In…”

“Good night, my phi Thap,” In replied with a smile, though Thap could not see it from where he was.

Drunk Thap was so clingy… and In found him endearing.

* * *

In woke up feeling hands in his hair. He closed his eyes for a couple more minutes, enjoying the affection, before he opened them and met his husband’s loving eyes.

“Good morning baby,” Thap greeted.

In turned crimson at the nickname. Oh, that man was going to drive him insane one of these days. “Good morning. How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay. I’ve sobered up and no headache. The water you made me drink helped.” Thap’s smile was quickly replaced by a frown, a sigh crossing his lips.

“What is it, phi Thap?”

“I’m… sorry, about last night. I didn’t want to drink too much. You had to take care of me all night because of that…”

“Phi, it’s fine. I told you I don’t mind. Plus, you’re adorable when you’re drunk.”

“Still, I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine, really. I don’t mind taking care of you. We have the day off anyway, we can rest today.”

“Oh, right, we have the whole day off. I’ll make it up to you.” Thap seemed to consider an idea for a moment, before his hands grabbed In’s hips. “Maybe we can…”

The sentence remained unfinished, but it did not take a genius to guess the rest of it, for Thap had brought In on top of him and was sending him a sultry look.

“Oh,” In said as he found himself on all fours above Thap. He quickly composed himself, a smug smile crossing his face as he asked, “How do you want it, phi Thap?”

“I’m all yours, nong In.”

Thap’s only need was to be able to feel In close to him, in any way, and so was In’s.

As In bent down to kiss him, he was happy to comply.