Archive of Our Own

The alley was too narrow for a car, but too crowded for a clean shot. So First only had one option left.

It was the option he preferred anyway.

He ran.

His steps bounced against the uneven concrete as he ran further into the alley. The suspect ahead weaved through the crowd like he knew every turn and incoming obstacle. Even though First clearly didn’t share that same familiarit, he followed without hesitation.

First leaped over a pile of garbage bags that blocked his path. A woman carrying groceries yelped as he slipped past her shoulder, slightly touching her bags. Someone cursed loudly when he accidentally kicked over a row of plastic stools set outside a small noodle stall.

But First paid no attention, his focus was locked onto the back of the suspect’s jacket.

“First, do you hear me?” a voice echoed through his earpiece, “I know you do. Stop chasing him. I got this.”

First didn’t answer, but his pace increased, his legs burning in pain.

“First,” the voice repeated, “Stop.”

“Leave me be,” First replied between breaths, “I’m so damn close.”

“Don’t be so stubborn, slow down!”

“No.”

The suspect glanced back over his shoulder, and their eyes met for a split second. He looked around and reached up to grab a rope hanging from a small construction platform overhead. With a rough yank, he shook the platform hard enough that a cascade of loose sand spilt from a sack that was resting on it.

First saw it a second too late. He didn’t have the time to slow down. His foot slammed straight into the shifting pile. The sand gave way beneath him and stole his balance.

He stumbled forward, arms flailing as an attempt to stabilise himself. He crashed face-first into the sand.

First shoved himself back to his feet, spitting sand from his mouth and shouted hoarsely, “Stop where you are!”

The suspect looked back.

Smirked.

And immediately crashed straight into the solid front grille of a truck that had just pulled in to block the exit.

He staggered before collapsing onto the pavement.

The truck door swung open as First skidded to a stop with heavy breaths.

“I told you,” Khaotung said as he stepped out of the truck, “I got this.”

He pulled out the handcuffs and planted his knee firmly on the suspect's back. He snapped the cuffs around the man’s wrist with a click.

“Not without my help,” First shot back.

Khaotung glanced up, “Oh really?”

“If I didn’t chase him, he wouldn’t have ended up at the back of this alley.”

“Yes, he would. There was literally nowhere else to go.”

“Aha! That’s where you’re wrong, he had nowhere SAFER to go.”

“Please,” Khaotung scoffed, “Even if he didn’t come through this alley, I would have found another way to stop him.”

First crossed his arms.

“I could have handled this without your help, by the way.”

“Oh yeah?” Khaotung raised a brow, “How? As the sand monster?”

“You b-“

Someone cleared their throat. They both looked down.

The suspect, still pinned beneath Khaotung’s knee with his face pressed against the pavement, blinked up at them.

“Yeah, guys,” he said awkwardly, “Are you guys done arguing? You both caught me anyway, doesn’t matter who-“

“It does,” They both snapped at the same time, glaring at each other.

The suspect was saved by the whirring sirens of approaching police cars.

The doors to the Special Crimes Unit slammed open with a bang against the wall.

“I almost had him!” First shouted.

“No, you didn’t!” Khaotung shot back, “He was literally ahead of you.”

“I had planned my moves!”

“Oh yeah? They wouldn’t have worked anyway, you dumb f-“

“WHAT DID YOU-“

“Boys.”

Supervisory Special Agent Earth Pirapat Watthanasetsiri’s voice cut cleanly through the station with calm authority. His hands were folded in front of him.

“Please,” he added with a tired sigh, “Not again.”

Khaotung froze mid-motion, his hand suspended in the air as he was clearly about to grab First by the collar. First, meanwhile, had his fist half-swung forward.

Slowly, they looked around.

The office continued operating as usual. Agents were typing in reports, the suspect they caught was being questioned, and a group of agents were hanging out by the break room with a box of doughnuts, debating whether Oreo or Biscoff was the best flavour.

No one batted an eye at their exchange.

At this point, everyone had gotten used to it.

First and Khaotung made an undeniably great pair.

They solved the most high-end cases within days. They would catch criminals that other units had chased for months. Together, even if they believed it to be an individual effort, they were one of the best duos in the department.

But of course, as you can see, they also hated each other’s guts.

No one knows why.

Some speculate that they were both aiming to become the next Supervisory Special Agent one day, and the other was simply in the way.

Some believed the rivalry started back in the training academy.

Some…thought it was secretly the L word.

“Anyway, boys,” Earth said, gesturing towards the conference room, “We have a new case up our sleeves, and the entire team is already waiting for me to start the briefing.”

Inside the room, the rest of the team was already seated.

First and Khaotung greeted everyone with curt nods and polite smiles as they entered but no one paid them much attention.

All eyes were fixed on the screen at the front of the room that displayed a face almost anyone in Thailand would recognise.

Hia Singha.

He ran what was probably Thailand’s largest money laundering network, disguised as a chain of high-end gambling operations. His underworld organisation was rumoured to be one of, if not the biggest and most ruthless, in Thailand.

Maybe even in all of Asia.

And yet, no one had ever seen Singha in person.

Still, somehow, everyone knew exactly what he looked like. Years ago, during one of the agency’s failed attempts to capture him, someone had managed to snap a blurry image of his face for a split second before he disappeared again. That image had been circulating across the internet ever since, passed around like an urban legend that everyone recognised, but no one had truly confirmed.

“Right,” Earth began, “We have received very valuable intel that might allow us to finally arrest Singha once and for all.”

The room fell silent. No one dared to move. Agents exchanged stunned glances with each other, disbelief written clearly across their faces.

“This,” Earth said, clicking the pointer to display a map of an island, “Is Koh Phayak.”

The island appeared isolated, surrounded by thick forests and deep green water. In the very centre of the island stood a massive white structure that looked less like a resort and more like a fortified compound.

“It is owned by Singha. Next weekend, he will be hosting his annual charity gala. We have always known the existence of such an event, but until now, we never knew where it was held.”

He turned to face the team.

“Operations will start next week. Guests are typically invited to stay on the island for a full week before the main gala takes place during the weekend. So for now, make sure you get plenty of rest. I’m giving everyone the remainder of this week off.”

A wave of grins immediately spread across the room. A few people exchanged relieved looks. Time off before a major mission was practically a luxury.

“Now, for roles.”

Earth clicked his pointer again, and the slide shifted as the team’s profiles appeared on the screen.

“Nut and Hong will serve as our Tech and Cyber Specialists,” he began, glancing toward the pair, “You’ll be responsible for surveillance systems, digital tracking, hacking into secured networks if necessary, and monitoring communications in real time. If anything moves online, you’ll be the first to see it.”

The two exchanged excited glances before bumping their fists together.

“William will act as the Field Commander. He’ll coordinate operations on the ground, manage deployment, and make the final call during active situations. When things get chaotic, William’s the one keeping everyone moving in the same direction. He makes the final call.”

Another click.

“Tui will handle Criminal Intelligence Analysis,” Earth continued, “You’ll compile and interpret intel. You look at suspect profiles, financial records, anything that would help us understand who we’re dealing with and what they might do next.”

He nodded toward the next name.

“Est will be our Strategist. You’ll take Tui’s intel and turn it into operational plans. This means mapping out scenarios, predicting risks, and making sure we always have a step ahead of whoever we’re chasing. You will work closely with William and Tui.”

Est gave him a thumbs up and nodded towards Tui and William.

“Lego will serve as Tactical Medic and Weapons Specialist,” Earth nodded at Lego, “You’ll be responsible for medical support in the field, as well as maintaining and managing the team’s weapons and tactical gear.”

Lego saluted dramatically.

He paused for a moment, letting the information settle before looking toward the two people standing on the far side of the room.

“And finally,” he said, voice slightly more deliberate, “First and Khaotung… you two will be undercover.”

Gasps filled the room.

“But sir,” Khaotung spoke up immediately, “We look completely different! We can’t possibly rotate shifts under the same identity, that would be too obvious!”

“You two,” Earth said calmly, “Will go undercover together. At the same time. As a pair.”

“WHAT?!”

Both of them shot to their feet so fast their chairs fell to the floor with a thud.

“Yes,” Earth continued, unfazed, “And here,”

He pointed toward the screen, “Are your new profiles.”

Names:

"Lynx" Ashira Wilawong

"Tiger" Thatchakorn Aranyasiri

Occupation: Business owners, Private investors

Background: Heirs to a multinational logistics conglomerate headquartered in Singapore. Young investors who currently hold control of several luxury resort developments and casino holdings, including ‘Ritz-Carlton’, ‘Golden Bay Resorts’ and ‘Sky Casino Group’. They have been living in Singapore for years, and are now returning to Thailand for good.

Net Worth: Estimated at USD 480 Million

“Your public reputation,” Earth continued calmly, “Is that of wealthy but somewhat mysterious investors who prefer private deals. You rarely speak to the press. You only attend high-end gambling events, charity galas, and exclusive business summits.”

He gestured toward the screen

“In other words, it’s exactly the kind of people Singha would invite.”

Then the final line appeared.

Status: Married

The room went very quiet.

First turned around to slowly look at Khaotung, who mirrored the same horrified look on his face.

Somewhere behind them, Lego let out a small giggle, “Oh, this is gonna be so good.”

First opened his mouth, “But, sir-“

“No buts, First,” Earth said sternly, “You know there is no getting out of this. Follow my orders. Ensure this operation is a success. I will see you all next week.

And with that, Earth left the room.

One by one, the rest of the team stood and began packing their things, heading toward the door while trying, so, so hard, not to laugh.

Soon, the room was empty.

Except First and Khaotung, who still stood in stunned silence.

Still processing what had just happened.

Neither of them knew it yet.

But pretending to be in love was about to become the easiest part of the mission.

The hard part would be figuring out when pretending stopped.

The following week arrived faster than anyone expected.

Inside the agency’s private hangar, rows of weapons and specialised equipment were neatly arranged across a long metal table. Pistols, rifles, communication devices, and surveillance tools were carefully organised in labelled cases, ready to be loaded onto the jet waiting on the runway outside.

Nearby, large containers filled with tactical gear, encrypted laptops, medical kits, and backup batteries were stacked beside the loading ramp. Agents moved efficiently through the hangar, checking equipment lists and securing cases as they prepared for departure.

While the gear was being loaded, the team gathered near the entrance of the jet for Earth’s final instructions and words of encouragement.

The aircraft engines had already begun to whirr softly, the low mechanical hum vibrating through the hangar floor.

Earth stood before them with his hands behind his back.

“This operation will require precision,” he said calmly, “Singha has managed to evade capture for years. We cannot afford mistakes.”

His gaze moved across the group, briefly stopping on each agent.

“Everyone understands their role. Trust your training, trust your teammates, and remember why we’re here.”

He paused. Then gave a small nod.

“Good luck.”

Inside the aircraft cabin, the atmosphere was noticeably quieter.

Some agents reviewed files on their tablets. Others leaned back in their seats, resting. William and Est were giggling somewhere in the back.

Khaotung had chosen a seat at the front of the cabin. He leaned back comfortably with his earphones in, eyes closed as music played softly from his playlist.

His moment of peace lasted exactly half an hour, before someone suddenly yanked the earphones out of his ears.

Khaotung snapped his eyes open and immediately met with the sight of First leaning against the opposite seat with a smug grin on his face. The chair across from him had been empty before.

“What do you want?” Khaotung asked flatly, glaring at him.

“Don’t get so cranky, dear husband,” First chuckled, “Don’t we need to discuss our plans for the week?”

“Husband, my ass,” Khaotung scoffed, “Don’t ever call me that outside of this mission.”

“Okay…honey.”

Khaotung immediately stood up to leave, irritation written clearly across his face.

First reacted quicker, and reached forward to grab Khaotung’s wrists.

“Hey, I’m kidding,” he said, “Okay, okay. I won’t do it again. Can we just discuss what we want to do, please?”

Khaotung stared at him for a moment, clearly debating internally on whether to punch him.

Then, reluctantly, he sat back down and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Good,” First said, leaning forward slightly, “Now. What do we know about Tiger and Lynx?”

“They’re rich like all the other people attending the gala.”

“Obviously. What else? What do you think their personalities are like?”

“Stuck up,” Khaotung replied immediately, “Entitled. The kind of people who think they can buy whatever they want. Probably stubborn as hell and used to getting their way all the time.”

First nodded thoughtfully.

“Okay, yeah. That works. How about with each other?”

Khaotung paused, studying First carefully for a moment.

“I think…” he said slowly, tapping a finger against his chin, “They’re probably brats to everyone else. Arrogant, cold, untouchable. But with each other?”

He smirked slightly.

“Completely lovey-dovey.”

First raised an eyebrow.

“Really?”

“Yeah,” Khaotung continued, “It would make sense. Rich couples like that usually act untouchable in public, but behind closed doors, they’re annoyingly affectionate. It would also explain why they keep their lives so private.”

“I like where you’re headed,” First smirked, “But I also think that they would argue and disagree a lot.”

Khaotung frowned.

“What? No.”

“Yes,” First insisted, “Think about it. Two rich, stubborn investors with huge egos? There’s no way they don’t fight.”

“That would ruin the image,” Khaotung argued, “We’re supposed to look like a powerful couple, not a dysfunctional one.”

“A little tension makes it believable.”

“No, it doesn’t.”

“It does.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Guys! We’re here!” William shouted excitedly as he looked through the window.

Both of them turned and sure enough, Koh Phayak had come into view.

The island sat surrounded by deep blue water, its dense green forests stretching along the shoreline. In the centre of the island stood an enormous white resort complex, gleaming under the sunlight like a luxurious fortress.

First and Khaotung exchanged a glance.

A strange feeling settled in both of their chests.

The jet landed on a quiet stretch of beach, far away from the main landing area used by Koh Phayak’s wealthy guests. As the aircraft doors opened with a loud hiss, warm beach air rushed into the cabin.

A man in a tailored suit was already waiting for them outside, standing on the sand with a friendly grin.

“Welcome, gentlemen,” he said smoothly, “My name is Special Agent Mix. I will be assisting you here throughout the week.”

He stepped forward, shaking hands with the rest of the team.

Then he stopped in front of First and Khaotung.

“I’ve heard a lot about you two,” he said with a playful wink, “The best of the best, right?”

“Yes,” First said immediately, stepping forward, “I am the best. My name is First.”

“No!” Khaotung shoved himself in front of him, extending his own hand toward Mix, “I am the best. I’m Khaotung.”

Mix looked down at the extended hand, then burst out laughing.

“You two are exactly how Earth described you.”

He turned away before either of them could respond.

“Well then,” Mix said as he gestured toward several men dressed in black unloading equipment from the jet, “My team will help you unload your gear.”

He pointed toward a sleek black sedan waiting nearby.

“Everyone follow me. I’ll show you your base for the week.”

Mix climbed into the sedan without another word.

The rest of the team followed shortly after.

The car eventually stopped in front of a towering waterfall. Water crashed down the cliff face into a deep pool below, mist rising into the air like fog.

“Now,” Mix said with a grin, “Watch the magic happen.”

Everyone leaned forward slightly as the sedan began moving again.

The car drove straight toward the waterfall.

For a brief second, it looked like they were about to crash into solid rock, until the vehicle passed directly through the curtain of falling water. Droplets splashed loudly against the windows and roof, creating a steady rhythm of heavy splatter as the car pushed through.

Behind the waterfall, the view slowly revealed something completely unexpected.

A massive hidden bunker stretched deep into the mountain.

The cavernous space stretched deep into the rock, illuminated by rows of bright industrial lights. Papers, maps, and equipment boxes were scattered across several long tables. Screens displaying surveillance feeds flickered along one wall.

At the far end of the bunker stood a massive projection screen.

Displayed on it was Earth’s face.

The team stepped out of the car, looking around in surprise.

“Ah, agents!” Earth exclaimed through the screen, “Welcome! I hope you like this. We have been working on this for the past year.”

Mix stepped forward slightly, and Earth greeted him with a small nod.

“Agent Mix, thank you for your help.”

Mix nodded politely in response.

Then he turned back to the group.

“Meanwhile, gentlemen,” Mix said as he gestured around the bunker, “Please take some time to explore and familiarise yourselves with the place while my team unload and arranges your gear. You may also choose your bedrooms. They’re all located at the back.”

The team immediately hurried off, clearly excited.

“I want this one!” Khaotung announced as he quickly dropped onto a bed in a room with a single mattress.

“What? No!” First protested, rushing in behind him, “I deserve the single room!”

“No! What makes you deserve it?” Khaotung shot back.

“Because I’m leading this project, duh.”

“Since when-“

Mix cleared his throat.

“Gentlemen,” Mix said calmly, stepping closer, “There is no need for you to fight.”

He leaned in slightly and lowered his voice.

“You two won’t be sleeping here.”

“We won’t?!” They both said in confusion.

“No,” Mix replied, “You two will be staying together inside Singha’s compound. You are his honoured guests, after all.”

“Oh.”

“Okay.”

Both of them awkwardly rubbed the backs of their necks, suddenly feeling embarrassed.

Eventually, the rooms were settled.

Tui ended up taking the single room.

Nut, Hong, and Lego shared another room, which had a bunk bed and a separate single bed.

For tonight, First and Khaotung would sleep in the room with the other agents.

William and Est took the room with the queen-sized bed. Of course, everyone knew why they agreed so easily.

Nut slowly raised an eyebrow.

Hong coughed suspiciously.

Lego looked between them with a grin that was far too knowing.

William, who had been busy pretending to inspect the mattress like a serious professional, finally noticed the silence.

“What?” he asked, glancing at the trio of grinning agents.

“Nothing,” Nut said quickly, eyes darting away.

“Absolutely nothing,” Hong added.

Est simply dropped his bag onto the bed and said calmly, “Ignore them. They’re bored.”

William nodded as if that explanation satisfied him, though the faint redness creeping up his ears suggested otherwise.

Meanwhile, back in the main bunker area, First and Khaotung were leaning over one of the tables covered with maps of Singha’s compound.

“This is the guest villa area,” Khaotung said, tapping a section of the blueprint, “Most likely, we’ll be staying somewhere around here.”

First hummed thoughtfully.

“Do you think they’ll give us separate rooms?”

Khaotung shrugged, “They should. Rich people usually value their privacy. Even couples.”

“Good,” First said with a satisfied nod. He paused, then added slowly, “Because if I had to share a room with you for an entire week…”

“I’d jump into the ocean,” Khaotung finished, without hesitation.

“Exactly.”

Meanwhile, behind them, Lego had leaned around the corner and whispered loudly to Tui, barely holding back laughter.

“This is better than reality TV,” he said.

Tui shook his head, smirking, “We should record this for posterity.”

“Should we tell them?” Hong whispered.

Nut shook his head, “No.”

Hong grinned.

“Absolutely not,” William repeated.

Then, Mix’s voice cut sharply through the bunker’s intercom system.

“Agents, briefing in five.”

The chatter stopped immediately. In a split second, the entire team had gathered in front of the massive projection screen, which flickered to life, displaying a detailed digital map of Koh Phayak.

“Listen carefully,” Mix began. The room fell completely silent, every agent leaning forward slightly, “The charity gala will take place this weekend. However, guest registration begins tomorrow morning. High-profile investors, business partners, and VIP guests will arrive over the course of the week.”

Several smaller sections of the compound lit up on the map, each marked with entrances, villas, and surveillance towers.

“The next few days will consist of informal events, maybe private gambling sessions, networking dinners, recreational activities, and other opportunities for mingling. Singha uses this period to observe his guests before the gala officially begins.”

Tui leaned forward, brow furrowed slightly, “So…he studies potential partners beforehand?”

“Exactly.”

William crossed his arms, tapping his fingers against his elbow, “That means the real mission starts tomorrow.”

“Correct,” Mix said with a nod.

The screen shifted to First and Khaotung’s undercover profiles.

“Tiger and Lynx are already registered as special investors arriving tomorrow morning.”

First raised a hand lazily, smirking, “So, we just show up, act rich, gamble a bit, and flirt with each other?”

Khaotung glared at him.

Mix ignored the exchange completely, “Your priority is to observe Singha’s inner circle and find out what actually happens during the gala.”

“Yeah cuz it’s weird, why have a ‘charity gala’ for an entire week and have it be so confidentiall? Something must be going on,” said Est.

“Correct,” Mix said, “Get some rest. Tomorrow, the operation begins.”

One by one, agents began leaving the room, heading toward their assigned bedrooms.

First stretched dramatically, throwing his arms over his head.

“Well,” he said casually, “See you tomorrow, husband.”

Khaotung rolled his eyes, muttering, “Don’t talk to me unless it’s mission-related.”

First leaned closer, smirking, “Aww, playing hard to get already, huh?”

Khaotung ignored him and walked off.

Across the bunker, Nut shot a look at Lego, a sly grin spreading across his face.

“So,” he said, smirking.

Lego smirked back, matching him perfectly, “So…”

Hong had his arms crossed, looking amused, “How long before they figure it out?”

Nut’s grin got even wider, “Wanna bet?”

The next morning, the bunker was already alive with movement before the sun even had a chance to take a peek. Monitors glowed, casting a cool blue light over the scattered desks, equipment and documents. Mix had started a pot of coffee that smelled strong enough to wake the dead.

Nut and Hong were already seated at the surveillance stations, quietly logging into systems, setting up signal interceptors and testing connections of the devices that First and Khaotung would carry with them inside the compound.

William and Est were at the table across, observing blueprints and drawing graphs and stickmen on the whiteboard, crafting their master plan for every scenario that they predict would happen.

Tui was asleep. There was no one to profile yet.

Across the room, Lego was crouched beside an open equipment case, carefully checking the contents for the last time.

First walked out of the room he slept in. He was dressed in a dark navy suit jacket, a dark navy tie and polished shoes. Khaotung, meanwhile, wore a black suit where its V line went down to his chest, revealing a bit. His hair was styled neatly, too.

They screamed both rich people in power who don’t tolerate nonsense, and people pretending to be rich people in power who don’t tolerate nonsense.

First glanced sideways at Khaotung with a smirk.

“Wow,” he said, “You clean up nicely. Maybe you should wear this more.”

Khaotung looked straight ahead.

“Focus.”

First opened his mouth to snap back, but William approached them, holding a tablet.

“Car’s ready,” he said, “Mix is waiting.”

They stepped outside, where the same sedan from yesterday was waiting near the waterfall entrance. Mix leaned against the car, sunglasses on despite the early hour.

“Good morning, gentlemen,” he greeted.

The three agents nodded in reply. Mix’s eyes scanned First and Khaotung head to toe, inspecting them carefully, before muttering, “Perfect. You look exactly like rich people who would make great financial decisions but bad life choices.”

Khaotung looked offended.

First looked proud.

The team climbed into the car, though this time the ride was short. Mix drove them toward a smaller dock hidden along the island’s coastline.

“Right, to avoid suspicion,” Mix pointed to a small yacht, “You will be arriving at his docks in that yacht. Hopefully, since we arrived early, we are able to avoid people who are just arriving.”

First and Khaotung nodded as the team of men in black loaded their things into the yacht.

“Good luck, boys,” Mix gripped them by their shoulders, “We are all counting on you.”

And this is the start of their undercover mission.

DAY 1

The yacht glided slowly into the dock, its hull cutting through the water with a quiet hum. A group of men in black suits, dark glasses and masks, stood waiting nearby. The moment First and Khaotung stepped off the yacht, the men sprang into action, gathered their luggage and loaded it into a black truck.

A black limo pulled up, and a woman stepped out.

“Good morning, gentlemen,” she greeted politely, her voice smooth and measured, “My name is Prim, and I’ll be escorting you throughout the week.”

First and Khaotung got into character. Instead of replying with a greeting, they simply nodded their heads subtly and kept their chin up. First turned to look at Khaotung, an eyebrow raised.

“Shall we, honey?” he said.

Khaotung forced a polite, slightly stiff smile.

“Yes, we shall,” he turned to Prim, “Lead the way.”

She nodded and opened the door for them to enter. The interior smelled faintly of leather and polished wood. The plush seats felt like sitting on clouds, and a chilled bottle of water and a tray of snacks sat in a holder.

The entire ride was quiet. Khaotung leaned against the window, eyes following the green blur of rolling hills and the splash of colours from some flowers, things he would never see back in the city. First fiddled with the control panel, adjusting his seat and trying all of its complicated controls.

The limo rolled to a stop at golden gates that shimmered under the morning sun. Patterns etched into them like a work of art, screaming elegance and rich billionaire who doesn’t like anyone but himself. It drove further and wound down a private drive lined with palm trees and sculptures. After a few minutes, they saw the end, where a beautiful fountain stood in front of what they assumed was the lobby entrance.

First and Khaotung tried their best to appear unfazed, reminding themselves that this was supposed to be ‘their territory’ and they should have been ‘used to this’.

Yet, First had his fists clench at his sides, and Khaotung had to physically restrain his jaw from dropping.

Prim stepped out, her heels clicking against the marble floor.

“Gentlemen,” she gestured towards the entrance, “Please follow me.”

Inside, the lobby was even more stunning. Crystal chandeliers hung like frozen icicles from the high ceilings. The polished marble floors reflected both their figures in blurriness and the soft sunlight streaming through the enormous windows. The place was decorated with orchids placed in gold vases, and paintings and sculptures that were scattered everywhere.

They reached the reception desk, where a young man with a friendly smile greeted them. First squinted at the nametag.

Satang.

“Good morning, sir,” Satang greeted politely, “May I know your names, please?”

“Ah, yes,” First began, gesturing to himself, “Tatchakorn Aranyasiri.”

He then pointed to Khaotung, “This is my lovely husband, Ashira Wilawong.”

Khaotung smiled at Satang.

Satang typed rapidly on his keyboard, scrolling through the system. He looked up, eyes meeting theirs.

“Ah, yes. We were notified that you would be arriving early today. Your room is ready, sir.”

He handed them a keycard.

“This is your key, and please follow Prim to your room.”

Prim smiled politely at them, “Right this way, sir.”

First and Khaotung exchanged wide-eyed glances, their unspoken thoughts perfectly aligned

Room.

Not rooms.

No ‘s’.

They were led to the far end of a gleaming hallway, where doors were double instead of singular, heavy and imposing.

“Here, gentlemen,” Prim opened the door to one of the rooms, “This is your suite. Our apologies for the long walk, but pairs are given the larger rooms at the end of the hallway.”

Gorgeous was an understatement. A grand living area opened into a dining nook, decorated with soft cream and gold accents, floor-to-ceiling windows framing a private terrace with a sparkling pool. Plush sofas and armchairs invited lounging, while modern art adorned the walls.

“I shall leave you to settle in,” Prim said, heading toward the door, “Would you like lunch sent to your room, or do you prefer dining with other guests?”

“Room service would be perfect,” Khaotung said.

Prim smiled, and with a graceful nod, she left.

First and Khaotung wandered through the suite, eyes wide with disbelief.

Then they noticed a door clearly leading to the bedroom.

Slowly, First opened it.

He stepped inside.

Then froze.

Khaotung stepped in behind him.

Then froze too.

“No way, right?” First muttered.

In the centre of the room.

Was one bed.

“No. No. No. No. I can’t do this. No,” Khaotung repeated, shaking his head, “I’m asking for a change.”

First caught his wrists.

“Dumbass, that’ll blow our cover! We’re supposed to be married! What married couple lives in different rooms?”

“I don’t know,” Khaotung shot back, “Maybe we had an arranged marriage and hate each other?”

First stared at Khaotung in disbelief. Khaotung let out a huff, crossing his arms.

“Fine. But I’m placing pillows in the middle. DO NOT. Touch me. Ever.”

“Like I want to.”

Snickers crackled through their earpieces.

“Hello?” Khaotung said, “Did you guys hear us the entire time?”

“Yeah dude,” Nut replied, “You guys really thought they were gonna give you separate beds?”

“How do I turn you off?” First muttered, fiddling with the earpiece.

“No can do, Mr,” Hong’s voice cut in, “Only we can turn it on and off. But don’t worry, we’ll only chime in when something is happening…or to give you insight.”

First grumbled.

“Oh well,” Khaotung said, letting out a long sigh, “Let’s just set up, we have the entire day to plan this out.”

Khaotung walked to the side of the bed, grabbed a pillow and placed it directly down the centre of the mattress.

Then another.

And another.

Soon, a very uneven wall of pillows separated the bed into two territories.

“There,” Khaotung said firmly, “Your side. My side.”

First stared at it.

“That is the saddest defence system I’ve ever seen.”

“If you cross it,” Khaotung warned, “I will push you into the ocean.”

“You realise this bed is big enough for three people, right?”

“That’s not the point!”

By the time evening rolled around, the soft daylight in the suite had faded, replaced by the golden glow of the chandeliers. The room was a chaos of blueprints, documents, and scattered papers. Laptops sat open on the table, and tablets rested in their hands as First and Khaotung lounged amid the mess, strategising and occasionally constantly bickering.

Now, it was time for dinner.

Prim appeared promptly at 7 p.m, with a soft knock on their door.

“Gentlemen,” she called out, “The dining hall is open. Dinner should start soon.”

First adjusted his cufflinks, throwing a glance at Khaotung, “Prepared to eat, dear husband?” he muttered, voice low enough that Prim didn’t hear.

Khaotung raised a brow, “Only if it comes with dessert.”

They head out.

They arrived at the dining hall, a grand space that rivalled the lobby in scale and luxury. Crystal chandeliers hung low, casting soft reflections across polished marble floors. Long tables were adorned with fine china, gold-rimmed glasses, and intricate floral arrangements. A mini orchestra played quietly in the corner, providing an elegant, almost cinematic backdrop.

The guests were already mingling. Laughter tinkled in the air, punctuated by the clinking of silverware. First’s eyes immediately went to the familiar faces, politicians, famous heirs, celebrities. Khaotung, on the other hand, focused on details. Hand gestures, subtle glances exchanged, the way people leaned in to each other to whisper.

First’s gaze darted across the room, scanning the crowd for one particular figure. Singha. The absence gnawed at him, a shadow of unease threading through his chest. Khaotung noticed it.

“You’re looking for someone,” Khaotung whispered, leaning in slightly so no one could overhear, "Singha?"

“Where is the star of the show?,” First replied under his breath.

Dinner was served with all the fanfare expected of a billionaire’s estate. First barely touched the delicate amuse-bouche, his attention fixed on the interactions around him. Khaotung, however, dug into his food hungrily, noting that blending in sometimes meant enjoying the luxurious food he would otherwise not have the chance to indulge in.

First leaned toward Khaotung, “We need to map the room. Note everyone’s relationships, alliances, and potential influence.”

“Yeah, yeah. Not my first rodeo,” Khaotung waved his hand in dismissal.

Amidst the murmurs of polite conversation, a waiter discreetly refilled their glasses of sparkling water. First raised his slightly ornate glass to Khaotung in a subtle toast, code for keep your eyes open.

By the time dessert arrived, First and Khaotung had already finished scanning the room. The people who lingered in conversation a minute too long, those who whispered just a little too closely, and those who kept darting glances around, as if studying everyone else.

As they moved through the crowd, offering polite nods and smiles, a sharply dressed man approached them. He was around their age, tall, broad-shouldered, and impeccably groomed. Beside him walked a slightly younger man, wearing a tailored blazer and a soft smile.

“Excuse me,” the slightly taller man said, voice smooth and composed, “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Naravit Lertratkosum.”

First extended a hand with a practised smile, “Tatchakorn Aranyasiri,” he said, “And my husband, Ashira Wilawong.”

The man’s eyes flicked between them, “I don’t recognise you. Are you new to the scene?”

“Not really,” First replied, leaning forward slightly, “We’ve just returned from Singapore. Spent a few years abroad, building businesses. You can call me Tiger.”

“And I’m Lynx,” Khaotung said, keeping his tone calm and polite.

He nodded, “Pond,” and gestured toward the man beside him, “This is Phuwin, my fiancé.”

Phuwin gave a polite nod, “Pleased to meet you.”

First and Khaotung smiled.

Pond leaned in slightly, speaking in a casual, conversational tone, “I do business too,” he said, “Luxury perfumes… niche, but the right clients make it worthwhile. Gala nights like this are perfect for connecting with them.” He glanced around the room briefly, then added almost offhandedly, “I can’t wait to see who gets the deal this Sunday.”

First and Khaotung exchanged a subtle look. Pond hadn’t elaborated, but it was enough to spark their curiosity.

Not everyone is involved on Sunday? First thought, tucking the remark away for later.

“Can’t wait,” First said smoothly, “Gala nights always have their surprises.”

Phuwin gave a quiet nod, calm and composed, “Observing is part of the fun,” he added.

Pond smiled, a fond expression flickering across his face, “Exactly. And if you want insight into the industry or any opportunities, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ve been coming to this event for years.”

“Thank you, Pond. Always helpful to learn from someone familiar with the scene,” Khaotung replied.

After their brief exchange, Pond and Phuwin drifted back into the crowd. First and Khaotung moved on as well, but that offhand remark about Sunday lingered in their minds.

Day 2

Khaotung woke up hugging his pillow.

His warm, stiff pillow with long limbs.

His sleepy brain took a moment to process that information.

He slowly blinked his eyes open.

And froze.

He was hugging First.

First was fast asleep, one arm loosely draped across Khaotung’s waist, mouth slightly open as he breathed evenly. His hair was a mess from sleep, sticking up in soft tufts.

For a solid 3 seconds, Khaotung’s brain stopped functioning.

“Oh shit,” he blurted, scrambling backwards so quickly he nearly tangled himself in the sheets.

The sudden movement jostled the mattress.

First groaned. His eyebrows furrowed as he shifted, clearly dragged out of sleep against his will. His eyes opened slowly, blinking through the early morning light filtering through the curtains.

“Khaotung?” he mumbled, voice thick with sleep, “What the hell happened?”

Khaotung forced his face into what he hoped was a neutral expression, even as his heart hammered violently against his ribs.

“No-nothing,” he said quickly, “I just thought I heard something outside.”

First squinted at him.

“Oh. Okay.”

He pushed himself upright, running a hand through his already chaotic hair before glancing around the room with a yawn.

“What time is it?” First asked, stretching his arms above his head. The movement pulled his shirt up slightly, revealing a strip of toned stomach before he dropped his arms again.

Khaotung looked away immediately.

“It’s almost time for breakfast,” he said, grabbing his phone from the bedside table, “What’s our plan today?”

First rubbed his face, waking up properly now. The sleepy softness in his expression faded.

“Today is a free day, so we explore.”

“That’s vague.”

“It’s supposed to be.”

Khaotung scoffed, sliding out of bed, “Wouldn’t have thought of that, thanks.”

First shot him a lazy grin.

“You’re welcome.”

They dressed quickly, slipping back into the roles they had been assigned for the mission. Casual clothes that looked expensive but not flashy. Wealthy and comfortable.

At least on the surface.

Underneath it…

Hidden knives. Concealed earpieces. Phones modified for secure communication.

And Lego’s ridiculous-looking emergency keychain, shaped like a tiny paw, designed to trigger a silent distress signal if something goes wrong.

“Good morning, gentlemen,” Tui’s voice suddenly rings through their earpiece, “I’ve sent you a list of all the information of those you asked for yesterday. As expected, all of them are politicians, celebs and businessmen. I gave extra intel on Pond and Phuwin. I sent it to your tablet.”

“Thanks, Tui,” Khaotung said, as he picked up the tablet, “What do we need to know?”

“Pond runs a perfume brand called Arseni on the surface, but he’s actually from the Naravit family.”

First raised an eyebrow, “Naravit family?”

“S-tier mafia family,” Tui confirmed, “Decades of history. Powerful connections.”

Khaotung leaned against the desk, listening.

“But strangely enough,” Tui continued, “Pond doesn’t seem interested in continuing the family legacy. He’s apparently very serious about his perfumes.”

First chuckled softly.

“That’s… unexpected.”

“Maybe,” Tui said, “Or maybe it’s a front. Hard to say. I’m still digging with Hong.”

Khaotung continued scrolling through the file.

“He’s been attending Singha’s gala for over 5 years now,” Tui added, “Ever since his father retired from the family business. Apparently, the younger brother took over operations overseas, so Pond occasionally represents the family in Thailand.”

“And Phuwin?” Khaotung asked.

“Oh, normal dude,” Tui said immediately, “But Pond is head over heels for his fiancé.”

First snorted.

“Tui-”

“I’m serious,” Tui continued, “His Instagram page is basically just pictures of Phuwin and perfume bottles. It’s honestly kind of adorable.”

First leaned casually against the desk.

“Interesting,” he said.

Then he glanced sideways at Khaotung.

“Should I start filling my Instagram with pictures of you, too, Lynx?”

Khaotung didn’t even look up.

“Tui,” he said flatly, “Anyone else we should keep an eye on?”

Tui laughed, “Right. Yes. One more name.”

“Go on.”

“Joong Archen Aydin. He’s been attending the gala for quite a while now. Recently made a large business deal with an unknown investor.”

First’s expression sharpened.

“We think it’s Singha,” Tui finished.

“Alright,” First said, “Thanks, Tui.”

“Anytime, guys. Have fun on your honeymoon.”

Both First and Khaotung ignored that.

When they finally stepped outside their room, the compound was already awake.

The guests were exiting their rooms one by one. Servants and helpers were already out, smiles on their faces and backs as straight as ever.

They made their way toward the dining hall with the slow, relaxed pace of guests with nothing important to do.

But their eyes darted everywhere, taking note of staff movements and mapping out routes and cameras they saw on blueprints.

Breakfast was being served buffet-style on a wide terrace overlooking the ocean. White tablecloths fluttered gently in the breeze, and waiters moved smoothly between tables carrying trays of fresh fruit and coffee.

They sat down at a table near the edge of the terrace, a mountain of food stacked on their plates.

From here, they had a good view of the entire dining area.

And more importantly, of who came and went.

Still no Singha.

Khaotung cut into a piece of fruit, frowning slightly.

“Is he always this absent during his own event?”

“Maybe he's gonna appear later with a red carpet and trumpets playing to welcome him.”

Khaotung stared at him, “Can you please be serious for once?”

“They’re rich, I’m being very serious”

They ate quietly for a moment.

Then First suddenly leaned closer.

Too close.

His hand brushed against Khaotung’s wrist as he reached for napkins.

It was probably nothing. Probably accidental.

Except it lingered a little longer than necessary.

Khaotung shot him a look.

First gave him a dazzling smile.

“Relax,” he murmured, “We’re supposed to be committed.”

“To what?”

“To being husbands.”

Khaotung nearly choked on his coffee.

“Excuse me?”

First shrugged, unbothered.

“Remember what Mix said about Singha observing his guests? Might as well we give him a good show.”

“That doesn’t require you touching me every five seconds.”

First leaned back in his chair, eyes sparkling with amusement.

“You’re the one who woke up hugging me.”

Khaotung froze.

“You were awake?!”

“Yeah, then I pretended to be asleep. It was so comfortable.”

“It was an accident.”

“Sure it was.”

Khaotung glared at him.

First only grinned wider.

They spent the rest of the day exploring the compound.

Casually walking through the gardens, admiring flowers that were clearly arranged by someone professional.

They peeked into the spa area to see a few men lounging in its sauna.

For a while, they split. First had a glimpse of the winery tucked at the back of the compound, while Khaotung flipped through books in a library nearby.

But when they were together, First kept finding reasons to get closer to Khaotung.

Sometimes it was a hand resting briefly on his shoulder as they walked, lingering just a moment longer than necessary. Other times, it was his fingers brushing lightly against Khaotung’s arm. And whenever they stood side by side, First would lean in just enough for their shoulders and sides to press together.

Each time, he would murmur the same excuse.

“Acting.”

Khaotung rolled his eyes every single time.

But he never actually pushed him away. It’s all part of the mission, he tells himself.

By evening, the sky began to melt into shades of purple and pink, the sun glowing a deep orange as it slowly disappeared behind the line of the ocean.

It all felt…too normal.

They stopped near one of the infinity pools overlooking the ocean.

First leaned against the railing, scanning the area.

“This place is too quiet,” he said.

Khaotung nodded.

“Which means something’s definitely wrong.”

They stood there in silence for a moment, watching the waves roll against the distant cliffs.

Finally, First sighed loudly and pushed himself off the railing.

“Look,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck, “We’re stuck here together for at least a week.”

Khaotung raised an eyebrow, “Tragic.”

“Which means,” First continued, “If we keep trying to outdo each other like usual, we’re going to screw this mission up.”

Khaotung studied him carefully. This was the first time First had ever said something like that out loud. Something that made sense, that is.

“So what?” he said slowly, “Temporary truce?”

First grimaced, “Temporary.”

Khaotung held out his hand and First looked at it like it might bite him.

Then he shook it.

Their grip lasted a second too long, both of them silently daring the other to pull away first.

“Don’t get used to it,” Khaotung said.

First smirked, “Relax. I still plan on beating you when this is over.”

“In your dreams.”

Day 3

Rays of morning sun seeped through the curtains, painting the white walls into soft gold. Khaotung lay still as he stared at the unfamiliar ceiling above him.

He turned his head slightly and snorted.

First was still asleep, sprawled across his half of the bed. An arm dangled off the side, and the blanket he stole from Khaotung in the middle of the night was half-kicked to the floor.

“Graceful,” Khaotung murmured.

“Shut up,” First said with a groan, eyes still shut.

“You’re drooling.”

“Am not.”

“I can see it on your pillow.”

First cracked an eye open and glared, “It’s 7 in the morning and you’re already so annoying.”

Khaotung simply shrugged as he got out of bed, waddling towards the closet.

“Just doing my job.”

“Your job is intelligence gathering.”

“And I’m gathering your lack of intelligence.”

First rolled his eyes, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward.

They headed for breakfast, which appeared much more lively compared to the day before, as more guests had arrived. Cards were placed on the breakfast table today, which the pair studied once they sat down.

Guest Activities

• Morning Yoga by the Beach
• Sailing
• Archery
• Baking Class
• Sauna and Spa
• Nature trail

“So,” Khaotung glanced at First, “Which one shall we do first?”

“Sailing,” First said without hesitation.

“Why?”

“Dock area, fewer cameras. We can observe more people without the need to be too discrete about it,” he reasoned, "Oh, and it would be too hot to do later on. Breeze now would be nice."

Khaotung nodded slowly, “Sure. Good call.”

First stared at him with wide eyes.

“Oh my god.”

“What?”

“Did you…did you just agree with me?”

“Don’t make it weird.”

“OMG”

The entire breakfast was First boasting about Khaotung agreeing with him.

Oh well.

By mid-morning, the pair found themselves on the private dock with a small group of guests while an instructor explained the basics of sailing.

First was listening attentively (kinda), but the terms like Fender, Reefing and Batten down started to mix in his head so he eventually gave up. Khaotung on the other hand, was not listening at all, opting to scan the area and study the guests that were there.

The instructor clapped his hands, “Alright! Everyone pair up, let’s start!”

The duo looked at each other.

Then at the instructor.

Then at the sailboat.

And back at each other.

“Well,” First said, “Looks like it’s you and me, honey.”

Khaotung sighed, “Of course it is.”

They stepped onto the small sailboat together.

The moment the boat shifted under their combined weight, Khaotung grabbed the edge instinctively.

First snorted.

Khaotung glared.

The instructor gave them a quick rundown before stepping off onto the dock again.

“Work together,” he said cheerfully through the loud megaphone, “Communication is key!”

The boat drifted slightly away from the dock.

First grabbed the rope to adjust the sail.

“Okay,” he said, “You steer.”

Khaotung blinked at him.

“Excuse me?”

“You steer.”

“I wasn’t listening. I dunno how.”

“And you think I do?”

“Were you not-“

The boat tilted slightly as a breeze caught the sail.

Khaotung instinctively grabbed First’s arm to steady himself.

First froze for a split second.

Then looked down at the hand gripping his sleeve.

“Careful,” he said with a grin, “You are playing the husband role too well now.”

Khaotung immediately let go.

“I was not-”

The boat rocked again.

Khaotung grabbed him again. This time around the waist.

First burst out laughing.

“Wow.”

“Shut up.”

“You might fall in love with me today.”

“Shut up.”

Despite the chaos, they managed to guide the boat slowly across the water.

And surprisingly (to no one except maybe them), they worked well together.

Instructions passed between them quickly and clearly, carried over the steady rush of wind and water. First called out what needed to be done, his voice calm and decisive as he told Khaotung to adjust the sail, turn slightly, or hold the rope steady. Khaotung responded without hesitation, already moving before the instruction had fully finished. When Khaotung spoke, First listened just as easily, shifting the boat’s direction or tightening a line exactly when needed. Neither of them had to repeat themselves.

The boat glided across the waves as they worked, sails pulling tight in the wind. Without ever discussing it, they seemed to fall into a rhythm, moving around each other with quiet awareness, stepping aside at the right moments, passing ropes without looking, adjusting the sail together when the wind shifted.

By the time they steered the boat back toward the dock, both of them were slightly dishevelled from the wind. Their hair was messy, their clothes rustled by the ocean breeze, and their cheeks were faintly flushed from the sun. They tied the boat off in silence, the quiet stretching between them as they stepped back onto the dock.

Neither of them said anything about it, but the realisation lingered in the air all the same.

They had worked together far better than either of them expected, and despite themselves, they were both a little impressed.

“You didn’t crash us,” First said.

“You didn’t drown us,” Khaotung replied.

“High praise.”

The instructor clapped happily as they stepped off the boat.

“Excellent teamwork!”

First wrapped an arm casually around Khaotung’s shoulders.

“Thanks,” he said smoothly, and glanced at Khaotung, “You did well, love.”

Khaotung stiffened immediately, but forced a smile.

He ignored the strange feeling he had when First called him love.

They decided to try baking next.

“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen!” The baker announced, “My name is Prem, and I will be your instructor for today.”

He gestured to the ingredients spread out on the table.

“Each person will have their own ingredients. I will show you how to bake, then you can decorate your own cakes afterwards.”

He clasped his hands together.

“Now…shall we begin?”

Besides struggling to tell the differences between flour, baking powder and sugar, First and Khaotung were doing quite well.

Their cakes finished baking as the timer went ding.

First put on mittens and pulled out both their cakes to let them cool, and once they did, they started to decorate.

Khaotung had always loved art and flowers. So he decided on plain white frosting, where he piped on some ribbons around the cake. He used the multiple coloured fondants and cutters provided to cut out some flower petals, besides swirling some on with the leftover icing he coloured.

As he finished decorating, he turned to First who was on the other end of the table, clearly struggling. He picked up his cake and slowly approached First.

“So,” Khaotung said, placing his cake on the table, “How is it going?”

He glanced towards the cake. First had drawn a big red lopsided heart on the cake, with the letters T+L spelled in the middle.

“Obviously, nothing compared to yours,” First said with a proud grin, “But I like it.”

Khaotung liked it too. But of course, he didn’t say it. His red ears said everything already.

He looked up to First, who had icing on the tip of his nose.

“Oh,” Khaotung said, “Wait, let me-“

He brushed it off with the tip of his finger.

First blinked.

Then he grinned.

“Why, thank you, dear husband,” he said smugly, “Hope you like my cake for you!”

Khaotung gave a shy smile.

“Yeah,” he mumbled to himself, “I do.”

For their final activity, they decided on archery.

If you could even call it that.

The entire session was spent with First standing behind Khaotung, their bodies pressed close as he guided him through the motion. One hand wrapped around Khaotung’s to steady the bow, their fingers tightening together as they slowly drew the string back. His other hand rested lightly at Khaotung’s waist, grounding him in place.

Khaotung could feel First’s breath ghosting against his shoulder.

Around them, a few guests who had stopped to watch exchanged glances, quietly squealing at the sight.

“Ready?” First whispered.

Khaotung nodded.

“Okay… let go.”

The arrow sliced through the air.

Bullseye.

Day 4

“It’s day 4, and we’re getting nowhere,” First groaned, dragging both hands down his face.

Khaotung didn’t answer immediately. He was still hunched over the spread of blueprints across the desk, his eyes scanning every corner with patience that First had already lost hours ago. A pen rested between his fingers, tapping lightly against the paper as he studied the layout.

Then the tapping stopped.

Khaotung leaned closer and circled a section of the blueprint.

“Here,” he said, jerking his chin toward the paper.

First pushed himself off the couch and walked over, leaning over Khaotung’s shoulder to look.

“We haven’t been in this area.”

First squinted at the circled section. The lines of the blueprint formed a small structure that sat just in front of the winery building.

“Huh,” First muttered, bending closer, “I don’t think we even came across this area.”

Khaotung nodded slightly, “Exactly.”

First traced the lines with his finger, frowning, “And we’ve walked past the winery 3 times already.”

“I didn’t even notice it,” Khaotung admitted quietly.

First straightened.

“Do you think it’s hidden?”

“Most probably,” Khaotung replied, “Or disguised.”

“Which means,” First murmured, “It’s important.”

Khaotung didn’t disagree.

First tapped the small communicator in his ear.

“Hey, Nut? Hong?”

There was a moment of static before a voice answered.

“I thought you forgot about us,” Hong said dryly, “What do you need?”

First smirked faintly.

“Can you help check if you’re able to access any cameras, sensors, or security systems in a specific area?” he asked, “Right in front of the winery.”

“Send a photo of its specific location.”

Khaotung slid the blueprint over and quickly snapped a photo, forwarding it through the secure channel.

“Got it,” Hong said, “Give us a second.”

The line went quiet. First leaned back against the table, arms crossed, watching Khaotung, who had gone back to studying the blueprint as if the paper might suddenly reveal more secrets if he stared long enough.

Then Hong spoke again, this time with a sigh.

“Yeah, guys… there’s something weird.”

First raised an eyebrow.

“Weird how?”

“There seems to be something blocking outside signals inside that building,” Hong explained, “I can access the compound cameras, the hallway cameras, even some of the motion sensors in the vineyard area… but nothing beyond the walls of that structure.”

“Nothing?” First asked.

“Nothing,” Hong confirmed, “No cameras. No thermal. No sensors responding. It’s like a black box.”

Khaotung’s expression sharpened slightly.

“I see,” he said, “Thanks, Hong.”

“No problem. Try not to die.”

Silence settled between the two men, thoughts running around their heads.

Then they slowly turned to look at each other.

First tilted his head.

“Do you want to explore it now?”

Khaotung shook his head immediately.

“No.”

“Too exposed?” First guessed.

“It’s the middle of the day,” Khaotung said, “People are everywhere. It would be really suspicious, especially because we have no idea how to even get in. We’d look like idiots circling in front of the winery.”

First nodded reluctantly.

“Midnight then.”

“Yes,” Khaotung said, “Less movement. Less witnesses.”

First pushed himself off the table with a sigh.

“Well,” he said, grabbing his jacket that was hung on the door, “We’ve still got several hours to kill.”

Khaotung raised an eyebrow.

First grinned.

“Shall we head out for some gambling?”

Khaotung snorted softly.

“Your money,” he said, standing up, “not mine.”

“Relax,” First replied, putting on his jacket, “I’m a generous husband.”

Khaotung rolled his eyes but followed him toward the door anyway.

The casino was already alive with noise. Cards slapped against velvet tables. Chips clinked together in small towers. Low laughter and murmured conversations filled the dimly lit room as wealthy guests tried their luck under the golden glow of hanging lights.

First leaned comfortably against a poker table, swirling a glass of whiskey in his hand while Khaotung sat beside him, watching the game with quiet focus.

They had been there for about 20 minutes when someone approached.

“Well, well.”

First looked up.

A tall man with sharp features and a charming smile slid into the empty chair across from them.

“New faces,” the man said casually, glancing between them, “And judging from the chips on the table… successful ones.”

First smiled politely.

“I like risks.”

The man chuckled.

“Joong,” he introduced, extending a hand.

First subtly glanced towards Khaotung while taking Joong’s hand in his.

Speaking of the devil.

“Tiger.”

Khaotung nodded once.

“Lynx.”

Joong leaned back in his chair, clearly amused.

“Fierce names, I like em,” he reached for a stack of chips and tossed them onto the table, “You boys enjoying Singha’s hospitality?”

“Hard not to,” First replied, “Beautiful location. Good drinks. Money-making tables.”

Joong laughed.

“You should thank Singha for that,” he said, shuffling his cards, “That man has a way of turning everything he touches into gold.”

“Oh?”

Joong leaned forward slightly, clearly eager to talk.

“Just recently closed a deal with him,” he said, “My business has been soaring ever since.”

“What kind of business?” Khaotung asked smoothly.

Joong smirked.

“The kind that would benefit from someone like Singha.”

First chuckled.

“Sounds like you owe him.”

“Oh, I do,” Joong said easily, “A lot.”

He placed his bet on the table.

“And I plan on repaying the favour.”

“How?” First asked.

Joong’s grin widened, “By finding him more customers.”

He looked First straight in the eyes.

“So tell me,” he continued, “What exactly do Tiger and Lynx deal in?”

First lazily stacked his chips into neat towers.

“Imports. Exports. Logistics.”

“High-value items,” Khaotung added casually.

Joong’s eyes lit up with interest.

“Is that so?”

First shrugged.

“We’re always looking for partnerships.”

Joong drummed his fingers against the table thoughtfully.

“Do you want in?”

First tilted his head.

“In what?”

Joong leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice.

“Singha just developed something big, especially for us in this kind of business.”

First’s expression stayed neutral.

“Hm?”

Joong smiled.

“Groundbreaking,” he let the word linger in the air, “And he’s looking for customers.”

Khaotung’s eyes flicked up. Joong looked between them carefully.

“You two interested?”

“If the opportunity is good enough,” he said calmly, “We’re willing to invest.”

Joong raised an eyebrow.

“How much?”

First slowly pushed his remaining stack of chips toward the centre of the table, “Any amount is a good investment.”

Joong let out a low whistle and glanced at his cards before doing the same.

“Ambitious.”

First smiled.

“Confident.”

The dealer cleared his throat, “Showdown.”

Joong revealed his cards first, “Flush.”

A chuckle escaped First as he calmly flipped his cards over.

The dealer nodded towards First, “Straight flush.”

Joong raised an eyebrow and lightly tapped the table.

“Alright,” he said, “I’ll talk to him.”

He stood from the table.

“You’ll get it on Saturday.”

“Get what?” Khaotung asked.

Joong flashed them a grin.

“Your invitation.”

Then he walked away, disappearing into the crowd of gamblers.

First exhaled slowly.

“Well,” he murmured.

Khaotung tapped his fingers against the table.

“Looks like we just found our way to Sunday,” he whispered as he looked at the chips stacked in front of First, “And apparently 10 times richer now.”

The compound was almost silent after midnight. Most of the guests had long since retreated to their villas, leaving only the sound of waves crashing in the distance. Lanterns lined the stone pathways, casting warm pools of light across the gardens, but large sections of the property were left deliberately dim.

First and Khaotung crouched behind a hedge bordering the winery courtyard.

From there, they could clearly see the decorative stone wall stretching across the front of the winery. In the daytime, it looked like nothing more than part of the landscaping, a wall where thick vineyard vines climbed and tangled across the stone.

But according to the blueprint, something was hidden inside it.

First leaned slightly past the hedge and scanned the courtyard.

“One guard,” he murmured.

Khaotung pressed beside him, eyes lifting toward the security camera mounted above the winery archway. The camera rotated slowly from left to right, sweeping across the courtyard.

He counted quietly in his head.

1… 2… 3…

The camera reached the far corner and began rotating back.

“…12 seconds,” he whispered.

First glanced at him.

“You’re counting?”

“Yes.”

“Lame.”

“At least someone here prepares before doing something stupid.”

First rolled his eyes.

“Relax. I have my ways.”

Khaotung ignored him, watching the camera again.

“Wait for the next rotation,” he said quietly.

“Why?” First whispered.

Khaotung tilted his chin toward the vine-covered wall.

“When the camera faces the courtyard, it sees everything,” he murmured, “But when it turns the other way, the vines block the angle along the wall.”

First followed his gaze.

The thick curtain of leaves cast deep shadows against the stone.

“So that’s the blind spot,” First said.

Khaotung nodded.

“But it only lasts a few seconds.”

First leaned out again.

The guard was moving slowly across the courtyard, flashlight swinging lazily at his side. In a few seconds, he would pass directly in front of the vine-covered wall.

“If we move now,” Khaotung said quietly, “We hit both the camera and the guard’s line of sight.”

First frowned.

“Then we move faster.”

Khaotung shot him a look.

“That’s not how timing works.”

The camera rotated again.

5… 6....7…

“Wait,” Khaotung murmured.

First exhaled sharply.

“You’re overthinking it.”

“First-”

But First was already moving.

He slipped out from behind the hedge and crossed the courtyard.

Khaotung cursed under his breath and followed immediately.

They pressed themselves against the vine-covered wall just as the camera rotated toward the courtyard again.

Up close, the vines were thick, their leaves tangled across the stone like a living curtain.

First brushed a section aside.

“There.”

Hidden beneath the leaves was a faint vertical seam in the stone.

A concealed door.

Khaotung crouched immediately, running his fingers along the edges.

“Give me a second.”

First folded his arms impatiently.

“For what?”

“I’m checking the sensors.”

“It’s a wall.”

“A hidden entrance,” Khaotung corrected, “Which means it probably has a trigger.”

First leaned closer.

“Well?”

“I need to see the camera cycle first.”

First glanced over his shoulder.

The guard’s footsteps were getting closer.

“We don’t have time.”

“We do,” Khaotung whispered.

He glanced up at the camera again.

“When it turns toward the courtyard again, the wall falls into shadow.”

First frowned.

“So we move then.”

Khaotung nodded.

The camera rotated slowly.

“…Wait,” Khaotung said, “Next cycle.”

First glanced toward the guard again. The footsteps were louder now.

“Fuck this,” he muttered.

Khaotung’s head snapped up.

“Wait-”

But First had already pressed the small panel hidden beneath the vines.

The stone shifted with a quiet mechanical click.

And at that exact moment, the camera rotated back.

A small red light blinked above the lens.

First’s stomach dropped.

The red light blinked again.

Once.

Twice.

Then a quiet buzz.

Boots suddenly pounded across the courtyard.

“Camera flagged movement!” someone shouted.

“Shit,” First whispered.

Khaotung grabbed his sleeve.

“Run.”

They slipped away from the wall and ducked behind the nearest row of barrels just as the guard’s flashlight beam swept across the vines.

“Check the courtyard!”

More footsteps echoed from the winery entrance.

First and Khaotung didn’t wait.

They slipped through the shadows between the vineyard rows, staying low as the alarmed shouts and pounding boots echoed behind them.

They only slowed once the noise faded and they finally reached the guest wing, neither spoke a word as they hurried to the safety of their suite.

The doors to their suite closed with a soft click.

“You!” Khaotung jabbed his finger at First’s chest, “You almost got us busted!”

“I was just trying to be efficient. If we went your way, it would have taken us ages to get to the room!”

“But it would have been safer!”

“That is what you think. If we went slow but got caught anyway, we would have wasted half of the night. We didn’t have any information about that room. How are you so sure there were no other traps?”

“Cuz unlike you, I always think before I act.”

“Are you saying I don’t? I’m not stupid!”

“You’re reckless!”

“Everyone makes mistakes, Khaotung! Do you think you’re so perfect?”

“At least I didn’t almost get us killed because I couldn’t wait a few seconds.”

Silence.

“I-“

“Do you even remember where we are? Singha’s! What would have happened if we were caught back there, huh?”

Khaotung’s voice got louder, his chest heaving in anger.

“Couldn’t you trust me for once, First? Is it really that bad to trust me? Am I that unworthy of being trusted? I’ve listened to you the entire fucking week, and the only day I wanted to make decisions, you don’t listen to me!”

Khaotung took a deep breath, his fists clenched at his sides.

First shifted uncomfortably, his gaze dropping to the floor. He ran a hand through his hair, then fidgeted with the cuff of his sleeve before finally letting his arms hang loosely at his sides.

“You’re right,” he whispered.

Khaotung blinked in confusion.

“Wha- what?”

“Yeah, you’re right,” First repeated softer, “And I mean it. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for not listening to you. I’m sorry for taking over decisions like that. Sorry for thinking….for thinking I’m better.”

Khaotung’s anger wavered, but he stayed silent.

“It’s just that I’ve never really had a partner before they started pairing me up with you,” First admitted, “I’m used to acting alone.”

Khaotung sank slightly onto the edge of the bed, shoulders sagging.

“All my life, even at home, I’m just used to being alone. My parents died when I was young, so I had to take care of my younger brother by myself. Working two jobs, figuring things out on my own…” First paused, glancing down, “I just… I’m not used to relying on anyone.”

Khaotung exhaled, his eyes closed, “I’m scared of mistakes cuz I lost my uncle to one.”

First looked up, eyes full of understanding.

“He died on duty,” Khaotung continued, voice low but steady, “He broke character during an undercover job to save a kid from being kidnapped… and… yeah.”

First reached out slowly, brushing a hand along Khaotung’s arm, “I get it,” he murmured.

Khaotung gave a small, sad smile, “I guess we’re kind of the same anyway.”

“What do you mean?”

“You have your shit, I have mine. We’re the way we are cuz of it.”

“Huh,” First said softly, a small smile tugging at his lips, “I guess you’re right.”

First stepped closer, holding out his arms like he wasn’t giving Khaotung a choice, “Come onnnn let’s hug it out,” he said, a small, teasing grin tugging at his lips.

Khaotung froze for a second, eyes wide.

“Ew,” he muttered, even as a faint smile threatened to break through.

First just laughed, gently pulling him into a quick, careful hug anyway. Khaotung stiffened at first, then slowly relaxed, letting the tension of the argument melt off his shoulders.

They stayed like that for a moment. Brief, awkward, but comforting, before pulling back slightly, both chuckling at their own ridiculousness.

Day 5

Morning came slowly, the pale light of dawn slipping through the thin curtains of their suite and spreading quietly across the room.

First woke before the alarm, lying on his back for a few seconds as he stared at the ceiling, his mind already replaying the events of the previous night in scattered fragments. The hidden corridor. The near-miss with the security patrol. The argument that had followed.

And then the understanding that came after.

He turned his head slightly. The other side of the bed empty.

Khaotung was already awake, sitting on the couch near the coffee table with the blueprints spread out in front of him once again. His posture was relaxed but focused, one leg tucked beneath him as he leaned over the papers, glasses sliding slightly down his nose while he studied the layout with quiet concentration.

First waddled over.

“I thought you slept?” he asked, his voice still rough with sleep.

Khaotung did not immediately look up from the blueprints.

“A little,” he replied calmly.

First leaned forward slightly, bracing one hand on the edge of the table as he scanned the familiar blueprint again. His shoulder brushed against Khaotung’s for a brief second before both of them instinctively shifted away.

“Still thinking about that room?” First asked.

“Yeah.”

First studied the area they had marked the night before, frowning slightly.

“Maybe it connects to the main wing somehow.”

Khaotung tapped the end of his pen lightly against the page as he considered the possibility.

“Or underground,” he suggested after a moment.

First raised an eyebrow.

“You’re getting bold.”

“You’re getting predictable,” Khaotung replied without missing a beat.

First let out a quiet laugh under his breath.

Khaotung finally folded the blueprint and stood.

“We should head down.”

The lounge was already lively by the time they arrived.

Soft instrumental music drifted through the spacious room while groups of guests gathered around low tables and elegant seating areas, their conversations blending into a constant murmur of business talk and polite laughter. Waiters moved smoothly between them with trays of champagne and cocktails, maintaining the illusion of a luxurious, carefree retreat.

First picked up two drinks from a passing tray and handed one to Khaotung.

They were still quietly discussing when a familiar voice interrupted them.

“Good morning, gentlemen.”

Both men looked up.

Pond stood a short distance away with his usual relaxed confidence, Phuwin beside him as calm as ever.

“Tiger,” Pond greeted casually, “Lynx.”

First raised his glass slightly.

“Pond, Phuwin.”

Phuwin gave them a polite nod.

Pond stepped closer and leaned lightly against the table, studying the two of them with open curiosity.

“You two seem… serious today.”

First chuckled softly.

“Business.”

“Of course,” Pond said with an easy smile.

But his eyes lingered.

His gaze moved slowly between them before he tilted his head slightly.

“You know,” Pond continued thoughtfully, “I’ve been watching you two.”

First kept his relaxed smile in place.

“Should we be flattered?”

“Maybe.”

Pond’s expression sharpened just slightly.

“It’s just… something feels off.”

Khaotung’s posture stiffened.

“Off?” he repeated.

Pond nodded.

“You introduced yourselves as husbands.”

First took a small sip of his drink.

“Yes. Because we are.”

Pond’s smile grew more curious.

“But you don’t act like it.”

The air around the table suddenly felt much tighter.

Phuwin quietly observed without interrupting.

First laughed lightly.

“And how exactly should we be acting?”

Pond shrugged.

“I don’t know. Most married couples I know stand closer.”

As if on cue, Khaotung’s shoulder brushed against First’s.

Pond continued calmly.

“They look at each other differently.”

First’s smile thinned slightly.

“You’ve been studying us that closely?”

“Just observing,” Pond replied.

Before the conversation could continue any further, Khaotung suddenly moved.

He grabbed the front of First’s shirt and pulled him forward without warning.

Their lips met.

The kiss was firm and deliberate, cutting cleanly through the tension that had filled the space around them.

First froze for half a second in pure surprise.

Then instinct took over.

His hand slid around Khaotung’s waist as he kissed him back naturally, deepening the illusion.

For a moment, the lounge around them seemed to fade into the background.

When Khaotung finally pulled away, his expression was calm.

“Better?” he asked Pond coolly.

For a moment, Pond simply stared.

Then he laughed, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Much better.”

Phuwin hid a small smile behind his glass.

Pond lifted both hands in mock surrender.

“Alright, alright. I stand corrected.”

First adjusted his collar slightly, trying to appear unaffected despite the warmth spreading through his chest.

Khaotung calmly picked up his drink again.

Pond grinned.

“Well then. Enjoy your afternoon.”

With that, he and Phuwin drifted back into the crowd.

Several seconds passed before either of them spoke.

Finally, First muttered quietly,

“You kissed me.”

Khaotung stared straight ahead.

“It was necessary.”

First rubbed the back of his neck.

“Right.”

Another short pause.

“…You could have warned me.”

“That would defeat the purpose.”

First let out a quiet laugh.

But his heart was beating slightly faster than normal.

They returned to their suite soon after.

The door closed behind them with a soft click.

Silence settled over the room.

Khaotung placed the blueprint back onto the table.

First leaned casually against the wall, watching him.

“Are we gonna act like nothing happened?” he asked after a moment.

Khaotung didn’t respond immediately.

“It’s part of the job.”

First tilted his head slightly.

“You didn’t hesitate.”

Khaotung finally looked up.

“You would have done the same.”

First smiled faintly.

“Maybe.”

Their eyes met briefly.

Khaotung cleared his throat and turned away first.

“We should focus on the mission.”

First nodded slowly.

“Yeah.”

But neither of them moved for several seconds.

And both of them were quietly aware that something between them had shifted.

Day 6

The compound felt strangely quiet that morning.

Everyone seemed to be preparing for the charity gala scheduled for the following night. Outside their balcony, workers moved through the garden paths carrying crates of flowers and strings of lights. White drapery was being hung between tall palms, swaying gently in the ocean breeze. At the main courtyard below, Singha’s crew directed teams setting up long tables and a temporary stage. Ladders scraped against stone walls as staff climbed up to attach gold lanterns along the archways.

Everything was elegant, lavish, and very carefully controlled.

From their room, First and Khaotung watched in silence for a while before stepping away from the window.

“If he’s hosting something this big,” First muttered quietly, “He’ll have to show his face eventually.”

Khaotung hummed in agreement, though his attention was already drifting back to the layout outside. 

“Tomorrow’s gala might be our best chance,” he said.

First leaned back against the desk, arms crossed.

“Assuming Joong kept his word.”

As if summoned by the thought, a knock sounded at the door.

Both men stilled immediately.

First moved first, opening it carefully.

Satang stood on the other side, smiling brightly as always. In his hands was a silver tray. On it rested a single folded piece of paper.

“Good afternoon, sir,” Satang said politely.

He held the tray forward.

Khaotung stepped closer and unfolded the note.

Three short lines were written in clean, precise handwriting.

Tonight
10 PM

Nothing else.

Khaotung glanced up.

Satang’s smile widened slightly.

“I will show you the way tonight, sir.”

First and Khaotung exchanged a look.

The knock came again that night.

9.55 p.m.

Satang stood outside exactly on time, just as cheerful as before.

“Please follow me.”

His tone was light, but his eyes briefly flicked down the hallway first, checking both directions before stepping aside.

First and Khaotung followed him through the quiet corridors of the compound. The halls were dimmer at this hour, lit mostly by wall lamps and the soft glow spilling from distant rooms.

Satang walked quickly, though he tried to make it look casual.

They stopped in front of a set of large double doors.

Satang pushed them open without knocking.

“Right this way, please.”

He stepped aside.

The room beyond was quiet.

Warm golden light stretched across polished wooden floors. Tall glass windows revealed the dark ocean outside, waves faintly reflecting the moonlight. One wall was lined entirely with bookshelves filled with leather-bound volumes, while the opposite wall displayed framed photographs and portraits.

Most of them were of one man.

Singha.

Who stood near the centre of the room.

He watched them enter with calm, observant eyes.

The doors closed behind them with a soft click.

“Welcome, gentlemen,” Singha said smoothly.

His voice carried easily across the room.

“Make yourselves comfortable.”

First didn’t move toward the chairs.

Instead, he stepped forward and placed a thick brown envelope on the desk between them.

“We want in on the deal.”

Singha’s eyebrow lifted slightly.

“Wow,” he said, amused, “Straight to business. I like it.”

He walked over to the desk and opened the envelope.

Inside was cash. A lot of it.

He counted it slowly, deliberately, each movement unhurried.

“Generous.”

Then he looked up.

His gaze landed on Khaotung.

And stayed there.

A slow smirk formed on his lips.

A quiet chuckle followed.

First noticed immediately.

So did Khaotung.

“Gentlemen,” Singha began thoughtfully, “Did you know there are many things in this world that become very easy to get… when you have enough money?”

His eyes never left Khaotung’s face.

“So yes,” he continued slowly, “Money is useful.”

Singha lifted his hand.

Without asking, his fingers lightly brushed against Khaotung’s chin, tilting his face upward so he could study it more closely.

“But sometimes,” he murmured, “I prefer rarer forms of payment.”

First stiffened instantly.

Khaotung remained perfectly still.

Singha’s thumb rested briefly along the curve of Khaotung’s jaw as he examined him openly.

“Sharp eyes,” Singha murmured.

His fingers slid slowly away, trailing along the side of Khaotung’s jaw before dropping.

“Very beautiful eyes.”

First stepped forward.

“What exactly do you want?”

Singha didn’t answer him.

Instead, he moved closer to Khaotung.

His hand lifted again, this time resting briefly on Khaotung’s shoulder. His fingers traced the line of it, almost thoughtfully.

“You tidy up well,” Singha said quietly.

His hand slid slightly along Khaotung’s upper arm.

“Good posture.”

He hummed in quiet approval.

“I like that.”

First moved forward again, nearly placing himself between them.

“Don’t touch him.”

Singha finally glanced at him.

His expression was calm.

Amused, even.

But his hand didn’t withdraw immediately.

Instead, his fingers brushed lightly against the back of Khaotung’s neck before he slowly stepped away.

He leaned slightly closer to Khaotung as he did.

“Your husband is very protective,” Singha whispered near his ear.

Then he straightened again.

“I’ve seen you everywhere this week,” he continued softly.

“Sailing.”

“Gambling.”

“Mingling with guests at dinner.”

Each moment was listed slowly.

“I couldn’t keep my eyes off you,” Singha said.

His gaze travelled down Khaotung’s frame again, deliberate and unhurried.

“I wonder if you know,” he added quietly, “That people simply could not stop looking at you.”

A faint smile appeared.

“They can’t help it.”

A pause.

“I can’t help it.”

Silence filled the room.

Then Singha stepped closer again.

Close enough that First’s patience visibly snapped.

“You’re beautiful,” Singha said plainly.

The words hung heavy in the air.

He reached out again, adjusting the collar of Khaotung’s shirt as if fixing something delicate.

“Like one of my paintings,” he said, “Like a goddess.”

First’s voice cut sharply through the room.

“That’s enough.”

Singha ignored him.

“One night,” he said.

His eyes stayed on Khaotung.

“Spend the night with me.”

First answered instantly.

“No.”

Singha finally turned toward him, eyebrow raised.

But Khaotung spoke first.

“I’ll do it.”

First whipped toward him.

“What?”

Khaotung didn’t look away from Singha.

“If that’s the condition.”

First stared at him in disbelief.

“You’re not serious.”

“It gets us access.”

“That’s not happening.”

Singha watched them both with clear interest.

“You see?” he murmured lightly, “He’s smart.”

His hand lifted again, brushing slowly along Khaotung’s forearm.

“I like that.”

First grabbed Khaotung’s arm and pulled him back.

“No.”

Khaotung turned toward him.

“Tiger. We need this deal.”

First’s voice dropped dangerously low.

“He wants to sleep with you.”

“I know.”

Singha smiled faintly.

“Yes,” he said softly, “That is exactly what I want.”

The room fell silent again.

Khaotung looked back at Singha.

“I’ll be there tomorrow.”

Singha’s expression shifted into open satisfaction.

“I knew you would be the sensible one.”

His gaze lingered on Khaotung again, slow and appreciative.

“Very well,” he said.

Then added quietly,

“I’m looking forward to having you to myself.”

First didn’t wait another second.

He grabbed Khaotung’s wrist and dragged him toward the door before Singha could reach for him again.

The door to their room slammed open.

First stormed inside and went straight for the couch, running both hands through his hair as he paced once, twice, before dropping heavily onto the cushions.

He looked like he was physically restraining himself from exploding.

Khaotung closed the door quietly behind them.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then, First looked up.

“You cannot be serious.”

Khaotung leaned back against the door, arms folded, watching him carefully.

“I am.”

First stared at him like he had just spoken another language.

“No,” he said immediately, “No, you’re not. That was you bluffing. That was you buying us time.”

“It wasn’t.”

First barked out a sharp laugh.

“Great. Fantastic. So the plan now is you go upstairs tomorrow night and let that creep-”

“First-”

“-touch you like he owns you?”

Khaotung pushed off the door.

“Lower your voice.”

“No,” First snapped, pointing toward the door, “He’s probably got half the building wired anyway. Might as well give him the full show.”

Khaotung walked further into the room.

“You’re overreacting.”

First’s head whipped toward him.

“Overreacting?”

His voice dropped dangerously low.

“He just stood there and treated you like you were something he bought at an auction.”

“He didn’t touch me.”

First stared at him.

“Didn’t-”

He stepped closer.

“He had his hands on your face.”

“That was hardly-”

“His hands were on your neck.”

Khaotung exhaled slowly.

“It was controlled.”

First scoffed.

“Controlled?”

“Yes.”

“Is that what we’re calling it now?”

Khaotung crossed his arms.

“We needed him interested. Now he is.”

First let out another short laugh.

“Oh, he’s interested, alright.”

His eyes darkened.

“He literally said he wants to sleep with you.”

“I’m aware.”

“And you just agreed like it’s a normal Tuesday.”

“It’s a mission.”

First stopped pacing.

“No.”

Khaotung blinked.

“No?”

“No,” First repeated, firmer, “That is not part of the mission.”

Khaotung tilted his head.

“And what exactly do you think undercover work involves?”

“Not that.”

“Actually,” Khaotung said calmly, “Seduction-based infiltration is used all the time.”

“That’s different.”

“How?”

First opened his mouth.

Then closed it again.

“Because it’s you.”

The words slipped out before he could stop them.

A beat.

Khaotung’s expression shifted slightly.

“What does that mean?”

First ran a hand down his face.

“It means-”

He stopped himself, shaking his head.

“Forget it.”

“No,” Khaotung said, stepping closer, “Explain.”

First looked at him.

Frustration, anger, and something much more complicated flickered across his face.

“It means I’m not letting you go to his room tomorrow night.”

“You’re not letting me?”

“Yes.”

Khaotung gave him a flat look.

“You don’t get to decide that.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes really.”

“This isn’t some game, Khaotung.”

“I know that.”

“Then why are you acting like it is?”

Khaotung’s patience started thinning.

“Because you’re acting like I just signed my life away.”

“You practically did!”

“For one night.”

“That’s not the point.”

“Then what is?”

First stopped.

The silence stretched between them again.

When he spoke this time, his voice was quieter.

“He was looking at you like he already had you.”

Khaotung held his gaze.

“So?”

“So?” First repeated incredulously, “You didn’t see the way he was touching you?”

“I handled it.”

“That’s not the point.”

“Then what is the point, First?”

First opened his mouth again but nothing came out.

Khaotung watched him carefully.

“You think I can’t handle myself?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“Then what are you saying?”

First ran both hands through his hair again, pacing once before stopping directly in front of him.

“I’m saying that guy is dangerous.”

“I know.”

“And he wants you.”

“I know.”

“And you’re just walking into that willingly.”

Khaotung’s voice softened slightly.

“Because that’s how we get close to him.”

First shook his head.

“There has to be another way.”

“There isn’t.”

“There always is.”

“Not this time.”

First looked at him like he wanted to argue more.

But something in Khaotung’s calm expression stopped him.

Khaotung stepped closer.

“Look at me.”

First did.

“I’m not stupid,” Khaotung said quietly, “I know what I’m doing.”

“He’s going to try something.”

“I know.”

“And you’re just okay with that?”

Khaotung hesitated for the first time.

Then said,

“I can manage it.”

First’s jaw tightened.

“I don’t like it.”

“I didn’t ask you to.”

“That’s not the point.”

“Then stop acting like it is.”

Another silence fell.

Then Khaotung sighed.

“Fir.”

The nickname softened the air slightly.

First didn’t look away.

“We’re agents,” Khaotung continued, “We’ve both done worse for missions.”

First muttered,

“Not like this.”

Khaotung’s voice lowered.

“You’re jealous.”

First’s head snapped up.

“I am not.”

“You are.”

“I’m not jealous of that creep.”

“Then why are you losing your mind?”

First gestured helplessly.

“Because I can’t have you the way he wants you!”

Khaotung blinked.

The words clearly surprised him too.

First froze immediately after saying it.

“…That came out wrong.”

Khaotung stared at him.

“You said it.”

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

“You literally did.”

First groaned and dropped onto the couch.

“Great. Fantastic. Perfect. Just ignore everything I said.”

Khaotung walked over slowly.

“You’re jealous.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“I’m concerned.”

“You’re jealous.”

“I’m concerned,” First repeated stubbornly.

Khaotung tilted his head, his voice softened slightly.

“You trust me, right?”

First looked up, his head playing their argument nights before.

“Yeah, I do.”

“Then trust me to handle tomorrow night.”

First leaned back, staring at the ceiling for a moment.

Then muttered,

“I hate this plan.”

Khaotung sat down beside him and held his hand. First glanced at it.

“I know, me too,” Khaotung said, “But it’s our job.”

“Sorry for being emotional about it.”

Silence.

Then Khaotung stood up and walked to the table

“I know you guys have been listening.”

First glanced at him, confused.

“Aw man, you guys should have ignored us and pretended we weren’t here like you did the entire week.” came Nut’s voice through the earpiece.

Khaotung chuckled, “Well, tomorrow is the big day. We need your help.”

“We were ready before you guys were,” William’s voice appeared, “Now here’s the plan…”

Day 7

First got ready in a simple black tuxedo.

It fit him perfectly. It was tailored, clean, and understated compared to some of the more extravagant outfits downstairs. He adjusted the cuff of his sleeve before stepping out into the main living area of their suite.

Khaotung was still changing.

First dropped onto the couch, leaning back comfortably as he waited. One arm stretched along the backrest while the other idly tapped against his thigh.

He tried to focus on the plan.

Tonight was important. The deal was going to happen. It meant they would finally be getting closer to finally catching Hia Singha.

But his mind kept drifting.

Toward the events of the past two days.

The banter.

The kiss.

The strange quiet tension that had followed.

The door to the bedroom opened.

First looked up.

And immediately forgot whatever thought he had been having.

Khaotung stepped out.

For a second, First genuinely thought his brain had short-circuited.

The outfit was black, but not in the traditional sense of a formal tuxedo. The fabric shimmered subtly under the lights, threaded with fine sparkles that caught every small movement. The top hung slightly loose with wide sleeves, the material soft and textured, with delicate stitching outlining the pockets and seams. It fell just enough to frame his waist, where a wide dark sash wrapped around him before the fabric flowed down into matching trousers.

The entire outfit looked elegant and expensive. Something between modern fashion and quiet luxury.

But it wasn’t the clothes that stunned First.

It was Khaotung in them.

His dark hair was styled neatly back, exposing the sharp lines of his face. The soft glow from the suite lights caught the smooth planes of his cheeks and the quiet confidence in the way he stood.

The shimmering black fabric made his skin look even paler, his figure slim but striking, every movement graceful without him even trying.

Khaotung looked like he belonged in a palace.

Or a painting.

Or somewhere that First definitely wasn’t prepared for.

First stared.

Khaotung smoothen his outfit in front of the mirror, completely unaware.

“Is something wrong?” Khaotung asked calmly after noticing the silence.

First blinked.

His heart had definitely skipped a beat.

“…No,” he said slowly.

His gaze dragged from Khaotung’s face down the line of his shoulders and back up again.

“…Just making sure you’re real.”

Khaotung raised an eyebrow.

First leaned forward slightly on the couch, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked at him again.

“…You’re going to cause a problem tonight.”

Khaotung frowned slightly.

“What kind of problem?”

First smirked faintly.

“The distracting kind.”

Khaotung rolled his eyes lightly, though a faint hint of color touched the tips of his ears.

“It’s just clothes.”

First stood up.

“No,” he said quietly.

His gaze softened just slightly.

“It’s really not.”

The gala felt like a royal ball.

Soft golden lights illuminated the massive hall, chandeliers glittering overhead while waiters moved gracefully between elegantly dressed guests carrying trays of champagne and delicate hors d'oeuvres. Expensive perfume and polished leather mixed in the air, conversations flowing in smooth, practised tones among powerful businessmen, politicians, and socialites.

Everyone had dressed for the occasion.

Men wore their sharpest suits, women draped themselves in glittering gowns and diamonds that caught the light with every movement. The entire room felt like a carefully crafted display of wealth and influence.

First and Khaotung walked into the ballroom hand-in-hand. They saw Joong at the corner, who gave them a quick nod. They nodded back.

They occupied a small table near the edge of the ballroom, far enough from the centre to observe without attracting too much attention.

First leaned back slightly in his chair, one arm resting along the backrest as his eyes scanned the crowd.

“When and where is the secret deal happening?” he muttered under his breath.

Khaotung lifted his glass, pretending to casually sip while his eyes moved through the room as well.

“No idea,” he said quietly, “And I don’t see Singha anywhere.”

That alone was suspicious. For a host who loved attention as much as Singha clearly did, disappearing during the most important event of the week felt deliberate.

Before First could respond, the music abruptly stopped.

The lights in the ballroom went out. A quiet ripple of murmurs spread through the guests.

Then a single spotlight flickered on, illuminating the grand balcony overlooking the ballroom.

Singha stepped forward into the light.

A wave of thunderous applause followed immediately.

“Fellow guests!” Singha greeted, spreading his arms wide with a glass of champagne in one, “Welcome, everyone!”

His voice carried easily across the room.

“I am truly honoured to have such distinguished company here tonight. Some of the most brilliant minds, the most successful businessmen, the most influential people in our world… all gathered under one roof. My roof.”

He grinned as his eyes scanned across the crowd.

“I hope you have all enjoyed the past few days here. My estate is meant for comfort, relaxation and perhaps a little opportunity.”

A few guests chuckled knowingly. Singha’s eyes gleamed.

“Connections are the greatest currency in our world. Deals are born not in boardrooms, but in moments like these.Over a glass of wine, a shared laugh… or perhaps a dance.”

He gestured toward the ballroom below.

“So tonight, forget your worries. Forget your businesses. Forget the world outside these walls.”

His smile widened.

“And enjoy the evening.”

He lifted his glass.

“Let the dance commence!”

The orchestra immediately began to play again as the lights returned, bathing the ballroom in warm gold.

Couples slowly moved toward the dance floor.

First sighed quietly.

“Well,” he muttered, standing, “Guess we blend in.”

Khaotung set his glass down.

“I didn’t realise dancing was part of the mission.”

“Neither did I,” First replied.

Still, he offered his hand.

“Come on, husband.”

Khaotung rolled his eyes, but placed his hand in First’s anyway.

They joined the other couples on the dance floor.

First placed his hands on the sides of Khaotung’s waist, while Khaotung wrapped his hands around First’s neck. They tried to fall into the rhythm of the slow music.

Keyword: Tried

But it was really awkward.

First moved a little too fast, accidentally stepping on Khaotung’s foot. Khaotung hissed under his breath. A moment later, Khaotung rushed a step ahead, turning what should have been a slow sway into something far less graceful. They even tried to twirl, but it ended up with Khaotung stumbling halfway and bumping into First’s chest.

“We’re pretty bad at this, huh?” First smiled.

Khaotung responded with a quiet laugh.

Eventually, they started to get used to it, and their steps started to fall into place. Their bodies swayed in sync with the slow orchestral melody that drifted through the ballroom.

First pulled Khaotung a little closer, until Khaotung’s chest brushed against his. They twirled and turned elegantly over the smooth hardwood floor, unaware of the several guests who were curiously watching with quiet admiration.

The music started to fade in the background, the chatter faded, and the lights blurred. At some point in the dance, the rest of the room simply dissolved.

Both of them found themselves noticing the smallest details of the other. The way First’s boba-like eyes would sparkle under light, or the way Khaotung’s hair would slip loose and slowly fall across his forehead, making him look soft. The way their bodies seemed to fit perfectly together, like puzzle pieces.

Like it was meant to be.

The music finally came to an end, and everyone slowly came to a halt.

“I-“ Khaotung began, but another voice interrupted them before he could say anything else.

“Mr. Tiger. Mr. Lynx.”

They both turned to face Satang, who gave them a polite smile.

“Hia Singha is waiting for you.”

First and Khaotung exchanged a brief glance, the slight hesitation apparent on their faces.

“Lead the way,” First said.

Soon enough, they arrived at the same room from the night before.

Satang opened the door. Inside, Singha sat comfortably behind his desk, a massive portrait of himself hanging on the wall behind him.

He looked up with a satisfied smile.

“Gentlemen,” he greeted smoothly, “Good to see you again.”

His gaze slid immediately to Khaotung. He stood slowly, walked around the desk and approached them, stopping directly in front of Khaotung.

“Mr. Lynx…”

He gently lifted Khaotung’s hand and pressed a soft kiss against his knuckles.

“Absolutely gorgeous tonight.”

First immediately stepped forward, placing a hand firmly between them.

“Enough.”

His tone was sharp.

“Give me your part of the deal first,” First said coldly, “Then you can have him.”

Singha smirked and glanced to the side.

He raised two fingers, and the door behind them opened instantly as two men rushed in carrying a heavy duffel bag. They dropped it onto the desk with a loud thud.

“In here,” he began, “Is everything businessmen like us could ever dream of. Secret ports across Southeast Asia, perfect for moving goods without government inspections. A list of government officials who are… extremely cooperative. Absolutely free of charge from your end, they’re under me.”

He smiled

“Contacts for local gangs and mafia groups in every major district, should you ever require backup. And more. Feel free to indulge yourself in it later.”

He reached into his pocket.

“None of that matters as much as this.”

He pulled out a small metallic chip.

“This,” he said, holding it up between his fingers, “Is the real deal.”

First eyed it carefully.

“It’s a key,” Singha continued, “It grants access to my private platform.”

He placed the chip into First’s hand, who inspected it with squinted eyes.

“Inside, you’ll find corporate intelligence that no one else in the world possesses. We update it every time we get info.”

His voice lowered slightly.

“Upcoming government contracts. Internal data from major corporations. Scientific breakthroughs before they’re announced. Market shifts days before they happen.”

His smile widened.

“Anything to make you rich. Or you can use it to crush rivals. I prefer the latter.”

Singha stepped back.

“Well then,” he said smoothly, “Our deal is concluded.”

His eyes returned to Khaotung.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

He extended a hand toward him.

“I have a date with your husband, Mr. Tiger.”

First looked at Khaotung, who gave him a small, reassuring smile.

Go.

With a huff, First grabbed the bag and left the room, doors closing softly behind him.

Singha turned back to Khaotung.

“So,” he said pleasantly, taking Khaotung’s hand, “Shall we begin?”

Khaotung smiled.

“Why don’t you sit on the couch and wait for me?”

Singha grinned.

“With pleasure.”

Singha settled comfortably onto the couch, spreading his arms along the backrest.

Khaotung approached him slowly, and Singha’s eyes followed every sway of his hips.

“You’re even more beautiful up close,” Singha murmured, voice low with satisfaction, “I knew I had good taste.”

Khaotung let out a soft breath that almost sounded like a laugh.

“You say that to all your guests?” he asked lightly.

“Only the ones that deserve it.”

Khaotung stepped closer until he stood directly in front of him. The shimmer of his black outfit caught the dim light of the room, tiny sparks of silver glinting every time he moved.

Singha’s gaze dragged slowly over him.

Then Khaotung placed one knee on the couch beside Singha’s thigh.

Then the other.

Until he was straddling Singha’s lap.

Singha’s hands instinctively settled on his waist.

“Ah,” Singha sighed with clear satisfaction, “Now this is much better.”

“You’re very confident,” Khaotung said softly.

“When you have as much power as I do,” Singha replied, “Confidence becomes natural.”

Khaotung leaned closer, enough that Singha could feel his breath ghosting his ear.

“Power,” Khaotung repeated thoughtfully.

Singha’s fingers tightened slightly at Khaotung’s waist.

“And now,” he added quietly, “Good company.”

Khaotung’s lips curved into a small smile.

“Then I suppose I should make the evening memorable.”

Singha grinned.

“That would be appreciated.”

His fingers slid slowly up Singha’s collar, brushing lightly against the expensive fabric of his suit.

“Tell me something,” Khaotung murmured softly.

Singha smirked, “What?”

Khaotung’s lips hovered close to his ear.

“Do you always trust strangers this easily?”

Singha chuckled.

“Only when they’re sitting in my-”

CRASH.

The door exploded inward. Wood splintered across the room as armed agents stormed through the doorway.

“FEDERAL AGENTS! DON’T MOVE!”

Everything happened at once.

Singha jerked upright in shock, shoving Khaotung off his lap as he scrambled to his feet. Khaotung reacted instantly, rolling off the couch and hitting the floor as the first gunshots erupted.

Two of Singha’s guards rushed in from the hallway, weapons already raised.

First appeared in the doorway, sliding in low and firing twice.

The bullets sliced through their chests, and both guards dropped to the floor.

“CLEAR THE LEFT!” William shouted.

More footsteps thundered down the hallway.

Gunfire erupted again.

Bullets slammed into the walls, tearing chunks of plaster that flew into the air.

“KHAOTUNG STAY DOWN!” Est yelled.

Glass shattered as a bullet tore through the tall windows of the room.

Khaotung rolled across the floor, drawing the pistol hidden beneath his sash in one smooth motion.

A man lunged toward him.

Khaotung fired.

BANG.

The man spun and crashed into the desk.

Another attacker rushed from the right.

First grabbed the heavy chair beside him and kicked it forward.

The chair slammed into the man’s knees, he collapsed with a shout.

“SEARCH THE AREA!” Est shouted.

“MOVE MOVE MOVE!” William echoed.

Agents in black tactical gear flooded into the room behind William and Est.

Gunfire roared again.

“Three coming!” Khaotung warned.

A guard burst through the window frame, shards of glass still raining down around him.

First didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the edge of the broken table and flipped it forward as cover.

The guard fired wildly.

Bullets slammed into the table.

First leaned around the side and fired back.

The guard dropped backwards through the shattered window.

Another attacker rushed from in with a rifle.

Est tackled him from the side before he could fire.

Both men crashed into the wall.

The rifle skidded across the floor.

The man reached for a knife-

Est slammed him into the ground and pinned him with a knee.

“DROP IT!”

William stormed forward and drove the muzzle of his gun toward Singha, who was hiding behind the couch.

“HANDS IN THE AIR WHERE I CAN SEE THEM!”

The room slowly fell quiet.

Agents had their guns pointed towards Singha, the sound of broken glass crunching with every minimal step they took.

Groans of injured guards echoed faintly from the hallway.

William stepped forward and grabbed his wrists, pulling out a pair of handcuffs.

The handcuffs snapped shut with a click.

“Hia Singha,” he said calmly, “You are under arrest for organised crime, money laundering and possession of illegal intel. You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to a lawyer. Anything you say now will be used in court.”

Singha stared around the destroyed room in disbelief. His eyes darted towards First and Khaotung.

“You fools,” he hissed, “You have no idea what you’ve just ruined.”

“Bla bla bla, shut up,” Est said, “Agents, take him away.”

Agents began escorting Singha out of the ruined room.

Across the room, First finally lowered his gun. His chest rose and fell slowly as the adrenaline began to fade.

His eyes immediately searched the room until they landed on Khaotung, who stood near the shattered window, pistol still raised, the night wind pushing strands of his hair across his face.

Khaotung looked back as First walked over.

“You okay?” he asked quietly.

Khaotung nodded once, “I’m fine.”

The comms crackled in First’s ear.

“Tui here,” the voice said.

First pressed his earpiece.

“What is it?”

“You are not going to believe this.”

Lego’s voice joined the channel.

“That room you tried breaking into earlier this week?”

Khaotung frowned.

“Yeah?”

“It wasn’t just any room.”

A pause.

“It’s Singha’s vault.”

First blinked.

“How big?”

A low whistle escaped Tui.

“Current estimate? I would say almost 800 billion dollars in assets.”

First and Khaotung turned to look at each other, eyebrows raised.

Broken furniture littered the floor. The windows were shattered. Bullet holes scarred the walls.

The operation was over.

First glanced back at Khaotung.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then First gave a small, breathless laugh.

“Next time,” he said, “I’m handling the seduction.”

Khaotung raised an eyebrow.

“Oh?”

First smirked faintly.

“You were enjoying that a little too much.”

Khaotung stepped closer.

“Jealous?”

First paused.

Then shook his head slightly.

“…Maybe.”

2 Days Later

“I’m happy to announce,” Earth began, his voice carrying easily across the office floor, “That we have finally captured Hia Singha.”

For a moment, there was silence, like the words needed a second to sink in.

Then the entire office erupted. Cheers exploded through the room. Applause thundered against the walls. Someone popped open a bottle of sparkling wine far too enthusiastically, and the cork shot across the room, followed by laughter.

The usually sterile office had been transformed overnight. Long tables were lined with trays of food. Noodles, grilled meats, pastries, fruit, and enough snacks to feed the entire department twice over. Drinks clinked together as people grabbed whatever they could reach.

Across the back wall hung a massive banner in bright gold letters:

WELCOME BACK OUR HEROES!

Earth raised a hand, trying, and failing, for a moment to regain control of the room.

“Alright, alright!” he laughed, “Save some of that energy. Now, I’d like to call up the team that made this all possible.”

The cheering only grew louder.

First, Khaotung, Lego, Nut, Hong, Tui, William and Est were practically shoved forward by their colleagues toward the front of the room. Someone wolf-whistled. Someone else shouted, “Speech!”

Earth reached into a velvet case on the table and lifted several medals. Inside, there were sleek silver badges engraved with the agency crest.

“One by one,” he said proudly, “For exceptional fieldwork, successful infiltration, and bringing down one of the most elusive criminals we’ve chased for years.”

He pinned the medals to each of them, pausing briefly for photos and handshakes.

When he reached First and Khaotung, the room seemed to cheer even louder.

“These two,” Earth added with a smirk, “Managed to pull off the most convincing undercover operation I’ve seen in years.”

The team laughed knowingly.

First rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly as Earth pinned the medal to his jacket.

Khaotung simply smiled politely, though the tips of his ears had turned slightly red.

“Speech!” someone yelled again.

Earth gestured toward them dramatically. “Go on.”

First leaned toward the microphone.

“Uh… thanks,” he said, immediately earning laughter, “I honestly don’t know what to say.”

Khaotung stepped beside him, glancing briefly at First before speaking.

“We just did our job,” he said softly, “And we couldn’t have done it without the entire team supporting us.”

Someone shouted, “YEEEAAAAHHHHH TEAMWORK!”

The room burst into applause again.

Eventually, the celebration resumed in full force. There was music playing and people eating. Lego was retelling pieces of the mission like exaggerated war stories.

But after a while, the noise became overwhelming.

Khaotung slipped out to the balcony.

The cool night air wrapped around him instantly, quieting the chaos from inside. The city stretched endlessly below. Lights glowing like scattered stars, traffic humming faintly in the distance.

He took a slow sip from his drink, leaning lightly against the railing.

The balcony door slid open behind him and Khaotung heard footsteps approaching.

“Hi.”

Khaotung turned slightly.

“Hey.”

First walked over, stopping beside him. He rested his arms on the railing, looking out at the city.

“Finally over, huh?”

“Yeah,” Khaotung smiled softly, “I can’t believe we actually did it.”

“Yeah,” First murmured.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. They simply stood there, watching the lights flicker across the skyline.

Then First turned toward him.

“Khaotung.”

Khaotung glanced up.

“Hm?”

First hesitated. For once, the usually confident agent looked uncertain.

“I… don’t know if it was just me,” he began slowly, “But I really don’t want to go back to how we were before this mission.”

Khaotung blinked slightly.

“I don’t want to go back to arguing all the time,” First continued, words tumbling out faster now, “Or competing over every little thing. Or pretending like you annoy the hell out of me when-”

He stopped himself, exhaling. He gently took Khaotung’s hands in his, eyes dropping to their joined fingers.

“Something changed, and I've been dwelling upon it,” First said quietly, “And honestly… I don’t know what to do with what I’m feeling.”

Khaotung stared at him for a moment.

Then he squeezed First’s hands.

“I feel it too.”

First’s head snapped up.

“You do?”

Khaotung nodded, smiling faintly.

“Yeah,” he hummed, “And I don’t want to go back either.”

A quiet warmth spread across First’s face.

“Maybe…” Khaotung continued carefully, “…We can try something?”

First leaned forward slightly.

“What kind of something?”

Khaotung hesitated, “A date… maybe?”

First blinked.

“Or two.”

For a second, First froze.

Then his face broke into the widest grin imaginable.

“Oh my god. Yes!” he blurted out, “Yes! A date would be great!”

He laughed, running a hand through his hair.

“I mean. Yeah, obviously! I’d love that!”

Khaotung chuckled at his sudden enthusiasm.

“Great,” he said.

They stood there smiling at each other, the city lights glowing behind them.

Someone loudly cleared their throat.

They both slowly turned toward the balcony entrance, where they came face to face with the entire team. All of them staring with wide grins and knowing smiles.

“Finally!” Nut exclaimed dramatically, “We’ve been waiting forever!”

“What?” First said immediately, “You guys knew?!”

“Please,” Lego scoffed, crossing his arms, “You really think that rivalry between you two was normal rivalry?”

He gestured between them.

“There was CLEARLY something simmering underneath.”

“Yeah,” Est chimed in, “We’ve had bets running.”

Khaotung buried his face in his hands.

“Oh my god.”

First pointed accusingly at them, “You guys are unbelievable.”

Earth suddenly clapped his hands.

“Mission accomplished. I am so proud of myself.”

Everyone turned to look at him.

Earth looked back innocently.

“What?”

He shrugged casually.

“Do you really think sending you two in as a married couple was purely strategic for the mission?”

He scoffed.

“Puh-lease. I could’ve sent you individually. Or as business partners.”

The team slowly began to laugh as realisation dawned.

Earth folded his arms smugly.

“But where’s the fun in that?”

5 Months Later 

The headquarters was quiet. The hum of the city beyond the windows was the only sound, broken occasionally by the creak of the building settling. Most desks sat abandoned, lights dimmed, stacks of paperwork left in uneven piles.

“You’ve been staring at that report for 20 minutes,” Khaotung said, leaning casually against First’s desk, arms crossed.

“I’m… thinking,” First replied, eyes flicking to the monitor.

“You’re obsessing,” Khaotung murmured.

“8 minutes.”

“Yes. You have been saying that since we caught the guy.”

“It doesn’t fit.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do,” Khaotung said, rolling his eyes, “The guy’s in custody. The report’s done. The station’s empty. You can stop spiralling.”

“Not… not until I confirm that it all makes sense,” First muttered, jaw tight.

Khaotung groaned, “You’re impossible.”

“You knew that before dating me.”

“Yes,” Khaotung admitted, “But I didn’t realise that being your boyfriend meant supervising your midnight detective spirals.”

First stared at a screen, displaying no emotion, but internally, his chest fluttered. Even after months, the word boyfriend still sent butterflies tumbling through his stomach.

Khaotung huffed, crossing his arms, “Please… can we go home?”

First didn’t look up, scrolling the report with determined focus, “I’m not leaving,” he muttered.

Khaotung’s mouth fell open, “Not leaving?”

“No,” First said, “You can go home first, Khaotung.”

Khaotung blinked, “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” First said tiredly, “Go home. Rest. I know you’re tired, but if I leave, I won’t stop thinking about the case anyway.”

Khaotung groaned dramatically, “You’re so mean.”

First finally turned toward him, eyes softening. He took one of Khaotung’s hands, brushing his thumb over it.

“Tung… please? You know how much this work means to me. You understand, right?”

Khaotung pulled his hand away with another loud huff.

First heartedly chuckled, eyes returning to the monitor.

Khaotung’s eyes roamed the room in annoyance.

Then a mischievous idea struck him.

He tugged First’s chair so he was facing him, then slid onto his lap, pressing warmly against him.

“Hey!” First gasped, startled, hands pressing lightly against Khaotung’s hips to stabilise him.

“Go on, First,” Khaotung said, smirking, “Continue your investigation, don’t let me distract you.”

“That is kind of hard-“

“Since you don’t want to leave,” Khaotung teased, “I’m staying.”

“I…I need to focus.” First stammered, shifting slightly.

“Nothing is stopping you,” Khaotung whispered, brushing his lips along First’s ear.

“You are,” First protested, voice shaky, “I can’t focus like this.”

“Be honest, First,” Khaotung breathed, pressing closer, “You’re loving this.”

“Baby, please…” First whined, although his fingertips were starting to trace just above the waistband of Khaotung’s pants. The heat radiating from him was almost unbearable, and First leaned in instinctively, inhaling sharply.

Khaotung groaned softly, lips brushing along First’s jaw, teeth grazing lightly. “Mmm… touch me more, baby.”

“Fuck, I want you so bad,” First murmured, lips tracing the curve of Khaotung’s jaw, teeth grazing teasingly.

A soft groan escaped Khaotung as his fingers tangled in First’s hair, tugging gently, “Then stop thinking and start doing,” he demanded, low and rough.

“Fuck this,” First muttered, pressing his lips to Khaotung’s. It was slow at first, teasing, tasting, testing. Khaotung responded instantly, tongues brushing and teeth grazing. Their bodies pressed together, heat pooling thick and heavy.

First’s fingers slid upward from Khaotung’s hips, tracing the curve of his sides to the slope of his shoulders, then drifted down his chest. Khaotung’s hands mirrored him, slipping under First’s shirt to clutch at his back, teasing the spots that made him shiver and whimper beneath him.

“You drive me insane,” First moaned, hips grinding instinctively.

“And you love it,” Khaotung growled, pressing closer.

First’s fingers dipped lower, brushing the curve of Khaotung’s ass, tugging him flush, grinding slowly. Khaotung hissed, arching into him. First unbuttoned the first few buttons of Khaotung’s shirt.

His lips traced down Khaotung’s neck, leaving marks, tongue flicking over sensitive skin. Khaotung tilted his head back, letting out a sharp gasp. His hands clenching First’s shoulders, holding him in place as the heat between them built up.

“Oh fuck, baby,” Khaotung whispered, voice breathless, “I want you.”

First hummed softly, his lips brushing the nape of Khaotung’s neck, “You’ve got my full attention now, baby,” he murmured, voice warm and low as his hands wandered slowly along Khaotung’s sides.

Khaotung’s fingers slipped into First’s hair again, tugging him closer until there was barely any space left between them. A quiet groan escaped him. “Don’t tease,” he breathed.

First only smiled against his skin before lifting him easily, settling Khaotung on the edge of the desk.

“You asked for it,” First said, voice rougher now. His lips trailed lower, slow and deliberate, making Khaotung shiver. One hand slid down to rest at his waist, fingers hooking lightly at the waistband of Khaotung’s pants, the touch just enough to draw a sharp breath from him.

Khaotung’s hands pressed against First’s sides, gripping his shirt as he pulled him closer.

“You didn’t even want this at first,” Khaotung groaned, breath uneven, “And now look at you.”

First’s gaze darkened.

“You’re the one who started it,” he replied quietly, a hint of irritation sharpening his tone. He leaned in until his breath ghosted over Khaotung’s ear, “So don’t complain.”

Khaotung shifted against him, fingers digging into his shoulders as soft, breathless sounds slipped past his lips, “First… please…”

“I need you to do something for me, love.” First’s grip tightened at Khaotung’s waist, holding him firmly in place as he leaned in close, their noses almost brushing.

His gaze didn’t waver.

“Get up,” he said quietly, the command unmistakable. Then, with a slight tilt of his head toward the door, his voice dropped lower.

“Lock it.”

Khaotung held his gaze for a beat, eyes wide and blown out, a slow grin tugging at his lips even as he stayed close.

“Yes, sir.”

THE END