Chapter Text
Chapter One
A/N: Hey Y'all, Here it is, Book Two in my fanfiction series of KinnPorsche, with KimChay. For new readers, I pick a starting point from the series, do a recap and then springboard from there, paying closer attention to emotional details, skimming over locations, clothing etc. We build those in our minds, to suit ourselves. That's the power of imagination, if my words are powerful enough.
It IS a stand alone novel, so it is not necessary to read A Different Love, though there is references to the characters and events that take place. Enjoy the world I've created.
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Kim put down the guitar he'd been strumming and walked through his bedroom door to the bathroom. That damn kid was still on his mind.
Yes, he went to meet him deliberately.
No, he hadn't found the information he wanted. That, he kept telling himself, was his only reason for being interested in him. His only interest...
Nothing else. Kinn's newest bodyguard, Porsche, his younger brother, Porschay, was only a source of information. He lucked out that he met him at an open house today held by the university. And the kid wanted to be a music major.
He leaned on the counter, staring at himself. He didn't see who he was, instead, he saw bright eager eyes, a huge smile... a boy who knew everything about his music.
Swearing, he smashed his fist into the mirror. Why had he agreed to tutor him anyway?
**********
Chay ran home, excitement had every nerve fiber on high alert. Since his brother got the new job, this was the most thrilling thing that had happened. He couldn't wait to tell him he'd met his idol, WIK. Not to mention, WIK was going to help him!
Porsche was all about school, school and school. It was the number one topic on his brain. It was all he ever talked about, that and how important he was. They were family. Chay felt his excitement fade a bit. He wished he could remember his parents, just a bit, the way Porsche could.
He didn't. All he knew was they died in a car crash. Faint memories of being held by a sweet smelling woman and lots of laughter. That was it.
He had been just too young. He knew Porsche carried guilt for surviving the car crash, while he'd been babysat by Uncle Arthee. He couldn't absolve his brother's guilt. He couldn't make Porsche understand they were brothers, not father and son. They could share the burden, now he was older.
Uncle Arthee was useless. Chay understood this from a young age.
He drank, gambled and stole everything that their parents had left them. Still, when he was younger, it had been nice to have an adult in the house while Porsche was out working.
He didn't know how Porsche did it back then. Attend high school, work all night, rinse and repeat. Porsche had made sure that there was always food on the table, bills were paid and the laundry was done. In his eyes, he was everything. It was time for Porsche to share the burdens.
He couldn't DO everything Porsche did, but he could help. He already was. He could cook, some. He was doing all of the laundry and household chores. He smiled as the guitar case bumped gently on his back. He was going to make it big. He had dreams. He could do it. MIK was his way to prove it.
Music was his way out of this mess that Uncle Arthee had left them in. He managed to make it inside the house and hide, just before more thugs started pounding on the door. He knew better than to answer.
Porsche had warned him. He didn't have half the muscles or the judo training he did. He shivered, remembering the beating he took the last time he had confronted the thugs. It took weeks for all of them to fade. Sometimes, it's hard to remember that you're just a boy.
Safely hidden, he looked at his closet. Opening the doors wide, where no one could see but him, looking back at him with a sexy smile, was WIK. Unlit fairy lights wove around the pictures. As he did every day, Chay sat down, his back against the pictures, and began to unpack his day. "I met you today. You're different than I expected, WIK. Not in a bad way, not at all. If you continue to be this nice to me, I will really fall in love with you. I won't be able to say it's just a crush anymore."
He put his head on his knees and sighed deeply. "Do all crushes feel like this? Where you feel like your stomach will throw up at the thought of speaking but you can't stop thinking of kissing? I really wanted to kiss you..." Even now, his cheeks were blushing and his eyes sparkled. "I'm so embarrassed!" Was it because his best friend knew what he was going through and urged him to do it anyway?
He picked up the t-shirt WIK had signed, stood up now that the thugs had given up and carefully smelled it. It didn't smell like him. Pity. Carefully, with pins, he added it to his wall.
He tapped the screen on his phone and found the number WIK had entered, unsolicited!
He could be brave. It was the one thing he'd been so far, all his life.
He sent a short text. "Thank you for agreeing to tutor me. When do you want to meet?"
His heart stopped in shock to get a reply back right away. "Tomorrow at 4 p.m." There was an address included. Sending a thumbs up, he jumped up and down, not realizing it only made him look 5 years younger than he actually was.
**********
Mr. Big bowed. "I checked out the boy. There were money collectors at the house from another gang. They were not there for either Porsche or the boy, but for someone called Arthee, who also uses the address. He put the house up as collateral. I'm positive that's why Porsche is working for Kinn. To pay for his debt."
"What's his relationship to Porsche and Porschay?" His fingers drummed on his desk.
"I am not sure yet. Do you want me to find out?" Kim nodded and swirled in his chair to look out the over the city. He rarely spent any time at home. He left when he turned sixteen.
Father hadn't said a word, other than "Fine, as long as you keep two bodyguards with you at all times."
"Big, this stinks to high heaven. It's time to go home. Who's home right now?" Kim stood, looking at himself briefly in the full length mirror behind the door. No, he shook his head, his current outfit wouldn't do. If he ran into father, the jeans were just too casual.
"Everyone. Your father and Mr. Kinn have a meeting this evening." Kim nodded. Good.
"We're going home. I have a few questions I need to find answers for." Mr. Big bowed and backed out of the room. He went and got the bodyguard he was working with, sending him to get the car ready. He sighed. He liked working with Mr. Kim. Usually, he was easy to get along with but when he got fixated on something, you couldn't change his mind. He was like a dog with a bone.
Mr. Chay was his brand new bone. He wasn't dropping it until he got the marrow out and there was nothing but splinters. Someone would end up hurt. Mr. Kim always hurt someone.
It's because he cared too much.
Chapter Two
Kim slid through the Main House on silent feet, after directing Mr. Big to rest in the bodyguard lounge. He didn't have much downtime babysitting him, with his active school life, and tour schedule. He made it, to Father's lounge, peering in and sighed in relief. Empty.
Perfect for snooping. He smirked. There were tell tale signs left by the old man of his hiding places and NONE of them were at his desk, but how to get in to them, he had been searching for years! He needed to know what the old man was hiding. Now, more than ever.
First, he slid over to the huge grandfather clock. Yes, it should show wear on the case because it needed daily winding, but NOT on the upper case. Carefully, he opened the glass case and felt in the upper cabinet. He was just a tad too short to see inside, so he had to trust his desentitized fingertips.
Fuck, nothing! He shut it, biting his lip. Ahh, he saw it! There, inside the case was a fucking camera! He gave a huge smile and waved! Carefully, he moved outside of the camera view, pulled out a piece of gum, surveyed the room, and chewed. The position of the camera gave a complete view of the room.
Sneaky bastard, he thought. He wondered if his brothers were aware of the camera. He shrugged. It wasn't his fucking business. He only cared about himself and as long as they didn't drag him back into the business, anything that happened here, didn't fucking matter.
Once the bubblegum was soft, he carefully opened the case again, and slid the gum over the lens. Now, he could check the other two spots in relative peace. He had roughly 20 minutes left before Father's meeting. He smiled to himself. He could do this.
**********
Chan, Mr. Korn's Head bodyguard sighed. Kim was at it again. At least twice a year, he was searching Mr. Korn's study. For what, they really had no idea. Pressing the button on the in-ear com he wore, "Mr. Korn, Mr. Kim is searching your study again. Do I stop him?"
Slightly tinny, Mr. Korn answered. "No, just watch him."
Hiding his laughter at his cleverness, Chan replied, "I can't. He found the camera this time. I am not sure how he disabled it."
A short bark of laughter. "God, he's a clever little shit, isn't he?" Chan heard how proud Mr. Korn was. "Go guard the door. Don't let him leave before I get there."
"Yes, Sir." Chan took a deep breath. He hated dealing with Mr. Korn's youngest son. He had a nasty temper and a worse attitude out of the three boys. The sad part was out of the three boys, he would have made the best Mafia boss with how smart and even tempered he was.
If only he didn't believe everyone had a hidden motive.
**********
"No, Porsche, I had a really good day." Chay was still floating. "I met someone today." For some reason, he couldn't actually say who. He felt his face flushing as his older brother began to tease him.
"No, it's not a girl." He drew in a deep breath. "I found a tutor to help me get into the music division at University." He almost tripped over the words as they rushed out so fast. "I have so much to learn. I need to focus on writing sheet music, how to compose and arrange... I really need a tutor. There's only so much you can learn on your own."
"I'm sorry, Chay, I didn't have the money to send you to further lessons when you were younger." Porsche's voice sounded sad. "I will soon. Do you know how much these lessons will cost?"
"I have it covered already." Actually, they hadn't talked about the price but Chay wasn't worried. He would pay it somehow. It was tutoring by MIK!
"I love you, Porsche. Work hard at the new job and come home soon. I miss you." He sighed, It was lonely in the house, especially with the thugs still hanging around.
Porsche caught hold of his tone. "What happened today, Chay? Tell me the truth?"
"It's nothing much, just there were thugs here again for Uncle Arthee. I was scared without you, but I hid in time. I should go, I have school tomorrow. I love you." Chay hung up quickly. He hated feeling like a child, squealing to Porsche but he asked.
In the fading light, knowing this was prime time for the thugs to return, Chay washed up in the dark. He slipped out the back, hopped over the fence, and walked over to the Auntie's food stall. Before he even ordered, she had one bowl of noodles in a take out bowl. "Already on your tab, Chay. Porsche arranged it before he left for work. See you tomorrow."
He bowed his thanks, and took the bag. He forgot and walked to the front gate, where there were 4 big thugs, pounding on it. Sighing he walked past it, wishing he hadn't worn slippers. Once past his house, he slipped between the neighbor's fence and his, through the small hole Porsche had made years ago, and entered the house through the back.
He knew the house well, but he still didn't like eating in the dark. Sitting in his safe space, surrounded by the pictures of WIK, he softly sighed, noodles halfway up to his mouth. "When I'm rich, I'll always have a light on. Why is it so hard to tell anyone I'm afraid of the dark?"
He spent the night curled up in his closet, his head close to the largest poster of WIK he had and woke up late for school.
**********
Nothing! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! All he had found was one lousy little drawer with childhood shit from them! Pictures they'd drawn, baby teeth, something he didn't recognize... Kim drew in a deep breath, slid the drawer back in, twisted the lock pick and slipped the gum off the camera lens.
Eighteen minutes exactly. Just enough time to disappear and no one the wiser. Just as he opened the door to leave, Chan put his hand on his chest and pushed him back in, crossing his arms across his own chest, blocking the only exit.
"Mr. Kim, Mr. Korn is very happy you returned home tonight. He requests that you stay for the family meeting tonight. Please take a seat." His face remained blank although he very much wanted to smile at the growl that escaped.
Kim walked over to the lone chair and slumped down, crossing his ankle over his knee. His father hated that position. If he had to talk to the old man, it would be on his terms, not his. To think he dressed up for this. Jeans would have served him better, even if he was noticed faster.
Chapter Three
Kim watched his father stride into the room, wearing his three pieced suit. Dressed head to toe in a hand tailored Italian suit that fitted him like a glove, he looked every inch of a classy man. His lips pressed together. He knew better.
He had seen him kill a man for kidnapping his brothers and him when he was four. It's something you don't ever forget. Ever. Gone were the images of the Daddy who cuddled him at night, sung silly nursery rhymes to make him sleepy and gave him kisses on his forehead.
Instead, he became the Kra Sue, the spirit who terrified bad boys. The spirit sent to punish people for being bad. Kim never forgot that night and swore he would never become the man his father was. He would be a better man.
To this day, he still had nightmares of the Kra Sue, and the smoking gun. The heavy smell of blood, once it's been in your nostrils, never leaves you. It didn't affect him the way it did Tankhun, only because he was different. He had compartments. He was better at hiding.
Somewhere, inside him, was that little boy screaming, "Daddy, don't!"
Daddy didn't listen then, Father never heard him now.
He would keep the people important to him safe without the use of guns, without the use of anything but his own body and mind. If he wasn't clever enough to talk his way out of trouble, he could run from it, if he could not run, then he would kill, but using his body, bloodless.
That Kra Sue made sure of it. Kim may have refused to ever pick up a gun but he wasn't stupid to turn down the lessons that would keep him alive in a Mafia family.
Mr. Korn smiled gently at his youngest son. "This is a pleasant surprise, Kim. You don't visit home often enough." He settled himself in his big, leather chair behind the huge oak desk imported from England. It was very pretentious. Much of the furnishings in the Main house were. Kim hated it here.
Kim gave a light shrug with his shoulders. "I wanted to meet this new bodyguard that's being gossiped about. Assigned to Kinn, isn't he?"
A shout of laughter escaped his father, startling Kim, who managed to successfully hide it. Why did he laugh? "Porsche? You're curious about Porsche? Then why are you in my office? You won't find any information on the bodyguards in here. You would have done better to ask Chan directly rather than snoop."
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! He didn't find the camera fast enough! He gave another shoulder shrug. If father believed him, then perhaps he would get away lightly with the office search. He missed the quick glance between the head bodyguard and Mr. Korn, who stood up and went to the concealed drawer.
He cocked his head as the drawer was unlocked. "I'm not sure if you found this or not, Kim. But if you did," He brought the drawer to the desk and placed it gently. "These are my most precious possessions. More important than silver and gold, even jewels."
He fingered the childish drawings, pictures and letters. Looking up, his intense stare caught and held Kim, like a baby animal in a trap. "I made many mistakes while you were growing up. That's why I set you free, when you asked. Will you never forgive me?"
Kinn walked in, with Porsche behind him, followed by Tankhun and his bodyguard, Arm. They each stood next to Chan, crossed their arms neatly and stood at parade rest. That was another thing that annoyed Kim. Even at home, they were to be followed by a bodyguard. NO FUCKING PRIVACY - EVER!
Mr. Korn sighed deeply. "Saved from answering yet again, Kim." He moved to the grouping of chairs and sat in his chair, a huge old leather armchair, once a deep shiny black, but now worn with age. It had conformed to his shape, so no one else really felt comfortable sitting in it.
Kinn and Tankhun sat on the love seat together, directly across from Kim, in the single wooden armchair. Growing up, they used to call it the punishment chair.
"Are you here to spy on us?" Tankhun was direct, his gaze never wavered. He was bitter toward Kim for leaving him after raising him. Their mother had died shortly after the kidnapping, and Father was always absent. Kim hated all the nannies, so it had fallen to Tankhun to raise him.
"If I am? Do you want me to leave? I'll go." Kim stood up. Kinn glared at both of them.
"Sit back down. I would like to see both of you together just once without the two of you fighting." He glared at Tankhun. "Stop picking fights." Tankhun pouted. "And don't pout. No one would believe you are the older brother right now."
Kim glanced around the room, bored. It was always this way. That's why he never came home. Why couldn't Tankhun see the Kra Sue was in their own father? His eyes stopped. Chan and Pete were blank slates but Porsche? His eyes danced, and he was smiling. Didn't he get the memo that bodyguards were not supposed to hear or see what the Main Family were doing?
"I'm leaving." He stood up. "I'll see you in the next century." It was his standard exit line. It made him feel better, even though he knew something, or someone would have him back here well before then. Coming home was always a waste of time.
Was it? Porsche's dancing eyes... reminded him strongly of another pair of dancing, laughing eyes. Their faces were not similar. Chay's was too round, softer, gentle. Porsche's was all hard, and angular. Kim could see why Kinn, who looked soft and gentle was attracted to Porsche. They both were tall, taller than he expected, even though he saw how tall in the reports.
He went outside, to his favorite spot. He looked up at the statutes in the garden and sighed. It was hard to find a spot to see the stars at night in Bangkok. He'd been so spoiled, growing up here. "What?" Turning around, he saw Tankhun, squatting, feeding his beloved goldfish.
"So, what did you learn, if you actually were here to spy?" Tankhun stood, brushing his hands clean. Gone was the silly man, now that they were alone. "You know, it's becoming harder and harder to keep up this act."
Closing his eyes, Kim fought back his tears. Tankhun was right. It was hard. "I'm sorry, brother, but you know why I can't be here. I'm not sure I trust Father's reasons for bringing Porsche in. He has no past."
Tankhun raised his eyebrow. It was his trademark, with his mask and without. "No past? Everyone has one."
Shaking his head, Kim sighed, "He has a personal past, no FAMILY past. That means he's either Mafia or something else. I don't know which yet."
"Did you ask Father?" Tankhun's trust and belief in Father was unshakable since the rescue. He looked up to him as his hero, seeing the shooting in a different way than Kim did. Of course, that was where the eleven year age gap came into play. "Why don't you just ask him? Father would tell you?"
"Father lies. We both know this." Kim turned and looked at the fish pond. "I love you, brother, but there's been too many lies already. We both know this."
**********
A/N: For those of us living in the West, and other countries other than Thailand (I am positive in other areas of Asia, you may have something similar - I have a Slavic background and grew up with the Baba Yaga, so there is always something!), I asked my cousin in Thailand what is equal to the monster under the bed, and he said "Kra Sue". So I Googled it, and apparently it's a waif like spirit that when people, who've been injured, fall asleep, smell the blood and come to eat. (If I understood their folk tales properly.)
He has been a Teacher in Thailand for over 20 years now, and apparently the children there are actually afraid of the Kra Sue. It is indeed the "monster under the bed" in some areas. In some, it's not, as he has taught in many different places. He said, in the larger cities, it's not that common, such as Bangkok. However, since I needed a such a monster... artistic license, you know.