Papa and Daddy (and Milly too!)

Safe

They're in Arthit's bed, Milly curled between them, huffing tiny little snores against the body of her favourite teddy, Kongpob and Arthit like a pair of brackets around her.

She had fallen asleep within seconds of them bringing her inside and they daren't move for fear of waking their exhausted child.

After Prae had arrived, Milly had cried so much that she had almost been sick and Kongpob had to calm her down and make her eat a little of his miso soup to fill her empty stomach.

Hours of wandering the streets had made her weary and starving.

Hours.

Kongpob shudders lightly and Arthit's hand curls against his shoulder, holding him in place on the bed, their eyes meeting over Milly's head.

He gives him a small smile of thanks and then rests deeper into the pillows, letting Arthit's thumb ease away the tension in his neck.

"She's safe now," Arthit whispers and Kongpob nods again, trying to calm his racing heart.

But it won't and for a second he wonders if it's still the adrenaline racing through his blood or if it's the feeling of Arthit, touching his naked skin.

"I know." He whispers back and Arthit kneads harder at his flesh.

Kongpob finds himself shifting on the pillow, his head leaning closer to Arthit's.

In the intimacy of their setting, he asks, "Are you okay?" And Arthit's eyes flash.

"I'm okay. Now. Maybe a little bit hyped up still. Shit, Kong, it was terrifying. I've never been so scared."

Kongpob lifts his hand and grabs Arthit's from his neck, holding it tightly, "Me too. So bad. I was scared for so many reasons.. not knowing where she was. That it was my fault because I left her. Because of that damn police woman saying I wasn't.. saying.."

He can't finish his sentence, hand lifting from Arthit's to cover his mouth as the sobs threaten to explode from his chest.

Within seconds, Arthit has carefully lifted himself from beside Milly and circled the bed to Kongpob's side, slipping onto it behind him and cradling him in his arms.

Konpob's back heats up quickly where it is pressed into Arthit's chest, his hand naturally finding Arthit's over the softness of his belly, their fingers linking loosely.

"She's yours, Kongpob." Arthit whispers in his ear, warm breath caressing him, "She's yours and she's mine. She's ours no matter what a piece of paper might say. You know that, don't you?"

Kongpob nods, stifling his tears again, fear and worry still sitting heavily in his guts, "But.." he begins and Arthit presses his mouth against the skin of his neck.

Then he pulls back and carefully manoeuvres them so that Kongpob is facing him, Arthit's arms loose around his back, Kong's face pressed against the light stubble of Arthit's cheek.

"She's ours, Kong." Arthit repeats, over and over until Kongpob's breathing evens out and he falls into a peaceful sleep.

X

The next morning, he awakes alone and a shiver of fear rushes through him as he recalls the moment he found out Milly was missing. He leaps from Arthit's bed, dashing out into the kitchen area..

..and finds Milly giggling away as Arthit mixes two types of cereal in a bowl for her breakfast.

"Don't tell your Papa!" He grins and Milly brings her fingers to her lips and twists them like she is turning a key in a lock.