The Mansion of Men

Dr. Saengthem

Sometimes, it's little things.

Sometimes, it's big things.

Pete knows when to expend or save his energy when Khun-Kinn comes to find him.

"Porsche hasn't been to the main mansion in days. Any problems?"

"How did the meeting go with Khun-Billard?"

"WHAT WERE THE GUARDS DOING WHEN PORSCHE GOT SHOT?"

Normal, regular queries. Until one day, Khun-Kinn asks a most peculiar question.

"Have you seen "Fire and Anarchy"?"

"Of course," Pete answers without thought, because his brain is in automatic mode. Ready to answer anything Khun-Kinn asks, while Pete unloads the food set Vegas sent to him.

He realizes what he's just answered and freezes.

"Have you read "Over the Canyon, Under the Hill"?"

Hunh, Pete thinks.

"What is this about, Khun-Kinn?"

Kinn crosses his legs, where he's sitting on the couch and clasps his hands, narrowing his eyes.

"We're not going to pretend we don't read the stories, Pete."

Pete sighs.

"Yes, I have."

"What did you think about them?"

"I..." unsure how to answer. "I like them. They're fast-paced."

There.

"Is that all?"

Fuck.

"The sex scenes are... tasteful."

Good enough.

"Anything else?"

Pete has just admitted to reading about his boss being fucked in the ass. What else could there be?

"You don't think..." Khun-Kinn says, clearing his throat. "You don't think there's a running theme in stories like that? Like "Red Cult"?"

"Ahh," Pete says, nodding as the problem becomes apparent. "These stories portray you as viciously bloodthirsty."

Instead of answering, Khun-Kinn rubs his lips, nervously.

"They aren't the only stories about you. Sometimes, you're kind and loving."

"Yeah," Khun-Kinn agrees, looking down. "But none of those stories are on Porsche's reading list."

Okay, two things: one, Pete tries not to be jealous that Khun-Kinn and Porsche don't hide their reading lists from each other. And two, Pete cringes at what must be going through Khun-Kinn's mind if the stories his boyfriend loves reading are stories where he's practically the villain.

"It's fiction."

"I know."

"He doesn't think you're a reckless killer."

Khun-Kinn looks up at Pete, something akin to hope in his eyes.

"Do you think so?" he asks Pete.

"I do," Pete says.

He doesn't bring up the fact that they're actually killers. It's the most obvious part of their jobs, but it's not what Khun-Kinn wants to hear. Besides, the Kinn in those stories is beyond any amount of wickedness Pete has ever seen from the real Kinn. Maybe... MAYBE... Vegas might be capable of some of it. But Khun-Kinn? No.

"Have you tried talking to him about it?"

Kinn blinks like he's never even thought of that.

"Would you like to try talking to him about it?" Pete asks gently.

"I should."

"You should."

"Thanks, Pete," he says, standing up. "Always a pleasure."

As he walks out, Pete sighs to himself and returns to his meal. Because Vegas cooked his whole soul into this and Pete intends to relish every bite.