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6

Tay had barely gotten the words out before Bright was zooming past him.

Tay groaned in frustration. These two were clearly made for each other - a tag team made to make him miserable.

"Wait up Chivaaree! You don't even know where he is!"

Tay takes one big gulp of air and starts running after Bright. Were Bright and Win track stars in a previous life? Why were they both so goddamn fast?

What was this a Christmas marathon?

- - -

Bright was walking around the village, vacillating between calling or finding Win or running into oncoming traffic when he saw Tay walking around while  twirling his phone in the air.

That's when he finds out all about the snake.

And god help him but Bright wasn't about to lose Win before he could get his own fucking head out of his ass.

He lets Tay over take him so he could follow him to where Win was, which was thankfully not very far away.

Even from a distance he could see the snake. Bright knew a fair deal about animals - it was his thing aside from music. And he was fairly certain that was a garter snake. Non-deadly, only slightly venomous. Keywords being: fairly certain.

He picks up a stick and proceeds with caution.

- - -

Win's every muscle was tense from not moving.

He wished he wasn't so scared of animals, that he could at least summon some courage to take a step backwards - but unfortunately, he was who he was. And in true Win Seneca fashion, he had turned into a hyperventilating statue.

Was this how he was going to die?

Standing in some abandoned lot, not brave enough to confront a snake, not brave enough to confront his feelings? Not brave enough to tell Bright just how much he -

The snake floats.

Win looks up and he sees Bright carrying off the snake with a stick.

His knees buckle, as he exhales in relief. He sinks down into the grass, taking deep breaths.

Soon, Bright is kneeling in front of him. Gathering him in his arms.

At first Win melts into Bright. Into the safety of those arms and that chest. Into that scent that always felt like home.

But then panic surges and he pushes him off. "Can you please stop kneeling in front of me," Win says, voice much harsher than he intends.

"Then what do you want?"

"You're the one springing a ring on me. You answer that question," Win snaps. He looks away just then, embarrassed at how bratty he was behaving.

"The ring...the ring wasn't for you."

God, why didn't he just let the snake end him? "Oh."

Bright struggles. "I mean. I mean, I bought you a dog tag and the store must have made a mistake and given me someone else's package. I'm sure somewhere in Bangkok, there is a very confused couple."

"Oh," Win says again. Jealousy being replaced by an emotion he couldn't describe. He faces Bright, he gives him a small soft smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. "Good to know...we're...um...just friends."

Bright scratches his head. "I mean we are.. more... than just friends, right?"

A beat. "Well, we are business partners."