Giant Dancing Hedgehogs are Nightmare Fuel

Chapter 11

Pete is starting to think the job prospect conversation is going to go a lot easier for him than it will for Arm. While Pete has the responsibility of talking to Vegas and Macau about moving into the minor family compound - which will be hard enough - that’s the only huge thing he has to talk about. Pete’s responsibilities past that are just what is expected for the job. Train guards, make sure they maintain and surpass their stats. The only thing daunting will be the multiple languages spoken between the minor family guards and the paperwork. Pete’s English is…okay. Sort of. He can’t read it that well and anything past simple exchanges tends to be hard for him to navigate. He’s heard that the minor family guards who aren’t fluent get tutors in the language, just as a way to potentially one up the major family guards. However, from what Vegas told him during some of their pillow talk at the safe house, he made sure they were tutored in it to honor his mother who was born and raised in Queens, New York before moving to Thailand with her father as a teenager when Vegas’s grandparents divorced. Apparently, his grandmother is still in New York, which is why he went to college there. He wanted to get to know the last connection he had to his mother, whom he apparently loved and respected dearly. His mother is why Vegas and Macau are the most fluent in English when it comes to either family, and why Vegas’s most natural language is English.

From what he remembers, Red had been extremely fluent as well, just like Chan had been. It makes sense, since they were each other’s equivalents. Being fluent in multiple languages is something they held as highly important for international deals, which is why Vegas was often brought in to handle them. While that wouldn’t be Pete’s job, he still can’t help but feel inadequate for the position and doesn’t understand why Porsche wants him - of all people - other than trusting him, liking him, and being aware of the few abilities he does have. Vegas will probably wince at the offer and use the excuse of not wanting to go back to the compound, all so Pete won’t take it. 

Okay, so there are a lot of things to discuss on his end, since the responsibilities are daunting. But they aren’t out of the job description. Not like Arm’s situation. He is expected to act as a double agent since he’ll be working with Tankhun, Kinn, and Kim on exposing and possibly killing or forcibly imprisoning their father. Whatever they plan on doing. Pete isn’t sure he wants to know. But while doing that, he is expected to be Korn’s guard and confidante. Pete is suddenly glad Arm didn’t give in when Kinn made his solid point as to why Arm should take the position. If he had without Tankhun’s input, that would have been…bad. Pete isn’t sure how simply informing Tankhun Arm is the new Chan would have gone. Just informing him of the offer and seeing how he feels about it is bad enough.

“No.”

“Khun-”

“No no no no no,” Tankhun continues, pacing back and forth in the hospital room before pointing at his brother in accusation, “You are trying to manipulate him to stay so we both do! You’re just like Pa! You never wanted me to get better and leave!” 

Kinn steps back as if he’s been slapped, “That’s not true! I told you I would help you look for houses! I am literally ready to buy a house for you-”

“I don’t need your fucking money!” Tankhun spits, “I’ve been investing for a decade behind Pa’s and everyone else’s back and have plenty of my own!”

Kinn stares at Tankhun, seeming cautious and worried about what he just said, as if Tankhun’s confused or delusional, but Arm steps in and clarifies.