Right Here Where You Left Me (KimPete)

Chapter 12

Note: The few succeeding chapters will revolve around flashbacks about how Kim and Pete got together and fell apart.

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What happened was an accident. An unfortunate one if you ask Pete. To be stuck in an elevator with Kim, of all people. Personally, he doesn't have a problem with the main family heir. It's just that he has heard stories and whispers about how cruel the younger man can be despite being the youngest of their clan. Some people in the mafia circle call Kim the trigger happy lil psycho, mini Vegas, and the ripper. You see, Kim had built quite a reputation for being a ruthless and cold mafioso and although Pete had seen a lot of things that included violence and blood, the younger man still made him uncomfortable.

"Pete, right?" Pete's head instantly jerked upward, eyes drifting to Kim. The sudden movement made him a bit dizzy. He had his eyes glued to his shoes the moment they were stuck in the elevator and it felt like an eternity since then.

"Yes, Khun Kim." He answers although he was wondering why Kim was asking him his name. He thought they had an unspoken agreement to never talk to each other 'til the utility team figured out how to get them out of the elevator. He assumed Kim wasn't someone who's into small talk so he shut his mouth the entire time.

"You make it sound like I'm so old when you call me that." Kim snorts and Pete makes an uncomfortable questioning look because what the heck is Kim talking about? Since he doesn't know what's going on and the easiest way to deflect a situation like this is to apologize, that's what Pete did.

"Apologies, Khun Kim." He said as he bowed slightly. It must have annoyed Kim because he heard the other click his tongue as he tuts. Pete wanted to frown but he schooled his expression and kept his silence.

"Why did you choose to work here?" Kim suddenly asked after a moment of silence and Pete was taken aback by the question. Was Kim running through a background check on him? Was he bored? He never took him as someone chatty so Kim must've had something in mind when he decided to abruptly chat with Pete.

"Uhm, Khun Korn helped our village so much back in the south. I wanted to repay his kindness, Khun Kim." He heard the younger man hummed at his answer.

"You look out of place though." He says afterward and Pete gets more confused. What is Kim trying to point out? Kim must've seen the question all over his face because he started elaborating.

"You look like you belong somewhere else. You look so soft to be a part of the mafia. Man, you even look like you can't hurt a fly." Kim chuckled and Pete felt his cheeks burning from humiliation. Was Kim making fun of his appearance and skills as a bodyguard? He unconsciously clenched his fists.

"Sometimes looks can be deceiving, Khun Kim." He can't help but say and he watched Kim's eyes crinkle in amusement.

"I know. That's why you fascinate me." The younger man said as he stepped and leaned a little closer to Pete, looking at him like he was some specimen to be examined.

"You look so innocent but I know how ruthless you can be when you need to." Pete gulped as the younger man crowded him. Has Kim been keeping tabs on him? Creepy if you ask Pete. He was startled when Kim lifted his hands to touch his face.

"So pretty and deadly at the same time. I wonder why Pa is keeping you away from all the action and insists on letting you guard Tankhun. You and I could make a great team. Such a pity that even Kinn won't let me borrow you from him."

Pete blinked a few times, trying and failing to understand Kim's words because all he could think about was his warm hand against his cheeks.

'So pretty and deadly'

He opened his mouth to say something but he couldn't form any coherent words so he shut his mouth again.

"Cute." Kim giggled as he pinched Pete's cheeks which immediately turned bright pink.

"What the heck is that?" He internally screamed. Before he could do or say anything stupid, he heard Tankhun shouting and the elevator door suddenly opened.

"Peeeeeteeeee!" The older screamed and rushed to his side, pushing Kim out of the way. He cupped Pete's face and inspected him all over like a mother fuzzing over her child.

"Are you okay? Is my favorite bodyguard hurt? What happened?" He asks and Pete shakes his head and smiles at his boss.

"I'm fine, Khun Noo. No need to worry about me. We got stuck." Tankhun seemed to calm down when he heard that but when he turned around and saw Kim, he frowned.

"Why are you with my Pete?" He asked accusingly as dragged Pete behind his back.

"We happened to use the same elevator, Khun Noo." He replied briefly in a bored tone. The older squinted his eyes at his youngest brother, suspicion evident in his face. When Kim didn't say anything else, he huffed and turned to Pete.

"Let's go, Pete. Arm and Pol are already waiting. I told you to come faster to the room, didn't I?" He says and drags his head bodyguard out of the elevator. Pete murmured a quiet apology. But Tankhun stopped midway and faced Kim again.

"You. Stay away from Pete." He told his brother and Kim snorted. Tankhun huffed again and made his way back to his room, dragging a more confused Pete along with him.

Back in the elevator, Kim pushed the button to the ground floor, thinking of different ways to get that dimpled bodyguard assigned to him.

Stay away from him?
Since when did Kim follow the rules?