WOUNDED SECRETS ☆ EARTHMIX AU

✧ f i f t e e n: the value of life ✧

— talking is way harder when you know that you are not getting the whole truth —

"Well, well, I was starting to think that they are using you as a new punching bag there or something," Sierra laughed into the phone. "You can't go for weeks without texting me! That's not nice."

Mix dropped himself on his bed, eyes half closed. It had been a long time since he talked to his real boss, but it was hard to find the time to call her. There was always something that was going on, and now when Mix was making sure that Earth was recovering properly, it was even harder for him to find the time to be alone to have such a call. But Mix wasn't complaining—he enjoyed all the time he could spend with Earth. Sometimes he wondered, how did all of that even happen? He and Earth becoming closer... he and Earth getting together. Mix came to the Fire Dragon to solve the murder, but now he got himself a boyfriend. Apparently, God really worked in a mysterious way.

"I know. I know. I'm sorry, but when I tell you that things went completely in a different direction than what we were expecting—I'm not even kidding."

"So you are not a punching bag?"

Mix chuckled, "no, I'm not a punching bag, don't worry. However... I might be having a boyfriend now."

Mix had to lean away from the phone as Sierra's surprised scream filled his ear, "Sahaphap Wongratch, what do you mean that you have a boyfriend?! You surely didn't start dating someone from the Fire Dragon, especially while you are undercover, did you?"

"Well, about the undercover..."

"Mix," Sierra sighed.

"I'm still undercover, but my boyfriend knows that I'm undercover."

"You know what?" Mix could hear Sierra walking around her flat and then pouring herself a glass of wine. "Tell me exactly what happened. Step by step."

And so Mix did.

He talked about Earth, about Joe, about how he found out that his father was one of the founders of the Fire Dragon, about how he met Earth's father—and even though Mix didn't go too much into detail about Earth's father, he still explained to Sierra that it would be pretty hard to get out of him some useful information they might need. As he talked, he realized that there wasn't much to say... not really. During his time in the Fire Dragon, he got to know people there, but when it came to finding out what exactly happened to his father, it was still too hazy for him. He didn't learn much so far. And after realizing that his father's death might have been the work of the mafia, Mix felt as if the real fun was only about to start. And he did say as much to Sierra as well.

"So, let me get this straight," Sierra sighed, and Mix could hear her pouring another glass of wine. Honestly, he kind of started feeling as if he also wouldn't say no to a wine right now.

Listening to her rambling, Mix slowly shuffled out of bed and made his way to the kitchen... His hopes of having wine somewhere were low, but he still let out a disappointed groan, "life fucking sucks," when he didn't find anything.

"What?" Sierra stopped in the middle of the rambling.

Mix plopped on a chair in the kitchen, rubbing his eyes, he opened the laptop. "Nothing, nothing, you can go on," he assured Siera and waited for the important part of her monologue to come.

"So you are not planning to give me any sensational article about the underground fighting scene in Bangkok, are you?"

"Sierra, we are investigative journalists—we don't do sensational stories," Mix rolled his eyes.

"Yes, yes, I know. But you know damn well what I mean, Mix."

"I'm not going to write you an article about the underground fighting scene or specifically about the Fire Dragon. I'm sorry, Sierra, but I made a promise."

"To Earth...

"Yeah, to Earth. besides," Mix ruffeld his hair, "that club is something that my father wanted to exist. Why else would he co-found it? I want to keep it just the way it is."

"Fine, fine..." Sierra resigned on the other side of the line. "The main reason why you are there is to find out what happened to your father, anyway, but Mix... be careful. Especially, now, when this whole thing seems to have something to do with the mafia. You know how fast can everything change when those types of individuals are involved."

"I know, more than well."

"Does your mother know about all of this?"

Mix chest suddenly felt too heavy, he still hadn't talked to his mother about any of this. He didn't even know how should he approach it. Should he tell her everything and demand the answers or should he give her time to tell him the truth herself?

"She doesn't know anything yet."

"Mix, I think that you should talk to her. If everything you said is true then he must know something about it. There's no way she doesn't."

"I know she does!" Mix snapped, tired. "I'll talk to her—just give me time."

"You have all the time you need, Mix. Just remember that it's not me nor your mother who is stuck there, but you."

"I know," Mix replied into the darkness of his apartment and hung up.

He was going to talk to his mother, but face-to-face."

✧✧✧

"Mix, Mix, Mix...!" Joe ran after Mix, catching him outside of the club. "Are you going to see Earth?"

"Yeah," Mix nodded, adjusting a gym bag thrown over his shoulder. Having mafia involved in all of this, he figured that getting at least a couple hours of boxing in wouldn't be that bad. "Want something?"

"Just wanted to ask how is he?"

"Good," Mix smiled. "Well, when it comes to his recovery, but mentally—he fucking hates staying at home all day."

"I thought that he'd be glad to spend some time with his father," Joe pointed out in confusion.

"I did as well," Mix agreed. "And I mean, he does... it's just that, he hates the fact that he doesn't know what's happening at the club."

"Well, he can ask you."

"Of course, every time I see him I always tell him every stupid little thing that is happening here, but he is so paranoid," Mix rolled his eyes, "he needs to see everything himself. So, you can imagine how it is—the everyday fight of 'I'm going to the club' and 'no, you are not!'"

Joe chuckled, "well, I mean, he should be able to get back here soon, right?"

"To come and check everything himself? Yes," Mix nodded. "But when it comes to fighting... that won't be so soon."

"His recovery is the most important," Joe said immediately. "After he is the good old Shadow again, he can come here and fight anyone he wants, even me."

"Even you?" Mix smirked, "you know I'm telling him this."

Joe quickly shook his head and laughed, "please don't—I actually value my life."

Joe's words echoed in Mix's ears more loudly than he ever thought they would as he watched Joe's body being hit with bullet after bullet until it fell, covered in blood, to the ground.

To be continued...

P.S. THIS WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN! THIS WASN'T THE PLAN! BUT MY MIND SAID FUCK IT 😝!  So, I guess that we are entering dangerous times 🤧