You're Mine, I'm Yours II

Part 13

The first rays of dawn filtered through the sheer curtains of Khaotung’s room, casting a soft golden hue over the bed. The world outside was quiet, save for the faint chirping of birds. First stirred awake, his breathing steady, his senses slowly coming alive. His body felt warm, comforted, and for the first time in years, the knot in his chest was gone.

Khaotung was wrapped around him, his arms draped over First's chest, his face nestled in the crook of First’s neck. The steady rhythm of Khaotung’s breathing tickled his skin, grounding him in a reality he’d almost thought impossible. He was here, in Khaotung’s arms, not as a fleeting moment of passion or regret, but as something real. Something he wasn’t going to let go of ever again.

First shifted slightly, careful not to wake him, but even the smallest movement made Khaotung stir. His grip tightened instinctively, his soft, sleep-heavy voice mumbling, “Don’t move… not yet.”

First froze, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He turned his head slightly to look at Khaotung. His almond eyes were still closed, his lashes casting delicate shadows on his cheeks. He looked so peaceful, so vulnerable in this moment, and it made First’s heart ache—not from pain, but from an overwhelming love that surged through him. He brought a hand up, gently brushing a stray strand of hair from Khaotung’s face.

“I wasn’t going anywhere,” First murmured softly, his voice low, filled with an emotion he couldn’t quite put into words.

Khaotung’s eyes fluttered open slowly, still heavy with sleep. He blinked a few times, his gaze focusing on First. A lazy, content smile spread across his face, his voice still thick with sleep. “Good. Because I wasn’t going to let you.”

First chuckled quietly, his chest vibrating against Khaotung’s. “You’re stubborn, you know that?”

“You love it,” Khaotung teased, snuggling closer. His legs tangled with First’s, and he rested his head more firmly against First’s chest, listening to the steady heartbeat beneath.

For a while, they stayed like that, wrapped in the warmth of each other, as if the rest of the world didn’t exist. First broke the silence, his hand gently tracing circles on Khaotung’s back. “You have no idea how much I missed this,” he whispered. “Waking up with you… feeling you here. I didn’t think I’d ever get to have this again.”

Khaotung lifted his head slightly, his eyes meeting First’s. They were soft, warm, filled with emotion that mirrored First’s own. “You’re here now,” he said simply, his fingers brushing against First’s cheek. “That’s all that matters.”

First swallowed hard, his own eyes glistening. “I swear, Khaotung… I’ll never let you go again. I don’t care what I have to face—your family, my father, the whole damn world. I’ll protect you. I’ll keep you safe. And I’ll prove to you every single day how much I love you.”

Khaotung smiled, his own eyes damp as he leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to First’s lips. “You already are,” he whispered against them. “And you don’t have to fight the whole world alone. We’ll face it together.”

First’s arms tightened around Khaotung, pulling him impossibly closer. In that moment, surrounded by the warmth of the morning sun and the comfort of Khaotung’s presence, he felt something he hadn’t felt in years—hope. Hope for a future they could build together, no matter the challenges. He pressed a kiss to Khaotung’s forehead, whispering, “Together.”

Khaotung nodded, resting his head back on First’s chest, his fingers drawing idle patterns on his skin. They stayed like that, savoring the peace of the morning, knowing that while the road ahead wouldn’t be easy, they’d found their way back to each other. And that was enough. For now, it was everything.