SOTUS Drabbles and One-Shots

16. You'll Let Me (Hold Your Hand)

5+1 Things fic 

Note: I've already published this, so now I just added it to the one-shot collection :)

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1.

Kongpob doesn't think he's a man with many needs. Just the basics: food, drink, shelter, sleep, oxygen, and P'Arthit. Really, that's all he needs. Perhaps needing Arthit is a bit unorthodox, but, while tradition is important, it's okay to break it sometimes, right? "Sometimes" being right now, even, when Kongpob and Arthit are together at the park.

On a date.

At the park.

Together.

(On a date.)

"Come on, P'Arthit," Kongpob can't help but whine (really, whining—what has he been reduced to?). "Just for a minute, please." Begging, too, really. He makes a motion to the other pairs walking on the path, the couples sitting under trees, on park benches, all doing one common thing: "Let me hold your hand. Just for a little while." He only regrets his pleading when the elder begins to look more irritated than fondly exasperated.

"Kongpob, please," Arthit scolds. "We've talked about this. Stuff like that can be done at home." His brows are furrowed, and Kongpob knows it's more from the frustration over the bright sunlight. He's not looking at Kongpob.

It's not fair, not when he sees all these couples holding hands and being happy and even leaning in for kisses, kisses like the ones Kongpob wants to share with Arthit. Arthit, who won't even let him hold hands in empty aisles. Arthit, who won't even let him stand close by when others are around. Arthit, the one who declared them boyfriends to the world (read: first and third years) then hid away all that pride.

Arthit, the man he loves, who probably wouldn't spare Kongpob a glance had Kongpob not fought for it.

Kongpob shakes the darkening thoughts from his head as he tries one more time to reach for Arthit's hand.

He's rejected.

Dejected, Kongpob ends his attempts, choosing instead to walk just a bit aways from the elder, trying to enjoy just being with him over anything else.

2.

"It's dark," Kongpob states, motioning to the night sky above them. "No one will know."

Arthit moves his hand away when Kongpob's brushes against his. "There are street lights."

"Then I guess we can just let go before we get to them," Kongpob says, finally getting a firm grip on his boyfriend's hand. Even then, the other manages to rip the appendage out of his grasp.

"Kongpob!" the elder of the two scolds, making Kongpob's eyes widen. They pass under one of the offending streetlights, and Kongpob can see the angry flush of the other's cheeks. "A no is a no, no matter how hard you try to change that!"

At that, Kongpob only nods and drops his efforts, properly scolded.

3.

He thinks it should be inconspicuous. Multiple plates, bowls, and cups cover the table, and if they were to join hands, it would be hardly noticed amongst the clutter. But when Kongpob tries to lace their fingers together, Arthit immediately retracts his hand, putting it down in his lap.

"Even now?" Kongpob asks, and he hates what he's reduced to. Pouting, really? But it's P'Arthit, so he thinks it's worth it.

Arthit doesn't even give more of an explanation than a shrug. When Kongpob takes on a more dejected look, the other sighs. "I just...," he shakes his head. "Never mind. Just—not here."

Kongpob feels his heart sink further in his chest.

"If not here," he begins, desperation filling every word, "then where?"

+1

'At the movies' is the answer, apparently.

They haven't gone back to the movies since their not-date date that ended in them thinking the other liked a lesbian.

Which is why Kongpob hasn't suggested they go again, lest something similar happens.

But he can't stop his eyes from wandering over to the poster plastered on the wall across from the restaurant they're eating in.

"Kongpob," Arthit says. "You keep looking over there. What is it?" He leans forward over the table some to get a better look. His brows furrow as he tries to see.

"Don't worry about it, P'Arthit," Kongpob tells him. "It's just a movie. I've been thinking about going and watching it."

"A movie?" Arthit asks, settling back down in his chair. "We have time. Do you want to see it today?"

Kongpob swallows, glancing back out the window. "It's okay, P'Arthit. I remember what happened last time."

There's silence. Kongpob looks across the table at the elder.

Arthit is giving him a flat look. "Kongpob," he sighs, "that was an accident and a misunderstanding." He leans further back in his chair, eyes drifting across the restaurant before landing once again on Kongpob. "Let's try again."

Kongpob's tongue sweeps across his lower lip as a smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. "We don't have to," he tries. "It's fine if we don't see it."

Arthit lets out an irritated noise. "Hey, Kongpob! You're starting to sound more insulting than concerned." His lips turn downwards in a pout. "You make it sound like you don't want to go do things with me."

Kongpob can't hide the smile that's spread across his face. He scoots in closer to the table. Eagerly, he says: "I want to do everything with you, P'Arthit." When Arthit looks back at him, his smile turns sly. "Everything."

Arthit does a double-take before his eyes go wide. "Kongpob!" he reprimands.

Kongpob holds back a laugh. "Okay, okay," he nods. "So you don't mind watching it with me?"

Arthit shakes his head. "It's fine," he confirms. "Check the showings. We can go after this."

It's a quarter into the movie that Kongpob feels something brush his hand. He looks over, but Arthit is staring straight ahead at the big screen. Kongpob lowers his gaze, eyes trailing over the curve of Arthit's cheek, the natural pout of his lips, the set of his shoulder, down his arm, all the way to the point where Arthit has his hand somewhat over Kongpob's. Kongpob lets out a breath, the right corner of his lips beginning to rise. Carefully, he turns his hand over, allowing for his boyfriend to place his hand over Kongpob's, threading their fingers together slowly.

Kongpob stares down at their hands for another couple of seconds before looking back to Arthit's face. He's smiling. Kongpob turns back to the movie.

The movie ends, and they're still holding hands. Kongpob doesn't ever want to let go.

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a/n (8/13/18) i wanted to do a 5+1 thing fic i just didn't feel like doing 5 things and only did three (also i don't think my heart could handle p'arthit rejecting kongpob 5 times lol) so yeah haha

thank u for reading !! (^ ^ ")

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