Chapter Text
Take 1
Thyme’s brought out of his thoughts by Kavin’s head on his shoulder. His first thought is to take out his phone and take a picture of Kavin Taemiyaklin being caught unawares. Until he hears soft breathing.
They used to sleep in the same bed all the time. All four of them. Then, they started outgrowing the beds. And Kavin started sharing other people’s beds. Thyme hasn’t seen him falling asleep this deep in years.
He moves Kavin until Kavin’s head is resting on his legs. As gently as he can. He’s learned that now. But, Kavin still stirs. Thyme pats his head and makes soothing noises until Kavin stops stirring. It’s a trick he learned to get the alley cat from Gorya’s old neighborhood to trust him. He snickers to himself at showing Kavin the picture of that cat and putting it next to Kavin’s face. They would even make the same prissy little face. Just like the face Kavin had been making since they came back from their date.
Jealousy.
He knows now. He just didn’t expect to encounter it again this soon.
The realization that Kavin was treating him the way he treats all his previous dates. The ones who get discarded in the morning, sometimes even in the dead of the night.
Thyme had pushed and pushed until Kavin’s mask started to slip until he had been unable to hide his annoyance.
He does want Kavin’s trust. He doesn’t want to see that smirk on Kavin’s face aimed at him.
Thyme looks down at the sleeping face, the frown finally giving away to smoothe its features. He doesn’t want to give it back. The temporary access he has had to see Kavin without pretenses. And he hadn’t known why until now.
Thyme drops his head back and sighs. Kavin likes to pretend he doesn’t have a heart, but all of them—except Kavin—know that’s not true.
There’s no one else Thyme can lose to this time. No. Only Kavin himself.
Take 2
He’s gotten caught staring at least three times now. Kavin seems content to let it go instead of questioning Thyme. Which is good, because he would end up saying what’s in his head if Kavin asks him why he’s been staring.
Your smile is so pretty. It’s prettier because it’s me you’re smiling for.
He can already hear Ren in his head laughing at him. Thyme wanted the perfect date so he had to ask for help. Ren had been annoying about it, but he wouldn’t tell a soul, not even to his wife.
And, it’s worth it. He’d take Ren, and Gorya, and everyone he knows making fun of him for this.
Of course, Kavin’s usually smiling. But, it’s not this one. The one where it reaches his eyes until they’re two crescent moons to match the wide upturn of his mouth. And Thyme has never been the cause of it, not as far as he can remember. But, today, that smile seems to not leave Kavin’s face since they stepped foot into that damned teacup.
If he can keep making Kavin smile like this, maybe Kavin might be willing to show Thyme how to reach his heart.
Take 3
He wakes up because of how hot it is. When he opens his eyes, it’s to the sight of Kavin in his arms, fast asleep, like he usually is whenever he spends the night at Thyme’s. Thyme’s probably kicked the body pillow somewhere from trying to escape the heat. He pulls Kavin closer and Kavin doesn’t stir at all at his action. He breathes in the scent of Kavin that he’s learned to recognize perfectly well, even from a distance. Thyme doesn’t know how to describe it. But he knows that it calms him. The way just the slightest touch of Kavin’s fingers on his arm calms him. The way the anger leaves him just as quickly as it comes when Kavin looks at him with pleading eyes.
He wants to tell Kavin. Wants to let him know how deeply he has reached inside Thyme and taken over his every senses, his every thoughts the way no one else has. Maybe then Kavin wouldn’t casually offer to sleep with someone else for Thyme’s benefit.
Kavin is beautiful and last night wasn't an exception. Perfectly styled hair, makeup that made his eyes glimmer naturally, and custom tailored suit ordered just for the occasion. He moved around the room and commanded the gazes of everyone there to him, including Thyme’s. Hanging off Thyme’s arm for the whole night and putting his charms on full force and as graceful and elegant as the future omega spouse of the Parama Group’s heir is expected to be. And just as deadly.
Thyme had only wanted him more and more. He knows he’s not the only one but Kavin’s attention for the past couple of months had only been for him. The mere thought of Kavin with another person makes his blood boil.
Kavin knows how he gets, how possessive he is. But, Kavin isn’t his. Not for real. Even though Thyme has been Kavin’s for a while now. The freedom that Thyme wants, he doesn’t want it without Kavin by his side, not just as a friend, but his partner, in all things. In all ways.
Take 4
“Hydrangeas, he didn’t tell me a specific color though.” Ren says with his eyes still on Gorya, who’s sitting with Kavin on the other side of the yard.
Thyme nods, “I’ll just get every color.”
Ren finally turns his way. “I think they bloom in different seasons, if you want to get every color, you might need to have it shipped from overseas.”
Thyme takes his phone out to send a text to get it done. Money can buy time, sometimes.
“Are you going to confess?” Ren raises an eyebrow with him, a smile slowly forming on his face.
“No. Not yet.” He needs more time. More time to show Kavin that he can be the person Kavin can lean on, not just subconsciously. More time to show that Kavin made the right choice to trust him. To keep letting him in.
“I’m telling Gorya about this.” Ren, the little shit, doesn’t even ask for Thyme’s permission. “I’m not keeping secrets from her.” He still has that smirk on his face. “You two worked so hard for us to be together, it would be a shame if we started having problems.”
Manipulative little shit. No wonder he and Kavin used to be stuck together until high school. Thyme hadn’t figured it out until years later that Ren and Kavin used to get him and MJ in trouble all the time, and made them think it was their idea to begin with. Ren had only shrugged when Thyme brought it up and said they were harmless pranks anyway.
Thyme points a finger at him. “Just make sure she keeps her mouth shut.” Whatever Ren might have responded with, is interrupted by Gorya’s mom bringing refreshments to them.