"What say you, Gaolang?" The voice of the king steadily trickles into his wandering mind.

He shifts stiffly, "Forgive me, My King, I was lost in my thoughts".

"Hmm…" King Rama observed his brother silently; the fighter was often quiet during his visits to discuss tourism strategies, but his stoicism had reached worryingly high levels over the weeks. "We desire to be left alone, you are excused". One by one, the guards slowly filtered out of the vast throne room. Gaolang motions to intend his departure, "Except for you, Gaolang" A bead of sweat rolls down his neck at the thought of having offended His Majesty. I should've paid more attention. How could I have been so careless?

"Yes, My King"

"...Gaolang," The king sighed, leaning over his throne and cradling his face in his manicured hands, "What has been troubling you, dear brother? You've been so unlike yourself"

The Thai God of War felt shame slither under his skin, "Apologies, it is nothing of importance to worry you, King Rama". Rama groans, drooping his head between his shoulders.

"Gaolang, forget the formalities for a moment; I think of you as a brother, don't you?"

"Of course" his response is immediate.

"So, is it so strange for brothers to worry over the other?"

"No…" I made him worry.

"So please, brother," Rama reaches to take his friend's rough hands between his own, "Share some of what troubles your mind so". It comes out so quiet and intimate that Gaolang fears he might ruin the moment if he speaks. However, he could never truly hide the truth from his brother and king.

"...I am still not accustomed to the silence," Rama listened patiently, having already guessed that this was what plagued Gaolang. "I am aware that our rivalry outranks our friendship, but," Gaolang shifts his gaze to the bead in his hair, transfixed on the sparkling colors, "I cannot help but feel like my relationship with… him is no longer just a bond between our fighting spirits". Rama leaned in closer, breath caught in anticipation. Is Gaolang finally going to admit it; that he-? "I think I do consider The Howling Spirit to be a... a... true friend". . . A single line of incense smoke rose between the silence, the air tangibly thicker than before.

He couldn't believe he just admitted to considering that man to be anything but a pest...! He still couldn't wrap his head around it; he was everything Gaolang hated in a person: loud, impulsive, headstrong, dense, …clingy. But, those things seemed to only further increase that man's ... charm. Rama watched as Gaolang peered conflicted at nowhere in particular. The warrior had always had trouble streamlining his opinions on Saw Paing. Infact, anytime he mentioned the Howling Spirit, Gaolang would ridicule his entire existence with the softest gaze in his eyes. Ah, damn! He was so close to admitting it this time! The King had an inkling that there was no real textbook rivalry between them; it was becoming more and more apparent that the 'rivalry' title was just an excuse for the two to be together. Although, it was amusing to watch two macho men regard eachother with such youthful ideals, especially with how passionate Saw Paing was about sparring. Unstoppable force, meet immovable object.

"Is this how you truly feel, Gaolang?" He would hate to see his brother crushed under the weight of his affections. He knew Gaolang would manage to misinterpret his feelings toward Yoroizuka Saw Paing.There was only one option then…

"...Yes, Rama". Gaolang felt utterly exhausted at having to confess all those things to his king. Was it wrong to desire a friendship with his rival? Did he want more? Gaolang shuddered at the thought. No, I simply want a deep and meaningful relationship with another fighter. Rama watched as Gaolang spaced out once more. Seems like he was going to have to make a call as soon as possible.

He smiled, patting his brother's hand, "Then all I ask is that you continue to take care of yourself, my friend!" Rama felt giddy at the thought of seeing Gaolang together with the Howling Spirit, "You are free to head home if you feel so inclined"

"Thank you, brother". He watched Gaolang march out the door before giggling to himself. He knew it was unlike him, but he really wanted to see the two fighters together! He silently promised Gaolang he wouldn't meddle too much… but a little gift couldn't hurt.

*after an uneventful ride home and a soda later…*

Well, this was not what he was expecting when he walked through his apartment door.

At first, he didn't even notice him; too busy trying not to fall asleep on his feet and going through the motions of undressing. But, when he finally looked up, his fingers refused to finish removing his tie. Kneeling at the coffee table by the sofa was Yoroizuka Saw Paing, scribbling away at one of the various stacks of paper on the surface. He was dressed in his usual foliage print button-down and beige shorts. He didn't even turn to acknowledge his arrival like he usually would anytime he'd enter a room. Infact, he seemed totally absorbed; murmuring and playing with stray hairs from his spiked fringe. Dumbfounded would be an understatement for how Gaolang felt. Should he… say something? His throat dried up immediately at the thought. Ah well, maybe if he was lucky he could sneak by without making a sound-

Creak!

Damn, he'd forgotten about that loose panel! "WHO'S TH- GAOLAAAANG!!!" Saw Paing zeroes in on the disturbance lightning fast, furrowed eyebrows shooting up at the sight of his best friend. "I WAS WAITING FOR YOU! Oh! Lemme just finish this last document. How was your appointment?! Ya still got your tie on" The hug would be have surely bruised a rib if he were an average man. Sometimes Gaolang finds himself forgetting just how strong the Burmese fighter really is. He still smells like the airport…

"It went fine..." Gaolang answered, purposely leaving out the fact that he felt dead on his feet, while finally tossing his tie onto the couch. He watches in fascination as the other man plods his way over to the messy table, a sigh escaping him as he dons a simple pair of yellow glasses. . . . Glasses?

"You… have difficulties with your vision?" Gaolang couldn't resist getting a better look, the glasses sat so neatly on his soft face. A perfect little salaryman. The glasses make him look like such a baby face. The smile that reaches his lips is merely a twitch, but Yoroizuka catches it anyway.

"Hey, don't laugh!" He pouts, golden eyes attentive on his work once more, "It's just a precaution for strain…" voice meeker and meeker, he trails off, mumbling about 'blue light filters' and 'the percentage of legally blind men before their fifties'. Ah… shame be damned! It's too cute…! Saw Paing snaps up, staring slack-jawed at a chuckling Gaolang. "HEY!!" The Sword of Thailand only roars in laughter at the flushing face of his rival.

Saw Paing sputters, the urge to make a mess and fight it out was strong. But, he doesn't want to make a mess of Gaolang's floor; that wouldn't be a very nice for him to do. He's a guest! A good left hook it is! Before his fist could even make it 3 inches from the table, Gaolang intercepts the lightning fast strike of the Lethwei technique and redirects it away from his face. The dangling gem on his forehead barely stirring from the movement. Damn, he saw it coming!

"Hm" Gaolang hums in contemplation, warm fingers squeezing on the captive tricep of The Howling Spirit, "Not your best swing. I think we should train tomorrow; your swings are sluggish…" 'SLUGGISH'?!

"Psh! I was just going easy on you!" He reasons, grinning wolfishly, "BUT HOW COULD I PASS UP SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY?!!!" The desk splintered under the force of the palm that slammed down onto it, "ALRIGHT!! SO, WHERE AM I SLEEPIN?!"

Gaolang blinks, "'Sleeping'?"

"YEAH! We gotta be up AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE!!!" Gaolang could taste his breath, they were so close now. He really doesn't have boundaries, does he? "And!" Saw Paing grips his shoulders, positively shivering with energy, "WE GOTTA HAVE A BREAKFAST FIT FOR TWO WARRIORS LIKE US!!! YEAAAAAAAAAH!!!!" Gaolang could only grip his head in pain as the roar from his friend was amplified in the spacious apartment. Yoroizuka was fired up now, leaving the paperwork untouched the rest of the evening in favor of busying himself with sorting out his training items, glasses still firmly set on his face as he buzzed about. Gaolang glanced sparingly at the documents, it was really none of his business, but curiosity overcame him. A construction portfolio? Why would he- "Hey Gao!! You seen my red shorts that I wore when we went that one time we went swimming in-?"

"Yeah, yeah, lemme help you look, you oaf..." Gaolang reluctantly shadowed his rival throughout the various bizarre quests, especially in the search for a missing pair of boxers and a belt from the last visit. The sun began to set steadily over Thailand, seemingly unkowingly to the two fighters.

By the end of the shenanigans brought on by having such lively company, Saw Paing was out like a light on the large bedspread set out in the living room. A light spray was beginning to pitter-patter against the skylight. It's rhythmic drumming lulling him to sleep as well, but Gaolang couldn't help but feel excited about tomorrow. Night already? Where did the time go? He mapped out the shadows cast by the moonlit rain on the backs of his hands. He really thought he'd be more annoyed at the other man's presence in his apartment (once again), but he felt strangely at peace. Must be his infectious optimism rubbing off on me. Or, perhaps it was because of the stressful hustle and bustle of city life finally getting to him? Gaolang snorted sarcastically, shifting on the comforter to get a look at Saw Paing's chaotically snoozing form. Or maybe, it's because he's been busy with his own things lately… It wasn't pleasant for The Sword of Thailand to admit, but, he felt a pang of jealousy toward the man who usually haunted his house and life, to suddenly up and evaporate to deal with his own personal things. He'd gotten comfortable with the pestering. He knows that Saw Paing belongs to Myanmar and its people, yet he can't curb his possessiveness. He wants Saw Paing here, in Thailand, always, and it's a horribly selfish thought. But, every day that he wasn't there, Gaolang felt like time crawled at an agonizingly slow pace, and he found himself checking his phone ritualistically around the times the man would usually call. I'm such a mess, I've got to get a grip; I'm beginning to sound delusional. He turns his back to the softly snoring form, careful to avoid pulling on the thick blanket. Saw Paing is a busy man, caring for his village, that is true, and it's simply unrealistic to expect him to provide Gaolang with constant attention or friendliness. But... No. He's got to focus on his king and country first above all things. There's no use crying over what you can't have.

...Yet, in the comfortable cool of the darkened, high-rise apartment, under the pounding rain, next to the target of his affections, he lets himself dream of the rowdy man from Myanmar, and his little yellow glasses too.