#kinn being like 'bored of playing with chan?' when korn asks him to play

[chanbig]

i know it's for The Drama that in ep 5 of kpts, where kinn and korn are having their very precarious chess game on the pathway over the pool, that korn checkmates kinn in like.... five moves. to indicate how distracted kinn really is by porsche. which is all well and good as visual storytelling. but it allows for the interpretation that chan is actually quite good at chess, considering how long his games against korn seem to take and how many pieces both of them lose before korn checkmates him

OR the infinitely funnier option. which is that kinn just sucks at chess.

[ae-azile]

A Familiar Road to the Unknown: Chapter 2 Preview

The medicine makes Big feel strange. He isn't sure why the medical staff decided he needed them. He tried to pull out his IV a few times, but that was because he needed to go to work. He understands if he needs to go on light duty, or check on Kim. He would even understand if he needs to be on Tankhun’s team for a while. But being in the infirmary is unnecessary. His head is lighter than usual and he does not feel safe. But he's pretty sure that's because he needs to work. He feels better when he is working.

And when Chan is here. He feels safe when it is Chan who is sitting next to him. But right now, Pol is here. Pol probably likes sitting with Tankhun more. That's fine with Big because he doesn't need a guard. Guards don't need guards. Guards need work.

He needs to talk to Chan or Kinn about this. Maybe even Korn. He really doesn't want to talk to Korn. But if he needs to prove he can work, he will go talk to him now. Since Chan is probably with Korn, he will get to see him. He would feel safer, and then when Korn lets him go back to work, everything will be fine.

“Stop it!” Pol groans, getting into Big’s space to keep him from getting up.

“I need to go back to work!” Big says, glaring up at him, “I did my bed rest. I'm done! I'm all better. Get out of my way.”

“You woke up from a coma two days ago!” Pol says, “And you were tired and loopy yesterday! How do you have this much energy? They gave you a sedative because of what you tried to do an hour ago. Just relax.”

“I'm going!” Big says as Pol tries to push him back onto the bed, “I am going to talk to Chan, Khun Kinn, or Khun Korn! Out of my way!”

Pol stares at him for a moment before his expression changes completely.

“Of course,” Big says, “Who would you like to speak with? Chan, Khun Kinn, or Khun Korn?”

“Chan,” Big says, not even taking a second to think about it. He wants Chan here.

Maybe Chan and Khun Korn will let him do paperwork in whatever room they are in. So he can sit with Chan. He feels safe around Chan. He has never been shot on a mission Chan has also been on. He should probably ask for Khun Kinn so that he can apologize for taking up resources and being a burden, especially when stakes are so high. But that feels too overwhelming right now. Chan makes him feel calmer.

“I want Chan,” Big says again, feeling more resolved and emotional all at once, “I want him with me.”

“Uh…” Pol starts before clearing his throat, “He probably can't get away from all of the meetings right now. I know he plans on coming back here for dinner and staying on the couch though.”

Big wants him here now. Maybe Pol can sense that - or maybe Big is getting too teary about it - because he pulls out his phone.

“He got me the authorization to carry my phone with me, at least while you are staying here-”

“I'm not staying here anymore. I'm finished,” Big informs him.

“...Right,” Pol says, “I’m going to text Chan to tell him your requests and see what he has to say.”

Big nods gratefully. Chan is the one guard who is allowed to keep a phone on him at all times. Big remembers saying that wasn't fair. Yesterday, he said that. Chan looked amused and said he only needed it in case he was summoned to play chess and that he had a restricted, monitored phone on Korn’s family plan. When Big impulsively asked to play with it, Chan handed it over.

It didn’t even have any apps or games on it. It was so boring. He wonders if Chan doesn't know technology because he's older than them. Big should teach him, maybe get him to download Instagram when he comes down to the infirmary again. They can take a picture together once Big is dressed and in his uniform.

“I want to wash my hair,” Big says, “Before Chan comes down. So I can work.”

“Uh huh,” Pol says, focused on the phone. It pings twenty minutes later.

“He said he is stepping away so he can call us,” Pol says.

“Did he say when my shift starts?” Big asks.

Before Pol can answer, the phone rings.

“Hello?...Yeah…It's a bit more noticeable than yesterday or the day before, maybe it's because he has more energy…Probably the adjustments too. The sedative didn't seem to do much…He's very focused on getting back to work though. He is demanding to be put on the schedule today and was willing to talk to Khun Korn or Khun Kinn about it, but preferred to speak with you…I don't know how much he will accept or take in. He's really…Okay. I’ll put you on speaker.”

With that, Pol places the phone on the end table and presses the screen.

“Big? How are you feeling?”

Big turns his head to the side, “Better, sir. I want to be cleared for work.”

“I see. And that is something you feel ready for? Two days after waking up from a coma?”

“Yes,” Big says

“Well, in that case…” Chan says, “Permission granted.”

Pol sputters at that, “Sir, he can’t-”

“He said he is ready,” Chan says calmly, “You said he was exhausting you. He needs to be put back on the schedule so he doesn't become so restless.”

As Big looks at Pol smugly, Pol just looks bewildered.

“Big, I need you to rest up for a couple of hours. Just until lunch. I’ll come down and eat with you.”

“I thought you weren’t coming down until dinner because of work,” Big says.

“I can take a lunch break and be on call. Rest for now. Okay?”

Big thinks on it, then shakes his head, “I want to wash my hair.”

“I brought down the dry shampoo and put it in for him, sir,” Pol says, “Khun gave it to me and said Big could have it. He was given a bath right after you left and made me leave the room for it. He's honestly fine-”

“I want to wash my hair!” Big snaps.

There is a pause on the phone before Chan responds, “We will discuss it when I come down, Big.’

“I want to wash it before you come down,” Big says, then feels frustrated tears spring to his eyes, “I want to wash it now.”

“I know,” Chan says, “We will think of an…accomodation. Something more acceptable for you than dry shampoo. But I need you to sleep, just until lunch. That's an order. If you're going back to work, you should start following those now.”

Part of Big wants to question the logic. How can Chan accept him going back to work but not washing his hair? He isn't going to ask though. Big needs to be grateful, as well as careful. If he points it out, Chan may question the decision too and change his mind.

“Thank you, sir,” Big says, feeling more calm, “I am looking forward to being on duty again.”

“Why?” Pol asks in confusion. But Chan seems to understand.

“That's why it's important to rest now,” Chan says gently, “I will see you at noon. Okay? Until then, rest.”

Chan hangs up after that. It makes Big sad. He wants Chan here now, or at least for him to stay on the phone until he falls asleep. He feels like crying. Actually, he is crying. But Pol doesn't seem mad at him anymore. He just fluffs Big’s pillow, gets him to lie back, and tucks Big in.

“Just until lunch,” Pol says quietly, “He’ll come back down then.”

And while part of Big thinks that he should dissuade Pol from believing he is crying over missing Chan, Big knows that is at least partially the case.

Read chapter 1 here: