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His knees gave out and he fell on the floor, caught by Mahasamut whose arms were securely around him.
Mahasamut was alive. He was safe.
He was hurt, but he was alive . Tongrak tightened his hold on the younger man and finally let out a quiet sob, hiding his face in the crook of Mut's neck.
"It's okay Khun Tongrak. I'm okay," Mahasamut repeated softly again, pressing a kiss to Tongraks temple.
But he wasn't okay. He was attacked, bruises littering his face and probably other parts of his body. A bandage on his hand for a reason Tongrak didn't even know yet.
And if his father sent someone to attack Mahasamut now, who was to say he wouldn't do it again? Wouldn't send someone more dangerous? More people? People from whom Mahasamut wouldn't be able to protect himself.
A sudden thought crossed Rak's mind and he pulled back, his vision blurry as he looked at Mahasamut panicked.
"Meena?" He croaked out, remembering that his beloved niece was supposed to be with Mahasamut, wondering if she was there when everything happened.
"Meena is okay," Mahasamut assured him. "I told her to run when the attackers showed up. Luckily P'Vi was in the area," he gestured at the woman hesitantly standing nearby, but his eyes didn't leave Rak.
"I was filming near her school. I thought I'd hang out with her since I'm in the area. I was about to call her when she ran out to the main street shouting for help. When we got there Mut had already taken care of the guys."
Rak nodded, still shaken up. "You wouldn't pick up any of my calls."
"They drove over my phone when getting away. I'm sorry I scared you Khun Tongrak," Mahasamut explained, pulling Rak again into a hug.
"And.. and your hand?" The bandage around Mahasamut's left hand was the first thing Rak had noticed, and he had to know what happened.
Mahasamut was quiet for the first time, so Tongraks gaze diverted to his best friend.
Vivi sigh, leaning against the wall and looking at the pair. "One of them had a knife," she said at last. "You should get Ai'Rak upstairs," Vi suggested after another while.
And that's what Mahasamut did.
With gentle hands he helped Tongrak stand up again, an arm around his waist the whole way up to Rak's room.
"Do you want to take a shower Khun Tongrak? Wash away the emotions?" Mut said once they entered the bedroom.
"Will you come with me?" Rak asked, looking up at Mahasamut, vulnerability clear in his eyes. In his current state of mind, Tongrak didn't think he could be away from the man, too scared that he'd disappear.
Mahasamut just smiled, leading the two of them towards the ensuite bathroom. He helped Tongrak get out of his clothing before slowly taking off his own.
Rak was watching him while they waited for the water to warm up, the usual heat when the two found themselves naked not visible now, instead replaced with worry as Tongrak spotted various more bruises on Mahasamut's body.
"Were there a lot of them?" Rak whispered, ghosting his fingers over the red and purple marks.
Mut sighed, dragging them under the water, careful not to get his bandage wet. "Two. But don't worry Khun Tongrak. This wasn't the first time I was in a fight. Back on the island everyone knows not to mess with me or Khom or anyone else around me."
"I know," Rak answered, busying himself with washing the both of them so that Mahasamut wouldn't have to use his left hand. "Connor told me the reason Khom was his tour guide on the island when they first met was because the original guy broke his leg in a fight," he muttered, briefly looking at Mut, "I presume that was you?"
Mahasamut smiled, using his good hand to swipe away the hair that had fallen over Rak's eyes. "It was more after a fight than during it but yes. That's why I asked Ai'Khom to help Khun Connor around the island. And it's part of the reason why Khun Connor wanted me to take care of you when you visited."
The rest of their shower was spent in content silence and it wasn't until they found themselves in Tongrak's bed that Rak broke into quiet sobs again. He felt so overwhelmed, the emotions he felt earlier in the day crashing down on him again.
The fear of seeing his father again after so many years, the worry over Mahasamut's wellbeing, worsened every time his calls would go to voicemail. The panic upon seeing Vi but no sight of Mut. And the devastation after noticing the state Mahasamut was in, all because of Tongrak's father, but also the relief in knowing the man was alive and breathing.
Mahasamut didn't say anything, only holding Rak and letting him cry. And for that Tongrak was glad. He didn't want to be consoled, he just wanted to know the other was there with him.
He didn't know how long had passed until his eyes started drifting closed, exhausted from the entirety of the day, Mut's hand as a form of comfort stroking down his back and playing with the strands of his hair.
He fell asleep relieved with the knowledge that he hadn't lost another person in his life.