Work Text:
The next page is covered in different gifts that they've given one another over the last few years. It'd been hard tracking down the photos- in fact, there's a few that Rain took when he got the idea to do a page of gifts. It's not Rain's fault that he's proud of how much thought he put into some of these.
And of course, he's also just incredibly fond of some of the gifts that Phayu has gotten him as well. His thoughtful, adoring hubby who goes out of his way to prove each and every day that he loves Rain just as much as he did the last.
Like this one- the teddy bear dressed in blue with its beautiful yellow ribbon and the most delightful surprise that Rain could have ever hoped for hidden inside.
~~~~~
–
He’s lonely, despite being in his fourth year of university and therefore overwhelmed with deadlines, as he’s unused to being without his boyfriend for such a long period of time. It doesn’t help that Phayu is in Japan of all places, somewhere Rain would have loved to join him if Phayu’s trip hadn’t landed in the middle of his semester, leaving him feeling jealous as well as alone.
They do their best to mitigate the pains of being apart, like texting throughout the day and calling before bed, but in the years since Rain had met Phayu, he’s learned that he’s a very physical person – nothing beats being in Phayu’s arms at the end of the day.
He struggles.
The first few days are the easiest, with Rain distracted by friends he hasn’t had as much time to hang out with recently clamoring for his time, but by the end of the first week, all he feels is fatigued. He wishes for Phayu’s touch the strongest, then, something grounding and reassuring that will help to put him at ease.
He gets it from the sound of Phayu’s voice instead, deep and low and thrumming inside of Rain’s veins. He falls asleep that night with a smile on his face as Phayu sings him to sleep.
That seems to be what gives Phayu the idea, or at least, that’s what Rain figures after Phayu gets home, a large box in his arms gift wrapped and ready for Rain.
“What’s this?” Rain asks, a giddy smile on his face. He’d expected a gift, but not one quite this big.
“Open it and find out, silly boy,” Phayu replies, laughing as he reaches up to ruffle Rain’s hair.
Rain pouts at him for all of a minute before his attention is back on his gift. He’d hoped for some kind of souvenir but already he can tell that this is going to be so much better.
The wrapping paper comes undone quickly and easily, revealing a generic white box, leaving Rain none the wiser for what’s inside. He glances at Phayu, who nods his head in encouragement, before popping open the box itself and pulling free the present.
It’s a teddy bear as large as Rain’s forearm, dark brown in color and soft as a feather. It’s wearing a blue Yukata and has a little yellow ribbon wrapped around its ankle. On the edge of the ribbon is a little storm cloud, the perfect image to represent them both.
Rain smiles as he looks at it, feeling warmth rush through him at the sight.
“P’Phayu, it’s adorable,” he murmurs softly, dropping the box carelessly onto the ground and hugging the teddy bear to him, sighing at the feeling of how snuggly it is.
Of course, that’s the moment the bear starts singing, and it’s not a generic voice singing either. It’s Phayu’s voice coming out of the bear, quiet and a little bit tinny, but undeniably Phayu.
“You are my sunshine,” Phayu sings in English, “My only sunshine. You make me happy, when skies are gray. You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you. So please don’t take my sunshine away.”
Shocked at the sound, Rain can do nothing more than stare at Phayu with wide eyes until the song is over, barely able to comprehend what he’s heard.
“Was that you?” Rain asks, eyes shining as he grins.
Phayu nods his head, a smile of his own on his face.
“Do you like it?” he asks knowingly, laughing as Rain reaches out and smacks him on the arm for his audacity. “Ouch,” Phayu faux-complains, still laughing as he rubs the “sore” spot. “If you don’t like it, I’ll just take it back,” he jokes, reaching for the bear in Rain’s arms, only for Rain to snatch it away from him.
“NO!” he complains, glaring at his boyfriend. “It’s mine!” he insists, and squeezes the bear again, causing it to start singing once more.
The words are soft and soothing and remind Rain strongly of the nights Phayu had sung him to sleep over the last few weeks. He smiles softly as he realizes that must be what brought this on.
Rain can’t help thinking it's the most thoughtful gift he’s ever received.
“It’s for the next time I have to be away,” Phayu explains once he’s stopped laughing, his voice soft and sweet, his eyes understanding. “So you won’t be alone, and you’ll know just how much I love you.”
Rain feels his lip quiver with emotion as he stares at his boyfriend, still hugging the toy close.
He’s never loved anyone as much as he loves Phayu.
“Thank you,” Rain murmurs, snuggling his nose into the toy and feeling overjoyed when a hint of Phayu’s cologne strikes him. His boyfriend has covered the toy in his scent, aware of just how comforting Rain finds that to be.
Giggling, Rain kisses the teddy bear once before turning to gently place it down on the bed behind him. Then he turns back to Phayu and throws his arms around his shoulders, hugging him close.
“You’re my sunshine too,” he whispers in English, and kisses Phayu’s neck.