[Fic] Until You - 12/15
Title: Until You
Author: Coley Merrin
Pairing: Zhou Mi/Kyuhyun
Rating: R
Genre: AU, Vampires, Angst, Fluff
Warnings: Brief violence, angst, sexual situations.
Summary: Research points to a vampire bite being unbreakable, but Kyuhyun can't give up. And with Zhou Mi, he works to undo the blood bond that forced them together.
***
Chapter One * Chapter Two & Three * Chapter Four & Five * Chapter Six & Seven * Chapter Eight & Nine * Chapter Ten * Chapter Eleven * Chapter Twelve * Chapter Thirteen
***
Zhou Mi’s day after Kyuhyun left was busy, to say the least. His phone had rung in the middle of hand embroidering a strawberry, and then he had just been in a flurry of throwing on his protective inner layer and clothes, so he could run out the door. A bookseller, one he used frequently, had located one of the rarer books he’d been inquiring about. Not the ultra-rare ones, the ones he’d have had to have sold body parts to purchase, but one that didn’t see circulation all that often. It rode home with him in his bag, all but burning a hole in it, as he clutched the rail on the subway. The possibility was so slim that it would have information about the blood bond. With Kyuhyun’s kisses still too clear to him, he was possibly more conflicted than ever. But he read it through carefully, reading some passages twice. Barely even standing as he waited for Kyuhyun to get home, so that Zhou Mi could show him.
“I thought you said most of the other books were rare and expensive,” Kyuhyun said, turning the book over in his hands.
“Most of them, yes. This has some damage to the outside, though, and it was one of the less rare ones. So I was able to get it more cheaply.”
Not that money was primary concern. It wasn’t just that the other books didn’t come on the market very often. And between his stipend, and the money he made from sewing, he had some money tucked away. It definitely didn’t beggar him to pick up one book. Though the way Kyuhyun eyed him, it seemed like he expected them to be homeless before the month was out. It probably didn’t help that he wouldn’t accept money from Kyuhyun. Kyuhyun bought most of his own food and miscellaneous supplies, and Zhou Mi didn’t try to fight him on that. But there was no sense in him giving Zhou Mi money for what Zhou Mi already owned, or had for free.
“I didn’t find anything particularly useful. Most of it we’ve seen. But there are historical accounts. Not always pleasant. But it might be something of interest to you.”
“Sure. Thanks.”
He left Kyuhyun to read, knowing the best way to absorb things wasn’t by having someone fluttering around and hovering. Instead he did the very interesting and fascinating, and occasionally frustrating task of gathering ruffles for the edge of an apron that had been ordered to be someone’s gift. Of course the apron had to have ruffles. And custom embroidery. His job never ceased to bring him interesting things and challenges.
The internet made all things easier, in that regard.
Kyuhyun was still reading when he felt his concentration starting to go. He rolled his neck around, and went in to change, throwing his shirt into the hamper with a sigh. Sewing oil all over the hem, which meant he hardly wanted to roll around in bed with it on. He changed in the closet half out of habit, from when Kyuhyun had been getting under his skin. He hadn’t wanted to be caught with an erection at a moment that it really wasn’t appropriate. But he snagged a shirt from the ones that he kept in a stack. It was probably the smallest space in the apartment, and crammed in most of his clothes, and all of Kyuhyun’s work clothes and some shoes. It was nice, at times, to see it. That there was another person there, who didn’t know how to get their clothes on hangers. He straightened one of Kyuhyun’s work shirts, knowing it’d be him with the iron if he didn’t.
“Sleeping soon?” Kyuhyun asked him, just as he was tugging his shirt down fully.
“Pretty soon. Did you find anything interesting in that book?”
“No. It’s pretty much the same as everything else we’ve seen, like you said. But all that stuff in there about the human and vampire testing, in terms of seeing what each could endure. That was pretty gruesome.”
“The name of science,” Zhou Mi mused.
“Sounded like it was better to be a vampire at that point.”
“Just because they can’t cut off a finger doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt to have them try.”
Kyuhyun’s whole body shook, as though he were trying to get the thought out of his head entirely. “Have you ever wished you were human?”
“Who hasn’t wished that they were someone, something else? Maybe some even wish they were me. If I were human, my life would be half over. Old enough that you - that someone your age - wouldn’t even look twice at me.” He cleared his throat a bit uncomfortably, unable to keep it back. The past few days of Kyuhyun being more open only seemed to show him more.. “But it would just be exchanging age for being a vampire. Because it is mostly the same now.”
“That’s not true.”
“The situation between us is a little different,” Zhou Mi said. “It wasn’t as though you had much choice to learn to accept in some way.”
“No,” Kyuhyun corrected him. “I had a choice. I had a lot of choices. Just being here didn’t make me want you. Obviously I learned about you.”
“But you never would have wanted me before, no matter what I looked like.”
“Is it less important to you, because I know you better now, and want you?” Kyuhyun asked, stepping forward. And Zhou Mi could help but take in every nuance of the expression Kyuhyun wore. Frustration and earnestness both. “Because you wouldn’t have wanted me back then, either. Head stuck too far up my own ass to-“
Zhou Mi laughed, finally seeing where Kyuhyun was going. He touched Kyuhyun’s lips, quieting him. “You’re right. We’ve changed together. Though once we were here in my apartment, I wasn’t blind to you.”
Kyuhyun’s tugged his hand down, holding it. “Me either, but we’d kind of lost the option of walking away at that point. It just took us a while.”
“That we’d be attracted is pretty amazing,” Zhou Mi murmured.
Kyuhyun’s fingers raising to play with the short hairs at the back of his neck nearly sent a chill through him.
“At least I don’t kiss you like a tease, when I can’t even stick around and make you pay.”
Ah, that morning. He chuckled, placing light hands at Kyuhyun’s sides. “I guess I can make it up to you.”
“Yeah.”
It wasn’t like they flung themselves at each other. But he savored every moment of it, the way his arms warmed around Kyuhyun’s waist and ribs. The way Kyuhyun’s arm crooked around his neck, hand warm on his shoulder, and then his jaw. There was no tease there, no laughter. Maybe a certain amount of measuring, making sure of each other. But even if there wasn’t there, that didn’t mean there was no joy. Kyuhyun smiled, even as his eyes dipped closed. As his own did, as their destination was reached. Kyuhyun’s breath heavy, lips moist. Pressing into the kiss, humming into Zhou Mi. He almost wished it were dark, in some forest glade. They could sink to the rich earth and worship each other. They had moans, and the harsh light of the overhead bulb, and their knees knocking. The first, ringing taste of Kyuhyun’s mouth, after Kyuhyun had nipped, soothed, his lips. Kyuhyun’s breath and grasping arms, angling their faces to kiss more fully. Not nearly as polite as their previous kisses. But as Kyuhyun laughed against his mouth, he didn’t think they minded.
“Breathing is good,” Kyuhyun said, puffing against his chin.
“It is.”
And to facilitate that, he nuzzled into Kyuhyun’s neck, breathing deeply. Kyuhyun. His Kyuhyun. Who kissed with want and need in him, and held him as though Zhou Mi was cared for. So easy to fall, with the warmth of a man in his arms, the taste of his mouth on his lips.
But only certain steps could be taken. Only certain things could be done.
“I’ll get ready for bed,” Kyuhyun said. “You haven’t eaten yet.”
Not on blood, Zhou Mi thought, letting Kyuhyun go and watching him with heavy eyes as he gathered clothes. But on something else, quite dear as well. It was so soft inside him, the knowledge that Kyuhyun gave just a little inside. That he cared enough to look at Zhou Mi, to apologize, to want. To talk to him about things that weren’t so easy to consider. Maybe a little bit of it was time passing, Kyuhyun giving up just enough on the possibility that the bond could be broken. Maybe just enough to where he could see Zhou Mi as something more than the fetter around his ankle. And ironically, he was okay with that. Because relationships had started with less. It took just those little moments to open someone’s eyes to possibilities. Kyuhyun was trying.
And so was he.
It was almost automatic as Kyuhyun settled in bed, the lights off, and an arm presented to him. Sometimes Kyuhyun spoke to him as he fed, though it was hard to answer with his teeth engaged. Most times he just laughed. That night, it was only the sound of Kyuhyun’s breathing to guide him. He disengaged, soothing the wound softly. Considering his hunger, and making his choice.
The give of Kyuhyun’s skin at the second bite had the buzz of satisfaction ringing through him. But it was Kyuhyun who made a sound, soft, in the back of his throat. Almost imperceptible if Zhou Mi hadn’t been listening. But he was. Looking to Kyuhyun’s face didn’t yield any clues, because it was still. Almost too still. But his eyes darted at a slight movement. Kyuhyun’s opposite hand, on his own hip. Fingers twitching, flexing. As if they wanted to move, touch. He could have stared holes through the sheet, wondering. It wasn’t the first sound that Kyuhyun had made during feeding, not the first movement. But Kyuhyun’s knees were raising. Trying to hide his arousal? It once would have thrilled him, but made him almost fear instead.
Zhou Mi slowly let go, licking at Kyuhyun’s skin. “Did I hurt you?”
It took a moment for Kyuhyun to respond, eyes sliding open and slowly focusing on Zhou Mi. “What?”
That question was so throaty. Fathomless, almost, from between lips that hadn’t closed. Had Kyuhyun been so deep in some fantasy that it took him that long to come out of it? He hated that even for a moment that he wondered if he was taking advantage, that what his bite did to Kyuhyun wasn’t normal. It was utterly normal. A vampire bite couldn’t make someone want sex any more than a massage could. If there wasn’t any want? It wasn’t like it was inherently a turn-on. Unless Kyuhyun was thinking of something that turned him on while Zhou Mi was feeding. Which clearly didn’t have to be anything related to Zhou Mi at all.
But what if it was?
Zhou Mi smiled at the dozy Kyuhyun, and got another soft sound, as his lips pressed to Kyuhyun’s palm. Letting his tongue trace the ridges of that skin, ridges he had long memorized with his eyes. And Kyuhyun’s fingers, almost as though by reflex, curled against Zhou Mi’s face.
He reached for Kyuhyun’s hand, the one that was still restless across Kyuhyun’s hip. And dragged it toward himself. Kyuhyun’s hips shifted violently, and even if Zhou Mi’s hand was over his, it was obvious their hands curved over an erection. Kyuhyun’s.
“You never said anything,” Zhou Mi whispered.
“It happens,” Kyuhyun said, the blank stillness back on his face. “You should know that.”
It was Kyuhyun who slid his hand from under Zhou Mi’s, who pressed Zhou Mi’s hand in a solid drag along the warm line of Kyuhyun’s arousal.
Kyuhyun seemed to swallow hard. “I don’t think you have to ask if that’s for you.”
“Do you want-“
Zhou Mi’s mind went a hundred ways. To touch Kyuhyun, over cloth, under. With his mouth. Skin to skin. Belly to belly, writhing. He drew back his hand only for a moment, making his choice. His hand slid up Kyuhyun’s shirt, petting the soft skin there, before edging under the elastic of Kyuhyun’s pajama pants.
He had little more than saliva to wet his hand, but he tried. Not able to see beneath the cloth, but liking what he felt immensely. The rigid strength of Kyuhyun’s arousal. Growing harder even with the friction of Zhou Mi’s hand, Kyuhyun’s hips lifting to meet his strokes. And more sounds, Kyuhyun’s hand clenching tight on Zhou Mi’s shoulder as he moaned a short warning. As though Zhou Mi would have stopped. The satisfaction of wetting his hand with Kyuhyun’s ejaculate, to urge all of it from him that he could.
He was nearly breathing as hard as Kyuhyun, the scent of sex cloying in the air. It seemed Kyuhyun had wanted, and quite a lot. But the smell of it was driving him insane. What did he lose by trying?
To flip back the sheet and curl over Kyuhyun’s body. The bare, almost quivering skin of Kyuhyun’s stomach was so warm and alive to him. Even as his tongue met it, wet and hungry. Cleaning some the mess that he had helped Kyuhyun to make. Maybe it wasn’t blood, but it was unique. It was Kyuhyun. He inhaled deeply, moving further. Licking it from his fingers, from Kyuhyun’s skin. He thought Kyuhyun was going to stop him, until he realized that the shaky hand to the back of his neck was not there as a deterrent. Maybe as an anchor. It was a whimper, as Zhou Mi took him in hand, ever so gently licking. He dared not go to far, do too much, when Kyuhyun was still sensitive. If he had his wish, his dream, Kyuhyun wouldn’t be frightened by what his teeth could do, and let him take Kyuhyun fully into his mouth. To feel Kyuhyun’s orgasm between his lips. To taste it, drink it. No, not with his teeth, but every other sense.
He would have been content to lay there for some time, against Kyuhyun’s damp skin. Tracing the faint line of hair up to Kyuhyun’s belly button with a fingertip, ringing it. He felt drunk on what he had done, that Kyuhyun had let him. That Kyuhyun’s hand still rested heavy on the back of his neck. And he could feel Kyuhyun’s heartbeat begin its slow, steady beat. If his lips curved in satisfaction, so be it.
He forced himself to move, dragging the covers back up over them and slumping back with a sigh. The pillow welcomed him, and the warmth was almost overwhelming as Kyuhyun rolled against him. And there was only thin cloth between Kyuhyun’s hand, and his own arousal.
“You never said anything about this,” Kyuhyun breathed, teasing him with his own words.
But how could he help it? How could he not be aroused, when Kyuhyun’s scent and taste encompassed him, and his warmth. His head arched back into the pillow as Kyuhyun stroked him, at first through the cloth and then skin to skin. The dry friction was kind of nice, in that it kept him from going off like the world’s most trigger-happy rocket. His fingers gripped the sheets as though they would help him survive, with Kyuhyun breathing against his shoulder. He shuddered, inhaled. Could have arched into that touch forever, but it wasn’t to be. His face turned to Kyuhyun, that scent overwhelming him.
“Kyuhyun,” he gasped, and lost himself to the glory of it. Imagining Kyuhyun’s face above him, below him. Even as his eyes focused again, on the face not far away, beside his. He dried Kyuhyun’s hand with his shirt, and turned to him. In the shadows, only able to see so much. But it was enough. The slight shine of Kyuhyun’s eyes, the parted mouth. He wanted a kiss. Needed it. But they were both tired, and the kiss was little more than a briefing meeting. It still warmed him through. And when he craved another, he curved his arm over Kyuhyun’s waist instead.
“Thank you,” he murmured, stroking Kyuhyun’s lower back.
Kyuhyun merely sighed, and relaxed. Falling into sleep before Zhou Mi could. But it gave him time to admire, and to wonder. What exactly had they done, and would they do it again?
***
The first thing that Kyuhyun realized when he woke was that he was very warm. And the next thing, was that his butt was bare. His eyes opened, considering the more-distant-than-usual wall. All signs pointed to a sleepy man draped over him. He was pretty sure that was Zhou Mi’s leg using his thigh as pillow. And that was definitely an arm squeezed over his ribs, and a mouth puffing wetly at the back of his neck. Also, related to his naked butt. With slight movement, he could feel where his waistband had slipped during the night. No doing on Zhou Mi’s part, just the normal movement. He remembered swapping positions a few times during the night, and vaguely recalled considering pulling up his pants, but at that point he’d been too busy trying to glom onto Zhou Mi’s back and pass out again.
The raucous tones of his alarm screamed out, and he felt Zhou Mi jerk awake, laughing into the pillow.
“You need a nicer alarm,” Zhou Mi complained.
“Why would I want to get up if I had that?” Kyuhyun asked. And he lost track of thinking he had to get to his phone to turn off the alarm, when he realized Zhou Mi’s mouth was making a path of kisses from the back of his neck going forward. Nudging up under his jaw and he arched almost involuntarily into it. Teeth or no teeth, he wanted Zhou Mi to continue.
“Good morning,” Zhou Mi told him.
“Do you think if I don’t go into work today that anyone would care?”
Zhou Mi chuckled. “I think someone would care and notice. Why? Do you feel okay?”
The concern wiggled warm through him. “I feel fine. But it’s warm here.”
And Zhou Mi’s hand was warm when he covered it with his, a clue to what he was actually talking about.
“Oh. Kyuhyun. It’ll still be warm and here tonight,” Zhou Mi said.
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
And Zhou Mi seemed keen to prove it, turning Kyuhyun’s face and kissing him. And that hand on his jaw had him turning, firm, and guiding him with a little jostling as Zhou Mi stood, until Kyuhyun was sitting up on the edge of the bed.
“There,” Zhou Mi said, pulling his mouth away. “Your feet are even on the floor. Now you have to get up.”
“Clever, aren’t you?” he muttered, and almost forgot he had to pull up the back of pants up as he stood. Though Zhou Mi’s eyes flickered down, curious and interested at that movement.
“Someone forgot to dress me last night.” And he paused from where he’d been marching away, still pleased at Zhou Mi’s reaction to his almost-undress. “I suppose my pants’ll be like that tonight, too, huh?”
He just missed getting hit in the head by a flying sock as he darted toward the bathroom.
Still, he’d managed to get out the front door totally dressed, and no semblance of pantsless-ness about him. Even if he had thought about dragging Zhou Mi’s pajamas down, just to see what kind of reaction he’d get. He’d seen that butt and legs in just underwear before, but that had been a while ago, for one thing. And doing so probably wouldn’t have gotten him out the door when he needed to be. Still grinning and kissing Zhou Mi goodbye, a little gratuitous chewing on that generous bottom lip, hadn’t been too bad as a consolation prize. As he made it onto his train, he thought maybe they could go to bed a little earlier, see where the feeding took them. So not fair that Zhou Mi kissed nice, as well as being hot to touch. Though, there was some hesitation and learning. On both their parts. Didn’t make it less of a turn-on, though.
And it turned out he could even get work done without distracting himself too many times with just how good Zhou Mi’s tongue had felt on his stomach. Or that hand jerking him off, or moaning Kyuhyun’s name. Okay, maybe the last one hadn’t been actual sensation, but it still got him pretty stirred up even half a day later. Zhou Mi and his stupid voice, and his stupid hands, and stupid body. Replacing stupid with “ridiculously attractive” and “completely unfair.” Congratulations, he’d found a man who barely had to breathe to get his pants too tight. It was impossible to shove all that want down again.
And yeah, he was a little happy about that. What they were doing felt natural. No one could’ve told them they were rushing after ignoring any attraction for months. There was a man in his apartment who wanted Kyuhyun, against all odds it seemed. Keeping his smile to a below-stupid level took some doing on his part.
His phone buzzed from its turtle-shaped holder. Incoming call. Zhou Mi. Barely two in the afternoon, and Zhou Mi usually texted when he needed something.
“Hey, what’s up?” he answered, waiting for Zhou Mi to tell him why he was calling.
“I’m sorry to call you at work like this, but-“ Even Kyuhyun, who knew he could be slightly less than perceptive at times, could hear the tone of worry in that voice. “Eunhyuk called me. He thinks something’s up there. That vampire researcher with the blog has gone missing, and a person was just found dead. Bite wounds. If we have a chance at checking this out, I think this is our best shot. But you don’t have to go. With work, and everything. I can-“
“Hold on. Hang on a second.” It was Wednesday afternoon. No big meetings the next couple of days, and what there was, Ryeowook could handle. All his accounts were pretty well taken care of. “No. I want to go with you. Let me clear this with my boss, make sure I can take the next couple of days off. I’ll call you if I run into a snag, otherwise I’ll be home as soon as I can get a train. Uh- you can pack my underwear and stuff, if you want? I can throw in shirts or whatever.”
He hung up before he could get an answer, first running things past Ryeowook and his increasingly concerned eyes, before darkening his boss’s door. Kyuhyun considered himself a good employee. He didn’t slack off, take unexpected time off very often. But this wasn’t something that could be rescheduled. If there were vampires different than Zhou Mi in existence, they couldn’t just be asked to wait until Zhou Mi could get there to ask questions.
But he got his agreement, and good luck. Even hugging Ryeowook on the way out to reassure him. The entirety of the five subway stops he had to endure, he spent standing, probably annoying everyone near him with his toe tapping. He was definitely red-faced and out of breath by the time he’d sprinted up the stairs to their apartment, stripping off his jacket and tie, and finding Zhou Mi dressed, with the hood of the special sun-filtering cloth still hanging around his neck.
“Hey,” Zhou Mi said, eyes bright with fervor. “I went ahead and chose some shirts for you, and pants. There is underwear, and socks in there, and your things from the bathroom. I packed your computer bag, and it has your cell phone charger and laptop things. Also, some snacks, in case we don’t find something. If you-“
“Hey,” he interrupted, shirt half off as he cupped Zhou Mi’s neck. “Breathe. You did good. Just let me change, and we can get out of here.”
He kissed Zhou Mi because he wanted to, and also because it seemed like the right thing to do. His jeans and shirt went on quickly, making a quick sweep to make sure he didn’t need anything else. And the apartment locked behind them, him with his laptop carrier, and Zhou Mi with the bag that held their clothes. He didn’t know when they’d seen it next, but he hoped they’d know more when they did.
***
It was obvious from the reaction of the ticketing agent that they didn’t get many vampires on their trains. There was some whispering in the back, as they probably checked whether it was legal or not, but they had two tickets out of the city before too long. Fifteen minutes before the next train left. They made their way to the platform, and he leaned into Zhou Mi’s arm. Under the cloth, Zhou Mi’s face was tight. He figured they could relax a little more on the train. Less than two hours to where Eunhyuk lived, but it was long enough.
He could almost hear Zhou Mi’s thoughts. What if they went all that way, and missed finding the vampires? Or didn’t find out anything?
They found seats in a corner so the sun wouldn’t be of much offense to either of them, and got their bag settled. His laptop on the floor between their feet. Waiting and watching as people got settled, and urging the train to start moving them toward their destination. He got his arm inside of Zhou Mi’s, sliding it up so that he could squeeze first Zhou Mi’s wrist and then his hand. Or his hand encased in soft leather gloves, in any case.
“We find out what we find out,” he told Zhou Mi. It was strange, that twinge inside. They were on the train because of him, not because of Zhou Mi. Zhou Mi was researching it for Kyuhyun’s benefit. They’d only barely begun to talk and explore about what they wanted from their future, one way or the other. He could have stopped them, told Zhou Mi he wanted to stop looking for a while. Figure out what they wanted from each other, first. But they’d come too far to turn back. He figured as long as Zhou Mi knew that whatever they found out wasn’t an ultimatum or a death sentence, then they were good. And in truth, it was curiosity fueling him. Was there a different kind of vampire? There could be people’s lives at stake. People were dying. And maybe they couldn’t do anything about it, but they’d never know otherwise.
From Zhou Mi, he got a smile, and a squeeze back, and knew he was one of the lucky ones. And to pass the time, he alternately watched the scenery go by, and dozed against Zhou Mi’s shoulder.
***
Kyuhyun wasn’t sure what to expect from Zhou Mi’s friend. But the curious eyed man - vampire - who opened the door was far off from his mental images. Not nearly as tall as Zhou Mi, but as slender, Eunhyuk made a sound of relief, and height or not, all but engulfed Zhou Mi in a one-armed hug.
“I wasn’t sure you’d come,” Kyuhyun heard from the vicinity of Zhou Mi’s shoulder.
“You needed someone here, and we might be able to find things out, too,” Zhou Mi said. And after a few minutes, Eunhyuk pushed back, and again, there was that curiosity Zhou Mi got an arm around Kyuhyun’s back, dragging him closer. “This is my- This is Kyuhyun. Kyuhyun, this is Eunhyuk.”
“Nice to meet you finally,” Eunhyuk said. Some reserve there that Kyuhyun wasn’t sure of. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Mixed good and bad I’m sure,” Kyuhyun said, not daring to look at Zhou Mi. “Nice meeting you, too. Though. I wish it was under better circumstances.”
Eunhyuk ignored his words, motioning to Zhou Mi. “Bring in your bags. We have a little while until the liaison from the police agreed to meet us.”
“We don’t usually get police help,” Zhou Mi mentioned, closing the door behind himself once their clothes bag was inside.
“Here, either, but Daniel was able to forge some tenuous bonds there. It’s been a lot of help since he went missing.”
Daniel, the researcher with the blog. Even if the man’s writing hadn’t been of much use, it had still be interesting. Someone who dealt with vampires on a close basis. Kyuhyun had really only had one to base his own ideas off of. And Zhou Mi was frowning.
“Last night?” Kyuhyun asked, having heard the full story from Zhou Mi.
Again, those cautious eyes. “Yes, that’s right. If he was taken to be eaten, then it’s probably a matter of looking for his- His body.”
Zhou Mi shook his head. “We don’t know that yet.”
But Eunhyuk was clearly not interested in platitudes. After a moment of discomfort on his part, as Zhou Mi all but leaned into him, Eunhyuk got them all tea, having them sit in the small apartment. It was different than Zhou Mi’s, obviously. Different colors, different pictures on the wall. Definitely a bigger TV. But still comfortable. Eunhyuk settled across from them.
“We saw each other last, what…Two years ago?” Eunhyuk mused. “I go into the city every so often, but Zhou Mi doesn’t like to leave it.”
Kyuhyun sent an amused look at Zhou Mi, who had actually taken the train ride better than Kyuhyun had expected. “Now he knows he can.”
“I didn’t leave the city alone,” Zhou Mi said wryly.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Maybe you need to sit in my lap on the way back.”
He lifted himself, scooting over as though he was about to slide onto Zhou Mi’s legs, and got a bark of laughter, Zhou Mi pulling him back down beside him.
“Things have changed between you,” Eunhyuk said, glancing between them.
And Kyuhyun realized that Eunhyuk could not know what had transpired the last few days. He doubted Zhou Mi called him after each kiss and touch, or he would’ve been rather disgruntled to learn of it. All Eunhyuk knew of Kyuhyun was that he was eager to break the bond with Zhou Mi. And possibly knowing Zhou Mi’s feelings on the matter of the bond, and about Kyuhyun himself. More even than Kyuhyun knew. He discovered he didn’t like that at all.
“Anyone less patient or optimistic would’ve just locked me in the bathroom and been done with it,” Kyuhyun answered. Zhou Mi made some kind of sound of denial, and he settled firmly against Zhou Mi’s side.
“I’m glad things got better for you,” Eunhyuk said. And some of that appraisal was gone. Perhaps he’d won some kind of points with Zhou Mi’s friend on the basis of Zhou Mi’s reaction.
Zhou Mi smiled between them. “Don’t worry, Eunhyuk wasn’t telling me to lock you in the bathroom.”
“No, but you were telling me that Kyuhyun was easy on the eyes.”
Kyuhyun could almost feel Zhou Mi gathering steam beside him, and he couldn’t take his eyes off that face. Trying to to get embarrassed, probably. But like that was any kind of a surprise to Kyuhyun?
“He asked me what you looked like,” Zhou Mi exclaimed. “It’s not like I could tell him no.”
“It was relevant information, that’s all.” Eunhyuk’s eyebrows waggled, teasing Zhou Mi. “Not like I could go and look myself.”
“A picture is quicker,” Kyuhyun said, and Zhou Mi leaned into him.
And he couldn’t help the proprietary hand he slapped on Zhou Mi’s thigh, probably any more than Zhou Mi could help the hand that covered his. Now it was normal, to have Zhou Mi against him. As normal as a long fingered hand over his, a thigh against his, could be. He knew if he looked, Zhou Mi would be smiling. Normal, he repeated in his head. Normal, his life. With vampires. With Zhou Mi. Probably forever.
“How long did you say until the police would be?” Zhou Mi asked, checking the clock.
“Another hour,” Eunhyuk said, looking at his watch. “They’re supposed to meet us here. I think they want us to look at the places Daniel marked as possible places for the vampires to be. Since he’s been missing less than a day, they aren’t very worked up, but I know something is wrong.”
Zhou Mi was quiet a moment, considering, and Kyuhyun wondered what was going on behind those flickering eyes.
“I want to go see where they found the person who died,” Zhou Mi said finally, looking at Kyuhyun. “Maybe we can get there and back before they police get here.”
Eunhyuk agreed. “I can get you a map. I’ll stay here, in case you’re a little late. It’s not far, though.”
“At least they didn’t think you did it?” Zhou Mi offered.
It was a sad smile on Eunhyuk’s face. “Not much, anyway.”
While the map was printing, Zhou Mi gripped Kyuhyun’s hand.
“You should stay here.”
“No way,” he protested. “We had this conversation before. Look, and it’s not like you’re charging into some lair, just going to look at a crime scene. I think I can handle it.”
And when Zhou Mi didn’t seem convinced, he sighed. “Look, it’ll be okay. I’ll stay close to you, and we’ll get out of there if it’s weird. I came this far with you. You can’t keep me in a glass case.”
“Why can’t I?” Zhou Mi asked. But before he could sigh in exasperation, Zhou Mi had leaned in for a kiss. “Okay. Let’s go. We won’t stay long.”
He was maybe a little uneasy. For his flippant words, he didn’t exactly tromp past where people had died on a daily basis. But if they were going to find things out, then they needed to do it thoroughly. And he had Zhou Mi with him. It could have been worse.
***
It took little time to find where they were going between Kyuhyun’s map-reading skills, and a couple of clarifications on his part. Yes, left meant left, if they were facing one way or the other. He’d only gotten slapped on the head with the map once when pointing that out to Kyuhyun. It was dark, the street lights shining. It would have been pleasant, had they not knew what they were walking towards. But he still stripped off his glove, keeping Kyuhyun’s hand in his. For a few reasons, really. One, because he enjoyed it. But also because it kept Kyuhyun close. He wasn’t sure how bad the danger was, or what they were truly walking into. But going where a crime had already been committed seemed rather benign at best.
“I imagine where they dumped this body is a decent distance away from where they live,” Kyuhyun said, echoing his train of thought. “I don’t imagine you’d litter where you live.”
“That’s what I was thinking, too,” Zhou Mi said, rubbing Kyuhyun’s thumb with his own. “To drink from someone until they die. It’s such a perversion of a blood bond. We provide for each other. This is nothing like that.”
Kyuhyun hummed thoughtfully. “I bet you don’t even want them called vampires.”
“I wish they weren’t. If this got out, really got big, the uproar would be- Bigger than I have seen in my lifetime.”
“We could move to a hut in the woods somewhere, I guess. You know how to hunt?”
He smiled at his feet, knowing what Kyuhyun was trying to do. “I’d figure it out.”
The city in which Eunhyuk lived was smaller, less urban than where they lived. There were no high rises around them, just quiet, dark store fronts and the occasional warehouse. With the streetlights it was not a frightening walk, no holes to trip over or avoid. Just a nice suburban town in the beginning draw of nighttime.
It was behind one of the stores, a fabric shop, that they found their destination. The alley where the man had been found was quiet, and dimly lit, stretching along the backs of several stores. Brick buildings on either side, a faded speed limit sign, pavement pitted with potholes in places. The occasional stain of oil on the ground. They had brought along a flashlight of Eunhyuk’s, and stuck close beside each other. But it didn’t keep Zhou Mi from jumping, shining the light behind each trash can and door entrance as the flashlight threw moving shadows across the alley with each step they took.
“Sad place to be left,” Kyuhyun said softly.
It was. Any sort of crime scene marks were reduced to just faint marks that had been painted, indicating where the body had been. He hoped fervently that the man’s end had not been full of fear, that they had at least made him unconscious before murdering him. He wondered who could do something like that, who would dare. To take someone’s life from them, even to eat. When he thought of Kyuhyun in danger, in fear like that, he wished they had never come to that place.
There wasn’t anything to learn there, but the knowledge of sadness that someone had been killed there. The walls could not tell them what they had come to seek out.
And it sent unease running through him like a current.
“Let’s go,” he said softly.
They made it as far as the end of the alley, nearly back to where the street lights illuminated more fully. The sound of footsteps had his hand tightening on Kyuhyun’s, even as he moved them closer to the wall.
“You two, what are you doing here?”
It was a woman’s voice, and Zhou Mi angled in front of Kyuhyun. She had turned the corner from the street, and he could just make out a badge behind the light she held. The police. He relaxed slightly, and tried to smile.
“We don’t mean any harm. A friend said we should walk this way to-“
“Thrill seekers, wanting to see where someone died? Great.” There was a moment of silence. “You’re a… A vampire? The cloth around your neck.”
He hadn’t hidden it totally, as the sun went down. But he couldn’t deny it. That itself was a punishable offense. “Yes, I am. But I am with my-“
His registered blood bonded mate, was what he was going to say.
His lungs expanded at the flicker of movement, the choking sound beside him.
Kyuhyun’s hand untangling from his.
He could not even reach before his head bounced off of the wall. He felt the pain as he clawed at the brick.
How had he not heard?
The stun against the wall lasted only a second, and he scrabbled free to see a burly arm around Kyuhyun’s neck, and Kyuhyun struggling to get away from it. Choking for air. The punch he threw was almost ineffectual, his arm twisted in the grip of someone stronger than him. He went to his knees, fighting as he had never learned how. It didn’t matter what he had to do. Scratch, bite, kick, tear. Kyuhyun. Kyuhyun. It took the strength of both men to pull Zhou Mi up and pin him against the brick, and he could have screamed with anger. Shouting for help, shouting for them to stop.
Kyuhyun gasped, struggled, and he wanted to bark out an order to let him go, would have if a fist hadn’t met his ribs and driven the air from him.
Who were they? Who- He couldn’t see the woman any more, but it was obvious they were not the police, that much was certain.
His strength surged uselessly, slammed back against the brick when he saw the teeth displayed in the mouth of the man holding Kyuhyun. Taunting Zhou Mi. A vampire. But the man made no move to bite Kyuhyun, covering Kyuhyun’s mouth and nose with a cloth. The struggle, the stiffness in Kyuhyun’s body relaxed, as whatever was on the cloth sent him into unconsciousness. Held against the vampire’s body.
“Please, let him go!” Zhou Mi urged. Demanded. “He is no danger to you. We have a blood bond-“
“We know,” the woman said, stepping into his line of sight. “We can smell it. But we have orders to bring in any dhampyr we find. Come quietly, or we snap his neck here.”
He wanted to do nothing of the sort. He wanted to rip their arms off, take Kyuhyun away. How could he be so useless?
But Zhou Mi showed his acquiescence in the lowering of his head, never taking his eyes from Kyuhyun’s slumped form. He could do nothing right then. But he wouldn’t leave it at that. It was too like the time before. Being snatched, forced from his building to bite Kyuhyun. But his fear wasn’t for himself.
He walked stiffly, arms held in such a way that he could not even begin to break free. Too weak to do what he had to protect the the one man he needed? And he could not even do that. He could do nothing but watch as Kyuhyun was carted over the vampire’s shoulder, carrying him with ease. Clearly not human. But perhaps not vampire either? No one had said anything about vampires having superhuman strength. Unless they were a different kind of vampire.
The idea flushed sick through him, as his hands were tied and eyes were covered, and he was pushed into the back of a van beside Kyuhyun. At least then, Kyuhyun’s hand was in his. They were already blood bound. All that could be done to hurt them, was in hurting Kyuhyun.
There would be no breath left in his body before he saw that happen. He swore it.
***
Author: Coley Merrin
Pairing: Zhou Mi/Kyuhyun
Rating: R
Genre: AU, Vampires, Angst, Fluff
Warnings: Brief violence, angst, sexual situations.
Summary: Research points to a vampire bite being unbreakable, but Kyuhyun can't give up. And with Zhou Mi, he works to undo the blood bond that forced them together.
***
Chapter One * Chapter Two & Three * Chapter Four & Five * Chapter Six & Seven * Chapter Eight & Nine * Chapter Ten * Chapter Eleven * Chapter Twelve * Chapter Thirteen
***
Zhou Mi’s day after Kyuhyun left was busy, to say the least. His phone had rung in the middle of hand embroidering a strawberry, and then he had just been in a flurry of throwing on his protective inner layer and clothes, so he could run out the door. A bookseller, one he used frequently, had located one of the rarer books he’d been inquiring about. Not the ultra-rare ones, the ones he’d have had to have sold body parts to purchase, but one that didn’t see circulation all that often. It rode home with him in his bag, all but burning a hole in it, as he clutched the rail on the subway. The possibility was so slim that it would have information about the blood bond. With Kyuhyun’s kisses still too clear to him, he was possibly more conflicted than ever. But he read it through carefully, reading some passages twice. Barely even standing as he waited for Kyuhyun to get home, so that Zhou Mi could show him.
“I thought you said most of the other books were rare and expensive,” Kyuhyun said, turning the book over in his hands.
“Most of them, yes. This has some damage to the outside, though, and it was one of the less rare ones. So I was able to get it more cheaply.”
Not that money was primary concern. It wasn’t just that the other books didn’t come on the market very often. And between his stipend, and the money he made from sewing, he had some money tucked away. It definitely didn’t beggar him to pick up one book. Though the way Kyuhyun eyed him, it seemed like he expected them to be homeless before the month was out. It probably didn’t help that he wouldn’t accept money from Kyuhyun. Kyuhyun bought most of his own food and miscellaneous supplies, and Zhou Mi didn’t try to fight him on that. But there was no sense in him giving Zhou Mi money for what Zhou Mi already owned, or had for free.
“I didn’t find anything particularly useful. Most of it we’ve seen. But there are historical accounts. Not always pleasant. But it might be something of interest to you.”
“Sure. Thanks.”
He left Kyuhyun to read, knowing the best way to absorb things wasn’t by having someone fluttering around and hovering. Instead he did the very interesting and fascinating, and occasionally frustrating task of gathering ruffles for the edge of an apron that had been ordered to be someone’s gift. Of course the apron had to have ruffles. And custom embroidery. His job never ceased to bring him interesting things and challenges.
The internet made all things easier, in that regard.
Kyuhyun was still reading when he felt his concentration starting to go. He rolled his neck around, and went in to change, throwing his shirt into the hamper with a sigh. Sewing oil all over the hem, which meant he hardly wanted to roll around in bed with it on. He changed in the closet half out of habit, from when Kyuhyun had been getting under his skin. He hadn’t wanted to be caught with an erection at a moment that it really wasn’t appropriate. But he snagged a shirt from the ones that he kept in a stack. It was probably the smallest space in the apartment, and crammed in most of his clothes, and all of Kyuhyun’s work clothes and some shoes. It was nice, at times, to see it. That there was another person there, who didn’t know how to get their clothes on hangers. He straightened one of Kyuhyun’s work shirts, knowing it’d be him with the iron if he didn’t.
“Sleeping soon?” Kyuhyun asked him, just as he was tugging his shirt down fully.
“Pretty soon. Did you find anything interesting in that book?”
“No. It’s pretty much the same as everything else we’ve seen, like you said. But all that stuff in there about the human and vampire testing, in terms of seeing what each could endure. That was pretty gruesome.”
“The name of science,” Zhou Mi mused.
“Sounded like it was better to be a vampire at that point.”
“Just because they can’t cut off a finger doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt to have them try.”
Kyuhyun’s whole body shook, as though he were trying to get the thought out of his head entirely. “Have you ever wished you were human?”
“Who hasn’t wished that they were someone, something else? Maybe some even wish they were me. If I were human, my life would be half over. Old enough that you - that someone your age - wouldn’t even look twice at me.” He cleared his throat a bit uncomfortably, unable to keep it back. The past few days of Kyuhyun being more open only seemed to show him more.. “But it would just be exchanging age for being a vampire. Because it is mostly the same now.”
“That’s not true.”
“The situation between us is a little different,” Zhou Mi said. “It wasn’t as though you had much choice to learn to accept in some way.”
“No,” Kyuhyun corrected him. “I had a choice. I had a lot of choices. Just being here didn’t make me want you. Obviously I learned about you.”
“But you never would have wanted me before, no matter what I looked like.”
“Is it less important to you, because I know you better now, and want you?” Kyuhyun asked, stepping forward. And Zhou Mi could help but take in every nuance of the expression Kyuhyun wore. Frustration and earnestness both. “Because you wouldn’t have wanted me back then, either. Head stuck too far up my own ass to-“
Zhou Mi laughed, finally seeing where Kyuhyun was going. He touched Kyuhyun’s lips, quieting him. “You’re right. We’ve changed together. Though once we were here in my apartment, I wasn’t blind to you.”
Kyuhyun’s tugged his hand down, holding it. “Me either, but we’d kind of lost the option of walking away at that point. It just took us a while.”
“That we’d be attracted is pretty amazing,” Zhou Mi murmured.
Kyuhyun’s fingers raising to play with the short hairs at the back of his neck nearly sent a chill through him.
“At least I don’t kiss you like a tease, when I can’t even stick around and make you pay.”
Ah, that morning. He chuckled, placing light hands at Kyuhyun’s sides. “I guess I can make it up to you.”
“Yeah.”
It wasn’t like they flung themselves at each other. But he savored every moment of it, the way his arms warmed around Kyuhyun’s waist and ribs. The way Kyuhyun’s arm crooked around his neck, hand warm on his shoulder, and then his jaw. There was no tease there, no laughter. Maybe a certain amount of measuring, making sure of each other. But even if there wasn’t there, that didn’t mean there was no joy. Kyuhyun smiled, even as his eyes dipped closed. As his own did, as their destination was reached. Kyuhyun’s breath heavy, lips moist. Pressing into the kiss, humming into Zhou Mi. He almost wished it were dark, in some forest glade. They could sink to the rich earth and worship each other. They had moans, and the harsh light of the overhead bulb, and their knees knocking. The first, ringing taste of Kyuhyun’s mouth, after Kyuhyun had nipped, soothed, his lips. Kyuhyun’s breath and grasping arms, angling their faces to kiss more fully. Not nearly as polite as their previous kisses. But as Kyuhyun laughed against his mouth, he didn’t think they minded.
“Breathing is good,” Kyuhyun said, puffing against his chin.
“It is.”
And to facilitate that, he nuzzled into Kyuhyun’s neck, breathing deeply. Kyuhyun. His Kyuhyun. Who kissed with want and need in him, and held him as though Zhou Mi was cared for. So easy to fall, with the warmth of a man in his arms, the taste of his mouth on his lips.
But only certain steps could be taken. Only certain things could be done.
“I’ll get ready for bed,” Kyuhyun said. “You haven’t eaten yet.”
Not on blood, Zhou Mi thought, letting Kyuhyun go and watching him with heavy eyes as he gathered clothes. But on something else, quite dear as well. It was so soft inside him, the knowledge that Kyuhyun gave just a little inside. That he cared enough to look at Zhou Mi, to apologize, to want. To talk to him about things that weren’t so easy to consider. Maybe a little bit of it was time passing, Kyuhyun giving up just enough on the possibility that the bond could be broken. Maybe just enough to where he could see Zhou Mi as something more than the fetter around his ankle. And ironically, he was okay with that. Because relationships had started with less. It took just those little moments to open someone’s eyes to possibilities. Kyuhyun was trying.
And so was he.
It was almost automatic as Kyuhyun settled in bed, the lights off, and an arm presented to him. Sometimes Kyuhyun spoke to him as he fed, though it was hard to answer with his teeth engaged. Most times he just laughed. That night, it was only the sound of Kyuhyun’s breathing to guide him. He disengaged, soothing the wound softly. Considering his hunger, and making his choice.
The give of Kyuhyun’s skin at the second bite had the buzz of satisfaction ringing through him. But it was Kyuhyun who made a sound, soft, in the back of his throat. Almost imperceptible if Zhou Mi hadn’t been listening. But he was. Looking to Kyuhyun’s face didn’t yield any clues, because it was still. Almost too still. But his eyes darted at a slight movement. Kyuhyun’s opposite hand, on his own hip. Fingers twitching, flexing. As if they wanted to move, touch. He could have stared holes through the sheet, wondering. It wasn’t the first sound that Kyuhyun had made during feeding, not the first movement. But Kyuhyun’s knees were raising. Trying to hide his arousal? It once would have thrilled him, but made him almost fear instead.
Zhou Mi slowly let go, licking at Kyuhyun’s skin. “Did I hurt you?”
It took a moment for Kyuhyun to respond, eyes sliding open and slowly focusing on Zhou Mi. “What?”
That question was so throaty. Fathomless, almost, from between lips that hadn’t closed. Had Kyuhyun been so deep in some fantasy that it took him that long to come out of it? He hated that even for a moment that he wondered if he was taking advantage, that what his bite did to Kyuhyun wasn’t normal. It was utterly normal. A vampire bite couldn’t make someone want sex any more than a massage could. If there wasn’t any want? It wasn’t like it was inherently a turn-on. Unless Kyuhyun was thinking of something that turned him on while Zhou Mi was feeding. Which clearly didn’t have to be anything related to Zhou Mi at all.
But what if it was?
Zhou Mi smiled at the dozy Kyuhyun, and got another soft sound, as his lips pressed to Kyuhyun’s palm. Letting his tongue trace the ridges of that skin, ridges he had long memorized with his eyes. And Kyuhyun’s fingers, almost as though by reflex, curled against Zhou Mi’s face.
He reached for Kyuhyun’s hand, the one that was still restless across Kyuhyun’s hip. And dragged it toward himself. Kyuhyun’s hips shifted violently, and even if Zhou Mi’s hand was over his, it was obvious their hands curved over an erection. Kyuhyun’s.
“You never said anything,” Zhou Mi whispered.
“It happens,” Kyuhyun said, the blank stillness back on his face. “You should know that.”
It was Kyuhyun who slid his hand from under Zhou Mi’s, who pressed Zhou Mi’s hand in a solid drag along the warm line of Kyuhyun’s arousal.
Kyuhyun seemed to swallow hard. “I don’t think you have to ask if that’s for you.”
“Do you want-“
Zhou Mi’s mind went a hundred ways. To touch Kyuhyun, over cloth, under. With his mouth. Skin to skin. Belly to belly, writhing. He drew back his hand only for a moment, making his choice. His hand slid up Kyuhyun’s shirt, petting the soft skin there, before edging under the elastic of Kyuhyun’s pajama pants.
He had little more than saliva to wet his hand, but he tried. Not able to see beneath the cloth, but liking what he felt immensely. The rigid strength of Kyuhyun’s arousal. Growing harder even with the friction of Zhou Mi’s hand, Kyuhyun’s hips lifting to meet his strokes. And more sounds, Kyuhyun’s hand clenching tight on Zhou Mi’s shoulder as he moaned a short warning. As though Zhou Mi would have stopped. The satisfaction of wetting his hand with Kyuhyun’s ejaculate, to urge all of it from him that he could.
He was nearly breathing as hard as Kyuhyun, the scent of sex cloying in the air. It seemed Kyuhyun had wanted, and quite a lot. But the smell of it was driving him insane. What did he lose by trying?
To flip back the sheet and curl over Kyuhyun’s body. The bare, almost quivering skin of Kyuhyun’s stomach was so warm and alive to him. Even as his tongue met it, wet and hungry. Cleaning some the mess that he had helped Kyuhyun to make. Maybe it wasn’t blood, but it was unique. It was Kyuhyun. He inhaled deeply, moving further. Licking it from his fingers, from Kyuhyun’s skin. He thought Kyuhyun was going to stop him, until he realized that the shaky hand to the back of his neck was not there as a deterrent. Maybe as an anchor. It was a whimper, as Zhou Mi took him in hand, ever so gently licking. He dared not go to far, do too much, when Kyuhyun was still sensitive. If he had his wish, his dream, Kyuhyun wouldn’t be frightened by what his teeth could do, and let him take Kyuhyun fully into his mouth. To feel Kyuhyun’s orgasm between his lips. To taste it, drink it. No, not with his teeth, but every other sense.
He would have been content to lay there for some time, against Kyuhyun’s damp skin. Tracing the faint line of hair up to Kyuhyun’s belly button with a fingertip, ringing it. He felt drunk on what he had done, that Kyuhyun had let him. That Kyuhyun’s hand still rested heavy on the back of his neck. And he could feel Kyuhyun’s heartbeat begin its slow, steady beat. If his lips curved in satisfaction, so be it.
He forced himself to move, dragging the covers back up over them and slumping back with a sigh. The pillow welcomed him, and the warmth was almost overwhelming as Kyuhyun rolled against him. And there was only thin cloth between Kyuhyun’s hand, and his own arousal.
“You never said anything about this,” Kyuhyun breathed, teasing him with his own words.
But how could he help it? How could he not be aroused, when Kyuhyun’s scent and taste encompassed him, and his warmth. His head arched back into the pillow as Kyuhyun stroked him, at first through the cloth and then skin to skin. The dry friction was kind of nice, in that it kept him from going off like the world’s most trigger-happy rocket. His fingers gripped the sheets as though they would help him survive, with Kyuhyun breathing against his shoulder. He shuddered, inhaled. Could have arched into that touch forever, but it wasn’t to be. His face turned to Kyuhyun, that scent overwhelming him.
“Kyuhyun,” he gasped, and lost himself to the glory of it. Imagining Kyuhyun’s face above him, below him. Even as his eyes focused again, on the face not far away, beside his. He dried Kyuhyun’s hand with his shirt, and turned to him. In the shadows, only able to see so much. But it was enough. The slight shine of Kyuhyun’s eyes, the parted mouth. He wanted a kiss. Needed it. But they were both tired, and the kiss was little more than a briefing meeting. It still warmed him through. And when he craved another, he curved his arm over Kyuhyun’s waist instead.
“Thank you,” he murmured, stroking Kyuhyun’s lower back.
Kyuhyun merely sighed, and relaxed. Falling into sleep before Zhou Mi could. But it gave him time to admire, and to wonder. What exactly had they done, and would they do it again?
***
The first thing that Kyuhyun realized when he woke was that he was very warm. And the next thing, was that his butt was bare. His eyes opened, considering the more-distant-than-usual wall. All signs pointed to a sleepy man draped over him. He was pretty sure that was Zhou Mi’s leg using his thigh as pillow. And that was definitely an arm squeezed over his ribs, and a mouth puffing wetly at the back of his neck. Also, related to his naked butt. With slight movement, he could feel where his waistband had slipped during the night. No doing on Zhou Mi’s part, just the normal movement. He remembered swapping positions a few times during the night, and vaguely recalled considering pulling up his pants, but at that point he’d been too busy trying to glom onto Zhou Mi’s back and pass out again.
The raucous tones of his alarm screamed out, and he felt Zhou Mi jerk awake, laughing into the pillow.
“You need a nicer alarm,” Zhou Mi complained.
“Why would I want to get up if I had that?” Kyuhyun asked. And he lost track of thinking he had to get to his phone to turn off the alarm, when he realized Zhou Mi’s mouth was making a path of kisses from the back of his neck going forward. Nudging up under his jaw and he arched almost involuntarily into it. Teeth or no teeth, he wanted Zhou Mi to continue.
“Good morning,” Zhou Mi told him.
“Do you think if I don’t go into work today that anyone would care?”
Zhou Mi chuckled. “I think someone would care and notice. Why? Do you feel okay?”
The concern wiggled warm through him. “I feel fine. But it’s warm here.”
And Zhou Mi’s hand was warm when he covered it with his, a clue to what he was actually talking about.
“Oh. Kyuhyun. It’ll still be warm and here tonight,” Zhou Mi said.
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
And Zhou Mi seemed keen to prove it, turning Kyuhyun’s face and kissing him. And that hand on his jaw had him turning, firm, and guiding him with a little jostling as Zhou Mi stood, until Kyuhyun was sitting up on the edge of the bed.
“There,” Zhou Mi said, pulling his mouth away. “Your feet are even on the floor. Now you have to get up.”
“Clever, aren’t you?” he muttered, and almost forgot he had to pull up the back of pants up as he stood. Though Zhou Mi’s eyes flickered down, curious and interested at that movement.
“Someone forgot to dress me last night.” And he paused from where he’d been marching away, still pleased at Zhou Mi’s reaction to his almost-undress. “I suppose my pants’ll be like that tonight, too, huh?”
He just missed getting hit in the head by a flying sock as he darted toward the bathroom.
Still, he’d managed to get out the front door totally dressed, and no semblance of pantsless-ness about him. Even if he had thought about dragging Zhou Mi’s pajamas down, just to see what kind of reaction he’d get. He’d seen that butt and legs in just underwear before, but that had been a while ago, for one thing. And doing so probably wouldn’t have gotten him out the door when he needed to be. Still grinning and kissing Zhou Mi goodbye, a little gratuitous chewing on that generous bottom lip, hadn’t been too bad as a consolation prize. As he made it onto his train, he thought maybe they could go to bed a little earlier, see where the feeding took them. So not fair that Zhou Mi kissed nice, as well as being hot to touch. Though, there was some hesitation and learning. On both their parts. Didn’t make it less of a turn-on, though.
And it turned out he could even get work done without distracting himself too many times with just how good Zhou Mi’s tongue had felt on his stomach. Or that hand jerking him off, or moaning Kyuhyun’s name. Okay, maybe the last one hadn’t been actual sensation, but it still got him pretty stirred up even half a day later. Zhou Mi and his stupid voice, and his stupid hands, and stupid body. Replacing stupid with “ridiculously attractive” and “completely unfair.” Congratulations, he’d found a man who barely had to breathe to get his pants too tight. It was impossible to shove all that want down again.
And yeah, he was a little happy about that. What they were doing felt natural. No one could’ve told them they were rushing after ignoring any attraction for months. There was a man in his apartment who wanted Kyuhyun, against all odds it seemed. Keeping his smile to a below-stupid level took some doing on his part.
His phone buzzed from its turtle-shaped holder. Incoming call. Zhou Mi. Barely two in the afternoon, and Zhou Mi usually texted when he needed something.
“Hey, what’s up?” he answered, waiting for Zhou Mi to tell him why he was calling.
“I’m sorry to call you at work like this, but-“ Even Kyuhyun, who knew he could be slightly less than perceptive at times, could hear the tone of worry in that voice. “Eunhyuk called me. He thinks something’s up there. That vampire researcher with the blog has gone missing, and a person was just found dead. Bite wounds. If we have a chance at checking this out, I think this is our best shot. But you don’t have to go. With work, and everything. I can-“
“Hold on. Hang on a second.” It was Wednesday afternoon. No big meetings the next couple of days, and what there was, Ryeowook could handle. All his accounts were pretty well taken care of. “No. I want to go with you. Let me clear this with my boss, make sure I can take the next couple of days off. I’ll call you if I run into a snag, otherwise I’ll be home as soon as I can get a train. Uh- you can pack my underwear and stuff, if you want? I can throw in shirts or whatever.”
He hung up before he could get an answer, first running things past Ryeowook and his increasingly concerned eyes, before darkening his boss’s door. Kyuhyun considered himself a good employee. He didn’t slack off, take unexpected time off very often. But this wasn’t something that could be rescheduled. If there were vampires different than Zhou Mi in existence, they couldn’t just be asked to wait until Zhou Mi could get there to ask questions.
But he got his agreement, and good luck. Even hugging Ryeowook on the way out to reassure him. The entirety of the five subway stops he had to endure, he spent standing, probably annoying everyone near him with his toe tapping. He was definitely red-faced and out of breath by the time he’d sprinted up the stairs to their apartment, stripping off his jacket and tie, and finding Zhou Mi dressed, with the hood of the special sun-filtering cloth still hanging around his neck.
“Hey,” Zhou Mi said, eyes bright with fervor. “I went ahead and chose some shirts for you, and pants. There is underwear, and socks in there, and your things from the bathroom. I packed your computer bag, and it has your cell phone charger and laptop things. Also, some snacks, in case we don’t find something. If you-“
“Hey,” he interrupted, shirt half off as he cupped Zhou Mi’s neck. “Breathe. You did good. Just let me change, and we can get out of here.”
He kissed Zhou Mi because he wanted to, and also because it seemed like the right thing to do. His jeans and shirt went on quickly, making a quick sweep to make sure he didn’t need anything else. And the apartment locked behind them, him with his laptop carrier, and Zhou Mi with the bag that held their clothes. He didn’t know when they’d seen it next, but he hoped they’d know more when they did.
***
It was obvious from the reaction of the ticketing agent that they didn’t get many vampires on their trains. There was some whispering in the back, as they probably checked whether it was legal or not, but they had two tickets out of the city before too long. Fifteen minutes before the next train left. They made their way to the platform, and he leaned into Zhou Mi’s arm. Under the cloth, Zhou Mi’s face was tight. He figured they could relax a little more on the train. Less than two hours to where Eunhyuk lived, but it was long enough.
He could almost hear Zhou Mi’s thoughts. What if they went all that way, and missed finding the vampires? Or didn’t find out anything?
They found seats in a corner so the sun wouldn’t be of much offense to either of them, and got their bag settled. His laptop on the floor between their feet. Waiting and watching as people got settled, and urging the train to start moving them toward their destination. He got his arm inside of Zhou Mi’s, sliding it up so that he could squeeze first Zhou Mi’s wrist and then his hand. Or his hand encased in soft leather gloves, in any case.
“We find out what we find out,” he told Zhou Mi. It was strange, that twinge inside. They were on the train because of him, not because of Zhou Mi. Zhou Mi was researching it for Kyuhyun’s benefit. They’d only barely begun to talk and explore about what they wanted from their future, one way or the other. He could have stopped them, told Zhou Mi he wanted to stop looking for a while. Figure out what they wanted from each other, first. But they’d come too far to turn back. He figured as long as Zhou Mi knew that whatever they found out wasn’t an ultimatum or a death sentence, then they were good. And in truth, it was curiosity fueling him. Was there a different kind of vampire? There could be people’s lives at stake. People were dying. And maybe they couldn’t do anything about it, but they’d never know otherwise.
From Zhou Mi, he got a smile, and a squeeze back, and knew he was one of the lucky ones. And to pass the time, he alternately watched the scenery go by, and dozed against Zhou Mi’s shoulder.
***
Kyuhyun wasn’t sure what to expect from Zhou Mi’s friend. But the curious eyed man - vampire - who opened the door was far off from his mental images. Not nearly as tall as Zhou Mi, but as slender, Eunhyuk made a sound of relief, and height or not, all but engulfed Zhou Mi in a one-armed hug.
“I wasn’t sure you’d come,” Kyuhyun heard from the vicinity of Zhou Mi’s shoulder.
“You needed someone here, and we might be able to find things out, too,” Zhou Mi said. And after a few minutes, Eunhyuk pushed back, and again, there was that curiosity Zhou Mi got an arm around Kyuhyun’s back, dragging him closer. “This is my- This is Kyuhyun. Kyuhyun, this is Eunhyuk.”
“Nice to meet you finally,” Eunhyuk said. Some reserve there that Kyuhyun wasn’t sure of. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Mixed good and bad I’m sure,” Kyuhyun said, not daring to look at Zhou Mi. “Nice meeting you, too. Though. I wish it was under better circumstances.”
Eunhyuk ignored his words, motioning to Zhou Mi. “Bring in your bags. We have a little while until the liaison from the police agreed to meet us.”
“We don’t usually get police help,” Zhou Mi mentioned, closing the door behind himself once their clothes bag was inside.
“Here, either, but Daniel was able to forge some tenuous bonds there. It’s been a lot of help since he went missing.”
Daniel, the researcher with the blog. Even if the man’s writing hadn’t been of much use, it had still be interesting. Someone who dealt with vampires on a close basis. Kyuhyun had really only had one to base his own ideas off of. And Zhou Mi was frowning.
“Last night?” Kyuhyun asked, having heard the full story from Zhou Mi.
Again, those cautious eyes. “Yes, that’s right. If he was taken to be eaten, then it’s probably a matter of looking for his- His body.”
Zhou Mi shook his head. “We don’t know that yet.”
But Eunhyuk was clearly not interested in platitudes. After a moment of discomfort on his part, as Zhou Mi all but leaned into him, Eunhyuk got them all tea, having them sit in the small apartment. It was different than Zhou Mi’s, obviously. Different colors, different pictures on the wall. Definitely a bigger TV. But still comfortable. Eunhyuk settled across from them.
“We saw each other last, what…Two years ago?” Eunhyuk mused. “I go into the city every so often, but Zhou Mi doesn’t like to leave it.”
Kyuhyun sent an amused look at Zhou Mi, who had actually taken the train ride better than Kyuhyun had expected. “Now he knows he can.”
“I didn’t leave the city alone,” Zhou Mi said wryly.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Maybe you need to sit in my lap on the way back.”
He lifted himself, scooting over as though he was about to slide onto Zhou Mi’s legs, and got a bark of laughter, Zhou Mi pulling him back down beside him.
“Things have changed between you,” Eunhyuk said, glancing between them.
And Kyuhyun realized that Eunhyuk could not know what had transpired the last few days. He doubted Zhou Mi called him after each kiss and touch, or he would’ve been rather disgruntled to learn of it. All Eunhyuk knew of Kyuhyun was that he was eager to break the bond with Zhou Mi. And possibly knowing Zhou Mi’s feelings on the matter of the bond, and about Kyuhyun himself. More even than Kyuhyun knew. He discovered he didn’t like that at all.
“Anyone less patient or optimistic would’ve just locked me in the bathroom and been done with it,” Kyuhyun answered. Zhou Mi made some kind of sound of denial, and he settled firmly against Zhou Mi’s side.
“I’m glad things got better for you,” Eunhyuk said. And some of that appraisal was gone. Perhaps he’d won some kind of points with Zhou Mi’s friend on the basis of Zhou Mi’s reaction.
Zhou Mi smiled between them. “Don’t worry, Eunhyuk wasn’t telling me to lock you in the bathroom.”
“No, but you were telling me that Kyuhyun was easy on the eyes.”
Kyuhyun could almost feel Zhou Mi gathering steam beside him, and he couldn’t take his eyes off that face. Trying to to get embarrassed, probably. But like that was any kind of a surprise to Kyuhyun?
“He asked me what you looked like,” Zhou Mi exclaimed. “It’s not like I could tell him no.”
“It was relevant information, that’s all.” Eunhyuk’s eyebrows waggled, teasing Zhou Mi. “Not like I could go and look myself.”
“A picture is quicker,” Kyuhyun said, and Zhou Mi leaned into him.
And he couldn’t help the proprietary hand he slapped on Zhou Mi’s thigh, probably any more than Zhou Mi could help the hand that covered his. Now it was normal, to have Zhou Mi against him. As normal as a long fingered hand over his, a thigh against his, could be. He knew if he looked, Zhou Mi would be smiling. Normal, he repeated in his head. Normal, his life. With vampires. With Zhou Mi. Probably forever.
“How long did you say until the police would be?” Zhou Mi asked, checking the clock.
“Another hour,” Eunhyuk said, looking at his watch. “They’re supposed to meet us here. I think they want us to look at the places Daniel marked as possible places for the vampires to be. Since he’s been missing less than a day, they aren’t very worked up, but I know something is wrong.”
Zhou Mi was quiet a moment, considering, and Kyuhyun wondered what was going on behind those flickering eyes.
“I want to go see where they found the person who died,” Zhou Mi said finally, looking at Kyuhyun. “Maybe we can get there and back before they police get here.”
Eunhyuk agreed. “I can get you a map. I’ll stay here, in case you’re a little late. It’s not far, though.”
“At least they didn’t think you did it?” Zhou Mi offered.
It was a sad smile on Eunhyuk’s face. “Not much, anyway.”
While the map was printing, Zhou Mi gripped Kyuhyun’s hand.
“You should stay here.”
“No way,” he protested. “We had this conversation before. Look, and it’s not like you’re charging into some lair, just going to look at a crime scene. I think I can handle it.”
And when Zhou Mi didn’t seem convinced, he sighed. “Look, it’ll be okay. I’ll stay close to you, and we’ll get out of there if it’s weird. I came this far with you. You can’t keep me in a glass case.”
“Why can’t I?” Zhou Mi asked. But before he could sigh in exasperation, Zhou Mi had leaned in for a kiss. “Okay. Let’s go. We won’t stay long.”
He was maybe a little uneasy. For his flippant words, he didn’t exactly tromp past where people had died on a daily basis. But if they were going to find things out, then they needed to do it thoroughly. And he had Zhou Mi with him. It could have been worse.
***
It took little time to find where they were going between Kyuhyun’s map-reading skills, and a couple of clarifications on his part. Yes, left meant left, if they were facing one way or the other. He’d only gotten slapped on the head with the map once when pointing that out to Kyuhyun. It was dark, the street lights shining. It would have been pleasant, had they not knew what they were walking towards. But he still stripped off his glove, keeping Kyuhyun’s hand in his. For a few reasons, really. One, because he enjoyed it. But also because it kept Kyuhyun close. He wasn’t sure how bad the danger was, or what they were truly walking into. But going where a crime had already been committed seemed rather benign at best.
“I imagine where they dumped this body is a decent distance away from where they live,” Kyuhyun said, echoing his train of thought. “I don’t imagine you’d litter where you live.”
“That’s what I was thinking, too,” Zhou Mi said, rubbing Kyuhyun’s thumb with his own. “To drink from someone until they die. It’s such a perversion of a blood bond. We provide for each other. This is nothing like that.”
Kyuhyun hummed thoughtfully. “I bet you don’t even want them called vampires.”
“I wish they weren’t. If this got out, really got big, the uproar would be- Bigger than I have seen in my lifetime.”
“We could move to a hut in the woods somewhere, I guess. You know how to hunt?”
He smiled at his feet, knowing what Kyuhyun was trying to do. “I’d figure it out.”
The city in which Eunhyuk lived was smaller, less urban than where they lived. There were no high rises around them, just quiet, dark store fronts and the occasional warehouse. With the streetlights it was not a frightening walk, no holes to trip over or avoid. Just a nice suburban town in the beginning draw of nighttime.
It was behind one of the stores, a fabric shop, that they found their destination. The alley where the man had been found was quiet, and dimly lit, stretching along the backs of several stores. Brick buildings on either side, a faded speed limit sign, pavement pitted with potholes in places. The occasional stain of oil on the ground. They had brought along a flashlight of Eunhyuk’s, and stuck close beside each other. But it didn’t keep Zhou Mi from jumping, shining the light behind each trash can and door entrance as the flashlight threw moving shadows across the alley with each step they took.
“Sad place to be left,” Kyuhyun said softly.
It was. Any sort of crime scene marks were reduced to just faint marks that had been painted, indicating where the body had been. He hoped fervently that the man’s end had not been full of fear, that they had at least made him unconscious before murdering him. He wondered who could do something like that, who would dare. To take someone’s life from them, even to eat. When he thought of Kyuhyun in danger, in fear like that, he wished they had never come to that place.
There wasn’t anything to learn there, but the knowledge of sadness that someone had been killed there. The walls could not tell them what they had come to seek out.
And it sent unease running through him like a current.
“Let’s go,” he said softly.
They made it as far as the end of the alley, nearly back to where the street lights illuminated more fully. The sound of footsteps had his hand tightening on Kyuhyun’s, even as he moved them closer to the wall.
“You two, what are you doing here?”
It was a woman’s voice, and Zhou Mi angled in front of Kyuhyun. She had turned the corner from the street, and he could just make out a badge behind the light she held. The police. He relaxed slightly, and tried to smile.
“We don’t mean any harm. A friend said we should walk this way to-“
“Thrill seekers, wanting to see where someone died? Great.” There was a moment of silence. “You’re a… A vampire? The cloth around your neck.”
He hadn’t hidden it totally, as the sun went down. But he couldn’t deny it. That itself was a punishable offense. “Yes, I am. But I am with my-“
His registered blood bonded mate, was what he was going to say.
His lungs expanded at the flicker of movement, the choking sound beside him.
Kyuhyun’s hand untangling from his.
He could not even reach before his head bounced off of the wall. He felt the pain as he clawed at the brick.
How had he not heard?
The stun against the wall lasted only a second, and he scrabbled free to see a burly arm around Kyuhyun’s neck, and Kyuhyun struggling to get away from it. Choking for air. The punch he threw was almost ineffectual, his arm twisted in the grip of someone stronger than him. He went to his knees, fighting as he had never learned how. It didn’t matter what he had to do. Scratch, bite, kick, tear. Kyuhyun. Kyuhyun. It took the strength of both men to pull Zhou Mi up and pin him against the brick, and he could have screamed with anger. Shouting for help, shouting for them to stop.
Kyuhyun gasped, struggled, and he wanted to bark out an order to let him go, would have if a fist hadn’t met his ribs and driven the air from him.
Who were they? Who- He couldn’t see the woman any more, but it was obvious they were not the police, that much was certain.
His strength surged uselessly, slammed back against the brick when he saw the teeth displayed in the mouth of the man holding Kyuhyun. Taunting Zhou Mi. A vampire. But the man made no move to bite Kyuhyun, covering Kyuhyun’s mouth and nose with a cloth. The struggle, the stiffness in Kyuhyun’s body relaxed, as whatever was on the cloth sent him into unconsciousness. Held against the vampire’s body.
“Please, let him go!” Zhou Mi urged. Demanded. “He is no danger to you. We have a blood bond-“
“We know,” the woman said, stepping into his line of sight. “We can smell it. But we have orders to bring in any dhampyr we find. Come quietly, or we snap his neck here.”
He wanted to do nothing of the sort. He wanted to rip their arms off, take Kyuhyun away. How could he be so useless?
But Zhou Mi showed his acquiescence in the lowering of his head, never taking his eyes from Kyuhyun’s slumped form. He could do nothing right then. But he wouldn’t leave it at that. It was too like the time before. Being snatched, forced from his building to bite Kyuhyun. But his fear wasn’t for himself.
He walked stiffly, arms held in such a way that he could not even begin to break free. Too weak to do what he had to protect the the one man he needed? And he could not even do that. He could do nothing but watch as Kyuhyun was carted over the vampire’s shoulder, carrying him with ease. Clearly not human. But perhaps not vampire either? No one had said anything about vampires having superhuman strength. Unless they were a different kind of vampire.
The idea flushed sick through him, as his hands were tied and eyes were covered, and he was pushed into the back of a van beside Kyuhyun. At least then, Kyuhyun’s hand was in his. They were already blood bound. All that could be done to hurt them, was in hurting Kyuhyun.
There would be no breath left in his body before he saw that happen. He swore it.
***