Cast A Shadow Over Me (iii)
“We are patrolling together tonight,” Baekhyun announces. Joonmyun is only buttoning up his shirt when the younger barges into his room. Tonight too, he wears longsleeves. The cold night air never fails to be his enemy, even in summer nights.
Joonmyun opens his mouth to protest, but the hard look on the young vampire’s face makes him closes his mouth back. He is in no place to argue with Baekhyun with his face like that.
“Fine by me,” he says, shrugging. He pulls a jumper from the stack of fresh clothes Baekhyun ironed for him and puts it on. Joonmyun really hates being cold, and it is the very disadvantage of being a vampire.
“So you’re finally cooperating,” Baekhyun sighs. He shoves his hands to his jeans pockets. “It’s about time you go past that thick skull of your head.” He seems to be chewing something. Bubblegum, must be strawberry. Joonmyun could smell the sweetness from across the room.
He turns slightly, lips turning up into a small smile. “Have I always been that difficult?” He asks, because he needs to make sure. He needs to be sure of himself.
“You have no idea,” Baekhyun rolls his eyes playfully. He couldn’t hold back his grin for long. He pads across the room and casually hooks an arm around Joonmyun’s. “Stop looking like a kicked puppy, it doesn’t look good on you.” He reaches out and tucks Joonmyun’s hair behind his ear. It looks much better now.
“Baekhyun, you realize that this is my daily look.” Joonmyun sends him a warning glare. It doesn’t really work.
“Let’s go,” Baekhyun says, ignoring the comment.
Joonmyun pushes back his hair. He bites on his lower lip briefly, enough to let out a good amount of frustration from within. He doesn’t why he is doing this. Maybe he wants to make Baekhyun happy, wants to make Kris feels assured. When Baekhyun tugs him to move, he obliges without a complaint.
Somehow, he has a bad feeling.
Baekhyun directs them to the area of Hongdae. If Joonmyun doesn’t know him better, he would think that Baekhyun is bringing him out on a date. But Joonmyun has known Baekhyun for ten years, and he knows that Baekhyun just wants to go somewhere familiar and safe for him. Hongdae was the place where they first met ten years ago.
As they stroll through the streets, Joonmyun recalls each scene of their meeting. Baekhyun was drunk, too drunk to even walk properly. Joonmyun wanted to feed from him, but felt too guilty for his drunken soul. When he walked away, someone snatched Baekhyun’s body away into the shadows and he immediately knew that it’s a vampire. One that wasn’t supposed to be in his territory. He was angry and furious; one, because the vampire was trespassing, and two, because he was taking his supposedly dinner.
He could still hear Baekhyun’s soft sobs and whimpers under the vampire’s merciless fangs. He was almost drained by the time Joonmyun managed to usher the vampire out of his territory. Baekhyun was on his knees, begging for mercy, and Joonmyun gave him immortality. He doesn’t know, up until know, if it’s the perfect option or not.
“This was where we first met,” Baekhyun says softly. His eyes are staring into a dark corner. Joonmyun can’t help but smile, they are apparently thinking about the same line.
“Not the sweetest thing to remember, isn’t it?” Joonmyun scoots closer until their shoulders bump into each other. Baekhyun slightly relaxes at the contact. He hums into the tone of his favorite childhood song. It is a habit he picks up to hold back his cry, Joonmyun learned the first year Baekhyun lived with him. It is a smart move.
Baekhyun shakes his head. “No, but I have no regrets being turned.” When his eyes meet Joonmyun’s, they are full of pride and determination. Joonmyun has to resist his fingers to reach up and feel the face.
“It’s clear here. Let’s go.” Joonmyun jerks his head, gesturing to another direction to patrol about.
Baekhyun nods. He takes Joonmyun’s hand in his and prepares himself to drive them over to another part of the city. He is about to jump off when his eyes catch shadow moving at the corner.
“Wait.” Baekhyun squints his eyes, releasing his grip on Joonmyun’s hand. “I think I saw something.”
Joonmyun raises an eyebrow. He turns to look at the direction Baekhyun is staring at. He sees nothing, but Baekhyun seems to be so confident in this. Joonmyun takes a sniff, trying out a different sense to scan the area, and, damn, he knows the smell very well. “Fuck,” he softly curses. Baekhyun appears to catch that.
“What?”
Joonmyun shakes his head. “It’s nothing. Let’s go.” He tugs on Baekhyun’s arm, but the younger is resisting.
“Hyung, I’m sure about this one. Don’t you trust me?” Baekhyun asks, and Joonmyun finds himself unable to answer. It has always been difficult to argue with Baekhyun lately. Baekhyun sends him a look before he turns back to the suspicious spot.
“I trust you. That’s why we should go.” Joonmyun says in a rush, and Baekhyun ignores him. He shouldn’t be surprised.
“Whoever you are, show up your face!” Baekhyun shouts in the direction of the shadows.
Joonmyun grabs his arm. He looks alarmed. “Baekhyun,” he hisses.
Then from the shadow, comes out a familiar figure of the owner black tousled hair and plump lips. The scent of chocolate milk immediately fills the whole area. Joonmyun bites on his lower lip to hold himself from groaning. He doesn’t know who is more stupid; Baekhyun, Jongin, or even himself.
“Hunter!” Baekhyun gasps. He takes a few steps back naturally, but Joonmyun holds his ground. Baekhyun retracts his fangs, and his eyes flicker red. He crouches down, readying himself to strangle Jongin down and rip his throat out. When he is about to jump, however, Joonmyun holds on his arm firmly.
“Don’t,” Joonmyun says warningly. His eyes don’t leave Jongin, even for a second. The Hunter is staring right back at him. Joonmyun shakes his head, breaking off the contact. “Let’s just go.”
“Hyung, it’s the Hunter,” Baekhyun insists. He gives Joonmyun a disbelieving look.
“I know. That’s why we have to go.”
Baekhyun shakes his head. “We have to kill him. Two against one, we outnumber him. It is the best chance.”
“No!” Joonmyun snaps out, his patience wearing thin. Baekhyun looks taken aback by the sudden outburst. Joonmyun quickly takes his hand to calm him down. “Sorry. We just need to go. Please.”
Baekhyun purses up his lips. The last syllable has throws him off guard. It’s not often that Joonmyun asks with that particular word. “Fine. But you owe me an explanation.”
“Yes. Anything,” Joonmyun says desperately.
Baekhyun throws a dirty look towards the Hunter before he tugs Joonmyun out of the place.
☆
“You were defending the Hunter.”
Joonmyun doesn’t dare to look up from his cup of Darjeeling. It could have been Earl Grey, but Joonmyun prefers Darjeeling to escape from stress. Baekhyun is sitting cross-legged in front of him. The daggers of glares he is sending to Joonmyun is accusing, but Joonmyun is too tired to deal with that.
“I didn’t. I was saving us,” he says quietly.
“How?”
And Joonmyun couldn’t answer.
Perhaps he was only saving his dignity.
“Answer me,” Baekhyun demands. He sounds desperate, almost as desperate as Joonmyun a while ago. Joonmyun knows that Baekhyun is asking for the truth, asking Joonmyun to trust him in this matter. Baekhyun needs to know where he is standing. He needs to know that Joonmyun hasn’t excluded him from this.
But Joonmyun couldn’t give him that. Joonmyun is too selfish to want the Hunter all to himself. He doesn’t want anyone to interfere. This is a thing that should be solved only by the two of them, without any third parties.
Joonmyun has closed everyone off from this, including Baekhyun.
“Hyung, I need to know if -“
“No,” he cuts him off. “This is nothing of your business, Baekhyun. Leave this to my hands. I can take care of myself.” Joonmyun slowly lifts his chin up. He meets Baekhyun’s eyes, but he couldn’t quite read what’s in them. Disappointment. Anger. Sadness. It’s all too mixed up.
“Hyung,” Baekhyun says softly. “I just want to help, you know? You don’t need to shut me off from your world.”
Joonmyun feels like throwing up hearing those words, only that he doesn’t have anything in his stomach to be thrown up. He gulps, feeling entirely guilty. His eyes are averted to the floor. He is unable to meet Baekhyun’s eyes anymore.
“Go to sleep, Baekhyun-ah. We have works to do tomorrow,” he says lastly.
Baekhyun shakes his head. He stands up and turns to leave Joonmyun in his bedroom. His shoulders are sagged down when he exits the room.
Joonmyun throws himself to the bed. Closing his eyes, he only could think of one thing:
That he has successfully screwed everything up.
☆
It is a wonder that his boss hasn’t cut him off from the job, despite his frequent excuse of not attending his shifts. Today he is doing his cashier work like usual, preparing welcoming smiles and warm tones for people. His co-worker for this shift is being nice, she probably missed him from disappearing from the bookstore.
He is actually proud to have the cashier job back, instead of having to stacking up books. It is easier and pays much better. He has been meaning to save up some money to payback the jeans Baekhyun has given him for his birthday. He is thinking of getting the younger a collection of CDs, seeing how he likes music so much.
He is writing down notes on the previous customer’s bill when the next customer in line steps up to his front. This might be impolite, but the previous customer was buying too many discounted books that Joonmyun has to manually write down each of them. When he looks up, it’s a familiar pair of eyes he is meeting with.
“Welcome to Aladdin Bookstore.”
Jongin doesn’t say anything, instead he hands a novel to Joonmyun. The latter professionally takes the novel and scans the barcode as he is trained to.
“That would be 5000 won,” he announces as he picks a paper bag to wrap it with. “Is there anything else?”
Jongin pulls out the exact amount of the price he has to pay. “When will your shift end?”
The question is not even on his list of possible things Jongin would say to him. His co-worker next to him sends him curious glances. Joonmyun sends her a quick, reassuring smile. She raises an eyebrow, but doesn’t press anything. Joonmyun returns to face the younger. “In an hour, I believe. Why?”
“Let’s hang out,” says Jongin. Joonmyun thinks he is mishearing things. “Do you fancy coffee?”
“Are you asking me out?”
Jongin’s cheeks flush red, “Perhaps.”
Joonmyun contemplates the situation. He is sure that Jongin has gun pointed at his head two days ago, and now he is asking him out for a date. The God in heaven must be laughing at his life right now.
“Will you be able to wait for an hour?”
“Yes.” The answer comes right after Joonmyun finishes his question. Determination is dancing in Jongin’s eyes.
“Okay. I will find you later.” Joonmyun waves his hand in attempt to usher Jongin out.
“See you.” Jongin sends him a sly smirk before disappearing.
☆
They find themselves in the nearest Starbucks to Joonmyun’s workplace. Jongin has a Caramel Macchiato in his hand while Joonmyun has his usual latte. The corner they are choosing is secluded enough. No one will realize that they are there unless they are really looking.
Joonmyun is still wondering what is the other on. He was almost sure that Jongin was going to kill him there, but he couldn’t feel the presence of the gun anywhere. Jongin is a kid full of surprises, and Joonmyun finds himself anticipating each of surprises he is going to present him.
“So, Joonmyun.” Jongin starts, after downing half of his grande cup.
“You know my name,” says Joonmyun. That is one small surprise. He has never told Jongin his name, because names are dangerous when it falls to wrong people. Name is an identity, something that makes a thing thing. Joonmyun doesn’t really goes out and gives his name to people.
“You didn’t exactly try to cover your name tag,” Jongin snorts.
Joonmyun chokes on his laughter. Of course, there is that. How could he forget? “I didn’t, did I?” He says amusedly. “Are we coming into a friendly term now?”
Jongin shrugs. “Not exactly that, but I want to see how is it to be civil with you.”
Joonmyun hums lightly. He crosses his leg over into a more comfortable position. “Don’t you have classes to attend now?” The clock is pointing to around four. Usually college students would still be in their campuses cramming down notes. Or at least that was what Joonmyun remembers from Baekhyun’s days.
“How do you know I’m a student?”
It’s Joonmyun’s turn to shrug. “I’ve been around long enough to recognize age from faces.”
Jongin nods, accepting the answer. “No classes today, the professor has other things to attend to,” he says. “How old are you?”
“Twenty two,” answers Joonmyun.
Jongin rolls his eyes playfully. “Your real age.”
“Didn’t think you would notice. But I am old enough. It’s my turn to ask.” Joonmyun smiles. “How did you find me?”
“It’s easy for me to differentiate the usual lust and vampire’s kind of hunger after all this years. You weren’t exactly difficult to spot on, blatantly having your fangs retracted on people’s neck. But it was mostly from experience.” Jongin’s eyes flick over to Joonmyun’s briefly. “My turn.”
Joonmyun is obviously not happy for the answer he is getting, but he nods his head anyway.
“Why did you turn into a vampire?”
“My family was attacked. Everyone was killed but me. The killer wants me to suffer, so he turns me into a vampire instead of killing me.”
“How is that making you suffer?”
Joonmyun shakes his head firmly. “My turn to ask, Jongin.” Jongin slumps back in his seat dejectedly. “Why are you killing vampires?”
“We share something in common. A vampire also killed my whole family. I didn’t believe any stories about vampires until one comes barging into the house and starts to do things so painful to watch. I was hiding in the closet, but I can see how he ripped my sister’s throat out.”
Joonmyun raises his eyebrows. “The novel you bought for the first time -“
“Was not for my sister. I was sort of giving you a clue how I know that you’re a vampire.” Jongin chuckles embarrassedly. “Anyway, I was sure that the vampire knows about me hiding. But he didn’t do anything. Perhaps he thinks that my blood is not delicious or anything -“
“Wrong,” Joonmyun finds himself saying. “Your blood smells great and delicious.”
Jongin gives him a hard look, and Joonmyun snickers.
“Sorry for ruining the mood, but I had to say that.”
Jongin cards his fingers through his dark strands of hair. “It’s my turn. I’m going to ask two questions because you did.” He looks for a sign of agreement from Joonmyun before he continues. “How is being a vampire making you suffer?”
“Because I hated myself, at first. I hated how I become someone who resembles the killer of my family. I tried to kill myself over and over, but I couldn’t. I really thought that it was better for me if I died rather than staying alive with such a curse.”
“But you accept yourself now,” Jongin guesses.
“Yeah. A nice vampire took me under his wings and welcomed me in his group. That’s where I realized that not all vampires are monster, and I started to accept myself. Then it sort of becomes a proving to myself that I won’t be something that killed my family.”
“The werewolves from the other day, what were they doing?”
“Intruding my territory.” Joonmyun props his head with his hands because it’s getting tiring. He is not used to talk this much with people. “Sometimes other creatures are envious of the territory I get to protect, and they are stupid enough to test out my patience.”
“You’re keeping out the city from the werevolves.”
Joonmyun smiles. He leans forward and looks straight into Jongin’s eyes. “I don’t think you’re concerned in the matter.”
“I’m just curious,” says Jongin, shrugging.
“My turn to ask,” Joonmyun licks his lower lip. The gesture seems to draw Jongin’s interest to the certain spot of his face. Well, that is something to discuss about later. “Why haven’t you killed me already?”
The question seems to strike on Jongin. His eyes are widening. He is obviously not expecting the question. Joonmyun enjoys his time seeing those pretty lips open and close in confusion.
“Well?” He can’t help but teases.
“It’s -“
“Jongin?”
Before Joonmyun could even turn his head to look at the source of the third voice, he should have known whom it is.
“Chanyeol,” Jongin nods his head curtly, acknowledging his presence.
Chanyeol’s eyes flicker between him and Joonmyun. He looks confused. “You and hyung know each other? How?”
“Chanyeol, look, I can explain -“ Joonmyun says in a rush.
“Explain what?” Jongin frowns. He looks mildly confused.
Everything turns to be so complicated. Joonmyun shakes his head in frustration. He is not meant to be found out hanging out with Jongin, especially when Chanyeol has suspicion on him.
“Joonmyun hyung?” Another curious voice adds in, and Joonmyun is doomed. Baekhyun’s eyes have become huge with surprise after seeing who he is talking to.
Jongin tenses up. His hand is gripping on his plastic cup rather hardly. He must have recognized Baekhyun’s face from the night he shot a bullet in his direction. “You -“
“The Hunter,” gasps Baekhyun, and it alerts Chanyeol of the situation. He takes the initiative to yank on Jongin’s shirt and pull him up to a standing position.
“What are you doing to Joonmyun hyung?” He asks. His tone comes with sharp edges. His fist is already clenched, ready to blow Jongin’s head anytime. It scares Joonmyun.
“Nothing!” Joonmyun exclaims, drawing three pairs of eyes in his direction. Shit, shit, shit. He keeps chanting the curse in his head as if it is going to change anything.
“Nothing?” Baekhyun asks curiously.
“Nothing,” he repeats desperately. “I told you I could protect myself, Baekhyun.”
Baekhyun nods his head gingerly. “You did. But coming into the Hunter’s trap didn’t exactly cross my mind as a description of protecting yourself.”
“It’s not a trap,” insists Jongin. Chanyeol’s grip on his shirt is tightening, causing him to curse loudly. He still doesn’t quite understand what’s going on, but he has an idea how bad it is for Joonmyun to be found by the two with him.
“Hyung,” Baekhyun calmly speaks. “You said you could protect yourself, didn’t you? You said that you are capable of taking care of yourself.”
“Yes,” Joonmyun answers almost immediately.
“I understand. Then maybe it would be the wisest to leave you alone now.” Baekhyun nods. Joonmyun wants to scream No, it’s not what I mean, but he finds himself tongue tied when Baekhyun pulls Chanyeol’s arm. “Come on, Chanyeol. We shouldn’t have interfered.”
Chanyeol releases his grip, and Jongin falls back into his seat. “Bully,” he mutters under his breath. But Chanyeol doesn’t seem to catch that.
“I respect your decision, hyung, I always have,” says Baekhyun softly. “Because I trust that you know the best.”
Joonmyun doesn’t say anything when Baekhyun and Chanyeol leave. He slumps back in his seat. He feels so weak, somehow. He is not ready to have people walking out of his life again, least of all Baekhyun.
Jongin makes loud noises as he sucks in the last bits of his Caramel Macchiato. The boy looks quite shaken up himself. Joonmyun wonders if buying him milk would make him feel better.
“Did I screw everything up?” Jongin asks.
Joonmyun shakes his head. “No. I was the one who was screwing up.”
☆
Joonmyun can’t believe that it has passed over a month since the last time he fed from anyone. He has never been able to suppress his thirst for longer than three weeks, so this is actually new for him. His whole body is hungry, and he needs to feed soon before he loses himself.
Baekhyun hasn’t come home for almost a week, and that’s a record. He is usually there to remind Joonmyun to feed, dragging him over to the club before he reaches his limit. Now that he doesn’t have Baekhyun around, Joonmyun gets too immersed in patrolling alone and his tug of war with Jongin, and forgets anything about feeding.
He thinks he could hear Baekhyun’s mocking tone saying I told you so in his ears. Joonmyun shakes his head. He admits that he kind of misses the young vampire.
The trip to the club is a must now. He doesn’t even realize how his hunting place has changed. He used to hunt in deserted alley, empty streets that only a few people will pass. But Jongin would spot him easily before he could even feed. He needs somewhere with more crowds to get away from the Hunter’s sight.
Joonmyun easily slips onto the dance floor this time, not bothering to take alcohol to loosen him up. He is dying to drink blood, and he certainly doesn’t have time for alcohol when he could have blood right away.
He picks his target right away; a short guy with dark brown hair and kitten smile. Joonmyun is immediately attracted. He is, afterall, a sucker for young men. And this one is seducing him first, how could Joonmyun refuse?
Soon, his arm is full of the kitten guy. He kisses the corner of the guy’s mouth, and he seems to like it. He lets out content sigh when Joonmyun moves to kiss down his neck. Salt. Caramel. Alcohol. Joonmyun finds himself liking how this guy tastes.
The guy laughs when Joonmyun nuzzles his nose against the juncture of his neck. He turns out to be ticklish at the spot, and Joonmyun finds it endearing.
“I’m sorry,” Joonmyun mumbles against the skin, partially to the tickling effect he has done and partially because he is going to take his blood.
“It’s okay. Go on,” the guy says warmly.
Go on, he says. It has different meanings that Joonmyun is unsure which one he should take. Go on, drink my blood sounds really good and nice to Joonmyun. He wants to believe that it is what the guy really means. He wants to believe that the guy is giving him permission to take his blood.
So Joonmyun retracts his fangs.
He hears the sharp intake of the guy’s breath, and he briefly wonders if the guy really knows what Joonmyun is going to do.
Just when he is pressing down his teeth onto the guy’s neck, though, someone has to ruin the moment by pulling the guy away from him. But someone else quickly presses up their chest against Joonmyun’s back, replacing the kitten guy.
“Wha -“ Joonmyun startles. He blinks to get a clear image of what’s happening. He is thirsty, goddamnit, why can’t anyone understand?
“Come with me,” the replacement of the kitten guy leans over his shoulder. Joonmyun could feel his warm breath against his cheek. He doesn’t even bother to look up to know that it is Jongin. The Hunter is always getting between and his dinner. If he turns around now, he could produce one thousand curses at him.
“Why should I,” Joonmyun says shortly. His eyes scan around, trying to figure out where the kitten guy has gone. Perhaps he could coax him into another dance, and successfully feed this time.
“Fine, be that way.”
Apparently Jongin doesn’t take no for answers, just like Baekhyun. The difference is that Jongin could become as stubborn as Joonmyun is if he wants to, while Baekhyun lets him be. Jongin is pulling at Joonmyun’s wrist and dragging him out of the sea of bodies and out of the club. Jongin could manhandle him, it’s something that Baekhyun would never do.
The cold wind hits his cheeks once they are outside, and Joonmyun shudders. He suddenly remembers why he despises the coldness of night a lot. Jongin stops once they are at a dark and secluded corner of the back of the club.
“What were you doing,” Jongin opens his mouth first. His grip around Joonmyun’s wrist is so tight that it might cause a bruise later. Joonmyun wants to protest, but he is thirsty and weak and doesn’t want to give a damn about anything that doesn’t involve consuming blood.
What are you doing, Joonmyun wants to ask back. “Trying to survive life,” he says instead. He pulls a small smile out of habit. The air outside is fresh and not mixed with thousands scent of blood that makes him wants to retract his fangs. It is a nice change, he has to admit.
“I can’t let you drink his blood,” says Jongin. He sounds rushed and short of decision. So young, Joonmyun thinks. Joonmyun craves for young blood.
“Jongin,” his voice is warm, but sharp. His body is aching from not getting any blood past month, thanks to a certain human. He almost reaches his limit, and he doesn’t want that to happen. If he loses control, he is afraid something frightening will happen. He needs to feed today. “You chased my dinner away. You might as well kill me with your gun so I won’t suffer this thirsty feeling anymore.”
Jongin bites on his lower lip, a nervous gesture that Joonmyun has observed from the times he knows the human. He looks unsure, and Joonmyun wants to beat the hell out of him. Well, not actually beat because he is currently as weak as a feather. He might even be burnt if someone throws a handful of sunlight at him now.
“Why should I? Isn’t it better to let you die of thirst and hunger?” Jongin asks. His hand is getting ready near his gun.
Joonmyun wants to laugh, but he would sound ugly and inappropriate. “You have no idea what thirst and hunger would do to a vampire, don’t you?” He sounds mildly amused.
The younger’s tip of ears are flushing from embarrassment, and Joonmyun pretends not to notice. Blood. Blood. Blood. He averts his gaze away.
“I don’t,” Jongin admits. “What would happen to you?”
“I might start lose control over my human part,” Joonmyun says. He doesn’t know why he is telling a Hunter about this, but he couldn’t stop his mouth from talking. “Sometimes, the thirst takes over every single bit of humanity I still have restored in myself. And that is when a vampire would turn into a monster, the same one that killed your family.”
Jongin stiffens. Joonmyun couldn’t blame him for that. Being reminded of bitter pasts could be overwhelming for anyone, most of all someone who decided to kill vampires to take revenge.
Joonmyun smiles, despite the annoying throb of his head. Part of his mind is telling him to dump the younger here and steer back into the club, back to the sea of people, sea of blood. Joonmyun tries hard to control himself.
“Why aren’t you attacking me if you’re so thirsty?”
That’s a nice question. Joonmyun begins to ponder by himself. He stares at the boy in front of him and couldn’t help but feels his eyes diluting, breath uneven. Jongin is so inviting, even with his denim jacket covering his collarbones nicely. But Joonmyun is thirsty and craving for even a single drop of blood, thick layers of clothing don’t do anything.
“I still have control over myself.” Lies. He almost loses himself. He squeezes his eyes shut in attempt to clear his mind, only to have the image of blood flooding his mind immediately. It is stupid of him to shut his sight even for a while, because his other senses will heighten. “I can sink my teeth into your neck and rip your throat out while draining your blood now if I want to.”
A gun is immediately pointed at his head. Joonmyun smiles.
“Kill me, Jongin.”
Jongin shakes his head. He lowers the gun, eyes meeting Joonmyun’s sharply. “Drink from me then, if that can help you controlling yourself.”
Joonmyun is taken aback by the younger’s words. He frowns. “Jongin.”
“Take me,” Jongin whispers. And the irrational part of Joonmyun is eager to pin the younger onto a wall and drink every drop of his blood. But another part of Joonmyun is still in control, and his controlled mind tells him to be patient. Patience is a virtue, he remembers his mother said.
“You don’t know how dangerous it is for you to say those words.”
Jongin walks over, casually invading Joonmyun’s personal space. “I know,” he says lowly. He is so close, close enough for their lips to meet with only a slight jerk. Joonmyun’s head feels heavy from the need. The smell of his sweet blood is too tempting for the vampire. He starts to think that controlling himself might be impossible to do. “Take me, Joonmyun. Bring me to your place and drink my blood as much as you want to.”
Joonmyun inhales deeply. He hates how the words he has always wanted to hear rolled off Jongin’s mouth so easily. It’s like he has been underestimated. Like Jongin is just testing out the water. He gulps. “And then you will kill me.”
Jongin pauses, considering the words. He flickers his eyes over to observe the thirst in Joonmyun’s eyes, and he agrees. “Then I will kill you,” he nods his head.
Joonmyun closes his eyes.“Okay.”
Before he could regret what he is doing, he is already pulling Jongin in the direction of his place.
☆
“Do you vampires always have houses with minimum lights?” Jongin asks once they go past the front door, bodies somehow pressing onto each other and hands already groping sensitive spots. He is referring to the darkness that welcomes them and Joonmyun’s zero effort at turning the lights on.
Joonmyun laughs against Jongin’s lips. It sends vibrates right away through Jongin’s whole body. “The darker, the better,” he whispers. Even under the minimum lights Jongin could see the predatory gleam reflecting from his eyes.
“Couldn’t see the logic in that,” Jongin rolls his eyes. Joonmyun is unbuttoning his flannel shirt too slowly for his liking, but the trails of kisses he leaves on each exposed skin make up for that. Each of the kisses is of the perfect pressure to make Jongin’s knees feel weak, making him gripping on Joonmyun’s sides even tighter. It might leave bruises later, but Jongin doesn’t care. All he cares about is how to hang on reality when everytime Joonmyun’s skin meets his, all he could think about is heaven.
“Don’t need logic,” Joonmyun murmurs, “just feel it.”
Jongin wants to protest, but all of his words are turned into soft gasps and moans once Joonmyun’s hand goes past his waistband. The coldness of Joonmyun’s hand against the warmth of his cock sends this weird sensation through his systems. His hips voluntarily jerk off, urging Joonmyun’s hand to move and actually do something for his hardness. Joonmyun gives a teasing stroke and, God, heaven would be an understatement for this is beyond that.
“Bed,” Jongin manages to slip the word between his little moans. Joonmyun smirks, showing off his sharp fangs. Jongin laughs bitterly, he wants to feel intimidated, feel outraged, but instead of all that, he feels extremely aroused.
He tries to keep his hands to himself as Joonmyun leads them to the bedroom, but fails miserably. Joonmyun is like a magnet, keeps pulling him close without even doing any effort. He is just standing there, and all Jongin wants is to kiss him senseless and maybe- fuckfuckfuck.
How he finally lands on Joonmyun’s bed with the vampire straddling on his hips very seductively, Jongin doesn’t know. He doesn’t care either. All he cares about is to grip on the vampire’s waist tightly as he feels himself being pushed to a lying position.
“Sweet. So sweet,” Joonmyun whispers against his neck. Jongin bites on his lower lip to keep him wriggling from the ticklish sensation. He wonders just how sweet is he in the other’s eyes. “Have no idea how delicious you are right now, haven’t you?”
Jongin doesn’t know, but he has an idea. Perhaps Joonmyun sees him like a leopard sighting a helpless zebra. But Jongin is not a zebra, he is a cheetah if Joonmyun is a leopard. An equal in strength. They are in a war not for nothing. He tugs Joonmyun’s hair upward and kisses his lips raw and open. Joonmyun’s mouth is very welcoming and responding. It is hot and warm and Jongin can’t help but gets addicted. He might spend the rest of his life kissing Joonmyun, and he wouldn’t even complain.
Jongin bucks up his hips. He can’t hold the need for Joonmyun’s touch any longer. “Joonmyun,” he says. And no, that is not a whine.
“What?” Joonmyun asks. His breath is warm against Jongin’s lips. Jongin leans up, trying to catch Joonmyun’s lip between his teeth again, but the vampire pulls back, smirking. Jongin groans, he tries to arch off the back, but Joonmyun’s surprisingly strong hands are holding his waist firmly. “What do you want, Jongin?”
Jongin chokes back a moan as Joonmyun’s fingers start to massage his bulge through the rough fabric of jeans he is wearing. Everything is becoming unbearable. He finds himself unable to answer.
Joonmyun wastes no time in stripping Jongin. Soon, the human beneath him is free of clothes, and Joonmyun appreciates him more this way. He leans down to place kisses all over Jongin’s torso, playing around with his sensitive nipples before going south to his navel. Jongin’s eyes are wide open when Joonmyun nibbles on the skin inside his thigh. He brings his legs around Joonmyun’s shoulder to allow him more access. Joonmyun’s breath occasionally brushes over Jongin’s already hard cock, and it’s driving him crazy.
“I want,” he gasps out when Joonmyun’s tongue darts around the head. It is only the foreplay, and he doesn’t feel like going to last long. “I want you.”
“How?” Joonmyun asks calmly. He enjoys the pained look on Jongin’s face.
“Inside me. On my throat.”
Joonmyun laughs, the vibration shakes Jongin over. “That’s too vague, Jongin.”
Jongin swallows. His face looks thoroughly flustered. Joonmyun wants to leans up and peppers him with kisses, but teasing him is far more interesting and rewarding. He leans to kiss Jongin’s base of cock instead.
“Fuck,” Jongin curses. His fingers are gripping onto the bed sheets tightly.
Joonmyun could smell the heavy sex mixed with Jongin’s signature chocolate milk. The sweetness of a virgin and the smell of sex, nothing could drive Joonmyun crazier.
“I want your cock inside me, and - fuck,” Jongin tries to thrust up to meet Joonmyun’s mouth, but the vampire is still holding him down. He starts to think that he might not survive this. “- and your mouth on my neck. Damn it, Joonmyun, just take me.”
“Relax, Jongin. We have all night.”
Jongin searches Joonmyun’s eyes frantically. When he finally finds them, he nods. Joonmyun sees trust in those eyes, swimming between the hunger and the need. And that’s what Joonmyun needs to know before he moves his body.
Joonmyun’s weight leaves Jongin for a while, earning a soft complaining noise from the younger. Joonmyun is cold, but Jongin didn’t think that not having him pressed against his body is colder. When he is back with a bottle of lube in his hand, Jongin’s eyes flicker with lust. Joonmyun understands. He quickly coats his fingers with lube, fully aware at how Jongin’s eyes are fixated on the digits.
“This is going to be hurt. Tell me if you want to stop, okay?”
Jongin nods, and Joonmyun begins to work his fingers into Jongin, earning a loud groan from the younger. Joonmyun stays still, allowing him to adjust before he inserts another finger and starts twisting and pressing. Soon, he adds another finger, making Jongin writhes against him.
“Hold on,” Jongin says. He tries hard to catch his breath. His face is the prettiest shade of red. “I need you. Now.” He bites on his lower lip.
Joonmyun nods. He pulls his hand away, ignoring Jongin’s whimpers at the loss. He smears the lube over his cock before he positions himself in front of Jongin’s entrance.
“Ready?”
Jongin nods. He is eager, for someone who hasn’t done sex before. Joonmyun leans down and buries his face on the crook of Jongin’s neck as he starts to thrust in. Jongin moans. There are prickle of tears at the corner of his eyes. Joonmyun brushes them away.
“Joonmyun,” Jongin whines, his body moves to a matching rhythm with Joonmyun’s thrusts. Each of the thrusts burns something inside him. It’s too much, yet at the same time, it is perfect. Joonmyun somehow manages to hit a sweet spot, causing Jongin to see stars. “So good,” he gasps out loud. He wants - needs - every inch of Joonmyun to complete him.
Joonmyun falls back to Jongin’s neck. It’s only natural that he is drawn to that particular spot. Jongin is high with sex, and his scent is luring Joonmyun’s predatory side even more. Joonmyun debates if he should feed now, or wait until Jongin allows him. But Jongin has specifically asked him to place his mouth on his neck.
Joonmyun retracts his fangs, and the movement catches Jongin’s eyes. A brief of anxiety flickers on his eyes, but it’s quickly replaced by lust. He stares at Joonmyun’s fangs adoringly, and Joonmyun almost forgets that it is a Hunter he has in his bed now.
Jongin stretches his neck, revealing more skin to Joonmyun. And it only means an open invitation. Joonmyun lets out a low growl before he surges forward, sinking down his teeth on Jongin’s skin. The taste of Jongin’s blood against his tongue is every bit of heaven he could think about. Joonmyun is addicted. He keeps on sucking as he maintains the pace of his thrusts. Jongin is whimpering beneath him from both the pain and pleasure, and Joonmyun is glad he is the one to make him feel that way.
“Close,” Jongin gasps.
Joonmyun could feel that he is close, too. He stops on sucking and proceeds to lick the wound close. Then Jongin is tightening around him, making him seeing stars, and he comes, his hand on his mouth to keep him from making noises. Joonmyun comes not too long after him. He falls on top of Jongin when he is finally spent.
“My sheets are now dirty,” he murmurs against Jongin’s chest.
Jongin snickers. “My whole body is dirty.”
“There are tissues on the nightstand,” Joonmyun says lazily. Jongin snorts, but he stretched out his hand to take the tissues anyway. It’s at least better than nothing. He cleans up the mess all over his and Joonmyun’s body before he falls back to bed.
“That was -“
He is cut off by Joonmyun’s finger. “Shush,” Joonmyun smiles, Jongin could see him better now that his eyes are already adjusting to the dark. “Sleep now, talk later.”
Jongin wants to protest, but his eyes are too heavy to argue. He didn’t even realize how tired he is until Joonmyun mentioned about sleeping. “Fine,” he whispers. Joonmyun chuckles, he leans down to kiss Jongin’s closed eyelids.
“Good night, Jongin.”
☆
When Joonmyun opens his eyes, his room is already filled with the brightness of sunlight. He quickly closes down his eyelids. It is not usually for his room to be so bright. Someone must have taken down the curtains. He would blame Baekhyun, if the younger haven’t left him. Perhaps he should take a better guess, but he is still tired from last night.
Last night.
He didn’t do anything stupid, did he?
He remembers attempting to feed from a guy with kittenish smile. He still remembers how the guy smelled Caramel. Salt. Then the guy was taken away from him. Jongin looked angry, he stopped Joonmyun from hunting. And then he asked Joonmyun to -
“Good morning.”
Joonmyun feels the coldness of metal against his forehead, and when he opens his eyes again, Jongin is looking at him with a bored expression, his finger is ready at the trigger. He appears to be topless, only bothering to pull up his underwear and jeans. Joonmyun tries to suppress the tinge of disappointment.
“Took you long enough to wake up,” he says.
Joonmyun smiles, “Am I late to the party?”
Jongin snickers, appreciating Joonmyun’s attempt at being funny. He leans down, close enough for Joonmyun to feel overwhelmed by the scent of chocolate milk again, now with hints of sex underneath. This one is definitely much better. “Can’t start the party without you waking up properly, can we?”
“We can’t?” Joonmyun asks softly. He looks straight into Jongin’s eyes and finds nothing. He couldn’t make out what is in the younger’s mind. It feels like last night was just a single strand of his dreams. Nothing real.
“Isn’t it more fun like this?” Jongin tilts his head to the side, faking confusion. His bangs fall sideways, it makes him looks younger. Joonmyun wants to do nothing but pull him down and kiss him senseless.
“I’m not at the proper age to feel fun, Jongin.” Joonmyun is patient. He knows that sooner or later Jongin would pull the trigger, and he would be dead again. It feels funny, to die when he already died.
“Is that why you aren’t struggling?”
Joonmyun chuckles. He wouldn’t even dare to dream of hurting Jongin. Jongin is special. He is unlike his other preys or the past Hunters he met before. Jongin is not the type to kill, he is the type to appreciate. Joonmyun would love to spend his time savoring Jongin’s taste, spend hours or even days to worship every bit of Jongin’s body. The younger is like a prize, and Joonmyun likes to unwrap each layer very slowly.
“I can’t say, but I have a weak spot for you.” Joonmyun’s fangs are retracted again. He slides his tongue over one of the long canines. The hunger might be gone, but the lust is still there.
Jongin shrugs. He looks like he wants to ask more, but he decides to keep silent. “So, any last words?”
Joonmyun pauses, searching for the right words. Then his face lights up with a grin, “The sex was great.”
Jongin rolls his eyes, trying hard to hide the blush that is now spreading beautifully through his cheeks. Joonmyun could lean up and press kisses all over the reddening skin, but the gun wouldn’t allow him.
“Goodbye,” Jongin murmurs.
Joonmyun smiles as he closes his eyes. He is already expecting the feeling of bullet flying through his skin and bones. The sound of Jongin pulling the trigger slowly is devastating. Joonmyun waits -
- but there’s nothing.
Joonmyun opens his eyes. He searches for Jongin’s eyes, but couldn’t find it beneath the messy bangs. He easily throws the gun off, a move he could have done much earlier, but he didn’t do for amusement. He sneaks his arms around Jongin’s neck and pulls him down.
Jongin allows himself to be kissed, but he doesn’t kiss back. Joonmyun has to bite on his lower lip to make him hisses in pain and allows Joonmyun’s tongue an access into his mouth. He eventually gives in to the kiss, returning the kisses as eagerly.
“Goodbye indeed,” Joonmyun laughs against Jongin’s lips, causing the younger to whimper at the teasing warmth. The words are meant to be sarcastic.
Jongin shakes his head. He moves lower, peppering kisses all over Joonmyun’s chin and jaw and even lower to his collarbones. “Can’t kill you now, can’t kill you tomorrow, can’t kill you ever,” he murmurs on the pale skin. “How could I?”
“You’re one sick, fucked up Hunter, you know.” Joonmyun says in a teasing tone.
“It’s only you. You make me sick. You fuck me up.” Jongin blows warm breath on Joonmyun’s nipple, causing him to hiss. Only when Jongin takes the nipple between his lips, Joonmyun arches his back off the bed. Jongin smiles, obviously liking the reaction Joonmyun gives.
“Did you think I was really going to kill you?” he asks when he pulls back, settling on Joonmyun’s lap.
Joonmyun smirks. “I couldn’t feel the silver since last night, so I knew from the start you weren’t going to kill me. But the gun quite surprised me.”
“Shit,” Jongin curses under his breath. Joonmyun laughs.
“There’s still a lot to learn if you want to kill me, Jongin. I could break off your nose now if I want to.”
“But you don’t.”
Joonmyun nods. “I don’t want to. You could kill me now, but you don’t. It’s the same thing, isn’t it?” He smiles.
Jongin sighs, burying his face in the crook of Joonmyun’s neck. “I don’t know. All I know is just that I want to kiss you when I’m supposed to kill you.”
“The feeling is mutual,” Joonmyun says. He plays around with Jongin’s soft strands of hair, knowing that it would drive the younger crazy. “Look, if you want to kiss me, then do it. We can kill each other later, but kiss first.”
Jongin looks up. His eyes are full of hesitation, but Joonmyun could see the bits of predatory gleam in them. “Are you sure?” He takes a gulp nervously.
“Yes. Now stop pretending to be so doubtful so we can work on the hardness that you have pressed down my crotch.”
Warmth quickly creeps up to both his cheeks again. And before Joonmyun could tease him for that, Jongin leans up and claims Joonmyun’s lips with his. The familiar taste welcomes him back. Jongin hates to admit it, but this is the closest to home he could ever feel. This feels like nothing but right.
For once, he has to agree with the enemy; kiss first, kill later.
☆✮☆
fin.