[SuJu - Various] Unstillbare Gier (3/?)
Pairing: SiHanChul, KyuMiMin, YeWook
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 3409
Summary: They had never known fun nights out could end them up entangled in a game far more dangerous than their imagination allowed. (Vampire AU)
Notes: Collaboration with onewhomust @ ategoto
[Part 1], [Part 2], [Part 3], [Part 4], [Part 5], [Part 6], [Part 7], [Part 8], [Part 9]
"You know, next time I'm not going to let you have a choice on if you feed or not," threatened Heechul, but Han Geng had already learned to tune him out. Even if ignoring Heechul didn't necessarily mean he was going away any time soon, no matter how much Han Geng wished for it.
As Han Geng had predicted, Heechul had dragged him out the next night, and no force of will Han Geng could muster would let him escape that. "You will feed," Heechul had told him. And though Heechul had presented him with plenty of options as they strolled the streets, he hadn't forced him to attack anyone. Yet. At least that was one thing Han Geng could be thankful for, but knowing Heechul-- not that he wanted to admit to it, but he had spent the better part of his last few days with him, unforunately-- that would change soon anyway.
"I was going to be nice and let you pick your first victim, 'cause it's kind of meaningful, but I guess not..." Heechul said with a dramatic sigh. He was such an attention getter. Han Geng bit back a bitter laugh. Heechul, be nice? Oh no, he refused to believe that. Damning him to eternity away from everything that he loved-- very nice indeed. On the rare occasion that Han Geng would talk to Heechul long enough to tell him this, Heechul only laughed and said that within an eternity he'd get used to it. Han Geng really hoped not.
"Well, if you aren't going to feed, I guess you'll starve." Seriously, when was Heechul going to figure out that he wasn't going to get any replies to anything he was saying?
"Let's just move on to the real reason I brought you out, anyway. You wanted to see that friend of yours right? Kae-hyun or something?"
"Kyuhyun," Han Geng snapped instantly. Heechul let out a triumphant noise at being able to break Han Geng's silence.
"Yeah, him, Kibum's newest addition," replied Heechul, with a bit too much venom laced in his tone that sank too far under Han Geng's skin.
"Don't call him that. His name is Kyuhyun. Cho Kyuhyun. And he's not a... a vampire" -- It was a struggle just to get that word out of his mouth-- "He's just a kid. A college student that likes to play video games."
"You know, I think that's the most I've heard you say all at once before," remarked Heechul, but there was some proud glint in his eye.
Han Geng huffed. "Well, I'm not an attention whore like you."
Heechul's eyes narrowed into a glare. "Well, your Korean sucks."
Han Geng didn't bother dignifying that with a response. He had heard it enough from Kyuhyun anyway. Kyuhyun... It couldn't be true. That Kyuhyun had been taken. And yet, somehow, after he had gotten over the initial shock and anger, he knew it was. He wouldn't put anything past these monsters. But he just had to find him, to be sure... And if it did turn out to be true, he'd have to plan his revenge very well. He would make sure anyone that touched Kyuhyun suffered.
A sudden tug at his hand grabbed Han Geng's attention, and he found Heechul dragging him through some alleyway or another. He tried to shake off the redhead's hand, but his mind was still too weak, and even as much as Han Geng wanted to run away, to go back home, he wanted to see Kyuhyun more. Home meant Siwon, and home meant rejection. That much he knew. And it was what truly kept him with Heechul, more than the mind control.
They stopped suddenly, Heechul shoving him roughly against a brick wall, sending Han Geng's mind sprawling into flashbacks of the same thing happening to him that night when everything had changed.
"Someone's here," whispered Heechul, but it needn't be said. That much was obvious as someone Han Geng had never seen before stepped into view, letting out a chuckle.
"Your new toy, Heechul?"
"Damn right he is," shot back Heechul with more venom than Han Geng had ever heard from him before. Clearly these two weren't anywhere close to being friends. "Got a problem with him?"
"I did when I heard you sired him on our territory," growled the stranger. "But it gave me cause to pick up a new childe of my own, which has really been worth the investment. So maybe I should be thanking you for that."
Suddenly everything clicked in Han Geng's mind, and without even a second thought, he lunged forward, fangs barred, trying to get at this person in any way he could. It had been this man who had taken Kyuhyun, he knew it. There wasn't any question in Han Geng's mind anymore.
Arms wrapped around him, trying to pulling him back as he sought to hit anything he could. Heechul's arms, he could vaguely guess, but he had other things to worry about. Not that he was getting anywhere as he fought. The man was far too fast for him, dodging instantly.
"Okay, you've been playing enough," he heard Heechul say into his ear, and suddenly his body froze. Heechul's power over him again. Goddammit.
"Looks like you need to learn to control your own childe better, Heechul." The man looked more amused than anything. Han Geng would have spit in his face if he could. "I take it my Kyuhyun was a friend of his? That certainly makes things more interesting."
Heechul let out a snort, keeping his arms tight around Han Geng, though Han Geng didn't know why. He couldn't move anyway, because of Heechul's control. Was he trying to comfort him? That was laughable.
"I wouldn't look so happy if I were you, Kibum. Hankyung is part of our clan, and if you mess with one of his friends, you're messing with all of us," Heechul spat.
Kibum raised an eyebrow. It seemed he wasn't going to take anything Heechul said seriously at all. "Is that so? Are you declaring a war?"
"Not yet," Heechul said icily. "But watch yourself. When we strike, it's not going to be pretty for you." Heechul's arms around Han Geng loosened, as did his grip on Han Geng's mind. "Come on, Hankyung, we're out of here."
-
Hyukjae had reorganized his books and CDs about three times, swiped the floor twice, played about a three dozen rounds of Dead or Alive and the boy still hadn't woken up. It was starting to get on his nerves just a little. Kibum had sired him, so why couldn't he sleep off his transformation in the older vampire's room as well? But no, instead he'd been handed the limp body with a murmured "Watch over him for me" and that had been it. No please, no dropping in to see if it was going smoothly, and nothing to relieve him of his boredom. Unless a sweating and panting unconscious person in pain counted as entertainment.
He growled low in his throat, pressing the reset button on his game. If things went on like this he'd soon be able to beat it in expert mode and be bored. Briefly he considered throwing the controller at the boy to see if he would wake up, but the reasonable part of him won out on that one. While the transformation usually took about two days there was absolutely no set time on it. Heck, he'd heard of cases where it took up to two weeks. Or where the person would never wake up.
Hyukjae didn't particularly want that to happen.
Granted, they were using the boy to get even with Heechul - no, provoke him, more like - but he didn't approve of unnecessary deaths.
Perhaps it was due to the boy's subconscious struggling against it. He himself had been turned on his own free will and it hadn't even been a full day until he woke up again. For Kyuhyun it was nearing the end of the third. Quite possibly his body was fighting the change strongly, which, he concluded, must be the reason for it to take ages. Hyukjae would like to speed it up, eager to see Heechul's face once the other clan found out about their retaliation.
But in the end it was all he could do to wait, cursing the fact that he was on childe-watching duty. He sighed, running a hand through his hair and then proceeded to swear when in exactly that moment his fighter was kicked off stage.
"You completely suck at gaming."
Hyukjae gave a start as the dark velvety voice suddenly sounded from behind him, roughened a little by days of not being used. The first thing he noticed when he turned around were dark eyes, narrowed on him in what he could only describe as raw anger. "Ah. You woke up." he muttered, rather intelligently, and proceeded to mentally beat himself up for stating the obvious. That was so incredibly uncool.
Hyukjae was just a little bit lost when the boy's fists bunched on the sheets, a part of him wishing Kibum was in. But like that, the task of explaining was going to fall to him, and he kind of sucked at explaining. "No, actually I'm just sleepwalking. Don't let me disturb you in your suckage."
He winced at the venom laced through the boy's voice, a certain malice that hadn't been there when Kyuhyun was refusing to dance at the club. Then again, he would be angry, too, if he had just been turned undead against his will. Probably. The dark eyes fixed on him seemed to hold some sort of challenge and it took a few moments for Hyukjae to remember he held the upper hand here. He wasn't the freshly turned vampire. He'd had centuries to perfect his powers, and this boy in front of him knew absolutely nothing.
So he met that scowl with a smile. "Guess I'll be the first to welcome you to your new home then."
Hyukjae watched as that scowl bled away into a look of complete confusion before the boy seemed to catch himself, schooling his expression into one of complete calm that looked like he had years of practice wearing it. "Whatever. I'm going home."
He didn't bother trying to stop Kyuhyun when he swung his legs out of bed, contending himself with watching as a wave of dizziness his the boy, sending him sprawling back on the covers. "No, I believe you're not going anywhere until Kibum returns." Hyukjae accompanied his words with a smile, but he was well aware that it sounded like more of an order than anything else. And apparently the boy did not take well to orders.
"Make me," the Kyuhyun bit out seconds before he was back on his feet, swaying dangerously. Hyukjae sighed, getting up from the ground and advancing towards him with a lazy sway to his hips. The effect was ruined a little when he stumbled over the hem of his track pants, but the bared fangs were more than enough to make the other back away until he had him cornered.
"Now, look here," he murmured, one hand playing with the hem of Kyuhyun's shirt, making sure his fangs brushed against smooth skin as he spoke, "I was not making a suggestion, and you'd do well to remember that." If the boy wouldn't stay because he was too weak to really move around, well. Intimidation usually worked. Their newest addition to the clan might try to play it cool all he liked, but Hyukjae could feel him tense up, a flicker of recollection passing through his eyes.
"What did you do to me?"
Hyukjae smiled. It was a start.
-
Ryeowook knew he was being followed from the moment he had left the relative safety of Heechul's apartment complex. He had a feeling that he was supposed to know, even, with the way this other guy was being far less than subtle about it. It tempted him to go down less crowded streets, through small alleys, off into the unpopulated areas of Seoul; the ones you went to if you had not quite legal business to conduct. The ones in which he knew it might lure his follower out to try and attack him.
There was an advantage to looking young and innocent and like you could do no harm. People let their guard down around him, even when they should know better. When they knew what he was.
It was for that reason that Ryeowook remained completely calm when a hand grabbed hold of his wrist, spinning him to finally face his follower. Eyes wide he blinked up at his captor - someone who thought had managed to trap him, rather - and had to bite back a smile. He should have known, really.
"You of all people should know it's dangerous to go out alone these days." There was an edge to the other man's smile, something predatory, but Ryeowook couldn't find it in himself to act intimidated. Not for this man. And even if he did, they had played this game too often for him to still fall for it.
"Yesung-sshi. I could say the same to you."
A head cocked to the side was all the indication Ryeowook needed to know that the other vampire was thinking something up, but he still wasn't fast enough to evade his other wrist from getting captured. "You know how they say another vampire's blood tastes delicious? Don't tempt me to try." Yesung's voice was barely raised, a low purr into his ear until his lips slowly started descending along his throat.
Ryeowook would have been lying if he claimed not to have a hard time biting back a small shudder.
Instead he forced himself to shrug, "Are you that eager for a war to break out?" It made him sound calmer than he actually was. Yesung knew what such close proximity did to him, even if there was no pulse hammering to give it away. Ryeowook bit on his lower lip when he felt teeth graze against his jugular vein, almost breathed a sigh of relief when the other pulled away after all. Feeding from another vampire was among the most serious crimes one could commit, and not without reason. But he would not put it past the other vampire.
The hungry eyes raking over his body did little to calm Ryeowook down. He could probably stand his ground against Yesung, the question was just for how long.
"I think I will taste you some time though, Ryeowook-ah." The eyes fixed on his form before the other vampire disappeared into the darkness suggested he did not necessarily mean just Ryeowook's blood.
--
"Seasoning, I really hope you're not wearing that outfit outside. It looks terrible."
Zhou Mi nearly squawked in indignation, struggling to come up with a reply. Thankfully Sungmin stepped in for him. "Heechul, I don't know what you're talking about. That jacket is from the latest Gucci line. It's not even supposed to be out yet. Do you know who we had to kill to get a hold of it?"
Heechul just rolled his eyes, waving an annoyed hand at them from his spot in his chair. "Fine, whatever, go out looking terrible. I'm just trying to be a nice leader with the hopes of maintaining my clan's image as snappy dressers, and you're all just set on ruining it."
"Well, you could go out with us for once," suggested Zhou Mi, fiddling with the seams of his new leather jacket, as if deciding whether or not he really did want to wear it. "You used to go out with us all of the time, and now you always stay in..."
"Yeah," Sungmin joined in. "Now you just stay in with that new toy of yours. And it's not like he even talks to you. What's the point?"
Heechul glared at both of them, an icy gaze strong enough to set fearful looks in both of their eyes. "I'll have you know I'm making very good progress with him."
"Oh? Have you even gotten him to feed yet?" asked Sungmin with some level of skepticism, though the look Heechul shot him made it look like he'd wished he had said nothing at all.
"Not yet, but I at least took him out. I think having him meet Kibum may have knocked some sense into him... at least he's angrier at Kibum now than he is at me." Heechul looked proud of the fact. Even if Hankyung was still being stupid and mopey at least Heechul had the comfort that it wasn't completely caused by himself any more. Despite all appearances, Heechul really did want the best for all of his children. It just had a different way of letting it show, was all.
"You met up with Kibum?" Ryeowook looked suprised as he entered the room, a hand rubbing against his neck. Heechul raised an eyebrow at the motion but got no reply.
"We might have gone into his territory again while we were out hunting," Heechul replied innocently. He swung his legs over the arm of the chair he was resting in with a sigh. "He seems pretty confident on that new kid of his. I guess it really is Hankyung's friend that he turned."
"Poor kid," said Ryeowook with a frown. "Gets turned against his will, and a few days later, so does his friend. And to a rival clan, no less."
"Well, we shouldn't let them get away with that," said Sungmin, with Zhou Mi nodding his agreement at his side.
"I threatened war on Kibum," Heechul said with a shrug. "I think that's what he's trying for, anyway. I hate to give him what he wants, but we need to show him that we're the ones who rule this city, not him."
"Are you going to declare?" Zhou Mi looked a little scared at the thought, but Heechul couldn't blame him. Zhou Mi was one of the youngest in the clan, and had never been through a clan war before. But there was always a time to learn.
"Eventually, if he keeps acting like an arrogant prick with a stick up his ass. But I'd have to do with some kind of message that will leave a mark," said Heechul. He always had to do everything in style. Kill one of their clan? That would be messy, and against a lot of rules that were even older than he was. But there had to be something. Heechul didn't doubt that he would figure it out.
Sungmin grinned. If anyone looked forward to a war, it would be Sungmin. He was well-trained as a fighter-- and he also found a thrill in it that was lost on most people. Heechul knew he could count on him.
"Come out with us tonight. We'll have a party on the town to celebrate!" laughed Sungmin. "Bring that boy toy of yours, it'll do him some good to become part of the family, anyway."
Heechul contemplated for a moment, but it didn't take long for him to agree. It had been far too long since they had all gone out together. And if war broke out, it might be a while before they could do it again.
-
There was a different air around the city from the last time he returned. Almost as if it was overflowing with tension and he did not like that feeling. It spoke of trouble. He frowned, carefully masking his scent as he strolled through the streets, looking for tell-tale signs of what was going on.
It wasn't too hard to find either, residues of fights in the air, the scent of blood caught in his nose on every step. As if no one had even bothered to disguise their existence. The further he ventured into the city, the deeper his frown grew. There was a war on the verge of breaking out here, anyone could see that. Well, anyone with his abilities. His experience. And those never ended well for either side involved.
He sighed, running a hand through messy hair. Seemed like this wasn't going to end as just another friendly visit. Instead the task of knocking some sense into Heechul was waiting for him. Henry was not looking forward to it.
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 3409
Summary: They had never known fun nights out could end them up entangled in a game far more dangerous than their imagination allowed. (Vampire AU)
Notes: Collaboration with onewhomust @ ategoto
[Part 1], [Part 2], [Part 3], [Part 4], [Part 5], [Part 6], [Part 7], [Part 8], [Part 9]
"You know, next time I'm not going to let you have a choice on if you feed or not," threatened Heechul, but Han Geng had already learned to tune him out. Even if ignoring Heechul didn't necessarily mean he was going away any time soon, no matter how much Han Geng wished for it.
As Han Geng had predicted, Heechul had dragged him out the next night, and no force of will Han Geng could muster would let him escape that. "You will feed," Heechul had told him. And though Heechul had presented him with plenty of options as they strolled the streets, he hadn't forced him to attack anyone. Yet. At least that was one thing Han Geng could be thankful for, but knowing Heechul-- not that he wanted to admit to it, but he had spent the better part of his last few days with him, unforunately-- that would change soon anyway.
"I was going to be nice and let you pick your first victim, 'cause it's kind of meaningful, but I guess not..." Heechul said with a dramatic sigh. He was such an attention getter. Han Geng bit back a bitter laugh. Heechul, be nice? Oh no, he refused to believe that. Damning him to eternity away from everything that he loved-- very nice indeed. On the rare occasion that Han Geng would talk to Heechul long enough to tell him this, Heechul only laughed and said that within an eternity he'd get used to it. Han Geng really hoped not.
"Well, if you aren't going to feed, I guess you'll starve." Seriously, when was Heechul going to figure out that he wasn't going to get any replies to anything he was saying?
"Let's just move on to the real reason I brought you out, anyway. You wanted to see that friend of yours right? Kae-hyun or something?"
"Kyuhyun," Han Geng snapped instantly. Heechul let out a triumphant noise at being able to break Han Geng's silence.
"Yeah, him, Kibum's newest addition," replied Heechul, with a bit too much venom laced in his tone that sank too far under Han Geng's skin.
"Don't call him that. His name is Kyuhyun. Cho Kyuhyun. And he's not a... a vampire" -- It was a struggle just to get that word out of his mouth-- "He's just a kid. A college student that likes to play video games."
"You know, I think that's the most I've heard you say all at once before," remarked Heechul, but there was some proud glint in his eye.
Han Geng huffed. "Well, I'm not an attention whore like you."
Heechul's eyes narrowed into a glare. "Well, your Korean sucks."
Han Geng didn't bother dignifying that with a response. He had heard it enough from Kyuhyun anyway. Kyuhyun... It couldn't be true. That Kyuhyun had been taken. And yet, somehow, after he had gotten over the initial shock and anger, he knew it was. He wouldn't put anything past these monsters. But he just had to find him, to be sure... And if it did turn out to be true, he'd have to plan his revenge very well. He would make sure anyone that touched Kyuhyun suffered.
A sudden tug at his hand grabbed Han Geng's attention, and he found Heechul dragging him through some alleyway or another. He tried to shake off the redhead's hand, but his mind was still too weak, and even as much as Han Geng wanted to run away, to go back home, he wanted to see Kyuhyun more. Home meant Siwon, and home meant rejection. That much he knew. And it was what truly kept him with Heechul, more than the mind control.
They stopped suddenly, Heechul shoving him roughly against a brick wall, sending Han Geng's mind sprawling into flashbacks of the same thing happening to him that night when everything had changed.
"Someone's here," whispered Heechul, but it needn't be said. That much was obvious as someone Han Geng had never seen before stepped into view, letting out a chuckle.
"Your new toy, Heechul?"
"Damn right he is," shot back Heechul with more venom than Han Geng had ever heard from him before. Clearly these two weren't anywhere close to being friends. "Got a problem with him?"
"I did when I heard you sired him on our territory," growled the stranger. "But it gave me cause to pick up a new childe of my own, which has really been worth the investment. So maybe I should be thanking you for that."
Suddenly everything clicked in Han Geng's mind, and without even a second thought, he lunged forward, fangs barred, trying to get at this person in any way he could. It had been this man who had taken Kyuhyun, he knew it. There wasn't any question in Han Geng's mind anymore.
Arms wrapped around him, trying to pulling him back as he sought to hit anything he could. Heechul's arms, he could vaguely guess, but he had other things to worry about. Not that he was getting anywhere as he fought. The man was far too fast for him, dodging instantly.
"Okay, you've been playing enough," he heard Heechul say into his ear, and suddenly his body froze. Heechul's power over him again. Goddammit.
"Looks like you need to learn to control your own childe better, Heechul." The man looked more amused than anything. Han Geng would have spit in his face if he could. "I take it my Kyuhyun was a friend of his? That certainly makes things more interesting."
Heechul let out a snort, keeping his arms tight around Han Geng, though Han Geng didn't know why. He couldn't move anyway, because of Heechul's control. Was he trying to comfort him? That was laughable.
"I wouldn't look so happy if I were you, Kibum. Hankyung is part of our clan, and if you mess with one of his friends, you're messing with all of us," Heechul spat.
Kibum raised an eyebrow. It seemed he wasn't going to take anything Heechul said seriously at all. "Is that so? Are you declaring a war?"
"Not yet," Heechul said icily. "But watch yourself. When we strike, it's not going to be pretty for you." Heechul's arms around Han Geng loosened, as did his grip on Han Geng's mind. "Come on, Hankyung, we're out of here."
-
Hyukjae had reorganized his books and CDs about three times, swiped the floor twice, played about a three dozen rounds of Dead or Alive and the boy still hadn't woken up. It was starting to get on his nerves just a little. Kibum had sired him, so why couldn't he sleep off his transformation in the older vampire's room as well? But no, instead he'd been handed the limp body with a murmured "Watch over him for me" and that had been it. No please, no dropping in to see if it was going smoothly, and nothing to relieve him of his boredom. Unless a sweating and panting unconscious person in pain counted as entertainment.
He growled low in his throat, pressing the reset button on his game. If things went on like this he'd soon be able to beat it in expert mode and be bored. Briefly he considered throwing the controller at the boy to see if he would wake up, but the reasonable part of him won out on that one. While the transformation usually took about two days there was absolutely no set time on it. Heck, he'd heard of cases where it took up to two weeks. Or where the person would never wake up.
Hyukjae didn't particularly want that to happen.
Granted, they were using the boy to get even with Heechul - no, provoke him, more like - but he didn't approve of unnecessary deaths.
Perhaps it was due to the boy's subconscious struggling against it. He himself had been turned on his own free will and it hadn't even been a full day until he woke up again. For Kyuhyun it was nearing the end of the third. Quite possibly his body was fighting the change strongly, which, he concluded, must be the reason for it to take ages. Hyukjae would like to speed it up, eager to see Heechul's face once the other clan found out about their retaliation.
But in the end it was all he could do to wait, cursing the fact that he was on childe-watching duty. He sighed, running a hand through his hair and then proceeded to swear when in exactly that moment his fighter was kicked off stage.
"You completely suck at gaming."
Hyukjae gave a start as the dark velvety voice suddenly sounded from behind him, roughened a little by days of not being used. The first thing he noticed when he turned around were dark eyes, narrowed on him in what he could only describe as raw anger. "Ah. You woke up." he muttered, rather intelligently, and proceeded to mentally beat himself up for stating the obvious. That was so incredibly uncool.
Hyukjae was just a little bit lost when the boy's fists bunched on the sheets, a part of him wishing Kibum was in. But like that, the task of explaining was going to fall to him, and he kind of sucked at explaining. "No, actually I'm just sleepwalking. Don't let me disturb you in your suckage."
He winced at the venom laced through the boy's voice, a certain malice that hadn't been there when Kyuhyun was refusing to dance at the club. Then again, he would be angry, too, if he had just been turned undead against his will. Probably. The dark eyes fixed on him seemed to hold some sort of challenge and it took a few moments for Hyukjae to remember he held the upper hand here. He wasn't the freshly turned vampire. He'd had centuries to perfect his powers, and this boy in front of him knew absolutely nothing.
So he met that scowl with a smile. "Guess I'll be the first to welcome you to your new home then."
Hyukjae watched as that scowl bled away into a look of complete confusion before the boy seemed to catch himself, schooling his expression into one of complete calm that looked like he had years of practice wearing it. "Whatever. I'm going home."
He didn't bother trying to stop Kyuhyun when he swung his legs out of bed, contending himself with watching as a wave of dizziness his the boy, sending him sprawling back on the covers. "No, I believe you're not going anywhere until Kibum returns." Hyukjae accompanied his words with a smile, but he was well aware that it sounded like more of an order than anything else. And apparently the boy did not take well to orders.
"Make me," the Kyuhyun bit out seconds before he was back on his feet, swaying dangerously. Hyukjae sighed, getting up from the ground and advancing towards him with a lazy sway to his hips. The effect was ruined a little when he stumbled over the hem of his track pants, but the bared fangs were more than enough to make the other back away until he had him cornered.
"Now, look here," he murmured, one hand playing with the hem of Kyuhyun's shirt, making sure his fangs brushed against smooth skin as he spoke, "I was not making a suggestion, and you'd do well to remember that." If the boy wouldn't stay because he was too weak to really move around, well. Intimidation usually worked. Their newest addition to the clan might try to play it cool all he liked, but Hyukjae could feel him tense up, a flicker of recollection passing through his eyes.
"What did you do to me?"
Hyukjae smiled. It was a start.
-
Ryeowook knew he was being followed from the moment he had left the relative safety of Heechul's apartment complex. He had a feeling that he was supposed to know, even, with the way this other guy was being far less than subtle about it. It tempted him to go down less crowded streets, through small alleys, off into the unpopulated areas of Seoul; the ones you went to if you had not quite legal business to conduct. The ones in which he knew it might lure his follower out to try and attack him.
There was an advantage to looking young and innocent and like you could do no harm. People let their guard down around him, even when they should know better. When they knew what he was.
It was for that reason that Ryeowook remained completely calm when a hand grabbed hold of his wrist, spinning him to finally face his follower. Eyes wide he blinked up at his captor - someone who thought had managed to trap him, rather - and had to bite back a smile. He should have known, really.
"You of all people should know it's dangerous to go out alone these days." There was an edge to the other man's smile, something predatory, but Ryeowook couldn't find it in himself to act intimidated. Not for this man. And even if he did, they had played this game too often for him to still fall for it.
"Yesung-sshi. I could say the same to you."
A head cocked to the side was all the indication Ryeowook needed to know that the other vampire was thinking something up, but he still wasn't fast enough to evade his other wrist from getting captured. "You know how they say another vampire's blood tastes delicious? Don't tempt me to try." Yesung's voice was barely raised, a low purr into his ear until his lips slowly started descending along his throat.
Ryeowook would have been lying if he claimed not to have a hard time biting back a small shudder.
Instead he forced himself to shrug, "Are you that eager for a war to break out?" It made him sound calmer than he actually was. Yesung knew what such close proximity did to him, even if there was no pulse hammering to give it away. Ryeowook bit on his lower lip when he felt teeth graze against his jugular vein, almost breathed a sigh of relief when the other pulled away after all. Feeding from another vampire was among the most serious crimes one could commit, and not without reason. But he would not put it past the other vampire.
The hungry eyes raking over his body did little to calm Ryeowook down. He could probably stand his ground against Yesung, the question was just for how long.
"I think I will taste you some time though, Ryeowook-ah." The eyes fixed on his form before the other vampire disappeared into the darkness suggested he did not necessarily mean just Ryeowook's blood.
--
"Seasoning, I really hope you're not wearing that outfit outside. It looks terrible."
Zhou Mi nearly squawked in indignation, struggling to come up with a reply. Thankfully Sungmin stepped in for him. "Heechul, I don't know what you're talking about. That jacket is from the latest Gucci line. It's not even supposed to be out yet. Do you know who we had to kill to get a hold of it?"
Heechul just rolled his eyes, waving an annoyed hand at them from his spot in his chair. "Fine, whatever, go out looking terrible. I'm just trying to be a nice leader with the hopes of maintaining my clan's image as snappy dressers, and you're all just set on ruining it."
"Well, you could go out with us for once," suggested Zhou Mi, fiddling with the seams of his new leather jacket, as if deciding whether or not he really did want to wear it. "You used to go out with us all of the time, and now you always stay in..."
"Yeah," Sungmin joined in. "Now you just stay in with that new toy of yours. And it's not like he even talks to you. What's the point?"
Heechul glared at both of them, an icy gaze strong enough to set fearful looks in both of their eyes. "I'll have you know I'm making very good progress with him."
"Oh? Have you even gotten him to feed yet?" asked Sungmin with some level of skepticism, though the look Heechul shot him made it look like he'd wished he had said nothing at all.
"Not yet, but I at least took him out. I think having him meet Kibum may have knocked some sense into him... at least he's angrier at Kibum now than he is at me." Heechul looked proud of the fact. Even if Hankyung was still being stupid and mopey at least Heechul had the comfort that it wasn't completely caused by himself any more. Despite all appearances, Heechul really did want the best for all of his children. It just had a different way of letting it show, was all.
"You met up with Kibum?" Ryeowook looked suprised as he entered the room, a hand rubbing against his neck. Heechul raised an eyebrow at the motion but got no reply.
"We might have gone into his territory again while we were out hunting," Heechul replied innocently. He swung his legs over the arm of the chair he was resting in with a sigh. "He seems pretty confident on that new kid of his. I guess it really is Hankyung's friend that he turned."
"Poor kid," said Ryeowook with a frown. "Gets turned against his will, and a few days later, so does his friend. And to a rival clan, no less."
"Well, we shouldn't let them get away with that," said Sungmin, with Zhou Mi nodding his agreement at his side.
"I threatened war on Kibum," Heechul said with a shrug. "I think that's what he's trying for, anyway. I hate to give him what he wants, but we need to show him that we're the ones who rule this city, not him."
"Are you going to declare?" Zhou Mi looked a little scared at the thought, but Heechul couldn't blame him. Zhou Mi was one of the youngest in the clan, and had never been through a clan war before. But there was always a time to learn.
"Eventually, if he keeps acting like an arrogant prick with a stick up his ass. But I'd have to do with some kind of message that will leave a mark," said Heechul. He always had to do everything in style. Kill one of their clan? That would be messy, and against a lot of rules that were even older than he was. But there had to be something. Heechul didn't doubt that he would figure it out.
Sungmin grinned. If anyone looked forward to a war, it would be Sungmin. He was well-trained as a fighter-- and he also found a thrill in it that was lost on most people. Heechul knew he could count on him.
"Come out with us tonight. We'll have a party on the town to celebrate!" laughed Sungmin. "Bring that boy toy of yours, it'll do him some good to become part of the family, anyway."
Heechul contemplated for a moment, but it didn't take long for him to agree. It had been far too long since they had all gone out together. And if war broke out, it might be a while before they could do it again.
-
There was a different air around the city from the last time he returned. Almost as if it was overflowing with tension and he did not like that feeling. It spoke of trouble. He frowned, carefully masking his scent as he strolled through the streets, looking for tell-tale signs of what was going on.
It wasn't too hard to find either, residues of fights in the air, the scent of blood caught in his nose on every step. As if no one had even bothered to disguise their existence. The further he ventured into the city, the deeper his frown grew. There was a war on the verge of breaking out here, anyone could see that. Well, anyone with his abilities. His experience. And those never ended well for either side involved.
He sighed, running a hand through messy hair. Seemed like this wasn't going to end as just another friendly visit. Instead the task of knocking some sense into Heechul was waiting for him. Henry was not looking forward to it.