[J14] LIGHT A FIRE (WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE) (1/3)
Prompt Code: J14
Title: light a fire (where the wild things are)
Rating: G
Side Pairings: -
Warnings: -
Word Count: 20, 960w
Summary: Jongin thinks they’re meant to be at odds. Kyungsoo is quite determined to prove him wrong, and oh, drink his blood.
AN: This is my first time writing anything like that and I really had quite a lot of fun, but at the same time because it’s so new to me, I probably didn’t do it so well. Nevertheless, to the prompter: I really, really, really hope this doesn’t disappoint you! I tried my hardest to stick to what you wanted while retaining what I liked so I hope this will be to your satisfaction. Not forgetting, a massive THANK YOU to my beta; you have no idea how much you have helped me. Like honestly, this fic would be 10x crappier without you. Lastly, this is going to be one hell of a ride and it’s considerably lengthy so brace yourself!!!!!! If I have the time and motivation, I might continue to expand on this AU. And that’s it! Adieu ^___^
It was raining the day their paths crossed for the first time. Not a drizzle, but the kind of rain that poured on and on relentlessly and incessantly. Red was scattered across the sky. Kyungsoo thought it very much looked as though it had split right open in the middle and rain was bleeding through. He leaned his cheek against a curled fist, face turned towards the glistening street outside. It felt like the rain would never stop as they pounded against the window, each drop sharp and carried its own tempo.
He noticed the man then on the street, and it seemed so natural that he would notice the shadowed figure standing right beside the lamppost across the road. He was pretty far off, and his judgment was clouded by the rain and darkness of the evening, but the figure definitely belonged to a tall and slim man. He was wearing a sweater with the hood drawn, hair out of sight and the top half of his face veiled in shadows. Just there, standing in the rain, getting completely drenched. Completely uncaring. And staring right at Kyungsoo.
His eyes were hidden, yes, but Kyungsoo could feel them trained on him. He kept his eyes on the hooded figure, the same way the hooded figure himself was staring at Kyungsoo. And then something in the world shifted. He felt it, and he knew the hooded figure did too. It was a message from the universe.
It was meant to be. It had been written in the stars when the universe came together that Kyungsoo would spot this mysterious figure on an evening the world was swallowed by rain. They were at the crossroads now.
He sat up straight, gaze unyielding. But they were still separated by distance he had no control over. A car cruised past slowly, and shielded the hooded figure from Kyungsoo’s sight. His posture had never been straighter. His breath caught in his throat. The car passed.
And the street across the road was empty. It was like a ghost-town, except for the dim lights shining out of the old antique shops. There was no hooded figure beside a lamppost, no one at the mercy of the rain, no crossroads.
Kyungsoo blinked slowly, and then shifted his attention back to his papers.
-
He arrived at the crossroads again a week later. It didn’t occur to him as quickly as it did the first time round. Hair mussed, eyelids heavy, arms wrapped around a thick book on Gothic Literature, it was fair to say Kyungsoo definitely wasn’t in the best state of mind. He hadn’t slept a wink for the past five days, and it was undoubtedly starting to take a toll on him. Lost in thought and eager to get back to his sanctuary, he had long since tuned out of his surroundings. The hooded figure’s appearance caught him by surprise.
It wasn’t difficult and didn’t take a perfectly-timed coincidence to spot him this time round. He was standing right before Kyungsoo. Still in a sweater, with the hood drawn again, and nothing had changed except that it wasn’t raining anymore and the distance had been done away with.
He was much taller than Kyungsoo had estimated. About a head taller, and seemingly well-built with broad shoulders and long legs. Nothing further could be concluded. Kyungsoo stopped in his tracks. It was evening, and the sky was a diffused velvet blue this time. He didn’t need the light from the surrounding street lamps to aid in his vision, but he was grateful for it in his current state of lethargy.
All it would take was five steps. Just five steps for their paths to collide and cross. Kyungsoo remained perfectly still. He lost track of how long he stood there. His mind was a little messed up from the lack of sleep and food, but his stance remained defensive. The hooded figure mirrored his actions, albeit with an aggressive aura.
Kyungsoo waited. He wasn’t in total control of himself. And danger seemed to be swelling in this situation. His instincts were slowly starting to take over, but he had to suppress them. Seconds and minutes flew right by as he struggled between irrationality and sensibility, his mouth drawn into a tight line.
Then the hooded figure spoke.
“I know who you are.”
His voice was deep, and it shot right through Kyungsoo. He let out a barely audible gasp, eyes widening slightly. Something in him shifted. He had denial at the tip of his tongue, but then it melted into thin air as quickly as it came. The crossroads. He felt it. It came slow, but it was here now.
His feet were at shoulder-width, arms still tight around his book, and he let his eyes fall shut for a moment. When they opened, they were narrowed and lighter than his usual amber eyes, a hint of gray in the uncertainty of the night.
“I’m not clueless as to who you are, either.”
The hooded figure did not react for the first few seconds, and then his response was non-verbal. He pulled his hood back, dark hair and darker eyes glinting in the moonlight. His lips parted, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly, creating the false impression of a smile. Kyungsoo clenched his fists. It was nothing like a smile. He saw the fangs, just a bit of them, exactly what the hooded figure intended. Then he turned around and was gone within seconds, melting into the night.
Kyungsoo had to keep walking this path now. There was no way to reverse.
He resumed his journey. His eyelids were no longer as heavy, his eyes a pretty shade of amber again; his guard was down.
Raven hair, dark eyes, and fangs - there was no mistaking it. He didn’t need to see the marks on his body for confirmation. It was clear as day, dark as night.
Kim Jongin, House of Night.
-
Quite the impression was made the third time they met. It happened slightly a week after that fateful little run-in, when Kyungsoo was rested enough and his senses sharp again. In truth, he already knew there was another presence in the alley when he decided to walk through that shortcut with his hands tucked into his pockets. He was prepared, ready to take on what he had to.
Jongin’s aggressiveness threw him off balance just slightly. Kyungsoo was flung against the wall all too suddenly, Jongin’s grip suffocatingly tight around his neck. He was completely lifted off the ground with his feet hanging several inches in the air.
He had almost forgotten the magnitude of the strength creatures like them could possess, having blended so perfectly into human life. His face was masked with impassiveness even though he chided himself internally for underestimating the danger Jongin could potentially bring.
“Do Kyungsoo,” was said with the meanest sneer Kyungsoo had witnessed in a long while now. He let his eyes take in the dark eyes, the dark hair, everything that was the opposite of him.
Kyungsoo did not speak. He remained motionless by choice, waiting to hear what Jongin had to say.
“What are you doing here?”
His feet came into contact with solid ground just as suddenly as it was robbed from him. A brief moment was used to steady himself and keep his stand firm as fingers curled into fists.
“I was on my way to getting dinner,” replied Kyungsoo with defiance overflowing in his eyes.
Jongin did not relent from the gaze. He still kept Kyungsoo trapped against the wall. He was easily three inches taller, and his muscles were taut beneath his tight black T-shirt. Even though they both knew Kyungsoo wouldn’t run, his palms were still pressed against the wall on either side of the smaller male. He was caged in.
And Jongin certainly didn’t look very happy with his answer.
“In this school. In this place. Are you after me?”
Kyungsoo tried to look for malice in those eyes, but there was none. His fists remained clenched as he resolved not to Change, not keen on any enmity between them.
“I have been here for far longer than you have. What makes you think I have prophetic abilities on top of everything else?” was retorted in a steady voice of reason and for a moment Jongin’s eyes seemed to soften, but it didn’t last very long.
“I can’t trust your type.”
“What do you want me to do?”
The taller male leaned in. His eyes were so, so, so dark. Kyungsoo couldn’t look away. So dark, so mysterious, and so damn alluring.
His words were forceful; every single syllable was exhaled through clenched teeth. “I want you to know that if you try anything funny, anything at all, I will take you down.”
There was barely enough time to register the gleaming fangs as Jongin’s lips parted wide enough before darkness crashed heavily into him. He was engulfed. Blinding darkness all over; a raging storm that had no intentions of ceasing yet. Something sharp scraped his neck and his breath halted, skin erupting into goosebumps. He waited for Jongin’s fangs to sink into his neck, for him to realize he was not a pureblood, but it never came. Silence and darkness remained his captor.
Now he was angry. He let the Change he had so desperately been trying to suppress burst forth just as a crack split the darkness and light poured in, a tidal wave consuming everything in its path. It was so strong, he couldn’t help it. The light was impossible to control and he could feel the fire in his palms. Then the defeated darkness was gone. His sight was back, but there was nobody in sight. The alley was empty again.
The world was still for a long while as Kyungsoo assessed the damage around him. Many years of suppressing what was completely natural to him had gave life to the paradox of stronger but weakened self-control. He had not Changed for many years now, only when his thirst invaded him entirely, but even then he had not used any of his powers. He had been determined to guard it from the world that took everything away from him until now.
Now he stood surrounded by the burning cardboards and trash that littered this little alleyway, home to some unfortunate souls. The fire would burn out soon enough, Kyungsoo was sure of it. He was its master.
He shut his eyes, willing the fire to burn everything to ashes.
Do Kyungsoo, House of Day.
He hadn’t been that, not since they came and killed every single vampire they found. Kyungsoo witnessed only the aftermath when he returned from a solo trip into the woods. He was only trying to find himself and he came back to find everyone else lost forever. A new vampire back then, all he could do was run until the world threatened to fall apart. Would he have been called lucky or a coward?
Kyungsoo hadn’t been a vampire since.
When the gears of the clockwork started spinning again Kyungsoo turned towards the direction he knew Jongin had left in. He must have ran for days to put as much distance as he could between himself and whoever did that to his people. He didn’t look back, he never did, but he found himself staring after Jongin now. There was no putting out the fire once the flame had been reignited. It would only continue to burn, stronger and stronger.
Jongin’s presence lingered long after he was gone.
The crossroads merged into one.
Something in him was awakening. Something that had been suppressed for a long, long, long time.
-
His concentration scattered only when Jongin walked into the lecture theatre. He didn’t need to turn around to see him, his strong presence the clearest indication. It was something Kyungsoo had not felt for the longest time, and it was a sensation both familiar and terrifying. Whether he welcomed it or not, there was still no way to tell.
The taller vampire was already staring at him when Kyungsoo turned. Their eyes met instantly and the little flame burned on steadily. He could see every single detail of Jongin’s face now that he could afford indulgence, the distance proving nothing to his unhumanly sharp eyesight. He didn’t need to see the marks to know Jongin was a pure-blood. His face was sculpted perfectly, sharp around the edges and cheekbones prominently high. There would have been no other explanation for his especially strong presence and how helplessly Kyungsoo found himself gravitating towards him despite knowing how Jongin felt about him.
Kyungsoo had walked this earth for an awfully and unbearably long time all alone as his destiny would have it. It was the punishment of being the sole survivor of his clan. The misery was his to bear, the guilt was his to shoulder, and this hint of hope was something he used to dream of with fervent desperation so long ago it was completely foreign now.
It could have been 5 seconds since their eyes met, or 5 minutes; there was no knowing for sure, but Kyungsoo couldn’t bring himself to tear his gaze away. The thought of attracting attention from people surrounding them was ignored in pursuit of the light before his very eyes. He was blind to everything else but Jongin. It wouldn’t take a lot to convince him that the universe had shrunk and encompassed only the two of them at this moment.
For an eternity he didn’t even have the smallest shred of hope, but now there was a small flickering flame barely beyond him. With a little luck, it did seem as if it would be in his grasp as long as he stretched his arm far enough.
That was exactly what he was doing, if only the flame didn’t simmer into nothing.
Time was caught in a tug-of-war between flowing too quickly and not passing at all when Jongin rose gracefully and all eyes turned to him. He broke the charm, walked away, and any rational thoughts in Kyungsoo had long ceased to exist when he got to his feet and chased after Jongin.
His heart was beating in a jerky sort of manner, almost mechanically, when he caught up with Jongin who wasn’t very far off.
“Jongin!”
The taller vampire didn’t bother to respond. He continued walking down the hallway, his backpack slung over one shoulder. Kyungsoo took bigger strides and reached out for Jongin’s wrist. He knew it was a bad choice, and that was proven true when he was slammed against the wall with Jongin’s grip too tight around his fingers.
His other hand was still tucked in his pocket. There was cockiness in assuming he needed only one arm to tame Kyungsoo but he wasn’t exactly wrong. His eyes were dark, too dark, and Kyungsoo struggled not to get lost in them and lose his ability of speech. It was arduous effort to remember where he was.
“What do you want? I thought I made it perfectly clear for you to stay the fuck away from me.” It was a statement, not a question.
“I-“
Jongin’s grip became practically bone-crushing before Kyungsoo got the chance to form a coherent reply. It would have reduced a human to ashes by now and Jongin knew that pretty damn well. He wasn’t trying to hurt Kyungsoo for real, just scaring him.
It wasn’t working one bit.
Kyungsoo was flustered on the surface, but in his heart was a blanket of calmness. He closed his eyes for a moment, willing his composure to be on its best side before he collected his thoughts and did what he thought would make Jongin understand how seriously he was taking this.
His eyes were gray, so bright, a mystical light trying to infiltrate the darkness of Jongin’s own eyes.
“Why are you doing this?” He asked, voice as steady as he had hoped it would be. It was all coming out. The Change. He couldn’t keep this up for long because soon he would grow thirsty again, and that was too dangerous. He couldn’t expect to conquer Jongin if he couldn’t even keep himself in check.
Jongin did not flinch. It was light against darkness. Kyungsoo against Jongin.
“The past is still fresh in my mind. This is how we’re supposed to act. Don’t act like you’re clueless.”
The past he was referring to was by no means any shared history between him and Kyungsoo. He was talking about the grudge their clans held, the very one that tore them apart and gave birth to enmity between them. It was one Kyungsoo always knew about, but never understood. He wanted to roll his eyes so badly. Did Jongin think they were reenacting Romeo and Juliet? Regardless, nobody in his clan ever talked about it. Perhaps Kyungsoo was still new, but he really harbored no ill feelings towards Jongin.
“It’s only like this because you want it to be. We don’t have to be like this. I haven’t seen any other vampire since that happened, Jongin, and I don’t want us to pit ourselves against each other because of this reason. We don’t have to.”
Jongin drew his hand from his pocket and slammed it into the wall, narrowly missing Kyungsoo’s head. He was dangerously close now. Kyungsoo could feel his breath on his face. It was very warm, and he had to tilt his head back so he could maintain the eye-contact.
“What do you know? You’re not even pure.” Jongin hissed, and then drew his lip back, revealing his fangs. This was bad. This was too dangerous. Someone could walk past and see them. Even though they could probably hear them from a distance away, Kyungsoo wasn’t sure if Jongin would snap out of this. He wasn’t sure if he could snap out of this.
His own self control was slipping, teetering on the edge, and what was locked was breaking free, free, free.
“You’re right,” Kyungsoo said slowly. His tongue felt heavy, words heavier. “I’m not pure like you, but I’m still a vampire.”
Jongin was more than capable of trapping him in darkness once again, but he didn’t. He did nothing beyond holding Kyungsoo against the wall as he did in the small alley. Similarly, there was no real malice in his eyes now, just anger and confusion, and Kyungsoo wanted to get to the bottom of it all. If selfishness was his reason for wanting to retain Jongin by his side, so be it. He didn’t even think he would find anyone like him again, so even if Jongin seemed to hate him with all his heart, he had no intentions of letting him go. These thoughts occupied all of his mind, and barely any attention was paid to the chains rattling, to what was gaining enough energy to break through his suppression.
“Barely.”
There it was.
Kyungsoo slumped, feeling all the air leave his body. His gaze dropped to the marbled floor.
Barely.
He had tried his hardest to integrate into human life after losing everything, and he had been so successful, too successful. Jongin was right. He was barely a vampire anymore.
And then it broke free.
The first thing he felt was the hunger burning through the pit of his stomach and briefly wondered how Jongin had managed to deal with this if he had remained what he was.
He drew his own lips back, exposing sharp fangs. He could see himself- no, someone unrecognizable in Jongin’s eyes.
“I’m thirsty,” Kyungsoo whispered. He didn’t know what came over him. All he knew was that he had been holding this back for so long and now that it was free, he couldn’t help himself. Jongin’s chest was sturdy and Kyungsoo’s finger trailed higher until he was fingering his collar. There was no knowing when his hand got there; not that it was an important detail. He let the hunger claim control over him. The other hand found its other half and Jongin let him undo the first two buttons of his shirt daftly, exposing the sturdy chest he felt and the marks he had longed to see.
The vampire marks.
Kyungsoo had seen them, but never of vampires belonging to the House of Night. Jongin was the first. His marks were exquisite. The tell-tale crescent of his clan was an onyx constellation in the middle of his chest and Kyungsoo was enthralled. He couldn’t look away, couldn’t advise himself otherwise as his finger landed on the tip of crescent and Jongin’s burning skin. A half-blood would possess only the mark of his clan, but Jongin was a pure, and equally charming onyx lines swirled around his crescent, extending across his chest.
His finger was just starting to trail downwards when Jongin withdrew, stepping backwards, and Kyungsoo nearly lost balance. He hadn’t realized he had gotten this close to the taller vampire. There was a moment of deathly silent when the epiphany what he had just done sank in tenderly. It wasn’t Jongin who had gotten closer. It was him, half mad with hunger. He didn’t know what was scarier-the fact that he had been trying to take some of Jongin’s blood, or that Jongin had witnessed his little game.
Jongin walked away without a glance back, doing up his buttons as he went. The other male was left where he stood, feeling nothing but overwhelmed. The key was dangling before him, and now everything was spiraling out of his control. All these years he had spent trying to become as human as he possibly could were wasted.
The thirst left flames in its wake as Kyungsoo continued to stare after Jongin. He was in a lot of trouble. But he had not felt this alive in a very long time.
-
Losing all of his sanity was an inevitable outcome if Kyungsoo continued to try and suppress his thirst by mostly ignoring what was crucial. The professor droned on and on as he tapped his pen against the table, a steady rhythm he likened to the flow of blood around him. His senses were now fully enhanced. He couldn’t ignore what was pressing down on him anymore. He needed to Drink.
It had been a week since he last saw the pureblood vampire; that not being something he particularly minded until now. He didn’t want Jongin to look at him when his self-control was next to none. The disdain in Jongin’s eyes wouldn’t do him any good.
Animal blood was not enough to quench his thirst. He was in the midst of Changing. It would take so much more than just animal blood to fulfil this. He knew all too well what he needed, but he didn’t have many friends, or any friends for that matter. Since they were all acquaintances, he didn’t know where he was going to find blood to satisfy him without hurting anyone. Human blood was the last resort- there was another kind of blood that could complete his Change.
A dozen eyes followed after him as he tried his best to be as discreet as possible in leaving the lecture theatre. His senses were at their peak, but he was not as graceful as he was a long time ago. Clearly, none of that had been taken away from Jongin. He had been dealing with this in a very different manner.
Kyungsoo’s footsteps were heavy and dragged as he swept the empty hallway. Helplessness kept trying to overcome him on top of everything else. A long sigh accompanied his footsteps as he raked a trembling hand through his hair, not knowing what to do, what to think, what to feel.
He knew where Jongin was. This connection had intensified since the last encounter. It was impossible not to feel the pureblood vampire’s overwhelmingly strong presence, especially because there was something deep inside Kyungsoo calling out for him. He was burning with need for his blood.
His people used to take the blood of humans as well, but they had turned to hunting animals instead to avoid providing the Hunters with more reasons to annihilate them. The ones that had completed their Change could indulge in each other’s blood from time to time. They struggled for peace. That didn’t work out in the end, evidently. Kyungsoo came to a rest, sneakers scuffed against the ground. In his current state, rationality was a forgotten dream. The intricate thoughts in his mind were beyond his comprehension.
He was turning into an animal.
And he had to make a decision right now.
The lecture notes he had clutched in his hands were reduced to ashes in a matter of seconds as his footsteps became resolute and steady. The Kyungsoo who had left the lecture theatre was a hunter, and Jongin his prey.
It was the Kyungsoo who could proudly declare himself to be part of his clan. Jongin was calling. He would respond.
-
He didn’t mind that Jongin didn’t greet him at the door. The doorknob melted easily in his hand and Kyungsoo strolled into the living room. It was minimalism at its finest. Jongin had really done away with everything except for what was really necessary- a small couch beside the window and a coffee table and that was it. Kyungsoo only had time to briefly entertain his curiosity of exploring the rest of the apartment before he was plunged into darkness again despite knowing sunlight was pouring in through the open window.
This time, he already knew what to expect.
“I’m not afraid of the dark, Jongin.”
The other vampire didn’t relinquish the darkness he had unleashed. He knew Kyungsoo had his own way out of this. He was testing Kyungsoo’s strength and will.
“I can give you a reason to be,” he said.
Kyungsoo proved him otherwise. He felt the darkness crumble, a million shattered pieces at the mercy of Kyungsoo as he conjured his own gift of light. The smaller male was met with the sight of Jongin in sweatpants and a black T-shirt, sleeves rolled up in revelation of his biceps. He was what would have been a comfortable distance away in other circumstances, but Kyungsoo was here for his blood and he was too far away for his liking. An inch apart was the most he could withstand.
“You know why I’m here,” Kyungsoo whispered.
The dauntless look in Jongin’s eyes showed no signs of yielding. He stood his ground.
“Why should I let you feed on me?”
Prior to coming face to face with the man himself, Kyungsoo had not the slightest intention of using his powers on Jongin but Jongin had a way of forcing him into a corner. Self-control broke free of his grasp and Kyungsoo’s fist loosened, a strong flame dancing steadily on his palm.
“Other than the fact that I can set you on fire?”
Jongin’s gaze flickered ever so slightly. The fire did not steal his attention from Kyungsoo.
“Other than that,” he answered.
A wry smile tugged at Kyungsoo’s lips. “Because my blood is just as good for you as yours is for me.”
Jongin’s coldness was untouchable. Kyungsoo’s fire was no match for it.
“I know you are aware that I can do without your blood.”
The flame did not weaken even as darkness started to close in. It was day out, but Jongin was doing his thing again. Light against darkness, coming together.
Kyungsoo took a step forward. Jongin did not flinch. He wanted to ask how he had been satisfying his thirst then, but that question dissolved on the tip of his tongue as he decided on the futility of it. It wouldn’t make a difference. Jongin could have been draining humans of their blood and it wouldn’t sway Kyungsoo’s determination to feed on him. He wanted to sink his fangs into Jongin’s neck and feel the blood pour in. He wanted to find comfort in the pureness of his blood. He wanted to feel like a vampire again.
“Are you going to come to me willingly or am I going to have to take you by force?”
“Why are you so sure you’re a match for me?”
The bubbling tension filled up the empty spaces in the apartment, a stifling presence that only hardened his resolve. He took another step, one that signaled his readiness.
“Three.”
Jongin’s face remained completely unruffled.
“Two.”
Yet Kyungsoo got the sense that he was only waiting for him to make his move.
“One.”
The dance had started the moment Kyungsoo spotted the hooded figure on that rainy evening, and it was his turn to lead this time.
Darkness crashed into him but he remained undefeated as the distance between them was bridged in the blink of an eye and he made no detours, fangs sinking right into Jongin’s neck. From that moment, nothing but Jongin mattered. Time froze entirely as blood spilled into Kyungsoo’s mouth, rich and hot. He couldn’t help a small moan as it flowed down his throat thickly. It had been too long and it was so incredibly good. Images of a face that had become very distant in his memories flashed through his mind, a mellifluous voice speeding through the passage of time loud and clear in his head- You should try it for yourself one day, Kyungsoo. He sucked harder, harder, and harder still, for the thirst only seemed to grow stronger. There was nothing stronger than the desire to drink as much as he wanted until the thirst went away, until the memories stopped haunting him, and the universe could align with his own constellation again.
He was still blinded by the darkness when he was thrown back with unspeakable strength, back slamming into the wall so hard he was sure there would be a crack. It was still dark when his vision returned. Jongin had them encapsulated in his circle of darkness.
“This is why you came to me, huh?”
A very helpless smile was Kyungsoo’s answer as he wiped his mouth with his sleeve. It came away bloody. Jongin was very perceptive, there was no need for elaboration. He probably already figured it out the moment Kyungsoo stepped into his apartment and was just waiting for confirmation. It had to be him. Kyungsoo had to drink from him because he was the only one who was strong enough to stop him. Had it been some ordinary human, he would be left drained of his blood by the time Kyungsoo was finished with him, and it still wouldn’t match up to just one mouthful of Jongin’s pure blood.
His thirst wasn’t about to go anywhere yet, but it wasn’t bothering him as much anymore. Now he could think. He remained unashamed even with his rationality returning in tatters. This was what he had to do and he would do it all over again if he had to.
The bite marks on Jongin’s neck were already imperceptible.
Kyungsoo hooked his collar with his fingers, pulling it aside to expose as much skin as he could. He cocked his head to the side so Jongin had totally unrestricted access. Allowing him to drink his blood right now wasn’t the smartest thing to do, nevertheless, he had to repay Jongin in one way or another. He couldn’t think of anything else Jongin could possibly want from him.
“Come on,” he said with a hint of impatience as Jongin took his time closing the distance between them.
Jongin’s eyes were impossible to look away from. He wondered how they could remain so cold all the time. The taller vampire leaned in, inhaling deeply and Kyungsoo let his eyes fall shut. Hoping he wouldn’t collapse was the best he could ask for. It wasn’t something that should weaken him, but Kyungsoo happened to be immensely vulnerable right now.
Sharp fangs grazed against his bare skin and Kyungsoo’s breath hitched momentarily, deja vu washing over him. He waited, and waited, and waited, and there was nothing. His eyes shot open, only to meet Jongin’s intense gaze.
“Get lost.”
The darkness was already being lifted as he spoke, diffused light filtering through the veil. Kyungsoo’s eyes trailed down to where his own lips had been pressed against a while ago. He could still smell the blood and his tongue darted out to lick his lips, an instinctive move with the thought of paradise. Jongin’s face darkened, well aware of Kyungsoo’s intentions.
“I will destroy you,” he promised, his tone so cold and resolute it offered no space for disbelief.
Anyone could tell by the predatory look in Kyungsoo’s eyes what he wanted to do. He was already addicted. His first drug-Jongin’s blood.
As the light came rushing back, Kyungsoo’s eyes cleared. He blinked slowly, trying to register everything that had just happened and the dangerous thoughts in his mind that grew progressively distant as the sun reclaimed him. He still wanted to drink from Jongin again, desperately so, but now was not the time. Besides, Jongin had not accepted his own offer. He couldn’t take without paying back.
He didn’t need to be told twice. He took one last look at Jongin, and left.
The blood stains on his sleeve served as the only proof that this ever happened.
-
Hell rained on the following days, a storm like never before. Kyungsoo kept himself locked in his room, steering clear of all human interactions. Something very drastic was happening in his body, and he was too weak to restrain himself. He knew he would pounce on whoever looked healthy enough to satisfy his thirst.
Jongin’s appearance had completely wrecked the world he had built for himself. The Change was forcing him to become the vampire he was before the tragedy, but it happened to be everything he had been trying to avoid. Just crossing paths with Jongin changed all of that. He felt just as lost as he did back then.
Isolating himself from the outside world left him in a delirious frenzy, and the hallucinations he was drowning in were the worst. They consumed him whole. The ghosts of his past haunted him relentlessly, drifting through the fire and Hunters, and Baekhyun’s face appeared endlessly. He would have thought he had transcended time if not for the distorted images that loomed before him.
You should try it for yourself one day, Kyungsoo.
He brought his knees to his chest, hands cupped to his ears. It did nothing to block out the noise, but he had to try.
You should- should-
He tried to moisten his cracked lips. The thirst had left his throat in flames and it had only worsened over the past few days. He needed to Drink so badly he was going insane.
Baekhyun’s face was just as he remembered; sharp features and kohl-lined eyes. His friend was right beside him, face so incredibly close to his own he could almost feel his rasp of cold breath.
You should your- for yourself- self- day-
A scream tore its way out, ripping everything in its path as Baekhyun’s face burst into flames. The choking smoke wasn’t half as bad as the pungent fear that reeked from the burning corpse before him. Kyungsoo’s body had completely frozen. Only fire could warm him up- the same fire that destroyed everyone else. This had to be it. This had to be how his people felt when the Hunters came for them.
Kyungsoo mustered all of his remaining strength and forced his eyes shut. His palms felt the heat first and a small flame burst into life, flickering weakly. He would set himself on fire and end it all.
The door was completely torn from its hinges as a tall shadow slid into his room, footsteps agile. The flame went out and Kyungsoo’s eyes were damp with tears. Fear, anxiety, relief, all at once.
His body was absolutely burning when Jongin reached him, wrapping his long fingers around Kyungsoo’s warms. A barely audible gasp left his lips at how fucking hot Kyungsoo’s skin was. The smaller vampire had really done himself in. His face was ghastly, lips ashen, and he was shaking. He was almost unrecognizable. This couldn’t possibly be the same vampire that left his place the other day. Tears streamed down his face as he trembled, his breath coming in irregular intervals.
The heat from Kyungsoo’s skin was burning his bare skin but Jongin held on. He couldn’t take his eyes off Kyungsoo in his state of suffering. This was pain beyond imagination. He knew because he had been through that in the early days when he was on the run, trying to become as human as possible while avoiding the ghosts of his past. It was a mistake he had made and now Kyungsoo was suffering the same fate. He wasn’t entirely blameless, which was why he was here.
Kyungsoo was still hyperventilating when Jongin dug a sharp nail into the juncture where his neck and shoulder met. The other hand shifted upwards until he was cupping the back of Kyungsoo’s head, pulling him forward. Then he positioned himself above his head before his blood came gushing out. Kyungsoo’s lips remained closed until the first drop landed on his lips and he gasped audibly. His lips parted and Jongin leaned forward, allowing the blood to flow freely into his mouth.
He let Kyungsoo drink, already feeling his presence regain some of its energy. It grew stronger and stronger and Kyungsoo had been drinking for at least five minutes when Jongin straightened up, pressing two fingers against the wound on his neck and feeling it heal instantaneously. This was his limit. He couldn’t spare any more blood or it would be at the expense of himself. Sparing this much of his own blood was already toeing the boundary.
Kyungsoo definitely looked better. His face had regained some of its colour even though he was still deathly pale, and he was no longer shaking as badly. His arms were still wrapped around himself, and Jongin slowly released his grip on the back of Kyungsoo’s neck.
His palm was burnt, the skin red and raw. He felt the pain- every single second of it, but there was nothing that could have disrupted him from feeding Kyungsoo. The pain was nothing but numbness now. Jongin studied it for a little longer. It didn’t seem like anything worse than a second-degree burn, so it would seem he had nothing grave to worry about with his ability to heal quickly. It wouldn’t take more than three days.
Kyungsoo’s skin had practically been on fire.
Jongin took a risk and pressed his other palm against Kyungsoo’s cheek. It didn’t come away red and raw, so that was a good sign. The smaller vampire’s eyes were shut, his breath steady; the worst was over. Now he just needed to rest. He didn’t want to think what would have happened if he wasn’t here to help Kyungsoo or if he had been able to ignore his pain. In fact, his heart clenched a little as he looked at Kyungsoo’s docile form before him. The boy was asleep, and with some luck, he would remain so for the next few days until he had healed inside.
He sat down beside the bed, feeling the tendrils of fatigue wrap around him. It had been a very long time since he offered this much blood to anyone. Kyungsoo had taken some previously, but that was a very minimal amount, barely enough to help with his thirst. He remained in that exact position until the sun set and cast long shadows into the room, just watching Kyungsoo’s face. His eyebrows pulled together occasionally, but otherwise he was perfectly still.
Jongin let the night heal him as well, directing all of its energy towards his burnt palm. He hadn’t gotten out of this the easy way. That night, he had left seven corpses in his path, all completely drained of their blood. He was able to live with it, but he knew it wouldn’t be the same for Kyungsoo. Kyungsoo was nothing like him. This boy wasn’t pure, and he did not have the same hardiness Jongin did.
The moon watched over the two of them as the gentle night breeze engaged the lightly swaying curtains in a dance.
Part 2