Cast A Shadow Over Me (ii)
He is not supposed to be there, at the very same club, not when he just fed five days ago. But here he is, moping about blood packs with too much addictive and less real blood. He shouldn’t have trusted Kris in the first place for giving him pure blood. Blood packs, afterall, are sold for the China Capital’s profits.
Joonmyun doesn’t want to get drunk, especially when it is so easy for him to lose control in drunken state. But he figures he might need one or two pints to ease the system inside him. Besides, alcohol is unlikely to harm a vampire. Baekhyun still lives until this day despite his daily dose of alcohol.
He orders the same drink he got the last time with Baekhyun. He could have ordered others, but he likes staying safe with something he is familiar with. Unless he has someone coaxing him out of it insistently, that is. And no, it doesn’t necessarily have to be Baekhyun. Kris works, too.
The bartender comes over, asking him for a refill with a flirty smile, and a half bent body so he is almost invading Joonmyun’s personal space. He smells like alcohol, mostly, but also hints of lemon and strawberry. He is close, but not close enough to drive Joonmyun on the edge of retracting his fangs.
“Yes, please,” Joonmyun answers with a smile, his voice warm.
“Not here often?” The bartender asks as he hands over Joonmyun’s glass, which is now filled with more liquor. His long blonde hair is tied neatly to the back. Joonmyun is not fond of blonds, but he looks rather nice in his eyes.
“I’m not the club type, to be honest.” He lets out a soft laugh and finds out that the bartender likes it by the gleam in his eyes.
“Pity. I would be looking forward to see you here more often,” says the bartender, smiling. His arm reaches out to give a soft pat to Joonmyun’s arm. It lingers there, warm, and Joonmyun lets out a soft laugh. The bartender gives him a wink before he retreats to serve another costumer.
Joonmyun wonders if his hunting tonight will be easy. Well, he could easily sneak the bartender out and take him at the back of the club, but it is rather risky. It would be better if he stays inside, doing the feeding in the toilet stalls or in those dark corners used for making out.
With enough amount of alcohol in his system to make him feels lightly headed, Joonmyun makes his way to the dance floor. Not to dance, but to find food. This time, he decides not to be picky and just grab anyone within his reach.
It is a girl, with small sized waist and too big breasts. She gravitates into Joonmyun’s orbit easily, he didn’t even have to give a big effort. Joonmyun leans down to press his nose against her revealed collarbone. She smells like cheap beers and smoke and peppermint candy she probably just had. It’s not his first choice, really. If he could grab another person with better, much sweeter smell, he would. But his teeth are already aching for her taste of blood and he doesn’t have much choice any longer since she is rubbing herself against his crotch.
He is not the type to mix up feeding and sex, but this girl is really eager and Joonmyun has to put her mind somewhere else before she realizes what he is going to do to her. He slips his hand beneath the girl’s too thin shirt and earns a yelp from her. Joonmyun laughs softly, mumbling an apology as he pulls the girl closer and begins to let his hand roams around.
She makes a lot of noises as he fondles with her breast, which Joonmyun finds rather annoying. The noises could draw in attention, and he doesn’t need people to watch what he is doing. But he doesn’t say anything. Instead he lets a few experimental licks against the girl’s neck juncture, feeling the pulse just beneath the layer of skin beating fast. He could taste it already, her blood against his tip of tongue.
The girl moans, and Joonmyun doesn’t waste time to sink his teeth into her soft skin. The taste of copper quickly fills in his mouth. Joonmyun sucks on it like his life is depending on it. His hand is still working on her breast, distracting her from the pain, as he feeds.
When he is done feeding, he laps at the bruise so it would heal faster. The girl doesn’t need to remember that a vampire has bitten her. He looks up, checking the situation around them, and finds a pair of eyes staring at him intently across the room.
Joonmyun doesn’t break off the stare they are holding, not really minding when the girl fainted, falling over onto his embrace with a soft thud. His arm automatically secures around her waist, though. He can feel the owner of the eyes gives him a knowing smirk, and then he is gone in the middle of the warm bodies.
Joonmyun presses his lips together into a thin line, eyes scanning the crowd to find the signs of the man. He couldn’t spot him anywhere, so he takes the girl to a more secluded area and leaves her there.
He considers searching for the man in the crowd, but immediately dissing at the idea. Instead, he chuckles amusedly and shakes his head. The Hunter has found him, and back in his head, the sound of war suddenly becomes clear.
This is going to be interesting.
☆
“What are you reading?”
Joonmyun looks up from his novel to find Baekhyun’s eyes staring curiously at the book in his hands. He smiles, scooting over so Baekhyun could sit down next to him on the couch. Allowing Baekhyun space means allowing him access to all of his belongings, it does Joonmyun no wonders when the younger snatches the novel away from him once he is settled.
“Just a title I found interesting at work.”
It is the author that actually capture’s Joonmyun’s heart. She has the same name with his mother. It is stupid, but it makes him feels closer to her, like she is actually the one who wrote the novel.
“What is it about?” Baekhyun asks, flipping page after page. Baekhyun always likes discovering new things.
“Romance, about people who travel around the world.”
Baekhyun nods, still flipping the pages. When he is satisfied, he puts back the novel on Joonmyun’s lap. “Shame that, I wish we could travel around the world, too.”
“Territories,” Joonmyun reminds him - reminds both of them.
“I know,” Baekhyun smiles. His patiently drums his fingers on Joonmyun’s thigh. “It would be great if we could, though.”
Joonmyun makes a soft agreeing noise, and that’s enough for Baekhyun. He picks his novel up and starts to read again. It is starting to get better, the main character is finally showing his guts to make a move towards his love interest. But he is too stupid for Joonmyun’s liking. Half the book and he still doesn’t know how to label his feelings for the woman.
“Tonight,” Baekhyun clears his throat. Joonmyun turns his head up to look at him. He looks kind of flustered. “Can we patrol together tonight?”
“Why?”
Baekhyun shrugs, the end of his hair shaking lightly against his shoulder. It’s getting long, Joonmyun realizes. Perhaps he needs a cut. He suits short hair better. “I just feel like it.”
Joonmyun firmly shakes his head. “You know we can’t. The area is too large, and we need to cover them tonight. Maybe next week, but not tonight. Splitting up is much more convenient.” Joonmyun likes strategies and sticking up to old habits. He likes to stay in the safety zone.
Baekhyun pouts, but it’s only briefly. He knows that Joonmyun will tease him to death for pouting. Vampires don’t pout, Baekhyun, it’s completely disgraceful, he said with a grin on his face, once.
“Fine, but I won’t be helping you if you come cross wolves tonight,” he says, crossing his arms in front of his chest. He manages to look smug.
Joonmyun laughs, reaching out to ruffle Baekhyun’s hair. It is on the top list of Things That Baekhyun Hates. He does that purely to annoy the younger out. He admits Baekhyun’s special skills against werewolves, even when he is the more experienced vampire. Wolves tend to surrender under Baekhyun’s charm. He is undeniably that strong.
“I won’t need your help. You will be the one on your knees begging me for help.” Joonmyun wets his lower lip. It might be intentional, seeing how Baekhyun’s face turns red in an instant is such an amusement for him.
“You wish,” Baekhyun sticks his tongue out.
Joonmyun shoves Baekhyun’s head rather painfully, causing the older to yelp. He laughs, pulling him back to stroke the hair and pretend to take out the pain he caused. Baekhyun tries to swat his hand away half-heartedly. Both of them know how he secretly likes it when Joonmyun strokes his hair.
I wish, Joonmyun agrees. But Baekhyun doesn’t need to know that.
☆
There is a loud knocking on his door, and Joonmyun really appreciates if it could stop and allow him two more hours of sleep. It is only 10 in the morning, truthfully speaking, and he is not ready to face the sunlight yet. Not when he had a hard time chasing out a sneaky little creature out of his territory last night.
But the knocking is becoming more rapid each seconds, and now there are even shouts from the front door. Joonmyun groans as he settles into a sitting position, adjusting his eyes with the dimmed light coming through his curtains. Heightened senses suck, really. “Coming!” he shouts, finally giving in to the intruder.
It is Chanyeol, with dark denim jacket draped over a black tank and worn jeans that Joonmyun thinks must have been put on in a rush. His face shows worry. Joonmyun is quickly concerned. “Chanyeol, what -“
“It’s Baekhyun,” Chanyeol says quickly. “Hyung he is- The Hunter-“
Joonmyun is immediately alarmed. Baekhyun and Hunter in the same sentence don’t sound really good. “What happened?”
“Last night when he patrolled-the Hunter caught him.” Chanyeol trembles, but he manages to finish the sentence perfectly. He smells of fear and worry and everything so mixed up it gets Joonmyun dizzy. It feels like an open wound, raw and fresh of blood. Joonmyun purses up his lips, trying to get a control of himself.
“Where is he now?”
“In my flats. I tried to wake him up, but he gave no response,” he shakes his head sadly. At the moment, Chanyeol looks like a kicked puppy. Joonmyun puts his hand on his shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “Hyung I - I’m scared.” Of losing him, Chanyeol doesn’t say, but Joonmyun understands.
He smiles softly, “Take me there, I’ll see what I could do.”
Chanyeol wastes no time to drag Joonmyun over to his motorcycle. Joonmyun recalls the first time the human has brought him a ride on the motorcycle. That was a relaxing one, this one is totally for emergency. Either way, Joonmyun doesn’t mind. He likes being on a motorcycle anyway, it feels like flying, only in a more noisy way.
It only takes them half an hour to reach Chanyeol’s apartment. They rush into the room without words, the tension is clearly high in the air. Joonmyun immediately knows where Chanyeol put Baekhyun in, he follows the lead of Baekhyun’s scent and ends up in Chanyeol’s bedroom. It is no surprise, really, and Joonmyun relatively doesn’t feel anything against the idea.
Baekhyun is lying there topless with his eyes closed. There is a wound on his side that earns a frown from Joonmyun.
“There was no bullets,” Chanyeol says softly from behind him. “I have no idea what the Hunter attacked him with. He came over looking like he was bleeding, but he wasn’t. And then he passed out, and I freaked out.”
Joonmyun nods. Something stirs in his stomach. His fellow vampire has been hurt, and it pains him more than anything. Sometimes he regrets his decision to Turn Baekhyun, regrets how it makes him attached with the younger at some degrees. Vampires shouldn’t get attached, that is.
He climbs up Chanyeol’s bed and positions himself next to Baekhyun. His fingers trace over the wound. It looks bad, and Joonmyun swears he would get the Hunter be responsible for it. Then he leans down, soon replacing his fingers with his tongue. He laps at the wound, doing his best to heal it. Truthfully, he is kind of afraid that this method won’t work, since the wound isn’t fresh anymore. Vampires’ saliva is meant to heal only fresh wounds.
But the wound on Baekhyun’s skin gradually disappears, replaced by soft pale skin that Joonmyun couldn’t help but nibble at. It has been long since he gets this intimate with the young vampire, and how could he forget how Baekhyun’s skin tastes like?
Suddenly there is a hand tugging at his hair, and Joonmyun finds himself being pulled up and kissed thoroughly by the younger. The kiss makes him so thirsty, everything about Baekhyun does. It is just that he usually has a great control over it, but today he loses it. He bites on Baekhyun’s lower lip and draws out blood enough to satisfy his thirst.
Baekhyun tries to laugh. It sounds awkward but the vibration sends Joonmyun a huge rush of affection.
“Good morning,” Joonmyun says after he gives the wound he just opened for the younger a few licks.
Baekhyun smiles, eyes meeting his warmly. “Morning. What a nice surprise to wake up to. Do you think I should wound myself more often to get more surprises like this?” His tone is teasing, but Joonmyun slaps his arm lightly anyway.
“When I said I wanted you begging on your knees for help, I certainly didn’t imagine this,” Joonmyun smiles, his fingers trailing on Baekhyun’s face. It has been long since the last time he tried to map out Baekhyun’s face. It is still the same. “Get yourself hurt one more time, and I will be sure to be the one who throws you to the Han river.”
“Ouch,” Baekhyun pouts, and Joonmyun pulls back to a more proper position.
“Tell me about the details,” Joonmyun demands.
Baekhyun’s shoulders tense briefly before they relax under Joonmyun’s skilled fingers. He has pulled himself together into a sitting position, which Joonmyun doesn’t appreciate because he is still hurt and he needs to lie a bit more. “I was patrolling around Gangnam because you went up north,” he pauses, flickering his gaze to Joonmyun. “I was expecting everything but him.”
“The Hunter,” Chanyeol breathes out, and Joonmyun is reminded that the human is still there, witnessing everything he and Baekhyun. He doesn’t mind, he hopes Baekhyun doesn’t mind either.
“Yes,” Baekhyun replies. His eyes flutter close for a few seconds before they open with an interesting gleam of fear and hatred. “I never thought that he would be the Hunter. He looked so young and so ordinary. I circled around this intersection for a few times before I decided to move, but then there’s a loud sound behind me and then there’s bullet scraping my skin.”
Joonmyun takes Baekhyun’s hand in his, slowly caressing a spot on the palm to calm the younger down.
“I thought I was going to die. But I’m already died, so I thought, I was going to die for a second time,” Baekhyu’s voice trembles. He shakes his head. His hand is gripping on Joonmyun’s tightly. “I turned around and saw him staring at me, and then I knew that it was on purpose. He aimed for the bullet to only scrape, to warn me of his presence. He didn’t fire another bullet, though. He let me go. I thought it was weird, and I still think it’s weird.”
“I’m so sorry,” Joonmyun says softly. “I shouldn’t have let you patrolled alone.”
Baekhyun shakes his head, “It was no one’s fault, not yours nor mine. There is a Hunter and we all should be careful. Besides, I have been underestimating him all along. I shouldn’t have.”
“You don’t understand. It is me whom he seeks for. It is me whom he should kill. I am the vampire who should meet the end of his gun, not you.”
“It doesn’t matter. He is a Hunter and he kills every vampires he meets, I am included.” Baekhyun frowns, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
“Baekhyun, this is my territory and he is messing up with it. I will be dealing with him.”
“Why are you so stubborn?” Baekhyun hisses, and Joonmyun lets out a soft laugh. Apparently it stresses the hell out of him that he has to give a kick to Joonmyun’s leg.
“I have met him,” Joonmyun says. “And I believe we will be meeting even more frequently in the future.”
Baekhyun shifts in his spot. It is not everyday you get to see Baekhyun fidgeting, so Joonmyun takes his time enjoying the adorable sight. “Just make sure to keep yourself safe.”
“Aw, you almost sound like you actually care,” Joonmyun chuckles. His hand is patting Baekhyun’s thigh lightly.
A red hue is creeping up Baekhyun’s pale neck. “Of course I actually do,” he says. He looks like a hundred degrees frustrated and two hundreds more embarrassed. It’s really cute. “You’re underestimating me.”
“Never underestimate Byun Baekhyun,” Joonmyun says.
“Never underestimate Byun Baekhyun,” the younger echoes, nodding happily.
Joonmyun smiles. “Now that everything is settled, I think I could leave you now in your boyfriend’s care,” there are shouts of ‘Hey!’ from two directions, but Joonmyun ignores them. “Make sure not to do anything stupid that would hurt yourself more, okay?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Baekhyun grunts when Joonmyun messes up with his bangs. It’s not cute at all.
“Oh,” Joonmyun says, eyes twinkling mischievously, “I have clear ideas of what I’m talking about.”
“Hyung.” Baekhyun pleads with his eyes, and Chanyeol’s face is beet red when Joonmyun turns his head around.
“Bye, and have fun.”
Joonmyun makes sure to squeeze Chanyeol’s shoulder on his way out, rather hard.
☆
It would be lying if Joonmyun says that the Hunter doesn’t intrigue him. It has been a few weeks since Baekhyun’s incident, and never once Joonmyun encounters the Hunter in his night patrolling. He is tempted to do a celebration upon the disappearance of the enemy, but deep in his heart he knows that the Hunter is still there, camping and making himself comfortable in the vampire’s territory.
Joonmyun remains calm. Making the first move would be reckless. It is best to stay low and wait until the Hunter approaches him, or at least that’s how his past experiences with Hunters taught him.
He told Baekhyun that it would be okay for him to continue patrolling alone, but the younger keeps insisting that they need to stay together at patrols. But it is ineffective, and Joonmyun could protect himself way better than Baekhyun. The younger only agreed after a few bribing of an expensive dinner at a restaurant.
Tonight, too, he has split with Baekhyun. The younger goes north while he goes south. Baekhyun looks so unsure, he keeps holding on Joonmyun’s hand like he has never intended to let it go. Joonmyun pets his hair in order to calm him down, and Baekhyun pouts instead at the current messed state of his hair. Joonmyun sends him off with a smile, like he always does.
After he is sure that Baekhyun is not in his sight anymore, Joonmyun stirs himself in the direction of the club. Baekhyun doesn’t need to know that he knows the Hunter would be there in the club. Joonmyun doesn’t want to put the younger in danger by dragging him alone. This is his responsibility alone.
“Well, hello.” The blonde bartender smiles at him as he slides onto the stool easily. Joonmyun gives him a small smile, nodding his head politely. “Another mojito?”
“Wine this time, please,” Joonmyun says. It is time he tries other things aside what Baekhyun has influenced him with.
The bartender nods curtly before he turns around to take Joonmyun’s order. Joonmyun takes this opportunity to lay his gaze around.
He knows that the Hunter is there, his gut is telling him so. He believes that there is this connection between him and the Hunter that allows them to feel each other’s presence. It is not unusual between a Hunter and his target vampire, but it is the first time Joonmyun is feeling it. It is the first time he becomes a main target, not a side dish. And it makes him excited.
“Enjoy the night,” the bartender says when he slides Joonmyun’s drink onto the bar, and Joonmyun grins.
Oh, he is indeed going to enjoy the night.
The wine tastes better at the first sip, and warmness spreads through his throat and chest as it goes south his body. It is weird how his body reacts to warmness. Vampires, afterall, doesn’t really function with warmth. The smell of wine is suddenly so overwhelming, getting into his system like it is going to mess everything up. Only Joonmyun knows that it wouldn’t.
It feels like he is being hit in the head when a hint of the smell of chocolate milk reaches his nose. His shoulders almost tensed up, but he manages to act cool when the source of the smell slides onto the stool next to him. He doesn’t need to turn his head to know who it is.
No one gives off such mesmerizing smell like the boy.
Joonmyun tries hard to get himself in control. He does a very poor attempt at subtly blocking his nose, only resulting in humiliating himself in front of the bartender. He hears the boy ordering a drink, and he couldn’t resist stealing a look.
The boy is apparently currently busy staring at him too, because when Joonmyun catches his eyes, they go wide. It is cute how blush creeps onto his neck and cheeks immediately. Joonmyun wonders if it would be the same shade of red when he bites on the spot just above the boy’s collarbone.
They exchange small smiles and perhaps a flirty one from Joonmyun, but that is that. They don’t converse, keeping their hands strictly to their glass or sides. But their shoulders constantly brush against each other’s, and Joonmyun swears there is a spark each time they make contact.
By the time someone moves, it is the young boy. He ‘accidentally’ put his hand on Joonmyun’s thigh, and freezes. He doesn’t make an attempt to pull it back, only muttering a small, meaningless ‘Sorry’. Joonmyun doesn’t push it away either. Instead, he does a bold move by putting his own hand on the boy’s.
It’s warm. The boy is a thousand degree more than warm, and it makes Joonmyun feels dizzy.
The boy’s hand is sneaking over in the dangerous direction of his crotch, with Joonmyun’s hand on it. It looks like Joonmyun is the one who is doing the guiding, but it is actually the boy’s cunning smooth move.
“What’s your name?” Joonmyun tries hard not to choke on his words as the boy’s hand presses down at his crotch, stimulating stars at the back of his eyes.
“Jongin,” the boy replies smoothly, a smirk is well hidden behind that composed face.
“Jongin,” Joonmyun starts. He beckons the younger to lean closer and puts his lips just above his earlobe. The sensitive skin screams red when his breath ghosts over it. “What about we take this somewhere else?”
Jongin whimpers softly, and it takes Joonmyun the greatest self-control he has ever learned to stop himself from taking the boy right there at the bar.
“Yeah.”
‘Somewhere’ is apparently the dirty toilet at the back of the club. It smells heavy with alcohol and sex that it arouses Joonmyun even more. He shoves Jongin into a stall before locking the door and pins him at the door. Somehow it works, how Joonmyun is still shorter than Jongin but they kiss at the perfect angle.
Jongin’s tongue is warm and thick when it probes into Joonmyun’s mouth, teasing him for a dominating battle. Joonmyun wouldn’t say that Jongin is skilled in kissing. The younger is obviously not someone who picks up strangers at clubs and does one night stands. Joonmyun could see it in the way he excused himself at their first meeting.
But Jongin is here, right in front of him with hands tightly clutching on Joonmyun’s shirt and lips latched onto Joonmyun’s like his life depends on it. First impression always has the possibility to be wrong.
Jongin tastes sweet, not too sweet to cause cavities, and rich. He tastes like chocolate and summer and reminds Joonmyun too much of heaven. Not that he has ever visited heaven. Joonmyun wonders if it’s the wine or just the taste of Jongin that gets him dizzy and disoriented.
He presses a kiss down Jongin’s chin, trailing down his neck and admires how fast the blush spreads out. He can feel Jongin’s pulse quickening up under his tongue. He stops right there, at the spot where he could feel Jongin’s pulse the clearest and nibbles on the skin there. Jongin chokes back a moan, and Joonmyun is encouraged. If Jongin doesn’t mind him biting, then maybe…
Joonmyun is so ready to retract his fangs and bites down the spot where Jongin tastes the best. He is ready to get filled by the sweetest blood he could have in his years of living. So close, just a little bit more.
But Jongin does the most unexpected thing in Joonmyun’s life. He drops on his knees, cheeks flaming red as his trembling hands reach out for Joonmyun’s pants. Joonmyun doesn’t know if he should be happy or disappointed.
“I want to…”
Joonmyun understands. “Go ahead,” he says, carding his hand through Jongin’s soft black hair.
Jongin catches his breath. It takes him quite a while to fumble with Joonmyun’s zipper, and Joonmyun rewards him with a stroke on his cheek when he successfully undoes it. Jongin looks up as he hooks his hands on the waistband of Joonmyun’s jeans, a hint of uncertainty is easily spotted in the middle of his predatory gleam. Joonmyun nods, encouraging him to pull it down. Jongin wastes no time to comply.
Joonmyun throws his head back, eyes flutters close in bliss as Jongin experimentally licks through the garment of his underwear. It sends him chills. He doesn’t even want to imagine how would that tongue feel against his cock without being separated by anything. Jongin chuckles, the vibration sends Joonmyun a shiver.
“Jongin,” Joonmyun grunts. He tugs on Jongin’s hair and guides him closer - as if they aren’t close enough - to his crotch. The younger is leaving open-mouthed kiss on his covered cock and Joonmyun doesn’t know what to blame for the wetness on his underwear - Jongin’s saliva or his leaking precum.
Jongin suddenly pulls back, licking his lips. Joonmyun wants to put the tongue somewhere else less teasing and more pleasuring. The younger scrambles to his feet. He gets up and presses his body against Joonmyun’s. Their lips are quickly connected, tongues battling in a heated kiss.
It is hot and warm and hot, Joonmyun’s head is clouded with pleasure. He is very thirsty and he wants to feed from Jongin now because he couldn’t hold it anymore. His eyes are red with the need and Jongin doesn’t help anything by keeps grinding their crotches together.
Jongin’s breath is ragged. He looks like he is going to come soon, and so does Joonmyun. Watching the pleasurable expression on Jongin’s face is rather interesting and surprisingly turns him on even more, and Joonmyun wants to laugh over the fact that they could come from dry humping alone.
When Jongin climaxes, he buries his face on Joonmyun’s neck with his hands holding onto Joonmyun’s waist. Joonmyun comes not long after, biting on Jongin’s earlobe in the process. It almost draws out blood, but not yet. Joonmyun is still in his self-control.
“So, is this how you killed them? By pretending to be willing to have sex with them?”
Jongin shots up, his eyes slightly widened.
“Am I too good? No time for you to take your gun out?”
“What are you talking about?” Jongin grits his teeth. He looks angry and betrayed.
Joonmyun laughs. He fixes up his pants with Jongin’s eyes trailing after his hands. “There is no need to pretend, Jongin. We both know who we are.”
At the end of his sentence, Joonmyun gets the cold metal of a gun’s end pressed into his chest. Silver, Joonmyun recognizes the bullet. Just a pull of the trigger, and Joonmyun will die for the second time.
“Sneaky vampire,” Jongin whispers on his ear. His finger is readying to pull. “You’re smart, unlike the others.”
“You hurt my friend,” Joonmyun states calmly.
Jongin snickers. “I was just playing. He needs to be warned.”
“Playing,” Joonmyun clicks his tongue. “It suits your young age, you know. You’re such a young, confused Hunter. Are you playing with me, too?”
“What do you think?” Jongin cocks his head to the side. He looks so dangerous. If Joonmyun has a heart, it would beat faster. He is afraid of dying, and he certainly is for the second time.
“What I think is,” Joonmyun smiles. He is using the charm in his voice. Jongin seems to blush a bit at this. “I think that I am playing around with you.”
“What-“ Jongin looks startled. But Joonmyun is unable to hear the rest of his sentence as he has vanished into thin air.
☆
Joonmyun makes sure that the loud thud that he is hearing is the sound of his knees meeting his room’s floor. He has never felt this thrilled before. Running away at the last minute is actually a gamble. Jongin could have shot him anytime before he even could lift up his feet. Thanks God for his given pace of transportation.
He is actually gathering the pieces of himself that are shattered all across the room when someone barging, with a very big frown plastered on the face.
“Where were you?” Baekhyun demands. His voice is giving Joonmyun headaches when it shouldn’t be. Baekhyun could use his charm to soothe down Joonmyun’s nerves instead. “I know you skipped patrolling.”
Joonmyun tries hard to get on his feet perfectly balanced. He only has a few of energies left and the alcohol in his system doesn’t make anything easier. When he has found his balance - and pretends that he’s not a bit shaky - he has gathered enough strength to speak, “Out.”
Baekhyun steps closer to him, and Joonmyun can start to see the tired lines on his face. Joonmyun wants to feel guilty, but he doesn’t. He once cared for the younger a lot, only to be pushed away harshly. He wonders what puts him with Baekhyun together for such a long time. He would have left, years ago, but he didn’t.
“I was out too, in case you didn’t notice,” Baekhyun sighs. Then suddenly he is so close to Joonmyun that if he were a human, Joonmyun would feel warmth radiating from him already. Joonmyun opens his mouth to say something, but that is apparently a big mistake because the look on Baekhyun’s face is hardening. “You smell of alcohol.”
Joonmyun pulls up a sly smile, “I did, didn’t I?”
“I was protecting the city from potential danger, and you went drinking.” Baekhyun manages to sound calm. He has becoming better at controlling his expressions. “Tell me how I should feel, hyung.”
“It was only a few shots,” Joonmyun says lamely. He really doesn’t want to have an argument with Baekhyun, especially now. He would rather to have his bed and lull into a deep slumber, thank you very much.
“Still,” Baekhyun’s presses up his lips. It is obvious how anger and disappointment have dominated him. He looks like he could actually conjure fire from his eyes alone. “I was so worried, waiting for you to come at our meeting point. You weren’t there and I -“
“I was just trying to have fun, Baekhyun.” Joonmyun cuts him off. He tries hard not to snap at the younger. He is tired, but he can’t let Baekhyun know why. Not now, at least. The younger needs to be protected from any harm.
Baekhyun looks alarmed. His shoulders tense up and his lips are forming an upward curve. “Did you fed?”
“I can perfectly control myself,” Joonmyun snaps, unable to hold it anymore. He can sense Baekhyun’s worry, and he understands it. But he is disappointed to learn how Baekhyun thinks of him like he would be the type to lose his control and turn into a killing machine.
Joonmyun is capable of holding himself back from feeding too frequently and losing his human side of sanity. He is no one like Baekhyun’s attacker from years ago.
Then he remembers dark soft hair and tanned skin and the wave of the smell of chocolate milk hitting his nose, and Joonmyun thinks that maybe, maybe he was about to lose himself.
“Well, almost, but I -“
Baekhyun shakes his head. His eyes are icy cold, it sends shivers all over Joonmyun’s body. “Help yourself, hyung,” he says softly.
Baekhyun leaves in a blink of eye. The windowsills are opened, swinging slightly, and the curtains flipped by the wind, signs that he has taken the windows as exit.
Joonmyun walks over and closes the windows. His head is hurting even more now. He is still feeling nauseated from his encounter with Jongin before, and Baekhyun’s leave is not helping anything at all. The younger is probably going to Chanyeol’s place, and Joonmyun could only hope he wouldn’t do any stupid.
The night is still long, but Joonmyun is already climbing onto his bed with almost drained energy. He shuts his eyes tight that it causes him to see spots behind his eyelids. It doesn’t seem like he is able to shrug off the image of Jongin from his mind. He still can feel those sharp eyes piercing into his own and the gun pointing at his heart. Jongin is still young, but he has got things that intrigue Joonmyun. Everything about the human is dangerously captivating.
Somehow, between the resentment and the curiosity, Joonmyun is sure his meeting with Jongin today will not be the last. In fact, it is only a beginning with a quite boring start.
☆
Baekhyun comes back casually two days later, like the argument between the two of them never happened. He is suddenly sitting at the living room watching some television programs Joonmyun recognizes as music. Baekhyun has always loved music.
“I’m sorry,” Joonmyun blurts out. He carefully takes the place on the couch next to the younger. Sometimes when Baekhyun is angry, Joonmyun doesn’t even have the courage to be anywhere close to him. “I wasn’t thinking very clearly.”
Baekhyun simply nods his head, the flush not leaving his face. “I know. Just don’t do it anymore, I was afraid you would meet enemies and I wasn’t there.” I was afraid you would meet the Hunter and died at his hands without me knowing.
Joonmyun smiles. “I’m not too stupid to do that, aren’t I?”
Lies, Joonmyun is disgusted by how easy the words roll off his mouth.
“You’re stupid at all levels that I don’t wish to know anymore,” Baekhyun shoves Joonmyun’s shoulder playfully, a frown on his face. Joonmyun laughs. It is so easy to be pulled into Baekhyun’s orbit. He briefly wonders why he is so natural at this.
“Were you at Chanyeol’s?” Joonmyun can’t help but asks. It is not rare to find Baekhyun spending nights in other people’s places. But lately, it has always been Chanyeol’s instead of switching between places.
“Yes,” Baekhyun raises his eyebrows. “Do you mind?”
“Why would I,” Joonmyun chuckles softly. “Chanyeol does good to your mind. I’m glad you have found him.”
“More like he has found me in the first place,” Baekhyun mutters under his breath, cheeks already gaining the red flush once again.
Joonmyun hums, feeling Baekhyun’s head falls on his shoulder. Baekhyun’s hair against his skin is ticklish, but he doesn’t mind. He admits that he needs this, the press of Baekhyun’s body against himself. It reminds him of who he is really, not just that thirsty vampire but also a little part of human who needs contact with other human. Baekhyun must have felt the same.
“You need to find one for your own, hyung.” Baekhyun says softly. Joonmyun immediately understands how he is referring to Chanyeol. “You will be surprised how it is easier to control yourself with them around.”
“Will I?” Joonmyun smiles.
He knows Baekhyun better than he seems. He knows how he has different light in his eyes after he spends his time with Chanyeol. He knows how Baekhyun is able to hold himself from getting blood every week like he used to do. He knows how Chanyeol would look into his eyes, and Baekhyun would understand, whatever it is they are sharing.
“You will,” Baekhyun insists.
“Okay,” Joonmyun pats Baekhyun’s thigh. “You will have a lot of things to teach me later, but for tonight we will go patrolling, alright?”
“Only if you are to be patrolling properly.”
Joonmyun slaps the younger’s arm lightly. “Of course I will.”
Baekhyun sticks out his tongue. “Patrol together with me tonight.”
“But it will take more time to skirt all around the city without splitting up.”
“I don’t care. Just go with me tonight, then we can split up again next week.”
“So clingy.”
“I don’t care.”
“Okay, as long as you buys me coffee.”
Baekhyun stares at him disbelievingly.
“I was just kidding,” Joonmyun laughs. “But if you do, that will be a bonus.” He winks.
☆
Joonmyun starts to think that he is actually being stalked. Jongin is always there, hiding behind the shadows in every corner that Joonmyun passes over during his patrols. Jongin must have thought that Joonmyun couldn’t see him, but it is hard to miss the signature scent of your prey once he is around.
Jongin would come out and have his gun pointed over to Joonmyun, but he never actually has the chance to pull the trigger. It is either Joonmyun leaves before he could, or he has never intended to do it afterall. Either way, it is becoming a habit for Joonmyun to feel Jongin’s presence behind him everytime he goes patrolling. Sometimes he would be close, sometimes he would be far behind.
Tonight, too, he is splitting with Baekhyun. He quickly heads north, being aware of potential attack as Baekhyun has warned him about a werewolf pack. A single werewolf is already a potential danger to his territory, dealing with a pack would be much more difficult.
He doesn’t know what it is that keeps bringing werewolves into a vampire’s territory. He knows that the werewolves already have their own territory in which they go hunting freely. Years of guarding the city teach him how werewolves would always be greedy for a larger territory, which means bigger amount of hunting targets.
He stops around the residential area of Nowon district, sniffing the air for a sign of werewolves. He has made it clear that no kind of creatures will be welcomed in his territory without his permission, and werewolves are certainly never gain trust from him. For a werewolf pack to enter his territory would only mean suicide.
Once he is sure there is no sign of the wolves, Joonmyun turns around to take his leave. Only that he finds himself cornered by no one but his own Hunter.
“Checkmate,” Jongin says, his finger is ready to pull the trigger.
Joonmyun smiles amusedly, “Good evening to you too, Jongin.”
The younger is wearing a cap to hide his dark, messy hair from the wild wind tonight. His black tee fits his frame perfectly. Joonmyun can only make half of his face because the shadow is hiding the other half, but he can see the determination in his eyes. He looks really good like this, Joonmyun has to admit.
“There is no time for chit-chat,” Jongin grits his teeth. He pulls the trigger without hesitation and shots a silver bullet through the air.
Joonmyun is surprised. This is the first time Jongin has actually pulled the trigger with the gun pointed at him. He is only glad that his reflex saves him from the bullet. He ducks and moves right before the bullet could hit him.
Jongin pulls the trigger again and sends more bullets. Joonmyun’s heart is pounding as he keeps trying to move out of the bullets’ way. He is actually afraid, knowing what a single scrape of silver would do to him. Jongin is an experienced Hunter, despite of his young age. There have been stories about the vampires he killed easily and rather mercilessly. Joonmyun is starting to get scared that his name would add to the list.
He hides under the shadow of an abandoned alley, hoping that Jongin wouldn’t catch with him. He knows he could sneak behind the Hunter and choke him to oblivion before he rips his throat out. But he wouldn’t bring himself to do it. Jongin is special, unlike the others.
Joonmyun leans onto the wall, catching his breath. Jongin seems to be able to track him well. He would be able to catch Joonmyun soon and kill him on this very right spot. Joonmyun needs to move away before that could happen. He used so many energies to protect himself from Jongin’s attack earlier that he finds himself somehow unbalanced when he is about to run off.
A strong grip pulls him over from his dizzy state. Joonmyun winces at the brutal force. Before he could catch his breath, a werewolf already pins him down with full teeth showing. Joonmyun doesn’t panic. He never panics. Instead he feels so angry that he can’t help but retract his fangs and hisses at the werewolf.
There is a loud howl, and Joonmyun knows that the werewolf is calling for his pack. Great, he was about to be killed by a Hunter and now a werewolf pack is about to kill him for his territory.
Joonmyun uses all of his leftover strength to push away the werewolf above him. The werewolf yelps, and Joonmyun wastes no time in pinning him down and dragging his long nails along the wolf’s neck, pressing just hard enough to draw out blood. The werewolf is angry, he could sense it, but he is even angrier.
“What did I say about entering my territory?” Joonmyun asks lowly, a smirk on his face. His fangs are already retracted, that would at least intimidate the werewolf beneath him. He hates how werewolves’ blood taste, but he at least enjoys the thrill of ripping their throats out.
“Blood sucking scum,” the werewolf spits out. Joonmyun laughs.
“Watch your mouth, creature,” Joonmyun whispers, digging his nails deeper into the werewolf’s throat. He can feel the warmth of blood underneath his fingers. The struggling move the wolf is doing is only making the blood come out faster. “Or should I say, watch your throat?”
The werewolf howls loudly as Joonmyun dives in to bite on his throat, slicing the skin open. The sound is so devastating that Joonmyun’s ears hurt. He doesn’t usually have to kill a werewolf for trespassing, but this one is an exception.
A growl snaps him out of his killing process. When he looks up, there are already a pack of werewolves baring their teeth in his direction. They are here because their brother, the one Joonmyun has just killed, was calling out for them. And they are here to take revenge.
The last time Joonmyun fought against a werewolf pack, was when he was in a pack himself. He had Kris and the others to protect his back. It had been difficult days, when they were trying to settle a territory for their own.
Now, he is alone and he is not in best condition to do a group fight. He wishes he could call Baekhyun and have the younger to help him ushering the wolves away. Werewolves are Baekhyun’s specialty, afterall.
“I’m sorry, but you’re all late to the party.” Joonmyun smiles at them. “The cake is already sliced, if you want to have a taste, then you’re more than welcomed.”
A werewolf, the one that looks the biggest, growls, followed by the others. They look enraged. Joonmyun should have really called Baekhyun.
The biggest werewolf suddenly lunges towards him, throwing him off guard. He isn’t prepared for this. Joonmyun struggles hard to get the werewolf’s claws off himself, but this one has much more strength than the one he killed. This must be the alpha, Joonmyun briefly wonders.
Joonmyun doesn’t have much strength left in him. He completely loses it once he finally succeeds in sinking his teeth into the skin of the alpha’s arm. It is not as effective as throat bites, but it is enough to lessen the wolf’s grip around himself. The alpha bares his teeth, obviously not happy with the way he was bitten. If Joonmyun doesn’t free himself now, he would be the one whose skins are ripped. He counts to three to gather more strength.
One.
Two.
Three -
Three is the sound of gunshot, and the alpha above him limps away. Joonmyun quickly frees himself from the weight pressing down on him. He turns to look at the shooter, and finds a pair of dark eyes meeting his.
“No one messes with my target,” Jongin shouts. His hand is steadily pointing the gun to the direction of the rest of the pack. Joonmyun tries hard to suppress a laugh. To think that he briefly considers Jongin as a savior would be wrong in so many ways.
Joonmyun gets to his feet. He watches the werewolf pack scrambles around and runs away. They definitely won’t be back anytime soon, at least that’s a relief.
“Thank you,” Joonmyun says, because no other words could express his gratitude better.
“I can still kill you now,” Jongin reminds him with a stern voice. The gun is now pointed at him.
Joonmyun shakes his head. “Not tonight, the police will be here and question the bodies.” He gestures to the two lifeless bodies on the ground. “You might get arrested if you’re found out having illegal guns.”
Jongin hesitates. His grip on the gun begins to loose. “What about you?”
“The police knows me,” Joonmyun says matter of factly. “Seems like it’s your turn to run away tonight, Jongin.” He can’t help but adds up a sly smile.
Jongin seems to consider the words, having his gun down. He might be so keen in killing vampires, but Joonmyun knows that deep down, he is more than that. Jongin is smart. He doesn’t only use his instinct to kill, but also his brain. That’s what Joonmyun adores from him.
Jongin looks up to meet Joonmyun’s eyes. “I will kill you tomorrow.”
Joonmyun nods tiredly. His body yearns for nothing but his soft bed. “I’m looking forward to that.” Even though he really isn’t. Who looks forward to be killed, anyway?
Then Jongin turns around, his steps fading away under the shadows. Joonmyun exhales the breath he doesn’t know he was holding.
☆
“I heard werewolves managed to break into your territory last night,” says Kris over the phone.
“News spread really quick, I didn’t realize.” Joonmyun chuckles. He has just come home from work when Kris called him. His body feels dirty from all the sweats he gains from the weather. He aches for a cold shower, but talking with Kris makes him momentarily forgets.
“The Capital hears everything, Joonmyun. I assure you.”
Joonmyun finds himself smiling, even though he knows that Kris can’t see him through the phone. The fact that Kris takes his role as High Leader at the Capital amuses Joonmyun to no end. He seems so intent to build a society for vampires all over the world, and he is doing a good job at it. Joonmyun hears that Kris is frequently meeting with vampires’ representatives to discuss the world’s situation.
“It was a stupid pack, trying to mess with my boundaries,” Joonmyun says. “One of them got to me and I killed him.”
“You killed him?” Joonmyun can sense Kris’ eyebrows rising up over the phone. It is unusual to kill werewolves unless it’s emergency. The Capital is trying hard to make up a peace with the werewolves, but their natures keep telling them that they are enemies.
“He threatened my safety, Kris. He had me pinned down on the ground.” Joonmyun shudders at the memory. “Then the rest of his pack came and his alpha pounced on me.”
“Joonmyun,” Kris says, a hint of pride in his tone. “You did great.”
And Joonmyun finds himself about to break into pieces at the comment, because he didn’t do great. He was terrified, not brave. He was almost killed. “You know, I wish you were there with me. I remembered our times together and I can’t help but wishing to go back to the past again.”
“I missed us, too. But we can’t go back to the past, Joonmyun. Not when we are going to live for a long time.”
“I know,” Joonmyun pinches the bridge of his nose lightly, trying to hold back the urge to cry. He can’t let his guards down, especially in front of his best friend who did a lot for him. “It’s just - nevermind.”
“Hey.” Kris’ voice is soft and warm, and all nostalgic to Joonmyun’s ears. “It was your own decision to leave the group, remember? You said you wanted to be independent.”
“I guess I did.” He sighs.
“I’m always proud of you, Joonmyun. You’re always able to pull everything together by yourself. It’s something I can’t do alone.”
Joonmyun chuckles. “You’re full of compliments today, Leader. But thank you.”
“I actually need to ask you something,” Kris’ tone becomes more serious. It raises Joonmyun’s curiosity. Kris only uses that tone with him when it involves something really important.
“Go ahead.”
“Last night, there was two body, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah, what’s with it?”
Kris pauses. Joonmyun’s heart is pounding. He might know where this question would lead. And he doesn’t like it.
“I heard there was a silver bullet in one of them.”
Joonmyun’s jaw tightens, and his shoulders stiffen. So this is really where the question is leading.
“Is that true?” Kris asks - no, he demands the answer. Joonmyun knows it when he is desperate to learn the truth.
“Yes, Kris.”
Kris breathes into the phone, and Joonmyun can picture him rubbing at his temple. “Joonmyun, you remember what I said about the Hunter.”
“That I need to be careful, yes. But I don’t see the connection between your question and the Hunter.” Joonmyun lies. It is a habit he picks up after meeting Jongin.
“I really meant it.” Kris says firmly. “And don’t think that I’m stupid enough not to notice that the Hunter was with you last night.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to -“
“It’s okay. I don’t know why you are trying to hide the Hunter, but I trust your decisions. I know you are capable of protecting yourself.”
Joonmyun lets out a sigh of relief. “Thank you. It means a lot to me.”
“Anything. Just keep me updated with news, okay? I hate it when I have to hear things from other people instead straight from you.”
“I will keep that in mind. Getting an army ready to send when I need help, aren’t you?” Joonmyun can’t help but teases Kris’ protective side.
Kris chuckles. “An army would be understatement, Joonmyun. I would send myself over for the heroic moment.”
“You would,” Joonmyun smiles. He is really glad to have Kris as his best friend. “And, Kris?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you, for everything.”
He can hear Kris’ smile. “You’re always welcome.”
☆
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