You times infinite [1/2]
Title: You times infinite
Pairing: Kai/Kyungsoo
Rating: PG-13 (maybe R for blood?)
Length: ~11.6k words
Warnings: blood and stuff
Summary: Kyungsoo thinks he has his life all figured out. Then he dies, and his life...stays mostly the same. With the exception of a few things.
Note: For my wonderful friend of (almost) two years, Su <3 This fic has gone through a bunch since about a year ago when I decided to write you a birthday fic (which just didn't happen because of life) and then a Christmas fic (which also didn't happen) BUT now it's done! You get the honours of my longest fic to date, and I really hope you like it :3 Love you lots! <3
Kyungsoo wakes up from his nap well rested, and in complete darkness. Which is weird, because Kyungsoo never wakes up like this.
His eyes slide open and he turns to get his phone and check the time. 7:31pm. It takes him a minute to remember that his nap lasted for two hours more than he usually naps.
“Oh, God,” he groans, suddenly aware of his lateness for the first lecture of the semester. He blames Jongdae, of course, who kept him up ranting about Minseok until late at night. Kyungsoo eventually fell asleep, leaving Jongdae to hang up the phone when he realized (probably very offended, judging by the texts he sent after hanging up, but that didn't matter), but apparently Kyungsoo needed to catch up on that lost sleep more than he knew, even after getting to sleep in this morning.
He hurries to the kitchen, making a quick sandwich and gathering his supplies for physics, then gets on his bike to get to the university. He's already thirty minutes late, so the five minutes to the university by bike feel much too long.
When he finally arrives in the lecture hall he quietly sits down at the first empty seat he sees, next to some boy he doesn't know, and tries to figure out what is going on. There are a bunch of formulas on the board without any other information, which is just confusing. Kyungsoo frowns. Why.
The boy next to him must have realized that he's having trouble, because he leans in and whispers, “He's talking about rotational inertia.” With only a quick glance in his neighbor's direction, a flash of tan skin and brown hair, Kyungsoo nods and mumbles a “thank you” as he opens his books and tries to catch up with notes of what the lecturer is saying and how the hell those calculations started.
He doesn't look more at his neighbour until the end of the lecture. He starts to collect his things and has just stood up when the boy speaks to him again. “Hey, did you understand that last part? It confused me a bit,” he says, and Kyungsoo turns to look at him, and he hadn't realized how cute the boy was. The guy is rubbing his neck, obviously a little bashful, and it looks pretty endearing.
Kyungsoo explains as best he can as they leave the lecture hall and hang around outside, the other listening intently and nodding. “Oh, I think I get it now,” he murmurs thoughtfully, and then breaks into a shy smile. “Thanks for explaining it! I'm Jongin, by the way.”
“I'm Kyungsoo,” Kyungsoo replies with a smile. “I have to go meet a friend, but it was nice to meet you! Maybe I'll see you around at some point.” It's unlikely, considering the amount of people who study physics, but there's a possibility. And Jongin is cute.
“Sure,” says Jongin, looking hopeful. “See you around!”
Kyungsoo leaves to meet Jongdae, feeling strangely but comfortably warm. Maybe it wasn't too bad a start to the semester.
“I can't believe this,” Kyungsoo huffs to himself as he is on his way to the first lab of the semester. He's used to having Jongdae as his partner because they usually stick together, but the other seems dedicated to get closer to Minseok and has made plans to partner with him instead. It's not that Kyungsoo doesn't like Minseok, but now that he's stuck without a partner he'll have to find one in the many people he is very unfamiliar with.
The lab, thankfully, is still the same as last time he was there, and at least that feels familiar. He finds himself a spot and starts to move his eyes around the room, wondering if anyone is free to partner with him.
A finger taps his shoulder. Kyungsoo rolls his eyes. “I swear to God, Jongdae, if you're going to say another word about how handsome Minseok is, I'm not-” He breaks off as he turns around, because the person in front of him is definitely not Jongdae.
In fact, it's the guy he met a couple of days ago, who he suddenly can't remember the name of - Jonghyun? Jihoon? Jeongsu? No, “Hi! Jongin, right?” That's it. “Sorry, I thought you were someone else. My friend, Jongdae, ditched me for another lab partner this semester, and now I'm lost.” Kyungsoo is suddenly aware that he's rambling, and promptly stops himself. “What's up?”
Jongin smiles a small smile. “I just recognized you and noticed you were sitting alone, and I don't have a lab partner either, and I thought, uh, maybe you want to be mine?” he says, and then his eyes widen at the implication. “I mean, my lab partner, not...not mine!” he quickly amends. The boy's cheeks flush, and Kyungsoo can't help but let out a laugh.
“I get it,” he replies softly, fingers nervously playing with the hem of his shirt. “But, yeah, sure. Let's be partners.”
As it turns out, Kyungsoo and Jongin make a pretty good pair. They find themselves working well together, on the same wavelength, and their first lab together goes better than Kyungsoo had hoped for with a partner he doesn't really know.
“Do you want to meet up later, or tomorrow? To work on the report,” Jongin suggests when they're done. He's packing his bag and glancing up at Kyungsoo, who has found himself waiting for his partner to get ready to leave.
It's not really something he needs to think about, because they do need to work together if their report is going to be good, and his schedule is usually free except for studying, but he takes a moment anyway. “Do you have time tomorrow afternoon? My apartment is empty. I'll text you the address if you give me your number,” he replies.
“I was going to say that.” Jongin laughs a little, his smile sweet and endearing. They switch numbers, and then part ways with a “See you tomorrow”.
[To: Kim Jongdae]
I may forgive you for ditching me.
Not completely, though.
"Kyungsoo!" comes Jongin's voice from behind him just a few days after they finish their first report.
Kyungsoo is about to enter the lecture hall, and turns his head to see a flustered Jongin approaching him. "Hey."
Jongin catches up to him so they walk side by side, running a hand through his hair. "I had to run all the way from the cafeteria to get here in time," he laughs. "Do you want to sit together?"
Usually Kyungsoo would sit with Jongdae, so he contemplates saying no because he's a bit awkward with new people anyway, but Jongin is nice, and there's a chance Jongdae will be sitting with Minseok. (It's not that he doesn't like Minseok, but he and Jongdae are still not dating and Kyungsoo knows that Jongdae will take every opportunity to flirt. He doesn’t need to be present for that.) "Sure."
They enter the lecture hall and sit close to the first row. Soon, Kyungsoo gets a text.
[From: Kim Jongdae]
Who's ditching who now?
He looks around the room and catches Jongdae's eye, a couple of rows behind him. His friend is shaking his head morosely, but then Minseok sits down next to him and his face breaks into a grin as he greets the other. It's almost cute, though it doesn't take long for Jongdae to turn his grin back to Kyungsoo and point very obviously at Jongin.
[From: Kim Jongdae]
Who's the cutie? Is that the guy you did the experiment with? I understand why you forgive me (¬‿¬)
Tell him to join us for lunch later!
Minseok leans over Jongdae and reads the texts, moving his gaze to Kyungsoo and Jongin and grinning. He gives Kyungsoo a thumbs up. Kyungsoo turns his phone on silent and resolutely puts it into his pocket.
“Do you have anything to do later?” Kyungsoo asks Jongin after the lecture. Not because Jongdae suggested it. Definitely.
“Not really. Why?”
“My friends and I are having lunch and I thought maybe you’d like to join us.” It’s hard for Kyungsoo to not stumble over his words, but he manages, and even puts in a smile so it doesn’t look like he was forced to ask. (Jongin is cute, okay, and it’s been a while since Kyungsoo was even mildly interested in anyone. He’s out of practice.)
“Ah...How many friends?” Jongin asks. Is that nervousness Kyungsoo detects in his voice?
“Just two. They’re nice, even though Jongdae might be a little intense. Is that okay?”
It takes Jongin a few moments to think before he replies, and Kyungsoo waits with what he thinks is patience, but he realizes that he may have been holding his breath when he finally gets an answer. “It sounds like fun. Sure! We’ll see each other for lunch then.”
Kyungsoo and Jongin end up meeting more often, both in lectures and “to go over our procedure” or “to work on reports” even though it’s not necessary to meet up too often. It’s nice, and of course Jongdae wastes no time in calling Kyungsoo out on it.
“We both know you don’t need all that time to get the work done,” he points out a month later.
“I want to be particular. I haven’t worked with Jongin as much as I have with you, so I need to spend some more time making sure we do everything right.” Kyungsoo shrugs as he makes the statement, trying to sound nonchalant, though by the look on Jongdae’s face it seems he’s failing.
His friend pats his shoulder with a knowing grin. “That’s how it started, I’m sure. Keep telling yourself that, my friend. I know you’ll work it out.”
Kyungsoo denies being interested in Jongin, but they’ve slowly gotten to know each other over the times they have met up to work on reports: like how Jongin has three dogs that he cherishes more than anything, and he enjoys playing video games in the evenings, and he feels awkward in a large crowd. And Kyungsoo can’t deny the warmth he feels when the other smiles, or how he finds himself staring at Jongin’s face when the boy is working.
Sometimes he’s caught in the act.
“Did I make a mistake or something?” Jongin asks, gaze flitting to his book before focusing on Kyungsoo.
“No, you didn’t! Sorry, it’s fine, I just...got lost in thought.” Kyungsoo looks away and back to his own book, desperately hoping that he isn’t blushing.
Sometimes, not always, but a few times in a month, Jongin will join him and Jongdae and Minseok for lunch, slowly getting into their little group, and soon Kyungsoo starts to wonder what he’s doing when he’s not with them. If he’ll come more often. And if so, why.
He wouldn’t admit it out loud, but Kyungsoo thinks Jongdae might be right.
Kyungsoo walks quietly on the street one evening on his way to Jongin’s apartment. It’s been a few months now, and the semester is drawing to a close. Recently he and Jongin have spent time together not only on reports but also studying intently for finals. They often spend several hours studying with small snack breaks in between, and when it starts to get late they will rest on a bed, staring at the ceiling until one of them has to go home.
Tonight Kyungsoo is going later than usual, and so it’s darker than usual. There are few people around him, and every sudden noise has his heart skipping a beat. Kyungsoo's mother always tells him to be careful when walking alone in the dark. He understands why, since there are a lot of sketchy people around the city, but he hasn't had any incidents in the past so he isn't worried as he walks the streets on his way to Jongin's apartment. Still, despite the fact that nothing has happened to him before he thinks about his mother’s words every time he goes out late. The air is thin; it's a cold winter evening, and Kyungsoo breathes into the scarf that covers half of his face, hands in his pockets.
Maybe he's a tiny bit worried. But he knows that it's unnecessary, because nothing ever happens. Never.
A scream interrupts his thoughts. Kyungsoo looks around him to find the source, but he's the only one in this street. The scream sounded like it came from the dark alley to his right.
Dark alleys are a bad sign in every kind of medium including real life, and every bone in Kyungsoo's body is telling him to keep moving. But if someone is screaming, then someone might be in danger, and he can't just leave them like that. If someone is killed and he could have prevented it, it'll be his fault.
So, against his better judgment, he silently enters the alley, hands coming out of his pockets and pulling the scarf away from his face. He can't deny that he's also incredibly curious to know what's going on.
Despite his attempt to be silent, his steps still echo a little as he walks, startling him into a stop. From here he walks much more carefully, almost tiptoeing. A light flickers, and Kyungsoo feels strangely like he's in a movie, which shouldn't be what he's thinking about when he's in a real life potentially dangerous situation, but he can't help it.
There's a flash of red further ahead - a light? - and Kyungsoo frowns. He keeps close to the nearest wall as he follows where he saw the red light, but stops when he hears a thud and then steps coming closer. A figure steps out of the shadows, a man who can't be much older than Kyungsoo himself, clutching a bleeding wound in his arm. He's only wearing a tank top and jeans, and Kyungsoo wonders why the man is wearing so little on such a cold night, but the wound is of more concern right now.
The man squints in Kyungsoo's direction. “Hello? Is anyone there? Can you help me?”
Kyungsoo realizes he's shivering from standing still so long. He walks closer to the man, making himself visible. “Are you okay? What happened to you?” he asks quietly. Something is terribly wrong, his gut is telling him so, but he has no idea what.
“Someone - something attacked me, I didn't even know what hit me,” the man says, his eyes wide as if he is in shock. “I'm okay, I think? I mean, I'm in one piece, just, uh, bleeding.” He looks at his wound, then back at Kyungsoo.
“What's your name? I'm Kyungsoo.” He says it gently, not wanting to scare the man off, but the man only steps closer.
“Yixing.” Kyungsoo's phone beeps with a text. He ignores it for now; it's probably from Jongin, and it seems like their hangout will have to wait. He'll reply later. “Can you help me clean up? All I want right now is to eat and go to bed.”
“Yeah, okay,” says Kyungsoo.
Yixing steps even closer, and Kyungsoo swallows, his breath hitching. “Thanks,” says the man, lifting his bloody hand to Kyungsoo's lips. It catches Kyungsoo by surprise so he doesn't get a chance to react before the metallic taste of blood is on his tongue. All of a sudden, Yixing is grinning, his entire demeanor changed as he reveals elongating fangs and glowing red eyes, and Kyungsoo realizes what must be happening.
None of his mother's warnings would ever have prepared him for being attacked by a vampire.
The vampire grabs hold of him, and the piercing pain in his neck elicits a gasp. Kyungsoo starts to feel faint as he feels blood being drained from his body. I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die-
Then he's too far gone to be thinking anything at all, and then he is dropped onto the ground and the last thing he sees before blacking out is the vampire walking away from the scene.
The first thing Kyungsoo notices upon waking up is that he's lying in an alley, all alone.
“What the hell,” he mumbles to himself as he sits up and tries to make sense of the situation. His head is pounding with the random unnecessary noise ringing in his ears and he sees things surprisingly clearly despite the darkness.
Then he remembers - the scream, the man with the wound in his arm giving him some of his own blood and then attacking him -- a vampire? -- dying -- he had been so sure he was dying. But here he is. Could it be…
No, there's no way he's been turned into a vampire. Vampires don’t even exist, not beyond books and movies. Kyungsoo has read his fair share of those, a guilty pleasure, but that doesn’t mean he believes them. He would know if it were true, wouldn't he? There would be something that told him, an immediate, insatiable thirst for blood, red vision, a person standing in front of him with a sign saying YOU'RE A VAMPIRE NOW, WELCOME TO THE DARK SIDE? He feels more or less the same, except for the sudden ability to hear more than he needs to hear and the fact that his glasses are broken and he doesn't have a problem seeing without them.
And really, he didn't even know vampires existed until he was attacked. How does he know he wasn’t just drugged? What are the odds of the vampire turning him? Maybe the guy who bit him is really a cannibal; the likelihood is probably higher than vampirism. I must have hit my head really damn hard to be thinking I’m a vampire, oh my G-- He coughs loudly, feeling like something has built up in his throat, but it goes away as soon as he’s finished the thought.
His mind stops rambling when he finally scrambles to his feet and smells something delicious. As if on cue, his stomach rumbles, and he realizes he hasn't eaten since yesterday's dinner. He wonders where the scent is coming from and follows it to the shadows where he had seen Yixing come from earlier.
The sight of a knocked out girl crumpled on the ground has Kyungsoo gasping and backing up, then he comes to his senses and approaches the girl again, checking her pulse to see if she is still alive. She is, but there is a bleeding wound on her throat and Kyungsoo realizes that the blood smells strangely inviting, like the scent he was just following. He dips a finger curiously, cautiously, in the small pool of blood gathered on the girl’s throat. This is incredibly unlike him, but it makes his curiosity even stronger.
An ache begins in his mouth, like something is growing inside it. A quick check tells him that some of his teeth seem to have grown long and pointy. Teeth don’t just grow spontaneously, certainly not several inches in mere seconds. What is happening to me? he thinks, thoroughly confused more than anything else. Maybe a little scared. Maybe a little very scared. But in his confusion, he has accidentally smeared blood on his teeth. He automatically licks the blood off his teeth...and is struck by how great it tastes. That’s weird. Really. Weird. Surely this is not cannibalism. It can’t be, at this point. Cannibalism, as far as he knows, is not contagious, and he’s never liked the taste of blood before. He can’t even handle meat if it isn’t well done all the way through. Fuck, this is not him, it has to be a dream.
Kyungsoo presses two fingers to the pulse point on his throat. There is no pulse. He should be dead - no, maybe he is dead. What?
“I'm a vampire?” he whispers into the alley, but no one replies. “Shit. This is so messed up.”
It occurs to him that he must have been lying here for at least a few hours if the sun hasn't risen yet, so he checks his phone to find out what time it is. He should have at least an hour to get home before the sun comes up, he reasons, just in case the sun could really burn him, so he looks at the girl again. She must have been the one who screamed before he saw Yixing; it makes sense. Suddenly he realizes with a sinking feeling the possibility that she was not only meant as bait to bring him into the alley, but also as Kyungsoo’s first meal. The twin marks on her throat, two dark red dots, do look like wounds from a vampire’s fangs, if the stories are to believed. A sudden thought crosses his mind then: he wants to mark her too, he wants to feed on her. His stomach has been rumbling ever since he smelled her blood, like he needs to feed. He can’t keep going like this, so hungry.
Instincts take over, and he gives in to the hunger, draining the girl of just enough blood to satisfy it. It tastes amazing, and he wants to keep going, but a voice in the back of his mind says he should stop. Stop, because this isn’t him, he doesn’t want to kill her.
But it’s so good. Just a little more.
The thought scares him when he finally processes it. No!
When he pulls his fangs out of her throat, he stares blankly for nearly a minute before he is struck by the reality of what he has just done. He has drunk the blood of a human being. And he liked it. “Oh G--” he starts, but is overcome by another coughing fit. “Fuck.” Kyungsoo looks at his hands with a heavy feeling in his chest; there is no blood on them, but there might as well be.
He needs to get away from here, to go home.
It makes sense to try to close the girl’s wounds, since he doesn’t want her to keep bleeding, so he decides to give one of his theories a shot. He has read about this working. He tentatively slides his tongue over the wounds, and it works; they slowly close up, leaving nothing but two much smaller dots as a reminder of what he has done. Apparently there is some truth to the stories, he thinks absently as he staggers away, out of the alley.
He suddenly remembers the reason he was out at all tonight. Kyungsoo walks in a daze, and finds himself outside Jongin’s home in a much shorter amount of time than usual. After knocking on the door, he doesn’t have to wait long before it opens, and a stricken Jongin is looking at him. He’s not wearing a shirt, there are dark rings under his eyes, and his hair is messy. He looks like he just got bed. Kyungsoo feels bad for making him wait and then waking him up at this ungodly hour. But it is better to go to him, because Jongin lets out a sigh, like he’s been worrying and is relieved to see him.
“Kyungsoo?” is all he says.
“Sorry I’m late,” Kyungsoo murmurs, still feeling a little like he is in shock himself.
“Kyungsoo, it’s four in the morning. I texted you at least ten times. I thought maybe--” That explains his phone beeping earlier. “You look like a mess. What happened to you?” Jongin is looking at him strangely, which is fair enough.
“Something...really weird. A little hard to explain. But I’ll try. Can I just stay here a little?” Kyungsoo doesn’t want to seem so frail and scared, but that’s how he feels, and he doesn’t want to be alone.
Without a word, Jongin lets him in. “Can I get you anything?” he asks gently. “Water, tea, anything to eat?”
Your blood, maybe, Kyungsoo thinks sarcastically, but then bites his lip because the thought is a little too appealing and no. No way he’s going to become a cliché. “No thanks,” he simply replies.
They go to Jongin’s bedroom and sit on the bed. Kyungsoo quietly watches the other, giving a small smile to show his gratitude, really hoping that he will believe his tale and trust him.
“So...Do you want to tell me what happened?” Jongin is visibly curious now, but also visibly concerned.
Kyungsoo starts to tell his story, now avoiding his friend’s gaze. It takes him a while to get through it all, and by the end of it he’s just staring into his own lap, painfully aware that he must sound like he’s on drugs. But he’s experienced more than enough. “I know it sounds crazy, but it still feels like a weird dream to me too. If you can see what I see, then maybe there’s nothing wrong with me. Other than that I’m a...vampire.”
“Okay, so... Do you have, I don’t know, fangs or something? That I can see?” Jongin tries, and he sounds shockingly sincere in wanting to believe Kyungsoo, if not confused about the entire ordeal. Kyungsoo can’t blame the hint of doubt in his voice, though. He’s not sure he would believe any of this himself.
“The fangs only grew out once so far. When I smelled blood. I don’t know if there’s a way to control it.”
Nodding, Jongin bites his lip thoughtfully. Then he grabs a piece of paper from his desk and slides the edge over a spot on his arm, wincing as he gives himself a paper cut. It’s not a big cut, but soon enough blood starts to trickle out, and Kyungsoo stares. The scent hits him slowly, and it smells so Jongin that he is left with his mouth slightly agape, as if simply breathing it in will be enough.
But it isn’t enough, of course it isn’t. This time he recognizes the ache in his mouth, his fangs growing out, and he touches them carefully to affirm their presence. It distracts him momentarily, because this was what they wanted to prove, so he looks up at Jongin. He finds that the other is already watching him in shock, eyes widened and lips slightly parted, like he wants to back away but doesn’t know if he should. “You can see them, can’t you?”
Jongin nods dumbly. It takes him a moment to find words. “So you’re really a vampire? They’re not fake or anything?”
“Seems like it. I’ve never seen fake fangs that can come out when you want them to.” Kyungsoo’s gaze goes back to Jongin’s arm, swallowing at the scent of his blood. “You didn’t need to do that.”
“Well, it was the first thing I could think of,” says Jongin. A very faint pink colors his cheeks.
“I...thanks.” Kyungsoo has already fed, but it would be a shame to let his friend sit there and bleed, right? “Should I? Close that cut for you? I sort of figured out that I can do that.”
“Oh.” The other seems like he forgot the cut was even there. He hesitates, biting his lip, but then nods. “Okay.” And he holds out his arm in invitation. The tension in the air is tangible as Kyungsoo leans closer, and he notices that Jongin is holding his breath.
He can’t help himself; he takes a whiff of the blood, taking in the delicious scent, then carefully licks it up. And it tastes better than it smells, better than the blood of the girl in the alley. The vampire takes over, then, because the cut is closed but the taste of the blood still lingers on his tongue. He grabs the other’s arm tighter, about to take a proper bite so he can drink more--
And Jongin gasps, his arm tensing, and Kyungsoo stops and blinks, grip loosening, realizing. This wasn’t the plan. This is Jongin, Jongin who he could never force into this. Kyungsoo was thrust into this, suddenly a vampire, but that doesn’t mean he has to change who he is. His feelings and personality remain the same, even if bloodthirst is added to them. He’s scared and confused, but Jongin doesn’t have to be on the receiving end of it all. He shouldn’t drink from him without even asking, not when that’s almost exactly what happened to him.
“Can I?” he simply asks, feeling strangely calm, like he’s waiting for consent, an animal ready to pounce when he gets it. It’s scary, something he can’t control.
“What?” comes the reply. Jongin is obviously unsure, and Kyungsoo doesn’t want to force it on him. Doesn’t want to be like his attacker.
“It’s okay. I won’t...I shouldn’t do it,” he says, pulling away before he changes his mind.
“I-- I’m,” Jongin breathes. He looks like he doesn’t know whether he should be scared or not, if he wants to do it, maybe he just wants to run away, but ends up pressing his arm further into Kyungsoo’s grip. Kyungsoo wonders if he saw how much he wanted it. “Do it. I’m letting you.”
Kyungsoo doesn’t know how to convey what he’s feeling, gratitude mixed with wow I’m in deeper than I thought mixed with a need for more delicious blood. So he doesn’t say anything, just bites into Jongin’s arm and whimpers as the blood fills his mouth. He drinks enthusiastically, feeling everything blur until it’s just him and the arm providing him with all he needs. He could drink this blood forever, if there wasn’t a limited amount of it. It’s a shame, he thinks, maybe he should just...take all he can get?
Then he hears labored breathing, the arm tensing. “Kyungsoo--” It brings him back, to the reality of his situation, and he slows his drinking until he can pull away completely and close the new wounds.
A look at Jongin tells him that he may have taken a bit much; the other is slightly pale and looks exhausted. He relaxes, though, when he’s released, and moves back just a little. Kyungsoo doesn’t miss it.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to take that much. I won’t do this to you again,” he rambles. He doesn’t know the proper protocol for things like this. All he knows is what he’s experienced. He hopes Jongin isn’t scared of him. What if he’s ruined their relationship by springing this on him?
“No, it’s...I can’t say it’s okay, but...I get that you don’t really know what’s happening, right? I won’t just let you be alone like this. So yeah.” Jongin sighs shakily, gaze flitting between his mattress to Kyungsoo.
“Thanks,” says Kyungsoo softly, moving to touch Jongin’s arm and then stopping himself. “You look really pale. Maybe you should rest. Can I sleep here?”
“Of course you can. You can stay here during the day too if you need to, considering the...sun thing.”
“Thank you. Really, I’m so grateful.” Kyungsoo gives a small smile, and Jongin smiles shyly back.
He quickly puts up a mattress for Kyungsoo so they can sleep the next few hours before Jongin has to leave for a lecture. When Kyungsoo wakes up he is alone, and all the blinds are pulled down on the windows. He can see some light behind them, though, suggesting that the sun must be up. The clock on Jongin’s nightstand says that it’s 2:30pm. Laying his head back on the pillow, Kyungsoo thinks about what happened last night. Apparently he’s a vampire now. So his life will change drastically, won’t it? Like it always does in books and movies?
For one, he can’t go out in sunlight. He also might not be able to eat garlic, or be around silver. A quick check in the bathroom confirms that he’s invisible in mirrors. And most importantly, he has to drink blood to survive; and he does not know if it’s possible to control the bloodlust and not attack someone suddenly, or to make sure he doesn’t accidentally kill or turn anyone.
Still, the more he thinks about it, it doesn’t seem like too much has to change for him. He doesn’t have to quit university; the most important of his classes have evening lectures, and it’s not like he’s going to leave for some kind of vampire school. Besides, he isn’t actually much of a garlic person, nor does he use a lot of silver jewelry. Mirrors can be avoided most of the time. This, technically, leaves bloodsucking as the most important change to his life.
That’s not too bad, right, Kyungsoo thinks and sighs deeply, his eyelids heavy with exhaustion. Do vampires naturally feel tired during the day? He can live with that.
His phone beeps in his pocket.
[From: Kim Jongdae]
Where r you? Thought we were having lunch today. U sick and didnt tell me?
To Kyungsoo, the logical idea is to tell Jongdae what has happened. He told Jongin, after all, and Jongdae is his best friend. But he’s too tired to talk, so he goes for a brief reply.
[To: Kim Jongdae]
Sort of. Had a long night, let’s talk in the evening and I’ll explain.
He’s closed his eyes when his phone beeps with another reply. Groaning, he decides he might as well check it.
[From: Kim Jongdae]
That all i get? C’mon soosoo, gimme a hint or something.
[To: Kim Jongdae]
Fine, I got turned into a vampire and the sunlight is making me tired, please let me sleep.
[From: Kim Jongdae]
...I’m going to interpret that as ‘I FINALLY hooked up with Kim Jongin and it lasted v e r y long’
[To: Kim Jongdae]
DID NOT. LEAVE ME ALONE.
I’m really going back to sleep so shut up.
Blessedly, his phone ceases to beep, and Kyungsoo lets the exhaustion wash over him again.
He wakes up four hours later to darkness, and a quiet sizzling noise coming from elsewhere. Stretching his limbs, Kyungsoo gets up from his mattress and leaves Jongin’s bedroom. He doesn’t have to look for long before he finds his host in the kitchen, cooking dinner.
“That smells nice,” he comments, and Jongin jumps a little, turning to see Kyungsoo in the doorway. He smiles at him, and Kyungsoo stops in his tracks.
Oh no. I’m in love.
“I didn’t hear you come in! Well, thanks. I didn’t know if you...eat, but I made food without garlic anyway. Do you want anything?” Jongin turns back to the stove as he speaks.
“No thanks, I think I should get home. Thanks for letting me stay, though, it’s really sweet of you.” Kyungsoo finds himself kind of wanting to stay here with Jongin, who so easily accepted and believed what he said, but he needs to be on his own and figure this out. Whether he can keep some kind of normalcy in his life is yet to be known, and then maybe he can have a life he wants. Until then, though, he should learn how this all works, being a vampire. So the people he cares about are safe. He can only hope he will find another vampire that can help him.
“That makes sense. But, if you need to...feed...some more before you leave, it’s fine by me,” Jongin says, pointing to his neck in what seems like a casual gesture. Kyungsoo can hear his heart rate pick up.
It’s a tempting offer, Jongin’s blood. It isn’t like Kyungsoo has had a lot of blood yet, but he thinks Jongin tastes better than most. Like a reward you should only rarely treat yourself to. Still it’s best to not take more of it, especially not so soon after the last time, and especially not when Kyungsoo could risk killing him.
“I shouldn’t. I already took more than I should have last night. Either way I’ll try to find somewhere to get blood. Hopefully as ethically as possible.” He smiles, bashful.
Jongin says okay, incredibly understanding, and that’s when Kyungsoo resolves to not meet him again before he has control.
He leaves, wondering what he should do with himself for the night, and pulls out his phone.
[To: Kim Jongdae]
Are you home?
I’m coming to your place either way.
“So...you actually are a vampire.”
Kyungsoo can feel Jongdae’s gaze on him, like his best friend is trying to find proof of his words, or a reason for him to lie. But he knows Kyungsoo, he knows that Kyungsoo isn’t much of a jokester. He doesn’t have a reason to suddenly come up with such an elaborate prank. “Yeah.”
“Because that makes sense.”
“It’s not like anything else makes sense. You saw the fangs. Don’t you believe me?” Kyungsoo fights very hard for his lips not to pout in frustration. He’s not a pouting person.
“Are you sure someone didn’t create some fancy new type of fake fangs and drug you?” Jongdae grins, then shoves gently at him. “Of course I believe you, that’s what best friends are for! I know this isn’t something you would make up all of a sudden. It’s just unexpected, that’s all.”
“You think? I was attacked by someone I thought needed my help and woke up in an alley needing to drink blood. There wasn’t exactly time to get used to the idea before it happened.”
“No, I get it. So does this mean you had Jongin’s blood? You were there all day, after all.”
Kyungsoo doesn’t think he can blush anymore, but he still feels warm. Which is weird, because the fact that he drank blood at all is more weird and scary to think about, rather than sensual. It’s the way Jongdae said it that has him biting his lip. “...I did.”
This gets Jongdae interested; he leans closer to Kyungsoo on the couch, a grin on his lips. “And was it like every single vampire romance where the blood of someone you’re in love with tastes much better than any other blood?”
“I’m not--” Kyungsoo starts.
“Don’t even try. I know you.”
“Okay, yeah. It kind of did feel like that. But I haven’t had anyone else’s blood either, other than...the girl in the alley.” He shoves away the thought of that girl, attacked by two vampires in one night, alone. Hopefully she won’t remember anything from what happened. If she’s even still alive. Why did I just leave her there?
Jongdae frowns. “So you drank his blood and then after waking up you just left because you think you’ll hurt him? My friend, are you aware that you’re a walking vampire cliché?”
“Shut up, it’s not like that. I want to learn control. If I go too long without drinking blood, I could attack someone and I don’t know how to stop when I first start. The two times I’ve done it could have been a miracle.”
“Looks like you need to find another vampire,” Jongdae says thoughtfully. “I would help, but my resources don’t stretch that far. Tell you what, though, if I do find someone I’ll be sure to whisper your name into the wind for you to hear.”
Kyungsoo considers punching Jongdae in the arm, but instead gets up from the couch. “You’re an ass. Thanks for listening to me. I should go home.” For all his jokes, Kyungsoo knows his best friend can be counted on, and he appreciates the friendly ear in a strange situation.
“Hey, tell me first thing if you and Jongin hook up, yeah? No need for juicy details, though, except how good he was.”
“Sure.”
part two
Pairing: Kai/Kyungsoo
Rating: PG-13 (maybe R for blood?)
Length: ~11.6k words
Warnings: blood and stuff
Summary: Kyungsoo thinks he has his life all figured out. Then he dies, and his life...stays mostly the same. With the exception of a few things.
Note: For my wonderful friend of (almost) two years, Su <3 This fic has gone through a bunch since about a year ago when I decided to write you a birthday fic (which just didn't happen because of life) and then a Christmas fic (which also didn't happen) BUT now it's done! You get the honours of my longest fic to date, and I really hope you like it :3 Love you lots! <3
Kyungsoo wakes up from his nap well rested, and in complete darkness. Which is weird, because Kyungsoo never wakes up like this.
His eyes slide open and he turns to get his phone and check the time. 7:31pm. It takes him a minute to remember that his nap lasted for two hours more than he usually naps.
“Oh, God,” he groans, suddenly aware of his lateness for the first lecture of the semester. He blames Jongdae, of course, who kept him up ranting about Minseok until late at night. Kyungsoo eventually fell asleep, leaving Jongdae to hang up the phone when he realized (probably very offended, judging by the texts he sent after hanging up, but that didn't matter), but apparently Kyungsoo needed to catch up on that lost sleep more than he knew, even after getting to sleep in this morning.
He hurries to the kitchen, making a quick sandwich and gathering his supplies for physics, then gets on his bike to get to the university. He's already thirty minutes late, so the five minutes to the university by bike feel much too long.
When he finally arrives in the lecture hall he quietly sits down at the first empty seat he sees, next to some boy he doesn't know, and tries to figure out what is going on. There are a bunch of formulas on the board without any other information, which is just confusing. Kyungsoo frowns. Why.
The boy next to him must have realized that he's having trouble, because he leans in and whispers, “He's talking about rotational inertia.” With only a quick glance in his neighbor's direction, a flash of tan skin and brown hair, Kyungsoo nods and mumbles a “thank you” as he opens his books and tries to catch up with notes of what the lecturer is saying and how the hell those calculations started.
He doesn't look more at his neighbour until the end of the lecture. He starts to collect his things and has just stood up when the boy speaks to him again. “Hey, did you understand that last part? It confused me a bit,” he says, and Kyungsoo turns to look at him, and he hadn't realized how cute the boy was. The guy is rubbing his neck, obviously a little bashful, and it looks pretty endearing.
Kyungsoo explains as best he can as they leave the lecture hall and hang around outside, the other listening intently and nodding. “Oh, I think I get it now,” he murmurs thoughtfully, and then breaks into a shy smile. “Thanks for explaining it! I'm Jongin, by the way.”
“I'm Kyungsoo,” Kyungsoo replies with a smile. “I have to go meet a friend, but it was nice to meet you! Maybe I'll see you around at some point.” It's unlikely, considering the amount of people who study physics, but there's a possibility. And Jongin is cute.
“Sure,” says Jongin, looking hopeful. “See you around!”
Kyungsoo leaves to meet Jongdae, feeling strangely but comfortably warm. Maybe it wasn't too bad a start to the semester.
“I can't believe this,” Kyungsoo huffs to himself as he is on his way to the first lab of the semester. He's used to having Jongdae as his partner because they usually stick together, but the other seems dedicated to get closer to Minseok and has made plans to partner with him instead. It's not that Kyungsoo doesn't like Minseok, but now that he's stuck without a partner he'll have to find one in the many people he is very unfamiliar with.
The lab, thankfully, is still the same as last time he was there, and at least that feels familiar. He finds himself a spot and starts to move his eyes around the room, wondering if anyone is free to partner with him.
A finger taps his shoulder. Kyungsoo rolls his eyes. “I swear to God, Jongdae, if you're going to say another word about how handsome Minseok is, I'm not-” He breaks off as he turns around, because the person in front of him is definitely not Jongdae.
In fact, it's the guy he met a couple of days ago, who he suddenly can't remember the name of - Jonghyun? Jihoon? Jeongsu? No, “Hi! Jongin, right?” That's it. “Sorry, I thought you were someone else. My friend, Jongdae, ditched me for another lab partner this semester, and now I'm lost.” Kyungsoo is suddenly aware that he's rambling, and promptly stops himself. “What's up?”
Jongin smiles a small smile. “I just recognized you and noticed you were sitting alone, and I don't have a lab partner either, and I thought, uh, maybe you want to be mine?” he says, and then his eyes widen at the implication. “I mean, my lab partner, not...not mine!” he quickly amends. The boy's cheeks flush, and Kyungsoo can't help but let out a laugh.
“I get it,” he replies softly, fingers nervously playing with the hem of his shirt. “But, yeah, sure. Let's be partners.”
As it turns out, Kyungsoo and Jongin make a pretty good pair. They find themselves working well together, on the same wavelength, and their first lab together goes better than Kyungsoo had hoped for with a partner he doesn't really know.
“Do you want to meet up later, or tomorrow? To work on the report,” Jongin suggests when they're done. He's packing his bag and glancing up at Kyungsoo, who has found himself waiting for his partner to get ready to leave.
It's not really something he needs to think about, because they do need to work together if their report is going to be good, and his schedule is usually free except for studying, but he takes a moment anyway. “Do you have time tomorrow afternoon? My apartment is empty. I'll text you the address if you give me your number,” he replies.
“I was going to say that.” Jongin laughs a little, his smile sweet and endearing. They switch numbers, and then part ways with a “See you tomorrow”.
[To: Kim Jongdae]
I may forgive you for ditching me.
Not completely, though.
"Kyungsoo!" comes Jongin's voice from behind him just a few days after they finish their first report.
Kyungsoo is about to enter the lecture hall, and turns his head to see a flustered Jongin approaching him. "Hey."
Jongin catches up to him so they walk side by side, running a hand through his hair. "I had to run all the way from the cafeteria to get here in time," he laughs. "Do you want to sit together?"
Usually Kyungsoo would sit with Jongdae, so he contemplates saying no because he's a bit awkward with new people anyway, but Jongin is nice, and there's a chance Jongdae will be sitting with Minseok. (It's not that he doesn't like Minseok, but he and Jongdae are still not dating and Kyungsoo knows that Jongdae will take every opportunity to flirt. He doesn’t need to be present for that.) "Sure."
They enter the lecture hall and sit close to the first row. Soon, Kyungsoo gets a text.
[From: Kim Jongdae]
Who's ditching who now?
He looks around the room and catches Jongdae's eye, a couple of rows behind him. His friend is shaking his head morosely, but then Minseok sits down next to him and his face breaks into a grin as he greets the other. It's almost cute, though it doesn't take long for Jongdae to turn his grin back to Kyungsoo and point very obviously at Jongin.
[From: Kim Jongdae]
Who's the cutie? Is that the guy you did the experiment with? I understand why you forgive me (¬‿¬)
Tell him to join us for lunch later!
Minseok leans over Jongdae and reads the texts, moving his gaze to Kyungsoo and Jongin and grinning. He gives Kyungsoo a thumbs up. Kyungsoo turns his phone on silent and resolutely puts it into his pocket.
“Do you have anything to do later?” Kyungsoo asks Jongin after the lecture. Not because Jongdae suggested it. Definitely.
“Not really. Why?”
“My friends and I are having lunch and I thought maybe you’d like to join us.” It’s hard for Kyungsoo to not stumble over his words, but he manages, and even puts in a smile so it doesn’t look like he was forced to ask. (Jongin is cute, okay, and it’s been a while since Kyungsoo was even mildly interested in anyone. He’s out of practice.)
“Ah...How many friends?” Jongin asks. Is that nervousness Kyungsoo detects in his voice?
“Just two. They’re nice, even though Jongdae might be a little intense. Is that okay?”
It takes Jongin a few moments to think before he replies, and Kyungsoo waits with what he thinks is patience, but he realizes that he may have been holding his breath when he finally gets an answer. “It sounds like fun. Sure! We’ll see each other for lunch then.”
Kyungsoo and Jongin end up meeting more often, both in lectures and “to go over our procedure” or “to work on reports” even though it’s not necessary to meet up too often. It’s nice, and of course Jongdae wastes no time in calling Kyungsoo out on it.
“We both know you don’t need all that time to get the work done,” he points out a month later.
“I want to be particular. I haven’t worked with Jongin as much as I have with you, so I need to spend some more time making sure we do everything right.” Kyungsoo shrugs as he makes the statement, trying to sound nonchalant, though by the look on Jongdae’s face it seems he’s failing.
His friend pats his shoulder with a knowing grin. “That’s how it started, I’m sure. Keep telling yourself that, my friend. I know you’ll work it out.”
Kyungsoo denies being interested in Jongin, but they’ve slowly gotten to know each other over the times they have met up to work on reports: like how Jongin has three dogs that he cherishes more than anything, and he enjoys playing video games in the evenings, and he feels awkward in a large crowd. And Kyungsoo can’t deny the warmth he feels when the other smiles, or how he finds himself staring at Jongin’s face when the boy is working.
Sometimes he’s caught in the act.
“Did I make a mistake or something?” Jongin asks, gaze flitting to his book before focusing on Kyungsoo.
“No, you didn’t! Sorry, it’s fine, I just...got lost in thought.” Kyungsoo looks away and back to his own book, desperately hoping that he isn’t blushing.
Sometimes, not always, but a few times in a month, Jongin will join him and Jongdae and Minseok for lunch, slowly getting into their little group, and soon Kyungsoo starts to wonder what he’s doing when he’s not with them. If he’ll come more often. And if so, why.
He wouldn’t admit it out loud, but Kyungsoo thinks Jongdae might be right.
Kyungsoo walks quietly on the street one evening on his way to Jongin’s apartment. It’s been a few months now, and the semester is drawing to a close. Recently he and Jongin have spent time together not only on reports but also studying intently for finals. They often spend several hours studying with small snack breaks in between, and when it starts to get late they will rest on a bed, staring at the ceiling until one of them has to go home.
Tonight Kyungsoo is going later than usual, and so it’s darker than usual. There are few people around him, and every sudden noise has his heart skipping a beat. Kyungsoo's mother always tells him to be careful when walking alone in the dark. He understands why, since there are a lot of sketchy people around the city, but he hasn't had any incidents in the past so he isn't worried as he walks the streets on his way to Jongin's apartment. Still, despite the fact that nothing has happened to him before he thinks about his mother’s words every time he goes out late. The air is thin; it's a cold winter evening, and Kyungsoo breathes into the scarf that covers half of his face, hands in his pockets.
Maybe he's a tiny bit worried. But he knows that it's unnecessary, because nothing ever happens. Never.
A scream interrupts his thoughts. Kyungsoo looks around him to find the source, but he's the only one in this street. The scream sounded like it came from the dark alley to his right.
Dark alleys are a bad sign in every kind of medium including real life, and every bone in Kyungsoo's body is telling him to keep moving. But if someone is screaming, then someone might be in danger, and he can't just leave them like that. If someone is killed and he could have prevented it, it'll be his fault.
So, against his better judgment, he silently enters the alley, hands coming out of his pockets and pulling the scarf away from his face. He can't deny that he's also incredibly curious to know what's going on.
Despite his attempt to be silent, his steps still echo a little as he walks, startling him into a stop. From here he walks much more carefully, almost tiptoeing. A light flickers, and Kyungsoo feels strangely like he's in a movie, which shouldn't be what he's thinking about when he's in a real life potentially dangerous situation, but he can't help it.
There's a flash of red further ahead - a light? - and Kyungsoo frowns. He keeps close to the nearest wall as he follows where he saw the red light, but stops when he hears a thud and then steps coming closer. A figure steps out of the shadows, a man who can't be much older than Kyungsoo himself, clutching a bleeding wound in his arm. He's only wearing a tank top and jeans, and Kyungsoo wonders why the man is wearing so little on such a cold night, but the wound is of more concern right now.
The man squints in Kyungsoo's direction. “Hello? Is anyone there? Can you help me?”
Kyungsoo realizes he's shivering from standing still so long. He walks closer to the man, making himself visible. “Are you okay? What happened to you?” he asks quietly. Something is terribly wrong, his gut is telling him so, but he has no idea what.
“Someone - something attacked me, I didn't even know what hit me,” the man says, his eyes wide as if he is in shock. “I'm okay, I think? I mean, I'm in one piece, just, uh, bleeding.” He looks at his wound, then back at Kyungsoo.
“What's your name? I'm Kyungsoo.” He says it gently, not wanting to scare the man off, but the man only steps closer.
“Yixing.” Kyungsoo's phone beeps with a text. He ignores it for now; it's probably from Jongin, and it seems like their hangout will have to wait. He'll reply later. “Can you help me clean up? All I want right now is to eat and go to bed.”
“Yeah, okay,” says Kyungsoo.
Yixing steps even closer, and Kyungsoo swallows, his breath hitching. “Thanks,” says the man, lifting his bloody hand to Kyungsoo's lips. It catches Kyungsoo by surprise so he doesn't get a chance to react before the metallic taste of blood is on his tongue. All of a sudden, Yixing is grinning, his entire demeanor changed as he reveals elongating fangs and glowing red eyes, and Kyungsoo realizes what must be happening.
None of his mother's warnings would ever have prepared him for being attacked by a vampire.
The vampire grabs hold of him, and the piercing pain in his neck elicits a gasp. Kyungsoo starts to feel faint as he feels blood being drained from his body. I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die-
Then he's too far gone to be thinking anything at all, and then he is dropped onto the ground and the last thing he sees before blacking out is the vampire walking away from the scene.
The first thing Kyungsoo notices upon waking up is that he's lying in an alley, all alone.
“What the hell,” he mumbles to himself as he sits up and tries to make sense of the situation. His head is pounding with the random unnecessary noise ringing in his ears and he sees things surprisingly clearly despite the darkness.
Then he remembers - the scream, the man with the wound in his arm giving him some of his own blood and then attacking him -- a vampire? -- dying -- he had been so sure he was dying. But here he is. Could it be…
No, there's no way he's been turned into a vampire. Vampires don’t even exist, not beyond books and movies. Kyungsoo has read his fair share of those, a guilty pleasure, but that doesn’t mean he believes them. He would know if it were true, wouldn't he? There would be something that told him, an immediate, insatiable thirst for blood, red vision, a person standing in front of him with a sign saying YOU'RE A VAMPIRE NOW, WELCOME TO THE DARK SIDE? He feels more or less the same, except for the sudden ability to hear more than he needs to hear and the fact that his glasses are broken and he doesn't have a problem seeing without them.
And really, he didn't even know vampires existed until he was attacked. How does he know he wasn’t just drugged? What are the odds of the vampire turning him? Maybe the guy who bit him is really a cannibal; the likelihood is probably higher than vampirism. I must have hit my head really damn hard to be thinking I’m a vampire, oh my G-- He coughs loudly, feeling like something has built up in his throat, but it goes away as soon as he’s finished the thought.
His mind stops rambling when he finally scrambles to his feet and smells something delicious. As if on cue, his stomach rumbles, and he realizes he hasn't eaten since yesterday's dinner. He wonders where the scent is coming from and follows it to the shadows where he had seen Yixing come from earlier.
The sight of a knocked out girl crumpled on the ground has Kyungsoo gasping and backing up, then he comes to his senses and approaches the girl again, checking her pulse to see if she is still alive. She is, but there is a bleeding wound on her throat and Kyungsoo realizes that the blood smells strangely inviting, like the scent he was just following. He dips a finger curiously, cautiously, in the small pool of blood gathered on the girl’s throat. This is incredibly unlike him, but it makes his curiosity even stronger.
An ache begins in his mouth, like something is growing inside it. A quick check tells him that some of his teeth seem to have grown long and pointy. Teeth don’t just grow spontaneously, certainly not several inches in mere seconds. What is happening to me? he thinks, thoroughly confused more than anything else. Maybe a little scared. Maybe a little very scared. But in his confusion, he has accidentally smeared blood on his teeth. He automatically licks the blood off his teeth...and is struck by how great it tastes. That’s weird. Really. Weird. Surely this is not cannibalism. It can’t be, at this point. Cannibalism, as far as he knows, is not contagious, and he’s never liked the taste of blood before. He can’t even handle meat if it isn’t well done all the way through. Fuck, this is not him, it has to be a dream.
Kyungsoo presses two fingers to the pulse point on his throat. There is no pulse. He should be dead - no, maybe he is dead. What?
“I'm a vampire?” he whispers into the alley, but no one replies. “Shit. This is so messed up.”
It occurs to him that he must have been lying here for at least a few hours if the sun hasn't risen yet, so he checks his phone to find out what time it is. He should have at least an hour to get home before the sun comes up, he reasons, just in case the sun could really burn him, so he looks at the girl again. She must have been the one who screamed before he saw Yixing; it makes sense. Suddenly he realizes with a sinking feeling the possibility that she was not only meant as bait to bring him into the alley, but also as Kyungsoo’s first meal. The twin marks on her throat, two dark red dots, do look like wounds from a vampire’s fangs, if the stories are to believed. A sudden thought crosses his mind then: he wants to mark her too, he wants to feed on her. His stomach has been rumbling ever since he smelled her blood, like he needs to feed. He can’t keep going like this, so hungry.
Instincts take over, and he gives in to the hunger, draining the girl of just enough blood to satisfy it. It tastes amazing, and he wants to keep going, but a voice in the back of his mind says he should stop. Stop, because this isn’t him, he doesn’t want to kill her.
But it’s so good. Just a little more.
The thought scares him when he finally processes it. No!
When he pulls his fangs out of her throat, he stares blankly for nearly a minute before he is struck by the reality of what he has just done. He has drunk the blood of a human being. And he liked it. “Oh G--” he starts, but is overcome by another coughing fit. “Fuck.” Kyungsoo looks at his hands with a heavy feeling in his chest; there is no blood on them, but there might as well be.
He needs to get away from here, to go home.
It makes sense to try to close the girl’s wounds, since he doesn’t want her to keep bleeding, so he decides to give one of his theories a shot. He has read about this working. He tentatively slides his tongue over the wounds, and it works; they slowly close up, leaving nothing but two much smaller dots as a reminder of what he has done. Apparently there is some truth to the stories, he thinks absently as he staggers away, out of the alley.
He suddenly remembers the reason he was out at all tonight. Kyungsoo walks in a daze, and finds himself outside Jongin’s home in a much shorter amount of time than usual. After knocking on the door, he doesn’t have to wait long before it opens, and a stricken Jongin is looking at him. He’s not wearing a shirt, there are dark rings under his eyes, and his hair is messy. He looks like he just got bed. Kyungsoo feels bad for making him wait and then waking him up at this ungodly hour. But it is better to go to him, because Jongin lets out a sigh, like he’s been worrying and is relieved to see him.
“Kyungsoo?” is all he says.
“Sorry I’m late,” Kyungsoo murmurs, still feeling a little like he is in shock himself.
“Kyungsoo, it’s four in the morning. I texted you at least ten times. I thought maybe--” That explains his phone beeping earlier. “You look like a mess. What happened to you?” Jongin is looking at him strangely, which is fair enough.
“Something...really weird. A little hard to explain. But I’ll try. Can I just stay here a little?” Kyungsoo doesn’t want to seem so frail and scared, but that’s how he feels, and he doesn’t want to be alone.
Without a word, Jongin lets him in. “Can I get you anything?” he asks gently. “Water, tea, anything to eat?”
Your blood, maybe, Kyungsoo thinks sarcastically, but then bites his lip because the thought is a little too appealing and no. No way he’s going to become a cliché. “No thanks,” he simply replies.
They go to Jongin’s bedroom and sit on the bed. Kyungsoo quietly watches the other, giving a small smile to show his gratitude, really hoping that he will believe his tale and trust him.
“So...Do you want to tell me what happened?” Jongin is visibly curious now, but also visibly concerned.
Kyungsoo starts to tell his story, now avoiding his friend’s gaze. It takes him a while to get through it all, and by the end of it he’s just staring into his own lap, painfully aware that he must sound like he’s on drugs. But he’s experienced more than enough. “I know it sounds crazy, but it still feels like a weird dream to me too. If you can see what I see, then maybe there’s nothing wrong with me. Other than that I’m a...vampire.”
“Okay, so... Do you have, I don’t know, fangs or something? That I can see?” Jongin tries, and he sounds shockingly sincere in wanting to believe Kyungsoo, if not confused about the entire ordeal. Kyungsoo can’t blame the hint of doubt in his voice, though. He’s not sure he would believe any of this himself.
“The fangs only grew out once so far. When I smelled blood. I don’t know if there’s a way to control it.”
Nodding, Jongin bites his lip thoughtfully. Then he grabs a piece of paper from his desk and slides the edge over a spot on his arm, wincing as he gives himself a paper cut. It’s not a big cut, but soon enough blood starts to trickle out, and Kyungsoo stares. The scent hits him slowly, and it smells so Jongin that he is left with his mouth slightly agape, as if simply breathing it in will be enough.
But it isn’t enough, of course it isn’t. This time he recognizes the ache in his mouth, his fangs growing out, and he touches them carefully to affirm their presence. It distracts him momentarily, because this was what they wanted to prove, so he looks up at Jongin. He finds that the other is already watching him in shock, eyes widened and lips slightly parted, like he wants to back away but doesn’t know if he should. “You can see them, can’t you?”
Jongin nods dumbly. It takes him a moment to find words. “So you’re really a vampire? They’re not fake or anything?”
“Seems like it. I’ve never seen fake fangs that can come out when you want them to.” Kyungsoo’s gaze goes back to Jongin’s arm, swallowing at the scent of his blood. “You didn’t need to do that.”
“Well, it was the first thing I could think of,” says Jongin. A very faint pink colors his cheeks.
“I...thanks.” Kyungsoo has already fed, but it would be a shame to let his friend sit there and bleed, right? “Should I? Close that cut for you? I sort of figured out that I can do that.”
“Oh.” The other seems like he forgot the cut was even there. He hesitates, biting his lip, but then nods. “Okay.” And he holds out his arm in invitation. The tension in the air is tangible as Kyungsoo leans closer, and he notices that Jongin is holding his breath.
He can’t help himself; he takes a whiff of the blood, taking in the delicious scent, then carefully licks it up. And it tastes better than it smells, better than the blood of the girl in the alley. The vampire takes over, then, because the cut is closed but the taste of the blood still lingers on his tongue. He grabs the other’s arm tighter, about to take a proper bite so he can drink more--
And Jongin gasps, his arm tensing, and Kyungsoo stops and blinks, grip loosening, realizing. This wasn’t the plan. This is Jongin, Jongin who he could never force into this. Kyungsoo was thrust into this, suddenly a vampire, but that doesn’t mean he has to change who he is. His feelings and personality remain the same, even if bloodthirst is added to them. He’s scared and confused, but Jongin doesn’t have to be on the receiving end of it all. He shouldn’t drink from him without even asking, not when that’s almost exactly what happened to him.
“Can I?” he simply asks, feeling strangely calm, like he’s waiting for consent, an animal ready to pounce when he gets it. It’s scary, something he can’t control.
“What?” comes the reply. Jongin is obviously unsure, and Kyungsoo doesn’t want to force it on him. Doesn’t want to be like his attacker.
“It’s okay. I won’t...I shouldn’t do it,” he says, pulling away before he changes his mind.
“I-- I’m,” Jongin breathes. He looks like he doesn’t know whether he should be scared or not, if he wants to do it, maybe he just wants to run away, but ends up pressing his arm further into Kyungsoo’s grip. Kyungsoo wonders if he saw how much he wanted it. “Do it. I’m letting you.”
Kyungsoo doesn’t know how to convey what he’s feeling, gratitude mixed with wow I’m in deeper than I thought mixed with a need for more delicious blood. So he doesn’t say anything, just bites into Jongin’s arm and whimpers as the blood fills his mouth. He drinks enthusiastically, feeling everything blur until it’s just him and the arm providing him with all he needs. He could drink this blood forever, if there wasn’t a limited amount of it. It’s a shame, he thinks, maybe he should just...take all he can get?
Then he hears labored breathing, the arm tensing. “Kyungsoo--” It brings him back, to the reality of his situation, and he slows his drinking until he can pull away completely and close the new wounds.
A look at Jongin tells him that he may have taken a bit much; the other is slightly pale and looks exhausted. He relaxes, though, when he’s released, and moves back just a little. Kyungsoo doesn’t miss it.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to take that much. I won’t do this to you again,” he rambles. He doesn’t know the proper protocol for things like this. All he knows is what he’s experienced. He hopes Jongin isn’t scared of him. What if he’s ruined their relationship by springing this on him?
“No, it’s...I can’t say it’s okay, but...I get that you don’t really know what’s happening, right? I won’t just let you be alone like this. So yeah.” Jongin sighs shakily, gaze flitting between his mattress to Kyungsoo.
“Thanks,” says Kyungsoo softly, moving to touch Jongin’s arm and then stopping himself. “You look really pale. Maybe you should rest. Can I sleep here?”
“Of course you can. You can stay here during the day too if you need to, considering the...sun thing.”
“Thank you. Really, I’m so grateful.” Kyungsoo gives a small smile, and Jongin smiles shyly back.
He quickly puts up a mattress for Kyungsoo so they can sleep the next few hours before Jongin has to leave for a lecture. When Kyungsoo wakes up he is alone, and all the blinds are pulled down on the windows. He can see some light behind them, though, suggesting that the sun must be up. The clock on Jongin’s nightstand says that it’s 2:30pm. Laying his head back on the pillow, Kyungsoo thinks about what happened last night. Apparently he’s a vampire now. So his life will change drastically, won’t it? Like it always does in books and movies?
For one, he can’t go out in sunlight. He also might not be able to eat garlic, or be around silver. A quick check in the bathroom confirms that he’s invisible in mirrors. And most importantly, he has to drink blood to survive; and he does not know if it’s possible to control the bloodlust and not attack someone suddenly, or to make sure he doesn’t accidentally kill or turn anyone.
Still, the more he thinks about it, it doesn’t seem like too much has to change for him. He doesn’t have to quit university; the most important of his classes have evening lectures, and it’s not like he’s going to leave for some kind of vampire school. Besides, he isn’t actually much of a garlic person, nor does he use a lot of silver jewelry. Mirrors can be avoided most of the time. This, technically, leaves bloodsucking as the most important change to his life.
That’s not too bad, right, Kyungsoo thinks and sighs deeply, his eyelids heavy with exhaustion. Do vampires naturally feel tired during the day? He can live with that.
His phone beeps in his pocket.
[From: Kim Jongdae]
Where r you? Thought we were having lunch today. U sick and didnt tell me?
To Kyungsoo, the logical idea is to tell Jongdae what has happened. He told Jongin, after all, and Jongdae is his best friend. But he’s too tired to talk, so he goes for a brief reply.
[To: Kim Jongdae]
Sort of. Had a long night, let’s talk in the evening and I’ll explain.
He’s closed his eyes when his phone beeps with another reply. Groaning, he decides he might as well check it.
[From: Kim Jongdae]
That all i get? C’mon soosoo, gimme a hint or something.
[To: Kim Jongdae]
Fine, I got turned into a vampire and the sunlight is making me tired, please let me sleep.
[From: Kim Jongdae]
...I’m going to interpret that as ‘I FINALLY hooked up with Kim Jongin and it lasted v e r y long’
[To: Kim Jongdae]
DID NOT. LEAVE ME ALONE.
I’m really going back to sleep so shut up.
Blessedly, his phone ceases to beep, and Kyungsoo lets the exhaustion wash over him again.
He wakes up four hours later to darkness, and a quiet sizzling noise coming from elsewhere. Stretching his limbs, Kyungsoo gets up from his mattress and leaves Jongin’s bedroom. He doesn’t have to look for long before he finds his host in the kitchen, cooking dinner.
“That smells nice,” he comments, and Jongin jumps a little, turning to see Kyungsoo in the doorway. He smiles at him, and Kyungsoo stops in his tracks.
Oh no. I’m in love.
“I didn’t hear you come in! Well, thanks. I didn’t know if you...eat, but I made food without garlic anyway. Do you want anything?” Jongin turns back to the stove as he speaks.
“No thanks, I think I should get home. Thanks for letting me stay, though, it’s really sweet of you.” Kyungsoo finds himself kind of wanting to stay here with Jongin, who so easily accepted and believed what he said, but he needs to be on his own and figure this out. Whether he can keep some kind of normalcy in his life is yet to be known, and then maybe he can have a life he wants. Until then, though, he should learn how this all works, being a vampire. So the people he cares about are safe. He can only hope he will find another vampire that can help him.
“That makes sense. But, if you need to...feed...some more before you leave, it’s fine by me,” Jongin says, pointing to his neck in what seems like a casual gesture. Kyungsoo can hear his heart rate pick up.
It’s a tempting offer, Jongin’s blood. It isn’t like Kyungsoo has had a lot of blood yet, but he thinks Jongin tastes better than most. Like a reward you should only rarely treat yourself to. Still it’s best to not take more of it, especially not so soon after the last time, and especially not when Kyungsoo could risk killing him.
“I shouldn’t. I already took more than I should have last night. Either way I’ll try to find somewhere to get blood. Hopefully as ethically as possible.” He smiles, bashful.
Jongin says okay, incredibly understanding, and that’s when Kyungsoo resolves to not meet him again before he has control.
He leaves, wondering what he should do with himself for the night, and pulls out his phone.
[To: Kim Jongdae]
Are you home?
I’m coming to your place either way.
“So...you actually are a vampire.”
Kyungsoo can feel Jongdae’s gaze on him, like his best friend is trying to find proof of his words, or a reason for him to lie. But he knows Kyungsoo, he knows that Kyungsoo isn’t much of a jokester. He doesn’t have a reason to suddenly come up with such an elaborate prank. “Yeah.”
“Because that makes sense.”
“It’s not like anything else makes sense. You saw the fangs. Don’t you believe me?” Kyungsoo fights very hard for his lips not to pout in frustration. He’s not a pouting person.
“Are you sure someone didn’t create some fancy new type of fake fangs and drug you?” Jongdae grins, then shoves gently at him. “Of course I believe you, that’s what best friends are for! I know this isn’t something you would make up all of a sudden. It’s just unexpected, that’s all.”
“You think? I was attacked by someone I thought needed my help and woke up in an alley needing to drink blood. There wasn’t exactly time to get used to the idea before it happened.”
“No, I get it. So does this mean you had Jongin’s blood? You were there all day, after all.”
Kyungsoo doesn’t think he can blush anymore, but he still feels warm. Which is weird, because the fact that he drank blood at all is more weird and scary to think about, rather than sensual. It’s the way Jongdae said it that has him biting his lip. “...I did.”
This gets Jongdae interested; he leans closer to Kyungsoo on the couch, a grin on his lips. “And was it like every single vampire romance where the blood of someone you’re in love with tastes much better than any other blood?”
“I’m not--” Kyungsoo starts.
“Don’t even try. I know you.”
“Okay, yeah. It kind of did feel like that. But I haven’t had anyone else’s blood either, other than...the girl in the alley.” He shoves away the thought of that girl, attacked by two vampires in one night, alone. Hopefully she won’t remember anything from what happened. If she’s even still alive. Why did I just leave her there?
Jongdae frowns. “So you drank his blood and then after waking up you just left because you think you’ll hurt him? My friend, are you aware that you’re a walking vampire cliché?”
“Shut up, it’s not like that. I want to learn control. If I go too long without drinking blood, I could attack someone and I don’t know how to stop when I first start. The two times I’ve done it could have been a miracle.”
“Looks like you need to find another vampire,” Jongdae says thoughtfully. “I would help, but my resources don’t stretch that far. Tell you what, though, if I do find someone I’ll be sure to whisper your name into the wind for you to hear.”
Kyungsoo considers punching Jongdae in the arm, but instead gets up from the couch. “You’re an ass. Thanks for listening to me. I should go home.” For all his jokes, Kyungsoo knows his best friend can be counted on, and he appreciates the friendly ear in a strange situation.
“Hey, tell me first thing if you and Jongin hook up, yeah? No need for juicy details, though, except how good he was.”
“Sure.”
part two