Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It felt like the music and the bass were the pulse of life itself. The sound systems blared the various artists with ease and clarity while the DJ felt like a god on the stand.

The bodies, a tangled mess of sweaty skin swaying to the beats. Lights illuminated the scene in all colors, leaving the dancing people in some kind of trance. The alcohol flowed like water, keeping the bartenders on their toes, getting more tips by any minute that passed.

Chan loved the atmosphere. He loved the parties of the club and loved the people in it. A welcome change in his dull office live on the weekends. Accompanied by his colleague and friend Jisung they ventured together to meet their other friends at the Club “Kick” and danced and partied the night away.

“You need to slow down, mate,” Chan screamed against the music as Jisung downed two shots Changbin placed in front of them with a satisfied grin on his lips.

“Suck it, Chan,” he replied laughing, “This week was as shitty as it can be so let me get wasted and please make sure that Binnie and I get home!”

There was always a silent agreement between the friends. The oldest had to make sure, that all of them got home safely or at least at a place where they could crash for the night. Chan always looked out for them, so it fell naturally into his hands. Even if he had too much to drink, he always achieved that.

Changbin patted the older on the back, flashing his tattoos in the colorful lights and got immediately admired for them by other guests, “Don't put so much pressure on him, Jisung! He needs to let lose too some time!”

Chan watched as the two engaged in a heated discussion while sipping his own Whiskey Cola. He met Jisung when he joined their companies a few years ago and it just clicked between them. They rarely missed a day to meet which resulted in getting annoyed by each other but they soon realized they couldn't live without the other (but with each other is also tough). Changbin was a whole other story. The Tattoo artist stumbled (literally) into their lives on a winter night. His ex made a scene in front of the Kick only to push him right into Chan and Jisung, taking a break from the crowded space inside.

Since then, they met every weekend at the club. And soon every other day to hang out.

As Jisung dragged Changbin to the dance floor, Chan stayed at the bar, happily enjoying his drink while his eyes trailed through the club. There were two halls to choose from. The first was the largest, playing mostly the newest songs and hits with the more mainstream patrons. The second got used by the ones who loved techno and house which the friend group rarely got into. Just as he downed his drink and slid of the bar stool he caught something, or rather someone on the second floor gallery.

The gallery got reserved for the VIP guests which frequently came in and paid just a bit more to have a secluded area for themselves. The brunette always saw someone watching down on the dance floor, like a wolf who chose the next prey.

But this was the first time he ever felt like prey. The man looking straight at him leaning onto the railing, his blonde hair a hard contrast against the black background behind him. For a moment Chan forgot what he was doing and nearly stumbled on air as he made his way to his friends, followed by the smug grin and glare of the stranger.

His friends didn't notice of course, being in their own little world. Dancing together and with the people around them, ignoring completely the system of personal space in the matter. Which caused a lot of not dancing patrons to look at them. Chan, who got easily enticed with his friends laughed along side Changbin and Jisung who made one body roll after another, seducing females and males alike in a five meter radius.

Chan faded out anything else. He wanted to wash his stress away, forgetting the man he saw earlier and just be in the moment. Barely noticeable the dance floor got emptier by the seconds. Man yielded to the side, Woman gawked awkwardly. Only Chan and his friends didn't seem to be bothered by the sheer atmosphere change in the room.

Chan looked around, puzzlement in his eyes as he finally noticed the amount of space they've got but suddenly he swayed a little. At first, he thought the alcohol kicked in, but there was a scent he picked up which worsened the feeling. His vision got blurry while he searched with his hand for support by his friends, only to be softly grabbed by a hand which didn't belong to either of them. Shocked was understated as the brunettes eyes trailed from the pale hand, up the arm covered in a fancy button down shirt to the shoulder and finally to the face. The blonde smiled wickedly at him, not letting go of Chans wrist as he tried his best to stay on his feet. The smell of fading rain caught his nostrils, the dizziness increased.

The stranger got nearer, following the beat rhythmically until he stood right beside him, “Hi.” His voice was as deep as the ocean and Chan needed two moments to caught up on the greeting.

He quickly blinked, hoping the feeling will disappear, “Hello?” His breath hitched as the blonde got behind him, his hand letting go of Chans only to get to his waist. There wasn't a single word in the repertoire of the muscular male which can describe this situation. Even if the touches of the stranger were light and not even pressing, he felt trapped by the moment he got hold of his hand. He looked for support by his friends, but they got equally enticed by some guys Chan didn't even see coming.

A male with copper hair held Jisung firmly without raising doubt that, if Jisung wanted, he could get away. Same goes with Changbin who danced a bit to promiscuous with a long haired blonde on the other side of Chan. So no help from them.

“What's your name, handsome?” The whisper of the stranger's voice in his ear made him swallow dryly. Goosebumps crawled up from his toes to his head. A small voice in the back of his mind reminded him, that this was the first time being this engrossed, being this helpless and vulnerable. The touches of the blonde send electricity to his skin, made him tense and aching for more even though his head told him to stop wanting that.

“Chan,” he answered still perplexed, his head cleared out of any thoughts that might conquer his mind and saving him from this peculiar situation. His voices sounded foreign to his ears as he swallowed.

“Chan~,” he cooed, his hands went up and down Chans sides, making his legs weak, “You can call me Felix. Do you want to come with us? We'll leave for a special party and I am pretty sure your companions will come too.”

Chan didn't want to go. His inside turned at the mere thought about it, not necessarily because of the way the stranger introduced himself. He wasn't homophobic or anything and as far as his hazy brain could decipher, he hadn't make a move which felt like a red light. But the smell, the scent he kind of enjoyed, was so heavy his breath got caught more than he liked.

“I...,” he began, trying to get his thoughts right. To get back on track. But his mind was like a blank sheet. All he could think of was the deep voice, the smell and his hands on his torso. Suddenly he felt his lips in the nape of his neck which caused him to jump but the stranger only chuckled sweetly. “Let go of me.” The first sane thing he said. He want away, just that he can breath again.

“You didn't answer my question,” he replied, his hand dangerously near his chest, “I really want you there.”

Chan closed his eyes. The music faded back into nothingness and he felt like he was alone with Felix in a wide open dark space. He heard the words spilling out of his mouth without the the ability to change them. “Alright, I'm coming with you.”

* * *

They had a limousine waiting, black with tinted glass. The fact that they never left the Kick until it closed before seemed to not care Chans friends. Nor the fact that neither of them (Chan included) ever voiced out if a man ever found the way into their dirty dreams or therefore their bed. All three had girlfriends before. And, sure, sexuality is flexible, Chan knew this too, but he would never thought of getting in a car with men who obviously wanted more than just some fun with alcohol.

As soon as Chan got in last and the door shut them off of the world, the blonde took the liberty to caress his thigh. He felt his blood rising to his cheeks and looked embarrassed out into the city which practically flew by. Hushed voices filled the car and Chan asked himself what was wrong with him. While the copper haired male whispered something in Jisungs ears which made him slightly squirm and blush, The long haired male sat himself on Changbin.

“Hyunjin, slow down,” Felix said mockingly while getting nearer to Chan who felt deeply unsettled by the way he nearly sat on him, “I thought we're doing it together.”

Chan looked at Felix. His whole body stiffened. Out of reflex he backed away, pressing his body at the door, searching frantically for the handle. The eyes of his suitor changed from a bright blue to a dark red, his teeth showed sharp fangs. With a crane of his neck he watched with a surprised sound that the other two strangers had changed too. What the hell was going on? Was he on drugs?

The pain flashed unexpected from his neck to his whole body. His scream caught in his lungs as he tried to get the blonde off of him. The smell of iron coated every inch of the car. The sound of gulping turned Chans insides as he tried harder to get him off and succeeded finally. Quickly he covered the bite with his hand, glaring at Felix who licked his lips which would be quite seductive if his face wouldn't be soiled in fresh blood. In Chans blood.

“What the fu-”, the brunette wanted to ask but somehow he felt different. As if the world had been packed in cotton. His limbs became weak as Felix bent over him, chuckling lowly.

“Don't worry, handsome,” he said with his deep voice, “You taste to good to kill you.”

Chan didn't registered it, he smiled lazy. The uneasiness faded and got replaced by sheer devotion. It appears almost so, if the blonde clicked a switch. Negative feelings changed to positive ones, wariness to attraction.

The hands of Felix on him felt like an epiphany. They slipped under his shirt, exploring his chest and roaming over his skin. The hushed whispered got replaced by moaning, mostly from the three friends. Felix slowly moved his lips from his collarbone to his cheek, leaving cold kisses which caused another rush of goosebumps. But he didn't kissed him on the lips. There was a line and Chan was to engrossed in the fluffy feeling to see it. The blood that early rushed into his cheeks now found another place, making his pants uncomfortably tight.

The car ride ended abruptly. Felix climbed back on his seat and opened the door for them to exit. The nightly breeze cleared a bit of the fog in Chans brain to think how insane it must be looking for the people on the street. All of the males were covered in blood after all. However all of the thinking stopped as Felix got a hold of Chans hand to guide him into a shady looking industrial building.

The inside seemed equally depressing as the outside. Long corridors covered in red bricks and asphalt. But the brunette male only had eyes for the blonde who went first, looking every now and then over his shoulder to smile at him, a few traces of blood still on his full lips. His skinny body dressed in finest clothing. In contrast to him Chan looked more like a homeless but even that didn't bothered him. Only the shining blue eyes and the soft palm against his.

He never wanted somebody so badly as him. He felt on an endless high, like on drugs and there was nothing that could stop that.

The corridor opened, heavy bass music blared through the archway. The hall on the end was illuminated in a dim red light, the smell of iron and decay should have made the males uncomfortable but they happily followed their suitors into the open. The trance faded all their surroundings. The only thing matters where the beautiful men they followed even through hell and beyond.

Felix pushed Chan gently in a booth, sitting himself close next to him. His hand never leaving his thigh, caressing it with circles. Soothing, thought Chan and relaxed by his site. The other blonde waved at the waitress in the black corset and ordered three Green Mushrooms which caused Changbin to look at his friends in blissful puzzlement. In no time the waitress was back, placing three poison green shot glasses in front of Jisung, Changbin and Chan. The letter looked at it, his mind screaming to not drink this stuff. The foam on top was white, trickling down the side of the glass with a sizzling sound.

“Drink up, handsome,” Felix told him, his other hand found his chest again, “After that you'll feel brand new.”

Chan commanded his body to not move, to not drink this shit. He didn't quite understood where his change of mind came from. It looked like it comes straight out a horror movie, but his friends, who got sugar coated by the other two didn't had the same argument with their body and mind. They just downed it in one motion.

Felix watched, as Chan held his right hand strictly with his left, fighting the urge to comply against all his instincts. He couldn't wait anymore. The free hand of the blonde got hold of the glass and put the drink into his mouth. Like a flash he got a hold of Chans neck and pulled him close to kiss him. The brunette felt the liquid entering his mouth however he couldn't get away. Even if the other was not as muscular as he was, he somehow got a lot more strength than he had. He didn't pull away until Chan swallowed it all, leaving him gasping for air.

But after that, he didn't remember anything.

Chapter Text

Chan woke up in his own bed. For the first few moments as he opened his eyes, he just appreciated the fact that he actually got home. For a few blissful moments, he thought the day before was like any other Saturday. Partying and then getting the guys home who were as drunk as Irish sailors.

But as soon as he caught a familiar scent it hit him. The smell of the air after rain. Slowly he grasped at his neck. The skin felt fine, nothing out of ordinary. He looked at his arms, nothing. All he could put together were bits and pieces of memories. The beautiful men who enticed him to follow him in the car. Red eyes. Sharp pain and then just... Was he horny? He couldn't tell. Just as he decided that the last night was a fever dream caused by to much whiskey a snoring reminded him otherwise. Perplexed, he looked to his side.

"What the heck are you doing here?"

Changbin lay sound asleep next to him, cuddling with a pillow. Well, not until Chan hit him with his own pillow so the muscular man jerked awake, ready to fight. "Wha- Where am I? Who am I? Where are my clothes?" He looked down, only to discover his boxers and his socks on him. Chan only wore boxers but he rarely slept with more on and it was his apartment.

All were really good questions, but Chan could only answer two of them, "Dude, you're in my apartment. You're Changbin and I have no clue where they are."

The black haired male looked around but couldn't find his missing clothes anywhere so he just dropped back on the bed, "Wow. We really need to slow down on the booze. I can't remember a damn thing."

"Same goes for me," Chan admitted and wiping his face with his hands. Everything is a blur. Did they maybe drink to much? It never happened before. "Maybe it was the last shot we drank?"

"Green Mushroom," Changbin said without knowing what that was in particular. Both looked at each other, until Changbin sighed, "Nice Bedroom by the way."

Chan hit him playfully. It was nice tough. Chan always wanted something cozy so the walls got painted a dark green color while the whole furniture was dark teak wood. The ladies loved it and as it seems, the guys too. "Wait a second. If you are here, and I am here... Is Jisung here too?"

"Well," Changbin began knowingly, "He's not in your bed and I don't know if you have a living room or something."

The brunette got up with an annoyed groan, "Who the hell doesn't have a living room?"

"Poor people?"

Chan only rolled his eyes while he made his way to the door leading into the next room. His Living room was as cozy as his bedroom, with soft lights that illuminated the space in the evening a huge sofa and a small dining corner. But Jisung was nowhere to be seen. "Huh, maybe he got home? Leaving the question of why you're here in the first place."

"As if I like crashing at other people's houses," his friend replied, not leaving his spot on the bed, "Are my clothes there by any chance?" Chan walked around the room and just to be sure, looked in the small kitchen and his bathroom but there were no clothes. At least not the ones Changbin wore. The tattoo artist sighed defeatedly, "Mind giving me some?"

After Changbin got dressed in sweatpants and a shirt, Chan decided to make a small hangover breakfast for them even though it didn't feel like one. Bizarre considering the fact that neither of them knew what happened last night. But especially odd was that Changbin couldn't remember getting in a car with strangers.

"Maybe it was a dream," he said with a mouth full of fresh omelets. "You know? The kind of real dream that feels like it happened in real life. Remember Jane? She dreamed of me cheating on her and was so furious, she broke some of my dishes."

"Yeah, but she was kind of crazy to begin with," Chan said scratching his neck. When he thought about it, Changbin always fell for the ones who crossed the line. Like, collecting animal skulls, praying to Cthulhu... "But yeah, maybe you're right."

Just before noon, Changbin bid his goodbyes. He needed some good rest, because he was supposed to have three appointments on Monday. Chan on the other hand had nothing on his schedule. But he guessed that his boss would give him some meaningless task anyway. Before he got into bed to read a bit before falling asleep, he messaged Jisung to ask how he felt.

After he laid his book to his side and checked his phone he frowned. No message. Odd. But maybe his hangover was a bit harder than his? He shrugged inwardly and turned off the lights. The next time they go to a party together, they need to remember the evening. Otherwise it felt like a waste of time.

* * *

The company Chan and Jisung enrolled in was well known for making the world a better place. More plants less CO2. More forest less garbage. However just because the company led the way in changing the environmental footprint on earth didn't mean that his boss was a kind man. Park Hyun-woo established his position by kissing asses and manipulating his way through any conversation. He always wore expensive clothing, which he claimed was fair trade and showed off everything he got. The first three months Chan got tangled up in his manipulations until he finally realized that he didn't need to do all of the work his boss put on his desk which caused him to be on his blacklist. Thankfully the supervisory board knew what Chan did for the company and forbade Park to fire him.

As he entered the building, he greeted the receptionist with a smile, which made her blush lightly. He knew she had a crush on him because Jisung overheard the talk she had with one of his colleagues which made Chan a bit flustered himself. But he will never have a work romance. No matter which scenario he played through in his head, it always ended badly, so he kept his hands off it. His private life was already a mess, he didn't need chaos at his workplace.

The elevator brought him up to his working space, where he expected his best friend to be waiting already with coffee and an apology for the ghosting he usually never did. A bit perplexed he looked at Jisung's empty desk as he put his bag on his own desk chair. He tried to remember any time he was first at work but couldn't. An uneasy feeling crept into his stomach. Just coincidence?

"Morning, Chan!"

Chan looked up and smiled at the sight of Yang Jeongin who sent him a flashy smile. "What's up? You know where Jisung is?"

The dark haired intern frowned, "Well yeah. They said a friend called for him. He's sick. I thought that was you?" He placed some folders on Chan's table, smiling awkwardly at the look on the face of the older male.

"I didn't call... Weird," Chan mumbled and sat himself at his desk, glancing at his friend's table like he would magically manifest himself there if he just looked hard enough, "You know, I didn't hear from him since Saturday..."

Jeongin leaned over the partition wall conspiratorially and said, "I've heard the stomach flu's getting around. Many others are sick too." He smiled again and walked in the direction of his own desk. Chan watched him with a slight smile, remembering the first time the younger male ever talked to him. He spilled coffee over his pants. Good old times.

To get back on track he shook his head. Before he started working he texted Jisung again. Just to know if he was feeling right or if he needed something. His parents lived in Incheon and they could come to help him overcome the illness but as the best friend Chan was he knew that he didn't want to bother them. Sighing he slipped his phone back into his pocket and started going through the files he got from Jeongin.

The new project of his company considered planting moss and flowers on bus stop roofs to improve the air quality in the city but to accomplish it, there were thousands of things to go through. Laws, opportunities, people... The latter of course is the hardest. But even if it was tiring, as soon as the project flourished and proved to be valid, the government paid handsomely for the installation.

At lunch, Chan had already minimized the pile to only two folders which Jeongin commented with a proud whistle, "Someone's not distracted today."

Chan looked up, "Someone forgot his respect today." The younger man quickly bowed and apologized, however if his grin is anything to go by he wasn't sorry at all. He asked nonetheless to sit down with him for lunch, like every day. The older man was happy to not sit alone in the big cafeteria. Or rather sit with somebody he liked. There were tons of coworkers who are not only older than Chan and Jeongin together but much more, well, conservative? Boomers , Chan thought immediately as he made the mistake the first time and sat down with three elderly men and two women who spoke of the youth like a sickness and eyed him suspiciously. He guessed they wanted approval of their points but all Chan gave them was a weak smile.

Jeongin went for the Bibimbap while Chan ordered Jeyuk-Bokkeum. They sat down with their trays at the big window, whereas the dark haired boy ranted about their boss. How he finally wants to enroll not as an intern but as a colleague but Park still thinks that he wasn't ready. Chan knew the reason obviously. But he didn't know if he should tell him that. Dude, you're cheaper than any employee, of course he wants you in this position. The older male sighed and contemplated, how he could rephrase it to not crush his belief in companies entirely.

"Maybe you should tell him that you'll find another company if he doesn't consider you as an employee?", Chan asked carefully.

"Hmm," The younger male tapped his lips with his chopsticks, "And if he says I should go? Man I just want a chance... But he doesn't even give me that."

Chan nodded understandingly as he noticed the notification on his phone. For a moment he was relieved, to see the name of his friend but as soon as he read the message he stopped chewing.

`I'm fine. Stop bothering me`

What the fuck? He wasn't sure if he read it right. Something was off, he could tell even with the few hints he got. Never in their friendship, even in a fight, even if he was so annoyed that he wouldn't speak with him, he never texted such a thing. At least not without emojis to accompany it. He noticed to late, that Jeongin had already finished talking and eating and reached some kind of enlightenment on his problem.

"Thank you, Chan. I will ask him," was all he said before disposing of his tray and walking out of the cafeteria with a confident face. And the older man doesn't even know what he wants to ask. He just hoped that Park didn't think that he got somehow involved in this.

He shook his head lightly before putting the chopsticks down. The message took all his apatite away. Should he write him back? Or maybe let him alone for a few hours before approaching again? No, his protective side emerged from the depths of his being demanding clearance and an answer. `Dude, what's wrong? You behave unusually.`

Yeah, that sounds not so bad and hides his anger in a concerned way. However his suspicion and fury rose as he got a reply right away.

`Leave me the fuck alone. I'm fine.´

That does it. He quickly stood up, got the tray in the rack and went out to get on the balcony on the other side of the cafeteria. The cold March air caused many of the employers to enjoy their meal in the building but in the summer months, the balcony was packed with people. Chan regularly came outside for some fresh air (when the pollution and smog weren't to harsh at least) and he got some peace and quiet outside the busy summer months. He didn't want anyone listening in on his call as he dialed Changbin's number. He didn't pick up which could be because he's working too but thank God that the internet provides one with the phone numbers of businesses. Finding the one from his tattoo shop turned out to be quicker than searching his private number in his phone and he was pleased as he heard the familiar beeps.

As the dial tone stopped the brunette was surprised to hear not his friend on the line, "Hello, Tattoo Paradise here. How can I help you?"

"Eh, yeah is Changbin there?", Chan replied perplexed. He painfully realized that aside from some basic stuff (and relationship problems) he knew practically nothing about his black haired friend. He noted mentally that he should talk about his work more often to avoid this kind of situation.

"Ah, Yeah. He's on break in a few moments," the voice said and sounded more than friendly; therefore, Chan asked who he was, "Oh, I'm kind of his assistant? My name's Seungmin. I work part time at Changbin's Studio."

"Ah, alright. Sorry, I-," Chan wanted to apologize if he sounded rude but the other person on the line quickly interrupted.

"No need to explain, the boss is ready now. Till next time." And as quickly as he sounded his goodbye, the voice of Changbin replaced him at the other end.

"Miss me already?", he joked mockingly. Chan heard how he pulled his gloves from his hand and cringed inwardly at the sound.

"I think something's wrong with Jisung. Like, really wrong. He called in sick today and I would put my hands into fire that he is in some kind of trouble," The brunette explained while gazing through the skyscrapers into the busy streets of Seoul, "He just swore at me. Leave me the fuck alone."

Changbin actually wanted to tell his friend that he was just paranoid. Sometimes friends want to be left alone, especially when they're sick. But he knew both males well enough by now, even if they mostly saw each other at the Kick. Han Jisung never cussed in their presence. Or at least not as harsh as others. "Alright, maybe you're right maybe you aren't," Changbin said after a short moment, "But I understand that you're worried. Why don't you come on down after work and we can pay him a visit together? And check on him?"

Chan sighed, Relief swept over him. It's not that he wouldn't drive to his friend's house alone, but he just had that uneasy feeling that somethings wrong. "Alright, Thanks Binnie. I'll call you when I finished up."

"You do that. And don't overthink this. Maybe he's just hanging over the bowl and really wants to be left alone."

* * *

The hours after the call seemed to stretch into an eternity. Every few minutes Chan glanced at the clock, discovering that not as much time had passed as he wished. The uneasy feeling in his gut never left and he nervously shook his leg under the table to relieve the stress. At five he finally turned off his computer and wished his coworkers goodbye before hurrying to the elevator and pressing the button for the underground car park.

The drive to the tattoo studio proved to be hell squeezed into the otherwise peaceful streets of the capital. Chan just overheard the radio announcer say that there had been an accident, clogging the streets like an overworked waste system. He wanted to make a detour to avoid the worst traffic jam but he wasn't the only one with the idea. The drive which normally would take fifteen minutes stretched to an agonizing half hour of stopping and moving until he halted in front of the black front of his friend's shop.

Changbin had already been in the starting blocks as he walked casually to the passenger seat, a huge blue stain on his shirt. He caught the quizzical look of his friend and shook his head, "The dude said he could stay still. It turned out he was a hardcore flincher." The older man couldn't suppress his laughter as Changbin hit him on the upper arm.

"Before we drive, can you use this app, you know, to find my phone?", Changbin asked, "I had it in my pants but as you know, it vanished along with my favorite jacket and shirt."

"Sure." Chan opened the Find My App. They always shared their location because one time they went to a festival only to get hopelessly lost. They didn't find each other until the festival was over which caused the safety precaution of sharing their location. Even if they don't go to a party together. The map of Seoul appeared and the circles waved a few times until two dots with the avatars of Changbin and Jisung appeared. "Huh. Well, I guess Jisungs got your phone?"

"Huh? Really?" Changbin first looked surprised and then all his emotions left his face, "Maybe he stole my clothes. That would be such a dick move I swear."

"Why would he do that?"

"Please. You see this?", The black haired pointed to his soiled outfit, "Who wouldn't want to dress like that?"

"Well, first of all me, because of the huge stain and secondly, Jisung's not home," Chan explained and shoved his phone into the hand of his friend while starting the car, "Navigate me, I need to drive."

"Yes, Captain."

Chapter Text

If Chan had to describe the building where the app (or rather Changbin) led him, he would go with luxurious. Arrogantly luxurious. As if the residents tried to wipe their wealth under the noses of everyone who needed to pass the skyscraper.

Changbin nodded slowly, observing the building with as much care as Chan. "Well, I suppose Jisungs got himself a sugar mommy?" He looked over to his friend in a silent search for approval, but all Chan did was frown deeply.

"It's just so strange," Chan mumbled as he switched glances between the high-rise and the display of his phone. "I mean, do you remember him getting together with anyone? I have kind of blurry memories, but nothing in particular."

"All I know is that I miss my damn clothes," the black-haired man sighed and unfastened his seat belt. "Are you coming or do you want to stay here any longer? I tattooed people all day. I have a very sore arm and the need for something to drink before going to sleep."

Chan rolled his eyes but followed him out of the car. Just to stop right in front of the building. Chan glanced at his friend, I'm going to have to call him, I guess."

"Then do that."

"But somehow I don't want to."

"Give me your phone, you lunatic." Changbin said, irritated by his ambivalence, "Why do you behave like that? Just because Jisung sent you these messages? If you would message me while I'm banging a super hot sugar mommy, I would react exactly the same, I tell ya`" He dialed the number of Jisung's phone and waited an agonizing three minutes, during which Chan got more worried with each passing second.

But then Changbin's face changed from irritated to happy. "Hey, you unfaithful tomato. We're here to pick you up." Chan tried his best to listen to what the other one said; however, he only heard Changbin and the street noises. "You can't walk?" Chan mirrored the frown on his friend's face as he encouraged him with his hands to elaborate on his question. Changbin just shoved the daring hands of his friend to the side. "Okay, sixth floor, apartment 602? Alright, we're coming." He handed Chan the phone, looking quite puzzled, "Okay. I guess he had fun until now."

That was all he had to say, and Chan's innocent side couldn't put the pieces in the right order to know what his friend was trying to tell him. Was he injured? Was he attacked? Or was he kidnapped? He knew Jisung for so long that he believed in his innocence too, even though the males are old enough to do more than just cuddle or kiss.

He followed Changbin regardless through a beautiful foyer decorated in lots and lots of western luxury to a glass elevator, which brought them straight up to the sixth floor. The hallway was just as tiled as the foyer, with white marble and shining white walls. Ornaments got placed between the few doors, which made the whole thing even more arrogant in Chan's eyes. His hallway at home was long, dark, and had no decor at all. Not even pictures or art on the wall.

Changbin looked for the numbers on the doors until he stopped at the last one and rung the bell without a second thought. Chan admired his friend for his straight-forward manner of approaching things. This minor task would take at least a few moments of bracing himself for the older one.

The door swung open, and a handsome male appeared who wasn't Jisung. He propped his elbow on the door frame, looking straight at Changbin, who seemed to be in some kind of trance, while the blonde grinned. "You forgot your phone," he said, as if the two males knew exactly who he was. They didn't and just stared with mild confusion at the man, who snickered amused with the situation that unfolded in front of him. His long finger brushed at his lips. "Come on in your friend is here too."

A bit reluctantly, they stepped in, switching glances with each other before their eyes went wide with amazement. The apartment was even more beautiful than the foyer. High ceilings, expensive old furniture, and big artworks in every possible space not occupied. As Chan looked around, the blonde got hold of Changbin, who was so surprised that he couldn't even make a sound as the taller male pressed him against the nearest wall, nearly pushing an old vase over.

"Let me help you with your foggy brain," he whispered, pressing him against his broad chest. Changbin opened his mouth in protest, practically inviting the other, who laid his lips on his. In the first few seconds, he stiffened, and his brain screamed at him in caps lock to push the guy away. Until all the memories from the night crashed onto him. He remembered the man, Hyunjin, and looked at him in surprised realization. He grinned seductively and whispered so Chan wouldn't hear, "Ready for round two?"

Changbin's eyes trailed down to his bulging pants. He wasn't quite sure why. He never felt like that when it came to men, but one thing he knew for sure: Hyunjin did things that made him feel incredible. No second thoughts are needed. He nodded and was immediately dragged down a corridor to his left into Hyunjin's room, totally forgetting Chan in the process.

He, on the other hand, was enticed by an artwork he believed was a copy of La Liberté guidant le peuple by Eugéne Delacroix. It must be the copy, but somehow the fading shine of the colors made it look so real. If they can pay for such a thing, they must be loaded. He nodded approvingly and turned around, only to find himself alone in the big living room. He stumbled over a large black chaiselongue back to the place where Changbin last stood, but his friend was nowhere to be seen. The eerie silence made his heartbeat sound way too loud in his ears as he tried to calm his nerves.

Oh god, what if they got caught in some kind of trap? Even in Korea, the black market is flourishing. What if they were harvested for organs? He pictured himself unable to move in a bathtub filled with ice, unable to escape, and pain washing over his body (he saw something like that on TV and believed that this could happen literally everywhere). Just as he wanted to search for his now-lost friends, a door opened at the far end of the corridor he faced. The man stepping out, only dressed in pants, was some kind of familiar, but then again, nothing came to mind as he squinted his eyes while walking closer. His blonde hair was wet, with a few drops of water falling on his pale skin and flowing over his abs, and Chan needed all his willpower to not drop his jaw.

"Look who the cat dragged in," he said in such a deep voice that Chan needed to double check if his mouth was still closed. The feeling of familiarity didn't decrease as the stranger strolled up to him with confident steps, closing the gap between them. "But you don't remember me, do you?"

Chan shook his head, feeling kind of dumb. Left alone in the cold abyss of not remembering. "Did we met? Like on Saturday?" He thought for a moment before adding, "If so, I'm sorry I must've drank too much."

The blonde chuckled deeply and looked out the big windows without saying anything. Instead, a new voice appeared behind the muscular male, which startled the poor brunette, whose nerves had gotten thinner and thinner: "Stop being such an asshole, Felix."

Sensing the tension, he stepped out of the way. Felix sent daggers with his glare at the newcomer, whom Chan also didn't recognize. The copper-haired male maintained his position with crossed arms. His eyes shifted quickly to Chan's and he made a nod to indicate Chan to get, he guessed, behind him. So he carefully avoided the glare of the blonde and squished past the man into a bedroom, where a familiar face stared up from the bed with a weak smile.

Just as Chan dashed to the bed, the door closed. He couldn't care less as he practically slid to the side of the bed, worry dripping from his eyes. "Are you okay? What happened? Why weren't you texting me back? Are you nuts?"

More questions spilled from Chan's mouth as Jisung sat himself up, leaning on his elbows. "Dude, dude! Chill. Everything is alright." Chan stopped ranting, but his worry didn't. "I didn't text because when I wasn't sleeping or eating, I had other things to do, if you know what I mean."

Chan needed a moment until it hit him like a truck. The innocence is gone, as is his belief in humanity. Or rather, his belief in his best friend. "So you neglected me and worried me and didn't find a few seconds because you hit it?"

"Nice periphrasis for getting fucked, but yeah. Sorry," Jisung replied sheepishly, "And for the things Minho texted you. I think he got jealous or something." His big eyes met Chans, and he pouted sickeningly cutely, "You're not mad, are you?"

Chan exhaled loudly and ruffled his hand through his hair. "Of course not, but man, I was so worried."

"Yeah, I mean, not every day a vampire bites you," Jisung said, rubbing the skin at his neck lightly. Chan laughed, thinking he joked around like always, and Jisung caught on to that immediately: "Wait, you do remember Saturday night, right?"

"No, weirdly, I forgot literally the whole night except some blurry images..." Chan propped his head on his hand, happy and smiling because his friend was at least not in a bathtub getting harvested for organs. "I never had so much to drink that I forgot what happened."

Jisung looked like Chan had just punched him in the face. Even as Chan asked him what was wrong, he didn't close his mouth, unable to understand. So he called the only person who could send some light into the darkness. "Minho!"

A moment of silence went by before the door opened again and the copper-haired male entered, an angry frown on his face, but his voice wasn't as threatening as his glare. "What's wrong? You need the salve again?"

Chan really tried to read nothing into it; however, his thoughts immediately went to the topic at hand. He couldn't walk surely he needed some kind of medical attention if it was that severe. He shifted his head over the palm of his hand to hide any discomfort with this new information.

"How can Chan remember the night? I remembered it directly; why can't he?"

Minho's frown deepens, obviously annoyed. "Really?" His eyes were trained on Chan, who nodded slightly, fearing that too much movement would take him over the brink of sanity. Minho exhaled sharply and went out of his bedroom again. "Felix, you idiot! Come out of your pity bunker and fix the shit you caused!"

"The hell I will!", the voice of Felix was muffled behind his own bedroom door. "Just because you two made them remember doesn't mean I need to do it, so suck it bunny ass!"

The situation escalated so quickly that Chan once again thought he was trapped in a very vivid fever dream. His glances switched from Minho's back, who stood in the door and looked like a raging bull, who at any moment dashed forward to turn the door at the end of the hallway to firewood, to Jisung, who had laid back down and started snoring.

"That does it..." Minho growled and walked in the direction of the front door. Chan hadn't had the chance to ask himself what he was doing. He heard a switch, and the whole apartment went dark. The only light coming from the window. It was nearly seven, and the sun was long gone. The spine-chilling darkness and the fact that his best friend (who he needed support from) and his other good friend (who he also wanted support from) are just out of reach.

So he got up as quietly as possible and walked to the open door, which looked like the mouth of some monster. He didn't see Felix's door opening, but he surely heard it. Slowly, the blonde, who appeared as a white blob in Chan's vision, came out in the hallway. For a second, Chan thought he had red eyes, but that must have been the lack of light playing pranks on him.

"Turn it back on," He growled, but Minho didn't even flinch.

"Let him remember, and I'll think about it," the cooper-haired male said adamantly, not backing away as the blonde came dangerously near. "If you believe you are save just because he doesn't know, you're even dumber than I thought."

Chan really didn't know what was going on. It seems like this Saturday night he lost his ability to understand such things. Or anything at all. He thought about the thing Jisung said moments ago. Vampires. But they don't look like it. It would help if he could test it by sprinkling them with a few drops of holy water or garlic. That reminded him that he hadn't eaten dinner yet. He's definitely going for some garlic bread later.

"Fine! Fine!" Felix finally succumbed defeated. "Who declared you the leader?"

Minho scoffed and clicked the switch. All the lights flared back on, and suddenly Chan stood in the center of attention. Both males looked at him kind of expectantly. Felix grumbled something before he went back the way he came, but instead of his door, he turned right, vanishing in another room. Minho observed his friend attentively, ready to take the electricity away again. But instead, the blonde came back with a water bottle in hand, which he threw to Chan, who surprisingly caught it with one hand.

"Drink it, and you get your stupid memories back." As soon as he finished his sentence, he got back to his room, closing the door with a bang.

Chan glanced at Minho, who just shook his head, "Better drink it at home. Yo, Hyunjin, wrap it up in there. The guys are going back home tonight!"

"But he just got here! You had your bed bunny all weekend!"

Chan felt like the odd one out. Not that he was desperate to hit it, not really. But both of his friends could at least say that they had gained something. All he got was a water bottle. And he wasn't even sure what exactly was in there. He thought about the possibility that if vampires are real, alchemy and herbology must be too. Maybe they have a little greenhouse at their apartment, growing all kinds of herbs to make potions. Like Harry Potter. He just hoped it wouldn't taste bad.

* * *

After he dropped Changbin off (who had been in an euphoric state since he came out of Hyunjin's room) and made sure Jisung got to bed safe and sound, he drove through the night of Seoul back home. On the way, he picked up some Ramen and the promised Korean garlic bread and made everything ready in his small kitchen before sitting down on his sofa. He ate slowly and recapitulated the last hours in his mind. It mostly seemed like his best friend got himself a boyfriend, and somehow Changbin got one too, even if he couldn't quite believe it. Or he was jealous. Either way, it was so complicated that his head began to hurt after he had eaten his makeshift dinner.

With a loud sigh, he fell back into the cushion, eyeing the bottle of water Felix gave him. Drink it, and you'll get your stupid memories back. Well, he would if his mind would shut up already. His hand grabbed it unconsciously as he turned it against the light. There was nothing in it, or so it seemed to him. Maybe it was magical water? Who knows?

He must have sat there for quite some time before he opened the lid and smelled it. The scent oozing out of the bottle caught him off guard. The smell of rain out of a bottle? In China they sell quality air out of cans, maybe they're so loaded they can practically buy water that smells like literally anything? He couldn't stop digging his nose into the small opening. It smelled so nice. And it reminded him of Felix, even though he didn't know why. He carefully took a tiny sip. Just water, not even a nasty aftertaste. So he took a longer gulp and another until the bottle was empty.

His long exhale filled his quiet living room. He chuckled slightly. What was he even thinking? Drinking water to start the gears in his head to turn? A good soju would solve it too, no problem. He sighed again and wanted to stand up, but as soon as his feet touched the ground, he fell back. His hand trembled as he touched his forehead; his vision became blurry, and with a flash, all of the memories were back.

He remembered how Felix danced with him so seductively that he felt awkward again. His touch and the way he pressed against him in the car The bite and the feeling of a safe place as long as Felix was there. So much blood... On his clothes, on the clothes of his friends...

Slowly, he felt himself falling onto the cushions.

" See?", Felix asked, wiping his lips. "Now you can ease your mind."

Chan chuckled and nodded. He was back at the strange club, the taste of the green liquor lingering in his mouth. Felix began to touch him again. More daringly and more fiercely. He bit him again—not the neck but at his wrist. The blood dropped onto Chan's jeans as he watched without a thought. Just a smile, just like his friends. Euphoria at its peak.

After some time, Chan felt exhausted, so Felix ordered another one of these green drinks. Immediately, Chan felt better. He noticed that he was alone with Felix at the booth, sipping the green liquor and letting the blonde drink his blood. How was he not dead? After one liter of blood loss, a person dies, so why was he still there? Still breathing and happily nodding when Felix asked him something? He just enjoyed his company and felt so important and alive.

The smell of rain, the smell of iron, the smell of rotting corpses It was so overwhelming that Chan only saw Felix and not the man who approached the two at the booth. His own hands sought the skin of the other, for his presence, and for his attention, which stopped as soon as the newcomer's voice found its way into his ears.

"Mind sharing?" He asked sickeningly sweet, his hand on the red leather of the bench, dangerously close to the neck of the brunette. He eyed Chan up and down, like a lion eyeing his prey. But he couldn't grasp the severity of the situation. Felix had him right where he liked him to be. Cooperative and quiet.

" Piss off, he's taken," Felix growled, and he laid an arm around his shoulder to prove to the stranger that there wasn't anything that could make him change his mind on the matter.

But the other man licked his lips regardless, "He's full of green mushrooms. You must be pretty wealthy to be able to order that. Help a guy out, huh?"

" Am I speaking Spanish?", Chan felt Felix's muscles tensing, feeling the need to ease his stress as soon as possible. "Fuck off."

The stranger didn't fuck off. He reached a hand out to Chan's cheek, but before he could even touch it, Felix jumped up and ripped his forearm off. The blood coated Chan's shirt, but he didn't mind. He was with Felix. There was nothing else for him. With lazy hands, he wiped his eyes, freeing them from the red liquid.

The man didn't even scream. All he did was grab his arm, cuss under his breath, and go on his way. Felix watched him leave before sitting back down. He gently wiped away the foreign blood from Chan's face and said, "Sorry about that, Handsome. Maybe we should go somewhere else?"

" Anywhere you want to go."

Chapter Text

The alarm went off, disturbing the quiet morning with its annoying beeps. Chan jolted awake. Sweat coated his skin and made his clothes stick to his body. He Groggily reached for his phone to turn it off. For a moment, he wondered how he ended up sleeping on the sofa before he decided to just shower. He felt filthy and he only had an hour before he needed to drive to work.

So he quickly got up and walked to his bathroom, taking off his clothes on the way. The stream felt nice as he began to hum the song stuck in his head. At least until he realized why he slept on the sofa. He remembered again. He remembered everything. Blood shot up his cheeks as the pictures came to his mind. The messy bedroom, the dark sheets. And the feeling of Felix entering him...

"Fuck," he whispered shocked. His hands found his face and rubbed a bit to harshly over his skin. Maybe he got it wrong and somehow this solved the problem. By rubbing it. Well, it helped Felix for sure. As he memorized the moments in Felix's bedroom, he saw how his private parts betrayed him. He quickly changed the nice hot stream to an ice cold one to control his raging boner. What the fuck did Felix do with him?

With shaking hands, he tried his best to hurry, but all he could think of was the stench of blood all around him. The sound of an actual ripped arm on the surface of the table as Felix let go of the dead limp. Bile reached up to his throat and he quickly bent over the toilet to empty his guts. Now he wished he didn't remember the night.

He rushed to his car, already ten minutes too late for his liking. Thankfully, the traffic wasn't jammed like the day before, so he got to work on time. As every day, he parked in the underground garage, greeted the receptionist without too much eye contact and entered the elevator. The pictures just won't vanish from his mind. His unconsciousness betrayed his consciousness, shooting up pictures of Felix lying on top of him. Not only the ones in Felix's bedroom but also the situation with the guy in the other bar came to his mind. How Felix casually ripped his fucking arm apart. That's why he didn't find his clothes again. Felix and the others might got rid of it to avoid the questions afterwards. He just couldn't believe that there were actually fucking vampires.

"Good morning, Chan!", Jeongin greeted him with the most adorable smile possible, jumping at him in anticipation of a conversation.

The older male backed away slightly to not smash into him, "Good morning. You've got a good mood today." Not that it happened rarely, but something radiated differently. Especially in his eyes. The younger swayed happily from side to side like an oversized puppy who's wagging his tail.

"Guess what happened," His smile grew even wider, "Look at that!" He practically shoved his ID-Card in Chan's face who stepped away the second time. He squinted his eyes to look at it, before his mouth opened wide.

"Waah, he promoted you?", Chan said, equally enthusiastic as he took the card. Instead of intern, he read, clear as day, Yang Jeongin, assistant. "Nice!" Chan held his hand up for a high five, which the younger man quickly hit.

As Chan gave him back the card and strolled to his working desk, Jeongin explained how it happened, "I spoke to Mr. Park just as I arrived here this morning. First he didn't want to talk to me, but I stood my ground." He hit the palm with his other hand to signal just how adamant he was and Chan couldn't help but smile while greeting his best friend with a pat on the back. Jisung sat back, handing him his coffee and listened for the second time to the story, but he looked rather worried. Chan would ask him later when the younger man got back to his work. "So I said to him `If you won't promote me, I will look for other opportunities. I already have better job offers than this so you have no other choice but to finally promote me or I'll go and find a better company!´"

"Great," Chan said proudly of his little protege. But Jisung looked more and more sour, which made Chan look his way with an inquiring glare.

Jisung smiled apologeticly, "Tell him the next part too, Jeongin."

"Huh? Oh, yeah. He asked me, after he promoted me, how I finally mustered up the courage to ask him after nearly two years. And I said it was you Chan-hyung!" Jeongin was just too thrilled to notice what he had done. Everyone (literally everyone) knew how much the boss disliked Chan. The brunet always tried to keep a low profile after the first few incidents and the talk with the supervisory board, but he could never be sure if they changed their opinion of him.

And that's why his smile froze on his face, "You told him I had something to do with it?" Jeongin nodded, the smile slowly leaving his face in confusion. Chan knew that he probably didn't even know, what that meant so he turned to Jisung who only smiled bleakly in his direction. "Oh God, why did you tell him to say I was involved?", Even though Chan whispered, Jeongin felt like he got yelled at.

"I'm sorry?" He finally said and he also glanced at Jisung for Consultation how he was supposed to deal with this overly emotional Chan.

Just as Jisung opened his mouth to explain the matter, the door on the far end of the room opened, and Park Hyun-woo stepped out, a smug grin on his face. "Bang Chan, I need a word with you."

Chan sighed and walked past desk after desk to the office of his supervisor, who just looked like he had won the jackpot. The brunette on the other hand felt like being on the death row. The hand of his boss patted harshly at his back as he told him to sit in one of the two chairs in front of his enormous desk.

"Well, Bang Chan. Here we are again," Park said, sitting down himself and intertwining his fingers on the desk, "I believe, Yang already spoke with you?"

Chan nodded carefully, "Yes, and I need to apologize. I didn't want to be a nuisance." Well, he wanted to be one, but the termination hung above his head like a Damocles sword.

Parks grin grew even wider, Chans dreadful feeling increased to an uncountable amount, "Yes. But you were. And just to get you some background information. The only possibility to promote young Yang was to fire somebody from the department. But you must be so proud and surely wishing your coworker only the best as you gave him the glorious idea to practically threaten me, right?"

"Threaten?", Chan repeated but he was already interrupted by Park.

"You are fired, Bang Chan. You can leave all your working utensils on your desk and your card at the receptionist. You will get fully paid this month and the next one too, just because you did really wonderful things for the company."

It needed to happen eventually, Chan knew it. But it still felt like the whole company played him for a sucker. He slowly stood up, but he wasn't yet finished with this man who had so much hatred for him without an actual reason. A good boss would have the decency to just swallow whatever they hated about a good employee to achieve the best possible outcome for the company. The younger man looked his former boss in the eyes, slowly raising his middle finger, and smiling right in his face. "Fuck you, old man. You were shitty from the beginning and whatever happens, you'll be a miserable person all your life."

With that he just turned away and strolled back the way he came. Why did he feel so light? So unburdened? He couldn't tell and he didn't need to. "I'm fired," he briefly told his best friend who nearly fell from his chair as he looked after him. Jeongin looked even more like a teenager when he pouted as Chan ruffled through his hair for the last time as his coworker before entering the elevator.

* * *

The first few days were pure bliss for the now unemployed man who had never in his life had so much free time to spare. He wanted to get a job but he also wanted to enjoy life again. Feeling like a little kid on the first days of vacation, he ticked off anything on his to do list that he could. Going to bookshops, shopping at his favorite clothes shops, trying out the restaurants he never got the chance for and catching up on the latest dramas. Jisung and Changbin (he got word of his termination through Jisung) texted him every day, asking if he was okay. And he was truly okay.

However, after four days on Saturday, he felt like shit. Bliss turned into depression as he woke up in the morning and stared up at his ceiling. He couldn't bring himself to get out of bed. Humans are creatures of habit, looking for patterns and routine in their lives. At least Chan was one and after losing the anchor which was his job, he finally felt overwhelmed with the amount of time, where he could do whatever he wanted to. He didn't expect to be so down after a few days either. He thought about the possibility that he felt like shit sometime along the road but after four days? He would've bet for at least a week.

He lazily took his phone in his hands. Three new messages waited patiently to be read by the sloth who felt just too comfortable to move out of the warmth.

Changbin asked if he was still up for a party at the Kick. Jisung asked if he would rather stay home. He would bring Changbin and some snacks for a movie night or something like that. And an unknown number wrote the following:

`Get your shit together and meet us at the Kick tonight or I will drag you there`

Chan frowned deeply, asking the person who they were but they didn't respond back. He had a feeling who it might be. And then again he did not. A groan escaped his lips. He was tired. Tired of doing nothing, that was definitely new. There was a really high chance that he would take Jisung's offer and just chill at home with his friends. Maybe with some beer and fried chicken, watching something funny and let his negative emotions fade away at least for a night.

It took him half the day to decide what he wanted to do this evening. At ten p.m., he dressed in black skinny jeans, a tank top and a leather jacket, put his boots on and headed out of his apartment. It wasn't because of the threat. No, it was on his own accord. He wanted to unwind again. Okay, it was because of the threat. As the brunet waited for his Uber to pick him up, he read the text from the unknown person again. He felt like a kid who had a tantrum, even if he didn't know who texted him the message. Maybe it was this Minho dude. He was kind of creepy with his angry glares and the way he dealt with Felix the other day.

Or could it really be... His Uber stopped in front of him, interrupting his thoughts at the roots. He got in and he was glad that the driver refrained from talking. Instead he listened to the radio as aespa's Hold on tight played. The city looked beautiful at night, illuminated by thousands of lights. Chan watched as the N Seoul Tower vanished behind large buildings only to appear again for a split second. He tuned out the noises, his mind blank as he just lived in the moment, staring out into the city he fell in love with.

Paying beforehand, he thanked the driver as they reached his destination and exited the car. The street already bustled with people and he casually walked to the bouncer, who greeted him with a smile behind his mask, "What's up, Bang? Han and Seo are already in the VIP area."

Chan stopped in his tracks and turning back to the man who still smiled at him, "There in the VIP area?" The bouncer nodded and shooed him in before his face got blank as he engulfed himself in his work again. Chan entered the club with a deep frown. He welcomed the familiar scent and the lights feeling like he had entered his childhood home after he was long gone. The only constant in his life right now. Or so it was until he saw Jisung on the gallery, signalizing him to come up the stairs.

He thought about it for a few seconds, during which Jisung's smile vanished in an instant and his waving got more aggressive. He looked like an angry mother, whose child just wouldn't come into the house even though it rained and the child was soppy. So he sighed inwardly and made his way to the stairs, taking them carefully as if they would break away at the wrong move.

Jisung was the first one to greet him, "I didn't believe you'd actually come here tonight." He embraced him in a short hug, however as he let him go again, Chan got hit so fast that he couldn't even dodge it, "You ass, I was worried about you the whole week! What the hell were you doing?"

"I-" Chan began, his eyes trailing behind his friend. He never got to the gallery, only stared up and kind of taunted the ones who paid to be there. Sitting areas with black leather scattered throughout the limited space. He noticed a small bar with a beautiful bar Lady in the corner, where he definitely went first as soon as Jisung finished his ranting. "-was busy."

Jisung crossed his arms just in time to get accompanied by Changbin, who greeted Chan casually with their personal handshake, "Where have you been?"

"He was busy," Jisung answered instead of Chan who switched irritated glances with his best friend.

Changbin only raised an eyebrow, "With what? Being a depressed lone wolf on an adventure to be the most mentally unstable dude on the planet?" The black-haired man really thought he was funny, but all Chan got for him was an annoyed glare, which the younger man just dodged with a clap on his back, "I'm joking."

"I know that, or else you need to find another one to party with," Chan replied not amused. Now he noticed the two men, speaking quietly in the sitting area. Hyunjin and Minho. "Why are they here?" Chan didn't mean to sound so rude but he came to terms with the fact that they were supernatural beings. Who feed on blood. And rip someone's arm off for apparently no reason.

Jisung sighed and wiped his forehead as his eyes trained on Minho who immediately noticed it and sent him an adorable smile only reserved for him, "Well, we are kind of dating?"

"Kinda?", Chan parroted back. He felt the need to slap him but he was his best friend. So he needed a punishment without leaving marks, "Alright, then I leave you to your-" He stopped and leaned in to his two friends who followed his movement in anticipation, "-Blood suckers."

Well, Jisung could have guessed it was something like that. So he smiled and got next to his best friend to lay his arm around his shoulder, "Yeah, you can leave yourself there too. They are not like the ones in stories so get to know them at least."

Chan wanted to protest. He wanted to go home, to engulf himself in his personal pity party and wallow in silence. But Jisung and Changbin, who were happy to help, dragged him to the sitting area where the two vampires sat as the center of attention. Minho, dressed in leather pants and a button down white shirt, had his legs casually crossed, posing for an invincible camera as he smirked at Hyunjin. The blonde on the other hand looked more like a model than the real models on the huge displays all around Seoul. He was dressed in tight black jeans, which were covered lightly by the asymmetrical satin shirt. But if you read through lore and ancient stories you may say good looks are a side effect for vampires. You don't want Max Schreck to bite you, no. You want a Minho or a Hyunjin to do that. However if Chan needed to choose he would probably let Felix bite him again... Wait, what am I thinking?

"I see you got out of your apartment. That's an improvement," Minho teased the brunet who got seated by his friend on the opposite side of the two vampires. Chan nodded, but sent a side glance to his friend who clearly spilled a bit too much tea. Jisung smiled innocently and declared that he would get some drinks for them.

"I bet it was because of your message," Hyunjin mused, the grin getting wider as Chan frowned.

"Actually, it was my own idea you know?" Chan tried to defend himself, looking for Changbin in a silent begging of support, but he was at the railing looking down, not caring what his friend had to say about his new friends, "It's not that I needed the threat..."

"I can't understand Felix," Minho concluded as he observed the behavior of the brunet, "They are so much alike, it's creepy."

"Who?", Chan asked, but Minho ignored the question as Jisung got back with the Bartender Lady, loaded with a round of drinks. Chan observed how Jisung placed the drinks from the tray on the table. A whiskey cola for Chan, for Changbin and Jisung beer and soju and for the two vampires whiskey on the rocks. Which brought up the question in his head of whether they can even digest this kind of thing. Do they need to piss and shit like anyone else? Or does it evaporate in their bodies? As soon as the Lady left Chan grabbed his drink and leaning back, "Where is Felix? Out to mayhem some people?" If Chan was anything, he was thoughtful and well mannered. But with them, he just didn't feel like being himself. Like a wolf protecting his pack. Or a teenager on too much testosterone.

Hyunjin raised his eyebrow, "No, he's at home. Or at least that's what he told us."

"He said you're a nuisance and somehow I understand what he meant," added Minho who returned the glare he received from the brunet with a sly smile.

Jisung, who sat himself next to Minho padded his knee, "Chan, chill. Drink your whiskey."

Again Chan wanted to protest but Jisung sent him his pleading eyes which shut him up. He told himself he was just on edge because of the situation he found himself in. He needed to find a new job as soon as possible. Rent won't pay itself and hell freezes over before he moves back to his parents and his sister.

Chan tried to be as calm as possible as the sitting area got more crowded as the VIPs found the vampires just so appealing and interesting which caused them to practically climb over chairs and tables to be near them. Not only because of their looks. Even if Chan only smelled the alcohol under his nose he knew they sprayed around with their weird scent again. Pheromones? Was that it? If they can manipulate their surroundings with this method they are surely apex predators. They didn't even need to hunt, the prey came to them willingly. Nearly throwing themselves at them.

After another girl squeezed herself next to Chan he finally stood up. He watched as Hyunjin smiled at the ladies and men around him, laughing about their jokes and just loved the attention they gave him wholeheartedly. Minho on the other hand had only eyes for Chan's best friend. They sat at the same spot, entangled like a Gordian knot, whispering in turns into each other's ear, giggling and smiling like schoolgirls. And he couldn't help himself. He found them so incredible cute that he didn't notice his stare until Changbin nudged him.

"Let's go dance a bit, believe me, it gets way more intimate here with each passing second."

Chan frowned, "Aren't you dating this Hyunjin?"

"That's a legitimate question. And the answer is, we agreed on a friends with benefits kind of relationship," Changbin answered with a huge grin. Chan only downed his drink as a reply. He would not dig into this stuff tonight.

As he followed his friend down to the dance floor, he needed a few moments before it felt familiar again. The fact that there are indeed vampires, that they got involved in his life unannounced, that he lost his job and the amount of stress because of all the things happening this week. All of it vanished piece by piece, leaving him on the dance floor with a huge smile on his lips. Changbin made sure that he relaxed and Chan made sure that he laughed.

And somehow, even if he let loose and forgot his life for a second, his mind trailed back to the blond vampire with the blue eyes. Somehow his mind didn't want to forget him. Him and the scent of rain.

Chapter Text

The City of Seoul had a long history most European cities couldn't even dream about. There was always a city at the bank of Hangang river and there always will be, even if the river got renamed and the old structures are in ruins. Felix knew quiet well how the city looked centuries ago. Pictures floating behind his inner ear like a movie scene. The people, the nature, the buildings. Sometimes, just when he's relaxed enough, he was sure to pick up the smell of the old times.

As so often he stood on the Hangang bridge, his gaze on the city which slowly turned on the lights for the evening. When he got sentimental he closed his eyes and for a brief moment he was back in a time no one could grasp. For one short moment, he was happy again, reunited with his friends and loved ones.

But as soon as a car honk echoed over the bridge he found himself in a time which he despised. He watched how the planet, which he get to know as dangerously beautiful and healthy got turned into dangerously ugly in a matter of decades. He missed the wide fields, the big forests, the clean waters. But above all he missed everyone he ever lost.

There was a time, back when he got turned, that he enjoyed being immortal. He was handsome, boys and girls alike laid at his foot, entranced in his good looks and character. Princes and Princesses wanted him at their court and one time, two areas were at the brink of war just because of him. But after the first death, after his father passed away, the immortality which was as sweet as fresh plums and peaches only tasted like ash inside his mouth.

A while later, everyone he cared about was dead. Sooner or later, the people left him, because no matter how deep the desire was to turn a loved one into something like him, he always left the decision to the ones he loved. But all declined. Or died before he got the chance.

A silent sigh escaped his lips as he laid his head on his intertwined hands on the railing. There was nothing more agonizing than boredom in his personal eternal shit show. That's why he stuck around with Hyunjin and Minho (yeah he liked them but also not so much). They are as everlasting as he so there was no way he lost them to something as mediocre as old age.

The blonde watched the sun settle behind the skyscrapers and mountains, glad that his body can put up with the sun. All the lore was fun and all but if you want to learn to live like an actual vampire you need someone to teach you. Because the sun can do shit, just like garlic. However, if you encounter a priest you better get the hell away from them. Holy water burned like acid if it touches the skin. He knew from experience.

Slowly, with every time in the world, he began the long walk back into the city. He could call a cab, but he rarely got into an unknown car. In his long lifespan he saw multiple automobiles explode so he always double checked if the car is alright. Because Vampires can heal, but a bloody pulp can't even think.

There are times he missed the feeling of a cold breeze hitting his skin, of a hot bath or a touch. Feeling wasn't the problem in particular, it was the warmth and the coldness he missed. The warm beams of the sun felt like tiny spears digging in his skin, ice cold water like a hot bath with ice crystals that rather caressed his body instead of freezing his dick of. Well, there is one thing that can put a bit of warmth on his skin.

A cosmic joke, really. The touch of a person alive. But only one who adores you can send some kind of warmness into the pale skin. Every time he met someone who brought this sensation to him, he hold on tight but all of them left him in the end. If it's not because of death than it's because their freaked out about the whole vampire thing.

Felix, if he had to be totally honest to himself, was lonely. More than once he stood at the sidelines, observing people falling in love again or having deep friendships. He wished he could have it too, but the thought of getting anyone near to him suffocated him instantly. That he saw this guy again was just because of Minho's stupid adoration for the squirrel boy and Hyunjins taste in men.

He wouldn't go out tonight to hunt someone down, even though the streets are full of people who wouldn't even notice that he bites them. He wasn't in the mood at all, the nostalgia left a bad taste in his mouth. Apart from that, the blood from the last one really tasted good. Chefs kiss. He rarely had sucked at someone and felt the need to do it again, like a drug your body can't get enough from.

He arrived at his home after everyone has left for the club. Minho and Hyunjin wanted him there too, but he knew he had to keep up with the immense flirting of Hyunjin with literally everybody and the new lovey-dovey behavior of Minho, who seemed like he was sixteen again.

So instead of getting annoyed by his roommates, he just went to his room and turned on the new gaming device. He must give one thing to this decade. The things to eschew boredom are superb, leaving little to no time to think about the past. Even if he's not good at the games, he can at least kill the endless time.

* * *

At five o'clock in the morning he heard the front door opening. The blonde fell asleep scrolling through a social media site and wasn't sure how long he actually slept. For a vampire, sleep was nonessential necessarily because they need just a few hours in a week to feel refreshed (except they didn't get to feed, than a vampire sleeps more the less blood they get).

He heard Minho rummaging around in the living room before he quietly spoke, “Here's some blankets. Feel yourself at home.” Felix frowned. Who was with him? The answer came straight away.

“Alright, but I still don't understand why I can't get home into my bed,” the familiar voice said loudly, not caring how his voice blared through the apartment. A few seconds passed before the man spoke again, “Woah, never mind. The couch's so comfy.”

“Good night, Channie,” That was the squirrel dude, loud and noisy as always. As soon as he heard the door to Minhos room, he got up from his bed. He knew from the sounds outside his own, that Hyunjin must be still out. He often didn't come back from a bar or club when they went together. Sometimes he even vanished for a few days which worried Felix (even if he didn't show it), only to get back with a smug grin on his face and a picture of him and (most of times) an Idol or Model he got into bed.

But as soon as he got dressed in a casual hoodie and jeans, he quietly opened the bedroom door. The apartment was quiet except for a slight snoring coming out of the living room. He tiptoed to the front door, not wanting any contact to others until all of his sentimental feelings vanished out of his mind completely. He didn't want them to notice his vulnerability. But as soon as he passed the big sitting area, he stopped. His eyes trained to the sleeping figure on the black cushions, sound asleep. Felix eyes trailed from his closed eyes to his slightly open mouth, down his neck to his chest. He couldn't deny it, he was handsome.

He succumbed to the urge of stepping closer to the obviously knocked out man who wouldn't wake up even if a jack hammer was operated next to him. Would he admit he enjoyed the small amount of time they had that night? Certainly not. Did he thought he smelled fucking amazing? For sure. So he leaned in, slowly, smelling the scent of the other man, closing his eyes and let himself engulf in a sea of familiarity. His cologne did little to gild his natural smell. Maybe, a small voice in his head said, just maybe he was reborn. Maybe he got back to you.

Felix didn't intended in kissing his parted lips. He really didn't. But he just couldn't help it. His lips brushed against the other. He tastes good in every way, he knew that from the time they had sex. The memories of him, sweating beneath him made it to his mind and if the unconscious boy wouldn't let out a small sound of approval he certainly couldn't stop himself and jump at him like a horny dog. So he quickly drew back and made his way to the front door as fast as his feet let him.

Dawn laid it's pale light onto the city, illuminating the fog in the distant like a mysterious veil. The feeling in his gut worsened with every step he took, not realizing where his feet dragged him to. Sundays are much quieter than the other days. Felix liked it, because the streets are peaceful until ten or even after so he didn't need to watch his moves or pretend social manners.

He should leave Korea. Traveling down to south America or south Europe. He noticed over the years how different people behave when they were born in an area with a lot of sunlight. Just let go of his live a little, relaxing at a beach, drinking cocktails or maybe one or three hot men in the evening hours. He remembered the time he visited Jamaica with Hyunjin and couldn't get over the fact that weed actually had a strong impact on them. The first and the last time they caused a mass hysteria because people claimed they got bitten but they didn't knew what exactly bit them. Fun old times.

Just as the sun beamed through the sparse clouds he realized where he was. The park at Hunjeong-Dong. Why does his own mind need to be so harsh on him these days? The need to get away grew stronger as he stood in front of the big Jongmyo shrine. Painful memories swept through his mind as his eyes trained to the big ancient building he often visited during his early life. Why was he there again? Did he had some kind of emotional break down?

He needed to get away as quick as possible. He felt the need for a strong drink, or a strong person to drink from. He would decide that later.

* * *

The day flew by and Felix didn't feel any better. Painful memories surfaced every so often while he strolled through the city, sat in various cafes and bars and observed the different people going after they everyday life. Why was he out in the first place? The question lingered in his mind as the sun began to settle again and he found himself near the vampire club. There was nothing more antagonizing than getting remembered how his life might had turned out if he wasn't immortal. If his skin wasn't as cold, if his heartbeat could be felt even if he doesn't drink blood.

As he entered the brick building and followed the corridor deeper into the heart of it, his anger crept up from his guts. There was always this one point where he couldn't tell why he was that angry and because of it his aggression just lingered near the surface. One wrong move and he showed his fangs and his strength again, coming with the age. One annoying comment and he was sure to rip the throats out from anybody who stood just a little to close to him.

He sat himself at the usual spot, looking through the masses that always came at night to the club. He rarely came alone, always had at least a meal with him to kill some time. There were a few faces who he recognized, however he couldn't put them in place and didn't want them to accompany him either. To risky they might say something to push his limits. He knew quiet a lot vampires all around the world (mostly because they asked him if he could turn them), but somehow it seemed that the amount doubled over the last decade.

“Master Felix,” a gentle voice called from the site, “I didn't expect you tonight.” He turned to the source of the voice and smiled barely at the beautiful waitress who knew exactly how to push the buttons of her patrons. If he needed to choose a favorite creation, he pick Da-Eun. The girl was seventeen when she sought him out in the late nineteenth hundred, begging him to turn her so she didn't need to get married. She wasn't his first but surely the sweetest.

“I didn't either,” he replied, his legs crossing and leaning back into the red cushions, “I was hoping for a distraction. My home seems to become a therapy center.”

Her face grimaced. She knew him quiet well, even if she saw him just for short periods of time when he came back to Korea. Some things never change, especially someone like Felix, “You know what? I have a lovely boy tonight. He's got this kink going on, being bitten is getting him off. You wanna try him?”

And again, the blond thought about the past where there were no kinks. Preferences might be the word he used in the day. But the most hardcore was a dude who liked to suck his feet. Today the scenes of sex are just so wide he stopped getting into most of them. So a boy who likes to get bitten was not new to him but also kind of questionable. “Sent him, I decide if I want him or not.”

She smiled brightly and bowed before vanishing back into a door behind the bar only to come back with a boy who looked like you imagined him to be. Skinny and feminine, with a mesh shirt and leather pants. He looked around in awe until he met eyes with Felix. If the blond knew any better, the boy would let his pants crash down if it wasn't for the people around them.

But Felix didn't feel a thing.

“Hi,” the boy greeted sweetly, caressing his shoulder while Da-Eun just nodded approvingly behind him, “I'm Jay.” He slid with ease and without permission on Felix lap who let him for the time being.

If he tried him, he wouldn't buy the green liquor. It costs a fortune and he only bought it if he hunted himself. He thought about the time the inventor of the liquid presented it to him, thinking it will revolutionize the mere being of a vampire. He combined ancient herbs and modern chemistry to create it to boost the human healing. Instead of replacing the sucked out red cells with water, the liquid made the body create it in mere minutes again. Flat rate drinking at it's prime.

“You are so handsome,” the boy chirped, happy to feel the others body. Da-Eun got back to her work already to leave them alone, so Felix didn't feel bad when he didn't reply at all. After the boy cooed more and more compliments into his ear, he grabbed him roughly which made him mewl and bit a bid to harshly into his neck. The boy moaned as Felix teeth sunk into his skin, blood trickled down in thin lines.

Felix knew exactly when he needed to finish. When he needed to let go so that the one he bites stays alive. Often times (and that was one for sure) he thought to just drink more. To feel how the blood loss makes the body in his arms growing weaker by any passing moment. But he stopped himself, throwing the boy next to him on the bench, ignoring his pleads to continue and instead stood up to exit the club. This boy only proved to himself how something was clearly wrong with him that day. He thanked Da-Eun briefly and gave her a few Won bills she took bowing.

As he walked out in the corridor, the need for a vacation grew stronger. Felix wanted to break out of this newly routine that sneaked up to him like a hungry tiger. He would speak with Minho and Hyunjin the next morning. Minho will probably stay in Seoul but Hyunjin loved to travel so maybe he wasn't alone this time.

As he stepped into the night a strange feeling spread throughout his body. Nausea, which was pretty uncommon for vampires because they didn't exactly have a circulation. And he felt sick, which also was very odd. As he bent over, grabbing the wall next to him he was sure that there was something wrong with the blood of the boy. Maybe drugs, he thought while squeezing his eyes shut. Drugs had a strange affect on vampire bodies.

His mind shut down as he felt a painful sting in his stomach. He needed to go home. Laying down. Bed. Home. No clear thought passed his mind. And suddenly someone grabbed his collar, dragging him into the nearby alley just to threw him on the ground. For a brief moment he thought he just fell as the night sky was the only thing he saw in his vision. But his hope was crushed as soon as he noticed the silhouettes in front of him.

“Oh, sorry about that,” said a voice which sounded oddly familiar to his ears, “Didn't think you're so weak.”

He wasn't weak. He was drugged. But he didn't intend to tell them the difference as he sat up. After he blinked multiple times he finally realized who the man was. The guy from last week. His arm was back at it's place so he must've found someone to stick his fangs into. Otherwise vampires couldn't heal. On either side stood two other vampires, one female, one male who looked amused.

Felix pain didn't subsided but he repressed it for the sake of his dominance. He was older than them combined and the audacity to be so rude was enough to get his aggression flared back up where it was. “Do you know who I am?”

They laughed and the little leader who pushed him sneered, “Even if I do, it doesn't matter. You ripped my fucking arm off the other day and I want payback.”

“Didn't your mother teach you to respect your elders?”, Felix growled, the pain in his stomach nearly unbearable, “Get lost and I will forget what happened.”

The group switched quick glances before they reached to a conclusion, “No, we won't do that.”

The female dashed to Felix, aiming for his head. With a smooth turn he dodged the attack, sending the girl to her knees with a kick. The unknown boy jumped at him but Felix caught him midair with one hand and threw him hard to the girl who groaned in pain as both clashed to the ground.

Felix vision began to blur, taking a toll on his reflexes as the leader grabbed his neck, pushing him to the ground. Felix growled, trying to squirm away. All his muscles seemed to fail working, leaving him painfully heaving where the other vampire wanted him.

“Looks like the rumors about you aren't true at all,” his captor said above him, the pressure at Felix neck increased. He paused for a moment, expecting some kind of comeback from the older vampire but all he received was a displeased growl. Because there was nothing Felix could do at the moment. “Get it.”

The order of the leader lead to the unstoppable. Felix didn't notice at first, his eyes needed a lot of adjustment to do the most easy task on focusing on something. But then he saw it. His arm, motionless beside him. But they didn't stop there.

As the three left, Felix felt like dying. He was a bit surprised to be so fearless at the inevitable death, alone in an alleyway nobody comes trough. He felt the live that slowly vanished from his body. And as he closed his eyes, he was at peace. He will see them again. He will see him again. So why is the last picture his mind projected the one of Chans smiling face?

Chapter Text

The Monday morning felt like a taunt, when Chan finally opened his eyes. There was nothing to do and he knew it. He appreciated the night on the sofa at Minho's apartment but he would never confess it, even though the Sunday practically flew by as he spent time with his friend and the vampires. But of course the sun needed to interrupt his quite and lonely moment and found it's way through the curtains and beamed right into his face. Wonderful.

He turned around. Why bother waking up when there wasn't a reason to? The vibration of his phone made him stir under his comfy covers again. “Why?” he asked himself whining, “Why do you bother me? I just want to sleep...” His phone went quiet, only to signal him again that the one who's calling him won't give up. “Are you fucking kidding me?” He grabbed the device roughly and accepting the call with an irritated “What?”

First he only heard some sort of cracking in the line but then a distressed voice, which he immediately recognized as Minho, “I will send you an address, you need to come as quick as you can.”

Chan sighed, “You can't just order me around like that...” He asked Jisung, technically, or rather biologically he was older than any of them. They needed to respect him in the first place, even if it's hard for them because they lived for so long.

“We don't have time!” Minhos scream shocked Chan who slowly sat up, deeply frowning, “Please, hurry. Don't even bother change just come right away, I explain later!” With that, he hung up, leaving the brunet in the silence of his own home again.

Chan held his phone to his ear way longer than necessarily as he stared at the sheets in front of him. Minho sounded way more agitated than ever. There must be really some kind of problem he's having but why call him of all people? The quick glance to the clock said 8 o'clock, Jisungs probably at work already. Chan sucked in his breath, before he got out of bed, just got into the bathroom real quick and getting his shoes on the way out.

There was this feeling that told him something was terrible wrong. Something happened and he wasn't sure what it was, because as the apex predators (Chan declared them as) they didn't need to fear anything. He sensed the anxiety from Minho through the phone which made him uneasy. Adrenaline found it's way into his system, blending out everything unnecessary.

He quickly made his way down, pushing the front door a bit to harshly and nearly struck an old lady to the ground. With a deep and fast bow he darted to his car not caring what the older person had to say for herself. He jumped into into the seat, cursing at his shaking hands. The pressure to hurry left him with an ache in his stomach he despised and a ringing in his ears as he tried for the third time to get the key in.

Skyscrapers turned into apartment buildings and slowly, like a smooth transition, into industrial ones. The guess, where he needed to be was in his mind even though he hoped that it wouldn't be the case. The streets got more narrow as the navigation guided him into the direction of the dockside of the Han River until he stopped at his destination.

Why did Minho sent him the address of the vampire club? Maybe they felt the need to get rid of him and didn't want to do it in their home so Jisung wouldn't notice? He sharply exhaled and deliberated for a moment, if he really should get in there or just drive away. But as he remembered the phone call he received only half an hour ago, the distress from somebody who seems unshakable by anything made him exit his vehicle.

The need to drag his limbs to the door made the whole affair all the worse. However, just as he stood in front of the huge metal double door and raised his hand to knock, the metal slides to the side and a Hand grasped his wrist to pull him roughly inside into the darkness. Chans voice stuck uncomfortably in his throat as the shock sunk in.

The corridor he stood in got only illuminated by a few sparse windows high above their heads but he made out, who exactly dragged him forward, not caring what the human had to say. Hyunjin seemed as equally distressed as his friend, not even greeting Chan or breath as the brunet can tell. Just like the night they all met, the corridor ended at a huge archway which opened into the hall with the red and black booths Chan still had nightmares from. The smell of iron caught his nostrils and a nauseating feeling made it's way through his system.

But this time, Hyunjin dragged him not to the sitting areas but to the pool table which Chan only then registered. As they came closer, the literal stench of blood made his skin crawl. But what really made him sick, what really got him retching was the thing, no, the person laying on the pool table.

There was a female voice he heard between gagging, “And there was no one better?” He felt even worse after that and even the comforting rubbing on his back, he guessed it must've been Hyunjin, didn't made the feeling go away. Or the bile that made it's way up with no resistance.

“What the...,” was all Chan could croak out as his eyes laid again on the top of the pool table. It was fucking Felix, but his right arm and legs- they laid unattached next to him. “Oh god... He's dead, isn't he?” He screwed his eyes shut, pretending that maybe than, he woke up in his own bed again.

“Pull yourself together,” he heard Minhos voice before he actually saw him. His tone was sharp, though he couldn't hide his sympathy for the bent over man. “You're the only one who can help him right now.”

Chans eyes opened again, hurting from the way he squeezed them together to look at the copper haired male in front of him. Carefully, he straightened his back, even though he feared to barf again. He swallowed dryly, avoiding the sight of the pool table with all his might, “How?”

“Felix isn't dead, but he will be unless you give him blood,” Minho explained matter of factly while biting his bottom lip. His eyes sought for Hyunjins support but he was already helping enough with the soothing strokes on Chans back which he ma, “But he will need... a great deal of it.”

“For god's sake Minho,” the female voice declared and Chan remembered her again. The waitress of the club. Did he catch her name? “Just force him to! He's fucking dying!” To emphasize her opinion in the matter she grasped Chan's upper arm which left bruises where her fingers clawed into him. Out of reflex he tried to get away from the pain and that woman but she only dragged him nearer to the pool table with glowing red eyes.

“Wait- wait!” Chan pleaded, his gut already ready for round two, “Fuck, lady!” As if his outburst helped him in any way, the dark haired girl let go of him. It wasn't him but Minho who pulled her away from the human. He turned around to the three vampires, his back against the wood which felt to slippery. Don't think about it. “How much blood are we talking?”

“At least ten liter.” He looked at Hyunjin which indifference was quite the contrast to his touches on his back. Are they nuts? Or was there a punchline to all of this? Three vampires and one human go into a bar?

“Oh well yeah sure!”, Chan croaked again, his throat tightening with every syllable that left his mouth, “Take my six liters of blood and then what? I die so your friend lives?”

The way all three of them rolled their eyes would be extremely comical but the severity of Chans (and Felix') predicament buried the humor deep between the asphalt ground under their feet. “We won't let you die,” Minho said irritated and stepped a bit closer, “But if you don't want to fucking help, I might turn a blind eye to Da-Eun here, who isn't as patient as I am. You think that was all she's doing? Just dragging you there? She will string you up like a puppet, force fed you the green mushroom and decides later, if she's gonna let you live or not. So quit your bitching.”

Predators are really a mean bunch. Chan cursed his sharp inhale, because for him, the stench of blood is just convulsing and the mere thought that his blood will be in the mix, made everything worse, “I- I help but whatever you do, please don't let me watch”

Minho nodded understandingly and glanced back at Da-Eun who scoffed while turning away behind the bar. A moment later she reappears, a flask in one hand and a knife- like – a really big knife in her hand. She threw the flask at Hyunjin and stepped next to Minho. “If he dies because of this-” She pointed very rudely to Chan, “I will kill him.”

The next few moments were agonizing for Chan. Minho placed him directly at the top of the table, behind the unconscious blond who seemed pretty dead to him but he turned away to look at the wall on left. Without as much as a warning he felt his jacket sleeve being pulled up. The chilly breeze sent goosebumps over his arm and then the rest of his body. Why did he agree to something like this? Out of the corner of his eye he observed how the long haired vampire joined him at the left site of the table and then there was the cold sensation of fingers tracing the inner side of his wrist.

“This will sting,” Minho promised before Chan needed to clench every muscle in his body. Sting yeah right. It fucking burned. He felt the cold metal slide into his flesh not one, not two but three times at different spots. The warm sensation of blood, trickling down his skin. He tried to do anything to just ignore what ever goes on to his right. Instead he looked up to a big pop-art painting. Fuck, it really looks like the ones Andy Warhol made. The different colors he painted Marilyn Monroe with seemed more vivid than he remembered. They danced on the surface together with little firefly's all around the face of the beautiful movie star.

“He goes limp,” He heard the voice of Minho like his ears are full of sweet sweet cotton candy. His feet swayed a bit, his ears rang and the more he looked at the painting, the more fireflies started to emerge from the side of his eyes. Well, until something cold got pressed against his lips and he needed to reluctantly down the liquid in his mouth to breath again.

He woke up out of this surreal trance with a jolt, his eyes focusing on Hyunjins hands in front of him. He slowly moved the flask in his hand back, his eyes narrowed analyzing Chans breathing and eyes before he switched his attention to the nearly dead Felix.

The feeling of Nausea vanished, leaving Chan with the strange sensation of newly formed blood in his own body. Just before he took a sip of the weird drink, he felt how his life got drained out of every crevice of his body which resulted obviously in the hallucinations. But as soon as the liquid went down, his body renewed somehow.

A soft groan made the human almost look at the surface of the table but he restrained every inch of his neck to turn. Newly formed blood was enough, he didn't want to puke whats left in his body. Just as Felix made himself noticeable, Chans arm got tucked further until the skin collided with something cold. He really tried to identify it, his brain foggy from all this new information and still losing blood to function probably.

The sharp pain that followed left Chan gasping for air, his eyes trained on the Warhol painting. He got bitten again. The sensation of teeth sinking into tender flesh is nothing new in his life. The gulping started again, and all Chan thought about was: Just don't think about it. Don't think about it. Like a mantra he recited this in his head over and over, not caring what Minho or the strange lady had to say.

The fireflies returned, than the hand of Hyunjin who held the flask against his lips. He swallowed, blood formed again, his brain didn't seem to catch on as his mantra changed to a mere don't think. Two hands on his arm now, the sucking got more feverishly. Chans legs gave up before Hyunjin could give him the drink. Why does this happen to me? The voice in his head screamed against the mantra.

He felt steady arms around him, supporting his weight as the sucking got even more daring. The flask never really leaving his lips now. Swallow, breath. Don't think. He heard a long groan and wondered who would do such a scraping, miserable sound until he realized that he made it. His eyelids flutter shut.

* * *

Floating through a dark space. He never felt this heavy before. However, he never felt this relaxed either. All his muscles seemed to be out of service, his limbs not caring about anything his brain might have to say to them. Apart from that, his brain didn't even bother sending anything right now. Just floating. Floating through the abyss.

“He did last longer than expected,” a voice echoed through the dark. Chan didn't want to know who it was that interrupted his nothingness. He just wanted to be in this state. Just a bit longer. Just a bit.

“Why did you get him of all people?” This voice was deeper. Shivers run down his body in a pleasing wave, but he doesn't want to wake up. Doesn't want to face this being and his rude audacity. He wasn't sure why it was so outrageous to him, but he felt it nonetheless.

“I asked myself the same thing,” said a female voice. Bitch. Why are they talking like that? The gears in his head turned. The feeling in his bones returned. He fucking helped a fucking vampire and that's what he gets for that? A near death experience and a shit storm?

“I didn't remember you calling somebody else than me when you found him,” the first voice replied coldly, “He didn't need to help you Felix. But he did so shut your cake whole.” Minho. It must be Minho. At least he is on his side.

For a moment silence fell over the space next to Chan. Did they left him there? He didn't mind but that would be a bigger dick move than the shit they talked about him. He definitely is too nice to them. Well, to Felix he is too nice. The others are okay.

The sigh of Minho startled him a little bit as it drew nearer, the voice growing louder with each step he overheard, “At least treat him with a little bit respect. Or I swear I will cut of the electricity for good.” The scoff that followed made Chan grin. Not sure if his body did it but his mind was absolutely grinning from ear to ear. A hand appeared on his cheek, gently. He easily overlooked the coldness which accompanied the touch because it just felt so welcomed at the moment. “Hey, time to come back to your senses.”

Who says that? I don't want to. I am pretty happy in my little black bubble thank you very much. But surely his body betrayed him. The heaviness, which was so pleasant before, turned into aching. His muscles tensed just for a split second but that was enough to made him groan in displeasure. His eyes opened slowly, even though he needed quite some time to really get them focused.

“How are you feeling?” The question made him groan once more. He knew of course that Minho meant well by asking but it could've just be a rhetorical one. He was sure he looked like shit, why bother asking? The copper haired male helped him sitting upright against the red leather cushion.

“Like I got run over by a very shitty train,” he answered and placed his palm against his stinging eyes, not noticing the way Minho glared at his companions.

“I know it's all hard to process but we need to ask for a favor,” Minho added, his face grimaced slightly.

“No, we fucking don't.” Chans head turned slowly to the deep voice he dreaded so much. Felix looked, well, not exactly like life itself but he believed better than him, even if his eyes cast over the huge scars on his limbs. “Don't decide for me, bunny ass! I can perfectly find my own personal blood bank!”

Hyunjin rolled his eyes behind the blond and turned away in time so the wrath of the older vampire won't lay on him. Da-Eun stood behind the bar, stripping latex gloves of her fingers and following the scene in front of her more annoyed than concerned, dumping a bucket into the drain. Minho on the other hand ignored them completely as if Chan was the only person in the huge hall with him. “There is some more healing to do, so I wanted to ask if you would be up for- lets call it a job offer.”

Another scoff from Felix before he walked to the bar. Chan needed to refrain from laughing because the way the blond just wanted to strut elegantly but looked more like a deer trying his first steps. Slowly his eyes find Minhos again as he leaned back, “What kind? A walking blood bag?”

Minho seemed to deliberate it for a second, “Yeah. Kind of. But you wont die. And we- Felix- will pay you enough for the effort.” For the first time Chan noticed just how little movement all of them needed to do. Like, if they won't move their mouth or blink occasionally, they looked like mannequins. Every human needs, or feels the need to use at least some of their muscles. Astonishing.

“No chance,” Chan heard himself saying, “Even if I wouldn't be creeped out by you guys, it can't be healthy. Apart from that, who will guarantee that this lunatic won't decide one day to suck me literally dry?”

“Did you call me lunatic, you over sized drink on legs?” Felix stumbles back to them, a drink in his hand which Chan just declared for himself that this must be a bloody Mary with normal tomato juice. “I am a fucking thousand years old!”

“That doesn't mean that you aren't a lunatic,” Chan retorted with a deep frown, “That would at most proves my point! We normal humans have just a few decades to develop our mental illnesses. Judging by the things I've saw your clearly have more on your plate than just being a lunatic!” The way the words spilled out of him like that was not quite like him. He knew what this man, this supernatural being is capable of. Does he developed a death wish? The option to be beheaded is even higher when this dude is furious. But on the other hand he wanted to stand his ground. He doesn't want to be a pushover just because this apex douche wanted it that way.

Felix growled, Chan met his eyes with determination and Minho stood between them like a mother who witnessed her kids fight. “Felix, think logical for a moment. How many people did you find who can heal you that fast?” It's a statement Chan didn't quite get but he was not in the mood to ask for clarification. “And who is currently free to nurse you back to your old self.”

Felix eyes flickered to his roommate for a second, before he just turned away again, sipping his beverage. Chan on the other hand, tried to stand up on his wobbly legs, “I never said I would agree to something like that.”

“So you've got a new job?”, Minho asked, a teasing undertone in his voice, “Or. Something better to do?” Both could be answered with the same word. No. Chan bit the inside of his cheek. There were certain things that are crystal clear to him. One, he doesn't have a job and could use this to make money, two it was fairly easy money. But three, he doesn't like the blond vampire. However, the way it sparks joy in the pits of his stomach (he would never admit his mischievousness) by the sheer discomfort of him was another pro. The internal argument dragged him to the only conclusion he thought was right for his future.

“No.”

* * *

There would surely be some sort of reaction to the story of his morning as he retold it to his best friend in his break. They choose the cafe near the office because Chan couldn't wait with the situations he got into and wanted to kind of work his way out of this turmoil with talking. But all Jisung did was stare with an open mouth, his eyebrows deeply furrowed. He didn't even blink.

“I know the story is gruesome and unexpected but you can at least, like, breath?”, Chan suggested, worried that he might drop from his chair.

As Jisung inhaled again, he finally made a nod. “Wow.”

“Yeah.”

“Well,” Jisung tried again, regaining his composure slower than a turtle, “So, Felix almost died and you prevented it. And they need someone to nurse him back to health, but you said no, because?”

Chan furrowed his brows, “Ehm. Because it can't be healthy?”

“But they pay you and let you sip this green stuff, right?” Jisung seemed to really not stand behind Chan on this one. Which is not what the brunet expected when he called him completely out of his mind. He wanted to be told, that everything he did was right and that the vampires must be out of their minds.

“You think I should do it?” There was something off to the grimaces his best friend made. The exaggeration of the faces he made. “What's going on? Are you keeping something from me?”

Just as Jisung opened his mouth with a resigned groan, a sheepish figure sneaked into Chans peripheral vision, only to appear at their table. Chan was the first to address him, “Jeongin. How nice to see you.”

Jisung just smiled and buried his face into his iced coffee, while the youngest scratched his neck, “Hey Chan. I need to apologize to you... I didn't thought about the possibility what Park could do...” He bowed deeply, nearly bashing his head on the corner of the table if it weren't for Chans protective hand. He missed it only by a few millimeters.

“You mean, what he done? Like, fire me?” Chan tried to correct him but again, Jisung distorted his face, “Oh, oh. What did he do?”

“You don't know?”, Jeongin asked carefully, looking for support in Jisung who shook his head. “I thought you wanted to tell him that. Like, three days ago. When we overhead him talking?”

“Yeah,” Jisung replied snippy, ignoring Chan as he got more and more confused, “But there were a few things going on and I didn't want him to worry about it.”

“I think knowing about this would make him less worried,“ Jeongin said and crossed his arms like a child in tantrum, „I would certainly worry less about it.“

“Your attention span is as long as I can spit against the wind,“ the older of the two said, mirroring the motion of the youngest defensively to stand his own ground. The one who's involved got completely ignored in the process.

“Can somebody explain or should I just march up there and ask the bastard myself?”

Both males snapped their heads back to the oldest who looked like the smiley which had just a straight line for lips. There was a small pause in which nobody wanted to speak. At least until Jisung exhaled sharply, “Park said he wanted to ruin your reputation because you insulted him.”

“And flipped him off,” Jeongin added, finding his purpose again after Jisung made the first sacrifice.

“I know it's sounds not that bad,” Jisung continued further, “We also overheard him talking shit about you with sponsors and all the people who wanted to listen.”

Chan absentmindedly drank his coffee, listening and really tried to figure out, what could possibly happen in just one week. Until it hit him and he stood up like a scared chihuahua, “Sorry, gotta go.”

“What?” He heard Jisung ask as he made his way out of the cafe into the busy streets to his car. The brunet passed a deadline he never knew having. He hit his steering wheel in anger over himself. Instead of enjoying the time he had and falling into depression afterwards he should have wrote applications. He should have known that Park will ruin it for him, laying boulders instead of rocks into his career path. Why didn't he call the companies as soon as he fired him? Just because he enjoyed the freedom?

He really tried to push his self loathing down but it reemerged every time he thought about his ex boss. His sick grin, his fucking attitude, just everything appeared in his mind like a parasite he couldn't get rid of. The ride home stretched endlessly and he gladly opened the door of his home to breath the familiar smell and engulf in his safe space. At least until he grabbed his laptop and looked for the companies he thought about joining. Just because of his bad feeling, he dialed the number of the human resources instead of sending his application per email.

The call went by as quickly as a flash. He only needed to say his name to be interrupted. The friendly voice on the other line changed from nice and warm to icy in seconds to tell him that their company wants nothing to do with him. As do five other companies he tried calling. The sixth didn't even bother taking his call and he was sure that, whatever Park said, had a bad influence on all the similar companies.

The brunet scoffed as he threw his phone on his sofa. As curiosity got the better of him, he types his own name on the searching engine only to be rewarded by an unpopular article about Park who described the leader of his old team as a person who don't cares about the environment, just manipulated his way up the ladder and was not well liked. He definitely spoke about Chan even though the description would be better fitting for the bastard of an ex boss. And surely, at the end of the article he revealed the name of this incompetent worker. Bang Chan. Yeah, right.

“I can't believe it.”

The longer he had time to speak about him, the lesser changes he got to actually get a foot in. He needed to make a move and maybe try out companies out of Seoul. Or... His eyes trailed over to his phone. He could let some time pass, let dust settle on the matter while he makes some easy money. Easy, easy money. With which he could pay his car and loans he had to make along the way...

There was a long, long moment, where Chan didn't think about anything. Just staring holes into the cushions of his sofa where he suspected his phone. Then he made up his mind, strolled to his phone to make the call he never thought he would make.