lilacmingi

[lilacmingi]

EEK!! Thank you thank youuuu! 💫

THE AQUARIUM

My works are 14+ ONLY. If you’re under 14 DO NOT interact with me or any of my works. And please don’t spam-like!

Pairing: Merman!San x aquarium employee!fem reader

Word count: 3,530

San headed over to the aquarium bright and early like always. He liked to get there first before all the other employees so he could have the whole place to himself. Though working at an aquarium and feeding sea life was fun, his favorite part of the day was in the morning before it even opened, when all the glass tunnels and artificial caverns were empty and free of customers.

Rummaging in his bag, he retrieved the keys to his workplace and walked through the back entrance of the building. He picked up the pace and hurried up the metal stairs to the massive room where the tanks were located, wanting to move as swiftly as possible. Once in the tank room, he dropped his things and stripped down to his swim trunks, his heart beating excitedly as he neared the tank practically hearing the water calling his name. Without wasting another moment, he dove into the massive tank filled with tropical fish. The bubbles that surrounded his body tickled his skin and filled him with a feeling of pure joy.

I'm home. He thought.

You pulled into the aquarium parking lot, grabbing your things and hastening inside while checking the time on your phone. You were certain your coworker, San, was already there, as he habitually showed up to work early before everyone else. It was kind of enjoyable because you were able to get some time alone with him before everyone started showing up for work. You cracked a small smile just thinking about seeing him. He was so dreamy, adorable, sweet, and just an all around good guy with an eager personality. You had never seen anyone as passionate about their job as San was. The way his eyes lit up when he was feeding the sea turtles, lowering heads of lettuce into the tank, or the way he giggled when the aquarium received baby fish and sharks to nurse.

As you approached the tank room you took a glance over at the tropical fish exhibit, taking a moment to stop and enjoy the view. Colorful shoals of fish swam freely in the serene blue water, their tails flicking lazily behind them. An array of coral, seaweed, and other ocean plants decorate the floor of the tank, bringing life to the artificial habitat. You found yourself getting lost in the scenery, imagining what it would be like to live in the ocean surrounded by cute little fish and such vibrant sea life.

The salt water and ocean exhibits had always been your favorite at the aquarium. As someone who's had an attraction to sea life ever since you were a kid, you were living your dream. You get to feed these beautiful sea creatures and take care of them, rehabilitating some of them so they can be returned to the sea. It was a dream come true.

Your eyes followed a Moorish idol floating lazily in the water, it's unique dorsal fin dancing in the gentle current. While gazing at the disk-shaped fish you noticed something or someone swimming around inside the tank. Squinting your eyes, you spotted a tail in place of the silhouette's legs. The person swam a bit closer, allowing you to get a better look and that's when you realized who it was.

San.

Your eyes widened in awe and adoration as you watched him swim around the tank with such grace. His realistic silver tail glimmered under the fluorescent lights above with each movement. He didn't have goggles or an oxygen tank on which led you to believe he must be good at holding his breath underwater for long amounts of time. His tail flicked behind him, pushing him through the water, his strong-looking arms staying by his side while his tail did all the work. He looked so calm and at peace as he moved languidly through the water, his movements fluid and smooth. It's like he was made for being a merman. If you had known he enjoyed dressing up, you would have suggested he swim for the kids sometime. The aquarium had employees that dressed up as mermaids and swam around the tank, but they're nowhere near as good as San. You found yourself unintentionally gawking at his well-built figure, your tongue darting out to wet your lips which suddenly felt very dry. His shoulders were broad and muscular along with his chest, while his waist was slim and narrow, the contrast making your head spin.

Wow. He's really built like that. You thought to yourself.

Finally managing to tear your eyes away from him and his incredibly impressive figure, you proceeded to the tank room where you dropped your things on one of the benches against the wall and walked over to the tropical fish section. Peering down into the massive tank, you couldn't see much or make out anything. The reflection of the lights on the water made it difficult to see down in there and you could just barely make out San's figure swimming around. The silhouette was a bit distorted and you couldn't see too well, so when he came up to the surface and took a seat at the edge of the tank, your heart jumped a little. San noticed your presence and glanced up at you, his face visibly paling, looking like a deer in the headlights.

Finally managing to tear your eyes away from him and his incredibly impressive figure, you proceeded to the tank room where you dropped your things on one of the benches against the wall and walked over to the tropical fish section. Peering down into the massive tank, you couldn't see much or make out anything. The reflection of the lights on the water made it difficult to see down in there and you could just barely make out San's figure swimming around. The silhouette was a bit distorted and you couldn't see too well, so when he came up to the surface and took a seat at the edge of the tank, your heart jumped a little. San noticed your presence and glanced up at you, his face visibly paling, looking like a deer in the headlights.

"Good morning." You greeted him.

"Good... morning?"

"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone you like to dress up." You reassured him, sitting down on the concrete floor beside him.

"Dress up?" He tilted his head like a confused puppy.

"Yeah that mermaid tail looks so real. What's it made of?" You questioned, reaching out to run your hand along it, only to pull back immediately.

That was slimy.

The both of you exchanged surprised glances as a long beat of silence passed.

"Oh man. I am so sorry for touching you without permission." You gaped, apologizes repeatedly falling from your lips.

Way to go. You thought. You made things awkward.

"You're really freaking out about how you touched me without permission rather than the fact that I'm half fish?" He asked, deadpanning.

You froze, your mind not quite understanding what he had just said. Half fish?

"I'm sorry." You chuckled. "I don't think I heard you right."

He only looked at you with a guilty expression.

That's when the gears in your head started turning. That tail did feel real—too real. That would also explain why he didn't need goggles or an oxygen tank while swimming. Your eyes drifted over to the silvery fish tail in place of his legs as everything slowly clicked into place. Your mouth opened as you were about to speak, but didn't get the chance.

"Please don't freak out." San interjected.

"I wasn't gonna." You stated even though your mind was spinning.

"You weren't?"

"No."

"You don't think it's weird? You don't think I'm weird?"

"Not at all." You shook your head. "You're still the same San I knew before."

His expression softened at your understanding.

"So you're..." Your voice trailed off.

"Yep." He murmured, moving his tail back and forth like someone would do if their feet were dangling off a dock.

"Can I ask something?" You inquired.

"Sure."

"How did you get here? The closest beach is an hour away."

"Merpeople can shift into human form when out of water and some of us choose to pursue a life outside of the ocean. I wanted to live a life on land so I moved here. I was looking for a job so I'd be able to continue living above water and none of them seemed to fit my interests, but then I found an opening here. It was perfect." He explained.

"You could have your normal life, but also be close to something that reminded you of home." You murmured.

"Exactly." He nodded.

"Well, your secret is safe with me." You assured him.

"Thanks, Y/n. You've always been such a kind person."

"Of course." You looked over at him, your eyes trailing down his body, staring at the small droplets of water clinging to his skin. You unconsciously gulped, tearing your eyes away from his impressive body. "We should probably get to work before someone comes in here and sees you." You suggested, hoping he didn't notice you gawking at him.

"That's a good idea."

You got to your feet, watching as San pulled his tail out of the water, the silver scales catching in the lights above. A few seconds later, his fish tail had shifted to a pair legs. You blinked a few times in disbelief, unable to process what you had very clearly seen with your own two eyes.

"I know, it's weird." San spoke up as he walked over to his bag and pulled out a towel.

You wondered momentarily how his clothes appeared on him after he magically grew legs, but then again you just found out mermen exist so logic is out of the question.

"Hey." You jogged over to him, watching as he dried himself off.

"Yes?"

"Can you talk to fish?" You asked.

He let out a small chuckle of amusement at your silly question, clearly trying to hold back laughter. "No."

"Do you have powers? Like can you move water at your own will? Do you have a singing voice that hypnotizes people?"

"No and no. I think you're getting merpeople confused with sirens."

"Wait. Sirens exist?"

"Of course they exist." He said it as if it were obvious. "I need to go change. I'll be right back."

Your eyes stay locked on him as he walked off to the restrooms, your gaze eventually wandering over to the many tanks scattered around the room, deciding to put your stuff away while San was gone to change clothes.

You grabbed your bag off the bench and made your way to the staff room located off to the side where you placed your bag into your employee locker for safe keeping. Just as you closed the door, San walked in donning his aquarium work uniform which consisted of a navy polo shirt with the aquarium's logo embroidered on the left side in chest area and a pair of khaki pants. The uniform was plain in your opinion, nothing special, but when San wore it he looked so good. Even wearing something as bland as a polo, his broad shoulders, wide chest, and slim waist stood out which you loved. You especially loved the way the khakis hugged his butt, the sight catching you off guard any time San passed.

A loud thud resonated in the small room, pulling you from your less than appropriate thoughts. The noise was caused by San tossing his bag into his designated locker, slamming the door shut afterwards.

"I know you're dying to ask more questions." He spoke up.

"I am."

"Alright. Shoot."

"So if you get splashed with water you'll be okay? You won't turn into a merman?"

"No. Only if I get so far into the water."

"Ah." You nodded. "That explains why you don't ever do a job that requires diving."

"You don't either." He mentioned.

"I'm perfectly satisfied with feeding the fish and sweeping the halls thank you very much."

"Why don't you get in the water?" He prodded. "I'm pretty sure you told me once that you loved sea life and that's why you decided to work here."

"I do. I've just never swam with fish before."

"Would you swim with sharks?" He asked with a devilish grin on his face.

"Are you insane?"

San burst out laughing. "It's only a joke."

"It wasn't very funny." You huffed.

"Swimming with sharks isn't so bad."

"That's easy for you to say. You've probably been around tons of sharks before."

"I have." He grinned.

"Do they not mistake you for food?"

"That's offensive." He remarked playfully.

"Hey, humans have legs and they get mistaken for food all the time." You pointed out.

"No, I don't get mistaken for food. We don't bother them and they don't bother us." He shrugged.

"Interesting."

"I never thought anyone would be this intrigued by me." San chortled.

"Sorry if I'm bombarding you with too many questions and making you feel uncomfortable." You apologized. You didn't want to overwhelm him, but you were curious to learn more, absorbing every bit of information he gave you.

"No, not at all. It's flattering actually." He admitted quietly. "It's nice to know someone is interested in me."

"Of course I have an interest in you."

In more ways than one.

"Not just as a merman, but as a person too." You added, giving him a small smile.

Your heads turned upon hearing the sound of the door opening, another employee walking into the room.

"We should get to work." You told San.

He gave you a curt nod, following you out of the employee locker room. While stepping outside you took a quick glance at your schedule on your phone.

"Ah. I have to feed the sea turtles." You announced.

"I have to feed the sharks."

You looked over at him with an unimpressed expression. "Liar."

"You're right." He laughed. "I have to clean the glass on the tanks in the jellyfish exhibit."

"Been there." You snorted. "I hate doing that."

"Me too. Especially when kids have gotten their grimey fingerprints all over the glass." San's face scrunched up.

"Well, good luck with that buddy." You gave him a pat on the back before walking towards the refrigerators to get lettuce for the turtles.

The day was nearing its end and your shift was almost over. You stretched out your stuff muscles, your back popping a couple times in the process which brought you a little relief.

"Hey." You heard San's voice.

"Yes?"

"I told Hendery you and I would close today."

"You did? Why?"

"I wanted us to be alone."

You could feel warmth rise to your cheeks as you asked, "For what?"

"It's a surprise."

The both of you kept yourselves busy while you waited for everyone to clock out and leave for the evening. When you were sure no one was around, you turned to San and asked the question that had been gnawing at you.

"Okay. What's this big surprise?"

"Go change into one of the wetsuits." He instructed.

Your eyes widened a bit at his request.

"Don't look at me like that. Go change." He nudged you.

Instead of asking more questions you decided not to argue and just do as he said, slipping off into one of the changing rooms. You returned shortly after, donning one of the aquarium's wetsuits, goggles and all. You felt absolutely ridiculous but this was the proper attire to wear when diving so you didn't have a choice.

"Don't you look sexy." San commented.

It would have made you blush if you weren't wearing that ugly wetsuit.

"Shut up." You huffed, walking over to grab an oxygen tank only to almost drop it due to its weight.

"Careful." He rushed over, helping you lift it, his hand over your own. "Don't hurt yourself."

"I got it." You grunted, lifting it onto your back.

Once everything was ready to go and San changed into his swimming attire, he led you over to the edge of the tank holding all of the tropical fish and the aquarium's two sea turtles.

"I'm nervous." You stated, the admission spilling out of your mouth due to anxiety.

"I've lived in the ocean for most of my life. You're safe with me." He assured you with a comforting dimpled smile.

You nodded, letting out a deep breath and pulling the goggles over your eyes.

San started to laugh.

"Don't you dare make fun of me."

"I wouldn't dream of it." He chuckled. "You ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." You mumbled, placing the mouthpiece leading to the oxygen tank into your mouth.

The two of you lowered into the water at the same time, submerging yourselves beneath the surface. You turned to San, watching as bubbles surrounded his bottom half, his legs transforming into that stunning silver tail that had you so mesmerized. Seeing him up close and under the water was much different than when you watched him outside the tank earlier that morning.

He extended his hand towards you with a gentle gaze as if to let you know everything was okay. You reached out and grabbed hold allowing him to pull you with him as he began swimming down towards the clusters of colorful coral and fish. Your heart was pounding with both excitement and nervousness as you swam deeper. Once you got close to the large masses of coral and other oceanic life, it felt like you were in a different world. Multiple species of tropical fish swam around you, one of the sea turtles passing by just above your head. You looked to San, eyes crinkling as you smiled feeling overjoyed and at ease all at the same time. Your underwater surroundings gave you comfort and also thrilled you, filling your with an intense feeling of delight. San seemed to be happy seeing you so content. He let go of your hand and began swimming around the tank, your eyes glued to him, watching in awe as he maneuvered around with fluid movements. He even did a couple backflips, putting on a show for you. He met back up with you a few moments later holding both of his hands out for you to take. Without hesitation, you grabbed on, letting him pull you away from the coral reef and out into the open water. He kept hold of your hands as he swam beneath you, facing upwards. His dark hair moved with the water while the both of you swam leisurely through the tank. You felt yourself becoming flustered just holding eye contact with him, his confident gaze boring into you. The whole situation seemed so intimate, like something a couple would do. Suddenly, you were thankful for the bulky mask and mouthpiece for covering your face because your cheeks were on fire. San moved his hands down to your waist, holding you firmly. You flinched, caught off guard by his actions. Judging by the smirk on his face, he seemed to notice.

With one powerful flick of his tail, he propelled you both upwards towards the surface of the water, the two of you resurfacing at the same time. You pulled the goggles off and dropped the mouthpiece, your gaze meeting San's

"What did you think?" He inquired cutely.

"I felt like I was in a different world." You answered honestly. "It was everything I imagined and more."

You didn't even notice he now had his arms wrapped around your waist firmly holding you against him. The realization made a rush of butterflies erupt in your stomach.

"You looked so cute swimming around and watching the fish." He commented. "Even if you had those stupid goggles on."

"Hey." You delivered a light punch to his chest, realizing how firm it was. "I need those goggles to see."

"I know." He chuckled, only to become quiet a few seconds later. He seemed almost nervous.

"Can I say something?" He asked.

"Sure."

"I know that we're not super close, but I really enjoyed my time with you today. It's the most time I've spent around you and it was really nice."

"I feel the same." You smiled, ignoring the way your heart raced after hearing his words.

"Maybe we could do it again sometime? If that's something you're interested in." He suggested shyly.

"Of course I'd be interested in that."

He beamed happily, his eyes crinkling and his dimples making a brief appearance. "Great."

The two of you pushed yourselves out of the water and changed back into your regular clothes, preparing to close up and head home for the evening. After locking all the doors, the two of you headed outside to the parking lot with your bags thrown over your shoulders.

"Thanks again for today. It was very special." You spoke up, pulling your keys out.

"I should be thanking you."

"For what?"

"Being so understanding about my little secret."

"How could I not be?" You gave him a gentle smile. "I'll see you again tomorrow."

"Yeah. See you tomorrow."

With that, you turned around and went to unlock your car, but San's voice calling your name put your actions to a halt.

When you turned around, you were met with the feeling of his lips on your own, warm and soft. Before you could even process the kiss he had pulled away, the loss of contact almost making you frown.

"Wh-" You blinked, trying to formulate a sentence but your mind was muddled.

He gave you a shy, closed-mouth smile. "I just... really wanted to do that."

"San I-"

"I'll see you at work tomorrow." He turned around and started walking away without saying another word.

You watched him go, rendered speechless by his sudden display of affection, your lips still tingling from it.

I'll definitely get him back for that tomorrow.

Hongjoong 𓇼 Seonghwa 𓇼 Yunho 𓇼 Yeosang 𓇼 Mingi 𓇼 Wooyoung 𓇼 Jongho

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[lilacmingi]

AAAAAAA CUDDLY SAN IS SOOO CUTE 😭

you barely make it halfway onto the bed before SAN collapses on top of you like a wwe wrestler. “san—” you gasp, trying to fight for air as his weight sinks into you, arms already wrapping snugly around your waist.

“i missed you.” his voice is muffled against your chest, his broad shoulders nearly swallowing your frame whole as he burrows deeper like a sleepy little kitten. “couldn’t sleep right last night, because my shoulders hurt again.”

you sigh upon hearing this, threading your fingers through his dark hair, it’s not the first time he is telling you this, but you are the only person that makes it comfortable enough to endure the pain. “i told you to try sleeping on your back, or stomach.”

“i can’t,” he groans, nuzzling against your collarbone. “my shoulders are too wide, and i just rolling over… i almost fell from the bed.”

he’s ridiculous, like literally utterly ridiculous, but at the same you can’t really blame him for not getting a decent sleep. “so what, i’m your pillow now?”

“the best pillow,” he murmurs, pulling you closer somehow. “so soft and warm, smells like strawberry chocolate cake, and you scratch my scalp just right—ah, there, like that…” he practically purrs under your touch, muscles relaxing beneath your fingertips as you gently massage his head. his biceps flex slightly as he shifts, dragging your leg over his hip like a possessive little monster. clingy, much?

you raise a brow, not because you are not used to this, simply because it comes out of nowhere, and very abruptly.  “sannie, you’re being needy today.”

“i’m always needy,” he says without shame, cuddling into your warmth, smiling against your exposed skin. “especially with you.”

rolling your eyes, pretending to be annoyed, however, your hand doesn’t stop moving through his hair, and your fingers trail down his bare arm, tracing the lines of his muscle with just enough pressure to make him twitch.

“also, i’d like to file a complaint.”

“hmm?”

“you’re making it really hard to focus on your face when your arms are out here lookin’ illegal.”

he lifts his head, a grin that reaches his eyes, even making his dimples come out of hiding. “oh? baby, do you mean these?” he flexes, just slightly, watching your eyes follow the movement.

you swat him, not hard enough, but just enough to make him stop teasing you. “san, stop that! you’re too pretty and you know it.” he laughs, before ducking back down to kiss the side of your neck: gentle, lingering, stupidly in love. “i love you, you know?”

you pause, fingers threading through his hair again. “yeah, i know, and i love you too.”

but it still hits you like it’s the first time every time. when san says those three words, you forget about everything, when you look at him, he is the only think about. he may be a lovesick idiot, but you are crazy in love. “and i love your stupidly wide shoulders,” you murmur into his hair. “even if they’re the reason i wake up squished half the time.”

at that moment, you felt him relax, and yes, he was asleep. san always falls asleep quickly when you are here next to him, can’t blame him, you do smell like strawberry chocolate fresh cream cake, oddly specific but that’s just san for you.

© KISSSAN do not copy, repost or modify my work.

[lilacmingi]

THE AQUARIUM

My works are 14+ ONLY. If you’re under 14 DO NOT interact with me or any of my works. And please don’t spam-like!

Pairing: Merman!San x aquarium employee!fem reader

Word count: 3,530

San headed over to the aquarium bright and early like always. He liked to get there first before all the other employees so he could have the whole place to himself. Though working at an aquarium and feeding sea life was fun, his favorite part of the day was in the morning before it even opened, when all the glass tunnels and artificial caverns were empty and free of customers.

Rummaging in his bag, he retrieved the keys to his workplace and walked through the back entrance of the building. He picked up the pace and hurried up the metal stairs to the massive room where the tanks were located, wanting to move as swiftly as possible. Once in the tank room, he dropped his things and stripped down to his swim trunks, his heart beating excitedly as he neared the tank practically hearing the water calling his name. Without wasting another moment, he dove into the massive tank filled with tropical fish. The bubbles that surrounded his body tickled his skin and filled him with a feeling of pure joy.

I'm home. He thought.

You pulled into the aquarium parking lot, grabbing your things and hastening inside while checking the time on your phone. You were certain your coworker, San, was already there, as he habitually showed up to work early before everyone else. It was kind of enjoyable because you were able to get some time alone with him before everyone started showing up for work. You cracked a small smile just thinking about seeing him. He was so dreamy, adorable, sweet, and just an all around good guy with an eager personality. You had never seen anyone as passionate about their job as San was. The way his eyes lit up when he was feeding the sea turtles, lowering heads of lettuce into the tank, or the way he giggled when the aquarium received baby fish and sharks to nurse.

As you approached the tank room you took a glance over at the tropical fish exhibit, taking a moment to stop and enjoy the view. Colorful shoals of fish swam freely in the serene blue water, their tails flicking lazily behind them. An array of coral, seaweed, and other ocean plants decorate the floor of the tank, bringing life to the artificial habitat. You found yourself getting lost in the scenery, imagining what it would be like to live in the ocean surrounded by cute little fish and such vibrant sea life.

The salt water and ocean exhibits had always been your favorite at the aquarium. As someone who's had an attraction to sea life ever since you were a kid, you were living your dream. You get to feed these beautiful sea creatures and take care of them, rehabilitating some of them so they can be returned to the sea. It was a dream come true.

Your eyes followed a Moorish idol floating lazily in the water, it's unique dorsal fin dancing in the gentle current. While gazing at the disk-shaped fish you noticed something or someone swimming around inside the tank. Squinting your eyes, you spotted a tail in place of the silhouette's legs. The person swam a bit closer, allowing you to get a better look and that's when you realized who it was.

San.

Your eyes widened in awe and adoration as you watched him swim around the tank with such grace. His realistic silver tail glimmered under the fluorescent lights above with each movement. He didn't have goggles or an oxygen tank on which led you to believe he must be good at holding his breath underwater for long amounts of time. His tail flicked behind him, pushing him through the water, his strong-looking arms staying by his side while his tail did all the work. He looked so calm and at peace as he moved languidly through the water, his movements fluid and smooth. It's like he was made for being a merman. If you had known he enjoyed dressing up, you would have suggested he swim for the kids sometime. The aquarium had employees that dressed up as mermaids and swam around the tank, but they're nowhere near as good as San. You found yourself unintentionally gawking at his well-built figure, your tongue darting out to wet your lips which suddenly felt very dry. His shoulders were broad and muscular along with his chest, while his waist was slim and narrow, the contrast making your head spin.

Wow. He's really built like that. You thought to yourself.

Finally managing to tear your eyes away from him and his incredibly impressive figure, you proceeded to the tank room where you dropped your things on one of the benches against the wall and walked over to the tropical fish section. Peering down into the massive tank, you couldn't see much or make out anything. The reflection of the lights on the water made it difficult to see down in there and you could just barely make out San's figure swimming around. The silhouette was a bit distorted and you couldn't see too well, so when he came up to the surface and took a seat at the edge of the tank, your heart jumped a little. San noticed your presence and glanced up at you, his face visibly paling, looking like a deer in the headlights.

Finally managing to tear your eyes away from him and his incredibly impressive figure, you proceeded to the tank room where you dropped your things on one of the benches against the wall and walked over to the tropical fish section. Peering down into the massive tank, you couldn't see much or make out anything. The reflection of the lights on the water made it difficult to see down in there and you could just barely make out San's figure swimming around. The silhouette was a bit distorted and you couldn't see too well, so when he came up to the surface and took a seat at the edge of the tank, your heart jumped a little. San noticed your presence and glanced up at you, his face visibly paling, looking like a deer in the headlights.

"Good morning." You greeted him.

"Good... morning?"

"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone you like to dress up." You reassured him, sitting down on the concrete floor beside him.

"Dress up?" He tilted his head like a confused puppy.

"Yeah that mermaid tail looks so real. What's it made of?" You questioned, reaching out to run your hand along it, only to pull back immediately.

That was slimy.

The both of you exchanged surprised glances as a long beat of silence passed.

"Oh man. I am so sorry for touching you without permission." You gaped, apologizes repeatedly falling from your lips.

Way to go. You thought. You made things awkward.

"You're really freaking out about how you touched me without permission rather than the fact that I'm half fish?" He asked, deadpanning.

You froze, your mind not quite understanding what he had just said. Half fish?

"I'm sorry." You chuckled. "I don't think I heard you right."

He only looked at you with a guilty expression.

That's when the gears in your head started turning. That tail did feel real—too real. That would also explain why he didn't need goggles or an oxygen tank while swimming. Your eyes drifted over to the silvery fish tail in place of his legs as everything slowly clicked into place. Your mouth opened as you were about to speak, but didn't get the chance.

"Please don't freak out." San interjected.

"I wasn't gonna." You stated even though your mind was spinning.

"You weren't?"

"No."

"You don't think it's weird? You don't think I'm weird?"

"Not at all." You shook your head. "You're still the same San I knew before."

His expression softened at your understanding.

"So you're..." Your voice trailed off.

"Yep." He murmured, moving his tail back and forth like someone would do if their feet were dangling off a dock.

"Can I ask something?" You inquired.

"Sure."

"How did you get here? The closest beach is an hour away."

"Merpeople can shift into human form when out of water and some of us choose to pursue a life outside of the ocean. I wanted to live a life on land so I moved here. I was looking for a job so I'd be able to continue living above water and none of them seemed to fit my interests, but then I found an opening here. It was perfect." He explained.

"You could have your normal life, but also be close to something that reminded you of home." You murmured.

"Exactly." He nodded.

"Well, your secret is safe with me." You assured him.

"Thanks, Y/n. You've always been such a kind person."

"Of course." You looked over at him, your eyes trailing down his body, staring at the small droplets of water clinging to his skin. You unconsciously gulped, tearing your eyes away from his impressive body. "We should probably get to work before someone comes in here and sees you." You suggested, hoping he didn't notice you gawking at him.

"That's a good idea."

You got to your feet, watching as San pulled his tail out of the water, the silver scales catching in the lights above. A few seconds later, his fish tail had shifted to a pair legs. You blinked a few times in disbelief, unable to process what you had very clearly seen with your own two eyes.

"I know, it's weird." San spoke up as he walked over to his bag and pulled out a towel.

You wondered momentarily how his clothes appeared on him after he magically grew legs, but then again you just found out mermen exist so logic is out of the question.

"Hey." You jogged over to him, watching as he dried himself off.

"Yes?"

"Can you talk to fish?" You asked.

He let out a small chuckle of amusement at your silly question, clearly trying to hold back laughter. "No."

"Do you have powers? Like can you move water at your own will? Do you have a singing voice that hypnotizes people?"

"No and no. I think you're getting merpeople confused with sirens."

"Wait. Sirens exist?"

"Of course they exist." He said it as if it were obvious. "I need to go change. I'll be right back."

Your eyes stay locked on him as he walked off to the restrooms, your gaze eventually wandering over to the many tanks scattered around the room, deciding to put your stuff away while San was gone to change clothes.

You grabbed your bag off the bench and made your way to the staff room located off to the side where you placed your bag into your employee locker for safe keeping. Just as you closed the door, San walked in donning his aquarium work uniform which consisted of a navy polo shirt with the aquarium's logo embroidered on the left side in chest area and a pair of khaki pants. The uniform was plain in your opinion, nothing special, but when San wore it he looked so good. Even wearing something as bland as a polo, his broad shoulders, wide chest, and slim waist stood out which you loved. You especially loved the way the khakis hugged his butt, the sight catching you off guard any time San passed.

A loud thud resonated in the small room, pulling you from your less than appropriate thoughts. The noise was caused by San tossing his bag into his designated locker, slamming the door shut afterwards.

"I know you're dying to ask more questions." He spoke up.

"I am."

"Alright. Shoot."

"So if you get splashed with water you'll be okay? You won't turn into a merman?"

"No. Only if I get so far into the water."

"Ah." You nodded. "That explains why you don't ever do a job that requires diving."

"You don't either." He mentioned.

"I'm perfectly satisfied with feeding the fish and sweeping the halls thank you very much."

"Why don't you get in the water?" He prodded. "I'm pretty sure you told me once that you loved sea life and that's why you decided to work here."

"I do. I've just never swam with fish before."

"Would you swim with sharks?" He asked with a devilish grin on his face.

"Are you insane?"

San burst out laughing. "It's only a joke."

"It wasn't very funny." You huffed.

"Swimming with sharks isn't so bad."

"That's easy for you to say. You've probably been around tons of sharks before."

"I have." He grinned.

"Do they not mistake you for food?"

"That's offensive." He remarked playfully.

"Hey, humans have legs and they get mistaken for food all the time." You pointed out.

"No, I don't get mistaken for food. We don't bother them and they don't bother us." He shrugged.

"Interesting."

"I never thought anyone would be this intrigued by me." San chortled.

"Sorry if I'm bombarding you with too many questions and making you feel uncomfortable." You apologized. You didn't want to overwhelm him, but you were curious to learn more, absorbing every bit of information he gave you.

"No, not at all. It's flattering actually." He admitted quietly. "It's nice to know someone is interested in me."

"Of course I have an interest in you."

In more ways than one.

"Not just as a merman, but as a person too." You added, giving him a small smile.

Your heads turned upon hearing the sound of the door opening, another employee walking into the room.

"We should get to work." You told San.

He gave you a curt nod, following you out of the employee locker room. While stepping outside you took a quick glance at your schedule on your phone.

"Ah. I have to feed the sea turtles." You announced.

"I have to feed the sharks."

You looked over at him with an unimpressed expression. "Liar."

"You're right." He laughed. "I have to clean the glass on the tanks in the jellyfish exhibit."

"Been there." You snorted. "I hate doing that."

"Me too. Especially when kids have gotten their grimey fingerprints all over the glass." San's face scrunched up.

"Well, good luck with that buddy." You gave him a pat on the back before walking towards the refrigerators to get lettuce for the turtles.

The day was nearing its end and your shift was almost over. You stretched out your stuff muscles, your back popping a couple times in the process which brought you a little relief.

"Hey." You heard San's voice.

"Yes?"

"I told Hendery you and I would close today."

"You did? Why?"

"I wanted us to be alone."

You could feel warmth rise to your cheeks as you asked, "For what?"

"It's a surprise."

The both of you kept yourselves busy while you waited for everyone to clock out and leave for the evening. When you were sure no one was around, you turned to San and asked the question that had been gnawing at you.

"Okay. What's this big surprise?"

"Go change into one of the wetsuits." He instructed.

Your eyes widened a bit at his request.

"Don't look at me like that. Go change." He nudged you.

Instead of asking more questions you decided not to argue and just do as he said, slipping off into one of the changing rooms. You returned shortly after, donning one of the aquarium's wetsuits, goggles and all. You felt absolutely ridiculous but this was the proper attire to wear when diving so you didn't have a choice.

"Don't you look sexy." San commented.

It would have made you blush if you weren't wearing that ugly wetsuit.

"Shut up." You huffed, walking over to grab an oxygen tank only to almost drop it due to its weight.

"Careful." He rushed over, helping you lift it, his hand over your own. "Don't hurt yourself."

"I got it." You grunted, lifting it onto your back.

Once everything was ready to go and San changed into his swimming attire, he led you over to the edge of the tank holding all of the tropical fish and the aquarium's two sea turtles.

"I'm nervous." You stated, the admission spilling out of your mouth due to anxiety.

"I've lived in the ocean for most of my life. You're safe with me." He assured you with a comforting dimpled smile.

You nodded, letting out a deep breath and pulling the goggles over your eyes.

San started to laugh.

"Don't you dare make fun of me."

"I wouldn't dream of it." He chuckled. "You ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." You mumbled, placing the mouthpiece leading to the oxygen tank into your mouth.

The two of you lowered into the water at the same time, submerging yourselves beneath the surface. You turned to San, watching as bubbles surrounded his bottom half, his legs transforming into that stunning silver tail that had you so mesmerized. Seeing him up close and under the water was much different than when you watched him outside the tank earlier that morning.

He extended his hand towards you with a gentle gaze as if to let you know everything was okay. You reached out and grabbed hold allowing him to pull you with him as he began swimming down towards the clusters of colorful coral and fish. Your heart was pounding with both excitement and nervousness as you swam deeper. Once you got close to the large masses of coral and other oceanic life, it felt like you were in a different world. Multiple species of tropical fish swam around you, one of the sea turtles passing by just above your head. You looked to San, eyes crinkling as you smiled feeling overjoyed and at ease all at the same time. Your underwater surroundings gave you comfort and also thrilled you, filling your with an intense feeling of delight. San seemed to be happy seeing you so content. He let go of your hand and began swimming around the tank, your eyes glued to him, watching in awe as he maneuvered around with fluid movements. He even did a couple backflips, putting on a show for you. He met back up with you a few moments later holding both of his hands out for you to take. Without hesitation, you grabbed on, letting him pull you away from the coral reef and out into the open water. He kept hold of your hands as he swam beneath you, facing upwards. His dark hair moved with the water while the both of you swam leisurely through the tank. You felt yourself becoming flustered just holding eye contact with him, his confident gaze boring into you. The whole situation seemed so intimate, like something a couple would do. Suddenly, you were thankful for the bulky mask and mouthpiece for covering your face because your cheeks were on fire. San moved his hands down to your waist, holding you firmly. You flinched, caught off guard by his actions. Judging by the smirk on his face, he seemed to notice.

With one powerful flick of his tail, he propelled you both upwards towards the surface of the water, the two of you resurfacing at the same time. You pulled the goggles off and dropped the mouthpiece, your gaze meeting San's

"What did you think?" He inquired cutely.

"I felt like I was in a different world." You answered honestly. "It was everything I imagined and more."

You didn't even notice he now had his arms wrapped around your waist firmly holding you against him. The realization made a rush of butterflies erupt in your stomach.

"You looked so cute swimming around and watching the fish." He commented. "Even if you had those stupid goggles on."

"Hey." You delivered a light punch to his chest, realizing how firm it was. "I need those goggles to see."

"I know." He chuckled, only to become quiet a few seconds later. He seemed almost nervous.

"Can I say something?" He asked.

"Sure."

"I know that we're not super close, but I really enjoyed my time with you today. It's the most time I've spent around you and it was really nice."

"I feel the same." You smiled, ignoring the way your heart raced after hearing his words.

"Maybe we could do it again sometime? If that's something you're interested in." He suggested shyly.

"Of course I'd be interested in that."

He beamed happily, his eyes crinkling and his dimples making a brief appearance. "Great."

The two of you pushed yourselves out of the water and changed back into your regular clothes, preparing to close up and head home for the evening. After locking all the doors, the two of you headed outside to the parking lot with your bags thrown over your shoulders.

"Thanks again for today. It was very special." You spoke up, pulling your keys out.

"I should be thanking you."

"For what?"

"Being so understanding about my little secret."

"How could I not be?" You gave him a gentle smile. "I'll see you again tomorrow."

"Yeah. See you tomorrow."

With that, you turned around and went to unlock your car, but San's voice calling your name put your actions to a halt.

When you turned around, you were met with the feeling of his lips on your own, warm and soft. Before you could even process the kiss he had pulled away, the loss of contact almost making you frown.

"Wh-" You blinked, trying to formulate a sentence but your mind was muddled.

He gave you a shy, closed-mouth smile. "I just... really wanted to do that."

"San I-"

"I'll see you at work tomorrow." He turned around and started walking away without saying another word.

You watched him go, rendered speechless by his sudden display of affection, your lips still tingling from it.

I'll definitely get him back for that tomorrow.

Hongjoong 𓇼 Seonghwa 𓇼 Yunho 𓇼 Yeosang 𓇼 Mingi 𓇼 Wooyoung 𓇼 Jongho

Masterlist ᝰ — enjoyed this imagine? reblogs & comments are very much appreciated!

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Thank you so much!! 🤧 I wanted to make him extra sweet and endearing <3

ANTLERS AND ALL

My works are 14+ ONLY. If you’re under 14 DO NOT interact with me or any of my works. And please don’t spam-like!

Pairing: Deer hybrid!Yeosang x fem reader

Word count: 12,820

Note: This has been months in the making. I’ve been wanting to write deer hybrid Yeo for years 🥹

Birds were chirping, creating a little melody in the atmosphere, the breeze was blowing, softly rustling the leaves on the trees, the golden sun casting rays of light through the foliage. It was a beautiful day and one you took advantage of by setting off into the outdoors.

The dried leaves beneath your thick-soled boots crunched under your weight as you made your way down the narrow nature-made trail in the woods. You'd been walking it for a couple years and the trail had only gotten more noticeable thanks to how often it was followed. One might assume you were an outdoorsy type, but you weren't. Most of your days were spent indoors or at work, going about your daily life, however, you did make it a habit to get out and traipse the trail, as it was always a good mood-booster. Besides, a little fresh air never hurt anybody.

Every so often you'd stop to examine and admire a unique mushroom for wild flower with an eye-catching hue, sometimes snapping a photo before moving on.

A small meadow laid ahead, the sight taking your breath away even from the distance you were at. Usually you stayed on the trail, but this sight was one to behold and you wanted nothing more than to go check it out. So, you strayed from the path and made your way through clusters of dried leaves and tangled roots until you arrived at the clearing. The sight was breathtaking and looked like a fantastical place that a fairy might roam. Tall wisps of grass that reached your shins covered the entirety of the clearing with clusters of white wildflowers dotted about. The direction at which the sun shone down on the meadow through the clouds cast almost angelic beams down on the earth. It was when your eyes skimmed along the land that you spotted something out of the ordinary, a head of reddish brown hair amidst the blades of grass and ivory blossoms. Your gaze traveled up, following something sticking out from the top of his head, your eyes widening when you realized it was a set of antlers. A hybrid.

You took a tentative step forward, the light crunch of a leaf under your shoe might as well have been a twig with how quickly the man's head jerked in your direction. Your body stiffened and you opened your mouth to speak, but before a single word could be uttered, the hybrid took off.

Startled by his sudden and swift exit, you were frozen for a few seconds before naively chasing after him, while calling out, "Hey, wait!"

The knee-high grass whipped past your legs as you took off through the field after the hybrid boy. He was already way ahead of you, but you shouted again in hopes that he'd hear you and stop.

"I won't hurt you!"

He kept running, moving through the trees with grace and agility, leaping over branches and tree roots. It was futile to even attempt to catch up, he was nearly out of sight, so you slowed to a jog and stopped, hunching over to rest your hands on your knees. He was gone.

All you could do was stare at the spot you'd last seen him, left in a bit of a daze after your abrupt encounter. A sigh of defeat expelled from your lips and you took a few steps back before reluctantly turning around, heading back across the meadow, returning to the trail you were walking.

It didn't sit right with you that he just got away. You couldn't pinpoint why you were so concerned for the hybrid boy, but knowing he was running the woods alone made your stomach twist a little in discomfort. Where was he going? Did he have somewhere to stay? Would he be okay? And most importantly, would you see him again?

Worrying about a complete and total stranger was a bit ridiculous, but you couldn't help it. Hybrids didn't always get treated well and were still being accepted as members of society, so naturally you were concerned.

The antlered boy is what kept you coming back to the forest more often than usual. There was a part of you that hoped you'd see him again, then maybe the worry that had made itself at home in the pit of your stomach would go away after finding out he was okay.

You returned to the woods almost every day, stopping by the meadow you'd seen him in. Every walk you took you ended up returning home with no results.

It had been a few days since you stepped foot on the trail in the woods not far behind your home due to weather. Despite that, you hadn't given up hope, stepping back out into the thicket as soon as you possibly could, lacing up your hiking boots and taking off.

You followed the worn dirt path, still slightly damp from last night's rain, the soles of your shoes leaving faint prints in the earth. The undergrowth and wild plants had a fresh green look to them, the natural aroma of petrichor in the air. Your steps slowed to a stop, your eyes drifting over to the meadow in the distance, lingering for a moment too long as you hoped to spot the deer hybrid again. The chances he'd be in the meadow again after you'd previously spotted him were highly unlikely, but you looked anyway, searching for a pair of antlers amongst the blades of grass.

Just like all the other times you went out searching for the hybrid, you found nothing and headed further into the woods until you arrived at the place where you would normally circle back and head home. For some reason, you decided to keep going, abandoning the familiar trail and searching further this time. It was harder to navigate due to the large clusters of wild plants covering the ground and no trail to follow. You mentally marked your spot by choosing a tree with a unique moss pattern growing on it as your returning point. You ducked under small trees and stepped over clusters of briars, wincing when they got caught on the fabric of your pants.

You didn't want to stray too far from the path and lose your way back, so you tried to only walk straight, moving a little deeper into the woods. Everywhere you looked, you only saw trees and wilderness. Just when you were considering turning back and giving up for the day, you spotted something, your eyes widening at the sight that greeted you. The deer hybrid that you'd been searching for was on the ground a few feet away, letting out small noises of distress, a net tangled around his antlers.

You couldn't believe it, it was him. You didn't think you'd see him again.

Without thinking, you started moving forward, making sure not to approach too fast so as not to startle him like last time. The light crunch of small twigs under your feet announced your presence as you approached, alerting the boy.

The man's head jerked up towards you, his eyes wide with fear as he scrambled to his feet only to trip due to the large net, which he stepped on.

"It's okay. It's okay." You held your hands up in a placating manner where he could see you weren't holding anything that might cause him harm, making sure to keep your tone gentle as you spoke.

He stilled, his frightened gaze still locked on you, unsure of your intentions.

"I'm gonna help you." You said, coming to crouch beside him.

When he didn't try to bolt off, you started working to maneuver the netting around the blunt points of his antlers. His wide eyes followed your every move while you worked diligently to untangle the rope around his deer-like appendage. He was terrified and it made your chest ache.

It took a while, but the moment he was freed, he scrambled away from you, putting some distance between you both.

"It'a okay." You assured him. "I'm Y/n. What's your name?"

He blinked, his chest heaving up and down with short, rapid breaths. He was too scared to speak and you knew you wouldn't be getting a name from him.

"Do you have a home?"

He hesitated before shaking his head a little, if you weren't paying attention you would've missed it. His clothes were dirty and slightly tattered, his hair mussed. It was obvious he'd been roaming the woods for a while.

There was no way you could leave him out in the woods after knowing he didn't have a home, it would just tear you to pieces.

"Do you want to come with me?" You asked tentatively, staying put where you were so as not to make the hybrid run off.

His round eyes stared unblinking at you.

"I have food and a bed. You'll be safe."

Though he was scared out of his wits, you could tell he was trying to discern wether or not you were a threat and you could only hope that saving him helped him realize you meant him no harm.

The air was silent, save for the occasional rustle of the leaves in the breeze as you waited for what felt like minutes for a response. Finally, the man nodded, albeit slowly while getting to his feet, never taking his eyes off you.

A sigh of relief escaped your lips and you gave him a gentle smile. "Come on, then."

You started heading back the way you came, moving forward a few paces before you realized you didn't hear a second pair of feet behind you. Glancing over your shoulder, you saw the deer hybrid standing in the same spot, looking unsure even though he agreed to come with you.

"It's okay." You told him. "This way."

After that, you could hear his quiet footfalls behind you. He trailed along silently, keeping a sizable gap between the both of you, clearly still wary, and that was perfectly fine. If he was most comfortable keeping his distance, you'd let him.

You made it back to the mossy tree you'd passed earlier, returning to the familiar trail. Part of you was relieved you didn't lose your way, thankful you had a path to follow now. You threw a glance behind you every once in a while at the hybrid to make sure he was still following along.

"I didn't mean to startle you that day when you were in the meadow." You spoke up, feeling the need to fill the heavy silence in the air.

As expected, you received no response, which prompted you to continue talking.

"I walk this trail often. I like to enjoy nature."

You assumed talking about yourself would help build some trust between the both of you and put the hybrid at ease, but every time you glanced back at him, he looked anxious as ever. That's when you gave up on talking for the remainder of the walk.

"Here we are." You announced when you emerged from the tree line, gesturing to your home.

You approached the front door and stepped inside, waiting for your new houseguest to follow, which he did. The door was gently pushed closed as the boy made his way around the living room, taking in everything.

"You can sit down." You gestured to the couch, which he examined for a moment before taking a seat.

He looked so uncomfortable and on edge, his posture stiff and rigid. You hated that he felt like he needed to be alert at all times and it made you wonder what he'd gone through to make him that way. The knot in your stomach worsened at the thought of how he might've been treated by humans, especially being a deer hybrid.

You circled around to the front of the sofa, making sure not to get too close to him, keeping a safe distance in order to keep him as comfortable as possible. His large brown eyes darted around the unfamiliar environment before landing on a bowl of chocolate bars you had on the coffee table that sat between the both of you.

"You want one?" You asked him, picking one of the fun size candy bars from the bowl. "It's chocolate."

He flinched back when you reached over and held the sweet out, but brought his hand up to take it from you. He fiddled with the wrapper for a moment, finally getting it open and taking a small bite. There was a spark of happiness in your chest when you saw a flicker of pleasant surprise on his face.

"I'm sure you're hungry." You mentioned, unsure of how long he'd gone without food. "Stay here and I'll make you something."

You scurried off to the kitchen, scouring the pantry for something quick to make for your guest. Your searching gaze landed on a can of soup. That would have to do. It's the quickest thing you could make.

You poured the contents of the can into a bowl and stuck in in the microwave for a couple minutes, watching the numbers slowly count down. Every so often, your eyes drifted to peer into the living room, checking on the nameless hybrid seated on the sofa.

The microwave beeped, bringing you back to the task at hand. You removed the steaming bowl of soup and placed it on a hot pad to prevent any burns, sliding a spoon into the savory broth.

As soon as you reentered the room, the man's head jerked in your direction.

"It's just me." You announced, watching his eyes track your movements. "I brought you soup, I hope that's okay."

The bowl was cautiously passed to the man.

"Careful, it's hot." You warned, shuffling back to sit in a chair, observing him.

He stared at the soup, lifting it to his nose to give it a sniff, taking in its aroma before he took the spoon, scooping up a bite and bringing it up to his lips.

He blew on it, giving the broth a little taste, going back for a few more spoonfuls, his rigid shoulders relaxing just a fraction.

"You think you could tell me your name now?" You asked in a subdued tone.

He swallowed a mouthful of broth, licking his lips before answering in a barely audible voice, "Yeosang."

You breathed out a little sigh, smiling faintly.

"Yeosang." You echoed. "It's nice to meet you."

After he finished his soup, he lowered the empty bowl down to the coffee table and discreetly slid it towards you to show that he was finished.

"Would you like more?" You asked, taking the bowl.

He shook his head, the movement so slight you almost missed it. There was a part of you that felt like he should have more food, but it was very likely he didn't have much of an appetite due to being so nervous, so you accepted his answer and went to the kitchen to wash his dirty dishes.

When you returned to the living room, Yeosang was messing with a hole in the leg of his dark jeans.

"Would you like to bathe? I have a shower and hot water." You offered.

He sat there in silence, not giving you any response except for that same wary expression that was almost constant.

"You'll have the bathroom to yourself." You added. "I won't bother you."

He shifted in his seat before giving a tiny nod.

You led Yeosang to the bathroom down the hall, showing him how to turn on the shower in case he didn't know how, letting him know he could use your shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. You laid out a towel and tossed a washcloth into the shower, making sure everything was prepped and ready for him.

"I'll let you have your privacy now, but if you need anything just let me know." You told him. "I'll go find you some fresh clothes while you shower."

With that, you exited the bathroom, closing the door behind you and leaving Yeosang to himself.

The deer hybrid turned around, getting a look at the bathroom. It had been so long since he last bathed, never in a shower though. His eyes moved to the mirror to meet his reflection, the sight that greeted him making him pause. He was filthy. His hair was unkempt, his entire face lightly smudged with dirt, and his clothes were stained and ripped in different places. How long had he looked that way?

Tearing his eyes away, he started removing his clothes, tossing the soiled garments into a pile on the floor before turning on the shower and checking the water temperature to make sure he turned the correct knob. Once satisfied, he stepped inside, sighing as soon as the steaming water hit his body, his muscles relaxing immediately under the warm stream. He stood still for a few minutes just to relish in the new and unfamiliar feeling of the water hitting his back. Yeosang had never had a shower before, but being able to control the temperature of the water was unimaginable.

He leaned his head back to get his hair wet, careful not to let his antlers bump anything. He washed his hair, gently massaging his ears with the bubbles, the scent of the shampoo and conditioner being rather pleasant. He'd never used that stuff either. He picked up the washcloth and put some body wash on it, scrubbing his body and ridding himself of the outdoor residue that clung to his skin.

The steam that had built up inside the shower escaped in billows when Yeosang pulled back the curtain and stepped out. His little tail flicked behind him a couple times, flinging small droplets of water. A pleasant sigh of relief expelled from his nostrils. He'd forgotten what it was like to be clean. He retrieved the towel from where it laid on the toilet lid and used it to dry himself off, feeling like a new person.

Yeosang opened the bathroom door and stuck his head out into the hall, letting out a small noise when his antlers bumped the doorframe by accident. He didn't see you in the hallway, his eyes dropping down to the pile of neatly-folded clothes on the floor. He leaned down and picked them up, bringing them into the bathroom to change into.

He didn't know why you were being so kind to him. Maybe it was a different method to make him feel comfortable so you could take his antlers. His hand instinctively reached up to brush along the relatively small growths coming from the top of his head. Sure, they'd regrow if they were ever removed, but the thought of having them sawed off to be displayed on a plaque made Yeosang's skin crawl.

Deer hybrids didn't have massive sets of antlers due to it being an inconvenience in day-to-day life, which should be enough to avoid being a target, but to some, deer hybrid antlers were special due to them coming from a half human half animal. It wasn't legal to do so, but a handful of sick people were willing to break that law and unfortunately, Yeosang had encountered a couple of them.

Yeosang's head jerked towards the bathroom door when he heard a faint sound coming his way. He watched as a shadow moved in front of the door, coming to a stop just outside. It was you. He could tell by your scent.

He still wasn't sure wether to trust you or not. You were being awfully kind to him—suspiciously kind. Though no one had treated him the way you had, he wondered what your angle was, if you had a motive, and what your true intentions were.

Even though the soup and shower were nice, he was still wary and on edge, ready to bolt the moment things started going south.

You were stood outside the bathroom, the shower no longer running. You had your ear pressed to the door to see if you could hear anything, hoping your houseguest was alright. Just as you were about to announce your presence and check on him, the door opened and made you flinch, stumbling back a little.

"Oh!" You blinked, taking in Yeosang's appearance.

His reddish brown hair was damp and the fresh scent of body wash hit your nostrils. Past the wet tendrils of hair, by Yeosang’s right eye, was a couple of pink splotches on his otherwise blemish-free skin. The marks were pretty and unique, adding to his already stunning appearance. The large t-shirt you'd found for him looked cozy and thankfully the sweatpants didn't seem to be too short. You'd given him the biggest size you owned.

"Look at you." You smiled. "You look nice."

Yeosang just stood there, his eyes glued to the floor. He was still uncomfortable and you couldn't blame him for it. Offering him soup and letting him have a shower wouldn't be enough to earn his trust.

That night, you set up the couch nicely for Yeosang, giving him one of your softest pillows and a large fuzzy throw blanket. You lingered for a moment to make sure he settled in before slowly inching away.

"Goodnight, Yeosang. As always, if you need anything, just let me know." You extended the offer once more before reluctantly turning to head down the hallway.

The room was cloaked in a dim light from the moon outside the window. It had been about fifteen minutes since you left the living room and you couldn't stop thinking about the deer hybrid, worried that he might not be able to sleep. You tried to justify your actions of bringing him into an unfamiliar environment, telling yourself over and over again that he was in danger out in the woods all alone, and he willingly came home with you. So even though he didn't speak and was skittish, him following you back showed some semblance of trust, which was a relief.

The following morning, you got up and slowly walked into the living room, your bare feet shuffling against the floor. A faint smile of relief settled onto your features when you saw Yeosang sleeping peacefully on the couch. It was a welcomed sight and one that brought you some solace. You silently snuck into the kitchen to prepare breakfast, hoping your guest woke up with an appetite. You did your best to keep the noise to a minimum, mixing up pancake batter and getting the pan hot.

It wasn't until the four four similarly-sized cakes you'd spooned out started cooking that you heard the faint sound of footsteps. Glancing over, you saw a head of reddish brown hair and one eye peeking around the corner into the kitchen. When you spotted Yeosang, he ducked back around the corner.

"It's okay." You chuckled faintly. "Are you hungry?"

His antlers poked out, followed by the upper half of his head, one of his deer ears twitching slightly. At the question, he shuffled out and started heading over to the stove, coming to a stop a safe distance away while trying to get a look at what you were cooking.

"Have you ever had pancakes?"

His eyes met yours before moving back down to the pan and he nodded.

"Would you like anything in them?"

The expression on his face could only be described as surprised confusion.

"I can add stuff to the batter. Blueberries, bananas, chocolate chips."

At the mention of sweet chocolate, his eyes widened.

"You want chocolate chips?"

He nodded, almost as if he wasn't sure he was allowed to customize his breakfast despite you offering it. You promptly sprinkled some chocolate chips into the bowl of batter, returning to the partially cooked plain pancakes in the pan and flipping them over.

Yeosang stood by and watched your every move, looking on in interest as you spooned out batter and created somewhat circular pancakes.

You finished up the rest of the batter and plated the pancakes, giving three chocolate chip ones to Yeosang and then serving yourself, heading into the dining room.

"What would you like to drink? Apple juice, orange juice, milk, water?"

You had to watch Yeosang and wait for him to nod when you listed a particular beverage, getting the signal when you said milk.

"Good choice." You smiled.

When you came back with a glass of milk for him and your own drink of choice, you brought along a bottle of syrup for the pancakes. Yeosang was quick to reach out and discreetly take the bottle from where you set it, popping the cap and drizzling it over his pancakes.

As you ate, your gaze flickered up to look across the table at Yeosang who'd forked a small bite of his chocolate chip pancakes. You watched in silent anticipation as he raised the fluffy hotcake to his lips and took a bite, chewing it for a moment. His eyes brightened and a barely audible gasp could be heard from where you were seated, observing as he took another bite. Seeing him enjoy the things he ate brought you a sense of comfort and warmth, especially after knowing he'd been roaming the woods alone with little to no food.

You suppressed a giggle when you noticed Yeosang's lips smeared and speckled with melted chocolate from the pancakes.

His head jerked up at the sound, his wide brown eyes staring at you. You discreetly gestured to your own lips and he was quick to lick away the chocolate and grab a nearby napkin, wiping over his mouth for good measure.

"I'm glad you like it." You commented.

After a couple days, you decided Yeosang needed clothes, ones that weren't borrowed. Thankfully, after he showered that first time, you went to get his torn, stained garments and peeked at the tags to get his size before tossing them into the trash.

Yeosang's always vigilant and wide eyes followed you across the living room as you tossed your bag over your shoulder.

"I need to go buy you some new clothes." You told him, absentmindedly fiddling with your keys. "Are you going to be okay staying home alone for an hour?"

He stared at you, a response you often got any time you asked him something. He still wasn't talking.

"I'll lock the door when I leave." You mentioned.

Finally, Yeosang gave a little half nod.

"You can watch TV." You gestured.

His gaze followed the direction you pointed to, staring at the black screen. You could see that he didn't seem to know how to work the TV even though you'd watched it with him the day before, if you could even call it watching, he stayed pressed against the opposite side of the couch the whole time you were in the room.

"Here." You moved to turn on the TV, the last channel you were watching flashing up on the screen. You pressed a button and pulled up the massive list of channels. "You can watch whatever you want. Just pick one and press this big OK button." You demonstrated, placing the remote on the coffee table in front of him. "And you can have more chocolate bars if you want, just don't eat too many or you'll get sick."

Yeosang looked almost overwhelmed at everything and you didn't know if it was from all the information you were giving him or the freedom.

"I'll try to be back soon. Don't answer the door for anyone except me, okay?"

He nodded, his attention locked on you until you stepped out the door.

The house was quiet, save for whatever was playing on the TV. Yeosang glanced around the room, trying to wrap his mind around the fact that he had your entire home to himself. He let whatever was already on continue playing, his foot tapping against the floor. He wasn't really watching it, his mind wandering as well as his eyes that drifted away from the images on the television and to the decor in your living room. He never really got a good look at it, too afraid to do so.

He finally got to his feet and headed over to a bookshelf beside the TV. It had a photo of you and who he assumed were your family placed on one of the upper shelves. He was able to pick you out right away. His fingertips traced the shape of the frame, looking at your gleaming grin. Other items on the shelf were pretty vases and little decorative geometrical sculptures. He slowly made his way around the room, looking at all the items and personalized pieces you had sitting about, familiarizing himself with the space.

Eventually, his curiosity led him to your bedroom, his bare feet padding across the hardwood towards your open door. There were many things that caught his eye when he entered, one being your little wall shelves with tiny items lined along them. He shuffled over to get a better look, liking how the fuzzy rug on your floor felt against his feet. There were cute little trinkets of all sorts and even pretty rocks placed neatly along the shelf. Amongst the tchotchkes were a couple framed photos of you and other people. You looked so happy in all of them. On the walls were posters and colorful pictures depicting different things, photos and cutouts, each one different but somehow having a cohesive appearance. Everything was fairly neat, your nightstand was a little piled up and your desk area had a few stationery supplies strewn along it, but besides that, your room was tidy.

As Yeosang looked around the space, he noticed something—you didn't have any dangerous things in your room. No weapons or plaques with animal heads or horns on them. Everything in your room was cozy and sweet... just like you.

Yeosang meandered around the rest of the house, biding his time by familiarizing himself with the place and sorting out how he felt about his current situation. He still didn't feel comfortable in this new environment, however, he did feel safer, even if he was a little scared. At least he didn't have to worry about hiding anymore or wondering where he was going to sleep.

Then there was you. Your behavior was the complete opposite of the other humans he'd encountered, and yet, he and his family were already betrayed once by people he trusted. He didn't want that to happen again, but it was difficult to keep his guard up when you were so caring.

Yeosang slowly picked up the remote and pressed the menu button, scrolling through the channels, trying to figure out what he wanted to watch. He wasn't familiar with TV shows or movies, only hearing about them, so he didn't know what he wanted to see. He clicked on a few different channels, moving on to another when he wasn't interested. His browsing came to a halt when he saw a man and a woman kissing. He gasped softly, his eyes glued to the screen. His heart thumped in his chest at the sight displayed before his wide-eyed gaze. He'd never kissed anyone before due to living a sheltered life in the woods, but he always imagined what it might be like. Yeosang absentmindedly licked his lips, wondering how yours might feel on his.

A noise outside snapped Yeosang out of his daze and he jumped to his feet, scurrying over to the window when he heard the sound of a car. His body went rigid when he saw a man get out and make his way up to the front door with something in his hands. Yeosang stepped away from the window so he couldn't be seen, backing up further when heavy footsteps thudded on the front porch and a couple quick knocks were given to the door.

Your words about not answering the door for anyone echoed in his mind. Yeosang froze up for a few seconds, listening carefully, his ears twitching. Then, slowly, he creeped back to the window to see the man getting back into his vehicle and driving off down the road.

Yeosang spent the rest of his time running back and forth from the couch to the living room window, jumping at every little noise he heard, thinking it was that man coming back, but it never was. He attempted to distract himself with whatever he found on TV that caught his interest.

After what felt like hours, the sound of the lock clicking announced your presence before you even stepped inside the house. Your arms were laden with multiple shopping bags and you had a small box in your hand.

"I'm back." You announced, not missing the way Yeosang seemed to perk up at your return. "I found a package on the porch. I hope the mailman didn't startle you while I was gone."

Yeosang blinked in realization. The mailman. He didn't get mail back home, so he didn't know that's who that man was and immediately assumed he was there to harm him.

"Anyway, I got you clothes." You smiled, setting the bags down on the coffee table. "You wanna take a look?"

Yeosang leaned forward, his eyes meeting yours, then dropping down to the plastic shopping bags and carefully reaching inside one of them. He pulled out a plain-colored t-shirt, a black tank top, and two pairs of sweatpants, one black, one gray. He proceeded to the second bag and found a couple pairs of jeans and three more shirts, one of them long sleeved. Finally, in the last bag were socks, boxers, and a simple pair of shoes.

"I just got you the necessities." You murmured, hoping you didn't go overboard. "And I didn't know what style of clothes you liked so I kept it simple. I hope that's okay."

It was more than okay. Yeosang was only expecting an extra set of clothes, maybe two. He felt like he didn't deserve it, but he knew he couldn't decline, especially not when you were staring at him with expectant eyes glimmering with hope.

"Do you want to shower and change into a fresh set of clothes?" You asked, making him glance down at the borrowed garments he currently had on.

He nodded and chose what he wanted to wear, following you towards the bathroom where you got him out a towel and washcloth like last time.

"If you ever want to shower, you can. This bathroom is yours just as much as it is mine." You told him.

He set his fresh clothes on the closed toilet lid with his towel, trying to imagine coming into the bathroom whenever he wanted to bathe.

"I'll leave you to it." You excused yourself, pulling the door shut behind you.

You went back to the living room and removed the rest of Yeosang's new clothes from their bags, tossing them into the washing machine, busying yourself by washing dishes from breakfast earlier that day. One thing you'd learned about the skittish deer hybrid in the last four days was that he loved chocolate. You weren't sure what his living situation was like prior to you finding him, but it was obvious he wasn't familiar with most foods or technology. This led you to believe he'd lived away from society for most of his life, though if that was the case, how did he get clothes?

As you pondered explanations, you didn't notice Yeosang enter the room.

You flinched after spotting him in your peripherals, your hand coming up to clutch your chest.

"You startled me." You exhaled, taking in his appearance, your already racing heart jumping into your throat.

Yeosang was wearing the black tank top, the fabric clinging to him and accentuating the shape of his body as well as showing off his incredibly muscular arms. On the upper parts of his shoulders and biceps were speckles of white, like those on a baby deer; that little detail was enough to lessen the shock that his physique caused, but you still couldn't tear your eyes away. His face definitely didn't match his body.

"The clothes look nice." You finally managed to speak, realizing you'd been staring for too long. "I'm glad they fit."

Yeosang nodded and tugged his gray sweatpants up a bit, glancing down at the outfit, one of his deer ears twitching slightly, still damp from his shower.

"Do you like them?"

He gave a little nod in response, making a sense of pride fill your chest.

A week passed and Yeosang still wasn’t speaking. He only communicated with nods or shakes of his head. He'd flinch away sometimes when you held something towards him and continued to keep his distance for the most part, only standing near you when you were cooking. He seemed to be interested in that.

You were laid in bed, snuggled into your pillow with the covers pulled up and bunched around your neck, just how you liked it. Slow and relaxed breaths slipped past your parted lips as you slept, unaware of what was transpiring in the living room.

While you rested peacefully, Yeosang was the complete opposite. He'd woken up with a start, his chest heaving up and down, sweat perspiring along his forehead. His hands trembled as he recalled vivid images of the two humans that tried to hunt him down, the haunting images flashing in his mind. His heart thudded violently against his rib cage, his entire body riddled with panic as a tiny whimper slipped out of him.

He sat upright, grabbing his pillow and getting off the couch, his feet moving on their own down the hall. He stopped just outside your bedroom, staring into it.

If you need anything, just let me know. Those were the words you said to him every night before you went to bed, telling him to come get you if anything was wrong. Without thinking twice, he entered your room and stood by your bed, reaching out to gently tap your shoulder. You stirred in your slumber and he tapped you once more for good measure. Your eyes opened and you were greeted by the sight of Yeosang standing at your bedside clutching his pillow, his eyes wide, brows pulled together in an anxious manner, and his entire body trembling like a leaf.

"Yeosang?" You uttered hoarsely. "Are you okay?"

He shook his head vigorously and your heart sank. The covers on the opposite side of your bed were pulled back and you beckoned Yeosang over.

"Come on."

He stared at you for only a moment before skittering over and placing his pillow on the bed, sliding underneath the covers. In order to keep him comfortable, you stayed put on your side of the bed, even though every part of you was screaming to hold the poor guy and comfort him.

"Did you have a bad dream?" You inquired softly.

In the dim lighting, you saw him nod.

"I'm sorry." You paused, chewing your lip. If you knew what it was he dreamt about, you'd be able to console him, but for now you'd have to assume it was about something he experienced prior to you rescuing him. "Whatever it was, it wasn't real. It was just a dream, maybe something that stemmed from a bad experience. You're okay though. You're safe. No one's gonna hurt you. I won't hurt you."

Yeosang swallowed thickly, the light from the moon outside catching on his glossy eyes and you weren't sure if he was tearing up because of your words or the fear coursing through him.

"Everything's okay." You soothed, your hand moving towards him only to freeze, reminding yourself to keep a distance. "Whatever happened in your nightmare wasn't real."

He released a shaky exhale, his hands gripping the covers to ground himself to reality. You laid there watching him for minutes, wishing you could hug him or something.

"You gonna be okay?" You inquired faintly.

He let out a little hum and nodded. He'd never hummed in acknowledgement before.

You awoke the next morning to find Yeosang sleeping peacefully beside you and it appeared that he was closer than what you remembered. He was laid on his side, one of his ears twitching softly in his slumber. His hair was slightly messy, his head turned slightly in a way that his antlers didn't press into the pillow. You had the urge to reach out and touch them, but pushed it down, knowing he'd hate it.

Instead of waking him, you decided to get up and make breakfast in hopes to cheer him up after the rough night he had. As you slid discreetly out of the bed, Yeosang woke up, his breath hitching sharply as his head abruptly lifted up from the pillow. He had a look of panic in his eyes, his hand only halfway moving towards you, almost as if to stop you.

"Are you okay?"

He nodded.

"I didn't mean to startle you. I was just going to make breakfast."

His round eyes drifted back to your spot on the bed, his hand retracting as he gave a single nod.

That first night wasn't the only time Yeosang came to your room. He slept on the couch the following night and seemed fine, but ended up shuffling through your bedroom doorway the night after with a pillow clutched in his arms. It surprised you when he willingly showed up a second time, especially since he still displayed skittish behaviors with you. When you asked if he had another bad dream, he shook his head.

"You just can't sleep?" You had asked him, to which he nodded.

Of course, you allowed him to join you once more, still keeping your distance to accommodate him.

The third time it happened, you were telling him goodnight and making sure he was settled in, but he wouldn't lie down. He just kept sitting, like he was hesitant to even attempt to get comfortable. That's when you offered to share your bed again. To your astonishment, he agreed. Since then, he started sleeping with you regularly, no longer comfortable on the couch.

On one hand, you worried that he'd been uncomfortable on the sofa the whole time and didn't say anything about it, but on the other, his willingness to sleep in the same bed as you meant you'd finally built some trust with him, which was a good sign.

Yeosang shimmed underneath the sheets and covers, adjusting himself to where he could rest comfortably. It was a pattern you started to become accustomed to.

"I'm sorry if the couch wasn't comfortable. I could've made you a pallet on my floor with blankets if you would've preferred."

He was quick to shake his head dismissively, bringing you a bit of relief knowing he wasn't uncomfortable on the sofa. That meant he preferred sleeping in your bed, which made your chest warm.

You gave him a brief closed-mouth smile, turning your head back to stare at the ceiling.

"I know it's only been a couple weeks now, but I'm glad you're starting to trust me—or at least I hope you are." You closed your eyes, letting out a relaxed sigh. "Goodnight."

Yeosang hummed in response, shifting just a little before going still.

You were abruptly awoken from your deep slumber a couple hours after drifting off by small sounds of distress coming from the opposite side of the bed. You instantly turned to check on Yeosang, only to find him tossing his head back and forth, his expression twisted in anguish. He was having another bad dream.

You reached over to gently tap his arm, not wanting to startle him awake.

"Yeosang." You whispered.

Another tiny noise left him and he flinched.

"Yeosang, wake up."

You placed your hand on his arm, giving him a gentle shake. At the light touch of your hand, his eyes flew open and he sat bolt upright, chest rising and falling quickly as his breathing started to become panicky. He looked around the room with wide, fearful eyes, trying to make out his surroundings.

"It's okay." You soothed in an attempt to steady his breathing. "You're okay. It was just another bad dream."

His frantic eyes met yours, his breathing slowing just a fraction at your words. Still, it was clear he was dealing with the remnants of his nightmare and a faint whimper escaped him, the sound making your chest ache.

Without giving it a second thought, you opened your arms to him, unable to let him go through this again without comforting him. The first time, you were mindful of his distrust towards you, but this time all you cared about was making sure he was alright.

"Come here." You beckoned gently.

His breathing was still ragged, ears tilted down slightly in a fearful and submissive manner. As soon as he processed your open arms, he dove in and wrapped his own around you, tucking his face into the crook of your neck, being sure to avoid poking you with his antlers. His entire body trembled as he clung to you, making your heart squeeze with a bitter mix of pity and sympathy.

"It's okay." You cooed, cautiously sliding your arms around him, rubbing his back in a soothing manner. "You're okay. I'm here."

A choked noise left Yeosang, his nose pressing further against your neck. A lump formed in your throat and you had to swallow it down, fighting back tears that threatened to well up in your misty eyes. Just what kind of horrible things did he experience that caused him to be plagued with nightmares?

You tugged the comforter up a little higher to make sure it was covering Yeosang before proceeding with your gentle and calming ministrations. His breathing had evened out a little at that point, but you didn't dare stop comforting him. Your hand moved up his back and into his hair, only combing through the back of it, steering clear of his ears and antlers, assuming it might make him uncomfortable if you touched them.

When you tried to readjust your position to get more comfortable, Yeosang's hold on you tightened and his body tensed in panic, making your heart shatter.

"I'm not leaving." You assured him. "Just readjusting."

With your reassurance, his hold loosened just enough for you to get situated. You let out a faint sigh, closing your eyes and continuing to card your fingers through his soft locks, listening to his breathing even out. Knowing he was beginning to calm down diminished your worries and you could only hope that he'd be able to rest easy now.

Your gentle caresses along Yeosang's back and through his hair slowed as you started drifting off back to sleep, your movements stopping completely after some time.

It was the warm rays of sun that stirred you from your slumber the following morning and a comforting weight on your chest that reminded you of what took place the night before. Your bleary eyes peeled open, squinting at the golden streams of sunlight illuminating your bedroom, blinking a few times to adjust to it before trailing down to the hybrid sleeping on you. Yeosang looked so tranquil, his eyes closed, lashes resting delicately on his cheeks as slow and deep breaths pushed past his slightly parted lips, that pretty birthmark on full display. He was breathtaking and it wasn't something you were just noticing. From day one, you found Yeosang to be mesmerizingly beautiful, his facial features almost too perfect, something you could only categorize as angelic or ethereal.

As if he sensed you were staring, his lids opened, his gentle chocolatey irises landing on you. You smiled at him in greeting, your eyes crinkling slightly.

"Pretty." Yeosang uttered softly under his breath.

The word barely reached your ears and your brows raised in astonishment, but instead of being shocked that he spoke, you were more focused on the heat that made its way to your cheeks in response to that single word.

"Thank you."

Yeosang blinked, visibly surprised that you heard him, both of you slightly flustered in your own ways.

"Did you rest well?" You asked, changing the subject, your voice hoarse from sleeping.

He nodded.

"Good. I was worried about you." You spoke softly. "I can go make breakfast if you're hungry."

The expression on his face let you know he was open to that.

"Anything specific you want? You seem to love chocolate chip pancakes."

At the mention of the sweet hot cakes, Yeosang nodded eagerly, not trying to conceal or downplay his enthusiasm for once.

"I'll go get started. You can stay in bed if you want or you can come watch. It's up to you."

As you left the room and rounded the corner, the faint shuffling of bare feet followed behind you, the edges of your mouth twitching upward into a half smile. Even if he didn't show it, Yeosang liked being near you, or at the very least in the same space as you, especially lately.

He watched from a few feet away as you mixed up the pancake batter, dropping chocolate chips into it. You pushed the bag of sweet morsels towards him in a silent offering. His eyes met yours as if to ask permission, to which you nodded. He cupped his hand and let you shake out a few from the bag for him. As you flipped the pancakes, you couldn't help but let your eyes steal glances at Yeosang while he ate the chocolate chips in an adorably discreetly manner. You allowed him to snack a little while you cooked, piling up three warm pancakes onto a plate for him.

You sat by Yeosang at the dining table, eating your own breakfast that you prepared for yourself, watching him chew a small bite of pancake, smudges of chocolate on his pretty lips.

"Yesoang." You chuckled softly, taking a napkin and wiping the corner of his mouth without giving it a second thought.

He flinched at your touch, gasping soundlessly and freezing up.

"Oh." You pulled your hand away. "Sorry. You had some chocolate on your face."

His human ears turned a faint rosy hue along with the apples of his cheeks as he averted his gaze and continued to eat in silence. You were left to simmer in your embarrassment and self-chastising, knowing you overstepped by getting in his personal space. You shifted awkwardly in your chair, taking a sip of your drink in hopes that it would wash away your humiliation.

"I... really like the indoor rain." Yeosang spoke suddenly, staring down at his plate, cutting up the remainder of his pancakes.

It was the first time you'd been able to properly hear his voice. He was soft-spoken, but the timbre was low and smooth like silk, almost melodic in a way.

"Indoor rain?" You echoed his words in confusion, blinking out of the little daze you were put in by his mesmerizing voice. "Oh. The shower."

He nodded.

"So you haven't used a shower before?"

He shook his head, answering softly, "We used the stream."

We. So he did have a family, or had, and he did live in the woods.

"The stream." You parroted, nodding.

This was a huge breakthrough. Yeosang was talking. Not only that, but he was giving you little fragments of his life.

The rest of breakfast was quiet, which was fine. You didn't expect Yeosang to immediately start chattering right away and was willing to give him time to fully open up.

A few days passed and Yeosang spoke a little here and there, muttering one or two word responses in an indistinct tone. He didn't divulge any more information about himself, which only confirmed your assumption that he would only share when comfortable.

It was a relaxed Friday evening and you were stood in front of the stove cooking chicken for dinner, some vegetables roasting in another pan.

"I used to have this a lot." He spoke up, taking you by surprise.

"This? In the woods?"

He nodded.

This information caused questions to form in your mind, piling up with the other ones.

"So you had a garden?"

He hummed, giving a single nod of his head, watching the meat sizzle in the pan.

"And the chicken? Where'd that come from?"

"Outside." Was all he said.

"Outside?"

He didn't elaborate on that, so you decided to let it go for now. Yeosang had already said everything he wanted to and you weren't going to push it.

Dinner was mostly quiet, save for Yeosang's small hums of appreciation as he ate. Afterwards, you cleaned up the kitchen and washed the dishes while Yeosang sat in the living room watching TV, hugging a pillow to his chest. Every so often you'd glance out into the area to check on him, happy to see that he was comfortably seated and not sitting stiffly like he was for the first week he was here.

You stepped into the living room, wiping your hands on your sweatpants before dropping onto the couch with a huff.

"Alright. Kitchen's clean." You announced, your eyes drifting to the TV where a Korean drama played, something he watched often when he was left in the living room. "You sure do like these shows."

Yeosang's deer ears lowered slightly in embarrassment.

"I can't say I blame you. They're addicting." You chuckled. "A little cheesy sometimes, but there's something about it that keeps you hooked. Ah. Here's one now."

Yeosang turned back to the screen, watching one of those "cheesy scenes" you spoke about where the female lead was in a bedroom with the male, the atmosphere romantic, but the both of them not acting on anything. Naturally, the girl stumbled backwards and ended up on the bed with the man collapsing on top because she grabbed him for stability.

Yeosang's eyes became rounder, his ears flicking and twitching as a rosy hue painted his cheeks.

The male lead hovered over the female, their gazes locked on one another as the space between their faces slowly diminished. Then, just when their lips were about to touch, the female's phone rang, causing the two to scramble away from each other.

Yeosang gripped the pillow tighter in his arms, letting out a noise of protest which made you start giggling.

"I knew that was gonna happen. It always does." You huffed out.

Yeosang turned to you with brows tugged together in shock.

"Yeah. That happens a lot." You told him.

He whined a little, dropping his face into the pillow.

Commercials started playing and the sound of a female voice narrating an ad for vacation homes filled the room.

"Maybe you'd like an island paradise at a luxurious beach resort, or maybe you'd prefer a relaxing stay in a cozy woodland cabin."

Yeosang's head raised from the pillow, watching the television screen where a mother, father, and their son were sitting by a campfire in front of the cabin. You noticed his attention glued to the TV, a look of longing in his eyes.

"I miss home" He uttered, his soft voice coming out quietly.

His words squeezed your chest, making your heart ache dully.

"Did you have a house?"

"A cottage. I lived with my parents. I was happy there."

You frowned, waiting to see if he would continue.

"We had friends, human ones. They'd bring us stuff from town so we didn't have to leave home. That's how we got chicken."

Now you knew what he meant when he said "outside" earlier.

"Why didn't you want to leave? Hybrids are accepted into society now."

"My parents didn't trust them, but we trusted our friends." He shook his head, making a knot form in the pit of your stomach.

"They betrayed you—didn't they?" You asked faintly, sendsing that things were about to take a sour turn.

He nodded. "Mean hunters found us. They wanted my antlers... wanted my dad's antlers."

You pressed your lips together, sighing heavily through your nostrils.

"We were so scared." He murmured, clutching the pillow tightly in his arms. "They told me to run."

"Who told you to run?" You inquired gently, hoping to coax an answer out of him.

"My parents."

"And are they..." You trailed off, hesitant to ask such a sensitive question.

"They were trapped."

"So you don't know if they're..." Your sentence went unfinished again and he shrugged.

"I'm sorry." You whispered. "I'm so sorry. That's cruel and twisted."

Yeosang swallowed thickly, adjusting his hold on the throw pillow still hugged tightly to his chest.

"If it's any consolation, most humans would never treat a hybrid like an animal. I know that's probably hard for you to believe, especially since you've had bad experiences with humans, but there are good people out there."

His gentle gaze met yours. "Like you?"

A strong emotion you couldn't put a name to rose in your throat, your face getting warm.

"Y-yeah... like me." You nodded.

Somehow, you ended up back in the kitchen, baking a chocolate cake. You needed something to take your mind off Yeosang's flustering words, and yet, he was the one you were making the cake for, thinking he needed a mood-booster after discussing his traumatic experiences. Naturally, the smell attracted him to the kitchen, luring him in like a moth to a flame. He squatted in front of the oven, staring inside, his little tail flicking in fascination behind him. You suppressed a chortle, leaning against the cabinets.

"You've never had cake before, have you?"

He glanced over his shoulder at you before turning back to observe the sweet treat, shaking his head in response.

"You love chocolate, so you'll love cake, especially this one."

He stayed in the kitchen with you for the remainder of the wait time and even watched you ice the cake.

"Would you like to try?" You asked, holding out the butter knife.

Yeosang slowly reached out to take it, following the steps he'd seen you carry out, scooping out some chocolate icing and slathering it on the cake. His eyes were focused, his lips pursed in concentration as he spread the sugary substance messily across the surface of the dessert.

A fond smile graced your lips. "Good job."

He flushed at your praise, struggling to finish icing the cake before stepping away with a faint but proud grin.

Just as the sun began to set, you stepped out on the back patio, sitting on the concrete stones that made up the platform, a fresh slice of cake in hand. Your conversation with Yeosang played on repeat in your head as you took a bite, chewing quietly. You finally got his story, or most of it, at least. It was heart-wrenching and you didn't even hear the details. Whatever you assumed had happened to Yeosang was so much worse. He was told to run and he did, hiding out in the woods for who knows how long. He never said.

The faint creak of the back door opening caused you to turn your head. Yeosang stepped out onto the patio, outside for the first time in three weeks. He lowered himself to sit beside you, crossing his legs and staring up at the blue and purple-streaked sky.

"It's pretty, isn't it?" You uttered softly.

Yeosang nodded, taking in a deep breath of fresh air, letting it fill his lungs.

"How's the cake?" You asked, gesturing to his sizable slice which already had a chunk taken out of it.

He smiled softly and nodded. "Good."

It was nice to have him respond verbally instead of silently, reminding you of the progress that had been made.

As usual, Yeosang got a little messy with the cake, chocolate icing clinging to the corners of his lips in the most endearing way.

"You've got a little something here." You gestured to your own mouth to indicate that he had food stuck there.

He blinked at you with his large eyes and leaned forward a bit, a look of expectance on his face. That's when you realized he was waiting for you to clean it for him. That awareness was enough to make your cheeks warm, but you ignored it and reached for a napkin you brought outside, using it to gently wipe the edges of his mouth. He smiled shyly afterwards, going back to eating his cake in silence.

Minutes later, your empty plates sat idly on the concrete patio, both yours and Yeosang's gazes on the sky, which was now streaked with vibrant hues of purple, blue, and pink. As stunning as the sight was, your attention drifted elsewhere, your eyes slowly moving to Yeosang, roving over his captivating side profile and antlers. He seemed to pick up on your staring, his head turning a fraction in your direction.

"Sorry." You muttered an apology. "I didn't mean to stare."

Something in the air between you two shifted after that and no matter how much you tried to ignore your feelings or push them away, they were there. You spent the rest of the evening suppressing those unfamiliar emotions swirling in your chest. It didn't help that Yeosang had gotten cuddlier at night, opting to snuggle as close as he could to you. You brought a hand up to caress his hair, your fingers barely brushed one of his ears which twitched in response.

"Oh. Sorry."

Instead of pulling away, he responded by nuzzling closer, silently encouraging you to continue. You carefully let your fingertips rub at the base of his ears, a sigh leaving Yeosang's lips in response, letting you know it felt nice.

Little by little, your hand migrated up towards the base of his antlers. You knew you were probably pushing it, but you wanted to see how far he'd let you go. With the faintest touch, you brushed your fingertips along the smooth bone of his antlers, tracing up from where they emerged from his hair. He tensed imperceptibly before relaxing again.

"They're very pretty." You uttered faintly, tracing the shape of his antlers. "And they belong right where they are."

You couldn't see it, but Yeosang smiled, letting out a short huff of laughter, your words causing an uptick in his pulse, your touch lulling him to sleep.

"Cake again?" You asked with a small grin, joining Yeosang on the couch.

Since baking the confection the day before, he'd helped himself to it, already on his third slice.

He nodded, licking icing off his lips.

"I'm glad you like it." You said with a pleased smile. "Just don't eat too much. You'll get a stomachache."

He hummed in acknowledgement and took another bite, closing his eyes in bliss.

Yeosang finished the rest of his treat, moving to set his empty plate down, which you were quick to take from him, going to the kitchen to wash it. When you returned, you dropped back onto the couch cushions, chuckling at the sight of Yesoang rubbing his stomach.

"Full?"

He nodded with the faintest hint of a smile.

You settled against the back of the sofa and watched the TV contently, happy to be able to sit like this with Yeosang.

It wasn't until you felt a hand tentatively placed on yours that your attention pulled away from whatever was on the screen. Yeosang was chewing his bottom lip, his cheeks painted with a touch of blush, fingers curling around yours. Your gaze flickered down to your joined hands, a swirl of something pleasant flaring in your gut at the sensation it brought on.

"Thank you." He uttered softly. "I never said it."

"You didn't have to." You shook your head.

"I wanted to." He murmured. "You've done so much for me."

"You deserve it. You've been through a lot."

His gaze softened at your kind words, his gentle eyes moving over your features, lingering on your lips for a fleeting moment. That alone made your heart jump, the air suddenly charged with tension as you stole a glance at his lips in return. As if he was hesitant about his own actions, he leaned in a fraction, but stopped.

"It's okay." Your voice lowered to a whisper.

As the space between your faces diminished, Yeosang's eyes darted down to your phone sitting idly at your side. He was quick to snag it and shove it between the couch cushions.

You chuckled amusedly at his actions.

"Don't worry." You assured him. "That won't interrupt us."

His face moved closer to yours, inch by inch until his soft lips finally laid themselves upon yours. The sensation that followed had your breath hitching softly, his lips like velvet against your own, kissing tentatively. You brought your free hand up to his cheek to cup it lovingly, the touch making Yeosang hum and lean closer. His hand released yours only to hover in the air, his actions full of uncertainty.

You parted ways long enough to gently take his wrist and guide his hand to cup the back of your neck, moving the other to your hip.

"Here." You told him.

He smiled softly. "I've never done this."

"It's okay." You whispered, leaning back in to kiss him, this time with more passion and confidence.

His hold on you tightened and he scooted closer, craving the proximity. A cluster of butterflies tickled your stomach, a flurry of sensations overwhelming you in the best way possible. Kissing Yeosang was quite the experience and you didn't want to stop, both hands sliding into his hair, brushing past the base of his ears, eliciting a deep sigh from him, his warm breath fanning your lips, adding to the array of pleasant sensations you were experiencing. Deciding to push the envelope a bit, you applied pressure to the base of Yeosang's ears, massaging them as you kissed him. A low noise escaped the back of his throat, vibrating against your lips, his hold on your waist tightening.

You parted ways with him, your breaths coming out in short bursts, mingling with Yeosang's.

"Wow." You breathed out.

"Are you... my girlfriend now?" Yeosang asked softly.

The innocence in his tone made you giggle.

"Yes. I suppose I am—if you want me to be."

He was already nodding eagerly before you could get the sentence out. You beamed giddily, cupping his cheek. The Yeosang before you was a far cry from the one you found in the woods trapped in a net.

"And I'm your boyfriend?" He inquired tentatively.

"Yes. Yes, you are."

"I'm heading to the grocery store. Would you like anything?" You asked, slinging your bag over your shoulder.

Yeosang shifted in his spot on the couch, wrapped in a fuzzy throw blanket, pursing his lips in thought.

"More chocolate chips?" He asked, chewing his lip bashfully.

"Noted." You chuckled. "I'll be back soon."

As you twisted the doorknob, you paused.

"You sure you don't wanna tag along?"

He shook his head. "Not ready."

You understood, nodding. "Alright. I'll be back soon."

The grocery store trip would be brief, as you didn't have many things to pick up. Some instant ramen, snack foods, and the chocolate chips Yeosang wanted more of—he'd been snacking on those a lot. You were about to get in line to check out when you spotted a candy bar display, reminding you that you'd run out of them recently, as that was another thing Yeosang liked to eat. You took a few off the display, your attention drawn to a bulletin board on the wall above the candy rack. An array of papers and fliers were pinned to the board, including one in particular that grabbed your attention. A hybrid rescue facility. You didn't have any groceries that needed to be put into the fridge or freezer, so you made a mental note to stop by on the way home.

Your car rolled to a gradual halt at the curb and you stepped out onto the street, approaching the hybrid rescue facility, bold letters announcing the company's name plastered on the windows of the storefront. You were only there to check it out and see how legitimate the business was, stepping inside to take a look around. By the entrance was a display holding brochures. As you were reading over an informational pamphlet, the sound of fretful voices grabbed your attention. You raised your head and glanced over your shoulder to see who was speaking. Standing just a few feet away was a male deer hybrid with partially grown antlers and a female deer hybrid beside him, they were both speaking frantically with an employee from the facility, but you couldn't make out what was being said. Both hybrids were wearing clothes that were ripped and stained, indicating they'd been in a pretty bad situation before their arrival here.

Your eyes widened in disbelief, your heart leaping into your throat. Could it be?

"Excuse me." You spoke up, cautiously approaching the two hybrids who turned towards you with curious expressions.

"I don't mean to bother you, but would either of you happen to know a deer hybrid named Yeosang?"

The man and woman's eyes widened.

"Yeosang? You know our Yeosang?" The woman asked, her tone carrying a mix of relief and panic.

"Yes." You nodded. "I rescued him from the woods a month ago. He's at my house right now."

"A month ago?" The man echoed in surprise.

"Yes. I can take you to him right now."

"I'm sorry, but they need to stay here and be processed." The employee cut in.

"Then I'll bring him to you." You promised the parents, heading towards the door.

Yeosang was startled by your abrupt entrance and the way you rushed inside, tossing the groceries haphazardly onto the kitchen counter.

"I know you said you weren't ready to leave the house yet, but you have to come with me." You told him.

"Why?"

"I found your parents."

His expression fell into one of utter disbelief.

"They're... they're okay?"

You nodded. "They're at a hybrid rescue facility in town."

Yeosang wiggled his way out of the blanket burrito he was in, shoving the fabric aside as he got to his feet, fumbling to slide on his shoes. He followed you out to your car, which you had to help him with since he hadn't been in one before. You started the engine and took off back towards town.

"How did you find them?" He asked, staring ahead at the road.

"I was at the grocery store and saw a flier for a hybrid rescue facility. I was curious, so I decided to stop by and when I went inside, they were there. It seemed like they were just rescued."

"How did they look?"

"Frantic, but unharmed."

He sighed in relief, swallowing down the lump that rose up in his throat, he was feeling so many emotions at once.

You hardly had time to park at the facility before Yeosang was wrestling with his seatbelt, trying to get out.

"I got you." You assured, clicking the buckle out of place for him.

As soon as he was freed, he started trying to open the door, his hand moving over the inside. You unbuckled yourself and hopped out of the car to help him, hurrying after the hybrid as he took off ahead of you and entered the building. Scrambling in behind him, you saw the way his frantic eyes scanned over the lobby, landing on his parents who were now seated off to the side wrapped in blankets and speaking to the same employee you saw earlier.

"Yesoang." His mother cried out, rushing forward to embrace him in a hug.

His father did the same, his arms wrapping tightly around his son.

You were overcome with emotion at the touching reunion, watching as they clung to one another. You kept your distance, letting them have their moment, talking amongst themselves and catching up after being apart.

"What happened to you guys?" Yeosang asked them.

"After you ran off, I made a deal with the hunters." His dad said. "I'd give them my antlers if they didn't harm your mother."

Yeosang's tearful eyes met those of his father, traveling up to his antlers that were in the process of growing back. "How did you get out?"

"Employees from the facility were searching the woods for hybrids living off the grid. They found your father and I in the shed those hunters kept us in." His mom's gaze became distant, a frown etching onto her features. "We were treated like animals, barely fed and kept around just so they could saw off your father's antlers and sell them."

Overhearing the conversation, you frowned, broken by his mother's recollection of events.

"The nice people here saved us though." His father added. "They called authorities and got those hunters locked away. We've been speaking with a lady and she's assured us that the facility is going to help us get back to normal life."

Yeosang smiled. "That's great." His gaze then moved to you.

He stepped away from his parents, gently taking your arm and bringing you over.

"This is Y/n. She saved me." He chewed his bottom lip, his fingers finding yours and sliding into your palm, curling around it. "She means a lot to me."

Yeosang's parents smiled warmly.

"Thank you for bringing him to us and taking care of him." The gratitude in his mom's voice was palpable and made your heart swell, a feeling of gratification warming your chest.

You returned the grin. "Of course. It was the right thing to do."

"So," You began, turning to address Yeosang now. "I guess this means you'll be moving back to the woods?"

That familiar look of panic flashed across his features and he shook his head, squeezing your hand. "I wanna stay with you." He muttered before turning to his parents with pleading eyes.

Having Yeosang continue living with you was all you wanted, but it depended on his parents and how they felt about that.

His dad laughed. "Your mom and I will be fine on our own. You don't have to worry about us."

Yeosang beamed brightly, his eyes glimmering with unadulterated joy, vowing to visit them often and check in from time to time.

The sun was shining brightly, warming your skin with its brilliant rays. You shielded your eyes and stared out at the tree line patiently, standing out on your back patio. The man you'd been waiting for emerged from the clusters of evergreens, carrying a basket over his arm.

"Hello." You greeted.

"Hi, pretty." Yeosang responded, his cheeks dusted pink at his own use of the pet name. He was a little shy about it, but wanted to try out something new. "Mom really liked those chocolate chips you sent. She wanted me to bring some muffins back. She's been learning new recipes."

"How sweet." You grinned, heading inside.

Two weeks had passed since Yeosang was reunited with his parents. They were taken back to their old home in the woods and were provided assistance from the rescue facility to return to their old life. They even went into town on their own to get groceries. Yeosang had changed a lot too. He was now having full conversations with you, still a little on the bashful side at times, but making progress.

"How are your parents?" You asked, stepping inside the house.

"They're good. They're happy to be back home again."

"That's great news."

"Oh. Mom said she'd like for you to come visit next time." Yeosang told you, placing the basket of muffins on the kitchen counter.

"I'd like that a lot. I'm curious to see where you used to live."

He chuckled and came up to wrap his arms around you, gently nuzzling his nose into your hair. "Thank you again for everything. I don't know where I'd be if you hadn't rescued me."

A warm rush of adoration spread throughout your chest at his grateful words.

"You know, after I saw you in the meadow for the first time, I kept coming back to look for you."

He raised his head, his widening eyes met yours, rounded with surprise, but full of reverence.

"I'm sorry I ran away." He apologized.

"There's no reason to be sorry. You were wary of humans and rightfully so."

"If you weren't so persistent in finding me, I would've never met you. Thank you."

You smiled, turning your head to press a kiss to his cheek, your lips lingering on his skin. "And I'd do it all over again."

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Pairing: Merman!Yeosang x fem reader

Word count: 2,575

The sunlight streaming in through your bedroom window shone down on your closed eyelids, disrupting your rest and pulling you out of a deep sleep. You drowsily rolled over on your back, forcing your eyes open as they were met with the textured ceiling above. Sitting up in bed, you stretched your stiff limbs, letting out a groan before shuffling over to the balcony to get a look outside.

"That was some storm last night." You commented to yourself, opening the double doors and stepping outside to assess the damage. Your droopy eyes widened when you saw the view before you; palm trees surrounding yours and your neighbors' homes had fallen down and debris littered the beach. While scanning the shore, you spotted something washed up on the beach. It looked like some kind of fish, and a sizable one at that. It's tail sported vibrant blue and yellow colors and seemed way too big to be a normal fish. Your eyes squint to get a better look and that's when you notice a head of blonde hair and what appeared to be the torso of a man.

You shook your head vigorously, squeezing your eyes shut tightly before, looking a bit harder to make sure your sleep-ridden eyes weren't playing tricks on you.

No way.

You looked around frantically for any people that may be walking along the beach, your mind spinning, swarmed with questions.

What if someone sees him? How long has he been out there? Was he still alive?

There was a chance someone might've seen him already, he was lying on an open beach and he's not exactly hard to spot. Then again, if someone had seen him, he wouldn't be laid up on the sand.

Shaking away your worrisome thoughts, you rushed back inside, hastily changing out of your pajamas and into a pair of shorts and a bikini top, not exactly knowing what you were going to do once you got to the unconscious merman. Due to your caring nature, you were compelled to help this beached creature, unable to just leave him washed up.

Your mind screamed at you to hurry while you slid on your flip flops, sprinting out the door as fast as your legs would carry you. You nearly tripped over your own feet as you tumbled and stumbled down the beach. As you got closer to the merman you kicked your flip flops off, not caring where they landed, rushing to his side. He was lying on his stomach, his face pale and void of any color.

"Oh no. Oh no. Oh no." You muttered repeatedly as you flipped the man over on his back, noting how visibly weak he looked.

He let out a dry, wheezy cough, his eyes just barely opening as he looked up at you.

"Help me." He rasped, his voice so quiet you could hardly hear him.

"It's okay. I've got you." You assured him, grunting as you hooked your arms under his and lifted him up a little. "You're gonna be okay."

You were much closer to the ocean than you were your house, so you started pulling him towards the waves as fast as possible, hoping and praying that no one saw what you were doing. You lived in a fairly private area of the beach, so there wasn't a bunch of hotels lining the shore, but you can never be too careful.

You felt the waves lap against the back of your legs and continued to pull the man into the water until it was up to your waist. Taking just a few moments, you stopped, readjusting your hold on the man until he was facing you. To your relief, you could see his chest moving up and down as his breathing evened out, the color slowly returning to his face. His eyes began to open wider as he gazed up at you, his sparkling pools making your knees go weak.

"Are you alright?" You questioned anxiously.

He gave a slight nod. "Thank you." He breathed, a soft but weak smile on his face.

"Of course. I saw you lying on the beach and I knew I had to help you."

"I'm glad you did." He let out a heavy breath, clearly still trying to recuperate. "I'm Yeosang."

"I'm Y/n. You're very beautiful." The last part slipped out before you could stop it, as you were too in awe of his looks to focus on what you were saying. "I mean... your tail is very beautiful."

He let out a small chuckle that sounded so heavenly and rhythmic, almost like music.

"You're very beautiful too. When I saw you, I thought an angel came to save me."

Warmth spread across your cheeks and your heart fluttered due to both his sweet compliment and his melodious voice.

"C'mon." You chortled softly. "That's not true."

"It is." He said, sitting up a little.

"You're funny." You commented.

"Am I?"

"Yeah. You are."

"So, you just jumped in to help me. I didn't freak you out?" He questioned, changing the subject.

"No." You shook your head. "I mean, I definitely didn't think mermen existed until now, but when I saw you, I wasn't weirded out. As odd as that sounds. My only thought was to help you and get you off the beach before anyone saw you."

Yeosang looked at you in awe, his brown eyes seeming to sparkle.

"That's really kind of you."

"I was just trying to help." You reasoned. "Do you think you're okay to swim?"

He nodded his head and you released him, watching as he swam around a little before dipping underneath the water. He resurfaced seconds later, his hair wet and slicked back out of his face, the sight making your breath catch in your throat.

"Ah." He let out a relieved sigh. "That's much better. Thank you again."

You unconsciously smiled, glad that he was alright and had recovered from being beached for who knows how long.

"Hey." He called.

"Hm?"

"Will you be back tomorrow?" He questioned.

"I can come back." You answered.

"Great." He smiled softly. "There's a dock over there." He pointed towards the object.

You squinted to get a better look, managing to catch a glimpse of a small dock in the distance. "I see it."

"Can we meet there tomorrow?" He asked.

"Sure. I could bring some food for us if you'd like. We could have a small picnic."

"A picnic?" He echoed with confusion.

"Yeah. It's basically when you pack food and bring it with you to eat outside."

"That sounds fun." He beamed excitedly. "That means I get to try human food, right?"

"Yes." You chuckled. "You get to try human food."

"Awesome." He squeaked. "I'll be back tomorrow. Promise!"

"Bye." You waved to him as he swam out into the water, diving beneath the waves.

You passed across the sand, a large picnic basket draped over your arm. You lifted your hand, shielding your eyes from the sun as you peered out at the end of the dock. You could see Yeosang's blonde mullet from where you stood, a smile gracing your features. You found yourself speed-walking towards him, in a hurry to see him again.

"Yeosang!" You called out when you got close.

He turned, waving at you gleefully. "Hi, Y/n."

Making your way over, you sat down at the end of the wooden dock, placing the small basket beside you before reaching inside and retrieving some of the food you packed.

"I brought us some sandwiches." You announced, handing him one once he got seated on the dock.

He looked at it suspiciously, squinting his eyes as he lifted the top piece of bread, examining the food.

"There's no sand in this." He pointed out.

You chuckled. "No, no. A sandwich is something you put in between two pieces of bread. This one is peanut butter and jelly."

"Jelly?" He shrieked. "There's jellyfish in this?"

"No. It's made from a purple-colored fruit called a grape."

"So there's not jellyfish in here?" He asked so softly and innocently it made your heart melt.

"No jellyfish." You shook your head.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

"Go on. Try it." You urged.

He took a bite, chewing it, his perfect brows furrowing as he ate. He swallowed the food and smacked his lips together, trying to decide how he felt about the sandwich.

"It's kinda sticky." He commented.

"That's the peanut butter. It's really thick, so it sticks to the roof of your month."

"I like it." He smiled warmly. "It's strange, but really yummy."

"I also brought some fruit, if you'd like that."

Yeosang's eyes got big as he watched you pull a small container out of the basket. You pulled off the lid, revealing a colorful array of fruits.

"Ooh. Those look good." He commented, leaning forward in interest.

"They are good. Here." You handed him a plastic fork. "You can use that to eat the fruit."

Yeosang looked at the fork for a second, turning it over in his hand before saying, "Your tridents are very small."

You laughed in amusement as soon as the statement left his mouth.

"They're not tridents." You chuckled. "They're called forks. You use them to eat food. We also have spoons."

"Spoons." He mutters.

"They're like forks, but they have a metal piece at the end that curves up slightly around the edges. We use it to eat liquids, like soup, or other foods you can't eat with a fork." You explained.

"Ah." He nodded. "Makes sense." He took a piece of strawberry and popped it in his mouth, humming positively at the taste. The food on land was different than what he had back home, but it was delicious nonetheless. He wondered what other foods there were and if all of them were just as good as the fruit and sandwiches you brought.

"Do you not learn about the human world down there in the ocean?" You inquired, curious to know more about your new finned friend.

Yeosang shook his head. "We're supposed to stay away from humans. Most merfolk think humans are evil and want to capture or kill them."

You placed your hand on your chest, taking slight offense to what he told you." That's awful. No one is like that, as far as I know."

"I know! You proved to me yesterday that you're nowhere close to the humans we've heard about. You're kind, caring, and pretty." He gave a soft, sheepish smile.

Your heart thumped as you turned your gaze away from him.

"Ah. That's very nice of you."

"What is this called again?" Yeosang asked, looking at a pineapple chunk on his fork curiously. "Froos?"

"Fruit."

"Ah. Fruit." He nodded. "I liked that red thing I ate."

"That's a strawberry."

"And what's this?" He held up the yellow fruit stuck on the end of his fork.

"Pineapple."

"Hm." He hummed, putting the large pineapple chunk into his mouth. His eyes widened and he seemed a bit excited.

"Good?" You inquired.

He nodded his head vigorously.

After finishing his little snack, he set is fork down and looked at you. "I brought you something." He stated as he reached for a small bag that was strapped across his chest. He rummaged inside and pulled out a bracelet made of pearls, handing it over to you.

"What's this?"

"A gift. It's my way of saying thank you for saving me yesterday."

"Are these real?" You asked, gently touching the ivory pearls.

"They should be. I spent all day yesterday and part of today looking for oysters and getting those pearls out."

"You mean, you made this?"

He nodded his head in confirmation.

"I bet it took a long time." You commented, admiring the bracelet.

"It did, but I wanted to give you something really special."

"This is definitely special."

"You should put it on." Yeosang suggested softly. "I hope it fits."

You slipped the bracelet onto your wrist with ease, shaking it a bit to make sure it wouldn't fall off.

"It's perfect." You smiled, looking at the way it gleamed in the sunlight. "Thank you Yeosang, really. This is stunning. I'll cherish it for a long time."

His cheeks slowly turned pink, a small, shy smile spreading across his perfect features, his eyes crinkling slightly in the cutest way.

With the food containers empty and your stomachs full, you and Yeosang spent the rest of your time together relaxing, telling stories about your lives and childhoods. It turned out his life wasn't much different from yours, even though he lived underwater. He did all the same things you did when you were younger, with a few exceptions like amusement parks and arcades.

"Would you like to do this again tomorrow?" You asked, looking at him for an answer.

"I wish I could, but I have plans to go exploring caverns with my friends tomorrow."

"That's fine. What about the next day?"

"Definitely." He nodded happily. "Are you gonna bring more food?"

"I can if you want me to."

"I do." He nodded vigorously. "I like human food."

You laughed lightly at the phrase human food.

"I should go now, but it was really fun spending time with you, Y/n."

"You too."

With one last smile, he turned around and dove into the water, his vibrant blue and yellow tail making a brief appearance as he made his exit. Your eyes stayed glued to the water, part of you hoping he would come back, but you knew he had to get home. A gentle smile played at your lips, briefly reminiscing on the moments you had spent together that day as you began to pack up the plastic wrap from the sandwiches and empty containers from the fruit you and Yeosang shared. As you hiked your way back up the beach to your house your gaze moved to take a glance at the pearl bracelet adorning your wrist.

Stepping through the threshold of your house, you set the picnic basket aside on the kitchen counter and headed to your room where you laid back on your bed, pulling out your phone and Googling mermen. You doubt you'd be able to find any credible information, but it was worth a glance.

Tapping through the first couple links, you found general information on the sea-dwelling creatures, nothing very useful. You stopped scrolling when your eyes caught sight of a certain piece of information that grabbed your attention.

It's said that merfolk like to give small gifts to people who help them out, usually it's a nice seashell or even a piece of jewelry they found while swimming. If one receives a gift from them that appears to be handmade, it's said to be a sign of affection and adoration. This gesture is similar to when your significant other buys you roses or jewelry.

Your mouth dropped open, your eyes widening in disbelief. Yeosang... liked you?

Your gaze turned to the pearl bracelet around your wrist, an intense heat rising to your cheeks at the sight of it. You were surprised and flattered all at the same time. The thought of someone as handsome as Yeosang liking you made your heart flutter. It's like you were living in a fairy tale.

Maybe you'll make something for Yeosang as a way to show him you felt the same.

Hongjoong 𓇼 Seonghwa 𓇼 Yunho 𓇼 San 𓇼 Mingi 𓇼 Wooyoung 𓇼 Jongho

Masterlist ᝰ — enjoyed this imagine? reblogs & comments are very much appreciated!

DO NOT steal, plagiarize, copy, repost, alter, or translate my works in any way

🏷 @h3arteyes4mingi @weird-bookworm @poppy2007 @parkjennykim @evidive @mxlly143 @lizzymizzy-blogg @minhanbyeol @dinossaurz @laylasbunbunny @iammeandmeisiam @delulu18 @spooo00oky @tiredlittlevirgo @life-is-a-game-of-thrones

[lilacmingi]

HBFNDBFGKD THANK YOU SO MUCH 🤧 he’s just a lil guy

PEARLS

My works are 14+ ONLY. If you’re under 14 DO NOT interact with me or any of my works. And please don’t spam-like!

Pairing: Merman!Yeosang x fem reader

Word count: 2,575

The sunlight streaming in through your bedroom window shone down on your closed eyelids, disrupting your rest and pulling you out of a deep sleep. You drowsily rolled over on your back, forcing your eyes open as they were met with the textured ceiling above. Sitting up in bed, you stretched your stiff limbs, letting out a groan before shuffling over to the balcony to get a look outside.

"That was some storm last night." You commented to yourself, opening the double doors and stepping outside to assess the damage. Your droopy eyes widened when you saw the view before you; palm trees surrounding yours and your neighbors' homes had fallen down and debris littered the beach. While scanning the shore, you spotted something washed up on the beach. It looked like some kind of fish, and a sizable one at that. It's tail sported vibrant blue and yellow colors and seemed way too big to be a normal fish. Your eyes squint to get a better look and that's when you notice a head of blonde hair and what appeared to be the torso of a man.

You shook your head vigorously, squeezing your eyes shut tightly before, looking a bit harder to make sure your sleep-ridden eyes weren't playing tricks on you.

No way.

You looked around frantically for any people that may be walking along the beach, your mind spinning, swarmed with questions.

What if someone sees him? How long has he been out there? Was he still alive?

There was a chance someone might've seen him already, he was lying on an open beach and he's not exactly hard to spot. Then again, if someone had seen him, he wouldn't be laid up on the sand.

Shaking away your worrisome thoughts, you rushed back inside, hastily changing out of your pajamas and into a pair of shorts and a bikini top, not exactly knowing what you were going to do once you got to the unconscious merman. Due to your caring nature, you were compelled to help this beached creature, unable to just leave him washed up.

Your mind screamed at you to hurry while you slid on your flip flops, sprinting out the door as fast as your legs would carry you. You nearly tripped over your own feet as you tumbled and stumbled down the beach. As you got closer to the merman you kicked your flip flops off, not caring where they landed, rushing to his side. He was lying on his stomach, his face pale and void of any color.

"Oh no. Oh no. Oh no." You muttered repeatedly as you flipped the man over on his back, noting how visibly weak he looked.

He let out a dry, wheezy cough, his eyes just barely opening as he looked up at you.

"Help me." He rasped, his voice so quiet you could hardly hear him.

"It's okay. I've got you." You assured him, grunting as you hooked your arms under his and lifted him up a little. "You're gonna be okay."

You were much closer to the ocean than you were your house, so you started pulling him towards the waves as fast as possible, hoping and praying that no one saw what you were doing. You lived in a fairly private area of the beach, so there wasn't a bunch of hotels lining the shore, but you can never be too careful.

You felt the waves lap against the back of your legs and continued to pull the man into the water until it was up to your waist. Taking just a few moments, you stopped, readjusting your hold on the man until he was facing you. To your relief, you could see his chest moving up and down as his breathing evened out, the color slowly returning to his face. His eyes began to open wider as he gazed up at you, his sparkling pools making your knees go weak.

"Are you alright?" You questioned anxiously.

He gave a slight nod. "Thank you." He breathed, a soft but weak smile on his face.

"Of course. I saw you lying on the beach and I knew I had to help you."

"I'm glad you did." He let out a heavy breath, clearly still trying to recuperate. "I'm Yeosang."

"I'm Y/n. You're very beautiful." The last part slipped out before you could stop it, as you were too in awe of his looks to focus on what you were saying. "I mean... your tail is very beautiful."

He let out a small chuckle that sounded so heavenly and rhythmic, almost like music.

"You're very beautiful too. When I saw you, I thought an angel came to save me."

Warmth spread across your cheeks and your heart fluttered due to both his sweet compliment and his melodious voice.

"C'mon." You chortled softly. "That's not true."

"It is." He said, sitting up a little.

"You're funny." You commented.

"Am I?"

"Yeah. You are."

"So, you just jumped in to help me. I didn't freak you out?" He questioned, changing the subject.

"No." You shook your head. "I mean, I definitely didn't think mermen existed until now, but when I saw you, I wasn't weirded out. As odd as that sounds. My only thought was to help you and get you off the beach before anyone saw you."

Yeosang looked at you in awe, his brown eyes seeming to sparkle.

"That's really kind of you."

"I was just trying to help." You reasoned. "Do you think you're okay to swim?"

He nodded his head and you released him, watching as he swam around a little before dipping underneath the water. He resurfaced seconds later, his hair wet and slicked back out of his face, the sight making your breath catch in your throat.

"Ah." He let out a relieved sigh. "That's much better. Thank you again."

You unconsciously smiled, glad that he was alright and had recovered from being beached for who knows how long.

"Hey." He called.

"Hm?"

"Will you be back tomorrow?" He questioned.

"I can come back." You answered.

"Great." He smiled softly. "There's a dock over there." He pointed towards the object.

You squinted to get a better look, managing to catch a glimpse of a small dock in the distance. "I see it."

"Can we meet there tomorrow?" He asked.

"Sure. I could bring some food for us if you'd like. We could have a small picnic."

"A picnic?" He echoed with confusion.

"Yeah. It's basically when you pack food and bring it with you to eat outside."

"That sounds fun." He beamed excitedly. "That means I get to try human food, right?"

"Yes." You chuckled. "You get to try human food."

"Awesome." He squeaked. "I'll be back tomorrow. Promise!"

"Bye." You waved to him as he swam out into the water, diving beneath the waves.

You passed across the sand, a large picnic basket draped over your arm. You lifted your hand, shielding your eyes from the sun as you peered out at the end of the dock. You could see Yeosang's blonde mullet from where you stood, a smile gracing your features. You found yourself speed-walking towards him, in a hurry to see him again.

"Yeosang!" You called out when you got close.

He turned, waving at you gleefully. "Hi, Y/n."

Making your way over, you sat down at the end of the wooden dock, placing the small basket beside you before reaching inside and retrieving some of the food you packed.

"I brought us some sandwiches." You announced, handing him one once he got seated on the dock.

He looked at it suspiciously, squinting his eyes as he lifted the top piece of bread, examining the food.

"There's no sand in this." He pointed out.

You chuckled. "No, no. A sandwich is something you put in between two pieces of bread. This one is peanut butter and jelly."

"Jelly?" He shrieked. "There's jellyfish in this?"

"No. It's made from a purple-colored fruit called a grape."

"So there's not jellyfish in here?" He asked so softly and innocently it made your heart melt.

"No jellyfish." You shook your head.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

"Go on. Try it." You urged.

He took a bite, chewing it, his perfect brows furrowing as he ate. He swallowed the food and smacked his lips together, trying to decide how he felt about the sandwich.

"It's kinda sticky." He commented.

"That's the peanut butter. It's really thick, so it sticks to the roof of your month."

"I like it." He smiled warmly. "It's strange, but really yummy."

"I also brought some fruit, if you'd like that."

Yeosang's eyes got big as he watched you pull a small container out of the basket. You pulled off the lid, revealing a colorful array of fruits.

"Ooh. Those look good." He commented, leaning forward in interest.

"They are good. Here." You handed him a plastic fork. "You can use that to eat the fruit."

Yeosang looked at the fork for a second, turning it over in his hand before saying, "Your tridents are very small."

You laughed in amusement as soon as the statement left his mouth.

"They're not tridents." You chuckled. "They're called forks. You use them to eat food. We also have spoons."

"Spoons." He mutters.

"They're like forks, but they have a metal piece at the end that curves up slightly around the edges. We use it to eat liquids, like soup, or other foods you can't eat with a fork." You explained.

"Ah." He nodded. "Makes sense." He took a piece of strawberry and popped it in his mouth, humming positively at the taste. The food on land was different than what he had back home, but it was delicious nonetheless. He wondered what other foods there were and if all of them were just as good as the fruit and sandwiches you brought.

"Do you not learn about the human world down there in the ocean?" You inquired, curious to know more about your new finned friend.

Yeosang shook his head. "We're supposed to stay away from humans. Most merfolk think humans are evil and want to capture or kill them."

You placed your hand on your chest, taking slight offense to what he told you." That's awful. No one is like that, as far as I know."

"I know! You proved to me yesterday that you're nowhere close to the humans we've heard about. You're kind, caring, and pretty." He gave a soft, sheepish smile.

Your heart thumped as you turned your gaze away from him.

"Ah. That's very nice of you."

"What is this called again?" Yeosang asked, looking at a pineapple chunk on his fork curiously. "Froos?"

"Fruit."

"Ah. Fruit." He nodded. "I liked that red thing I ate."

"That's a strawberry."

"And what's this?" He held up the yellow fruit stuck on the end of his fork.

"Pineapple."

"Hm." He hummed, putting the large pineapple chunk into his mouth. His eyes widened and he seemed a bit excited.

"Good?" You inquired.

He nodded his head vigorously.

After finishing his little snack, he set is fork down and looked at you. "I brought you something." He stated as he reached for a small bag that was strapped across his chest. He rummaged inside and pulled out a bracelet made of pearls, handing it over to you.

"What's this?"

"A gift. It's my way of saying thank you for saving me yesterday."

"Are these real?" You asked, gently touching the ivory pearls.

"They should be. I spent all day yesterday and part of today looking for oysters and getting those pearls out."

"You mean, you made this?"

He nodded his head in confirmation.

"I bet it took a long time." You commented, admiring the bracelet.

"It did, but I wanted to give you something really special."

"This is definitely special."

"You should put it on." Yeosang suggested softly. "I hope it fits."

You slipped the bracelet onto your wrist with ease, shaking it a bit to make sure it wouldn't fall off.

"It's perfect." You smiled, looking at the way it gleamed in the sunlight. "Thank you Yeosang, really. This is stunning. I'll cherish it for a long time."

His cheeks slowly turned pink, a small, shy smile spreading across his perfect features, his eyes crinkling slightly in the cutest way.

With the food containers empty and your stomachs full, you and Yeosang spent the rest of your time together relaxing, telling stories about your lives and childhoods. It turned out his life wasn't much different from yours, even though he lived underwater. He did all the same things you did when you were younger, with a few exceptions like amusement parks and arcades.

"Would you like to do this again tomorrow?" You asked, looking at him for an answer.

"I wish I could, but I have plans to go exploring caverns with my friends tomorrow."

"That's fine. What about the next day?"

"Definitely." He nodded happily. "Are you gonna bring more food?"

"I can if you want me to."

"I do." He nodded vigorously. "I like human food."

You laughed lightly at the phrase human food.

"I should go now, but it was really fun spending time with you, Y/n."

"You too."

With one last smile, he turned around and dove into the water, his vibrant blue and yellow tail making a brief appearance as he made his exit. Your eyes stayed glued to the water, part of you hoping he would come back, but you knew he had to get home. A gentle smile played at your lips, briefly reminiscing on the moments you had spent together that day as you began to pack up the plastic wrap from the sandwiches and empty containers from the fruit you and Yeosang shared. As you hiked your way back up the beach to your house your gaze moved to take a glance at the pearl bracelet adorning your wrist.

Stepping through the threshold of your house, you set the picnic basket aside on the kitchen counter and headed to your room where you laid back on your bed, pulling out your phone and Googling mermen. You doubt you'd be able to find any credible information, but it was worth a glance.

Tapping through the first couple links, you found general information on the sea-dwelling creatures, nothing very useful. You stopped scrolling when your eyes caught sight of a certain piece of information that grabbed your attention.

It's said that merfolk like to give small gifts to people who help them out, usually it's a nice seashell or even a piece of jewelry they found while swimming. If one receives a gift from them that appears to be handmade, it's said to be a sign of affection and adoration. This gesture is similar to when your significant other buys you roses or jewelry.

Your mouth dropped open, your eyes widening in disbelief. Yeosang... liked you?

Your gaze turned to the pearl bracelet around your wrist, an intense heat rising to your cheeks at the sight of it. You were surprised and flattered all at the same time. The thought of someone as handsome as Yeosang liking you made your heart flutter. It's like you were living in a fairy tale.

Maybe you'll make something for Yeosang as a way to show him you felt the same.

Hongjoong 𓇼 Seonghwa 𓇼 Yunho 𓇼 San 𓇼 Mingi 𓇼 Wooyoung 𓇼 Jongho

Masterlist ᝰ — enjoyed this imagine? reblogs & comments are very much appreciated!

DO NOT steal, plagiarize, copy, repost, alter, or translate my works in any way

🏷 @h3arteyes4mingi @weird-bookworm @poppy2007 @parkjennykim @evidive @mxlly143 @lizzymizzy-blogg @minhanbyeol @dinossaurz @laylasbunbunny @iammeandmeisiam @delulu18 @spooo00oky @tiredlittlevirgo @life-is-a-game-of-thrones

[lilacmingi]

PEARLS

My works are 14+ ONLY. If you’re under 14 DO NOT interact with me or any of my works. And please don’t spam-like!

Pairing: Merman!Yeosang x fem reader

Word count: 2,575

The sunlight streaming in through your bedroom window shone down on your closed eyelids, disrupting your rest and pulling you out of a deep sleep. You drowsily rolled over on your back, forcing your eyes open as they were met with the textured ceiling above. Sitting up in bed, you stretched your stiff limbs, letting out a groan before shuffling over to the balcony to get a look outside.

"That was some storm last night." You commented to yourself, opening the double doors and stepping outside to assess the damage. Your droopy eyes widened when you saw the view before you; palm trees surrounding yours and your neighbors' homes had fallen down and debris littered the beach. While scanning the shore, you spotted something washed up on the beach. It looked like some kind of fish, and a sizable one at that. It's tail sported vibrant blue and yellow colors and seemed way too big to be a normal fish. Your eyes squint to get a better look and that's when you notice a head of blonde hair and what appeared to be the torso of a man.

You shook your head vigorously, squeezing your eyes shut tightly before, looking a bit harder to make sure your sleep-ridden eyes weren't playing tricks on you.

No way.

You looked around frantically for any people that may be walking along the beach, your mind spinning, swarmed with questions.

What if someone sees him? How long has he been out there? Was he still alive?

There was a chance someone might've seen him already, he was lying on an open beach and he's not exactly hard to spot. Then again, if someone had seen him, he wouldn't be laid up on the sand.

Shaking away your worrisome thoughts, you rushed back inside, hastily changing out of your pajamas and into a pair of shorts and a bikini top, not exactly knowing what you were going to do once you got to the unconscious merman. Due to your caring nature, you were compelled to help this beached creature, unable to just leave him washed up.

Your mind screamed at you to hurry while you slid on your flip flops, sprinting out the door as fast as your legs would carry you. You nearly tripped over your own feet as you tumbled and stumbled down the beach. As you got closer to the merman you kicked your flip flops off, not caring where they landed, rushing to his side. He was lying on his stomach, his face pale and void of any color.

"Oh no. Oh no. Oh no." You muttered repeatedly as you flipped the man over on his back, noting how visibly weak he looked.

He let out a dry, wheezy cough, his eyes just barely opening as he looked up at you.

"Help me." He rasped, his voice so quiet you could hardly hear him.

"It's okay. I've got you." You assured him, grunting as you hooked your arms under his and lifted him up a little. "You're gonna be okay."

You were much closer to the ocean than you were your house, so you started pulling him towards the waves as fast as possible, hoping and praying that no one saw what you were doing. You lived in a fairly private area of the beach, so there wasn't a bunch of hotels lining the shore, but you can never be too careful.

You felt the waves lap against the back of your legs and continued to pull the man into the water until it was up to your waist. Taking just a few moments, you stopped, readjusting your hold on the man until he was facing you. To your relief, you could see his chest moving up and down as his breathing evened out, the color slowly returning to his face. His eyes began to open wider as he gazed up at you, his sparkling pools making your knees go weak.

"Are you alright?" You questioned anxiously.

He gave a slight nod. "Thank you." He breathed, a soft but weak smile on his face.

"Of course. I saw you lying on the beach and I knew I had to help you."

"I'm glad you did." He let out a heavy breath, clearly still trying to recuperate. "I'm Yeosang."

"I'm Y/n. You're very beautiful." The last part slipped out before you could stop it, as you were too in awe of his looks to focus on what you were saying. "I mean... your tail is very beautiful."

He let out a small chuckle that sounded so heavenly and rhythmic, almost like music.

"You're very beautiful too. When I saw you, I thought an angel came to save me."

Warmth spread across your cheeks and your heart fluttered due to both his sweet compliment and his melodious voice.

"C'mon." You chortled softly. "That's not true."

"It is." He said, sitting up a little.

"You're funny." You commented.

"Am I?"

"Yeah. You are."

"So, you just jumped in to help me. I didn't freak you out?" He questioned, changing the subject.

"No." You shook your head. "I mean, I definitely didn't think mermen existed until now, but when I saw you, I wasn't weirded out. As odd as that sounds. My only thought was to help you and get you off the beach before anyone saw you."

Yeosang looked at you in awe, his brown eyes seeming to sparkle.

"That's really kind of you."

"I was just trying to help." You reasoned. "Do you think you're okay to swim?"

He nodded his head and you released him, watching as he swam around a little before dipping underneath the water. He resurfaced seconds later, his hair wet and slicked back out of his face, the sight making your breath catch in your throat.

"Ah." He let out a relieved sigh. "That's much better. Thank you again."

You unconsciously smiled, glad that he was alright and had recovered from being beached for who knows how long.

"Hey." He called.

"Hm?"

"Will you be back tomorrow?" He questioned.

"I can come back." You answered.

"Great." He smiled softly. "There's a dock over there." He pointed towards the object.

You squinted to get a better look, managing to catch a glimpse of a small dock in the distance. "I see it."

"Can we meet there tomorrow?" He asked.

"Sure. I could bring some food for us if you'd like. We could have a small picnic."

"A picnic?" He echoed with confusion.

"Yeah. It's basically when you pack food and bring it with you to eat outside."

"That sounds fun." He beamed excitedly. "That means I get to try human food, right?"

"Yes." You chuckled. "You get to try human food."

"Awesome." He squeaked. "I'll be back tomorrow. Promise!"

"Bye." You waved to him as he swam out into the water, diving beneath the waves.

You passed across the sand, a large picnic basket draped over your arm. You lifted your hand, shielding your eyes from the sun as you peered out at the end of the dock. You could see Yeosang's blonde mullet from where you stood, a smile gracing your features. You found yourself speed-walking towards him, in a hurry to see him again.

"Yeosang!" You called out when you got close.

He turned, waving at you gleefully. "Hi, Y/n."

Making your way over, you sat down at the end of the wooden dock, placing the small basket beside you before reaching inside and retrieving some of the food you packed.

"I brought us some sandwiches." You announced, handing him one once he got seated on the dock.

He looked at it suspiciously, squinting his eyes as he lifted the top piece of bread, examining the food.

"There's no sand in this." He pointed out.

You chuckled. "No, no. A sandwich is something you put in between two pieces of bread. This one is peanut butter and jelly."

"Jelly?" He shrieked. "There's jellyfish in this?"

"No. It's made from a purple-colored fruit called a grape."

"So there's not jellyfish in here?" He asked so softly and innocently it made your heart melt.

"No jellyfish." You shook your head.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

"Go on. Try it." You urged.

He took a bite, chewing it, his perfect brows furrowing as he ate. He swallowed the food and smacked his lips together, trying to decide how he felt about the sandwich.

"It's kinda sticky." He commented.

"That's the peanut butter. It's really thick, so it sticks to the roof of your month."

"I like it." He smiled warmly. "It's strange, but really yummy."

"I also brought some fruit, if you'd like that."

Yeosang's eyes got big as he watched you pull a small container out of the basket. You pulled off the lid, revealing a colorful array of fruits.

"Ooh. Those look good." He commented, leaning forward in interest.

"They are good. Here." You handed him a plastic fork. "You can use that to eat the fruit."

Yeosang looked at the fork for a second, turning it over in his hand before saying, "Your tridents are very small."

You laughed in amusement as soon as the statement left his mouth.

"They're not tridents." You chuckled. "They're called forks. You use them to eat food. We also have spoons."

"Spoons." He mutters.

"They're like forks, but they have a metal piece at the end that curves up slightly around the edges. We use it to eat liquids, like soup, or other foods you can't eat with a fork." You explained.

"Ah." He nodded. "Makes sense." He took a piece of strawberry and popped it in his mouth, humming positively at the taste. The food on land was different than what he had back home, but it was delicious nonetheless. He wondered what other foods there were and if all of them were just as good as the fruit and sandwiches you brought.

"Do you not learn about the human world down there in the ocean?" You inquired, curious to know more about your new finned friend.

Yeosang shook his head. "We're supposed to stay away from humans. Most merfolk think humans are evil and want to capture or kill them."

You placed your hand on your chest, taking slight offense to what he told you." That's awful. No one is like that, as far as I know."

"I know! You proved to me yesterday that you're nowhere close to the humans we've heard about. You're kind, caring, and pretty." He gave a soft, sheepish smile.

Your heart thumped as you turned your gaze away from him.

"Ah. That's very nice of you."

"What is this called again?" Yeosang asked, looking at a pineapple chunk on his fork curiously. "Froos?"

"Fruit."

"Ah. Fruit." He nodded. "I liked that red thing I ate."

"That's a strawberry."

"And what's this?" He held up the yellow fruit stuck on the end of his fork.

"Pineapple."

"Hm." He hummed, putting the large pineapple chunk into his mouth. His eyes widened and he seemed a bit excited.

"Good?" You inquired.

He nodded his head vigorously.

After finishing his little snack, he set is fork down and looked at you. "I brought you something." He stated as he reached for a small bag that was strapped across his chest. He rummaged inside and pulled out a bracelet made of pearls, handing it over to you.

"What's this?"

"A gift. It's my way of saying thank you for saving me yesterday."

"Are these real?" You asked, gently touching the ivory pearls.

"They should be. I spent all day yesterday and part of today looking for oysters and getting those pearls out."

"You mean, you made this?"

He nodded his head in confirmation.

"I bet it took a long time." You commented, admiring the bracelet.

"It did, but I wanted to give you something really special."

"This is definitely special."

"You should put it on." Yeosang suggested softly. "I hope it fits."

You slipped the bracelet onto your wrist with ease, shaking it a bit to make sure it wouldn't fall off.

"It's perfect." You smiled, looking at the way it gleamed in the sunlight. "Thank you Yeosang, really. This is stunning. I'll cherish it for a long time."

His cheeks slowly turned pink, a small, shy smile spreading across his perfect features, his eyes crinkling slightly in the cutest way.

With the food containers empty and your stomachs full, you and Yeosang spent the rest of your time together relaxing, telling stories about your lives and childhoods. It turned out his life wasn't much different from yours, even though he lived underwater. He did all the same things you did when you were younger, with a few exceptions like amusement parks and arcades.

"Would you like to do this again tomorrow?" You asked, looking at him for an answer.

"I wish I could, but I have plans to go exploring caverns with my friends tomorrow."

"That's fine. What about the next day?"

"Definitely." He nodded happily. "Are you gonna bring more food?"

"I can if you want me to."

"I do." He nodded vigorously. "I like human food."

You laughed lightly at the phrase human food.

"I should go now, but it was really fun spending time with you, Y/n."

"You too."

With one last smile, he turned around and dove into the water, his vibrant blue and yellow tail making a brief appearance as he made his exit. Your eyes stayed glued to the water, part of you hoping he would come back, but you knew he had to get home. A gentle smile played at your lips, briefly reminiscing on the moments you had spent together that day as you began to pack up the plastic wrap from the sandwiches and empty containers from the fruit you and Yeosang shared. As you hiked your way back up the beach to your house your gaze moved to take a glance at the pearl bracelet adorning your wrist.

Stepping through the threshold of your house, you set the picnic basket aside on the kitchen counter and headed to your room where you laid back on your bed, pulling out your phone and Googling mermen. You doubt you'd be able to find any credible information, but it was worth a glance.

Tapping through the first couple links, you found general information on the sea-dwelling creatures, nothing very useful. You stopped scrolling when your eyes caught sight of a certain piece of information that grabbed your attention.

It's said that merfolk like to give small gifts to people who help them out, usually it's a nice seashell or even a piece of jewelry they found while swimming. If one receives a gift from them that appears to be handmade, it's said to be a sign of affection and adoration. This gesture is similar to when your significant other buys you roses or jewelry.

Your mouth dropped open, your eyes widening in disbelief. Yeosang... liked you?

Your gaze turned to the pearl bracelet around your wrist, an intense heat rising to your cheeks at the sight of it. You were surprised and flattered all at the same time. The thought of someone as handsome as Yeosang liking you made your heart flutter. It's like you were living in a fairy tale.

Maybe you'll make something for Yeosang as a way to show him you felt the same.

Hongjoong 𓇼 Seonghwa 𓇼 Yunho 𓇼 San 𓇼 Mingi 𓇼 Wooyoung 𓇼 Jongho

Masterlist ᝰ — enjoyed this imagine? reblogs & comments are very much appreciated!

DO NOT steal, plagiarize, copy, repost, alter, or translate my works in any way

🏷 @h3arteyes4mingi @weird-bookworm @poppy2007 @parkjennykim @evidive @mxlly143 @lizzymizzy-blogg @minhanbyeol @dinossaurz @laylasbunbunny @iammeandmeisiam @delulu18 @spooo00oky @tiredlittlevirgo @life-is-a-game-of-thrones

[lilacmingi]

Chat I cant do it anymore

[lilacmingi]

I’M GIGGLING AND KICKING MY FEET HEHE THANK YOU SO MUCH 🥹🫶🏻

CREATURE OF THE NIGHT

My works are 14+ ONLY. If you’re under 14 DO NOT interact with me or any of my works. And please don’t spam-like!

Pairing: Newly-turned!Mingi x newly-turned!fem reader

Word count: 13,680

Note: I’ve been wanting to write something like this for a while and I haven’t seen any imagines with this plot before so ofc I had to write it. I hope this reaches the target audience lol

Bright and colorful pulsating lights, loud music, and bass thumping so powerfully you could feel it in your chest like a drum. It wasn't necessarily your scene, but you and your boyfriend of two years, Mingi, decided to try something new and attend a house party. It was fun, the both of you keeping to yourselves and dancing together while the world melted away around you. You bounced up and down in time with the thudding beat filling the house. The drinks were good, sweet with the bitter aftertaste of vodka or some other alcohol.

It was around midnight that things got a little... hazy.

You awoke with a start, gasping sharply as your eyes snapped open only to be met with the starry night sky hanging above, a myriad of twinkling dots speckling the atmosphere. Squeezing your eyes shut to clear your vision, you groaned in discomfort, rolling over and feeling the slightly rough sensation of grass beneath you.

How did you get outside?

Your head was spinning as you raised it to find Mingi lying a few feet away, his tall form crumpled on the ground.

"Mingi?" You winced at your own voice which was hoarse and sounded just as disoriented as you felt. You crawled over to your boyfriend's body, calling out his name again, this time more worriedly. "Mingi?" You shook him gently. "Mingi?"

His eyes snapped open and he took a sharp intake of air, his body jolting.

You breathed a sigh of relief. "You're okay. Thank goodness."

His sharp brows pulled together dazedly as he sat upright with a groan, his head falling forward into his hand.

"What happened?" He grumbled, rubbing his forehead with his fingers.

"I don't know. I think we blacked out." Your hand moved up to touch your neck where a dull ache was present, but there was nothing there. "What time is it?" You inquired aloud, fumbling for your phone to check.

3:45 AM.

"Jeez. How'd we get outside?"

"No clue." Mingi murmured, looking around the area. "My neck hurts though."

"Mine too. Let's go home."

Every step felt like a struggle, as if your feet were weighed down with heavy objects, lethargy riddling your entire body, seeping into your bones. You found yourself clinging to Mingi as you both walked home, using him for stability. Neither of you spoke, the only thing on your minds being getting back without collapsing.

Both of you stumbled through the front door of your shared apartment, your fingers fumbling with the lock to secure the entry before you teetered into the bedroom, haphazardly kicking your shoes off, not caring where they landed.

Unsteady on his feet, Mingi stumbled while tugging his pants off, grunting as he pulled off his shirt, tossing both garments onto the floor somewhere. Like him, you didn't feel like showering or even bothering with pajamas, opting to strip off your clothes and sleep in your undergarments. You just wanted to crash for the night and hope you both felt better in the morning.

You groaned when you hit the mattress, pressing your face into your pillow and tugging the covers up over your weary body. Mingi followed suit seconds later, clicking off the lamp before colliding with the plush bed.

"We must've partied pretty hard." He mumbled, reaching for you out of habit.

"Yeah. Maybe." You responded, letting him pull you into his bare chest. "I don't really remember drinking that much though."

"Neither do I, but let's just get some rest."

You nodded, too exhausted to think about anything, your brain fuzzy and your body screaming for rest.

You both stirred awake around noon, the first thing Mingi did was reach for you, as you'd shifted away from one another during the night. The mattress sank softly as he rolled over to where he was close to you again. You hummed drowsily as the remnants of your slumber faded away, squinting your eyes at the harsh rays of light shining into your shared bedroom through the curtains. It pulled a displeased groan from the back of your throat and you found yourself pressing your face into Mingi's chest to shield yourself from it.

Even after a decent night's rest, you were still feeling unwell, and not in a sense that you felt sick, you just felt like something wasn't quite right.

"How are you feeling?" You asked Mingi, your voice muffled by his chest.

"Not great. I feel off."

You nodded, thinking that was a good way to describe it. "Maybe we're just dehydrated. I'll go get us some water."

"That might be nice." He agreed groggily. "My throat is a little dry."

Slipping out of bed, you shuffled towards the kitchen, grabbing a couple bottles of water and bringing them back to the bedroom.

Mingi thanked you, cracking open the plastic bottle and taking a few gulps. You followed suit and did the same, finding that it brought you only a little relief. Screwing the cap back on, you settled against the headboard of the bed, rubbing your tired eyes.

"You don't think there was something put in our drinks, do you?" You asked him, the thought only just now occurring to you.

Mingi's brows furrowed slightly in thought before he shook his head. "We kept our drinks in our hand all night."

It was frustrating, knowing something wasn't right but not knowing what it was.

"Are you hungry? Maybe something to eat will help."

Mingi nodded and you slid out of bed once more, shambling back towards the kitchen. You didn't feel like cooking anything, opting for pre-cut mixed fruit in the fridge, pouring some into a bowl, and carrying it back to the bedroom.

"Thank you." Mingi took one of the forks you passed over, spearing a strawberry and popping it into his mouth gratefully.

You took a grape and chewed it, your face twitching slightly at the flavor. "Does this taste a little funny to you?"

Mingi swallowed the bite of fruit he was chewing, nodding slowly in agreement. "Yeah. It does."

You shook your head. "Maybe the fruit is going bad." You took the bowl from him and set it aside, a sinking feeling in your gut as you stared at the colorful fruits.

"Maybe we should go for a walk." Mingi suggested. "Some fresh air might be nice."

You nodded in agreement.

Getting dressed wasn't nearly as difficult as you anticipated. The lethargy and disorientation that riddled your body the night before was gone, but again, something was off. You felt different in a way that was inexplicable and couldn't be described.

As soon as you and Mingi stepped out onto the street, the sun glared down at you, your face twisting momentarily at the offending beam. Even Mingi was effected, letting out a grunt of discomfort and lowering his head for a second.

He reached for your hand, guiding you forward down the street. "Come on."

The air felt nice, but the sounds around you were louder, the people bustling about creating more noise than you were accustomed to. Not only that, but there was an unidentifiable and pungent mix of smells in the air. Your face twisted slightly in response, Mingi seemed to notice too, his brows twitching. However, neither of you said a word and started down the street.

What was supposed to be a peaceful walk turned out to be much worse than staying indoors. You were hyper-aware of everything, your eyes darting around at every little noise, unable to focus on just one as they all seemed to blur together in an incoherent ceaseless hum. It was too much.

"Do you hear it too?" Mingi's voice reached your sensitive ears, his question cutting through the noise.

"Hear what exactly?" You inquired, searching for an explanation. "Everything?"

He nodded slowly.

"I do."

Knowing that Mingi was experiencing the same things as you was a little reassuring, but didn't help the lingering concern that had made its home in the back of your mind. Despite that, you convinced yourself that your body was in the stages of recuperating after your night out. After all, you and Mingi weren't the type to go and party, so maybe your bodies weren't used to it.

"Would you like to go to the park?" Asked Mingi.

A peaceful place like the park might be good for both of you, so you agreed, staying close to your boyfriend. You could hardly think with everything overwhelming your senses, moving down the street on autopilot and hoping you ended up at your intended destination.

Walking past the front gates lining the park, things became less overpowering to your senses, dulling down to a more normal noise level. The sounds of bustling people were distant and replaced with the chirping of birds and rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. A sigh left your nostrils, feeling at ease in this new environment, even Mingi seemed to relax as you two progressed down the paved walking trail that wound through the grassy terrain.

Like the city, smells in the park were more noticeable: tree bark, flowers, and freshly-cut grass, which you thought was odd because the blades looked like they were getting close to needing another trim. However, there was something else beneath the aromatic scents of nature that you couldn't pinpoint, similar to the unidentifiable smell from earlier. Whatever it was was pleasant and made you want to locate the source of it.

"This is much better." Again, Mingi's voice pulled you from your thoughts.

"So much better." You agreed. "Maybe all we needed was some fresh air."

You crossed a small bridge that went over a trickling stream, a peaceful sound that you could hear even after it was out of sight. It made your brows pull together as you glanced over your shoulder, the bridge far behind you.

Mingi's eyes drifted over to you, noticing your behavior and giving your hand a gentle squeeze of assurance to pull your focus to him.

"We're okay." Was all he said.

Those words were enough to ease your mind for the time being, the sounds of nature taking your attention away from, well, everything. The shrill chirp of a bird in a nearby tree made you wince, Mingi's free hand coming up to cover one of his ears.

"Ah." He grimaced.

"That was loud." You complained.

He grunted in response, guiding you along the walking track.

It came out of nowhere, an intense scent hitting you like a brick wall; it was strong, fragrant, and stood out from all the other things you'd been smelling so far. A shaky sigh pushed past your lips, your footsteps stumbling to a halt as if you were physically impacted by the aroma in the air. Mingi stopped as well, catching a whiff of the same scent, his pupils dilating in response.

"Something smells good." His voice was rough and hoarse as he spoke.

"Yeah. What is that?"

Mingi gave a partial shrug, trying to get his bearings. "Must be a food truck or something in the park."

You nodded even though something told you it wasn't food you were smelling. Nothing had ever effected you like that before.

As you proceeded along the track, you came upon someone, your eyes locking onto the form of a little boy who couldn't have been older than 10. He was crouched in the grass beside the concrete walking path while his bike lie abandoned on its side. His mother was kneeling beside him, wiping his tears.

Your gaze was drawn to the bloody scrape on his knee, your hand instinctively coming up to cover your mouth and nose. Somehow you knew what that sweet scent was, your brain automatically placing a name to it. A hunger for something clawed it's way up your throat in a sudden, fierce wave and your stomach ached as if you hadn't eaten in weeks.

"Mingi." You grabbed onto your boyfriend with your free hand, squeezing his forearm tightly.

He was already staring, watching the crimson liquid that coated the little boy's scraped knee, his body rigid and tense with restraint. His ears, as well as yours, picked up the sound of the boy's rapid heartbeat as blood came from the fresh injury.

The dazed disorientation you felt earlier walking the streets was incomparable to how you felt now. Everything was a blur except the boy and all you could hear was the rapid thudding of his heart. You felt sick.

It took all the willpower Mingi had in him to speak and his voice sounded much too quiet and strained.

"We need to get out of here... quickly."

All you could do was nod in agreement, but your feet were rooted to the pavement, panic and hunger coursing through your entire body.

"Come on." He urged under his breath, forcing himself to take a step back.

You followed, turning away from the boy and heading in the opposite direction.

Rapid breaths pushed out of you in short bursts, your heart pounding in your chest while you fled the scene. Even when you got away from the tantalizing smell, you were unable to forget the image of blood that was seared into your mind. The ache in your stomach wouldn't go away and the persistent dryness in your throat was only getting worse.

Your surroundings were a blur, you and Mingi both bumping into pedestrians while trying to get back home, the sounds around you much more overwhelming than before. And the scents—they were too much. After the incident in the park, you now had an inkling as to what that unidentifiable smell in the city was. The thought that you could've been smelling the blood of everyone around you made your aching stomach twist into an uncomfortable knot.

Mingi's trembling hand shoved the house keys into the lock, shouldering his way into your shared apartment. The door slammed shut and he rested against it while you staggered into the kitchen, ripping open the refrigerator to grab a water. You uncapped it and chugged half of it, but the dryness in your throat continued.

"No." You murmured, your panic slowly rising when water didn't alleviate the discomfort.

It was so obvious what was happening to you two and yet you were in denial. You took another swig.

At that point, Mingi was standing in the doorway, watching you with a pitied expression.

"Y/n..." He murmured.

With trembling hands, you put the cap back onto the bottle and set it aside.

"Are we..." You couldn't even complete the sentence, horrified at your new reality.

Mingi was a no-nonsense guy who didn't beat around the bush when it came to most things, and what was happening to you both right now wasn't something that could be sugarcoated.

"I think we are." He responded faintly.

You let out a small cry of panic and stepped forward into Mingi's arms to seek some semblance of comfort, clinging tightly to him. It all made sense now. The heightened senses, the ache in your necks after the party, the sensitivity to the sun, the sudden craving for...

You squeezed your eyes shut, curling into Mingi's chest as if that would shield you from the situation.

"Hey, hey. I'm here." He assured in a gentle tone. "We're together. Everything's gonna be okay."

He ran his hands over your back in a soothing manner, the feeling of you in his arms helping to ease his own troubled mind. The entire situation was incomprehensible and overall not possible, yet it was happening to both of you.

Like you, he was overwhelmed with so many emotions at once, but the most evident one was the desire to protect you. Seeing you in distress shattered his heart and he wanted to do everything in his power to calm you down. He held you even tighter, whispering to you softly.

"I'm right here. You're in my arms. You can feel me. I'm here. Just focus on that."

You nodded against his chest, keeping your eyes shut in an attempt to focus on Mingi and his warmth, the beating of his heart grounding you a little.

Having a breakdown in this situation would do you no good, nor would it change your circumstances. However, that didn't stop your racing mind from producing an endless list of questions. You squeezed Mingi slightly, letting out a long breath to try and ease the concern plaguing you.

You and your boyfriend were different now.

"I'm scared." You uttered shakily, your voice trembling like you were on the verge of tears.

"Hey... hey." He cooed, pulling away to look at you, his large hand coming to cup your cheek, making sure you were facing him. The fear in your eyes was obvious and it made Mingi's heart clench. "Breathe."

You took in a deep inhale before releasing it slowly, listening to your boyfriend's words.

"That's it." He murmured encouragingly. "Again."

You inhaled once more, letting it out a couple seconds later. You went through this a few more times until your racing heart slowed.

"What are we gonna do?" Was the first thing you asked, a million questions still lingering in the back of your mind.

"I don't know, but we'll get through it. We'll figure it out."

That was enough to loosen the tension in your body, even though you weren't sure how you'd figure it out.

"Let's go sit on the couch." Mingi guided you further into the apartment and to the living room, easing you down onto the cushions beside him.

Silence hung heavily in the air as you tried to come to grips with your new reality.

"Do you still feel..." Mingi trailed off, hesitant to utter the word. "thirsty?"

You nodded against him, swallowing thickly at the reminder of your dry throat.

"Yeah. Me too. I'm afraid if we don't do something about it soon, we'll snap."

"I don't wanna hurt people." You spoke fearfully.

"Neither do I." Mingi shook his head.

Part of you wanted to stay inside and keep yourself locked away from the outside world, away from other people, away from the smell of blood, from the loud sounds, from everything. Another part of you, the part that was still forming, craved that red liquid that flowed through every single body you passed on the street that day. Your mouth watered at the thought and your teeth began to ache—a clear sign that you were changing.

"I don't want to, but I think we need to do something about these cravings." Mingi tried to be the voice of reason despite being just as scared and confused as you were. He knew ignoring what was happening to the both of you would only cause more problems.

You immediately started shaking your head, you refused to harm another human being, no matter how badly your stomach ached.

"It's either we act on it or you and I waste away." He said.

The thought of ceasing to exist made your chest squeeze uncomfortably. You didn't like that idea either.

"We can try animals." He suggested. "It sounds ridiculous, but it's the only option I can think of."

That made you pause. Animals. You mulled it over for a moment. If it worked for vampires in movies, perhaps it would work for you two. If your bodies needed blood, maybe it didn't matter where it came from.

It was strange, the way you felt so comfortable walking through the moonlit woods with Mingi. Normally you'd be scared out of your wits, but not at the moment. There was something so serene and peaceful about the scenery that made you feel like you belonged out there. The strong smell of nature and dew danced in the air, invading your overly-sensitive nose. It was a bit distracting due to the intensity of it, but better than being in the city around people. At least out here your head wasn't spinning.

"I have no idea what I'm doing." You murmured, stepping over clusters of vines winding through the undergrowth in the woods.

"Neither do I." Mingi took your hand in his, almost as much for his comfort as it was for yours, and it worked for a moment.

You felt useless. This vampirism thrust upon you and your boyfriend so suddenly with no help or anything was brutal. You didn't know how to hunt or what strengths and weaknesses you possessed. You were going in blind.

You couldn't believe you were actually going to give into this, to the craving that was gnawing at your insides, but you had to do something. If you didn't act on it, you weren't sure what would happen. You were making the right decision—right?

The both of you continued through the damp forest, hoping that something, anything, would cross your path and that the animal would be easy enough for the two of you to handle. At the moment, you and Mingi weren't sure what you were capable of or if you could even stop an animal, let alone move fast enough to grab one.

"How are you feeling?" You asked, wondering if he was going through the same tumultuous emotions as you.

"Nervous. Confused."

"Me too." There was a short pause. "Do you think we're doing the right thing?"

"I'm not sure. It seems like our only option. And besides, we don't know what'll happen if we don't act on what we're feeling. We could lose our minds or do something horrible."

You nodded, not wanting to entertain the idea of what would've happened if you decided to stay locked in your shared apartment to starve.

Your sensitive hearing picked up a rustling sound, both you and Mingi freezing at the same time, your head jerking in the direction of the disturbance. A tempting aroma wafted through the dewy night air, pulling all your focus to it like a magnet.

"Do you smell that?" You asked, your mouth watering in response, your body reacting instantly.

It wasn't as fragrant as the human blood from earlier, but it was the best smelling thing in the area at the moment and your developing instincts were telling you to go after it.

"I do." Mingi breathed out, shuddering lightly. "Let's follow it."

The hunger in your bodies grew as you progressed closer to the source of the scent, the need for blood making it difficult for you to keep a steady pace. You needed to find whatever it was and get it as fast as you could before you lost what little control you had left.

Initially, you thought tracking down a meal would be difficult, but your legs moved on their own, carrying you towards whatever was emitting that tantalizing aroma.

"My teeth are killing me." You grunted softly in a whisper, slinking through the forest with Mingi, the smell of blood nearby only making the ache worse.

He nodded in silent agreement, his eyes darting frantically around the area before he caught movement in the darkness, his muscles tensing. "There."

Your breath caught in your throat when you spotted two deer up ahead, both completely unaware of the looming threat nearby.

"How are we gonna do this?" Mingi whispered so as not to startle the timid animals, creeping closer to them.

"I don't know. I don't know what we're capable of. I think we just go for it."

"You're probably right. I'll take the one on the left and you can take the right."

You nodded, your eyes zeroing in on your designated target. The dull twinge in your teeth morphed into a sharp pain that made you hiss quietly. At the same time, Mingi was rubbing at his gums to ease the uncomfortable sensation in them. Despite the discomfort, you both crept closer to the unsuspecting animals feeding on various vegetation, the thirst almost fully consuming you now. If it was this intense now, you couldn't imagine how much worse it would be if you'd waited.

The blood had a hypnotic pull that was making everything else go numb, any fears you had about feeding had faded away, replaced with the burning need to alleviate the empty ache in your gut and the dryness in your throat. A final acute pain shot through your canines, two sharp points now prodding the inside of your mouth, your body preparing for what was to come even though you had zero experience.

Both you and Mingi had pretty much blacked out when you got close enough, your new instincts kicking in and making you both lunge forward at unnatural speeds, Mingi tackling the deer on the left while you got the one on the right. It all went by in a blur, happening slowly and way too fast all at the same time.

The blood was warm as it entered your mouth, it wasn't bitter, not even close. It was rich and sweet like honey with a metal tang at the end that was pleasing to your tastebuds. The moment you swallowed the first mouthful, the emptiness in your gut was soothed as well as the dry burn in your throat, a feeling of overpowering satisfaction washing over you, quelling some of the thirst raging within.

You gripped the animal tightly, hunched over it while gulping down its blood greedily, having completely lost yourself. Your body was screaming for more, not getting enough as you fed. Once you started, you couldn't stop, overwhelmed with the intense need to keep taking until you had your fill.

The sensations coursing throughout your body were unlike any you'd experienced, it was like having your first drink of water in months.

You only stopped feeding when that sweet liquid was no longer was being pulled out of the animal. You drew back, your lips stained with blood as you released a heavy and shuddering exhale into the night air, taking notice of how much clearer your mind was, your senses no longer overwhelming, almost like you were more in tune with it all. The sounds of the forest had evened out and the various smells of nature dulled to a lesser intensity, though they were still much stronger than what they normally would be.

You got to your feet, staring down at the deer lying on the forest floor with two bloody puncture marks in its neck from your teeth—from your fangs. You continued to look fixedly at the animal, not quite processing what you and Mingi had just done. Your gaze drifted to your boyfriend standing a few feet away over his own prey, his altered appearance mirroring your own. You two were seeing each other this way for the first time.

His once brown irises were fully red, matching the blood glistening on his mouth in the moonlight. It was a slightly startling sight, but you weren't scared. In fact, you imagined you looked the same.

"Your eyes are red." You uttered.

"So are yours." He responded. "I can hear your heartbeat."

Your unblinking eyes darted down to Mingi's chest, then back to his eyes, a faint but quick thumping sound reaching your ears despite standing a short distance away.

"I can hear yours too."

Your gaze wandered over to your surroundings, noticing how everything seemed clearer and crisper to your eyes, even in the dark. Details of the forest stood out to you, the various textures of individual leaves and the bark of each tree. It was a lot to take in, but the last thing on your mind at the moment.

"I need more." You breathed out, only partially aware of your words.

"Me too." Mingi agreed, staring down at his own prey completely drained of its essence.

You both should've felt remorseful, but you didn't. You felt stronger than ever before. What you'd done should've been disgusting and horrifying, but it wasn't. Instead you both wanted more, you wanted to do it again and again until you were satisfied.

Mingi led the way, abandoning the carcasses and walking deeper into the dense trees. You followed closely, your endless thirst guiding you forward until you caught the scent of another animal not too far away, the aroma teasing your nose. Part of you hoped it was another deer, something large that would satisfy you.

Mingi's newly-grown fangs were practically itching to sink into something again, as were yours. That first kill had ignited something insatiable within the both of you, starting something that couldn't be stopped. You swallowed the saliva pooling in your mouth at the scent of blood in the air, now having an unrelenting craving for it.

An overgrown area laid ahead, teeming with moss and other wild vegetation. Mingi pulled you behind a thick tree to shield you both from sight, peering around the trunk to find a single deer, most likely a straggler that was with the two you and Mingi drained just moments ago.

"There's only one." You murmured.

He nodded, not bothered at the thought of sharing. He slowly crouched down, taking on a predatory stance while keeping his sharp eyes locked on the target, preparing to pounce.

You followed his movements, zeroing in on the deer whose pulse you could hear even from where you were, the thumping sound echoing in your ears. Mingi lunged forward and you mirrored his actions, darting out of the shadows and tackling the animal with him.

Mingi sank his new fangs into the deer and you followed soon after, feeding on a different area of the neck. Your quiet gulps filled the air between you both as you hunched over the animal, quenching your thirst together. Your hand slid slightly along the deer, unintentionally moving onto Mingi's. You didn't care though, your fingers curling around his as soon as they came into contact with his skin. He reciprocated by lacing his fingers with yours. It was dark and perhaps a little morbid, but there was something romantic about sharing an animal with him.

You were the first to pull away, Mingi doing the same, exhaling heavily. You swallowed, the taste of blood lingering on your tongue, reminding you of your new realty. Mingi stood and offered you his hand, helping you get to your feet. For a moment he just started at you.

Your vampiric red eyes gazed up at him, and despite the new color replacing your natural one, you still looked like you, your gaze still holding that gentleness that it always did.

"How do you feel?" He asked, his voice crystal clear to your ears.

"Better." You responded. "Much better."

The mental clarity you had was astronomical and the sensations coursing through your body were foreign, but not unwelcome. Every cell was thrumming with life, an energy like nothing you'd felt before tingled underneath your skin. You felt unstoppable.

Mingi's hand, still clasped with yours, trembled slightly, letting you know he was feeling the same things you were, both of you experiencing a rush like no other, unsure of how to handle it.

"We should go home." He uttered distantly.

You nodded, letting him guide you away from the scene where your murderous actions took place, the weight of what you two had done not quite setting in yet. The experience had been so overwhelming and the foreign feelings coursing through your newly-altered bodies made it difficult to focus on anything else. You moved quietly through the woods, navigating your way back home with more ease than you would've assumed.

Now that your hunger had been sated, the adrenaline from feeding started to wane, replaced with the realization of what you two had just done. The reality that you had just killed animals by yourselves started to sink in. You started to spiral before you even made it out of the forest, coming to the realization that you enjoyed every second of it. The intervals at which your breath was leaving you became quicker and deeper, the change drawing Mingi's attention.

"What did we just do?" You whispered.

"What we had to." He responded.

He was right. You two had rationalized your actions before you even left the apartment, deciding it would be best to feed yourselves now than find out what would happen if you didn't, but still, it was so much take in. The way you completely blacked out and some new, predatory part of you took over to feed was terrifying.

You felt like a monster.

"What have we become?" You uttered faintly.

Your question hung heavily in the night air as Mingi's hold on your hand tightened.

"H-Hey." He spoke up, his voice wavering slightly, giving away his own growing unease. "We had no other choice."

You knew that and yet your conscience was eating away at you.

"I just can't stop thinking about how I felt in that moment. I enjoyed it. Why did it feel good? Why did it feel so natural?"

Mingi chewed the inside of his cheek before answering quietly, "Because it's what we are now."

He felt sick saying that, but it was the truth. He felt the same things as you did. He got a thrill from going in for the kill and getting his first taste of blood. It was a terrifying realization that made him afraid of himself and what he might do if he didn't keep himself in check.

As the both of you emerged from the woods, it was like a dam broke and everything you'd done came crashing down along with the reality that this would be your new life.

"W-wait. What if someone sees us?" You asked, staring at the outskirts of the city. "We look like monsters right now."

"We'll just keep our heads down and hope no one's out."

It was after midnight, you and Mingi made sure to leave well after nightfall to ensure no one saw you, but there was still the risk that you could be spotted.

Mingi moved his hand to rest on the small of your back, keeping you close as you reentered the city, sticking to the shadows with your heads down. It made you feel like a criminal or something, like you had something to hide, which you did.

Thankfully, there were few people walking the streets at such a late hour. Both you and Mingi would tense up when someone passed by, but they paid no mind to either of you.

As soon as you returned to the solitude of your apartment, you scrambled to the bathroom, desperate to wash up. Your stomach twisted into a knot as you saw your reflection for the first time since your transformation. Mingi had made a comment in the forest about your eyes being red, yet seeing it was still jarring and had you frozen for a moment. The natural hue of your irises was gone, swallowed up completely by a deep crimson. You took a step forward to get a closer look, your lips parting just enough to catch a glimpse of the sharp fangs in your mouth that was stained with small smudges of blood. Flickering images of what you'd done with those pointed canines passed through your mind, stirring an unpleasant sensation in your stomach.

You finally tore your eyes away from the mirror, bringing a shaky hand to the faucet handle and turning on the water, vigorously rubbing away the partially-dried blood on your mouth, wanting to rid yourself of the evidence from that night. You watched the red-tinted water swirl down the drain, disappearing from sight.

Mingi followed you into the bathroom, avoiding looking at his reflection. He knew that if he saw himself, he'd spiral just like you and he needed to be strong right now. Seeing the new version of himself was too raw and he wasn't ready yet.

He stood beside you, cleaning his face and washing away the remnants of your trip to the woods.

The both of you dried your clean faces and moved silently to the bedroom where you changed into some comfortable pajamas, seeking a crumb of normalcy after your lives had been turned upside down.

Everything was changing so fast and you hated it. Just yesterday you were human and going to a house party with your boyfriend, now you were lying in bed with him trying to cope with the fact that you two were no longer human.

The silence in the room was too loud and it only made you aware of everything you were feeling. Mingi's beating heart was a constant, and though it was bizarre that you could hear it so clearly, it helped to take your attention away from the unease that had made its home in every corner of your body. As much as you wanted to pretend like things were normal, you couldn't. Things were different, you were different, and you could feel it too. Nothing felt the same anymore.

"What if we're stuck like this?" You asked faintly, referring to the fangs and red eyes, worried they wouldn't go away. You already knew the vampirism was here to stay.

"I don't know." Mingi uttered in a barely-audible voice, having already considered that himself. "Let's just try to get some rest and see what happens tomorrow."

A small sigh left you and you nodded slightly in agreement. "Okay."

Mingi turned off the bedside lamp and slipped his arm around your waist, drawing you in closer. Even with the room shrouded in darkness, you could see well, and it wasn't from the faint moonlight spilling in through the curtains. Everything seemed to remind you of your new reality and it almost made you nauseous. You nestled into Mingi's chest, closing your eyes in an attempt to rest, that is if you were capable of sleeping anymore. As you focused on your breathing, a pleasant aroma reached your nose, a small hum following. The smell was something that couldn't be described, but it brought you immense comfort.

"Your cologne smells nice." Came your murmured words.

"I'm not wearing cologne."

You were confused by this. "Then what am I smelling?"

"I think it's me." He uttered in a mumble tingled with surprise. 

That startling realization made you stiffen slightly, realizing you could smell Mingi in a way you never could before and you wondered if he noticed any particular scent of yours.

"Can you smell anything on me?"

Mingi gently brushed the tip of his nose along the top of your head, inhaling soundlessly.

"Yeah. I can." He spoke into your hair.

Your natural aroma was different from before, but there was a hint of familiarity in it. It wasn't just your body wash, shampoo, or perfume he could smell, it was something more, something completely you. It was home. Comfort. In that moment, Mingi thought if there were one good thing to come out of this unfortunate situation, it would be this.

"You smell... wonderful." He pressed a gentle kiss to your temple, burying his nose in your hair.

You pressed your body closer to him, letting his scent envelop your newly-heightened senses, temporarily silencing your concerns long enough for you to doze off.

The curtains had been drawn the night before, so there was no harsh sunlight hitting you in the face when you awoke the next day. Your eyelids cracked open and you were met with the familiar sight of Mingi sleeping beside you, his lips pushed into a slight pout in his slumber. Every memory from the night before came flooding back into your conscious mind, making your chest ache. He looked so peaceful, his brows no longer tugged together in concern. For a brief moment, everything felt normal, though you both knew neither of you were normal anymore.

Mingi stirred in his slumber, his eyes slowly opening and, much to your relief, they were back to their warm brown color. You could only hope yours had done the same.

"Morning." You greeted softly, your voice carrying just a hint of sleep.

"Morning." He returned, his eyes scanning your face. "How do you feel?"

"I feel alright." It was a half-true response. "I'm still struggling to process what we did last night."

A somber expression flickered across Mingi's face and he nodded faintly. "So am I."

Despite getting some rest, both of you were still grappling with the fact that you fed for the first time last night and that it felt good.

"What are we going to do about our jobs?" You asked faintly, the thought only just occurring to you.

"We'll just have to call out sick for a while. Stay away for a few days just to be safe and figure out how to manage everything."

Neither of you would be capable of working around people, especially not when you were so unstable. The beating of your coworkers' hearts and the smell of their blood would drive you mad.

"How long will we be able to use that excuse though? People are gonna get suspicious if we keep calling out."

Mingi breathed out a sigh, realizing the flaw in his plan. "Let's just take it one step at a time."

"Alright." You agreed.

It was probably best for you to not think too far ahead and figure things out slowly. That way it all wouldn't be so overwhelming—maybe. Dwelling on the future and all the problems that laid ahead would only cause you more stress.

"You wanna try eating something?" Mingi asked, propping himself up on his elbow.

"Yeah."

Mingi stood in the kitchen, staring into the pantry, scanning through the items stocked inside.

"Are you in the mood for anything specific?"

You weren't, but you answered anyway.

"Pancakes might be nice."

At least the thought of food didn't disgust you, maybe that was a good sign.

You watched Mingi in silence as he mixed up the batter and poured it into a pan, creating adorably-misshapen hotcakes. The sweet aroma of them was stronger than usual, but not unpleasant whatsoever.

A couple minutes later, Mingi plated the pancakes, smearing a pat of butter on top and drizzling the stack with syrup. Both of you held your forks and shared a look of apprehension. All you could think about was the fruit you and Mingi had the previous morning and how it tasted off. You speared a fluffy, syrup-covered bite of pancake and popped it into your mouth.

Your chewed the sweet hotcake slowly, your brows raising in pleasant surprise. "It tastes good."

Mingi's eyebrows were pulled together as he nodded in agreement. "It does."

Having discovered that you could still eat normal food was a huge relief and almost made you want to cry tears of joy. A small smile spread across Mingi's lips as he happily went in for a second bite. You mirrored his actions, the two of you finishing off the short stack of pancakes together.

The plate sat empty between you and Mingi, your forks laid together on the saucer. You wore a contemplative expression, your fingers absentmindedly tracing the wood grain on the dining table.

"I don't really feel like I ate anything." You voiced your inner thoughts aloud.

"Me too." He agreed.

"I don't think regular food fuels us the way it used to."

"At least we can still eat it." Mingi chose to focus on the positive.

You have a light sigh of relief accompanied by a little smile. "Yeah. At least there's that."

Being able to have even a shred of normalcy was enough for you and after having your lives turned upside down, you'd take whatever little win you could.

"Now what?" You asked, your question hanging in the air for a moment before Mingi responded.

"I don't really know."

He was just as lost as you were. Where do you go from here? Not having any suggestions of your own, you decided to start listing the things you had discovered so far.

"We know we can still eat regular food and that our appearances can go back to normal, probably at will if we tried hard enough."

"We know we can still sleep." He listed.

"And see our reflections." You added faintly, your mind going back to last night when you saw yourself as the creature you were now.

Mingi shook his head slightly. "I haven't looked yet."

"I don't recommend it." You murmured. "At least not for a while."

"We know the sun doesn't burn us and that we can sleep." He continued after a brief silence.

You nodded. "Those are all good things."

"They are."

You chewed your bottom lip, contemplating everything. "So the plan is to stay home and keep to ourselves for a few days. The only problem is we'll be thirsty again."

Mingi's expression shifted at the mention of having to feed. "Right."

"So we'll have to go back to the woods again."

"Yeah."

"That'll be the only time we leave the house." You said decisively.

"Agreed. It's not safe for us to be out around people."

The silence hanging heavily in the room gave way to thoughts—troublesome ones that neither you nor Mingi wanted to focus on.

"I need a distraction." You sighed out heavily, rubbing your face.

Mingi, who was thinking the same, stood from his seat and came over to your side of the table, his fingers gently encircling your wrist to pull you up from your chair. Without uttering a single word, he tugged you into his chest bringing you into his warm embrace, an arm sliding around your waist while his hand cradled the back of your head lovingly, guiding you to rest it against his shoulder.

His calming scent reached your nose and the tenseness in your body lessened. It was incredible how effective his natural aroma was, how it could instantly begin to calm you. He guided you into the living room without releasing you, abandoning the empty plate and silverware on the dining table. There would be time to wash dishes later. Right now, you needed him and he needed you just as much.

A faint grunt left Mingi when he sat down on the couch, pulling you with him. You curled into his body, your head resting on his chest while he caressed your hair. All you wanted to do was be close to him, as it made you forget everything, even for just a moment.

The weekend was unproductive. You and Mingi were either in bed or on the couch, usually watching TV, doing anything to occupy your minds and by the time Monday rolled around, you both called out of your respective jobs sick. You couldn't work, you couldn't see people, you were scared to go outside, so all you could do was sit around.

Neither of you were used to what you were yet, getting startled whenever you'd hear a neighbor talking on the phone as they passed your shared apartment or the sound of distant voices somewhere outside on the street. It was something you two were going to have to learn to tune out.

One thing you noticed during your time locked away indoors was that you felt the inexplicable need to be close to Mingi and it seemed he felt the same, both of you craving each other's presence at all times. This wasn't unusual, as you two had always been cuddly, but the desire to be near each other was almost palpable. It seemed that going through something so life-altering had brought you closer together both physically and emotionally, strengthening your bond.

"Are you feeling alright?"

It was a question Mingi asked you frequently over the last few days, wanting to keep a check on the things you were experiencing.

You nodded in response, turning the question back to him. "You?"

He shifted slightly, his arm tightening its hold around your shoulders. "I'm getting thirsty again."

"Me too." You admitted. "It's not too bad right now, but I know it'll get worse."

"We can't let it get bad."

While you hadn't talked much about the whole vampire thing, you mutually agreed to keep a check on yourselves and act on the new cavings you were permanently stuck with, even if it was immoral. Besides, when you were thirsty, morals were the last thing on your mind. It was a jarring realization, that your hunger overrode your rationality, but it was something you'd have to learn to accept and adapt to.

"Do you think we should go tonight?"

You chose to leave the decision-making to Mingi, raising your head to look at him.

"It would be better for us if we do."

You couldn't argue with that. After your first feeding, you had a clearer head and no longer felt that ravenous hunger looming over you. On the other hand, it had only been three days since this happened to the both of you and the fact that you were already getting thirsty again terrified you.

The sun dipped below the buildings, shrouding the city in shadows that were perfect for slinking around in. Like last time, you and Mingi set out at an hour where fewer people would be walking the streets, ensuring that neither of you would lose control. In your minds, the less people that were around, the easier it would be to keep your sanities.

Mingi made sure you were close, his fingers laced with yours while your feet carried you quietly through the darkened edges of the sidewalk. The soles of your shoes hit the pavement in time with his, creating a faint yet steady rhythm. The safety and solitude of the woods was just within reach, you could already smell the various wood and foliage from where you were. The morality of your actions were gnawing at you much like the hunger in yours and Mingi's stomachs, but you did your best to push it away.

The aromas of nature were quickly overshadowed by the sudden mouthwatering scent that awakened every cell in your body. Your footfalls slowed, your sharp eyes darting to the side, zeroing in on someone across the street. It was an instantaneous reaction, you could feel your fangs elongating on their own and you began salivating at the smell. Mingi could sense your focus shifting and looked to see what had captured your attention—a man who appeared to be in his early 30s ambling down the sidewalk, a hint of alcohol accompanying the smell of his blood. Mingi's feet were already moving before he could think to stop himself, pulling you along with him as he crossed the street towards the man.

You had tunnel vision, all you could see was the man's neck and all you could hear was his steady heartbeat thumping like a drum. Your mind was no longer registering him as a human being, but prey. A meal.

As the distance between you and the man decreased, the ache in your teeth worsened and your self-control dwindled by the second.

Mingi knew you were both going to get spotted if you kept chasing the unsuspecting man. He was starting to realize that, the rational side of his mind slowly returning to him for a split second. His grip on your hand was still tight as he stopped in place, forcing himself to look at something other than the man. When Mingi came to a halt, you were tugged back, turning your head to meet his gaze. Flecks of red were already beginning to show in his brown irises, a clear sign that his own restraint was diminishing.

"We can't." He spoke in a strained voice.

Your eyes started to drift back to the man who was getting farther away.

"Y/n, look at me."

His voice made you tear your eyes away.

"We need to go." His words wavered as they were uttered.

Bloodlust was clawing at you like a rabid animal, but you nodded in agreement anyway and let Mingi pull you down the street. He was silently cursing himself for going out this soon, but he knew you both needed it. He was terrified of the way you both were so easily affected by the smell of blood, how catching a single whiff was all it took to make the cravings unbearable. It just further proved that you two were unprepared for being around people.

"Keep your head down." He murmured, guiding you towards the shadows, keeping his own head lowered in case anyone were to pass by.

The forest was a welcomed sight, allowing you and Mingi to breathe a sigh of relief and get your bearings. You leaned against a nearby tree trunk, letting the sounds and smells of nature calm you for a moment.

"I can't believe we're doing this again." You uttered faintly.

"Neither can I, but we have to feed so we can get a grip on ourselves again."

It had only been a few days since the first time you fed and you both already hated this, feeling like you had to hide and sneak around just to feed yourselves. This was going to become your new normal.

Mingi's eyes caught something small moving in a nearby thicket, his reaction triggering your instincts. Your body was on high alert, every muscle going taut as you took a step forward. He grabbed your arm and pulled you closer to him, making sure you wouldn't go wandering off. He held you by the waist, his chin resting on your shoulder, keeping his voice low and quiet so as not to disrupt the animal.

"There's something there."

You sniffed the air lightly and nodded your head. "I smell it."

It was such an ordinary sight to find a little creature in the woods, but not anymore, not for you two.

"It won't be enough." You mentioned.

Mingi nodded in agreement. Such a small animal might satisfy your hunger for a short while, but it wouldn't be enough to satisfy you both properly. His nose was catching an array of scents, picking up on small animals scurrying around in the night, but there was something else that smelled better—larger.

You both felt that same sense of focus and sharp clarity that had taken over last time you fed. The same instinct to hunt, to search, and to capture coursed through every part of your body. Mingi took a step forward, his hand dropping from your waist in favor of lacing your fingers with his to guide you forward. All the scents wafting through the forest assaulted you at once and you quickly learned how to focus on which one you wanted to follow, your feet carrying you towards your meal for the night.

The closer you got to the source of blood, the faster you moved, feeling like you were floating rather than walking. The mouthwatering aroma became stronger, the lines of morality and survival getting blurred. Just ahead, a young female deer leisured through the wild ferns and dew-covered undergrowth without a care in the world.

You two had found your prey for the night.

A deer was perfect. You already knew it would feed you and Mingi both, though you might have to hunt something else afterward if the thirst persisted. In your mind, one big animal was better than a bunch of small ones.

The adrenaline rushing through your veins was different than it was last time, you were both less hesitant, almost as if you had subconsciously accepted your new nature and leaned into the instincts that were now a part of you. The pointed tips of your fangs prodded at the inside of your mouth, the sensation still foreign, but you couldn't be concerned with that at the moment. You were starving.

In a flash, you and Mingi were on the animal, moving in unison as you lunged for it, drinking greedily from its neck as soon as your teeth sank in. A satisfied groan of relief rumbled in the back of your throat, a similar sound leaving Mingi when he took his first sip.

In that moment, you didn't care about anything other than quelling the insatiable thirst that burned your throat, your humanity taking a backseat.

It was several minutes before both of you drained the animal dry, forcing yourselves to stop. You pulled away, your breathing heavy from the rush, looking over at Mingi to assess him. He was in a similar state, trying to catch his breath, his eyes still half-lidded and hazy. His tongue darted out to lick away the excess blood clinging to his plush lips which made you involuntarily do the same.

He reached out to grab you by the waist and pulled you close to him, both of you still panting and shaking, collectively coming down from the high of a successful hunt. Mingi's embrace was much-needed, bringing you a sense of comfort as the haze over your mind dissipated and you were left with the guilt of your actions once again.

As if he could sense your discomfort, Mingi's hand started to rub up and down your back in a soothing manner.

"You okay?" He questioned gently.

"I'm alright."

"Are you sure?"

"Do you think it'll get better?" You asked instead of answering, trying to avoid looking at the deer carcass. "The guilt?"

Mingi gave you a sympathetic expression, he too was feeling remorseful and it wasn't any better than last time he fed.

"I would hope so." His hand moved from your back to your cheek, cupping it lovingly. "But don't you think feeling guilt is a good sign? We could be going on a bloodthirsty rampage, but here we sit, feeling regretful for what we've done."

You mulled his words over, nodding slowly.

"And we didn't attack that man earlier." He added.

"We almost did."

"But we didn't." Mingi said firmly.

He wasn't trying to justify you both being monsters, he was trying to find any sliver of something good, any reason to not condemn himself and you for what you both were forced to do in order to survive.

"We didn't harm anyone. And even though we have to do this to stay sane," He gestured to the deer carcass. "I'm glad you're still you. I'm glad you haven't lost yourself to this madness."

"Not yet." You murmured.

"Hey." Mingi tugged your chin to face him. "I don't like what we're becoming either, I hate it actually, but I'm trying to focus on the positive, as hard as that is to do."

You blinked up at him, fighting back the tears trying to well up in your eyes.

"I'm glad you're still you too." You uttered.

Despite all the various noises reaching your highly-sensitive ears, the forest felt peaceful while you and Mingi sat kneeled in the dirt, holding each other for comfort. With him by your side, you could tune everything out a little easier.

"I have an idea." He spoke up, guiding you to stand up with him. "Instead of being afraid of what we're capable of, why don't we find out what we can do now? Test our limits. We need to get familiar with our new selves."

The thought of finding out what you were truly capable of was a daunting one that terrified you a little, but he had a point. There was no reversing what happened, so your only option was to get used to what you were and adapt. Spending your lives being oblivious to the extent of your abilities was self-sabotage and posed the threat of you and Mingi doing something destructive.

"Okay."

Upon your agreement, Mingi took your hand and pulled you deeper into the woods to an area that felt more secluded. The trees were taller and less moonlight slipped through the thick branches. He didn't want you two to get caught, though he doubted anyone would be wandering the woods at such a late hour.

You needed to find the silver lining in this nightmare, which is why Mingi proposed the idea.

"We've spent so long focusing on the downsides of this when we could be looking at the positives."

"The positives?" You echoed.

"Think about it. We're not human anymore." As bad of a taste as that left in Mingi's mouth when he said it, it was true. "We have enhanced abilities now. That's cool, right?"

"It should be." You said.

"Maybe it can be. We don't have to worry about getting hurt or sick. We probably won't age much or even at all. We'll have each other."

At the mention of having each other, some of the aching in your chest faded. That was a good thing to focus on.

"Did you notice how quickly we moved when we attacked that deer?" Mingi asked.

"I did."

Even though you were in a haze of thirst, you vividly recalled how fast it all happened—both times. Your body moved on its own whenever it was the right time and before you could process what happened, your teeth were already buried in your prey.

"Let's just run." Mingi held his hand out, his open palm waiting for you. "No chasing after a meal, just running."

Your crimson eyes met his and you took hold of his hand, making his expression light up.

"On the count of three."

You gave a nod and he counted down. As soon as he reached one, you took off.

There was no effort to it as Mingi led you through the woods, the cold air hitting your face with every step. It was actually kind of... fun. The sensation was similar to when someone was sitting next to you and the window was down in a car, the same feeling of freedom, the same rush of it all.

Your surroundings were a bit of a blur, and yet you could see every single thing you passed clear as day, your enhanced vision keeping up easily with the high speed.

Mingi turned to look at you, your bright eyes wide with wonder as you met his gaze, letting out a small laugh of disbelief, letting go of any fears or doubts.

Mingi's pace slowed and you mirrored his actions, coming to a stop amidst the darkened woods.

"That was..." You trailed off, searching for the right word. "exhilarating."

"It was." He breathed out, panting slightly even though he wasn't out of breath at all. It didn't even feel like he exerted energy. "What do you think we should do next?"

Now that you had a taste of the perks that came with being a vampire, you were more open to testing out more of your abilities.

"I don't know. What do you think?"

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious about our strength." He confessed.

"And how can we test that?"

Mingi looked around the area, surveying the land until he spotted a sizable boulder that would certainly be too heavy for any normal person to move.

"There." He pointed, walking over to the rock.

You watched him examine it for a moment, sizing it up before he placed his palms on it, pushing forward. Your eyes widened when it rolled, crunching against the leaves and foliage covering the forest floor.

"Woah." He murmured in disbelief, turning to you with a stunned expression. "You should try."

"Me?"

He nodded, beckoning you over. You stood before the rock and placed your hands on it just as Mingi had done. Even though you witnessed proof that you and Mingi were much stronger, you still doubted that you'd be able to do anything.

"Just give it a push. It's easier than you think."

At his instructions, you forced the boulder forward with a little grunt, expecting there to be a struggle, but there wasn't. The rock went rolling forward a couple times and it made you step back with a gasp. You were speechless, looking down at your open palms in disbelief, trying to grapple with the reality that you did that. You could really cause some damage with strength like that and it was alarming.

Mingi could sense your sudden unease that rolled off you on waves. He hooked an arm around your shoulders, pulling you into a side hug. "What is it, baby? What's the matter?"

"I never realized just exactly how strong we are until now. It's scary. What if we accidentally hurt someone?"

"We won't. We've kept ourselves in check so far."

"Barely." You murmured, recalling earlier when you nearly attacked a man on the street.

"Okay, yes, but we'll get better. As long as we stay strong."

You chewed your bottom lip, flinching when you felt your fangs prodding into it. That would take some getting used to.

"Hey. I've got another idea. Let's see how far we can jump." Mingi had a glint in his eye as he spoke, searching above, pointing to a sturdy branch on a nearby oak tree. "Do you think we can make it to there?"

You stared up at the limb, your focus shifting away from your worries. "I don't know. Can we?"

"There's only one way to find out." Mingi's arm slid off your shoulders and he crouched down, preparing to jump.

The branch was at least twenty feet off the ground, but after what you just witnessed, you were curious to see how high you were capable of jumping now. He looked over at you when you didn't kneel down, taking notice of your apprehension.

"You go first." You told him.

He nodded, bending a little lower before he launched himself upwards. To your surprise, he made it to the branch with ease, landing on it gracefully, as if he'd done it a hundred times. He flashed a fanged grin down at you.

"It wasn't that bad." He told you. "Come on up!"

You released a long breath, slowly crouching. Maybe if you fell you wouldn't get hurt. Vampires were basically indestructible—right? Leaping into the air, you launched yourself towards the branch Mingi was perched on, your eyes widening when you registered just how high you were. Just as quickly as you left the ground, your feet hit the sturdy branch with a small thump, your legs stable during your landing.

Mingi's eyes gleamed with amazement at how agile you both were now, slowly starting to understand how enhanced your bodies were.

"I knew you could do it." He spoke sincerely, his hand reaching for yours. "Let's sit."

You gladly lowered yourself to rest on the branch, your legs dangling off of it.

It was strange how right it all felt. You were perched high up on a tree branch, which should've been frightening, but it wasn't, not at all. It was actually kind of fun. There was no fear of falling or sustaining any injuries, it was peaceful.

Your eyes drifted across the wide expanse of trees and limbs laid before you, the moonlight filtering in through the foliage, casting faint beams onto the forest floor below.

"It's really beautiful up here." You breathed out in awe.

"Yeah, it is." Mingi agreed, gazing out at the nightscape.

The crickets and other nightlife chittered in the distance, the faint croaking of frogs accompanying the various sounds, making for a nice soundtrack to the tranquil moment. If you didn't think about the needless killing and having to drink blood for an eternity, vampirism seemed kind of nice. Even with the harsh realities of what you and Mingi were forced into, being able to perch in a tree and bask in the serenity of the night made it bearable. After all, you wouldn't have been able to do this as a human.

Mingi's attention drifted away from the breathtaking scenery to something else that took his breath away—and that was you. Now that he was no longer fixated on the negatives of being a vampire, he was beginning to notice things he had been too worried to pay attention to, like how captivating you were. The moonlight shone down on your face like a beacon, illuminating your features which appeared sharper now, giving you a more regal appearance. Your plush lips were parted while you stared at the night sky, your pointed fangs peeking out ever so slightly. Even the deep crimson staining your normally e/c irises was enchanting to Mingi and he found it hard to look away. He was hyperaware of just how attracted to you he was right now.

Feeling his gaze on you, you turned your head to find him smiling softly with fondness dancing in his red eyes.

"You're so beautiful."

The words he uttered made your heart swell. "Even like this?" You inquired, wondering if he was put off by your secondary appearance despite having the same one.

"Even like that."

"It's not too different, is it? I still look like myself?"

He shook his head. "No. You're still you. Everything is just enhanced, if that makes sense."

"Enhanced." You murmured thoughtfully.

"It's hard to explain." He gave a half laugh, his fingers coming to rest under your chin. "You're just more..." He trailed off, searching for the right word.

"More what?" You inquired softly, urging him to continue.

His voice was faint, almost a whisper. "Alluring."

That was a word you never expected to hear, especially since you never saw yourself as such.

"I don't know how to explain it, but you look even more beautiful somehow." He continued, which only caused your heart to beat faster and you knew he could hear it. "I guess it's true what they say about vampires."

"What do you mean?"

"That they're captivatingly attractive and seductive."

"Seductive?" You echoed with a little chuckle of disbelief. "I'm not even doing anything."

"You don't have to." He murmured, tracing your bottom lip with his thumb.

Your lashes fluttered in response to his delicate touch that sparked a warmth in your chest.

Like Mingi, you too were entranced by his striking visuals that were enhanced with the transformation. In the two years that you'd been dating, his looks had always captivated you, taking your attention in quiet moments spent together. You still weren't used to seeing him as a vampire, but you'd be a liar if you said he wasn't attractive with those hypnotic red eyes and sharp teeth. He was good-looking before, but he was something else right now, something completely entrancing and enticing.

Mingi pulled you closer, brushing his nose against yours. "My beautiful girl."

His honeyed words sent a rush of warmth across your cheeks, bringing a hint of a smile to your lips. You two always had an immense attraction to each other, it was undeniable. You always craved each other, but you'd never had such a deep-seated need for one another, one that permeated your entire being. Since this life-altering transformation, it almost felt like you and Mingi had bonded further because of it. The feelings you held for him were so much more intense now and you found yourself overcome with a sense of devotion that was stronger than anything you had ever felt.

"I'm feeling a lot of things right now." You uttered faintly, vocalizing your thoughts. "I always wanted to be near you before, but it's different now. I can't explain it."

"You don't have to." Mingi dropped his hand from your chin and slipped his arm around your midriff as he spoke. "I know exactly what you're talking about."

"You do?" You inquired, looking over at him.

He nodded, meeting your gaze. "I don't think it's a bad thing though."

"Neither do I. I kind of like it."

"So do I." Mingi whispered out lowly, tracing the tip of his nose up your neck, taking in your scent, something he was rapidly becoming addicted to.

A shaky breath left your parted lips while he inhaled deeply against your skin, causing you to suppress a shiver from the ticklish sensation that followed. Mingi raised his head, his half-lidded eyes gazing into yours.

"I've never wanted to kiss you so badly."

"What's stopping you?"

A half smirk played at the corner of his mouth before he leaned forward and captured your lips with his. The rest of the world melted away instantly and it was only you two, the warmth of Mingi's mouth making you lightheaded in the best way. His hand slid around the cradle the nape of your neck, keeping your lips attached to his. The feeling of him kissing you was far more intense than before. There was almost a sense of relief, like you needed it to survive. You felt whole.

Your fangs were the last thing on your mind as your lips dragged over Mingi's, feeling the shape of them with your mouth, memorizing every dip and curve. As if pulled by an invisible force, your body scooted closer until your side was pressed against his. He welcomed the proximity and tightened his hold on your waist.

Everything was hazy and the longer you kissed, the foggier your mind became. The emotions you felt were bordering on obsession, completely consumed by it all. Your fangs clashed with Mingi's amidst the heated make out, your hands coming up to grip his lengthy black hair in an attempt to ground yourself. He had been growing it out recently, which gave you more to grab onto, your digits tangling in the inky strands. A deep groan emitted from him in response and vibrated against your lips, making you shiver.

Mingi tilted his head, slotting your mouths closer together to deepen the kiss, making you grunt faintly at the new angle. Every cell in your body was buzzing and tingles danced along your skin wherever Mingi touched. This kiss was nothing like the others you two shared in the past. Your lips pressed harder against his, craving more of that dizzying sensation it brought. That's when you realized a sweet taste in your mouth, almost honey-like, and very different from the animal blood from earlier. There was no time to process what it was when Mingi abruptly pulled away, a smear of red on his lower lip, his fingers brushing over where you unintentionally nicked him.

"I-I didn't mean to." You stuttered out, your eyes wide in realization of what you'd just done.

"It's okay." Mingi assured you, breathing heavily. "I didn't even feel it."

You nodded, your mind still hazy as you tried to ignore how pleasant his blood tasted to you, which was odd since you were both vampires, assuming it might be bitter. The concern you felt for him overrode your curiosity to discover more and you moved to brush your thumb over his lower lip, assessing the accidental injury. When the bead of blood was swiped away, there was no puncture wound in sight, the small cut having disappeared without a trace. It had healed.

"It's gone." You murmured.

"I guess that's another ability we have." Mingi said breathlessly, and you could tell he wasn't all there.

He wasn't phased by the little accident, already going in for another kiss. You groaned faintly, your eyelids falling shut in response. His hands started roaming, sliding down your waist to squeeze it, his fingers slipping just underneath the hem of your shirt to dance along your skin. Every touch made your brain go fuzzy, halting your thoughts and replacing them with ones of Mingi.

His lips left yours to reattach along your jaw, leaving warm open-mouthed kisses down your neck and making you shiver with delight. Your head tilted back on its own to give him more access, your lips parting as your breath came out in short bursts whine he ravished your neck. He couldn't stay away for long, moving back to your mouth, humming lowly into the kiss.

If not for the fact that you two were up in a tree, this was the most normal moment you'd had in days and you planned to savor it. Your hands were back in Mingi's hair, raking through it as he kissed you deeply, his fangs scraping against your lower lip before he encased it with his mouth. A shiver ran down your spine when he applied light suction to the heated kiss, the sensation that followed making your head spin. Your nails dragged lightly along his scalp, clutching handfuls of his inky locks in an attempt to stay grounded.

Mingi wanted so badly to pull you into his lap, but he didn't want to risk you falling from the branch, so he made do with where he was, his large hands still holding your waist, his body angled towards you on the tree branch.

Mingi parted ways after a moment before he got too carried away, resting his forehead against yours.

"That was..." You trailed off, searching for the right word.

"Something else." Mingi finished.

"I've never felt so much love for you than I do right now. I can't really explain it."

"Yeah." He nodded in understanding, devotion dancing in his eyes as his trembling fingers caressed your jawline. You didn't have to put it into words, he knew exactly what you were feeling.

Your deep ruby irises glimmered in the moonlight, your lips swollen from the heated kiss and Mingi found himself entranced by you once again.

"My girl." He murmured reverently, cradling your cheek in his palm.

Your eyes closed and you found yourself leaning into his touch, your body craving it despite being seated right next to him. He chuckled adoringly, leaning over to rest against you, his head on top of yours.

"I just wanna stay like this forever." He murmured, gazing out at the forest, his hand finding yours.

"We can." Was your response and it took you a second to realize just how true that was. You hadn't considered the concept of being immortal. A knot formed in your stomach when you thought about what it would entail.

"Forever is a long time." You murmured, your gaze distant.

"Yeah, it is."

"That's kind of daunting to think about. We have to watch loved ones die, and we'll have to move eventually. If we don't age, people will get suspicious."

Mingi's hand squeezed yours. Those things had already crossed his mind, but he chose not to think about it. You two still had time to figure that out.

"I know, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it." He noticed your eyes had that worried glaze over them, you were still overwhelmed and he knew it. "We'll be okay. I promise." He assured you with a kiss on the cheek.

"What if we get bored?"

"The world is always changing and there's so much to do." Mingi said. "I don't think we'll get bored."

You nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe I'm thinking too far ahead. We still have a lot to figure out right now. It's been less than a week since we were turned."

"Let's take it one day at a time." He told you.

You were both still scared and confused, struggling to come to terms with the fact that you weren't human anymore, but at least you had each other.

"Would you ever wanna go after the guy who turned us? Try and find him?" You asked curiously.

It would be difficult, seeing as you didn't know the guy and you barely remembered what he looked like.

Mingi shook his head. "There's no sense in seeking revenge. What would we even do if we found him? I don't have it in me to kill anyone."

"Neither do I."

"Then let's drop it." He rubbed his thumb over the back of your hand. "He's not worth our time and we're not going to let what he did to us ruin our lives."

His words struck you in the chest and sparked a feeling of motivation within you. When you looked at it from Mingi's perspective, learning how to live with this wasn't an obstacle, but a motivator. A part of you wanted to keep going out of spite so one day you'd be able to say you overcame the challenges of being a vampire—to say you made it.

"Yeah. You're right."

"This won't be easy, but I'm willing to work through whatever struggles we'll face." Mingi's voice was firm, decisive.

"Me too. That's all we can do, after all." You turned to him, feeling hopeful for the first time in days. "I don't know what I would've done if I was going through this alone."

You couldn't fathom a reality where you were the only one to get turned or vice versa. "Neither would I."

The amount of pain and isolation one of you would have to go through without the other, Mingi just couldn't imagine it. You would have to lock yourself away from him if he were human and if it were the other way around, he'd have to do the same in order to keep you safe. He was relieved to have you by his side during all of this, figuring things out together.

"I promise I'll never leave your side. Ever." He vowed suddenly, punctuating his words by giving your hand a squeeze. "You're stuck with me for eternity, princess."

Your features settled into a warm smile, a small huff of laughter escaping your nostrils.

"I guess I'm okay with that." Came your teasing remark.

"Hey." He chuckled, giving you a playful nudge.

"I'm joking. I'm honored to have you by my side forever." Knowing you'd never be alone was all the reassurance you needed.

"Likewise." He grinned, leaning his head back over against yours, nuzzling into you.

There was a beat of silence, save for the sounds of the night, before you spoke up in a gentle voice.

"I think as long as we focus on each other, we'll be okay."

Your optimism comforted Mingi and he gave your hand another light squeeze. "I think so too."

Masterlist ᝰ — enjoyed this imagine? reblogs & comments are very much appreciated!

DO NOT steal, plagiarize, copy, repost, alter, or translate my works in any way

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[lilacmingi]

CREATURE OF THE NIGHT

My works are 14+ ONLY. If you’re under 14 DO NOT interact with me or any of my works. And please don’t spam-like!

Pairing: Newly-turned!Mingi x newly-turned!fem reader

Word count: 13,680

Note: I’ve been wanting to write something like this for a while and I haven’t seen any imagines with this plot before so ofc I had to write it. I hope this reaches the target audience lol

Bright and colorful pulsating lights, loud music, and bass thumping so powerfully you could feel it in your chest like a drum. It wasn't necessarily your scene, but you and your boyfriend of two years, Mingi, decided to try something new and attend a house party. It was fun, the both of you keeping to yourselves and dancing together while the world melted away around you. You bounced up and down in time with the thudding beat filling the house. The drinks were good, sweet with the bitter aftertaste of vodka or some other alcohol.

It was around midnight that things got a little... hazy.

You awoke with a start, gasping sharply as your eyes snapped open only to be met with the starry night sky hanging above, a myriad of twinkling dots speckling the atmosphere. Squeezing your eyes shut to clear your vision, you groaned in discomfort, rolling over and feeling the slightly rough sensation of grass beneath you.

How did you get outside?

Your head was spinning as you raised it to find Mingi lying a few feet away, his tall form crumpled on the ground.

"Mingi?" You winced at your own voice which was hoarse and sounded just as disoriented as you felt. You crawled over to your boyfriend's body, calling out his name again, this time more worriedly. "Mingi?" You shook him gently. "Mingi?"

His eyes snapped open and he took a sharp intake of air, his body jolting.

You breathed a sigh of relief. "You're okay. Thank goodness."

His sharp brows pulled together dazedly as he sat upright with a groan, his head falling forward into his hand.

"What happened?" He grumbled, rubbing his forehead with his fingers.

"I don't know. I think we blacked out." Your hand moved up to touch your neck where a dull ache was present, but there was nothing there. "What time is it?" You inquired aloud, fumbling for your phone to check.

3:45 AM.

"Jeez. How'd we get outside?"

"No clue." Mingi murmured, looking around the area. "My neck hurts though."

"Mine too. Let's go home."

Every step felt like a struggle, as if your feet were weighed down with heavy objects, lethargy riddling your entire body, seeping into your bones. You found yourself clinging to Mingi as you both walked home, using him for stability. Neither of you spoke, the only thing on your minds being getting back without collapsing.

Both of you stumbled through the front door of your shared apartment, your fingers fumbling with the lock to secure the entry before you teetered into the bedroom, haphazardly kicking your shoes off, not caring where they landed.

Unsteady on his feet, Mingi stumbled while tugging his pants off, grunting as he pulled off his shirt, tossing both garments onto the floor somewhere. Like him, you didn't feel like showering or even bothering with pajamas, opting to strip off your clothes and sleep in your undergarments. You just wanted to crash for the night and hope you both felt better in the morning.

You groaned when you hit the mattress, pressing your face into your pillow and tugging the covers up over your weary body. Mingi followed suit seconds later, clicking off the lamp before colliding with the plush bed.

"We must've partied pretty hard." He mumbled, reaching for you out of habit.

"Yeah. Maybe." You responded, letting him pull you into his bare chest. "I don't really remember drinking that much though."

"Neither do I, but let's just get some rest."

You nodded, too exhausted to think about anything, your brain fuzzy and your body screaming for rest.

You both stirred awake around noon, the first thing Mingi did was reach for you, as you'd shifted away from one another during the night. The mattress sank softly as he rolled over to where he was close to you again. You hummed drowsily as the remnants of your slumber faded away, squinting your eyes at the harsh rays of light shining into your shared bedroom through the curtains. It pulled a displeased groan from the back of your throat and you found yourself pressing your face into Mingi's chest to shield yourself from it.

Even after a decent night's rest, you were still feeling unwell, and not in a sense that you felt sick, you just felt like something wasn't quite right.

"How are you feeling?" You asked Mingi, your voice muffled by his chest.

"Not great. I feel off."

You nodded, thinking that was a good way to describe it. "Maybe we're just dehydrated. I'll go get us some water."

"That might be nice." He agreed groggily. "My throat is a little dry."

Slipping out of bed, you shuffled towards the kitchen, grabbing a couple bottles of water and bringing them back to the bedroom.

Mingi thanked you, cracking open the plastic bottle and taking a few gulps. You followed suit and did the same, finding that it brought you only a little relief. Screwing the cap back on, you settled against the headboard of the bed, rubbing your tired eyes.

"You don't think there was something put in our drinks, do you?" You asked him, the thought only just now occurring to you.

Mingi's brows furrowed slightly in thought before he shook his head. "We kept our drinks in our hand all night."

It was frustrating, knowing something wasn't right but not knowing what it was.

"Are you hungry? Maybe something to eat will help."

Mingi nodded and you slid out of bed once more, shambling back towards the kitchen. You didn't feel like cooking anything, opting for pre-cut mixed fruit in the fridge, pouring some into a bowl, and carrying it back to the bedroom.

"Thank you." Mingi took one of the forks you passed over, spearing a strawberry and popping it into his mouth gratefully.

You took a grape and chewed it, your face twitching slightly at the flavor. "Does this taste a little funny to you?"

Mingi swallowed the bite of fruit he was chewing, nodding slowly in agreement. "Yeah. It does."

You shook your head. "Maybe the fruit is going bad." You took the bowl from him and set it aside, a sinking feeling in your gut as you stared at the colorful fruits.

"Maybe we should go for a walk." Mingi suggested. "Some fresh air might be nice."

You nodded in agreement.

Getting dressed wasn't nearly as difficult as you anticipated. The lethargy and disorientation that riddled your body the night before was gone, but again, something was off. You felt different in a way that was inexplicable and couldn't be described.

As soon as you and Mingi stepped out onto the street, the sun glared down at you, your face twisting momentarily at the offending beam. Even Mingi was effected, letting out a grunt of discomfort and lowering his head for a second.

He reached for your hand, guiding you forward down the street. "Come on."

The air felt nice, but the sounds around you were louder, the people bustling about creating more noise than you were accustomed to. Not only that, but there was an unidentifiable and pungent mix of smells in the air. Your face twisted slightly in response, Mingi seemed to notice too, his brows twitching. However, neither of you said a word and started down the street.

What was supposed to be a peaceful walk turned out to be much worse than staying indoors. You were hyper-aware of everything, your eyes darting around at every little noise, unable to focus on just one as they all seemed to blur together in an incoherent ceaseless hum. It was too much.

"Do you hear it too?" Mingi's voice reached your sensitive ears, his question cutting through the noise.

"Hear what exactly?" You inquired, searching for an explanation. "Everything?"

He nodded slowly.

"I do."

Knowing that Mingi was experiencing the same things as you was a little reassuring, but didn't help the lingering concern that had made its home in the back of your mind. Despite that, you convinced yourself that your body was in the stages of recuperating after your night out. After all, you and Mingi weren't the type to go and party, so maybe your bodies weren't used to it.

"Would you like to go to the park?" Asked Mingi.

A peaceful place like the park might be good for both of you, so you agreed, staying close to your boyfriend. You could hardly think with everything overwhelming your senses, moving down the street on autopilot and hoping you ended up at your intended destination.

Walking past the front gates lining the park, things became less overpowering to your senses, dulling down to a more normal noise level. The sounds of bustling people were distant and replaced with the chirping of birds and rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. A sigh left your nostrils, feeling at ease in this new environment, even Mingi seemed to relax as you two progressed down the paved walking trail that wound through the grassy terrain.

Like the city, smells in the park were more noticeable: tree bark, flowers, and freshly-cut grass, which you thought was odd because the blades looked like they were getting close to needing another trim. However, there was something else beneath the aromatic scents of nature that you couldn't pinpoint, similar to the unidentifiable smell from earlier. Whatever it was was pleasant and made you want to locate the source of it.

"This is much better." Again, Mingi's voice pulled you from your thoughts.

"So much better." You agreed. "Maybe all we needed was some fresh air."

You crossed a small bridge that went over a trickling stream, a peaceful sound that you could hear even after it was out of sight. It made your brows pull together as you glanced over your shoulder, the bridge far behind you.

Mingi's eyes drifted over to you, noticing your behavior and giving your hand a gentle squeeze of assurance to pull your focus to him.

"We're okay." Was all he said.

Those words were enough to ease your mind for the time being, the sounds of nature taking your attention away from, well, everything. The shrill chirp of a bird in a nearby tree made you wince, Mingi's free hand coming up to cover one of his ears.

"Ah." He grimaced.

"That was loud." You complained.

He grunted in response, guiding you along the walking track.

It came out of nowhere, an intense scent hitting you like a brick wall; it was strong, fragrant, and stood out from all the other things you'd been smelling so far. A shaky sigh pushed past your lips, your footsteps stumbling to a halt as if you were physically impacted by the aroma in the air. Mingi stopped as well, catching a whiff of the same scent, his pupils dilating in response.

"Something smells good." His voice was rough and hoarse as he spoke.

"Yeah. What is that?"

Mingi gave a partial shrug, trying to get his bearings. "Must be a food truck or something in the park."

You nodded even though something told you it wasn't food you were smelling. Nothing had ever effected you like that before.

As you proceeded along the track, you came upon someone, your eyes locking onto the form of a little boy who couldn't have been older than 10. He was crouched in the grass beside the concrete walking path while his bike lie abandoned on its side. His mother was kneeling beside him, wiping his tears.

Your gaze was drawn to the bloody scrape on his knee, your hand instinctively coming up to cover your mouth and nose. Somehow you knew what that sweet scent was, your brain automatically placing a name to it. A hunger for something clawed it's way up your throat in a sudden, fierce wave and your stomach ached as if you hadn't eaten in weeks.

"Mingi." You grabbed onto your boyfriend with your free hand, squeezing his forearm tightly.

He was already staring, watching the crimson liquid that coated the little boy's scraped knee, his body rigid and tense with restraint. His ears, as well as yours, picked up the sound of the boy's rapid heartbeat as blood came from the fresh injury.

The dazed disorientation you felt earlier walking the streets was incomparable to how you felt now. Everything was a blur except the boy and all you could hear was the rapid thudding of his heart. You felt sick.

It took all the willpower Mingi had in him to speak and his voice sounded much too quiet and strained.

"We need to get out of here... quickly."

All you could do was nod in agreement, but your feet were rooted to the pavement, panic and hunger coursing through your entire body.

"Come on." He urged under his breath, forcing himself to take a step back.

You followed, turning away from the boy and heading in the opposite direction.

Rapid breaths pushed out of you in short bursts, your heart pounding in your chest while you fled the scene. Even when you got away from the tantalizing smell, you were unable to forget the image of blood that was seared into your mind. The ache in your stomach wouldn't go away and the persistent dryness in your throat was only getting worse.

Your surroundings were a blur, you and Mingi both bumping into pedestrians while trying to get back home, the sounds around you much more overwhelming than before. And the scents—they were too much. After the incident in the park, you now had an inkling as to what that unidentifiable smell in the city was. The thought that you could've been smelling the blood of everyone around you made your aching stomach twist into an uncomfortable knot.

Mingi's trembling hand shoved the house keys into the lock, shouldering his way into your shared apartment. The door slammed shut and he rested against it while you staggered into the kitchen, ripping open the refrigerator to grab a water. You uncapped it and chugged half of it, but the dryness in your throat continued.

"No." You murmured, your panic slowly rising when water didn't alleviate the discomfort.

It was so obvious what was happening to you two and yet you were in denial. You took another swig.

At that point, Mingi was standing in the doorway, watching you with a pitied expression.

"Y/n..." He murmured.

With trembling hands, you put the cap back onto the bottle and set it aside.

"Are we..." You couldn't even complete the sentence, horrified at your new reality.

Mingi was a no-nonsense guy who didn't beat around the bush when it came to most things, and what was happening to you both right now wasn't something that could be sugarcoated.

"I think we are." He responded faintly.

You let out a small cry of panic and stepped forward into Mingi's arms to seek some semblance of comfort, clinging tightly to him. It all made sense now. The heightened senses, the ache in your necks after the party, the sensitivity to the sun, the sudden craving for...

You squeezed your eyes shut, curling into Mingi's chest as if that would shield you from the situation.

"Hey, hey. I'm here." He assured in a gentle tone. "We're together. Everything's gonna be okay."

He ran his hands over your back in a soothing manner, the feeling of you in his arms helping to ease his own troubled mind. The entire situation was incomprehensible and overall not possible, yet it was happening to both of you.

Like you, he was overwhelmed with so many emotions at once, but the most evident one was the desire to protect you. Seeing you in distress shattered his heart and he wanted to do everything in his power to calm you down. He held you even tighter, whispering to you softly.

"I'm right here. You're in my arms. You can feel me. I'm here. Just focus on that."

You nodded against his chest, keeping your eyes shut in an attempt to focus on Mingi and his warmth, the beating of his heart grounding you a little.

Having a breakdown in this situation would do you no good, nor would it change your circumstances. However, that didn't stop your racing mind from producing an endless list of questions. You squeezed Mingi slightly, letting out a long breath to try and ease the concern plaguing you.

You and your boyfriend were different now.

"I'm scared." You uttered shakily, your voice trembling like you were on the verge of tears.

"Hey... hey." He cooed, pulling away to look at you, his large hand coming to cup your cheek, making sure you were facing him. The fear in your eyes was obvious and it made Mingi's heart clench. "Breathe."

You took in a deep inhale before releasing it slowly, listening to your boyfriend's words.

"That's it." He murmured encouragingly. "Again."

You inhaled once more, letting it out a couple seconds later. You went through this a few more times until your racing heart slowed.

"What are we gonna do?" Was the first thing you asked, a million questions still lingering in the back of your mind.

"I don't know, but we'll get through it. We'll figure it out."

That was enough to loosen the tension in your body, even though you weren't sure how you'd figure it out.

"Let's go sit on the couch." Mingi guided you further into the apartment and to the living room, easing you down onto the cushions beside him.

Silence hung heavily in the air as you tried to come to grips with your new reality.

"Do you still feel..." Mingi trailed off, hesitant to utter the word. "thirsty?"

You nodded against him, swallowing thickly at the reminder of your dry throat.

"Yeah. Me too. I'm afraid if we don't do something about it soon, we'll snap."

"I don't wanna hurt people." You spoke fearfully.

"Neither do I." Mingi shook his head.

Part of you wanted to stay inside and keep yourself locked away from the outside world, away from other people, away from the smell of blood, from the loud sounds, from everything. Another part of you, the part that was still forming, craved that red liquid that flowed through every single body you passed on the street that day. Your mouth watered at the thought and your teeth began to ache—a clear sign that you were changing.

"I don't want to, but I think we need to do something about these cravings." Mingi tried to be the voice of reason despite being just as scared and confused as you were. He knew ignoring what was happening to the both of you would only cause more problems.

You immediately started shaking your head, you refused to harm another human being, no matter how badly your stomach ached.

"It's either we act on it or you and I waste away." He said.

The thought of ceasing to exist made your chest squeeze uncomfortably. You didn't like that idea either.

"We can try animals." He suggested. "It sounds ridiculous, but it's the only option I can think of."

That made you pause. Animals. You mulled it over for a moment. If it worked for vampires in movies, perhaps it would work for you two. If your bodies needed blood, maybe it didn't matter where it came from.

It was strange, the way you felt so comfortable walking through the moonlit woods with Mingi. Normally you'd be scared out of your wits, but not at the moment. There was something so serene and peaceful about the scenery that made you feel like you belonged out there. The strong smell of nature and dew danced in the air, invading your overly-sensitive nose. It was a bit distracting due to the intensity of it, but better than being in the city around people. At least out here your head wasn't spinning.

"I have no idea what I'm doing." You murmured, stepping over clusters of vines winding through the undergrowth in the woods.

"Neither do I." Mingi took your hand in his, almost as much for his comfort as it was for yours, and it worked for a moment.

You felt useless. This vampirism thrust upon you and your boyfriend so suddenly with no help or anything was brutal. You didn't know how to hunt or what strengths and weaknesses you possessed. You were going in blind.

You couldn't believe you were actually going to give into this, to the craving that was gnawing at your insides, but you had to do something. If you didn't act on it, you weren't sure what would happen. You were making the right decision—right?

The both of you continued through the damp forest, hoping that something, anything, would cross your path and that the animal would be easy enough for the two of you to handle. At the moment, you and Mingi weren't sure what you were capable of or if you could even stop an animal, let alone move fast enough to grab one.

"How are you feeling?" You asked, wondering if he was going through the same tumultuous emotions as you.

"Nervous. Confused."

"Me too." There was a short pause. "Do you think we're doing the right thing?"

"I'm not sure. It seems like our only option. And besides, we don't know what'll happen if we don't act on what we're feeling. We could lose our minds or do something horrible."

You nodded, not wanting to entertain the idea of what would've happened if you decided to stay locked in your shared apartment to starve.

Your sensitive hearing picked up a rustling sound, both you and Mingi freezing at the same time, your head jerking in the direction of the disturbance. A tempting aroma wafted through the dewy night air, pulling all your focus to it like a magnet.

"Do you smell that?" You asked, your mouth watering in response, your body reacting instantly.

It wasn't as fragrant as the human blood from earlier, but it was the best smelling thing in the area at the moment and your developing instincts were telling you to go after it.

"I do." Mingi breathed out, shuddering lightly. "Let's follow it."

The hunger in your bodies grew as you progressed closer to the source of the scent, the need for blood making it difficult for you to keep a steady pace. You needed to find whatever it was and get it as fast as you could before you lost what little control you had left.

Initially, you thought tracking down a meal would be difficult, but your legs moved on their own, carrying you towards whatever was emitting that tantalizing aroma.

"My teeth are killing me." You grunted softly in a whisper, slinking through the forest with Mingi, the smell of blood nearby only making the ache worse.

He nodded in silent agreement, his eyes darting frantically around the area before he caught movement in the darkness, his muscles tensing. "There."

Your breath caught in your throat when you spotted two deer up ahead, both completely unaware of the looming threat nearby.

"How are we gonna do this?" Mingi whispered so as not to startle the timid animals, creeping closer to them.

"I don't know. I don't know what we're capable of. I think we just go for it."

"You're probably right. I'll take the one on the left and you can take the right."

You nodded, your eyes zeroing in on your designated target. The dull twinge in your teeth morphed into a sharp pain that made you hiss quietly. At the same time, Mingi was rubbing at his gums to ease the uncomfortable sensation in them. Despite the discomfort, you both crept closer to the unsuspecting animals feeding on various vegetation, the thirst almost fully consuming you now. If it was this intense now, you couldn't imagine how much worse it would be if you'd waited.

The blood had a hypnotic pull that was making everything else go numb, any fears you had about feeding had faded away, replaced with the burning need to alleviate the empty ache in your gut and the dryness in your throat. A final acute pain shot through your canines, two sharp points now prodding the inside of your mouth, your body preparing for what was to come even though you had zero experience.

Both you and Mingi had pretty much blacked out when you got close enough, your new instincts kicking in and making you both lunge forward at unnatural speeds, Mingi tackling the deer on the left while you got the one on the right. It all went by in a blur, happening slowly and way too fast all at the same time.

The blood was warm as it entered your mouth, it wasn't bitter, not even close. It was rich and sweet like honey with a metal tang at the end that was pleasing to your tastebuds. The moment you swallowed the first mouthful, the emptiness in your gut was soothed as well as the dry burn in your throat, a feeling of overpowering satisfaction washing over you, quelling some of the thirst raging within.

You gripped the animal tightly, hunched over it while gulping down its blood greedily, having completely lost yourself. Your body was screaming for more, not getting enough as you fed. Once you started, you couldn't stop, overwhelmed with the intense need to keep taking until you had your fill.

The sensations coursing throughout your body were unlike any you'd experienced, it was like having your first drink of water in months.

You only stopped feeding when that sweet liquid was no longer being pulled out of the animal. You drew back, your lips stained with blood as you released a heavy and shuddering exhale into the night air, taking notice of how much clearer your mind was, your senses no longer overwhelming, almost like you were more in tune with it all. The sounds of the forest had evened out and the various smells of nature dulled to a lesser intensity, though they were still much stronger than what they normally would be.

You got to your feet, staring down at the deer lying on the forest floor with two bloody puncture marks in its neck from your teeth—from your fangs. You continued to look fixedly at the animal, not quite processing what you and Mingi had just done. Your gaze drifted to your boyfriend standing a few feet away over his own prey, his altered appearance mirroring your own. You two were seeing each other this way for the first time.

His once brown irises were fully red, matching the blood glistening on his mouth in the moonlight. It was a slightly startling sight, but you weren't scared. In fact, you imagined you looked the same.

"Your eyes are red." You uttered.

"So are yours." He responded. "And I can hear your heartbeat."

Your unblinking eyes darted down to Mingi's chest, then back to his eyes, a faint but quick thumping sound reaching your ears despite standing a short distance away.

"I can hear yours too."

Your gaze wandered over to your surroundings, noticing how everything seemed clearer and crisper to your eyes, even in the dark. Details of the forest stood out to you, the various textures of individual leaves and the bark of each tree. It was a lot to take in, but the last thing on your mind at the moment.

"I need more." You breathed out, only partially aware of your words.

"Me too." Mingi agreed, staring down at his own prey completely drained of its essence.

You both should've felt remorseful, but you didn't. You felt stronger than ever before. What you'd done should've been disgusting and horrifying, but it wasn't. Instead you both wanted more, you wanted to do it again and again until you were satisfied.

Mingi led the way, abandoning the carcasses and walking deeper into the dense trees. You followed closely, your endless thirst guiding you forward until you caught the scent of another animal not too far away, the aroma teasing your nose. Part of you hoped it was another deer, something large that would satisfy you.

Mingi's newly-grown fangs were practically itching to sink into something again, as were yours. That first kill had ignited something insatiable within the both of you, starting something that couldn't be stopped. You swallowed the saliva pooling in your mouth at the scent of blood in the air, now having an unrelenting craving for it.

An overgrown area laid ahead, teeming with moss and other wild vegetation. Mingi pulled you behind a thick tree to shield you both from sight, peering around the trunk to find a single deer, most likely a straggler that was with the two you and Mingi drained just moments ago.

"There's only one." You murmured.

He nodded, not bothered at the thought of sharing. He slowly crouched down, taking on a predatory stance while keeping his sharp eyes locked on the target, preparing to pounce.

You followed his movements, zeroing in on the deer whose pulse you could hear even from where you were, the thumping sound echoing in your ears. Mingi lunged forward and you mirrored his actions, darting out of the shadows and tackling the animal with him.

Mingi sank his new fangs into the deer and you followed soon after, feeding on a different area of the neck. Your quiet gulps filled the air between you both as you hunched over the animal, quenching your thirst together. Your hand slid slightly along the deer, unintentionally moving onto Mingi's. You didn't care though, your fingers curling around his as soon as they came into contact with his skin. He reciprocated by lacing his fingers with yours. It was dark and perhaps a little morbid, but there was something romantic about sharing an animal with him.

You were the first to pull away, Mingi doing the same, exhaling heavily. You swallowed, the taste of blood lingering on your tongue, reminding you of your new realty. Mingi stood and offered you his hand, helping you get to your feet. For a moment he just started at you.

Your vampiric red eyes gazed up at him, and despite the new color replacing your natural one, you still looked like you, your gaze still holding that gentleness that it always did.

"How do you feel?" He asked, his voice crystal clear to your ears.

"Better." You responded. "Much better."

The mental clarity you had was astronomical and the sensations coursing through your body were foreign, but not unwelcome. Every cell was thrumming with life, an energy like nothing you'd felt before tingled underneath your skin. You felt unstoppable.

Mingi's hand, still clasped with yours, trembled slightly, letting you know he was feeling the same things you were, both of you experiencing a rush like no other, unsure of how to handle it.

"We should go home." He uttered distantly.

You nodded, letting him guide you away from the scene where your murderous actions took place, the weight of what you two had done not quite setting in yet. The experience had been so overwhelming and the foreign feelings coursing through your newly-altered bodies made it difficult to focus on anything else. You moved quietly through the woods, navigating your way back home with more ease than you would've assumed.

Now that your hunger had been sated, the adrenaline from feeding started to wane, replaced with the realization of what you two had just done. The reality that you had just killed animals by yourselves started to sink in. You started to spiral before you even made it out of the forest, coming to the realization that you enjoyed every second of it. The intervals at which your breath was leaving you became quicker and deeper, the change drawing Mingi's attention.

"What did we just do?" You whispered.

"What we had to." He responded.

He was right. You two had rationalized your actions before you even left the apartment, deciding it would be best to feed yourselves now than find out what would happen if you didn't, but still, it was so much take in. The way you completely blacked out and some new, predatory part of you took over to feed was terrifying.

You felt like a monster.

"What have we become?" You uttered faintly.

Your question hung heavily in the night air as Mingi's hold on your hand tightened.

"H-Hey." He spoke up, his voice wavering slightly, giving away his own growing unease. "We had no other choice."

You knew that and yet your conscience was eating away at you.

"I just can't stop thinking about how I felt in that moment. I enjoyed it. Why did it feel good? Why did it feel so natural?"

Mingi chewed the inside of his cheek before answering quietly, "Because it's what we are now."

He felt sick saying that, but it was the truth. He felt the same things as you did. He got a thrill from going in for the kill and getting his first taste of blood. It was a terrifying realization that made him afraid of himself and what he might do if he didn't keep himself in check.

As the both of you emerged from the woods, it was like a dam broke and everything you'd done came crashing down along with the reality that this would be your new life.

"W-wait. What if someone sees us?" You asked, staring at the outskirts of the city. "We look like monsters right now."

"We'll just keep our heads down and hope no one's out."

It was after midnight, you and Mingi made sure to leave well after nightfall to ensure no one saw you, but there was still the risk that you could be spotted.

Mingi moved his hand to rest on the small of your back, keeping you close as you reentered the city, sticking to the shadows with your heads down. It made you feel like a criminal or something, like you had something to hide, which you did.

Thankfully, there were few people walking the streets at such a late hour. Both you and Mingi would tense up when someone passed by, but they paid no mind to either of you.

As soon as you returned to the solitude of your apartment, you scrambled to the bathroom, desperate to wash up. Your stomach twisted into a knot as you saw your reflection for the first time since your transformation. Mingi had made a comment in the forest about your eyes being red, yet seeing it was still jarring and had you frozen for a moment. The natural hue of your irises was gone, swallowed up completely by a deep crimson. You took a step forward to get a closer look, your lips parting just enough to catch a glimpse of the sharp fangs in your mouth that was stained with small smudges of blood. Flickering images of what you'd done with those pointed canines passed through your mind, stirring an unpleasant sensation in your stomach.

You finally tore your eyes away from the mirror, bringing a shaky hand to the faucet handle and turning on the water, vigorously rubbing away the partially-dried blood on your mouth, wanting to rid yourself of the evidence from that night. You watched the red-tinted water swirl down the drain, disappearing from sight.

Mingi followed you into the bathroom, avoiding looking at his reflection. He knew that if he saw himself, he'd spiral just like you and he needed to be strong right now. Seeing the new version of himself was too raw and he wasn't ready yet.

He stood beside you, cleaning his face and washing away the remnants of your trip to the woods.

The both of you dried your clean faces and moved silently to the bedroom where you changed into some comfortable pajamas, seeking a crumb of normalcy after your lives had been turned upside down.

Everything was changing so fast and you hated it. Just yesterday you were human and going to a house party with your boyfriend, now you were lying in bed with him trying to cope with the fact that you two were no longer human.

The silence in the room was too loud and it only made you aware of everything you were feeling. Mingi's beating heart was a constant, and though it was bizarre that you could hear it so clearly, it helped to take your attention away from the unease that had made its home in every corner of your body. As much as you wanted to pretend like things were normal, you couldn't. Things were different, you were different, and you could feel it too. Nothing felt the same anymore.

"What if we're stuck like this?" You asked faintly, referring to the fangs and red eyes, worried they wouldn't go away. You already knew the vampirism was here to stay.

"I don't know." Mingi uttered in a barely-audible voice, having already considered that himself. "Let's just try to get some rest and see what happens tomorrow."

A small sigh left you and you nodded slightly in agreement. "Okay."

Mingi turned off the bedside lamp and slipped his arm around your waist, drawing you in closer. Even with the room shrouded in darkness, you could see well, and it wasn't from the faint moonlight spilling in through the curtains. Everything seemed to remind you of your new reality and it almost made you nauseous. You nestled into Mingi's chest, closing your eyes in an attempt to rest, that is if you were capable of sleeping anymore. As you focused on your breathing, a pleasant aroma reached your nose, a small hum following. The smell was something that couldn't be described, but it brought you immense comfort.

"Your cologne smells nice." Came your murmured words.

"I'm not wearing cologne."

You were confused by this. "Then what am I smelling?"

"I think it's me." He uttered in a mumble tingled with surprise. 

That startling realization made you stiffen slightly, realizing you could smell Mingi in a way you never could before and you wondered if he noticed any particular scent of yours.

"Can you smell anything on me?"

Mingi gently brushed the tip of his nose along the top of your head, inhaling soundlessly.

"Yeah. I can." He spoke into your hair.

Your natural aroma was different from before, but there was a hint of familiarity in it. It wasn't just your body wash, shampoo, or perfume he could smell, it was something more, something completely you. It was home. Comfort. In that moment, Mingi thought if there were one good thing to come out of this unfortunate situation, it would be this.

"You smell... wonderful." He pressed a gentle kiss to your temple, burying his nose in your hair.

You pressed your body closer to him, letting his scent envelop your newly-heightened senses, temporarily silencing your concerns long enough for you to doze off.

The curtains had been drawn the night before, so there was no harsh sunlight hitting you in the face when you awoke the next day. Your eyelids cracked open and you were met with the familiar sight of Mingi sleeping beside you, his lips pushed into a slight pout in his slumber. Every memory from the night before came flooding back into your conscious mind, making your chest ache. He looked so peaceful, his brows no longer tugged together in concern. For a brief moment, everything felt normal, though you both knew neither of you were normal anymore.

Mingi stirred in his slumber, his eyes slowly opening and, much to your relief, they were back to their warm brown color. You could only hope yours had done the same.

"Morning." You greeted softly, your voice carrying just a hint of sleep.

"Morning." He returned, his eyes scanning your face. "How do you feel?"

"I feel alright." It was a half-true response. "I'm still struggling to process what we did last night."

A somber expression flickered across Mingi's face and he nodded faintly. "So am I."

Despite getting some rest, both of you were still grappling with the fact that you fed for the first time last night and that it felt good.

"What are we going to do about our jobs?" You asked faintly, the thought only just occurring to you.

"We'll just have to call out sick for a while. Stay away for a few days just to be safe and figure out how to manage everything."

Neither of you would be capable of working around people, especially not when you were so unstable. The beating of your coworkers' hearts and the smell of their blood would drive you mad.

"How long will we be able to use that excuse though? People are gonna get suspicious if we keep calling out."

Mingi breathed out a sigh, realizing the flaw in his plan. "Let's just take it one step at a time."

"Alright." You agreed.

It was probably best for you to not think too far ahead and figure things out slowly. That way it all wouldn't be so overwhelming—maybe. Dwelling on the future and all the problems that laid ahead would only cause you more stress.

"You wanna try eating something?" Mingi asked, propping himself up on his elbow.

"Yeah."

Mingi stood in the kitchen, staring into the pantry, scanning through the items stocked inside.

"Are you in the mood for anything specific?"

You weren't, but you answered anyway.

"Pancakes might be nice."

At least the thought of food didn't disgust you, maybe that was a good sign.

You watched Mingi in silence as he mixed up the batter and poured it into a pan, creating adorably-misshapen hotcakes. The sweet aroma of them was stronger than usual, but not unpleasant whatsoever.

A couple minutes later, Mingi plated the pancakes, smearing a pat of butter on top and drizzling the stack with syrup. Both of you held your forks and shared a look of apprehension. All you could think about was the fruit you and Mingi had the previous morning and how it tasted off. You speared a fluffy, syrup-covered bite of pancake and popped it into your mouth.

Your chewed the sweet hotcake slowly, your brows raising in pleasant surprise. "It tastes good."

Mingi's eyebrows were pulled together as he nodded in agreement. "It does."

Having discovered that you could still eat normal food was a huge relief and almost made you want to cry tears of joy. A small smile spread across Mingi's lips as he happily went in for a second bite. You mirrored his actions, the two of you finishing off the short stack of pancakes together.

The plate sat empty between you and Mingi, your forks laid together on the saucer. You wore a contemplative expression, your fingers absentmindedly tracing the wood grain on the dining table.

"I don't really feel like I ate anything." You voiced your inner thoughts aloud.

"Me too." He agreed.

"I don't think regular food fuels us the way it used to."

"At least we can still eat it." Mingi chose to focus on the positive.

You have a light sigh of relief accompanied by a little smile. "Yeah. At least there's that."

Being able to have even a shred of normalcy was enough for you and after having your lives turned upside down, you'd take whatever little win you could.

"Now what?" You asked, your question hanging in the air for a moment before Mingi responded.

"I don't really know."

He was just as lost as you were. Where do you go from here? Not having any suggestions of your own, you decided to start listing the things you had discovered so far.

"We know we can still eat regular food and that our appearances can go back to normal, probably at will if we tried hard enough."

"We know we can still sleep." He listed.

"And see our reflections." You added faintly, your mind going back to last night when you saw yourself as the creature you were now.

Mingi shook his head slightly. "I haven't looked yet."

"I don't recommend it." You murmured. "At least not for a while."

"We know the sun doesn't burn us and that we can sleep." He continued after a brief silence.

You nodded. "Those are all good things."

"They are."

You chewed your bottom lip, contemplating everything. "So the plan is to stay home and keep to ourselves for a few days. The only problem is we'll be thirsty again."

Mingi's expression shifted at the mention of having to feed. "Right."

"So we'll have to go back to the woods again."

"Yeah."

"That'll be the only time we leave the house." You said decisively.

"Agreed. It's not safe for us to be out around people."

The silence hanging heavily in the room gave way to thoughts—troublesome ones that neither you nor Mingi wanted to focus on.

"I need a distraction." You sighed out heavily, rubbing your face.

Mingi, who was thinking the same, stood from his seat and came over to your side of the table, his fingers gently encircling your wrist to pull you up from your chair. Without uttering a single word, he tugged you into his chest bringing you into his warm embrace, an arm sliding around your waist while his hand cradled the back of your head lovingly, guiding you to rest it against his shoulder.

His calming scent reached your nose and the tenseness in your body lessened. It was incredible how effective his natural aroma was, how it could instantly begin to calm you. He guided you into the living room without releasing you, abandoning the empty plate and silverware on the dining table. There would be time to wash dishes later. Right now, you needed him and he needed you just as much.

A faint grunt left Mingi when he sat down on the couch, pulling you with him. You curled into his body, your head resting on his chest while he caressed your hair. All you wanted to do was be close to him, as it made you forget everything, even for just a moment.

The weekend was unproductive. You and Mingi were either in bed or on the couch, usually watching TV, doing anything to occupy your minds and by the time Monday rolled around, you both called out of your respective jobs sick. You couldn't work, you couldn't see people, you were scared to go outside, so all you could do was sit around.

Neither of you were used to what you were yet, getting startled whenever you'd hear a neighbor talking on the phone as they passed your shared apartment or the sound of distant voices somewhere outside on the street. It was something you two were going to have to learn to tune out.

One thing you noticed during your time locked away indoors was that you felt the inexplicable need to be close to Mingi and it seemed he felt the same, both of you craving each other's presence at all times. This wasn't unusual, as you two had always been cuddly, but the desire to be near each other was almost palpable. It seemed that going through something so life-altering had brought you closer together both physically and emotionally, strengthening your bond.

"Are you feeling alright?"

It was a question Mingi asked you frequently over the last few days, wanting to keep a check on the things you were experiencing.

You nodded in response, turning the question back to him. "You?"

He shifted slightly, his arm tightening its hold around your shoulders. "I'm getting thirsty again."

"Me too." You admitted. "It's not too bad right now, but I know it'll get worse."

"We can't let it get bad."

While you hadn't talked much about the whole vampire thing, you mutually agreed to keep a check on yourselves and act on the new cavings you were permanently stuck with, even if it was immoral. Besides, when you were thirsty, morals were the last thing on your mind. It was a jarring realization, that your hunger overrode your rationality, but it was something you'd have to learn to accept and adapt to.

"Do you think we should go tonight?"

You chose to leave the decision-making to Mingi, raising your head to look at him.

"It would be better for us if we do."

You couldn't argue with that. After your first feeding, you had a clearer head and no longer felt that ravenous hunger looming over you. On the other hand, it had only been three days since this happened to the both of you and the fact that you were already getting thirsty again terrified you.

The sun dipped below the buildings, shrouding the city in shadows that were perfect for slinking around in. Like last time, you and Mingi set out at an hour where fewer people would be walking the streets, ensuring that neither of you would lose control. In your minds, the less people that were around, the easier it would be to keep your sanities.

Mingi made sure you were close, his fingers laced with yours while your feet carried you quietly through the darkened edges of the sidewalk. The soles of your shoes hit the pavement in time with his, creating a faint yet steady rhythm. The safety and solitude of the woods was just within reach, you could already smell the various wood and foliage from where you were. The morality of your actions were gnawing at you much like the hunger in yours and Mingi's stomachs, but you did your best to push it away.

The aromas of nature were quickly overshadowed by the sudden mouthwatering scent that awakened every cell in your body. Your footfalls slowed, your sharp eyes darting to the side, zeroing in on someone across the street. It was an instantaneous reaction, you could feel your fangs elongating on their own and you began salivating at the smell. Mingi could sense your focus shifting and looked to see what had captured your attention—a man who appeared to be in his early 30s ambling down the sidewalk, a hint of alcohol accompanying the smell of his blood. Mingi's feet were already moving before he could think to stop himself, pulling you along with him as he crossed the street towards the man.

You had tunnel vision, all you could see was the man's neck and all you could hear was his steady heartbeat thumping like a drum. Your mind was no longer registering him as a human being, but prey. A meal.

As the distance between you and the man decreased, the ache in your teeth worsened and your self-control dwindled by the second.

Mingi knew you were both going to get spotted if you kept chasing the unsuspecting man. He was starting to realize that, the rational side of his mind slowly returning to him for a split second. His grip on your hand was still tight as he stopped in place, forcing himself to look at something other than the man. When Mingi came to a halt, you were tugged back, turning your head to meet his gaze. Flecks of red were already beginning to show in his brown irises, a clear sign that his own restraint was diminishing.

"We can't." He spoke in a strained voice.

Your eyes started to drift back to the man who was getting farther away.

"Y/n, look at me."

His voice made you tear your eyes away.

"We need to go." His words wavered as they were uttered.

Bloodlust was clawing at you like a rabid animal, but you nodded in agreement anyway and let Mingi pull you down the street. He was silently cursing himself for going out this soon, but he knew you both needed it. He was terrified of the way you both were so easily affected by the smell of blood, how catching a single whiff was all it took to make the cravings unbearable. It just further proved that you two were unprepared for being around people.

"Keep your head down." He murmured, guiding you towards the shadows, keeping his own head lowered in case anyone were to pass by.

The forest was a welcomed sight, allowing you and Mingi to breathe a sigh of relief and get your bearings. You leaned against a nearby tree trunk, letting the sounds and smells of nature calm you for a moment.

"I can't believe we're doing this again." You uttered faintly.

"Neither can I, but we have to feed so we can get a grip on ourselves again."

It had only been a few days since the first time you fed and you both already hated this, feeling like you had to hide and sneak around just to feed yourselves. This was going to become your new normal.

Mingi's eyes caught something small moving in a nearby thicket, his reaction triggering your instincts. Your body was on high alert, every muscle going taut as you took a step forward. He grabbed your arm and pulled you closer to him, making sure you wouldn't go wandering off. He held you by the waist, his chin resting on your shoulder, keeping his voice low and quiet so as not to disrupt the animal.

"There's something there."

You sniffed the air lightly and nodded your head. "I smell it."

It was such an ordinary sight to find a little creature in the woods, but not anymore, not for you two.

"It won't be enough." You mentioned.

Mingi nodded in agreement. Such a small animal might satisfy your hunger for a short while, but it wouldn't be enough to satisfy you both properly. His nose was catching an array of scents, picking up on small animals scurrying around in the night, but there was something else that smelled better—larger.

You both felt that same sense of focus and sharp clarity that had taken over last time you fed. The same instinct to hunt, to search, and to capture coursed through every part of your body. Mingi took a step forward, his hand dropping from your waist in favor of lacing your fingers with his to guide you forward. All the scents wafting through the forest assaulted you at once and you quickly learned how to focus on which one you wanted to follow, your feet carrying you towards your meal for the night.

The closer you got to the source of blood, the faster you moved, feeling like you were floating rather than walking. The mouthwatering aroma became stronger, the lines of morality and survival getting blurred. Just ahead, a young female deer leisured through the wild ferns and dew-covered undergrowth without a care in the world.

You two had found your prey for the night.

A deer was perfect. You already knew it would feed you and Mingi both, though you might have to hunt something else afterward if the thirst persisted. In your mind, one big animal was better than a bunch of small ones.

The adrenaline rushing through your veins was different than it was last time, you were both less hesitant, almost as if you had subconsciously accepted your new nature and leaned into the instincts that were now a part of you. The pointed tips of your fangs prodded at the inside of your mouth, the sensation still foreign, but you couldn't be concerned with that at the moment. You were starving.

In a flash, you and Mingi were on the animal, moving in unison as you lunged for it, drinking greedily from its neck as soon as your teeth sank in. A satisfied groan of relief rumbled in the back of your throat, a similar sound leaving Mingi when he took his first sip.

In that moment, you didn't care about anything other than quelling the insatiable thirst that burned your throat, your humanity taking a backseat.

It was several minutes before both of you drained the animal dry, forcing yourselves to stop. You pulled away, your breathing heavy from the rush, looking over at Mingi to assess him. He was in a similar state, trying to catch his breath, his eyes still half-lidded and hazy. His tongue darted out to lick away the excess blood clinging to his plush lips which made you involuntarily do the same.

He reached out to grab you by the waist and pulled you close to him, both of you still panting and shaking, collectively coming down from the high of a successful hunt. Mingi's embrace was much-needed, bringing you a sense of comfort as the haze over your mind dissipated and you were left with the guilt of your actions once again.

As if he could sense your discomfort, Mingi's hand started to rub up and down your back in a soothing manner.

"You okay?" He questioned gently.

"I'm alright."

"Are you sure?"

"Do you think it'll get better?" You asked instead of answering, trying to avoid looking at the deer carcass. "The guilt?"

Mingi gave you a sympathetic expression, he too was feeling remorseful and it wasn't any better than last time he fed.

"I would hope so." His hand moved from your back to your cheek, cupping it lovingly. "But don't you think feeling guilt is a good sign? We could be going on a bloodthirsty rampage, but here we sit, feeling regretful for what we've done."

You mulled his words over, nodding slowly.

"And we didn't attack that man earlier." He added.

"We almost did."

"But we didn't." Mingi said firmly.

He wasn't trying to justify you both being monsters, he was trying to find any sliver of something good, any reason to not condemn himself and you for what you both were forced to do in order to survive.

"We didn't harm anyone. And even though we have to do this to stay sane," He gestured to the deer carcass. "I'm glad you're still you. I'm glad you haven't lost yourself to this madness."

"Not yet." You murmured.

"Hey." Mingi tugged your chin to face him. "I don't like what we're becoming either, I hate it actually, but I'm trying to focus on the positive, as hard as that is to do."

You blinked up at him, fighting back the tears trying to well up in your eyes.

"I'm glad you're still you too." You uttered.

Despite all the various noises reaching your highly-sensitive ears, the forest felt peaceful while you and Mingi sat kneeled in the dirt, holding each other for comfort. With him by your side, you could tune everything out a little easier.

"I have an idea." He spoke up, guiding you to stand up with him. "Instead of being afraid of what we're capable of, why don't we find out what we can do now? Test our limits. We need to get familiar with our new selves."

The thought of finding out what you were truly capable of was a daunting one that terrified you a little, but he had a point. There was no reversing what happened, so your only option was to get used to what you were and adapt. Spending your lives being oblivious to the extent of your abilities was self-sabotage and posed the threat of you and Mingi doing something destructive.

"Okay."

Upon your agreement, Mingi took your hand and pulled you deeper into the woods to an area that felt more secluded. The trees were taller and less moonlight slipped through the thick branches. He didn't want you two to get caught, though he doubted anyone would be wandering the woods at such a late hour.

You needed to find the silver lining in this nightmare, which is why Mingi proposed the idea.

"We've spent so long focusing on the downsides of this when we could be looking at the positives."

"The positives?" You echoed.

"Think about it. We're not human anymore." As bad of a taste as that left in Mingi's mouth when he said it, it was true. "We have enhanced abilities now. That's cool, right?"

"It should be." You said.

"Maybe it can be. We don't have to worry about getting hurt or sick. We probably won't age much or even at all. We'll have each other."

At the mention of having each other, some of the aching in your chest faded. That was a good thing to focus on.

"Did you notice how quickly we moved when we attacked that deer?" Mingi asked.

"I did."

Even though you were in a haze of thirst, you vividly recalled how fast it all happened—both times. Your body moved on its own whenever it was the right time and before you could process what happened, your teeth were already buried in your prey.

"Let's just run." Mingi held his hand out, his open palm waiting for you. "No chasing after a meal, just running."

Your crimson eyes met his and you took hold of his hand, making his expression light up.

"On the count of three."

You gave a nod and he counted down. As soon as he reached one, you took off.

There was no effort to it as Mingi led you through the woods, the cold air hitting your face with every step. It was actually kind of... fun. The sensation was similar to when someone was sitting next to you and the window was down in a car, the same feeling of freedom, the same rush of it all.

Your surroundings were a bit of a blur, and yet you could see every single thing you passed clear as day, your enhanced vision keeping up easily with the high speed.

Mingi turned to look at you, your bright eyes wide with wonder as you met his gaze, letting out a small laugh of disbelief, letting go of any fears or doubts.

Mingi's pace slowed and you mirrored his actions, coming to a stop amidst the darkened woods.

"That was..." You trailed off, searching for the right word. "exhilarating."

"It was." He breathed out, panting slightly even though he wasn't out of breath at all. It didn't even feel like he exerted energy. "What do you think we should do next?"

Now that you had a taste of the perks that came with being a vampire, you were more open to testing out more of your abilities.

"I don't know. What do you think?"

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious about our strength." He confessed.

"And how can we test that?"

Mingi looked around the area, surveying the land until he spotted a sizable boulder that would certainly be too heavy for any normal person to move.

"There." He pointed, walking over to the rock.

You watched him examine it for a moment, sizing it up before he placed his palms on it, pushing forward. Your eyes widened when it rolled, crunching against the leaves and foliage covering the forest floor.

"Woah." He murmured in disbelief, turning to you with a stunned expression. "You should try."

"Me?"

He nodded, beckoning you over. You stood before the rock and placed your hands on it just as Mingi had done. Even though you witnessed proof that you and Mingi were much stronger, you still doubted that you'd be able to do anything.

"Just give it a push. It's easier than you think."

At his instructions, you forced the boulder forward with a little grunt, expecting there to be a struggle, but there wasn't. The rock went rolling forward a couple times and it made you step back with a gasp. You were speechless, looking down at your open palms in disbelief, trying to grapple with the reality that you did that. You could really cause some damage with strength like that and it was alarming.

Mingi could sense your sudden unease that rolled off you on waves. He hooked an arm around your shoulders, pulling you into a side hug. "What is it, baby? What's the matter?"

"I never realized just exactly how strong we are until now. It's scary. What if we accidentally hurt someone?"

"We won't. We've kept ourselves in check so far."

"Barely." You murmured, recalling earlier when you nearly attacked a man on the street.

"Okay, yes, but we'll get better. As long as we stay strong."

You chewed your bottom lip, flinching when you felt your fangs prodding into it. That would take some getting used to.

"Hey. I've got another idea. Let's see how far we can jump." Mingi had a glint in his eye as he spoke, searching above, pointing to a sturdy branch on a nearby oak tree. "Do you think we can make it to there?"

You stared up at the limb, your focus shifting away from your worries. "I don't know. Can we?"

"There's only one way to find out." Mingi's arm slid off your shoulders and he crouched down, preparing to jump.

The branch was at least twenty feet off the ground, but after what you just witnessed, you were curious to see how high you were capable of jumping now. He looked over at you when you didn't kneel down, taking notice of your apprehension.

"You go first." You told him.

He nodded, bending a little lower before he launched himself upwards. To your surprise, he made it to the branch with ease, landing on it gracefully, as if he'd done it a hundred times. He flashed a fanged grin down at you.

"It wasn't that bad." He told you. "Come on up!"

You released a long breath, slowly crouching. Maybe if you fell you wouldn't get hurt. Vampires were basically indestructible—right? Leaping into the air, you launched yourself towards the branch Mingi was perched on, your eyes widening when you registered just how high you were. Just as quickly as you left the ground, your feet hit the sturdy branch with a small thump, your legs stable during your landing.

Mingi's eyes gleamed with amazement at how agile you both were now, slowly starting to understand how enhanced your bodies were.

"I knew you could do it." He spoke sincerely, his hand reaching for yours. "Let's sit."

You gladly lowered yourself to rest on the branch, your legs dangling off of it.

It was strange how right it all felt. You were perched high up on a tree branch, which should've been frightening, but it wasn't, not at all. It was actually kind of fun. There was no fear of falling or sustaining any injuries, it was peaceful.

Your eyes drifted across the wide expanse of trees and limbs laid before you, the moonlight filtering in through the foliage, casting faint beams onto the forest floor below.

"It's really beautiful up here." You breathed out in awe.

"Yeah, it is." Mingi agreed, gazing out at the nightscape.

The crickets and other nightlife chittered in the distance, the faint croaking of frogs accompanying the various sounds, making for a nice soundtrack to the tranquil moment. If you didn't think about the needless killing and having to drink blood for an eternity, vampirism seemed kind of nice. Even with the harsh realities of what you and Mingi were forced into, being able to perch in a tree and bask in the serenity of the night made it bearable. After all, you wouldn't have been able to do this as a human.

Mingi's attention drifted away from the breathtaking scenery to something else that took his breath away—and that was you. Now that he was no longer fixated on the negatives of being a vampire, he was beginning to notice things he had been too worried to pay attention to, like how captivating you were. The moonlight shone down on your face like a beacon, illuminating your features which appeared sharper now, giving you a more regal appearance. Your plush lips were parted while you stared at the night sky, your pointed fangs peeking out ever so slightly. Even the deep crimson staining your normally e/c irises was enchanting to Mingi and he found it hard to look away. He was hyperaware of just how attracted to you he was right now.

Feeling his gaze on you, you turned your head to find him smiling softly with fondness dancing in his red eyes.

"You're so beautiful."

The words he uttered made your heart swell. "Even like this?" You inquired, wondering if he was put off by your secondary appearance despite having the same one.

"Even like that."

"It's not too different, is it? I still look like myself?"

He shook his head. "No. You're still you. Everything is just enhanced, if that makes sense."

"Enhanced." You murmured thoughtfully.

"It's hard to explain." He gave a half laugh, his fingers coming to rest under your chin. "You're just more..." He trailed off, searching for the right word.

"More what?" You inquired softly, urging him to continue.

His voice was faint, almost a whisper. "Alluring."

That was a word you never expected to hear, especially since you never saw yourself as such.

"I don't know how to explain it, but you look even more beautiful somehow." He continued, which only caused your heart to beat faster and you knew he could hear it. "I guess it's true what they say about vampires."

"What do you mean?"

"That they're captivatingly attractive and seductive."

"Seductive?" You echoed with a little chuckle of disbelief. "I'm not even doing anything."

"You don't have to." He murmured, tracing your bottom lip with his thumb.

Your lashes fluttered in response to his delicate touch that sparked a warmth in your chest.

Like Mingi, you too were entranced by his striking visuals that were enhanced with the transformation. In the two years that you'd been dating, his looks had always captivated you, taking your attention in quiet moments spent together. You still weren't used to seeing him as a vampire, but you'd be a liar if you said he wasn't attractive with those hypnotic red eyes and sharp teeth. He was good-looking before, but he was something else right now, something completely entrancing and enticing.

Mingi pulled you closer, brushing his nose against yours. "My beautiful girl."

His honeyed words sent a rush of warmth across your cheeks, bringing a hint of a smile to your lips. You two always had an immense attraction to each other, it was undeniable. You always craved each other, but you'd never had such a deep-seated need for one another, one that permeated your entire being. Since this life-altering transformation, it almost felt like you and Mingi had bonded further because of it. The feelings you held for him were so much more intense now and you found yourself overcome with a sense of devotion that was stronger than anything you had ever felt.

"I'm feeling a lot of things right now." You uttered faintly, vocalizing your thoughts. "I always wanted to be near you before, but it's different now. I can't explain it."

"You don't have to." Mingi dropped his hand from your chin and slipped his arm around your midriff as he spoke. "I know exactly what you're talking about."

"You do?" You inquired, looking over at him.

He nodded, meeting your gaze. "I don't think it's a bad thing though."

"Neither do I. I kind of like it."

"So do I." Mingi whispered out lowly, tracing the tip of his nose up your neck, taking in your scent, something he was rapidly becoming addicted to.

A shaky breath left your parted lips while he inhaled deeply against your skin, causing you to suppress a shiver from the ticklish sensation that followed. Mingi raised his head, his half-lidded eyes gazing into yours.

"I've never wanted to kiss you so badly."

"What's stopping you?"

A half smirk played at the corner of his mouth before he leaned forward and captured your lips with his. The rest of the world melted away instantly and it was only you two, the warmth of Mingi's mouth making you lightheaded in the best way. His hand slid around the cradle the nape of your neck, keeping your lips attached to his. The feeling of him kissing you was far more intense than before. There was almost a sense of relief, like you needed it to survive. You felt whole.

Your fangs were the last thing on your mind as your lips dragged over Mingi's, feeling the shape of them with your mouth, memorizing every dip and curve. As if pulled by an invisible force, your body scooted closer until your side was pressed against his. He welcomed the proximity and tightened his hold on your waist.

Everything was hazy and the longer you kissed, the foggier your mind became. The emotions you felt were bordering on obsession, completely consumed by it all. Your fangs clashed with Mingi's amidst the heated make out, your hands coming up to grip his lengthy black hair in an attempt to ground yourself. He had been growing it out recently, which gave you more to grab onto, your digits tangling in the inky strands. A deep groan emitted from him in response and vibrated against your lips, making you shiver.

Mingi tilted his head, slotting your mouths closer together to deepen the kiss, making you grunt faintly at the new angle. Every cell in your body was buzzing and tingles danced along your skin wherever Mingi touched. This kiss was nothing like the others you two shared in the past. Your lips pressed harder against his, craving more of that dizzying sensation it brought. That's when you realized a sweet taste in your mouth, almost honey-like, and very different from the animal blood from earlier. There was no time to process what it was when Mingi abruptly pulled away, a smear of red on his lower lip, his fingers brushing over where you unintentionally nicked him.

"I-I didn't mean to." You stuttered out, your eyes wide in realization of what you'd just done.

"It's okay." Mingi assured you, breathing heavily. "I didn't even feel it."

You nodded, your mind still hazy as you tried to ignore how pleasant his blood tasted to you, which was odd since you were both vampires, assuming it might be bitter. The concern you felt for him overrode your curiosity to discover more and you moved to brush your thumb over his lower lip, assessing the accidental injury. When the bead of blood was swiped away, there was no puncture wound in sight, the small cut having disappeared without a trace. It had healed.

"It's gone." You murmured.

"I guess that's another ability we have." Mingi said breathlessly, and you could tell he wasn't all there.

He wasn't phased by the little accident, already going in for another kiss. You groaned faintly, your eyelids falling shut in response. His hands started roaming, sliding down your waist to squeeze it, his fingers slipping just underneath the hem of your shirt to dance along your skin. Every touch made your brain go fuzzy, halting your thoughts and replacing them with ones of Mingi.

His lips left yours to reattach along your jaw, leaving warm open-mouthed kisses down your neck and making you shiver with delight. Your head tilted back on its own to give him more access, your lips parting as your breath came out in short bursts whine he ravished your neck. He couldn't stay away for long, moving back to your mouth, humming lowly into the kiss.

If not for the fact that you two were up in a tree, this was the most normal moment you'd had in days and you planned to savor it. Your hands were back in Mingi's hair, raking through it as he kissed you deeply, his fangs scraping against your lower lip before he encased it with his mouth. A shiver ran down your spine when he applied light suction to the heated kiss, the sensation that followed making your head spin. Your nails dragged lightly along his scalp, clutching handfuls of his inky locks in an attempt to stay grounded.

Mingi wanted so badly to pull you into his lap, but he didn't want to risk you falling from the branch, so he made do with where he was, his large hands still holding your waist, his body angled towards you on the tree branch.

Mingi parted ways after a moment before he got too carried away, resting his forehead against yours.

"That was..." You trailed off, searching for the right word.

"Something else." Mingi finished.

"I've never felt so much love for you than I do right now. I can't really explain it."

"Yeah." He nodded in understanding, devotion dancing in his eyes as his trembling fingers caressed your jawline. You didn't have to put it into words, he knew exactly what you were feeling.

Your deep ruby irises glimmered in the moonlight, your lips swollen from the heated kiss and Mingi found himself entranced by you once again.

"My girl." He murmured reverently, cradling your cheek in his palm.

Your eyes closed and you found yourself leaning into his touch, your body craving it despite being seated right next to him. He chuckled adoringly, leaning over to rest against you, his head on top of yours.

"I just wanna stay like this forever." He murmured, gazing out at the forest, his hand finding yours.

"We can." Was your response and it took you a second to realize just how true that was. You hadn't considered the concept of being immortal. A knot formed in your stomach when you thought about what it would entail.

"Forever is a long time." You murmured, your gaze distant.

"Yeah, it is."

"That's kind of daunting to think about. We have to watch loved ones die, and we'll have to move eventually. If we don't age, people will get suspicious."

Mingi's hand squeezed yours. Those things had already crossed his mind, but he chose not to think about it. You two still had time to figure that out.

"I know, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it." He noticed your eyes had that worried glaze over them, you were still overwhelmed and he knew it. "We'll be okay. I promise." He assured you with a kiss on the cheek.

"What if we get bored?"

"The world is always changing and there's so much to do." Mingi said. "I don't think we'll get bored."

You nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe I'm thinking too far ahead. We still have a lot to figure out right now. It's been less than a week since we were turned."

"Let's take it one day at a time." He told you.

You were both still scared and confused, struggling to come to terms with the fact that you weren't human anymore, but at least you had each other.

"Would you ever wanna go after the guy who turned us? Try and find him?" You asked curiously.

It would be difficult, seeing as you didn't know the guy and you barely remembered what he looked like.

Mingi shook his head. "There's no sense in seeking revenge. What would we even do if we found him? I don't have it in me to kill anyone."

"Neither do I."

"Then let's drop it." He rubbed his thumb over the back of your hand. "He's not worth our time and we're not going to let what he did to us ruin our lives."

His words struck you in the chest and sparked a feeling of motivation within you. When you looked at it from Mingi's perspective, learning how to live with this wasn't an obstacle, but a motivator. A part of you wanted to keep going out of spite so one day you'd be able to say you overcame the challenges of being a vampire—to say you made it.

"Yeah. You're right."

"This won't be easy, but I'm willing to work through whatever struggles we'll face." Mingi's voice was firm, decisive.

"Me too. That's all we can do, after all." You turned to him, feeling hopeful for the first time in days. "I don't know what I would've done if I was going through this alone."

You couldn't fathom a reality where you were the only one to get turned or vice versa. "Neither would I."

The amount of pain and isolation one of you would have to go through without the other, Mingi just couldn't imagine it. You would have to lock yourself away from him if he were human and if it were the other way around, he'd have to do the same in order to keep you safe. He was relieved to have you by his side during all of this, figuring things out together.

"I promise I'll never leave your side. Ever." He vowed suddenly, punctuating his words by giving your hand a squeeze. "You're stuck with me for eternity, princess."

Your features settled into a warm smile, a small huff of laughter escaping your nostrils.

"I guess I'm okay with that." Came your teasing remark.

"Hey." He chuckled, giving you a playful nudge.

"I'm joking. I'm honored to have you by my side forever." Knowing you'd never be alone was all the reassurance you needed.

"Likewise." He grinned, leaning his head back over against yours, nuzzling into you.

There was a beat of silence, save for the sounds of the night, before you spoke up in a gentle voice.

"I think as long as we focus on each other, we'll be okay."

Your optimism comforted Mingi and he gave your hand another light squeeze. "I think so too."

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[lilacmingi]

SEA PUPPY

My works are 14+ ONLY. If you’re under 14 DO NOT interact with me or any of my works. And please don’t spam-like!

Pairing: Merman!Yunho x fem reader

Word count: 3,335

The ocean breeze blew through your hair and brushed gently against your skin as you made your way down the beach with a pep in your step, the weight of impending due dates having been lifted off your shoulders.

You had just finished your finals for the spring semester and decided to treat yourself and celebrate by having a small picnic on the beach near your house. College had you so preoccupied you didn't have much time to visit the sandy shores you called home.

You packed with you a sandwich, some freshly sliced fruit, and a small bag of chips. For beverages, you poured some lemonade in a tin canteen to keep it cool in the sweltering heat. Besides the food items, you brought along your portable speaker to play some music while you ate.

Your eyes scanned the beach in search of a good place to set up, noting the lack of private areas to sit. Huffing out a sigh, you squinted your eyes, bringing a hand up to shield them from the sun's brilliant rays as you peered off in the distance, scoping the area for the ideal picnic spot. You caught sight of a small cluster of rocks near the edge of the water. It didn't seem like there was over there, appearing to be vacant.

Perfect.

You trekked along the beach to your new destination and were pleased to see that there was no one is loitering around the area. You grinned triumphantly to yourself and started climbing on the rocks, finding one that seemed to have a decently flat area for your one person picnic. You draped your beach towel over the rough rock before sitting down and unpacking your meal, giving a small nod of approval once everything was spread out.  You retrieved your speaker from the bag you brought along and set it up, choosing the perfect song from your playlist of chill songs, adjusting the volume to a comfortable decibel.

The scene was picture perfect; the brilliant sun beaming down and reflecting off the limpid waves, creating a sort of glittering illusion. The rock beneath you was warm from sitting in the sunlight all day, feeling like a heating pad from nature. You began your solo picnic by unwrapping the sandwich you had prepared and started eating while watching the beautiful scenery before you, the music superbly fitting the mood.

Once your picnic was nothing but wadded plastic wrap and empty chip bags, you decided it was time to relax and allow your food to settle for a few minutes. Repositioning yourself by scooting further down the rock, you brought your toes closer to the water and dipped them in allowing the waves to lap over your feet, drenching you in tranquility. You took a small sip of lemonade before leaning back on the towel below you, eyelids sliding closed while you allowed to heat from the rock to soak your muscles, the intense warmth seeping into your bones.

The soft music playing through the speaker mixed with the serene sound of the waves seemed to be in perfect harmony. You released a relaxed sigh, feeling a wave of drowsiness wash over you much like the waves lapping your feet. Just as you started to doze off, the sound of nearby splashing reached your ears, feeling the aftermath of it as the water hit your shins. You didn't think much of it, assuming it was just a kid playing nearby, that is, until you heard a low, mellifluous voice speak up in the most polite tone.

"Excuse me. This is my rock."

You shot upright, surprised by the voice, your eyes meet those of a young man hanging out in the water, his arms resting against the rock you currently occupied. His hair was a pastel peach hue and appeared to have colorful beads scattered about on some strands. His face was bright, eyes innocent and puppy-like. He donned a silver cuff on his arm, dangly earrings, and three or four necklaces lined with pearls, shells, and other trinkets hanging from his neck. He was dressed a little flashy to be swimming in the ocean, you noted.

"I'm sorry, what?" You asked, blinking a few times, caught off guard by not only his statement, but his breathtaking appearance.

"This is my rock." He repeated a little quieter that time.

"Your rock?" You echoed.

He nodded.

You weren't sure how to respond to him. Someone can't claim ownership of a rock... then again, he looked so nervous you thought maybe you should let him have his rock.

"Sorry. I didn't know it was yours." You started getting up only to be stopped.

"Wait." He called. "You don't have to go."

You frowned slightly, feeling bad for the sweet-looking boy.

"How about we both share the rock?" You suggested.

"Oh. I don't know." He looked away timidly. "I'm not really supposed to be doing this."

Your brows tugged together. "Doing what?"

He stayed quiet, not providing an answer to your inquiry.

"C'mon. Have a seat." You motioned for him to sit down and make himself comfortable.

"I don't want to freak you out." He mentioned.

"Freak me out? Don't be silly." You chuckled softly. "Come on."

He let out a reluctant sigh, heaving himself up onto the rock. Once you saw what he was hiding under the water you're unable to suppress the gasp that left your mouth.

"I knew it, I knew it. You're freaked out." He whimpered, preparing to slide back into the water.

"No, don't." You spoke a bit louder than intended.

He froze, looking at you with wide, worried eyes.

"I'm not freaked out. Just... surprised. Please don't leave."

"Are you sure?"

You nodded.

He slowly situated himself on the rock, his peach-colored tail glimmering in the sun, grabbing all of your attention.

"So, you're a merman." You stated the obvious, eyes never leaving his stunning tail.

"Yes."

"I guess that explains all the jewelry." You murmured mostly to yourself.

"This is what I wear every day. Is there something wrong with it?" He questioned.

"Not at all." You shook your head. "It's very pretty."

His big puppy eyes seemed to sparkle as his soft-looking cheeks began to show a light pink tint, almost resembling mochi.

"Your legs are pretty." He complimented you in return.

A small giggle left your lips while you muttered a shy, thank you.

His body started unconsciously swaying to the soft beat coming from your speaker.

"I like this."

"My music?"

He nodded.

"Do you have music where you're from?"

"Yes, but it doesn't sound like this. This is different."

You watched as the very attractive merman looked off at the horizon, the sea breeze blowing his damp hair that was looking fluffier as it dried.

"I'm Y/n, by the way." You mentioned softly, hoping to help him feel more comfortable by introducing yourself.

He turned to you, blinking a few times before a gentle smile spread onto his pink lips.

"I'm Yunho."

"Nice to meet you Yunho."

He flashed you a brilliant, beaming grin, seeming happy to have made a new friend. Not only that, but he liked the way it sounded when you said his name.

"Do you come here every day?" You asked.

He shook his head. "Not always, just when I have time and am able to get away."

Your gaze drifted to the ocean, momentarily watching the cresting waves.

"What's it like down there?" You inquired curiously, referring to his home.

"It's beautiful."

"Does everyone dress like you?"

"Mhm." He nodded. "You dress very..." He trailed off.

"Casual?" You tried to help him out.

"Plain."

"Oh." You deadpanned.

"I don't mean it in a bad way." He frantically tried to explain himself, waving his hands in a rushed manner. "You just don't have any jewelry on."

"Ah." You started to laugh. "Humans don't usually wear jewelry on a daily basis. Well, some do." You explained. "Jewelry is more for special occasions or outings."

"Ohh. What would a special occasion be?"

"Well, like on a date, to a fancy restaurant, to a party, a concert, going shopping." You listed.

"We have parties." He piped up.

"Parties?" Your posture straightened. "Are they fun?"

"Yes!" He nodded enthusiastically. "My friend Mingi can do really cool tricks with bubbles. It's lots of fun to watch."

He seemed so happy to be talking about his friend, his eyes glimmering with enthusiasm, so you decided to ask him more questions pertaining to the subject.

"Is Mingi your only friend?"

"No. There's also Hongjoong, Seonghwa, San, Wooyoung, Yeosang, and Jongho."

"They're all close friends of yours?"

"Mhm." He hummed. "I consider them my brothers."

"Sounds like you guys have a good relationship."

"We do." He smiled warmly. "Hey, maybe you could meet them!" He piped up excitedly.

"Meet them?" You parroted.

He nodded eagerly. "I'd love to introduce them to my new friend!"

My new friend. That was too cute.

"When?

"How about tomorrow? Same time as today?"

You took a quick peek at your phone to check the time, noticing Yunho give a confused look at the device, but he didn't say anything.

"Okay. Tomorrow." You smiled.

"Yay!" He grinned adorably. "I need to go, but I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

You nodded in affirmation.

He gave you a tiny smile and a small wave as he dove into the water, his peach-colored tail briefly splashing above the water before it disappeared under the surface. You bit your lip to try and keep the huge grin from spreading across your face but it didn't work. You grinned like an idiot while packing up your things and heading home with thoughts of Yunho swirling around in your mind.

The following day, you found yourself pacing nervously in your bedroom. You were going to meet seven other mermen and to say you were nervous was a major understatement.

Was it seven? He listed so many names you weren't sure. What would you wear? Did it even matter? You wanted to make a good first impression, especially assuming that mermen didn't interact with humans. You wanted Yunho's friends to like you and not see you as a threat.

In the end, and after much debating, you put on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, which was your typical attire. Yunho's comment about jewelry came to mind so you grabbed a pair of simple earrings and a minimalistic necklace. You weren't sure why you bothered to wear jewelry, maybe a part of you wanted to impress him.

After checking the time, you slid on your flip flops and headed down to the beach, trying to ignore the way your heart was hammering anxiously in your chest, thumping faster as you neared the rocks. You climbed over to the exact same boulder you were on the previous day spotting Yunho sitting in the other side, his peachy colored tail shimmering in the sunlight.

"Yunho?" You called.

He turned around, his face instantly lighting up when he saw you climbing down onto the rock with him.

"You're here." He beamed, visibly happy to see you.

"Of course I'm here. I said I would meet you today." You said taking a seat beside him, eyes drawn to his magnificent tail. It was hard not to look, the shimmery pinkish orange scales were too pretty not to stare at.

He cleared his throat which made you tear your eyes away.

"I brought my friends with me. They're waiting to meet you. They wanted to wait until you got here before they showed themselves. Some of them are a little nervous."

"That's completely understandable." You nodded. "I look forward to meeting them."

"I'll go get them." He started sliding himself into the water, stopping for a moment. "Your jewelry is pretty by the way." He commented before disappearing into the ocean.

You covered your face, feeling warmth rush to your cheeks while mentally giving yourself a pat on the back for deciding to put the jewelry on.

Yunho's head popped up out of the water a few moments later followed by seven others. Your body stiffened as everyone's eyes landed on you, feeling both shy and anxious under their curious gazes.

Yunho lifted himself out of the water, returning to his seat beside you on the rock leaving a wet spot on the stone from where he splattered water.

You watched as his friends climbed up on the other rocks close by, some getting on the flat rock you and Yunho were on. You could hardly believe your eyes, unable to fully comprehend the fact that you were in the presence of actual mermen. Glancing around at the group, you saw an array of colorful tails glimmering under the brilliant sun just like Yunho's.

"Y/n, these are my friends." Yunho gestured to the group, allowing them to introduce themselves one by one. Some offering bright and confident smiles while others seemed a little nervous. Nevertheless, they all appeared to be happy to meet you.

"It's nice to meet you all. Like Yunho said, I'm Y/n. We just met yesterday."

"He told us all about it." The one named Jongho spoke up. "He literally wouldn't shut up about you."

"Alright, alright." Yunho piped up, cutting in before the youngest could continue embarrassing him. "I think that's enough."

"Can I touch your legs?" Wooyoung asked you forwardly, not paying attention to the prior conversation.

"Um."

You weren't sure how to answer, caught off guard by the extremely forward question.

"Wooyoung, you don't ask someone if you can touch their legs." Seonghwa scolded him.

"Sorry." He mumbled.

"Yunho, did you see her jewelry?" San, who was sitting near you, asked pointing to your earrings.

"I did." He smiled gently.

"After seeing all of Yunho's jewelry yesterday, I wanted to wear some and impress you guys." You admitted. "Though it's not as extravagant as what you're all wearing."

"Aw." Mingi and Yeosang gushed, finding it endearing that you wanted to make a good first impression.

"You should keep her." Jongho whispered to Yunho, earning a shush in response as his cheeks turned a deep shade of pink.

You watched the two bicker not-so-quietly, holding back an amused chuckle.

"Yunho really likes you." Hongjoong mentioned, making sure to keep his voice low so no one heard him.

"He does?"

"Yeah. He was really excited yesterday. He said he met a human while going to lounge on his rock and went on to tell us about how much fun he had and how nice you were. We can already tell he has a crush on you. He's so easy to read."

"Crush?" You parroted, trying to keep your voice down.

He nodded with a smile.

You were caught off guard hearing that, but at the same time you weren't upset to hear it. If anything, you were flattered—very flattered. Yunho was an absolute model. From his gentle round eyes, to the pretty bridge of his nose, to his naturally deep pink lips. He was tall too, that much you could tell, even with the tail. Not only was he tall, but he had broad shoulders that made you melt and knowing that someone like him was into you made your stomach do somersaults.

"Yeosang was a little nervous to meet you and I was a little wary, but I can see that you're a good person and it's obvious that you make our Yunho happy." Hongjoong mentioned, grabbing your attention again.

"You think so?"

"I know so. Like I said, Yunho is easy to read."

After getting acquainted and spending some time with the guys, you learned quickly that they were all extremely fun and had lots of energy, often getting so noisy you worried they might draw attention of people walking along the shoreline. Wooyoung found a lot of things funny and had the cutest laugh. It was very loud, but cute. Mingi and San liked to goof around playing games and flicking each other on the forehead. All of them liked to harass Seonghwa, which you learned was the oldest out of the friend group, thus why he was usually the one targeted.

At some point, Hongjoong mentioned that it was getting late and they all needed to head home so no one would suspect anything. Though you were saddened at their departure, they agreed to come back and hang out again which meant this wouldn't be the last time you'd see them.

You watched from your spot on the rock as the mermen dove into the water, colorful tails swishing as they swam deeper and deeper into the blue waters, leaving you and Yunho alone.

"Thank you for bringing your friends to meet me." You voiced your gratitude. "They're a lot of fun."

"Of course. They seem to really like you."

"That's good. I was a little nervous since I assume they're not used to humans."

"Most of them have seen humans from afar, but none have ever interacted with one. Wooyoung is very interested in humans which is why he asked to touch your legs earlier. Sorry about that, by the way."

"It's fine." You waved him off with an easygoing smile. "He's curious. I understand."

You yourself were curious about Yunho's tail and what it felt like, but pushed away the want to ask if you could feel it because you didn't want to seem impolite.

"There's never a dull moment with those guys." He chuckled softly.

"I can imagine."

The silence that settled between the both of you was filled with the sounds of gentle waves lapping against the clusters of rocks. You had only met twice, but you knew for certain you liked Yunho and wanted to meet with him as often as possible. You wanted to learn about him and his interests, what he liked and what he didn't, his favorite place to explore, and even things as simple as his favorite color.

If Hongjoong was right and Yunho had a crush on you, then there was no harm in telling him how you felt.

You took in a deep breath, opening your mouth to speak only for Yunho to say something.

"I like you, Y/n."

He was avoiding eye contact, nervously fiddling with one of the pearls on his many necklaces, his cheeks dusted pink.

You held back a smile as you responded. "I'll let you in on a little secret."

Yunho looked up at you with round, expectant eyes as he waited to hear this secret of yours.

"I like you too."

The look on his face was akin to that of an excited puppy. "You do? You're not weirded out that I'm a merman?"

"Not at all. I find that very interesting and unique actually."

He let out a small giggle that made your heart flutter with adoration.

Yunho was over the moon hearing your confession and had to fight the urge to ask if he could kiss you.

It's way too soon. He told himself.

His gaze moved to the horizon, noting how the sky was painted with pastel hues of pink and purple indicating the beginning of sunset.

"I'd love to stay and spend more time with you, but I should head home." He frowned softly.

"I understand." You nodded.

Yunho lowered himself into the water, resting his arms on the edge of the rock gazing up at you.

"Let's keep hanging out, okay?" You asked.

"Definitely." He nodded gleefully.

You decided to make a bold move, leaning down towards Yunho to place a quick peck on his cheek before standing up. He blushed furiously at your action, his soft-looking face sporting a deep pink hue.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" You inquired.

"Y-yeah. See you tomorrow." He nodded, lowering himself further into the water to cover his red cheeks.

You gave him a wave goodbye, which he returned albeit shyly, watching as you walked back home.

Hongjoong 𓇼 Seonghwa 𓇼 Yeosang 𓇼 San 𓇼 Mingi 𓇼 Wooyoung 𓇼 Jongho

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[lilacmingi]

Mingi bread face ❤️

[lilacmingi]

AAAAA thank you sm 🥹🤧

SEASHELLS BY THE SEASHORE

My works are 14+ ONLY. If you’re under 14 DO NOT interact with me or any of my works. And please don’t spam-like!

Pairing: Merman!Seonghwa x fem reader

Word count: 4,015

You found yourself swimming in the ocean, unsure of how you had gotten there. You could breathe just fine and see clearly, no foggy film obscuring your vision. It was strange. You weren't freaking out. In fact, you felt so at peace, swimming languidly through the water without a care or worry in the world. With your eyes focused on what was front of you, you took notice of a small, dark blur in the distance. The closer it got, the more you started to notice a shape—it was a man. He had dark hair that flowed with the current as he swam through the deep cerulean water. A large tail flicked back and forth behind him, pushing him forward.

You blinked a few times as he got closer, stopping just a couple feet away. He stared at you, tilting his head to the side as he watched you, observing you.

"Who are you?" You asked, voice coming out clearly despite being underwater.

He only smiled, not giving an answer.

You watched as he reached his hand out, bringing it up to your face. His fingertips gently caressed your cheek, tracing down your jawline sending a shockwave through your body.

You shot up in bed breathing heavily, the all-too-familiar dream still on your mind. You'd had the same recurring dream every night for a week straight. The same merman. The same ocean. The same question.

Who are you?

Pushing yourself out of bed, you pulled your sketchbook out, a rough draft scribbled on the paper from a previous attempt at drawing the mysterious merman. You took a seat at the desk and started sketching more detailed features you recalled from the dream. You remembered his eyes and sharp brows perfectly as if looking at a reference photo. Everything else, however, was a little blurry and more difficult to remember. Nevertheless, you roughly sketched his nose, lips, and other features, changing it a few times until you felt it looked like him, or as close as possible. Maybe tomorrow night you'd be able to make some alterations and finish it accurately.

You pushed yourself out of your desk chair and laid back down in bed, giving a brief glance at the digital clock on the nightstand. 5:27 AM.

Pulling the covers up over yourself, you closed your eyes, hoping to return to your dream. The fleeting glimpse you got of the man every night seemed to fade away the longer you were awake, so you thought it best to get back to sleep as quickly as possible.

To your disappointment, you never returned to that dream. The remainder of your night was filled with dreams completely unrelated to the man in your sketchbook.

You stared at your ceiling letting out a sigh, frustrated that you couldn't get one, last look at the mystery merman. Why did you even keep having this dream? Does it mean something? The curiosity was gnawing at you, plaguing your mind.

Am I supposed to find him or something? You wondered.

Actually laughing out loud, you shook your head, amused at the absurdity of the thought. There's no way you were going into the ocean to find a man who probably—no, scratch that—definitely, doesn't exist.

You changed out of your pajamas and into some regular clothes, freshening up a little before slipping on your sandals and stepping onto the sandy, wooden steps of your house. You loved living at the beach, but the ground was mostly sand so you were constantly tracking it onto your porch and into your home which was bothersome. However, it was a small price to pay for living in paradise.

You slid on your sunglasses, shielding your eyes from the sun's harsh rays before crossing the street. There was a sidewalk lining the edge of the beach that you liked to walk along some days, feeling the sea breeze brushing past you and the sun warming your body.

As you walked along the concrete, you noticed a man sitting on a wooden crate, a beach towel laid out in front of him with various objects spread across it. You took a few steps closer, freezing when you realized the man looked vaguely familiar. An image of the strange merman from your dream flashed in your mind. You slapped a hand over your mouth to muffle the gasp that left your lips.

No way. There's no way.

You had to be dreaming, right? Surely you were dreaming. Reaching over, you gave yourself a harsh pinch on the arm.

Ouch.

No. This is definitely real.

But how?

He looked exactly like the man from your dream.

It's a coincidence. You told yourself.

He has legs, so of course it's not the same guy from your dream... but what if he can shift? No. Mermaids aren't even real.

But what if they are? A tiny voice in your head questioned.

You were far too engrossed in your own insane thoughts that you almost didn't realize you had caught the man's attention.

Great.

You quickly composed yourself as best as you could before calmly approaching him, your eyes scanning over the array of items spread about the sandy beach towel, noticing quite a few sizable, unique-looking seashells and a few large sand dollars, not broken ones you would find walking on the beach, but full sand dollars.

"These seashells are gorgeous." You commented. "Where do you get them?"

The dark-haired male looked up at you, his eyes going wide and mouth slightly agape. He blinked a few times, visibly gathering himself before speaking.

"I dive for them every morning. I'm trying to sell them."

"Oh, really?"

"Mhm." He nodded.

"What's that?" You questioned, pointing to a small, pale-colored object.

"Oh! This is a really unique seashell I found on my walk up the beach. I've never seen anything like it."

You reached down and picked the object up off the towel, turning it around between your fingers.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but this is a pistachio shell."

"Pistachio?" He asked, his head tilting to the side like a confused puppy.

"It's a type of nut."

"Ah! Of course. I know what that is." He tittered awkwardly, his eyebrows knit together worriedly as he forced a painful smile.

Okay. There's definitely something off about this guy.

You tossed the pistachio shell aside and started observing the actual shells he had lined on the towel, your eyes glancing up at him momentarily, cursing yourself when you found that he was staring right at you.

He didn't seem like someone who would be set up on the sidewalk selling shells and sand dollars. His long black hair was neatly swept to the side, his white button down shirt tucked neatly into a pair of jean shorts.

"Excuse me." He spoke up shyly.

"Yes?" You looked up at him, noticing his somewhat nervous demeanor, his fingers pulling at the end of his shirt sleeve.

"Would you maybe be interested in helping me sort through my finds of the day? You know, only pick out the good stuff and throw away the trash?"

You sucked in a deep breath, mulling over his request for a moment. It was an odd thing to ask, but it would be a good opportunity to observe him and see if he had any strange mannerisms that would give away his true identity, if he even is a merman, that is.

"Sure."

"Really? You'll do it?"

"Why not.” You shrugged.

"Thank you so much. I'm Seonghwa, by the way." He smiled warmly.

"I'm Y/n."

"A pretty name for a pretty girl." He commented.

You felt some warmth rush to your cheeks. It was hard not to be flattered. After all, it's not every day a stunningly handsome man compliments you.

"So, how long have you been set up here?"

"One week." He answered.

"Have you sold anything?"

"Actually I have. Though I don't think I'll sell enough to buy a house, but it's a start."

"You don't have a house?" You questioned.

"No. Not here at least."

Not here. Is he from out of town?

Or perhaps, he's not from land.

"So, you're not from here." You stated.

He nodded.

"How far do you live from here?"

"Not too far."

You hummed in response. "I assume you've been sitting out here for a while."

"I have."

"Have you eaten anything?"

He shook his head.

"How about I treat you to lunch." You offered.

His eyes widened, brown irises glimmering with happiness. "Okay. If you insist."

He got up and started pulling the beach towel up at the corners, making a pouch of some sort. He then flipped over the crate he was sitting on, a small tin box in the sand underneath. He dropped the towel filled with shells and such into the crate and put the tin box on top.

"I'll be back. I have to go hide this stuff." He lifted the wooden crate and started down the beach.

"Hey, wait." You called out to him before he could take another step. "I live across the street, you can set it inside my house until we get back from eating."

"Will it be safe there?"

"Of course. If anything, it's safer than you hiding it behind some rocks."

"Alright then. Thank you."

"Sure. Is that where you keep your money?" You gestured to the tin box sitting on top of the wadded beach towel.

He nodded.

"That's smart that you put it underneath the crate and then sit on it. That way no one can sneak up behind you and steal it."

"Thank you." He beamed at your praises. "I thought it was a smart idea too."

You allowed Seonghwa to set the crate on the entryway floor just inside your house before the both of you made your way to a nearby restaurant and one you liked to frequent.

"Hm." Seonghwa hummed as he glanced at the menu, his full lips set into a pout.

"Need help?"

"Yes. I've never eaten here before."

"This is really good. I order it every time I come here." You pointed to one of the items on the menu.

"Ah. That looks good."

"Or maybe you'd like this." You pointed to a different menu item. "It's up to you."

"I think I'll have the first one."

Minutes later, your waitress came to take your orders and retrieve the menus. She walked off, leaving you and Seonghwa alone.

"Thank you for offering to take me for lunch. That's very kind of you."

"No problem. I just wanted to do something nice." You smiled.

His eyes moved around the area, checking out the interior of the restaurant. A mural was painted on the back wall of the establishment, the artwork depicting a beach accompanied by a beautiful sunset, the vibrant yellow and orange paints blended together seamlessly. Hung along the ceiling were fishing nets with seashells and starfish attached to them. A shark's skeletonized jaw bone hung on the wall along with various fish which was quite unsettling to Seonghwa.

"Are those... real?" He asked you meekly.

"The fish? No they're plastic."

"And the shark jaw?"

"Real."

"Ah." He nodded.

When your food arrived, Seonghwa's face lit up, his wide eyes looking down at his plate with anticipation.

"Looks good, right?" You asked, reaching for your fork.

He nodded.

"Go on. Dig in."

He grabbed his utensils, fumbling with them for a moment before taking a bite, his already round eyes becoming rounder as he let out a hum of satisfaction.

Over the next couple weeks, you met Seonghwa at the same spot where he set up every day, helping him sort through the trash and bottle caps before he laid out his little treasures. You kept him company throughout the day, leaving briefly to bring the both of you something to drink or eat. You hadn't noticed anything too strange about him, other than the fact that he didn't know too much about certain objects and he was a little confused about your cell phone. After you explained what it was, he acted as if he already knew that, which you noticed he did a lot. Besides that, you hadn't gotten any compelling evidence that he was a merman. For all you know, he could just be a dull person.

"I don't know how you sit out here all day. It's really hot." You mentioned, fanning yourself with your hand.

"It's not so bad. I try not to think about it. Plus, if I get hot I can just take a dip in the ocean."

"Ah. Right." You nodded.

Not many people that stopped to peruse Seonghwa's items bought anything from him which made you feel bad. If he really wanted to buy a house, this wasn't going to cut it.

"Why don't we take a break? I've got some lemonade at my place. It'll cool us down a little."

"I guess I could take a break." He stood up and gathered his things, before the two of you walked across the street to your house.

Seonghwa walked in behind you, placing his box of items on the floor. You moved about the kitchen, taking two glasses from the cabinet and pouring the both of you some cold lemonade, handing one to Seonghwa, watching him take a sip. His face scrunched up in the cutest way.

"It's sour." He commented. "But sweet."

"Mhm." You hummed.

"I haven't had lemonade before."

"It's refreshing, right?"

He nodded, a small smile on his face.

"I'm gonna go freshen up a little. I'm kinda sweaty from sitting outside. Just make yourself at home." You excused yourself and disappeared down the hallway, slipping into the bathroom.

Looking at your reflection, you smoothed out your barely damp hair and straightened out the wrinkles in your clothes in an attempt to appear more presentable. You then started digging under the sink in your makeup bag and retrieved your deodorant, reapplying it along with your lip tint to bring a bit of color to your face. You always found yourself trying to look nice when you spent time with Seonghwa. It's more than likely because you've started to develop a small crush on him. Of course, you knew he was handsome from the moment you laid eyes on him, however, the more time you spent with him, the more you became attracted to him, your feelings growing every day.

Unfortunately, you couldn't tell if he was interested in you.

You scurried out of the bathroom, thinking you had spent too long in there and went back to the kitchen only to find that Seonghwa wasn't there. You called out his name, making your way down the hall coming to an abrupt halt when you saw him standing in your room.

He had your sketchbook in his hands, his half empty glass of lemonade abandoned and sitting idly on the desk. You felt your heart drop like a bowling ball in your chest.

Did he see the sketch of him? You thought fretfully.

If he did, does he know it's him? No. It's a crappy drawing. He wouldn't be able to tell.

"Is this... me?" He asked, showing you the sketch you prayed he wouldn't lay eyes on.

You opened your mouth to speak only to clamp it shut, your sentence dying in your throat.

"It's okay. You can tell me. I won't be angry."

"Yes." You dropped your head, too embarrassed to look his way.

"Do you..." He trailed off, hesitant to speak his next words. "Do you have dreams?"

You knew he wasn't just asking if you had dreams, he was asking if you had dreams about him.

"Yes." You admitted, nodding in confirmation.

"I do too. It's the same dream every night. I would always ask who you were, but you wouldn't answer."

"Yes." You nodded. "I did the same."

This was crazy. You were both having the same dream.

"In your dream, did I reach out and... touch your face?" You asked embarrassedly.

"Yes, but only for a second. I always wake up at the same part. It's almost like I'm—"

"Shocked awake?" You finished.

He nodded. "Exactly that."

"I really hope I don't embarrass myself when I ask this, but are you..." You couldn't even finish the sentence.

"A merman? Yes."

A short breath left your parted lips. Though you suspected it from day one, having it confirmed made it real.

"Why do you think we kept dreaming about each other?" You questioned.

"Maybe we were supposed to meet." Seonghwa's eyes met yours, his words making your heart thump in your chest.

"Maybe we were." You agreed. "Why did you come here anyway?"

"My dream is to live on land. I have some friends who are more educated on humans and they told me I'd need a way to get money if I wanted to start a life outside the water. So I found an old crate, a tin box, and a beach towel and decided I could sell shells and other things I found while swimming in the ocean. My goal was to earn enough to buy a house." He explained. "My plan was to live on land, but I didn't expect to meet you along the way. That was just a bonus." He smiled a little.

That last part made your heart skip a beat.

"Seonghwa?"

"Yes?"

"Why don't you live with me?"

"What?" He blinked a few times, his sharp brows furrowing in confusion. Did he hear you correctly?

"Save what money you earned. You can live with me. If you still want to buy a house later I'll help you out, but you're more than welcome stay here with me."

Seonghwa's eyes seemed to sparkle at your generous offer.

"You mean that?"

You gave a nod of affirmation.

"If I'm being honest, I'd rather live with you than buy a house to live in alone." He admitted.

"Then it's settled." You gave an amicable smile. "Welcome home, roomie."

He grinned brightly, liking the way that sounded.

"Oh, one more thing." You spoke up.

"What is it?"

"I'm curious to see what you look like in your merman form." You admitted, getting shy making such an odd request.

He let out a short chuckle before answering.

"I can show you."

"Seriously?" You squeaked, speaking a little too loudly, your excitement getting to you.

"Absolutely. Let's go." He grabbed you hand, making your heart jump.

"We're going now?"

"Of course."

"Hold on." You stopped him. "I need to put on a swimsuit first."

"Oh, right. That's a good idea."

After changing into a bathing suit as quickly as possible, you rejoined Seonghwa, linking hands with you once again as you set off, allowing Seonghwa to pull you across the street and onto the warm, sandy beach.

"We can go over here." He pointed to a cluster of rocks near the shore. "This is where I usually come up on land. It's fairly secluded so I don't have to worry much about being spotted by anyone."

You followed behind him until he stopped at the edge of the water.

"Is this one of those situations where you turn into a merman as soon as you get wet or can you walk so far into the water and then you turn?" You questioned.

"The latter." He answered. "So don't worry."

He gradually brought you out into the water until it got near your waists. That's when he let go of your hand and dove into the water, resurfacing moments later a couple feet away from you.

"C'mon." He motioned for you to swim out to him.

Sinking down into the water, you made your way to him, grabbing onto his upper arm once you got to where your feet didn't reach the bottom anymore.

"Where are your clothes?" You asked, noticing his shirt had disappeared completely, leaving his (very beautiful) chest and collarbones on display, the heavenly sight taking all your attention.

"They kind of just go away when I shift into my true form."

"Do they reappear when you get out of the water or..." You trailed off.

"Yes they do reappear. Thank goodness." He chuckled.

At that moment, you felt Seonghwa's tail brush against your leg, causing you to look down into the water below, watching in both awe and disbelief as a large, midnight blue tail swished back and forth in the water.

"Is that your tail?" You asked, as if it wasn't obvious.

"That it is."

"It's so pretty." You marveled.

He chuckled a little, a faint pink hue painting his cheeks. "I don't know about that. I think you're much prettier."

"You do?"

"Yeah." His eyes locked with yours, bringing his hand up to cup your cheek in the most gentle manner. "From the moment I saw you I thought you were absolutely stunning. Every time I would see you in my dream I hoped that fate would one day bring us together—and it did. Getting to see you in person and spend time around you has made my fondness for you grow."

You blinked a few times, heart beating so fast you could practically feel your body shake with each thump.

"Can I kiss you?" He asked softly, the request for consent making you melt.

You nodded as soon as the question left his mouth, not wanting to waste any time.

He closed the remaining space between your faces and attached his lips to yours, wrapping them in his warmth. The kiss started off slow, both of you feeling bashful. Though unhurried, it still made your head spin, the leisurely pace of the kiss allowing you to feel every dip, curve, and crevice of Seonghwa's pillowy lips.

Eventually, he got a little brave, wrapping one of his arms around your waist to hold your body flush against his as he leaned in a bit more and added some force to the kiss. With this closer position, you could feel every little movement and flex of his abdomen muscles against your stomach, fueling the intense fire that burned inside, the heat accompanied by a fluttering swarm of butterflies.

You wanted so badly to let your hands roam his upper body and feel the dips and curves of his muscles, but you arms stayed securely wrapped around his shoulders, not really paying attention to the fact that you were kissing a literal merman... in the ocean. That realization was completely tossed out the window, as you were far too busy indulging in this moment. Seonghwa's hand slid around to the back of your neck, the feeling of his fingertips at your nape sending a shiver down your spine as he tilted his head, forcing your mouths even closer together. The new angle made your head spin, fingers unconsciously digging into his shoulders in response, your action causing a low groan from Seonghwa that vibrated against your lips.

The need for air began to creep up the back of your throat, lungs aching for oxygen and as much you didn't want to, you had to pull away from the kiss. When you did, both you and Seonghwa were winded, his chest heaving up and down while he gazed at you with half-lidded eyes, licking his lips as he let the last few moments sink in.

"I've wanted to do that ever since I met you." Seonghwa admitted breathlessly, his thumb stroking your cheek.

"Me too." You admitted, huffing out a laugh.

Your head dropped to rest on your arm that was still secured around his shoulders, taking a few moments to catch your breath.

"We're fairly close to land." Seonghwa mentioned. "Do you want to go home, or do you wanna go for a swim with me?"

The question made you lift your head.

"I could use a little swim." You flashed a small closed-mouth grin, giving Seonghwa a quick peck on the cheek. "I'm not ready for our time out here to end just yet."

"Alright then. Hang on tight."

Hongjoong 𓇼 Yunho 𓇼 Yeosang 𓇼 San 𓇼 Mingi 𓇼 Wooyoung 𓇼 Jongho

Masterlist ᝰ — enjoyed this imagine? reblogs & comments are very much appreciated!

DO NOT steal, plagiarize, copy, repost, alter, or translate my works in any way

🏷 @h3arteyes4mingi @weird-bookworm @poppy2007 @parkjennykim @evidive @mxlly143 @lizzymizzy-blogg @minhanbyeol @dinossaurz @laylasbunbunny @iammeandmeisiam @delulu18 @spooo00oky @tiredlittlevirgo @life-is-a-game-of-thrones

[lilacmingi]

SEASHELLS BY THE SEASHORE

My works are 14+ ONLY. If you’re under 14 DO NOT interact with me or any of my works. And please don’t spam-like!

Pairing: Merman!Seonghwa x fem reader

Word count: 4,015

You found yourself swimming in the ocean, unsure of how you had gotten there. You could breathe just fine and see clearly, no foggy film obscuring your vision. It was strange. You weren't freaking out. In fact, you felt so at peace, swimming languidly through the water without a care or worry in the world. With your eyes focused on what was front of you, you took notice of a small, dark blur in the distance. The closer it got, the more you started to notice a shape—it was a man. He had dark hair that flowed with the current as he swam through the deep cerulean water. A large tail flicked back and forth behind him, pushing him forward.

You blinked a few times as he got closer, stopping just a couple feet away. He stared at you, tilting his head to the side as he watched you, observing you.

"Who are you?" You asked, voice coming out clearly despite being underwater.

He only smiled, not giving an answer.

You watched as he reached his hand out, bringing it up to your face. His fingertips gently caressed your cheek, tracing down your jawline sending a shockwave through your body.

You shot up in bed breathing heavily, the all-too-familiar dream still on your mind. You'd had the same recurring dream every night for a week straight. The same merman. The same ocean. The same question.

Who are you?

Pushing yourself out of bed, you pulled your sketchbook out, a rough draft scribbled on the paper from a previous attempt at drawing the mysterious merman. You took a seat at the desk and started sketching more detailed features you recalled from the dream. You remembered his eyes and sharp brows perfectly as if looking at a reference photo. Everything else, however, was a little blurry and more difficult to remember. Nevertheless, you roughly sketched his nose, lips, and other features, changing it a few times until you felt it looked like him, or as close as possible. Maybe tomorrow night you'd be able to make some alterations and finish it accurately.

You pushed yourself out of your desk chair and laid back down in bed, giving a brief glance at the digital clock on the nightstand. 5:27 AM.

Pulling the covers up over yourself, you closed your eyes, hoping to return to your dream. The fleeting glimpse you got of the man every night seemed to fade away the longer you were awake, so you thought it best to get back to sleep as quickly as possible.

To your disappointment, you never returned to that dream. The remainder of your night was filled with dreams completely unrelated to the man in your sketchbook.

You stared at your ceiling letting out a sigh, frustrated that you couldn't get one, last look at the mystery merman. Why did you even keep having this dream? Does it mean something? The curiosity was gnawing at you, plaguing your mind.

Am I supposed to find him or something? You wondered.

Actually laughing out loud, you shook your head, amused at the absurdity of the thought. There's no way you were going into the ocean to find a man who probably—no, scratch that—definitely, doesn't exist.

You changed out of your pajamas and into some regular clothes, freshening up a little before slipping on your sandals and stepping onto the sandy, wooden steps of your house. You loved living at the beach, but the ground was mostly sand so you were constantly tracking it onto your porch and into your home which was bothersome. However, it was a small price to pay for living in paradise.

You slid on your sunglasses, shielding your eyes from the sun's harsh rays before crossing the street. There was a sidewalk lining the edge of the beach that you liked to walk along some days, feeling the sea breeze brushing past you and the sun warming your body.

As you walked along the concrete, you noticed a man sitting on a wooden crate, a beach towel laid out in front of him with various objects spread across it. You took a few steps closer, freezing when you realized the man looked vaguely familiar. An image of the strange merman from your dream flashed in your mind. You slapped a hand over your mouth to muffle the gasp that left your lips.

No way. There's no way.

You had to be dreaming, right? Surely you were dreaming. Reaching over, you gave yourself a harsh pinch on the arm.

Ouch.

No. This is definitely real.

But how?

He looked exactly like the man from your dream.

It's a coincidence. You told yourself.

He has legs, so of course it's not the same guy from your dream... but what if he can shift? No. Mermaids aren't even real.

But what if they are? A tiny voice in your head questioned.

You were far too engrossed in your own insane thoughts that you almost didn't realize you had caught the man's attention.

Great.

You quickly composed yourself as best as you could before calmly approaching him, your eyes scanning over the array of items spread about the sandy beach towel, noticing quite a few sizable, unique-looking seashells and a few large sand dollars, not broken ones you would find walking on the beach, but full sand dollars.

"These seashells are gorgeous." You commented. "Where do you get them?"

The dark-haired male looked up at you, his eyes going wide and mouth slightly agape. He blinked a few times, visibly gathering himself before speaking.

"I dive for them every morning. I'm trying to sell them."

"Oh, really?"

"Mhm." He nodded.

"What's that?" You questioned, pointing to a small, pale-colored object.

"Oh! This is a really unique seashell I found on my walk up the beach. I've never seen anything like it."

You reached down and picked the object up off the towel, turning it around between your fingers.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but this is a pistachio shell."

"Pistachio?" He asked, his head tilting to the side like a confused puppy.

"It's a type of nut."

"Ah! Of course. I know what that is." He tittered awkwardly, his eyebrows knit together worriedly as he forced a painful smile.

Okay. There's definitely something off about this guy.

You tossed the pistachio shell aside and started observing the actual shells he had lined on the towel, your eyes glancing up at him momentarily, cursing yourself when you found that he was staring right at you.

He didn't seem like someone who would be set up on the sidewalk selling shells and sand dollars. His long black hair was neatly swept to the side, his white button down shirt tucked neatly into a pair of jean shorts.

"Excuse me." He spoke up shyly.

"Yes?" You looked up at him, noticing his somewhat nervous demeanor, his fingers pulling at the end of his shirt sleeve.

"Would you maybe be interested in helping me sort through my finds of the day? You know, only pick out the good stuff and throw away the trash?"

You sucked in a deep breath, mulling over his request for a moment. It was an odd thing to ask, but it would be a good opportunity to observe him and see if he had any strange mannerisms that would give away his true identity, if he even is a merman, that is.

"Sure."

"Really? You'll do it?"

"Why not.” You shrugged.

"Thank you so much. I'm Seonghwa, by the way." He smiled warmly.

"I'm Y/n."

"A pretty name for a pretty girl." He commented.

You felt some warmth rush to your cheeks. It was hard not to be flattered. After all, it's not every day a stunningly handsome man compliments you.

"So, how long have you been set up here?"

"One week." He answered.

"Have you sold anything?"

"Actually I have. Though I don't think I'll sell enough to buy a house, but it's a start."

"You don't have a house?" You questioned.

"No. Not here at least."

Not here. Is he from out of town?

Or perhaps, he's not from land.

"So, you're not from here." You stated.

He nodded.

"How far do you live from here?"

"Not too far."

You hummed in response. "I assume you've been sitting out here for a while."

"I have."

"Have you eaten anything?"

He shook his head.

"How about I treat you to lunch." You offered.

His eyes widened, brown irises glimmering with happiness. "Okay. If you insist."

He got up and started pulling the beach towel up at the corners, making a pouch of some sort. He then flipped over the crate he was sitting on, a small tin box in the sand underneath. He dropped the towel filled with shells and such into the crate and put the tin box on top.

"I'll be back. I have to go hide this stuff." He lifted the wooden crate and started down the beach.

"Hey, wait." You called out to him before he could take another step. "I live across the street, you can set it inside my house until we get back from eating."

"Will it be safe there?"

"Of course. If anything, it's safer than you hiding it behind some rocks."

"Alright then. Thank you."

"Sure. Is that where you keep your money?" You gestured to the tin box sitting on top of the wadded beach towel.

He nodded.

"That's smart that you put it underneath the crate and then sit on it. That way no one can sneak up behind you and steal it."

"Thank you." He beamed at your praises. "I thought it was a smart idea too."

You allowed Seonghwa to set the crate on the entryway floor just inside your house before the both of you made your way to a nearby restaurant and one you liked to frequent.

"Hm." Seonghwa hummed as he glanced at the menu, his full lips set into a pout.

"Need help?"

"Yes. I've never eaten here before."

"This is really good. I order it every time I come here." You pointed to one of the items on the menu.

"Ah. That looks good."

"Or maybe you'd like this." You pointed to a different menu item. "It's up to you."

"I think I'll have the first one."

Minutes later, your waitress came to take your orders and retrieve the menus. She walked off, leaving you and Seonghwa alone.

"Thank you for offering to take me for lunch. That's very kind of you."

"No problem. I just wanted to do something nice." You smiled.

His eyes moved around the area, checking out the interior of the restaurant. A mural was painted on the back wall of the establishment, the artwork depicting a beach accompanied by a beautiful sunset, the vibrant yellow and orange paints blended together seamlessly. Hung along the ceiling were fishing nets with seashells and starfish attached to them. A shark's skeletonized jaw bone hung on the wall along with various fish which was quite unsettling to Seonghwa.

"Are those... real?" He asked you meekly.

"The fish? No they're plastic."

"And the shark jaw?"

"Real."

"Ah." He nodded.

When your food arrived, Seonghwa's face lit up, his wide eyes looking down at his plate with anticipation.

"Looks good, right?" You asked, reaching for your fork.

He nodded.

"Go on. Dig in."

He grabbed his utensils, fumbling with them for a moment before taking a bite, his already round eyes becoming rounder as he let out a hum of satisfaction.

Over the next couple weeks, you met Seonghwa at the same spot where he set up every day, helping him sort through the trash and bottle caps before he laid out his little treasures. You kept him company throughout the day, leaving briefly to bring the both of you something to drink or eat. You hadn't noticed anything too strange about him, other than the fact that he didn't know too much about certain objects and he was a little confused about your cell phone. After you explained what it was, he acted as if he already knew that, which you noticed he did a lot. Besides that, you hadn't gotten any compelling evidence that he was a merman. For all you know, he could just be a dull person.

"I don't know how you sit out here all day. It's really hot." You mentioned, fanning yourself with your hand.

"It's not so bad. I try not to think about it. Plus, if I get hot I can just take a dip in the ocean."

"Ah. Right." You nodded.

Not many people that stopped to peruse Seonghwa's items bought anything from him which made you feel bad. If he really wanted to buy a house, this wasn't going to cut it.

"Why don't we take a break? I've got some lemonade at my place. It'll cool us down a little."

"I guess I could take a break." He stood up and gathered his things, before the two of you walked across the street to your house.

Seonghwa walked in behind you, placing his box of items on the floor. You moved about the kitchen, taking two glasses from the cabinet and pouring the both of you some cold lemonade, handing one to Seonghwa, watching him take a sip. His face scrunched up in the cutest way.

"It's sour." He commented. "But sweet."

"Mhm." You hummed.

"I haven't had lemonade before."

"It's refreshing, right?"

He nodded, a small smile on his face.

"I'm gonna go freshen up a little. I'm kinda sweaty from sitting outside. Just make yourself at home." You excused yourself and disappeared down the hallway, slipping into the bathroom.

Looking at your reflection, you smoothed out your barely damp hair and straightened out the wrinkles in your clothes in an attempt to appear more presentable. You then started digging under the sink in your makeup bag and retrieved your deodorant, reapplying it along with your lip tint to bring a bit of color to your face. You always found yourself trying to look nice when you spent time with Seonghwa. It's more than likely because you've started to develop a small crush on him. Of course, you knew he was handsome from the moment you laid eyes on him, however, the more time you spent with him, the more you became attracted to him, your feelings growing every day.

Unfortunately, you couldn't tell if he was interested in you.

You scurried out of the bathroom, thinking you had spent too long in there and went back to the kitchen only to find that Seonghwa wasn't there. You called out his name, making your way down the hall coming to an abrupt halt when you saw him standing in your room.

He had your sketchbook in his hands, his half empty glass of lemonade abandoned and sitting idly on the desk. You felt your heart drop like a bowling ball in your chest.

Did he see the sketch of him? You thought fretfully.

If he did, does he know it's him? No. It's a crappy drawing. He wouldn't be able to tell.

"Is this... me?" He asked, showing you the sketch you prayed he wouldn't lay eyes on.

You opened your mouth to speak only to clamp it shut, your sentence dying in your throat.

"It's okay. You can tell me. I won't be angry."

"Yes." You dropped your head, too embarrassed to look his way.

"Do you..." He trailed off, hesitant to speak his next words. "Do you have dreams?"

You knew he wasn't just asking if you had dreams, he was asking if you had dreams about him.

"Yes." You admitted, nodding in confirmation.

"I do too. It's the same dream every night. I would always ask who you were, but you wouldn't answer."

"Yes." You nodded. "I did the same."

This was crazy. You were both having the same dream.

"In your dream, did I reach out and... touch your face?" You asked embarrassedly.

"Yes, but only for a second. I always wake up at the same part. It's almost like I'm—"

"Shocked awake?" You finished.

He nodded. "Exactly that."

"I really hope I don't embarrass myself when I ask this, but are you..." You couldn't even finish the sentence.

"A merman? Yes."

A short breath left your parted lips. Though you suspected it from day one, having it confirmed made it real.

"Why do you think we kept dreaming about each other?" You questioned.

"Maybe we were supposed to meet." Seonghwa's eyes met yours, his words making your heart thump in your chest.

"Maybe we were." You agreed. "Why did you come here anyway?"

"My dream is to live on land. I have some friends who are more educated on humans and they told me I'd need a way to get money if I wanted to start a life outside the water. So I found an old crate, a tin box, and a beach towel and decided I could sell shells and other things I found while swimming in the ocean. My goal was to earn enough to buy a house." He explained. "My plan was to live on land, but I didn't expect to meet you along the way. That was just a bonus." He smiled a little.

That last part made your heart skip a beat.

"Seonghwa?"

"Yes?"

"Why don't you live with me?"

"What?" He blinked a few times, his sharp brows furrowing in confusion. Did he hear you correctly?

"Save what money you earned. You can live with me. If you still want to buy a house later I'll help you out, but you're more than welcome stay here with me."

Seonghwa's eyes seemed to sparkle at your generous offer.

"You mean that?"

You gave a nod of affirmation.

"If I'm being honest, I'd rather live with you than buy a house to live in alone." He admitted.

"Then it's settled." You gave an amicable smile. "Welcome home, roomie."

He grinned brightly, liking the way that sounded.

"Oh, one more thing." You spoke up.

"What is it?"

"I'm curious to see what you look like in your merman form." You admitted, getting shy making such an odd request.

He let out a short chuckle before answering.

"I can show you."

"Seriously?" You squeaked, speaking a little too loudly, your excitement getting to you.

"Absolutely. Let's go." He grabbed you hand, making your heart jump.

"We're going now?"

"Of course."

"Hold on." You stopped him. "I need to put on a swimsuit first."

"Oh, right. That's a good idea."

After changing into a bathing suit as quickly as possible, you rejoined Seonghwa, linking hands with you once again as you set off, allowing Seonghwa to pull you across the street and onto the warm, sandy beach.

"We can go over here." He pointed to a cluster of rocks near the shore. "This is where I usually come up on land. It's fairly secluded so I don't have to worry much about being spotted by anyone."

You followed behind him until he stopped at the edge of the water.

"Is this one of those situations where you turn into a merman as soon as you get wet or can you walk so far into the water and then you turn?" You questioned.

"The latter." He answered. "So don't worry."

He gradually brought you out into the water until it got near your waists. That's when he let go of your hand and dove into the water, resurfacing moments later a couple feet away from you.

"C'mon." He motioned for you to swim out to him.

Sinking down into the water, you made your way to him, grabbing onto his upper arm once you got to where your feet didn't reach the bottom anymore.

"Where are your clothes?" You asked, noticing his shirt had disappeared completely, leaving his (very beautiful) chest and collarbones on display, the heavenly sight taking all your attention.

"They kind of just go away when I shift into my true form."

"Do they reappear when you get out of the water or..." You trailed off.

"Yes they do reappear. Thank goodness." He chuckled.

At that moment, you felt Seonghwa's tail brush against your leg, causing you to look down into the water below, watching in both awe and disbelief as a large, midnight blue tail swished back and forth in the water.

"Is that your tail?" You asked, as if it wasn't obvious.

"That it is."

"It's so pretty." You marveled.

He chuckled a little, a faint pink hue painting his cheeks. "I don't know about that. I think you're much prettier."

"You do?"

"Yeah." His eyes locked with yours, bringing his hand up to cup your cheek in the most gentle manner. "From the moment I saw you I thought you were absolutely stunning. Every time I would see you in my dream I hoped that fate would one day bring us together—and it did. Getting to see you in person and spend time around you has made my fondness for you grow."

You blinked a few times, heart beating so fast you could practically feel your body shake with each thump.

"Can I kiss you?" He asked softly, the request for consent making you melt.

You nodded as soon as the question left his mouth, not wanting to waste any time.

He closed the remaining space between your faces and attached his lips to yours, wrapping them in his warmth. The kiss started off slow, both of you feeling bashful. Though unhurried, it still made your head spin, the leisurely pace of the kiss allowing you to feel every dip, curve, and crevice of Seonghwa's pillowy lips.

Eventually, he got a little brave, wrapping one of his arms around your waist to hold your body flush against his as he leaned in a bit more and added some force to the kiss. With this closer position, you could feel every little movement and flex of his abdomen muscles against your stomach, fueling the intense fire that burned inside, the heat accompanied by a fluttering swarm of butterflies.

You wanted so badly to let your hands roam his upper body and feel the dips and curves of his muscles, but you arms stayed securely wrapped around his shoulders, not really paying attention to the fact that you were kissing a literal merman... in the ocean. That realization was completely tossed out the window, as you were far too busy indulging in this moment. Seonghwa's hand slid around to the back of your neck, the feeling of his fingertips at your nape sending a shiver down your spine as he tilted his head, forcing your mouths even closer together. The new angle made your head spin, fingers unconsciously digging into his shoulders in response, your action causing a low groan from Seonghwa that vibrated against your lips.

The need for air began to creep up the back of your throat, lungs aching for oxygen and as much you didn't want to, you had to pull away from the kiss. When you did, both you and Seonghwa were winded, his chest heaving up and down while he gazed at you with half-lidded eyes, licking his lips as he let the last few moments sink in.

"I've wanted to do that ever since I met you." Seonghwa admitted breathlessly, his thumb stroking your cheek.

"Me too." You admitted, huffing out a laugh.

Your head dropped to rest on your arm that was still secured around his shoulders, taking a few moments to catch your breath.

"We're fairly close to land." Seonghwa mentioned. "Do you want to go home, or do you wanna go for a swim with me?"

The question made you lift your head.

"I could use a little swim." You flashed a small closed-mouth grin, giving Seonghwa a quick peck on the cheek. "I'm not ready for our time out here to end just yet."

"Alright then. Hang on tight."

Hongjoong 𓇼 Yunho 𓇼 Yeosang 𓇼 San 𓇼 Mingi 𓇼 Wooyoung 𓇼 Jongho

Masterlist ᝰ — enjoyed this imagine? reblogs & comments are very much appreciated!

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[lilacmingi]

I love when you’re reading multiple fics by the same author and you start to spot all the phrases and adjectives they like to use

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GOD I just want to be CREATIVE but all my energy is being used to survive

[lilacmingi]

THANK YOU SO MUCH AAAA 🥹 I’m really glad you enjoyed it 🤧

SAVIOR

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Pairing: Merman!Hongjoong x fem reader (briefly feat. Mark, Johnny, and Jaehyun)

Word count: 4,840

Note: Since it’s May (and I don’t have anything new) I’m bringing my merman series to Tumblr! 🧜🏻‍♂️🫧

It was the start of summer break and some friends of yours decided to take a boat out on the water that day to celebrate. The weather was superb; warm, but not suffocatingly hot and not too breezy either.

You cracked open a cold can of soda and leaned back on the built-in bench at the front of the boat.

"This is nice, isn't it?" Jaehyun asked from his position at the wheel.

"It sure is." Johnny sighed contently, sliding his sunglasses on and leaning back in a relaxed manner.

"Dude, can you even drive this thing?" Mark asked Jaehyun.

He scoffed. "Of course I can. This is my parents' boat. You think I never learned how to operate it?"

"Yes." Mark answered bluntly.

"Hey, why don't we play some music?" You suggested, switching subjects before the two could start bickering.

"Ah. I brought my speaker." Johnny announced, digging around in his bag. "DJ Papa John in the house!"

"Don't ever say that again." You told him.

"Why not? It's cool—isn't it?"

"No." Jaehyun and Mark shook their heads.

"Wow. Thanks guys." He muttered.

Johnny retrieved his phone, tapping on the screen a few times before music started playing through his portable speaker.

"There's a fruit tray and some snacks inside if you guys want some food." Jaehyun mentioned. "I brought all sorts of stuff to snack on."

"Oh sweet!" Mark jumped up from his seat and started heading down the steps into the boat.

You gazed out at the ocean and took in the view, watching the crests of the waves rise and fall, the sunlight catching on the water's surface making it look like a million shimmering diamonds. The moment was blissful; listening to music while looking out at the ocean, the breeze blowing through your hair as the vessel sailed forward. It was absolute paradise.

"I got the snacks." Mark announced pulling you from your short-lived moment of peace.

He carried the armful of junk food to the table, laying it out messily. Jaehyun stopped the boat and turned off the engine before joining the three of you.

"Hand me that bag of chips." He pointed.

Johnny tossed the snack to him, which he caught.

"What do you want, Y/n?"

"I want that fruit tray." You answered reaching for the plastic platter.

Once it was in your possession, you pulled the lid off and popped a few grapes into your mouth, savoring their sweet and refreshing taste. There was truly nothing like fresh fruit on a warm summer day.

"Thanks for inviting us out, Jaehyun." You told the brunette.

"Yeah thanks." Johnny added.

"You're welcome. I just thought it would be a nice way to start off the summer."

"It is." You smiled. "It's perfect."

After having a few snacks, the four of you took the party to the back of the boat. You sat on the edge of the vessel while Mark told you all some elaborate story about how he once met a famous K-pop idol—allegedly. No one really believed him.

"Yeah right." Johnny snorted.

"No dude, I swear it was her!" Mark insisted.

"Do you have pictures?" Jaehyun questioned.

"No. I was too scared to try and take a picture."

"He's lying." Johnny pointed. "Pics or it didn't happen."

You chuckled amusedly, shaking your head at their antics.

"I'm not lying." Mark argued. "I saw her with my own two eyes, man."

"Oh I love this song!" Jaehyun spoke up, putting an end to their little debate.

The volume got turned up louder before he started dancing to the music. Mark and Johnny were quick to join, all three of you forgetting about his Kpop idol story.

"C'mon, Y/n." Johnny held his hand out to you. "Let's dance."

You grabbed hold and allowed him to pull you to your feet so you could join in on the fun. The four of you were dancing with reckless abandon, none of you really going with the song as you bounced about the deck. Being on beat didn't matter when you were having fun, anyways.

You were jumping around the boat and swinging your head from side to side, throwing your arms up in the air. You were so caught up in the moment, you weren't paying attention to where you were going, unknowingly dancing closer to the edge of the vessel. Next thing you knew, your foot was slipping off the back of the boat and you were falling backwards.

A yelp ripped from your throat as you plummeted into the ocean. Your body hit the water with a loud splash and you instantly started thrashing around, kicking your legs wildly, trying desperately to get back to the surface.

You had only been in the water for a couple seconds when you felt something brush against your leg, sending you into a panic. Your eyes urgently searched your surroundings, not really seeing anything, just a blue blur. Suddenly, a flash of red swam past, making your heart jump into your throat.

What was that?

Before you could really start panicking, something pressed against your back, pushing you upwards. You were quick to forget about it when you emerged from the water, gasping for air, the only thing on your mind being getting on solid ground.

"Y/n!" Johnny shouted, rushing towards the back of the boat.

"Here. Grab my hand." Jaehyun reached out.

You swam over and clasped his hand as Mark and Johnny helped haul you back onto the boat.

"Are you okay?" Mark asked worriedly.

"Yeah." You huffed, trying to slow your breathing. "Something brushed against my leg down there though."

"Did you see what it was?"

"No, but it scared me pretty bad."

"Well at least you're okay." Jaehyun said.

"Yeah." You sighed.

"C'mon. Let's get you a towel." Jaehyun ushered you back to the front of the boat where you retrieved your unused beach towel, wrapping yourself up in it.

It all happened so fast, it couldn't have been more than a minute, but from your perspective it felt like an eternity.

What was that thing in the water? It wasn't a shark and you definitely haven't seen any red fish that big in your life.

As crazy as it sounds, whatever it was seemed to have helped you.

You decided to keep that part to yourself, assuming if you told the boys about seeing something out of the ordinary they'd think you were crazy, maybe even tell you that you were imagining things due to the shock.

"Hey." Jaehyun's voice pulled you out of your trance. You didn't even realize he had joined you until he spoke and announced his presence.

"Are you gonna be okay?"

"Yeah. It just surprised me is all." You assured him. "I should be more careful."

"Yeah, you should. I think we're gonna head back to the shore in a minute. It's supposed to storm later."

You nodded and looked off at the vast horizon, spotting the beach in the distance along with all the houses built nearby along the shore.

After your nerves calmed down a bit, you tossed your towel aside and started roaming the deck.

"Y/n!" Mark shouted.

Spinning on your heel, you spotted him standing nearby holding a large container of cheese balls.

"Catch!"

"Wait! I'm not really good at that." You held your hands up in an attempt to shield yourself.

"Oh c'mon, you can at least try."

"Fine." You gave in. "Hit me."

Mark grabbed one of the cheese balls and tossed it your way. You stepped forward with your mouth open narrowly missing the snack.

"Ohh! Try again." Mark said reaching for another cheese ball and tossing it.

You managed to catch it this time which caused both you and Mark to start shouting and hollering like idiots, seeming more like people who won the lottery rather than celebrating a perfect catch.

"Hey guys, we're gonna start heading back now." Jaehyun announced.

You and Mark were quick to take a seat while Jaehyung started the boat and you headed back towards land. As the vessel made its way across the water your mind drifted back to the thing you had seen, wondering what it was that helped you earlier. Something definitely pushed you upwards towards the surface.

"Hey." Johnny nudged you.

"Hm?"

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine." You forced a smile, putting as much enthusiasm in your voice as possible.

Yes, you were thankful you didn't get attacked by a shark or anything like that, but you were still shaken and confused by the whole experience.

Johnny shook his head, seeing right through your facade. "You've been distracted. What happened out there?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." You muttered, looking off to the distant horizon.

"C'mon." He chuckled. "It can't be crazier than Mark's stories."

"Something helped me." You answered.

Johnny's perfectly sharp brows furrowed in confusion, his head cocked to the side.

"I'm serious. I felt something push me to the surface."

"Maybe it was a mermaid." He joked, poking your side.

"Cut it out." You smacked his hand away. "Mermaids aren't real."

"You don't know that." He crossed his arms defiantly. "Humans have only explored about five percent of the ocean. There's a whole other 95% that's been unexplored. We don't know what's out there."

"You're insane. I knew I shouldn't have told you."

"I'm serious, Y/n."

"Whatever. You have your silly beliefs and I have mine."

The four of you returned to the beach shortly thanks to the incredible speed on the boat. The guys gathered their things and headed up the dock to Jaehyun's place.

"Jaehyun." You called out to the brunette.

He stopped in his tracks, turning towards you.

"Maybe don't tell your parents about me falling off the boat. Let's keep this between the four of us, okay?"

"Sure thing, Y/n." Jaehyun smiled reassuringly before heading towards the house.

You let out a deep sigh turning towards the vast ocean, Johnny's words replaying in your head.

Maybe it was a mermaid.

Humans have only explored about five percent of the ocean. There's a whole other 95% that's been unexplored. We don't know what's out there.

"Mermaids." You chuckled. "What nonsense. Mermaids only exist in fairytales." You murmured aloud, looking out at the cresting waves.

"Y/n!"

You glanced over your shoulder upon hearing your name being called, spotting Mark waving at you from the back patio of Jaehyun's house.

"Jaehyun's mom ordered pizza. C'mon!" He motioned for you to come inside.

"Okay!" You called, taking one last fleeting glance at the ocean before making your way up the dock.

What you didn't see was a head of dirty blonde hair sticking up from the waves.

It had been a week since the incident. As much as you tried not to think about it, your mind kept bringing it back. You were constantly replaying it in your mind, analyzing every detail you could possibly remember, recalling everything. You had nearly driven yourself mad to a point where you actually started considering what Johnny said.

Could it have been a mermaid?

The more you thought about it, the more sense it made and the less outlandish it sounded. Whatever pushed you definitely felt like hands. No matter what, you couldn't seem to find a logical explanation.

Out of pure curiosity you left your house, walking into your backyard and down the small set of steps leading to the beach. It was near sunset and there weren't many people walking around, which might be a good thing if you do happen to see this "mermaid".

You headed towards the old dock you often visit, usually sitting at the very end and sticking your feet in the water. It had been your safe haven of sorts; a place you went to clear your head or spend time alone.

The boards creaked slightly as you walked out to the end of the dock, taking a seat at the end and crossing your legs, staring out at the ocean.

"Okay. I'll just wait." You said aloud to no one in particular.

How do you catch a mermaid? You wondered.

Do you just wait?

Can you even catch a mermaid?

"You're delusional." You muttered under your breath, feeling ridiculous for entertaining the idea to a point where you actually came out here.

You soon became extremely bored and kicked your shoes off, dipping your feet into the comfortably cool water assuming that if you were going to be out there for a while, you might as well enjoy it. It wasn't long before you started to focus more on watching the waves rather than waiting for a mermaid. You glanced down at your feet, your bright blue toenail polish visible even through the moving waters. As you watched the waves ripple and distort the vibrant polish, you saw a flash of red just below your feet. You let out a gasp, jerking them out of the water before peeking over the edge of the dock, peering down into the ocean. You leaned a little further trying to look underneath the dock only to jump when you caught a glimpse of a rather large, bright red tail beneath the water. It appeared to be closer to the bottom of the ocean floor, away from the surface.

Could that be the thing that helped you?

Tentatively, you reached your hand into the water, vigilantly watching the red spot just in case it was a giant fish that just happened to be hungry for a tiny girl hand like your own. You hesitantly waved, trying to let this thing know that you're friendly

If this isn't a mermaid, then you really are crazy.

The tail moved a little, flicking back and forth, appearing to be getting closer. The closer it got, the more it seemed like... a mermaid. Your eyes widened when you spotted a head of dirty blonde hair floating freely in the water.

No way.

The mermaid looked up at you, the waves obscuring your view a little but you could see them extend their hand, their fingertips brushing against yours. You flinched a little but didn't pull away, staying completely still as the mermaid gently took hold of your hand.

That's when you realized you didn't think this through and that this mermaid was most likely going to drown you now that they had a hold on your hand.

Who offers their hand to a mermaid? You thought. Don't some of them drag people into the ocean?

But you didn't get pulled in.

To your surprise, the mermaid swam closer to the surface until their head popped up from the water. That's when you saw it wasn't a mermaid, but a merman.

Your eyes widened in awe, lips parting slightly as you took in his appearance. He had dirty blonde hair styled in a mullet, his bangs cut choppily in the front and grown longer in the back. Tiny shells and pears were tied into the lengthier parts of his hair and he donned a pair of dangly pearl earrings that matched the one's in his locks. His eyes were large, blinking rapidly a few times as he gazed up at you with curiosity, your hands still clasped together. You both seemed to take notice of it because you quickly pulled away.

"Um... hi." You spoke, unsure of what to say.

"Hi." He responded, his voice airy and pleasing to the ears.

"I'm Y/n. What's your name?" You asked, mesmerized by his beauty.

"Hongjoong."

"Hongjoong." You repeated quietly. "Did... Did you help me when I fell off a boat? It happened a week ago."

"Yes. I did." He nodded.

You let out a heavy breath, allowing everything to sink in.

A merman helped you.

As much as you struggled to wrap your mind around it, even with your rescuer right in front of you, you did your best to keep your cool.

"Thank you. I wasn't sure if I'd make it back to the surface, but you helped me."

"It was nothing." He shrugged.

"Are you not scared? Talking to me, I mean." You inquired out of curiosity.

He pouted softly in brief thought. "No. Are you scared talking to me?"

You shook your head.

"That's good." He smiled brightly, showing off a set of pearly white teeth, his eyes crinkling into crescent shapes.

"I didn't think mermaids existed."

"Most humans don't, which is good for us. We're safer that way."

You nodded understandingly. "Do you have to stay away from humans?"

"That's the rules." He sighed. "To most merfolk, humans are dangerous."

"Well, your secret is safe with me."

Hongjoong was visibly surprised at your willingness to keep his existence a secret. You were the first human he had ever interacted with, so this came as bit of a shock to him, but at the same time it made him feel a strong sense of adoration towards you.

"Pinkie promise." You held your finger out to him.

"Pinkie promise?" He echoed, tilting his head to the side.

You chuckled. "It's a thing people do when they make a promise. It's like a way to signify that a promise has been made."

"Ah really?" Hongjoong's large, brown eyes sparkled in wonderment. He lifted his hand out of the water, sticking out his pinkie.

You linked your smallest digit with his. He watched you diligently and copied your actions.

"Pinkie promise." You grinned.

"Pinkie promise."

You released his finger, the both of you staring at each other for a few moments. Hongjoong could hardly believe he was in such close proximity to a human, meanwhile you were feeling the same about him. Your brain not quite processing that you were in the presence of a real merman.

"You're very pretty." Hongjoong spoke up.

Your eyes widened, not expecting the sudden and unanticipated compliment. Despite the flattering remark being unexpected, it still had your cheeks feeling warm.

"Thank you. You're very handsome." You spoke your thoughts aloud.

"Thank you." He looked away giggling shyly, a light pink hue tinting his cheeks.

"I like your jewelry."

His eyes glimmered. "You do?"

"I do." You confirmed. "Very much. The pearls in your hair are pretty too."

"I found them myself." He enthused. "I made all of my jewelry."

"Wow. You must be very creative."

"That's what my friends always say."

Your attention turned to the setting sun dipping lower in the sky.

"Are you able to continue meeting here?" You asked, hoping to be able to see him again.

"Yes." He nodded eagerly, excited that you were inviting him to come back.

"My house is just right there." You jerked a thumb behind you. "The one with the blue shutters."

"Shutters?" He questioned.

"The things beside the windows."

He looked at you blankly.

"Those square things."

"Oh, yes! We have those, they just don't have that weird see through stuff on them."

"Glass?"

"Glass! That's it." He beamed.

You couldn't help but giggle at his innocence, finding it endearing.

"I hate to be leaving so soon, but it's almost dark and I need to be getting back home."

"Oh. That's alright. I should be getting back too."

"So, are you able to come and meet here again tomorrow around the same time?"

"Sure."

"Perfect. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yes! Tomorrow." He confirmed.

You started to get up before Hongjoong stopped you.

"Wait. Don't forget your thingies." He called, pointing to your shoes.

"Oh." You paused. "These are shoes. I wear them on my feet."

"That's silly." He laughed.

"Quite the opposite, actually. Feet are sensitive and there's things on the ground that can hurt, so we wear shoes to protect our feet."

"Oh." He looked intrigued.

"Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow." You slipped your shoes on and stood up. "Bye Hongjoong."

"Bye Y/n."

The next day you changed into a bathing suit and headed to the dock with a pep in your step, looking forward to seeing your new sea-dwelling acquaintance again.

As you approached the end of the wooden wharf you could see Hongjoong already waiting, his head sticking up out of the water.

"Hi." You waved to him.

He returned the gesture as you laid your beach towel down on the dock and took a seat.

"I like that blue stuff on your nails." He pointed to your hand. "And on your feet nails."

You let an amused laugh slip past your lips. "Feet nails?"

"Is that not what they're called?" He asked.

"Close, but no. They're called toenails. These are toes." You wiggled your digits.

"Oh! That makes sense." He laughed. "Fingernails and toenails. I don't have feet so I didn't know."

"So, you like my nail polish?" You inquired.

"I do." He nodded. "It's pretty."

"I could go get it and polish your nails for you if you'd like."

"Really? You can?" He asked excitedly.

"Yeah. You want me to?"

"Yes please."

"Okay. I'll be right back."

You ran up the beach and into your house, quickly retrieving the nail polish before making your way back to the dock, not wanting Hongjoong to wait for too long.

"Here it is." You announced, waving the small bottle of polish. "I decided to bring red instead of blue. I thought it would match your tail."

Hongjoong looked down into the water at his tail, then at the tiny bottle of red polish in your hand. His eyes began to widen and a huge grin spread across his face.

"I'll match!" He gasped. "Here. Here." He brought his hand out of the water, holding it up excitedly. "Could you just do my pinkie? I don't want it to be too noticeable."

"Sure." You gently took his finger, using the end of the towel to dry it off before applying the color.

Hongjoong watched in wonder as you spread the vibrant red polish over his nail, making sure to not miss any spots.

"There." You smiled softly. "Now we have to let it dry. It might take a while."

"Okay." He nodded.

"You can blow on it. That helps."

He nodded and began gently blowing on his pinkie nail.

"I like this." He smiled. "Are there more colors?"

"All kinds. There's green, yellow, black, white, pink, blue, purple." You listed. "All sorts of different colors and shades. Any color you can think of and then some."

"Wow." He beamed, his face lighting up as he imagined a wide array of small bottles in every hue.

A few moments passed when you realized Hongjoong might be uncomfortable clinging to the old dock.

"You can sit up here with me if you want to. It might be more comfortable." You offered.

"Oh, I don't know. Someone might see me."

"I have a towel. You can cover your tail with it."

He glanced around hesitantly, eyes widening as if he remembered something suddenly.

"Actually, there's a place we can both go. Are you up for a swim?" He asked.

"Sure." You nodded. "Let me check your nail polish first."

"Oh right." He presented his pinkie to you, watching as you gently touched it, checking to see if the polish was tacky.

"It dried well. I think you'll be fine." You nodded.

"C'mon then." He took your hands, helping you off the dock and into the water with him.

You grabbed onto his shoulders trying to brace yourself. It made your heart jump, being so close to him and all. You glanced down and saw his vibrant ruby tail swishing lazily in the water, the sight almost surreal to you.

"You okay?" He asked.

"Yeah." You nodded.

"Just hold onto me and you'll be fine."

Hongjoong started swimming away from the dock, your hold on his shoulders tightened while you did your best to assist him, kicking your legs a little.

"It's okay." He gave a chortle. "All you have to do is hold on."

"Oh." You felt momentarily embarrassed for thinking your measly human legs could help.

Readjusting your hands, you made sure you had a strong grasp on his shoulders before he continued swimming away from the dock.

You watched his tail wave back and forth in amazement as you moved through the water, mesmerized at what you were seeing. The situation seemed unreal and you had a hard time telling yourself it was actually happening.

"Are you okay, Y/n?" Hongjoong asked.

"Yeah. This is just really different."

"Trust me, it's the same for me. I don't usually bring humans with me to my secret spot."

Secret spot?

Hongjoong took you away from the shore and over to a large, secluded rocky area.

"Here it is." He announced with a fond smile, swimming up to the cluster of various sized boulders.

He stopped for a moment, allowing you to climb out of the water and onto the stone. Hongjoong hopped up beside you, lying back on the flat rock that had been warmed by the sun.

"No one can see us here. We're perfectly safe." He sighed out, resting his arms behind his head.

You looked over at Hongjoong and the way his body was stretched out across the rock. He was absolutely stunning, from his delicate facial features to his smooth abdomen, all the way down to his tail glimmering beautifully under the sunlight.

"Why are you staring at me?" He asked pulling you from your daze.

"Sorry." You murmured. "This is my first time getting to see your tail up close."

"Ah." He seemed to get shy.

"It's very pretty. You're pretty."

"Pretty?" He echoed, tilting his head.

You nodded.

"Oh." He laughed timidly. "No one has ever said that to me before."

You found that hard to believe but also felt a sense of pride being the first to say something like that to him.

"C'mon and lie down." He motioned to the empty spot next to him, his cheeks dusted pink from your compliment.

You complied and made yourself comfortable beside him, finding the sun beaming down on you to be quite soothing. It warmed your entire body and put you at ease, the feeling making you close your eyes, letting out a relaxed sigh.

After a couple minutes of lying still and enjoying the serenity, you could feel someone's presence above you. You opened your eyes, your heart jumping when you saw Hongjoong hovering over you.

"You're really pretty too." He stated staring down at you with half-lidded eyes.

You blinked a few times, heat rising to your cheeks as you processed his words. The space between you started diminishing little by little as Hongjoong leaned closer, neither of you saying a word. His dainty nose brushed delicately against yours causing you to lift your chin up trying to bring your lips closer to his.

He took this as a positive sign and pressed his lips against yours. Your eyes closed on their own as you reciprocated his actions, bringing your hands up to rest behind his neck, gently coaxing him closer. The cool sensation of his tail pressing against the side of your leg went unnoticed as you were too into the kiss, relishing in the feeling of Hongjoong's mouth slotting perfectly with yours. He was a fantastic kisser and you couldn't help but wonder if all mermen could kiss as good as him. Then again, you didn't want to kiss any other merman besides Hongjoong.

His hand slid around to the back of your neck, keeping your mouth pressed firmly to his, a swarm of butterflies erupting in your stomach in the process. Your fingers found their way to his damp hair, tangling themselves in the lengthy dirty blonde strands of his mullet. They didn't stay there for very long, as they soon travelled to his chest feeling his smooth skin, collecting any remaining water droplets clinging to him in the process.

Hongjoong let out a low hum against your lips in response to your hands roaming about his upper body, the feeling driving him crazy and clouding his mind.

You palms slid up and down the expanse of his back, feeling every slope and valley, gripping his shoulder blades when his lips encased your bottom one, applying light suction that made your entire body feel like jello.

You separated after what felt like hours, both of you slightly winded, out of breath from the heated kiss.

Hongjoong's breaths came out as heavy pants. "I hope that wasn't weird."

"No." You huffed out, shaking your head. "It was really nice."

"I don't have fish lips?"

"No." You chuckled.

"Good." He breathed a sigh of relief.

You gazed up at him, admiring the way the sun gave him a nature-made halo, the sight almost heavenly.

"Hongjoong?" You called out in a gentle voice.

"Yeah?"

"Can you promise me something?"

"Of course."

"Promise we'll continue to meet at the dock and keep hanging out."

"For sure. I never want to stop spending time with you."

"Pinkie promise?" You asked.

"Pinkie promise."

Seonghwa 𓇼 Yunho 𓇼 Yeosang 𓇼 San 𓇼 Mingi 𓇼 Wooyoung 𓇼 Jongho

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