#2min fluff | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

luvjjongtae · 2 years

Text

I'm a Monster

Pairing: Choi Minho x Lee Taemin.

AU info: College AU. Vampire / Werewolf AU.

Genre: Fluff and Angst

Other tags and warnings: Graphic depictions of violence, Attempted Rape / Non-con, Minor character deaths, Blood and violence, Happy ending, Vampire!Taemin, Werewolf!Minho, the rest you'll find out :D

Summary: Taemin struggles with juggling being a college student and a vampire, all while falling for his roommate, Minho who also has a secret of his own.

Word Count: 18.5k

Author's Note: I wanted to wait to upload this on Halloween but got too excited. This was partly inspired by the Netflix show First Kill, but it's a different made-up world I created. Also please be aware of the warnings and tags and don't read this if any of that makes you uncomfortable!

The room smelled like dog.

Although it was faint, Taemin still caught a good whiff of it in the living area of his new suite-style dorm and scrunched up his nose in annoyance. It didn’t stink that bad – it just mildly bothered him – but Taesun beside him was waving his arms around and protesting loudly with a grimace.

“Oh my God, did the last students here own ten dogs?” Taesun picked up the cardboard box of clothes at his feet and beelined towards Taemin’s new bedroom, pushing the door open with his foot. “Hopefully, your room isn’t so bad, for your own sake.”

Taemin followed him in with his own heavy stack of cardboard boxes piled on his arms as if they were weightless but stopped when he heard the front door of the dorm click open. He craned back to meet who he figured was his new roommate. “Hey, there.”

“Hey!” The guy at the door shuffled his shoes off and looked back at Taemin. He had really big eyes, Taemin noticed. “Are you Taemin?”

“That’s me,” Taemin said. “And you’re Minho hyung?”

“Yup!” he said cheerily, walking now towards Taemin who got another good whiff of that dog smell, lips pursing with slight annoyance. Minho looked between Taemin and his large pile of boxes with some concern and offered, “Do you want me to help? I already moved in.”

“Taemin-ah,” Taesun hissed at him, poking his head out the door to his bedroom. “I don’t have all day.”

“Ah, no, it’s fine,” Taemin responded to Minho sheepishly, heading towards his bedroom. Minho’s brow furrowed in concern and Taemin rushed to explain. “My brother’s here to help me. See you.”

“Yeah, see you,” Minho said with a small wave, watching Taemin as he disappeared into his bedroom and Taesun shut the door behind him.

“That’s your roommate?” Taesun jutted his head at the door, one brow raised suspiciously at Taemin.

“Yeah, why?” Minho seemed friendly enough, and their brief conversations on Instagram lead him to believe that Minho wasn’t a total weirdo.

Taesun shrugged. “Just gave me bad vibes. Be careful around him, okay?” Before Taemin could ask how he had gotten “bad vibes” from a two-second interaction where they didn’t even talk, Taesun breathed in deeply, looking around the room. “It smells a thousand times better here, thank God.” Then he smiled at Taemin and patted him on his shoulder before moving past him to touch the bed frame. “Now. Ready to move into college?”

After a couple of hours of unpacking and organizing and Taemin yelling at Taesun no, this goes here, Taemin dropped down heavily to sit on his just-made bed beside Taesun. He sighed and leaned his side into Taesun’s, searching for the big brother leaning support he always could count on. Taesun gave it to him, of course, staying still while Taemin rested his head on his shoulder.

“Thanks for helping, hyung. It would’ve taken me ages.”

“You would still be unpacking by the second week into classes,” Taesun laughed, Taemin’s head bouncing up with his shoulders. When the sound of his laughter died away, his voice turned gentle. “But are you sure you want to do this?”

Taemin got up from his shoulder, exhaling loudly with an eye roll. “You know my answer to that.”

“You don’t have to go to college. You can be like me, work in the family business. Or just not work at all,” Taesun said to him in a rush. “Think about it,” he wrapped his arm about Taemin’s shoulders. “Private planes every weekend, hm?”

Taemin shrugged him off. “Even you didn’t want to do that. You work. I just–” He huffed before continuing. “I just want to do something for a few years before I end up working for hundreds more.”

“It’s not hundreds of years,” Taesun laughed. “More like ninety, if we’re being honest. Vamps are so lazy these days, retiring so early.”

“You act like you’re five hundred years old and not literally twenty,” Taemin scoffed. “Just let me live a little before I gotta slave away doing paperwork.”

Taesun sighed in resignation. “Fine, that’s your choice. Your diet, however…” He shot him a look.

Taemin knew what was coming. He’d had the same conversation with his parents for years. “Is also my choice,” Taemin finished for him quickly. “Did Mom and Dad set you up to this?”

“Look, all I’m saying is that you’re going to be around a lot of humans and you’re still developing as a vampire.” Taesun stood up, pacing around the room as if he was lecturing him. Taemin just gave him an exhausted look, but Taesun carried on without a care, “Just– if you have to, feed. For real, and not that stupid animal stuff you’re keeping in your mini-fridge.” He gestured lamely at the stainless steel fridge by his nightstand, humming away.

“The ‘stupid animal stuff’ works just fine,” Taemin said.

“It won’t forever,” Taesun said, his voice rising. But he caught himself and lowered it to a hiss. “Just do it before you lose control and fuck up again, okay?” Taemin froze, staring daggers at Taesun who just laughed dryly, his voice ragged and rough in his throat, the kind that said it wasn’t funny.

Taemin had messed up his first time. Okay, sure. He had messed up really fucking bad, but that didn’t mean it would happen again. It couldn’t.

But Taesun kept talking. “Keeping that off the Council’s radar was hard enough, but Mom and Dad too? You’re lucky they don’t know or you would be off this diet by now for sure.”

Taemin clenched his fists on his lap. “It won’t happen again,” he said through gritted teeth. “You know it won’t.”

“I don’t think a double dose of suppressors is going to help.”

“The doctor said it would. So it will,” Taemin said with a sense of finality.

Something cracked in his brother’s expression, and he ran a hand through his hair messily. “Taemin-ah, you know I’m only looking out for you. Just promise me you’ll stay safe. And that means feeding and doing it right.” With a final frustrated exhale, he looked at the door and said, “I’m gonna get going. Got plans tonight.”

Taemin nodded stiffly, watching his brother leave him alone now in his new bedroom. His phone buzzed with his reminder alarm and he pulled out a container of pills from his pocket, popping two of them in his mouth and swallowing with a quick swig of his water bottle. They were meant to lessen his hunger, dull his senses, minimize his strength – all things supposed to keep him safe from being hunted. They were meant to lighten this burden, no matter how much his family told him it was a gift.

But now the container of pills he’d been carrying around his whole life felt like a million pounds when he slid it back into his pocket.

. . .

Minho’s new roommate was weird.

For one, he was a freshman. Or granted, the age of a freshman. Technically speaking, he was a sophomore, though this was his first year in college. When he told Minho over Instagram DM’s that he had gotten enough credits in high school to skip a whole year, Minho realized this kid was no joke. And also probably loaded as fuck to afford the number of tutors he had told him about.

Taemin was also extremely pale. And delicate-looking. Or maybe that was just the finicky dorm lighting, but he looked almost sick when they met, which is why Minho offered to help him with his boxes. Taemin’s brother was straight up just kind of rude, not even saying hello to him through the door. At least he wouldn’t be interacting with him.

The final thing was something Minho noticed as he made his way into their small living space. Passing Taemin’s door, the pungent smell of animal blood hit him all at once, making him stumble back. No, that wasn’t possible. Could Taemin be like him?

Minho sniffed Taemin’s door one more time and caught nothing. He shook the thoughts away and collapsed onto the couch, shutting his eyes tight. It was just his imagination. He had made it up. The chances of Taemin being a werewolf were statistically tiny if the government’s “Monster Census” was anything to go by, which Minho knew was not due to underreporting, but whatever. Was storing animal blood and meats even a thing that werewolves did? Should he be doing that? He made a mental note to ask Jonghyun the next time he saw him.

Or called him. Minho felt his phone start vibrating in his hand and stood up quickly to greet Jonghyun on the other end. “Hey, hyung. Thanks for calling.”

“Finally moved in? How’s the city?” Jonghyun’s voice sounded small and tinny in his ear, and Minho rushed back into his bedroom, shutting the door behind him to respond in private.

“Yeah, today. And it’s okay, different from the farm, you know. Noisy.” He adjusted the phone against his ear and got to the point. “Listen, so this weekend–”

“Seriously, don’t worry about it. You just show up before the moon rises, so check your phone to see when that happens. You have the address, right? Don’t wanna get there late,” Jonghyun laughed.

“Yeah,” Minho said, relaxing his shoulders a bit. But he still hesitated. “I’m just worried, I’ve never…done this before.”

“Yeah, you have. In even more dangerous conditions,” Jonghyun reminded him. “In the sanctuary, you’ll be safe when you turn and you’ll have people keeping an eye on you.” He paused, letting the words sink in. “Plus you get to hang out with me,” he added in a cheerful tone.

“That’s true,” Minho said, still obviously worried. “But can I get there early? Just to make sure?”

Jonghyun chuckled again, the sound vibrating in his ear. “Of course. We always have some food lying around too.”

“Okay, okay,” Minho said, breathing out. “Thanks, hyung. Seriously. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“No problem, Minho-yah. Just tell your parents I say hi when you talk to them and let’s plan to meet up sometime not during the full moon now that you’ve moved here. It’s not only about the sanctuary, it’s about exploring, right?” Minho was just about to cut in with actually, no, it’s only about the sanctuary when Jonghyun spoke again, some yelling audible in the background. “Aish, now I gotta go. They’re fighting over leftovers again. I’ll text you, okay?”

“Okay,” Minho said softly as he hung up, turning his phone down and staring up at the ceiling. His first full moon away from home… He knew he’d be safer at the sanctuary, technically. But a part of him couldn’t help but keep worrying about this entirely new environment, especially since he was so new to the whole thing and his family didn’t know and–

A knock at the door startled him out of his thoughts. “Come in!” he called. Taemin opened the door but hesitated before stepping inside. He seemed relieved for a split second when he took a step in before scrunching his nose and grimacing slightly. He jumped back out of the room quickly. Weird. But Minho let it slide, smiling at him kindly and saying, “What’s up?”

Taemin seemed to remember Minho was there, snapping his head up to look at him. Nervously, he said, “So, I think there’s an event in the common room with the entire floor tonight. If you wanted to come?”

Minho pushed himself off his bed, meeting Taemin at the door to leave together. “Sounds fun! I just can’t stay out too late since I wake up early to run.” Taemin’s eyes flickered down to the rest of this body, before shooting back up to Minho’s face and widening in some form of understanding. Minho pretended not to notice again.

“Do you play any sports?” Taemin asked him after a few moments as they walked down the hall towards the sounds of chatter and music, shoes clicking against the tile floor.

“Yeah, a lot actually,” Minho replied. “It's cross country season now, which is why I’ve gotta stay on top of running.”

Taemin nodded beside him just as they reached the common area of their floor, fellow college students sprawled out on the couches or chatting against the walls. The smell of quesadillas and Coca-Cola filled Minho’s nose, making him suddenly hungry. He scanned the table littered with junk food against the wall for any meat, a smile breaking out on his face when he saw a salami platter. He had to get his hands on that.

“Hey, I’m gonna get some food, okay?” he said to Taemin beside him, who was still looking around the room apprehensively, taking it all in. “Do you want anything?”

Taemin blinked at Minho. “Ah, no. I’m fine, don’t worry. I don’t like…cheese,” he said after a pause.

Minho shrugged. “As long as the salami’s mine.” He turned towards his beloved salami platter when someone blocked him.

“Hi there, nice to meet you!”

Minho bowed quickly to greet the guy standing in front of him, looking just a few years older than him. He was probably Jonghyun’s age, Minho reasoned. He snuck an irritated glance at the table of food blocked by the guy. His stomach would just have to wait a bit longer. “Nice to meet you, too,” Minho said politely. “I’m Minho.”

“Choi Minho, right,” the guy said, nodding in understanding. “The star athlete on this floor, hm?”

“Uh, yeah, I guess,” Minho said apprehensively. Before he could ask how he already knew about him, he felt a tug on the sleeve of his shirt and looked back to see Taemin.

“Hey, where do you wanna sit– Oh, hello,” Taemin said, bowing to greet the guy in front of them.

The guy bowed in response, shooting them both warm smiles. “I’m Lee Jinki. Well, technically Professor Lee but you can just call me Jinki or Professor Jinki while we’re here. I’m the resident professor on this floor, which is how I know all your names, Lee Taemin.” Minho felt Taemin jump slightly in surprise beside him. But Jinki smiled at them widely again, putting him at ease. “Have you tried the quesadillas? I made them myself. It’s a monthly tradition in this hall.”

“But you look so young,” Taemin blurted out. He seemed to catch his mistake and cowered next to Minho, staring down at his shoes. But he was right. Minho didn’t think he looked much older than Jonghyun who was just twenty-one, and even that was stretching it. How could this guy be a professor? “My apologies, I didn’t mean–”

“No, it’s fine,” Jinki said with a lighthearted laugh as if he was used to it. “I get that all the time. Plus, it’s a compliment.” He took one final look at them and said, “If you two need anything during the year, please don’t hesitate to see me or the RA. We’re here to help you, okay? Especially since I know it’s your first year.” He directed that last bit meaningfully at Taemin.

“I– yeah,” Taemin said. He hesitated, searching for the right words before settling on something safe, “Thank you, gyosunim.”

“Thank you,” Minho added quickly as well.

Jinki left them to go talk to some other students and Minho resumed his quest for the salami, eyeing it from across the room. Taemin could make do on his own, his stomach told him. “I’m starving,” he muttered to himself, taking quick strides to the table and leaving Taemin behind him.

The sharp scent of fermented meat made his mouth water as he got closer. He loved meat, even before he was bitten, and this curse of his just seemed to make it stronger. After piling a satisfactory amount of slices onto his small plate, he looked around the crowded room to find Taemin again. But his eyes snagged first on the television, playing a live basketball game. Oh, this he couldn’t miss.

Eyes glued to the game, his legs automatically guided him to the couch, where he numbly sat on the arm. He stuffed his mouth with salami slices, chewing them over as he watched one of the teams score a three-pointer. The students on the couch cheered in excitement, and Minho joined in. Maybe he should befriend some of these guys.

The person sitting closest to him let out a loud scoff. Minho glared at him, catching him in time to see him rolling his eyes.

“If you hate the game so much, why are you even watching?” Minho snapped.

The guy glared back. “There’s not much else to do, is there?” Crossing his arms and settling deeper into the couch, he added, “So I might as well hate-watch.”

Anger flared up inside of Minho. He was taking up a perfectly good couch spot from a perfectly good sports fan - ahem, Minho - just so that he could scoff and roll his eyes the entire time. “Or you could just leave.”

“You’d like that, huh.” Then the guy laughed, amused. He stuck out his hand at Minho, a smile crinkling up the corners of his eyes. “Name’s Kibum.”

“Minho.” He shook his hand, surprised at the sudden mood shift. Kibum then scooched over on the couch and patted the spot next to him, inviting Minho to squish in with him.

“It’ll be interesting to piss you off more as the game goes on.”

His words were harsh but his tone was sarcastic and light. Minho couldn’t help but smile, popping the last slice of salami into his mouth. He and Kibum bantered for the next hour, learning about each other’s majors and hometowns. When Minho let him know that he had transferred this year from a rural school, Kibum let out a low whistle.

“A country boy, hm? I’m from Daegu originally. The transition last year was interesting.” He frowned, remembering his freshman year. “But how’s Seoul treating you?”

“Well, I just moved in today,” Minho said, slightly embarrassed. “I’ve really only met you. Oh, and my roommate.”

“Who’s that?” Kibum asked.

Minho tore his eyes away from the television - it was a commercial break anyway - and searched the room for Taemin’s familiar face. He noticed him making conversation with a group of people, nodding along and laughing at whatever joke they had cracked. Minho gestured towards him for Kibum’s sake. “The youngest-looking one. Lee Taemin.”

Kibum twisted on the couch to look at Taemin, eyes softening. “Aw, he looks so cute. His face is like a baby’s.” Then he paused, remembering something. “Wait, he’s the one that’s eighteen right? Skipped a year?”

Minho nodded but asked, “How do you know?”

Kibum shrugged nonchalantly. “Heard some people talking about it. Wow, he really does look young. Like a delicate flower boy,” he laughed, turning back towards the television. “Better take good care of the kid.”

“He’s not helpless,” Minho said, remembering how he carried that stack of heavy-looking cardboard boxes easily earlier, even though he looked sick. Other than being a little nervous at times, Taemin seemed totally fine.

He smiled as he gazed at Taemin for a few more moments. He really did look dainty and delicate from here, as if he was made of china glass. His careless, gummy smile lit up his face again at another joke and the guy beside him patted him on the back in laughter, making him stumble forward a bit, his face still smiling. It didn’t seem like he needed Minho’s help adjusting - and, hell, Minho wasn’t even sure he was in the position to help anyone with his situation - but he could be a good roommate and friend at least.

When the welcome party died down, Minho left Kibum to find Taemin and let him know he was going to sleep.

“Now?” Taemin looked at him quizzically, his eyes still bright and awake. Minho’s felt like they were drooping.

“Yeah, it’s later than my usual bedtime.” Minho checked the time on his phone with a yawn. “Past midnight. How are you not tired? Unpacking exhausted me.”

“Oh, no, I am tired,” Taemin said quickly. After waving goodbye to the people he was chatting with, he joined Minho on the way back to their dorm. “I guess I just have a later bedtime,” he said after a moment.

“Just don’t wake me up at 2 AM or something crazy,” Minho said lightheartedly, bumping his shoulder into Taemin’s as they walked. “Some of us still have sleep schedules.”

“Right,” Taemin smiled shyly. Minho realized that he hadn’t seen Taemin smile at something he had said until just then and his heart swelled with pride. He liked making Taemin smile.

“Goodnight, Taemin,” Minho said once they were inside their dorm. “I’ll be quiet tomorrow morning so you can sleep in.”

“No, don’t worry about it. I can, uh, sleep through anything.” Minho just smiled, sensing that Taemin was just trying to be accommodating but decided to be as quiet as possible the next morning anyway. “And goodnight. Thanks for coming with me tonight.”

As Minho drifted into blissful sleep, he wondered what Taemin was dreaming about and whether he was sleeping well.

. . .

“Oh, no.”

It was Minho’s voice. Taemin excitedly spun around to greet him, a spoon in his hand from scooping up the remaining bits of rice in the cooker. “You’re back! How was your exam?”

Minho groaned, throwing his backpack down and kicking off his shoes before collapsing onto the couch face first. “It went.”

“I cooked!” Taemin finished off the two bowls of rice, grabbed the steaming mandoo, and placed them on the low table in front of the television. “As congratulations for getting through the test.”

“I could tell.”

Minho’s voice was muffled by the cushions but Taemin could tell that he wasn’t exactly over the moon about Taemin’s gift. Using his whiniest voice, Taemin said, “I made this for you. The least you could do is try it.”

“Last time you tried cooking, you almost burned down the entire hall,” Minho deadpanned. “Not to mention it tasted horrible.”

“Okay, that was an accident and almost a month ago,” Taemin scoffed. “And that’s why I stuck to rice this time. Something even I can’t mess up.” When Minho didn’t move, he added quickly in a quiet tone, “The mandoo was pre-made.”

Minho perked up, moving to sit on the floor with Taemin and finding his chopsticks. “Now that I will gladly eat.” He looked tired but still as handsome as ever, and Taemin’s heart fluttered when their knees touched. He beamed, passing him the plate of mandoo and smiling even bigger when Minho tried the rice and nodded in approval. “Not awful, Taemin-ah.”

“Thanks, hyung,” Taemin said through a mouthful of rice that (Minho was right) didn’t taste awful. It did nothing to calm his stomach or alleviate nausea plaguing him the entire afternoon but he swallowed it anyway, keeping up appearances with Minho. Human food did nothing for him, but he could pretend to eat it. But maybe buying the mandoo was a mistake too. It smelled way too strong. He’d have to take some extra suppressors tonight before he passed out or something.

Or worse, his brain told him. Taemin didn’t want to think about it.

He changed the subject from food. “Hyung, I heard about a party next week. Someone’s house a few blocks away. Do you wanna go?” Minho always agreed to these things. Now that they were roommates, they had also become each other’s de facto “social event friend,” and it brought them even closer with every party or getty they decided to show up at. Or so Taemin hoped.

Minho hesitated, chopsticks halfway up to his mouth. “I can’t. I have a thing.”

“Another party?” Taemin blinked at him, surprised. They both had the same group of friends or at least ran in the same social circles. What event could Minho be talking about that Taemin didn’t know?

“No, it’s a, uh– a family thing.” Minho stuffed his face with some mandoo, avoiding Taemin’s eyes before swallowing and sighing deeply. “I’m sorry, Taemin. I really can’t miss it.” His voice was sincere.

Taemin tried to hide his disappointment and nausea that his rice seemed to stir up even more. He stopped eating it, knowing it would do nothing good for him anyway. “It’s fine, hyung. I’ll go by myself or figure something out. We don’t have to go to every event together.” He tried laughing, but it came out dry and strained.

“I really wish I could go,” Minho said after a pause. “It’s fun going to these things with you. Even if you always want to stay ‘till 3 AM.”

“You just get tired way too quickly.”

“I’m human, Taemin-ah,” Minho scolded playfully. But after saying those words, something in his expression fell and he returned to eating his rice. “We’ll go to the next party,” he said after a few long moments.

“Right.” Taemin didn’t have the energy to press Minho about that strange reaction because his head began pounding and colors started blurring together. He blinked rapidly a few times, trying to clear his vision.

Minho seemed to notice. He looked up and panic flew across his face as he asked, “Taemin? Taemin-ah? Where are your pills?”

Taemin shut his eyes tightly, willing the pounding to stop just for one second. He reached down into his pocket and pulled out the small container, dropping it clumsily onto the table.

“How many?” Minho asked, his voice distant compared to thumping in his ears.

“Two– three,” Taemin corrected himself.

He heard Minho rattling three pills out of the container, pressing them into Taemin’s palm. “Water,” he said, passing him a water bottle as well. Taemin swallowed the pills quickly, waiting for the familiar relief to wash over him.

It took a few seconds, but the pounding finally stopped and nausea let up if only a little at first. He blinked at Minho and exhaled slowly. “Thanks, hyung.”

Minho still looked concerned, his hand pressing down on Taemin’s shoulder comfortingly. But Taemin didn’t have the energy to feel excited like he usually did at these tiny touches. He didn’t even feel nervous when Minho grabbed his chin and forced him to look him in the eyes. That now-familiar dog smell hit Taemin all at once, but after a month of living with him, the smell wasn’t unpleasant. It was kind of…sweet, somehow. Which didn’t make any sense, but whatever. He didn’t have the energy to decipher that either.

And now that sweet smell was just too much all at once for Taemin, who felt weakened and tired. Minho was talking. “Those migraines keep getting worse. I think you should see a doctor,” he said for the millionth time. He didn’t seem to care how much Taemin told him that he couldn’t see a doctor, that his parents were against it and would murder him if they found out. Minho still insisted.

Taemin shrugged Minho’s hands off him and stood up on wobbly legs. “I think I just need to go to my room.”

Hurt flashed in Minho’s eyes for a split second before concern overtook it again. “Taemin-ah.”

“What?” He was exhausted. He just needed some blood from his fridge, but he couldn’t exactly whip that out in the living room with Minho right there. No matter how inconspicuous the labels on the cans of blood tried to be, reading things like Extra Red Punch Energy Drink!, Minho had a strangely good sense of smell and would pick up that it wasn’t a normal soda or energy drink can. “I’m tired.”

Minho’s face softened, probably because Taemin never said he was tired. Minho was so easy to read: If he’s saying it now, it must be really bad. “Call me if you need anything, okay? I’ll clean up here.”

Taemin nodded stiffly and stumbled back into his room, sighing in relief when he downed an entire can of goat’s blood in one breath. He smeared it off his lips, not bothering to wash his hands right now. He just needed to close his eyes for a bit, even if sleep would never reach him, no matter much he tried, for the rest of eternity. But all he needed was a minute. Just a minute…

Which was all he got before his phone started buzzing with a call from his mom. Great, just what he needed. He debated not picking up but gave in, knowing she’d flip out and call the police or something. “Hey, Mom.”

“Taemin-ah,” she said, smiling into his ear. “How have classes gone today?”

“No different from yesterday. Or the day before. Or the day before that, when you also called.” Taemin knew he was being snippy but couldn’t help it. Not when the swimming nauseous feeling still bothered him.

But his mom didn’t get angry. Her voice sounded in his ear, laced with concern, “What’s wrong, Taemin-ah?”

“Nothing,” he said quickly, turning around in his bed and gritting his teeth.

“You get like this when you’re hungry. The animal blood isn’t enough, is it?”

“That’s not it,” he forced out. God, it was so hard to lie to her.

She kept pressing. “How many of those suppressors are you taking?”

“Enough. I’m fine.”

“Taemin, we don’t know how toxic those– those drugs are yet.” Her voice was rising in pitch, a tell that she was getting angry. Taemin swallowed back dread. “You’re poisoning and starving yourself. Do you realize how dangerous that is?”

Taemin had run out of things to say, energy sapped from his body from his episode. “I– I’m doing fine, Mom. Please believe me.”

He heard his mom take a deep breath on the other end of the line. “Taemin, I’m only pressuring you because it’s what’s natural. It’s what’s best for you. If you feel it’s getting too much, just remember what we’ve taught you and you’ll be fine, okay?” She paused and Taemin could tell she was trying to smile on the other end, to ease his worries or her own, he couldn’t tell. “It’s not normal for a vampire to go this long after their first feeding, especially in our family–”

At the stinging reminder of his first time, Taemin snapped back, “How many times do I have to tell you I’m fine, Mom? The human cops aren’t actively persecuting me if that’s what you’re worried about.” He inhaled shakily. “Just let me focus on my classes.”

“Okay.” Her voice sounded small and weak now, and guilt stabbed through him. “Study hard, Taemin-ah.”

“Yeah. Will do, Mom.” He hung up and stared up at the ceiling, wishing not for the first time that he was human. Or at least from a less “established, respected, and old vampire family,” in his family’s words. Even being a regular old vampire would be fine compared to this. He didn’t want the speed or the strength or the glamour or any of it. It all just came with pain.

His mom’s reminder of his first time kept stinging, ever-present in his mind if he thought about it too much. Which is what he was doing now, shit. He shut his eyes tight, trying to block out the memory, but it came anyway. Flashes of bright red, a faceless human…the sounds of agonizing screams, cracking bones…his fangs aching and aching with the need to feed and feed now. A snapped neck. Teeth and razor-sharp nails tearing through flesh, reaching a bloody heart–

Taemin gasped, eyes snapping wide open. He would never let that happen again, especially not now with how many human friends he had made in the dorm. He froze, feeling a chill run up his body as he thought about hurting Minho, feeding on Minho. No, no, no no no–

That wasn’t him. He would never turn into that monster again, least of all to hurt Minho, the boy who quietly got ready to run just in case it would wake him up, or would ruffle up his hair whenever he saw him in between classes or would smile at him from across the room at a party just to make sure he was still okay. No, the very idea of his fangs anywhere near Minho was absurd. The animal blood and suppressors were enough to prevent it and if the price to pay was suffering a few bad headaches and nausea every once in a while, then so be it.

It would be his penance for the monster he had turned into that night.

. . .

“Just fucking admit that you have a crush on him!”

Minho lay sprawled on the bright green grass of the soccer field, the sun setting over the horizon. Practice was over, but Minho had kept playing into the late afternoon, kicking the ball into the goal by himself time and time again until his body gave out and he collapsed onto the ground. Kibum, who preferred studying outside “for inspiration from nature,” sometimes joined him at this time, knowing Minho would either be kicking the ball around aimlessly or panting on the grass.

“I don’t,” Minho was panting on the grass this time, “have a crush on him.”

Kibum t’sked and rolled over onto the grass beside Minho, his papers and textbooks forgotten nearby, pages flipping dangerously in the wind. “Then why’d you bring him up?”

Minho hesitated. He had kind of brought up Taemin randomly. They were just talking about their math classes and Minho had piped up that Taemin always needed help with his math homework, so Minho was getting in some extra practice by tutoring him. It made sense to bring him up. “We were talking about math.”

“That has nothing to do with him.”

“Now it does,” Minho huffed.

Kibum sighed and rolled over to face Minho, propping his head up on his hand, elbow digging into the grass. “Look, Minho. He’s all you fucking talk about.”

“How could you know? You only talk about yourself when we hang out,” Minho said, laughing at the slap he received on his arm.

“If I could notice, then it’s really bad. You can’t go one conversation without ‘Taemin, this’ or ‘Taemin, that,’ or ‘Taeminnie would love this flavor of chips,’ or–”

“Yah,” Minho cut him off, sitting up. “I don’t talk like that.”

Kibum seemed to give up, collapsing back onto the ground with a dramatic sigh. He pulled his sunglasses over his eyes, blocking out his expression. “Idiot,” he muttered. “Don’t come crying when Taemin gets a girlfriend or boyfriend and you get all jealous.”

Minho joined Kibum, laying back onto the ground as well and staring up at the sky. Taemin with a partner? The thought bothered Minho, his lips unwittingly forming a thin line. But it could just be him being overprotective over Taemin, the soft kid Minho went to parties with and helped with math homework. Taemin deserved someone perfect, no less. Minho would make sure of it.

Taemin deserved him.

The thought just popped into his head, and his heart raced at the realization that fuck, maybe Kibum was right about something for once. But before he could begin to understand his feelings and seemingly random thoughts, his phone began ringing, the sound carrying over in the wind from the bleachers. The ringtone sound reserved for Jonghyun.

Minho pushed himself up, telling Kibum, “I gotta take that.” He grabbed his phone and sat down on the first bleacher step, worried about whatever Jonghyun was calling about. The last full moon had gone surprisingly smoothly. Minho hunted in the sanctuary and when he and Jonghyun filled their stomachs with what felt like a lifetime’s worth of food, they lounged around the large forest that made up the sanctuary, enjoying the way the moonlight filtered through the leaves and how the moon seemed to smile down at them. It was peaceful, and afterwards, Minho had said his thank you’s to the centaurs on guard and the fellow werewolves who generously ran the place and returned to his life as a human university student. It was easy. He could get used to this lifestyle, he remembered thinking to himself.

But why was Jonghyun calling now? The next full moon wasn’t for another week. Minho worriedly bit his lip, anticipating Jonghyun’s voice which cheerfully spoke in his ear, “Minho-yah! What’s up with you?”

“Not much. School’s a lot of work but other than that I’m doing well.” He lowered his voice, conscious of Kibum still sun tanning a few feet away on the field. “What’s this about?”

“I can’t call up an old family friend randomly?” Jonghyun laughed. “No, it’s nothing serious. You just forgot some of your stuff here. We only just noticed today as we were cleaning up. Some clothes, I think.”

Minho relaxed. So that’s where his favorite t-shirt had gone. “Can I pick it up next time?”

“Sure, no problem. I’ll keep it safe for you,” Jonghyun said, some shuffling around audible in the background, probably some paperwork or whatever new songs Jonghyun was working on. “Are you excited for next time? Less nervous I hope.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say excited.” Minho had never asked to be bitten, it just happened one night during his freshman year at his old university coming home from some party. He didn’t even remember who it was or how it happened from drinking too much earlier that night, just that when he woke up the next morning, he had bite marks along his bicep and suddenly craved some steak for breakfast. Him showing the marks to Jonghyun who had been visiting was the only reason he didn’t transform the next full moon with no idea of what he even had become. “But definitely not as nervous as before.”

“Good,” Jonghyun smiled into his ear. “I was born like this, and honestly, Minho, it’s not that bad. You’re human all the time until you’re not. You can live a normal life, so stop viewing it as this huge burden you have to deal with alone because you’re not alone either.”

Jonghyun was the only reason Minho knew anything about being a werewolf. He was the only reason he knew that storing animal blood was definitely not a normal thing for werewolves to do. (He had looked at him weirdly when Minho asked, pressing him about the strange habits of his new roommate before Minho snapped at him that he barely knew him.) He was the only reason he had moved to the city, and he was the only person he felt close enough to confide in.

“How’d you know that’s how I felt?”

“Let’s just say you’re not the first werewolf I’ve had to play therapist for,” Jonghyun chuckled. “Alright, so see you next week?”

“I’ll be there.”

. . .

Where the fuck were his pills?

Taemin’s room looked like a hurricane had passed through it, clothes strewn all over the floor and empty drawers open. His reminder alarm had passed now thirty minutes ago and panic was settling. He wasn’t sure if the headache creeping up was his imagination or anxiety or the lack of suppressors. Was he supposed to feel things this quickly after missing a dose? The doctor did say it was important to take them exactly every six hours, fuck fuck fuck–

Taemin aggressively wrenched open the top drawer of his dresser. Too aggressively. It broke off the furniture and dangled helplessly in his hand, clothes spilling onto the floor. Fuck, it was starting. He needed to find them fast. Where could they have gone? He always kept them on his nightstand or in his pockets.

Pockets. He had been wearing Minho’s jacket that morning. It was a particularly chilly spring morning but despite Taemin’s protests that he didn’t get cold, Minho insisted on draping his favorite jean jacket over Taemin’s shoulders, his sweet smell enveloping him and making him sway happily at the door. These little gestures did nothing but fuel his crush on his roommate, a human, but Taemin didn’t care. He could love him from afar and be content. As long as Minho was laughing that high-pitched cackle of his and healthy playing his favorite sports and just happy. Or at least that’s what Taemin told himself.

A loud bang burst through the room when he dropped the drawer on the floor, piercing through his skull. He pressed both hands over his ears, trying to block out the sudden onslaught of sounds. Someone’s Netflix show in the next room over, a couple making out downstairs, a laptop overheating.

He needed those suppressors now.

He fumbled his way to Minho’s bedroom door, remembering how he had accidentally slipped the pill container back into the jacket pocket instead of his pants and returned the jacket that afternoon. But he hesitated. Minho had technically allowed him entry into his room as a vampire that first night, but could he really barge into his room to look through his stuff while he was at that family event?

The pounding at the back of his head told him that he had no choice. He threw open the door, stumbling back at the sudden barrage of smells hitting him all at once. Fuck, his sense of smell was heightened now too. He didn’t have much time. He tried to cover his nose but couldn’t get past the door frame without falling to his knees from how strong and overwhelming Minho’s scent was. It was everywhere, making Taemin’s head spin.

He tried again. Carefully standing on shaky legs, he held his breath which he didn’t even need in the first place. He just breathed out of habit but holding it seemed to dull the smell a little, which was all Taemin needed to super-speed through Minho’s closet and drawers, searching desperately for that jacket. Oh no, his speed was back too.

And he couldn’t find the jacket or the pills. Minho must have taken them with him, Taemin thought despondently. Now that his sense of smell was heightened, he could try tracking him, and he’d probably catch him in time with his speed. But the growing headache made it hard to think straight, that horrible nauseous feeling now catching up to him as well and making him stumble with every step back to his room.

Blood. Animal blood. That’s what he needed right now. He raided his mini-fridge, but he had stupidly forgotten to restock and there was barely anything left. He inhaled two cans of goat’s blood and a gallon of cow’s blood, but it only relieved his nausea, which he knew would come back tenfold if he didn’t do something else about it now.

He knew what he needed to do. He hurried out of his dorm, careful to only use his speed when there was no one around. He consciously ignored the lure of human blood, telling himself that it was just a craving that would pass. He made an effort to stand as far away from fellow students as he could when he passed them down the stairs of his hall, holding the breath he didn’t need so that the smell of blood wouldn’t make his craving even stronger and cause him to lose control.

He felt no relief from his now growing nausea when he burst through the dorm hall’s doors, the crisp night air hitting his face. He shut his eyes tightly and tried to remember where the closest vampire convenience shop was in the city. Two blocks over, Taemin repeated to himself as he trudged through the campus at night to reach the main street. Just two more blocks.

A woman’s shriek shot through the night, freezing him in place. Taemin could tell that the source of the scream wasn’t too far, maybe he should investigate–

He clutched his head in agony from the insistent pounding. No, he had no time to waste and so he forced his feet forward, ignoring the nagging sense that something was deeply wrong with that scream.

Another scream, this one longer and more desperate. Then a cry for help, for anyone nearby to do something. Taemin gritted his teeth and kept walking away from it. He couldn’t do anything, not in this state.

The screams died away, and if Taemin wasn’t desperate for suppressors, that would’ve been the end of it. But his heightened sense of hearing meant he heard the sob coming from the source of the scream. Quiet, insistent sobs that meant the woman had given up hope.

Taemin couldn’t stand it anymore.

He sped towards where he heard the scream, cutting across the entire campus in less than two seconds. It was pitch-black in this secluded part of the campus, with no lights from any streetlamps or neighboring buildings. But now he had night-vision too, great. He pushed the thought about his abilities returning and the desperation for his suppressors away when he saw two men pinning a woman to the ground, a piece of cloth tied tightly around her face that stopped her from screaming. Tears streamed down her face as they roughly manhandled her, cursing and hitting her when she kept trying to resist.

She hadn’t seen Taemin a few feet away. But when one of the men started lifting up the woman’s skirt, Taemin moved quickly, punching the offender hard in the stomach. He stumbled back, coughing and looking up in shock. To them, Taemin was just a shadowy, faceless figure trying to get in their way.

“Get out of here, punk. This isn’t your business,” the other man said. He was kneeling, arms still pressing the woman into the pavement.

“Make me.” Taemin swung and hit the man over the woman with another hard punch, feeling his skull crack against his knuckles. He collapsed onto the ground with a soft thud. Taemin dusted his palms off and reached for the woman, helping her stand. “Get out of here, somewhere well lit with people,” he whispered to her. She nodded quickly and sprinted away as Taemin stared down the remaining man. “You’re next,” he growled.

The man said nothing but moved into a fighting stance, one Taemin recognized from all his martial arts lessons as a kid. But Taemin didn’t have time for a sparring session, not with his head still pounding, his vision reddening, and adrenaline pumping through his veins. This is what happened before his first time, before he–

The man kicked Taemin in the side, clearly hoping to send him sideways and onto the ground. But Taemin barely moved, he barely even felt it. He glanced at the guy’s leg by his side and then smirked at his stupid, shocked expression.

“My turn.”

Taemin struck him across the jaw, some of the man’s teeth spilling onto the floor with a soft clatter that only Taemin could hear. He examined his knuckles casually, not even a bruise on them, while the man before him crumpled over, screaming and clutching his mouth in agony, blood running down his chin.

Blood. The smell rammed into Taemin all at once, nostrils flaring with how good, how delicious, it smelled. He could practically taste it running over his tongue, his teeth, spilling down his chin. Red edged his vision as he approached the man again, smirking heinously at the choked sob he let out. He kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying and skidding back on the pavement. His fangs were aching with want, with need. Taemin stalked towards the man once more, eyes narrowing as any control he had over his body unraveled when he released his fangs with a hiss. The man struggled to get up and coughed up blood, staining the pavement.

Taemin’s pupils dilated, and everything went black when he lunged.

He felt bloated the next morning. No, afternoon, Taemin groaned as he checked his phone on his nightstand that read 3 PM. He squinted, the light pouring in through his window too bright for him, the colors of his clothes strewn across the floor too vibrant. He inhaled deeply and caught a whiff of quesadillas which he somehow knew were being cooked two floors below. His senses were still heightened, but without the insistent pounding at the back of his head, he could focus on each detail flooding his mind, dissecting them and analyzing their value.

Taemin groaned again as he rolled over on his bed, feeling stuffed and full and gross. He had never felt this full in his entire life, not even after his first feeding.

His first feeding. His eyes snapped open in panic, and he frantically ran his tongue over his teeth, dreading the moment they caught on his fangs and sighing in relief when they didn’t. He rubbed his hands down his face, breathing deeply.

But when he pulled them away, he saw faint red rubbed off and stained on them, the clear remnants of dried blood.

. . .

The sanctuary’s lounge was relatively empty today. Minho observed a couple of kids playing video games in one corner and a woman cleaning up the leftovers of some baby back ribs on the table.

“Minho-yah!” Jonghyun enveloped Minho in a tight hug, patting him affectionately on the back. “Early as usual, huh.”

Minho stuffed his backpack into one of the cubbies. “Is that why no one’s here?”

“The sun sets in three hours, of course no one else is here,” Jonghyun laughed. He handed Minho a bag. “And by the way, here are your things from before. Don’t leave stuff again or we’ll confiscate it.”

“Actually?”

“No, silly,” Jonghyun said with a playful slap. “My mom would never enforce such a rule.”

“Where is your mom, by the way? I want to thank her for everything.”

“Sobam noona!” Jonghyun yelled loudly. A kid looked up from the video in curiosity before quickly returning to spamming his remote. “Where’s Mom?”

A young woman peered in through the doorframe. “Talking to Heechul outside. Why?”

“Minho-yah wants to see her,” Jonghyun smiled, pushing Minho forward.

He bowed politely to greet Jonghyun’s older sister, “Hi, Sodam-ssi.”

“Aish, Minho.” She pulled him into a tight hug just like Jonghyun had. “No need to be so formal, I’ve known you since you were in diapers, hm?” She ruffled up his hair kindly. “How are your parents?”

“They’re doing fine. Things are boring without me, is what they keep telling me,” Minho chuckled.

“I’m sure they are without your handsome face brightening things up,” she said, playfully pinching his cheeks and stretching out his face.

“Stop flirting with him, noona,” Jonghyun’s annoyed voice sounded from behind.

“Yah, I’m just stating the facts.” After a moment, she let go and patted his cheek softly. Voice gentle, she asked, “And I take it they don’t know…?”

Minho shook his head. “No one but Jonghyun and the others here know.” He tried to keep his voice level, not betraying how much it hurt to think about the big secret he was keeping from everyone he cared about.

But Sodam noticed anyway. She frowned and pulled Minho in for another tight hug, rubbing her hand along his back comfortingly. “We’re your family here, Minho. Everyone here is, don’t you forget that, okay?”

“Like a pack.”

“Not the time for jokes, Jonghyun-ah,” Sodam scolded. She let Minho go, observing his face. He hoped he didn’t look like he was about to cry. “These nights can be fun too, you know? Me and Jonghyunnie have come up with some games to pass the time. The kids love them.”

“That sounds great,” Minho said, cheering up when one of the kids playing video games rushed over to Sodam and tugged on the fabric of her pants insistently.

“What is it, Yoogeun-ah?” Sodam asked.

“Can we play duck-duck-goose tonight?”

Sodam hummed playfully, leaning down to squish Yoogeun’s face. “I don’t know… I didn’t hear the magic word.”

Jonghyun explained softly behind Minho. “Their parents are human. They drop them off here so that they can turn safely.”

Minho looked at Yoogeun, a kid probably barely six years old, cursed with turning into a beast with every full moon. He couldn’t imagine dealing with that at such a young age. He could barely deal with it now as a twenty-year-old.

“Pretty please?” Yoogeun pleaded with Sodam in a high-pitched voice.

“How can I say no to that?” Sodam booped his nose cutely. “Remind me later and we’ll play, okay?”

Yoogeun nodded and scurried back to the video game in the corner of the room. Sodam sighed, standing up straight now. “I know you wanted to see Mom tonight, but she’s really busy running this place with the inspection stuff and all. The city’s giving us a hard time again.”

“But I thought we passed fine last time?” Jonghyun asked.

“That was last time. They added a bunch of stupid rules and–” She ran a hand through her hair. “I’ll let her know that you were looking for her tonight, Minho. Maybe you’ll see her in the forest. It’s not the same as the family brunches we used to have but…”

“That sounds fine, noona,” Minho assured her, giving her his best smile.

Turns out he did see Jonghyun’s mother later that night in the forest. Granted, it was definitely strange meeting someone he hadn’t seen for a few years while both of them were wolves, but as the night progressed, Minho felt himself naturally embracing his form. They couldn’t speak telepathically – that was reserved for family members and those in an official pack, of which Minho was not still a part – but conversing as a wolf was somehow easy and natural.

He and Jonghyun hunted together for the first part of the night after meeting his mother, making games of their animal prey and feasting hungrily whenever they caught something. Once they were full, Jonghyun grunted to Minho to follow him. Together, they emerged from the forest, meeting the centaurs guarding the edge, their stoic figures illuminated in the moonlight.

Ever since he was a kid and learned about the different monsters that lived in the world in hiding, Minho had always felt bad for centaurs. They couldn’t disguise themselves as human, putting them inevitably at the most risk of all monsters. But only when Minho had turned into one himself, and Jonghyun had confided in him about also being a werewolf, did Jonghyun explain to him that sanctuaries like this around the world were not only for werewolves, but for centaurs and those who had no other option, or else be persecuted by humans. The centaurs provided guard while the werewolves hunted, making sure none of the wolves escaped into the city, and in return, they had a place to live and stay safe.

Minho knew all these things. But he had yet to meet a centaur, and though Minho was a large wolf, the centaur before him towered over him, looking down at him with a stern gaze. If Minho wasn’t a super-powered wolf right now, he would’ve started sweating with nerves.

“Heechul hyung,” Jonghyun grunted, bowing his head, light brown fur catching the moonlight. The first time Minho had transformed in the sanctuary, he was surprised at how the grunts and barks from the other wolves sounded just like words to him. And how he could easily speak as well.

“Jonghyun-ah, have you eaten yet?” Heechul asked in Korean, some worry in his voice.

“Of course I did. I wouldn’t have come to see you otherwise,” Jonghyun said, annoyed.

“You can understand us?” Minho barked out, surprised.

Heechul spared him a glance. “We study thousands of languages.”

Before Minho could ask how barks and howls possibly constituted a language, Jonghyun spoke beside him. “Was Mom really worried about these inspections?”

Heechul sighed, eyes gazing up to the sky, the full moon smiling down at them with her cool light. “The inspectors are nervous about vampires and taking it out on us.”

“Vampires?” Minho asked.

Heechul continued as if he hadn’t heard Minho. “There have been an increase in vampire attacks in the city. They’re obviously vampires by the way the humans have died so I don’t understand why they’re blaming us or you all but,” his front hoof struck the ground with a soft thud, “it’s gonna take some convincing to get them to believe us.”

“Those damned vampires,” Jonghyun cursed. “They only care about themselves.” Looking back up at Heechul, he asked helplessly, “Don’t the inspectors realize that if they close us down, it’s more dangerous for humans?”

“They don’t care about that. They don’t care about us, you know this, Jonghyun-ah.” Heechul’s stoic expression hardened. “It’s just the way the world works, and they’ll always get their way.”

A distant howl cut through the quiet of the night, and Jonghyun sighed and stepped back, looking at Minho. “It’s Sodam noona. She wants us to play with the kids.”

Minho had understood that from the howl. Heechul also seemed to understand, already walking away and leaving them alone in the night. If Minho were born a centaur, he’d also harbor the same hatred for humans, he reasoned.

But as it stood, Minho was not a centaur. He had been human for almost his entire life, and he was still practically human for the majority of it, like Jonghyun had said. You’re human all the time until you’re not.

And Minho was in love with a human. There, he had admitted it to himself, although he would probably never admit it to Kibum. He had completely and utterly fallen for Taemin with his soft, giggly disposition. Taemin, with his adorable gummy smile and hiccupy laugh. Taemin, with his bright eyes that looked up at Minho whenever they stood near each other, if only Minho could lean down and kiss him.

He couldn’t possibly harbor so much hatred towards humans because he was stupidly in love with one and would do everything in his power to protect him.

“Minho-yah,” Jonghyun called, jerking his head in the direction of the forest again. “The kids.”

“Coming.” Minho lept into the forest after Jonghyun, a howl ripping through his throat to let the pack know he was on his way.

Minho trudged up his dorm hall’s steep flight of stairs, cursing the engineer that refused to install an elevator. He always felt exhausted after the full moon, sometimes sleeping through the entire next day, but he had two classes to attend in the morning and barely got through them after rushing back from the sanctuary late, even as he had a smile on his face from how liberating and fun the last night had been after talking to Heechul. He and Jonghyun had played with Sodam and the kids for most of the night, jumping and running around the forest until they were out of breath and panting in a moonlit flower field Jonghyun had discovered years before.

But he hadn’t even been back to his room the entire day, and he could practically hear his bed beckoning him from a few floors up. He threw open the heavy stairwell door, jumping when he heard it thump against someone.

“Yah, watch where you’re going,” Kibum muttered, rubbing his head as he walked away. He didn’t look at Minho, and it seemed like he was in a rush, but Minho couldn’t help it.

“You’ve got eyes too.”

Kibum spun around on his heel, a glare set on his face before he realized it was Minho. His features softened into a knowing smirk and he drawled out, “Hello, Choi Minho. Late night?” He glanced knowingly at the mesh bag of clothes slung around his shoulder. Minho’s face reddened, but before he could say anything, Kibum placed his hands on his hips. “Let me guess, Taemin? Hm, but that doesn’t make any sense, you live together…” he mused teasingly, eyes narrowing at Minho.

“No, that’s not–” Minho started before Kibum waved his hand at him dismissively.

“I don’t have time for your denial,” he said impatiently. He lowered his voice to a whisper and stepped closer to Minho, eyes darting around the hallway. “I was rushing over to tell my roommate, but did you hear about the attack last night?”

“Attack?”

“Yeah, I accidentally overheard Professor Jinki and some cop talking about it. Two guys dead in the north end, pretty brutally killed apparently.”

Minho’s eyes widened. “Killed? How do they know?”

“Pretty sure if they had alcohol poisoning they wouldn’t be so hush-hush about it,” Kibum rolled his eyes. “But no, get this. One guy’s heart was excised.”

Minho gaped. “As in– torn out?”

“Yeah, that’s all I heard before I had to go. Crazy shit, right?” Kibum shook his head, stepping back and glancing down the hall towards his dorm. “I don’t know why they haven’t made an announcement or something, though. If there’s some manic serial killer running around campus who tears out his victims’ hearts in the dead of night, then I’d like to know.”

Minho nodded mutely, murmuring a quick goodbye to Kibum before he rushed off to his dorm, leaving Minho standing in the quiet hallway. An excised heart? Brutally murdered? Was this what Heechul was talking about, the vampire attacks? Minho took a shuddering breath in and headed towards his dorm, trying to block out the mental image of two torn up bodies lying across campus, shimmering with wet blood.

The dorm was a disaster. The cushions on the couch were upturned, the drawers in their tiny kitchen halfway open, and utensils on the floor.

What happened?

Minho carefully stepped into the dorm, clicking the door shut behind him and sliding off his shoes. Was this Taemin’s doing? Was Taemin even home? He hesitantly made his way towards Taemin’s bedroom door, hesitating before knocking.

What if Taemin had thrown some sort of party last night and had gotten so wasted he was still asleep in the afternoon? Or what if he wasn’t asleep? What if he was making out with some guest from the party right this minute?

He was jumping to conclusions. Jealous conclusions. Shaking the thoughts away, he prepared to knock before hearing a soft, choked sob from inside the room. He pressed his ear against the door, worry drawn all over his face as the sobs continued, hiccupy and desperate. He forgot about knocking and burst through Taemin’s door loudly. “Taemin-ah, what’s wrong?”

Taemin sat in a huddled ball on his floor, t-shirts and underwear littered all over the floor. One drawer from his dresser lay detached from the piece of furniture on the floor. There were crushed cans thrown near his mini-fridge, along with a gallon jug. The only normal thing was his bed, which was wrinkled but still made, indicating that someone had just lain on top of it.

“Hyung?”

Minho looked down at Taemin, a shaking pile of limps on the floor, small and delicate and hurt. He was a mess, snot, and tears running down his face from who knows how long he had been crying. When Taemin noticed Minho studying him, he rubbed his hands aggressively over his face, wiping it all off. Then he sat on his hands and stared at the floor, a small whimper escaping from his throat.

“Taemin, what happened?” Minho asked, hoping his voice conveyed all the concern he felt. What could have happened to Taemin to leave him like this? Who had done this to him? Minho’s blood boiled at the thought that someone had hurt Taemin this badly. He navigated his way through the maze of litter in the bedroom, sinking down onto the floor beside Taemin, their backs against his bed frame and knees slightly touching. He ignored the urge to pull Taemin into a tight hug. When Taemin still didn’t speak, Minho carefully said, “Taemin-ah, you can tell me.”

Taemin whimpered again, another tear falling from his chin. Minho couldn’t take it anymore and wrapped Taemin up with his strong arms, patting his back comfortingly as more sobs ripped through Taemin’s throat. They stayed like that for a few minutes, waiting as Taemin’s cries softened to some heavy breathing and finally stopped. Minho rubbed his back through it all, heart hurting with the way he felt the fabric of his shirt getting wet with Taemin’s tears.

His jaw clenched. Whoever did this to Taemin would pay.

When Taemin finally pulled away, he stood up on shaky legs and pulled some tissues out of the box, blowing his nose loudly. They both said nothing as Taemin exhausted his nostrils and cleaned up his face before sitting by Minho on the floor again.

“Are you okay?” Minho asked quietly.

Taemin sniffled and gave him a small nod, eyes trained on the floor. “I’m a little better.”

Minho tried again. “What happened?”

“I…I can’t tell you.”

Minho leaned forward to look Taemin in the eyes. “You can tell me anything, Taemin-ah. Nothing will scare me away.” He meant it.

“No, this is bad,” Taemin said helplessly. “You won’t ever see me the same way again.”

“Trashing the apartment isn’t the end of the world, Taemin,” Minh tried. “You just have to let me know next time you decide to throw a party–”

“No,” Taemin cut him off. “No, it’s not like that. It’s worse.” He let his head hang between his knees. “A thousand times worse.”

Minho took Taemin’s hand in his, sensing him tense with his touch. Was he making it worse? He brushed the thought away, focused on telling Taemin as lovingly as he could, “You can tell me anything. Tell me who did this to you.”

“It was me,” Taemin cried, looking up at Minho with panicked eyes. “Me. I did it.”

“I told you, the mess isn’t that big of a deal, we can just cl–”

Taemin tried pulling his hand away but Minho held on. “You shouldn’t even be near me,” ripped out of Taemin, another choked sob following.

“Taemin, what’s wrong? What are you saying?” Minho turned Taemin’s hand over in his, ready to rub his thumb soothingly over his palm. “What happened to your hands?” His palms were stained slightly red, some dried blood visible underneath his nails.

Taemin snatched his hand away, not looking Minho in the eye. “I can’t tell you.”

“Taemin, if you don’t tell me, I can’t help you,” Minho pleaded.

“You can’t help me either way.”

“Let me try,” Minho cried. “It’s killing me to see you like this, you know? Sobbing on the floor for a reason you won’t tell me.”

Taemin bit back another sob, shutting his eyes tightly. “I can’t do this anymore,” he said through gritted teeth. “I can’t, I can’t.”

“Do what?”

“It’s too much, I can’t,” he repeated like a mantra.

“What’s too much?” Minho pressed.

“I’m a vampire, okay?” Taemin snapped, staring at Minho. He took a shaky breath in. “There, I said it. I…I’m a vampire.”

Minho didn’t speak for a moment, opening and closing his mouth pointlessly as he struggled to say something and Taemin continued staring at him. “A vampire? You?” he finally managed, his voice hoarse. Taemin nodded solemnly.

“So the blood…the attack… That– that was you?”

Taemin tensed but remained silent, confirming Minho’s suspicion. “I didn’t mean it,” he whispered after a few moments. “I didn’t want any of this, I didn’t mean it.”

Minho’s stomach twisted in on itself. He felt betrayed, lied to. Taemin? The sweet kid who cooked bad rice for him and needed math help was a vampire? The most dangerous monster, capable of brutal deaths and mutilations, feeding on human beings and damned for eternity. It just didn’t make any sense.

Taemin had murdered two men.

And now he was sitting cross-legged next to him in his bedroom. Minho shifted so that their knees were no longer touching, burying his face in his hands.

“A vampire,” he said finally.

It wasn’t a question, just a statement. Minho knew Taemin wasn’t joking, and it all started adding up in a rush in his mind: the pungent smell of animal blood from his room that first day, why he was never tired, his paleness, why he barely ate. The realization, the lies, the coverups were all too much for Minho.

“Hyung?”

Minho lifted his head with some difficulty, blinking at Taemin numbly. He still had the same tear-stained, adorable face that Minho had wanted to kiss hundreds of times before and just minutes ago wanted to hug and comfort. But now Minho noticed his teeth and wondered what he would look like with his fangs out, hissing and ravenous for blood. It scared him, and it scared him that he didn’t seem to know this side of Taemin at all. It was like meeting a completely different person he entirely disliked, one he knew was evil, but learning they were one in the same with someone he loved. It was too much all at once.

He stood up rapidly. “I need to go.”

“Hyung, wait–”

“Wait for what?” Minho turned away from Taemin, unable to look him in the eyes. “Wait for you to attack me or something? And what if I had been here last night?” He paused, breathing quickly. He shut his eyes tightly as he forced out, “It would’ve been me, right?”

Taemin pleaded, voice cracking, “No, no, hyung I’d never–”

“Taemin, I can’t do this right now. I need some time,” Minho said bruskly, pushing his way out of his bedroom and into the hall, running down the stairs and across the campus, towards the one place he knew he’d be safe.

“Jonghyun hyung,” Minho panted when he reached the sanctuary after Jonghyun had helped him walk inside. “I found the vampire.”

. . .

Taemin stared at his door, slowly swinging back into place after Minho had roughly pushed it open and stormed out. There was no sound, except the quiet ticking of the clock down the hall Taemin could hear if he focused.

Which he couldn’t because Minho had left him. Minho had left him. Minho had looked at him with pure fear, wide eyes trained on his mouth, no doubt examining his hidden fangs. He had completely shattered whatever idea he had of Taemin, leaving a shell of a person – no, not even a person. A monster.

Minho had reacted the exact way Taemin would have if he were in his place, he couldn’t even blame him.

Taemin blinked back the tears burning behind his eyes. He’d done enough crying already with Minho.

Stop thinking about Minho!

He had lost Minho. And he just had to accept that.

He inhaled deeply, staggering to his feet. He had to think logically now, no matter how much his heart hurt. His life was more at stake with every passing moment, the human cops no doubt putting two and two together pretty soon. Taemin could call his brother since he had been the one to help him last time this happened. Or his parents, Taemin remembered with a cringe.

But one quick glance at the mirror and seeing his disheveled, bloody, and cried-out self staring back at him with a blank expression told him that he was in no position to deal with his overbearing family even if they could help him. At least not right now. He needed to compose himself first, maybe find someone else to talk to. As he cleaned up in the bathroom, looking somewhat presentable again, he ran over his options again. Besides his parents and family friends from out of town, he didn’t know any other vampires.

Which is how he ended up sitting outside the nearest vampire convenience store, sipping on an apple-juice carton that actually contained goat’s blood, the receipt crumpled on the table. He figured he might as well buy his favorite flavor. Maybe he’d feel better.

Once he finished his drink, he leaned back in his chair, people-watching those passing by on the sidewalk. They didn’t spare the convenience store a glance, very easily disguised as a normal human one. But there was a secret back area open only to vampires, making it perfect for those who needed to restock on suppressors or a quick fix of animal blood. Taemin cringed when he remembered how close he was last night to the store, on the brink before losing control.

But he didn’t regret saving the woman, even if he killed two evil men in the process. He just couldn’t find it in himself to feel that sorry.

Until Minho’s shocked face flashed again in his mind.

Taemin ran a frustrated hand through his hair, focusing on calming down his breathing. He was here to find another vampire, that was the whole point. He refocused on the plan, taking note of anyone who walked into the store and if they went into the secret back area. He thought about talking to the cashier but the glare she sent him when he tried to make small talk as he bought his goat’s blood sent a shiver down his spine and scared him off. He’d have to resort to a passerby.

“Taemin?”

Taemin blinked up at the voice and was surprised to see Professor Jinki standing before him, dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt. “Professor,” Taemin said, hurriedly getting to his feet to greet him with a bow.

Jinki smiled at him warmly. “Will you be here for a while? I’d like to chat.”

Talk with him here? Was he in trouble? “Sure,” Taemin stammered out. “I’m staying for a while.”

“Great.” Jinki glanced towards the convenience store. “I’ll be right back. The stuff I need to buy is in the back,” he said before winking at Taemin and leaving him flabbergasted alone at the table.

Jinki couldn’t be a vampire too, could he? Taemin watched through the window with his heart in his throat as Jinki approached the cashier and she nodded and led him through to the secret vampire section.

Jinki was a vampire.

A vampire who clearly knew about Taemin, what with that wink he gave him earlier. How did he find out? Was Taemin that obvious? He had kept it from Minho for this long, and Minho was the person he had spent the most time with.

But his thoughts were interrupted when Jinki returned, two cans of cow’s blood in his hands. He sat down across from Taemin, sliding one of the cans over to him. Taemin took it hesitantly, eyeing Jinki the entire time, the can cracking open with a soft hiss.

“I didn’t know what flavor you liked, so I went with a classic,” Jinki started casually. “I’m sure you’re feeling full enough as it is.”

Taemin froze, placing the can back onto the table. “What?”

“The two men. That was you, wasn’t it?”

Taemin stared at Jinki incredulously, sputtering out, “Professor, I don’t know–”

Jinki chuckled softly, sipping on his cow’s blood. “Relax, I’m here to help you. I don’t want to see you get hauled in by the Council.”

“What?”

Help him? There had been too many surprises today, and Taemin didn’t know what to believe. His parents had taught him that it was every vampire for themself and that he could trust no one but his family. Who even was this Jinki? How old was he? What family did he come from? Did he even come from one? There was just too much Taemin didn’t know.

“Why? You don’t even know me.”

Jinki sighed, placing the now empty can onto the table. “I know your parents, Taemin. Known them for years actually, which is how I recognized you before.”

“My parents? They’ve never mentioned you,” Taemin thought out loud.

“We had a bit of a falling out,” Jinki frowned at the memory. “Different philosophies.”

They fell silent for a moment, hearing the occasional car woosh by them on the street.

“If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?” Taemin asked.

“436.” At Taemin’s surprised expression, Jinki laughed and said, “What? It’s your parents’ ages too.”

“That’s true,” Taemin nodded. “I just can’t get over how young you look.”

Jinki preened, flipping his hair dramatically. “One of our special abilities, as I’m sure you know.”

At the reminder of his abilities, Taemin grimaced and looked down at the table, avoiding Jinki’s eyes. “Yeah, I do.”

“Listen, Taemin-ah.” Jinki leaned forward on his elbows, voice low. “Your family raised you to hunt humans, which is why this happened. I know it was an accident, and I know you don’t want this to keep happening.”

“How do you know? It could’ve been on purpose,” Taemin snapped, looking back at Jinki and hoping he sounded intimidating and not at all terrified by his actions and the consequences he might face in the future.

“For one, you wouldn’t have left such a mess on purpose, I’m sure your parents taught you how to clean up well,” Jinki stated matter-of-factly. Then, eyes not leaving Taemin’s face, he said sincerely, “And you care. You care, or you wouldn’t be in university now.” He leaned back into his seat and added, “You wouldn’t have saved that woman last night.”

“How–”

“Cameras, Taemin-ah.” At Taemin’s panicked expression, Jinki waved his hand dismissively. “They didn’t catch your face in the footage, don’t worry.”

Taemin gave him a small nod, hands playing with the zipper of his jacket nervously. “So no one knows it’s me?”

“Not yet.” Jinki paused, studying Taemin. “I can make sure it stays that way.”

“You’d do that?” A small flicker of hope burned in his chest at the idea of a second – or third, technically – chance.

“Yes, if you agree to train with me.” Taemin squinted at Jinki in confusion and he explained, “Train with me to control your hunger.” At Taemin’s still confused expression, he looked around as if searching for the words to clarify. Finally he settled on, “What do you know about vampire families?”

Taemin furrowed his brow in question but answered anyway, reciting what his parents had told him since he was young. “There are some extremely old and powerful families whose legacies still survive today. They’re different from vampires that are turned as humans, being born from two vampire parents. They require…” Taemin hesitated, and Jinki motioned for Taemin to continue. “They require human blood as opposed to animal blood to maintain control over their superior powers.”

Jinki nodded in satisfaction. “Exactly. Your parents, and by extension you and your brother, are legacies in this way. So am I.”

Taemin’s eyes widened. “Really?”

Jinki nodded again. “When the Council outlawed human hunting centuries ago to protect us from humans and keep us hidden, some legacy families were…not happy, you could say.” Jinki smiled wryly after finding the right words, eyes distant as he recalled the events he was probably there for. “Your family being one of them.”

“And you were fine with it?”

“I was for it. Hence the falling out,” Jinki said. “For years before, I had been developing techniques and practices to stay off human blood and tried to make it more widespread among legacy families. Your parents weren’t happy with that either.” He sighed before leveling Taemin with a look. “But with my methods, you can stay off the suppressors and control your hunger and powers.”

Taemin perked up, curious. “Really? How does that work?”

“I can train you,” Jinki smiled. “It’s not easy, but in my experience, it’s worth it.”

“So,” Taemin gestured at the empty cans scattered on the table, “you only drink animal blood? And you don’t get hungry?”

“Yup,” Jinki said cheerfully. “And without suppressors, you’ll be able to use your powers as well. Wisely, of course,” he added carefully.

“Right, right,” Taemin agreed quickly. He paused, remembering his parents' words and lessons to him as a child, engrained in his mind: Human blood is the only thing that sustains us. Feeding is a matter of survival.

He nervously glanced up at Jinki. “How can I trust you? How do I know this works?”

Jinki sighed deeply again and said, “You don’t. Your parents could handle the Council if you told them what happened with no problem, though they’d probably pull you out of school to keep an eye on you.” Taemin’s stomach twisted at the thought of leaving his new home, but Jinki continued. “This is a leap of faith, and I understand your hesitation. But Taemin-ah.” Jinki leaned forward again, voice strong when he said, “I see myself in you. This life is tearing you apart, like it did to me and I don’t want to see you go down the paths I did. I can help you.”

Taemin swallowed back a lump that had formed in his throat. Voice catching, he said without looking Jinki in the eye, “You don’t know me.”

“I’ve seen how you act around your friends, especially that Choi Minho.” Taemin’s heart jumped at his name, and Jinki smiled warmly at him. “Taemin, you care. You aren’t a monster.”

“But…what I did…” Taemin let out a choked sob, covering his mouth with his hand to keep Jinki from seeing, which of course he did anyway. Jinki rushed over to Taemin’s side, pulling him into a hug. Taemin let the tears fall again.

Shaking in Jinki’s arms, Taemin heard him say softly over his head, “Now, you can make it right.”

Taemin walked back to his dorm alone, the almost-full moon looming over him in the sky. After crying again and later composing himself, Jinki told Taemin to meet him the next morning in his office to start their training. He said it was mostly mental exercises and meditations to start, which Taemin had no clue how that would help, but he was in no position to argue, not when Jinki held the key to the life Taemin wanted in his hand.

Not having to feed on human blood would be a game-changer for Taemin. Jinki had told him that his previous method of brute force and ignoring the symptoms until they became unbearable was avoiding the problem and eventually making it worse. Human blood was like a drug, an addiction. And the more Taemin fed on it, the more the hunger would control him. He needed to break the cycle.

But for now, he was still full, his senses sharp, his strength sizzling at his fingertips. He had bought a few more suppressors at the convenience store for later, which Jinki had agreed was a good back-up as he began his training. They rattled loudly in his pocket as he trudged up the stairs, not looking forward to the mess he’d have to clean up in the dorm.

Taemin pushed open the heavy stairwell door at his floor and was met with a bang and some cussing.

“What the fuck– this is the second time,” Kibum mumbled as he rubbed his head, shooting Taemin a death glare before softening slightly when he recognized him. “Ah, Taemin-ah.” Then it hardened again when he noticed his messy clothes and hair, eyes scanning him up and down. Taemin must’ve not done a good job washing up earlier. “What are you doing out so late?”

“I could ask you the same thing.” Taemin was pretty sure it was past 3 AM and it was a Thursday. There had to be a reason Minho’s loud human friend from across the hall was up at this time.

“I asked first.”

Taemin rolled his eyes, brushing past him to get to his dorm. He used his practiced excuse. “Studying.”

“Yeah, sure,” Kibum drawled sarcastically.

Taemin stopped to turn and look at Kibum, who had one brow raised at him suspiciously. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“If you’re seeing someone else, you should just tell Minho.”

“What?”

Kibum stepped closer to him. “Don’t play dumb. If you’re seeing someone else, then yeah, that’s fine. But don’t play with Minho’s heart and tell it to him straight.”

Taemin gaped at him before stammering out, “I’m not seeing anyone else.”

Kibum scoffed, gesturing at Taemin’s get-up. “Say whatever you want. Just don’t lead Minho on anymore. It’s exhausting to hear about it all the time.”

“How am I leading h–”

“Please, don’t you realize how much he likes you?” At Taemin’s shocked expression, Kibum laughed dryly, the sound echoing in the empty hall. “Even my roommate’s noticed and he never talks to Minho.”

“But Minho…” Taemin remembered how Minho had stormed out earlier, how he had looked at him with pure fear in his eyes. If there was something there before, it was surely extinguished now. “We had a fight,” Taemin said quietly. “If he liked me before, I’m sure he doesn’t like me now.”

“Oh,” Kibum stepped back, voice softening. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize.” He paused, searching for the right words in the awkward silence that stretched between them. “I’m sure you two will figure it out.”

“If I were him, I wouldn’t even try,” Taemin mumbled, walking towards his dorm and slamming the door behind him.

. . .

“The vampire? Minho-yah, you realize there’s not just one vampire,” Jonghyun said after helping an exhausted Minho into a seat at the lounge dining table, taking the seat beside him for himself. “There are probably dozens in Seoul alone.”

Minho struggled to respond, still catching his breath from running the entire way here. “My…roommate,” he managed to say between breaths.

Jonghyun froze. “Your roommate’s a vampire?” Minho gave him a small nod, surprised when Jonghyun then clapped him cheerily on the back and said, “That’s great! You have another monster you can bond with!”

“What?”

“I mean, vampires aren’t my favorites, it’d be better if he were a merman or fae or even better, another werewolf,” Jonghyun rambled to himself. Then he shook his head with a smile. “But we’ll take what we can get, right?”

“Huh– hyung, he’s a vampire.”.

“So? He has to live in hiding like the rest of us. If you’re worried about yourself, they don’t like werewolf blood. And human hunting was banned internally years ago.” Jonghyun yawned, totally at ease with Minho’s revelation and probably exhausted from the night before. Minho was even starting to feel sleep deprivation settling into his body.

He shook it away and took a deep breath. “This one,” Minho struggled to say, “killed two people.”

Jonghyun’s eyes widened in understanding and he stayed quiet for a moment. Now Minho could notice the prominent bags under his eyes.

“This roommate, he’s the one you’ve talked about before, right?”

Minho tensed, shooting Jonghyun a questioning look. He might have mentioned to Jonghyun some things here and there about Taemin, how cute he looked when focused on his studies or when eating cereal. But all that felt foreign to him now, like the memories of a different person. “Yeah, it’s him.”

“You really care about him.”

“What– no, he’s a murderer,” Minho said immediately, ignoring how his stomach twisted in on itself tighter and tighter, coiling in his body. He spat out as viciously as he could, “He means nothing to me.”

It sounded like a pathetic lie to his own ears.

Jonghyun caught on, sighing deeply. “Minho, he trusted you with a very important part of himself. He clearly cares about you too. Did you even hear him out? Vampires usually don’t attack humans anymore, especially not those in university.”

A pang of guilt stabbed through Minho. He hadn’t heard Taemin’s side of the story, only the scraps from Kibum and what he pulled together with Taemin’s silence and his own imagination. He remembered how small and hurt Taemin had looked in his room, huddled in on himself and sobs racking through him, tears staining Minho’s shirt. He clenched his fists on the table, suddenly angry with himself for how he handled the situation, storming out after Taemin told him he was a vampire.

Minho imagined himself in Taemin’s shoes. If he had told Taemin that he was a werewolf and Taemin stormed out and yelled at him, how would he feel?

Destroyed. That was the only word that came to Minho’s mind at the thought. If Taemin rejected such an integral part of him, a part of himself he had come to enjoy in a strange way, making friends in the sanctuary and escaping every 28 days, he would feel completely and utterly destroyed. He loved Taemin and he had learned to love this part of himself.

But Taemin didn’t seem to love being a vampire, if his crying and hesitation to tell Minho was any indication. And Minho had just made it worse, treating him like an entirely different person and storming out. Where even was Taemin now? Still huddled in his room, by himself in the dark? Or maybe stumbling around aimlessly in the city, looking for someone to talk to? It should’ve been Minho with him.

He buried his face in his hands. “What have I done?” he whispered.

Jonghyun placed a comforting arm around his shoulders. “My advice, Minho-yah, is to have compassion. You’ll come to realize you have more in common than you think in this world.”

Minho stayed quiet, even as Jonghyun sighed and stood up, telling him that they both had to sleep and that he was welcome to stay the night if he wanted. Minho sat at the table, watching all the sanctuary lights shut off one by one down the hall, thinking about Taemin. His hand rested over the phone hidden in his pocket, burning a hole through the fabric. He should just text Taemin, apologize, and tell him that they needed to talk.

He fished his phone out, ready to swipe into Taemin’s contact name, but it was dead. Minho gripped his phone tightly, resisting the urge to smash it into the table. He ran his hands through his hair, knotting his fingers on it and tugging on whatever he found until it hurt. He leaned over the table, blinking back the tears that now threatened to spill out. He had to fix this, he had to.

But exhaustion started overtaking him. The longer Minho stayed at the table with the lights off trying to think of how to make things right, the more the darkness and urge to sleep tempted him, until he fell asleep on the table, dead phone in his open palm.

Minho stood before his hall’s front doors, neck craning upwards as he looked at the floors until his eyes landed on the fifth one: his and Taemin’s. Minho had stayed the entire day at the sanctuary, tidying himself up and helping Jonghyun with spring cleaning chores to get his mind off Taemin, which was impossible. Every time Taemin flashed in his mind, it was the broken and crying one in his room, probably hurt beyond that because of Minho’s actions.

He had cleaned every corner of the sanctuary today.

But after a while, Jonghyun basically kicked him out. You can’t avoid him forever, Minho-yah. And now, the sun recently set and dusk creating a hazy glow around everything, Minho stood before his dorm’s building, hand on the door handle, ready to pull. But he couldn’t. He didn’t even know what he was going to say to Taemin. That he forgave him for murdering two people? That he didn’t care that he was a vampire? That he was also a monster?

That he loved him.

Minho wrenched his hand away from the door, shaking his head and deciding to stroll around campus a bit before figuring it out. He needed to clear his mind.

He walked like that for an hour or so, watching the dusk turn to night and listening to the crickets chirping, until he had looped around and ended up right in the same spot as before, his hall’s building looming before him. He still hadn’t exactly figured out what he was going to say when he saw Taemin but he knew he couldn’t put it off anymore.

Just as he made for the door, a soft whimper from behind caused him to spin around. There was a medium-sized dog hiding underneath the nearby bench, barely noticeable in the soft glow of the streetlight. It whimpered and whined insistently as Minho approached the dog slowly, crouching to his knees in front of it and holding out his palm for the dog to sniff.

“Hey there, buddy,” Minho said quietly to not startle it. “What’s wrong?” The dog just whined again, pushing its snout into Minho’s hand and looking up at him with big eyes. Minho chuckled, somehow knowing what it wanted. “Hungry, hm?”

The dog wagged its tail excitedly as Minho reached into his pocket for the organic granola bar he always carried around, the crinkling sound as he ripped open the packaging making the dog bark happily. Minho broke off part of it and placed it on the floor for the dog to eat. It gobbled it up quickly and looked up at Minho for more. He laughed and broke up the rest of the bar to leave it on the floor for the dog, dusting his hands off when he finished. He watched with satisfaction as the dog munched on the bar hungrily, humming lightly at how relaxed he felt now.

He made up his mind then. He had to tell Taemin the truth – about everything. About how he wanted to hear his side, about how he was a werewolf, and about how he loved him. It was the only way to truly make things right between them. No more secrets.

Determined, Minho pet the dog softly, scratching it behind its ears. ��Come back if you’re hungry again, okay?” With that, he stood up and opened the door that he couldn’t before, trudging up the familiar, annoying stairs, to get to his dorm’s front door. He took a deep breath and unlocked it, tentatively stepping inside.

The dorm was spotless. The tiny kitchen counter gleamed at him, the floor sparkled, and everything smelled like cleaning supplies. Minho slipped off his shoes quietly, wondering if he should call for Taemin or knock on his door or just wait for him to approach him.

But just then, Taemin appeared from the bathroom with a bottle of Windex and a rag in his hands, jumping when he noticed Minho standing there. “Hi, hyung,” he said nervously.

“Taemin-ah.” Minho wanted nothing more than to rush up to Taemin and squeeze him into a tight hug, never letting him go ever again. He looked adorable in an oversized sweatshirt, fluffy hair covering his forehead and his eyes. He never listened when Minho had told him to cut it. Minho took a step forward, ready to say something when Taemin cut him off.

“I…I understand if you don’t want to be roommates anymore.”

What?

Minho stepped forward again, confusion drawn on his face, before he froze in place when he noticed Taemin tense, gripping the Windex bottle tighter.

“I understand if you feel unsafe with me as your roommate and…” Taemin hesitated. “And if you don’t even want to be friends anymore.” His voice shook and Minho’s heart cracked.

“Taemin-ah,” Minho started.

But Taemin blindly continued, staring down at the floor, eyes unblinking, “I cleaned up today and I’ll go through all the trouble of changing rooms so you don’t have to do anything and I’ll leave you alo–”

Minho had him wrapped up in a hug, Windex and rag hitting the floor with a soft thud. Taemin’s breath caught in his throat and he felt tense in Minho’s arms for a few moments before he relaxed, melting into the hug and tentatively wrapping his small arms around Minho’s back. Minho squeezed him tighter.

“I still want to be roommates,” Minho assured him, breath whispering into Taemin’s hair. “And your friend.”

“But I’m a monster,” Taemin said quietly into Minho’s chest.

Minho pulled away, searching Taemin’s eyes. In them he found apprehension, worry, guilt, regret swimming around in a confused mess, breaking Taemin from the inside. “I know you’re not actually a monster, even if you’re a vampire.”

“I killed two men.” Taemin blinked up at Minho, eyes watering. “And someone else…before.”

“Tell me the story.”

And so Minho sat beside Taemin on their couch as Taemin explained how he had lost control both times, not meaning to go so far and not meaning to kill anyone either. The only reason he had lost control was that he was so determined to not kill anyone in the first place. He told him about the woman that night, hopefully somewhere safe now. And he told him about how he had found a better way for the future, a way to avoid killing and losing control altogether. The entire time, Minho found himself drawn closer to Taemin, their sides pressed comfortably together.

“I’d never hurt you, hyung,” Taemin said after he finished. He looked up at Minho, eyes pleading. “Not on purpose. The idea of me losing control on you makes me want to die.”

“Don’t say that Taemin-ah,” Minho said quickly, grabbing his hand in his and squeezing it. He barely even realized what he was doing, but it didn’t matter. He held on as he said as sincerely as he could, “I know you don’t want to hurt anyone. And I’m sorry for reacting the way I did.”

“It’s okay, I would’ve reacted the same way to learning my roommate’s a blood-sucking vampire,” Taemin laughed dryly. He paused, looking down at their hands intertwined shyly before saying, “You know, I’d always hated being a vampire. It didn’t matter as a kid growing up because I was never hungry and didn’t go out much so I could super-speed wherever I wanted or use my strength, but now…even if I end up controlling my hunger, I’ll still have to hide.”

“Hiding is the worst part,” Minho nodded in understanding.

“You say that as if you know,” Taemin chuckled. At Minho’s silence, Taemin’s eyes widened. “Wait, do you?”

“Taemin, I have to tell you something now.” Minho still held Taemin’s hand and wasn’t about to let go. He took a deep breath. “I’m actually a werewolf.”

Silence stretched out between them, making Minho’s heart beat faster, unsure what Taemin’s wide eyes and parted mouth meant.

After endless moments, Taemin finally said, “So that’s why you smell like dog.”

Minho laughed, a free, unbridled cackle that shocked Taemin before he cracked a smile in response.

“That’s what you say to that?”

“Sorry,” Taemin blushed, a smile pulling at his lips from Minho’s contagious laugh. “It’s just, you’ve always smelled like dog to me. Your room too.”

Minho laughed again, leaning his head onto Taemin’s shoulder for support. “Oh my God, at least tell me the smell is tolerable.”

“Somewhat.” At Minho’s playful slap, Taemin smiled and said, “It went from kinda annoying to…sweet somehow.”

“Sweet? Okay, I can work with that.” Minho had his head against Taemin’s shoulder, feeling his every shallow breath. They were so close. And they were still holding hands.

“My parents hate werewolves.”

Minho sat up straight, playfully grimacing at Taemin’s words. “This is werewolf-phobic.”

Taemin laughed, bright and hiccupy and perfect. Minho looked at their hands tangled together still, deciding how he would say the next bit. But instead of some long cheesy speech he had imagined in his head, what slipped out was, “You’re so cute.”

Taemin rolled his eyes, used to Minho saying this. “A cute vampire, huh? That’s an interesting combo.”

“No, you’re–” Minho struggled to come up with the words, his plan already ruined in his head. “You’re cute cute.”

“Hyung, you’re making no sense,” he laughed. “I know I’m cute, you tell me all the time–”

“I like you, Taemin-ah,” Minho said in a flustered mess. Taemin’s stopped laughing, looking at Minho intently. But they were still holding hands. That was a good sign, right?

“I like you, too, hyung.”

Minho’s heart lept up to his throat, and he blinked at Taemin stupidly a few times, registering what he just said. “You do?”

Taemin hesitated, and Minho was worried that he’d take it back or say it was a mistake or something, but instead, Taemin leaned forward and kissed Minho on the lips, quick and chaste, just a simple peck, but it sent Minho’s head spinning and his heart pounding.

When Taemin pulled away, Minho couldn’t stop looking at his lips. They moved as he said rather breathlessly, “Yes.”

That was all Minho needed to pull Taemin towards him, kissing him again, more deeply this time. He squeezed his hand as they found a rhythm, and after a few moments, he let go, trailing his hands up Taemin’s sides, one resting on his shoulder and the other on his waist, pulling him closer and closer to him on the couch. Minho went white-hot when Taemin moaned into his mouth after Minho nibbled on his bottom lip, roughly pulling him closer and adjusting so that Taemin was straddling him. Taemin’s hands tangled in his hair, pulling and making Minho dizzy with want.

Minho pulled away breathless. He admired Taemin’s flushed face, beautiful lips parted for him, quick breaths tickling his nose. “Are you sure you want this?” Minho asked, voice hoarse.

“Yes,” Taemin nodded, pulling Minho in by the nape of his neck to kiss him again, body melting into Minho’s. He whispered into the kiss, “I want you.”

That was all Minho needed to kiss Taemin, never letting him go again.

. . .

“Hyung, seriously? The dog too?” Taemin asked with a knowing smile, dragging his suitcase out of the hall, bright afternoon sunlight beaming down on him and making him squint. He basked in its warmth, remembering with satisfaction that he had put on extra sunscreen this morning. He always needed to layer it in the summer.

Minho was crouched on the ground, attaching a bright pink color he had just bought on the stray dog he had befriended (and practically adopted at this rate). He called her Sera, short for Seraphina, which he had told Taemin meant “fiery and ardent.” Taemin had laughed and teased him in between kisses that he just wanted this dog to be stubborn and competitive like him. Minho hadn’t denied it, just blushed and kissed Taemin again.

“You know we can’t leave her,” Minho called back, scratching Sera behind her ears and mumbling baby talk to her. “She’s part of the family. And who would feed her while we’re gone?”

Taemin rolled his eyes, taking Minho’s suitcase for him while he fiddled with the leash on Sera’s collar. “You know perfectly well that she’s capable of handling herself.”

“C’mon,” Minho whined at Taemin, stomping his foot adorably on the ground. “She’d love Yeosu, you know she would.” He reached for Taemin’s arm and pulled him into his body, whispering, “And I’ll make sure she gives us our alone time.”

Taemin went hot and blinked up at Minho. Even though they had been dating for over a month now and had even planned a summer vacation to the countryside together, Minho’s boldness around Taemin still left him flustered. He kissed Minho quickly on the cheek, disentangling his body before muttering, “Of course, she can come, I was just teasing.”

Minho laughed and Taemin smiled as they walked towards the edge of campus where their ride was to pick them up. Taemin’s parents knew that he had a boyfriend and were more than willing to make accommodations for them to stay for a few weeks in their summer home in Yeosu, arranging fancy transportation and meals that, when Taemin told him, had Minho’s eyes bulging out of his head with Yah, Taemin-ah, we don’t need all this bougie stuff. But his parents insisted and Minho caved. Taemin had conveniently left out the fact that Minho was a werewolf, but he’d cross that bridge later.

A few hours later, after falling asleep on Minho’s lap in the car and Sera happily sniffing out the window, they arrived at the medium-sized house. Sera bounced happily behind them as they dragged their suitcases inside, Minho whistling at the sleek, modern decor inside, a view of the ocean sparkling back at them.

“Your parents are no joke,” he said in awe.

“Well, they had centuries to make money,” Taemin stated matter-of-factly. He looked up the stairs and said, “So our bedroom is upstairs, but we can take the stuff up later and–”

“We’re sharing a room?” Minho glanced at Taemin with a smirk.

Taemin went red. “I– I mean, we don’t have to, but I figured–”

“You figured right,” Minho said, closing the distance between them to brush some of Taemin’s hair behind his ear. “I just like seeing you flustered. You’re adorable.”

Taemin turned away, not sure if he could control himself with Minho so close. And they had business tonight anyway. “How are you feeling, by the way? The sun sets soon.”

Minho sighed, pulling away from Taemin and shaking out his limbs. “I don’t know. The same as usual.”

“Have you ever seen what you look like as a wolf?”

“No,” Minho responded sheepishly. “Probably not as pretty as Jonghyun hyung, though.”

“I beg to differ,” Taemin scoffed. “I can take a picture for you tonight if you’d like.” At Minho’s small, grateful smile, Taemin had to resist the urge to kiss him again. Luckily, Sera barked excitedly at their feet, a distraction. “I think she’s hungry,” Taemin laughed.

“She always is,” Minho said, disappearing into the kitchen. Taemin knew he had opened the pantry when he heard Minho exclaim loudly through the walls, “Woah, your parents seriously stocked up here, my God!”

They busied themselves with unpacking and settling in, barely noticing the time pass until Minho’s alarm rang, five minutes before the full moon rose. Together, Taemin and Minho made sure Sera was secure in the house and ventured to the large, enclosed backyard, a few dozens of acres large with a forest complete with natural wildlife inside. This is why Taemin had suggested this summer home (one of many). It was perfect for Minho during the full moon, safe away from the sanctuary.

“Ready?” Taemin asked Minho, observing his face. He seemed at ease, relaxed as he took in the dusk and nature surrounding him. He looked at home.

“As I've ever been.” They waited a few more moments, Taemin’s eyes trained on the edge of the forest so as to not stare at Minho beside him and make him uncomfortable. He was curious about the transformation but didn’t want to prod or make Minho feel weird.

Suddenly, a large force felt like it blew past his side and Taemin looked. Beside him was a large wolf, white paws contrasting the green grass below him, light grey fur darkening over the top of his head and edges of his ears, his face and snout still colored white. He moved his large head to look down at Taemin, and those same dark, big eyes of Minho’s blinked back at him. Taemin was speechless.

Minho the wolf sniffed Taemin’s face and he laughed, feeling his wet nose against his cheeks and forehead. “Want me to take the picture now?” Taemin asked between laughs.

Minho grunted, walking over to the field. He stood up straight, throwing his head back dramatically, as if he was posing. Taemin laughed again, pulling out his phone and taking pictures, forgetting with his night vision that he had to turn on the flash.

“You’re a beautiful wolf, hyung.”

Minho looked at Taemin, an unreadable expression in his eyes. Taemin sighed internally, knowing that his extremely basic werewolf language lessons from the (very reluctant) centaurus in the sanctuary were not enough to help him understand Minho completely tonight. Either way, he was happy to be with him, just them two.

Taemin jumped when a howl ripped through Minho, loud and echoing in the otherwise quiet night. Oh, right. He was probably hungry and Taemin was stalling. Taemin stepped forward to pet Minho, soft fur glistening in the moonlight. “Ready to hunt?” he asked.

They sped off together into the forest, Taemin having no problem keeping up with the wolf thanks to his speed. His training with Professor Jinki had been going well, Jinki letting Taemin know that he was catching on surprisingly quickly and would be able to maintain an animal blood diet sustainably in just a few more months. For now, he thought a summer trip with his werewolf boyfriend was a great idea, as long as he mostly stayed away from humans, drank animal blood regularly, kept up with the exercises Jinki had sent him, and stored some suppressor nearby just in case.

And so with Jinki’s blessing, Taemin had brought up hunting together to Minho. He seemed thrilled about the idea, telling him it would be fun to hunt without Jonghyun for once. Jonghyun had been in the room at the time, now with Taemin spending a lot of time in the sanctuary with Minho and helping out, and had scoffed playfully when he heard Minho say that.

Taemin kept his verbal communication with Minho minimal, relying on hand signals and almost imperceptible nods. They caught plenty of food, and by their third deer, Taemin felt full. He dropped onto the soft forest ground, watching the sky through the flickering leaves above him slowly transition into the morning.

He felt a large weight lay on the ground beside him, big eyes imploring him for something. Taemin sat up, scratching Minho underneath his neck and smiling at how cute he looked when he closed his eyes and let out a satisfied grunt.

“Full?” he asked. Minho grunted again in response, resting his head between his paws before him and shutting his eyes. “Me too,” Taemin sighed, patting his stomach through the clothes and laying back on the leaves.

They stayed like that for a few minutes, hearing the crickets chirp and the leaves rustle overhead with the passing seabreeze. Taemin observed the sky change colors, from a dark, hazy blue to a light grey-blue. He waited for the sun to rise completely, excited to see Minho transform into a human again and be able to properly talk to him.

And in the next moment, he was wrapped up in Minho’s large arms - his human arms. Taemin blinked at Minho squeezing him tightly, face in his hair. “Oh man, I missed it.”

Minho laughed into Taemin’s hair, reaching up with one hand to pet it and ruffle it up. “Am I really a pretty wolf?”

“The prettiest.” Taemin was rewarded with multiple kisses all over his face from a smiling but exhausted Minho.

“Thanks for doing that with me, Taemin-ah. I had a lot of fun.”

“Me too.”

“But…” Minho gave him a tired smile.

“But,” Taemin prodded him to continue.

“I’m afraid today is going to be a cuddling kind of day.”

Taemin pressed his body closer to Minho, leaves crunching underneath his weight. He placed his head against his heart, listening to it beat steadily and enjoying the sound. “How could I be mad about that?”

Minho smiled and held Taemin closer. “I love you, Taemin.”

Taemin breathed in Minho’s scent, sweet and dizzying but in the best way. He never wanted to leave this. “I love you, too.”

--END--

#shinee #shinee fic #kpop fic #shinee fanfic #2min #choi minho #lee taemin #2min fluff #fluff #angst #vampire au #werewolf au #halloween fic #kpop fluff

12 notes · View notes