Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

The first step to feeding one’s hunger is to never show fear , his sire used to say. No fear.   

The door to the convenience store opens with a ring. Jimin steps through it, taking in the place before him. It’s nearly midnight, the entire place is empty save for one person on aisle three. He can’t see them, but he can smell their blood. He can hear their heartbeat from where he stands.  

Slowly, Jimin walks over to the aisle. He’s careful not to be too loud, not wanting to scare off the human that awaits him. The tapping of his black Chelsea boots barely makes a sound, as if he glides across the store. 

The human is restocking the freezers, not even noticing as Jimin draws closer. And closer. Close enough for him to smell the way blood flows through her veins. His gums ache in hunger, reminding him how long it’s been since he last fed. With her standing right in front of him, Jimin knows this is no time to show fear. This will be quick. Painless. He’s here to feed. There is no time for second doubts, not when his fangs feel so close from surfacing out.  

“Excuse me,” he says, and to no surprise, she startles. People like him are always too quick on their feet for humans. Too quiet. Too still. They hold almost no presence as they saunter through the nights, making it easier for them to blend in with the shadows and to come out when the time is right.  

She grips at her chest as if her heart will leap out at any second. “Y-yes? What can I help you with?” she asks with a slight tremor in her voice.  

When Jimin looks to his left, seeing the contents inside the freezer, he drags his gaze back to her. This is it. The moment to satisfy his and the rest of his clan’s hunger. He swallows down any nerves, knowing there’s no more running from this.  

“…You only have Type O-positive bottles left. Do you have any Type A-negative or B-positive?” 

She blinks. “Huh?” 

Jimin points to the freezer beside him. “The blood bottles. Do you have any Type A-negative or B-positive left?”  

“Oh,” she says, letting out a big sigh of relief. “Yes, um, let me check the back if we have any.” Then she spins on her heels and heads towards the back of the store. Jimin lets out his own sigh of relief. That wasn’t so hard, right? 

It’s not that Jimin is afraid or nervous about talking to people, but he knows how humans get around vampires. Over thirty years of supernatural and human coexistence and Jimin still struggles to find a cash register who won’t faint at the sight of his fangs. Humans are so easily frazzled. Jimin wishes they could get used to living among vampires, werewolves, faeries, and merpeople already. He had to learn how to stop ripping people’s throats out to drink from them after the peace treaty was made. He thinks the least humans could do is stop being so skittish around him. It makes him feel self-conscious.  

Another thing Jimin wishes humans would do—stock up on other types of blood bottles. Every time he comes to this store all the best blood types are taken and only Type O-positive bottles are left. No matter how early he comes to the store, they are always gone.  

But this time, Jimin wants the best blood types more than anything. His clan deserves nothing but the best on this night. Today is a special occasion after all. It’s not every day a clan celebrates its 75th anniversary.  

The human, whose name tag reads Mina walks back over to Jimin, empty-handed. “Sorry, we’re all out,” she says.  

Jimin sighs. Sometimes he fucking hates Coexistence.  

In the end, Mina scans several bottles of Type O-positive blood at checkout. Jimin stands in front of the cash register, checking his phone for any messages from the other clan members. Not surprised by the flurry of texts coming in the group chat right now.  

VILFs   

Furrystein  

get me some chips while ur at the store chim <3 

OG Twink  

taehyung why do you even want chips you don’t need them 

Daddy Dracula  

If my baby says he wants chips, then get the man some chips. 

OG Twink  

but he doesn’t NEED THEM 

Coexistence Simp   

In a way, we do. Humans eat them for energy which transfers into their blood which then… gets to us.  

OG Twink  

still doesn’t explain Taehyung wanting chips??? 

Furrystein  

it’s for my human :( 

#SaveHopeWorld  

what did he say WHAT DID HE SAY 

Furrystein  

im feeding my assistant at work chips so he’ll let me meet his werewolf girlfriend  

Coexistence Simp  

Taehyung, you can’t bribe humans like that. They’re not pets.  

#SaveHopeWorld  

sigh not anymore :( 

Daddy Dracula  

Taehyung, I can’t believe you’re trying to cheat on me with a het couple. This is the worst betrayal of my life.  

OG Twink  

do you realize how old Seokjin-hyung is like that’s really saying something 

Daddy Dracula  

[Kim Seokjin removed Min Yoongi from the VILFs chat.] 

#SaveHopeWorld  

tae and jin are breaking up over a het couple and our resident twink is gone from the gc. Worst clan anniversary ever 

Me  

Hello backup twink (me) is still here 

Also Tae I’ll get your chips 

Furrystein  

Thank you chim <3  

Jimin looks up from his phone and notices a display of chips at the side of the counter, perfect for people grabbing them at the last minute. He takes one bag and throws it into the pile of blood bottles. “I’ll take this too,” he adds, ignoring the skeptical look Mina gives him. She doesn’t understand what a vampire needs a bag of chips for, but Jimin doesn’t have time to explain that Taehyung is a scientist studying supernatural creatures and he’s trying to bribe his human assistant. He needs these chips. For science.   

After he finishes paying, Jimin heads for the door, bags of blood bottles and one bag of chips in his hands. When he walks out the door, the same bell rings, but this time he’s met with the liveliness of a Friday night in Itaewon. Several people are passing by, humans and supernaturals all going to bars and clubs alike. The night is alive and ready to feast, and Jimin feels at peace with the sight of it.  

He makes his way down the busy sidewalk and returns to the clan’s apartment with a skip to his step. He can’t help being so excited. Today is their clan’s anniversary. 75 years ago, Seokjin registered with the Korean Council of Vampires his own clan that consisted of no one but Yoongi and Namjoon. The three of them alone started the Bangtan Clan of Seoul, a house meant for vampires that felt outcast from the rest of the world, finding a home among other misfits.  

The only problem is that outcast vampires are rare. Most just stay with the clan they were sired into or join larger, more established clans, not a clan that is up to six members after 75 years. But as Seokjin always says, progress!  

With the convenience store just around the corner, Jimin reaches their apartment building quickly. He’s been living here with the Bangtan Clan for almost eleven years now. In those years, Seokjin, Namjoon, Yoongi, Hoseok, and Taehyung have become something like a family to him. As someone who stopped talking to his family after Turning about 40 years ago, Jimin is grateful to have a semblance of it now.  

Even if that family involves five other weird vampires. Maybe it’s because they all vary in age or because almost all of them have dated each other at some point. Namjoon, Yoongi, and Hoseok practically take turns dating each other for decades now, which leads to as much drama as one can imagine. Jimin lost count of the amount of times he’s comforted his crying roommate, Hoseok, over wanting to be with Yoongi or Namjoon or just watching them be together from afar. They all seem to be hopelessly in love with each other, and Jimin doesn’t know why they don’t just enter into one big polygamous relationship and call it a day.  

On the other side, ever since Taehyung joined the clan, Seokjin started vying for him like a suitor courting for a hand in marriage. The great leader of their clan, the oldest and strongest among them, fell for the young Kim Taehyung who let himself be Turned after a dare gone wrong.  

Well, maybe Taehyung isn’t that young, he Turned a few years after Jimin, but his age difference with Seokjin always makes for interesting experiences. While Seokjin writes poems and sonnets for Taehyung, Taehyung opts for sending dick pics. But he always attaches lots of hearts and kissy faces to them. He’s a classy, romantic guy after all.  

If Jimin’s being honest with himself, maybe his little family is a bit too close with one another, but there could be worse things to a clan. They could never be as horrible as his old clan. It’s the exact reason Jimin applied to join them. Bangtan were small, harmless vampires who mostly just wanted another player for their bowling team. And Jimin may have had to learn how to bowl just so he could be accepted into the clan, but he’s never regretted it for a second.  

Joining the Bangtan Clan has been one of the best decisions of his life.  

The mere thought of it is enough to make Jimin hurry off the elevator. He rushes to their apartment door, wanting to help finish setting up the place. They plan to party well into the sunrise tonight, celebrating 75 years of Bangtan and more years to come.  

When Jimin enters their apartment, he always marvels at the large size of it. An apartment to host six people needs to be big enough to have at least four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and one big kitchen they never use but still make sure it looks like the cover of a homely magazine. They may be annoying and perpetually horny, but they take pride in their home. 

“I think I broke the TV,” Seokjin says, standing in the living room while jabbing at the remote in his hands.  

Well, maybe their pride is a little lackluster after a few years too many. But that’s just something that comes with immortality.  

Jimin closes the door after him, hearing the TV make that awful static noise. He wastes no time coming over to Seokjin and gently prying the remote out of his hands, fixing whatever buttons he pressed by pressing another set of random buttons until the normal channels come back on. When the news station starts playing, Jimin smiles at Seokjin with triumph. Seokjin mutters something along the lines of blasted devil technology. And Jimin takes that as his cue to go to the kitchen.  

“Where is everyone? I thought I would find you all setting up for the party,” Jimin says, noticing the lack of decorations around the apartment. 

Seokjin walks over to join him in the kitchen. “Taehyung and Hoseok are blowing up balloons in their rooms and Namjoon and Yoongi are picking up some more stuff. We can finish decorating before they get back.”  

Jimin hums, pulling out the blood bottles from the bag and setting them down on the counter. “Sounds perfect. It looks like we’ll have everything for tonight, I even bought enough blood for the six of us.”  

Seokjin takes one and studies the label as if it deeply interests him. “Seven of us,” he murmurs before raising his voice again. “Ew, it’s Type O-positive. Did they run out of the good stuff again? 

“Huh?” Jimin turns to look at him. 

Seokjin holds up the bottle in his hands. “Did they run out of A-negative and B-positive again? This is why I said we should have hired a donor for the party.” 

“No, no, go back to what you said about the seven of us.” Jimin narrows his eyes at him. “What did you mean by that?” 

A sigh falls from his pretty, pouty lips. Seokjin is handsome. No, that’s an understatement, Kim Seokjin is one of the most beautiful people Jimin has ever come across. Although he may lead a small clan, Seokjin’s reputation precedes him for his infamous past within the supernatural world and his timeless beauty. From his chiseled face to his sparkling eyes that have seen so much and hold so many secrets. With the way they shine now, Jimin knows he just let one slip.  

“Yes, seven,” Seokjin repeats. “We have a guest joining us tonight.” 

“Oh,” Jimin breathes. “Then why didn’t you just say so? I could have gotten more.” But wait, why would they invite a guest to their clan anniversary?” 

Before he can voice the question aloud, Seokjin beats him to it. “This guest is special. He’s going to be staying with us for a while.” 

“Okay, for how long?” 

“Um, like forever?” 

Jimin blinks. “What?”  

Taehyung and Hoseok pass by the kitchen at that moment, carrying bags of balloons into the living room. Hoseok smiles at the sight of Jimin, waving at him. Taehyung starts unloading the balloons, taking a glance at them in the kitchen. “Oh, are you finally telling him about the new clan member?” he asks Seokjin.  

Jimin blinks again. New what?  

Seokjin just sighs again. “No, Tae, I was just getting to it.” 

Taehyung freezes and Hoseok’s smile turns awkward. “Oh,” they both say before turning back to the balloons, taking them out at an alarming rate to distract themselves. The cowards.  

Seokjin tries again, “Now, Jimin, let me explain—” 

“Please do, hyung. Because I don’t understand why we have a new clan member and I was not consulted about it.” Jimin rests his hand against the counter, trying his best not to jump to conclusions. They wouldn’t keep this important information from him on purpose. There’s just no way.  

Seokjin mirrors him and leans against the counter, crossing his arms. “Technically speaking, we’re not obligated to consult anyone in the clan about a new member.” 

“Says who?” 

“Says the handbook,” Seokjin claims. And Jimin conveniently remembers that he never finished reading that damn handbook. He meant to but it was long and Jimin thought it would do better as an audiobook, but Seokjin refused to make it, and either way, Jimin just never got around to it.  

Maybe he should have because it might have helped him in a situation like this. Maybe there is a way for the rest of the clan to shut him out once again.  

“Well, still, you could have at least given me a heads up,” Jimin insists.  

Seokjin shrugs. “I’m sorry. It was a sudden, last-minute thing.” 

Jimin must be hearing him wrong. He did not just say what Jimin thinks he said. “Sudden? Last minute?” he asks, recalling five years ago all too well. “It took me a year to convince you guys to let me join. A year, hyung!”  

“Yes, but you were a different case, and you know it.” Seokjin rolls his eyes like he’s talking to a petulant child, but maybe in Seokjin’s eyes, Jimin still is.  

“Oh, and what kind of case is this new member to be let in so fast?”  

With another roll of his eyes, Seokjin starts to leave the kitchen. “It’s not an any kind of case. You’re thinking too much about this, Jimin. It’s not a big deal. I decided to let the fledgling join us and that’s that. End of discussion.” He claps his hands as he goes near Taehyung and Hoseok. “Now, let’s get these decorations up, shall we?”  

Jimin still stays in the kitchen, trying to process everything Seokjin just told him. None of this makes sense. It took him a year to prove his loyalty to the five of them, to earn their trust enough to finally be let inside their clan. But it slowly sinks into him. Jimin was the exception, not the rule.  

Yet, some random vampire can be let in like it’s nothing. No group consultations or acts to prove they can be trusted enough in the Bangtan Clan. They are going to let a fledgling walk right into their clan anniversary party like they belong here—wait, did he say fledgling?  

“A fledgling?!” Jimin shouts as he surges towards the others. They’re trying to shape the balloons into a giant 75, but Jimin will pop them all if he doesn’t start getting some real answers. “You let a baby vampire with no control into our clan? You didn’t think that was worth a group discussion?”  

Seokjin groans, clearly annoyed Jimin ignored the end of discussion part of his speech. “The others were fine with it. Right guys?” 

Taehyung and Hoseok freeze, both holding balloons in their hands and sheepish expressions on their faces. “Yeah… I didn’t mind,” Taehyung says.  

Hoseok chuckles nervously. “Yup. It was cool with me too.”  

Jimin stares between the three of them. Almost positive he’s going to be popping more than just balloons by the end of this night. Maybe their heads will do. “You all knew but me?” 

“We wanted to tell you,” Taehyung says, sounding apologetic.  

“We really did. Promise,” Hoseok insists.  

“But we didn’t,” Seokjin confirms. “Because you’re a worrywart, Jimin.” 

Jimin puts his hands on his hips, feeling every bit offended. “I am not.” 

“Oh yeah?” Seokjin ties a balloon together before handing it over to Taehyung. “What’s your thoughts over us having a fledgling?”  

Trying not to scoff, Jimin wracks his brain on where to even begin. “So many things. First off, who is going to sire them? Nobody here has ever sired anyone!”  

Hoseok raises his hand. “Oh, I kind of sired someone a few years ago.”  

“You were watching over someone else’s fledgling for a day. Hobi-hyung, you were babysitting,” Jimin says in disbelief that this is happening right now. Siring a vampire should not be taken lightly. It’s just like raising a human, shaping and molding a new life in the supernatural world is a great responsibility. One Jimin has never wanted, and he thought the rest of them felt the same way.  

Seokjin shakes his head while chuckling. “See what I mean, Jiminie? A worrywart. There are six of us. I’m sure we can figure out how to sire a fledgling.”  

“Everyone knows that vampires do better being sired by just one person, not six,” Jimin argues.  “Too many conflicting lessons could be taught that way. We need just one person to do it. I mean do any of you even remember what it’s like to be sired? You’re all so old—”  

Seokjin moves faster than Jimin’s brain to realize the weight of his words. His hand grabs at Jimin’s collar as he now stands in front of him, flaring red eyes and snarling with his fangs. “I am not old,” Seokjin growls out. 

Oh no. Jimin hit a landmine.  

Because Seokjin is centuries old, he’s grown strong enough that he can easily rip Jimin’s throat out faster than light. Jimin has enough brains to understand that this is a losing fight. He swallows down his nerves and pride. “Y-yes, Seokjin-hyung. You’re very young. Don’t look a day over a century.”  

Seokjin hums, pleased with that answer. He lets Jimin go, letting his dead heart calm down. “But maybe you do have a point, Jimin. It’s been a while for us when it comes to siring,” he says calmer this time. Then he looks at Jimin again, his face brightening with what looks like an idea. Jimin’s gut sinks. “Since you’re one of the youngest, you remember better than all of us when it comes to siring. Thanks for volunteering!” 

“What?!” Jimin sputters. “I don’t want to sire the fledgling!” 

“Too late. I’ve already decided,” he says before he shrugs like it’s out of his hands now. He returns to helping Taehyung and Hoseok with the balloons, the three of them close to finishing the seven.  

But the fight in Jimin rises again, refusing to be responsible for something he never agreed to. “Get Taehyung to do it. He’s the actual youngest.” 

“Mhmm, he’s busy with his research, and any free time he has I want him spending it with me,” Seokjin says before wrapping his arms around Taehyung. They lean into each other, and Taehyung looks a bit too smug for Jimin’s liking. 

“Thanks for volunteering, Chim,” Taehyung chirps in, still focused on the balloons. “You’re gonna do great.” 

“Yeah, let me know if you need any help, Jimin,” Hoseok says with a wide smile. “I learned a lot after that one day. Fledglings are a lot of work, best of luck!” 

Jimin can’t believe what’s happening to him right now. Not only did his clan exclude him from the decision of letting in a new member, but they also accepted a fledgling and now they’re dumping him on Jimin’s doorstep. This has to be one big joke. Where are the hidden cameras? Where’s the gotcha moment? Jimin waits and waits but by the time the three others finish making the 75, he realizes this is all very real and there’s no getting out of it. The Bangtannies have screwed him over in the most spectacular way within the span of a few minutes.  

Is it too late for Jimin to recount his earlier statement about joining the Bangtan Clan being one of the greatest decisions of his life? Because right now, it’s one of the shittiest. Right behind getting highlights that one summer. Jimin still shivers thinking about it.  

After some point, the others nag at Jimin to help them finish decorating. Begrudgingly, he does it, but he complains under his breath the whole time. He was so looking forward to this night and now he just wants to run before the fledgling gets here. But once they finish decorating, a knock comes at the door, and Jimin feels his heart drop to his stomach.  

“We’re back!” Namjoon announces as he steps through the door. Yoongi follows after him because those two are always attached at the hip these days. But then a third person trails after them, pulling a few suitcases and an art portfolio. Jimin rolls his eyes as he realizes that Namjoon and Yoongi “picking up some more stuff” just meant picking up the new clan member.  

The others hurry towards the door to greet the new guy, but Jimin stays sitting behind on the couches, taking a sip from his blood bottle. He winces at the bland taste of Type O-positive. Could this night get any worse?  

“Jimin, come greet our new member,” Seokjin calls out to him.  

He sighs to himself. Things can always get worse.  

Jimin gets up and trudges over to the rest of his clan. When the others step aside to show the new member, Jimin stops in his tracks. He didn’t know what to expect from this fledgling, but it wasn’t this. He stands a little taller than Jimin, wearing a bright pink sweatshirt, blue skinny jeans, and round glasses perched on his sloped nose. A mess of wavy black hair on top of his head, crowning a round, pretty face. Oh, how unfair his face is. It’s cute in the wideness of his eyes and handsome in his defined cheekbones and hot by the sharpness of his jawline. He hits every mark of attractiveness, making Jimin feel very confused. He stares at him, trying to figure out what TV drama this boy walked out of, and ignores the way his red eyes stare back at him.  

He almost forgot fledglings’ eyes are red for the first few months after Turning. He forgets how chilling they can be. 

Taehyung nudges his arm, snapping him out of his daze. Jimin shakes it off and remembers what he came here to do in the first place. “Uh, hi,” he says, pointing at himself, “Park Jimin.” 

The boy smiles, and of course that makes him even cuter. Jimin starts to get annoyed now. “Nice to meet you,” he says before bowing. “I’m Jeon Jungkook.” When he lifts himself, he looks around at all the members, smiling shyly as he says, “Thank you everyone for letting me into your clan. I’m so happy to be here right now.”  

Hoseok is the first to lunge himself at Jungkook, pulling him into a hug as he coos over their precious new member. Namjoon tries to gently pry Hoseok off, warning him that he will scare Jungkook, but Jungkook just accepts it with a flustered smile. It doesn’t take long for Taehyung and even Yoongi to follow in hugging Jungkook. Jimin does nothing to hide his scoff. When he was first allowed in the apartment, all six of them had stakes ready behind their backs, just in case Jimin decided to turn on them. He was never met with warm greetings and hugs like this.  

Maybe he should have worn a big pink sweatshirt and not his usual all-black leather ensemble to seem less intimidating. But he’s a vampire, a creature of the night, Jimin is going to dress like it.  

Plus, leather pants make his ass look great, but that’s beside the point. 

By the time everyone settles in, Jungkook has put away his suitcases in the room he’s sharing with Namjoon, and they all sit in the living room. Jimin thought this night would be full of loud music and bad dancing, but now they’re just gathered around, trying to get to know Jungkook.  

“How old are you?” Taehyung asks him while handing him a blood bottle.  

“Twenty-three,” Jungkook answers, taking the bottle but not drinking from it.  

Taehyung gasps with excitement. “I was that age when I Turned too!”  

“Do you go to school or work?” Yoongi asks next. 

“Both. I study art at university and work at a café on the weekends.” Jungkook smiles sheepishly before correcting himself, “I mean I worked there, but they don’t have night shifts so… I had to quit.”  

“That’s okay!” Hoseok assures him, throwing an arm around his shoulders as he sits next to him. “You can work with us at our antique shop. We only work there during night shifts,” he says with a wink and Jimin swears every time he hears that joke, it never lands.  

But Jungkook’s eyes just widen with glistening wonder. “Really? That would be amazing, Hoseok-ssi.”  

Hoseok just pinches his cheeks. “No need to be formal. Call me hyung!”  

If Jimin has to put up with this for hours in the shop, he’s going to consider getting a job during the daytime. Sunlight would burn less than this cringe-fest.  

“Jungkook, how much do you know about vampires?” Namjoon asks. 

“Not a lot to be honest,” Jungkook says with another nervous smile. “Just the standard things they teach in school. We had a whole section over Coexistence.”  

Jimin feels a headache coming on and he hasn’t experienced a headache in almost forty years. That’s the problem with kids these days. They grew up with Coexistence and think becoming supernatural is easy and NBD (that stands for “no big deal.” Jimin knows all the lingo young people use these days. He keeps up with modern times.) The young people of today’s age don’t realize the seriousness of losing their humanity and entering a world they know nothing about. Just because the supernatural and human world now live openly among each other doesn’t mean their worlds are the same. Not even close.  

“Well, you’ll probably learn that what they teach in school is just the cleaned up, surface level of things for supernaturals,” Namjoon explains to him. “But don’t worry. We’ll teach you. I actually have some great books over the history of supernatural people I can lend you.” 

Jungkook begins, “Oh yes, I’d love that—” 

“There’s no need, Namjoon,” Seokjin interrupts, casting his gaze over to Jimin. “Our Jimin will be in charge of siring the new member. He can teach Jungkook all about the history of supernaturals. Can’t you, Jimin?” He bats his pretty eyes at him and Jimin holds back a hiss at him. Seokjin knows exactly when to use his command as clan leader against Jimin. He knows damn well that Jimin can’t deny any order he gives him. No one disobeys the clan leader, much like they don’t deny their sires.  

But Jimin has done it before. He can do it again.     

“Oh,” Jungkook breathes, finding Jimin’s gaze from across the room. Jimin stills at being caught, feeling trapped by those piercing red eyes. “You’re going to teach me, Jimin-ssi?”  

He sounds so sweet, so innocent. A college boy who turned into a vampire and didn’t know what he signed up for. Jimin gets it. They’ve all been there before. No one here is physically older than their twenties, they have all been the young fledgling who was looking for a sire to guide them through this changed experience.  

And that’s exactly why Jimin doesn’t want to be held responsible for it. There’s too much at stake being in charge of this kid. Why should Jimin sire someone who didn’t realize what he was signing up for? Someone Jimin never agreed to let inside this clan. The rest of them may be fine welcoming him with open arms, but Jimin isn’t. Jungkook is a stranger hiding behind big red eyes, and Jimin doesn’t see why they need him. The six of them were doing fine on their own. The Bangtan Clan made it 75 years without him, they can survive another milestone without him too.  

Maybe this Jeon Jungkook just needs a wake-up call. He needs to realize the consequences of Turning and joining a clan he knows nothing about.  

If Jimin had to learn this lesson the hard way, then so can Jungkook.  

“Sure, Jungkook,” he agrees, wearing a tight grin. “I’ll teach you.”  

The biggest smile spreads on Jungkook’s face, making his eyes crinkle in the corners and sparkle behind his glasses. “Thank you. I’m looking forward to learning from you.”  

Jimin just hums, not sharing the same sentiment. He has never wanted to sire anyone.  

Jungkook will be no exception.  

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 

Instead of partying until the sun rose, the Bangtannies retired to their rooms a little past five in the morning. Spending most of the night just talking to Jungkook, exchanging numbers and social media with him, and helping him feel more settled in his new home. Jimin definitely did not sit there seething the entire time.  

Well, maybe he seethed a little, but no one bothered to notice. Everyone was too busy fawning over Jungkookie. Gross.  

Now Jimin flops on his bed, almost jealous that Hoseok already fell asleep so fast in his own. He hopes he falls asleep soon too and that when he wakes up tomorrow, this fledgling will be magically gone from his life.  

But then his phone lights up with a notification. He turns on his side and unlocks his phone, finding the VILFs group chat alive with news.  

VILFs  

Daddy Dracula  

[Kim Seokjin added Jeon Jungkook to the VILFs chat.] 

Jimin grits his teeth, fighting back a growl. He wasn’t let inside the group chat until after a month of living here. But Jungkook is brought in during his first night here? No, Jimin is hitting his limit now.  

VILFs  

Me  

[Park Jimin removed Jeon Jungkook from the VILFs chat.] 

Daddy Dracula  

Park Jimin.  

Furrystein  

wait why did u take jungkookie out, chim? :( 

Coexistence Simp  

He’s a part of the clan now. 

Me  

this is the VILFs group chat 

“Vampire I’d Like to Fuck” 

he’s still a fledging. He’s not exactly VILF material yet 

but once I finish siring him and getting him to our level, I’ll bring him back :) 

Daddy Dracula  

Hmm fair point… but I’m watching you, Jimin.  

Me  

maybe you should be letting Yoongi-hyung back into the group chat 

Daddy Dracula  

Oh fuck right. 

[Kim Seokjin added Min Yoongi to the VILFs chat.] 

OG Twink  

FINALLY  

Jimin chuckles to himself. He can be so smart sometimes, he amazes himself. He’s about to put his phone away for the day, but then it lights up with another notification. Much to his surprise, it comes from a new number he just added hours ago.  

Jeon Jungkook  

Hi Jimin-hyung 

I just wanted to say thank you for being so welcoming tonight.  

I’m really excited about our lessons together.  

Can’t wait to be sired :) 

Wait is that what vampires say? 

Sounds kinda weird… 

I’m sorry 

Can’t wait to be vampified! 

No that sounds worse… and now I’ve just spammed your phone. I’m so sorry.  

Goodnight. 

Fucking hell, Jimin thinks while looking over the flood of messages Jungkook sent him. Where did they find this kid? He knows everyone else is just eating up this sweet and innocent act, but Jimin has no patience for it. Nobody can be this clueless. Jungkook is probably just faking it to score brownie points with his new clan. Jimin just shakes his head and sends a quick reply.  

Me  

It’s fine and we don’t really say either. You can just say you’re excited to learn. 

Welcome to the clan, Jungkook. 

Also it’s almost 6 in the morning… good morning or good day works better. 

Jeon Jungkook  

Right, I’m still getting used to that… good morning! Sleep well :)  

Sleep, that’s what Jimin needs after this night. He finally puts his phone to the side and settles under his covers. When the sun sets tomorrow, he hopes all these text messages disappear by then. He hopes to wake up to a clan of six again. Hoping nothing from this night happened. There’s just no way he can sire or vampify Jungkook. Absolutely none.  

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 

When night comes again, Jimin opens his eyes and finds an unpleasant sight. He sees Hoseok sitting on his bed, looking at his phone in his lap with Jungkook right beside him, watching over his shoulder.  

So much for all of last night being a dream.  

Hoseok notices him and lights up with a smile on his face. “Jiminie! Good evening. I’m helping Jungkookie set up his work account so he can join us in the shop.”  

Jimin sits up in bed and rubs at his tired face. He is not an early evening person. “That’s nice,” he mumbles, refusing to think about having to spend even more time with Jungkook if he starts working with them. He barely knows the guy and he prefers to keep it that way.  

“G-good evening, Sire,” Jungkook says, and Jimin has never turned his neck so fast. 

“What did you just call me?!” he asks, looking straight at Jungkook. Today, he’s wearing a purple long-sleeve shirt, washed-out jeans, and those same glasses. He dresses so colorful and bright, it annoys Jimin for no good reason, but then again, he’s starting to think everything about Jungkook can annoy him.  

“Um, Sire?” Jungkook repeats, seeming nervous. “Seokjin-hyung said to call you that.”  

Jimin holds back a groan. Of course, Seokjin would tell him that. He loves finding new ways to torture Jimin about this situation, he’s sure of it. “Don’t listen to him and don’t call me sire. Hyung is just fine.”  

Jungkook nods. “Yes, hyung. Um… Hoseok-hyung is helping me right now and then I have a class later today, but other than that, I’m free all day—night, I mean, for lessons.”  

He wants to start lessons so soon, Jimin hoped he could avoid them for a little longer. But maybe he still can. Jungkook can begin his lessons tonight, it doesn’t mean Jimin has to be the one teaching them.  

“Sure, but I’m going to be quite busy for the next few nights,” Jimin says, getting up from his bed. He works in the shop almost every night and any free time he gets is still incredibly busy. There’s that new show everyone is watching and Jimin hasn’t even started, he needs to catch up sooner rather than later. There’s also a sale happening tomorrow night at his favorite store. He can’t miss that. Jimin is just too busy for his own good. “I don’t want to hold you back in your lessons so why don’t you start without me? I can give you some books that will get you started and once you finish them, we can do the lessons.”  

Jungkook nods eagerly this time and Jimin spares him a smile, ignoring the skeptical look Hoseok sends him. He knows Jimin’s schedule consists of working, scrolling through his phone, and fucking around for nights on end, but fortunately, Hoseok doesn’t comment on it. He lets Jimin leave the room and watches as he returns with a pile of books he stole from Namjoon’s room.  

Jimin sets the books beside Jungkook on the bed. Jungkook’s eyes widen as he takes in all the reading he’s been assigned. Jimin tries not to smirk. If the fledgling wants to learn, then he can begin here.  

“This should get you started.” Jimin pats the top of the book pile. “It’s got everything. The history of supernaturals. Ethics over supernatural and human coexistence. Even the Bangtan Clan handbook—that’s very important, I’d start with it first.”  

“Wow,” Jungkook breathes, dragging his gaze up and down the books before bringing it back to Jimin. “So… if I read all of these, then you’ll teach me?”  

“Of course,” Jimin says because he knows this will take Jungkook forever to finish. Each reading is almost as thick as a textbook, especially the handbook. That will probably take him a solid month to read. Honestly, it’s a win-win situation for the both of them. Jungkook begins his lessons, and he stays out of Jimin’s hair. Hell, Jungkook might even give up learning from Jimin. If he’s strung along enough with these books and fake lessons, Jungkook could lose his patience and find his siring somewhere else. That would be the best-case scenario.  

Jimin can truly be such a genius sometimes. He should start a podcast or something, share with the world the insides of his brilliant mind.  

But his smart brain never expects for Jungkook’s brows to furrow in, his mouth to press together, and a spark to shine in his eyes, burning with determination all over his face. “Okay,” he says, “I definitely will, Sire.” 

“It’s hyung,” Jimin murmurs through gritted teeth. Something about that look in Jungkook’s eyes gives him a bad feeling, but he tries to ignore it. Jungkook can try all he wants, but the chances of him being taught by Jimin any time soon are slim to none. Jimin is making sure of it.  

With that, Jimin grabs some clothes from his drawers and leaves to get ready for work. When he enters the bathroom, he notices the mirror is covered with a towel and he lets out a sigh. Getting dressed without a mirror is no easy task, but Jimin has perfected it. Even if he doesn’t like it.  

He sets his phone on the sink counter and opens up his camera app, setting the lens to face him. Jimin is so grateful that vampire reflections are not distorted in cameras like they are in mirrors. He can’t remember the last time he saw his true reflection and he’s trying to keep it that way.  

Jimin changes into a black silk shirt and leaves a few of the buttons at the top undone. He likes showing a little skin. Then he shimmies into matching black leather pants that have a few chains around the belt buckles. He’s dressed like a true creature of the night. All black and leather and chains, no bright colors or jeans in sight.  

He uses his phone’s camera to check over his appearance, and then he leans in to do his makeup in it. Nothing too crazy or over the top. Just some eyeshadow to insinuate his eyes and maybe some red lipstick. He finishes his look by smoothing out his blond hair, making sure every lock is in place. 

Once he’s satisfied with his look, Jimin leaves the bathroom. He goes to grab the rest of his things by the front door, and he finds everyone else ready for the night as well. Hoseok joins him by the door, securing his acorn bag around his waist that he carries everywhere. Taehyung puts on his white lab coat while slipping into a pair of shoes. Namjoon sits on the couch with his laptop, probably finding a supernatural activist movement he can get involved with next. Yoongi cooks in the kitchen, trying out the new fad of making meat heavily coated with blood in hopes that vampires can eat it too. Then Seokjin stands out on the balcony, overlooking the city like he often does on nights.  

This is how things should be. Everyone has a place in the clan. They all fit so well together, so in sync with one another, like a well-oiled machine. The Bangtannies know how to live their lives around each other and how to come together. They became one and the same over the years. Lost puzzle pieces that finally found their missing parts. 

“Wait for me!” Jungkook’s voice calls out as he hurries towards them. With a backpack slung over his shoulders, Jungkook comes forward with a wide grin on his face and his hair a mess even though the night just started. “We can all take the train together,” he says. 

Jimin forces down a groan. They’re almost all perfectly fitted together. Not counting this unnecessary piece that doesn’t match up with the rest of their parts. 

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 

“Welcome to Hope World. You wish it, we find it,” a monotone voice says. The usual one that greets Jimin and Hoseok as soon as they step through the shop. Chungha waits behind the counter, chin in her hands, looking like she’s ready to fall asleep at any second now.  

Jimin takes a sweep across the store, finding it empty as always. Hoseok started this shop years ago before Jimin even joined the clan, but he’s never seen it be successful. He’s honestly surprised Hoseok finds a way to stay in business, but he knows Hoseok has a lot of money secretly stored away (Jimin has a theory Hoseok is almost as old if not older than Seokjin, but he’s still testing it out.) It’s a shame though that Hope World doesn’t do better. People these days just don’t appreciate rare antiques that vampires collect over the decades and now want to profit off them. Ungrateful bastards.  

“How was the day shift?” Hoseok asks her in his cheery voice as he and Jimin join her behind the counter.  

“We had one guy come in, realize this shop is owned by vampires, and then run out.” Chungha sighs and rests her face on her arms. “So the usual.”  

Hoseok groans. “What’s the point of Coexistence if it doesn’t fucking work!” His voice trails off as he enters the back room, leaving Jimin and Chungha to themselves. 

Jimin leans his back against the counter, watching Chungha doze off in front of him. The poor human , he thinks. She has a busy life. From being in university to participating in a dance team, even working here during the day when Hoseok and Jimin can’t, Chungha does it all. She reminds Jimin when he used to be human, always working himself to the bone to reach his dreams. It’s funny how people plan for so much in life and then none of it works out. Life always has its own agenda. 

“Go home and get some sleep, Chungha. You’re drooling all over the counter.” 

“I’ll drool wherever I want,” she says, opening her eyes and lifting her head. When she looks at him, she tilts her head to the side. “You’re upset about something.” 

Jimin blinks. “No, I’m not.” 

“Yes, you are.” Her hands gestures towards him. “I see it all over your aura. It’s darker than usual.” 

He lets out a mix of a sigh and a groan. Chungha is always going on about auras and horoscopes, saying things like you are such a libra, Jimin. Whatever the hell that means. “For the last time, I shouldn’t even have an aura. I’m dead.”   

“You’re the undead and your aura is seriously bumming me out, man. What’s going on?”  

Jimin shakes his head with a roll of his eyes, but he could think of a few things that could be bringing down his mood. Things with big red eyes and an eagerness to disrupt Jimin’s way of life. “…We have a new clan member,” he mumbles, hoping Hoseok stays in the back while they talk.  

Chungha raises her brows, surprised. “The Bangtannies let someone new in? Must be some vampire.” 

“He’s a fledgling.” 

Jimin isn’t surprised by the laugh that Chungha lets out. Even a human knows what a bad idea this is.  

“Aww, let me guess, you don’t like him?” she asks, sitting up straighter in her seat. This conversation must be interesting enough to wake her up.  

“I don’t not like him,” Jimin explains, crossing his arms over his chest. “I don’t know him. None of us do, but everyone welcomes him with open arms. He could be dangerous. He could be a bad fit, but they just took him in like it was nothing. Do you know how hard it is to kick someone out of a clan? There’s a lot of paperwork involved.”  

“You supernaturals do have a lot of bureaucracy shit.” 

“And the worst part is…” Jimin chews on the inside of his lip, making sure his voice is low enough just for Chungha to hear. “They want me to sire him.” 

This time when Chungha laughs loudly, Jimin holds his finger to his lips while shushing her. “You…siring someone?” she asks in between giggles. “Don’t they know you’re a libra?” 

“Chungha, I have no idea what that means but this is serious.” He leans in, whispering, “I’m not siring him. I refuse to sire anyone.”  

“Did Seokjin already tell you that you have to?” 

Jimin’s silence is enough of an answer. 

Chungha shakes her head with a pretty smile. “Oh, you vampires and your loyalty to the clan leader.” 

“If you were in a clan, you would understand the loyalty towards a leader or a sire. I have to do it because he asked me to.” Jimin rubs at his temples, feeling the threat of another headache coming on. He can’t believe it took one fledgling to bring back human annoyances like these. “But I don’t want to be responsible for this kid. I’m just gonna avoid it for as long as possible, hope he gives up on learning from me and just figures it out like lots of vampires do.” 

She shrugs at him, getting up from her seat and stretching. “That could work, but I feel bad for him. It must not be easy being a fledgling.” 

Jimin scoffs. “He should have thought of that before he Turned.” 

After Coexistence was established, it became illegal to Turn anyone without their formal agreement and the proper paperwork. Chungha is right, the supernatural world is a bureaucratic one, and these days, no one becomes a vampire unless they want to. So Jimin has little pity for those who Turn without reading the full contract they must sign. 

He wishes contracts like that existed when he became a vampire. Maybe he could have avoided it all. Maybe he could have kept chasing after his busy days and high dreams.  

But as Jimin gets lost in his thoughts, he watches Chungha head to the back room to grab her things. He hears her saying goodbye to Hoseok, feels her pat his shoulder as she tells him good luck with the fledgling. It’s when she’s close to the door that she turns around and asks, “Wait, what’s the fledgling’s sign?” 

The pain that reaches his head could be none other than a headache. Jimin is sure of it.  

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 

Jimin and Hoseok work in the shop for the rest of the night. Some supernaturals come in and out; a few faeries looking for shiny things, a werewolf couple just browsing around, and even a handful of vampires passing through. Even if humans are scared of a supernatural establishment, at least there are some creatures of the night that help keep the place running.  

They close up a little before sunrise, giving them enough time to get back to the apartment safely. When they walk through the front door, Jimin finds a scene a little different than when he left. Taehyung and Seokjin are cuddling on the couch while watching TV. Namjoon reads a book on the other couch, seated so closely to Yoongi, he might as well be leaning onto him. While Yoongi feeds Jungkook with chopsticks full of food. They all look like a perfect, domestic family.  

What the fuck.   

“How does that taste?” Yoongi asks, waiting with wide eyes for approval. 

Jungkook chews with big, stuffed cheeks, looking deep in thought on whatever he’s trying before his eyes grow with surprise. “Oh! It’s delicious. It almost tastes like normal steak, just more… bitter.” 

Yoongi smirks. “I’m a genius. I’ve perfected blood food.” Then he feeds more pieces to Jungkook who opens his mouth eagerly, eating everything Yoongi gives him.  

None of them could even sit near Jimin for the first few months of getting to know him without becoming nervous. But of course, Taehyung and Seokjin have no problem cuddling near Jungkook, Namjoon has no problem reading near him, and Yoongi has no problem feeding him. 

Jimin sighs, ignoring the way Yoongi asks Hoseok to come try the rice, but he doesn’t ask Jimin. No one asks him to stay and join them, so Jimin returns to his room. It’s fine. He feels tired anyway and closes in for the night. 

He can ignore all these changes. He can keep pretending that nothing has changed and there’s no fledgling here disrupting his way of life with the clan. There’s no one to be sired. There’s no one to trudge up his past.  

There are no changes at all. Jimin hates changes. Especially when they happen without his permission. Not a single word or thought. Just sudden changes that turn his entire world upside down.  

Jimin hates those the most.  

It becomes easy enough. Jimin moves about his days as normal. Wake up, get ready for work, ignore hearing Seokjin and Jungkook laugh about something in the kitchen as he passes by. Ignore Hoseok’s cackles about texts Jungkook sends him while they’re at work. Ignore coming home to Yoongi and Jungkook sitting on the couches, deep in conversation together.  

He doesn’t even mind overhearing Taehyung talk to Jungkook about his hybrid research, especially when that’s something he usually tells Jimin all about. Then he barely scoffs at all when Namjoon invites Jungkook to one of his supernatural activist meetings. Something he often does with Jimin.  

The entire clan makes Jungkook feel so welcome inside their little family. Everyone goes out of their way to get to know him, to make sure he’s adjusting well. He’s a fledgling, he needs them, and the Bangtannies have no issue being there for him.  

But not Jimin. He keeps to himself.  

Jimin doesn’t care that the entire clan has become so taken with this fledgling. He doesn’t care that in return, they reach out to Jimin less. Fewer texts and calls, and less efforts to talk to him in the apartment. They never bothered to tell Jimin about Jungkook in the beginning. It’s not surprising they forget about him even more now.  

They’re leaving Jimin behind because of these changes. And he’s used to it, he’s fine with it. Jimin was the member that nobody wanted. He was the one who had to convince them to let him in the clan because he was tired of being alone. In the end, Jungkook is just another reminder that Jimin was never wanted here in the first place.  

And that changes something. It makes Jimin hate Jungkook. He knows it’s not fair to Jungkook, although the fledgling may be putting on a goody-two-shoes act, he’s still not doing anything wrong. But seeing the other members always so happy with him while they forget Jimin is even in the room is just too much. Jimin worked so hard to be here, he never thought it would be so easy to lose his place, too. But Jungkook makes it all look so simple. He just walks around with those colorful clothes and glasses, a big smile on his lips, and those sparkly, red eyes of his. Then everyone accepts him with open, loving arms. They don’t have a single stake hiding behind their backs. 

Jimin thinks they might as well bring them back out and stab them in his chest. It might hurt less than watching all of this unfold before him. Ignoring it all is becoming harder and harder with each night.  

On one night, it becomes impossible to ignore. Not when Jungkook comes up to Jimin himself.  

“I finished.” 

Jimin looks up from his phone while he lies on the couch. It’s his night off and he plans to stay here until he melts into the couch. But for some reason, Jungkook stands beside him, chewing his bottom lip, wringing his hands together. He watches him nervously and Jimin doesn’t quite follow.  

It’s been two weeks since Jungkook came here, and Jimin has been doing a good job at avoiding him. Sometimes he tries approaching him with questions about siring, but Jimin tells him to check the books first because he’s much too busy. Besides, Jungkook doesn’t seem like he even needs the help. He’s getting by as a fledgling just fine. No loss of hunger control, no inability to control heightened senses. Jungkook seems like a well-established vampire going about his nights as normal, the most natural fledgling Jimin has ever seen. 

And that annoys Jimin a ridiculous amount. How can anyone make becoming a vampire look easy?  

“Finished what?” he asks before his eyes drift back to his phone. He was just about to catch up on his favorite YouTubers. His schedule is booked and busy. These videos aren’t going to watch themselves. 

“The books,” says Jungkook. “All of them.” 

Jimin freezes. Slowly, he drags his gaze back up to Jungkook in disbelief. This can’t be true. Jimin bought himself more time, he knows he did. “…All of them?” 

But Jungkook nods with resolute. “I’m a fast reader.” 

Fuck.   

Letting out a shaky laugh, Jimin sits up. He’s not panicking or whatever. He just wonders if Jungkook would notice if he ran out to scream and then maybe never returned. Would that be noticeable? Jimin sure hopes not, but he doesn’t get a chance to make a run for it because Jungkook suddenly smiles at him. It’s kind and warm, far too sweet for the way Jimin has been treating him for weeks.  

“I’m ready for lessons whenever you are, sire,” Jungkook says, but it’s with no malice or bite. He sounds genuinely excited and happy to begin his vampire lessons, and Jimin realizes he truly has run out of time to avoid this. He needs to teach Jungkook like he promised.  

Jimin sighs from deep within his chest. “Don’t call me sire… and fine, let’s go.” 

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 

The bowling alley was more crowded than he expected. 

By the look on Jungkook’s face, he doesn’t seem to know what to expect. 

Jimin pays for the lane and shoes while Jungkook waits behind him, looking back and forth between Jimin and the establishment around them. It’s crowded on a Friday night with almost every lane filled. Humans and supernaturals are throwing bowling balls until they crash into clattering pins. Loud ‘80s music plays over the speakers and while some people may find it out of style, Jimin was a young person during the ‘80s, he has a special love for that decade’s music.  

Maybe that explains why this is Jimin’s favorite bowling place.   

Jimin leans against the counter, waiting for an employee to bring back the right sized shoes. Although he hates taking off his Chelsea boots, knowing those hideous red shoes will not go with his black silk shirt and leather pants, he swallows down the pain. For the sake of bowling.  

Of course, it could be worse. He could be wearing a bright yellow sweatshirt that reads Love Everyone, but Jungkook took that job already. Jimin has decided the reason he hates Jungkook’s wardrobe is because it reminds him of being human. No vampire will walk around with such a colorful wardrobe, not even Hoseok who has his fair share of rainbow clothes is as vibrant as Jungkook. It might have something to do with vampires dressing a certain way to alert other supernaturals they were vampires in the old days, but now it’s just the best fashion choice for them. How does Jungkook not get that?  

But soon enough, the employee returns with their shoes, and Jimin hands a pair to Jungkook. With that, they walk over to the farthest left lane they secured. It’s not until they’re sitting on the bench, putting on their bowling shoes does Jungkook speak up.  

“Um, what does bowling have to do with being a vampire?”  

It’s a fair question. Bowling really has nothing to do with being a vampire, but Jimin can’t tell him that. He can’t give him a genuine lesson because that would mean siring him and Jimin refuses to sire anyone. In a split decision, Jimin took Jungkook here in hopes that Jungkook would be distracted enough or frustrated with his time being wasted. Either way, Jimin is giving him a fake lesson and if this doesn’t make Jungkook give up on making him his sire, he doesn’t know what will.  

“Everything,” Jimin answers in the end. He finishes one shoe and moves onto the next. “A vampire’s clan is everything to them. You must become one with your clan members, and bowling is an important part of the Bangtan Clan’s way of life. You should know this.”  

“Oh,” is all Jungkook replies. Jimin doesn’t blame him. He’s talking out of his ass right now. Sure, the Bangtannies like bowling, they go about once every month or two, but it’s not essential at all. Although Jimin did practice a lot when he first joined so the members would be more inclined to welcome him, but he doubts Jungkook needs this.  

Once Jimin finishes putting his shoes on, he looks over to see if Jungkook is ready, but instead, he finds him writing something down in a notebook. Wait, where did that come from? 

“What are you doing?” he asks. 

Jungkook lifts his head, adjusting his glasses now slipping down his nose. “I’m taking notes,” he explains, holding up his little black notebook. “I want to remember all our lessons, so I’m making notes about the importance of clan culture.”  

“Right,” Jimin agrees, feeling his stomach twist uncomfortably, but he pushes past it. He just wants to get this night over with.  

Jimin waits for Jungkook to finish, watching him slip his notebook back into his pockets. Once they’re finally both ready, Jimin grabs a bowling ball and takes his starting position.  

If he’s being honest, Jimin is better than an average player. He’s practiced enough to be the best player in their clan. Not only is he brilliant with a great ass, but he’s an amazing bowling player, too. Jimin truly is the whole package if he says so himself. It’s a mystery why he’s still single.  

Okay, that’s a lie. Jimin knows exactly why he’s single, but it’s more of a choice by this point. Or at least he likes to tell himself that, too.  

Winding his arm back and moving his foot accordingly, Jimin swings his ball perfectly. It rolls down the middle of the lane, never swerving or going into the gutters, and Jimin waits with an anticipated breath until the ball crashes into the pins. It knocks over all but one pin, but Jimin doesn’t let himself falter. He waits to retrieve his ball again, and when he throws it this time, he hits the final pin. Hearing it clatter to the ground sends Jimin turning around with victory. He’s off to a great start.  

He bites down his smirk as he saunters over to Jungkook. But he can’t deny how much he likes the look of awe on Jungkook’s face. His eyes sparkle, looking astonished at Jimin’s skill, and for a moment, Jimin almost believes Jungkook’s goodness is genuine.  

“You hit all of them on your first try,” Jungkook says, sounding a little breathless. “You’re amazing. I haven’t played since I was a kid.”  

Jimin sits right back next to him, crossing his legs as he soaks up his win. “I just play when I can,” he shrugs, “but don’t worry. Today is your first lesson. You’re here to learn.”  

Jungkook nods. “Right, sire.” 

“Don’t call me sire.” 

He chuckles sheepishly, ducking his head. “S-sorry hyung. I keep forgetting.” Then he stands up to grab the ball.  

Jimin gets comfortable in his seat. This game will go by easily. He will win in no time, and Jungkook will figure out eventually that this lesson is bullshit. He might even get angry with him, shed this good, pure boy demeanor of his. Jimin still doesn’t buy it. He doesn’t understand how the rest of the clan eats it up.  

When he hears a loud clattering, Jimin reigns in his focus and sees all the pins at the end of the lane knocking over. Every. Single. One. 

Jungkook turns around with a bright smile. “Wow, I haven’t played in years and I got a strike on the first try.”  

Jimin blinks. “…Beginner’s luck?” 

“I guess so!” Jungkook hurries back over to him with an extra skip to his step, clearly happy with his win. But Jimin tries to shake it off. It was beginner’s luck. There’s no way Jungkook is a naturally good bowler. He can’t be perfectly accepted by their clan and a good bowler. There is only so much Jimin can take.  

He takes his turn next, but he misses a few pins this time. Jungkook manages to get a spare on his following turn. They go back and forth like this. When Jimin thinks he plays well, Jungkook somehow does better. If Jimin gets a strike, Jungkook manages to get two strikes in a row.  

This fledgling cannot be real. Where did they find a fucking bowling prodigy?! 

By the end of the game, Jimin stares at the monitor screen, trying to figure out how Jungkook beat him by several points.  

“Wow, that was tough,” Jungkook says, standing next to him with yet another smile. “But it was a really good game. I had fun.”  

“Yeah… Fun is one way to describe it.”  

“You know, when I heard I had to be sired and taught lessons on being a vampire. I never expected—this.” Jungkook lowers his head as if to hide the nervous smile he wears. “Some people who knew me from before thought I would change when I Turned. They thought being a vampire was so different from human life, but I can’t wait to tell them how much we have in common. How being supernatural isn’t that different at all.”  

Jimin chews on the inside of his cheeks. How wrong Jungkook is. Being supernatural, especially a vampire, is different than being human. A human life is a blessing. A vampire life is a cursed one. They’re nothing alike because if they were, Jimin wouldn’t long for his mirror reflection and the days in the sun.  

Jimin misses those the most.  

“You’re wrong,” he says, turning to look at Jungkook. “We are different. Just look at you and me.” Jimin gestures between them, not missing the worry that creases between Jungkook’s brows. But Jungkook needs to hear this. Even if Jimin isn’t siring him, this is something all vampires need to hear. “You’re still holding onto your humanity. You go to school, you stay in contact with your human connections, and you dress like a Care Bear. It seems fine at first, even harmless. But once you start living longer, not aging, you’ll see how pointless human things are. You’ll outlive the humans you know. You’ll realize all those things that made you human are gone. Even if you keep trying to hold onto it, dressing like them, dressing like how you used to, it’s not the same anymore. You’re different, and you’ll never go back to who you were.” 

Jungkook stays speechless for a moment, but the longer the words sink in, the faster he shakes his head. “No, that’s not true. I may be a vampire now, but I’m still the same person I was a month ago. That won’t change. I don’t have to give up all the things from my old life, they’re all still a part of me.”  

“Everything is different now, Jungkook. The faster you accept that, the better. You should let go of human things while you can. The longer you hold onto them, the more it will hurt letting go later.”  

“I’m not holding onto anything. I’m just living my life as normal. There’s nothing to let go or lose—” 

Jimin points at his face, stunning Jungkook into silence. “Your glasses,” he says softly, feeling his stomach twist again, hurting even more this time. “You’re still wearing glasses even though turning into a vampire should have fixed your vision.” 

Jungkook opens his mouth to argue back with something, but then he closes it. He lets his head fall again, staring at the bowling shoes on his feet. Jimin’s chest hurts at the sight of it. He knows that face. He’s worn it many times in the past. Sometimes Jimin thinks he even wears it now. It makes him want to pull Jungkook into a comforting hug, but then he reminds himself that he’s supposed to hate Jungkook.  

It’s hard to hate him when he looks so defeated.  

“They’re fake,” Jungkook says before taking them off. “I just wear them because I used to and… it feels like they help hide my eyes.”  

Jimin nods. “Your eyes will return to normal in a few months.”  

“But they’re so red and…” Inhuman. Jungkook doesn’t say it, but Jimin hears it loud and clear.  

Words fail them after that. They stand together uncomfortably as they listen to nothing but the voices of the people at the other lanes, the loud music that blasts over the speakers, and the crashing of bowling balls hitting pins. Chaos surrounds them as their feelings rage a storm inside them too. Feelings of frustration, pain, and hurt. Coming to terms with the truth always hurts.  

“I don’t…” Jungkook tries, pressing his lips together before his gaze drifts away. His voice comes out small when he says, “I don’t dress like a Care Bear.” 

The laugh escapes Jimin’s lips before he can think about it. Out of all the things he said, Jimin never expected Jungkook to bring that one up first. He laughs loudly and when he sees Jungkook start to smile, letting out some breathy chuckles too, he feels some sort of relief. He didn’t like seeing Jungkook so upset. He looks better when he wears that obnoxious, bright-eyed smile.  

“I’m sorry but based on what I’ve seen you wear these past few weeks, I’m pretty sure you dress like a rainbow,” Jimin explains.  

Jungkook shrugs. “So? What am I supposed to wear, black and leather like you?” 

“Yes, Jungkook. We’re creatures of the night. We should dress like it.”  

“I don’t think I even own anything in black.” 

Jimin sputters, trying to keep from fainting. “You don’t… You don’t own a single piece of clothing in black?”  

When Jungkook shakes his head, Jimin reaches a new limit. This simply won’t do. He may not like Jungkook, but he can’t leave him struggling like this. Jimin needs to help him.  

He walks past Jungkook, making his way straight to the front so he can return their shoes and they can leave. “Come on,” he calls after Jungkook, “we gotta go.” 

Jungkook catches up quickly, following close on his foot. “Where are we going?” 

“Your next lesson: shopping.”  

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 

There are some benefits to Coexistence. Jimin doesn’t have to solely shop at underground places that open at night for supernaturals. Now, many places are open all day and night for supernatural beings and humans alike.  

Jimin brings Jungkook to one of his favorite stores. They always have the best clothes, and even Jungkook could probably find something he likes.  

They walk through the store’s doors, greeted by passing employees. Jimin makes a beeline to his favorite section and Jungkook follows easily. Once Jimin finds himself sifting through racks of the finest dark shirts, he feels at peace. He loves shopping. 

Jungkook looks through the same rack, but he flits his eyes back and forth between the clothes and Jimin. Eventually asking, “Uh, why do vampires dress in such dark clothes?” 

“Tradition.” Jimin takes out a shirt to expect it before disapproving and placing it back. “Before Coexistence, supernaturals would do things to signify who they were to others. Vampires and werewolves have a great sense of smell, but the fae and merpeople struggled to identify others. It was done for safety while we lived in hiding.” 

“…Was it scary back then? Living in hiding?” 

Jimin remembers the fear of feeding. The hurting he had to inflict. The hurting he had to receive. Late nights of hunting humans before killing and feeding on them in a back alley, crying with every drop of blood he swallowed.  

“It was a different time. We saw it as normal. It wasn’t necessarily… scary,” he lies. He doesn’t like thinking about those years, he especially hates talking about them. Any reminder of who he used to be and who he changed into is a bad one.  

Wanting to switch the subject, Jimin takes out a shirt and offers it to Jungkook. “Here, this would look good on you. Try it.”  

Jungkook takes it before his eyes bulge at the sight of the price tag. “Jimin-hyung, this is too expensive. I can’t afford it.”  

“It’s fine. Hyung will pay.”  

“No, no. You already paid for bowling. This is too much.”  

He’s right. This is too much for someone he hates, someone he’s trying to drive away. But maybe… Jimin feels bad for Jungkook. Chunga was right, being a fledgling isn’t easy. Jungkook is struggling, and as silly as it may be, if having something like new clothes helps him feel a little better about the transition, then Jimin doesn’t mind doing it. He knows the best thing for Jungkook would be properly siring him, but Jimin can’t compromise completely. Shopping will have to do for now.  

“Don’t worry about it, just go try on that shirt.” Jimin notices a matching pair of pants and reaches for it before handing it over to Jungkook. “This one too. Now go, we don’t have all night.”  

Jungkook concedes and takes the clothes to a dressing room in the back. Jimin waits outside for him, sitting on a nearby cushion. This is not what he expected tonight to turn into, but Jimin isn’t complaining. It’s not the worst night ever. And it can hardly be considered a first lesson, but it’s still better than Jimin’s first siring lesson. Nobody has been killed yet so that’s a win.  

Sure, Jimin would prefer to be on the couch watching YouTube videos, but bowling and shopping are some of his favorite things to do, too. And Jungkook—he’s not the worst company to have. He supposes he’s starting to see why the other members get along with him. 

It still doesn’t mean Jimin likes him though. It’s going to take a lot more for Jimin to move past being replaced by this fledgling. So much more.  

“Umm, Jimin-hyung?” Jungkook calls out from the dressing rooms.  

“Yeah?”  

“I need help.” 

Jimin frowns at that. “What?” he asks, getting up and walking closer to the curtain that separates the dressing rooms. “Help with what?” 

“I don’t know how I look. I—I can’t…”  

That’s all he needs to say before Jimin understands and hurries inside. “Jungkook, which one are you in?”  

“Over here,” Jungkook says and Jimin follows his voice to the room at the right far end. He opens the door to find Jungkook leaning against the wall, his eyes screwed shut, and a slight tremor to his body. Jimin takes pity at the sight, feeling guilt seep inside him. He should have warned Jungkook about this. It’s yet another drawback of Coexistence. Nobody bothers to take out the mirrors.  

He leans his head against the sidewall, careful not to accidentally look at the mirror waiting inside of Jungkook’s dressing room. “It’s okay,” he says softly, wanting to calm Jungkook down. “Just think about anything—think about something that makes you happy.”  

Jungkook hitches his breath, but he squeezes his eyes even tighter, probably trying to imagine something that makes him content. Whatever it takes to forget the reflection he just saw in the mirror.  

It’s a common misconception that vampires can’t see their reflections, spread by stories and myths, but vampires can see themselves in the mirror. Unfortunately, the sight they find is a terrifying one. When humans turn into vampires, they give up their souls, and while vampires appear beautiful and appealing in person, mirrors reflect who they truly are. Undead beings without a soul. Their true appearance looks much like a corpse, rotting flesh with black eyes and no life left in them.  

Catching a glimpse of one’s reflection strikes fear in any vampire. Even the oldest never get used to seeing their true appearance. Jungkook must be beyond shaken right now. 

When Jungkook lets out a smoother breath, Jimin knows he’s starting to calm down. “There you go. It’s scary but it’s only temporary,” Jimin assures him. “Come on out. I’ll show you how you look.”  

Jungkook is slowly coaxed out of there, finally opening his eyes once he sees Jimin closing the door to the dressing room. “Does it scare you too?” he asks.  

“Yes, it scares all vampires. Why do you think all the mirrors in the apartment are covered?” 

“No one talks about that.” 

“Yeah well,” Jimin shrugs, “it’s covered in those books you read with other stuff that nobody gets right about vampires.” 

He watches Jungkook gulp dryly. “R-right. Um, so, how do I look?” 

Jimin finally assesses him. He dons a black silk shirt like Jimin’s, but this one has sheer sleeves along with chains across the chest. Paired with dark slacks, the outfit brings out the red in Jungkook’s eyes, making him look deadlier than the night. Jungkook looks older, more mature, and it reminds Jimin of how handsome Jungkook is. How frustratingly, inconveniently attractive he is.  

“G-good, um,” Jimin mumbles as he pulls his phone out of his pocket. “Here, I’ll just take a picture and show you.” Barely looking as he takes the photo, preferring to keep his eyes away from Jungkook, Jimin snaps a picture and then hands his phone to Jungkook.  

When he looks at his photo, Jungkook’s eyes widen with surprise. “Oh wow,” he breathes, “I do look… good.”  

Jimin nods. Good is one way to describe him. There’s also cute by the way his eyes glisten at the photo. Hot by how he looks in this outfit. But Jimin keeps those words to himself. He’s not really in the mood to flame the ego of someone he dislikes.  

“Hyung?”  

“Hm?” 

“I think I like black more than I thought…” 

That finally shakes Jimin out of his stupor. He remembers why they came here in the first place, not to gawk at Jungkook, but to upgrade his wardrobe. He lets out a nervous chuckle. “Finally! Took you long enough. Let’s go find some more clothes while we’re at it.”  

“No, Jimin-hyung, this is more than fine.”  

Jimin makes his way out of the dressing room and Jungkook follows, not bothering to change back into his clothes. He probably doesn’t want another mirror incident and Jimin can’t blame him.  

“I don’t mind,” Jimin says as he starts looking through a new rack. “Besides… I feel bad for not warning you about the mirrors. I’m used to closing my eyes when I enter and then turning around and avoiding it. I forget you’re not used to it.” 

Jungkook shakes his head adamantly. “It’s okay. You’ve done more than enough already. You’ve been teaching me so much tonight. I’m so grateful for it all. Thank you, hyung, you’re so kind.” He smiles at Jimin until it reaches his eyes, making them curve and shine. His whole face is overtaken by a sweet and endearing grin.  

And Jimin has never felt more undeserving.  

“Here.” He shoves another shirt towards Jungkook’s chest. “This one looks good too.” Jimin ignores his comment and keeps handing clothes over to Jungkook, hoping they will get rid of the weight that sits in his stomach. The one that reminds him how much he’s fooling Jungkook into thinking these distractions are actual lessons. He knows Jungkook must be faking some of this innocent act, but right now, he sounds genuine and Jimin feels awful.  

He may have to buy out this whole store to make it up to Jungkook at this point.  

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 

After a long night of bowling and shopping, Jimin feels more than starved and finds himself at a local blood bar with Jungkook. Apparently, Jungkook has never been to a blood bar, and Jimin tries to pretend like this place is not a perfect place for a lesson. Being here is a mere coincidence.  

They sit across from each other in a booth. It’s towards the end of the night but the place is still full and busy with almost no seat empty and the dance floor crowded enough. Jimin tries to ignore the loudness around them, getting comfortable in his seat, but the several bags beside him make it difficult.  

Jimin may have gone a little overboard in shopping for Jungkook. And although Jungkook tried protesting many times, he seemed more than pleased at the array of new clothes he now owns. He even said that Jimin awoke something in him, whatever the hell that means.  

But when Jimin said he was hungry, Jungkook insisted on buying him blood to make up for the night they had. Jimin decided to let him have this one. Now he sits here with Jungkook, who still wears his first outfit Jimin chose for him, and orders two blood bottles for them. (B-positive, none of that O-positive bullshit.) 

“So, how do these places work?” Jungkook asks, and Jimin keeps his gaze focused on the TV by the bar. Definitely not on the notebook Jungkook pulled out again.  

“Well as you know, Coexistence allowed vampires to attain blood legally. Humans donate it and we can purchase it in bottles at stores and places. It’s honestly surprising the world didn’t move faster to capitalize on supernaturals.”  

“Yes, but what about…” Jungkook trails off before he leans in, lowering his voice. “The donors?” 

Jimin raises his brows, confused. “What about them?” 

“Can you get donors at bars like these?”  

There are two types of human donors. The ones who donate to blood banks and the ones who give blood directly to vampires, letting them bite and feed on them. The latter are becoming more common these days, as more people take to coexisting with vampires, the more they want to experience what their bites feel like. It can be quite the thrill. A vampire’s fangs are basically an aphrodisiac, making the human pliant and pleasured, almost addicted to having their blood drawn.  

He even spots a few humans in the bar who cozy up to vampires, either a donor or trying to be. So it’s another fair question from Jungkook, but Jimin doesn’t understand why he treats it as taboo.  

“Yeah, just look around. There’s plenty of donors here. You can also find them wherever these days. Hobi-hyung told me they have apps now that connect you with them too.” 

Jungkook gasps silently before jotting it down in his notebook. He seems more than intrigued at the revelation.  

“Are you looking for a donor?” Jimin asks him. If Jungkook were, Jimin would be surprised. He doesn’t pay too much attention to Jungkook, but he has noticed he barely drinks blood. He still seems uncomfortable with it. 

“Oh no,” Jungkook says instead, looking up from his notes. “I’m just really curious. Seoul is so progressive about donors. Back at home, they’re more conservative about it. No one wants to be a donor or they’re not talking openly about it.” 

That makes more sense. Jimin hears about smaller towns being even less accepting of supernaturals than the cities. He’s lived here since he Turned so he hasn’t experienced it firsthand, but he can imagine it easily. “I understand. And where is home?”  

“In Busan. I came to Seoul for school.” 

Jimin freezes at that word. He feels like it’s been so long since he heard it. He almost forgets about it on some nights, almost forgets he used to call it home, too.  

“Oh, I’m also from Busan and came here for school.” 

Jungkook melts into the biggest smile, as if this is the best news anybody could ever tell him. “I am never using Seoul satoori around you ever again.” 

Jimin laughs. A genuine laugh because he can’t help it. He hasn’t spoken in his natural dialect in decades, he doesn’t think he could get used to it again, but he feels that relief of Jungkook’s. Knowing there’s one less thing to put on, to worry about, it’s enough to make him grin like an idiot as well.  

A server comes by to drop off their blood bottles and Jimin takes it gingerly, quickly sipping from it to quench his hunger. He gulps down the bitter taste of blood, relishing in the metallic feel against his tongue. Jungkook watches him drink before putting his head down and writing something in his notebook again. 

Placing the bottle back down, Jimin licks his teeth, ignoring the sharpness of his fangs. “Aren’t you going to drink?” he asks.  

At a closer inspection, Jimin realizes that Jungkook has more than words in his notebook, there are doodles at the side of the pages. Detailed roses drawn by pen, and Jimin remembers Jungkook is an art student. If his doodles are this good, he can’t even imagine how incredible his works must be.  

He’s likable, studious, good at bowling, and artistically talented. Jimin is beyond annoyed now. Does Jungkook have no limit? 

“No,” Jungkook answers without looking up from the flower he’s shading in. “I prefer eating the blood food Yoongi-hyung makes.” 

Never mind, Jimin found it. He sucks at being a vampire. 

Jimin hums, taking another sip from his bottle. “I’m sure that’s more familiar to consume, but it doesn’t have enough blood in it to sustain you. At some point, you’re going to have to drink actual blood. Your hunger pangs will thank you later.”  

A frown grows on Jungkook’s face. “But it tastes so bad.” 

“You’ll get used to it,” Jimin says, chuckling at his pout. It’s kind of cute. “At least you can just drink from a bottle. You don’t have to kill anybody to feed on them.”  

Jungkook’s pen comes to a stop, and Jimin realizes the full extent of what he just said. Fuck, this is why Jimin never wanted to be a sire. It brings back his fledgling memories, remembering the things he taught Jimin, the things Jimin tries so hard to forget.  

Instead of explaining himself, Jimin lets out a forced laugh. Playing it off cool. “A-anyway, you’ll get used to everything. It takes time but everyone gets used to being a vampire.”  

“Jimin-hyung.”  

He doesn’t want to, but Jimin lifts his gaze, finding Jungkook already watching him. His notebook is now closed. 

Jungkook continues, “Seokjin-hyung said you had a different upbringing than the others. What did he mean by that?” 

His eyes roll before he can stop them. Of course, Seokjin mentioned his siring to him. He’s just feeding all this bad information to Jungkook, Seokjin might as well be in charge of the fledgling instead of Jimin. “Nothing. He’s always talking shit. Don’t pay attention to it,” he says.  

The lie doesn’t seem to be working on Jungkook, not by the way he chews on his lip. Jimin waits for him to call him out any second now, but what Jungkook says next takes him by surprise. “You know… I was really excited when he said you would be siring me.” 

“What?” 

But Jungkook nods, doubling down on his answer. “Yeah, I had just met all of you, but you, hyung… you were so cool.” Jungkook ducks his head down, hiding a shy smile, and Jimin is sure if his body would still allow it, he would be blushing. “I knew I got so lucky to have you as my sire. Maybe it’s because of your different upbringing, but I don’t think it’s anything to feel bad about. It’s what makes you special.” A smile of all things spreads on Jungkook’s delicate lips, making him beam from ear to ear. “I’d be honored to learn from someone like you.”  

The way his stomach sinks could only be described as a bottomless pit. Hollow and aching and filled with guilt. No, no, no, this can’t be. Jungkook must still be putting on his sweet and innocent act. There’s no way he looks up to Jimin like this. Because if he does, Jimin is the world’s biggest asshole, and he never wanted to be. He just doesn’t want to sire anyone; he especially doesn’t want to sire the kid who is replacing him.  

Jimin doesn’t want to relive his past. But it’s proving to come back and haunt him anyway.  

He grips the bottle in his hands, staring at its empty contents and avoiding Jungkook’s piercing eyes. “That… that is sweet of you, Jungkook.” He swallows his dry throat, knowing he needs to get this off his chest. He’s avoided it long enough. No more distractions or petty lies, Jungkook deserves the truth now, at least some of it. “But I think you’ve misjudged me. I’m not—I wouldn’t be a good sire to you. You’re probably better off learning from someone else. Even those books would do a better job than me.” 

Jungkook is fast to shake his head. “No, that’s not true. I didn’t even read any of those boo…” His voice trails off as Jimin looks up again. Jungkook is now the one avoiding his gaze, his lip caught in between his teeth. Jimin can’t fight back the skeptical expression that spreads on his face.  

“I knew that was too fast for you to finish. You didn’t read them at all, did you?” 

“I’m sorry,” Jungkook whines. “I tried to read them, but I ended up finding their summaries online. They were just so long and boring. Especially the clan handbook—I think it would work better as an audiobook.” 

Jimin perks up at that. “Right? I told Seokjin-hyung we should turn it into an audiobook.”  

“It would be so much more convenient. You could listen to it on the go or in the shower.” 

“Exactly!” Jimin exclaims with a smile, happy he’s not the only one who couldn’t get through that damn handbook. But then he remembers the issue at hand, and he reigns in his bonding with Jungkook for a moment. Just a lapse of judgment right there. “But wait, why would you say you finished them then?” 

Jungkook squirms in his seat, still avoiding Jimin’s eyes. “Because… I wanted to start my lessons with you.” 

And that is enough to bring back the pit in Jimin’s stomach and its all too consuming guilt. He has no idea what happened to Jungkook’s real sire who Turned him, but he’s clearly needing one, and he wants that one to be Jimin of all people. Jimin, the same person who has been avoiding him for weeks, fooling him into fake lessons and waiting games, and keeping him out of the clan group chat. Jimin doesn’t think he’s the world’s biggest asshole, he knows he is the biggest one in the universe. 

Yet he doesn’t know what to do. Jungkook needs a sire, but it can’t be Jimin. He’s not deserving of it; he doesn’t even know how to do it. Jimin can’t sire anyone, especially someone like Jungkook.  

He needs to get away from here. For at least a minute to breathe in fresh air even though Jimin doesn’t need air to live. But he thinks in this moment, it could help him get through the rest of the night.  

“I—uh—I need another bottle. I’ll be right back,” Jimin says before getting up from the booth in a rush. He doesn’t look back to see Jungkook’s reaction, he just hurries over to the bar counter, desperate to get away and gather himself together. 

Jimin moves past several people but finally makes it to the main bar. He calls over one of the bartenders, telling him, “I’ll have a B-positive bottle.” 

“Sorry, we just ran out. Will O-positive be okay?”  

Of course they did. Because this night could not get fucking worse. Jimin says it’s fine, letting the bartender get to work while he rests his elbows on the counter, face palming into his hands. He’s grateful for the bar’s loud atmosphere, it can drown out his groan.  

“Here, you can sip mine. I think I took the last one,” a smooth voice says, and Jimin freezes completely. He knows this voice.  

Slowly, Jimin lifts his face to see the person sitting on a stool next to him. He wears a black suit and swirls blood in a wine glass because this asshole was always known for being pretentious. He watches Jimin from the corner of his eye before offering the glass. Junseo . Jimin can’t believe he’s here of all places. This night is truly testing every one of his limits.  

“No thanks,” Jimin says, not bothering to hold back the coldness in his voice. “What are you even doing here?” 

“Can’t a man enjoy a drink in a bar?” 

“You and I both know these aren’t the kind of establishments your clan hangs around in.”  

“ Our clan, I think you mean,” Junseo says with a knowing grin. He brings the glass back to his lips. “It’s only been a few years and you’re already trying to make us into strangers.”  

Almost thirty years, Jimin thinks to himself. It’s a lot more than a “few.” But of course, Junseo doesn’t care. He never did. They were never exactly friends, just two vampires in the same clan, under the same sire. It was more of a competition between them. Always fighting to see who looked best in their sire’s eyes.  

“The Wang Clan isn’t mine anymore, I’m part of a different clan now.” 

“So I’ve heard. I’m sure things are so nice and pleasant with the Bangtannies.” Junseo cocks his head, looking at him almost mockingly. “And you’re even siring someone after all the issues you caused our sire. You sure have changed, Jimin.”  

His throat grows tight. “What? Where did you hear that?”  

Junseo sits back in his seat while he sets his glass down. “I saw it. You’re sitting with a cute, red-eyed fledgling back there. I must admit I was surprised, you always said you would never sire anyone, but I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”  

No, the apple falls and runs far from the tree. He avoids becoming one himself because Jimin is nothing like his sire and he’s not here to repeat the past. He’s here to end it.  

“I’m not siring him. He’s just a member of my clan,” says Jimin. The bartender drops off his blood bottle with the check. Jimin reaches for it, wasting no time to bring it to his lips and take a huge gulp.  

“Sure looks like it.” Junseo glances behind him before bringing his gaze back to Jimin. “He was taking notes and listening to you so eagerly.” 

“He can do whatever he wants but I’m not fucking siring him. He’s just a clan member I dragged out here, but he’s no fledgling of mine.”  

Junseo chuckles. “If you say so.” 

Jimin holds back a scoff while he searches for his wallet in his pockets. When he finds nothing, he realizes he must have left it back on the table. “I do, and as much as I enjoy this conversation, I have to go—” 

“Oh no, Jimin. We just started catching up. I didn’t get to tell you all about how much he misses you.” 

“Save it. I don’t care,” Jimin says before he turns around, fully intending to storm back to his table and forget this encounter ever happened. But as he spins on his heel, he comes face to face with those big, red eyes. The ones that now stare at him with hurt swimming in them. 

Jungkook stands in front of him, brows pulled together and mouth open to say something, but then he tears his eyes away and closes his mouth. That sinking feeling returns and Jimin fears how much Jungkook heard of that conversation. Grasping at little hope that Jungkook didn’t hear those cursed words he just let out.  

“Um,” Jungkook starts, shifting on his feet. He then holds up Jimin’s wallet in his hands. “You forgot it at the table… thought you might need it.”  

“Jungkook—” 

“Well it was so nice seeing you, Jimin,” Junseo says he gets up for his seat. He walks in between Jimin and Jungkook, stopping right before Jimin to pat him on the shoulder. The grin that he wears is wicked, stretching from ear to ear, and bearing his sharp fangs. It tells Jimin everything he needs to know. “I’ll let Insik know that you send your best.”  

Before Jimin can even tell him not to, Junseo walks away, leaving Jimin and Jungkook to themselves once again. They stand together amid the busy bar, silence lingering between them until it becomes unbearable. When Jimin doesn’t take the wallet, Jungkook lets his arm drop, still avoiding Jimin’s gaze.  

He heard every word.  

“Jungkook,” Jimin tries again, “let me explain.” 

“Explain what?” Jungkook shrugs. A wry smile reaches his lips. “I get it. I—I’m not dumb, hyung. I could tell you didn’t like me. You always avoid me at the apartment, it was obvious. But… I wanted you to sire me, and I was so excited when you finally agreed tonight… I just wished you told me the truth. If you didn’t want to sire me, you could have told me.”  

Jimin folds his hands into fists, digging his nails into the palms of his hands. Letting the sting ground him from the internal pain he feels inside. Guilt floods him like a broken dam, and Jimin feels ready to drown in it. “It wasn’t like that—it’s complicated, Jungkook, I swear. I can explain.”  

But Jungkook shakes his head. He finally lifts his gaze, meeting his eyes one more time. “No. I think we’re done with lessons for tonight.”  

With that, Jungkook moves past him to leave Jimin’s wallet on the counter, and then he walks away without another word.  

Jimin doesn’t bother trying to chase after him to apologize. He’s far too late for that. He should have apologized from the beginning and told Jungkook he couldn’t be his sire. He should have dealt with the consequences of disobeying Seokjin’s order. He should have kept his mouth shut when Seokjin said it was the end of the discussion. Then he never would have found himself in this mess. 

He never would have hurt Jungkook like this. Even after all this time, all Jimin knows how to do is hurt others. No matter how much he tries to run away from who he used to be, it will always cling to him like a shadow. 

Because there’s no escaping that mirror reflection that shows him exactly what he is: a monster. 

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 

VILFs  

Furrystein  

why is the FILF sad :( ? 

Coexistence Simp  

The what? 

Furrystein  

the FILF 

The Fledgling I’d Like to Fuck  

OG Twink  

Thanks! I hate it  

#SaveHopeWorld  

baby did you adopt Jungkook without any of us knowing it 

Furrystein  

baby? I thought Namjoon-hyung and Yoongi-hyung were the ones dating now 

Coexistence Simp  

None of us really know at this point. 

Daddy Dracula  

Don’t be fooled by your confusing dating dynamics. 

Yoongi finds Jungkook hot, too. 

You. All. Do.  

#SaveHopeWorld  

#exposed 

Coexistence Simp  

… 

Fuck.  

OG Twink  

I am uncomfortable with the energy we have created in the studio today  

Furrystein  

accept the truth and get off tik tok hyung 

aNYWAY why is jungkook so sad lately  

he just mopes around the apartment  

wearing that sad puppy face 

Daddy Dracula  

Babe, don’t— 

Furrystein  

OF COURSE I think that puppy face of his will make him a strong candidate for my hybrid experiments 

Jeon Jungkook being the world’s first vampire and werewolf hybrid? 

it’s a yes from me 

but why is he so sad :( it makes me sad too  

#SaveHopeWorld  

* cough cough* jimin *cough cough* 

Me  

you got something in your throat Hobi-hyung? 

#SaveHopeWorld  

just an observation :)  

Me  

snitch 

Coexistence Simp  

Wait, what happened between you two? Did something go wrong with your siring lessons? 

OG Twink  

Lmao what lessons 

Jimin siring Jungkook? In this economy? 

It’s less likely than you think!  

#SaveHopeWorld  

#exposedroundtwo  

Me  

hyungs SHUT IT 

Daddy Dracula  

Come again? 

Jimin hasn’t been siring Jungkook?  

After I specifically asked him to do that? 

Me  

Gotta blast! 

[Park Jimin left the VILFs chat.] 

Jimin shoots up from his bed, leaving his phone behind and backing away slowly. Seokjin knows Jimin hasn’t been siring Jungkook. He’s going to find out everything that happened these past few weeks. 

Ever since the night at the bar, Jungkook avoids Jimin at all costs. Whether it’s passing by each other around the apartment or being in the same room with the other members, Jungkook will quietly excuse himself or claim he has schoolwork to attend to. He doesn’t look at Jimin. He won’t even meet his gaze. 

It’s only been a few nights, but it feels like so long since Jimin met those big, red eyes.  

He thought the others hadn’t notice. Jimin and Jungkook were never close to begin with, it shouldn’t seem strange they can never be in the same room now. But Yoongi and Hoseok have picked up on Jimin skipping his siring duties, and Taehyung has noticed Jungkook’s sullen moods. It was only a matter of time before the entire clan, especially Seokjin found out.  

Jimin would wish he could go back in time to fix this and prevent any of it from ever happening. But he’s lived long enough to know there’s no point in dwelling in ifs and what could be. He needs to make this right. 

And he could… if only Jungkook would stay long enough for Jimin to try.  

His phone buzzes and Jimin almost jumps at the sound of it. He hurries to check the caller ID, seeing none other than Kim Seokjin calling him.  

Yeah, this would be a great time for Jimin to run. 

He rushes to the door, planning to leave his phone behind so Seokjin can’t reach him, but when he opens the door, he finds his worst fear already waiting for him.  

Seokjin leans against the doorway, still holding his phone to his ear. “You do know we live together, right?” 

Jimin smiles wryly. “Yeah. So, um, what can I help you with, hyung?” 

“Jiminie,” Seokjin says in a saccharine voice. He ends his call and puts his phone back into his pocket. Resting his head against the door frame, he grins. “Why didn’t you sire Jungkook like I asked you?” 

“What are you talking about? Of course, I sired him.” 

“Jimin.” Seokjin’s voice grows more serious, his smile dropping little by little. “Don’t lie to me.”  

He swallows. Jimin knows he should tell the truth to Seokjin, but he doesn’t know where to start. He thought it would be best to be honest with Jungkook first, but things never work as planned. Life always hates plans.  

“I did—I mean I tried,” Jimin says, but even his voice sounds weak to his ears.  

Seokjin just hums before stepping inside Jimin’s room and closing the door behind him. He strolls over to Jimin’s bed and plops himself on top of it. Looking up at Jimin with a bemused face. “How so? Tell me all about your lessons,” he says.  

With a sigh, Jimin moves to stand before him. He crosses his arms over his chest, wracking his brain for an answer to tell Seokjin. Something to ease him over so he can later right things with Jungkook. “I taught him about vampire and clan culture.” Well, that’s not a complete lie, it’s just a bit of a stretch.  

“Is that right?” 

“Yes, also about feeding and donors.” 

“What about feeding control? Also about his oncoming body changes. The speed, the strength, the heightened senses. Did you prepare him for those?”  

No, I was too busy trying to shake him off. “I-I was getting to those lessons.” 

Seokjin tilts his head. His eyes sparkle like that time in the kitchen, one of them is letting something slip, and they both know it’s not Seokjin. “When? You two are barely ever in the same room together, I can’t imagine when you both find the time to meet up for siring.” 

Jimin chews on the inside of his cheeks. He’s run himself in circles in this maze. There’s no chance of escaping. It’s time to finally meet the beasts that wait inside it.  

“A long time from now,” he admits. 

“How long?” Seokjin asks. 

“Long enough for Jungkook to give up on having me be his sire.” 

At that confession, the spark finally leaves Seokjin’s eyes. It’s replaced by a worried expression, and his voice sounds softer when he says, “Why did you want him to give up? Did you really not want to sire him?” 

“It’s not just him, it’s—anyone. I can’t sire anyone, hyung.” Jimin feels his hands begin to shake, he keeps them hidden within his arms, hoping it doesn’t show.  

“Jimin,” Seokjin’s frown deepens, “I know you had a bad experience with your sire, but I thought this could be good for you. You and Jungkook have so much in common, I think you could help each other.” 

“What do we have in common?” Jimin’s brows furrow, feeling a scorn reach his face. “Jeon Jungkook is fucking perfect at everything he does. Even if he struggles at some things, he’s still picking up being a vampire more naturally than I’ve ever seen in anyone. He’s loved and welcome inside the clan, by all of you.” His voice drops to a whisper. “I’m nothing like that.” 

“Jimin,” Seokjin says again. A hint of guilt etched onto his features. “We love you too.” 

“Not at first. You all hated me when we met. None of you even wanted to let me into the clan.” 

“That’s not true.” A small smile tugs at the corner of Seokjin’s lips. “Taehyung voted to let you in pretty fast.” 

“That’s because we’re soulmates.” 

Seokjin chuckles. “Can’t argue with that.” He grows serious again, pursing his lips before he continues, “But seriously, Jimin, none of us ever hated you. Afraid? Yes, but we never hated you, and we never meant to make you feel—unwelcomed. I’m sorry if we made you feel like that for a while, if seeing us with Jungkook made it worse.”  

His eyes burn, and Jimin almost doesn’t recognize the feeling, but then it hits him.  

He wants to cry.  

It’s been so long since he last cried.  

“He reminds me of the worst about myself,” Jimin says, unable to meet Seokjin’s piercing gaze. He keeps his eyes trained on the floor, fighting back tears. “I know I should be happy for him finding a clan that makes him feel accepted, but it reminds me of how much I’ve never been accepted. His humanness reminds me of how much I’ve lost mine. And having to sire him brings back all those memories I try so hard to forget.” 

Silence follows after. Jimin uses that time to blink some of the unshed tears from his eyes, and he doesn’t dare to look up and find Seokjin’s expression. He doesn’t want his pity. He doesn’t want his anger. He just wants Seokjin or for anyone to understand him. For once in his life, he wants someone to understand his side of things.  

“…Do you know why we let Jungkook into the clan?” 

Jimin never expected Seokjin to respond with that, but he slowly lifts his gaze, trying to see where Seokjin is going with this.  

“It really was a sudden, last-minute thing,” Seokjin explains, watching some corner of the room to avoid meeting Jimin’s face. “I got a call from a friend I have at the council. They received a case of a fledgling who had been attacked and forcibly Turned. They couldn’t find who did it, Jungkook just stated he woke up buried in some woods, confused about what had happened to him. Incidents like these are rarer after Coexistence, but when they do have them, they usually place them in some clan to handle their siring. My friend knows how small we are, so he offered Jungkook to me. And without even thinking about it, I said yes because… Well, he reminded me of you. If he were going to go anywhere, I’d rather it be with us.”  

Because of Jimin. Because of what happened that night in 1981. After a late dance practice at school, Jimin was on his way back to his apartment. He was so busy during those days, busy with school, busy with dance, busy with his dreams he was working hard to accomplish. His days were so full that he never paid much attention to the night. He had no idea what creatures waited inside it.  

Something pulled him inside an alley. That’s where the shadows are darkest and easier to hide in. Jimin never got a chance to see it. He just felt two sharp things piercing into his neck, and the sound of the scream he let out. He remembers watching the world grow dimmer as he was pulled further into the darkness. All the energy inside him drained bit by bit, replaced by pain that spread through each of his veins as they became emptier. And for a brief moment, he thought, is this what dying feels like?   

That thing took everything he could out of Jimin. Until there was nothing left but a shell of who he used to be. It dropped Jimin to the ground, leaving him gasping for breath, for a piece of life that it stole from him. 

Jimin struggled to keep his eyes open. He couldn’t watch it walk away; he could barely take notice when someone else approached him. He just laid there, trying desperately to stay awake, but dreamless sleep was calling for him. It called him with the voices of his mother and father who were waiting back at home for him in Busan. He hadn’t been home in a long time. He missed them. He wondered if he could see them if he let the darkness take him.  

But he never got a chance. Because that’s when he came. When he spoke to him in that voice, the voice that would make it so hard for Jimin to disobey and run from.  

It’s okay, Insik, his sire said, everything will be okay. I won’t let you die here. I’ll save you.   

And how Jimin sometimes wishes Insik left him there instead.  

Because then, none of this would have happened.  

“Jungkook… was also attacked and forcibly Turned?” Jimin asks, mostly to keep his head from spinning. He feels sick. All these memories flooding back to him make the pit in his stomach churn.  

“Yes. And I didn’t want him to end up in some horrible clan like you, so I said we could take him. I told all the others about it and I was going to tell you too, but I was worried it might scare you. I meant it when I said you’re a worrywart, Jimin,” he says with a wry smile. Only Seokjin can still find ways to tease during serious conversations, but it still manages to make Jimin smile lightly, shaking his head at him. “But I think the others were so welcoming because Jungkook reminded them of you too. They wanted to be there for him properly like people should have been for you… but we dropped the ball on actually treating you right too though. I’m sorry.” 

Jimin doesn’t say anything. He just takes in those words, seeing their perspective on it, but still hurting from the effects of it.  

“And I know it might have seemed like a cruel joke that I asked you to sire him,” Seokjin continues, “but I did think you two would be good for each other. No one in this clan better understands what he’s going through right now than you. I know you don’t think it’s maybe right or good for you to sire anyone, but I think after such an experience, you know exactly what not to do. You know what a fledgling deserves during this time. I think you’d make a great sire, Jimin… but I never meant to force you to do it, or make you relive your past. I’m sorry for going all clan leader on you and for all the misunderstandings. I should have been more honest with you from the start, but you don’t have to sire Jungkook. It’s okay, Jimin.” 

“I’m sorry too,” Jimin says as a weight lifts off his chest. “I should have also been more honest. I keep forgetting that it’s okay to disagree with you because you’re not like Insik, you’ll listen to me, you understand me… and if I had been more honest with all of you, I could have avoided this mess. I wouldn’t have hurt Jungkook.”  

“Did he find out you don’t want to sire him?” 

Jimin nods, feeling that stinging return to his eyes. “He wanted me to be his sire, and I just treated him awfully.” 

He closes his eyes, feeling a mix of relief and hurt still storming inside him. He’s happy that Seokjin understands him, reminds him that he is still wanted in this clan, and respects his need not to sire anyone, but now knowing what happened to Jungkook makes it all worse again. It digs the pit even further.  

A hand comes onto his shoulder, making Jimin open his eyes. He finds Seokjin now standing in front of him, squeezing his shoulder while giving him a small smile. “It’s still not too late. You got plenty of time to treat him right.” He leans in whispering, “You’re both immortal, in case you forgot.” 

Only Seokjin can make Jimin laugh through his tears. He doesn’t know who pulls in first, but they end in a hug, reminding each other that their bond goes beyond friendship, beyond clan leader and member. They’re family. The Bangtan family. For now and all the years to come.  

Once they let go, Seokjin ropes Jimin into coming out of his room to watch a movie with him. Neither of them expects to open the door and find not only Taehyung with his ear to the door, but Hoseok, Yoongi, and Namjoon too. The others panic for a moment and try to lie about why they were clearly eavesdropping, but then Taehyung bursts out with an I’m sorry you felt left behind and replaced by Jungkook, Chim. We love you so much. It’s followed by the other’s apologies and confirmations of their love for Jimin, and Jimin accepts them all. Giving his apologies and love to them, too. 

He hugs each of them before all six go to the living room to watch a movie together. Because this is his family. The one he chose, the one he worked so hard to be in, and the one that accepted and chose him time and time again.  

Even when he came in the form of a fledgling with bright clothes, glasses, and red eyes.  

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 

It’s not until they’re almost finished with the movie does Jungkook come home. He walks through the door with a surprised look on his face, probably not expecting to see them all gathered together on the couches. When his eyes land on Jimin, Jungkook quickly averts his gaze and mumbles that he’s going to take a shower.  

Before he can make a run for it, Jimin stands up from his seat. “Jungkook,” he calls him. 

Jungkook stops in his tracks, but he doesn’t look over at Jimin. “Yeah?” 

Jimin swallows, feeling nervous despite the confidence he gained from his and Seokjin’s conversation earlier. He can make this right. He knows he can. He just has to try.  

If only trying wasn’t so scary. “Can we talk for a little?” he asks, his voice only slightly wavering.  

Jungkook shifts the backpack around his shoulders. “Sure,” he says so quietly that Jimin struggles to hear him over the movie.  

A spark of hope ignites back in Jimin. “Let’s go out to the balcony.”  

Jungkook just nods before taking off his backpack and leaving it behind. Jimin is glad that no one comments on them walking out to the balcony together, but they all know that they need this talk. It’s far overdue. They should have had it the first night Jungkook walked through that door, right after Jimin was assigned to be his sire.  

Jimin owes the truth to Jungkook most of all. Especially when they have more in common than he ever thought.  

They’re met with cool night air outside on the balcony. Jimin closes the screen door behind them as Jungkook settles his forearms on the railing. He comes to join him overlooking the city. Surrounded by other towering buildings, streets filled with passing cars and chattering people, their noises and voices echoing in the distance. The view is lit by the lights of the buildings, the headlights of cars, and the moon hanging above them in a starless sky.  

No stars can be found this deep into the city.  

“What did you want to talk about, Jimin-hyung?” Jungkook asks. He fidgets with his hands, keeps his gaze focused on the streets below, refusing to look at Jimin by his side.  

Jimin takes a deep breath, even if he doesn’t need it. He wants to prepare himself. Talking about this never comes easy. “I wanted to tell you about my siring.” 

That finally makes Jungkook blink and turn his head to look at him. His brows furrow together, confusion written across his face. 

But Jimin continues, “When I was twenty-three, a vampire attacked me on my way home from university. He sucked me almost dry, left me for dead. That’s when he found me. My sire.” He checks for Jungkook’s reaction and finds his features less strained, but now his eyes are wider, mouth parted as he listens. “His name is Wang Insik. He is the leader of the Wang Clan. You ever heard of them?” 

When Jungkook shakes his head, Jimin can’t help but chuckle.  

“We have so much to teach you about the supernatural world,” Jimin says, letting his gaze drift down to the passing cars. “But the Wang Clan is one of the biggest clans in Seoul. They have hundreds of members and they’ve been around for a long time. Insik found me that night and saved me from death after Turning me. He sired me himself.” He rests his hands on the railing, gripping it until his knuckles turn white. “The Wang Clan is different from the Bangtan Clan. When I was with them, they were fine with killing humans for feedings. In fact, it was fucking encouraged.” He shakes his head. “They were a brutal and cruel clan. Stuck in the old ways. They were against Coexistence—I was against Coexistence because of them.”  

Jimin knew absolutely nothing about supernaturals or their world. Everything he learned was from Insik and the Wang Clan. If Insik said killing humans was their right as a vampire, then Jimin listened. If Insik said Coexistence would give other supernaturals and humans the chance to strip down vampires’ powers, then Jimin agreed. And if Insik said Jimin must always stay by his side, then Jimin promised to be his forever.  

When Jungkook still doesn’t say anything, Jimin knows he has to keep going. There’s still so much left to say. “A sire and a clan are so important for a fledgling. They shape who you are and what you think. It took me so long to break out of the mindset they fed me, to realize that the life they gave me was one I didn’t want. It was hard, so hard to do, but I found a way to leave them…” to leave Insik. “And I spent the next few years just trying to figure out who I wanted to be. What kind of vampire did I want to be in this new world of Coexistence… and I got better after a while. But immortality is a lonely thing, and vampires crave lasting bonds, people who we can always call our own. And after looking around for a while, I found the Bangtan Clan.” 

“…Now you’re here,” Jungkook breathes. Jimin feels his eyes on him, but he doesn’t dare meet them, still too afraid to meet those all-seeing red eyes.  

“Now I’m here,” he agrees. “But it wasn’t exactly smooth sailing from there. The Bangtannies—they found out what clan I came from. Coexistence brought upon a shit load of paperwork now following us around. And they didn’t want to let me in. They were afraid I was still like the Wang Clan. The Bangtannies were all for Coexistence, Namjoon-hyung helped push for it, and here I was, coming from an enemy clan with more blood on my hands than they could handle.” Jimin lets out a heavy sigh. “It took a long time to convince the members that I had changed, that I was a different person, and that they could trust me… I just wanted to be a part of them. I wanted them to see that.” 

“But they love you,” Jungkook says, and that finally makes Jimin turn to look at him. Jungkook watches him with shining eyes, almost looking wet with tears. “I see it in the way they treat you, talk about you. The hyungs love you, Jimin-hyung.” 

Jimin feels tears threaten at his own eyes. “Yeah, but I think I started to forget it when you came around.” Jungkook opens his mouth to counter with something, but Jimin beats him to it. “It’s okay, it’s not your fault. I got jealous,” he says. “Everyone took to you so fast and I was feeling left behind. Then Seokjin-hyung assigned me to sire you, but Jungkook, I never wanted to sire anyone. After I left Insik, I swore to never sire a fledgling. I didn’t want to become like him. His lessons were all I knew from a sire and I never wanted to pass that down to another vampire.” He turns his body to face Jungkook completely, wanting to look him right in the eyes as he says, “I’m sorry, Jungkook, for lying to you and wasting your time. For not teaching you when I said I would, but you deserve a sire who can guide you properly. You deserve someone good to you.” 

Jungkook peels his body away from the reeling, standing face to face with Jimin. He purses his lips before he murmurs, “But you are good to me.” 

“…What?” 

“You take care of me,” Jungkook says a little louder, with a little more conviction. “I mean, even when you were just fooling me around that night, you took care of me.” 

Jimin shakes his head. “Out of guilt, Jungkook. I’ve done a lot of wrong to you. I gave you those books as a distraction, I avoided you, and I kept you out of the clan group chat.” 

“There’s a clan group chat?” 

“Yeah, it’s pretty lit. I’m so sorry.”  

Much to his surprise, Jungkook chuckles with his head lowered, watching him from beneath the fringe of his hair. “That was a little mean, hyung.” 

Jimin nods. His chest stirs with relief of admitting the truth and aching from being seen this thoroughly. It’s been a long time since Jimin has been this honest, this vulnerable in front of someone else. Jungkook was the last person he expected to be like this in front of, but now he can’t imagine doing it with anyone else. “I know, and I’m sorry for all of it. I never should have treated you like that. It was immature of me, and you didn’t deserve it. So please, if there’s anything I can ever do for you, tell me.” 

Jungkook keeps his head hanging low, but his eyes sparkle like he’s been hit with an idea.  

Oh no. Jimin is tired of people’s ideas.  

And by the way Jungkook’s lips begin to curl, he knows exactly where this one is going.  

“No, Jungkook. We just went over this—” 

“What better way to make it up to me than by being my actual sire?” 

“Did you not hear a word I just said?” 

Jungkook shrugs, wearing a full grin now. “I did… but I think you shouldn’t let your past stop you from being afraid of the future. You could be better than your sire. I want you to be my sire.” 

“Why, Jungkook? I—I wouldn’t even know where to start or how to do it.” 

“Because,” Jungkook says, his wry smile slipping away as he grows serious again. “you’re like me. We were both forced to become this. You know what it’s like to be me right now, it makes me feel less alone… and you don’t have to be an expert in siring, you can just teach me all the things you wish you knew. All the things your sire should have done for you.” 

All the lessons Jimin wished he had. The bringing into this world and the changes Jimin wished he learned. Jimin doesn’t have to long for it, he can give it to someone else, he can prevent someone else from becoming like him.  

Jungkook needs someone to teach him during this time, and there is truly no one else in this clan who better understands his situation than Jimin. Each member had willingly Turn, not one of them was dragged into this ocean and expected to know how to swim.  

Jimin doesn’t want to let Jungkook drown. He wants to show him how to survive the oncoming waves, the turbulent storms, and how to find the light in the darkness even when it’s meant to burn them. Because Jimin isn’t like Insik. He can be better than anything Insik ever was. Jimin can be the sire he wished he had, and the sire Jungkook deserves.  

It all seems so simple when put like that, Jimin wishes he realized it sooner, but there’s no point in dwelling in the what ifs and could have been. Jimin only has the here and now, and he’s being given the chance to make it right with Jungkook and himself.  

He’s not going to make the wrong choice this time.  

“Okay,” Jimin agrees, “I’ll sire you.” 

Another blinding smile spreads on Jungkook’s face, and Jimin thinks it must be contagious. He finds it hard not to smile at the sight of him. “We’re going to have real lessons this time?” Jungkook asks with excitement. 

“Yes, real lessons. No more bowling or shopping.” 

Jungkook’s smile drops. “But I like bowling and shopping.” 

“They have nothing to do with being a vampire, Jungkook.”  

He seems to mull it over in his head before nodding in agreement. “Yeah, I get it. We’ll keep those strictly to dates.”  

Jimin nods and is about to head for the door when his brain processes Jungkook’s words. He turns to look at him, blanching. “What did you just say?” 

Jungkook cocks his head to the side, confused. “What?” 

“You said dates.” 

“No, I didn’t.” 

“You said we’ll keep those strictly to dates. ” 

“ Days . I said days. You know I keep getting days and nights mixed up, sire.” 

Jimin feels like he’s about to lose his mind. Maybe he made a mistake. “Let’s get one thing clear, just because I am going to sire you doesn’t mean you can actually call me sire.” 

Jungkook raises his brows. “Why don’t you like it? Seokjin-hyung said you’re supposed to call sires, ‘sire.’” 

“Because it makes me feel old!”  

“How old are you?” 

Jimin crosses his arms over his chest, huffing. “Sixty-three.” 

The snort that Jungkook lets out is more than humiliating. “You’re right. I should just call you ahjussi.”  

If his heart could still pump blood, Jimin knows he would be flushing down to his toes. “Don’t you dare! I’m one of the youngest in the clan, I’m young in the supernatural world.”  

“You’re kind of young for a grandpa, I guess.”  

Jimin sputters, trying to make sense of this grinning, mischievous Jungkook in front of him. “What happened to the sweet, nice fledgling we had?”  

Jungkook shrugs, looking away coyly. “I am sweet and nice. But I feel like I’m seeing the real you now, and you’re fun to tease, ahjussi.”  

“Yah! You’re a real brat is what you are.” 

“A brat in your care now,” Jungkook says with the biggest of grins. “I’m all yours to teach.” 

This is his fledgling now. Jungkook stands tall before Jimin with a mess of wavy dark locks on top of his head. A smile that is a little crooked at the side and yet it works so perfectly on him, endearing down to every one of his pretty little imperfections. Switching his colorful sweatshirts for the black one he wears now, and his glasses nowhere in sight. His eyes are big and open for all to see, twinkling with stars that can’t be found in the sky above them because they’re already existing in Jungkook’s sweet, adoring gaze.  

Jimin never would have thought he’d have a fledgling. Especially one this beautiful.  

Life truly likes to test him, but Jimin doesn’t mind this challenge, not when it seems to make Jungkook so happy.  

“Come on, let’s go to our next lesson: movie night,” Jimin says as he turns back to the door. 

Jungkook follows after him. “I thought you said real lessons from now on.” 

“This is a real one. You need to learn how tense movie night can be with the clan when they can’t decide on what they want to watch,” Jimin explains to him in a low voice as they make their way to the couches. He doesn’t miss the knowing glances and sly grins the other members send them. They must be happy seeing Jimin and Jungkook make up. Finally bringing the clan together as one.  

Jimin settles on one of the back couches and Jungkook sits right beside him. When he looks at him, Jungkook smiles through the darkness of the living room. Letting him know that they’re going to be okay. Jimin doesn’t have to be afraid of teaching him, Jungkook trusts him, and that’s all the reason Jimin needs to trust in himself.  

His past may haunt his future, but it can help save Jungkook’s, and that gives him all the strength he needs to revisit it. Until those big, red eyes return to their natural color, Jimin will teach Jungkook everything he can.  

Jungkook never asked to be a part of this world, but Jimin will help him feel accepted. Just like the way he always craved. He will help give Jungkook the home he deserves.  

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 

VILFs  

Daddy Dracula  

[Kim Seokjin added Park Jimin to the VILFs chat.] 

Me  

[Park Jimin added Jeon Jungkook to the VILFs chat.] 

[Park Jimin changed Jeon Jungkook’s chat name to “The FILF.”] 

The FILF  

aww hyung :( 

[Jeon Jungkook changed Park Jimin’s chat name from “Emo Twink” to “The SILF.”] 

Me  

The SILF? 

The FILF  

The sire I’d like to fuck :) 

Me  

aw jungkook 

[Park Jimin blocked Jeon Jungkook.] 

The FILF  

HYUNG NOOOOO 

Me  

See you tomorrow for your lessons! <3