Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Sunoo didn’t know what he was looking at. Or maybe he did, and he just didn’t want to believe it. Heeseung was still crouched by Lira’s body, talking to her in a trembling voice like she could still hear him. Sunoo turned away, swallowing hard against the acid rising in his throat.

“Jay!” 

Jay didn’t move at first. He just stared, frozen, gaze hollow as it locked onto Heeseung and the body.

“She’s still warm,” Heeseung’s voice cracked as he gathered the broken vampire against him.

Jay was at Heeseung’s side in an instant. His hands searched automatically for her pulse, but Sunoo knew she didn’t have one. She didn’t have any blood at all, just like every victim before her. 

Sunoo didn’t know how long they stood there with the body. The gauze around his neck suddenly felt too tight, too itchy, and Sunoo had to physically resist tearing it off his skin. Heeseung’s face had gone empty a while ago, and when he finally stood, Sunoo felt the shock radiating off of him so sharply it made his stomach twist.

“I need to make a call.”

It took Sunoo a minute to follow him, and when he moved, he tugged Riki along with him. 

“What—? Is that—is she—”

“That was exactly what we didn’t want you involved in,” Sunoo whispered. 

Heeseung was leaning against the wall, the phone shaking in his hand as he tried to steady his breathing. Riki was clearly wrestling with panic of his own, but he stepped forward without hesitation, letting Heeseung pull him in and hide his face in Riki’s shoulder. Sunoo eased closer too, slipping his hand into Heeseung’s.

When the other line connected, Sunoo could make out a frantic voice.

“Heeseung? I’ve been trying to contact you! Lira’s missing and the bond just—”

Heeseung squeezed his eyes shut, as if the pressure behind them had finally become too much. “Can you meet me? If I send you an address?”

A long, horrible silence followed. Then, softly, like the speaker already knew, “No. Tell me you aren’t saying what I think you are.”

“We just found her.”

There was a sound—raw, guttural, unmistakably a coven detonating in grief—and then the line went dead.

They didn’t move, even when the time blurred together. Sunoo could vaguely hear Sunghoon desperately trying to keep Jay out of his head, small, whispered reassurances that he couldn’t have done anything more for Lira. Jake had his arms wrapped around Jungwon—who would pretend he didn’t need to be held together later—but for now, he pressed as close as he could get. 

Sunoo felt the grief pressing against his chest before he’d heard them approach. He turned. Despite everything, they didn’t look broken. They were a small coven, Sunoo noted, only three people. Their leader was easily identifiable. The man stood a whole head and shoulders above the rest of his coven, unmovable even when he flinched at the sight of them. His members trailed after him slowly. The woman with him had her hair cropped just above her shoulders. It made her face look sharper as her eyes raked over each of them, like she was cataloging. The third person was the shortest, with several piercings and tattoos that caught the light. Their hair was short, framing their face and hiding their swollen eyes. 

Sunoo pulled Riki away from Heeseung, pivoting slightly to keep Riki behind him, just in case. If Lira’s coven noticed, they didn’t say anything. Heeseung shifted, straightening to his full height. 

“Doyoung.” He turned to the others, “Arin, Cody, I didn’t know you were coming.” 

Cody’s eyes narrowed, but their voice was raw. “She’s our coven. Why would we not?”

“Cody.” Doyoung snapped, and Cody fell silent, their shoulders hunching in. Doyoung visibly took a breath, turned, and wrapped his arms around the smaller vampire, kissing Cody’s short hair with soft apologies.

Arin cleared her throat as she turned to Heeseung. “Where is she?”

Heeseung sucked in a sharp breath and pushed off the wall, leading the way. Doyoung didn’t spare Sunoo a glance as he passed, following Heeseung like he was leading him to his grave. 

Sunghoon only turned slightly at their arrival, nodding politely at the passing coven and making a ‘come here’ gesture at Sunoo. Sunoo didn’t realize how much he had craved his coven’s touch until Sunghoon had his hands on him. Warmth spread like wildfire wherever Sunghoon touched, and Sunoo swayed into it. 

“You okay?”

Sunoo started to nod but thought better of it. “Not really.”

Sunghoon made a sympathetic sound. “I know.”

Jay found a distraction in checking on Riki, who looked like he was moments from vomiting. Something uncomfortable flipped in Sunoo’s chest. They’d spent so long keeping Riki as far away from everything as possible, and now it was all for nothing. Now the body was on their doorstep. How long was it until the next body was theirs? 

A choked sob broke through his thoughts. Doyoung wouldn’t even look at Lira, turning instead to face the empty brick wall, hand over his mouth. Cody and Arin cradled Lira’s body between them, like they could shield her from her fate.

No one knew what to do for a while. Sunoo didn’t even think anyone was breathing. Doyoung’s hands were shaking as he finally pulled them away from his face, and he bent down next to Lira. He seemed numb to the cries of his coven as he brushed the back of his knuckles down Lira’s bruised neck, the mark she wore proudly, gone. He leaned forward to kiss her forehead, whispering something fond to her before straightening, picking up her body. 

“How long ago did you find her?” 

Heeseung dug his phone from his pocket. “Not long before I called you.”

“I felt it. Even before you called, I…knew.”

Sunoo shifted uncomfortably, and Sunghoon squeezed his shoulders seemingly without thinking. Cody had their arms wrapped around themselves, like they could hold themselves together through sheer will. They were shivering, but Sunoo didn’t think they were cold. 

Tears dripped from their face, but they locked onto Riki, scoffing. “I don’t suppose the death of my coven has anything to do with your new addition, does it?”

Everything froze. Or maybe it was just Sunoo’s heart that had stopped beating. Jungwon cleared his throat. “I’m sorry for your loss,” he murmured. “But he has nothing to do with this.”

Cody swiped at their eyes. “And of course you would know that, wouldn’t you? Because while Lira was dying, you were off with your new toy—”

“That’s enough.”

Cody’s mouth snapped shut, but they glared hotly in Riki’s direction. Riki shrank back against Jay, who did not take kindly to the insult. Jake barely managed to wrangle him back, murmuring something Sunoo thought was supposed to be soothing, but Jay wasn’t responding. Jungwon dug his knuckles into his eyes, his frame tense.

“Do not come at my coven.” 

Doyoung put a hand on Cody’s shoulder. “Go inside with Arin. I will meet you there.”

Heeseung and Doyoung exchanged a glance that Sunoo didn’t understand. Arin wrapped her arms around Cody, kissed their temple, and pulled them along as Heeseung led the way into their studio. Sunoo followed at a slower pace, taking up the rear with Jay. 

The studio smelled like old coffee and iron, the lights too bright for what they’d brought inside. By the time they got in, Arin and Cody were already settled on the far couch, so close together they were practically one. Sunoo followed Jay, sitting on the floor between his knees. Jay’s hand landed in his hair, and Sunoo soaked in all the comfort he could from it. 

Cody shook violently in Arin’s arms, and Arin wasn’t far behind. Her eyes were vacant, and Sunoo didn’t even know if she knew where she was. He was just about to offer something, water, blood, anything, when Doyoung walked back in. 

He didn’t spare them a glance, walking straight to his coven and crouching in front of them. Some clarity returned to Arin’s eyes, and Cody clung to Doyoung’s outstretched hand. Jay’s hand tightened in Sunoo’s hair, and Sunoo reached back to tangle their hands together instead, pressing a kiss to his knuckles.

“How many is it now?”

Heeseung cleared his throat. “I’m sorry?”

“How many victims? Including Lira.” Doyoung repeated, finally turning to face them as he settled on the couch that held his coven. 

“Eighteen total. Lira was the sixth of this month.” Jay whispered. Riki tensed somewhere to Sunoo’s right, and Sunoo didn’t dare look in his direction.

“It’s escalating.” It wasn’t a question.

Sunoo felt his stomach drop. He pressed back against Jay, almost missing how Jake locked up beside them. He turned, resting a hand on Jake’s knee. But Jake didn’t respond; he was staring at the cushions of the couch, hands twitching by his sides. 

“Hyung?” Sunoo shook his leg gently. He could hear Heeseung’s voice in the background, and Doyoung responding. Jay turned at the concern in Sunoo’s voice, cupping Jake’s face in his hands. 

Then Jake stood. Sunoo was knocked back a step, crashing into Jay’s knees. But Jake was gone before he could come to his senses. Doyoung didn’t seem to notice, or perhaps he just didn’t care. Sunoo looked up at Jay helplessly, who looked just as lost. 

Heeseung didn’t falter in his conversation, but he did shoot them a concerned look that Sunoo reciprocated. Sunoo moved to stand, and Jungwon’s hand landed on his shoulder, pushing him back down on the floor.

“Riki, go with him.” 

Riki stood, unfolding himself from beside Sunghoon, and crossed the room quickly, anxious energy pouring off him in waves. But when his hand closed over the doorknob, he hesitated, glancing back. Jungwon was already watching him, giving him a single nod. Then Riki was gone. 

Something shifted with his absence, something Sunoo couldn’t quite name. Arin tipped her head to the side, and Sunoo didn’t like how intently she was studying them.

“Your coven’s expanded recently,” she said gently, but there was something more. Regret. 

Cody’s smile didn’t reach their eyes. “Not exactly.”

Sunoo bristled, but Jungwon squeezed his shoulder. Doyoung clicked his tongue, chastising, and Cody rolled their eyes. Sunoo decided he didn’t like Doyoung’s observing gaze any more than he liked Arin’s prying eyes.

“It’s getting dangerous. For fledglings especially. I know Lira told you that.” Doyoung said, and his coven flinched at her name.

“He’s not a fledgling.” Sunoo said automatically. 

Doyoung turned to him slowly. “You don’t truly expect me to believe that, do you? I have been around a long time and I am no idiot.” He smiled faintly, twisting a strand of Cody’s hair between his fingers. “He cannot be any older than a decade. In fact, I’d bet money he isn’t even half a decade yet.”

Sunoo stared, wide-eyed. His coven fell silent, tense with the knowledge that Doyoung could see right through them. No one knew about Riki aside from the Broods, and they were inclined to keep it that way. He scratched at the gauze on his neck subconsciously.

“Did you turn him?” Arin asked. “It’s the only reason I can think of that you’re all so attached.”

Sunoo swallowed hard, and Jay pulled him up from the floor, settling him into his lap instead. He slid his hand into Sunoo’s, something that could’ve looked like a comforting gesture from the outside, but Sunoo knew it was to get him to stop picking at his stitches. Heeseung glanced at him before resting a hand reassuringly on the back of his neck, but his hands were shaking.

“No, we didn’t.”

Arin hummed in understanding, her fingers dragging long lines up and down Doyoung’s arm. “You have taken great measures to ensure his secrecy and safety. And I’m assuming he’s the reason we haven’t seen much of you, so that begs the question: why let it out now?”

Heeseung tensed. “We’re not going to announce his addition. He’s not even—we haven’t discussed—”

Doyoung smiled, and for a moment it almost looked real. “Oh, you’re all in far too deep not to. I don’t think you’d survive, honestly. But if you truly don’t want him,” he shrugged, “he’s beautiful, he’ll have no trouble finding a coven if it’s what he wants.”

Sunoo nearly gagged. He couldn’t—he didn’t even want to picture—he shut that train of thought down quickly. He could see the horror etched onto his coven’s face. Jungwon looked absolutely repulsed by the idea of Riki belonging with anyone but them, and Sunoo actually considered ushering Sunghoon out of the room based on the murderous look on his face. 

Jay stepped in easily, his voice a balm to each of their nerves. “Riki is not the point of this conversation. He has nothing to do with this and discussing his place within our coven will do nothing to help us find whoever did this to your Lira.” 

Cody’s hands clenched at the mention of her name, and Doyoung was quick to wrap his arms around the smaller vampire. “What do we know?”

Sunoo hadn’t been paying attention, at least not until Jay jostled him, whispering in his ear to catch him up when he looked back, confused. Sunoo counted up to ten in his head, taking the hand Jay was resting on his stomach to hold it with his own hands, giving himself something to squeeze when it all became too much.

He cleared his throat when Doyoung raised an eyebrow at him. “Lira breaks our pattern, again.” He said quietly. “The first eight victims were all unregistered, covenless vampires on the outskirts of the city. Damage was all the same; drained, battered, cards—”

Arin looked like she was moments from vomiting, but she held a hand up. “Wait, wait. What do you mean by cards?”

Sunoo winced, tapping Jay’s hand twice in apology. Jay didn’t acknowledge it, reaching over to tug on Sunghoon’s sleeve. Sunghoon didn’t answer him with words; instead, he pulled something small out of his pocket and handed it to Jay, who murmured his thanks and pressed it into Sunoo’s hands. Sunoo turned it over in his hands. Written in the same pretty swirling letters as the very first card was Lira’s name. 

He hadn’t even looked for it, Sunoo realized belatedly. Not once had he thought to confirm the pattern, to check for the card. He tried not to let his hands shake as he handed over the card. Arin took it from his fingers, glancing at it once before handing it off to Doyoung. 

Doyoung took an unsteady breath. “Was this a part of the pattern?” 

Sunoo nodded slowly. “It’s always near the body, the same thing written on it: the name of the victim.”

Cody took it from Doyoung, tracing their fingers over the swirly letters. “Their names?”

“Yeah.” Sunoo faltered. “Um, it was the ninth victim who broke the original pattern. He was the first to be registered.”

“But?”

“He didn’t have a coven, still. No support system, no one who would notice he was gone until too late.” Sunoo leaned back against Jay’s chest, suddenly feeling exhausted. Jay kissed his shoulder, then his temple.

“Do you need me to take over?”

Sunoo shook his head, turning his head to tuck it into Jay’s neck briefly, breathing in the scent of safety. Jay waited patiently, gently squeezing the back of his neck. The others didn’t seem to notice his pause, too lost in their own heads to think about it. Jungwon tapped Sunoo’s thigh once, gaining his attention. 

He nodded his head towards the door, a silent question, and for a moment, Sunoo considered it for a second, being able to escape out the door, but reality came crashing back on him when Cody’s eyes found his.  

He shifted, leaving a kiss on the underside of Jay’s jaw and avoiding Jungwon’s eyes altogether.

Cody looked away. “What are we doing about them? The murders?”

“I can never pinpoint where everyone disappears. It’s like one second they’re in one place, then gone without a trace, and a couple of weeks later, the body shows up, just there. Like it appeared out of thin air.”

Doyoung looked surprised. “You’ve been checking security cameras? Where?”

“Around the city,” Sunoo said. “Everywhere. I truly don’t think there’s a camera within a two-hundred-mile radius that I haven’t checked.”

Doyoung looked mildly impressed, but then he seemed to remember Sunoo’s earlier words, and he deflated. “Okay, anything else? What about the cards?” he took Lira’s from Cody’s hands. “Anything on these?”

“Nothing,” Heeseung said, frustrated. “I’ve sent them for tests after tests. There’s nothing on them.” 

Doyoung turned the card over once more, as if something new might appear if he stared long enough. When it didn’t, he exhaled through his nose, sharp and controlled.

“And the Council?” he asked quietly. “They found nothing as well?”

The room stilled.

Jungwon’s jaw tightened. He didn’t look at anyone when he answered. “They expressed their condolences. Advised caution. Told us they were monitoring the situation.”

Cody let out a short laugh, startling everyone. “Monitoring,” they echoed hoarsely. Their fingers twisted into the fabric of Arin’s sleeve, knuckles white. “That’s funny. That’s what they told Lira too.”

Doyoung’s head snapped toward them. “Cody—”

“She did everything right,” Cody went on, voice cracking as the words tumbled out faster now. “She was registered. She reported where she fed. She checked in when she would leave the city. She trusted them.” Their breath hitched, eyes shining. “And she still died alone on the concrete like she didn’t matter.”

Arin pulled them closer, murmuring something soft and frantic into their hair, but Cody shook their head, pressing a hand to their mouth like they were trying to hold themselves together by force.

Sunoo felt Jay’s arms tighten around him. Somewhere across the room, Heeseung’s shoulders slumped, the weight of it visibly settling in.

“So what,” Cody demanded, looking up at Jungwon with red-rimmed eyes. “That’s it? We just keep waiting for another body until it’s one of yours?”

Jungwon swallowed. “No.”

The word came out firm, but it didn’t stop the tremor in the room.

“We’ve been raising concerns for months,” he continued. “They don’t see this as an emergency. Not yet. Not until it disrupts their order.”

“Order,” Cody repeated faintly.

Doyoung finally stood, pacing once before stopping in front of his coven. He crouched down, taking Cody’s shaking hands in his own, grounding them with deliberate pressure.

“Look at me,” he said gently.

Cody did. Tears slipped free, trailing down their cheeks without resistance now.

“You are not wrong,” Doyoung said. “And you are not weak for saying it.”

Cody’s face crumpled at that. A sound tore out of them—broken, helpless—and they folded forward, forehead pressing into Doyoung’s shoulder. He wrapped his arms around them immediately, one hand firm between their shoulder blades, the other cradling the back of their head.

“She was supposed to be safe,” Cody whispered. “We were supposed to keep her safe.”

Sunoo’s chest ached. He watched Doyoung press his lips into Cody’s hair, eyes squeezed shut, his own grief contained but cracking at the surface.

“We failed her,” Arin said quietly, voice hollow. “All of us.”

“No,” Doyoung corrected, still holding Cody close. He looked up then, his gaze sharp as it swept over the room. “Someone else did. And they are being allowed to continue.”

The words settled heavily between them.

Doyoung stayed where he was a moment longer, breathing slowly with Cody pressed to his chest. When their shaking eased just a fraction, he pulled back enough to look at them, thumb brushing beneath their eye with quiet care.

“We can’t stay,” he said softly, more to his coven than anyone else. “Not like this.”

Arin nodded immediately, already shifting closer, one arm coming around Cody’s waist as if she’d anticipated it. Cody didn’t argue. They looked empty now, eyes unfocused, grief wrung dry into something raw and aching.

Doyoung rose, steadying them both before turning back to the room.

“I appreciate what you’ve done,” he said, voice measured again, a leader settling back into place even as his eyes remained dark. “And I don’t doubt your intentions.” His gaze lingered briefly on Jungwon, then Heeseung. “But this—” he gestured vaguely, as if the word ‘everything’ was too much to say aloud, “—is too much right now.”

Jungwon inclined his head. “We understand.”

Doyoung hesitated, just a second longer than necessary. “I will be in touch,” he said. “When my coven can breathe again. When I can think without hearing her voice.”

No one tried to stop him.

He guided Cody toward the door, Arin close at their side, their small coven instinctively closing ranks around their loss. As they passed, Cody didn’t look at any of them—only down at their hands, still faintly stained with Lira’s blood.

The door shut quietly behind them.

The studio felt colder, emptier, without them. Like something vital had been taken out of the room, leaving something hollow behind.

Sunoo exhaled shakily, realizing only then how tightly he’d been holding himself together.

And somewhere deep in his chest, the fear settled in harder than before: this wasn’t over. Not even close.

***

Heeseung was just beginning to put his head in his hands when there was a tentative knock at the door. He looked up just as Riki poked his head inside, the vague outline of Jake behind him. 

Jay waved them in with one hand, the other still firmly on Sunoo’s waist. Riki walked in cautiously, his eyes darting to the empty couch before looking away. He tugged Jake to sit with him, wrestling the older vampire into his lap. “What did they say?”

Jungwon didn’t look at him, his eyes fixed somewhere in the distance. “Doyoung will be in touch. But everything is too overwhelming right now.”

Riki winced, but didn’t ask any more questions.

Heeseung lost track of how long they sat there. His mind was going in circles; what could he have done differently? Could he have stopped it? He didn’t know. Riki pressed his face into the crook of Jake’s neck, his distress palpable as he tried and failed to figure out the root of Jake’s souring scent. 

Heeseung rubbed at his eyes roughly. “Jake.”

Jake glanced up at him with a temporary glare, but when Heeseung gestured at Riki, he softened, his scent evening out as he gave Riki more access to his skin. Jay gave Heeseung’s leg a grateful squeeze, but his eyes still scrutinized Jake’s movements with worry. He stood before Heeseung could offer any reassurances, handing Sunoo a blood bag from their long-forgotten bags. 

Sunoo took it cautiously, following Jay with his eyes. He groaned when Jay reached for his med kit—again. “No. Hyung, it hasn’t even been that long!” He slapped a hand over his wound protectively.

Jay knelt on the couch, facing him. “Yeah, and you heal fast, so either you let me see it or I’m throwing your skincare in the toilet.”

Sunoo’s mouth dropped open, but he removed his hand like the gauze had burned him. Jay nodded to the blood bag, and this time Sunoo didn’t protest, obediently putting the liquid between his lips.

Heeseung watched as Jay carefully peeled back the gauze, inspecting the wound with the utmost care. Sunoo stayed still for the most part, and when Jay pulled back, Heeseung could see a thin pink line where the gaping wound had been earlier. Jay hummed his approval, brushing the area with his thumb.

“Did I leave a scar?”

Riki’s scent soured significantly, and Heeseung’s nose wrinkled in protest to the change. 

Jay shook his head. “No, it’ll be gone by tomorrow morning at the latest. It wasn’t deep enough and he wasn’t starving, so it healed quickly.”

Sunoo managed a small smile, but even to Heeseung it looked strained. “See? I’m fine. Hyung’s just dramatic.” 

Jay rolled his eyes before standing, pulling a confused Sunoo up with him. Heeseung lifted an eyebrow when Jay dragged Sunghoon up, too, then Jungwon. When Jay reached him, Heeseung was ready. He used his own strength to pull Jay down, throwing him off balance and sending him sprawling into Heeseung’s lap.

He cracked a smile, helping Jay orient himself. Jay looked mildly annoyed, trying to get them both up, his movements insistent, nearing frantic. Heeseung frowned, cupping his face and blocking his view of the others. 

“Talk to me.”

Jay deflated a little in Heeseung’s hands. “I don’t want to be here anymore. I want to go home.”

Heeseung’s heart stuttered in his chest, squeezing painfully at the hurt Jay let bleed through the bond. He stood with Jay in his arms, pausing for a beat before settling the other vampire on his own two feet before bending down to help Jake and Riki off the floor, and ushering them out the door without a second glance. Jungwon remained uncharacteristically silent in a way that made Heeseung shift uneasily, waiting with bated breath for something to go wrong.

They made it to their car unscathed, and Jake flipped the keys in his hand, opening the driver's side door. Heeseung held it closed before Jake could slide in, holding out his palm.

“I’ll drive,” He nodded toward the back of the car. “Sunghoon wants to talk to you.”

Sunghoon’s head snapped up. “I do?”

Heeseung fought back a sigh as Sunghoon scrambled to correct himself, before simply grabbing Jake and darting into the back.

Jungwon rounded the car to the passenger side, and Heeseung made a mental note to get Jungwon alone at some point, but, for now, he merely grabbed his shoulder, halting him in his path. “Go in the back with Sunoo, he needs you right now.”

Something cracked in Jungwon’s mask, but he was gone too fast for Heeseung to figure out what it could have been. He closed his eyes, counted to ten in his head, then opened his door.

“Riki, you’re up front with me.”

Riki shrugged, slipping into the passenger seat without comment, and Heeseung waited until Jay closed the door behind himself to start the car. The ride back felt longer somehow, stretching time beyond its limits. He didn’t notice how hard he was gripping the steering wheel until Riki pried his hand away, settling their tangled hands in his lap. 

He traced Heeseung’s veins in calm, smooth strokes, squeezing his hand when Heeseung’s mind started to wander too far. Heeseung sighed by the third squeeze, bringing their joined hands to his lips. 

The others barely waited for Heeseung to put the car in park before climbing out. Jungwon disappeared inside, and Heeseung heard Jay’s tired sigh before he jogged after him. Heeseung exchanged a glance with Riki, who gave him a pained shrug and got out to open the door for Jake and Sunoo. Heeseung moved to do the same for Sunghoon, but he was already out of the car, waiting with a patient, strained smile. He didn’t even have to say anything, just inclined his head in the direction of the house. Heeseung blew out a breath, then pushed off the car to follow Jay and Jungwon.

The house was quiet when they stepped inside. Heeseung rounded the corner, keeping his coven behind them. There was a pull in his chest, frustration, maybe? It led him to the living room; Jay and Jungwon were arguing, barely above a whisper. Jungwon looked guarded, arms crossed over his chest. Jay was making wild hand gestures. The others fanned out around him, throwing themselves exhaustedly over the couches.

“I can’t help if you don’t tell me what you need.” Jay ground out, sounding exasperated. 

Jungwon glared. “I don’t need anything.”

Jay crowded Jungwon back against the wall, practically blocking their view of him with his frame. “That’s not true and you know it.”

“Please,” Jungwon said stubbornly, twitching from restraint. “I can’t—”

Heeseung made a sympathetic sound. “Jay, stop being mean.”

Jay looked back at him with surprise. “I’m not being mean, I’m asking him what he wants.”

Heeseung caught Jay’s arm, carefully running his thumb over the mark on his inner wrist. Jay shuddered, his shoulders dropping instantly. Heeseung hummed, tugging Jay closer and allowing Jungwon to escape. He spared a glance at the others: Jake was still lying across Sunghoon, but he held Riki’s arm close to his chest now. Sunoo sat in the far loveseat, hugging his knees, just watching. Heeseung’s fangs itched to dig into their skin, to feel them relax beneath his teeth. After everything that happened, he needed it. They needed it.

His fangs dropped without his permission, and the faint taste of copper filled his mouth. It took him a minute to understand he’d cut his tongue by mistake, and Heeseung had to bite back a laugh. Jay gave him an odd look, but Heeseung ignored it.

“Jungwon, what do you need?”

Jungwon crossed his arms over his chest, finally relenting. “You know what I need.”

Heeseung hummed, leaning back against the wall. “Maybe I do, maybe I don’t. I can’t read your mind.”

"Yeah, you can."

Heeseung fought back a smile. "Okay, but I won't. So, I need you to tell me, baby."

Jungwon’s glare was poison, but Heeseung shrugged it off. Jake sat up, sliding off Sunghoon’s lap. He looked relatively okay, Heeseung thought, all things considered. But there was something distinctly off; his posture was heavy, as if something were pressing down on his shoulders. Sunghoon’s movements were slow, and it looked like he was straining as he hoisted Riki further onto the couch, propping him in between himself and Jake. Sunoo still hadn’t moved from his spot. 

Jungwon twitched. “I need to mark you. Please.”

Sunghoon let out a sigh that sounded like relief and rubbed his hand roughly over his mark, “Can you mark me first? It’s—I just—I feel itchy.”

Jungwon was at his side in an instant, and Sunghoon practically melted when Jungwon crawled into his lap. Jungwon was careful, though, gentle as he brushed his knuckles across Sunghoon’s throat before closing his mouth over his mark. Sunghoon let out something that sounded close to a whine, tipping his head to the side for further access. 

The tension in Jungwon’s shoulders loosened, not wholly, but enough. Heeseung leaned over the back of the couch to get closer. He pushed Jungwon’s hair out of his face and was met with hazy, unfocused eyes. Heeseung hummed sympathetically and stroked Jungwon’s cheek with his thumb.

“Do you want to mark me next? Or do you want Jongseong?”

Jungwon pulled away from Sunghoon, who was entirely pliant in his grip, to beckon Jay closer. Heeseung nodded, rounding the couch to sit next to Jake instead. Riki watched intently as Jungwon’s fangs disappeared into Jay’s neck. 

Jake grabbed Heeseung’s arm, effectively getting his attention. His fangs had dropped, too, Heeseung noticed, pressing roughly against the soft skin of his bottom lip. “Can I mark you too, hyung?”

Riki’s head turned in their direction, and Heeseung smiled a little. He nodded, giving Jake a small kiss before beckoning Riki closer. Heeseung’s eyes landed on his unblemished neck, and something inside him recoiled. Riki wasn’t theirs. And as much as he wanted to claim Riki as he did the others, he couldn’t. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t mark the youngest vampire in other ways. He ran a bent knuckle across the smooth skin.

“How do you feel about hickeys?” 

Riki blinked. “What?”

“Hickeys,” Heeseung repeated. “You know, the purple colored marks people leave on others’ skin.”

“No, I know what they are. Why are you asking me?”

Heeseung struggled to find the words. “I can’t…bite, but everything in me is screaming to mark you in some way.”

Riki tilted his head, but it looked like he was fighting back a smile. “So you want to give me a hickey instead?”

Heeseung considered how ridiculous it sounded, how desperate it must have come off. He couldn’t find it in himself to care. “Yes.” 

“Would it make you feel better?”

Heeseung’s hands clenched by his sides, and his fangs ached. He tongued at them to try to relieve the pressure. “Yes, but don’t agree to anything you don’t want to, baby.”

“Can I give you one?” Riki asked quietly, almost shyly. “After? I think it would make me feel better, too.” 

Something warm unfurled in Heeseung’s chest, and suddenly, everything ached differently, softer almost. He tugged Riki closer by the wrist, drawing Riki into his lap, and wrapped his arms around Riki’s waist. If Riki was surprised, he didn’t show it. His arms looped around Heeseung’s neck with ease, and Heeseung pressed his ear over Riki’s heart. 

Jungwon had moved onto Jake now, biting down on his throat, his shoulders loosening with each mark. Jay had pulled Sunghoon closer, shrugging off the other’s shirt to reach the mark on his chest, right over his heart. Even Sunoo shifted closer, enough so that Jungwon’s fangs sank into his neck as soon as he had pulled away from Jake. 

Heeseung watched, slipping his hand under Riki’s shirt just to feel the warmth of his skin. He traced the knobs of his spine, drawing endless, patternless shapes, reveling in Riki’s soft sighs and the way he’d nudge Heeseung gently when he paused his ministrations. 

When Jungwon drifted over to them, he was twisting his hands together. He glanced between them, and Heeseung’s chest hurt with the want in his eyes. He pulled away from Riki slowly, kissing his collarbone in apology when Riki protested. 

Jungwon bit his lip but reached for Heeseung, who pulled away from his hand just slightly. He berated himself when Jungwon’s face fell. Jungwon’s hands started to shake just slightly, and he pulled into himself, hiding his face so Heeseung couldn’t see the tears welling in his eyes. 

Heeseung felt his heart rip in two. “Oh, sweetheart…” 

He shifted Riki off his lap, pulling Jungwon in instead. He could feel the others’ eyes on him as he kissed across Jungwon’s face. Jungwon’s breath was erratic against his skin, and Heeseung pressed another kiss firmly over his mark.

“Shh, baby,” he murmured, waiting for Jungwon’s breathing to slow.

“Do you not—?”

“I always want your mark.” Heeseung insisted, noting how Jungwon relaxed just a little at the reassurance. “Never doubt that. I just wanted Riki to go first.”

Something flickered in Jungwon’s eyes, and Heeseung stroked his cheek. He gestured for Riki to come close, and Jungwon’s attention shifted. “Watch the teeth.”

Jungwon stole one last look at Heeseung, and everyone held their breath as Jungwon moved to sit in front of Riki. His hands rested hesitantly on Riki’s jaw, but his eyes remained on Riki’s face, cataloging each micro expression. 

Riki lost patience faster than Heeseung predicted. He brought their lips together, and Jungwon fell into it, making a slight sound before gripping Riki more firmly and climbing into his lap. Riki tilted his head back to meet him, refusing to break contact.

Heeseung reached for Jake, keeping one eye on Jungwon and Riki as he pulled down the collar of Jake’s shirt enough to bite down on his scapula. Jake sighed underneath his mouth, practically tearing Heeseung’s shirt off to get to his shoulder once Heeseung pulled away. 

Jungwon kissed his way down Riki’s neck, tipping Riki’s chin back so he could rest his mouth over the center of his throat. When he pulled away, a thin layer of saliva coated the spot, already turning a dark shade of purple. Riki looked pleased, even as he nosed at Jungwon’s jaw, taking Jungwon’s permission, and closing his mouth on his neck, opposite of Heeseung’s mark. 

Sunoo tugged on his arm next, and Heeseung forwent his shirt altogether, allowing Sunoo to reopen the mark on his navel. He ran his hand through Sunoo’s hair in encouragement, nodding at Jay and Sunghoon when they drifted closer as well. They marked him in tandem, and Heeseung thought he blacked out for a while. It was bordering on too much; he could feel everything, from the breath in Jay’s lungs to the scratch of fabric against Sunghoon’s skin. 

For a moment, it all blended together, and Heeseung’s skin was buzzing. Sunghoon came into view, placing a gentle kiss on Heeseung’s lips, fingers tracing over his face. 

“Hey, hyung,”

Heeseung hummed his acknowledgement, and Sunghoon kissed him again. “Hyung, are you okay? Was it too much?”

Heeseung sat up slowly, already shaking his head. Sunghoon wrapped an arm around Heeseung’s shoulders, and Heeseung allowed himself to lean into his body completely. Riki had Jake pressed into the couch, sucking on the skin of his collarbone, his own shoulder covered in a purple mark that no doubt came from Jake.

Jay went next.

He didn’t say anything, just waited until Riki’s attention drifted back to him, until Riki nodded, small but certain. Jay’s hands were steady as he cupped the back of Riki’s neck, thumb pressing lightly beneath his ear like he was checking for tension. Riki leaned in without being asked. 

Jay smiled at that, keeping it brief. His mouth lingered just long enough to leave color blooming against Riki’s skin before he pulled back, forehead resting on the mark for a moment like he was savoring it. 

“You good?” Jay murmured.

Riki nodded again, a little breathless but smiling. Jay squeezed his arm once before stepping back, satisfied. 

Sunghoon was next. He approached more slowly, like he was afraid of startling something fragile. He brushed his fingers along Riki’s arm first, asking without words. When Riki turned toward him, Sunghoon smiled softly and guided him closer, careful and deliberate.

Sunghoon’s touch was gentler than Jay’s—almost reverent. When he pulled away, his thumb traced the edge of the mark absentmindedly, like he was committing it to memory.

“Sorry,” Sunghoon said quietly, even though there was nothing to apologize for.

Riki huffed a laugh. “Don’t be.”

Sunoo lingered the longest before stepping in.

He hovered near Riki’s side, eyes darting between his face and the marks already blooming on his skin. When Riki noticed him, he shifted closer on his own, bumping Sunoo’s knee with his.

Sunoo startled, then relaxed. His hands were steady where they rested at Riki’s waist, and he hesitated right up until the last second—until Riki tipped his head just slightly, patiently.

Sunoo’s mark was light, almost shy. When he pulled away, his face was flushed, his eyes shining like he wasn’t quite sure what to do with himself afterward.

“Okay?” Sunoo whispered.

“Yeah,” Riki said softly. “Really okay.”

Something in Sunoo’s shoulders eased at that, and he retreated back to the loveseat, knees pulled up again—but this time, he was smiling.

It was only then—when Riki was settled, warm with touch and surrounded—that the room finally seemed to exhale.

Heeseung hadn’t realized how tightly he’d been wound until Jungwon reached for him again.

Jungwon didn’t hesitate this time. He didn’t second-guess or pull back. He just stepped into Heeseung’s space and pressed his forehead to Heeseung’s collarbone, breathing him in like he needed proof.

Heeseung’s hands came up automatically, cradling Jungwon’s back, thumbs stroking slow circles like he was afraid Jungwon might unravel if he stopped.

“Are you ready?” Heeseung asked quietly.

Jungwon nodded against his chest. “I need you.”

That was all it took.

Jungwon’s bite was careful but sure, mouth settling over Heeseung’s mark like it belonged there. Heeseung sucked in a breath and let himself sink into it fully this time—no watching, no tracking everyone else in the room. Just Jungwon. Just the bond pulling taut and finally easing.

He felt it when Jungwon relaxed.

Not all at once—but gradually. Jungwon’s shoulders dropped. His grip softened. The frantic edge bled out of him like air from a held breath.

When Jungwon finally pulled back, he didn’t move far. He stayed there, forehead pressed to Heeseung’s throat, breathing evenly now.

“There you are,” Heeseung murmured, kissing his hair.

Jungwon let out a quiet, almost embarrassed huff. “I didn’t mean to—”

“I know,” Heeseung said immediately. “You don’t have to explain.”

Jungwon’s arms tightened just a little, and for the first time since they’d gotten home, he truly stilled. Heeseung kissed his temple, running a flat palm up and down his back before easing him back slowly to see his face. Jungwon’s face was flushed, his eyes a little glazed when he blinked at Heeseung. 

Heeseung dragged a hand through Jungwon’s hair, smiling a little when Jungwon leaned into his palm. He tightened his hand in Jungwon’s hair, humming quietly when Jungwon’s eyes focused enough to land on him. He let his hand drop to Jungwon’s neck, tracing his mark slowly, his own aching on his throat. 

“Can I mark you?” He whispered.

The words had barely left his mouth before Jungwon was nodding, shuffling closer to press their bodies together, his neck bared. “Please, hyung.”

Heeseung considered drawing it out. He didn’t get Jungwon like this often, soft, begging, but then Jungwon was clawing at his shoulders, trying to force his neck into Heeseung’s mouth, and Heeseung kissed his throat to placate him. 

Jungwon huffed. “Hyung.” 

Heeseung fought back a laugh, kissing the area one last time before biting down. Jungwon released a satisfied sigh, his body putty in Heeseung’s hands. When Heeseung pulled back, Jungwon didn’t bother sitting up, surrendering to Heeseung’s touch completely, his head resting on his chest. 

“You okay?”

Jungwon hummed, running his nose down the length of Heeseung’s neck, pressing soft kisses to his pulse. 

Heeseung chuckled, asking Jay to pass him a blanket and fixing it around Jungwon’s shoulders. Jay leaned over them, dropping a kiss on Heeseung’s head, and ruffling Jungwon’s hair before leaving a kiss on his head too. 

Jungwon was already half asleep when Riki inched closer. Heeseung looked up from his phone towards the anxious vampire. Riki avoided his eyes, pressing his lips to Jungwon’s forehead, smiling when Jungwon made a slight sound. 

Heeseung tapped two fingers gently against the bottom of Riki’s chin. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

Riki chewed on his bottom lip before tipping his head to the side. All across his skin, marks bloomed, ranging from dark purple to colors nearing black they were so dark. Heeseung lost his breath, running his fingers over them, dragging his touch from the one behind Riki’s ear down to the one on his ribs.

Five.

He could tell who each mark belonged to; the one on Riki’s ribs had to be from Jake, just as the one in the dips of his collarbone was from Sunghoon. Everything ached again, but Heeseung kept his eyes on the marks. 

“They’re so pretty, baby.” He murmured, grinning when Riki flushed a little. 

“There’s only five, hyung.” Heeseung frowned, touching each as he counted—one from each, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Jungwon. When Heeseung turned his confused look on Riki again, Riki rolled his eyes. “I’m missing one.”

Heeseung snapped his gaze to Riki’s, a slow smile spreading across his lips. “You’re missing mine?”

Riki’s blush spread, but he nodded, his stare heavy against Heeseung’s skin. Heeseung reached a hand up to cup his cheek, pulling him closer. Riki let him, turning his head again when Heeseung ran his lips down his throat, stopping at his Adam's apple and sucking a mark there. 

Riki pulled away, his eyes unfocused as he nudged Heeseung’s head to the side to bite at his collarbone, his sharp fangs nipping at the skin there. The hickey pulsed when Riki pulled away, but Heeseung didn’t let him get far, pulling him closer to press their lips together. Riki sighed into his mouth, opening for Heeseung easily as he tongued at the other vampire’s fangs. Riki groaned, his hand tightening in Heeseung’s hair, and he pressed Heeseung into the couch.

“Hyung,” Riki sounded breathless, and Heeseung wanted more. But he pulled away, slowing down with softer kisses.

“Thank you.” He whispered, pecking Riki’s lips one last time before releasing him. 

Riki looked confused momentarily, but a warm smile graced his lips, and Heeseung was struck by the realization that he’d do anything to keep that smile there. Riki squeezed his hand, ducking to kiss Jungwon again before Sunghoon caught him around the waist. The laugh he let out was carefree, light even. 

Jake joined them on Riki’s other side, his legs tossed carelessly over Riki’s body. Sunghoon bent down to kiss Jake too, lingering for a beat too long before pulling back to let Riki rest his head on his chest. Sunoo was wrapped around Jay on the far couch, their marks open, their expressions satisfied. Jay had thrown a blanket around them, his hand a steady, constant presence in Sunoo’s hair. 

“Is he asleep?”

Jay looked over, like he’d forgotten they weren’t alone. “Yeah, he knocked out a little while ago.” Sunoo stirred slightly, as if he knew they were talking about him. Jay murmured something low to him, petting his hair, and Sunoo settled again, his cheek squished against Jay’s chest, his hair spread out around his head. Heeseung chuckled to himself. He itched to touch him, to soothe Sunoo himself, but he didn’t want to disturb Jungwon, who was resting peacefully against him.

Jay let out a heavy sigh, and he pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. “What a fucking day.”

Sunghoon let out a breathless laugh that sounded more like a wheeze. Heeseung felt like something was pressing against his lungs, everything coming crashing back, and he squeezed his eyes shut. When he got his breathing under control enough not to be noticeable, he gathered everything he could, all the love, comfort, and warmth he could manage, shoving it through the bond towards his coven.

He heard their breath catch collectively, and he felt, rather than saw, the tension bleed out of them. Jay’s head fell back with a soft, “Fuck, hyung.”

Jake let out a murmur of agreement, his body melting into the cushion beneath him. Heeseung waited until they’d settled, until he could hear their breaths steady and their heartbeats even out. It was a pleasant feeling, the stillness of it all. He focused on the warmth of Jungwon pressed against his body, the feeling of his chest rising against his own. It was enough to keep him out of his head for now, enough to pull him into some space in between sleep and wake.   

***

Heeseung carefully ran the tip of his finger up and down Jungwon’s bare arm, keeping his touch light. Jungwon stirred, blinking awake in the faint light, and Heeseung smiled, kissing his hair and securing the blanket around his shoulders. Jungwon pushed onto his forearms to look down at him, his own smile soft from sleep. 

“Feel better?” Heeseung asked, voice barely above a whisper. The sun’s warmth was faint but welcome against his skin, and Heeseung was inclined not to move, not when he had the warm pressure of Jungwon lying on him and the sounds of his sleeping coven surrounding him from all sides.

Jungwon nodded slowly. “Yeah, what about you?”

“I feel calmer. Less shaky.” Heeseung affirmed, rubbing his thumb over the worried crease in Jungwon’s brow. “I’m better now.”

Jungwon chewed on his bottom lip, not looking convinced at all. “Hyung, you knew her, it’s okay to be…” he trailed off, looking unsure of himself in a way Heeseung wasn’t used to; caring for his coven was the one thing Jungwon never second-guessed. Heeseung cupped his face with one hand, swiping his thumb gently across as much skin as he could reach.

“I’ll be okay, Wonnie, I promise. It’s a lot, but I’m working on it, okay? No need to worry about me.” He emphasized each sentence with a gentle kiss.

“I always worry about you,” Jungwon huffed, but his cheeks were tinted the slightest shade of pink. 

Heeseung grinned. “Funny because I always worry about you, too.”

Jungwon pushed his chest, his blush deepening when Heeseung’s laugh echoed in the peaceful room. No one else stirred at the obtrusion; in fact, they all seemed to pull closer, surrounding Jungwon and Heeseung with their warmth. Riki made a small, contented noise, and Heeseung froze, waiting to see if the other vampire would wake, but he didn’t. Instead, he rolled onto his other side, face buried somewhere between Sunghoon’s body and Jake’s. 

Heeseung’s grin softened, and he reached to run his hand through Riki’s hair briefly, marveling at how easily the other accepted his touch, even in his sleep, the way he nuzzled further into Sunghoon, breathing in his scent. When he turned his attention back, Jungwon was watching them, his expression unbearably gentle as he watched the exchange. He saw the same flicker of want from before—the longing to hold without guilt or fear shadowing it, to touch freely, the way he was touching Riki now. He didn’t understand why Jungwon believed himself undeserving of that.

“You know, we’re going to have to make a decision soon.” He said conversationally.

“About?”

Heeseung looked at him as if he were being particularly obtuse. “You can’t keep him in this limbo forever. That’s not fair to him or us.”

Jungwon reared back like he’d been slapped, and Heeseung could already see the panic clawing into his eyes. “So what am I meant to do?”

“Claim him or let him go—”

“No.”

“Jungwon—” Heeseung stressed, reaching for the other vampire when he started to pull away.

“No, I can’t. He’s—it’s—it’s too dangerous for him to be attached to us, I won’t do that to him.” Jungwon was shaking his head, and even Heeseung could not make him look at him.

Heeseung could think of a million reasons why claiming Riki was a bad idea, but he could also think of one good reason. And that was all that mattered. “Even if he wanted it?” He asked.

Jungwon’s glare was sharp. “You don’t know that.”

Heeseung conceded. It was true; Heeseung was never explicitly told that. But he also saw how Riki moved with them, how easily he gave affection, how much he craved it in return. He saw how desperate they were to give it back to him.

But if it took more for Jungwon to see that, so be it. Heeseung shrugged, feigning casual, like he wouldn’t be affected by Jungwon’s decision either way. “Okay, so let him go. Let him find a coven that will take care of him.”

Jungwon’s hands, that had been balled into fists by his sides, slackened, and a wave of emotions crashed over his face. Heeseung could easily pick out the rage and disgust, but he also registered the betrayal, the fear, and the devastating panic. 

“I—”

“I’m sure Sunoo could help us make false papers, give him a fake identity so the council can’t hurt him, maybe even a stronger turning story, something we can fabricate.”

Jungwon’s face contorted again, and Heeseung pushed forward. “I know a couple of covens that would be willing to take him in while he looks for somewhere more permanent.”

Jungwon jerked back so hard he crashed to the floor. Heeseung felt a pang pulling at his heart, and Jungwon’s desperation and terror ran rapidly through his veins, tightening his airways. Jay sat up, ram-rod straight, likely a combo of the sound of Jungwon falling and his loss of control over the bond.

Jake sat up clumsily beside Riki. “Why are we panicking right now? It’s too early for that shit.”

Jungwon either didn’t hear him or chose to ignore him. His eyes stayed on Heeseung without wavering. “Don’t. He can’t.”

Heeseung kept his voice quiet. “He can’t? Or you can’t?”

“What’s going on?” Jay asked, his voice firm. He was up before Heeseung could even register his question, hooking his arms under Jungwon’s armpits and hoisting him up. Jay turned Jungwon toward himself, brushing wayward hair out of his eyes. “Hey, you okay, baby?” 

When Jungwon didn’t answer, Jay turned to Heeseung, his eyes wide and confused. “Hyung?”

Sunoo stirred next, sitting up with a hand on his chest. “I can’t fucking breathe. What happened?”

Jay had wrapped himself around Jungwon, trying and failing to stop his shaking. Jungwon pulled away after a minute, holding his hand up to ward off any questions. “I’m fine.”

Sunoo looked like he was stopping himself from rolling his eyes. “That was quite possibly the worst lie you’ve ever told.” 

Jungwon glared at him, picking at the skin of his bicep. He glanced at Heeseung for help, who took pity on him.

“We need help. Again.”

Jake slid a look toward him, his gaze doubtful. “Like who? Who could we possibly call right now?”

Heeseung stayed quiet, and from the other side of Riki, he heard a definitive, “Absolutely not.”

Sunghoon sat up, kissing Riki’s hair briefly when he stirred. Heeseung wasn’t sure how long Sunghoon had been awake, but he didn’t look drowsy when he fixed a glare on Heeseung. Jay looked between the two of them, his eyes darting over their faces like he could find the answers written there. 

“Okay, does anyone care to fill me in?”

“We won’t need to because it’s not happening.” Sunghoon said firmly, drawing a very confused Sunoo into his lap. 

Heeseung sighed heavily. “We have to at least consider it.”

“No.”

“Sunghoon—”

“I texted her. She’ll be here in thirty minutes.” Jungwon said offhandedly.

Sunghoon’s head whipped in his direction, his shoulders tensing. “What?”

Jay blinked, his brows drawing. “Wait, everyone slow down. Who’s coming?” He turned on Sunghoon. “And what don’t you want happening so badly?”

When no one answered, he ran a hand tiredly down his face. “Okay, someone start explaining, or I’m going to barricade every entrance of this house.”

Heeseung eyed Jungwon, who shrugged noncommittally. “Jungwon texted Hanni.”

Jay’s brows shot up, and he exchanged a glance with Jake. “Why?”

“Exactly.” Sunghoon huffed. “Why?” 

Jungwon glared at him blatantly, but it had no effect when he was pacing again. “I had to do something.”

Sunghoon rolled his eyes, but he brushed Jungwon’s arm when he walked by, a silent reassurance that had Jungwon’s shoulders loosening just a fraction. “One wrong word and I’m at her throat.”

Jungwon hesitated, clearly upset, but he nodded slowly, accepting the terms Sunghoon set without question.   

Sunghoon didn’t acknowledge it as he turned and scooped a still-sleeping Riki up in his arms. Riki stirred, mumbling something incoherent that had them all smiling. Sunghoon kissed Jungwon’s cheek on his way up the stairs, and Heeseung didn’t have to ask to know he was settling the vampire in their nest. 

Jungwon sucked in an uncertain breath. “Maybe I should tell her not to come—”

Jay stared ahead where Sunghoon disappeared with Riki. “No. It was the right decision. As much as I hate it, we can’t do this alone.”

Jungwon chewed on his bottom lip and averted his eyes when Sunghoon reappeared. Heeseung resisted the urge to sigh. 

***

Hanni walked in with a hesitation that Heeseung had yet to see from her. Her shoulders were hunched in as she walked, like she was waiting for someone to scream, and Heeseung almost felt a pang of guilt. Almost. 

Just as he was getting up to greet her, someone sauntered in behind her. Heeseung almost didn’t recognize her; her hair was freshly dyed, a warm auburn tone that complemented her complexion. She was dressed like she was going on a night out rather than sitting in their living room, hypothesizing over the serial vampire deaths. She grinned when their eyes met.

“Heeseung.”

“Jasmine,” Heeseung responded, immediately wanting them out.

Jungwon actually recoiled at the sight of her as he turned to Hanni accusingly. “I thought you were coming alone?”

Hanni pulled into herself further, if that were possible. “Nova insisted. Well, actually, she and Matthew tried to come with me at first. We compromised on Jaz.”

Sunghoon stalked out of the room before he could do anything stupid, and Heeseung nodded at Jake to go after him. Hanni’s expression twisted, and she opened her mouth before closing it again. She chewed on her bottom lip as Jasmine took up residence on their couch, clearly having no qualms about how tense they were. 

“How…” she started, eyes darting upstairs like she knew where he was. “How is he? Pretty boy?”

“He has a name.” Sunoo snapped, prompting Jay to rest a hand on his elbow. 

Hanni flinched. “Yes, of course. How’s Riki?” 

“He’s fine. He’s sleeping right now,” Jungwon said. “It’s been a long couple of days.”

Jasmine hummed, reminding them all of her presence. “I can imagine. Heard you had a close call down at the carnival?”

Heeseung knew she was baiting them, but he still twitched with the effort not to strangle her. Instead, he took a deep breath, turning a strained smile in her direction. “No, he was fine. It could have been like summer of ‘66—where was it? Moscow?”

The smile slid right off Jasmine’s face, and Heeseung couldn’t help that it took up residence on his. He knew it was a low blow to bring up her past, but there was no way he was going to sit here and let her try to criticize his coven.

“Moscow was a mistake—”

“Twenty-three bodies isn’t a mistake. You overestimated yourself. At least he knows what his limits are.”

Jasmine’s face fell, a brief shadow crossing her face. Hanni was at her side in an instant, murmuring to her under her breath and shooting dirty looks in their direction.

“Really?” She hissed.

Jay shrugged. “She came at us.”

“No, she was pointing out that you brought him to a carnival full of humans when he’s only a decade old!”

Heeseung frowned before it dawned on him that Hanni must have come up with a fake backstory for Riki while he was kept at the Brood’s. He decided maybe it wasn’t best to point out that technically it hadn’t even been a year since Riki’s turning. 

Sunoo said something back, but Heeseung didn’t hear him. His eyes landed on Riki, who stood in the center of the stairs, watching them with unease. He took a scan of the room, but didn’t seem all that bothered by Hanni and Jasmine’s presence. He hopped off the bottom stair, slipped past Hanni with a polite nod in her direction, and headed straight toward them. Heeseung watched as Riki stopped right in front of Jungwon before folding his body into him, resting his head on Jungwon’s shoulder. 

Jungwon’s hand came up immediately to cup the back of his neck, his thumb rubbing gently against a bruise behind his ear. “Hey, you okay? What’s wrong?”

Riki shook his head against Jungwon’s shoulder, his body sagging further. Jungwon squeezed the base of his neck, carefully prying him away from his shoulder. “I need to know you’re okay.”

Riki’s smile was lazy. “I’m fine, hyung, promise.”

Jungwon shot him another concerned look, but Riki stepped back, falling to stand beside Heeseung. Hanni looked amused, and Heeseung briefly saw a glimpse of the old her. 

“I see you’ve been busy.”

She was met with several glares, but Riki snorted. “I’m assuming we’re not here for me this time?”

Hanni met Riki’s smile with a tentative one of her own. “No, unfortunately that would be the easy thing.”

Riki shrugged, and Heeseung tried to wrap his head around the current conversation. Before he could, Sunghoon stalked back in with Jake. He looked slightly calmer, but his jaw was still set in a hard line. Heeseung caught the look Jay threw at him, but Sunghoon just stared ahead at Hanni and Jasmine. 

For a long while, there was just silence, then Riki sighed dramatically. “Are we going to talk about Lira or not?”

Jasmine’s head shot in his direction, and Heeseung had to resist the urge to smack Riki upside the head. 

“Lira? From the Gray Coven?” Her eyes shifted back and forth between them.

A wave of pain made Heeseung dizzy, but he swallowed it back. “We found Lira after we left the carnival. We were, uh, too late.”

Jasmine’s face dropped, and she quickly put her head in her hands to hide her expression. Hanni’s expression crumpled, and she sat down heavily next to Jasmine. “What about—did you tell—?”

Heeseung swallowed. “The Gray’s were contacted. They took her home.”

Hanni nodded slowly, but it did nothing to hide the tears in her eyes. She twisted her hands together and cleared her throat. “They’ve moved onto covens now?”

Heeseung stabbed at his eyes with his thumbs to ward off a headache. Jungwon tapped his arm twice with two fingers, and Heeseung nodded his permission. “Looks like it. She’s the first but based on the pattern there’s bound to be another within the next two weeks.”

Hanni flinched, and Jasmine wrapped an arm around her waist. “What now?”

Heeseung shifted uncomfortably. “We don’t know, that’s why you’re here.”

Jasmine pressed a kiss against Hanni’s cheek before slipping her phone from her pocket. She stood up without another word and left the room. Jungwon exchanged a look with Hanni that Heeseung didn’t fully understand, but Hanni just shrugged. 

“She’s calling Nova, I think.” She said quietly.

Sunghoon tensed, and he was heading in Jasmine’s direction before Heeseung could blink. Hanni’s eyes widened, and she scrambled to stand, but Jungwon stepped in front of him first. “Hyung, stop.”

Sunghoon stared down at him. “We don’t know what she’s saying—”

“Nova already knows about the bodies. What else of importance could Jasmine say that she doesn’t already know?”

“Riki—”

“She already knows about him, too, remember? There is nothing new she can use against us.”

Sunghoon’s shoulders sagged, but he let Jungwon push him back. Once he was a safe distance away, he pulled Riki closer by the arm, leaning up to press several soft kisses on his hairline. Riki let him, leaning into the touches with a content hum. Hanni relaxed incriminately, but she sat on the edge of the couch, her eyes shifting between them all with caution. Jasmine entered the room a second later, heading straight towards Hanni, and settling next to her. 

“Word has gotten around.” She started. “About Lira. Panic is spreading even faster. Now, everyone knows that anyone could be next.”

Jungwon winced, but Heeseung stepped in before he could. “Okay, we can—”

“They’re looking to you,” Jasmine continued. “They want to know what to do. And they want to hear it from you.”

Jungwon sat down heavily on the couch across from her, his head in his hands. “I’ll set up a meeting tomorrow.” His knee was bouncing up and down in spurts of anxiety, his fingers ripping at the delicate skin of his lips.

Jasmine nodded solemnly, then tipped her head in Riki’s direction. “And what about…”

“No.” Jungwon said viciously, missing how hard Riki flinched. “The more people that know about him, the more danger he’s in. I can’t do that.”

Jasmine clicked her tongue. “Okay, so no announcing you’re new fledgling yet, got it.”

Heeseung inched closer to Jungwon, nodding his head at Jay, who kissed Riki’s forehead. Jungwon looked up at Heeseung, his eyes wide, scared. Heeseung sank down beside him without thinking, pulling the other vampire half-onto his lap. Jungwon stilled his shaking hands by twisting them into Heeseung’s shirt. Heeseung didn’t interrupt though, just pressed his palm flat against Jungwon’s spine.

Jungwon took one steady breath in, then another. Heeseung leaned back and waited. When Jungwon pieced himself together again, he leaned back, his hair tickling Heeseung's nose. “I will call a meeting tomorrow. And then I will deal with the Council.”

Hanni sat up straighter, if that were possible. “What about the Council?”

“They’ve been contacting me. Suddenly interested in the deaths since there’s been…unrest.” 

“What are you going to do?” Jasmine asked, leaning so far forward Heeseung thought she was going to fall right off the couch. 

Jungwon sank into himself again. “I…don’t know.”

“That’s why we’re here, right?” Hanni said hopefully.

“Right.”

Hanni slid to the floor beside Jasmine’s feet, beckoning the others to join her. Sunghoon and Sunoo settled slowly, keeping a comfortable distance from them. When Jay, Jake and Riki didn’t join them Hanni turned, opening a bag Heeseung somehow missed her bring in. She pulled out crumpled pieces of paper and handed them to Jay. They were maps, crumpled and torn in some areas but still maps.

“I have every location of the missing circles, except…” Hanni trailed off. “O can’t find the pattern. But maybe you can.”

Jay took them from her gingerly, and nodded his thanks. He looked at Jungwon who merely inclined his head and Jay disappeared into the kitchen, taking Riki and Jake with him. When Jungwon leaned forward, responding to something Hanni was saying, Heeseung slipped away upstairs.

He couldn’t put his finger on it but something was off. His stomach clenched in a way that made him uneasy. It just felt too familiar, like the vague outline of a dream he once had. But it was too blurry around the edges, too shapeless to hold onto. Something pulled in the back of his mind. Something he couldn’t see, something he didn’t understand. But he could feel it pulling, dragging him to a destination he didn’t know yet. But he knew who it would lead to. It would always lead back to them. Even after all these years, he couldn’t get away from them. It was almost funny. He could feel something cold in his palm and when he looked down, he was holding his keys.  

“What are you thinking about?”

Heeseung startled out of his thoughts. Jungwon was leaning against the doorframe, his expression tired in a way no amount of sleep could fix. He reached out to brush his thumb under Jungwon’s eye without thinking, and Jungwon leaned into the touch, his eyes closing for a beat.

When they fluttered open again, they landed on the keys in Heeseung’s hands. His eyebrows drew in suspicion as he dragged his gaze upward. “Where are you going?”

Heeseung shook his head, lifting his hand to press down on the worry lines on Jungwon’s forehead. “Just out. Nothing to worry about.”

Jungwon’s expression dropped. “Hyung.”

“I have a question that would be difficult to answer. So I need different…resources.”

Jungwon blinked at him several times in succession before pinching the bridge of his nose. “Okay, what are you even talking about right now?”

Heeseung tugged him closer, and Jungwon went easily, folding himself into the crook of Heeseung’s shoulder. Heeseung pressed his lips tenderly to Jungwon’s temple, frowning at the way his pulse beat back violently. He pulled away just slightly. “Headache again?”

“I’ve had worse,” Jungwon shrugged, and Heeseung’s frown deepened.

“Have you talked to Jay yet?”

“No. He’s…busy, I don’t need to bother him because of some stupid headaches.”

Heeseung pinched his side. “He will never be too busy for you. Talk to him. Please.”

Jungwon sighed, as if the thought physically pained him, but nodded slowly. “Fine. I’ll talk to him if you tell me where you’re going.”

“I told you: out.”

Jungwon snorted, waving his hand around in the air. “Oh, yeah, very informative, thanks.”

Heeseung bit back a sigh himself. “I think there’s something we’re missing.”

Jungwon squinted up at him as if to say, ‘okay?’

“I feel like I’ve seen this before from way back—”

“Like the war?”

Heeseung nodded. “Exactly. But I don’t have any records from that time. Only they do.”

Jungwon’s entire body locked up, and Heeseung immediately wished he hadn’t said anything at all. “Hyung, no.”

“This is the only way to know for sure. It’ll be quick: in and out.”

“Hyung, they broke into our home! They stabbed Sunghoon! They abused you! Why would you go back to them?” Jungwon was pacing now, his hands shaking while he gestured uselessly.

Heeseung grabbed his hands and pressed them together, close to his chest. “I am not going back to them. I am using them for information and that is all. I promise.”

“It’s not safe.” Jungwon insisted.

“Nothing’s safe anymore.” 

Jungwon made an aborted sound in the back of his throat, panic streaking through his posture. “At least—at least take someone with you.”

“Okay.” Heeseung said. 

Jungwon was in the middle of protesting when he cut himself off, blinking at Heeseung like he thought he’d put up more of a fight on the matter. “I—yeah, fine.”

Heeseung smiled, sliding past Jungwon to make his way downstairs. He could feel Jungwon following him warily, like he didn’t honestly believe Heeseung would keep his word. The others were spread out between the kitchen and the living room, Hanni and Jasmine drifting between groups.

“It should be at a neutral location.” Jasmine argued.

Hanni reared back, offended. “You’re kidding, right? They need to establish from the beginning that they are directing the conversation, what other way to do that then on home turf?”

Sunoo glanced between them, unamused. He was lying across Sunghoon’s lap, one hand fidgeting with Sunghoon’s sleeve, but Heeseung could practically see the gears in his head turning, and he had no doubt Sunoo would come up with detailed lists about the pros and cons of each option. Heeseung dropped a kiss on Sunghoon’s head, stopping to give Sunoo one as well when he grabbed Heeseung’s pant leg. 

Jay had somehow spread the maps of the city across their kitchen counters. There were dozens of red circles drawn on them, lines in connecting them, and notes scribbled in the corners. Jake looked like he’d rather be anywhere else, but pulled Jay away from the maps when he got too frustrated, offering other potential solutions that had Jay’s eyes lighting up with new ideas. 

Riki was propped on the only clear section of the counter, his gaze drinking up the maps and marks with interest. He didn’t look surprised to see Heeseung there, offering a small smile that looked strained. Heeseung stepped between his legs, and Riki wrapped his limbs around Heeseung’s body, holding tightly. “Hi.”

Heeseung hummed, kissing Riki’s throat in greeting. Riki let out a soft breath, leaning into the contact before his attention drifted to Jungwon. Heeseung stepped away, allowing Riki to grab Jungwon, who grumbled incoherently but wrapped his arms around Riki anyway. Heeseung took the opportunity to slide next to Jay, tugging lightly on the hem of his shirt. 

“Get your stuff, we’re going.” 

Jay looked at him, lost, but didn’t question him as he grabbed his phone and wallet. 

They caught Jake’s eye on their way out, but one sideways glance at Jungwon had Jake pursing his lips. He rounded the counter, and Heeseung thought for a moment he was going to demand to go with them. But, instead, he pulled Heeseung closer, pressing three quick kisses on his lips. “Be safe.” It wasn’t a request. Then he did the same with Jay, and they were gone. 

Jay, to his credit, didn’t ask any questions until they were far out of range. He leaned back, arms hooked behind his head. “Do I want to know?”

Heeseung took the next left, utterly unaware of what he was doing. It was like something was pulling him, commanding him without ever telling him anything directly. He could feel Jay’s eyes on him when they slowed to a stop at a red light.

“Where are we going?”

“I don’t know,” Heeseung admitted, somewhat reluctantly. 

Jay sat up. “What do you mean you don’t know?”

The light turned green, and Heeseung continued, taking the next right. “I don’t know. I—I have a feeling.” He said. “A hunch.”

Jay raised a skeptical eyebrow. “A hunch? A hunch is driving the car right now?” 

Heeseung released a frustrated huff. “I don’t know, Jay!”

“Pull over.”

“What?”

“Pull over, hyung. Now.”

Heeseung didn’t even think; he just followed the command. Jay’s seatbelt released with a click, and he stepped out of the car, coming around to open the driver’s side door. Heeseung let Jay lead him by the arm out and into the passenger side. By the time Jay slipped into the driver’s seat, Heeseung had his arms crossed over his chest, a permanent frown on his face. 

Jay pulled out onto the road slowly, but to Heeseung’s surprise, they didn’t head back in the direction they came from. Jay swatted at his knee. “Okay, if you’re the GPS, where am I going next?”

Heeseung considered, for a moment, pulling over again just so he could kiss him, but that felt unproductive, so instead he clenched his hands into fists. “Straight for now.”

Jay nodded but didn’t remove his hand from Heeseung's leg. The touch kept Heeseung’s head from spinning as he gave out directions as they came to him. Jay never questioned him further, never asked if he was certain, just followed Heeseung’s directions with a squeeze to his leg. It wasn’t until they slowed to a stop in front of a rusted gate that Jay looked at him sideways.

“Stay here.”

Heeseung rolled his eyes and stepped out of the car anyway, much to Jay’s dismay. The fence gave way to a road far too small to fit a car, and Jay cursed. Heeseung took another step forward, but Jay grabbed his arm roughly, pulling him back.

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

Heeseung did too. That’s how he knew they were close. “Go home. Tell Jungwon—”

“You’re kidding right?” Jay deadpanned. “You really think I would leave you? Especially when you think those lunatics are here? Are you out of your fucking mind?”

Heeseung blinked. “When did you—?”

“When you told me we were leaving. It wasn’t as hard as you think.”

Before Heeseung could think of a response, Jay took his hand and started to lead them down the road slowly. The awareness in the back of Heeseung’s mind grew stronger, nearly clouding his vision the closer they got. Jay didn’t seem to notice, his eyes darting around, cataloging every sound, every crunch of gravel, and every creak of metal. 

The noise of the city didn’t seem to be able to reach them anymore, and even the birds in the sky fell silent. Heeseung didn’t see it at first, too blinded by the sudden, pressing urge to vomit, but he heard Jay’s quiet exclamation. “This has got to be it.”

Heeseung looked up. Wide stairs led the way to the entrance, made up of crumbling stones spilling over one another, moss seeping into the cracks. The building sagged under the weight of years, its façade split by ivy and rot. The pillars were so cracked that Heeseung feared they would fall from the lightest touch. In the very center lay a gavel, carved into the stone. Heeseung shifted uncomfortably. 

Windows were boarded or shattered, the door scarred with rust so thick it looked fused shut. Not a single light was on, no indication of life, and certainly no indication of the underground. Jay looked like he was going to be sick, and Heeseung tugged on his hand.

“The offer still stands.”

Jay’s glare was vicious. “Shut up.” 

Heeseung fought back a sigh but started up the steps, bracing one hand on the door while he grabbed the handle. It opened without so much as a creak, and then the door shut behind them with a muted click, sealing out the smell of rot. Warmth settled against Heeseung’s skin, soft, controlled. The floor beneath his shoes was polished, unmarred by dust or debris.

“What the fuck?”