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Chapter Text

The sound of coughing and gagging carried throughout the whole apartment, but when nobody came to the source of it, Seokjin coughed louder. 

'I'm dying over here, and nobody even fucking cares!' he bellowed, trying to escape the kitchen. He grabbed the nearest coat off the rack and opened the front door, despite the beautiful, warm morning sun. Vampires weren't usually big fans. 

'Seok-?' Taehyung said, stepping into the entryway. Bare-chested, he wore a pair of leopard print sweats and a disgusted look on his face. 'Can you- can you not leave the door wide open?' he added, dodging the sunrays. Seokjin turned around and glared at him under the coat. 

'Some idiot cooked garlic,' he growled. 

'Namjoon-hyung's sick,' Tae said, shrugging. 'It's the only thing that helps him get over it.'

'Well, it's the only thing that closes my airways,' Seokjin said through gritted teeth. 

'You don't live here,' Tae said. 'You can leave.'

Seokjin just stared at him, his imposing figure and wide shoulders almost blocking the sun. 'That's not very respectful of you, you leech. Also, put a shirt on, what is this? A brothel?'

Tae smirked, turning away. 

'Can you at least, like, open a window in there?' he called out, leaning through the doorway. Tae walked through the apartment, coming to the conclusion that maybe Namjoon did go a little bit overboard with the garlic for the soup he had on the stove. But in no world was Tae going to admit that to Seokjin. He was annoying enough already. He leaned over and breathed in the scent, sensing a bit of bone broth, tarragon, a hint of rosemary. 

Not to his taste, obviously. But it wasn't like Namjoon shared his particular... proclivities. The werewolf opened the backdoor, nearly throwing it off its hinges. He just didn't know his own strength. He smiled at Tae before putting the newspaper on the table. 

'You nearly killed Seokjin,' Tae mentioned, opening the fridge. 

'Nuclear war wouldn't kill Seokjin. He's like a cockroach,' he muttered. 

'Hey!' Soekjin called out from the front door. 'You little shit, don't think I won't rip your throat out given the chance!'

'Come on in and do it then, blood-sucker,' Namjoon called out, unable to keep the smile off his face. They both heard a growl from the doorway, but no sign of the vampire. Tae grabbed a bloodbag from the stash and took a glass out of the cupboard. Namjoon barely even sneered at it anymore, though occasionally his disgust would be written all over his face. It had been a rocky start to their friendship, really. When Tae had put out the listing for a roommate, he had expected a fellow vampire, hoped for one that was at least close to his age, similar to him in many ways. So when Kim Namjoon showed up on his doorstep smelling like wet dog...

He was disappointed to say the least. But it turned out he was a great roommate, most of the time. There were those full moons... but once they were done and dusted, it was like living with a really kind and gentle bear. Sometimes pieces of furniture ended up shattered, or broken beyond repair, and he heard him bounding down the stairs every morning before he went to work. But in the end, it had become a kind of comfort, a soothing presence for him. Namjoon's routine was so solid that even Taehyung, who famously didn't sleep, knew what the time was depending on his roommate's movements. 

'I feel a head cold coming on,' Namjoon said, and Tae did think his voice was a little stuffy. 'Why is he even here? Did you invite him?' he asked. 

'You know him. He doesn't need an invite. Besides, there's no human name on the lease, he doesn't need to be invited,' he added. 

'I hate that loophole,' Namjoon muttered, stirring the pot slowly. Tae watched him carefully, knew that he was one of the most clumsy beings he'd ever met. If he wasn't careful, he'd tip the whole pot of boiling soup everywhere... Seokjin stood in the doorway, his eyes dark and while Tae couldn't see his fangs because he was using his shirt as a mask, he knew they were bared. 

'Do I wish that my longest, and most familiar friend wasn't sharing an apartment with a boorish, oafish pet dog?' he mused. 'Yes, of course I do. Will I tolerate it? Also yes.'

'When are you going to start tolerating it?' Namjoon asked. 'Just, out of curiosity.'

'Taehyung,' Seokjin warned, ignoring Namjoon entirely. 

'Behave you two,' he said, sipping demurely from his glass. The thick liquid always woke him up first thing, though he always preferred it when it was warm. He could have heated it up in the microwave, but it always messed with the integrity of it. He'd drink it cold, or straight from a vein. There was no in between. 

'Seokjin, if you're going to be bringing this level of negativity, just text me before you arrive. If the boorish, oafish pet dog is here, I'll tell you,' he said, rolling his eyes. Namjoon had turned his back to the conversation, but it was clear he was still listening.

'I thought it was a superstition, that vampires didn't like garlic-?'

'I'm just allergic,' Seokjin snapped. 'If it was a vampire thing, Taehyung would be dead, too. And if Taehyung was dead, then I wouldn't have any reason not to kill you,' he added, sweetly. Namjoon, completely unfazed, moved his pot over to kitchen island, causing Seokjin to hiss, inching away slightly. 

'You're here to tell me about the party, aren't you?' Tae asked. He'd heard from a friend of a friend that Hyungsik was throwing a halloween party at the end of the week. It wasn't something he was particularly excited about, but it would be good to get out of the house. He didn't want to admit it, but he hadn't been himself lately. He'd gone out a few nights ago on a hunt, and in the end he settled for a straggler in Itaewon. It wasn't his preference, and there was too much alcohol in his system for him to really enjoy it, but it was a meal. He'd been too picky the whole night, and in the end he just lost his patience. 

So he didn't have a good night. He laid in his bed, wishing that he'd even had the energy to fill it with a warm body. But even that seemed to be too much at the moment. It was a funk, he was sure. He would come out of it. 

He hoped. 

'Yeah, Hyungsik,' the vampire said. 'He's just renovated his house, wants to celebrate halloween and break it in.'

It would have been rude not to go. Taehyung had known him for years, the two of them were more alike than anyone else. But they didn't see each other often, they didn't need to. It was the kind of friendship where you wouldn't see each other for years, but it was like they'd just left the room for a moment. It was also likely he wouldn't even see Hyungsik at his own party, the man was an enigma, a pro at staying out of the way. There would be enough people there for them not to notice that he was gone. 

'I think he'd even let you in, Kim,' Seokjin said, clearly trying to goad the werewolf. 

'Hmm, stay home, or be trapped in a room full of vampires... hard pass,' he muttered. 

'Do you see? How rude he is?' he asked Tae, with an incredulous look on his face. 'Actually, you look like shit, Taehyung. Sorry, I'm only just noticing now because the lighting in here is garbage. Are you okay?'

Tae sat back, frowning. 'I'm fine.'

Seokjin stared him down, not believing his obvious lie. 'You look pale. Or, you look tired. You need to eat more. Lack of iron dries your skin out, too,' he said. 'Anyway, I'm off, I'll see you at the party?'

Tae just nodded, wincing slightly. Once the vampire left, Namjoon turned and gave Tae a sly smile. 

'What is it now?' he asked.

'He's right. You're different. Something up?' he asked. 

'I'm fine, why is everyone playing therapist?' he said. 'I had a rough night, that's all. I'm dealing with my dinner's hangover. I haven't had a proper hangover in decades. Sue me.'

'Surely you need fresh-?'

Tae held his hand up, eyes closed. 'The mere thought of hunting right now... I don't feel good. I'm going to go wallow for a few more hours. See what that does,' he said, sliding off his chair, leaving his drink half full. He knew Namjoon hated cleaning up after him, but he didn't even have the energy to be a good roommate. He slumped up the stairs, letting the darkness envelope him. He suspected the bright sun didn't do anything good for his mood. 

His bedroom, though decorated fairly tastefully, was dark. The best thing he invested in was true black-out curtains. He didn't know what true peace was until he had them installed into the apartment. His bed was unmade, the sheets crumpled and creased. Even the sight of the bed depressed him, reminded him how a warm body would probably erase half of the bad feelings he was feeling right now. But he pushed the thought aside, because he wasn't trying to look for an escape. 

He was looking for a solution. 

An answer. 

Taehyung-ah, a familiar voice called out to him. It was soft, far away. But he felt goosebumps along his skin at the familiarity of it. He sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the door. He considered reaching for a shirt, but even that took to much energy. He laid back on his bed, staring at the ceiling. A mirror was hung there, and he looked at himself, arms out at his sides, legs straight. He exhaled, and waited a moment until he felt that the bed depressed beside him, a human-sized weight crawling to lie beside him. 

'Jimin-ah,' Tae said softly, so as not to spook the ghost. 

'I was waiting for Seokjin to leave,' Jimin said. Taehyung saw the ghost's corporeal body appear in the mirror beside him. He even felt the pseudo warmth that came from him. Despite the fact that it was impossible for him to even have body heat. 

'You don't have a reason to fear him,' he said in an almost-whisper. 'His bark is much worse than his bite.'

'It's not that. It's his energy. I can't draw from it the same way I draw from you and Joon,' he replied. 'I heard you pacing all last night.'

'Yeah well, not sleeping gives me a lot of time to kill.'

'Maybe,' he said, unsure. 'Do you think I could come to the party?'

Was it possible for Jimin to attend the party? Yes. Would anyone see him? Chances were slim, but not impossible. It would depend on the guests in attendance, but it wasn't completely off the table. All of this, Taehyung thought, was what Jimin already knew. 

'I think Hyungsik would want you there,' he said, turning to face him. 'You're the life of the party, Park Jimin.'

'The afterlife,' Jimin said, rolling his eyes.

Chapter Text

Park Hyungsik lived in the mountains. His house was secluded, tucked away amongst the trees and almost imperceivable from the street. His house was newly reconstructed, it was an old Georgian mansion, and while it had retained the Georgian exterior, the inside had been almost entirely gutted. When Tae arrived, he and Seokjin got out of the car and stood on the gravel. Tae was wearing a deep red, silk button-up with black trousers. Seokjin suggested only undoing the top button, but Tae did the next two when his friend wasn't looking.

The cool night air washed over him, and he looked up at the night sky. So far out from the city, you could actually see the stars in the clear night. He'd lived in the city for so long, this one, but others all around the world. His favourite was Paris, the warm glow of the streetlamps, the bustle of the streets at all hours. He used to watch the lamplights with their ladders stretching up to light them decades ago. Back before electricity. 

It was another life ago. He remembered lazy mornings with coffee, croissants and other pastries, wine. 

So much wine. When he'd been a younger vampire, all of those human things didn't bother him so much. He'd wake up feeling a little under the weather, but it was worth it to experience it. Now? Now he'd rather wallow, rather not eat the croissant. Because he knew it would only make him feel like shit later. There was only one thing on this earth that could fill that need, satisfy every craving he had. And it depressed him. To have to eat the same thing every day for the rest of your life. And it wasn't just a mortal life, either. 

It was an eternity. But he'd grown used to the feeling, the monotony of it all, no matter how much he ached. Seokjin walked a little further up from him, and Tae followed, trying his best not to drag his feet. The vampire turned back to face him. 'Is Jiminssi coming?' he asked.

'Should be,' Tae said, shrugging. 'He insisted on making his own way here. Sometimes leaving one place and going to another is harder for him.' Or, maybe Jimin was right, and Seokjin was the kind of drain that he couldn't be around. He hadn't considered that he wouldn't want to be in the same car as him for that reason. All around them, people were milling up to the entrance. Tae glanced at the man on the door, who didn't even need to look at him before he nodded them inside. 

'Security's gotten more lax,' Seokjin muttered as they passed through, his body carving through the sea of people. Tae followed closely behind, waiting for a pocket of space to open up so he could breathe. But people had already started to latch on, their hands brushing over his, running over his silk shirt. He slipped out of most of their holds, being more forceful when necessary. Seokjin ducked into another lounge off to the side, and Tae took the opportunity to branch off.

He found a small reading room just off the kitchen that seemed empty. He opened the door and closed it just as quietly. If he knew Hyungsik - and he was fairly well acquainted with the vampire - he knew that he always had a stash of top shelf whiskey hiding in plain sight. Tae scanned the shelves for a bottle that seemed to be blending in with the others. He ran his fingers over the bottles, knowing that Hyungsik funnelled the good liquor into the empty bottles of bad liquor. A centuries-old habit, and a string of terrible housemates stealing his booze.

He chose one, plucked the cap off and breathed in. It nearly knocked him out, the smell of caramel and cinnamon, and the smoky peat. He took a crystal glass over to one of the seats and poured a generous serve, leaving the bottle opened on the table. 

'Stealing from my reserves,' he heard Hyungsik before he saw him. Tae tilted his head in the direction of the elder, but staying seated. They were beyond basic manners. 'And you know how much that pisses me off.'

Tae just looked up at him, with his doe eyes. 'Ah, not those eyes Taehyung,' Hyungsik said, wincing. He moved around the room, his lithe body fluid and confident. He came to sit opposite his friend, watching him with curiosity.

'For a moment there, I did consider that you wouldn't come,' he said. 

'Oh?'

'Well, it's been quite a while now,' he mused. 'And you know vampires can be...fickle.' He poured himself a glass and took a sip. Tae held his glass in his hands, swirling the amber liquid. 'I suppose I got a bad impression from Kim.'

'He always thinks he knows what's going on with me before I do,' Tae murmured. 'Sometimes he's right.'

'He knows you,' Hyungsik said. 'Not many of us can say that. Almost everyone I've ever loved is gone. It's been centuries, and the ones who are here, who knows how long they'll be here for?' he asked, sighing. 'He was the one who raised you, wasn't he?'

Tae nodded, looking at the carpet. 'He did. When I was at my weakest, when all I wanted to do was die...'

'He saved you. Raised you, taught you everything you needed to know,' he said, his dulcet voice soothing in the silence. 'No wonder he knows you. And now? How do you feel today?'

Tae breathed in, and let out a shuddering breath. 'I don't think that ever goes away,' he said. 'What are we, Hyungsik-hyung? If not monsters? Why should we live without any fear at all? We are an abomination of nature, and yet, we persist. Life finds a way, and so to do we.'

'You have a sweet tongue, Taehyung,' Hyungsik said, chuckling. 'And a touch of the dramatics. It doesn't cross my mind much, I just live. That's all you can do most of the time. I didn't choose this, but it has been the greatest gift of my life. I wouldn't trade my mortal self, that small, meek man, for this one. Not a chance,' he said.

Tae wasn't sure he felt the same. Didn't think he had it in him. He took another sip and let it burn as it went down his throat. He'd never been a big drinker. He'd had benders, sure, but he wasn't habitual about it. He put his glass down with a clink and sat back in the chair. 

'Party kicks off at midnight,' Hyungsik announced, standing up. 'We have something special prepared, you won't want to miss it.' He winked before he left the room. Tae stood up too, taking a stroll around the room. Some of the books on these shelves were older than most of the population in Seoul, and worth more money than Tae wanted to consider. But none of it meant anything to him. He had money, he had everything he needed to live. Sure, he lived in a house with two other creatures, but he actually kind of liked that. 

He couldn't imagine living alone. When he was human, sure. When life was short, fleeting, and every emotion, every feeling mattered, burned to feel it. He could have lived alone knowing that he only had so many years. Now, twenty years might as well have been two weeks. And even then, it was too short. 

'Taehyungie?' he heard someone say at the door. Jimin pushed the door open and smiled. Tae's chest relaxed slightly. 

'Jimin-ah,' he replied. 'I was beginning to think you weren't going to show up,' he said with a smirk. 

'Just ran a bit late,' he said. 'Couldn't decide on my outfit. Halloween is very important to ghosts, you know.'

Tae rolled his eyes, unable to keep a smile from his face. He headed for the door, taking Jimin with him. They walked down the hall, both of them getting more attention because they were together. People weren't able to look away, weren't able to keep their eyes off of the cherubic ghost, with the sparkling eyes and soft, plump lips. Nor the vampire, whose siren eyes cut through right to your soul, made you believe you were his, just with his attention.

'People are staring at you, Taehyungie,' Jimin whispered. 

'They're staring at us,' he clarified. 

'And you don't mind? How do you do it?' 

Taehyung just smirked. He'd had years to perfect the act of not-caring. It grew wearisome to constantly care that people stared at you, to have people look at you like they were going to eat you. Not when he was the one looking at them for a meal. 

'It gets easier,' he said. 'You have plenty of time.'

'It doesn't feel like it does for you,' Jimin said, his forehead creasing. 'It feels like I'm only meant to be here temporarily. Like I shouldn't be here at all.'

Tae put a hand around his shoulders and squeezed, placing a kiss in his hair just above his temple. 'Jiminie, of course you're meant to be here. Look at all of this,' he said, motioning to the party all around them. 'Some of these people are human, some are...something else. The humans are here for all sorts of reasons, most of them debauched and taboo. Most would kill to be here.'

'Have you seen-?' But he froze, mid-sentence. His eyes trained on something, or, someone at the end of the hallway. Tae followed his line of sight, landing finally on a dark figure, right at the end. Jimin was still staring shamelessly, and though he was pale, a small blush was creeping up his neck.

'Jimin-?' Tae said, trying to get his attention.

'Who is that?' he asked. 

Tae looked down the hallway again, confirming that yes, his friend was looking at who he thought he was looking at. Though, the more he thought about it, the more he wondered what exactly the infamous clairvoyant Min Yoongi was doing at a party like this. 

'They call him Suga,' Tae said, droll. 'Psychic, clairvoyant, seer, whatever you want to call it.'

'He's... he's beautiful,' Jimin whispered. 

'Go talk to him-.'

'Are you insane? Have you lost your beautiful mind-?' he yelled, a little louder than he'd anticipated.

'Well? You're a ghost. He talks to ghosts for a living. I'd say you have a bit in common, actually. More than most', he said.

'Don't be mean,' he said, pouting. 

'Fine, don't talk to him,' Tae said, shrugging. 'We need to find Hyungsik-.'

A voice came over the speaker, and Hyungsik's hypnotic voice rang out all around them. Everyone stopped, and the music was brought down a few notches. 

'I welcome you to start our halloween celebrations, with a little appetizer in the front lounge,' he said, almost purring. Most of the crowd parted for Tae and Jimin, but they did have to shoulder their way past the mosh pit that was forming at the front.

'Kim Taehyung,' Hyungsik said, with a flair for the dramatic. 'Practically my guest of honour, really,' he added, holding his hand out for him to take. 'Halloween is a special time for us, as most of us know,' he looked at the crowd. 'And to celebrate, I've arranged for a little...feeding.'

The crowd erupted into a chorus of murmurs, whispering and sighs. Hyungsik flashed his million dollar smile and then glanced over at Tae. 

'I also happen to know that my friend here is a little tiny bit of an exhibitionist,' he added, lowering his eyes. Tae watched as one of Hyungsik's staff walked someone out from the hallway. There was a sparkle in this human's eye that told Tae he'd been murmured - Hyungsik had used his gifts on him, so that he either wouldn't react, or wouldn't remember what was happening. He was handsome, in the traditional sense. He wasn't Tae's type strictly speaking, but he wasn't about to turn down a meal. Not when he hadn't had a proper one in days. 

He felt his fangs throb in his jaw, ran his tongue over them briefly, feeling them prick his lips when he closed his mouth.  His heart began to race, those animal instincts kicking into gear, despite the fact that his prey was being handed to him on a silver platter. Tae didn't remember waiting to be told, he just stepped toward the human, breathing him in before running his teeth over the veins in his neck. He felt his whole body become alive, every nerve ending being set on fire. 

Sometimes, it was better than sex. 

Sometimes. But now it only reminded him how long it had been since he'd gotten laid. And that zapped a little of the enjoyment out of it. But he let his teeth pierce his skin, feeling his fangs hum with pleasure, about to do what they were made for.  It was euphoria, plain and simple. The kind that made you forget where you were, what you were supposed to be doing, even your name, if the blood was clean enough. 

The first taste was electric, made his fangs vibrate as he felt the blood run down his throat. He saw red, but not out of anger. It was a bloodlust, the metallic taste filling that void, making him whole. He was making a sound, but he didn't care, knew that the people watching would have been into it. He pulled away, unlatching himself from the human. Hot, red blood dripped across his lips, down his chin. He just bared his teeth and let the blood soak into his shirt. He didn't even wipe it away, just let it drip onto the floor. 

He exhaled, swallowing hard. The edges of his vision were still reddening, and his whole body hummed with energy. Yes, it purred, finally. 

It was around 4am that Jimin and Taehyung stumbled home. Both were just as useless as each other, unable to hold the other up. Not to mention that it was raining torrentially. Neither minded, were too drunk to be bothered by anything at all. In fact, Taehyung's body was so full of blood, he could have fought an army. Jimin started laughing about something, and just the delightful sound of it made Taehyung start, too. They giggled all the way down the street they lived on, passing restaurants that were open but empty, neon lights still burning against the darkness. 

'I wish I could eat,' Jimin said. 'It's so sad walking past restaurants these days.'

'Fuck you, dude, look who you're talking to,' Tae said, shoving him lightly. 

'Well, at least you eat something. I'm eating air for the forseeable future!' he yelled, his voice ricocheting off the buildings. 

'Shh!' Tae said, covering his mouth. 'It's soooo late, Jiminie, people are going to be sleep-.'

He stopped, grabbing Jimin and holding him still. Tae watched their doorstep, because there was someone standing there. He wiped the rain off of his forehead and tried to see better, but they weren't close enough. 

'What-? Who's that?' Jimin asked, mouth still muffled by Tae's hand. 

They shuffled closer, waiting to see what the person would do. He looked drenched, in all black. But something about his body language made Tae's senses heightened. He'd never seen a vampire look so...human.

He watched as he knocked on their front door, knocking and knocking, with urgency that was so very mortal. Tae could hear him shivering, his teeth clattering together from the cold. So why was he almost certain that he was a vampire? They were a few metres away when the door opened finally, and Tae pulled Jimin aside so he could hear probably.

'A-are you the werewolf?' he asked, panting.  Water dripping from his hair, down his nose and onto the porch. 'Are you Namjoon?'

His voice, Tae thought. Something about it struck a match on his ribcage, a tangible pull from his solar plexus. It had been years since he had that, hadn't it? 

Namjoon stood there, mouth gaping. 'Uh, yes? How do you-? What are-? Who are you?' he asked, and Tae could see that he'd just been woken up. Namjoon-hyung did not like being woken up. 

'M- my name's Jungkook,' he said, and bowed solemnly. 'A-and I really need to talk to you.'

Chapter Text

'House meeting!' Namjoon called out, his voice booming down the hallway.

Taehyung stared up at the ceiling in his bedroom, at the mirror that reflected the entire length of his bed. He had put it up for more... mischievous purposes, but there was something comforting about seeing himself in it. It always shocked people when they found that he had a reflection. The mirror itself was specially made from a certain type of glass, it wasn't like any other. Because no, he didn't have a reflection in the bathroom mirror, or the mirror in the hallway that Namjoon always used to pick his incisors. 

He did not want to be apart of this house meeting. He knew exactly what it was going to be about, and frankly, he disagreed with the whole thing. This, he was sure Namjoon was aware of, and simply didn't care. Jimin had been uncharacteristically quiet about it, though. 

A knock on his door, and the ghostly figure peeked his head in. 'Taehyungie, you know he won't stop until you're in the lounge room. He'll come here and we'll have the meeting in your bedroom-.'

'Fine. Shit,' Tae said, rolling his eyes. He inched toward the edge of the bed and put his feet on the ground. He took a deep breath, and a mouthful of room temperature blood that was sitting on his nightstand. He winced at the taste, but was glad for the fullness it provided. Otherwise he'd get grumpy.

Grumpier. 

Down the hallway, he followed Jimin's form. He was particularly non-corporeal today, more of an essence than a full-bodied spirit. In the lounge room - Jimin had pouted and demanded they rename it that instead of living room - Namjoon was standing at the mantelpiece, arms across his chest. Tae took a seat, leaning his forearms on his knees, looking up. Jimin sat in the middle of the three-seater couch, looking impossibly small. 

'Great,' Namjoon said, though he didn't sound pleased that it took so long. 'So we're having this house meeting, and you've probably connected the dots as to why.'

'The vampire,' Jimin said softly.

Namjoon nodded. 'The vampire. Newborn vampire,' he said, looking meaningfully at Taehyung, who was looking anywhere but the werewolf. 'We're going to have a vote. There are three of us, this is a democracy. There is a spare room that's currently being used to store all of our shit, it's downstairs, out of the way. I think it's a good idea if he offer it to him.'

Tae snorted. 'Based on what? Based on him begging on our doorstep?'

Namjoon just stared at Tae. 'Yes. Because he was brave enough to ask. Because he has nobody else.'

'So what,' Tae murmured.

'He asked for me by name,' he said. 'He knows who we are. He needs someone to help him.'

'He's a newborn,' Jimin said, cutting in. 'Does- does that mean he's more dangerous?'

'Absolutely,' Tae snapped. 

'It means he's confused,' Namjoon said, ignoring him. 'It means his confused, and in a lot of pain, and probably very hungry for something he's never had before. I think one of us might know a thing or two about that.'

Taehyung just stared him down. 

'Let's vote,' Namjoon said, to Jimin. 'Those who think he should stay in the spare guest room, raise your hand.'

Namjoon raised his hand high into the air. Jimin slowly did the same, keeping his eyes on Tae, just to watch what he would do.

'Two to one.'

'I didn't even vote yet,' Tae said, frowning. 

'Would you like to-.'

'This is bullshit. Why are we letting some random person into our home? I don't he's going to be able to pay rent, is he?' he asked.

'That's not our priority at the moment. And your rich, so what does it even matter?' he asked.

'I don't pay for freeloaders. Not even if I'm fucking them,' he said. 'He's a total stranger-.'

'So was I,' he said. 

'You applied to be a tenant,' he said. 'That's very different.'

'He needs this. Otherwise, he'll be out on the streets, causing more problems for us, for you as a vampire. Do you need police reports, and cops sniffing around your business?'

Tae just stared at him. 'I've told you my thoughts,' he said. 'I was outvoted.'

Namjoon sighed deeply. 'Let's just do the right fucking thing,' he said. 'And take him in.'

'How old is he?' Tae asked, to the floor.

'Three days-.'

'Fucking hell, Namjoon. Has he even had anything to eat?' he spat. 

'Not that I'm aware of,' he said. 'That's why it's important we get him now. Before he does something drastic.'

'Where is he right now?' he asked.

Namjoon paused. 'In the garage.'

'He's here right now?' Jimin said, eyes wide. 

'You had no intention of turning him away,' Tae said.

'Of course not. This is the right thing to do-.'

'You always were soft,' Tae said. 'A real big sap. I'm not babysitting this fucking newborn vampire.'

Jungkook stood in the doorway to the lounge room, eyes on the carpet, hands clasped together. Tae thought he didn't look too bad for someone who hadn't had blood yet, he wasn't sickly, or pale looking, he even had a little flush to his cheeks. That wouldn't last though, because he likely didn't have his fangs yet. 

That's going to be the hardest part. 

He pushed the feeling aside, he was not going to care about this stranger in his home. No matter how much pain he was about to experience. But Tae observed him, eyes trailing over his face, to the scar on his cheek, to the lip ring that he kept fidgeting with. He was still so painfully human, and he wasn't sure he would be a great vampire. Some weren't. Those ones didn't last long, usually, their humanity claimed them in the end. Seeing him, looking at him like this didn't make Tae feel very confident at all. 

'Welcome to the house, Jungkook-ah,' Namjoon said. But when he looked up, catching Taehyung's eyes, they could all tell there was a thunderstorm in the room. He was not going to feel welcome anytime soon, and everybody knew exactly why.  'Your room is downstairs, just off the kitchen. Come and go as you please, but if you have any...questions, about the process, Taehyung will answer them.'

Oh, will I? he thought bitterly. Fat fucking chance.

'I-it's fine, I'll-.'

'And Jimin, too. We're all here to help,' he said. Jimin smiled encouragingly, overcompensating for Tae's dark mood. 

'Yes! If you have any questions, I can try to answer them! I'm not a vampire or anything, so I'm not an expert, but I've known Taehyung for a while,' he said. 

'You're going to want to eat something soon,' Tae said, staring lazily up at him. 'Otherwise you'll rip someone apart.'

Jungkook just nodded. 

'The blood that we have in the fridge isn't good for you,' he said, 'you need fresh blood. For the first time, anyway.' 

'Why don't you-?' Namjoon started, but Tae stood up then, cutting him off.

'You don't tell me what to do, Kim. When I go out next, he can come. But you're not organizing a playdate,' he said, leaving the room. He stormed down the hall and up the stairs to his room. Closing his bedroom door behind him, he exhaled. Thoughts rushed to his mind like crashing waves, pushing at him from all sides. 

It had been years since he was a mentor to a newborn vampire. Even the word mentor gave him the chills. He shouldn't have ever gotten so attached to the first fledgling, and truthfully, he'd never intended to. Because losing her... nearly destroyed him. He nearly threw away everything he'd worked for, everything he'd become. He couldn't go through that again. He was certain Namjoon wasn't aware of this, Tae would never have told him of his own volition. Sure, it was possible the werewolf had found out, but Tae hoped that if he knew, he wouldn't make him go through it again. 

He didn't sleep. So he didn't dream. But he still had nightmares. They would strike him at random times, he'd be in the middle of his day, and suddenly his mind took him to a place in time that he hated. It could have been any number of victims, friends, enemies, but more often than not, it was about her. He still remembered her smile, despite everything. He was forgetting parts of her that he swore he'd always remember, her laugh, what her hair looked like, whether she had blue or brown eyes... It was all slipping away from him. And that made him defensive, it made him angry. Because if he couldn't save her, the least his brain could fucking do was remember her. Sometimes, he could still hear her, hear the footsteps of her padding down the hallway to his room, feel the warmth of her when she shivered against the cold of her transition. He let himself feel it, because he missed having someone there. It was rare, because if he let one thought in, they would all come rushing toward him, and he'd never get up again for the pain of it all. 

He could not help Jungkook, he decided. He would make sure the vampire got blood, would make sure he didn't cause them any trouble, and put him on his way. If there was one he was certain of, it was this. He didn't want to know anything about Jeon Jungkook.

Chapter Text

The first time he'd tasted blood, he was dying.

Dying his first death, feeling the life draining out of him, slipping away like water through his fingers. It had felt like burning, but also like ice in his veins. The kind of pain no human could withstand, the kind of pain that could bring poets to their knees. It was a bittersweet memory now, something he thought about only when he was feeling sentimental. He could hear the newborn, even in his bedroom downstairs. Could hear his heart. Slowly, it would stop. 

Slowly, whatever heart he had would crumble. It was a delicate process, one that many didn't think they would survive. Three days was an extraordinarily long time to wait though, he thought. He was surprised that the newborn had held out that long. But now, his heart was racing. Probably going crazy in his chest, wondering what he was feeling.

For Taehyung, it started in his fingertips. A numbness, and then a tingling. It crept up his arms, felt like death itself was gripping him. Made him feel impossibly hungry, hunger that was heavy, and insatiable. Like he'd never be full again. 

But it passed. He couldn't remember how long it had taken, after all, nobody had been there to help him. He had done it alone, forced himself to persist, to push through all of it. Because he believed he was meant to live, meant to exist. 

No matter how monstrous he was. 

'Taehyungie?' he heard Jimin at his door. He hadn't heard him, his mind too deep in its own thoughts. 'How are you?'

'Hungry,' Tae said, which wasn't a lie. He'd been thinking about getting something to eat. 

'Oh,' he said, smirking. 

'What's up?'

'I'm worried. About him,' he said. 'He hasn't come out of his room in hours, and it's so quiet in there.'

Quiet wasn't good, Tae thought, remembering how he himself wailed.

'So what do you want me to do about it?' 

'Can you go check on him?' he asked.

'Why don't you-?'

He pouted, which unfortunately, always seemed to work. Tae crossed the room and folded his arms in front of the ghost. 'Your diabolical to use those lips like that,' he said.

'Just see if he's okay?' he asked, slipping away down the hallway. 

Tae felt something tighten in his stomach as he headed downstairs, toward the spare room. It was an unfamiliar feeling, one he hadn't experienced in a while. Nerves, his mind told him. He snorted at the thought. 

He knocked on the door, heard nothing. Was it possible that he was still able to sleep? Did he have that much humanity left? Tae felt a pang of jealousy. He knocked again, but heard nothing, so he opened the door. Inside, the room was dark, curtains pulled closed, held shut with a peg. Still, little streams of light managed to pierce through. In the middle of the bed, wrapped in blankets, was the newborn. 

Tae cleared his throat. 'J-Jungkook?'

A small grunt, barely even perceptible. 

'So you are awake,' he said, frowning. 'I thought you might be.'

Silence, Tae's temper stirred, he hated being ignored. He moved around so that he could try and at least get a glimpse of his face. He nearly tripped over a pair of shoes, clothes that were already strewn over the floor. What a mess, he thought. 

'Are you going to look at me?' he asked.

He had his eyes pressed shut, nearly burrowed under the blankets, but not quite. He mumbled something against the pillow that resembled, 'Don't wanna.'

'Jimin was worried about you,' Tae said, firmly. 'I don't want anything worrying Jimin. Jimin is...sensitive to people's emotions.'

That made Jungkook open his sleepy, doe eyes. 'I-.'

'So, if you're in here sulking-.'

'What do you care?' he cut him off. 'You don't even want me here anyway.'

Tae paused, tilting his head. 'You're right. I don't want you here. I think you're going to cause a lot more trouble thank, frankly, you're worth.'

'Then why-.'

'I was outvoted,' he snapped. 

Stop interrupting me, brat, he thought with venom. 'I was outvoted, and you're lucky Namjoon has such a big heart. He usually hates vampires.'

Jungkook paused. 'He doesn't hate you.'

Tae narrowed his eyes, but said nothing. 

'He could like me,' he said, sounding impossibly small. 'I didn't do anything wrong. I didn't choose-.'

'Who in their right fucking mind would choose this?' he asked. 'Do you think I chose this? That I was born this way? Shit happens. I was weak once, but I'm not anymore.'

'I want to be strong,' he said, a near-whisper. 'I feel so...hollow.'

I understand, Tae's body told him. He knew the feeling better than anyone. Like his insides had been scooped out with a spoon. Wouldn't have wished that on his worst enemy. He looked down at him, saw real pain in his eyes. He hadn't seen pain like that for decades. It almost worked, too.

'You need blood,' Tae said, clearing his throat. 'Blood is the only thing you need.'

'Okay-.'

'No,' he said, frowning again. 'You don't understand,' he said, closing his eyes. 'It's not as easy as that. It's a decision you have to make. You don't drink blood, you die. Simple, right?'

He nodded.

'But if you do drink blood? Then the transition starts.'

Jungkook's forehead creased. 'I thought-.'

'This isn't even the start,' Tae said, as calmly as he could. 'What's happening to you right now, is your body is dying. Slowly shutting down your organs, your body is realising that it's not getting what it needs. Do you feel it in your teeth yet?'

He shook his head.

'You will. All of that happens even before the blood,' he said. 'You choose to drink the blood, and you'll walk through all nine circles of hell. That's the deal. You want to live forever? You experience a lifetime of pain over the course of days.'

Why was he telling him this? Did he want him not to choose the blood? He wasn't sure. A part of him didn't want him to wither away like a husk, but that didn't mean he wanted that kind of pain for the newborn. Neither was a good option, but at least with one he could live. 

'I-.'

'You think on it. Sulk if you want, punch the wall, break something, I don't care. But you will need to decide, or you'll just die. You're already in the reaper's debt. Three days,' he said, trailing off. 'I've never heard a newborn surviving that long. But it's up to you. Live, or die,' he said. 'Simple.'

Simple, he thought. For him it had been. He was far too stubborn even as a human to let himself waste the life he had. He wasn't sure Jungkook was the same, but they'd find out in the next day or two. Though, he wasn't sure he even had that long. If he were him, he'd be sinking his teeth into someone sooner rather than later. 

Three hours. That was how long he held out. Tae was sitting in the lounge, sipping some type A when he heard the door open. Jimin was resting his head in his lap, scrolling on his phone. He looked up when he felt Tae move.

'What-?'

Tae watched the doorway, waited for the newborn to arrive. His clothes were crinkled, slept in, and his face was puffy from dozing. His fists were balled at his sides, his whole body tightly wound. Jimin sat up, flattening his hair. 

'Jungkook-ah,' he said, smiling.

Tae admired Jimin's ability to love.  There was not a single soul who wasn't deserving of his love, and he gave it so freely. Tae wasn't sure how he did it, had never met anyone like him. 

Jungkook just bowed slightly, eyes falling to Taehyung. 'I-.'

'I know,' he said, cutting him off. 'I can see it in your eyes. Good.' He stood up, straightening his clothes. 'The sooner we start, the better.'

'Do you need me to come, Taehyungie?' he asked. 

He winced, but didn't have the heart to tell him no. It was probably not a good idea, and he didn't want Jimin there to watch. He didn't have the constitution for it. But he nodded anyway. It would be good not to be alone with the newborn, to have a second pair of eyes on him, too. 

They took Namjoon's car, because it was less cramped and less... showy. It wasn't very subtle to take a Bugatti on a hunt. And he didn't want to be any closer to Jungkook if he didn't have to be. The car smelled like fast food and cigarettes, even though Tae was sure he'd said he was giving them up. They drove through the narrow streets, crawling through alleys as people milled all around the car. Tae was thinking about how he was going to do this. The last time, with Mina...

It was not a smooth process, and she'd had last minute regrets, and it was... a fucking mess. A part of him ached to remember it. He'd wondered if that was the beginning of the end for her. If he'd forced her into it, should have listened to her then.

He'd have made sure her death was swift, if that was her choice.

But that's not the way it worked out.

He swallowed hard, finding a spot to pull over that was a little out of the way. Itaewon was good for a quick and subtle kill, lots of bodies, loud music, most people were too busy looking around to notice if someone went missing. He caught Jungkook rocking slightly in the backseat, swaying back and forth, fidgeting with his lip ring. Made himself look away. Of course he was nervous, any normal person would have been. 

The air was cool, a breeze moving the scent of humans across to them. Taehyung breathed deeply, taking another look around. 

'So how-?'

'You don't have fangs yet,' he said, looking away. 'I have to find someone, bring them here, back to you. When I bite them, you drink.'

He paled at that, eyes darting all around. 

'Hey, hey,' Tae said, grabbing the sides of his face, keeping him steady. 'You can still choose this,' he said, trying to keep his voice from shaking. 'You don't have to go ahead with it.'

He shook his head, blinking hard. 'I-.'

'You need to be sure,' Tae said, clenching his teeth. 'I'm not doing this for you if you- if,' he stammered.

'I'm doing this,' he said, straightening his shoulders. 'I'm doing it. Please,' he added. 

Tae snatched his hands from his face and nodded, turning away. 'Jimin-ah, watch him while I'm gone,' he said, stalking off down the street. 

'He means well,' Jimin said, kicking a pebble into the gutter. 'He does it because he cares.'

Jungkook just snorted, rolling his eyes. 'He doesn't want me around,' he said. 'He's made that clear.'

'But you are around. He just has to get used to it. He wasn't happy about Namjoon-hyung either, trust me,' he said. 

'What do you mean?' he asked.

'He, he didn't want to live with a wolf, he thinks they're all like wet dogs. Or, he did anyway. Maybe he still does. But Namjoon, he wont admit it, because he has too much pride, Namjoon looks after us all,' he said. 'He'd rip someone's throat out if he thought they would hurt one of us. I can't really be hurt like that, so...'

'You're a ghost,' he said, as if he was finally understanding. 'I knew you were, but you're...'

Jimin nodded. 'It comes and goes. Sometimes I'm strong, sometimes I'm weak. Usually when I'm around Taehyungie or Namjoon-hyung I'm strong,' he said. 'He just needs time.'

'I've got forever,' he mumbled. 

They'd sat on the side of the road, watching as the occasional person walked past, stumbling slightly. Jimin waited for Jungkook to pounce, he wasn't sure exactly how a newborn vampire was ought to act, though. But he didn't. He just sat there, chin resting on his knees, watching. Jimin wondered what he was really doing here, how he'd come to be here with them. He thought it might have been rude to ask. 

Jungkook raised his head, seeing something in the distance, or sensing him. Jimin was distracted with the night sky, but Jungkook saw clearly that Taehyung had found his prey. Not just found him, he thought, his stomach sinking. The way Taehyung was kissing the human made his insides flutter. He was soft, sweet about it. His hand was holding the back of his neck, his head ducking to kiss his neck. He walked him closer, until he locked eyes with Jungkook. He stood up, Jimin following behind. 

'Dinner's ready,' he grumbled, standing beside their prey, who looked dazed, dizzy. He bared his fangs, something setting Jungkook on fire as he saw the needle-sharp teeth catch the moonlight. When he sank his teeth in, Jungkook's knees buckled. The man gasped, eyes going wide only for a second, before he slumped backwards. When Tae stood back, blood dripping over his lips, he looked at the newborn. 

'All you have to do is drink,' he said, his pupils dilated. 'Are you ready?'

Jungkook's eyes watched the ruby red blood pour down his neck, start against his pale skin. Time was wasting away, he only had a few moments to decide, and Tae knew exactly what he was thinking. 

'Just jump,' he said. 'Easy as that.'

Jungkook stepped forward, breathing in the metallic scent, something in him setting alight. He held the man, feeling his warmth beneath his fingers. Bringing his lips closer, he felt his poor, human heart beating, as if it knew it wouldn't last. As if it was counting down. He pressed his lips to the man's neck, getting his first taste of blood. 

He heard Tae make a sound of approval, but forgot about everything that was going on around him when the blood began to taste less like, well blood, and more like liquid gold. Euphoria rushed through him, cutting through him, filling him up. His teeth began to vibrate in his jaw, starting low, like a small hum. It was enough to make him feel warm all over, his fingers went numb. But the hum turned to a growl, until the growl turned into screaming. He shoved him away for the pain of it. 

He gripped his jaw, fingernails scratching his skin hard enough to leave red marks down his face. It was a burning, icy feeling, it made him feel like he was going mad. Like clawing his skin off. He stumbled backwards, into Jimin's arms.

'No, Jimin-ah,' he heard Tae vaguely, before he felt a different pair of arms on him. 'He needs to feel it,' he heard in his ear. 'All of it. It's important.'

A scream tore out of his mouth, just as Tae covered it with his hand, his body breaking out into a sweat.

'He'll need to remember this moment,' Tae said softly. 

Chapter Text

Jimin felt fizzy. Fizzier than normal, and nothing was pulling him out of it. He'd woken up feeling like he'd left something behind, or forgotten it entirely. But he wasn't sure what it was. It left him feeling discombobulated, floaty, like a wisp in the wind.  Worse was that everyone in the house had noticed. Taehyung first, because he was the first to see him. He'd stopped in his tracks, looking at him as though he'd grown a second head. 

'You're,' he started, but didn't finish. 

'My heads all fizzy,' Jimin said, scrunching his face up. But neither of them spoke after that, because neither of them knew what to say. Taehyung was no expert in spirits, had nothing helpful to add that wouldn't have made Jimin want to curl up in to a ball. And there had been no sign of Jungkook since the night before, his transition hadn't been as swift as Taehyung expected.

They'd come home, and instead of ramping up, the process seemed to...stop altogether. Even Taehyung was weirded out, because the pain Jungkook had experienced suddenly came to a stop. He had waves of nausea, waves of dizziness and complete and utter disgust. But it had all been rather smooth. 

So they all went about their day, hoping that was the end of it. Jimin suspected it wouldn't be though. 

Tae had suggested they all go get a drink, told Jimin that they'd booked a karaoke room in the city but was running late. Jimin had already overslept, and Namjoon was out at the university, so there was no one to wake him up on time.  He was a mess running around, trying to fix his hair and spray cologne so that he didn't smell. He raced to catch the train, which he hated, but again with no roommates to drive he was stuck. 

When he arrived, he was already fifteen minutes late, and he ran into the building in such a tizz he barely caught the information he needed on which room they were in. The lights and smoke were blinding, and the lack of windows made it feel cavernous. He went into the room with the tarnished '7' on it, all but falling inside. 

'I'm sorry I'm late-,' he said. He was flustered, nearly dropped his bag in trying to shut the door behind him. He was so flustered in fact, that he didn't even realise who was in the room. 'Namjoon-hyung was out-.'

But when he turned to look, he saw a different face. 

Was he dreaming? Having another waking nightmare in which he was alone in a small space with the psychic, Suga? It certainly seemed that way, so he froze, waiting to wake up. The psychic just watched him curiously. 

'I'm sorry to disappoint,' he said, wincing. But there as something so serene about his expression. Like he wasn't sorry at all, didn't mind in the least.

'Disa-? No, uh, just, Taehyung-ah said-.' He was stammering. Floundering like a bumbling idiot in front of a high school crush.

'He said he thought you might benefit from a reading,' he said, his tone sure of himself. 'I admit, this isn't the place I would usually choose, the table is rather...sticky. But what do you think?'

Nobody usually asked him what he thought. People usually told him what to do, and for the most part they were right. But hearing the question come out of the psychic's mouth loosened something in him. 

'I-,' he said, unable to get the words out. 

'They said you were a spirit,' Yoongi said. 'I've never met a spirit who seemed so human.'

Jimin blushed, and he was glad for the low lighting in the room. 

'I mean that in a good way,' he said, leaning forward onto the table that he'd covered with a thin red velvet sheet, where a deck of cards sat patiently before him. Jimin's eyes fell to the golden design all over him, tendrils of black clawing over them. 'I'm surprised you're so corporeal.'

'Not always,' Jimin mumbled.

'It depends on your energy source, doesn't it?' he asked, nodding. 'I've heard about some spirits being extraordinarily good at that. Using the people around them for energy.'

Jimin's forehead creased, a sinking feeling in his stomach. That's not what he did, was it? Did the others feel worse for having him around/

'So, you know I'm a psychic,' he said.

Jimin nodded.

'I have lots of ways of reading people,' he said. 'It sort of depends on the person. You can't read every person with the same tools, because not every person is the same.'

'What- what are you going to use for me?' he asked.

'If you're corporeal, I might as well use my hands.'

Jimin's mouth went dry. He took a few steps toward the table and pulled the chair out, sitting down opposite the psychic. He felt a different energy in the air, slightly more ionized. He felt his breath become smoother, his mind clearer. He placed his hands at the edge of the velvet table cover. 

'What do you remember?' Yoongi asked, his voice soft, but firm. 'About your life as a human?'

Jimin frowned. 'I-I don't remember any of it.'

Yoongi's expression faltered slightly, but resumed. 'Nothing at all?'

'I've tried,' he said, sighing. 'There's just... no memories. Nothing.' He shrugged. But the psychic kept his eyes trained on him, as if he were trying to see beyond him. Likely exactly what he was doing.

'It's not uncommon for a spirit to forget parts of their human lives, but pretty rare to forget entirely,' he said. But he didn't elaborate. Jimin started to fidget with the fraying edges. Because no matter how hard he tried, the memories did not rise up to greet him. Whoever he had been, whatever he had done, was no more. There was no one to remember the human life that was Park Jimin.

Whoever he was.

Yoongi held his hand out across the table, and Jimin looked down at it. The smooth, porcelain skin, delicately long fingers reaching out. He'd never been so confident that he would be able to feel someone, that when he reached out he would fell the warmth. For most humans, he would just pass through them, even if they knew he was there. The only people who had ever been able to comfort him, hold him, was Tae and Namjoon.

'I do need to look at your hand, to read your palm,' he said gently. Jimin blinked, reaching his hand out, automatically anticipating the emptiness that came with passing through the living. 

But that's not what happened at all.

The psychic's hand was warm, and it was soft, though there were calluses on his fingertips. He caressed Jimin's hand, turning it over to open his palm to the ceiling. His hands were much smaller in comparison, Yoongi's fingers were enveloping him. He simply looked for a few moments, his eyes trailing over the creases in his pale skin. Jimin could hardly sit still, felt his whole body humming at even the smallest contact. It might him feel like remembering. Like he was remembering what people felt like. 

Like he was human again. And oh how he missed it.

But when the began tracing the lines with his fingertips, Jimin had whole body shivers. He was leaning forward, his chest at the edge of the table, eyes focused intently on the psychic's hand. 

Admittedly, he'd never met a psychic before. Namjoon had suggested it not long after Jimin had moved in, but all it felt like was he was suggesting he see a therapist. And no therapist could help him.

Not even one who could speak to ghosts. 

So he never tried. He should have, knew that if he'd done it sooner, there was at least more of a chance of helping himself. But he was afraid. Maybe what had been forgotten in his mind had been forgotten for a reason. The fear ate him up, made his skin crawl. He couldn't even look at it. And if he couldn't look at it, how was he supposed to destroy it?

'Your life was good,' Yoongi said. 'Not something I usually say. Large, sweeping statements like that don' often get received well.'

'Why-?'

'Most people think I'm a fraud for saying things like that. But it's true, and I think it helps. I think it's nice to hear, I'd like to hear it, anyway,' he mumbled. Was he stammering? Jimin watched him, noticing that the facade he'd created was starting to crack. Not entirely, but certainly enough. He cleared his throat, straightening his composure. 'You lived a good life,' he went on. 'You were loved.'

Something tweaked in Jimin's chest hearing that. A confirmation perhaps, that maybe he hadn't left a trail of destruction after all. That maybe there were people who missed him, people who were still alive, and who thought about him sometimes. The thought hadn't occurred to him, it hadn't crossed his mind.

'I can't see much,' he went on, 'but I can see a lot of light. And family,' he said. 'Your father, mother, and brother-.'

'Huh?' he asked.

'Your-,' Yoongi paused. 'You had a brother. Older brother. As far as I can tell, he might still be alive.'

'Oh,' he said, the realisation still ricocheting in his chest.

Details are fuzzy,' he said. 'There's something blocking the rest, like a big cloud, fizzy and electric. It won't let me near it,' he said. 'That might have something to do with why you're still here with us. Why you haven't moved on.'

'I-I don't want to,' he said, suddenly feeling anxious. 'I like it here, with my friends-.'

'You're a spirit, Jimin. None of this is supposed to be possible for you. You're living on, well, on borrowed time. Like Taehyung in a way. You shouldn't exist, and yet,' he said.

'Don't say it like that,' he said, his voice small. 'I belong with them.'

Yoongi took his hand away from the ghost's, sitting back in his chair. 'That may be true. I wonder how long it can last, before you start to lose even your spirit,' he said. 'People think that ghosts live forever, that they just exist for their own sake. But that's not true. Ghosts use energy, just like human. It takes a toll, not on the people around them, but on the spirit. You start to lose yourself, even your spirit self. The same way you've forgotten your human life, you will forget this one, too. The Restless is what they call them. Ghosts who have refused to move on, and have forgotten themselves completely. They lose themselves, until they are nothing but a bundle of writhing energy,' he said. 'I don't want that to happen to you.'

Me neither, he thought. But it was easier said than done. 

'I can try and help you clear the fizz,' he said.

'For a fee, I bet,' Jimin mumbled, remembering how to media had called him a scammer, a fraud, money-hungry.

But he shook his head. 'This one I'll do for free,' he said. 'On the house.'

Jimin frowned. 'Why? He grew suspicious, wondered how Yoongi would turn this around, to come out on top. 

'Consider it a favour. To the vampire. I owe him one, for getting me out of a trouble a few years back,' he said. 

'What did Taehyung do for you?' he asked, jealousy burning up his insides at the thought. Because Taehyung was loyal, and trustworthy. But he didn't know him then. Jimin was still alive and breathing then. Who knew what kind of business the psychic had with the vampire? Jimin had always been jealous of Tae, he was so loved, and with so little effort on his part. People gravitated toward him, pulled like tides to the moon. Jimin craved it, though he could never have admitted it. 

He just wanted to be loved. And besides, that jealousy was nothing like the jealousy he was feeling after Yoongi spoke. This jealousy had nothing to do with the vampire at all.

It had everything to do with Yoongi.

'Nothing worth going over,' Yoongi said, shaking his head. 'Just helped me out, that's all. Besides, I like having a project.' He stood and pushed his chair back, Jimin looked around, remembering that they were in a karaoke room. 

'How are you going to do it?' Jimin asked, looking up at him. 'How are you going to get rid of it? And, does that mean I'll...disappear?'

Yoongi seemed to consider it, think it over. 'It'll still be your choice, no matter what,' he said, unsure. 'Hell of a choice, though.'