"One day you will ask me which is more important? My life or yours? I will say mine and you will walk away not knowing that you are my life."

Gibran Khalil Gibran (1883-1931)

~

Park Jimin was dancing. He didn't recognize the club he was in; it had to be some new trendy spot Hoseok found through the dancer pipeline. He had to admit that it was a bit extra, but at least the place knew how to do ambiance.

The club was structured like an old ballroom with columns so high up that Jimin couldn't see any detail in the paintings stretching the ceiling's arches. It was romantic, in a way, how red light flickered on those very arches like crimson shadows, illuminated by three massive chandeliers. Each one was adored with hundreds of blood red crystals, clouding the floor below in a crimson red hue. Men and women dressed in dark lace danced within it, each with a pair of eyes glowing a similar blood-red color.

"Didn't know vampires had their own bars." Jimin joked to Hoseok. The vampire was suddenly standing next to Jimin's side. Hoseok's crimson eyes searched the space in confusion as he lifted his arms to find his body dressed in a suit of black lace. 

"Hobi?" Jimin asked, furrowing his brows. "You good? You're acting weird-" Jimin jumped as he found Yoongi on his opposite side. He was sure the older hadn't been there a second ago - but where else could he have been? Jimin swallowed; the pale prince was dressed in the same black lace as everyone else, eyes settled in that deep red color and there was fresh blood dripping from his fangs.

"Okay, gross." Jimin said. His brows furrowed as Jimin lifted a wine glass, unsure when or where he'd gotten the drink from. He choked when thick blood passed his lips instead of wine. Immediately the thin neck of the glass slipped out of Jimin's fingers, shattering at his feet. Jimin gagged, coughing the blood out of his throat and onto his chin. Where was he? What was this place?

Jimin. A voice called out. It filled the hall just as couples filled the dance floor, swept in each other's arms, waltzing to music played by an unseen orchestra. Jimin. Please.

"Do you guys hear that?" Jimin said, turning to his friends who were now expressionless. They looked like puppets that had lost their strings, crimson eyes staring forward. Jimin blinked, taking a step back and his heel crunched on the glass below him. He looked down, stumbling again when he caught sight of himself in a shard. His skin was pale like the moon, blood bright against his chin. His features looked sharper, his hair darker, but most off putting was the pair of crimson eyes burning in his reflection.

Jimin's heart raced. At least - it should have, but there was no beating heart to race.

Please don't leave me. That strangely familiar voice echoed again.

Jimin looked around for his friends in a panic only to find them lost in the sea of dancing vampires. The music swept across the room and the violin picked up pace, screeching into a new key. The vampires all picked up their steps, dancing in perfect circles except for one figure standing at the opposite end of the room.

Jimin jumped in surprise as the blood from his shattered wine cup began to inch towards the figure, snaking straight through the ballroom dancers until it connected with the man across the floor. The second it hit his foot, the blood became a solid thing, looking much like a red ribbon, and the dancers all immediately disappeared from the floor as it suspended in the air between them.

Jimin, Jimin please. You have to accept the change for it to happen. Don't fight it, please.

"Who are you?" Jimin asked the figure, taking a step towards him and felt his body flush. His name danced on Jimin's lips, shaped like a single word that felt dangerously close to "eternity."

Dressed in a suit of white lace scattered across strong legs and wide shoulders, was a man more beautiful than Jimin could imagine. His cheeks were high, drawing to heart shaped lips that made his wide eyes resemble that of a bunny which contrasted the stark tattooed inked up his muscular arms. But it was more than that, his beauty. Something deeper. It was in the way his eyes softened when they caught sight of Jimin. In the upward tilt of his lips, the smile so warm the sun was ice-cold in comparison.

Jimin felt a shattering of illusion much like the wine glass had shattered earlier rattle against his mind; wherever he was, it wasn't real. The ballroom, the music, even Jeon Jungkook before him. Jimin swallowed. As his memories violently flooding back, he was hit with the sudden understanding that he was dead.

"So I take it we lost?" Jimin said into the ballroom and watched Jungkook nod. Tears were pooling down the vampire's cheeks. Jimin looked around the now empty red space.

"You're trying to turn me, aren't you?" Jimin asked but Jungkook stood motionless, like the strange place lost animation for him. Jimin looked down at the ribbon again and swallowed. "If I pull this, I come back as a vampire?"

Please don't leave me, Jimin. The words echoed again from beyond the ballroom and felt like a hug. Jimin sobbed, recognizing Jungkook's honey-like tone. We still have so much left to do together.

"Fuck, I wish you were actually here." Jimin sobbed, staring at the image of Jungkook who was only some representation of Jimin's choice in this land between life and death.

Jimin looked at Jungkook's face so far away, wishing he could reach out and touch his cheek. Growing up, Jimin always assumed falling for someone would feel like each famous romance movie boasted. That it would crash into him, consuming him like a fire from the very start of meeting each other. That he would just know.

But falling in love with Jungkook had differed from that. It was slow, their build up, and snuck up on him. Jungkook had taken root in Jimin's thoughts and slowly seeped into Jimin's heart from there. He'd gone from a cute boy to tease to a target of lust to a kind friend and then finally a presence in Jimin's life he'd grieve without. Someone he needed as desperately near him as lungs needed to be near oxygen.

Their love story was one of evolution. It wasn't a flame Jimin chased with Jungkook; he didn't feel like a blazing fire but rather a steadfast calm. A certainty in his life. Like Jimin had found a part of himself he didn't know he was locked away and time was the key to reclaim it.

Jimin. Please. Come back.

Jimin looked down at the blood-red rope. He could rest. Could die a human. But did death make sense without Jungkook? Could he fully die if a part of him still lived with the vampire?

Making his decision, Jimin's hand found the tether - and he pulled.

* * *

"Jungkook." Taehyung's voice was a blur in Jungkook's ears as he tore through the warehouse, catching Jimin's limp body before it hit the concrete floor as Yoongi fled. Like ink tattooed behind his eyes, the image of Jimin's eyes fluttering shut, his neck a storm of blood, played over and over. His muscles ached with each slight movement, exhausted from trying to physically pull Yoongi off of Jimin. Jimin looked so pale in Jungkook's arms - he'd never seen anyone look that white.

The pain was so visceral. Jungkook's vision instantly blurred as tears pooled through his grief filled screams. A year ago, Jungkook had turned away from his family. He thought he'd lost then, thought he knew what it meant to lose someone, but he was wrong. There was a knife twisting in his chest, tangling up his organs before it cut through each in slow, excruciating, slashes. His lungs felt like they were pushing through his ribs, causing him to choke. His body curled over, rocking Jimin in his arms as his abs worked to brace each painful sob leaving his throat.

No, Jungkook had never known pain like this.

Jungkook brushed his knuckles softly against Jimin's neck, that familiar pulse gone, and focused on the still fresh wound where Jungkook had fed from Jimin before. His hand started to shake.

Jimin had venom in him. He had venom in him before he'd - before Yoongi had - there was a chance to turn him.

Jungkook carefully laid Jimin down onto the ground and felt a hand go onto his shoulder. Someone was speaking to him in a high pitch and kind tone. Seokjin must have come back inside. But Jin didn't know Jimin had a chance to come back the same way Jungkook had after his car crash. He just had to act fast.

Jungkook licked his lips, drawing his fangs to Jimin's neck and started to push more venom into his body. The amount of venom Jungkook had given earlier was nowhere near enough to turn Jimin, but maybe it was enough to jump start it.

"Jungkook." Seokjin said again, pity in his voice.

Weeping, Jungkook pushed more venom into Jimin's system. He blindly found Jimin's hand and interlaced their fingers, giving it a squeeze, as he begged whatever was out there in the universe to give him one more chance. Let this work.

"Honey, I'm sorry, he's gone." Jin said again, kneeling down next to Jungkook. "He would have needed the venom earlier." Namjoon was soon at his side, holding onto a shellshocked Taehyung who was prepping him up. Hoseok stirred behind them and just as he got to his feet Jungkook felt a small squeeze in the hand he was holding.

"Please," Jungkook cried, his lips brushing Jimin's skin as tears scraped down his face. The venom had taken root in Jimin's body after all, but he would still need to accept it to turn. "Please, please, please." He cried, pressing his forehead against Jimin's. "Please don't leave me, Jimin. You finally see me. Finally, after chasing after you for so long, you see me for me. You can't go right after that. Please, Jimin." His voice felt raw in his throat, hands shaking as he held onto Jimin's body. "We still have so much left to do together."

So quick he almost missed it, Jungkook's heart physically fluttered in his chest and Jimin's hand twitched again in Jungkook's grip.

"Come on." Jungkook said through his teeth, squeezing Jimin's palm back. "Come on, come back to me."

For a moment, nothing happened, and Jungkook had a sinking feeling that maybe he was wrong. Maybe the venom he'd given Jimin earlier really wasn't enough to start the turning process the second Yoongi had - when Jimin fell.

Just as Jungkook was about to give up hope, Jimin's eyes flashed open and behind his gasping lips were a pair of sharp, sparkling, fangs.

* * *

Jimin's world was an echo. Days blurred together. All he could feel was an aching, unbearable cold and hunger like he'd never known. He heard voices every now and then as he laid on a bed he didn't recognize. Seokjin's voice came to talk about Jimin's state; he swore he heard Taehyung in the mix somewhere and once he heard Namjoon but Jimin's body had started to shake at the smell of human blood causing the human's voice to not enter the room again.

Most of all, Jimin heard Jungkook. Through the pain of turning, Jungkook never left. He slept in the bed next to him, holding his hand. He told stories Jimin couldn't fully comprehend with his fingers interlaced in Jimin's own. He was a tether through the turning process, keeping Jimin grounded as days fogged together.

"When do we tell him?" Jimin heard Taehyung ask on a day Jimin was able to push through the painful, exhausted fog.

"Jungkook or Jimin?" Seokjin's voice came back. Jimin hoped they'd convinced Jungkook to go eat something or shower, but from the feel of him still holding his hand, he guessed Jungkook had simply fallen asleep.

"Both, I guess."

"If Jimin wakes up, we'll tell them that they're blood bound. Right now Jungkook's so distracted that he hasn't even stopped to notice his heart started beating again. I'm worried about him."

"Isn't that a good thing? Being blood bound?" Taehyung said.

"If Jimin survives, yes. If he doesn't, then we have a long road ahead of us."

There was a long pause.

"I'm still looking for him, you know." Taehyung said. "Hoseok and I both are."

"Yoongi?" Seokjin asked and again there was silence making Jimin think Taehyung had nodded.

"No one's seen him since the warehouse."

Jimin heard Seokjin sigh and then there was the light sound of fabric ruffling as Seokjin pulled Taehyung into a hug.

"Let's just take things one day at a time, hm? We can deal with finding Yoongi after Jimin wakes up, okay?" Jimin heard a sniffled cry and the sounds of the door closing as the vampires left.

"Jimin?" Jungkook's voice now flooded Jimin's system, and he was shocked how clear it sounded. His new hearing picked up on every single color of his tone, sounding golden like music he could study for days. Was it always this complex? "Jin says you just have to get through one more day. I don't know if you can hear me, but you're so close." Jimin felt Jungkook squeeze his hand and his grip shook with exhaustion and fear. Jimin wished he could reach over and hug him, but all his body could do was shiver and sweat. "Just hold on a little longer."

-"I hope you can forgive me for everything. For failing you." Jungkook sobbed. "But when you wake up we're going to get stronger together, okay. I'm going to get so strong you'll be like wow Jungkook you are so strong every time you see me. Seriously, you're going to be so impressed that will be your opening line. I'm going to train a lot so I can protect you, Jimin. So, you have to wake up, okay?"

* * *

On the fifth day of Jimin turning, he finally woke up. His eyes fluttered open and his throat was so dry he choked in pain. Instantly four bodies were up on their feet, one shoving a bag of the sweetest tasting thing Jimin had ever drank down his throat. It was smooth and rich and - it was blood.

He didn't have too long to sit with that fact before devouring the whole thing and then being attacked by Seokjin, Taehyung, Hoseok, and Jungkook hugging him.

"Jungkook?" Jimin croaked out and with blood still on his chin, Jimin grabbed Jungkook's shirt and pulled him towards him into a kiss. He was shocked by how strong his arm now was, swiftly pulling the younger close. His heart still raced in his chest -  but now so did Jungkook's. It was so beautiful, the melody of it. Jimin then pulled away and jumped a hug onto Hoseok who blinked in surprise, laughing as he embraced his friend.

"Where's..." Jimin started and Jungkook's face shadowed over. Hoseok nodded.

"We found him. He's downstairs, but Jimin we can turn Yoongi away if you don't want to see him again. He understands."

"Wait - downstairs? Where are we?"

"My manor." Jin explained. "In the countryside. It's where I live when I'm not checking up on my coven but I'm opening the doors while you get used to being a vampire. With everything everyone just went through, that goes for all of you. You too, Hoseok. My home is your home."

"Jungkook, your heart is so loud." Jimin said, unable to focus on anyone's words but Jungkook's heart. His fangs were out at the sound of it, eyeing Jungkook's neck, wanting to devour it which caused Jungkook to grin visioculsy.

"Right. About that." Seokjin started, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "You two are blood-bound."

"We're what?" Jungkook blinked.

"It's rare and a gift. You two share something incredibly special and the fact that Jungkook saved you, Jimin, that his bite turned you, made his heart start up again. Yours will never stop either. In our world, it's a rare phenomena and it means the two of you can feed off each other without needing someone else's blood ever again. You make each other stronger. "

Jimin turned to Jungkook, eyes wide and put a hand over his heart surprised to feel how strongly it was beating under it. Jungkook held his gaze and put his hand over Jimin's.

"Can you guys give us a second?" Jimin asked and Jungkook blushed as their friends began to filter out of the room.

"I'm so sorry Jimin." Jungkook heaved the second their friends were out of Jin's guest room. "I'm so sorry I couldn't save you."

"What do you mean? I'd say you saved me better than anyone." Jimin said, a grin on his lips attempting to cool off the panic in Jungkook's beautiful eyes. "I'm alive, aren't I?"

"But you're one of us now." Jungkook said and Jimin's grin just widened. He tucked a loose curl behind Jungkook's ear, lingering his fingers in the thick locks of it. Jimin's smile softened as his touch paused and his dark eyes soaked in the boy in front of him. He thought how in the past days Jungkook had barely left this room, taking care of Jimin the entire time. He couldn't speak while his body survived the turning, but he felt every moment Jungkook's hand stayed in his.

"What?" Jungkook blinked, blushing under the weight of Jimin's gaze. Slower this time, Jimin drew his lips to Jungkook's and felt the boy melt against the kiss. Their lips moved hungrily, the movements long and passionate and Jimin swore the hunger was equal that he felt for blood.

"We never said it before." Jimin said into Jungkook's lips.

"Said what?"

"Jungkook, I love you." Jimin said as he pulled from the kiss, resting his forehead against Jungkook's. "I love you." Jimin repeated, looking at Jungkook like he was staring at the entire world in front of him. "Eternity is a gift with you. Unless...you don't feel the same way?" He added, suddenly embarrassed.

"I love you too." Jungkook said as a grin finally cut through the shock. A laugh left his throat, the sound so pure and happy it caused Jimin's chest to ache. Jimin joined in the sound, allowing Jungkook's arms to wrap around him as the younger kissed him all over again.

* * *

Turning for days left Jimin with a lot of time to think and waking up to Yoongi already in the manor was a surprising gift in disguise.

Walking down the steps, he saw Yoongi's frame staring out the window with his hands clasped behind his back. The manor really was outrageous in wealth, made from old wood with spiraling staircases and high hanging chandeliers. Yoongi turned as he heard Jimin descend the steps, his face an instant portrait of self-hatred and grief.

Yoongi's lips parted, his eyes back to their regular black color. It seemed that breaking the bond was satisfied with Jimin's death, allowing Yoongi to return to normal. Though Yoongi's new normal was a disheveled, despair driven, mess.

"I forgive you." Jimin said and Yoongi instantly took a step in protest.

"What? Jimin, no. I came here so you can hurt me. Kill me if you need to. I won't fight back if you tell them all to. What I did - it's unforgivable." Yoongi said and his voice shook. But Jimin was just so tired. How long were the two of them going to be caught up in their past mistakes? Running from it? Hurting each other over it?

"I forgive you." Jimin repeated and smiled at his old friend. "Let's move forward, Yoongi, not back. We both deserve that. I like Taehyung for you, too. He's loyal and head over heels for you, so spoil him a lot, okay?"

"Jimin - "Yoongi blinked. "Why are you being kind to me right now?"

"We're friends, Yoongi. Just don't snap my neck next time I need a ride from you or something." Jimin said. The new strength in his body was making Jimin bold and the ache to drink blood was starting to gnaw its way back into his bones. He needed to get something to drink more than he needed to hurt someone who was equally as terrified of themselves as everyone else.

"Insanely inappropriate and incredibly not funny." Yoongi said and Jimin affectionately flipped him off. He heard all of their friends sigh in relief from where all of them were eavesdropping.

Jimin grinned, turning his back to Yoongi and headed back upstairs. He hoped Seokjin would offer Yoongi a room in the manor to stay just like he did for the rest of them. It'd make Taehyung happier and Hoseok more relaxed. Besides, Jimin meant what he said: it was time to move on. For all of them to.

Jimin felt strong as he headed back to the room where Jungkook waited. As he pushed open the door, Jimin beamed so wide it hurt after Jungkook flipped open the covers to their bed, a DS in his hand with Mario Kart music cheerfully humming out of it, and an inviting smile flashing across his fangs.

___________
A/N:
One more bite to go. Happy Monday!!
💜💜

Question: go to cafe order?

- vio