"Let's meet your parents." Jaemin almost drops the remote control from his grip and straightens his posture he was in on the couch.

His eyes then dart to Jeno who was sitting on the floor criss cross applesauce position, back slouch and holding a small fishing rod with a cat toy as its bait.

Not only was Jaemin flabbergasted, but Bongsik as well– who's currently laying on her back, frozen– by what Jeno had just announced.

Jaemin expected for him to ask, "can we meet your parents", "when will you introduce me to them?" And what else is there.

But all he got was a straightforward and stern, "let's meet your parents."

He expected for Jeno to ask, not a straight up demand.

"Jaemin hyung." He blinks out of his stupor to meet Jeno's gaze again, the boy looked tired of it as if it's been bothering him a for a while now.

Maybe it has.

Jaemin clears his throat and instead replies with his usual, "no." Accompanied by his strict tone that would often make Jeno surrender and feel intimidated.

But right now, it seems as the younger boy felt a sudden energy and bravery rushing through his human body.

"It's not a question." Jeno deadpans, dropping his hands on his lap with the cat toy in his loose grip.

"I know," Jaemin purses his lips. "But it's still a no, I'm not letting you meet them." He said.

"Doesn't matter if you want me to or not, because I want to meet them." The human boy emphasizes, slowly pushing Jaemin's buttons.

He knows he might make his vampire boyfriend angry, and this topic could cause another bump in their relationship.

But what's knew? It's just him wanting to do something while Jaemin is against it. And they're both stubborn in they're own ways.

Only this time, it could be a life and death situation.

And that's probably another reason why Jaemin is against it.

"Pup, I'm saying this right now because I love you and I really don't want you to get hurt in any way. But you are not meeting my parents," Jaemin sucks in a breath.

"But–"

Before his human boyfriend could protest, he looks at him dead in the eye, aura now cold. "You're not meeting my parents nor will you go near to that environment. Period."

He stands up and turns off the television with the remote control before throwing it carelessly back on the couch.

"Conversation is over, call me when lunch is ready." He coldly mutters and disappears into their now shared bedroom.

Jeno sat there with a pout as his pupils were slightly shaking, he looks down when he felt something soft rubbing on his knee and smiles a little at Bongsik.

"Don't worry about it, you didn't do anything wrong." The familiar said and crawls herself onto her owner's lap.

"Jaemin is stubborn just like you, but remember, don't blame or hate him for this. He's doing this not for himself, but for you." She remarks.

"He loves and cares about you, we know that, right?" Jeno nods at her as he sniffles, his nose suddenly running. "Then don't act out just like him, be slow with this topic."

"He'll understand soon enough." She said, almost as a promise to the human boy who could only silently thank her by hugging her to his chest.

☺︎︎

"Jaemin hyung?" Jeno calls out, slowly entering the bedroom after he was done washing the dishes.

He squints his eyes when he passes by the window, the sunlight immediately touching his exposed skin, the heat making Jeno sweat even more.

He watches Jaemin's slouched back in front of him, the vampire prince sitting on his side of the bed while he was fumbling with something.

He swallows before placing a knee on the mattress, and then slowly crawls towards his vampire boyfriend who doesn't turn to look at him.

Jaemin didn't come out for lunch, even to just accompany Jeno.

But the human boy understood. His sudden actions and words must've triggered Jaemin.

However, does he really regret it? Not really, to be honest.

While Jeno was having his lunch, Bongsik was there to accompany him. And she didn't hesitate to give him her own opinions.

To put it briefly, Bongsik told him he shouldn't back down just because he felt bad in this situation.

Jaemin needs to learn things too. And right now, Bongsik thinks the so-called vampire prince is acting childish in a way.

So here Jeno is, confronting Jaemin and not backing down even if he's told to.

He was balancing himself on his knees on the bed, hands gently resting on Jaemin's shoulders and gave a squeeze.

He didn't know what or where to begin– then soon decided that there's nothing to begin with, but rather, continue.

He takes another breath and mumbles, "I'm sorry I said that and pushed your buttons... I get that you're mad at me, hyung."

He earns a sigh, but that's all. So he proceeded to lead this conversation for now.

"But I was just... I don't really know how to explain what I feel about... This." He hesitates. "About your whole entire world."

"Your parents, your people, your kingdom... Who you are."

"But you don't get it, Jen. That's not who I am." Jaemin finally spoke.

"Maybe or maybe not, you wouldn't fully know if you don't try it out." Jeno said, "you're making yourself think that you're not without even trying."

"Try for what? Be king?" Jaemin sarcastically chuckles.

The human boy rolls his eyes, "yes," he shakes Jaemin's shoulders as he leans in. "Try it out."

"And get what?" Jaemin shakes his head in disbelief. "Disappointment? Stress?"

"Nobody has it easy, hyung. Even your parents." Jeno frowns and rests his chin on his hand that was still on Jaemin's shoulder.

When his vampire boyfriend doesn't reply, he mumbles, "you're scared, I know." He then nuzzles his nose on Jaemin's sharp jawline. "And that's okay."

"Why are you doing this?" The older boy gets defensive again, making Jeno sigh deeply.

He turns the older boy's head towards him and pecks his cheek, "for both of us and your fellow vampires."

"I'm doing this for the same reason as yours, hyung." He softly smiles as Jaemin slowly leans in to rest their foreheads together.

"I love and care about you, so much, Jaemin hyung."

"Not as much as I do to you." Jaemin mutters, earning a breathless chuckle from his human boyfriend.

"Bet."

"My dear soulmate, bet."

"Pup, .... Bet."