They decided to head back in the direction of the house a little while later. Chanyeol had allowed Jeno a moment to compose himself, getting used to the scent of the pine needles and wet dirt beneath his feet. It was refreshing now that his eyes weren't watering and his nostrils were clear.

Chanyeol's property was vast in all directions. The house seemed to have been placed in the centre of the territory, in a small clearing surrounded on all sides by foliage and tall trees.

As they retraced their steps back to the house, Jeno was surprised to hear a faint bubbling sound coming from the west side of the property.

"We have a lake on the property," Chanyeol explains, humored by the Jeno's sudden alertness. "it provides us with a good outdoor water source for when we go on our runs."

Jeno responded with a small nod to acknowledge the information, allowing it to slip into his mental 'werewolf' folder. Since Mark's transition, Jeno figured that they would be spending quite some time outdoors. It might be proven to be useful if he could recall any significant landmark that could keep them from getting lost on the property in the future.

"None of us knew about Renjun's situation with Mark." Chanyeol yet again spoke through the silence, only this time, his words made the tension return to Jeno's shoulders. "We understood that he had an ongoing relationship with someone on campus, but he never explained anything further than that."

"So, everyone heard that, huh?"

"It's a little difficult to a quiet conversation when you're surrounded by people with enhanced hearing abilities," Chanyeol looked sorrowful, like he really was sorry that he heard what was obviously supposed to be a private conversation. "The only place in the house that's completely soundproof is the basement, there's also great reception down there for... you know, future reference."

"Thanks." Jeno means it.

He turns his attention back to the ground beneath his feet. An urge to ask a question bubbles against his ribcage, his mind pulling a memory to the forefront of his mind. The phrasing of Chanyeol's earlier comment had been replaying in his mind for a while, but had been hindered from being spoken aloud by constant distractions.

"This is going to become my life now, isn't it?" He wonders.

"I might be a little biased, but I can say that it isn't all bad. For Mark, the enhanced abilities are useful and the presence of the wolf makes life a little less lonely... but I understand what you mean. You're not the same man who went on that fieldtrip this morning. The person that got back up is different to the one who was thrown in the air. It's a natural reaction and you're probably going to struggle with this new person for a while. But it will get easier with time, I can guarantee it."

"Did you mean it?" Jeno questions, allowing himself to come to a complete stop. He can see the clearing ahead of them, the house beckoning him closer, yet his feet refuse to move.

Chanyeol looks confused, eyes hooded as his brows furrow. "What?"

"What you said in the living room. Can we really leave whenever we want?"

"Of course." Chanyeol nods his head. Though Jeno has often prided himself in being able to read a person's body language. Chanyeol's shoulders are stiff and his hands are curled into semi-hard fists by his sides. "I told Mark that-"

"Exactly." Jeno hesitates, holding the taller's gaze. "You said that Mark could leave whenever he wanted. Does that apply to me as well?"

Chanyeol visually slumped at the question, wide eyes shifting through the air by Jeno's head. His silence was loud as his gaze grew hotter. Jeno stood tall against the fallen tree stump by his leg, allowing himself the opportunity to sit and wait for the answer.

"I figured that you wouldn't want to leave because he's your best friend." Chanyeol explains after a few more moments had passed. "We know that Mark was bitten, we know that he's going to turn into a werewolf, we know that it isn't safe for him to be out in public by himself because, remember those heightened senses I told you about? They are difficult to control for the first few weeks after you transition."

"Chanyeol," Jeno's voice is harder now. Stronger. More confident. "Am I allowed to leave?"

"I'm not going to stop you." The taller announces and Jeno feels a small dose of the tension ease from his shoulders. "But I wouldn't recommend it for you either. Unlike Mark, we have no idea what the hell you are. Caleb clearly thought that you were a problem, which is why he tossed you to the side to begin with. From what Mark described and Yixing's personal medical opinion, you should be dead Jeno, or at the very least, severely concussed. You think that you're running on adrenaline, but we both know that your body should have given up by now... succumb to it's injuries. But you're still standing. That guy in the wood could have sent the both of you to the hospital and let you deal with this problem by yourselves, but instead, he took one look at you and decided that you needed someplace to go. Somewhere to hide. Somewhere you can figure out what's really going on here."

"That... thing in the woods," Jeno looks up again. "His name was Caleb?"

Chanyeol dips his head between his shoulders, his muscled arms coming up to cross against his chest.

"You have gone through enough today, I didn't want to add to the emotional and mental toll it would take for you to understand everything. I still hold that judgment. I'm going to spend the next month introducing the two of you to this new world and everything currently going on within it. But you have to let me do this in my own time. There are things that even I don't understand or things that I don't know how to explain. This will take time, but you have to start trusting me. I'm being honest by saying that I don't know what you are, you smell human, but then you managed to overpower Jaemin which shouldn't have been as easy as you might believe it to have been. He's the strongest one in the house and for you easily overpower him like that... well, let's just say that there is a reason why Yixing and I keep mentioning it."

"You're right," Jeno admits, pulling himself up from the seat he had fashioned out of the fallen tree. "You should tell me everything in your own time, and... thank you, for being honest with me. I've started to get a little freaked out by everything that I did today, so I'm kind of glad that there's someone else who's just as confused about me, as I am."

"There will be a day when we finally get our answers." Chanyeol smiles. He takes a step closer and Jeno doesn't stop him. Eventually the taller is coming close, but not too close as to intimidate. He stretches out a hand and gently presses it against the curve of Jeno's shoulder. "For now, let's just keep this between ourselves. No-one needs to know you might not be entirely human yourself."

"Mark will be pretty pissed if I steal his thunder." Jeno finds himself laughing at the craziness of it all. His laughter mixes with Chanyeol's in the air, before being echoed back at them from the trees. "I'll pay close attention to the lessons, see if there is anything that I hear which might sound familiar. Then we can discuss the possibilities."

"Deal!" Chanyeol announces, holding out his hand.

Jeno accepts it with his own, their grip equal as they shake on it.

They continue their way back to the house, the lingering scent of sandalwood tickling Jeno's nose. They pass the cars in the driveway and make for the stairs when the door at the top is slammed open. Jeno has half a mind to prepare himself for a fight again, when he notices that it's just Yixing slipping over the threshold.

He has a phone pressed to his ear, and a hand politely pressed against the screen to hinder his voice from the phone's microphone. He smiles down at Chanyeol before turning back to Jeno with a far more serious expression on his face.

"I have Woobin on the line, he wants to speak to one of you and because Mark is out for the count, I explained that you were getting an X-ray."

Jeno looks down at his limbs for good measure, which just makes Yixing wallop him in the shoulder while Chanyeol tries to cover his laugh with a giant hand. Yixing looks unamused as he holds the phone out to him. Jeno takes it with a small smile.

"Hello?" He speaks clearly into the receiver, though he pauses to cough just for good measure. Yixing rolls his eyes and Chanyeol looks a second away from bursting a vein as his face grows darker.

"Jeno? Is that you? Oh my gosh, I am so sorry for everything! I was reassured by the park's representative that we wouldn't have any problems - wildlife or otherwise- when we arrived at the park! I cannot believe that you and Mark encountered wolves in the area! I was under the impression that South Korea didn't even have a wolf population to begin with! I want to formally apologize for this situation and I want to express my sincere apologizes for the harm caused to yourself and Mark. I understand that Mark is currently in surgery-"

Jeno looks up at Yixing who is already holding his arms up and glaring right back at Chanyeol.

"-and that you've just returned from an X-ray yourself! After we finish this conversation I plan on speaking to the Dean of Students and the board about this situation. Please do not fret about anything! Your coursework has been paused in my class and I will ensure that this is done in all of your other classes while you both recover. Jeno, please, is there anyone you wish for me to call?"

Damn.

Jeno had completely forgotten that their impromptu 'hospital' visit would have required them to reach out to their next of kin. Jeno's situation was... difficult. But Mark's parents should know that something had happened to their son.

He could let Woobin get a message to them and then he would tell Mark about it in the morning, when he awake and prepped on the situation.

A glance at the two older men beside him had Jeno's heart momentarily skip a beat. They looked as pained as he felt. Whether it was because they would have more people to lie to, or the potential of their secret coming free. It was difficult to tell which one was worse. But Jeno wasn't going to wait around to find out.

"Mark's parental contacts should be in his student file, his student number is 22-991-841. They're currently in Canada so the time difference might make them unavailable for the meantime. I will get Mark to speak with them himself when he wakes up from surgery, but it would probably be a good idea if someone tries to reach them before then."

"Absolutely," Woobin exclaims, pausing to scribble something down on a notepad. Jeno could hear how the pen paused across the paper. "And for yourself?"

Jeno was quiet.

"Jeno? Is there anyone I can call for you?"

How was he supposed to say no? How could he tell a concerned adult that he didn't have any next-of-kin? If he spoke the truth right now, there was a strong possibility that Woobin would try to take the responsibility himself. Jeno couldn't afford for him to really comprehend the full extent of their situation.

A hand waved in front of his face, pulling him from the liminal space he had found himself in. Chanyeol looked concerned, brows furrowed and mouth pinched. He frowned the longer the silence continued before he gestured for the phone.

Jeno passed it over willingly.

"Hello? Professor Woobin?" Chanyeol's lips curled upwards and the teacher's sudden shock was apparent through the phone. "This is Jeno's guardian speaking. Yes, Doctor Zhang called me when the boys arrived. I only got here myself so I'm not entirely sure about their conditions. Ah, yes..." Chanyeol's eyes find him and his hand presses a little harder against Jeno's shoulder. "We haven't had an opportunity to update his student file to include me as his emergency contact just yet. I have recently moved from the states myself, so I'm still struggling to grow accustomed. Thank you so much for caring about his studies during this matter, if there is anything that I can do, please let me know... you too, goodbye."

The phone was returned to its initial owner and Jeno was gently pulled into a firm chest. He had just enough time to realise that he was shaking, before Chanyeol's hands clamped down on his arms, pressing them firmly into his sides as his chin gently rested across Jeno's forehead.

No tears threatened to spill this time, but the ache in his heart was loud enough for everyone to hear. Jeno slowly brought air into his lungs, letting them fill to capacity before blowing it through a narrow channel in his mouth. Chanyeol grounded him in the moment, keeping him firmly on the ground when all his mind wanted to do was run to avoid the problem.

Jeno didn't have a family. Mark had been his only family. Now, his determination to stay alongside his best friend made sense. Jeno didn't have anywhere else to go.

"Let's get you inside," Yixing's voice sweet against his ears. Coaxing just enough to make Jeno want to pull himself from Chanyeol's chest. They smiled at him with his staggered back onto his feet. "you must be hungry."

Yixing held the door open and Chanyeol guided him through. Jeno didn't even bother to listen to the sounds of the house this time, simply walking towards the kitchen with his mind otherwise preoccupied. The warmth from Chanyeol was enough to keep him grounded, but the ache in his chest was a little too harsh to completely overlook.

The kitchen was overwhelmed by the scent of the pizza's dough and the creaminess of the golden cheese. A figure lingered by the over, curiously watching them as Chanyeol led Jeno to a seat at the table.

"Kyungsoo!" Yixing greets him with a small smile. "What are you doing here?"

"It's my kitchen, what the hell are you doing here?" Kyungsoo snaps, though his painful smile made it a little difficult for him to appear annoyed.

"I'm making pizzas."

"You almost burned them."

Yixing laughs and snatches the oven mitts from the latter's hand. He applies them before battling the furnace by his knees. Jeno is blasted by the heat, despite being well away from the device. He let out a quiet sigh as the scent of his dinner calmed his stomach.

"Any particular way you want your pizza cut Jeno?" Yixing asks from the counter, already in the process of applying the pizza to the chopping board.

Chanyeol nudges him into a reply. "Triangles! I guess?"

"Coming right up!"

"Here, kiddo." Kyungsoo's lips form a heart as he smiles at him from across the table. He's offering out a can of Coke from Jisung's shelf in the fridge. Jeno takes it with what he hopes is a genuine smile, before placing it down on a coaster in front of him. "New wolf?"

"He's down in the basement," Chanyeol explains. "Jeno's his best friend."

Kyungsoo simply nods and returns to a spot by the opposite counter, but not before smiling at Jeno again.

"Get it while it's still hot!" Yixing chuckles, rushing to the dining table with a plate full of pizza.

Jeno's stomach growls at the sight and his fingers are already reaching out for a slice before he can stop himself. Chanyeol simply laughs by his side, gently bumping their shoulders together to encourage him to take a slice.

Jeno doesn't, instead he opens his can and takes a sip of the bubbles before sighing in contentment. Chanyeol rolls his eyes and snatches a slice for himself, uninterested in Yixing's clear squawk.

"There is plenty to go around!" He shouts, holding up the pizza cutter. "If you wanted a slice you could have taken from the pile, not the poor boy's plate!"

"I'm sure that Jeno wouldn't mind missing a single slice." Chanyeol deadpans, mouth filled with saucy dough. Even Kyungsoo looks a little disgusted by it.

Jeno humors them both by remaining quiet, simply reaching towards his plate and snatching a slice for himself. He bites into the tip of the dough and lets a peaceful moan escape his lips. He hadn't even realised that he hadn't eaten properly since dinner last night. His diet prior to this being soggy cereal and a bag full of sour Skittles.

Suddenly the entire kitchen felt like it was going to become the focal point of an earthquake. A thundering sound of shoes on wood squeaked through the hallways and various bumps and thumps thrummed with his own heart. In a rush of blur, the kitchen was attacked by numerous figures who all rushed towards Yixing.

"No!" The in-house medic screamed, pizza cutter at the ready. "You will all form an orderly line along the counter and I don't want to hear anyone bitching about what slices they get! We weren't expecting guests so we're down two pizzas-"

"TWO?!" One of the housemates groans, voice reaching an incredibly high octave that Jeno was pretty sure only KPOP idols and Mariah Carey could accomplish. He hissed alongside the rest of the supernatural beings.

"Yeah, Jaemin's new boyfriend and his new werewolf best friend!" Another one chirps and then gets a really painful hit to the shoulder by the pink haired boy who had been plaguing most of Jeno's conversations.

Chanyeol leaned back against his seat next to Jeno, a small smirk on his lips which Jeno had half a mind to slap off with a pizza slice.

His attention is taken away by the appearance of a new member, who stalks into the room with small black bags beneath his eyes. He nods at Chanyeol and offers a small surprised smile to Jeno before skipping the queue and going straight up to Kyungsoo who was now by the fridge.

The blond haired man easily reached over Kyungsoo's smaller frame and produces a hospital bag that Jeno couldn't recall being in the fridge when he inspected it earlier.

Weird.

What kind of house has a hospital bag in their kitchen fridge? Surely, they would be better down in the basement-

That was a blood bag.

The liquid was a dark red in the bag and there was a giant B+ written in Sharpie on the front.

Now the 'Supernatural Beings' category made sense. Chanyeol said that only some of the house inhabitants were werewolves. Maybe that included vampires now too.

The blond appeared surprised when he turned back to glance at Jeno, looking at him in confusion as he raised the IV line up to his lips and started sucking. The skin beneath his eyes prickled with small grey veins as the white of his eyes bled red. It didn't look like the fiery red ring that Chanyeol's iris had taken, but it was a stark contrast to his earlier appearance.

Yep, definitely a vampire.

"Huh." Jeno exclaimed, falling back against his seat. He paused, bringing a pizza slice to his lips, allowing his gaze to fixate on the vampire currently making his way towards the other end of the table. The guy raised a brow and Jeno smiled sheepishly, gesturing to his blood bag. "Is there a particular favourite you prefer? Or is it just a case of whatever's easier to get?"

The guy looks genuinely surprised, his eyes wide and the IV line hangs against his lower lip from his shock. He swallows and the blood drains from his eyes, bringing them back to their original appearance. The veins beneath his waterline also disappear and Jeno makes the determination that the vampire is an attractive creature.

"I don't really have a favourite," he explains, eyes trailing to the other members in the room. Jeno realizes too late that the room had become profoundly quiet, he takes another bite of his pizza and waits for the guy to continue. "though I do have a preference." He holds up the bag again and Jeno nods his head. He thinks that will be all they discuss, but the vampire shifts in his seat and leans forward ever so slightly on the table. "Can I ask you a question?"

Jeno makes sure to swallow his pizza before answering. "Sure."

"Aren't you frightened?" Jeno feels his brows furrow. "You're sitting in the same room as a vampire, who is currently drinking out of a blood-bag. How is your heartbeat so calm?"

"Would you prefer to hear me screaming...?" Jeno wonders, hearing a small giggle come from one if the other housemates to his right. He doesn't bother glancing, the fire in his chest already telling him who it would be.

"I usually get that kind of reaction, yeah." The blond nods, suddenly looking uncomfortable as he gazes over at the group of people watching them. His eyes zero in on someone in particular and Jeno would be interested to know, but he is far too tired to tilt his head.

"Sorry dude, if I can handle a werewolf, I think I can handle a vampire." He shrugs his shoulder, gently nudging Chanyeol's shoulder away from him. "I've already had enough supernatural shit happen to me today, I'm pretty sure that I'm going to be zen about anything right now. Though, if someone did turn into a unicorn right now, I'd be pretty impressed."

"You have all scared him into being immune." Chanyeol hollers, throwing his head back between his shoulders with a howling laugh. Jeno simply rolls his eyes and takes another bite of a new pizza slice.

Slowly, one by one, the inhabitants of the house come to take a seat at the table. Though Jeno takes note of the fact that Kyungsoo remains rooted at the counter closest to the fridge, a small apron on his waist and fingers covered in flour.

What he doesn't take note of however, is Jaemin's deliberate placement. The pink haired menace chose the seat directly opposite Jeno so that throughout their meal, their gazes would be filled with the other person's presence. He wanted to keep his eyes on his pizza the entire time, but more and more questions kept being thrown in his direction from the other housemates.

"So, you're currently studying in SM University in Seoul, right?" The guy who had gone to get Mark's bag spoke, cheeks pink as he smiled from his spot opposite Chanyeol.

"Yeah," Jeno hums, trying not to turn his gaze down the table to Renjun who visually stiffens in his seat. "I study architecture."

"Fascinating!" The boy sounds genuinely interested, but before he can continue speaking, another pipes up.

"You guys were on a field-trip when you were attacked?"

"The National Heritage Centre," Jeno nods, gazing down at the man currently occupying the seat by the vampire's left. "We were there for our Archaeology class."

"Archaeology?" Jisung looks intrigued, his big brown eyes sparkling. "Like digging for bones and stuff?"

Jeno shrugs his shoulders. "Maybe. I don't have any interest in it myself. I only took it as my elective because Mark asked."

"And we all know what you would go through for your best friend." Jaemin's voice was like sweet honey from across the table, but his mischievous eyes were enough of a hint for Jeno not to take the bait.

Instead he simply shrugs his shoulders again and raises a pizza slice into his mouth. If he shoves in more than he probably should have, no one says anything, though Jaemin watches the movement with wide eyes and slightly mesmerized look.

"I think it might be a good idea if we introduce ourselves to Jeno properly," Chanyeol cuts through the mildly sexual tension, a thumb gently pushing into Jeno's pulse-point on his wrist. "some of you have already made introductions," he looked at Jaemin. "some more than others. But it would be a good idea for him to get to know everyone."

"What fantastic idea!" Kyungsoo exclaims from the counter. He waves a floured hand and starts with himself. "Do Kyungsoo, resident werewolf chef and nurse. If there is anything you want to eat that might remind you of home, let me know and I'll whip it up for you sweetie."

Jeno dips his head in greeting and smiles politely, hoping that there wasn't any pizza sauce on his face when he looks back down the table again.

"Oh Sehun, resident troublemaker and vampire. If you're ever looking for something let me know, I have multiple contacts around the world who can get it for you."

Though slightly cryptic, Jeno still nods and smiles. He turns to the next person, a boy with cat eyes and a genuine smile.

"Kim Minseok, resident werewolf who is a technology whiz. If any of your devices have any problems, let me know and I'll fix it as soon as I can."

"Well actually-" Jeno smiles as Minseok perks up. "our devices are back at the dorm. Is there any chance that we can have access to a laptop?"

"Oh say less!" Sehun waves his hand.

"I'll work with Sehun and we'll get you both laptops and monitors for your rooms. No sweat."

"Thank you."

"Kim Jongdae, werewolf and aspiring actor-to-be." The guy speaks around a weirdly shaped mouth, but Jeno acknowledges the name and the supernatural classification and looks onto the next person who perks up and speaks before anyone can think to cut in.

"Huang Renjun, resident college-goer and practitioner of magical arts."

Jeno doesn't even bother to slump back down in his seat. It shouldn't surprise him, and it doesn't really. It actually makes a little more sense than the crazy conclusions he had been creating when Renjun and Mark were still together.

"Now the plants make sense." Is all he says before he turns to the familiar face in the crowd who visually brightens at the thought of being included.

"Park Jisung, youngest werewolf! Jeno, do you think you and Mark-hyung could play football with me tomorrow? No one else wants to play with me!" The kid throws a few dirty glares around the table and it takes a lot of strength for Jeno not to burst into a laughing fit.

"Mark and I were planning on training tomorrow," he explains, once he gets control of his breathing. The kid looks heartbroken, but Jeno wasn't completely finished just yet. "If you think we can squeeze in a few games after breakfast, we might be able to make it work."

"Really?" Jisung shrieks and again Jeno tries to hold himself back from wincing, like the rest of the room.

"Of course." He nods, finishing his final slice. "As long as you don't mind kicking Mark's ass for the entire game."

Jisung squeals for a moment more before his attention is returned to his plate of pizza. Jeno purposefully ignore Jaemin's expectant glance from in front of him and turns to the familiar boy sitting across from Chanyeol. He looks amused by Jeno's gesture, but smiles nonetheless.

"Lee Donghyuck, though I prefer Haechan. Resident werewolf and a third of our '00 line."

From Jeno's memory, he can recall that Renjun's birthday was March 23rd 2000, so that explains two of the three members.

The final housemate sitting next to Yixing and patiently waiting for his turn, smiles kindly. "Kim Junmyeon but you can call me Suho if it helps you remember. I'm also a werewolf and I'm actually Yixing's mate. I'm a therapist, so if there is ever a time when you need someone to talk to, my door is always open."

Where was he when Mark needed a therapist a few months ago?

"Thanks Suho," Jeno tested the nickname on his lips. "I'll be sure to let Mark know about that as well."

"Aren't you going to introduce yourself too?" Kyungsoo spoke up, making Jeno's heart throb in his veins.

He looks at Jaemin who is already looking at him, but he realizes that Kyungsoo is actually gesturing to the person on Jeno's right.

"Kyung," Chanyeol sighs. "I'm pretty sure he knows who I am by now."

"It would still be nice of you to explain your classification to him, so he isn't guessing for the entire time he's here."

"Oh, I already know that he's a werewo-"

"Our protector?" Kyungsoo asks again, right brow raised. "A werewolf who opened his home to lone wolves?"

"So, what? Like an Alpha?" Jeno wonders, turning just in time to see a dark shadow appear along Chanyeol's brow-edge.

"No," Chanyeol explains with a pained smile. "I'm not an Alpha. I promised that I wouldn't overwhelm you with information today, and your training will begin tomorrow, so let us just establish this now. I'm not an Alpha, despite what you might think. "

"Sorry." Jeno apologizes again, and Chanyeol nods in understanding again.

"We usually have other guests at the house sometimes, so that's why I explains that there are usually twelve of us." Jisung pipes up from across the table and Jeno reminds himself to smile in response.

He feels the heat of Jaemin's gaze bore into him again, a continuous burn from the moment the introductions began. Jeno takes a deep breath and slumps back into his seat. He watches out of the corner of his eye and everyone turns to look at them, even Chanyeol can't stop himself from shifting in his seat to get a better view of the show.

Jeno swallows the building bitterness in his throat and smiles politely, watching as Jaemin's eyes twinkle in the fluorescent light above them. "Alright," he determines, pausing to sip at his cola. Jaemin watches his Adam's apple bob in his throat. "Go ahead," he nods, placing the can down on the coaster. "Introduce yourself."

"Na Jaemin," he smiles, mouth filled with white pearly teeth.

"Yeah, I already knew that." Jeno deadpans, taking note of the growing tension in the air. "I wanted to know what you are."

"What I am?" Jaemin wonders, tilting his head to the side.

"Werewolf? Magical practitioner? Gifted human? Succubus?" Jeno teases, watching as the corner of Jaemin's lips curl upward.

"Why? Afraid that you'll find me in your bedroom tonight?"

"I was going to Google it so I know how to banish you from my personal space." Jeno responds. He faintly hears a few gasps go around the table, but none of them seemed to have bothered Jaemin.

"Don't worry Tiger," Jaemin winks, seemingly adoring his new nickname for Jeno. "I don't have any plans of tossing you up against a wall anytime soon."

"Why?" Jeno asks, tilting his head to mimic Jaemin's earlier gesture. "Afraid to admit that you liked it when it was the other way 'round?"

"What the hell is happening right now?" Jongdae whispers, but receives a bunch of loud 'shushes' from the rest of the table.

Jeno doesn't back down and Jaemin looks to be enjoying the situation for the both of them.

"Just say you want me under you again." Jaemin rolls his eyes playfully.

"So," Jeno tries to bring the conversation back around. "just Na Jaemin? No other relevant titles? I only ask since you don't want to tell me what you are."

"Do my blue eyes not give it away?" Jaemin asks, allowing his eyes to flash that familiar blue.

"Would I have to ask, if they did?" Jeno counters, noting how deep blue they were.

Completely unnatural and yet complicated the face they were a part of. Not that he would ever say that out loud.

"Na Jaemin, the final participant of the '00 line." Jaemin relents and finally gives Jeno something worthwhile.

It might not have been what he was after to begin with, but knowing something about him was a good start.

"When?"

Jaemin's brows furrow in confusion, the blue disappearing. "When, what?"

"When in 2000 were you born?"

Jaemin chances a glance around the table, though his gaze obviously lingers on Renjun.

"August 13th."

A puff of air comes from down the table and Jeno doesn't need to look to know it was his best friend's ex. Jaemin's neck snaps at the attention, his big brown eyes wide in question.

"Why?"

"I'm April 23rd." Jeno admits like it's an afterthought.

"Okay, and?"

"April 23rd 2000." Jeno places a stress on the year and can't help but wallow in Jaemin's reaction.

"Ah, so he's older than me too?" Haechan sounds dejected from his spot across from Chanyeol and on Jaemin's immediate left.

"Renjun's a month older than me." Jeno explains to the table. "Mark's a year older than us, but he's the same month as you." Jaemin acknowledges him with a nod, though his attention seems otherwise preoccupied.

"So, what? Now that we know you're older than me, you want some special treatment?" Jaemin wonders, giggling quietly to himself. "Do you want me to start calling you Oppa?"

"Hyung is fine." Jeno teases, watching as the light diminishes in Jaemin's eyes just a little bit. "I suppose if you refuse, I could always start calling you baby, but I think you would like that too much."

Jeno feels his stomach leap at the sight of the pale pink blush dancing onto the apple of Jaemin's cheeks. He wants to continue making that blood pool, in the hope that it will turn an even darker red. But, it seems as if Jaemin no longer wishes to play their little game.

"My classification..." he begins, changing the topic back to what had started this whole back and forth. "It's difficult to explain."

"Oh?" Jeno prompts, hoping that Jaemin will finally tell him what he is.

He feels the bitterness raise back into his chest at the sight of the smirk lingering on his opponent's lips.

"I'm complicated."