It was strange. It was strange how despite you were aware of the danger that you were willing to take, the moments spent with him were the only ones in which you felt really safe. Even his warning had not the effect he desired.
Jaebum was aware that a moment of weakness and he could kill you, but the more he tried to send you away and more you both realized that both were tied by a bond that transcended all logic.
"You should run", was the phrase that he repeats each morning, while cuddling you in his arms without giving you a chance to move. A little smile drew on your lips every time, hiding your face against his neck and you loved smelling the perfume which by now had become your favorite. "You don't leave me much room to do so."
Jaebum knew that one day he would have to let you go, but he wasn't ready for that moment. He wouldn't ever be ready, but he would have thought about that in the future.
"Bite me," your eyes were sincere, free from the fear that he'd read the first few times that your gazes crossed in a room full of people; "Y/N... "
"I no longer know how to live without you, Jaebum. "
The sigh that slipped from his lips made you think you were on two different worlds, two different page.
"You'd be living better, you know."
"I'll live as if something is missing and I've never been a person who appreciates things halfway."
summary: Jaebeom had been alive a long time. He never really got the hang of humans. They confused him, always so warm and frantic and fragrant. He could barely remember being one. He mostly stuck with his handful of immortal friends, clinging to their relationships for some semblance of normalcy. Then there was you. And you… were different.
warnings: vampire au, soulmate au - eventual smut, fluff, blood is involved, a lil exhibitionism/voyeur stuff - jaebeom can see into her apartment window.
pairing: female reader/jaebeom
note: halloween and the loml go well together
prologue | part one | part two | part three | part four | part five
_________________________
You find yourself up early, lying awake as the sun rises. It floods your apartment with orange-yellow light, bathing your far wall and warming your skin where it peeks out from underneath your blankets.
You roll out of bed just after seven, unable to laze around any longer, and hop in the shower. Your new apartment isn’t particularly fancy, but the showerhead was something that really sold the place to you. It was huge and square, pouring down sheets of water to drench you from head to toe. It feels far more luxurious than you’re sure it actually is.
You wander back into the bedroom afterwards, shivering from the difference in temperature. You drop your damp towel on the floor to quickly get dressed, a loose sweater over a pair of jeans.
You grab your laptop and bag, heading quickly out the door to park yourself in a cafe for the morning. You would get far more done out of the apartment than you would in it - and you had to refine your resume and apply to as many jobs as you could.
You weren’t sure yet if this move was a good idea or a bad idea. You had left behind a decent paying job to chase a career that wasn’t guaranteed, but staying put didn’t feel right either.
You didn’t want to have to move home, but what would you find here?
________________________
Jaebeom couldn’t go back in there. He couldn’t - it wouldn’t be right. He stood in the hallway, steadfastly staring at the wall, his back to the open door of his bedroom.
He really hadn’t meant to. Honestly. He had just walked back into his bedroom, coffee in hand, and idly glanced through the window. He couldn’t stop himself from checking, from looking into your room. And there you were. Completely naked, dropping a towel onto the floor and digging through a dresser drawer.
He was hard instantly, cock stiffening uncomfortably in his pants. He wanted to bend you over, to press you into the sheets of his bed and fill you up with him. He’d sink his teeth into the back of your neck while he fucked you, quench his thirst while you whined and clenched around him.
Suddenly he realizes what he’s doing - staring into your apartment as if it was okay. He whips around, stepping out into the hallway and staring with wide eyes at the grey paint on the walls.
He forces himself to think of nothing but the paint, focusing his eyes in to see each bubble and lump in the drywall. He had to focus on anything but you. Anything but the way your legs curved and your breasts swayed as you moved.
He takes a long sip of his coffee, letting it wash over his tongue.
He didn’t need to eat human food, didn’t need to consume anything other than blood, but it felt nice, felt normal. It didn’t hurt, either, his body just burned it off, unable to use it for anything.
Finally he releases a long breath and glances back into the room. You’re gone, the only evidence that you’d been there at all is the towel in a lump on the floor.
He needs to get some air.
He throws on a jacket, the old denim worn and soft as it settles over his shoulders. He’d bought it back in the 90s and it was somehow still in great shape. People always complimented him on it, commenting on how lucky he was to find a great vintage jacket. He always tells them it’s from Goodwill and for some reason they believe him.
There’s a cafe down the street, nestled next to a park with a nice selection of walking trails through the trees. He’ll buy another coffee and walk for awhile, probably until it’s dark enough outside that he can go to BamBam’s club.
The cafe has a vampire barista, Irene, a tiny girl with a stare that could kill a man. She’s sweet, though, and always remembers his order. Not that a mocha is particularly difficult, but she makes it well.
He can see her through the window as he approaches. She glances up, catching his eye and smiling.
Everything is fine until he opens the door. A rush of warm air hits him in the face, the smell of coffee and muffins and - he stops. You’re here. He hasn’t spotted you yet but he can smell you.
He tries to leave, to turn around and go, but he can’t. He grits his teeth together hard but his fangs still drop.
He covers his mouth with his hand, feigning a cough as he steps off the side, pressing himself behind the milk station near the door.
He glances up, eyes flitting around the store. He spots you in the far corner by a window, sinking into a plush chair with your laptop balanced on your lap. You’ve got headphones in, bopping softly along to whatever was playing. He wonders what you listen to, if you’d like the music he makes.
His heart lurches, an odd feeling for someone who hasn’t had a heartbeat in centuries.
After a moment, his fangs retract, and he sighs, expelling the scent of you from his lungs. He doesn’t need to breathe, so he doesn’t, just holds his breath and walks steadfastly towards the counter.
He has a five dollar bill clutched in his hand. He tries to pass it to Irene but she scoffs and shoves his drink towards him.
“On the house today,” She leans back, tightening her ponytail.
“Why?” He asks, voice tight.
“Because you just dropped fang like a freshly turned vamp when you came into my store,” She crosses her arms, voice dropping low enough that only he can hear her, “Who is it?”
“What do you mean?”
She rolls her eyes, “Your soulmate. They’re in here, right?”
“How did you know that?”
“I’m smarter than you.”
“Fair.” He glances over his shoulder, eyes finding you as you shift in your seat, tapping your fingers idly against your bottom lip.
“Hm,” She says, “Cute.”
He’d be protective if he hadn’t met her girlfriend, a girl with big cheeks and an electric laugh.
“Good luck.”
He grabs his drink, nodding a thanks to her as he steps away from the counter. He takes the longer route to the door this time, forcing himself to pass by you. He just wants to see you, to get a closer look, he’s not going to bother you.
You glance up as he nears your chair, and your face breaks into a breathtaking smile.
You tug out one earphone, “Hey, Jaebeom.”
“Hi,” He says, voice rough, “How’s it going?”
You shrug, “It’s going. Applying to jobs.”
“Ah,” He steps forwards, firmly putting himself in your space, “You said you just moved here, was it for work?”
You nod, “Yeah, not sure how good of a decision that was.”
It was excellent, he thinks, I got to find you. He doesn’t say that, of course. Instead he just says, “Good luck.”
You laugh, “Thanks.”
He should leave now, he thinks. Now would be a great time for him to head off, to leave you be, but he finds himself stuck, rooted in spot. Something in him is screaming, is telling him to not leave, that this was his chance.
“Did you want a break?” He asks, “I was going to go for a walk in the park.”
You pause, and he sees hesitance on your face. God, of course you’re hesitant. A strange man just asked you to go somewhere alone with him.
“Only if you want,” He says quickly, “I’m so sorry, that was presumptuous.”
You laugh, “No, no, it’s fine. I’d love to go with you.”
You pack up your things into a bag, swinging it over your shoulders and onto your back. You’re tiny, he notices, barely reaching his shoulders when you’re stood up straight.
He wants to tuck you under his arm, press his nose into your hair and breathe you in. He doesn’t, of course, just takes his place beside you as you head outside.
You’re quiet for a moment, hands fiddling with the straps of your bag, before you turn to look up at him, “So, are you from here?”
He nods, “Originally, yeah. I left for awhile though, came back a few years ago.”
“Oh, that’s nice,” You say, “Trying to be closer to family?”
“Ah, not really, no,” He chuckles, running a hand through his hair, “That’s a bit of a weird story.”
You laugh, “I don’t really talk to my family, either.”
Sure, that’s what he meant.
You’re enchanting, entrancing. He can barely keep his eyes off of you. He listens to you talk as you walk, weaving through the trees that litter the park. It’s mid-autumn so the leaves are varying colours of red and orange and the light that filters through them illuminates your hair and your skin. You’re practically shining.
It’s just after noon when he realizes you’re back where you started, the path coming full circle back to the street.
“Oh,” You say, “I guess our walk is over.”
He hums, trying to find a way to ask you on a proper date.
“What are you doing tonight?” You ask, your face turning up to look at him.
“Ah, I’m going to a friend’s club,” He says, “It’s downtown.”
If it were any other club, he’d invite you. It’s BamBam’s club, though, and there’s no way he’s inviting you there. It’d be far too dangerous. It’s a vampire club - the only humans there are there to be drank from. People in skimpy outfits that Bam pays extremely well to be fed off of by whatever vampire asks.
He knows it’d be polite to invite you, to say, “Wanna come with me?” but he can’t.
“Oh, your friend owns a club?” You ask, “What’s it called?”
“Evening,” He tells you, “I mostly go so he has someone to keep him humble, have to make fun of him whenever I can.”
You laugh, “Like a true friend.”
“Of course.”
“Well, have a good night, Jaebeom,” You say, smiling, “I’ll see you around?”
He nods, “Yeah, see you around.”
He watches you leave, one hand stuffed in his pocket while his other clutches his empty, useless cup.
Wait. Fuck. He should have asked for your number. He’s an idiot.
____________________
You get a call from Annie as you get home. You put her on speaker, stuffing your phone mic-up into your cleavage as you move around the apartment.
“How’s the job hunt?” She asks, and you can tell she’s eating by the muffled way her words come out.
“Moving slowly,” You say, tossing an old takeout container from the fridge into the garbage, “I had a good day today, though.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah, I saw Jaebeom at the cafe, and he invited me for a walk.”
Annie squeals, a high pitched noise that you swear almost breaks your eardrums, “That’s great! Did you get his number?”
You pause, hand halfway outstretched to a cabinet, “Fuck.”
“You’re a dumbass.”
“I am indeed.”
“You just need to run into him again!” She says, “Do you know where he lives?”
“I’m not going to go to his apartment!” You protest, “You’re insane.”
“I’m just trying to help you get some dick!” She says, “And honestly, I feel like you should get to know him.”
“I’ve barely told you anything about him!”
“I have a hunch!” She screeches, and you can hear the squeaking of her bedsprings as she likely flops back onto her bed, “You need to run into him again.”
“Well,” You say, “He did mention he was going to his friend’s club tonight.”
“Oh!” She gasps, “You have to go!”
“He didn’t invite me!” You say, “It’d be weird if I showed up.”
“It’s a club,” Annie says, exasperated, “You’re allowed to go! You can just accidentally bump into him!”
You pause, chewing on a fingernail, “Yeah, I guess. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?”
