ch 1: born a tiger | solo
Being born, Yoongi never knew of the world’s misfortunes. Let alone, that he was born a lost cause himself. He remembers at the age of 7, a form of repressed memories comes to a surge in his underdeveloped mind. He remembers when his deadbeat father was cursing his lungs out towards his mother. Blaming her for his weakened immune system in which he had no control over. A pre-existing condition that prohibited him from being healthy.
The swift kicks, the yelling, the tears his mother shed while trying to protect his feeble body. The man who hovered over them with such anger in his posture and voice was not the father he deserved. But his blood was in Yoongi’s veins. He was a monster who lacked the empathy for a weak child.
It was he who set the words in Yoongi’s head.
I shouldn’t have been born.
He ran off with the money, the gold and the silver coins clinking as he disappeared in the night. Never to be see again, yet he was never welcomed anymore. Yoongi never bothered to ask his mother where the monster went, but she assured him he was never going to step one foot into their home ever again. But, she became a whole other person. She was desperate, selling herself to man to man. Lusting over her young body that she managed to preserve all to herself, whilst still feeding the lone child who was left to the neighbors from dawn to evening. All for the sack of silver and gold to come home and purchase a meal for two. Yoongi didn’t complain, he understood yet his mother was always coming home to lovebites and disheveled knots in her hair. Too young to understand, yet he grew up early. Never once did he question the intentions.
When he was older and more able bodied, Yoongi knew his mother deserved to be attended to. But, she never let herself to be spoiled. Her son deserved a better life. She made sacrifice, in which he had to be thankful for. She had done more than what any other mother could do to survive and raise her son.
It wasn’t long until she came home with someone new. Someone whose blue eyes dared to stare into Yoongi’s soul and Yoongi had always wondered why he kept seeing his mother’s neck covered in fang marks. A meal to the man with the blue eyes, yet he never laid a hand on him.
Yoongi knew that the man would never be his father, yet he came home with mother so often that he grew accustomed to his presence.
However, Yoongi knew he wasn’t invincible. The universe was full of surprises and one jab at the boy, Yoongi was disabled by the very own health that took away his family. A tissue coughed into, stained by crimson clots and complexion paling. Ringing coughs and hacks from his body, death impending as body temperature grew cold. The only warmth from his mother’s embrace, apologizing endlessly and that he’ll be taken care of properly. He had no choice. It all came to a blur when the man who he saw every night punctured two pearly white canines into his neck. Closing his eyes, only to feel the sensation of his blood being sucked away and two days later, he woke up from his slumber. The transformation was complete.
Adrenaline ruining through his veins and Yoongi’s eyes were the same color of blue. The man had changed his life for the better. His mother’s smile was the first thing he woke up to. The only smile he treasured in life. Her smile mattered more than his happiness.
It was hard to get used to the vampirism. Technically, he was dead, a walking corpse, but his mother only wanted him to live a life so healthy that he could walk without worrying about pain or catching an infection. The first ray of sunlight was the only enemy he had to worry about. Silver was the next enemy and it was humorous to tell his mother that carrying silver coins was a definite no. Hunters were too, but he’d never come into contact with them ever. All was taught by the very man who turned him into a monster.
He became better, doing the chores his mother usually did around the house. Diligent as he was, he’d rub his mother’s back, massaging away the stress. She’d spend time with him at night, taking him out on walks and making sure he was fed with fresh blood. Although the idea of feeding on others was dangerous, but his mother insured through the man that he would never be a target for hunters if he hunted in darkness. He’d be a monster til death. Immortality was the only thing keeping him “alive”, but he never felt much human than he was.
Time was of the essence. A second goodbye. Yoongi hated goodbyes. But the man who taught him more than his own father did had to leave. He wasn’t needed anymore and the woes of his mother giving up her true love for a life with her son was another sacrifice. A sacrifice that he knew was the best to live happily with her.
Life struck Yoongi again. An evening that was intended to be lighthearted and sentimental as his mother wanted to spend walking underneath the moonlight. The gray from her hair was never noticed from Yoongi. He wished he had noticed the signs of aging and death on her body. It was too late by the time she collapsed in his arms, miles away from home and together with nature. Apologies bounced from her tongue, wishing that she could be just with him forever if she had the will. He offered to turn her, for a life of certainty and happiness together. But immortality was not what she needed.
“I love you, my precious Yoongi. I’m so sorry I wished I had been better for you. But, please...you have to let me go. Go and be happy for mama.” Eyes brimmed with tears as he held her.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. I love you.”
Her last breath ending up being a gasp. The last breath she took as her frail, pale body limped in his arms. Followed by his distressed cries, she was buried beneath the dahlias, her favorite flowers. Clenched fists and the spilling of teas represented the woes of his heart. The regrets of not being a perfect son for his mother, not living up to her expectations yet she never asked for more from him. He promised to be better. To fulfill his mother’s promises.
A lone boy who grew up too early decided to walk his own path. He didn’t want to be tied down or be stopped by the forces of nature. The sensation of wanting to feel whole again. A path of enlightenment in his fingertips as he packed his things, boarded on a boat away from Korea. A mother in his memory, below the depths of his heart, he grieves for the longest time.
He’s seen it all on his travels. He’s seen the corruption of countries, formation of societies, and industrialization. He was present when the Joseon Dynasty was formed. He was present when the British colonized India. He so happenly was there when the world wars began and watched the Berlin Wall fall to crumbles. He’s seen it all. The blood, violence, tears, smiles, explosions, births, deaths, and the inventions that have changed the world. A pair of blue eyes that weren’t originally his own had seen the world grow.
The world grew and so did his wealth. His mother could be proud that he was able to make a living out of himself on his travels. He would loot bodies, did hard labour at night, sell himself, and provide services of all sorts. He did what he could to survive.
He’s seen poverty stricken cities. The sight of a child aiding their parents makes him sick to his stomach. It reminded him of his past.
Around the 1870′s, he returned to Korea for a brief while. Jeju was the island he visited and he came across a meeting. A new coven was forming and to Yoongi’s ignorance, he had no idea his kind were at war. However, being nearing his late 1,000s, he needed a safe haven. A place to decompress and hold his ground at. A war was at stake and they needed members. Yoongi took it upon himself to accept a spot among the nobles of Flying Serpent, grinning as Baekhyun and Juhyun welcomed him with warm arms. On conditions that they provide him protection and that he would generously donate his wealth occasionally to the coven.
Traveling again even though, he knew he had to be in South Korea and Jeju frequently, he would return from time to time. New members had been accepted and Yoongi had seen the coven grow. A family. His consideration of Flying Serpent is regarded as family. The family he never had, but had always dreamed of.
Buying an estate to settle down in South Korea, Yoongi has made it upon himself on a pact he initiated. To live peacefully as much as he can although it was impossible.
Plethora of cats were his companions, he honestly didn’t know where this fascination with felines started but, he kept so many strays. Perhaps an allergy was the reason his childhood was so dim without cats.
Another fascination was hunters. Way before he met the coven, he was always in the arms of hunters. Wanting to form connections and perhaps an adrenaline running romance, Yoongi knew what he wanted, no matter how dangerous the relationship could be. But he couldn’t seem to stay away no matter how hard he tried. They would betray him. Betrayal was something Yoongi loathed, he hated being distrustful once he falls in love. People leave. He'd grow attached. The many important people he considered dear had left before. He couldn’t help, but fall in love with people who were bound to leave anyway. Hunters were always the ones who would try to manipulate him and thankfully, he’d escape in the nick of time. One scar on the chest was the first sight of his first relationship with a hunter, the hunter wanting his decapitation, whilst Yoongi wanted his love.
He vowed never to put himself in any danger. Yet, he still manages to look death in the eye. No matter how fearless he was. He’s notorious for being insane. A famous target of hunters. An image he created amongst the many personalities he has. His childish ways made him the person he is today. The vampire indeed was more intelligent than insane for his kind. Fits of laughter, giggles, and games of cat and mouse don’t make Yoongi the vampire he is. His past does.
Now, he stands lone on the rooftop, umbrella in hand as the night conquered the sky. Black locks sweeping over his forehead as he stared down the alleyway. A hunter who he recognizes, wanting for his presence per usual. His tongue runs over his lips, delicately showing his fangs. Umbrella folded, he jumps down.
Yoongi smirks before landing softly behind him and swiftly hugging him from behind. A game to play and a pawn to use for his advantage. This was the routine he’s been stuck with. He was always the mouse. But, in truth, he is the cat. He's the predator. The monster who lurks the night.
He’s not a weakling anymore. He never was.
Slinking his arms around his waist, blowing air against his ear before chuckling. He felt the other’s spine jolt and Yoongi sneered at the goosebumps forming on the hunter’s body. Words coming out in slow syllables, as he whispered.
“Tonight I’ll show you a sweet dream.”
