Crimson Crown

⌠67⌡

Jinyoung inevitably got hungry- for actual food, this time. He tried his best to ignore the pangs in his stomach, but he hadn't eaten for hours at this point, and the darkness of night began sweeping through the house. After all this time, everyone had to be occupied with something, right? He could sneak downstairs, grab some food, stuff his face, and then hurry home.

He quietly crept down the hall, taking care to soften his footsteps as to not be noticeable. He reached the bottom of the steps, only to glance up toward the kitchen and catch the back of the one he had wanted to avoid the most. Jackson stood in front of a larger bucket, the sound of sloshing water filling the space as he washed some dishes. Jinyoung froze where he stood on the steps, his chest tightening upon seeing the latter again.

He wasn't ready to face him so soon. Not yet, not after the way Jackson had left him so coldly. He started to retreat, gently stepping up the stairs again.

"Come, I saved a plate for you."

Jinyoung froze like a block of ice. He turned back in Jackson's direction, silently cursing the vampire's much more keener senses. He didn't know what to do- he was already caught, so it would be awkward to ignore the latter, though he really did not want to interact with him at all.

Jackson paused what he was doing after lack of an answer, turning and glancing back at Jinyoung. "Did you not hear me? Come."

Jinyoung's eyes quickly darted away as soon as Jackson looked at him. Was he going to just keep running away from him like a coward? He was forced into this situation, but he shouldn't fold under the pressure of his emotions, he needed to overcome them. He took in a breath and stepped down the stairs, slowly making his way across the floor to the dining table.

"...Where is Youngjae and Mark." He muttered, hearing Jackson's heavy footsteps thud the background.

"One is bathing, the other is resting in the guest room."

The table held an empty placemat that must've been left just for him. He ignored the warm gesture as he sat down. "It is late, we should be leaving soon."

"They decided to stay so I can monitor your condition. Just for the night." Jackson replied.

Jinyoung could hear the clinging of plates and smelled the faint waft of food from the kitchen. As much as he disliked the decision to stay being made without his input, his stomach growled in hunger while his body yearned for some proper rest. He had not sat down for nearly a week straight, always moving to keep his mind off of Jackson. Now it was impossible to ignore thoughts of him when his environment was full of nothing but Jackson.

The sound of Jackson's footsteps grew louder, and Jinyoung tensed upon his approach. He could feel Jackson's warmth along his body, and his scent infiltrated Jinyoung's nose. His heart thumped in his chest as Jackson leaned over his shoulder and placed a large plate of food in front of him. He wanted to tell the loud pounding to quiet down, but his body refused to listen.

"Here. Eat."

Jinyoung looked down at the food, listening to Jackson's footsteps retreat. He picked up his utensils, beginning to eat some of what Jackson had cooked for all of them. It felt like deja-vu from the first time he had stayed over at this house. With Jackson caring for him and spending time together, that was a good day with good memories.

This time, on the other hand, it felt bitter.

"How do you feel?" Jackson asked from the kitchen.

The question felt so casual, as if nothing had happened between them. Jinyoung hated that; he hated acting as if they were like usual, because they weren't. They had ruined that weeks ago, there was no point in hiding it.