Companions Of The Night

The Fire Between Us

"Kyungsoo, Jongin..." Ezra called out as he made his way to his office. Kyungsoo looked over and then up at Jongin before following their headmaster. The three of them entered the office and took their seats.

"Is everything okay?" Kyungsoo asked, his voice soft and meek, resembling that of a mouse. Ezra nodded, sitting back in his office chair. 

"Yes, everything is fine. The high council meeting. I'd figured I would get two situations out of the way and have you two accompany me to the meeting. I have been meaning to attend one with the news of finding a royal family member but now I have two matters to attend for. What do you two think? Of course, you'll both be excused from school and have the opportunity to make up your missing assignments." 

"Where is this meeting going to be?" This time, Jongin's deep voice resounded. 

"Venice, Italy." Kyungsoo's eyes widened and his head whipped towards Jongin. "I would really like for you both to come with me to explain everything that has happened since you've been here, Kyungsoo. I'll be leaving at the end of this week, so...you have time to think. That's all. You two can go back to your room." Ezra said, a hint of finality to his words. Kyungsoo nodded simply and stood up. He waited a moment for Jongin before the two of them left for their shared room. 

Neither Kyungsoo nor Jongin spoke on their walk across campus to the dorms. They eventually made it to the room, after a long time of silence. 

"So...Venice. What do you think?" Jongin asked as he sat back on his bed. "I think it'll be fun. I've heard high council meetings always happen during Carnival. That'll be fun to go to, don't you think?" Kyungsoo looked at the tanned male. His expression was something along the lines of 'Are you serious right now?'  

"What?  Don't give me that look. I'm just trying to find something positive in this sudden situation. Your life just got turned upside down and your best friend got attached to a vampire. Don't be so serious, Kyungsoo." Jongin took a deep breath and flopped onto his back, kicking his feet up on his bed. 

Kyungsoo's tattoos were beginning to glow, something that happened when vampires were upset or very emotional. "I'm still trying to get used to everything. I haven't even come to terms with us being soulmates or whatever the fuck it is. I don't even like you! It hasn't been that long and we're expected to be...fuck I don't know...a couple or something. I hardly know you, you don't know shit about me and I honestly could care less." 

I don't even like you! 

Those five words struck Jongin like a smack in the face. He had waited his whole life for a flame and now that he had it, his partner didn't feel the same. He froze and physically backed off. Kyungsoo's eyes widened and he slapped a hand to his mouth as if trying to push the string of words back into his mouth.

"I- Jongin...I'm so sorry. I didn't mean..." Jongin shook his head and got up. He grabbed a coat and left the room without a word. The doe-eyed male watched, eyes welling with tears, as the taller male left. "Fuck." Kyungsoo's voice cracked and his tears threatened to spill over. He choked back a sob before letting it out and breaking down. "Fuck!" he screamed as his fists pounded on his thighs. "You stupid- why!"

Jongin didn't dare cry or let his hurt show once he was in public. He took a couple of deep breaths to regain his composure and shook his head. "You're fine, you're fine. He's just upset. He didn't mean it." He mumbled these affirmations to himself once he found a seat in the academy garden. Jongin brought a hand up to his chest, feeling the ring resting there. He looked down at it and closed his eyes, trying to calm down. His hands trembled slightly as he took deep breaths. 

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A week passed and the three of them were off to Italy. They of course left at night, boarding the school's private plane. Jongin sat in a different seat than Kyungsoo. Though it had been a week since their...argument, the two hadn't reconciled yet. Ezra noticed some tension between them, besides both of their marks having a faint glow to them. "What's this about?" The headmaster's voice broke the silence. He was standing in the front of the cabin and looked at the two, arms crossed as he waited for an explanation. Jongin glanced at Ezra and nodded his head towards Kyungsoo just slightly, enough for the elder to notice. Kyungsoo wasn't paying attention. He was staring out the window, pretending not to hear Ezra. "Someone, answer me this instant." His voice was more stern this time.