Vile Beginnings Seongjoong

08

Third pov

The pair sat across from each other as they ate their ramen bowls.

The pair had only met a day ago, but if you asked Hongjoong, he was already infatuated with the vampire.

The vampire was taller, had boba-shaped eyes when happiest with a wide, toothy smile, and he had protected and healed hongjoong.

It was almost instant when Hongjoong felt that attraction towards the vampire. It wasn't while he sat at their table- no, it was the first time he drove himself and Seonghwa to his shared apartment.

Seonghwa looked so interested in every little detail he saw as Hongjoong drove, so he drove just slightly slower than he would've previously without even meaning to.

If you asked Seonghwa, he, too, was infatuated with Hongjoong.

Hongjoong is a little shorter, determined, handsome, and willing to do anything for those he loves. Seonghwa found him admirable.

"Joong, do you work tomorrow?" Seonghwa asked. Hongjoong looked up from his ramen and shook his head.

"Thankfully I have tomorrow off. I've worked every day this week so far," Hongjoong whined. Seonghwa smiled softly and gently caressed his cheek.

"So you can stay home with me? Or I can stay with you?" Seonghwa asked softly. Hongjoong coughed as he choked on his ramen.

"You'd want to leave that mansion of a home and stay in my apartment?" He asked. Seonghwa nodded.

"I want you to be most comfortable, especially now that we know we can compel our way to safety."

"How did we do that?" Hongjoong asked, taking a napkin to gently wipe some sauce from Seonghwa's cheek.

"When we held hands, our status as mates came forth a bit and showed itself by our blue eyes. I'd say when we... finalize it all, they'll be more vibrant and our joint power will be stronger," Seonghwa blushed as Hongjoong paid close attention to his words.

"Why are you focusing so much on me? Do you not like what you were eating?"

"Oh, I finished it a bit ago. I just like watching your lips move," Hongjoong teased, softly placing his lips over Seonghwa's quickly.

"Finish eating before it gets too cold, Hwa." Hongjoong sat back down in his seat and let the vampire finish eating.

"You made it really good, Joong, thank you," Seonghwa said, standing up with all of their trash in his hands.

"I can help-"

"I've got it," Seonghwa said, pecking the younger's forehead then dropping the garbage in the bin.

"Are you sure you'd want to stay with me at my apartment?" Hongjoong asked quietly as he began driving them back to Seonghwa's mansion.

  "Of course. You're comfortable there, and I wouldn't want you to be uncomfortable living with my parents," Seonghwa said. Hongjoong smiled softly at the older at a red light and nodded.

The pair-or rather, Seonghwa with his speed- began packing all their belongings and placing them in Hongjoong's car.

"Okay, I'm done!" Seonghwa exclaimed, not even slightly out of breath. Hongjoong blinked a couple times before nodding.

"Alright, we can go then." He reached for Seonghwa's hand and laced their fingers together shyly as he walked them out to his car.

"Joong, can I still room with you?" Seonghwa asked softly while they drove with quiet music playing. It was a band Seonghwa couldn't care less about, but Hongjoong seemed to love.

"Of course, Hwa. As long as you don't mind being what I cuddle, then you can room with me," Hongjoong said, smiling softly as he saw the vampire's cheeks tint rosy.

"We can cuddle?" He asked softly. Hongjoong's smile widened.

"We can cuddle," he confirmed.

And so they did. They came to Hongjoong's now single apartment and began unpacking in his room. They did so quickly before going to take showers in the separate bathrooms.

Seonghwa finished first, coming back to Hongjoong's room to lay down on his bed. He climbed under the blankets and was able to smell the scent of his mate- slightly sweet and floral, like cherries and roses. There was a depth to it, giving his scent some warmth, which Seonghwa guessed was his blood.

The scent was stronger in this bedroom belonging to Hongjoong than it was in any other room. Seonghwa felt himself falling deeply for the scent that permeated the room and his nostrils.

"You look cozy," Hongjoong said, a soft, teasing smile on his lips. Seonghwa lifted his head from the pillow and nodded.

"You smell nice, like cherries and roses," Seonghwa explained, burying his face back down into hongjoong's pillow.

  "Well, I'm right here if you want to smell it stronger," Hongjoong offered teasingly. He slid under the blankets beside Seonghwa and leaned himself up on his hand.

  "Can I cuddle you?" Seonghwa asked softly, peeking his eyes over the pillow. His eyes met Hongjoong's smiling face before the human was gently pulling the vampire closer.

  "You can't resist it even if you wanna, Hwa. Come here."

  The vampire was laying with his face buried in Hongjoong's neck, one arm and leg wrapped over him, as Hongjoong held onto the thigh over his lap and tangled his fingers in his hair.

  "I like this. This is what you meant by cuddling?" Seonghwa asked quietly. Hongjoong smiled.

  "Yes; us holding each other is what I meant, Hwa. Are you comfortable?" He asked. Seonghwa nodded and pecked Hongjoong's cheek before laying back down.

  "I like you," Seonghwa mumbled softly as he fell asleep, his lips gently brushing against Hongjoong's collarbones. Hongjoong burst into a wide grin that kept him awake for a few minutes more.

  "I like you," Hongjoong whispered, having felt that the vampire's breathing slowed against his skin.

Hongjoong's body almost hummed with excitement at those words from the older man. He knew Seonghwa was probably far older than what he knew, but that didn't bother him, not when Seonghwa still had those boba-eyes at everything new he saw.

Hongjoong wasn't about to push away his mate, not when he just learned he even had one in the first place.

He thought he'd be alone forever, as dismal the thought was. He was always taking care of Bumjoong, and that was a dealbreaker for a lot of people he dated.

Hongjoong had to run out on many dates to check on Bumjoong, and that was always taken wrongly by those the younger brother dated.

"Thank you for saving my brother," Hongjoong whispered, then pecked Seonghwa's forehead and began falling asleep himself.