too fragile for your love (too strong for your heart)

wandering through the woods (we step into the sky) pt four

when jungwon breaks the news that jake is going to have to prepare himself for his initiation ceremony, he doesn't expect to get stuck with sunghoon of all people, on an errand, while they go about choosing balloon brands and glitter packs.

"the actual ceremony is more like a glorified champagne party," jungwon says, rolling his eyes. "it's usually style over substance, and designed to introduce a newly inducted vampire to neighboring covens and the high council."

"except with blood instead of champagne," sunoo says, winking. "which is why the real party begins after all the guests leave."

"real party? seriously?" jay demands, scoffing. "if crackers and ridiculous hats make up a real party, i shudder to imagine what you think a five year old's birthday party should be."

"he's just sore that my birthday cakes were always bigger than his," jungwon says, sticking his tongue out at his older brother. "don't listen to him, jake hyung. you're gonna have a lot of fun, i promise!"

"remind me again why we're doing this," sunghoon says, pulling out a pack of multi-colored balloons from a nearby rack stuffed to the brim with childish decorations.

"because ni-ki said that afterparties are an integral part of undead tradition," jake dutifully answers.

"yeah, of course," sunghoon snaps. "i forgot. ni-ki tells you everything."

jake can't help but frown at the other boy's back as he strides ahead, leaving him behind as if he doesn't want to hang around him for a second more than he has to. he still doesn't know why sunghoon is always so mad at his presence, and the constant cold shoulders are driving him mad.

he swipes a few party favors from a nearby shelf without bothering to check what's actually inside them, and makes to follow sunghoon when something roots his feet to the ground. he stands still for a moment, the sound of murmurs and shuffling footsteps of other shoppers filtering through his ears, and wonders what is making him feel so uneasy-

-and then, he feels it. there's a prickling sensation between his shoulder blades that's growing in intensity like he's being watched by someone from between the shelf gaps.

a darkening sky, eldritch clouds, heavy rain-

a predator stalking its prey through blinding sheets of falling water-

an alley of dumpsters overflowing-

jake wheels around, feeling like invisible ants are crawling all over his skin, almost certain that he's going to meet eyes with a blood red pair, but there's nothing to be seen except rows and rows of rainbow hued party decorations.

five minutes later, he meets sunghoon at the cashier's counter to get their purchases rung up. the blond vampire is the one who pays by using heeseung's credit card, after which they carry out their goods to the van, where jay has been waiting for them to finish up.

"you can go on without me," sunghoon says, shoving his hands into his pockets. "i want to walk back by myself."

jay sighs, throwing a questioning look towards jake who shrugs. the dark-haired man turns to look at sunghoon and says, "suit yourself."

jake manages to stay quiet for the duration of exactly three minutes after jay turns the key to start the engine, before he's opening his mouth to ask, "what's his deal?"

"don't mind him too much," jay says, shaking his head. "he's just jealous."

"jealous?" jake repeats, confused. "of whom?"