LOVE BITES -Jeongcheol

10

The moon hung low over the city, casting a silvery glow on the rooftops and alleyways. Wonwoo walked with his hands tucked into his coat pockets, scanning the quiet street with sharp eyes. He'd been tracking supernatural creatures for years, learning their habits, their hunting grounds, the places they felt safest. And as usual, Mingyu was making a show of it, trailing him with his typical flair, cocky and annoyingly charming.

"Didn't anyone teach you that lurking isn't a good look?" Wonwoo called over his shoulder without turning.

"Oh, I'm not lurking," Mingyu's voice came from behind, lazy and smooth. He leaned casually against the streetlamp, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "I'm observing. There's a difference, you know."

Wonwoo rolled his eyes, refusing to give Mingyu the satisfaction of looking back. "Well, go observe somewhere else."

Mingyu chuckled, pushing off the lamp post to fall into step beside Wonwoo. "Why would I? You're the most interesting person in this entire city."

"Can't say the feeling's mutual," Wonwoo muttered, picking up his pace.

But Mingyu kept up effortlessly, his footsteps barely making a sound. "Come on, don't be like that. You could at least pretend you enjoy my company."

Wonwoo shot him a glare. "The only reason I haven't tried to stake you is because you're useful intel."

Mingyu chuckled, entirely unfazed. "Right. And here I thought it was because you enjoyed our little... interactions."

"Delusional, as always."

The exchange was familiar, almost a game they played, one Mingyu clearly enjoyed. It had become a bizarre routine, the hunter and vampire's nightly banter mixed with veiled threats and thinly disguised amusement. But tonight felt different.

Suddenly, Mingyu's expression shifted, the playful glint in his eyes sharpening. He paused, tilting his head, listening. Wonwoo stopped too, his instincts alerting him to something amiss.

"You feel that?" Mingyu asked, voice low and serious.

Wonwoo's hand slid to the weapon concealed in his coat. "What is it?"

"I'm not sure," Mingyu replied, his tone lacking its usual teasing edge. "But it's close. And... strong."

Before Wonwoo could respond, a faint rustling echoed from the shadows at the end of the alley, growing louder, closer. Both men went still, Mingyu's posture shifting from relaxed to alert, his fangs flashing subtly under the streetlight as his senses sharpened.

A figure stepped out of the darkness, tall and unnervingly silent, with eyes that glowed faintly in the dim light. Wonwoo felt a chill crawl up his spine; this wasn't any ordinary vampire or hunter. There was an air of menace surrounding it, something that felt ancient and otherworldly.

The creature's lips curled back in a twisted smile, revealing rows of sharp, irregular teeth. "A vampire and a hunter, working together. How... quaint."

Mingyu bristled, his usual smirk replaced by something cold and dangerous. "What do you want?"

The creature let out a low chuckle. "Isn't it obvious? Fresh blood... and chaos."

It lunged forward with inhuman speed, aiming straight for Mingyu, who barely sidestepped, hissing. Wonwoo didn't waste a second, whipping out a blade and diving toward the creature, slashing through the air. But it moved too fast, dodging easily.

"Not bad," it sneered, circling them both. "But not good enough."

The creature lunged again, forcing both men to move in sync, dodging, each of them barely a step ahead of the thing's sharp claws. Mingyu countered with lightning-fast swipes, using his vampire speed to match the creature's movements, while Wonwoo kept low, striking at any opening he could find.