MIX-UP (JossGawin)

Chapter 11

Joe stood by the stove, absently stirring a pot of noodles, the rhythmic motion doing little to calm his nerves. He glanced out the window for what felt like the hundredth time, the darkened sky pressing down like a weight. Something wasn't right.

The uneasy sensation of being watched gnawed at him, tightening his chest. He sighed, wiping a hand across his face, and grabbed his phone, dialing Tong.

"When are you coming home?" he asked, trying to sound casual, though the tension in his voice betrayed him.

"On my way, relax," Tong replied, the sounds of the bustling street filtering through the line.

Joe exhaled, but the unease lingered. "Hurry up," he muttered, hanging up and turning back to his noodles. He tried to focus on eating, but every creak of the apartment made him jump. His gaze flicked back to the large glass window, the darkness outside feeling far too close.

Minutes dragged by like hours until the front door finally burst open. Tong rushed in, breathless, with Mark stumbling behind him. Joe's eyes widened at the sight of them. Tong's face was flushed with a mix of irritation and panic, his clothes disheveled. Mark looked worse—his eyes wild, his posture tense, hunger radiating from him like heat.

"You two look like you've been through hell," Joe said, raising an eyebrow. "Want some food?"

"Save the food for me," Tong shot back, not stopping. "This vampire's starving, and I have to tie him up before he decides to bite you."

Joe blinked, stunned for a beat before bursting into laughter. "Just let him eat you so he doesn't bite me!"

Without looking back, Tong muttered, "That's the plan, smartass," as he hauled Mark into his room, slamming the door behind them.

Joe chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "This place is turning into a damn circus," he muttered, returning to his now-lukewarm noodles.

In Tong's room, Mark leaned against the wall, his breath ragged, eyes glowing faintly with hunger. "You're not seriously going to tie me up, are you?" His voice dripped with annoyance, but there was an edge of something darker beneath it.

Tong shot him a hard look. "You know the drill. I can't have you biting anyone. Joe would lose his mind."

Mark sighed theatrically, but his eyes gleamed with amusement. "Fine. But make it quick."

Tong knelt and pulled a length of rope from under his bed. "Sit," he ordered, pointing to the chair.

Mark smirked but obeyed, settling into the chair with a languid grace. "You do know there are more... enjoyable ways to restrain someone, right?"

"Shut up," Tong muttered, tightening the rope around Mark's wrists. "There. Happy now?"

"Ecstatic," Mark deadpanned. "Now, about that meal..."

Tong rolled up his sleeve and extended his wrist. "Go ahead. Just don't overdo it this time."

Mark's expression shifted, the teasing glint replaced by something more primal. He leaned forward, sinking his fangs into Tong's wrist with practiced precision.

Tong winced but held still, feeling the familiar, unsettling pull as Mark fed. The tension in Mark's shoulders eased as his hunger faded, his eyes softening.

Back in the kitchen, Joe finished his dinner and cleaned up, still chuckling to himself. He couldn't believe how insane his life had become since Tong had brought a vampire into their apartment. But, strange as it was, he felt a growing sense of camaraderie with his chaotic roommates—undead or not.

Grabbing a book, he settled onto the couch, determined to relax. The muffled voices from Tong's room were easy enough to ignore now, and he let himself sink into the quiet comfort of the moment.

It was nearly an hour before Tong finally emerged from his room, looking drained. He collapsed onto the couch beside Joe, rubbing his face with both hands. "He's fed and tied up. Should be good for a while."

Joe glanced at him, smirking. "You look like you've been through a war."

Tong groaned. "Feels like it. Dealing with a hungry vampire is no joke."

Joe laughed, setting his book aside. "At least he didn't bite me."

Tong shot him a weary glare. "You're welcome, by the way."

Joe chuckled, clapping him on the shoulder. "Thanks, man. You're a real hero."

Tong snorted. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just try to have a normal evening for once, okay?"

Joe leaned back into the couch with a grin. "Sounds like a plan."

For a while, they sat in easy silence, the chaos of their lives momentarily forgotten. And for the first time in a long while, they almost believed they could handle the madness.