Work Text:
Jungkook had a normal uneventful life. He went to school, a Sophomore in college, he worked part time at a café during the week and full time on weekends. There was nothing spectacular about his life.
Oh yeah, he also happens to be a ghoul.
Jeon Jungkook was in fact a ghoul, had been for a while now. He was so used to his life as a ghoul that everyday felt completely mundane.
Jungkook worked with ghouls as well. Remember that café? Yes, it was run by ghouls. It was a place where ghouls would come to have coffee, meet up and such. It was also a place where very few (unaware) humans would visit. It was a peaceful establishment and Jungkook liked it that way.
He liked when things stayed relaxed and normal. He didn't have time to be caught up in foolish escapades like some of his fellow ghouls his age. Not with the CCG hovering over their heads. No, Jungkook would rather live quietly thank you.
Speaking of said peaceful establishment, Jungkook should be headed there now. His music class had just ended, and he had thirty minutes to make it there on time. Luckily, the café wasn't too far from his college, so he could walk and still make it in time.
As he walked, Jungkook noted the light breeze in the air, the soft white clouds in the blue sky. These were his favorite days, nice calm days. He swears he could live off days like this alone.
Grrr
Oh.
Well, maybe not.
'When was the last time I ate?' Jungkook asked himself mentally, hand going to rub at his abdomen.
Jungkook hadn't ate in maybe three weeks. Since two months is the maximum amount of time a ghoul can go without eating, Jungkook was kind of pushing it. Truth be told, Jungkook wasn't like other ghouls. He didn't take satisfaction from binge eating like some, nor did he take much pleasure in eating regularly.
No, Jungkook didn't really enjoy eating humans at all, really. He figured he only did it because he didn't want to die, or go crazy, for one. Jungkook liked humans, he found them fascinating.
Well, the ones that didn't want him dead were fascinating at least.
Jungkook sighed as he walked into the café he's been working at for two years now, and was greeted by his good friend, and fellow ghoul, Taehyung.
"Jungkook, there you are!" Taehyung called as soon as the other stepped foot into the café. He was in front of Jungkook in a flash, his dark brown eyes incredibly wide and mouth set in a pout in his signature 'puppy dog eyes' face and Jungkook could only sigh as he moved past him and towards the back to get changed into his uniform.
Taehyung was not easily deterred however, and so he followed Jungkook to the employee lockers.
"What do you want this time Tae?" Jungkook sighed out once he saw that the other was not planning on giving up anytime soon. Clearly he wanted something from Jungkook.
"Me and Hobi were having a debate- nice abs by the way, you should totally let me smash- and I need you to help me prove him wrong!" Taehyung said in one breath as Jungkook stripped himself of his white T-shirt, exposing his upper body. Jungkook turned to Taehyung with an incredulous look.
"Did you just? You know what, never mind. Fuck off Tae, I'm not in the mood for another one of you and Hoseok's "disagreements"." Jungkook said, using air quotes when saying disagreements. Taehyung pouted.
"Well who pissed on your liver this morning?" Taehyung mumbled. Jungkook scoffed.
"The saying is, "Who pissed in your cereal this morning", Taehyung." He said, reaching for his black pants that were part of his uniform and sliding them on, tucking his white button down shirt into the slacks.
"You don't eat cereal, now do you? But you love liver." Taehyung explained as a matter of factly. Jungkook sighed, closing his locker door.
"I'll have you know, liver isn't the only part I love." He said, turning to Taehyung.
"I know, you also like arms. Oh, and thighs. You really like thighs. It's weird to be honest." Taehyung said. Jungkook stared at him. They were talking about cannibalism, and the fact that Jungkook likes to eat thighs is what's weird?
"Learn your damn idioms." Jungkook said before turning and heading back to the front to start his shift.
Jungkooks shift went by rather smoothly, before he knew it the café was closing, and the last few customers were leaving. Jungkook finally sat down, sighing out. He was feeling exhausted, which wasn't normal.
"When was the last time you ate, kid?" It was Yoongi, another coworker. He came off rather cold and harsh, but once you got to know him, you find that he's a good guy. Jungkook turned away from Yoongi's prying eyes.
"I dunno, a few days ago." He mumbled his answer to the older ghoul, avoiding his piercing stare. It was silent until Taehyung and Namjoon, the owner of the café, came over to see what was going on. Even Seokjin, (a ghoul who was really close with Namjoon) who just stayed in his corner of the café reading books during working hours, turned to look at them.
"What's up over here?" Taehyung asked, looking back and forth between Jungkook and Yoongi, noting Jungkook wouldn't look up from the table he was sat at.
Grrrrr
'Fuck.' Jungkook thought, face heating up in embarrassment. What wonderful timing his stomach had.
"I knew you hadn't ate lately. No wonder you were so irritable earlier." Taehyung spoke.
"I'll ask again. When was the last time you ate?" Yoongi questioned again. Jungkook stayed silent.
"Jungkook..." Namjoon began, looking at the younger ghoul in worry.
"Three weeks, it's been three weeks ok? Are you happy?" Jungkook exclaimed. He stood to his feet after a beat of silence.
"I'm going home, I have homework to finish." He muttered as he went to the back to change out of his uniform and retrieve his things. He hurriedly stripped himself of his uniform and put on his normal clothes.
Why did he have to eat people? He didn't want to eat people for fucks sake. He liked humans, wanted them to like him. He hated living like this. He tried, he tried to eat human food. He tried and it always ended the same, a trip to the bathroom and vomit on his chin. A part of Jungkook hated being a ghoul. Hated not being able to live his life like humans, not being able to find love and have a family.
Well he could, there were humans who actually dated ghouls, married, even had a child or two. But that was so rare, he'd have a better chance at winning the lottery than experiencing that kind of life.
And what's worse, Jungkook found the same sex much more attractive, therefore his chances were even slimmer.
'I hate this...' Jungkook thought, dropping his head against his locker with a loud thudding clank.
The door to the employee room opened and Jungkook whipped his head in the direction of the door to see Namjoon walking in, a rather large white bag in his hand. He came to a stop in front of Jungkook and extended the bag to the younger.
"Here. It's your dinner for tonight. Seokjin told me to tell you he said you better eat every last bit." Namjoon said. Jungkook looked between Namjoon and the bag with wide eyes. He could smell it, in the bag, it was his favorite, liver and thigh and there was enough to last Jungkook a while. How can he not accept it when such a delicious smell was wafting from the bag in front of him?
Jungkook raised a shaking, hesitant hand and reached for the bag, fighting internally about whether one more day of not eating would be alright or not. Luckily for Jungkook, Namjoon made the decision for him by grabbing his hand and wrapping it firmly around the handles of the white bag.
"Jungkook. I know. I know you hate it." Namjoon spoke in a tone so understanding that tears began to prick at the corners of Jungkooks' eyes.
"But, you have to endure it. If you don't eat now, you will undoubtedly do something you regret soon. So please, eat." Namjoon pleaded, and Jungkook nodded if only to just get out of the room already. He was going to break down any second now, and he was tired damnit. He just wanted to go home, not end up a sobbing mess on the floor of the employee room.
Once Namjoon let him go, Jungkook hurriedly exited the café, returning the wave Taehyung had sent him on his way out.
Once out in the fresh air, Jungkook breathed comfortably. It was dark out now, no doubt almost midnight. He walked, heading in the direction of his one bedroom apartment, firmly clutching the white bag in his hand. As he continued on his way, he came up on an alley. He always walked by this alley on his way home, never stopping to peek into the narrow side street. But this time, as he approached the alley, he heard a scream, rather high in pitch, and against his better judgement, he peeked into the alleyway.
What Jungkook saw was what looked like a boy, being attacked by a ghoul.
Any other person would've probably walked away, it's not uncommon to see ghouls cornering humans in alleyways on this side of town after all. But for some reason, Jungkook was running into the alley to help the boy.
"Hey!" Jungkook called, trying to get the ghouls attention. Upon closer look, it was clear that the other ghouls kagune had sprouted out from under his shoulder blades, poised to kill the human in a spilt second. The ghoul looked up into Jungkooks' eyes and Jungkook could see the hunger in the others face, eyes black and pupils red.
Jungkook didn't want to fight, and for multiple reasons. He was tired, his kagune was a Rinkaku which was definitely stronger against the other who had a Kokaku, and Jungkook really just wanted to help the human with minimal friction from the opposing ghoul.
Jungkook glanced down at the human who was pinned to the ground, a male, and he was staring at Jungkook with fear clear in his eyes. Jungkook had to do something.
"What do you want? Can't you see I'm busy?" The guy grunted. Clearly the other wasn't as hunger crazed as Jungkook had initially thought. Jungkook raised up his hands in surrender. He looked at the bag in his hand and back at the ghoul in front of him.
"Uh, I just. Wanna make a trade?" Jungkook asked. The other looked at him in confusion, and Jungkook shook the bag he had in his hand.
"This bag is full of fresh human, you can have it. Just, let that one go." Jungkook said. The ghoul narrowed his eyes, clearly not wanting to accept Jungkooks' offer. The ghoul instead wrapped a hand around the humans throat, squeezing. The boy began thrashing about, trying to stop the hand from cutting off his oxygen by clawing at it but it had no real effect. Jungkook mildly panicked.
"No, look, see how that guy is fighting back? Do you really want to deal with that? Come on, I know you're hungry right now, taking this will be a lot easier right? So here, let him go and have this." Jungkook persuaded, and he held his breath as he saw the other ghoul waver. There was a pause, and then the ghoul was up and off the human boy, coming towards Jungkook.
Jungkook kept the bag extended out in front of him and the ghoul took it, walking past him. And without another word, he was gone. Jungkook sighed in relief, glad he avoided a fight. He hated fighting as well. All of the people he's gone against have all met the same deadly fate, and their deaths weigh on Jungkooks' conscience from time to time, when he starts thinking too much. Even though Jungkook has never started any of the altercations, he still feels remorse for those he's killed.
'At least I saved that guy.' Jungkook thought, looking up to see the boy was now sat upright, staring at Jungkook. His face showed terror as Jungkook walked closer to him, and he even tried to back away. Jungkook stopped walking.
Upon closer look, Jungkook could see the boys features clearly. Chestnut brown locks and a smooth round face with equally round cherub-like cheeks, small button nose and pink lips that looked as soft as rose petals. Despite the small scratches, and bits of blood, Jungkook thought the boy looked absolutely beautiful.
Delicious
Jungkook shook his head before meeting the others eyes. He tried to appear as harmless as he could, he really didn't want to frighten the boy even more.
"Uhm, hi. Do you...do you live nearby? You should be getting home now. I can walk you if you want?" Jungkook asked, mentally scolding himself for the last comment. Why would this guy want to be anywhere near another ghoul after he was just attacked?
The boy just stared at Jungkook for a brief moment before shaking his head slightly. Jungkook looked at him in confusion. The boy opened his mouth to speak.
"I don't have a home anymore. I'm alone..." He said solemnly, and Jungkook had just noticed the state the others clothes were in, he did indeed look as if he had no home.
"You can come live with me." Jungkook blurted, surprising not only the boy but himself as well. Was he crazy? Was he really going to invite a human into his home? To live? And they didn't even know one another!
The boy looked utterly torn. He clearly didn't think living with a ghoul was a good idea, but he had no where to go. But, this ghoul did just save his life.
After a minute of silence, the boy nodded slightly, deciding to go along with Jungkook. The boy had nowhere else to go, and no one else for that matter. He had nothing to lose.
"You want to...come with me?" Jungkook asked, mildly surprised and the other nodded again, this time more firmly. Jungkook gulped. He didn't think the guy would accept. What should he do now?
"W-What's your name?" Jungkook asked as he extended a hand to help the boy up. The boy looked up at Jungkook, beautiful brown orbs meeting Jungkooks' dull grey, almost black, eyes.
"Jimin..." He mumbled.
"Well, hi Jimin. My name is Jungkook." Jungkook introduced himself politely.
Jungkook then led them back to his apartment, holding Jimin's hand as he showed the way, and suddenly Jungkook felt a little bit less like a ghoul.
~•°•°•~
It had been two weeks since the incident in the alley when Jungkook picked up Jimin. It felt much longer than that, but you know what they say. Time flys when you're having fun, and that's exactly what Jungkook and Jimin had been having.
"Jungkook, shouldn't you be leaving for work now?" It was Jimin, coming from the bathroom wearing a pair of Jungkooks' shorts and one of his hoodies. Jungkook was watching tv in the small living room of his one bedroom apartment. He looked at Jimin, face warming.
'He's really cute!' Jungkook thought. He turned, coughing into his hand.
"Yeah, yeah. We really gotta go buy you some clothes soon." Jungkook feigned annoyance as he stood from the couch. Jimin pouted.
"But I like wearing your clothes." Jimin mumbled. If Jungkook had been drinking coffee, he'd probably have spat it out.
"Aren't you supposed to be older than me? You act like a kid, you know." Jungkook said, trying to brush off Jimins' statement.
The night Jungkook brought Jimin home, he questioned him about as much as he could without offending the other. He learned that Jimin was 21 to Jungkook's 20, and that Jimin's mom had died when he was young and that he lived with his father. Unfortunately, Jimin's father was a gambler and often lost large amounts of money, so after Jimin graduated high school, he had to skip college and started working. However, his father had bet their home on a game of cards and lost. Jimin hadn't seen his father since.
"Hey! I'm not that much older than you, don't make me sound like I'm older than I am!" Jimin exclaimed, running and tackling Jungkook with all his might, sending them both back down to the couch.
Jimin rolled over, resting his head in Jungkook's lap and bringing his legs up, causing the shorts to rid up to his thighs, putting them on full display. Jungkook's gaze went straight to them and he gulped. Between school, work, and now Jimin, he still hasn't ate since the night he met the other, and he gave away his dinner that night two weeks ago. It's been five weeks now.
Just a bite...
Jungkook shook his head. No. He wouldn't eat Jimin, no way. Really, in the two weeks that they've gotten to know each other, Jungkook would say that Jimin is a very special person to him. Jimin made Jungkook feel like he was human and not some kind if monster. He wouldn't eat Jimin.
Being with Jimin made Jungkook rethink everything. He could be thinking about going out to find some poor human to eat, but then he looked at Jimin and he remembered the night they met and he would feel terrible. Namjoon would tell him that he can't help it, that's just the way he has to live, that's how all ghouls have to live, eating humans. But Jungkook wouldn't be able to live with himself if he ever again brought human into his home while Jimin lived under the same roof.
So, maybe he'd eat at work. Yeah, he'd just remember to eat at work. That would work. Right?
"Jungkook?" Jungkook looked down at Jimin and saw the worry in his eyes. He sat up, not breaking eye contact with Jungkook.
"You're salivating...and your eyes changed again..." Jimin muttered. Jungkook's eyes widened in surprise. Had he been that affected? How hungry was he really?
"O-Oh, sorry." Jungkook apologized, grabbing a tissue from the tissue box on the coffee table.
"Jungkook, have you been eating?" Jimin asked suddenly, a tone to his voice that Jungkook couldn't decipher. Or that he didn't want to.
"Y-Yeah, don't worry. I told you, I eat at my job remember?" Jungkook said with a chuckle.
Liar.
Jungkook stood up from the couch.
"Well, I should be heading out now or I'll be late." Jungkook said, heading to the door hurriedly.
You will regret this.
Jungkook ran all the way to work. He didn't want to eat Jimin.
~•°•°•~
It was half a week later and Jungkook was teetering the very edge. He hadn't ate at work, or home. He skipped class for the last two days. He's exhausted but he's been working overtime at the café because he doesn't trust himself to be alone with Jimin for more than a few hours at a time. He's been raising red flags left and right, his eyes turning that black and red with just a wiff of human, hands shaky as they poored coffee for expectant customers.
"Jungkook, are you alright? You don't look too good." It was Hoseok. Jungkook looked up from his shoes. He'd been taking his break in the employee room. He should be getting back to work, he's working another long shift today.
"M'alright." He mumbled, standing and sending Hoseok a half hearted smile before he left and headed back to the front.
He was greeted by Seokjin, sitting at the bar where they made the drinks for the customers.
"Hey, Jungkook. You've been working an awful lot lately." The older ghoul stated and Jungkook shrugged.
"Are you working super hard for your human boyfriend at home? Jimin's his name right? You should bring him in sometime!" Taehyung exclaimed from the coffee machine on the other side of the bar island.
"So you can sniff at him? No way. And he's not my boyfriend..." Jungkook said. Seokjin snickered.
All of Jungkook's coworkers knew about Jimin after Jungkook told Taehyung and he blabbed to them about almost immediately. Jungkook had no idea why he even told the loud mouth.
"Jungkook. Maybe you should take the night off. You've been working really hard lately." Namjoon said as he approached them, he had just set an order down in front of a female ghoul and her daughter. They frequented this café, Jungkook noted a while ago.
"What? No, I'm fine I don't-" Jungkook began to protest, but Namjoon spoke up.
"That wasn't a question. Just take the night off." He said, and Jungkook met his eyes, trying to display that he didn't need time off, but the tiredness was set deep in his bones, and he sighed. Maybe one day wouldn't hurt. He'd be ok going home early today. He could withstand being around Jimin. He wouldn't hurt Jimin.
"By the way, make sure you eat before you head home, you look starved." Seokjin commented worriedly.
There's food at home
Jungkook let out a forced chuckle, nodding at Seokjin, before he headed back to the employee room where Hoseok was, still enjoying his break. He shared a few words with Hoseok, telling him he was headed home early and afterwards he bid his farewells to Hoseok and the others before stepping outside into the night.
The walk home seemed longer than usual for some reason, but Jungkook ignored it. He got to his apartment easily, was unlocking the door and stepping inside. The lights were off, of course. Jimin must've been asleep in Jungkook's room. Jungkook didn't share his bed with Jimin, not because he didn't want to but because he didn't trust himself lately.
You smell that don't you
As Jungkook neared the living room, he could smell Jimin before he saw him. He was laying on the couch with his head propped up on his hand, nodding off only to wake up again once his head fell too far forward. He woke up fully once he heard Jungkook near him.
He looks so delicious
"Oh, Jungkook! You're back early." Came Jimin's voice as he looked to see the other standing at the other end of the couch. He stood as well, facing Jungkook.
Just a bite
"I have something I um...I really wanna talk to you about, Jungkook." Jimin added, a blush coming to his cheeks as he stared at his hands.
More than a bite
"Jungkook?" Jimin turned to look at Jungkook again when he didn't get a response.
Yes, much more than a bite
It all happened so fast. Jungkook had tackled Jimin, and they tumbled to the floor, Jungkook hovering above the smaller, pinning Jimin's hands to the floor. Jimin was shocked as he looked up into the eyes of Jungkook, but they weren't dull grey. They were black and red.
And Jimin knew exactly why.
"J-Jimin, I..." Jungkook began. He was struggling, he was battling with himself. He didn't want to eat Jimin. He can't eat Jimin. He can't.
Eat him
"Jungkook....it's ok." Jimin said suddenly. Jungkook stared at him with wide eyes.
"Jungkook...the short time that we've been together has been some of the best days of my life...thank you for saving me..." Jimin began, and Jungkook felt tears pricking at the back of his eyes because why, why was Jimin talking like this was the end? Jungkook wouldn't eat him, he won't. He can't.
Eat him
"Jungkook I...what I wanted to say was...I like you, so...it's ok.." Jimin said, tears already falling from his eyes as he spoke. They both knew how this would end.
"At least you didn't waste money on buying me clothes." Jimin said with a sad chuckle, and Jungkook wanted to scold him for such morbid humor at a time like this. This wasn't funny, it wasn't ok, he would not eat Jimin. He can't.
Eat him
"Jimin I-I..." Jungkook wanted to say it too, he wanted to say how much he'd cone to like Jimin. How much his smile meant to him, how much his laugh brightened up the day. Jimin smiled knowingly. He slipped his hands from Jungkook's loosened grip and held his face before bringing him down to the spot where his neck met his shoulder.
"I know, Jungkook....so it's ok...it's ok.." Jimin said, closing his eyes.
Jungkook breathed in and
Eat him
And he did. He bit down in that spot, right into Jimin's jugular vein. And he chewed and he swallowed. He cried.
He cried as he devoured Jimin, ate him bit by bit, on his living room floor. Jungkook never ate a whole human before but he'd eat all of Jimin. He'd eat every last bit of him, take him in completely.
Jungkook never sobbed so hard in his life as he did on this night that he ate Jimin, heart and all.