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“Next!”
Jimin takes a deep breath and steps forward, his copy of the new JK album clutched tight to his chest. He’s ready. Ready to meet his idol, and ready to prove what, up until now, has been nothing but a rumor.
But Jimin knows. Jimin’s known from the very beginning - and today, he’s going to settle his suspicions once and for all.
“Hi there! I'm Jeongguk!” JK greets him, tipping his head in a little bow. “Thanks for coming to my fansign,” he beams, hand briefly touching Jimin’s as he reaches for his album. “What’s your name?”
“Um. It’s, uh. Park Jimin.”
Jeongguk hums in acknowledgment, and starts flipping through Jimin’s photo book. “Anywhere you’d like me to sign?”
Jimin doesn’t answer, eyes flitting anxiously around the room.
Jeongguk gives him a friendly little wave. “Uh, Jimin-ssi? Hello? Did you .. maybe have a question for me?”
“Don’t worry, I won’t bite,” he adds with an encouraging smile.
That snaps Jimin back to attention. He straightens his posture. Right. He’s on a mission.
He licks his lips nervously. He checks to make sure no one’s watching, and leans in so only Jeongguk can hear.
“I know what you are.”
Jeongguk snorts. “This isn’t about that dog, is it? You all really think I’m not on Twitter, huh?” He drops his eyes back down to the album, hiding his smile. “But if it is, well.” He darts a glance up at Jimin, lifting an eyebrow in interest. “Same to you.”
Jimin thinks he blacks out for a second.
“N-no!” he splutters, once his brain comes back online. “That is not what I - well. I mean .."
Jeongguk snickers as Jimin tries to steer things back on track. “No. What I meant was .. I know what you really are.”
“Um .. a really cool guy?” Jeongguk's smile turns a little nervous. “With .. very normal, non-threatening fans?”
Jimin shakes his head, expression grim. “We both know that’s not the whole truth.”
Jeongguk glances back at his security guard.
Oblivious, Jimin clears his throat. “First!“ He holds up a finger. “You’re impossibly fast and strong.”
The idol relaxes at that, smirking. “Well,” he drawls, “I don’t know about impossibly ..”
“Second!” Jimin soldiers on. “Your skin is pale white and ice cold.”
Jeongguk makes a face. “I knew this was the wrong foundation,” he mutters under his breath. “And yeah, sorry about my hands.” He adds an apologetic wince, rubbing them together. “They are really blasting the aircon in here.“
Jimin frowns. “But your eyes change color.”
Jeongguk chuckles. “Those are contacts.”
“And sometimes.." Jimin checks the list in his hand. "..you speak like you’re from a different time.”
“That’s right.” Jeongguk grins, puffing out his chest. “I am Jeon Jeongguk. I have the face of a king.” He covers his mouth as he laughs. “You do know that’s a bit, right? Like .. a joke?” He props his chin on his fist and leans over the table, trying to get a peek at what Jimin’s reading from.
The fan continues. “You never eat or drink anyth-“
Jeongguk sits back and gives Jimin a blank look as he pulls out a bag of chips. He rustles around and pops one in his mouth with an exaggerated crunch, then takes a long, noisy slurp from the cup in front of him.
“Sorry, I never what?”
Jimin groans in frustration. “Okay, forget that one. But!” He shakes another accusing finger. “You always cover up when you go outside! What’s wrong with being out in the sunlight, hm?”
Jeongguk shrugs. “I mean, I kinda have to wear the hat and mask and sleeves and all when I go out. Otherwise I get recognized.” He keeps munching away at his chips.
Jimin glares at him. “Are you sure it’s not because your skin glitters??”
Jeongguk rubs his cheek and then squints at his fingers. “I think that’s the highlighter.”
Jimin opens his mouth to argue, then closes it in a huff. “Fine. Last question." He leans in dramatically. "How long have you been seventeen? ”
The idol narrows his eyes at Jimin, scanning over him like he’s trying to place something. “I’m .. not?” he says carefully. “I’m twenty four?” He reaches for his cup again. “You know Jimin-ssi, I get some weird questions, but yours are really out there."
Jimin’s shoulders slump. That was the end of his list. “Damn it,” he mumbles under his breath. “I was so sure this time..”
Jeongguk tilts his head cutely. “Sure of what?”
Jimin sighs, and points glumly at a page for Jeongguk to sign. “That you were, y’know.” He blushes a little. “.. A vampire.”
Jeongguk’s whole face scrunches into a smile. “Oh, that?”
Suddenly, he gasps, smacking both hands on the table. The chips go flying. “Oh! Oh my god, you - you were doing Twilight!” He lets out a high-pitched cackle, pounding the table again with his fist.
Jimin brushes his hair back nervously and tries to laugh along, embarrassed. “I guess it does sound a little ridiculous when you say it out loud.”
“Say it .. out loud,” Jeongguk glowers dramatically, before cracking up even harder.
“You’re too much, Jimin-ssi,” he says when he finally recovers, shaking his head with a wide smile. “I like you.” He scribbles something in the photo book and then claps it shut, sliding the album back across the table.
His icy hand brushes Jimin’s again. “Well, I’m sorry I failed your test.” He leans back and stretches, crossing his arms behind his head. “To be fair though, Twilight must’ve gotten at least some things right.” He winks.
Jeongguk’s eyes flash red as he takes another long sip of his .. drink. He tongues the straw with a teasing grin. “Nice meeting you, Jimin-ssi.”
“Next! ”
Jimin’s mouth falls open. All he can do is stand there, blinking in disbelief, until a staff member shows up to not-so-gently move him along.
“No - wait - ” Jimin protests weakly. He can see Jeongguk smirk as he starts talking to the next fan. Jimin fights back against the arm trying to shove him forward. “Wait! Wait! I-I was right! I knew it! I knew it!! ”
It’s as good a way as any to get thrown out of the fansign. When security appears behind him, Jimin raises his hands in defeat. He knows when he’s outnumbered. Better to leave while he still has the option.
***
Jimin has his head in his hands the entire train ride home. He stares blankly at the ground, just .. processing.
He’s sure of one thing - the world has to know the truth. But he doesn’t exactly have any more proof than when he started. And who’s going to believe him, anyway? His last 5 "why jeon jeongguk(JK) is a vampire [REAL]” threads didn’t exactly do numbers on twitter.
When he gets home, he throws himself onto the bed and lets out a frustrated scream into his pillow. After a long moment of questioning his existence and the entirety of life as he knows it, he sits back up, grinding his palms into his eye sockets.
He takes his JK album back out with a dramatic sigh, running his fingers along the cover. That’s when it strikes him.
He still doesn’t know what Jeongguk wrote in the photobook.
Holding his breath, he flips frantically to the page the idol signed, only to find .. nothing. Nothing out of the ordinary, at least; just a signature and a “thanks for being my fan, Jimin-ssi! - JK”. He smiles faintly. There’s a few extra little hearts, at least.
Jimin sags with disappointment. He doesn’t know what he was expecting, exactly. A signed confession?
That’s right, I, Jeon Jeongguk, am a vampire. Congratulations, Park Jimin, for being the only one to figure it out. Now you can tell all your friends that no, you’re not “delulu” - in fact, you must be the best supernatural detective in all of Korea! Really, I’m the one who should be your fan.
“Yeah, right,” he grumbles, rolling his eyes. “Get a grip, Jimin.”
He thumbs dejectedly through the rest of the pages. Each picture looks more smug than the last, one smoldering JK photo after another staring him down with that deadly smirk. Mocking him.
In the back of the photobook, there’s a little self-written profile. All the standard questions are there; most of the answers serious, some a little goofy. Favorite food, favorite song, favorite place to travel. It’s all printed out in Jeongguk’s handwriting, so at first Jimin doesn’t notice.
Then .. he spots it.
His heart nearly stops.
There’s something new written in at the bottom, the letters a little messier, ink still slightly shining on the page.
Favorite thing to do after a fansign, it reads. Stay back at the hotel bar for a “drink”.
And, right below it,
I won’t bite .. unless you like.
To top it all off is a long string of kekekes and a couple fanged smiley faces.
The book lands on the floor with a thud, immediately discarded, as Jimin whips out his phone.
40 000 won for a ride back to the hotel is more than a little insane, especially after bleeding his wallet dry to get in the fansign in the first place. But Jimin feels more than a little insane.
He rushes to the mirror, frowning as he runs a hand back through his hair. He’s not quite satisfied with his look from earlier, though at least he did dress to impress. But there’s no time now, not when the taxi could show up at any minute.
Unbuttoning his collar seems like a good idea. He quirks an eyebrow at his reflection. Maybe a little more wouldn't hurt.
Jimin squares his shoulders. This is an opportunity he can't afford to miss. He’s going back, and this time, he’s getting evidence.
And if it means getting a little up close and personal with Jeongguk .. well.
He’s tested, clean, healthy. Takes PreP. Gets plenty of iron in his diet. He has his tetanus and rabies shots, if that’s something he needs to worry about.
He’s always said he’d donate blood if he could - after all, he’s never been scared of needles. This wouldn’t be so different, just a little more .. personal. And his last boyfriend was big on hickeys, so really, he’s no stranger to getting his neck sucked on.
How bad could it possibly be?
***
It doesn’t take long to reach the hotel. He ducks his head as he enters the building, already seeing JK's face everywhere as he passes the numerous signs still up for the fan meet. Though the event is over, there’s plenty of security still hovering around the lobby. It's almost a relief - at least it means the idol hasn't left yet. But the last thing Jimin needs now is to get spotted. After all, he did make a pretty memorable exit.
He scans the room for any glimpse of the idol/vampire(??) as he makes his way towards the bar. There aren’t many people around; just a few scattered businessmen still in their suits - none of whom look even remotely like Jeongguk. But he does spot a couple fellow Kookies in the corner, perched on barstools and giggling over their purple cocktails. They aren't exactly hard to notice. One has a big fluffy pink bunny keychain hanging off of her backpack, and the other is dressed up in obvious JK-core from head to toe.
Jimin smacks his forehead. Of course. That’s what he should be looking for, plain black clothes and big ol’ stompers. Why on earth was he expecting to walk in and find Jeongguk lounging at the bar, swirling a glass of something red and decked out in a white ruffled shirt - and what else, a jeweled broach and goddamn cape?
He’s too caught up berating himself to notice as someone steps up behind him.
“Hello Jimin-ssi.”
He startles, and whirls around to meet a pair of dark eyes that look him over from head to toe. They flicker red - and it's only for a second, but up close like this he can be sure it’s not just a trick of the light.
There’s nothing dangerous about the way Jeongguk tucks his mask under his chin and smiles, despite the brief flash of too-sharp teeth. It’s nothing but friendly; and warm, even if the hand that comes to rest on Jimin’s upper arm isn’t. He sucks in a breath as Jeongguk leans in close and whispers,
“Here for a drink?”
And Jimin feels a lot like a lamb.
A stupid, stupid lamb.