HAPPY BIRTHDAY NIKA BASTARD!♥

Okay, here is the thing. I wanted to post this last night after you went to sleep so when you went to aff this morning this would have been a surprise for you. But being the idiot I am, I fell asleep during proofreading (yes, drooling on my keyboard and all). I'm really sorry about that!  
But aside from my stupidity, I hope that you will like this little birthday present. 

With lots of love, your sappy Mimi~

Maybe it was the delicious-looking blood running down his temple.

Maybe it were his fear-filled eyes that pleaded for help.

But maybe the reason why Hyukjae chose to take little Donghae under his wing was his radiating warmth.

Whatever it was, when the redhead found a certain boy one fateful winter night, parents being killed just a moment ago while open wounds demolished the younger's body and coloured his white pyjama red, Hyukjae knew that he didn't want the child to go through the same as he did.

Being alone in this wide world without having anyone to lean on was cruel a life.

And maybe—just maybe—staying by each other's side when they both had no one, they could fight the loneliness together.

o

Deep brown eyes were hidden behind closed lids which got adorned by curvy lashes, a pointy nose graced the face below and thin lips—so red and fleshy—reminded Hyukjae of what the boy owned but he himself lost a long time ago and never would be able to get back.

The younger's skin was so warm underneath his hand, the creature couldn't help but be fascinated.

What was it like to be alive? Hyukjae couldn't remember.

It's been too long, probably far too long.

And when he wiped the sleeping boy's tears away, his coldness causing the child's skin to crawl into goosebumps, he wished to be human again.

Just for this short moment. To give comfort.

o

"My mom is dead, right?" 

After days of trying to make the boy talk, eat or drink, those were the first words that left his mouth and Hyukjae couldn't help but physically flinch at them.

The redhead stopped searching through the huge bookshelf to turn around and face the younger who met his gaze with his piercing orbs that always were filled with uncertainty—however, there never was fear.

Hyukjae sighed and only nodded to answer the question.

"Was she murdered by those loan sharks? Dad, too?" the boy asked, his eyes never wavering.

Hyukjae nodded once again and took a step forward to see the child's reaction. When the younger didn't show any fright, he fully walked up to the armchair and knelt in front of it.

"Are you going to hurt me?" was the whisper that made Hyukjae chuckle softly, him laying a hand on top of the boy's that was placed on his lap and holding it tightly.

"Never," he replied in a gentle voice.

"Then you're going to protect me, right?" the younger questioned, dedicating his eyes to their hands when tears started to well up.

"With all my strength," the red-haired creature confirmed.

"Can you promise me that?" the boy sobbed with a quivering chin.

"I swear on my existence."

With that the child took Hyukjae's hand and pulled on it, the elder coming closer and to his surprised the younger wrapped his tiny arms around his neck and hugged him, not even flinching at his coldness.

Hyukjae awkwardly held him against his chest until he grew into the embrace and cradled the crying brunet into his arms. 

A gentle smile graced his lips at the other's wonderful warmth, him tightening the hug and caressing the child's head.

o

"Donghae, come here for a moment."

The said boy raised his head at the statement and curiously looked at the creature that sat in his office chair and arranged a stack of paper to place them into a drawer. 

Leaving the book he was reading behind and jumping down the black armchair, Donghae quickly went to the elder and climbed up to his lap when the redhead offered him it.

"See this letter here?" Hyukjae asked, showing the paper to the child who nodded. "I contacted your teacher and he replied you can continue going to school. Monday you will return, isn't that great?" he smiled but Donghae pouted.

"Do I really have to go there again?" he sulked, making Hyukjae chuckle.

"Of course you have to. How will you learn about the world otherwise?"

"Can't you just teach me? You know far more than my teachers either way," the brunet remarked while looking up to the elder.

"You may be right with that but still. Kids should go to school and you're no exception," Hyukjae pointed out and drew his fingers through Donghae's hair. 

"You just want me to experience something normal, right? Since I'm not growing up with my parents as other children do but with you? A Vamp-"

"-Donghae" Hyukjae interrupted him with a sigh. "I know what you're thinking and again you may be right with that, you smart rascal," he playfully pulled on the younger's brown locks which made the boy giggle before he continued. "But do me a favour and go to school, hmm?" 

Donghae heaved a dramatic breath and hugged the redhead's torso, resting his head against the firm chest and placing his ear over a non-beating heart.

"Fine, I will be a good boy. But only if you promise me that every time I come home there will be fish for lunch."

"But that would be every day except weekends?" 

"Exactly!" Donghae chirped in delight.

"Sneaky little brat," Hyukjae laughed, tickling the brunet and pretending to bite his neck.

Donghae squealed through his laughter while wiggling around, begging the latter to stop and promising he would behave from now on.

"Stop lying, we both know you won't," Hyukjae teased and as Donghae was about to escape from him, he quickly wrapped his arms around the child and brought him back against his chest. "But it's okay, I like you this way," he added softly which made the younger snuggle into his arms.

"I also like you the way you are," Donghae replied with a huge smile and the creature placed a tender kiss on his forehead.

"Thank you, my Donghae."

o

"Help! Hyukjae, help me!"

Donghae's cry echoed through their house, Hyukjae freezing in his spot for a second when an uncomfortable shudder went down his spine.

Black eyes turning red within his adrenalin rush, the redhead directly jumped onto his feet and dashed into the direction of the younger's voice, flinging the bathroom door open to stare wide-eyed at a jerking boy.

"What's wrong? What happened!?" Hyukjae exclaimed in panic, hectically going up to the bathtub and checking Donghae for any possible injuries while the younger rubbed his eyes.

 "It burns! Hyukjae it burns so badly!" Donghae wailed.

"Your eyes? Did you get shampoo in there!?" the elder asked in disbelief, the boy's crying being answer enough.

With a sigh he grabbed Donghae's arms and held them down to prevent him from rubbing even more, with his other hand he took the shower head and carefully rinsed the child's eyes.

When Donghae's weeping died down into soft sniffles Hyukjae stopped the water and brought the other closer with palms placed on each of the boy's cheek, gently running a thumb over his lids.

Slowly the brunet cracked his eyes open, blinking a few times before his vision became steady. He saw how Hyukjae's brows were furrowed in tension and he bit his lower lip harshly, concern all over his face and the most strikingly were his bloody-red orbs.

Reaching out his hand, Donghae traced a finger over the elder's skin, from his jawline to his temple while fascination gripped on all his nerves.

"What happened to your eyes?" the boy wondered out loud, making the creature chuckle as he brushed wet hair out of his face.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking that?" Hyukjae remarked and Donghae gave him a sheepish grin.

"Sorry for worrying you."

"No need to apologize for that. It can happen after all," the redhead soothed him, his own intensity slowly fading away, knowing that his little Donghae was alright. "Come on, let's get you out of here," Hyukjae added, snatching a towel from the nearby shelf and helping the child out of the tub to warp him into the fluffy cover.

With a smaller towel over Donghae's head, Hyukjae then ruffled the brown hair until they stopped tripping and the two males smiled at another when their gazes met.

"You're okay, right?" the younger inquired.

"I am now. I just was really worried," Hyukjae said with a relieved sigh. "I couldn't bear the thought of something happening to you, you know?" 

"I know. Next time I will be more careful," Donghae promised which made him earn a peck on the temple.

"Get dressed, I will bring the hairdryer," Hyukjae whispered against the child's skin and with a nod, Donghae did as he was told.

After the brunet was fully clothed, he went to his bed and sat between the redhead's legs who began to dry his damp locks while he himself cheerfully hummed a random melody.

Hyukjae smiled a wide smile at the younger's action, enjoying the sweet tune of Donghae's voice and being thankful for the latter's warmth that caressed his cold heart.

o

"Say, my Donghae. May I have a bite?" 

The first time Hyukjae asked this question while combing the said boy's hair, neck gracefully glowing within the morning sun, it was only meant as a joke.

But Donghae had turned around and after staring at him in what seemed stun, a boyish grin spread over his beautiful face. 

"I thought you would never ask!" was his answer, his explanation following right after of how he once dreamed about it and since then the thought of Hyukjae drinking his blood was super cool.

At first, Hyukjae didn't know what to make out of this statement.

Donghae dreamed about him? In this way? And he found it exciting?

However, after taking another look at the boy, Hyukjae reminded himself that Donghae was only a child.  They always had crazy dreams.

o

As Donghae walked out of the school building, Hyukjae knew that he had his head hung low to avoid any kind of eye contact, the tight grip around his bag handles not going unnoticed either.

Hyukjae also knew that his Donghae wasn't well liked among the other kids, being without parents and living with a scary man. 

The redhead hated that it was his fault for the boy's mockery, often playing with the thought of just taking him away from there and keep him all to himself. But Hyukjae didn't want to be selfish, being aware that banning Donghae from the only social contact he had would cause him to lock up his feelings. 

Even if the contact wasn't all too social. It was a part of the world after all.

So when Hyukjae had a small breakdown and would apologize to his beloved boy, Donghae would tell him that there was no need for an apology when he was the one who saved his life. 

And whenever the feeling of guilt was so strong that he started to question his presence next to Donghae's, the boy noticed it right away, would tug on Hyukjae's sleeve and as the elder knelt down Donghae embraced him with all his warmth.

"Hey, little Donghae," the redhead greeted the said boy who, as soon as he reached the other, hugged his legs and gave him a weak smile.

Hyukjae smiled back, tenderly brushing through the brown locks and eyes letting him know that it was okay.

Since no matter what, he would be by his side.

o

Euphoria.

Tasting Donghae's blood felt like euphoria.

And even though Hyukjae never intended to let this happen—it did.

It wasn't a problem when Donghae cut his finger while helping to prepare dinner. Hyukjae hadn't been one of those monsters that lost control as soon as they smelled blood, he could keep himself easily together.

But when Donghae came to stand in front of him, holding his finger out and asking if he wanted to try, the red-haired creature felt a little weaker than he normally did.

The boy's constant bugging wasn't any help to keep up his guard.

And eventually, Hyukjae gave in.

Once he did, he realized that he didn't only fulfil one of Donghae's childhood dreams but also one of his vampire ones.

Because Donghae's blood was the sweetest he had ever tasted and even within those few droplets he could feel warmth running through his body.

o

Hyukjae took slow and cautious steps, eyes concentrating on Donghae's back so he wouldn't give in to his anger and flare up.

It wasn't okay that Donghae's classmates picked on the boy, mocked and whenever they had the chance to.

What wasn't okay at all was when they got physically violent.

But what made him want to slash all of them open, rip their heads off and burn them into ashes was that they had the nerve to do it right in front of him, making him realize how much his little boy actually had to suffer.

"Donghae," he called calmly with an icy undertone.

The said child turned around and looked up to the red-haired creature with teary eyes, directly noticing the elder's way too unemotional expression.

"H-hyukjae," he sniffed and bit his lower lip to prevent the salty droplets from falling.

Hyukjae send him a short smile before he let it drop again, facing the younger's bullies which gawked at him with wide eyes.

"You," he said and pointed a finger at them, causing them to flinch in fear. "Stop it."

That was everything he said to make the kids back away, however, he saw how the tallest boy fought with himself whenever to speak up or not. Hyukjae raised a brow and tilted his head to the left, giving this exact kid a grin to bare his fangs.

"Anything you want to say?" he inquired and with that the boy's face went pale, hastily shaking his head before signalling his friends to run away.

After they were gone Hyukjae turned to Donghae and hugged him tightly while the brunet cried heavily into his chest.

"I'm sorry, my Donghae. I'm so sorry," he whispered into the boy's hair, closing his eyes as he felt guilt eating him up alive.

"Don't apologize when you did nothing wrong!" Donghae sobbed loudly through tears, pushing the elder away so he could look into the latter's eyes. "Hyukjae, don't say you're sorry because you really don't have to. They are the ones who should do that but not you! Not you when you're the one who loves me like no one else!"

Hyukjae stared at the short male, feeling as if his heart stopped another time.

Love? 

At the realisation a huge smile spread over his face, him bringing the brunet back into a tight embrace and kissing his temple over and over again.

That's right. He loved Donghae.

o

As time went by and Donghae grew older, Hyukjae realized that some things started to change. 

Not only became the boy taller, the redhead not having to kneel down anymore so they could hug. Not only he became heavier which made it harder for Hyukjae to let him sit on his lap. Not only his voice became deeper, the squeaking during their tickle-fights being not all too hurtful. 

Which was the most noticeable to Hyukjae was that his once little Donghae became even more beautiful.

But then again, Hyukjae thought as he watched the sleeping boy beside him, some things would never change.

Those deep brown eyes, always meeting his own when he searched for them—not once having shown fear but only fondness, the pointy nose which now was sharper but still graced the face with cuteness and lastly the thin lips, red as ever and constantly spreading into a breathtaking smile.

o

Donghae laughed loudly as he ran through the office, a red-haired creature chasing after him with an incredible speed. As the other almost caught up with him, the brunet decided to leave the room, dashing down the hallway and aiming for the stairs.

Once he jumped down the first three steps, he shortly flung around to look out for his chaser only to miss the fourth step and lose his balance. Donghae stumbled, fell down five of the steps and before he could hit even more his body was lifted up and got carried into the living-room.

There he was placed onto the soft couch, a worried Hyukjae hovering over him while checking his limbs for any injuries.

"God damn, Donghae. Why you have to be so clumsy, huh?" the elder hissed, reaching out for the younger's arm which made the other whimper in pain. 

"I'm sorry," the brunet mumbled sheepishly.

"I don't have to tell you that you don't have to be, right?" Hyukjae pointed out and stood up to leave the room, after a moment returning with a plaster in his hand.

Donghae nodded to answer the latter which earned him a tender pat on the head.

"Give me your arm," Hyukjae ordered and he did as he was told, biting his lip at the hurtful sting. "Can I?" the redhead watched the younger for a moment and once the boy gave him a smile, Hyukjae dared his tongue out to the dripping blood away. 

He then took the plaster and placed it over the wound, carefully running his thumb over it for soothing.

"It's not all too serious but you can bet you will have a nasty bruise for the next few weeks," Hyukjae informed the younger who wrinkled his nose in a huff.

"So not cool," Donghae sulked as he eyed his bandaged arm.

Hyukjae tried to suppress laughter at the boy's cuteness, covering it up with coughing and casually running his fingers through the other's smooth hair.

"At least you have me to patch you up again," he mocked which made Donghae hit his shoulder softly.

"You may be right with that," the brunet used Hyukjae's sentence and continued with a huge grin, "and I'm very glad it's you by my side."

o

When Donghae transferred to another school and found his very first friend, Hyukjae couldn't help but feel a little weird on the inside.

Of course he was more than happy that the brunet wouldn't cry anymore as soon as he got home after school but somehow the redhead started to miss the feeling of having his boy in his arms and being the one to soothe him.

Hyukjae started to miss picking Donghae up in general since now he walked with his friend, sometimes even spending his day at the other's place.

And Hyukjae hated it.

It wasn't the friend he disliked, he met Sungmin more than once and the boy was really sweet and caring, but it was the fact that he himself had to stay alone in their house, waiting until Donghae would finally return.

He hated the feeling of being alone.

But most of all he hated the feeling of not being the only one who was precious to Donghae.

o

"Hyukjae, I miss you," Donghae mumbled into the fabric of the said male's shirt, latching himself onto the elder's back.

Hyukjae laughed at the statement as he switched off the heat of the stove and placed a bowl of soup aside.

"What do you mean you miss me? We live together, Donghae," he pointed out only to cause the boy to whine childishly.

"You know what I mean!"

"No, not really," Hyukjae confessed, turning around within the younger's hold to face him. "I honestly don't get what you're talking about," he chuckled at the pout gracing Donghae's lips, tugging a strand of brown hair behind the boy's ear.

"Well, you've been pretty busy with work lately, at least that's what I think since you're an awfully a lot in your office. And I've been spending quite many days with Sungmin," Donghae explained.

"You know you're always welcome in my office, Donghae. And I thought you like your friend?" the elder inquired with a raised brow and cupped the brunet's left cheek with his palm.

"When I'm in your office I have to be quiet. But I can't be quiet so you will only end up scolding me. And I do like Sungmin but sometimes he's annoying. I need a little time-out from him every now and then," Donghae sighed heavily which made Hyukjae roll his eyes mockingly. "Besides!" the younger then straightened up, locking his hands behind the elder's nape. "I like spending time with you more. You're far better than anyone else!" 

At this, the redhead smiled down to the brunet and placed a long kiss on his forehead.

"That's because I always baby you so much and you won't have to do anything," he reasoned but Donghae puffed his cheeks in disagreement.

"Not true and you know that," the boy muttered and Hyukjae laughed again.

"My little Donghae, why are you so adorable?" he teased, another kiss was given to the brunet who pressed himself closer to the creature.

"Don't joke around, I know you like it!"

o

Donghae once asked what Hyukjae was to him.

The redhead honestly needed a moment to think of an answer.

Because really, what was he to Donghae?

And what was Donghae to him?

That day they settled down on family. They were another's family.

But Hyukjae couldn't understand the somewhat unsatisfied feeling on that.

o

"Do you know what Sungmin said to me today?" Donghae spoke up and broke the silence, Hyukjae looking at him over his papers. "He said that I would love you," he continued, bringing his legs onto the armchair to hug them against his chest.

"Of course you do. If you wouldn't I would kick you out right now," Hyukjae replied with a teasing smile but let it drop when the younger's face remained oddly stern.

"Not in the way you think, Hyukjae."

"Oh," the redhead stated dumbly, laying down the documents and giving all his attention to the brunet. "And how did he get the idea?"

"Well..." Donghae sighed while fiddling his fingers. "He told me he liked this girl, Saeun. She's a year younger than us and he wanted to confess to her tomorrow. So he asked me for advice but I told him that I had no idea about dating which shocked him, let's say quite a lot? Apparently, he thought we were... dating."

There was a moment of quietness as the two males stared at each other, Donghae soon breaking the eye contact and looking down onto his hands.

"Oh," let Hyukjae out once more, blankly gazing up to the ceiling to collect himself.

When he did, he went to the younger, knelt in front of him, took the other's chin between two fingers and raised Donghae's head.

"And what do you think about this?" he questioned in a gentle voice.

"I...don't know," Donghae answered honestly, pressing his lips into a thin line as he watched the creature in front of him closely.

"Then tell me when you thought about it?" Hyukjae asked and when the boy gave him a nod, he smiled softly and went back to his desk.

o

"Hyukjae!" Donghae called as he bursted into the kitchen, breathing heavily.

"Hey, I thought you were at Sungmin's?" the redhead wondered out loud and raised a brow at the other's state.

"I was but I needed to tell you something so I ran here," the younger reasoned through panting.

"I can see that you did but why? You could have told me once I picked you up" Hyukjae chuckled, confused.

"But it's really really important!" Donghae exclaimed and walked through the room, halting in front of the elder who sat on the other side of the kitchen counter.

"Donghae, calm down. You look as if you would get a heart attack," tried Hyukjae to soothe him but the said male shook his head.

"I can't calm down and I probably will get a heart attack."

"What are even talking abo-" his words got cut when a pair of thin lips pressed themselves against his own and as soon as they came, they left again.

"I love you, Hyukjae," Donghae whispered, face still close that the elder could feel his warm breath on his skin. "But now I quickly need to get my stuff from Sungmin's house because I came here without them," he added in fast words and before the dazed Hyukjae could make a sound or a movement, the brunet dashed out of the room while giggling.

o

"Say, my Donghae. May I have a bite?" Hyukjae asked, a grin tugging on his lips to reveal sharp fangs as he held the said boy within his arms and traced a forefinger over the smooth skin of the younger's neck.

"Of course you can," Donghae answered in a whisper while playing with the elder's bloody red hair, leaning against the broad chest to embrace the other's icy cold.

The End