"What are you two doing back here?" Baekhyun gasped, his hand reaching for his chest where his heart was pulsing quickly against his ribcage. Standing before him were the boy who he had just met and Lay, both of them were out of breath and their clothings was dishevelled. "Actually forget that I asked that question and answer another, what are the both of you doing together?" 

"I actually have known Chanyeol for a long time!" Yixing claimed with a broad smile pulling on his lips, his arm straining as it wrapped around the Prince's larger shoulder. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that Chanyeol had really taken a stretch since he had been gone but Lay didn't allow it to effect him, on the outside at least. "I used to babysit him when he was younger." 

"Your high voice clearly makes me believe you" Baekhyun deadpanned, looking at his professor in the eye before turning his attention back to Chanyeol, a shy smile on his lips. "if you give me a few more minutes my shift will be over and you can bring me on that date you offered?" 

"No!" Lay shouted shaking his head dramatically from side to side, he only stopped when he realised how protective he was sounding over Baekhyun and even though he was, he couldn't let the latter know of it. "I mean, why don't the both you of you come back to my apartment where it's safe and we can chat and keep safe!" 

"You're acting really weird hyung, are you okay?" Baekhyun asked with a brow raised so high that it disappeared in his bangs. "Like you said yourself you know Chanyeol therefore you can trust him when he takes me out on a date." 

"Yixing is right I think it would be best if we reschedule our date Baekhyun, something has come up and I wouldn't mind joining the two of you on your way back home. If that's okay with you of course." The prince offered the human a small smile, content that he was able to keep what happened in the allyway under wraps. 

"Whose Yixing?" Baekhyun felt like he was asking a silly question but he had never heard that name in his life. 

"Oh right, Yixing is my Chinese name. I changed my name to Lay when I got involved in teaching since I figured it would be easier to pronounce to my students." Lay clarified with a shy smile. 

Baekhyun looked between the two boys standing straight in front of him, there was clearly something up but since he was too tired to think through all the possibilites Baekhyun simply shrugged his shoulders and wiped his clammy hands into the apron on his waist. "Alright" he nodded his head. "I'll be done in about five minutes?" 

"Sounds perfect." Chanyeol grinned. Baekhyun went to step out from the storage room but quickly halted in his steps after he realised that the two men behind him hadn't moved an inch. "Oh we'll just follow you out in a moment!" 

"I regret allowing you both to meet." the barista muttered as he rolled his eyes on his way out of the storage room, he left the door open for them but a quick trip thanks to their vampire speed allowed both of men to crash into it forcing it back into the frame with a powerful thud. 

"That was close" Yixing panted, resting his hands against the wood. He found it oddly theraputic seeing as how cool it felt against his hot skin, the amount of exercise he had underwent was a lot, it just proved that he had given into his chill human life a little too easily. In fact the meeting of the group of rebel vampires had Yixing awaking from his fairytale state that he thought he was in, as long as he was alive he needed to look over his shoulder encase Kris' guards snuck up when they realised that he was still kicking even in his old age. "we almost got caught!" 

"You're the one that wanted us to go back to your apartment when Baekhyun had no idea that he was just targeted by rebel vampires, we took care of them and I could have protected him if we did go out on our date." Chanyeol's words were muffled since his forehead had found a new home pressed against the cool wood of the door, like his former protector Chanyeol felt relaxed from the chilled oak. "But I respect your decision, going back to your apartment would be the best option for us since no vampire will be allowed in unless they're invited inside." 

"You can access my apartment since I'm the one that owns it but Baekhyun's apartment is in his own name, he'll have to give you permission to enter." Yixing explained briefly to the prince who simply hummed his responce. "On another matter, I see that you've improved greatly since the last time I've seen you!" 

"That's because the last time that you've seen me I was like a toddler and could barely walk around without stumbling although not much as changed, I'm still quite clumy on my feet." Chanyeol joked turning his head so that he was able to look at his former protector. "I'm pretty sure the only thing that has changed about me is that I've grown taller and I can speak a little better than before." 

"Well the height is a definite" Yixing laughed pressing the palm of his hand against his own head before drawing it out in an imaginary line only to see that his height brought him to the Prince's lips at most. "and what of Jongin?" 

"He's about your height, my brother has grown but I still have some advantange on him." Chanyeol winked backtracking from the door and standing in the centre of the room, his eyes locking on the window looking out into the café's car park. 

"What's on your mind Chanyeol?" Yixing wondered cautiously taking small steps in the Prince's direction. 

"He's my mate Yixing, I'm sure you remember how crazed I was when I was first connected with him. I have so many questions as to how he's been alive for a hundred years since that's how long I've felt his bond, I'm worried that I might not be able to keep him safe, I'm worried what could happen to him if I do get involved in his life, I'm terrified that he'll think that I'm nothing more than a monster." The doubts and worries flooded out of Chanyeol's mouth like a river flooding it's banks. "What if he figures that there is no way that he could give us a chance, what if he does give us a chance but realises that he could never love me. He's too good for me already Yixing, I can't drag him into my family not with them the way they are!" 

"Chanyeol" Yixing called finally approaching and resting the palms of his hands on the Prince's shoulders, he stared at him in the eye. "you're getting ahead of yourself here, let's just focus on getting you and Baekhyun properly aquated besides he loves everything about myths and legends and I can recall a moment where he talked to me about vampires, I can remember it quite well because I froze when he talked about it." 

"Well that makes me feel a littl better," the prince admitted after taking a deep breath to steady his racing heart. "I'm sorry that he's my mate Yixing. I know how protective you have been with him for the past couple years and I'm really grateful that you managed to keep my mate safe until we met, but I also want to apologise because the life you've grown to know will be destroyed no matter how hard I attempt to keep it the same." 

Yixing's lips pressed into a thin smile as he nodded his head, his grip on Chanyeol's shoulder tighting ever so slightly. "I was gitting bored of my life as a human anyway," he laughed looking up at the prince again to show that he was sincere. "I appreciate your apology your highness but like you said Baekhyun is your mate and I know what it's like when you can't be around them. Therefore I will do everything in my power to make sure that the both of you are safe, besides if it's alright with you of course would you be able to schedule a time where I would be able to meet Suho preferably outside the castle?" 

"That's the least I could do for you Yixing" Chanyeol smiled placing his hands on the digits against his shoulder's. "I know that he'll cry once he sees you." 

"I'm pretty sure that I'll do the same." Yixing laughed wholeheartedily and Chanyeol was instantly brought back to the time where he was telling his protector jokes right before bed, Yixing had tucked him in and had read him his favourite bedtime story before making sure the young prince was comfortable and then switching off the light.  Chanyeol was once afraid of the dark but he found that whenever he told Yixing jokes before he left his chambers to return to his duties, he would be able to sleep peacefully from then on.
 

~*~
 

"This is my apartment right here!" Baekhyun chirped immediately grabbing Chanyeol's attention as he walked down the hallway, once he reached where the human was standing he made sure to memorise the number hanging from nails on Baekhyun's door. He wasn't doing it to look creepy, in fact many of the doors looked the same on that particular floor that the young prince was surprised the other two managed to find their homes every day. "I'm actually just going to get changed really quickly, do you want to stay here or go into Yixing's?" 

Chanyeol let out a silent breath of air, he was glad that Baekhyun hadn't invited him in. He wanted the younger to know about him being a vampire before he did anything remotely similar to this. Instead of drawing out his silence any longer Chanyeol simply cleared his throat and turned towards Yixing, smiling sweetly as they continued their plan. 

"I think I'll stay with Lay until you're ready, it will give us some time to catch up don't you think?" 

"That's a great idea!" Baekhyun hummed pulling out his key and inserting it into the hole before opening his door and stepping over the threshold, Chanyeol watching him intently as he did so. "I'll be over in a few minutes then!" 

When the door closed the two vampires moved a door over, the very same door greeted them only this time Yixing's numbers were one higher than Baekhyun's. Chanyeol waited patiently as his former protector slid the key into the crevese and pushed open the door, Lay stook out his hand gesturing for the Prince to enter. With a deep breath Chanyeol bowed his head in thanks before slowly stepping over the threshold, his foot landing on the other side of the floor. He let out a childish chuckle before rushing inside and taking a quick glance around, when he returned from his scouting Yixing had made himself useful in the kitchen preparing two coffee mugs which let off a delightful scent. 

"Better drink it all before Baekhyun comes." he sent the Prince a wink as he offered him the coffee mug. Chanyeol placed his bag down on the floor by the sofa and took the offered cup and drew it to his lips, he stared at the contents for a moment before allowing the rim of the cup to rest on the band of his lower lip. Tilting his head back Chanyeol downed the essence of the cup in a mere moment, gulping it's contents as if it would prevent all sorts of dieases in the world. When he was finished he placed the mug into the sink and allowed the water to rinse it out before placing it on the draining board to dry, their secret hidden from the boy once he arrived. 

"How are you feeling?" Yixing questioned from his place on the sofa, his wide eyes blinking innocently over the rim of his mug. "It appears from how quickly you drank, you haven't tasted it in some time?" 

"Nearly a week," Chanyeol confirmed approaching the sofa and gently placing himself down on top of it's cushion. "I've been preoccupied with other matters then Nana's death followed by my father's threat of an arranged marriage and finally meeting my mate as well as seeing you again. Thank you for the meal, I really needed it." 

"You should be looking after yourself" Yixing couldn't help but scold, his brows furrowed in the centre of his forehead like they alway did whenever he was serious about something. Chanyeol wouldn't admit it but he's been on the end of that glance more than once so seeing it again brought back similar memories, ones he couldn't help but smile at. "you are a Prince after all what would have happened to your kingdom if you fell ill?" 

"Honestly speaking?" Chanyeol asked a deep sigh escaping his lips. "I think my father would be over the moon and the people would look to someone to place on the throne-" 

"The ones placing people on the throne aren't your people Chanyeol" Yixing eductaed the Prince yet again, taking casual sips from his blood mug. "it's the vampire council. They've grown tired of your father's actions and have been waiting for you to rise to your birthright ever since you were born, I believe it was the night before your father went down to the village where he met Katherine when he was told he wouldn't be remaining on the throne any longer." 

"Kris always refers to the council as throns in his side, they must really have annoyed him when they told him he would no longer be king once I was of age. Would that explain why he's tried to kill me on multiple occasions?" 

"Your father did what?!" Yixing gasped looking awestruck at the information the Prince had just spilt out before him. 

"To name one he tried to drown me in a bathtub when I was young, this was long after you were gone by the way but yes it was the start of countless failed attempts on my life." The Prince explained with a firm nod of his head. "However his advances have seemed to have halted for the time being, he appears to be more focused on finding me someone to wed." 

"I wonder what Baekhyun would say on the matter." Yixing laughed, chuckling into his mug. 

"What matter?" The honey voice of the human caused both of the vampires to turn their heads towards the front door which was open with a head sticking out from behind it. "I hope I'm not intruppting anything!" 

"Not at all!" Chanyeol beamed, waving his wrist involking Baekhyun to join them in the living room. He sent a glance in Yixing's direction the poor old man already risen from his chair and on his way into the kitchen, the rim of his mug still pressed tightly against his lips. 

"So what have you both been up to while I was busy?" Baekhyun questioned taking a seat right next to Chanyeol, the vampire suddenly growing shy under the strong beady eyes of his mate. 

"We were just talking about my brother and how much he's grown since the last time Lay has seen him!" Chanyeol explained remembering to address his former protector by the name Baekhyun knew him by, the human was more than grateful for the switch. 

"So he really did baby sit you huh?" Baekhyun giggled, cuddling up against the softness of the blanket hanging over the back of the couch they were both currently sitting on. Chanyeol realised that he was sitting too straight and possibly appeared uncomfortable so naturally he found himself slouching a little into the chair, allowing his back to rest against the backrest. It was oddly satisfying. 

"Yep!" he chirped from the kitchen making both of the youngsters on the couch laugh quietly. "Chanyeol was just the cutest little thing ever Baekhyun, you should ask him to show you photos one day!" 

The request was so innocent and yet Chanyeol watched with a small smile on his lips as Baekhyun's cheeks flared in a beautiful red hue. It was a sight he wouldn't mind getting used to.