Chapter Text
“--llo?”
Jungkook had come to recognize darkness as mercy.
His slowly waking mind felt fogged and muddled, as if dead ends and blocks had been placed on the pathways throughout his brain. His breaths came out in short clouds, and through the bitter cold of the evening, he could feel the heat-fogged air wrap around his lips.
"Hello?" A muffled voice called out to him.
In the distance, the echoes of zooming cars and pedestrians' footsteps made Jungkook's head pound. He could hear too much, and because of that, it all melded together until he couldn't distinguish words from horns; everything became one cohesive sound he simply referred to as 'noise.'
"--call Namjoon."
Jungkook sniffled, causing the scents of dirt, trash, and vomit to fill his sinuses and burn his eyes. His stomach lurched violently, threatening to purge what it didn't even have. Even with bile gathering at the back of his throat, hunger filled his mouth with saliva, and his entire frame ached with the desire to satisfy this ravenous thirst.
Am I dying?
Unshed tears constantly stung at the back of Jungkook's eyes, but his dry and weary frame would not allow them to escape. Phantom tracks still existed from his last wails for mercy, making his cheeks feel sticky and cold.
He only remembered bits and pieces of what happened: memories of leaving the campus library with Yugyeom, going to work, walking… somewhere. Where had he been headed, if not home?
Everything is cold.
But then… warmth– it pressed against the peak of his cheek, rubbing the swollen flesh beneath his eye in soothing strokes.
Jungkook's lips parted in a silent plea, allowing shuddered breaths to escape his lungs. Then, finally, he cracked his eyes open, trying to blink through the blurs of light and color. In his struggle, he could focus only on one thing: eyes the color of the purest gold, with embers of red swirling around slit pupils, entirely focussed on him.
"It's going to be okay."
Jungkook's world went dark.
—-------
Ten hours earlier…
October 14 -- 3:03 PM
Persephone may have fallen prey to Hades, but maturity reveals to the keen eye that Hades' story was a tragic one.
He, whom humanity thought incapable of love, became so consumed by it that he corrupted the one he sought to cherish.
They say love, then let go, but even the Gods are selfish.
How can Man expect to rise above?
The book snapped shut with a resounding thump.
"Stupid–" Jungkook tucked a stray lock of hair behind his ear. Late-afternoon sunlight streaked in through the slits in the window blinds on the other side of the room. A gold stripe illuminated over tired eyes, accentuating the hollow shadows that lay beneath.
Jungkook watched as the cover of The Questionable Ethics of Famous Greek Myths disappeared between several other dusty tomes. His fingers gave the novel one last tap before continuing their venture over the shelf.
"What's stupid?"
Jungkook jolted. The few books he held in his arms toppled to the ground, attracting several glares from studying patrons. Cheeks heated, Jungkook waved an apology and bent at the waist so he could quickly regather them. "Professor Kang's test." He glared up at his interrupter. "Did you forget again?"
The thin band of a gold ring glinted under the fluorescent lighting when sharp-knuckled fingers plucked one of the books from Jungkook's grasp.
The plastic covering of a student identification card was pressed between the taller man's white teeth, contrasting with the bright red letters that spelled out the name 'Kim Yugyeom.' When pink lips formed an 'o' shape, the card fell and dangled from the lanyard wrapped around the man's neck.
“The test is this week?” Yugyeom asked.
"I've only reminded you a dozen times." Jungkook snatched the book back and began walking toward the checkout. "It's on Thursday."
Saying he'd reminded his friend a dozen times was an understatement. At lunch, during class transitions, in their dorm room, Jungkook talked about it nonstop for two weeks. He didn't know whether to be insulted or impressed by Yugyeom's selective hearing.
Jungkook heard the other man rushing to catch up with him, his footfalls loud in the quiet of the library.
"Wait, Seriously?" Yugyeom leaned so far into Jungkook's space that the scent of his minty breath mingled with those of dust and paper. "Thursday as in two days from now?"
"Seriously," Jungkook deadpanned.
Ignoring Yugyeoms's sputtering, Jungkook nodded his head and grinned politely at the lady standing behind the checkout counter. Unfortunately, due to the sourness of her face – deeply wrinkled with a sloping brow – the smile she gave him in return looked more like a snarl.
The librarian chewed aggressively on the piece of gum in her mouth as her hands, like talons, snatched Jungkook's books.
Twitching at the dual onslaught of smacking lips and the begrudging moans of his friend, Jungkook sought out a distraction. He reached into the front of his bag and pulled out a square of yellow paper.
The sticky note held a list of everything Jungkook needed to do to prepare for the test. Call him paranoid, but Professor Kang's class, The History of Art in Ancient Greece, was well known for its difficulty. Combined, the Unit Exams were worth forty percent of his grade, while the final would be worth twenty percent. He could not afford to mess up; otherwise, he risked losing his scholarship.
Jungkook sighed as he crumpled the paper in his fist. Then, before Yugyeom could bring up his sudden change in attitude, he gave the boy a playful shove. "I don't know how you can be so forgetful."
"I'm not forgetful," Yugyeom said. "Kang's class is just an annoyance I'd rather not think about."
Jungkook hummed his understanding, grabbing his ID back from the librarian. "But this 'boring' class is a requirement for our graduation. Do you think I like to sit and look at marble dicks all day?" He gestured to the cover of The influence of Stone Sculptures in Modern Art. On it, there was a downscaled photograph of the sculpture Vernese Hercules, which depicted Hercules himself in all of his naked glory.
Yugyeom squinted at the book, scrutinizing it with a hooked finger pressed against his lips. "You sure, Kookie? I think that's the only part I like."
Jungkook scoffed and hurriedly hid the cover from his friend's perverted gaze. "You're gross."
After shoving the last book into his bag, Jungkook left behind a snickering Yugyeom and exited the building. Temporarily blinded by the sun, he shielded his eyes behind his hand. Through his fingers, Jungkook took in the sight of the University's quad, which stretched out further than the length of a football field before him.
Everywhere he looked, there was excitement to behold.
Converse-covered feet stood on the skateboards rolling down sidewalks peppered with chalk drawings, leaves swirling about their wheels.
A little ways away, a group of girls laughed animatedly beneath the shade of a massive oak tree. Opposite them, a group of boys stole glances as they, no doubt, argued over whether or not to try their luck. The open textbooks in their laps acted as little more than decoration while their attention was drawn by pretty faces.
The sight was invigorated and full of life, yet it was simultaneously mundane and helped remove some stiffness in Jungkook's shoulders.
"Jaebum Hyung wanted to know." Yugyeom hopped off the last stair and quickly fell into step beside the shorter man. "Do you need us to pick you up tonight?"
At Jungkook's furrowed brow and pursed lips, Yugyeom rolled his eyes.
"And you call me forgetful," Yugyeom muttered. "You promised to come with me to meet Jaebum Hyung and the others tonight."
Jungkook pretended not to see the amused look on Yugyeom's face as he tugged his phone out of his back pocket. He could have sworn that wasn't until next week, but he might have gotten his days mixed up with everything going on.
The "don't forget" notification under the date confirmed that to be the case.
The weight of the books in his bag felt infinitely heavier as Jungkook's brain swirled with thoughts of everything he had yet to accomplish. On top of his packed studying schedule, he'd also forgotten to ask for the night off. He'd have to go straight from Jaebum's place to his overnight job, and Jungkook knew if he clocked in late again, his manager would have his head.
Jungkook had to resist the urge to lay his pounding skull in his hands; It always felt like there was so much to do and not enough time to do it. But, busy or not, he'd made a promise to his friend, and he intended to keep it.
"Right," Jungkook said. "The bus will still be running, so I'll just meet you there."
Judging by the look on Yugyeom's face, he was not pleased with that idea.
"The supply shop is just down the road from campus." Yugyeom pulled Jungkook's attention away from his calendar by wrapping a hand around the shorter boy's bicep. They abruptly stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, forcing a group of students to walk around them. "It's no trouble for us to pick you up, Kook. The streets haven't been the safest lately, and I don't want you to get hurt."
Jungkook knew Yugyeom had a point. His afternoon job was only a two-minute drive up the road from campus, meaning it would probably be safer and more logical for him to hitch a ride. It wasn't just the thought of being an inconvenience that worried him, though.
By the end of his shift, Jungkook will have gone twenty-one hours without sleep. He didn't want to make Jaebum wait while he hid the evidence of his exhaustion behind copious amounts of caffeine and concealer. Even worse was the thought of the older man walking into the store and seeing him in such a pathetic state.
Talk about a terrible first impression.
Jungkook knew this was important to Yugyeom; his friend wouldn't be trying so hard to convince Jungkook to go if it didn't mean something to him. But, on the other hand, he couldn't embarrass Yugyeom by waltzing into Jaebum's house, looking like he was halfway to the grave.
"We're low-staffed right now," Jungkook lied. "I probably won't get out when I'm scheduled to, but I promise to be safe. Songpa-gu isn't that far from work." He smiled reassuringly up at Yugyeom and resumed walking with his arm now linked with the taller man's.
Jungkook sighed with relief when Yugyeom let the topic go in favor of talking about how amazing his Hyungs were and how excited they were to meet his best friend. And Jungkook was excited too – he truly was – but the weight of responsibility was still looming over him like a dark cloud. The voice in his head taunted him, hissing to remind him he could sleep when he was dead.
------------------
October 14 -- 6:50 PM
" We woke up to tragedy this morning when police received a phone call regarding the body of a young man.
Twenty-four-year-old Yang Junghee was found dead today, just a few blocks from his apartment in Songpa-gu. Unfortunately, details regarding the cause of Mr. Yang's death have yet to be released to the public, leaving many to speculate whether or not the Seoul police have something to hide.
With this being the fourth unexplained death this month out of a total of nine thus far, everyone is asking the same question:
'Are we safe?'"
Jungkook muted the television and tossed the remote back into its little cubby underneath the register. It clattered loudly into a tray full of paperclips and pens, half of which didn't even work.
As he leaned over the checkout counter at the front of the store, he stretched and tried to crack his spine. It was unclear if the position was helping to relieve his overworked body's aches or if it was making them worse. Regardless, straightening back up again seemed like too much effort for insufficient reward.
Only an hour and fifty minutes into his shift, Jungkook felt restless. He rested his head in his palm, allowing his mind to wander to why every news station was currently like an R-rated game of Who Done It.
It wasn't too uncommon for there to be a death or two on the streets. They were typically the result of people being in the wrong place at the wrong time – that or standard crime operations that took a turn for the worst. But, sad as it was, things like this just happened in big cities.
Nine deaths inside two months, though. Now that was odd, and certainly cause for concern. Even if Seoul was a large city, it was also known for being one of the safer cities in the world. It didn't ebb public suspicion when the police were secretive about everything. For every ounce of information the media released, the police were later found to have hidden several other key details.
Jungkook could understand keeping some things away from the public eye. When it came down to something that might prevent others from being victimized, however, it seemed wrong to try and cover it up.
But, the strangest detail of all was the manner in which the victims died. All nine were reported to have died from blood loss, but blood was never found at the crime scenes. At first, police speculated that the victims were killed elsewhere and relocated to the streets to make the bodies easier to discover. However, a media leak revealed no significant injuries on the victims' bodies. It was as if all of their blood had just… dried up or something.
Jungkook was sure he'd heard every conspiracy theory under the sun from Yugyeom. His favorite was the one about space alien experiments. His enigmatic friend seemed convinced aliens were stealing human blood so they could use the DNA to live amongst mankind. An "inside job," he'd called it.
The student sighed, tapping his fingers against the counter as he tried his best not to look at the clock. He hated these days when there was nothing to do. He'd restocked the shelves and reorganized backstock twice. With no customers, it was all he could do to count the paint cans on the far wall to occupy his brain.
After what felt like a small eternity, Jungkook allowed himself one glance at the clock on the register screen.
Two hours down, three more to go.
—-----
October 14 -- 10:50 PM
The incoming storm blew damp wind about the streets, making Jungkook feel grateful that he'd remembered to bring his coat with him to work. Thunder rolled in the distance; loud rumbles followed by sudden bursts of light across the sky.
As he walked, Jungkook glanced back and forth between the navigation app on his phone and the darkened sidewalk ahead.
In retrospect, Jungkook knew he probably could have taken the bus down one more stop, but he'd been too concerned about falling asleep. Exhaustion pulled on his eyes even as he walked, making them droop. He'd likely be snoring in a dirty bus seat if he had not elected to hop off.
The last thing Jungkook needed was to wind up in the middle of nowhere. As it was, he suspected he would be receiving a call from Yugyeom soon for his tardiness.
Grunting out of frustration, Jungkook pocketed the device and began walking down the road. He scuffed his feet against the ground, kicking up small pebbles. He noted how much more congenial this side of Seoul was than where he lived; the street signs weren't even faded, and there was a distinct lack of drunks and perverts hanging around the apartment entryways.
It was, perhaps, the sheer beauty of the neighborhood that compelled Jungkook to let down his guard. So, when he'd first heard the footsteps, he didn't think much of them.
Although it was late at night, he consoled himself with excuses of dog walking and late-night jogs.
People in neighborhoods like this do things like that, right? Jungkook wondered to himself.
Where he lived, stepping out of his house anytime past nine was asking to get mugged. Even the old lady who lived across from him knew to let her dogs out to do their business before The Cronies began their first rounds.
Thunder shook the earth, and the mist that swirled around Jungkook's frame had him gripping at the thin lapels of his jacket.
He stopped for only a moment: just long enough to try and pull his zipper closer to his chin. It was that brief instant when everything went completely silent that he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
Hesitantly, Jungkook released the zipper and took a few experimental steps forward.
Footsteps.
He stopped again, pretending to adjust the back of his sneaker.
Silence.
There was no doubt about it. Jungkook was being followed.
He reached back into his pocket, gripping his phone tightly in his fist. A glance over his shoulder through the darkness behind didn't reveal much. Shadows danced and moved ominously due to the bright headlights that gleamed from a distant highway, but nothing seemed out of place. Jungkook could feel it, though; something was amiss, and he was starting to regret his refusal of Jaebum's offer to pick him up from work. He should've known that a nicer part of town didn't always equate to danger-free.
"Who's there?" Jungkook shouted into the void, fists tightening in his pockets. His fingernails bit into the meaty flesh of his palms, threatening to draw blood. But the sting was welcomed, as it helped prevent his mind from being overcome by anxiety.
Of course, there was no response, and he wanted to laugh at how hackneyed the situation was. He almost felt like he was in a scene straight out of Scooby-Doo or Ghost Busters.
Jungkook's breath came out in shaky puffs as he turned back around and picked up his pace. The echoes of two pairs of footsteps – his and those of his pursuer – were synched with one another. The blood in his veins ran colder than liquid nitrogen.
Jungkook whispered reassurances to himself as Jaebum's neighborhood corner finally came into view.
Just a bit further, and he'd be safe.
The house was impossible to miss due to its massive size. It was a beautiful structure two stories tall, and stretched at least five rooms wide. The U-shape reminded Jungkook of a victorian mansion, with rounded sun-rooms on either side and conical roof segments covering them. Inside, the lights were turned on, golden as they illuminated the front yard's immaculately healthy grass and several cute lawn decorations.
Jungkook felt like he was flying with the force of each step. He recalled being a kid and speed walking along the edge of the pool so the lifeguards wouldn't blow their whistles. In this scenario, however, he was trying not to make it too obvious that he was pushing to escape.
Just as Jungkook was ready to celebrate crossing the street into Jaebum's driveway, he felt flesh like frost lace around his wrist. He was pulled to an abrupt stop, his shoulder aching from the force.
"Pretty child–" the voice of a male crooned, the hints of something both sinister and tender in his voice. "Who let you wander out here all alone?"
It was often said that humans – as with all other animals – had the instinct of fight or flight, but at that moment, Jungkook just froze. Besides the tremors of pure terror coursing through his body, he'd suddenly paused in time. His breath caught in his throat, and although the instincts inside commanded him to move, scream, anything, he remained quiet and still where he stood.
The hand that kept his wrist trapped began to travel up his arm, stroking slow, gentle lines upon his skin. They continued along until nails like the talons of a hawk dug harshly into his shoulder.
"What's your name, beautiful?" The man asked.
Stale breath smelling of pennies ghosted over the tender spot behind Jungkook's ear. He couldn't tell if the resulting shivers were from the disgusting sensation, or fear, but his lip curled with aversion either way.
When Jungkook didn't reply quick enough, he felt a sharp prick of pain in the curved shell of his ear. Then, as the warmth of his own trickling blood mingled with the chill of the stranger's breath, he finally managed an attempt at pulling himself away from the other man.
Try as he might, though, the grip on him was iron-tight and unbreakable. The man's presence against his spine was as sturdy as a wall, and Jungkook felt goosebumps raise everywhere they touched.
The sharp point of a nose pressed into the top of Jungook's head, followed by the airy sound of a deep inhale.
"You and I are going to have so much fun."
—---------------
October 14 - 11:56 PM
Hunger – ravenous, all-consuming hunger burned in the pit of his gut, serving as the only reminder that he was still alive. His vision was long gone, clouded over by the exhaustion of his body, which only moved because instinct fueled it.
I need to run. I need to escape. It was all he could do to say this repeatedly in his head, riding on the minute spurts of energy the words provided.
Behind him, animalistic roars boomed alongside crashes of thunder. Rain poured overhead, making it nearly impossible for Jungkook to see more than four feet forward.
The wet sounds of flesh tearing and the wails of pain that followed invigorated him with enough energy to sprint into the cover of a dark alleyway. He jumped at his own shadow when a bright streak of lightning lit the tall walls of the surrounding buildings.
Jungkook's hands shuddered as they fought to dig his phone out of his pocket. The relief he felt when he finally managed to pull it free was short-lived; as soon as the light from the screen hit his pupils, a burning sensation shot through to the back of his skull, making his head pulse with agony. Sounds like explosions sounded off in his ears, coinciding with the odd beat of his heart.
Jungkook distantly registered the loud crack of his phone screen shattering against the asphalt. It flickered in his vision as if laughing at how pathetic he was.
Jungkook had no idea when his legs gave out beneath his weight, but he suddenly found his gaze level with the glistening pavement. Then, as his body went numb and his vision began to fade, Jungkook caught a final glimpse of the time.
12:00 AM
Time for work.
—---------------
October 14 -- 1:27 AM
"How old would you guess him to be, Yoongi?"
Yoongi hummed, glancing back at where Hoseok stood and guarded the mouth of the foul alleyway they occupied.
The sight of the Nestling laying on the ground, torn clothes soaking up a suspiciously murky puddle, was troubling.
Yoongi tossed the boy's ID on the pavement, before brushing chestnut-brown hair away from closed eyes. He took in the boy's delicate features, which glowed startlingly pale with his newly-changed body. Pretty pink lips pouted while a little button nose twitched at the onslaught of scents. The image reminded Yoongi more of a bunny searching for a carrot than a -- potentially hostile -- newborn vampire mewling for his Sire's blood.
Jeon Jungkook was beautiful; there was no denying it.
Yoongi pressed his fingers past the Nestling's lips so he could feel along the boy's gum-line. He was extra careful not to allow his nails to scrape sensitive flesh as he searched for the trademark of their kind.
If Jungkook was at least twenty years of age, he'd have a small set of fangs in place of rounded human incisors. Their youngest nestmate, Taehyung, hated when they referred to the tiny points as baby teeth, but that's, essentially, what they were.
Between the ages of around twenty and ninety, Nestling fangs were large enough to help them grow accustomed to the motion of drawing blood, but they weren't sufficient to cause severe damage by accident. So when Yoongi felt nothing but smooth skin over human incisors – not even the typical swelling of fangs forming under the gums – he knew they were dealing with a young Vampyre.
"No sign of fangs coming through." Yoongi shifted and gripped the Nestling's jaw, turning the boy's head from side to side. "Sensitive skin, his eyes have yet to open, and his cheeks are still slightly flush with human blood." He carefully released his hold. "He can't have been sired more than a few hours ago, Hoseok. I wouldn't even be surprised if he has yet to have his first feeding."
"So young," Hoseok hissed. "What the hell is a Nestling doing in the middle of the city, to begin with?"
Changing a Childe of the sun into one of the moon was an incredibly private and delicate affair. The ceremony almost always took place in the den where the Childe was to be reborn, and even if everything went perfectly, Nestlings rarely survived past their first hour; the stress placed on the human body was simply too great. Given the circumstances, that the boy resting at Yoongi's feet was alive was a miracle in and of itself.
Yoongi's lips twitched upward. "He's a tough little thing."
"That still doesn't make this situation okay." Hoseok crosses his arms over his chest, his sharp gaze shifting through the fog in search of danger. "It's just so–"
"Wrong," Yoongi finished with a nod of understanding.
It was rare to even see a Nestling outside their home territory any sooner than a decade after rebirth. Their Tae was nearing his thirtieth year in their nest, and Namjoon still preferred him to stay in their district, where he was safe. Only after being thoroughly fed and scent marked did Namjoon reluctantly allow Taehyung outside the grounds surrounding their home. Even then, it was a requirement that Tae have a chaperone.
Nestlings were precious and highly coveted by clans. Having one stolen away was all but soul-shattering for a Sire. Suffice to say, finding an hours-old vampire in such a state was unfathomable.
Yoongi could hear the sound of footsteps approaching, even over the hustle and bustle of the nearby streets.
"I just got off the phone with Namjoon." Seokjin's warm voice echoed off solid brick walls. The older man held apprehension in his gaze for the Nestling Yoongi was trying to settle.
With each escaped trill of discomfort, Yoongi released more placating pheromones. But, unfortunately, they did little to help; Yoongi was an outsider who carried the scent of a foreign Sire. So about the only thing his pheromones could do was reassure the Nestling they meant him no physical harm.
Depending on the circumstances of his turning, the mental torrents of confusion, coupled with a fear of the unknown, were probably more consuming than his bodily state.
"The remains of an Elder were found on the edge of Songpa-gu," Seokjin continued. "Jaebum's clan is having a hard time dealing with the backlash, and not even Joon knows who, or what, the assailant could be — it's pretty ugly."
"This Nestling either belonged to that Elder or whoever killed him," Hoseok said.
"I'm almost positive he belonged to the former." Jin crouched next to Yoongi. "We found some defensive wounds on the Elder's arms: they were caused by human nails and don't match up with any other injuries inflicted by his attacker." He grabbed the Nestling's wrist, lifting his hand off the ground so they could inspect his fingernails.
Sure enough, skin and blood were caked underneath split nails, staining the tips of the beauty's ivory skin a deep crimson.
"This is an unusual situation--" Yoongi paused, thinking carefully. Vampires, especially Elders, didn't just go around carelessly making nestlings. It was a serious commitment – several lifetimes worth at the very least – to sire a Childe. "It could have been a feeding gone wrong. The scent of blood or the boy's screams could've lured the wolves or hunters. In both cases, the Elder might have died while instinctively protecting the Childe he hadn't intended to make."
The district of Songpa-gu -- claimed by Jaebum's clan -- was bordered by Gangnam-gu and Gangdong-gu. The former was well known for its mass of hunters, known as The Guild, who could be ten times more sadistic than any Childe of the night Yoongi had met. On the opposite end, Gangdong-gu was claimed by the wolves, who took territoriality to a new extreme and were readily consumed by their instincts.
Either group could have been responsible for the mess of that evening, but something in Yoongi's gut made him doubt his assumptions.
Cruel as they may be, hunters didn't possess the same level of tracking skills a vampire or wolf had. Furthermore, a hunter wouldn't risk encroaching on Jaebum's territory to conduct a patrol, so it was doubtful The Guild's men were responsible.
On the other hand, werewolf attacks were gruesome, but they were merciful in their swift efficiency. Based on his injuries, the Elder suffered greatly before he died. Not to mention, wolves were not wasteful; regardless of species, their culture dictated the total consumption of their deceased prey: bones and all.
"Do you know his name?"
The frown on Yoongi's face deepened. "Jeon Jungkook– he was only twenty-two."
Jungkook's life as a human had been stolen. Upon his death, a new being was born: a Childe of the night who would doubtlessly have a hard time letting go of the human future pilfered from him.
"We'll bring him home; I'll call Namjoon." Hoseok pulled his phone out of his back pocket.
"Aren't we being too careless?" Jin asked. "Bringing an unknown into our nest feels like a bad idea. This boy could still be dangerous, regardless of what we think happened."
Yoongi couldn't help but laugh at Jin's remark as he removed his jacket and tossed it over the Nestling's shivering form. As he'd tended to the boy, many descriptors had passed through his mind, but "dangerous" was not among them.
Though he'd never admit it aloud, a small part of Yoongi – an instinctual part he desperately tried to ignore — felt giddy. There was an undeniable rush of satisfaction every time his mind conjured the image of Jungkook as a healthy nestling, safely hidden away in their home.
This was the same sensation he got when he saw Taehyung laughing while attempting to cook with Jin. Or when he watched how Jimin's lips latched onto Namjoon's neck, taking what he needed and what only they could provide.
All in all, Yoongi's instincts told him Jungkook would be a pretty little addition to their nest. Of course, that was if Namjoon agreed to re-sire him.
Yoongi knew Jungkook would be a handful and difficult to assimilate, but the images of what the Nestling could become were sinful.
"He's not dangerous – just unfortunate." Yoongi carefully hooked one arm under Jungkook's knees and the other under his shoulders. "Trust me."
Yoongi couldn't help but grimace as he lifted Jungkook off the ground. Jungkook's head flopped against his chest, body underweight, lifeless, and devoid of any motion other than the slow pattering of his heart.
It truly was a miracle Jungkook was alive.