#myfics.

Happy OOTW Sunday! Take a little look at the new tag if you're curious about what's in store for this chapter or take a deep dive on your own. This one is filled with banter and gentleness, and... not so gentleness, too. I hope you enjoy chapter eight! 🤍

(As specified in the beginning chapter notes, it's up in the air as to whether or not I'll be able to post next Sunday since I'll be travelling and more than likely still in Chicago, if not heading back to Wisconsin, but the best place for updates on that will be on twitter. You can find me at: hailsuptons )

snowflakes falling on the hearth fire

geraskier — 3.9k — teen+ — written for @demisexualgeralt​ for the @geraskierholidayexchange​

When Jaskier finally pulls into his spot in front of their apartment, he’s surprised to see that the lights are still on inside. The clock on the dash tells him that it’s a quarter past eleven. Geralt is usually in bed by now. He’d probably passed out on the couch again - he had a long shift today, too.

With a weary sigh, Jaskier trudges from his car to the front door. He wants nothing more than to collapse in his bed, preferably with Geralt tucked against his chest, and sleep for at least twelve hours. As he climbs the porch steps, he imagines Geralt’s sleepy smile when he realizes that Jaskier is home, the warm hug and the sweet, soft kiss he’ll get before he’s even taken his shoes off. The thought quickens Jaskier’s pulse, and his heart beats rapidly against his sternum.

He still can’t believe it: Two months ago, kissing Geralt had been nothing but a self-indulgent daydream. Now it’s become reflexive, almost instinctive, as if Jaskier has always been able to kiss his best friend.

Jaskier unlocks the front door and steps into the apartment. He’s surprised to see Geralt waiting in the entryway. Jaskier immediately holds a hand up and says, “Wait a second, sweetheart. At least let me take off my coat.” He purposely takes his time, hanging up his coat properly and arranging his boots neatly on the shoe mat. He wants to see how long Geralt lasts. Finally, he turns and opens his arms. “Okay, c’mere.”

Two hundred pounds of boyfriend barrel into Jaskier. He gives a wheezy laugh and murmurs, “Hi.”

“Missed you,” Geralt says, pressing himself impossibly closer.

“Missed you, too.” Jaskier leans into him and kisses his temple. He feels his body relax as he breathes in Geralt’s scent, a dusty vanilla sweetness that always lingers for a few hours after his shifts at the campus library. But there’s another smell, too. “Did you burn something?”

Geralt pulls away, and his blush confirms Jaskier’s suspicions. “Maybe,” he says. “But I wasn’t trying to. You know I’m shit at baking.”

“What did you bake?” Jaskier asks.

Geralt’s face lights up. “Come see. I have a whole night planned.”

Jaskier pointedly raises an eyebrow.  “Ex-cuse me,” he says. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

Geralt bumps the heel of his hand against his forehead. “My sincerest apologies.” He leans in and kisses Jaskier sweetly, and Jaskier can feel Geralt’s playful grin against his mouth. “Better?”

“It’ll do,” Jaskier sniffs.

Blame @lockandminkey for this trash. It's recycled from an old roleplay.

--

Kibum didn't understand why Jonghyun wanted to break out Kibum's old Scrabble game. He used to use the game back in high school to study English with his friends. Judging by the box, the game was five, six years old. Kibum didn't even think all the tiles were still there.

But Jonghyun insisted. He made two mugs of hot chocolate and everything.

"Jonghyun," Kibum moans, resting his cheek against his palm. Jonghyun just placed another terrible word: you. "Your words have to be longer than three or four words. You're bad at Scrabble."

Jonghyun twists his lips as he looks over his tile holder. Jonghyun practiced. He's playing perfectly, actually. He's cheating a little (but only a little) to make sure he gets the letter tiles he needs.

"Be quiet. I just don't have good tiles. I'm going to win in the end."

Kibum should know by now that Jonghyun always wins in the end.

"My score is like triple yours. Your words have been "will" and "you". It is impressive that you got my name, even if it is against the rules," Kibum snorts as he sets down his word.

Jonghyun plays "marry".

"Well, I'm getting there."

"I'm going to cream you."

"Sure you are."

Kibum plays a word Jonghyun can't pronounce. Jonghyun uses the end in the word to make "me". Kibum bursts out laughing.

Jonghyun grumbles as he grabs the faux-velvet tile pouch. He pulls it beneath the coffee table and dumps out the last few tiles on his thighs. He slips a ring into its place before setting it down on the table again. It'll be the only thing that Kibum will feel.

Kibum plays his word and brags as he sticks his hand in the pouch. The words due on his tongue as he stares at what he pulls out.

"Kibum, what were the last five words I played?"

Kibum's breath hitches. "Um... Kibum, me, will..." Kibum trails off, his train of thought escaping him.

It's not Sunday yet, but I'm in the city all weekend so happy early OOTW day! Chapter 10 is a shorter one, but Seattle and... Washington... (👀👀👀) is going to be quite the segment so I hope you enjoy the first part. Maybe things aren't quite all sunshine and rainbows yet after all. Happy Reading! 💙

"Do I have to stay with you forever?" Kibum asks suddenly.

Jonghyun looks down at Kibum, stroking his hair out of his face. "What do you mean?"

"Do all vampires have to stay with their maker?"

"Well, no," Jonghyun admits. "Usually vampires stay with their fledgling in the beginning. Fledglings left alone in the beginning rarely make it a year. But you're free to leave whenever you want," he rolls them over, hovering over Kibum. "But I would hope that you want to stay with me."

Kibum rests his hand on Jonghyun's chest before leaning up to kiss him. "I do," Kibum whispers. "But haven't you turned more people?"

Jonghyun shakes his head. "Just you."

"So that's why Minho was so surprised."

"I always said I wouldn't turn someone."

"Then why did you turn me?"

Jonghyun lifts Kibum's hand up to kiss his palm. "I guess you were different."

Kibum watches the sunlight reflect off the back of his hand. He'd been afraid of the sunlight at first. He always thought vampires burned in the sunlight.

"Why doesn't the sun kill us?"

"Evolution," Jonghyun answers simply, and Kibum gives him a skeptical look. "I'm serious!"

"That's stupid."

Jonghyun chuckles. "It was safe before. Humans went to bed when the sun went down before electricity. But the invention of electricity meant that humans would always be awake. Being out at night no longer meant safety. We're still sensitive, but it certainly won't kill us. It'll be at least another century until you'll see vampires out tanning."

"And you can sleep in beds, not coffins."

"That part is nice too."

They roll again. Jonghyun spoons Kibum, threading their fingers on the pillow.

"Is every vampire attracted to their fledging?"

"No. Some are. Some turn their loves. Others do it to save. A few can't control themselves," Jonghyun plants a kiss to the base of Kibum's neck, trailing his tongue down his spine. "I'm not sure I'm any of the three."

Kibum looks at Jonghyun over his shoulder. "Not everyone fits into categories."

Limerence: (n) the state of being infatuated with another person.

-

Kim Kibum is always at these things, the parties in penthouses and houses big enough to be mansions. Jonghyun thinks they're more of a casual runway than a party. Designers fitting models in their latest fashion under the guise of a cocktail party. Perhaps Jonghyun was bitter. After all, none of these models would give him the time of day (let alone give him an hour of their time for a photo shoot). Yet he was still at every event he could get into, buttering up the senior designers and models for a chance to prove his worth. He isn't always unlucky.

Even when he's busy planting thick flattery onto every person that will give him a second glance, he notices Kim Kibum.

Everyone knows Kibum. He's the most unconventionally handsome model in the industry, barely able to look most six foot and taller models in the eyes. He isn't rippling muscle and thin legs. He's slim, toned. And he can wear anything you put him into.

They'd played a prank on him, once. Jonghyun heard about it. Everyone did. Kibum showed up for a spread and the coordinators gave him a terrible outfit. A sweater with comically long sleeves, a wig from a party store, and makeup that should have clued him into the joke. But Kim Kibum worked the outfit like it was Versace. It's become a running joke amongst the designer about who could craft something even Kibum couldn't wear. Jonghyun hopes that Kibum can also make any photographer good, too. Not that Jonghyun was bad, but he was indie, and that might as well be the same thing to most of these people.

But at these parties, Kibum doesn't mingle. He's wearing a different designer each time Jonghyun sees him, but he never chats with anyone. Jonghyun can't tell if Kibum is completely untouchable or introverted.

Tonight, he's by the massive window in the far corner of the room, watching the twinkling lights of Seoul as he swirls champagne in a glass. He hasn't spoken to anyone since he arrived, save for the person who took his jacket at the door.

Jonghyun decides to be the first.

Before he can flake out (as he always does), he marches over to Kibum. A few designers glance at him but make no comment.

He's heard the whispers, too. Everyone wants to know Kim Kibum. His inner circle is large, from what Jonghyun knows, but Kibum doesn't seen to be friendly with anyone at the parties.

"You're always at these things, and you never talk to anyone. Not a party person?" Jonghyun tries to be casual.

Kibum doesn't turn or respond. Jonghyun fights the embarrassment bubbling in his chest. Maybe Kibum really was unapproachable.

Just as Jonghyun is about to turn away in shame, Kibum spots Jonghyun in the reflection of the window. He spins, catching Jonghyun's wrist, surprising him.

"Were you talking to me?" Kibum asks.

Jonghyun has to fight the shiver about to run up his spine. Kibum is staring at his lips.

"Um. Yeah. I was, uh, wondering why you never talk to anyone. You seem lonely."

Kibum blinks, eyebrows raising beneath his bangs. "It's loud in here. If you want to talk to me, let's go on the balcony."

"Oh. Sure, cool. The balcony."

No one was on the balcony. It was perfect for Kibum, but it made Jonghyun nervous.

Kibum takes the seat closest to the banister. "It's so much nicer out here."

Jonghyun timidly sits across from Kibum. He hadn't planned this far ahead. What is he supposed to say now?

"I really hate these things, but my manager insists I come," Kibum continues when Jonghyun doesn't say anything. "The music, the chatter--"

"It gets pretty overwhelming," Jonghyun agrees softly. If he could, he'd hide in a corner. "You seem like a people person though."

There he is. Staring at Jonghyun's lips again.

"I am a people person," Kibum responds sharply. "Just not... so many people, all at once. Anyway," he peers at the door when someone opens it but closes it again. "You're Kim Jonghyun, aren't you? KJH Photography."

Jonghyun widens his eyes. "I, um. Yeah. That's me!"

"I follow you on Instagram," Kibum tells him, but Jonghyun already knows. He nearly had a heart attack when he saw Kibum follow him. "You know your way around a camera."

Jonghyun smiles sheepishly. "Thanks. I mean, I'm sure you've worked with way better people. I'm just kinda-- here. These people don't always take me seriously because I don't take a lot of pictures of, well, people," Jonghyun doesn't realize that he's beginning to speak quickly.

"Slow down," Kibum commands, gently. "Let me give you my card."

"Your... card?"

Kibum lets out a deep chuckle as he opens his wallet for a business card. "Do you have a pen?"

Jonghyun always keeps a pen on him at events like these. He hands it over to Kibum, watching intently as Kibum writes a phone number on the card.

"The number on the front is for my company, but you should call me directly. Well, actually, I would appreciate texting more."

Holy shit.

Jonghyun takes Kibum's card. It's more plain than he expected.

"Yeah, sure. Let me give you mine."

"Please."

When Jonghyun reaches into his pocket with shaking fingers, all of his cards flutter to the ground. He leans over, continuing to talk to Kibum as he struggles to pick them up, "I'm usually pretty open. I-- I mean, I get work, but I make my own schedule, so--"

"Can you please look at me when you talk to me?"

Jonghyun shoots up, bending his cards in his hands. "S-sorry."

Kibum reaches over to steal a business card from Jonghyun. "I need to get going. I have to be up at five for a shoot. I look forward to hearing from you."

Jonghyun is dumbfounded when Kibum gets up and slips back into the penthouse. He stares at the business card in his hands.

(A/N: Because I've watched a season and a half of True Blood in 3 days)

-

"Would you just drink it?" Jonghyun asks in exasperation, pushing the bottle of synthetic blood toward his fledgling. "You can't not eat."

Kibum wrinkles his nose and pushes the glass bottle off the side of the coffee table. "What kind of vampire doesn't drink human blood? That's lame."

"The ones that don't want to get hunted for killing humans," Jonghyun leans down to pick up the bottle, turning it over in his hands. "You need to feed eventually."

"Says you," Kibum sniffs, turning his head away.

Jonghyun growls and tossed the bottled blood onto the sofa next to Kibum. "I should have just left you for dead on the side of that road."

"You should have," Kibum snaps back, trying to stop his voice from wavering. "Everyone else did."

Jonghyun hears the falter in Kibum's voice. He sits next to his fledgling, holding Kibum's cheeks in his hands.

"Kibum..."

"People saw me. I know they did. They didn't help. I--"

Jonghyun hushes him. "I helped you," Jonghyun tells him, softly. "And I'm trying to help you now. But you're going to starve if you don't drink."

Kibum stares at Jonghyun with wide eyes. Jonghyun's hands are still cradling Kibum's face. Kibum has nowhere to look but at Jonghyun's eyes. When Kibum doesn't say anything, Jonghyun leans in to touch his lips to Kibum's forehead. As if on instinct, Kibum curls into Jonghyun's chest, and Jonghyun's arms slide around Kibum protectively.

Kibum and Jonghyun stay like that for a few minutes. Kibum stares at the bottle and reaches for it slowly. He doesn't want to twist the cap off, but he does and takes a tentative sip. It feels like gravy sliding down his throat. But he feels better, stronger. Before he realizes it, he's finished the bottle and is licking what he can get off the rim.

"More..."

"I told you you'd feel better. Hang on. I'll get you more."