even the unknowns ; chenji

kitty play time!

jisung

When they pull up outside the old folks home, Jisung's grandmother is standing on the balcony like a knight watching over a medieval fortress.

Jisung waves out the window while Chenle parks in the guest lot. It's not a very big place, a little run-down but obviously well-loved. Jisung has so many memories driving into this parking lot, waiting with his hand on the door so he could sprint out as soon as the car was stopped; wandering up and down the carpeted hallways with bare feet, collecting so many candies that his pockets couldn't hold them all; looking out over the balcony for hours like there couldn't possibly be a more beautiful view.

Chenle is almost always next to him in those memories, as far back as he can remember. He has the feeling Chenle is more comfortable here than with his own grandparents. Jisung can't blame him. The one time he met Grandma and Grandpa Zhong, he went home with a tremble in his hands that didn't go away for a week.

"This is your new home, guys," Jisung says.

The kittens are stretched up on their hind legs, looking out the window. "That's a big house," says Yoon. "Do big people live in there?"

"Uh, no. But remember, from now on you can't speak human to anybody who isn't a vampire."

"So we can't speak to Mr. Chenle anymore?"

"No, that's not... Just be careful."

They get out of the car, hefting their backpacks over their shoulders. Jisung's grandmas are waiting for them at the entrance; Chenle goes ahead while Jisung wrestles the kennel out of the backseat. Just then, he feels a sharp pain, like claws digging into his ankle. He staggers backward on one foot, looking down to see Nibbles peeking out from under the car.

"What the—" He shuts the door and crouches down to Nibbles' level. "What are you doing here?"

"I've made a grave mistake, youngling. Those kittens are mine. I will hunt down and maul anyone who tries to take them from me."

Jisung blinks. "Were you under the car this whole time? On the highway?"

"What kind of desperado do you take me for? I was on the roof. Now go fetch your mate, we're leaving straight away."

"Dude, we can't just leave, I promised the kittens to my grandmas. You knew this was going to happen — I thought cats didn't get emotional about this stuff."

"Yes, well, usually we don't. I've been spending too much time around humans. My home is overrun by infants — three of them, blast the poetic parallels. And you! You and your attachment to those kittens, treating them like small feline humans — your saccharine foolishness has poisoned my rational mind!"

"Yeah, I'm not the one who's acting foolishly sacka-whatever right now."

Her hackles stand on end. She reaches out with one sharp-clawed paw, hooks it on the front of Jisung's hoodie. "I brought you back to life, Park Jisung. You may still come to regret that."

He gulps.

"Jisung, where have you gone?"

Grandma Park's voice. He jumps up and calls "Just a second!" then crouches back down. Nibbles is staring at him, threads from his hoodie stuck in her claws. "I don't have time for this. Stay hidden and meet on the balcony. We'll talk about it. Rationally."

Her hackles smooth down, and without a word she darts into the bushes. Jisung grabs the kennel and hurries to the entrance.

Grandma number-one is immediately all over him, her grey bob wispy with worry. Grandma number-two — nicknamed Nanny, for clarity — watches on with a floaty smile.