Cathryn glanced at Li Jing as they left Arose's house. "Should we start now?" She asked hesitantly, a hint of nervous excitement in her tone.

Li Jing nodded. "Yes." She grabbed Andrew's hand, dragging him towards his house, Cathryn following excitedly.

"Uh, what are we starting?" Andrew asked, looking between the two girls. Li Jing just smirked at him, and his imagination went wild. Was this what he thought it was? Were the three of them finally going to… Andrew's breathing quickened, his heart pounding and his palms beginning to sweat. On one hand, the idea filled him with excitement. He loved both Li Jing and Cathryn, and he wanted to be with them in any and every way he could. On the other… They'd been walking the tightrope of this relationship fairly well so far, but… sex complicated things. Making sure no one felt neglected while not turning the entire thing into some sort of chore… it would be hard. He knew they needed to figure it out eventually. He wanted to figure it out, but… he was scared. If anything would make this all fall apart, it was this.

Li Jing dragged him into his room. "Sit." She ordered, pointing to the bed as Cathryn closed the door behind them.

"Jing, are you sure about this?" Andrew asked nervously.

Li Jing nodded. "Very sure. It's time."

"But if we mess this up…" Andrew gulped nervously.

"We won't." She assured him, smiling softly. "I love you. And I love Cathryn. Nothing will change that."

Andrew hesitated, before nodding letting out a nervous sigh. "You're right. All that matters is that we love each other, and keep loving each other."

"Exactly." Li Jing nodded, her smile widening as she turned, opening his closet. "Now, let's pick out something nice for you to wear. You need to look good when you meet my parents."

Andrew froze, his brain doing a one eighty and flipping upside down. "That's the surprise?!? We're meeting your parents!?!" Andrew asked incredulously

"Of course." Li Jing glanced at him over her shoulder, raising an eyebrow at him. "Why? What did you think it was?"

Andrew flushed brightly. "I-I-I-" He stammered, until both Li Jing and Cathryn erupted in laughter. His eyes widened. "You tricked me!" He exclaimed, jumping to his feet.

"I told you not to overthink it." Cathryn retorted with a smile.

"Dirty boy." Li Jing added, tossing an old shirt at him.

Andrew's eyes narrowed at them, before jumping forward, grabbing one in each arm and pulling them into a pile on the bed as they let out high-pitched shrieks. His hands wandered over their bodies, hitting all their ticklish points as they twisted and squirmed, giggling uncontrollably. "You mess with me, I mess with you!" He growled. He kept it up for a few minutes, until the girls were breathing hard, collapsing against him.

Li Jing smacked his chest weakly. "Rude."

"You're rude!" Andrew retorted.

Cathryn snorted. "You thought it was funny and you know it."

"Only my Monkey side." Andrew grumbled. "My Tiger side is highly offended."

"Dork." Li Jing rolled her eyes, before leaning in to give him a kiss.

"You can't soothe my rage that easily." Andrew huffed as she pulled away.

Cathryn leaned in to give him a kiss as well. "How about now?" She asked with a smirk.

"It's a little better." Andrew muttered petulantly.

The two girls shared a look, rolling their eyes and hopping out of the bed. "Come on, we need to get you dressed. We're finally meeting Li Jing's parents!" Cathryn exclaimed excitedly.

Andrew immediately sat up, his eyes widening. "Oh shit, we're meeting your parents!" He exclaimed. "They aren't- they don't hate me for stealing their daughter or something, do they?" He asked Li Jing nervously.

Li Jing paused, flushing slightly. "They don't… yet."

Andrew blinked. "Yet?"

Li Jing coughed awkwardly, her flush deepening. "They… aren't exactly aware of you yet."

Andrew blinked a few more times. "So… the first time they're learning of us is tonight?!?"

"Yes." Li Jing nodded.

"They- they aren't going to like us, are they." Cathryn interjected with a worried expression.

"It- it isn't about that." Li Jing replied, shaking her head. "My parents… My parents are very overprotective. I didn't even let them know I was moving until I was already gone. If they knew about you- about any of this, they would have tried to stop me! I- I needed to wait until I was on my own, so they couldn't do anything."

"If they're that bad, why are we even talking to them?" Andrew asked, frowning.

"Because they aren't bad, they're… they just worry too much. They love me, and I love them too. I want them to still be a part of my life." Li Jing explained. "I know they care about me and want what's best for me. They just can't see that I need to be free to be me."

Cathryn let out a small laugh, causing the other two to give her a strange look as she flushed in embarrassment. "S-sorry! It isn't funny, just… I've always wished my parents would care about me more. The idea of parents who care too much… it just hit me weird." She explained sadly.

"Oh, Cathryn." Li Jing muttered, pulling her into a hug, holding her tight and rubbing her back.

"Jing, it's okay." Cathryn protested. "My family- they just-" She let out a sad sigh. "They're mortals… even if I did have a good relationship with them, they won't be around for long. We should focus on helping you with your parents."

Li Jing just hugged her tighter. "If anything that means we should focus on your parents more. My parents will always be there. Yours won't."

Cathryn suddenly turned to scowl at Andrew. "That's terrible!"

"Sorry! I didn't want to think it, it just happened!" Andrew apologized.

Li Jing looked between them, confused. "What did he think?"

Cathryn scowled. "He thought it was funny that the parents who won't always be there are never there, while the parents who are always there are never going away."

"Andrew." Li Jing chastised him, giving him a stern look.

"I know, I'm sorry!" Andrew groaned, covering his face with his hands, cursing his Monkey side. He just knew that's where that thought had come from. Though his Lizard side probably didn't help…

Li Jing snorted, shaking her head. "Come on, let's get you dressed. At least you'll look presentable." She commented, causing Andrew to let out a groan.

*

The three of them finished getting ready, the girls having put together a business casual look for Andrew while they wore nicer looking dresses, and they all headed to the portal station. They were meeting Li Jing's parents at a restaurant in the City, ostensibly for Li Jing to discuss her sudden move with them. "You didn't technically lie." Andrew muttered.

"I didn't lie at all." Li Jing stated, raising her chin slightly. "I moved because of you. It's the simple truth."

"Jing, there is a big difference between 'I moved to assert my independence' and 'I moved so I could shack up with my new boyfriend and girlfriend'." Cathryn replied.

Li Jing flushed slightly. "We aren't 'shacking up'. We are in a long-term, committed relationship."

"We know that, but I'm pretty sure your parents aren't going to see it that way." Andrew commented. "They seem kinda like 'worst case scenario' type people."

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Li Jing's flush deepened. "Regardless, they'll have to accept it. My love life is not theirs to dictate."

Once they arrived at the restaurant, a server led them to a private room. Li Jing paused at the door, hesitating, nervousness radiating off of her. Andrew placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay. We're here for you." He assured her.

Li Jing took a deep breath, before nodding and opening the door. "Jing'er!" A woman immediately exclaimed the moment she walked in, rushing forward to hug her. "We were so worried! How could you just leave like that! We thought you'd been abducted!"

"I left a note." Li Jing pointed out with a frown.

"Notes can be forged." A man commented seriously. "Young lady, this was very irresponsible of you. You cannot be out on your own yet! Do you not understand the dangers we face?!? You are coming home with us this instant!"

"Andrew!" Cathryn hissed, scowling at him.

Andrew jumped slightly, having been distracted looking between the older man in the corner he'd thought was Li Jing's dad, and the much younger looking and obviously Bonded man that was clearly actually her dad, feeling like an idiot. *Monkey was not the right choice to emphasize.* He groaned internally, quickly switching to Tiger and putting on his serious face. "Mr. Li, Jing is officially an adult now. She has the right to live her life in any way she likes, and you can't force her to do anything."

Li Jing's father looked him up and down with a distasteful expression. "Who is this insolent whelp who dares to lecture me on how to raise my own daughter!?!"

Li Jing stepped away from her mother, taking Andrew's arm. "Father, this is Andrew… he's my boyfriend." She paused, before taking Cathryn's arm as well. "And this is Cathryn, my girlfriend."

Li Jing's parents' eyes widened, looking between the two of them. "You can't be serious." Her father stated flatly.

"Is this why you felt you needed to run away?" Her mother asked carefully. "Because you're bisexual?" She paused. "And- and poly?"

Li Jing flushed in embarrassment. "No, I- Mother, Andrew and Cathryn are Bonded."

"Well, I should hope so." Her mother commented, giving her a weird look. "Getting into relationships with mortals is the height of foolishness."

"No, I mean they're Bonded to each other." Li Jing elaborated. "Andrew is a Beast, and Cathryn is Bonded to him."

Her mother blinked in confusion, while her father's eyes widened as he turned to Andrew. "You are Andrew Stone?"

Andrew blinked. "You know me?"

Her father grunted. "Your case has been a topic of much discussion among those in leadership. The second Long, they say." Andrew grimaced at that. He wasn't sure how he felt about people seeing him like that… Long was the protector of humanity, the progenitor of the Bonded. Being the second Long felt like a lot of pressure he really didn't want. It wasn't that he wouldn't do his best to help where he could, but… what if he couldn't do what they wanted him to do? He didn't want to let everyone down just because he couldn't be who they wanted him to be. He just wanted to be him. "You and my daughter are together?" Li Jing's father continued thoughtfully. "How… interesting." The man's emotions seemed to vacillate between worry and pride as he looked between Andrew and Li Jing. Eventually he grunted again. "Come, have a seat. I see we have much to discuss."

Li Jing glanced between Andrew and her father, a confused, surrealness coming over her. Her father actually seemed to approve of Andrew! It was outside her wildest expectations. She'd thought at best she'd get grudging acceptance from him. She sat down next to Andrew, Cathryn sitting on her other side and grabbing her hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. After ordering some food and drinks, Li Jing's mother turned to her. "Please, tell us. Why did you feel you couldn't discuss this with us earlier?"

Li Jing hesitated. "I- I didn't think you would understand."

"Jing'er, we're your parents! We're here to support you, to guide you! If you don't talk to us, how can we help?" Her mother replied with a frown.

"Mother, I- I know you want to help, but- but you never let me make my own decisions!" Li Jing exclaimed. "I- I just needed to do this on my own, to decide something for myself. And- I wasn't going to give up on Andrew and Cathryn. This was something I had to do."

Li Jing's father frowned. "Why would you need to run away to be with your lovers? If you stayed with us, we could keep you all safe! Our compound is more than enough to accommodate two extra people."

Li Jing shook her head. "Andrew and Cathryn are only part of why I needed to leave. I- I know you want to keep me safe, but… I need to be free to experience the world! To actually interact with people! I can't- I can't keep hiding in a compound for the rest of my life. I won't!"

Her father blinked. "Jing'er, you don't understand the dangers you may face! Until your ability is powerful enough, taking the chance of something going wrong is simply foolish! Something as small as a car accident could end your life before it has even started! A madman with a gun could end your life before you could even react!"

"And so I should hide from everything?!?" Li Jing retorted angrily. "Life may be dangerous, but if you avoid all the dangers, you don't even have a life to lose! Living just to live is pointless!"

"Living is life!" Her father countered. "Our immortality gives us the time to be patient and safe! Taking unnecessary risks just for 'excitement' is short sighted and idiotic!"

Li Jing groaned in frustration. "This is why I had to leave! You just don't get it!"

"All I get is that you're a young and foolish girl who can't be trusted to make her own decisions!" Her father yelled back.

Li Jing got to her feet. "This is pointless!" She growled, turning and beginning to stomp out of the room.

"Jing'er, wait!" Her mother called after her, Li Jing hesitating for a moment, glancing back. Her mother turned to her father. "Apologize!" She demanded.

Li Jing's father grimaced, before letting out a sigh. "Jing'er, I'm sorry. I just- I want you to be safe! You have no idea what dangers are lurking out there!"

"Even if the world is dangerous, it's a risk I need to take!" Li Jing retorted. "If you can't understand that, then we have nothing more to talk about!"

"Jing'er, please, if you just wait a few more years, pick up the right mutations, you can be prepared for the dangers of the world!" Her mother pleaded.

Li Jing shook her head. "There will always be a reason not to take risks. It will always be safer to focus on protecting yourself. But that isn't a life I can live anymore. I-I hope you can learn to accept that." She sighed, turning and heading out the door.

Li Jing's parents shared distressed looks, while Andrew and Cathryn glanced at each other, shifting uncomfortably. "Well… it was nice meeting you both." Andrew coughed awkwardly, getting up to follow Li Jing out, Cathryn jumping to her feet as well. "We should do this again sometime."

Cathryn scowled at him. "Don't be rude." She hissed, before turning to Li Jing's parents. "I'm sorry this didn't go very well. I hope we can meet on better terms next time." She apologized, bowing slightly.

"Please, just- help her stay safe." Li Jing's father pleaded with a twisted expression. Andrew and Cathryn hesitated before nodding. They wanted Li Jing safe just as much as anyone.

"How is what I said rude, and what you said isn't?" Andrew complained as they turned to leave.

"Because what I said was sincere!" Cathryn explained, rolling her eyes.

"I was totally sincere!" Andrew protested.

"But the way you said it wasn't!" Cathryn replied.

Andrew frowned. "That doesn't make any sense!"

Cathryn sighed. "Look, I'll explain later."

Andrew frowned, but they had bigger issues to deal with at the moment. He quickly led Cathryn towards where Li Jing was hiding, huddled on a bench in a nearby park, covering her face with her hands, a light sniffing coming from her as she cried quietly. Andrew sat down next to her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and pulling her close. "I'm sorry that didn't go better." He whispered, rubbing her shoulder softly as Cathryn sat on her other side, wrapping her arm over Andrew's and placing a hand on her knee.

Li Jing sniffed. "I knew they wouldn't change overnight, it's just… I want them to understand! To just see how lonely their restrictions made me! How terrible it is to be kept locked up in a gilded cage! To- to accept that I need to be free to be me."

"They'll come around." Cathryn assured her. "They obviously love you… when they see how well you can do on your own, they'll see how crazy their restrictions have been. You just need to give them time."

Li Jing sighed. "I hope so."

*

Benjamin rushed to his computer the moment he got home, pulling up an obscure, cryptid site and creating a new thread titled 'I think my best friend has been enthralled by a Vampire!'. He then wrote up the details of his observations on Andrew, how his parents didn't seem to age, his strange feats of strength, how he seemed to know things he shouldn't, and how easily he made friends with animals. He then explained how Cathryn had changed, turning against him and becoming completely besotted with Andrew. There was even another girl he seemed to be with, and neither of them seemed to mind the other! He finished by asking how he could protect himself and save Cathryn. The first few replies weren't very promising.

[This A guy sounds hot. Do you think he'd be interested in a third?]

[Fake post. Vampires aren't born, they're made! Plus, this A obviously has zero weakness to sunlight. If you're going to claim someone is a Vampire, at least do your homework!]

[Your girl found someone better, dude. Doesn't make the guy a Vampire. Take the hit and move on.]

The vast majority of the replies were like that, Benjamin quickly losing hope in receiving any helpful replies. That is, until he received a private message. [It seems like you're dealing with an emotional Vampire. They manipulate the emotions of those around them to make them reliant on them, slowly feeding off them until they grow tired of them and discard them, leaving them empty, emotionless husks. These Vampires tend not to be violent, so you should be safe as long as you don't overly antagonize them, but your friend seems to already be lost. Even if you pull her away from the Vampire, she's already dependent on him, addicted to him. Without regular access to the Vampire, her addiction would claw at her, eating at her until she could no longer function. However, if you act soon, you may be able to save many more from the same fate. A young Vampire is a rare find. If we act soon, we may be able to stop this threat from growing into something much more serious.]

Benjamin blinked as he stared at the message. [What do you mean by 'act'?] He asked nervously.

The other person replied quickly. [To ensure the Vampire's destruction, of course. These creatures prey on our kind, taking advantage of us in every way they can, draining our resources, keeping us distracted with conflicts and vain entertainment. We are at a severe disadvantage and we must strike back whenever we can. After seeing what this monster has done to your friend, how can you simply sit back and allow him to continue?]

Benjamin hesitated, before his expression turned serious. [What do I need to do?]