Literary Angel @l1teraryangel - Tumblr Blog

Shameless (Chapter 14 - KPDH AU)

Word Count: 6.5K

Chapter Warnings: Mild Suggestive Content, Mild Misogyny, Mild Toxic Masculinity

AO3 Version Here

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“There you are!”

Ri-Um, nothing more than a plush toy in Abby's arms, squeaked. “H-Hi? Geez, guys, I wasn't gone that long.”

Jinu pinched his ear, ignoring the whine the younger demon gave, and gestured for Ri-Um to be set down. No sooner had her feet returned to the floor did Romance twirl her into his embrace, face smushed to hers.

Groaning, Jinu pried the pink-haired man's grip off her shoulders. “Enough. Settle down, you two.”

Despite their embellished affection and the frustration tightening the dark-haired demon's mouth, a giggle found its way up her throat. “You dummies are blowing things way out of proportion.” Five heads turned to her, and her grin tempered out into an almost shy smile. “Thanks for caring, though.”

It might have been her imagination, but she swore Jinu and Abby softened under the gratitude. And Romance, much to her shock, smiled back. Not a smirk, but an actual reflection of her own expression, right on his face. The moment felt downright tender… Until Baby busted open a bag of chips and Mystery began scarfing down jerky.

Brow twitching, Jinu stared at the treasure trove of snacks at the two older demons’ feet. “I ask you to find Ri-Um, and you come back with food.”

“And your girlfriend,” Baby jeered, eyes glinting when the burst of scarlet he desired popped up on the dark-haired demon’s skin. “Be grateful, kid.”

“I did sorta promise Mystery snacks,” Ri-Um elaborated, using Romance’s wandering hand to press against Jinu’s heated skin, much to the pink-haired man’s amusement. “Sorry it took so long. Had to venture farther than I planned.”

Lowering Romance's hand from his face, Jinu sighed. “You don't have to go to such lengths for any of us, much less those two.”

Baby tossed his head back, chips tumbling into his mouth, all while holding up a middle finger. Mystery ignored Jinu's remark and started on his second bag of jerky. The two youngest members chuckled at the defiance their hyungs wielded against Jinu, and he merely sighed again, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Ri-Um hid a smirk behind a well-placed hand. “It was no trouble, boss, I promise.” Once she discarded her mirthful expression, she clapped her hands for their attention. “Alright, now that all of us are here, let's get to work.”

“Not so fast, manager-nim.”

Of course it was Romance who slammed the breaks. Of course. Biting her tongue, she turned to him with a tight smile and expectant eyes. The pink-haired demon grinned as if reading her thoughts.

“A moment of your time, darling, that's all.”

Ignoring her perplexment, he darted out of the room, appearing a moment later with a rolling cart behind him. If she was lost before, her mind was a maze now. Abby ruffled her hair as he went to rummage around the cart of… materials? Items? What in the world was happening? Even Jinu abandoned her side, a cocky smirk on his handsome face.

Like a magician, Romance produced approximately five bouquets worth of red roses and some purple flowers barely poking out beneath the vibrant petals. Bowing before her, he held the odd arrangement below her face. “For our lovely, most esteemed manager.”

Baby made a sound she guessed was disgust before muttering, “The absolute fuck is that monstrosity?”

“Be nice, Baby,” Jinu scolded, though his tone indicated more amusement than annoyance. “Rome worked hard on that.”

A few spat remarks hovered in the air, but she disregarded them as she took hold of the flowers. Yeesh, it… was a lot. Was she supposed to have a vase large enough for this? She needed both hands to keep the flowers up so they wouldn’t fall out of the bundle. Her gears spun and sputtered. Meanwhile, Romance looked pleased with himself.

“You like it, darling?”

“It’s… lovely, Ro. Um, why…?”

“Oh, roses are a symbol of love and passion. And the purple ones — hy… something or another — reminded me of your eyes. Consider it a personal touch.”

“They’re hyacinth, you dumbfuck.”

Ri-Um and Romance glanced towards Baby, and the teal-haired demon glared daggers. The tips of his ears, she noted, were flushed, though it might be the way he was grinding his teeth and scrunching his face.

Without looking away from the frustrated demon, Ri-Um cleared her throat. “I… meant why are you guys giving me flowers?”

“Do not associate me with that hideous mess!” Baby dropped to the ground, back to them, and stuffed a handful of chips into his cheeks. “Fucking dragging me out of bed… Ignores everything… Asshole…”

Romance chuckled and, lifting the burden from her hands, winked. “Think of this as my apology for yesterday, love.”

An apology? Well, that was unexpected. A pleasant enough idea, and the intent seemed genuine if his sparkling eyes and beaming face told her anything. Yeah, she could trust her gut on this one.

Smiling, Ri-Um withdrew a single rose and two hyacinths. “In that case, thank you, Romeo. That’s very sweet of you.”

If his grin got any wider, it would split his face. Dabbing his nose with the blooms, she continued, “Assuming it’s all the same to you, I’m going to downsize your gift to something I can actually carry home.”

He contemplated the flowers in her hand, then the bouquet. “Hm, I suppose I went a tad overboard.”

Abby snorted behind him. “‘A tad?’ Rome, man, you got her a flower shop’s worth of flowers.”

Chuckling, Jinu propped an elbow on Abby’s shoulder and murmured mostly for his ears, “And that’s only the ones he brought with him. Our penthouse looks like a florist exploded.”

The two shared another laugh, and Romance huffed, a sly smirk replacing his benign grin, before chucking the remainder of his bouquet at them. “Don’t be jealous because she liked my gift more than she’ll like yours.”

That caught her attention. “Wait, you two also brought gifts?”

Plucking petals out of his hair, Jinu offered a subtle smile. “We all wanted to apologize to you for yesterday, so… Yes.” Without any of Romance’s fanfare, he held out a large envelope. “Both Abby and I put our gifts in here. Open it when you get home.”

“At home? Why?” Her eyes narrowed, but her voice remained playful. “What sort of scandalous gift did you get me, boys?” Jinu chuffed while Abby grinned. “...I’m not going to see any scantily clad or nude photos of you two, am I?”

A bark of laughter erupted from Abby, and Jinu, dear boy, went beet red. “W-What do you take us for, manager-nim?!”

“Ah, but that is such a genius idea,” Romance mused, rubbing his chin. He sauntered over to his muscular friend and traced a finger up his torso. “Abby-darling, next time you and I should collaborate on gifts for our dear manager. I think we would make quite the team, don’t you, love?”

“Sure, sure.” The larger demon rolled his eyes and caught Romance’s hand by the wrist. “What, you want me to draw you naked for her or something?"

“And I’ll craft an artistic backdrop of flowers for a few, as manager-nim puts it, scandalous photographs of you. It will be delicious.”

Ri-Um, meeting Jinu’s equally exasperated eyes, shook her head and tucked the envelope into her bag. “Right, well, if that’s all—”

Tearing himself from his sinful vision, Romance dug into the cart. “One more thing, dear Ri-Um, if you would humor me.”

“Oh, Jesus Christ. What now?”

The pink-haired demon grinned as, yet again, he produced a bouquet of flowers. Only this time, it wasn’t an over-the-top declaration of red-hot passion with mismatched hyacinths for a “personal touch” — it was a gorgeous arrangement of just the right number of blue and white hyacinths, tied together by a silk ribbon the color of her eyes.

“Oh.” Her gaze widened as she studied the delicate bouquet. “It’s… Wow, that’s really beautiful.” Out of the corner of her peripheral, she saw Baby and Mystery peek at her. “Thank you, Romance. I—”

“Ah, but darling,” he purred, slipping the flowers into her hand, “this one isn’t from me. It’s from Baby.”

Doubt ruined her mystified expression. “Wh—”

“Don’t fucking tell her shit like that!” Baby’s explosion drew everyone’s attention. “I did not put it together for her!”

“Silly hyung, of course you did!” Death blazed within the older demon’s eyes, but Romance? Romance didn’t give two fucks. “You might have assembled it because of my coaxing, but…” The unsaid words spoke volumes, and Baby was fuming.

Eyes jumping from one demon to the next, Ri-Um held the bouquet closer. “...Huh. You have an eye for flowers, Baby.”

“So what!” Her brow cocked at his outrage. “There’s nothing wrong with knowing how to put together a bouquet that doesn’t look like shit! Or understanding flower language! If these guys had an ounce of class between them, then—”

The others chuckled amongst themselves, utterly unfazed by his anger and verbal assault, but Ri-Um sighed. Sauntering over, she placed a single, meaningful finger atop his lips, which stunned him enough to work. A mix of flirtation and appreciation danced in her expression.

“Thank you, Baby. I sincerely mean it. I love the bouquet, and I appreciate you taking the time to make it for me. Willing or otherwise.”

He trembled, and she wondered if it was irritation, disgust, shock, or anxiety fueling the vibrations. When she withdrew her finger, he continued to stare at her. Shock, she decided. At her touch, her words, or maybe her gall? Impossible to know what thoughts went on behind those crystal eyes.

A mop of hair appeared at his shoulder, and she blinked, realizing Mystery had somehow snuck up on them. The silver-haired demon bumped the side of his head against Baby’s, humming, and the other man seemed to snap out of his daze.

Clearing his throat, Baby turned away from her, ears blazing red. “...Whatever. Don’t make a big deal out of it.” He whipped around to the other Saja Boys. “That goes double for you brats unless you want me to rip you to shreds.”

“Promises, promises,” Romance cooed, plucking a few lingering petals out of Abby’s hair. The taller man blew one such petal at the pink-haired demon’s face, winning a chuckle and slap on the pec.

Jinu glanced around at the mess of scattered petals and sheepishly eyed Ri-Um. “...Um, manager-nim, before we resume practice…”

She sighed. “Yesssss, I’ll get a broom. Idiots.”

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The remainder of their rehearsal wrapped up without issues. Truthfully, Ri-Um was stunned. The guys appeared to be putting forth their best effort following her tantrum, and she couldn’t ask for better. The modifications to the dance were coming along, and once she could get a rough mix of the track from her contact, she felt certain the final pieces would fall into place.

The lyric distribution panned out, too. Abby and Baby sounded much more cohesive and confident in their solos, and Mystery and Romance were achieving a gorgeous harmony through their high notes. It was hard to picture what it would sound like with a backing track, but she knew it couldn’t possibly be bad. Not when they already sounded this great.

Her excitement and obvious appreciation of their work seemed to pump the guys up, too. It was endearing seeing them brighten at her praise and try to outdo each other. Even Baby and Mystery competed for the compliments as if they feared she would run out without ever paying them one.

All in all, the day finished on a far better note than it began. After giving the boys the plan for tomorrow and dismissing them for the evening, she walked home, lost in the clouds rather than the streets of Seoul. Maybe she didn’t need to push them super hard. Their ability to pick up on things impressed her, and while they certainly required refreshers on the new-new stuff, the progress they made despite the lack of dedicated practice couldn’t be denied.

She was really going to create and manage a successful boy band. The thought snowballed through her mind, every additional layer of what could be exciting her more and more. The debut, the concerts, the fan events, the social media, the awards shows…! Their first song would be bubblegum pop, pastel and flirty, but where else could she take them? Jinu said they wrote the song together, so would they let her contribute to the next?

Lyrics pingponged off one another. Ri-Um missed writing songs, especially with her fellow hunters. Their last collaborative spitball session ended up birthing what they all suspected would be their next major hit: Golden. Gosh, the recording sessions and the music video were such a blast. She adored watching the girls bring their scribbled lyrics to life.

Her thoughts drifted to the words of the unlaunched song. The girls each put a piece of themselves into the verses, but so did Ri-Um. She related to their struggles. It was one of the many reasons she got along so well with Mira and Zoey. And, of course, Rumi was totally down for most of Ri-Um’s ideas. Most.

Somewhere in her bedside table, a notebook displaying every rendition of Golden dwelled. A great deal of the scratched out verses had been replaced by similar ones workshopped to be a bit catchier, more to the imagined beat. There was one particular verse that nearly made Rumi flip out however, and they argued over it for almost a week before Ri-Um gave up.

Waited so long to break these walls down

To wake up and actually see

Embrace my patterns as they are now

And finally live how we've longed to be

The changed lyrics Rumi wrote were vague enough to be written off as “hunter-approved” by Mira, Zoey, and of course Celine. They sounded nice enough, but they blended right in with the lie Rumi insisted they live. The lie Celine crafted for them.

“To live like the girl they all see…” A flawless hunter. A beautiful pop star. A normal human. But that wasn’t what she and Rumi were! They were half-demons, the product of their parents’ love for one another. It was the hatred Celine felt for demons and their father which trickled down the line into her sister’s brain and poisoned her. Rumi saw their patterns as something to be ashamed of; Ri-Um saw them as a reminder of how beautiful the results of following your heart could be.

She would support Golden when it finally released after the post-tour hiatus the girls planned. She would always support Rumi and Huntr/x.

But deep down, when the song played over the radio for everyone to hear, she would also hold onto hope that the lyrics would be her truth instead of Rumi’s lie.

By the time she reached her apartment, all she could think about was lyrics. Lyrics that encapsulated her. She took a moment to set up two vases — one for Romance’s flowers, one for Baby’s — before rushing straight to her bedroom. Turning on her bedside lamp, Ri-Um snatched a ball-point pen and her notebook and jumped stomach first onto her bed. The ink flowed as freely as the opening verse bouncing around her mind.

I was thinking 'bout space and not the one between us

Where we can take our doubts and worries and leave 'em there

Nothing falls, nothing fades, nothing withers away

Mm, I was thinking 'bout space and not the one between us

Ri-Um paused. What else? What else did she want to say? When she thought of her sister, a million words clashed, but she always buried them. She loved Rumi more than anything, and she tried to make it clear. Sometimes, though, it sucked being her sister. Like today in the convenience store when, yet again, she was reminded how irrelevant she was. Or anytime Jian pulled shit that she would never dare do to Huntr/x. Or when Celine gave her the “disappointed” look.

Rumi had her own problems. Ri-Um knew that. Living in the spotlight, being Celine’s protege, battling the self-loathing their adoptive mother shamed into her… Rumi was, by no means, someone to be envied. And yet…

“...Maybe in another world…” Her voice whispered as her pen scratched over the page. “...Where I own that I’m jealous…”

Beside her, vibrations indicated an incoming message. She ignored it, staring at the words etched between the lines of her notebook. The word “jealous” seemed to pop off the paper. Jealousy… Huh. She was, wasn’t she? Just a bit? Jealous of Rumi’s status, of how loved she was, how she never suffered the sting of irrelevancy among the industry.

Maybe she’d take her notebook to her next therapy session in a few days.

Flipping to a clean page, she turned her mind away from her twin. Or, well, she tried. Her inner feelings, conflicted as they were, shone clearer than ever. Her pen was moving fast, too fast to keep up with.

Smiling on the surface

Wishing I was perfect, just like you

Fighting to be flawless

Anything but honest

Thinking you’d hate me if you knew

“Dammit, Ri-Um,” she muttered and flipped to another clean page. Tears burned the back of her eyes. “Stop it. Stop. Quit being such a whiny bitch. You got in your feels today, had your cry… Now fucking wrap it up.”

The blank page taunted her. Dared her to write another verse or two like those. No, she needed to think of something positive. What… What was positive? Her love for her sister. Their bond. Negative feelings aside, there could be no doubt they loved each other. Maybe she should write lyrics to Rumi instead of about Rumi.

In smooth cursive, her pen rolled over the untouched paper. An image painted itself in her mind of Rumi and her, patterns on display, surrounded by their loved ones in acceptance.

We can't fix it if we never face it

What if we find a way to escape it?

We could be free

Her pen froze. Damn, her creative juice ran dry. The words worked, but much like the other verses she wrote, they needed more to them. None of it was a full song. Not even close. Could she combine them perhaps? Hm, how to make it evolve cohesively, then?

Another vibration shook her phone, causing it to bump her arm. Setting the pen down, Ri-Um unlocked the screen. Chung-Ho texted her and Minji?

Chu-Chu Oppa 🤓: Girls, I wanted to let you know my trip is getting extended. I will be here a couple days longer.

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩Da Wife👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩: boooooo lame-o tomatoes tomatoes 🍅🍅🍅

Great, she was planning to ask Chung-Ho for some more help with her idol project. She knew he and Minji would be assets when it came time for the boys to debut. Hearing that he was delayed dropped her stomach to her feet. No, no, she needed to be reasonable. Chung-Ho had his own life. And the debut was far off, too. He would be back in plenty of time for her to acquire his assistance.

Her fingers flew over her screen to tap out a response.

Me: aw no! oppa, say sike!

Chu-Chu Oppa 🤓: Sorry, I can’t. I have to be an adult, you know?

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩Da Wife👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩: BOOOOOOO

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩Da Wife👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩: you suck

Me: guess you have to buy on your return celebration, then? 😗

Chu-Chu Oppa 🤓: Somehow, I think I was already buying.

Chu-Chu Oppa 🤓: Anyways… I’ll let you both know when I get back.

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩Da Wife👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩: uh no? tell us is advance or we aren’t making time for you

Chu-Chu Oppa 🤓: Geez. Okay, I’ll tell you the day I am leaving. That’s the best I can do.

Me: fiiiiine

Me: travel safe, Chu-Chu ♥️

He wished them a good night and his love, and they both replied the same back, although Minji put her usual sassy tone on it. No sooner did they abandon their group chat did her best friend send her a private text.

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩Da Wife👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩: how are things?

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩Da Wife👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩: i almost have that first batch of photos done, btw

Me: things are good

Me: well, sorta… lots of stuff going on, not all good

Me: thank you, my lovely Mini~

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩Da Wife👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩: what stuff isn’t good? are those demons giving you problems? i can kick their asses for you?

Me: no, no… it isn’t them.

Summarizing the last four days was a pain. It woke up every negative feeling she’d had, plus it made her thumbs hurt and reminded her of Jinu’s old man hand arthritis. But Minji was her best friend. If she confided most details to a therapist she was still deciding if she could trust, she needed to keep her bestie a hundred percent in the loop.

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩Da Wife👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩: girl

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩Da Wife👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩: wtf

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩Da Wife👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩: why didn’t you call me!?

Me: honestly mini, i haven’t had the time

Me: i haven’t had time for much of anything

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩Da Wife👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩: i don’t want to hear about how you are going through emotional hell and battling literal demons and then be told you are neglecting your self-care

Me: i wouldn’t say i’m neglecting it!

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩Da Wife👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩: don’t argue with me! we are going to the gym tomorrow, young lady

Me: um, i have rehearsal with the guys…?

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩Da Wife👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩: tell them to sleep in

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩Da Wife👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩: gym. 5 am. go to bed and get some rest.

Me: yes, wife 🫡😒

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩Da Wife👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩: 😤

Laughing, Ri-Um set her alarm and hopped up to get ready for bed. As she went through her motions, she glimpsed her bag and the large envelope poking out. Oh, how did the gifts from Jinu and Abby slip her mind? Admittedly, she was beyond curious. And a bit wary, but she tried not to let intrusive thoughts overshadow how sweet the idea was.

Her hands trembled as she handled the envelope, careful not to bend or rip anything as she opened it. Fingertips brushed a piece of thin paper first, and she withdrew it in a slow, controlled movement. As the item emerged, so did the realization of what Abby’s gift was.

Her. It was her. Drawn by hand in pencil.

A second realization dawned on her. The perspective he drew her in, the way she wore her hair… This was yesterday night. When they had their moment alone. This… was how he saw her.

She looked beautiful. Ri-Um knew she was, of course. One couldn’t make a career as a model if they weren’t some level of standard beauty. But something about seeing herself through his eyes meant more than looking in a mirror or at a magazine cover.

“I’ll have to buy a frame,” she murmured, tucking the drawing into her bedside drawer. “Maybe Mini has a spare one.”

Shooting off a quick text to her friend, Ri-Um busied herself with retrieving the last gift. It was down deep in the envelope, but the cardstock material made it easy to grab once she located it. A card? Covered in flowers and swirls of color, store-bought but quite clearly chosen with her in mind — she doubted Jinu was giving this card design to one of the other Saja Boys.

Opening it at the fold, she gasped. A hand-written note. A long hand-written note. True to form, Jinu wrote it like an old man: formal wording, delicate vertical strokes, impeccable penmanship, and completed by a dojang. She expected nothing less.

Her inner mockery of her head Saja Boy aside, the message itself brought tears to her eyes.

“Ri-Um,

Please accept this note as an apology for what happened yesterday. It was never the intention to cause you distress or doubt regarding our sincerity as a band or our dedication to you, our manager. As you realize by now, things happened yesterday outside of our control, but please know I especially regret the pain we caused you.

You are a kind-hearted and talented person, and we are quite fortunate to have you as a manager. I promise we will endeavor to avoid such events in the future, though I cannot guarantee it will not happen again. Someone as bright and wonderful as you does not deserve to doubt your self-worth over people like us. Please remember these words should you ever find yourself in doubt again.

Respectfully yours,

Jinu”

Wiping her arm across her face, she sniffled, “Fuck you, Jinu. Why are you trying to dehydrate me, you asshole?”

Even as she cursed him, she placed the card into her notebook for a rainy day. Then, with a smile she couldn’t quite fight, she laid down for bed.

~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~

Headphones over his ears, Baby blasted a random playlist of songs from some music app on his phone. He knew next to nothing about modern music, artists, or genres, so his preferences were non-existent. Some of the noise in his ears was just that: noise. Some of it was alright, though. Palatable, at least.

At his feet, sprawled out over his bed, Jinu stared at the ceiling. The younger demon tended to hide wherever Baby was when he needed space and serenity for thinking, so long as Mystery wasn’t in there. Their companion, while plenty quiet, didn’t tolerate inattention well. He needed to have someone touching him in some way or he got extra bitey.

A streak of color caught his eye through the tiny crack in the doorway. Sliding his headphones back, Baby stared and waited, already suspicious of who it was. Sure enough, a finger thrummed the wood and pushed the door open to reveal Abby’s hulking form. Jinu glanced over, patting the space beside him. Smirking, the magenta-haired demon flopped onto Jinu’s smaller body, and Baby chuckled at the muffled protest.

“What did you need, kid?”

No regard to Jinu’s suffocation, Abby shifted his attention to the eldest among the three of them. “You guys see the message Ri-Um sent?”

Ugh. How did that woman manage to haunt him even in the sanctity of his own space? He really, really, really needed to sit Abby down and talk to him. Jinu wasn’t handling it — no, he didn’t see the issue. He recognized Abby was “a bit too attached” but chose naively to believe it wouldn’t have long-term consequences.

At least that was how he sold it when asked. Baby suspected the truth was, as he accused the dark-haired demon of just that morning, Jinu was similarly attached and attracted to their human pet. Fucking soft-hearted idiots. Even Romance began acting… different. Ever since the other day when she ran out crying and he chased after her.

Shit, putting everything in perspective, he had to admit things were spiraling. They’d only been in the human world for a week, yet their group was divided by cracks. Cracks allowed weakness and bad decisions in. Didn’t they already know that from their human lives?

“She said to sleep in,” Jinu, no longer beneath Abby, read aloud while scrolling his messages. “Apparently we’re going to aim for nine instead of six.”

Baby blinked out of his head and checked his phone. Sure enough. Why? He didn’t like her making sudden changes without explanation. He distrusted her and her intentions. He resented the fact she was close with Huntr/x — it made him ridiculously nervous. What if she knew about demons? What if she told them a demon group was trying to compete with them? The possibilities were as endless as they were gut-wrenching. Yet another reason keeping her around pissed him off.

“Sounds like a plan to me,” Abby yawned, stretching his arms and back in tandem. “In that case, I’m going to go for a run in the morning.”

A moment of silence followed, and both Baby and Jinu cocked their eyebrows at him. Whenever he went for runs, he extended the offer for the others to join him. But no, the magenta-haired demon rolled his shoulders and turned away, waving good night to them.

Oh, fuck no. Compared to everyone else in their group, Abby was an open book. Big dumb brute didn’t even realize how obvious he was. If he was avoiding inviting the others along, it meant he intended on doing more than going for a simple run. The question was… What was he up to?

Had to be her. Everything lately seemed to revolve around that damn woman. Infuriating. Maddening. What was so fucking special about this human for the others to be against getting rid of her? There had to be a hundred other humans they could use as a manager. Why did it have to be this one?

Because he hated her, dammit. Hated her for being a woman, a human, a bossy pest, an arrogant pain in the ass… And for her stupid, beautiful eyes and supple skin. His heart skipped a beat for the first time in centuries when she touched his lips today. The fucking nerve, especially when she insulted him earlier by calling him “cute” for the umpteenth time. She had absolutely no right to touch him, yet he couldn’t bring himself to slap her hand away. Not when she met his gaze and thanked him sincerely for the bouquet.

Looking into her eyes, surrounded by feminine softness, he thought back to what she said in the park. “Sexy cute.” It sounded like a bunch of bullshit to him both at the time and in hindsight, although she sounded genuine when she said it. And she fluttered her eyelashes at him like she meant it, too. Like he wasn’t some cute toy for her to use, but rather someone she found attractive.

Fuck.

A crack. Yes, this was a crack in his armor, and he needed to mend it before he lost control. The nostalgia of having a gorgeous woman accept and admire his gift made him vulnerable for a moment, but he would be fine. Baby wasn’t weak-willed like Jinu or tender-hearted like Abby. He and Mystery were unmatched in their hatred for humanity.

Rather than panic, he resolved himself to hold steady and create a plan. He’d keep an eye on Abby tomorrow, and from there, he would remand him for sneaking around. If he was forced to interact with that woman, he’d make it clear how he felt about her. Somehow, someway, she would learn her place.

~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~

Things were not going as planned, Abby thought, too aware of a certain other demon’s hovering. He carefully avoided inviting the others out for his run this morning, yet he still managed to gain a tagalong. Baby, of all possibilities.

Jinu and Romance stayed tangled together in bed this morning, and Mystery was in a mood after a rough night of Gwi-ma whispers and nightmares. Everything looked like smooth sailing until he walked out to the living room to find his teal-haired hyung, dressed in an oversized hoodie and cargo shorts, waiting for him at the foyer.

When asked why he was up early and dressed, the older demon smirked. “Take a wild guess, Abs.”

Well, shit. Did he abandon his plans and make an ass out of himself with Ri-Um? Or did he bring Baby along and risk catastrophe?

The second she texted him last night to thank him for the drawing, he couldn’t resist inquiring about her change of schedule. She elaborated on her intentions to go to the gym with her friend — M… Minsoo? Something similar. He remembered she was the camera lady, and that was about it.

He asked, polite and unassuming, if she would mind him tagging along since he was also behind on his workout regime, and she replied back he was free to do whatever he wanted and provided the address. It was an opportunity for one-on-one time with her… Or so he thought.

Baby whistled as they walked up to the gym, one eyebrow arched. “Strange. You said we were going for a run, Abs. Change of plans? Or maybe something you want to confess?”

As if his hyung hadn’t figured it out himself. Bastard. Abby forced a grin and shrugged. “Nope.”

Entering the premises, the musky scent of sweat mixed with humans and rubber smacked them both in the face. Baby’s nose scrunched, but he kept quiet. After all, if he complained, Abby could remind him he was able to leave. No one asked him to babysit.

His dark eyes scanned the environment, searching for the familiar face of their manager. Plenty of humans hung around, drenched, radiating heat. It felt a bit like walking into an active wildfire. The chill of his skin accentuated the warmth flooding the space, and the sensation reminded him of days long past where he, too, spent hours bulking his form until he was more sweat than man.

A human approached them as they stood blankly at the entrance. Some of the features read as feminine, but if they were indeed a woman, their body was unlike anything he’d ever seen. Modern women came in more shapes and sizes than the ones of his time. He realized it before their plan landed them in the human world. Yet standing in front of this particular human, he found himself taken aback by the sheer size and mass. The same height as him, just as broad in the shoulders and torso. The only indication he could detect that they were indeed a woman was the slight hourglass curve to their waist.

“I’ve never seen you two around here. Are you looking to join the gym?”

The voice sounded feminine, too. So… A woman? He glanced at Baby, who seemed to have come to the same conclusion. His curled lip and furrowed brow warned Abby to handle this now.

“I, uh, I’m here to meet someone.” Dammit, now there was no deniability to save face. Maybe there never was. “Her name is Ri-Um. She’s about this tall with black—”

“Oh, you’re the plus one Ri-Um mentioned!” The woman clapped her hands, eyes twinkling. “Yes, yes, I know Ri-Um well. She’s been coming here since I opened. Come this way, you two.”

They followed the bulky woman further into the gym until they came across a mostly private room. Dangling from the handle was a sign reading “in use.” The woman knocked twice, then twisted the knob, leading them into a well-lit space not unlike the Huntr/x practice room.

Right away, Abby found Ri-Um. Goddamn, she looked good. The skin-tight leggings she wore matched her equally skin-tight top. It was an interesting modern design which scooped backwards over her shoulders and left her shoulder blades revealed. From the doorway, he could see her upper back muscles working fluidly as she assaulted a punching bag.

She looked over her shoulder and, upon spotting him and Baby, smiled. “Morning!”

The green-haired lady messing with a radio in the corner also glanced over at them. “Look at what the cat dragged in.”

Abby spared her a glance mostly to acknowledge her presence, but his quick glimpse ended in him whipping his head all the way around. In some part of his mind, he remembered Ri-Um’s friend was more full-figured than her; seeing her dressed in what looked akin to a bra and itty bitty shorts, all of which were plastered to her like a second skin, took him approximately thirty seconds to process.

Damn, women in this day and age were allowed to wear just about anything, huh? Why couldn’t Ri-Um dress like that? Sure, the clothing she sported hugged her figure, but he would kill for a peek at more skin. Especially around that cute ass of hers.

As if sensing his junior’s train of thought, Baby stomped on Abby’s foot. “Quit drooling, you loser, or I’m dragging you out of here by your dick.”

A pout pursing his lips, Abby turned to shoot back a response… And froze. Were his eyes deceiving him, or did Baby have a touch of pink in his ears as he stared deadpan at their manager? Oh-ho, so the mighty weren’t as impenetrable as they liked to pretend.

Duly noted.

“Hey, Abs, since you’re here now,” Ri-Um half-bounced over to him, throwing a teasing fist into his pecs, “get warmed up so we can spar!”

“Uh, spar?” His brain sputtered as he focused all his attention on trying to keep his eyes glued to her face rather than her bouncing chest. “Um, I-I dunno, babe. I don’t want to risk hurting you, so…”

Clenching both hands into fists, she punched his abdomen playfully. “C’mon, c’mon! I actually got some sleep and I’m pumped today! Besides, I can handle more than you realize. Just ask Baby!”

“There aren’t any trees for you to climb today,” the teal-haired demon snorted, eyes lingering far more openly on Ri-Um’s chest than Abby dared. “Also no ravines, though, so I guess you aren’t super likely to hurt yourself. Abby can still kick your ass, though”

The music kicked on, luring everyone’s attention to the corner. The green-haired woman beamed and dusted her hands off. “Are those fighting words I’m hearing? Well, I got the beats, so why don’t we start this party up?”

Ri-Um grinned and, before Abby could dodge, snatched Abby’s arm, hugging it to her chest as she dragged him forward. “Ab-by~ Come on, I wanna see what those muscles of yours can do, big boy.”

“B-Babe, please, I don’t want to—”

“Be brave, man,” declared the large woman, causing the magenta-haired demon to jump out of his skin. Was she still here? Fuck him. “I’ve seen Ri-Um take on plenty of men your size. Rest assured, there’s no shame when you lose. She’s a good sport.”

The words slapped him. “When you lose.” Him, lose to Ri-Um? To any woman? No, impossible. Not only was he a man, he was a demon, for crying out loud! If anyone could keep up with their manager, it was him! And now that his pride was on the line, he had to not only fight her but win, too.

She nudged his shoulder, and he met her cheery gaze. “Abby~! It isn’t a big deal! I promise, I can keep up.” Her poke-attack on his torso continued while she giggled and waited for his confirmation.

Standing there, watching her tease and laugh, affection shining in her warm gaze, Abby sighed. First his pride, now his heart? He wasn’t expecting a full-on tactical assault when he asked to join her at the gym.

“Okay, okay,” he relented, catching her by the wrists. “We’ll spar. Just promise me you’ll let me know if we need to stop cause I hurt you or something, alright?”

Beaming, Ri-Um extended her hand, pinky outstretched. Fires below, why was she so fucking cute? Was she trying to kill him? He hooked his larger pinky around hers, and the smile illuminating her face outshined all of the overhead lights by far.

Baby scoffed behind him. “This oughta be good.”

Ri-Um’s friend approached the older demon, smirking. “You sounded pretty confident Muscles would win, eh? Wanna make a bet?”

Eyeing her, Baby allowed a small smirk out from beneath his snarl. “You’re on, woman.”