Jinu should have been more batshit. He should have been more feral, more desperate. Constantly masking breakdowns as he’s trying to free himself from the hell he created. Let the old man crash out. As a treat
Also I have a guilty pleasure of watching Miraculous Ladybug whenever I catch it on the TV (guilty because writing might be... better, in many places, but I still enjoy the show). And tbh Wishmaker is one of my all time favorite episodes yet, because it is just SO important.
Without much spoiler, core thing is that the guy that made one of the shows on bullying “pointless” and “dumb” professions ends up having a crisis because it is revealed he just been jealous because HIS identity was screwed up since early childhood thanks to mocking of the society - but here are some people still able to enjoy who they are! And it just got me thinking for a while.
To think of it, so far everyone who called my art ugly had that... saccharine, polished, pretty neat art style where every woman looks like a Barbie doll and every man looks like a stereotypical elf. And all art styles have their merits, but that’s an interesting point - such art lacks nerve. Nobody will feel irritated by it, it is just on the mark with what people who seek beauty EXPECT to see. So this stuff got me thinking - maybe once they did have a more quirky, ““unattractive”“ art but feared mockery and neglect for it, so they ‘polished’ their art. And negativity towards ‘weird’ art might be envy of seeing someone who preserved artistic identity when they had their taken away.
Heck, this could be considered for many things. People who hate body-positivity might be just ones that were pushed into feeling bad about their own physical imperfections and feel hurt to see those that are happy instead. People who cringe at self-indulgent fandomry maybe once shipped their OC with a favorite canon character and got bullied HARD for it, so seeing those who still enjoy what they lost is... hard. It is just hard.
I know it is a no-brainer that NO person who is truly secure about their life choices will feel bitter and petty seeing someone with different choices, but stuff like this just really makes you FOCUS on such sentiments. To really THINK of people in more optimistic light, but also more sad light (so... bittersweet?), than just ‘they are mean because they just are’.
I just think it is good when a casual show for teens encourages peering deeper into motivations of people. It is... kind. In a good way, in a ‘reflect and change’ way rather than ‘forgiveness fixes everything uwu’ way. Though sometimes it is too bad that in reality a single crying fit is not enough to realise you haven’t been very nice, and WHY you haven’t been very nice. xD
Getting caught obsessing over one particular part of each of the LaDS guys. Slightly suggestive.
A/N: pre-relationship, flirting stage. MC reader. Mutual pining, Very very self-indulgent on my part. These are the things I like about each of them. Sylus part is much longer than the others cuz I had writer's block on it, and then I didn't. I also have surprisingly not written a lot of Sylus despite him being my second main, so here.
This isn't smut, by the way, there's definitely implication, but genuinely nothing happens except flirting and banter.
Rafayel's lips
Does Rafayel genuinely enjoy the sound of his own voice? Perhaps. After all, while his reliability is debatable in several regards, one thing you can always count on from him is a snide remark, his clever quips and his pension for argument. Rafayel is always quick to pout, sneer, and prod at your patience with his words. Banter comes naturally to him, and something about that gets under your skin sometimes. However, there is one thing that quells the sting...
While you sometimes hate to listen to him talk, you can't help but watch his mouth move. It's easy to drone out Rafayel's long-winded rants, ones that follow familiar cadences of "where were you? How cruel of you to keep me waiting, Miss Bodyguard." You've learned to let it slide right off of you, and it helps that he thinks your listening with the way you stare. You're not; you're only staring, staring at a perfect pair of soft, plush lips that talk too much and kiss you not enough (they don't kiss you at all, in fact). You always mentally kick yourself when you catch it, you're eyes wandering down his facial features and resting just a little too obviously below eye level.
Eventually, Rafayel's rant begins to slow as he notices your eyes have drifted, his words becoming more languid as he shifts slightly, expecting to dodge whatever's caught your attention, just to watch your eyes track back to him instinctively. For a moment he hangs there, before it dawns on him what you're staring at.
You can see it on those pouty lips, the way his whole face contorts in realization. A sly smile creeps onto his chin, and your eyes jerk away about a second too late.
"Something caught your eye, cutie?" he teases, taking a step toward you as you try and dodge his gaze.
You shake your head. "N- no, I just zoned out!"
He hums an "mhm" at you, laced with skepticism. "Right, right," Rafayel murmurs under his breath, hovering over you with a red-tipped ears but a cocky tilt in his head. "You weren't staring at my lips, Miss Bodyguard. You just 'zoned out'. Of course."
You roll your eyes, his sarcasm evading him like a second language. (He speaks 3: human, lemurian, and sass.) "I wasn't staring at anything!" you double down defensively. "I'm telling you! I zoned out because you just talk and talk... you're so annoying, Raf."
"Please," he scoffs. "You know you could've stopped me from talking at any time."
"That's crap! Rafayel, you literally never shut up," you chastise him, your feeble attempt to recover yourself from embarassment by throwing the critcism back to him. You always get this way, lashing out when he gets flirty, hoping his pride will overcome his lust and he'll get back to arguing with you instead of trying to read you like a book.
It doesn't work. Rafayel's hand swipes across your jawline, tilting your gaze back to him, and you meet coral and sea-colored eyes carving into you, and when you try and escape that piercing gaze, you betray yourself as you snake right back down to those smiling lips, their perfect pink tone and smooth surface, and he lets out a sing-songy laugh when he catches it. "Cutie," he coos. "If you want me to shut up so badly, then make me."
Xavier's eyes
Practically every colleague you had in the hunter's association knew you had developed a bit of an infatuation for Xavier. From the moment you saw him on that very first mission, it struck you how alluring his features were. He was asleep the first time you saw him, peaceful in a place of chaos, but when his eyes fluttered open, you were mesmerized, that deep blue remiscent of a night sky. A whole universe existed in those eyes.
When you were assigned to his team and eventually became his partner, it didn't take long for coworkers like Tara and Nero to notice the way you hung before his gaze like you were paralyzed. It didn't help that Xavier was so elusive to everyone else. Everyone noticed how long he would talk to you, and how you'd cling to his every second of attention, the new hotshot hunter, reduced to a hopeless girl with a crush on her superior. Even Captain Jenna would catch it and tease you about it from time to time.
There you are, in the middle of the briefing room, listening (or trying) to Xavier summarize your last mission, what went right, and what went wrong, and you couldn't be bothered by his critiques of your sword technique, because you can hardly think straight as those midnight-shaded eyes pierce into yours until you practically drown in them. It doesn't take him long to notice either, though he holds off on pointing it out as long as he can, but eventually his gaze narrows.
"Is... something wrong. You seem dazed today. Did our mission wear you out that much?" he asks, all innocence and concern.
You shake your head like you've been snapped out of a trance. "Uhh, ya. I guess I'm a little tired."
He nods agreeably. "That's okay," he says with a shrug. "Honestly, we really don't need these meetings anymore. Haven't for a while."
"Wha- why?" you ask.
He looks at you like the answer is obvious. "Because you're one of the top hunters in the association, and I have little left to teach you."
You tilt your head at him, becoming as genuinely lost as you look. "Then why do we keep having these post-mission debriefing meetings?"
Xavier, uncharacteristically, shrivels a little, a sheepish hand sliding against the nape of his neck with an awkward laugh. "Honestly?" he rasps, eyes dodging to his sides before he leans over, hovering by your ear. "I just like having your undivided attention. It's kind of cute how you look at me all doe-eyed like that."
Your eyes shoot up as he retreats from you with a quiet but cheeky laugh when he sees your face erupt in red. "Xavier," you whine.
"Careful," he teases, tilting his head to the side in a slight jerk, alluding to watchful eyes, and you briefly peer over to Tara and Nero, snickering at his desk. "Don't give our coworkers the wrong idea."
"Is it the wrong idea?" you mutter.
He shrugs. "Good point," he concedes to a comment that was supposed to be inaudible. Curse his excellent hearing!
Zayne's hands
Zayne has the careful, sturdy hands of a top surgeon, and that wasn't a matter of question, but to you, they were more than just skilled. They were something you could practically salivate over: long, dexterous fingers that were always precise, dressed in scars you knew he hated, and even you somewhat hated them in the sense of knowing their cause, knowing those scars represented what separated the two of you to begin with, but in a more twisted thought, they were kind of... hot. They made a clean-cut guy like Zayne seem grittier and impossibly more attractive somehow, and when those roughened hands have grazed your bare skin for any sort of check-up, whether it be taking your heartbeat or bandaging your wounds, it's been hard not to note how firm but comforting they are as well.
You had an array of thoughts about those hands, some more unsavory than others, but one thing you knew is you'd come up with just about any reason to get Zayne to touch you, so it wasn't uncommon to walk into his office unannounced on something bordering on ridiculous.
You got a splinter in your palm at a cafe only a couple blocks from Akso, and before you could even debate on it, your feet were moving until you were knocking on Zayne's office door with your healthy hand, and when he called to you to just come on in, you walked in with a guilty look on your face, and he meets your gaze with a glare, but it's laced with sympathy. "What is it this time?" he dares to ask, knowing your reasons have grown increasingly superfluous.
You hold out your palm like a whole toddler. "Splinter," you mumble.
He sighs, before his eyes pan over to the little stool next to his desk, the one he normally uses to prop his feet between appointments, but after several visits, it's practically your reserved chair. You pad over to it and settle in, watching as Zayne pulls a pair of tweezers from his drawer, then takes your wrist and leads your palm under his desk lamp.
The scene is oddly reminiscent, vaguely reminding you of the quiet kid who'd often bandage your scraped knees and freeze your melted popsicles. Except this kid is grown, and he's pressing into your palm to try and work that splinter out and into his tweezers, and though you wince in discomfort, your eyes trace over prominent veins on his wrists that bulge as he does. It doesn't last long though. He removes the darned needle in record time, dropping the tweezers and letting them clang against the desk. "There," he says, his hand lingering on yours as he carefully checks his work, twisting your wrist with the turn of his.
You're astonished at his skills. "That's it?" you ask, hardly able to even process the absence of the tiny spike between his speed and the feel of his fingers pressing into your palm.
"Yes?" he answers, equally confused. "What? Do you want me to kiss your boo-boo better as well, since you keep coming to me with your playground injuries?"
Your hand jerks out of his protectively when you see him pull your hand toward his smirked lips, wholly bewildered at the notion. "I- are you making fun of me?"
"A little," he admits with a coy smile. "Your excuses have become more and more blatant with every visit."
You shudder into yourself slightly, embarrassment overtaking you. Of course, he read right through you. Just before you can stand yourself up to leave, you see his hand reach for yours, you own both pressed into your lap. One gives way as he tugs it into his grasp, the one he pulls the splinter from, and he guides it right up to his lips and places a quick kiss to the palm, pulling away with a puckered smack that has you absolutely short-circuiting. "If you want to see me that badly, you should just text me instead of coming up with convoluted excuses. I'd much rather see you outside of work, you know."
Caleb's body
Growing up, you used to make fun of girls who would ogle Caleb, who would gush about how hot he was. Though you weren’t blind, and you knew he was attractive, to you, he was just Caleb, ever-present, constant, familiar. Yet, his miraculous return flipped everything you knew on its head. You knew Caleb wasn’t invincible and that you couldn’t afford to overlook him like you did in your youth, and when you took the time to really look at him, it finally clicked. You saw exactly what all those girls saw in him for all those years: soul-filled violet eyes with an amber glow, deep brown hair that was somehow perfectly ragged, and a dopey but undeniably charming smile. However, you also saw something those girls didn’t get to see: Colonel Caleb had the most perfectly sculpted body you’d ever damn seen.
Caleb returned to his Skyhaven abode on foot as he always does, going the extra mile quite literally by running home after his gym session, white tank clinging to his skin with sweat. You waited for him, casually sprawled across the couch, flipping through TV channels like the real show you were waiting on didn’t just enter through the front door.
"Did I keep you waiting, pipsqueak?" he asks after he catches his breath, eyes filled with tiredness, but his face draped in that smile that makes your heart turn to puddy.
You turn your gaze to him as casually as you can muster. "No, no, not at all," you reassure him (he totally did). "I was just channel surfing. How'd training go?"
He shrugs, pulling at his shirt collar. "Fine, but- am I crazy, or is it hotter in here than usual? Did you mess with the thermostat while I was out?"
"Nope," you answer him. "I feel fine, personally."
Caleb tugs at the clingy fabric of his shirt, suffocating against his skin, and grumbles something inaudible. Before he can second-guess himself, he crosses his arms over his abdomen, looping his fingers under the hem, and drags the fabric off his body, the muscles in his arms and shoulders flexing, abs crunching and all, and for the brief moment he spends pulling it over his head, you gawk shamelessly. Every instinct to yell at him for tossing the shirt on the floor melts away as he reaches for his shorts too, and you could just keel over from the thought of him stripping those off too, but he doesn't. He bunches up the leg fabric and pulls it up his thighs, his beefy, muscular thighs...
"Pips, are you sure? It feels like the AC's busted or something-" he jeers before his eyes drift back up to you, and the moment they lock on, he can see the way your mouth falls agape, the guilty look of need in your eyes, and the moment hangs in the air for an awkward second before you both jerk out of one another's gaze. His eyes fall on the thermostat on the wall.
Off.
He peers back up at you, head cocked to the side in that overconfidence that tells you he has you all figured out as you try to look at him and not the beads of sweat running through the ridges of his abs.
"Pipsqueak," he coos in this warning but coaxing tone. "Why is the thermostat off? In the middle of summer. Are you not burning up?"
He gets close enough to you to hover, large enough in frame to cast a shadow from the TV's LEDs. "I... didn't even notice."
He hums unconvincingly. "Could've fooled me. You should see how red your face is right now," he taunts, his voice almost a quiet whisper as your eyes can't help but trail down.
Your head was caught in an uncomfortable lean, furthered by his domineering gaze and stature, and your head falls slack, and suddenly there's no mistaking your eyes trailing down his abdomen, and he's close enough to reach, to see that Adonis belt and prominent vein that runs below his waistband. Your head turns away from him, morbid embarrassment flooding your face with redness. "You should go take a shower. You're sweating."
"And you should refrain from tampering with my AC, you goober," he teases, fingers reaching to you to flick your forehead, making you jut back, before swiveling around on his hips toward the bathroom with newfound stride. "If you ask nicely, I'll let you feel at em' next time."
You scoff. "You wish," you mutter.
"That I do," he answers as he walks off.
Sylus' voice
You tried. You tried so hard to hide from him and his perceptive eye, but it was inevitable that Sylus would learn of your infatuation, which might not have been a big deal for anyone else, but for him, it was your weakness and his leverage. You tried desperately to quell the chills that rushed down your spine when he said the right combination of things in the right tone, effortless authority laced with an arcane timbre. The aether core in his eye should've logically been your undoing, but no. It was his voice that made you truly vulnerable.
Past the initial rough first impressions, you developed a relative amity with Sylus, increasing your visits to the N-109 zone to trade intel, a strict business arrangement, but in truth, it was hard to deny something was swelling in your chest when you saw him, or more accurately, when you heard him. Sylus had a way with words, a way of making everything sound so much more sensual than it needed to be, that is, and it did unspeakable things to you.
On one of your frequent visits to his mansion, you approach Sylus about the whereabouts of a high-priority criminal that recently fled to the N-109 zone, according to intel you received from the Hunter's Association. His connections almost ensure he would be made aware of any new arrivals into his territory, and sure enough, the second you knock on his mansion door, flash him a picture of who you're looking for, he's ushering you in with a casual shrug, leading you to the first empty room with a lock he can find. After all, he doesn't share his knowledge with just anyone.
"In the spirit of transparency and efficiency, yes. I was made aware that this... squirrelly fellow slipped into the N-109 zone, nearly right under my nose, and I have on good authority the general direction he went after, but I must know. What does the Hunter's Association want with him, and why should I give you that information for free?" He probes with the calculated propensity you would be foolish not to expect of him at this point.
"Sylus," you warn him. "You should know by now I'm not at liberty-"
"Not at liberty to reveal the Association's classified information. I know, sweetie. You've told me many times," he intervenes, repeating the words you've echoed in the past with sing-songy mockery. "Yet, it hardly seems fair how often you come to me for answers while offering nothing in return."
"Because you don't ask for anything in return, Sy'. How is that my fault?"
Sylus rolls his eyes in a way, a half-hearted laugh escaping your lips. "Perhaps, I simply don't want our relationship to be nothing more than transactions of intel. Can't I offer you what you seek out of the kindness of my heart?"
"Oh, spare me. You have an ulterior motive. You always do," you chastise him.
He scoffs and places a dramatic hand to his heart. "Sweetie, your accusations wound me greatly. You think so little of me, but I'm not heartless. Do you truly think I'd ever turn away a wounded kitten limping at my doorstep?"
You groan out in response. The kitten analogies, ugh. Your eyes squint as you suppress your frustrations, before a heavy sigh evades you. "Just tell me where he is, Sylus, and I'll get out of your hair."
His face drops. "You're no fun today," he grumbles. "He entered the N-109 Zone and proceeded to head southbound down the highway before my surveillance lost sight of him. Happy?"
"Ecstatic," you drone, face blank in sarcasm, before you immediately turn back toward the door. "Until next time."
"Perhaps then you'll find it within yourself to repay my generosity with something of your own," he calls out to you, and you shift to a halt before you reach the door, hearing something lacing his tone so subtly, you fear you only imagine it. Your chest tightens when your mind goes where it shouldn't. You vigorously shake your head, a motion you did not intend to act out, but you do so to exile whatever baseless thoughts threaten your mind. Your pause, of course, does not go unnoticed, and before you can continue onward, you can feel his presence domineering behind you.
"What's this?" he pries. "Cat got your tongue?"
You swallow dryly at the notion, back still faced away from him. "Goodbye, Sylus-" you attempt to say firmly, but as you reach for the door handle, he's already guarding it with his large frame.
"I can't help but notice you've been freezing up like this at our last couple of... rendezvous," he notes, eyes bearing into you as you attempt to dodge his crimson gaze. "Is there something I should know, sweetie?"
Before you can even say no, the sheer proximity, the way his voice carries in your ear with its low, gritted rasp, has your breath quaking before him, only worsened by the illustrious laugh that follows when he witnesses you falter. You fall to silence in a way that infuriates you to no end, and before you can deny or recover, you feel a gentle hand slide against your cheek, and a scarlet glow invades your vision from his aether core, flooding your mind with the exact thoughts you tried to suppress. "Sylus, that's- this isn't fair-"
"If you want to talk about fair, then the least you can do is not keep secrets from me in my own home, kitten," he quips, tilting your chin up to him, carmine gaze burning through you as he reads through those thoughts at the forefront. "You can only hide from me for so long."
Those thoughts flooding your mind, thoughts of how Sylus voice is pure lust and manages to say the things that make your knees want to buckle as he stares into you, make you feel exposed before him, naked in a sense. Your face reddens as you watch him read your features, his eyes softening and brows contorting as he listens to every thought that rushes through your mind involuntarily, and it only gets worse the longer he holds it. It starts innocently. His voice is nice, makes you feel all warm and tingly, but then it gets shameful. You recall that voice some nights, sometimes when you're particularly lonely. You recall the way it rings in your ears with its deep, almost animalistic growl, and sometimes you even imagine what he'd sound like when he moans-
"Oh?" he annunciates when he finally breaks away from you, his hand dropping to his side and his eye dimming to its normal state. "And to think how many times you've told me I should talk less. You betray yourself, kitten."
You grumble in exasperation, face heated in embarrassment. "Alright, you had your fun. I'm leaving now-"
"Oh, on the contrary. My fun has just begun," he teases. "How I wonder to what extent I affect you so greatly. Want to find out?"
You crumble beneath him for the second time when his voice grows to a quiet whisper, your chin drooping down toward your collarbone in an attempt to dodge his eyes, those rubies of ruination. It leaves your ear wide open for him, though, an opportunity he does not miss.
Sylus leans in slightly, hands folded in his pockets, and yet his breath tickles the sensitive skin beneath your jaw. "You showed me your vulnerability, even if I had to coax it out of you. Let me offer you a bit of mine," he whispers, and its delivery is more overt than before, your eyes trailing back up to him guiltily. "I'm flattered to know you harbor such thoughts, vulgar as some of them may be. You should know, I too am particularly fascinated by a feisty kitten who loves to hiss and bare her teeth at me, and on occasion... I wonder if this kitten knows how to purr as well. I only hope one day she'll give me the opportunity to learn for myself."
You breathe in a sharp inhale, too pierced and tense, your whole body radiating heat and anticipation you hope his ever-perceptive self misses. "You're too much for me, sometimes, Sylus."
"And yet somehow simultaneously... It's also not enough," he adds.
You seethe beneath him. "Ugh, I thought you stopped using your stupid eye!"
Sylus responds to you with a hearty laugh, the kind that nearly makes you melt. "I did, sweetie. That was conjecture, but thank you for confirming for me."
Your hands bury into your face, dragging down the pudge of your cheeks as you groan, feeling trapped and vulnerable.
As if he sees your defenses form right in front of him, Sylus's hand reaches for the door handle, opening the door and holding it out to you like an offering. The sly smile across his face dissipates to something you can't quite place, but it's gentle and unexpected. "Until next time," he reiterates your words from earlier.
You nod meekly, the kind of shyness that almost disgusts yourself to display for him, the enemy you still somewhat can't let your guard down around, before you head out the doorway.
Sylus sighs as you walk past him. "I hope one day, you will entrust me with the secrets you hold close to your heart without me having to tempt them out of you, because if you do... I will fulfill your every heart's desire and more."
"And how am I to know that what you're saying is not just deceit?" you question him, head turning back to spot him in the corner of your eye.
"You tell me, kitten. Do you truly think I am saying that just to deceive you?" He asks back.
You sigh. "I don't know, Sylus," you tell him. "I suppose one day I might find out, though. Goodbye, Sylus."
You turn toward the door before you can hesitate further, finding no sly remarks to answer you, just uncharacteristic silence.
Truthfully, you, too, hope you can trust him like that one day as well.
A/N: Not me slipping in accidental SylusMC angst. BRO! I literally cut down Caleb's for word count just to go ham on Sylus after, whoopsie. Also this is my first time really properly writing anything for him, and first at all for Xav so... that's nice.
Okay, but I actually adore the romantic arc in KPop Demon Hunters. There's so little time to tell this story and to focus on all its nuances, but the way the movie gets us there is absolutely amazing and doesn't feel cheap at all. And I think part of the reason why is the fact that Rumi and Jinu never really develop past what technically counts as just a crush.
It doesn't try to convince us that what they shared was something unbeliavably deep or like some kind of soulmate bond. It doesn't act like they were perfect for each other and how their love could make it through everything. It works precisely because it shows the tragedy of how little time they had together and how they never got to explore that on their own terms.
And we can all relate to that feeling of loss of something that could have been more. All of the elements of a great romance are technically there but all these other outside elements are working against them and all we get to see at the end of the day is the unexplored potential.
Rumi and Jinu connected on a very human level, that's true, but the tragedy of their relationship is that it couldn't really become more and what we end up mourning is the potential they had, the fact that they could have been so much more if given a chance.
So often stories try to convince us of these stronger-than-anything romantic arcs, but since a lot of the time romance is the B-plot at best and there's no time to develop it properly, we end up with the characters basically skipping all the stages from attraction and straight to pure and unadulterated love.
KPop Demon Hunters doesn't do that.
Instead, it focuses on the connection that was broken too fast and that's precisely why it resonates with us. It doesn't try to pretend that their romance is something that it isn't and that fact, more than anything else, makes it feel authentic.
I feel like a different ending would have cheapened the story somehow. We got a happy ending, yes, but it doesn't make it all good. It doesn't erase all the pain that we had to go through to get there.
And at the end of the day, it's not some grand love story.
No.
Instead, it's two broken people who connect, who feel attraction and who never get to explore what it means. The romance itself isn't some kind of be-all and end-all kind of thing.
It still matters, though.
Why? Well... because they still got to meet each other. They still got to heal, in their own ways. And that matters, too. Even if it wasn't meant to be the way we wish it was. Sometimes, that's just how it is.
EDIT If you enjoyed this little analysis I actually made a video essay on this topic and you can watch it here!
Batfamily x Neglected! Moon Knight's Sidekick! Reader
(CHAPTER III)
Chapter IV
Summary: After a group of students kill you due to hate, you get resurrected by a godly and somewhat childish entity that wishes to use you as a host due to your impressive abilities. Moon Knight, following the orders of Khonshu decides to train you but develops an attachment towards you. Unbeknownst to your family who you begin to slowly ignore due to their neglect and your nighttime activities. THIS IS A CROSSOVER FIC
Warnings: Major character death, Major harm, Neglect, bullying, hateful themes, Reader coming to terms with being neglected, violence, jumping from high buildings, reader is in a lot of pain.
"Dodge." Moon Knight's voice echoed in your head.
Your head snapped up at the presence near you.
"Can you not sleep in the living room? You have a bed for a reason." A voice said behind the couch.
It was Tim.
"I was watching something." You groaned.
"Well, Steph and I want to watch something too. If you're gonna sleep, then leave." He said with a frown.
"It was a doze and I still haven't finished."
Tim was slightly taken aback by your cold tone. What was your problem? What could possibly be so important about what you were watching that made you get snappy at him?
"It's just a Cyclops interview, he's boring anyway." Steph said, moving to get the remote.
"I'm waiting for Jean." You moved the remote to your lap.
"Don't make me get Bruce." Tim threatened. That was low. He knows Bruce takes the side of whoever is against you, and he hates dealing with you. So he's harsh, incredibly so.
You stood up and gave Tim and Steph a glare and dropped the remote on the ground before leaving the room.
When you left the room Steph and Tim exchanged looks.
"What was your problem?"
As you walked up the stairs albeit angrily you couldn't help but think of what would happen at school. You were killed, and were supposed to stay dead.
"Don't worry... We'll make them pay." Astraea assured.
"How? I'm not in the mood to tarnish my good record over this, you know."
"Young one, are you forgetting that you are capable of causing harm without it tracing back to you?"
You stopped in your tracks and hummed.
"We won't kill."
"Oh no ofcourse not haha but you should get vengeance." She chuckled.
You rubbed your temples as she ran through potential plans. This whole telepathy thing is still quaking you, you just can't get used to it. There are streams and streams of thoughts plaguing you and you feel everything now.
The roughness of the floor, the soft bedsheets, callous skin.
You took a deep breath and saw that it was getting dark outside.
Your day was uneventful, really uneventful. You did realise that Astraea wants you to try everything and she seems to have a sweet tooth.
"You need to train today."
"I know."
"Dreading it?"
"I can manage."
"I know you can."
You walked to your room and opened the door before locking it immediately.
"Astraea."
"Yes?"
"I want a cape."
"When your training is done you will get your cape."
"Abyssmal."
With a sigh and a flash of light you vanished.
The cold air was biting, but you were warm and waiting. Not long after your appearance you heard the silent footsteps of Moon Knight... and someone else?
You turned around to face them.
It was a second Moon Knight, but he was adorned in black and gold rather than black and white.
"Never knew you had a twin."
"This is Hunter's Moon, the other fist of Khonshu."
"There's two Moons?"
"Most people tend to have two fists, Our god is the same." Hunter's Moon responded.
"That's oddly convenient" You replied "Do you two always pose like that?"
"Like what?" The pair responded in unison.
"Nevermind." You deadpanned. "So what's the lesson today? Also I need to be home early because I have school tomorrow and I want to be somewhat well rested."
"On field training. Werewolf." Hunter's Moon responded as he moved beside you. "And don't worry, you'll be home in time for sleep. We can't have your academics slipping."
You laughed. "Werewolf? Really? Those aren't real.."
Your fit of giggles were interrupted by a scream. Moon Knight turned to face you before leaping off the building with Hunter's Moon in suit.
God why you...
--
You were in bed hissing at the bruises on your back. You won't lie, you were quite proud of how you did back there but you were also in pain and had to resist the urge to scold yourself. Your suit is quite impressive now that you think of it, because not only did it not tear once, it also seemed to absorb most of the blows you received.
"You'll be healed by morning, Young one." Astraea reassured you, and you believed her but damn did this not hurt like a bitch. That werewolf got you good, and what was worse was the fact that you didn't have much assistance.
As the minutes went on it became harder and harder to keep your eyes and opened and you soon found yourself succumbing to sleep.
--
You were currently in the dining room getting breakfast. You're earlier than usual but you've noticed that you don't need that much sleep.
Wish you could say the same for food.
"Miss, are you sure you wish to attend school today? You can always call in sick after what... happened."
"Yes, Alfred, I'm fine. I promise. I don't really like missing school, it makes me feel weird. If anything happens, I'll call you." You said as Alfred put down a plate of pancakes, fruits, cream, and syrup in front of you.
"You seem to be spoiling yourself, it seems. I haven't seen you indulge in anything sweet since your toddler years." He chuckled while you instantly dug into the meal in front of you.
He was right, you rarely ate anything sweet. You weren't sure why, but savoury was your go to. And most sweet things you ate were fruits. Being a competitive MMA fighter had its downsides, and one of them was a coach that'd give you certain do's and dont's. You hoped that these cravings would subside before you had any major tournaments.
"Thanks Alfred. It's just a weird craving I guess."
"You're awfully too young to be eating the way you do." He said as he stared at you.
"Helen says it's good for me."
Alfred let out a reproachful hum before exiting. He never liked your coach.
--
You were in school and really regretting the choice of being here. Your head was loud. Ringing echoing voices vibrated in your head.
You were trying to play it cool but you were truly on the brink.
You were even more annoyed when a pair of girls stopped you.
"Hey! We're a band and we're looking for a guitarist!" One of the girls said as she handed you a flyer. She was the shorter one of the two and had sunglasses on her forehead."And we know you play guitar because we've seen you! So please consider it because you were really good!" You raised your eyebrow at that and took a step back.
"How-"
"Don't worry about it. Join us! Please? We've seen you around school and we think you're pretty cool.." the girl continued. "Also are those your real arms...?"
"What? Yes? Why wouldn't they be?"
"Muscles. She has such cool muscles"
You felt your face get hot. Wow! What an awkward way for your powers to flare.
"Look I'll think about it.." You said reaching out to grab a flyer.
"She doesn't speak for us." The other girl said with a nervous smile. "But please, join us. It is getting embarrassing not having a guitarist in our band."
I wrote down my thoughts as soon as I could after watching because I wanted to ramble about this movie very badly in here. These are some of them:
- The fact that this entity works so well because the teenagers can’t even tell “trusted adults” about it. Religion has a hold of this community, everyone knows everyone, you’re effectively trapped in a nightmare and you can’t talk about it because then they’ll find out that who you desire most is another boy. Naim tells someone and the lady not only doesn’t believe him, she immediately betrays his trust. He tries multiple times to get his mom’s help but she refuses to listen and the twist being that Naim’s own mother knew all along and let it happen? I was flabbergasted. She kept saying how fear is something you need. Live your life in fear, who in this community hasn’t heard that one before. It was absolutely revolting to watch. No adult actually cares, they seem to know about this practice and allow it. Even if they didn’t know, as long as the “cure” worked I don’t think they would mind. Would the police even care? It’s wild.
- It works like a chain of outing. One kid tells on someone and then another kid tells on someone else and it keeps going and going. When your church rewards you for exposing your peers, either because you were raised homophobic as hell or you’re trying very hard not to give yourself away, I can imagine how terrifyingly effective that ends up being. Izzie appears to be on their side only to lead them into being hate-crimed ffs 😭
- Naim in NO WAY knew that a whole ass demonic entity would end up cursing them just because he snitched on Ryan and Hunter, please give that boy so much grace. He’s like 17 or something? At most he thought they would make them stop seeing each other! Which is what his impulsive teenage self wanted because he felt hurt! Not even Hunter and Ryan were too worried when they brought them to the church for the ritual, thinking it was going to be some bullshit spectacle. Naim also clearly doesn’t have experience with living in a place like this before and it’s so apparent. Small towns make you turn on each other by design, I won’t stand for anyone calling Naim a villain when the clear villains are right there! Like the Deliverance Healer and all the adults? I know there will inevitably be some people who dislike Naim for outing them, I understand it as your first emotional reaction, but that in no way should be what you come out of the movie with. Hopefully I’m fighting ghosts and no one hates my boy 🙏
- Hunter talks about how the ritual actually worked for a couple of people, who ended up having kids and living the “normal” life. I was gagged again by how the concept of conversion therapy via demonic entity works so well. The entity makes you afraid of the person you desire most, it drives a wedge between you, tainting your love. Naim licks Ryan’s ear in one scene and as the audience your heart is fluttering, but then on the very next scene the entity bites Ryan’s ear in the exact same spot, leaving him bleeding and terrified, and your heart breaks for these two who can’t have one good thing. The entity uses that growing affection to learn how to best manipulate you. It gets better at imitating touch the more time you spend with the person, like the girl said. Eventually the only way to save yourself is to cut the other person off and that is so viscerally tragic.
- Ryan said “I want it to look like you” and I knew this was a true horror-romance. They choose each other at the end, they choose loving and staying together in spite of everything. It’s not like all their problems have been solved now, because sure they have lighters to defend themselves with and they may develop some countermeasures, but the entity remains. They will have to keep living with some modicum of fear for the rest of their lives and work through the feelings of hurt and betrayal between them. And yet! And yet they have each other. They have that sweet, sweet love that no one can take away from them anymore. Their entities will keep looking like them as yet another symbol of their affection. Those people didn’t succeed in making them give up their love and that is so important to me.
- The entity actually stopped when Naim caressed it? Can I hear everyone’s theory about this? Because it’s probably the thing I’m most curious about. Can it… feel affection? Does it have a need for it? I don’t even know man.
- The way Hunter and Ryan can only communicate through aggression is such a contrast to Naim and Ryan’s relationship. Their repression manifests as hurting each other, while Naim and Ryan are hesitant but they don’t want to hurt each other. They want to explore and be soft and sometimes playfully rough, and it’s clear enough that their relationship is just instantly deeper and stronger. I’m sorry Hunter 😔 Ryan was already seeing the entity as Naim, who I’m sure he met fairly recently compared to you (I think they may have grown together?)
- The tragedy of Hunter is very obvious to me however. Being the pastor’s son in a church like that? Yeah I would also develop some psychosexual tendencies. They didn’t need to show me his head ugh
- I love how they made a point of Naim being constantly scared. He’s scared of the snake, he’s scared of heights, and he’s scared of letting Ryan give him a handjob, jolting as soon as he looks at his reflection while in the middle of the act. Fear is a central theme of the movie, “they wanted us to be scared”. Naim has to overcome so much to reach that moment in which he is able to confront the entity head-on, and a big part of that journey is thanks to Ryan and how much Naim cares for him. It’s what leds him to investigate the situation in the first place, to confess his involvement in the whole thing and to try to save Ryan. He’s able to finally let go and offer himself to the pleasure at Ryan’s hands in that bus scene, growing a little with each experience. At last, he confronts the entity and we see him look completely at peace on that final scene, heading to who knows where with Ryan’s head in his shoulder.
- Frank Ocean needle drop was perfection 💯
- Sustained long shots are one of my favorite filmmaking techniques and that’s basically 60% of this movie so I was delighted by the cinematography.
- Maybe I’ve gotten better at horror than I thought because I wasn’t really scared, I was just sad and appalled all the time lol. I think part of it is that I had already spoiled myself on all entity Ryan appearances except for one (which did get me to jump a little).
- I need so many post-canon fics cuz I’m pretty sure they won’t be making a sequel for this (fingers crossed though) and I’d like to read Ryanaim live as happily ever after as they can after all that.
- The one scene the five people at my screening laughed at was Naim asking the cashier to stay with him while looking completely out of his mind, tbh I also chuckled a little and I think that was the intention with the comedic cashier dialogue, even if I felt really bad after he actually was left alone.
- Ryan is such a fascinating character, I really thought for a second he might leave Naim to be beaten after that revelation, but he didn’t. Everything is told from Naim’s perspective so Ryan remains a little mysterious throughout it. I wish this was adapted from a book so I could just go and read all his inner monologues.
- It could’ve done with a longer runtime and a bigger climax but I understand budgeting and it’s incredible this was made in the first place. I loved it all the same. Unlike some reviews I’ve seen, I don’t think I needed the entity to be explained more than it was. A final appearance from the Deliverance Healer is what I felt missing but tbf that only makes it creepier, the idea that he’s still out there, just cursing more gay people oh god
- it’s not quite like It Follows, now that I think about it. In It Follows the entity has to walk the distance and it shows up regardless of if you’re alone or not.
- Joe Bird’s talent truly is shedding tears while still looking pretty af, Stacy’s talent is looking fantastic while covered in blood <3
- Naim’s name being from the actual Leviticus is such a neat detail that I need everyone to know.
Okay, at this point I’m just rambling, I have so many more thoughts to write down but I seriously need to do a second viewing first! Please give me all your analysis and essays too, I’m so excited now that everyone in the U.S will be able to watch it soon
MASTERLIST + part 1 of my moots collab — BABY ( NSFW )
PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3
SUMMARY ꒱ ➜ reader is pregnant with a litter of half demon half human kids, what are the problems that come with this kind of pregnancy?
CONTENTS ꒱ ➜ pregnancy, morning sickness, weird food cravings, reader being a hormonal mess, brief mentions of intercourse between the boys
CREDITS ꒱ ➜ Saja Boys belong to KPOP Demon Hunters (Sony) on Netflix
AUTHORS NOTE ꒱ ➜ This piece is the first part of a collab between me and my moot @vid-sold-to-the-saja-boys! my part of the collab consists of pure fluff whilst theirs consists of smut (how reader got pregnant in the first place). also, feel free to ask to be added to the tag list <3
before you started showing symptoms of pregnancy, unbeknownst to you, mystery could already smell the litter growing inside of you
he instantly ran to jinu to tell him about it
safe to say, jinu was absolutely ecstatic
he instantly told the others
they decided to keep the news from you till you figured out yourself
one morning whilst cuddled up with the boys, you startled awake and bolted to the bathroom
the boys instantly knew what was up from the urgency of your journey to the bathroom
romance was the one that helped hold your hair up whilst you leaned over the toilet, his other hand gently rubbing against your back in soothing motions
you had recently been feeling more sick and throwing up more than usual, which was strange
you thought you maybe had a bug or something but it lasted longer than a week
you also noticed that your chest had gotten a bit bigger and more sensitive than usual
which is weird because your period isn’t due for another month
the boys also pointed out how you ask them for very weird food combos at any time during the day or night. you once woke jinu in the middle of the night for ice cream and chips so you could dip the chips into the ice cream (being the lovely partner he is he instantly went shopping to get your food)
also they noticed how you were crying more than usual from the weirdest of things
one time you were watching an animal documentary and started full on BAWLING over the sight of a baby penguin being snuggled by its mother
the boys just sat there like: ?
romance pretty much sprinted to grab you some tissues (he was high key panicking but you didn’t hear that from me)
also you tended to just burst out more often than usual
when you were making a batch of cupcakes (mainly for yourself bc cravings) and dropped one you just screamed the house down, Abby rushed in to see what was wrong only for you to start hitting him, he doesn’t know what he did wrong but he just stands there and takes the hits
afterwards you suddenly slump against his broad chest, tears dripping down his abs (he sleeps shirtless, are we surprised?)
after a few days of this pattern continuing, along with a sudden bump starting to show (you thought you were gaining weight because of all the junk food you’ve been eating)
it was then that the boys all agreed that they would tell you what was happening. read as: mystery tells you because he’s the reason they know in the first place
when he told you, a small part of you was shocked, a much larger part not so shocked due to what had occurred after your last period. also the symptoms made sense too
you didn’t know if you felt happy or not, as this wasn’t just an average pregnancy, you had literal SPAWNS OF SATAN (more like Gwi-ma) developing in your womb
you believed you were only having one, telling the boys how no matter who’s pup it is they’re all going to love them as if they were their own
only for mystery to burst your bubble by mumbling out a small “you actually have all our pups”
at the news you just collapsed onto the couch, eyes bulging out of their sockets, pretty much dissociating at the sudden news
the boys awkwardly surrounded you, all concerned by your reaction
jinu sat next to you quietly, before gently placing his hand on your shoulder, waiting for you to say something
after what seemed like forever, which was just 5 minutes or so, you looked at all of them and huffed out “no sex for you guys again!”
they knew you weren’t serious, you were just saying so solely due to the shocking news, probably still not processing that you did indeed have 5 half human half demon pups growing inside of you at this very moment
besides, the boys all knew (from the very brief research they did on the internet) that your hormones would cause you to desire them in that way soon. (they won’t have penetrative sex, only oral and such)
due to this they realise if they’re too pent up then they’ll have to help each other out instead of relying on you like they usually do
romance made you a bath after the news to help settle your nerves and lessen the stress
baby may or may have not also helped set up the bath, but you didn’t hear that from me
Abby gives you a massage whilst you’re in the bath, does ur hair and everything! surprisingly good at it too, those hands are good for everything at this point!
after the bath Abby carried you into the bedroom, mystery helping you get changed and Derpy joining you in bed (keeping you company + keeping you safe)
speaking of, Derpy does definitely know you’re pregnant, you had noticed how he started placing his paw over the bump and his head placed against your bump too whilst he purrs in content
plus when the boys are away for work, he constantly follows you around the house, even sitting outside the bathroom when you need the toilet, sometimes pawing at the door if you take too long (he takes his job very seriously)
your ankles get swollen a lot too, Romance helping you with that by applying cream onto your ankles for you and giving you small kisses onto your thighs and bump
now that you’re officially 3 months into the pregnancy (the boys believe you’re due at roughly 4 and a half months due to the pups being half demon)
your back is in so much pain from the massive bump, so Abby helps lift the bump up whilst you take small walks around the house
most of your time is spent either curled up on the couch with the boys or stuck in bed
when you’re in a cuddle pile with the boys, they tend to purr (which ur guessing is a demon thing) (Baby is surprisingly the loudest but you don’t say anything abt it cause he’ll be embarrassed)
when you start leaking milk through your bras, you just start wearing shirts without a bra for the rest of your pregnancy bc you can’t be arsed
the boys aren’t complaining to say the least👀
Baby especially likes the sight of your milk leaking through the shirts, gives him a hard on and has to either 1. jerk off or 2. find one of the others and take out his frustration that way (9/10 he ends up using Abby’s mouth, poor guy can’t keep up sometimes so romance usually takes his place)
the boys get possessive in their own ways as the due date looms closer and closer
Mystery hogging you on the couch, growling and snapping at the boys when they come a little too close
Romance pampering you, treating you like the queen he believes you are, giving you back massages, painting your nails, giving you anything you want (you asked for a BUNCH of new furniture, and he instantly went to purchasing them)
Abby constantly touching you; hand lingering near yours, securing your waist, holding onto the growing bump
Baby simply pouts in his room, he won’t come to you, you’ll come to him. when your concerned face pops at the doorframe, he instantly proceeds to drag you onto his bed, nuzzling his head against your neck whilst his hands knead against your chest like a little kitten (he likes how squishy they are at this point + it helps reduce the pain)
jinu simply keeps an eye on you at all times, which is his own way of showing he cares, he’s not the best at opening up about his feelings or the best at physical contact, so he just keeps his eye on you, concentrating on even the smallest of changes (he’s worried you’ll pop any moment)
when your water does finally break, the boys start panicking, because whilst they have prepared for this moment it still feels all too sudden
doesn’t help that you have to give birth in the house due to the pups being half demon, so the boys are going to have to help you deliver them
luckily for you, demon pups are born slightly smaller than human babies, and you’ll be giving birth to all 5 at the same time (kind of like a dog/cat birth)
