𝔅𝔦𝔱𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔫𝔢𝔰𝔰 | Reader x Saja Boys

~7~

You sit on the couch, with Abs settled cross-legged on the floor. Baby and Mystery are off to the side, whispering now that Jinu has taken Romance away.

"So let me get this straight," you say, pinching the bridge on your nose to fight off a headache, "you're demons? Like, actual demons?"

"Yes," Abs replies, folding his hands in his lap. He studies you carefully for a moment before noting, "You're taking this well."

"Well, I've known for a while that something was off about you guys." You sigh and look over at Baby and Mystery. Their expressions are tight. Something is clearly very wrong with Romance. "You're not very subtle about it."

"Oh." Abs looks embarrassed, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly. "Do... Do you have any questions?"

"Many. Do you only eat souls? Why did you come here? Are you using me for something?" You frown as a new, more pressing concern pops into your head. "Are you going to hurt me? You stopped Romance from eating my soul, but are you saving me for a ritual or something?"

Abs shakes his head with a chuckle. "No, we won't eat you. We just want a manager. We're here to become idols, and... have another chance at our lives. But we won't hurt you."

Baby steps closer, shaking a small container. "Here, we got earplugs for you. Our singing is what helps us feed, so put these in at every performance."

"Got it." You take the container, examining it for a moment before tucking it into your pocket. "Um... Baby, I'm sorry about attacking you that one time."

Baby shrugs, poking his tongue against the inside of his cheek. "I didn't really care. It was fun."

"Excuse me?" You narrow your eyes at him. "It was 'fun?'"

Baby rolls his eyes, turning away from Mystery to fully face you. "Don't get your hopes up. It was fun getting to do something other than look cut on camera."

"Anyways, we need to go grocery shopping." Mystery stretches out his arms and turns to face the door. "You need food, so we should stock up."

Abs gets to his feet, glancing over his shoulder at you. "Have you booked any work for us yet?"

"There's a lot of demand for the Saja Boys, actually," you say, trailing after them. "Usually with a group that just had their debut, we focus on promotions, but I'm not too worried about that right now. I'm currently in the middle of arranging a fan meet, to engage with the fans you already have."

"You sound surprised that we're so popular," Baby drawls, slipping a mask on over the lower portion of his face. "Is it that hard to believe?"

"No, it's just that you guys are so new, but already doing so well. You're at the top of so many categories right now, with only one song." You step to the side so Abs can lock the front door before following the group down the sidewalk.

"We want a concert," Mystery suddenly says. He takes a moment to watch a teenage couple walk by, tilting his head at them. "A big venue, with room for a huge crowd."

"No," you firmly say, shaking your head. When Mystery opens his mouth to argue, you hold up a hand. "You have one song, you've performed live twice, and one of your members is currently starving for souls."

"How long until we can have a concert?" Mystery asks, arching an eyebrow at you quizzically. Even though it's phrased casually, there's an edge to his voice.

"Maybe release a whole album before demanding a concert," you suggest, a bit of frustration showing in your tone. "You're going to preform one song at a concert, huh? That's your big plan?"

Mystery stays silent for the remainder of the walk to the store. Abs sighs and tries to grab his arm, but Mystery swats his hand away before it can latch on. 

"No touching," Mystery says, repeating your famous rule. He dances out of Abs' reach, running ahead to the store. The automatic doors part for him with a swish.

"An album would be a good idea," Baby says, examining his nails. "More fans would be drawn in, so there would be a bigger crowd at our concert..."

You shrug and enter the store, looking around for Mystery. "Do one then. I agree that it would be good for the group, having a full album."

Baby hums and elbows Abs. "We could do that rap part I wanted to. I'll get Jinu to start working on something."

You spot Mystery studying a box of apples and jog up to him. He squeezes an apple and holds it up for you to see. "Is this a good one?" he awkwardly asks.

You poke the apple. "I guess? It's not mushy, so it's fine. Some apples just end up softer than others, though."

Mystery cocks his head at you, placing the apple back in the bin. "Let's finish shopping so we can rejoin Jinu and Romance."

"Right." You continue with the shopping trip, grabbing a basket to carry everything in. Baby, Abs, and Mystery are mostly an inconvenience. They keep bickering and getting in your way.

But eventually you finish, stepping up to the checkout. You slide everything through the scanner and Abs bags the groceries for you. You somehow manage to convince Mystery to carry them for you, and Baby leads the way back home.

"We're back!" Baby calls, setting the bags down in the kitchen. The four of you quickly work to put them away into the fridge and cabinets.

"We're in here," Jinu calls from the living room. When you walk in, you see him perched in an armchair, Romance settled by his feet with his chin on Jinu's thigh.

"Is he... feeling better?" you carefully ask, noticing the glazed over look to Romance's eyes. He's smiling, but doesn't look entirely aware of his surroundings. 

"He is," Jinu answers, leaning back in his chair. "Romance is on a bit of a soul-high now. Had a bit too many when I wasn't looking."

You approach, albeit a bit warily. Romance seems calm, but you don't want to take any chances after last night's ordeal. Romance just blinks at you, grinning widely.

"You're here!" Romance softly says, lifting his head. He shifts to try and get to you, but Jinu curls his fingers into his hair, pulling him back.

"Nuh-uh," Jinu says disapprovingly, tsking as well. "You have to earn her back. You have to prove that you can be around her again."

Romance sighs and places his chin against Jinu again. Baby takes the moment to clear his throat and say, "We should make an album. Then we could have a concert."

Jinu nods, drumming his fingers along the armrest as he considers it. "That would be good to draw in more fans..."

"Don't forget that the fan meet is tomorrow," you remind them, checking the schedule on your phone. "We'll leave at eight, so make sure you're up by seven. We need to get you dressed, along with getting makeup and hair done. I assume you can do your own makeup again?"

"We can do it ourselves," Abs responds with a lazy smile. "Why don't you create a social media account for us? Don't most groups have one?"

"Good point." You pull out your phone and wander away. You set up a YouTube account and are about to make one on a new platform, when a video catches your eye.

Five missing people added to already growing count. Police baffled, and families search for answers.

Your stomach lurches as you read the title. You have a feeling you know where they went.

~

Do we like these shorter chapters that I can release every day, or do we want longer ones a couple times a week?