Hidden Patterns | Kpop Demon Hunters x Reader

[ 05 ] get humbled

Baby stares at you, eyes narrowing with the cold realization that something isn't quite right. You're not like the others. Not like any other demon he's ever met. You—a demon who cares about humans? Is such a thing even possible?

Baby reels from the absurdity of it. At first, he was worried Jinu had fallen in love with a human, but this is terrible in its own right. It's not just a forbidden romance or some weakness of the heart. It's treason.

You are an enemy to all of demonkind.

"Just wait until I tell Gwi-Ma about this," Baby sneers, delight curling around his words like smoke. His voice is high and gleeful, almost childlike in its anticipation. He can't wait to tattle on you. Then whatever nonsense you've been getting up to will be put to a swift end.

Baby expects fear from you. He expects trembling, at the very least. Demons naturally fear Gwi-Ma. He's not just a leader; he's their king. Their god. His fiery wrath is legendary, and those who oppose him are lucky if death is all they get.

But you don't tremble. Instead, your expression remains calm. Too calm.

"What are you going to tell him?" you ask, gaze eerily still.

That throws Baby off for a second. He frowns, trying to collect himself. "I'm going to tell him that instead of attacking humans for their souls, you're trying to protect them. That you're going against what demons are supposed to do."

"Okay," you shrug.

His jaw slackens. "Okay...?"

"Yeah, okay. It's not like Gwi-Ma doesn't already know about me. I've been evading him for hundreds of years."

There's a moment of stunned silence. Abby is staring at you now. Jinu's gaze darts between all three of you. Baby blinks continuously, as if he's been forcibly shut down, and is trying to reboot.

Maybe you're bluffing. Maybe it's just an act. But something in your demeanor—the complete lack of concern, the softness in your voice, the boredom in your eyes—tells him that you're being completely, terrifyingly honest.

"What about Jinu?" Baby says suddenly. His voice sharpens again, having regained some of his nerve. "I doubt Gwi-Ma knows he's meeting with a traitor. That makes him a traitor too. I'll tell Gwi-Ma all about it. Won't that be funny?"

Jinu flinches, and Baby feels the power of it, the way Jinu shrinks into himself. That sadistic grin curls again. He's got leverage now. Jinu's weakness, his fear, is palpable. And since you're Jinu's friend or girlfriend or whatever, it goes without saying that you care about him. There's no way this wouldn't affect you.

But then you glare at Baby with something cold, bitter, and unforgiving.

It freezes him where he stands.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," you say, voice dangerously quiet.

"Oh, yeah?" Baby snorts. "Am I supposed to be scared of you or something?"

"Yes. You should be. I've lived much longer than you, as far as I can tell. You're immature and inexperienced. You wouldn't last a minute against me."

"Aw, then I guess that makes you my nuna," Baby mocks with a sneer. "Nice try, though. I'm still not scared of you. No one can stand against Gwi-Ma. You're just acting tough so that you don't get in trouble."

Another bout of silence follows, even tenser than the previous one. Jinu clenches his fists so tightly that his knuckles go white. A few heads in the cafe turn for a moment, but no one listens long. The customers have other things to worry about. You glance around briefly, relieved that they aren't paying much attention. You haven't been speaking loudly enough that others can overhear. They probably thought there was some kind of altercation at first, but they've since lost interest.