Hidden Patterns | Kpop Demon Hunters x Reader

[ 06 ] unexpected offer

You aren't at all surprised that Jinu shows up again.

You're sitting at your usual table, sipping something sugary and watching the clouds with lazy interest, when he arrives. Predictable, punctual, polite. With every passing day, you seem to understand him a little bit better. He greets you with that boyish smile you're starting to memorize, and you return it with a smaller, more subdued one. It doesn't even take long for the two of you to settle into a steady, natural conversation.

What you don't know—not yet, at least—is that you're being watched.

From across the street, four demons huddle awkwardly in the shadow of a bookstore's canopy. Baby is front and center, jittery and frustrated, arms crossed tightly against his chest like that might keep him from completely losing it.

"So, what exactly are we doing here?" Mystery asks, sounding distinctly unimpressed. He stares across the road, at you and Jinu. Behind his low-hanging bangs, his eyes narrow. "We're following Jinu while he's... on a date?"

"She's a demon," Baby hisses, as if that answers everything.

Mystery doesn't react. "Okay. And?"

"Like I told you before, she's the demon that said she wants to protect humans! That's obviously not normal!"

"Also, she kicked Baby's ass the other day," Abby feels compelled to point out.

Baby swings his head toward Abby and glares daggers at him.

Mystery raises an eyebrow. "She beat you?"

"She ambushed me," Baby growls through clenched teeth. Which is a lie, obviously. But they don't need to know that. "I wasn't prepared. She caught me off guard, that's all. But she's dangerous. She's clearly manipulating Jinu into doing the wrong thing. And if someone doesn't stop her, who knows what she'll do next."

"What will she do next?"

"I don't know! And that's the point!" Baby fumes. "Demons are supposed to harvest human souls. But she's doing the exact opposite. She's literally our enemy. She's dangerous. She can't be left unchecked."

Romance, who's been checking his reflection in the darkened shop window, finally turns around. "Wait, wait, wait—back up. How exactly is she just... doing whatever she wants? I doubt Gwi-Ma gives her free rein. That doesn't sound like him."

"I don't understand it either," Baby admits, frustration mounting. "But she made it sound like she's not scared of him. Which is exactly why we have to deal with this ourselves."

"And also because Baby didn't want to tattle-tale to Gwi-Ma, since [Name] threatened to kick his ass again if he did," Abby adds, grinning like this is all some big joke.

"Shut up, Abby!" Baby screeches. "I'm telling the story, not you!"

Some more time passes, as the four of them continue to lurk from a distance. Eventually, you and Jinu finish your little meeting. It's unclear whether it was a date, a friendly conversation, or some kind of joint anti-demon plan. Baby doesn't know what the hell you talked about, and it pisses him off. Well, more than he was already pissed off to begin with.

You and Jinu part ways on good terms. Jinu doesn't seem like he has any intention of not meeting up with you anymore. Probably because you beat Baby in a fight and he feels much more assured now, the bastard.

In any case, Jinu walks off, unaware that four pairs of eyes have been affixed on him the entire time. But they're not interested in him. He was only a means to an end, so that they could find you again.