Hidden Patterns | Kpop Demon Hunters x Reader

[ 19 ] more than friends

You sit on the couch with your phone in hand, still scrolling half-dazedly through comments you should probably stop reading, while Abby also sits not too far off, happily slurping on his protein shake. The sound of it is almost comical—every exaggerated sip and satisfied sigh cuts through the silence of your apartment in a way that feels both irritating and oddly comforting. You can't believe how perfectly at ease he looks, like drinking vanilla-flavored powder is the pinnacle of life. His entire posture radiates bliss. His broad shoulders even relax into your couch cushions as if he belongs here, and his eyes close halfway in appreciation of something so ridiculously simple.

Then again, you suppose that's a good thing.

He barely even reacted earlier when he found out about the video tying you to HUNTR/X. He glanced at it out of curiosity, watched it all the way through, then grinned like a fool before asking if he could finally make his protein shake. No accusations, no interrogation, no dramatics. If he really is concerned, then he's doing a damn good job of hiding it. But deep down, you doubt he even has the brain power to pull off that kind of practiced nonchalance. The far more likely explanation is that he just doesn't care.

And since that works out to your benefit, you're not about to complain.

"Man, I love vanilla milkshake flavor," Abby sighs suddenly, as if his life has been changed forever by this one drink. He stares down at the empty shaker in his hand like it's a holy relic. "And chocolate. And strawberry. And oreo. And—"

"It sounds like you're fond of pretty much every flavor," you muse, raising an eyebrow at him.

Abby just shrugs like it's the most natural thing in the world. "It's not my fault they make all these flavors taste so good. I'm getting swole and drinking something that tastes delicious! Talk about two birds with one stone, huh?"

"Oh, yeah. Definitely."

You can't resist the urge to giggle, though you press your lips together and manage to keep it quiet. You're amazed by how unironically proud he is of himself for discovering the magic of protein shakes. The funniest part is that he actually believes they're doing something for him. The thought of a literal demon guzzling whey protein to bulk up his muscles is absurd on so many levels. You know it's a placebo effect at best, but it's a secret you'll just have to take with you to the grave. If it keeps him happy and makes him feel accomplished, who are you to ruin it?

However, the amusement doesn't last long. Beneath the banter and Abby's ridiculous antics, your body is reminding you just how drained you really are. Your bones feel heavy, your eyelids stubbornly weighed down. You really are tired after the day you've had—the week you've had, honestly. It's been one endless, chaotic upheaval after another. It's nice not being so lonely anymore, not being so invisible, but lately, everything has been far too hectic for you to process. You're not used to it. You've spent so much of your life slipping into the background, carving out silence and safety in obscurity. Now, every moment feels loud, crowded, suffocating, and exhilarating all at once.

You need time to adjust. You need time to figure out where you're going from here.

And above all else, you're just tired.

You can't remember the last time you ever felt this kind of exhaustion, the kind that drapes itself over you completely. But maybe that's for the better, in its own way. Maybe it means your life is finally full enough to wear you down.

You watch as Abby polishes off the last foamy remnants of his protein shake, sucking noisily on the straw until the cup rattles in protest. When he finally pulls it away from his mouth, looking far too pleased with himself, you stand up and reach out, patting him on the shoulder a few times.