Hidden Patterns | Kpop Demon Hunters x Reader

[ 28 ] new beginning

Jinu can't even count how many times it's happened by now. That sudden crash, the violent tremor that rattles through the frame of his house, the unmistakable sound of wood splintering under force it was never meant to withstand.

This time, however, his door isn't just opened—it's kicked down, blasted so hard that it crashes off its hinges and lands uselessly against the floorboards.

By the time the dust settles, Jinu already knows who's standing there. He doesn't even need to look.

"Jinu," Baby mutters coldly.

The tone says everything. It isn't the light sing-song voice he usually hides behind, the fake sweetness that makes his words feel like mockery. He doesn't even bother with saying hyung this time. No performance, no attempt to butter him up. Just Jinu's name, flat and sharp as glass. That alone is proof enough that he's angry. So angry that his voice slices sharper than a blade.

And of course, he's not alone.

Abby, Mystery, and Romance trail in behind him, though none of them look eager to be here. They cluster close together just inside the threshold, watching with hesitation written all over their faces. Concern, too, like they already know exactly which direction this storm is heading in but can't figure out a way to stop it.

Jinu isn't an idiot. He can read the atmosphere perfectly well. He already knows what this is about. Still, he feigns ignorance, dragging his gaze towards Baby and asking, apathetic as ever:

"What?"

Baby's claws twitch at his sides. "Don't give me that."

In the next instant, he teleports, closing the distance between them in a blink. He's suddenly right there, practically breathing down Jinu's neck, his golden eyes burning like lit coals.

"You knew." His voice is a venomous hiss. "You knew that [Name] was planning to join Huntrix, but you didn't do a damn thing about it."

Jinu blinks slowly, lethargically, like this is all more effort than it's worth. So, Baby found out. Not that it surprises him. If you're going to debut alongside the current most popular Kpop group, then it's not exactly something that can be kept under wraps for long. He'd been hoping Baby wouldn't discover the truth quite so soon, though. Maybe not until later, when it would already be too late for him to do anything about it.

But here he is. Because as always, Baby's just determined to be a pain in his ass.

"You're wrong," Jinu says simply, ignoring the way Baby's claws sharpen in the corner of his vision. "I did try to do something about it. The night I found out, I went to talk to her. I warned her how dangerous it would be. I told her to stop, for her own sake, but she didn't back down."

"That's it?!" Baby's voice pitches up, full of outrage. "That's all you did? You basically just rolled over without even trying!"

Jinu narrows his eyes into a glare. "Well, what am I supposed to do? It's not like I'm stronger than her. Even if I wanted to use force, it wouldn't amount to anything. I was hoping to make her see reason, but she seems determined to do this, even if it means risking her own safety."

From behind, Abby steps further into the house. His brows pinch together, voice carrying a note of insistence. "Dude, it's like I said. [Name]'s life is her own. We can't force her to do anything."

"I agree," Mystery mumbles, his tone quiet but firm. His gaze drops, fringe shadowing his eyes as he adds, "And it's not like... this is any different than what she was doing before. She was already protecting humans. This isn't really new."