Chapter Text
Baby's father is a piece of shit.
It goes without saying. You shouldn't expect a centuries-old Demon King to give a damn about something like boundaries. And Baby partly blames himself for not seeing this exact situation unfolding eventually.
From his spot, barricaded by two rows of pissed ex-Jeoseung Saja and one of livid Huntresses. He caught a glimpse of his father's amused smirk—the familiar expression illuminated by the tip of Mira's Gok-Do.
The bastard was getting a kick out of this.
Baby was familiar with this specific glamour Gwi-ma currently wore. It's been a few centuries since he has, but the shock of seeing it would never get old.
Skin now a sun-kissed tan, warm brown eyes that made the tall middle-aged appearance more approachable to the human gaze. It was fucking comical.
He seemed to have adapted his choice of clothes to the time period. His outstretched arms across the back of the sofa showcased the tailored three-piece suit that he currently wore. Completely black, aside from the deep violet pocket square and gold tie bar.
Spirits, who the hell did he think he was? Some knock off mafia boss?
As if sensing his son's annoyance. Gwi-ma's gaze shifted.
Amused brown meeting irritated blue.
Gwi-ma inclined his head, Ignoring how it allowed the curved edge of the heavenly blade to graze his chin "You know my son" His deep voice, sounding much louder in the tense silence, held an inappropriate edge of passivity that made his lovers grip their weapons tighter, "This wasn't the welcome I was expecting after not seeing you in god knows how long" he chuckled. The velvet rasp echoing out into the room.
Baby's jaw clenched. Before he could respond, the familiar tip of Rumi's Sain-geom obscured his father's face.
And to say the half-demon was furious was an understatement.
Markings pulsing in a swirl of violet and gold, Rumi glowered down at Gwi-ma's unreadable expression, "I'm only going to say this once," she seethed. posture firm and unwavering. Even as the Demon King's hackles raised at the Honmoon's energy pushing against his own. Rumi inclined her head in warning. The gold overtaking the colors swirling within her blade.
"Get out."
Baby felt the command rattle his core. Like the radial numbness you felt when you knocked a nerve that rested against bone.
The other demons within range had no choice but to feel it as well. Baby saw it in the way his lovers' jaws clenched. How they leaned away just slightly as if to avoid an invisible flare of energy. While the Honmoon accepted their presence above the spiritual barrier, it couldn't stop the demonic coding ingrained deep into their beings from hissing out defensively.
Regardless of the way Gwi-ma's gaze held with Rumi's. Baby observed the way his father's breathing stuttered just slightly out of rhythm, and the way his bottom lip tightened from his fangs biting down on the sensitive flesh inside his mouth.
It validated what Baby had concluded when he watched his father allow himself to be surrounded.
When they all walked in from the entryway 5 minutes ago to find a random stranger lounging in their home.
The way Baby had gone stiff in horrified shock at the casual greeting of Hello, son that was immediately followed by the defensive formation in front of him.
And yet, why didn't Gwi-ma bother to erect his own barrier of protection Baby knew he was capable of?
Because the battle at Namsan had weakened him.
Severely.
While it should have given Baby a slight peace of mind, knowing his lovers weren't in any mortal danger. It also made him more anxious.
Because a desperate Gwi-ma, one who willingly exposed himself like this, was arguably more dangerous.
Because it meant he wanted-needed-something. And Baby knows when it came to that, the Demon King would do anything to get it.
The slight incline of his father's head pulled Baby from his thoughts. Observing the sharpness hidden behind impassive brown eyes as he seemed to be searching Rumi's face. Thick brows furrowing as he seemed to be making a connection to what he was seeing.
A flash of recognition passed over Gwi-ma's expression, "You are Dong-Hyun's child." He announced. The deepness of his voice kept the comment from being the whisper he most likely intended. But everyone within the room was positioned to hear it loud and clear.
The worried glance Mira casted Rumi made Baby's heart stutter in worry. But watching as she easily schooled her face into casual indifference reassured them all that hearing her father's name did nothing to sway her.
Gwi-ma nodded to himself as if to confirm his own theory. "He was a trusted... " an emotion flashed across his features. Too quick for Baby to decipher "...You have my condole-"
"What the hell do you want!?" If Zoey realized she voiced her frustration in English, there was no way for them to tell.
Baby's eyes snapped towards where she stood a few steps behind Rumi's left. Her Shin-kal's glow reflecting off the sharp edges of her irritation.
From behind her, Mystery hovered a step closer. Matching the stance Romance most likely held behind Mira, Baby couldn't see properly past Abby's frame.
Gwi-ma's amusement returned. Eyes lidded as he cast a bored glance towards Zoey, "I'm here to speak with my son, huntress. Haven't I made that obvious?"
Rumi, stance straightened. Opening her shoulders towards the back of the room, "Do you want that, Ji-hoon?" The softness in her tone felt severely misplaced. Her glare not once leaving Gwi-ma.
Everyone's gaze snapped towards Baby. Varying levels of concern passing over their faces. Eyes giving his body a once-over as if Gwi-ma might have somehow managed to physically harm him without them noticing.
Baby huffed fondly, feeling his shoulders relax.
As if they would let him.
The arm around Baby's waist tightened. Protectively bringing him closer to Jinu's side.
Like the rest of the demons in the room, he'd been concerningly silent.
While it was easy to blame having the master you betrayed sitting right in front of you, Baby knew it was much deeper than that. If the threatening energy of the 400-year old's powers spilling out was anything to go by.
"Do you want that?" Jinu echoed Rumi's question. His tone also managing to soften slightly while addressing him.
Abby turned to face them, reaching out to hold his boyfriend's hand. Searching Baby's pinched expression, "You don't have to, jagiya," he added. Baby wondered for the first time if they could sense how weak his father's energy was as well. Or were they just willing to fight his father to the death if he tried something underhanded?
The thought was scary yet comforting. The lengths they were all willing to go for each other.
Baby sighed, "I... will hear what he has to say."
Mira clicked her tongue in frustration. Nevertheless, she shared a nod and unspoken conversation with her girlfriends as they backed away. Weapons still drawn.
In a blink, Rumi teleported to the back of the couch. Even while cutting between the fabrics of space, Baby doesn't think her eyes have once left his father.
Maneuvering his arms to clasp his hands into his lap, Gwi-ma smirked, "Let's cut to the chase, shall we, son?" Crossing his legs, he got comfortable in his seat. If he had any feedback on the tiger blade casting a bright outline against the side of his neck, he didn't voice it. "I've heard you've been having some trouble with regulating your powers."
Baby raised a brow. "When has that ever been a concern of yours?"
Gwi-ma scoffed, "Contrary to popular belief, my concern for you has never wavered." He cast a glance around the room. "Even when you decided to answer a ...weaker calling-"
"Get to the point."
Gwi ma smirked, "I want to give you a gift," he said. Another emotion passing over his face and going way too quickly for the room to read.
"On Tae-yeon's behalf."
Baby's eyes widened, the arm around his waist tightening "...What?"
Before Gwi-ma could respond, one of Zoey's blades soared across the room.
This one had a chain instead of the tassel most of them were familiar with. The blade briefly disappeared into the shadowy corner near the hallway
Aside from the girls and an annoyed Gwi-ma, they all gaped as they watched the chain catch. followed by a cut-off grunt.
Romance blinked "Zoey, what-"
Showcasing the rest of the chain wrapped around her arm, Zoey jerked it towards herself.
A figure was pulled from the shadow. Stumbling over their feet as they were reeled in closer.
Zoey glowered down at the Jeoseung Saja now at her feet. The reaper tilted their head, meeting her with their own glare from under the brim of their gat.
Clawing at the air around the blade embedded in her neck, the demon growled, "Fucking, bitch!" she seethed.
Mystery growled, eyes flashing amber from behind his bangs. Zoey's outstretched arm the only thing keeping him from pouncing.
Gwi-ma sighed. Hand raising to pinch the bridge of his nose, "If you would be so kind, huntress, as to remove your weapon from my servant's neck? They were tasked to bring me the item I will be presenting to my son."
Zoey answered by swiftly looping the chain around the reaper's neck, yanking them forward. "Then present it," she hissed.
Casting a horrified look towards Gwi-ma, the servant sputtered. Watching their master respond by stretching out his arm, palm open. His other still massaging the tension from his nose.
With a scowl, the reaper bowed her head. Clumsily rising to her feet, she gingerly reached into her sleeve to retrieve a wrapped rectangular package.
Zoey unraveled the link on her arm enough for her to stumble forward. Shakily placing the bundle into her master's palm.
Opening his eyes, Gwi-ma studied the bundle. "That will be all." His response was met with a yelp of pain as the blade was pulled from his reaper's throat.
Whimpering, the demon cupped her sizzling wound, teary-eyed as she looked towards her master, "M.. My K..King-"
"Leave." A burst of violet flames engulfed the reaper, and a second later, the spot they occupied was empty.
With lidded eyes, Gwi-ma began unwrapping the bundle. "Tae-yeon herself kept this from me," he grumbled. The cloth was fully pulled back to expose a rectangular velvet case. "So keep that in mind before you have one of your tantrums."
Baby scowled. Before he could argue, Gwi-ma pulled the top of the case open.
The room fell into stunned silence.
Leaning forward, Gwi- ma mutely placed the box on the middle table. Giving the room a clear view of the 7 thin gold cuffs layered across the case's silk-lined interior.
Jinu gaped down at them, "Are those...?"
Abby looked down at Baby's arm. Lifting their still locked hands. The room looked towards the identical gold cuff on his wrist and back at the ones on the table.
Gwi-ma settled back against the couch. "They are meant to share energy amongst you and your mates," he rolled his eyes. "How that woman had the foresight to know you would need 7 of them is beyond me-"
"Father.."
Gwi-ma's gaze shot up. The word, coming from his son's mouth, hit him like a rock against a mirror. Shards of apathy falling away to reveal the shock underneath.
The rest of the room snapped their attention back to Baby. Weapons faltering as they observed their boyfriend.
Baby blinked away his tears. His jaw noticeably clenched as he met his father's eyes, "What do you want from me?" He whimpered.
Rumi watched her boyfriend's markings flare, the sclera of his left eye becoming black "Ji-hoon..." She breathed.
Gwi-ma's gaze lowered. Brows furrowing from an internal conflict none of them could see, "Believe it or not, Ji-hoon," he muttered, and to everyone's shock, lifted his head to cast his son a sad smile.
"I miss her too."
Baby let out a choked-out sob. But before he could reply, he blinked, and the space Gwi-ma occupied was empty.