Chapter Text
Jinu stood before Gwi-Ma. The king laughed as souls came to feed him.
"Your plan is working, Jinu." Gwi-Ma said approvingly. Jinu rolled his eyes before facing the king.
"I know," He agreed smugly, "And those souls, are just a starter." Rumi's face flashed in his mind, "So let me get back to work, and you'll be feasting in no time."
"One of the hunters bears my mark," Gwi-Ma mused. "But I have no control over her." Jinu smirked.
"This is good." Jinu reassured, "It means she has shame. I'll find out what it is, and we can use it against her." Curiosity provoked his declaration.
Gwi-Ma's fire grew, "I've taught you well Jinu." Jinu laughed in fake agreement.
He looked away, wishing he knew how to get himself out of this. His sister's face flashed in his mind. Jinu flashed up to the human world, silently cursing Gwi-Ma's power.
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"My patterns are a constant reminder of my shame. A shame I can never escape." Jinu looked at her as if he could see her soul. "Yours are a reminder too. Of a shame of your own." Rumi looked away, wishing he was wrong. Her patterns spiked painfully under her hoodie. Her eyes widened briefly in shock. She hoped Jinu hadn't noticed.
He stepped closer and gently placed his hand above her heart, lighting her patterns. Her shame on full display.
"You don't know me." She ground out, steeling herself against her patterns throbbing as they always did when someone touched her. Rumi realized quickly that she could hardly feel them. Her patterns, glowing bright purple, didn't hurt. A cool soothing sensation swept over them.
It couldn't be Jinu's doing. It couldn't.
He ignored her discomfort, "You know you can tell me. I'll understand. I'm the only one who can." Rumi snapped out of her daze. He was a demon. This could not happen. She raised her sword to his chin.
"I am nothing like you." She locked her arms, trying to ignore the relief she'd felt from Jinu's touch leaving her.
"Denial, I get it. I was once there too." Jinu backed away, looking almost hurt. "I'll be here when you're done pretending." He smiled, "Until next time."
Rumi yelled, "There won't BE a next time!" She slashed her sword at his head, but he disappeared before it connected.
Once he was gone, Rumi sank to her knees, tears welling up.
Her patterns were dull, yet they hurt much worse than they ever had. Whatever Jinu had done had made them better. Just for a moment. A horrible wave of agony swept over her. She clutched the rooftop, trying to keep from screaming.
"Jinu." Rumi whispered his name, willing away the pain. She'd do almost anything to get rid of it.
"Jinu." Tears rolled down her cheeks, unnaturally cold. One fell onto an exposed pattern. Hot fire raced through her arm. Rumi let out a strangled cry.
"Jinu, please." Rumi wished she wasn't begging for him, but she was in so much pain, it didn't matter.
He could make it better. Jinu could fix it. At least sort of.
"Jinu." Rumi didn't know how many times she'd quietly wished for him. He wasn't coming. He probably couldn't even hear her. Most likely he was laughing at her pain. Rumi tried to stand, but it hurt to much. She just sat on the rooftop, waiting for the pain to dull.
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Jinu hadn't gone far. After Rumi tried to kill him again, he'd only teleported onto the nearest roof. He was only a couple yards from Rumi. He watched her look around, her face composed and stoic.
Then, to Jinu's surprise. She fell to her knees. He could've sworn he saw tears, but he couldn't be sure.
When he'd been talking to her, he'd sensed discomfort, but originally assumed it was because she hated him so much. Then he thought to her relaxing at his touch.
He'd barely done anything. Touched her patterns, but that rarely did anything.
A sound grabbed his attention. Barely a whisper from Rumi.
Jinu paused, waiting. Then again, Rumi whispered his name. Broken and clearly in pain. Jinu watched her. He couldn't comfort her, this was for the mission. He'd already gone too far when he'd started to tell the truth about his past. No more slip ups. Gwi-ma would punish him if he failed. Those voices had to go away.
"Jinu, please." Jinu's heart stopped. For reasons he couldn't explain, Rumi's pain tore at his soul. A soul he didn't think he had anymore.
/You DONT./ Jinu's voice echoed in his ears, /You don't deserve it. You gave it up when you left your family./ Jinu shook his head to clear it.
"Jinu." Rumi's voice cut through his inner turmoil.
Jinu wanted to step out of the shadows. To fix what was broken. But she hated him. Nothing he could do would change how she felt.
He teleported to crouch by her face for a moment. Her eyes were shut and her jaw was clenched in pain. Rumi's breathing was so shaky Jinu worried she would pass out.
He couldn't just stand by. He needed her. 'For the plan.' Jinu thought, 'She needs to be alive for this plan to work.' He took a deep breath, and placed a hand gently on her shoulder. Rumi looked up, relief was plain on her face.
Before he could blink, she'd torn her hoodie away, leaving her patterned arms exposed. Rumi's eyes were almost wild.
She grabbed his arm, eyes still closed. Jinu had no clue what she was even thinking.
Rumi opened her eyes, looked up at him, confused.
Jinu smiled, "Did you miss me already?"