Chapter Text
Baby didn't bother closing the bedroom door all the way as he stepped out into the hall. His oversized t-shirt and pajama bottoms wrinkled against his front. Evidence of how he spent half the day sleeping soundly in bed.
With a jaw breaking yawn, Baby began trudging towards the sounds of familiar chatter leading him towards the living room.
Shuffling out the hallway, he vaguely took note of where everyone was as he made a bee-line to the fridge.
Rumi and Jinu were lounging on the sofa. The half-demon resting her head against Jinu's chest as they halfheartedly watched a k-drama playing on low volume.
Zoey and Mystery were in front of them on the ground. Sitting under the center table currently housing a pile of Manhwa and American comics the two were comparing and chatting over.
Rounding the kitchen counter, Baby took note of Romance and Mira occupying two of the bar stools. Romance hovering over Mira to get a better look at her phone screen. From both of their unimpressed glares, Baby could only guess they were in the process of roasting some poor influencer's choice of clothing.
Across from them was Abby. Currently laboring over a steaming pot of stew with an endearing amount of concentration. To his credit, it did smell heavenly. Baby's stomach growled as he maneuvered behind the taller demon.
Baby noted with an amused huff that his boyfriend was also wearing the apron they'd all gotten him as a gag gift. The simple black cooking accessory looked innocent enough until you saw the clear rectangular panel sewn in to expose the wearer's stomach.
Mira still thinks she deserves an award for finding it.
Opening the fridge and ducking down, Baby spotted the neon colored soda bottles organized in a pyramid above the vegetable drawer.
Smiling, he snatched one from the top. Straightening back up as he gave what Romance liked to call 'Ji-hoon's Artificial Nonsense Juice' an appreciative look. It's just what he needed after what was definitely way more than 12-hours of sleep. He's sure Abby and Rumi, the health nuts that they are, would strongly disagree.
But as Baby twisted the cap off and downed half the bottle with an appreciative hum. He concluded that this wasn't about them.
It was halfway through finishing the rest of the bottle when Baby realized the area around him had gone silent. The slosh of the remaining juice sounding louder than it had business being as he pulled the bottle back to wipe his mouth.
Expecting it to just be the weird lapse of silence crowded spaces tended to have, when everyone was too hyperfixated on what they were doing. Baby was surprised when he turned, and instead of seeing all his lovers engrossed in their activities, he saw 6 pairs of gaping eyes zeroed in on him.
Freezing at the unsettling sight, Baby's brows furrowed "...The hell is wrong with all of you?" he grumbled. When no one answered and continued to gawk at him, Baby self-consciously raised his arm towards his head.
He was aware his bed head could be a sight depending on how long he slept. In this case, he's confident his blue strands looked like he just got done fighting a tornado and loss.
Before he could lash out at them for the incoming jokes at his appearance, Baby's fingers stilled from where he tried to comb down his bangs.
Instead of feeling the familiar texture of hair, his heart stopped at the abrupt shift to what felt like hard bone. The warm pads of his fingers ghosted over the ribbed surface.
Eyes widening. Trembling fingers continued along the curved appendage until they stopped at a sharp tip.
Baby felt his heart stop.
SHIT.
No, no, no, no, no-
"Ji-hoon?"
Swallowing back a whimper, Baby braced himself as he turned, meeting Abby's shocked expression. In any other situation the sight would have been comical. It's a surprise the other's eyeballs didn't fall out and plop right into the boiling stew.
"Are those..." Abby breathed. Seemingly still trying to wrap his mind around what he was seeing.
Romance stood from their seat to lean over the counter. Intrigue beginning to overtake their shock as they studied the twin onyx-black appendages "Darling, are those.. horns?"
Baby grimaced, "N-no?" he stammered. Taking a step back.
Still having half a mind to notice his boyfriend's attempt to retreat. Abby made quick work of turning down the stove and covering the stew with the nearby pot lid. Not once taking his eyes off baby as he fully turned to face him. "They are, aren't they" he deduced, eyes narrowing.
Baby took another step back until his back hit the sink counter, "No! T-they're just-" a loud gasp made Baby snap his attention to the living room.
Jinu and Rumi at some point had stood up and moved closer. Trying to get a better look but paused at Zoey's excitement.
Mystery, who was standing beside her, only tilted his head. Somehow Baby could tell whatever Zoey was bouncing on the balls of her feet about had also gotten his attention. Not needing to see the other's eyes to know they were zeroed in on him.
Squealing, Zoey smiled behind her hands, "Ji-hoon, Is that a tail?"
Tensing, Baby quickly lowered the velvet appendage that had begun snaking behind him in agitation. Swiftly wrapping it around his pajama clad leg until he felt the sharp triangular tip hook to his ankle.
Not having any more room to back away, Baby, to everyone's shock, let out a guttural hiss.
Which probably wasn't a good idea as it gave a clear view of his elongated canines. Ones that rivaled that of a wild cat.
Mira mimicked romance in leaning forward out her seat. A pink blush growing on her cheeks, "Shit" she breathed, forcing romance to scooch over, "Those look sharp".
The soda bottle clattered to the ground as Baby slapped both hands over his mouth.
Abby's own cheeks began heating up as he took in his boyfriend's hands. The slender fingers looked as if they'd been dipped in ink. And whatever attempt to clean it off only left an ombre effect that faded towards his wrist.
Abby swallowed, taking in the long onyx-black claws. Looking much deadlier than what his own would look like in his demon form. "Those look sharp too" he breathed. Reaching out towards Baby's wrist.
Ducking under the incoming arm, Baby scurried towards the other end of the kitchen. Almost tripping over his feet, "N-no! don't t-touch me!" He warned.
Searching the ground in panic, Baby bit down on his lip. Trying to find the words to get himself out of this nightmare.
Because he was still asleep right? There's no way this was happening.
He'd been so fucking careful. He told himself he'd never get so careless as to reveal his true form to all of them!
Baby was lucky to have such understanding mates that they looked past him being Gwi-ma's son. Accepting him with open arms after the hell his father put them all through. The least he could do was avoid subjecting them to what he really was...
Not only a naturally born demon.
But a demon like...
Him.
Frowning, Mira stood from her seat, watching her boyfriend bite down hard enough that she saw blood beginning to accumulate. "Whoa brat, let's just...calm down" there was no mockery or anger in her tone as her brows creased in worry.
It didn't take long for different variations of the same concern to pass over everyone else's expressions. Shock and curiosity fading away at the realization that one of their lovers was in genuine distress.
Rumi felt as if she was having some sort of weird out of body experience. The sight before her taking her back a few years prior.
The way her boyfriend's chest pumped in his panic.
The way his markings flared...
Rumi swallowed over the growing lump in her throat at the look of disgust Baby gave his own skin. She's positive this clear display of fear and shame was what Celine saw when Rumi confronted her that day.
And all it reminded her was how much her mentor, the person she saw as her mom, had failed her.
Because instead of backing away or reaching for her weapon to defend herself. Rumi didn't hesitate to follow the others in slowly moving closer.
"Ji-hoon, sweetheart, just take a deep breath" Rumi began. Her heart clenched at the way Baby quickly shook his head.
"N-no, just g-give me a second."
"No one is mad, Ji-hoon! Just let us help-"
"I said, give me a second!" Everyone tensed. Baby's voice sounding unnaturally layered as it rippled out into the room.
Behind Rumi, Jinu was still wrapping his head around what was happening.
Baby had told him, centuries ago, about who he truly was.
Jinu had been the first to know.
At the time, he couldn't fathom why someone with so much power would throw it all away to live amongst his father's reapers. It understandably took a while before Jinu could look at the Demon King's son head on and not cautiously from the corner of his eye.
Disowned or not, Jinu at the time didn't see what good would come from making Baby a friend, much less an ally.
But as time went on, their group evolving from two to five, Jinu saw the clear difference between the demon king and his heir.
It was Baby that taught them that they had the ability to be more selective with the souls they collected. Prioritizing humans that chose to live their lives committing unforgivable sins. Explaining that souls fed to Gwi-ma might not ever make it into the karmic cycle of redemption. Forever trapped and most likely incarnating into the lower level demons of the realm.
It had helped them find a purpose in their circumstances. To not just be vessels for a tyrant's bidding.
But ironically, Gwi-ma wasn't fueled properly by these types of souls. It always left him craving more. His hunger only temporarily sated.
So when Jinu came up with the idea of freeing him and his lovers from the demon realm under the guise of stealing the huntresses' fans. It wasn't surprising that Gwi-ma gave them permission. He would not only get the souls needed to properly grow his power...
but also his wayward heir back under his control.
Jinu knew how deeply rooted Baby's hatred was for his father. Not once did he worry that he'd switch sides on them or try to gain his father's favor by exposing their plan to join forces with the hunters.
So when the dust settled and they all slowly found themselves in a relationship with each other, Jinu was convinced he knew everything about his lover...
Slowly maneuvering around Rumi, Jinu took the lead in getting closer. "Ji-hoon, just explain to us what's happening. Are you in pain-" Before he could continue, Baby's head snapped up.
The sight that greeted Jinu rooted him to his spot. His breath stuttered.
He'd... seen those eyes before.
The logical part of him knew the pair in front of him were from his currently terrified boyfriend, but his body couldn't help but stiffen at the memories that resurfaced.
Memories of fear.
Memories of mind numbing pain.
Those similar eyes, violet slits surrounded by black sceleras, glowering down at him in cold disgust as he would wither in pain from a punishment.
"You continue to disappoint me, Jinu!"
Followed by tormenting flashbacks of the family he abandoned. Mixed with the heat of the unforgivable violet flames burning at his flesh-
Jinu hastily shook his head. Forcing himself to take a deep breath.
No.
No, Ji-hoon was nothing like that disgusting tyrant!
But as Jinu grounded himself. Refocusing on the hunched over figure in front of him. He saw the horrified realization flood Baby's expression.
Jinu's eye's widened "N-no, Ji-hoon! Its not-" before he could finish, a puff of violet smoke obscured his vision.
"Ji-hoon!"
Rushing forward, Jinu's outstretched hand only grabbed air. The smoke clearing to show the spot Baby occupied seconds ago was now empty.
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