Hidden Patterns | Kpop Demon Hunters x Reader

[ 15 ] not so special

Honestly, Jinu has no idea what to do with himself.

Now that he's here—inside your apartment, finally—he's hyper-aware of every move he makes. His hands won't stop fidgeting. He keeps brushing his palms against his thighs, then clasping them together on his lap, then uncrossing them again. His legs bounce under the table before you've even finished cooking. It's ridiculous, but he can't shake the feeling that he's out of place here. Like he doesn't know how to act normally. And he's worried you'll notice his dorkiness before he can reel it in.

He ends up watching you instead, hoping it'll distract him. You're standing at the stove, scrambling eggs in a pan with relaxed, yet skilled movements. It's not much. Just eggs and a few slices of toast that are already cooling on a plate beside you, but the smell is warm and homey, almost alien when compared to the demon realm. Jinu catches himself leaning forward in his chair so he can peer over your shoulder, and when you glance back at him with a smile, his stomach flips so hard he nearly forgets how to breathe.

"So, you really go to work?" he blurts, trying to fill the silence.

You arch a brow, clearly amused. "Well, how else would I pay my rent?"

"No, I get it," he says quickly. "I just mean, it's so weird. A demon that's fully integrated in human society... I still can't really believe it."

"It's not that weird," you counter, turning back to your eggs. "I'm a demon, yes, but I'm just doing the same thing everybody else is."

"The same thing other humans do," he points out.

"I don't see why demons can't live these kinds of lives," you shrug, and you don't even look at him when you say it. "Like I said, you could do it too. If you're willing to completely distance yourself from Gwi-Ma."

That last part always makes him pause. The way you say it—calm, certain, like it's not even a question worth debating—leaves no room for his excuses. He feels his throat tighten, and he doesn't respond.

Because his cowardice prevents him from doing so.

Rather, he continues to watch as you eventually plate the scrambled eggs and slide them onto the table. You even reach into your fridge for drinks and set a chilled can of Milkis in front of him—classic flavor. It's nothing extravagant, but the gesture alone is enough to make him feel weirdly... taken care of. Pampered, even.

"Uh, thanks," he says awkwardly. This all feels so strange to him. A demon living like a human. A demon that's probably more in touch with their humanity than he's ever been.

You don't seem to notice his mental turmoil, though. You just sit down across from him, reach for your own plate, and start eating.

"My grocery bills are going to be a lot higher than usual," you remark between bites.

"Why?" he asks, cracking his Milkis open with a hiss of carbonation.

"Because I have guests now." Your lips twitch into a smirk. "You guys are always stopping by unannounced. I need to make sure I have a fully stocked fridge. Especially Abby. He likes to eat a lot. He actually thinks human food makes his muscles grow, poor guy."

Jinu stares at you, mouth agape, like you've just spoken in another language. "They just attacked you."

"What?" you blink.

"They came here to try and kill you," he stresses, somewhat frantically. "I heard it didn't end well for them, but still. Aren't you upset? You're actually still thinking about buying food for them if they come by again?"

"Oh, I know. But I doubt they'll ever try stupid shit anymore," you brush off. "Also, I don't really hold grudges. It's a waste of time. As long as they've learned their lesson, that's enough for me."