A Baby's Fixation

by Dee2TheKay

Summary:

Jinu glared at the noticeably swollen area. Eyes narrowing at the deeper pink teeth marks near the corners...

"You've been biting your lip again."

Notes:

My headcanon for the boys' names (Don't overthink the meanings. It's based purely on vibes lol):

Baby: Ji-hoon
Mystery: Hyun-woo
Romance: Kyung-soo
Abby: (pending)

I use it interchangeably but it's implied they call each other their real names in private.

"Ji-hoon."

 

Baby sat up straighter from his hunched over position. His brain has since lost the ability to distinguish Jinu's reprimanding tones from being held at gun point.

This one in particular, had the familiar edge of disapproval that the leader of the Saja Boys used when one of them opted to ignore their PR training. Or when their postures were beginning to slump halfway through a three-hour meet and greet. 

Baby assumed it was the latter. From his spot on Abby's lap, he'd mentally and physically immersed himself in the game on his Steam Deck. Nearing the final boss on a particularly hard level. Baby found himself leaning closer to the screen, only to recoil in annoyance as his player was defeated again. 

Abby, who was half watching him and half scrolling through dinner recipes on his phone, would huff in amusement when Baby slumped against his chest. The fingers attached to the arm around the younger's waist would briefly resume its idle sympathetic caress. 

This pattern had been cycling on for the past hour of them lounging in their penthouse living room. Jinu had ambled in twenty minutes ago, laptop in hand. Collapsing into the empty space beside Abby. 

From the corner of his eye, Baby saw how the oldest reaper shared a chaste kiss with the group's choreographer. Proceeding to reopen the laptop to fully immerse himself into whatever business he needed to conduct on a Saturday afternoon. 

Even after straightening his back, Baby still felt the heat from the other's stare. Making him frown as he paused his game. Turning to level Jinu with an unimpressed glare "Unless you've finally lost your mind and can't decipher a meet and greet, from a day off in your own living room. What is your problem?" From his spot sitting against the foot of the couch, Mystery snorted. Flipping to the next page of his manghwa as he rested his head against Abby's thigh.

Jinu continued frowning at the lower half of the other's face. Now self conscious, Baby gauged where his boyfriend's line of sight was specifically aiming at. Bringing his hand up to rest against his lips. The bottom lip felt tender from where he poked at it in hopes of finding whatever stain had got the demon's attention. 

"Do I have something on my face?" 

Jinu clicked his tongue before reaching over to gently pry the other's hand away. His own fingers taking over from where Baby's had been. Using the pad of his thumb to gently pull his lover's bottom lip down enough to expose the lighter pink area near his lower teeth.

Jinu glared at the noticeably swollen area. Eyes narrowing at the deeper pink teeth marks near the corners. "You've been biting your lip again." he scolded. Baby blinked owlishly before pulling away. Cheeks flushing as he scowled.

Really? That's what he was annoyed about?

He was doing better wasn't he? Leave it to Jinu, the perfectionist to point out the one time someone else slips up. 

It was Baby's turn to click his own tongue "So what?" He grunted. Trying to reel in his own embarrassment as the accusation got the attention of the others. 

Mystery looked away from his book while Abby angled himself to get a better view of Baby's face. His own expression now mirroring Jinu's. "The items we ordered for you should have been delivered by now right?" He thought aloud.

Ignoring Baby's groan. Abby tilted his head against the back of the couch. Calling out in the general direction of the hallway leading to their bedrooms, "Kyung-soo, come here a second!" 

Baby closed his eyes, grip on his handheld game tightening. Wishing, not for the first time, that he still had his teleportation abilities. 

__

They all had noticeably taken on more human-like mannerism since the Honmoon had been sealed. The huntresses theorized that they were more akin to half-demon's like Rumi, now that Gwi-ma had been defeated and subsequently their deals with him have been broken...  

But even before then, Baby had been the only one who seemed to have issues the minute he stepped foot into the human realm. While facts about his past life were still fuzzy to this day, he couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity when they first walked the streets of Seoul. 

The smells and sounds had all been a lot for their senses, but for Baby, it had felt more like a memory still obscured by heavy fog. Muscles twitching out of reflex as they passed certain food stalls and even small convenience stores.

Unlike the others, Baby hadn't been in Gwi-ma's realm for long and being amongst humans was disorienting in the best way for him. Like, being able to speak your native tongue after years of having to learn a new language just to survive. 

He was the most at ease navigating Seoul's crowded streets and less overwhelmed by modern day architecture and technology. Eventually, he'd been promoted to the group's travel guide during their day of sightseeing. 

When they'd finally wandered into a store. Baby had strided over to a nearby counter while his boyfriends' ambled about the aisles. 

The display he stopped in front of featured different brands and variations of candy near the register. Where, behind the bored looking cashier, was also an equally large assortment of cigarette brands. 

Baby recalls furrowing his brows as a wave of deja-vu hit him. Accompanied by a feeling of shame that steered his eyes away from the cigarettes to zero in on a package of lollipops. Snatching the pack up and placing it on the counter. Using his part of the money they'd swiped hours earlier to hand it to the cashier, who barely gave him a glance as they returned his change. 

Jinu had given him a confused look at his purchase. Baby had shrugged, popping the stick confection into his mouth. Barely controlling himself from letting his eyes roll back in pleasure as his saliva activated the fruit flavors on his tongue. 

Moving forward with their plan as idols, the candy prop had continued making an appearance. Jinu had allowed it, seeing as it aided in Baby's role as the group's maknae. 

But now that they were currently going through a rebrand that Bobby and Jinu agreed would "Better show their fans who they were and create a more genuine fanbase." They began with Baby ditching the lollipops so that his archetype didn't pander to toxic infantilization.

Honestly, Baby had been grateful for the new direction. While he didn't show it, his role in the group being limited to the 'Baby' had been tiring even before losing gwi-ma's control. Without the demon king scrambling and manipulating their memories. It was hard to ignore that despite his teen-like features, he had sold his soul way into adulthood. 

Was he younger than his boyfriends? Sure. But he was absolutely not a child.  

It was during this transition that they all noticed that he tended to bite his lips a lot. Baby didn't think much of it, as it once again felt familiar. It wasn't done in a flirtatious manner, but in an insistent way that paired with the anxious tapping of his foot. 

Romance had pointed it out while they reviewed a recent interview. Noting how fidgety their boyfriend seemed to be without having a lollipop to occupy him. To say the observation and subsequent conversation on how to get Baby to "Calm down" had left him embarrassed was an understatement. His insecurity filtering the concern and worry from his lovers as judgement and ridicule.

He'd refused to attend the following scheduled interviews. Forcing Jinu to explain to their fans that the youngest saja wasn't feeling well and had to unfortunately miss out. 

Each time after they returned home, Baby would be locked away in his personal bedroom. Giving his Boyfriend's the silent treatment as they tried to speak with him through his locked door or send apologetic texts that were stubbornly ignored.

When Baby had eventually wandered out of his room, on a day Jinu, Abby and Romance were away with the girls running errands. He'd shuffled over to plop himself beside Mystery on the couch. 

The other's head snapped up. shock clear due to his bangs being held back by a headband. His eyes taking in the way Baby stiffly sat against the couch cushions. Knowing one wrong comment would cause his boyfriend to retreat. Mystery recovered from his shock. Returning his attention to his reading. 

They'd sat in a tense but familiar silence. The sounds of Mystery turning the page of his comic occasionally filled the room, while Baby scrolled absentmindedly through his phone. Eventually, Mystery spoke up. The other almost jumped out of his skin as his boyfriend's low and controlled voice broke the silence.

"Kyung-soo needs glasses." 

Baby's blinked. Turning to meet mystery's unreadable gaze. "W-what?"

Mystery hummed, mismatched colored eyes lowered slightly and Baby had to refrain from sucking in his lips "We noticed he's been squinting a lot lately. Most likely just the effects of Gwi-ma not being in control of us anymore..." His brows furrowed as he smoothed a thumb over the page of his book. "Our souls must be remembering our past lives."He pondered.

Baby had pursed his lips before catching himself again. His fang brushing against the tender flesh he's been more insistently biting on during his self appointed isolation.

Mystery still caught the action but didn't comment as he continued, "They plan to stop by the eye doctor today to pick up his contacts. He already got his glasses yesterday." 

Baby followed his partner's hand as it came to rest on his thigh. A clawed thumb gently rubbed the area it rested against. Baby swallowed. 

"Okay."

Mystery sighed. "We didn't mean to make you feel bad, Ji-hoon. But we're very sorry we did. We should have approached the subject more tactfully." He expressed. Tilting his head thoughtfully as he continued, "We're all trying to find our footing and how to best help each other.You have to tell us how to best help you, Jagi-ya." He stressed.

Baby didn't care to hide the way his bottom lip tightened as his teeth began squeezing the already abused flesh. In the back of his mind, and even farther into a life that he abandoned, he knew that he was taking pleasure in the slight pain that came from biting down too hard. His teeth only releasing right before the fragile skin could fully break. He could hear the echoes of people reprimanding him. Older people of authority, abusing their power that overwhelmed him to the point of resorting to man-made distractions. A release that got him through days filled with physical and emotional pain. But the memories of a toxic heat in his lungs implied that candy wasn't always his first choice. 

Mystery sat patiently as he listened to his lover's explanation. Baby took a shaky breath as he explained another important aspect of his habit, "It's not just when I'm anxious. I think... I do it so much that I don't know when I'm doing it. But it's still very... comforting."

Mystery, leveled him disapprovingly "You're still hurting yourself, Ji-hoon. That's what we're concerned about.." Baby heard the unspoken "and will have to talk about eventually" as he nodded tiredly. Leaning dramatically into Mystery's shoulder. Voice muffled against the fabric of his sweater.

"I know."

Mystery smiled in amusement as he leaned over to kiss the other's crown. Taking pity on his partner as he recognized the signs that they should shelf the conversation for now. 

Turning his attention back on his book, Mystery turned to the next page, "The others will be back soon." He stated. It was a hint that Baby should decide whether he was ready to be around everyone again or make his retreat.

While his boyfriend had returned to reading, baby had made his decision by opening up his messaging app to the boys' group chat. Hearting the last few replies from each partner currently missing. 

A half-an-hour later, the missing trio had ambled in. Jinu led the way as they appeared from the entryway hall. Baby rolled his eyes fondly as they were noticeably out of breath. The ex-reapers setting their bags down as the made their way to the duo on the couch. 

Eventually that same night, while Baby was back where he belonged in their shared bed, he relayed the same explanation that he'd given Mystery.With the added worry of pandering to the infantilization role if he was to indulge in lollipops in front of their fans again.

Jinu sighed, placing a kiss on Baby's forehead. Pulling the younger closer from where he laid against his side, "We'll figure it out, Ji-hoon. But if we notice you doing it too much, we're going to try that suggestion the girls gave us..." 

___

Baby tuned back into his surroundings as Romance used a claw to open up the package he'd brought with him from the bedroom. Pulling out multiple clear packages with an assortment of sensory chew necklaces. His boyfriends took time to appreciate the way Romance's gold wired frames complimented his features as he spread out the large variety onto the coffee table. 

Baby cringed at some of the bright colors and eccentric designs, "You expect our fans to take me seriously, when they see me chewing on one of those?" 

Jinu leaned forward, unphased by his tone as he picked up one made to look like a glazed donut "The idea is to get it out of your system before a show or interview" he replied. 

Romance nodded "And maybe the more you do it, the less inclined you'll be to bite your lip." he encouraged. Gesturing to the assortment before them. 

"Choose your pick, Jagi-ya." 

Baby's eyes scanned his options before zeroing in on the package near the edge of the table. Leaning forward to pick it up.

It was a simple beaded necklace that reminded him of the Gatkkuen's that hung from their Gats. Laying his steam deck into his lap, he opened the package to pull one out. 

He tested the firmness of the silicone between his fingers before raising it to the corner of his mouth. Biting down with his fang and blinking in shock at the rush of relief that flooded his mind as he began gnawing on the material. The tightness from working his jaw muscles against the hard silicone felt nice.  Around him, the others exchanged pleased looks as Baby fully placed the necklace over his head. 

As he got a good placement to keep the necklace in his mouth without holding it. Baby resisted the urge to smile as his boyfriends pulled out the remaining beads to pull over their own heads. Another wave of relief flooded his senses, but it wasn't from his new outlet. 

Notes:

Hope you enjoyed me projecting onto Baby lol (Fellow lip biters unite!)

This is one of a few backstory ideas for Baby: he was born in the early 1980's and died/sold his soul to gwi-ma in his early twenties (20-22). He's also considered the 'Baby' of the group because he hasn't been a reaper for that long. The other boys, while also being born in the Joseon era like Jinu, made their deals in their mid-late twenties (24-28).

Other Headcanons I squeezed in:
Romance wearing glasses
Abby is the group's choreographer & enjoys cooking
Mystery has heterochromia iridium (Didn't get a chance to say it in my other story but it applies there too).

Thanks for reading!