1

There were only three hours left before they had to complete the ritual, and they hadn’t even started drawing the circle yet.

It wasn’t like this was surprising—put two witches as powerful and different from each other as Namjoon and Seokjin in the same coven and there’s bound to be disputes. Currently it was over the amount of soul-dust needed for the chalk to draw the summoning circle. Not like Jungkook had an opinion. He was so new to the coven that the scabbing on his initiate tattoo hadn’t healed completely yet.

“—talk about blantant tokenism, I thought you wanted to summon a Quality demon?? With this kind of sloppy recipe you’ll be lucky to get a common imp or a shade.“ Seokjin huffs as Namjoon glowers from the other side of the cauldron,

“—Just because you can’t take a shit without checking the cardinal meridian three times—“

“—since when is it a virtue to not be careful about magick—“

“—literally summoning hellspawn here the fuck you mean virtue—“

Jungkook lay sprawled across Hoseok’s teal futon—at odds with all the black curtains and red runes etched all over the walls. Taehyung passes a beer back and forth between them from his spot on the opposite end as they watch the hysterics escalate. As usual, Hoseok and Yoongi’s familiars—both cats—were curled up on Jungkook’s chest. For some reason all the companion animals really liked Jungkook. Namjoon’s raven was eyeing his burgundy hair from across the room, clearly contemplating collecting some of it to nest with. If Seokjin’s owl hadn’t been off hunting it would’ve probably taken up residence on the arm of the futon. Taehyung’s wolf was curled up on the floor, trying to not take up a lot of space but that pretty difficult when you’re roughly the size of most of the furniture.

The others would gripe a little bit about how their own companions preferred Jungkook, but he didn’t mind. Especially because his familiar had yet to appear. It made him feel more like a real witch in the meantime.

“As entertaining as this is, don’t you think we should stop them?” Hoseok clucks as he sets another six pack in front of the boys and perches on the arm of the futon. He reaches over and scratches his fluffy orange cat’s ear, who’s purring kicks up a notch to acknowledge his witch’s presence. Yoongi’s little gray fluffball blinks sleepily at Hoseok before curling more securely into Jungkook’s armpit.

“Why,” Taehyung lazes. “Better they yell at each other than us. Last time I tried to get in the middle I ended up with no eyebrows. Seokjin scorched them right the fuck off. Took me months to look normal again.”

“Yeah but...” Hoseok looks meaningfully at his watch. “If we want to fulfill our covenly duties and honor the dark forces before trick or treaters start showing up at the door we have like 2 hours, tops.”

“Ooh did you get Milky Ways?” Yoongi hums from the ugly black armchair in the corner.

Hoseok looks mildly offended, “Of course I did. What do you take me for? Some second-rate housewife who gives out popcorn balls?”

“Gimme some.”

“Put on a costume, asshole.” Hoseok hands him a beer.

“I’m dressed up as someone who will hex his coven member if he doesn’t bring him chocolate and caramel, stat.”

“That’s not a costume, Yoongi. That’s you 24/7, 365.”

“Hey so why can’t we just do a little rite of Lucifer and call it a night? What’s the reason for actually summoning a demon this year?” Jungkook pipes up. As the youngest and newest coven member he usually doesn’t get to be privy to the decision-making conversations that proceed a night like tonight. He usually just shows up and tries to pretend like everything the senior witches are doing isn’t blowing his mind.

His question actually captures Namjoon’s attention. Mostly because he will never miss an opportunity to lecture (or in his words, educate) anyone about anything, ever, at any time.

“Damn Jungkook, did we not tell you? Tonight is the 6th anniversary of me and that caramel-loving lump in the chair’s decision to form a coven.”

Yoongi waves a heavily beringed hand vaguely at Jungkook and returns his attention to his beer. His cat stirs briefly and kneads Jungkook’s pec with her tiny claws. He just lets her, soon enough she’ll be back to sleep.

Namjoon rests his wand on the edge of the cauldron and pushes his bangs out of his face. “It’s customary, on auspicious anniversaries, to do something exciting and new as a bonding exercise. It’s the sixth anniversary, with you joining us a month ago we’re up to six members, and some other sign with the number six Jin divined—“

“—the number of Jupiter’s moons with elliptical orbit this year—“ Seokjin mutters as he eases Namjoon’s wand out of the way and starts fiddling with the contents of the cauldron.

“—that made us be like 666? Woah. Time to bind and summon a demon for team building.” Namjoon grins down at the futon where Jungkook is nodding, absentmindedly peeling the label of his beer off.

“Yeah okay. Whatever.” Jungkook affirms, affecting a nonchalant tone like this isn’t wildly out of his comfort zone.

Seokjin snorts, “Whatever? Listen just because you dress like a goth bisexual with a chain fetish doesn’t mean you always have to act like one.”

Jungkook tucks his combat boots with the many nonfunctional buckles and zippers under the blanket and sneers around his lip ring, “Yeah well you dress like Stevie Nicks’ meth-ed up cousin but you don’t see me staging an intervention for you and your scarves.”

Seokjin haughtily yanks his fringed shawl a little tighter and goes back to muttering at the cauldron, cheeks tinged a little pink.

Taehyung giggles from the other end of the couch, “Go easy on him, Seokjin. Jungkookie just manifested some witchy goodness like 5 months ago, he’s just trying to find his personal style. I went through a phase like that when my powers started showing.”

Hoseok eyes Taehyung’s garish pinstriped pajamas and loafers paired with a long tan duster and a trilby critically, “Are you sure you ever got out of that phase?”

The room chuckled indulgently at the annoyed look on Taehyung’s face.

“I wouldn’t expect you to understand fashion.” Taehyung sniffs. His wolf sniffles in solidarity from the floor.

Since they were going to roast him for it anyway Jungkook dropped the affected calmness.

“But seriously though, isn’t this like...really dangerous? All the spellbooks I’ve read put big fat caution warnings on actually messing with demons. They all advocate learning the spells yourself instead of using demons to shortcut—“

“—Yeah well they would, wouldn’t they. They need to sell spellbooks. Capitalist pigs.” Yoongi grunts from across the room.

Namjoon frowns thoughtfully and doesn’t notice Seokjin edging the cauldron farther and farther away from him.

“Well demons don’t subscribe to any kind of human morality so in that sense, yes. They are very dangerous. But they do play by very specific rules and as long as you know the rules and keep the balance of power in check they’re excellent to have contracts and bindings with to expedite magicks. There’s so much we can learn from them too! They use an entirely different type of magick.” Namjoon has started to get that look in his eye that makes Jungkook think of the college kids in town, always so animated about particle physics or art history or whatever the fuck they’re spending so much money to be obsessed with.

“I guess that makes sense...” he trails off as he fiddles with the studs in his left ear. Twisting the earrings whenever he gets nervous has become a bit of a habit. Taehyung swats his hand,

“It’s going to be fine, stop freaking.”

“Tae’s right! We’re keeping it simple. And for extra protection we’ll be leveraging the power of the weakest witch here so that limits the power of the demons we can bind.”

“Weakest?” Jungkook scrunches his nose, “How do you even determine that?”

Namjoon has the decency to look a little embarrassed, “Well typically it IS difficult since the type of magick someone prefers isn’t always an accurate measure of their prowess but having you around makes it easy because you’re so new.”

Jungkook twitches upright on the futon. The cats are dislodged with annoyed mewls but he’s a little distracted to comfort them, “Wait it’s me?? I’M the collateral magick??”

Hoseok claps his hands, “Yay! Jungkookie’s first ritual!”

Seokjin notes the panicked look on Jungkook’s face, “I told you we should have discussed this with him...” he keeps his focus on the cauldron, frowning slightly.

Yoongi smiles, flinty, from his chair, “Happy initiation day, newbie.”

Hoseok gathers up the empty beer bottles, “Ooh, and on Samhain too.” He waggles his eyebrows at Jungkook, “Sounds like an auspicious year coming up for our youngest member.”

“Wait...I-I don’t think I’m ready for this. YOU guys haven’t done this before.”

Taehyung rubs his shoulders, “That’s why we need you. You and your just emerging magickal gifts are going to keep us from accidentally summoning a succubus or possession demon.” He shivers, “Or...something even worse.”

Jungkook shivers along with him. He thinks back to the magick he had done this afternoon; enchanting his groceries to unpack themselves when he got home from the store.

As Seokjin clears the floor to start drawing the circle Jungkook can’t help but think back to his crackers floating out of the bag and settling on a shelf in his pantry. A mundane and easy magick, but one it had taken him weeks to pull off without issue.

By contrast now his coven were all busy writing protection spells and etching runes and burning purification herbs so that he could stand toe-to-toe with a demon and make it...what exactly? Do the grocery shopping for him?? He almost giggled as his mind conjured up a red-eyed beast with horns standing in line at Kroger or walking through Wal-Mart with a shopping cart. Ugh, I thought I told you to get low-fat cream cheese, he would tell the demon.

It’s possible he was panicking a little.

Despite Hoseok’s worries about the time constraints the circle came together pretty efficiently with all of them working together—Namjoon and Seokjin on opposite sides of the room for optimal effectiveness. Right on time Taehyung gently gripped Jungkook’s arm and steered him to the ritual cornerstone. Seokjin shooed all of the familiars out of the room and bolted the door so they wouldn’t disturb the ritual. Hoseok’s basement had a reinforced steel door ever since Tae’s wolf panicked while he was astral projecting and tore the old one to shreds. Jungkook watched them go with a little wistfulness. It would’ve been nice to have Tae’s wolf or Yoongi’s cat to snuggle while he tries not to freak about about what they’re doing.

He repressed the urge to itch at the runes painted on his arms and hands and settled for fidgeting quietly while the other five took their places. He almost flinched out of position when Seokjin used his fire magick to light all the candles in order of the ritual meridian. Taehyung and Yoongi started fiddling with their pendants, and Hoseok piled the summoning ingredients in the center of the circle.

Namjoon stepped forward and lit his ritual candle. The crackle of the flame coming to life felt as though it resonated through all of them, connecting all the witches who stood around the circle. Jungkook could feel the others’ magicks like a vibration running under his skin. The runes on the back of his hands flickered briefly and he felt a surge of dark magick vibrations. Dimly he wondered if that was normal.

Namjoon began reciting Latin. His voice curled around the circle; his words manifesting as a creeping fog. An icy chill swept across the room and Jungkook felt goosebumps spring up along his arms. As Namjoon recited, the words got louder and louder—or at least they seemed to. The other witches joined in and at their voices joining the ritual Jungkook gasped and felt a bead of sweat drop down his back. Being exposed to this huge wave of magickal energy was making his brain fuzzy. His focus was restored when the runes all flickered to life one by one, glowing faintly at first and then brightening until Jungkook couldn’t directly look at his arms anymore. Instead he focused on the center of the circle where all the ingredients were vibrating and twisting on themselves.

Namjoon paused briefly before finishing the incantation, “Send us, your humble servants, a denizen of your dark power equal to the magick we offer you here.” His eyes find Jungkook’s across the circle and Jungkook swallows, his throat dry and scratchy.

“M-may my magick be seen as a scale from which, in your judgement, the forces of your will may be balanced from our binding here tonight.” Jungkook gets out, fairly impressed with himself for remembering his lines.

With the incantation complete, Namjoon nods to Hoseok who flicks a match and drops it onto the summoning ingredients.

A lot happens very quickly.

The ingredients absorb the flame, turning it a garish purple and blue and exploding outwards. Jungkook just has time to see the same colors travel up his runes and feel his heartbeat in his ears before a shockwave emanates across the circle.

The other five witches are blown away from the center, pushed out to the outer edge of the room. Jungkook starts shaking, not sure what, if anything, he is supposed to do. It turns out the answer is “not much” when he goes to shuffle his feet and finds them rooted to the spot. When Namjoon clambers out from where he got tangled in a curtain, the panic on his face tells Jungkook things are not going according to plan.

Seokjin struggles to his feet, “Fuck!! What did we—“

“It’s not right the flame doesn’t look right—“ that’s Yoongis voice but Jungkook can’t see him.

“Jungkook, get Jungkook—“ Taehyung pants, lunging for the circle, but his feet tangle under him and he doesn’t quite make it.

All the light is snuffed out.

“Too late.” A raspy, velvety voice he doesn’t recognize intones.

Jungkook can feel a tingling chill creep up his arms. He swears he feels a hand on his shoulder and his knees nearly buckle as something exhales cool breath on his neck.

The candles flicker back on one at a time.

“Seokjin?” Namjoon queries.

“It isn’t me.” Seokjin whispers, terrified. The other five have cautiously moved closer to the circle, eyes fixed on Jungkook.

“W-what the fuck is happening?” Jungkook squeaks.

The summoning ingredients are gone. A lazy black wisp of smoke curls around itself in their place. As they stare at it, it billows outward, becoming more dense and larger until it’s a thick black barrier in the middle of the room.

A muffled hissing, yowling sound can be heard as well as scratching from the familiars trying to get through the door to their witches. The danger must be extreme if they’re freaking out like this.

Jungkook hisses at a scratchy, burning pain blooming on his chest. Yanking his T-shirt down rewards him with the absolutely horrifying sight of a sigil being carved into his flesh with no tools or creatures in sight. Namjoon’s eyes flick to him briefly before all attention in the room is drawn back to the black smoke solidifying in the circle. After another long moment, a boot, followed by a muscular leg in black slacks, emerges from the smoke.

Jungkook openly panics, “Namjoon what the fuck did you do??? What the FUCK did you bind to me—“

He cuts off as a man basically tumbles the rest of the way out of the smoke, cursing. He’s clad in black from his boots to his perfectly fitted shirt and blazer. Inky dark hair dangles in his eyes but when he straightens up and sweeps it back off his forehead the whole room collectively inhales. Because, Jungkook at least knows he wasn’t expecting a demon to be so...hot. Thick pillowly lips, hooded bedroom eyes, sharp as glass jawline and cheekbones. Full cheeks and long slender neck. His suit leaves very little to the imagination in terms of the rest of his body, curling around a lithe, strong waist and thick corded thighs. He doesn’t have to turn around for Jungkook to suspect his ass is equally perfect, and momentarily he finds himself replacing fear with awe at the apparition.

The man? Demon? Looks at each of them before his brow furrows and he twists to peer around the room.

“What the shit.” He says with a little edge to that meliodous voice from earlier. “You’re a bunch of fucking kids.” He irritably fiddles with the cuffs on his jacket and revolves in the circle, examining every corner of the room. Jungkook is mesmerized. The demon has a dangly silver earring on his left side, and the ass is even more perfect than he had figured.

“Who summoned me?” The demon searches all the witches faces.

Namjoon steps forward hesitantly. “I did, who—“

“No, you didn’t.” The demon cuts in flatly. “You couldn’t have.”

He seems to sense something and turns quickly to lock eyes with Jungkook. It occurs to Jungkook why they call it eye CONTACT as the demon stares at him—into him, it feels like—with eyes like deep bloody garnets.

“Oh.” His annoyed expression morphs into one of interest. Very intense interest. “A sourcerer.” All the attention in the room snaps to Jungkook. “Makes sense then...”

“A WHAT?” Jungkook blurts out right as Namjoon whispers, “No fucking way.”

The demon’s eyes widen, and then narrow slyly, a smirk stealing across those lips. “Oh, you didn’t know? Even better, I think.” He strolls casually towards Jungkook, who stumbles backwards and almost falls on his ass if not for Taehyung’s arm coming out of nowhere to stabilize him.

“Don’t be afraid, Kookie.” Taehyung gestures to the circle, “He can’t get out of there, you’re safe. He can’t touch you.”

The demon blinks at them, at the circle, and back at them. He sighs. “Honey, I’m a crossroads demon.” Taehyung stiffens, his fingers digging into Jungkook’s bicep. The demon grins,

“You’re not safe from me anywhere.”

He tilts his head and the foundation splits, cracking the cement floor, and the carefully drawn line of the circle. As soon as it’s broken, a wave of magickal energy like nothing he’s ever felt before hits Jungkook square in the chest. He doubles up, vaguely aware of shouting and the absence of Taehyung’s hand on his arm, before sinking to his knees. The demon steps nonchalantly over the edge of the broken circle; entirely ignoring the five witches whose defensive magicks have lit up like beacons in the darkened room.

“Sensitive too, what a find. Must be just chock-full if magick. Thank you, idiots.” He curls his fingers into a fist and all the other witches are flung backwards to pin against the walls. Jungkook hears a sickening crack or two as his coven makes contact with the drywall.

The demon stops in front of where he’s slumped to he ground and bounces into a squat. He picks up Jungkook’s chin and turns his face side to side. One cool finger traces across his jaw, down his neck and tugs at the collar of his shirt.

The sigil starts burning and Jungkook moans weakly, trying to pull away but finding that those fingers possess quite a bit more strength than they look like they do.

The demon studies the sigil critically.

“Mm. Pretty. Makes things more complicated.” The demon mutters. Jungkook has no idea what he means and no room left for focus in a brain being battered with this immense magickal aura. The demon presses his hand against the sigil and Jungkook jerks away and vomits, before flopping to the ground.

“Gross.” The demon says mildly as Jungkook’s consciousness slips away.

\~\~\~

When he comes to, Jungkook twitches and groans. His head hurts like he’s recovering from a killer hangover, and his eyes blur slowly in and out of focus as he blinks.

“Fucking finally.” That voice is back, and the body that accompanies it swims into Jungkook’s vision. The demon is lounging in Yoongi’s armchair. He seems pretty interested in fiddling with his rings and regards Jungkook apathetically.

From this angle Jungkook gathers he’s still on the floor. His elbows are shaky but he manages to prop himself up enough to sit up.

The demon is leaning forward on his elbows, “You’re kinda delicate, huh princess?”

Jungkook shakes his head to orient himself, “Where are the others?” His voice cracks, “What did you do with them?”

The demon waves his hand dismissively, “They’re fine. Probably. I haven’t killed them yet if that’s what you’re asking. You and I just needed a minute to talk.”

“Bring them back.” Jungkook spits.

“No.” The demon rolls his eyes. “If I bring them back right now I’m going to kill them one by one and devour their magicks and essence and I somehow doubt you want that.”

Jungkook shudders and involuntarily starts looking for an exit, some way to escape. It’s then he notices that the windows and doors are conspicuously missing.

“Listen, it’s cute what you’re thinking of, honestly, but you’re not going anywhere unless I want you to.”

“Why wouldn’t you just kill us then? Why talk to me?”

The demon spreads his hands, “Because I’m a crossroads demon, baby. Seemed like a good opportunity to try and make a deal.”

Jungkook furrows his brow and shifts to sitting cross legged. “I don’t know what that means.”

“Ah so you’re like, NEW new. What, get your powers like 6 or 7 moons ago?”

“If by moons you mean months then, yeah. Five, actually.”

The demon leans an elbow on the armchair, similar to how Yoongi has done dozens of times and Jungkook’s heart clenches painfully. Where are his coven members? This creature seems to have utter control over reality.

“A crossroads demon is a demon that makes deals with most any kind of creature in exchange for something both sides want. We have virtually unlimited power, a blank check from the boss to do whatever we want, and a different set of rules from “normal” demons.”

“Why would you come to our circle? We were just trying to summon one of those “normal” demons.”

The demon inclines his head, “I’m pretty positive your friends didn’t intend to summon a demon like me. All of them put together don’t have enough power to leverage in order to bind me.” He huffs, “So you can imagine my confusion when I’m plucked out of a deal that was chugging along nicely in order to travel through space and dimensions in order to hang out with a bunch of kids in their what? Parent’s basement?” He looks around distastefully, settling most of his disdain on the teal futon.

Jungkook feels immediately defensive of the futon.

“We’re not kids.” Jungkook grumbles, “This is Hoseok’s basement. We’re all in our 20’s.”

“Even if I knew or cared who that was, I’m older than time as you conceptualize it. You’re kids; trust me.”

He unfolds from the chair with inhuman fluidity to come and loom over Jungkook on the ground.

“So I figure there must be some pretty fucking powerful magick hiding here somewhere, and lo and behold. I find you. A sourcerer hiding in a basement with five little witchlings.”

“Sourcerer?” Jungkook struggles to follow the demon’s explanations. He feels hopelessly stupid and slow.

“A source of magick. You’ve been feeding every witch and wizard in the surrounding area an endless supply of fresh magick ever since you came online. No wonder these kids felt big enough to try some demon summoning. You probably blew their arsenal of spells open like a talisman when you showed up. And none of you even knew. Adorable.” He smiles. “What’s your name, little sourcerer?”

“Jungkook. What’s your name?”

“Ah, I have so many. I don’t know what they call me anymore.”

Jungkook shrugs, “Pick one you like and I’ll use it. It’s not like I know the difference.”

“You can call me Jimin.”

It’s a pretty ordinary name. Jungkook quirks an eyebrow but Jimin the Demon doesn’t look like he’s kidding.

Jungkook fidgets on the floor and Jimin strides over to him. He flinches, but Jimin merely holds out his hand. After staring at each other for a long second, Jungkook tentatively takes it.

Jimin hauls him up and dusts off his shoulders. “Is it easier to be near me now? I tried to do something about my aura for you.” His voice is surprisingly gentle.

“Uh. Yeah.” Jungkook mutters. “Why are you being kind of...nice to me?”

“You have something I want.” Jimin says bluntly.

“Why don’t you just take it if you’re as powerful as you say?”

Jimin shakes his head. “That’s not how it works. What I want is the endless wellspring of magick planted deep inside you. In order to get something that pure and intrinsic—you have to surrender it to me willingly.”

Jungkook takes a step back, “Why would I do that?”

Jimin smiles, “Well that’s what we need to figure out. What do you want? What kind of deal do you want to make?”

“I don’t want to sell you my soul.”

Jimin scoffs, “It’s not your soul. You don’t have a soul.”

Jungkook blinks furiously.

Jimin sighs again like this is a major inconvenience, “Witches don’t have souls. They spend their energy from the universe in the form of magick, not souls. That’s why you assholes have to bind demons to get what you want. You can’t bargain your soul or be corrupted like humans so why would we bother?”

“I didn’t know we didn’t have souls.” Jungkook muses. “What happens when we die?”

Jimin shrugs, “Depends what you want to do. If you’re willing to go corrupt some humans you can become a demon. We’re equal opportunity employers.” He smiles at his own joke, “If you don’t you can always get absorbed into places with high magickal concentration—like certain forests and caves and rivers.”

“What like, become a tree?”

“A magick tree. Feel special.”

“We don’t get to go to heaven?” Jungkook says without even really thinking.

Jimin crosses his arms, “You just summoned a demon to your friend’s basement on Halloween and you still thought that was an option?”

Jungkook bristles at his preemptive tone. Standing up next to the demon, it’s easy to forget how powerful he is. Jimin’s magickal aura isn’t making him nauseous anymore. He’s actually a little taller than the demon.

“How do I know any of this is true?? You’re a demon; you could be lying.”

Jimin doesn’t even blink at his outburst, “Actually I can’t. That’s one of the rules unique to me. No lying.”

“I thought all demons could lie. I thought that was kind of a...hallmark of being a demon.”

“I’m special.” Jimin chuckles, “Besides, I don’t need to lie. I have quite a bit of leverage without having to be dishonest.”

He taps Jungkook’s chest, right over the sigil and it gives a little tingle, “This binding sigil keeps me here in this dimension with you until the festival of Samhain is over. Now that’s plenty of time for me to murder all your little witchling friends, your normal friends, your family, your girlfriends, boyfriends—whatever— maybe even wipe out this whole town, unless you make a deal with me.”

The inflection in his voice doesn’t change at all, still lilts, sounds like honey over a harp, as he cooly tells Jungkook he’ll kill everyone he knows and cares about, and many more innocent people besides.

Jungkook smacks his hand away. “That’s horrible.”

Jimin shrugs, “I’m a demon, Jungkook. Human concepts like morality mean very little to me. You have something I want. I have several things you want to keep safe. This is a simple transaction. I even have a rewards program. Ready to listen to my proposal yet?”

Jungkook stares at the demon. Jimin meets his gaze levelly.

The silence extends between them long enough that Jimin rolls his eyes and blows his bangs out of his face.

“Sweetheart as much as I appreciate the dramatic Sophie’s Choice you’re going through here, can we move this along?” He snaps his fingers and Taehyung materializes next to them, looking absolutely terrified.

“Tae!” Jungkook startles, reaching out for him. His hand swipes right through his arm.

“Ah Ah...no touching.” Jimin coos. “He’s your favorite, right? What do the kids say...your...best friend?”

“Kookie?” Taehyung’s voice is pitched higher from fear, he reaches out trying to grasp Jungkook’s hand but neither of them can get solid purchase on the other. Jimin takes his left index finger and draws it up his own right arm. Taehyung screams as an incision appears up his arm in the same place, pouring blood down his wrist until it drips and stains the floor around them.

Jungkook breaks, “Okay okay OKAY JUST STOP! Please!”

“You’ll deal with me?” Jimin confirms, expression neutral as Taehyung screams intensify.

“Yes yes fuck just—just—leave him alone!”

Jimin waves his hand, Taehyung’s arm stops bleeding, he snaps his fingers and Taehyung disappears again.

“Okay leaving Taehyung alone, that’s one condition. What else?”

Jungkook tries to breathe normally, tries to calm himself down. Jimin twirls his fingers and a chair pushes up against the back of Jungkook’s knees. He drops down on it. Another chair manifests and Jimin sinks down onto it like a dancer.

“Conditions?”

“Yeah!” Jimin smiles enthusiastically like he hadn’t almost made a man bleed to death two minutes ago. “This is the fun part! You tell me what you want before you’ll give me your magick.”

“I get to ask for stuff?” Jungkook thinks about the threats to his family and friends.

“Well yeah, that’s a lot of goddamn magick.”

“Okay.” Jungkook wracks his brain. He wonders if there’s a limit to what he can ask for, “I want you to keep me and my coven safe from harm. As well as my friends and family.”

Jimin nods and a scroll and quill appear in the air. The quill starts taking notes.

Jungkook suddenly thinks about genie wishes and the demons he’s seen on tv. Loopholes, close the loopholes.

“And harm means MY definition of harm. MY morality regarding harm.”

Jimin’s lip curls slightly but he doesn’t say anything.

Jungkook feels a weird thrill of power. He might be woefully outclassed when it comes to using his magick, but he can at least get some good balance in negotiation.

“What is the nature of you taking my magick?”

Jimin clicks his tongue, like he was hoping Jungkook wouldn’t ask.

“It would be sort of like slavery in that you would have to follow my orders and I would be able to use your magick however I want until it is exhausted. Then you cease to exist.”

Jungkook shivers, “How long would that take?”

Jimin looks up, the quill pauses in midair, “Depends really. Could be a few millennia. Could be much longer. Could be shorter.”

Jungkook bites his lip. This sounds horrific. He can’t...cant give all of this up. It’s too high stakes. His brain doesn’t know how to properly process the scope of what he’s bargaining. Then again, he thinks, as he watches Jimin look over his notes, that’s probably the advantage crossroads demons like to exploit.

Unbidden, he thinks about watching everyone he knows and loves die. Watching Tae, his mom, Yoongi, his friends...he closes his eyes and shakes his head. He can’t do it. He can’t sentence them all to death just to avoid the deal. He looks over at the demon again, who is patiently waiting for him to get a grip. Inspiration strikes Jungkook. He can’t avoid the deal, but he can sweeten it for himself.

“Then i want you bonded to me in similar servitude as long as I live.” Jungkook crosses his arms to try and look slightly more intimidating. Maybe it would work if the other party wasn’t a literal incarnation of evil.

Jimin blinks at him. “What.” His tone is not encouraging. But Jungkook presses his point anyway.

“You can’t harm me, in fact, you have to protect me from harm. So as long as I live in this dimension—unaffected by your presence in it—you have to be my bonded servant just the way I will be to you.”

“You’re forgetting I don’t have to do this. I can just kill you all.”

“Yeah.” Jungkook says a little smugly, “But you won’t. How often do you get to deal with a sourcerer? From what you said it sounds like a lot to pass up on.”

Jimin bares his teeth at Jungkook. “Feisty, huh?” He measures Jungkook for a moment, considering. “Fine. Now if that’s all your conditions—“

“Not quite. You also have to obey my coven members.” Jungkook smirks.

Jimin grimaces. “Who’s orders are more important?”

“Mine, of course. But as long as I don’t directly contradict them you’re bound to their wishes too. And I want you to teach me how to use my magick.” Jungkook finishes wildly.

“Teach you? Why would I waste my time teaching a SLAVE to do his own spells?” Jimin is seething now, picking at his points pettily because Jungkook’s made him give up a concession or two.

It stings, but Jungkook shrugs, “I want to know. Plus with you giving me everything I want—“

“—only until you die—“ Jimin says ominously.

Jungkook only pauses for a second, “—until I die...I’ll need something interesting to do.”

“Fine.” Jimin says sharply. “That closes our negotiations.” He gestures to the quill and the scroll and they poof out of existence. “We just have to seal it.”

Jungkook’s mind is racing with what he used as wording, whether he was too ambiguous or not ambiguous enough, but now he has to live with it, whatever the outcome.

“With a handshake?” Jungkook automatically stands up and holds out his hand. Jimin giggles, low and throaty, and takes Jungkook’s hand to sharply pull the taller man flush against him. Jungkook yelps a little at being manhandled, and Jimin’s eyes glint briefly at the sound. This proximity is making Jungkook flush slowly, starting high in his cheeks.

“Not exactly cupcake. You have to kiss me.” Jimin parts his lips invitingly. This close, he smells incredible. Intoxicating. Sweet, and musky, and some other property Jungkook’s nose can’t name.

He blushes immediately. “Oh. O-oh. Okay. A kiss, right.”

“I’d tell you not to be afraid but I cant tell lies.” Jimin says, husky, as he wraps his arms around Jungkook. Jungkook is a little horrified to find that he WANTS to kiss Jimin. Whether that’s because of the magick of the deal, or the demon himself is a problem Jungkook doesn’t want to dwell on too long.

Jimin waits on him to stop having a crisis, running his fingers possessively over his back. Jungkook briefly thinks about how that’s not just a descriptor after he makes this deal. He and the demon will belong to each other. Possessions. But at least the coven will be safe...

Thinking about protecting his friends gives him resolve. He tilts his head and gently touches his lips to Jimin’s maddeningly soft ones. He means for it to be quick, barely anything. But something snaps when their lips touch.

Instantly they both cling to each other, passion rising sharp and unbidden between the two. Their tongues twine together; they wrap around each other. Jungkook’s teeth sink into Jimin’s lips, Jimin sucks on his tongue, they moan and pant into each other’s mouths, completely gone. Jungkook can feel a strange energy swirling out of them, around them, it feels a lot like standing in the middle of a tornado, like staring down a tsunami. When they break apart and shove away from each other—breathing hard—Jimin looks just as thrown as Jungkook.

“Well that was...” Jimin trails off.

Jungkook grapples with the impossibility of descibing what just occurred before settling on knowing what became of the deal.

“It’s done?” Jungkook pants.

Jimin shakes his head, seemingly trying to center himself, and checks his arm. A black band has wrapped around his elbow and he reaches up to brush against his neck where Jungkook can see a similar band. “Yes. The deal is in effect.”

Jungkook glances at his own arm and finds a matching band. He nods at the manifestation of their bond before returning his attention to the demon

“Good. Now bring my friends back and heal their injuries.”

Jimin already looks like he’s regretting this decision as he snaps his fingers to bring the five other witches back from wherever he was keeping them. They drop onto the floor, groaning at the contact with the hard cement, but otherwise to Jungkook’s eyes they seem like they’re okay. Looks like the demon was telling the truth about that much.

“Jungkookie...?” Taehyung is as white as a sheet, “What...what happened? I thought I was dying.”

Jungkook rubs the back of his neck. Jimin stands off to the side, quietly radiating annoyance and frustration.

“Ah. Well. I kind of...made a deal.”

Namjoon looks horrified. The others don’t look much better. “You made a deal with a crossroads demon?? Jungkook that’s idiotically stupid.”

“He was going to kill you.” Jungkook says, but his certainty is evaporating as reality intrudes on the decisions he made. He looks over at the demon leaning on the wall, brooding.

What if all he managed to do was trap himself with a demon who now resents him? A demon that has nothing but time to figure out what openings he left in conditions in order to torture him? He swallows uneasily.

Taehyung touches his sleeve. “Kookie, did he hurt you? What did he do to make you deal with him?”

Jungkook fiddles with the hem of his shirt. “I...um...” he can feel Jimin’s eyes boring into his back as well as all of the attention from his coven.

“Or did you not even think and just plunge right into some one-sided, torturous contract?” Namjoon looks almost disgusted as he eyes the demon. Jungkook starts to feel so small, and so, so stupid. The weight of their disapproval feels like it’s choking him. How can he tell them he did this for them—for their families—

A hand clamps down on his shoulder. Jimin’s voice crackles through the air, practically laced with magickal energy,“We made a deal because you assholes were too selfish and stupid to not think a summoning like this through, or properly educate your initiate about what he was going to do—“

“Hey—“ Namjoon starts angrily but Seokjin yanks on his arm to shut him up.

“—so your negligence and sheer fucking ignorance led to your initiate having to make a play to save all of your sorry lives. Which he did. And now I have to protect him for a while; that includes protecting him from your moronic ideas. It appears that your judgement on his methods for saving your lives from your own willful stupidity is bothering him. So fuck off, kindly, or I have to come up with a punishment that doesn’t, quote, “harm you under Jungkook’s definition of the word”

Jimin finishes with a flourish of air quotes, and the witches look properly chagrined. The only one still blazing with anger is Namjoon but mercifully he holds his tongue.

“It’s going to be helpful for the coven, Joon. Jimin—“ Jungkook gestures to the demon at his shoulder, “—here is going to teach us how to use my sourcerer magick and it’ll make us a highly powerful coven. Apparently I have enough magick just floating around in here,” He gestures to his body, “to bind a demon like Jimin.”

“A crossroads demon.” Namjoon says quietly. “Now, anyway. What were you before?”

Jimin withdraws his hand from Jungkook’s shoulder and stares the other witch down.

“Do I have to answer him, Jungkook?”

“All crossroads demons are appointed from somewhere, Jungkook. He has to have been another kind of demon at first.” Namjoon points out, and that sends a little warning bell rolling in Jungkook’s head. What exactly did he make a deal with?

Jungkook turns to the suddenly uncomfortable demon, “Yes. Answer him.”

Jimin looks at the floor and hesitates, like he’s trying to choose his wording carefully, “I was an...incubus.”

Namjoon snorts, “A sex demon.” Jimin’s head snaps up and tendrils of magick start sweeping past whatever barrier he put up to not make Jungkook nauseous.

Namjoon comes over and grips Jungkook’s arm, “Lucifer wouldn’t make a sex demon a crossroads demon unless he proved himself in an incredibly vile way. There’s only six or seven crossroads demons in all of mythology.”

Jungkook’s eyes widen.

“Actually there’s four of us. Typically Crowley gets mistaken for two others when they’re all really just him.” Jimin pipes up.

“What does that mean?” He whispers to Namjoon.

“It means,”. Namjoon says in a normal tone of voice. “That either he stole his power by backstabbing and underhanding hundreds of thousands of stronger demons, or Lucifer took a liking to him and split part of his own angelic power off to bestow on him.” He sneers at Jimin over Jungkook’s shoulder, “How likely do you think it is that Lucifer likes him? Maybe he’s such a good lay the devil himself is whipped.”

“Fuck off. Seriously.” Jimin mutters. He’s not exactly mad, but Jungkook can feel the irritation of being judged by a creature he considers to be wholly beneath him. It’s almost like Jimin’s magick is tied to his emotions, letting Jungkook get a sense of what he demon is feeling. His emotions are strangely normal; even human. The thought makes his stomach churn uncomfortably.

“I think it’s more likely he’s a murderous, evil, traitorous trash that betrays every soul he’s ever come across and now YOU have made a DEAL with him, CHAINING him to you until the terms are completed. Treachery is in his nature. He won’t keep the terms of your deal.” Namjoon finishes.

Everyone else is uncomfortably quiet.

Sinister intentions filter through this bond they share and Jungkook knows Jimin is finally angry.

Jungkook turns to his bonded demon, “Well, how was it done? Which version?”

Jimin has a muscle working in his jaw. “I don’t want to say right here right now.”

“Tough shit. I need to know if I need to order you to drown yourself in the ocean for the rest of my life or if you were telling the truth and actually cannot lie. Tell us how you became a crossroads demon. All of it.”

Jimin looks at him almost pleadingly. He catches a flicker of maybe, despair, through the bond.

“Neither version.”

Namjoon scoffs immediately, making some kind of noise between a snort and a huff.

“Crossroads demons can lie.” Jimin starts. Namjoon hisses from behind him. Jungkook’s pulse pounds in his ears...the terms of their deal...all of their safety...he gained nothing with the deal...

“But I can’t.” Jimin studiously looks down at his rings. “I’ve never been able to, since before I became a demon.”

“You can remember not being a demon?” Yoongi finally speaks up, looking flabbergasted, “Impossible.”

“No. Just very rare. And very old.” He looks directly at Namjoon. “I was one of the first.”

“The first was Lilith.” Namjoon says quietly. “ Everyone knows that.”

Jungkook resists pointing out that HE didn’t know that, and that’s part of the reason they’re even in this whole mess.

“The first HUMAN soul twisted was Lilith.” Jimin’s brow furrows, “Didn’t you hear me when I said I couldn’t lie?”

“Why is that significant?” Taehyung squeaks, “Everyone keeps repeating it like it’s supposed to mean something.”

“Lying is a uniquely human characteristic. If I had been a human before I turned I would be able to lie my ass off to you idiots and you’d be none the wiser. I definitely wouldn’t be having this conversation.” He sighs.

“What were you?” Jungkook says, trying to keep the panic under wraps. Jimin looks like a person. A creepy, hot, red-eyed person who leaks dark powerful magick into the air, but still a person.

“If you would stop interrupting me I could get to that.” Jimin snaps.

“This is ridiculous. In order for a sex demon to be that old and remember being turned you would have to be...” Namjoon trails off.

They look at each other for a moment.

“It was quite a long fall.” Jimin says softly. Namjoon looks like he might topple over. “He told us it would be long; it would hurt. But it was still such an eternity. He couldn’t lie to us, couldn’t lie to anyone. Still can’t, actually. But he didn’t have to tell us the whole truth. We were so used to following the order, to doing what we were told that it seemed second nature to believe his sincerity. That’s where I learned to dance around it, to meander to the point when possible. He is always so good at that.”

Yoongi looks paler than normal, if that’s possible.

Jimin uncrosses and recrosses his arms. He’s the most uncomfortable Jungkook has seen him since he stepped out of the smoke.

“Lucifer didn’t have to share his angelic power with me, and I DIDNT have to STEAL it.” He says distastefully, practically spitting the words at Namjoon. “Me and the other six had our own.”

Jungkook doesn’t bother looking at the overwhelmed reactions of his coven. He knows something has been revealed that’s important but dammned if he can keep up.

“Jungkook...you had enough magick to leverage for one of the fallen?” Seokjin whispers, “What the fuck are you, kid?”

“Fallen, like, a fallen angel? Like Lucifer?” Jungkook ignores the looks being trained on him like he’s a freak to focus on the ludicrous notion Seokjin presented.

“Angels can’t lie,” Taehyung says faintly, “They always say Lucifer can’t lie.”

“Holy fuck.” Namjoon says, backing away from the pair of them, “Jungkook...did you...make a deal...”

Jungkook has had enough of being the last to know today.“Can everyone just spit it out already? Jesus you’re so fucking dramatic.”

“Jungkook,” Jimin addresses him directly and he turns back to him. His eerie red eyes flicker in the dim room, “I am one of the seven angels who followed Lucifer out of paradise. Through losing our wings and the philosophy of our brother, I was transformed into one of the original deadly sins.” He somewhat grimly smiles at the room, “Typically, you call me “Lust.”

As the silence lengthens and the implications settle, Jimin realizes he’s silenced the uppity witches.

He grins, enjoying the consternation of the room at this revelation, “So yes, Namjoon. A pretty good lay, all in all.”

\~\~\~

“You’re fucked.” Namjoon grits out.

“I am aware of that. I know the terms of the deal.” Jungkook sighs back at him. Tae’s wolf is currently attempting to smother him with cuddles, and Hoseok’s cat is licking his ear. The familiars wasted no time in stress-snuggling all the witches when they left the basement. Yoongi’s cat hisses disapprovingly at his black armband before forgiving him and nibbling on his fingers.

The six coven members are locked in an upper bedroom, Jimin having been left in the basement with orders not to follow them. Hoseok and Taehyung are visibly distressed, Seokjin and Yoongi seem pretty grimly resigned to the situation, and Namjoon is still Namjoon, passionately expounding upon the problem.

“No, beyond that. If that THING in the basement,” Namjoon shudders, “Is really a fallen angel—“

“—and the literal embodiment of the sin of Lust—“ Yoongi adds,

“—there’s no way out of the contract. He means it when he says he can’t lie so there’s nothing for us to exploit to get you out of this.”

Jungkook blinks at him, “I never knew that getting out of it was a possibility in the first place—thanks to SOMEBODY who never saw the need to tell me any of this before I started summoning demons.”

“We didn’t know you were a FUCKING SOURCERER—“Namjoon yells,

“I DONT THINK THAT MAKES IT BETTER. All it tells me is that you were so hyped to do your little magick trick that you went ahead and did it without thinking about anyone else involved.” Jungkook’s pretty close to crying now, “And I also don’t think it’s right that YOU'RE so angry when this was YOUR IDEA and you are NOT the one facing down an eternity of torment.”

“Not to cut in here or anything—“ Jimins voice suddenly sounded like he was sitting in the room with them and they all jumped. “—but it won’t be eternity. Just until your magick gets depleted enough for your self to cease to exist.”

“I ordered you to stay in the basement!”

“I’m in the basement!” Jimin shoots back, “You never said I couldn’t listen in and correct you when you start waxing all sad and victimized about “eternities of suffering”

“Alright alright well at least a REALLY LONG TIME of suffering followed by sad pointless death.” Jungkook snaps.

“I guess.” Jimin answers. Jungkook can almost hear the eye roll in his tone.

“Now stop listening in or in any way interfering with our meeting.”

Jimin grumbles but his presence leeches out of the room.

Taehyung starts crying. Yoongi gets up and starts pacing.

A crying Taehyung is making Jungkook wildly uncomfortable “Tae...”

“I’m so sorry Kookie. I never should’ve brought you to the coven. This is not a burden you should’ve ever taken on.”

Jungkook pats his arm a little awkwardly, “Tae, it’s not all bad. He’s my bonded servant, and all of yours. He has to do whatever we say. I’m telling you, this will be good for the coven.”

Seokjin narrows his eyes, “He has to listen to us too?”

“Yeah, and he’s not allowed to hurt you.” Jungkook sighs, “I did TRY to get some good things out of the deal other than just avoiding your gruesome murders.”

Namjoon is finally looking less angry. It’s a little confronting for Jungkook to realize how much he cares what the elder thinks of him.

“I suppose I never did thank you for protecting the coven when I couldn’t.” He mumbles. “Thank you, Kookie.”

The tension slowly seeps out of the room. Yoongi stops pacing,

“So what happens now?”

Jungkook hitches a shoulder, “I think...maybe? I just...take him home? Try to get some sleep? Hoseok can hand out candy to kids in costumes?”

“It feels weird to be doing it in light of being under the threat of inhumanly evil power.” Hoseok hums, but otherwise seems to have bounced back since the ritual.

“I don’t like leaving you alone with that thing.” Yoongi says. “One of the fallen, an original sin, a crossroads demon—oh and don’t forget a demon designed specifically for corruption and seduction.” He looks pained, “Don’t fuck him, Jungkook.”

Jungkook splutters, “I-I wasn’t g-going—god Yoongi really...”

Yoongi shakes his head, “You might not be able to resist, Kook. Before today you didn’t know what an incubus was.”

“It’s a bad idea.” Seokjin agrees, “But it sounds like the demon isn’t allowed to hurt Jungkook. I think they can be alone as long as you don’t...you know. Fall for him. Just...don’t listen to what he says.”

“Or look at him too much.” Taehyung murmurs.

Jungkook groans. “It’s fine, guys. I have no interest in having sex with Jimin.”

\~\~\~

Jungkook has an unhealthy amount of interest in having sex with Jimin.

“This is where you live?” The demon asks, judgement dropping from every syllable, hips swaying unfairly as he brushes past Jungkook into his trailer.

“Yeah. It’s not much—“

“—obviously—“

“—but it’s home.”

Jimin peers at him, shrewd, catching the nostalgia and pain associated with the word home. He studies the small trailer, “I think we can do better.”

He captures his thick bottom lip between his teeth and Jungkook is instantly flashing back to the kiss that sealed their deal. All heat and pleasure and delirious NEED. Jimin’s lip glistens in the cheap overhead lighting.

Jungkook tears his gaze away to shut the door. “When I want you to fix my housing situation I’ll ask for it.”

“What about *my* housing situation?” Jimin grumbles, “Or do I have to take orders from you about that too?” He flops dramatically on Jungkook’s pullout sofa.

“You’re awfully salty for someone who basically enslaved me for eternity today.”

“But before I get to enjoy it I have to tag along with a brat and his five twat friends until his frail meat-shell gives out of entirely natural causes in who knows how long that will take.” The demon whines and toes off his boots.

“Still not as long as eternity.” Jungkook points out, determinedly not looking at the way Jimin’s thighs flex under his skin tight pants.

“Give me a break, I have enough power in my pinky to make you and this whole town spontaneously combust. You’d be annoyed too if you had any perspective at all outside of your meaningless human existence.”

Jungkook hangs his coat up by the door and abandons his own boots on the mat, using every bit of balance and suaveness he possesses to not end up on his ass while pulling them off,

“You know, you’re not making me all that inclined to treat you well as my servant.”

Jimin’s lip curls up, “You humans are all pretty pointlessly cruel and petty when given the opportunity so I wasn’t expecting anything else.”

Jungkook pauses momentarily where he was on his way to the kitchen.

“You hate us that much, huh?”

Jimin just glares at him, “Are you unfamiliar with WHY angels would abandon paradise and give up their wings? It has EVERYTHING to do with you disgusting little worms wriggling around. So full of your own importance and reinforced by a father that makes you the center of the universe—even his other children bound to serve you.” Jimin twists the ring around his index finger. There’s something oddly...familiar about the gesture.

“And then after I fell I’ve seen the craven, depraved depths the human soul is capable of over and over and over again. What exactly is supposed to be impressing me here, Jungkook? What is there to respect about a creature who’s claim to fame is mostly the ability to CHOOSE whether to be an evil, energy-draining waste of life or not, and still manages to choose wrong?”

Jungkook feels like the words are almost taking shape to hit him, leaving him a little winded.

“I’m not sure...movies and books and stuff say love is pretty great.”

Jimin rolls his neck around so he can fix Jungkook with a dubious expression. “Love. You’re really going to use love as an argument against the physical manifestation of Lust?” He chuckles and Jungkook blushes again. It’s so easy to forget that he’s supposed to be the one in charge right now. That black band so conspicuous around Jimin’s neck, but missing from his own, tells him he should be.

“Well then fine. Since you can’t stand my sofa, sleep wherever you want. I’ll be sure to think up some pointlessly cruel things for tomorrow, so you don’t get disappointed.”

He turns toward his fridge and and yanks it open to retrieve leftover takeout to microwave. When he slams the door shut Jimin is standing on the other side.

He jumps about a foot in the air, “Fuck! Don’t scare me like that!”

Jimin ignores him and sheds his blazer to the floor. His nimble fingers start picking open his shirt. As button after button springs open and more and more flawless skin is exposed in his kitchen Jungkook panics,

“W-what the fuck are you doing??”

“You said I could sleep wherever I want...” Jimin purrs, leaning closer. His earlier animosity has been wiped away and he seems to be radiating desire. Jungkook’s throat feels dry.

“...so what if I want to sleep on top of you?”

Jungkook flinches away, running his hip into the counter and spilling rice out of the flimsy takeout carton, “Ow—fuck! No! Keep your clothes on!”

Jimin immediately stops unbuttoning his shirt but since there were only a couple left the fabric gapes open to all the chiseled, smooth muscles on his chest and stomach. Jungkook wonders if he’s maybe already in hell.

“But you said wherever I want?” Jimin pouts and continues to crowd Jungkook back into the counter.

“Anywhere EXCEPT with or ON ME!” Jungkook squeaks.

Jimin scowls. But his expression rebounds.

“Fine. We don’t have to sleep. You’ve been thinking dirty thoughts about me all day, cupcake, so why don’t we pick one of those and get started?”

Jungkook drops the takeout container.

“I-I—“

Jimin leans in close, “You don’t have to pretend with me. We’re stuck together now—doesn’t it seem like something we’re going to get to eventually? And don’t forget, I know how badly you want it.” Jimin waves his hand and a little translucent scene appears above his shoulder. There’s legs and arms and sweaty bodies all tangled together, and with a mortified pang Jungkook realizes it’s EXACTLY one of the things he had been imagining when he and Jimin kissed to seal the deal.

He closes his eyes and feels Jimins fingers inch up the front of his shirt. Yoongi’s face pops into his mind, “Don’t fuck him, Jungkook.”

“N-no. No.” Jungkook catches the demon’s hands and pulls them from his shirt. You’re in charge. You’re in charge, he chants to himself. Jimin’s got an eyebrow cocked in mild interest, “Don’t touch me like that. Don’t touch me at all, actually.”

Jimin pulls away immediately, pouting. “Ah, you’re really going to be no fun, aren’t you?”

And just like that he’s back across the room on the sofa.

Jungkook feels like he’s been dunked in cold water with all of Jimin’s magick removed from his immediate area. He takes a few shaky breaths and readjusts his rumpled shirt. The spilled food catches his eye. He sighs.

“You made me drop my dinner.”

“First of all, you don’t have to be eating leftovers anyway, and second of all what do you expect me to do, apologize?”

Jungkook eyes the demon, curled up on the sofa, shirt and blazer miraculously restored to their pressed, buttoned perfection. Like it never happened.

“Can you fix it?”

Jimin flicks his fingers and the takeout rewinds up off the floor, back into the container, and into Jungkook’s hands. And it’s steaming hot and smells distinctly un-two-days-later-microwaved-rice. It smells like fresh off the grill, mouthwatering goodness.

“Satisfied, Master?” He says sarcastically.

“Careful, I might start to like that.” Jungkook mutters to himself.

“The only thing standing between you and me using that title naked and handcuffed in your bedroom is whatever weird internal morality crisis made you tell me to stop touching you.” Jimin says primly from the sofa.

Jungkook actually shivers. He nearly trips over his own feet escaping to his bedroom. Once the door is closed between him and the demon he slumps back against it.

The takeout still smells really good. So he munches on that.

“Sleep well,” Jimin’s voice tickles his ear like he was whispering right next to him. Jungkook nearly jumped out of his skin.

“Fuck that’s going to be the worst thing about this, isn’t it?” He asks his empty room.

All he gets in response is the ghost of a demonic chuckle.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***