3

They had delivered two full van loads of flowers when Taehyung declared that he had to go home and let Yeontan out, so they detoured. Taehyung’s wolf—disguised as a little brown and cream fluff of a dog—comes bounding out the door when Taehyung unlocks it. The disguise is a necessary one in order for Taehyung’s neighbors to not get terrified and call animal control about a wolf roaming the streets. Yeontan shoots out onto the lawn like a furry bullet and almost faceplants when he skids to a stop at the sight of Jimim emerging from the van. The little familiar loops back to the porch and posts up at the top of the steps, growling viciously. He only comes off the porch when Jungkook climbs out of the van and comes to stand beside Jimin, and even then only deigns to slink into the grass far enough to lift his leg against a bush. His growling never lets up the entire time he pees. Taehyung frowns at the little familiar,

“I don’t think Tannie likes you very much.”

Jimin doesn’t seem all that perturbed by it, “Animals usually don’t. They’re smart that way.” He slides open the van door and perches on the ledge to give as much space to the little dog as possible. It occurs to Jungkook that being concerned about the comfort of a dog isn’t a particularly demonic thing to do. He doesn’t bring it up, though, he imagines Jimin will react badly to having that pointed out. Taehyung brings out a case of beer and he and Jimin resume smoking—or in Jimin’s case, ingesting. Jungkook sips lazily at a beer.

It’s a beautiful fall afternoon. It’s much too normal of a day to be a sequel to last night. The day after he bound himself to a demon who used to be an angel; he woke up, went to work with his friend, and drove across town to let out a dog (wolf). Jungkook leans back against the van. His threshold of normalcy clearly needs to be recalibrated again. And he thought it was bad when he found out he was a witch. Sourcerer, he corrects mentally. But that makes him irritated all over agin because he’s supposedly this crazy powerful being and he can barely do enough magic to not be considered human. No one else seems to be having an internal crisis, although admittedly he doesn’t know what it would take to make a creature like Jimin have a crisis. He tries to clue back into his surroundings and not dwell on it.

“How do you get to Hell?” Taehyung asks suddenly. He has dragged over one of his lounge chairs from the porch to sit in the uneven grass. It rocks a little every time he shifts his weight.

Jimin pauses his drinking, “How do *I* get to Hell?”

“Well yeah. Or really—anybody. Like is there a door? Or a—you know—entrance anyone can use? Or do you just like *poof*—“ He accompanies the word with the head exploding gesture, sloshing his beer into the grass, “and you’re there.”

Jimin sets his empty beer bottle into the grass on the side of the van. It clinks against the other empties. “I think there is a “door” like you’re thinking of, but I’ve never had to use it. The magic I have now allows me to…poof…there anytime I want.”

Taehyung nods, “That’s cool. So you could like, go back whenever? Just whip back to hell and come right back? Just like that?”

“What’s the point of this, Tae?” Jungkook chimes in.

“I think it’s interesting! What, are you going to pretend like you’re not curious?”

Jungkook doesn’t like admitting how ravenously curious he is for information about Jimin. He feels like it’s something the demon will lord over him.

Jimin fiddles with his rings, “I can go back whenever I want, but I don’t want to. Please don’t ask me to.” He shakes his head, “I honestly prefer to never go back.”

Jungkook and Taehyung exchange confused glances. Jimin has said he didn’t like Hell but never wanting to go back? He’s torn between wanting to know why not but also knowing that he shouldn’t ask about it. Jungkook goes to get another beer to have something to do but his hand comes up empty. The case is empty, and he realizes Jimin knocked back all of the beer while he and Taehyung were working on their first. He looks over at the demon, who’s fixed him with a challenging look, eyebrow cocked. He knows what Jungkook wants but is clearly pushing the imperative. Jungkook gestures to the case,

“Um…Jimin? More beer….could you?”

Jimin huffs, “If you ask it isn’t an order.” But he twirls his fingers and another case of beer replaces the empty one. Jungkook almost staggers at the weight change.

“Yeah but Kookie doesn’t like ordering.” Taehyung quips but quickly snaps his mouth shut when Jungkook glares at him.

“Thanks a lot, Tae.”

“Oh please, like I hadn’t already noticed that myself.” Jimin rolls his eyes, “I just don’t know WHY. This arrangement was your idea in the first place.”

Jungkook studiously opens two beers and hands one over to Taehyung to avoid the demon’s gaze.

“I mean, one would think a human would relish the opportunity to control something much more powerful. Give them a taste of the domination they so dearly crave.”

Jimin reaches for another beer but Jungkook pulls the case out of his reach. Jungkook doesn’t like asking for favors from the demon and Jimin drinks so fast the case won’t last them ten minutes.

“Can you even get drunk?” He snaps at the demon. Jimin’s brow furrows and he beckons a bottle with a finger. It soars out of the case past Jungkook and over into his hands.

“No. Was that the point of what we were doing? I thought we were doing social human things.”

Taehyung snorts, “Social human things. I like that.”

Jungkook lets the case drop to the ground. Clearly nothing will stop Jimin from drinking if he wants to. Unless you order him not to, his brain reminds him. He frowns and steers the conversation away from him.

“Why is Hell so terrible for you? I mean, don’t you rule Hell? You’re part of the...royal family kind of.”

Jimin scoffs, “Hell has exactly one ruler and he rest of us just do as he says. Lucifer likes to think he’s different from our Father but he has the same penchant for ordering around beings he considers lesser. Most of the time when I’m down there it reminds of before I fell.” He shakes his head, “I didn’t go through all that just to be someone ELSE’S servant.”

Jungkook leans forward, “Do all of the fallen feel this way?”

Jimin runs a hand back through his hair, “I’m sure some of them do. There have been incidents. But it’s typically easier for the others because Lucifer leaves them alone more. He’s less…interested.”

Jungkook lets his words sink in, sincerely hoping Jimin doesn’t mean what he thinks he means.

“Interested…?” Taehyung ventures tentatively. Jimin doesn’t answer right away, opening yet another beer, and before Taehyung can clarify his question Jimin bounces a little and turns his attention to Jungkook.

“Do you want a magic lesson?”

Jungkook stutters. Jimin switches gears so quickly, it’s hard to keep up. “What, right now?”

“Yes right now. I gather from our copious alcohol imbibing that we’re done with flowers for the day?”

“Well that was mostly you…” Jungkook mumbles as Taehyung checks his phone.

“Yeah. Mom will be closing up for the night now and there’s nothing that can’t wait overnight.”

Jungkook sets down his beer, “Well then yeah! Yes. Definitely. Magic lesson.”

Jimin studies him, “Well, what do you want to be able to do?”

“Um…well, there’s a lot—I want to…hmm” Jungkook fumbles a little.

“What can you already do?” Jimin cuts in and saves him from flailing. Jungkook thinks for a long moment.

“Not much.” He admits.

Jimin regards him patiently and Taehyung offers, “He knows some household-y magick, how to draw some spells, that kind of thing.”

“Ah. Well most of that is useless to you now. Your magick works differently from that so spells aren’t really necessary. You probably found them tricky and difficult to use.”

Jungkook’s face burns as he thinks back to the many many hours studying soellbooks and practicing drawing spells with frustratingly slow progress. He always thought it was because he was naturally not very good at magick. “Yeah…a bit.”

“Okay, then we’ll start at the beginning, with the basics. Feeling out your magick, shielding, defensive magick, that kind of thing.” The demon flicks his bangs out of his face, “You have me to protect you but I’m gathering that independence is something…important to you?”

Jimin says the word “independence” with such derision that Jungkook momentarily feels dumb for clinging so hard to the idea of being able to do things on his own. But then he thinks about being able to use magick like Jimin does… “Yes that sounds like a good place to start.”

Jimin acknowledges Taehyung, “Are you okay with this? He might set fire to your lawn.”

Taehyung tilts his beer bottle towards them, “Honestly that might be an improvement for my lawn.” He shrugs, “I’m okay with it. I’d actually like to watch if it’s okay with Jungkookie.”

Taehyung has already seen him in a variety of compromising positions, “Yeah I’m good with it.”

Jimin scoots over and pats the spot next to him in the van. Jungkook takes it warily, already feeling those little tendrils of desire that come to him whenever he’s in close proximity with the demon. That magnetic draw pulls him in, tempting him to close the distance completely and touch. Jimin notices his discomfort.

“I can only tone that down so much, I’m afraid. You might be stuck with those dirty thoughts.”

Jungkook closes his eyes to banish a fantasy of laying Jimin out on the seats of the van and stripping him out of those jeans. The demon chuckles.

“Focus, Jungkook. The first thing we’re going to do is access your magic. I need you to reach inside yourself and search for the core of your magick.” Jungkook closes his eyes to start following the demon’s instructions.

“It should feel like dipping your metaphorical hands into the lake of your magick.”

Jungkook finds it but his lake feels more like a puddle. “I’ve got it.”

“Okay the first thing you want to do is push the magick outward to wrap around your body. It’s an excellent shielding technique. Lift the magick and press it all around the surface of your skin. Kind of like rubbing on lotion or sunscreen.”

Jungkook starts targeting the magick to his arms and legs. He starts sweating as he stretches the magick to accommodate his torso, and has developed the shakes by the time he finishes his head. He grits his teeth and focuses on holding it. “I’ve got it.” His eyes flutter open to see the demon leaning towards him, brow furrowed in concern. Jimin’s pink, plush lips and intoxicating scent are less than a foot away from him. He starts a little and loses his grip on the magick, feeling the shield retreat back into the core of his metaphorical puddle.

He makes a little annoyed noise and Jimin hurriedly back out of his space, “Sorry, sorry.” He smirks, “You’re very susceptible to distraction, you know.”

“Well, you’re excessively distracting.” Jungkook grouses. Taehyung, that traitor, chuckles from his lawn chair.

Jimin’s smile widens, “I know I am. Just think—when you master your magick in front of me there won’t be anything that can rattle you.” He cocks his head a little, “Still though…was that…difficult for you, Jungkook? It looked like a lot of effort for something so simple.”

Jungkook can feel his cheeks burning, tries to resist the urge to hang his head. He’s STILL terrible at this, no matter what kind of magick he’s trying to do. Figures. “Yeah. It felt like it was really difficult to make the magick stretch to cover my whole body.”

Jimin’s brow scrunches even more, “Stretch? You should have more than enough magick to comfortably do that.” His hands lift from his lap, hovering in the air between them uneasily. “May I have a look? At your magick, I mean. To see why you would be having that much trouble?”

Jungkook blinks, “You don’t think it’s my fault? That I’m just…that bad at it?”

Jimin frowns, “What? No. Something must be interfering based off of how much magical energy I felt when you summoned me the other night.” He gestures back and forth between them, “To check I need to touch you…will you let me?”

Jungkook turns toward Taehyung on the lawn, who shrugs, “It should be okay, Kookie. He can’t hurt you, right? Maybe this will help figure out whatever it is that’s limiting your magick.”

He eyes Jimin’s hands. “Okay. You can touch me for—that. Checking my magick, it’s—Yeah. That’s fine.” He begs his brain to shut up before he can sound even more stupid. Jimin reaches over and grabs both of his wrists. He almost gasps as warmth floods up his arms and the wall between he and Jimin breaks down so he can feel all of Jimin’s magick. He catches a little bit of that wildness from when they sealed their deal. The demon is so close, Jungkook could reach over and kiss his jaw. Could suck hickeys into that perfect skin, could bite down on those shapely collarbones….

“You need to get a grip.” Jimin says without opening his eyes, “It’s like you’re shouting at me.” He cracks one eye open, “Unless you want to postpone this magick lesson and…”

Jungkook shakes his head furiously, “No! No. I’ll—I’ll focus and not. Think about it.” The corners of Jimin’s mouth turn up just the slightest and he goes back to pushing magick into Jungkook. The sensation of Jimin prodding at the center of his magick is uncomfortable enough that he can keep a lid on his fantasies. He resists the urge to squirm at the tendrils of Jimin’s magick poking at him.

“It feels like a lot of goddamn magick but where…it’s being…channeled somewhere.” Jimin murmurs more to himself than Jungkook. “Where…is it going…” Jimin pushes another wave of heat into Jungkook that starts traveling all over his body. As it loops through his frame, it starts to congregate in his left arm, shifting from a pleasant warmth into burning. Intense burning, that only ratchets up the longer he sits.

“Ow—fuck, Jimin! Stop—get off!” The demon has stopped touching him before the order is out of his mouth but the burning in his arm doesn’t stop. Jimin rolls up his sleeve to reveal the black band from their binding and his initiate tattoo wrapped around his bicep. Jungkook looks over at him,

“Is it because of you? Because of our bond?”

Jimin clicks his tongue, “That wouldn’t explain why you were having trouble with your magick before I came along.” He points at the initiate tattoo, “What’s that?”

“It’s our coven’s initiate tattoo.” Taehyung chimes in. “All the members have slightly different ones.”

Jimin sucks his lower lip into his mouth briefly, “And who gave it to you?”

“Namjoon,” Jungkook intones, “He tattoos all the new initiates.”

Jimin reaches for his arm, “May I?”

Jungkook shifts and lets Jimin caress his bicep. The demon taps a fingernail on the runes inked on his skin. “I wonder…” but the demon trails off without finishing his thought. He makes a slashing motion without warning, and the skin splits right through the tattoo, blood oozing out of the gash immediately. Jungkook yanks his arm away, “What the fuck, Jimin? You’re not supposed to hurt me—“ he cuts off as a massive wave of magick dumps into his brain, “Woah. WOAH.”

His vision blurs momentarily with the force of the power. When it normalizes, he sees little sparks dancing around the cut on his arm. The blood starts to retreat, absorbed by the stray magick until all that remains of the cut is a clean scar straight through his tattoo.

“That’s better, huh?” Jimin studies him. Jungkook takes a few deep breaths to get used to the buzzing in his head. A feeling of euphoria washes over him. He grins, “Fuck yeah. Wow, that feels—wow.”

Jimin nods, “Try shielding again.”

Jungkook closes his eyes and searches for his magick. It springs forward when he calls it, easily flows around his limbs and frame—taking only a fraction of his focus to maintain. He realizes he can actually push the magick away from his body. An incandescent bubble surrounds him and pushes outward. When it reaches Jimin the demon is pushed out of the van and skips away a few paces, looking serious and a little frustrated. Jungkook feels almost giddy. HE made Jimin move. He PUSHED him. “This is awesome! Look Tae—I’m Bubble Boy.”

Taehyung walks over and pokes the bubble. The surface ripples from his finger. “You’re like an overgrown hamster! Pretty cool, Kookie.”

Jungkook starts pulling and pushing the bubble, making it grow and shrink. Taehyung smooshes his face into the side like a cartoon before retreating to his lawn chair. Yeontan hops up into his lap, eyeing the whole bubble affair cautiously. Jungkook is soaring. The magick goes wherever he wants with almost childish simplicity. He just has to think and the power flows intuitively for him. He can’t wipe the grin off his face.

“Not to ruin the mood here, or anything.” Jimin cuts in, “But aren’t you curious about where your magick was being drained to? And why?”

The bubble pops as that occurs to Jungkook. “But the tattoo…you don’t think—Namjoon wouldn’t…he didn’t even know I was a sourcerer.”

Jimin just eyes him impassively, “He gave you the tattoo, right?” The demon steps back closer to the van. Before he can say anything else, Yeontan interrupts.

The little dog starts growling ferociously. He jumps off Taehyung’s lap and starts shaking and drooling, the wolf springing out of the little dog disguise. Taehyung reaches for his familiar, “Tannie, it’s fine. Jimin isn’t hurting us—“

“I don’t think that’s for me, Taehyung.” Jimin says, voice strained.

Something big slams into the other side of the van. Jungkook startles out of his spot, joining Jimin and Taehyung on the lawn. “What the—“

Several more somethings slam into the van, sending it rocking crazily on its axles. A creature pokes its head over the top of the van. It’s vaguely human shaped, but it’s arms and legs are absurdly long and thin, like it had been stretched out. It’s shadowy, almost like it’s made out of darkness. As Jungkook gets a good look at it a chill goes down his spine when he realizes the creature has no face. Unconsciously Jungkook scoots closer to Jimin, “What the FUCK is that??”

“Fingers.” The demon says, expression grim, “That means Crowley is coming.” The three of them back away from the van as more spidery limbs appear over the top and around the sides. The first creature clambers over—its motions jerky and unsettling. It lands next to Jimin’s empty beer bottles and straightens up. It’s tall—almost as tall as the van. A beat of silence extends as the creature seems to regard them.

It’s broken when Yeontan launches himself at the creature, tangling with it and rolling away from the three boys. Taehyung screams, “Tannie!” And dives after his dog. His pendants light up like beacons; he starts drawing spells in the air to use on the creatures. Jungkook starts to go after his friend but Jimin steps full into his path, “You’re not ready to fight these things yet.”

The creatures are pouring out from behind the van like a river around a stone. Taehyung is about to be caught in the center of a mass of them. Jimin claps his hands, once, and all the creatures dissolve into black goo, sinking into nothing around the lawn. Immediately more Fingers start manifesting around the lawn, by the trees, by the road.. He turns back to Jungkook, “We have to go. There’s going to be many more of those. Crowley won’t stop until he has what he wants..” He starts striding towards Taehyung’s house. Jungkook glances over at Taehyung, red-faced and hurtling spells at a group of the creatures.

He stumbles after Jimin and catches the demon by the sleeve, “We have to get Taehyung and Yeontan.” Jimin rolls his eyes and claps again, sending another wave of the Fingers to gooey oblivion. “I need to get you inside where I can ward it up and send you somewhere Crowley can’t follow.” He jerks his chin Taehyung’s direction, “He’s handling himself just fine.” Jimin gestures towards the house and Jungkook follows unwillingly.

“These things—Crowley—they’re here for you right? What have you brought down on us?”

Jimin huffs, “Crowley is a crossroads demon. Remember how Namjoon thought I became one? Backstabbing, murder, lying? That’s how Crowley became one. The Fingers are his army, souls he’s tortured past the point that they lose their autonomy. They’re basically dark magic he can point wherever he wants to cause havoc.. He’s a fucked up demon Jungkook and I assure you, if he was coming for me he wouldn’t wait until now.” Jimin claps to kill another wave of Fingers, “He’s coming for you.”

Jungkook stumbles to a stop, “Me??” He squeaks. Jimin rolls his eyes, “Yes, you. Now let’s get in the house before—“

A huge group of Fingers flood onto the lawn. Taehyung screams and starts wildly firing spells. Jungkook takes two steps towards the house just to see Fingers overrun the porch. Jimin swears under his breath and sweeps an arm back to keep Jungkook behind him. He wipes out another wave of them but they’re manifesting so densely and quickly that the lawn is soon overrun. Jimin jerks his head towards a gap in the creatures and they start off towards it. They make it about three steps before a huge wave of magick smacks Jungkook in the chest. He sinks to his knees. It’s a lot like being exposed to Jimin’s magick for the first time—but this burns his nostrils like he’s smelling something rotten. The nausea comes on so quickly he nearly passes out. Jimin checks where he had been striding off and comes back to Jungkook’s side. “Remember the bubble, Jungkook? You need to call it up and keep it up as long as Crowley is here.” His face twists up, “Its too late to run.”

Jungkook goes into his head to call up the shield. As it closes around him the nausea fades and he struggles to his feet.

“What do I do?” He asks the demon, trying to keep his voice steady. Jimin side-eyes him, “Don’t do anything. Crowley’s not more powerful than me but he is tricky.”

Vaguely Jungkook hears Taehyung tell Yeontan,”Tannie, get the others—we need help!” Before the wolf disappears and Jimin dissolves another bunch of Fingers. Jungkook can see his friend across the lawn, catching his breath before hurtling himself back into a rapidly condensing group of Fingers.

He prays the other coven members get here soon. Jimin is searching the lawn, tense. “He’s here somewhere…”

Jungkook glances over to the van. And blinks.

There’s another man wearing a black suit perched on the roof.

Jimin sees him at the same time and his back stiffens. The man languidly hops off the vehicle and strolls towards them, ignoring and ignored by the Fingers scuttling around the lawn. This man is imposing, taller than he or Jimin. He’s carelessly handsome, hair tousled and long. But unlike Jimin, who has this magnetic draw about him, even through the bubble Jungkook can tell this man…does not. The other demon has his eyes on Jungkook, but as he gets closer his attention shifts to Jimin, looking a little surprised.

“Minnie?” His voice is rough, laced with humor but more sinister by far than Jimin’s melodious voice.

“Crowley.” Jimin acknowledges levelly.

Crowley’s expression turns a little sly and searching, eyes skimming up and down Jimin’s form appraisingly. Jungkook has a wild thought that he wants to protect Jimin from this creature. Which is crazy, because this is Jimin. A fallen angel and a powerful demon; he needs Jungkook’s protection about as much as a fish needs a bicycle.

But there’s something in this Crowley’s eyes…Jungkook’s magick reacts without his conscious decision, the bubble envelops part of Jimin’s arm. The demon looks down at it in surprise for a moment before shaking it off and clearly shooting Jungkook a look that says “Worry about yourself, dummy.” Jimin steps slightly forward to be between Crowley and Jungkook.

“I was wondering who could have broken the seal and lo and behold here I find you. I should have known.” Crowley stands just a little too close to Jimin, looming over him, “It’s been a while, huh Minnie. You haven’t been home. Daddy told us to keep an eye out for you.”

“You know how it is.” Jimin says breezily, “Just needed a break. Out making deals, seeing the world, I’ve been busy.”

Crowley snorts, “It’s been 600 years; how long is this break going to take? Daddy misses you.” He suddenly reaches forward and grabs Jimin’s wrist, “I missed you too.” His voice has pitched down, almost oily as he steps into Jimin’s space. “We used to have so much fun together.”

“I remember,” Jimin says quietly. He leans back ever so slightly but doesn’t make any effort to pull away from the other demon. Jungkook feels revulsion bubbling up in his gut at the insinuation behind Crowley’s words.

“Still as gorgeous as ever. I like the blonde.” Crowley reaches up and flicks Jimin’s bangs. Jungkook feels a wave of anger so strong the bubble ripples. Jimin can probably feel it too—he inclines his head towards Jungkook ever so slightly. Crowley’s eyes follow the motion, eyes narrowing and grip tightening on Jimin’s wrist.

“What are you doing here, Crowley?” Jimin pulls his focus back by leaning closer to the other demon, very gently brushing his hip against Crowley’s. It works, Crowley looks enthralled to have Jimin reacting even this little bit to him. .

“I could ask you the same thing. I’m here for the kid but it looks like you got to him before me.” Crowley pouts theatrically, “How did you find him?” The question is loaded.

Jimin hesitates for a brief moment, “It’s…a long story.”

With a sudden pang, Jungkook realizes Jimin doesn’t want Crowley to know about the deal. It’s clear in his hesitance in picking words that aren’t a lie, but don’t give away the truth. The whole lawn seems to have narrowed down to just these two carefully dancing around each other in conversation. Jungkook doesn’t even spare a glance for the arrival of his coven members, relegating that information to his subconscious as his heart thuds while Jimin attempts to deceive without lying. Crowley seems to have not noticed anything amiss in his answer, luckily, ,

“That’s a lot of magick, baby. What do you need all of that for?”

Jimin chuckles dryly, “Thought you of all people would understand—just want something that’s mine.”

“Why bother? You know Daddy would give you the whole world if you asked for it.” Crowley has started to follow Jimin when he moves away from him. His grip on Jimin’s wrist never lessens.

Jimin shakes his head, face carefully blank, “Don’t want the world, I’m afraid. Lucifer will have to give it to someone else.”

“Only you could be tired of being Daddy’s favorite.” Crowley shakes his head.

“It’s not nearly as much fun as you’re thinking. You’re welcome to take my place at any time.” Jimin’s voice has a trace of bitterness that Jungkook knows he wouldn’t have noticed if it weren’t for the emotions slipping out from behind Jimin’s wall.

Crowley smirks, “Oh, I already have. With you gone I’m getting entrusted will all kinds of tasks.”

“I’m sure you’re loving that.” Jimin is leaning away from the other demon again.

“It has its perks. But you know he won’t be happy until you’re back where you belong.” Jimin looks like he’s about to respond but Crowley talks over him,

“Are you willing to share your pet?” Crowley’s tone is airy but Jungkook can tell his intention is anything but.

Jimin’s mouth twists wryly and he tugs his wrist back a little, “Not exactly, Crowley.”

The tension ratchets up another notch between the two demons.

“Well then how about you? Can I steal you away from getting fucked by your pet sourcerer? My magick is always stronger after a night or two with you.” Jungkook knows he must be glaring at Crowley but his fear is getting pushed to the side by disgust at the idea of these two together. At least he assumes they’re just lovers. Jimin must be worried about what Crowley will do if he learns they’re bound to each other because he doesn’t correct the assumption that they’re sleeping together.

“There’s nothing in that arrangement for me.” Jimin points out to Crowley’s proposition, taking a half step back.

Crowley moves with him, “I wasn’t proposing a deal. Maybe if I drag you back home Daddy will reward me with your body again. You know how much I hate it when you say no.” His voice has lost all trace of civility, dropping into a growl by the end of the sentence. Jungkook wants to throttle the other demon, but Jimin beats him to it.

Jimin does something to Crowley’s arm that makes him scream, his hand and arm start blackening and blistering where he still holds onto Jimin’s wrist.

“That’s not very nice.” Crowley grits out. The burned flesh keeps creeping and consuming his arm up to his shoulder.

“I don’t have to be nice to you anymore.” Jimin says coldly. Jungkook feels a momentary thrill at Jimin’s strength. And then it all goes wrong.

Crowley’s face twists in a mocking smile, “Aw, not even if I give you a present?” His other hand moves quickly and pulls something out of his pocket. Jungkook vaguely registers the flash of a golden chain and Jimin’s eyes widening in panic, “No he didn’t—he wouldn’t give YOU that—“

Crowley loops the chain over Jimin’s head. Jimin’s hands fly up to claw at it but his fingers just pass through the golden chain. It starts tightening and shrinking. Crowley backs off and clutches his burned arm with an ugly smirk, “Lucifer says hello, baby.”

A red pendent dangles from the chain and as it tightens the red stone presses to Jimin’s throat. When it touches his skin it glows bright red and Jimin is yanked to his knees, and then face down in the grass. He writhes and twists, but doesn’t seem to be able to move. Jungkook looks down at Jimin’s inert form in horror—he thought Jimin was the scariest thing in the universe. “Jimin!!!” He lunges towards Jimin but a wave of Fingers closes in on his bubble, pressing on every side and holding him in place. He’s safe from them—they can’t touch him. But he can’t move, can’t get to Jimin.

Through gaps in the Finger’s spidery limbs he can see the rest of his coven fighting desperately. They’re losing. Their spells seem weak, ineffective. Namjoon sends four of five spells at a group of Fingers that just seem to sink into them and disappear. Seokjin and Yoongi are back to back, keeping Fingers at bay with big swathes of fire and water. Taehyung and Hoseok are blasting Fingers apart but for every one they destroy five more take their place. Jungkook looks on, pulse racing. Are they all about to die on Taehyung’s front lawn? Jimin…Jimin was supposed to protect them…

Crowley pops up in one of the gaps and Jungkook flinches back, bubble rippling. “Hello little sourcerer.” He grins at Jungkook, “What do you say we go on a trip together? I need to take Jimin on a little side adventure, but I’m sure you’ll miss him. Why don’t you come with? You and I can…talk.”

Jungkook looks over at Jimin sprawled on the ground, “What did you do to him?” His voice is hoarse.

Crowley shrugs, “He’s okay, I just thought it was kind of rude that he would be so mean to me after all these years.” He gestures to his slow-healing arm, “We have a bit of history, so Lucifer thought maybe I’d be able to find him and convince him to come home…but he’s an unpredictable little bitch—and so touchy these days. I brought some insurance.” He smirks a little at Jimin before poking at Jungkook’s bubble, “Actually, he’s just a pleasant surprise. I’ve been watching you for a while now, Jeon Jungkook. Figures sexy little Minnie would come along and sneak you right out from under my nose.”

Jungkook’s neck prickles when Crowley says his full name. Reflexively, he pushes he bubble further away, creating another step or two of distance between him and Crowley, “Yeah, I’m not going anywhere with you.” He takes a deep breath and flicks the bubble, sending a wave across the outside and dislodging all the Fingers clinging to the surface.

Crowley’s face darkens, “Why is everyone being so unreasonable today?” He complains. His magick starts prodding and pushing at Jungkook’s bubble. He focuses hard on keeping it intact and looks over to Jimin. They need Jimin’s power to get rid of Crowley. They need him to destroy the Fingers. Jungkook tells himself firmly that’s the reason he’s running over to the demon, and not that he just hates seeing Jimin clearly in pain, prostrate on the ground. He envelops Jimin’s legs and torso with his bubble and Crowley starts actively yelling and sending spells ricocheting off of the bubble. Jungkook can feel them impact the surface before being deflected into the scores of Fingers attempting to close in on them. He closes Jimin inside the bubble completely and kneels down next to him, “Jimin! Jimin how do I help? What do I do?”

Jimin twists towards him with what looks like a huge amount of effort. “Chain…off…”

Jungkook reaches for the delicate-looking gold chain immediately. As soon as his fingers come into contact with it, his hands start burning. He yelps but tugs at the links, trying to get it to loosen up. It does, but slowly, so slowly and his hands just keep burning. It’s making him lose his focus on the shield. And Crowley never lets up, sending wave after wave of powerful dark magick careening into the bubble until…

A small crack appears in the bubble’s surface. Jungkook looks down at Jimin desperately. The chain is loose enough to start moving up Jimin’s neck—the demon looks like he can breathe a little easier. But it’s all too slow, taking too long. At seeing the crack in Jungkook’s shield Crowley gives a little whoop and starts concentrating his fire on that same place.

“J-jimin—fuck. He’s breaking the shield, I can’t—“ Jungkook shudders at the pain in his hands and the relentless pressure of Crowley’s magick, “—I don’t know how much longer I can hold it.”

Jimin takes a huge, shuddering breath as the chain slips over his ear, “Wrap…shield…around—“ he jerks his chin weakly in Crowley’s direction.

It’s not really a direction but Jungkook understands all the same. He closes his eyes and with a little huff of effort he flips the shield inside-out to surround Crowley. The other demon looks like he’s caught in an electrical storm as his magick ricochets around the inside of the bubble. Jungkook gives one last heave and the chain slips over Jimin’s head, making the demon gasp like he’s emerging from underwater. Jungkook reflexively flings the metal away from him and the pendant goes thudding into the grass. His hands are branded with the metal links, skin blistering and scorched from the contact—the pain is so great he can barely focus. Sparks travel lazily along his palms, trying to heal the burns but the amount of effort it’s taking to contain Crowley in the bubble is making it a slow process. Even still, Jungkook feels a wave of relief. Jimin is free. Jimin will fix it. He has to protect Jungkook and the coven, after all.

Jimin is struggling to his knees, still looking alarmingly weak and out of it. Jungkook scoots over to him and offers his shoulder for the demon to plant a hand on and lurch to his feet. He’s up, but swaying and Jungkook starts to feel the relief at Jimin being free ebbing away. The bubble now has a spiderweb network of cracks fanning along its surface. When Crowley inevitably breaks through they’ll be left defenseless unless Jimin has a plan. Evidently the demon does, as he taps Jungkook’s shoulder to make him listen.

“When I tell you to, Jungkook, let go of the bubble.”

“Can you…handle him?” Jungkook asks nervously, eyes darting between Crowley’s murderous expression and Jimin’s fatigued, almost nauseous face.

Jimin smiles wryly, “I’ve got a few tricks of my own.” He starts drawing complicated patterns and shapes on his own chest, magick leaving a white-hot residue as the patterns remain in the air. Evidently, Crowley recognizes them because his desperation to escape notches up and he screams,

“Fuck no—Jimin don’t you fucking—“ Crowley roars and the bubble fills up with fire. Jungkook has to double over and press his forehead hard into the grass in order to not lose control. Pain and relentless effort start to overwhelm him…

“Now, Jungkook!”

Dimly, Jungkook hears Jimin’s voice and relinquishes control of his shield. The bubble pops and Jungkook collapses on the ground—energy so depleted at first he thinks what he’s seeing is the result of losing consciousness. He twists his head to look at Crowley, not sure what, if anything, he can do to help but unwilling to just let him attack Jimin. It’s turns out he doesn’t need to worry. Bright white light is emanating from Jimin’s sigils. It pours across the lawn, swallowing up Fingers and clearing the dark energy wherever it touches. It flows towards Crowley and he recoils from it. His eye dart back and forth desperately and he focuses on the discarded chain where Jungkoon threw it after getting it off of Jimin. While Jungkook watches, the demon dives forward to scoop up the chain and pendant. He thinks maybe he should stop the demon, but his arms and legs won’t obey him. The time it took Crowley to grab the innocuous-looking jewelry costs him dearly. He’s hit with a wave of white light on his left side and immediately screams. Jungkook can see the demon blistering, deforming…and then Crowley disappears. His magick ebbs away as Jimin’s light spreads across the whole lawn, blotting everything else out.

When it reaches him Jungkook braces for pain, but there is none. Just a gentle tickling sensation, like jacuzzi jets hitting his skin. He looks up at Jimin, and is sure he must be hallucinating. Jimin is glowing, radiant. This light is leeching from his pores, and for the first time Jungkook really believes that Jimin was once an angel—this scene fits him so perfectly. The light becomes too bright, too all over the place and Jungkook shuts his eyes. His consciousness leaves him slowly as his brain registers that the danger is over, as the adrenaline flushes out of his system. The last thing he hears before he passes out is Jimin. The demon groans,

“Oh fuck…” and retches violently onto the ground.

“Gross…” Jungkook murmurs and swears he hears Jimin chuckle as he slips into unconsciousness.

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