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It’s no secret among them that Baby has a penchant for nicknames.
Some days, Jinu thinks he hears Baby call him ‘Songbird’ more than his actual name. He’s been doing that for about as long as he’s known him though so Jinu has long since grown fond of it. It makes him feel warm inside, to the point of being slightly embarrassing, but the others can’t call him out on it because they’re the same way.
Abby has been designated ‘Big guy’ and ‘Muscles’ by Baby, two nicknames he wears as a badge of pride.
Mystery occasionally gets shortened to ‘Myst’ but sometimes Baby refers to him as ‘His favorite shadow’ due to his habit of silently trailing after him like a loyal dog.
And Romance typically gets called ‘Lover boy’ with a couple of ‘Hearts’ thrown in here and there.
As it stands, Jinu remains the only outlier, with Baby only ever referring to him as ‘Songbird’, but Jinu likes to think that makes him special. He doesn’t want to be so bold as to say he’s Baby’s favorite but at the same time… They have known each other the longest. On rare occasions, when Baby is feeling just sappy enough to be fully honest about how he feels about all of them, he’ll tell Jinu he was the first person he fully trusted, even after a century spent in the demon realm before he met him.
Not favoritism, just facts. It was just the two of them for around seventy years before Romance showed up. And Jinu is forever glad that they all found each other, even if it was in literal hell, but even so, Jinu likes to think if anyone had Baby’s heart first, it was him.
Baby frequently uses nicknames, so no one really blinks twice if he suddenly takes up a new one.
Him using a new nickname has never quite caused an incident like this, however.
It goes like this: the five of them have recently implemented a new buddy system rule for when they go out. Between all the various incidents over the past few centuries only increasing in recent years— kidnappings, random attacks from Gwi-Ma loyalists, Mystery occasionally wandering out too far in the far lands and getting lost, and all the general dangers of living in the demon realm— it just makes sense. Derpy and Sussie can’t be everywhere at once and having backup significantly improves any bad situation you find yourself in.
So far, the rule has gone pretty well. Abby likes going out with at least one other person in tow anyways; Romance certainly doesn’t mind the extra company and likes having backup given he’s the weakest fighter among them, though still plenty capable; Mystery, while liking his alone time, hates being lost even more and quickly takes to the rule; and Jinu knows to lead by example, especially since the rule was his idea, so ensuring he always has someone with him is no big deal.
The one exception is Baby. He was fine agreeing to the rule initially, joining the others in going out when they asked him, but seemed to think it didn’t actually apply to him too. So, the few times Jinu had to remind him to grab a buddy when going out, he’s had a little pushback.
Begrudgingly, Jinu understands why. Of the five of them, the rule wasn’t really made because of Baby, nor himself really. They’ve been in the demon realm the longest and have long since gotten used to the way it works. Their respective reputations make it so most demons know not to mess with them unless they want a fight they might not win on their hands. Ninety-eight times out of a hundred, Baby is fine venturing out into the demon realm on his own and coming back safely.
But rules are rules, and it’s safer in case Baby does find trouble he can’t get out of so easily. Jinu knows he can handle himself but for his own peace of mind, insists that he adheres to the rule.
As much as Gwi-Ma has made him hate to plead, Jinu does, softly and earnestly. And for all his stubborn attitude, Baby crumbles at the sight and finally gives in, taking Mystery with him.
There’s a lot of things Jinu can make Baby do if he pleads just right, he’s noticed. He tries not to abuse it— if Baby really doesn’t want to do something, Jinu will drop it— but it’s nice to know Baby cares about him enough to do the things he doesn’t want to do if Jinu earnestly asks it of him.
He’s not the only one— Baby is stubborn about a lot of things but he bends for all of them when it matters. He’ll begrudgingly sit and let Romance fuss over his hair and general appearance, or let Mystery bite his shoulders and arms when he’s suddenly hit with that mood, or let Abby drag him around and talk his ear off the whole time, and Jinu knows it’s because he loves them. Baby struggles to be outright in saying it sometimes but his actions speak for themselves.
So, little by little, Jinu reminding him to take a buddy when he’s going out becomes less of a mini argument and more of a friendly reminder. And today, it’s not an argument at all.
Baby is putting his gat on and adjusting his durumagi with the clear intent of going out. Jinu thinks he overheard Abby complaining earlier about their dwindling snack stache and Baby saying he’d go check the market for anything good, so it’s likely for that. And seeing as how nobody else is putting on their usual outfits, Jinu speaks up.
“Baby, you going out?” He gets a ‘Mmmhmm’ in response, as expected. “Take someone with you, you know the rules.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Baby sighs, only a little annoyed, “I got it.” He stops at the entrance tunnel leading out of their little cavern in the ground, pausing for an uncharacteristic amount of time as he runs his hands through his hair. It surprises Jinu, and seemingly surprises everyone else too, who are gathered around the coffee table, playing with the new deck of cards they got last month. They all look up, Abby glancing at him as if to ask a silent question, but before Jinu can process what that is, Baby speaks up again, not turning around.
“Pretty boy, get your durumagi and gat on and meet me outside; we’re going shopping.” Baby announces. Then, without any further explanation, walks out and leaves them all with nothing but his words.
Jinu’s mind goes totally blank for a moment. When his thoughts catch up to him, his first real thought is, ‘Pretty boy’? That’s a new one.
His second thought is one he voices out loud, “Does anyone know which one of us he was talking about?”
Nothing but silence greets him, which is an answer in it of itself.
It would be easier to figure out if they currently weren’t all dating for the past six months. Baby’s teasingly flirted with all of them plenty, often taking delight in flustering them and finding out what causes them to blush the most. ‘Pretty boy’ fits the bill for that, but the problem is that it could really apply to any of them here.
They all sit in silence, waiting for some kind of follow up, but Baby is already outside and giving no clarification. They could ask, Jinu supposes? But is it meant to be obvious? Is it embarrassing if they need clarification?
Romance stands suddenly, putting his cards on the rickety coffee table and heading over to where they keep their gats and durumagis by the entrance. “I’ll go with him.” He says, reaching for his durumagi. For a moment, nobody does anything to stop him. It doesn’t matter who accompanies Baby out as long as someone does, and among them, Romance is the best at haggling at the market. It just makes sense.
But then, as he’s pulling his arms through the sleeves, Romance can’t seem to help but add, “He was probably talking about me anyways.”
Something sparks in Jinu’s chest, the first embers of a wildfire. “What?” He says, too loudly and too sharply for him to backtrack and pretend he’s being casual.
Romance gives him a flat look, unimpressed and unflinching. “What? He said ‘Pretty boy’. It fits me the most.”
Jinu wouldn’t say he’s a jealous person, exactly. He can’t deny that he’s competitive though. And Romance’s words, mixed with his whole attitude, acting like he’s the only one who could possibly be this ‘Pretty boy’, brings that competitive nature out of him.
“I was the last person he was talking to.” Jinu crosses his arms, eyes narrowed. “If anything, he was probably talking to me.”
“Well he said ‘Pretty boy’,” Abby pipes up. Both him and Mystery have abandoned their cards, both bringing their full attention to the conversation. “And not to pull this card, but I kinda sold my soul for the perfect body, so if anyone is the ‘Pretty boy’ here…”
“You’re handsome,” Romance insists, “I’m pretty. There’s a difference.”
Abby rolls his eyes exaggeratedly. “Just because you draw a line between the two doesn’t mean Baby does. He doesn’t waste his time on specifics like that, but I guess you didn’t think about that…” He trails off, clearly angling for a reaction out of Romance. Despite probably knowing this, Romance huffs, vexed.
“He already calls me ‘Lover boy’ so ‘Pretty boy’ fits the same pattern.” Romance fixes his durumagi and reaches for the hooks where the gats are resting. “Ergo, he means me.”
“Maybe he’s trying out a new nickname for me.” Jinu argues back. Watching Romance getting ready to go out makes him snag his own durumagi from the rack, checking to make sure he’s got the right one before slipping into it. Romance watches him through slitted pupils. “Baby has called me pretty plenty of times in the past.”
“He’s called me pretty too, you’re not special!” Abby, seeing both him and Romance getting ready to go out, grabs his own and furiously pulls it over his arms.
“He calls me pretty too…” Mystery mumbles just loudly enough for all of them to hear, now sulking behind Abby. He takes his lonely durumagi off the rack. “I accompany him the most whenever he goes out. He was probably talking to me.”
“Well I,” Jinu takes his gat as he hesitates, trying to think of a new angle. It comes to him and, smugly, he informs them, “I have seniority.”
“Boooooooo!” Abby gives him a firm thumbs down. “That means nothing!”
“It means everything.” Jinu ties his gat on.
“You can’t keep pulling that card anytime you want to win an argument you’re losing.” Romance rolls his eyes at him this time. Jinu scoffs in response.
“I wasn’t losing. Baby was clearly talking about me, you’re all just too stubborn to admit it. I’ve known him the longest—!”
“We get it,” Romance cuts him off, exasperated, “You and him spent centuries pining after each other without realizing it was mutual until almost a year ago—”
Jinu flounders. “I wouldn’t say— we were just—!”
“—and even then, it took you months to do anything about it—”
“We were feeling it out!” He protests.
“But we’re all dating him now, and each other, for the exact amount of time that you have.” Romance gives him a look. “So don’t act all high and mighty with us now, Jinu.”
“I’m not!” Jinu is quick to correct, abruptly feeling bad. “I don’t think any of you matter any less to him than I do! I just think he was talking to me!”
“Yeah?” Abby glares but his frustration is making him fumble a bit with getting the strings of his gat tied while doing it, undermining its effectiveness. Romance finally reaches over to help, tying a neat bow. “Well, you could stand to be less of a jerk about it.”
“I’m not—!” Jinu starts, then deflates. In hindsight, maybe his competitive nature got the best of him. He rubs the back of his neck, taking a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insult any of your relationships with him; you’re my partners too. My… Hubris got the best of me.”
Abby nods shortly, satisfied. His eyes lock onto Romance this time, expectant. Once he sees them, Romance groans but complies. “You’re all very pretty, he could mean any of us. I just wanted it to be me.”
“Thank you.” Abby says pointedly, then after a beat, coughs. “And uh, sorry about pulling the ‘Sold my soul for my body’ card again. I know I gotta stop doing that.”
“Well, to your credit,” Romance makes a show of giving a slow once over before smirking at him. “You are quite pretty.”
A blush blooms across Abby’s face. He hastily waves him off, averting his eyes. “Shut up, dude! You gotta stop doing that to me! You know I’m not used to it!”
“That’s exactly why I do it.” Romance purrs.
As much as Jinu could watch Abby get flustered all day, he takes notice of the sudden lack of one particular presence. “Hold on, where did Mystery go?”
Both of them stop in their tracks, having the exact same realization.
All three of them make a mad scramble out the entrance and pop up just outside their cavern. There, Baby is waiting, with Mystery having joined his side.
All three of them stare, holding their breath. Mystery seems to be buzzing with anticipation, watching Baby for a response.
Baby looks at Mystery, then all three of them, then back again. After a beat, he smirks, reaching up to caress Mystery’s cheek, earning a happy rumble out of him.
“Took you long enough, pretty boy.” Baby’s voice drips with that flirting-teasing tone that makes Jinu’s heart stutter, even when not directed at him. “Ready to go?”
Mystery nods enthusiastically, making an eager grab for Baby’s free hand to hold. He looks back at them with a smile that is both overjoyed and smug, having come out on top.
Had that been it, Jinu might’ve admitted defeat. But Baby takes one last look at them all and Jinu sees it. The twitch in his smile, the one thing that betrays his underlying amusement.
All at once, it clicks. “You motherfucker.” Jinu’s eyes narrow on him immediately.
Baby’s eyes light up with even more amusement at having been caught, even if his smile is perfectly innocent looking. “Hm? Something wrong, songbird?”
“You weren’t talking to any one of us.” He accuses, embarrassment at having fallen for it so easily now filling his chest. “You just wanted to see who would respond to it!”
Baby’s smile stretches into a grin as the same realization dawns on the rest of them. “Maybe.” He admits. “Can’t say I expected a full blown argument but I guess I should be flattered. And looks like I got my answer in the end.”
Jinu huffs and crosses his arms. He should’ve realized it sooner— no wonder he was so vague. Jinu should know him better than that.
Baby raises an eyebrow at him. “Are you sulking?”
“No.” Jinu says, in a totally mature and non-sulking tone. “It’s fine. I don’t care. Go have fun with your pretty boy.”
Baby glances at Mystery, who is now frowning slightly, before he extends a hand out to Jinu. “I might as well bring all my pretty boys with me.” Baby tells him, making ‘Come here’ motions with his open hand. When Jinu doesn’t immediately take it, Baby gives him a softer look and says, “I think you’re pretty too, songbird. Let me make it up to you.”
Jinu hates how easily he’s swayed. But maybe, just as Baby bends easily enough for him, Jinu is the exact same way. He takes Baby’s hand, the comforting roughness of his palms matching Jinu’s— the hands of workers. They slot together easily, like puzzle pieces, or simply because it's a practiced motion. Jinu feels that wildfire inside him get washed over with a soothing, cooling rain, and joins his side.
Baby’s eyes look over to Romance and Abby next, neither of which have moved a muscle. He cocks an eyebrow. “I did say I needed all my pretty boys with me on this trip, didn’t I? I seem to be missing two.”
Neither waste any more time dashing over, both grabbing onto one of Baby’s shoulders, then each leaning down to press a coordinated kiss to one of his cheeks. Baby stifles a laugh when they do before glancing over their current arrangement, everyone having latched onto one part of his upper body. Jinu can see the gears turn in his head before his eyes furrow.
“…How are we supposed to walk like this?”
“Dunno. Figure it out.” Abby squeezes his shoulder with a grin. “Because I’m not letting go.”
“You said you wanted all your pretty boys with you.” Jinu adds cheekily.
“You wouldn’t leave one of us behind, would you?” Mystery smirks at him
It seems to dawn on Baby then. “Are we… Walking into public like this?”
“You made this bed,” Romance tells him, with an unsympathetic smile, “Now lie in it.”
Baby groans to himself but, as stubborn as ever, starts leading the way. He moves carefully with four people all hanging onto him, not wanting to stop suddenly in case that causes Romance and Abby ram into him, but they get into a rhythm and soon enough, it’s as if nothing is strange about their current formation at all.
If anything, Baby looks more relaxed than ever once he gets the hang of it. Jinu gets caught gazing at him fondly but Baby just smirks and pulls Jinu’s hand up to his mouth to give it a little kiss. Then, the others all demand hand kisses of their own, and Baby obliges all of them.
Jinu isn’t sure who has who wrapped around whose finger here, but he thinks it’s entirely possible that they’re all just too tangled up in one another for it to really matter.
—
They get a lot of weird looks at the market. Baby glares at anyone who stares for too long, and with his reputation, they all quickly look away and leave them alone. The vendors are all noticeably distracted by the fact that Abby and Mystery keep whispering what they want in Baby’s ear instead of telling the vendor directly, and how Romance and Jinu are quick to jump in and haggle while Baby is negotiating prices, gesturing with one hand and never once letting go of him.
Other than that, it’s a pretty average trip. Fun, even. And after that day, the nickname ‘Pretty boy’ gets used more often.
Unlike the rest, it becomes more of a collective nickname. One Baby uses for all of them, whether he’s talking to just one of them, or as a group. And while Jinu can’t deny that ‘Songbird’ will always be his favorite, he likes this one too.
It takes him almost two weeks for the idea to pop into his head. Once it does, however, Jinu can’t stop thinking about how Baby might react.
“I’m headed out.” Baby’s voice brings him back to the present, making him look up. He’s adjusting his gat, tying the strings without breaking eye contact with him. “And before you ask, yes, I’m bringing Abby with me. He’s already outside waiting.”
“Alright.” Jinu says slowly, figuring now is as good of a time as ever to test it. He brings the mug of cooling tea to his lips and murmurs just loud enough for him to hear, “Stay safe, pretty boy.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll—” Baby starts to turn but stops dead in his tracks once he actually seems to process what Jinu said. He spins around, looking Jinu dead in the eye. Jinu sips his tea innocently.
“Hmmmmm?” He hides his smile in his cup, though has no doubt Baby knows it’s there anyways. “Need something?”
Baby says nothing for a long pause. Then, “Did you say what I think you said?”
“What? ‘Pretty boy’?” Jinu repeats, bringing his chipped mug down. “What’s wrong? Don’t you know you’re pretty too?”
Baby takes even longer to process that, but Jinu waits patiently, taking another sip, never breaking eye contact. At last, Baby’s face flushes so deeply that he scowls and marches out of the cavern.
The grin on Jinu’s face grows even bigger. “So you can dish it but you can’t take it, huh?” He shouts after him.
“Shut it!” Baby shouts back, making Jinu laugh so hard he nearly spills his drink.
Sadly, the next time he uses it, Baby is prepared for it and reacts smoothly, unbothered, but now Jinu knows his weakness. Surprise compliments. Genuine, but unexpected.
He won’t abuse it, of course, but Jinu likes having that in his back pocket now. A little payback for all the times he’s flustered him. It’s only fair he tries to return the favor from time to time, after all.