Chapter Text
Time moved slower in the Demon Realm. Not much that there was a significant time difference, but just enough that the amount of time the Saja Boys spent awaiting punishment was almost unbearable.
They huddled together in a corner, surrounded by other demons. It felt more humiliating than usual. Usual failures were far from pleasant, but at least they were common, expected. No one stood out. But this… Everyone really believed they had a chance. Even Gwi-ma had faith in them. Making the fall back to really all the worse.
“We were so close…” Romance mumbled. He curled his hands close to his chest, emulating the stance of a rat. He found it funny how polarizing they all were to their Saja-sonas. All but Jinu, though, Jinu wasn’t one to open up about himself.
He knew it was a bad idea from the start. The stage was powerful, addictive. It could change someone's very soul. He knew deep down that it was only a matter of time before the stage lights dim and the next act would be ready. But he wanted nothing more than to try again, to soak up the attention that his actually deserved this time. This time, he actually put in the work for what he got, he was actually helping someone other than himself.
“Close is putting it lightly. For a moment there, we actually won .” Baby huffed. His baby blue hair was dimmed to a bluish-grey in the Demon Realm. Everything about him felt dimmed and it showed. He felt his age, which was surprisingly old, considering his whole shtick was being the youngest. Though, that was far from it. He was actually older than Jinu, making him the oldest and most experienced of the 5 boys.
Abby curled in on himself, clutching his very empty stomach, “So many souls… They were all in our reach just minutes ago…” This was always his least favorite part of the punishment process (not that there was exactly a favorite he could think of). The hunger was so much more noticeable, harder to ignore. That combined with the inevitable torture, the inescapable guilt- He was powerless to the guilt-driven torture. He could only imagine how pathetic it looked from the outside. Those were the two things he couldn’t stand, being weak and hideous.
“I know we’re in more trouble than ever before but…” Mystery clutched his heart, his love-struck eye gazing at nothing in particular, “I feel like I’ve won something I can’t quite describe…” The others eyed him, confused and judgmental.
“Zoey. She punched me and told me I was just her type!” Tusks and all. He can’t get her expression out of his mind. Her eyes lit up when she saw him. She saw his unnatural and animalistic features, even saw his shamefully feral behavior. And yet, she still found a reason to smile at him.
Their sulking (and Mystery’s reminiscing) was interrupted. “E-excuse me…?” The four boys looked up at a demon decked out in their merch. “Could you… sign my poster? I’m assuming the band is breaking up, and I just want some special memorabilia before, Gwi-ma… y’know… burns it all up.”
Romance was the first to respond, which wasn’t surprising. He was arguably the best with the fans, other than Jinu.
“Of course!” Romance grabbed the poster and a sharpie startlingly similar to his hair color. This guy really must have been a huge fan if he was going out of his way to get sharpies corresponding to all of them for one signing. He hoped he didn’t see the shaking in his hands from fear, “Who should we make this out to?”
“Jelly!” The demon must have been too excited to see Romance kicking Abby’s abs to get him to sit up. So far, he was the only one to acknowledge their fan, and that just wasn’t the “Saja Way” as Jinu would call it.
“It’s a real shame,” Jelly said as they were still his merch. It started with the poster, and somehow snowballed into lightsticks, a CD, soda cans, a shirt, a hat, fanart, and even DIY dolls of the Saja Boys. “Everyone was so excited.”
‘Way to keep the vibe light.’ Baby thought, rolling his eyes internally.
“Not just because of the souls, or because of how happy Gwi-ma’s been!” The demon continued, “This has been the most fun any of us have had in centuries! We had something other than guilt and misery and hunger to bring us all together! Before you guys… I couldn’t remember the last time I smiled.”
The Saja Boys stared at him. They had millions of fans crying and screaming over them, but they never interacted with a fan so sincere.
Was this how Huntr/x felt with their fans?
Jelly sighed, “What I’m trying to say is… everyone is still proud of you, even if you failed.”
Before any of them could respond, the ground beneath them began to shake, the voices in their heads began grow louder. Jelly scampered off with his newly signed merch before he got caught in the crossfire of Gwi-ma’s wrath.
“Come to me.” Gwi-ma whispered into their minds, though far from gentle.
The walk of shame to Gwi-ma was like no other. Each step up felt heavier the closer they got. They cowered on their knees before their lord. None had the courage to look up at him.
“I had a whole speech prepared for you boys. But it feels pointless without your little ringleader…” Gwi-ma smiled angrily at them, “Do you know where he is now?”
“No.” The four demons mumbled, shaking their heads.
“He abandoned you.” Gwi-ma said to them. His words felt like red hot iron on their skin.
“He abandoned all you!” Gwi-ma roared. “And now, you don’t have anyone to hide behind. His plan failed because you weren’t good enough.”
They were all clutching their hair and clawing at their skin. The pain was near indescribable.
Gwi-ma laughed sinisterly, “The Honmoon is stronger than it’s been in centuries. We can no longer cross realms as we please, only I can send demons across the barrier now, and very few at that. I don’t want any of you in my presence, so I am sending you back to the human realm. Now, you all get to live knowing that not even your own kind wants you.”
The floor beneath them began to glow, the world around them becoming blurred. “You’ve been abandoned by everyone.”