Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

There’s a fire growing in Suguru’s stomach.

It had all started that evening as their train pulled into Kyoto Station. Suguru already wasn’t looking forward to this. Having not seen Satoru for more than five minute conversations in maybe months, he’s not particularly keen on his new scars potentially being discovered, or being asked if he’s lost weight again because of his now visible ribcage. The other boy is a little bit too concerned with Suguru’s business as well as his health and safety.

The hotel they’re staying in really isn’t much to write home about. It can’t even be called a hotel, really. Suguru hasn’t stayed in a ryokan in months but he’s definitely used to better ones. The inn is quite dingy, a little beat up, and the staff’s service is downright lousy. The front clerk actually rolls her eyes when she sees Suguru and Satoru stride in together. With the Kyoto branch of Jujutsu Tech’s proximity, you’d think she’d be more accustomed to seeing unique looking sorcerers out on missions. Hell, the Gojo clan compound is not too far from here, so she might’ve even seen a Gojo with stark white hair before. They check into their room and briefly unpack before they’re off once again to examine the reason they’d been summoned out here in the first place. The only upside of this ryokan is the fact that it’s relatively close to the cursed site, but then again, it’s relatively close to the cursed site.

The case file mentions an abandoned hospital, sat unused since the 60s, built way before that. Fear of the crumbling building possibly collapsing augmented the strength of the curse, and it certainly didn’t help that the villagers had been spreading rumors of some vengeful yokai prowling around the area. Satoru doubts it’s any danger to the villagers, saying he can only see the curse’s residuals concentrated in the hospital. Businesses and homes nearby had been affected too, according to the case file, where it had noted that people would specifically avoid that part of town.

Next to the hospital is a quaint little shrine. It’s littered with stone fox statues, which Satoru points out.

“They look like you, Suguru, look!”

“I guess.”

Satoru exhales shakily. “Look, Suguru, you’ve been acting off the whole trip here. If you’re mad at me, I’m sorry. I really did try to get your birthday off but the mission ran long and I couldn’t get back to Tokyo in time. I have a gift for you in my suitcase, remind me when we get back. I promise I wouldn’t miss your birthday for the world, Suguru.”

Suguru stops in his tracks. He’d totally forgotten about that. His 17th birthday came and went without any fanfare, just a quick ‘happy birthday’ from Yaga and Shoko. Satoru and both first years were out on missions.

“It’s no big deal,” Suguru murmurs. “I don’t mind.”

Satoru turns back to look at Suguru in the eye. “If I did something wrong, you’d tell me, right?” Satoru pleads. “I didn’t do something wrong, did I? Please don’t be mad. I hate it when you get like this, Suguru, it hurts. If you tell me what I did, I’ll fix it, Suguru.”

Suguru bites his cheek. “It’s not you, I’m just feeling under the weather.”

It’s not a complete lie. Suguru does feel weak and tired, but that’s probably because he hasn’t been sleeping or eating properly for the past few months.

Satoru hesitates for a second before continuing past the shrine and on to the hospital.

“Well, it’s a hospital, alright,” jokes Satoru, to nearly no response from Suguru.

“Yeah.”

Suguru is rapidly pulled to Satoru’s side via Blue. The other boy wraps an arm around him.

Satoru looks down at Suguru, who’s hunched over and leaning away from Satoru’s body. His eyes soften and his eyebrows are pulled into a concerned expression.

“Are… are you sure I didn’t do something wrong? Are we on bad terms now? Suguru, I’m really really sorry for whatever I did but if you’d just explain—“

“—You didn’t do anything.” Suguru snaps, batting away Satoru’s arm. “I’m fine. Perfectly peachy. Let’s just check it out so we can go back to the inn.”

Satoru shrinks just a bit, but he complies. They carefully check every room in the first three floors, but the debilitatingly powerful Cursed Energy hits them both upon entering the fourth floor. It downright sets Suguru off kilter, and he can barely stand up straight.

It doesn’t seem like anything is severely out of place. Aside from litter and sparse graffiti, the place is clean. Maybe a few knocked over chairs and such, but clean. Suguru glares at the signs in the darkness of the lobby, trying to make out words. He can vaguely see a few characters.

“Maternity ward,” he vocalizes.

“Huh, do you think this is where the spirit is?”

Suguru shrugs. “Probably.”

This is when things start to go sour.

The lobby is stuffy despite the cold that bites at Suguru’s fingers, and Suguru rapidly starts to feel the telltale signs of nausea. His head begins to swim. The spit in his mouth feels hot and uncomfortable. It becomes harder to breathe with each passing second. He hasn’t even swallowed a curse yet, he thinks to himself. He shoots a disgruntled look at Satoru.

“Satoru,” he croaks out. “Can we leave? I feel like shit.”

The other boy notices Suguru’s pallid face and immediately rushes to his side. “Suguru, what’s wrong? Here, let me support you.”

Suguru attempts to reply, but can only groan wearily.

“Oh, shit, let’s get you some water, okay? And somewhere to sit.”

৩

A girl shouts a quick ‘welcome in!’ as Suguru and Satoru enter a small mom-and-pop restaurant. She pauses, perhaps realizing they definitely aren’t from around these parts. They look suspicious and weird anyways, with Suguru leaning on Satoru, and the other boy wrapping an arm around him. Suguru caught his reflection in the window of the restaurant earlier, and he know’s he’s definitely pale and sickly looking right now.

The girl herself is rather plain looking, with dyed mousy brown hair and wispy bangs, and a rather boring face. Suguru is uncomfortable with the fact that Satoru’s chosen to go to an establishment run by non-sorcerer twats, but unfortunately it’s the only available option at the moment. Fortunately for them it seems rather homey and cozy, much more inviting than the cold outside world and the stuffiness of that hospital wing they’d been in.

“Um, excuse me, but… Are you two the paranormal investigators, by any chance?”

“Yeah,” they both reply.

She stares at them as if she’s trying to piece something together. “That’s good. My mother was the one who made the call.”

“Yeah,” Satoru looks outside the window halfheartedly. “Then you must live real close, huh?”

She nods. “Lately my younger brother and I have been hearing noises. They sound… how do I put this… not human at all, and not like an animal either. It sounds like guttural wailing. And it’s every single night.”

“You must be losing a lot of sleep,” Suguru murmurs.

The girl lowers her head. “It made it especially difficult to study for my finals.” She pouts, resting a hand on her face. “Such an inconvenience, uwah…”

“Ugh, ew!” Satoru rolls his eyes. “I feel you there.”

Suguru’s face sours. Like Satoru ever even does their assignments, much less their finals.

“I take it you both are teens, right?”

“Yeah.” Suguru corroborates.

“Third years,” Satoru specifies. “Well, nearly.”

“Ah, I’m nearly a second year!” She smiles softly. “Let me get you both started with a bit of tea, then.”

The girl trots away to what can only be the kitchen, and Suguru sees Satoru lean back in his chair out of the corner of his eye.

“She’s kinda cute, isn’t she, Suguru?”

He shakes his head. “Not really. She’s kinda boring looking, actually.”

Satoru squints at the other boy. “Man. I’ll never get your type, Suguru.”

Suguru rolls his eyes and leans back into the chair he’s sat in.

“Are you feeling any better?”

He shrugs. “Fine.”

Satoru scoots his chair closer, pinky finger reaching for Suguru’s hand. His eyes flick from their hands to Suguru’s face.

“Is it the Cursed Energy or is it…” Satoru swallows. “Is it me..?”

“Cursed Energy. It was nauseatingly strong.”

“Ah.”

Satoru’s breath quivers as he pulls back his hand.

He bumps his head against Suguru’s shoulder like a cat asking for attention. He even goes as far as putting his hand on Suguru’s inner thigh, which quite honestly turns Suguru on just a bit, but he’d never in a thousand years admit that.

“Suguru, you’re so cold today. I thought we could use this mission as an excuse to go have fun together again.”

He peeks an eye at Satoru. “Are you the one that requested this be changed to a duo mission?”

“Uh… maybe…”

He sighs and pinches his nose bridge.

“Suguru.”

Suguru doesn’t pay him any mind.

“Suguru.”

Still not giving him attention.

“Suguchan. Baby. Sugurun. Geto. Homo. C’mon, Suguru, I’ve missed you, I wanna talk!”

“Don’t call me ‘homo,’” he murmurs before resting his head on the table. He sighs.

Satoru bumps his shoulder. “C’mon, man. Tell me what’s up.”

“What’s up,” Suguru lifts his head, “is your stupid big ego, and your glasses, one side is hiked up and crooked, by the way.”

“Okay. Ow.”

Suguru reaches out to the other boy, straightening out his sunglasses.

“Thanks,” he glances at the door the server girl went through. “She sure is taking a long ass time.”

“Who knows, maybe they’re calling us homophobic slurs in there or some shit.”

“…………What?”

“Nothing.”

৩

They decide after Suguru’s condition (and mood) improves that they’ll just bite the bullet and vanquish the curse as soon as possible.

They reenter the hospital, trekking up once again to the fourth floor, and the dreary atmosphere hits them both instantly.

It’s Suguru who hears the yowling first.

His head quickly whips around to Satoru.

“Do you hear that?” His voice is low and quiet.

“Sounds fucked up.”

Suguru can’t help but think it sounds like an animal in heat. He’d grown up around lots of cats, having fed a few alley strays in his youth, so he definitely recognizes these sounds. Or, this sounds vaguely similar to mating cries.

Satoru presses the heels of his hand to his ears, face scrunching up. “Shit sounds like hell, how are your ears not totally bleeding?” His voice is overly loud and Suguru slaps a hand against his mouth. He shoots a look at the taller boy before he can even think of licking his palm.

“Satoru,” he hisses. “Do you hear that?”

“Prolly not.”

Soft footsteps grow closer and closer. Suguru reflexively moves to Satoru’s side. His hand flexes, ready to summon a curse from his arsenal.

They move their little huddle closer to where the footsteps are coming from. The floor gets messier and dirtier as they head further from the stairwell leading up to here. They shuffle over some papers, step over some knocked over chairs and filing cabinets, and what looks like… rodent bones? Suguru grows slightly queasy again.

“Suguru.” His sticks his arm out, stopping the other. “It’s on the other side of that wall.”

He gives Satoru a quick nod.

The yowling picks up again. Suguru can almost discern actual human words in the animalistic sound it’s making.

“Suguru… is it saying something?”

“No clue.”

“Yeah, it doesn’t sound like Japanese.”

He stops in his tracks. “…It might be.”

“Huh?” Satoru questions. “What the fuck?You’re crazy. It’s just babbling.”

“I’m fairly sure it’s speaking an archaic form of Japanese. Old Japanese, maybe. Haven’t you paid attention in class? The first-hand accounts from the Nara era? All those boring people and names from Yaga’s textbooks?”

“Nnnope.”

“The Nara era is when Jujutsu sorcery was first starting to grow into something like what it is now. The Heian period is when it all went to shit. Golden era or whatever.” He casts a glance at the wall the creature is behind. “Whatever this thing is, it’s old. Way older than this hospital. Maybe even this town.”

“Shit, wow.”

“I don’t know why you don’t know all this, aren’t you from an ancient clan?”

“Do you think I ever paid attention to my tutors?”

“Fair point.”

“Hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhospital.”

“…Did you hear that?”

Suguru’s goosebumps rise. “It wasn’t you, right?”

“No.”

“…The Cursed Spirit, then?”

“Fffffuck,” it croaks.

“Ha-ha, it knows cuss words.”

“You’re such an immature person, Satoru.”

“Wah-wah, I’m a little baby then. Fuck off. It’s funny.”

“Can’t you be serious just this once?”

“Fine,” Satoru grumbles. “My bad.”

“My,” it croaks again. “My, my, my, my, my.”

Satoru makes a joke about it sounding like a broken record as Suguru quickly runs through the catalogue of curses he has. One slips out of his sleeve, eel-like and slinking around the room.

“This can help us pinpoint exactly where it is.”

Satoru nods. The eel curse slithers onto the ceiling, going off to find the curse.

“You doing okay, Suguru?”

He blinks. Aside from the pit in his slightly churning stomach he feels a bit dizzy from earlier. “All good here.”

The garbled words become clearer and clearer. It repeats itself over and over, pulling new words from what Suguru and Satoru have already said.

“Baby. My. Baby baby.”

“Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck.”

“My. Fuck. Where. People. People. Fuck. Little. First.”

The eel curse comes slithering back in a rush. Audible footsteps of the Cursed Spirit get closer to the doorway. Suguru’s heart starts racing, maybe anxiety or adrenaline or something in between.

“Here. Fuck. People.”

It rushes to Suguru first, nearly knocking him down when it rams into him unexpectedly.

“Shit!” Satoru runs to help him up. “Suguru, are you okay?”

He groans but raises a thumbs-up. Blood dribbles down his lips.

“Hnnngh, Satoru… Where did it go?” Suguru coughs violently. Satoru strokes his cheek with concern in his eyes.

“You sure you’re alright?”

He waves his hand dismissively. “Give me a second, I’ll be alright.”

Kitsune-like, yet with long rounded horns like a ram. The spirit looks to be about as large as a lion. It prowls around the room, muttering to itself. Large prayer beads adorn its neck, ornamental tassel hanging low. Guts spill out of an opening on its abdomen, dragging on the floor as it paces.

“That shit’s so gross.”

“Babybaby. Where. Baby.”

It lowers itself, readying itself to jump. Satoru flicks Red at it, blasting its white fur and staining it magenta.

“Ew, more intestines!”

The Cursed Spirit, now with a garish hole in its side, cries out in pain, putting its attention onto Satoru. Opening its mouth, it spits out black bile on Satoru.

“Give-baby-my-now-baby. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”

Suguru summons an array of curses, ranging between yokai and bugs and humanoid ones.

“Why the hell does it keep talking about babies?” Suguru glances down at the curse with disdain. “Shut it already, why don’t you?”

It makes a guttural noise that sounds something like a hiss mixed with a dry heave, baring its fangs and exposing a third eyeball in its mouth.

It locks eyes with Satoru, whose attacks falter. “Ttttttengen-sama?” The creature questions.

“The fuck? You’ve got the wrong sorcerer, man.”

Satoru shoots another Red at it, but it jumps to avoid it at the last second. He cringes as Red blasts a hole in the wall. The moonlight trickles into the hospital.

“Would it kill you to be a little more careful, Satoru?”

“Sorry, baby. Didn’t mean to get rubble on your perfect face.”

Suguru blushes with a scowl forming on his now dirtied face. “You are so goddamn annoying.”

Satoru uses Blue to yank Suguru closer to him, while the beast runs at full speed to the spot where Suguru was standing not seconds ago.

Suguru is pushed up against Satoru’s chest, and his cheeks begin to feel very hot. He pushes himself away with both hands, quickly but slow enough to feel the shape of Satoru’s pecs through his uniform jacket.

“That was a close one.” Suguru looks up at Satoru with a small smile. “Thanks, Satoru.”

“Hehe,” Satoru giggles. “Of course, Suguchan.”

Suguru flicks Satoru’s nose.

They soon fall into a rhythm, Satoru flinging small Reds and Suguru throwing curses at it. Once it hesitates, perhaps catching its breath, Suguru takes the opportunity to drop his Daruma doll curse onto it. It lets out one final yip before it’s gone for good. The Daruma doll hits the floor with a giant slam, plum colored viscera coating the entire floor upon landing.

“Nice going, Suguchan!”

“Thanks, Satoru.” He dusts himself off.

The Daruma doll fizzles out of existence as Suguru calls off his curses. He stumbles over to where it crushed the kitsune spirit, which is now a maroonish brown orb. He observes it in his hand, reflecting in the moonlight.

“Dude, it’s surprisingly coherent and adept at fighting. Definitely not a Grade 2.”

Suguru nods. “Semi-1st Grade, maybe?”

Satoru agrees. “Man am I gonna rip the higher-ups a new one. If it weren’t me and you, then somebody else could get seriously injured.”

“Good that it’s us, then.”

Satoru gives Suguru a full toothed smile. “Yeah! Go us.”

“Let’s get outta here before this building fucking falls apart and crushes us to death.”

“Hear-hear,” says Satoru.

৩

Suguru is on the verge of throwing up when they get back to the inn. He’s so unsteady that he has to hold on to an exasperated Satoru’s bicep. He really should’ve waited to absorb the curse.

Flopping down on their bed, he neglects taking a bath tonight. He feels like shit anyways, too out of it to move to the bathroom. Satoru takes the opportunity to shower instead.

It’s then that his stomach starts to feel odd.

Usually, when absorbing a curse of this grade, Suguru’s nauseous for days. But now, the nausea is subsiding, oddly enough. His head begins to clear up, and his chest even feels lighter. The only negative things are his face burning hot and an odd-feeling heat low in his stomach. The hit he took to the abdomen didn’t even hurt anymore. But overall, his stomach feels warm and pleasant.

He tosses and turns on the bed sheets as he tries to find a comfortable enough position.

He can’t. And fuck, he’s bored and understimulated. Which is a terrible combination already, but it’s worse when you’re totally feeling like absolute shit beforehand.

The western style bed he lays on feels… lonely, one could say. Maybe it’s just because he’s already in a funk of sorts, and solitude usually sends his brain into overthinking mode, but he yearns for Satoru’s presence.

He realizes he regrettably hasn’t really spent much time with Satoru recently. But… Satoru seemed like he wanted to distance himself from Suguru, to surpass him and become the Strongest, singular. Gone were the days of the dynamic duo Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru, but deep down Suguru wished he could have it back.

…I treated him like shit, he admits to himself. He wants to leave me behind because I’m so terrible.

The low heat in his stomach spreads to his groin, and fuck, it’s starting to hurt like a bitch. Is this the pain from getting hit earlier, just postponed? Holding his stomach, the image of Shoko complaining about period cramps flashes in his head. He rolls his eyes. If they were anything like this, he’s lucky he wasn’t born a girl.

Satoru soon finishes his shower, judging by the water stopping up. The boy steps out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped loosely around his waist, and another towel drying his hair.

“It’s all yours, Suguru. ‘m done.”

Suguru can’t help but ogle at Satoru’s physique, he’s become more of a brick house since their first year. What were once gangly, skinny limbs are now strong and defined. How funny. This is what became of silly little Satoru who Suguru could pin down easily during wrestling practice. His hair is still somewhat wet as he discards the towel. Beads of water rest on his wispy white hair like morning dew on plants. Suguru has a newfound appreciation for his classmate. He looks different in this lighting, more ethereal in the dingy inn’s warm lights than the moonlight trickling in through the hospital windows. And that’s saying a lot, by Suguru’s standards. The moonlight earlier had been hitting his snowy white hair in such a way that it seemed like it was glowing.

Satoru must notice him staring, because he stops in his tracks and gives Suguru a confused glance. “Suguru? You okay?”

Suguru nods meekly as his heart rate speeds up significantly. Satoru shrugs it off and sits down on the bed, finally relaxing after their hard day. Suguru’s chest rises and falls heavily. His best friend really is terribly gorgeous. How had he ever forgotten?

The other boy’s musk is what really does him in. He smells like skin, but Satoru-skin specifically, and also slightly of orchids and aloe. Suguru’s always been rather attracted by Satoru’s distinctive… everything, really. His scent, the way he tousles his fluffy hair, the way his eyelashes are so pretty that Suguru is sure he has to use some sort of mascara to make them look that way. Satoru’s skin is soft and pale, and while Suguru’s never found that complexion particularly attractive, it so perfectly suits Satoru. It’s rather unblemished, though Satoru vehemently denies having ever used any skincare products. Suguru’s partially jealous of this. Satoru’s skin has never been mottled with acne scars. The only somewhat out of place thing is a small freckle or mole or something resting right near Satoru’s eyebrows. Suguru’s kissed it many times.

Admiring the other boy’s beauty quickly does numbers to Suguru’s entire body. His face grows hotter and an erection starts pushing against the fabric of his underwear. How embarrassing. His chest feels like it’s tightening.

“You nauseous still, Suguru?”

Suguru shakes his head absentmindedly, still ogling Satoru’s body. “No, I’m feeling better.”

“That’s good to hear.” He stares off into the distance. “Hm. I know it’s late but I’m kinda in the mood for something from the vending machine…” His eyes flick from his downward gaze to Suguru. “Want something?”

“I-I’m good,” he manages to choke out.

Satoru rises, heading to his suitcase to get some clothes. Suguru grasps his wrist tightly.

“…Suguru?”

He can feel his fingers tightening firmly around Satoru’s wrist. Yet he hadn’t even realized his hand was reaching out in the first place.

“Don’t leave, Satoru,” Suguru gasps out.

Within the blink of an eye Satoru is back on the bed, staring at Suguru.

“You’re confusing today,” says Satoru incredulously.

“…I just…” he hesitates, “don’t want you to leave, Satoru. That’s all.”

“Okay. Then I won’t.”

Suguru smiles softly.

“You okay, Suguru? Seriously. I’m worried.”

He nods. “‘m fine.”

“You’ve been literally bipolar the entire day, man.”

Suguru crawls closer to Satoru. The other boy is slightly taken aback by this, judging by the startled look on his face. He positions himself in Satoru’s lap, resting his hands on Satoru’s pecs. They’re larger than Suguru remembered.

“Uh. Hi.”

Suguru glances up at him coquettishly. “Hi.”

“Suguru, please. This isn’t funny. You were mad at me not 30 minutes ago and now you’re…” Satoru looks away with a deep blush staining his face. “Stop messing with me.”

Suguru retracts. “But Satoru, I need you here.”

“Oh my god.” Satoru’s hands cover his face. “Oh my god, Suguru. You can’t be doing this to me.”

Suguru strokes his knuckles along Satoru’s cheek. “What, hm?”

“I…” His cerulean blue eyes scan Suguru’s face. “Suguru,” he murmurs.

“What is it, Satoru?”

“…Fuck.”

Satoru cups the back of Suguru’s head and pulls him into a deep kiss. Their tongues are quick to explore each other’s familiar mouths. Suguru’s throat makes restrained, little sounds, and he has a hunch Satoru is also making cute little noises. Their lips suck at each other with a distinct ferocity. Suguru’s hips grind against the other’s torso, erection aching now. The pain from earlier is gone, now replaced with a feeling of adrenaline in his stomach.

“I missed you,” he admits in a gasp as he pulls away from the kiss. “I missed you so much, Suguru.”

Suguru leaves a peck on the other’s lips. “Hm, is that so?”

“Uh-huh.”

Slowly, Satoru’s hand runs down Suguru’s pj shirt, down to his boxers. He gently strokes  Suguru’s erection through the thin fabric.

“Is this ‘cuz of me?” Satoru grins.

“Of course, Satoru. What else?”

Satoru presses a kiss to Suguru’s neck. “Baby, you shoulda just asked for this earlier.”

Suguru stifles a moan as Satoru nips at his neck.

“Uah, Satoru…”

“I missed this so much.” He groans. “Oh my god, Suguru, you don’t know how much I missed this.”

“Satoru, please, touch me.” Suguru takes in a shaky breath. “I can’t stand it anymore. I need you to touch me. Now.”

Satoru slips his hand in Suguru’s boxer briefs, taking hold of his cock. His other hand delicately slips the boxers down, then grabs Suguru’s ass.

“Oh my god, baby, your ass is still so nice.”

“Still?” Suguru jokingly questions through labored breaths.

“Don’t get me wrong, Suguru, you have an absolutely banging body. I love you from head to dick to toe. But I haven’t seen you like this for months. And your clothes look looser on you, Suguru. Are you sure you haven’t lost weight?”

“Positive.” Suguru didn’t come here to be reminded of his gradually declining wellbeing, he came to grind on Satoru, for god’s sake.

“Okay,” Satoru murmurs dejectedly.

“Stroke me, please, Satoru. I need it.”

Satoru’s flushed face brightens up, grinning. His large palm puts pressure on Suguru’s shaft, elegant piano player fingers curling around it. He begins stroking, and Suguru can feel himself growing even more aroused by the second. He’s nearly dizzy from all the blood rushing to his groin.

He can barely contain his moans by now. His heart dares to flutter in his chest every time Satoru even so much as looks at him. He can’t believe he’d ever neglected his best friend prior to this.

“A-ah, Satoru,” he whines. “You’re so good. You’re perfect.”

His strokes stall for a beat. “Am I?”

“Absolutely, Satoru, you’re the best at this. I love the way you touch me.”

Satoru blushes with a small laugh. “I know I am.”

“O-oh, Satoru,” Suguru’s eyes sting. His hips careen forward, pushing his dick closer to Satoru’s body.

Satoru is pushed backwards, falling onto the bed with Suguru flopping on top of him rather unceremoniously. Suguru’s crotch grinds against Satoru’s thigh, knuckles turning white from yanking the bedsheets to lessen the impact. Satoru loosely holds Suguru’s body close to his.

“Uah, baby, let me ride you, Satoru,” Suguru whines. “Please, Satoru, I need you right now.”

Suguru feels Satoru tense up.

“We don’t have any lube,” Satoru poses. “What are we supposed to use, conditioner? Hell no.”

Little grunts and moans crawl up Suguru’s throat into his mouth. “A-anything, Satoru, use anything. I need this I need it so bad Satoru you don’t even understand Satoru.”

Satoru sits up, eyeing Suguru up and down.

“If you insist,” he says through a half-hearted grin. Suguru stays on the bed as Satoru digs through their belongings in the bathroom. Suguru’s legs are crossed tightly, trying not to think of anything that’ll arouse him even more.

“Found some aloe vera gel in your stuff.” He brandishes it. “You mind if we use this?”

Suguru pouts. “Ah, that’s my skincare stuff. Whatever. It’s fine, I can get more later anyways.”

“Okay.” Uncapping it, Satoru returns to the bed. “Yay, here we go.”

Suguru stares up at Satoru, arms slowly reaching for his neck and wrapping around it. “Prep me?”

“You shit today, right?”

“Yes, ew, I did.”

“When?”

“Right before you showered?”

“Using the bidet?”

Suguru’s face is hot. “Yes, oh my god, I did. Stop asking such obscene questions.”

“I don’t want my freshly washed dick to get all dirty with poop, Suguru.”

“Stop talking about poop. That’s so unsexy.”

“Poop poop poop.”

“You’re so immature.” Suguru begins sitting upright again. “Maybe you’re not even mature enough to handle this tonight.”

Satoru’s eyes widen with surprise. “Hey! No! I’ll stop, I’ll be good, I promise!”

“Is that so?”

Satoru nods vigorously.

“I’ll get on my knees then. Be a good boy and open me up. It’s been a while.”

Satoru lets out a little whine.

Suguru blinks back shock. Oh, so Satoru’s into that. A grin grows on his face. That’s sure to come in handy.

“Satoru, you’re taking too long,” Suguru chides, sing-song.

“I love you,” he lets slip. “Uh… How many fingers should I put in?”

“One at a time, obviously. I’ll tell you when.”

Satoru nods. “‘Kay.”

He takes his time rubbing the gel on his fingers. Even the sound of the gel squirting out is erotic in Suguru’s head. Anything Satoru does is already alluring.

Suguru readjusts his position, on his knees with his ass sticking up. He rests his head on his forearms. Sleek hair fans out on the bed.

One of Satoru’s fingers teases the rim of his hole. Shivers run up Suguru’s spine. Satoru parts his cheeks and pushes the finger in slowly, gently moving it until Suguru is sure he’s at least up to his second knuckle. Another finger soon joins. His other hand holds Suguru’s hips steady, warm and reassuring.

“Haaaah, Satoru,” his voice comes out warbled. “It feels so wonderful.”

“Don’t go cumming off just my fingers, Suguru.” A third finger is gradually pushed in. “I haven’t even done anything yet.”

“Satoru,” he gasps out. “That’s enough, thank you, baby.”

Satoru moves his fingers around a bit. Suguru’s body tenses and beads of sweat fall down his face.

“Fuuuuck,” he whines.

“Did I hit the spot or what?” He can even hear Satoru’s grin in his voice.

“Thank you, Satoru, you’re being so good. You’re so perfect and good to me, darling,” he purrs.

Another whine comes from Satoru’s mouth. His other hand goes flying up to cover it. Well, that’s what it seems like, judging from the loud slap coming from Satoru and the barely audible ‘ow, fuck!’ that comes after it.

“Here, Satoru, let me help you.”

Of course, Satoru takes his sweet time slipping his fingers out. He wipes them off on a shitty little tissue on the nightstand, because he’s weird about textures and whatnot. Suguru, now seated on the floor, sits up slightly to kiss him chastely on the cheek.

“You ready?”

Satoru makes a little ‘okay’ sign.

Suguru guides Satoru’s chest down, positioning him carefully on his back. His legs are adeptly pushed open by Suguru, exposing his goal. Suguru shifts closer to Satoru, taking in the sight of his cock.

Suguru licks a slow and practiced stripe up Satoru’s shaft. The other shudders, clenching onto the sheets of the bed with one hand and grabbing onto Suguru’s hair with the other.

Satoru lets out little gasps as Suguru places Satoru’s cock on his tongue. Pre-cum tickles the back of Suguru’s throat as he takes Satoru fully.

“Suguruuuuu,” his voice comes out shaky and high-pitched.

Suguru’s finger delicately runs down from Satoru’s navel to the base of his dick. The other boy whimpers and fidgets uncontrollably. His soft, erratic pants arouse Suguru even more.

He brings his hand down Suguru’s face, stroking his cheek. “Suguchan is so pretty. Especially like this. If only you could be my housewife.” His eyebrows raise, and a teasing little smile grows on his face. He looks down at Suguru, eyes half-lidded. Fuck, are his eyelashes sexy.

Suguru almost debates spitting Satoru’s cock out to retort, but decides against it.

Hands fondle Satoru’s inner thighs, nose burrowing into Satoru’s lower stomach. Soft white hairs tickle at Suguru’s nose. Satoru takes labored breaths as Suguru touches him gently.

“Suguru, fuck, I need to pull out,” Satoru manages to groan out.

Suguru gives him a confused look.

“I don’t want to cum in your mouth,” he confesses. “I know you don’t really like that.”

Suguru draws a little X in the air with his finger, much to the surprise of Satoru.

“You… are you sure? You’ll really let me jizz in your mouth?”

Suguru gives him a thumbs up as his tongue explores more of Satoru’s shaft, from the part closes to the front of Suguru’s mouth to attempting to reach the tip brushing against his his uvula. He swirls his tongue around the other’s cock.

Satoru tugs on his hair harder, ensuring that he stays on his dick.

“Jeez, you’re really good at this,” he pants. “Babe, your gag reflex is genuinely insane.”

Suguru shrugs. Comes with the technique. And many years of swallowing cursed balls. (Satoru would probably chortle at that.)

Satoru is close to hyperventilating for a few seconds until Suguru feels a thick substance coat his mouth and Satoru leaning back and relaxing. He wipes sweat off his face with a large hand.

“Fuck, it’s so hot. Are you hot? I’m dying here. You’re hot. Like, literally hot. Not literally. Figuratively. Whatever.”

Suguru gently takes Satoru’s cock out of his mouth. He swallows Satoru’s load, licking the remaining bits off his teeth.

“That’s so sexy.”

“Sexy? Is it now?”

Satoru nods vigorously. “I could stare at you all day every day and still think you’re sexy even though you look ratty and weird.”

“Man, you’re a dick.”

Satoru pouts. “Is that all I am to you? A dick for your entertainment? I’ll have you know The Gojo Satoru-sama will not be relegated to a fleshy walking dildo.”

“Smartass.” Suguru climbs back into Satoru’s lap, dick uncomfortably close to climaxing. “Finish me off, please?” He cocks his head.

Satoru’s pale face is completely flushed pink now.

Suguru looks down. Looks back up.

“You’re hard again?”

“…Yeah?” Satoru squeaks out. “Sorry.”

“Take care of me first and then we’ll address that.”

“Yes puh-lease.”

Satoru adeptly takes Suguru’s cock in his own hands, roughly rubbing one out. His hands aren’t so delicate this time around, pumping Suguru’s cock diligently and harshly. His dick twitches in Satoru’s hands.

Suguru orgasms with a gasp, arching his back in pleasure. Ropes of his cum shoot onto his and Satoru’s abdomens. Satoru cups his face and his tongue darts into the other’s mouth, before opening his eyes and spotting something.

“…Suguru, your thighs…”

Suguru flinches. “It’s nothing.”

Satoru takes a gentle finger and touches Suguru’s scars, which are, thankfully either in the process of healing or healed. His eyes flick up to Suguru’s face, eyebrows pulled into a soft yet concerned expression. His cerulean eyes seem watery.

“It’s just from… fights. And… Zen’in.”

Hopefully that answer satisfies Satoru. It’s stupid, but admitting that a Special Grade Sorcerer is mentally ill and slicing up his body feels even stupider. The excuse is rather flimsy considering the scars are horizontal and they’re forming obvious keloids. What curse would cut some teenage kid’s thighs? He cuts off that thought by leaning in for a kiss, which Satoru reciprocates.

They’re at it for a few minutes, alternating between sucking face and gasping for air.

“Suguru,” the other boy chokes out. “Say you’re mine. I need to hear you say it.”

“I’m yours, Satoru. Please don’t stop.”

“And I’m yours, too.”

“You’re mine,” he hums.

“And you’ll never leave me.”

“I…” Suguru hesitates, pulling away from Satoru. “I’ll never leave, Satoru.”

Satoru leans forward for a kiss. When he pulls back, looking at Suguru satisfied, his hands run down Suguru’s sides. They end up on his ass again.

“Suguru, so, how did you want this?”

“Lay down,” instructs Suguru.

Satoru pumps his fist. “I love you so much.”

“Thanks, Satoru.” He still isn’t laying down, so Suguru pushes his chest down carefreely with a single hand. He figured Satoru likes being pushed around and manhandled like that, considering their past interactions during intercourse.

“You gonna sit on it?”

“Duh.” Suguru’s hands hold Satoru against the bed. “What else would I do? I’m prepped, you’re prepped, we’re ready to go.”

Satoru laughs giddily. Suguru lowers his face and presses a hot kiss to his lover’s lips. When he pulls away, their mixed saliva connects their lips together.

Satoru’s dick feels even better than his fingers. Oh my god, it’s been so long since he’d experienced a pleasurable sensation such as this.

“Good boy,” he groans. “My good, perfect boy.”

If Satoru had a tail it would definitely be wagging right now. He beams up at Suguru, showing off his pearly whites, his little snaggle teeth peeking out. His lips are shiny, maybe from the flavored lipgloss he insists is the best and that Suguru absolutely has to try.

“You’re so pretty like this,” Satoru mumbles under his breath. His eyes look dopey and cute, pupils so blown out you can barely see the cerulean blue. His lovestruck smile makes Suguru want to kiss him.

“Your hair, like… it cascades down and now that it’s longer, it makes it feel like it’s a tunnel with just me and you in it.” He blushes and turns away, embarrassed. “Or something.”

Suguru takes a hand and strokes Satoru’s face, aligning it again so they’re facing one another. “You’re so poetic, Satoru.”

“Hey, what can I say. You just bring up those kinds of words, y’know? The thought of you and all.”

Suguru’s face turns beet red. “Satoru, jeez. I’m not all that.”

His expression shifts to a more concerned one. “Baby, you’re the prettiest boy I’ve ever seen. You look like you were carved out of the very best stone and placed in the prettiest and most exquisitely designed temple.” He cocks his head. “You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself. Scratch prettiest boy, you’re the prettiest person I know. Maybe even ever.”

“Yeah right,” he teases, almost probing Satoru to go on.

Satoru scoffs. “Man, you’re so aggravating. At least you have a beautiful face to make up for it. And a beautiful voice. And a beautiful body. And a beautiful head of hair. And-“

“I get the idea, Satoru,” he lets out an amused breath.

“You really are pretty, Suguru. You have a sort of playful, foxy look to you, but you look serene and painting-like. I’ve never seen anyone like you before, like, maybe only ever seen a face like yours in sculptures of Buddhist figures. And you’re handsome and charming, to boot. I’ll always be jealous that you’re so good with girls. You can smooth talk your way into anybody’s pants. Shoot, might be more effective than a Cursed Speech user. You’re just that guy.”

“You, jealous? Tons of girls fawn over you, handsome.”

“Hey, we’d make for a good looking couple, don’t ya think?”

He shakes his head in amusement. “Cornball. You’re lucky that I’m so tolerant of your little lover-boy thing. Lucky that I love those baby blues of yours. And your snowy hair and your dimples and your smirk and all that stuff.”

“Look at you being all hypocritical. Cornball my ass, you’re just as poetic as me.”

“We’re just so perfect for each other, aren’t we?”

“My dick is still up your ass, by the way. Just to let you know.”

“You’re such a mood killer.”

Satoru shrugs as best as he can. “Meh, whatever.”

Suguru plays with Satoru’s pecs, relishing in their new large size. This elicits some more pleased groans and whines from Satoru.

Satoru slips out of Suguru’s hole, panting and shuddering.

“M-more,” Suguru whimpers. “Satoruuuuu, please, I need you so baddddd…”

Satoru roughly flips Suguru onto his back, lifting his hips up and preparing himself to enter Suguru again. He presses a kiss to Suguru’s lips before lowering his face and kissing his tip.

“Fuck,” Satoru gasps out. “How aren’t you tired? If we keep this up you’re gonna end up knocked up.”

“M-maybe I want that,” he pants. “Hm? How does it sound, Satoru? Fuck a baby into me.”

Satoru covers his face with both hands.

“What, you don’t want little clan heirs running around? You could do it, Satoru,” he tilts his head back. “I’m sure the world can bend itself to fit the Six Eyes’s will.”

Satoru lets slip cute little moans as his face turns a deep shade of pinkish red. He fumbles around for Suguru’s dick, grabbing it with vigor and pumping the length of it.

Satoru’s own cock enters Suguru’s hole with relative ease, dick slicked up from leftover cum from Suguru’s earlier orgasm.

He rocks his hips rhythmically, holding Suguru’s thighs steady. Every thrust sends Suguru’s brain into overdrive. Every grunt makes Suguru want more.

“Yesss, Satoru, you’re so good.” He croons out. “But you can go harder than this, Satoru.”

Satoru mewls.

His thrusts speed up and intensify, tears visibly forming in the corners of his eyes. He chants Suguru’s name like a mantra, voice shaky.

Suguru feels the other’s dick stretching his insides, throbbing, twitching.

Tears stream down Satoru’s flushed face. “Suguru, you feel so good. You’re taking me so well. Oh my god, baby. I love you, I need you.”

“Satoruuu…”

The heat near Suguru’s bladder returns, warm and pleasant now. He suppresses deep moans.

“…Fuck!” Suguru cries out, semen shooting out of his tip and onto his stomach.

Satoru pouts. “Aw, you came without me, Suguru?”

“Like I can control that!” Suguru hisses.

“You’re right, I’m just overwhelmingly good at what I do.”

“Shut up and keep fucking me up the ass.”

Satoru exhales amusedly. His hips roll again, dick pressing against Suguru’s G-spot. He hits it, again and again, each time addling Suguru’s mind more.

“Shit, Suguru, I’m close…”

“…Satoru, I love you.”

Suguru’s admission sends Satoru over the edge. He fills up Suguru’s hole, seed pleasantly warm.

Satoru pulls out with haste, to Suguru’s dismay. He rolls onto the bed next to Suguru, panting loudly.

A bit of cum leaks out of Suguru’s ass. He brushes through his hair, now sweaty, with his fingers.

“You were perfect, Satoru.”

“Yeah, but I’m all sticky and sweaty now,” complains Satoru.

“We could always shower.”

The boy perks up. “Together?”

“We can,” Suguru shrugs, smiling coquettishly. “If you’d like.”

“…My balls hurt.”

“Again with the mood killing comments?”

“…Can you wash them?”

Suguru rolls his eyes. “Fineee.”

They do indeed end up showering together. Half the time is spent attempting to grip the slippery wall as Satoru’s dick digs into him again and his fingertips dig into Suguru’s hips. The other half he’s gently rubbing a washcloth against Satoru, who’s blushing face looks absolutely, blissfully content.

They fall asleep with their legs intertwined and Satoru holding Suguru’s shoulders lazily with one arm, while Suguru’s hands rest gently on Satoru’s ribs.

This is nice, Suguru thinks as he nods off.

৩

“…Suguru?”

The atmosphere in the hotel room is cold. Suguru shivers slightly, fumbling around blindly for the blanket they’d found earlier.

…Did he and Satoru fall asleep so far apart? Suguru was sure he’d been directly next to him, maybe even on top, but… it looks like Satoru had moved earlier. He can’t even feel the other’s warm body heat next to him.

“Suguruuuuu.”

“Mmh?” Suguru replies groggily.

“I can’t sleep.”

“Try anyways, jeez. Don’t bother me about it, I’m not your mom.”

Satoru rolls over in bed, facing Suguru. Oh, that’s where the blanket went. “You’re such a dick to me. At least you’re loveably stupid.”

Suguru groans sleepily.

“…Suguru, do you think I’d make for a good boyfriend?”

“I guess,” he replies quietly. “Why?”

Satoru takes a second before he replies. He looks at Suguru with an intensely indescribable expression. “…Just thinking about that… girl from earlier, I guess. She seemed nice.”

That comment wakes Suguru more. Every sexual encounter with Satoru runs through his head. Maybe they’d never stopped pretending like this was preparation for getting girlfriends. Maybe this had always been a casual thing between two straight boys. …One straight boy. And one desperately confused one. So much for being the supposed prettiest boy Satoru’s ever known. Maybe those remarks about wanting to take Suguru as his housewife were just jokes. Maybe he only fucks Suguru because he’s got long hair and a Satoru-described elegant face and, well… a hole is close enough to a pussy, y’know? Maybe he’s overthinking Satoru calling him sexy and saying he loves him.

“I’m sure whatever girlfriend you do get will think you’re a good boyfriend, Satoru.”

“…Girlfriend, right,” he says, barely audible, especially in Suguru’s drowsy state.

“Is that all? I’ll be going back to sleep now,” he yawns lazily. “G’night, Satoru. Don’t let the curses bite.”

“Goodnight, Suguchan.”

Chapter Text

Haibara is gone that March.

Just a few days after his 17th birthday. Just days after his and Suguru’s and Yuki’s conversation next to the vending machine. Haibara is there one day, his funeral held the next.

Nanami doesn’t take it well, obviously. The two boys had grown an unlikely friendship, Nanami finally opening up to somebody. He’s utterly distraught. Suguru does his best to console him. He’s been there. He’s dealt with grief. Is dealing with it, currently. Although a part of him asks himself what he would do if Satoru were to die—well, again, permanently this time.

Nanami starts talking less, isolating himself, asking Yaga for leave every so often, which Suguru has to compensate for. Since Haibara’s untimely passing, he and Satoru have had to put in extra work. He rarely ever sees the other anymore.

Haibara’s absence weighs heavily on the campus. Yaga is uncharacteristically quiet and lenient with his students. Shoko keeps working diligently. Suguru’s mood begins to be in a constant state of upset. Even his curses become harder to deal with. Every curse swallowed leaves him feeling more nauseous than ever before. Oftentimes he finds himself to be randomly nauseated throughout various points of the day. It even affects his eating habits now. Most foods start to disgust him, not even finding solace in his favored soba.

Satoru has had a streak of not showing up to campus. Yaga says he’s off in Kyoto, then in Hokkaido, in Miyagi, Seoul, Europe, Fukuoka, Taipei. The list only seems to grow. The second Yaga lets him get a break, he’s summoned to the Gojo clan grounds to discuss his future as clan heir.

The weeks in March crawl on slowly.

Suguru is summoned to Sendai to exorcise some curse, and as soon as he’s finished Yaga calls him to let him know he’s got an additional assignment in the area. He meets with an utterly hyperactive boy and his comparatively down to earth mother. The mother has latent Cursed Energy, a technique she may even be aware of, but the boy allegedly only sees Cursed Spirits. Nothing too serious, just confirming the mother’s suspicions of her son being able to see Jujutsu things. They chat for a bit, she asks if he’s seeing anyone special, he admits he and his… girlfriend have kinda sorta drifted apart. She sympathizes with him and sends him on his way with some daifuku mochi that Satoru would probably like if he were there. The little boy gives him a sheet of stickers, which is entirely of cartoon tigers, and some sticky looking plastic toy.

He’d been hoping to spend spring break with Satoru, but it’s looking like that’s not the case. Who knows if Satoru will ever be back? He’s surely doing more important stuff than hanging out with a depressed, barely Special Grade sorcerer.

The train ride back home is quiet. He misses Satoru’s teleportation, he misses Rainbow Dragon, he misses his travel buddy. He misses how things were last year before everything went to shit.

He opens his dorm’s door with a sigh, only to find Satoru on his bed. His eyes are as wide as saucers as Satoru waves hello as if it’s the most normal thing on Earth.

“Hey, how ya doing?”

Suguru takes a step back. “…Satoru, what are you doing here?”

The other frowns. “Hey, I come to see my best friend for the first time in a while and this is the reaction I get? Not cool.”

“Why are you here, I- I don’t understand, Satoru.”

“Uh,” he grins. “Like I said? I came to see you. C’mere.”

Satoru reaches his arms out, making grabbing motions towards Suguru. Suguru is oddly drawn to him. Before he can even realize, he ends up at Satoru’s side, sitting on his bed.

“What have you been up to?”

Trying not to kill himself, honestly. “Nothing much. Went to Sendai today.”

“Cool, it’s real nice out there. I went there not too long ago. How was the mission?”

“Easy. Boring, though.”

Satoru puts a hand on Suguru’s thigh. “Exorcising things gets sooo boring after, like, 50 in a row, don’t you think?”

“You’re acting really weird, Satoru.”

Satoru laughs, confusion on his face. “You’re tripping.”

Suguru scans Satoru’s face. He looks happy, but there’s something subtle in his expression that seems off. His eyes are puffy, irises jittery and moving around a mile a minute, staring at nothing in particular. His smile seems inauthentic. And Suguru knows a thing or two when it comes to inauthentic smiles.

“Lay down with me, Satoru.” He wraps his arms around Satoru’s neck.

“I-I can’t. I have to be ready if Yaga calls me out to action again,” he insists.

Nonetheless, Suguru tugs Satoru down, both flopping on the bed.

“I really can’t be relaxing, Suguru. I just came by to chat.”

…Okay. Whatever.

“When’s the last time you took a break, Satoru?”

The Six Eyes flinches.

“Satoru,” Suguru insists.

“Uh, right now?”

“A real break.”

“…February?”

Suguru groans. “You haven’t rested since Kyoto? When’s the last time you slept?”

Beads of sweat form at Satoru’s temples. “I, uh, don’t… know?”

“Satoru,” he warns, voice low. “Come chill with me.”

Satoru hesitates. “…m’kay.”

Suguru cups the other’s face. He runs his thumb along Satoru’s lips, uncharacteristically chapped and cracking.

“Hey, Satoru.”

“Hi.”

“I missed you.”

“I missed you too.”

Suguru tugs Satoru closer to him. The boy’s heartbeat starts out fast and erratic, but slowly winds down and synchronizes with Suguru’s.

“You’re so warm.” He nuzzles his head into Suguru’s chest.

Suguru winces. “Satoru, my chest is sore, that hurts,” he whines.

Satoru pulls away. “Oopsies.”

Satoru nips at Suguru’s neck, pressing small kisses against his skin.

“You doing okay? Physically?”

Satoru shrugs. “I have RCT, it helps.”

“…Right.”

“How about you?”

“Y’know, I’ve been feeling a bit off recently.”

“Huh, really?”

Suguru nods. He’s been missing the other boy like a bitch, obviously. That definitely hurts. “I’m sore all over most days. And nauseous a lot more than before.”

“Suguru, I’ll tell Yaga to cut you some slack, I’ll take over your missions.”

“No, Satoru. Don’t.”

“But—“

“—No,” he says sternly.

Satoru pouts at him, blasting him with fluorescent blue puppy-dog eyes. “Suguru, let me do this for you,” he whines.

“I’m perfectly capable of doing my missions by myself.”

Satoru sighs. “Okay, if you insist.”

“Good. Now kiss me, you stubborn dolt.”

Satoru grins and kisses the other boy chastely on his lips. Satoru’s lips are rougher than they look, scratching at Suguru’s own lips. He wonders what ever happened to Satoru’s flavored chapstick.

Satoru’s hand wiggles its way under Suguru’s shirt, looking at him with a teasing, goofy look. He makes sure not to touch Suguru’s chest, instead groping at his sides.

“Satoru, not right now.”

He’s shocked, to say the least. Satoru sits up, hands tightly holding the unmade, wrinkly bedsheets. His eyes are round and wide, eyebrows pinched together. “Suguru?”

Suguru looks away bashfully. “I’m sorry. I’m just not in the mood for anything further than kissing.”

“…Oh.”

“Sorry.”

Satoru is silent, taking shallow breaths like he’s trying not to cry.

“Satoru…”

“…Do you hate me?”

Suguru looks at the other with a bewildered expression. “No? What?”

“I’m serious, Suguru, do you? I don’t get it. We used to be so close. I thought that after Kyoto we’d go back to normal. Back to working in tandem. But you just…” Satoru’s hands are brought up to his reddening face, rubbing his eyes and temples. “I don’t get it. Please, Suguru, let me know what I’m doing wrong so I can fix this. So I can fix us.”

Suguru gets the impression that Satoru isn’t saying this as any sort of underhanded tactic. His eyes are genuine, lip quivering, chin all wrinkly and reddish.

“Sorry, I just… Zen’in Toji changed a lot of things, y’know?”

“Fuck!” Satoru cries out. He tugs at his hair, shutting his eyes tightly. “I wish I could kill him again. I just want things to be back to normal. I hate this. I hate change. I miss you and Shoko and even Utahime-senpai and Mei-senpai and Yaga and the second years and I miss my life from last year. I can’t fucking deal with this anymore!”

“Hey, no, listen, Satoru, it’s okay. It’s okay, Satoru.”

“Haibara is dead because of me. I could’ve taken care of that curse if Yaga just let me.”

“Haibara’s death isn’t anybody’s fault but the curse and the higher ups. It’s okay, Satoru, you’re okay.”

Tears and snot stream down Satoru’s face. He sniffles. “Can you hold me?”

“Okay.”

The boy curls up next to Suguru. His hands hug his own shoulders, while Suguru’s arms wrap around Satoru.

“I… I need to protect everyone. I need to protect you, especially, Suguru. I can’t live without you.”

“I don’t need protection, Satoru. We’re a duo, aren’t we?”

“…Yeah.” Satoru sighs. “We are. We can protect one another.”

He kisses a hiccuping Satoru’s forehead. “Are your eyes overwhelming you, Satoru? Is that what this is?”

“Uh, yeah, I guess. Among other things.”

“Here.” He reaches across the bed and hands a sleep mask to him. “This might help.”

He slips it onto Satoru’s head, gently taking his glasses off and placing them on the nightstand. “Better?”

“Yeah. Although I’d prefer the fabric to be thicker.”

“We’ll get you a bandana or something tomorrow.”

“Okay,” he says softly. “You’re so kind to me.”

“Of course.”

He presses a soft kiss to the crown of Satoru’s head.