You guys are so awesome! I can't believe I got so many reviews for last chapter.
Helia7: You're welcome!
NinaAnoit: Ssssaaaammmmeeee. I'm constantly raving about him.
Miss Luny: I definitely got in my feelings last chapter lol
thebingefangirl: Thank you! I hope you like this chapter too
Alter Ego Bob: You always leave me the best long reviews, swear. "pop up where he isn't welcome" is such a good description for him in general lol.
Blue Cat: Thank you so much for your review! I hope you like this chapter as well.
Miss Envy: Thank you for your review! I hope you like this chapter too.
Stereotypical Nobody: That's such a sweet thing for you to say! Flashbacks are honestly one of my guilty pleasures. I love writing them.
Chapter 11
"What are you doing here?" Nanami hisses, his eyes a dangerous ebony, his teeth flashing in a snarl.
The silver-haired man's brows tip-up, the devilish smile still curling his lips. I can feel the press of his eyes even though I couldn't see them behind the ebony tint of his circular glasses. He hasn't looked away from me once, his whole body leaning over the chair just beside mine. Some people are able to take up a whole room with their presence - an odd trait that I've never been able to fully understand or appreciate. This man was one of those people.
The whole room seemed to shift and pull toward him, becoming so small in the presence of his greatness. I could feel it like a hand choking down on me, forcing me to take into account every single tick that he made, every single action. I wasn't the only one either. Every single person had at least turned once to look at him, their eyes strangely adoring, oddly possessive. I couldn't say I envied him. He wasn't someone who would calm a storm or reassure a worried child. He was the sort of person that would churn a rainstorm into a hurricane, turn a worry into a panic.
"You weren't answering my texts." His lip pull out in a pout and I'm struck suddenly with how beautiful he was.
Across from me, Nanami shuffles around, grumbling until he finds his phone and pulls it out.
I don't turn away from the silver-haired man, my nerves sharpening into frazzled points beneath my skin. Everything in me tells me not to look away. He seems to know it too, a sharp smile curling his lips, his head tipping a bit to the side. He has the fine features of someone that had been asked to model at more than one point in his life. He was unreasonably tall, tailored dark pants fitting to the muscular lines of his legs. A high-necked navy blue jacket gives nothing away except for maybe the fact that he went to the gym fairly regularly. Model? My eyes dart to Nanami who's flipping through his phone with a dark scowl on his face. If they know each other like this then it was possible…
"4 am: Wanna watch the sunrise with me," Nanami cuts in, his voice going a shade rougher with irritation as he reads out from his phone. From the silver-haired man's grin, it was obviously from him. "5 am: Why aren't you texting me back? I know you just got up for the gym. 510 am: I can see the lights on in your apartment. Don't make me act like your drunk lover again." He shut off his phone, his eyes flicking up to meet the other man's. "I blocked you after that."
A gasp slips from the other man, his hands going to rummage around in his pockets until he drags out his own phone. "Well, that's just great, Nanami. Now I have to get a whole new number again. What if it had to do with-"
He cuts himself off, his eyes flicking to me in silent calculation before a slow smile curled his lips. A zing of fear burst through my gut, making me sink a bit further into my seat. This man wasn't someone I wanted to mess with. "How much do you know?"
I shift away uncomfortably, feeling oddly trapped in the small cafe lounge area.
"Minato, come sit by me." There wasn't any room for argument in the command, Nanami's voice rough and low as he kept a hard gaze on the other man. I moved without a second thought, the dangerous edge to the question making me move quickly.
It wasn't until I slid into the seat beside him that I realized how close the seats actually were. Nanami's significantly bigger than I am. His legs long and I squirm a little as they brushed mine, his feet parting as he leans a bit forward to glare at the other man who was eyeing us with a look of complete delight. That strange metallic scent that seems to follow him is present again but only a slight undertone to the nearly overwhelming smell of fresh, crisp coffee and… I lean a bit to the side, drawing in a tight breath. Vanilla. I blink, shocked at the strangely sweet smell that seemed to cling to Nanami's hair and collar.
Does he like sweet things? I glanced down at the coffee cup, already empty. There was an empty plate with a few non-descript crumbs as well. Damn. If only -
I shake myself, realizing with horror that I was actively trying to figure out what he liked. I didn't like him, I remind myself. He's mean and a brute and too closed off and… and cold. Noticing things about him will make my life infinitely harder. Like the way his hair is down to stubble along his nape, fading into an undercut that should be ugly but is somehow unbearably attractive. Or the way a single finger is tapping slowly along the arm of his chair because he's annoyed with the man who joined us.
I tear my eyes away, shutting off my ability to see these things about him.
My gaze almost immediately collides with the silver-haired man and I can feel the scorching hot blush tear up my neck at the knowing little smirk he has in place. He's draped himself across the back of the chair, his long limbs spread out across it like a discarded jacket. Humiliation rips into my chest, making me sink farther into my seat. I can't see his eyes but I know they must be laughing at me. If a stranger can see my infatuation then I'm doomed.
A low growl slips through the air, stealing away my own hateful thoughts. Nanami's eyes are dark little pinpricks, his teeth flashing a bit as he snarls up at the other man. "Why are you here?"
Something in the air changes. I can feel it even though no one has moved. The other man's voice is soft and syrupy. "Getting a bit protective, Nanami? I've never seen you so…growly."
"Maybe because I try to avoid you whenever possible," Nanami stated bluntly. His jaw flexed, his body shifting a bit closer to me. I feel a flutter of unwelcome nerves as his thigh skims mine. "Why are you here, Gojo?"
Gojo. His name was Gojo.
His glasses slid off in one smooth motion and I drew in a sharp breath. His eyes were the most striking shade of blue I had ever seen, all crystal prisms and icy hills. They glowed, lighting and dimming in odd intervals like a gem slowly catching the light of a setting sun. They're beautiful and… horrible all at once. I can feel them tearing me open and inspecting me like a child's play set, cracking me open in a way that I never consented to.
I tear my eyes away, shuddering. Who is this man? My eyes dart around the floor, trying to search for answers and finding nothing but the dirty cafe tile instead. If he was here… if he could make me feel this way with only a look… My stomach flips, making me sick. My mother always said that to hunt monsters, you had to be one. And that's exactly what these men do. What did I get myself-
A warm weight comes to rest suddenly on my head, the movement so unexpected that my eyes snake along the arm that it's connected to, up to the broad shoulder and finally to the stern face, his head still tipped toward Gojo.
It's only a hand. Just a hand resting on the top of my head.
But it makes me feel safe. I don't know why. I feel the flighty part of me kick up, crying out in alarm at the sudden warmth bursting from somewhere deep inside of me. The feel of Nanami's hand is like a safety blanket around me, stabilizing me, centering me and I think a small part of me fears it.
He slides his touch away after a long moment and I don't say anything, unsure of what to say. I sit, staring at the side of his face until his features blur, trying desperately to untangle the mess that my insides have become. He was trying to comfort me, I think, dizzily.
My eyes slip away, connecting suddenly with Gojo's and stilling at the knowing look on his face.
His eyes don't leave me even as he addresses Nanami. "You know they'll want to see her."
My stomach twists again, sudden anxiety beating through me as Nanami's shoulders roll in clear agitation. His eyes are hard as they stare back at the other man. He looks like he wants to say something but won't allow himself to, a small muscle clenching and unclenching in his jaw.
Gojo's eyes finally slip to Nanami's dark one, his brows going up a bit. "You're not usually so sentimen-"
"Give me time to figure this out." The words are rough, made of hard rock against hard rock. I can hear the plea just beneath the surface, the sudden cord of desperation. "She can't even see my-"
Gojo's eyes suddenly collide with mine, making me jump a bit in my seat. I eye him warily watching as he brings up a hand, an odd light bursting to life in those arctic depths.
"Gojo-" Nanami snarls but I can barely hear it over the roar in my own veins.
There's something happening - like a vacuum of energy suddenly being sucked up and twisted into tiny little ribbons all around it. I can feel it. Chills burst along my skin, my lunges tightening until it's hard to breathe.
Get away, a small voice chirps, and I shudder, unable to break away from that terrible gaze. Move. Move now, Minato.
I jerk, scrambling out of my chair and instantly getting tangled in Nanami's legs as I try to dart around him. Gravity takes over after that. My arms flail, trying to catch hold of something as I lose my balance. I'm a mess of uncoordinated arms and legs, a yelp bursting from my lips as I realize that the floor is going to be an unflattering introduction to my face in about ten seconds.
Strong arms catch me, jerking me to a stop and redirecting me into soft warmth before I can slam to the ground. Breath whooshes from me, one strong arm wrapping around my waist, another catching my thighs as I crash into a chest. I blink, mind spinning as the body beneath me gives a grunt, cradling me.
Breath blows hot against my temple, Nanami's familiar voice a rumble against my air. "What the fuck was that?"
"Language," Comes the laughing response and I shut my eyes against the burning embarrassment of what just happened. What the hell was that? Why did I do that? "That was fight or flight. Even though your girl can't see cursed energy, she can feel it. Rather acutely too, if that reaction was any indication."
Hands brushed away the mess of my hair from my temple and my insides give a pitiful quake at the rough scrape of his broad fingers along my cheeks, combing through my hair. Nanami's eyes search out mine, his head dipping a bit as he looks me over. "Are you okay?"
God, can this get any more embarrassing?
I slip out of his lap, trying not to think too hard about the way that his hands stay on me, steadying my movements with a grip that spans my waist. I can feel the attention of most of the cafe around us, the pinpricks of a dozen eyes judging me as I settle myself back in my seat with the little dignity I can muster.
Nanami's watching me with furrowed brows, his lips tight, eyes intense.
It's obvious he'd rather cut off his own hand than let me go meet whoever Gojo is referring to.
"Who would want to know about me?" My voice quivers a bit as I force myself to straighten, finally meeting Gojo's amused gaze. "Will they… will they be able to help me?"
"The head honchos," Gojo drawls, leaning over the chair more until it looks like he's a giant bowl of sludge dripping over the leather back. "The boss mans. The people who used to be useful and now just pretend to be useful." His grin is a savage thing, all teeth with no real sincerity. "As for your second question - no. They'll be absolutely useless. Might even just choose to tie you up in protective seals and lock you in the dungeon until you wither away."
A cold shiver slides up my spine. I don't think that I'd particularly like that.
"She doesn't need to go," Nanami cuts in, his voice little more than a growl. "Her abilities are so weak-"
Gojo's face puckers in a disbelieving stare. "Please, darling. Save your politicking for the right audience. You and I both know that she-" He jabs a finger at me. "Is an anomaly. The old farts don't like anomalies. It gives them heartburn."
My eyes flick between the two - the odd combination of Nanami's obvious anger against Gojo's carefree amusement making the meeting feel imbalanced.
Something suddenly shifts in Gojo's eyes, his face going suddenly serious as he takes in the way that Nanami's body has tilted further toward me. His arm's made it almost completely onto the arm of my chair, that lone finger tapping away at the leather. "You know that they're on edge lately."
There's an undercurrent to his words that I don't miss, something unsaid passing between the two that makes Nanami's jaw tighten further. This won't go away, I realize suddenly, the sudden reality hitting me with dizzying certainty. Everything - my life, these monsters, Nanami, and now Gojo - all of it spinning together with frightening clarity. My normal life is drifting, slipping through my fingers.
"I -" I swallow around the sudden fear. "Will going there -" The question flies away, leaving behind a small plea. "I just want things to go back to the way they were."
I hadn't meant to say it so plainly but now it hangs between all three of us, the silence heavy. Even I'm not sure that that's what I want. Was my life so great before? Even with the horror and fear - at least now - My eyes slide to Nanami, watching as he lets out a long breath, dragging a hand through his hair and squeezing his eyes shut. He takes a long breath in, centering himself before he turns to me, meeting my eyes with stern determination.
"I don't know what will happen if you meet with the jujutsu higher-ups, Minato." A zing of fluttering nerves raced through me as he said my name. He leaned a bit closer into my space, his words going low and hypnotic as I listened. "They could dismiss you. They could tell me never to contact you again. They could even try to convince you to join the ranks of the sorcerers."
A tremor of fear tightened my gut. I had never fought in my entire life. The thought of facing something as terrifying as what I had seen just a night or so ago made a cold sweat break out along my spine. The thought didn't look to be particularly appealing to Nanami either, the words gritted out through clenched teeth.
Still he pushed on. "So what I'm going to tell you to do is very important," he continued, shifting so that an arm curled along the back of my chair, his face dipping so close to mine that I could suddenly see that his eyes were a startling shade of brown, crested through with caramel and crystallized honey. "You stay by my side the entire time. You don't say more than you need to. You don't offer them anything. You don't agree to anything. You stick close to me, you hear me, Minato?"
Warmth oozes into my stomach, heating me up like a kettle brought closer to boil. He sounds… protective. He sounds like he cares about me.
Get a grip, a small voice chides.
A frown tips his lips down, command slipping into his voice as he stares down at me. "Minato."
"Close and quiet." I nod, trying to force away those dopey thoughts. "Got it."
His eyes darken. "I need you to say the whole thing, Minnow."
My insides light, bursting apart at the nickname. Heat sears up my neck and across my face. What was he saying? Whole thing? My mind spins. I can barely remember my name.
"I-" I search for the right words.
Nanami's head tips to the side, giving me the words patiently. "I'll be a good girl and stick to you like a second skin, Nanami."
My face somehow goes hotter, my eyes darting toward where Gojo is still lounging, his smile playfully broad. He can hear everything. Hot embarrassment tightens my chest. When I rip my eyes away, Nanami is still waiting for me, his face unbearably patient.
My words come out so soft that I can barely hear them myself. "I'll be… I'll beagoodgirl," I rush, floundering. My skin heats at the words, something deep inside of me flaring to life at the words. I don't think I entirely hate them. I shift uncomfortably on the seat, my face heating even further at the dull ache pulsing between my thighs. What's going on with me? "And stick to you like a second skin."
He's staring at me like I forgot something. I search around in my head.
"Nanami," I finish quickly and I hate to admit that I sink into his touch as his hand comes out to pet along my head, his hand a comforting weight.
"Good girl," he murmurs and I preen. I'll think about why I enjoy that so much another time. Not right now though.
A sweet voice breaks through the gentle calm that's taken over the moment. "If you two are done, we have an appointment with a decrepit crypt keeper we need to get to."
My mood sours. Right. That.
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