Outside the air is warm tonight. The stars are all shining brightly but Sukuna refuses to give them his attention. Their proud shimmering is a cruel mockery of his current dismal mood. To pass the time, he entertains the company of a spider crawling between his claws and spinning its web. He sits reclined against a tree, humming a tune despondently in incomplete notes, one from your own memory so he is unable to recall the ending.
The sound of footsteps approaching in the garden prompts him to raise his head. His brow furrows in confusion when he sees Junpei, who's voice comes as a frail whisper in the dark.
"Hello, Master. M-may I join you?"
"Of course… But why are you here?" Sukuna relinquishes the spider to a nearby rosebush, suspecting something has gone wrong.
His servant sniffles but gives a weak laugh. It doesn't sound very genuine.
"Maybe it was my fault. I must have said something I shouldn't have... They left."
"Left you alone?" your Curse clarifies.
"I'm fine. Really. They said they'll be back soon."
With a shrug Junpei tries his best not to let his emotions show. He rubs his shoulders and sniffles again quietly, surveying the bowing arches of the top-heavy rose bushes.
"Do any other colors of roses grow here?" he asks while fumbling with a weary blossom which had become entangled in the thorny stems of its neighbor.
"No. Only white," his master replies.
"Oh. That's a little disappointing." The corner of his mouth tugs, but he appears more wistful than sad.
"What's on your mind? Speak freely," his master commands.
"I was just remembering a children's story about a girl named Alice who had to paint white roses red with actual paint."
"Why would someone do that?" Sukuna asks. A good story of course always interests him. Even humans manage to weave an entertaining tale every now and again.
"Because there was a crazy queen in the story who hated white roses. Her gardeners made a mistake planting them and Alice tried to help paint the blooms all by hand to save their lives."
As Junpei reminisces on the story, he breaks off a stem and pulls a single white rose free, shaking off droplets of early dew before bringing it up to his face. He's nearly startled when he turns back around and finds his master has once again crept up right behind him silently.
"Did it work? Was the queen fooled?" he asks expectantly.
Thinking back, Junpei cracks an embarrassed smile when he recalls the ending.
"Actually no…The gardeners were all beheaded anyway."
Sukuna chuckles darkly. "A fantastic children's tale."
Now Junpei is giggling out of control. The sound fills the garden, startling a few of the slumbering birds resting in nearby branches.
"Yeah. I guess it is pretty messed up, huh?" He twists the rose he'd picked, admiring its perfect spiral.
"I like your human stories," Sukuna whispers in a hushed voice as he takes the flower from his servant's fingers. He inspects its thorns, twisting the stem deliberately.
"What color do you like?" he asks with a cryptic grin.
"Hm? Oh, um… blue?"
With a nod, Sukuna deliberately pricks his finger and lets a dark droplet of his dark blood drip down the stem. Junpei watches in confusion and then in awe as he notices the center of the rose begin to change in color. In a matter of seconds the entire blossom is a deep shade of blue. Satisfied, Sukuna presents it back to his servant. He accepts it with both hands protectively, mouth still hanging wide open. Plucking off one single petal, the boy is shocked to find no trace of white left.
"Amazing!" he murmurs.
"Heh. Mere child's play," Sukuna chuckles.
"It's beautiful. Thank you!" Junpei exalts as he spins the flower between his thumb and forefinger, breathing in its heavy perfume.
"Heh. It's nice to be appreciated. Or even noticed," your Curse scoffs under his breath as he casts an angry glance overhead into the night sky.
No sign of you.
He wonders where you went and how long you'll be gone this time, counting the seconds ticking by as he cannot help but to do. When he feels the cold sensation of a smaller hand being slipped into his own, Sukuna looks down at Junpei, who is only gazing up lovingly at his master. He squeezes those slender fingers, choosing not to rebuke his servant for touching him without permission.
.
.
.
The moment you left the church you began kicking yourself mentally for the brevity of your farewell to Junpei. You promise to make it up to him the moment you return, though choosing to fly in your current state may have been a poor decision. It's hard to keep your eyes focussed. They keep sliding off to look at other things on their own, what is it with you?
A shadow in the dark being the only guide to follow makes the task of staying on target much more difficult than you'd expected, and your own wings dip and shiver despite them being impervious to the cold night air. When Keigo's shadow dips down and makes for a landing, you follow suit, pushing yourself to catch up and dropping down after him.
Finally! It looks like he's aware that he's being followed. He's already waiting for you to join him on the rooftop of a closed restaurant, both arms are folded expectantly and you can even make out a bemused expression on his face. Keigo can never take any situation too seriously. That jerk….
As your boots touchdown, you decide to skip the pleasantries entirely.
"You've got some nerve showing up here!" you accuse immediately as you stalk over to him.
"It's nice to see you too, turtledove. I hope you've been doing well," Hawks coos nonchalantly, choosing to ignore your outburst with his cocky smirk while offering a friendly wave.
"Oh, stuff it! I've been meaning to talk with you about your little gift to Raphael. Where do you get the nerve letting someone put one of my feathers on display?! Do you have any idea how stupid that was?!" you demand.
He frowns and rubs his chin with a gloved hand, tsking with disapproval.
"Is that what he did with it? Ah, that's no good. I thought he'd keep it for his personal private collection… but he did take it with a sort of strange reaction now that I think of it. He said it was useful somehow? I didn't know what he meant by that, but if he put it up on display with the rest, I'm sorry about that."
"Sorry? He told me that people came in asking where he got it! And now I've got sorcerers on my trail because of your screw up! I almost got caught at the amusement park!" you shout.
His eyes light up now. "That was you? Haha! I knew it! I had a feeling… When the call came in about a winged human wrecking the park at night, I knew it had to be you. I hope you were able to at least have some fun?"
You burn silently while glaring at him, not in the mood to retell your side of things. Clearly he didn't need to hear it if he's not arresting you right now. "What the hell are you doing out here in the middle of nowhere anyway?"
"Oh, I followed you!" he chirps happily. Flipping down his flight goggles, he hits a switch on one side.
"Check it out! I got upgraded with night vision! With thermal view for optimum tracking."
You don't look very impressed.
"Followed me? From where exactly?"
"That warehouse party you stumbled out of," he adds with a knowing sly grin.
Your jaw fairly drops. "You were there? Where?"
"In the shadows. I make it my business to remain unseen on my missions. Lately they've been having me working graveyard shifts."
The term makes you uneasy, though maybe it's because you were just visiting a graveyard earlier tonight.
"What were you doing there?" you ask finally.
"Hoping to see you, honestly. I don't think you're even aware, but you've amassed quite a fanclub since we last saw each other." Keigo smiles with what seems to be pride.
Your brow arches curiously. "Huh? What are you talking about?"
Reaching into his pocket, Hawks takes out his phone. After scrolling for the information he's looking for, he hands the device to you. "You're famous! Here, check it out."
That subtle uneasiness you'd begun to feel only moments before is quickly quadrupling into full blown dread. You don't like the sound of this at all, but take his phone anyway to see for yourself.
Come join us as we gather in the name of Dark Angel, protector of Tokyo.
"Oh my fucking God," you mutter.
Hawks of course mistakes your reaction for flattery and claps your shoulder amicably. "Pretty cool, right? Dark Angel. That's the name they gave you, and it looks like you have lots of fans keeping track of your hard work."
His voice is lost to you as your ears begin ringing. The gravity of the situation hits you as you realize you've been found. Your breathing turns shallow.
You swallow hard. "Who else knows about this?"
"Hm? Well, uh… There's me and now you of course." Keigo trails off avoidantly, but you snatch the collar of his shirt and shake him until his goggles fall out of place.
"Whoa- hey! Watch it, I have to replace these if something happens!" he sputters.
"Tell me! Who else?" The glow in your eyes is menacing enough to let him know you mean business.
"One of my superiors dropped this case on me! F-for aerial coverage. He just wants to see if there's any weight in it or if you're a myth!" he blurts finally.
True panic is setting in, gripping you like a cold hand on the back of your neck. Hawks works with law enforcement, and police on your trail is the last thing you need.
"I'm going to give you one last chance. Start explaining," you warn him in a low voice.
"Sure I will! B-but seriously let me go first. You're pretty strong," he laughs nervously.
It's only now you realize that his feet are swinging lightly in the air. You lifted him with only one hand.
With an annoyed huff, you set him down again and turn your attention back to his phone screen. There are pictures posted, but thankfully all taken at night, providing little more than faint outlines and shadows. At the very bottom of the page is a single image, another photograph, but this one is much cleaner than the rest. It shows a group of older teenagers smiling and holding up peace signs while crowded around you. Your wings are clear in the image and you're wearing Hawk's light brown flight jacket. This must have been taken during those few days you spent with him. Worst of all, your face is plainly visible. Your features, your markings, hair, everything.
The events at the warehouse are beginning to slowly piece together. If those people were there because of this site, they all saw this image and read these stories 'll, according to this site, they were there celebrating you, attempting to reach out to you somehow.
"Why are they doing this?" you ask in a shaking voice.
"Like I said, they're fans. People you've saved and others who are grateful to you for it. They made this site to share their stories about you. People love you."
Love?
"But…why?"
Hawks chuckles at your persistent confusion. You're so reluctant to see what's right in front of you that it's adorable.
"Isn't it obvious? These people adore you. The website gets updated whenever there's a new report about something you've done to help someone else."
Your vision hazes over and you feel like you're going to throw up, although you're unsure how you'd accomplish that now. Swaying on your feet a little, you hand the phone back to Keigo. You can't make yourself read any more, even the scrolling motion is making you sick. There's no way the Jujutsu sorcerers won't eventually find this and have enough evidence to hunt you down.
"I'm toast. Finished. Done for," you moan. Unable to keep yourself upright, you collapse to your knees, holding your face in despair.
Your feathered messenger of death plops down beside you, patting your back as he continues.
"Don't worry. Like I said, I'm the only one my boss asked to research this case to see if there's any proof to your existence. All I have to say is that it's a dead end or staged for a hoax and he'll forget all about it."
Your head jerks up. "So you're planning on lying to cover for me? Why?"
"Because I think you're doing good work. Judging by what you've been doing, if these accounts are all true, you're making a huge difference here."
He smiles warmly at you, raising up his visor so you can see his face clearly. While still cheery, he's looking less energetic than the Hawks you remembered. Something has been wearing him down.
"You're making a difference here. You're a hero," he says quite seriously.
"No I'm not," you mutter.
"Well, to me you are, so I'm not going to be the one to stop you when you're literally making my job easier, but I do have one question for you."
With a seriousness you didn't know he was capable of, his eyes narrow suspiciously.
"The stories on the site always leave off the details on what happens after you show up. Most people admit they ran away terrified, so only a few stuck around long enough to get a photo of you in the dark. No one ever talks about what happens to the perpetrators you catch."
"Yeah. And?"
"So my question is…what happens to them?" he asks you expectantly.
You sit in silence, contemplating how to answer him. Keigo must have his suspicions anyway. Maybe he's asking you for a confession, but why would he do that if he already said he isn't arresting you? You don't dismiss the possibility that he may be wearing a wire tap since he's admitted freely to having been assigned to your case. It's probably best to be defensive with your answer.
"They retire," you say finally, leaving it up to him to decipher your meaning.
He only chuckles and sighs with what sounds like relief.
"Well, that's good enough for me. I trust your judgment. But maybe it would be best if you took a sabbatical hiatus? You know…a break? Just for a little while until my superiors lose interest. What do you say?"
Your expression remains stoic and impossible for him to read, but at least Hawks appears to have accepted that vague explanation you gave with little issue. It should make you feel better. It doesn't. However the idea of not going out for a while is probably the safest move for now.
"Sure. Whatever," you mutter.
"Great! I'll be able to sleep a bit easier knowing you're lying low temporarily. Let's say two weeks. Alright? Relax and take it easy in the meantime while the fuss dies down. Now I gotta get back to work. I'm still on the clock!"
Readjusting his visor over his face again, Hawks stretches out his wings in preparation to leave. Just as he plants a boot on the ledge to step up, he pauses as if remembering something and turns with a mischievous grin.
"By the way…. You had a passenger when I was following you, didn't you? Who was that I saw you flying with?"
You freeze. Of course he saw Junpei! But you're not about to let him have his name to add to your case file, whether he would do so or not.
"No one," you reply evenly.
He isnt letting you off the hook so easily. "Oh yeah? They weren't holding onto you like they were no one, and I sincerely doubt you'd take just anyone out for a romantic night flight."
"It's none of your business who I'm with, and I'd like for you to please stop following me!" you snap.
Holding up his palms in surrender, Hawks offers another disarming smile.
"Hey, I didn't mean to pry! I was just going to say I think it's nice you made a friend. I've been worried about you being lonely out here, turtledove. To be honest, I was relieved to see you out having fun with someone. Happiness looks good on you."
Your chest twinges painfully. The image of Junpei sitting alone in the attic awaiting your return fills you with guilt. You aren't being a very good friend right now.
"Yeah, well. I can't be miserable forever, right?" you shrug.
"Hah! Right! You should take care of yourself so we can run into each other again soon and fly together. Bring your friend too!" He waves and with a few hard flaps, he allows the wind to take him from the rooftop.
You wait until he's out of sight before readying yourself to leave too, not wanting to risk the possibility that he might catch sight of where you're heading. It's unclear if Keigo saw where you're currently staying, but he came much too close for comfort. Silently you count backwards from one hundred just to be certain.
Then, satisfied, you prepare to make your departure, wings stretching open wide. Just as you're about to take off, you freeze after hearing something. You can't be sure, but it sounds just like breathing. You call out into the darkness.
"Who is it? Come out, I know you're there."
Slowly a dark shape comes forward, saying your name in a way that sparks your memory. Then he steps into the moonlight, letting you see him.
"F-Fushiguro?" you whisper in disbelief, hoping that your eyes are done playing tricks on you.
But your old friend smiles when he hears you say his name. Forgetting his decorum, he runs the rest of the way to you, throwing his arms around your neck and letting the solace of your safety wash over him. Laughing, you return his embrace.
"What are you doing out here?" you ask incredulously.
"Looking for you! And I finally got lucky. Haha!" He laughs. The sound fills the night air, causing you to join in him.
"How did you…" but your question trails off.
"You followed Hawks, didn't you?"
Fushiguro squeezes you tighter. "I had a feeling that he'd lead me to you eventually. I've been trailing him for a while now. I've missed you so damn much!"
Your eyes sting and a lump rises to your throat. "Of course. I've missed you too. It's so good to see you!"
Pausing momentarily to look you over, your old comrade frowns when he notices something alarming.
"Where…Where is Sukuna?! I don't sense his energy with you!"
You wince, knowing this is going to get awkward fast. "I… left him somewhere."
"Excuse me?" He blinks, trying to make sense of what you're telling him.
"He isn't in your body?"
"Not right now. He's… back home."
"Home?" he echoes your words with a troubled expression.
"That's right."
His expression changes in an instant. He looks horrified.
"Why would you- How?!"
"Oh, just a new technique I picked up. It's pretty useful for when I want my space," you chuckle nervously, avoiding his direct gaze. Fuck… this is super awkward. You weren't expecting to run into someone else you knew! The way he's looking at you is…. Oh, God he is looking directly at you! You're supposed to be enemies now, yet he doesn't seem like he wants to fight you.
He says your name again, this time resuming his original relief at simply knowing you're safe. Taking your hands, Fushiguro brings them up to kiss them. His lips are warm on your skin, causing you to shiver involuntarily.
His brow knits together tightly before he speaks again, your name breaking in his voice placatingly. "You…. have to turn yourself in."
The earth seems to fall away beneath your feet. Did you hear that correctly?
He looks back up at you, tears streaming down his cheeks as he repeats his request.
"Please. You have to!"
You push him back. Why the hell is he talking like this? Doesn't he still give a damn about you?
No. I really don't," you argue. You don't care how it sounds. He can shove whatever sentiments he thought he was offering.
Fushiguro looks beyond hurt. His eyes are visibly watering. "But- "
"Shove it! You want me to turn myself over so the Jujutsu sorcerers can just kill me?! What the hell is wrong with you?!"
"We can vouch for you! Itadori, Gojo-sensei and me– We can come up with something to get the council to see that you're a victim as well in all of this. Sukuna used you! What happened to Itadori…. that wasn't your fault."
He's reassuring you, trying to get you to see the sense in turning yourself in. A year ago maybe you would have listened to him, but that isn't you anymore.
"You know, as thrilling as your offer is, I think I'm going to stick to being on my own. Thanks for that though. I'll be sure to keep my options open," you snarl.
Fushiguro looks hurt. You hardly care. What he's proposing is a certain death sentence.
"You can't keep running forever. Sukuna can't be controlled!" he insists, trying to convince you with a gentle hand on your shoulder.
You shrug him off. "You don't know that."
"What are you talking about? Of course he can't!"
"I keep him in check! He's in a safe place and he isn't going anywhere. What don't you get about that?!" you snap at him, showing all of your anger now.
"Safe?" he repeats while shaking his head in disbelief.
Of course the prospect of an environment being safe from any Special Grade Curse is abject fantasy in his eyes. A Special grade Curse can exist in any dimension or plane of existence, traveling in and out with ease. No mortal could ever hope to contain that kind of power. He sighs your name again wearily.
"Maybe you're too close to see it from where you are, but you have no idea of how much danger you're in. What am I supposed to do if we're ordered to fight one day?!" Fushiguro suddenly shouts, grabbing you again tightly by both of your shoulders. He's shaking. You realize that he's also crying, but it doesn't move you.
"If I'm so dangerous, do your job right now and arrest me," you sneer coldly.
He gapes at you in disbelief, appalled that you would dare him to do such a thing. "I…can't do that."
"No? And yet you expect me to turn myself in?" you scoff.
"I just… can't do this anymore! It's destroying me and Itadori too," He adds the last part purposefully, twisting the knife further.
At each mention of his name you flinch visibly. You can still see Yuji's blood on your hands and taste it on your tongue. For you it feels like it just happened yesterday. And he wasn't the only one you hurt. Inumaki only ever was kind to you… How can you possibly face anyone from your past again?
"That's just not the life I can have anymore," you sigh somberly, refusing to meet his eyes.
"Sukuna is a killer. Eventually he'll kill you too." Fushiguro insists again.
You only scoff. "I control him. He doesn't do anything without me telling him to do it."
Pursing his lips in hard thought before asking his next question, Fushiguro meets your gaze. "In that case… have you killed anyone?"
You glare at him angrily, refusing to respond. How much of your conversation with Hawks did he overhear? Did he even need to eavesdrop to have assumptions like that? He is right afterall.
Judging by your silence, he has his answer. His expression turns sorrowful.
"I'm sorry things are the way they are. I'd give anything to have you back with us. I mean it. I hope you at least know that much."
"Yeah, well… I'm sure I wouldn't fit in anyway. I never felt like I belonged there," you remind him unnecessarily.
"I'm sorry. I wanted so much for things to be different than it turned out. Some days it feels like a dream and you were never there at all. Those are the days I hate the most. When I'm barely aware that I'm alive and failing at keeping you safe… I can't do it anymore." He's crying openly with each word, pouring his heart out for you.
"Keeping me safe?" you repeat with a wry laugh.
That's almost legitimately funny. Your fears of being found by authorities and sorcerers don't stem from the need to protect yourself. It's more like you don't want to be bothered to move again or with the cleanup of the aftermath, but you can handle your own, that's for certain.
"That's sweet of you, Fushiguro, but you really don't have to worry about that. Honestly, " you insist again.
"I can't help it. I'll always worry about you," he insists.
"Well you can rest easy for a while. I'm planning on kicking back and doing nothing for the next few weeks. I've been working my ass off banishing Curses and keeping the city safe. You know, sorcerer duties that you should be doing instead of guilting me into giving up my freedom."
"If you feel guilty, that's on you. I don't want to see you get hurt, or worse."
If he only knew how things are for you now.
"Yeah well… it's probably too late for me anyway," you muse aloud.
"Too late? What do you-"
DEETDEETDEET
Fushiguro is startled by the ringing of his phone. His eyes widen with sheer panic and he motions desperately for you to remain silent with a finger to his lips.
"Yes, hello."
"Megumi! Tell me you have some good news, for the love of God."
It's Gojo's voice on the other end. He sounds much more stressed than you remembered. His usual easy-going tone is now tight with worry.
"Yep. Absolutely. I found Itadori already. He's right here with me," he reassures your old sensei with a meaningful glance in your direction.
"Excellent! I'll open the portal at the same point in five minutes? Okay?"
"Yes–No! I mean… Can you make it ten? We ended up a bit further away." He winces, hating the grueling task of coming up with excuses on the spot. Itadori is a much better liar than he is.
After a pause on the line, Gojo finally gives in.
"Alright. You have ten minutes. Don't be late."
The line beeps then disconnects abruptly without him saying goodbye.
"Wow. Now you're lying for me?" You cock an eyebrow at the hypocrisy of his actions.
He glares but doesn't reply. Wasting no time, Fushiguro summons Nue once more. At least he can search for Itadori on his way back. They'll have to haul ass to make it on time. Casting one last dubious glance over his shoulder toward you, Megumi offers one last sad expression.
"We all do what we think is right in the end," he mutters.
"You're right. We do," you agree pointedly.
Without another word his shikigami takes flight. Your eyes linger on the conjoined shadow of man and beast as they disappear into the sky.
.
.
.
The lush grass of the churchyard cushions your landing. It's quiet. You expected to see Sukuna out here, but strangely he seems to be absent. Maybe he got tired of sitting outside. You're eager to check in with Junpei to apologize for your sudden departure earlier, so you head back that way.
Cold, silent darkness welcomes you home as you step through the back door. There's still no sign of your Curse when you step into the sanctuary. Where did he go?
From above, a shuffling sound from the attic draws your attention. Junpei? You can see the ladder rungs clearly in the moonlight leading up to a now darkened space above. Something about this gives you pause momentarily, but you try to swallow that ominous feeling and begin climbing up. Quietly.
There's a sweet piney smell you don't recognize in the air. The first thing you see is a flash of white swaying in the darkness, accompanied by the steady cadence of heavy breathing.
"Junpei?" you whisper with uncertainty.
You gasp when he faces you with a look of shock mirroring your own, his skin nearly glowing in the moonlight. Beneath him you can plainly see the fire of four red points of light staring back at you. Sukuna is lying on his back on the futon, tapestry draped over his legs…. with Junpei seated reversed in his lap. With his back to the larger man's chest and his knees being held open, nothing escapes your view.
"What the fuck are you doing?!" you shout.
"Has it been so long that you forgot what it looks like or do I really need to answer?" Sukuna practically snarls back at you.
Despite being caught, he doesn't cease his movements, continuing to lazily thrust his hips upward. His grip tightens noticeably, grinding the boy down further onto his cock, taking smug satisfaction in you watching him.
Junpei however is far from okay. Frozen in place, his face is a mask of the intense pleasure he's experiencing and humiliation at being caught. His eyes lock onto yours and his mouth falls open as he wordlessly tries to manage some sort of apology or explanation to no avail.
As if you'd blame him.
Your eyes narrow menacingly on Sukuna. "I told you not to touch him!"
"You said not to hurt him," he counters, keeping his grip vehemently around the underside of your friend's thighs.
"He isn't your fucking plaything!" Your fists ball up at your sides at his defiance. The bastard knows very well what you meant.
Clearly angered by your accusations as well as the interruption, Sukuna grabs Junpei's face by his chin, directing him to cease his cowering and face you.
"See here! Does he look like he's in any pain? He's much better off now than when he came to me. He's the one who begged me for this…"
Junpei? You meet his frantic gaze, finding he's still fighting to turn away, but Sukuna forbids it, keeping his face locked with yours. Your Curse rips off the tapestry covering their lower halves. Your friend squeaks in embarrassment as his body is bared to you. His hands fly to cover his groin uselessly after the fact, but you already see how hard he is. Daringly Sukuna thrusts upward in one single stroke, forcing Junpei to accept his length inside once more as you watch on. Strangled sounds pour from the boy's lips and he clenches his eyes tightly shut, trying to vanish on the spot.
"You used to be so full of life. A pleasure-seeker just like this one... Don't you miss it? How long are you going to refuse to live? You waste every opportunity while wallowing in your dread." Sukuna releases his hold at last, appreciatively stroking and petting the soft skin of Junpei's torso to make him squirm.
Being wedged between you, naked and horrified at being caught this way, your friend can't fight feeling as if he's betrayed you somehow. His eyes fill with tears and his sounds become more strained as he whimpers your name.
"I'm…s-sorry…So, so sorry," he mumbles pathetically, raising his hands to his face to hide from you. His legs pull up beneath him, trying to somehow salvage what little modestly he has left in the moment.
You touch his shoulder lightly and he falls forward, resting his head on your chest. In an attempt to comfort him, you cradle his head in both hands. He accepts your touch and sobs lightly into your shirt.
"It's alright. I'm not upset," you reassure him.
He doesn't answer right away, feeling incredibly vulnerable in this state. With the throbbing pulse of his master deep within him, so cruelly distracting, he can't fight the growing inevitable urge to resume the pace which had been lost between them. Oh, God this is so humiliating!
"Why don't I leave for a little while? I'll give you some privacy," you offer and begin to pull away.
Without his master prompting him to do so, Junpei wraps his arms around you in a tight embrace. He looks up at you with enormous eyes, gathering all of his courage.
"No please! Stay! I-I want you to stay here…. with us," he pleads.
Us?
Glancing up at your Curse, you find all four of his eyes locked with yours. His pupils are burning like cinders in the dark as he silently awaits your reply. Already he is anticipating your rejection.
"I look at you…and I see how sad you are. Your ache, your loneliness…. And I'm not saying I could fix it. I don't think I could, I'm not that special…. But…Isn't it better to have someone else to share that loneliness with?"
Junpei whispers your name again. You shiver as his fingers slide into your feathers the same way they did earlier. In desperation his grip keeps you pinned in place, not realizing that he himself is trembling in your arms. His skin is smooth beneath your palms, and he makes small responsive sounds at your touch. Suddenly you're aware that you're squeezing him much harder now, pulling him tightly against you. Your breathing syncs together as he kisses the corner of your lips softly, causing your whole body to shiver.
"Junpei…." you murmur.
The world outside seems so far away right now. While enveloped in this warm embrace, the harsh realities of cruel fate begin to fall away. Of course they'll all be waiting for you whenever you leave again. You can't hide from them here… But for now when Junpei presses his lips to yours again, you don't pull away, allowing the tenderness of the act to comfort you. His tongue bravely swipes your lower lip. You invite him in and deepen the kiss, tasting the remnants of something sticky and sweet lingering behind. Your name escapes his lips happily and he buries his face into your shoulder.
You raise your head to look at Sukuna, who's eyes lower at once, refusing to look at you and risk somehow breaking this fragile new spell being woven.
"I won't interfere," he vows.
You reach forward and caress his face causing him to flinch noticeably. His eyes close and brow creases at this physical contact, tight lines forming at the corners of his mouth. He swallows and you hear his breath sharply inhale, but otherwise he remains silent.
"It's alright," you reassure him and trace your thumb over the black lines beneath his secondary eye. It peeks open, peering up at you.
"Is it?"
"Yeah. We're… fine. Okay?"
It sounds odd to say aloud, but for better or for worse, the way things have been lately haven't been absolutely miserable for you. Sukuna has the ability to make your life much more chaotic than it already is, but he chooses not to. That must mean something. You can't deny that an odd truce between the two of you has slowly settled over the past few weeks since Junpei joined you.
Cupping a warm hand over yours, your Curse revels in this rare touch from you. He could pry about where you've been if he wanted to. Even this slight contact would be enough to tell him where you went, but he resists, though he cannot help noticing the traces of sorrow clinging to your mind. He makes a low sound in the back of his throat as he brings your fingers to his lips to kiss them. The same motion Fushiguro had done earlier….
The attic is silent other than the creak of the floorboards beneath your boots as you kick them off and the muted sounds of Junpei's anticipatory whimpers when you wrap your other arm around his lower back. He gasps when you begin to move him back and forth where he sits, moaning behind clenched teeth.
"Is he …all the way inside of you?" you ask with a smile tugging your lips.
"Um. Y-yeah. H-he's very gentle," Junpei replies.
He blushes deeper. He's too embarrassed to tell you about the bottle of oil his generous master supplied to coat his length before easing into him despite him being unable to feel pain upon penetration anyway. Or the honeyed kisses they had shared to reward each primary thrust to ensure Junpei would associate his true first time with only sweetness.
Noting the color surging to his cheeks, you kiss his face and speak directly into his ear.
"He feels good, doesn't he?"
With another surge of blush, your friend nods with enthusiasm. You smile and allow your curious fingers to brush over his erection currently weeping against his stomach. He rolls his hips forward for more without meaning to do so.
"S-sorry," he mutters with his senses clouding over already.
The aching stretch of Sukuna's length pulsing within him is heavily distracting, filling him with the desire to move again, but he can't bring himself to do so with you looking right at him this way.
"It's alright…" You take Junpei's hips in both hands again, rocking them in place until he whimpers behind his clenched teeth.
"Does that feel good?"
"Ah! Y-yes! Mmn!" He stifles his sounds behind his fist and shuts his eyes again. When he peeks open to look at you, he can see that you're actually smiling at him, which only makes him blush ever deeper. Clearly you have chosen to stay, though by now he's unsure if he is truly ready for this.
Gradually Sukuna is compelled to add to this spectacle, rising up to penetrate his servant deeper. Junpei accepted his size with little struggling thanks to his inability to feel physical pain. The boy's shyness had been his only obstacle. Reflexively he reaches for the boy's hips, finding your hands still there and hesitantly pulling away. Despite the heat enveloping his length, it's this brief contact with you that he finds himself to be the most in need of. His eyes meet yours at last, bearing a look of uncertainty as his fingers achingly extend over yours with hesitation. It's the first time you've allowed him to touch you this way in so long, he doesn't dare to rush it. He barely breathes, realizing as the seconds crawl past that he is actually terrified of what may happen next.
Junpei throws his arms around your neck, overwhelmed by the sensation of being entered this way as you hold him. With each movement controlled by you and his beloved master, he finds himself caught between the guide of your hands rocking him back and the force of Sukuna's thrusts sending him forward again. With the sound of your friend's delighted cries caught between your bodies, you gradually feel the press of his erection against you as the space between you slowly vanishes.
"D-do you…" His voice trails off. He has no nerve to vocalize what he's been instructed. Instead he takes your face in both hands and presses his forehead to yours, knowing you will hear his intentions. You sense his desires in an unspoken way.
"I do," you reassure him without any doubt.
His breath hitches in another sob, this time in relief. You hear a soft whisper as Sukuna brings his lips close to Junpei's ear. Immediately after, you feel the tug of your friend's hands unbuttoning your pants then shakily removing them. Then your shirt. A strong set of arms lifts you up and Sukuna positions you over them with your legs on either side of Junpei's hips. The two of you make the same gasp of sudden euphoria when he enters you, guided inside by Sukuna's own hand.
"Oh-! M-my God!"
Junpei squirms, scarcely able to contain his reaction to having your body sheathed over him while he's still seated on his master's throbbing member. It's nearly too much for him to bear. If not for the hushed reminders from his master to keep his wits and not push himself over that invisible edge too early, he would surely fail this task at once. Fortunately Sukuna keeps the pace mercifully slow, with his focus remaining on you. You gasp softly as his thrusts transfer through Junpei. With a set of heavy hands on your waist, you're pulled in again and again. Gentle waves of pleasure ripple through you, clouding your mind effectively until you become aware that you're now moving on your own.
Junpei's hands fly to find yours, desperately clutching tighter as he struggles to maintain his composure. Hiding his face in your neck, his cries crescendo beyond his control. The feeling of being pressed between you and Sukuna is easily overwhelming his senses. Within minutes he's whimpering wordlessly in ecstasy, letting the rush or his climax to pull him under as his head falls back limply with a thud against his master's chest. Your friend gasps in aftershock, twitching as the realization that he'd finished much too quickly sets in.
"Too soon…" he groans with disappointment in a thick voice. So much for how hard he'd been holding back. "Fuck!"
"It's alright- "
"No. No it's not. Y-you need… you need to feel good!" he insists.
The sensation of him withdrawing from you halts your words, as does the presence of something hard beginning to press against you in his place. Looking down, you see Junpei has repositioned his body higher, allowing something from underneath him to prod forward.
"H-he has…another one… It can be for you," Junpei whispers quietly. Barely daring to look you in the eye as he utters such a proposal, he instead reaches down, stroking his master's second cock dutifully.
Before he can be rejected, your Curse pulls back out of reach.
"No, I don't need to– "
"It's alright," you stop him with a soft touch. His only reaction is to shut his eyes and turn his face away.
"...Ryomen, look at me."
He shudders at the sound of his name in your soothing voice, but he does at last face you with a grim expression. You touch the lines below his mouth and feel him twitch. Fushiguro's words echo in your mind again, impossible to forget.
A killer….Sukuna is a killer
Of course you know this, but the residual grudge you've held for him over the last year has been dissolving little by little quite unexpectedly. Though you may never be able to truly forgive what happened, you do recognize that he has changed greatly.
"Are you sorry?"
He doesn't ask for clarification from you. Why would he need to? His faults have been written on your face for countless days. Swallowing with difficulty, he closes his eyes.
"More than you know…"
They're just words. You're well aware they hold no true power or meaning beyond who says them. All the same, you reach for him still, causing him to twitch in your grasp as you guide him to press against you once more.
"...Then do better this time," you state, forcing him to release his breath as you allow him to plunge into you.
Sukuna arches up, his jaw falling slack in disbelief. In sheer reflex, his claws sink into one of Junpei's thighs until he hears a muted whimper and releases his harsh grip, apologetically running his palm over the wounds. Once his senses are regained, the initial buck of his hips shoves his first member firmly into his servant and his second into you. You fall forward but Junpei catches you with ease. His cheeks are flushed and he pants heavily with the wonderful sensation of your bare skin on his. The strength in his embrace keeps you in place as you each steadily fall into rhythm. Sukuna's strong arms hold you both on top of him, and he leans forward to press his lips to Junpei's tear stained cheek in a sympathetic kiss. He doesn't turn his face to look at you, but his eyes lock with yours for the first time with apprehension.
"Ryomen," you smile softly and let your forehead fall forward onto his.
You feel rather than hear the deep rumbling sounds he makes just before changing his angle. Leveraging his feet, Sukuna lifts the two of you together with each thrust. He's entranced by the wonderful music of your moans mingling together above him while he himself remains unable to utter a single sound. Taking Junpei's hands, he places them higher on you to caress your chest then returns his grip to your waist. Hearing your delighted sighs ring forth bolsters Sukuna's nerve to raise his mouth to meet yours. When your fingers slide through his hair, he moves with more strength until you cry out.
"Is this too much?" he asks, resting his head between the two of you.
You shake your head, kissing his cheek and then his lips… before kissing Junpei immediately after. Your friend laughs shyly, looking away. His entire body is warm from head to toe. A smile works its way across his face as he turns and boldly kisses his master.
Junpei moans aloud with satisfaction, never wanting this to end. This security, this heat, this sense that he's a part of something bigger than he can understand, but humble enough to accept it washing over him. He holds you so very close within the embrace of his master, finding in this moment that he feels so very complete.
And he isn't alone.
.
.
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The energy trails Yuji has been chasing are growing stronger. He knows he's getting close. With his fists clenched tightly, the bite of his nails cutting into his palms is the only sensation keeping him focussed enough not to lose it entirely.
What the hell is Mahito doing out here? Was he looking for you too? The thought of the patchwork Curse coming close to you in any way drives the young sorcerer forward into the pitch black of the alley ways. With each crossroad he chases the invisible pull of Mahito.
This is a fucking trap. I know it, he realizes.
The trail is deliberate. All Mahito would need to do is have his cursed energy actively around his body as he moves to entice a sorcerer to follow him down any path. Of course any trained sorcerer knows pursuing a Special grade solo is a death wish, and would never do so without at least one accompanying partner to have their back. Itadori keeps telling himself to be cautious, take his time and keep alert, but his heart isn't listening. With his racing pulse slamming against his eardrums, he has to consciously disarm his own cursed energy from sparking. The mere presence of such a malignant being as Mahito prompts his immediate rage like no one else has ever done to him.
Don't lose your head. Stay focussed, he urges himself despite his reckless actions. At the same time, he repeatedly calls himself an idiot for rushing into this situation on his own… But what other choice did he have at the moment? Of course he knows he's losing his opportunity at possibly seeing you, but there's no way he can force himself to ignore the presence of a sworn enemy. More than anyone else, Mahito needs to pay for his past deeds.
A shocking chill jolts through Itadori and he stops running. He finds himself at the center of a partially constructed building that had long been abandoned. Here the feeling of Mahito's energy is definitely the strongest it's been. Itadori glares around expectantly.
"Where the hell are you?! Don't lure me all the way out here just to keep me waiting!"
The strangled sound of a chuckle being stifled back reaches the boy's ears, and he glares into the shadows.
"Quit fucking around and show yourself coward, or I'll gladly drag you out into the light myself," he threatens with the glow of his cursed energy igniting in his fists.
"My, my….In a rush tonight, are we?" comes the silky voice of Mahito as he at last steps into the meager streetlight scarcely reaching the premises.
"There's no need to be so rude. I merely wanted to help you," the patchwork Curse smiles good-naturedly with his palms together. In truth, he can hardly contain himself at the moment. He's nearly bursting at his seams that this is going exactly as planned.
"You've got nerve to think I'd take anything from you, bastard!" Itadori shouts in outrage. He's seeing red, preparing himself to unleash a year's worth of pent up frustration on Mahito's ugly face until it's a disgusting pulpy mess.
"Don't you want to see your lover again, Itadori?"
"What do you know about– Shut up! How dare you?!"
Mahito laughs in amusement at how quickly humans switch their emotions on and off. Passion is an energy channeled by both love and late… how interesting.
"I told you… I want to help you, I know you're looking for someone. The vessel of Sukuna? You must be beating yourself up about that happening by the way. My condolences."
"You can shove your sentiments right up your- "
"What if I gave you another of Sukuna's fingers, Itadori? That way you can find who you're looking for."
"I…What? Why would you do that?"
Mahito opens his hands, presenting one of Sukuna's fingers, as he promised.
"Oh, rest assured I have my reasons…. But I don't think you really care, do you? I know you must want this. Am I right?"
Itadori stares hard at the cursed object…A hundred thoughts mulling in his mind about why this is a terrible idea. But nonetheless his feet carry him forward.
"...What kind of catch is there with this sudden generosity?" he asks cautiously, never taking his eyes off Mahito's. He hates the way they're shining with laughter, as if he knows something Itadori doesn't. The smugness fills him with silent rage.
"No catch at all. I suppose just… Of course you'll let me take my leave peacefully tonight without an altercation, and we shall never speak of this encounter again," Mahito reassures.
Before he can stop himself, Itadore accepts the finger, taking it without breaking eye contact. He isn't about to trust an enemy that much… Whatever Mahito's motives are, for now they coincide with his own.
"Fine. Get the fuck out of here."
The Curse throws his head back in amusement. "Hahaha! Gladly, but it won't be long until we meet again. We can resume our usual routine then. Bye for now, sorcerer. Until next time…"
He recedes back into the darkness, grinning his awful grin that promises the return of his malice in the near future.
Already he is regretting the decision to let Mahito go unscathed, but Itadori clenches his prize within his fist.
"Shit," he mutters to himself.
He should do this now before Fushiguro can stop him…. Of course he would. This is a stupid idea in the first place. Only an idiot would willingly choose to become cursed again this way. On the other hand, Sukuna would be able to detect his own energy, drawn by the need to put himself together again.
Itadori gulps with difficulty. There's no sense in delaying the inevitable. This is what he's wanted since his Curse was broken a year ago by you: a way to be connected to you again.
He opens his mouth, swallowing down the horrid bitterness of the finger as quickly as he can. His throat is dry, but he still manages with only minor choking.
"Ugh! Foul!" he spits to get the taste out.
Then he feels the weight hit his stomach like a stone.
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!
A menacing cackle begins to fill his subconscious, and the feeling that he is no longer alone slowly sets in.
Well, well, well... It's good to be home again, you useless piece of fucking shit. Sukuna greets his vessel in the only way he is inclined to do, with the impending degradation of his existence.
At once he attempts to take over Itadori's body, failing against the boy's willpower but still managing to twist his features into a fearsome mask of contempt. He steals his voice, speaking with pure contempt.
"Did you miss me? I'm guessing things didn't work out with your precious little sweetheart."
Itadori doesn't respond to the taunts of his Curse. The familiar dread he used to know settling in along with the hollow sensation of this looming presence over him is already weighing on him greatly. The worst Sukuna can do is talk, rattling his chain and hurling insults and threats. Whatever. He's more than used to dealing with it on his own.
"Hey, earworm. Still hungry to find the rest of your fingers?"
"Don't you dare belittle me! When I am whole, I'll feast on your body first! I'llthoroughly enjoy ripping you to shre–"
" 'Rip me to shreds, swallow my heart, smear what little brains I have on toast,' yeah, yeah, whatever." Itadori has already heard every violent threat in Sukuna's repertoire. It hardly affects him anymore.
"The only thing I care about is you telling me whenever you sense a part of yourself nearby. You got that?" he snaps.
A dark chuckle ripples through his mind as Sukuna begins reading into his vessel's thoughts and plans.
"Finished playing by the rules, are we? How refreshing."
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To Be Continued….