Author's Note: Originally posted on Tumblr for Gojo Satoru's birthday!

It's late when Satoru drags the entirety of his exhausted frame through his apartment door, kicking off his shoes with none of the characteristic grace he displays in his sorcery. To say that he is exhausted is an understatement. Cleaning up all the messes left in Kenjaku and Sukuna's wake has taken nearly all of his free time. For once, the Strongest just wants to shut his eyes and be actually dead to the world for a few hours. Maybe a few days, fuck.

He leaves his phone on the kitchen counter, not bothering to charge it. It died over an hour ago, and honestly if he never has to take another fucking call it'll be too soon. What a goddamn mess it's all been.

He makes his way to his bedroom, aware that he needs to get ahold of himself before he wakes Sundari up. There's nothing Sundari hates more than being jostled from sleep and Satoru has definitely had to weather her muzzy curses more than a few times after late night missions. He creeps into the bedroom, noting that Sundari is fast asleep as evident from the nest of pink curls spilling out from under the covers. Satoru takes a moment and breathes.

Almost a year ago, Sundari tumbled into his life, and he's never been happier. She's grouchy, has a bottomless pit for a stomach, and throws haymakers that he's pretty sure could crack the world in two, and she swears like a sailor. She's also the most beautiful, terrifying, and powerful sorceress he's ever met.

And why not? Sukuna's her fucking father. Talk about an ironic twist of fate.

Satoru takes his time, reaching down to brush a few of those blushed curls from her face. All four of her eyes are shut, and he can make out the rapid twitches of her eye movements beneath the skin. Sometimes the Six Eyes really does too much, but he's never seen the world any other way. He can't imagine not memorizing every vein, every sinew, every cracked bone, every pore...he can focus his sight and even see the brightness of her soul.

He wouldn't trade his view for anything.

Satoru reluctantly leaves the bedside, stripping off his clothes as he heads to the bathroom. Over the years, he's learned that the quietest place on earth outside of his own innate domain is under a hot shower. He washes away the weeks of aches and pains, the scent of curses and jujutsu, and sighs as he presses his palm against the cold, slick tiles and lets the water stream over his head and down his back. He rolls the tension from his neck and shoulders, groaning in relief.

Thirty.

After the shower, Satoru dries off, and catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror. His own Six Eyes stare back at him. His body feels the same, though he has an immeasurable number of additional scars, courtesy of Sundari's father and his lethal domain. He runs his fingertips over the pink scar tissue left in the wake of his admittedly sloppy RCT job. The scars are badges of honor, but he thinks about how that battle ended and his heart shudders.

Thirty.

Satoru finally crawls into bed, and right on cue, Sundari grumbles. Still, even as she sleepily fusses at having been disturbed, she is reaching for him instinctively. Satoru lets himself be enfolded in all four of her arms and buries his face in her curls, inhaling deeply. She smells earthy and spicy and warm, and he feels his entire body relax in her embrace, boneless and safe.

"Happy birthday," Sundari mumbles into his throat, pressing a lazy kiss on his skin. She smiles when his voice hums in response.

"No song?" He murmurs, just as sleepy. Sundari doesn't even have the energy to nip at him, but her tongue traces a soft and gentle circle over the source of his voice, making his throat bob in a swallow.

What follows is a sleepy, rumbling rendition of the traditional birthday song. Sundari punctuates Satoru's name in the lyrics with a lazy swat to his ass, making him laugh.

"Happy birthday to you~" Sundari concludes in a sleepy murmur struggling to be a melody, having not moved from her position buried in his neck and chest.

Satoru nuzzles her, grinning. It's the best version of the song as far as he's concerned.

"I love you, Bug," he says softly.

"Love you too, old man," Sundari mumbles back, and drifts off to the sound of Satoru's affronted gasp.