Tengen takes a second as they appear in the mindscape of the strange youngling, as very few can claim to be older than them, Kenji. They look down and are mildly surprised to find themselves standing on a crystalline Lilypad, the colors shifting like the wind. That isn't what catches their attention, despite the sheer beauty before them.
No, what catches their attention is the sight of a set of hands and feet they haven't seen since their first bodily exchange. The weight upon their head makes more sense now that they take in the pale slender fingers instead of the wooden hands they've become accustomed to.
Tengen reaches up to touch the long silky snow colored hair they wore way back when. With a soft laugh, they allow themself a moment of nostalgia. They can admit to themselves that seeing the features they were born with is an invaluable experience. If only because they can see their mother's eyes one more time.
Tengen, enthralled and utterly fascinated, turns their sights to the reason they arrived in this private dreamscape.
They catch the sights of great gargantuan mountains beyond the horizon, slicing like a gash in the sky cutting into the moonlight that shines upon the realm. Kenji is in what one would call traditional clothes if those of the modern era saw, fluffy sleeves and all, the Sakura pattern etched onto his clothing drifts across the cloth softly like a river pulling petals along its current.
"Hello," they greet, watching as the boy who was playing with fireflies looks up. He is startled and confused only to narrow their eyes.
"Tengen?" The boy asks.
They nod clasping their hands together at their waist, "Yes, young one."
The boy nods absently before scrambling, "Oh, how did you get here, wait stupid question is there something wrong?" Kenji says in a rush and with a wave of their hands a path emerges for Tengen to walk across. As they step across they can see various shadows swimming and weaving through the pads as they ripple the reflective water.
They don't want to know what would happen if one fell in.
Upon reaching the boy they raise their hands.
"At peace, I am merely curious about my wayward charge and came to check upon you." They say in lieu of an answer.
Which isn't wrong, they do care for the boy's feelings, it's only natural since they unwittingly have a connection that is beyond the boundaries of mortal minds. That is another side effect of the boy accidentally absorbing a spec of their soul, which itself is a scary thought.
"What ails you, my child?" Tengen asks, they can feel the turmoil in the young one's soul.
"I'm scared that I won't be able to do anything," Kenji says, his eyes full of anxiety and worry as he looks up at Tengen who is now standing in front of the young man.
"I understand you, I, myself still struggle with how little I am able to help, with my being bound to the soil of this school I have a limited physical reach, and like the heavenly restrictions of the unfortunate. The limitation gives me an omnipresent metaphysical sense of the world. Even with all my knowledge I can only guide the next generation."
Kenji blinks back tears, "But you at least give them a sanctuary, I am just a normal human from a world so unlike this place it's terrifying, I don't understand why I'm here." He practically yells the last part.
"You're here to live like everyone and every being is, the circumstance of how you came here doesn't matter, if you want to talk about the good you've done then all you have to do is look at the people around you," Tengen says gently reaching and petting Kenji's head is a paternal instinct taking over as they assure the young boy.
Lifting the youngling's chin he lets his thoughts flow, "Gojo Satoru for one, is smitten with you," at the other's disbelief they chuckle, "I'm being honest, and he's going to be mad that I reveal to you that he talks about how much you soothe an empty space that he never knew was there."
"The second year, Inukami, he doesn't have to struggle to communicate because you took the initiative. And to add on that everyone now knows a silent way of communicating which in turn has saved many of ours in situations where they needed to be silent."
Feeling mischievous in their old age they end their speech with, "I can even sense Sukuna's presence lingering around you," Tenngen enjoys the flush that appears across the boy's cheeks, "And a curse only does that when they want others to know that you belong to them."
Kenji sputters and tries to come up with a reply.
Tengen mentally wonders how Satoru would feel if he found out that Kenji is potentially being courted by the curse they are set to destroy.
"I just want to see if you can do it," Satoru says as they stop on their walk, along the path. He looks up at the taller man, Satoru has his glasses hanging low on his nose, and his ethereal eyes peer down at him with a soft look that makes Kenji want to buckle.
It doesn't help that Satoru has him tucked against his side and the sweater Satoru is wearing is soft and warm making Kenji shamelessly curl against his side. His toned lanky arm is thrown over Kenji's neck as they walk.
"Here?" He asks, looking around the forest surrounding them, the path is seven meters wide at least.
"Sure, why not?" Satoru chirps and moves his hold on Kenji's neck, to tug the slim waist towards him.
"I know you can do it," Kenji shivers as Satoru uses his good looks to get what he wants.
Pulling away he huffs, tiling his head while giving Satoru a look, that man is taller than anyone has a right to be, he says, "You're taking the blame if something catches on fire."
"S'okay," the man chirped and kissed him on the nose.
Kenji blinks at the action, "what's gotten into you?" He can't help but ask.
Gojo gives him an innocent look that he doesn't believe at all, "what do you mean?"
"You know, you've been extra," he waves his hand not able to come up with a word, "this, all week, I'm not mad it's just," he pauses.
"I want to make sure you're doing this because you want to and not because you feel you have to." He gets out.
Satoru blinks at the question before a serious expression overcomes his face as he tugs off his shades. Kenji swallows as he leans in until their lips are barely touching.
"You are My husband," Kenji just barely registers what Satoru is saying, the sheer beauty of his eyes drawing him in as the other reaches up to cup his face, his tone borderline feral despite the softness of it, "I do all I do because I want to,"
Gojo whispers softly and gently as if saying a prayer,
"You, my light of lights, bring so much color into my world."
Kenji feels like a tomato with how red he is, but he pulls some courage and leans in shyly brushing their lips together only to moan as Satoru tilts his head and deepens the kiss for a moment.
He doesn't know when the other pulls away but he does register the cheery chirp, "Now chop chop, fellow portal boy."
If he wasn't so dazed he'd smack the cheeky smug bastard.
Shaking out of it he steadies himself and wills his body to relax and concentrates on trusting himself and his abilities. The affectionate hum he always gets when he reaches for his power greets him with a fever.
He grins as he opens his eyes not realizing he shut them.
"Focus on the area you want to go to," Satoru whispers into his ear, lithe fingers settling onto his hips, "for me, it's just bending the fabric of space and bypassing the whole moving thing."
Like that helps, but Satoru is trying so he'll give him that.
"Okay," he says and takes a deep breath. Unlike Satoru, his ability is more like a combination of Toph and an Airbender, anything within his radius is cataloged into his mind, and even then his feedback is nothing compared to the sheer amount of intel Satoru gets.
He focuses on the area forty yards away and calls his abilities trying to remember the sensation he felt when he first arrived in this world. If he could see himself, he'd see the very air around him crystallizing as he and Satoru, who is too arrogant to think he'd ever be in danger, are surrounded by a complex geometric structure of metaphysical energy.
It all happens in a millisecond, one blinks he and Satoru are at the beginning of the trail and another he's standing where he intended, if a little off.
Satoru nuzzles his cheek in praise, "Told you, you could do it." He says, and Kenji has to remember to breathe as Gojo slips his hands under his shirt lazily caressing his hip bone.
"How about a little reward, my little spark." Satoru murmures.
"O-Okay," Kenji whimpers meekly, he's not used to this side of him but is most definitely not complaining.
A/n:
So Gojo may be having a territorial dispute in his head and is using physical contact to midigate his feelings.
Basically Satoru is jealous.
Thought I'd treat y'all with a little spice, I'm not good (or this is my first time trying to write a little bit steamier stuff)
I just know the Frienemy-hate-pent-up-aggression sex between Satoru and Sukuna would be hot (though there is a long way to go before sukuna even contemplates cordiality with the world.)
If he ever does;)