Jujutsu Kaisen X Reader Fluff - Tumblr Posts

Ok but the accuracy with the 3 one (2nd question pic)

1- Megumi Fushiguro

2- Toge Inumaki

3- Suguru Geto

So- Instead of using My OC I'll just use GN!Y/N Headconnons here-

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Here goes nothing- (yes ima bad writer, show mercy!)

Warning: Swearing.

1- Who Do You Get Along With The Most.(Megumi)

When y/n joined as a jujutsu sorcerer, They weren't much of a talker- not in a way of being super introverted but they weren't really an extrovert too can't say they were an ambivert either cause one moment they were silent AF like planning a mass murder or just super- duper exited like they took some Drugs or shit. Though this behavior of their's made them understand other's or more specifically Fushiguro Megumi.

Poor boy thought they were quite the silent type unlike too extroverted yet dumb like Yuji or too bossy like Nobara so he was drawn to them, talking and explaining them all about the jujutsu sorcerer's. Until they got too comfortable and started to acting like the other two fellows- Boy was confident that he actually found a sensible person to talk too after so long but nonetheless the more he saw the different sides of them the more he got along with them, to a point that he started to understand them more than Nobara or Yuji themself did. Understanding your mood shifts, to understanding how to comfort you.

He, himself can't believe that he can do that but there he is and he is glad that he can do so. Y/n even started to open up to him to which he replied with a stoic face(not always) though a rational answer's and ofc you would have thought it as rude but you knew better.. Knew him better.

Now Megumi and y/n freely open up to each other. Megumi is so very glad to meet them.

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2- Who likes you the least.(Geto)

Let's just say that after you rejecting his offer on joining him (Before becoming a jujutsu sorcerer) and insulting him publicly, for being a creepy old fuck following you like a needy motherfucker just to join some stupid organization (or you can change).... Yea he hates the very sight of you.

He still thinks your useful though might as well destroy you then force you to join.

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3- Who has a crush on you.(Inumaki)

Ok, so for this one lets just say that you knew 2nd year sorcerer's through Megumi as he was like a guider to you for the first few weeks, he introduced you to Maki , Panda and Inumaki. You surprisingly got along with panda and Inumaki but for Maki it took you quite some while. Let's just say she was impressed with your skills, they weren't enough but you held quite a good fight with her so she said she will help you with training but only if you promised her to give a good, no better fight next time.

"She didn't mean to sound rude just trying to sort of hype you up"

Panda whispered in your ears before tagging along with Megumi and Maki. Now you were left with Inumaki and you definitely were nervous, yes you knew he can't talk because of his cursed speech but that didn't help you. You weren't sure how to proceed with a conversation with him since you were always called up by others in a convo but him. He seemed to have noticed your uncomfortable form and put a hand on your shoulder-

Tuna Tuna (Look)

you turned to face him-

Tuna mayo? (talk?)

You can hear the worried tone of his voice even if the words where small. You let out a breathy chuckle before replying that you're ok and you aren't hurt to which he nodded and listened as you took this opportunity to have a convo with him. Sometimes he used ingredients of Onigiri and when you didn't understand he either made hand gestures or even write it down. You felt bad but he reassured you that it's ok and nothing to be worried about.

It has now become your mission to try and understand him like Megumi and others, so he to can feel easy and not write it down again and again. He on the other hand loved the time you both spend together, Knowing that not many people talk to him because of his cursed speech but you trying your level best to understand him made him. . . Melt. The fun times you both spend together, The jokes , the laughter, the horror of Maki's anger, the comfort of cuddling with panda and sleeping. He at first was unsure of his feeling but every time you had to part made him sad, was an under statement.

you most definitely developed a crush on them panda said to Inumaki continuing with "I had noticed by you looking at them".

A crush...yes.

Thought inumaki with a small smile that was covered by his clothes.

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4. Who do you kick out after seeing him/her watching you sleep? (Megumi)

"God damn it.. Not again!" megumi groaned in anger as one of his divine dogs, who were suppose to guard the hotel rooms while the others slept peacefully, was gone. After the group went to finish off a curse they didn't notice that the time went really quick so as a result gojo gave them a small feast and bought rooms in the hotel for a night. Megumi wasn't really as tired since he did the least as this was suppose to be more of a training for y/n and yuji so most of the time megumi took naps which resulted him not finding any sleep at the night. As annoying as it was, this was the third time that one of his divine went without giving any sorts of signal. Lucky the cursed energy flowing through the snow furred animal was enough to follow its trail, while his other void furred dog also lead him towards a room. Megumi was very hesitant to enter because he didn't expect that divine dog to enter a room, nontheless your room. wait on the first place how did it enter the said room?..

"Great what am I suppose to say to them now.." he said while holding the bridge of his nose. After a few minutes of contemplating he decided to knock on the room and then he would apologize but when you didn't open the door after few hard knocks, he genuinely gets worried. thoughts like 'What if their is a strong curse that attacked you when you were asleep' ran through his head as he held the unlocked handle of you room.

"maybe that's why the divine dog wasn't able to report back" he mumbled to himself as he slowly but carefully open the door and seek in for any threats only to find his divine dog to be patiently sitting near the edge of the bed you were asleep on. He slowly entered inside your room with light steps making sure not to make any noise and head towards his divine dog. when he didn't feel any threat he quickly just wanted to silently retreat back outside but when you started to move to change your position form facing the wall towards the other side he froze ready to hear you scream, when nothing happen he looked down towards your face where there was a strip of moon light falling from between the blinds making you look venust. The room wasn't very dark but dim from the moonlight, While looking at you he figured out the reason why you weren't opening your door. Apparently you fell asleep with your airpods on and maybe the music must be playing still. feeling lucky he was confident he would silently move out and save the embarrassment. Unfortunately he took too much time to think cause a few message ringtones went off in your airpods and after shifting a little you sat up blinking your eyes a few times. You turned to grab your phone only to catch a dark silhouette standing near the edge of your temporary bed. A loud scream was about to erupt from your mouth only for it to be muffled by a large hand. After a few protest punches, the person let out a groan which made you halt. I have heard that voice, you thought.

"Quite down please, People will panic if you keep shouting" said a gruff voice. You know that voice until it clicked to you. You moved the palm off you mouth and said in a whispering loud voice-

"MEGUMI?!" You couldn't believe your eyes, W.T.F is HE doing in YOUR room?!.

"See I know its very awkward situation right now but let me ex-"

"No..Out of my room.. please" You said in a bewailed yet shocked voice. Without another word megumi left your room and you made sure to lock you door.

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You weren't able to sleep properly that night. (but megumi explained himself in the morning though :^) ,also you were the one who brought the doggo in to play a bit it wasn't until late that he realised it was gone)

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5. Date your Sis/Bro/BFF to make you jealous. (Inumaki)

Lets just say that it was panda's idea because apparently

It has worked in movies so why not.

And Maki warned him... He should have listened to her...

Lets just say... That made you think of him more like a brother than effecting you even a little..

Inumaki did broke off with the said person, It was hard but it wasn't what he wanted in the first place...

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6. You end up in a relationship with. (Megumi)

It shouldn't be like this... It really shouldn't..

Then why, Why did your heart beat so fast when you heard him light laugh on one of your worst jokes ever. He should be annoyed right?.. "That's was the worst of worst's I have ever heard from you" he said with a small smile dangling on his face.

"Oh - ah haha it wasn't even that bad" you tried to recollect yourself. Its not just that day, somethings different. Usually when both of yours eyes met by coincidence, you would always wiggle your eyebrows to tease him but that damn day- that day when your eyes met in practice area, when his hair stuck to his sweaty forehead as he held a tired out expression, your heart sank in your stomach as butterflies flew uncomfortably. What was this feeling erupting within you. It hasn't happen before(It has) when your with megumi but suddenly everything with him seems so... tough.

Megumi was your friend.. You cannot right..

All he has ever done is be nice and respectable with you ever since you joined jujutsu high.

. . You cannot believe you have fallen for him.

Its been tough trying to act as if everything is smooth like butter but you know you cannot control that feeling when he's around you, talking, light laughing, smiling, something he doesn't show easily yet with you he's all clam and open-ish.

You have been quite since morning, something very normal cause sometimes everyone enjoys staying calm rather than always jumping like literal monkeys every now and then plus everyone from gojo sensei to all students of 1st and 2nd year knows how sometimes you liked to stay more reserved and silent. So no one disturbed you, no one but Megumi because he knew your silence, he knew you. So when everyone(Yuji,Nobara,Gojo) where moving to have lunch you stayed back..with megumi.

You purposefully didn't wanted to go to cafeteria and wanted to gather your thoughts but being left with him your thoughts instead of calming down took a speed of bullet train. You couldn't stop thinking as every step he took, your heart felt it was trying to move up your throat and jump out your mouth to run away and hide some where. Sensing your discomfort megumi stopped in a friendly distance while taking a little while asking you "what's the matter."

"Hmm?" you look at him confused. That one emotion took every single vein in your body to stay and appear calm.

"I said what's the matter?" he said in the same tone.

"Nothing?" you said trying to look confused. But he wasn't a fool and you knew that.

"Im not falling for that" he said after staying silent for a while.

Megumi unlike you had many goals and was very determined so surpass his own limit to be able to stay on itadori's level. not in a rivalry way but more to prove that he is strong enough to fight when itadori is down on his knees. Megumi had goals. You weren't even sure of yours. Megumi deserves better ofc. You wouldn't have been scared to confront, if it wasn't for the obvious fact that megumi isn't interest in dating anyone.. or more over the reason you have been hurt so much that you don't want to lose him too. Things like this are the reason for friendships to break and you were scared.

"[Name]?" Megumi called out to you while you were space out finding the floor more interesting. When you didn't respond megumi place both of his hands on each of your shoulder's. Not until he gave you a little gentle shake that you looked up at him while he looked down at your seated position.

"Please tell me... what happen?" If someone would see megumi right now, they will catch a fever because he isn't like this. His eyes isn't soft they are sharp. His voice isn't so light its always serious. His lips aren't in a worried frown when they are always pressed together in a pursed manner forming a line. His face doesn't look sad when its always in a annoyed or tired expression. You're hurting him...

"[Name] whatever happene-" you cut him off.

"Megumi.." you're hurting him... "I'm sorry"

"??" He seemed confused on your sudden apology.

"I like you.." You said it, you finally said it and it feels great to get it of you chest but u know whats about to come next so your ready, hardening your heart as megumi slowly moved away from you. you couldn't see his expression because you found the floor to be more interesting again. After a few minutes of silence you heard megumi sign.

'Here it comes' you thought bracing yourself for the rejection. . . . . you felt warm.. '....' you stayed silent as megumi rested you're pounding head on his chest as you heard his ever speeding heartbeat.

"I.." Megumi began only to stop for a moment. . . "I.. Feel the same about you.." Megumi said, his voice soft and light. 'Its a dream' you thought, 'Its a beautiful lie, yea its a dream' you started shaking, not crying but lightly shaking not believing which only made megumi to hold you tight around your shoulders. You didn't even notice he was hugging you.

"You got me all worried you know" his voice as sweet as honey filling you're ears.

"Is this a dream?" you asked not sure what to say at which he lightly chuckled. "Funny cause right now... even I feel like this all is a dream.." he replied.

After a few moments of silence you wrapped your arms around his torso apologizing a few more times to which he only rubbed your back.

He was yours and you were his... No one could change that now.

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OMG IM FINALLY DONE- This was in my drafts for months holy god.(cause I honestly wasn't planning on posting, I ain't built like that fr 😔)

Im so sorry if this a OOC but I hope you enjoyed this because i don't know If I'll ever write again HAHA :)

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Have a great time, Love, BlackCat_0491

Jujutsu Kaisen ~Being called 'darling' by their crush 2nd part~

First part is here. Additionally, Getou's headcanons are set when he was still attending Tokyo Jujutsu High.

Zen'in Maki

He'll be the one least shocked by being called 'darling': he won't blush, he won't stutter, he won't freeze, he'll simply send the harasser away

As soon as the boy is gone, he'll turn towards you and check you over for possible injuries

After checking you out thoroughly, he'll start to wonder if the nickname you gave him is just to chase the harasser away or if you really mean it

He won't force you to answer him, but he'll stay by your side all day, making sure nothing happens to you, and he'll feel a pleasant warmth in his chest the entire time he'll be near you

Every now and then, he'll hear your voice repeat 'darling' in his mind, and a light dusting of red will paint his cheeks

Zen'in Mai

Like Nobara, a sly smile will appear on his face when he hears you call him that

However, as soon as he sees the harasser approaching, he'll put his arm around your waist and say: "Haven't you seen she's busy with me? Leave my girlfriend alone."

After the harasser leaves, he'll abruptly turn away from you to not show you his slight blush and leave

You won't see him all day, but at night you'll receive a message from him saying: "Oi, did you make it home in one piece or are you so weak you need me to accompany you?"

Maybe you won't notice it, but from that moment he'll stay slightly closer to you, especially during missions, and maybe one day he'll be able to tell you he would always want to be called 'darling' by you

Gojou S.

He'll immediately understand something is wrong, especially due to your eyes which will be begging for his help, so at first he'll ignore how you called him

Once he realizes the nickname, he'll smile from ear to ear and the tips of these will turn pink, although he won't let you see that

Then, he'll start teasing you ("Since when have I been your boyfriend? I know I'm awesome and handsome, but you should have asked me first.")

He has no shame: he'll proclaim himself your boyfriend and tell you outright he always wants to be called that

In fact, if you don't call him 'darling', he'll pretend you didn't talk to him ("Who were you referring to? I'm darling, not Gojo or Satoru.")

Getou S.

He too will notice something is wrong, so he'll pull you towards him and push you towards his chest

From there you'll be able to perfectly hear the very accelerated beat of his heart and to feel his very slight tremor

After moving away from him, after he sends the harasser away, you'll also be able to see his face: it'll be really red, so much he'll have to cover his face with his hand

That will probably be the event that will push him to confess his love for you

In fact, the next day he'll come to you with a bouquet of roses in his hand and he'll ask you to call him 'darling' again, but as his girlfriend and no longer a friend

💮 Rules 💮 Masterlist 💮

Jujutsu Kaisen ~Playing with their hair 2nd part~

First part is here.

Zen'in Maki

The first time you touched his hair, he flinched slightly, but he quickly melted into your arms

For him, your hands in his hair are calming

He would really like you to play with his hair, but he doesn't know how to ask you that: he gets very embarrassed, even if he doesn't show it, and the words get stuck in his throat

In fact, his general way of asking it is to rest his head on your thighs and look at you until you get his signal

Know you've to interpret when he does that, because he doesn't say anything ("What happen, love?" "..." "Love?" "..." "Do you want me to stroke your hair?" "...Yes...")

Zen'in Mai

He doesn't particularly like having his hair touched, so he often moves away if you try to do so, especially if you're in public (after all, he must maintain his tough air)

At home, however, it's slightly different: sometimes, when he's particularly tired, he says he tolerates he actually loves your caresses

Your touches are one of the only things which make him feel appreciated and loved

In fact, he'll never admit it, but he really wants to reciprocate the gesture you make because he really appreciates you still try to get closer to him, although he pushes you away

He often brags about you to his brother ("Do you have a girlfriend like mine, who plays with your hair?")

Gojou S.

It's one of the moments he loves most, because it allows him to let his mask of a confident person go and he can vent his insecurities in your arms

You often spend hours lying on your bed stroking his hair

He's a cheeky guy: he isn't ashamed to ask you to play with his hair, even during the most inopportune moments and if you're in public

In fact, one day, when you two were at a jujutsu higher-ups meeting which you weren't supposed to attend, but Gojo is Gojo... he literally lay on your lap and put your right hand on his hair

He brags to his students and colleagues every time about your "magic hands in his hair"

Getou S.

The first time you stroked his hair was to console him after Amanai's death; he was very surprised, but you helped him a lot with your touches

Over time, although he's changed, he's continued to appreciate it, and it's currently what keeps his feet on the ground

Feeling your hands pass through his long locks relaxes him a lot, so much he sometimes falls asleep, and it's a way he has to feel you close to him

Nevertheless, you're absolutely forbidden from touching his hair in public (he has an image to respect)

Actually, the only two people who are allowed to see him so relaxed are Mimiko e Nanako, the two girls he saved and your adopted daughters

If you didn't know, the saying "to stay with your feet on the ground" (essere/stare con i piedi per terra) is an Italian saying which means staying sane and not going crazy.

💮 Rules 💮 Masterlist 💮

I love your writing brainnnn 🧠

Perhaps a short story or head canon about how toge would protect the reader if she was getting cat called in public?? like maybe he uses his cursed speech to make the guy leave/embarrassed/ regret ever opening his mouth !!

Cat called? Not when I'm around!

Manga/anime: Jujutsu Kaisen

Warnings: slight spoilers of Toge's Cursed Speech

(Y/N): your name

It was a beautiful spring day: the sun was out, but it wasn't too burning or hot; the wind blew delicately on the branches of the trees, which were moving gently. Completing that scenario were Toge and (Y/N) holding hands.

The two had had a free day, so they had gone to eat at a restaurant and then started walking in a park.

Everything was going well, until a guy tried to flirt with the girl, completely ignoring her boyfriend.

"Please, leave me alone! I'm already engaged." (Y/N) tried to walk away, but she failed.

"Come on… You won't tell me you're with that one!" The guy replied, pointing to Toge.

Toge was very angry, so, taking (Y/N)'s hand, he dragged her away, but…

"Come on, beautiful, come here with me! I can treat you much better than him! Hey, beauty! Come on, you don't know how good I'll make you feel and how much fun you'll have if you come here with me."

Toge was furious: he couldn't speak, because, if he did, he would reveal his powers; what kind of guy was he if he couldn't even defend his girlfriend from a harasser?

Shaking her boyfriend's hand, (Y/N) turned to the harasser: "Listen well, you. Toge is the best boyfriend a person could ever have; he isn't able to talk, but every day, every single day he makes me feel loved and special. I don't care what you offer, I'll never leave him!"

Toge blushed, hiding his cheeks in his uniform's collar, but the guy didn't seem to give up: he took (Y/N)'s other hand and began to pull her towards him. At that point, Toge's thoughts about stopping himself from speaking vanished, so he, after lowering his uniform's collar, yelled: "Go away!"

The harasser immediately left, so the two were left alone.

"Takana?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you, love."

Afterwards, they started walking again, still holding hands, which they had never let go; however, after a while (Y/N) heard her phone ring: she had just received a message from Toge.

Did you really mean what you said before?

The girl shifts her eyes to her boyfriend, who was looking at her expectantly, with hopeful eyes and a light blush on his cheeks.

"Yes: I'll never leave you, at least until you no longer want me."

As soon as she saw what he had written to her, (Y/N) lunged at Toge, knocking them both to the ground and hugging and holding him tight.

Then stay with me forever.

If you didn't remember or know, 'takana' (mustard leaf) is the word used by Toge to show concern/worry.

💮 Rules 💮 Masterlist 💮

taking care of gojo when his six eyes becomes too much <3 when cute gojo scenarios are scarce i come through. hints of manga spoilers! i love him so much :(

your knocks against gojo’s door wear out the other out, where the combination of your voice and your knuckles sound like nails on a chalkboard. uncomfortable, jarring, discordant. it was everything gojo hated, but he couldn’t bring himself to ask you to leave.

“gojo? you there?” a series of groans are your reply, and you have to refrain from wincing at how ghastly they sound. you can hear padded feet from the other side, unlocking the door just a bit before the bundle of blankets waddle back to their place on the bed.

“holy shit... gojo,” even now, you can’t help but gape in disbelief. not the time, but your mouth itched to insult the man, no matter the circumstance. you barely held back, though, “you look like shit.”

gojo doesn’t even bother to roll his eyes at an insult that he would usually deliver, because he knew they would hurt. his head already spins from another person’s voice cutting in through the never-ending bout of information that swam in his brain. the room falls into feigned darkness, brought about by the curtains drawing close.

“there,” you hum, “better?”

no answer.

you’d never wish the six eyes on anyone. having access to endless information would be ideal, right? it was far from that for gojo satoru, who had destiny pinned on him the moment he was born. for all his life, he had to endure ear-splitting headaches. for all his life, he had to act like nothing was happening, like all of the gojo clan who’d done it all before.

well, it didn’t work out so well for him, because no one who had the same set of striking blue eyes and stark white hair told him anything about the repercussions of being the strongest, and satoru hated it.

every minute where he wasn’t exorcising curses with geto, annoying shoko, or simply hanging out with you was every last bit or torture. and now that you were here, he couldn’t possibly drive you away with little to no knowledge on romance despite the all-knowing brain he has.

“i brought you some sweets, following yaga-sensei’s instructions. he told me you-”

“stop talking.”

you frown at the order, but stubborn as you are, you bring the bag of confectionery to rest right where the bunch of blankets end. gojo didn’t have it in him to tell you to leave, but he had no strength to tell you to stay either, and with that, you quietly stalk out the door.

you come back the very next day, clutching onto a bag with the same brand of sweets as you stand outside gojo’s door. he senses your cursed energy before you even ask whether you can come in.

“come in,” you don’t give it much thought, knowing how detailed his vision was even when his eyes were closed. like before, you place the plastic bag right beside him, but before you take your leave, gojo manages to croak out.

“stay.”

those quiet afternoons spent in each other’s company turned to pats on the blanket. it turned to stroking his back to running your fingers through his hair. it went on to become hand-holding to head massages, where your heart pounded and rang in your ears and you never realised that he’s switched off infinity. it turned to...

gojo buries his face deeper into your torso, naming anything close to light his enemy. it would be soon that you’d need to find some covering for his eyes, because the strongest can’t be handicapped for this long. they couldn’t just keep sending geto and nanami and haibara for missions, either.

peeling himself off your torso, he contently looks at you from below, smiling when your hands make contact with his temples. you’d always been a bunch of red and orange and yellow in his vision, only ever opening his eyes when he wanted to look at your beauty.

gojo’s been doing it more often and often.

“keep your eyes closed!” you giggle, rubbing at his temples to soothe the migraines that came with having the six eyes. that’s the last memory he has of you — and the next only drives him to suck up and endure this stupid technique of his because the next time you enter is when you’re terribly wounded and bloody.

it’s nothing shoko can’t fix, but you’re adamant on dropping off gojo’s bag of sweets before you go to the doctor.

“how was the—” gojo stops at the sight of you, lighter on his feet and more independent ever since you visited.

“what— what happened? y-your mission? how did it go? why are you so...” you flash him a sad smile, mildly surprised at the uncharacteristic anxiety on the male’s face.

“it went fine, satoru, just... it was a pretty stubborn curse. it had the power to reproduce fast, and we figured it out pretty late that we had to get to the source. that involved being drenched in disgusting curse blood.” gojo makes out the purple blood that wasn’t just your clothes.

“but here!” fishing out the fabric, you presented some black cloth. “c’mere.”

he lets himself enjoy the tenderness of your fingers, which slips on the blindfold onto his head. securing each side onto his head of hair, you laugh at the messy hair that’s got tangled up.

“y-you look so dumb! even worse than when you had your s-sunglasses!” your tone is soft, cautious even when you joked because you worried that his head would hurt. “how do you feel though?”

closed up, choked up, nervous, he names all the things off his mind, but it’s not what you want to hear. he swallows, “it’s... comfortable. did you get this for an expensive price or something? the quality’s really good.”

“i made it,” you scratch the back of your head in embarrassment, “been working on it for days, now.” and the breath is knocked out of him, faintly making out your shy hands that wanders around your body, to tuck your hair, to fiddle with your shirt.

that same sight never goes away years later, in his own apartment, in the comfort of his home, in your arms like before. nostalgia hits hard.

“don’t you know how to do this, satoru?” you tease, barely paying attention to the drama on TV, instead focusing your attention on the male below you. “why’d you need me to do it?”

gojo whines, thankfully not contributing to the headache he has. over the years, he’s become much better at handling the technique, even making your blindfold a daily part of his fashion. you just wished he wouldn’t parade around with your badly sewed blindfold that you learned from WikiHow. satoru says it’s for “sentimental value” that he uses the only blindfold you’ve made him.

“but you do it better! can’t my partner just indulge me just this once?”

your tone is still soft, gentle, full of love and gojo falls even more, “once? you got me doing this for years now, dude!”

gojo pouts, “ouch. dude? what am i, your homie?” you roll your eyes with a smile, smacking his chest lightly as you turned down the volume. in the midst, you switched to Spotify on your smart TV.

“shush now.” gojo happily shuts up, long body tucked into the sofa of his apartment while he melts at your fingers doing their magic. they always have such a calming and lulling energy to them, just like your voice, your personality.

gojo didn’t believe you possessed any cursed energy, because if humans gave out cursed energy, you only did the opposite. he fully believed you were an angel sent down. his eyes flutter open to see you looking down at him.

“hi.”

“hey. you should close your eyes, you know,” you whisper another warning. you can feel as his cheeks spill into your palms when he smiles — it’s not the large ones he gives his students, but it’s... there, and small because the softest of smiles are reserved only for you.

“how can i, when there’s the epitome of beauty right above me?” your cheeks heat up, and even after all these years, satoru’s compliments always makes you bashful.

“please shut up.” gojo laughs at your comeback. “you mind if we lie down?”

your lover’s lack of answer tells you that he’s not opposed to it, and soon you manoeuvre him until he’s in between your legs, fingers never stopping the massage.

“anything from your mission today?”

“standard, but a stubborn curse,” gojo smiles from where he was on your chest, “if someone didn’t say that we needed to defeat the source years ago, i, too, would come home bloody and bruised.”

“yeah, yeah, but you won’t, because you have your stupid infinity.”

“because i have my stupid infinity, yup.” gojo echoes you.

from here, gojo looks anything but a teacher, a sorcerer, a menace (you say so but he disagrees, says his presence is a blessing). he looks like a little boy, forced to grow up at such a young age, forced to shoulder responsibility and a zen’in kid at such an age where he couldn’t enjoy what other teenagers did. everything came late for gojo in life.

a calling to teaching, realisation of how fast friends would betray you, love.

but gojo wants anything but pity, and rather, more of your unconditional love that he never really knew what to call it back then. when your fingers work out the knots in his locks, he realised it was love. when your fingers suffered the pricks of needles, he realised it was love. when your hands closed the curtains in his room in jujutsu high, he realised it was love.

the four-lettered word scared him, but when he looked at you, it was all he wanted to say. i love you, i love you, i love you, like a mantra until you were giggling at him to stop or muttering the same thing back.

gojo raises his head off your chest, looking at you through his bangs and azure eyes that always captivated you. they just shone more, tonight. gently he leans forward to capture your lips with his. they move against yours languidly, taking his time to savour all of you, and tables quickly switch: from your hands on his temples to his on your cheeks, from his body laying on yours to you atop of his larger, lankier one.

your skin tingles, your heart soars, your laughs are swallowed by the other. gojo kisses you like it’s his last day on earth and he knows that you’d accompany him to heaven, even if he doesn’t deserve to go there. he’d claw and burn through hell just so he could get to the angel that is you, again.

“i love you,” it’s whispered breathlessly from his lips, like it’s taboo and forbidden and in his world and profession, you knew it was just that much when things can get ugly any second.

yes, love can be the most twisted curse of all, but when gojo satoru looks at you — the way he looks like you hung the moon and stars — he can only see a damn blessing.

DAYDREAMING!AU || a little petty

request: okay but can we perhaps see yuuta getting protective of DDR….. and maybe him saying something along the lines of ‘leave my girlfriend alone’…..

please? for a treat?

note: honestly, you know my weakness for my babies >< whenever i get to write for my husband Yuta, there is no way I can avoid that faith lmao. 

pronouns: she/her

daydreaming!reader masterlist

If there was one thing that Yuta prides himself of, it is his patience. 

From the moment he had entered the college, he had been taught that the patient person always gets the outcome that they want at the end. And from the most part, he likes to think that he does take that advice to heart and try to be the best version of himself that he possibly can be. However, everything has a limit. 

And the longer he stared from where he was seated, grip tight around his glass of iced juice, he was starting to think that he was going to find his limit today. 

It all started with a message - Yuta was quietly washing up from the lunch that Y/N had made them when he heard the sound of familiar footsteps running towards him; warm giggles filling the air of the communal kitchen. Just hearing those giggles had Yuta chuckling as he turns off the faucet, wiping his hands dry with a towel just as he turns to catch the giggling girl in his arms. “What got you all excited like this?”

Yuta’s amused question was answered with another fit of giggles before Y/N pulls her face away from his chest, holding her phone screen to the taller male before him. “Remember Hatori? Him, Riku and I are classmates when we were younger, and Riku keeps in contact with our middle school classmates,” Y/N explained whilst Yuta thought back to the couple he had met a few times - Hatori and his boyfriend, Riku had grilled him the moment they found out that he was dating Y/N. But it was all done out of love for her, and soon the three men became good friends; Yuta playing video games with Toge and Riku, and share a few texts with Hatori about new anime merch and where to get them. “What about it?”

“They are having a get together for everyone who is in middle school!,” Y/N replied excitedly as she shakes her phone before his face, to which Yuta just chuckles before he carefully catches her wrist with one hand to stop her shaking. Squinting at the screen a little, he read over the simple message that Riku had sent to a group chat that the three of them are in; humming quietly at the link to register for the event. “I guess you wanna go?”

Keep reading

Just thinking about Nanami...

➻ Note: reader has female parts, tried to make this as gender neutral as possible. The grammar might also be off, so sorry about that.

Reblogs would be appreciated~

SFW

He would call you his in every pet name he calls you. It gives him a sense of reassurance that someone as amazing as you is his. Sometimes he would call you his spouse unconsciously when talking about you.

➸ “Sorry, my spouse is waiting for me at home.” ➸ “Excuse me, could you point to me where this flavour of chips is? My darling seems to be obsessed with these lately.” ➸ “Oh? a new cafe? Hm… I should tell my love about this, surely they’ll enjoy it.”

Due to the nature of his work, he sometimes has to cancel on both your plans. However, once he comes home to you, Nanami makes sure that you’ll feel loved — no matter how tired he is. After all, it is the least he could do after missing out on having some alone time with you.

➸ “I’m home… hm? You’re still awake? Hah… I have such a lovely partner…” ➸ “Let me take a quick shower and then we’ll watch a movie you like, how does that sound?” ➸ “Hmm… I missed you so much… ‘m sorry for cancelling…”

This man is such a gentleman, he will ask you for your consent for every kiss he is about to take.

➸ “May I kiss you, my love?”

If he comes home stressed, all you have to do is… cuddle! or make him lay his head down to your lap and massage his head. No matter how stressed he is, these two actions never fail to relieve him.

When you both sleep, Nanami likes to cuddle with your back facing him. He loves nuzzling his nose to your hair, breathing in the scent of shampoo you used and tighten his arms around your waist. In this position, he thinks that he can protect you more easily this way. Enemies will have to go through him if they even think about hurting you.

NSFW

I mentioned earlier that cuddles and a massage to his head could help relieve his stress. BUT. What better way than giving him pleasure to relieve him? Riding his thick cock as Nanami watched you with lidded eyes, hands gripping tightly on to your hips as he let out groans.

➸ “Hah… fuck… You’re riding me so well.”

This man knows how big he is compared to you – so when he’s feeling a bit mean, he would push the bulge of his cock from your stomach — loving how he could see how deep he is inside you.

➸ “You feel that? Yea… Come on, you can take more, can’t you~?” ➸ “Too big? ‘s alright sweetheart, it’ll feel good real soon.”

He takes advantage of the fact that he is stronger than you, pinning you down with just one hand while the other caress your hip.

➸ “So tight... yea?"

He may not admit it but seeing you crying while he’s deep inside you just arouses him to a whole new level. It unlocks a side he never knew existed.

➸ “So fucking pretty for me…”

He seems like the type to want to cum inside you every time he fucks you. The thought of having a family with you, a child calling him papa, your stomach round with his kids.

➸ “Fuck... can I cum inside you sweetheart? I want– ah shit– you’re getting tighter… You want that? Me filling you up with my seed huh?”

𝕱𝖎𝖈𝖘 𝕸𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙

I don't take requests as I only do this for fun and when I get motivation, however, you can send some if you like to in my inbox thing (There's a chance I might get motivated~ you never know!).

Tags:

NSFW - ✦ Fluff - ✿ Angst - ❖

Fandoms I have made fics for include the following:

➸ JJK (Jujutsu Kaisen) ➸ Love & Deepspace

Nanami Kento

Drabbles:

Just thinking about Nanami ✦✿

Zayne

Drabbles:

Zayne is so in love with you. ❖✿

talk baby !! ft. t.fushiguro

you help a girl find her mom while at a picnic... and it sparks something inside toji he was hoping not to feel.

ɞ⁺ contains: toji x fem!reader, just fluff, toji suggests sex, baby talk, reader wants a baby, toji slaps reader's ass (loving)

ɞ⁺ w.c: 1k

toji stands a few steps behind you, just silently watching over you. he’s not fully sure what’s going on, but he’s content just to watch.

“she lost her mom,” you take slow steps toward him, the weeping girl’s hand in your own. 

“just keep her with the security,” he shrugs and signals with his chin to the security lady a few feet away, broad shoulders dropping carelessly. “what can you do anyway?

“I can’t do that, toji,” your tone holds scolding to it. he would argue, but it’s too much work. This was supposed to be a quiet picnic for the two of you but some kid had to interrupt it. “i’m going to help her find her mom, okay? you stay here.”

“i’ll come with you,” toji sighs after contemplating it for a second. he doesn’t want to go around looking for a random kid’s parent, but he’ll be damned if he let you go around alone like that. he watched a little too many documentaries of killers using kids as bait to do that.

and so, toji follows you silently. he remains a few feet back just in case.

it’s a heartwarming sight, as much as he hates to admit it; to watch you help a helpless kid out as if she were your own. It sparked something in him, something he couldn’t quite place. 

it’s not too long before you find the kid’s mother, who had apparently gone to the bathroom and lost sight of her. but it’s already too late to go back and enjoy the picnic the two of you were having. maybe going on a picnic when it was obviously going to rain was a bad idea. 

“what a day,” your black-haired husband grumbled under his breath, slamming the car door. he rarely gets free days like this. “that damn kid.”

you chuckle lightly. even though toji doesn’t know what’s so amusing, he’s content just hearing that sound. your laughter never fails to make him smile—and this time is no different, an irresistible smile crawling into his face. 

“it’s not funny,” he mumbles as he starts the car. “ruined our picnic. told ya’ t’just leave her with the security.”

“come on, baby. what if it were our kid in there?”

he glances at you curtly, then focuses back on pulling the car out of the parking lot. you’ve discussed the topic before, but only briefly. toji doesn’t have time for kids. he’s not sure he can raise a whole new human. but the thought of having a kid–a kid with you… he shakes the thought off, opting to not respond to you. his silence is enough answer for you. 

once you’re finally home, you quickly change into something more comfortable, relieved to be out of the attire you wore for the ‘picnic’. You settle on the couch next to toji, who is looking for something interesting to watch on tv.

“toji..” you whisper, leaning into him. toji’s arm naturally falls over your shoulders, bringing you closer to him. 

“yeah?” he hums, not even looking over at you.

“shouldn’t we have a kid, too?”

he turns to you, eyebrows furrowed and eyes wide as if you’ve grown another head. you’re so… straightforward. it’s not like you to be so blatant about your desires.

“huh? what’s this about?” he feigns nonchalance, looking over at the tv.

“come on,” you pull at his shirt, dragging the syllables. “i’m serious. i want to be a mother. i’m sure you wished we had a baby too.”

“that’s… that’s not true,” he lies. you can tell by the pause he had mid-sentence. you almost feel offended by how he’s lying to you as if you don’t know him.

“you’re lying,” you grumble, but he doesn’t respond. your arm extends and abruptly snatches the remote from his hand, pressing the red button to turn off the tv. he’s about to complain when he finds you glaring at him sharply, prompting him to stay silent. 

“fine. what brought this up? you never bring this up like this,” he says, referring to your behavior. “didn’t you say you don’t care?”

“i lied,” you speak sorely, “i must have a baby, toji. you can’t take this away from me.”

“‘m not taking shit away from ya,” toji retorts, fixing his position to have a better look at you. “We said we’d wait a few years first, remember? Why are you going back on yer’ words now, eh?”

“god– you’re so ignorant,” you huff. toji stares at your expression changing; there’s a storm about to happen, and he’d like to avoid that. besides, maybe a kid isn’t such a bad idea…

“baby,” he sighs, taking your hands in his own uncharacteristically. “are you sure you want that now? i mean– ‘m barely able to see ya’... isn’t a baby lotsa responsibility? don’t wanna hear ya whinin’ about how ‘you’re never around, toji’, yeah?”

you giggle at the way he mocks your voice, the sweet sound making him smile. he’d say the stupidest things to hear you laugh.

“we can manage that,” you tell him. “i’m sure we’ll get the hang of it by time.” you’re doing your best to convince him, but you have a feeling he’s just playing hard to get.

“babies ain’t some sorta’ experiment, babe,” he jokes but you don’t laugh, assuming he’s serious. “what i’m sayin’ is… are you sure you don’t wanna give it some thought?”

“it’s all i think about,” you mutter, giving him that look. he falters. there’s no way he can say no when you give him that. “please, toji. we already have everything we need. why wait?”

with a huff, toji wraps his arms around your middle and, with brusque movement, he throws you over his shoulder. you gasp at the sudden movement. “are you crazy? toji–! put me down!”

“ya’ wanted a baby,” he chuckles, palm landing a soft slap on your ass. “Think they fall from the sky or some shit? we’re gonna reproduce, baby.”

“you’re such a turn-off,” you say, no longer resisting. He only shrugs in response.

meeting you for the first time

genre fluff, gojo satoru x fem!reader

warnings none

wc; 873

please do not plagiarise or share my works on any other social media platforms. as always, reblogs are appreciated <3

“satoru? are you even listening?” his best friends, shoko and suguru wave a hand in front of his face, as they notice the white haired boy isn’t paying any attention.

“he’s spaced out again, what’s going on with him recently?” shoko mutters in annoyance, laying down against the grass as the three of them sit in an empty field, away from the noise.

satoru isn’t too sure why he’s spacing out again, in fact he’s not sure why he’s acting this way at all. everything just seems so plain, so boring. he should be happy really, for once in his life, everything is peaceful, his parents aren’t nagging at him to ask if he’s finally decided what university he wants to go off to, his aunts and uncles haven’t come to visit in a while, which means he doesn’t have to deal with more questions of what he’s going to do with his future. the teachers at his school, although they do try, don’t come up to him to ask about why he’s been skipping detention and not doing his homework. despite all this peace, he finds no meaning.

“satoru! you’re doing it again!” this time it’s suguru who snaps him out of his daze, “what are you even thinking about?”

“nothing,” he huffs, laying down on his stomach, “absolutely nothing, that’s the problem.” shoko and suguru share a confused expression, before staring back at their friend.

“alright, you…you do that man…” suguru pats his shoulder before standing up, “how about we go to the café near mine? they’re serving pancakes for half price today.” satoru’s ear twitches, and he jumps right up, his lethargy suddenly dissipating the moment suguru mentions ‘pancakes’.

the three of them, with satoru tucked between suguru and shoko, pace down the streets towards their signature café, talking idly about everything and nothing, except that satoru is gazing off again, looking straight ahead of him, without a thought in his eyes.

the street is bustling with life, children running around the park across the road, cars politely following the speed limit, the cyclists ringing their bells to let people know they’re coming by, well, some of the cyclists—

“hey- hey watch out!” a scream wakes satoru out of his stupor, and the cyclist crashes into satoru, the both of them falling stupidly on their asses.

“what the hell, why didn’t you ring your fu-“ he pauses in awe.

“i’m so so so sorry, my bell isn’t working, and my brakes are broken i’ve been meaning to get them fixed — i swear i was on my way to fix them, the bike repair shop is right down there, i’m so sorry for hurting you, oh my god are you okay—my cupcakes!” you ramble on before him, and it’s like satoru’s been introduced to paradise.

“it-it’s okay…” amazed, he stands up, and picks your bike up as you pick up the crushed cupcakes on the ground, salvaging what you can, and he watches in reverence as your hair falls down your face, only for you to push it back behind your ear, picking up the next cupcake.

“god, this is all my fault, is there anything i can do to fix this, i’m so sorry, i ripped your trousers, do you want money? a cupcake? oh my god-“ you try to offer him one of the cupcakes that weren’t destroyed, to fix the rip on satoru’s trousers.

“hey! it’s fine…you don’t need to do anything, except maybe get that bike fixed.” he sputters out, you were so beautiful.

all of a sudden, the world was colourful, he could hear the children’s laughs, smell the fresh scent of the pancakes being made right down the street where he was meant to be, and most of all—he noticed how bright your eyes were.

shoko and suguru watch, with jaws dropped as their lifeless best friend stares at the stranger before them in utter adoration, before they look at each other and hold it in themselves to not laugh out loud.

“um, i’m really sorry to do this, but i need to go fix this bike, but i’ll pay you back for your trousers, just find me somehow, my name is y/n!” you shout across the street, as you put the cupcakes back in the broken basket, and cycle off again chaotically.

he stares at you until you disappear again, his heart beating 100 miles a minute. “i just met the love of my life.” satoru almost melts into the ground as he remembers how mesmerising you were, as messy as you were, and he dreams of an entire life with you.

“oh we know…” suguru laughs.

“how is she going to be the love of your life if you probably won’t see her again?” shoko interrupts, breaking satoru out of his daydream, and he turns around to run down the direction where you cycled off.

“satoru??” his best friends scream in unison as he disappears.

“i’m going to find her, i’ll be right back!” and he skedaddles down the same corner you turned, to find that stupid bike repair shop, to find you.

and satoru gojo thinks that maybe life isn’t so boring, if someone as ethereal as you exists in it.

a/n: hope u enjoyed my attempt at fluff !!

©️tora-ken 2024

Just thinking about tracing Suguru's scar.

Word Count - 0.9k

A/N - I dedicate this piece to the Anon that flooded my inbox with 30+ messages telling me how it was canon that Gojo didn't have any scars.

Read the Gojo version here!

! PIECE BEGINS UNDERNEATH THE CUT !

GETO never let you see his scars after he received them — suddenly he was covering himself up with thick sweaters and baggy clothes. You noticed … you always noticed.  

But you said nothing, not wanting to draw unwanted attention to something that he was very clearly adamant on keeping hidden.  

One night, however, your curiosity got the better of you. You didn’t mean to pry as much as you did, but you desperately wanted Geto to know that you weren’t going to suddenly start looking at him differently because of some raised skin — you wanted him to be comfortable around you. 

You wanted things to be like they were before. 

He was different. You could see it as clear as day.  

His hugs didn’t last as long as they once did, instead of bear hugs that he wouldn’t pull away from unless you did first, you received a half-assed sideways squeeze.  

It felt like he didn’t want to be touching you in fear of contaminating you, like you would catch some otherworldly disease that didn’t yet have a cure. It hurt you – it stung in a way that nothing else could compare to.  

When you sat on the couch beside him, he would scoot a few inches away from you. 

When you laid down to take a nap beside him, he’d offer you only his pinky and nothing else.  

When you went to embrace him, his body would angle itself so that his shoulder rested against your chest.  

“Suguru?” you whisper to him under the cloak that night provided, turning to face him properly. He mimics you, rolling onto his side and propping himself up with the use of his elbow, palm resting against the side of his face.  

“Hmm?” he hums in response, eyes studying your expression. His face pinches in slight concern at your narrowed eyes and furrowed brows — something was very clearly upsetting you.  

“Are we okay?”  

He pauses, staring quizzically at you as if you had somehow sprouted another head. His free hand extends, finger rubbing affectionately against your cheek.  

“Course we are. Why do you ask?” he murmurs, breath catching in his throat as you push yourself to sit up. Your legs cross, one ankle over the other while you maintain eye contact with Geto.  

Your mind reminds you of what he had been doing; the behaviors that he had been displaying. What wasn’t he telling you? 

You swallow the growing lump in your throat, not wanting to accidentally make a big deal out of something that could otherwise be nothing. 

“What are you hiding from me?” you whisper, already feeling tears build on your waterline at Geto’s shocked (and worried) expression. He looked so conflicted, so unsure that it made your heart crack.  

And even though he wants to believe that he has no idea what you’re referencing … he does.  

He looks away from you, and even though it’s only for a moment, it only makes your heart sink deeper into your stomach. “It’s—“ 

“Please don’t sit there and tell me it’s nothing,” you practically beg, voice cracking. Geto lets out a small sigh through his nose, adjusting himself so that he sits in front of you.  

“(Y/N)—“ he begins, but the way that you shake your head at him only makes him feel guilty, “—are you sure?” 

Your silence tells him everything that he needs to know.  

Slowly, and albeit very hesitantly, Geto lifts his shirt, revealing an ‘X’ shaped scar on his chest. Your breath hitches at the sight of it, the sound making Geto flinch.  

He tosses the shirt aside with a barely audible plop, not daring to make eye contact with you in fear of what expression you wore. So instead of glancing at you, Geto forces his eyes shut.  

They shoot right back open at the feeling of your fingers lightly tracing his chest.  

Shocked, his eyes flicker up to watch you. Your eyebrows are slightly pinched together, a worried indent to your forehead as your nails slowly move over the raised skin.  

You don’t say anything to him, not that you really need to. You knew that this — this gentle touch — was what Geto needed. He didn’t need half-assed reassurances that carried no weight. 

No, what he needed to know was that you were here, right with him, at his side — you weren’t going anywhere.  

Your finger reaches the end of where his scar slightly raises his skin. You shift forward, laying your palm against the center of the ‘X’, feeling Geto’s heart thumping against your fingers.  

He says nothing. You say nothing.  

Your eyes flicker up to meet his own. He returns your softened glance.  

“You’re so handsome Sugu … you know that, right?” you whisper tenderly, finally breaking the silence. The sigh he lets out in response is shaky, tear-filled.  

Before Geto has the chance to shake his head, your lips are on his scar, the softness of you contrasting greatly with the roughness of his skin.  

You glance back up at him, letting out a shocked squeak as he tugs you into his arms. Your head tucks into the crook of his neck, arms winding around his midsection.  

His breath shudders as his nose tucks into your hair. “Thank you.” 

You smile against him, turning your head and laying a chaste kiss against the skin of his throat. Your arms momentarily tighten around him, eyes closing in content. 

“I love you.” 

“I love you too angel … thank you.” 

[part two] trouble - takuma ino

word count: 9k warnings: swearing, drinking, slight harassment (a creep puts his hand on reader's waist for 0.2 seconds) summary: she's only agreed to one night out- and that doesn't mean anything at all. it also doesn't mean anything that a few drinks has her admitting that ino's eyes are actually quite pretty. contents: rivals to begrudged friends, gojo!reader, nanami leaves the function at his first oppurtunity, ino and (y/n) have an alcohol fueled breakthrough.

part two: "got so much to prove" ___

Gojo Satoru was nothing like his sibling counterpart, and she was dead set on keeping it that way.  Where he was overbearing, she was uninvolved.  Where he was obnoxious, she was reserved.  For most of her life she could recall trying to steer herself into the opposite direction Satoru was heading.  

That was, until it came to sorcery.

If it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t have needed to crawl up a ladder to claim the Grade One title.  If it weren’t for him, she could’ve made a name for herself rather than live in the shadow that was their family name.  If it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t be stuck in this too-loud bar throwing back too-weak drinks.

Nanami didn’t seem too thrilled about having his evening decided for him, either.  He was nursing his third beer and the alcohol still hadn’t loosened him enough to lose the look of pure disinterest on his face.  (y/n) couldn’t blame him, seeing as she didn’t want to be here either.

Takuma, on the other hand, was having the time of his life.  He’d eagerly ordered them a round of shots despite their protests, claiming it was a right of passage for their first outing together.

“I’m not taking a shot,” Nanami had pushed his glass to the center of the table, refusing it as soon as it was set in front of him.  “I have to be home by eight” 

“Eight?” Takuma gasped incredulously at his early retirement.  “But Gojo’s car won’t be here till eleven-” 

“Dibs” (y/n) plucks the extra shot off the counter, tapping it once against the table before throwing it back with ease.  

The other two are left to stare at her in shock, neither knowing how to react.  She’s quick to chase it down with her own shot in rapid succession, not a single flinch or twitch from the burning sensation left in her throat.  Nanami and Takuma share a quick glance, but it doesn’t go unnoticed by the young Gojo.

“What?” She asks innocently, propping her elbow on the table to rest her chin in her hand.  “Been a long week, no?” 

“It’s just… Satoru doesn’t drink” Nanami shrugs at the simple statement, leaning back against his chair.

(y/n) pauses, her brow twitching in the smallest of movements.

Even without him around, she was being compared to him.  And hearing it come from Nanami, whom she’d spent years looking up to, snapped her final straw.

“Right…” She drawls the word out slowly, and Nanami waits all too patiently for whatever she had to say next.  “Well since it is our first outing, let’s establish this once and for all, shall we?” 

And then she grins, which sends warning flags up in Takuma’s mind when she leaves the table and approaches the bar.  He turns back to Nanami with his worry evident on his face.

“That’s not good,” He says in a hushed voice.  “I’ve only ever seen her smile like that when exorcizing curses” 

Nanami only chuckles half heartedly, more than familiar with the way the Gojo siblings’ shared wicked grin.

Ino’s not so amused, but he does his best to get excited when (y/n) comes back with a stronger drink and another round of shots for the three of them.  Nanami refuses this one as well, and this time they let it sit on the center of the table unclaimed.

To his surprise, she taps her shot glass against Ino’s when he picks it up, eyeing the auburn liquid with uncertainty.  This would be his second shot in the span of only ten minutes, and it would be her third.  There had to be some ploy behind it, right? 

“Whatever it takes to prove to you both I’m not my brother, name it,” (y/n) announces before throwing back the shot.  “It can be like a game!” She decides, eyes lighting up with the idea.  If she notices the way Nanami and Ino seem unsure and uncomfortable with the sudden swing in behavior, she doesn’t show it.

“A drinking game?” Ino asks, not quite following her train of thought.

“Sure,” She nods at him.  “Like a truth or drink sort of thing? That works” 

“I’ve got one, then,” Nanami leans back onto the table, suddenly joining the conversation.  His pupils seem surprised, but both excited in their own way to have him participate  “That Grade Two at the playground, last week, did you lie in your paperwork?” 

A more authentic looking beam stretches over (y/n’s) face, and she laughs as she considers taking a drink, but she supposes he’d have his answer if she did, so she might as well fess up.

“About the swingset being torn apart?” She asks with a raised brow.  “Yes, I lied about that” 

“You lied in your report?” Ino gasps in shock.  “What’d you say?” 

“She claimed the swings had been torn away from their posts before she arrived on the scene” Nanami explained with a huff.

That earned another gasp from Ino before he turned back to (y/n) with wide eyes and an awkward sort of smile, like he was excited to have caught her in something, even though she’d admitted to it herself.

“You chopped down a children’s playground?” 

“It was a swingset,” She corrected.  “And it’s structural integrity was fine.  The city could afford to replace the swing itself.  It’s practically just rope” 

Nanami shakes his head, although he’d already had an inkling her report on that assignment was less than truthful.  He had stopped by to take account of the damage done, and it seemed to him like the scraped metal of the playset’s structure could have only been chinked up by a large blade.  Like an axe.

A few more random questions come up between the two, most of them work related.  The questions are all over the place however, with Nanami trying to get her to admit to more discrepancies in her paperwork, and Ino trying to learn anything and everything he could.  So she never quite knew what was going to be asked of her.

More often than not, Nanami’s questions led to her drinking.  Whereas Ino’s…

“Do you have any tattoos?” 

She wants to laugh, and ask him if he’s sure that’s what he wants to know.  But Nanami’s already got her another two drinks down, so she finds herself lifting up the hem of her shirt, just enough to put her hip bone on display, earning shocked looks from both men as they stared holes into the ink on her skin.

“When did you get that?” Nanami asks, his eyebrows nearly to his hairline when (y/n) looks up at him with a lazy smirk.

“I was sixteen, and you weren’t around at the time” She states matter-of-factly.

Ino’s laughing, and maybe cheering as he throws back the rest of his drink and makes his way to the bar for another.  (y/n) wouldn’t admit that she was having a good time, but it was quite entertaining to watch their reactions.

“That’s enough insight for tonight” Nanami sighs before getting up from his seat.  (y/n) watches as he lifts his jacket from the back of his chair, loosely shrugging it on.  A small knot forms between her brows.

“You’re actually gonna leave?” She asks, and if he didn’t know any better, Nanami might think she’s frowning because she’s disappointed to see him leave.  

“I’ve already stayed later than I planned,” He answers dryly.  “But you should stay, Ino too,” He adds, nodding to the sorcerer at the bar desperately trying to get the bartender’s attention.  “Make your brother pick up the tab” 

“He said it was on you” (y/n) replies with a shrug, before taking a sip of her drink.  

Nanami rolled his eyes as he turned to go, grumbling something about how a Gojo could be trying to pass off the bill.  (y/n’s) laughing as he leaves, and he’s almost compelled to stay, just for the sake of watching her open up more than he’d seen in years, but he supposes he’s not the one who needs that tonight.

Ino’s surprised when he comes back to the table with a fresh drink and hand, only to find Nanami missing.  He glances at the empty seat with a furrowed brow before turning to (y/n), who shrugs.

“Guess he wasn’t kidding about turning in early” She muses, pushing the ice in her glass with her straw.  Ino seems to pout at that.

“Too bad, I thought we were having a good time” He says as he takes his seat across from her.

(y/n) regards him with a slight tilt of her head, as if he were a stranger she were noticing for the first time.  As always, his mask sat on top of his head, posed as a beanie, and as he turned away to glance across the crowded bar, she’d never noticed before, but the curve of his cheekbones were defined.  Sharp, even.  Her gaze continued to linger, noticing the same detail about his jawline.  Had she really never noticed before, or was the dim lighting doing him a favor by putting his facial features on display? 

“Is this your idea of a good time?” She asks suddenly, and his attention is swiveling back to her.  Even with the lights shifting across his face, the defined features still stuck out to her.  “Going out somewhere crowded and noisy?” 

Ino laughs at that, every part of his expression lighting up with his delight, and once again (y/n) wonders if someone’s purposefully messing with the lights to put a spotlight on him.

Her brother’s words from their last phone call start to penetrate her thoughts against her will.  She tries to shake them off, but it’s hard when his brown eyes gleam like honey when he looks at her.

“Well, drinks are a pretty important part.  This wouldn’t be fun without ‘em,” He says, and she shrugs in non-committed agreement.  “But it is fun.  I’m having fun, at least”

“It’s not…” She starts to tell him this wasn’t her ideal night out.  In actuality, she was more of a stay in and relax on the weekend kind of person.  Satoru did enough partying in his younger years to turn her off from it early on.  But Ino perks up as he awaits her response, and it didn’t feel right to tell him the full truth.  So she changes direction and tells him a half-lie.  “It’s not terrible” She finishes.

He’s grinning again, as though she’d just told him she was having the time of her life, and she can’t help the confused knot in her brow.  Could he really be so pleased over simply having a few drinks together? 

“I knew you’d have a good time if you just came!” He cheered, reaching his glass across the table to tap it against hers.  “You should’ve just accepted the invitation months ago” 

She takes a long drink, stalling to try and find the right thing to say.  She doesn’t want Ino to get the wrong idea, she’s not about to make this a regular thing.  No, this was a one time occurrence.  She stood by what she said all those months ago.  It was silly to make friends in this line of work.  She’d witnessed first hand, one too many times, just what companionship could cost.  One night out couldn’t possibly change that.

Something twists in her chest before she can remind him of that, and it prevents her from saying anything of the sort.  Instead, she changes the subject.

“Can I ask you a truth or drink question, now?” She leans forward in her seat a bit, resting her elbow on the table once more as she studies his eager expression.

“Shoot!” He agreed excitedly, and she can’t help the short laugh that escapes her.  She blames the alcohol.

“How do you stay so positive all the time?” She asks the question that had been nagging at her for longer than just the past couple hours.  He shakes his head slightly, not quite following the meaning of her question.  “Even on assignments, and doing your reports, you’re always…” She wiggles her fingers in front of her as she tries to find the right word to explain it.

Ino chuckles, before full on laughter takes over and his shoulders are shaking as he grins from ear to ear, almost proving her point before he could actually answer.

“I love what I do?” He answers like it’s a question, like he’s unsure if that’s what she’s even looking for.  “I’ve been working towards one goal my entire life, I might as well enjoy it, right?” 

She’s stunned silent for a minute.  There was a time where she would’ve said the same thing, when she was young and naive and thought her and her brother would take the jujutsu world by storm, side by side.  Before she realized that her entire life would be spent under the shadow cast by him owning the family name almost all for himself.  It was a large, infinite shadow.  And the longer she’d lived in it, the more her joy for her work turned into a necessity.  Until now, she hadn’t even realized just how much she’d come to despise every step it took to move forward in jujutsu society.

Ino took her silence to mean she was thinking too deeply about what he’d said, and a question of his own came to mind.

“Do you not enjoy it?” 

Her gaze rises from where she’d zoned out looking at her dwindling drink, finding Ino across from her looking almost concerned.  The longer she didn’t respond, the more his expression reminded her of the night he’d found her injured.

She clears her throat before opting out of answering, instead drinking down the last of the contents in her glass.  He raises a brow at her choice.

“Did you not want to tell me your answer, or did you not know the answer?” He asks.

“Is that another question?” She asks, a small smirk forming on her lips.  “Because I’ll have to order another drink” 

Ino laughs, and despite her trying not to, she can’t help but laugh with him.

“Another round?” He asks, and she thinks about it for a minute, before nodding, and getting up from her seat.  To her surprise, he follows her up to the bar, even though there was still a good quarter of his drink left.  She doesn’t comment on it.

They have to squeeze between bodies to stake a place at the bar, the two bartenders already quite busy with the amount of people waving at them for their attention.  It’s bound to take more than a couple minutes before they would get to place their order.

“Guess everyone had a rough week” (y/n) mumbles absentmindedly, and Ino glances down at her.

This wasn’t the first time he’d taken notice of her height- or lack thereof- but with having her so close she was nearly pressed into his side, it was hard not to notice.  About a head shorter than him, he had to tilt his head down to properly look at her, which he was only doing now because the alcohol buzzing in his system lifted the barriers of his anxiety.  Had he been sober, he’d have been far too weak to stare at her so blatantly.

Luckily due to the drinks they’d both had, (y/n) didn’t realize he was staring at her for a whole minute or so.  She’d been too focused on trying to catch eyes with one of the bartender’s to feel his eyes on her.  Even without being caught, he felt a flush creeping up his neck.

In another life, or hell, another universe, Ino wonders if things could have been different between them.  If she would’ve been less closed off, or maybe he could’ve been more laid back and met her level of reserved.  He wonders if they would’ve been closer friends, or maybe even something more than that.

Truthfully, when they’d first met, he’d instantly had a bit of a crush on her.  He’d never met the younger Gojo before the day he started working with Nanami on his promotion, but as soon as he’d laid eyes on her, he thought his heart was going to go into cardiac arrest and he’d die right there.  She was quiet, but he could tell behind her calculating expression that she was thoughtful, and cunning.  And so, so beautiful, that he’d stuttered all the way through introducing himself, even his own name he’d struggled to get out.  Looking back on it, he still felt embarrassed, but he was sure she’d long forgotten the interaction.  It wasn’t long after their meeting that she’d made her disinterest in him explicitly clear, and the sparks of feelings she’d ignited in him were stomped out into ash.

He felt like a fool for feeling that spark ignite again just standing beside her in this congested bar, but he couldn’t be imagining that things were different tonight, right? He was sure that she was opening up more of herself than he’d ever seen before, and maybe the alcohol played a part in that, but either way, he couldn’t get enough of it.  She was giving him crumbs of her life- an impulsive tattoo, her hopes to have a pet some day, a few reckless acts on assignments- and he was eating it all up with gratitude.  He couldn’t help but want to learn more, wanting to press further until she couldn’t possibly deny that she enjoyed confiding in him as much as he enjoyed being in her company.

He knows he can’t be imagining things, because when she finally feels his stare and looks up at him, she doesn’t scowl, or spit out some cruel comment about it.  Her brows twitch slightly, drawing together in a confused expression when he doesn’t immediately look away like she would’ve expected.  He’s close enough that he can see the way a ghost of a smile hovers at the corners of her lips, and the way her cheeks warm up with color.  It makes that microscopic spark of old feeling in his chest burn a little brighter.

A nervous laugh falls from her lips, and it’s so uncharacteristically cute that he’s smiling now, and he feels like an absolute dope for staring at her and smiling like an idiot, but it can’t be helped.  He can’t be helped.

“What?” She asks, breathless and curious, her eyes shifting between his as though trying to find the source of this behavior, but instead she only finds warm pools of brown that almost resemble the rum and cokes she’s been enjoying all night.

And then all at once it’s almost too much.  She’s suddenly aware of how close she is to him, their arms brushing together, or if he tilted his head just a little further down he could easily push his nose against hers and-

Her eyes widen at the derailing of her train of thought, the soft expression of surprise on her face more recognizable than she would’ve liked, and she could tell that it doesn’t go unnoticed by Ino, as he’s now regarding her with intrigue, wondering what was going through her mind.

The idea of him knowing she’d nearly gotten lost in thought at the idea of kissing him made her chest ache, and she badly wanted to tear her gaze away from his, lean over the bar and demand to be serviced so they could get away from the crowded space as quickly as possible.

What an idiotic, drunken thought to have.  Kissing a colleague, how much more foolish could she possibly be? She tries to shake it off as a pesky intrusive thought.  Nothing more than the alcohol pressuring her into making a reckless decision.

But she’s frozen before him, her eyes locked on his like she was stuck in a trance, trapped by her own nerves.  The eye contact was going to kill her, especially with how soft his gaze was.  It wasn’t like anything she was used to.  It wasn’t setting her on fire from it’s heat.  The way he looked at her made her feel like she’d just cozied up in front of a fireplace after a cold day.  It almost scared her how warm it made her chest feel.

She’s opening her mouth before she even settled on what she needed to say.

“Takuma, we should probably get go-” 

She’s interrupted before she could finish telling him they needed to leave.  It almost saves her, seeing as she didn’t have a very decent excuse as to why they needed to end the night early, but there’s little time for relief when the unwelcome hand of a stranger settles on her waist, stealing her attention away from Ino’s.

“You waitin’ for a drink, sweetheart?” 

She vaguely registers that the stranger with the breath that reeked of booze was speaking to her, before she’s reacting on instinct.

The grabby hand on her hip is pried off with ease, her strength easily overpowering his in less than a second.  No amount of alcohol would be enough to hinder her reflexes.  The stranger cries out in shock and pain as she twists his arm back behind him, likely spraining his shoulder with how fast she pushes it into an uncomfortable position.  The sly expression on the man’s face is contorted into one of great pain, and only when he begins to cry out for her to stop does she stop pushing.  Her desire to feel the bone snap under her strength starts to melt away when she sees tears in his eyes.

“You’re lucky I didn’t break your hands so you’d learn to keep your mitts to yourself” She mutters, releasing him with a slight shove.  The drunken stranger stumbles backwards, still sniffling and gawking in shock from the whole ordeal.

The woman he’d tried to pick up is still scowling, and she looks like she’s still undecided in letting him go, the way her lip curls into a snarl and her eyes seem to pierce right through his soul.  The man beside her looks no different, rage evident in the way his brows furrow and his jaw is clenched, teeth grinding together roughly.  He has one hand on the edge of the bar, as close to where she stands as he could get without pushing himself against her completely.  His knuckles are paling by the second, gripping so hard one could almost assume he was about to rip a chunk of oak clean out of the counter.  His other hand is on his head, roughly grabbing at the edge of his hat.  

Even the non-sorcerer that was this stranger got a bad feeling emanating from the two, and he scurried off without another word.  (y/n’s) eyes rolled dramatically at the pathetic display, but as she turned back to Ino, she could almost laugh at the sight of him ready to pull his mask over his face.

“Are you alright?” He asks, and there’s not a crack in his expression as he glances over her with concern pouring out of every pore.  

He loses his grip on the bar, hand hovering over her shoulder but not quite touching her, not knowing if physical contact would be a comfort right now.  It’s odd, feeling like for once she was the Gojo with the shield of Infinity.

“I’m fine,” She tells him, and she means it, but she can tell he’s not so convinced.  “But just out of curiosity, what was your plan here?” She asks, cracking a smile as she flicks the edge of his mask, still bunched up at the top of his head.

“I- I don’t know,” Ino answers sheepishly.  “If he didn’t leave you alone I guess I was just gonna wing it” He admits.

She regards him for a moment, letting the answer sink in.  Her smile widens a bit when she laughs softly, almost fondly, as she really thinks about it.  She softens again, just like she had moments ago, before the creep ruined it.

“Well, for what it’s-” 

“Hey, you two need to leave,” 

The pair or sorcerers do a double take when one of the bartenders finally gives them their attention, but not for the reason they’d wanted.

“What?” (y/n) asks, certain they had the wrong patrons.

“We weren’t doing anything?” Ino’s brows furrow as the bartender looks them both up and down.

“I don’t care for the details.  We can’t have a commotion like that in the bar.  If you’re going to cause trouble, do it somewhere else” 

“But the guy was the one who-!” 

Before Ino could finish his explanation, the bartender was shoving a finger towards the door, an expectant look on their face that told them not to argue any further, unless they wanted to cause more trouble.

“Whatever,” (y/n) huffs.  “This bar’s a dump anyways” 

And before the bartender could react, she was grabbing Ino by the arm and pulling him away from the bar.  She was on a mission for the door, eager to leave a place if she wasn’t wanted.  All Ino could do was silently follow along, his mind barely processing the whole ordeal until they were outside, where it was significantly quieter.

It was darker than he’d expected, although he was well aware of the time, it was a shock to be out on the dark sidewalk with the stars on full display above them.  He glances up at the sky to admire them for a moment, until realization strikes him and he’s whirling around to look at her again.

“What about our tab?” 

(y/n) blinks back at him, her expression unwavering.

“Guess we won’t be welcomed back, either” She says, and Ino stares at her in shock as he processes the statement.

“Well then we better get moving” 

(y/n) hadn’t intended to end up at another bar.  In fact, before the handsy stranger made things weird, she’d been looking for an excuse to end the night early.  However, her words betrayed her when Takuma suggested another little dive not far down the street, and that’s where she found herself now.

This place wasn’t as crowded as the last, so she felt comfortable walking in and claiming a small corner booth.  By the time someone came by for their order, she’d already stretched out across the length of the leather cushion, back pressed to the window comfortably.  Ino had chuckled at how cozy she’d made herself, but didn’t comment on it.

Once their first round- at this establishment- of drinks came around, he’d excitedly started up their previous game again.

“Would you have really broken that guy’s hands?” He asks, and (y/n) doesn’t even lift her drink to pretend she wouldn’t answer.

“Without a doubt,” She hums, spinning the ice in her glass with her straw.  “Sometimes lessons have to be learned the hard way, right?” She asks him with a mischievous grin that tells him she might’ve done worse had the moment felt right.  “My turn?” She asks, and he nods, crossing his arms over the table as he gave her his undivided attention.  “Which little beast of yours would you have summoned?” 

“Kaichi” 

He answers with so much bluntness she raises her brows at him, surprised by his complete lack of thought before speaking.  She hums, nodding her head in quiet agreement that impaling the stranger with one of those horns would have been the best method of defense.

“Has that… happened before?” 

“The random guy hitting on me part? Or the part where I threatened a man’s hands?” She asks, and Ino doesn’t seem to have the proper clarification for her question, so she shrugs, and doesn’t drink to the question.

“No, that’s never happened before” 

She takes a few sips after she’s answered, hoping to keep up the buzz she had going.  Ino’s fingers tap rhythmically against the table as he processes her answer.  He seems unaffected at first, but slowly, confusion begins to seep into his features.

“Wait, so you’re saying no one’s ever hit on you, either?” 

“You already asked that one”

“Well then I’m asking again” 

(y/n) begins to pull her glass towards her, ready to take another drink, but maybe the alcohol gets on top of her a bit as she answers the question before she could evade it.

“No, I’ve never been hit on.  I don’t think, anyways.  But I think I’d probably know if I was” 

It comes out like word vomit, babbled out like her thoughts were on a direct pipeline to being voiced.  She doesn’t mean to share so much, but she finishes with a shrug of her shoulders, and raises her glass to sip some more.

“You really never go out, huh?” He asks, taking a drink as well.

“What, getting hit on is the true price you pay for going out?” She asks with a short laugh, not following the connection between the two.  Ino nods his head from side to side, indecisive in his response.

“Not always, just, y’know, figured it’d happen a lot if you didn’t stay in all the time”

By the time he realizes the implications of that statement, it’s already too late.  Ino nearly chokes on his drink when (y/n) tilts her head at him, realization slowly flickering over her features.

“You’re saying people would hit on me a lot if I went out more?” She asks skeptically.

He considers pulling his mask over his face in order to conceal the growing heat in his cheeks.  Not that it would help, the damage had already been done with his loud mouth.

“I didn’t mean it like that-” 

“Well how did you mean it then?” She asks, suddenly swiveling her legs to sit upright against the table, plopping her chin in her hands to study him properly.  

She always had a way of looking at him with calculation in her eyes, as if she was sizing him up like a curse.  Right now, he doesn’t know what to make of the way she stares at him.  There’s that familiar look in her eyes that makes him wonder just what it is she’s looking for, but the softness in her smile was unfamiliar territory, and Ino didn’t have the slightest clue of what to make of it. Was it amusement? Did she take sick joy in watching him fluster and stutter? Or could it be the alcohol to blame? Perhaps it was loosening her up, and any semblance of delight was merely the booze entertaining her.  The most outlandish reason would have been fondness, but there simply wasn’t a chance in the freezing depths of hell that she was actually growing fond of his company, was there?

“I just meant, y’know,” He gestures his hand towards her, pathetically trying to explain his thought process.  She shakes her head in a small motion, not understanding his poor attempt at reason in the slightest.  “Like, you… you’re… you know”

Ino would really rather be anywhere else right now, preferably somewhere that wasn’t so hot his collar was sticking to his neck and his throat was closing up, but then (y/n) begins to laugh, and he huffs out a sigh in aggravation, and ultimately decides to take a long drink.

“Fair enough,” She muses at his choice.  “It’s not a terrible assumption to make, I suppose.  My brother is acquainted with every eligible man and woman in the city, after all” She says, only half joking.  Ino seems to find a great deal of amusement in that, grinning and laughing, although he can’t say he’s that surprised.

“For the record, I wasn’t comparing you to him in that assumption,” He says.  “I just figured you’d… attract your own attention” He says.

There’s an undeniable flutter in her chest, and she wished she could say she hated the way it spread a tingle of warmth throughout her entire body.  It wasn’t like she’d never received that sort of attention from others, but it had been so long since she entertained the idea that it was starting to feel a little foreign.  And having Ino of all people assume that there were a line of suitors out the door waiting for her hand had her insides turning with the near unfamiliar sensation of butterflies.

Her silence is making him anxious, his fingers tapping against the table no longer playing a steady beat.  They mimicked the rapid increase in his heartbeat.  Wild and unsteady and with no sign of relaxing.

“That so?” When she finally does speak it’s soft, nearly a whisper, as if she didn’t quite believe him.  “Are you an expert in that field, then?” 

She catches the way his eyes land on his drink, which was now empty, so there wasn’t exactly an out for the question.  When his gaze shifts back up to hers, he finds she hasn’t looked away from him yet.

“What field?” He plays dumb, and her smile curls into a slight smirk.

“Flirting, courting, whatever you want to call it” (y/n) answers with ease, fiddling with the straw in her drink as she impatiently waits for his answer.  He eyes his empty glass once more.

“No, I’m no expert,” He huffs, a deep frown on his face for having to admit something so embarrassing.  “You timed that on purpose” 

“I did not!” She argues, but her nervous laughter gives her away.  She’s not as good at lying when she’s drunk apparently, and he might just have to store that information for later.

“My drink was empty! That was a trap!” 

She has to cover her mouth to try and suppress the giggles coming out of her uncontrollably.  He’s still embarrassed, but her laughter was contagious.  Anyone passing by or glancing over at the loud laughter pouring out of their booth would assume they were having nothing but a good time.  And for a few seconds at a time, Ino could pretend they were, too.

To keep things fair, (y/n) finishes the last few sips of her drink, before sliding both glasses to the end of the table.

“Alright, your turn then,” She says, a small hiccup punctuating the offer.  “You must have something good saved up your sleeve?” 

He thinks about it for a moment, folding his arms over the table and subconsciously leaning over it to get closer to her.  With his eyes wandering the bar as he racks his brain for a good question she couldn’t avoid answering, she was able to properly gaze at him without getting caught.  Just like at the previous bar, she gets a little lost in thought as she maps out every feature of his face.  There was nothing forgettable about Takuma Ino, but she found herself trying to commit it all to memory anyways.

That flutter in her chest hadn’t gone away, and the longer it prevailed the more she began to sink into the feeling.  It’s relaxing, the way time slows down, and the buzz sends goosebumps prickling up her arms.  She would have never thought she could find this much comfort in this setting, but to her, this booth was the only thing in her world.

“Would you do this again?” He finally settles on a question, and it’s clear that it’s not what she expected, judging by the way her eyes slightly widen from being caught off guard.

Her mouth opens, but nothing comes out right away.  It’s as though he’d wiped her mind completely blank, not even a weak excuse coming to mind.  The fuzzy feeling in her chest turns to static, sharp and cold before disappearing completely, leaving behind nothing but an emptiness that stings as it lingers.  Her smile slowly falls as reality begins to seep back into their booth, reminding her of why she’d kept him beyond arm’s length all this time.

Deep down, she wonders if she always knew this would happen.  She wondered if self preservation took over as soon as she met him because if it hadn’t, she would’ve let him get too close a long, long time ago.  Guilt claws it’s way up from her gut to her throat, strangling her to keep her from saying the wrong thing first.

Ino’s sure he already has his answer when she doesn’t say anything right away.  It’s written all over her face, the way she winces, and shuffles uncomfortably in her seat.  Disappointment doesn’t begin to cover what he feels as he looks away from her, trying and failing to keep his face neutral.

“Got it” He mutters, catching the eye of a passing server and signaling for the check.  (y/n) frowns.

“Takuma, I…” She starts, but her throat still burns, and she struggles to find the right thing to say that won’t make things worse.  “I tried to tell you that tonight was just-” 

“I know,” He replies.  It makes her blood run cold, the way his voice lacks it’s usual chipper tone.  Now it holds nothing.  He’s so painfully emotionless that she almost wishes he would just get angry with her.  “You made that clear” 

They’re completely silent when a server comes back with the check, the tension turning awkward as soon as another person enters their bubble.  They must pick up on it, because they’re quick to bid them a good night before rushing away.

(y/n) drops the money on the table, and Ino’s out of his seat and headed for the door before she could even stand.  She huffs as she follows after him, although he stops just outside the door.  His heart was too good to leave her completely stranded, even though he wasn’t sure he could take another minute of being around her.

“Takuma, look, it’s not like it’s personal-” 

He scoffs, his hands in his pockets as he looks down at her.  She’s shocked to see the glare on his features, and if he wasn’t so irritated, he might’ve noticed the hurt on her face from the sharp look.

“If you tell me one more time just how not personal it is, I think I’m going to scream, (y/n),” He snaps, and in all the times she’s had this conversation with him and butted heads, she’s never heard him talk like that.  All she can do is stand there pathetically and accept it.  “Because it’s bullshit.  You know it, I know it, shit, Nanami knows it” 

“It’s not,” She mumbles, shaking her head.  “It’s not bullshit, I just-” 

“You don’t care about anything but becoming Grade One, I know,” He finishes the statement for it.  “You don’t care about drinks, and you don’t care about me.  Trust me, I remember,” 

A pout settles on her lips, and for the first time in a long time, she wants to cry.

“You know I actually-” Ino pauses to let out a humorless laugh, eyes fleeting across the busy streets as he finds twisted amusement in the way he’d fallen for this whole charade.  “I actually thought you were having a good time, I actually, stupidly believed that maybe you-” He stops again, not wanting to sound more idiotic than he already did.  

After tonight, as soon as they part ways, things would go back to the way they were, and she’d probably pretend nothing ever happened.  He’s not sure he was going to be able to survive that, even after all of this time accepting that she had no interest in him.  Ino doesn’t think he could go back to the way things were.

But fuck it, if this was going to be the last time she talked to him, he wasn’t going to lay back and take it.  He was going to put all the cards on the table.

“You know I care about you, don’t you? You have to know that.  Even if you can’t be friends or partners you- you have to know that.  You’re not dumb, (y/n), so don’t act like it,” 

She has to curl her hands into fists at her sides to keep control of the tears in her eyes.  She couldn’t dare let them spill over.

“But you’re so so stubborn, I’ve never met anyone like you,” He huffs, and the smile on his face is conflicting with the way he spits the words out like poison.  “You’re nothing like Satoru.  I’ve never thought so.  All these walls you put up to keep people from getting close to you so you don’t happen to stumble on the same path he did- because that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? You’d rather shelter yourself from everything than risk getting a little hurt?” 

Her bottom lip wobbles with emotion, and she turns away so she doesn't have to look at him.  She wished some mysterious force would suck her away from this moment and land her in the safety of her bed where she never had to face the consequences of her actions.  It was childish, but she couldn’t bear to argue with him right now.

“You’re drunk” She mumbles to the sidewalk.

“You’re drunk,” He repeats incredulously, his hands flying outward.  “You think I don’t know you because you won’t, just once, let someone get close to you,” He rants, “But you know what the worst part is, (y/n)? You’re only going to get hurt anyways.  And you have,” He gestures to her shoulder, making her defensively hold a hand over where the scars are hidden beneath her clothes.  Her brows furrow as she opens her mouth to argue, but he beats her to it.  “And then- while I was worried about you, because damn it there was so much blood, I thought you might die, you took it out on me! You got mad at me and pushed me away, again.  Do you have any idea how that makes me feel?” 

It’s only when his rant starts to die down that he realizes she’s barely looking at him because her eyes are glossy, and he knows damn well that she’s fighting every urge to cry.  He doesn’t know if she’s emotionally on edge because of him, or the alcohol making her sensitive, but either way, he sighs in defeat, and his shoulders slump from the weight of all of the thoughts he’d been carrying for the last few months.

“I- I know that you care,” She says weakly, her voice more strained than she would have liked.  “I just don’t get it, okay? It doesn’t make sense.  You don’t make sense.  I don’t- I- I can’t-” Her stutters come out in a whimper and she’s looking away again, desperately trying to compose herself before she could do something embarrassing.  

There were still people out and about even this late into the night, more than enough people to overhear their argument in the middle of the sidewalk.  Normally, she’d call her brother’s driver and leave without putting up with this argument.  But she can’t bring herself to do such a thing right now.  Not with the way he’s looking at her like she just destroyed the moon and all of it’s stars.

“My whole life has been wasted trying to prove something that I- that just isn’t possible,” 

The admission comes out in a shaky whisper.  She’s never voiced it before, but now is as good a time as any of he’s really so desperate to understand why she was wired this way.

“I don’t even understand why I was born, Takuma.  My parents had no interest in me.  They already had Satoru.  For as long as I could remember, I was only around to follow behind my big brother while the entire world bent over backwards to give him everything.  Attention, money, fame, candy apples- that’s what’s bullshit,” It comes out bitter and nasty, her nose wrinkling as she thinks back to every event she was forced to dress up and go to, only to be ignored, cast aside, and forgotten about completely while Satoru skipped around and received everything he could ever want.  “And I just can’t- can’t understand what anyone could ever want from me, I have nothing,” 

She hadn’t noticed the tears leaking from her eyes until there’s a pair of warm hands cupping her face, thumbs gently pushing them away.  She doesn’t want to look at him, not with all of the shame she felt just being comforted by him, but a stronger part of her can’t help but stare at him.  She hadn’t expected such sudden gentleness from him, and she hadn’t realized just how long it had been since someone had last comforted her.  When was the last time someone wiped her tears? Or touched her so softly that even in the frigid evening brought warmth to her skin? 

“Explain it to me,” She pleas quietly.  “Why- why would you possibly want to be around me?” 

Her eyes shift between his, but he’s too focused on clearing away each tear rolling down her cheeks.  She sniffles, and her hands reach up to grab his wrists.  Ino thinks she might yank him away, but she doesn’t.  She simply stands there with a solid grip on him.

“You are drunk,” He says quietly, just a hint of amusement in his eyes as he finally meets her sorrowful gaze.  “Don’t cry, (y/n), I didn’t mean to make you cry,” 

But it’s too late, she can’t stop the tears from streaming down her face now.

“I told you, I care about you, we’re partners, yeah?” He offers, but her expression is unrelenting.  “Have you considered maybe I don’t want you to get hurt, either?” 

Tears stick to her lashes when she blinks, and she has to bite down on her cheek to keep her lips from trembling.  He’s so close that he’d be sure to notice, but he also notices the clench in her jaw.

Every instinct she’d trained herself on is telling her to push him away.  Even if it meant physically shoving him off of her.  He’s too close in every sense of the word, breaching every wall she’d built brick by brick.

But something else nags at her, something far more sinister and cruel.  It pushes her forward, and has her clenching her hands around his wrists tighter as she stands before him in all of her pathetic glory.  Tears still pouring down her cheeks and her lower lip still wobbling, she swallows her pride.

“I’m sorry,” 

It’s quiet, but not because it’s ingenuine.  In fact it’s the opposite.  With a raw throat came a strained voice, so full of emotion she couldn’t possibly raise her voice any louder than the murmur that came out.

Ino blinks, his eyes widening in the slightest as he stares back at her in shock.  The entire night had been full of surprises, but now it had certainly taken a turn and set him on a path where he could see no clear ending.

“Takuma, I’m- I’m so sorry,” She continues, eyes glossing over again.  “I shouldn’t have pushed you away, I shouldn’t have said all those terrible things to you I- I didn’t mean any of it,” 

She’s shaking her head so rapidly it makes her a bit dizzy with the alcohol still in her system, but she doesn’t care if she sways a little.  She only wants to convey to him just how serious she was, and how important it was to her that he understood that.

“I think… I think you’re one of the greatest people I’ve ever met,” She continues, and slowly, the tears come to a stop.  “I’ve never known anyone as… as caring as you,” 

Her voice softens, a nervous shyness creeping in for admitting something so vulnerable.  But she wasn’t sure if she’d ever work up the courage to say something like this to him again, so it was now or never.

“And I know you’d never hurt me, b-because I’m… I’m the one who was hurting you,” He opens his mouth, likely to argue with that statement, but she was quick to keep going before he got the chance to interrupt.  “But I don’t think you understand that… that losing you would mean hurting me, too” She finishes, brows pinched together as they both sit for a moment to process it all.

Ino sighs, his thumbs wiping away the last of her tears, yet he keeps his hands cupped around her face.  A part of him was paranoid that if he let her go now, she might slip away once and for all.  The other, louder part knew that with the grip she had on his arms, neither one of them were going anywhere.

And so he tells her just that.

“I’m not going anywhere,” He assures her, a confident smile stretching across his face.  “You’re not losin’ me.  Promise” 

She snorts at that, the tiniest of laughs escaping her in a mere breath.

“You can’t promise something like that,” She scolds.  “In this line of-” 

“Yeah, yeah,” Ino shakes his head dismissively.  “Too late.  Already promised.  So it’s set in stone,” 

She stares up at him with wide eyes, so lost in trying to understand him in his entirety that she doesn’t even know what to say next.  Had he forgiven her so easily? How could he say such a thing with as much assurance as he did? 

“As long as you can promise to drop the tough guy act and just… be the tough guy you already are,” He says, only half kidding, “Then I can promise that I’m not leaving you” He offers, tilting his head to the side as he gazes down at her fondly, admiring the way the corners of her lips begin to twitch into a smile.

“Okay,” She whispers, so quiet he only knew she said it from the way her lips moved around the word.  “I promise” ___

From that day forward, (y/n) worked more and more to loosen up around him.  It wasn’t easy at first, and the first day was the hardest.  The Monday back at work was a bit awkward, after she’d spent an entire weekend nursing a hangover, with an overbearing brother pestering her for the details.  Ino had brought her and Nanami coffee that first morning, and she’d made an effort to eat her lunch with him every day that week.

Then the week after that she began to accompany him on his coffee runs as well, spending the extra time chatting mindlessly and getting to know one another better.

A few weeks after that the two of them went out for drinks one evening, until that too became a part of the routine.  Once a month or so they’d go out to any new bar Ino could find and waste away as much of an evening as they could.

Slowly but surely, partnership grew into genuine friendship- something (y/n) hadn’t felt for a long, long time.  And Ino made sure to never let her forget it.  Whether it was remembering her favorite drink order, or watching an entire series she’d said she liked one time, he took her companionship seriously.  The more she got to know him, the harder he made it not to fall for him.

But, god, was falling for him one of the easiest things that’s ever come to her in this life.  It was unavoidable, unstoppable, uncontrollable.  No matter how much she tried to fight it, the way her heart raced whenever he was around was distinct to feelings only he could spark.  And the way her eyes searched for him first in a crowd was more than enough proof that her fondness for him had grown well past platonic.

It might have been silly to be surprised by her feelings when she’d finally realized that’s what the swell in her chest was all about.  After the incident that was their drunken night out where she’d torn herself apart at the seams before him- they don’t talk about that night, and she can’t help but wonder if he’s doing it out of favor for her, or if he’s just as embarrassed about it as she was- she found herself getting lost when thinking about him more often.

It ranged anywhere from how his eyes were their prettiest when they would leave Jujutsu Tech in the early evening.  With the sun low in the sky, rays of light caught them just right and made them appear to be the most brilliant, shining amber she’s ever seen.  

Satoru loved to brag about his baby blues to anyone who would listen, throwing his shades off with dramatic flare as he’d bat his eyelashes at unsuspecting victims.  Ever so full of himself, he loved the attention he’d get for the outrageously bright blue hue of his eyes.  When directed at her, (y/n) tended to scoff and tell him that his Six Eyes was far more worthy of bragging about than the damn color of them.

More recently, she’d shrugged her shoulders before directing her attention elsewhere.  “I prefer brown eyes” She’d told him carelessly.  At the time he’d pouted over it, whining about how his little sister thought he was ugly.  But ever since seeing her grow closer to her partner, he had a sneaking suspicion he knew who’s brown eyes she was talking about.

As much as she indulges herself in these thoughts- wondering how soft his lips were, remembering how gentle his hands had been when he’d touched her- she knows she can’t act on them.  Not after everything she’d already put him through getting their working relationship this far.  If she were to admit to him now that she was catching romantic feelings for him, it would be humiliating.  And she was humiliated enough as it is.  So she swore to herself they would remain hidden deep, deep down, under a lock and key- with said metaphorical key being thrown into a fire and melted down into a clump of misshapen chunk metal.   Then she threw that metaphorical chunk of metal into a metaphorical ocean. ___

xoxo ~ jordie