#i’m weirdly passionate about this
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ok guys time to get serious. what is the best mirabel promo render!? here are your candidates!
option 1: quirky hair twirl
option 2: wind flow and butterfly
option 3: quirky without hair twirl
option 4: arms crossed
#encanto#encanto disney#disneys encanto#mirabel madrigal#mirabel encanto#I’m curious#mirabel render competition#I’m weirdly passionate about this#disney’s encanto#may the best one win
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People online fancasting live action Rapunzel: Sabrina Carpenter, Taylor Swift, Florence Pugh, Simone Ashley 🥺
Me: THE DISNEY VERSION OF RAPUNZEL IS 18 ONE EIGHT EIGHTEEN A TEENAGER!!!! (the og version is 12 but ya know that’s a whole separate story)
#i need you to bsfr#i’m screaming into a void#rapunzel#tangled#live action tangled#fwiw#two very important points#1. They don’t even need to make a live action version literally no one has asked for that#and#2. boycott disney#but you know#she’s a teenager#and you’re pitching 25+ year olds#Two young aspiring actors could be perfect for this#and then use big names to draw in crowds for the side characters#mother gothel#short thug#the Stabbington Brothers#but noooo#fancast#i’m weirdly passionate about this#i love all these actresses#but not for this role#anyway#to reiterate#cast aspiring actors#stop making live action remakes#&#most importantly#boycott disney
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Stranger Things Instagram Community 🤢
i seriously hate the instagram stranger things community. i just saw a post that mentioned that mike was the male lead of the show. one of the comments said that will was the male lead and the creator of the post responded with this: “main lead (eleven’s) hero is main male lead”
so first of all, is mikes worth demeaned down so that without eleven, he isn’t important? this implies that if mike (arguably the best written character in the show) is worthless if he isn’t saving eleven. is this really how milkvans view mike? second, it implies that eleven needs mike to save her. as if she isn’t perfectly capable on her own.
and third (and the part that pissed me off the most,) will IS the main lead of the show. the comment they made implies that without a girlfriend or someone to save or be their hero, will is uninteresting. this ties back into what i said about how the ga would like will more if he was a girl. if will was the one saving/being saved, he would be viewed more as a main character rather than background representation.
anyways yeah instagram sucks and is crawling with toxic midevens who would rather die than live to see byler become canon
#another one of my insane ramblings about something i’m weirdly passionate about#don’t y’all just love me#stranger things#st5#byler#mike wheeler#will byers#eleven hopper
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I love watts the safeword and I love their curious kinks thing so much it’s so fun
#watts the safeword#cw kink#I love learning about new kinks and I find submitting to the form weirdly fun lol#I’m strange#kink is my passion (autistically)#🪲
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Girls will take a nap at eight pm, have an extremely realistic dream about the apocalypse, and wake up at midnigjtb with absolutely no thoughts except “what the actual fuck”
#been having a lot of apocalypse dreams lately#specifically zombie ones. which sucks because zombies are the worst.#but i mean?? they’re getting less alarming at least??#i did run into a religious cult in my dreams last night though!#they would go around and leave the undead inside peoples homes & encampments#cause the living needed to repent for their sins or whatever#it was fun!! it was a bit disturbing!! I got the hell away from there very fast!!#i also failed miderably at driving#but it wasn’t as bad as the nightmares I have about crashing the car so. win!!!#i also ran into somebody listening to high noon over Camelot on CD#so I obviously went to say hello#and i may have rambled a bit#anyways they kind of just ignored me :(#it made me sad#also also also I had to hide from a zombie in a shitty school cabinet!! worst expirience ever!! would not reccomend!!#my lover died. and then like then years later my encampment starts having major issues. because why not.#“we DONT need an electric fence” they said. “an electric fence will be detrimental to the encampment” they said.#and then the encampment got fucking DESTROYED. because of our shitty fence.#sorry sorry im weirdly passionate about this world I dreamt of.#i need to go sleep now. I’m eepy.
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crazy to realize that i have actually grown as a writer when i reread the stuff i wrote at 16
#it used to make me feel so embarrassed but now i’m like… i guess weirdly affectionate towards the writing of younger me#i was passionate about that! i put a lot of time and effort into it! i was really proud of it at the time and i’m STILL proud of it#even if i think there was parts of it i would execute better now#taqrir
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You know what else is great about red light? It doesn’t fuck with your own night vision, so, say, you have pale eyes and they react VERY STRONGLY to bright lights. So, outside of where those lights shine, or when those lights go away, you’re effectively blind.
Red light doesn’t do that. I, and anyone else who’s night-blind, can actually still SEE THINGS when we aren’t being blinded by the LED abominations.
perhaps some will disagree, but i think the world got worse when we changed the colour of the night
#things I’m weirdly passionate about#I bet there are laws about headlights though#I was actually just thinking about this two night ago driving home at night
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#chatgpt how do i take the internet away from my brother forever#lad go outside man cmon#racism#content warning ig#he is so smart and reads so much yet some of the shit he vehemently rants about are just so???#how do you get from#‘pitbulls are horrible creatures that never should’ve been created’#(ok i see you’re weirdly and almost disproportionately passionate about this)#to ‘black people are inherently stupid and violent and pitbull apologists don’t wanna admit certain races can be genetically#disposed to possess certain immutable traits’ like man what the hell#*spends 30 minutes talking about geography and world history* ‘and thats why african civilizations are undeveloped and their people lazy#what is wrong with you??? i don’t read enough nor do i have the energy to academically dispute what u posit but#as a real living human person in this world what in gods name are you on about???#go talk to a real person make some friends im begging you#‘actually men are disposable and women shouldn’t work’#ts ain’t even half of it#he has been completely brainwashed and everything new he learns only reinforces these bizarre beliefs about the world#‘hey man i enjoy discussing these topics with you i can’t really have these conversations with anyone else’#brother right now i want to jump out of this car and onto the highway#but i’m glad we could have our little intellectually stimulating debate ☺️#shinjichair dot png#get. the fuck. off. 4chan. right now good lord#wtf
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boyfriend - leah williamson
leah williamson x reader
description: in which your girlfriend is just the definition of boyfriend
warnings: swearing, a little suggestive
a/n: i was writing my requests and got the overwhelming urge to write this because leah is just the definition of boyfriend, i don’t make the rules, i also saw the picture of her this morning and died so here you go lmao
⋆ ★ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ★ ⋆
your girlfriend, leah, was the literal definition of boyfriend. and yeah, maybe that didn’t make sense, but it did to you.
leah williamson was incredibly protective, supportive and disciplined to the public eye, but to you, she was just your leah.
your leah found comfort in burying her face in the crook of your neck to avoid the rest of the world.
your leah loved to hold your hand or any part of your body at every given moment so everyone knew you were hers and she was yours.
your leah was incredibly stubborn, especially when it came to you. your leah worshipped the ground you walked on.
—
you and leah grew up together in the arsenal youth teams, quickly gravitating towards each other when you both realised how passionate you were about football, exactly like the other person.
when you both got selected for the england teams, you two grew extremely close, finding comfort in just being around each other. you both brought out the best in each other and everyone could see it, both on and off the pitch.
you and leah didn’t have many issues surrounding your years of pining, the two of you would shamelessly flirt from the time you were both 19 and changing that dynamic of being best friends to something more.
“baby, do not go on this date” leah pleads as you held up a forth outfit up to your body, “what do you think?” you turn to face her, a scowl evident on her 19 year old face as she sat on the edge of your bed.
“you look gorgeous, that’s not the point, (y/n)” she spits out, “i don’t want you to go,” leah crosses her arms over her chest and glares at you chuckling in the mirror.
“i want to go, lee baby” you tease, making the girl huff in frustration when you brought out yet another top against you.
“fine, wear the second outfit, see if i care,” she grumbles, picking at her cuticles while you smile at her through the mirror.
you were just pulling her leg, there wasn’t really a date, you just loved to tease leah but you also wanted your relationship to progress, to finally call her yours.
“babe” you call out, moving to stand in between her spread legs, she looks up at you curiously, her glare still a little evident as you smiled down at her.
“what?” she sighs, your hands make your ways to her shoulders, massaging them gently and feeling her relax under your touch.
“there’s no date, you git” you chuckle, leah tenses again, “sorry?” you really couldn’t help but laugh at her face of relief but also mischief as she looked up at you.
“i’m fucking with you, there’s no date” you laugh, leah grabs the sides of your hips and chucks you onto your bed, moving to straddle your hips as she tickled your sides.
“you’re such a little shit!” she laughs, smiling brightly at the bright laughs coming out of your mouth.
“why would you tell me there was a date?” she breathes out, lacing your fingers together as she pinned them by the sides of your head.
“wanted to see how you’d react” you say breathlessly, your chest heaving while an affectionate smile adorns your features.
“you seemed a little jealous, williamson?” you say teasingly, leah shakes her head, pinning you by your hips to the bed with her own, “fuck off, i was not” she defends, giving your hands a squeeze as you laugh up at her.
your heart was beating out of your chest, so was leah’s, but in a good way. a weirdly familiar way.
“you so were” you smirk, “i don’t want you to go” you mock her accent, she rolls her eyes fondly, lifting your hand up and threatening to bite your fingers.
you yelp when her teeth actually does graze your pointer finger, making her chuckle against your skin.
her eyes flicker between your own before falling to your lips, subconsciously wetting hers with her tongue as she looked back up at your eyes.
“looking a little flushed there, gorgeous, you alright?” she teases, you shake your head at her, “i’m fine, but you look a little flushed there, babe, anything you want to tell me?” you tease right back.
she giggles at your words, kissing the corner of your mouth, your breath hitched at how close she was to your lips, feeling her smirk against your skin as she trailed kisses along your cheeks.
she pulls back, dangerously close to your face as she chuckles, both of your pupils were blown out, cheeky grins evident on both of your faces.
leah puts you out of your misery and gives you that kiss you’d both been dreaming of, it was as perfect as a first kiss could go.
a little inexperienced at first but quickly learning from each other as it continued. you hummed against leah’s lips and she can’t help but grin into the kiss.
the kiss lasted for a couple of seconds before she let go of you, pulling you to sit up cross legged in front of her while she offered you a sheepish smile.
“be my girlfriend?” she breathes out, you nod instantly, making your way into her lap and kissing her until the air was knocked out from your lungs.
when you both pulled away, you tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear and leah’s heart fluttered. at the gesture but also the fact you were doing it as her girlfriend. “took you long enough” you grin, she pinches your hip and smirks when you squirm in her lap.
“how about i wear outfit number two and we go out on our own date” you smile cheekily, she presses a quick, tender kiss to your lips in response,
“you’ve got yourself a deal” she whispers against your lips, her hands gently squeezing your hips as you ended up in another kiss.
—
in present times, you and leah moved in together, both of you were extremely successful in your football careers.
leah was the captain of the england senior team and you couldn’t be more proud, showing her how much you loved that armband the first time she wore it.
you and leah had so much love for each other it was sickeningly sweet. both of you were head over heels, affection an understatement for the two of you.
it was obvious in the way you acted around her, dropping anything and everything if she needed something. telling her verbally how much you loved her no matter where you were. giving her heart eyes every two seconds that had her stomach swarming with butterflies.
and in leah’s case, she’s been called a simp way more than she’d like to admit but she didn’t mind. it was true after all.
—
“baby, you’ll get sick like that” leah scolds as you walk out of the change room onto the pitch where she was waiting for you for a pre match lap, your puffer unzipped in just your training kit.
“i’m fine, love” you smile, walking up to her and promptly puckering your lips up at her, she shakes her head fondly, pressing a couple of kisses to your lips while you sighed happily.
she pulls away from you, tugging you closer by the sides of your puffer and zipping it up for you. you smile at her appreciatively, she pinches your cheek gently before grabbing your hand and interlacing it with hers as you both walked around, posing for photos together with cheesy grins if needed.
your cheeks were a little red, not only from leah but the cold as well. leah moves you to stand in front of her again, her arms wrapping around you and prompting you to do the same as she pulled you closer.
she kisses your cheeks repeatedly, feeling them warm up under her lips as she spreads her love on both. “still cold?” she says softly, you nod with a cheeky grin, “very” she narrows her eyes at you amusingly but continues spreading kisses over your entire face, relishing in the soft giggles you were rewarding her with.
suddenly, she gasps, reaching into her pockets with an excited smile. “i forgot!” she exclaims, pulling out two heat packs that were warming up in her pockets, she only did it for you.
she places both of them against your cheeks and you smile happily, letting leah press little kisses to your lips again as she held the packs gently on your face, making sure not to burn you. she would whisper in conversation with you in between the kisses, your stomach lurching at her softness.
“ugh, you two make me sick” beth dry wretches, victoria and alessia laugh while watching you both pull away, “fuck off, beth” leah groans, tugging you impossibly closer as you tucked your head under her chin.
“i’ll remind you she’s my girlfriend, bethany” you tease, leah kisses your temple softly, “you think i don’t know that? you’re attached at the hip” she teases, “leave them, bethy, they’re cute” alessia coos, you send her a little wink of appreciation.
“they’re cute until you catch them fucking,” beth exclaims, you and leah both roll your eyes in unison, “you came to our home, unannounced, uninvited, with the spare key” leah grits out, holding onto you protectively. your hands rub up and down her back in an attempt to calm her down but leah was your defender.
“i told you i was coming over!” beth accuses, “you did fucking not!” leah yells, alessia and victoria laugh at the the thought of you and leah being caught. especially knowing how protective leah was of you. let’s just say a lot of yelling happened that day.
the bickering went back and forth for a bit as you and leah kept cuddling up together.
“you could have the same if you just go up to viv” leah shrugs, beth rolls her eyes at that, “i don’t need to be attached to my girlfriend to show our love” beth defends, “the kisses are nice, beth” you smile, looking up at leah with a smile.
beth chuckles and seems to give in, you and leah giggle as you watch beth run over and latch herself to viv, watching her struggle for a bit before giving up and pulling her into an embrace similar to yours and leah’s.
“we should be couple’s therapists,” you rest your chin on her chest, looking up at her with a soft smile. she kisses you softly again, “we can be whatever you want to be” she says cheekily, making you chuckle when her kisses make their way to your neck, jokingly biting you a couple of times to make you laugh.
—
whenever you and leah were in a large crowd, her true boyfriend nature came out that you just ate up. you were both at the pride of britain awards, her hand firmly planted on the small of your back as you walked around, posing for cameras on the red carpet.
when you two got pulled for interviews, leah tucked you into her side as you answered questions, she would focus on you intently, nodding along with your words and smiling proudly as you talked.
when you’d catch her gaze, her bright smile would make you falter slightly and you’d have to recover while her hand rubbed gently up and down your back.
you both answer generic interview until you approach a very special one. “it’s one nil” the interviewer says, leah and your eyes visibly widen, leah pressing her hand into your back as you both approached.
“are you joking?” leah smiles, “no it is!” the interviewer exclaims, “arsenal?” leah questions excitedly, “did you hear that?” leah grins at you, “yeah, baby i did” you chuckle affectionately, your head falling to her shoulder for a minute while she chats excitedly with the interviewer.
“this girl bleeds arsenal” you smile up at her, she nods without a second thought, showing off her earring with a proud smile.
“so, leah, if you had to pick between (y/n) and arsenal, who would you pick?” the interviewer says jokingly, though leah takes it seriously,
“now, hold on, i’m gonna go with my girl in arsenal, without a doubt” she says smugly, seemingly proud of her answer.
you laugh brightly, kissing her cheek fondly as she grins, “she was joking” you laugh, leah looks down at you cheekily, “don’t care” she taunts, her hand moving to rest on your hip to answer the rest of the interview.
you both got invited to an after party, making your rounds together with bright smiles, seeing people you haven’t seen for ages.
everytime you would talk to leah, she would bend her head to your level to make sure you were speaking directly into her ear, not wanting to miss out on anything you say.
and so, when you mentioned to leah you wanted to go home, you both left promptly with leah leading you out.
—
another instance of your girlfriend just radiating boyfriend energy was when you both needed to go on a bus for the lionesses on camp.
leah was talking to keira and georgia who she hadn’t seen in a while so you went on the bus first.
a few of the younger girls send you a wave so you go over with a bright smile. sitting next to maya as you entertained the young ones as they teased you about your love life.
it was until your girlfriend got on the bus with a little scowl at realising you left without her. “who do you think you are?” leah grumbles, grabbing your hand and dragging you out of the seat you were in to another one closer to the back.
you hear the laughs of the girls as leah drags you from your seat.
“leah!” you reprimand with a laugh, “who?” she whips her head towards you, about to shove you into the window seat.
“love,” you sigh, she smiles cheekily, “that’s better” she pushes you towards the window seat, draping your legs over hers as you both chatted.
leah snapped a photo of you and smiled at the result, adding it to her folder dedicated to you. “you’re so cute” leah coos, kissing you quickly and dropping her grumpy attitude. “you’re cuter” you grin, pressing another kiss to her lips before you snuggle up to her.
“i’m running out of storage” leah frowns, going to her camera roll and gasping at how many photos you have.
you lean over and gasp as well, grabbing her hand with the phone in it and looking at the screen, “baby, oh my god, what’ve you got in there” you laugh,
“i don’t know, let’s see” she makes you sit closer while you both went through her camera roll, laughing at some of the funnier pictures and shoving her phone down at the more explicit ones.
“i need to revisit this picture later” she winks at you when one of you and leah during that first day of captaincy. “leah cathrine” you warn, she smirks, “sorry” she coughs.
your heart quickened when you realised how many photos she had of you, making up almost all of her camera roll.
“lovey, you can delete some photos of me, half of them are duplicates” you chuckle, leah looks at you offendedly, “excuse me? they are all different” she scoffs, flicking between two nearly identical photos while pointing out little differences.
“babe, that’s the same picture” you laugh brightly, leah stifles her own laugh, “it is not! god, just break up with me then, you awful woman, can’t even have a picture of my wife in my phone without you on my ass” she grins,
“wife? i don’t remember you proposing?” you tease, “in due time, my girl” she smiles, kissing you breathlessly until you were completely flushed in the face.
“here, i’ll help you delete some photos,” you hold your hand out for her phone and she holds it instead, “you delete a single one and i’ll really break up with you” she mocks, you gasp offendedly
“i’m wounded” you pout, she makes quick work of fixing it with a kiss, “kissed it better” she grins, squeezing your thigh gently as your head fell to her shoulder.
⋆ ★ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ★ ⋆
you know the drill - just pretend it’s you, ily beffy
liked by alessia and 44,232 others
leahwilliamsonn: she’s baby girl
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yourname: it was brilliant, it was powerful, it was leah williamson!!!!
↳ leahwilliamsonn: stop it
↳ yourname: never, it’s literally my job
↳ leahwilliamsonn: your job is football
↳ yourname: my job is annoying you for the rest of my life
↳ leahwilliamsonn: can’t wait xx
bethmead_: sick
↳ yourname: stop hating, bethany
↳ leahwilliamsonn: yeah, bethany
↳ viviannemiedema: yeah, bethany
↳ bethmead_: the betrayal
#woso#woso community#woso fanfics#woso x reader#woso one shot#woso imagine#leah williamson#leah williamson x reader
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𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳
"𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒕 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆'𝒔 𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆, 𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒖𝒕, 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉, 𝒑𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆"
CW: GN! reader (if I did use pronouns stone me), implied murder WC: 584
That’s not him.
That’s not your lover.
But how can you voice your problems with a gut feeling that is more than probable to be wrong? Are you overthinking things, or are you too tired? But you can’t just shake off the feeling of impending doom, like the feeling before a storm hits.
This whole situation bloomed a few months ago.
It came in when he was supposed to return from work. It was late; the rain had ceased pouring, and the smell lingered in the air; raindrops decorated your bedroom window. Wet work boots that usually would make a mess on the wooden floors didn’t that evening; instead, they sat neatly on the doormat at the house's entrance. He would’ve made his presence known with a loud “I’m home!” However, that thing didn’t; rather than a noisy entrance, it chose to seek you out, slithering around the house, and never made more than a pin drop of noise. Finally, it found you in your shared bed that you and your love would share.
And it just stood there watching you.
Of course, you felt something was off, so you expressed your concern by asking if a situation had happened at work. It shook its head no and finally moved toward you; its body was stiff in the mere act of walking, its touch hesitant yet soft. It caresses your skin so lightly that an outsider would’ve mistaken you for a national treasure; its fingertips are icy and silky in contrast to the calloused warmth your beloved used to have. Its voice almost mocked him in how timid and serene it was versus the strong, confident voice he used to boast on and on about.
It wasn’t him.
It came home later than he used to, with more of an iron smell than you can manage. If you ever brought up the smell or the strange stains that would be barely noticeable to the average person, that thing would bush it off, making the conversation about you and pampering you until it suffocated you. You would forget about the incident for a few hours.
It wasn’t him
But…
It looked at you with so much love and devotion, as if you were the only thing in this galaxy– you swear you saw stars forming in those eyes once you caught it staring at you. It almost makes up for the lack of life behind those dark abysses you call eyes; if the eyes were a window inside the soul, it didn’t have one.
It wasn’t him
But…
How it kissed you, like it was its life's purpose, took your breath away but, in the same breath, pulled you closer to life. Its lips were his, but not at the same time; his lips were chapped and rough, but they were gentle, passionate, and soft. A feather-like sensation that would warm up your entire body more than any fireplace or warm bath could. It knew what you wanted.
It tasted sweet. Maybe that’s why the sweetness the creature would whisper in your ear whenever it could take ahold of you was tooth-rotting. It was your old lover’s deep voice but coated in much more affection than he could ever muster. It’s arms wrapped around you in possessive tenderness that couldn’t escape, but you didn’t want to anymore; even though it was cold, weirdly, it emanated the warmth you yearned for.
It wasn’t your lover.
But it is now whether you had a choice or not.
End notes: Would it be cheating if I loved the same person who killed you and took your form? Just a quick drabble to get this idea out of my head! Hope y'all like this little snack of a fic :)
#yandere blog#yandere imagines#x reader#male yandere#yandere oc#yandere#yandere oc x reader#yandere x darling#yandere thoughts#yandere headcanons#yandere x reader#oc x reader#yandere drabble#yandere x y/n#yandere x you#yandere blurb
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As someone who works in printing/manufacturing I want to give some input from the other side of the counter.
First off: there are a lot of print shops out there where you can get things made, there’s really no reason to use the same ones as other artists. For prints, posters, etc, any print shop will do, even Staples. They’ve got decent prices and fast turnaround times, usually. And most products can be picked up in store to avoid shipping costs.
Seriously: go to a local shop as often as you can, to avoid shipping costs. (Unless you can find someplace online cheaper, despite the shipping)
For T-shirts: screen printing shops are pretty common these days, so try to find a local one. Doesn’t have to be big. Most places use the same shirts (usually Gildan) and the same printing method. Keep in mind that for screen printing, each color is printed via a different screen, so the more colors in your design the more expensive it will be. Shops usually charge a “frame fee” for each color, around 40-80 dollars each. Anything more than 6 colors is kinda pushing it and anything more than 12 might not be possible. If you want a shirt that has a full color print or gradients, that’s not screen printing, that’s Direct to Garment (or the newer Direct to Film). Screen-printing shops may or may not have that available you’ll just need to ask around. There’s also sublimation, but that only works on light colored shirts so your design options are limited. Ask your screen-printer what your options are. No harm in shooting them an email with your design and asking if it’s printable.
Also screen print shops will not save the frames after the order is done- you’ll be paying that frame free each time your order so plan accordingly.
People don't really like wearing white shirts.
When ordering shirt sizes: DON’T just get 10 or each size S to XXL or whatever. Sizes are in a bell curve, so get, for example, 3 small, 5 medium, 8 large, 5 XL, 3 XXL.
Don’t try to buy your own shirts (or other materials) and bring it in to be printed- just don’t, please. Printers can get the same thing cheaper and at a consistent quality, so let them handle it. (Also if a print messes up we can just get another blank from the back room instead of of ruining your shirt)
CustomInk is good but tbh a lot of their stuff is outsourced to local screen printing shops. You might be able to cut out the middle man and get it cheaper at a local shop.
^all that t-shirt stuff also applies to tote bags
Also keep in mind the print on a t-shirt can go up to 12 in x 16 in usually.
For stickers, try to find a place that sells vinyl or banners, like a print shop or trophy shop. They might also do bulk stickers of good quality. If there isn’t a place like that locally, do research and find a store online.
Trophy shops are your friend! They often do a lot of different custom printing, so ask your local shop what they have available.
For buttons: try print shops or trophy shops. But honestly this one might be better to do at home, especially if you’re doing a lot of different little things. The materials are cheap, the prints can literally be made on a regular printer with regular paper, and a cheap button press costs about $100
For pins and acrylic charms: always order about 10% more than you need, especially if you’re ordering overseas. The industry has a 10% margin of error and not everyone does quality control. Any extras you get can be sold as B-grades or leftovers.
For plushies: I don’t know anything about plushies. Sorry, you’re on your own for those.
Buying in bulk is always cheaper, so plan accordingly. Get an idea of how many you want before walking into a store.
Pretty much everything prints at 300 dpi, which means if you want to print a 5 in x 7 art print, your image needs it be AT LEAST 1500x2100 pixels, or else it’ll come out pixelated and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.
Also if something is going to be printed up to the edge of the material (like an art print) make sure there’s .25 inches of safe space around all the edges- things in that space could get cut off, so no important details like writing.
I don’t know how else to say this, but: KNOW WHAT YOU WANT BEFORE YOU ORDER. Have a design, know your size and material, know how many you want. CUSTOM printing means all these things change the price of the order and nothing can get started until you make these decisions.
Most shops will send you a mock-up (or “proof”) before printing, so keep and eye on your email and respond in a timely matter if you want things to be printed in a timely matter. Of course, any changes you make to your product during the process could slow things down, but that’s to be expected. Basically, if you make a dozen changes don’t get mad that stuff isn’t ready at the agreed time. (One or two changes are normal but please don’t do a whole bunch if you don’t have to)
Most places know what they’re doing and don’t want to bother with sending you a sample for something they’ve printed a thousand times (t-shirts, tote bags, acrylic charms, stickers). Look at their sample products and judge the quality of those. They’ll send a mock-up instead. Anything that isn’t just a printed blank is another story. Plushies, pins, and custom clothing (anything more complicated than a graphic tee), you’ll probably want a sample. Any good shop would recommend a sample if it’s necessary.
You DO have to do your own research. Your budget and location are going to determine what shop works for you. Just decide what you want, google it, and make your own decision based on their prices.
My last piece of advice: START SMALL. Do one stack of art prints, one stack of stickers, the smallest batch of pins you can do- test out the shop and the product before going all in and wasting your money. Don’t drop a ton of money and place a ton of orders unless you’ve tried a shop and are confident in their abilities.
would anyone be interested if I made a breakdown post of reasons why merch artists don't share their manufacturers? it's oversimplified as "artists are just gatekeeping" in part because I think there's just not a lot of awareness that it's a significantly more complex situation and involves some level of risk compared to sharing simpler resources such as brushes
artists also don't tend to explain beyond "sorry, I don't share my manufacturers" (for good reason, they're not going to write an essay to answer a quick question) but maybe diving into the details will help people understand why so many merch artists are protective of their manufacturers and will not share with strangers
#Art advice#printing#I am weirdly passionate about this stuff#im an artist but I’ve never tried to sell prints or anything so for this post I’m taking as a printer
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UNSCRIPTED — toji fushiguro x female reader [chapter 2/5]
summary: you’re a faceless author of scandalous smut — great at writing steamy scenes but totally clueless about real-life romance (and with no one to match your freak). enter toji fushiguro, a hot stranger you (accidentally) throw up on during a drunken night out. surprise! he’s also the future voice actor for your smutty novel’s main character. can you survive the awkwardness of your disastrous meet-cute while keeping your identity (and dignity) a secret? welcome to the chaos of your own erotic fantasy romcom!
content warning & tags: (erotic) voice artist! toji, (smut) writer! reader, smutty content!! [will be added over the course of the series], sort of workplace romance, secret/anon identity, slight social media au, meet-cute, virgin!reader, single dad dilf! toji, kid! megumi, strangers to lovers (?), she fell first but he fell harder, mentions of other characters (satoru gojo, suguru geto, megumi fushiguro, shoko eiri, brief mentions of ryomen sukuna)
notes: hi friends !! i hope u're liking the series so far <3 seems like persephone! suguru can't catch a break huh D: i wanted to highlight the same scene[s] from suguru's perspective, just to give him a lil depth :") if u want to keep up with the series more quicker, i highly suggest keeping up with the series on ao3 [for quicker updates ^^] thank you to my taglist for their support too :)
read on ao3! ● series masterlist
➤ related au: persephone [business tycoon! sukuna x reader]
the drive to megumi’s school was unusually quiet.
normally, toji would lean into his usual “cool, brooding single dad” act — just enough to avoid attention but keep an edge. but today, he’d done something weirdly out of character: asked you to tag along.
not that he’d admit it was for any other reason than megumi, obviously.
nope. definitely nothing else to it.
just… kinda nice having you along for the ride, right?
the two of you settled into his car, and you couldn’t help but smirk at how the radio was suspiciously off. toji didn’t give any explanation, but you were pretty sure it was a preventative measure to avoid another “iris” moment and the resulting accidental kiss.
which, okay, was kinda cute.
toji tapped his fingers against the wheel, casting the occasional sideways glance at you before finally saying, “so… just curious.” he cleared his throat, like he was trying not to make a big deal out of the question. “what made you, uh… you know, want to write those books?”
you blinked. “oh, my books?”
“yeah, the… passionate ones.” he coughed, looking anywhere but at you. “like, what inspired you to write those… intensely worded stories?”
you laughed, caught off guard. “okay, first of all, ‘intensely worded?’ that’s one way to put it.”
“look, i’m trying to be polite,” he said, giving you a sidelong smirk that made your stomach flip. “but seriously. i mean, it’s a specific line of work. what got you into it?”
you chewed on the inside of your cheek, feeling the familiar blush creeping up.
“uh, well… honestly, i just thought it was something fun to try out. i like romance and, you know… writing what people connect with. people like the, um, more intense stuff, so… figured i’d give it a shot.”
he nodded, taking it all in. “huh. so, all that… stuff you write —” he paused, trying to phrase it carefully. “that’s from experience or…?”
you let out an awkward laugh, your face heating up even more. “not exactly. i… well, i actually haven’t… i mean, i’m still… y’know.”
you cleared your throat. “a virgin.”
toji’s eyes went wide.
“wait, you’re telling me… all that detail, the way you describe things, and you haven’t even…”
“nope.” you shook your head, biting back a smile at his shocked expression. “guess you could say i have a good imagination?”
he let out a low whistle, looking at you with something that was a mix of admiration and… something else you couldn’t quite place. “well, i gotta give you credit. you write it like you’ve, uh, lived it.”
you shrugged, trying to play it cool. “guess it’s all about the research.”
he raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “research, huh? well, you’ve got some serious talent in the ‘research’ department then. i’d hate to see what you’d write if you actually… y’know, had the experience.”
“well, maybe one day i will,” you shot back, feeling a little bolder. “and then my books will be even better.”
he chuckled, leaning back in his seat. “you’re something else.”
for a moment, the two of you just looked at each other, a silent understanding passing between you.
the tension was thick enough to cut, and toji looked like he was about to say something else when megumi’s school finally came into view. he let out a breath, the moment effectively broken as he focused on finding a parking spot.
but as you both waited for megumi to come out, you couldn’t help but wonder what was going through toji’s head… and if he was thinking the same thing you were.
the second megumi spotted you and toji at the school gates, he was off like a shot, running toward you with all the enthusiasm of a kid who’d been waiting all day to see his favorite people. his grin was wide, and his little backpack bounced as he bolted up. and to your surprise (and toji's too), he didn’t go for his dad first — nope, he ran right into your arms like you were his personal safe haven.
“you came!” he squealed, hugging you tightly around the waist as if he hadn't just seen you yesterday. you laughed, hugging him back just as warmly, and you could practically feel the teachers’ eyes drilling holes into your back.
“of course i did,” you said, ruffling his hair. “what, you thought i’d miss out on picking you up?”
“nope!” he said proudly, pulling back and grabbing your hand as if to make sure you wouldn’t vanish.
toji stood off to the side, his hands in his pockets, trying to hide his smirk as he watched the scene unfold. yeah, he wasn’t about to complain about you being here — not at all.
as you all made your way back to the car, you couldn’t help but notice a few teachers and parents exchanging knowing looks, no doubt remembering how toji introduced you as his “colleague” yesterday. they didn’t look too convinced anymore.
inside the car, megumi settled comfortably between the two of you in the backseat, clutching his backpack like he was about to embark on the world’s most exciting road trip.
“sooo!” megumi started, a mischievous look in his eyes. “did you two have fun while i was in school?”
toji let out a tiny cough from the driver’s seat, looking at you in the rearview mirror with a hint of a smirk. “megumi, what exactly do you mean by ‘fun’?”
“i dunno, daddy!” megumi rolled his eyes in that dramatic way only an eight-year-old could pull off. “you were smiling all morning! you never do that!”
you tried to hide a smile yourself, glancing sideways at toji. “he was smiling all morning, huh?”
toji shot you a playful glare before focusing back on the road. “you got somethin’ to say about that?”
“nope, nothing at all,” you replied, suppressing a giggle.
“you’re smiling too!” megumi added, turning his full attention to you with a face that was way too smug for a kid his age. “did you like being with my dad today?”
your eyes widened as you exchanged a quick look with toji. “well, yes, i had a great time working with your dad,” you said carefully, trying to dodge the landmine that megumi had unknowingly set.
“yeah, but did you and daddy, like, do anything else? like on tv?”
toji almost choked, and you couldn’t stop a laugh from slipping out. “megs! we just talked and laughed a bit, nothing like in the movies, promise.”
megumi looked skeptical, folding his arms. “then why are you both acting all funny?”
“what do you mean, ‘funny’?” toji asked, raising an eyebrow in the rearview mirror.
“like… i dunno, all shy and weird,” megumi huffed, his brows furrowing in confusion. “like when the kids at school talk about people who like each other.”
your cheeks were definitely heating up, and you could tell toji was trying not to laugh.
“sometimes people just… act like that when they’re really comfortable,” toji explained, trying to sound nonchalant. “not everything’s like it is on tv.”
“oh,” megumi said, though he didn’t look totally convinced.
“soooo, when are you guys gonna have a playdate without me?”
“what?” you and toji both burst out at the same time, while megumi just grinned, proud of himself for catching you both off guard.
“you two look like you want more playdates,,” he added with a shrug, like he was the expert on the subject.
toji shook his head, laughing under his breath. “how about you let the adults figure that out, hm?”
“fine, fine,” megumi said, obviously pleased with himself. “but i wanna know when you guys have another playdate, ‘kay?”
you patted his shoulder, chuckling. “deal, kiddo. you’ll be the first to know.”
as toji pulled out onto the street, you settled back, sharing an amused look with him in the mirror. and as megumi continued his non-stop chatter about school, dinosaurs, and how he wanted both of you to come to his next soccer game, you felt that fuzzy feeling again — the same one from last night. maybe having these two around wasn’t so bad at all.
toji pulled up to his house, shifting into park before a sudden realization hit him like a freight train — you were still along for the ride. it was supposed to be a quick pickup, maybe a casual goodbye once megumi was dropped off, but here you were, in the passenger seat, smiling as megumi practically buzzed with excitement beside you.
"uh… so… yeah, this is… my place,” he said, scratching the back of his head, feeling uncharacteristically awkward. he wasn’t sure if he should invite you in or just wave goodbye with some half-baked excuse.
but before he could even finish his internal debate, megumi had his own plans.
“that means you can come see my room!” megumi exclaimed, his eyes lighting up as he threw open the door and scrambled out of the car.
“oh, i don’t wanna intrude —” you started, already moving to say goodbye, but megumi was way ahead, bounding up the steps and glancing back with an impatient wave.
“c’mon!” he insisted, practically dancing in place with excitement. “you gotta see my plushies and my legos! oh, and my origami stuff, and —”
toji opened the front door, and as soon as you were inside, megumi was by your side again, tugging at your hand with a grip surprisingly strong for a kid. “you gotta see everything!” he said, eyes gleaming.
“okay, okay!” you laughed, letting him lead the way.
toji watched, a little dumbfounded. he’d seen megumi excited before, sure, but this was a whole new level. “hey, uh, megs, maybe she’s tired. we don’t wanna overwhelm her, y’know?” he said, trying to sound casual and almost hoping you’d back out to save him from his own nerves.
“no way!” megumi protested, his voice emphatic. “she’s gotta see my dinos and my race cars and my drawings too! pleaseeee?”
“don’t worry, i think i can handle it,” you chuckled, shooting toji a reassuring look.
he let out a sigh, feeling a mix of relief and… something else he really didn’t wanna unpack at the moment.
megumi practically dragged you down the hall toward what toji modestly called his “suite,” which was more like a sprawling kid paradise decked out in a swanky setup. it was undeniably luxurious — the kind of suite most people would call their whole apartment — but it was still a kid’s space through and through. plushies lay scattered around in a trail leading to the bedroom, where legos, crayons, toy cars, and origami creations decorated the floor in random bursts of color. every available surface was covered in megumi’s little projects and treasures.
“wow, megumi, you weren’t kidding!” you said, genuinely impressed. you walked over to a group of origami animals on his desk. “did you make all of these?”
“yep!” he puffed up his chest with pride, holding up a particularly crumpled paper crane. “this one’s my favorite. it didn’t come out great, but it’s special ‘cause daddy helped me with it.”
toji felt a funny warmth spread through his chest. he tried to brush it off, but it was hard to ignore seeing the two of you in his home, talking like it was the most normal thing in the world.
“and here’s mr. wiggles!” megumi said, suddenly pulling over a massive, well-loved teddy bear that looked like it’d been through a hundred battles. “daddy got him for me when i was little.”
“mr. wiggles is a great name,” you laughed, crouching down to inspect the bear. “i bet he’s been on a lot of adventures with you.”
“yeah, he’s been to the doctor with me, and the dentist, and he helps me with my homework sometimes,” megumi explained with the seriousness only an eight-year-old could muster.
toji chuckled, folding his arms as he leaned against the doorframe. “he’s a busy bear, huh?”
“super busy,” megumi agreed, pulling you over to his lego city next.
“this is where the ninjas live, and over here’s where the dinosaurs hide.”
“oh, and here i thought ninjas and dinos couldn’t get along,” you teased, glancing over at toji, who was doing a poor job at hiding his amusement. “you must be the peacekeeper, megumi.”
“i am!” he laughed, then suddenly looked up at toji.
“daddy, can she stay for dinner?”
toji’s eyes widened slightly. he hadn’t even considered dinner yet.
but the thought of you here, in his space, a part of his evening routine with megumi… it felt way too good to resist.
“uh, well, if she’s got the time,” he mumbled, scratching his neck and pretending to be cool about it. “you don’t gotta stick around if you got other things.”
“actually, i’d love to stay, if that’s okay?” you said, glancing between them both.
toji tried to act casual, even though his heart was doing a little victory lap. “yeah, sure. why not?”
“yes!” megumi cheered, already running out the door. “i’ll get the table ready!”
“is he… always this excited?” you asked, turning to toji with a chuckle.
“not usually,” toji admitted, scratching the back of his head. “guess you got that effect on him.”
the three of you settled around the table, megumi proudly munching away on his ironman-themed plate, the red and gold colors a little faded from years of use. he shot you a grin, already halfway through explaining ironman’s latest mission to save the world… for the third time.
toji, meanwhile, sat across from you, feeling inexplicably fidgety as he set down the fine china he’d pulled from the back of a cabinet. he'd dusted off every inch of those plates — his mind still spinning with why he even bothered.
he wasn’t usually one for this kind of thing, but when he saw how carefully you ladled the stew into the bowls, he couldn’t help but notice you gave that same care to megumi too, nodding along as he chattered away about his superhero theories.
“you know, daddy never gets the cool plates out for anyone else,” megumi piped up, completely oblivious to the faint flush creeping up his dad’s face.
“oh really?” you chuckled, raising an eyebrow in toji’s direction. “well, i feel honored then. i’ll try not to drop it.”
toji groaned internally, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. “kid’s got a big mouth,” he muttered, shooting megumi a faux warning look, though his own ears were burning.
“you’ve got good taste, though,” you teased him lightly, glancing down at the pristine white china with intricate blue patterns.
“yeah, well… s’just plates. they’re old,” toji shrugged, hoping that downplaying it would erase any significance you might read into the whole situation.
“old but pretty,” you said, not looking up as you ladled some stew for megumi, who was eagerly waiting with his bowl stretched out. “here you go, megumi. i made it a little less spicy for you, just like you asked.”
megumi’s eyes sparkled as he accepted the bowl. “thanks! you make the best stew!”
toji watched as you smiled back at megumi, completely absorbed in whatever he was babbling about, offering little “uh-huhs” and “reallys” as he animatedly described his favorite ironman scene. watching you like this, giving his kid your full attention even while busy in the kitchen, felt so… weird.
like something he didn’t realize was missing, but now that it was there, he couldn’t imagine going without it.
“and then ironman totally blasts the villain’s robot suit — kaboom!” megumi finished, flinging his arms wide as if to demonstrate the explosion.
“kaboom, huh?” you laughed, sitting back in your chair, clearly enjoying his enthusiasm. “sounds intense.”
“yeah! ironman doesn’t mess around,” megumi said with a sage nod, as if passing on some universal wisdom. “but he’s gotta protect everyone, even the people who don’t like him.”
“sounds like a pretty cool guy,” you mused, glancing over at toji with a small smile. “maybe you two have something in common.”
“oh, god,” toji groaned, but he couldn’t fight the smirk that tugged at his lips. “don’t give him ideas, he’ll think i’m gonna go fight crime or somethin’.”
“wouldn’t that be so cool?” megumi interjected, eyes sparkling. “you could be like… iron dad!”
toji rolled his eyes, but he caught the look on your face — amused, warm, like you were seeing a side of him that no one else really noticed.
and for some reason, that was way too close to the truth for comfort.
he cleared his throat, glancing down at his stew to avoid meeting your gaze.
“maybe i’ll just stick to keeping this kid in one piece,” toji muttered, but his heart was beating a little faster than usual.
and as megumi kept up his enthusiastic rambling, it all started to feel too cozy, too right. the clinking of plates, the soft warmth in the air, the way you didn’t rush megumi but let him take center stage as he shared his endless thoughts — it all blended together into something that felt like home, even if toji wouldn’t dare say it out loud.
as you reached for another spoonful of stew, listening intently to megumi’s latest story about his lego creations, toji realized that, yeah… this felt pretty damn right.
megumi clutched his book eagerly, eyes shining as he snuggled into bed, clearly over the moon that you’d agreed to stay for his bedtime story. he gave toji a serious look, announcing, “since daddy can’t do girl voices — cuz he’s a voicing actor, but he’s not that good — you gotta help with the girl lines, okay?”
“oh, yeah?” toji shot him a mock glare. “that’s a pretty big request, squirt. you sure i can’t just, y’know, growl like a tiger or something?”
megumi shook his head, adamant. “nope! you’re supposed to be the bear prince, and she’s the bunny princess! and then they meet at the river — just read, daddy.”
toji rolled his eyes, though he couldn’t hide the faint smile as he settled in beside megumi,
taking the book from his son’s hands. “alright, alright, let’s do this right. bunny princess and bear prince — sounds about as weird as it gets, but we’ll make it work.”
with megumi sandwiched between the two of you, you leaned over to see the page.
“the bunny princess hopped through the forest, searching for her friend, the bear prince, who was known for his wisdom and strength,” you read in a soft voice, giving it your best princess tone.
megumi nodded, satisfied. “much better than uncle gojo,” he whispered to you in a conspiratorial tone, “his princess voice is just… weird.”
toji stifled a snicker, picking up the next line.
“the bear prince, with his deep, growly voice, stepped out from behind the tree, saying, ‘i hear you’re lookin’ for a friend. well, look no further.’”
megumi giggled, clutching the blanket as he looked up at toji in admiration. “now that’s a good bear voice, daddy! you don’t gotta growl or nothing.”
you shot toji a playful look. “see? you’re already halfway to voice actor stardom.”
“sure, sure, as long as i don’t have to wear princess crowns, i think i’ll survive,” he smirked, giving the book back to you to read the bunny’s next line.
“‘oh, bear prince, i’m so happy to see you!’ the bunny princess chirped, hopping closer. ‘the forest feels so safe with you here.’”
toji took his turn, grinning.
“‘that���s right, princess. stick close to me, and nothing can harm you — not even that pesky fox from the riverbank.’”
megumi, eyes already starting to droop, nodded in sage approval, mumbling, “bears are super strong…”
as the story unfolded, with each of you taking on your character’s lines, you couldn’t help but notice how megumi’s little body relaxed more and more, eyelids growing heavier as he listened to the tale of the bunny princess and bear prince’s forest adventure.
finally, after you’d read the line where the bunny and bear bid each other goodnight under the stars, you heard megumi’s soft, even breathing.
you and toji shared a glance, both of you lowering your voices.
“looks like our audience conked out before the big finale,” you whispered with a smile, your voice barely above a murmur.
“heh,” toji chuckled, glancing at his son’s sleeping face. “usually he stays up longer, keeps asking for more.” he paused, watching you with a look that seemed to say more than his words. “maybe he’s just got a soft spot for princess voices… or maybe, you know, a good storyteller.”
a soft warmth settled in the quiet room, the gentle rise and fall of megumi’s breathing filling the space as you both stayed still for a moment, neither wanting to break the spell.
you stood up slowly from megumi’s bed, glancing down at the little guy, still out cold, his mouth slightly open as he clutched his iron man plush. the clock on the wall blinked “9:00 pm,” and your stomach sank a little — hadn’t you meant to leave hours ago?
but when you made a quiet move toward the door, toji was right there, leaning in the doorway, hands shoved in his pockets.
“you, uh, really don’t have to rush,” he said, almost nonchalant, though his gaze flicked over to megumi. “i mean, for his sake, y’know. wouldn’t want him freaking out if he wakes up in the middle of the night and you’re gone…”
“oh, of course,” you murmured, feeling a warm, slightly strange fluttering sensation at his words.
“just… so he doesn’t get scared. yeah.”
you glanced down at yourself. god, what were you going to sleep in? your work clothes?
toji seemed to read your mind, though, tilting his head a bit. “i think i got some old clothes you could wear if you want,” he offered, looking you up and down with that calm, appraising look that made you feel like he saw a bit more than he let on. “not the most fashionable, but they’re clean.”
“thanks, that’d be great,” you said, offering a small smile, and you turned to head toward the door to the guest room — then stopped. “wait… i think i left my phone on his nightstand.”
before you could overthink it, you turned back abruptly, intending to slip past toji back into megumi’s room.
but somehow, in the dim lighting, the narrow doorway, the warmth of the moment… your face collided with his chest, and then, your lips met his, soft and sudden and all-consuming.
for a heartbeat, everything else fell away: the gentle ticking of the clock, the faint whirring of the a/c, even the warmth of megumi’s room.
you felt nothing but the weight of toji’s lips against yours, the subtle intake of his breath as he seemed to register just what was happening. there was a moment of hesitation, and then his hand instinctively moved to your waist, pulling you closer with a soft, undeniable insistence.
his voice was a low whisper, barely more than a breath between you. “so… you were just gonna leave without even saying goodbye?”
for a split second, everything froze — the dim hallway, the soft, ambient sounds of the house, the fact that you were standing right outside megumi’s door, where one sleepy sound could catch you both.
but that one breath against toji’s lips, so close, melted everything else away.
he didn’t pull back; if anything, his hold on your waist only tightened, fingers pressing just enough to send a warm ripple up your spine. his eyes met yours, slightly wide, as if he couldn’t quite believe he had you like this, so close. you could almost feel his heartbeat thrumming in sync with your own, and you let out a shaky breath, your lips brushing his again.
“this… is not what i planned when i came over,” you murmured, barely able to get the words out as your forehead touched his. “not — not in front of your kid’s room.”
“mm,” he whispered, gaze dropping to your lips, that barely-there smirk flickering across his face, “it’s a first for me too.” he held your gaze, his expression softening, something almost tender in his eyes as he raised his hand to gently brush a strand of hair from your face.
“but if you wanted to leave… you would’ve pulled away by now.”
you bit your lip at the way his thumb lingered on your cheek, his breath warm against your skin, and before you knew it, your lips found his again. this time, it was slower, unhurried, like you had all the time in the world to feel the way his mouth moved against yours, soft and then a little firmer, as he seemed to lose himself in the moment.
he leaned into you, pressing you just slightly against the wall, his hand sliding from your waist up to the small of your back, drawing you close. the quiet was filled only with the shared breaths between you two, a quiet hum that passed between your lips, as if even the smallest sound might wake megumi just on the other side of the wall.
you found your hand on his chest, fingers curling in his shirt, pulling him a little closer, wanting to deepen the kiss even though every bit of common sense told you to stop. his lips parted, pressing small, lingering kisses along your lower lip, his fingers tracing gentle circles along your back as though he was trying to savor every second. you were barely breathing, lost in the warmth of him, feeling him melt just a little against you.
“god, you’re making it hard to stop,” he murmured against your lips, his voice almost a growl but so quiet it barely even registered.
“i don’t think i want to,” you whispered back, eyes meeting his in the dim light. he held your gaze, his thumb tracing a soft line along your cheek, but he didn’t move away, staying close, his nose brushing yours in a way that was so tender you almost forgot how precarious this was.
you both laughed quietly, the sound soft and low, the kind of laugh that was more of a breath shared between you. toji glanced back at megumi’s door, and for a second, his face softened in a way you rarely saw, as if he couldn’t help but feel this moment was just a little forbidden.
“maybe we should… try this somewhere a little less dangerous,” he muttered, though he didn’t make any move to let go, his gaze flicking back to yours.
“you mean… like a first date or something?” you murmured, lips curling into a soft smile.
“guess i don’t mind a second kiss either,” he replied, brushing his lips against yours one last time before stepping back, the space between you suddenly feeling too cold, too quiet.
as he stepped back, the reality of the hallway — the very literal door to his son’s room right beside you — set in, but the warmth still lingered, and the smile he gave you as he walked you down the hall felt like a promise for something more, something you both couldn’t wait to explore.
the “boys night” at gojo-sonic’s swanky office was nothing short of its usual absurdity, with gojo dubbing it the “greatest tradition ever” as he practically threw around the “finest” sweet alcohol like it was candy.
toji was there, albeit begrudgingly, mostly due to gojo’s persistence (“c’mon, you’re the only one who knows how to enjoy this premium stuff!”), and suguru joined from a dimly-lit zoom window, his face half-smiling, half-tired as he sipped on a glass of his own.
“missing out, suguru,” gojo teased, tilting back his drink. “oh, but thanks for the wine, by the way. nothing says ‘wish i were there’ like sending over a box of booze from you and your business partner.”
“oh, for heaven’s sake,” suguru muttered, though his smirk suggested he didn’t mind. “it was a halloween release. figured it’d keep you all happy and…unbearable.”
toji chuckled, swirling his glass and trying not to roll his eyes as gojo feigned offense.
“unbearable? me?” gojo put a hand over his heart. “if you actually joined us in person, you’d see i’m the highlight of this ‘boys night.’ it’s practically a public service, sugu-boo. oh, and shoutout to persephone for making it possible, of course.”
“yeah, yeah, you’re a real gift to mankind,” suguru replied, his tone deadpan, but his smile lingered as he took a sip.
“so what’re you boys talking about? since i can’t be there to hear it firsthand.”
toji shifted, debating on whether or not he wanted to launch into the mess that had been swirling in his head all week. but with the alcohol settling in and gojo’s usual chatter as encouragement, it was hard to hold back. he sighed, resting his elbow on the arm of the chair, looking anywhere but the screen.
“oh, just, y’know… kid stuff.”
gojo raised a brow. “kid stuff? you mean, how megumi’s practically obsessed with y/n?”
“please,” toji groaned, rubbing his temple. “that kid’s dragging her around like she’s his second parent.”
“sounds like he’s got good taste,” suguru noted with a grin, sipping his wine. “and from what you said last week, he’s already planning on keeping her around for life, huh?”
toji shot him a look through the screen, but he knew they were right. megumi was over the moon whenever you came around, from showing off every little toy he owned to making you part of bedtime stories.
it was adorable, sure, but it made this whole situation way more… intense than he’d signed up for.
“kid talks about her all the time,” toji admitted, swirling his glass again. “like, even his teachers thought she was his mom or something. and she…well, she’s good with him. she’s damn good.” he looked down, a smirk tugging at his lips. “which, believe it or not, i didn’t expect when we first met.”
“ohhh?” gojo leaned in, that smirk of his spreading as he raised a brow. “and you? what did you expect?”
toji glanced away, that hint of a smirk still there, despite himself. “don’t make me say it.”
“oh, we’re making you say it,” gojo teased, sliding another drink his way. “so, you’re saying she’s…wife material?”
suguru nearly choked on his drink, and the way he was watching toji from the screen made it clear he wasn’t missing a second of this.
toji scoffed, taking a gulp to keep from saying anything too embarrassing. “she’s… special. hell, i didn’t plan on getting attached, and yet —” he paused, chuckling almost self-consciously. “i feel like a damn teenager.”
“and here i thought you were the king of nonchalance,” suguru teased, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
“yeah, yeah, laugh it up,” toji muttered, trying to shake it off.
but the truth was, the second he was alone, he found himself thinking about you, about the way megumi’s face lit up when you were around, the way you just… fit into their little world without even trying.
it was surreal.
the damn wine probably didn’t help, either.
gojo slapped him on the back, clearly enjoying this way too much. “well, for what it’s worth,” he said, his voice surprisingly sincere, “megumi deserves someone good. and maybe you do too.”
toji rolled his eyes, but he didn’t bother denying it. if anything, he felt the tiniest glimmer of hope.
that maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t screw this one up.
gojo snickered, his smirk all-knowing as he raised his glass. “i’ve got it,” he said with way too much enthusiasm, the kind he only had when he was on the brink of embarrassing the hell out of someone. “toji, you and y/n could do a joint wedding with suguru and his ‘business partner.’ i mean, if suguru grows a spine and confesses, that is.”
on the other end of the zoom call, suguru’s smirk vanished as fast as it appeared, and he looked away, running a hand through his hair. “not happening,” he muttered, all but glaring at the screen. “it’s… complicated.”
gojo pouted, tilting his head in mock sympathy. “oh, come on. ‘complicated’? it’s not that deep. just throw her some wine, flash that tragic backstory, and she’ll be yours in no time.”
“it’s not that simple,” suguru snapped, though his face softened as he leaned back, sighing.
“besides, we’re in… limbo, i guess. we’ve had our confessions, but there’s no label. not yet, anyway.”
“awww,” gojo teased, his voice dripping with feigned sympathy.
“look at us! a bunch of grown men, all hung up on love troubles. what happened to the days when it was just work, money, and some good old-fashioned ego trips?”
“those days are over,” toji grunted, crossing his arms as he glanced at the screen. “but you’d know a thing or two about those ‘ego trips,’ wouldn’t you?”
suguru let out a snort of laughter, finally letting himself relax a little. “and don’t forget ryomen sukuna,” he added, the name alone making everyone groan. “that bastard practically swooped in to turn our business lives upside down and make everything more… interesting. joint venture or not, the guy’s insufferable. he’s like a cat, always hissing and scratching his way to the top.”
gojo laughed, tipping his drink toward the screen. “tell me about it. it’s like everyone has a thorn in their side when it comes to love these days.”
he smirked, nudging toji. “and you, my friend, are no exception. so when’s the confession, huh? are we waiting on some fairytale moment here?”
toji rolled his eyes, swirling the last of his drink. “i’m not confessing to anyone,” he grumbled. “i’ve got megumi to think about.”
“right, right, megumi,” gojo said, drawing out the name with a grin that was anything but innocent. “and here i thought you liked y/n for yourself.”
“and here i thought you’d shut up at some point tonight,” toji shot back, but his lips betrayed him with a faint, reluctant smirk.
suguru leaned forward, his voice softer. “well, at least megumi’s happy with her around, right? maybe… it’s worth taking a chance.”
toji’s smirk faded, his expression thoughtful. “maybe.”
“see?” gojo beamed, practically giddy. “love is in the air, boys. even for the most stubborn among us.”
suguru shook his head, a smile creeping back onto his face. “well, here’s to complicated feelings and maybe, just maybe, getting them right someday.”
they all raised their glasses, clinking to their shared madness in work, love, and everything in between.
you flopped back on your bed, barely able to keep the grin off your face as you hit the facetime button for shoko. she picked up after a few rings, a cigarette lazily dangling from her fingers, eyebrows raised as she took in your expression.
“uh-oh. what’s got you looking like that?” she asked, smirking.
you let out a giddy little laugh, immediately burying your face in your hands. “shoko, i swear i’m losing it. i’m a grown woman, but i feel like a teenager. it’s embarrassing.”
“this better be good,” she drawled, putting the cigarette to her lips and leaning back, looking every bit the part of the unimpressed but totally-invested best friend.
“okay, okay,” you said, voice dropping to a dramatic whisper. “toji kissed me. twice — by accident, both times. twice, shoko!”
she let out a low whistle, blowing out a plume of smoke. “so the ‘brooding single dad’ finally made his move, huh? you know, twice starts to sound less like an accident and more like he’s got a thing for you.”
you laughed, covering your face with your hands. “oh my god, don’t say that! i can’t even handle it. and he’s just… so close all the time. it’s like every time i turn around, he’s there.”
“that sounds terrible,” she said, rolling her eyes in mock sympathy. “a tall, ridiculously hot single dad, right up in your personal space. how are you surviving?”
you groaned, flopping back dramatically. “it’s not just that! i mean, megumi’s there too, and he’s the cutest kid. he loves me, shoko, i’m actually losing my mind. i feel like i’m part of their lives, and it’s… weirdly nice?”
shoko’s smirk softened a little, her gaze warmer. “sounds like you’re finally finding something real,” she murmured, her voice thoughtful. “i mean, not just with toji, but… you know, with people. gojo insisted you needed someone to keep you on track, but honestly, it sounds like you’re just finding your own way.”
“thank you for not thinking i’m insane,” you muttered, grinning at her.
“please, i’ve been waiting for something juicy like this to pop up in your life,” she replied, flicking some ash into an ashtray with a smirk. “so tell me everything — i want the full rundown on these ‘accidental’ kisses.”
you launched into the details, recounting the flustered stammering, the way you could hardly breathe when he got that close, how you felt like you were in some kind of slow-motion rom-com. shoko didn’t bat an eye, laughing in all the right places, raising her eyebrows at the moments you whispered, and shaking her head whenever you sounded downright ridiculous.
“y’know,” she finally said as you caught your breath, “if this is what being your manager is gonna be like, i might just be here for it. international author and all,” she teased, quoting gojo.
“i’m just glad i have someone who gets it,” you admitted, voice softer. “this is all new to me… the book success, this... love life thing.”
she gave you a small, knowing smile. “well, get used to it. sounds like there’s a lot more coming your way.”
the month flew by in a series of stolen moments that made you feel like you were the protagonist in one of your own novels.
and, true to his nature, toji somehow managed to sneak in a kiss (or two, or three, but who's counting?) whenever he found you alone at the studio, away from gojo's incessant commentary, the other voice actors, and the wandering eyes of your new manager, shoko ieiri.
you still couldn’t forget that first almost subtle kiss, right outside the recording booth.
you’d just handed him his revised lines, trying to ignore the way his fingers brushed against yours as he took the pages.
“y’know, you keep handing me all these steamy lines,” he murmured, voice dropping, his mouth way too close to your ear. “someone might think you’re just giving me an excuse.”
“i-it’s for the story,” you stammered, and before you could process it, he leaned down, catching you in a quick, teasing kiss.
“mm. very convincing.” he smirked, straightening just as someone walked by.
“toji!” you hissed, glancing around like a guilty teenager.
“what? i thought it’d help with the performance.” he gave you a half-shrug, that lazy grin of his making your pulse jump. “gotta sell the romance, right?”
then there was the time in the elevator after one of his late recording sessions. you’d been babbling about something mundane, trying to fill the quiet, but he wasn’t paying attention to your words; instead, he just watched your mouth.
before you knew it, the doors slid closed, and he had you pressed against the mirrored wall, his mouth on yours, hands braced on either side of your head.
“you know,” you whispered breathlessly when you finally broke apart, “if shoko sees us, she’s gonna kill me.”
“good thing we’re alone then,” he murmured, not bothering to step back, his eyes dropping to your lips. “wouldn’t want her thinking you’re getting… distracted on the job.”
“me?” you managed, swallowing a laugh. “you’re the one who can’t keep his hands to himself!”
“maybe i’ll try harder,” he whispered, brushing his thumb along your jaw in a way that felt anything but apologetic. “or maybe i won’t.”
of course, he didn’t.
the next week, you’d been huddled over a script in the empty break room, reviewing edits from gojo. you barely heard him come in before he slipped up behind you, one hand casually planted on the table as he leaned over your shoulder.
“need any help with those lines?” he asked, voice low, right against your ear.
you barely suppressed a shiver, trying to focus on the paper in your hands. “i, uh… no. no, i think i’ve got it.”
“you sure?” he murmured, lips grazing your ear this time. “because i think i could add a little… flair.”
you turned, and his face was right there, too close to pretend this was anything but what it was.
before you could tell him off, he closed the gap, kissing you slow and deep, like he had all the time in the world.
“toji,” you finally managed, pulling away, your face burning. “we are at work!”
he shrugged, utterly unbothered. “yeah, but no one’s around, are they?”
you glared, trying to look serious, but he just leaned back, smirking. “besides, i’d say that counts as research.”
“research?”
he grinned, eyes twinkling with a playful light. “gotta stay in character, right?”
every encounter was a tug-of-war between professionalism and… whatever this was. you couldn’t deny you looked forward to the thrill of these secret kisses, even though you spent half your day looking over your shoulder, waiting for shoko to round a corner and catch you in the act.
toji, on the other hand, was infuriatingly nonchalant. like he didn’t care if anyone saw — like he almost wanted to be caught. and he never missed an opportunity to remind you of that.
“so, what’ll it be?” he asked one afternoon as you tried to dodge his latest attempt in the hallway. “you gonna keep hiding from me? or are you finally gonna admit you like it?”
“i’m not hiding,” you replied, trying to ignore the heat rising in your cheeks.
he laughed softly, the sound low and warm. “you’re a terrible liar.”
just then, footsteps echoed from around the corner. you froze, but toji just gave you one last teasing look and walked off, as if nothing had happened.
and maybe that was the worst part — no matter how many times he pulled you in, kissed you breathless, he could just walk away, leaving you wondering if you’d imagined it all.
toji fushiguro, love-struck fool of the century.
and he hated it.
he’d scoffed his way through plenty of rom-coms, rolling his eyes at any lovesick protagonist with that stupid, half-dazed smile, lips still parted like they’d just been kissed breathless.
he never thought he’d be one of them. yet here he was, pacing around his apartment, occasionally touching his lips like some starry-eyed teenager.
“you’re acting like a damn idiot,” he muttered to himself, brushing a hand through his hair, but even that couldn’t erase the lovesick grin creeping onto his face. he barely noticed his phone buzzing with the weekly roster of sugar mamas and daddies, all waiting for their weekly breadcrumb texts from him. hell, he even felt guilty about it now.
because compared to you? they didn’t stand a chance.
case in point: a text popped up from mona, the one who liked to send him extravagant gifts just for existing.
mona [7:40 pm]: missed u this week. dinner on friday, baby?
toji squinted at the message, thumb hovering over the keyboard, debating if he should even respond. yeah, he probably should. he sighed, cracking his knuckles before halfheartedly typing out a response.
you [7:45 pm]: kinda busy friday. rain check?
there. short and sweet.
in a past life, he would’ve at least flirted his way out of it.
but now? he couldn’t muster up anything more.
god, you’ve got it bad, he thought, half-annoyed at himself as he imagined the smirk gojo would throw his way if he ever found out about this pathetic show of loyalty.
and speaking of the devil —
“toooji!” gojo sang as he slid into the studio the next day, obnoxiously loud.
“man, you’ve been… awfully serious lately. not a single call from mona? or was it alicia? both?”
toji barely glanced up, trying to keep his face as neutral as possible. “i’ve been busy. work.”
“work,” gojo echoed, eyes narrowing with a knowing gleam. “right. and what kind of work are we talking about? the kind that comes with a certain… author’s name attached?”
toji’s lip twitched, but he ignored him. he figured the less he reacted, the less ammo gojo would have.
“oh, come on!” gojo crowed, leaning over the soundboard with an irritating grin. “you really think i haven’t noticed? the lingering looks, the way you sneak off for like ten minutes every time she’s around. you’re a mess, toji.”
toji rolled his eyes, folding his arms across his chest. “i’m not a damn kid, satoru.”
“coulda fooled me,” gojo teased. “god, you look like you’re on the verge of a love confession every time i see you two. why not just go full rom-com mode and declare it in the rain or something?”
“shut your damn mouth,” toji muttered, feeling his ears heat.
the idea had crossed his mind. he thought about it every damn time he saw you smile or catch his eye across the studio.
and it was driving him insane.
“speaking of confessions,” gojo continued, not missing a beat, “heard you’ve been turning down… basically everyone these days. sugar mamas, sugar daddies — wow, your self-control’s really kicked in.”
toji groaned, half in frustration, half in something else. it was true. he hadn’t even looked at his inbox in days.
just not interested, he’d told himself, ignoring how pathetic that sounded.
“oh, oh, oh, don’t tell me…” gojo grinned, the realization dawning on his face. “you’ve gone monogamous, haven’t you?” he snorted.
“god, you’re whipped.”
“i’ll let you live if you shut up now.”
gojo snickered, unbothered. “what? i’m just giving you some friendly advice, toji. tell her already. do the whole romantic declaration thing. maybe some roses. oh, or better yet, just kiss her the way you keep fantasizing about.”
toji rolled his eyes, shaking his head. “fantasizing, right.”
“admit it, you’re lovesick,” gojo replied with a smirk. “how’s that feel, big guy?”
just then, his phone buzzed again, and he glanced down to see a new message from larry, one of his sugar daddies.
larry: fancy a weekend trip? all expenses on me, baby ;)
toji groaned and quickly sent back a “no thanks, busy,” before slipping his phone away. he looked up to find gojo staring at him, practically vibrating with amusement.
“see? whipped!” gojo announced, loud enough for half the floor to hear.
“keep it down,” toji growled, but he couldn’t keep the ghost of a smile off his face. he knew gojo was right, even if he hated admitting it. he was done pretending it wasn’t true.
hell, he could barely go an hour without wanting to text you, wanting to see you.
“you don’t get it,” toji said, more to himself than gojo. “she’s… different.”
“oh, i bet she is,” gojo said, nodding like he understood. “now, are you gonna be an idiot and keep pouting like you’ve got something to say? or are you gonna tell her?”
toji didn’t answer, just glared at him before heading for the studio door. but he knew gojo was right.
he’d run out of excuses, out of distractions. maybe it was time he did something about this ridiculous crush.
as he walked out, he could practically hear gojo’s smirk follow him.
great.
toji could barely keep his heart from jumping out of his chest as he slipped the little origami ring into your hand, all smooth-like, muttering, “megumi made it for you.”
but even as he said it, he could feel the heat creeping up his neck, knowing damn well it was mostly his work.
he’d sat down with megumi, who, after a long day of being “helpful,” had finally agreed to show him how to fold paper into something that resembled a ring. and it hadn’t exactly been easy.
“so, kiddo,” toji had started, fidgeting with the corner of a bright blue square of paper. “think you can show me how to, uh… fold this thing into a ring? for… you know… someone.”
megumi squinted up at him, hands on his hips like a pint-sized supervisor. “for her, right?”
toji cleared his throat, looking away. “yeah. something like that.”
megumi snorted, already getting a bit too wise for his age. “you don’t even know how to fold paper, daddy?”
toji groaned. “it’s harder than it looks, alright? just show me how you do it.”
the kid just shook his head, exasperated, but started showing him each fold with careful, precise fingers. they worked through a couple attempts, most of which looked nothing like rings and ended up in the growing pile of crumpled paper on the table.
it was late, and toji couldn’t remember the last time he’d concentrated this hard on something so… simple. why the hell am i doing this? he thought, glancing at the clock.
he had work in a few hours, a whole recording schedule to plan for, and yet here he was, folding paper with his son.
“think she’ll like it?” toji asked, holding up one of the finished attempts.
megumi shrugged, but he looked oddly serious as he studied the makeshift ring. “i think she will. ‘cause it’s from you.”
something in toji’s chest squeezed at that, and he clapped a hand on megumi’s shoulder. “don’t go telling anyone about this, alright? not even your uncle gojo. especially not him.”
“why?” megumi asked, genuinely curious.
“because he’ll never let me hear the end of it,” toji muttered, trying to ignore how ridiculous he sounded even to himself.
yeah, making a paper ring at one in the morning for someone? absolutely insane, but he couldn’t shake the thrill of it, of imagining you smiling when he handed it over.
so, fast-forward to now: the ring was in your hand, your fingers slowly unfolding to reveal it. you glanced up at him, eyes soft with a mix of confusion and surprise, and damn if he didn’t feel his heart do a backflip right then and there.
“he… made this for me?” you asked, voice quiet, almost disbelieving.
“yeah,” toji replied, trying to sound casual but failing spectacularly. “thought you’d like it.”
he rubbed the back of his neck, fighting the urge to look anywhere but at you, but he couldn’t resist sneaking a glance at your reaction.
you turned the ring over in your hand, a small smile tugging at your lips. “you sure it was megumi who made this?”
his throat went dry. “uh… mostly,” he admitted, feeling that warmth creeping up his neck again. “i might’ve… helped a little.”
“a little, huh?” you teased, eyes sparkling as you slipped the ring onto your finger. “so, is this, like… an official thing now? sealing the deal or whatever?”
toji felt his mouth go dry, a mixture of nerves and excitement coursing through him.
he hadn’t planned on this meaning anything official — well, maybe he had, but he hadn’t exactly thought it through.
yet seeing you wearing it, even if it was just a silly piece of folded paper, felt… right.
he shrugged, trying to keep his voice steady. “just thought you deserved somethin’ nice,” he said gruffly. “even if it’s… you know, paper.”
your fingers brushed his, a soft, barely-there touch, and he swore his heart skipped a beat. “i think it’s perfect, toji. no one’s ever… done something like this for me before.”
he felt his chest tighten, the weight of everything he wanted to say pressing against his ribcage.
all those dumb, sappy things he’d been feeling lately, the way he couldn’t stop thinking about you, the way he felt like a lovesick idiot every time you smiled at him. but he couldn’t bring himself to say any of it, not yet.
so instead, he settled for squeezing your hand, his thumb tracing a soft circle over your knuckles.
“good,” he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper. “’cause i don’t think i could stand it if you didn’t like it.”
you laughed softly, leaning into him, and he swore he felt the world narrow down to just the two of you, the faint rustle of the paper ring against your finger.
“guess i’ll have to keep it safe then, huh?” you murmured, looking up at him with that smile that made his heart do all kinds of dumb things.
“yeah,” he replied, voice low, unable to stop himself from leaning down to press a soft kiss to your lips. “yeah, you do.”
toji’s eyes nearly pop out of his head when he spots you at the office, that damn paper ring dangling from your phone charm. his paper ring — okay, technically megumi’s paper ring, but still, the one he’d folded with his own hands. he’d thought you might just tuck it away in a drawer or something.
but here you were, letting it swing around proudly like some priceless gem. he’s not gonna lie — his heart just about catapults itself out of his chest.
he’s doing his best to keep his cool, but the urge to grab you right then and there, haul you over to a quiet corner, and ask you out on a real date feels stronger than ever. propose even.
god, if he wasn’t too far gone already.
“what’s that little add-on?” gojo’s smug voice cuts through the air, and you laugh, holding up your phone so the charm dangles freely. gojo squints, pretending he’s inspecting it, but there’s a glint in his eye. “who’s the secret admirer, huh? must be a serious romantic to give you something… hand-crafted.”
you shrug, grinning a little too wide. “oh, just… something someone special made for me.”
toji’s face heats up, and he tries to look busy adjusting his microphone levels.
dammit, did you have to say it like that? he catches gojo’s gaze lingering on him, eyebrows raised.
oh, he’s got an idea all right.
“hm, special someone?” gojo teases, nudging you, then pretending to look around the room as if your admirer might jump out from behind the studio wall. “wonder who that could be, huh?”
you shrug, pretending like it’s nothing, though you shoot a sly glance in toji’s direction. “maybe he’ll make a move someday. he’s pretty bold but… you know, takes his time.”
toji’s pulse hammers away like a damn drumline, and he clears his throat, trying to sound nonchalant. “yeah, maybe he’s just… tryin’ to find the right time or somethin’.”
“aww,” gojo coos, looking between you and toji with a mischievous smile. “poor guy. wonder if he knows he’s got competition. think he can handle it?”
toji rolls his eyes, shooting gojo a glare. “ain’t nobody competin’,” he says, voice low but firm. “whoever this guy is… he’s got it handled.”
you laugh softly, the sound filling the room, and you hold up the charm, letting it dangle right in front of him as if it’s some sort of challenge. “think he’s ready to seal the deal?”
toji’s gaze flickers to the paper ring, then to you, and suddenly he feels this overwhelming urge to just… go for it.
he could give you a real ring, sure, someday maybe, but there’s something about this little thing you’ve turned into a charm that makes it feel so much… bigger.
“actually…” he mutters, feeling heat crawl up his neck. “i was thinkin’… maybe i could take you out this weekend. just us.” he looks at you, eyes intent, and there’s a rare seriousness in his voice. “someplace nice. no studio, no interruptions.”
you blink, clearly a bit surprised, but your smile grows, softer now, almost shy.
“are you asking me out, toji?”
he shrugs, feigning nonchalance but failing miserably. “yeah. maybe… maybe i am.” he reaches out, tugging the charm lightly, letting it dangle between you. “figured it was about time we took this thing seriously.”
gojo bursts into laughter, clapping his hands. “ohhh, i knew it! all this sneaking around, and here you are, finally getting down on one knee — metaphorically, of course.”
you nudge gojo, laughing. “shut it, satoru.”
but toji doesn’t even hear gojo’s teasing anymore. all he sees is you, with that damn paper ring swinging from your phone, smiling at him in a way that makes his chest feel tight.
and suddenly, the idea of getting down on one knee doesn’t seem all that far-fetched after all.
“so… this weekend?” he asks, his voice a little softer now, just for you.
you nod, still beaming. “this weekend,” you confirm.
toji, scrolling through your message with a slight frown, reads your rain check about having to edit your book draft instead of going out this weekend.
he's in the middle of what can only be called a hurricane of preparation — megumi is zipping around the house, declaring he’ll help his dad look “very handsome” for his “playdate with the pretty lady.” in the midst of this, toji can’t even get a word in to explain that, uh, the plans may be changing.
princess [7:08 pm]: hey! i am SO sorry, but i may have to rain check today. i really thought i’d finish up the first draft of the dragon king’s sequel. but i got so behind, and now i have to edit this whole thing </3 you [7:09 pm]: can’t believe my competition is a bunch of words on a page, but…i get it. you [7:09 pm]: any chance you could still use some company for that “editing?”
he’s barely finished typing his message when megumi tugs at his shirt, holding up a navy button-down that practically drags on the floor.
“isn’t this the one she likes, dad? wear this!” he says with a look that might as well be called “fushiguro persuasion.” toji chuckles, ruffling megumi’s hair.
“hey, buddy,” he says, crouching down to megumi’s level. “plans changed a little. she’s gotta work, so i’m going over there instead, alright?”
megumi narrows his eyes in the way only an eight-year-old can. “so... no fancy date?”
“nah, kid,” toji says, trying to sound casual as he rolls up his sleeves. “i’m just gonna keep her company while she works.”
megumi grins, a mischievous glint in his eye. “so like, a home date?” he asks, with all the implications an eight-year-old can muster.
toji chuckles, ruffling his son’s hair. “something like that.” he gives megumi a quick fist bump. “hold down the fort for me, alright? i’ll be back before bedtime.”
and with that, he heads out, his heart pounding just a little too fast for his own liking. he’s ready to face you with a low-key offer: if you’ll allow it, he’ll stay in for a “working date” and keep you company, just the two of you, with no plans other than being there.
toji ^.^ [7:15 pm]: well, what if the mountain comes to you instead of you coming to the mountain? i’ll bring snacks and stay out of your way. i’ll even help you proofread if you need it.
your heart nearly stops when you see toji’s message, and you almost drop your phone… straight into your bowl of instant noodles.
he wants to come over? to your place?
you glance around your apartment, and it’s a scene straight out of a disaster movie.
there’s a pile of bills stacked haphazardly on the coffee table, all of which you’re waiting for shoko to graciously come sort through for you. right next to it is a mountain of pr packages you haven’t had a chance to open — typewriters from some luxury brand, fountain pens with gold-tipped nibs, notebooks wrapped in satin, and… is that your favorite set of lingerie drying on top of the lampshade?
“oh, god.”
you glance at the time and frantically calculate: how long would it take to clear at least half of this mess?
no, scratch that. how long would it take to get yourself presentable? you rush to your room, tossing things left and right in an attempt to find something clean and comfortable, feeling your face heat up just imagining toji seeing your place like this.
you [7:17 pm]: are you sure you wanna come over? i’m warning you. it’s, uh, very lived-in here. toji ^.^ [7:20 pm]: hey, i’m not gonna judge. besides, how bad can it be?
you stare at his reply, chewing on your lip, and quickly text back.
you [7:21 pm]: imagine a tornado hit a bookstore you [7:21 pm]: and a clothing store you [7:21 pm]: and, maybe a warehouse full of typewriters and fountain pens. toji ^.^ [7:23 pm]: you know what? sounds cozy. i’ll bring some snacks and maybe a cleaning crew if necessary 😂
the doorbell rings before you could even realise, and your heart nearly leaps out of your chest.
you’ve got a solid three seconds to take it all in: you’re wearing a three-day-old shirt that, if you recall correctly, was originally your dad’s from the 80s, your hair’s in a bun so messy it might as well be a bird’s nest, and there are bags of trash you’ve hastily crammed into every drawer within reach.
there’s no hiding the pile of unopened pr packages by the couch, though — one of which has a half-torn label boasting a “vintage, limited-edition typewriter experience.” right next to that, there’s a fancy pen set, still in its plastic wrap, resting on top of… is that a stack of half-eaten takeout containers?
oh, god. why couldn’t you have had a warning before he showed up?
you take a shaky breath and yank the door open, plastering a smile on your face as if this is all completely normal.
"hey," toji says, looking you up and down with an easy grin. “lookin’ cozy.”
“uh... thanks?” you blurt out, mentally slapping yourself. cozy was definitely one way to put it.
“come on in. sorry about the… ambiance. i wasn’t really expecting to have a, uh, guest.”
you step back, and he strides in, immediately taking in the organized chaos that is your apartment. his eyes linger on the tower of pr boxes and that unmistakable stack of overdue bills. he whistles low under his breath, clearly trying not to laugh.
"so, this is the writer life, huh?" he asks, picking up a typewriter package with a raised eyebrow. "fancy stuff. do you, uh… actually use any of this?”
“i try,” you mumble, crossing your arms defensively, though you can’t help smiling. “but the whole ‘starving artist’ vibe means these typewriters just end up as very expensive paperweights. which, ironically, i can’t even afford.”
toji laughs, setting the box down before glancing around again. his gaze falls on the lampshade, where your black lace lingerie is very prominently draped. you feel your face go hot as he smirks.
“i like the decor,” he says, nodding toward the lingerie with a wicked grin.
“oh, my god,” you groan, covering your face. “listen, i was not expecting company today, so please, feel free to avert your eyes.”
"nah, i think it's got… character," he teases, leaning in just a little too close. “besides, i don’t mind a little mess.”
"well, great, because this is as real as it gets," you reply, huffing as you try to look anywhere but at him. "you’re in the trenches now, toji.”
he chuckles, moving to pick up a crumpled, half-empty bag of chips from the couch. "hey, trenches i can handle. i’ve got an eight-year-old at home, remember? my place is an organized war zone on a good day."
you snort, still feeling a bit mortified. “and here i was thinking i could at least fake having my life together in front of you.”
“oh, please,” he says, brushing a stray hair from your cheek. “you should’ve seen me back in college. this? this is nothing. plus,” he adds, his voice dropping slightly, “it’s kind of… cute.”
cute. did he actually just call your disaster zone cute?
before you can respond, he grabs one of the unopened PR boxes and raises an eyebrow. “so, what’s in this one? wanna have an impromptu unboxing?”
“toji, i swear if you open that —”
“c’mon,” he says, grinning as he peels the tape back. “think of it as the highlight of our first ‘official’ homebody date.”
you shake your head, both amused and exasperated, watching him fish out an overly ornate fountain pen, which he holds up like it’s the holy grail.
“look at this thing,” he says, turning it over with a smirk. “you could probably sign million-dollar deals with this alone.”
“or, you know, sign off on all my overdue bills.” you laugh, unable to stay embarrassed. “go on, add it to the pile. it’s practically a landfill at this point.”
he laughs, setting the pen down and stepping closer, his voice low. “listen, i get it. my place might not have bills stacked up, but it’s full of… reminders that i’m a work in progress too.”
you glance up at him, and suddenly, all the embarrassment melts away. you’re in your messy apartment, standing in an ancient t-shirt with this man who’s managed to turn your chaotic night into something unexpectedly comforting.
"thanks for not… judging," you say softly, feeling yourself relax for the first time since he walked in. “i know i’m not exactly put together, but —”
“hey.” he cups your face with a gentle smile. “don’t worry about it. you’re perfect like this. messy, comfy, real.”
before you can stop yourself, you lean in, and he meets you halfway, his lips brushing softly against yours. it’s not hurried, not desperate. just… perfect.
it hits you about a second too late — you’re kissing toji in the middle of your apartment, clutching a bag of trash. oh god, and it reeks of stale mountain dew and monster.
classy.
you pull back with a mortified look, though toji’s face is the exact opposite, his smirk spreading like he’s just unlocked a secret treasure.
“don’t stop now,” he murmurs, glancing down at the offending trash bag in your hand. “but, uh… maybe lose that first?”
“yeah, i think we’re past the first-date mystique at this point,” you mutter, feeling your face heat up as you chuck the bag towards the corner, praying it’s out of sight enough to ignore.
“oh, yeah, you’re really blowing my mind here,” he teases, chuckling as he takes in the apartment around you. “all the caffeine fumes, that questionable takeout smell. smells like home already.”
“oh, shut up,” you laugh, covering your face, because this man is about two seconds from making you combust. “i’m surprised you even wanted to stay for dinner after walking into this disaster.”
“well,” he says, trying and failing to look innocent, “you haven’t seen the other disaster i brought.”
you raise an eyebrow as he gestures to the counter, where multiple takeout bags are somehow all stacked up.
“toji, what is all this?” you blink, shuffling over to the spread.
“look,” he says, scratching the back of his neck. “i couldn’t decide what you’d like, so i just… went with options.”
options is a gross understatement.
there’s a bag from the local thai place with an array of curries and pad see ew, another filled with boxes of sushi, and an entire tray of tacos, complete with mini bottles of hot sauce. you spot a large pizza box (of course), and is that… baklava?
“uh, toji? are we feeding a small country tonight?” you laugh, bewildered. “what were you thinking?”
“honestly? wasn’t thinking. just grabbed whatever looked good,” he says, giving you a sheepish grin. “but c’mon, if you don’t like one thing, there’s a million others.”
you give him a look, half-amused, half-exasperated, but it’s endearing in a way only toji could pull off. who even does this?
“i mean, don’t get me wrong,” you say, nudging a pizza box to make space for the taco tray, “i’m glad you thought of all the options, but… what exactly were you planning for us to do with all this?”
he shrugs, coming up beside you to open one of the sushi boxes. “eat as much as we want, throw the rest in the fridge. ‘course, that’s only if you’re not gonna make me eat it all myself.”
you snort, imagining him single-handedly tackling all of it. “if you can handle it, be my guest.”
he leans in close, voice dropping to a rough whisper. “oh, i can handle it.”
you roll your eyes, but you’re grinning like an idiot. “god, you’re impossible.”
“hey, you invited me over,” he says, opening a little container of wasabi and gesturing for you to try a piece of sushi.
“besides, i figured it’s a good way to cover all bases. what if you didn’t like tacos? or pizza? or… god forbid, baklava?”
you can’t help laughing as you pop the sushi in your mouth, appreciating the deliciously over-the-top effort he put into this. “for the record, i love all of it. but you, on the other hand, have a questionable appetite if you thought this much food for two people was necessary.”
“trust me, if this is what it takes to keep you happy, i’ll bring twice as much next time,” he says, dead serious.
“oh no, please, i don’t think i can handle that.” you give him a look, incredulous. “i’ll end up eating myself into a food coma, and then what? you gonna carry me to bed?”
“well,” he says, leaning in again with a devilish grin, “i wouldn’t mind. but i was thinkin’ more along the lines of a movie marathon to work off the calories.”
“movie marathon and food coma?” you raise an eyebrow. “toji, you’re dangerously close to making this a slumber party.”
he shrugs, his face playful but there’s something softer in his eyes. “would that be the worst thing?”
you feel a flutter in your chest, something that almost surprises you with how much it settles you. here he is, surrounded by mountains of takeout and your chaotic apartment mess, looking like this is exactly where he wants to be.
it’s… kinda nice.
“alright,” you say, nudging him with your elbow. “you win. let’s have the weirdest, most food-filled homebody date ever. just, uh, ignore the mess. and don’t laugh at me if i pass out halfway through a movie.”
“promise.” he raises a hand, eyes glinting with humor. “cross my heart.”
the two of you start to dig in, laughing as you make jokes about how this is probably the strangest spread of food you’ve ever seen. every now and then, he’ll steal a quick kiss when he thinks he can get away with it, and you’re reminded just how much this man has wormed his way under your skin.
you’ve got no idea where this is going, but, staring at his smirk as he attempts to down an entire taco in one bite, you kinda hope it’s somewhere good.
the two of you stand side by side at the sink, the remnants of your feast sprawled across the counter. you’re scrubbing a particularly stubborn pan when you decide it’s the perfect time to hand toji the aux.
“alright, mister fancy chef,” you say, smirking as you pass him your phone. “you get to choose the soundtrack for our post-dinner clean-up. no pressure.”
“oh, no pressure at all,” he deadpans, scrolling through your playlist. you catch a glimpse of the mischievous grin creeping onto his face as he lands on an old favorite.
the unmistakable intro of dancing queen by abba fills the kitchen, and your mouth drops open in disbelief.
“seriously? this? right now?” you laugh, a mix of amusement and embarrassment bubbling inside you.
“hey, don’t knock it till you try it!” he shoots back, raising his hands as if to defend his choice. “it’s a classic. plus, it takes me back to that night at the bar when you were all... well, you.”
you roll your eyes, but you can’t help the smile that creeps onto your face. “i was a mess.”
“yeah, but you were a cute mess.” he chuckles, and you feel the heat rise in your cheeks at the compliment.
as the upbeat tune plays on, you both start washing the dishes, swaying your hips to the rhythm.
“you can dance, you can jive…” the lyrics echo through the air, and toji’s energy pulls you in.
you catch him glancing at you with that smirk again, and the way his eyes light up makes your stomach flutter.
“just imagine,” he says, a teasing glint in his eye, “the two of us back at that bar. you, all over the place, and me just trying to figure out how to survive the night.”
you laugh, feeling nostalgic. “yeah, and then i somehow managed to puke all over your shoes.”
“my favorite shoes,” he says dramatically, rolling his eyes, but there’s a playful warmth in his tone. “but, honestly? worth it.”
the song builds, and you’re both lost in the moment, laughter and soap suds flying everywhere.
“see that girl, watch that scene…”
“how did we go from that night to this?” you ponder aloud, glancing at him. “i mean, here we are, washing dishes and dancing to abba.”
“it’s an upgrade he says, giving you a lopsided grin. “you know, from drunken disasters to… kitchen romance.”
“romance?” you raise an eyebrow, challenging him.
“oh, come on,” he says, stepping closer, the teasing slipping away from his tone. “there’s definitely something romantic about this. a pair of idiots like us, sharing this weird, beautiful mess.”
you can’t help but blush, your heart racing as you take in the way his gaze lingers on your lips. “digging the dancing queen…”
“you know, if this song gets stuck in my head, i’m blaming you,” you quip, trying to deflect the intensity of the moment.
“good luck with that,” he chuckles, moving even closer, the space between you almost nonexistent now.
“night is young and the music’s high…”
his fingers brush against yours, the innocent touch sending sparks up your arm. the beat continues, your breaths getting heavier as the song builds up to the chorus.
“dancing queen, feel the beat of the tambourine…”
you’re both staring at each other, and suddenly, the kitchen feels too small, too charged with the electricity of the moment.
“toji…” you start, but the words die on your lips as he leans in, his intent clear.
“just one kiss,” he murmurs, the corner of his mouth lifting in a seductive smile. “for old time’s sake.”
before you can reply, he closes the gap, his lips capturing yours with a gentle yet insistent pressure.
it’s like a scene from a movie — the soft warmth of his mouth against yours, the playful scent of the takeout wafting around you, the soft glow of the kitchen light illuminating his features.
you melt into him, heart racing as you kiss him back, losing yourself in the moment. the lyrics of the song seem to fade into the background, leaving just the two of you — the world outside disappearing entirely.
when you finally pull away, both of you breathless, there’s a glint of something deeper in his eyes.
“wow,” he breathes, still holding your gaze. “i think i like this new tradition.”
you chuckle, still buzzing from the kiss. “yeah, who knew washing dishes could be so… eventful?”
“well,” he says, leaning in closer again, voice low and teasing, “we haven’t even finished the song yet. you ready for round two?”
you’re half-dazed, your heart racing as you sit on the kitchen counter, toji’s arms caging you in, keeping you close. dancing queen continues to play in the background, but all you can focus on is the warmth radiating from him and the way his breath mingles with yours.
“you have got to stop making these kisses a regular thing,” you tease, half-heartedly trying to sound serious, but the playful glint in your eyes gives you away.
“especially when i’m propped up on my kitchen counter like this,” you add, trying to maintain some semblance of decorum, but you can’t help but smile as you wrap your legs around his waist, pulling him in closer.
“liar,” he laughs, a low rumble that sends a thrill through you. “if you didn’t like it, you would have pushed me away, not this.” he gestures to your legs around him, grinning like the cat that got the cream.
you roll your eyes, but you can’t hide the warmth spreading through your cheeks. “okay, fine. maybe i’m a little into it,” you admit, and his grin widens, satisfaction dancing in his eyes.
“a little?” he echoes, raising an eyebrow, his hands tightening around your waist. “you’re a whole lot more than a little, and you know it.”
the cheeky banter flows easily between you, and as you gaze into his eyes, you realize just how much you’ve come to enjoy this — the closeness, the warmth, the undeniable chemistry crackling in the air.
“you know, it’s a bit unfair,” you say, tilting your head back slightly to meet his gaze. “here i’m trying to be responsible and not let you distract me, and yet…” you trail off, your fingers playing with the collar of his shirt.
“and yet,” he finishes, leaning in slightly, his breath warm against your skin. “here i am, being irresistible.”
“definitely not irresistible,” you say, feigning indignation. but the way your heart races gives you away again.
“oh, come on,” he smirks, tilting his head slightly. “who else do you know can kiss you while washing dishes?”
you laugh, shaking your head, and the movement sends a wave of giddiness through both of you. “you might be right about that one,” you concede, biting your lip.
the song transitions into another upbeat section, and toji shifts his weight slightly, nudging your legs apart just enough to step closer, creating a tighter cocoon of warmth between you.
“so, what now?” he asks, his voice dropping an octave, the playful tone replaced with something more serious, more intimate.
“what now?” you echo, feeling the tension shift slightly, the air thick with possibilities. “we could, um… finish washing dishes?”
“how boring,” he murmurs, and before you can say anything else, he dips his head down, capturing your lips again in a slow, lingering kiss that makes your head spin.
this kiss is different — softer, more explorative, as if he’s savoring the moment, the taste of you lingering on his lips. you respond eagerly, forgetting all about the dishes, the mess, everything else fading away until it’s just the two of you.
when you finally break apart, breathless, he grins down at you, that charming smirk making your heart flutter. “that’s what i’m talking about,” he says, a satisfied gleam in his eyes.
“toji, we really should —”
“don’t say it,” he interrupts, shaking his head with an exaggerated look of horror.
“don’t ruin the moment with responsibility. just… let’s enjoy this.”
you can’t help but laugh again, the tension between you easing as you lean back against the countertop, your heart racing in a way that feels undeniably good.
“enjoying this, huh?” you murmur, running your fingers through your hair, still feeling the heat of his body against yours.
“yeah,” he replies, that charming smile still plastered on his face. “just two people enjoying a perfectly normal evening — you know, singing abba, eating takeout, and making out in your messy kitchen.”
“the most normal thing ever,” you agree, rolling your eyes, but you can’t suppress the smile that breaks across your face.
“so,” he says, tilting his head, his expression turning slightly more serious. “how about we make this a regular thing? you know, minus the messy kitchen. maybe my place next time?”
your heart skips a beat at the suggestion, and you find yourself nodding before you can think twice. “yeah, i’d like that.”
“great,” he says, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “but for now, let’s get back to the dishes, dancing queen.”
“fine, but only if you promise to keep playing abba,” you reply, giving him a mock-serious look.
“deal,” he chuckles, and as you both start scrubbing the remaining dishes, the music playing softly in the background, you realize you wouldn’t trade this moment for anything.
toji walks into his house, the dopey grin plastered across his face like he just won the lottery.
his heart feels light, still buzzing from the night with you, and he’s practically floating as he kicks off his shoes and heads to the living room.
he stops dead in his tracks when he sees gojo sprawled on the couch, a half-empty bottle of whiskey in one hand and a look of sheer mischief on his face.
“what the hell are you doing here?” toji asks, trying to sound annoyed but failing miserably as he can’t help but grin back.
gojo lifts the bottle in a mock toast. “just your friendly neighborhood babysitter, here to keep an eye on megumi,” he says, glancing over to where megumi is sound asleep, sprawled on the floor with a gaming console still clutched in his tiny hands. “figured i’d check out your bar situation while i was at it.” he gestures to the empty bottles lined up on the table. “you know, for quality control.”
toji rolls his eyes but can’t suppress the chuckle escaping his lips. “you’re a real piece of work, you know that?” he says, moving closer.
gojo leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, a grin spreading across his face as he studies toji’s expression. “but seriously, you look like you just got off cloud nine. spill. what happened?”
toji’s grin widens even more, and he can’t help but let out a little giggle, feeling giddy. “you’re not gonna believe this,” he starts, plopping down on the couch next to gojo, who leans in closer, eager for the details.
“it was… well, it was amazing.”
“amazing? now you’re really making me curious!” gojo presses, his eyes sparkling with interest. “tell me everything! every little detail!”
toji glances back towards the sleeping megumi, suddenly feeling a bit shy about sharing all the intimate details. “okay, okay. so, we were just supposed to have dinner, but it turned into this whole thing.”
“dinner? boooring. give me the juicy stuff!” gojo teases, waving his hand dramatically. “i want the scandalous details! were there kisses involved?”
toji feels his cheeks flush, and he can’t help but laugh at how ridiculous this all feels. “yeah, there were some kisses… and then we ended up washing dishes together, and somehow —”
“washing dishes? how romantic!” gojo interrupts, dramatically placing a hand on his chest as if he’s been mortally wounded. “you’re a true romantic, toji.”
“shut up!” toji retorts, laughing harder now. “but it was nice, okay? we were just… comfortable with each other, you know? and then we ended up kissing while the song was playing.”
“which song? was it a love song? was it dancing queen?” gojo leans in closer, eyes wide with excitement. “tell me you two were blasting abba and getting all lovey-dovey!”
“yeah, actually!” toji can’t help but laugh again, the memory flooding back. “we were. it was so ridiculous, but it felt so right at that moment.”
“ridiculous how?” gojo presses, leaning back with a smirk. “were you two dancing around the kitchen like a couple of high-schoolers?”
“pretty much,” toji admits, a sheepish grin crossing his face. “i mean, it just happened, and i couldn’t help myself. i’ve never felt like this before.”
gojo raises an eyebrow, leaning back with a knowing smirk. “so, what you’re saying is that you’re head over heels for y/n? you’ve gone soft on us, toji.”
“yeah, yeah, laugh it up,” toji says, trying to sound annoyed but failing as he can’t help but feel giddy about it all. “but i think this is different. she makes me feel… i don’t know, like i’m actually living instead of just existing?”
gojo’s expression softens slightly, nodding in understanding. “that’s deep, man. i’m genuinely happy for you. but seriously, how did you go from makeouts to dinner to feelings so fast?”
“honestly? i have no idea,” toji shrugs, still riding that high. “but it just felt natural. like we were meant to do this.”
gojo is quiet for a moment, taking a swig from the bottle.
“damn, it sounds like you really like her.”
“like? it’s more than that, i think,” toji admits, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “i’ve never let myself feel this way about anyone, and now i can’t stop smiling like an idiot.”
“good. you should let yourself feel,” gojo says, his tone lightening again.
“just don’t forget you’re still my bro and not some mushy romantic lead in a romcom.”
toji snorts. “right, because i’m so good at playing it cool.”
“exactly,” gojo grins. “now, what’s the next step in this romance novel? are you going to take her out on an official date, or are you just going to keep sneaking kisses in her kitchen?”
toji thinks for a moment, that dopey grin returning.
“i want to take her out. something special. not just a random dinner but a real date.”
“awww, look at you being all suave!” gojo teases, clapping him on the shoulder. “i’m actually proud of you, man. just don’t screw it up.”
“thanks for the vote of confidence,” toji rolls his eyes but can’t help but feel encouraged.
“now, let’s celebrate your new relationship status! i say we finish off the rest of these bottles and toast to your love life!” gojo suggests, already grabbing for another bottle.
toji chuckles, shaking his head. “you’re going to end up getting us both in trouble, you know that?”
“who cares? tonight’s all about you, my guy! let’s make some bad decisions!” gojo grins, and as toji laughs, the two of them settle in for a night of ridiculous stories and plans for the future — the dopey grin still plastered on toji’s face.
the day of the audiobook launch dawned bright and buzzing with excitement at gojo-sonic, and the atmosphere was electric. employees and investors milled about the sleek, modern venue, the air filled with chatter and the faint sound of clinking glasses.
it was a low-key affair, but the anticipation crackled like static electricity in the air. you were among the few chosen to celebrate this moment, standing on the cusp of something big.
you had spent hours getting ready, and with shoko’s help, you looked stunning in your gown. it was a flowing number that hugged your curves just right, accentuating your figure while allowing you to move with grace. your hair was styled in soft waves, framing your face perfectly, and your makeup enhanced your features without overshadowing them. you caught glimpses of yourself in the reflective surfaces, a wave of pride swelling in your chest as you realized just how much effort went into this moment.
toji, on the other hand, was a mix of nervous energy and utter admiration. dressed sharply in a tailored suit, he felt a blend of pride and anxiety as he watched you mingle with the guests. but the moment his eyes landed on you in that gown, his body betrayed him.
a rush of heat shot through him, and before he could even think, there it was — a very real, very embarrassing hard-on that he scrambled to cover up.
“shit, not now,” he muttered under his breath, cursing himself for being such a damn cliché. he quickly shifted his stance, pretending to adjust his tie as he tried to focus on anything other than the vision of you in front of him.
like a decent man should, right?
“toji! you okay?” gojo’s voice cut through his thoughts, a smirk creeping across his face. he was leaning against the bar, a glass of something strong in hand, eyeing toji with amusement. “you look like you just saw a ghost.”
“i’m fine,” toji snapped a little too quickly, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks. “just… adjusting my suit.” he gestured wildly, trying to deflect the attention away from his embarrassment.
“uh-huh. sure,” gojo replied, barely hiding his laughter. “just keep it together. we wouldn’t want you to embarrass yourself in front of everyone, especially her.” he nodded subtly towards you, who were now laughing with suguru, your charm radiating like a warm glow.
toji shot him a glare, a mix of irritation and amusement battling for dominance on his face. “thanks for the reminder, genius.”
the event continued, and you were seamlessly blending into the crowd, engaging in conversations with stakeholders and employees, your confidence shining through.
when you shared a laugh with suguru, toji couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy at how effortlessly charming you were. why the hell can’t i just say something nice instead of standing here like an idiot?
“there she is,” toji mumbled to himself, catching a glimpse of you as you made your way to the makeshift stage for the speeches. he admired how you carried yourself with such poise, the way your eyes sparkled with excitement. and in that moment, he was utterly captivated.
as you stepped up to the microphone, a hush fell over the crowd.
“thank you all for being here today,” you began, your voice steady and clear, filled with warmth. “this launch means so much to me, and i couldn’t have done it without all the support from my friends and family. especially from those at gojo-sonic, who believed in this project.”
toji watched you intently, his heart swelling with pride. this was your moment, and you were absolutely shining.
but as you spoke, he felt that familiar urge to approach you, to wrap his arms around you and tell you just how incredible you looked.
but no, he stood rooted to the spot, reminding himself of the conversation they had before about maintaining a professional facade.
“and of course, a huge thank you to my amazing voice actor, toji fushiguro,” you continued, and the crowd erupted into applause, pulling him back into reality. the sound sent another rush of heat through him, and he felt like he was about to explode — both from embarrassment and pride.
“that’s me,” toji muttered, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. gojo was right beside him, clapping exaggeratedly with a teasing grin. “you’re gonna have to give her a proper compliment after this, you know?”
“yeah, yeah,” toji grumbled, still flustered as he tried to focus on your words instead of his growing embarrassment.
when you finished your speech, the crowd cheered, and you stepped down, a satisfied smile on your face.
you caught toji’s eye, and for a moment, the world faded away. he could see the joy radiating from you, and all his earlier doubts slipped away.
“toji!” you called out, your eyes sparkling. “what did you think?”
“you were amazing,” he said, finally finding the courage to step forward. “really. you owned that stage.”
“thank you,” you replied, your cheeks slightly flushed. “i was nervous, but it felt good to share this moment with everyone.”
as you spoke, toji’s heart raced. he leaned in closer, his voice lowering as he added, “and you looked absolutely stunning, too.”
“oh? just stunning?” you teased, a playful smile dancing on your lips.
“okay, maybe breathtaking,” he admitted, a genuine smile creeping onto his face.
“and just so you know, i had a minor… situation back there, thanks to how beautiful you looked. so, you know, just keep that in mind.”
your laughter rang out, the sound warm and inviting, making toji forget all about the earlier embarrassment. he realized that whatever the two of you had going on was something he wanted to cherish, something worth pursuing.
and as the night continued, surrounded by the buzz of celebration, toji felt a sense of hope blooming in his chest — this was just the beginning.
as the excitement of the launch continued to swirl around you, suguru approached, a wide smile lighting up his face.
“there you are! i was beginning to think i’d have to drag you out from behind that mic,” he teased, wrapping you in a warm hug.
“suguru! thanks for coming!” you beamed, feeling the familiar comfort of his presence. “it means a lot to me.”
“wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he said, stepping back to take a look at you. “and wow, you look incredible. seriously, how do you pull off that look?”
gojo chimed in, practically bouncing on his heels. “it’s like she stepped out of a freaking fairytale, right? she’s basically a model now. i’m just a guy over here trying not to ruin the vibe.”
shoko smiled, her eyes soft as she observed the camaraderie. “you all did great tonight. it really was a wonderful launch.”
toji stood slightly apart from the group, hands shoved into his pockets, watching the dynamic unfold. he was proud of you and knew you deserved this moment, but he couldn’t shake the feeling of being on the outside. seeing you laugh and joke with suguru and gojo tugged at something deep inside him, a mix of admiration and protectiveness that made him feel a little more possessive than he expected.
“so, what’s next for you?” suguru asked, leaning in closer, his tone genuine. “another book, or are you taking a break?”
“a bit of both, actually,” you replied, glancing at toji. “i want to explore some new ideas, maybe branch out a little.”
just then, a lecherous-looking man stepped into the conversation, an air of arrogance radiating off him.
“well, if it isn’t the famed author herself,” he sneered, a condescending smirk plastered on his face. “i have to say, it’s impressive how you’ve managed to carve out such a niche for yourself.” “free-use woman, is that what they call it? quite the career choice, huh?”
the moment the words left his mouth, the atmosphere shifted. toji's heart raced, a cold wave of irritation washing over him. he could feel his jaw clenching as he shifted his weight, bracing himself for whatever would come next.
the man had no idea what he was stepping into.
gojo’s expression darkened, his casual demeanor evaporating. “who the hell do you think you are, talking to her like that?” he snapped, stepping in front of you protectively. “you’re clearly out of your depth.”
shoko frowned, her eyes narrowing at the man. “that’s incredibly disrespectful. you should apologize right now.”
suguru, leaning closer to you, was already assessing the situation, his gaze piercing. “it’s brave of you to come here and talk to her, but if you think you can just waltz in and make those kinds of comments, you’re sorely mistaken.”
toji felt a surge of possessiveness overtake him, and he stepped forward, arms crossed tightly over his chest. “listen, buddy, you don’t get to come here and treat her like she’s some sort of object. she’s worked hard for everything she has, and you’re just jealous that you’ll never get anywhere close to her level.”
the man scoffed, clearly unfazed, but the looks on the faces of gojo, shoko, and suguru sent a wave of intimidation over him. “oh, what? you’re one of her little fanboys now?” he mocked, trying to play off the tension.
“she’s not just some girl for your amusement,” toji replied, his voice low but full of intensity. “if you can’t see that, then you don’t deserve to be in the same room as her.”
you were taken aback, a mix of shock and warmth flooding your chest at toji’s fierce defense. it was a side of him you hadn’t seen in this context, and it made your heart race. you quickly interjected, trying to defuse the situation.
“it’s okay, really. i don’t mind —”
“no,” suguru cut you off gently but firmly, glancing back at you with concern. “you shouldn’t have to put up with that kind of trash talk. you’re better than that, and we’re here for you.”
“yeah,” gojo added, his expression serious. “this guy doesn’t know who he’s messing with. just because you think you can get away with it doesn’t mean you should.” he turned to the man, a fire burning in his blue eyes.
“i’d suggest you leave before things get ugly.”
the man’s bravado faltered, and he hesitated, clearly weighing his options.
“whatever, man,” he spat, finally backing away, a look of disdain on his face. “i didn’t want to talk to you losers anyway.”
as he walked off, toji felt a wave of relief wash over him, but it was mingled with something else — something like pride for you and his friends, who had stood up for what was right.
he turned to you, catching your eye. “you alright?”
you nodded, still processing what just happened. “yeah, thanks. i didn’t think he’d go that far.”
“he’s a fucking idiot,” toji replied, shaking his head. “you deserve better than that.”
“you all really stood up for me,” you said softly, feeling gratitude swell in your chest.
“of course we did,” shoko replied, her expression warm. “we’re your friends, and we’ll always have your back.”
toji stepped a bit closer, and for a moment, the noise of the event faded into the background. “just remember that,” he said, his voice low and sincere. “you’re not alone in this.”
and as the night continued, surrounded by friends who cared deeply for you, toji felt a sense of belonging that he hadn’t anticipated, realizing just how much he wanted to protect that warmth — protect you.
the event wrapped up smoothly, but leave it to gojo to suggest a “girls day out” to celebrate – the “girls” in question, of course, were all of you.
“come on!” gojo insisted, practically bouncing as you all filed out of the venue. “a little lunch at this fancy new place! i already reserved us a table. trust me, you’ll love it.” he flashed that signature grin, one that sparkled with both charm and mischief.
“i thought you called this a girl’s day out?” toji raised an eyebrow, looking mildly exasperated. “you’re delusional if you think i’m your girl, gojo.”
gojo only smirked, looping his arm through toji’s despite his attempts to shake him off.
“toji, honey, everyone’s my girl,” he teased. “besides, i knew you’d say yes deep down.”
“keep telling yourself that,” toji muttered, though a small smirk betrayed his amusement.
suguru shook his head, amused, as he watched their dynamic. “sometimes i think we enable him too much.”
“you definitely do,” shoko chimed in, already lighting a cigarette as you walked along. “but at least lunch on gojo’s tab makes it worth it.”
soon enough, the five of you strolled into the swanky restaurant, where the hostess greeted gojo with a wide smile. “right this way, mr. gojo,” she said, leading you all to a secluded table with an impressive view.
gojo waited until you all took your seats before he threw himself down, stretching out like he owned the place. “order whatever you want, my treat!” he announced, flashing a grin at the menu. “the foie gras here is to die for.”
“you’re ordering foie gras?” you raised an eyebrow, half-amused and half-horrified.
gojo shrugged, feigning innocence. “what? it’s delicious.” he turned to toji. “you’re in, right?”
toji gave him a dry look. “i don’t even know what that is, gojo.”
suguru snorted into his drink. “you’re so cultured, toji.”
toji rolled his eyes, shoving a breadstick into his mouth with exaggerated indifference. “as long as it’s not something gojo personally cooked, i’ll eat it.”
gojo gasped dramatically, clutching his heart. “you wound me! i make a mean ramen!”
shoko raised an eyebrow at him. “instant ramen doesn’t count, gojo.”
as you skimmed the menu, suguru leaned over to point out some of the more “normal” dishes.
“i’d stick to these if i were you,” he chuckled. “unless you’re ready for gojo’s idea of exotic.”
“good call,” you replied, grinning. “i’m not trying to eat anything that still has a face.”
just then, gojo noticed a seafood platter being served at a nearby table, and his eyes lit up. “oh, look at that! who’s in for oysters? fresh from the coast, or so they say.”
toji grimaced, pushing the menu away. “you’re kidding, right? i don’t eat anything slimy.”
gojo wagged his finger at him, smirking. “toji, you’ll never know the finer things in life with an attitude like that.”
“if the finer things in life involve slimy food, count me out,” toji retorted, crossing his arms.
you couldn’t help but laugh, catching suguru’s eye. he shook his head, a faint smile on his lips.
“some things never change, huh?”
“yeah, especially gojo’s tastes,” shoko muttered, taking a sip of her drink.
as the food finally arrived, the table was soon filled with laughter and stories, everyone swapping tales about work, life, and everything in between. gojo, unsurprisingly, dominated the conversation, though he was more than happy to playfully drag each of you into his stories.
“and then, get this,” gojo laughed, his shoulders shaking. “i convinced the poor guy i was a psychic! he walked around with a ‘cursed’ amulet for a week before he realized i was just messing with him.”
“i don’t understand how anyone falls for your crap,” toji said, shaking his head, though even he was hiding a smile.
“it’s a gift,” gojo replied smugly, before winking at you. “isn’t that right?”
“oh, definitely,” you replied dryly. “a gift and a curse.”
“mostly a curse,” shoko agreed, patting gojo’s shoulder.
after a few rounds of drinks, everyone had relaxed into the easy camaraderie, passing dishes and laughing as gojo continued his dramatic retellings, complete with hand gestures and questionable impressions.
“so, toji,” gojo leaned over with a sly grin, “how’s… life?”
toji eyed him, wary. “life’s fine, gojo. what are you getting at?”
“nothing!” gojo held up his hands innocently. “just curious about your… extracurriculars.”
toji rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath as shoko smirked, clearly entertained by toji’s suffering.
suguru leaned in, murmuring to you, “you think he’ll make it through the whole lunch without snapping?”
you laughed softly. “he’s holding up pretty well, all things considered.”
as dessert rolled around, gojo ordered a massive platter of sweets “for the table,” though everyone knew he’d end up eating half of it himself.
“i swear, if you finish all those eclairs before i even get one…” toji warned, eyeing gojo.
gojo winked, already reaching for a plate. “too slow, toji! if you want something, you’ve got to seize it.”
“yeah? you wanna see me seize it?” toji reached over, snatching an éclair from gojo’s hand in one swift move.
the entire table burst out laughing, gojo’s indignant look only adding to the humor. it was one of those rare moments where everything felt right, like you were all in sync, just enjoying each other’s company.
as you leaned back in your chair, watching everyone banter, you felt a warmth settle in your chest. these were the kinds of moments you’d remember – the laughter, the shared jokes, the way each person’s personality filled the room in a way only they could.
it was a good day.
and somehow, you had gojo’s “girls day out” to thank for it.
“suguru! where are you going?” gojo called, laughing.
suguru gave a halfhearted smile. “just… need to take this.”
you watched him go, a flicker of concern starting to build when minutes passed with no sign of his return. eventually, you excused yourself, hoping everything was alright.
turning the corner, you found him leaning against the wall, head down, shoulders tense and shaking slightly. the quiet sound of his breath catching, his barely-contained sobs – it was like a punch to the chest.
suguru geto never cried.
“suguru?” you whispered, not wanting to startle him.
he looked up, his face streaked with tears, a raw, vulnerable expression you’d never seen. he quickly tried to brush it off, rubbing his eyes. “you shouldn’t… see me like this,” he muttered.
your heart clenched as you stepped closer. “hey, i’m your friend. you don’t have to hide from me.”
he looked away, swallowing hard, his voice strained. “it’s… her. she made her choice.” he took a ragged breath. “she doesn’t love me. she’s with someone else now.”
you felt your stomach twist at the pain in his voice, at the way his composure was unraveling before you. you reached out instinctively, placing a hand on his shoulder. “suguru, i’m so sorry. i know how much she meant to you.”
he let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head.
“i thought we had something real, you know? i thought… i thought she’d see me the same way.”
“you loved her,” you murmured, feeling his anguish like a weight pressing on your chest. “you gave her everything. sometimes people… they just don’t see what’s right in front of them.”
“maybe it’s me,” he choked, clenching his fists. “maybe i just wasn’t enough.”
you took his hand, giving it a firm squeeze. “don’t say that. you’re more than enough. she just… didn’t see it. it doesn’t mean you aren’t worth it.”
his face crumpled, and for a moment, he was silent, holding onto you like you were an anchor keeping him from sinking.
“i feel so… empty,” he admitted, his voice barely a whisper.
“let it out, suguru,” you said gently, wrapping your arms around him. “you don’t have to carry this alone.”
he leaned into your embrace, taking deep, shuddering breaths as he tried to regain control. you rubbed soothing circles on his back, feeling each tremble, each heartbeat, sharing in the quiet vulnerability of the moment.
“i don’t know what i’d do without you right now,” he said, his voice barely audible.
“you don’t have to,” you replied softly. “i’m here. you’ll be okay, suguru. even if it takes time.”
as you comforted him, you didn’t notice that toji had also come looking for you. he’d been watching the hallway, glancing at his watch, wondering what was taking you so long.
a knot of worry twisted in his stomach, his mind flashing back to the earlier incident – that sleazy man at the event who had tried to approach you.
what if something happened again?
when he turned the corner, the sight he found stopped him cold.
you, hugging suguru, holding him so tightly, your hand stroking his hair as he buried his face into your shoulder.
a strange, hot flare of jealousy surged up in his chest.
his jaw clenched as he stared at you, his fingers twitching with the urge to do… something. here was suguru, wrapped up in your arms, his pain visible and raw – but still.
toji couldn’t help the spike of resentment. why did it have to be suguru you were comforting?
why couldn’t you hold onto him like that?
his fingers tightened around the edge of his jacket, his thoughts spiraling. he knew he had no right to feel this way, knew suguru was hurting – but the sight of you so intimately close, your gentle words he couldn’t quite hear, only made his jealousy deepen.
his eyes narrowed as he kept watching, trying to ignore the twinge of vulnerability he hadn’t expected. why did he care so much? he gritted his teeth.
but when you finally looked up, catching sight of him, his expression was unreadable, masked beneath a carefully controlled look. there was a subtle stiffness to the way he held himself, and his gaze flickered briefly to suguru before settling back on you.
“toji…” you said softly, surprised to see him there.
he crossed his arms, giving a slight nod in suguru’s direction. “everything alright?”
“yeah,” you replied, glancing at suguru, who gave a faint nod, still wiping at his eyes. “just… a hard day.”
toji’s eyes softened slightly as he looked at you, though his expression remained guarded. “you’re a good friend,” he murmured, barely audible, though there was a hint of something deeper behind his words.
you offered him a small smile, sensing the underlying tension. “just doing what anyone would.”
toji’s gaze lingered on you a little longer, his jealousy ebbing slightly, though a part of him still ached to be the one you held so tightly, the one you’d stayed for so long just to comfort.
but he pushed the feeling down, knowing that tonight, suguru needed you more.
suguru excused himself to rejoin the table, likely gravitating toward satoru, who knew more about his heartbreak than anyone else there. that left just you and toji standing in your little corner, tucked away from the bustling restaurant.
he was looking at you with that smirk of his, the kind that had you already feeling flustered, but determined not to give him the satisfaction. he took a casual step forward, slipping his hands into his pockets, and leaned in close, voice low and almost playful.
“so… what’re you doing over here, all alone with me?” he drawled, eyes trailing slowly from your eyes down to your lips.
before he could say anything else, you raised an eyebrow, folding your arms.
“you mean, other than watching you try to pretend you weren’t sporting a hard-on for half the event?”
the teasing grin on your lips was unmistakable, and his reaction was instant. toji’s expression flickered, a hint of surprise in his eyes, followed by an intense gleam as he chuckled under his breath. “oh, so you noticed that, huh?”
“noticed? please,” you scoffed, keeping up your confident front even as he closed the space between you with slow, measured steps. “how could i not? it was right there.”
“guess you were too busy looking at me to focus on anything else,” he replied smoothly, his voice dropping a little lower. he leaned in, his lips hovering dangerously close to yours, breath warm against your skin. “maybe i should’ve been paying more attention to you instead.”
your heart skipped a beat, but you didn’t let it show.
“well, now you know better,” you murmured back, voice challenging. “maybe you should’ve acted on it then, instead of waiting until now.”
he raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. “oh, is that a challenge?”
“only if you can handle it,” you shot back, the thrill of the back-and-forth sparking something between you two.
his eyes darkened, and before you knew it, he had one hand on your waist, pulling you flush against him, his other hand braced against the wall by your head.
“you think i can’t handle a little challenge from you?” he murmured, his lips so close they nearly brushed yours.
you swallowed, but kept your cool. “if you could, you wouldn’t be hesitating.”
“trust me, sweetheart,” he murmured, voice low and dangerously smooth, “when i’m done with you, you won’t be the one running your mouth.”
before you could come up with a retort, his lips were on yours, firm and demanding, as if he’d been waiting all night to finally do this. you couldn’t hold back a soft gasp as he kissed you deeper, his hand sliding up to cradle your face while his other gripped your waist tightly, pressing you up against the wall.
your hands instinctively found their way to his shoulders, clutching him as he took full control of the kiss, his tongue brushing against yours with a fierceness that left your head spinning. he groaned softly as he pressed his body closer, one hand sliding up the side of your thigh, fingers grazing over the soft fabric of your dress.
“you like getting me all worked up, don’t you?” he murmured against your lips, his voice laced with that smug edge that made you shiver. “can’t get enough of teasing me, huh?”
“maybe i do,” you shot back, though your voice wavered slightly as he bit down on your lower lip, sending a spark through you. “but it’s not my fault you can’t keep your hands to yourself.”
he chuckled darkly, his hands sliding up your sides, thumbs brushing just beneath your ribs as he pressed his hips against yours.
“yeah? what’re you gonna do about it?” he murmured, leaning in to brush his lips over the sensitive skin of your neck, sending a shiver down your spine.
“you really think you’re in control here?” you asked, voice challenging even as he continued to press you into the wall. “because from where i’m standing, it looks like you’re the one who can’t resist me.”
“careful what you say,” he warned, his tone thick with restrained desire. “i’m this close to dragging you out of here and making you eat those words.”
your heart raced, and even though you were half-tempted to keep pushing him, you couldn’t deny the thrill of having him this close, his hands roaming over you, his lips brushing down your neck. you let out a breathless laugh, threading your fingers through his hair as you tugged him closer.
“then maybe you should quit talking and show me what you’ve got.”
he didn’t need any further invitation. his grip tightened on you, his mouth covering yours in a heated, almost punishing kiss that left you breathless. his hands roamed over your body with a hunger that was practically palpable, every touch igniting a new spark.
he was practically devouring you, his breath coming faster as he pressed you harder against the wall, his fingers digging into your waist as he kissed you deeply, thoroughly, like he wanted to leave his mark.
“god,” he murmured, voice husky, “you’re driving me insane.” he leaned back just enough to look into your eyes, his gaze intense. “you really wanna keep pushing me, huh?”
you smirked, your own voice barely above a whisper. “maybe i just like seeing what you’ll do about it.”
on the outside, you were holding your ground. confident smirks, playful retorts, the whole act. but on the inside?
you were freaking the fuck out.
here you were, basically mimicking every female lead you’d ever written, pulling from their limitless reserve of sass and self-assuredness to somehow keep pace with toji's relentless flirting. each comeback, each smirk — it was like a mental pep talk to channel all those characters who’d never break a sweat in this situation.
but… oh god. what if things actually got hot and heavy?
you were standing there, going toe-to-toe with toji of all people, and it hit you — you were completely out of your depth here. this was not your usual flirting, the teasing banter you’d half-heartedly perfected through fictional dialogue.
this was real.
and suddenly the thought crept in like an alarm bell: you might actually have to… gn?
your eyes widened a fraction as you tried to keep your cool.
gn.
get naked, not even good night — although, maybe a good night after the get naked part, if you even made it that far without spontaneously combusting.
your mind raced, frantically scrolling through every bedroom scene you’d ever written, but realizing none of them really prepared you for this.
oh my god, you panicked inwardly, just because i write smut doesn’t mean i know what to do when i’m the one gripping the sheets!
“what, cat got your tongue?” toji’s voice interrupted your internal spiral, his smirk widening as he traced a thumb across your cheek, dipping dangerously close to your lips. “not so confident now, are ya?”
you forced a grin, cursing the tremble in your fingers as they clutched at his shirt.
“oh, please, like i’m nervous,” you shot back, mentally crossing every finger and toe that your voice didn’t waver.
inside, though, you were a swirling mess, praying he didn’t catch the slightest tremor.
fake it till you make it, right?
only problem was, the longer he looked at you, the more he seemed to see right through you.
his eyes narrowed just a little, his smirk shifting into something… softer, a touch more considerate. you wanted to think he’d be gracious, that he’d at least slow down, but no, there was something else in his gaze. maybe a flicker of understanding?
no, that was too generous.
he was toji.
and as if he could sense your hesitation, he leaned in close, his lips brushing your ear.
“relax, princess,” he whispered, his tone softer, maybe even gentle. “we can go as slow as you want. besides…” his lips quirked up into a teasing grin.
“don’t think you’re getting out of this without admitting how much you’re enjoying it.”
relax? yeah, right.
your heart was doing backflips, your mind racing through every possible move you’d probably never have the courage to pull off. he had you right where he wanted you, and you couldn’t stop the blush rising to your cheeks.
oh god, you thought desperately, please don’t ask me to make the next move.
just as you were bracing yourself to somehow manage to keep up this charade of confidence, toji’s phone vibrated between you, cutting the tension with a blaring ringtone. and of all people, it had to be gojo. you glimpsed his name flashing on the screen right as toji picked up, rolling his eyes before pressing the phone to his ear.
“what, satoru?” toji sighed, clearly irritated at the interruption.
“toji! man, hurry up and get back here!” gojo’s voice screeched through the phone, loud enough for you to hear the dramatic urgency. “we’ve got a very, very depressed mr. geto here who’s having the existential crisis of the century. we need all hands on deck, and yes, that means you too. and preferably sober, mind you. no drinks this time! none.”
gojo's voice dropped, muttering something about “banging y/n later if you have to,” but you both caught it.
toji gave you a side-eye smirk, shaking his head at gojo’s predictability, before letting out a sigh.
“fine. but you owe me one, big time.” and with that, he ended the call, shoving his phone back into his pocket.
before you could even tease him about the abrupt change of plans, he leaned in and gave you a sharp smack! on the ass, grinning at the way you jumped.
“guess we’ll have to put this on hold, princess. duty calls.” with a wink, he took your hand, leading you back toward the table.
it was gonna be a long night.
back at the table, the scene was…well, not what you’d expected.
suguru looked rough.
he sat slumped in his chair, swirling a glass of water (gojo had made sure of it) with a far-off stare that looked like he was seeing into another dimension. gojo and shoko were positioned on either side of him, each with their own ineffective tactics.
“c’mon, sugu, it’s not the end of the world,” gojo said, nudging him with a grin that looked a bit too forced. “i mean, i never liked her anyway. you deserve way better than —”
“she was amazing,” suguru cut him off, his voice flat but tinged with emotion. “you wouldn’t understand, satoru.”
shoko sighed, patting his shoulder. “she wasn’t that amazing. she had weird fashion taste.”
“and didn’t she correct you on every little thing? constantly?” gojo added, crossing his arms with a small smirk.
suguru gave them both a look, unamused. “i liked her fashion sense. and i didn’t mind the corrections.”
toji leaned back in his seat, giving you a subtle eye roll.
this was what you’d come back for.
he sighed, then leaned forward, slapping a hand on suguru’s shoulder. “you know, sulking isn’t gonna help anything. maybe it’s time to get back out there, stop dwelling on someone who clearly didn’t value you.”
suguru let out a tired sigh, and gojo jumped in, eyes lighting up. “exactly! there are plenty of people who’d be thrilled to date the great suguru geto!” he gestured around the room as if a fan club might spontaneously form right then and there.
“you’re smart, you’re talented —”
“and single,” shoko added dryly, sipping her drink with a shrug.
suguru slumped lower, clearly unconvinced. “i don’t want to be single,” he muttered. “i wanted her.”
you winced at the defeated tone in his voice, exchanging a helpless look with toji, who looked equally unsure what else they could say to help.
gojo, though, was not one to give up. he clapped his hands, as if a brilliant idea had just struck him.
“okay! new plan,” he declared, leaning in with an almost manic enthusiasm. “you’re going to go out with us this weekend. all of us. no work, no responsibilities — just a wild time. we’ll find you a nice rebound —”
suguru glared. “no, thanks.”
shoko groaned, propping her chin on her hand. “well, i’m out of ideas. anyone else?”
you took a deep breath, deciding to give it one last shot.
“maybe…you don’t have to forget her completely, but maybe you can focus on what made you happy outside of her. like, remember what you love doing?”
suguru looked at you, as if considering the thought, but then slumped back. “it’s not the same,” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. “it’s just…not the same.”
gojo groaned dramatically, throwing his head back. “i swear, you’re worse than me on my worst breakup day. someone call for reinforcements because i think we’re gonna need a miracle worker for this one.”
the table fell quiet, everyone glancing at suguru, who looked as defeated as ever, and it hit you that maybe tonight, there really wasn’t a solution.
one month later, the dreaded wedding invitation arrived, dropped unceremoniously on suguru’s desk. it was embossed in gold, the bride and groom’s names announced in elegant script, and just looking at it made his chest tighten. this was her wedding — the woman he’d once thought he’d spend his life with, now celebrating a future with someone else.
gojo’s reaction was immediate, bursting out in an exaggerated laugh when he saw the invite on suguru’s desk.
“are you kidding me? she’s really inviting you? that’s low, even for her. come on, suguru, you’re not actually thinking about going, are you?”
suguru just gave a small smile, almost serene in the face of it all. “actually, i think i might.”
gojo gaped. “what?! dude, they’re practically rubbing it in your face! it’s like sending a ‘ha-ha, we’re in love, and you’re not’ postcard.”
he crossed his arms, scowling at the offending piece of cardstock. “this is the most tasteless thing i’ve ever seen.”
shoko, who was nearby, raised an eyebrow, half-amused, half-curious. “maybe she didn’t mean it that way, satoru. maybe it’s her way of being considerate, keeping suguru involved as a friend.”
gojo scoffed, rolling his eyes. “oh please, you don’t invite your ex to your wedding, especially if you broke his heart. she should be thrilled he’s not cursing her name in three different languages.”
but suguru only shook his head, calm as ever. “it’s not like that, satoru. we’ve both moved on, in our own ways. i don’t hold it against her. she chose what makes her happy, and if that’s someone else…well, then i wish her the best.” he shrugged lightly. “i don’t see any point in being bitter about it.”
gojo stared at him, as if seeing an entirely different person. “you’re joking, right? this is not you. the real suguru would’ve burned that thing or at least made a snarky comment about her dress being too ‘last season.’”
suguru laughed, an easy, relaxed sound that caught them all by surprise. “that’s exactly it, satoru. i don’t want to be that guy anymore. i’ve spent enough time with those feelings. they’re…exhausting. if going to this wedding gives me closure, then why not?”
gojo looked like he was about to combust. “closure? closure is just a fancy word for ‘let me put myself through hell for no reason.’ honestly, suguru, you’re giving her too much credit. she’s the one who ditched you, remember?”
suguru tilted his head, offering gojo a gentle but pointed look. “maybe it’s not about her anymore. maybe this is just about me.” his voice was calm, but there was a certain finality in it, as if he’d already come to terms with everything.
gojo, meanwhile, huffed and crossed his arms, looking thoroughly unimpressed. “well, i think it’s ridiculous. she doesn’t deserve any more of your attention.”
suguru sighed, but there was a faint smile on his lips, as if gojo’s dramatics were somehow endearing.
“satoru, not everything is a personal insult. people make choices. sometimes they’re not the ones we wanted, but that doesn’t make them wrong.”
gojo let out a long, exaggerated groan. “you’re way too good for this world, suguru. like, way too mature. no one deserves you. i’d be sending her a glitter bomb or something, just for the hell of it.”
shoko chuckled, patting gojo on the back. “maybe you should take a lesson from suguru. not everyone has to nurse their ego through every breakup.”
gojo snorted, still glaring at the invitation like it had personally offended him. “fine, go ahead and be the bigger person, suguru. but if you even think about bringing me as your plus-one, i’m causing a scene.”
he folded his arms defiantly. “i’m talking upstaging the bride type of scene.”
suguru’s smile widened, genuine and peaceful. “noted, satoru. but i think i’ll be alright.”
and in that moment, watching suguru handle what should have been a painful reminder with quiet dignity, even gojo’s bluster faded just a bit. sure, he might think suguru was handling it all wrong, but deep down, he couldn’t help but admire his friend’s strength.
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#jjk smut#jujutsu kaisen smut#jjk x reader#jujutsu kaisen x fem!reader#jujutsu kaisen x reader#jjk x female reader#jjk x fem!reader#jjk x y/n#jujutsu kaisen x female reader#jujutsu kaisen x you#fushiguro toji x you#toji x reader#toji x you#toji x y/n#toji x self insert#fushiguro toji x reader#toji fushiguro x you#toji fushiguro x reader#fushiguro x you#fushiguro x y/n#fushiguro x reader
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𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐘— YUJI ITADORI X FEM!BLACK READER
[ʚ 🍓ɞ] summary: what its like being with yuji itadori! [ʚ 🍓ɞ] including + warnings: Yuji being a sweetheart, todo is def jealous lol, gojo being a bit of a matchmaker for you two, tooth rotting fluff, confessions over the phone, gentleman!yuji fr, totally did not go over board with the hcs today lol [ʚ 🍓ɞ] genre: fluff
#-WHAT ITS LIKE BEING FRIENDS !
ʚ 🍓ɞ he always holds anything heavy for you/carries your bag if your having a rough day | yuji is always so nice and caring, so when he sees you groan as your about to pic up your bag he quickly offers to do it for you. “Please don’t strain yourself! I’ll carry it for you!”
ʚ 🍓ɞ remembers most of the things you like/ are passionate about | your favorite Summer walker album? Karma. Your favorite candy? Trollis, most things that you like or love he remembers and loves hearing you rant about how good it is/ how much you love it each time he sees you.
ʚ 🍓ɞ let’s you have the rest of his candy/ food when you want it | he knows that some days are rough for you and wish you had your snacks, so he’ll make a habit of asking you if you want the rest of his food/snacks whenever your around. His heart starting to weirdly flutter every time he saw that sparkle in your eyes after offering.
ʚ 🍓ɞ keeps a hair tie on his wrist no matter how girly it is | since Yuji is the sweetheart he is, he’ll offer to keep a couple of your hair ties on him since you switch purses so often and you have a bad habit of remembering which bag they’re in. “No it’s fine really! I don’t mind at all. I kinda like them actually!”
#-WHAT ITS LIKE HAVING A CRUSH ON EACH OTHER !
ʚ 🍓ɞ hugs you longer than others | he loves smelling the scent of strawberries and shea butter on your neck when he hugs you, the soft smell of sweet perfume and body wash making his face flush. Yuji’s hugs are comforting and warm, never failing to make you feel safe every time your in his arms. So when he holds on to you for a few seconds more than others it makes you feel all the more special.
ʚ 🍓ɞ puts himself infront of you when he senses danger | he knows you can handle yourself as your a sorcerer as well, but as long as he has the chance to protect you he will take it.
ʚ 🍓ɞ always is the first to compliment your new protective styles, nails or makeup | something that yuji loves about you is that you always keep yourself looking pretty and taken care of no matter what day of the week, so when he sees you with some new braids or a fresh set he never fails to compliment the pretty brown girl in front of him.
ʚ 🍓ɞ is the first to offer his jacket when he sees you rubbing your hands up and down your arms or shivering | he wouldn’t be the gentleman he is if he didn’t offer his hoodie or jacket when he saw that the pink long sleeved shirt wasn’t providing you all the warmth you needed for that windy afternoon.
ʚ 🍓ɞ having gojo tease you two & assigns you both to missions by yourselves. | even if it’s a simple mission that doesn’t need two sorcerers he knows that you two have eyes for each other and can’t help but give his students a push in the right direction <;33
ʚ 🍓ɞ keeps eye contact with you when your talking in a group | Yuji loves hearing you talk about any ideas and thoughts you have on certain matters so he wants to make sure that your heard by keeping direct eye contact with you throughout the whole conversation. Fighting the urge to smile a bit when your eyes meet his or when you get slightly embarrassed from the eye contact.
ʚ 🍓ɞ asks you out over the phone late at night | you had woken up from a nightmare about being alone and had insictively called Yuji who picked up on the second ring once he saw it was you calling. After calming you down and chatting a little, he comforted you by saying that he would never leave your side and that if you needed him to come over he would. “ I’m so glad you called me.,honestly I wouldn’t ever forgive myself if I knew that you had went through that alone. It would kill me to hear that you were scared, your a really sweet person y/n and if you need me to come over I will because..I like you.”
#-WHAT ITS LIKE DATING YUJI !
ʚ 🍓ɞ long hugs and sweet words whispered into your ear when he leaves you for a mission | he knows you worry about him coming back each time even though he’s strong. So each time he leaves he gives you a longer hug than the last and presses a kiss to your cheek, nose and a soft peck on your lips.
ʚ 🍓ɞ lotsss of pda whenever your with him | Yuji has no shame about letting everyone see that he belongs to you, so whenever he’s with you his hand is always interlaced with yours or his arm is around your waist. He just has to be touching you in some way.
ʚ 🍓ɞ falls asleep easier in your presence | your smell, your voice, your touch, everything about you is like melatonin or a drug. So when he feels himself getting sleepy he’ll rest his head on your shoulder and hold your hand slightly tight even in a deep sleep.
ʚ 🍓ɞ surprise hugs from behind | your pink haired boyfriend will never get tired of hearing your adorable giggles fill the room your in when he creeps up behind you and gives you a bear hug. Small kisses being littered on your neck while holding close.
ʚ 🍓ɞ sweet makeout sessions in your bedroom to sza | Yuji’s kisses are sweet and loving, each kiss making your heart flutter and your body heat up. Giggles and smiles in between each one, making you feel like the most special girl in the world.
ʚ 🍓ɞ helps out with wash day when your too tired | now he’s definitely not an expert on black hair, but after seeing you do it for a couple months and watching a few videos in his own time about the products you have he gets better at each wash over time. Pink blush tinting his cheeks when he’s rewarded with a swarm of kisses afterwards.
#jjk x black reader#jjk imagines#jjk fluff#yuji x reader#yuji x you#itadori x reader#itadori x black!reader#jujutsu kaisen x reader#jujustsu kaisen x reader#jujutsu kaisen x black reader#jujutsu kaisen yuuji#yuji itadori#yuji itadori x reader#yuji fluff#Yuji itadori fluff#jujutsu kaisen fluff
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003. atsv headcanons ! ★ pre collider jonathon ohnn x reader…
! pt. 2 - post collider hcs. ⁀➷ srcs... masterlist .rules. intro .
| synopsis, ୨♡୧ a little glimpse into your relationship with dr. johnathon ohnn.
★ tags -> gender neutral reader; johnathon ohnn; the spot; fluff; etc...
★ warnings -> cursing; johnathon being a meanie; mentions of trauma & abandonment
★ w.c -> 1,028
| xox, mei! ୨♡୧ -> earlier a centipede got into my room while i was bopping out to hyperpop. it scared me so much that i was able to leverage the fear into energy for writing.
he loves to make you laugh. johnathon’s such a goof compared to other renowned scientists of his age and caliber. really, it’s a breath of fresh air. he knows how to have fun, especially with you. he’ll crack the funniest joke at work only for his coworkers to look at him like: 😐😐😐; so it makes him really happy to know you think he’s funny. you both have so many inside jokes n stories that you’ll cherish forever.
he’s totally the type of person to make jokes whenever he’s nervous or unsure of what to say. he won you over by being silly!
he’ll say the meanest jokes about people you both don’t like, and it’s insanely funny. you think of your johnny as the sweetest boyfriend- but you have to admit, it’s kinda hot when he’s mean.
“if mr.fisk keeps crying about the mets- i’m gonna make sure this collider kills us all,” he grumbled under his breath.
“that annoying photographer visited alchemax again. what was his name…” he feigned innocence. “piper pickle?”
johnathon is such a nerd. it’s adorable how excited he gets about his favorite video games and movies. please indulge in his geeky interests!! he’d love love LOVE to watch some of his favorite sci-fi movies with you. he’ll talk over the entire movie, but it’s still nice to cuddle.
if you don’t know how to play a certain video game of his, he’ll teach you. his voice is so soft n understanding, his breath tickling you while you cuddle. johnathon’s squished to your side, his large hands covering n guiding yours over the controller. and gets so giddy when you win something. all in all, he’s just happy to share something so dear to him with you.
imagine if it turned out one of his favorite characters (crushes cough cough) bore a striking resemblance to you. johnathon is mortified and you’re weirdly flattered (and planning an elaborate cosplay for a surprise.)
his intelligence drives you nuts. it’s INSANELY attractive to you how smart johnathon is. whenever he goes on a tangent about physics or some complicated mathematical concept, you get kind of dizzy listening to him. you don’t mean to, but after a while, you get too distracted by all of him to listen. he’s so passionate, his large hands and long fingers waving about to help emphasize his point. his eyes are sparkling too. his voice got a lot deeper when he (perfectly, by the way) pronounced the word “viscoelasticity” and you’re on cloud 9. this happens whether or not you can understand a word he’s saying. and if you’re not well versed in science, he never talks down to you when rambling. sure, he’s very proud to be a super-genius, but he’d never dream of looking down on other people because of it.
you’re always asking him questions and he fucking loves it. DON’T ASK GOOGLE ABOUT SCIENCE SHIT. if you do he’ll be all pouty n sad.
“hey siri, what is the shape of an electron-”
he looks furious, letting out a scoff. “i’m right here. your smart-ass boyfriend is only a few feet away and you’re asking ol’ googly eyes!”
despite being a busy workaholic, he insists that he’s never too busy for you. if necessary, he’ll make time.
johnathon’s made it his mission to outsmart anyone who impresses you. “i’m not jealous i’m BETTER.”
johnathon adores cuddling you, especially after a stressful day. he just loves you so much that sometimes the only way he can express that to you is by holding you as close as humanly possible. johnathon adores every inch of your being and intends to appreciate every part of it, scars and all. one may expect him to be the big spoon because, well, long man- but it goes either way. sometimes he clutches you like his life depends on it and other times he just needs to bask in your embrace. it makes him feel safe, loved, and on his worst days, invincible.
when in bed, he’ll be running his big hands up and down your sides, rubbing circles into every dent n curve. his hands are hairy, so it’ll tickle a bit, but the way he massages you is nothing short of masterful. he’s so happy that you’re his, so he makes sure to savor you.
johnny loves it when you trace his tattoos. he thinks it’s so cute how much you love them, letting you ‘oooh’ and ‘awww’ as much as your pretty little heart desires.
in the past he absolutely loathed going to alchemax events. being choked by a black tie for a whole ass evening while being forced to mingle with rich assholes is a nightmare for the poor man. but having you come along as his date makes the experience a more positive one. johnathon gets so smug, always delighted to show you off. like yeah, that’s MY s/o. yes they’re gorgeous and taken. by ME. he loves seeing you all dressed up, especially when you’re on his arm.
he’s an introvert, so he gets tired of all the socializing quickly. when that happens, he’ll wander around the venue with you (including places you aren’t allowed to be at-) to get some privacy (and make out.)
speaking of work, he has a picture of you on his desk. he has it placed at an angle so he can see it clearly, but so can anyone who walks in.
johnnys practically screaming: “hey!! look at how beautiful my partner is!!!!”
he calls you baby. he’ll also call you dear, honey, and sweetheart, but baby the most. also counting babe. johnathon has a shit ton more cute nicknames for you and he is NOT afraid to use them.
“g’morning, baby,” he’ll murmur into the crook of your neck, in between sloppy wet kisses on your shoulder.
he passes by you in a rush, but not without pressing a big wet kiss to your check, “hi babe! :)”
“baaaaaabe where did you put the chips?” he can be whiny, especially with you.
“i love you, baby,” he’d tell you softly, cradling your face with his hand. his thumb is rubbing your bottom lip and you’re ready to faint.
#atsv#across the spider verse#across the spiderverse#atsv x reader#johnathon ohnn#johnathon ohnn x reader#the spot#the spot x reader#jonathan ohnn#jonathan ohnn x reader#johnathan ohnn#johnathan ohnn x reader
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FR!!
I think a lot of the surge of Sephiroth bishon Hadeses are from the wave of the modern romanticized myth and a lot of them don’t want to focus on the age gap of Hades-Persephone.
In my opinion that fact is just inevitable. Also I want more handsome BEARDED Hades. Stop making him clean shaven!! Zeus and Poseidon are always given a beard, why not the eldest brother?
Funny fact: As far as I know, out of all the three brothers, the only one that has actual evidence of being depicted an advanced age older than middle age in iconography is Hades.
So if anything…
Silver fox gilf Zeus out, Silver fox gilf Hades in.
Hey so what do You think of the fact that Hades is depicted as a handsome beardless youth instead with his beard in moderna media
Boooo let him be a dilf
#sorry I’m weirdly passionate about this#hades#greek mythology#archaic art#also#agree about Disney & TheiaMania Hades#those#guys are the only exceptions
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top gun but make them high schoolers-
imagine
bob being the computer kid who everyone actually kinda loves. a geek but a loveable one who’s weirdly popular. not one of the ‘it’ people, but everyone outside of that loves him.
hangman: one of those jocks, always has a gf on his arm, never more than a week or so. it’s mostly just to keep up appearances (idk what hangman’s widely accepted sexuality is in the fandom but i’m going with bi i think). seems like a total dickhead arrogant ass, the kinda person that you either love and obsess over him or you hate him. kinda on the fringe of the ultra popular gang.
rooster: the sporty kid who has a few friends , but most people think that he thinks he’s better than them. he focuses on his school and sports, dreaming of going places, and mav pushes him, hard, to achieve that. rooster and hangman hooked up once after a game, and never told a soul, but it makes for a lot of awkward encounters during training. surprisingly good at art, and likes to hang out in the art room when he’s not training.
maverick: the reluctant alumni who was brought back to coach after he tore his achilles tendon and his career was ruined. he acts like a total ass half the time but the students are drawn to him, and he’s one of the favourite teachers.
iceman: the head of the school, hates the PTA with a passion. cares about the students but rarely ever makes appearances. him and mav are husbands, but no one aside from rooster knows
Phoenix is the girl every lesbian has a crush on and every straight girl wants to be. she’s been trying for years to be accepted into the boys football team cuz the girls one is really dismal.
idk who else?
#top gun#au#top gun au#top gun fandom#top gun maverick#top gun 1986#top gun goose#pete maverick mitchell#rooster bradshaw#robert bob floyd#bob floyd#top gun fanfiction#alternate universe#high school au#teacher au#tassieshcs
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