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Threeâs Company
This is just a lil blurb about Aaron Hotchner, Derek Morgan and you being in love! Based on the following Request: @satans-bitch Hi! Idk if you would be comfortable writing it, but I love the idea of Aaron hotchner x reader x Derek Morgan just all being so in love with each other. Thank u Xx â I took some creative libertiesâŚI hope you like it!
Hotch x BAU! Fem Reader x Morgan
Word count: 883
REQUESTS ARE OPEN - not edited - please be kind. Requests are open and feedback is welcome if it's constructive!
Warnings: My blog is 18+, minors DNI, Fem reader, pet names, poly-relationship (Iâm not the most familiar with this lifestyle) canon typical violence, mantion of babies and pregnancy, Let me know if I missed any.
I do not consent to having my work translated or reposted to any other site. That being said I do not own the characters portrayed in this story.
So, neither Derek nor Aaron ever and I mean EVER thought theyâd be in a polyamorous relationship. But let me tell you, when you arrived at the BAU, they both knew they had to have you. Aaron had gone to Dave time and time again seeking advice and Derek did the same with Penelope.
Theyâd both complain that there was no way you were interested, because clearly you like the other guy. Only, that wasnât quite the issue.
You didnât just like Aaron or Derek, you liked them both. They were so similar and yet so different and there was no way you could ever choose just one of them.
After many instances of the men fighting for your attention and affection, you pulled them both aside to have a serious conversation.
âI think I should leave the BAU.â You stated.
âWhat? No!â Derek blurted.
âWhy would you think that?â Aaron inquired. âIf our behavior has made you uncomfortable, I am so sorry. It was never my intention, and I would hate to see such a talented agent leave because of my idiocy.â
âItâs not your guyâs behavior thatâs making me feel this way. Itâs my feelings for you.â You said, gesturing to both men.
âFeelings for who?â Derek questioned.
âBoth of you.â You blushed.
That evening youâd explained to the men that you had feelings for both of them and had the situation been different youâd have suggested a poly relationship, but you knew that it was too much to ask of two alpha males whoâd never been in one before.
What you hadnât expected to happen was for them to give you a quizzical look and then ask you to give them some time to think about it.
--
It had been nearly a year since then and the three of you had developed something truly beautiful. Aaron had been so stoic at work but at home he was soft, and he always did everything in his power to ensure you and Derek were both cared for.
And well Derek, he was clingy at home. Always wanting his hands on you and heâd come to really enjoy having physical contact with Aaron.
Like when youâd watch a movie, Aaron would have his arm slung over the back of the couch while you cuddled up into his side, and Derek would be sitting as close to you as possible, practically sitting you in his lap. This position would allow for Aaronâs hand to rest around Derek as well and that warmth became a comfort for him.
There had been another shift shortly after that, pet namesâŚtheyâd been slipping out more frequently. And not just them men using them with you either.
âSweetheart can you pass me my phone?â Aaron had asked, looking directly at Derek.
âSure thing sugar.â Derek had replied.
You had been shocked initially, but it ultimately had warmed your heart to see them falling into this relationship more and more. Their comfort in this had been your main priority, you hadnât cared about anything else.
--
Work had been the toughest part of this newfound dynamic. When any of you got hurt on a case, the other two couldnât exactly hold it together. And with the team being out of the loop of your lifestyle, well they definitely suspected something.
The most recent had been Aaron, he had been shot while taking down an unsub. Thankfully it had been a flesh wound, but when you heard the shot and saw him go down, you couldnât help the wail that tore through you. The paramedics had requested you step away, and Derek pulled you into his embrace to get you to comply.
âBaby heâs gonna be okay!â Derek said while holding you close.
âHe was shot D! What if heâs not?â You cried.
âI know heâs gonna be okay baby. He has to be.â Derek mumbled the last part.
You looked up to see the tears falling from his misty eyes, and you held him tighter. The team sat by and watched the situation play out, fully convinced now that something was transpiring between the three of you. More than they had initially assumed.
--
The newest development had been the discussion of children. The guys had baby fever, they had seen you interacting with your sisterâs newborn and you swear you saw them both drooling over the sight of you.
SoâŚhave you ever thought about having kids princess?â Derek posed.
Currently you were lying on the couch, your head in Derekâs lap and him pressed against Aaron. The movie playing, long forgotten as Derek combed his fingers through your hair and Aaron traced shapes on Derekâs bicep.
âUm, yesâŚI have thought about it. Why do you ask?â You sat up.
âWell, honey, we had a conversation about it the other day.â Aaron clarified.
âYou twoâŚhad a conversation about me having a baby?â You questioned.
âAbout usâŚhaving a baby.â Derek said, gesturing to the three of you.
Your jaw dropped in shock. What had started as inappropriate flirting in the workplace had developed into a serious relationship between the three of you. One fueled by love, safety, and trust.
âI would love to have a baby with you guys.â You smiled. âI love you.â
âI love you.â
âI love you.â
#aaron hotchner#aaron hotch hotchner#hotch#aaron hotchner fic#aaron hotchner x reader#criminal minds#aaron x reader#hotch x reader#hotch x you#hotch x y/n#criminal minds fandom#thomas gibson#aaron hotch x you#aaron hotch x reader#aaron hotch imagine#aaron hotch fluff#aaron hotch fic#aaron hotch fanfiction#aaron hotchner x you#agent hotchner#criminal minds fic#criminal minds x reader#aaron hotchner one shot#aaron hotch#derek morgan#derek x reader#hotchgan#derek morgan x y/n#derek morgan oneshot#derek morgan fanfic
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UNSCRIPTED â toji fushiguro x female reader [chapter 2/?]
summary: youâre a faceless author of scandalous smut â 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! heâs also the future voice actor for your smutty novelâs 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:Â (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! â series masterlist
⤠related au: persephone [business tycoon! sukuna x reader]
the drive to megumiâs school was unusually quiet.Â
normally, toji would lean into his usual âcool, brooding single dadâ act â just enough to avoid attention but keep an edge. but today, heâd done something weirdly out of character: asked you to tag along.Â
not that heâd admit it was for any other reason than megumi, obviously.Â
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 couldnât help but smirk at how the radio was suspiciously off. toji didnât give any explanation, but you were pretty sure it was a preventative measure to avoid another âirisâ moment and the resulting accidental kiss.Â
which, okay, was kinda cute.
toji tapped his fingers against the wheel, casting the occasional sideways glance at you before finally saying, âso⌠just curious.â he cleared his throat, like he was trying not to make a big deal out of the question. âwhat made you, uh⌠you know, want to write those books?â
you blinked. âoh, my books?â
âyeah, the⌠passionate ones.â he coughed, looking anywhere but at you. âlike, what inspired you to write those⌠intensely worded stories?â
you laughed, caught off guard. âokay, first of all, âintensely worded?â thatâs one way to put it.â
âlook, iâm trying to be polite,â he said, giving you a sidelong smirk that made your stomach flip. âbut seriously. i mean, itâs a specific line of work. what got you into it?â
you chewed on the inside of your cheek, feeling the familiar blush creeping up.Â
âuh, 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 iâd give it a shot.â
he nodded, taking it all in. âhuh. so, all that⌠stuff you write ââ he paused, trying to phrase it carefully. âthatâs from experience orâŚ?â
you let out an awkward laugh, your face heating up even more. ânot exactly. i⌠well, i actually havenât⌠i mean, iâm still⌠yâknow.âÂ
you cleared your throat. âa virgin.â
tojiâs eyes went wide.Â
âwait, youâre telling me⌠all that detail, the way you describe things, and you havenât evenâŚâ
ânope.â you shook your head, biting back a smile at his shocked expression. âguess you could say i have a good imagination?â
he let out a low whistle, looking at you with something that was a mix of admiration and⌠something else you couldnât quite place. âwell, i gotta give you credit. you write it like youâve, uh, lived it.â
you shrugged, trying to play it cool. âguess itâs all about the research.â
he raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. âresearch, huh? well, youâve got some serious talent in the âresearchâ department then. iâd hate to see what youâd write if you actually⌠yâknow, had the experience.â
âwell, maybe one day i will,â you shot back, feeling a little bolder. âand then my books will be even better.â
he chuckled, leaning back in his seat. âyouâre something else.â
for a moment, the two of you just looked at each other, a silent understanding passing between you.Â
the tension was thick enough to cut, and toji looked like he was about to say something else when megumiâs 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 couldnât help but wonder what was going through tojiâs 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 whoâd 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 didnât go for his dad first â nope, he ran right into your arms like you were his personal safe haven.
âyou came!â 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 teachersâ eyes drilling holes into your back.
âof course i did,â you said, ruffling his hair. âwhat, you thought iâd miss out on picking you up?â
ânope!â he said proudly, pulling back and grabbing your hand as if to make sure you wouldnât 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 wasnât about to complain about you being here â not at all.
as you all made your way back to the car, you couldnât help but notice a few teachers and parents exchanging knowing looks, no doubt remembering how toji introduced you as his âcolleagueâ yesterday. they didnât 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 worldâs most exciting road trip.
âsooo!â megumi started, a mischievous look in his eyes. âdid you two have fun while i was in school?â
toji let out a tiny cough from the driverâs seat, looking at you in the rearview mirror with a hint of a smirk. âmegumi, what exactly do you mean by âfunâ?â
âi dunno, daddy!â megumi rolled his eyes in that dramatic way only an eight-year-old could pull off. âyou were smiling all morning! you never do that!â
you tried to hide a smile yourself, glancing sideways at toji. âhe was smiling all morning, huh?â
toji shot you a playful glare before focusing back on the road. âyou got somethinâ to say about that?â
ânope, nothing at all,â you replied, suppressing a giggle.
âyouâre smiling too!â megumi added, turning his full attention to you with a face that was way too smug for a kid his age. âdid you like being with my dad today?â
your eyes widened as you exchanged a quick look with toji. âwell, yes, i had a great time working with your dad,â you said carefully, trying to dodge the landmine that megumi had unknowingly set.
âyeah, but did you and daddy, like, do anything else? like on tv?â
toji almost choked, and you couldnât stop a laugh from slipping out. âmegs! we just talked and laughed a bit, nothing like in the movies, promise.â
megumi looked skeptical, folding his arms. âthen why are you both acting all funny?â
âwhat do you mean, âfunnyâ?â toji asked, raising an eyebrow in the rearview mirror.
âlike⌠i dunno, all shy and weird,â megumi huffed, his brows furrowing in confusion. âlike when the kids at school talk about people who like each other.â
your cheeks were definitely heating up, and you could tell toji was trying not to laugh.
âsometimes people just⌠act like that when theyâre really comfortable,â toji explained, trying to sound nonchalant. ânot everythingâs like it is on tv.â
âoh,â megumi said, though he didnât look totally convinced.Â
âsoooo, when are you guys gonna have a playdate without me?â
âwhat?â you and toji both burst out at the same time, while megumi just grinned, proud of himself for catching you both off guard.
âyou two look like you want more playdates,,â he added with a shrug, like he was the expert on the subject.
toji shook his head, laughing under his breath. âhow about you let the adults figure that out, hm?â
âfine, fine,â megumi said, obviously pleased with himself. âbut i wanna know when you guys have another playdate, âkay?â
you patted his shoulder, chuckling. âdeal, kiddo. youâll be the first to know.â
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 â the same one from last night. maybe having these two around wasnât so bad at all.
toji pulled up to his house, shifting into park before a sudden realization hit him like a freight train â 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,â he said, scratching the back of his head, feeling uncharacteristically awkward. he wasnât sure if he should invite you in or just wave goodbye with some half-baked excuse.Â
but before he could even finish his internal debate, megumi had his own plans.
âthat means you can come see my room!â megumi exclaimed, his eyes lighting up as he threw open the door and scrambled out of the car.
âoh, i donât wanna intrude ââ you started, already moving to say goodbye, but megumi was way ahead, bounding up the steps and glancing back with an impatient wave.
âcâmon!â he insisted, practically dancing in place with excitement. âyou gotta see my plushies and my legos! oh, and my origami stuff, and ââ
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. âyou gotta see everything!â he said, eyes gleaming.
âokay, okay!â you laughed, letting him lead the way.
toji watched, a little dumbfounded. heâd seen megumi excited before, sure, but this was a whole new level. âhey, uh, megs, maybe sheâs tired. we donât wanna overwhelm her, yâknow?â he said, trying to sound casual and almost hoping youâd back out to save him from his own nerves.
âno way!â megumi protested, his voice emphatic. âsheâs gotta see my dinos and my race cars and my drawings too! pleaseeee?â
âdonât worry, i think i can handle it,â you chuckled, shooting toji a reassuring look.Â
he let out a sigh, feeling a mix of relief and⌠something else he really didnât wanna unpack at the moment.
megumi practically dragged you down the hall toward what toji modestly called his âsuite,â which was more like a sprawling kid paradise decked out in a swanky setup. it was undeniably luxurious â the kind of suite most people would call their whole apartment â but it was still a kidâs 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 megumiâs little projects and treasures.
âwow, megumi, you werenât kidding!â you said, genuinely impressed. you walked over to a group of origami animals on his desk. âdid you make all of these?â
âyep!â he puffed up his chest with pride, holding up a particularly crumpled paper crane. âthis oneâs my favorite. it didnât come out great, but itâs special âcause daddy helped me with it.â
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.
âand hereâs mr. wiggles!â megumi said, suddenly pulling over a massive, well-loved teddy bear that looked like itâd been through a hundred battles. âdaddy got him for me when i was little.â
âmr. wiggles is a great name,â you laughed, crouching down to inspect the bear. âi bet heâs been on a lot of adventures with you.â
âyeah, heâs been to the doctor with me, and the dentist, and he helps me with my homework sometimes,â megumi explained with the seriousness only an eight-year-old could muster.
toji chuckled, folding his arms as he leaned against the doorframe. âheâs a busy bear, huh?â
âsuper busy,â megumi agreed, pulling you over to his lego city next.Â
âthis is where the ninjas live, and over hereâs where the dinosaurs hide.â
âoh, and here i thought ninjas and dinos couldnât get along,â you teased, glancing over at toji, who was doing a poor job at hiding his amusement. âyou must be the peacekeeper, megumi.â
âi am!â he laughed, then suddenly looked up at toji.Â
âdaddy, can she stay for dinner?â
tojiâs eyes widened slightly. he hadnât 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.
âuh, well, if sheâs got the time,â he mumbled, scratching his neck and pretending to be cool about it. âyou donât gotta stick around if you got other things.â
âactually, iâd love to stay, if thatâs okay?â you said, glancing between them both.
toji tried to act casual, even though his heart was doing a little victory lap. âyeah, sure. why not?â
âyes!â megumi cheered, already running out the door. âiâll get the table ready!â
âis he⌠always this excited?â you asked, turning to toji with a chuckle.
ânot usually,â toji admitted, scratching the back of his head. âguess you got that effect on him.â
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 ironmanâs 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 heâd pulled from the back of a cabinet. he'd dusted off every inch of those plates â his mind still spinning with why he even bothered.Â
he wasnât usually one for this kind of thing, but when he saw how carefully you ladled the stew into the bowls, he couldnât help but notice you gave that same care to megumi too, nodding along as he chattered away about his superhero theories.
âyou know, daddy never gets the cool plates out for anyone else,â megumi piped up, completely oblivious to the faint flush creeping up his dadâs face.
âoh really?â you chuckled, raising an eyebrow in tojiâs direction. âwell, i feel honored then. iâll try not to drop it.â
toji groaned internally, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. âkidâs got a big mouth,â he muttered, shooting megumi a faux warning look, though his own ears were burning.
âyouâve got good taste, though,â you teased him lightly, glancing down at the pristine white china with intricate blue patterns.
âyeah, well⌠sâjust plates. theyâre old,â toji shrugged, hoping that downplaying it would erase any significance you might read into the whole situation.
âold but pretty,â you said, not looking up as you ladled some stew for megumi, who was eagerly waiting with his bowl stretched out. âhere you go, megumi. i made it a little less spicy for you, just like you asked.â
megumiâs eyes sparkled as he accepted the bowl. âthanks! you make the best stew!â
toji watched as you smiled back at megumi, completely absorbed in whatever he was babbling about, offering little âuh-huhsâ and âreallysâ 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.Â
like something he didnât realize was missing, but now that it was there, he couldnât imagine going without it.
âand then ironman totally blasts the villainâs robot suit â kaboom!â megumi finished, flinging his arms wide as if to demonstrate the explosion.
âkaboom, huh?â you laughed, sitting back in your chair, clearly enjoying his enthusiasm. âsounds intense.â
âyeah! ironman doesnât mess around,â megumi said with a sage nod, as if passing on some universal wisdom. âbut heâs gotta protect everyone, even the people who donât like him.â
âsounds like a pretty cool guy,â you mused, glancing over at toji with a small smile. âmaybe you two have something in common.â
âoh, god,â toji groaned, but he couldnât fight the smirk that tugged at his lips. âdonât give him ideas, heâll think iâm gonna go fight crime or somethinâ.â
âwouldnât that be so cool?â megumi interjected, eyes sparkling. âyou could be like⌠iron dad!â
toji rolled his eyes, but he caught the look on your face â amused, warm, like you were seeing a side of him that no one else really noticed.Â
and for some reason, that was way too close to the truth for comfort.Â
he cleared his throat, glancing down at his stew to avoid meeting your gaze.
âmaybe iâll just stick to keeping this kid in one piece,â 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 didnât rush megumi but let him take center stage as he shared his endless thoughts â it all blended together into something that felt like home, even if toji wouldnât dare say it out loud.
as you reached for another spoonful of stew, listening intently to megumiâs 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 youâd agreed to stay for his bedtime story. he gave toji a serious look, announcing, âsince daddy canât do girl voices â cuz heâs a voicing actor, but heâs not that good â you gotta help with the girl lines, okay?â
âoh, yeah?â toji shot him a mock glare. âthatâs a pretty big request, squirt. you sure i canât just, yâknow, growl like a tiger or something?â
megumi shook his head, adamant. ânope! youâre supposed to be the bear prince, and sheâs the bunny princess! and then they meet at the river â just read, daddy.â
toji rolled his eyes, though he couldnât hide the faint smile as he settled in beside megumi,Â
taking the book from his sonâs hands. âalright, alright, letâs do this right. bunny princess and bear prince â sounds about as weird as it gets, but weâll make it work.â
with megumi sandwiched between the two of you, you leaned over to see the page.Â
âthe bunny princess hopped through the forest, searching for her friend, the bear prince, who was known for his wisdom and strength,â you read in a soft voice, giving it your best princess tone.
megumi nodded, satisfied. âmuch better than uncle gojo,â he whispered to you in a conspiratorial tone, âhis princess voice is just⌠weird.â
toji stifled a snicker, picking up the next line.Â
âthe bear prince, with his deep, growly voice, stepped out from behind the tree, saying, âi hear youâre lookinâ for a friend. well, look no further.ââ
megumi giggled, clutching the blanket as he looked up at toji in admiration. ânow thatâs a good bear voice, daddy! you donât gotta growl or nothing.â
you shot toji a playful look. âsee? youâre already halfway to voice actor stardom.â
âsure, sure, as long as i donât have to wear princess crowns, i think iâll survive,â he smirked, giving the book back to you to read the bunnyâs next line.
ââoh, bear prince, iâm so happy to see you!â the bunny princess chirped, hopping closer. âthe forest feels so safe with you here.ââ
toji took his turn, grinning.Â
ââthatâs right, princess. stick close to me, and nothing can harm you â not even that pesky fox from the riverbank.ââ
megumi, eyes already starting to droop, nodded in sage approval, mumbling, âbears are super strongâŚâ
as the story unfolded, with each of you taking on your characterâs lines, you couldnât help but notice how megumiâs little body relaxed more and more, eyelids growing heavier as he listened to the tale of the bunny princess and bear princeâs forest adventure.
 finally, after youâd read the line where the bunny and bear bid each other goodnight under the stars, you heard megumiâs soft, even breathing.
you and toji shared a glance, both of you lowering your voices.
âlooks like our audience conked out before the big finale,â you whispered with a smile, your voice barely above a murmur.
âheh,â toji chuckled, glancing at his sonâs sleeping face. âusually he stays up longer, keeps asking for more.â he paused, watching you with a look that seemed to say more than his words. âmaybe heâs just got a soft spot for princess voices⌠or maybe, you know, a good storyteller.â
a soft warmth settled in the quiet room, the gentle rise and fall of megumiâs breathing filling the space as you both stayed still for a moment, neither wanting to break the spell.
you stood up slowly from megumiâs 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 â9:00 pm,â and your stomach sank a little â hadnât you meant to leave hours ago?Â
but when you made a quiet move toward the door, toji was right there, leaning in the doorway, hands shoved in his pockets.
âyou, uh, really donât have to rush,â he said, almost nonchalant, though his gaze flicked over to megumi. âi mean, for his sake, yâknow. wouldnât want him freaking out if he wakes up in the middle of the night and youâre goneâŚâ
âoh, of course,â you murmured, feeling a warm, slightly strange fluttering sensation at his words.Â
âjust⌠so he doesnât get scared. yeah.â
you glanced down at yourself. god, what were you going to sleep in? your work clothes?Â
toji seemed to read your mind, though, tilting his head a bit. âi think i got some old clothes you could wear if you want,â 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. ânot the most fashionable, but theyâre clean.â
âthanks, thatâd be great,â you said, offering a small smile, and you turned to head toward the door to the guest room â then stopped. âwait⌠i think i left my phone on his nightstand.â
before you could overthink it, you turned back abruptly, intending to slip past toji back into megumiâs room.Â
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 megumiâs room.Â
you felt nothing but the weight of tojiâs 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. âso⌠you were just gonna leave without even saying goodbye?â
for a split second, everything froze â the dim hallway, the soft, ambient sounds of the house, the fact that you were standing right outside megumiâs door, where one sleepy sound could catch you both.Â
but that one breath against tojiâs lips, so close, melted everything else away.
he didnât 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 couldnât 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.
âthis⌠is not what i planned when i came over,â you murmured, barely able to get the words out as your forehead touched his. ânot â not in front of your kidâs room.â
âmm,â he whispered, gaze dropping to your lips, that barely-there smirk flickering across his face, âitâs a first for me too.â 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.Â
âbut if you wanted to leave⌠you wouldâve pulled away by now.â
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.
âgod, youâre making it hard to stop,â he murmured against your lips, his voice almost a growl but so quiet it barely even registered.
âi donât think i want to,â 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 didnât 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 megumiâs door, and for a second, his face softened in a way you rarely saw, as if he couldnât help but feel this moment was just a little forbidden.
âmaybe we should⌠try this somewhere a little less dangerous,â he muttered, though he didnât make any move to let go, his gaze flicking back to yours.
âyou mean⌠like a first date or something?â you murmured, lips curling into a soft smile.
âguess i donât mind a second kiss either,â 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 â the very literal door to his sonâs room right beside you â 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 couldnât wait to explore.
the âboys nightâ at gojo-sonicâs swanky office was nothing short of its usual absurdity, with gojo dubbing it the âgreatest tradition everâ as he practically threw around the âfinestâ sweet alcohol like it was candy.Â
toji was there, albeit begrudgingly, mostly due to gojoâs persistence (âcâmon, youâre the only one who knows how to enjoy this premium stuff!â), and suguru joined from a dimly-lit zoom window, his face half-smiling, half-tired as he sipped on a glass of his own.
âmissing out, suguru,â gojo teased, tilting back his drink. âoh, but thanks for the wine, by the way. nothing says âwish i were thereâ like sending over a box of booze from you and your business partner.â
âoh, for heavenâs sake,â suguru muttered, though his smirk suggested he didnât mind. âit was a halloween release. figured itâd keep you all happy andâŚunbearable.â
toji chuckled, swirling his glass and trying not to roll his eyes as gojo feigned offense.
âunbearable? me?â gojo put a hand over his heart. âif you actually joined us in person, youâd see iâm the highlight of this âboys night.â itâs practically a public service, sugu-boo. oh, and shoutout to persephone for making it possible, of course.â
âyeah, yeah, youâre a real gift to mankind,â suguru replied, his tone deadpan, but his smile lingered as he took a sip.Â
âso whatâre you boys talking about? since i canât be there to hear it firsthand.â
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 gojoâs 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.
âoh, just, yâknow⌠kid stuff.â
gojo raised a brow. âkid stuff? you mean, how megumiâs practically obsessed with y/n?â
âplease,â toji groaned, rubbing his temple. âthat kidâs dragging her around like sheâs his second parent.â
âsounds like heâs got good taste,â suguru noted with a grin, sipping his wine. âand from what you said last week, heâs already planning on keeping her around for life, huh?â
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.Â
it was adorable, sure, but it made this whole situation way more⌠intense than heâd signed up for.
âkid talks about her all the time,â toji admitted, swirling his glass again. âlike, even his teachers thought she was his mom or something. and sheâŚwell, sheâs good with him. sheâs damn good.â he looked down, a smirk tugging at his lips. âwhich, believe it or not, i didnât expect when we first met.â
âohhh?â gojo leaned in, that smirk of his spreading as he raised a brow. âand you? what did you expect?â
toji glanced away, that hint of a smirk still there, despite himself. âdonât make me say it.â
âoh, weâre making you say it,â gojo teased, sliding another drink his way. âso, youâre saying sheâsâŚwife material?â
suguru nearly choked on his drink, and the way he was watching toji from the screen made it clear he wasnât missing a second of this.
toji scoffed, taking a gulp to keep from saying anything too embarrassing. âsheâs⌠special. hell, i didnât plan on getting attached, and yet ââ he paused, chuckling almost self-consciously. âi feel like a damn teenager.â
âand here i thought you were the king of nonchalance,â suguru teased, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
âyeah, yeah, laugh it up,â toji muttered, trying to shake it off.Â
but the truth was, the second he was alone, he found himself thinking about you, about the way megumiâs face lit up when you were around, the way you just⌠fit into their little world without even trying.Â
it was surreal.Â
the damn wine probably didnât help, either.
gojo slapped him on the back, clearly enjoying this way too much. âwell, for what itâs worth,â he said, his voice surprisingly sincere, âmegumi deserves someone good. and maybe you do too.â
toji rolled his eyes, but he didnât bother denying it. if anything, he felt the tiniest glimmer of hope.Â
that maybe, just maybe, he wouldnât screw this one up.
gojo snickered, his smirk all-knowing as he raised his glass. âiâve got it,â 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. âtoji, you and y/n could do a joint wedding with suguru and his âbusiness partner.â i mean, if suguru grows a spine and confesses, that is.â
on the other end of the zoom call, suguruâs smirk vanished as fast as it appeared, and he looked away, running a hand through his hair. ânot happening,â he muttered, all but glaring at the screen. âitâs⌠complicated.â
gojo pouted, tilting his head in mock sympathy. âoh, come on. âcomplicatedâ? itâs not that deep. just throw her some wine, flash that tragic backstory, and sheâll be yours in no time.â
âitâs not that simple,â suguru snapped, though his face softened as he leaned back, sighing.Â
âbesides, weâre in⌠limbo, i guess. weâve had our confessions, but thereâs no label. not yet, anyway.â
âawww,â gojo teased, his voice dripping with feigned sympathy.Â
âlook 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?â
âthose days are over,â toji grunted, crossing his arms as he glanced at the screen. âbut youâd know a thing or two about those âego trips,â wouldnât you?â
suguru let out a snort of laughter, finally letting himself relax a little. âand donât forget ryomen sukuna,â he added, the name alone making everyone groan. âthat bastard practically swooped in to turn our business lives upside down and make everything more⌠interesting. joint venture or not, the guyâs insufferable. heâs like a cat, always hissing and scratching his way to the top.â
gojo laughed, tipping his drink toward the screen. âtell me about it. itâs like everyone has a thorn in their side when it comes to love these days.âÂ
he smirked, nudging toji. âand you, my friend, are no exception. so whenâs the confession, huh? are we waiting on some fairytale moment here?â
toji rolled his eyes, swirling the last of his drink. âiâm not confessing to anyone,â he grumbled. âiâve got megumi to think about.â
âright, right, megumi,â gojo said, drawing out the name with a grin that was anything but innocent. âand here i thought you liked y/n for yourself.â
âand here i thought youâd shut up at some point tonight,â toji shot back, but his lips betrayed him with a faint, reluctant smirk.
suguru leaned forward, his voice softer. âwell, at least megumiâs happy with her around, right? maybe⌠itâs worth taking a chance.â
tojiâs smirk faded, his expression thoughtful. âmaybe.â
âsee?â gojo beamed, practically giddy. âlove is in the air, boys. even for the most stubborn among us.â
suguru shook his head, a smile creeping back onto his face. âwell, hereâs to complicated feelings and maybe, just maybe, getting them right someday.â
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.
âuh-oh. whatâs got you looking like that?â she asked, smirking.
you let out a giddy little laugh, immediately burying your face in your hands. âshoko, i swear iâm losing it. iâm a grown woman, but i feel like a teenager. itâs embarrassing.â
âthis better be good,â she drawled, putting the cigarette to her lips and leaning back, looking every bit the part of the unimpressed but totally-invested best friend.
âokay, okay,â you said, voice dropping to a dramatic whisper. âtoji kissed me. twice â by accident, both times. twice, shoko!â
she let out a low whistle, blowing out a plume of smoke. âso the âbrooding single dadâ finally made his move, huh? you know, twice starts to sound less like an accident and more like heâs got a thing for you.â
you laughed, covering your face with your hands. âoh my god, donât say that! i canât even handle it. and heâs just⌠so close all the time. itâs like every time i turn around, heâs there.â
âthat sounds terrible,â she said, rolling her eyes in mock sympathy. âa tall, ridiculously hot single dad, right up in your personal space. how are you surviving?â
you groaned, flopping back dramatically. âitâs not just that! i mean, megumiâs there too, and heâs the cutest kid. he loves me, shoko, iâm actually losing my mind. i feel like iâm part of their lives, and itâs⌠weirdly nice?â
shokoâs smirk softened a little, her gaze warmer. âsounds like youâre finally finding something real,â she murmured, her voice thoughtful. âi 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 youâre just finding your own way.â
âthank you for not thinking iâm insane,â you muttered, grinning at her.
âplease, iâve been waiting for something juicy like this to pop up in your life,â she replied, flicking some ash into an ashtray with a smirk. âso tell me everything â i want the full rundown on these âaccidentalâ kisses.â
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 didnât 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.
âyâknow,â she finally said as you caught your breath, âif this is what being your manager is gonna be like, i might just be here for it. international author and all,â she teased, quoting gojo.
âiâm just glad i have someone who gets it,â you admitted, voice softer. âthis is all new to me⌠the book success, this... love life thing.â
she gave you a small, knowing smile. âwell, get used to it. sounds like thereâs a lot more coming your way.â
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.Â
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 couldnât forget that first almost subtle kiss, right outside the recording booth.Â
youâd just handed him his revised lines, trying to ignore the way his fingers brushed against yours as he took the pages.
âyâknow, you keep handing me all these steamy lines,â he murmured, voice dropping, his mouth way too close to your ear. âsomeone might think youâre just giving me an excuse.â
âi-itâs for the story,â you stammered, and before you could process it, he leaned down, catching you in a quick, teasing kiss.
âmm. very convincing.â he smirked, straightening just as someone walked by.
âtoji!â you hissed, glancing around like a guilty teenager.
âwhat? i thought itâd help with the performance.â he gave you a half-shrug, that lazy grin of his making your pulse jump. âgotta sell the romance, right?â
then there was the time in the elevator after one of his late recording sessions. youâd been babbling about something mundane, trying to fill the quiet, but he wasnât paying attention to your words; instead, he just watched your mouth.Â
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.
âyou know,â you whispered breathlessly when you finally broke apart, âif shoko sees us, sheâs gonna kill me.â
âgood thing weâre alone then,â he murmured, not bothering to step back, his eyes dropping to your lips. âwouldnât want her thinking youâre getting⌠distracted on the job.â
âme?â you managed, swallowing a laugh. âyouâre the one who canât keep his hands to himself!â
âmaybe iâll try harder,â he whispered, brushing his thumb along your jaw in a way that felt anything but apologetic. âor maybe i wonât.â
of course, he didnât.Â
the next week, youâd 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.
âneed any help with those lines?â he asked, voice low, right against your ear.
you barely suppressed a shiver, trying to focus on the paper in your hands. âi, uh⌠no. no, i think iâve got it.â
âyou sure?â he murmured, lips grazing your ear this time. âbecause i think i could add a little⌠flair.â
you turned, and his face was right there, too close to pretend this was anything but what it was.Â
before you could tell him off, he closed the gap, kissing you slow and deep, like he had all the time in the world.
âtoji,â you finally managed, pulling away, your face burning. âwe are at work!â
he shrugged, utterly unbothered. âyeah, but no oneâs around, are they?â
you glared, trying to look serious, but he just leaned back, smirking. âbesides, iâd say that counts as research.â
âresearch?â
he grinned, eyes twinkling with a playful light. âgotta stay in character, right?â
every encounter was a tug-of-war between professionalism and⌠whatever this was. you couldnât 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 didnât care if anyone saw â like he almost wanted to be caught. and he never missed an opportunity to remind you of that.
âso, whatâll it be?â he asked one afternoon as you tried to dodge his latest attempt in the hallway. âyou gonna keep hiding from me? or are you finally gonna admit you like it?â
âiâm not hiding,â you replied, trying to ignore the heat rising in your cheeks.
he laughed softly, the sound low and warm. âyouâre a terrible liar.â
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 â no matter how many times he pulled you in, kissed you breathless, he could just walk away, leaving you wondering if youâd imagined it all.
toji fushiguro, love-struck fool of the century.Â
and he hated it.Â
heâd 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 theyâd just been kissed breathless.Â
he never thought heâd be one of them. yet here he was, pacing around his apartment, occasionally touching his lips like some starry-eyed teenager.
âyouâre acting like a damn idiot,â he muttered to himself, brushing a hand through his hair, but even that couldnât 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.Â
because compared to you? they didnât 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.Â
in a past life, he wouldâve at least flirted his way out of it.Â
but now? he couldnât muster up anything more.Â
god, youâve 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 â
âtoooji!â gojo sang as he slid into the studio the next day, obnoxiously loud.
âman, youâve been⌠awfully serious lately. not a single call from mona? or was it alicia? both?â
toji barely glanced up, trying to keep his face as neutral as possible. âiâve been busy. work.â
âwork,â gojo echoed, eyes narrowing with a knowing gleam. âright. and what kind of work are we talking about? the kind that comes with a certain⌠authorâs name attached?â
tojiâs lip twitched, but he ignored him. he figured the less he reacted, the less ammo gojo would have.
âoh, come on!â gojo crowed, leaning over the soundboard with an irritating grin. âyou really think i havenât noticed? the lingering looks, the way you sneak off for like ten minutes every time sheâs around. youâre a mess, toji.â
toji rolled his eyes, folding his arms across his chest. âiâm not a damn kid, satoru.â
âcoulda fooled me,â gojo teased. âgod, you look like youâre 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?â
âshut your damn mouth,â toji muttered, feeling his ears heat.Â
the idea had crossed his mind. he thought about it every damn time he saw you smile or catch his eye across the studio.Â
and it was driving him insane.
âspeaking of confessions,â gojo continued, not missing a beat, âheard youâve been turning down⌠basically everyone these days. sugar mamas, sugar daddies â wow, your self-controlâs really kicked in.â
toji groaned, half in frustration, half in something else. it was true. he hadnât even looked at his inbox in days.Â
just not interested, heâd told himself, ignoring how pathetic that sounded.
âoh, oh, oh, donât tell meâŚâ gojo grinned, the realization dawning on his face. âyouâve gone monogamous, havenât you?â he snorted.Â
âgod, youâre whipped.â
âiâll let you live if you shut up now.â
gojo snickered, unbothered. âwhat? iâm 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.â
toji rolled his eyes, shaking his head. âfantasizing, right.â
âadmit it, youâre lovesick,â gojo replied with a smirk. âhowâs that feel, big guy?â
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 âno thanks, busy,â before slipping his phone away. he looked up to find gojo staring at him, practically vibrating with amusement.
âsee? whipped!â gojo announced, loud enough for half the floor to hear.
âkeep it down,â toji growled, but he couldnât 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 wasnât true.Â
hell, he could barely go an hour without wanting to text you, wanting to see you.
âyou donât get it,â toji said, more to himself than gojo. âsheâs⌠different.â
âoh, i bet she is,â gojo said, nodding like he understood. ânow, are you gonna be an idiot and keep pouting like youâve got something to say? or are you gonna tell her?â
toji didnât answer, just glared at him before heading for the studio door. but he knew gojo was right.Â
heâd 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 gojoâs smirk follow him.Â
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, âmegumi made it for you.âÂ
but even as he said it, he could feel the heat creeping up his neck, knowing damn well it was mostly his work.
heâd sat down with megumi, who, after a long day of being âhelpful,â had finally agreed to show him how to fold paper into something that resembled a ring. and it hadnât exactly been easy.
âso, kiddo,â toji had started, fidgeting with the corner of a bright blue square of paper. âthink you can show me how to, uh⌠fold this thing into a ring? for⌠you know⌠someone.â
megumi squinted up at him, hands on his hips like a pint-sized supervisor. âfor her, right?â
toji cleared his throat, looking away. âyeah. something like that.â
megumi snorted, already getting a bit too wise for his age. âyou donât even know how to fold paper, daddy?â
toji groaned. âitâs harder than it looks, alright? just show me how you do it.â
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.Â
it was late, and toji couldnât remember the last time heâd concentrated this hard on something so⌠simple. why the hell am i doing this? he thought, glancing at the clock.Â
he had work in a few hours, a whole recording schedule to plan for, and yet here he was, folding paper with his son.
âthink sheâll like it?â toji asked, holding up one of the finished attempts.
megumi shrugged, but he looked oddly serious as he studied the makeshift ring. âi think she will. âcause itâs from you.â
something in tojiâs chest squeezed at that, and he clapped a hand on megumiâs shoulder. âdonât go telling anyone about this, alright? not even your uncle gojo. especially not him.â
âwhy?â megumi asked, genuinely curious.
âbecause heâll never let me hear the end of it,â toji muttered, trying to ignore how ridiculous he sounded even to himself.Â
yeah, making a paper ring at one in the morning for someone? absolutely insane, but he couldnât 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 didnât feel his heart do a backflip right then and there.
âhe⌠made this for me?â you asked, voice quiet, almost disbelieving.
âyeah,â toji replied, trying to sound casual but failing spectacularly. âthought youâd like it.âÂ
he rubbed the back of his neck, fighting the urge to look anywhere but at you, but he couldnât resist sneaking a glance at your reaction.
you turned the ring over in your hand, a small smile tugging at your lips. âyou sure it was megumi who made this?â
his throat went dry. âuh⌠mostly,â he admitted, feeling that warmth creeping up his neck again. âi mightâve⌠helped a little.â
âa little, huh?â you teased, eyes sparkling as you slipped the ring onto your finger. âso, is this, like⌠an official thing now? sealing the deal or whatever?â
toji felt his mouth go dry, a mixture of nerves and excitement coursing through him.Â
he hadnât planned on this meaning anything official â well, maybe he had, but he hadnât exactly thought it through.Â
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. âjust thought you deserved somethinâ nice,â he said gruffly. âeven if itâs⌠you know, paper.â
your fingers brushed his, a soft, barely-there touch, and he swore his heart skipped a beat. âi think itâs perfect, toji. no oneâs ever⌠done something like this for me before.â
he felt his chest tighten, the weight of everything he wanted to say pressing against his ribcage.Â
all those dumb, sappy things heâd been feeling lately, the way he couldnât stop thinking about you, the way he felt like a lovesick idiot every time you smiled at him. but he couldnât bring himself to say any of it, not yet.Â
so instead, he settled for squeezing your hand, his thumb tracing a soft circle over your knuckles.
âgood,â he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper. ââcause i donât think i could stand it if you didnât like it.â
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.
âguess iâll have to keep it safe then, huh?â you murmured, looking up at him with that smile that made his heart do all kinds of dumb things.
âyeah,â he replied, voice low, unable to stop himself from leaning down to press a soft kiss to your lips. âyeah, you do.â
tojiâs 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 â okay, technically megumiâs paper ring, but still, the one heâd folded with his own hands. heâd thought you might just tuck it away in a drawer or something.Â
but here you were, letting it swing around proudly like some priceless gem. heâs not gonna lie â his heart just about catapults itself out of his chest.
heâs 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.Â
god, if he wasnât too far gone already.
âwhatâs that little add-on?â gojoâs smug voice cuts through the air, and you laugh, holding up your phone so the charm dangles freely. gojo squints, pretending heâs inspecting it, but thereâs a glint in his eye. âwhoâs the secret admirer, huh? must be a serious romantic to give you something⌠hand-crafted.â
you shrug, grinning a little too wide. âoh, just⌠something someone special made for me.â
tojiâs face heats up, and he tries to look busy adjusting his microphone levels.Â
dammit, did you have to say it like that? he catches gojoâs gaze lingering on him, eyebrows raised.Â
oh, heâs got an idea all right.
âhm, special someone?â gojo teases, nudging you, then pretending to look around the room as if your admirer might jump out from behind the studio wall. âwonder who that could be, huh?â
you shrug, pretending like itâs nothing, though you shoot a sly glance in tojiâs direction. âmaybe heâll make a move someday. heâs pretty bold but⌠you know, takes his time.â
tojiâs pulse hammers away like a damn drumline, and he clears his throat, trying to sound nonchalant. âyeah, maybe heâs just⌠tryinâ to find the right time or somethinâ.â
âaww,â gojo coos, looking between you and toji with a mischievous smile. âpoor guy. wonder if he knows heâs got competition. think he can handle it?â
toji rolls his eyes, shooting gojo a glare. âainât nobody competinâ,â he says, voice low but firm. âwhoever this guy is⌠heâs got it handled.â
you laugh softly, the sound filling the room, and you hold up the charm, letting it dangle right in front of him as if itâs some sort of challenge. âthink heâs ready to seal the deal?â
tojiâs gaze flickers to the paper ring, then to you, and suddenly he feels this overwhelming urge to just⌠go for it.Â
he could give you a real ring, sure, someday maybe, but thereâs something about this little thing youâve turned into a charm that makes it feel so much⌠bigger.
âactuallyâŚâ he mutters, feeling heat crawl up his neck. âi was thinkinâ⌠maybe i could take you out this weekend. just us.â he looks at you, eyes intent, and thereâs a rare seriousness in his voice. âsomeplace nice. no studio, no interruptions.â
you blink, clearly a bit surprised, but your smile grows, softer now, almost shy.Â
âare you asking me out, toji?â
he shrugs, feigning nonchalance but failing miserably. âyeah. maybe⌠maybe i am.â he reaches out, tugging the charm lightly, letting it dangle between you. âfigured it was about time we took this thing seriously.â
gojo bursts into laughter, clapping his hands. âohhh, i knew it! all this sneaking around, and here you are, finally getting down on one knee â metaphorically, of course.â
you nudge gojo, laughing. âshut it, satoru.â
but toji doesnât even hear gojoâs 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.Â
and suddenly, the idea of getting down on one knee doesnât seem all that far-fetched after all.
âso⌠this weekend?â he asks, his voice a little softer now, just for you.
you nod, still beaming. âthis weekend,â 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.Â
he's in the middle of what can only be called a hurricane of preparation â megumi is zipping around the house, declaring heâll help his dad look âvery handsomeâ for his âplaydate with the pretty lady.â in the midst of this, toji canât 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 iâd finish up the first draft of the dragon kingâs sequel. but i got so behind, and now i have to edit this whole thing </3 you [7:09 pm]: canât believe my competition is a bunch of words on a page, butâŚi get it. you [7:09 pm]: any chance you could still use some company for that âediting?â
heâs barely finished typing his message when megumi tugs at his shirt, holding up a navy button-down that practically drags on the floor.
âisnât this the one she likes, dad? wear this!â he says with a look that might as well be called âfushiguro persuasion.â toji chuckles, ruffling megumiâs hair.
âhey, buddy,â he says, crouching down to megumiâs level. âplans changed a little. sheâs gotta work, so iâm going over there instead, alright?â
megumi narrows his eyes in the way only an eight-year-old can. âso... no fancy date?â
ânah, kid,â toji says, trying to sound casual as he rolls up his sleeves. âiâm just gonna keep her company while she works.â
megumi grins, a mischievous glint in his eye. âso like, a home date?â he asks, with all the implications an eight-year-old can muster.
toji chuckles, ruffling his sonâs hair. âsomething like that.â he gives megumi a quick fist bump. âhold down the fort for me, alright? iâll be back before bedtime.â
and with that, he heads out, his heart pounding just a little too fast for his own liking. heâs ready to face you with a low-key offer: if youâll allow it, heâll stay in for a âworking dateâ 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? iâll bring snacks and stay out of your way. iâll even help you proofread if you need it.
your heart nearly stops when you see tojiâs message, and you almost drop your phone⌠straight into your bowl of instant noodles.Â
he wants to come over? to your place?Â
you glance around your apartment, and itâs a scene straight out of a disaster movie.
thereâs a pile of bills stacked haphazardly on the coffee table, all of which youâre waiting for shoko to graciously come sort through for you. right next to it is a mountain of pr packages you havenât had a chance to open â 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?
âoh, god.â
you glance at the time and frantically calculate: how long would it take to clear at least half of this mess?Â
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? iâm warning you. itâs, uh, very lived-in here. toji ^.^ [7:20 pm]: hey, iâm 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. iâll bring some snacks and maybe a cleaning crew if necessary đ
the doorbell rings before you could even realise, and your heart nearly leaps out of your chest.Â
youâve got a solid three seconds to take it all in: youâre wearing a three-day-old shirt that, if you recall correctly, was originally your dadâs from the 80s, your hairâs in a bun so messy it might as well be a birdâs nest, and there are bags of trash youâve hastily crammed into every drawer within reach.
thereâs no hiding the pile of unopened pr packages by the couch, though â one of which has a half-torn label boasting a âvintage, limited-edition typewriter experience.â right next to that, thereâs a fancy pen set, still in its plastic wrap, resting on top of⌠is that a stack of half-eaten takeout containers?Â
oh, god. why couldnât 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. âlookinâ cozy.â
âuh... thanks?â you blurt out, mentally slapping yourself. cozy was definitely one way to put it.Â
âcome on in. sorry about the⌠ambiance. i wasnât really expecting to have a, uh, guest.â
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?â
âi try,â you mumble, crossing your arms defensively, though you canât help smiling. âbut the whole âstarving artistâ vibe means these typewriters just end up as very expensive paperweights. which, ironically, i canât even afford.â
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.
âi like the decor,â he says, nodding toward the lingerie with a wicked grin.
âoh, my god,â you groan, covering your face. âlisten, i was not expecting company today, so please, feel free to avert your eyes.â
"nah, i think it's got⌠character," he teases, leaning in just a little too close. âbesides, i donât mind a little mess.â
"well, great, because this is as real as it gets," you reply, huffing as you try to look anywhere but at him. "youâre in the trenches now, toji.â
he chuckles, moving to pick up a crumpled, half-empty bag of chips from the couch. "hey, trenches i can handle. iâve 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. âand here i was thinking i could at least fake having my life together in front of you.â
âoh, please,â he says, brushing a stray hair from your cheek. âyou shouldâve seen me back in college. this? this is nothing. plus,â he adds, his voice dropping slightly, âitâs kind of⌠cute.â
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. âso, whatâs in this one? wanna have an impromptu unboxing?â
âtoji, i swear if you open that ââ
âcâmon,â he says, grinning as he peels the tape back. âthink of it as the highlight of our first âofficialâ homebody date.â
you shake your head, both amused and exasperated, watching him fish out an overly ornate fountain pen, which he holds up like itâs the holy grail.
âlook at this thing,â he says, turning it over with a smirk. âyou could probably sign million-dollar deals with this alone.â
âor, you know, sign off on all my overdue bills.â you laugh, unable to stay embarrassed. âgo on, add it to the pile. itâs practically a landfill at this point.â
he laughs, setting the pen down and stepping closer, his voice low. âlisten, i get it. my place might not have bills stacked up, but itâs full of⌠reminders that iâm a work in progress too.â
you glance up at him, and suddenly, all the embarrassment melts away. youâre in your messy apartment, standing in an ancient t-shirt with this man whoâs 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. âi know iâm not exactly put together, but ââ
âhey.â he cups your face with a gentle smile. âdonât worry about it. youâre perfect like this. messy, comfy, real.â
before you can stop yourself, you lean in, and he meets you halfway, his lips brushing softly against yours. itâs not hurried, not desperate. just⌠perfect.
it hits you about a second too late â youâre kissing toji in the middle of your apartment, clutching a bag of trash. oh god, and it reeks of stale mountain dew and monster.Â
classy.
you pull back with a mortified look, though tojiâs face is the exact opposite, his smirk spreading like heâs just unlocked a secret treasure.
âdonât stop now,â he murmurs, glancing down at the offending trash bag in your hand. âbut, uh⌠maybe lose that first?â
âyeah, i think weâre past the first-date mystique at this point,â you mutter, feeling your face heat up as you chuck the bag towards the corner, praying itâs out of sight enough to ignore.
âoh, yeah, youâre really blowing my mind here,â he teases, chuckling as he takes in the apartment around you. âall the caffeine fumes, that questionable takeout smell. smells like home already.â
âoh, shut up,â you laugh, covering your face, because this man is about two seconds from making you combust. âiâm surprised you even wanted to stay for dinner after walking into this disaster.â
âwell,â he says, trying and failing to look innocent, âyou havenât seen the other disaster i brought.â
you raise an eyebrow as he gestures to the counter, where multiple takeout bags are somehow all stacked up.
âtoji, what is all this?â you blink, shuffling over to the spread.
âlook,â he says, scratching the back of his neck. âi couldnât decide what youâd like, so i just⌠went with options.â
options is a gross understatement.Â
thereâs 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?
âuh, toji? are we feeding a small country tonight?â you laugh, bewildered. âwhat were you thinking?â
âhonestly? wasnât thinking. just grabbed whatever looked good,â he says, giving you a sheepish grin. âbut câmon, if you donât like one thing, thereâs a million others.â
you give him a look, half-amused, half-exasperated, but itâs endearing in a way only toji could pull off. who even does this?
âi mean, donât get me wrong,â you say, nudging a pizza box to make space for the taco tray, âiâm glad you thought of all the options, but⌠what exactly were you planning for us to do with all this?â
he shrugs, coming up beside you to open one of the sushi boxes. âeat as much as we want, throw the rest in the fridge. âcourse, thatâs only if youâre not gonna make me eat it all myself.â
you snort, imagining him single-handedly tackling all of it. âif you can handle it, be my guest.â
he leans in close, voice dropping to a rough whisper. âoh, i can handle it.â
you roll your eyes, but youâre grinning like an idiot. âgod, youâre impossible.â
âhey, you invited me over,â he says, opening a little container of wasabi and gesturing for you to try a piece of sushi.Â
âbesides, i figured itâs a good way to cover all bases. what if you didnât like tacos? or pizza? or⌠god forbid, baklava?â
you canât help laughing as you pop the sushi in your mouth, appreciating the deliciously over-the-top effort he put into this. âfor 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.â
âtrust me, if this is what it takes to keep you happy, iâll bring twice as much next time,â he says, dead serious.
âoh no, please, i donât think i can handle that.â you give him a look, incredulous. âiâll end up eating myself into a food coma, and then what? you gonna carry me to bed?â
âwell,â he says, leaning in again with a devilish grin, âi wouldnât mind. but i was thinkinâ more along the lines of a movie marathon to work off the calories.â
âmovie marathon and food coma?â you raise an eyebrow. âtoji, youâre dangerously close to making this a slumber party.â
he shrugs, his face playful but thereâs something softer in his eyes. âwould that be the worst thing?â
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.Â
itâs⌠kinda nice.
âalright,â you say, nudging him with your elbow. âyou win. letâs have the weirdest, most food-filled homebody date ever. just, uh, ignore the mess. and donât laugh at me if i pass out halfway through a movie.â
âpromise.â he raises a hand, eyes glinting with humor. âcross my heart.â
the two of you start to dig in, laughing as you make jokes about how this is probably the strangest spread of food youâve ever seen. every now and then, heâll steal a quick kiss when he thinks he can get away with it, and youâre reminded just how much this man has wormed his way under your skin.
youâve 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 itâs somewhere good.
the two of you stand side by side at the sink, the remnants of your feast sprawled across the counter. youâre scrubbing a particularly stubborn pan when you decide itâs the perfect time to hand toji the aux.
âalright, mister fancy chef,â you say, smirking as you pass him your phone. âyou get to choose the soundtrack for our post-dinner clean-up. no pressure.â
âoh, no pressure at all,â 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.Â
âseriously? this? right now?â you laugh, a mix of amusement and embarrassment bubbling inside you.
âhey, donât knock it till you try it!â he shoots back, raising his hands as if to defend his choice. âitâs a classic. plus, it takes me back to that night at the bar when you were all... well, you.â
you roll your eyes, but you canât help the smile that creeps onto your face. âi was a mess.â
âyeah, but you were a cute mess.â 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.Â
âyou can dance, you can jiveâŚâ the lyrics echo through the air, and tojiâs energy pulls you in.Â
you catch him glancing at you with that smirk again, and the way his eyes light up makes your stomach flutter.
âjust imagine,â he says, a teasing glint in his eye, âthe two of us back at that bar. you, all over the place, and me just trying to figure out how to survive the night.â
you laugh, feeling nostalgic. âyeah, and then i somehow managed to puke all over your shoes.â
âmy favorite shoes,â he says dramatically, rolling his eyes, but thereâs a playful warmth in his tone. âbut, honestly? worth it.â
the song builds, and youâre both lost in the moment, laughter and soap suds flying everywhere.
âsee that girl, watch that sceneâŚâ
âhow did we go from that night to this?â you ponder aloud, glancing at him. âi mean, here we are, washing dishes and dancing to abba.â
âitâs an upgrade he says, giving you a lopsided grin. âyou know, from drunken disasters to⌠kitchen romance.â
âromance?â you raise an eyebrow, challenging him.
âoh, come on,â he says, stepping closer, the teasing slipping away from his tone. âthereâs definitely something romantic about this. a pair of idiots like us, sharing this weird, beautiful mess.â
you canât help but blush, your heart racing as you take in the way his gaze lingers on your lips. âdigging the dancing queenâŚâ
âyou know, if this song gets stuck in my head, iâm blaming you,â you quip, trying to deflect the intensity of the moment.
âgood luck with that,â he chuckles, moving even closer, the space between you almost nonexistent now.Â
ânight is young and the musicâs highâŚâ
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.Â
âdancing queen, feel the beat of the tambourineâŚâ
youâre both staring at each other, and suddenly, the kitchen feels too small, too charged with the electricity of the moment.
âtojiâŚâ you start, but the words die on your lips as he leans in, his intent clear.
âjust one kiss,â he murmurs, the corner of his mouth lifting in a seductive smile. âfor old timeâs sake.â
before you can reply, he closes the gap, his lips capturing yours with a gentle yet insistent pressure.Â
itâs like a scene from a movie â 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 â the world outside disappearing entirely.Â
when you finally pull away, both of you breathless, thereâs a glint of something deeper in his eyes.Â
âwow,â he breathes, still holding your gaze. âi think i like this new tradition.â
you chuckle, still buzzing from the kiss. âyeah, who knew washing dishes could be so⌠eventful?â
âwell,â he says, leaning in closer again, voice low and teasing, âwe havenât even finished the song yet. you ready for round two?â
youâre half-dazed, your heart racing as you sit on the kitchen counter, tojiâs 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.
âyou have got to stop making these kisses a regular thing,â you tease, half-heartedly trying to sound serious, but the playful glint in your eyes gives you away.
âespecially when iâm propped up on my kitchen counter like this,â you add, trying to maintain some semblance of decorum, but you canât help but smile as you wrap your legs around his waist, pulling him in closer.
âliar,â he laughs, a low rumble that sends a thrill through you. âif you didnât like it, you would have pushed me away, not this.â he gestures to your legs around him, grinning like the cat that got the cream.
you roll your eyes, but you canât hide the warmth spreading through your cheeks. âokay, fine. maybe iâm a little into it,â you admit, and his grin widens, satisfaction dancing in his eyes.
âa little?â he echoes, raising an eyebrow, his hands tightening around your waist. âyouâre a whole lot more than a little, and you know it.â
the cheeky banter flows easily between you, and as you gaze into his eyes, you realize just how much youâve come to enjoy this â the closeness, the warmth, the undeniable chemistry crackling in the air.
âyou know, itâs a bit unfair,â you say, tilting your head back slightly to meet his gaze. âhere iâm trying to be responsible and not let you distract me, and yetâŚâ you trail off, your fingers playing with the collar of his shirt.
âand yet,â he finishes, leaning in slightly, his breath warm against your skin. âhere i am, being irresistible.â
âdefinitely not irresistible,â you say, feigning indignation. but the way your heart races gives you away again.
âoh, come on,â he smirks, tilting his head slightly. âwho else do you know can kiss you while washing dishes?â
you laugh, shaking your head, and the movement sends a wave of giddiness through both of you. âyou might be right about that one,â 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.Â
âso, what now?â he asks, his voice dropping an octave, the playful tone replaced with something more serious, more intimate.
âwhat now?â you echo, feeling the tension shift slightly, the air thick with possibilities. âwe could, um⌠finish washing dishes?â
âhow boring,â 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 â softer, more explorative, as if heâs 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 itâs just the two of you.
when you finally break apart, breathless, he grins down at you, that charming smirk making your heart flutter. âthatâs what iâm talking about,â he says, a satisfied gleam in his eyes.
âtoji, we really should ââ
âdonât say it,â he interrupts, shaking his head with an exaggerated look of horror.Â
âdonât ruin the moment with responsibility. just⌠letâs enjoy this.â
you canât 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.
âenjoying this, huh?â you murmur, running your fingers through your hair, still feeling the heat of his body against yours.
âyeah,â he replies, that charming smile still plastered on his face. âjust two people enjoying a perfectly normal evening â you know, singing abba, eating takeout, and making out in your messy kitchen.â
âthe most normal thing ever,â you agree, rolling your eyes, but you canât suppress the smile that breaks across your face.
âso,â he says, tilting his head, his expression turning slightly more serious. âhow about we make this a regular thing? you know, minus the messy kitchen. maybe my place next time?â
your heart skips a beat at the suggestion, and you find yourself nodding before you can think twice. âyeah, iâd like that.â
âgreat,â he says, his eyes sparkling with excitement. âbut for now, letâs get back to the dishes, dancing queen.â
âfine, but only if you promise to keep playing abba,â you reply, giving him a mock-serious look.
âdeal,â he chuckles, and as you both start scrubbing the remaining dishes, the music playing softly in the background, you realize you wouldnât trade this moment for anything.
toji walks into his house, the dopey grin plastered across his face like he just won the lottery.Â
his heart feels light, still buzzing from the night with you, and heâs practically floating as he kicks off his shoes and heads to the living room.Â
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.
âwhat the hell are you doing here?â toji asks, trying to sound annoyed but failing miserably as he canât help but grin back.
gojo lifts the bottle in a mock toast. âjust your friendly neighborhood babysitter, here to keep an eye on megumi,â he says, glancing over to where megumi is sound asleep, sprawled on the floor with a gaming console still clutched in his tiny hands. âfigured iâd check out your bar situation while i was at it.â he gestures to the empty bottles lined up on the table. âyou know, for quality control.â
toji rolls his eyes but canât suppress the chuckle escaping his lips. âyouâre a real piece of work, you know that?â he says, moving closer.
gojo leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, a grin spreading across his face as he studies tojiâs expression. âbut seriously, you look like you just got off cloud nine. spill. what happened?â
tojiâs grin widens even more, and he canât help but let out a little giggle, feeling giddy. âyouâre not gonna believe this,â he starts, plopping down on the couch next to gojo, who leans in closer, eager for the details.Â
âit was⌠well, it was amazing.â
âamazing? now youâre really making me curious!â gojo presses, his eyes sparkling with interest. âtell me everything! every little detail!â
toji glances back towards the sleeping megumi, suddenly feeling a bit shy about sharing all the intimate details. âokay, okay. so, we were just supposed to have dinner, but it turned into this whole thing.â
âdinner? boooring. give me the juicy stuff!â gojo teases, waving his hand dramatically. âi want the scandalous details! were there kisses involved?â
toji feels his cheeks flush, and he canât help but laugh at how ridiculous this all feels. âyeah, there were some kisses⌠and then we ended up washing dishes together, and somehow ââ
âwashing dishes? how romantic!â gojo interrupts, dramatically placing a hand on his chest as if heâs been mortally wounded. âyouâre a true romantic, toji.â
âshut up!â toji retorts, laughing harder now. âbut it was nice, okay? we were just⌠comfortable with each other, you know? and then we ended up kissing while the song was playing.â
âwhich song? was it a love song? was it dancing queen?â gojo leans in closer, eyes wide with excitement. âtell me you two were blasting abba and getting all lovey-dovey!â
âyeah, actually!â toji canât help but laugh again, the memory flooding back. âwe were. it was so ridiculous, but it felt so right at that moment.â
âridiculous how?â gojo presses, leaning back with a smirk. âwere you two dancing around the kitchen like a couple of high-schoolers?â
âpretty much,â toji admits, a sheepish grin crossing his face. âi mean, it just happened, and i couldnât help myself. iâve never felt like this before.â
gojo raises an eyebrow, leaning back with a knowing smirk. âso, what youâre saying is that youâre head over heels for y/n? youâve gone soft on us, toji.â
âyeah, yeah, laugh it up,â toji says, trying to sound annoyed but failing as he canât help but feel giddy about it all. âbut i think this is different. she makes me feel⌠i donât know, like iâm actually living instead of just existing?â
gojoâs expression softens slightly, nodding in understanding. âthatâs deep, man. iâm genuinely happy for you. but seriously, how did you go from makeouts to dinner to feelings so fast?â
âhonestly? i have no idea,â toji shrugs, still riding that high. âbut it just felt natural. like we were meant to do this.â
gojo is quiet for a moment, taking a swig from the bottle.Â
âdamn, it sounds like you really like her.â
âlike? itâs more than that, i think,â toji admits, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. âiâve never let myself feel this way about anyone, and now i canât stop smiling like an idiot.â
âgood. you should let yourself feel,â gojo says, his tone lightening again.Â
âjust donât forget youâre still my bro and not some mushy romantic lead in a romcom.â
toji snorts. âright, because iâm so good at playing it cool.â
âexactly,â gojo grins. ânow, whatâs 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?â
toji thinks for a moment, that dopey grin returning.Â
âi want to take her out. something special. not just a random dinner but a real date.â
âawww, look at you being all suave!â gojo teases, clapping him on the shoulder. âiâm actually proud of you, man. just donât screw it up.â
âthanks for the vote of confidence,â toji rolls his eyes but canât help but feel encouraged.
ânow, letâs celebrate your new relationship status! i say we finish off the rest of these bottles and toast to your love life!â gojo suggests, already grabbing for another bottle.
toji chuckles, shaking his head. âyouâre going to end up getting us both in trouble, you know that?â
âwho cares? tonightâs all about you, my guy! letâs make some bad decisions!â gojo grins, and as toji laughs, the two of them settle in for a night of ridiculous stories and plans for the future â the dopey grin still plastered on tojiâs 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.Â
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 shokoâs 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.Â
a rush of heat shot through him, and before he could even think, there it was â a very real, very embarrassing hard-on that he scrambled to cover up.
âshit, not now,â he muttered under his breath, cursing himself for being such a damn clichĂŠ. 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.Â
like a decent man should, right?
âtoji! you okay?â gojoâs 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. âyou look like you just saw a ghost.â
âiâm fine,â toji snapped a little too quickly, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks. âjust⌠adjusting my suit.â he gestured wildly, trying to deflect the attention away from his embarrassment.
âuh-huh. sure,â gojo replied, barely hiding his laughter. âjust keep it together. we wouldnât want you to embarrass yourself in front of everyone, especially her.â 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. âthanks for the reminder, genius.â
the event continued, and you were seamlessly blending into the crowd, engaging in conversations with stakeholders and employees, your confidence shining through.Â
when you shared a laugh with suguru, toji couldnât help but feel a pang of jealousy at how effortlessly charming you were. why the hell canât i just say something nice instead of standing here like an idiot?
âthere she is,â 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.Â
âthank you all for being here today,â you began, your voice steady and clear, filled with warmth. âthis launch means so much to me, and i couldnât have done it without all the support from my friends and family. especially from those at gojo-sonic, who believed in this project.â
toji watched you intently, his heart swelling with pride. this was your moment, and you were absolutely shining.Â
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.Â
but no, he stood rooted to the spot, reminding himself of the conversation they had before about maintaining a professional facade.
âand of course, a huge thank you to my amazing voice actor, toji fushiguro,â 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 â both from embarrassment and pride.
âthatâs me,â toji muttered, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. gojo was right beside him, clapping exaggeratedly with a teasing grin. âyouâre gonna have to give her a proper compliment after this, you know?â
âyeah, yeah,â 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.Â
you caught tojiâs eye, and for a moment, the world faded away. he could see the joy radiating from you, and all his earlier doubts slipped away.
âtoji!â you called out, your eyes sparkling. âwhat did you think?â
âyou were amazing,â he said, finally finding the courage to step forward. âreally. you owned that stage.â
âthank you,â you replied, your cheeks slightly flushed. âi was nervous, but it felt good to share this moment with everyone.â
as you spoke, tojiâs heart raced. he leaned in closer, his voice lowering as he added, âand you looked absolutely stunning, too.â
âoh? just stunning?â you teased, a playful smile dancing on your lips.
âokay, maybe breathtaking,â he admitted, a genuine smile creeping onto his face.Â
âand 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.â
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 â 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.Â
âthere you are! i was beginning to think iâd have to drag you out from behind that mic,â he teased, wrapping you in a warm hug.
âsuguru! thanks for coming!â you beamed, feeling the familiar comfort of his presence. âit means a lot to me.â
âwouldnât miss it for the world,â he said, stepping back to take a look at you. âand wow, you look incredible. seriously, how do you pull off that look?â
gojo chimed in, practically bouncing on his heels. âitâs like she stepped out of a freaking fairytale, right? sheâs basically a model now. iâm just a guy over here trying not to ruin the vibe.â
shoko smiled, her eyes soft as she observed the camaraderie. âyou all did great tonight. it really was a wonderful launch.â
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 couldnât 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.
âso, whatâs next for you?â suguru asked, leaning in closer, his tone genuine. âanother book, or are you taking a break?â
âa bit of both, actually,â you replied, glancing at toji. âi want to explore some new ideas, maybe branch out a little.â
just then, a lecherous-looking man stepped into the conversation, an air of arrogance radiating off him.Â
âwell, if it isnât the famed author herself,â he sneered, a condescending smirk plastered on his face. âi have to say, itâs impressive how youâve managed to carve out such a niche for yourself.â âfree-use woman, is that what they call it? quite the career choice, huh?â
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.Â
the man had no idea what he was stepping into.
gojoâs expression darkened, his casual demeanor evaporating. âwho the hell do you think you are, talking to her like that?â he snapped, stepping in front of you protectively. âyouâre clearly out of your depth.â
shoko frowned, her eyes narrowing at the man. âthatâs incredibly disrespectful. you should apologize right now.â
suguru, leaning closer to you, was already assessing the situation, his gaze piercing. âitâs 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, youâre sorely mistaken.â
toji felt a surge of possessiveness overtake him, and he stepped forward, arms crossed tightly over his chest. âlisten, buddy, you donât get to come here and treat her like sheâs some sort of object. sheâs worked hard for everything she has, and youâre just jealous that youâll never get anywhere close to her level.â
the man scoffed, clearly unfazed, but the looks on the faces of gojo, shoko, and suguru sent a wave of intimidation over him. âoh, what? youâre one of her little fanboys now?â he mocked, trying to play off the tension.
âsheâs not just some girl for your amusement,â toji replied, his voice low but full of intensity. âif you canât see that, then you donât deserve to be in the same room as her.â
you were taken aback, a mix of shock and warmth flooding your chest at tojiâs fierce defense. it was a side of him you hadnât seen in this context, and it made your heart race. you quickly interjected, trying to defuse the situation.Â
âitâs okay, really. i donât mind ââ
âno,â suguru cut you off gently but firmly, glancing back at you with concern. âyou shouldnât have to put up with that kind of trash talk. youâre better than that, and weâre here for you.â
âyeah,â gojo added, his expression serious. âthis guy doesnât know who heâs messing with. just because you think you can get away with it doesnât mean you should.â he turned to the man, a fire burning in his blue eyes.Â
âiâd suggest you leave before things get ugly.â
the manâs bravado faltered, and he hesitated, clearly weighing his options.Â
âwhatever, man,â he spat, finally backing away, a look of disdain on his face. âi didnât want to talk to you losers anyway.â
as he walked off, toji felt a wave of relief wash over him, but it was mingled with something else â something like pride for you and his friends, who had stood up for what was right.Â
he turned to you, catching your eye. âyou alright?â
you nodded, still processing what just happened. âyeah, thanks. i didnât think heâd go that far.â
âheâs a fucking idiot,â toji replied, shaking his head. âyou deserve better than that.â
âyou all really stood up for me,â you said softly, feeling gratitude swell in your chest.
âof course we did,â shoko replied, her expression warm. âweâre your friends, and weâll always have your back.â
toji stepped a bit closer, and for a moment, the noise of the event faded into the background. âjust remember that,â he said, his voice low and sincere. âyouâre not alone in this.â
and as the night continued, surrounded by friends who cared deeply for you, toji felt a sense of belonging that he hadnât anticipated, realizing just how much he wanted to protect that warmth â protect you.
the event wrapped up smoothly, but leave it to gojo to suggest a âgirls day outâ to celebrate â the âgirlsâ in question, of course, were all of you.
âcome on!â gojo insisted, practically bouncing as you all filed out of the venue. âa little lunch at this fancy new place! i already reserved us a table. trust me, youâll love it.â he flashed that signature grin, one that sparkled with both charm and mischief.
âi thought you called this a girlâs day out?â toji raised an eyebrow, looking mildly exasperated. âyouâre delusional if you think iâm your girl, gojo.â
gojo only smirked, looping his arm through tojiâs despite his attempts to shake him off.Â
âtoji, honey, everyoneâs my girl,â he teased. âbesides, i knew youâd say yes deep down.â
âkeep telling yourself that,â toji muttered, though a small smirk betrayed his amusement.
suguru shook his head, amused, as he watched their dynamic. âsometimes i think we enable him too much.â
âyou definitely do,â shoko chimed in, already lighting a cigarette as you walked along. âbut at least lunch on gojoâs tab makes it worth it.â
soon enough, the five of you strolled into the swanky restaurant, where the hostess greeted gojo with a wide smile. âright this way, mr. gojo,â 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. âorder whatever you want, my treat!â he announced, flashing a grin at the menu. âthe foie gras here is to die for.â
âyouâre ordering foie gras?â you raised an eyebrow, half-amused and half-horrified.
gojo shrugged, feigning innocence. âwhat? itâs delicious.â he turned to toji. âyouâre in, right?â
toji gave him a dry look. âi donât even know what that is, gojo.â
suguru snorted into his drink. âyouâre so cultured, toji.â
toji rolled his eyes, shoving a breadstick into his mouth with exaggerated indifference. âas long as itâs not something gojo personally cooked, iâll eat it.â
gojo gasped dramatically, clutching his heart. âyou wound me! i make a mean ramen!â
shoko raised an eyebrow at him. âinstant ramen doesnât count, gojo.â
as you skimmed the menu, suguru leaned over to point out some of the more ânormalâ dishes.Â
âiâd stick to these if i were you,â he chuckled. âunless youâre ready for gojoâs idea of exotic.â
âgood call,â you replied, grinning. âiâm not trying to eat anything that still has a face.â
just then, gojo noticed a seafood platter being served at a nearby table, and his eyes lit up. âoh, look at that! whoâs in for oysters? fresh from the coast, or so they say.â
toji grimaced, pushing the menu away. âyouâre kidding, right? i donât eat anything slimy.â
gojo wagged his finger at him, smirking. âtoji, youâll never know the finer things in life with an attitude like that.â
âif the finer things in life involve slimy food, count me out,â toji retorted, crossing his arms.
you couldnât help but laugh, catching suguruâs eye. he shook his head, a faint smile on his lips.Â
âsome things never change, huh?â
âyeah, especially gojoâs tastes,â 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.
âand then, get this,â gojo laughed, his shoulders shaking. âi convinced the poor guy i was a psychic! he walked around with a âcursedâ amulet for a week before he realized i was just messing with him.â
âi donât understand how anyone falls for your crap,â toji said, shaking his head, though even he was hiding a smile.
âitâs a gift,â gojo replied smugly, before winking at you. âisnât that right?â
âoh, definitely,â you replied dryly. âa gift and a curse.â
âmostly a curse,â shoko agreed, patting gojoâs 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.
âso, toji,â gojo leaned over with a sly grin, âhowâs⌠life?â
toji eyed him, wary. âlifeâs fine, gojo. what are you getting at?â
ânothing!â gojo held up his hands innocently. âjust curious about your⌠extracurriculars.â
toji rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath as shoko smirked, clearly entertained by tojiâs suffering.
suguru leaned in, murmuring to you, âyou think heâll make it through the whole lunch without snapping?â
you laughed softly. âheâs holding up pretty well, all things considered.â
as dessert rolled around, gojo ordered a massive platter of sweets âfor the table,â though everyone knew heâd end up eating half of it himself.
âi swear, if you finish all those eclairs before i even get oneâŚâ toji warned, eyeing gojo.
gojo winked, already reaching for a plate. âtoo slow, toji! if you want something, youâve got to seize it.â
âyeah? you wanna see me seize it?â toji reached over, snatching an ĂŠclair from gojoâs hand in one swift move.
the entire table burst out laughing, gojoâs 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 otherâs 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 youâd remember â the laughter, the shared jokes, the way each personâs personality filled the room in a way only they could.
it was a good day.Â
and somehow, you had gojoâs âgirls day outâ to thank for it.
âsuguru! where are you going?â gojo called, laughing.
suguru gave a halfhearted smile. âjust⌠need to take this.â
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 â it was like a punch to the chest.Â
suguru geto never cried.
âsuguru?â you whispered, not wanting to startle him.
he looked up, his face streaked with tears, a raw, vulnerable expression youâd never seen. he quickly tried to brush it off, rubbing his eyes. âyou shouldnât⌠see me like this,â he muttered.
your heart clenched as you stepped closer. âhey, iâm your friend. you donât have to hide from me.â
he looked away, swallowing hard, his voice strained. âitâs⌠her. she made her choice.â he took a ragged breath. âshe doesnât love me. sheâs with someone else now.â
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. âsuguru, iâm so sorry. i know how much she meant to you.â
he let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head.Â
âi thought we had something real, you know? i thought⌠i thought sheâd see me the same way.â
âyou loved her,â you murmured, feeling his anguish like a weight pressing on your chest. âyou gave her everything. sometimes people⌠they just donât see whatâs right in front of them.â
âmaybe itâs me,â he choked, clenching his fists. âmaybe i just wasnât enough.â
you took his hand, giving it a firm squeeze. âdonât say that. youâre more than enough. she just⌠didnât see it. it doesnât mean you arenât worth it.â
his face crumpled, and for a moment, he was silent, holding onto you like you were an anchor keeping him from sinking.Â
âi feel so⌠empty,â he admitted, his voice barely a whisper.
âlet it out, suguru,â you said gently, wrapping your arms around him. âyou donât have to carry this alone.â
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.
âi donât know what iâd do without you right now,â he said, his voice barely audible.
âyou donât have to,â you replied softly. âiâm here. youâll be okay, suguru. even if it takes time.â
as you comforted him, you didnât notice that toji had also come looking for you. heâd been watching the hallway, glancing at his watch, wondering what was taking you so long.Â
a knot of worry twisted in his stomach, his mind flashing back to the earlier incident â 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.Â
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.Â
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 â but still.
 toji couldnât help the spike of resentment. why did it have to be suguru you were comforting?
why couldnât 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 â but the sight of you so intimately close, your gentle words he couldnât quite hear, only made his jealousy deepen.
his eyes narrowed as he kept watching, trying to ignore the twinge of vulnerability he hadnât expected. why did he care so much? he gritted his teeth.Â
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.
âtojiâŚâ you said softly, surprised to see him there.
he crossed his arms, giving a slight nod in suguruâs direction. âeverything alright?â
âyeah,â you replied, glancing at suguru, who gave a faint nod, still wiping at his eyes. âjust⌠a hard day.â
tojiâs eyes softened slightly as he looked at you, though his expression remained guarded. âyouâre a good friend,â 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. âjust doing what anyone would.â
tojiâs 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 youâd stayed for so long just to comfort.Â
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.
âso⌠whatâre you doing over here, all alone with me?â 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.Â
âyou mean, other than watching you try to pretend you werenât sporting a hard-on for half the event?â
the teasing grin on your lips was unmistakable, and his reaction was instant. tojiâs expression flickered, a hint of surprise in his eyes, followed by an intense gleam as he chuckled under his breath. âoh, so you noticed that, huh?â
ânoticed? please,â you scoffed, keeping up your confident front even as he closed the space between you with slow, measured steps. âhow could i not? it was right there.â
âguess you were too busy looking at me to focus on anything else,â he replied smoothly, his voice dropping a little lower. he leaned in, his lips hovering dangerously close to yours, breath warm against your skin. âmaybe i shouldâve been paying more attention to you instead.â
your heart skipped a beat, but you didnât let it show.Â
âwell, now you know better,â you murmured back, voice challenging. âmaybe you shouldâve acted on it then, instead of waiting until now.â
he raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. âoh, is that a challenge?â
âonly if you can handle it,â 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.Â
âyou think i canât handle a little challenge from you?â he murmured, his lips so close they nearly brushed yours.
you swallowed, but kept your cool. âif you could, you wouldnât be hesitating.â
âtrust me, sweetheart,â he murmured, voice low and dangerously smooth, âwhen iâm done with you, you wonât be the one running your mouth.â
before you could come up with a retort, his lips were on yours, firm and demanding, as if heâd been waiting all night to finally do this. you couldnât 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.
âyou like getting me all worked up, donât you?â he murmured against your lips, his voice laced with that smug edge that made you shiver. âcanât get enough of teasing me, huh?â
âmaybe i do,â you shot back, though your voice wavered slightly as he bit down on your lower lip, sending a spark through you. âbut itâs not my fault you canât keep your hands to yourself.â
he chuckled darkly, his hands sliding up your sides, thumbs brushing just beneath your ribs as he pressed his hips against yours.Â
âyeah? whatâre you gonna do about it?â he murmured, leaning in to brush his lips over the sensitive skin of your neck, sending a shiver down your spine.
âyou really think youâre in control here?â you asked, voice challenging even as he continued to press you into the wall. âbecause from where iâm standing, it looks like youâre the one who canât resist me.â
âcareful what you say,â he warned, his tone thick with restrained desire. âiâm this close to dragging you out of here and making you eat those words.â
your heart raced, and even though you were half-tempted to keep pushing him, you couldnât 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.Â
âthen maybe you should quit talking and show me what youâve got.â
he didnât 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.Â
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.
âgod,â he murmured, voice husky, âyouâre driving me insane.â he leaned back just enough to look into your eyes, his gaze intense. âyou really wanna keep pushing me, huh?â
you smirked, your own voice barely above a whisper. âmaybe i just like seeing what youâll do about it.â
on the outside, you were holding your ground. confident smirks, playful retorts, the whole act. but on the inside?Â
you were freaking the fuck out.Â
here you were, basically mimicking every female lead youâd 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 â it was like a mental pep talk to channel all those characters whoâd never break a sweat in this situation.
but⌠oh god. what if things actually got hot and heavy?Â
you were standing there, going toe-to-toe with toji of all people, and it hit you â you were completely out of your depth here. this was not your usual flirting, the teasing banter youâd half-heartedly perfected through fictional dialogue.Â
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.Â
gn.Â
get naked, not even good night â although, maybe a good night after the get naked part, if you even made it that far without spontaneously combusting.Â
your mind raced, frantically scrolling through every bedroom scene youâd ever written, but realizing none of them really prepared you for this.Â
oh my god, you panicked inwardly, just because i write smut doesnât mean i know what to do when iâm the one gripping the sheets!
âwhat, cat got your tongue?â tojiâs voice interrupted your internal spiral, his smirk widening as he traced a thumb across your cheek, dipping dangerously close to your lips. ânot so confident now, are ya?â
you forced a grin, cursing the tremble in your fingers as they clutched at his shirt.Â
âoh, please, like iâm nervous,â you shot back, mentally crossing every finger and toe that your voice didnât waver.Â
inside, though, you were a swirling mess, praying he didnât catch the slightest tremor.Â
fake it till you make it, right?Â
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 heâd be gracious, that heâd at least slow down, but no, there was something else in his gaze. maybe a flicker of understanding?Â
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.Â
ârelax, princess,â he whispered, his tone softer, maybe even gentle. âwe can go as slow as you want. besidesâŚâ his lips quirked up into a teasing grin.Â
âdonât think youâre getting out of this without admitting how much youâre enjoying it.â
relax? yeah, right.Â
your heart was doing backflips, your mind racing through every possible move youâd probably never have the courage to pull off. he had you right where he wanted you, and you couldnât stop the blush rising to your cheeks.Â
oh god, you thought desperately, please donât ask me to make the next move.
just as you were bracing yourself to somehow manage to keep up this charade of confidence, tojiâs 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.
âwhat, satoru?â toji sighed, clearly irritated at the interruption.
âtoji! man, hurry up and get back here!â gojoâs voice screeched through the phone, loud enough for you to hear the dramatic urgency. âweâve got a very, very depressed mr. geto here whoâs 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.âÂ
gojo's voice dropped, muttering something about âbanging y/n later if you have to,â but you both caught it.
toji gave you a side-eye smirk, shaking his head at gojoâs predictability, before letting out a sigh.Â
âfine. but you owe me one, big time.â 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.Â
âguess weâll have to put this on hold, princess. duty calls.â 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 wasâŚwell, not what youâd expected.Â
suguru looked rough.Â
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.
âcâmon, sugu, itâs not the end of the world,â gojo said, nudging him with a grin that looked a bit too forced. âi mean, i never liked her anyway. you deserve way better than ââ
âshe was amazing,â suguru cut him off, his voice flat but tinged with emotion. âyou wouldnât understand, satoru.â
shoko sighed, patting his shoulder. âshe wasnât that amazing. she had weird fashion taste.â
âand didnât she correct you on every little thing? constantly?â gojo added, crossing his arms with a small smirk.
suguru gave them both a look, unamused. âi liked her fashion sense. and i didnât mind the corrections.â
toji leaned back in his seat, giving you a subtle eye roll.Â
this was what youâd come back for.Â
he sighed, then leaned forward, slapping a hand on suguruâs shoulder. âyou know, sulking isnât gonna help anything. maybe itâs time to get back out there, stop dwelling on someone who clearly didnât value you.â
suguru let out a tired sigh, and gojo jumped in, eyes lighting up. âexactly! there are plenty of people whoâd be thrilled to date the great suguru geto!â he gestured around the room as if a fan club might spontaneously form right then and there.Â
âyouâre smart, youâre talented ââ
âand single,â shoko added dryly, sipping her drink with a shrug.
suguru slumped lower, clearly unconvinced. âi donât want to be single,â he muttered. âi wanted her.â
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.Â
gojo, though, was not one to give up. he clapped his hands, as if a brilliant idea had just struck him.
âokay! new plan,â he declared, leaning in with an almost manic enthusiasm. âyouâre going to go out with us this weekend. all of us. no work, no responsibilities â just a wild time. weâll find you a nice rebound ââ
suguru glared. âno, thanks.â
shoko groaned, propping her chin on her hand. âwell, iâm out of ideas. anyone else?â
you took a deep breath, deciding to give it one last shot.Â
âmaybeâŚyou donât have to forget her completely, but maybe you can focus on what made you happy outside of her. like, remember what you love doing?â
suguru looked at you, as if considering the thought, but then slumped back. âitâs not the same,â he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. âitâs justâŚnot the same.â
gojo groaned dramatically, throwing his head back. âi swear, youâre worse than me on my worst breakup day. someone call for reinforcements because i think weâre gonna need a miracle worker for this one.â
the table fell quiet, everyone glancing at suguru, who looked as defeated as ever, and it hit you that maybe tonight, there really wasnât a solution.
one month later, the dreaded wedding invitation arrived, dropped unceremoniously on suguruâs desk. it was embossed in gold, the bride and groomâs names announced in elegant script, and just looking at it made his chest tighten. this was her wedding â the woman heâd once thought heâd spend his life with, now celebrating a future with someone else.
gojoâs reaction was immediate, bursting out in an exaggerated laugh when he saw the invite on suguruâs desk.Â
âare you kidding me? sheâs really inviting you? thatâs low, even for her. come on, suguru, youâre not actually thinking about going, are you?â
suguru just gave a small smile, almost serene in the face of it all. âactually, i think i might.â
gojo gaped. âwhat?! dude, theyâre practically rubbing it in your face! itâs like sending a âha-ha, weâre in love, and youâre notâ postcard.âÂ
he crossed his arms, scowling at the offending piece of cardstock. âthis is the most tasteless thing iâve ever seen.â
shoko, who was nearby, raised an eyebrow, half-amused, half-curious. âmaybe she didnât mean it that way, satoru. maybe itâs her way of being considerate, keeping suguru involved as a friend.â
gojo scoffed, rolling his eyes. âoh please, you donât invite your ex to your wedding, especially if you broke his heart. she should be thrilled heâs not cursing her name in three different languages.â
but suguru only shook his head, calm as ever. âitâs not like that, satoru. weâve both moved on, in our own ways. i donât hold it against her. she chose what makes her happy, and if thatâs someone elseâŚwell, then i wish her the best.â he shrugged lightly. âi donât see any point in being bitter about it.â
gojo stared at him, as if seeing an entirely different person. âyouâre joking, right? this is not you. the real suguru wouldâve burned that thing or at least made a snarky comment about her dress being too âlast season.ââ
suguru laughed, an easy, relaxed sound that caught them all by surprise. âthatâs exactly it, satoru. i donât want to be that guy anymore. iâve spent enough time with those feelings. theyâreâŚexhausting. if going to this wedding gives me closure, then why not?â
gojo looked like he was about to combust. âclosure? closure is just a fancy word for âlet me put myself through hell for no reason.â honestly, suguru, youâre giving her too much credit. sheâs the one who ditched you, remember?â
suguru tilted his head, offering gojo a gentle but pointed look. âmaybe itâs not about her anymore. maybe this is just about me.â his voice was calm, but there was a certain finality in it, as if heâd already come to terms with everything.
gojo, meanwhile, huffed and crossed his arms, looking thoroughly unimpressed. âwell, i think itâs ridiculous. she doesnât deserve any more of your attention.â
suguru sighed, but there was a faint smile on his lips, as if gojoâs dramatics were somehow endearing.Â
âsatoru, not everything is a personal insult. people make choices. sometimes theyâre not the ones we wanted, but that doesnât make them wrong.â
gojo let out a long, exaggerated groan. âyouâre way too good for this world, suguru. like, way too mature. no one deserves you. iâd be sending her a glitter bomb or something, just for the hell of it.â
shoko chuckled, patting gojo on the back. âmaybe you should take a lesson from suguru. not everyone has to nurse their ego through every breakup.â
gojo snorted, still glaring at the invitation like it had personally offended him. âfine, go ahead and be the bigger person, suguru. but if you even think about bringing me as your plus-one, iâm causing a scene.âÂ
he folded his arms defiantly. âiâm talking upstaging the bride type of scene.â
suguruâs smile widened, genuine and peaceful. ânoted, satoru. but i think iâll be alright.â
and in that moment, watching suguru handle what should have been a painful reminder with quiet dignity, even gojoâs bluster faded just a bit. sure, he might think suguru was handling it all wrong, but deep down, he couldnât help but admire his friendâs 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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Let Me Read To You ~ Chapter 4 (Agatha x Rio Bookstore AU)
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3
Summary:
It's been about four months since Rio and Agatha started their relationship and both of them want to move in with one another. However, neither of them know how to bring up the topic
Notes:
Hey everyone! I got a fluff chapter for y'all cause lowkey too many of these chapters have had smut in them so here's some good ol' wholesome fluff lol
âDo you want another round my love?â Rio asked, getting up and taking the two empty beer bottles in front of them. They had been together for four months now and they decided to go out with the lesbian book club to a gay bar. âYes please, thank you babyâ Agatha said, reaching up to kiss her girlfriend on the cheek. âWow,my love? You two are getting seriousâ Jen said as Rio was walking away. âWhat can I say, can't help the lesbian urgesâ Agath said, giggling. âSo when are you two gonna actually lesbian it and get a U-Haul?â Alice asked, taking a sip of her drink. âHopefully soon, it doesn't make sense anymore now that Rio is practically at my house almost everyday, I even quit my job to help her out with the bookstoreâ Agatha said with a huff. âNo wonder I never see you home anymore before three, hopefully she's not working you too hardâ Jen said while picking up her own drink. âActually it's the opposite, I feel Rio doesn't let me do enough but I get it. It's her store after allâ Agatha said, playing with her hair. â Here you go baby,â Rio said, setting down a beer in front of Agatha. âThank you sweetheartâ Agatha said in return, caressing Rio's hand. âSo do you guys think Lilia is actually gonna come or?â Alice said, looking around for their friend. âShe said she was bringing the teen so you know how long it takes for him to get readyâ Jen said with a huff. âTeen?â Agatha questioned, taking a sip of her beer. âLiliaâs nephew, William. He likes hanging out with us plus I think of him almost like a gay adopted son to our lesbian covenâ Rio told her with a giggle. âWeâre here! Sorry someone here took foreverâ Lilia said, taking a seat at the table where all the ladies were. âFinally, Iâm assuming the teen was taking his sweet time,â Jen said, looking next to Lilia to see him taking a seat as well. âNo, Eddie kept texting me and distracting meâ he said, checking his phone to see if his boyfriend was still sending him texts. âOh also, this is Agatha, sheâs not that new to the group but youâve been too busy with school to visit your lesbians momsâ Alice pointed out, laughing as Jen nudged her to behave. âOh hi! Iâm William!â the teen exclaimed, putting out his hand to shake. âOh god you really are gayâ Agatha said as she shook his hand. The entire group laughed as William was shocked by Agathaâs joke.Â
It was after a good while that the group called it and all went their own ways. Rio and Agatha carpooled with Alice and Jen so that way they didnât have to take so many cars. âSo, it seems like you and William got along,â Jen said, looking back at Agatha. âHeâs a good kid, good to see he has a lot of female role models in his lifeâ Agatha replied, still a little tipsy from all the beers she drank. Rio couldnât help but laugh at Agathaâs state as she rolled down the window to smoke a cigarette. Agatha rolled down her own window and nudged Rio to let her smoke a bit. âSo any other plans for you two for the rest of the weekend?â Alice asked, changing the song on the radio. âWalk Nicholas in the park, I was thinking of letting him stay in the store for a bit. I know how much he loves running around and looking through the bookshelvesâ Rio said, looking over at Agatha, looking for her approval. âMmm that sounds good, just make sure to keep an eye on him, heâs been into trying to climb things latelyâ Agatha said with a groan. âOh god heâs a climber?â Jen exclaimed. âYup, he tried to get on top of the tv the other dayâ Agatha said, pinching the bridge of her nose thinking about it. âMy dad always said boys are either climbers, runners or diggers,â Rio said, looking over to Agatha and rubbing her back. âI guess itâs not that bad then, at least he isnât a runnerâ Agatha told her giggling. As Jen parked the car they all bid their goodbyes, leaving Agatha and Rio to go back to their house. Well technically just Agathaâs house, for now. As Rio opened the door she greeted the babysitter and paid her since Agatha was still a bit too tipsy to argue with her. Rio helped Nicholas to bed, leaving Agatha to lie down on the couch for a minute. As Rio returned she sat next to Agatha, laying her head on her shoulder and playing with her fingers. âRio?â Agatha asked, turning her head to look at her. âYes my love?â Rio replied, looking up to meet her eyes. âMove in with usâ Agatha said, staring into her eyes. âSure,â Rio told her with a giggle. âIâm serious, you basically live here. Letâs just uhaul alreadyâ Agatha said to her with a pout. âI know you are, Iâm just giggling because Jen and Alice have been pushing me to ask youâ Rio told her, kissing away her pout. âThey were pushing me to ask you too today,â Agatha said, kissing Rioâs head. âYou sure you donât want to run it by Nicky first though?â Rio asked, brushing away Agathaâs hair from her face. âNah, he likes you too much, if anything heâs sad everytime you leave. Oh wait! Actually, thereâs something I wanted to show youâ Agatha said, getting up and going to the kitchen.
When Agatha came back, she had a piece of paper and showed it to Rio. At first she was confused by it but then looked at it to see it was a drawing. It was a drawing of her, Agatha and Nicholas all together holding hands. However, when Rio saw what was written above them, tears came instantly to her eyes. Above the two of them he wrote âmommiesâ, which just made Rio emotional. She was never really one to think about having a family but with Agatha it all came so easily. âAw baby, this is adorableâ Rio told Agatha, giving Agatha a bear hug. âThereâs no way Nicholas wouldnât want you living here with usâ Agatha told her, cradling her head.Â
It took a full day but they were able to move all of Rioâs belongings over to Agathaâs. She even gave Rio her office since there was no point of having it anymore now that she was working at the bookstore. Rio made it her writing and indoor plants space, she always loved having a witchy vibe when it came to her spaces. âGod youâre such a good decorator my loveâ Agatha said, breath taken from how beautiful the office had become. âWhat can I say, itâs a passion of mineâ Rio said giggling, kissing Agatha on the cheek. âMommy why boxes?â Nicholas asked, running into the room. âWell baby, Rio is going to be living with us from now on. She wonât have to leave as oftenâ Agatha told him while picking him up. âMama staying with us? YAY!!!â He screamed a bit too close to Agathaâs ear as she moved him slightly away from her body. Rio came closer and grabbed the boy from her. âMhmm, I get to stay here with you and your mommy, are you ok with that Nicky?â She questioned, making sure the boy was stable in her arms. Nicholas didnât say anything but nodded his head and put his arms around Rioâs neck, hugging her closely. Agatha couldnât help herself and snuck a picture since she knew how much Rio hated taking pictures. âHey Nicky, how do you feel about getting ready for bedâ Agatha said, caressing her sonâs back. âCan I sleep with you and mama tonight?â he asked, looking up at Agatha. âSure buddy, whatever you wantâ Rio told him, giving him a kiss on the cheek. âThank you,â Agatha whispered. As Agatha got Nicholas tucked in she went into the bathroom where Rio was getting ready for bed herself. âThank you for everything Rio, I love youâ Agatha told her, coming from behind and hugging her. âOf course baby, I love you tooâ Rio told her after spitting out her toothpaste into the sink. âNow comâon, Iâm tired from packing and unpacking all dayâ Rio said while turning and giving Agatha a quick kiss. The both of them got in bed, hugging Nicholas who was already asleep between the two of them. They drifted off to sleep with the thoughts of them finally becoming a family. Rio hadnât written in a while but now she dreamt of ideas for her next book of fiction. A witch who falls in love with death despite all odds. A world in which A covenless witch and lady death herself form a coven but most important of all, a family.Â
#agatha x rio#agatha all along#agatha harkness#lesbian#rio vidal#sapphic#agathario#fanfic#jen x alice#lilia calderu#william kaplan#ao3 fanfic
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Hello! I'm not sure if you are taking requests right now, but I'd you are could you do something with a daughter of medusa who us almost or fully blind and everyone avoids her except for percy who has a crush on her? Can end however ypu would like :).
And remember to take of yourself and drink water!!! â¤ď¸
thank u my lovely <3 hope u enjoy
i do have bad vision but i am not blind, so i apologise for inaccuracies,
-----------------------------
medusa was blessed with a daughter
gorgeously thick, curly hair, strong as hell, brought up by your mother as best she could
she was so happy when you opened your eyes as a baby and no one you looked at turned to stone
her curse was not yours!
it only took a moment for her to realise her curse had a different effect on you
you were not cursed, but as a side effect of being medusa's child, you were almost completely blind
growing up, you never realised there was anything too different about you
why would you? your mother raised you and she kept her eyes covered most of the time, she knew how to live as a blind woman in a seeing world
things got worse as you got older, and around 10 years old is when it got really bad
the monsters were relentless, and even medusa hiding you away didn't seem to help with the nightmares
so, when you were 12, she brought you to the camp
chiron was hesitant, but knew you meant no harm - you were a scared, lonely kid, like so many others before you
kinda for the first time, you were interacting with people who could see
it wasn't hard to guess who your mother was, and apparently that was enough for the other kids to reject you immediately
you learned to wear sunglasses or some kind of fabric over your eyes, otherwise some kid would start screaming
the first couple years of teenhood were rough
of course. you learned to live with it
you learned to become incredibly spacially aware, to be able to walk into a room and know exactly how many people there were and where they were standing
there were some kids who were alright, some from the athena cabin were civil despite their mom being the one who cursed yours
occasionally, though, there was a kid called percy
a son of posiden, who you were suitably wary enough of (again, considering the story)
he came to camp a little before you did, and was off on a quest when you actually arrived
it was an odd introduction
"hi, i'm percy, i kinda killed your mom"
you had shrugged, fingers still trailing over the book in front of you
"i know. she sent me an iris message from the underworld. it's not the first time someone's killed her, she'll be back in a few days"
the silence that followed was one of awkward expectation, and you snorted a laugh. "dude, chill out, i don't care anymore"
he'd hesitantly accepted your acceptance and had left, and you'd thought that would be the end of it
to your surprise, he would come back and talk
a friendship blossomed over the next couple years, something that was new to you
you genuinely liked him
he didn't ask questions about being blind all the time, he didn't scream when your sunglasses slipped down your nose, he seemed to automatically let you know what he was doing and where he was in your space
with him came grover, the somewhat nervous satyr who calmed down once annabeth, percy's other friend, slapped the back of his head when he asked if your hair was just a bunch very thin snakes
this was more friends than you'd had in your life, and it was kind of incredible
annabeth got some books in greek braille, and together you discovered that it was easier for you to read - the ancient greek hardwire was still very much present in your brain, even if you couldn't see the letters
percy, however, went the extra mile every time
every activity you were hesitant about, he was right there with you, describing the new areas, offering to help but never touching you or giving advice unless you asked first
any time something changed with the camp, whether it was a part of the forest or the layout of the camp itself, he'd go with you to explore the differences to change the mental map you had in your head
late nights were reserved for sitting together around a campfire, maybe with grover and annabeth, maybe not
but they were a time for you to ask questions instead
what colour were the new swords? what does bronze look like? is the red of the strawberries as sweet as they taste?
he would answer as best he can, trying to explain from every angle, like trying not to use other colours to explain another colour
one night, in your fourth year of camp, you got up the courage to ask him the question you'd been wanting to ask him forever
"percy? what do i look like?"
there was a pause, and you knew he had turned to look at you by the rustling of his hair
...a minute passes, and you shift in your seat
"you don't have to tell me, it's fine, forget i asked-"
"no!"
he interrupts you, blurting out a protest a little louder than he intended
he continues, clearing his throat
"no, i just- would it be okay if you took your sunglasses off? so i can give you the best description?"
in answer, you slipped off your sunglasses, hanging them in the neck of your t-shirt
all you could see was a faint warm, orange-yellow glow from the fire
percy takes a breath
"okay, here goes- you're beautiful. i-i know that isn't much but... you look warm. like the feeling of coming back to our cabin at the end of a really good day, tired but happy, and everything is quiet and calm and cosy and you know you're gonna sleep so good. you look like sunsets over the sea, like someone has managed to set the horizon on fire but, y'know. less dangerous than setting fire to things."
you laugh, subconsciously leaning against his shoulder with your heart trying to keep pace with the butterflies in your stomach
"yeah? i look warm?"
his voice is almost a whisper
"right now, yeah. the firelight is reaching out over the grass to touch you, preferring to have you warm than the trees around us. if we were regular teenagers, we could be telling scary stories"
i rest my hand, palm up, on his knee, a silent way of telling him to give me his hand
he does so, and i link our fingers together tightly, a 'thank you' that we don't need to hear
"percy?"
"yeah?"
"what do you look like right now?"
another pause, and he squeezes my fingers gently
"i think... right now, i look like i'm completely in love with you"
my head lifts from his shoulder, head turned to him as if i need to hear him better, like we aren't side to side, holding hands
"you... what?"
he breathes a shaky laugh, and i feel his hand move to pause just over my cheek
"sorry, that wasn't a great description, but i couldn't think of anything else to say. can i put my hand on your cheek?"
slowly, i nod, feeling his warm palm settle against my skin, his thumb brushing over my cheek
"please say no if you don't want me to," he whispers, voice nervous but also filled with hope
"but can i please kiss you?"
i don't need to be able to see to know how big he smiles when i say "yes"
------------------------
i hope that was okay? i tried my best, if anyone has an issue with it or wants me to correct something, let me know!
#percy jackson and the olympians#pjo imagine#percy jackson#percy jackson headcanons#percy jackson x reader#percy jackson imagine
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any tips for shopping on sites with individual sellers (donât really know what this specific Type of site is called but like depop etsy ebay etc)? i really love vintage and thrift and i appreciate online resellers for the accessibility, but iâm totally new to this in regards to weeding out scammers, curating my recommendations, etc
hey!! thrifting online is one of my fave things so im very happy to give u some tips :') the Big Five for me is depop, poshmark, mercari (although they've recently raised their fees so be aware of that), etsy, and ebay. i shop the most on depop because i find it to be the most active app and just a really intuitive interface in terms of messaging sellers, curating ur likes, etc. poshmark has a less broad selection of vintage clothing but sellers on there are more likely to make u really good offers on items. etsy is a more curated vintage shopping experience but prices can be artificially inflated on there. ebay can be sort of a wild card, but it should never be counted out, especially as sellers flood the other more "hip" platforms with high prices.
for curating ur recommendations, start out broad and then narrow in from there. literally just typing in "vintage (color) (article of clothing)" can be a great place to start and give u a sense of both what u like and how sellers on the platforms describe and tag their items. the whole "niche aesthetic" movement is annoying, but it can help u find items that really appeal to ur tastes because sellers will label those aesthetics in an attempt to get more eyes on their items. for example, i hate the whole "coquette" thing, but sometimes ill search the term to find pink, princessy type articles of clothing. u can also search by a particular decade or by a fashion icon u want to emulate, especially on depop and etsy. as u start searching and adding items to ur likes, the algorithm gets better at giving u targeted recommendations and u can get more particular and specific with ur search queries or find sellers that u find offer a good vintage selection (for a FAIR price. do not let a seller convince u that a pretty vintage dress with obvious flaws is worth 200 dollars.)
other things: take ur measurements with a tape measure before shopping (bust, waist, hips, height). vintage sizing is weird and so most (educated) vintage sellers will give the measurements of an item of clothing, which can help u decide if it will fit (ex. i, as a rule, dont buy dresses shorter than 33 inches because i have learned that they will be too short on me and thus will be wasting my money). if the listing only has a few pictures of the item, message the seller and ask for more. never feel bad about asking for more photos or details about the item. if the listing includes a flaw (split stitches, stains), ask the seller if they have tried anything to repair the flaw yet (u may not want to take a risk on an article if the seller has already tried and failed to remove the stains) and do not buy if u are not willing to invest in repairing the item: its just not worth it. as for scamming, do not buy anything from a depop seller who has no reviews/ratings yet. theres less of a scamming problem for vintage on the other platforms (poshmark scammers usually target people buying designer or expensive items), but if u are going to buy a more expensive item secondhand, do not buy a listing that only has pictures from the official site or advertisements: get pictures of the person holding it and make them specific. make offers on items, especially if they are overpriced. get details from the seller. always think critically about the price being presented to u and ask urself if u would buy the same item new with defects: vintage does not inherently mean more valuable.
#anonymous#ask#syd squeaks#if u have any other questions let me know!!!#i love helping people transfer their shopping to secondhand platforms
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i feel like im not making any sense but does anyone else feel like there are stories that let u run with them and ones that spell everything out for you
#im reading that post that says artists are directors of audience reaction and not its dictator:#'you cannot guarantee that everyone viewing your work will react as you are trying t make them react. a good artist knows that this is what#allows work to breath. by definition you cannot have art where the viewer brings nothing to the table ... this is why you have to let go of#the urge to plainly state in text exactly how you think the work should be interpreted ... its better to be misinterpreted sometimes than#to talk down to your audience. you wont even gain any control that way; people will still develop their opinions no matter what you do#im thinking abt this again cuz i was thinking maybe the thing that lets adventure time work so well the way it does is cuz it doesnt#take itself too seriously that it gives the audience enough room to fuck with subtext and then fuck with them back yknow. i think it was#mentioned somewhere that they werent even planning to run with the postapocalyptic elements that are hinted in the show but changed their#mind after the one off with the frozen businessmen and dominoed into marcy and simons backstory. on the other side there are stories that#explain too much to let the story speak for itself and i think it ends up having to do more with the crew trying to lead ppl in a certain#direction than expand on what they have and i see a lot of this with miraculous. like when interviews and tweets are used as word of god in#arguments and it becomes a little stifling to play around with it knowing the creator can just interject. u can say its the crews effort to#engage with its audience but it feels more like micromanaging. and none of this is to say there ISNT room for stories that spell things out#theyre just suited for different things. if sesame street tried abstract approaches to themes and nuance itd be counterproductive#a lot of things fly over my head so i need help picking things apart to get it- but it doesnt have to be from the story itself. ive picked#picked up or built on my own interpretations listening to other ppl share their thoughts which creates conversation around the same thing#sometimes stories will spell things out for you without being so obvious abt it that it feels like its woven into the text. my fav example#for this might be ATLA using younger characters as its main cast but instead of feeling like its dumbed down for kids to understand why war#is bad its framed from a childs point of view so younger audiences can pick up on it by relating to the characters. maybe an 8 year old#wont get how geopolitics works but at least they get 'hey the world is a little more complicated than everyone vs. fire nation'. same for#steven universe bc its like theyre trying to describe and put feelings into words that kids might not have so they have smth to start with#especially with the metaphors around relationships bc even if it looks unfamiliar as a kid now maybe the hope is for it to be smth you can#look back to. thats why it feels like these shows grew up with me.. instead of saving difficult topics for 'when im ready for it'#as if its preparing me for high school it gave me smth to turn in my hands and revisit again and again as i grow. stories that never#treated u as dumb all along. just someone who could learn and come back to it as many times as u need to. i loved SU for the longest time#but i felt guilty for enjoying it hearing the way ppl bash it. bc i was a kid and thought other ppl understood it better than me and made#feel bad for leaning into the message of paying forward kindness and not questioning why steven didnt punish the diamonds or hold them#accountable. but im rewatching it now and going oh. i still love this show and what it was trying to teach me#yapping#diary
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guess whos not going in at all this week, actually
#MY MANAGER EMAILED LIKE 2 HOURS B4 I HAD TO GO IN#she finally changed my schedule (1 day) to the night shift today#(i emailed her to be safe just kinda casually reaffirming im going in at the new time & then asking if any other shifts wanted 2 be changed#bcs that sounds great to me whstever option she goes with#she ignored that question & i get a new email from her asking if i completed a training. lets called it DOC#basically a long time ago she said 'i will send you DOC instructions soon' .. a few days pass and i get three 50 paged packets#one is called NAVIGATING DOC#im like oh ok cool that must be the DOC training shes talking abt bcs the other 2 packets were abt various trainings#NAH BRUH. APPARENTLY THE DAY IM SUPPOSED TO GO IN. SHE MESSAGES ME SOME ENTIRELY ALIEN PROGRAM#and is like 'u completed this right? cus if u didnt u cant come in today.'#LIKE?? MAYBE I WOULDA IF U SENT THE SHIT#but it's also like. dam i shouldve emailed prompting her to send what she said she would n clarifying BUT FUCK#WHY DO I GOTTA?? IM NOT THE MANAGER#she literally told me the name of the program rn thru email so i type it in and see like four hour long modules to complete#mind u i aint never even been informed a WHISPER abt this new program. nothings even labeled DOC TRAINING#but my struggle is. was i notified this?? and i just didnt see??? was i supposed to clarify with her what the DOC training was exactly??#the only thing ive heard abt doc training b4 this is 'i need to send u DOC training soon' in EMAIL. so i expected an alert#abt THE DOC TRAINING... in an EMAIL notification. WHAT THE HELL IS THIS#idk man#i dont even care bro like im busy as hell & the work is just to build clinic hours so i dont care abt the money factor#it's just like. can we get this first day jitters thing over with already?? im so over this bro#yaddayadda i emailed her an apology n ill be on that ASAP shit. but i did let her know i am basically justnnow seeing this site#n if there was any email or notif that couldve/tried to inform me of its existence 2 pls let me know / figure out how to find it#so the issue doesnt occur again & i dont have to keep botherinher which im so srry of bcs med is stress n shes just trying to get by#but still bro im a lil miffed bcs she probably thinks im stupid now and now im wondering if i AM#bcs WDYM ONLINE MODULES. AINT NOBODY SAID SH IT EVEN ABT THE EXISTENCE OF THEM!!! i wouldve pressed harder 4 clarification#if i knew it was an ONLINE MODULE i had to look out for on some randomass site i didnt even know the name of until now#instead of the EMAIL UVE BEEN 'COMMUNICATING' WITH ME ON#ARREGHHHHHHHH IM NOT STUPID. I SWEAR IM NOT STUPID FUCCK MY BAKA LIFE
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since i started talking about calisthenics and the kind of exercise i do as a spoonie with a lot of chronic pain and bone/joint problems ive gotten a couple questions so i thought it might be helpful to make a post kind of outlining some basics that really helped me get started but that i think often get really overlooked when ppl first start thinking of "working out" and the preconceived notions of what abled society tells us that looks like
so for me its all about engaging ur muscles. this is huge because a lot of us, myself included, arent actually very used to actively engaging our muscles during rest. and what i mean by engaging is literally just having the muscle be active without being clenched up. the more u use a muscle, the more active it learns to be, even when sitting, lying down, or resting. it learns to stay engaged and stay doing its job which is holding ur bones together and ur body in the correct position. but if u arent engaging ur muscles consistently, they get used to being overly relaxed and lose strength and form and then struggle when u want to go and use them. this is often combined with poor posture and a huge problem for those of us whose bones and joints dont like to stay where they are and need extra support, as overly relaxed muscles have a more difficult time maintaining proper form and shape. this also makes everything from traditional exercise to just moving around doing daily tasks much more difficult and dangerous, as its way easier for bad form and posture to cause us injury or pain
but engaging ur muscles is actually a very easy and simple thing, it requires no equipment or special moves and can be done sitting, lying down, or standing up. u can do ur whole body all at once or break it up into different parts throughout the day. there's also variations to make it easier in places as u progress
easiest first step i found to get urself used to this is something called progressive muscle relaxation. which is literally just starting at the top of ur body and tensing and then relaxing each muscle group for a few seconds as u work ur way down. it's usually paired with meditation but u dont have to. i usually do it to music cause i find guided meditations boring. a lot of people like to do it either in the morning or right before bed, as it can often help relieve tension and stress and make it easier to fall asleep. there are basic guides like this one
when ur first starting if u want a little extra help identifying what and where ur muscles are so u know ur tensing the right ones in the right ways. once uve done those enough that things are easy, u can break it down even further and isolate more specific muscles and add those in as well. charts like these
where u look up specific muscle groups (in thise case shoulder/upper body muscle groups) can help u visualize exactly where ur muscles are, what directions they go in and what they're connected to, which can help u in understanding how to move and control them
understanding the muscles in ur body and having good control over each area can help so much more than u think when it comes to everyday things. slow, deliberate movement is really the key to that and once u get used to each muscle group and have identified which ones u want to work on, u can isolate those groups and start doing basic calisthenics.
a great resource for that is a channel like hybrid calisthenics which i really like for learning new exercises with lots of options for variations and low impact. his exercises almost always require no equipment, very little impact, and focus on control and stability which are much more beneficial and friendly for spoonies, chronically ill, and disabled people
but even if u dont want to or cant progress farther, simply engaging those muscles for a few minutes a days every day on its own will still help a lot and can make a big difference for some people
#jack.speaks#calisthenics#progressive muscle relaxation#pmr#hope that was helpful and if u have any other questions or want specific exercises i do and stuff let me know and i can post those too#also obligatory acknowledgement that this is obviously not going to work for everyone and not everyone can do these things#but it helped me a lot and ive gained a much larger range of motion and am in much less daily pain because of it
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can any of my mutuals/followers do a backflip
#or do u guys have any other cool tricks#i have no reason to ask the question besides the sake of knowing#i personally cannot do a backflip#but when I danced I could do a back handspring and round off#let me add that I could BARELY do that back handspring and would not even think about attempting to do one now
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weekend melancholy is starting to kick in >~<
#im gonna go and do my food shop etc to keep myself busy and hopefully my 2nd meds will kick in and we'll be able to handle it together#i think i kind of do this so regularly bc my brain is just processing everything bc i dont rly have time during the week#all cool tho im doing good overall def on the up n i feel way more capable of coping emotionally which is nice. i <3 meds#also.. possibly settling on the idea that i might be agender. very tentatively. lots of experiences n thoughts coming together rn#ive been reacting in unexpected ways to a lot of gendered shit atm which has made me reconsider the way i think abt myself#but very difficult to articulate it to myself let alone anyone else. so ive been sitting with it for now until it precipitates#gender stuff has never rly affected me much or ive never been in a place to explore it which is why i havent thought abt it super hard#but im not the sort of person who needs a lot of internal exploration to figure out my identity like im v self aware tbh#and while im wildly indecisive abt most things in my life for some reason i never have been abt stuff like this. i learned abt lesbianism#like idk 9 years ago-ish and straight away was like yeah that makes sense for me. never looked back since#n similarly ive experienced forms of gender dysphoria before n just immediately dealt with it symptomatically n moved on#its never been smth to agonise abt for me like i know what makes me comfortable in my skin so theres no question abt doing it#and ik im privileged to be able to do that. and also it helps that gender for me is mostly divorced from external perceptions#+ that im v autistic so social pressures dont stick to me very well. i mean yeah i was bullied for it as a kid but i was stubborn asf#so yeah from the moment i realised i was genuinely uncomfortable/upset abt it earlier this week i was like okay. lets try this instead#its given me pretty instant relief from any distress i was feeling so far which is nice. rare respite from one of my torture labyrinths#just testing out internally whether it frames things more clearly n makes me feel more myself/at peace before i choose to stick w the idea#but not gonna do a whole coming out fanfare either way. dont think i wanna change how ppl interact w me + im still a dyke#so i dont consider it relevant to anyone else unless they share a similar understanding of gender to me. or if we're v close#ill prolly broach it w other trans friends eventually bc insert philosophers talking image. but to everyone else its business as usual#happy to play my cis-sona at work. + w new queer ppl i meet ive been introducing myself recently w mirrored pronouns instead of any/all#and i think i prefer that. virtually indistinguishable but theres smth nice abt inviting ppl to recognise me the way they do themselves#like translating + localising a non-gendered language into a gendered one... simplifying decisions abt how to perceive me#and ofc ppl are still gonna perceive me however but idc much unless we're actually friends. the rest is all a performance anyway#doubtful anyone on here ever has reason to refer to me but if u do for some reason... im freeloading off ur pronouns now btw <3#but yeahhh. much 2 think abt. i need to read more alien/ai sci fi.. non-human sentience has been such a comforting concept lately#but yea tldr i woke up one morning this week like damn im prolly agender but i have a full time job to go to rn so idc abt that#.diaries#okkkk my dex is kicking in im no longer on the verge of tears lets go get these groceries wooohoooo
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Hey! I was just curious what app do you use to make those gifs?? They always come out super good and high quality and I was just curious because I also make gifs and use GIPHY but it kinda ruins the quality and makes it grainy. So I wanted to ask which app / software you use for making your gifs because they always come out so nicely.
Thanks! đ¤
hi!! thank you so much for the love <3 i use photopea! it functions basically the same as photoshop, but it's all in your browser! :) i have a gif coloring tutorial here where i link to some tutorials by some of my mutuals about how they gif in photopea, and share my coloring and sharpening processes too :)
#kai.answer#let me know if u have any other questions!! im happy to help a fellow gifmaker <3#especially because photopea's a bitch to work with shdjbhfskfs
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clari iâm so confused đ if touya-nii is so possessive and such why does he let natsuo do stuff with the reader?
because i am a whore because natsuo is his lil brother and is 100% wholly and entirely devoted to his big brother. touya is, ultimately, in complete control of both of them. technically, unless natsuo has touyaâs explicit permission, he isnât allowed to touch reader. thatâs why they get in so much trouble during beautiful when the damage is done. very rarely will natsuo ever fuck or play around with reader without touya being literally present to watch/dictate. they arenât allowed to do anything otherwise. natsuo, when he is alone with reader, should be acting solely as a big brother type (and a big brother type only). heâs there to watch her + keep her safe, to help her if she needs it, to be touyaâs eyes and ears and report back to him, and thatâs it.
itâs important to note tho that natsuo isnât constantly present with reader when touya has to go away for âbusinessâ. natsuo has his own life, heâs in med school depending on where we are in the timeline, heâs working under street doctors and learning the pill mill trade + underground prescription dealing, etc etc etc.. he just stops by whenever touya wants him to, basically! this ask touches on the relationship dynamics and this ask touches on why touya-nii isnât jealous!
#anyway that's it in a nutshell anon!!!#i hope this clears things up a lil!! <3#let me know if u have any other questions ehehe c:#hope ur weekend is going great!#touya nii universe#inky.bb#clari gets mail
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Also from yesterday (some scabs still were on), some pectus excavatum references specifically.
This is how it looks pov with a straight back
And slouching vs straightening my back fully
And some pics from today with my natural posture
The flared ribs are the same visibility as pre op, it didnt rly impact the surgery. I was really worried that the pe would cause my results to potentialy look rly weird, but that wasnt the case at all. It all looks absolutely perfect, just with a sunken chest!
#top surgery#pectus excavatum#pe#sunken chest#funnel chest#double incision#nipple graft#results#selfie#i hope this will be a good reference for other ppl with pe considering top!#if u have any questions or want any other angles let me know
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iâm sorry if this is creepy or weird but i have to ask! i was scrolling through your blog to look for a post i remembered and saw in one of your tags that you have osdd as well! i used to watch a lot of your livestreams and itâs cool to know we have the same thing i guess? can you tell a lil bit about your system? if you want to of course you donât owe me an answer! have a great day!đ
ou omg hi!!! yeah of course!! i dont really talk abt it bc im very scared of being accused of faking or not having "real osdd-1". which i know is silly! ive just seen too many mean spirited tiktoks and callouts in my lifetime .
anyway theres about 18 named guys in here and a bunch of loose particles that i cant place . idk if you want me to list them all but i can make a separate post for that if anyones interested?
uhhhh i dont know what else to say really its just how it is !! im not open about it in person so were all just host cosplaying . heres a few sideblogs for the headmates that wanted one:
@stormycontrail, @solarvalve, @shimmersparks, @tphorizon (body horror warning) and @nyalesund
#but yea !!#if you or anyone else has any other questions let me know!! ill answer what i can#thank u for the ask its cool we have the same thing! but also im sorry#this disorder sucks sometimes
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im going to finish magireco maybe bc its only like a dozen episodes left but ngl i might watch an additional show inbetween this and xy bc. im sorry gamers i cant say i like it all that much
#i WANTED to like it so bad i kept telling myself to not expect it to be as good as the original esp bc its an adaptation of a gacha#but i just dont find any of it or its new rules compelling at all#and the elements i do like are barely in the show like the little kyubey and the original five#and even then im a little afraid of how theyre gonna adapt them here#it just doesnt have much of what i loved abt the original series in it#echoed voice#the season 1 finale was the nail in the coffin tho oh my god the witch reveal reaction was god awful#i know we havent seen the other girls reactions besides tsureno and iroha and i guess yachiyo#and while tsurenos is good the other two are just????#iroha u were just told u were manipulated into this system to be converted into energy and a monster#and this entire time youve been fighting the tortured souls of other magical girls and the system is primed to ensure that you WILL die#or become a witch eventually#please show more fucking reaction to that than ââum okayâŚ.. whereâs ui thoââ#like. she seemed upset in the dream yes but after that she says the ui line and then just has no drawbacks anymore#bc i guess the show doesnt have a counterargument against ââhey lets make life for magical girls easier and dont kill themââ#and having her be rightfully devastated and questioning the system would make the magias look good#again. ill give season 2 a chance and ill look for the stuff i like. ik homuras coming back#but season 1 left a really bad impression on me ugh#unless they turn around and do something interesting w the magias beyond ââewwww theyre bad bc theyreâŚ. bad!!!ââ#and make iroha a more compelling protagonist i dont really have high hopes
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thinking
#about how i have SUCH a hard time allowing myself to be myself bc it was ingrained in me at a young age#that everyone is always watching and judging Me Specifically and if i do Anything even Slightly Questionable or Different i Will#be ridicouled for it#like i have a hard time drawing in my sketchbook bc one time my friends looked thru one without my permission when i was out of the room#and it was one when i was drawing anime characters bc thatâs what i was into at the time#and they didnât know? and it was something people at my school had been bullied for#and so i didnât let people know i watched it (im a lot more open about it now thank u college)#but i justâŚ#ever since then iâve felt this Fear and Dread around my sketchbook#and it was also when i was going thru angsty teen phase so it was just overall embarrassing but deeply human sketchbook#anyway so iâve just had this Dread surrounding drawing#and so i censor myself in what should be a fun space and i hide my sketchbooks and my diary that i hardly ever write in#and i just have been hiding for so long which sounds soooo cliche but itâs true!#bc i had unrestricted access to the internet as a kid and got in some trouble w that (as any other curious kid would)#and it was just a shitshow! and so i have just this immense feeling of Being Watched whenever i do anything even slightly off from what#i was raised around (small christian southern town) and its so exhausting!!!#i feel like i canât even be myself HERE bc my sibling follows/knows this is me and so i find myself censoring myself here too#and ugh!#i just am so tired all the time of hiding what i enjoy and who i am bc of some stupid deep seated fear that i was burdened w as a kid
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