Cactus

Ijichi had never been the most outspoken guy. It was something he really struggled with, taking the words from his head and putting them in his mouth, then actually getting them out. It was an entire process, and only became harder when you started involving those pesky feelings. He was teased often by his peers, even into his young adulthood, and it only made the issue worse. Already, he’d been bad at expressing himself, and now when he did manage he was mocked for stuttering or teased for the words he did manage to get out. So, he took to keeping quiet. If nobody wanted to hear what he had to say, then he simply wouldn’t say it - after all, nothing was lost by him keeping his mouth shut. Clearly, he had nothing of value to say, so why say it at all? Of course that didn’t actually prevent the teasing, because instead he was teased for being quiet, but that was something he learned to live with. Better that than actually teased in a way that hurt, for the way he felt and expressed himself.

That all made it just that little bit harder when it came to being able to talk to you.

You made his heart flutter, his stomach twist, fingers tremble with the desire to reach out and touch you if only to keep you close for just a little longer. Your smile in his view, your eyes on him, your scent under his nose - anything that he could get. Anything that didn’t involve opening his mouth, anyway. He was always there for you, even if as an assistant manager it was his job, he truly went above and beyond. Even outside of work hours, if you needed a ride then you could always call him. His soft and clean smell, sea salt, pine and linen so comforting each time you climbed into the front seat of his car - because you deserved to be in the passenger seat, especially outside of work hours. You were his friend, not just another coworker. Your own Omega scent was his personal favourite, and when you got out of his car he’d always take the long route home, just to carry it with him for a little longer.

Ijichi was quite sure he’d never tell you how he felt, and that was something he’d long since made his peace with. There were better Alphas out there for you, Alphas who you could protect you better, take better care of you than he could. He always got so tongue tied if he tried to comfort someone, never knew where to put his hands if he wanted to hold someone, he could never truly expect to be a good mate and you deserved only the best that life could offer. He was man enough to accept that he wasn’t it. That doesn’t stop him being there for you, and being prepared in case of your every need.

There’s always a spare bottle of water in the glove compartment, a spare pen in his blazer pocket, enough yen for a meal when you forgot your wallet, fuel in the tank to get you where you needed to go.. and a sweatshirt in the trunk in case you ever needed it.

For once, the two of you had time off. It was rare that you got to spend time together as friends, even less frequently with the rest of your extended group of friends from school, but there you all sat. It was a fairly nice day, two picnic blankets set out, various snacks strewn around still in their packaging to share. Satoru, Suguru, Kento, Shoko, Yu, Ijichi, and yourself. Families were similarly scattered around, somewhere there was music playing, and you were laughing together as if work wouldn’t come again on Monday. Whenever the entire group was together, it was like you were back in school again, without worries or responsibilities. You’d never truly known a world where none of you had worries or responsibilities, not when the world you lived in was one with sorcery and curses, but for a while you could pretend. You could forget, with the warmth of friendship around, the connection of pack settling heavy in your chest, so different from how it had felt when you’d lived at home with your family. These were the people you’d picked for yourself, and they’d all chosen you in return.

Shoko was the first to leave, Kento not far behind her. They were the most conscious about having to wake up tomorrow, the more responsible ones of the bunch. Yu wasn’t long after that, something about needing to walk his adorable dog, and a promise to send pictures to the group chat. Satoru and Suguru chose to head home together, arms slung around each other like they were still seventeen, roughhousing like young Alphas did, but with lips pressed to skin like they weren’t suppposed to. Who was going to stop them? They were the strongest.

Though the high volume left with your friends, that comforting warmth lingered. You and Ijichi sat side by side, fingers just short of touching, silence settling between you. It was never awkward though, not with Ijichi. Silence came naturally, like it was a language you both spoke fluently. You always had. He’d been the quiet boy at school, so rarely voicing anything for himself, and you’d been there to fill his silences, until you’d learned to be quiet with him. The slight shifts in facial expression, the deepness of breath, the tenseness of muscles all became a dance you participated in effortlessly in order to read each other - knowing when to speak and when to be quiet, when softness or brashness was needed. The two of you worked around each other like you’d been born to do it, like there was never another option.

When the clouds shifted from fluffy white, to a light grey, you weren’t too concerned. It seemed like you had time before you needed to rush for cover, so you made no rush to pack what was left of your things from the picnic. Movements slow, conversation idle. Why rush on such a lovely day?

Because the skies opened with a vengeance not two minutes later. That was why.

Suddenly, you were forced to rush to toss away your rubbish, scrambling to hide under a large tree as you laughed together at your misfortune. You hadn’t picked your clothes that morning with the potential risk of a weather change in mind, so foolishly you had no jacket to protect you, and the rain had already soaked the t-shirt you were wearing. Ijichi though - perfect, sweet, attentive Ijichi - he reached into his little backpack and pulled out a spare hoodie from inside, offering it to you. Quickly, you pulled it on, sinking into its warmth. It seemed like it was probably large even on him, so it wrapped around you perfectly, and his scent was thick in the fabric.

Ijichi was easily your favourite Alpha, despite knowing so many of them. He was less brutish, and of course it helped that he was your friend. Your classmate back in school, so you spent more time with him than anyone. Even now, he was always there for you. It was hard not to be borderline obsessed with him. To be wrapped in his scent, the fabric of the hoodie warm from being in his bag in the sun, and it was his. Even if it wasn’t saturated with that comforting, familiar smell, the fact that it was his would be enough to make your heart flutter.

The park was quieter now, families having rushed off for their cars, teenagers scrambling to get out of the rain. Quiet enough, that when the low rumble started in Ijichi’s chest, you could hear it. You’d brushed it off at first, sure that you must be mishearing, but when you lifted your eyes to meet his, intending to thank him, it seemed to intensify. You paused, eyes widening just slightly, and that must have tipped Ijichi off. You broke eye contact at the same time, your cheeks warm. He felt like an idiot, failing to control himself like that, rumbling over the sight of you in that hoodie he always kept close, just in case you needed it. You’d never been more flustered, the sound making you want to purr in reply, to press in closer just to get more of his scent, to breathe it in like it was the only air you needed.

Neither of you addressed it, just walked towards the car together in silence, slightly heavier than it usually was. Your fingers brushed together by accident once or twice, and it made your heart jump each time, fluttering excitedly at the prospect of touching him. You climbed into his car together, with you in the passenger seat where you belonged, and if you buried your nose into the fabric of that hoodie for the rest of the drive home as you watched the world pass by, well that was your business. It was Ijichi’s business if that low rumble started again, not quite fully drowned out by the car’s engine. Still, nobody acknowledged it.

Another day, maybe, when Ijichi had found his words. If anyone deserved the effort it took for him to force a confession from his brain to his mouth and out into the air, it was definitely you.

Tags: @claryeverlarkf @uselessboots @cainnoable @queenmimi2817 @hellkaiserinphoenix @wrennyx @lunulatalux @gojosbigboobies @yoonsucks @fanaticsnail

Well, there you were. A drink in one hand and your friend holding onto the other arm, excitedly talking away as she was one to do after a few drinks. You always indulged her, so few did. The week wasn’t even over yet, but you were utterly exhausted. Just one encounter with Ryomen - or Professor Sukuna, as he’d insisted you do - you were firm in your decision that you needed to move out of his class. You’d known he wouldn’t be able to keep things civil, and he’d only confirmed that after seeing him just once. But, this wasn’t the place to think of him. You were keeping an eye out for any guys you might like, anyone who may just catch your attention enough to want to pull them into a storage closet to make out with. Why not, right? It was your last year of college and you needed to make the most of the inherent permission to engage in debauchery that came with being a student.

Your friend gasped softly, and you realised that you’d entirely zoned out, not that she’d noticed. You looked in the direction she was pointing, pulling her hand down because she was anything but subtle and you didn’t want whoever she was pointing at to notice. “For you.” She yelled into your ear to be heard over the music, giggling drunkenly as she did. You looked at the two men she’d been pointing out, one with white hair and one with black hair. You regarded them both for a moment, and in your friend’s defense.. she had taste. They were both hot. It was just a matter of who you wanted.

>[The black haired guy] [The white haired guy] [Keep looking]

At your friend’s insistence, and assurances that she’d be just fine, you decided to go for it. What the hell. You crossed the room, slipping between people until you were stood beside the two men. “Hey.” You greeted, introducing yourself to the both of them, forced to yell to be heard over the music. The guy looked oddly familiar, in a way you couldn’t place, though you chose not to mention it - it wasn’t important, and it wasn’t really the right time to be trying to figure out who his celebrity lookalike was. You were trying to get laid after all. “I’m Suguru, that’s Satoru.” Suguru introduced, and you shook their hands, doing your best to shake of the slight awkwardness of meeting new people.

He was crazy hot. His hair was clearly long, but was tied back into a bun that was artfully messy, with a large piece left hanging out of the front to frame his face. He wore ear gages, had two lip rings, and a helix. His arms were tattoed, down to his hands where his nails were painted black and the polish was slightly chipped. To top it all off, he’d cut a slit into his left eyebrow, and for a moment all you could think about was being under him.

“Sorry, I don’t normally do this, but I couldn’t help myself. My friend pointed you out and honestly you’re exactly my type, Suguru.” You yelled, and as Satoru heard your words, he gave his friend a wink and disappeared into the crowd to make himself busy. “Why don’t we head out into the garden? We’ll be able to hear each other out there.” Suguru suggested, and you agreed, happy to follow him out and through the large french doors into the large, and significantly quieter garden. Your ears were already ringing a little, but it was well worth it if you managed to get your mind off everything for a night. You’d met another guy with dark hair and that name a long time ago, but the memories were distant and fuzzy, you’d been so young.

You took a deep, appreciative breath of the fresh air, and Suguru chuckled, leaning up against the brick wall of the house. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it, briefly offering it to you, shrugging when you refused. “So, I’m exactly your type huh?” He asked, a small flirtatious smirk creeping onto his face and you realised with horror that you’d need to actually flirt with him now to get him into bed. You knew how to do that, sure. “I mean, I’ve already been pretty forward so I might as well keep going. I came here tonight hoping I’d find a pretty guy I could sneak away with for a little while, and I don’t know if that’s something you’re into but-” Your words were cut off when Suguru tugged you in by your shirt to crash your lips together without another word. “I’m real into kissing people who think I’m pretty.” He whispered against your lips, and that was all it took.

You scrambled back through the party, waving a quick goodbye to your friend as you passed by, pulled along by Suguru. He didn’t have a spare helmet with his motorbike, so he gave you his instead, promising he was a safe driver. “Where.. do I put my hands?” You asked, watching as Suguru climbed onto his bike, movements fluid from experience. “You can hold onto my waist. You could hold onto the bar behind you but.. not the best for tight corners.”He replied, self assured in a way that annoyed you on others, but seemed to suit him perfectly. “So just.. on your waist?” You clarified as you swung your leg over the bike, slowly sitting behind him. “Lean when I do, and we’ll be good. We’ve gotta work together to stay safe, so just hold on.” He said, and you nodded quickly, pulling the helmet down over your head, and wrapping your arms around him.

His arms flexed as he drove, and you wouldn’t be surprised if you were drooling just watching the way his biceps shifted. You leaned with him as he’d asked, the feeling of the air rushing by over your arms was one you could get used to. Not that you’d ever learn to drive, certainly not. You slipped your fingers into his belt loops to hold on tightly, nervous about touching him despite actively being on your way to his apartment to have sex, and you were sure you felt the vibrations of his responding groan where your chest was pressed to his back.

Once you’d arrived, you stumbled off the bike and handed back his helmet, only to be pushed up against it again as large, cool hands roamed your clothed body and insistent lips pressed against yours, the metal of his lip rings suprisingly warm. After just a few minutes too long lingering in the car park, Suguru guided you up the stairs to his apartment and threw open the door, pushing you up against the wall the moment you were both inside.

He wasted no time at all getting you naked, then descended on you like a starved man, using his tongue in ways you’d been worried you’d never find again, certainly not with some college guy. You pulled his hair from its confines pulling on the strands, encouraging him on until you came hard, against his tongue. He took you to bed then, picking you up to carry you through his small apartment. On the walls were displays of who he was as a person, all ignored in favour of feeling him inside you. Suguru didn’t make love, he fucked, and he did it well. He bent you double and slammed into you, with plenty of lube easing the way as he panted and whispered in your ear, muttering dirty things that only served to make you needier, more desperate.

When you slept, you slept heavily, almost missing your alarm in the morning. Thankfully, Suguru lived closer to campus than you did so you didn’t have to worry much that you could be late, or about your still faulty car.

“Mornin.” He grumbled in an unfairly attractive morning voice as you crept out of bed, trying (and clearly failing) not to wake him. “Hey, sorry. Didn’t mean to wake you.” You said awkwardly, tugging yesterday’s clothes back on. You wouldn’t have time to go back to your apartment to change, so you’d simply have to do your best to wear it with confidence and hope that nobody asked questions. “S’alright. You headed to campus?” He asked, sitting up to reveal his tattoed stomach as the duvet pooled around his waist, the early morning sun framing him as it streamed in through the mostly drawn blinds. You’d bumped into them, and knocked a few out of place. “Yeah. I’ve got early classes.” You brushed yourself off, attempting to will away some of the creases in your jeans, as if that would work. “Me too. I’ll take you on the bike just give me ten.” Suguru said as he stood from the bed, and all your memories of the night before returned to your mind in an instant, all at once as you looked at his naked body. He chuckled, the sound low and resonant, and you could only look away, not acknowledging that you’d been staring.

While he dressed into something fresh, you waited in his living room, finally able to take in the decor you’d ignored the night before. Most of his walls were plain, the furniture nothing out of the ordinary, but on one wall was a cork board where he’d pinned handfuls of leaflets and tickets, a monument to a band called “Jujutsu Beats Monkeys”. You’d never heard of them.

“Hey, you ready to go?” Suguru’s voice rang out as he emerged from his bedroom, and you nodded. A lot of hookups weren’t as cool the next morning as this, so you figured he did this a lot, but frankly you were just grateful he was willing to drive you to campus. “Yeah. Uh, is this your favourite band or something?” You asked, pointing out the cork board as he approached, and you watched as his eyes lit up with pride. “That’s my band, actually. We’re doing pretty well locally.” He explained, grabbing his keys from the sofa where he’d carelessly tossed them in his pursuit to get you naked. “Damn, this is my third year and I’ve never heard of you guys.” You continued to chat as you descended the stairs together, heading for his bike, a spare helmet cradled under his arm to keep you both safe. You pulled on the spare helmet and he put on his usual, and with that he drove you to campus like it was just.. no big deal.

You dismounted with slightly more grace than the night before, and with the help of a hand from Suguru. “Hey, we’re doing a concert next week. You should come.” He said with a smirk, and you nodded, partly out of politeness but also partly out of curiosity. “Where can I get a ticket?” You asked in return, quickly checking the time on your phone. “I’ll put your name on the guest list, don’t worry.” Suguru winked, clearly unfairly aware of how attractive it looked on his face, and you fell for it completely, insides melting at the view. “I’ll be there.” You said, quickly nodding before you rushed away with the excuse of being on time to class.

As you walked, you excitedly texted the group chat with all your friends to tell them the news, stomach twisting and flipping excitedly. Was that a date? Did it matter? If it resulted in a repeat performance then you’d be more than happy.

Someone who was incredibly unhappy was Ryomen, who paid far much attention to you for an ex and pointed out as you entered the room that you were wearing yesterday’s clothes. You refused to let his comment bring you down and took a seat near the back of the room so you could continue texting your friends. You promised to fill them in properly after class, not wanting to give Sukuna more reason to pick on you so early in the morning.

It wasn’t until you all broke for lunch that you really got a chance to chat with your friends again, apologising to those that had already graduated for not being able to give them the details.

You sat at your usual table, your friends sat around all eating happily, chatting idly about nothing in particular, complaining about classes. It didn’t last long though, as quickly all eyes were on you, eager to hear the details about your new conquest. Though you didn’t tell the story in as much detail as some of them would’ve liked, you did explain the encounter to them, more than proud of yourself for it.

“I told you those guys were hot!” Your friend who’d been at the party said excitedly, and credit where it was due, she’d been incredibly correct. “So what was that this morning about maybe seeing him again?” Another friend prompted, stabbing at his chicken salad with a fork. “Oh, he’s in a band and he said he’d add me to the guest list for their next gig.” You said, and a shrill squeal made you wince, rubbing at the ear closest to the source. “Oh my god!! Tell us what his band’s called so we find their music!” Your friend cheered excitedly, pulling out her phone. You considered your options for a moment. The issue with your friends was that you knew for sure they wouldn’t stop at just finding his band on spotify, they’d cyberstalk him too, learn as much as they could about him. Did you really want that?

>[Tell them the band’s name] [Keep it a secret]

After some consideration, you sighed deeply and told them. “It was.. Jujutsu Beats Monkeys, which I thought was-” you’d been about to explain how strange you found the name, when several gasps cut you off. “No way. They’re pretty famous around campus. Everyone wants to sleep with their front man.” A third friend acknowledged, and you grinned and shrugged. “Well, I slept with him. He said he plays guitar, and trust me he has those skilled guitarist fingers.” Everyone laughed along with you, while your friend who had been at the party typed away on her phone, no doubt googling him.

“Jujutsu Beats Monkeys.. drummer Mahito.. singer and guitarist Suguru Geto..” the rest of her sentence faded into nothing. What? There was no way.

You lunged over the table to grab her phone, scrolling through the band’s instagram page that she’d found, and clicked through to the page of the front man. There he was, the handsome guy you’d slept with, with the name of your childhood friend you’d been so sure you’d never see again.

“Dude? Dude!” Yelling caught your attention, and you looked up at your friends with wide eyes, mouth hanging slightly open. “What?” Someone prompted eagerly. “I didn’t recognise him..” you mumbled vaguely, handing your friend back her phone, “oh my god. I knew him when we were kids.” “No way! Small world.” Everyone continued to chat, meanwhile you stared down at the ink on your hand where Suguru had written his number so you could text him when you had some spare time. There was no way, but then, how many people were called Suguru Geto?

You Hey it’s me, finally had a spare minute I think we need to meet up

Suguru Damn, did you enjoy yourself that much?

You rolled your eyes at his flirting, and where that morning it’d made your face warm, now it only made your hands clammy.

You My friends and I googled your band earlier and we found something you might be interested in

Suguru Well that’s ominous as shit I’m in the library rn we could meet here

You I’ll be there in five

With your phone returned to your pocket, and your clammy hands wiped on your jeans, you headed for the library. There was no sense in putting it off, after all. You had to find out the truth. When you reached the library, you spotted Suguru stood outside, and while he still hadn’t seen you you took a moment to just look at him and see if you could find the boy from your youth in his face. You stopped after a minute, not wanting to look like a creep.

After a deep breath to steady your nerves, you jogged the rest of the short distance to get some of your nerves out and called out his name to catch his attention. The smile he gave you was nothing short of heart stopping, and you couldn’t help wondering where he learned to do that.

“What’s up?” He asked casually, lit cigarette hanging loosely between his fingers. “You didn’t tell me your surname last night.” You started, ignoring how odd it sounded as a conversation starter. “Was kinda busy with my tongue b-” You cut him off with a light shove that made you both laugh, and you let him take a long drag from his cigarette before you spoke again. You licked your lips and told him your full name, watching the understanding dawn on his face.

“No way?” He asked, slightly breathless, mouth hanging open with surprise. “Nice to see you again, Suguru.” You said softly, and he laughed loudly as he wrapped you in a tight hug that you couldn’t stop yourself from returning.

As children, you and Suguru had been utterly inseparable. You were best friends and somehow so much more than that, even at a young age. Your parents had once joked that they were sure you’d end up married. Every moment you could be together, you were, hanging off each other without a care in the world what anyone thought. He’d been your first kiss, even if it wasn’t really a kiss, you were too young to know what they meant. But still, his lips had touched yours, and you’d remembered it for years after. The memory of how he’d treated you without ever needing to be told had been a guiding light through your teenaged years, helping you pick friends and lovers alike.

You’d ended up separated as you went into highschool, with your parents needing to move to follow a job opportunity, and you’d been nothing short of devastated.

The night before you were due to leave, you’d climbed up onto the roof with him, and sat there in silence looking up at the stars. “I’ll always be here for you.” He’d said, softly, like he was afraid someone would take his conviction from him too. “I’ll never forget you. Never.” You’d replied, the moment loaded with childhood innocence and something you’d been so sure was real love. “At least we’ll be able to see the same stars.” He’d said several minutes later, and you sat together until the sun began to rise, hand in hand, not ready to let go.

You’d collapsed into his arms and sobbed as your parents finished loading the car the next day, everything else already in the moving truck on its way to your new home. Both your parents and his watched on, pained to watch you be separated. They’d known how hard it would hit the both of you, but some things just can’t be avoided. “I’ll find you again one day.” Suguru had whispered in your ear, a simple promise you knew he couldn’t be sure he’d keep, but you held onto it tight with both hands anyway. “Find me, and then you can marry me like you said you would.” You’d replied just as soft, a special secret between just the two of you. He’d kissed you again then, soft and gentle, before you allowed your mother to prise you away from him and help you into the car.

“I told you I’d find you.” He said when he pulled away, holding you at arms length with a grin, taking you in with new eyes now that he knew the truth of who you were. “Technically, I found you.” “Technically, your friend found me.” You both fell into laughter, clutching each other again in a warm embrace. You’d known he looked familiar, but never would you have guessed why that was.

In the time between that day and the concert he’d invited you to, you spent a lot of time texting and catching up on life. You didn’t get another chance to see each other in person between spending time with friends, class work and his rehearsals but you made texting work. It was nice to have him back, he’d been your first friend and your best friend for so many years after all. You learned that Satoru was the other guest at the concert, the white haired guy you’d also briefly met at the party, and he’d effectively been your replacement. They’d met on Suguru’s first day in high school, and Satoru had picked him up like an excitable child with a stray cat, and they’d been friends ever since. It was nice to know he’d had someone to stand by him in your absence.

The growing pile of clothes on your bed seemed to mock you as you tried another outfit, attempting to find something that you felt like looked good enough to be seeing him again. You felt ridiculous, he’d been your best friend for so long and now he’d even seen you naked - so why should what you wore matter? But it was those very facts that seemed to make the outfit matter, that loomed over you as you attempted to figure out what to do with yourself. You wanted to act normal, to be friends as you once had been, and yet each time you saw a picture of him on your feed all you could think about was how he’d sounded as he moaned your name.

Forcibly, you shook your head, banishing the memory from your mind. You decided to keep on the outfit you were already wearing, time was getting away from you and you didn’t want to be late. Thankfully, your car was back up and running, the issue had only been minor, but you didn’t want to have to drive home late while you were sleepy behind the wheel. So, you called for a taxi, sitting outside your apartment as you waited.

Toji, your neighbour and the mechanic that had fixed your car found you there and struck up a conversation while you waited for your taxi. You waved him goodbye with a smile, thanking him again for helping you out the week before, then climbed into your taxi. The driver didn’t ask any questions, and frankly that was how you liked your taxi drivers, so you simply sat back and enjoyed the radio music softly filling the car.

Satoru was outside when you arrived and greeted you with a cheeky smirk that told you he knew full well that you’d slept with Suguru after re-meeting him at the party. You’d joked a little together, waiting for the venue to open, then headed in together. Satoru paid for your drink when you ordered at the bar, which you appreciated since you weren’t exactly wealthy - your minimum wage job could only afford you so much. When other people began to arrive, you headed together toward the front of the space, making sure you’d be right at the front of the stage when they came out to perform.

It was a fairly low stakes gig, so the crowds weren’t huge, but they were sizeable enough to be pretty impressive, and you noted that almost everyone, if not everyone, in attendance were fellow students. Your friends had mentioned that Geto’s band were popular on campus but you’d not really processed what that meant. It meant a lot of hot people screaming for them as they performed on stage. You were starting to understand where Suguru may have gotten his sexual prowess - and then you immediately scolded yourself for having that thought.

They performed well, with Suguru singing and playing his guitar, a guy with grey hair on drums, and a guy with facial burns on bass. Suguru was definitely the main event though. You couldn’t take your eyes off him as he sang, the casual clothes you’d seen him wearing so far traded for the more rock aesthetic the band seemed to sport. He wore a black sideless muscle tee, with the band’s logo on the front, his hair was up in its trademark bun, but pieces had fallen out during the course of the performance, sticking to his forehead from the sweat. He’d carved out the slit in his eyebrow recently, you could tell from how clear it was, and when he tilted as he played his guitar you got a view of his stomach tattoo that seemed to drive the crowd wild. When he opened his eyes to look out at the crowd, it was like he was trying to seduce each and every person, and when his eyes fell on you, you were powerless to do anything but stare back - and when he smiled, you were sure you’d died in that moment. You could only be glad that the lighting in the room was dark, even if Satoru beside you clearly could tell you were overwhelmed by Suguru’s beauty.

When their set was over, and everyone cheered, the three of them grouped together and waved out at the crowd, grins on their faces. Just before they turned to leave, Suguru’s eyes flicked down to you and he winked, to which Satoru whooped loudly, cackling without remorse. You met up with the band when they’d left the stage, each of them with damp cloths around their necks to cool down, and cold drinks in hand.

“You were good up there.” You told Suguru, leaning up against the bar as he stepped in opposite you. “Thanks. That was a pretty good gig actually, we didn’t fuck up at all.” He acknowledged, voice clearly a little exhausted from performing. You gently bumped his knee with yours, beaming at him. “Shut up and accept the compliment. I never thought you meant it when we were kids and you said you’d learn to play guitar.” You acknowledged, sipping at the second drink Satoru had bought you (you made a mental note to bring him some sweets from your job as a trade). “Oh, I forgot about that. I said I’d write a song about you too, huh?” He said, smile shifting to a little mischevious smirk that you knew all too well, even if it now sat on a very different face. “Whatever you’re scheming, cut it out.” You said, leaning over to playfully hit him, and you laughed together. The others crowded around to chat together, and things felt completely normal for the first time in ages.

>[Go to work] [Go to class]

You turned on your heel in a rush when you heard the bell, already overwhelmed but quickly plastering a customer service smile over your panic. “Hi there, how can I- oh hi Surugu.” You said, leaning heavily against the counter when you realised it was just him rather than a normal customer. “What’s wrong?” He asked with a soft laugh, stepping up to the register to lean against the counter at his hip, arms folded over his chest. “We’re so behind. My coworker called out and I, like a fool, said ‘oh I can handle it’ and then today has been unreasonably busy. We’re running out of things, and I’ve not had a chance to make anything new. I’m losing my mind.” You admitted, brushing your forearm over your forehead to itch it, your hands still covered in flour.

Without a moment of hesitation, Suguru vaulted over the counter, and guided you back into the kitchen with hands on your shoulders. You let him do it, mostly because you were enjoying the feel of having him so close. “What are you doing?” You asked when he rolled up the sleeves of his t-shirt, even though you certainly weren’t complaining about the view. “Helping. Now shut up, I’m still learning this one.” He explained as he pulled out his phone to play what sounded like a demo of one of the band’s new songs. With no complaints, no arguing, no hesitation, Suguru simply began to wash dishes as he softly sang lyrics, giving you the chance to work on something else.

With a deep breath, and a profound appreciation for your friend, you got to work. With an extra set of hands now available, you were able to focus on making some replacement treats for customers, while Suguru swapped between washing dishes, and serving customers.

You fell into a rhythm together, moving around each other without a word needing to be said, like the years between you meant nothing in the face of the true bond that you’d forged in your youth, now reignited. He pulled things from the oven when you were occupied with customers, you caught his phone to stop it falling in the sink of soapy water, he sang softly along to the new demo to keep you both entertained as much as learn, you retied his hair when it began getting loose and he was covered in flour from cleaning one of the countertops. It was as easy as breathing, to be with Surugu. He stayed with you until your shift ended, watching from where he sat on the front counter beside the register as you finished the closing duties.

“You were a lifesaver today, Suguru.” You said with a sigh, leaning against the counter beside him, tilting to rest your head against his arm. “Well, I do try.” He replied with a soft laugh, just letting you relax there with him for a moment. “What did you even come in for?” You followed with after a few minutes, looking up at him without moving from your position. You were far too comfortable to even consider moving. “Satoru said you promised him sweets.” He replied, shrugging with the arm you weren’t leaning against. “I will make extra for you to both share.” You told him, shuffling away into the back to find some leftovers that you could put together into a little care package for them. They’d only be thrown out otherwise.

“As a thank you for your help, and Satoru buying my drinks at your gig.” You announced when you placed the box of treats in Suguru’s arm, then guided him out of the staff door, which you locked behind you. He waited as you finished locking everything up, making sure all the shutters were down, then looked at his motorcycle with critical eyes.

“I don’t think I can take these on the bike.” He said simply, tilting his head as if somehow he could find a way to make them fit. “I’ll drive you home, my car is up and running again, then you can come get your bike tomorrow. Just park it up in the employee spots behind the building.” You said, taking the box of treats from him to transfer them into your car while he moved his bike. You texted your coworker who’d be opening the store tomorrow so they knew who the bike belonged to, then glanced up as Suguru got into your passenger seat, picking the box up to set it in his lap.

You connected your phone to the car speakers, surprised and a little embarassed when Suguru’s own voice came through. You turned it down, and quickly went to change the track, but Suguru’s hand was suddenly wrapped around your wrist. “You’ve been listening to the band?” He asked, looking surprised, and almost shy. “Of course I have. You guys are awesome, and you’re my best friend. I’d listen to the band even if you guys were shit.” For a long moment, Suguru just stared at you, and you stared back with a reassuring smile. He nodded a little, mostly to himself, then took back his hand. You watched him for a moment longer, just waiting to see if he’d say anything else, then focused on driving you both home.

Suguru didn’t live far from your place, so it wasn’t too hard to drop him off, but he was grateful anyway. You thanked him again as he got out, then wanted to curse him as he leaned against the doorframe to speak to you, the veins in his forearms prominent, his biceps bulging from holding his weight. “We should hang out again one day this week, I’ve hardly seen you.” He said, his silver lip rings glinting under the street lights. “Yeah we’ve both been so busy. I’ll text you with my class and work schedule, and we’ll find a time we can do.” As you spoke, you took out your phone to send him both of the schedules in question, before you could forget. Suguru nodded and pushed himself upright, and you were beyond glad he wasn’t shirtless or the view of his abs flexing might just have killed you. “I’ll have a look and let you know. I’ll see you around then.” He nodded and closed the car door, and after seeing him begin the climb to his apartment, you pulled out of the parking lot to go home yourself.

It was late, far later than it had any business being, when you called Suguru next. He answered quickly, though you could tell from the roughness of his voice that you’d woken him up.

“Hey, how come you’re calling so late?” He asked, followed by a soft yawn. You could just imagine him in his bed, those soft sheets wrapped around his naked body, his hair artfully draped over his pillow. Fuck. “I’m really sorry to do this but I’m out at the club with some friends and my ride home got spiked so I’m kinda stranded.” You admitted, glad that you’d not had too much to drink that night. “Shit. Give me five to put on some clothes and I’ll be there. Text me the address.” You sent him the address quickly, leaning heavily against the wall of the smoking area, where the bouncers were still close enough to help out if anyone passed by with a little too much confidence. “Oh I know where that is. Yeah, I can be there quick. Hang in tight for me, sweetness.” He said before hanging up the call to get on his bike, while you were left wide eyed and flushed at the petname.

You were still a little dazed when he pulled up, wearing black sweatpants and a t-shirt that was tight as sin, and instantly had you distracted. Arousal came first, flooding through you unbidden as you imagined him peeling that shirt off, damp with sweat. But then, for just a moment, Suguru the lead singer didn’t stand in front of you with his motorbike, instead it was little Suguru who lived down the street and his red pushbike that you used to sit on the handlebars of.

He climbed off the bike and ignored the bouncers entirely to step up to you, wrapping you in a hug. The bouncers backed off only when you returned it with a smile. “Hey.” He said softly, pulling back to look at you properly. “Hi.” You replied, smiling at him, a little unsteady on your feet - more so from him being so close than from the alcohol. “How many have you had?” Suguru asked, inspecting you more closely. “Not many. I’m just a little tipsy.” You replied honestly, and when he was sure you could stand without help and you weren’t slurring your words, he nodded and guided you back to his bike with a hand around your wrist. He pushed the spare helmet onto your head, then climbed onto the bike, settling only when you followed and wrapped your arms around him securely.

Neither of you spoke as he drove you home - not that you’d be able to really hear each other anyway - but it was peaceful, and comforting to be so close to him. If the helmet weren’t so firmly in the way, you’d nestle your head against his shoulder and press your cheek to his, just to feel him, to hear his breaths and his heartbeat.

After you arrived at your apartment, he didn’t just leave you there, he insisted on walking you up to your door, and then helping you inside. If it was in part because he was being nosy, well that was Suguru’s business. You began to strip once the door was closed, and he didn’t look away - why should he, he’d already seen every inch of you after all - he simply watched to ensure you weren’t going to stumble and fall.

“Is that a new tattoo?” He asked once your shirt was tossed aside, looking at your shoulder blade with interest. “Oh, yeah. I’ve been going to the studio down the street from campus.” You confirmed, pausing as he approached so that he could look at it properly. It was clearly new, though no longer red. He reached out hesitantly to touch it and trace along the lines, not wanting to hurt you but eager to get more familiar with this new mark on your skin. When you didn’t flinch, he did just that, slowly tracing the tip of his middle finger along the lines of the tattoo, committing it to the image of you he had in his mind.

“It’s good work.” He said eventually, breaking out of his trance like he’d been under a spell. You hummed and continued to strip, struggling out of your pants to toss them aside. Suguru reached out a hand to steady you as you struggled, preventing you from falling as you awkwardly hopped around. Once you tossed them away, a second hand gripped your other hip, holding you close to him.

“Are you trying to tempt me, sweetness?” He whispered against your ear, his soft warm breath fanning over your neck, making you shiver. “No?” You replied, but it sounded more like a question than a statement. He chuckled lowly, and you felt it resonate in your sternum, his fingers tightening around your hips, keeping you close. “Well, it’s working. But if you want me to go, I can let you get some rest.” Suguru offered, leaving the ball firmly in your court. You shifted slightly, feeling the hard length of his cock against your ass through his sweatpants, and you knew your decision was made.

It took nothing but a whispered yes for him to drag you to bed, tossing you onto it like you weighed nothing at all. He followed after you, parting your legs without a moment of hesitation to tear your underwear off you, taking you into his mouth in the next breath, like he was stranded in the dessert and you were an oasis. Your back arched from the mattress, your fingers tangling in the sheets below you. For all that you’d been trying to resist thinking about Suguru like this, you couldn’t help the desire that flowed through your body. He groaned against you when you moaned his name, worshipping you like you were a forgotten religion only he had the privilege of maintaining, like a priest at your altar.

Suguru didn’t relent until you’d cum over his tongue, with two knuckles three fingers deep inside you, stretching you out for his cock. His cock was exactly what you needed after such a long day, filling you up while emptying your mind, punching into you relentlessly. Suguru fucked you like he needed to prove that nobody could do it better than he could, like he was trying to imprint the shape of his cock to your insides, and all you could do was writhe and moan his name, hoping your neighbours would forgive you. You clutched him tightly, with nails digging into his back and him panting against your neck as he nailed that spot inside you repeatedly, whispering filth into your ears that made the sound of your smacking skin inaudible - how could you choose to listen to that over his words when they were so delicious, only making you more desperate for a second orgasm at his hands.

It hit like a tidal wave when your orgasm crashed into you, with Suguru following shortly after, coating your stomach in his seed. You both panted, bodies pressed together as if you could become one, like if you just savoured this moment long enough then you’d never have to part again. “Fuck, sweetness. This body was made for me.” He murmured in your ear, and you couldn’t help seeking out his lips for another kiss, a kiss that teetered on the edge of a dangerous ledge, one that promised thrill and heartbreak in equal parts. “It’s been waiting for you for years.” You replied, heart seizing when you felt the movement of his eyelashes as his eyes widened. “You tryna get me to fuck you again? Cause I will.” He warned, hand sliding slowly down your body until it rested on your inner thigh. It moved no further, but it didn’t have to. “Don’t threaten me with a good time, Sugu.” And just like that, you lost your night in each other’s arms.

It was you that drove to class the next day, unwilling to sit on the bike when you were so sore, and not prepared to let Suguru drive when you’d both had such little sleep. You laughed about it together and listened to his music as you made the journey, taking a longer route to avoid the busier roads and therefore the worse drivers. When you pulled up on campus, you knew it was going to be a long day, but you found that you didn’t care. With satisfaction seated so deep in your chest, you didn’t care what anyone said.

“Hey, we’ve got another gig coming up.” Suguru said as he climbed out of the passenger seat, pushing his hands casually into the pockets of his sweatpants. “Oh, send me the details, I’ll come.” You said, locking the car behind you both. You walked side by side to the building where your class would be, hands brushing with each step but neither of you made the move to simply hold hands. It felt too bold, to out in the open, even after he’d fucked you last night in four differnt positions, until the sun rose. “Great. Satoru will be there too so you can hang out together again. He likes you.” “Yeah, he’s nice. I can see why you get along with him.” You acknowledged, gently bumping shoulders. “I think we’re gonna be debuting a few new songs at the next gig.” “Oh yeah? Like the demo I heard when you saved my ass at work the other day?” “Yeah, that’s one of them. You’ll be the only person in the crowd that knows all the words.” He said with a warm smile that made your chest tighten. There was moments where the two versions of Suguru seemed to converge, and that was one of them, seeing the hair you’d made a mess of and the shirt he’d fucked you in combined with the gentle smile that was so familiar it may as well be carved into your soul. “I feel very special. I’ll have to taunt Satoru about it.” You replied, brushing off the way your stomach filled with butterflies when he opened the door for you, following shortly after. “He knows the words to another new song, though. He’s been hanging out with me while I’ve been learning it. It’s not an original but we’ve never performed it before. He likes studying while I play, says it helps him focus or something.” Suguru shrugged but you understood where Satoru was coming from. “I’m looking forward to it then.” You said as you stood outside the door to Sukuna’s classroom, hesitating before heading in, not ready to leave Suguru yet. The door opened without you touching it to reveal the professor in question. His piercing eyes bored into the back of your head, but you said nothing, just looking at Suguru. “I’ll see you then. I’ll send you the details but it’s on Thursday.” He said, nodding politely to Sukuna before he gave you a wave and headed off for his own class.

The time until Thursday positively dragged.

Every class seemed hours long, every assignment seemed to take double the time it usually would, every hangout with friends left you distracted, able to only think of Suguru. It was borderline sickening how quickly you’d fallen totally head over heels for him (again) and your friends (rightfully) teased you relentlessly about it. You didn’t mind, it was all in good fun, and ultimately they were right. But, the times where you’d text or call Suguru in the evening, laying in bed as you just caught up, curled around the pillow he’d fucked you into like you could still smell his scent on it - those times made up for all the moments spent waiting.

You organised to take a taxi with Satoru to the venue, so you didn’t both need to pay, and you covered that in return for him buying drinks. You entered the venue arm in arm, laughing together like old friends, and quickly ordered drinks from the bar before it could start to get busy. Students filed in not long later, all eager to hear new music from the band, while you and Satoru took your spots at the very front, leaning against the metal barrier, joking and laughing, teasing each other in equal parts. You really did understand why Suguru had become such good friends with Satoru, and now you were honoured to call him your friend too. When the band emerged from the wings, the cheering began, but none were louder than you and Satoru, whooping in the front row. Suguru looked down at you both and winked, making you both laugh and cheer more. The set sounded with songs you’d heard before, then the new song you’d heard the demo of, with you singing along to every word softly, so as to not prevent anyone else from enjoying the new track. Satoru was absolutely jealous, and you couldn’t help the teasing between tracks as the band had quick drinks of water to cool down. You were surprised when Suguru spoke.

“So, a lot of you have probably been to a lot of our gigs, I’m definitely seeing some familiar faces out in the crowd,” Suguru paused as some people cheered, “but today we’re going to do something a little different and I want to play a song we didn’t write. I listened to it fairly recently and it really connected with me, and some things going on in my life, is that alright everyone? We ready for a little change in format?” He called out, simling as the audience cheered as they always did. The bass player, Jogo, emerged from the wings and handed Suguru an acoustic guitar to replace his usual electric one, and then a stool for him to sit on while he played. It changed the tone immediately, and everyone seemed captivated.

“This song is called So Will I.” Suguru murmured into the mic as he played the first few notes, with Jogo and drummer Mahito sitting back to allow him to play.

“You say ‘what if I go crazy?’ I say ‘that ain’t gonna happen’, you say ‘what if I get lost?’ I say ‘you’ll just find your way back’, and you say ‘what if someone breaks my heart?’ I’ll put it back together like I do.” His voice sounded so different to how it usually did with the soft melody and gentler words. You were captivated, and when Suguru’s eyes met yours, the world narrowed to just be the two of you. Satoru leaned in and wrapped an arm around your shoulders, smirking a little. “He did promise a song for you.” He whispered, and sudden understanding washed over you.

When you were children, Suguru had declared one day that he wanted to learn to play the guitar. When you asked why, he answered like it was the simplest thing in the world. He wanted to write a song for you.

“You say ‘what if things start changing?’ I say ‘we’ll be changing with them’, we’ll just sing a different melody and dance a different rhythm, you say ‘what if I give up?’ I say ‘that’s one thing I’ll never let you do’.” He continued, dragging his eyes away from you to look out at the crowd like a good performer, but your heart continued to thud, eyes brimming with tears you didn’t dare shed. The song he’d chosen for you, performed at a real gig with his band, who watched on with smiles as they let him take the stage and the audience by storm. He hadn’t written it, and yet it felt just as special, because it had never truly been about the words he may potentially write. It was about the way he sang it, the way the words formed on his lips, dedicated just to you. A song given to you, by him, even if not crafted at his hands, breaking the mould his band had created in your name.

“Even if the sky is fallin’, and the sun don’t wanna shine, if the stars we used to wish on disappear into the night, well I can move a mountain, but only by your side. Just say you’ll always be there, I know you’ll always be there, and so will I.” He softly finished, singing the final line as he looked right into your eyes, pleading with the lyrics. You nodded eagerly, and watched as Suguru’s face broke out in to a grin. He played the few last notes, then stood as the crowd loudly cheered. Suguru swapped the acoustic guitar for an electric one to play the final few songs of the set, and he grinned the entire time, as did you. Satoru squeezed you tightly with the arm around your shoulder, keeping you close as you waited for the set to end and the band to join you at the bar.

When the band emerged from backstage, sweaty but grinning, you charged right into Suguru’s arms. He picked you up without hestitation, almost like he’d been prepared for your outburst, and spun you around. “You’re so dumb.” You murmured, wrapping your legs around his waist. “That’s kinda mean considering I just did a pretty grand gesture for you.” He replied, but he was grinning, his hands holding you tightly because he’d never let you fall. “I’m never letting you go again.” You promised, pressing your lips togther firmly. Suguru melted easily into the kiss, only holding you tighter as his friends cheered around you, laughing loudly. When you parted, Suguru pressed his forehead to yours. “Doesn’t matter if you do. I’ll always find you, so I can be by your side.”

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