#1 N Yumeshipper

"Yeah..." You breathe in a way that has his whole body tensing up. Because you're on top of him again, looking at him with an unmistakable need. "You don't need to hold back anymore Toru~"

Its those words that have him flipping you over, hovering over you while his gaze roams your lips hungrily. So many times he's thought about kissing you, what you might taste like...

"Please..." You murmur. It undoes him.

His lips are on yours before he can second guess himself. Tasting. Devouring.

You taste like honey, drive his senses completely insane. His heart is beating so fast that he's sure you can hear it-

Then he wakes up.

Heart racing, he shoots up, finding he's still on the floor. Satoru takes a few deep breaths, calming himself down from that dream- where it almost lead. Somehow, it feels wrong to even think about you that way without permission.

You're still asleep next to him, on the bed. All soft and innocent. Wearing the face of an angel. Like you aren't the reason he hasn't slept all night.

His mind keeps drifting to the way you'd looked at him last night, the things you'd said. How much of it was the alcohol talking? Was any of it real?

Satoru shakes his head. What use is it worrying about nothing? Because nothing happened- he made sure of it.

How is he ever going to look at you in the eyes again?

The bedsheets smell like mint, that is how you know they're not your own even before opening your eyes.

It's not an unfamiliar experience, to wake up in someone else's dorm after a big party. You've been here before, more times than you'd like to admit. The trick is being able to sneak out undetected, it avoids the embarrassment of it all. One night stands are best forgotten.

You crack an eye open, wincing at the light that floods your vision. Your headache is a thing of nightmares, pounding and dizzying enough that it takes you a good few minutes to adjust. Without getting up, you look around the room, getting your bearings.

You're alone. Good. It'll make this a lot easier.

A little hiss of pain escapes your lips whilst you struggle to sit up- real sneaky. Thats when you notice it, as the covers slip and pool around your waist and you become distinctly aware that you're not in your own clothes.

You're wearing a Digimon shirt.

There's only one person you know who would own such a thing.

As if on queue, the door at the end of the dorm cracks open. You startle, scrambling to get up, right as Satoru enters the room. This is what you were afraid off. How on earth did you end up sleeping with him-- and you don't even remember it?

Satoru stands in the doorway for a moment, holding a paper bag in one hand and a bottle of water in the other. He seems to read the expression on your face, the way you turn bright red, because his eyes widen and he almost drops everything.

"Oh-- oh no! We didn't- nothing happened!" He stammers out, going red himself. You wince, too loud, and so he whispers a little "sorry..."

You get a good look at him then. Messier than you're used to seeing him, bags under his eyes, glasses askew. Are those bedsheets on the floor?

More importantly, how does he still look that handsome?

"Mm.... what happened?" You murmur, watching him approach carefully. He stops an awkward distance away, like some invisible shield is keeping him from getting too close.

"Ah." An unreadable emotion passes over Satoru's eyes, something conflicted, close to disappointment. "You called me, asked me to come get you. And I didn't know where your dorm was so-"

"You came?" You balk at him, at the prospect that you drunk dialled your tutor and he actually came to your rescue. Gave you comfortable clothes to sleep in.

Didn't take advantage of your drunken state.

Satoru looks at you like you've said something strange. "Of course I came. You needed help."

Then, he holds out that paper bag and the water.

"I figured you'd be hungover, there's some painkillers and breakfast in there. And water."

Nobody has ever taken care of you like this. Never. Usually, the morning after a party consists of a walk of shame back to your dorm and a day to rest. Most guys you've been with don't even bother to do breakfast, or speak to you again for that matter.

Satoru is different. Of course he is. He grins in a a way that makes something in your chest tighten.

"Hey, if you keep looking at me like that my ego won't be able to take it, you know."

"Thank you..." You whisper, and it's not enough to convey how you truly feel.

You've kept the Digimon shirt. A week after waking up in Satoru's dorm, you find yourself wearing it again to a study session.

Its comfortable, and large, and smells like mint and snow and him.

You don't miss the way he can't seem to take his eyes off you. Studying you with his blue eyes like he's solving an equation. It makes your stomach flutter, a self satisfied sort of comfort rises in your chest. It emboldens you.

Flirting a little can't hurt, right?

"Hey Toru~" his shoulders stiffen, they always so when you say his name like that. "Can I try your glasses on?"

"Huh, why?" Satoru pause his pen where it was scribbling down notes. His fingers lift, adjusting his glasses like its instinct.

"I wanna see if they suit me" You giggle, while Satoru attempts to seem unimpressed. The slight twitch at the corners of his lips gives him away. You find yourself staring at them, for just a moment.

"Alright..." Satoru replies after a moment, no longer able to keep the smile at bay. He hands them to you, watches as you put them on.

If he wasn't staring before, he definitely is now.

"So? How do I look?"

A blush creeps up his neck, he pauses, in awe for a moment.

"I can't exactly see you very well, you know."

"Ah, yes, of course." Your smile turns sheepish, making to take the glasses off, when he adds. "I'm sure you look cute..."

It's a murmur, barely there. And yet its the best thing you've heard all week. "You think I'm cute?"

Footsteps approach behind you, just as you hand him back his glasses. They're loud, demanding of attention, belonging to someone who doesn't care about the quiet atmosphere of the library.

You recognise him by that sound alone. And so you're not surprised at the large hand braced behind your chair, or the smokey cologne that floods your senses.

On the other side of the desk, Satoru tenses up.

"You're hanging in the library? I never thought I'd see the day..." Your insufferable ex, Sukuna, is standing next to you now. All 6 foot something of tattoos and arrogance, still wearing a football jersey from practice.

"I'm studying, its something people do." You respond, rolling your eyes. Though you smile slightly. Sure, he's an ass. But thgings between the two of you had ended quite... amicably. He's not the commitment type, and you're not one to chase after a man.

"Who's this nerd?" Sukunas eyes flick up to Satoru, who's watching this with an expression of stone, slightly detached.

"Not a nerd, this is my friend, Satoru" You correct him with a small jab to the ribs. Sukuna just laughs.

"Looks like a nerd to me."

"Tutor-" Satoru suddenly blurts out. You both turn to look at him. "I'm her tutor. Astronomy."

The words hit you like a smack, the realisation that he is correcting you. Not a friend, a tutor. You try to make eye contact but he looks away, closing his notebook.

"Satoru...?" You ask, carefully. But his eyes have gone cold.

"Actually, I'm running late to a class. So I need to go." He stands up, taking his backpack and his textbooks. Leaving without so much as a goodbye. You stare after him, slightly dizzy.

What just happened?

He hates Sukuna. Why did it have to be Sukuna?

Satoru feels like someone threw a bucket of ice water over his head. Like he got a brutal push back into reality. The harsh realisation that he was getting carried away with you.

The cold air sobers his thoughts as he heads way from the library, taking a direction at random. He throws on his headphones, but the music does little to silence his mind.

Satory thinks that you're like a star. Bright, warm. The sort that draws people in just with your smile. It's why you're friends with half the campus. Satoru isn't someone who fits into that sort of environment. Doesn't go to parties, or social events. Doesn't follow the college sports teams.

Stars draw in objects with their gravity, host solar systems, provide life. Just as you are bright and full of kindness. But someone like you is much better suited to someone like Sukuna. Someone who isn't afraid of your light.

A nerd. Thats what he is. He exists away from the light, in the dark corners of the universe. He's at his most comfortable when no one is paying attention to him at all.

Despite the fact you were in his bed days ago. Despite the fact that he's the one you called when you were afraid. The fact that Satoru cannot forget the way you'd looked at him that night is irrelevant. It doesn't factor into the facts.

"Who's this nerd?"

The words replay in Satoru's mind. The way in which Sukuna had acted clueless. When in fact they both know each other very well.

He doesn't know what game exactly Sukuna is playing at, but he'll be damned if he let's himself get embarrassed in front of you.

There's a tug at his sleeve, and Satoru startles. He glances back, to where you're holding onto his blue hoodie. Your chest is heaving like you ran after him, face flushed, and your lips are moving though he cannot hear anything with his headphones on.

"Wait, hang on..." Satoru carefully tugs them off with his free hand, because you're refusing to let go of his sleeve. "(Name)? Did you need something?"

"Don't do that." You breathe out, still catching your breath, your hand tightens on his sleeve like he might run away again. "Why are you acting like nothing happened back there?"

"Nothing happened." He lies, attempting a smile. "Listen, I really am late for a class-"

"Satoru!" You demand, refusing to break eye contact. "We both know you're not just my tutor."

"I am your tutor-"

"I'm wearing your shirt for goodness sake!"

The truth hangs between you, weighing down the space where you're still holding onto him. Satoru feels sick. Disgusted with himself that he corrected you when you said you were friends.

But you're not just his tutee. And you're not just his friend either.

This thing between you is becoming too complex. Satoru is a man of formulas, of binary answers. But this has no correct answer, and that scares him. He certainly wasn't going to open this dilemma in front of Sukuna. Wasn't going to show that idiot that you've become important in his life. Wasn't going to let you become ammunition.

The words slip out of his mouth before he can stop himself.

"I need some space. Alright?"

You release a shaky breath, looking at him with something close to betrayal. But you finally let go.

"I really don't understand you..."

Satoru stands there, watching you walk away. He feels like the world's biggest idiot. For a moment, he almost runs after you. The way you'd done for him.

His hand twitches towards you, but them he stops it. Space. Maybe some space is for the best.

“Where’s Simon?” you asked her, watching her attention come to you with a slightly confused expression on it. “Tall, curly hair, prosthetic arm.” once you mentioned the arm, it seemed to click in her head who you were talking about.

“Right. Simon.” She nodded a little before looking up and down the hall and then back at you. “He’s just in that room over there.” She pointed to a partially closed door. “Would you like to see him?” The nurse smiled at you and you nodded, looking at the door and feeling a sense of relief wash over you now that you knew that he was here too. You and the nurse walked over to the door, your hand coming up and pushing it open a little further while your eyes landed on a sleeping Simon. The heart monitor beeped steadily, showing good stats for his vitals which made you feel even better about being here. “I’ll give you some time with him.” The nurse whispered before heading off down the hall to busy herself with other work. 

You watched her disappear around a corner before you stepped into the room and quietly shut the door behind you, listening to it click shut before you stepped away and towards a chair near the bed. You simply sat there and watched him, pulling your legs to your chest and resting your chin on your knees with a small, calm smile remaining on your lips. You watched as he stirred a bit, his lashes fluttering before his eyes opened just a tiny bit and looked at you, your heart pacing faster when your eyes met. “Hi, handsome.” The greeting fell naturally from your lips and despite the heat that flushed your cheeks, you didn’t change your words or apologize for it. Simon gave you a lop-sided smile and shook his head, his eyes settling shut again before he took a deep breath. 

“You’re supposed to be in bed too, you know.” His voice was deep and groggy, his gaze locking with yours once again. You gave a small shrug of indifference before noticing him scoot over in his bed and pat the spot beside him. “Come on.” he gestured for you to join him, and you obliged without hesitation, missing the feel and warmth of his touch. You tilted your head up and pressed a soft kiss to his jawline, your brows pinching together in confusion when he flinched away and grimaced.

“What happened?” You asked, sitting up and looking at Simon, finally noticing the forming bruise along his jaw. Your hand came up and your fingertips lightly grazed the skin.

“It’s nothing. You weren’t yourself. I’m okay.” he told you. Your eyes widened. You did that to him? Simon noticed the look on your face and gently grabbed your hand. “Hey.” The single word grabbed your attention. “You weren’t yourself. I’m not blaming you at all. I’m okay, really, I am.” he told you, a firmness in his voice that urged for you to believe him but you were still stuck on the fact that you had punched him so hard to leave a bruise. 

“If I wasn’t myself, then who was I?” Your voice was small and scared, your eyes reflecting that fear in them. Simon frowned but knew that he would have to tell you sooner or later. He proceeded to explain that he thinks that when you opened the Black Box, the fragment of The Light that had taken refuge inside the box had transferred to you when you opened the data container as a means to either escape or keep you on AT-5, he wasn’t too sure. After explaining his theory, he went on to tell you what had happened when you weren’t yourself and how he had to drug you in order to get you onto the NASA starship. You were silent for a while after learning all of this new information, and Simon held your hand, his thumb rubbing over your knuckles while he patiently waited for you to process everything he had told you.

“I…” you didn’t know what to say for another while. “I thought I was still asleep in the base, that entire time.” you told Simon, raising your gaze from the bed with furrowed brows and a frown etched onto your lips. “I don’t remember any of that.” you added, shaking your head lightly which sent a wave of vertigo over you and you held your head. 

“Don’t strain yourself. I think you went through the worst of it with the anesthesia and then the induced coma.” Simon said, opening his arm as a wordless offer for you to cuddle into him that you gratefully took. His arm draped around you once you were snuggled into his side, your head resting against his chest while your hand idly brushed up and down over Simon’s chest. The two of you were silent until you spoke.

“What if that happens again?” you asked, gazing at him with a hint of fear in your eyes. Simon looked down at you and let out a soft breath, his hand coming up to rub your back.

“It’s not going to happen again.” he told you. You gave him an incredulous look, as if he’d just told you some horrifying joke. “When I woke up, one of the doctors came in and informed me that his team extracted the foreign anomalies from our blood and described to me what they looked like. I can tell you for a fact that what they extracted was definitely the fragments that were trying to keep us on that moon.” Simon explained to you. You continued to stare at him, looking over his face before noticing that the electric sparks in his eye were gone even though it was still red in color. 

“But your eye is still red.” you pointed out, your hand coming up to brush your thumb just under his eye. His hand came up and grasped your gingerly before he shrugged a bit.

“Doc said that it could be a permanent change from ‘the foreign substances I’ve come into contact with’.” Simon quoted before kissing your palm and carefully tugging you back into his side. You only dwelled on it for a moment before you felt Simon kiss your head and rest his cheek against it. You glanced up at him and smiled a little, shutting down your thoughts before wrapping your arms around his chest and resting your head against his shoulder. Silence had never felt so peaceful before. So relaxing. Like it wasn’t trying to suffocate you or swallow you whole anymore. It was nice. Your fingers idly fidgeting with the edge of the blanket draped over the two of you while you stared towards a window that was covered by a curtain, refusing to let any light in yet. You wondered what it looked like outside the facility. You wondered how long you and your group would be kept here and if they would be taught how to function on Earth again. 

You and Simon looked towards the door when a knock was heard before it was opened and a doctor walked in. He looked at the two of you and gave a warm smile. “Sorry to interrupt but we do need to run some tests on your blood.” The doctor explained. You felt Simon tense up beside you, making you look at him with a knowing expression. Simon asked if you could stay while they drew the blood and the doctor saw no problem with it. You and Simon adjusted on the bed until you were sitting up properly, your hand holding onto his while he focused on your face, allowing the doctor to draw blood into little tubes for testing. “Since you’re here too, would you mind if I drew your blood for tests as well?” The doctor asked, changing his gloves after setting the tubes of blood aside. You agreed and held your arm out. Since you weren’t bothered by needles like Simon was, you watched the doctor and how he did things, tilting your head a little at some of the differences between your methods and his. Maybe you could learn from each other. You were snapped out of your thoughts when the doctor finished up and marked the tubes before sending them off to be tested. 

Once it was just you and Simon again, you looked at Simon and gave him a cheeky smile. “See? That wasn’t so bad.” you teased him, nudging him in the chest with a chuckle which was cut short when Simon gently grasped your hand against his chest and locked eyes with you.

“Only because you were here to keep me from stabbing another medical professional with a needle,” he told you, making you laugh and shake your head.