Love is the most twisted curse of all

Whatever anxiety Suguru had been feeling, it went completely unnoticed. And when Satoru called out the lack of any initiated reciprocation after this second kiss of theirs, he didn't really expect anything to happen, done more to deflect his own nerves than anything else.

But Suguru agreed, and it happened: the space eliminated between them again, their lips met for the third time in a week (that was an awful lot, he'd think, if his brain wasn't all but static at the moment), and a small noise involuntarily left his throat in surprise at the eagerness of it when he was pulled close. It wasn't that he didn't like it — rather the opposite once he has time to register it all — it was just... more than he expected, sooner than he expected.

Eyes slid open as he felt the other's arms wrap around him (something a little more familiar), but even after being told Happy New Year, he could only stare back, trying to find his words while also trying to fight down the heat he could feel rising to his face. The last thing he needed right now was to blush. After visibly struggling to say anything, Satoru abruptly blurted out: "I was right. You were desperate for me to kiss you under that mistletoe!" Well, it was something, if possibly moment-ruining; or maybe not, given how used his behavior Suguru must be by now.

He began to notice the position they were in, the slight awkwardness of him being turned at the waist towards Suguru, arms around him while they sat side-by-side. "Hold on..." In a bold move that he hoped would be more comfortable but would likely do nothing to calm the fluttering in his chest, Satoru placed his hands on Suguru's shoulders and, carefully, started to maneuver himself over him: one knee on either side of him, his back to the television, and lowering himself back down until he was straddling his lap.

Now they were really face-to-face.

"Better?" Statement or question? He didn't wait for an answer, laughter bubbling up in soft chuckles before he could stop it, part nerves, part just from the sheer innocent ridiculousness of it all. Hands sliding toward the ends of Suguru's shoulders, he leaned down and hid his face near the crook of his neck.

"... Now what, Suguru?" He paused, all the potential consequences of what they just did beginning to fill his head as he collected himself. The mistletoe was one thing, but there was no real turning back after tonight, was there? In a moment of vulnerability, even a hint of worry, Satoru asked, quietly:

Only , it wasn't just a crush. It was Satoru.

Purple eyes widened at the noise that left Satoru's mouth , a sly smile gracing his features as it was the most endearing noise he had ever heard. Or , maybe that was due to who it was coming from , rather than the actual noise itself ? He didn't know. He just knew it made that warmth within him grow , a feeling of certainty in that he wanted more , but , couldn't allow himself to take unless Satoru truly wanted it. Unless he was fully comfortable. Suguru Geto was many things : a sexual deviant wasn't one of them.

Suguru just chuckled at Satoru's outburst, eyes softening ever so slightly , planting a soft kiss against Satoru's lips. ❝ With that noise you made just now , perhaps , you were the one who wanted it more than me. ❞ Even though that didn't take away from the fact he had wanted it. Although , maybe there was some truth to the fact that he did desperately want it , but he'd never admit that out loud.

Confusion spread across his fox-like features as Satoru positioned himself....and Suguru felt his brain short circuit. ❛ Oh no , ❜ came his first thought , willing himself not to lose all of his composure, and, the more Satoru moved , the more he practically straddled him , the more he could feel that self composure wither away. It wasn't like he was a stranger to sex or acts of intimacy , but it was different with it being with Satoru. ❝ Satoru - ❞ came the purr deep from within his chest , soft , and , filled with nothing but pure love.

"Oh, please, it was nothing big. Just a leaf." He explained, holding up the small offending piece of debris. If it'd just been out of place, then of course he'd have left that for his colleague to fix on his own, but in this situation he would've felt quite rude if he'd not offered to help. Who lets a man walk around with a leaf in his hair?

"And, you know my general job description is to help sorcerers. So, if you do need anything, Atsuya then you are welcome to ask. I think I see you the least often of everyone - I'd hate to learn you were struggling alone."

❝ Thank you, Ichiji. That's kind of you. Gojo wouldn't have let me live it down over a leaf in my hair. You saved me from that irritation. ❞

He did a double take at Ichiji's remark about him doing things alone. He always had someone there, but, never really talked about what he did or how he felt. Ichiji was right about them rarely seeing each other, but, that was more than likely him being around Gojo than anything else.

Textless version below.