#checkered flag

Gojo Satoru took 1st again, but it felt as hollow as his other wins. He couldn’t say that though. Not to the cameras. Not to the press. Not to any newspaper or interviewer. He drives up to the winner’s circle, gets out of his car as he usually does. Gets handed a fucking beer and the trophy. Pops the beer open with just his thumb. Practiced. Smooth. Don’t forget to smile. Crinkle the corners of his eyes. Stretch his lips. Show his award winning smile like his life depended on it.

He sees the cameras. The flashes. He hears the roar of the crowd. The applause. He sees Sukuna giving him the middle finger. Sees Nanami roll his eyes just after he pulls of his helmet.

Don’t glare, don’t frown, don’t cry, don’t throw the trophy down. Don’t act like a child who didn’t get his way. His breath shuddered, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He kept smiling. He answered questions, gave a speech, thanked his fans even though he wasn’t thankful at all.

He was counting the minutes that he could finally leave, but he knew it would be a long night. Too long. He closed his eyes, but the flashing from the cameras seemed to sear the back of his eyelids. He opened them and lifted the trophy higher and took a swig from his bottle.

And his foresight was right. The night was long. Filled with loud cheers. Overzealous fans. Other racers clapping on his back for a job well done. It was all so exhausting.

The next morning, he didn’t find himself on the track nor did he find himself in a team meeting. Instead, he found himself racing down the old brick road that lead to your parents very big house. His hands gripped the ten and five, his turns were sharp and his speed was worrying. The sound of thunk-thunk-thunk his wheels made against the bricks and cobblestone quickly turned into a dull thud as the path turned to dirt. The house was just up ahead.

“Ah, Gojo. We saw the race last night, congratulations.”

Gojo’s smile was tight lipped as he nodded and got out of the vehicle. The butler who greeted him took his keys so he could go park his car.

“Is y/n around?”

“Where she always is.”

Gojo didn’t wait to be let in as he walked into the mansion. His footsteps echoed hard onto the marble floor as he took a familiar path to where you would be staying.

Your parents, at the beginning, were not rich, but with one lucky lottery ticket later, they were set for life. Whereas you…

Gojo smiled as he spotted you.

Your hands were holding a book open, your eyes focused on the pages.

Way back when, you were a racecar driver too. In fact, you were Gojo’s rival. Since you didn’t have much money or the typical run of the mill team or even any sponsors. It was always you vs him. The street rat against the rich. He hated you at first. You made him work for first place. Made him chase it. At the beginning it would either be you at winner’s circle, or it would be him. Sometimes it would be Sukuna or Nanami, maybe even the upcoming youngster Yuta or Megumi. But at the end, anyone and everyone knew that it was always you and him. Him and you.

Sometime after your seventh win, you two became teammates. You gained sponsors and you two became friends. Whoever was in front of the other took first while the one behind helped push them ahead and block everyone else.

And sadly, that took a turn for the worse. Gojo could still remember it. He could still see very clearly when Naoya hit you left back wheel hard and crashed you out. There was fire, so much heat, he could still vividly recall how your car flipped and crashed into the wall. Naoya wasn’t even suspended or kicked out. One swift apology later and he was still in the driver’s seat.

When they got you out of the wreckage, you said you couldn’t feel them. That you couldn’t feel your legs. It was amazing you didn’t get any other injury, at least that was what the doctor would say.

A year later, and Gojo still couldn’t believe it. How you, his teammate, was wheelchair bound and never to drive a car again.

“Are you just going to stand there Satoru? Or am I going to have to tell you to come sit down.”

“Sorry, sorry. Was just lost in thought for a moment was all.”

You hummed as you snapped your book shut to look at him.

“Where are your parents,” he found himself asking as he plopped down onto the couch. He reached for you, and tugged at the arm of your wheelchair to pull you closer.

“Out. You know them. They like to travel more often now since they go the money to spend.”

He hummed as he leaned back, let his head rest against the pillows as he stared up at the ceiling.

“And you?”

“What about me,” you said with a snort, “I’ve been,” you gestured around the room that was made wheelchair accessible specifically for you, “here.”

Gojo looked over at you, “any new books? Movies?”

“None that would interest you.”

“Try me.”

You rolled your eyes as you grabbed at your wheels and pushed yourself over to a shelf filled with movies. Your index finger ran over them slowly before landing on one that was your favorite so far, “this one is nice,” you said as you turned on the dvd player and pressed down on the eject button so you could put the disc in when you snapped the dvd case open. When you put it in, you rolled yourself backward until you were next to Gojo again.

“Do you want to lie down?”

You glanced at him. The offer was tempting as you reached for the remote on the coffee table, “I’m good, but thanks.”

He hummed again and shifted on the couch. And just as the movie began to play, you glanced at him from the corner of your eye, “you know, Satoru, I saw the race.”

“Mmhmm.”

You drummed your fingers against your lap, “your new teammate, she’s good.”

You saw him press his lips together, “can we please not talk about it right now.”

You closed your eyes, sighed a little, but gave a light smile, “sure. Later,” you knew that was code that you both will not be talking about it again. You focused back onto the TV, but now there was a sort of heaviness in the air, it hung heavily – made it suffocating almost. Much like the smoke that tangled into your lungs during the crash all that time ago.

“Are you planning to go to that party?”

“How did you hear about the party?”

You rolled your eyes, “there’s always a party after the big race. A pretty big one if I remember correctly. Always held at the end of the week. You know the one,” you smirked over at him, “pretty sure we crashed a few too. Even had the cops involved once or twice.”

Gojo chuckled lightly as he sat up, “yeah,” his laugh trailed off, “though, I don’t really want to go.”

You quirked a brow, “but you have to? You’re literally the winner.”

He rolled a little so his feet were touching the ground, “don’t wanna.”

You furrowed your brow, the movie long forgotten even though it’s only been a few minutes, “Satoru-“

“I’ll go if you do.”

You opened and then closed your mouth before pressing your lips into a tight line.

“Me?”

Your voice sounded incredulous, “Satoru, you don’t-“

“I do,” his voice was firmer as he leaned in.

“Satoru, I’m retired. And I’m not the one who got you to first place-“

“You got me here. Please,” he said your name softly and you met his eyes. You felt something hit hard in your chest when he leaned in. His lips pressing softly into your own, “please,” he uttered that word again against your lips and you found your resolve melting. This was the first kiss you ever shared with him. Yeah, there was always that tension between you two, but you thought you were imagining it.

“Alright,” you finally said, “I’ll go with you.”

He grinned as he pecked your lips one last time and then easily lifted you so he could haul you into his lap, “now, let’s watch this movie,” he plucked the remote from you so you both could restart it from the beginning.

Though, you had a bad feeling about the whole thing, but Gojo wouldn’t let you get away as he wheeled you to the front porch of the house that the party was going to be hosted at tonight. And he was sure to assure that there was a bathroom on the ground floor, that there will be tons of people happy to see you, and that no matter what he was going to stick by your side.

That last part was a lie, because you soon found yourself alone in a big room next to a bookshelf with Gojo nowhere in sight, but … you expected this. Anytime you or him won a race, you will always be pulled away from each other by overexcited teammates and rivals about the race and usually not see each until the next day. But he was your ride home this time, so you planned to search for him near the end of the party.

“Oh? If it isn’t hot wheels.”

You groaned as Naoya took the seat beside you. A rolling chair near a desk.

“What do you want,” you muttered.

“Just wanted to see how you were doing. After the crash, you haven’t bothered with many public appearances, and suddenly you’re here.”

It sounded insulting, the way he worded it. But you weren’t going to back down, “oh, shut it, Naoya. Besides, Satoru wanted me to come.”

“Why? To rub it in your face that he got a better teammate to replace you? Someone hotter with an actual team and money?”

You scoffed, “Satoru’s career wasn’t going to stop just because I retired, and I’m happy he’s still winning. As he should. That cup is better in his hands than in yours. Hell, I wouldn’t mind Sukuna winning a few if it keeps you out of the winner’s circle.”

“Why you-“

Just as he stood up, hand raised to hit you, someone grabbed him. You blinked a few times. Surprise crossing your features for a moment.

“Toji?”

He glanced at you for a moment before looking at Naoya, “piss off, Naoya. You took her legs, do you really need to take more.”

“I-,” he floundered, “I didn’t take her legs.”

Toji scoffed, “please. Everyone saw the livestream, everyone watched the replays. You crashed her during a sharp turn, you knew her car would roll and yours would swerve into the grass. Don’t spitball to me and say that wasn’t on purpose. It was, but daddy dearest doesn’t want you to face jail time or allow you to stop racing, so here you are acting like you belong. You don’t.”

Naoya yanked his arm from Toji’s grip. He had no bark nor bite, but he did glare at you one final time before taking his leave. And when he was finally gone, you relaxed in your wheelchair.

“Thought he would never leave,” you say.

“Right?”

You looked up at Toji as he took the seat that Naoya was previously occupying.

“Thanks Toji.”

“No problem,” he leaned back as you watched him carefully.

“Megumi’s getting good. I can see him beating Gojo.”

“Me too, though he has to worry about Maki and Yuta first. Then there’s Sukuna,” he said idly.

“Mmmhmm… you don’t have to stand up for me like that, you know?”

Toji shrugged, “I remember when you first raced against me. God you were hard to beat. Like a fucking tick that wouldn’t get off my rearview. But… that didn’t stop you from jumping from your vehicle to come pull my sorry ass out of my car to make sure I didn’t burn to death, and it certainly didn’t stop you from leaving me in the dust in the race that was a year later.”

You smiled at both memories. Toji was tough to beat. A single dad who had nothing left to prove but everything to gain.

“Sides,” he said, “it’s nice to see that even after you lost your legs you still haven’t lost your spitfire. It’s good to watch Naoya fall apart from a few words from you. He could never handle your sassiness after all.”

You laughed at that. Talking with Toji eased you bit, let you relax as you fell into smooth conversation with the man.

“So,” he nodded to your legs, “I just gotta ask. You feel anything?”

You looked down, “Everything. I feel pain, itchiness, when something tickles. I just- I just can’t move them.”

He hummed as he leaned forward, “you feel this then?”

He grabbed your knee and gave it a small squeeze. His grip made you shudder.

“Yeah, I feel that.”

“How far down can you feel?”

“All the way to my toes.”

“And up?”

“Toji,” you slapped his arm making him chuckle.

“Guess that’s all I need to hear,” which made you roll your eyes as you leaned back into your wheelchair.

He watched you for a moment as he let go of your knee, “you tired?”

“Very.”

He stood up then making you follow after him with your eyes. He went behind you and grabbed the handlebars to your wheelchair, “then let’s go find that prick, Gojo so he can take you home.”

“But- it’s his party-“

“He’ll win other races. There will be other parties.”

Toji didn’t let you protest anything else as he wheeled you around. Megumi was the first to come up to you. There was a light blush on his cheeks as he nodded to you. Before the crash, Toji asked you to train him on his turns and off-roading. He was a good student.

“Y/n, I- I didn’t know you would be here.”

“Hey, Megumi. Sorry I didn’t give you a warning, I didn’t know I would be here either.”

He nodded as Toji ruffled his hair, “we’re looking for Gojo. He needs to take her home.”

“Gojo…,” Megumi looked around a bit, even craned his neck before turning to look at you, “I saw him a bit ago, I think he was heading to the lounge.”

“Thanks Megumi,” you said as he patted your arm.

You saw him look away before nodding, “n- no problem.”

When Toji wheeled you away from him, you looked back at him, “is he a light drinker?”

“Nah, the brat just has a thing for you.”

“You- you can’t just out him like that.”

“What? His own damn fault he won’t take you out on a date. Let him suffer.”

“He’s your kid, Toji…”

“With no game, Y/n.”

You rolled your eyes before you came to an erupt stop, “hey! Toji!”

You felt him start to turn you another way, but you already saw. Gojo and his new teammate. The pretty blonde who took your place. Both locking lips, swapping spit, and sucking face. It made your mouth feel gross. Like the kiss you shared earlier in the week didn’t mean anything. It probably didn’t. You let Toji turn you away.

“Toji… can you find me a ride home.”

You heard him sigh, most likely looking back at the scene before wheeling you away.

“Sure.”

Which was exactly how you found yourself in Megumi’s passenger seat. Your elbow resting on the armrest of the door, your eyes watching the scenery outside.

“Were… you two…?”

“No… I mean, he kissed me earlier in the week, but…, well, I guess that didn’t mean anything. Besides, its probably a good thing I saw that. I mean, sure I had a small crush on Gojo, but even I knew that the crush was small and didn’t mean much anything. Sides, I don’t think anyone would want to be with me.”

You felt Megumi hit the breaks hard making your eyes go wide, “Megumi?! What the hell?!”