#crackl

you stood near the drinks table with a red plastic cup clutched in both hands. maybe you'd had a little too much to drink.

actually, no. you definitely had.

your cheeks felt warm, your thoughts fuzzy, and you'd just spent several minutes staring at a decorative bowl of chips because you thought it looked particularly nice.

"you're blocking the drinks."

the voice cut through the music with ease.

you looked up.

and up.

the guy standing behind you was huge. not literally, but compared to everyone else in the room, he may as well have been. broad shoulders strained against a dark hoodie, and sharp features gave him the kind of face that looked permanently unimpressed. his salmon pink hair was slightly messy, and his expression told you he either hated everyone in the room or was deciding who to fight first.

"oh."

you blinked.

then smiled.

"sorry."

he stared at you.

you stared back.

for some reason, that really made you laugh.

his eyebrow twitched.

"what's funny?"

you giggled. "i don't know. i think your face?"

his expression somehow became even less amused.

"glad i could entertain you."

"you look mean, like super duper extra mean"

the words slipped out before you could stop them.

the stranger simply crossed his arms.

"mean?"

"a little."

"a little?"

you considered him carefully.

"no actually a lot."

to your surprise, he barked out a short laugh.

the sound caught you completely off guard.

"you're drunk," he said.

"maybe a weeeeeee bit." you exaggerated pinching your fingers together.

at least you were honest.

he reached past you to grab a drink, and you expected him to leave after that. most people would have. but, he stayed.

"what year are you?" he asked.

you frowned, concentrating way harder than necessary.

"junior."

"that took way too long."

"i was thinking."

"clearly."

you gasped dramatically.

"youre really mean."

"you started this conversation by telling me i look mean."

"because you do."

"you keep saying that."

"because you keep looking mean!"

another laugh escaped him, slightly louder this time.

interesting.

you pointed at him immediately.

"there."

"what?"

"that."

"what?"

"you should do that more."

his eyes narrowed.

"you always tell strangers what to do?"

"only the grumpy ones with pink hair."

for a few moments, neither of you spoke. the party raged around you, students weaving through the crowded kitchen and shouting over the music. somehow, though, the conversation had become its own little bubble.

the stranger took a sip from his drink.

"you talk to everyone like this?"

"pretty much."

"that's dangerous."

you tilted your head.

"why?"

his gaze settled on you.

unlike you, he looked completely sober. completely aware. the type of person who noticed everything around him and trusted nobody.

"because not everyone's nice."

the answer surprised you.

there was something unexpectedly sincere underneath the roughness.

you smiled.

"are you?"

"no."

the answer came too quickly.

you laughed.

for the first time, a genuine grin spread across his face, the kind of grin that made your stomach flip.

you stared.

then completely forgot what you were about to say.

his grin widened.

"lost your train of thought?"

"...maybe."

without thinking, you blurted, "you have nice teeth."

the silence that followed was immediate.

you slapped a hand over your mouth.

"youre really drunk."

"please forget i said that."

"not happening."

you sighed.

this was terrible.

absolutely terrible.

desperate to change the subject, you straightened.

"what's your name?"

"sukuna."

the name fit him perfectly. sharp. confident. a little intimidating.

you told him yours.

he repeated it back to you. he said it slowly, almost thoughtfully, as if testing how it sounded.

it made your stomach flutter.

maybe that was the alcohol.

hopefully.

"you know," you said after a moment, "you're actually easy to talk to."

sukuna looked genuinely confused.

"nobody's ever said that."

"really?"

"no."

"that's weird."

"it isn't."

"it is."

you smiled at him.

warmly. easily.

the kind of smile that expected absolutely nothing in return.

for a brief moment, something changed in his expression.

not softer.

just quieter.

like he'd forgotten where he was.

then someone shouted his name from across the room.

the moment broke.

sukuna glanced toward the voice before looking back at you.

"you got friends here?"

you nodded.

"good."

the single word carried unexpected weight. as if he was checking. making sure.

before you could ask about it, he pushed away from the counter.

"don't drink anything else."

you immediately saluted.

"yes, sir."

"don't call me that."

"you got it, sir."

a look crossed his face that was halfway between annoyance and amusement.

then he shook his head.

"you're ridiculous."

but he was smiling when he walked away.

and for the rest of the night, every time you happened to glance across the crowded house, you somehow caught sukuna looking back at you.

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