#hermesays

His love was rooted back to his first meeting with you — perhaps back then he hadn’t been aware that such a sliver of amusement could grow into such a vehement emotion and adornance for you. The day he met you for the very first time was a mundane day like any other. Jing Yuan had been by his desk all morning, verifying and devising preventative measures for the tranquility of Xianzhou. For every dawn that signified the start of yet a brand new day, the documents on the general’s desk always seemed to pile up taller than the day before. Halfway through the paperwork, Jing Yuan rested the quill he had signed the documents with, and rested the lid of his eyes momentarily. The knights and administrator staffs all shifted at the general’s antic — it was the start of something they had dreaded yet was prepared for everyday. 

For Jing Yuan, the seat of divine foresight that was located in the exalting sanctum was a massive hall. It was massive yet there was a heaviness that made the space feel all too small. And what would be better than to enjoy a moment to stroll around nature in order to recuperate his weariness? Call it a change of view.

As he stood up, the entire room's focus shifted onto the renowned man. “General, we still have quite a few documents to review.” One of the advisors had boldly announced. It was a futile attempt to stall for Jing Yuan’s leave, after all who in Xianzhou had not heard of the infamous dozing general. 

“I’ll leave that for you to review in accordance with the current protocol. As of now, there is an urgent assessment of nature I need to conduct.” The general’s subordinates simply exhaled in resignation. Despite the eloquence of his words, the sentence held a different meaning. It was Jing Yuan’s way of stating that he was off to bask in nature and feed the wild life he had grown to adore, or that it was time for a tea and a nap — both needs could be applicable simultaneously. 

Jing Yuan exited the grand gate of the seat of divine foresight. A few guards stationed to guard the gate bowed at the sight of the general, Jing Yuan merely gave them a pat on their shoulder and a tiny smile. The sky was bright and particularly clear on that day, not many clouds were in sight yet the wind still managed to breeze enough comfort for the skin. It was a waste to sit and be occupied by documents all day long when the weather was such a treat. He knew just where to go — a recent favorite of his, the newly opened teahouse on Aurum Alley. 

The staff of the tea house halted their movements when their gaze landed on the infamous general. In a haste, the staff led the general down to a private room which was connected to the teahouse’s very own outdoor garden. While he was on his way to the room, the sound of bickering caught his attention. Jing Yuan shortened his stride, the momentum at which his feet touched the ground was drawn out. His steps now had a linger. 

He found himself fixating on the direction to which the sound came from. The intricate pattern of the traditional partition door was only partially slided, Jing Yuan took the opportunity to wander his gaze towards the source of his curiosity. 

“Regardless of what my parents had said, I’ve told you from the start that I’m not interested in starting and getting into a relationship with you.” You took a few sips from the steaming cup of tea, eyelashes fluttered at the aromatic flavor and warmth that glided down your throat. The tea was delightful unlike the company you shared.

In his frequent strolls, Jing Yuan had never encountered you before. However, he recognized the man sitting across from you — the guy was a son of a reputable merchant, with a little prestige embedded in his name. 

“If you could just tell me your preference, I’d try my best to accommodate myself.” 

You softly exhaled, brows furrowed at the resilience of the man before you. You had told your family to stop meddling in your affair and they in return had promised that this would be the last time. Who would have predicted that they’d find a persistent guy who had ignored every rejection you had thrown at him. 

Out of all the methods tested and tried, you truly didn’t want to yield to this last resort which Tingyun had advised you on. Sliding your hand over your left sleeve, you pulled out a photograph — one you had bought simply because Tingyun insisted that it was as good as an evidence to help you flee from your current admirer. She had also discounted the photograph heavily for the sake of your friendship. 

“I prefer a man like the general.” You laid the image of the divine foresight out on the table filled with traditional small bites. “The general has all of the characteristics I ever desire in a man.” Call it a stereotype, nevertheless, it was true that the general infiltrated the daydreams of ladies and gentlemen alike across the Luofu fleet. According to Tingyun, everyone had a Jing-Yuan-phase before. You didn’t know what the hell that was about, but if it could bring you away from this unprecedented situation, you’d happily jump into the craze. 

The man in front of you frowned, his face crestfallen for the first time. “But that’s unfair.” He wanted to say more, his mouth agape, trying to find one way in which he best the general. To no avail, the general was the epitome of picture perfect. 

“Well, you did ask.” 

Jing Yuan was conscious of the circulation of his pictures in the market. He was aware that a certain foxian trailed behind him on some days, a camera in her hand. In all the centuries he had lived, he however, had never been bestowed such a sight.  A lady rejecting a prominent man simply because she preferred him? It was full of lies. Yet, the general’s golden hues gleamed in mirth. 

You carefully stood up from the cushion, a hand on your traditional drawstring bag. When the man figured that you were about to leave, he stood up abruptly, knocking the cups of tea that sat stationarily. Water spilled across the table and you narrowed your eyes at the man. 

“May this meeting be our last.” If you had stood up a second later, you would have noticed the shadow cast upon Jing Yuan’s figure which was reflected on the partition door. Meanwhile, Jing Yuan, sharp as ever, foresaw the man’s movement. The man was about to sink his claws onto your wrist the moment you took your glances off him and towards the exit. 

CLACK! Jing Yuan slammed the partition door open, a courteous smile etched in his feature. As if shocked in time, the man and you were frozen altogether. The man weakly withdrew his arm to himself at the sight of the general. 

“If you do not mind, may I steal the lady’s presence? I am in a terrible need for a company.” Jing Yuan held his hand out towards you. You stared at it, wondering how much the man had heard. 

“Of course, g-general!” The man profusely bowed repetitively at a sharp ninety degree angle. He didn’t dare go against the general’s words. In the first place, he had never seen you or the general interact at all! He wouldn’t have known of your relationship with such a powerful individual. 

You accepted Jing Yuan’s hand and you noted that it was warm. Slightly larger, yes, but also rough to the touch. Fortunately for you, Jing Yuan’s presence alone was enough to quell the man away. He stole a look at the portrait of him to which you had left on the table. “Are you not taking the picture with you?” 

You chewed on the bottom of your lip, embarrassment raked up your body towards the flush of your cheek. Tingyun hadn’t mentioned that buying a picture of the general would warrant his presence. 

“It is a misunderstanding, general.” Clearing your throat, you clenched at his hand tighter — a silent plea to drop the topic. Jing Yuan chuckled, the soft timbre of his voice echoed onto your ears in a ripple, as if carried by the wind themselves. 

You hadn’t known him at all, and there was no way he would recognize every common citizen of no importance in the fleet. Within a while, you had assembled the pieces together. The general barged in to offer you a way out of the uncomfortable situation you were under. 

“Thank you for the help, general. Although, I do have it under control.” You didn’t know whether it was the contrast between the armor he wore or the gentle nature to his silhouette, but for a while, it seemed you understood why so many maidens had fallen to a phase of infatuation with the man next to you. 

“I trust you did. However, even a man like me would remain ensnared to hear such a bold confession.” Unconsciously, you squeezed his hand tighter — having realized your action a tad bit too late after you had committed the disrespect. Jing Yuan returned the deed with a light squeeze of his own, quietly leading you towards the private room reserved under his name. 

The snacks he had often inquired about settled in the center of the table. He noticed the softness of your skin — in his eyes, you likely was a young lady with a sheltered upbringing, raised to be soft but lethal, compliant yet steadfast to your own standard. 

“General, you’re mistaken.” He noted the redness of your cheek, the redness had diffused all the way to your ears. Something was not quite right, a tiny detail needed appropriate fixing. 

“Jing Yuan.” He pronounced his name slowly, his sharp gaze locked on your lips, awaiting for his name to be tainted upon your tongue. Jing Yuan didn’t like how you had referred to him by his title all this time. Even as you vouch your admiration for him to the guy before, you had refused to call him by his name. 

“Pardon?” You set your eyes on the expectant general. You had to tilt your face upwards in order to truly lock into his orbs. 

You had let go of his hold, choosing to quietly settle on one of the cushions by the table. Jing Yuan hid the frown intruding his face with yet another unrecognizable smile. “I much prefer to be addressed by my name.” He settled on the opposite end of where you were sitting. Out of the sheer ridiculousness of the situation, you squinted at the general’s all too optimistic visage. 

“It’s not what it seems like, Jing Yuan.” His eyelids dropped at the sprinkle of familiarity, the muscles of his face loosened. Jing Yuan leaned one arm into the table, shifting the weight of his shoulder onto said arm. He could hear you call his name all day long. There was this ease you carried yourself in, and it was contagious. It had infected him straight away, and he wasn’t sure if he’d want a cure. 

“Shall we chat over tea?” 

That was the day the man everyone had revered as the mighty general first became Jing Yuan to you. And it was the first of the endless tea sessions for the two of you. Sometimes, a few knights would knock on the general’s private room in the tea house, cutting the rendezvous short. Other times, the sky would lose its tinge. The vibrant orange hues melted into the color of twilight. 

“Same time, next week?” 

Ever so naturally, at the end of the tea party, Jing Yuan would never fail to deliver the promise of a near future. And you’d reaffirmed his promise with one of yours.

 “Same time, next week.”

The Cloud knights who were often tasked to bring the general back to his office saw the way their general lips would linger on the back of your hand a second longer than what was the norm. It was no secret that the general had gotten closer to you — a sweet stranger who had coveted the general’s time and occupied his mind entirely. 

Prior to knowing you, Jing Yuan had a multitude of reasons to flee from the divine foresight seat. It would either be something along the lines of performing a much needed assessment of the fleet surrounding, or to breathe in fresh air on such a fine day. Having met you, the general had grown rather brazen and complacent. To deliberately accentuate your presence in his every word, he’d always inform the nearby cloud knight of his meeting with you.

“I am off to enjoy tea with my dearest companion.” Who else would he refer to with such endearment if it weren’t you? Sure, the cloud knights may falter in terms of strength when compared with the general’s mighty force. But they weren’t blind. They could see how all encompassing the general’s thoughts of you was. 

“Please return by 4, sir.” Behind the general’s back, his subordinates were already placing bets on just how long until the two finally got together.  

True to their expectations, the tea o’clock that had started out spontaneously, eventually evolved into so much more. The progression started small but of significance. Initially, Jing Yuan and you would sit across one another, separated by the tiny table that felt too vast for its size. In the following weeks, Jing Yuan slowly transitioned where he sat, he’d pull the cushion over to sit adjacent to where you were, occupying half of the right angle on the table. And now, he’d always be right next to you, shoulders brushing upon one another, close enough that the sound of each other’s breath could fool for the pulse of each other’s heart. 

What came after was the slip of endearments out of his tongue. Jing Yuan was deep in his nap, the fluff of his hair rested on your lap. With how often the meeting between the two of you had been, you started bringing over business proposals you were in charge of to the space you shared. You hadn’t meant to grumble that loudly, however the issues with shipment were impacting your family’s business greatly.

Jing Yuan rustled in his sleep, cuddling further into your lap before he fluttered open an eyelid. “What’s the matter, love?” You malfunctioned for the entire day. It wasn’t so much about the word itself, it was the gravity in which Jing Yuan expressed the word. His voice hoarse after the nap, an octave lower than the usual volume he spoke in — even so, the tenderness velveted in that single word was undeniable. As if he truly believed that the word love was encapsulated in the form of you. 

You thought it’d be a one-time thing. That it was a fumble in his speech. Albeit, the endearment hadn’t ceased. In fact, it proliferated — so much that one day, you had accidentally used one on Jing Yuan as well. 

“Yuan? I’m sorry for being terribly late, the roads around my house was blocked, and hear me out, love. Every road I went into was blocked, I had to reroute dozens of times to get here!” You exclaimed, plopping down the traditional drawstring bag to which Jing Yuan had gotten you on the wooden floor. 

“My dear, would you repeat it for me to hear once more? The wind seemed to have stolen the melodies of your voice.” You looked at the man in front of you, despite spending an hour by himself, he had appeared radiant with joy. The curves of his lips were testament to the spirits of glee that had taken over his feature. The man wasn’t simply smiling with his lips, his eyes were that of a half crescent moon, the crease on the edge apparent with the rise of his cheeks. 

Oh… the realization struck while you retraced back on your own words. For the remainder of the day, Jing Yuan tried his best to bait you into saying the words of endearment again. He successfully extracted another two from you that day. 

Ever so naturally, the degree of your relationship with the infamous general escalated by the day. The thought of dating hadn’t even crossed Jing Yuan’s mind, he knew what the both of you had, was one for eternity. Without your knowledge, he had gotten your family’s approval and had a custom ring made of the finest jewels for you. The proposal itself wasn’t loud, it was the kind of proposal that involved more sincerity and intimacy — exactly how Jing Yuan was like. 

Jing Yuan knelt down, not in the conventional way in which proposals were done. Both of his knees kissed the cold lamination of the woods, he delivered soft kisses before holding your right hand to his forehead. Jing Yuan glanced upwards, the confusion palpable in your irises. 

“For all the years graced upon me, I had seen seasons pass. I had witnessed the end and birth of eras. I’ve come to know the joy of having companions in the battlefield — companions you would call family. And I have come to learn the despair of having lost it all. The passage of time may be cruel to us. However, regardless of what the future entails. I could not imagine a future where you were not there. Therefore, please do me the honor of being yours eternally.” Jing Yuan pulled out the ring he had hidden and you would have thought that today was a feverdream, until you pinched yourself on your side and the pain bit back harder than expected. 

Vehemently, you nodded. Words couldn’t seem to formulate in your mind, instead you cried — tears of happiness, as others had often coined it for. Jing Yuan slipped the ring onto your finger, his strong arms already on the side of your waist, picking you up in ease and spinning you around. 

Once the aftermath had briefly settled, you were now deep in his embrace. The two of you settled comfortably, with Jing Yuan resting his back on the wall of the room. 

“I kind of want to be yours, like right now.” You said, it was a blurt of the moment, the rush that had run and exploded in your veins. 

“The wedding will be in a few months my love, can’t you bear any longer?”

“No can do.” Jing Yuan chuckled, that impatience of yours was another quality of you that he had adored. 

“Shall we register our marriage then?”

The two of you eloped that day. Your family in disbelief with how impatient you were, and also at how lenient Jing Yuan was with your demand. Despite being formally married, there were still traditional ceremonies to follow through. Both of you abided by the rest of the processes dutifully. Jing Yuan’s elopement was kept a secret with the news of the fairy tale like wedding only being officiated on the day of the wedding reception itself. 

── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──

Having lasted for fifty years now, the general’s marriage was the envy of many men. Jing Yuan had heard of his subordinates' household stories, how they were scolded by their wives numerous times and how often they had fought due to menial issues. When questioned whether the general faced these ordinary issues as well, Jing Yuan simply tilted his head sideways — as if he found it hard to believe.

According to Jing Yuan, his everyday life as a married man was sweet and decadent. He had never had fights which escalated to an outrageous confrontation. Most of the time, it would be his wife expressing worry about the mission he was sent to — and that would be the extent of their crisis. Although lately, Jing Yuan had noticed something amiss from you. 

While Jing Yuan had been more than content with the peace of your daily life together, there was a single factor you had dwelled upon more as of late. You wanted to expand your little family. The two of you had gotten approval to have a child from the ruling commission. Although you hadn’t been successful.

The arrival of the doctor’s letters was the final nail to the coffin. You slumped down next to the couch, hands gripped on the piece of paper, crumpling it so tight you wished the words would dissipate into falsehood. As soon as he stepped into the house he shared with the love of his life, Jing Yuan knew something was ajar. He called your name but the only sound that responded was the echo of his own. 

Jing Yuan dropped the newest tea leaves he had picked up especially for you. Frantic thoughts ran into his mind as he flicked the button of lights on, his eyes searched for your figure. There you were, all slumped up, your back against the armrest of the couch, your hair covered the entirety of your face, and Jing Yuan could see the way you had both palms covering your face. 

He dropped down onto his knees, hesitantly wrapping his hands on your wrist, pulling one arm at a time to unveil the state of your face. Jing Yuan softly collected your hair, tucking each strand to the side. Tears were rimmed on the edges of your eyes, the skin on your face had gotten sticky from the incessant tears, and your lips had gotten puffy, He hadn’t question why you were in such a distress, instead Jing Yuan rubbed away the tears threatening to fall yet again with his thumb, delicately tracing over your skin. He noted that your nose was red and filled with snot. 

Jing Yuan turned away, intending to bring the box of tissue situated by the table to your side. You clung into the tassel he had always worn by his side. “I c-can’t give you a child, Yuan.” Jing Yuan looked at you, your lips trembled and you gasped for air, all while the tears flowed down your neck. 

“All this time, it was me.” Your body heaved for air, breathing had become a struggle when snots formed on your nose and your body refused to accept the news that was now your reality. The sound of your wail for a child that would never come to be was the mighty general’s breaking point. 

“Don’t say that.” You hadn’t heard him, the sound of your cries had drowned every sound that came after. But you could feel him, the way his fingers had steadfastly captured the rivulets that had streamed down your face. 

“Don’t make it sound like you are the problem.” 

“I am, Yuan. This is all me.” Jing Yuan cradled you into his hold, your arms — as a form of habit, wrapped against his neck and your face cuddled into the snug of his comfort. 

“I married you for nothing else but love. Everything I had always wished for was for your health and happiness. With or without a child, I love you all the same.” He didn’t need anything else as long as you were by his side, and if it hadn’t been clear enough to you, Jing Yuan deemed it as his fault. He should have loved you loud and clear. 

“You won’t ever be a father.”

“Being your husband has been the greatest grace in my life.” Gently, he sent soothing strokes down your hair. After such a ferocious cry, he expected you’d find such a touch pleasant for the pounding on your mind. 

“I wanted a child who resembled you.” A child who would be a mix of you and him, you had dreamed of it before.

“I know.” 

“We’d brave through this together.” Jing Yuan kissed the corner of your corner of your eyes that was burnt from the tears, the soreness of the ache made you drowsy. 

He cradled you in his arm, noticing that your movement had gone slack and a steady rhythm now moved your chest. You had fallen asleep, surely you must have been tired from all the tears and grief you had gone to spill. Was that why you had been odd lately? You must have some degree of suspicion in regard to your fertility issue and the doctor’s letter was the storm the apex which resulted your distress. 

Jing Yuan carried your body into the master bedroom you both shared. After he had laid and tucked you underneath the blanket, he pressed a kiss down your forehead. 

“You have me, for eternity.”

Time continued to flow. Sometimes, it felt as if it were going too fast. And on some days, time felt especially slow. Yet time has always been a constant force of nature. Your desire for a little family hadn’t gone with time, there were still days where you’d cry in Jing Yuan’s arms. But there were better days, days where everything was okay as long as he was there with you. The same applied to Jing Yuan. A part of you was apologetic for letting him shoulder your burden alongside with Luofu, however Jing Yuan had smiled it off. “There will never be me, or you. Only us.”

── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──

On a day where Jing Yuan was dispatched to yet another battle, the sky was crying. Jing Yuan flinched, the sight after a battle had never been pleasant, not even when you had lived as long as he had. A cry broke the dread that was impending on him, Jing Yuan’s vision snapped to the source of the sound. Hidden under the deceased body of a soldier was a baby boy. He didn’t know what had gotten over him then, but Jing Yuan decided to bring the boy back to his home. War and battles had always been filled with the loss of another comrade in expense of victory, this was the only time he ever truly returned with a life gained.

The sight of your beloved, with streaks of blood on his armor and his hands wrapped upon the tiny bundle in a blanket, was unexpected. 

“I found him on the battlefield, and it’s just- could I-” Jing Yuan hadn’t brought the little boy to play family with you, he had developed a unique bond with the sole survivor of the battlefield. In a way, the little baby reminded him of himself — of how he had been the only survivor from the the high-cloud quintet. 

“Together. We’ll raise him together.” You embraced the two jewels of your life, ensuring that you were cautious enough with the baby who would later be called Yanqing. That night, you had drafted your husband a warm bath while he ran to the nearest store to pick up items a baby would require. 

You rocked the little body to sleep while feeding the boy formulated milk through a sippy cup Jing Yuan had bought. Motherhood was a distant dream of yours in the past, but now that you were faced with a child, you were anxious at every detail. Had the ratio of formulated milk powder to water been right? Was the water too warm? The thoughts diminished as Jing Yuan stepped into your shared bedroom, fatigue laced the silhouette of his features. 

Jing Yuan melted into your touch almost immediately. His face was buried on the crook of your neck, and you patted his back, noticing that his hair was still slightly damp from the shower. To be the general was to be a flawless figure, revered for strength. You allowed him to be weak. 

── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──

With Yanqing’s appearance, time passed by swiftly like the breeze of one season onto another. You took on Tingyun’s hobby, snapping pictures of your little family every time you could. The walls of your home that had been bare once, were filled with portraits you had hung up. You remembered Yanqing’s first step, how his little body had wobbled left and right before falling into a cushion Jing Yuan had set up. The little boy had picked up a toy sword as soon as he could run around, he’d always be chasing after Jing Yuan with his toy sword. 

“Ma, am I allowed to get an actual sword now?” You froze. In the years you had raised the little boy, you had always ensured that he called you by your name — after all, you didn’t want to lie to him. 

“What do Yuan have to say about it?” Surely, you must have heard wrong. That it was a slip of his tongue. 

“That I should ask you, ma.” Yanqing replied, he was aware of what he had called you. For a while now, he had been wanting to call you his mother. He learnt from a book that a mother was someone who would raise children with love — would that not be you?

Emotions choked on your throat and you could simply nod vehemently at the boy’s request. But that hadn’t been the end of it. During one fine day, you had stayed at Aurum Alley later than you’d like due to the expansion of the family business you inherited. As you swung the door of your house open, Yanqing and Jing Yuan stood there with a huge smile on their faces and a giant bouquet on their hands.

“Happy Mother's day!” Yanqing exclaimed, the smile on his face quickly fell the moment he saw droplets of liquid trickled down your face. You’d remember that day for the rest of your life — Yanqing had panicked so hard that he ran around the house looking for a cloth to wipe your tears with, and Jing Yuan had led you into the house, fingers entangled with one another. 

Once every other day, you’d sit on the patio while Jing Yuan trained Yanqing. Jing Yuan would saunter over to steal a place in your lap. 

“Yanqing’s developing your habits, my dear. The boy is impatient and highly ambitious.” Jing Yuan said with a sigh, although the hint of adoration was palpable. 

You ruffled your husband’s hair, fingers tenderly massaging his scalp — just how he liked it. “I’d say, he’s more like you, the two of you smile the same.” 

“He’s ours, isn’t he?”

“Our miracle baby.” You confirmed. Once dusk had begun to engulf the golden sky, Jing Yuan would carry an exhausted Yanqing home — the boy had fallen asleep after the intense training, and you’d walk right next to them, Jing Yuan’s fingers always entangled in yours. 

── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──

Even after years had passed, your family remained the same. Ever so loving, ever so precious. Jing Yuan was still known as the dozing general. Today, in particular, was such a blissful day, clouds had mostly halted the scorching ray. While on one of his casual escapes, he saw you sleeping against the trunk of a tree — guards were stationed a distance away to not perturb your sleep. 

As the dozing general, he couldn’t miss such a perfect opportunity to laze. He sat himself next to you, beckoning your head to rest on his shoulder, and his would rest on top of your head. Sleep came to him in an instant, you were his home after all. 

Yanqing caught sight of his parents not long after, both serene in their sleep, both tired from carrying the world on their shoulders. He was on his way to train, but just today, a short rest would do him good. Yanqing positioned himself to your left, leaning into your shoulder. Sleep came to him as easy as it did with Jing Yuan. 

CLICK! CLICK! Hiding amidst the bushes was Tingyun and her camera. She had captured the family’s intimate moment — the citizens of Luofu would surely feast to see such a domestic sight! As she was about to flee, Jing Yuan cleared his throat, his eyes were still shut tight. 

“How much would it be to own the exclusive rights to my family’s portrait?” 

Tingyun smirked, she could imagined the sound of credits cashing into her bank. “Well, if it isn’t the generous general. How much would you be willing to offer?” 

A/n: It ended up being longer than I thought. Hope you guys enjoyed it! Reblogs, comments, and likes are always appreciated ᥫ᭡

“Guys, we’re still here.” you chipped in, nuzzling your nose further into Megumi's hoodie. He returned your affection by stroking your arms gently. At times when Megumi noticed that you had gotten way too engrossed at those 10-minute soap dramas on youtube, he’d give you a small pinch on the side. Just enough to jolt you back to reality. This would earn him a tiny pout or a you'd huff — your arms folded to feign anger. Not that he minded either, it'd end with thousands of kisses anyway.

“Do you think he’s jealous that she’s paying more attention to the TV?” Megumi wondered why he stuck with his friends. They were quite the nosy bunch and while he had been grateful for their presence, it was time for the gratuity to run out. Without warning, he threw the pillow closest to him at Yuji. The pillow landed flat at Yuji's face yet the boy gleamed in delight.

“Positively jealous.” Yuji and Nobara traded thumbs up and Megumi let out another groan. It was going to be one hell of a night. All cuddled up in his embrace, you chuckled at their antics. The sound of your laughter soothed all the tension out of Megumi's joints, it was then that he realized he had to marry you. Or maybe it was those idiots, silently implanting ideas in his head — either way, he couldn’t find a better place to be than by your side. 

A/n: I feel like this works for every sunshine x grumpy ship but I can only think of Megumi for some reason. Hope you guys enjoyed it! Reblogs, comments, and likes are really appreciated ᥫ᭡.

“And what would the reasons be, my love?” He’s a jujutsu sorcerer, one who dealt with vicious curses on the daily. If he was being strictly logical, there was no reason he wouldn’t survive on a war zone. However, with you, rationality be damned. Nanami always longed to hear the sweet melody of your thoughts, this was simply another episode he had awaited. 

“First, you can’t get your daily intake of baguettes!” Nanami picked up the dyson blowdryer he had bought you months ago simply because you had left your laptop open, and on one of the tabs, he saw this specific hairdryer. From the vanity mirror which reflected the two of you, you could see how Nanami nodded his head to your reasonings — his lips were thinning into a small smile. 

“I’m being serious Ken. No one’s operating a bakery in a warzone and that means there’ll be no butter from Europe, or fancy balsamic from Italy!” You whipped your head backward momentarily to stare at your standing boyfriend, he had his fingers entangled in your hair, ensuring every strand was adequately ventilated to the dryer’s cool air. 

“You’re right my love, it is quite an urgent issue.” Nanami spoke, his voice as tender as how he had treated you everyday. You never knew what princess treatment truly meant until you met him. Heck, you weren’t even dating yet when he showed up in front of your apartment door with a few tubs of ice cream and bar of chocolates — all because you sent him an overdramatic text of how your period was actively killing you, at 9PM. 

“Secondly, I don’t think military uniform suits you.” With this, Nanami raised his brow. You could see the puzzled look dawned upon his feature from the mirror. 

“It’s all in the color theory, Ken. And you look the hottest in a suit.” For another five minutes, you proceeded to rant about how the shade of brown that was in the uniform was not the exact shade of brown your boyfriend had typically worn. Your ever so loving boyfriend dutifully detangled pieces of your hair while ensuring the air was properly drying the roots of your hair as you went on and on. 

“Oh and thirdly, you hate overtime and you can’t really clock out from war, can you?” You huffed your chest confidently. Sure, the excuses from before were too pathetic to be fully labelled as a compelling argument. However, you were sure that not even your intellectually handsome Kento could refute this one statement. 

“Excellent observation, my dear. It is, unfortunately, impossible to demand for flexible hours in a warzone.” Nanami turned off the hairdryer, placing the sleek design back on the magnetic stand on your vanity. He took on a comb next, ensuring your hair was getting the luxury treatment it deserved.

You giggled sheepishly, Nanami showered you with endless praises. Of how accurately you had assessed his personality, of how you simply knew him best, and of how he just adored you. The blonde man pumped a dollop of hair oil into his palm and he smoothed the oil over the luscious strands of your hair. Nanami’s fingers often strayed to where your ears were. Your favorite sorcerer rubbed circles around the lobe of your ears, his thumb sending soft caress down your neck — every touch of his lingered, his warmth refused to ebbed away. 

Nanami bent his head down and you took the opportunity to wrap your arms around his neck. Your lover positioned his right hand onto your waist and he carried you into his embrace from the chair of your vanity. It was all too easy for him, there could be a hundred you and he’d still carry each and every one altogether in his hold. 

The fourth reason came to you as Nanami delicately place you down on your shared bed. “And there’s no way you could ever leave our children alone.” Your gaze fell upon the dozens of dolls and plushies which had nestled themselves rather comfortably in the king-sized bed Nanami bought.

“They’d be fatherless!” You whined, pretending to break into an all-too-dramatic sob. 

Nanami on the other hand had positioned himself into the side of bed he usually resided in. The renowned 7:3 sorcerer was occupied with unfolding the blanket in which he intended to tuck you under while you had gone ahead with your usual charade.

“Or maybe they won’t if I find a new boyfriend…” Mumbling your own thoughts out, you made sure to speak in hushed tone. It was a silly intrusive thought, nothing serious enough to warrant actual reaction. Nevertheless, Nanami halted his movement. And he sharpened his eyes on you, his pupil was refracted, and the skin from which his eyes and nose met crinkled. it was the kind of look he gave to Itadori whenever the boy was out doing something outrageous — like how he had jumped over from the fifth floor of a building once. 

“Our children will only be having one father in this lifetime.” Nanami fucking Kento just admitted to being the father of your plushies, no fucking way. Your mouth went agape, no amount of smart or sassy comebacks could ever prepare you for words to say whenever your beloved Kento exceeded your sky-high expectations. All you could do was nod frantically, there was no way you were ever leaving this man. 

“And the fifth reason?” Nanami all laid down in his side of the bed, opened his arms for you to cocooned yourself into. As soon as his limbs were stretched, you quickly snuggled into his embrace, nuzzling your face into his chest affectionately. 

“I love you too much to let you go.” Unlike the other times in which you had increased the volume of your voice to warrant a reaction from your partner, your voice this time was so subtle that Nanami could have missed it if he wasn’t holding his breath. His heart fluttered against the curve of your face, if you had placed your ear over Nanami’s chest, you would have heard the rough palpitations of his heart. 

“I will genuinely bawl my eyes out if someone ever demanded you to enlist.” You additionally mumbled, all while knowing that your man was weak towards your tears. Nanami cracked into a fit of laughter, the deep resonance of his joy was akin to rivulets of  deep notes coming from a trombone. Even deep in his amusement, Nanami’s happiness carried a distinct rasp quality, one you could loop and replay everyday. 

“I trust you will do so, my love.” The sorcerer secured you tightly on his arm, pulling on the blanket to ensure you were sufficiently warm. Nanami planted a chaste kiss on your forehead, the man rested his chin on the crown of your head afterwards. 

“I love you too, infinitely so.” Nanami loved you more than his confession could ever describe. Therefore, he didn’t need you to list down dozens of reasons for him not to go to war. A look from your face was enough for him to surrender his heart away.

A/n: Another drabble turned into short fic! Hope you guys enjoyed it 𝜗ৎ Reblogs, comments, and likes are always appreciated 𑣲⋆

Satoru gently slipped away from your hold to pick up the fallen cone, he missed the frown that was plastered on your face for the second time today. The man with snow-white hair was bent down in the middle of the mall, mid-road, digging into his pocket for some tissue to fix the mess in front of him. Fortunately, the trash bin wasn’t far away and Gojo was swift with the clean-up. The man arrived back to your side, fingers sticky from the bunch of tissues he had used to wipe the fallen cream, yet his eyes noticed how you were mindlessly scrolling through your phone.

“Babe, can I have a wet wipe?” Satoru’s focus on you was unbreakable, he observed the way your ears had perked up upon his request, on how your fingers had momentarily halted, hanging upon the screen before furiously scrolling downwards. You on the other hand had your back upon the guardrail, true to your lover’s observation, the obsessive scrolling you were exhibiting was just a means to pass time, a means to ignore the lover you would never be able to fully shut out.

“Are you displeased by something?” Satoru questioned, he fought the urge to tuck the baby hair that was threatening to obscure your gorgeous orbs. Nevermind, his hand was still dirty from before. But gods, Satoru could never have enough of you — utterly and devastatingly lovely, and all his. 

“Like I said,” you began, huffing a hefty sigh from your lover’s lack of perception, “I don’t think you love me anymore.” Your phone was now tuck inside your shoulder bag, and your arms were crossed upon your chest, eyes staring straight at your beguiled lover. The tension on the air was palpable with strangers who passed by whispering in hushed tones, connecting the dots between both of your body languages and deriving their own theories on what happened. 

Satoru attempted to clear the air with a chuckle that sounded awkward even to you, almost as if the voice Gojo had to drag out from his throat came out cracked — as if he himself who had dubbed himself as the strongest was trying to feign strength. “Which bastard plant such an outrageous idea in your mind baby?” He’d kill them, genuinely. This was why he had wanted you to stop hanging out with Mei Mei and those zenin folks, clearly they weren’t a good influence. 

“You’re the bastard!” You exclaimed, there’s no way this was the same Satoru who would notice whenever your breathing was a slight off from normal — yes, the Satoru you fell for was an overly protective man under the guise of a palace jester, a fool for love who would go as far as count the inhales and exhales of your breaths. “I told you that we’re here to try out those famous dubai chewy cookie, and what did you say?!”

Satoru’s face perked up, slowly the memory of the two of you visiting a bakery inside of said mall resurfaced. You had been sending him a bunch of reels of this hideous thing called dubai chewy cookie, and Satoru knew well enough now that this meant the bakery would be on one of the both of your designated date spots. Thus, as a boyfriend who was a fool for his baby, Satoru took the liberty to drive himself to the mall even before it was opened to reserve a few pieces for you. Normally, that would not have been possible, after all what bakery would allow reservation for an item especially when it was selling like hotcakes? They certainly would when faced with a Gojo Satoru who was paying ten times the price they were offering. 

It all sounded perfect, there was nothing for you to hate. You had been sullen when the two of you arrived later in the afternoon and you found that the item you had been vying for was sold out and wouldn’t be going for restock for the day. Thus, when the waitress had served a dozens of said dessert to your table, you had been overjoyed, eyes flickering between the dessert and the big smirk your boyfriend had plastered upon his face. Everything was pure bliss and heaven. At least until Satoru had accidentally said the word every boyfriend should come to fear.

“My little munchkins, look at those cheeks.” Satoru playfully squeezed your cheek that was full of dubai chewy cookie, he absolutely adored you to death, a small part of him was thinking of purchasing the entire bakery at this moment. “What happened to dieting?” Your mouth stopped chewing as soon as the forbidden word spilled, the taste of the chocolate powder and crunchy kunafa coated with pistachio paste turned stale in your mouth. Afterwards, you had spent the next hour giving the minimal reaction possible to everything your boyfriend said. 

All of the pieces fell in its place and Satoru’s head finally clicked with clarity. “Is it due to the diet comment?” Satoru witnessed the dilations of your pupil, how your sight was now casted on the ground instead of him — the accomplished and ever-so-rich man felt a punch land straight on his gut when you had chosen to fixate your eyes on the ground instead of himself. 

“Baby, I was thoughtless. It was supposed to be a tease.” Satoru used the back of his palm, the side that was clean from cleaning up the residue of the tragic fall of his ice cream, to delicately lift your chin upwards, that way he’d be truly looking at you. 

Your ear was beet red, and the redness seemed to crawl all the way down to your neck, Satoru could see how your eyes had turned glossy, much like a glass window with streaked of rain. “I know that! But what happened afterwards was worse, you didn’t notice that I was feeling down due to it. It took you hours!” Contrary to the tears attempting to brim and cloud your eyes, you kept the lid of your eyes firmly opened, refusing to yield to the droplets intending to cascade. 

“I’m a thoughtless fool, but I am your fool. So, please find it in your big and wonderfully gorgeous heart to forgive me, my darling.” It would be easy to be anxious, to be full of hate or negative emotions if Gojo Satoru was like any other normal men you had dated before. Maybe it was the way he had never truly fit the word normal, or the way he had always go above and beyond for you — his words were believable because Gojo Satoru always owned up to what he said. 

“My forgiveness is costly.” You mumbled, the last shred of pettiness and anger dissipated the moment Satoru opened his arms for you to fall into. He was still careful with his dirty fingers, hoping it wouldn’t stain your favorite top. 

“Nothing is ever too costly to me when it comes to you, my beloved.” Gojo said, his lips kissing the top crown of your head, peppering down kisses on your hairline — one of his dozens of favorite thing he would always do to you. 

“You know this mean hours of shopping.”

“My greatest pleasure surely.” Despite how many times Satoru had said that he’d always make more money than you can spend in seconds, you had always been hesitant to spend in large amounts — contrary to the big and spoiled words you’d always say. It was about time for Satoru to show you how far his love flowed and how far his wealth piled for you alone.

Satoru relaxed his cheeks into your hair, evidently squishing his face onto your height, still wishing you’d hand him those wet wipes so that he could finally held you properly in his arms but regardless, the white-hair men settled with a simple word he must have forgotten to say today.“I love you.” 

The next day, Gojo Satoru’s face headlined the article. The rich Gojo heir had just bought a dozens of bakery who all specialized in dubai chewy cookie. 

A/n: Hope you guys enjoyed this short one! Reblogs, comments, and likes are always appreciated 𑣲⋆

Iwaizumi did, and the rest was history. Oikawa’s showmanship of love was as flamboyant as himself. He had reserved the best restaurant with unparalleled views that stretched over the sky of Tokyo. There were flower bouquets delivered to your apartment weekly. But, ultimately, you fell for how humane he was, imperfectly perfect — you had told him. 

You fell for the Oikawa who would race through the rain to buy you an umbrella. The Oikawa who was generous with his head pats for kids. The Oikawa who despite his strength, always felt inadequate and dispensable. The Oikawa who would never let you feel inferior or small despite feeling that way himself. 

A month was all it took for the two of you to stumble into a relationship. Nothing could prepare Oikawa for the nightmare that long distance relationships would bring. There was a strict 12 hours difference between the two of you and while initially the love between the two of you had scorched the challenges away, life was a dynamic force. 

“Right! And the players from the opposite team just came up to me. And babe, I thought I was gone for good but —” Normally, you’d love to hear your boyfriend’s incessant yap but work today had run late and you had returned to your apartment at 9 pm. You had skipped dinner and went for a quick shower before plunging into your fuzzy mattress. 

At 11 pm now, your eyes were fighting against the light emitted by your laptop. Your boyfriend’s voice bleared incoherently and the lids of your eyes grew heavy. 

“—it was insane! I should have taken a video for you to see. The view was breathtaking, couldn't hold a candle to you though.” Oikawa sighed, no matter what wonders of the world were in front of his eyes, he would always think of you. That it’d be nice to have you enjoy the view with him. 

Come to think of it, he hadn’t heard your voice in a while — he had been too engrossed in the tales he wanted to share. Oikawa looked at the screen on his phone, you were snuggled up on a giant bear Oikawa had bought for you. The rhythmical oscillations of your chest was an evident sign that you had fallen asleep. Oikawa’s lips curved into a solemn smile, the edges of his eyes relaxed at how peaceful you were.

“Sleep tight, my princess. Sorry for keeping you up.” 

The next day had fortunately been the weekend. You had fallen deep into a slumber to which your alarm couldn’t even wake you from. What had awoken you was the ringing of your apartment’s doorbell. Sluggishly, you dragged yourself out of bed and into the front door. As you turned the knob over, the door to your apartment was flung open and you saw something on the floor. It was a plastic of steaming hot meals with a sticky note embedded on the side.

Don’t make a habit of skipping dinner, princess.  Love, Tooru.

A/n: Enjoy! Reblogs, comments, and likes are always appreciated ᢉ𐭩

His first love had been a tale as old as time. All the way back to when he was still a student at Jujutsu High. Strangely, he remembered every single detail of you vividly. It was as if he had never left, as if he was still there stuck in the time he would consider his happiest. His best friend had been alive then, and you had been there too right by his side. 

For a man who prided himself as being intellectual and rational, the love he had felt for you bypassed all that he had known of himself. But love hadn’t come for him like a storm that manifested out of nowhere and sweep him off his feet. No, the love he had for you slowly filled his veins — each interaction, each smile, each touch, flowed into the vein that breathed him life. His recognition of the feeling began when he started to act beyond himself, when he started making exceptions, only for you. 

“Ken, it’s your day off. Are you sure you that you want to tag along?” Nanami bent over, quickly slipping into his shoes and tying the laces. He was tired, for a few months now, he had been juggling mission left and right. It was his first day off after a while — he would have loved to sleep in for a little while and visit a new bakery which recently opened few blocks away. But what use were those joy if you were not there?

“Yes. you’ve asked me thrice now.” Having secured his shoes, Nanami slung his katana over his shoulder. He rose up without realizing that you had been nearby and looking downwards where he was. The sudden movement of his brought both of your faces closer to one another, a tingle of heat flushed over his ear. 

“It’s just… you’ve been worn out lately.” Sweet and such a dear — Nanami knew he was fucked the moment he saw the pout of your face. You were like a dream come true to him, he hadn’t realized the adjective intoxicating could be used to define someone. 

“We just have to complete the mission quicker. And afterwards, we can watch that movie you’ve been raving about all week.” He didn’t miss a beat, not when you had squealed and wrapped your arms around his neck. Or when you had buried your face in his neck, and he awkwardly pat your back while he absorbed that familiar scent of yours. 

With every recall of his blissful life in the past, that memory always seemed insistent on resurfacing. The day he had left Jujutsu, and you along the way. Losing Haibara — his closest friend, had been the nail in coffin. It had redefined the way Nanami viewed Jujutsu sorcerers, and for a while, he wasn’t sure whether to follow through with his career as one. When Nanami barely survived and had to drag the body of his best friend from the tragedy that had occured, you were there — face streaked with tears. 

He had been numb, exhausted from the fight and from the feel of Haibara’s cold body. Haibara had never been silent much in his life, and Nanami dreaded discovering the weight of Haibara’s silence in such way. “Thank you for bringing him back.” You had tried to sound as calm as you could, but the tremor in your voice said otherwise. The tears and sullen look on your face had betrayed you as well. “Thank you for coming back safely, Ken.” That line broke him. 

Nanami didn’t want a future where he’d have to grieve his days away. He didn’t want a future where he’d be treated as disposable. He didn’t want a future where he would always have to fear for the safety of his and his loved ones. 

At the night of his graduation, he had asked you out on a walk. “Just like old times,” he had said. The two of you settled on a bench which provided the view of a footbridge and a lake that seemed to shimmer against the night reflection. “I won’t be a sorcerer.” Nanami didn’t mince back his words, he didn’t cushion them either. 

“What do you mean, Ken?” He couldn’t bring himself to look at your face, and so he shut his eyes tight. A fragment of his imagination envisioned the palpable confusion that must be etched onto your feature. 

“I’m quitting Jujutsu for a chance to live a normal life.” It was funny. Nanami had rehearsed the entire conversation a few times before actually committing to talking it out with you. No amount of practice could ever compare with the churning feeling swirling in his heart. He might as well as rip it open. 

When you hadn’t responded, Nanami took the chance to elaborate the rationale behind his decision. His eyes now opened, but drifting along the ripples by the lake. Beneath all the truths he had told you, there was one he didn’t have enough courage to conjure. Come with me. He had wanted you to leave everything you had believed to be with him, to start anew. It was entirely selfish of him to desire not only your present but your future. 

“What about me?” 

“What about us?” The sudden rise of your voice had startled him. Sure, you had yelled before — mostly at Gojo’s antics. But Nanami had never been at the receiving end of your ire. No, he couldn’t call this complex emotion as ire, it was disappointment. And hurt. He had hurt you. 

“Our lives converge here. It wouldn’t be fair for either of us to settle for something we wouldn’t want.” He wasn’t simply giving up his current life, he was giving up his chances to be with you. Nanami knew that you were a sorcerer to the core, you were the kind of light Haibara was. Two irrevocably kind and genuine souls who would dedicate their whole lives to protecting citizens from curses. He couldn’t just steal away your dream, or let his desire for normalcy be gone before it had started. 

You looked at him — for the longest time he hadn’t been well even if he had tried to reassure you that it was not the case. Losing Haibara had taken a toll on him. Alas, the man in front of you had been different. You didn’t quite know how to place it into words but Nanami seemed at peace. “If that is what you wish.” You resigned easily, you didn’t want to lose him. You could tell that he had pondered it over a few times, and you trusted that Nanami knew what was best for himself. 

Albeit, not having Nanami next to you anymore would be a foreign sight. “Can we please stay in contact?” You didn’t think you could ever get used to it.

Nanami shook his head. “Not even if I beg?” A thin smile cracked into his face. And you couldn’t help it then, the tears you were trying to hold on to broke free. It ran down your face, streamlining the curves of your cheeks. 

“I love you.” It was precisely because Nanami loved you too much. He knew he wouldn’t be able to stay away from the Jujutsu world if he had remained in contact would you. He’d always be worried if he knew you were on a mission. Heck, he’d dive right into the whole exorcism again if he heard even the slightest hint of distress from you. He had to let go. 

For the very last time, Nanami wrapped his arms around you. He felt his shirt dampened from the tears you shed. Nanami littered soft kisses on the top of your head and you fought the soft feeling of comfort that he was disillusioning you with. “You’re cruel, Ken.”

You wished tomorrow wouldn’t come. You wished time would stop and that the two of you could stay here forever. But time was cruel, and for every meeting, there would be a farewell that follow. 

True to his words, that was the last time the two of them had seen one another. Once graduation was over, Nanami packed his bags and left the dorm that had been his home for a pivotal part of his life. He threw himself into working as the average salaryman. For four years, he had been slaved by the capitalist system that ran the human world. The gratification for a normal life that he had desperately wanted wasn’t what he had quite imagined. And the past four years had been painful without you.

He found you everywhere. On the road he used to pass by, on the bakery the two of you used to visit, on your favorite convenience store's ice cream, on the sequel of your favorite movie, on your favorite kinds of flowers, on your favorite plushies. Every time his finger hovered over the call button of your contact, Nanami would toss his phone away. He chose this life. A life without you. 

On another normal day in a bakery, Nanami had exorcised a small curse on a whim. Perhaps it was when Nanami saw the instant lightness in the victim’s expression, and the way they had thanked him even if they hadn’t know that a curse was the cause — it triggered the memory he had once buried deep in the back of his mind. A memory of when he was aspiring to be a sorcerer for the sake of a better world. He decided his return to the Jujutsu world at that moment. 

Nanami thought you should be the first to know. Even if 4 years had passed. After years, he had finally allowed himself to dial the number that had been haunting his dreams. He clenched his face in anticipation as soon as the number was dialed. Unfortunately, there was no ring. He tried again, over and over, but none of his calls had made it. 

Following the weeks after his return, he had accustomed himself to fighting curses. It was strange how his body had just reassumed his old habits easily, as if he never left. Out of everyone else, Gojo Satoru had noticed the way Nanami would stare at the mission logs on both the bulletin board and Ijichi’s desktop computer. Nanami’s gaze would always linger a few seconds longer. 

“Her name won’t be there.” Gojo didn’t have to use his six eyes to know what Nanami was looking for. There was only one person who could truly bring him down to the state of desperation. 

Nanami feigned ignorance. He’d rather dig his own grave than let Gojo dig his for him. “She transferred to the kyoto branch few years back.” Oh. That was why he hadn’t run into you not even once, not even when he was patrolling all over Tokyo. 

And now, a total of 8 years had passed. He wondered how had you changed, or whether you had think of him half as often as he did about you. 

Thus, when Yuji had practically dragged Nanami to the kyoto sister-goodwill event, Nanami let himself be dragged voluntarily. You had never appeared before during these events, he’d know, he had always kept track. However, Nanami wanted to take a chance at fate. For all of those prayers he had wished upon to the gods above to realigned the two of yours estranged path. 

“Nanamin, do you remember your first love?” Yuji had questioned, the sight of the Kyoto students starting to re-emerged from afar. Nanami sighed, remembering was a word to shallow to describe the longing he had for you. 

“I do, Itadori.” His eyes fell onto the familiar silhouette that had appeared together with the students from Kyoto. No matter the years that had passed, Nanami could tell it was you. Yuji glanced at Nanami to inquire more information about the man’s first love but he found himself tracing Nanami’s gaze instead. It landed on you, to be precisely, Nanami couldn’t look anywhere else. Yuji connected the dot instantly. It was the softness in the way his mentor had looked, Yuji knew you were special to Nanami. His eyes couldn’t lie — couldn’t hide the affection and longing overflowing from them either. 

Yuji having caught on to what was going on, started bothering the Kyoto students so that they’d leave your side. It was so naturally done, Nanami made a mental note to buy a few meals for the younger man he had grown fond of. Before he could properly settled on a line to say, you were already in front of him. Nanami was caught off guard, you were gorgeous back then but currently, you had grown ethereal. Unreal. Beguilling. Words that settled underneath his tongue were completely blown away. 

“You came back.” You started, the man in front of you undoubtedly was the man you still love even after years had distanced the two of you. 

“I missed you.” Nanami answered, he didn’t miss the way your irises had widened at his confession. He didn’t need any more prayers answered, he was grateful that the universe had granted him this once chance to rectify himself. 

“I think about you all the time.” Raw longing colored Nanami’s words, pouring the stagnant truth that had been awaiting for all these years to light. 

“Me too.” 

A/n: Hope you guys enjoyed it! Reblogs, comments, and likes are always appreciated ᥫ᭡.

All that sugar felt burnt, you shuddered at the unwanted recall of your ex polished sonnets. The chill of the rain amplified the intruding bitterness of your past relationship’s end. It was on a night like this when your ex had openly admitted to cheating on you and to make matters worse, he had taken your umbrella with him, leaving you stuck on a bus stop in the middle of a downpour. 

“Here, you can use mine.” Well, your ex certainly hadn’t said that. You stared at the scarred hand which held the umbrella out. Your gaze followed the person’s hand, to their arms, neck, and you halted the moment you saw the stranger’s face. Spiky salmon-colored hair and those brown irises. It was Itadori Yuji in the flesh. 

You lightly pushed the umbrella away. “I’m fine, the rain isn’t that bad.” A huge gush of wind sent a couple brochures flying, and lightning striked, followed by a flash of thunder that had been closer than you’d like. 

Yuji raised one of his brow, clearly no part of the rain seemed inconsequential. “It’s raining cats and dogs out here.” Yuji stated the obvious, fighting a laugh at the irony of your statement. It was as if your very statement was denied by mother nature herself. 

“And what about you?” You hadn’t seen any spare umbrellas by his side. 

Yuji twisted his torso halfway, showing off the red hood that was adeptly layered underneath his uniform. “I have this hood right here, and I’m insanely quick.”

“You’d brave the rain?”

“Straight ahead, all the way back to the dorm.” He grinned, the sharp canine of his teeth peeked over. Yuji was exactly like the rumors that floated around him and despite your initial suspicion of his character, you hadn’t sensed any shred of pretense from the person in front of you. 

“I’m going back to the dorm as well.” You took the umbrella from his hand, a soft smile etched its way onto your feature. “Can't we just share?”

You ended up clinging onto his arm the entire walk back. There were a few times where you had accidentally sunken or trip into potholes filled with rainwater — Yuji had been swift enough to form a grip on your wrist, saving you from the embarrassment of diving right into puddles of flood. He also had a talent for initiating conversations, it wasn’t about the topics of the conversation, Yuji was just an earnest and genuine soul. Thus every conversation felt meaningful because he was giving his hundred percent and heart in it.

That had been the start of the unique constitution called friendship between Itadori Yuji and you. You went from never seeing him to seeing a glimpse of Yuji everywhere you go now. He hadn’t been like your ex who’d pretend to not recognize who you were. No, Yuji always sauntered over to where you stood. He’d ask how was your day, whether you had eaten, or what was your plan for the day. 

“Lend me your hand.” You hadn’t questioned Yuji’s antics, you lifted your hand palm side up. His large yet warm hand obscured your vision and you felt him drop a bunch of small-sized items onto your palm. He withdrew his hand then, fingers brushed upon the stray strand of hair that had covered your pretty face. 

You smiled once you saw what rested on your hand. It was from an expensive chocolatier — a place you had just mentioned in passing to him. “Yuji… you didn’t have to.” 

“But, I’d like to. I like seeing you happy.” Yuji said, gently patting the crown of your head. It was the way in which he spoke with such conviction and clarity. You had never been showered with such a genuine form of affection. Yuji stayed for a bit longer, he had to watch you eat your first bite of the chocolate. His phone chimed uncontrollably, and Yuji’s face paled the moment he realized he had spent half an hour in the hallway with you, “Gotta go, Nobara would genuinely kill me if I was late.” 

On days where Yuji wasn’t dispatched on missions, he’d make sure to walk you to your classes. You hadn’t even sent your timetable to him, you had mentioned it only once yet Yuji seemed to retain the information permanently on his head. Yuji would already be downstairs, waiting for you with a cup of smoothie in hand. He noticed that you were the type to skip breakfast, and he decided to bring breakfast to you on days he could. 

“Yuji, you spoiled me rotten.” 

“As you deserved.” 

Your peers noticed the proximity in which Itadori Yuji and you had been dabbling in. There were eyes of suspicion following every public interaction that you and Yuji had. 

“Are you sure that you’re not dating the Itadori Yuji?” A classmate of yours questioned, you could have sworn everyone’s head turn to where you were — it was the buzzling topic as of late, everyone wanted in on the latest gossip. 

“We’re just friends.” 

“Friends don’t walk you everywhere.”

“He’s a sweetheart.” You flipped over the pages which explained the history of Jujutsu. Your attention wasn't on the inked words. 

“Friends don’t shower you with gifts and presents every single day.”

“Yuji has a big heart.” You didn’t want to overthink it. Yuji had the soul of an angel, he surely treat everyone equally. 

“Friends don’t look at you that way!” 

That caught you completely off guard, you slammed the book close. “In what way?”

“I don’t know, like you’re his entire world?” 

The following week after, your self-consciousness against Yuji’s every action skyrocketed. And so did the feeling of being undeserving. He was too good. It made you feel terrible really, you had constantly been at the receiving end of Yuji’s generosity. The current situation was a stark difference from how you were with your ex. A part of that reality frightened you. What if you were acting like how your ex had acted to you, towards Yuji?

Your fear peaked when you heard those words come out of Yuji’s mouth. You had sneaked into his dorm and was tucked in his bed. Yuji had noticed how fidgety you had been around him lately, you had never been this way before. 

“Was I moving too fast?” Yuji questioned. He had adored you for a while now, long before the umbrella the two of you shared. You were an assistant at one of the missions he was assigned to, he respected how polite and lovely you had been when dealing with victims of the curses. His curiosity began to grow from then on. And then he got the chance to talk with you, and gods, Yuji didn’t know how he had survived this long without knowing you. 

“Huh?” You knew Yuji liked you as a friend, but you were oblivious to the broader rationale of his every action.

Yuji sat down on the bed, his weight dipped on the mattress lightly. “I guess it wasn’t clear enough.” 

“I love you y/n.” Yuji confessed, his throat felt heavy and thick. He was supposed to wait it out but patience had never been his forte. Better yet, when it came to you, there was no rationality to chain him down. 

“Yuji…”

“You don’t have to give me an answer ever if it troubles you. But I’d like it if we could stay the way we are.” Even at times like these, Yuji would always put your comfort and wellbeing as his utmost priority. It frightened you when relationships and love were not equal. Someone would always take more, and someone would always be left with less. You had known from experience. 

“There’s no way we can stay as we are.” 

He hadn’t meant to be this transparent but if there was one thing Yuji could not do, it was to hide his feelings. The moment your words were registered in his brain, Yuji had his face casted down — he looked like a puppy that had been kicked out from a misdeed, the sight was not one that you enjoyed. 

“I want to learn how to love like you do, Yuji.” You wanted to be with him. You wanted to show him love like how he had done for you. Above all, he was Yuji, not your ex or some pretentious guys trying to be nice for the sake of merit. 

Overwhelmed with joy, Yuji bounced on his mattress. His body moved before he could think, arms already wrapped upon you. Yuji engulfed you in a warmness that could last for a lifetime. You caressed his cheek and leaned forward, lips tenderly touching his. Albeit the suddenness, Yuji welcomed it all — he’d welcome every part of you. 

A/n: Yuji seemed like a certified loverboy. Hope you guys enjoyed this piece! Reblogs, comments, and likes are highly appreciated ᥫ᭡

“He’d be a fool if he doesn’t.” Nolan didn’t deserve a single cell on her body. That man-child had a fogged vision — Nolan wouldn’t be able to appreciate what was in front of him even if he tried. But Nanami could. Even if he was just a friend, there was no part of you that he hadn’t revered. 

You frowned, lips curled upwards and brows furrowed. Your hands tried to pull at the bottom of the dress you were wearing. For the next few minutes, you paced back and forth in front of the mirror, assessing your attire from every vantage point of view. As if resigning, you heaved a heavy sigh before shifting through your closet for another piece of dress. 

Nanami noticed. Of course he would. The book on his lap was just a facade, the man’s gaze had been fixated on you from the start. “What are you worried about, gorgeous?” Sweet nicknames poured out of him so easily for you. You couldn’t have known but in his mind, every evocation of beauty that he perceived was reserved for you. Words of endearment like sweetheart, darling, sunshine — for him, it all materialized in the form of you. 

“Nolan told me a few times now to be mindful of what I wear.” You liked your current dress too, otherwise, you wouldn’t look as if someone had just stolen the last cheesecake on your fridge. He stood up swiftly, already a step away from you. You averted your gaze from the impending stare. The contrast between both of your height always seemed to surprise you. 

Tenderly, his fingers brushed against your chin and lifted your forlorn gaze to meet his. Nanami was careful not to ruin the make up you had layered oh-so-carefully. “Maybe Nolan should be mindful of what he says.” 

With his free hand, Nanami traced the contour of your lips — erasing the stray smudge to which you'd freak out over if you had noticed. “Ethereal as always.” 

Heat crept up your neck, Nanami always had a way with words and you can never seemed to get used to it. You tried to shift your focus onto the ceiling instead of staring straight into those eyes that you could just drown into. It was futile really, you had already dived into the sea long ago despite being a terrible swimmer. 

Ugly fits of jealousy scorched his flesh. Nanami knew he’d treat you better than that boy ever could. Countless times, he had imagined ruining the sweet friendship he had with you. The timing had never worked out for him and his patience was running on thin ice. 

Fuck Nolan, truly. 

A/n: Sorry to all the Nolans out there but I don't think I can ever get enough of Nanami. Hope you guys enjoyed it! Reblogs, comments, and likes are always appreciated ᥫ᭡.ִֶָ𓂃