#imagiverse

“But I don’t understand why you won’t just let me look!” You exclaimed quickly, trying to keep your cool. Your lips formed into a pout as you stopped dead in your tracks. Gojo just kept walking, not even trying to sense that you were no longer next to him. 

He knew you weren’t there anymore, and he couldn’t be bothered to wait for you. Satoru was growing impatient the more you kept asking question after question, even taking it upon yourself to move one side of his blindfold up and over one eye. That’s when the silent treatment started. You watched as Satoru kept taking giant strides back towards your shared home in the city, the distance between you two growing larger. You knew you’d have to run to catch up with him, but you couldn’t bring your legs to move. After a moment of contemplation, you decided to walk at your normal pace, adorning the same nonchalance Satoru had for you. 

Hearing the small crunches of the concrete under your shoes made Satoru’s ears perk up. Theoretically, he could just turn around and look to see your petite shadow right behind him trying to catch up, but he couldn’t be bothered to open his eyes today. He smirked to himself, a small smile gracing his lips.

You didn’t know he could see through the blindfold.

That was the beautiful thing about the small piece of silk that covered Gojo’s face for almost a full 24 hours a day. He was sure that not even his closest friends and family knew that he could see through the silk on his face. He definitely knew that you didn’t know. Gojo reached out his hand to twist the doorknob of the small home open. The doorknob wouldn’t twist. He tried again this time with a little more force than the last turn, but to no avail. Satoru sighed softly under his breath. Opening his eyes underneath the blindfold, he watched and waited as you dragged your feet behind yourself, your little frame coming closer and closer.

You lifted your gaze from the concrete, no longer watching the little bits of rubble shift and roll under your every heel tap on the floor. You felt a hot gaze at the top of your head, wondering who could be staring at you. It couldn’t have been Satoru because he never opened his eyes under his blindfold. There would be no way he could, you knew better than anybody that he kept his eyes closed for almost a full 24 hours in a day. Your head snapped up, looking around, noticing that the instant you picked up your head, Satoru swiveled his head towards the door as a small rosiness covered his cheeks. He hoped he moved his head quicker than you would notice, or else he knew he would have a lot to answer for. Satoru wanted to yell something cheeky at you, but he knew that would’ve blown his cover for sure. Instead, he waited patiently for you at the door, hoping you would pick up the pace.

You finally reached the door after what seemed like an eternity, slightly huffing and puffing from your increased pace. You tried to feign nonchalance at the door knob, inserting the key and twisting the handle like it was no issue for you to open the door. When he was sure it was safe, Satoru looked off to the side to watch you move with such ease, the look on your side profile unbothered and relaxed. There was a small pang in his chest when he realized you wouldn’t look in his direction. 

You couldn’t really be mad, could you? Satoru instantly began to realize why you would be slightly upset. Both of you had been a couple for two years, and friends for even longer. He began to realize that you had never seen him without his blindfold for any length of time. Anytime Satoru had to take it off to wash his face or put it on in the morning, you were either asleep or not paying him any mind enough to know that the blindfold was gone. The start of a frown began to tug at Satoru’s lips, maybe you were mad at him after all. 

One tip of your toe fell behind your other foot, peeling off your shoes one at a time. There were big hands that fell on your waist as you continued this process, a slight tug at your hips as if to keep you steady. You didn’t react as you placed your hand on the bar counter for added support, something between a smile and smirk playing at your lips. You didn’t want Satoru to know that he was making you smile like he always does, the first giggle of what was sure to be many bubbling up in your throat. There was the feeling of hot breath on the back of your neck making you shiver as if the room had dropped ten degrees. The smile was full blown on you now. You were about to turn around and show Satoru the smile when he crashed his lips onto yours.

If you were gonna be mad at him, then maybe he could make it up to you. You were smiling through the kiss, wondering if Satoru was feeling the same. There was a fraction of confusion through his face, then his lips matched yours smile for smile. You had placed your hands gently on Satoru’s face almost as if it was possible to shatter his skin if you weren’t slow and careful. He deepened the kiss, adoring the feeling of your soft fingers on his smooth skin. You could feel where there was a little bit of stubble growing around his chin, working your fingers up his face while Satoru was paying you no mind. He sighed softly into your mouth, the breath leaving his body at your touch. He had always felt that way kissing you, as if time right there had stopped. 

Your index finger had slipped under the blindfold without Satoru paying any attention, moving slowly so you didn’t poke him in the eye. The hem of the blindfold was right under your nail now, and all it would take is for you to just move it to your thumb. That’s exactly what you did as you slowly moved it down his cheek. You couldn’t believe that he wouldn’t-

“What do you think you’re doing?” Satoru asked, his eyes still closed but body frozen solid. You didn’t know what to say to him. Should you come up with an excuse and say that your finger slipped, or should you tell the truth? There was one half of his blindfold hanging off his left eye while the other half was right where it had always been. Based on his state, you chose silence at his answer since you couldn’t have been convincing either way.

His eyes were still closed shut, and yours opened. Satoru’s eyebrows had drawn together and his mouth had fallen at the corners into a small frown. The singular hand you had had fallen at the back of Satoru’s neck, feeling the tiny white hairs standing up. You forgot that every other sense of his was heightened since he chose not to see. The silence was getting louder as Satoru grew more expectant. Since he couldn’t see you, you figured you could raise onto your tip toes and place a soft kiss onto his cheeks. He didn’t even budge after this action. A shiver ran down your spine as you admired the hard pressed look on his face. To you, Satoru looked as if someone had carved him from stone, taking their time and using all the right chisels to get this perfect man right in front of you. What if you had just moved your fingers to open his eye that was already expo-

“What are you doing?” Satoru asked again, except this time he spoke a little slower, his question demanding an answer this time. Right as you were pondering what to say, his eyelid had opened, but only briefly. You gasped as you swore you saw the most gorgeous icy blue eyes known to man. His pupil was dilated when he looked into your eyes. You were sure all of the air had been sucked from the room and knocked into your chest. The room had gone even more silent than the last time.

You moved your fingers gently to open his eye with your index and thumb fingers. Satoru didn’t stop you, and when his eyelid had peeled back, blue eyes were looking right into yours. A shudder moved down your spine and right into your core as he kept his intense stare.

“Can I move it?” You asked, feeling small. Your breath had already been caught in your throat and you weren’t sure how your brain was creating words for your mouth to speak. Your words had fanned over Satoru’s face, sweet breath knocking right into his nostrils. He felt his pants tighten as your small hands worked to move the rest of his blindfold. Satoru was tense and didn’t move. He was frozen in place, not knowing what to make of what was going on. He didn’t hate that you were slowly removing his blindfold, but he wasn’t quite a fan of what was happening either. Satoru couldn’t remember the last person to see his face in full outside of close family and friends. Considering how long you two have been together, he was starting to ponder if you belonged in that category.

Gentle fingers lifted off the blindfold with minimal effort, a small gasp leaving your lips. Satoru’s eyes were absolutely stunning. You couldn’t help but stare so intensely into his eyes, the blues of them reminding you of a warm summer day. The whites of Satoru’s eyes would be the clouds while the blue irises were the clear sunny skies. Satoru stared back at you, his eyes moving from one of yours to the other while a smile tugged at the sides of his lips. You smiled right back at him, pleased that he loosened little by little when it seemed you were frozen in place. Big, veiny hands slid down to your legs and around your thighs, forcing you to jump into Satoru’s arms. Butterflies were flapping in your stomach at the thought of what was going to happen next, but you were finding that you couldn’t look away from Satoru’s eyes.

“Why can’t I look away?” You wondered dumbly while laughing to yourself. There was no way you were having a scene from a cheesy rom-com scene played out in real life that you had seen a hundred times. It was where the main character got lost in the love interest’s eyes, but there was something different about this one; your eyes were feeling stuck. You weren’t even sure if you could blink.

“Just blink, baby. I’m not doing anything crazy…yet.” answered Satoru. You took his advice and blinked, the water moistening your eyes. You opened them back up immediately, and you saw that there were no longer eyes looking into yours. Instead, you saw the living room from over Satoru’s shoulder as both of you walked at his pace to make your way to the bedroom.

The home you two shared was small, there was no upstairs, just the one floor and the shared bedroom. You flopped onto the queen sized bed, your body bouncing off the plush comforter and pillows into one spot. Satoru climbed over you as your legs automatically parted for him leaving little work for him to do. His lips crashed onto yours roughly biting and tugging at your lower lip. You playfully tugged at Satoru’s lower lip, copying him, and you felt him smile on your lips while a breathy laugh rattled in his chest as your hands went into his snow white hair. You pulled gently as your chest heaved up and down, your lips becoming swollen and red. There was a tiny wet spot pooling in your underwear and your cheeks flushed a bright pink. Of course, you had no idea that Satoru knew what was happening before he even touched you down there, but he knew all too well what was happening. He had more than one set of eyes, after all, and he saw exactly what was happening to you. A chuckle fell out of his round mouth, Satoru’s lips puffy and swollen from all the kissing.

“Someone’s already excited for me,” he mumbled into your ear, sinking his hips right into yours. You could feel the bulge in Satoru’s crotch rub against your wet center, forcing your breath to catch into your throat. You were planning to play it off and act oblivious, but that went out the window as soon as he played his little game.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you hissed back playfully, trying not to rub yourself against him. You couldn’t help yourself; all of the friction ever since you two were in the kitchen was feeling incredible right now. You grabbed his hips with your small hands, forcing them down onto your crotch. Satoru applied more pressure, this time forcing a groan to fall out of your lips. Your eyes were already closing tightly, and not much was being done to you.

“Oh really?” Hands were down by your pants, your underwear close to being ripped off. He kept moving his hips more and more, and you were sure you were gonna combust at any minute. You don’t remember ever being this sensitive even with all of the other times you and Satoru have fucked, but ever since you’ve looked into his eyes, nothing has quite seemed that intense, either. Underwear was being pushed off to the side, a big finger sliding into your sopping wet core. A breathy moan fell from your lips while Satoru smiled to himself, knowing that you had no idea what was coming next. Well, except you, of course. A second finger pushed its way into you, making you roll your eyes back and scream.

“Nono, look at me, gorgeous. You wanted to see my eyes so bad, so look at me.” Satoru ordered in a deep, raspy voice right as his fingers hit your g-spot. You whimpered, forcing your eyes open and doing your best to see him. You thought it was ironic how you were doing all that begging and now when it came down to it, you couldn’t even make basic eye contact. Your eyes were rolling in the back of your head while his fingers spread apart and came together inside you, forcing you to moan and whimper.

There was that familiar feeling in your body; tightness pushing through your lower half. Watching your own eyelids, you can feel Satoru’s smirk hanging in the air knowing that you were coming closer and closer to the edge ready to fall off. 

“Should I let you cum f’me?” he asked lazily, teasing you. Satoru didn’t even break a sweat as his fingers moved expertly in and out. You, on the other hand, were struggling to have your brain put words together. Satoru looked down at you, patiently waiting for your answer, noticing there were hardly any thoughts behind your eyes. Finally, you squealed, a small breath leaving your body. 

“Fine, I guess I won’t let you,” Satoru stated, a pout forming at the corners of his mouth. In one smooth movement, his fingers slid right out of your slick hole, causing you to exclaim at the lost sensation.

“Ugh! Why would you do that? Toru please let me cum I’ll be so good!” You tried to bargain but to no avail. Your words were falling on deaf ears as Satoru removed himself from the bed and made his way to your shared closet. You sat up while the air was hanging a little thick as the door opened and Satoru effortlessly removed a box from the closet.

“I think you should watch how you talk to me, doll. Wouldn’t want your pretty little words getting you into trouble, would we, brat?” Satoru asked you lightly as he was rummaging through the box. You weren’t clear on what he was looking for as you watched him go through the small box filled with sex toys, but right as you were about to bite back at Satoru, he was taking off his blindfold completely, making direct eye contact with you. 

Even though you had seen his eyes earlier in the day, it felt as though your chest stopped beating yet again. The breath was knocked out of your lungs, and the air in the room stood still. You needed to hurry and close your mouth before something else had taken up the space in it, judging by the mood Satoru was in tonight. It was clear that he was over your shenanigans if earlier in the day was anything​ to go off of, so your mouth was closed immediately. Instead of having anything clever to say, you just nodded mutely as Satoru took out the rope he had found. It was tied up tightly from the last time you had used it together, that last time you were tied to the bed frame. Again, you felt that familiar pooling in your underwear as your eyes just followed Satoru’s every move while he gingerly put the rope onto the bed. You couldn’t help but to feel excited. It was forgotten the last time the two of you had any time to do something like this, but there was no time like the present. A big smile was plastered on your face when you knew what was coming next. 

The box was closed gently and you watched as Satoru reached back up to the top of the closet, the small of his back being put on display for you. As many times as you two have done this, you couldn’t help but admire your loving boyfriend. You would always stop to check him out only when he wasn’t looking. 

Who were you kidding? He was always looking. 

The air in the room was getting hotter and thicker with the anticipation you both felt. It was clear by the tent in his pants that Satoru was more than excited to get something going with you, as long as you consented, of course. It had been so long since he had done anything fun with you with him being gone on missions all the time. When Satoru wasn’t gone all the time, he was teaching the sorcerers of tomorrow how to best use their skills to exorcize all of the curses that were out there. All that mattered were the two of you in the room in this moment together. Satoru inched closer to you, and you noticed that he had started to untie the blindfold that was resting on his neck, pulling it off in one smooth motion. Your heart was pounding in  your chest at this point between looking in his ocean eyes or watching his every move with his hands. It was like he had put you under his spell and you couldn’t do anything about it. The silk was hanging from his fingers, looking so small in his hands. The cloth moved from one hand to both and suddenly over your face where your eyes were. The heady smell of his cologne flooded your nose while Satoru placed himself above you.

“Well my, my, my how the tables have turned.” Satoru said smoothly before you could even comprehend what was happening. Goosebumps broke out over your skin causing you to shudder in excitement. You didn’t know what to say; you just waited patiently until you were given your next command.

“Are you excited for what I have next?” 

“Mhm.” You nodded vehemently. You were absolutely buzzing at this point and just couldn’t wait. 

“Lay back f’me” The order was quiet, but you heard every word, even though you couldn’t see what was happening. You felt Satoru untie the rope and drape it across your waiting skin. You were just left lying there exposed in your bra and underwear, right under Satoru’s watchful eyes. He took his time as he moved to each of the four corners of the bed frame, lifting the mattress at each side and tying the rope expertly. Once he was done, you were bound to the bed with the rope snug against your wrists, fingers already curling around it in anticipation.

“Look at my pretty girl, laying there waiting for me. Do you know why you’re blindfolded?” Satoru practically purred as he moved on top of you onto the bed once he was finished. Each of his words dripped from his thick lips like honey that ran straight to your core. The very thought of him touching you made you bite your lip. Directly after, Satoru pinched your nipple through your bra. You moaned and bit your lip again, staring right into where his eyes would be if you could see.

“No. Why?” you questioned there playing coy. “Maybe you should tell me.” 

Satoru pinched your nipple a little bit harder this time causing you to wince and then moan. “Because you wouldn’t look at me when I told you to, so now you can’t see me at all.” Such a plain statement that had more wetness pooling in your legs. 

“Ugh just touch me already please!” You exclaimed as you pulled harder against the ropes. This was already too much for you, the anticipation as you lay there in wait right under Satoru’s mercy. His eyes watched your every move, the tent in his crotch straining harder against his pants. He needed you as much as you needed him but he couldn’t give in just yet. He had to make you earn it.

“Fine”. There was a moment of stillness after this answer, but then all at once, you felt Satoru’s fingers glide lazily across your skin, running over your stomach, your thighs, and the space right between your breasts. This small movement drove you up the wall and made your want so much worse. You were certain the anticipation was gonna kill you before Satoru ever touched you. You had always thought this every single time the two of you engaged in this, but this time you were sure of it. 

A hiss fell from your lips as his fingers circled around both of your nipples, watching them harden in your bra. Small pinches and tugs happened every once in a while, but Satoru never moved the fabric up and around to really touch your skin. You had moaned and wiggled, forgetting you were even tied up by the rope until you had pulled hard. Satoru’s touch was teasing like it always was with you; always wanting to push your buttons until you popped like a balloon. This time was no exception. You had begun whining and pleading until he snatched his touch, making you whimper.

“Aww c’mon please,Toru? You’re so unfair!” you whined for the second time today. 

“You have to try harder than that to get what you want” Satoru stated simply, letting you put the pieces together of what he wanted.

“I’ll suck your dick” You offered in return for him doing anything to you. Of course, Satoru leaned his head back and laughed, letting you know that his answer was no.

“Sorry, babe, that’s a good one but I think I just wanna play with you tonight. After all that begging you did to see my face, and now you can’t even look at me.” You felt his fingers under your chin, forcing you to try and look in his eyes. You jutted out your lower lip, and Satoru bit it in response to your pathetic protest. He didn’t move quick enough, however, because right before he pulled away, you planted a firm kiss right onto his lips.

Satoru couldn’t think clearly right after that little maneuver, completely forgetting that he wasn’t supposed to be touching you. He placed his hands right at your hips, holding them tight as you shoved his tongue right into your mouth, the kiss desperate and needy. WIthout any words, Satoru was telling you just how much he needed you. He couldn’t keep his resolve anymore, and decided to give into exactly what you wanted. Satoru began running his hands across your breasts, going right back to playing with them, rolling your nipples in between his fingers. Again, you were moaning and rutting your body against him while arching your back into him, causing Satoru to smile against your lips. HIs hands moved behind your bra, unclasping the eyelets as he shoved his knee in between your legs. You forced yourself against him despite being restrained to the bed. 

One minute you were in close proximity to Satoru, and the next you could feel his warm mouth encasing one of your nipples while his fingers tugged and pinched your other. His crotch was grinding right into yours driving you insane. You weren’t sure how much longer you could keep it together, your moans and cries becoming more panicked.

“Does my dirty whore like this?” Satoru mumbled into your ear while he bit into your neck.

“Uh-uh huh,” You answered the best you could. He wasn’t even doing anything outrageous to you, but everything was amplified by the fact you were wearing his blindfold. 

“And what does she like about it?” He bit into your neck leaving a giant hickey. That was gonna be a bitch to cover tomorrow. Instead of answering in a full and complete sentence, you just groaned into his ear, causing Satoru to chuckle into your neck. Your hips were moving faster and faster against your thigh, the pressure building and building in your core. Again, you felt like something was gonna snap inside of you. 

“Toru, please please please” You begged, the only real words falling out of your mouth now.

“Please what, love?” he smirked as he watched you come undone with little movement. That was the thing Satoru loved the most about being in bed with you; no matter what he did, you always seemed to fall apart at his touch. 

“P-please - ah ohmygod- please let me - ah - cum.” you begged harder, feeling closer to that familiar edge you love falling off of. You were so close, and if Satoru didn’t move his thigh from between your legs right now, there would be a chance you would make a mess all over him.

“Why?” 

You really didn’t have an answer for this question, your chest heaving up and down while Satoru kept playing with your nipples. His fingers then fell into your underwear where he began to play with your clit pushing you impossibly closer. You suddenly went silent as the pleasure became almost too much to handle. It felt like you were on the brink of death with the way everything stopped. Your breathing stopped, your brain couldn’t think, and now, how were you supposed to come up with the words so you could cum all over his leg. Just as you regained your sanity, everything stopped. All that could be felt was the throbbing between your legs. YOu didn’t even have the energy to swear at Satoru, but instead a big long whine fell from your lips.

“Damn it, Toru, I’ve waited so long for you to touch me! I don’t get why you always have to tease me. I think you’re such a fucking ah-!” you exclaimed as your underwear were being ripped off and your hole filled with Satoru’s thick cock instead.

“Geez, princess, I don’t remember you whining so much. Although I’m glad I found a way to - ugh - finally shut you up.” Satoru groaned as he filled you up. You remember him always being so big, hardly being able to fit into your small hole. You had waited what felt like an eternity for him to finally touch you anywhere. There were tears pulling at the outer corners of your eye with joy at the sensation of you being filled to the hilt. In an instant, there was a moment where he was shoving through the first ring of your pussy, and the next he was pushing past it and forcing himself in there.

You could feel the thick, plushy head of his dick forcing itself into your walls. He was fucking you senseless you were sure. You couldn’t even remember your name; the only name being chanted in your mind was Satoru’s. Toru, Toru, Toru. His head had finally hit your g-spot, and once that had happened, you squealed right against his broad chest, flailing at the sensitivity.

“Is this what my pretty girl was waiting for? Did she finally get what she wanted?” Satoru asked in between groans. He felt heavenly inside of you, pushing his dick inches further into you to see how far you could take him. 

“Yes!” You wailed, already feeling ready to bust. You were so close even though he did so little to you. It was his dirty words, you decided. Your walls tightened slightly around him, but Satoru didn’t even flinch.

“Do you wanna look into my eyes when you cum?” Satoru wondered, raising an eyebrow. You nodded in an answer, feeling to fucked out to speak, but your pussy walls fluttered around his dick again. In one movement, the blindfold was ripped from your face, and you were met with icy blue eyes. You could see the pupils of his eyes boring right into yours. The eye contact combined with his thick cock ramming into his walls were becoming too much for you to bear. You gripped tighter and tighter the deeper the eye contact got, and you could feel his dick twitching inside of you. You chose to squeeze your walls tight and everything burst. There were whites behind your eyes, the throbbing sensitivity hitting your walls at full force, everything feeling like a train hitting you. Everything was becoming too much as you hear Satoru groaning above you, letting you know he was coming closer to his own end. He felt like he was gonna explode right with you, your walls feeling so tight around him as he pushed closer and closer. One scream later, you were letting go and finally falling off the edge you’d been alone all day.

Directly after you came, Satoru followed right after you, painting your fluttering walls white. Everything suddenly became too much for you and for Satoru, so you shoved him right off of you. HIs dick slipped out of your wet pussy with ease, the deadweight flopping right onto the mattress. The ropes were rubbing against your wrists, adding to your post-orgasm overstimulation, and with little words, you tried to wriggle free. Satoru kissed your forehead as he untied your wrists from the restraints. They fell limply onto the bed as the circulation was slowly making its way back into your body while Satoru littered little kisses all over your face. You flopped onto bed, exhausted from the afternoon you had spent with your loving boyfriend. Today felt just like magic, and you wouldn’t have it any other way. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Youadored how smart he was, how he’d make quick work of any problem,scientific or not, in a matter of seconds. This seemed to fall intoyour love life, too – whenever you told him that you loved him, hiseyes would widen and he’d reply, “I love you too!” His voicealways got a little higher-pitched like he couldn’t believe what hewas hearing, and the statement always sounded like he wascongratulating you for getting an answer right.

Butthat was okay. More than okay, really. You loved him and hisno-nonsense way of life. He was calculated and precise, but not in acold way or anything. It was just how he was.

Theonly time he ever seemed to lose control of his emotions was when youwere in bed together, but even then, it wasn’t in any sort of wildand crazy way. Sometimes his touches would just get less precise andhe often got a faraway sort of look in his eyes. You always toldyourself that he was just incredibly lost in the moment with you.

Youdidn’t have the guts to ask otherwise.

Sometimesyou wondered if he missed the old world, whatever that had been. Youhad no memories of it, but Hope did. He’d often talk to you about itat night while he traced patterns into your back – about magic andpeople turning to crystal and traveling through time. It all soundedlike something out of a storybook, but the way he told those taleswas so vivid. His words stirred some sort of primal feelingsin your heart, and it was enough to make you believe that you’d oncebelonged to that world, too.

Wheneverhe told those stories, he’d often mention a 'savior,’ and his voicewas so…reverent when he spoke of her, like she was a literalGoddess who’d fallen and demanded worship. He never mentioned her byany other name, so this person seemed more like an idea than someonewho truly existed.

Itwas how you were able to conceal the jealousy when you wished that hewould talk about you with such reverence.

Youwere a real person. Youwere the one in his bed almostevery night, the one that had space in his drawer and a toothbrush inhis bathroom. He loved you. There was nobody else.

Untilyou walked in on them.

Tobe fair, there wasn’t anything scandalous happening. When youunlocked the door to Hope’s apartment, you were startled to find himin a deep conversation with an unfamiliar woman. Her rose-coloredhair gleamed even under the dull lighting in the living room.

Neitherof them saw you at first. Even though you wanted to call out agreeting and kiss him, you just staredinstead. You couldn’t hear what the two of them were saying, butyou’d never seen Hope with that look on his face before – there wasa slight smile on his lips and his head was tilted a bit as helistened to her speak. It might have been a silly thought, but therejust seemed to be this…light thatglowed in his eyes.

He’dnever looked at you like that before.

Withoutanother thought, you cleared your throat, which caused Hope to jump alittle, but the woman just whipped her head around. The two of youstared impassively at each other for a long, suspended moment. Youhad the weirdest feeling she was sizing you up.

Luckily,Hope was right there to smooth it all over in that practical way youloved him for. “Welcome back. Oh hey, is that dinner?”

“Yeah.”You set down the bags of takeaway on the table. Two bags.

Thewoman’s eyes flickered to them and she looked at Hope, not sparingyou a second glance. “I’m going to go.”

“Oh.”For the first time in all the months you’d known him, Hope lookedgenuinely upset. “Well, I…”

“Ineed to get back to Serah.”

“Oh.”Hope nodded. “Right. Please give her my regards.”

Thetwo of them stared at each other some more and you had the weirdestfeeling that you were intruding on something personal even though youwere the one with a key. You were the one who slept inHope’s bed and had his love.

Youignored the little voice in the back of your head that taunted youwith the truth: you didn’t have that light in his eyes.

“Right,”the woman echoed, finally looking away and heading for the door.“I’ll let myself out.”

“Light- ”

“It’snot that far.”

Shecrossed the floor to leave and your eyebrows scrunched together inconfusion. “Light?” you echoed after she’d left and there wassilence in the room.

Hopejumped again like he hadn’t realized you were standing right there.“Oh, um, yes. Another friend from the old world.”

Asthe two of you sat down to dinner, you recalled all those stories hetold you when the two of you were supposed to be asleep, trying toremember someone by that name. It didn’t hit you until you weretaking out the trash that you knew exactly who she was.

TheSavior.

Youaccepted the kiss he gave you before falling asleep. Though his facewas relaxed, like everyone’s usually was in sleep, it didn’t compareto how raw his expression had been while talking to his Light. You’dnever even seen him looking like that while talking about work.

Withouthesitation, you reached over and grabbed Hope’s phone, taking it outto the hallway with you. Sure, he had a two-step unlocking system onit, but you didn’t date a man for nearly a year by now withoutlearning how to get into his phone.

Notthat you’d had a reason to do so before now.

Youscrolled through his contact list. There weren’t very many names, butthey were all organized by the same method – a first name and lastinitial.

Exceptfor one.

Youtapped on the name that was merely the letter 'L’ and a lightningbolt emoji. For a second, you just stared at the contact info,wondering if they’d only exchanged numbers today or if he’d had thisfor a long time, but it didn’t matter.

Shepicked up on the first ring, her voice wary but, ironically, full of…“Hope?”

“Nope,”you replied. Whatever anger that’d been bubbling in your chestfizzled out. Maybe you should’ve been more pissed off, but youjust felt….numb.

Lightsucked in a breath. “What are you doing with his phone?”

“Justletting you know that Hope’s in love with you.” You didn’t knowwhether to laugh or cry at how easily the words came. Maybe both.

“He– he’s not…” You got the feeling that Light didn’t oftenstumble over her words. “Hope – he doesn’t…it’s not…”

“I’veheard how he talks about you. I saw how he looked at you earlier. Youdidn’t want to leave, did you?”

Silence.Guilty silence. And then, “Why are you doing this?”

“BecauseHope doesn’t love me,”  you said. The words felt like a knife, butyou knew it was true. Or at least partially true – maybe he didlove you, but it wasn’t in a way either of you deserved while you hada toothbrush in his bathroom. You let out a wild, painful, slightlyhysterical laugh. “He doesn’t! He can’t because he loves you!”

Speakof the devil – maybe it was your laugh or your words, but youspotted Hope a second later, standing in the doorway of the bedroom.His bedroom, because what the hell had you been thinking thatit was partially yours, too?

Heruffled his sleep-mussed hair, looking confused and bleary-eyed.“Hey…” His eyes widened a bit when he saw you with his phonewith tears in your eyes. “What are you doing…?”

“Nothing.”You scrambled to your feet. “Just telling your savior thatyou’re in love with her.”

Hopesucked in a sharp, shaky breath. “How…?”

Thatwasn’t even a denial. That hurt. You glanced down at the phone inyour hand. Light was still on the line. She could probably heareverything. “She’s probably in love with you, too, idiot.” Youtossed the phone at him, watching as he fumbled to catch it. “I’mgetting my stuff and leaving. Don’t follow me.”

“No,wait - !”

Youwhirled around, staring at him for what would probably be the lasttime. His sea-green eyes, the mussed silver hair, his lean build –he was stupidly handsome and sweet and practical and so smart, but sostupid when it came to feelings.

“Don’tdo me a favor by pretending you feel the same way about me,” yousaid, your voice only wavering a little. Just a little. “Just…thinkabout yourself. For once.”

Withthat, you left him there and stomped through the place, getting yourstuff. Some clothes, a couple of little knickknacks, your toothbrush.It was barely enough to fill a plastic bag. Gods, you were pathetic,thinking that all of this meant something.

Beforeyou left, you took the key to his place out of your pocket and leftit on the kitchen counter.

Andthen you walked out for good.

Overthe next few months, you couldn’t help but wonder if anything hadcome from that night – if Hope had actually talked to Light andthey worked through their feelings or if they decided that you werebeing silly and continued to dance around each other. You had toadmit that, as painful as it was, the first option was preferable.The thought of Hope stringing someone else along like he’d done withyou – even without realizing it – twisted your chest in pain thatyou couldn’t even begin to describe.

Aboveall else, you wanted him to be happy, even if it wasn’t with you.

Thenext time you see him, it’s not in person, which makes sense sinceyou’ve long since moved away. You’re snuggled up next to yourboyfriend on the couch and flipping through the channels while he’sstaring at his phone. Even though you’re going through the boringnews channels, one makes you stop and watch.

Therehe is, right on the national news – Hope Estheim receiving an awardfor some kind of scientific breakthrough.

Eventhough it’s been a year and a half since that night, there’s still aslight little pang in your chest as you watch him, practicallybeaming as he receives a fancy-looking plaque. The hurt in your heartdissipates when you catch a glimpse of rose-colored hair off to theside, and when Hope moves his hand just right, you can see a goldring on his finger.

Yourboyfriend looks up from his phone with a frown. “Why are youwatching this?”

Youshrug with one shoulder, gesturing to the screen. “I used to datethat guy.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Huh.”Your boyfriend cocks his head a bit and squints. “I can’t reallysee you with him.”

“Whynot?”

Hegrins and pulls you closer. “Maybe because I can only see you withme.”

Yousmile and tilt your head up for a kiss. When you glance at the TV onemore time before turning it off, Hope has a beaming smile on his faceand light in his eyes. You know it’s partially from whatever awardhe’s gotten, but when he glances to his right and the camera pans toLight, who looks much softer than that day you’d met her, you knowthe award’s not the only reason for his grin.

Itwas incredible, really. Hope had known her in an old, dying world andcarried her with him here to reality. Those two had been with eachother through so many lifetimes, and yet somehow, you were theonly one to see the light in his eyes when he looked at her. Maybeshe’d gotten so used to the expression that she hadn’t been able tosee it for what it was.

Youshook those thoughts out of your head and tossed the remote to theside when TV flickered off, instead turning your attention to yourboyfriend’s lips.