osamu's

꒰ boyfriend!yuji ꒱ who loves physical affection

holding your hand, hugging you randomly, pulling you close, it all comes naturally to him

꒰ boyfriend!yuji ꒱ who hypes you up over everything

new outfit? cool haircut? did literally anything? he’s your number one supporter instantly

꒰ boyfriend!yuji ꒱ who gets protective without losing his softness

he’s kind by nature, but if someone hurts you, the kindness disappears fast

꒰ boyfriend!yuji ꒱ who always tries to make you laugh when you’re upset

even if he has to embarrass himself a little to do it

꒰ boyfriend!yuji ꒱ who gets flustered when you compliment him unexpectedly

suddenly he’s laughing nervously and rubbing the back of his neck

꒰ boyfriend!yuji ꒱ who treats even small moments with you like they’re special

convenience store trips, walking home together, sharing snacks, it all means a lot to him

꒰ boyfriend!yuji ꒱ who listens to you with complete sincerity

when you talk, he pays attention like your words genuinely matter

꒰ boyfriend!yuji ꒱ who loves you openly, warmly, and with his whole heart

nothing complicated, just honest, wholehearted love

ᝰ.ᐟ osamuslvt | m.list • taglist • rules

Maybe, if you’d had more sense, you would’ve broken up with Naoya in that moment and saved yourself a whole lot of trouble. Instead, just like always, you made excuses for him. You figured he was just having a bad day - that you just needed to prove yourself to him and then he’d be happy to have you as a climbing buddy. 

He was just concerned about your skill. That was all. 

So you’d worked hard at the club - learned plenty of skills, did plenty of hours in the gym, made dozens of friends with the other club members to ensure you weren’t dependent on Naoya to teach you everything. 

You tried to ignore how uninterested your boyfriend seemed in your progress, tried to ignore the way he’d flirt with the other women at the club - you were sure he’d be so impressed with you on your first major outing to Mount Hotaka that he’d forget about everything else and be pleased with you for once. 

That was all you wanted, for him to be proud of you outside of the offhanded thanks he’d give whenever you’d make him dinner. 

Your first trip out to the mountain had several people in attendance. Beyond you and Naoya there were a handful of women from the club who you’d grown close with: Shoko, Utahime and Yuki, and then a few men. There were a couple of older guys you didn’t know very well, and then a few in your age range who had been helping develop your skills - the most notable of that group being Sukuna, who had dedicated lots of time to teaching you knowledge that Naoya had brushed aside. 

It had surprised you at first, that the hulking pink-haired man had any interest in helping you do anything. Others in the club had claimed that he tended to be aloof, harsh and generally unfriendly - and while he was harsh in his teachings, unfriendly was certainly not the word you’d use to describe him. 

He’d gone out of his way to help you, chasing away others like Satoru with the claim that they were ‘too stupid to teach you right’. Spending hours at your side, he’d taught you all you needed to know about equipment, rope skills and climbing. He wouldn’t provide praise unless it was deserved, but once you’d finally started getting things right he’d always made sure you knew he was pleased with you. 

It was praise you were desperately starved for, praise you’d love to receive from your boyfriend, and you were ashamed to admit that Sukuna’s simple compliments lingered in your mind for longer than they should have.

You’d grown rather fond of him since joining the mountaineering club, even despite his somewhat prickly demeanour to everyone else, you felt he was someone you could rely on, someone who wouldn’t call you stupid for asking him questions. Even if he’d sometimes tease you for getting upset or frustrated for not understanding something, he’d still take the time to help you understand. 

Unlike Naoya, who would roll his eyes and once again point out how unfit you were for something as involved as mountain climbing. 

The comparison between the two was something you found yourself making more and more often, eyes straying over to your pink-haired friend when he wasn’t looking, your stomach flipping when he’d speak to you, or when he’d place a large hand on your shoulder in congratulations at a task done well. 

You knew it was wrong, chastising yourself whenever the thought of Sukuna would stray into your mind late at night while Naoya was snoring away next to you. Not only did you have a boyfriend, but you were certain Sukuna didn’t think of you in anything beyond a friendly manner anyway.

So you kept those feelings locked deep within your chest and tried to focus on why you were in the club in the first place - to prove to your boyfriend that you’d make a good partner for his mountain expeditions, to prove that you were worth more to him than being a glorified maid in his house.

The first few hours of the hike, starting in the early morning, had gone by fairly uneventfully. Your training had paid off and your legs felt good as you winded up through valleys and fields, trailing a little behind the group of boys, favouring a slightly slower pace and jovial conversation amongst the girls. 

Despite Naoya’s reluctance for you to join the club, you felt like it was where you were supposed to be. You loved being out in nature - taking in the fresh air and drinking from mountain streams, wandering along with like-minded people and encouraging each other along through the gruelling uphills. 

It wasn’t until late afternoon that things started to get more difficult, with the altitude creeping steadily up, and the group stumbling across snow fields that still hadn’t melted in the late spring air. It was nothing you weren’t prepared for, but with everyone feeling a great deal more tired than they had in the morning hours, the pace slowed considerably. 

A group of the more experienced men ended up going on ahead at a quicker pace, saying they’d get the next big section of uphill completed and scout out a good camping spot for the night, since the plan was to make a summit push in the early morning to watch the sunrise. 

You didn’t mind that so much - you didn’t like the feeling of slowing them down and that arrangement meant that you could keep going at a comfortable pace without feeling stressed about it. The girls you were with were perfectly experienced in their own right, and Naoya had chosen to hang behind with you anyway rather than going on ahead. 

That was a decision that you’d convinced yourself was on account of him wanting to keep an eye on you, but a part of you believed it was really because he didn’t get along with any of the men at the club. 

Or perhaps it was just so he could keep staring at Yuki’s ass like he had been for the entire hike up to that point. 

The next couple of hours were difficult, and everyone grew more withdrawn under the effort of a constant uphill - facing switchback after switchback with no clarity on how far you had to go beneath a freshly settled blanket of fog lowering the visibility. Shoko had been struggling for a while, and after an extended rest on a rock decided that it was best if she turned back and camped somewhere lower in the valley. 

She’d been having issues with her lungs and didn’t think it was wise to keep going. 

At her decision, Utahime also suggested that she wanted to go back, mentioning that she also didn’t feel in the best physical condition, and Yuki insisted on going back with the two of them to make sure they got back down safely. You’d considered joining them, but you were still feeling good both physically and mentally and were keen to continue upwards towards the peak. 

Considering Naoya’s experience, you were certain that the two of you would be fine even without the girls, so you waved them off and continued upwards into the mist, eager to reconnect with the other half of your group and get settled with Naoya in the tent for the night. 

—

Sukuna had found a pretty good camping spot. He was pretty sure it was in a similar position to where he’d set up on his solo winter ascent a couple of years before - a location that should be downright comfy in the mild spring weather. 

Assuming that weather stayed mild. 

It was hard to tell through all the fog, but he was almost sure he could see dark clouds rolling high in the sky. He hoped he was wrong. There hadn’t been a storm on the forecast, and if one was to roll in that could make for a very harrowing evening, especially for people like you who’d had little experience of the mountains. 

He hoped one bad night wouldn’t be enough to put you off entirely. 

“Yuki just radioed.” Satoru called out to him. “She, Shoko and Utahime are all going back down. The others are still coming I think.” 

Sukuna hummed in affirmation as he moved to set up his tent. He wished it could’ve just been you coming up, rather than you and your shithead boyfriend, but he supposed he’d rather you have a buddy in the mountains than be out there alone. If he’d had things his way, he would’ve hung back with you for the whole duration of the hike, but he didn’t need people casting suspicions on his actions. 

He’d already received some strange looks over his eagerness to teach you - the last thing he needed was the rumor mill in full operation. 

Even if the rumor mill was right in this case. 

He liked you. He really liked you. 

Feelings that he needed to keep to himself, because your boyfriend was one jealous asshole, and he was almost confident that any sign of flirting on Sukuna’s part would have Naoya taking out his anger and jealousy on you, which was the last thing he wanted. He wasn’t sure what you saw in that guy, but god, Sukuna wanted to bash his teeth in. 

He’d been watching it for months now - the depressing life you lived in which you’d excitedly bound over to Naoya to show him something you’d learned only for him to react with total disregard. Sukuna had watched the light in your eyes flicker and die each time, doing his best to control the rage boiling in his chest. 

You deserved better than that fucker. 

But he got the sense that you weren’t able to see that. 

Almost everyone had set up their tents, laughing and joking and tearing into provisions by the time Naoya appeared from the mist. A couple of hours had passed since the group first found the camping spot, and Satoru welcomed him enthusiastically as he stepped into the clearing. He looked surprisingly exhausted for a man who was supposed to be experienced. 

Sukuna’s red eyes scanned the fog, waiting for you to appear behind the man. His chest squeezed when only silence followed, no sign of your presence in the mist. 

“Is it only you?” Satoru asked, voicing the very question that was on the tip of Sukuna’s tongue. 

“Yeah, the girls went down,” Naoya responded nonchalantly, shrugging off his backpack. “Is there a good place for me to set up?” Satoru’s lips parted, as if to question the man’s statement, considering Yuki had relayed specific names, but he clearly thought better of it, nodding and pointing Naoya in the direction of a clear patch of dirt for him to pitch his tent. 

Sukuna wasn’t so happy to shrug it off. 

“Yuki only said she was going down with Utahime and Shoko,” he called out to Naoya. The man turned to look at him, irritation shining in his amber eyes. Sukuna was well aware that Naoya despised him just as much as he despised Naoya. 

“They all went. Think I don’t know where my own girlfriend is?” Naoya snapped. 

Sukuna stared him down for a moment before leaving him be, heading over to Satoru and asking for the radio. Speaking into it, he called out for Yuki, praying that they were still within a reasonable range to pick up his voice. 

He was met with only silence, cursing under his breath at the realisation that they were probably all the way back in the valley by that point and likely impossible to reach. His crimson gaze fell to Naoya once more, watching him hum as he set up his tent without a care in the world. 

Something in the pit of Sukuna’s stomach told him that there was something wrong. You hadn’t gone back with Yuki. You’d been so happy all day, so excited about your first major peak. Not only that, but you’d been in good condition - he’d been watching you whenever he could, he’d been proud at how well you were doing. 

You wouldn’t have turned back. And if you had, Yuki would’ve listed your name when she was heading down. Yuki was no newcomer to the mountains - she was responsible and experienced and she always emphasised the importance of good communications. And if you’d have turned back any later, Naoya should’ve gone with you - it's what any sensible person would’ve done. 

But he was here, and you weren’t. And you hadn’t gone with Yuki. So you were alone. 

Sukuna’s first instinct was to bash Naoya’s head in. He wanted to walk over there and silence that bastard’s humming with a well placed rock to the head. What kind of a man - an experienced mountaineer, no less - would abandon their inexperienced girlfriend on the side of a mountain? 

It wasn’t like Sukuna doubted your ability. He’d taught you all you needed to know, but putting those things into practice alone, at altitude, and in adverse weather was a whole other thing. 

Instead of doing anything about Naoya, he parked that issue temporarily and quickly moved to dismantle his own tent. He wasn’t going to sit there and do nothing while your location was unaccounted for. Even if you had gone down shortly after Yuki, even if you’d made it back to the valley by yourself, he wasn’t going to roll the dice on your life. 

He’d go back the way they’d come and he’d walk until he found you - even if that happened to be safe and sound at the bottom of the mountain. 

“What’re you doing?” Satoru asked, hovering as Sukuna put his stuff back into his pack. Naoya had stopped to watch, a sneer on his already ugly face. 

“I don’t think she went down with Yuki. I need to make sure the boyfriend of the year over there didn’t leave her in some bad situation,” Sukuna explained.

“Oh my god, she’s fine.” Naoya snapped from across the campsite. “Yuki just misspoke, she went down with them. Why is it your problem anyway? It's not like she’s your girlfriend.” 

The defensive edge to the man’s voice told Sukuna all he needed to know, and he ignored the jabs in favour of packing up more quickly. He didn’t want it to get too dark - if something bad had happened and you didn’t have your headlamp on it would be impossible to find you at night. 

Unfortunately, Naoya seemed to have no interest in letting up. “I mean seriously? You’re actually doing this? I know you wanna fuck her but she’s always been a loyal little thing - she ain’t gonna put out for you because of this. I think she’s realised that she isn’t cut out for this type of shit - she went back down to safety with the rest of the girls and I think she’ll probably quit the club. She can get back to what she’s good at.” 

Sukuna’s hands stilled as he zipped his bag shut, his expression calm as he finally looked at the man before him. There was malice in his expression and a clear, guilty desire to keep Sukuna from trekking back down the mountain path. 

“‘She can get back to what she’s good at’?” Sukuna asked, drawing himself up to his full height. “And what would that be?” 

The smug grin Naoya shot him was sickening. “Making me dinner.” 

Sukuna laughed, a deep unpleasant sound rumbling from his chest. “Right.” He took a step forward, towering over your boyfriend who he deeply hoped would be your ex-boyfriend after that expedition. Before Naoya could react, Sukuna grabbed him by the front of his raincoat. “Listen. I’m going back down that path. If I find her out there, abandoned and alone, be assured that I’ll beat you so badly that you’ll never climb another mountain again. Do you understand me?” 

Fear flickered in Naoya’s amber eyes, but he pushed it down quickly, replacing it with a scowl. “Get the fuck off me.” 

Sukuna let him go, revelling in the way he stumbled about off balance, barely keeping himself from careening onto the floor. If he was being honest with himself, the desire to enact justice on Naoya in that moment was tempting, but he could wait. Every moment he spent in that camp was another moment of peril for you. 

And unlike Naoya, he wouldn’t leave you to a night alone on a mountain. 

—

You weren’t sure when you’d lost Naoya. 

He’d been picking up the pace significantly while you’d been getting slower and slower, and despite calling out for him to wait for you to catch up, eventually he just disappeared off into the fog - the sound of his footsteps fading entirely. 

It had left you at a loss, unsure as to whether you should keep going or turn back. You were certain that the summit camp probably wasn’t too far off, but you had no real idea of how far that distance might actually be, and had a vague concern that you might take a wrong turn in the ever-thickening fog, leaving you stranded for the night. You and Naoya were sharing a tent which he’d been carrying, and subsequently ending up alone for the evening wasn’t ideal for you. 

The most you’d be able to do is wrap yourself in your sleeping bag and find a sheltered place to hunker down for the night. 

But it shouldn’t come to that. 

Getting down to the valley would take too long, and you weren’t sure where Yuki and the gang would’ve settled anyway. Naoya had the radio. He had everything really, which meant that the only thing you could do was continue upwards and hope that you stumbled across the other half of your group. 

It was a plan that was going okay until you’d carelessly stepped on a loose rock, sending you tumbling back down a hill of scree you’d spent the past half an hour climbing. 

At first you’d thought only your morale was damaged, your mind exhausted at the prospect of having to get back up and reascend a slope you’d already climbed once. But as you struggled to get to your feet, you realised that it wasn’t only your mind that had undergone damage.

A hot pain spread through your ankle as you tried to stand, sending you straight back down to the floor with a yelp. Panic instantly overcame you, the sudden realisation of where you were hitting you like a tonne of bricks. Naoya, your boyfriend, had abandoned you on the side of a mountain. He’d left you in the fog, beneath the setting sun, without a tent and without a radio. And now you were injured.

If you didn’t know better, you would’ve said he was actively trying to kill you. 

But what was more likely was that he was just proving the point he’d been trying to make all along - that you weren’t cut out for the life of a mountaineer. 

And considering your condition, could you really disagree with him? 

Soft sobs overtook you, and you began to spiral. You weren’t sure how long you sat there, shivering as the cold grew more intense, mumbling incoherently to yourself about how you should’ve gone back down to the valley with Yuki. 

Perhaps you never should’ve tried facing the mountains in the first place. 

Maybe Naoya was right. 

They were thoughts that fled from your mind at the blessed sight of a headlamp cutting through the fog from above, footsteps crunching evenly on scree, picking up in speed the moment the light shone upon your sorry figure huddled on the ground. 

“Fuck, are you okay?” Sukuna’s voice had a tremor of relief shooting through you, and more tears swelled at the corners of your eyes. He was crouching down in front of you, expression laden with concern as he scanned your cowering form. One of his hands reached for your face, wiping away tears carefully while he waited for you to answer him. 

“My ankle…” You mumbled. Everything was too overwhelming for you to articulate any further, your words already coming out all choked and shaky. Sukuna didn’t need to hear any more, attention instantly shifting to your foot. His hands moved to prod gently at it, watching your face for a grimace which came quickly under his touch. 

“Does that hurt?” 

You nodded. He bit down on his lip and quickly moved to untie the lace of your boot. A soft whimper left your lips as he pulled it from your foot, but he was right to pay your reaction no mind since you were overcome with relief once your ankle was freed from those rigid confines pressing down too tightly upon it. 

It had swollen up significantly in the time you’d been sitting there waiting for someone to come for you. 

“Right. I’ll deal with the ankle soon but I want to get us to someplace better first before it gets fully dark.” It was only just occurring to you that the wind had started to pick up a little, your clothes ruffled by air rushing against you. It would be best to be in a less exposed place - Sukuna had taught you that exposure made all the difference when dealing with bad weather.

“There was a plateau back down at the bottom of this slope,” you mumbled, remembering the slight respite you’d had from the seemingly neverending onslaught of uphill.

Sukuna gave you a proud smile and it made your heart flutter. “Yeah, that would work. I’m gonna carry you down there, if that’s okay? I don’t think you should try walking on that ankle until we give it a proper look.” 

You wanted to collapse into fresh tears at the suggestion. While your boyfriend, the person who was supposed to look after you, had abandoned you on the side of your first big mountain, Sukuna was here offering to carry you to safety. The feeling his offer was giving you had a risk of overwhelming you entirely, utterly grateful that he was the person who’d come back to look for you. 

Naively, you wondered if Naoya had sent him down to look for you. It was a weak hope, a desperate, delusional belief that your boyfriend wasn’t as cruel as he truly was. 

“Yeah, that’s okay,” you said, quietly. You tried to ignore how pleasant it felt when Sukuna crouched down to scoop you up into his arms. His touch felt warm against your body which had grown cold over the past few hours of inactivity. The arms holding you were strong and secure, building a feeling of safety knowing he was there with you. 

Naoya would’ve taken issue with it, but you wished you’d asked Sukuna to stick with you throughout the whole trip. Things would’ve felt better if it was him you were relying on rather than your boyfriend. In his lessons he’d always emphasised the importance of matching your pace with a mountain buddy - always checking that they weren’t far behind. 

Rules that a supposedly experienced mountaineer like Naoya should’ve been well aware of. 

Sukuna strode down the rest of the hill with ease, keeping you tucked close against him in a princess carry. Considering that you had your pack still on your back you were surprised at how easy he made the whole thing look, because he wasn’t exactly carrying a light load between you in his arms and his own bag on his back. But he didn’t complain or demonstrate any signs of struggle. 

Outside of the fact that he was largely silent until you reached your destination. 

You didn’t mind that. It wasn’t like you were in the mood to talk either, your mind swimming with all kinds of things now that you were in safe hands. Naoya had left you behind to die. You could’ve died if no one had come back for you. Exposure could’ve gotten to you, or an animal, or some person with ill-intent prowling the mountainside. 

He’d left you helpless and defenceless. 

And, as rain started to drip from the sky above, you realised that if Sukuna hadn’t come for you, it would’ve been an evening out in the storm, at altitude, with nothing but your rain jacket and sleeping bag to huddle within. 

You could’ve died. 

Sukuna found a well sheltered area and placed you down while he set up the tent. You were in awe at how quickly he got it done - the same actions would’ve taken you three times the time it took his experienced hands to get it sorted. You were grateful for the speed, because it meant the two of you made it inside before the worst of the rain began to hammer down from the sky above. 

“Okay. First the ankle. Then everything else.” 

You tilted your head a little at his statement, not quite sure what he meant by everything else, but you assumed he was referring more to your mental condition and questions around how you’d ended up in your terrible position in the first place. You hoped he wouldn’t be mad at you for failing to make it up to the peak after how much time he’d spent teaching you things. 

You thought maybe he’d chastise you for things like not having your own tent or radio, but Naoya had been insistent about carrying those items for you, assuring you that he’d stick at your side and claiming his actions were out of a desire to keep your pack as light as possible. 

You were stupid to have believed him.

Sukuna knelt by your foot, removing your sock and inspecting the damage carefully. His fingers pressed delicately against the skin and you found yourself admiring his concentrated expression in the lamplight. “I don’t think it's broken,” he said. “Probably just twisted.” 

Reaching into his first aid kit, he found a bandage which he wrapped around the problem area, before pulling out an ice pack and snapping to activate its effects. He placed the pack down on your ankle, earning a little hiss from you which pulled a small smile from his otherwise serious face. 

He’d been really serious since he’d found you, his expression all irritated and stormy. 

Was he angry with you? Frustrated that he’d had to come back down the mountain to your aid? You didn’t like the idea of being his burden. 

“Endure the cold for a bit - it’ll make you feel much better.” he said, placing a warm hand on your calf. Your breath hitched involuntarily at the contact and Sukuna quickly withdrew from you, a tinge of guilt flickering across his handsome face. He instantly busied himself before you could question it, moving onto the next stage of tending to your injury.

He fumbled about in his pack and withdrew some clothing, bundling it up into a small pile and wedging it beneath your foot to elevate it a little. Nothing he was doing was particularly revolutionary - on the contrary, his actions were all things he’d taught you to do in the event of an injury. 

You’d just been too panicked to do anything on that scree slope. 

Perhaps he was mad at you for that too. 

Sukuna laid out his sleeping mat next to you, his nose wrinkling at the revelation that you didn’t have one because it was in Naoya’s possession. He slid his mat beneath you, keen not to have you lying on the floor, before pulling out his sleeping bag and sitting on top of that for some amount of comfort. 

“So, what happened?” Sukuna asked. His voice was a little clipped, as if he was holding himself back from saying what he really wanted to say. 

“I was rushing and lost my footing on some scree-”

“No. I mean, why are you alone?” 

“Oh.” You shrugged, taking a deep breath and avoiding his eyes. There was a sticky feeling building up in your throat, keeping your words down. If you said the truth aloud you were certain you’d burst into tears again. “I don’t know,” you mumbled finally. 

“You don’t know?” He echoed. 

“It just sort of happened. The girls went back down the mountain and Naoya kept going quicker and then we got separated somewhere in the fog. I imagine he was probably waiting somewhere up ahead for me but then I slipped.” You weren’t sure why you were trying to defend your boyfriend. You weren’t naive enough to truly believe he’d been waiting up ahead for you. 

He’d left you. 

But the idea of airing out just how stupid you were to be in that relationship in the first place felt humiliating. You wanted to at least pretend that Naoya didn’t leave you for dead - that you weren’t the fool who had stayed for years with an abusive boyfriend when you should’ve just left. 

You didn’t want Sukuna to think you were completely pathetic. 

“Naoya arrived at the camp hours ago,” Sukuna said, his tone detached, as if he wanted to avoid projecting any of his own emotion onto you. “He said you’d gone back down with the rest of the girls.” 

The horrified expression on your face must’ve said it all, because Sukuna’s impartiality quickly faded, rage burning within those crimson eyes. Naoya really had abandoned you. And not only that, he’d also attempted to sabotage any retrieval attempt that might be made for you. He’d outright claimed you were safe when he knew no such thing. 

It was a thought that made you sick, and once again the tears started to flow, dripping down your cheeks. You’d spent years with that man, feeling like you were less than good enough. You’d let him break you down, put up with his endless bullying and tormenting, all because he’d been sweet to you at the start. 

You’d always thought you weren’t good enough, always thought that it was your fault he was so unpleasant with you. 

Now it felt like your eyes were open for the first time. 

He’d left you on the side of a mountain. He couldn’t care less about your wellbeing. He couldn’t care less about you unless you were making him dinner. 

And you’d put up with it. 

You were a fool. 

“I knew that fucker was lying,” Sukuna hissed. “Yuki didn’t say your name when she radioed in to say she was heading back. She’s always good with that sort of thing. Fuck, I’m glad I came down to check, who knows what would’ve happened if-” 

He cut himself off, faltering before he could finish the sentence. It was clear that he didn’t want to scare or upset you further, not when you’d already reduced yourself to a puddle of tears. You didn’t want to imagine what fate the night would’ve brought if not for Sukuna arriving as your saviour. 

Falling silent, he shuffled a little closer to you. Reaching out delicately he began to wipe away your tears with his thumb. The touch of his skin against yours felt pleasant, and you found your sobs faltering at the new found comfort he was providing. A deeply loyal part of you urged you to pull away, reminding you of your boyfriend. You immediately pushed the thought aside. 

Naoya wasn’t your boyfriend. 

Not after what he’d done. 

“Don’t cry. You’re okay. I found you and we’ll make it through the night together. I’m not going anywhere.” Sukuna’s words were soothing, and you found yourself nodding between sniffles, your tears gradually drying up. You hadn’t realised you were shivering until Sukuna tentatively wrapped an arm around you, pulling you up and close to him. 

The storm had worsened outside, and you huddled down in your jacket, letting yourself lean into Sukuna’s chest to keep the shivering at bay. If this was how you felt inside a tent with another human to warm you, you hated to think how you would’ve felt still stuck all alone on the scree. 

It didn’t bear considering. 

“You should report that asshole to the police once we get down. Nothing will come of it because it's hard to prove intent, but this was an active attempt on your life. He had a duty of care he ignored, stripped you of shelter and then tried to prevent a rescue. I have half a mind to kill him myself.” Sukuna’s voice rumbled through his body. 

No one had ever really stood up for you before. Naoya was always good at being charming when it mattered. Your parents and the rest of your family had always seen him as a good prospect - a polite and handsome man from a well off family. With your friends, you’d done the damage on your own, always defending him, manipulated by him to act like the perfect picture of an abused girlfriend. 

“I’m so stupid,” you whispered. 

“What?” Sukuna asked, pulling back ever so slightly so he could look at you properly. You hadn’t spoken at all since the reveal, and your quiet words clearly caught him off guard. 

“I’ve wasted so much of my life with him. Spent so much time defending him like he was some good guy. I only joined this club to impress him and all he ever did was tell me how useless I was at stuff like this - at everything. Did you know that he spent most of this hike staring at Yuki’s ass? And yet, when I’d tell him about how much stuff you’d taught me he’d get all mad about me talking to another guy and verbally berate me until I cried. And I just let it all happen. You must think I’m an idiot.” 

Sukuna hesitated, searching for the right words. It made you smile in a twisted sort of way, because he was definitely trying to find something to say that wouldn’t indirectly call you stupid - an impossibility considering the circumstances. Now that your eyes were open you could finally see how foolish you’d been. 

You just wanted to go home. Forget mountaineering or anything else you’d tried in an attempt to bond with that asshole.

“I don’t think you’re an idiot,” he said finally. “I think guys like that are very good at getting their way, and you happened to be his victim.” The words were uncannily gentle, and at a glance at Sukuna’s face you could tell he was out of his comfort zone, but trying his best. He tightened his grip on you as a sudden gust of wind battered the tent. 

The touch had your heart fluttering, and you wondered how Sukuna felt about your current position. It was probably just a necessity in his eyes - a bid to warm up a tired and stressed woman, nothing more than that. 

With your loyalty to Naoya stranded somewhere on the mountain never to be recovered, you found yourself wishing the contact was something more than that. 

But considering your woefully pathetic attempt at summiting this relatively easy peak, you doubted Sukuna held you in high regard at all. His type was probably some strong, confident girl who already knew all her outdoor skills without Sukuna’s input. The type of woman he could rely on to partner with for dangerous and difficult peaks. 

That wasn’t you. 

You weren’t sure you’d step foot on a mountain again after this. 

“Maybe you don’t think I’m an idiot for that, but you probably think I am for all this.” You gestured in the general direction of your foot, still humiliated at the thought of Sukuna having to rush down the mountain to your rescue, like you couldn’t be left unsupervised for a single moment without finding yourself in need of rescue. 

Much to your chagrin, Sukuna laughed. “An idiot for getting injured? No, that’s practically a rite of passage. You were doing great through most of the hike - I was keeping an eye on you before the group split in half. We’ll get you down the mountain and get your ankle sorted, and then you can try this peak again another time.” 

Sukuna’s optimism had butterflies swarming in your stomach, but years of insults and abuse weren’t so easily displaced. You lowered your gaze, staring down at your hands in your lap. “I don’t know. I just wonder if Naoya was right. Maybe I’m not cut out for this.” 

Sukuna pulled a face, clearly displeased by that statement. 

“Do you like being in the mountains?” He asked simply. 

He made no statement on your skill, no attack on anything your boyfriend had told you. Asked nothing more than whether you liked being out in the fresh air, doing what you’d been doing before your ankle had been injured. 

And you did. 

You really did like it. 

“Yeah. I do.” 

“Then you are cut out for this. Enjoyment is literally the only requirement,” he said earnestly. “Besides, that guy’s full of shit. I taught you everything you needed to know and I have faith in your abilities. If you need to listen to someone else’s opinion to determine your value, how about you consider mine instead of his.” 

A flush appeared across your cheeks. Those were the kind of compliments Sukuna would always pay you. Nothing particularly special or flowery, but deeply genuine in a way that had your whole body bursting with pride, pushing the rot of Naoya’s insults from your veins and replacing it with Sukuna’s approval. 

“We’ll come back here together in a few weeks, just the two of us, and we’ll do this peak. I can promise you it’ll be better. I won’t abandon you in the fog.” You believed him, nodding a little in agreement. Even in your fragile mental state that evening, you couldn’t help the excited flip of your stomach at the thought of Sukuna wanting to do something alone with you. 

The mountaineering club had been a means for you to learn your skills to climb alone with Naoya. You hadn’t expected that it would leave you excited at the prospect of climbing with another man. 

Still, you tried not to get ahead of yourself. Your little crush on Sukuna, which had been present for several months more than you were really willing to admit, seemed to have finally found the freedom to really take over your thoughts. Your heart was practically in your throat at your current proximity to him, a desire coursing through your whole body. 

You needed to push it back down even with Naoya out of the picture, because you were certain Sukuna was just being friendly, just being a better person than Naoya was. You couldn’t afford to let your mind run wild with fantasies. 

At least, that’s what you’d told yourself. 

The two of you had sat in silence for a while after Sukuna’s offer of climbing alone together, still huddled together and listening to the wind and rain outside the tent. You found yourself calmed by the steady rhythm of Sukuna’s heartbeat, basking in the warmth of his body which took your mind off the cold compress burning at your ankle. 

“Do you mind if we share the sleeping mat? It's okay if not, but it would be warmer for you and more comfy for me that way.” Considering that the two of you had been cuddling for a while, you didn’t see the issue. Anything was fine in matters of survival and you were more than happy to remain close to Sukuna. 

“Yeah, sure. We can zip our sleeping bags together.” 

Sukuna’s lashes fluttered and you swore you could see a dusting of pink on his cheeks, but you were quick to disregard it. It had been a long and exhausting day, and you were likely just seeing what you wanted to see. 

The cold compress had started to lose its effect, and Sukuna removed it from your ankle while the two of you shuffled about to get ready for bed. Your ankle was feeling much better after a period of rest and elevation, and you found you could move it again without excruciating pain. Getting back down the mountain might still be an issue, but it was one you could leave to figure out in the morning. 

Zipping your sleeping bags together and settling down on the sleeping mat, Sukuna made space for you beside him. You had to half lay on him for you both to stay on the padding, but with how warm his body seemed to run, you really didn’t mind. He wrapped his arm around you, nestling you close against him under the guise of conserving space - an action that had your whole body thrumming with electricity. 

You couldn’t remember the last time you’d felt that way. For months, maybe even years, the only thing you’d felt under Naoya’s touch was mild dread. This was something nicer, something more exciting - a feeling you wanted to experience over and over again. 

“Warm enough?” Sukuna asked, giving you a reassuring squeeze. The tent was relatively cool, the fabric being battered by the storm outside, all of which seemed distant as you lay there in Sukuna’s grip. It was a safe and warm place to be, one where you could take your mind off troubles and anxieties knowing he was there to keep anything and everything at bay. 

Troubles which Naoya had actively brought upon your life, were effectively chased away by Sukuna. 

How you wished you’d met the pink-haired man earlier in your life. 

“Warm enough,” you echoed, your voice coming out muffled as you buried your face into his chest. 

Again, the two of you fell into comfortable silence, listening to the whistling of wind and basking in the feeling of your bodies pressed close together. You were half asleep and almost convinced that Sukuna was already asleep, when his deep voice cut through the darkness and silence. 

“I don’t usually go on these things, you know,” he confessed quietly. “This is my first one. I’m only in the club because it gives you connections for exhibition funding and learning new skills. Usually I do mountains solo and usually I do stuff much harder than this.” He waved his hand in the direction of the tent’s exit. 

A guilt blossomed in your gut at the speech, recalling similar words from your boyfriend when you’d brought up the trip. He’d said that climbs in the Japanese Alps outside of wintertime were nothing special, and that the whole thing would likely be so easy that he could do it in his sleep. He’d only agreed to go after you’d begged him, reminding him that you didn’t have the experience he did. 

“I’m only here because of you,” Sukuna continued. The guilt within you only grew sharper. Was Sukuna trying to imply that he was only present out of concern for your inexperience? Had you forced him along because he knew something like this would happen? Had he known he’d need to come to your rescue?

“Sorry. I must be such a burden,” you mumbled quietly, burying your face in your sleeping bag. 

Did Sukuna really want to commit to climbing alone with you knowing that you were so much less experienced than he was? Or was he just doing it because he felt bad for you? You were likely a pitiful sight with your messed up ankle and an abusive boyfriend who had abandoned you. 

Sukuna blinked rapidly, astute enough to swiftly connect the dots. “What? No, that’s not- I was trying to say something nice. I was saying I only came along because I enjoy spending time with you. I don’t like these group things and I prefer to do harder stuff but I’m here because you’re here, and I like you.” 

Your heart was pounding so hard you could hear it in your ears, completely drowning out the sound of any thoughts on how you were supposed to reply to that. You were too caught up on the word ‘like’, on the way Sukuna shifted ever so slightly against you, pulling you more firmly against his body. 

“What?” You asked, dumbly. 

“I like you,” he repeated. “I think you’re so cute and I love how happy you get whenever you learn something new and I’m so fucking exhausted of watching your boyfriend ignore you and take you for granted when I’d cherish you.” 

Again, your stomach flipped, your ears growing warm. 

“And when that fucker showed up at the top of the mountain without you, I wanted to kill him. When I found you all cold and alone on the slope I just- fuck. I want to keep you safe. I want to be the person who looks out for you, I want to take care of you in a way that guy seems unwilling to. He has no idea what he has- had, while I understand exactly what you’re worth. I want to take you to the mountains at my side because unlike him, I’d be thrilled to have you as my hiking partner.” 

Before you knew what was happening, you were crying again, wetting his clothes immediately with your tears. Your shoulders were shuddering and you could feel Sukuna’s heartrate picking up. It seemed like he was starting to panic - concerned that you were upset by his words when the reality was the total opposite. 

You’d never heard something so romantic from Naoya and you never would. To have someone speak such beautiful words to you felt surreal and your body had no idea how to react beyond sobbing from being so overwhelmed with love and affection. 

“Sorry,” Sukuna said quickly. “I know it's been a long day, now probably wasn’t the time to say anything. You don’t have to respond-”

He faltered as you peered up at him, your face wet with tears. He usually looked so confident, and even then there was still some atmosphere of certainty about him, but he couldn’t fully hide the glimmer of anxiety in his lovely red eyes. There was a fear of rejection buried within him, a fate that he seemed almost certain he was going to face. 

If only he could step into your shoes for a moment and feel all the emotion rushing over you at his confession

You didn’t say anything, you couldn’t think of anything that would suffice as a response to his outpouring of desire. Instead you tilted your face upwards, lips parting softly in a clear signal - one that Sukuna caught onto immediately. He closed the gap swiftly, lips slotting perfectly against yours with a warmth you’d never experienced before. 

Naoya’s kiss had always been domineering - a wet and unpleasant experience. Sukuna’s kiss was gentle and exploratory. His lips took the time to appreciate yours, to linger on that lovely shared warmth and soak in the feeling of being connected so intimately for the first time. 

His tongue ran along your lips carefully, requesting for you to open your mouth. You complied easily, letting him hold you ever closer as his tongue pressed into yours, deepening the kiss in a way that felt so natural despite the fact that you’d never kissed each other before. 

A rumble of thunder overhead had the two of you parting for a second, and you found your shivering renewed as a particularly cold wind blew through the tent. Sukuna’s red eyes went to the entryway, the space illuminating for a second as another flash of lightning ripped through the sky above. His hands rubbed your back soothingly at a louder rumble overhead. 

“I’m so glad I came down to find you,” he whispered. 

“Thank you for coming to find me,” you mumbled, eyes fixed on his handsome face, your mind still struggling to catch up to all that had transpired in the past few minutes. Thoughts of Naoya and all the suffering he’d put you through seemed distant in the intimacy of that tent. “I feel so lucky. Injured ankle aside.” You giggled softly, heart jumping at the way Sukuna grinned back at you, pressing another soft kiss to your lips. 

There was a gratefulness to his expression, a soft affection in his gaze which made you feel seen and special in a way you’d never felt with Naoya. It had you sinking deep into another kiss, your lips locked against his in a deeply intoxicating manner. All the stress and the anxiety of the day seemed to wash away beneath his grip. 

Even with the storm raging outside, you felt safe and warm with him there beside you.

You should’ve known about his feelings for you - should’ve understood the moment Yuki had made a comment about how Sukuna never usually spoke to anyone. He’d spent so much time on you, being so gentle in his teachings, making sure you knew what you were doing, making sure you were praised. 

He’d liked you from the start and you’d been too blind to see it. 

Too beaten down by your own experiences in relationships to believe that any affection directed towards you would be legitimate. 

You wished you could’ve puzzled it out sooner. You wished you could’ve noticed the soft look that always sparkled in Sukuna’s eyes whenever he looked at you. You wished you’d dumped Naoya several years ago, because it shouldn’t have taken an abandonment on the side of the mountain for you to realise how truly awful your ex-boyfriend was. 

But what was done was done. Sukuna’s hands were on you now, and that was all that mattered. You’d made it in the end, even if it had taken you a little longer to get there than you would’ve ideally liked. 

“You’re so pretty,” he whispered as the two of you broke apart for breath, red eyes scanning your face like he was committing your features to memory. “How Naoya could be so stupid, I have no idea.” 

“He’s not a smart man.” 

“No. He really isn’t.” Sukuna agreed. “But his loss is my gain.” 

You hummed, leaning against Sukuna’s chest once more, listening to his heartbeat beneath you. Despite the excitement, you were suddenly aware of how tired you were, and how much the cold was still seeping in through your clothes and down into your bones. Altitude was no joke, and the pleasant spring warmth was nowhere to be found on the mountainside that evening. 

“Are you still cold? You’re shivering.” It wasn’t possible for Sukuna to physically pull you closer to him than you already were, but he gave it an attempt all the same, practically crushing you in his grip. 

“A little, yeah.” 

“Shit. Once sec.” Moving away from you for a moment, he reached out of the sleeping bag and rummaged about in his bag, withdrawing his down jacket and draping it around your shoulders like an additional blanket. You were grateful for the added warmth, coccooned in between that and Sukuna’s warm body. 

For a few moments you lay there, your shivering finally subsiding, only for all the hairs on your neck to raise at the feeling of Sukuna’s voice vibrating against the top of your head. “There is another way I could keep you warm.” 

His tone was suggestive and perhaps a little amused. The comment had heat billowing throughout your body, your gut tightening at the suggestion of something you’d never allowed yourself to think of before. Sukuna was very attractive, and sometimes your mind had drifted in his direction when your hand had been caught between your thighs. But you’d always scolded yourself for it, had always driven away the idea of picturing a man you actually knew when you had a boyfriend. 

Now the suggestion was right there on the table as something real and tangible, and your mind was conjuring all sorts of exciting imagery. 

“O-oh. Yeah, that could be nice,” you said with a sudden rush of confidence. It was Sukuna’s turn to falter, red eyes suddenly wide with surprise, as if you’d called some bluff without even realising it. 

“I don’t have a condom,” he murmured, pushing you back ever so slightly so he could look properly at your face. “Sorry, I wasn’t actually expecting…this.” 

“I am on the pill,” you offered a little bashfully, embarrassed to have reacted so enthusiastically to what you were now realising was a joke. “But we can wait if you’d rather use a-” 

“No, no-,” his face was definitely a little red this time, seemingly caught off by your willingness. “If you want to, I’d like to. I just…” He rubbed his neck a little awkwardly. “I was just teasing and you surprised me, I guess. You’re always surprising me.” 

Before you could backtrack or come up with some witty response, Sukuna recovered himself and his lips were on your neck. You let out a soft whimper at the sensation of his teeth dragging against your sensitive skin, his lips latching onto you and sucking purple marks onto you with no concern for who might see them the next day. 

As far as he was concerned you were his. Naoya could rage all he wanted. If he wanted to keep his girlfriend he shouldn’t have discarded her on the mountainside. Bitterly, you hoped Naoya found out exactly what you and Sukuna had done that night. Let him seethe. Let him reflect on all that he’d lost. 

The bastard deserved all that misery and more. 

Sukuna’s hands found their way beneath your clothes, calloused fingers pressing against your skin with care. You hadn’t realised how much your whole body was aching until he was touching you like that, your muscles flexing at the new contact. 

You took his actions as a sign to do the same, sliding your own fingers beneath his shirt and pressing them against his abs. You knew he was well built - on hotter days he’d been shirtless when working on teaching you to lead climb, and you’d pretty shamelessly stared at him until your mind had reminded you of your boyfriend.

It would be nice for him to be shirtless now, but neither of you felt like removing any layers of clothing in the cold, so for the time being your touch would have to suffice. That was a freedom that Sukuna seemed to be taking full advantage of, mapping out your body with his hands, his fingers moving to your breasts and squeezing, red eyes lighting up at the little moan it earned him. 

“Really shouldn’t be doing this now,” he whispered huskily against your ear. “Had the whole thing planned out. Figured once you’d broken up with Naoya that I’d take you out on a nice date and then bring you back to my place so we could do this properly. But here we are.” 

You giggled softly at the dismay in his tone. “We can still stop.” 

“No. I want this now. You aren’t so easily resisted. But mark my words, once we’re back home, I’m going to take my time with you. I want to look at you properly beyond just fumbling about in a dark tent - as hot as this is.” 

Giggling again, you nodded, in total agreement with his sentiment. Doing things like this, while a little limited, did feel exciting in its own way. It felt like you were keeping some secret with each other, doing whatever you could in the dark without anyone else knowing about it. There was an allure to it that you couldn’t quite put your finger on. 

With Sukuna’s attention on your breasts, you were the one that ended up making a major move first. Your hand slid down beneath the waistband of his trousers, finding its way into his briefs. He let out a groan at the feeling of your hand brushing against his cock, which twitched erratically at the slightest touch. 

It felt big beneath your fingers, and you hadn’t realised that your breath had hitched until Sukuna was letting out a chuckle. 

“Impressed?” 

“Maybe,” you mumbled shyly. You didn’t have much of a point of reference for such things. Naoya was the only man you’d ever been with, and you imagined that he wasn’t packing anything particularly unique down there. Not if Sukuna’s size was anything to go by. You wrapped your fingers around the shaft, enjoying the way Sukuna shivered in pleasure. 

Meanwhile, Sukuna mirrored your actions, his fingers moving down your body until they were grazing against your panties. It was a little embarrassing how damp the fabric had grown, your pussy desperately slick from the events of the evening. Your body wanted Sukuna just as much as your heart and mind did, and it was making that fact glaringly obvious. 

“So wet,” he said with a chuckle. “There I was all nervous that you wouldn’t feel the same. Shows what I know, huh?” 

You flushed, glancing away from him in embarrassment as his fingers pushed your panties to the side, giving him free access to your pussy beneath. His fingers moved deftly through your folds, moving the slick around before rubbing at your clit, leaving you whining his name and squeezing his cock a little tighter. 

“Cute,” he hummed, his nose brushing against yours. One of his fingers prodded at your opening, pushing in with a little effort. He took a few minutes opening you up with two of his fingers, languidly stuffing you full with them to prepare you. You didn’t want to admit to how emotional the whole thing made you feel, because Naoya had always said that foreplay was a myth. 

Never before had you been prepared for anything, and Sukuna taking so much time to do so had your heart fluttering. 

You tried your best to return the favour, stroking his cock as best as you could while it was still confined beneath his clothes, but he didn’t seem to pay that too much attention - completely fixed on making you cum around his fingers before moving onto anything else. That was another thing that Naoya had never done. Cumming with him was so infrequent that you’d almost grown certain that you couldn’t do it with another person. 

And yet, Sukuna had you doing it in a matter of minutes - your toes curling in desperate pleasure as you gushed over his fingers with a sweet little gasp. 

There was no time for you to catch your breath before he was pushing your trousers and panties down ever so slightly to give him access whilst still keeping you dressed and warm. He did the same for his own clothes, gently displacing your hand from his cock and repositioning the two of you so that he was on top. 

The sleeping bag was still wrapped snugly around the two of you, keeping the warmth in effectively while he lined himself up over you, his muscular body keeping you pinned down beneath him in a position you’d be more than happy to remain in for the rest of your days. It was so nice to be under him like that, to be so surrounded by his body and heat and scent. 

It was where you were supposed to be. In some uncomfortable tent on the side of the mountain feeling happier than ever because he was there with you. 

You’d gone to the mountaineering club for Naoya, but you couldn’t help but think fate had guided your actions and really led you there for Sukuna. 

“All good?” He asked, hot breath brushing against your ear. The tip of his cock was pressed up against your opening, and you realised that he was giving you a chance to back out - showing you a level of consideration that Naoya never would. 

“Yeah,” you breathed, lashes fluttering as you peered up into lovely red eyes, letting out a whine when he finally pushed into you.

You hadn’t been prepared for just how big he was, your eyes practically rolling to the back of your skull as he pressed his way into your tight pussy. Your nails dug into his arms and a whimper left you at the intensity of the feeling. You felt like you were aware of every ridge and vein on his cock, your pussy squeezing around him each time he’d involuntarily twitch within you. 

It didn’t take long for the uncomfortable fullness to give way to pleasure once he bottomed out inside you. It had a pleasantly warm buzz running through your body once he started to thrust within you, the weight of his body keeping you still and secure, keeping you warm even as the storm picked up outside. 

Any fears of the thunder and lightning were pushed aside in favour of focusing on the feeling of being split in two. Sukuna’s lips found your neck once more, overstimulating you as he bit and sucked on the juncture between your neck and shoulder, bringing tears to your eyes beneath all the pleasure he was giving you. 

Even through the stretch it felt right to have him inside you, and it was downright heavenly each time one of his long strokes hit that one specific spot inside you, bringing stars and light to your vision each time. 

This was where you were meant to be. 

Neither of you lasted particularly long. Not after the day you’d just had, and certainly not after months of mutual crushing. You’d cum first - your body already sensitive from the previous orgasm and totally overwhelmed by the intimacy of it all. Sukuna had reached down to play with your clit while he fucked you, and that set you on a high unlike any other. 

If Naoya had known where the clit was, he’d certainly never touched it. 

And yet, there Sukuna was utilising it. You could count on one hand the number of times you’d cum from penetrative sex, but Sukuna had pulled an orgasm from you like it was easy. 

And maybe it was easy. 

Maybe Naoya just fucking sucked. 

Sukuna wasn’t far behind you in reaching his release. When you’d cum you’d clamped down around him tightly, locked in a spiral of pure pleasure unlike that which you’d experienced before. It felt better than anything you could achieve with your own hands - infinitely more intimate and lovely. 

The way you’d squeezed him so tight had sent Sukuna over the edge, prompting him to groan your name in that low tone of his as he filled you with his seed, riding out his own release to the point where you were growing overstimulated and begging him for mercy. 

Mercy which he gave you with a gentle smile and a kiss planted atop your sweaty forehead. 

The two of you lay then in the darkness, soft pants drowned beneath the howling of wind. Sukuna was holding you tightly, keeping you secure in his grip like you might vanish if he didn’t cling to you with all his might. He was still inside you, softening but present in a way that felt blissfully intimate. Whenever you’d laid with Naoya, you couldn’t wait to escape his grip and get cleaned up. 

With Sukuna, it was different. 

You could stay there with him sheathed inside you for hours - connected in a way that just felt right. 

His lips were ghosting against your hair, soothing you with kisses, running his hands over you repetitively in a bid to ensure you stayed warm at his side. Your ankle was throbbing a little from all the movement, but with Sukuna’s legs intertwined with yours you found yourself able to ignore it. All thoughts and discomforts overridden by how happy you felt in that moment. 

“Try and get some sleep,” he murmured against your hair. “I’ll look after you.” 

“I know,” you whispered. 

He smiled softly. “Just making sure you know it. Apparently you can’t take for granted that everyone will look out for you.” His tone came out a little bitter, but instead of feeling anger at the reminder of Naoya’s actions, you felt a warmth blossom across your chest at Sukuna’s display of care. 

You liked that he was angry about it. It was nice to have someone care about you for once. 

In hindsight, it was a blessing that you never made it out into the mountains alone with Naoya like you’d intended to at the start of your mountaineering training. If you had, perhaps you would’ve ended up left for dead - freezing on the side of the mountain while Naoya summoned some crocodile tears and dismissed your fate altogether. 

You were lucky to have Sukuna. Lucky to be able to continue going into the mountains with someone who actually wanted you there. Someone who would really take care of you. 

“I’m glad you’re here to look after me.” Your hand reached for his face, tracing his tattoos with great care. As pleasant as your evening with him had been, you were looking forward to making it down the mountain - to spending time with him outside of that tent. It would be nice to see just where those tattoos disappeared off to beneath his clothes. 

But that would have to wait. 

You knew that the next day would be long. An arduous trek back down the mountain was ahead of you, along with a no doubt vicious confrontation with your ex. One that you were sure Sukuna would take the lead on, but still not something you were looking forward to experiencing. 

Either way, you wouldn’t dwell on it that evening. 

Because for the time being, there was nothing you needed to worry about. The storm could rage on outside for as long as it needed to. You were safe in your tent, in the arms of a man who would never leave you alone on the side of a mountain. 

And it was possibly the happiest you’d been in a very long time. 

a/n: after getting down to the bottom of the mountain the next day I promise reader slapped naoya and sukuna beat the hell out of him :)

had such a fun time writing this its literally the most self-indulgent fic I've ever written as I love being in the mountains hehe

hope you enjoyed! reblogs and comments are appreciated as always!

perma taglist: @calicatzz @suzunu @winkii @sukubusss @bobis-notmylover @tetsuski @torupilled @brattyxackerman @r0vena @chaos-4baby @moonlitreveri3 @feyrinnn @strawberryrosey @creamofsneky-blog @zeeseekay @p1nkfl0wers @apricityn @keiiiluv @dogggggggblog-kaye @lav4mpira @seellove @cutesytwt @gojodickbig @yuujispinkhair @somos-things @yeagersss @paradisestarfishh @jennilynn63 @tthhaattgguuyy27 @bexxli @being-blue-is-better @tisuruxx @juliarchiv3s @dishs0pe @plutoxxxworld @5kkalara @serenadesvt @00frenchfries00 @warriorofenlightenment @scarlet-issilly @himbosexual @pousivuitton @ksjtozaki @certainfanpoetry @gojoscumslut @ynishalee @nakiich @t4ters @himezoro @pandabiene5115

Exiting your bedroom, you make sure everything is tidy along the way to the kitchen. Seeing him work so hard, you had an urge to give him a slow night in. You figured it's more than well deserved, with all his busyness and still not failing to somehow provide you just enough attention the whole time. Pulling out all the stops, you prepared a candlelit dinner, rented The Philadelphia Story for the night, even pulled out a record from its sleeve, already placed on the turntable and ready to be played the second he would enter your apartment.

Earlier in the day, there was also a voice in your head telling you to spoil yourself. So, that's exactly what you did. Knowing Michael would arrive pretty late, maybe 9.30p.m., it gives you a reason to purchase a brand new nightgown and preferably, drive the man crazy.

The sleek mesh fabric cascades beautifully, laid out on your curves in just the right places. The sweetheart neckline hugs your chest in the most flattering way, with lace stitched into the center of the top area, covering the inner contours of your front. Initially, you thought it wouldn't provide enough support you actually needed, but after wearing it, you find yourself immediately lost in the pure comfort of the gown. Ribbons are tied to keep the laces held together, and the gown descents into a sheerness ever so slightly, it's barely a tease. 

But you knew it would drive Michael crazy anyway. 

Just as you finish lighting up the final candle on the small table, your ears pick up the sound of keys and the front door opening. 

“Sweetheart?” 

Giggling to yourself, you rush to the turntable and lower the needle to the vinyl. Keeping it to a low volume, you check yourself again right before Michael walks down the hallway and sees you. The moment your eyes meet, you throw your arms up and give him a bright grin. 

“Ta-da!” A playful wave of jazz hands and you almost snort at his face of surprise. He totally didn’t expect to walk into a dim setting with candles all around. And you swore to yourself years ago how you wouldn’t get romantic for a man. Funny how that turned out. You feel an innate sense of delight at his jaw slightly agape, awe filling his eyes. Dropping your gaze downwards, a gasp softly leaves your mouth, noticing his hands holding a bouquet of red lilies and a small box, wrapped neatly in wine red paper.

The two of you stare at each other with the same dumbfounded looks for a good few seconds. A snort finally escapes you, and that breaks him, and then the two of you are laughing like idiots standing five feet apart with gleeful surprise etched onto your faces. 

“Baby, what is all this?” Michael finally asks you, stepping closer and giving you a slow kiss in greeting. You wrap your arms around the back of his neck, humming against his lips. Slightly pulling away, you murmur shyly. “Just something I wanted to do for you. You've been so stressed lately.” 

A look of pure adoration appears on his face, and he kisses your cheek, muttering quietly, heavy with love. “Thank you, my love. You're perfect.” 

Taking a few steps back, his eyes trail down your figure, then back up. Then, back down. His gaze darkens by the second, and a sharp intake of his breath tells you just how right you were in buying this particular nightgown. Biting his lip, Michael shakes his head and shuts his eyes briefly, actively holding back from walking closer to you.

“So, so perfect. God, baby. This new?” 

The hoarse in his voice makes you give an internal high five to yourself, and you nod while turning around slowly. Giving him the whole view, and hearing his grip on the wrapped box tightening. Stopping to face him again, you throw your hands up again for the sake of calming things down. There's dinner waiting after all. 

“Yes! You like it?” You ask him, genuine excitement lacing your words. “I thought it was the prettiest thing in the store.” 

“I love it,” Michael replies, his eyes softening at your delighted tone. “It's real pretty. Suits perfectly on you, my pretty baby.” 

Your grin widens, thanking him before flicking your gaze at his full hands again. “Is that… for me, Mikey?” 

“Hm?” He hums distractedly, still staring at your gown before his eyes widen, turning to look at you and the items in his arms. “Oh, yeah!” 

A soft ‘yay’ leaves your lips, melting Michael's heart further. Walking closer to each other again, you slowly take the bouquet from his hands. “Oh, this is so lovely, sweetie. It's perfect for dinner. I'll go find a glass to put these in, just a second.” 

“Oh, no need. The last time I was here I got a small vase and hid it behind your blanket cabinet,” he immediately replies, stopping you in your tracks. Disbelief crosses your face, and a soft laugh escapes you again. 

“You're unbelievable,” you tell him. 

“Why, thank you,” he bites back a grin. Less than a second after that, his face briefly twists into hard focus, ears pricking up as the record keeps playing quietly. The soft music causes his lips to slowly quirk up, gaze meeting yours. 

“The Isley Brothers?” 

“Go For Your Guns, 1977,” you reply with a nod, sheepishly fiddling with the flowers. “The first record you've ever given me.” 

“Aw, sweetheart,” Michael coos and reaches to cup your cheek. “This is wonderful. But if my memory serves correctly, you practically blackmailed me into givin’ you the album, hm?” 

Pouting at his teasing tone, you poke his chest. “I most definitely did not… And even if I did, it's only right. You have all those new records and I only had Rumours by then. I had to.” 

He lets out a low chuckle, still holding your face. Leaning in to press soft kisses on your temple and down to your cheek, he trails his hand down to your waist, the other to intertwine with your fingers. Swaying from side to side, you laugh as he leads you into a half hearted slow dance. His hand on your waist isn't pressed against your skin however, as he was still gripping onto the small box. 

When Footsteps In The Dark start playing, you hold back a laugh as Michael shifts closer and properly dances with you. “Mike, food is getting cold,” you softly speak into the quaint space, only smiling when he presses his forehead against yours. 

“Hey, if I wanna dance with my girl for a minute, I'm goin’ to, okay?” He says, eyes closing in bliss as you move around the living room. A sigh escapes you, knowing whatever he wants, he would get. Especially when it comes to you. Although, your heart sings at the feel of him. The warmth he brings like no other, the utter openness he possesses when showing love to you. Being loved by Michael is otherworldly. 

All your life, you've never had someone so… so passionate with life, and with love. Meeting him was something you thank the stars for every day. 

You snap out of your thoughts when his hand leaves your back, and Michael presses another kiss to your temple and whispers excitedly, holding out the small box, the red of the paper almost translucent from the dim lights. “Take the gift, open it.” 

Pulling away, you stroke his jaw before shaking your head. Before disappointment can wash over him, you motion to the kitchen. “Let's do that after dinner. Come on, it's gonna get cold, Mister.” 

You turn up the volume on the turntable slightly before heading to the kitchen, gripping onto Michael's hand and leading him. Seeing the home cooked meal laid out nicely just for him, the man almost gets down on his knees right then and there to worship you. You pull away your hand to head somewhere else, but he doesn't argue when his eyes are still focusing on the beautifully plated dinner. 

“Baby, did you somehow become a professional chef while I was workin’?” Michael calls out, smiling at the sound of your muffled laughter. 

“Very funny,” you finally reply to him as you enter the kitchen again and position the small orange vase he got for you on the center of the table, this time the flowers arranged aesthetically inside. “I actually learned a lot from that cooking channel you're always watching. No wonder you love it so much.” 

Clasping your hands under your chin in happiness, both of your gazes meet. A soft smile blooms into your face. “Dinner's ready!” 

Making yourselves comfortable on the chairs, Michael places the small box near your plate. He asks you softly, distracting himself from the mouthwatering smell of the blessed food right in front of him. “Open after you finish eating?” 

“Okay, Mikey,” you nod and lift your glass of wine. Clinking his against yours, Michael reaches to pinch your cheek softly, making you hold back a giggle and feign a glare. He chuckles and turns to his food, already brimming with pure joy at the mere thought of a meal cooked by you instead of cold takeouts like he's been having every late night in the studio. 

The both of you talk about anything and everything that comes to mind during dinner. It's been a few days since you've last seen each other, and there's been quite a lot to catch up on. Well, for him, anyway. 

“And then, Jeff just flipped out, yelling all around the office. Meanwhile Mr. Barrett just ignored him and told me to keep at it, he was really sorry about it and everything,” you ramble to him about your workplace, sipping on the glass before continuing to take another bite of the food. 

Tilting his head, he looks at you curiously. “Don't you wonder why Mr. Barrett is always so nice to you, baby?” 

“Well, he told me I reminded him of his daughter or something,” you say while shrugging. “And the fact I'm the youngest in that office probably helps a lot. Not with Jeff though, no. He sees anyone under the age of thirty and all he thinks is how unqualified they would be.” 

Michael frowns while chewing his food, and you'd be lying if you said that's not the most adorable sight you've ever been blessed with. “That's terrible!” He exclaims after swallowing. “Y’know, baby, the more you talk about your new job, the less I like even hearin’ Jeff's name.” 

“Well, what can you do, sweetie? A job's a job,” you shrug again. Softly nudging his feet with yours under the table, you smile at him. “Speaking of jobs, what about yours? How's the recording going?” 

He lets out a heavy sigh, biting his lip and focuses his gaze on his plate. “Okay.” 

Brows furrowing, you reach across the table and take his hand softly. “Uh oh... that sigh of yours didn't sound okay.” 

“Well, no, it's just… it's going great, sweetheart, believe me.” Nodding reassuringly at you, he continues with a quieter tone. “It's just been so time consuming. And a lot of clashin’ heads, I hate when that happens. And I can't even call you as often anymore, so I'm practically deprived of you, baby.” 

A half giggle leaves you, and you shake your head and squeeze his hand. “I hear you, Mikey. I'm sorry that it's been rough for you. But remember what you said to me all those months ago? It's gonna be worth every second when you see people dancing to your songs, right?” 

“Yeah,” he finally says after a moment, eyes lighting up again, and in return, so does your heart at the sight. Holding himself with seemingly less weight on his shoulders, Michael continues. “It’ll all be worth it. But the recording is great, don't worry. I think it really speaks on how I wanna sound.” 

“Hey, that's good, sweetie. That's the most important thing for you, right?” You softly stroke the back of his hand. He nods with a shy chuckle, and takes your intertwined hands to kiss the back of yours. 

“A lot of voices, though,” he adds. “In the studio, I mean. Quincy has this to say, Mr. Temperton has that to say. Others involve themselves at times and I really don't like it when they talk over me. But they do try to listen, so I guess that's fine. And, y’know, Diana thinks because she linked me and Quincy together, she's entitled for some involvement and I don't know anythin’ about that.” 

The fork’s halfway to your mouth before you momentarily freeze. “Diana as in Ross? That one?” You ask him, voice stilting. 

Unaware of the twitch in your eye at the mention of her name, Michael nods as he takes another bite. “Yeah, she visits a lot. Mostly to see Quincy but then he'd tell me somethin’ about the tracks we're workin’ on right after, and I'm starting to think Diana's feedin’ him lines. But I never end up giving in, of course.” 

“You shouldn't,” you reply sharply, finally taking the bite before almost stabbing at the rest of the food. 

“I wouldn't,” he raises his brows, still eating and facing his food and clueless to your mildly heated state. 

“Good, don't,” you say, curt while taking another sip of the wine. 

“I won't,” Michael replies again, this time flicking his gaze to your face. Concern gleams in his eyes. “You okay, baby?” 

“Mhm,” you nod and keep your lips glued to the rim of the glass, averting your eyes. 

He notes the taut pull of your shoulders, tension radiating off of you in small waves. The slight furrow of your brows and the downwards tilt of your lips tell him all he needs to know. 

“Oh, sweetheart, not this again?” Michael sighs out, amusement quickly growing in his voice. 

“What?” You say, still looking away and feigning cluelessness.

“She's just a mentor, I'm tellin' you,” he pressed his words, eyes desperately trying to lock to yours. 

“A really flirty one at that,” you hold back a scoff before glancing at Michael apologetically. The man only shakes his head, reaching to hold your hand again. 

He bites back a grin and stares at your face, asking you in a firm manner. “Baby, why would I ever think about her in such a way when I have a really beautiful, smart, wonderful woman as the love of my life right here?” 

Silent for a moment, you huff and drop your tense shoulders. “Well, you're right about that. I am all of those things.” 

“Exactly,” he whispers and kisses the back of your hand. Gaze slightly darkening, he observes you in a way that has you heated and warm all over. “Absolutely beautiful.” 

Ignoring his look of pure want, you clear your throat. “Finish your food and we can start on that movie night.” 

•

Currently snuggling up to Michael, you absentmindedly lift a popcorn to your lips as James Stewart's character speaks. 

“There's a magnificence in you, Tracy,” he said to the woman who Katharine Hepburn was playing. She turned to him with a look of surprise, longing in the most mournful way. 

Michael pulls you closer, his arm resting around your shoulder and lips ghosting kisses against your temple. 

“It's late,” the woman hesitantly said, turning around to flee away. The background strums of violin strings grew louder, almost overpowering as James’ character continued. His eyes sparkled with wonder, never straying away from her gaze.

“A magnificence that comes out of your eyes, in your voice, in the way you stand there, in the way you walk. You're lit from within, Tracy!” 

The man next to you hums, murmuring softly. “What a wonderful line.” 

Nodding in agreement, you huff a laugh as Michael turns away from the television yet again to bury his face into the crook of your neck, peppering kisses against your skin. “Mike!” You scold him, hiding your grin as he briefly pouts at you. 

“I don't seem to you made of bronze?” Katharine’s voice spoke in a low, forlorn manner. 

The man didn't think, he let the words escape from his lips without a second thought. “No, you're made out of flesh and blood. That's the blank, unholy surprise of it. You're the golden girl, Tracy. Full of life and warmth and delight.” 

The two characters stepped closer to each other, music growing more emotional, laced with melancholic passion. Concern appeared on his face, he asked, “What goes on? You've got tears in your eyes.”

“Shut up, shut up,” she whispered as she looked up at him with innocent desire. “Oh, keep talking, keep talking. Talk, will you?” 

Softly smiling at the scene before you, you whisper softly into the air of the calm living room. “You know, I'd love to meet Katharine Hepburn someday. She brings something to her characters in such a way every time.” 

A slow nod comes from Michael in response. “Hm… that would be a delight, wouldn't it?” 

You hum in agreement before taking another popcorn into your mouth. The film slowly makes its way to the back of your mind as your thoughts revert to the earlier conversation you'd shared with Michael. It's been bothering you a bit, seeing how the process of the album is taking a toll on him, in ways that are slow and quiet. Clearing your throat, you turn to Michael, who was actually focused on the TV this time. 

“Mike?” 

“Yeah, baby?” 

“About earlier… about what you told me? I hope you're not letting those people take up too much space, sweetie. It's your album, after all.” You tell him with a reassuring look, stroking his face with the back of your hand. 

His eyes flick towards you, noting the sudden change in the mood. A small upwards tilt of his lips and your heart already burns fiercely at the sight. 

“Yeah?” Michael replies quietly. 

“Yeah,” you nod, continuing on. “Don't forget your own sound for the sake of pleasing others, Mikey. Not where it counts.” 

His smile stretches further, and he leans down and presses a chaste kiss on your lips. “Thank you, baby. Truly. I won't, don't worry. You don't know how hard-headed I can get in that studio.” 

“Well, I think I know a little,” you tilt your head teasingly, mind flashing back to a few weeks prior when he spent fifteen minutes arguing with you over the phone about who was better at gift-giving a family member. 

As if Michael is able to read your mind, he feigns a glare and tuts at you. “Don't even, baby. I'm the better gifter. I know the truth and that's me bein’ able to make Mother cry every time it's her birthday.” 

“And that's something you want?” You ask him with a serious tone, biting back a grin. 

“Cry from happiness! I swear!” Michael defends himself, laughing with you. His hand reaches to pinch your cheek teasingly, and he shakes his head. “Don't twist my words! What are you, a reporter?” 

Cackling at his remark, you nudge him in admonishment. The man lets you for only half a second before gently gripping your hand and pressing a kiss to your knuckles, looking at you with mirth in his eyes.

“Now, now. Speakin’ of gifts, I think you almost forgot about this one,” he says with a sneaky smile as he reaches below the couch to pull out the small box from earlier. 

A soft gasp escapes you, and you take the item from his hands very carefully. “Oh, I'm sorry, Mikey. I did forget. But, oh, this is so sweet, thank you.” 

“Open it up then, sweetheart.” 

You bite your lip from excitement and try to unwrap the paper carefully, sighing in frustration when the tape wouldn't budge. A snicker leaves Michael, and he watches on as you continue to fiddle with the tape for a few more seconds before he kisses your cheek and whispers in your ear. “Please, for the love of God, baby, just rip the damn thing.” 

Pouting at his words, you slowly rip the paper, trying to make it as elegant as possible. After discarding the wrapper, you touch the soft, velvet blue box and feel its warmth against your fingertips. You flick your gaze briefly to him, voice firm for only a second.

“Mikey, don't tell me you spent more than you should have for this.” 

“Okay, I won't.” 

Lips parting in disbelief, you softly slap his arm. “Michael.” 

“Baby, hush. Open it!” 

Huffing slightly, you flick your gaze to the box and finally lift its lid. In it is a neatly placed beautiful wristwatch. Its silver reflective, the inner face with maroon elements giving out a pop of colour, the hands ticking ornately designed. There are diamonds aligned in a flush setting on its band, the light it's catching reflecting back to your eyes and putting further emphasis on your look of amazement and love. And Michael could dissolve from the sight just then, his heart warming at the thought of making his girl happy.

“Michael, this is beautiful.” 

“Well, what do you know? Matches just right with you,” he says, gazing at you fondly. Shaking your head, you touch the watch and feel its grooves softly before closing back the lid. Brows furrowing, you cradle the side of his face. 

“I love it so much. It's so beautiful and it's very thoughtful of you, but you spent too much again, sweetie,” you say, guilt over him spending a lot on you starting to grow, making itself apparent in your words. 

Michael shakes his head incessantly. He almost scoffs while dismissing you, “I didn't. I promise, sweetheart.” 

Knowing he will not ever back down when it comes to buying you material goods, you only smile and kiss the box before kissing the apple of his cheek. “Thank you, Mikey. I'm sorry, I didn't know you were getting me a gift. I didn't get you anything.”

The look on Michael's face is so incredulous, it makes you want to laugh. He sighs out, a small grin growing. “Sweetheart, you gave me a home cooked meal after days of trash food. And this whole night was a gift for me. And…” he trails off, eyes flickering downwards to your figure and darkening afterwards.

Biting his lip, he continues, albeit a little more low this time. “And that thing on you is a gift that could last me for ten years, baby.” 

“Mike…” you shyly giggle. 

“I'm serious,” he replies. Leaning in closer, Michael ghosts his lips against yours, eyes already dazed as he pries your fingers off of the box to place it on the coffee table. Continuing to whisper as he pecks you on the mouth, once, twice, three times. “You look like an angel, sweetheart.” 

Laughing quietly, you wrap your arms around the back of his neck and pull him closer. He smiles and properly presses his lips against yours, kissing you slow and soft. Slowly reaching his hand to your cheek, gently stroking the skin with his thumb. He hums into the kiss, “All cute and pretty for me, just sittin’ here.” 

“Mikey,” you pull away just slightly to chuckle before the man chases your lips with a soft whine and kisses you again, this time more deeply. Ever so slightly parting your lips with his, a tongue slips in between and causes you to let out a low gasp. He gently pushes you to lay down on the cushions, making sure your head is placed comfortably on a thicker pillow before diving into another kiss. 

“Truly beautiful baby,” he murmurs, biting his lip after pulling away. Eyes harboring affection and worship, trailing from your nightgown to your lips freshly swollen from his doing, to the slope of your nose, your plump cheeks with heat rising from underneath its skin, and to the dazed look in your eyes. 

“A Goddess, really,” he whispers as he presses a soft kiss on your neck. Trailing to your throat with his tongue, he nips at the skin, eliciting a faint shiver up your spine. Sighing in bliss, you gently hold the back of his head as he continues to kiss down to the center of your collarbone. Michael murmurs against your skin, “Baby, you smell like heaven.” 

“I bought a new perfume too,” you giggle quietly. The man hovering over you laughs and looks at you with amusement in his eyes. Averting his gaze back down, he trails the lace detailing with his eyes, the way it hugs your front, and Michael almost drools at the sight. He shakes his thoughts away and leans down to ghost his nose against the fabric, moving downwards so, so slowly. Stopping on your stomach, he sees the slight sheerness of the mesh, and he almost groans and presses a firm kiss on your skin right there. 

“This is drivin’ me crazy.”

You quietly congratulate yourself. 

“God, this is home to me, baby, you don't even know,” he continues on, unaware of your secret amusement, and rests his chin on your stomach as he looks up at you. His hand reaches to trail up your leg underneath the dress, stopping at your outer thigh. Michael sighs again, almost a whimper, as he presses feverish kisses on your stomach through the fabric. 

“Mike…” You gasp out. 

He almost buries his face to your stomach, groaning hoarsely. “I can't think when I'm here. It's perfect.” 

Stifling a laugh, you just let Michael ramble on and stroke the back of his head gently. He's almost babbling about nothing at this point.

Well, he did have a little too much wine earlier at dinner. Just a little, you think to yourself. 

“Sometimes I think God specifically made me for you, sweetheart,” he sighs and rests his head properly on your skin, closing his eyes. You only smile quietly, stroking the apple of his cheek with your thumb. He continues without even opening his eyes. 

Heaving a deep sigh, a small quirk of his lips appear. “I don't think you know how much I love you. When we're older, I want to marry you. And we'll have kids we love, and you'll finally have a job you like.” The both of you snicker at that, and you softly poke his cheek before cradling it gently again. 

“I could live through days of headache because the second I see you, baby, it's all forgotten noise,” he whispers. Making himself more comfortable, his hold on you tightens, and he presses a soft kiss against the fabric again, this time more timid. 

“I love you so much, angel.” 

Shaking your head at his antics and smiling widely to yourself, you whisper a response. “I love you too, Mike. My, usually wine makes you dance-y, it's strange how it's making you emotional tonight.” 

He snorts before speaking lightheartedly, “I'm always emotional about you. It's becomin’ a problem.”

“Well, I wouldn't say that…” you tug at his ear softly. “I think you're perfect just like this. So sweet on me all the time, honey.” 

He hums and shifts upwards again, leaving soft kisses along your skin, the warmth of his lips making you hold back a shiver. “You deserve all of that and more,” he whispers. 

Landing a slow kiss to your lips, he tilts his head for a better angle, and the languid movements cause faint tingles to run down your spine, and you giggle when he moves and ever so slightly nips at your cheek before moving to your neck, burying his head there yet again. 

You're now fully cuddling, his position somewhat awkward with one of his legs dangling to the side, and his torso is bent in a way that suggests lack of comfortability, but seeing how at peace he really is, you decide to leave it alone for now. 

“You're my forever person,” he whispers into the quiet. “I believe that.” 

“You're mine too, Mikey,” you sigh happily and kiss his temple.

It's a few more minutes of silence before he grunts. “Okay… my leg is numb.” 

The both of you share a laugh before you nudge him off. It seems like a much wiser choice to retire to bed, so that's what you do. As Michael cleans up in the kitchen and the living room – after much debating with you– there is nothing left for you to do except tidy up the bed for the both of you. There is a newfound system for Michael's short hiatus from touring with his brothers. As mentioned before, Saturday nights are decided to be movie nights, and that's also insinuating sleepovers. Sundays aren't necessarily off days for him, but mornings were always fairly free prior to this. With that, you decided with him it's the perfect timing.

So, traces of Michael are slowly growing in your room. A lot of his clothes are folded in a drawer, his razor and aftershave in your bathroom cabinet. Your toothbrush stands next to his in the cup on the sink. It's all very, terribly domestic. 

You love every second of it. 

A yawn escapes Michael as he turns off the hallway lamp, setting his foot into your bedroom and giving you a smile before closing the door almost all the way, leaving a small opening the exact way you prefer. 

“Tired?” You ask him with a teasing smile, fluffing the pillows and brushing off invisible lint from the bedcovers. 

“Yeah, it was a really long day. You made me forget that earlier. Now, all I wanna do is lie here and not move for two days.” He says before plopping himself on the left side of the bed, which should honestly already be established as his side of the bed. 

Huffing a laugh, you eye him with amusement. “Not even a full three days, huh?” 

“Nah, I wouldn't know what I'd be doing for that long without makin’ something, baby,” he waves his hand absentmindedly, eyes already closing from fatigue that's quickly rushing through his bones and body. 

Turning off the bedside lamp, you lay on your side, facing him and making yourself comfortable. Before anything, his hands reach to cradle both sides of your face, smushing your cheeks together until your lips form a pout, and he coos. 

“God, you're beautiful.”

“Mike,” you start, giggling quietly. 

“Sorry… I need to go to sleep. But you're pretty. And the dinner was amazin’. Can't believe I'm marryin’ a chef in a few years,” he murmurs, getting sleepier by the second. 

Smiling and kissing him on the cheek, you whisper in response. “Not a chef, honey.” 

“An angel, then?” He asks, following your quiet tone naturally. Eyes still closed.

“Not that either,” you shake your head. 

“Then who am I marryin’, baby?” He asks again, brows slightly furrowing. 

You're quiet for a moment before leaving another soft kiss on his lips, chaste and quick. “Just your girl, Mike.” 

He slowly opens his eyes, and you're met with the gaze of a man with so much love in it, it's almost a burden for him to bear. Michael shifts closer and nuzzles your nose with his, your lips a hair’s breadth away. Feeling his breath on your skin, you close your eyes at the tranquility he's able to create from just being present with you.

“You're not ‘just my girl’, sweetheart,” Michael says, his voice a soft disturbance against the quiet night. “Love of my life. You're everythin' in between, too.”

Looking away sheepishly, your face inches closer and the both of you properly kiss, slow and sweet. Five full seconds later, you slightly part from him, ignoring his sleepy offended look. “Go to sleep, sweetie,” you let out a low laugh. 

“So, so perfect,” Michael says while covering his yawn, “Goodnight, baby.” 

Whispering a goodnight to him, you note he's fallen asleep already, and you let out a deep sigh. You're so deeply in love with the sleeping man in front of you, it's honestly insane. 

Almost as insane as knowing he loves you just as much.