Taming A Curse
Nanami x Gojo x You
Chapter 1
Taming A Curse: Chapter 2
Word Count: 2,400 words
Author's Note: I thought I could condense this chapter to move on to the good stuff and actually get to the reader's introduction but unfortunately my monkey brain went feral by needing to add TENSION and wanting to explore character trauma soooo when you read this I'm sorry. The HUNT will start next chapter for now have an emotionally constipated morning after! This is once again one of my first chaptered fics and I'm really new to this so let me know how I can improve please!
As the sun rose over the mountainous terrain and shone through the screen window, Nanamin looked down at the mug of warm coffee placed into his hands by his senior that was now prattling on about how he couldn’t believe the place they were staying in didn’t even have an electric kettle but that the scenery was just divine. Nanamin was only half heartedly listening to the one-sided chatter of his companion but kept most of his focus on Gojo’s puffy eyes. He couldn’t help but frown as he thought about the events of last night.
How it had indeed been, a long night.
After the lights went off, everything was silent. Nanami knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep and expected Gojo to get restless enough and find a new boundary to push by berating him with unusual questions or ridiculous banter. Those questions never came though. He closed his eyes and micronapped in twenty minute intervals trying to think nothing of it; maybe Satoru was just tired. An hour passed… than another...the third hour of silence made the blonde snap. He could barely hear the others' breaths and the body next to him was still as a corpse. He could’ve sworn that the position Gojo laid down in was the very same he was in now. Looking over, he caught a glimpse of that unforgettable blue and his blood ran cold. Had he really spent the last three hours awake in silence? Staring at him?! His discomfort made him sit up quickly, hoping to gain a response “Gojo-san?” Nothing. At this angle the sight was worse. The other males mouth was slightly open, his body stiff and the worst part was his eyes; glazed over and bloodshot with the hues changing by the second, a tempest in the middle of a dead sea. He can’t be… dead. Can he?!?!”
Panic took hold of Nanamin as he crawled over to him. “G-Gojo-san… are you awake?” No response. Not knowing what else to do Nanamin pressed his head against the man's chest to hear a heartbeat. Erratic and stuttering… but there. With overwhelming relief Nanamin pressed in further and let go of the breath he was holding in “Thank goodness. Don’t scare me like that Go-” his nightmare was far from over as the man underneath him writhed, gulping for air as if he’d been drowned. Nanamin scrambled to sit up and the sight before him kept him locked in place.
Gojo’s face was enveloped in agony, eyes still brewing a storm of color as tears filled them while he released another animalistic cry of pain. Unsure of what to do, the blonde reached out again to grab a hold of the other but was unable to. His infinity turned on!? He’s never done that around me… Helplessly observing the painful display, Nanamin tried making sense of the situation in his panic. He must be in a trance. Did the cursed spirit find us?! Are they manipulating him? No. I only feel Satoru’s cursed energy. It’s so irregular and so unlike him though… so dense and heavy. Why? Gojo thrashed and cried out again gurgling as if there were glass in his throat, resorting to a pitiful fetal position as he shook violently. He’d been fine and teasing just a couple hours ago… what had
changed? Just as Nanamin feebly attempted to reach through his barrier again Gojo’s bawling became more coherent “F-forgive me… Suguru. I just wanted you… to come… home.”
Nanamin finally understood. A nightmare. It wasn’t like he wasn’t familiar with them. The faces of his dead classmates and the victims he couldn’t save plagued his nights as a youth more than enough to lose years worth of sleep. As an adult, the capitalist dystopia the world turned into to make 99% of the world suffer was just added to the mix. He’d learned that sleeping at complete exhaustion for limited time was enough to keep his psyche at bay; he knew it wasn’t healthy and day by day eventually... it wouldn’t be enough. Before that happens, he hoped that his life would have meaning in a worthy sacrifice because he knew he wasn’t powerful enough alive to make a difference. That sacrifice would benefit many and he would never get attached enough to anyone to cause any harm when he passed.
The problem with such a resolve now is that… Gojo Satoru, the most powerful sorcerer alive was now at his wits end and needed the help and support that Nanamin wasn’t sure he could give. Compassion wasn’t exactly his forte and all he really wanted to do was get Gojo to wake up with a shove but not being able to touch him made it really hard. Seeing his senior cry and thrash made Nanamin’s heart wrench and he knew he couldn’t leave him in such a state. He didn’t know how important he was to his colleague… didn’t even know if anything he did mattered in this situation but he would do anything to stop Satoru’s pain. So he did something he thought wouldn’t happen in his lifetime.
With his voice directly in his ear he said as soothingly as possible “Satoru-san, it’s me, Nanami… you can even call me Kento-kun if you’d like. Please wake up. You’re safe here. You’re safe here with me. It’s just a dream. I’m here for you… as long as you need me to be, I’ll be here for you no matter what.” As he said this he tested different areas of Gojo’s body while hoping for the infinity to turn off, his hand finally able to touch his partner’s cheek. He latched on firmly and wiped the silver-haired man's tears while using his free hand to elevate him so he’d stay alert. Gojo gasped for air again, this time grasping onto Nanamin’s t-shirt for support as he looked directly at him, the storm in his eyes dissipating to a misty cerulean as tears continued to flow. “N-Nanami… I’m so sorr-'' the blonde cut him off as he brought his other arm around him and held him tightly.
Gojo was rigid against his chest but Nanamin could still feel his fear through the rapid heartbeats pressed against him. He felt the front of his shirt dampen with tears as Satoru tried making himself as small as possible. The trembling made his heart sink. Kento was by no means an outwardly emotional man but he would never forgive himself if he didn’t try to stop the other man’s tears. Unsure of what to do to help more, he remembered something his father used to do for him after his nightmares that soothed him as a child… it was a long shot but all he could think of. Hopefully swallowing his pride and doing this would at least lighten the mood.
He started humming an old Danish tune and swayed back and forth. Hearing the other quiet a little he kept an arm around to support him as he carded though his hair. (IDK if I described the position right so to help your imagination, Nanamin is cross legged with Gojo essentially in his lap slumped against his chest balled up in a fetal position) Eventually the shaking exhausted itself and the whimpers were reduced to quiet sniffles, only then did the blonde look down into those snowy locks that he’d been caressing. “Satoru-san… you don’t have to tell me anything. It’s not my place to demand anything of you but… I need to know if you’ll be okay. Is there anything I can do to help?” Feeling the man against him curl inward in silence made him sigh. He wouldn’t get a response like this, Gojo seemed to still be bathing in whatever trauma he’d been struck with. Nanamin had to make him snap back to reality. Releasing his fingers from his senior’s hair, he moved to raise the others chin to make the other meet his gaze, making Gojo stiffen. The others stubbornness made him huff and looked to the ceiling for nonexistent answers “Well if you can’t tell me how to help I’ll go make tea to help wake you up. It’s the only thing that I know helps me-” Gojo quickly unfurled from his ball as he attempted to get up and rotated in the blonde’s lap to wrap his legs around his waist while latching his arms around his shoulders causing Nanamin to stumble and sputter. He’d only gotten a glimpse of the other’s face that was obviously avoiding eye contact, tear-stained and puffy as Gojo settled his chin against the crook of his neck.
“No.” was the first word the blonde heard Gojo say and although it’d thrown away his first course of action he was glad they were getting somewhere. Rubbing a hand against his back for reassurance, Nanamin picked his next words carefully “Okay… no tea. That’s fine. I need you to use your words Gojo. I don’t really care what the request is. I just want to help.” After a minute of suspense he felt his shoulder dampen as Gojo’s grip tightened around him. He almost didn’t hear it, in a shuddered breath it almost sounded as if Satoru was asking for something forbidden “Please stay… Kento.”
His breath stopped short but he did his best to muster an immediate response “Of course I will, where else would I go? I couldn’t get rid of you even if I tried.” Nanamin sighed in relief and continued “...did you want to go back to bed? I won’t let you go I promise. My legs are just falling asleep in this position.” Gojo nodded numbly, with that answer Nanamin began to get up with Gojo still attached like a starfish and carried him over to his futon. “I’m going to need you to detach your legs. It's hard to lay down like this.” Getting comfortable didn’t take long, Nanamin’s arm draped over Gojo’s lithe figure effectively making him the little spoon. Gojo’s slender fingers interlocked with his own, only fidgeting for a little before Nanamin felt his companions breath’s even out. It felt oddly domestic, the body next to him melding against his like a puzzle piece. It felt… really nice. As if the space in which his insomnia resided was now filled. The thought made his cheeks feel hot although it didn’t stop him from holding a bit tighter.
His lids felt heavy as he nuzzled his chin on top of Satoru’s head. He’d enjoy this for the night he had it. Just for tonight. When his eyes opened again, his arms were empty and Gojo was fast asleep in his own futon.
It was exactly how he expected him to look too, splayed out in a comical position with drool coming out of his mouth and a dumbly endearing blissful expression. Had it all been a dream? Since when did I start getting so attached? His worries of delusion dissipated when he observed the other further. Satoru’s hair was damp, face cleaned but his eyes were still evidently puffy. Nanamin must’ve slept deeply enough to completely miss Gojo unraveling himself from his embrace, going into the washroom and showering, and fixing up the mess of a futon he’d caused last night to sleep alone. He’d made it clear to Gojo that he’d stay, was that not enough? Did he regret it? The subject of his thoughts interrupted him by opening his eyes and yawning with an exaggerated stretch. “Morning handsome~, enjoying the view? I really like the bedhead look on you~”
The blonde hadn’t realized he was still staring so intently until those heavenly blues were boring into his own accompanied with a teasing smile. Already annoyed by lack of answers, Nanamin’s look of worry turned sour as he threw his pillow at what was causing the headache. It hit its target with a dull thud “Hey! I was only poking fun Nanami! You really do look good!” Nanami was already closing the bathroom door.
“Do I have something on my face? As much as I love to be the center of attention, the staring is starting to get weird. Also shouldn’t you eat something too? You haven’t touched your muffin.” Nanami sighed as he reached over the table to wipe off the crumbs from the corner of Satoru’s lips which caused the other to sputter. “I’m being attentive. You should really try it sometime… and lay off the sweetbread, that’s your third donut. You’re going to get a stomach ache Gojo-san.” He’d been wondering how to bring up last night to Satoru, the anguish in his companion’s heart was concerning especially in their line of work, he couldn’t afford Gojo breaking down when they went against an opponent. The six eyes and infinity were extremely powerful but crude, only years of refinement could make them wieldable. A slip of the mind could not only be disastrous for everyone in the area but could kill the wielder themselves. His heart quivered at imagining it. But how could he express such a concern about an event that Gojo himself doesn't seem to acknowledge happened? He was acting like his usual self, bubbly and without a care in the world. His heart sank further when he realized that maybe… the other was just used to it. He didn’t know what he could do to help, he even said so last night that Gojo didn’t have to tell him anything… Maybe he took that to heart. Gojo sealed his soul away and Nanamin had to accept that. He and Gojo were just… colleagues. Nothing more.
To hold the fascination of a God was finite. He thought to himself with a tired smile that immediately left his face as he looked up at his partner’s pout “We have a job to do. Finish your breakfast and I’ll go over all the intel I’ve gathered on the subject. After we’ll start scouting around the last area that was affected. With both of us it should be done and we could be heading home tonight.” Knowing the challenge would motivate his companion he looked to see his response. “Aye aye captain.” Gojo said with a wanton salute.
He really did hope that they could. Feeling the way he did now, another night spent with Gojo may kill him… he didn’t know if it would be physically or emotionally.
