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Chapter Text

In an attempt to forget about the devastating shame of being rejected, again, Megumi got drunk on red wine and the only reason he had gotten any sleep was pure exhaustion. Waking up the next morning it throbbed behind his eyes as he stared up at the ceiling and tried to sort out his thoughts.

It was a good thing that it came to this. Really. Now he could truly accept that he must move on with his life and focus on finding someone else to long for. Close to a year of pining could come to an end. He could forget about Sukuna and his damn kissable lips, how his hands had covered the entirety of Megumi’s torso when helping him catch his breath after having the air knocked from his lungs, the conflicted look in his eyes when he pushed Megumi away after the kiss.

It would be good for him if he simply moved on, once and for all.

Only that he couldn’t fully accept it. How could he? Sukuna had kissed him back. Not for long, but still. His hands had found their way to hold Megumi like he wanted nothing more. Not to mention that he even said he wanted to, more than he even should. So why? Megumi could understand the age difference complicated things, Sukuna being the same age as Megumi’s father. And yet, he couldn’t let go of the feeling in his gut that said it was about something else. Something else entirely. Or was he delusional, clinging to false hope?

To not have to face the disappointment of not receiving any calls or texts from Sukuna, he left his phone at home and went out on the slowest walk he had taken since learning how to do it. The sun warmed his face, and after he bought himself coffee and a bagel at a nearby café, the worst of the hangover faded. It allowed his mind to bounce even more, and with his headache simmering down, irritation started to awaken instead.

How could Sukuna be so cruel to lead Megumi on by constantly teasing and touching him, only to push him away when Megumi came onto him? Why was the man such a coward? Thinking about it that way, the frustration grew even more. Had Megumi not wasted enough energy by now?

He really had. And it had to stop. Once again, Megumi must decide to do the mature thing, which was to pretend like nothing had happened, and hope that everything that twisted in his chest would calm in due time. He was not going to hold it against Sukuna, and not going to try any ideas. He had made it clear for Megumi that it was not going to happen for whatever reason, and Megumi was not going to try harder to get the attention of a man who pushed him away.

It didn’t stop him from struggling to choose an outfit the following Monday, however. Sukuna might have rejected him, and Megumi wouldn’t chase, but nobody would stop him from looking his best. He picked a white T-shirt with fabric so thin it practically was see-through and matched it with his nicest jeans. He even spent some time trying to tame his hair.

If he did everything like he would on a regular day, it would hopefully get easier to make his way through it. Megumi arrived before Sukuna at the studio, to no surprise. He started going through his regular routine; booted up the computer, switched on the lights, started the music, prepared coffee. He checked his calendar, seeing that this particular day he had two appointments, one which he had been looking forward to getting to do.

Megumi peeked in Sukuna’s calendar as well. His tilted handwriting was a lot messier than a man who worked as an artist should be, and he had a habit of smudging the ink on top of that. Megumi could barely make out what he had written about the appointment for the day, but managed to decipher enough to understand that Sukuna should arrive any minute or else he would be late. 

Only minutes before Sukuna’s first customer was supposed to come in, there were sounds coming from outside with Sukuna’s arrival. It might be a coincidence he came that late but might as well be a way for him to not spend time alone with Megumi. Ignoring the stab in his chest, Megumi concentrated on setting up his station instead. The curtain was pushed aside, and Megumi glanced up. Their eyes locked. If Sukuna reacted, it was subtle enough for Megumi to not even see it.

“Morning.” Megumi tried his best to sound normal.

“Morning.” Sukuna walked over to the coffee brewer and served himself a generous cup. “I nearly overslept this morning. Haven’t done that in years.”

“Damn,” Megumi said.

And that was it. Nothing about Sukuna’s posture was different, and unlike Megumi, it didn’t seem like he had lost any sleep. Maybe he hadn’t even thought about what happened. Something heavy sank to the pit of Megumi’s stomach. He really had gotten things twisted and allowed it to get to his head. Like a child. A fool.

Sukuna sipped his coffee until his customer arrived, and soon after Megumi’s did as well. The girl Megumi worked on was chatty, much to his relief. She talked with both Sukuna and his customer, easily taking away some of the strange thickness that had vibrated in the air. Focusing fully on his work distracted him well enough, not once allowing himself to even glance in Sukuna’s direction.

The days passed slowly after that. Megumi tried his best to not act any different, and Sukuna was his usual self. Their jokes were half-hearted, thanks to Megumi, with Sukuna referring to him as a kid in the way he always had. Megumi resorted to rolling his eyes and clicking his tongue. He tried his best to act as normal as he could and soon enough, it almost began to feel like it used to. The worst of the tension let up, and the twists and churns of his insides began to calm. 

There was however one thing that had changed in a way that made Megumi’s heart feel small and fragile in his chest in a way he had never experienced in his life.

Sukuna never touched him.

He came over to Megumi’s workstation from time to time, like he always had, offered advice and pointers, but not once did his hand come to rest on Megumi’s shoulder. In the corner of his eyes he once saw him raise a hand, and then how he changed his mind in the middle of the motion, resting it on his own hip instead.

Megumi had never wished to have the ability to turn back time as badly as he did then. He had let it get to his head, he had hoped for too much, and now something had fundamentally changed between them.

That was sure as hell the last time he was going to take any advice from Satoru.

When Sukuna mentioned that during the summer he usually closed the studio for one month, Megumi was as relieved as he was panicked over not seeing Sukuna for four whole weeks. Getting that break would do him good, but he didn’t want to be away from him for that long. Even if it was highly confusing and frustrating to be in his presence, he still didn’t want to be without it.

“That’s nice,” Megumi still said.

“You’ve earned some rest. Let’s leave July open, unless you really want to do something.”

“Okay.” Megumi never had many plans during the free weeks during the summer, neither as a kid nor as an adult. Perhaps he could go and visit his dad for a couple of days again, spend time in the forest with Worm and clear his head some. “Will you stay away for real this time, or come here like you did around Christmas?”

“I’ll stay away.” Sukuna walked over to Megumi’s light board, eyed the sketches he had lying around. “By the way, have you thought more about letting me work on you?”

“I… Don’t know.” Megumi looked at the way Sukuna’s shirt hugged tight over his shoulders. If he wasn’t imagining things, he was even bulkier now than he had been when Megumi arrived there a year ago. The man could not be doing anything besides working out in his free time to manage that. “Do you want to?”

Sukuna tilted his head. “Isn’t it fair? I let you tattoo me.”

“As a birthday present.” That was a dangerous subject, way too close to talking about the night in question. The one that had replayed in Megumi’s mind a thousand times over by now. “Doesn’t count.”

“Fair enough.” Sukuna turned to face him. “Consider it, will you?”

“I will.”

Megumi almost felt bad for hesitating so much. It might as well be one of Sukuna’s attempts to make things less stiff, to show he didn’t hold grudges, and who was Megumi to deny that? Besides, having someone as skilled at Sukuna do a large piece like that would be an honor.

The problem was how he was supposed to manage having Sukuna touching him for hours without losing his mind completely.

*

July came, and with that, a well-needed break. Not until then did Megumi realize how much his mind had been occupied by a certain man, and how exhausting it had become. When thinking about it, the amount of energy Megumi had consumed by fantasizing about the man might be enough for one to consider hospitalizing him. Spending so much time pondering and wondering and hoping, knowing well it would make no difference whatsoever, drained him. To get a break from it all was hopefully a good thing.

Megumi never had many friends. Kugisaki being one of the few exceptions, he reached out to her in hopes of getting a distraction. As it so happened, she had plans with Itadori that evening to which he was welcomed to join. Megumi instantly hesitated. The chances that Sukuna got brought up would be big, and he wished to avoid it all together if he could. On the other hand, he could probably say that he didn’t want to talk about work during his time off and use that as an excuse.

In the end, he accepted the offer to follow along to a local pub for dinner and beer. He decided to dress himself in a shirt with fabric so thin it was see-through and his nicest jeans. Looking at himself in the mirror, he felt rather good about what he saw. With a little bit of luck someone would offer him a nice time.

Would probably do him good.

Megumi arrived before the others, which did not surprise him much. He often arrived too early, which mixed poorly with Kugisaki who often came right on time, or late. Megumi made way towards the bar in the meantime. It was still rather early, but the place was crowded. Guests were seated by almost every table, chattering and laughing. A group of giggling girls throwing glances towards a group of guys not far from them, who offered winks and smirks in return, and couples on dates.

A couple of tables away, close to a window, Megumi spotted a very familiar back. Sukuna’s pink hair, build, and tattoos was a dead giveaway, making him impossible to mix up with someone else. He wished his eyes deceived him, however, because Sukuna was not alone. Megumi didn’t care much for women, but he was smart enough to understand that the one sitting across from Sukuna was absolutely stunning. Dark hair, slender neck, long eyelashes and a sultry gaze. Probably Sukuna’s type.

He had stopped walking without realizing. Sukuna’s arms rested on the table, loosely crossed to flash toned muscles, and while it was impossible to hear what he talked about, it must be engaging, as the woman listened with great, genuine interest.

Megumi knew his reaction didn’t make the slightest sense. He himself had come here in hopes of finding someone that might distract him from the thoughts of Sukuna, and yet this made a raging jealousy blossom in his chest. Though he didn’t want to see more, he could not pry his eyes away.

Sukuna reached out, stroked the back of his index finger over the woman’s hand that rested on top of the table. Her eyes dipped, smile widening, showing a row of perfect teeth and adorable dimples. If Megumi had needed any confirmation that it wasn’t a casual dinner between friends, that was it.

Another thing that got confirmed was that Megumi could no longer try and convince himself that whatever he felt for Sukuna only revolved around physical attraction. Not even his natural stoic face would be enough to fool the others, and he did not feel like having to explain anything he barely understood himself. Therefore, Megumi turned and left. On his way home he texted Kugisaki that he changed his mind, apologized, then shut off his phone.

He needed time alone. He needed to think.

And think he did.

A constant swirl of thoughts raced through his mind as he tried to figure out what he should or could do. Confessing was out of the question. Sukuna had already made it clear that he didn’t have interest in indulging, and Megumi could not blame him. He could not blame him for going on dates either. On the other hand, could anyone blame Megumi for his feelings? Sukuna with his flirty nature and the things others had said, how was he supposed to not let that light a spark of hope?

He had no right to get angry with Sukuna, as he had indulged in his flirty games more than willingly. Anger would not be the right word to describe what he felt either. More like his heart had been ripped out, thrown to the ground and stomped on. It surprised him as much as it didn’t. He had known Sukuna had become important to him, that he wished to be special for him, but had not expected to be so utterly crushed to spot him in the company of someone else.

The twists and tugs in his guts consumed all of him for the rest of the vacation. What he had hoped would fade, only ended up getting worse. It began to feel like a sickness at that point, and while he hated to admit it, the truth was that he could not take it much longer.

*

August came. Megumi’s steps were slow and heavy when he made way to the studio. Never had he been so consumed by thoughts as he had now. He tried the door, the small lump in his stomach doubling in size when finding it unlocked. The familiar smell of ink and music blasting from the speakers used to make him feel sparkling with excitement.

Megumi walked even slower as he made way to the curtain that separated the workspace from the rest of the studio. He slipped inside and found Sukuna hunching over his workspace, wearing a simple black T-shirt and dark jeans with tears over the knees, humming along with the song.

“Hi,” Megumi said. He remained by the door. Sukuna turned, flashed a smile, soon followed by a frown.

“Hey. Sorry but damn, you didn’t get any sun at all? You’re pale as hell.”

“Yeah. No. I don’t… Tan.” Megumi shifted his weight between his feet. He already wondered if he was about to make a mistake, but as things were now, he could barely be in the same room as Sukuna.

Sukuna straightened, his smile fading. “Are you okay?”

Megumi parted his lips, tried to find the right words, but they were stuck in his throat. He had practiced in his head what would be good to say, but now all of that was gone. A part of him wanted to act as childish as he felt but reminded himself he needed to be a professional.

“No,” he finally mumbled.

“You can’t come here if you feel sick, you know that.”

“I’m not sick.” Megumi cleared his throat. Sukuna had already figured something was going on, and Megumi could for the life of him not find the energy to pretend anymore. He was tired of the charade, and the past weeks had only proven exactly how tired. “I need to talk to you.”

“Okay.” Sukuna sounded on guard, and hesitant. “About what?”

“About… My apprenticeship.” Megumi glanced up. Sukuna crossed his arms and knitted his brows. When he didn’t speak, Megumi continued. “I appreciate that you took me in here, and everything you’ve helped me with. But I… I don’t think it’s going to work out.”

Megumi’s cheeks started to heat up as the silence stretched out. He had imagined, hoped, that Sukuna would say something. Protest, ask why, anything. Not just stare in silence, his mood apparently souring. Megumi already regretted saying something but knew deep inside it had to be done. That it was the right thing to do.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about it these past weeks, and I—”

“You’re not serious, are you?” Sukuna interrupted. His tone dry and cold, sounding exactly how it had been the first day they met. “You’re quitting?”

“I… Yes.”

“Why?”

Megumi squirmed. Was it really necessary for Sukuna to ask something that he knew the answer to? There was no chance he didn’t realize what it was about.

“I think it’s for the best,” Megumi murmured.

Sukuna’s scoff was like a shot to the chest. Whatever he had thought was going to happen, what reaction there would be, this was the worst possible scenario. Unfortunately, he had also known that it was likely to happen. He knew Sukuna well enough to know.

“Alright. If that’s how you want it to be.” Sukuna turned to his chair again. “You can leave.”

Megumi pressed his lips to a thin line. That was it? After working there for a year, after all that had happened, that was how Sukuna was going to be? Ignoring the burning behind his eyes and in his nose, he sucked in a sharp breath through his bottom row of teeth.

“Are you angry?”

“You thought I wouldn’t be?”

“You are being unfair.”

“Me?” Sukuna turned to face him again. Jaw tensing, his movements were jagged when he threw an arm out. “You know what’s not fair? To have someone come and beg to be an apprentice but then quitting just like that. Why even waste your time coming here? You could have just sent a text.”

“I have appointments to take care of. I need to call and tell them that I—”

“Don’t bother. I’ll do it.”

“But—”

“I said, don’t bother.” The shift in Sukuna’s voice made Megumi flinch. “Get out.”

Megumi’s mouth dried. Was this the side of Sukuna that Satoru had talked about when warning Megumi not to get involved with the man? If that was the case, it was easier to understand why he had decided to stop working for him. Megumi curled his hands to fists, willed himself to stay cool, and to breathe slowly.

“Why are you like this?” Megumi asked, a lot weaker than he had intended.

“Like what?” Sukuna walked over. Megumi bumped his shoulder against the door frame when he took a step back. Sukuna raised his chin, glaring down at him. “What did you expect me to do when you come in here, announcing that you are quitting out of nowhere? I’ve spent hours and hours training you. I thought you were serious about this.”

“I am,” Megumi protested. “I am serious, you know I am.”

“Hardly seems like it.” Sukuna flitted his eyes over Megumi’s face, something conflicted brushing past his face. “You are the one that said we could go back and pretend like nothing happened.”

“I was wrong.” Megumi swallowed so hard it hurt his throat, and he still struggled with the burning behind his eyes. The last thing he wanted was to cry in front of Sukuna, but at this rate, it would happen. “I thought I could, but I was wrong. I’m sorry.”

“And you are seriously going to quit because I won’t sleep with you?” Sukuna might as well have slapped Megumi in the face. As he stared at him in stunned silence, Sukuna’s frown deepened. “… What?”

“You think I would react like this just because you won’t sleep with me?” Megumi bit the inside of his cheek, but the tears welled up in his eyes and he cursed inwardly when they slid down his cheeks. Sukuna’s eyes grew wide.

“Wait,” Sukuna said. “What? What are you— I don’t get it. Are you—”

“What do you think?” Megumi hissed. “What did you think would happen? You have been leading me on since day one, touching, and flirting, and bringing gifts, letting me tattoo you, and everything. And now you are pissed at me for falling in love with you after all that?”

“Love?” Sukuna echoed. He knitted his brows and lowered his voice, barely audible over the music. “You’re… not serious, are you?”

“Fuck,” Megumi muttered. Sukuna pitying him was the worst possible scenario he could have imagined. “You are such a dense fucking asshole sometimes, you know that? Whatever. Thank you for all your help, and I’m sorry, but I can’t do this. Goodbye.”

Megumi shoved the curtain aside and left. Sukuna did not follow.

Shame and bitterness filled his mouth and the tears kept sliding down his cheeks the whole way home. He wiped them away, over and over again, hoping that no one he walked by would ask him what was wrong because if that happened, he would lose his mind.

*

To make things easier for himself, he blocked and deleted Sukuna’s number; he could not handle waiting and hoping for hours and hours that he would get in touch when he knew it wouldn’t happen.

Nothing about what had happened came close to what he had hoped for, but at least it was over. Somehow he had to figure out what to do next, and while he could go to Six Eyes and ask for Satoru’s help, the thought of giving it all up tempted him more. Get a regular job and just forget everything about being a tattoo artist and forget everything related to that charming, oblivious, stupid fucking bastard Ryomen Sukuna.

The feeling of betrayal was the worst of it all. Megumi refused to believe Sukuna was as much of an asshole as he had come off as. That he reacted with anger and bitterness when he realistically was disappointed in Megumi.

It didn’t make the memory of him telling Megumi to get out sting less, however.

Megumi allowed himself two full days of sulking. On the third day, Megumi went to visit Satoru and Suguru at Six Eyes despite it all. He could not sit at home and feel sorry for himself forever, no matter how much he would have liked to. If Satoru couldn’t take him under his wing, he would figure it out somehow. Perhaps sink as low as to beg Toji for money to pay the bills for a little while.

Megumi arrived before they opened in hopes of getting some time to vent before any customers arrived. The thought that he might be able to keep a brave face flew out the window the second Satoru opened the door to let him in. The way he frowned and moved his eyes over Megumi’s face was unlike anything he had done before, and Megumi grimaced. So much for hoping it didn’t show.

“Stop looking at me like that,” Megumi begged.

“What’s going on?”

“I fucked up.”

“What happened?”

“I quit at Malevolent Shrine. I couldn’t handle it, and Sukuna got pissed at me. I think I saw the side of him you warned me about.”

Satoru stepped aside and gestured to Megumi to come inside. “I see.”

Suguru didn’t seem to be there yet, and Megumi therefore took a seat in his chair. Satoru remained standing, poking around his workstation while Megumi shortly retold the events that had occurred since his last visit. Once he was done, Satoru had taken a seat in his chair and watched Megumi with a frown.

“You’re in love with him?”

“Guess I am. Yes. I knew I liked him more than just wanting to sleep with him, but once I said it, I understood it was like that. And when I saw him with that woman, I just… I’ve never been so jealous in my life.” Megumi rubbed both hands over his face, as if trying to get rid of the memories of seeing Sukuna with her. “I know I’m being dumb. I’m just a kid. What did I expect would happen? He already told me it was better to just ignore it, so why couldn’t I have done that?”

“I think you did the right thing. For your sake. All you can do is take care of yourself and your needs. It’s a shame that Sukuna is so bad at expressing what he feels that he lets anger be the initial reaction. I’m assuming he’s disappointed. He likes you, no doubt about it.”

“But not enough,” Megumi muttered. “He looked like I slapped him in the face when I told him.”

“Damn.” Satoru grimaced. “Sorry.”

“It’s not like it matters now, either way. At this point I’m just glad it’s over. I’ve had enough of this… Whatever I should call it.”

“I’m assuming you are here to ask for a favor, then?” Satoru smiled when Megumi shot him a distressed look. “Don’t worry. You are always welcome here. We’ll figure it out. I might not be as much of an expert as Sukuna, but I can surely teach you a thing or two.”

“Thank you,” Megumi mumbled. “I appreciate it a lot.”

They agreed that Megumi could come the following week, which left him with several days with nothing to do. It would be a good time to visit Toji, but he didn’t feel like having to answer questions about the job or Sukuna or anything like that, which inevitably would be brought up if he went there. Not that being alone would be much of a better alternative either.

In the end, Megumi spent a couple of hours at a random café, trying to sort his thoughts while nibbling on a cinnamon bun he hadn’t even felt like eating. It was no use trying to figure out the reason for Sukuna’s reaction, but he found himself still pondering over it once again.

What was worse was the feeling that Megumi had made a complete fool of himself. He had mistaken Sukuna’s kindness for love, fallen for him, and he could not even blame Sukuna for getting irritated. Megumi must come off as a childish brat in Sukuna’s eyes. He had been right to call him a kid all along.

He should have just kept his mouth shut.

It was already past dinner time by the time Megumi slowly made his way home. He didn’t want to sit in his apartment but was also too restless to stay out any longer. The mere thought of making something to eat was appalling and to make his life at least a tad easier, he stopped by a store and bought snacks he knew he could eat no matter what.

The sun still heated up the skin in his neck. It had already been a year since Megumi went to the studio for the first time and thinking back on the excitement he had felt when convincing Sukuna to take him under his wings, he scoffed at himself.

Talk about wasting a perfect opportunity.

Megumi dragged himself up the stairs once back in the apartment. He had almost gotten to his floor when he spotted a pair of familiar shoes. His heart swelled in his chest as he snapped his eyes up. Sukuna sat at the top of the stairs, swiftly got up on his feet at the sight of Megumi there. There were hints of bags under his eyes, and his uncertainty was something Megumi never thought he would see from him.

It had only been a few days, still it felt like ages had passed. Megumi remained paralyzed in the middle of the stairs. Did not dare think what it could mean that Sukuna had come to seek him out. Even waiting for him to come back when he wasn’t home. How long had he sat there?

It could not be real.

Sukuna softly cleared his throat. “Hi, kid.”

“Hi.” Megumi’s voice didn’t come out as pathetic as he would have feared.

“Sorry for showing up like this. I suppose you have blocked my number because my calls won’t go through.”

Megumi’s throat tightened. He remained standing where he was, and Sukuna brushed his hand through his hair, eyes glued to Megumi’s feet. A moment of thick silence passed.

“Satoru told me you went there,” Sukuna finally said. “That you… Are going to work there instead.”

Megumi chewed his bottom lip. So, he had called Satoru. Why? What else had they said? Any sign that Sukuna cared for him would make Megumi get things twisted, and he must not let it happen. It had been bad enough already.

“Yeah. I am.”

“Well, I thought that, uhm. In that case maybe you want this.” Sukuna retrieved the green tattoo gun he had gifted Megumi for his birthday from his pocket. “Here.”

Megumi’s eyes dipped to Sukuna’s hand. It had crossed his mind that he had left it behind but concluded it might be for the best. Even if he was going to continue his tattoo career, he would never want to use that one again. The sight of that color would be enough to make his stomach churn.

His confusion kept growing, and so did his annoyance. Did Sukuna not see how cruel it was to keep giving him false hope to cling to? He might as well just have left it at Six Eyes, there was no reason for him to come to Megumi’s place.

“You can keep it,” Megumi said.

Sukuna’s throat bobbed when he swallowed. “It’s yours.”

“I don’t want it.”

Megumi finally managed to make his feet move. He made his way up the remaining steps, walked past Sukuna and to his door. The sound of Sukuna following behind made Megumi’s stomach twist.

“May I come in?” Sukuna asked.

“Why?” Megumi’s hands trembled as he fetched his keys to unlock the door. Things like these happened in movies or books. Did he dare believe this happened?

“I need to talk to you.” Sukuna wrapped one hand around Megumi’s arm. Gentle, yet firm. The simple touch was enough to make Megumi’s body jolt. “Please. Just hear me out, and then if you still want me to leave, I’ll leave.”

The plea in Sukuna’s tone made his heart sink to his feet. He should say no, but how was he supposed to if he sounded like that? Megumi unlocked the door, and left it open after stepping inside.

Thankfully his place was tidy, so he didn’t have to worry about letting Sukuna into a dirty home. Megumi unpacked the snacks he had gotten himself while Sukuna shuffled with his shoes. Soon, he walked into the kitchen, eyes sweeping over the room.

“Nice place.”

“Thanks,” Megumi softly replied. He had no interest in anything else but Sukuna’s reason for coming here, could at this moment not care less what he thought of his home or anything. Sukuna walked over to the kitchen counter and leaned his butt against it. Megumi remained standing as well, keeping his distance.

A moment of silence passed before Sukuna spoke. “I want to apologize.”

“For what?”

“Quite a lot of things. First and foremost, for snapping at you the way I did. And for not coming here sooner. I’ve been trying to figure out how to do this, and… I’ve been driving myself crazy, and the truth is that I’ve been meaning to bring this up for quite some time now.” Sukuna paused, kneaded his hands together, eyes fixed on the window. Megumi could hardly breathe. “I want to apologize for making things strange between us. And I would like to explain why I did. I should have done it long ago but turns out I’m a damn coward. A grown ass man afraid to talk about his feelings, how about that?”

Megumi glanced up, still fidgeting with the bag he had carried his snacks in. Whatever he had expected Sukuna to start talking about, this was not it. He had known him for more than a year, and this was the first time he had ever heard him talk remotely like this.

“I like you. A lot.” Sukuna slowly stroked his tongue over his teeth. “You get that, right?”

“I guess,” Megumi said. “But I don’t understand in which way.”

“I didn’t either at first. Or to be honest, it’s more like I tried to convince myself that it wasn’t… Like this.”

“Like what?” Megumi dared to ask.

“You’re going to force me to say it?” Sukuna’s lips curled to a smile as he glanced over. When Megumi didn’t say anything, he clicked his tongue. “Like I’m crazy in love with you.”

Megumi pressed his lips to a thin line. His stomach flipped so hard he pressed his hand over it, but quickly reminded himself to stay calm.

“Then why did you do that?” Megumi mumbled. He hated how small his voice sounded. “Why did you push me away?”

“I… Damn it.” Sukuna dipped his chin to his chest and sighed so deep his lungs must have completely emptied. “Because I… Fuck. I don’t know how to even begin. I’ve practiced it in my head a thousand times by now, god damn it.”

“Just be honest,” Megumi begged. “If it is because I’m too young, just say so. I get it.”

“Well, it partly has something to do with that, I suppose, but it’s not really the truth either.” Sukuna shook his head. “Not entirely.”

“Then what is it?”

“Okay, so. I… Here is the thing.” Sukuna hesitated for several seconds before he stroked the tip of his finger over the scar, from his forehead, past his eye, down to his cheek. “I lied to you about this.”

“I know,” Megumi hesitantly said. That was definitely not the turn he expected. Hopefully he would understand soon enough.

Another pause followed. Sukuna folded his arms over his chest, unfolded them, folded again. Megumi’s throat tightened, and he swallowed down the urge to snap at the man to get to the point.

Sukuna finally wetted his lips, then cleared his throat and sucked in a sharp breath. “I got it in a car accident. My face got slashed by a piece of steel, or something. They told me it was nothing but a miracle that I didn’t get more injuries, considering it all. The thing is… Thing is that my wife of the time was in the car as well, and she didn’t make it. Apparently, she was pregnant at the time too. I didn’t know about it, and I don’t know if she did either, if she had planned to tell me, or to keep it, or… Well, you get it.”

Every single word struck straight into Megumi’s chest, and he was afraid that if he uttered even the slightest word, Sukuna would regret that he started talking. He remained silent and waited.

“I met her when I was twenty,” Sukuna continued. “It was a young and I suppose a sort of naïve kind of love. Didn’t make it less real, but we were very impulsive to say the least. Married after a couple of weeks, all that stuff. I’m pretty sure we would have been smart enough to not keep a baby since we didn’t have the stability to raise a child, but I’m not sure. Anyway. When she died, I got therapy for quite some time. I was the one driving, and it was dark, the sight was bad, and I didn’t see the car we collided with until it was way too late. That guilt haunted me for years. I’m fine now, but… here’s the thing. I haven’t found a person I loved like her since then. I’ve tried many times. Dates, blind dates, fucking around, all of that stuff. It never happened. No spark, nothing. It got to the point where I was convinced it wouldn’t happen. That she was the one, or that I was too afraid to love someone again, or whatever it might have been. Then I met you.”

Megumi covered his mouth with one hand without realizing, his breath tickling over his knuckles. Heat spread over his cheeks, and simmered in his belly, along with a mix of disbelief and dread. Toji was right. Sukuna had found someone; he had been married.

A ghost of a smile brushed past Sukuna’s lips as he went on. “And the thing is that it was nothing like with her, either. It was… Unreal. In a good way. It might be because it was so long ago I am misremembering things, but I know for certain I didn’t feel like that back then. Can you imagine how typical that felt for me? That the one person I found that reminded me what love is, was a snarky little nineteen-year-old brat? And at first I struggled like fuck. First and foremost, falling for someone that young. Finding out you are Toji’s son really reminded me how big of a difference there is between us. And then you were my apprentice on top of that. So I… I tried to just ignore it. Just do what I always do and just let it disappear in time. Only that it didn’t.”

“Are you serious?” Megumi mumbled against his palm.

“Yeah.” Sukuna breathed out a small laugh. “I’m serious. And I’m not stupid enough to not see that you are into me as well. But I thought you perhaps got it twisted or something, and that you… I don’t know. I assumed that you mostly were interested in sleeping with me, or that you had some sort of crush on me because I’m older and whatever. It is far from the first time that has happened, and I didn’t want it to be like that. And when you came and said you wanted to quit, I got pissed at myself for losing you, but I also have this fucking habit of pushing people away whether I like it or not. And I suppose I used it as an excuse for myself. Because having you around was making me lose my mind, and I couldn't seem to get over it, no matter what I tried. You are way too important for me to just have a fleeting thing or a one-night stand with, but you are also way too young for me to be in love with.”

Megumi did not know what to do with his hands, or the rest of himself for that matter. It was too much to fit in his mind, bouncing around with utter relief, joy and hesitation. There were so many questions he needed to ask, and he felt like the Sukuna he was looking at now was widely different from the one sitting on the stairs when he got home.

A couple of minutes, and everything had changed. A lot of things suddenly felt so clear, like it made sense, and nothing had anything to do with Megumi.

If only he had known about it sooner.

“It’s not like that,” Megumi said. “For me. It is not about sleeping with you. It’s not just something about you being older and cooler and good-looking. At first I thought it might be, but it’s not. It simply can’t be. I get that it must have happened a lot before, but I really, truly feel something more.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” Sukuna nodded slowly, and the corner of his lips twitched. “I really am too old to fall in love with you, and I tried to stop it from happening, but here I am.”

Sukuna tapped his palm over his heart, and sighed. Megumi shifted his weight between his feet.

“Why could you not just have said so?” Megumi asked.

“Lots of reasons, but mostly because I’m a coward. I was scared shitless, and I don’t think I fully realized how bad it was until… Well, until you said you love me as well. I’m sorry. I could have saved us a lot of trouble if I had said something long ago.”

“I could as well,” Megumi said. “Since I have felt the same.”

“Fair enough. Not that I blame you.”

“I was scared,” Megumi admitted. “That you would reject me.”

“So was I.”

Megumi supposed there were still a lot of things for them to talk about, but the truth was that there were a lot of other things he would rather do. He pushed himself from the counter and took the few steps needed to stand in front of Sukuna. His dark eyes flitted over Megumi’s face, conflict still clearly showing.

While Megumi could understand his hesitation, he could not come up with a good enough reason not to allow himself this. Not when they both wanted it and had so from the beginning.

What a waste of time and energy.

“Come.” Megumi wrapped both arms around Sukuna’s neck. “We have waited long enough.”

Sukuna frowned as he leaned in, tongue darting out to wet his lips. “Are you really sure that we—”

“Yes.” Megumi held him harder. “I’m sure.”

Sukuna’s hands came to rest on his hips, eyes flitting over Megumi’s face. “There’s still a lot to talk about.”

“We can talk later. You owe me a proper kiss first.”

Words rested heavy on the tip of Sukuna’s tongue, his frown deepening. Megumi reached on his tippy toes and kissed him, hoping it would be enough to convince him. He pressed his body against Sukuna’s, knowing well that his desperation must seep through everything he did but didn’t have it in him to care.

So much longing, weeks, even months, and finally he got to feel Sukuna against his body just the way he had wished for all along.

For a moment he feared that Sukuna would push him away. The grip Sukuna had on him tightened, and Megumi quickly wrapped both legs around his torso as well, clinging to him like a koala.

“Sukuna,” Megumi leaned back only enough so he could look him in the eyes. With his long, thick eyelashes, he could look awfully pleading if needed, which he did now. “I can’t take it if you try and push me away any longer. I really can’t. Please.”

“Fuck.” Sukuna swallowed so hard Megumi heard the saliva slide down his throat. His hands slid from his hips to rest under his thighs instead, and he pressed him tighter to his body. “You are a damn brat, you know that?”

“As if you’re not into it.”

Sukuna clicked his tongue, eyes narrowing, but they smiled. He finally gave in with the next kiss, moved one hand to wrap it around Megumi’s neck, soft huffs and moans mixed with the wet sounds of their greedy kisses.

As much as they still had things to solve, Megumi would not be able to fight against the greed even if he would have wanted to. The heat from Sukuna’s hand burned through his clothes. Clothes that Megumi could not wait to get rid of.  

“Bedroom,” Megumi murmured.

“Baby,” Sukuna spoke against his lips. “You know that I—“

“I need you,” Megumi interrupted. The tip of his fingers was beginning to hurt from how hard he was holding Sukuna’s shoulders. “I know what you are thinking, but I’ve wanted it for so long, and I really can’t take it if you force me to wait longer than this. Please, Sukuna. Just… Please.”

The corners of Sukuna’s lips curled to a smile. “I’m not sure what to think about this habit of yours.”

“What habit?”

“Convincing me to do things I promised myself to keep away from. First the whole thing about your apprenticeship, and now this.”

“I can flatter you a little, if that helps?” Megumi snickered when Sukuna breathed out a laugh and nudged the tip of his nose with his own. 

“You better not make me regret this,” Sukuna said in a hushed voice.

Megumi pressed a kiss to his lips before answering. “You won’t.”

Sukuna easily found his way to the bedroom, set one knee to the mattress as he gently placed Megumi on it. Megumi kept himself wrapped tight to him, huffed out a small grunt when being weighed down under his muscled body.

Despite longing for months, despite his obvious impatience, Sukuna was not doing anything to hurry it up. Megumi tried to yank his clothes off, only for Sukuna to softly hush and tell him that there was no need to rush. It was not like Megumi to get nervous, but Sukuna’s apparent experience was felt in everything he did, in how his hands slid over Megumi’s body, the way his tongue moved, and how he rolled his hips to grind his growing bulge against Megumi’s crotch.

Megumi could for the life of him not comprehend how the man managed to stay so calm, as he felt like he might burst into pieces. Once Sukuna had removed Megumi’s shirt, he trailed wet, slow kisses down Megumi’s neck, his sternum, dipped the tip of his tongue in his belly button.

“Sukuna, the fuck,” Megumi muttered. “I thought you were going to ravish me.”

“I will.” Sukuna smiled, stroked both hands over Megumi’s sides. “But not today.”

Megumi hated how much he loved to hear him say that. Not today meant that it would happen again.

Sukuna finally came to the point of taking Megumi’s pants off, his eyes dipped to the large, wet spot in his underwear and arched his scarred eyebrow. Not by much, but enough to show, and Megumi’s cheeks heated up.

“Sorry,” Megumi mumbled. “Fuck.”

“What are you talking about, baby?” Sukuna grabbed his thighs and pushed them apart. “You don’t have anything to apologize for.”

“Shit.” Megumi sucked in a breath when Sukuna stroked the back of his fingers over his swollen, aching pussy, then moved them in slow circles over his folds. It was wet enough for it to squelch, and Megumi pressed his lips to a thin line, unable to help the embarrassment. “Mh…!”

“You hear that?” Sukuna purred. Megumi tipped his head back, breathed out a curse through gritted teeth. He had fantasized about having his hands on his body for so long, masturbated countless times with thoughts of how it would turn out, yet nothing came close to this.

“S-stop.”

“Why? It’s hot as fuck. You always get this wet?”

“N-no… Not like this.”

“Fuck, I want to taste you, baby.”

Megumi simply nodded. His voice would not hold to utter words, and Sukuna was as slow and tentative as he had been the whole time when he slipped his fingers under the thin fabric of his underwear and slid them down his thighs. Megumi closed his legs, more of a reflex than anything else. Sukuna swiftly pushed them apart again, even wider than before.

“Are you shy?”

“I… A little?” Megumi was unsure what he was supposed to say.

“Don’t be.” Sukuna stroked both hands over Megumi’s thighs, kneaded them, eyes fixed on his pussy. Megumi’s breath stuttered when the tip of his fingers slid over his outer lips. “Beautiful.”

“My pussy?” Megumi huffed. Sukuna glanced up with a fond and warm smile, and Megumi blinked. “Are you serious?”

“Of course. Why would I not be?”

“You really are not what I expected.”

“I’ve heard that before.” Sukuna kept sliding his fingers over Megumi’s outer lips, eventually moving to spread them. He brushed two fingers of his other hand over Megumi’s mouth. “Wet them.”

Megumi obeyed. Sukuna’s broad fingers reached deep enough to nearly touch the back of his throat, and he frowned as he fought against gagging. He slowly rolled his tongue over the digits, something he had dreamed of doing for so, so long. Megumi gasped when Sukuna took his hand back. The saliva made the slide of his fingers easy over his cunt, the tips brushing over his hole, then up to his clit. Megumi tipped his head back with a sigh. It was still not enough. He had never longed more to feel something slide inside him, and his muscles clenched around nothing at the mere thought.

“Su, hah… Nh- Sukuna, you’re so slow.”

“I’m going to take my time, baby. I’m not like the others you’ve slept with, trust me.” Sukuna spread him over by shaping his fingers to a V, and his deep sigh brushed hot over Megumi’s neatly trimmed pubes. Megumi curled his toes, teeth sinking into his bottom lip. “God, you’re beautiful. And so wet for me.”

“You’re embarrassing,” Megumi mewled. “Please, just fucking eat me out already.”

Sukuna leaned in and pressed a wet kiss to Megumi’s thigh. “I won’t hurry,” he murmured. “You are going to hear exactly how much I enjoy this.”

Another kiss, closer now, tongue rolling over his skin along with small murmurs of praise. How pretty his pussy was, how he longed to taste it, to feel Megumi come. Megumi tried to be discreet when he shifted his hips, but Sukuna held him firm down the bed. Megumi’s lips parted when their eyes met.

“Patience,” Sukuna purred.

“You’re killing me,” Megumi breathed. “Fuck, Sukuna. Please, I can’t take it.”

“Hush, now. You are taking it more than well. Relax, and enjoy yourself. Okay?”

Sukuna’s patience did not waver the slightest. Not until Megumi scrambled his hands through his hair and tugged it, sobbing that he was going to cry if he didn’t get on with it did he allow him some mercy. The first lick of his tongue over Megumi’s throbbing sex was good enough to make him mewl.

“Fuck, it- like that, yes.” 

Sukuna hummed. He stroked both hands over Megumi’s belly, along his sides, and up to rub his thumbs over Megumi’s nipples, just as slow as everything else so far. He moved his lips and tongue as if making out with Megumi’s cunt, and he still took the time to mix eating him out with praising the taste, the sound of Megumi’s voice, the trembles climbing through his legs. It was unlike anything Megumi had even heard about; he had not thought a lover like that could even exist.

Small huffs and moans and groans slipped from Megumi’s lips, and every time he thought he was getting closer, Sukuna moved to pepper kisses on his thighs and belly. It took forever before the knot in his stomach began to spread down his leg, and relief washed through him when Sukuna finally allowed him to close into the orgasm for real.

“I’m gonna come,” Megumi mewled. “Oh fuck, S’kna… Please, like that, just like that. Please let me come, please, please, please.”

The orgasm came on strong enough for Megumi’s ears to ring, and soon there was a faint taste of salt in the back of his throat. He had started to cry without even realizing it. He mewled and whimpered and sobbed, pressed both hands on top of Sukuna’s head when the pleasure faded and overstimulation took over.

“S-stop.” Legs still shaking and numb, Megumi panted hard as he lifted his head off the bed, only to see Sukuna wipe his completely wet face off with his hand, smiling like a madman. Megumi covered his mouth with both hands. “Oh fuck, did I do that? I’m—”

“Baby.” Sukuna licked his fingers off, climbed up so he could set his hands on each side of Megumi’s head, smiling down at him. “Don’t you dare apologize. Are you okay?”

“That was amazing,” Megumi breathed. The feeling in his legs was starting to come back, though they still trembled. “Fucking amazing.”

“Good.”

Sukuna moved on to remove his jeans, and Megumi eyed the bulge with growing curiosity. Megumi arched a brow when Sukuna freed his cock from his underwear. Just as he had expected, the shaft was thick and veiny, and Sukuna fisted himself with a relieved breath. The two black lines tattooed on his cock were the same as on his wrists and thighs.

“Even there,” Megumi concluded. Sukuna smiled.

Megumi might be wet as a waterfall but Sukuna’s girth still told that some lube would make it more enjoyable so he swiftly retrieved a bottle from the nightstand. Sukuna reached out his hand to let Megumi pour some in his palm. Tossing the lube aside, he shuffled closer, rested his feet on Sukuna’s hips.

“Don’t tease me any longer. Come on.”

Sukuna obeyed this time, thank goodness, as he fisted himself and slid his cock over Megumi’s pussy. “Put a pillow under your back, baby. It’ll be better.”

Megumi scrambled after a pillow and hurried to shove it under the small of his back. Sukuna’s teeth sank into his bottom lip as he teased his hole. His knitted brows could have made him look terrifying, but all it did was make Megumi shudder, a throb going straight to his clit.

The first centimeters were enough to make Megumi gasp, and his eyes widened at the realization just how much more there was to take. Slowly, it slid over his swollen walls, filling him up more than he had thought was possible.

“F-fuck.”

“You okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. It’s good.”

“Okay,” Sukuna breathed. “You’re taking me so well, baby. You feel amazing.”

If Megumi hadn’t still been embarrassed, he would have liked to tell Sukuna how good he felt as well, how much he loved to feel the throbs of his cock inside him but couldn’t muster himself to do it. Sukuna started out slow, feeling him out. Propping himself up with his elbow, he held Megumi’s hip with the other hand, towering over him. Eyes roaming all over the man, Megumi could not decide what he wanted to look at. His bulk, the tattoos, his face. Everything was better than he dreamed of. 

At one point Sukuna adjusted himself, and the next thrust made Megumi choke, then groan.

“Oh fuck.”

“Like that?” Sukuna murmured.

“Yesyesyes, oh fuck, please,” Megumi mewled.

The thrusts grew sharper, and every single one caused a hot buzz to spread through his body. Clawing after something to hold onto, he found Sukuna’s shoulders, wrapped both arms around him and buried his face to his neck.

“Oh my god, oh my fucking god.” The buildup to the second orgasm felt different from the first, strong enough to make him sob, his eyes crossed, jaw going slack. “S..kuna…”

“That’s it.” Sukuna breathed out a hot sigh into his ear. He could feel his smile and hear it in his voice. “That’s it, baby. You’re doing so well. Such a good boy for me.”

It finally began to be the way Megumi had envisioned it from the start. Hard thrusts, sweat and groans and a raw desperation seeping out. The grip on his hip nearly hurt, and he hoped dearly to see the shape of Sukuna’s fingers bruised over his skin later on.

“Fuck,” Sukuna panted. His skin burned under Megumi’s hands; a drop of sweat slid down his temple. “I want you to come for me again, baby. Help yourself if you have to.”

Megumi hastily wetted two fingers to rub them over his clit. The orgasm was stuck like a knot in his belly, it nearly hurt at this point. Babbling and sobbing, his body shook, close to convulsed when he finally came again. A howl-like sound surged up his throat as Sukuna fucked him through it, small spots came creeping into his field of vision. 

“S’k-na, I’m gonna pass out,” Megumi whimpered, eyes rolling back in his head. He fumbled his hands over Sukuna’s head, grabbed his hair, sobbing even more now. So swollen and so hot, he could hardly take it any longer. “Sukuna, oh fuck, so good, so good, I’m gonna… Gonna, ohmygod.”

“I’m almost there,” Sukuna whispered in his ear. “Just a little longer.”

Megumi barely heard him at all at this point. It still felt like he came, wanted it to be over, fucked out and tired, yet never wanted it to end. Sukuna groaned close to his ear when he not long after pulled out and wrapped a hand around his cock, spilling his load over Megumi’s belly. Leaning his forehead to Megumi’s shoulder, Sukuna breathed out a deep sigh, the exhale switching to a groan.

“Oh fuck,” he muttered.

Their chests heaved with heavy, spent breaths, bodies sweaty and sticky. The entirety of Megumi’s lower body throbbed and one of his ears was blocked. He had never been close to experiencing something even remotely like that.

“For what it’s worth,” Megumi panted, “I’d say this was worth waiting for.”

Sukuna laughed softly against his neck. “I agree. Just give me another minute to catch my breath.”

“Yeah.” Megumi stroked one hand over Sukuna’s back, peeked over his shoulder to look at the large tattoo covering it. Not a single spot of skin to be seen, just like he had said.

They ended up sitting in bed after wiping away the worst of the mess, Sukuna’s arm wrapped around Megumi’s lower back with his hand resting on his thigh. Their breaths had calmed, and the heat in Megumi’s body had been replaced with a strange numbness. Megumi picked his cuticles. The silence was not thick, but definitely not relaxed either.

“So… What should we do now?” Megumi barely dared to ask, but it was inevitable. Might as well face it head on. Sukuna breathed out a sigh.

“Well,” he said, almost like a groan. “There are things that could be a lot easier for us. You have to admit that as well.”

Megumi nodded agreeingly. He was neither stupid nor naïve enough not to see how it could be easier in almost every way. “I get it. I don’t have it in me to care about it, though.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You are not the same age as the father of your crush.”

“Crush,” Megumi echoed and grinned before he knew it. “Cute.”

“Whatever,” Sukuna scoffed. “Tease me however you like, little brat.”

“Can you blame me?”

“No.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Did you really not understand that I had fallen for you?”

A pause followed as Sukuna thought it over. “Not like that, no. You have quite the poker face. And even if I did see some hints that you might, I thought that perhaps I was imagining things. Not to mention that it would be better if we just let it be.”

“Would that be better, though? It would be easier, but not necessarily better.”

“Perhaps not. So, what do you want to do?”

Megumi did not need any time to think. “I want to be with you. And it might be a little complicated with age and so, but I really don’t know how I’m supposed to ignore it when I know that we both want it. Would that not be a waste?”

“I suppose.” Sukuna hummed, leaned his head back against the wall, rubbed his thumb over Megumi’s thigh. “But aren’t you worried about what people would think? Satoru, and your dad, and…”

“No,” Megumi said. “I’m not.”

“Not even a little?” Sukuna patted his thigh. “Can you imagine what it would be like if you are supposed to bring me home to meet your dad?”

“I don’t care what he thinks,” Megumi muttered.

“That’s not true though, isn’t it?” Sukuna said.

Megumi shrugged and kept picking. Sukuna placed his hand on top of Megumi’s to stop him and Megumi took his hand in his instead.

A long moment of silence followed. Megumi rubbed both thumbs over Sukuna’s knuckles and pushed them over the bulging veins. They had fucked, sure, but that didn’t mean anything had changed to become any easier. If anything, it might have made things worse. He refused to believe it was a bad thing, however. Not when everything felt so good.

“Do you think it could work?” Megumi finally asked, eyes fixed on a small scar on Sukuna’s thumb. He twisted to face Sukuna better. The snake he had done on Sukuna peeked up at him from under his arm, and he stroked a thumb over it. “I would at least want the chance to try.”

“Well…” Megumi turned his head up, trying to ignore how his stomach tightened. Sukuna had his gaze fixed at the ceiling for a moment before he looked at Megumi and smiled. “I’ll be honest. It’s damn hard to say no after hearing how you sound when you come.”

Megumi swatted a hand against Sukuna’s chest, hard enough to cause a hollow thud, and Sukuna coughed out a laugh. His arm wrapped tighter around Megumi. He huffed when his cheek got pressed against Sukuna’s warm chest. “I’m trying to be serious.”

“I’m sorry. Look, we don’t have to decide things right away. We will figure something out, no matter what. Okay?”

“Okay. Let’s not be hasty, right?”

“Exactly.” Sukuna pressed a kiss to Megumi’s temple. “Exactly like that.”

“As long as you promise not to pretend like this didn’t happen the next time I see you.”

“Don’t worry.” Sukuna cupped Megumi’s chin as he leant in for a kiss. “I wouldn’t be able to even if I tried, trust me. I’m scared to admit how much you affect me. You really are something else, Megumi.”

Megumi blinked up at him, a hot thrill climbing through his spine. It must have shown, as Sukuna curiously tilted his head.

“What?” he asked.

“You’ve never said my name before.”

“I haven’t?” He arched his scarred brow. “No, that can’t be true.”

“It is true. You’ve always referred to me as the kid, or something of the likes. I would have remembered.”

“Huh. Now that you mention it, that’s probably true.” Sukuna nodded to himself. “Megumi.”

Megumi swiftly sat up to straddle Sukuna, rested both hands on his shoulders. Trailing his fingers over the tattooed skin, Megumi’s lips curled to a smile.

“Again,” he whispered.

“Megumi.” Sukuna smiled up at him. “Megumi. Me-gu-mi. Now you.”

“Didn’t I say it enough times when you fucked me? Feels like it was a billion.”

“Still doesn’t hurt to hear it again,” Sukuna chuckled.

“Mm… Sukuna.” Megumi leaned in, lips brushing over his. “Su-ku-na.”

Sukuna wrapped a hand around his neck, tongue slipping inside his mouth before their lips even met. Megumi moaned into the kiss as he rolled his hips, heat flaring up once more. He cared nothing about how desperate he might come off. They had longed for months and had a lot of catching up to do.

“I really hope you have stamina to keep up with me,” Megumi murmured. “Or this will not work out.”

“Hey now.” Sukuna raised his eyebrows, looking genuinely offended. “I’m not that old.”

“No? I think you need to prove it,” Megumi teased.

He barely finished the sentence before Sukuna flipped them over and manhandled Megumi onto all fours. Chest pressing against Megumi’s back, Sukuna leaned in and licked the shell of his ear. A hard shiver made the hairs on his arms rise right up, and he sucked in a sharp, excited gasp.

“You little brat,” Sukuna purred. “Don’t make the mistake of underestimating me. You’ll learn to regret it if you do.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it.”

*

That autumn turned out to be the coldest in many years. Megumi scurried over the streets, hugging his jacket tighter around himself to protect himself from the chilly winds. Despite the walk to the studio being short, he was shivering by the time he yanked the door open and got inside.

Getting rid of the shoes and jacket, Megumi paused in the movements. The music playing from the back was unlike anything he had ever heard from there before. Usually it was all about metal or industrial rock or something of the like. It was a group of men singing, and Sukuna sang along.

Knitting his brows, Megumi sneaked closer to the curtain, a smile tugging his lips. He mouthed a no way to himself as he remained outside to listen, warmth simmering around his belly. He stayed still until the song faded, and another started playing. It was the same artist, and the song a slower, sappier one. Sukuna hummed along. Megumi waited a while longer before announcing he was there by pushing the curtain aside.

Sukuna looked up from his workstation, already smiling in that way that made his eyes crinkle.

“Good morning, baby.”

*

Some tried to break through the walls that
I built up, but they don't compare to you
One chance, and I swear I'll never let you go
You are the piece I can't replace
You left a mark that won't erase

No one else can teach me how to love again
'Cause you left a permanent stain on my heart and I've been feeling it
Never mind what people say 'cause they don't understand
How you left a permanent stain on my heart, you're never leaving it