Chapter Text
The night was crisp with the scent of autumn, the air cool enough to see their breath and the leaves beneath their feet crunched with every step as Sukuna and Yuuji made their way toward the park, where they were set to meet up with Toji and Megumi for Halloween. The excitement in the air was palpable, especially from Yuuji, who was practically vibrating with energy, dressed as Frankenstein’s monster. His green face paint had already begun to smudge from all his fidgeting and bouncing, but the little boy didn’t seem to notice—or care.
“Do I look scary, Niichan?” Yuuji asked, grinning up at Sukuna with wide, eager eyes. He flexed his arms like a miniature bodybuilder, trying to look as fierce as possible.
Sukuna smirked, adjusting the collar of his own costume—a mad scientist get-up to match Yuuji’s. He tugged at the lab coat, making sure it fit just right. “Terrifying,” he replied with a teasing edge to his voice. “You’ll definitely scare up all the candy tonight, brat.”
Yuuji puffed up his chest proudly, clearly taking his brother’s words to heart. His excitement only grew as they turned the final corner and spotted Toji and Megumi standing near the park entrance. Toji’s costume—a safari tourist, complete with khaki shorts, binoculars and a pith helmet—made Sukuna snort softly in amusement. Somehow, the look suited him, but Sukuna couldn’t resist teasing him about it later.
But it was Megumi who caught Yuuji’s attention immediately. The six-year-old was dressed in an adorable lion costume, complete with a fluffy mane and tail. Yuuji’s eyes lit up as soon as he saw his best friend.
“Megumi! You look so cool!” Yuuji shouted, racing ahead to meet him. “You’re a lion! ROAR!” He let out his best monster roar, trying to mimic the fierce sound of a lion, though it came out more like an excited yelp.
Megumi, ever the calm one, simply shrugged in his quiet way, but the small smile tugging at his lips showed that he was pleased. “Thanks. You look really scary.”
Yuuji’s grin widened, if that was even possible and he puffed out his chest once more. “Yeah! Sukuna helped me pick it out!”
Sukuna watched the kids with a warm fondness before strolling up to Toji. He arched an eyebrow, taking in the safari tourist ensemble with a smirk. “Really? A safari tourist? That’s what you went with?”
Toji met Sukuna’s gaze with a smirk of his own, adjusting his binoculars as if he were about to embark on some grand adventure. “Fitting, don’t you think? Gotta keep an eye on the wild beasts.” He nodded in Megumi’s direction, who was currently trying his best lion growl for Yuuji, the two boys already running in circles around each other.
Sukuna chuckled, shaking his head. “You sure you can handle that? Looks like you’ve got a fierce one on your hands.”
Toji glanced at Megumi, the fondness in his eyes unmistakable. “Oh, I’ve got it covered.”
As the kids raced ahead toward the first line of houses, already shouting excitedly about candy and who would get the most, Sukuna and Toji fell into an easy stride, walking at a more leisurely pace behind them. The night was perfect for trick-or-treating—the cool air carried the scent of leaves and faint wood smoke, while the streets buzzed with costumed kids darting from house to house, their laughter and shouts echoing through the neighborhood.
“So,” Sukuna began casually, glancing over at Toji as they walked, “anything new with work?”
Toji shrugged, his expression neutral but with a trace of amusement hidden in his eyes. “Got a new client. Guy’s paranoid about security. I’m babysitting his mansion for the next few weeks.”
“Sounds thrilling,” Sukuna replied dryly, the sarcasm thick in his voice.
“Riveting,” Toji deadpanned, though the corner of his mouth twitched in a faint grin.
As they continued down the sidewalk, the kids darted from house to house, eagerly holding out their bags and chanting, “Trick or treat!” at every door. Yuuji was a bundle of energy, bouncing up and down with excitement as he showed off his costume to each homeowner, while Megumi followed more quietly behind, his lion costume swishing with each careful step.
Toji glanced at Sukuna, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "How"s the shop going?"
“Busy. Getting more requests lately,” Sukuna replied. “But it’s good. Keeps me from going crazy.” He paused for a moment, his gaze drifting to the kids who were excitedly comparing their candy hauls. “They’re having fun, huh?”
Toji nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah. It’s nice seeing them like this.”
Just as Sukuna was about to respond, the boys ran up to the next house. A few kids were already gathered at the door, including a boy slightly older than Megumi, dressed as a vampire. He pointed at Megumi and snickered, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Why are you dressed as a lion? It’s Halloween—you’re supposed to be something scary, like a monster or something. Lions are for babies.”
Megumi’s small body visibly tensed, his hands gripping his candy bag tighter as his gaze dropped to the ground. His shoulders slumped slightly and he seemed to shrink.
Sukuna immediately noticed the change in Megumi’s demeanor and his eyes darkened. A wave of anger surged through him, the kind that came fast and sharp, igniting a protective instinct he didn’t even know he had for the little lion.
Toji’s jaw clenched beside him, his posture going rigid as his hand twitched at his side, clearly ready to step in. But before he could move, Sukuna was already in motion, his long strides closing the distance between him and the boy who dared to make Megumi feel small.
Sukuna’s playful demeanor dissolved in an instant, his face twisting into something far darker, colder, as he watched the kid taunt Megumi. The easy smirk was gone, replaced by a slow, creeping grin that spread across his face like a shadow. His eyes, once light with amusement, sharpened and darkened, fixing on the boy with an intensity that made the air around him feel suffocating. Even the streetlights seemed to dim, their glow swallowed up by the sinister aura radiating from him.
He took a single step toward the boy, his footsteps slow and deliberate, drawing out the silence, letting every inch of his towering frame cast a shadow that loomed over the kid. The boy’s smirk faltered, and he shifted nervously, his eyes flicking up to Sukuna as if finally sensing the danger.
“You like scaring people, huh?” Sukuna’s voice was low, almost a whisper, yet it cut through the air like a blade, every word laced with something ancient, something predatory. He tilted his head, letting his grin stretch wider, his eyes unblinking as they bored into the boy’s. “Funny thing about monsters… they’re everywhere, hiding in the dark, just waiting.”
He leaned down just a little, bringing himself closer, his voice dropping to a soft, sinister murmur. “But the real monsters, the ones that really love to scare—well, they don’t just look for candy.” He let the words hang, his gaze narrowing, his voice nothing but a hiss. “They look for little brats who think they’re big and tough.”
The boy swallowed hard, his bravado crumbling under Sukuna’s chilling stare. Sukuna took another slow, calculated step forward, his eyes glinting like a hunter watching prey, his smile sharp enough to cut. “Ever wonder what happens when those monsters get their hands on kids who don’t know when to stop?”
He paused, letting the silence stretch, his gaze fixed on the boy’s paling face. “I’ll give you a hint,” Sukuna whispered, his voice barely a breath, dark and laced with malice. “They don’t leave anything behind. Not even a scream.”
The boy’s face turned ashen, his grip on his candy bag slipping as he stumbled backward, his breathing ragged. With a strangled whimper, he turned and bolted, his footsteps pounding down the street as his cries echoed into the night.
As Sukuna straightened up, the boy’s friends, who had been lingering nearby, took one look at his menacing grin and the glint of malice in his eyes and their resolve crumbled. They barely spared a glance at each other before they scattered like frightened animals, their cries of fear echoing down the street as they bolted, some already sobbing as they ran.
Yuuji watched them go, his eyes wide with awe and a hint of amusement. When the street fell quiet again, he looked down and noticed the forgotten bag of candy lying on the ground. Glancing quickly at Sukuna—who didn’t seem to mind one bit—Yuuji reached down and snatched up the bag with a sly grin, already digging through it.
He pulled out a piece and passed it to Megumi, who accepted it with a hesitant smile, his eyes still darting back to Sukuna as if trying to process what just happened.
“Looks like they left us some treats, Megumi!” Yuuji whispered, his grin widening as he stuffed a few pieces into his pocket.
Sukuna snatched a few pieces himself, popping one into his mouth with a satisfied smirk. “Consider this my fee,” he said, glancing down at the boys with a glint in his eyes, “King of Curses doesn’t work for free, after all.”
Yuuji laughed, nudging Megumi as they watched Sukuna casually help himself to the best candies, the two boys now digging through the bag, picking out their own favorites while Sukuna kept a close, satisfied eye on their haul.
Megumi’s small smile grew as he clutched the candy Yuuji handed him, his earlier tension finally giving way to relief. Yuuji laughed, already digging through the bag for their next find.
Sukuna smirked as he watched Yuuji and Megumi dig through the candy, unable to resist stirring things up a bit. He reached over and poked Megumi’s forehead, making the boy jerk back with a small, indignant glare. “Careful there, shrimp. I could just take all the good stuff and call it my ‘service fee.’”
Megumi frowned, hugging his candy closer. “But you already took some!” He shot back, determined, only for Sukuna to flick him lightly on the forehead, earning a small, surprised gasp.
“Yeah, but not enough. Besides, you should be thanking me,” Sukuna said, his voice laced with mock annoyance as he gave Yuuji a light push to keep him from grabbing another handful.
Megumi hesitated for a moment, his cheeks turning a little pink as he muttered, “Thank you… for helping me, Sukuna.”
Caught off guard, Sukuna froze, his face warming up as he turned away, scratching the back of his neck. “Whatever, kid,” he grumbled, trying to hide his flustered expression. “Don’t make it weird.”
Yuuji snickered at his reaction, and Sukuna retaliated by poking him in the side, making him yelp. “Quit laughing or I’ll take your candy too.”
Just as he was recovering from Megumi’s unexpectedly cute thanks, Sukuna felt a heavy gaze settle on him. Glancing up, he met Toji’s smoldering stare, dark and intense, holding him captive. Toji’s expression was hard to read, a dangerous mix of amusement and something that felt like pure heat, making Sukuna’s pulse quicken. That look promised trouble—the kind that made Sukuna’s heart pound with anticipation and confusion.
As the group moved on, Sukuna couldn’t help but notice Megumi lingering behind, his steps slow and hesitant. The usual spark in his eyes was gone, replaced by a shadowed look as he stared down at the ground, hands shoved into his pockets and shoulders hunched. The earlier taunt clearly weighed on him, the proud little lion now looking more like a kitten caught in the rain.
Seeing him like that tugged at something in Sukuna’s chest, an ache he didn’t quite know how to name. Megumi was usually so stubborn and brave, his fierce little attitude always shining through, and watching him look so downcast, so quiet, made Sukuna’s heart twist. He didn’t want to see Megumi like this—not with that hurt look in his eyes.
Sukuna slowed his pace, letting the others move ahead as he matched Megumi’s steps. Walking beside him, he felt a surge of protectiveness settle over him, something fierce and unshakable. With a quiet resolve, Sukuna decided then and there he wasn’t going to let some brat’s words haunt his kid.
"Oi, Megumi," Sukuna called softly, his voice warm but steady, making the little lion glance up with those big, uncertain eyes. "Don’t let what that idiot said get to you.”
Megumi’s brow furrowed, his grip tight around his candy bag. “But he said… lions aren’t scary,” he murmured, a hint of doubt clouding his face.
Sukuna lowered himself down to Megumi’s level, a rare gentleness in his gaze that softened his usually sharp features. “Listen, kiddo,” he said quietly, his tone uncharacteristically tender. “There are always gonna be people who don’t get it—who don’t get you. They’ll say things without thinking because they don’t know what they’re talking about. But it doesn’t matter what they say. What matters is that you like who you are, what you wear, and what you stand for. Got it?”
Megumi blinked up at him, the hurt in his eyes slowly giving way to something softer as he listened intently.
Sukuna gave him a gentle smile, his voice reassuring. “You picked a lion costume, right? Because you like being a lion?”
Megumi nodded, his voice a little steadier. “Yeah… I really like it.”
“Then that’s all that matters,” Sukuna said with a grin, reaching over to ruffle the soft fur on Megumi’s lion mane. “You’re a fierce little lion, and you wear that costume proudly. Don’t let some loudmouth make you feel small, because you’re not. You’re strong, and you’ve got a big heart. And that’s what makes a real lion.”
Megumi’s eyes brightened, a small, determined smile tugging at his lips. He straightened up a bit, his shoulders lifting as Sukuna’s words settled in.
“And just so you know,” Sukuna added with a playful smirk, “your costume? It’s awesome. That kid didn’t know what he was missing.”
Megumi’s smile grew, his confidence returning in full as he looked up at Sukuna. “Thanks, Sukuna-nii.”
“Anytime, kid.” Sukuna gave him an approving nod, his own chest warming as he watched the little lion regain his spark. “Now go on—show ‘em what a real lion looks like.”
With renewed energy, Megumi turned and hurried forward to join Yuuji, his lion tail swishing behind him with pride. Sukuna watched him go, feeling an unexpected swell of pride in his chest, knowing his fierce little lion was back.
As Sukuna straightened up after talking to Megumi, he noticed Toji watching him with a curious expression, one eyebrow slightly raised, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. The two men fell into step beside each other as they watched the boys rush ahead.
Toji glanced over, his smirk deepening, a flicker of warmth softening his usually sharp eyes.
Sukuna narrowed his eyes suspiciously, glancing at him from the side. “Don’t get all sentimental on me, old man. I’m still a menace.”
“Sure, sure,” Toji replied, his tone still amused but with an undercurrent of sincerity. “But Megumi really looks up to you. You handled that well.”
A brief silence settled between them, broken only by the sound of rustling leaves and the distant laughter of the kids as they ran ahead. It was comfortable, though—like something unspoken was understood between them.
After a moment, Toji spoke again, this time more thoughtfully. “It’s... nice. Seeing you look out for him like that.”
Sukuna cast him a sidelong glance, something unreadable flickering behind his sharp gaze. “Kid’s tougher than he looks. He’ll be fine.”
Toji smiled faintly, nodding in agreement. Then, in an uncharacteristically playful move, he reached out and ruffled Sukuna’s hair.
Sukuna blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Oi—what the hell?”
Toji’s smirk widened, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Just making sure you’re not getting too soft.”
Sukuna swatted his hand away, grumbling, “I’ll kick your ass, old man.”
But the way his lips tugged upward betrayed the threat and for once, Sukuna let the moment slide, the warmth between them lingering longer than usual.
As the kids raced from house to house, Sukuna and Toji trailed behind, keeping a watchful eye. Toji, dressed in his absurd safari tourist outfit, looked surprisingly relaxed. Almost... cheerful. Well, as cheerful as Toji could get. Sukuna noticed the subtle shift in Toji’s demeanor—the man was clearly enjoying the night, despite the little incident.
The sight of Toji in that getup was almost enough to make Sukuna laugh out loud, but he held it back, watching the kids approach the next house with barely contained excitement. Megumi and Yuuji were practically vibrating as they rang the doorbell.
As the elderly woman began handing out candy, Sukuna caught a familiar glint in Toji’s eyes—mischief was brewing. Sukuna had a feeling Toji was hamming it up to cheer up Megumi, especially after the earlier bullying incident that Sukuna had handled.
Before Sukuna could say anything, Toji casually strolled up behind the boys, putting on his best "dad voice" as he glanced through his plastic binoculars.
"Excuse me, ma"am," he said, voice authoritative but playful. "I’m looking for two very dangerous wild animals. A ferocious lion and a terrifying monster. Have you seen any around here?"
The woman blinked, confused for a moment as she looked down at the boys. Yuuji, catching onto Toji’s game instantly, puffed out his chest and jumped forward.
“I’m the monster! ROAR!” Yuuji flexed his arms, stomping around like a miniature Frankenstein.
Toji gasped dramatically, pointing in mock horror. “There it is! The beast that’s been terrorizing the neighborhood!” He crouched slightly, pretending to cower as Yuuji stomped closer. “Oh no, he’s even scarier up close!”
Megumi, more reserved but determined to join in, flapped his little lion paws and let out a roar of his own. It sounded more like a kitten’s mew, but Sukuna couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him giving it his all.
“And the lion! He’s too strong!” Toji clutched his safari hat, staggering backward. “I don’t stand a chance! Someone save me!”
The elderly woman, now fully understanding the playful act, burst into laughter. She reached into her bowl, handing Yuuji and Megumi extra candy. “Take all the candy you want! We don’t want any trouble from such scary monsters!”
The boys cheered, their candy bags now heavier and Toji gave the woman a mock bow. “Thank you for your assistance, ma’am. The neighborhood is safe once again.”
As they walked away, Sukuna shot Toji a sidelong glance, barely suppressing a grin. “Seriously?”
Toji shrugged, a spark of mischief in his eyes. “What? Had to keep things lively. Can’t resist an opportunity like that.”
Sukuna snorted, shaking his head. “You’re ridiculous.”
At the next house, the kids were still buzzing from the last stop when they encountered a giant inflatable dragon in the yard. Yuuji froze, staring up at the dragon in awe, his eyes wide.
Toji leaned down toward Sukuna, lowering his voice. “Watch this.”
With that, he strolled up to the front door, where a man dressed as a pirate was handing out candy. Without missing a beat, Toji pointed at the dragon and spoke in his most serious tone.
“You know, I’ve fought one of those before.”
The man blinked, clearly confused. “Uh... what?”
“Dragons,” Toji continued, his voice flat but his eyes twinkling with mischief. “That one looks about the size of the last one I took down. Big fight. Almost didn’t make it out alive. You should be careful, could attract more.”
Sukuna had to stifle his laughter as the pirate blinked in confusion, trying to figure out if Toji was serious.
“Uh... thanks for the heads up?” the man stammered, clearly perplexed.
Toji gave a firm nod, his expression completely serious. “Just another day, keeping the peace. You’re welcome.”
As Toji strolled back over, Sukuna couldn’t hold back his laughter, his chest feeling lighter than it had all night. Toji’s grin widened as he caught Sukuna’s eye, the mischief and warmth in his gaze unmistakable.
“Don’t tell me you thought the ‘King of Curses’ was the only one bringing thrills tonight?” Toji drawled, popping another candy into his mouth. He leaned down to Megumi, adding in a low, playful whisper, “When it comes to dragons and curses, some jobs need a special kind of security. Someone who’s got a few tricks up his sleeve.”
Megumi giggled, his excitement contagious, and Sukuna found himself unexpectedly charmed by the way Toji was handling it all. The serious, reserved guy he knew was suddenly revealing this playful, ridiculous side, and Sukuna couldn’t help but feel a tug of something unfamiliar.
“So, what? You’re gonna be the hero of the night now, too?” Sukuna teased, his voice a little softer than usual.
Toji’s eyes gleamed, that smile of his turning a shade warmer, almost inviting. “Maybe I’ll leave the ‘hero’ bit to you,” he replied, his voice dropping as he glanced at Sukuna with a look that was undeniably flirtatious. “But if a certain someone wants a bit of backup, I wouldn’t say no.”
Sukuna rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t ignore the way his pulse picked up. “Starting to think you’re the real menace here, not me,” he muttered, though his tone had softened, a quiet smile tugging at his lips as he looked away.
Toji chuckled, brushing a hand over Megumi’s head as they moved on, but his gaze lingered on Sukuna, his expression laced with a mixture of warmth and intention. Toji raised an eyebrow, giving Sukuna a look that practically gleamed with amusement. “Takes one to know one.”
Sukuna, caught off guard by this glimpse of Toji’s silly side, felt a strange flutter in his chest that he couldn’t quite shake off. Maybe, just maybe, the guy had a charm he hadn’t expected—a charm that was starting to work its way under his skin.
At another house, Toji decided to switch things up again. As the kids approached a man dressed as a cowboy, Toji leaned down toward Megumi, a sly grin forming on his face.
“Wanna see how much candy I can get from this guy?” he whispered.
Megumi, ever the curious one, nodded.
Toji strolled up to the cowboy, his voice deepening as he said, “I see we’ve got another sheriff in town. But here’s the problem—I’m the real deal. Think you’ve got enough candy for me, partner?”
The cowboy, getting into character, squinted at Toji. “You’re in my territory now. What makes you think you deserve more candy?”
Toji, dead serious, replied, “Because I’ve got a lion and a monster backing me up.”
Yuuji and Megumi, catching on, immediately puffed up their chests and growled as menacingly as they could.
The cowboy, laughing now, reached into his candy bag and handed Toji three extra handfuls. “Alright, alright! Take it all, sheriff!”
Toji turned to the kids, holding the extra candy over his head like a trophy. “See? Told you.”
Megumi stared, wide-eyed with admiration, while Yuuji bounced up and down with excitement. “You’re the best, Toji-nii!”
Sukuna shook his head, grinning. “You’re gonna scam half the neighborhood at this rate.”
Toji just shrugged, clearly proud of himself. “Gotta teach the kids how to win.”
At one point, Megumi, still proudly wearing his lion costume, began to lag behind, tired from all the excitement. Without missing a beat, Toji crouched down in front of him.
“Come on, Gumi,” Toji said softly, his tone warm and encouraging. “Feeling tired, huh?”
Megumi tried to shake his head, determined to be strong, but his little yawn gave him away. Toji chuckled, kneeling down with a gentle smile as he opened his arms, inviting him up. “C’mere, Lion King. Let me give you a lift.”
With a relieved smile, Megumi clambered onto his dad’s back, and in one smooth motion, Toji lifted him onto his shoulders, his small hands resting securely on Toji’s head.
From his new perch, Megumi smiled quietly, the tiredness fading as they walked on. Toji kept a steady hand on his son, making sure he was secure.
Sukuna, walking beside them, stole a glance at Toji, something warm settling in his chest. And as they moved on to the next house, Sukuna found himself thinking... this night didn’t feel so bad after all.
Maybe even... kind of perfect.