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Chapter Text

I.'But she was a daredevil and she liked to smoke'

    The only place Megumi intended to spend Halloween night was at his desk in his dorm, listening to lo-fi beats with his Veterinary Neuroanatomy  textbook cracked open in front of him, laptop balancing just behind it and a bottle of cherry cola to keep him company.

His roommate, Nobara, had other intentions. He could hear it when she entered in a flurry, door slamming behind her and keys haphazardly thrown onto the table. She was in rush, fumbling about her room, fiddling with what sounded like bags. He tried to focus, to turn up his ' Lofi Beats to Study To ' to no avail. Nobara was all over the place. It was only a matter of time before she came bursting through his door-,

"Mimi!" He winced. "What're you doing tonight?"

She stood there in a white satin slip dress, skirt cut dangerously short. He didn't let his facial expression shift when the thing fluttered, flashing the garter belt beneath that kept her stockings up. 

An angel, he's guessing. Sure enough, she pulled out a fluffy little halo headband and set it where it belonged. It wasn't until the thing stopped quivering did he respond.

"I'm going to sit here and try to secure a successful future." 

"Cool! So get dressed! Sigma Zetta Tau is having a party!"

He considered saying no. He considered protesting and fighting his way into staying home. He remembered Sophomore Year. And freshman Year. And that one weekend last summer he went to visit her in Kentucky.

He came to the conclusion that he would not win.

He did not 'say no'. At that point, the only fight left in him allowed him to come up with a weak, "I don't have a costume."

She disappeared. The smell of her perfume still lingered, wisteria and lavender, painfully floral. Quick as a flash, she was back in his doorway.

She held black devil horns in her hands. 

     Somehow, she got him up. He refused to let her dress him. He was willing to commit to donning all black, but the assholes at whatever frat they were going to would have to let him in with an oversized hoodie, Adidas tights and a pair of shorts. He threw on his favorite trainers-an old, ratty pair of white Vans that made Nobara curl her lip- and donned the horns before she could say anything, grabbing his skateboard from the corner. 

She talked as they walked to the frat house. He fully intended to just skate off by himself but she was in heels and the roads weren't forgiving, with all the cracks and tree roots and potholes. He held her hand, keeping her steady atop his board as they made their way down to the 'outskirts' of campus. Her stilettos stayed firm on the grip tape, and he was tall enough that she didn't have to lean over to brace herself, a bright smile on her glossy lips the whole time.

"This is my big break!" She said in an excited rush. "This is Sukuna's frat you know? He's like...the hottest guy on campus!"

He didn't know who the hell Sukuna was. He hoped to never find out. He just wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible. 

It was obvious which house they were headed to. There was only one with toilet paper hanging over the roof, beer cans and other crap in the front lawn and a bunch of cars parked haphazardly about the place. He could hear the music from three houses away, a warning of the aggravation that was to come. Hopefully he could find an abandoned bedroom to sulk in for the rest of the night. Taking a quick nap before Nobara came to find him when she was done. As if sensing his thoughts, she chirped, 

"Sukuna's frat brothers are pretty hot! Maybe you'll meet someone!"

Megumi didn't want to meet someone. He could go through all four years without meeting anyone and be quite happy doing so. The only reason he didn't take online classes was because his sister thought it'd be best for him to 'develop socially'.  How getting blindingly drunk at a party with a bunch of strangers would contribute to his development, he didn't know.

It couldn't be any worse than summer camp.

They stashed the skateboard underneath the bushes so no one could jack it then Nobara led the way in. Megumi didn't bother looking anyone in the eye, keeping his gaze trained on her little angel wings peeking out at either side of her bare back. She was standing tall, false bravado keeping her spine straight as she strutted in.

    ‘The Scene’ was just as raunchy as he expected it to be. They had those obnoxious LED lights that would change color every couple minutes, making the clumsy clumsier it seemed. The floor was already sticky beneath the soles of his shoes. He didn't know how half the women wore heels to this thing. It smelled like spilt alcohol, weed, and the musk of humans : a salty smell that meant hormones and sweat and other unsavory things he wouldn't find in the comforts of his dorm room. Loud trap music threatened to blow them away as soon as they stepped through the door. Whoever was DJing was blasting it. Megumi had half a mind to tell Nobara to go over there and show him how it's done. But if she stepped up to the tables, then he'd be left alone, and he couldn't have that. 

So he bore with it, praying all the while that he would leave with his eardrums intact. 

    Nobara said something. He couldn't hear her. Rolling her eyes, she grabbed his hand and tugged him further into the throng of bodies. He couldn't see where she was headed, only how everyone seemed to clear for her. Still, the place was packed tight. There were all kinds of people brushing up against him. Some purely innocent, jolting away as soon as they made contact. Others purposeful, fingers lingering against his bare forearms, half-lidded eyes flashing under red LED lights, beckoning him in. 

A shudder ran down his spine.

He didn't let go of Nobara's hand. 

"Drinks!" She said brightly when the music dropped a decibel. The table had already been raided . Empty pizza boxes, potato chip bags, and a suspicious-looking jungle juice were all that remained.

Megumi would rather die than touch any of it, but Nobara had always been the braver out of the two of them. 

More reckless, rather. He watched her pick up the cup, try and sniff it surreptitiously before wincing. She still raised it to her lips, probably would've taken it all in one go, if he didn't reach out and force her hand down.

His other hand darted out, grabbing someone by the shoulder. 

"Can we get two of those?"

      He didn't even look the guy in the eyes, slipping the beer out of the box without waiting for a response. Nobara seized hers and downed it, clinging to the can like it would fly away if she wasn't careful. Megumi took his time, looking over the party, searching for the easiest escape route. The odds of there being an empty bedroom to hide away got lower everytime that front door opened up to introduce more characters to the scene. The beer was cheap, sour on his tongue when he took his first sip. Without a second thought, he pressed it into Nobara's hands and let her have at it.

She was being good, sticking to his side for a while, being a wallflower. But he could see the way her eyes looked through the crowd, searching- probably for that Sukuna guy- and resigned himself to the knowledge that he'd be left alone as soon as she found him. 

Interestingly enough, her eyes locked on a woman. Megumi followed her gaze to a long-legged woman in a skin-tight black dress, slit cut all the way to her hips. She looked mean. Her eyeliner alone could slit throats. Not to mention that long cigarette holder she kept between her fingers. 

Nobara stiffened.

Megumi rolled his eyes.

"You should go talk to her. Meet someone."

"Her?"

He looked back up. Just beyond the woman there was a scene going on on the couch. He assumed that the one at the center of all was the Sukuna. He wasn't wearing any shirt, keeping all his tattoos on display, muscles flexing every so often in a way that drew attention to his pecs. He was all smirks and a haughty leers. Sharp white teeth and hickeys lining his collarbone like a necklace.

He looked like an asshole. 

Megumi wrinkled his nose in disgust. 

"I-I should go talk to him."

"Maybe not-."

    It was too late. Clutching her beer can with a death grip, she was off to the races. Leaving Megumi alone, without a drink, in the corner of this overwhelming mass of people, floor thumping beneath his feet from the sheer force of nature that was Travis Scott in the speakers. The sucker he nicked the cheap beer off of was gone, so he could only pull out his phone to occupy himself, hoping his 'resting bitch face' was enough to keep away anyone stupid enough to attempt to talk to him-.

"Hi!"

Soft, internal sigh of disappointment. 

He had to crane his neck to look up. The man had at least a foot on him, and Megumi was above average himself. An upperclassman for sure, he had the effortlessness down pat. A simple white crewneck and sweatpants make up his costume, along with those obnoxious huge sneakers that definitely weighed a brickton. 

Megumi couldn't tell what he was until his eyes caught on the twin black circles sticking out of mussed white hair; the dark round sunglasses worn indoors were apparently for the sake of the costume, not because this guy's pretentious. 

"Someone looks lonely."

"Alone and lonely are two different mindsets."

The man smiled. It was tugged tight at the edges, as if it were fighting against the inevitable mocking smirk. Megumi felt a twinge of annoyance, a small unbidden insecurity creeping around his chest. He kept his face neutral.

"And yet to an outsider, they look the same. Tomato. To-ma-to."

    The annoyance was more than a twitch. Stranger pulled a blunt from behind his ear, lighter from his pocket. The flame flickered for just a moment-a blaze of light that cast light on Stranger's face, illuminating bright eyes behind the glasses, full pink lips with the little, wrapped thing tucked between them. Megumi watched the wiggle of it, keen. Stranger took a quick drag, almost sighing into it before dispelling the smoke through his teeth. 

His head didn't turn, but striking blue eyes flickered Megumi's way. Sly. Daring.  "You want some?"

Megumi raised his hand to take the bait. 

    Apparently sharing a spliff meant that they were friends. Stranger took Megumi's silent acceptance as an invitation. He learned that Stranger's name was Gojo. That he was VP of the fraternity, a Senior  double-majoring in Poli-Sci and Law, and that he had one of the biggest rooms in the house, if he was interested in a tour of the place.

Megumi wasn't sure what he was trying to gain by giving out all that information. Was he supposed to be impressed? Surely Gojo didn't want him to rush? Pledge Season was already reaching its end. 

Gojo shifted, elbow braced against the wall, crowding Megumi into their own corner separate from the rest of the party. Even past the rim of red, Megumi could look into icy blue eyes and see intentions.

He drew the spliff away from his lips, speaking clearly through the fog. 

"If you're VP, you can get me a drink right? None of the cheap beer. Like a real drink."

"Of course." Gojo turned and, finally, that little smile of his was given free reign to turn mean.

"Bitch boy!" He called. Megumi hurriedly snuffed out the blunt against the wall, wiping the black stain with his elbow and stashing it in his pocket. Gojo shifted out of the way and he fully expected to come face to face with a douchey frat brother. Not...this. 

  Pretty face. Innocent and open. He reminded Megumi of his dogs back home with his bright eyes. He had a shock of pink hair, short and spiky, wild from running around the place all night. His cheeks were flushed but he didn't look tired. Eager rather, gazing up at Gojo with a strange determination.

Bitch boy carried boxes of drinks with ease, at least two on each arm. As soon as he stood sedentary, people flocked to him, ripping drinks out of their containers. Gojo put his height and long limbs to good use, towering above them all to ask for-.

.

"White Claw!"

.

Yuuji felt his heart sink. 

"I'm all out!" To emphasize his point, he hoisted up the empty box. The stragglers went wild at the label alone. Hoping to get them out of the way, he threw it to the side and relaxed as they chased after it. The relaxation didn't last for long. VP was giving him a look. He had learned by now that Gojo Satoru had a bit of a mean streak when it came to pledges. Not in a malicious way but in a 'the pain of others amuses me' way. 

(Sukuna was the malicious one. Gojo was the one that took pranks too far.)

Sure enough,

"Well then. Go to the store and get some more."

    The pledges have been looking forward to this party since they were told about it. THE annual Halloween party. The one that's talked about for months after. The biggest hurrah until the Post-Finals Party. He didn't want to miss a second of it. Besides, he'd been helping Junpei all night. Choso and Mahito had been picking on him lately, assigning him all these extra tasks. Yuuji picked up the slack whenever he could. 

But if Gojo forced him out now, Junpei'd be fucked.

He had to find an excuse, but when he racked his mind, he came up terribly short. 

"I-," He trailed off. Gojo's smirk widened. 

"Give him a break. He's been working all night." His savior came out of nowhere. Yuuji couldn't see him behind Gojo's chest, but he was grateful all the same. 

"A break?" VP asked, voice sharp. "He hasn't even started earning his keep-,"

"It's fine. White Claw's shit anyway." There was some shuffling. A flash of black behind Gojo's wall of white, and then Yuuji saw him. 

    The same guy from earlier. The one who took two cans of Brooklyn lager and gave them both to his friend. Girlfriend? Yuuji thought so at the time but the girl's gone. All that's left was this guy: a lean matchstick of a man drowning in all black. Light green eyes framed with long, dark lashes peered at him, curiosity faint in an expression that was otherwise entirely uninterested. Bored, even. 

Yuuji was faintly reminded of a cat he saw in an alley once. Same midnight dark fur. Same strange gaze. Same immediate sense of ' You're not worth my time ' as they turned away from him. 

"He's just a pledge isn't he?" Stranger said to VP Gojo. "You don't let your pledges have fun?"

He was cocky. Not in a dick way, but in a smooth, ' obviously-I-should-get-what-I-want-that's-how-this-world-works' kind of way. But Gojo was a formidable opponent.

VP hummed, looking between Stranger and Yuuji. There was a strange tic to his grin, one that Yuuji didn't have the perception to know where to begin to read into that expression. Finally, after a few heart-thumping moments, he shrugged.

"Oi! Nanami!" One of the Three Blind Mice, Treasurer Nanami looked up from where he was giving one of the pledges hell for some minor detail. Yuuji tried to shrink when the man glanced his way. That guy liked to bust his balls too. It was probably why he and Gojo got along so well. "Come with me! Let's go buy some more White Claw!"

   Without a second glance, VP walked off, digging the keys to his Tesla out of his pocket and swinging them on his finger. Nanamin looked annoyed, but he still followed , running a hand through ash blonde hair, setting his mouse-ear headband askew.

Yuuji was sure the look shot at him was a glare, but he couldn't see past the glasses.

As soon as they disappeared, Yuuji dropped all the other boxes, letting the vultures descend upon them. Stranger lingered behind, seemingly content to lean against the wall, one hand in his pocket and the other trained on his phone. 

"Hey, um," Stranger looked up. Yuuji's heart immediately imploded, arteries splattering against his rib cage. Those eyes were...Well, they were really something. Like a well-placed trap, once they ensnared him they wouldn't let go. Yuuji couldn't look away even if he tried. "Thanks for...that, y'know."

Stranger stared. Yuuji licked his lips, searching for something to say. He was usually good with people. Making friends wasn't difficult for him but this guy...Well, he seemed kinda cool. He was hanging out with Gojo after all. Not just anyone hung out with the VP. 

(and every second that Yuuji looked him in the eyes made his knees a little weak but that was a whole other issue)

"You, uh-.You liking the party so far?"

"The music's too loud."

He cracked a grin at that, rubbing the back of his neck as he cast a look to the man trying to keep this party alive. 

"Yeah, Choso's still learning the ropes. He's not this intense usually. I think he's a little nervous."

The stranger hummed, but it was half-hearted, as if he wasn't sure if he really agreed. Yuuji took this sound as encouragement, a sign that the company wasn't exactly unwanted. Not yet at least.

"Oh, um, I'm Yuuji Itadori. I'm one of the frat-,"

"Please. Don't finish that sentence. I don't want to know."

"Not one for frat boys?"

Stranger's nose crinkles. Yuuji tries very hard not to find it adorable. He fails. 

"I was dragged here against my will."

"...Is there any way I could make this experience better for you?" It's such a kiss-ass, customer-service voice, sharp sarcasm ripped right out Gojo's book. He figured Stranger would like that sort of thing. The wicked grin tossed his way proves him right.

(it was a cute grin. one that sent a shiver down his spine as his eyes caught on the whites of his teeth, canines almost too sharp. he wanted to brush his thumb against the tips to see if they'd break skin,  maybe stop at the corner of his lips to feel the plush pink curve of them)

"Come outside with me," Stranger said. He took his hand out of his pocket. There was half a blunt between his fingers. "And find me a light."

It was an easy task. Yuuji had a stash of lighters in his fanny pack, as part of his pack mule duties as a pledge. Figuring that the others wouldn't miss him, he let Stranger lead the way. He moved like a cat, slipping through people like a shadow. Hands seemed to glide through him as he passed, gait easy, a certain leisure to the flicks of his ankle. 

Yuuji was almost reluctant to grab him, tugging him in a different direction than the front door. 

"Someone totally upchucked on the steps," he explained, ignoring the way his breath tickled Stranger's hair. "Let's go to the balcony."

Stranger shrugged. He was easygoing. Yuuji liked that in people. 

There was a thundering in his chest when he turned, all too aware of his hands, fingers long and cool, making their way to his bare shoulder, holding on as Yuuji took his turn to lead, heading up the steps to the second floor. The crowd cleared out a bit. The music was still loud but not as intense with a whole floor separating them. He could feel Stranger sigh with relief the further they got from the main scene, towards the windowpane doors that led to the balcony.

   It was a bit chilly that night. Yuuji wasn't dressed for it at all, with his skimpy toga and sandals. Stranger took one look at him, and though his face was blank, the green of his eyes flickered with a silent laugh. Wordlessly, he moved to block Yuuji from the worst of the wind. He pulled in a bit close though. So much so that he could smell his cologne, a woodsy musk that made his head spin. 

His face was lit up by the flicker of flame-all sharp angles and defined bone structure. Elven almost. Too pretty for words. Even the mangled blunt looked delicate between his puckered lips. 

(was it possible to feel envy for an inanimate object? what was that scathing heat that bit at him when he watched that mouth kiss the filter?)

Stranger took a drag. Yuuji watched how his chest rose, fingers itching at the hem of his costume. All of a sudden, the cold didn't nip at him anymore. 

Stranger tried to pass. He shook his head. He didn't trust himself to take it without dropping it. A couple more seconds passed. Stranger was perfectly capable of handling the thing by himself, but eventually, he persuaded Yuuji to take a couple puffs of his own. 

"Megumi," he said, while Yuuji let a gust loose between his teeth. A short pause, filled with questions. "My name. It's Megumi."

"Me-gu-mi," Had there ever been a name that sounded so much like a song? "I'm Yuuji."

Stranger cracked another one of those rare little grins of his, eyes bright. 

"I know." And he should've felt embarrassed. What? Three puffs and he was already making a fool of himself? But Megumi had a way of looking at him that made him feel alright. He wanted to hear him laugh . The urge hit so suddenly and with such a fierce need that he nearly fell from the force of it.

He'd make a total fool of himself if he had to. He'd jump into the pool with all his clothes on, streak around the Panda statue in the Quad, change his major to Musical Theatre and tap-dance his way into making Megumi (me-gu-mi, what a name) laugh. 

"Who are you supposed to be?" 

Yuuji struck a pose, baring his forearm and flexing it so that the muscles showed true. "Hercules, of course. Strongest of all the demi-gods."

"I thought that was Achilles."

"Achilles was the best of the Greeks. A skilled fighter and quick on his feet. But Hercules," He stretches his arms wide, looking up at the bright expanse of silver glitter spread across the dark night. "Hercules was strong enough to hold up the sky. I'd rather do that than fight a bunch of Trojans."

"I'd..." Megumi trailed off. He seemed to look out to that same night, but they weren't seeing the same thing. Rimmed red and shadowed by those lashes, they seemed almost sad when they took in the great expanse of it all. The endlessness of stars and moon and sky. "I'm not sure what I'd do."

"That's fine." Yuuji said, jumping to assuage. He just...sounded so sad about it. Bitter, even. And while Megumi's (me-gu-mi me-Gu-mi-Me-Gu-Mi) voice was smooth and silky to his ears, he never wanted to hear it like that again. He extended the blunt out; it was dying by then, short enough to burn his fingertips when he held it for too long. Megumi took the last puff and tossed it, grinding it beneath his shoes. Yuuji spoke, low and careful with his words lest he sound stupid, head ducked, eyes on splotch of black ash.

.

.

"I think those old stories are so cool because they're so wild, y'know? All the heroes are larger than life, doing all sorts of crazy things because of destiny or the fates or whatever. But, like, we can be larger than life too, y'know? It's okay not to know what you'd do because you're not backed into that corner. You're not blessed. You're not cursed You're just... human. And in that humanity, there is so much opportunity. There is no predestination, only decisions."

Inhale.

Low, gusty exhale. 

A small, fond smile. 

"My Gramps likes to say that there's no point to regrets in this life. We move forward regardless. He used to point out the constellations to me and my brother and say: Boys, keep your eyes on the sky. Those stars are yours if you reach out and grab them.' which was cute when we were kids, but I think I'm starting to get what he means. The divine are assigned to their own stars; their destinies are placed into their hands from when they are born. Achilles had his divine fire. Hercules had his serpent. Humans aren't assigned to anything. All of that-,"

A hand held high, fingers splayed with silver and white dots peeking through. "Is ours for the taking."

.

.

    Yuuji was a strange guy. Megumi liked strange people, so he immediately took this guy with the blush pink hair who spoke of Greek Mythology with his whole face lit up. Who waxed poetic after three or four turns with the blunt, tugging philosophy and spirituality together and tying their shoe-laces together so they'd walk in sync. 

Yes, Megumi liked this one. And finding people he liked happened very rarely.

"I think...I'd get along with your Grandfather." He said, because he didn't like showing his cards too early. Yuuji still smiled at him though. That alone was enough to have his heart slam against his rib cage, beating against the bones to be let free, to see that boyish crooked grin for itself. 

    He looked away, out to the people gathered around the pool down below, patiently waiting for the flutters in his guts to end so he could get a hold of himself. The woman from earlier, with the black dress, was down there, kicking her feet in the water, a long cigarette holder tipped into her mouth.   There's a figure at her side-she's got her arm curled around them-but he can't see them past all the people. 

"What are you supposed to be?" The question was a low hum.

Megumi tapped his horns. 

"Satan."

"Spooky."

"I tried my best on short notice."

"Ohhhh, so these are part of a costume?" That joke was stupid. Megumi tried and failed not to snicker at it, turning into a full-on smirk when Yuuji reached out to snatch the thing out of his hair. He leaned back, away from his probing fingers, but the damage was done. The headband tumbled over the railing, down to the masses below. 

"Ah."

     There wasn't a chance in hell he was getting that back. He looked at Yuuji, who was already doing something stupid, leaning over with his hand outstretched as if to catch the thing. But he knew the battle was lost. He looked stupid , horror and dismay mixing on his face to create a dumb little pout. 

Megumi laughed. He couldn't help it. It wasn't a long one; he covered it up with a cough but it was too late. His companion straightened at once, looking at him with a strange softness in his eyes. 

"You've got a nice laugh." 

What a strange thing to compliment. He still dropped his gaze, face warm. 

"Flattery won't get my headband back."

"I think I like your hair without it."

Yuuji was close, brushing Megumi's hand with his own, and all he had to do was look up to see that pink tinge to his cheek. 

(would it darken if he pressed his lips to it? If Megumi reached up and locked his arms around Yuuji's neck, biceps resting against the thick cords, would the blush spread lower?)

    The doors slammed open. Yuuji leaped away, but Megumi was cool, taking a simple step to the side to watch the newcomer approach. He looked a little like Yuuji, with his muscular build, cut of his jaw and the shape of his eyes. But there was a hostility that clung to him, desperate to keep a hold not unlike the two clinging to the man's sides. 

He caught sight of them mid-....whatever it was he was doing with his tongue and that girl. Megumi didn't want to call it a kiss. Somehow the word didn't manage to fit the sheer revulsion he felt when met with the sight. 

"Sukuna." Yuuji said, and a cool understanding came over him. This was the man Nobara was chasing. Neither of the two people in the man's arms were Nobara. 

    Megumi hated this guy on principle alone, silently resigning himself to spending the rest of the night on their common room couch with cookie dough ice cream, watching The Devil Wears Prada as Nobara cries into his chest. All because someone with a bunch of tattoos and a vaguely attractive face decided she wasn't worth his time. 

Sukuna looked up at Yuuji, mouth curled into a malicious smirk, then, after a beat, his gaze turned to Megumi. 

He kept his expression blank. Sukuna's smirk faded. Just a bit. Long enough for him to feel a vague sense of victory. But then the asshole had to open his mouth:

.

.

"Baby brother."

.

.

    Yuuji knew something was up as soon as that came out. Sukuna was adamant about ignoring their relationship at school. He went as far as to use Mom's last name instead, just so no one could figure it out. As far as Jujutsu University was concerned, Sukuna was an only child. So why...? 

Yuuji followed his brother's gaze askance, right at Megumi, who stood stock still, fingers curled like claws. (a cat, he was reminded of again. a cat caught off guard in an alleyway by a large, slobbering dog.)

A surge of something fierce rose in him. Possessiveness, he recognized quickly. As soon as he inclined his body to block Megumi from view, he knew it for what it was. Megumi was free to do what he wanted but... Well, Sukuna was dangerous. He hurt people. He didn't care about others. Megumi shouldn't have to deal with that type of guy. 

"Who's this?"

"A friend."

"What's your name, friend ?"

Sukuna didn't even think twice before dropping the two people he came in with, trying to peek at Megumi over Yuuji's shoulder with unabashed interest. 

Megumi, thankfully, stayed quiet, apparently content to watch the scene play out. The temperature had dropped, a brief wind rustling at the fabric of his tunic-.

(and wasn't it ironic? he stood there as Hercules, glaring up at Hades with nothing more than his fists balled up at his sides and the driving need to protect. he wasn't one for the Disney retelling but he couldn't deny that this fit the bill perfectly. perhaps humans are bound to their stars after all.)

"Leave him alone. Aren't you busy?" He jerked his chin, off to the two twiddling their thumbs. The guy looked ready to jump in himself, but Yuuji could take him without breaking a sweat. Sukuna was going to be the problem. His brother was tall. Stocky. Hopefully, it wouldn't descend into a fight but if it did...Well, hopefully he wouldn't get his ass kicked too bad in front of Megumi.

"Shouldn't you be busy, bitch boy? There are people that need drinks."

"Gojo let me take a break-,"

"Well, I'm Pres," Sukuna clapped a hand to his neck, squeezing. His eyes were dark in the night, but the malice still shone through. "And I say Get back to work. Hey, Friend-,"

The thing about Sukuna was that his strength was scary. Almost inhumane. With a single hand, he nearly lifted Yuuji and tossed him to the side. He barely caught himself before he tumbled. Anger made his chest tight, blood thrumming in his veins as he gave a huff.  

"Why's someone like you hanging around a guy like him? Did you come here with someone?"

"...A friend."

"You've got a lot of friends huh?"

"...I guess."

"You got room for one more? Let's be besties-,"

Yuuji crossed the space in three quick steps, pushing his brother back when he got close enough. Sukuna didn't stumble. He didn't do so much as shift, the brick wall he was, but that didn't stop him from spitting a short, "He's not interested."

"He can speak for himself. Fuck off, Yuuji-."

"Oh God, Sukuna, let's just leave them alone." The woman sounded drunk. She definitely didn't need anymore of the wine she was holding but she clutched the bottle like a sword, raising it in her defense as she clobbered over to the three. She was...a fairy? 

"Shut up Sasaki! What is up with everyone taking a crack at me today?" 

     He was drunk. Crossed probably, considering the smell of weed that clung to his hoodie. Sukuna was mean when he was intoxicated. Sasaki should've stayed clear, but she and her heels marched right into the warpath. The rest happened as if in slow motion. Sukuna did something with his hands, an unusually careless wave of his arms that sent her off balance. She teetered backward and Yuuji was the only one with the reflexes quick enough to catch her before she hit her head against the rail. The bottle in her hand soared through the air, an arch of black in the night, before hitting his chest, spilling its contents all over him before tumbling to the floor. 

Red wine. Just his luck. 

Who the hell drank wine at a frat party?

"Party fouuuullll." The guy standing off-side said. Yuuji didn't bother sending him an irritated look. He tugged the woman- Sasaki - up, straightening her gown so she wouldn't flash anyone.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, I-....Um,-."

"Look at that! He's so fucking lame. Why would you wanna hang out with that when you could have me?" Sukuna didn't even care, pressing his advantage, looming over Megumi with one hand on the railing, the other in the back pocket of his sweats. Megumi could escape if he was quick enough. He just didn't seem to want to.

(and didn't that hurt? his brother had always been the popular one but he was mean and didn't Megumi see that? he seemed smart enough to see right past all the bluster and faces Sukuna wore-to see the monster that lay beneath, but maybe Yuuji was wrong about him. they'd only known each other for what like 45 minutes by now? definitely not enough time to really figure out who someone is. he shouldn't have been upset but his chest was tight and his face burned-.)

Megumi leaned back,  face defiant and unafraid, blank even as he tilted his head back to look at the man. 

(his eyes, Yuuji's realized, were the crack in the mask. while everything else was slack, broed, they gleamed bright jade, flickering up and down Sukuna's form. sharp as knives and just as fatal)

"You're overcompensating," he said. Silky tone, but tight at the edges, a touch annoyed. "Tone it down."

Then, as if wiping his hands of the situation, as if Sukuna was nothing more than a brief nuisance, he slipped out of Sukuna's orbit with easy, silent steps, doing a deceptively complex pivot-and-spin to put the man behind him. Elegant, like a dancer.

Yuuji couldn't remember the last time something left his brother speechless, but he doubted it was as satisfying as the sight before him. Slack-jawed and wide-eyed, Sukuna could only stare as Megumi caught Yuuji by the wrist to tug him along, back inside.

Someone had taken over for Choso. The music wasn't as loud, replaced by chill lo-fi beats that seemed to ooze through the air, sluggish. Megumi slowed his pace to match, falling into step next to Yuuji. Suddenly, he leaned in, lips tickling the lobe of his ear as he whispered,

"We can wash it out."

"Huh?" Yuuji asked, stupid from the blood rush. Megumi placed a hand on his chest, solid through the thin white sheet.

"The wine. Maybe we can save your costume." 

 He doubted it, but didn't argue against giving it a try. The hand in his was a warm little distraction, his sole tether to this world as they waded through the dream that was this haze of bodies of smoke and LED lights. 

"Gojo has a private bathroom," he wouldn't remember saying this later. "En-suite. There shouldn't be anyone in there." 

And suddenly they were there. He must've led the way; he just didn't register doing it. With the adrenaline of fury and fight gone, all that was left was the high. It settled deep in his weary bones, combined with the fatigue of the day to leave him a bit of a mess, leaning up against the door of Gojo's bathroom as Megumi walked over to the sink. The sound of running water filled the sudden silence. Yuuji looked around. Gojo's bathroom was bright and clean. Spotless, even, with all sorts of fancy soaps and hair products neatly placed about...and Nanami's contact lenses case? He was about to take a closer look at that when-,

"You're going to have to take it off."

     Megumi (Me-Gu-Mi Me-Gu-mi) was looking at him, expression kept strangely neutral for the task he was asking him to do. without fanfare, Yuuji slipped the thing off, cringing when cold, wet wine-soaked cloth brushed up his face. Megumi caught it mid-air, before it could enter the sink, then tested the water with his other hand. Once satisfied with the temperature, he let the tunic soak, then turned to the medicine cabinet, plucking out a dark black bottle and spilling the contents over the stain. He threw some soap on top but didn't scrub, switching off the tap before going to sit at the bathtub.

"Now what?"

Green eyes looked him over. Yuuji was suddenly made aware of his nudity, standing in just his boxers and his sandals. He resisted the urge to cross his arms. 

"Now we wait." Megumi said lightly. "Twenty minutes."

A lot can happen in twenty minutes. Starting with hypothermia. 

Yuuji sneezed, ducking his head at the last second. Megumi was still staring at him, expressions strange. He tried to laugh it off.

"You think Gojo would let me borrow his clothes-,"

" No ." Quick. Terse. There was a long pause after.  Unsure of what to fill it with, Yuuji let his teeth click shut. They just stared till the sink gave a strange gurgle, breaking this tension between them. Megumi was the first to drop his gaze, wordlessly slipping into the bathtub to sit, leaving enough space for Yuuji to come in next to him.

"Your brother's a bit of an asshole."

"Yeah," He tried to match Megumi's levity with his own flippant tone. "He's been that way since we were kids."

"So he's your actual brother."

"Don't you see the family resemblance?" 

Yuuji pulled his best 'Sukuna face' grin menacing and teeth bared, only to get a hard flick to the forehead for his troubles. Megumi's fingers were long, dainty and feminine with a slight crook to the ring finger that showed it was broken once and didn't heal quite right. Yuuji missed their touch as soon as they retracted, curling under the man's chin as he cocked his head.

"You two are nothing alike." 

(and there was a weight that lifted from his shoulders. he wasn't quite sure when it got there but with a few words alone, Yuuji felt like he could sprout wings and burst into flight.)

"O-Oh?"

"Mmm, I can tell." Megumi hummed, but didn't offer an explanation. His eyes flickered shut, hiding his piercing gaze for a couple blissful moments. Again he was reminded of an alley cat, slumbering under the sun with its limbs curled tight. The flickering lights above cast a strange almost gray shade over his face, blurring the sharpness of him. Making him softer. 

Approachable, even. 

Yuuji was brushing his hand over smooth skin before he could help it, thumb against the line of a strong jaw, fingers flush as if to cup the cheek. He doesn't realize exactly what he was doing and to who until the neck beneath his touch stiffened. 

"Sorry!" He tried to rip his hand away, but Megumi turned into it, trapping his hand between his head and his shoulder like a cell-phone. His eyes open, but only come to half-lid, green shrouded by thick, dark lashes as he peered up at him, a little smirk playing at his lips. 

(and he was hot. god, he was hot . Yuuji wasn't ready for this at all. he didn't wake up that morning and think he'd be trapped in a bathroom-Vice Pres's bathroom-with some hot stranger for 20 whole minutes that were starting to feel more like a lifetime and he was not wearing pants. oh fuck what if he got a boner when he wasn't wearing pants??? god that'd be so embarassing but the only way to avoid it was to not think about it and to not look at Megumi Me-Gu-Mi Me-Gu-Mi and his stupid pretty green eyes that look like gemstones when the light hits them right, and his pretty fingers and the way his lips look wrapped around a blunt-)

"You're high as shit," And Megumi laughed, nearly doubling over from the force of it because he was pretty stucking foned too and Yuuji wanted to defend himself, to tease right back but he was stuck there with his hand warm against Megumi's neck, wrist brushing his collarbone. Absolutely paralyzed because Megumi was laughing and it was honestly the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard. A warm thing, almost childlike in its weightlessness, unhindered by the weight of the world. He would make a song of it if he could, tattoo the chords onto his forearms. Set it as his alarm and ringtone. Just to hear it again and again. 

"You...You should see yourself. Your eyes are all red and blurry and-," he barked out another laugh again, as if he couldn't hold it back. Finally, he straightened. Yuuji brought his hand back but Megumi retaliated by bringing both of his own to his shoulders, leaning in a bit so he could see the exact same symptoms reflected in his own eyes.

"It's cute," he whispered. Yuuji felt the exact moment his heart stopped.

"You're cute," he blurted, for the sake of having something to say. Megumi's nose crinkled and for a moment, Yuuji thought he was going to start laughing again, but the man just pressed his lips tight together, holding it back even as they wobbled. He was cute and cool and so, so out of his league but all Yuuji could think was, 

"I really want to kiss you."

     A short pause. Green eyes gone wide. (they're not really green. he can see fleck of gold in there. maybe even blue if his eyelashes flutter just right. maybe they're just hazel. they're beautiful though. Yuuji would give him all the green-gold-blue-hazel eyed babies in the world if Megumi'd let him. One for each color. One for the each mix of the colors. Fuck, double each of them for good measure. those kids will be beautiful.)

Megumi shrugged.

 "K."

Yuuji's heart kindly informed him that he was dying.

"Okay?" 

Megumi gave him a flat look, exasperated but still a little fond. They hadn't even started but Yuuji was already fucking this up wow fuck he sucked at this. Sukuna, pansexual conqueror that he was, always made fun of him because he couldn't pull and look at him now : fucking it up already. oh god was he really going to kiss this guy here? now? What if he got a boner in the middle of-?

Oh.

Megumi's lips were soft. A little chapped but it was chilly outside so that was normal. Megumi's lips tasted like cheap beer and marijuana, slightly bitter from the ash of that last drag, a pull from the roach that smeared the curve of the bottom lip so well Yuuji had to take it between his own to lick the taste away. Make it give way to something sweeter, something distinctly Megumi. 

    The bathtub made things a bit difficult; Yuuji's legs were already hanging over the ledge so he didn't have much room to maneuver, but Megumi  had no qualms about taking control, throwing a leg over his waist then coming to his knees, looming over him to kiss him, tongue already slipping past Yuuji's lips to tangle with its counterpart. 

He...should be useful. Bold, like his brother.

So he placed his hands at Megumi's waist, let his fingers tug at the hem of his hoodie before he lost his nerve. 

Only to have the man shift, leaning more of his weight forward in an action so abrupt that Yuuji startled, dropping his greedy little fingers to Megumi's thighs and squeezing on instinct. A little groan was swallowed between the two of them; a vibration that seemed to hit him in the chest as those thighs sank low, tightening around his own. 

(megumi was warm, warm, warm. he looked so cool but he ran hot and wouldn't he be more comfortable if Yuuji took that hoodie off of him? he would be doing him a favor. an act of kindness, truly.)

Megumi leaned back, spit making his lips shine. His eyes were so bright, looking over Yuuji's face as if to make a map of it in his head, cheeks flushed and all.  

(Yuuji wished he were a Visual Arts major. a sight like this deserved to be memorialized. he wanted to make a painting, create a sculpture out of stardust and clay, but he's got his father's hands: a carpenter's thick knuckles and calloused skin. he couldn't handle something so delicate without ruining it.)

Megumi (Me-Gu-Mi Me-Gu-Mi; he could taste each syllable between his teeth. heineken and weed and cherry cola) took his hoodie by the hem, lifting it up over his shoulders to reveal a creamy swathe of skin, lean abs and an outie belly button (how was that cute? why did he find that cute? god, he just wanted to take his finger and push it back in)

"You want to do what to my belly button?" Did he say that out loud? Megumi stared down at him, hoodie abandoned over the ledge of the tub. Yuuji pressed his lips into a line, already shaking his head in resignation. Megumi didn't laugh aloud, but his eyes told a different story, mirth making them wet and glassy. "God...You are so fucking high."

"Shut up."

     All was forgiven when Megumi snickered into his mouth, laughter like fancy Christmas champagne on his tongue. He reached out to touch because he thought Megumi wouldn't mind, brushing his fingers over smooth skin (hot hot hot), tips tapping over ribs as he pulled him in closer. Yuuji hadn't kissed anyone in a month (two months? when was the last party they threw?) so he was a bit clumsy with his tongue. Megumi didn't complain, if anything the hands on his neck and shoulder were keeping him pinned into place so he couldn't get away. 

He was more than content to sit back and let him lead but he was a young man with needs that would make themselves known at the most embarrassing times. Such as when Megumi shifted, knees finally tired of the hard surface, only to sit in Yuuji's lap without warning. 

He could feel the twitch of his cock in his boxers. Megumi probably could too; his tights were thin after all, and even the extra layer of shorts wasn't enough to block it. Sure enough, the man froze-just for a split second-before minutely shifting his hips...

forward.

"You want help with that?" Megumi mumbled. Yuuji, in all his heated embarrassment, wasn't sure what to say. The lips peppering kisses down his neck and hickeys to his collarbone weren't helping him think at all. 

"I...um," Be bold. Take control. Don't pussy out like a lil bitch. False bravado was only fake as long as he allowed it to be. So  he could easily reach up and-.

Megumi rested against his shoulder, breath a warm huff and eyelashes (so fucking long... like a girl's really) brushing against his skin. 

"We don't have to. I'm not the type to force anything. I...don't really like high-pressure situations."

"There's like, no pressure here right now. At all."

"At all at all." Megumi repeated. Yuuji could feel the smirk against his shoulder. He swallowed, relaxing somewhat with a tease,

"At all at all at all. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do." He was earnest and accommodating because who was he kidding?  He wasn't the type to seize. He was all too willing to take the backseat and let Megumi drive the car. He'd follow wherever the man led, and when jade eyes looked up at him with a hunger, those beautiful long, fingers creeping towards his waistband-

"And if I want to...?"

Well, he couldn't just say no , could he? If Megumi (Me-gu-mi with his sweet mouth and sinful hands) wanted to jump over this cliff, then he'd follow him down, hands reaching out the whole while. 

   Which was terrifying honestly. He didn't know this man but they fell together like old lovers. Megumi reached into his boxers like it was his right, untucking his cock as if he'd done it countless times before, not a lick of hesitation (Yuuji violently refused to focus on this because this led to thoughts about the Others with their greedy hands and creepy smiles who didn't even deserve to be touched by Megumi like this. And those thoughts left a sour taste in his mouth, the hot rage of possessiveness tightly packed into his chest.)

"This bathtub's making things complicated," Megumi said lightly, eyes trained down. His thumb brushed over the sensitive skin of the head, gentle as if to appease the red, catching pre-cum against the pad before resuming slow pumps. Even his cock looked pretty in his hands; there was nothing about it to be ashamed of but those fingers curled around the girth of it-that one crooked pinky against a vein-only made it more than what it was. 

He realized much too late that the statement was a request. 

"Got any suggestions?" Megumi shot him a look, a faintly amused flicker of his eyes before they went back to task. 

"You should stand by the door," When did his voice get so breathy? "Think I wanna suck you off." 

.

.

Oh, fuck.

Oh-.

.

.

"-Shit, you're such a spaz." But he was grinning as he ducked his head against Yuuji's shoulder, letting himself be lifted up by one arm tucked around his waist. The guy was strong. Freakishly so. He was beginning to think the Hercules costume was no costume at all. Especially with the way Yuuji pushed him up against the door, kissing him with a sudden fervor that made his toes curl. His dick was straining against his tights, a burning need in his gut but he could ignore it for a bit. 

    He wanted to get Yuuji off. He wanted to see the face he would make when he came. If he'd look at Megumi the way he looked at those stars, bright-eyed and full of longing. He looked at them the way one looked at a lover and Megumi-with all his stupid, selfish longing-expected no less than the same. 

He tilted his chin up before Yuuji could kiss him.

"You should be the one against the door," he said quickly. His hips twitched, desperate for friction. He wasn't ready to strip, not yet. He'd need something covering his knees. Just a little bit of cushion. 

Yuuji flipped them around and Megumi slid down, hands running down his pecs, over his abs, till they rested against his hips. Yuuji's dick was big, upright and practically begging to be touched. Megumi hasn't done this in a while so he might be a little rusty-,

"If...you changed your mind you really don't have to-,"

    He was so fucking nice. Weren't frat boys supposed to be assholes?  Megumi almost felt like he was taking advantage when he licked a stripe up the shaft, eyes stuck on Yuuji's face, how a blush fell across his skin like powder, light coat and a pretty shade of rouge that sank all the way to his chest. He wasn't sure what to do with his hands. While Megumi kept one on his hips and the other at the base, coaxing the head into his mouth, he ran a hand through his hair, let the other go through the air, freeze, and then go back to rest on the doorknob. As if he were scared to touch him. Cute, with his eyes closed and-.

Wait, no.

His lips left the tip with a little slick sound, spit wet running off the corner of his mouth. 

"Eyes on me," he demanded. "I wanna see you." 

    He was patient, waited until he had the man's full attention, before purposely lifting his hand from the doorknob and settling it in his hair. Wordless, he waited for the burn of the tug as thick fingers wrapped in his messy strands, pulling him forward tentatively. Still a little shy. Megumi pressed a kiss to the head, teasing his slit with the tip of his tongue, salty taste hardly noticed when Yuuji gave a stifled little groan. His hand got a little more assertive, grip tightening. Megumi turned his neck, catching his balls in his mouth with a hum and quick suck-.

"Fuck! Fuck, ok, um..."

"Um?" Megumi repeated. His humor must've shown in his tone because the grip turned a little painful. 

"...You having fun down there?" Yuuji's tone was terse. Tight. (and he wondered what it would be like to see him get mean. all that fire from before when he nearly punched his brother's lights out. he was strong enough. megumi could tell. if yuuji really wanted to, he could put him in his place, bend him over the sink and pound into him-.)

"Do you use Irish Spring?" He asked lightly, making sure his lips brushed heated skin. Yuuji gave him a look. Megumi smirked. Yuuji's eyes flashed with something strange.

(why was that hot? was he allowed to find that hot? his dick was aching in his tights.)

    He took pity on him, finally resuming his task with an ardent fervor, taking him inch by inch and letting his hand cover the rest. He pulled out all his tricks, swirling his tongue with little kitten licks, hollowing out his cheeks, humming till Yuuji's little groans filled the air. His hand was tight as a brace, keeping him in place as he deepthroated. His eyes watered and his jaw was starting to get sore, but he didn't stop, keeping his gaze up. 

Brown eyes stared right back. It wasn't the wonder-filled expression from before, but Megumi found that he liked this look more: raw and primal desire, a fire in his gaze that shot straight to his core. 

"Touch yourself." Yuuji's tone was low, almost raspy; each word and the implication behind them sent shivers down his spine. He listened, taking his right hand off the base to dip them beneath his waistband, palming his cock as he sucked Yuuji off. He kept his pace slow, not wanting to come first. Yuuji's hips were already bucking, hand holding Megumi steady by his hair as he fucked into his mouth in earnest. He took it all, blinking away the blur so he could see the moment Yuuji's face twisted, a sigh of a moan spilling from his lips as he shot his load down Megumi's throat. 

He swallowed of course. He wasn't a quitter. 

  The grip in his hair turned gentle, fingers running through the locks, down the side of his face, almost petting him up to standing chest-to-chest. Megumi's cock bobbed between the two of them, immediately wrapped into the warm of Yuuji's rough hand, quickening the pace to a rhythm that had him leaning into him for support, clutching the arm that held him up for support. 

It wasn't long till he spilled over Yuuji's hand with gasp, quickly cut off by a rough kiss, tongues already darting out to meet. 

(Of course Yuuji was the type to makeout after getting head. Was this guy real? Did Megumi dream this whole thing?)

"Guess we should get cleaned up." Yuuji mumbled when they parted. 

Suddenly, the sounds of the party came back into focus. What time was it? It felt like 2 AM already. Nobara might've been looking for him. They just needed to check out Yuuji's toga.

.

.

"Huh. Hmm."

.

.

    Megumi's little sound came as a bit of a shock. Yuuji didn't even register that he said anything at first. He was caught up in how he looked, lips swollen and hair mussed. The high had long begun to fade, leaving his eyes clear and narrowed on the...sink. 

Where Yuuji's tunic sat, absolutely drenched. They didn't really think this one through did they? Megumi tugged up his pants before going over to wring the thing out. Which helped, but still didn't leave him with something he'd be able to wear around the party. They both looked at the thing as it slowly dripped water onto the floor. 

"How...mad would Gojo be if you stole his clothes?" So they're revisiting that idea.

"He'd get over it." Eventually. Hopefully. He might get punished but it would be worth it if he could wipe that worried frown from Megumi's face. 

"I'll find something then. You can tell him it was me." And before Yuuji could stop him, Megumi was out and in VP's room. Bold move considering the fact that Gojo would definitely be able to find him and seek revenge if anything was placed out of order. Yuuji chose to wash up, wrapping his mind around the fact that that really just happened. 

Like....holy shit dude. Holy. Shit.

  Maybe Megumi would, like, give him his number or something. They could...hang. Chill out. Smoke. Drink. Go to the cafe up on Ryuuji Street. Eat crepes. Laugh at memes. Watch dog videos. Study together. Support each other's dreams. Rent an apartment together. Buy a dog together. Buy a house together. Raise children together. Die in each other's arms and be cremated on the same funeral pyre as their family and friends stand around crying. Get reincarnated. Do it all over again but this time they meet as teenagers in high school and Yuuji would totally ask him to go to the school dance-.

"Are you still high?"

"Huh?"

He turned. Megumi was leaning into the doorway, gray sweatpants and a t-shirt folded over his arm. He looked like he'd been there for a while, wry grin struggling to rise on his lips. 

Face heating, Yuuji dried his hands on a towel and accepted the clothes, pulling them on without fanfare. He made the first move, trying to keep his voice from shaking as he asked,

"You got any plans after this?"

Megumi let out a little huff. By now, he could recognize this sound as one of amusement. 

"Find my roommate and go to sleep probably. Since, y'know, it's 3 AM."

"O-Oh."

Of course. The party had already started winding down if the chill beats were any indication. Everyone would start clearing out and his frat brothers would shove him and the other pledges into clean-up duty. This was the end of their night. This was...the end. 

(No regrets, Grandpa used to say. Either you grab those stars or you stay on earth.)

"Give me your number. We can hang."

"Hang." Megumi repeated in that taunting little lilt of his, but he pulled out his phone anyway. Yuuji punched his number in, saving his contact with  a lot of eggplant and heart emojis lest Megumi forget who he was. He'd leave it up to him to text first. He didn't want to be too pushy cause then Megumi might get creeped out and that would totally suck because he liked Megumi a little more than a lot and he wanted to kiss him some more maybe...i-if Megumi was into it of course.

"I've got tests this week, but I'm free Saturday night."

Megumi rubbed the back of his neck. His cheeks were pink. Now he was nervous? He was on his knees giving him the best head of his 20 years on this earth just a few minutes ago, but something as simple as date-a hangout made him blush such a pretty shade of pink?

"Movie and dinner?"

Megumi wrinkled his nose. 

"If 'dinner' is McDonalds in the skate park then yeah. Not...anything fancy."

"Nothing fancy?"

"Rich people give me a rash."

    How had he ever gone a day in life without this guy? Matching the man's smirk with a little eye-roll and grin of his own, he followed him out of the room, phone burning in his pockets, already anticipating the future text messages and late-night phone calls that would stretch on for hours. Yuuji decided to be bold, intertwining their pinkies together, swinging them lightly till Megumi caught his hand, mumbling something like 'such a sap' beneath his breath.

This...this felt good. Like stars in his palm, dust falling through splayed fingers. 

They emerged into the hallway, just as someone came scurrying down. 

"Oi, Nobara-,"

When Megumi stopped, Yuuji did too, looking at the woman with a rapt curiosity. She looked...messy. Breathless, as she wrapped her arms around herself, red-faced and brown hair mussed every which way. She gave them a confused little leer before recognizing who called out to her.

"There you are! I've been looking all over for you!"

"Have you? Really?" Megumi's voice was pointed. Yuuji couldn't tell why he sounded like he was holding back laughter, why that woman's-Nobara's-face turned a deep scarlet. Her eyes flickered to him with a rapt curiosity, quickly noticing their intertwined hands.

"Seems like you've been busy," She said smugly. "Who's your friend?"

"Itadori Yuuji." Megumi didn't even hesitate. Yuuji glanced at him just in time to see the little quirk of his lips, how his eyebrows wiggled. "Who's yours?"

Nobara visibly stiffened. She turned around as if expecting to find someone there, but the hallway was deserted except for the trio. She rubbed her arms, shaking her head, before darting a hand out to seize Megumi's arm out of Yuuji's grip. 

"Nice to meet you," She said, softening his instinctive burst of annoyance. "I'm sure I'll be seeing more of you. You're Gumi's type after all."

Then she was running. Legitimately sprinting away in heels. Megumi struggled to keep up with her. He tried to turn back; green eyes took one final glance Yuuji's way before she ducked his head to keep him moving forward. Yuuji was left standing there, palm empty, watching the two go down the stairs. 

(And Me-Gu-Mi was gone. Just like that. Like he'd never been there at all. The only thing Yuuji had was a couple marks on his neck and kiss-swollen lips, the lingering taste of beer and ash in his mouth.)

"Hey! Bitch boy! What're you standing around for? The others have started cleaning up y'know?"

"I'm on it!"

   The party completely empties out by 3, so they can start cleaning up early. The upperclassmen were either passed out (Sukuna + Choso) or M.I.A (Nanami and Gojo) so the pledges were left with a bit more leeway than usual. They could play music as they cleaned, clearing out all the trash both inside and on the law, mopping up the floor, lysoling the couches and bleaching every surface possible. Mai and Todo were their only supervisors and, so long as things ended up alright, they were fine with them talking. They even went as far as to warm up the pizza they stashed away, splitting it among them for a party well-thrown. It was a good distraction, keeping his mind away from his silent phone as he worked.

Soon enough, the place started looking less like an abandoned festival ground and more like an actual home. Pledges slumped over, crashing on the couches, floor and chairs alike. As soon as Yuuji hit the cushions, he was out like a light. It wasn't until noon the next day that he rolled over, head pounding as people yelled back and forth, to find his phone lying on the ground next to him, blinking with a brand new message: 

'We've got Toy Story 6, The Blair Witch Project Runway, and Kill Bill's Bride. Pick your poison.'

"Hey hey hey! Are you smiling? Pledges aren't allowed to smile! Your fellow Pledges are out here grinding. They've been up for an hour already, cooking us breakfast, cleaning up the bathrooms, going to the bakery for fresh baguettes and doing whatever the hell we ask them to do while you've been here passed out and lazy as shit. What the fuck could you be happy about bitch boy? The oppression of your brothers-?"

Chapter Text

     Nobara had one goal and one goal alone for Halloween night: hook up with the Sukuna, President of Sigma Zetta Tau, the biggest fraternity on campus, and the guy who basically ran shit around here. If she succeeded, this would establish her as the alpha female of Jujutsu University. The HBIC. The one invited to every event, with all the connections and tools she'd need to advance in life. 

She was willing to kill to make sure that happened. 

Megumi was a victim of the situation. There was no way in hell she was going to show up alone. Maki already ditched her to study for one of numerous exams she had as a Bio-Chem major. But her job was going to be serious shit. Nursing was the big leagues. All Megumi wanted to do was pet dogs for the rest of his life. He could afford to take a night off from studying.

So she forced him through the doors of the frat house, into the glorious scene of a SZT party in full throttle. She made him stand with her by the raided snack table, and heeded his warning when he silently stopped her from drinking a jungle juice that smelled like a hospital waiting room and febreeze.

Megumi was a good friend. He got them beers, stood by her even when he looked extremely uncomfortable with their surroundings. She was thinking about how to make it up to him when she saw her.

   Mai Zenin. Senior. Maki's twin sister, Sukuna's off-again, on-again girlfriend and Events Chair of SZT. Where Maki was stockier and short, her sister was all long, lean limbs. Double Majoring in Dance and Visual Arts of all things. She moved like one, commanding the room with one elegant swing of her hips, black silky fabric shifting to reveal a creamy leg wrapped in dark, tight thigh high boots.

Nobara was cultured so she recognized the long cigarette holder sticking out of the woman's mouth, the cat-eye sunglasses in her hair and iconic headpiece-pearl necklace combo. She had seen Breakfast at Tiffany's  more times than she could count but this...this strange, sexual, BDSM-esque take on the Holly Golightly. 

It was tacky. Nobara would never wear something like that. She didn't have closet-envy at all. She would never wear those boots. Not even if someone paid her. Truly. 

"You should go talk to her." Megumi said, indifferent to anyone who couldn't sense the patience beneath his tone. "Meet someone."

"Her?" She played stupid, because there was no way she's going to entertain the thought of approaching Mai. 

There was a commotion on the couch just behind her and, sure enough, Sukuna sat like a King in court, head thrown back in laughter as his friends milled around him. 

Target: Locked. 

"I should go talk to him," She said firmly. 

"Maybe not-." 

She ignored him. Keeping her beer can on her for liquid confidence, she weaved through the party, putting her confidence in the sway of her hip as she sidled up to the couch. 

"Still, I'm surprised someone didn't get on his ass sooner." Someone was saying.

   Anyone worth their salt could recognize the bluster of hollow haughtiness when they heard it. 'Trying too hard' as many would say. She gave the speaker her best arched-brow-unamused-pout , hoping Sukuna would take note of how her lower lip jutted when she did so. "Professor Kujo's a dick. Fucker deserved to have his car keyed."

"Fuck yeah dude! But you should've seen it! Sickest shit I've ever seen! That shit was like... special grade curse !"

"Special grade curse?" She found her chance and took it. Of course all eyes flew to her. She deserved the attention. "What does that mean?"

Some chick scoffed. She was perched on Sukuna's lap. Nobara didn't pay her too much attention even when she spoke up; she only had eyes for her target. 

"Special Grade Curse is like...dope. Sick. Wicked. Y'know?"

"I've never heard that before." 

Again, the woman spoke even though Nobara was clearly directing her words to Sukuna. 

"It's, like, the latest slang. IYKYK, y'know?"

"I don't speak in letters."

There was a hush, a brief gasp, before ' Ooohs ' went around the circle.  Somebody snorted, a harsh sound of amusement quickly covered by a fake cough and that was how she knew she secured her advantage. All she had to do was press.

"It just...sounds kind of dumb. ' Special Grade Curse'. That's so many words. Why wouldn't you just say 'lit ' or like ' awesome '? Slang's supposed to be like, shorthand, you know?”

"You think it's dumb?" Lap girl sounded astonished. Nobara shrugged; it was a struggle to keep her smirk from her lips so she didn't even try, letting her eyes flicker down to the chick for one moment, getting a good look at her and her cat costume before she took her place-.

"I came up with it."

... Oh shit.

They all fell quiet when Sukuna began to speak. That was his power: seizing command. Being unpredictable. He looked at her and she wanted to die.

Sukuna was finally giving her the attention she deserved. The nature of it was off though. He looked at her the way one looked at misfortune: a child tripping over their shoelace, a hair in food at a restaurant, the similar-looking-but-still-wrong product in your shopping bag when you're already at home, a zit on date night, shit on the bottom of your shoe.

Not at all how she wanted to be regarded. 

"O-Oh." The others were hiding their laughter behind their hands. Her face heated and suddenly, that little area, that party, was absolutely unbearable. 

"What's your name?"

A chance at redemption?

"Nobara Kugisaki. Bu-But my friends call me-!" 

"You're not from around here, are you Nobara Kugisaki?"

She blinked down. He was utterly relaxed, open with his body language. With his hands folded behind his head, he looked her over, top to bottom. "You've got an accent. You're from the countryside aren't you?"

"Yeah! I'm-!"

"God, Jujutsu's just letting anybody in nowadays aren't they?" He laughed, loud and attention-drawing. His eyes gleamed when he looked at her. Finally, she could see the cruelty of him, the madness that comes with power and influence. "All the way from Hicksville to the big city, am I right? Say, what do they do where you're from? Cow-tippin '? Shrimp on the barbie? " He let out another short bark of laughter. The others joined in, fawning over his fake drawl. Only one dared to speak up.

" No , Sukuna , bro , that's Australian-."

" Fuck off Choso. I'm talking to Sweet Home Alabama here-."

    Someone threw a drink. She didn't even see their hand move, just the red cup moving through the air, liquid spilling from its top in a graceful arc that ended right on the skirt of her pure white gown. She didn't look at them as they laughed. Her eyes were on the stain-bright cherry red and spreading quickly as the seconds passed.

That outfit...was cute. She bought it just for that party.. She was supposed to 'climb the ranks' in this dress. She spent her hard-earned cash on this dress, worked two doubles back-to-back at the diner to afford the splurge, only to have a couple assholes insulting something she had absolutely no control over-an aspect of herself she didn't want to change and-,

"You shouldn't be talking at all." A new voice cut in smoothly. There was a hand at Nobara's back, tugging her away so the newcomer could slip in between her and the monster on the couch. Newcomer took a long drag from her cigarette, letting out little puffs that seemed red under the lights, like a dragon sending out little warning gusts before it let flames loose. Her presence was demanding. As soon as she stepped forward, they all fell silent, peering at her with wary eyes.

"Soooo, you losers have nothing better to do than sit around while the others run this thing huh?"

    She knew it was her from the sound of her voice alone. Mai Zenin had a strange way of talking: an almost lazy drawl, languid but lavish. Disdain dripped from each syllable that same way glass tinkled from chandeliers. There was confidence stuffed between each syllable; the arrogance of kings naturally interwoven, gilding each word till her voice shone above everything else, even the booming music. 

"Sukuna, you're from a small town in the middle of fucking nowhere in Florida. Your kind do meth for fun. You're the type of guy they write news headlines about for fucking alligators or commiting arson at Disneyland or whatever the fuck it is you people do. I don't understand why you're making fun of princess here-," A soft hand landed in Nobara's hair, warmth of skin seeping through the satin of the glove. Sharp nails combed through it, scritching at her scalp. "When you two are basically cousins." 

She paused, curled her lips with a malicious gleam in her eye. "Unless that's your idea of flirting, you incestuous-,"

"Pot calling the kettle black," he retorted, smirk wicked. "I don't know why you're talking Mai, but you've always been petty and insecure and-,"

"Cry me a river Florida Man." She cut him off quick, blowing smoke right in his face before her eyes flickered down.

"Lose your drink Sasaki?"

The fairy girl in Sukuna's lap talked a lot of shit, but her face betrayed her discomfort, turning a bright scarlet. Mai tutteted, taking the cup from her hand. She didn't hesitate before downing the rest of the contents. Her face doesn't budge. Not an inch. Nobara knew how disgusting the jungle juice tasted but Mai took it like a soldier. 

"People that don't know what work feels like waste drinks like this. Should be expected. You've never clocked in a day in your life, have you, you ittle wittle  trust fund baby?" 

Sasaki opened her mouth. Mai didn't wait before sticking the dagger in and twisting. 

"No, no, no. You don't get to speak. Not with that crappy shade on your lips. Here, hun," She slipped a hand into her bra, tugging out a bright red lipstick in a glass bottle. Fenty Mattemoisselle. From the debut. Nobara had an eye for things like this. "Take this. It'll help. Later, losers!" An aside, tone low and mocking, "Let's go, princess."

 She dropped the hand from Nobara's hair and draped her whole arm around her shoulders, forcibly turning her so they can walk away in a cloud of her own cigarette smoke. 

Nobara held herself high. Even though her dress was sticking to her skin and she smelled like a bar after a Rangers game, she jutted out her chin and blinked back the burning in her eyes, keeping her cool till they disappeared into the crowd. 

"Thank you." she said, when they were safely tucked away. Mai snorted, high and haughty.

"I didn't do it for you. I'd never miss out on a chance to give Sukuna a verbal beatdown."

"Yeah, Mai. You've always been good at that."

The hand around Nobara's shoulder tensed. Mai finally turned to her, hardly more than an inclination of her slender neck, an imperceptible dip of her chin to let jade eyes give the shorter woman a quick up-and-down.

.

"I'm sorry. You know my name?"

.

Mai didn't know what to expect when she rescued Nobara Kugisaki from Sukuna's ire. Maybe a 'thank you'. A side-glance and for her to turn away with her dainty little ankles and a swish of her tiny white skirt. 

(it suited her. white. such a shame that there was such a huge stain on it but if Mai changed her perspective, it kind of looked like blood. she could be a tragic heroine, an angel who made the mistake of falling in love with human and paid the price for it....she looked like the love interest in a fairy tale...she's always looked like that but now... especially now...)

"I'm Nobara Kugisaki. One of Maki's friends," she said, as if Mai didn't know that. 

"The ex-girlfriend," Mai clarified. Judging by the way Nobara's face screwed up, this wasn't the right response. She was not particularly good at this: socializing and all. She had the ' bark to match her bite' as her mother used to say, and often came off callous without intention. Nervousness made her tongue sharp as knives.

And Nobara Kugisaki made her very nervous.

    She tried to hide it, continuing on through the crowd without hesitating. The masses parted for her as they should, nothing but extras in this movie scene. She couldn't even hear the music, so focused on the soft clack of Nobara's heels sounding out behind her. Maybe she...wanted to hang out? Just for a little bit. Mai finally caught her attention for once. She didn't intend to waste it like Maki did. She slowed her pace, headed for the bookshelf where she and Toge hid the good stuff earlier. She had to go on her tip-toes to reach the hiding spot, slipping out a thick dictionary and depositing it in Nobara's waiting hands 

(she didn't look at her biceps, how the sinewy muscle shifted beneath her skin. fit like Wonder Woman wasn't she? just as naive too)

   Mai reached in, fingers scrabbling in the darkness till they hit cool glass and squeeze around the curve. The bottle of wine was already open so she had to be careful as she tugged it out. Tucking the thing under her arm, she replaced the tome and set off again, sparing a glance for her companion. Nobara blinked back at her, confused. Mai pushed the bottle into her hand and leaned in, close enough to smell the wisteria of her perfume.

.

"I'm gonna go outside for a bit. Come with me?"

.

Nobara nodded, because she didn't have anywhere else to go. Megumi's fucked off to who-knows-where so she was alone in this party. Alone with Mai, her ex's twin-sister, who was walking close enough that their arms brushed every so often. It was like they had their own little bubble, together in the crowd. Nobara was close enough to watch the way she moved, heat of something like envy burning beneath her skin. 

All the grace of a model, never breaking a sweat, never letting herself get groped or jostled. Just a steady, easy walk.

"You move and it's like you're floating." She said, putting words to the emotion. "Everyone moves out of your way."

Green eyes slid her way, easy as her feet. Light. Effortless. As if the action were a careless afterthought. 

"It's all about your vibe." Mai's lips were at her ear. She could feel the heat of her hands at her wrists, raising them till their hands were up high. Mai's fingers intertwined with hers but she hardly noticed eyes falling to the little sway of her hips "You're trying too hard. Of course they won't move for you. You've got to let go."

Just as quick, their hands slipped out of the hold. Mai didn't let her go for long, dropping her grip to Nobara's waist, forcing it to meet her own with a little jerk. 

"It's like a dance." 

(her breath was warm against her neck. Nobara's heart fluttered in her chest as Mai moved behind her, tugging her back till their bodies were flush. it looked like they were dancing to anyone else in the room. a slow, dirty grind with Mai's lips at her neck and her fingers insistent at her hips. Mai didn't care so Nobara didn't either. truly. not even when those same hands forced her hips to move to the tempo, just quick enough to blend in with the others as they moved past them.)

     Slow, steady, she guided Nobara forward, slipping the pair through the bulk of the crowd and over to the back door. The crowd thinned out. There weren't too many people outside, all afraid of the chill. Mai made a beeline for the empty pool, slipping out of her boots as she went, padding barefoot against the stone before gathering her black skirts and hoisting them up to reveal smooth, slim shins. 

She sat with a sigh. Nobara watched her descend, black dress held tight against her curves, backlit by the lights of the pool to create an image out of a movie. Mai tucked her pipe back between her lips. The noise from the party fell to a dull thump in the background.

"You can come join me. The water's cool." Mai let out a bluster of smoke but Nobara could see her eyes through the haze-bright jade and sharp. They entranced her, pure witchcraft forcing her to slip out of her strappy heels and sit at the edge of the pool. 

Mai was right.

The water was cool, nearly ice cold against her skin. She wanted to recoil but she didn't want to look like a loser. 

(Mai's opinion mattered to her for some reason. a lot more than the others.)

    They were quiet, save for the riot of the party behind them. Mai smoked her cig out of the fancy, long holder and Nobara sipped at the wine, relishing the tartness of it on her tongue, how the heat in her throat steeled her from the autumn chill. Her eyes were on Mai's feet. Pretty little things with the toes painted a midnight black. Skin gold and sandy even beneath the water, illuminated by the white lights beneath the surface.

"You need to learn how to stop giving a fuck."

 The words startled her. She wasn't expecting them so all she could respond with was a stuttered, "W-What?"

Mai was looking off into the distance. She took her time, dragging another hit from her cig as her eyes traced the streetlights on the horizon. Her bangs were mussed by the breeze, stray strands catching on her lashes, eyeliner still cut to fatality. 

Dark rouge lips parted. Let out the smoke. Riding on the coattails of the clouds were the words:

.

.

"You need to love yourself more." 

A frown. Short pause. 

"...No, not more, but to the point where you can't deny even yourself. Sukuna is popular because Sukuna takes command of a room. He's very self-certain and even more self- centered . Strip away all of his talk and you've got an asshole, but he's an asshole who's unapologetic about it."

Another puff. The smell of nicotine and chlorine in the air. 

"I can respect that. The things we want don't just fall into our laps. We have to seize them. We have to love ourselves enough to seize them, enough to not allow ourselves to be seized. We have to love ourselves en ough to let things go when we see that they don't benefit us, and to bite back when we've been bitten."

"Those dickheads were pushing you around, and you should've pushed back . They have no right to treat you the way they did and you have every right to call them out on their shit. Stick up for yourself Country girl. Defend yourself. Your home. Your roots. Where you come from made you who you are, never let anyone shame you for that. It's all that you've got. It's something no one can take away from you. Not even the 'great ' Ryomen Sukuna."

.

.

    Mai let out another smooth gust of smoke. The last one of that cig it seemed, a weak little thing as it was. Sure enough, she had to grind the stub into the stone, tucking the long, sleek holder into one of her gloves. 

Nobara offered her the wine bottle and she accepted, taking a long swig. She watched Nobara out of the corner of her eye, suddenly concerned that she said too much. The woman wasn't looking at her though. Her eyes were at Mai's feet, following the movement of them through the water, little blurs of skin. 

She continued, filling the silence with a flippant tone and nonchalant words.

"It's about finding a balance. What are you? A sophomore?"

"Junior."

"You'll get it soon then. I feel like..." She kicked her feet softly, pedalling in the water, watching the ripples. "This was the year that everything came into focus. Who I am. What I want. I'm more open about it."

"And when it comes to seizing it?" 

Mai looked up. Nobara's eyes are on her now, wide like a fawn's, brown just as soft. Pretty. Her lips moved, red from the chill of the cold. Mai could hardly hear the soft, "Are you more open about seizing it?"

"I'd like to think so."

The Junior bit her lip. She looked like she wanted to say more, so Mai kept quiet, waiting. But by the time she opened her mouth, a new distraction came running out. 

    Todo, wearing absolutely nothing, barrelling out to the pool with his intentions clear in his eyes. Mai didn't even bother to yell at her frat brother to stop, only held her hands before her face to shield her makeup from the onslaught. He dropped  into the water and the resulting crack of sound was like thunder. The spray followed close behind; tidal waves climbing high in the air before crashing down upon them. 

   She heard Nobara splutter. There was the joyous roar of her brothers and Todo's yell of " ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?" from the pool. Mai picked up the bottle of wine, because that was her only priority. Nobara was trying to compose herself, but her hair was wet and her makeup was running. The little white dress with the cherry red stain clung tight to her skin, pure as snow against creamy thighs, rustled at the decollete, clinging to her chest to keep from slipping away, hem just under her necklace (gold and oval shaped-the archangel michael hangs from the chain, sword raised and expression fierce; it suits her) and a single strap falling from her shoulder.

"-ai."

Her wings were soaked and limp. She looked cold like that, eyes a little lost when she turned to her, a slight shiver in her skin when she folded her arms tight.

"Mai."

She wasn't not religious but she was sure women were the work of the divine. If not all, then Nobara Kugisaki for sure. 

"Mai!"

"Let's go back inside." She said lowly. Big brown eyes blink up at her, only to wince shut before a sharp sneeze. Mai stood, pulling Nobara up to be with her. "Upstairs. It's warmer upstairs."

Mai kept her close, steering her away from where someone was vomiting their dinner on the front porch, through the crowd of dancers and towards the stairs. Mai didn't live in the main house. She liked her off-campus apartment with her privacy and her candles and her fave indian takeout place just down the block.

But she knew this house. She stayed in these halls once, and ate at their table. So she knew that the room on the very top floor, right wing, through the very last door in that hall was the only place that would suit her standards. 

"Fancy." Nobara said when they walked in. 

"Sukuna only wants the best." Mai explained. 

He was an asshole, but one with impeccable taste. They were similar in that regard. He was big on his 'space' when they were dating. Everything had its place. Three books on his bedside table at all times, each more pretentious than the last. She was a candle girl but he liked incense. The scent of it clung to the walls, eerie and shrine-like. There were paintings on the wall. A portrait of Prometheus above his headboard. The titan was just as she remembered him: obscene . Shackled and weeping, chest bloody as eagles tore his liver from his body. 

Imagine looking at that everytime you got fucked. Laying down. Head pressed into the mattress and ass in the air. She had the image of the titan-all his bloody torture, steely resilience and jutted chin-burned into her mind by that point. 

It was like seeing an old friend. 

But one from prison. 

Mai shut the door behind them. Nobara stood, looking around with a skeptical expression. Leaving her, Mai strode towards the closet, flicking through the expensive stuff immediately. She was the one that introduced him to Commes Des Garcons after all. It's only right that she takes what she wants. 

"Will he be okay with you-?"

"He'll get over it." She said at once. "C'mere. Let's find something you like."

There was a little pause, then the shuffling of feet. She could feel Nobara looming behind her, peering over her shoulder at her choices. She made a low sound of appreciation, then,

.

.

"He's got good taste. Balenciaga, Comme des Garcons-"

"Givenchy, Hermes-,"

"Jacquemus, Maison Margiela-,"

"Uniqlo. Vetements. This is your work isn't it?"

"...How can you tell?"

.

.

Nobara hummed. She reached in, ran her hand over a thick black crewneck. 

"I've always been good at this type of thing. You know where everything is. That means this is your organization system. You sort by brand but-." She wrinkled her nose, closed her fingers over the thing and pulled it out. Mai bit back a cringe at the act. "In alphabetical order too? That's a little freaky."

"It's good to have a system."

"The best system is by color."

"Color means mixing things too much. Same color doesn't mean the same style. Brands run on aesthetics. It's easier to match clothes if you arrange them by brand."

"What's wrong with mixing things?"

Nobara turned, only to find Mai already watching her. She was leaning against a closet door, gloved hands crossed in front of her chest. Her words were lilted, sly as the little wicked thing tugging her lips up. 

"Some things don't mix." She said softly. "It's best to keep everything in its own place."

Nobara has the feeling they're not talking about clothes anymore. Even so: "I strongly disagree." 

Mai was quiet. Jutting her chin, Nobara turned back to the closet in search of sweatpants. There were none hanging. Which means they were in the dresser drawers but something held her back from opening them up. It felt a little too much like a game of Russian Roulette. She didn't want to stumble across anything she'd regret. 

"Um."

Mai stared. Nobara didn't even want to say it, but the silence between them only stretched longer, and the longer it stretched, the colder she got. Another sneeze escaped her before she could stop it. 

"What a dork." Mai scoffed. Nobara felt her cheeks burn, remembered how to bite before the chance escaped her. 

"You're cold too!" She pointed to the only expanse of exposed skin. "Look at all those goosebumps!"

"Have you been staring at my tits this whole time?" Mai drawled, turning back to the closet. She tugged out a dark green sweatshirt. "I'm flattered. Here; I'll do you one even better. Unzip me."

Two words. Enough to make her brain grind to a slow halt. 

There was no reason for her to freak out. Mai was hot, sure. She was Maki's twin, after all. But this...

This was platonic unzipping. There was no reason for Nobara's traitorous hands to quiver when she reached out for the zipper, for the metal to slip from between her damp fingertips and for her to curse when it did.

"Okay back there?"

Nobara didn't dignify the question with a response. Just grabbed the thing and gave a forceful yank-.

( Mai had beauty marks. Not a great many but enough that Nobara noticed. Her back was long and slender, spine slightly curved to the right and forward. it was to be expected. all the art students tended to have terrible posture. It was the type of thing you noticed when you paid attention. she could be a model with that back. did she know that? she looked like all those french models. cool and calm with their black, little cups of coffee and a cigarette dangling from their lips. Nobara overcame her tendency to envy back when she was with Maki, but there was still something burning her up from the inside, something making her mouth dry and her thighs press together-,)

Mai turned, gave her that expression that crosses a fox's cunning with a cat's smugness. Her eyes glimmered in the low light. 

" I've heard you and Maki go at it. No need to walk around like a saint."

Mai let the dress drop. 

( Desire .)

It didn't make a sound when it hit the floor. It wasn't wet in the first place. Mai didn't need to change at all and yet there she was, toeing out of her heels and spinning on the balls of her feet as if to show off black lace and tight abs. She plucked the sweatshirt up, shook it out, and began to shrug it on for one blessed moment, before stopping short.

She looked back, over her shoulder.

Nobara couldn't handle eye contact so she dropped her gaze, right down to the curve of her ass, snug within tight black-.

"Aren't you gonna change? You'll get sick you know." 

A furrowed brow. 

"Do you need help?" 

"No!" It came out as a squeak. Nobara hoped Mai didn't notice. (she noticed.) 

She took a breath, deciding to get it over with in one fell swoop. The dress that smelled of alcohol and chlorine came up over her face, smacking her nose on the way. She only allowed a second for the cold to creep in before she was tugging on her sweatshirt of choice. It was big, sure enough, but it wasn't as long as she would like. Mid-thigh was alright, but she needed pants or a blanket or something to help her feel like she wasn't going to freeze to death. 

Arms wrapping around her waist seem to do the trick. 

She stiffened. Mai hummed in her ear, a hand brushing over where the hem of it met her skin. 

"We should get you some sweats," Mai whispered, but her hands contradict her words, rubbing little circles into Nobara's lower back tugging at the fabric of the sweater in a way that's heavy with implication. She tried not to read into it, but it was hard not to when Mai pressed up behind her-close, like she did downstairs in the crowd, only now there was no one to pressure them, alone together in an empty room filled with a steady thrumming.

(her own heartbeat. her racing pulse as her blood simmered in her veins.)

There was that heat she was seeking. A low boil in her core that made steam rise within her till she had to find a way to let it out. Open mouthed, sly-tongued, exhaling with a little gasp into Mai's mouth. 

   There was a stillness, before the thread between them snapped taught, tugging them together without delay. Mai wasted no time in getting her hands where she wanted them, beneath the sweatshirt, onto Nobara's skin and holding her tight till she began to burn. There was a warmth that Nobara was adamant about pursuing. A chill she was fighting off when she turned properly, wrapped her arms around Mai's neck and went to her tiptoes. 

(she thought of maki despite herself. of how maki used to kiss her-forceful but sweet. of how mai seized her in the same way, but never promised maki's gentleness. she was used to relaxed touches, reverent caresses, and warm words of affection. mai was none of these things. she was the sly tongue slipping past her lips, the line of spit between them snapping, teeth at her neck biting down harsh till nobara cried out, and hands. sharp, stiletto nails painted a tasteful nude raking up her back till they got tangled in her bra.)

Nobara gasped. 

They parted.

Mai looked at her with cat eyes, wide and glimmering once they fixed on their prey, accompanied by a smile that was much too smug. 

"Cold feet, Princess ?"

"I-I'm..." She what? "Your nails."

Mai blinked. Looked down at her talons. Frowned, then seemed to think better of it. She went to her knees with all that fluid grace of before, coming forward like a cat on the prowl, those jade eyes bright and cheeks stained red when she met the cleft of Nobara's thighs with a kiss. 

Nobara made a sound. 

Mai cocked her head to the side, a cheeky grin at her lips before her tongue licked a long, wet stripe up creamy skin. 

"If you want something," She said, a hand stroking up her side, lightning strikes at every fingertip. "Then you should have it. All parties consenting, of course."

There was a question there. She could tell by the way Mai paused.  There was a moment, a fleeting thought of escape, of Megumi and Maki and the weight of expectation...but then she thought of Sukuna's mouth open wide with uproarious laughter at her own expense, of a drink sailing through the air and landing on a dress she could only afford after 12 consecutive hours of grueling, dehumanizing retail work.

( fuck you, she thought, tugging that sweatshirt over her head. mai's eyes gleam with the promise of vengeance. she sank back, leaning up against the bed, one hand in the bob of the woman's hair. ' fuck you, you fucking fucks'. then, aloud-.)

.

"Alright."

.

Nobara Kugisaki was an easy lover. All soft skin and breathy sighs. There was a power in her, Mai knew, but she surrendered it easily. Mai didn't mind doing all the work. Everyone deserved to be taken care of every once in a while. So she lay her down on that bed-head on the pillow, sun-streaked mahogany hair gathered about her like a halo, striking contrast to the gore of the titan hanging above them- and Mai gave her everything she could never get in this room:

Pleasure. Desire fulfilled. 

   Gentle but firm hands on creamy thighs, hiking them up and over Mai's shoulders as she brushed her lips against their inner expanse, nipping at tiger striped stretch marks and a little black beauty mark just before reaching her folds. They were already slick with arousal. Mai added her tongue to their wet heat, tasting the salt of skin and humming as the thigh around her head began to quake. It wasn't long till her chin was wet, till there were little wet moans sounding out past the little thumpthumpthump of the bass from whatever shit Choso was playing. She pushed forward, nudging her nose up till a little pink nub brushes her top lip.

Then she placed a kiss to it and suckled.

Something half-sob, half-groan sounded out.

    She glanced up. Nobara's face was flushed deep pink, a hand clasped over her mouth to hide little, fluttering gasps. Mai's gaze traveled up again, to the eagle with bloody beak, eye glinting as it stared down at her. She thought of Prometheus and suffering. She remembered Sukuna's rough hands and rougher thrusts and how he would never make sure she ever got a chance to finish, and how she used to fall for it everytime, thinking that something would change eventually-.

'Fuck you,' she thought, bending her head again.

.

'Fuck you, you fucking fucks.'

.

     Mai was better. And Nobara hated herself a little for thinking it, but Maki never made her feel breathless like this. Mai made her want to reach down and grab her hair but to spur her on, not redirect her. She knew what she's doing. Every long stripe of a lick, the thrust of her tongue and the way her lips latched onto her clit to give a little suckle that made her nerves hum. She felt like the room was on fire. There was a certain heat that's passing over her skin, forcing her to take short, gasping breaths between moans, to clench her thighs and buck into Mai's mouth before those hands force her still-sharp nails digging into her skin roughly enough to bruise. 

There were tears in her eyes when she came. Nobara couldn't remember ever having an orgasm so good she got teary. 

(was it the guilt? the anger from before? was she drunk? secondhand high? or does mai zenin really have a tongue that good?)

She turned over. Buried her face in a pillow so that the woman couldn't see her. Gave herself a minute to breathe before rousing herself and sitting up. 

Mai was already staring at her, smug as a cat, wiping her glistening smirk with the back of a hand. Nobara wanted to bite it off her, but then she remembered her manners. 

So she tackled her instead, grinning as Mai let out a wild, shriek of laughter as she tumbled to the sheets. It was hungry work, stripping the sweatshirt from her form, watching the bounce of her chest before dipping to press a kiss at the center of it, right at the middle of her sternum. She turned then, gave her attention to the right nipple, pert and brown, laving at it as her hand reached down to rub at her through the black.

"Don't waste time just-," Mai's nails dug into her shoulder. "Just go for it.

She 'went for it'. Nothing to hold her back as she stripped the thing away and cast it to the side. Brushing her hair back, she spared one last look to Mai's little smirk, then slid between her legs to give worship.

Her taste was expensive. Nobara didn't know any other way to explain it, but to be between her legs managed to feel like some kind of luxury. She wasn't sure if it was the diamond-encrusted anklet dangling by her ear as she ate her out, or if it were the richness of her against her tongue. It felt different somehow. Like she was given access to something few could touch, let alone thrust their fingers in, feeling the walls clench around them with wet, sloppy sounds.

Expensive. Exclusive. Forbidden, if the way her heart was beating meant anything. Doing Mai Zenin felt like doing something bad. She felt like sneaking out at night with her Daddy's Cadillac to go hang out with her friends in the local park and smoke. She felt like juvenile rebellion and teenage kicks. There was a certain thrill in her, laced with euphoria, golden in Nobara's veins and sweet on her tongue as she lapped at her clit. 

   She was unrelenting. She may not be experienced but Mai was unafraid to command her, strict directives when she was screwing it up and easy coos when she did something right. It wasn't long till they found a good rhythm, one that made Mai arch her back and curl her toes, grip strong in Nobara's hair and only getting tighter as she groaned, a melody of " Yes.Yes.Yes.Oh, fuck." recited under her breath as she clenched tight around her. Once. Twice. A third time as Nobara drove her fingers in and let them hit home, curling them up and rubbing up against that strange new texture till a long, shuddered moan sounded out and her hand was drenched. 

Mai dragged her up into a kiss as she came. It was a short, sharp thing. Startling in the intensity of it, all teeth clacking and lips bitten roughly enough to draw blood. They rode through the afterwaves, clinging to each other until the stickiness of sweat on their skin settled in and they had no choice but to part. 

They looked at each other-jade eyes clashing with a deep amber. Neither said a thing, simply breathing for a moment. There weren't words really, none that could fit the moment at least. Just Nobara's little flush and girlish grin, how she rolled her eyes when Mai wriggled her brows at her. Her smirk was toothy, finally parting for speech when the door slammed open.

"Get out."

Sukuna stood at his doorway, holding the hand of some stranger. They looked a little like Megumi, dark hair and green eyes, but the shade was off. A little too dark. The cheekbones were too high and jaw too strong. 

But, Nobara was too mortified to give much thought to it. She let out a little shriek, rolling out of bed at once. She tugged on the dress over her sweatshirt and forced on her heels. Sukuna and Mai were fighting, and having a great time of it too,

"Don't get your panties in a twist, Florida Man."

"My bed? Mine? Do you know the thread count of these sheets? And now you've got your vaginal excretions -!"

"Oh my fucking-! You took one Bio class freshman year! One you prick, before you dropped the major! You don't get to use big words like you're some kind of-!"

"At least I'm not some shitty art student! I mean, do you really think your paintings are good enough to make money? Or is this one of those stupid things you do to get Daddy's attention? Maki's going to be a surgeon-!"

"I don't want to be a surgeon! I want to drink wine and live on the beach-!"

She...she should leave.

It was a mistake to stand. All eyes darted to her. Unsure of what to say, Nobara Kugisaki straightened her spine, lifted her head high and strutted out. 

"Baby dick." She shot Sukuna's way before getting right on out. It wasn't a run so much as it was a brisk paced sprint. Too quick to see where she was going, as she crashed right into a firm body. 

She recognized this scent of jasmine. These green eyes were all too familiar as they looked down at her, scanning her for injuries or something with a little smirk at his face. Fushiguro Megumi. The real one this time. 

"Oi, Nobara, what're you-?"

She stepped back, wrapped her arms around herself to try and hide the sweatshirt as she took control of the situation. 

"There you are! I've been looking all over for you!"

"Have you?" His face was lit up in that subtle way of his, amusement leaking through every pore. "Really?"

And she couldn't help but flush in embarrassment, to try and adjust her appearance to something more acceptable. She had to get him back. She had to-.

He was holding someone's hand. 

Some kind of Adonis, the body of a god obvious even in a loose t-shirt, sweatpants combo (honestly, why attend a halloween party if you're not going to wear a costume?) He was cute . Big brown eyes, ruffled pink hair and....swollen lips...and hickies...

Oh shit. Megumi pulled. How did he always manage to pull? 

"Seems like you've been busy. Who's your friend?"

"Itadori Yuuji." Even the way he said his name sounded like a prayer. God, Megumi liked this one didn't he? She was just feeling happy for him when he decided to tease her, "Who's yours?"

She stiffened. Did those two follow her out? She turned back the way she came, only to find the halls empty. They hadn't followed her then. She was in the clear. 

"No one," She said hastily. Pulling his hand into hers, she began their hasty getaway, only to remember Megumi's boytoy at the last minute. She turned, met his glare with an apologetic smile and a wink.

"Nice to meet you," Nobara said. "I'm sure I'll be seeing more of you. You're Gumi's type after all."

And just like that, they were Bonnie and Clyde slipping out after a successful heist. Gumi was a good friend because Gumi didn't ask questions at dumb moments. When she started running in heels, he was running right after her, pushing through the dwindling crowd till they made it to the front door. Just as she skirted around the puddle of vomit, she heard it-

"Princess!"

Nobara turned, and against her better senses, there was hope in her heart. It was dashed quick. The Megumi lookalike came for her through the crowd, a piece of paper in his hand.

"Mai said I should give this to you."

She didn't thank him, just snatched the paper and ran out with Megumi still in hand. They went to the bushes. As Megumi took his skateboard out of its hiding place, she unfolded the thing. No note. No message. Just a string of numbers. Fighting a stupid grin, she crumpled the thing and stuffed it into the sweatshirt sleeve.

Megumi took the board to the street and waited for her. Humming, she removed her heels, brought them into hand and padded over to meet him. He started tugging her along. Rolling at an easy pace, she could turn her face up, look to the sky above them and swing their interlocked hands.

"You got laid."

"So did you." She shot back. She could feel him smiling at her in that soft, little way of his. Allowing herself a smirk of her own, she squeezed his hand tight. "You see what happens when you go out and meet people?"

Green eyes darted to her, bright and amused, a clear contrast to the lazy drawled,  "Scandalous hookups in seedy frat houses?"

"Noooo-," She hummed, looked up at the stars above them, a strange peace in her chest. The paper in her sleeve brushed up against her arm, warm and pressing. 

" Opportunity."