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duskydestra · 1 year

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Golden Hour

Fandom: Jujutsu Kaisen

Relationships: Kugisaki Nobara/Zenin Maki, Kugisaki Nobara & Hoshi Kirara

Characters: Kugisaki Nobara, Zenin Maki, Hoshi Kirara

Rating: Teen and Up

Tags: Vampires, Getting Together, Canon-Typical Hijinks, College AU, No Curses AU, First Kiss

Summary: By day, Nobara's a part-time model. By night, she studies at a design school.

When she invites her crush to a Halloween party, what happens when she gets more than she bargained for?

(Or: Nobara girlbosses a bit too close to the moon.)

If you'd rather read on AO3, click here.

Nobara tilted her head up, letting sunlight run along the side of her face. This late into fall, there wasn’t much warmth to accompany it. Unfortunately, today’s shoot was for an athleisure line, and the material wasn’t the thickest. She held down a shiver as she heard the rapid-fire clicks of a burst shot. Their 30 minutes were nearly up, and Kirara always made the most of it.

“Alright. You’re done for the day. Great job!” Kirara gave a thumbs up from behind the camera.

Nobara hopped off the brick wall. Leaves crunched beneath her sneakers as she ran over to see the results. She admired Kirara’s range, which was why she requested the modeling agency pair them together. Their candid shots were the most natural Nobara’s ever taken, and they had an eye for poses that suit her resting position.

Out of today’s photo batch, there were two clear winners. The first, a lovely candid they took while she was people watching; the contemplative sparkle in her eye was merely Nobara wondering where a girl across the street had gotten her windbreaker. In the second, she was posed on the wall lining the park with one leg folded under her. She balanced one hand on her knee while she leaned on the other behind her, angled in a way to casually show the brand’s logo.

Nobara pointed them out on the screen. “Send me these.”

Kirara added an orange flair to the previews. “Got it.”

Nobara threw on her backpack and darted into the nearest restroom. There, she changed into a comfy cream sweater and brown pants. Stepping back out into the brisk air, she felt much warmer than before.

Reluctantly, she held out the set of branded clothing to Kirara.

“Can I keep them this time?” she teased.

Kirara snorted. “That’s not up to me. And if it was, it’d be something more insulated.”

Nobara grimaced. “Was it that obvious?”

“Only to me. And that’s ‘cause it’s my job to notice these things. I’ll have to erase the goosebumps later, but that’s it.” They cracked a smile and put the camera away. “You don’t make me work too hard, though. Everything else is perfect.”

“How could it not be?” Nobara asked, striking one final pose.

Kirara laughed, knowing it was rhetorical.

As the sun sank below the horizon, Nobara claimed her spot on the subway. The park was two stops from campus—just long enough to mentally prepare herself for the toll of night school.

Interior design was a breeze. It helped that it was a solid discipline to pair with her modeling career. However, that sense of easy accomplishment dimmed on the way to her architecture class. At the risk of failing, she’d come up with three reasons to see it through:

In order to round out her credits for the year, it was a necessary addition.

Once she could afford her dream home, she’d be able to lay out exactly how it should be built.

She shared a table with an especially pretty girl, so skipping wasn’t an option.

She greeted Maki as she took her seat, who returned it pleasantly.

“Be honest,” Maki said. “How’d I do today?”

Nobara sat back and got a full view of Maki. Today, her glasses were a different shape. The roundness of the frames played well with the sharpness of her other features. She wore a classic, dark green flannel with a matching undershirt. The legs of her pants were tucked into a pair of steel-toe boots.

Under her guidance, Maki had come a long way from leg warmers. Ever since Nobara recognized green as one of Maki’s best colors, it’s been a joy to see her work it into her wardrobe.

Nobara hummed in approval. “Simple. Nice. I love what you did with the glasses. Feels like I get to see more of your face.”

Maki pushed the frames up the bridge of her nose, trapping a grin behind her hand. The urge to move her arm out of the way tugged at the back of Nobara’s mind. Thankfully, Maki dropped her hand, allowing Nobara to appreciate that smile for a few more seconds.

“Thanks.” Maki cleared her throat, and a familiar eagerness settled over her. “Any favorites today?”

Nobara swallowed the other compliments that had rushed to the tip of her tongue, resolving to say them later. She dug her phone out of her pocket and pulled up the photos from Kirara.

Maki leaned in, eyes wide and gleaming. In the face of such open admiration, warmth swelled in Nobara’s chest.

It was more than enough to fend off the night’s chill when she caught the late train to her apartment. The memory of Maki’s smile fixed itself at the top of her mind as she went about her night routine and settled into bed.

~~~

Mercifully, there was no class the next day. With no need to rush, she luxuriated in her skin routine, pausing to admire how soft her face was to the touch. After a light breakfast, she used the morning to clear the pile of homework and discussion board posts.

By late afternoon, she arrived at the park ready to work and excitedly picked up her assignment from Kirara. Nobara peered into the bag, spotting a houndstooth coat and the solid base. She squinted in obvious confusion.

“Are you sure?”

“It’s what they gave me,” Kirara said, hesitant. “Maybe we can make it work?”

The style only felt more out of place once Nobara had changed into it. Despite that, she did her damnedest to take Kirara’s direction. At some points, the camera flick was near constant. At others, Kirara let as many seconds pass as needed so they could capture the best shot.

When they called her over to see how it all turned out, she braced herself. She looked good, but that was a given. While this collection could fit alongside any photoset, nothing about the look itself stood out to her. And why settle for good when she was capable of excellence?

She looked up to see Kirara’s mouth twisted to the side.

“You don’t like it, either, huh? I always thought houndstooth belonged more to winter than fall.”

“Right,” Kirara said. “Making us shoot stuff out of season doesn’t do them any favors. They didn’t wanna provide a substitute, but I’m sure they will when I show these to them.”

“Can you blur my face before you do? This is embarrassing.”

“How about I just crop it so you don’t look like you’re in witness protection?”

“You’re a lifesaver.”

She ducked into her usual shop to change—very glad to be back in the season’s latest—and handed the assignment back to Kirara.

“Can-”

“No, you can’t keep them.”

Nobara huffed. “I’d have given it a good home.”

At the very least, she’d have worn it when it was meant to be worn.

“I don’t doubt it, but I’ll be surprised if they don’t cancel their contract instead. You can have this, though.”

Kirara pulled an orange flyer out of their camera bag. Basic clip art of pumpkins and bats decorated the page. Heavy black letters declared this an invite to a Halloween party. It’d take place at a different university’s civic center. Costumes were mandatory.

“I’m working that night and can’t afford to double book,” Kirara said. “But at least one of us should get to go.”

Nobara slid the flyer into her backpack.

Outside the campus library, Nobara took out a compact mirror. She ran a hand over her hair to smooth out her bob. Even though she was on the verge of failing ARCH 1101, it presented the best silver lining: a weekly study session with Maki.

Nobara weaved through the visitors to reach her table. It didn’t have her name on it, but she’d put a pink heart sticker at the center of it and that was close enough. Tucked away in the corner, Maki looked up from her notes when Nobara took a seat.

No matter how late in the night they met, Maki always had a glow about her. The ceiling lights were unforgiving, but Nobara was hard-pressed to spot a flaw in her face. Other students shuffled about the library with hunched shoulders and dark circles under their eyes—but not Maki. She was such a welcome sight, even without the comparison.

“Hey,” Maki said warmly. “Do you have any favorites to show off?”

“Nah.”

Maki’s face fell slightly. She made a noise of understanding, but it was enough to make Nobara wish she'd kept a photo for her.

“That’s alright,” Maki said. “We should be studying, anyway.”

“Fine, fine.”

“Still having problems with blueprints?”

“I hate them. Too many damn symbols.”

“You’ll get the hang of it.”

“Easy for you to say,” Nobara groaned. “This is your major, not mine.”

“Stop whining. It just takes practice.”

Maki attached an empty sheet of graph paper to her clipboard and pushed it across the table, watching Nobara take out a mechanical pencil. She stood, briefly towering over Nobara (much to Nobara’s delight), and jerked her head toward an open section of the library.

“Come on, then.”

They strolled around the perimeter, pausing for Nobara to sketch the symbols of each furnishing they passed. Some were straightforward, but many were too similar to each other.

At the staircase, Maki peered over Nobara’s shoulder.

“Almost” was her only hint.

Nobara moved her pencil about the page as she wondered what was wrong. Eventually, she erased the direction arrow on the stairs and drew it in the opposite direction. She looked up at Maki for confirmation, who nodded in assent.

The first page was filled with as many bold lines as eraser marks. She didn’t expect much improvement on the second floor, but flipped the sheet over anyway to start again.

Upstairs was home to the reference section, and she’d never been so grateful to see giant bookshelves and uniform lights. Easy to sketch, less room to mess up. As she moved down one row, her shoulder nicked a shelf. Without thinking, Nobara slapped the shelf back. It wasn’t until she heard the awful creaking of wood that she looked up from her task.

The shelf tipped forward and books from the top row began to pelt the ground. Nobara raised her arms in an effort to protect her face. She braced for the impact of several hardcovers, but only heard them rain down around her. She cracked one eye open to see Maki with her back against the shelf, arms outstretched to hold it back.

There wasn’t a bead of sweat on Maki’s forehead and barely a line of tension between her brows.

Nobara was rooted in place, marveling at this display of strength. The shelf had to be at least ten feet tall, to say nothing of the weight of the books on the other side.

“Whoa,” Nobara breathed.

Maki shook her fringe out of her eyes and looked down at Nobara. “Are you okay?”

“I…Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Good.”

Maki pushed the shelf back into position.

“You must work out,” Nobara blurted.

Maki was silent for a beat longer than expected, eventually offering a simple “Yes.”

Nobara hummed. Maybe that came with the territory for construction majors. Or Maki just took it more seriously than most.

As they each grabbed a ladder and got work replacing the books, Maki turned to Nobara with a questioning look.

“Why did you slap the bookshelf?”

“It hit me first.”

Maki rolled her eyes. “I bet it’s the curb that hits your car, too.”

“Obviously. That’s why I take the train now.” Nobara grinned up at her. “But thanks for saving me.”

“Yeah, yeah. Just be careful next time.”

“Of course. Starting now.”

Once everything was in its rightful place, they figured that was as good a place as any to end the study session. Nobara folded the library sketch to keep as a reference. As she went to put it away, the orange flyer drew her eye. She snatched it up and held it in front of Maki.

Maki took a second to read it, then blinked at Nobara. “Congratulations?”

Nobara would’ve thought this was self-explanatory, but maybe not to Maki.

She clasped her hands, not unlike a prayer. “Please go with me.”

“Ah.” Maki rested her weight on her back foot. “It looks cool, but I won’t know anyone there.”

“You’ll know me.”

Maki tilted her head in consideration.

“Come on. I’ll make sure you have fun. And I’ll handle costume ideas, so you don’t even have to think about it.”

To seal the deal, Nobara put on the puppy dog eyes. Slowly, the lines of worry on Maki’s face gave way to curiosity. The corners of her mouth wavered, but eventually lost the fight against a smile.

“Fine,” Maki said.

Nobara cheered and was greeted with a chorus of shushes. She paid them no mind, given tonight’s big win. Her heart pounded, barely able to keep pace with her excitement.

Finally, she’d get to dress up with Maki and hang out for real.

~~~

Nobara spent longer than she’d like to admit looking up joint costumes. The trick was finding one she would like and that Maki would agree to. In a stroke of genius (or sleep deprivation), she decided on a vampire costume for Maki. It would call for dramatic, matching outfits. Plus, if Nobara played her cards right, she might get some neck kisses out of it.

It was perfect.

For the first time that semester, she made it to their desk early enough to wait for her tablemate. Maki looked slightly wary of the unbridled excitement on Nobara’s face, but she was sure Maki would see the vision soon enough.

“No need to be scared. I’ve got the best costume idea for us.”

“Uh-huh,” Maki said skeptically.

“You’ll be a vampire, and I’ll be your hapless heroine.” Nobara rested the back of her hand on her forehead and reclined fully over the side of her chair.

In her head, Nobara heard applause and cheers. With her ears, she heard Maki burst into a fit of laughter.

She pulled herself up to see Maki doubled over, eyes screwed shut behind her glasses. A few other students turned to stare, but all her focus was on Maki. She’d heard Maki chuckle before—sometimes even cackle when a joke hit her just right—but this was a completely new sound. It rang so clearly that Nobara was sure she’d remember it for the rest of her life.

“Do you…not like it?”

“No, no,” Maki said between gasps for air, “It’s great.”

The nearest shopping plaza was only a few stops from campus. But this deep into October, with the sun and its warmth far below the horizon, the ride seemed longer than it actually was. On the way out of the station, Maki buried the bottom half of her face in her scarf.

To stave off the biting chill, Nobara linked arms with Maki.

“Do you mind?”

To her delight, Maki shook her head.

Maki shoved her mittened hands in her pockets, further nestling her arm into the crook of Nobara’s. There wasn’t much heat to be shared between their bulky coats, but Nobara offered what she could.

Not wanting to overstay her welcome, she let go of Maki’s arm once they entered the costume shop. Glowing Halloween decorations lined each windowsill and shelf. Nobara would’ve enjoyed them more if she didn’t have to flick a fake spider off one of the price signs.

Her nose wrinkled at the quality of the outfits, some of which felt thin as paper. She circled around to the dress section, only coming to a stop when a lovely off-shoulder gown caught her eye. It was blood red with a fitted bodice. The material was smooth and sturdy between her fingers. She lifted it by the hanger and was pleased to see an open leg slit.

At the other end of the shop, Maki was staring at a flowy white blouse. Nobara sidled up to her for a closer look.

“Whatcha got there?”

Maki pulled it off the rack, and Nobara gasped. It may have been half of a pirate costume, but it lent itself well to a vampire’s ensemble. The open neckline and puffy sleeves were a great start.

“Oh, we have to try these on!”

In a tiny fitting room, Nobara left her outfit folded on the bench and turned to the full-length mirror. The gown slipped on with ease, clinging to her waistline. The neckline curved toward her upper shoulders, where the straps draped elegantly. She ran her hands over the bodice. A tug on the corset’s gold lacing revealed it was only for show. Just as well, since it needed no alteration. Turning to the side, she admired the swish of the fabric as it showed off a sliver of leg. In her mind’s eye, she pictured the exact set of earrings in her jewelry box that would bring the look together.

She emerged from the fitting room at the same time as Maki. They took each other in, wonder reflected on their faces.

The open neck of Maki’s blouse showed off her graceful collarbone. A simple, yet appealing corset detail accentuated her torso. It wasn’t until Maki cleared her throat that Nobara realized how long she’d been looking.

“Do you like it?”

In the blink of an eye, Nobara closed the distance. She cradled Maki’s face and tilted one side up into the light.

“What are you doing?” Maki asked, slightly muffled by her cheeks.

“I wanna see something.”

Maki’s face hadn’t fully warmed up from the outside. A small blessing, since it meant Nobara’s palms wouldn’t get sweaty and embarrass her. From this angle, there was the slightest glint off the corner of Maki’s glasses. The slope of her shoulders artfully widened the shirt’s neckline.

Even under the shitty fluorescent lights, this vision of Maki squeezed Nobara’s heart.

“You’re so handsome,” Nobara said.

“Is that right?”

“Yes! Now hold this pose, I’m gonna get my phone.”

Maki grimaced, her face tense under Nobara’s hands.

“You're the model, not me.”

All things considered, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Maki would be camera shy. What a shame, Nobara thought, what a crime that someone could look so good and not want to capture it.

“Alright.” Nobara pointed her index finger at Maki. “But we have to take at least one at the party.”

Maki huffed a laugh under her breath, the earlier tension easing from her face. “If you say so.”

Afterward, bags in hand, the pair crouched in front of the display counter. Maki frowned at the plastic fangs behind the glass, thoroughly unimpressed. In addition to looking cheap, the only ones left were the wrong size.

“Whatever,” Maki said. “I’ll make some after shop class.”

“You can do that?”

“I can do anything.”

The sure calmness sent a thrill up the nape of Nobara’s neck, and she grinned.

“Plus we already have the materials,” Maki added. “I don’t even need to buy anything.”

“However you do it, I’m sure it’ll be perfect.”

“They’ll be sharp.”

It sounded like a warning, which left Nobara slightly confused.

“They’re supposed to be. Ooh! Can you do the bottom row too?”

“Yeah, I can make that work.”

The frigid air nearly dried out Nobara’s eyes, but it was worth it for a second chance to take Maki’s arm. Maki was cold enough to allow it all the way until her own stop arrived.

~~~

Thursday’s photoshoot was for a line of parkas and turtlenecks. Nobara got the feeling Kirara had requested it to make up for the last assignments. Even though it wasn’t their fault, the gesture was greatly appreciated.

To hold up her end, Nobara tried to be professional. Despite her best efforts, anticipation simmered in the back of her mind. It left her both restless and light on her feet.

Kirara hummed from behind their camera. “I don’t know what happened, but it must’ve been good.”

“Oh yeah,” Nobara said, another grin breaking free.

“You better tell me everything as soon as we’re done.”

The shutter clicked, capturing Nobara mid-giggle.

When it came time to review the shots, each pose was playful and loose—Kirara’s answer to the energy Nobara brought. The breakout among them was a closeup of Nobara’s face. Her eyes shined over the parka’s high collar, the tiny creases at the corners proof of a hidden smile. The glowing sunset behind her wreathed the top of her hair in light.

After Kirara marked that one to send to Nobara, they turned to her with an eager look.

“Okay, what happened?”

“So. You remember that party you told me about?”

Kirara nodded, and Nobara rocked onto the balls of her feet.

“Well, I got Maki to go with me.”

“The one with the glasses?”

“The very same.”

“Nobara,” Kirara gushed. “Way to go. No wonder you can’t keep still.”

They paused, then kicked a pinecone by their shoe. “Damn it!”

Nobara watched it sail toward some poor stranger. “What?”

“I won’t get to meet her.”

Nobara waved the thought away. “Oh, I’m sure you’ll get another chance. She agreed to a joint costume.”

“Whoa.”

She took a moment to bask in her victory. Technically, it hadn’t come about yet, but that didn’t stop her. What mattered was that it was within reach.

~~~

Nobara had never been so excited for a Friday in her life.

The classrooms were abuzz with everyone discussing Halloween plans. Nobara was far from immune to this atmosphere. Toward the end of a lecture, her legs assumed the runner’s stance under her desk. The dismissal bell was her starting pistol. The moment it sounded, she bolted toward the architecture wing. She muscled her way through the throng of students, only stopping once she reached her final class of the day.

At their table, Maki had already taken her seat and was unpacking her notebooks. Nobara slid into her chair and turned to face her.

“Hey. How do you feel about tonight?”

“Good. Mostly,” Maki added after a beat. “I’ve never gone to a Halloween party, so I don’t know what to expect.”

Nobara’s eyes widened. “Never ever?”

Maki shook her head.

Nobara recalled the flyer and what it had listed.

“Well, there’s a dance floor at this one. If you were by yourself, you could hang out by the drinks. But you’re going with me, so we will be dancing.” Maki looked as though she’d expected such a condition, much to Nobara’s satisfaction. “Probably a photo booth, too. I’m only holding you to one pic, so don’t even worry about that. And if you don’t wanna stick around after that, I bet there’s at least one parade we could walk to.”

“Okay. Doesn’t sound that bad, actually.”

“See? Nothing to worry about.”

Maki hummed thoughtfully. “I suppose. Speaking of pictures, though, did you have another favorite?”

Nobara whipped out her phone and pulled up what she’d saved from her last shoot. Maki leaned in for a better look, eyes poring over every detail.

“They look like magazine covers,” she said reverently.

Something in her tone settled heavily over Nobara’s heart. That photoset came out as well as it had because she’d been thinking of Maki the entire time. She wasn’t sure when would be the best time to admit that, but she hoped it would be soon. In the meantime, she did her best to commit the sight of Maki’s unabashed wonder to memory.

As more students rushed in before the bell, Maki sat back and looked at Nobara.

“Well,” she said. “Only one bit of business left. How’d I do?”

Nobara swung her legs under her seat, not bothering to curb her excitement.

Today, Maki wore a pine green cable knit sweater. Its hem brushed the belt loops of high-waisted jeans. A pair of practical walking shoes completed the look.

“Great! You could probably go down a size on the sweater, but it looks super comfy so I get why you didn’t.”

“It is,” Maki said proudly.

“Either way, I’m sure you’ll look even better tonight.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

Later that night, Nobara took a final look in her mirror. A short length of gold dangled from each ear. Peach lip tint gave her mouth a gorgeous sheen. With a classy pair of mid-heels, it all came together exactly as she’d imagined.

Brimming with confidence, Nobara stepped out of her apartment and into the taxi she’d called. She briefly regretted leaving her jacket at home, but she doubted there’d be a coat check. Outside, the sidewalks were packed with partygoers. Nearly everyone was in costume, some of them cradling props so as to not bump into anyone.

Once the cab pulled up to the venue, Nobara disembarked. The cold outside was bitter, but she was determined to tough it out.

“Nobara!”

She turned to see Maki waving her over by the entrance. Nobara wasted no time joining her.

“You weren’t waiting long, were you?”

“Nah, I just got here.”

Maki, amazingly, had also foregone a coat. Nobara was immensely grateful for this, since it let her appreciate Maki’s entire outfit. This was the first time she’d seen Maki wear her hair down. It was parted on one side and the ends brushed her shoulders, leading the eye across the open neckline and down to a pair of sensible black trousers.

“Whoa,” Nobara whispered.

When Maki flashed a smile, her accentuated canines glistened under the light. While Nobara admired the effect, Maki patiently held out one hand.

Curious, Nobara placed her hand in Maki’s. Maki slowly lifted it to her mouth and placed a gentle kiss to the back of it. A different kind of shiver worked its way over Nobara’s skin, and the chill was soon forgotten.

“I figured I should get into character.” Maki said, voice rumbly with humor.

A ton of words fought their way toward Nobara’s mouth. They all died in battle, so Nobara settled on a demure curtsy in response.

After a moment, they burst into laughter.

“Let me see your fangs.” Nobara balanced on her tiptoes to inspect them.

“Be careful,” Maki muttered.

As with everything she set her mind to, Maki’s craftsmanship was excellent. If she wasn’t already going into construction, Nobara was sure she could have a future in costume design. The top row’s fangs matched the pearly shade of the surrounding teeth, filed to a uniform length and sharpness. The canines on the bottom row were a few centimeters shorter, but retained the style.

Nobara was beyond impressed. “Damn, you did good.”

“Thanks. You’d be amazed what you can do with plaster.”

Having arrived fashionably late, there was hardly a line. Inside the party, colored lights pulsed to the beat of the music. Plenty of costumed guests tried their luck at party games. Nobara scouted along the edges of the dance floor and led Maki to a spot with enough room for both of them.

In keeping with their themes, Maki took a bow and Nobara took her hand once more. Maki held it steady as she led Nobara into a twirl. Orange locks flared about her face. Spinning in and out of Maki’s hold left Nobara’s head in a pleasant daze. At the end of one rotation, Maki shifted the placement of her arms to support Nobara’s back. In one fluid motion, she leaned into Nobara’s momentum and Nobara allowed herself to be lowered into a dip.

Neon illuminated the sides of Maki’s face, lending her an ethereal look. Awe coursed through Nobara as quickly and as potently as her own blood. Maki gently brought her upright and pulled Nobara’s back to her chest.

Nobara reached back to caress Maki’s face as they swayed to the music.

She could’ve stayed this way all night.

In a blessedly unoccupied corner, Nobara spotted the designated photo area. Instead of a photo booth, a mobile phone tripod was bolted to the floor in front of a couch.

Nobara jerked her head toward the corner. “Let’s go.”

Maki sighed. The warmth of her exhale ghosted along the shell of Nobara’s ear, but she followed without a fight.

Nobara adjusted her phone in the tripod cradle and set it to take a video. It was more reliable than a countdown and would yield plenty of screenshots to compare. She focused it on the couch and turned to Maki.

“If we’re doing this, we’re gonna do it right.”

Nobara sauntered over to the couch and draped herself on top of it. She settled into position: head leaned on the armrest, knee propped out of the dress’s slit. She brushed her hair away from her shoulder, baring the slope of her neck, and locked eyes with Maki.

“Come on, then.”

Hunger flashed across Maki’s face, Nobara’s reward for a job well done.

Maki’s weight settled above her, boxing her in on all sides. As she leaned down, it wasn’t fear that made Nobara’s pulse pound, but anticipation. Her plaster fangs scraped the side of Nobara's neck. It delighted Nobara��s nerves alongside the heavy pants that curled against her skin. Maki drew in a shuddery breath as she struggled to hold still.

It was admirable, but not what Nobara was after tonight.

She ran two fingers up Maki’s arm, watching the hairs stand on end. Maki let out a rough, gravelly sound she’d never heard before. She gripped Nobara’s shoulders and pushed herself away. Maki arched her back, looking down at Nobara with something fierce in her eye.

After a set of calming breaths, her grip on Nobara loosened. Despite Maki’s attempt to calm herself, her voice held an obvious strain when she leaned down again.

“Can I kiss you?”

“Please,” Nobara said, breathless.

Maki kissed like she took no prisoners, which was more than fine by Nobara. It was an overwhelming pressure, the kind that wiped all thoughts from her mind and left a mounting urgency in its wake. She wrapped her free arm around Maki, ushering her closer. Maki obliged, kissing a path from her jaw to the juncture of her shoulder. Nobara’s hand sought the back of Maki’s head, fingers running through silky strands. Maki licked a stripe up Nobara's neck. The sensation brought forth a warm sensation that left them both trembling.

When they were truly out of breath, Maki did the favor of fetching the recording. Nobara could only watch from the couch, savoring the daze Maki had left her in.

Tonight’s mission was a grand success.

She sat up and reached for her phone, eager to see the footage.

But Maki didn’t hand it to her. “In a minute. I have to explain something first.”

Nobara sat up. “Oh shit. Did my phone die?”

Maki shifted awkwardly from one foot to the other. “No, nothing like that. Do you mind if we go outside?”

“Huh?”

“Please?”

A look she couldn’t quite define shaped Maki’s face. It was both earnest and reluctant. Whatever this was, it clearly wasn’t pleasant for her.

“Sure,” Nobara said.

Maki helped her off the couch, which was as necessary as it was appreciated. They worked their way through the crowd until they reached an exit. The pair emerged into an alleyway behind the civic center, empty save for the two of them.

Maki came to a stop underneath a beam of moonlight. As much as Nobara would’ve liked to question her again, the grimace Maki wore exuded discomfort. In this state, it was unlikely she’d respond well to prodding. So Nobara endured the silence, knowing Maki would speak when she was ready.

“I’m going to tell you something, even though I don’t expect you to believe me,” Maki started.

A daunting possibility appeared before Nobara. One that, looking back, she should’ve considered earlier. Nobara screwed her eyes shut. She refused to open them until she steeled herself enough to ask, “Do you already have a girlfriend?”

Maki’s brows nearly lifted to her hairline. “What?”

Once she realized Nobara was dead serious, she answered. “No. I don’t.”

“Okay,” Nobara sighed. She placed a hand on her chest in an attempt to rein in her heartbeat. “Go ahead. I can deal with anything else.”

“You sure?”

“Hey. I’ll tell you what I can’t deal with. Not the other way around.”

Maki laughed. Not in a disbelieving way, but in an incredulous way.

“Fine. I’ll just say it.” Maki stepped closer, her voice low and serious. And yet, her eyes held a withdrawn look, as if she were bracing herself for something. “I didn’t make these fangs. They’re real.”

Nobara scoffed. “Very funny. You might be too deep into character.”

“I figured you’d say that. I don’t blame you.” She handed Nobara’s phone back to her. “You’ll see what I mean.”

Nobara started the video. She took a few screenshots of herself laid out on the couch and kept watching. She prepared to take more when Maki joined her, but the moment never came. In silence, she scrubbed through the video again only to see herself grasping at someone who wasn’t there.

At no point did Maki appear on camera.

“No reflection,” she whispered.

Nobara thought over some of the time they’d spent together. How they only met up after night classes, how she stopped an enormous bookshelf without breaking a sweat, why she laughed so hard at the idea of playing a vampire, and why she hadn’t let Nobara take a photo of her before tonight. To that end, Nobara connected another dot in her mind.

“So that's why you always ask me how you look.” It wasn’t a question, but Maki still nodded. “I figured you just wanted a compliment.”

“That too.”

Nobara gasped, then playfully smacked Maki’s arm. Maki gently rubbed the spot, a wistful look softening her features.

“It’s also why I ask to see your favorite pictures every day,” she admitted. “That’s the closest I can get to seeing you in your element.”

The realization came with a sinking feeling in Nobara’s gut. Sunrise, sunset, and the time in between were forbidden to Maki.

But she’d never been one to give up on anything or anyone.

“Lucky for you, I look good at any time, day or night.”

Maki looked at her, eyes wide and searching. The silence stretched on as more and more questions seemed to come to her, but Nobara stood firm in her decision. Eventually, Maki determined the one she wanted to ask the most.

“You're not scared?”

Nobara smiled as she reached up to cup Maki’s cheek. “Vampire or not, you're still my date.”

Maki’s head bobbed backward as though the words had struck her bodily.

“It’s true,” Nobara said. “You’re smart. You’re strong. You take fashion advice well. Plus, if you wanted to suck my blood, you'd have done it already. I gave you plenty of chances.”

“Too many.”

“Not enough,” she said coyly.

Maki’s brows drew together. Worry underscored her tone. “Why’d you say it like that?”

Nobara trailed her hand down and grabbed a fistful of Maki’s shirt, yanking her down to Nobara’s eye level. She planted a kiss square on her lips, smudging what remained of her lip tint. This time, they took care to maneuver around the very real fangs. They clutched at each other, shameless in their enjoyment, and Nobara only pulled back when her lungs screamed for air.

She lined her mouth up to Maki’s ear. “It’s still Halloween. If you bite me, I'll say it's part of my costume.”

“Here? I don’t think so,” Maki said, full of disapproval. “I’ve taken enough risks tonight. But I won’t pretend I haven’t thought about it.”

Since honesty was in the air tonight, Nobara took another chance to seize more of it.

“Will it hurt?”

“Not if I numb it first.”

Maki cast a meaningful look toward one side of Nobara’s neck. Nobara rubbed the area that Maki had licked earlier, only now noticing it didn’t register the frigid temperature like the rest of her body did.

“So,” she continued, “I suppose the real question is: Do you want it to?”

“I don’t know,” Nobara said. “You’ll have to do it both ways so I can decide.”

Maki chuckled. “If you insist. Let’s head to my place.”

Maki turned around and hefted Nobara up onto her back, who went with no complaints. The night was plenty young, enlivened all the more by having company like each other’s to spend it with.

#NobaMaki #Kugisaki Nobara #Maki Zenin #Jujutsu Kaisen #JJK #The Things I Write

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duskydestra · 2 years

Text

Late Effect

Fandom: Jujutsu Kaisen

Pairing: Ieiri Shoko/Tsukumo Yuki

Rating: Teen

Tags: Past Sashisu, Mutual Pining, Hurt/Comfort

This is a finale to Office Hours. You'll get the most out of this fic if you read that first. I didn't intend to continue it, but this idea snuck up on me and here we are.

Summary:

Late Effect (noun)

A condition that appears after the acute phase of an earlier, causal condition has run its course.

2. How Shoko would describe her enduring feelings for Yuki.

If you'd rather read on AO3, click here.

By noon, there wasn’t a single chore left in the house. And yet, while Shoko curled up on the couch to enjoy the rest of her weekend, a thrum of leftover energy kept her from relaxation.

The source was unmistakable. She lifted her hand, letting sunlight warm the back of it, and traced the spiral Yuki had left. The feeling wrapped around her like smoke; heavy in her lungs but never solid enough to lean into.

Shoko fished the remote out from between the cushions and put on a quiz show. As a personal challenge, she tried to guess the answers before the last contestant did. She pored over each hint longer than necessary, considering it a better use of her time.

Between rounds, a custom ringtone interrupted her flow. Without looking, she knew it was Yuki’s. No matter how long someone held their breath, their body would eventually force itself to breathe. In that same way, Shoko’s arm darted out from under the blanket to answer the phone before it could go to voicemail. It wasn’t until after she pressed the speaker to her ear that she cursed this instinct.

“Hey!”

Shoko heard the smile in Yuki’s voice and allowed it to pull one out of her.

“Come over today,” Yuki continued. “The beer might not’ve been your speed, but I picked up this fancy wine flight too and have been dying to try it with you.”

It wasn’t even in question whether or not she’d visit.

Shoko huffed at the assumption. “And what if I’m busy?”

“Then come over later,” Yuki said, no less cheerful.

Shoko hummed as she considered her options. She could fake a work emergency if she had to. It’s not like Yuki would check.

“Come on,” Yuki whined, drawing out the vowel. “You know you want to.”

Shoko rolled her eyes, playful, and let go of her plan. “Fine. I’ll humor you.”

“That’s all I ask. Ugh, it’s been so long since we hung out.”

Shoko raised a dark brow. “You saw me this week.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Yeah, yeah. See you later.”

“See ya.”

They ended the call, and Skoko bit the inside of her cheek.

What she liked most about Yuki was also what made her the most dangerous to be around. Yuki kept things light, but had eyes that caught the smallest details and a mind that never stopped turning. In a way, their time together called for less words. She sensed Shoko’s wavelength and tuned in like a natural. Only to herself would Shoko admit she got a kick out of thinking she could pull one over on Yuki—that she could throw in enough static to obscure what she really wanted—but that fantasy only lasted until Yuki nudged the dial.

None of that was enough to keep Shoko from visiting, though. It’ll be fine, she told herself. She’d laugh, try some drinks, and go home. Just like old times.

Despite the extra energy, Shoko preferred not to rush. After a shower and applying her favorite moisturizer, she gingerly laid out a baby blue linen shirt and a pair of high-waisted pants. “You know you want to.” echoed in her memory as she pulled on the outfit. It’d been said with no degree of harshness, but Shoko couldn't help warping it into an accusation.

Maybe she’d been too transparent. That was her least favorite flaw. It cropped up no matter how many ways she excised it. Thinking back to their last meeting pulled her mouth down into a grimace. She’d been flustered like some teenager, each reaction far too easy to spot. Her saving grace was that Yuki didn’t comment on it. Had she not been so easily distracted that day, Shoko knew she would’ve.

Shoko clicked her tongue, stepped into her shoes, and made up her mind. She won’t be found out. Having such long stretches of time between visits had left her out of practice. Like always, Yuki would leave and Shoko would stay. No point forgetting that. That's all she'd get, so that's all she needed. With enough time, she could once again convince herself that's all she'd ever wanted.

~~~

Shoko didn’t need the address.

Yuki kept a summer home in Tokyo. It was nestled deep in the city—far from campus in the mountains—but only a couple stops from Shoko’s place. The doorbell had hardly finished buzzing before the door itself was yanked open to reveal Yuki’s smiling face.

“You made it!”

Halfway through Shoko's greeting, Yuki pulled her into a bear hug. Her body went rigid, hands glued to her sides. Shoko peered into the house, looking for anything that would get her mind away from how warm Yuki’s face was against the side of hers. Yuki’s hair smelled of ginger—fresh, earthy, warm. Shoko held her breath, afraid to let any more of it in but willing to keep what had already slipped past.

Yuki pulled back, eyes gleaming. “Well, don't you look nice, all dolled up.”

“Eh, it’s nothing special.”

Yuki opened her mouth to protest, but Shoko got in front of it with a thoughtful hum. Her eyes traveled down Yuki’s one-shouldered top and high-waisted shorts. Shoko had forgone a bra, and it was clear Yuki had as well.

“You, on the other hand, look great.”

The tone held so much admiration, Shoko nearly winced upon hearing it. However, if she had looked away, she would’ve missed the slow bloom of Yuki’s grin. Tiny creases formed at the outer corners of her eyes, and Shoko figured it was worth a few seconds of embarrassment.

“In other words, same as always,” Yuki said, laughter trailing the end of the sentence. “Come in, already. I’ve got everything set up.”

Shoko locked the door behind her and left her shoes at the entrance. Even as they neared the height of summer, the heated flooring was always welcome alongside the central air. She stepped into the dining area, where amber lights lent the room a cozy glow. The effect was a touch too intimate for Shoko, so she turned the dimmer up a bit as she passed it.

“What’s got you into wine all of a sudden?” Shoko asked.

Yuki shrugged. “I can’t keep telling people to bring out what they think is best when I go out. It’s embarrassing.”

“How?”

“I don’t know about you, but I like knowing what I want.”

Shoko blinked once, twice, then laughed off the sinking feeling in her gut.

“Besides, you’re more into wine than I am, so I trust your judgment.” Yuki threw in a wink.

This time around, Shoko didn’t betray her reaction so harshly. She smiled back, easy as ever. As she moved to take the seat across from Yuki, the woman pulled out the one next to her. Shoko paused. Turning the lights up, she could get away with; but ignoring this would be too obvious. Ultimately, Shoko could either do it now or after Yuki pouted at her, which would be much harder to refuse. So she took the cushioned seat beside Yuki and soaked in the warmth radiating against the side of her body.

Yuki dragged the charcuterie board from her end to the space in front of them. The wooden tray was loaded with a pleasant assortment of fruits, cheeses, and cured meats. Its lovely aroma made Shoko's mouth water. Yuki set the wine flight beside it and splayed her arms out in a way that said tada!

The gesture was so silly, Shoko couldn’t help but laugh.

A row of eight tiny wine bottles—four red, four sparkling—were placed with labels facing outward. Droplets formed along the glasses, some heavy enough to trickle onto the oak table. Yuki tilted one toward her, then sighed.

“Yeah, I dunno where to start.”

Shoko’s eyes narrowed in thought as she recalled her last vacation. In a vineyard, she’d learned that if someone wanted to be picky, a different wine could be paired with each charcuterie item.

Switching between bites felt silly, so she asked Yuki “What do you order wine with the most: meat, cheese, or fruit?”

“The first two.”

Shoko inspected the labels, looking for a sherry or sauvignon blanc, and gave a victorious “A-ha” when she found one that fit the bill. The specific brand was unfamiliar, but the composition was what mattered. The cork was simple enough to twist out of the bottle and replace with an aerator.

Yuki rested her cheek in the palm of her hand. “So what makes this one special?”

“The higher the acidity, the better a wine pairs with this kind of food.”

“Huh. And here I was, about to stick to merlots.”

Shoko threw a look of disbelief at Yuki. “Merlot? With cheese? You can’t be serious.”

“Don’t give me that.” Yuki slid a wine glass over to her, grinning slyly. “It got the job done.”

“You have a never-ending salary and pick up stuff that ‘gets the job done.’ Unbelievable.”

“Well, that’s why you’re here. To help me expand my palate.”

There was a teasing curve to the words, just enough to send a thrill up Shoko’s spine. She’d been around Yuki long enough to know the effect was intentional. Briefly, Shoko wondered if it would be too dramatic to change seats. Instead, she cleared her throat and poured a glass of sherry for them both.

“Considering you still eat chicken wraps, we’ve got a long way to go.”

Yuki put her other hand to her chest in mock offense. “Why do you act like I have no taste? That’s not all I eat, y’know.”

Not even Shoko would fall for that one.

Yuki plopped a cheese cube into her mouth and washed it down with a swig of wine. She let out an excited hum, enjoying the flavor. Shoko held the stem of the glass between her middle fingers and sipped after a bite of prosciutto. Before long, they’d sampled each of the charcuterie’s offerings. Yuki found that she was partial to sherry, eager to add it to her list of requests.

The wine wasn’t particularly strong, but it left Shoko’s cheeks warm and shoulders at ease. The bitter aftertaste faded from the back of her tongue, carried off by the sweetness of seedless grapes. She looked up to see Yuki’s eyes already on her, another smile gracing her lips. Such nice lips. There was a glossy sheen to them that made them look so soft. Shoko was entranced by their movement and noticed a moment too late that Yuki had been speaking. Even later, she realized she must’ve been staring.

“Huh?”

Yuki laughed, full-throated. “I said, ‘Just how long are you gonna keep this up?’”

“Keep what up?”

Yuki leaned her shoulder against Shoko’s, gaze steady. “Pretending you don't want me.”

The most unfortunate organ in Shoko’s chest shuddered. There was no static now. The words hung clearly in the air, weighing down Shoko's tongue. She didn’t speak until she was sure she wouldn’t stutter.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Yes, you do.”

The tone wasn’t playful anymore, but it wasn’t harsh either. Hesitantly, Shoko’s eyes drifted back to Yuki’s. Where she’d anticipated judgment, she found only the expectation of an answer. Perhaps it had been foolish to think Yuki would let this go on too much longer.

“I'm not like you,” Shoko admitted. “I don't chase these things.”

She pulled her arm back across the table, but was stopped by Yuki’s grasp on it. The hold was gentle enough that Shoko could break it if she wanted to. But she didn’t. The calming way Yuki massaged Shoko’s arm got her to stay put.

Yuki shook her head.

“You don't wanna get hurt. And I get that. Really, I do. But I got news for you, Shoko. ‘These things’ are all that’s worth a damn in this life. If we don't hold onto some of them, none of what we do is fucking worth it.”

Shoko laughed, the sound hollow to her own ears.

“Sure, but that never works out for me. Best I can do is make it balance out, limit the awful stuff to the same level as the good.”

“And how's that working out for you?”

Shoko grit her teeth, the question a scrape to her most tender wound.

After her trio lost Geto, she talked to people as though they'd already died. If she imagined everyone had left this plane of existence, there was nothing left to get attached to, no futures to invest in, no hope to go unfulfilled. When she lost Gojo, she saw an even greater need for this distance. Which is why she looked past Yuki's propositions, choosing to see herself in the future—unchanged and unmoved. That's how she could sit next to the person she wanted with all of her soul and not allow herself to reach out.

By now, she thought she'd have learned to stop falling in love with special grades.

The look on Yuki’s face made her heart ache. It held a silent understanding; the kind that let Shoko know she’d found her frequency. Shoko's eyes burned with unshed tears. Over the years, her body had learned how to hold them back but still couldn’t dull the sting of saltwater.

Yuki slid the palm of her hand into Shoko’s. This time, the grip was sure. As she tilted her head to the side and gazed down at the other woman, a curtain of blonde hair spilled over one shoulder.

“Y’know something? If decades of self-denial was useful, it would've worked by now.”

Resignation settled over Shoko, and she took a final sip of wine. All she could offer was a sullen nod in response.

Yuki moved further into Shoko’s space. “You scared I’ll disappear on you?”

“Who wouldn’t be?”

“When I leave, I always come back for you.”

“You meant that?” Shoko whispered incredulously.

“Of course,” Yuki said softly. “I go where I’m wanted.”

Yuki stroked Shoko's cheek with the thumb of her other hand. It was warm, just like the rest of her. She leaned in, and Shoko tensed up. Silently, she cursed herself for this show of panic. Yuki drew back, brows furrowing as she no doubt wondered if she’d misread something.

But Shoko knew she had it exactly right.

With a bit of fear still in her heart, Shoko closed the distance. Those lips were every bit as soft as she’d imagined. Yuki’s surprised hum leaked into her mouth, which brought a smile to Shoko’s. Electric heat crackled along their points of contact, magnetic in its pull. Her fingertips dug into Yuki's arms, catching on the defined muscles in her grip.

It took all of Shoko’s strength to pull herself back. Seeing Yuki on the edge of giddiness made Shoko’s throat close up around the words. When she forced them out, they were low and severe.

“You’d better come back. If you don’t, I’ll never forgive you.”

A lopsided grin broke across Yuki’s face. “Can’t have that, now can we?”

Yuki pulled Shoko into her lap. She went easily, growing bolder with each kiss. Yuki nosed the collar of Shoko’s shirt out of the way and trailed slow pecks along her bared neck. Shoko trembled lightly, knees closing around Yuki’s waist. For the first time, Yuki was solid in her arms, no longer smoke.

There would come a day when they reached the end, when no amount of power would overcome the inevitable. But for now, all of Shoko’s wants were known and would be satisfied. She gave herself permission to touch, to remember, to make up for lost time, starting tonight.

#ShokoYuki #Tsukumo Yuki #Shoko Ieiri #Jujutsu Kaisen #JJK #The Things I Write

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