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sugurubabe · 2 months

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Selfish (part 1)

Slow burn • angst • eventual romance

Suguru is a popular senior and all star athlete bound for university on the West Coast where he’ll play basketball. Y/n is an introverted and artistic girl who dreams of going to NYU in New York City to pursue an art degree. They bond over their love of art and art history, forming a close friendship, until the day Suguru destroys everything in a moment of cowardice. Eventually, the reunite a few years later while in university in an unexpected way.

Running to the train station, you’d nearly missed the train heading downtown. You were always running late, always a mess, and always the one with unlaced boots and messily applied makeup. It was something that irked your parents. ‘Why can’t you just prepare better? Why not get ready a little earlier, or sleep at a decent time so you’re not rushing in the mornings?’ they’d often say. It’s not as if you meant to make your life difficult. You spent many late nights awake painting, perfecting your pottery, and devouring books about your favorite art periods.

Today, you were on your way to downtown Los Angeles to see one of your favorite artist’s installations. Yayoi Kusama had intrigued you for years, her contemporary works had captivated you from the first moment you learned about them. The Infinity Mirror Rooms were said to be other worldly and you were excited to see it for yourself. The train ride from your small town was about 1 hour and 35 minutes away from downtown so you pulled out your earphones and listened to music while looking out of the window.

You despise your small town, the way everyone knows each other,and how their entire families seemingly lived in the same area for generations. Your only escape was venturing out into the city, exploring museums, botanical gardens, and soaking in the beauty and culture. You knew you’d leave eventually. Your dream was to attend New York University, or NYU. If everything went as planned, you’d move there next year and pursue an art degree. You were blessed with parents that supported your choice of major, as long as you understood that the money train would end as soon as you graduated with your Bachelor’s. That was fine for you. You weren’t necessarily into art for the money as much as for the satisfaction of doing something with your life that brought you joy.

The ride downtown passed by in a blur, and sooner than later, you had arrived at your destination. You exited the train and made your way out of the station and into the bustling streets of Los Angeles. Pulling out your phone to look up directions to the museum, you saw it was a 14-minute walk. You watched people go about their day, talk animatedly to each other, rush to work, and food couriers running by with bags of take out. Life in the city always seemed so fascinating. There was so much going on and it offered a sense of anonymity. You’d be less likely to run into anyone you knew here, let alone anyone who knew you.

You reached your destination; the Broad museum. It was a marvel of a building and worth the long train ride just to see it alone. You pulled your phone out and searched for your reserved ticket in your email before scanning the QR code at the entrance. Walking into a new museum always fills you with a sense of excitement and wonder. The real world didn’t exist here; just you and all the art. You sigh contentedly as you walk up to a Basquiat piece, admiring the vivid colors. Neo-expressionism wasn’t your favorite art period, but you could still appreciate it. You turned to walk away and ran right into someone.

“Oh god, I’m so sorry!” you sputtered out in embarrassment before looking up at the face of the person you walked into. Your eyes nearly fell out of their sockets as you looked into the face of none other than Suguru Geto. He looked down at you with an expression of amusement, a corner of his lips upturned in a half smile.

“You’re in my pottery class, aren’t you?” he asked as he stepped back, putting some space between both of you. You stared at him dumbly for a few more seconds before snapping out of your daze and answering him.

“Yeah… I’m sorry for my reaction, I just didn’t expect to see anyone I knew here.” You fiddled with the charm on your necklace nervously as you averted your gaze. He chuckled at your nervous expression. Suguru admittedly didn’t know you well. You both attended the same high school, you’d both had some classes together over the years, but that was about it. You were a cute girl, but nothing particularly special that would make him remember your name.

“What’s your name again?” he asked gently, smiling apologetically.

“Y/n L/n” you replied, blushing lightly as you realized that he didn’t even know your name.

“I’m Suguru Geto, in case you didn’t know.” he smirked slightly, knowing there was no way you attended the same school without knowing who he was. The smirk on his face irked you enough that you rolled your eyes and nodded.

“Yeah, I know. Impossible to not know the homecoming king, the basketball captain, and the golden boy, huh?” you replied mockingly.

“Those were your words, not mine.” Suguru laughs, his face set in astonishment at your snarky tone.

“Well, I came to admire the art, not interact with people. So I’ll be on my way.” You moved to walk away when a light hand grabbed your forearm, pulling you back.

“Wait a minute- did you come alone?” Geto looked at you with an expression you couldn’t quite read. You nod, your brows furrowing in confusion.

“I came alone by train, why?”

“I’m going back home after this. Why don’t we walk through the museum together, and then I can give you a ride home?” he suggested.

“You want to spend your time at the museum with me?” you asked incredulously. Suguru shrugs, pulling you closer to him.

“You seem to know what you’re looking at. I like art. I don’t usually have anyone to discuss it with.” he says breezily as you both begin walking together towards another room. You can barely believe this is happening, let alone your reality. Suguru was an extremely popular guy at school. Every girl at the high school you both attended had a crush on him, even you. He was handsome, tall, charismatic, obscenely talented, and wicked smart. He was known for dating many girls and never taking a single one of them seriously. You glanced at him, admiring the elegant slope of his nose and his sharp jawline. You couldn’t help but wonder why this guy would choose to spend his day with you.

“If you take a picture, it’ll last longer.” Geto quips, winking at you. You snort at this and shake your head.

“Sorry. I’m just having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that you’re here. I didn’t take you for the kind of guy who likes art, or who could appreciate it. You always seem bored in pottery class. You usually submit some… pretty abstract pieces.” you explain. Suguru chuckles at your attempt to spare his feelings.

“Don’t be shy. I know my pottery skills are atrocious. I admire art simply because I don’t have the capability or skill to create it.” he replies as you both stand in front of a Warhol piece.

“What’s your favorite art period?” you ask softly, looking up at him. He thinks for a while before answering your question.

“Expressionism and Pop Art. I like color, if you can’t tell.” he says sarcastically, motioning towards his outfit. He’s dressed in a simple black t-shirt and black cargo pants. You hum thoughtfully, smiling at his tone.

“Defensive, aren’t we?” you tease. Suguru eyes you skeptically for a moment before deciding that you’re being playful.

“What about you, y/n? What’s your favorite art period? If you say Cubism, you can find your own way home.” he threatens jokingly, crossing his arms and turning to you. You laugh at his humor, not expecting that he would be so open to teasing you back.

“Rococco is my all-time favorite art period. No competition, no if, ands, or buts.”

“Surprise, surprise.” Geto snarks, walking to another room. You follow him and gasp as you see the line for the Infinity Mirror Room is short.

“Can we get in line for this? This is specifically what I came to see!” you say excitedly, practically running to snag a spot in line. He looks at you with mirth before acceding and following you to the line. He rolls back and forth on the balls of his feet and his hands in his pockets as you wait for your turn.

“Do you want to go inside together or separately?” you ask him softly, looking back at him. Internally, he feels giddy that you asked if he wanted to go in with you. Outwardly, he pretends to think it over before replying.

“We can go in together. That way I can make sure you don’t spend an eternity snapping selfies of yourself.” You scoff at this, turning your face back to the line.

“I don’t take many selfies. I was simply planning on taking a video. I bet you’re the one who’s going to take selfies to post on your social media for all your groupies to see.”

Suguru laughs heartily at this, his eyes closing from the force of it. He breathes in deeply, looking at you with amusement. “I wouldn’t post a selfie of this to my Instagram. No one even knows I’m here.”

You whip around to look at him, your jaw drops. “What do you mean? Are you embarrassed that you’re here?”

Geto looks ahead to the installation, choosing to ignore your question. His silence was answer enough. He didn’t want his friends and family to know he came here. He was hiding his interests for some obscure reason.

Suguru didn’t know what to make of this girl. She seemed so quiet and docile in class. She didn’t speak much, kept to herself, and turned in her work diligently. He’d seen firsthand how talented she was artistically. He never got around to knowing her name during school, but that didn’t mean he didn’t notice her talent. The girl before him was so unlike the person she was at school. She was witty, playful, and curious. He couldn’t help but wonder how much he could get her to open up for him before the day ended. She intrigued him.

“Hey! Suguru! It’s our turn!” you waved your hand in his face to snap him out of his thoughts. He huffed as he looked around and realized you’d both made it to the front of the line. The installation attendant notified you both that you’d have two minutes inside and no more than that. You nodded and walked inside the room with Geto. You gasped as the door closed and then you took in the beauty of the room. It was like being submerged in a sky full of stars. Suguru wanted to admire the installation but found himself admiring your expression instead. He smiled as he took in your excitement, the way your eyes were wide and full of life.

You pulled out your phone to take a video, avoiding the side where Geto was. You stopped recording and changed the camera to the photo setting. “I’m going to take a picture, do you want to step away?” you asked quietly, allowing him to decide if he wanted to be in it. He pursed his lips and then shrugged, standing behind you and letting you take the picture. You blushed subtly as you snapped the photo. You placed your phone in your pocket just in time as the attendant opened the door and informed you both that time was up.

“That was absolutely breathtaking. Yayoi is a freaking genius!” you gushed as you walked out of the installation room. Geto follows closely behind you, listening intently to your ramblings. He finds your voice soothing.

“What did you think? Did you like it?” you ask him cheerily. He nods, grinning at you.

“Of course I did. Your reaction was much more interesting to look at though.” he says, glimpsing at you as you walk around the museum. You choke on your breath and cough. You didn’t expect him to say that. He snickers as he slaps your back lightly, trying to help you compose yourself. When you finally stop coughing, you look at him with an expression of annoyance.

“Don’t try to make fun of me, it’s mean!” you say angrily, walking faster.

“I’m not making fun of you, cutie. I mean it. Your reaction was nice. You seemed genuinely delighted by the room.” Geto teased her.

Your heart flutters when he calls you a cutie. You can’t help your reaction and your jaw clenches as the blush spreads throughout your face. He notices your annoyance and lays off the flirting the rest of your time at the museum. You found his company to be very pleasant the rest of the day. He was insightful and knew so much about different artists and periods. As the day came to an end, you felt reluctant to leave the tiny bubble that was the Broad. You knew this was likely a one time thing, and that come Monday at school, he’d go back to ignoring your existence.

“Come on, I parked in a lot down the street.” Suguru murmurs as he gently pushes you in the direction of the parking lot. You hesitate for a moment before stopping in your tracks.

“Actually, I’m just gonna take the train home. I paid for an all day ticket and I don’t want to waste it. I’ll see you around, okay?” You wave awkwardly and begin walking in the direction of the train station.

Suguru is stunned at your rejection of his offer to take you home. Usually girls would jump at the chance to be alone with him for any amount of time. He contemplates before calling out to you. “Can I at least have your number? You know… so we can visit more museums together?”

Your heart feels like it’s going to fall into your stomach. Suguru fucking Geto just asked for your number. He just asked if you could visit another museum together. You take a deep breath before calling back to him. “Just add me on Instagram! My username is my first and last name. You’ll find it in no time!” you shout before rushing away and turning the corner.

Suguru watches your petite figure disappear and he laughs to himself. ‘What a peculiar girl.’ he thinks before walking to his car.

Later that night when you get home, you see it:

Sugu_g has requested to follow you.

(A/N: thank you for reading! Let me know what you think! When I write enough chapters I’ll create a master list. For now, I’ll link part 1 to part 2, and part 2 to part 1, etc)

#suguru geto #jjk geto #geto suguru #geto x reader #jujutsu geto #getou suguru x reader #geto x you #geto x y/n #geto fluff #jjk suguru #jujutsu kaisen suguru #getou suguru x you #getou suguru x y/n #jujutsu suguru #jjk x reader #jjk #jjk x you #jjk fluff

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satocidal · 6 months

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Sine and Cosine — Gojo Satoru

A/n: idk what this is guys- not proofread, I swear I can do better <3

Parallel lines greeted at the infinite.

The function of sine - cosine danced unto all that was infinite.

31 days, 22 hours, 53 minutes and…22 seconds? A voice inside etched him wrong—he wasn’t sure, he hadn’t been at all in the past 31 days.

He knew the gist of it, he’d adopted, two children at that—you’d moved in with him, his house was full.

He felt empty.

Alone.

Nights drew in slow, a blanket of his own lonesome solace wrapped around his form—a parched look in the eyes, he just wasn’t sure.

His eyes flitted to the form beside his, you.

The duvet rested on your form a little more so than luxurious—dramatic in the sense it accentuated the curve of yours, revealing just the side.

Almost Naked you lay, almost naked he did too.

A sigh he let out, tired.

Exhausted.

Spent.

The door was locked- the hinge slightly crooked, he remembered how you and Suguru, as well as Satoru himself had been a cause of that- when you were kids.

Not long ago—felt a forever.

Eyes flitted here and there, as he did—a toss here and a gentle there, careful to not wake you up, you were stressed too.

Because of him, often, because of the kids.

He despises it—not the kids, not you—but everything else.

Satoru had begun despising waking up the mornings he used to rejoice - and train with Suguru, he’d despised how busy you were now, he despises how busy he was.

But more than everything, he despises his infinity.

A choked back sob, you turned softly in your slumber, subtle the way you comforted him, hand wrapping around his form, holding him close—holding him as he was.

Your hand was warm, blurry eyes- filled with tears searched for the cause of it—the AC was turned on, that’s how you preferred sleeping, cold with your warm bodies pressed together.

That couldn’t be the cause, he didn’t care, he was content.

Almost a week since he’d found you alone—a scowling Megumi would join the two of you often at night, not his fault—but then, not Satoru’s fault to blame him either.

A child, you’d reminded him multiple times—his heart ached, he was one too, right?

And then one day, he just wasn’t?

Suguru wasn’t?

Just one day, he was a hero and Suguru his villain?

Those days his back faced you, subconsciously the infinity turned on- he was hurt, you were perhaps unaware.

You shifted closer—you felt far—you had since the instant he’d introduced Megumi and Tsumiki to you, you weren’t just his girlfriend then after, almost a mother you’d become.

He despised that too- no, he despised how he wasn’t ready to take the role of a father.

You moved into him all the more so, leg raised and onto his—his favourite hug, he felt humane such, in your arms.

A sniff—his, an unconscious kiss by pressing your lips to his shoulder, yours—a sudden knock on the door, Tsumiki.

A groan he bit back, he couldn’t, he shouldn’t.

Satoru was always a good liar, not to you—but he was, especially when he smiled at Tsumiki wide, arms open as he pulled her in.

He’d adored you, his childhood but just somehow, he adored his kids’ childhood more.

And so, as he lay there, at the edge of the bed—lying there at the colder edge now, with Tsumiki sandwiched in the warm gap between you two, he swallowed hard.

He missed Suguru, a lot—31 days, 23 hours, 4 minutes and 28 seconds, he was sure now—slight benefit his infinity offered—he’d missed Suguru all so much.

But then, just as your hand clutched Tsumiki—a grin he couldn’t help when he saw the silhouette of a sleepy Megumi approach slowly; and it was then Satoru Gojo realised just how much he’d been missing a family all the more so.

He’d been missing you when you were right beside all along.

Satoru was vulnerable, only when he was feeling infinite.

The function was sine and cosine, not the parallel lines—nothing bothered him because at the end of it all, you were his infinity.

Taglist: @immurrsed @illogicallyx @rizzmin @bbytamaki @abitoldschool

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starrygetou · 6 months

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clingy!stsg hcs

bc they make me so severely weak and mentally ill

wc: 590

contents: disgusting amounts of fluff, cockwarming (literally one bullet point), marking (hickies mentioned once)

clingy!suguru loves to carry satoru around their home. even when satoru insists he can walk even after narrowly missed stubbing his toe (he turned on his infinity w/o thinking). he loves to hold him on his hip like a toddler while he cooks them dinner, letting satoru clean the spoons and whatnot as they go.

clingy!satoru loves to wake suguru up with a million kisses all over his face and shoulders. even though suguru sometimes hates it bc satoru is naturally colder, so sometimes his cold hands holding his cheeks wakes him up instantaneously.

clingy!stsg loves gifting gag gifts. suguru isn’t sure how much “i love my boyfriend” merch he has in his closet..probably enough to make a full fit (satoru definitely got him slides w his face on them). they definitely have boxers with each others faces on them and satoru unironically wears his all the time and calls them his lucky boxers

clingy!stsg loves sending each other texts throughout their solo missions. the other always gets nervous when they take a little too long to reply (mainly sugu bc he knows satoru is always deals w curses quickly, so smth HAS to be up).

clingy!satoru definitely loves leaving cute v-mails for sugu. telling him how much he loves him and every detail he loves abt him.

clingy!stsg never get off the phone. they’ll facetime for hours after their away missions, usually falling asleep otp and waking up together.

clingy!satoru loves to sit on sugu’s cock while sugu works on reports. he always tries to get sugu to break but he’s very good abt finishing smth he started (unless they haven’t seen one another in a while).

clingy!stsg on the days they weren’t feeling talkative they just sat on the phone in silence, enjoying the others presence.

clingy!stsg made a mini “rule” where if they both went on away missions, they’d have to go on a date once they got back home. even if it was smth small like coffee the morning after or going out to dinner.

clingy!sugu loves to send sporadic dick pics to satoru. usually in some nice hotel satoru insisted on paying for. satoru always admired how good sugu looked after a shower and how good he was at taking mirror selfies (both in and out of clothes).

clingy!stsg after HI (everything’s okay au) they made sure to check on each other when they started getting sent on more solo missions. always texting status updates, which eventually turned into phone calls/facetimes that started out as a debrief and just turned into one of the calls where they talk about any and everything.

clingy!stsg loves to do everything together at school. they train their students together, make sure their class schedules are planned accordingly so that way they have a little time to themselves. they usually just walk the school grounds or satoru warps them back home for a quickie. the kids are so tired of them sometimes bc they’ll see them go off and do their own thing mid training session.

clingy!satoru loves to show the world his boyfriend. whether that being an arm wrapped around sugu’s bicep in public or leaving a hickey just above his uniform collar line.

clingy!satoru prides himself on being the “independent” one in the relationship, meanwhile when sugu decides to split the errands up when they’re out, suddenly satoru doesn’t know where anything is just so sugu can stay by his side.

#jjk #jujutsu kaisen #geto suguru #jjk geto #jjk fanfic #jjk gojo #gojo satoru #gojo x geto #satosugu #sugusato #jjk drabbles #jjk hcs #jjk fluff #starrygetou drabbles

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water9826 · 3 months

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Cursed Guardians (A JJK Fic)

AO3 Link

Start Here

There was something truly comforting in a well-made dessert. It was easy to tell that there was clear effort put into the sweet treat. Skill too. Experienced bakers could create the most delicious of foods with the simplest of ingredients. They can make any dessert look beautiful as well, so beautiful it hurts when you have to take a bite. Candy was not as much of a labor of love, but it brought memories of happier times with its burst of sugary flavors. Additionally, it was a great way to get a quick energy boost when your curse technique burns through energy like a steam train. All in all, sweets had never been associated with anything negative.

So why…

“Why am I crying?” Satoru spoke with his mouth full of the pastry he just bit into.

He had never been a person with manners. No matter how many times his clan elders or Yaga or even Suguru reprimanded him for his total lack of respect and etiquette, Satoru remained the least polite person on the planet. His tears streamed down his face, causing the teen to taste a slight saltiness when his tears reached his mouth.

“Beats me. I only teared up when I tasted it for the first time.” A man in a blindfold with stark white hair replied as he leaned back in his chair with a grin. He was dressed in a black shirt and white pants. The outfit’s resemblance to the man who had nearly killed Satoru had made the younger boy shiver. When the elder explained why he wore the ensemble, all of Satoru’s worries were mostly put at ease. He was a tall man that made Satoru feel like a toddler in comparison. Scars littered every inch of pale skin visible. It looked like the older one had been put through some shredding machine and lived. Despite his scarred skin, the man didn’t seem to be in any pain as he stretched his broad arms over his head. “You’re just a cry baby.”

Quick to forget the sadness Satoru was feeling, he dropped his fork to slam his hands on the small table. “I am not, old man!”

“Hey! I am not old!”

“Says the man with gray hair.”

“We have the same hair color, kid.”

“Nope. Mine’s more of a snow-white. Your’s is definitely much duller ‘cause you’re old.”

“...I think I finally understand Yaga now.”

“Because you’re both old?”

A lollipop was thrown at Satoru’s face, no Infinity to prevent it from touching. However, the teen didn’t care. It felt nice to be a normal teen with normal teenager capabilities. Even if temporarily, the perpetual weight on Satoru’s shoulders was lifted, and he relaxed further into his own chair. Wiping his eyes with his hand and placing his fork down, Satoru picked up the fallen lollipop and began unwrapping it, only to find that the candy had been broken from the throw. He frowned. “You’re a dick.”

“That makes you one too, little shit.”

Gojo Satoru looked at his apparent alternate self with a raised brow. It was hard to believe the man considering he had been a monstrous entity who had terrified Satoru hours ago. Well, it felt like hours had passed, but Satoru had no idea as to how much time had passed in the real world. One moment he was fighting for his life and the next he was at a bakery eating with a man who shared too many similarities with him. While the reprieve from battle was appreciated, Satoru knew that Nanami was still missing and Suguru was likely panicking with him out of commission. When he had first appeared in this strange mindscape, Satoru was horrified to find that all his powers were gone. Even his Six Eyes had disappeared. Before he could panic, the man currently eating with him had popped out of nowhere.

“Kid, I know this is really confusing for you, but I need you to listen to me.”

“I can’t let you leave until I’ve shown you what you needed to see.”

“There’s no need to be scared, little me, you’re with the strongest sorcerer in the world! Gojo Satoru, the original! Just call me Infinite, ‘kay?”

It was quite difficult to believe that Infinite was not who he said he was, but Satoru knew better than to trust anyone’s word besides his own…Or maybe Suguru’s and Shoko’s. Whatever. No one else’s opinion mattered to Satoru. However, this older version of him was hard to ignore. Especially since the man had taken Satoru on a tour of the best bakery he had ever seen. Infinite had shown the teenager this place, which somehow served all of Satoru’s favorite treats. Even the more obscure desserts that Satoru had tried on a whim and loved. For example, the manifested bakery served the strange crunchy, fluffy thing that was covered in powdered sugar that Satoru had tried in a sketchy convenience store a while ago. He did not even know what the treat was, but it appeared in the strange bakery all the same. No one knew about Satoru’s more random sugary finds. Listening to Satoru’s rants about regular desserts was more than enough, so nobody wanted to learn about Satoru’s odder adventures in satiating his infamous sweet tooth.

The evidence was on Infinite’s side, but Satoru was nothing if not stubborn.

Not having his Six Eyes was the main reason as to why Satoru was so hesitant to trust the man. If he had his ability to see the unseeable, Satoru would not have had this many doubts. However, the pastry that Infinite had just given him only proved he was telling the truth even more.

On the outside, the pastry did not look like the perfectly constructed desserts Satoru was used to buying. It was a simple apple pie that had definitely seen better days. The crust was golden brown, but it was quite uneven and lumpy. An attempt at a lattice was on top, asymmetrical and torn in some areas. Despite how rough it looked, the taste of the pie itself could only be described as comforting. The pie was warm like it was just taken out of the oven and was stolen before it could completely cool because someone had gotten tired of waiting. Besides the literal warmth of the pastry, the delicious taste made Satoru delightfully warm inside. It was cheesy to say, but the boy didn’t care. Saturu was someone that could not emit heat of his own. His peers always joked that he could make a snowman shiver or freeze water if he touched it. No matter what he did, his coldness never went away. People would flinch when his cold hands touched them suddenly. He couldn’t provide the comfort his friends gave him. Compared to Satoru, Suguru was a living heater with his constant heat. Whenever Suguru embraced him, Satoru melted into his hold. Satoru could never do the same for his best friend. Or anyone.

But he was warm right now.

The gooeyness of the apple filling caused memories of gentle touches and lullabies to appear. All the spices and sugars mixed wonderfully to produce a taste so comforting that tears spilled from Satoru’s eyes the moment he tried it. While the crust and lattice were not pleasing on the eyes, its buttery flavor made all the tension in Satoru’s body dissipate.

There was an additional element to this pie, however. It was delicious and comforting and so warm…yet there was a sadness that permeated each tiny crumb.

“I’m sorry that you can taste his feelings in the pie. I know he would have hated that, but this place is made of my memories, so I can’t change it.” Infinite sighed and placed his chin on one of his palms. There was an untouched slice in front of the older man with steam gently rising from the fresh pastry.

“He?” Satoru let his surprise show. He did not have his glasses either to shield his expressive eyes, so the teen had all of his reactions on full display.

“Yup. He. I know that Yuna-san had made it for us when we were children, but someone very dear to me tried to replicate it.” A raspiness made its way into Infinite’s voice, revealing how difficult it was for him to talk about this cherished person. The elder cleared his throat and offered a soft smile. “I told him about it one day, but I was surprised that he remembered it…It tasted just like her’s.”

“Yuna-san…” Satoru whispered.

The woman had been his primary caretaker after his parents died. He had been too little to remember the short time his father had been with him before sickness took him. Yuna was part of the staff that specialized in caring for Satoru’s needs as a young boy. The others treated it like a box to be checked, but Yuna treated Satoru with so much love that he had genuinely thought she was his mother. After a harsh scolding from an elder, Satoru stopped trying to call her ‘Mama’ or ‘Kaa-san’ entirely. Still, he adored Yuna and was uncooperative to anyone that was not her. It got to the point that Satoru refused to listen to his tutors during lessons, his martial arts teachers during training, and especially his instructors meant to teach him about everything surrounding jujutsu sorcery. All because they were not the only maternal figure Satoru ever had. Evidently, the elders were not pleased with the little boy’s worsening rebellious behavior and presented the child with an ultimatum. Either he obeyed and behaved like a respectable person or they would never let Satoru see Yuna again. As any five-year-old would when told such upsetting information, Satoru had a complete meltdown and sobbed for his favorite caretaker. Despite the child’s heartbroken wails, the elders treated it like a tantrum from a spoiled brat. They had simply dragged the crying child to his room and ordered that he could not leave until he apologized for his horrid behavior. Unbeknownst to Satoru, the elders had also commanded that all staff, including Yuna, were not allowed to enter Satoru’s room for the rest of the day. If they went into his room, then the elders would see it as treason and offer a punishment fitting for such a crime against the clan. Without anyone to comfort him, Satoru cried and cried and cried until he ran out of tears. He nearly made himself pass out when his sobbing grew into hyperventilating. He wailed for Yuna over and over again, becoming more upset the longer that he was left alone.

At some point, Satoru had fallen asleep on the floor and woke up to see that it was night. The child felt sick to his stomach, dizzy, thirsty, and very hungry. His dried tears and snot were uncomfortable on his face and his head pounded from his breakdown. Satoru tried calling for Yuna one last time and started to cry all over again when she didn’t show up. Before his sobbing could transition into ear piercing wails, a gentle knock stopped him. Yuna had finally appeared with a soothing smile on her face. At the time, Satoru was too young to notice the fear and despair hidden in the woman’s dark brown eyes. All he knew was that she hadn’t abandoned him and immediately ran to hug her legs tightly. Her warmth washed over Satoru’s body as her gentle voice chided him to be more careful. Yuna gently pried Satoru off and revealed the steaming pie she had in her gloved hands. She had two objects in a pocket in her still messy apron. With his focus on the dessert, Satoru stopped crying and smiled widely with his stomach rumbling. He tugged on her apron, and Yuna let out a warm laugh as she sat down. She took off her apron and placed the pie on top of it, taking off her oven mitts to take out a fork and a water bottle she had swiped. Unsurprisingly, Satoru clambered into her lap and begged for his dessert. When the child usually did this, Yuna would remind Satoru that he needs to eat properly. However, she allowed him to sit in her lap, knowing how horrible Satoru’s day was…and how it was her last day with the energetic boy. In her soothing voice, she spoke of how this dessert was from America and that it was her favorite guilty pleasure growing up. The pie itself was gorgeous with its perfect crust and braided lattice. She told Satoru that she wanted to apologize for being so late and that she wanted him to eat however he wanted tonight. Satoru, too happy to be with his caretaker, did not see Yuna’s watery eyes and quivering lips. He agreed and stabbed his fork into the pie unceremoniously, scooping it into his mouth. When he asked if Yuna was going to eat, she shook her head and said this was all for him. It was delicious and made Satoru forget the trauma he had experienced at the callus hands of the elders. The rest of the night, Yuna told stories that made Satoru giggle and sung lullabies until Satoru fell asleep.

When Satoru would wake up, Yuna was gone.

Forever.

Satoru bit his lip to stop it from quivering. He never spoke of his clan for a reason. His disrespect towards the elders and other clan members was very intentional. When Yuna disappeared, Satoru got quieter. At first glance, it seemed like an improvement to the others. They would be proven wrong as Satoru would spend the rest of his childhood being angry and aggressive towards everyone. In fact, the young boy ran away often, ignoring any attempts at punishment with a scowl. When the elders tried threatening him after his twelveth time running away, Satoru threatened them back and told them how they had no right to boss him around. The preteen spoke about how he would kill them without remorse if they tried reprimanding him again. He said how he would make their deaths as slow and painful as possible because that’s what ‘old, useless geezers like you deserve’. With his piercing, murderous gaze, Satoru successfully managed to terrify the elders enough that they left him alone.

He had gotten used to being alone.

After Yuna’s death, the members and staff of the Gojo clan feared Satoru, and Satoru never bothered to change their perception of him. In fact, he threatened them often growing up as his strength grew exponentially by the day. The disconnect that formed between Satoru and any other human being made befriending others impossible. Satoru had to treat the world around him as if it was more fragile than glass. A simple high five from him could break someone’s wrist if Satoru was not careful. It was not worth the effort in Satoru’s opinion to restrict himself at all times if he wanted to play with weaklings. Though, labeling others as weaklings was his immature way of dealing with his lack of friends growing up. In actuality, an aching loneliness permeated every waking moment of his childhood, something Satoru hid with a cheeky smile and even worse personality. Spending most of his time by himself caused Satoru to become an arrogant egomaniac. Who wouldn’t? No one had the power he had. No one could best him in a fight. He was leaps and bounds above his own teachers and sorcerers.

Everything changed when he met Suguru for the first time. As a fellow special grade, Suguru understood Satoru on a level no one else did. He, Suguru, and Shoko were the only first-years and would become quick friends from spending every single day together. Suguru and Shoko spoke to him like a person, not a god to be feared and revered. It did wonders in weakening the god-complex Saturu had begun forming. He had been truly happy with his friends.

Then there was Riko’s death by Toji’s bullet.

Then there was Toji nearly killing Satoru and Suguru.

Then there was the devastating loss of Haibara.

And Satoru had been alone again.

Shoko had become buried in her studies in medicine and healing, so she never had time to do anything anymore. Any time spent with her was short and silent as Shoko smoked countless cigarettes or fell asleep mid-conversation. The following months after the failed Star Plasma mission were a blur for Satoru as he spent many sleepless nights mastering his techniques and being sent on endless missions. He lost count of the amount of nightmares Satoru had. He would wake up screaming more often than not, but nobody came to comfort him. In the past, Suguru would break down Satoru’s door the second the black-haired teen suspected something was wrong. This time, Suguru never came. Suguru rarely spoke after the incident, no matter how hard Satoru tried. It was like talking to a wall. Any words Suguru did say were quiet and empty, nothing like his usual lively and smooth voice. When Haibara died, Nanami had locked himself in his room for days and refused to interact with anyone outside of missions. It was a loss that hit the group hard. Satoru, Shoko, Suguru, Nanami, and Haibara had been a tight-knit group for a long time. Despite this, they spent no time grieving together. Satoru would try to go to Suguru when the grief got too great, but the other was somehow even more unresponsive than before. At that point, Satoru gave up. The higher-ups sent Satoru on more missions with the loss of Haibara and Nanami being ‘unavailable’. Words were not enough to describe the agony that Satoru had felt when he was no longer allowed to be sent on missions with Suguru. He had noticed the decline of his best friend first-hand. Suguru never smiled anymore and his usual neat hair grew tangled and greasy. Even with the presence of his remaining friends, the loneliness that Satoru had thought he had forgotten about crept up behind him like a spider about to entangle its prey.

“Makes you think a lot, huh?” Infinite’s voice broke Satoru out of his whirlwind of thoughts and memories. For a moment, Satoru had genuinely forgotten about what he was doing. With a knowing smile, the scarred man stood up and pointed to the endless land before them. “Now that I’ve let you reminisce for a bit, it’s my turn to walk down memory lane. Come on, I’m on a time limit here.”

Satoru could barely mumble a response before Infinite warped them to an unfamiliar house. It looked like it was straight from a magazine. While decorated, the place held no sense of warmth or coziness. Based on the pristine state of the white couch, carpet, marble, everything , it was obviously not lived in. Infinite towered over Satoru, a feat most could not accomplish with Satoru’s own lengthy limbs, lips pressed into a thin line. Infinite gestured his head to the side that led to the kitchen, expecting Satoru to follow without a word. Which he did. There was a heaviness in the atmosphere that was preventing the chatty teen from saying anything. Once they reached the kitchen, the reason for the heaviness was apparent.

A boy with pink hair was sobbing next to an open oven. He was curled up in a fetal position, his legs being hugged tight by trembling arms while his face was buried into his knees. Still without his six-eyes, Satoru could not pinpoint the nature of the crying boy or the place he was in. Based on Infinite’s earlier words and the blurred edges of the house, this was a memory of his older doppelganger. However, the painful sobs of the boy made any attempts at analysis halt in Satoru’s mind. Upon getting a closer look, Satoru saw the broken remains of an apple pie on the floor. The pan was metal so it was not broken, but the pie itself was damaged. The identity of the ‘he’ Infinite had mentioned earlier clicked. Satoru could see why Infinite had sounded so pained when speaking about the boy. Even Satoru was feeling an ache in his chest as the boy continued to sob uncontrollably. He was younger than Satoru, which made the ache even worse. The warmth of the open oven was overshadowed by the sheer devastation the pink-haired boy was emitting. At first glance, it could be seen as silly for someone to be so broken over dropping a pie. However, Satoru knew better than to assume the boy was crying for that one reason.

Footsteps from behind Infinite and Satoru alerted them of another presence. Infinite was stone-faced with his fists clenched tightly. Glitches seemed to occur in Infinite’s body, reminding Satoru of a faulty video game. However, the new arrival prevented any further questioning. A man that looked exactly like an unscarred Infinite ran into the kitchen. The crying boy did not react to the man’s gentle nudges at all.

“ Yuuji-kun, what’s wrong? We’ve been looking for you all day, and you haven’t responded to anyone’s calls or texts. ” After closing the oven door, the man knelt down in front of the boy, carefully taking the boy’s trembling hands into his own. He kept his movements slow and gentle, treating the younger like a spooked animal. A soft sigh escaped the man as the boy’s cries continued. Eyes identical to Satoru’s own held a mixture of grief, pain, and anger. It was a look that Satoru had had when he had learned of Haibara’s death. Clearly, this boy meant a lot to Satoru’s second look-alike for the man to have such a reaction. Without hesitation, the man embraced the shaking boy, hands soothing over his back. “ We were so worried, Yuuji-kun. You know how dangerous it is to travel alone with Sukuna and Kenjaku out there .”

The name of the most feared entity in the world caused Satoru to jolt. Sukuna was supposed to be a thing of the past, no chance of him ever appearing in the future. Satoru glanced at Infinite again, but could gather nothing from Infinite’s expression. The glitches, however, had gotten more frequent. Satoru ignored the unease in his gut to observe the two on the floor. Besides sharing the same eyes and hair, the man held a similar cadence to Satoru’s voice. It was deeper, but all the other tells were the same. He simply sounded and looked like an older Satoru. On the other hand, Infinite looked more like a broken copy of Gojo Satoru.

Satoru decided to call the man hugging the pink-haired boy Gojo. Infinite had his own name, and no version of Satoru would be left nameless! Additionally, he hated being called Gojo as it made him feel old. Thus, making the name choice perfect for this older version of him! Said version was speaking quietly to the boy, continuing to rub the poor child’s back. Eventually, the sobs turned into sniffles, and Gojo leaned back. Yuuji, which is what Gojo seemed to call him, was reluctant to let go. Gojo held the boy’s hands again to supplement the absence of his hug. As his thumb soothed over smaller ones, Satoru noticed how Yuuji’s hands were covered in scars. The skin of his knuckles was worn and bore heavy scarring. What caught Satoru off guard was the missing pinky on his left hand. Based on the gruesome scars left behind, it was likely that the appendage had been ripped off.

With a worsening feeling of dread building within him, Satoru had no choice but to watch the broken exchanges between Gojo and this ‘Yuuji-kun’ he cared so much about. The words they spoke to each other in comfort had the complete opposite effect on Satoru. Mentions of Sukuna, Megumi, someone named Kenjaku, something happening in Shibuya, the ominous Culling Games, the date December Twenty-Fourth, and so much more that Saturu did not understand. He felt especially sick at the talk about saving Megumi, the little boy Satoru had unofficially adopted last year, from Sukuna’s grasp. Countless apologies flooded from Yuuji’s lips, which were met with gentle reassurances from Gojo. From what Satoru had heard, Gojo was Yuuji’s teacher. It seemed ridiculous to imagine himself as a teacher, but Gojo acted like helping his distressed student was as easy as breathing. The clear adoration and trust Yuuji exhibited for his teacher only disproved Satoru’s doubts.

“Is that why you ran off to this safehouse? To make this for me?”

“...Yeah. Your fight with Sukuna is tomorrow, Sensei, so I wanted to make the pie you told me about. Do something good… But I messed up…”

“Nonsense, Yuuji-kun! Your cooking has always been the best, and I bet your baking is just as good! The pie isn’t unsalvageable! The stuff is still in the pan, so let’s bake that stuff! We wouldn’t want it to go to waste!”

“But Sensei-”

“But nothing! We’re going to bake this pie, it’s gonna be delicious, and then we will go to eat dinner with the others, okay? Choso will probably refuse to let you go for the remainder of the day, but no one is actually mad at you. Everything is going to be alright, Yuuji-kun. Your Sensei will win, and this mess will finally be over. Does that sound good, Yuuji-kun?”

“Yeah…Yeah it does.”

Yuuji uncurled completely and lifted his head. Before Satoru could see any other features besides the boy’s golden-eyes, the surroundings around them disappeared into a void of black. All the dread that had been building up within Satoru reached its peak as he saw the glitching form of Infinite towering over him. His mask was still on, but Satoru could still feel the other’s gaze boring into him.

“Do you finally believe me?” Infinite tilted his head like a curious bird. His arms were behind his back, further increasing Satoru’s unease.

“Huh?” His sudden fear had clouded over Satoru’s more rational mind. He was frantically trying to remember what Infinite was talking about, but his chaotic thoughts offered no answers.

A giggle left Infinite. “Do you finally believe that I’m Gojo Satoru? I’ve made the effort to prove that I am telling the truth. I’ve shown you things that no other soul is supposed to know. I was generous enough to show you a memory of mine to prove that I’m not a mindless curse. It was even a memory that held information that will be useful to you in the future.”

The question unsettled Satoru. It reminded the boy that the pleasant bakery Infinite had shown him and the memories Infinite had resurfaced and shown was not done out of kindness. Taking away his Six Eyes and Limitless technique was not done to give Satoru the reprieve he desperately needed. No. It was all done for Infinite’s benefit alone. He had been foolish to even entertain that such a monster could be his alternate self. His guard had been let down from the painful memories and nostalgic sweets.

This was all an illusion conjured up by a twisted abomination.

Nanami and Suguru still needed him.

“No. I don’t believe you. You were pretty damn convincing, but it wasn’t enough!” Satoru readied his body for a fight, lifting his fists. His powers weren’t back, so Infinite had the advantage in a potential battle. Even so, Satoru was not going to let this monster continue to manipulate him any longer! “You’re not me!”

“Is that your final answer?”

“YES! You’re making me hallucinate because you’re a fucking monster!”

“Ugh. I knew you were going to be stubborn, but I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt. Sorry, kid. I don’t have the time to convince you any further, so we’re gonna do things my way.”

“Wh-”

In a blink, Infinite grabbed Satoru by the throat and lifted him into the air with one hand. His blindfold had vanished, revealing eyes that caused terror to surge through the teen. The grip on his throat was too strong for Satoru to escape from but not tight enough to suffocate. However, Satoru was only capable of extremely shallow and painful breaths, making his remaining strength dissipate. He had no choice but to stare at Infinite’s crazed face. Each glitch that appeared on Infinite’s body revealed the true nature of the creature slowly strangling him. The eyes of Gojo Satoru had always been his most well known feature. Seeing his eyes on this imposter was more unsettling than Satoru wanted to admit. While the striking color was the same, Infinite’s pupils were a cloudy white. It was the cloudiness that marked the end of a life. The eyes of a corpse. Not to mention, there were six of them. The main pair was staring at Satoru like a piece of meat. The upper pair of eyes were completely black while the lower pair was fully clouded over with blood leaking from them. Satoru tried to thrash around to escape, but the appearance of claws stopped him. This was it. This was the monster that had tormented Nanami and made Satoru feel weak for the first time.

“I’ll make this quick. I am the cursed soul of Gojo Satoru, a sorcerer who perished in a world that no longer exists. It’s like resetting a computer. All the information is gone, so you gotta start all over again. Us cursed souls are like some random codes that stuck around. Make sense?” The squeeze to Satoru’s throat did not allow the teen to answer. Infinite’s hand did not budge even with the frantic clawing and thrashing from Satoru. “Codes can get corrupted, though. So corrupted that there is no resemblance to what they were prior to said corruption. That’s a cursed soul. We are what little remains of an erased world. We’re a sliver of a whole. So you can imagine that we’re not all there.” Infinite used his other hand to tap at the side of his head. His crazed expression grew into something dangerous as the grip on Satoru’s throat tightened so suddenly that Satoru’s vision went black for a moment.

When the grip eased, Satoru felt tears prick at the corner of his eyes. Black spots were still in his vision, and his chest was in agony from the lack of oxygen. All of his struggles proved futile in Infinite’s iron grip. His words were swirling in Satoru’s head. While it was there, it wasn’t sinking in yet for him to form a coherent thought about it. Wheezes escaped Satoru’s lips and his hands tried to claw at Infinite for the umpteenth time. His lungs ached, yet his heart was pounding in his ears. Fear surged through Satoru as Infinite suddenly squeezed harder. His grip tightened and tightened and tightened until Satoru could feel his eyes bulge out of his head. The black spots grew, and the ache within his lungs turned into an inferno of pain. His body was screaming at the boy to take a breath, but Satoru’s windpipe was currently being crushed. Tears of pure terror flowed down Satoru’s throat. His mind was blaring alarm bells, telling Satoru that he would die if he did not take a breath. It hurt . Satoru’s chest spasmed with the desperate attempts at taking in a breath. He could not stop his body from trying to get air, causing indescribable agony for the poor boy. Fuck. He was going to die. He was going to die and there was nothing he could do about it this time. Suguru and Nanami still needed him! He couldn’t die! But his brain was fuzzy and his chest hurt too much to care. Satoru felt a wave of exhaustion hit him. His eyes were fluttering and his limbs had gone slack.

Then Satoru was released.

Immediately, Satoru inhaled deeply to get as much air as possible. He held his throat as a coughing fit overwhelmed him. All his prior dignity was shattered as pitiful sobs shook Satoru’s lean frame. His resolve to defeat Infinite was gone. The mere thought of the other made Satoru scramble frantically to create distance. Infinite was staring at Satoru like the teen was an animal in a zoo exhibit. His body had grown long and spindly as Infinite slowly stalked towards Satoru’s retreating form. Even with his slow gait, Infinite reached Satoru once more. When he was close enough, Infinite crouched down and stared at Satoru, who had stopped trying to get away.

“My bad. I lost myself for a bit there. This stable state doesn’t last that long, ya know? That’s why I’m in a bit of a rush.” Infinite grinned at the shaken teen. Sweat covered Satoru’s heaving form, caused by the fear and strain from being strangled. “I intended to show you everything slowly. Ease you into it. But convincing you to believe me took more time and effort than I thought, so you don’t have that luxury anymore.”

“Show me what.” Satoru spat with a raspy voice.

“Everything I suppose.” Infinite sat down with his legs crossed. Though, it looked more like a snake coiling itself up to strike. “We’ve always been the strongest. It’s our burden to bear that cannot be shared with anyone. Afterall, we have something no one else has. Our Six-Eyes are much more powerful than you think. It transcends time. We can perceive something as long as we want and no time would have passed in the real world. Currently, seconds have only passed. Suguru has not realized what is going on. I’ve already shown Nanami what I need him to know and I will soon talk to Suguru. The aftermath of showing you three such things will be much more time consuming in reality than the act of speaking with you in the first place. Don’t worry though! Suguru and Nanami will be alright! I’m not as sure as to what will happen to you, though.”

The mentions of his friends caused Satoru to tense. Is that why Nanami suddenly disappeared? If Infinite had been aggressive and terrifying with Satoru, then who knows how unstable he would be with Suguru. What had Infinite shown Nanami? What information does Infinite need to show him? Satoru gritted his teeth. He was sick of Infinite’s vagueness. “If you’re in such a rush, just spit it out already! I have never been very patient with ugly pieces of shit!”

His nasty remark only elicited a laugh from Infinite. “Spicy! I forgot about how bratty I was as a teenager!” In seconds, Infinite’s jovial tone disappeared. His constantly switching moods were disorienting for Satoru, but he knew he was slightly similar in that regard. The air grew impossibly colder as Infinite stood and walked a good distance away. Despite his glitching form, Infinite had no problems with moving. His arms spread wide as the glitches took over his body. Where a man once stood, there was no the same beast that had terrorized Satoru. A shriek of laughter left the beak of the creature as Infinite crawled on all fours to the horrified teen. Somehow, his talons left gouges in the empty void as if he was walking on a real floor. Infinite’s tail spread out to the fullest, countless eyes staring at Satoru with the intensity of a thousand suns.

All of Satoru’s limbs were paralyzed. Despite his desperate desire to run, Satoru could not make a single finger twitch. His body was not listening to his brain's frantic commands.

A distorted voice filled his ears, and Satoru felt his heart stop.

You’ve been a pain to deal with, kid. You’re lucky that I need you alive or else I would have killed you long ago.

Listen. This world is a new, altered copy of an old one. What occurred in the old world we cursed souls are from cannot happen again. This is why I need to show you and your friends certain pieces of information. I’m sorry for attacking you. I’m not supposed to be able to speak or think this clearly in the first place. It’s a secret that you have to keep. My awareness is underestimated, and I’d like to keep it that way. So no telling. Especially Sukuna!

And if you do tell, no one will believe you because I will revert back to a beast the moment I’m done speaking with you boys. This may be the last time I’ll ever get to be lucid again, so you better shut your trap and listen.

I know that you don’t deserve this, but I don’t have any other options. We’re the strongest in every world, kid. I was hoping that you would be able to live a more peaceful life than mine, but the world is a cruel place. Listen very carefully, okay? Sukuna has returned. His allegiances and goals are much more beneficial than before, so I highly suggest gaining his trust. You have the chance that I never did of having a better world, but you will need Sukuna’s help. A much greater evil will emerge, and you will lose without Sukuna. If he thinks for a second that you or the other sorcerers are a threat, then he will kill everyone.

If you are going to listen to anything, listen to this. Sukuna’s sole purpose in life is to protect Itadori Yuuji. It’s my and the other cursed souls' purpose as well. We will not show mercy if Yuuji is harmed by any of you. That is a promise. Got it? Good. Moving on.

As an inheritor of the Six-Eyes and Limitless, your brain is capable of handling vast amounts of information without imploding in on itself. What I showed Nanami and will show Suguru is miniscule compared to what I am going to show you.

You will receive twenty-nine years of information in the span of twenty-nine minutes. The memory I showed you earlier was real, and you will see many memories like it. I don’t care if you don’t believe me anymore. It’s your funeral if you don’t.

If you are idiotic enough to ignore everything I have said, then I will take matters into my own hands to ensure that Yuuji is safe and cared for. Trust me when I say that you do NOT want that to happen. You may be my alternate self, and I do want you to live a good life, but Yuuji’s happiness is my number one priority.

Now, then. Are you ready?

“N-No…” Satoru gasped out. He wasn’t ready. He didn’t want to be ready. Ever . What Infinite had just told him was already frying Satoru’s brain. How the hell would he manage to handle over two decades of information?! Having the constant input of his Six Eyes was one thing, but such vast amounts of data, memories, and whatever else is too much! The past year has been so horrible already. He didn’t want to know anything that Infinite had to show him! So what if he’s the strongest?! He’s just a teenager!

Are you scared?

The strangely gentle tone spooked Satoru. He still could not move, but he was able to grit his teeth in frustration. “I’m not! I don’t want to listen to your bullshit!”

It’s not bullshit. I know this year has been hard. I went through the same thing, only it got even worse.

“You’re not me for fuck’s sake!” His angry shout sounded more like a choked sob. A quiet hum came from Infinite in response. Satoru’s head pounded from the stress while his lungs continued to ache fiercely. He hated him. He hated Infinite so much. “JUST SHUT UP ALREADY!”

Suguru was supposed to defect today.

Satoru froze.

This very night, Suguru was supposed to leave Jujutsu High in secret. He was supposed to leave on a train, get assigned a sudden mission to a village whilst on the train, go to the village, and slaughter every civilian in it. Over a hundred died by Suguru’s hand in a single night. This night. If I hadn’t intervened and caused trouble in Sendai, you would have never been sent on this mission with Nanami. Neither of you would have called Suguru. And Suguru would have done the same thing he did in my world. Because I intervened, Suguru is with you instead of that train.

“Suguru was going to…” The teen trailed off before he could finish such a terrible sentence. His desire to defend his best friend was competing with the many worrying signs that Suguru was going down a dark path. Satoru had seen the emptiness within Suguru grow by the day. He noticed Suguru’s lack of scolding when Satoru would say something rude about non-sorcerers. He is aware that with Satoru and Suguru being assigned separate missions, Suguru has spent more time alone than ever before. He has heard Suguru mutter to himself time and time again when the black-haired boy thought he was alone. He remembers Yaga’s concerned eyes when Suguru stopped participating in class. He knew that Suguru had been distancing himself from everyone the day after collecting Riko’s corpse from the Children of the Star facility. Satoru’s denial was completely shattered with his last thought.

The few times that Suguru spoke, it was always about getting rid of the ‘monkeys’.

His mouth went dry at the realization that Infinite was trying to help Satoru. The person who benefited the most from Suguru’s presence is Satoru. Losing Suguru would be too devastating for Satoru to handle. If Infinite, this crazed monster, was telling the truth, then he had to experience the loss of his one and only today.

It’s in the world’s best interest if Suguru does not become a curse user. You’ll need to stop him from such a fate. If you fail and Suguru commits to his plan of massacring all non-sorcerers, then you must do everything you can to keep him alive. His abilities are greatly sought after by an entity named Kenjaku. No matter what, Suguru cannot come under Kenjaku’s control. Kenjaku takes over the body of his victims by switching their brain with their victim’s body. They can mimic the behavior of their victim perfectly and they can copy the cursed technique and cursed energy of the body they inhabit as well. The only way that you can detect Kenjaku’s presence is a scar that appears on the forehead of whoever they’re possessing. The scar looks like stitches.

If all else fails, kill Suguru and make sure to burn his body immediately. Don’t let your feelings get in the way. Having Suguru live is the best choice. I don’t want you to have to go through what I did, so please listen to what I have to say.

Tears burned behind Satoru’s eyes, but he refused to let them out. The images of his future self killing Suguru mercilessly invaded his mind. He didn’t want that to happen.

He would make sure it never happens.

“I’m ready. Show me everything.” Satoru steeled himself for the influx of information. His mind was cycling through the names of the people Infinite had mentioned. Sukuna. Yuuji. Kenjaku. He repeated the names in his head to commit it to memory. “You said we’re the strongest, right? The strongest is supposed to protect the weak. Heh. That’s what Suguru used to tell me.”

And he would be right. Despite what he did in my world, my Suguru always had more sense than me. It’s likely that the overload I’m about to give you will cause a degree of brain damage. It won’t kill you, but it will have an effect on your sanity. Hell, you might be stuck in a mindless state for a few months. In my opinion, as a fellow Gojo Satoru, you’ll wake up in a couple days with some screws permanently loose. You’ll have Suguru to help you, so I see no future problems with your diminished sanity. Sound good?

Satoru let out a wet laugh. He pushed down all his worry and dread with a harsh swallow. The boy smiled widely with a cocky look in his eyes. “Well, we’ve always been the strongest, not the sanest, right?”

Right! Good attitude to have, kid. I know I’m making you sacrifice a lot and not giving you a choice to say no. You’re still so young. You should be enjoying your youth with your friends.

“Yah don’t say.”

Let me finish brat. It’s likely that Kenjaku is going to be an even bigger threat than before. You’ll see why that’s super bad really soon.

“Ooo! Lucky me!”

I deserve that, I’ll admit. Anyways! I’m sure that Kenjaku will take ten years to stir up trouble like they did before. You’ll have a decade to prepare. Take care of Megumi and keep an eye on Suguru and Nanami. I might even pop in for a visit during those years. Who knows? Maybe I’ll let you see Yuuji.

“To be honest, I do want to meet the kid.” A much more genuine tone made its way into Satoru’s voice.

As would anyone else! Now, I need you to remember not to tell anyone. Use these years to grow stronger and develop a bond with Yuuji. If Yuuji likes you, Sukuna and his vessel Ryomen will…tolerate…you. The higher-ups cannot know about any of this. They won’t believe you and will try to send you to the loony bin anyway. Just talk about it with Suguru and Nanami. Shoko and Yaga are trustworthy, so do as you wish with that. Utahime too. However, you cannot trust Mei Mei or Gakuganji. The old geezer is obvious as to why he’s trustworthy. I can’t remember how Mei Mei is at this age, but the Mei Mei I know only speaks in cash. Maybe try to change that? It’s not a priority but it’ll be a relief for your wallet!

“Huh. Thanks for the tip.”

You’re welcome. And, kid?

“Hm?” Satoru locked eyes with Infinite, who was now centimeters away from his face. The birdlike creature gave the boy a musical trill. The mask around his face disappeared and Satoru saw Infinite’s six eyes again. This time, they were clear, no cloudiness in sight. They each held immense relief and gratitude in them. Satoru took a deep breath, knowing that the banter was over. “So…You gonna do it?”

Infinite cooed in response, getting even closer. He was so close that Satoru could feel the white fur and colorful feathers tickling his chin. The scent of the beast was strange as well. It was like breathing during winter. The air was crisp but it made your nose feel cold. It was an even odder sensation to feel the beast’s fur when Infinite wrapped around Satoru. It was soft and dense with the occupational fluffiness of a feather. Additionally, the outer layer of Infinite’s white fur was cold, yet Satoru could feel the warmth of the bird’s core. It took Satoru a few moments to relax in Infinite’s grip, but he eventually caved in with the lack of attacks on Infinite’s end. It was like being hugged in all directions. Satoru could not help but think of the penguin documentary Megumi had forced him to watch two nights ago. He remembers how Megumi, who was normally grouchy and quiet, lit up as he explained how emperor penguins huddled together to preserve warmth during arctic storms.

Satoru definitely felt like a penguin at that moment.

It was nice.

The tip of Infinite’s sharp beak suddenly pressed against Satoru’s forehead. On instinct, the teen closed his eyes. His thoughts all came to a stop as Satoru solely focused on the warmth on his head. Of all things, Infinite’s beak was the warmest part of the bird’s body. It somehow made Satoru relax even more. Warmth was always good in his mind. Infinite spoke once more within the teen’s mind, his voice much more subdued than before.

You will experience all my pain, all my anger, all my loss within moments.

It’s gonna be agonizing, but you’re strong. Stronger than anyone.

You’ll be shattered, repaired, and shattered again.

But you’ll come out stronger. Stronger than me.

You may feel more alone than ever before after this.

But eventually…

You’ll be happy. So, so happy. I promise you that, kid.

No matter how tough it gets, just remember that everything will turn out amazing in the end.

I know that you’re going to suffer, but I also know that you’re going to be loved. Megumi may not show it now, but he loves you so much, kid. Yuuji has barely been in this world, but I can already see the endless love he’s going to have for you.

Suguru is going to love you if you give him the chance to. Don’t miss that chance.

You’re a good kid. A real good one. Remember that, okay?

Satoru’s Six-Eyes and Limitless technique immediately returned in full force.

Everything turned into a blinding white.

Your life will turn out so much happier and longer than mine could ever hope to be.

__________

The first thought that went through Suguru’s head was simply: OW .

It felt like every inch of his body had been battered and bruised. Even the tips of his fingers ached. Normally, Suguru would try to sleep off any ailments that he had, refusing to go to Shoko more often than not. As a special grade sorcerer, Suguru was strong enough that most curses were not able to place a scratch on him. The only injuries he ever sustained on missions were the occasional bruise or cut. Sore muscles were not a new thing for Suguru, but the aching within him felt different than a strained muscle.

All his energy had been sapped away. Suguru’s body desperately wanted to go back to bed, but his mind was too active and chaotic to allow him any opportunities to rest. Reluctantly, the teen opened his eyes with the grogginess of an elderly man. Once he managed to sit up, Suguru wiped the crust from the corners of his eyes and tugged on his cheeks to further wake up. After a few minutes, Suguru was awake enough to notice the strange room he was in.

He was in the infirmary.

“I see you are awake, Getou-san.”

The quietness of Nanami’s voice caused a jolt of adrenaline to shoot through Suguru. He was startled, sure, but most of his shock came from how beaten Nanami was and the memories that came with his wounds.

Nanami and Satoru’s terrified pleas. A shriek of laughter. Six monstrous entities. Eyes. Too many eyes. A baby. A bloody man with white hair. The existence of cursed s-

In an instant, Suguru jumped from his bed to kneel next to Nanami’s. His legs were too unstable to keep the older teen upright, so his short journey to the younger caused several things to crash. He grasped the white sheets of the infirmary bed tightly. His breathing turned heavy as he bored his tired eyes into Nanami’s surprised ones. Suguru analyzed every part of the blonde’s face. Once he was sure that Nanami was not a hallucination and was actually a living breathing person, he sat back on his heels with a sigh.

Never one to beat around the bush, Nanami broke the silence quite bluntly. “You’ve been unconscious for nearly six days. Yaga-sensei and the higher ups are looking into the entities we encountered on our mission. There has also been a halt on all missions for the three of us until Yaga deems us fully recovered.” His left arm went to rub his injured right arm, which was currently in a sling. The hospital gown he was wearing did little to hide the countless bandages wrapped around the boy. There were more than a few burns across Nanami’s pale skin as well. When the younger noticed Suguru’s staring, he sighed like he had aged ten years. Nanami, someone who made sure to look everyone in the eye, was currently glancing anywhere but at Suguru. In fact, the underclassman was staring at the ceiling like it was the most interesting thing in the world. “Gojo-san is currently being held in one of Tengen-sama’s strongest cells. He woke up a day after I did and immediately tried to attack you. I tried to intervene, but he did not hesitate to attack me as well.” Nanami numbly gestured at his injuries.

“Satoru attacked you?” Suguru felt like he was in an alternate dimension. The Satoru he knew would rather live without sweets than live in a world where he hurts the ones he cares about. Moreover, Satoru was disrespectful to the higher-ups, but he was smart enough to play along with their cowardly orders. He was strong enough to get away with his behavior, so to hear that his best friend was imprisoned did not sound real. What’s worse, Tengen’s barrier was being used to contain Satoru and Satoru alone. Those barriers were strong enough to keep all curses in Japan, preventing them from spreading into other countries. The fact that one of those barriers is now holding Satoru like a dog in a pound made white-hot anger flow through Suguru.

“It was done to prevent Gojo-san from killing you.” As if sensing Suguru’s incoming rage, Nanami was quick to respond. Once more, the blonde sighed heavily, his exhaustion evident from the sickly paleness of his sin and the dark bags beneath his eyes. “We were all given hallucinations of some sort by the entity that resembled a draconic bird of prey. Shoko-san said that it’s likely that Gojo-san’s Six-Eyes caused him to experience a much worse hallucination than us, thus causing him to be in an altered state upon waking up.”

“That damn bird.” Suguru snarled beneath his breath. When he tried to remember what the shrieking menace had shown him, Suguru’s head immediately grew fuzzy. It was shocking to hear that Satoru had been restrained for Suguru’s sake, but that was not what was weighing on his mind. What concerned him most was Nanami’s mention of Satoru’s Six-Eyes causing his best friend to suffer intensely. No matter how hard either tried, Satoru could not explain his ability to Suguru and Suguru failed to understand the poor explanations Satoru provided. It was something that could not be put into words, something Suguru hated. To put it simply, Suguru liked knowing things. He refused to be left in the dark about anything, so he often went out of his way to gain any knowledge he lacked on a mission or lesson. This included going to forbidden areas to learn the stories Yaga was forced to omit during teachings.

And Suguru knew just the place to get the knowledge he needed right now.

“Shoko-san warned to not exit the infirmary without her permission.” Nanami said monotonously. Though, the boy did nothing to stop Suguru from shakily exiting the cramped room.

“You got hurt. Satoru’s imprisoned and not acting like himself. I don’t need to know anything else.” While stern, Suguru made sure to keep any anger from his voice. His mind was still reeling, but time was of the essence. He could not afford to waste time being shocked or waiting for Shoko or Yaga to inform him on what happened. Satoru was still in that awful trance, and Suguru did not trust the higher-ups or the Gojo clan elders to not take advantage of his best friend. Every second wasted was a second added to the torture Satoru’s mind was going through. Despite his greasy hair and messy hospital gown, Suguru felt stronger than he has in months. He nodded reassuringly at Nanami. “You need to rest much more than me, Nanami-kun. I’ll take care of things from now on. I apologize for making you take on the work I was supposed to do, I have been weak for far too long. Thank you for carrying that extra burden, but it is now my turn to take it back.”

To anyone else, it would seem that Nanami had not reacted whatsoever to Suguru’s words. However, Suguru had known Nanami long enough that he knew all the tells of the stoic boy’s body. Nanami’s eyes, albeit slightly, had a watery tint to it. His right hand, the hand that Nanami used to carry his blade, twitched. It showed just how much Suguru’s words had meant to him.

The edges of Nanami’s lips twitched up in a ghost of a smile. “Thank you, Getou-san. Though, to me, your strength was not diminished in the least. It was simply redirected to something else.” Nanami returned Suguru’s nod. When the underclassman looked up, there was a knowing spark in his eyes. “Be careful with your studies.”

“I will.”

After stumbling into his room for proper clothes, Suguru found that there was a fresh uniform left for him on his bed. The suitcases he had packed prior were tucked into a corner, which nearly made Suguru pass out from panic. However, he quickly calmed down when he read the note attached to his uniform.

If you’re reading this, then I assume you lost enough brain cells to go after Satoru despite being unconscious for several days. Dumbass.

Here’s one of the uniforms you packed up. You better tell me about those suitcases or else I’ll cut off all your hair and burn it. I’m sure Satoru will help me hold you still. Dumbass.

Satoru’s meant to be the idiot of the group, so do some magic true love gay shit to bring him back. I can’t handle more than one dumbass at a time.

Good luck, lover boy.

-Shoko

Suguru had simply pocketed the note, ignoring how his face felt like it was about to burst into flames, and changed into his clean uniform. It was almost pitiful how eager Suguru had been to leave Jujutsu High and the Jujutsu world in general just days ago. Yet, his entire plans had been put to a screeching halt by a loud-mouthed white-haired boy he cared too much about. No one was stopping him from leaving. Hell, Suguru’s suitcases were still fully packed. It’d be easy.

But the thought of leaving now only caused bile to rise in Suguru’s throat.

With one last look at his suitcases and empty room, Suguru made his way to his destination with no further hesitation.

The Catacombs of the Disgraced Ones

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witchcraftandgeeknes · 4 months

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Gift

Just a silly little fluffy story, Mikaelsons celebrating winter holiday. As I don't celebrate Christmas and it's way too late for it anyway, it's not specified which holiday it takes place in. You can think of whichever you celebrate yourself.

Dedicated to: @fitzs-trained-monkey who persuaded me to post it despite this fic being silly and my English being bad. Love you, marshmallow

Word count: 1900 approximately

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

Elijah rarely received any gifts.

This might be connected to complicated family bonds, or maybe to the fact that mostly his family was separated by a cold steel of a dagger plunged in someone's chest or their father making them fly in separate ways to avoid him catching any of them. Because of the latter, infinity of things that were precious to their hearts were indiscriminately left in the race against Mikael: their beloved ones, favourite places in the world, many houses they were foolish enough to declare their permanent homes, and tremendous amount of belongings that limited time or need made them leave behind.

That way or another, Elijah rarely received gifts from anyone, including his siblings. But when he did, Elijah treasured each and every of small mementos in his heart if he cannot garner all of them in his current adobe. The most rare name on the gift boxes Elijah saw was Kol's.

To say that they didn't see eye to eye on thing would be an understatement of a century. Kol was vicious and was fond of all the nefarious activities that repelled Elijah. Despite everything, Elijah loved Kol, and small signs of his little brother's affection were just as dear to his heart as ones from Niklaus or Rebekah.

Nevertheless, Elijah must admit that the gift was quite... puzzling, to put it best. It was not like Kol completely missed with his guess, Elijah always adored a pristine atlas tie as a gift but.. The colours.

Indeed, the colours were of quite peculiar choice. His newest tie was made of excellent quality and smooth texture, but the black-and-yellow stripes.... Though Kol's everyday attire was much different from Elijah's, the youngest Mikaelson's sense of fashion was never questioned. Keeping that in mind, it was hard to explain how on Earth he might have chose such a tie to give as a genuine present.

Maybe Kol's mischievous nature is involved in this case, or perhaps a huge difference in their styles. Whichever it is, Elijah could not hurt his brother's feelings. Absolutely not and especially not now, when their home finally finessed the most cordial atmosphere in many centuries. Obviously, this... tie is not to be worn on an official visit or in a wide public. Home celebrations in a close family circle, on the other hand, Elijah could bear. Even such a bright, bright yellow tie with evidently contrasting ink-black stripes.

He and Kol had reached temporal understanding and there is no saying how long peace will last, and as long as it does, Elijah shall do anything to keep it this way. Even if that means to step on the common fashion senses. After all, it is without a doubt not the worst thing he had to endure for the sake of his siblings` wellbeing. Elijah had to admit, that even so odd, the gift elated him.

***

*an hour earlier*

Kol loves Harry Potter books. Reading them made him feel a very special kind of way – as if for a few hours of devoted reading he traveled back in time, to the period of it that he was still alive and human and full of mischievous energy that danced in his veins, asking for permission to break free and promising a lot of fun.

And when Klaus announced that they will all together celebrate impending winter holiday, Kol decided to choose the gifts for that day based on his own little obsession. Why the hell not? Klaus gave them all a lot of art throughout their lives, ignoring the fact that Kol, for example, could not care less about anything connected to it.

Regardless of his reasoning, Kol heard they say that it's the attention that matters, and not the gift itself. If that's true, it means that Kol's choice was splendid. Or at least so he thought.

As an official expert on this matter, Kol was the only one capable of sorting his dear relatives into their respective houses of Hogwarts school. That was probably stupid, Kol knew that. But these silly decisions he took with whole seriousness he could muster.

Klaus, undoubtedly, was the one hell of a Slytherin. Kol doubted any explanation was required for this choice, but if one would need it, he contemplated it with all details elaborated in this mental essay (deep down, he actually wished that someone would ask and he would get to explain his decision, even thought it's unlikely). Therefore, Kol packed a pair of green socks with a prominent snake emblem for dearly beloved Nik, and attached short note that conveyed his hopes that dear brother will abstain from chewing his gift during full moons – Kol wrote this with a huge grin. One day he will pay for all those dog jokes. Today is not this day. Kol was fairly sure that killing (or daggering, for that matter) family members is officially against holiday traditions.

For Rebekah, his favourite sibling, and his fellow fan of magical world, Kol prepared the whole suit of Gryffindor uniform. Her warm smile and hug and possibly a thank-you kiss planted on his cheek will be worth all the collecting and packing he went through for this.

Elijah was the hardest one. Firstly, Kol was postponing choosing the gift for Elijah till last moment, and when he finally did select Elijah in his corresponding Hogwarts house (Hufflepuff, as Kol deduced), packed it in a box and wrapped it in a paper decorated with images of dozens Rudolfs, he couldn't bring himself to actually put it under a tree like all the other gifts.

It was silly, after all. And Elijah never approves of silly things. The elder brother was always dead serious and restrained, the perfect image of the head of the family. More of a father figure than a sibling like Nik and Bekah. And while Kol could act silly and joke around with the latter, Elijah seemed unaffected by their ideas of fun.

But what's the alternative, anyway? Thanks to procrastinating, it's the big day today, and there's literally no time to think of something more serious or appropriate. Damn it.

It seems like he has to do it no matter how ludicrous this gift is.

To avoid embarrassment, Kol decided to put the gift box near Elijah's bedroom door. At least this way he doesn't have to witness big brother's dissapointment. Again. Nevermind. What happens happens. It's too late to change his mind.

Kol rushed away to avoid getting caught as if he did something wrong. Perhaps the life of mischiefmaker made him a bit paranoied. Like Nik. What a nightmare.

***

*later*

Kol has to say. The only reason he let Rebekah do this to him was a bribe. The bribe was a box full of chocolate and other candies. At least, it was good enough of a reason at first thought. Kol now doubts his decision. Perhaps it was a bad impulse.

"Ouch!"

"Hush, sit still," Rebekah hisses at him from the couch while braiding his hair in tenth tiny braid. Kol shifted at her legs unhappily and pouting.

Klaus tried to muffle his cackling but failed miserably.

"You never looked better in your life, Kol."

Kol sent the remote control flying across the room and it hit Nik in the forehead.

"HEY!"

"At least I don't have a stupid ass sweater with chihuahua!"

Klaus blushed, embarassed. The poor idiot lost a bet with Rebekah (and to place bets with Rebekah was always rather risky activity) and was forced into this sweater. Maybe Kol won't be the number one target for dog jokes as soon as holiday is over after all.

"Shut up, both of you," their sister chided and tugged Kol's hair especially roughly. If that's what she had to endure each day Mother was braiding her hair then maybe he was too harsh on her all that time.

Kol relaxed and pressed his back to her legs, surrendering to his cruel fate. Until...

"Well, at least it's not as dumb as your Ravenclaw sweater," Klaus said, a minute too late with his comeback.

"You take that bac– AW, BEKAH!" Sister dearest hit him with the Dickens book across his head when Kol abruptly tried to stand up. "That was uncalled for!"

"I told you to sit still," she said, tugging him down on the floor by the hem of his beautiful Ravenclaw sweater. "And I told you to shut up, Nik. Elijah! Tell them!"

To the brothers' surprise, Elijah chuckled from the threshold. Neither of them noticed how the eldest brother entered. He was in his suit, like always. Kol resumed to his place on the floor and let Rebekah continue her work.

"Gentlemen, behave," Elijah commanded and made his way to the table and took one mandarin.

"Can you be nice to each other at least at a family holiday, mhm?" Elijah didn't stop berating them even as he proceed to peel mandarin. "You look wonderful today, Rebekah."

"Thank you, 'Lijah!"

He was right, Rebekah looked like she's posing for the holiday edition of some fashionable magazine. What can't be said about Klaus and Kol himself.

"Why, brother, you look quite dashing yourself. Where did you get your tie, on a masquarade?" Klaus laughed. Kol looked up at Elijah. He didn't notice at first, but Elijah wore his gift. The Hufflepuff tie looked out of place on Elijah, like Kol predicted. His stomach sank.

"Thank you for your insight, Niklaus," Elijah said, glaring at the middle brother sternly. Then he looked down, and straightened his already perfectly fastened tie. "In fact, I quite like your gift, Kol. It's probably my favourite this year."

Kol felt his cheeks getting hot. He rarely heard nice words from his family and it felt... very strange but he loved the feeling.

"Really?" Kol muttered under his breath. Elijah smiled at him.

"Of course. Thank you for this, I'll wear it whenever an opportunity presents itself, like today. Now, does anybody want hot chocolate?"

Kol and Rebekah didn't let him finish the sentence and agreed immeadiately and loudly, and when Elijah matter-of-factly asked if Klaus wants a cup too, the hybrid rolled his eyes. Nonetheless, he didn't refuse the offer either.

"He looks stupid though," Klaus whispered quitely so Elijah's ear won't catch it but loud enough for his younger siblings to hear. Kol snorted. Klaus was petty and didn't like the fact that Elijah scolded him but complimented Kol's gift.

He didn't notice how Rebekah finished braiding his hair – Kol couldn't imagine how much he looked like a hedgehog right now – and suddenly leaned down and hugged Kol by his neck.

"You're the best brother, Kol. You're my favourite, you know."

"You tell that to each of us, don't you?" Kol rolled his eyes but couldn't stop a smile spreading across his face. He loved his family with all his heart. Even grumpy Nik. The idea of being his only sister's favourite brother was quite amusing too.

From the kitchen Elijah announced that their hot chocolate with marshmallows is ready and waiting for them.

Rebekah was the first to get on her feet.

"Race you!" and just like that, Rebekah sped up towards kitchen. Kol and Klaus didn't have to be asked twice and they swiftly followed her.

From the kitchen, Elijah's voice could be heard: "Oh come on, you all, how old are you, ten?"

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

You made it that far? Good job, I guess

#kol mikaelson #elijah mikaelson #rebekah mikaelson #klaus mikaelson #the originals #the originals fanfiction #i guess??#tvd #tvdu #mikaelson nonsense #my first fic in english

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thornsofdarkroses · 2 months

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Those we love and lose are always connected by heartstrings into infinity. ~ Terri Guillemets.

Death is a weird thing. One moment you could be talking & giggling, and the next you're on your knees, crying, and you can't breathe. It hits like a train, even though it takes forever to actually realize that the person who you were so close with, is gone and they're never coming back. All I have now are memories of us. Photos, a few videos just to hear your voice, and remembrance Facebook page. That is all that's left of you… as a person. You left this Earth for God knows what reason, but he took you way too soon. No sign in sight. Nobody could have seen this coming. It's true what they say… the good die young. For what? Nobody will ever know the answer to that.

I miss your hearty laugh, especially when we would laugh for 10 minutes straight about something that only you and I thought was hilarious. I miss your wise words because you always knew exactly what to say when I needed your help.

I miss your spontaneity. You were always the first who was willing to go on a simple midnight adventure or a day trip a few hours away. I miss your hugs, whether they were for a happy reason or a sad one, hugs always made everything better. I miss your selflessness, always willing to drop everything in your life to help someone who was important to you. I miss talking to you about important things, but also the most obscure topics we could think of.

But most off all, I just miss you.

Dealing with death is never easy and everyone deals with it differently, but I certainly have had a hard time coming to terms with yours. I never thought that would be something I would have to face, but it is and I have to find some way to accept it, if I ever can.

I think most of all I want you to know how much you meant to me. I don't know if I said it enough during our friendship and relationship, but I really hope you knew that. You helped me through so many issues in my life and I am forever grateful for that. I truly hope that everyone gets to experience a person like you. I wish I would have the opportunity to tell you that more. I wish I could've stopped this from happening. I keep going through everything in my head trying to think of ways I could've prevented this from happening, but I know I couldn't have. I wish I had the superpower to turn back time just so I can get one more opportunity to talk to you, tell you everything we all love about you, and tell you how much I appreciate you.

I love you, until the last star in the galaxy dies.

Nos volveremos a ver, lo sé con seguridad

@borninbloodx 🕊️

#~\’ 🩸 𝑰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 #~\’ 𝐿𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑧𝑜. 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑠𝑘𝑦 🕊️

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fandomtrumpshate · 1 year

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Counting down the hours - a numbers update!

Since the update yesterday evening, THIRTY more creators have signed up for another THIRTY EIGHT offers … including a signup for Goncharov, NINE new write-in fandoms, and FIVE more folks willing to work in any fandom.

Sherlock has managed to tie up fifth place in the listed fandoms, sharing the spot with Teen Wolf. And the tenth spot is now a 4-way tie between Merlin, Original Work, The Sandman, and The Witcher.

Under the cut is a list of the Unlisted Fandoms with just one write-in. A single sign up would bump them up the list. A handful of signups can completely shake things up.

Signups close TONIGHT at 11:59 PM Pacific.

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lesser-mook · 1 month

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Dune: Part Two - Some of the best pieces of Anti-Christ Propaganda I've ever seen. And by itself? A well produced, well made film. Though it is heavy-handed aka long as shit (Movie Recommendation )

Holy Wars, Chosen One rising from the Desert, Third Eye's and shit, Free people/"Fremen" fighting for their desert land, Fall of The House of Atreidas/Collapse of Empires *cough America cough cough*, seeing timelines, Nukes n shit.

youtube

The powers that be really, REALLY want nuclear war. If it ain’t a Civil War, us killing each other, they want nukes flying.

The Eternal's had good cinematography, so did The Ritual but those can't even touch this.

This movie, in IMAX? Was/IS a must see experience, religious experience even. If you haven't seen it in IMAX, Do it. Please. Don’t miss out.

But outside the realm of conspiracy, they're just well made movies on their own. The sequel had way better pacing, Part 1 was just 2 hour setup and it was worth it. So so worth it.

This movie is 2 films in one package, if you paid to see this? You're not wasting your money if you went to see this experience.

My biggest complaint besides the hefty runtime, expansive lore being somewhat crammed & rapid fired at the audience (hence a LOT of exposition), would be the fact that we never get to see exactly how the worm riders dismount or how a caravan riding the worms back- then get OFF the worm in the first place.

Jessica was pregnant, how did she get on the worm?! And how did they get her off the worm?

See we’re shown how dangerous it is to get on a worm, every step involves mounting it while it’s in motion, it doesn’t stop to let you onboard. So how they transport crowds looks cool, but it in the movie specifically (fuck the books) the movie didn’t show that detail.

Now, let’s put credit where it’s due: These two movies by themselves are a serious feat, especially in this nauseating cinematic universe era of film-making.

This isn’t Star Wars, this isn’t Marvel or DC.

This is custom lore from a lesser known title, and a sequel with the magnitude of Avengers Infinity War in just 2 movies, coming off of one film with 2 hours of setup (which is basically what Part One was). All in just 4 years, not enough people are addressing how impressive that these two movies exist & executed in the way they were.

This isn’t DUNE II, but “Part Two”. The same narrative, same story, effortless momentum. Way better filmmaking than Endgame, better story, and better music (Hans Zimmer annihilated this OST, as usual).

This easily could’ve been a storytelling disaster, a contrived, over-ambitious mess with yet another messy Messiah overtone that falls on it's face, but it did well.

And while Paul isn't the most engaging main character (he has some gary stu-ish traits, which was ironically written to be part of the narrative) but he is no boyscout.

He cries, he will train, he is taught, he outbursts, he gets emotional, and when he's serious, it's serious. Not perfect, and is a man of vengeance, not Talk no Jutsu, not punching away the darkness of someone's heart to free their inner child or some bullshit:

Paul is here to handle business. Period. And you slowly see him developing emotional calluses to the point where you see him becoming something else entirely.

And that's ALL imma say, for now. Go watch the movie.

It could've been mess, but it works.

It ain’t no masterpiece, don’t mistake my compliments for hype, the movies are not perfect- but I didn’t expect this to impress, at all.

The music is just the movie's voice. The DNA.

youtube

Hans Zimmer's vision for music, coding the DNA for all the films he composes for is: Otherwordly.

Especially post- 2010, it’s like composing Interstellar was a period of transcendence for him.

Ever since that movie, his style entered a whole new realm, it’s almost intimidating how good he is.

Woke culture be damned, Films like this (while propaganda) still demonstrates in a good way, exactly what Hollywood's true potential is capable of.

#lisan al gaib #dune #dune part two #coming of the prince #keep your eyes on israel #propaganda #good filmmaking #movie recommendation #anti christ #Youtube #lessermook #the one

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beefromanoff · 10 months

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Going Under Ch. 4

summary: Bucky Barnes is assigned to head the security detail of an internationally beloved singer named Gianna as his next mission.

characters: Bucky Barnes x OC

soundtrack: Going Under - Evanescence, finally coming into the story! honestly a little shook at how well the lyrics match the story. literally the entire inspiration for this concept.

warnings: fluff, pop star fantasy x love story, set in an AU where the Avengers reunite after Civil War, pre-infinity war, slight angst, hurt/comfort, lonely reader/OC.

author’s note: this is my first ever fanfic, so please be kind! I have so many chapters written but not edited, so prepare for spam. enjoy xoxo

chapter list/links - xo ________________________________

chapter 4

Today’s rehearsal was short, and Gianna was already back in her room, feeling restless. She had woken up tucked into her bed, although she knew she’d fallen asleep on the bus. The flutters in her stomach turned as she daydreamt about strong arms and blue eyes tucking her into her bed, but she shook her head to clear it. Letting herself long for one of the three people she saw every day, someone who was contractually obligated to care for her, was not acceptable.

He probably had to carry me upstairs, it’s his job. Don’t be dumb. Gianna scolded herself as she sighed and began to brew some of the lackluster hotel coffee. Not her first choice, but the rain poured outside and she didn’t feel like dragging herself into the public eye to get anything better. She wanted to write some new songs, to pour out her heart and soul onto paper and create something beautiful. The only thing she didn’t like about being on tour, second to the grueling schedule, was the lack of creativity. The same songs, performed with the same choreography, and the same costumes, night after night. She missed the artistry of songwriting that made her fall in love with her profession in the first place.

As she sat in her hotel room, strumming her guitar, she heard a knock at the door. Assuming it was Tom, she padded over to the door and opened it to a pair of blue eyes looking at her.

"Hey, G. I heard you through the wall. Mind if I join you?" Bucky asked, his voice hesitant. “I come bearing gifts.” He smiled sheepishly down at her, and as the door opened wider she saw the cardboard tray holding two lattes.

Gianna smiled warmly, motioning for him to come in. "Of course not. I'd love the company, and maybe the coffee even more," she said, winking at him. “I knew broadening your coffee horizons would benefit me.” Bucky chuckled as he sat at the chair across from her bed.

“How’d you sleep?” He asked, leaning back in the chair and taking a sip of his hazelnut latte. Gianna took her place on the edge of the bed and smiled. She felt warmth spreading through her and couldn’t tell if it was from the coffee or the sudden attentiveness from Bucky.

“Really well, although I must have sleepwalked, considering I don’t remember coming up to the room last night.” She teased.

“Oh man, sounds like a pretty serious issue. That’s at least 20 stories you traveled.” He dodged the question with a joke of his own. “I’m going to have to start patrolling outside your door at night so you don’t sleepwalk back to New York.”

Gianna laughed. “I’m assuming I owe you some thanks?” Bucky waved her off.

“Don’t mention it. I figured you could use the rest. I’m tired after just watching the tour,” he raised his eyebrows at her.

“Oh come on, you’re an Avenger, you’re telling me you couldn’t dance around for a couple hours?” She giggled. “I have the easy job. I’ve seen you all on the news.”

Bucky chuckled, appreciating her humility. “Ah, it’s not all saving the world. It’s mainly training and briefings. Stark works us hard. Likes to keep us prepared.”

“Just in case you get assigned to high-octane missions like this one?” Gianna teased, sipping her latte and keeping her eyes locked on his.

“Actually, this is the first mission of this kind I’ve been assigned to. Non-combat, long-term…it’s unusual.” Bucky answered honestly. “Usually missions are a couple days, maximum, and involve some kind of uh, offensive action.” It wasn’t a secret that he had a violent past, especially with the highly publicized pardon he’d received, but he still didn’t exactly want to advertise it to Gianna.

“I hope it isn’t too boring for you…” she trailed off, only half joking. “You don’t seem like the type to listen to my music.”

Bucky laughed softly. “It’s been a nice change of pace, actually. It’s been fun not getting shot at or jumping out of planes. And I’m a big fan - I even have a poster of you back in my room at the compound.” He joked in his usual dry style.

Gianna blushed. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it. It’s been really nice having you on this tour…I like the privacy of a small team, but it does get lonely. It’s been fun having someone around all the time. Maybe I’ll add you to my personal payroll when the tour is over.” She looked up, green eyes sparkling.

“Oh yeah?” Bucky cocked an eyebrow. “What would the job description be?”

“Well, 24/7 companionship for sure. Coffee runs would be a must. I also want to be tucked into bed every night, I don’t care if there’s an upcharge for that.”

He laughed and leaned his head back. This new flirtatious territory was innocent, but he feared he was enjoying it a little too much. It was a long assignment, but it would still come to an end.

“What are you working on?” He gestured to her guitar, changing the subject.

“Oh, just messing around. I had an itch to write, but I got to playing around and realized I have nothing to write about.” She stared at the empty notebook on the bed next to her. “I’ve been recording and touring since I was signed when I was 17. I don’t have friends, I don’t date except when my publicist tells me we need to sell a love song, and I hardly have a life outside of hotel rooms and tour buses.” She shrugged. “I don’t have a story to tell.”

Bucky studied her eyes before looking down, studying his coffee cup held between his right hand and left metal one. “Sometimes it’s better to have no story to tell than one you never want to be told.”

The silence hung in the air between them as Gianna tried to gauge if this was him giving her permission to ask about his past. Bucky was trying to figure out if he would grant it.

“I don’t know what happened to you…but I am sorry. I know bits and pieces, and that was enough to make me sick to my stomach. I can’t even imagine what else there is, things that didn’t make it online.” She kept her eyes locked on him, careful not to overstep.

He raised his blue eyes to meet hers and sighed. “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know. Just please, don’t think of me differently. I’d rather have you wonder about my past than know it and be afraid of me.” His eyes pleaded with her.

Gianna breathed out slowly, wondering what could make her afraid of the man who’d shown her nothing but steadiness and safety over the past few weeks. “I promise.”

“Alright…well, uh, let’s go back a little ways. What do you know about the war?”

With that, Gianna set her guitar aside and perched with a pillow in her lap, hanging on Bucky’s every word. They stayed in the room for hours, low voices and trembling hands and more vulnerability than either of them had planned for.

Gianna listened intently, feeling a sense of empathy and mild understanding. She knew what it was like to feel dehumanized and used by the corporations that owned her. In her case, it was her record label. The things asked of her paled in comparison to the horrors Bucky had been tasked with as the Winter Soldier, but the sentiment was the same. Existing to serve a purpose. Being important as long as you were useful. They both felt that their lives were controlled by external forces, forces that defined who they were and what they stood for. Tears silently streamed down Gianna’s face as she listened.

As Bucky’s story neared present day, Gianna crept over to him, sitting on the floor and resting her hands on his knees. She looked up at him, seeing tortured eyes looking back at her. She slid her hand to his cheek and guided his face up from the ground.

“You are the strongest person I have ever known.” She gave him a soft, but assuring smile. “Thank you for trusting me.” Her thumb rubbed back and forth across Bucky’s cheek just in time for a lone tear to fall from his eye. She brushed it away and dropped her hand back to her lap.

Bucky ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath, relieved that the gruesome details were out in the open and that she hadn’t run screaming, demanding new security. The biggest hurdle with meeting anyone new, romantic or otherwise, was the inevitability of them finding out about his murderous past. That usually put a damper on things. He preferred to avoid new connections altogether.

Gianna stiffened, straightening up and reaching for the pen. “Wait-” She snatched the notebook and handed it to Bucky. “Write this down.”

She started strumming the guitar and sampling out various verses. He stayed quiet, watching the gears turn in her head and wrote when she told him to, scratching and revising along the way as she worked through her own creative process.

Sitting together, Gianna wrote the beginning of a beautiful song, one that spoke to their shared experiences of feeling used and dehumanized. It was a cathartic experience, and as Bucky watched her work, he regarded her with a newfound sense of closeness. He saw her in her element, beautiful even with her hair tied up and her fatigue evident in her face. She chewed on the end of her pen and blinked, almost in disbelief.

“I think we just wrote a song.”

She took the guitar and rested the notebook in front of her, beginning to play. Her voice was softer in the hotel room, more intimate. Her acoustic performance was just as powerful as her vocals in the stadium.

Now I will tell you what I've done for you

Fifty thousand tears I've cried

Screaming, deceiving, and bleeding for you

And you still won't hear me (going under)

Don't want your hand this time, I'll save myself

Maybe I'll wake up for once (wake up for once)

Not tormented daily defeated by you

Just when I thought I'd reached the bottom

I'm dying again

I'm going under (going under)

Drowning in you (drowning in you)

I'm falling forever (falling forever)

I've got to break through

I'm going under

Blurring and stirring the truth and the lies (so I don't know what's real)

(So I don't know what's real and what's not)

(Don't know what's real and what's not)

Always confusing the thoughts in my head

So I can't trust myself anymore

I'm dying again

I'm going under (going under)

Drowning in you (drowning in you)

I'm falling forever (falling forever)

I've got to break through

So go on and scream, scream at me

I'm so far away (so far away)

I won't be broken again (again)

I've got to breathe

I can't keep going under

I'm dying again

I'm going under (going under)

Drowning in you (drowning in you)

I'm falling forever (falling forever)

I've got to break through

I'm going under (going under)

Going under (drowning in you)

I'm going under

Gianna trailed off on the last line and looked up at Bucky. He had gone pale, eyes locked on her. He stood up abruptly, his large frame looming over the bed.

“Oh God, Bucky, I’m sorry, it’s too far, I-” Gianna tossed the guitar aside and waved her hands, feeling ashamed. Bucky stepped forward and wrapped her in the tightest hug she’d been given in…years. She stiffened, taken aback by his reaction. As she realized this wasn’t the anger she thought it was, she relaxed into his arms, kneeling on the bed as he stood beside it and held her. She wrapped her arms around him and leaned into his chest.

“It’s perfect.” His voice was low and gravelly. He leaned back and looked into her eyes, their faces only inches apart. “You have a gift. It’s not just being pretty and dancing on a stage.”

At that moment, Gianna realized that Bucky was more than just her security detail. He was a friend, a confidant, and someone she could trust with her deepest thoughts and feelings. He had spoken to her deepest insecurities and trusted her with his own. She was lost in his blue eyes, realizing she never quite noticed how his jawline was almost dangerously sharp, and his lips were perfectly pouty. She was admiring his rugged handsomeness when the hotel phone rang, snapping them both out of the moment. It was Tom, calling to give her a 15 minute warning before they needed to leave for the venue.

“I guess I better get my stuff together,” Gianna breathed, eyes still on Bucky. He smiled.

“I’ll see you in the hall in ten. Let me know if you want to walk down or be carried.”

Gianna blushed and gave Bucky a gentle shove as she slipped off the bed. She knew that she had found something special in Bucky, something that went beyond the confines of their roles as pop star and security detail. Today was a pivotal point in their friendship, and her mind was on anything but her upcoming show as she shoved her phone into her duffel bag and walked out the door.

#bucky barnes #james bucky barnes #bucky fanfic #bucky barnes x oc #bucky fluff #winter soldier fluff #winter soldier #avengers #sebastian stan

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