Chapter Text
“Are you ready to leave, Fushiguro?”
Megumi looked up from his computer screen. Sukuna’s brown eyes were smiling, making him resemble a hopeful puppy. His suit jacket was hanging over his arm, the white shirt fitting well on his hard-muscled body. Dark blue tie. Splitting image of an office hunk. And there he was, standing by a twinky nerd’s desk as if there was no place he would rather be.
Megumi still didn’t quite get it.
Today was the first day of Sukuna’s cooking classes. It had been decided earlier that week, and Megumi had agreed to it, but hadn’t fully expected Sukuna to be so fully into it as he apparently was. Perhaps he should have. Out of convenience, they were going to be at Sukuna’s place, as he lived closer to the office. He had told Megumi over lunch that he had already prepared everything for the food they would be making.
“I just have to finish this,” Megumi said. “Give me five more minutes.”
“Alright. No rush.”
Sukuna took the liberty of getting seated to Megumi’s left, since Yuta had gone home for the day, like most of the others in the office. Resting his ankle on the opposite leg’s knee, Sukuna leaned back in the chair in a manner that was more relaxed than he tended to show at work. Megumi glanced over. Sukuna’s eyes moved from the screen, and he smiled when their gazes met.
“Are you going to sit and watch?” Megumi hesitantly asked.
“Oh, sorry.” Sukuna looked away. “Don’t mind me.”
That was a lot easier said than done. Megumi wasn’t a self-conscious type, but who enjoyed being observed while working? He found himself looking Sukuna’s way from time to time when finishing up. Sukuna obediently looked in a different direction than Megumi’s screen at all times.
Megumi’s desk neighbour on his right shot a curious glance their way when Megumi logged off and got up, and Sukuna rose as well. Megumi couldn’t blame her. This was the first time since starting to work there that he was going to leave in somebody’s company. And it was with Sukuna, of all people. The Guy with a capital G. The office hunk.
They both bid her a good night and left the office together. Seeing it from the outside, it was probably not a big deal. And it wasn’t a big deal. They were co-workers who had moved to become friends, that were going to spend a Thursday afternoon cooking some food together.
The fact that one of them could read minds and knew that the other would more than love to dick him down, that was a whole other thing. Megumi wondered if it should make him feel bad, having that knowledge, and agreeing to hang out with Sukuna even though he had no intention of letting it happen.
Megumi was a virgin, after all, and Sukuna was… most likely anything but that. And they worked together. It was a bad match no matter how you put it.
“I’ve been looking forward to spending some more time with you,” Sukuna said as the elevator took them to the entry floor. “I’m glad we have gotten to know each other better lately.”
“Me too,” Megumi said. “It feels like it happened kind of fast.”
“Sometimes that just happens,” Sukuna said. “Back in school, I was in the same class as this guy for years before we realized we had quite a lot in common and became friends. Later on, he even told me that he had thought that I was a douchebag. I’m not sure what made him have that impression of me, and he couldn’t really say either. It was just a… feeling, apparently.”
Megumi had a hunch about what that might be about. Sukuna was striking, and jealousy was a disease that got the better of most people. He had made that mistake as well. Thinking that Sukuna was an air-headed Casanova, despite having no proof that it was actually the case. He didn’t say anything about it, though, only let a vague hum suffice as a reply.
It wasn’t like Sukuna could do anything about the fact that he was attractive. Fragile people would find reasons for disliking him no matter what he did.
It was a short train ride before they arrived at Sukuna’s apartment, and during that, he told Megumi about the plans he had for their cooking session. He wanted to make sure that Megumi had the basics down, and that was what they were going to begin with. Simple, yet savory dishes.
“You don’t need a lot of fancy stuff to make a good meal,” Sukuna said. “Good spices take you a long way.”
“So I’ve heard,” Megumi said. “I just never knew how to start despite that.”
“I got you, don’t worry.”
Like last time Megumi was there, Sukuna’s apartment was tidy. The scent was familiar too. Fresh, and also tingling with something masculine. Entering the kitchen, Megumi saw that Sukuna had not been joking when he said he had gotten things prepared for them. Two cutting boards and knives laid on the counter.
“Ready for class?” Sukuna asked with a grin. “Today I was thinking we’ll make a curry. It’s convenient to bring for lunch the day after, and it’s a good beginner dish to make. Also easy to use whatever you might have at home and toss it in. Can’t really go wrong.”
Sukuna loosened his tie, unbuttoned two buttons in his shirt, and also the sleeves so that he could fold them up and flash his toned forearms. Megumi copied him, save that he didn’t wear a tie. He always thought of it as a bit too fancy for him. He wouldn’t be able to make it look as effortlessly proper as Sukuna did.
After washing their hands, it was time for onion cutting. Megumi looked up at Sukuna with a frown when he asked if he knew how to “properly” cut an onion.
“Properly?” he echoed. “I just make it into smaller pieces so that I can fry it.”
“Yes, but… How do you do it?”
“I just chop.”
Sukuna dragged his teeth over his bottom lip. It looked as if he was trying to hold back either a smile, or a pained grimace.
“Let’s try it like this.”
Sukuna proceeded to explain the procedure of “proper” onion chopping. Megumi had tried that variant before, where you supposedly cut the onion in half, and then made some cuts that were not going all the way through, and then it was magically supposed to turn into little, neat dice with the last cut.
Megumi had always thought of that particular method to be unnecessarily messy. Still, he allowed himself to be convinced to try, as Sukuna promised it was highly convenient once you got the hang of it. Sukuna showed how to do it on his side first, and then Megumi followed his instructions. As expected, he messed up right away, and the fact that Sukuna had made it look easy only increased his disdain towards that poor onion.
“See?” Megumi complained.
“You actually… make it look a lot harder than it is,” Sukuna confusedly said. “Here. Let me try and...”
Sukuna proceeded to step in to stand behind Megumi, his arms circling around Megumi’s frame. He reached for the half of the onion which Megumi hadn’t messed up (yet) and guided Megumi’s hands where he wanted them.
He’s even worse at this than I even thought. How convenient.
Megumi withheld the urge to mutter at Sukuna to stop sounding so snarky, as he was supposed not to have heard that. Sukuna’s chest nudged his back, but he kept his groin at a safe distance from Megumi’s ass, for what it was worth. His hands were large, engulfing Megumi’s entirely as he gently guided the knife towards the onion.
“Here,” Sukuna said. “All you gotta do is… Like this. Not so deep.”
The knife slid easily through the onion, Sukuna’s movements steady in a way Megumi had never managed when cutting things. It was hard to focus on that, however, when Sukuna’s thoughts kept pouring into his mind.
His hands are so delicate. And soft, too. He must take good care of them. Oh, what I wouldn’t give to take his fingers in my mouth, and just… God. And his neck. Look at how slender it is. I bet he marks easily. And his shampoo smells so nice. I still haven’t found it in the store. He must be ordering it from somewhere, and that’s why I can’t find it.
Find it? For what purpose? Megumi pressed his lips to a thin line. It might be so that he just wanted to try it himself since he apparently enjoyed the scent, but Megumi couldn’t help but imagine Sukuna keeping a bottle just to sniff it.
“Try yourself,” Sukuna said. His hands still remained on top of Megumi’s and followed along as Megumi did his best to find focus on cutting the way Sukuna wanted him to. He rested the blade to the side of the onion.
“There?” he asked.
“Yes, perfect.”
Megumi really tried his best. Halfway through, he thought that he might have gotten somewhat a hang of it, but then he messed up the next cut, and half of the onion fell apart.
“This is ridiculous,” Megumi growled. “I can’t do this.”
Sukuna chuckled. “You just need more practice. You did good in the beginning there. Once you’ve mastered it, you’ll never want to butcher an onion again.”
“What do you mean, butcher?” Megumi shot Sukuna a glare over his shoulder, to which Sukuna replied with an innocent smile, and he raised his hands in the air.
“Nothing.”
Sukuna thankfully moved back to his own cutting board, and let Megumi butcher the rest of the onion the way he preferred to do it. After they were done with that, they moved onto cutting carrots, and potatoes. That was a lot more to Megumi’s taste.
With the chopping finished, it was time to make it all come together with the coconut milk, which would serve as the base. The curry would be served with rice, and Sukuna took care of washing it. Megumi found himself watching his hands while he did it.
“It’s easy to vary curries,” Sukuna said. “It’s one of my to-go dishes, especially in the winter. Warms you up well. Next time we could try one with bell peppers and cauliflower, perhaps?”
“Could we skip bell peppers?”
“Oh, you don’t like that?” As Megumi shook his head, Sukuna nodded. “Noted. No bell peppers. Broccoli?”
“That I like.”
He couldn’t help the way Sukuna casually had mentioned a “next time”. He wouldn’t mind if this turned into something they did from time to time. Just during this first session of cooking, he felt as if he had gotten a hang of things he should have learned long ago. What he wondered, was what Sukuna's goal with it was. If he was hoping for some reward in the end, or if he would be okay with it staying casual.
As the curry got to simmer, and the rice cooker was loaded with the washed rice, they helped out to take care of the dishes. Sukuna tried to make Megumi go and sit by the table and wait, but he insisted that he at least must get to help him out a bit, as a thank you for teaching him how to cook.
“You don’t really have to thank me,” Sukuna said. “I enjoy your company.”
“How come?” Megumi couldn’t help but ask. He took the cutting board Sukuna had just scrubbed clean to wipe it dry.
“What do you mean?”
“I just… People usually don’t. I don’t talk much. And you’re a popular guy, so I don’t really see why you would want to spend time with me, out of all people.”
At that, Sukuna’s brows pinched together. He scrubbed one of the knives clean, and handed it Megumi’s way with care. “Careful,” he said. Megumi took it, and his fingers nudged Sukuna’s.
It’s endearing that he still doesn’t realize.
Megumi took care of wiping the knife dry. Realize what? Sukuna had mentioned something before, that the women in the office were interested in him because of his mysterious nature, but he still doubted it. If he hadn’t gained this strange power, he doubted that he would have noticed Sukuna’s interest either, though. Perhaps he really was as oblivious as Sukuna had made it sound then.
But, once again, why would a man like Sukuna be interested in someone like Megumi? Even if he was surprisingly dorky, it didn’t make sense. There were plenty of people in the office that would kill to sleep with him.
“I’m not sure why you would doubt that it’s nice to spend time with you,” Sukuna said. “I’ve said it before, right? You are easy to talk to.”
“Literally no one has thought that about me before,” Megumi pointed out with a wry smile. “So I’m sorry if I’m being a bit thick-headed.”
“Well… That’s on them. I don’t know what to say. I just like you, Fushiguro. I enjoy your company. And even if I would happen to be popular… I can still want to spend time with someone who is not that fond of talking. I like that you are soft-spoken, and that we really don’t have to say much when we are together. It’s relaxing to be with you, and I also hope you enjoy being with me as well.”
Sukuna looked his way, brown eyes close to pleading. Now, it was he who was endearing, to the point the corners of Megumi’s lips curled to a smile.
“I do,” Megumi said. “I enjoy your company, Ryomen. You are… not what I thought you would be. Once again, I probably had some prejudice regarding you. I apologize for that.”
“There’s no need for apologies,” Sukuna said with a smile. “I’m just glad I get to prove you wrong.”
They helped out to set the table when it was time to eat. Megumi had tried to make curry on his own several times before but always ended up finding them bland, and despite there seemingly not being that many differences between the ones he had made himself and this one, the taste was widely different. It might have to do with it being at Sukuna’s place. Food always seemed to taste better when being eaten outside, or at someone else’s place. Even if Megumi did it the exact same way back home, he was sure it wouldn't taste the same.
Sukuna gently blew his bites before shoving them in his mouth. He gave small, appreciating hums in between, savoring the food in a way Megumi hadn’t heard someone else do before. He had done the same at the dinner with work, he recalled.
“I love food so much,” Sukuna said, as if he was the one with mind reading powers, and not Megumi. “To be completely honest, I’m not that interested in cooking. I say that I enjoy doing it, but in reality, I just want to eat nice things.”
“Ever thought of making a career out of it?” Megumi asked. “As a food blogger, or food reviewer of some kind?”
“It has crossed my mind. But I'm not sure how. I think it’s common to have some sort of education within that field, or to have worked as a chef yourself, at the very least, and I’m not sure if that’s something for me. It would have been nice, though, traveling and eating all kinds of different foods.”
Megumi tilted his head, chewing a piece of carrot while thinking it over. He then pointed at Sukuna. “You could make it work either way, I think. Even if you might not have an education that fits.”
“You think so?” Sukuna shot him a surprised look. “How so?”
“You are very handsome,” Megumi stated. Sukuna’s eyebrows climbed upwards, and his smile widened. “You should use that to your advantage. If you make a Youtube channel, and gain a following, you could make a food blog of sorts.”
“Would people be interested in watching a handsome guy eat?”
“Of course they would. There are people making fortunes from things like that.”
Sukuna hummed as he thought it over for a moment. His smile then turned sly. “Would you be one of my viewers? I’ll consider it if you are.”
Megumi was more taken aback by the statement than he should have been, stuttering out a small sound that only resulted in Sukuna’s smile widening even more. “I, uh… Don’t… Watch a lot of Youtube videos.”
“Too bad.” Sukuna gathered what little he had left in his bowl, grinning around his mouthful. Megumi ignored the warmth prickling over his cheeks. Was he imagining things, or was Sukuna getting a tad bolder? It was one thing to hear Sukuna think stuff about him, and a whole other for him to say it out loud. It became a little too real like that.
“Thank you for the food,” Megumi said, hoping to change the subject.
“You did half of it.”
“Does butchering onions even count?”
“Sure it does,” Sukuna protested. “And it wasn’t even that bad. They ended up in smaller pieces, right? That’s all that matters in the end.”
“Right.” Megumi huffed out a little laugh. “That’s what I’ve always said.”
Sukuna winked. “You did well.”
“Thank you. I guess… I should be heading home now. It’s getting late.”
“You’re welcome to stay the night if you want to,” Sukuna offered. Megumi swallowed. It had been a casual invitation, but still.
“I, uhm… That’s very nice of you, but I didn’t bring any clothes or anything.”
There was a protest on the tip of Sukuna’s tongue, Megumi could more or less see it, but he chose to nod instead. With the dishes left in the sink, Megumi made a quick visit to the bathroom. He couldn’t help his curiosity and checked to see if the blue toothbrush he borrowed last time were to be found. It was there, on one of the shelves in the medicine cabinet above the sink, next to Sukuna’s pink one.
Megumi silently shut the cabinet again, deciding that he was not going to think anything about what it could possibly mean that Sukuna had kept that toothbrush. Instead, he washed his hands and then headed to the hall. Sukuna came and joined him there, leant his side against the wall, arms folded over his chest, and watched as Megumi tied his shoes.
“I’m glad we got to do this,” Sukuna said. “It was fun.”
“It was,” Megumi agreed. “And the curry turned out really good.”
“You just let me know when you want to go for another round. I have time almost every night of the week. I'll just reschedule my gym time.”
“I will. Okay, well… Thank you for tonight, Ryomen. Good night.”
“Good night, Fushiguro. Or…” Sukuna hesitated, took his arms down and made a gesture to the door. “Do you want me to walk you to the station?”
“No, no. Really, it’s okay. It’s not far.” Megumi regretted saying it the second it slipped from his lips. Sukuna gave a short nod.
“Okay. Well then. Take care, and I’ll see you soon.”
“Yeah. See you.”
Sukuna raised his hand in a good-bye when Megumi had stepped out, and Megumi copied the gesture. The door shut with a click. Megumi stroked his hands over his cheeks as he started walking.
Things had taken quite an unexpected turn right there.
Why did he regret not agreeing for Sukuna to come along? It would have been nice to have his company for a little longer, and that was an alien feeling to him. It wasn’t like him to get attached to someone like this to begin with.
If attachment was the right word. What else would it be, though? Why else would he think that it would have been nice to walk by his side to the station? They didn’t even talk that much, and Megumi normally didn’t mind walking alone. If anything, he had always preferred it. So why this?
Being able to read people’s minds was apparently affecting him in more ways than one. Or could it be that it had to do with Sukuna alone? That he affected him in such a way?
Megumi doubted that he would have ever come to these realizations without this mind reading ability of his. And once again, it made him wonder why he had gotten that power to begin with. So far, it had made changes in his life that he hadn’t even known he needed. He had imagined himself being perfectly happy with how things were. Having his little apartment, commuting to work during the weeks, and then not doing much during the weekends. Having routines and stability.
Wasn’t anything wrong with that, but this made him understand that perhaps he had been missing some puzzle pieces after all.
In his world, going to a co-workers place to cook was a big step out of his current comfort zone, and it had to be admitted that it was good for him. It had been fun, and it wasn’t even that big of a deal. Just doing what he otherwise would have, sort of, just in the company of someone else.
The soft, warm feeling in his chest was something he hadn’t felt in a while. If ever. It was too early to say what it meant, but as long as it warmed him, it had to be a good thing. It was still surprising that Ryomen Sukuna would end up being the person who helped wake this feeling in him, though. But he didn’t mind it. He didn’t mind it at all.
Megumi was still a virgin, and he didn’t think it was going to change anytime soon, but he was at the very least getting a tad bit closer to something happening. He wondered if Sukuna was dissapointed that he didn't stay the night. Well, he had probably hoped to finish the night with sex, so most likely. For what it was worth, he did hide it well.
Megumi thought back on the feeling of Sukuna’s hands on top of his. A man had never touched him like that before. Megumi stroked his palm over the back of his hand, chewing his bottom lip. His hands had been… really big. Masculine. No callouses, but still nowhere as soft as Megumi’s either. He also thought of the feeling of Sukuna’s rock-hard biceps under his fingers, that night when they had gone to karaoke. It had been something thrilling about feeling a hint of the strength that must reside there. Would Sukuna be able to lift him? Probably. With no effort whatsoever.
“Fushiguro!”
Megumi stopped in the middle of a step, eyes growing wide as he looked over his shoulder. The way his heart seemingly skipped a beat in his chest at the sight of Sukuna jogging his way was very hard to grasp, and therefore he decided to not even try. Sukuna was holding something in his hand, and when he came closer, Megumi saw that it was the same kind of glass container to store leftover food that he usually brought to work.
“I forgot to give you this,” Sukuna said once he had caught up with him. He didn’t even sound winded, which for some reason was highly provoking. He reached the container to Megumi with a grin. On the lid, there was a handwritten label that read Coconut curry. “Lunch, for tomorrow.”
“Thank you. You… could have just given it to me at the office, though?”
“... Oh.” Sukuna blinked, his brows pinching together. “Oh damn. You’re right about that.”
A laugh tickled in Megumi’s throat, and though he tried to hold it back, it slipped out like a little snicker either way. He hurriedly covered his mouth with his hand, but once it started, it was impossible to stop. It felt rude to laugh but there was no helping it. Sukuna didn’t seem to mind, as he flashed a sheepish grin. Megumi reached to take the container.
I don't think I've ever heard him laugh before.
“I’m sorry,” Megumi said, muffled against his palm. “I didn’t mean to laugh, you just…”
“Don't apologize," Sukuna grinned and shook his head. "I saw the curry and thought, shit, I forgot to give it to him. And… guess I sort of forgot that we work in the same place. Just ran after you like a moron. I feel a bit dumb now."
“I appreciate it," Megumi honestly said. There Sukuna stood in his suit pants and perfectly ironed shirt, running after him with no hesitation. It was hard not to laugh again, only because the gesture was so endearing. "Thank you. I’ll make sure not to forget and bring it with me tomorrow.”
“Good,” Sukuna chuckled. “Wouldn’t want this dumb sprint of mine to go to waste.”
“No.” Megumi stroked a hand over the lid, and before he would have a change of heart, he looked up to meet Sukuna’s gaze. “Actually, uhm… Ryomen. Is it okay if I change my mind?”
Sukuna’s eyes sparkled with interest. “About what?”
“Since you’re already here… Want to accompany me the rest of the way to the station?”
Sukuna’s expression softened, his dark eyes and gentle smile making him look a lot kinder than his appearance otherwise allowed, and he gave a nod. “Of course. I’d love to.”
They walked side by side the rest of the way, not saying much, while a thousand thoughts were bouncing around Megumi’s mind. So many that he couldn't grasp them at all, instead it turned into a buzz.
He hadn't expected to feel like this after spending more time with Sukuna, and was now beginning to wonder if he was in over his head.