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Yuji needs to get his nails clipped, but of course he doesn’t want to so, naturally, he gives Satoru a hard time. Running away from him and squirming in his arms, growls sounding more and more like a cat’s than a tiger cub’s.
At some point, he accidentally swipes at Satoru, the older yelping in surprise. Yuji’s sensitive ears go back at the sound and when he sees red, the tears easily slip down, running into his owner’s arms; apologizing profusely and trying to lick at the scratch but Satoru keeps his arm away.
‘I hurt him. I hurt him. I hurt him.’
“I’m sorry… Satoru-nii. Sorry.” Poor cub whimpers, pawing at Satoru’s chest, anything to make him do something. Hold him! Pet him! Anything!
Anything but his silence and stillness.
“Sato...ru-nii. I-I’m so—ry!” The cub downright wails this time, tiny hands now at his sides wanting to reach out so badly, but stubbornly keeps them there in fear of hurting the older again.
“D-don’t. I-I won’t do it again. I’ll be good—” He sobs out. “P-please don’t send me back… Gojo-san. ” That’s where Satoru breaks, scooping him up in his arms, no care for his bleeding and stinging arm whatsoever. Yuji tries to squirm away, but is too afraid to touch and push him away.
“No. It’s alright. It’s just a scratch, baby. It’s nothing. Satoru-nii will be alright.” He says, rubbing his back and gently petting his ears. “It was an accident, baby. I promise.”
Satoru’s heart aching at the sight and sound of his sad little cub who still won’t reach out to him. “I was a little surprised. That’s all. You too, I bet.”
“Yuji. My little Yuji. I’m alright.” Satoru gently pries Yuji’s tense hand from his side to bring up to his cheek, warm and shaking hand still clenched into a fist. “See? Can you open your hand for me? Please?”
It takes a while of just rocking the both of them in gentle motions and caressing his hand, but his obedient cub slowly relaxes, letting Satoru’s hand pry his tiny one open so his palm will press against his cheek.
“See that? You’re not hurting me, Yuji.” He murmurs, thumb massaging the soft skin. “You can’t hurt me. I’m fine.”
“ Gojo-san is fine?” Yuji asks meekly.
“You can still call me Satoru-nii, Yuji.” Satoru adjusts himself so he can sit on the floor with the cub in his lap. “Satoru-nii is fine. It was just a scratch.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really?”
“Really really?”
“Absolutely!”
“...” Yuji pouts. Still not convinced.
“Want me to get you a popsicle so you’d believe me?”
“...no.”
“No? Tell me what you want. Satoru-nii will do and get whatever my Yuji wants to make him believe me~”
“...c-cut.”
“Hmm?”
“Cut my nails!” Yuji exclaims. “Short so I won’t scratch Satoru-nii again.”
“That’s it?” The cub nods vehemently.
“Reeeally?”
“...and also make Suku-nii visit.”
“That’s a promise! My little tiger is so good.” Satoru coos and tries to nuzzle him, but gets stopped by tiny hands once again.
“No!”
“But whyyy. I want to hug Yuji and give Yuji kisses for being so good!”
“Band-aid scratch first! And then cut Yuji’s nails!” The cub looks far too determined and it’s too cute for his heart.
“Okay~”