Work Text:
It was 3am and Satoru had just finished up working on one of his various projects. It still wasn’t done, but the man was exhausted.
So with droopy eyelids and a body plagued with weariness, he dragged himself to his room. However, before he went into his own room, he slightly opened the door across the hall from his to make sure his housemate of the past 8 years was still in there.
To Satoru’s near horror the bed was empty. It was not made, so he knew Megumi had been in it at one point that night, but nonetheless, the bed was empty.
And you know, to most people having the person that they’re legally in charge of not being where they’re supposed to be at this hour might be freaking out right now, but Satoru simply waltzed through the room to the window.
The soft cloth curtains were still closed, not allowing one to catch a glimpse of the outside, but as Satoru pushed them aside he saw that the window was open and climbed through.
Outside of Megumi’s window lay the fire escape. And only a few seconds after Satoru climbed onto the escape and started walking up the stairs did he spot the missing boy sitting staring at nothing.
There was a soft breeze brushing through the city and the sounds of the bustling lives of people below almost drowned out the steps of the near six foot three inches man on the metal fire escape, however after not even two solid steps on the metal, Satoru was met with two dark steely eyes staring at him after a moment.
For a quick second Satoru considered making one of his infamous jokes to rid the two of silence, but decided against it for the time being. He could always speak later. Instead he just sat down on the same step as Megumi. The two stared out at the city for a moment, before Megumi leaned his head on Satoru’s shoulder. Megumi let out what some might deem as a dramatic unnecessary sigh, but Satoru knew it as one that was a heavy and absolutely necessary sigh.
“You wanna talk?”
“Does it ever just… get to be a lot?”
“Hmm?”
“I just…” Megumi sighed, struggling to put what he was feeling into words.
“I’m here for however long you need. Don’t worry.” Satoru responded.
Living with the boy next to him for the past few years and watching him grow had taught Satoru a lot of things. Things about life that could be applied to other situations and simply things about megumi that were useful to remember. So when his response was met in silence, Satoru took no offense. He’d wait all night for Megumi-longer even-if that meant that Megumi would feel cared for.
So as the two sat there in silence studying the nothings of the city, Satoru busied himself with matching Megumi’s breathing pattern and just waiting.
After what one might consider an eternity, Megumi inhaled a heavy breath and decided to speak.
“I feel like… I don’t know. We just have so much work to do… It never stops. It just keeps piling up and piling up. And we never get a break. You never get a break.” Megumi spoke out. He was grateful he didn’t have to look directly at the man next to him at that moment, instead just spoke to the building in front of him. “And I just don't want to ever let you down. I don’t want to be another burden for you.”
Satoru hummed in response, knowing that the boy wasn’t looking for words right then. His face contorted in a tight frown, not necessarily a frown due to being annoyed or displeased with Megumi’s words, it was more so there because Satoru really did not want Megumi to worry about him and felt bad for ever causing any worry.
Megumi released another sigh before continuing, his voice breaking ever so slightly, “Just, I get scared. And I know it sounds so so stupid. But damn I don’t know what I’d do without you. You better always come back. Idiot…. cause if you don’t? Satoru I swear I’m never gonna forgive you for stealing my food every time you come home.”
Megumi finished, trying to place a joke at the end to avoid dancing more on the complicated topic. And Satoru knew that, he also knew that the boy’s eyes were nearly brimming with tears, a fact that Megumi would never want to acknowledge. So he simply just wrapped an arm around Megumi and held him tightly against his side.
“You know, I think it’s the extra food I take from you that is really what gives me the energy to keep going.” Satoru chuckled, earning himself an elbow to the gut from Megumi.
“Yeah well, I’ve had to start hiding shit because of you. And even then that doesn’t work. You’re like a dog, sniffing food out and everything.” Megumi retorted.
The two settled into some lighthearted banter like that. A soft smile appeared on Megumi’s face as Satoru’s face resumed it’s typical mischievous grin. Neither would verbally acknowledge what Megumi had just confessed, not now at least. Satoru knew Megumi wasn’t really looking for a response, more so just wanted Satoru to hear his words, so that was what they’d let happen. They’d move on. Words were spoken and Satoru instilled a personal promise to keep going for Megumi in himself but that was that.
“So, I’ve been thinking,” Satoru announced after a few minutes of playful dialogue, “I think that having dark hair and dark eyes somehow prevents you from getting cold.”
“What? That literally makes no sense.”
“Yes. But, look at us. You’re in simply a tshirt and come out here often when it’s absolutely frigid like this, and here I am, in a long sleeved everything, freezing from being out here only a small fraction of the time that you have.”
“It’s literally so warm out, it’s summer, you’re such a sensitive idiot.”
“Girls like sensitive men.”
“Really? Is that why you have a girlfriend?”
“You know what, I am very much so popular with the ladies.”
“Sure you are sure.” Megumi chuckled to himself.
For the most part it was always just the two of them together in the place, not often did Satoru have anyone over and even less frequently did Megumi have someone over. Neither minded. They were content with the two of them.
“Fuck it’s cold.” Satoru said after a moment, trying his hardest to keep his teeth from chattering.
“Ok so go inside.”
“I can’t until you do.”
“Why not?”
“Because what type of caretaker would I be if I let you stay out on the fire escape all night?”
“What type of caretaker prioritizes stealing the child's food over feeding the child?”
“Ah man, you can’t actually be mad about that.”
“Whatever. It’s past your bedtime. You should go in. I’ll be fine.” Megumi said as he started to straighten up his back, turning to look at Satoru’s face.
Satoru responded by raising his eyebrows. He wasn’t gonna budge. Satoru Gojo was an exceptionally stubborn person, and Megumi knew that.
So as Satoru stood up he offered Megumi his hand, and after perhaps a millisecond too long for what Satoru would have preferred, Megumi put his hand in the other mans and Satoru pulled him up.
So Megumi followed Satoru down the stairs from the fire escape back to his window. The two climbed back into their flat. Satoru struggled just a little bit to navigate his tall frame through the small opening, whereas Megumi slipped through without trouble.
“All right, can I trust you not to escape again?” Satoru asked once they were both inside, Megumi simply raised his eyebrows.
“It’s 3am and we’re both tired. What do you think?”
“Cool.”
Satoru started to leave the room as Megumi slipped on a black sweater and climbed into his bed.
Just before he exited the room Satoru stopped, his hand resting on the side of the doorframe, his back to Megumi.
“I promise I’ll always come back. I got you.” Satoru spoke.
So as Satoru left the room and found himself in his own bed he prayed that Megumi would be able to know the weight of his few words.
Satoru made various promises to Megumi in the time that he got to look after him, but this specific promise was one that he made as soon as he laid eyes on the boy, and would keep for however long he was privileged enough to be in the boys life.
Satoru swore he’d always be there for Megumi and intended to keep his word.