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Yuuta jumps awake to a slamming at his door, hurried and desperate. He nearly falls out of bed, untangling the mess of sheets wrapped around his legs and hurrying across the room. In the hall stands Inumaki, blood flowing from the corners of his mouth and puddling on the ground between their feet.
“Oh my god, Inumaki?” Yuuta is frantic, his limbs going weak as he reaches out to catch his friend just before he faceplants into Yuuta’s chest. “What happened?!”
Inumaki lifts a shaky hand where Yuuta can see and signs weakly, Curse.
Yuuta’s heart jumps to his throat. He springs into action, gathering Inumaki in his arms and barricading the door behind them. A curse… in the dorms? On campus? It doesn’t seem plausible. Not with Tengen’s barrier, and especially not with Gojo-sensei’s technique always lurking. There’s a reason attacks on Jujutsu Tech have to be carefully planned, after all.
Except, through the haze of adrenaline spiking in Yuuta’s veins he remembers Gojo has been on an overseas mission for the past few days, and a particularly cunning curse could surely fly under the radar without his watchful eye.
Yuuta deposits Inumaki gently on the muddled mess of his mattress, propping his head up with a pillow beneath it and rushing to grab supplies: a towel, bottled water, and his katana in case there’s trouble.
“O-kaka.” Inumaki chokes out, blood spewing from his lips on a cough. Yuuta rushes to his side, wiping his face with a damp corner of the towel. “Takana.”
“By yourself?” Yuuta gasps. He knew Inumaki was strong, and he shouldn’t be surprised. But Yuuta was right down the hall. Right here. Why didn’t Inumaki call for him? For any of them? “What grade was it?”
Inumaki holds up two fingers, his eyes sliding shut in exhaustion. Yuuta feels sick, bile churning in his stomach as he continues to clean him up to the best of his abilities. “I can’t believe you took it down on your own.”
Inumaki just shrugs weakly, hacking up another stream of blood. Yuuta’s quick to catch it as it rolls down his neck in a viscous stream. “We should get Shoko.”
Yuuta feels around for his phone, becoming more and more rushed as he realizes he has no idea where it is. He should also alert the rest of the dorm, just in case there are more curses waiting to pounce. Yuuta’s hands tremble as he throws back the covers, peaks under the bed frame, rifles through his desk drawer—still no sign of his damned phone.
Panic sets in, the room around him beginning to warp into a blurry, spinning, mass of indiscernible shapes and colors. His tongue feels stuck in his throat, preventing him from breathing, speaking, or even thinking. What is he supposed to do? Inumaki is injured, pretty badly if the amount of blood staining his towel is any indication. There are possibly more curses breaching campus security. The others are asleep. His friends. The ones he has sworn to protect time and time again. And Yuuta can’t even find his phone. The one thing he needs to move this along and make sure everyone is safe.
Another wet cough breaks him from his trance, Inumaki’s limbs going slack against the mattress. Yuuta rushes to him, wiping his face of yet another stream of blood. Yuuta’s hairs standing on end. There’s no time to stand around, not now. The situation is urgent, and if he can’t take the course of action he previously hoped for, well, he’s going to have to figure something else out.
“Inumaki.” Yuuta rests his palm against Inumaki’s cheek, shaking him slightly and garnering no response.
Yuuta’s blood runs cold.
“Inumaki, hey.” No response.
Yuuta knows what he has to do.
“I’m sorry…” Yuuta whispers shakily. “I…don’t have a choice.”
Yuuta can’t help the way his heart thumps as his fingertips slide over Inumaki’s lips before hooking beneath them and prying them apart. “I’m going to help you. You’re going to be okay, Inumaki-kun.”
Yuuta’s lips shake as they meet Inumaki’s in an open-mouthed kiss. Well, not a kiss, because this is meant to be life saving treatment. He can’t contact Shoko, and though this technique still isn’t something he’s confident with, he would do absolutely anything for his friends.
He would do anything for Inumaki.
Yuuta can feel the energy buzzing deep inside his gut, flowing up through his chest and tingling the edges of his lips as it streams into Inumaki’s throat. His stamina feels as if it’s being sapped, the little bit that he still had at this time of night, anyways. With every breath, every pass of energy brushing over his tongue, he can feel the life returning to Inumaki’s flesh beneath his palms. Yuuta continues to support Inumaki’s face between his hands, holding his neck straight so as to not damage his throat even further.
The taste of iron is pungent as Yuuta holds his lips firm against Inumaki’s, being sure not to sever the flow of energy before he’s healed. That curse surely did a number on him, seeing as Yuuta is nearly at his limit and there’s quite a bit more that requires attention. But his goal right now is stability. To make Inumaki comfortable and then get him to Shoko at the first opportunity.
Yuuta’s eyes have slid shut, and before he knows it his body is leaning snuggly against Inumaki below him. He begins to lose himself in this feeling of connection. Of his energy—a part of him—flowing and melding with Inumaki’s very being. Yuuta feels intoxicated by the scent of Inumaki’s skin overcast with that of blood and sweat. It lights something deep within him, feelings long held and deeply buried.
Desire.
Yuuta has always felt this way about Inumaki, even during the time when he was intimidated by him. It’s always been out of admiration. Strong, kind, selfless—traits Yuuta could never imagine embodying himself. Inumaki is all those things and more so effortlessly, even with a history as dark as Yuuta’s own.
Yuuta could never measure up. He could never deserve Inumaki, and so he can never confess.
It wouldn’t be right.
Inumaki’s eyes shoot open, his limbs rocketing up from the mattress and hovering there as he regains his bearings. Yuuta doesn’t break the technique. Not yet. He’s nearly running on empty, but he intends to give Inumaki every bit of what he has. He can’t stand to see him in that shape again.
Yuuta’s grip on Inumaki’s face becomes firmer, signaling that he’s not quite done and to hold on just a bit longer. Inumaki hums against Yuuta’s lips, his hands lowering towards the mattress before changing trajectory to rest on Yuuta’s waist. Yuuta jolts slightly, an impressive heat radiating in his cheeks. The addition of Inumaki’s consciousness, and now his intentional touching, is making this feel like more than just ‘life saving treatment.’
Eyes on the prize, Yuuta continues on with shallow breaths as he allows the last dregs of his energy to flow into Inumaki. Even with his eyes closed he can feel a violet gaze on him, intense and searching—for what, Yuuta’s not sure. He can feel his reserve draining totally as his limbs shake and struggle to support him.
Yuuta retreats, but his lips are only freed for a nanosecond before he’s pulled back into a desperate kiss.
An actual kiss, this time.
Inumaki’s arms wrap tightly around Yuuta’s neck, holding him firmly in place. Their lips slide against each other, slick with blood and saliva mixing and trickling down Yuuta’s chin. It all happens so fast, Yuuta’s thoughts drowned out by the wet smacking of lips and his own frantic heartbeat. He had only meant to help Inumaki. To use his technique to stabilize him. Keep his promise—keep Inumaki safe.
“Hmph.” Yuuta manages to pry his lips away long enough to suck in a shaky breath, clearing his head for just a moment before Inumaki is back on him. “W-wait,” he mutters against swollen lips, pushing and pulling to a frantic rhythm that has Yuuta completely breathless.
Inumaki doesn’t stop, only dips his tongue between the seal of Yuuta’s lips and flicks at his teeth. There’s not a moment wasted before he delves deeper, swirling circles around Yuuta’s tongue and laving over it with the visceral taste of blood and melon candies—the ones he’s always snacking on. It’s dizzying how very intimate this all feels. To taste parts of Inumaki that aren’t meant for him—for anyone—no one could be deserving of this.
Yuuta can’t let himself lose sight of what’s happening here. The situation is too unknown. Moments ago Inumaki was out cold, spewing blood from his throat and barely able to speak. This has to be a mistake. There has to be something wrong.
“Inu-maki,” Yuuta demands, unable to lift himself far from the lack of strength he has left. “Listen!”
Inumaki’s lips still, pulling back just enough to search Yuuta’s expression for answers. He cocks his head to the side, crystal eyes half lidded as he awaits whatever explanation Yuuta has to offer him.
“What’s wrong? Did that curse do something to you?” Yuuta has to regain some strength. He has to find his phone, and he has to call Shoko. Something isn’t right, and he has to do what he can to set it straight.
“Okaka,” Toge says sternly.
Yuuta isn’t convinced. For what other reason would this be happening? There’s no way. He can’t wrap his brain around it.
Inumaki couldn’t…
“I’m sorry for doing that without asking,” Yuuta apologizes. “And for uh…” He rolls to the side, plopping onto the bed next to Inumaki with a grunt. “Fuck.”
Yuuta rests his head in his hands, covering himself and hiding the shameful way his cheeks flush hot. “I shouldn’t be getting so worked up. I need to figure out how to help you. I’m sorry… I’m—”
“Yuuta,” Inumaki starts, the sudden mention of his name sending a jolt through Yuuta’s chest. He peaks through the space between his fingers, his head laying on the pillow next to Inumaki’s, leaving their faces just as close as they were before.
Inumaki smiles weakly, his eyes bright and inviting. Yuuta knows that expression; it’s the one Inumaki wears any time he’s truly happy. When they make it out of a fight alive, on his birthday eating his favorite desserts, that day they pet a kitten outside the convenience store on their way home from a mission—life’s few true joys. So why?
Inumaki’s hands tremble as they hover at his chin, signing slowly to be sure Yuuta catches every word.
Stop assuming you’re unlovable.
Yuuta gasps softly, fumbling over the words in his head before falling silent. Inumaki, too, remains silent, bringing his hands to wrap once more around Yuuta’s waist. He’s pulled flush against Inumaki’s front, their noses bumping awkwardly as Yuuta allows himself to be maneuvered—both out of weakness and shock. “I—” Yuuta stutters before he’s interrupted once more by soft, searching lips.
This time is different. Less desperate, more certain. Yuuta’s whole being is on fire, his neurons flaming against his skin at every point he connects with Inumaki.
Inumaki. Inumaki. It doesn’t feel real, and for a moment he questions if maybe he’s been put under some curse, as well. Or perhaps it’s a dream and he was never actually woken up in the first place. He could wake up in the morning, realizing this had all been in his head, somber yet relieved at the notion that things remain the same.
He’s yanked from his speculation at the deepening of their kiss, Inumaki tilting his head and parting his lips. When his tongue darts out to meet Yuuta’s, this time feels electric, like a spark flows through Inumaki’s cells and into Yuuta’s very soul. Yuuta wants more of it—decides he can’t live another second unless he has it—and he’s rushing to dig his fingertips into the flesh of Inumaki’s hips. His body rolls thoughtlessly, eliciting a soft moan from Inumaki as their features drag over each other. Yuuta is losing himself quickly in the way Inumaki’s tongue swirls around the inside of his mouth, leaving blood-tinged trails in its wake.
The moment is perfect, would be perfect, if it wasn’t for the sudden knocking at Yuuta’s door that has them both jolting up in response.
Fuck. The curse.
Yuuta stumbles off the edge of the bed, giving Inumaki a quick once over to be sure he’s unharmed before weakly padding towards the door.
This time it’s Maki on the other end. She dawns a panicked expression that only worsens when she sees the state of Yuuta in his doorway.
“What the fuck happened?” She motions to the puddle of blood drying on the ground in front of Yuuta’s door. “I followed a trail of blood here, and why is it all over your face ? Did you get punched?”
Yuuta steps to the side to reveal Inumaki still holed up on his bed, sitting up slightly and wincing at every sip of water he forces down his throat.
“Holy—what is happening? ” Maki’s confusion is valid, and it takes Yuuta’s brain a beat to catch up to the fact that he needs to explain what the hell is going on.
Just before he does, though, another voice enters the fray—loud, melodic, and most of all familiar.
“Ahhh~ Good work, my students!” Gojo saunters around the corner, clapping his hands together in a show of praise and donning a prideful smirk.
The three of them look at him raggedly, immediately putting together that whatever is going on here was definitely nothing short of one of their sensei’s regular ‘surprise training scenarios’.
“What do you do if a curse somehow makes it onto campus?” Gojo speculates, tapping at his chin and letting the silence go on for far too long before answering his own question.
“You exorcize it, of course!” Gojo peaks around the door frame to give Inumaki a triumphant thumbs up. “Good work, Inumaki-kun!”
Maki and Yuuta remain in silent awe, even as Inumaki returns their sensei’s gesture, smiling proudly as he continues to rehydrate. “And good work to you, as well, Yuuta-kun.” Gojo pats him on the shoulder, winking knowingly and only deepening Yuuta’s flushed cheeks. “You’ve made great strides tonight.”
Maki groans, exasperated, before making a retreat back to her room. “Your methods are twisted. I’m going back to bed.”
The color from Yuuta’s cheeks drains at the notion that this had all just been one big test. Or a training thing? Or… what does he mean by ‘great strides?’
“Anyways, thanks for taking such good care of Inumaki-kun. Make sure to escort him to Shoko in the morning, got it?” Gojo ruffles Yuuta’s hair, one of the most obnoxious things he could possibly do at 1am after Yuuta’s hour-long, ongoing panic attack.
But when Gojo’s gone and the door latches shut, Yuuta’s hit with a new reality. The one where this was all a set up. Where he may have saved his friend from real injuries, but unintentionally laid his heart bare in the process.
Yuuta’s exhausted, his eyes struggling to remain open as he sits on the edge of the mattress at Inumaki’s feet. The two remain silent, but only for a moment before Toge nudges Yuuta’s leg with his toe. “Tuna.” Another nudge. “Tuna mayo.”
It is late. And they’re both completely drained.
“Yeah, let’s rest up.”
Whether or not Inumaki is going back to his room isn’t up for discussion, not in his current condition. Yuuta makes his way to the head of the bed and takes his place next to Inumaki, laying his hand protectively over the center of his chest. It may be silly, but it’s for himself more than it is for Inumaki. To feel his chest move, the breath flowing in and back out at a steady rate, knowing the one he cares so deeply for is safe. Surviving.
Yuuta lets his eyes slip shut on that thought, comforted by the rhythmic rise and fall of Inumaki’s breathing.