Chapter Text
Soulmates always feel a pull when their soulmates are near. It’s said that it's the work of the gods or the universe or whatever higher being up there to ensure soulmates meet.
But Sukuna and Yuuji aren’t soulmates.
Everyone is born with a soulmark and just like everyone, Yuuji has one. But Sukuna… doesn’t.
Still, they found each other, noticed the attraction between the two of them (after a lot of pining from Sukuna because Yuuji’s oblivious and misunderstood Sukuna’s flirting as being friendly), and decided, Yuuji hasn’t found his soulmate yet so why not try, right? They could always end things amicably when Yuuji’s soulmate comes.
That’s what they thought when they were still freshmen in high school.
Many thought their relationship was taboo, dumb, stupid, unacceptable.
They thought they could talk behind Sukuna’s back and call him a reject. But of course, Sukuna heard and beat up the people who dared to share their two cents. (Gave him quite a reputation since high school until now).
Many thought the relationship would only end in hurt, most of them pitying Yuuji, thinking that it was Sukuna forcing him to be in this relationship while he was yet to find his soulmate. Yuuji had heard the ‘concerned people’ cautioning him because relationships like his and Sukuna don’t last. One has a soulmate for a reason.
But it was Sukuna who held Yuuji when the latter’s grandfather died, it was Sukuna who calmed Yuuji down when he had jitters from taking the uni entrance exams, it was Sukuna who comforted Yuuji when they had to pop his shoulder back in after a bad accident. It was Sukuna who was constantly there for Yuuji in the last ten years.
So maybe that was why Yuuji said what he said.
“What do you mean?” the man in front of him, about the same age and height as Yuuji, with black hair that covered almost half of his face, asked. There was obvious confusion and hurt on the part that was visible.
Yuuji looked away and shrugged half-heartedly. “I think you understand what I said.”
“No, I don’t! I waited for you since I was five! That's practically my whole life! We don’t know each other’s name but I know we’re soulmates. Why are you telling me you don’t want anything to do with me?”
Yuuji winced, still looking away. He understood the other’s frustration. Maybe he said it without thinking, maybe he panicked and blurted out those words, maybe he should have worded it differently but it wasn’t wrong. And he believes unconscious words usually have the most meaning behind it.
Yuuji always commuted to and from work and this train station had been a part of his life every single day. He wasn’t going to deny that, more often than not, he had felt a pull here.
He would understand now that the pull he felt was the pul l that would lead him to his soulmate. His soulmate, who had been using this same train station maybe just as much as Yuuji did, who had also felt the pull as much as Yuuji did, who had been waiting for Yuuji for many years, was now looking at him crushed.
“Please don’t tell me I’m the only one who felt it. Every day I felt it coz you were here, too. We haven’t crossed paths all this time even though this train station’s so small but I know we were supposed to meet here. I felt it and it brought me to you and I know you’re my soulmate and I know you know it, too.”
Yuuji acknowledged everything the other man said because it was true. So why haven’t they met until now? If they both felt the pull all those years, why did it take so long? More importantly, if Yuuji felt the pull, why didn’t he follow it?
Yuuji only has one answer to that. It wasn’t Sukuna. Close, but not quite. It was Yuuji’s choice to be with Sukuna.
Yuuji who takes the train at the same time every day without fail to meet with Sukuna so they could go home together or find somewhere to eat out if they feel lazy to cook, Yuuji who makes sure not to miss the train or Sukuna would get cranky (because he’s hungry and gets worried even if he denies it) and maybe because Yuuji misses Sukuna already, Yuuji who had consciously and unconsciously disregarded the pull because he would finally see and be with the man who owns his heart.
He was only late today because he had to cover for a co-worker whose child had gotten sick. And Sukuna should be waiting for him now. Sukuna who’s cranky and impatient and would no doubt talk Yuuji’s ear off with his complaints about Yuuji being too nice or too slow but would definitely hold Yuuji’s hand tight as they walk home and relax as they walk side by side.
Yuuji shouldn’t make Sukuna wait anymore.
“Do you have someone else?” the other person asked and Yuuji looked up. There must’ve been something in his face because the other person’s demeanor changed from hurt to betrayal. “That’s it, isn’t it? You have someone else.” He let out a bitter laugh. “You, of all people, should know that whatever you have with whoever it is you’re with won’t work because the two of you aren’t destined! He’s probably taking advantage of you! You should know bette—”
Yuuji didn’t realize what he did until he was inches away from the surprised man in front of him, his hands gripping the other’s coat in a vice-like grip, his fingers itching to reach up to snake them around the other’s neck, almost relishing in the fear reflected in his eyes at Yuuji’s sudden actions.
“Don’t you fucking dare,” Yuuji threatened, voice low and dangerous. He doesn’t know how he looked right now, but the fear in the other’s eyes was getting more prominent and Yuuji finds that yes, this person, soulmate or not, should look at him like that. “You know nothing about him so don’t you fucking dare tell me what you think you know.”
Yuuji pushed the shocked man away and left without any backward glance. He felt something breaking in the pull but he was too angry to even acknowledge it.
It was late. Instead of taking the train, Yuuji walked. He was too angry from whatever transpired. He knows when he is more rational, he would understand why the man, his soulmate, said what he said and did what he did. He may even apologize and explain. But Yuuji was still too angry, too hurt for his love that his impulses and unconsciousness had taken action.
There was still some residual anger left but the hour of walking (which would’ve only been ten or fifteen minutes in the train) had helped Yuuji calm down. But that also meant he had to tell Sukuna to go home without him. The last thing he wanted was for Sukuna to wait for him in the cold.
Missed the train. Don’t wait up. Just go home.
It was too curt for him so he immediately added:
Sorry.
Something happened. I’ll walk it off.
But seriously, no need to wait up. Just go home.
I’m fine.
I promise.
💪😘❤️🔥😚
...
Okay.
Keep yourself warm.
Take a cab if you have to.
It’s fine.
Thanks, Suku. And I’m sorry.
Just come home safe.
I’ll get dinner.
Sukuna should already be at home by now. It’d be nice if dinner was his favorite - rice bowl topped with lots of meat and noodles. It was his turn to cook and Sukuna’s turn to do the dishes. Hopefully, Sukuna wouldn’t be too angry to swap for tonight. He could really use some good food right now. And maybe stay in Sukuna’s warm embrace the rest of the night. Yeah, that’d be nice.
As soon as Yuuji turned the corner, he stopped, eyes widening.
There, under the lamppost near the conbini where they would usually wait for one another, was Sukuna’s huddled figure.
Yuuji could see the slight shaking of Sukuna’s frame. There was a bit of snow gathered on his coat shoulders and hair, testament to how long he had been there. It was too cold to be outside, the temperatures still freezing even if spring was nearing. Sukuna should’ve been inside the conbini where it would be warmer. But he never waited for Yuuji there. It was always outside.
Yuuji couldn’t help but feel whatever anger or frustration lift from his shoulders and that familiar prickling sensation at the back of his eyes.
Sukuna had not noticed him yet so, without saying anything, Yuuji walked towards Sukuna and embraced him from behind. His eyes felt heavy with unshed tears and Yuuji pushed his face on Sukuna’s cold jacket, his arms tightening around the other man.
They were silent for a while and Yuuji knows Sukuna’s just letting him center himself again.
“What’s wrong, brat?”
Yuuji shook his head and didn’t say anything.
“Yuuji?” Sukuna prompted.
Muffled by the coat, he instead said, “I told you not to wait.”
Sukuna turned in the embrace to face Yuuji, who let go of his hold to look up at Sukuna with a wobbly smile. The taller man frowned at seeing Yuuji's face, perhaps not buying his smile. He lifted a hand from the warmth of his coat pocket to wipe the tear that had built up by the side of Yuuji’s eye.
Yuuji put his hand over Sukuna’s to push it to his own face, nuzzling his cheek on Sukuna’s warm palm.
“Your hand and face are cold,” Sukuna mentioned.
Yuuji smiled sheepishly. “Sorry. I had to walk home.”
“No shit. I waited over an hour.”
Yuuji pouted. “I told you not to wait. But…” Yuuji kissed Sukuna’s palm before nuzzling on its warmth again. “Thank you.”
Yuuji looked up and saw the questions on Sukuna’s face. He held his breath as he waited, hoping Sukuna wouldn’t ask the details. The other must've seen his plea because he let out a breath and said, “You’ll tell me about it eventually, right?”
Yuuji nodded. “Eventually,” he promised.
“Fine,” Sukuna said, taking Yuuji’s cold hands in his and blowing on them.
Yuuji sighed. He didn’t have any gloves with him and his anger had made him disregard the cold. Now he feels the warmth slowly seeping back inside of him, especially that warmth in his chest.
“Better?” Sukuna asked. Yuuji smiled and nodded.
Sukuna took off his dark blue scarf and placed it around Yuuji’s neck. Then he intertwined their fingers together.
“Let’s go?”
Yuuji nodded and both walked side by side back to their shared apartment.
“I assume you’re too tired to make dinner?” Sukuna asked. Yuuji’s groan made Sukuna chuckle. “Fine, I’ll cook tonight. I guess it’s a good thing I bought groceries.”
Yuuji only noticed now the plastic bag on Sukuna’s other hand.
Sukuna continued, “I’m thinking we can have rice bowl topped with lots of meat and noodles.”
Yuuji looked at Sukuna with excited eyes and hugged the arm their hands were intertwined with. “Suku, you’re the best.”
Sukuna chuckled. “But it’s your turn to cook for the next two days.”
“Promise,” Yuuji assured. “Oh! I saw a new restaurant a few blocks from here. We should try it out.”
“This weekend? I thought we’re staying home to watch the movies we missed?”
“They deliver so we can definitely order from them and still have movies!”
“Alright, it’s a date.”
Yuuji leaned his head on Sukuna’s shoulder and smiled. “It’s a date.”
No soulmark, or destiny, or whatever anyone said or thought, would change this.
Here, with Sukuna, Yuuji was home.