Work Text:
The snow was slowly falling on the streets of Tokyo, winter had been entering for weeks now.
Gojo sat on the sofa in the small apartment that Toji Fushiguro had left to his two children before abandoning them. That sucks, thought the boy as he watched the two children return to a house empty in every sense, both of love and of furniture.
Toji, according to his son, had never bothered to buy any real furniture for the house, opting only for an old and uncomfortable sofa, a dangerous kitchen, a clock that was several minutes late but which no one had ever fixed until Gojo's arrival, a circular table that creaked every time you leaned on it, showing signs of sagging, and a bunk bed for the children.
The house was small, only one bedroom, a very small bathroom and a sort of openspace for the kitchen and the living room. It wa salso very dark, there were just a few orange lights and some glow in the dark stars on the ceiling.
He had taken them under his wing without a second thought; he was only 17 and knew nothing about parenthood. Surely he was not fit to be a father. He didn't care; he would rather take such a big responsibility than leave two children, who were only six years old, alone. But now he was 20. he knew what he was doing…right?
Tsumiki was the elder of the two, although they were actually half-siblings. She, a joyful and sunny child, made friends with everyone, put others first, and was the first to trust Gojo. He was grateful, not knowing what to do if those two hated him.
Then there was Megumi, he was a lonely little boy, he didn't talk much, a little grumpy especially toward Gojo, but still he had a huge heart hidden by a high barrier that the little boy had built for himself over time. Gojo understood him. Under all those nasty looks, under all those snarky comments there was just a little boy who life failed him. Abandonated by his father, that never actually loved him, he thought he was the reason for his mother's death... Gojo could only understand why he was like this.
People might think Megumi didn't trust him like Tsumiki did, but it was the opposite. If something was wrong Megumi would call him, even though Gojo gave him the number of much more mature people (as Shoko and Nanami). But he never called them.
He called Gojo.
The mere thought spread a strange warm in Gojo's heart.
The two children were much more mature than normal. Tsumiki could already cook, use the vacuum and she would even help megumi when he was having trouble with his homework, all of this while doing her chores!
Megumi couldn't cook, but he made a strict to-do list. at 7 am he gets up, at 7:15 he is ready and is eating breakfast. At 8 am he is in school. At 3:30pm he is back from school. 1 hour of relax, then at 4:30pm he starts his homework. At 6:30pm dinner and then at 9pm he is asleep.
Gojo always thought that was scary for a ten years old boy. come on! only one hour of relax?! And Megumi follow that list as if someone could die if he didn't.
Gojo looked at the clock on the wall, 3:25pm. Megumi will be home soon, he thought smiling. Tsumiki was out for the night, one of her friends from school invited her to a sleepover and she was so excited for it!
Gojo had to learn how to braid hairs because she wanted a cool hairstile for that situation. He thought that was very cute, but didn't comment it, instead he gave her a small kiss on her forehead watching her getting ready.
3:30pm, and the sound of a key opening a door was heard throughout the house. Megumi was back. He got up redy to greet the small boy with a huge smile. "Hey 'Gumi!" he said cheerfully, "how was your day?" he asked gently patting the boy's head.
As anwer he just got a small 'fine' and one of his nasty look. "I'm happy for you!" The mentor said with a smile.
The boy did not look good: he was slightly pale and his nose was red, almost like one of Santa's reindeer. Gojo did not pay too much attention to it. The boy was always very pale, and the red nose could only be the icy air he walked home with. Besides, Megumi never got sick.
Then the boy took out from his backpack a papersheet, which the older boy looked at, confused, "What's this?" he asked "the teacher gave us grades for the assignment she gave us last week,". On the papersheet there was a HUGE 95/100 written in a beautyfull calligraphy, and Gojo was surprised. "Didn't go that well but, that's fine i guess" Megumi said looking down at his own shoes.
As soon as the words leave megumi's mouth, Gojo bends so that he can confront megumi eye to eye. "Are you joking? You did so well! 95 out of 100 is a wonderful score! I'm so proud of you!".
He looked at the boy and could swear he saw his eyes tear up at the words. "Shut up," the boy said while a tint of red spread across his face. "Aw my sweet little Megumi is blushing?" he teased poking his stomach. The boy only blushed harder running to his room.
Gojo smiled getting up and going to attach the paper to the fridge.
The rest of the day passed without a hitch. Without Tsumiki's presence, he was in charge of dinner. He wasn't that bad at the stove, but he wasn't that good either. In fact, he ended up ordering from a near by KFC.
Megumi was still in his bedroom doing his homework.
Gojo's only sign of life was a few sneezes and a coughing fit. Gojo began to worry when a small, frail voice called to him from the bedroom. Immediately he ran to the door. He knocked on the door, "Gumi, it's me! Are you okay?" but got no answer. He cursed under his breath and knocked again, "Megumi, I'm coming in." He said slowly, pushing the door open.
Almost immediately he saw the boy on the floor in a fetal position, probably shivering from the cold. He immediately ran towards him, picked him up and went into the living room. Why didn't I notice this sooner, he thought.
Gojo gently laid the boy down on the sofa by placing a pillow under his head. He rushed into the kitchen looking for the thermometer and calling Shoko. "Satoru? Is everything all right?" the girl's voice sounded confused; Gojo never calls unless it's an emergency. The older boy put the thermometer under Megumi's arm and waited a few minutes. "No...it's, fuck... it's Megumi," he began, "I don't know, it was... fuck... Gumi came back and he was well...yes, he was quite pale, but..." "Okay Satoru, calm down. Does he have a fever?" Gojo took the thermometer from Megumi's arm and began to panic when the small object read 101.8°F "He has a very high fever and I don't know what to do."
"I do, take a cloth and wet it with some water, not hot water of course! warm water or cold water, wet his wrists and ankles then place it on his forehead, give him paracetamol, make sure that he's hydratated and stay with him okay?" she said firmly. Gojo returned to the kitchen, finding no cloth to use (he mentally marked himself to buy some the next time he went shopping) he took off his shirt, wetting it with some cold water. He came back with the wet shirt, a glass of water and the medicine.
The white hair man started by slowly passing the cold cloth on megumi's wrists and ankles, then placing it on megumi's forehead. He let the boy sleep before wake him up for the medicine. He opted for writing a mail to Megumi's teacher telling her that Megumi was sick and that he couldn't attend his classes for at least a few days.
He wanted his Megumi to get well and he would let him stay in for at least a day after getting well. The boy stirred in his sleep, meaning he was about to wake up.
Gojo sat next to him, smiling trying to hide the panic he felt just an hour ago. "Hey sleepy boy," he slowly brushed his hand trough Megumi's hair "how are you feeling?" he asked calmly.
"Sick-" that was the only response and Gojo laughed. "I know, why didn't you tell me you were sick?" "'cuz I don wanna be a burden..." the small boy replied, and the confession made Gojo heart sink.
Megumi you could never be a burden to me, never in a million years!". He could see the boy's shoulders tense up "why would you think that?". Megumi started to tear up, it was the first time that Gojo saw Megumi crying and the sight broke his heart. "Because- you're strong! Y-You're never weak... you-you never get sad... I-If I'm sick and weak y-you're going to abandon me too" the boy started sobbing.
Gojo quikly took megumi into his lap, not really sure what he could say to make him feel better. He started to lull him gently trying to calm him down, reorganizing his ideas.
He had no idea that the boy was suffering so much because of his father. Megumi always seemed so careless about the situation.
Gojo wanted to punch himself in the face, of course he was sad! His fucking dad left! The only family he got!
"Megumi, look at me. If there's a thing I'm one hundred per cent sure is that i will never leave you or Miki side. ok? I will never leave you two. And I'm not going to leave especially because you're sick and you need me." he kisssed the boy's forehead.
"you really think i never get weak? or that i'm never sad?" the boy slowly nods "mhh, i see... can I tell you a story? It's kinda similiar to yours but well not really" he laughed.
"You see, a few Years ago I had this friend of mine he was my classmate from high school, and for a few months he became my best friend..." he started petting Megumi's hair. "why only a few months?" the small boy asked genuely curious "well, when we were 16 years old... uhm- we, let's say that we bonded a lot, so much that we started to feel something for eachother..." he looked the boy scared that he might think that he was disgusting, but instead the ten years old looked interested for the continue of the story. "we were useparable, always togheter... that was- untill he decided that his ideals were more important than us... He was expelled from jujutsu tech e he became a powerful sorcerer, but an evil one.. He thinks that non-sorcerer shouldn't live... I tried to talk to him but he just wouldn't listen... and so he left me. I miss him of course but, does that even matter? If he preferred his stupid ideals over me then he doesn't deserve me. right?" he looks at Megumi with a gentle smile "No! He doesn't deserve you at all!" it almost looked as if the boy pouted "right, and i don't need him. Because I have you, and Tsumiki with me!" he said hugging Megumi closer to himself.
"I'm sorry for that stupid idiot of your ex-" Megumi said, making Gojo giggle a bit "thanks baby" he ruffles the boy's hair. "Megumi, you're not alone. I promise you. You'll never be alone..."
The little boy nods resting his head on Gojo's shoulder "take the medicine then go to sleep, ok?" he said with a soft voice, the one that he only used with Tsumiki and Megumi.
The sick boy slowly nods letting a very small smile creep on his face. "I love you 'Gumi don't ever forget that". Megumi closed his eyes after taking the medicine, letting sleep get the better of him. Gojo kissed his forehead, covering him then with a blanket.
Well...he wasn't all that bad as a father.