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Sukuna didn’t like Christmas. So the same went for Christmas Eve.
There wasn't a big reason behind that. He guessed that everyone get tired of it with all the preparation necessary. The food was delicious but he could eat the same without having to fight at the supermarket with the other customers. Well he wouldn't have to do it if he cared about Christmas days before it start.
He wasn’t the only one working that day, even if some of his colleagues joked around about them being old and alone. But honestly that wasn’t the first Christmas Eve where it happened, so at this point he didn’t care much anymore…
That was the last client for today. After that, he will be able to go to his best friend’s bar, Uraume, and drink with them.
His last client entered in his car, holding a little bag in his hand. He seemed happy.
Another person to get to their house to celebrate Christmas Eve.
The noise his client was doing was just background noises to him. He was used to driving even with that, though he’d rather the sound of his radio than that.
“Heh? What do you mean it’s over?”
The roads were more and more crowded… if he had to drive any longer, his job would been annoying for sure.
“... like… a break up or you’re just angry at me? Wait, really? A break up? Why?”
… what is happening there?
“Wait, why?! What did I do wrong? I- don’t hang up on me! Hey…”
The other voice Sukuna could hear from the phone stopped.
And now it was only silence. What, did he want to cry? Sukuna isn’t good at comforting people. Also it’s not his job.
“What an asshole.”
Well his customer didn’t seem sad anymore, if he ever was.
Upon looking at his face, the young man in the back was frowning and Sukuna couldn’t help but think that his attitude was cute.
Oh.
An idea came to him.
“So you’re free now?”
“Huh?”
Itadori looked at him with surprise. Another cute face.
“I am saying, you can’t spend your Christmas Eve with your partner now right?”
“Yeah. Wait. Are you hitting on me?”
“And I wanted to keep you company for the night.”
“I barely know you, sir.”
“Name is Ryomen Sukuna. Now I am not a stranger anymore.”
…
“ And if I accept, where are you supposed to take me?”
“I know a restaurant where I wanted to go right after you. What about it?”
“Am I being kidnapped?”
“I would be a polite kidnapper to ask you before taking you away.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“… ok. Let’s do that.”
Yuuji agreed because he have nothing better to do anymore.
“Good.”
Yuuji was shocked. When he talked about the restaurant he didn’t know that he meant such a high-end place! Yuuji felt out of place immediately.
“Ryomen-san…”
“Hm?”
“I’d need a tuxedo.”
“And?”
“You’re the one responsible for getting me, there so take your responsibilities!”
Sukuna raised an eyebrow.
“What are you, my girlfriend?”
“No, thanks!”
And by surprise, Sukuna patted his head with a little laugh.
“I know the chief. Don’t worry.”
Yuuji felt stupid for blushing just because some hot guy was smiling at him. Was he really that easy to seduce?
His frustration changed in fascination when they were given a table. Yuuji looked at the silverware. It was like in these movies with a romantic scene! Oh maybe there’ll be these super fancy dishes, then?
“Do you want some wine?”
“Huh… yes?”
“It's recommended to drink white wine when you take an appetiser and then red wine for the main dishes if it contains meat.”
“Wow… You know your stuff…”
Yuuji beamed at him and Sukuna thought that this date (because it literally was one, right?) was a good idea.
“I’m taking my responsibilities so you can take whatever you want.”
“Huh, how do an uber driver get to have so much money…?”
“Oh it’ll be the last time I work here. So I can allow myself to enjoy it, right?”
Yuuji nodded. Some people were really lucky… or he guessed, hardworking, huh? Still, Sukuna would have had to get an inheritance to be able to frequent this place he, Itadori Yuuji, wouldn’t be able to go at all. Well, it meant that he really had to enjoy that night! And Sukuna thought the same about his ex-client now turned date.
Yuuji didn’t know anything about wine but it was the best one he ever drank! Sukuna hold out his glass to Yuuji.
“Merry Christmas.”
Sukuna had this wish for him the whole day but he felt like getting into the Christmas mood. Yuuji clinked his glass with him while chuckling.
“Yes! Merry Christmas!”
He talked a bit too loudly but it just made Sukuna smile even more.
Honestly he didn’t expect much when he picked up his own customer but it went better than he expected.
They enjoyed their time here. After they finished, Yuuji had eaten enough. Sukuna too.
“I never ate something this good! It literally make me forget my-”
Ah. Actually, he did remember. Sukuna knew nothing of the love story he saw end today. Somewhere he hoped that being with him would make Yuuji forget. Sukuna didn’t know himself as the kind of person who cared for others so asking if he was ok was stuck in his throat.
“Well, I learnt the lesson: not getting with someone just because they’re hot.”
…
Sukuna couldn’t help but laugh.
“For real? While you just followed me for the same reason?”
“Hey, it’s not only this! You cared for me, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, because you were so pitiful.”
“HEY!”
“Haha.”
Sukuna patted Yuuji again but Yuuji took away his hands.
“No touchy if you laugh at me like that.”
“What should I do for you to let me touch you again?”
Yuuji immediately became all red and started to stutter. Oh? Dirty thoughts, with such an innocent face? The night is getting better. Yuuji shook his head to get rid of his thoughts.
“Let’s go ice skating!”
“Where does that come from?”
Yuuji took Sukuna’s hands:
“Please!”
… he didn’t plan on refusing but the brat’s eyes made his heart skip a beat. He hoped that he wasn’t the one blushing now.
“Well, you’re my client so I can’t refuse.”
The ice skating rink was full of couples, and Yuuji couldn’t help but feel self conscious. He was supposed to spend this day with his boyfriend but now they weren’t a thing anymore… and he agreed to have a date with his uber driver. When they were eating he focused too much on the dishes to think that much about it, but now…
“Brat?”
“Yes I-… brat? I am not a child.”
Sukuna patted him again with his big and warm hands, making Yuuji blush again.
“I mean you are daydreaming. Aren’t we supposed to ice skate?”
“Y-yes! Let’s go!”
After having changed their shoes, they’re shown up on the ice rink. Yuuji asked:
“I just ask that now, but are you good at ice skating?”
“Yeah that’s a little late, but I am the kind of person who would rather know how to skate before going to ice skate.”
“Sorry, dumb question.”
Yuuji was holding Sukuna’s arms strongly. The latter asked:
“And you don’t know how?”
“Yes, I do! Wait a moment…”
Sukuna just went on as Yuuji didn’t let go of him.
“Your moment is taking a long ti-”
Yuuji finally let go of him. He struggled a little before joining Sukuna again. And taking his hand this time.
“It’s better like this!”
Yuuji smiled. Despite the cold, the contact of their hands was so warm to Sukuna. He held his hand a little stronger, surprising Yuuji who, despite his red cheeks, chuckled and smiled back at him.
He felt really great. He had fun. Does he really need to think about something else than that? Maybe he was just happy to not be alone but… the way Sukuna held his hands back was heartwarming.
“Hey, Ryomen-san?”
“Hm?”
Yuuji placed himself in front of Sukuna, smiling even brighter.
“Thanks for tonight.”
It was Sukuna’s turn to feel self conscious.
It’s not like he didn’t want Itadori to have a good time but at the beginning he mostly thought about himself. He couldn’t say that the brat’s happiness was just a happy accident. It was better than that with the bright expression he showed him.
“Ryomen-san! Let’s have hot cocoa!”
He took his hand again to lead him out of the ice skating rink.
He felt his entire being filled by warmth, so much warmth that he was hesitating on drinking hot cocoa. He didn’t expect to feel like that.
Come on, it was just a smile! He wasn’t young enough to fall in love just because of this-
“It’s good, right?”
He smiled at him again. Sukuna needed sunglasses.
Ok, he needed to calm down. He’s the one getting flustered here, and maybe it’s just his smile that was getting him like that. No wonder why he had someone before tonight, who could resist such a smile? Sukuna replied:
“Yeah, it’s good.”
“Ryomen- san, are you sick?”
“… why?”
“Your face is red.”
And Yuuji making him notice made his face redder, he could feel it.
Even though he was the eldest between the two, Sukuna felt like a high school boy getting his first crush. But well, it was just a crush. He conceded, Yuuji was adorable so no wonder he couldn’t resist his charms. It’s why he invited him in the first place.
Served him right. He joked about how Yuuji was easy to win over because of a pretty face and look at him now.
“I’m fine.”
“Oh? Ok!”
Sukuna drank his hot cocoa slowly to try to calm his nerves. Yuuji at his side was doing the same, still smiling. Sukuna then asked:
“Do you want to go back?”
“Hm… no. I am good here.”
…
“I am, too.”
At this moment, none of the two dared to look at each other. Maybe if they were younger they would have. But right now they were fine with the warmth of comfort, even if not as intense as the ones of passion.
“Hey, Sukuna. Look. It’s snowing.”
“It’s a white Christmas, then. I haven’t seen one in years.”
Sukuna’s voice didn’t show how his gaze seemed to fill itself with stars at the view of the snowflakes slowly descending from the sky.
Yuuji let himself get closer to him. He watched the snow falling too.
They don’t know how long it lasted.
But they were both at peace.
Like they found each other.
…
“Do we have to separate?”
Yuuji asked Sukuna as it started to get late.
“Well, don’t you have Christmas to celebrate with-”
Yuuji frowned but with a face that was more along the lines of “Really?” rather than any sadness or anger.
“… sorry. If you’re alone and me too, I guess we can… stay together tonight.”
Yuuji looked down with embarrassment and Sukuna felt like he had to correct the dirty thoughts that should fill his head despite the innocent face.
“I don’t mean we will… you know… but I guess if you want, you can spend the night?”
Yuuji blinked.
“Well, if you’re not scared to spend the night with a stranger.”
“I am not.”
Even if he wasn’t a brat he still was as unconscious as one. Thankfully, the stranger tonight was him.
“You don’t do that with any hot man you come across, right?”
Yuuji frowned with annoyance this time.
“Do you think I am the type to sleep around?”
…
“… what is this silence for?”
“Well, you admitted that you got with your boyfriend because of his face.”
Yuuji got silent upon realising his words.
“But-”
Sukuna put his finger on Yuuji’s lips.
“Tonight we are engaged to nothing. So we will enjoy our time like we did until now.”
Yuuji nodded, his eyes focusing only on Sukuna’s expression as the snow kept falling around them.
Later Sukuna invited Yuuji to his place. It wasn’t the first time he did, and usually it was just for quick sex with no string attached. So that Yuuji was just there to be there made him self conscious once again. He didn’t remember if his place was in the state to welcome a guest.
But Yuuji just waited for him to be ready to enter. Sukuna asked:
“Do you want to watch a movie?”
“Oh, something for Christmas! Like Home Alone!”
“Oh, ok.”
Sukuna wasn’t the type to watch Christmas movies either but he guessed that, like everything tonight, he will do an exception. Sitting on the couch, Sukuna could listen to Yuuji’s laugh and see his smile as much as he wanted. He seemed to like the way the movie had been created as well, complimenting the scenes choice of the realisator.
He listened to it all in silence, not realising how his facial expression had relaxed.
“Oh, did you notice that… Ryomen-san?”
He could hear in the way he was breathing that his host fell asleep. Was Yuuji supposed to leave now?
Sukuna opened his eyes.
He was still in his clothes but a fluffy sheet covered him.
And Yuuji wasn’t in the living room.
Did he leave? That was his thoughts the whole time. He was barely awake but still got up and started to search.
Then he heard noises in the kitchen. Without any hesitation he checked the room.
“Ryomen-san!”
Yuuji was there.
“I was preparing breakfast. Did you sleep well?”
Usually the people he got there weren't the kind to stay to do his breakfast.
Honestly? He felt like he was in a dream. It was the case since they were on the ice skating rink yesterday.
The breakfast they ate together was delicious, Sukuna didn’t eat an actual breakfast in a long time.
“Did you really prepare all of that by yourself?”
“Yeah… sorry, I had to use your food and your kitchen.”
“I don’t mind.”
Sukuna smiled as he ate the noodles. Yuuji was happy that the food pleased Sukuna to this extent.
Yesterday, he took care of Sukuna without much thought behind that. But if it was to see Sukuna this happy then it was worth it.
… did he really have to leave when everything was happening well since they’ve met?
… ah, yes. He had to see his grandfather, he couldn’t possibly leave him alone for such a day! His parents will join them at the hospital. And Sukuna surely had family members he had to see today, too. Still, he didn’t dare to talk about it. He didn’t dare putting an end to this dream they were both in.
But it had to happen anyway.
They were both in front of Sukuna’s apartment. The latter asked:
“Do you want me to drive you to your home?”
“Oh, I’ll be ok! Don’t worry.”
“… fine.”
Yuuji smiled at him, making Sukuna smile back to him.
“Itadori.”
“Hm?”
“Take my phone number.”
Yuuji looked at him with surprise as Sukuna added:
“You don’t want it to end just like that right?”
It’s like he read his thoughts. Of course not, he didn’t want whatever “it” was to end like that!
They exchanged phone numbers eagerly before standing in front of each other without knowing what to do once again. Yuuji’s phone rang.
“Mom?! Yeah, I am coming! I’ll be… a little late, I think, but I will definitely come!”
Yuuji’s worried expression was cute.
He couldn’t wait to see this face… to see him again.
They waved to each other as Yuuji advanced in the street.
But Yuuji suddenly stopped and looked back at Sukuna:
“Sukuna! Merry Christmas!”
He smiled at him again, with this bright smile which melted his heart effortlessly:
“Merry Christmas!”
Man. This brat really got him to say it, and with an actual happiness to it.
Sukuna was sure now.
He was in love.
…
Being an adult was complicated, wasn’t it?
The festivities were over and both were too busy to see each other directly. But they talked a lot, and longing to actually spend time together again.
The occasion to do so presented itself. Valentine's Day.
Yuuji planned to prepare chocolate for Sukuna and then to visit him. But then he called him.
“Come outside, brat.”
He was so used to being called like this that he didn’t react to it anymore. Yuuji looked outside to see Sukuna. And without thinking he joined him.
“SUKUNA!”
Without a second thought, Yuuji jumped to him, with enough force to make Sukuna fall in the snow. Yuuji was now held in a bridal style carry as he hugged Sukuna with all his (remarkable) strength.
“I missed you!!”
“You did, too.”
Sukuna hugged him back.
“I prepared you a gift. It’s inside.”
“What about going to a coffee shop instead? I can eat your chocolate after.”
Yuuji smiled.
“Do you invite me in again?”
“Yes.”
“I love you!”
… Yuuji said that without thinking. He put his hand on his mouth, surprised as much as Sukuna.
“I… sorry-”
Yuuji heart’s rate got faster at the sensation of his lips meeting Sukuna’s. It was fast and chaste, but enough to make Yuuji unable to talk.
“I was waiting for this.”
Even though Sukuna was actually planning to say it himself.
“I love you too, Yuuji.”
Maybe it was a little early for that.
But weren’t they acting like adults too much?
They wanted to be childish and naive for once.
Because it allowed them to be together this way.
“Let’s go to the coffee shop. I reserved our place.”
“Do they do latte art there?”
“Yeah, that too.”
“I really love you Sukuna!”
Sukuna kissed him to confirm once again that it was mutual. He put Yuuji back on the floor and Yuuji immediately took his hand.
“You should close your house first.”
“Oh, let me get your present too!”
Sukuna looked at Yuuji running back to his house and came back fully clothed, keys in his pocket with his bag and Sukuna’s gift.
Sukuna extended his hand to him.
“Ready?”
“Yes!”
They held hands again. Like on the ice skating rink.
But they weren't stranger anymore now.
They were lovers.
And for sure, Sukuna LOVED Christmas. Since that day, this celebration remembered him this night they had. It became their tradition to enjoy ice skating every Christmas's Eve.