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Suguru Geto swallows curses.
That’s how it's been and always will be. The first time Suguru swallowed a curse was when he was just 12, the curse retching and clawing painfully at his throat as it slid down his esophagus and afterwards he could still feel it churning in his stomach. The taste is something nobody else knows, like a rag used to clean up shit and vomit that he's forced to swallow to get stronger. The aftertaste is the worst part, it takes hours to get rid of no matter how much water he uses to try and drown it out. He hates it so, so much.
…
“ Don’t exorcise it Satoru, i'll swallow it later." he says with a slightly tired voice, they had been assigned a mission to take care of a semi-grade 1 curse. Suguru never wants to swallow curses in front of Satoru, he doesn't want him to see how his eyes start watering at the foul taste, how his face twists into something indescribable, how he has to use all of his will not to throw up on the spot.
So he morphs it into its orb form and firmly holds onto it. Deciding to consume it later during the evening, he starts walking back to Ijichi’s car alongside Satoru who has already started ranting about something that Suguru genuinely does not understand.
The entire car ride Satoru’s voice is like background noise, his thoughts wandering around the cursed spirit he would later have to consume
“Suguruuuuuu, have you been listening at all?” Satoru questions, seeming a bit offended at not being listened to and Suguru just gives him a bit of a guilty look.
“So you haven't?! I was talking about the new crepe stand in Tokyo!” He rants loudly, about how they should visit it together one day when they both have time.
It's 9:34 PM when Suguru finally reaches his dorm, he falls into bed and closes his eyes, as if trying to evade the inevitable. Suguru doesn't know how long he lays there, just blinking up at his ceiling.
He can feel his phone buzz, someone is sending him messages but he's so tired.
Eventually deciding to just get it over with, he sits up and pulls the spirit out of his pocket. Holding it in his hand, observing how it swirls angrily at being captured and he readies himself to take it in. Pressing the curse against his lips he forces it down his throat and it feels so wrong. He can feel himself gagging, eyes watering at the taste of this foul creature. As he goes to sit down on his bed, a knock can be heard from his door.
“Suguru? You in there?” he hears from his door.
Satoru.
Of course he shows up at the worst time. A bit of panic starts to set in as he wipes the tears from his eyes and tries to steady his hands. “I.. I'll be right there!” He yells back while rushing to the door.
As he opens the door, Satoru is there waiting and they lock eyes for a moment.
“..Wanna go to the rooftop with me?” He asks, which doesn't really surprise Suguru anymore. Hanging out on the buildings rooftop together late at night has become a common act for them, he can see the way Satoru’s eyes sparkle and reflect the starry sky even though his eyes are pretty enough as is.
“Um.. sure I guess, why not?” He answers, the curses taste still lingering on his tongue. Satoru practically beams at his answer and starts dragging Suguru out of his dorm's doorway to head for the rooftop.
♡
As they get comfortable on the rooftop, Satoru offers one of his earpods to Suguru, and he gladly accepts. Staring up at the starry sky all he can think of are the eyes of his best friend, lost in thought until Satoru breaks the silence.
“Want a lollipop?” he asks, which leaves Suguru a bit confused because Satoru never shares his sweets and basically hisses at anyone trying to touch them.
“ Uh.. sure but where is this coming from? Usually you never share with anyone.” He replies and takes the cherry flavored lollipop from Satoru’s hand.
“You think I can't hear you gagging in your room every time you absorb a curse?”
Suguru’s heart drops a little at that and he slowly turns to face his best friend, who is already staring at him.
“ If it tastes bad enough that you gag when swallowing them, the aftertaste can't be nice either.. so I thought maybe the lollipop could help with the taste. ” Satoru says, and Suguru can see a slight tint of pink brushing his cheeks.
And he was right, it does help. Tasting the sweet cherry flavor on his tongue really helped ease the foul aftertaste of today's curse.
“..Thank you Satoru.” He says, hoping the love he feels overflowing in his heart won't pour into the words he had just spoken.
“ It's nothing..” he hears Satoru mumble under his breath, and as they stare up at the stars together Suguru can feel their hands intertwining.
After this, Satoru always carries a cherry lollipop with him when they go on missions.
♡