Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Never allow a single soul to know our secret.”

Yuji’s body could not stop twitching. His skin itched all over, too deep to be clawed at with his nails, and his legs would not remain still, no matter who intent he was to keep his feet flush against the ground. It was as if someone had plugged him into a super-charged generator. What should have been a simple task to sit at his desk and complete his homework had become the most tortuous thirty minutes in his entire life. Prone to bouncing, tapping his foot, flicking his pencil until it snapped against the desk— None of it eased the continuous jolts of energy traversing his body. 

To everyone else, this was a clear sign of hyperactivity. Yuji had used that excuse since he was old enough to attend school. The inability to sit still and his curious nature, not to mention his inflated sensitivity to sights, sounds, and the faintest of scents, was the root cause of his distracted mind. He couldn’t explain that, obviously. His grandfather simply went along with the assumptions of others to explain his grandchild’s behavior and left it at that. Naturally, Yuji had done the same, though he always wondered if any of the treatments or therapy programs they recommended would help him through the unbearable episodes such as this one. 

The clock by his bedside read fifteen minutes to midnight. It was so close, and morning would soon come after faster than it had any right to. Really, who else would be up this late, considering Yuji was the only one who crammed all his homework to the last minute? Would anyone hear his window slide open? What about his bare feet hitting the ground as he slipped outside?

In terms of proximity, Fushiguro was the only one he had to worry about. More accurately, his twin shikigami dogs, whom he often slept with. As long as Yuji was careful…

Bold optimism and desperation took over any caution he previously had. The time for a slow and steady means of escape went out the window when yet another buzz of electricity burst through Yuji’s veins. He may as well be on fire at this point. His head pounded to the beat of overbearing drums, while his chest heaved in the wake of suffocation. The dorm had become too small, too quiet, and too loud all the same, forcing Yuji to stifle the rumbling growl building in his throat. 

He needed out.

The late-night Summer breeze was surprisingly crisp. Wind rushed into the room as soon as Yuji tore open his window. Cool air washed over his body, granting him a moment of solace before rolling outside and dashing through the campus in a display of inhuman speed.

Running… Running felt good. Beyond good. Fantastic, amazing, euphoric—Yuji used his building moments to bounce off anything he could when making sharp turns down the school’s winding paths. He ran against a few of the more sturdy walls and jumped up to test his balance on benches or other precarious ledges. Many of the buildings weren’t of any use, something to do with the barrier technique safeguarding the school and the many secrets it held underneath the surface. Yuji played fast and loose with the odds, going so far as to run along one of the rooftops to bathe in the unbroken moonlight, entranced by it as he continued to move to his body’s content. 

“Do you understand that, Yuji?”

Yuji had almost slipped and fell a couple of stories because of this distraction. He was forced to shake his head and focus, realizing quickly that his early antics were going to get him into trouble if he kept hanging close to where the rest of the sorcerers— teachers and students alike —were supposed to be sound asleep. Unable to still himself, Yuji made use of what fleeting self-control remained to dive into the dense wood beyond the campus’ edge. As far as his legs would permit him, Yuji dodged trees, fallen branches, and the uneven terrain he expected with ease. A few unwise turns had turned him around more than once. Eventually, he was left in the middle of nowhere, a bit lost, but otherwise not in any immediate danger considering the solitude he had gained and the safety that distance provided. 

In the end, Yuji hobbled against a nearby tree, completely winded and once again desperate for air. Hyperventilating for a whole other reason, he was overwhelmed by the alterations taking place along his body. The uncomfortable shift that unraveled a set of rounded ears within his messy hair, stiff and almost painful, given how long they were forced to remain tucked out of human sight. The same could be said for the temperamental tail slipping out of his sweatpants. Initially flickering about, only to begin making long sweeping motions to stretch out and avoid becoming dead weight that offset his balance should he forget the striped appendage even existed after its absence.

“Nod your head and repeat this rule until it is second nature to speak it.”

The reappearance of his ears and tail, forbidden features no other was allowed to witness… That wasn’t enough. 

Yuji’s mouth watered. Saliva pooled around his tongue, on the verge of dripping out from his lips. His teeth ached as his fangs extended out, begging to tear into the thick and juicy cut of meat in his mind. There was no preference for what kind. Any slab would do, even raw.  A primal hunger demanded to be satiated. That frustration drove Yuji to dig his growing claws into the nearest tree. He tore at its base. Bark and flesh shredded until he felt a liquid heat on the tips of his fingers. 

What he would give to hunt. To chase. To kill. Yuji loathed these feelings, instincts that originated deep within his very being. There was no denying that they were a part of him. That he was as much of a beast, a natural consequence of the world as the cursed spirits he faced under the guise of a human sorcerer. 

It had been too long since he took this form. Teetering between two forces that were never meant to be so starkly opposed. The beast’s heart was so desperate to roam while the human mind echoed caution and fear. Unable to find balance or reason, the hybrid was left panting and heaving through each breath. His vocal cords cried to do more, to roar as loud as he could, but to do that would be suicide. Yuji felt his control slipping, terrified that he’d lose himself beyond control. If anyone were to appear now, if they were to see—

As if cursing himself for the mere thought, Yuji’s ears jolted upward at the sound of a branch snapping underfoot. The culprit was unknown. No amount of flicking in any direction would assist Yuji’s ears in picking up on anything else of use. The surrounding forest had become overrun by absolute silence. Not even the insects nor the toads risked making a sound, leaving his own labored breaths to single his position out.

Who could it be? Who had followed him this far? Yuji was tempted to shout and demand answers, but he could not manage the words. His thoughts remained in his throat, caught and squeezed by the building anxiety ushering him to creep steadily behind the trunk he’d previously torn through. His tail wrapped around his leg to avoid being a hazard, though it was little help when Yuji turned his head and gasped at the sudden presence looming over him. 

He should have recognized the intense bead of crimson practically glowing in the moonlight. 

Instead, Yuji fumbled on his feet, failing to jump back with any feline grace one would have expected of him. His ass hit the ground hard, as did his palms, earning a litany of unwanted cuts into his skin. Still in shock, unable to focus, afraid of being caught and the unknowable fallout that may stem from it left Yuji babbling incoherently under his breath. There was so much to say. Excuses he had previously piled high for a moment like this, now useless if he remained like this. 

Despite his nerves, Yuji’s inborn stubbornness poked through. Refusing to simply roll over and accept what happened next, he prepared to bear his fangs at his attacks and demand the worst. But before his foolish defiance could be realized, something caught his nose. A waft of a familiar scent caused him to scrunch up, only for most of his body to give way upon realizing just who had walked in on such an embarrassing display of control. 

An imposing man with features not unlike his own stood over him. With arms crossed, showcasing not only disappointment, but flexing the sheer difference in muscle size between them, Yuji was left to recoil just a bit. The single visible eye glaring down at him, while the other remained absent in shadow behind a few loose strands of hair, did not permit his nerves to ease his nerves completely. A rumble gave way, and the low growl of someone who was not to be angered followed each step as the older hybrid slowly closed the gap between them until there was no space left to breathe in peace.

“Oji-san…”

It was only then that Yuji could speak, managing so little before he felt the sensation of claws reaching for the back of his neck just in time for the act to truly occur. Even with the forewarning, he could not escape the older hybrid’s hold. The act of scruffing was a condescending one. All Yuji’s body could do was fall limp while his mind processed through the torrent of previous emotions that led up to now. Closing his eyes… It went against his better judgment to do so, but he could not deny the comfort it brought, knowing he did not need to make use of them for the time being. 

Ah, shit.

If Yuji were able, he’d claw at his own face while dragging his palm down in agony. He was in so much trouble. Not only was he being carried off like some feral cub, but the very bastard who had made it clear the first day of classes to never speak to him so closely. Yuji was confident in the painful lecture that would follow, but for the life of him, he knew he couldn’t have asked for a better person to have found him.

Only a hybrid truly knew how to take care of another overcome by bestial instinct. Only a hybrid would know the significance of keeping their status hidden from the humans they lived around. And between Yuji and his uncle… they were the only Tiger hybrids left.

Chapter Text

Upon entering his uncle’s residence, Yuji was unceremoniously dropped onto the floor in the entryway. He should count himself lucky that he wasn’t thrown. Or worse. Sukuna hadn’t bothered to turn around after removing his shoes, refusing to acknowledge the admittedly foolish cub he had to drag back from the woods. Yuji hissed at him while Sukuna walked toward the kitchen, curling up with his knees pressed against his chest. The provocation did nothing. 

If Yuji had less faith in his uncle to avoid getting caught upon their return, he would have shifted back to purely human form. But now that they were in the privacy of the individual residences the school provided to their instructors, he could leave his ears and tail out a bit longer. Despite the limp appearance of his tail, the small flicks at its tip were an appreciation for being let out. His second set of ears, however… They brought with them increased hearing sensitivity, even as twisted back as they were. Every movement Sukuna made, every act was already harsher than they had to be, but now Yuji was left to flinch as drawers were opened and slammed shut in search of something. 

“You’re a mess.” Sukuna finally spoke after turning on the kitchen faucet. He had finally found the towel he wanted. Something old and certainly itchy, as if what would come next wasn’t embarrassing enough. “I will not tolerate you tracking dirt, mud, or…”

Yuji looked down at his fingers, battered and bruised with a flakey coat of dried blood still present among the tips. He hadn’t meant to hurt himself. Never on purpose. But at the time, he just couldn’t stop—

“Come here, brat.” 

Yuji snapped his head up, surprised to find his uncle now standing over him. Neither of them moved at first. It was only a second too late that Yuji realized that Sukuna was giving him a chance to extend his hands toward him on his own before his uncle reached out for his wrist and yanked his whole body forward. Yuji winced, causing Sukuna to sigh as he loosened his grip. With his tongue firmly caught between his teeth, Yuji’s silence continued as his uncle took care of his hands. He only yelped when the bastard moved onto his feet. Sukuna didn’t have to knock him on his back when dragging his foot out, but he did regardless. 

“You went out barefoot. And look at your clothes!” Said clothes were pieces of his school uniform that Yuji had neglected to change out of when retiring for the night. HIs pants were covered with grass stains and smudged with dirt. His t-shirt showed the same story, drenched with sweat to the point that it was now uncomfortable on Yuji’s skin. “Now I have to go grab you a new set… The shit you put me through.”

Never had Yuji asked his uncle to do all this. If circumstances had been different, he would have made a point to say it out loud. Instead, he waited in the entryway for Sukuna to stomp about. The older hybrid turned the corner to his room, grumbling nothing that could be understood as he returned with a pair of sweatpants and new shirt that Yuji were both too big for the younger hybrid to wear. They were from Sukuna’s closet, after all, leaving Yuji to tie the waist of his pants tight before giving up on the shirt. It wasn’t like anyone would see him in it anyway. No directions were given on what to do with his dirty laundry, so Yuji left it by the shoes as he finally stepped further into his uncle’s home. 

His den.

This was the first time he’d been permitted to look inside. The whole place lacked any kind of decoration or character beyond what was already provided when Sukuna had first moved in. He’d never known the older hybrid to be one for sentimentals and the place wasn’t a permanent home either. It was just a place to rest his head and get away from all the bullshit outside. Despite all that, despite being brought here, Yuji could not find it in him to feel like he wasn’t intruding. His glaring uncle, with his arms once again crossed, may have something to do with it. 

To be honest, Yuji had expected the older hybrid to have already begun berating his ears off, but the ‘I’m angry and disappointed’ look was just as effective at forcing the younger hybrid to lower his head. He was probably expected to explain himself, but really, what more was there to say?

“Oji-san, I…” Yuji began, but just as he did, his uncle had already turned around and made his way back to the kitchen. He could hear the clattering of pans, silverware, and whatever Sukuna had just pulled from the fridge out hit the table. A hot pot had been placed in the center of the island counter, with two cutting boards placed beside it. One was for Sukuna, and the other was for—

“I’ll handle the rice and cut the beef. You cut the vegetables.”

“Y-yeah, ok.” With a nod, Yuji shuffled over and got to work. His uncle’s orders were followed without question, as he didn’t exactly want to argue now that there were very sharp blades in their hands. Then again, it wasn’t like either of them weren’t armed to begin with. Cursed techniques and all that. 

Onions, potatoes, and carrots soon covered the counter space between them. Yuji moved on from one to the next, chopping each one until Sukuna tossed a few bowls out to sort them all. His uncle took to slicing the beef thinner than usual. This clued Yuji in to begin microwaving the ahead while the meat was cooked in the oiled pot. It was a cheap trick to cut down on cook time, which neither would complain about tonight. Yuji could only guess that Sukuna hadn’t even considered going to bed that night before reigning in his troublesome nephew. Textbooks, notes, case files, and a plethora of papers littered the common room behind them. Even if Uraume had been there earlier to assist his uncle through all that, there was still so much piled high. 

Incidents involving cursed spirits really have been crazy lately. That was why even first-years have been issued missions to complete. There simply weren’t enough bodies on the ground to handle what came in. It wasn’t like that when his uncle attended as a student.

“What were you thinking?” Sukuna had just finished tossing the beef into the pot, overseeing Yuji’s additions while he grabbed different sauce bottles and spices to create their broth. He did not forget to pour in the sake, either. There was contemplation in taking a drink of it before putting it away, but the older hybrid knew there wouldn’t be much of a point. “Or more likely, why weren’t you thinking at all?”

Yuji poured his chopped vegetables into the pot, eyeing the noodles his uncle would add in next, as it was easier than looking his uncle in the eye. He knew why he gave in to impulsivity. To instinct. There was no fighting it once he opened that window. No, before that. The moment he got up from his desk in a rush to sate that horrible itching feeling— There was no going back after that.

“I… hadn’t shifted since I arrived here.”

The noodles would make it into the pot in pieces. Well, more pieces than they usually went with. 

“That’s a month. Over a month. How have you not gone—” His uncle slammed the lid of the hot pot shut with more force than was necessary. He did this without looking, as his other hand was busy gripping the bridge of his nose while he sharply inhaled at the reality he was dealing with. “You idiot.”

Yuji couldn’t fully argue that. He despised the insult, but it wasn’t like he didn’t know he had been neglecting his health by preventing his body from taking on its proper form. Either hybrid or any hybrid for that matter, would suffer consequences from denying their animal half time to exist in full. Sukuna may be used to prolonging the period between his shifts more than Yuji from simple experience and age, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t immune to the tiger’s call. 

“If I hadn’t been there, if you hadn’t pulled yourself together, someone else could have found you in that state!” The temper Yuji was far more familiar with came to light. Sukuna growled through his words again, far too frustrated to keep it in any longer. 

This, in turn, caused Yuji to interject.

“But, no one did—”

“—You would have been exposed to a human. And then I would have—”

“—And so what!?” Yuji slammed his palms on the counter, raising him up higher to meet his uncle’s intimidating stature. He knew he had screwed up. He knew no human was ever supposed to know their secret, but by God, Yuji detested being yelled at by the one hybrid he was forced to rely on, yet simultaneously ignored him as much as possible until now. Unable to piece every thought together, Yuji decided to counter with an obvious jab. “Uraume knows! A human knows what you are. What we are! That wasn’t my fault.”

Dropping their name in that context was like shoving salt into an open wound. Yet, Yuji had done it anyway. A pause came after, giving him a chance to swallow any regret. 

“That wasn’t by choice.” His uncle soon snapped, withholding the need for a physical outburst to pair with his words. He instead chose to collect the used dishware across the counter, leaving it all for the morning— later that morning —and when his back was turned, the older hybrid simply added. “And they’ve proved themselves trustworthy since. Uraume knows the severity of this secret and remains loyal in their silence.”

“So you get one freebie to fuck up, but I don’t? How is that fair? What if I need someone to confide in? A human I can trust to help me if something like this were to happen again?” After jumping out of his chair, Yuji stormed around the island counter so that nothing stood between him and the older hybrid he continued to challenge. “Say what you want about tonight, but you’re just as bad as Gojo-sensei when it comes to actually being around!”

“As if you possess the best judgment for such a thing.” Sukuna huffed, attempting to drown out the screeching cub by turning on the kitchen’s faucet once more. He must have changed his mind about the dishes as he began to thoroughly scrub down the cutting boards with enough pressure that he may very well break one in two.

“Really? What about Fushiguro?” He crossed his arms, preparing to list his reasons with one hand to count off each one. “He’s my best friend. We have each other’s back in a fight, no matter how dangerous it gets. And he also loves animals.”

“No.”

Still, his uncle would deny him. 

“Why not?” And Yuji would continue to press him. “You favor him during lessons anyway!”

“I am not humoring this inane discussion.” The old hybrid continued to work through the dishes, hissing through clenched teeth as he did. Yuji could not understand why. Why the pushback? Why the adamant refusal to treat Yuji’s thoughts and feelings as if they were worth a damn. 

“I don’t even know why you’re so worried.” Yuji swiped at the air, turning away as he could just as quickly turn his back as his uncle did. “You’re a Special Grade sorcerer. One of four on the entire planet. Only two of them would come close to beating you in a fight if you guys went all out since Okkotsu-senpai won’t dare even to try—”

“But you aren’t.”

Sukuna had slammed one of the bowls into the sink. Glassware clashed with silverware, clattering in the metal sink with a sound that caused Yuji to jump in his skin. Nothing appeared to have shattered, but it came so terribly close. Perhaps something did break under the soap suds and water. Something that cut into his uncle’s hand. An injury that Yuji would never witness, as the older hybrid rarely reacted to such things in front of him. Or anyone. 

“You are not a giant among men. You barely comprehend the vast layers present in the cursed technique we share, not to mention that your cursed energy base pales in comparison to mine.” His uncle removed his hands from the water, ignoring the towels beside him in his anger to stomp toward Yuji with claws out and pointed directly at the teenager’s nose.  “You are not all-powerful, and the rest of the sorcerer community knows that.  You are already in danger simply by being the only family connection anyone would dare use for leverage against me should the chance arrive. If they were to find out you were a hybrid on top of that…” 

Words were left to hang without an end. A breath was taken, claws reeled in with his uncle’s control over his volume and stance reasserted. He no longer shouted. What came next angered him just as much, but for a completely different reason. They were a reminder of the world they lived in. Of how times had changed from centuries past when hybrids were regarded as Kami to be worshiped rather than cowering in the dark.

“Whether it be for the novelty in rarity, the archaic, cruel sport of hunting, or the depravity of minds beyond understanding…” It was his uncle’s turn to face the ground. His thoughts were vast, his history extensive. “I will not permit you to be at risk for any of that.”

Just then, the alarm for their meal on his uncle’s phone went off. The default ring that grated their ears, locking in a fight with the little tune their rice cooker began to sing to signify its job complete. Dinner was ready. Breakfast? Whatever, it hardly mattered. 

The pair returned to their place at the counter, serving themselves and eating in silence. Yuji’s manners were atrocious, given that he chewed on his chopsticks between tossing the added snow peas around his bowl with his cheek pressed against the countertop. 

Sukuna was right. The awful truth stung in opposition to emotions wishing for validation. His outburst had only served to provoke him, leaving Yuji seeped in feelings of guilt and undeserving of whatever kindness the older hybrid dared to show him when capable.

“Are there…” Yuji didn’t know if it was all right to leave their previous conversation alone in favor of pivoting elsewhere, but he tried. “Are there really no other hybrids among sorcerers?”

His uncle shook his head.

“Out of the many sorcerers I’ve had the displeasure of interacting with, none showed any signs of possessing a lineage akin to ours.” Sukuna would have known by the smell. Humans and hybrids… the scent was indistinguishable to the noses of humans. However, for hybrids, the difference was just enough to act as the first sign when suspecting another. 

“Oh.”

That was all Yuji could say. 

He continued to pick at his food while his uncle swiped away on his cell phone. Whatever he was reading kept him occupied, though that wouldn’t stop him from clicking his tongue or snapping his fingers whenever Yuji went too long without taking a bite. It wasn’t that he was ungrateful for the meal. His earlier hunger just wasn’t present now. The stomach that once growled ravenously to be filled now churned with discomfort. Eventually, after every chance to change his mind had passed by, his half-eaten bowl would be taken and set aside for the morning. The rest of the leftovers were put away as well, while what remained of the dishes was left to be a problem for later. 

Without warning, his uncle soon came over to his seat and pulled him off it. He was far more gentle than before, carrying Yuji without tossing him over his shoulder or allowing him to struggle while hanging with his head upside down. No struggle was made to free himself. Yuji was too tired for it, too fed up with the night’s events to desire to perpetuate earlier struggles anymore. His uncle would beat him in a contest of strength anyway. 

Not the only one exhausted, Yuji was brought to Sukuna’s room and placed on the side of his bed. A king-sized bed that would easily hold both of them with space to spare in between. But that would not be how they ended up. Instead, the older hybrid wrapped up what remained of his nightly routine while Yuji hid underneath the bed sheets. 

“You were so cold when I first arrived here,” Yuji mumbled when he heard Sukuna reenter the room. Paradoxically, the sheets he now clung so tightly to were very warm only after a short amount of time. “I thought you didn’t want me here.”

“I don't.” His uncle sat on the other side of the bed, his weight offsetting Yuji’s by a bit. Elbows rested on knees, leaving Sukuna to hunch forward as he spoke. “You don’t need to be a sorcerer, Yu. You could go back to a mundane life. I’m sure I could work something out to keep the higher-ups from protesting.”

“But then…” He held his breath. It didn’t remain trapped for long, as the awkward end to the thought ate away at him. Sukuna was waiting for him to continue, so he might as well do it. “I’d be alone again.”

“You would be safe. After what happened with Jin—” And now his uncle was the one to pause, though he would never go back to elaborate. They did not talk about what happened to Yuji’s father. No one did. It was an unspoken tragedy and nothing more.

“I need you right now, more than anything.” Admitting that was difficult. Yuji had shut his eyes despite hiding his head under the covers. The words had strained Yuji’s throat as he spoke, but he did so anyway. “I never got to see you before. You were always so busy, and fighting with Jiji… ”

His grandfather was gone. Sukuna was all he had left. The only one who he could turn to— The only one he was allowed to turn to, and he had been denied that. Upon arriving as a first-year, receiving nothing but a cold shoulder, Yuji had thought himself invincible to compensate. Everything should have been fine. He was old enough to take care of himself, right?

Maybe not. Not yet.

“I know.” His uncle maneuvered onto his back, then rolled over to Yuji’s side with two hands extended out. Little choice was given for Yuji to move beyond revealing his head as the older hybrid was quick to drag him close and uncharacteristically curl around. Yuji didn’t fight back. He welcomed the close proximity to one another, the sound of his uncle’s heartbeat, and the sensation of his breath against his ear. 

It had been so long since he’d been held like that. His most recent memory had become so faint, Yuji couldn’t help but lean into every brush. Every touch. His uncle’s nose pressed into his hair, his cheek rubbing against Yuji’s forehead, prompting the younger hybrid to attempt the same. 

“I won’t send you away,” Sukuna whispered, their eyes meeting in the mirror hanging by his closet. Moonlight, that had managed to sneak through the curtains, had found his uncle’s eye once more. This time, the glow did not scare. The touch of the older hybrid’s lips against the back of Yuji’s neck brought comfort. “But I won’t make this sorcerer business easy for you either. Outside of that… I will try to be more present. It was my mistake to assume I was already doing enough when that clearly wasn’t the case.”

Yuji felt his uncle’s tail curl around his own. The older hybrid continued to shift him around, eventually flipping him over so that he could bury the younger one into his chest. A large hand kept Yuji’s blushing face in place, while a careful thumb kneaded behind his ear until an involuntary purr emanated from his chest. 

“Close your eyes and rest. You have to be on the track first thing in the morning tomorrow.”

“Don’t remind me. My sensei is a hard ass.” 

“I’ll talk to him.” A yawn cut between his uncle’s words, causing Yuji to follow with his own against his will. “He may tolerate you being late just this once. A single freebie.”

The younger hybrid gave a quiet chuckle. It sounded absurd to hear that word come out of his uncle’s mouth. The tone, as tired as it was, still did not fit quite right. But that was fine. The effort had been made, which was more than he ever expected. His uncle’s actions made him yearn, leaving him pawing in his sleep for more.

It wasn’t fair.