Archive of Our Own ^beta

Suguru sighed deeply as he reclined on his couch. He couldn’t even be bothered to take off his gojo-kisa robes before doing so; something he did religiously to avoid contaminating their home with the monkey smell. Today had been exhausting to say the least. His patrons had been extremely needy with their requests for “exorcisms”. Good thing their wallets were fat, but even that bonus was starting to lose its appeal. 

He dragged a hand through his hair and winced when he ran into knots. He knew Nanako and Mimiko would get on him if he didn’t properly take care of his hair. Normally, they loved brushing his hair after a long day; it was something of a ritual for them that started when they were young, but the girls were currently out at some sort of K-Pop concert. He should brush it himself, but he was just so tired these days. He couldn’t look himself in the face anymore, because he recognized that face. It was the same one he had in high school right before he adopted the twins. The dark bags under his eyes, the greasy hair, the exhaustion; he looked half dead. He knew what this look was though, it was the look of defeat, of accepting things would never change. Suguru never wanted to see that face again, yet here it was. He didn’t want to acknowledge what had caused the change, but he knew in his gut what it was. 

His goal of creating a world of just sorcerers was impossible. 

How did it take him ten years to see the impossibility of it all? That he couldn’t do this on his own; not even with his family’s support. He needed-

No! He wasn’t going to think that way! It’s still possible. He just needs to try harder, really put things into motion. Suguru bit his nails absentmindedly as he felt his mind start to spiral; splitting down two different paths of, yes, I can do this , and I’m a fool for thinking I ever could. He squeezed his eyes shut, and took a deep breath. He had to remember his grounding techniques that the girls taught him. After what they had been through as children, he wasn’t dumb to think that they would just get over everything that happened, and had taken them to therapy. Did that make him a hypocrite? Maybe, but the girls deserved better than him; he was too far gone for help at that point. Despite his hate for non-sorcerers, when the girls found him hyperventilating in his bedroom one day after they got home from school, he was grateful for what that monkey-doctor had taught them in those sessions. 

First, name three things he could feel. Inhale-exhale. He moved the hand that wasn’t being chewed on, over his robes and ran his fingers along the silk embroidery. His dry, calloused skin pulled a little on the fine fabric. 

Inhale-exhale. He moved his sock clad feet along the rug under the couch, feeling the static building as he did so. Did that count as two things? He was going to count it as two things. 

Inhale-exhale. Three things he could smell. His own BO unfortunately, under the monkey smell. 

Inhale-exhale. Was that… curry? The girls must have made him dinner and left it in the microwave. 

Inhale-exhale. He could smell the musty smell the house got when it rained. 

Inhale-exhale. He was already feeling better, but kept his eyes closed and focused on the last one. Three things he could hear. The small buzzing from the fan in the corner of the room. 

Inhale-exhale. The hum from the refrigerator; he really should buy a new one, but their current one still kept things cold, and all the new ones on the market connected to the WiFi. Why did a fridge need to connect to the WiFi? So dumb.

Inhale-exhale.

“Holy shit. I did it!” 

The voice of Gojo Satoru– 

The voice of Gojo Satoru?!

His eyes flung open and sure enough, there was the white-haired sorcerer standing with his back toward him in his living room. Suguru instantly jumped into action; he flipped himself over the back of the couch and into a fighting stance. 

“You know, it’s considered impolite to show up unannounced and uninvited, Satoru.” At hearing his voice, the white-haired sorcerer turned around, and Suguru froze upon seeing Satoru’s face. It wasn’t seeing Satoru’s face that was so shocking. No, he knew what Satoru looked like these days; that pretentious black bandana he wore that made his hair stand up straight, exposing his undercut, and shoulders that were much more filled out than they had been in his high school days. But that was just it… the Satoru in his living-room was not that Satoru. This was the Satoru from his memories. The one he went on missions with, the one he had seen stabbed by Toji; the one he had left on the street in Shinjuku nearly a decade ago.

“Yeah, well, I couldn’t exactly drop you a line from ten years in the past.” Satoru smirked. He was wearing his casual clothes, a white t-shirt and black sweats, that looked suspiciously like a pair he used to own. The white-haired teen casually shoved his hands in his pockets looking around the room. “Nice digs we got here. Though the robes are a bit…” He couldn’t see Satoru’s eyes from behind his blackout glasses, but he could imagine they were scrutinizing his outfit. “Anyway! You aren’t going to believe this, but I think I cracked time travel! Isn’t that crazy? I didn’t think it was possible, but we were just sitting in your dorm room the other day and we were watching this horrible movie and the main character time traveled and I thought to myself, “I could probably do that!” So I gave it a try and–”

Suguru didn’t hear anything the kid was saying. His dorm room? Time travel? “Wait, wait. Slow down. Did you say time travel?”

“Yes, pay attention Suguru. Anyway, I gave it a shot and decided to use your cursed energy as a marker of where to go in time and space. And poof! Here I am!” Satoru smiled wide at the older man.

“You used my cursed energy as a marker for jumping through time?” He asked, still reeling from this whole interaction. Satoru’s stupidly casual smile stayed plastered on his face as Suguru crossed his arms. “So, you’re really from the past?”

“Pretty cool right?” Cool was an understatement. This was… unbelievable. “At first, I thought using my cursed energy as a marker would be enough, but it turns out that's wayyyy too hard to find when its already around you. So! You and I– well past you– agreed that looking for your energy in the future instead would make the most sense, ‘cause there wouldn’t be a future where we weren’t together.” And damn if that didn’t hurt like a knife in the kidney. This Satoru had to be from before he defected. This poor kid, he was going to be so disappointed when he found out the truth.

“So, where in the past are you from? What year is it?” 

“It’s currently April of 2007 for me.” This isn’t real. He’s actually having a psychological break. He was still in a panic attack on the couch and was now having hallucinations. He feels a wave of hysteria and nausea rise within him, and he giggles. 2007, huh? Let’s test this ghost from his past.

“Really? If that’s so, tell me, what do you think of me? The 2007 version of me?” Psychotic-Break-Satoru (yeah that’s what we’re going to call him), cocks his head to the side and chuckles.

“That’s a dumb question. You’re my one and only best friend. You know? The strongest sorcerers of the modern era? Ring any bells old man?” Again, that easy smile graces’ PB-Satoru’s face, and twists the knife deeper into Suguru. 

“Right, your best friend.” So PB-Satoru was from right before he defected from Jujutsu society. Wait, what was he even thinking? This wasn’t real! A teenage Satoru wasn’t really standing here in front of him!  Didn’t he read somewhere that the best way to get out of psychosis was to break it with reality? That’s a thing, right? Suguru sighs and runs a hand through his still tangled hair, and smiles wickedly at this delusion. “Hey, want to hear something shocking about the future?”

“Ooo! Yeah! Wait, no! Let me guess!” Suguru bites back a laugh. This delusion really was pulling out all the stops, “Yaga gets married?”

“No, no.” Suguru laughs. At least his delusion was realistic in its reactions. “It’s something truly shocking.” PB-Satoru waves him off and plops himself down on the couch, splaying his legs and arms wide. 

“Yeah, yeah, super dramatic as always Suguru. Just tell me this ‘super shocking’ thing already.” PB-Satoru pats the seat next to him. Suguru eyes the spot on the couch wearily but decides to sit back down. 

“Fine, I’ll tell you, but you have to promise me, you won’t freak out.” 

His delusion rolls its eyes, his beautiful crystal blue eyes, and chuckles. “I doubt there is anything that shocking that would cause me to freak out.” Suguru looks at Satoru, and he recalls this version of his best friend; this was the friend who still believed that Suguru had good in him. It almost breaks Suguru’s heart that he’s about to burst this kid’s bubble.

Almost.

With a wild grin on his lips, Suguru leans in close to PB-Satoru’s face and whispers, “I leave Jujutsu Society.” And Satoru’s face crumbles. 

“What did you just say?” His tone is unreadable.

“That’s right.” Suguru closes his eyes and leans back on the couch waiting for the delusion to disappear, “In a little less than six months, the Suguru that you know will leave Jujutsu Society forever.” He cracks an eye to sneak a peek at SB-Satoru. “I’m surprised you’re shocked by this news. Don’t tell me you really thought that I would stay by your side forever?” 

“I… Yes! What do you mean you leave?!” Rather than disappearing, Satoru stands up and paces the room. It was something that Suguru remembers distinctly from their school years. Whenever Satoru was faced with a tough problem, he would pace until he figured it out; it was especially annoying when it lasted for hours. There is something about this movement that jars Suguru into thinking that maybe… just maybe… this isn’t a delusion. “You leave, and I don’t come with you?” The look on Satoru’s face can only be described as heartbroken.

“Why do you think I would bring you with me?” Suguru counters, raising his eyebrows at the young man’s question. 

“What the hell do you mean? Because you’re my best friend, Suguru! I don’t understand.” Suguru stands and approaches him, placing his hands on Satoru’s shoulders to stop his pacing and look him in the eye. 

“I meant exactly what I said, Satoru. I will leave Jujutsu Society and I will never come back.” His grip tightens on his friend's shoulders, and he feels the warmth coming from Satoru’s body; it’s something he only remembers feeling on those late nights sitting shoulder to shoulder in their dorm rooms, or when they were completely alone. He can feel the fabric of his friend’s shirt and his muscles underneath; can see his chest rise and fall with each breath, which hits his face in hot puffs…This is far too real to be a delusion. The look of betrayal; of disbelief, is far too painful to not be the real Satoru looking at him. It's the exact look that Satoru gave him back outside of that damn KFC in Shinjuku ten years ago. 

This is real. Satoru truly figured out time travel, and his flesh and blood teenage self is standing here in his living room, and Suguru just told him he will leave him behind. Younger Satoru stares him in the eyes, and grips his arms tight right back.

“No! I won’t let you leave! When I get back to my time, I’m going to fix whatever it is that happens between us.”

Suguru simply shakes his head at this teenager's naivete, throwing his hands up in the air. “Fix it? Satoru, you don’t even know what caused me to defect from society. To this day ten years in the future, you’ve never known!”

“Then tell me! Tell me so I can fix it, or what to avoid, or what to look for!” He’s never seen this much emotion from Satoru in his life. His glasses have slid down his face, and his normally bright eyes have taken on the color of a dark stormy sky. “Please… I don’t want to be left behind.” Suguru looks at him, really and truly looks at him. Is… is this what his Satoru had wanted to say to him all those years ago? To beg him to not leave him behind? 

“... You really want to know?” The teen nods, and Suguru sighs and can’t help the way his whole demeanor shifts as he recalls the horrible events that led him to becoming the man he is today. Suguru sighs, and walks to his kitchen. “Why don’t you make yourself comfortable and I’ll make you some tea.” He ignores the pointed look younger Satoru gives him as he prepares their drinks. Satoru eventually yields and plops down on the couch with a huff, and Suguru has a moment to collect his thoughts. How was he going to tell him this? He hadn’t been around the first time Satoru heard the news about what he did in that village, but he could only imagine the sorcerer didn’t take it well considering his reaction that day in Shinjuku. He sighs as he returns to the living room, sitting on the couch next to Satoru placing their cups on the small table. 

Satoru waits patiently for Suguru to start speaking. 

“Where would you like me to start?”

“It’s your story, not mine.” The teen still has a scowl on his face.

Suguru signs, running his hand down his own face. “It all started with the Star Plasma Vessel Mission that went horribly wrong…”

By the end of his tale, Suguru’s voice is strained as he recalls the dark events of his past.

“After Riko and Haibara’s deaths, the back-to-back missions alone, and the constant absorption of those disgusting curses… Nanako and Mimiko were the last straw. Seeing two young sorcerer children locked in a cage like they were animals… it was sickening. I snapped. One of my last clear memories of that night was sending a small shadow curse to the girls telling them to close their eyes, and then…” Suguru sucked in a shuddering breath. “I killed them. I killed the whole village; 112 people burnt to ashes. I spiraled, but I felt so free. I decided right there I would dedicate my life to ridding the world of those damn monkeys .” The venom in the word caused Satoru to stiffen on the couch next to him. Right, this was the first time Satoru was hearing this story; hearing his pains, his instability, his hatred . Despite his mood earlier this evening, and wanting to leave this life, Suguru still hated non-sorcerers, and would until the day he died. “I was so dedicated to this ideal, I killed my own parents that very night. I went on to take over the organization that killed Riko, and started using those monkeys as my pawns. I remove their small curses, and they pay me handsomely to do so. To this day, they think of me as their merciful leader, but those who can’t pay… Well, let’s just say their donations will be sorely missed.” Suguru laughs when he sees the look of horror and anger on Satoru’s face. “This is the reality of the future, Satoru.” He stares down at his empty tea mug.

He can practically feel the anger rolling off the younger man in waves. It’s fine though, it makes sense that he’s angry. After all, older Satoru is angry at the choices he’s made too.

“Suguru… I’m sorry.” Now, that’s not what he expected to hear coming out of Satoru’s mouth. 

“You’re sorry? What for?” 

“I’m sorry that those deaths affected you so deeply, and I wasn’t there for you.” Oh… well that was unexpected. 

“Well… thank you, Satoru. Honestly, I thought you were going to say you were angry with me for what I’d done.” He sees Satoru’s fists ball up.

“Don’t get it twisted. I am angry. I’m furious, but not at you.” Never at you, Satoru’s face seems to say. “I’m angry with the world of sorcery, I’m angry at the people who hurt the twins, but mostly, I’m angry at myself and that I didn’t notice that the person I care most for in the world was hurting right in front of me, and I did nothing to help.” Suguru blinked a few times at this new confession. Satoru’s anger wasn’t directed at him, but at himself? Is… is that why older Satoru had been angry too?

Satoru stands suddenly, “Thank you for telling me all of this.” He looks down at his palm and clenches his fist again. “I’m going to go back to my time and fix all of this.” Suguru stands with him, his heart still heavy with the memories of the past. He searches Satoru’s sunglassed face trying to gauge his thoughts, but comes up empty. The teen’s face is stoic; unreadable and hidden behind those damn lenses. 

“Tell me, Satoru… what are you willing to do to change the future?” He reaches forward and removes the sunglasses from Satoru’s face, needing to see his reaction.

“Anything.” And suddenly, Suguru couldn’t take the sudden intensity of Satoru’s gaze, and hung his head. Would Satoru really be able to help him that night in the village when he found the girls? If so, it would literally change everything. He technically wouldn’t be giving up on his goals either, because he would never go down this path. He wouldn’t have these goals to begin with, all those nights of wondering how things could have been different if he stayed, if he had just picked up his cell and called Satoru…

“Satoru, be honest… how much do you care for me?” He still can’t look him in the face, but he dares to take a peek, and the intensity of his friend’s gaze has not lessened. 

“That’s a dumb question. I care about you so much, Suguru. You’re… You’re my best friend, my confidant, my moral compass. You are every– I mean, your friendship is everything to me.” No, that wasn’t enough; that wasn’t what Satoru wanted to say; he always had a horrible poker face as a teen. Suguru charges forward, and grabs Satoru’s wrist. 

“Don’t lie to me, Satoru.” It’s odd how small Satoru looks at this moment, and it really hits Suguru that he’s just a kid; hell they were both just kids back then. “I told you to be honest with me.” Their eyes meet. “Satoru… did you– do you… have feelings for me?” A fierce blush rises to Satoru’s cheeks, and Suguru feels heat rise to his own cheeks. 

“W-what? Suguru, you can’t just ask me–”

“Answer me, Satoru.” He squeezes the teen's wrist urgently, but Satoru shakes his head.

“Why? What does that have to do with saving my Suguru– your past self– from defecting?” Satoru’s eyes search his face for a clue, a hint, something.

“It has everything to do with saving me; saving him.” Suguru steps closer, and moves to place his hands on Satoru’s shoulders again. “You want to save him, but in order to do that, stopping him in that village will only do so much; you have to tell me the truth, right here.” Satoru shuffles back and forth, clearly arguing with himself on what to say. Eventually, he sighs and briefly meets Suguru’s violet gaze, before resting his head on Suguru’s shoulder. 

“Damn you… Suguru is… he’s my one and only… There aren’t enough words for me to express the feelings I have for him.” And Suguru’s heart skips a beat. He feels the weight of Satoru’s head resting on his shoulder, the warmth of his breath on his bare neck, and deep in his soul, Suguru knows… this is what will save him. 

He moves his hands down from his shoulders and holds his arms, firmly but gently, as if he is handling something incredibly precious, and not the world's strongest sorcerer. Suguru takes a deep breath before he speaks, keeping his voice soft and calm. 

“Satoru… look at me.” He pushes Satoru back and gently cups his chin. “Can you say that again?”

“I…I love my Suguru… I’ve had feelings for him since our second year.” And doesn’t that knowledge sting? If only one of them had been brave enough to say it back then, who knows how things would be today. Maybe… maybe this will change things. Suguru smiles bittersweetly.

“That’s… that’s good.” Suguru chuckles, “Satoru, that’s what I wanted to hear.” He tussles Satoru’s hair, his fingers lingering just a moment too long, relishing in the white feathery softness. “I’m going to ask you one more thing.” Satoru nods. “Can you promise to keep what I’m about to tell you a secret? Even from past me.” This gives Satoru pause. 

“Will keeping this secret help save you?”

“Yes. Very much so.”

“Then yes.”

Suguru swallows, and then: “I’m in love with you.”

Satoru’s eyes bulge, “You’re in love with me? Like… the past you, is in love with me?” And Surugu chuckles at his shock, and nods slowly. 

“Yes, Satoru. My past self has feelings for you. Powerful, deep-rooted feelings.” He pulls Satoru close and hugs him; whether it's to hide his own face, or to not see Satoru’s reaction, he isn’t sure. All he knows is that he feels a weight being lifted off his shoulders at his confession. 

“Suguru,” Satoru’s voice is hardly more than a whisper. “Is this how I can save you?”

“Yes, this is how you can save me.” A thick emotion coats Suguru’s throat, and he feels like he’s choking. 

“If I confess… If I tell you how I really feel… will… will it change things? Will you stay with me?” Suguru can hear hesitation in Satoru’s voice. He tightens his grip on Satoru before looking him in the eye, a mix of tenderness and desire for what they could have, so long as Satoru stays strong. 

“If you confess and return my feelings… yes. It will change everything. I can almost guarantee that by confessing, it will keep me by your side. I know me, and if you reciprocate my younger self’s feelings… there’s nothing that could tear me away from your side… I will never go down this dark path that I’ve chosen.” Satoru shifts in his arms. 

“But… why did you never confess to me back then?” He sounds genuinely curious, and Suguru decides to indulge, loosening his grip on his hug.

“Back then… I was afraid of my feelings. I was afraid to confess my love to you, because I thought it would ruin our friendship. Satoru, I… I didn’t want to lose you, and in some ways, I felt like I already had… You got so strong so fast, I couldn’t keep up. I had no other option but to leave.” His gut swirls with regret, but there’s nothing he can do about it now. After all, it was ten years ago that he made this decision.

“That’s dumb, you were the one I felt like I needed to catch up to.” Satoru says with a chuckle and a light punch to Suguru’s chest. His hand lingers there a second. “You know… I’m scared of the same thing.” Satoru mumbles. “Of being rejected I mean. If I confess, how will I know the younger version of you won’t reject me?” Suguru laughs at this. He almost forgot, this is a teenage Satoru in front of him. He has the same fears and worries that younger him would have too.

“Satoru, you’re worrying too much. Honestly, if you confess to younger me, I’ll be so incredibly happy. Actually, he’s been secretly pining after you for years.” He sees Satoru studying him for a moment, before realization covers his face.

“You… You still love me, don’t you? Like this older version of you… loves the older version of me.” It’s Suguru’s turn to be surprised, and he chuckles rubbing the back of his neck. 

“You’re too perceptive, Satoru. But… yeah, you’re right. I do still love you. Not just the past you, but the present you, with all your strength and power… Even though we haven’t spoken in over a decade… I still love you.” This time, Satoru pulls him into a hug, and Suguru follows suit, returning the embrace. 

“Well,” Satoru’s voice is hoarse, “I know the way I love you now; how I love the past you, and I can tell you, it’s the kind of love that will never die. So, what I'm trying to say is… I’m willing to bet that the older version of me in this timeline… he still loves you too.” 

Suguru swallows, not daring to pull away from the hug as he’s dangerously close to tears. Hearing these words is a bittersweet comfort, knowing that Satoru’s love for him is constant and unwavering, just like his own. 

Satoru shifts again and looks up at him, his blue eyes shining and red rimmed. “Don’t worry, Suguru. I’m going to fix the past. I’m going to make sure that you don’t leave.” Suguru chuckles, Satoru’s words yet again filling him with an emotion he hasn’t felt in a long time, it feels dangerously close to hope. His words are said in a way that makes them seem more like fact, brushing off the dust-covered trust that Suguru still has for his friend. He palms the glasses in his calloused hand, and passes them back to Satoru.

“I know you will, Satoru.” They stare at each other, filling the other with hope as they do. “Thank you, Satoru. I…” Suguru bites his tongue, “I believe in you.” He says instead. He doesn’t want to burden this Satoru more than he already has. Suguru looks over at this young Satoru as he pockets his sunglasses, and takes his hand. “Satoru… Can you promise me one more thing before you go?” And those blue eyes nearly knock Suguru breathless with the determination he sees. 

“Yes, of course. Anything for you, Suguru.”

“Promise me that even when we face each other again… you will remember what we shared today. Remember my feelings, my confessions. If you succeed in changing the future… I don’t want you to forget this version of me, because regardless of everything… it was still me. And even in this fucked up future, I still love you. Deeply, and without boundaries.” 

Satoru’s smile is the brightest thing that Suguru has seen in years, and he’s blinded by it. Suguru’s gaze moves up to his eyes, he takes back his first thought, because Satoru’s eyes are the brightest things he’s seen in his whole life. The teen reaches up and caresses Suguru’s cheek, and his skin tingles under his touch. When their eyes meet again, Satoru leans in and kisses the corner of Suguru’s mouth, leaving the curse-user dumbstruck and craving more. But another part of him pushes back; this isn’t his Satoru. This version belongs to a younger version of himself. Satoru meets his eyes again.

“I promise, I will always remember this version of you.” Suguru feels Satoru squeeze his hand as he speaks, sealing their promise. “And I promise, I’m going to save you.” He sees Satoru look down at their joined hands. “I’m going to save us.”

He doesn’t want to, but Surugu can’t help but cling to those words like a lifeline. He’s been adrift in a dark stormy sea, and finally he can see the shore. Hope floods his chest and feels a serene sense of peace settle over him, and Suguru wants more than anything to believe in these words that Satoru is telling him. He finds himself wanting to believe in them for the first time in over a decade, and he can’t stop the tears that follow. 

“Please Satoru… Please save us. Bring me back. Bring back my sanity, and happiness. I… I know you can do it. I know we can do it… together.”

“I will. We will always be the strongest, together.” Satoru pulls him in for another hug and Suguru clings to the younger, holding him close to his chest as tears begin to slide down his cheeks. He feels Satoru hug him back just as tight.

Suguru stumbles forward suddenly, his arms empty. 

Just as abruptly as he appeared, Satoru is gone. 

The tears are still falling down his cheeks. “Satoru?” He calls out meekly. He knows he won’t get an answer, but part of him hopes that he will. He looks around his apartment, for a sign that what just happened was real. The only remnants he finds are traces of Satoru’s cursed energy, and the two empty mugs on his coffee table. He picks up the one he gave to Satoru and presses the rim to his lips. The tears continue to fall as he feels himself slipping back into the darkness, a crippling loneliness settling into his chest. 

Before he can fall too far, Suguru’s mind is suddenly flooded with images; memories he doesn’t remember making. They come on so fast that it feels like his head is being split in two. The edges of his vision blur, and somewhere in the confusion he drops the mug, which shatters on impact. The ceramic shards crunch under his tabi clad feet as he stumbles to the couch. He clutches his head which feels like it's being torn apart and stitched back together with a rusty spoon. 

I’m dying is the only coherent thought he has. It’s the only explanation for what is happening. The memories continue their bombardment as he writhes on the couch. Despite the pain, the memories aren’t bad. In fact, Suguru finds himself feeling happy, and warm. The flood of happy memories continues, overwhelming his sense of reality. It hurts, but also feels… nice? Like his mind is now being cleansed from all the pain and despair he’s experienced in the past ten years, and a warm sensation fills his heart. It’s a feeling he hasn’t felt in a long time without partnered with guilt or anguish: love. Another wave hits his mind, and darkness consumes his vision, sending him into a deep and blissful sleep, the memories still playing in his mind. 

Suguru comes slowly, blinking several times to clear the sleep away from his eyes. He looks around groggily, taking in his surroundings to find himself in a room he doesn’t recognize, in clothes that he doesn’t remember changing into, let alone owning. Wait a minute… he did know this room. It was the teacher’s lounge at Jujutsu High school. He runs a hand down the front of his jacket, and finds the emblem for the school on his top button. His mind clears a bit, and he’s left wondering how he ended up here. He stands from the couch to stretch out from his impromptu nap, but finds himself feeling strangely well rested. For the first time in a while his mind feels clear from the burden of despair and pain…

What was it he had been sad about again? 

A sudden knock on the door has him turning toward it; for some reason the pattern of the knock has his heart beating a little faster in anticipation. 

“Yes? It’s unlocked.”

“Suga-boo!” Suguru groans but his heart skips a beat at Satoru’s nickname for him. The white-haired sorcerer waltzes into the room, all smiles as he throws his arms around his husband. “Aw, did you take a nap without me? You’ve got bed-head.” He kisses the dark-haired man’s cheek, “Ooo! And drool on your chin.”

“Hello to you too, Satoru.” Suguru chuckles and shoves the deadweight off his shoulders. “And it wasn’t exactly a voluntary nap…” 

“What do you mean?” Satoru looks at him, cocking his head to the side. Suguru giggles at how puppy-like the man looks.

“I mean exactly that. I don’t remember falling asleep, but just woke up here and I feel like I forgot where I was for a second.” He scratches the back of his hand. “I also had some weird dreams… Like I was reliving all of our memories from the past ten years, but it was… very different.” Suguru shrugs and smirks, “But hey, I feel great! Must be all that extra beauty sleep I got from sleeping without you.” He expects his husband to respond with a joke and his typical pout he’s come to love so much, but Satoru’s face is more concerned than anything.

“Wait, you don’t remember falling asleep?” And he’s instantly at Suguru’s side, pressing a hand to his forehead. “Are you okay? Did you pass out? Also, don’t think I’m ignoring your comment about you not sleeping next to me; we’ll address that later.” Suguru laughs as he swats Satoru’s hand away. He usually loves how caring and attentive his husband is, but he feels like Satoru is being a little over the top right now.  

“Relax, ‘toru. I’m fine. I think I just had some… intense dreams. Also, you know I sleep better without you stealing the covers.” He tries again to steer the conversation into a lighter tone, but clearly Satoru isn’t letting this one go, because now he’s removing his blindfold.

“Wait, go back. You had intense dreams about the past ten years?” Suguru’s smile fades a bit at the serious tone that Satoru’s taken on. He crosses his arms, and his voice drops a little when he speaks. 

“Well, sort of? The memories were… really sad, and lonely. I kind of felt like I was losing my mind in them. And they felt… real? Like vividly real. It was a mix of different moments, like fragments of a life I’d forgotten? Or maybe remembered? I’m not sure how to explain it exactly.” Satoru looks at him funny, and Suguru isn’t sure he’s ever seen that look before. 

“Suguru, do you remember what you were doing right before you fell asleep?” Suguru sighs. Okay, they are doing this apparently.

“I was just sitting on the couch, trying to clear my mind. I was feeling…” What had he been feeling? “Stressed, I think? Maybe overwhelmed? I’m not sure why I was feeling that way… Then suddenly, it was like this wave of memories just hit me out of nowhere. It’s like they just came flooding into my mind without any warning…” Now that he was thinking about it, did the flashbacks happen before or after he fell asleep? It all kind of blended together. He looks back at his concerned husband. “Is that relevant, Satoru?” Satoru steps closer to him, and Suguru can feel a wave of Satoru’s cursed energy flow over him, as his husband scans over him with his Six-Eyes. 

“Maybe… Do you remember talking to anyone before this happened?” Suguru turns the question over in his mind, and uses the heel of his hand to rub his temple.

“I think so? I was talking to someone; I don’t remember who… but talking to them made me feel… sad? But also safe… and hopeful?” He looks back at Satoru apologetically. “I’m sorry, I know I’m not making any sense. The more I think about it, the more confused I feel.”

“Can… Can you try to remember?” Satoru almost looks guilty when he asks this, but who is Suguru to deny the requests of his husband. He tries to concentrate and recall any details of the conversation, his brows furrowing with the effort. Eventually, Suguru sighs and shakes his head.

“I’m sorry, it's all fuzzy. I can’t quite remember who I was talking to, or even what we were talking about. It’s like the details are just out of reach. I’m sorry, I am trying, but everything just feels like it's locked behind a fog… You don’t think someone tried to curse me, do you?” Satoru shakes his head, reaching out to gently touch his forehead. 

“It's okay, love. No need to force yourself. And no, I don’t think anyone tried to curse half the duo of the strongest sorcerers of the modern era. That would be super dumb.” Satoru’s smile makes his heartbeat quicken, but his words soothe his troubled mind.

“Thank you, Satoru.” He smiles back at his husband, before becoming serious again. “I just can’t shake this feeling that there was something about that conversation that was important. It’s like it holds some kind of answer. But I can’t remember it for the life of me. It’s incredibly frustrating.” 

“Really, it’s okay. I’m sure it wasn’t anything serious.” Satoru steps back and smiles at him and there is something in Satoru’s eye that catches Suguru’s attention. He pauses a moment looking Satoru up and down before finally speaking. 

“You know what happened, don’t you?” Suguru says and it’s clear from Satoru’s nonchalant shrug that he does. Suguru sighs and crosses his arms. He really doesn’t want to play this game right now. “Care to share with the class? Or do you prefer leaving your poor husband in the dark?” Satoru pouts as he steps forward, wrapping his arms around Suguru’s waist, while Suguru shows him no sympathy.

“Suga-boo~, don’t be like that.” The older man wines. “I don’t know exactly what happened, but I have a pretty good guess.” Suguru lets Satoru pull him close and nuzzle his neck. “You remember the night I figured out warping? It was right before we graduated, and the same night I did, I randomly burst through your door and confessed my feelings for you?” Suguru laughs at the memory, finally caving and returns the hug.

“Oh yeah, I remember that. You were such a dork barging in unannounced with flowers and all, then blurting out some sappy love confession. I was convinced you were joking and got really annoyed with you.” Satoru nods along. Suguru wishes he could see Satoru’s face, but the white-haired man is still buried in his neck. 

“And you remember that solo mission you were assigned later in the summer? The one where you found the twins? And how desperate I was to go with you?” 

Suguru chuckles and pokes Satoru in the ribs. “How could I forget? You were so clingy that day, practically begging me not to leave you. I nearly ditched you at the station just to get some peace and quiet.” He sighs and looks at his husband, “But you being the stubborn ass that you are, you somehow managed to tag along.” 

“You know I always get my way.” Satoru smiles and kisses him on the nose. “But I never told you why I was so desperate to go with you, or why I decided that day to tell you how I felt.” Suguru raises an eyebrow curiously as Satoru speaks. It’s true, he could never figure out why Satoru had confessed so suddenly, or why he had been so eager to go with him on that particular mission. He also didn’t understand why he found all of this relevant to tell him now. 

“No, you never did. You just barged in, confessed your feelings to me, and stayed glued to my side for months after. Care to explain now?” Satoru pulled away and motioned for Suguru to sit down on the couch. He rolled his eyes, but sat down with Satoru sitting next to him, holding his hand. His husband had that look on his face that he gets when he’s about to spill some juicy gossip. 

“Well, I may have told you a little white lie. Actually, not a lie, I just omitted something.” Satoru smiles wide. “That summer, I didn’t just figure out warping. I time traveled, and I met future-you.” Satoru wiggles his hands a little in a “ta-da!” kind of way and Suguru just stares at Satoru for a beat. Then two. 

“Wait, what? Are you serious? You traveled to the future and met… a future version of me?” Satoru nods excitedly. 

“Yeah! You were about this age. About 27, 28 years old.” The excitement that Satoru started with starts to dissipate. “But things weren’t like they are now.” Suguru wrinkles his brow in confusion as he tries to process this information. The idea that Satoru met a future version of himself sounds insane, but at the same time, something about it resonates deep within him.

“Alright… so, how were things different in the future you visited?” Suguru feels his husband place a hand on his own, gripping his hand tight. Satoru isn’t looking at him, but at their joined hands, as he runs a slender finger over their rings which shine in the afternoon sunlight.

“You were… alone. You left me behind.” Satoru’s voice sounds thin, and Suguru almost can’t believe what he’s hearing. He feels his heart clenching pain. The thought that he could ever leave Satoru behind is beyond his belief. He looks down at the wedding rings, the symbols of their commitment and love, and he grips Satoru’s hand back tightly. 

“Why… why would I do that?” Suguru swallows, his voice is hardly more than a whisper. Part of him is afraid to hear the answer, but another part needs to know. 

“The future that I saw… Something horrible happened to you in our past, and I was blind to it. I didn’t know what was happening to you, until it was too late.” Satoru still isn’t looking at him, but Suguru knows his husband is doing everything he can to hold back his tears. “But that version of you that I met, he told me how to fix it, and what I needed to do in order to save you.” And finally, Satoru looks at him, and Suguru instantly feels the love in his gaze. His heart races in his chest as he realizes how deep the implications of what his husband is saying are. 

“So… you went to the future, met a future version of me, and learned of a terrible event that caused our separation?” Suguru swallows thickly, “And the future version of me you met… he told you how to prevent it?”

“He did… and I did it, Suguru. I saved us.” Suguru can’t help the tears that well up in his eyes as the magnitude of his words sink in. A mixture of relief and gratitude wash over him as he stares at his blue-eyed savior. 

“You… you really did it, didn’t you? You saved us. You changed the future for us.” He blinks a few times, “Is that why you were so adamant on coming with me on that particular mission? Did something happen when we found the twins?” Satoru looks slightly uncomfortable, but nods. “I hurt people… didn’t I?” Another nod. He knew the answer before he asked the question. He holds no sympathy for the people of that village and what they did to his girls, but he knows deep in his soul that if Satoru had not been with him that day, things would have turned out a lot different. He looks back at Satoru, “But why are you bringing all of this up now?” Satoru smiles and scratches the back of his neck.

“Well, it has to do with what you were saying about all of these bad dreams or memories happening, and you passing out. If I had to guess what happened, I think it's because the timelines just merged.” Again, Suguru is left staring at him in disbelief, at Satoru’s deduction. It does make sense in a way. The memories, the feeling of deja vu, and the sudden passing out, all fit. 

“Merged timelines? You think that’s what caused me to pass out? I mean, I guess that makes sense…” Suguru trails off as he feels Satoru’s cool hands cup his face. His husband has an odd look on his face, but is smiling, and he sees so much love in his husband’s eyes.

“If the timelines did merge, then I’d like to say something to the old version of you, if he’s somewhere in there,” Satoru says gently, tapping his head. “Suguru, I did it. I saved us, and I saved you.” Satoru’s words strike a cord with him in a way they never have, and tears are streaming down Suguru’s face. He cradles Satoru’s hand which is still holding his face. There is so much emotion in his chest right now, he doesn’t think he can even speak, but somehow he finds a way. 

“Satoru, whether or not the old version of me is in here, it doesn’t change the fact that you saved us; you saved me from something terrible. And you did it out of nothing but your love for me.” He takes Satoru’s hand, and kisses his ring; the amethyst stone glinting in the sunlight. Satoru gives a wet laugh, and Suguru sees the tears in his husband's sapphire eyes. 

“I can’t take all the credit… it was the older version of you who told me to confess. He said that my confession to you would save so many people, not just him.” Suguru laughs, sniffling a little.

“Well, I’m glad he had enough sense to see how boring his life is without you.” They both chuckle, and gaze lovingly at each other.

“Gojo, Geto-sensei? I have those mission reports for you– God, can’t you two keep your hands off each other for more than ten minutes?” They both whip their heads around to see Megumi standing at the entrance to the teacher’s lounge. “You’re at school for crying out loud. Have some decency.” The spiky-haired teen is accompanied by the two other first years, Itadori, and Kugisaki, who are giggling over the teen’s shoulders. 

“Aw, leave them alone Fushiguro!” Itadori says smiling, “You’re dad’s just really missed each other.”

“Yeah! Don’t be jealous just because you can’t even get a date.” Kugisaki chimes in.

“They just saw each other this morning.” He grumbles back. The trio then divulge into unintelligible bickering, leaving Satoru and Surguru giggling to each other. 

“Thank you for saving me, Satoru.” He whispers.

“Thank you for saving us, Suguru.” And Suguru smiles, relishing in the love and warmth that pours from every fiber of his and Satoru’s being.