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Yuji cannot stand having headaches. They’re so inconvenient, feeling that constant pressure and throbbing near the sides of his temples or behind his eyes every now and then after a strenuous mission. He hates that everything feels too loud and how the slightest jerk of his head seems to intensify the ache in his skull. He hates how the lights look like he’s burning his eyes into the sun. He hates headaches.
“I brought you tea,” Megumi says quietly, soft enough that it doesn’t irritate Yuji’s headache. He sets the cup of ginger tea on Yuji’s nightstand, gazing at Yuji’s curled-up form on the bed. He looks tense, his expression slightly scrunched up, eyes screwed shut.
“Don’t feel like drinking it,” Yuji croaks out meekly. Megumi frowns and sits at the edge of his bed, gently reaching to rub Yuji’s back soothingly. “That bad, huh?”
“I feel like Kugisaki is pounding her hammer into my skull right now.” Megumi winces, continuing his gentle ministrations on Yuji’s backside. “Doesn’t sound very appealing.” He responds quietly. Yuji huffs. “Not really.”
Megumi’s frown deepens. “Come here.”
Yuji cracks his eyes open, immediately regretting it, feeling a wave of pain shoot behind his eyelids. “What?” He asks with strain, gazing at Megumi through half-lidded eyes.
“Just trust me. Come here,” Megumi instructs again, his voice still soft and gentle. Yuji doesn’t protest and slowly shuffles a little closer to Megumi’s lap, wincing at the movement despite his attempt not to worsen his already throbbing head.
Yuji feels a hand brush through his pink strands, the sensation making him shiver ever so slightly, but he doesn’t pull away. Instead, he relaxes into the touch, and then Yuji feels Megumi pull his head onto his lap. He lets a weary sigh leave his lips as Megumi tenderly massages Yuji’s temples, watching the tension in his frame melt away, and the crease in his eyebrows disappear.
“Just breathe, okay? I’m right here.” Megumi murmurs soothingly as he continues his gentle caressing and massaging. Yuji’s eyes droop shut, breathing slowly like Megumi said. “Feels nice,” He lazily drawls out, and Megumi smiles at Yuji’s slightly drowsy tone.
“Yeah?”
“Mhm.”
“You falling asleep on me?” Megumi asks, amused.
“Can I?” Yuji replies, his voice small, but Megumi can feel the muscles on Yuji’s face forming into a smile as he presses his cheek against his thigh.
“Your tea’s going to get cold, you know,” Megumi reminds him as he brushes his fingers through Yuji’s pink locks. “I don’t care,” He whines drowsily, and Megumi fights to hold back a small laugh. “Just keep doing that thing with your hands.”
Minutes pass by slowly, a comfortable silence enveloping the room as Megumi continues to ease the pressure in Yuji’s head, muttering quiet, comforting words in his ear. He feels Yuji’s body grow heavy, his head leaning a little more into his lap, and his breathing begins to slow and deepen. Megumi’s heart does a little leap in his chest at the sight.
“Sleep well, Itadori.”
Those quiet moments become a routine. When Yuji’s headaches become more intense than usual, he finds himself in Megumi’s lap, half-lidded eyes, gazing up at the raven-haired boy with tenderness in his expression.
Megumi tilts his head when he feels Yuji staring. “What?”
“Thank you,” Yuji murmurs sweetly, and it causes heat to rise in Megumi’s cheeks. He sounds so grateful for something so small, and he looks away with embarrassment.
“Yeah, whatever. Go to sleep.” He grumbles softly, but there’s no hint of irritation in his words.
“What about my tea?” Yuji asks, a lazy smile on his lips.
“Oh, now you want tea?” Megumi teases gently, running his hand through Yuji’s hair like it’s second nature. “Seems like your headache isn’t that bad if you’re talking this much.”
Yuji goes oddly silent after that.
Megumi’s eyebrows furrow at his silence and glances down to see the pink-haired boy avoiding Megumi’s gaze like the plague with a small flush of pink on his face.
“Are you pretending to have a headache right now?” He questions with a slight smirk.
“Yeah,” Yuji replies lamely, still avoiding the other jujutsu sorcerer’s gaze. Megumi laughs.
“You know you can just ask me to do this instead of faking a headache, right?” Yuji’s eyes dart back up to the other boy in surprise and what looks like slight hope. “Really?” Megumi nods. Yuji beams and then sits upright, though he does it a little too quickly, because he groans and places a hand on his temple. “Okay, now I really do have a headache.” He complains softly before he lays his head back down on Megumi’s lap.
Megumi shakes his head in amusement before he continues his gentle massages on Yuji’s scalp, his hands working effortlessly. “You’re an idiot.” He says affectionately, earning a small whine from the other boy, who buries his face into his stomach. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry.” Megumi mutters sarcastically.
A beat of silence passes by the room before Megumi speaks again. “I need to go make you tea.”
“Later,” Yuji replies quietly. “I just wanna stay here with you right now,” He says with sincerity, gazing at the green-eyed boy with a loving expression. He feels so comfortable. So safe.
Megumi’s expression softens at Yuji’s pleading eyes, and he can’t bring himself to move away. He looks so adorable like this.
So he doesn’t.
“Okay, fine. Later,” He replies with a small sigh, and Yuji smiles with victory.
“Good.”
Megumi murmurs comforting words, combing his hands through Yuji’s hair once again, letting the boy in his lap fall asleep slowly. The motions feel different, more intimate and loving. Yuji smiles sleepily, not caring about anything else at the moment. Megumi will make his ginger tea later, but right now he’s here with Yuji.
“You can sleep now. I’ll be right here when you wake up.” He hears Megumi murmur, before Yuji hums quietly, letting sleep finally overtake his body. His eyes flutter shut, and his breathing evens out.