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If there was one thing that Sukuna had to name that he hated about you - other than your habit of bumping into him when you walked side by side, or your habit of forgetting to use the bathroom before leaving the house, or your constant texting him memes he didn’t understand just to call him old - it would be all those little dates you went on. Of course, he didn’t actually hate any of those other things about you, those were your little habits that made you you and each of them was a vital piece that made you the person he was so obsessed with, made you his best friend. But he did hate all those dates. Those silly boys who could never treat you quite right, not in the way that you deserved. Not like he could - if only you’d let him.
Because big bad Ryomen Sukuna was, unfortunately for him, head over heels in love with you. It’d been only too easy too, he’d hardly realised he was falling until it was far too late to go back. You just wormed your way into his heart, the heart so many people had sworn wasn’t there, and took up residence there. You didn’t even know it. But Sukuna is a patient man, and so he was willing to simply wait. If he was going to have to sit and wait for you to date all those ridiculous idiots to get them out of your system, well he could do that, because eventually all that would be left would be him - the one left standing through it all, who stayed by your side without hesitation. Surely, you’d choose him then. You’d finally see what you’d been doing to him all these years, and Sukuna would get his chance to sweep you off your feet.
So, he’d let you mess around, let you play with those boys who didn’t deserve you. You were his anyway.
Valentines day was never a holiday that Sukuna had put all that much stock into. What did he care about some commercialised scam holiday for couples that would only irritate him as he navigated through his totally normal day? The cherry on top was that this year, you had a date. Which meant not only did Sukuna have to put up with the day happening at all, he also had to suffer through the fact that you weren’t coming over to his apartment like you normally did to do ‘galentines’ or whatever the hell it was called. He’d bought the snacks you liked ahead of time like he always did, the desserts and drinks you always talked about, and you weren’t coming. Because you had a date. With a finance guy. From Tinder.
So to say Sukuna was pissed was a bit of an understatement really.
But it was fine, because he just did what he always did when he learned you had a date. He made a backup reservation, in case you got stood up, and still wanted to go out. In the past when you’d been stood up, which was only once or twice, you’d just wanted to go over and watch movies - which was more than fine by him of course, it was a good excuse to sit just a little too close on the sofa an rest a hand on your thigh under the guise of comfort. It never hurt to have a reservation ready though. Somewhere you deserved to go instead of God knows what sort of hellish, mediocre places you were being taken. One date took you to KFC once, Sukuna almost burst a blood vessel when you told him.
Sukuna had hardly even settled in for his Valentines alone, his phone on loud in case you called, when he heard from you. He let it ring for just a moment, to give the illusion that he wasn’t waiting right beside his phone, then answered.
“Thought you had a date?” He asked, voice gruff though his brows were pinched in concern.
“Asshole messaged me to say he can’t make it. After I sent him a message saying ‘you’re ten minutes late, where are you’. I’m going to kill someone.” You replied immediately. The two of you had never really seen the need for greeting each other on the phone - you had a reason for calling, just cut to it.
“You’re shittin’ me?”
“I wish I was.” You replied, and the way you sighed made Sukuna’s blood boil louder.
“Where are you?” He asked as he stood, heading right for his bedroom. He needed to get changed.
“That mid-range ramen place you tolerate for me. Why?”
“Stay there. I’m coming to pick you up. We’re going out.”
“Sukuna- no, I’ll just-”
“What about that made it sound like you had a choice? Not lettin’ you get stood up on fuckin’ Valentine’s day. I’ll be there in ten. Keep an eye out for my car.” Sometimes, arguing with Sukuna was a lost cause. This was one of those times.
“Alright. I’ll wait on the corner cause it’s easier to pull in there.”
“That’s right, brat. Sit tight.”
He was there even faster than he’d expected, with a minute to spare in the ten minute ETA he’d given. You were already stepping up to the curb to climb into the car when he pulled up, having seen him coming before he reached you. The heat was on to combat the chill in the air, and you happily settled into the soft leather of his passenger seat.
“So where are we going?” You asked, reaching over to switch the radio station, because the passenger got radio control and Sukuna rarely stopped you from doing anything really. He looked at the radio with a raised brow, clearly displeased with the station you’d chosen, but he didn’t comment.
“I made a reservation, just in case tonight didn’t go well. So, we’re headed there.” He said, and though you did try to ask further questions, he refused to elaborate further.
It was a very upscale restaurant, a far cry from the ramen place you’d originally been intending to spend the evening with your date. Just looking at it, you felt nervous, and out of place. Sukuna shoved some clothes at you when you tried to complain you didn’t live up to the dress code, and he waited outside while you changed in the back of his car where the windows were tinted. You didn’t question why he had the clothes, you figured you must’ve left them there at some point in the past, you did that sometimes. You were at his apartment often enough for it to be handy to have spare clothes.
Sukuna didn’t mention that actually, this was a brand new outfit that he’d bought for you. Deliberately similar to other things you owned so he could be confident that you’d like it and you’d be less likely to question where it came from. But you looked damn good in it, and he got to feel a little warm pride at seeing you in clothes he’d bought just for you.
Inside, you only felt more out of place. You’d never been to a restaurant so nice before, and Sukuna seemed right at home. The menu didn’t even have prices on it! You sat awkwardly in your seat, fidgeting with your sleeve as you tried to force yourself to focus on the menu despite the unpleasant feelings churning in your gut.
“What’s wrong?” Sukuna asked flatly, looking at you over the top of his own menu.
“I just- this place is so fancy.” You replied, shuffling again in your seat.
“I know, that’s why I picked it. Do you not like any of the food?” He then asked, looking back down at the menu to inspect it - he’d been sure there was things you’d eat.
“No it sounds good. I just feel out of place. It’s so.. fancy. The menu doesn’t even have prices.”
“It’s not too bad.” Sukuna denied with an absent wave of his hand.
“Could I afford it myself?” You asked, a pointed brow raised, your look intense as you waited for him to meet your eyes again. Sukuna was your best friend, and there was very little tension in your bond - but money was a little bit of a sore spot.
“Well.. no.” He admitted with a soft sigh, setting the menu down to look at you properly, his arms crossed on top of the table in front of him.
“I can’t just let you take me out for some fancy expensive dinner because I got stood up.” You denied, setting down your own menu to match his posture.
“And why not? I can afford it, you know money isn’t an issue for me, brat.”
“But it is for me. You know that too.”
“Can’t I treat you? Just this once?” He asked, reaching across the table to gently take ahold of your wrist, thumb rubbing small circles over your pulse point. It was irritatingly soothing. There was a long moment where the two of you just looked at each other, silently willing the other to back down.
You would never win that fight with Sukuna.
“I just feel bad, cause I can’t pay you back.” You said softly, turning your gaze down to where Sukuna’s large hand was enveloping your wrist. He squeezed gently, tugging you to turn your attention back up to his face. He waited the moment or two it took for you to find the courage to do so.
“When did I ever ask you to do that?”
“You didn’t, but-”
“Then shut up, and pick what you want to eat.” He said firmly, then released your wrist before picking up his own menu again. You hesitated for a moment later before reluctantly turning your gaze back to the menu. Stupid rich best friend.
Dinner was.. nice. You couldn’t deny that. You’d really enjoyed it, and there was no question that you’d had a much better time with Sukuna than you would’ve had with the guy that had cancelled on you. You always did. With your arm in his, Sukuna led you up to his apartment, having insisted that you stay over the same as you always did on Valentines day.
“So, how come you had a reservation? You don’t do Valentines so it’s not like you got stood up too.” You asked as you slumped down on Sukuna’s sofa, pulling down the throw blanket from the back of it, the one he kept there just for you. Sukuna gave himself just a moment to consider how he was going to reply to that, running every scenario through his mind for each answer he could give you. Each lie he could’ve let slip past his lips, lying came so easily to him after all. But he’d always hated lying to you.
“I always make one when you have a date.” He confessed. He didn’t let himself be bashful or ashamed of it, just stated it like the fact it was. As if it didn’t mean anything, even if in reality it meant everything.
“What?”
“You only ever want to come here, so you’ve never noticed, but I always have a reservation made when you have a date. Just in case you still want to go out.” He admitted shamelessly as he dropped down on the sofa beside you, just short of close enough to touch, close enough to feel how warm his body was.
“Every date?”
“Every single one.”
You looked at Sukuna intently, and after a moment he turned to meet your eyes, waiting to see what you’d see next, giving you the time to gather your thoughts.
“Sukuna.. why?” You finally asked, partly awed and partly exasperated.
“Just in case.”
“You can do better than that.” He sighed, though a fond smile tugged at his lips anyway. You were so damn stubborn sometimes. Tonight hadn’t exactly been the night he was planning on confessing to you, it was far from the setting he’d like for it to be in. But he finally, finally, has a chance. He just took you on a date he knew you’d enjoyed, and now you were sitting on his sofa, wrapped up in that damn blanket he’d bought just for you, and soon enough you’d be wearing his clothes to sleep in his bed - because he always took the sofa when you came over.
“Because you deserve it. If some shithead cancels on you, or stands you up, you deserve the chance to enjoy your night still. To go somewhere better than wherever the fuck you were meant to be going. Those assholes never give that to you, but I can. How much longer were you really expecting me to put up with watching you go on this sad excuses for dates and get your mood ruined, hm? Not letting that happen to my love.” His words were firm, final, and even as you stared with jaw slightly slack.
What?
The pause that followed was long, the silence loud. You had no idea how you were supposed to reply to that.
“Sukuna..” you trailed off, shaking your head as you tried desperately to find your words. My love.
“You bump your head when I wasn’t looking?” He retorted with that smug smirk that was so damn familiar, but for once instead of making you want to smile back, it just made you frustrated.
“No, fuck you, you don’t get to do that,” you firmly replied, tossing the blanket side to shuffle closer, a hand on Sukuna’s chest, “you don’t get to call me that then go back to joking around like that didn’t mean something.” Sukuna raised a single brow as he looked at you, smirk only broadening.
“That right, brat?” He asked, and for a moment you had that sinking feeling that something was about to go wrong.
Right as that thought processed, the world was suddenly upside down. Sukuna had picked you up, and thrown you over his shoulder. It didn’t matter that you were a little more plump than the people you’d seen him date in the past, it was like you weighed nothing at all. You yelped and protested and slammed your hands on his back, but he didn’t relent, not until he was tossing you down on his bed.
He folded his arms over his chest as his eyes roved your body.
“You look good in the clothes I picked for you.” He remarked, and the subtle possession in it made a shiver run up your spine.
“You picked- what?”
“Oh this isn’t some outfit you left at my place - nah I bought it for you. Been saving it for the day I finally got you to one of these little dates. Just to make it so you’re all mine.” His voice game out more gruff that time, like he was holding himself back from doing something more.
“Sukuna-”
“Shut it. I’m enjoying the view.” You were stunned for a moment. He’d never told you to shut up before, not in a way that wasn’t entirely playful. But it stunned you more when he knelt down on the bed to follow you upwards, one knee on each side of your thighs.
“Meant it you know? You’ve always been mine, even if you didn’t know it yet. I’ve just been waiting for the right moment.” He murmured, leaning down, his face inching closer to yours. You were breathing in more of his air than the fresh air around you.
“Ryo-” you gasped as his lips closed around your jaw, nipping softly before easing the slight sting with his tongue.
“You’ve got no idea how long I’ve wanted you. God, you’ve been driving me insane for years now. Had me following you around like a fucking puppy - borderline humiliating. But if it’s for you? Fuck I’d do it again a hundred times, love.” He muttered, almost to himself, as he kissed slowly down your neck, not marking just yet, but claiming anyway.
“God— let me speak.” You protested, fingers tangling tightly in his hair to attempt to pull him away, but that only seemed to make him more determined, lips curling into what might’ve been a silent snarl. But, he remained silent. He’d let you say your piece.
“You’re so fucking dumb, Sukuna,” you muttered, just to see the irritated grumpiness on his face when he pulled back, “should’ve just told me. Ages ago.”
“I was-”
“Waiting? For what? I’ve been right here the entire time.”
That seemed to make something fall into place.
He was a goner. His lips were on yours before you could process he had even moved and it was perfect. You’d not realised just how much you craved it until you had it, his lips moving perfectly in sync with yours, greedy hands wandering your body like he could hardly believe you were there beneath him. You could hardly believe it either, really.
Sure, you’d thought about it before. More than once. The thought of Sukuna just.. sweeping you off your feet, for lack of a better term. Saving you from the abysmal dating pool because those were boys and he was a man. Knew how to treat you. Sukuna had treated you better than any guy you’d been on a date with for years. Now he was there, kissing you like he was starving for it, like there was no place he’d rather be.
You felt much the same.