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It doesnt take Yuuji long to notice it; Gojo-sensei is lonely.
He hides it well, differently from how his grandpa had but the tells are the same. Where his grandpa had deflected with biting remarks and the bitter attitude of a dying old man, Gojo-sensei distracts you with humor, plays the annoying bubbly persona well. To an extent that is his personality, he is funny and he clearly finds it endlessly amusing to annoy as many people as he can but Yuuji catches glimpses through cracks. Yuuji had let it be with his grandpa, never having called him out on it and simply tried to keep him company until the end. He loved his grandpa dearly but there's something so much more tragic about his Teacher's loneliness. His grandpa had truly been alone, his only visitor was Yuuji afterall, whereas Gojo-sensei is surrounded by people, just- theres a disconnect.
He doesn't really understand, but he begins to while he's confined to the basement, watching movies between visits from his Teacher. He sighs whenever he drops himself onto the couch beside Yuuji, head thrown back as he whines about all the missions he's sent on. "You deserve a break" yuuji tells him and theres a minute downward twitch of his lips before he's grinning wide.
"Tell that to those old farts, always sending in their trump card for everything." It's said in a mocking way, trying to coax a laugh from him but Yuuji just frowns back at him and he can see the way the man's brow furrows under his mask at Yuuji's expression.
"They can't send anyone else?" He asks, "you must get worn out Sensei." The pause is so brief Yuuji wouldnt have noticed it if he wasn't paying attention.
"Yuuji-kun is so considerate." He says, reaching out and ruffling Yuuji's hair. "I'll bring you something yummy for dinner tomorrow~" he chimes and Yuuji leans into the touch without meaning to.
He can see what his teacher is doing and before he can stop himself he's running his stupid mouth. "Don't reward me for that Sensei," he cluches the cursed doll, "I'm considerate because I care, not because I want something." He doesn't say it to be rude but he can't help but feel as though he has been.
Thankfully his teacher doesn't take it badly. He hums thoughtfully, long fingers working their way into his undercut and making Yuuji shiver. "Yuuji's kind like that." He says "I bet you were popular in your last school" he teases and Yuuji accepts his attempt at deflection, mostly because he doesn't really know what to say, having realised that maybe nobody tells his teacher that he matters beyond his what they find him useful for.
"Not really" he mutters back.
Gojo-sensei laughs. "really?" He drawls, disbeleiving. "I bet Yuuji had tons of secret admirers! Just too shy to say or maybe Yuuji was just too oblivious?" He teases him once more and Yuuji frowns, he refuses to call it a pout.
"Are you calling me stupid Sensei?" He grumbles.
"Nope" his teacher says decidely, and at Yuuji's unconvinced glare he laughs "okay maybe a little, but in a good way!" He assures and Yuuji can't stop himself from laughing this time.
"You can be stupid in a good way?" He asks, just to watch the way the man grins as he come up with an answer.
"Uh-huh! Yuuji is the first though!" They both laugh, Yuuji's eyes crinkling at the corners, happy to hear the genuine laugh from his teacher. Yuuji knows its not that easy to fix loneliness, but if he can bring Gojo-sensei even a little bit of joy or comfort he'll consider it a success. He hopes that one day the man isn't lonely anymore.
These moods come and go. Most of the time Gojo-sensei is his chipper self, but since that one time he has begun to slip up more around Yuuji.
One evening he practically stumbles down the basement stairs, shoulders hunched and head swaying with each step. He looks exhausted. Its not too much of a surprise, he'd been away for a week on what Yuuji would assume was back to back missions. Like aways when he joins Yuuji, he sits on the opposite end of the couch, sinking into the cushions as the tension slowly leaves his body.
Yuuji is moving instantly, standing from his spot on the couch and offering it to his teacher. "You should lie down." He says and the man sways slightly, almost following Yuuji's words like a command.
"But where will you sit?" He asks, "I would be a terrible Sensei to kick you out of your seat."
"You're not kicking me out," Yuuji assures him, "I'm offering it to you."
For a moment it seems like hes considering it, body tilting just slightly towards the empty space that Yuuji had once sat. "No- its no good." He says with a slow shake of his head. "Sit back down Yuuji-kun." His tone isn't exactly stern but it certainly leaves no room for argument. Reluctantly, he does as told, settling back onto the couch, ready to turn to his teacher and tell him that if he doesn't want to lie down here he should go to bed, only for his thoughts to get interrupted by a sudden weight in his lap. Gojo-sensei's head is in his lap. His torso is draped across the couch and his endlessly long legs dangle over the arm rest. Yuuji face feels hot and he doesnt need to see his own face ti know he's blushing up to the tips of his ears.
"Cute~" his teacher coos, "Yuuji is embarrased by something as simple as a lap pillow."
"Thats-" he tries to bite back with a retort but comes up blank, ending up just frowning down at the man in his lap.
"It must be uncomfortable." He grumbles, knowing that he's practically all muscle. He's not got the pillowing soft thighs of a girl. "Are your sure you-" He's cut off by Gojo-sensei grinning up at him.
"Yuuji-kun wanted me to lie down, right?" Yuuji nods. "Then it's okay, right?" It's not really.
It's not that Yuuji doesn't want him there, he's had a few revelations about himself since meeting his teacher, feelings running deeper than he wants to admit- but thats exactly the issue. This is his teacher in his lap. As nonstandard at he is, surely Gojo-sensei knows this isn't exactly appropriate?
"It's okay." Yuuji agrees despite the nagging voice in the back of his head that tells him he shouldn't, not because he doesn't want because oh how badly he wants, but because he knows his grandpa would rollover in his grave, if he weren't cremated that is, maybe even come back to life and shake some sense into him.
'Its okay', Yuuji assures himself, hands moving on their own, one settling on Gojo-sensei's chest and the other carding through his silky white hair. If it weren't for the way that the man melted into his touch, Yuuji might have doubted himself and withdrawn. "Do you think you'll sleep?" Yuuji asks, fingers rubbing gentle circles into his scalp, hoping it's soothing.
Gojo-sensei hums, replying with a breathy "I dont think i want to. This is too nice" leaning into Yuuji's touch like Yuuji had once down with him.
Yuuji laughs as a sudden thought pops to mind, "Gojo-sensei is like a cat." He teases, scratching lightly at his scalp as if to prove the point. Funnily enough the rumbling laugh that leaves the man almost resmbles a purr.
"Does Yuuji-kun like cats?" He asks, and even as dense as he is, Yuuji knows the true question that lies underneath. His breath catches in his throat, a sudden ache in his chest.
"I like them alot." He says, and hates the way his voice trembles. "I think people don't appreciate them enough." He goes on, "or care for them, sure they're independent but they should be cared for like everyone else."
For a long moment Gojo-sensei is quiet, it stretches on to the point that Yuuji begins to worry that he should have just kept his mouth shut. "Yuuji-kun would take such good care of a cat, huh?"
"Mhm," yuuji bites his lip in an attempt to hold back what's crawling up his throat but its no use, "I would want them to feel loved." The shuddering sigh his teacher lets out is devistating.
"Yeah?" He asks, barely a whisper and Yuuji nods in answer, not quite able to get the words out now that the truth has spilled from his lips. "I'm sure that the cat would want Yuuji-kun to feel loved too."
They fall into a comfortable silence, Yuuji continuing to play with Gojo-sensei's hair. Whatever happens between them now- whatever route this conversation leads them down, Yuuji will accept. If he's the only one that will care for him, who is he to deny him?