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It all happens in an instant. One moment, Megumi is scolding Yuuji for not minding his voice while they creep through the forest. The next, there’s a crashing of trees as a curse barrels toward them, dozens of arms and hands whipping through the trunks as its body slithers through the foliage.
Megumi isn’t fast enough in getting away, and one of the many limbs hooks around his elbow and drags him into the mess that is the main body. The curse seems satisfied with having Megumi in its grasp, so Yuuji is able to gain some distance on it. He has poor visibility on Megumi, the rolling body of the curse obscuring him from his line of sight. Without thinking, Yuuji throws a hit charged with far too much cursed energy behind it, causing the curse to explode. It sends Megumi flying, a sickening crack whipping through the air when his forehead clips one of the trees.
Yuuji rushes over, breath caught in his throat as he checks Megumi’s vitals. He can finally breathe again when he feels a strong pulse and sees the slow rise and fall of Megumi’s chest.
Shit. His phone is dead, and, after fishing Megumi’s phone out of his pocket, a quick look at the lock screen shows they don’t have any signal anyways. He wishes he had someone to brainstorm with. He bets Megumi would know what to do, but Megumi is passed out cold, head resting where Yuuji pulled it off of the rough forest floor and into his lap.
Yuuji pushes the hair on his forehead back, brow furrowed with worry. He knows Megumi has survived much worse, but the blood running down the other boy’s face has never been a welcome sight. He checks for other injuries, but luckily the split skin across his temple appears to be the only spot that’s bleeding.
He stays there for a moment, observing the up and down of Megumi’s chest, hand resting on Megumi’s shoulder and forehead while he considers their options. Looking up through the trees, he can see the heavy gray clouds looming above them. The storm was supposed to pass right by, but he’s beginning to have his doubts. He worries at his lip, knowing that it would be no good for them to get drenched all the way up here.
He decides their best option is to at least start heading down the mountain. He awkwardly maneuvers Megumi’s limp body so that the taller boy is plastered against his back, and he walks down the mountain with his arms wrapped firmly around Megumi’s thighs. It’s comforting, the way he can feel the heat of Megumi’s body seeping into his own. It’s especially nice as the winds begin to pick up worse than they had on their trek up the mountain, with Megumi’s body giving him some protection against the chill.
At some point on the way down, a crack of thunder rumbles through the sky and a storm roars to life around them. Yuuji huffs and tries to speed things up. He knows from having been in the area a few times that there is a small bus station at the base of the mountain that should get them to the closest town and, hopefully, someone kind enough to lend their phone. He would wait for someone from the school to come collect them, but he has no way of letting them know where they are or how quickly the mission wrapped up.
During the long walk down, Yuuji becomes lost in his thoughts and the sensation of Megumi’s head rocking gently against his shoulder. He winces at the feeling of Megumi’s now drenched hair brushing against his neck. Pausing under one of the larger trees, he readjusts himself and Megumi so that his uniform jacket is draped over the both of them. It doesn’t take terribly long for him to make it down the rest of the mountain and to the bus stop, but they are completely drenched by the time they get there. The jacket helped some, but Megumi’s hair is plastered to his forehead and plenty of the rain has made its way down his neck and underneath the collar of his jacket.
Yuuji is grateful to see that the bus stop still has the small amount of coverage it did the last time he was in town, squatting down to ease Megumi onto the dry bench before settling next to him and bringing Megumi’s head down to his lap.
Yuuji looks down at where Megumi’s head rests against his thighs, hair darkening the fabric in the shape of a halo. He smiles as he combs his fingers through the older boy’s hair, taking time to wipe away the blood that had collected on his face. It would help if they didn’t look like trouble when the small town bus driver pulled up to their stop. He readjusts the jacket he has draped over Megumi’s torso, worrying his lip as he wonders whether the drying jacket is more harm or help for keeping Megumi warm.
Although the sight still made something in his throat tighten up, Yuuji could also appreciate seeing the way Megumi’s face relaxed when he was out like this. It was something he rarely got to see, only apparent in small moments when Yuuji caught him alone in the common room, curled up with a book or with one of his wildlife documentaries on.
He had asked Megumi about his interest in them once during a late night after a mission, both of them unable to sleep after everything they had seen that day. Megumi had explained how Gojo had taken them to the aquarium often when he and Tsumiki were still young, trying to show off all that he could offer them now that Megumi had signed his life away for Tsumiki’s sake. Megumi didn’t mind, though, soothed by the way the shine of the water made Tsumiki’s eyes sparkle as she told him about all of the different creatures swimming past.
The documentaries always made him think of those memories. He was trying to find all the best ones for when Tsumiki was eventually awake and in recovery.
Yuuji is still lost in thought when he sees Megumi’s eyes blink open, running a thumb across his uninjured temple as his brow furrows in clear discomfort.
“Good morning Fushigurooo,” he says, hands hovering as the taller boy sits up and hands back the jacket in his lap, ready to steady him if needed.
“Is everything okay? What happened?” Megumi asks, voice strained. He reaches up to touch the wound on his forehead, wincing at the stinging pressure.
“It was the curse dying. I’ve never seen one explode like that, but everything is fine. My phone was dead, and I doubt we’d have any signal anyways, so I got us down here. The bus doesn’t start running for at least another hour, though,” Yuuji rambles, taking in Megumi’s current state. He seems to be moving well enough, eyes adjusting to the dim light as he looks out at the storm roaring around them.
“You can lay back down if you want. You were out for a while.”
“I’m fine,” Megumi grumbles, and Yuuji considers leaning into his side. It was nice to have him close again. He almost wishes there were more excuses for him to be this close to Megumi. The thought has his face heating up.
They sit together with only the sound of rain against the earth breaking the silence. It starts coming down harder, so much so that they can hardly see ten feet down the road in either direction. Some of the splatter becomes strong enough to start reaching their shoes and the hem of their pants.
Yuuji wraps his arms around his torso and glances at Megumi. He can see the other boy isn’t doing too well with the chill, the drying of their uniforms only worsening the cold.
“Can I sit closer, Fushiguro? I’m freezing over here.” Yuuji tries to give his best smile even with his quivering jaw. Megumi just rolls his eyes and scoots over, letting Yuuji worm his way into his side.
Yuuji smiles, content, especially when he feels Megumi’s head rest against his own. Testing his luck, he lets an arm drift around Megumi’s back, resting on the bench behind him.
“Y’know, I used to really like falling asleep to the rain. It was my favorite. My grandfather would always make us tea, and he would grumble about how much sugar I added. He never stopped me, though, unless I was really getting ridiculous with it. He just wanted me to be okay.”
Megumi stays silent for a few moments. Yuuji knew he was considering every word. He liked that about Megumi.
“Tsumiki and I…..” He starts, but he stops just as quickly, letting the sound of the rain wash over them for a moment before continuing. “Tsumiki and I used to go out to this one spot just outside of our neighborhood when we could see the clouds getting really heavy. It was in a forest with this overhang where you could stay dry while the rain poured down. She said it’s because she liked the sound of it all the way out there, but I just think she hated the way our old apartment would creak whenever the winds got bad.”
Yuuji hums, letting his arm wrap a bit more intentionally around Megumi’s side. He feels warmth bloom further in his chest when Megumi doesn’t scold him.
“Did you ever go out after moving out of there?” Yuuji asks carefully, hoping to hear more of the rare details about Megumi’s past.
“We did, but not as often. Definitely less in the pouring rain. She actually started liking the rain when we were in the new place. There were bigger windows, and she would always nap next to them when the storms were heaviest. I liked to read next to her, but I could never stay up for very long.”
Yuuji smiles as Megumi talks. He likes when he catches the other boy in a nostalgic mood. It’s been happening more often in these last few weeks. Every word gets cataloged away in his mind, something to keep with him and cherish.
“Maybe once she’s better, she can come spend a rainy day in the dorms. I like how the rain sounds better now with the glass doors,” Yuuji says after Megumi has gone quiet. “I do miss the tea, though. I should really go back and see what kind it was. Not that I taste much but sugar with how I make it.”
“I can always make us coffee if you want,” Megumi mumbles, looking down at the shoe he’s digging into the dirt below. Yuuji’s almost glad Megumi can’t see the way he beams at the offer.
“Are you going to grumble at how much sugar I put in, too?” Yuuji teases, and laughs when Megumi elbows his side.
“If it’s a disgusting amount. Maybe your grandfather was onto something.”
“Whatever, old man. I’ll have to go get one of those holiday creamers…the kind with pumpkin or peppermint.”
Yuuji sits back to stare at Megumi, smiling at the way his nose is scrunched up at the thought of the disgustingly sweet drinks. His hair is finally starting to dry out some, enough that the ends are beginning to curl. It’s endearing, in a way, to see Megumi’s hair returning back to its natural state.
“I like seeing your hair look like this.”
“Why? Because it’s not as much of a mess?”
Yuuji looks at Megumi’s hair and really considers it. It was one of the first things that caught his eye about the other boy. He was almost giddy the first time he and Megumi got drenched on a mission. He’s sure Megumi could tell, too, because if looks could kill, Yuuji would have been a goner with the glare that was sent his way. Seeing his hair down wasn’t the best part, though. It was when the water fell away, and all of the strands rose back to their natural height that he had come to find very endearing. It felt intimate, almost, catching Megumi in this in-between state.
“Because watching it dry is kind of like watching a flower bloom.”
Megumi gives him a weird look before shoving him away and scooting to the other side of the bench. Yuuji giggles and scoots closer to him.
“Whaaaat, Fushiguro? I guess that was a little embarrassing of me to say…”
“Shut up, Itadori. It was just annoying.” Megumi huffs, avoiding eye contact and shrugging his shoulders to hide his creeping blush behind his collar.
Yuuji just stares and smiles, warmth flaring in his chest when Megumi glanced back only to find Yuuji still staring.
Yuuji decides to lighten up on the teasing for the time being. Instead he closes his eyes, leaning his head on Megumi’s stiff shoulder and listening to the rain. That in tandem with Megumi’s steady breath had him practically dozing off after just a few minutes. He wishes he could stay in this moment forever.
“I’m really glad you’re okay, Fushiguro. I don’t know if I could do this without you.” He doesn’t know what’s coming over him, but he decides he’ll let the feelings drive his words. “Is it selfish if I don’t want them to find that last finger for a while? I like being by your side.”
“We don’t know if we’ll ever find all twenty,” Megumi grumbles, even though both he and Yuuji know that he knows better. What Yuuji doesn’t know, however, is that Megumi doesn’t plan to let them find that last finger. The world is better off with Yuuji in it. He’s the best sorcerer, the best person Megumi has ever known. He’ll keep Yuuji around for as long as possible, consequences be damned.
“I’m okay with it. Especially since it brought me to you.”
Megumi sighs, scrubbing a hand over his face.
“Why do you keep saying these things?”
Yuuji doesn’t respond, thoughts drifting back to Megumi’s hair. He sits up again, and he can see Megumi is about to complain when he interrupts.
“Have you ever had your hair short? Like shaved?” Yuuji reaches up and takes one of the curling strands between his fingers, feeling how soft it is even after the long day they’ve had. Megumi turns his head away after a moment, jerking his head lightly to free the strand from Yuuji’s grasp.
Yuuji chuckles softly, eyes shifting to meet Megumi’s, who’s looking down at him with a furrowed brow. He takes the quiet moment to study Megumi’s face. Sharp eyes with prominent lashes, green irises that darken in the gray around them.
“The way your hair dries really is nice, Fushiguro. It’s a little distracting sometimes. I know people tease, but I don’t think I’d want it any other way.”
Megumi stares at him for a moment, hesitating before reaching his own hand up, brushing Yuuji’s still-damp hair away from his face.
“I like yours too. It was the first thing that made you stand out at the school. I was wondering if it was dyed, and how it would feel if it was.”
Megumi’s hand drifts down the side of Yuuji’s face, fingers gripping the back of his neck. Yuuji can see the way Megumi’s mind drifts. Grounding himself with the feeling of Yuuji’s warm, living body thrumming under his fingers. Even with the chill of the cooling rain, Yuuji still radiated heat. He took every chance he could to feel that life after Yuuji came back, not that he would admit to it in a million years. Now though, with the rain pounding around them, he has to remind himself that all of that was in the past now. That he knew how to protect Yuuji better.
He hadn’t realized how long he had been holding on until Yuuji scooted closer, bringing a hand up to rest on Megumi’s shoulder. Megumi finally looks up from Yuuji’s chest to meet his eyes, and sees that Yuuji is glancing down at his lips.
When their eyes meet again, Yuuji gives a sheepish smile.
“I’m really glad to have you with me, Fushiguro,” he says, shifting even further into Megumi’s bubble. “I wouldn’t want it to be anyone else.”
Megumi closes the distance, pressing his forehead to Yuuji’s with a shaky breath.
“I wouldn’t want anyone else by my side, either.”
Their faces drift closer, noses nearly brushing and eyes drifting shut. Yuuji can feel Megumi’s quickening breath brushing against his lips. Just before making contact, however, a loud noise startles them apart.
Yuuji looks up and his eyes are immediately drawn to a car rolling up, Gojo’s piercing eyes peering over his shades.
“Yuuji! Megumi~! Your ride is here!”
Yuuji feels his face completely flush, the heat reaching back to his ears and down his neck. Looking at Megumi, he can see the boy curled in on himself with hands fisted in his hair.
Gojo must have been able to sneak up in the downpour undetected. Strange, though, that it was Gojo instead of Ijichi. Yuuji stands and rushes to the car, leaning his head in.
“Is Ijichi okay?”
“He’s great! Told him to go home for the day.”
While Gojo was talking, Megumi had stalked over to the back seat of the car and made his way in, closing the door a little too firmly behind him. Yuuji knows if there were any way for a hit of Megumi’s to land, it would have by now.
Yuuji realizes he’s getting drenched all over again, so he hurries in on the other side and closes the door much less gracefully, having to open and shut it again to get it to close properly. Megumi grimaces at Yuuji’s newly dripping self, and Yuuji tries to give his best apologetic smile. He can see Megumi’s hand flexing where it was crossed under his arms, and he knows he was only avoiding his own hit because of his drenched state.
While Megumi continues to very intentionally look out of the window as Gojo pulls away from the bus stop and prattles on with questions about the mission, Yuuji stares at Megumi’s still red cheeks. They were definitely about to kiss, right? That’s what that was? He takes a deep breath in a feeble attempt to tamp down the nerves buzzing in his chest. Instead of thinking about it any further, he looks up to Megumi’s much more disheveled hair.
Without thinking, he reaches up a hand to try and pat the hair down.
Megumi’s hand shoots up, fingers wrapping tightly around Yuuji’s wrist.
“Can we talk later?”
Yuuji nods, finally taking note of the sudden silence in the car. A quick glance forward and he can see the way Gojo is tapping his fingers along the steering wheel, lips sealed shut. So, he turns to Megumi , and gave him a tight-lipped nod. He ends up crossing his arms, too, having to fight the urge to reach out and seek contact from Megumi.
As the ride goes on, Megumi starts falling asleep, and Gojo doesn’t say a word when Yuuji eventually unbuckles his seatbelt to move to the middle, pulling Megumi into his side so he doesn’t get woken by the window rattling against his forehead. Yuuji smiles when Gojo gives him a thumbs up. Oh god this is so embarrassing. He wonders how much Gojo saw.
If Megumi wakes up in the middle of the trip back, there’s no reason Yuuji or Gojo needs to know. It’s not like he can escape the inevitable teasing down the line with how long he’s been out. So, he settles ever so subtly into Yuuji’s side and tries to grab another hour of sleep. Luckily, Yuuji has completely knocked out next to him and doesn’t notice.