airy | 19 | she/her - writer, angst queen, taylor swift enthusiast, full-time college student - part time tumblr-er (?), i pop in every once in a while ! this is a silly, fun multifandom writing blog! full of nonsense and love :)
remembering september 2023 when i held a funeral for gojo, where i played a playlist of songs for him, gave a bunch of random ass speeches, and wouldn’t stop crying, & i made @airybcby watch while we were on facetime.
♡ Content: Jabber and reader are literally about the same person, reader is written gender neutral, based off of the song: Stuck like Glue by Sugarland. Readers jinki is mentioned, however not expanded on!
♡ Synopsis: "I'm stuck on you!"
It was never a boring day when it was you and your loving boyfriend, Jabber spending the day together. From endless giggles, endless jokes, endless tickle battles, and endless teasing! The two of you were truly a match-made in a weird, heavenly way!
In a way, you were stuck on Jabber, and Jabber was stuck on you! Stuck like glue.
“Ain’t it ironic we’re practically stuck to the hip, Y/n~ especially since your jinki is literally a glue bottle!” Jabber was loud, cackling as he held you close to his hip. The two of you are walking side-by-side in some run-down town, humming quite an energetic melody with one another, and practically finishing each other's tune.
“Are you trying to be funny, Jab-Jab?” Your lips quirked up in a smile. He only smiled in response, flinging one of his locs over his shoulder as he pulled you impossibly closer to him. Any uncoordinated movement would surely result in the two of you tripping over one another's own feet!
“Maybe I am!” God, Jabber was so loud as he spoke. But, so were you. “Well, good!” Laughter ensued as Jabber picked up his pace, pulling you along with him as he began to skip along the side-walk of the messed up town.
“Woah-oh, stuck like glue~! You and me, Baby, we’re stuck like glueeee~!” Jabber sang out, swinging your arms between each other as he pulled you along. Civilians around the run-down town gave you guys nasty looks.
‘They’re rather loud, are they not?”
‘They look so odd…’
‘They are acting quite odd-..’
You could practically sense their thoughts as you and your boyfriend continued your little stroll. Did you, or Jabber care? Absolutely not. You were annoying, and he was just as annoying. And neither one of you seemed to care about what other people seemed to think about you guys either.
Maybe that’s what made it seem like the two of you were practically stuck to one another.
No matter how many fights, breakups, hurt feelings, etc–nothing could ever pull you apart from Jabber, or Jabber apart from you.
There ya go makin’ my heartbeat again, heartbeat again, heartbeat again–
There ya go makin’ me feel like a kid!
Won’t you do it and do it one time!
The familiar sound of a song from your childhood faintly played in the back of your mind as you and Jabber continued your walk with one another.
“Are their stares bothering you, my love?” His voice was low–raspy as he leaned against your side.
You snapped out of your thoughts, no longer thinking of those little song lyrics. Raising an eyebrow, you stopped in your tracks, turning to look around, watching as anyone who even dared to have been staring when you weren’t paying attention quickly snapped their stares away. You pouted just a bit, arms crossing as you pulled away from Jabber.
“Now why would their stares bother me?!” You were rather loud as you spoke, this caused Jabber to grin, almost insanely.
“Didn’t think that they did, just wasn’t wantin’ you to be uncomfortable and not telling me, my sweet.” There he goes making your heart beat again! You grinned widely; turning your attention to Jabber and wrapping your arms tightly around his shoulders in an instant.
“Why would I be uncomfortable and not tell you, my love~?”
“It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks about us! No matter how many fights, tears, or laughs, you always make my heart beat again, and again! Always making me feel like a kid too, my Jabby!”
You pouted, leaning in and pressing a kiss to the tip of Jabber’s nose.
“We’re stuck like glue for a reason, my love.”
Jabber’s smile seemed to spread wider across his face–if anyone other than you were to look, they probably would have thought that he was hurting himself in some twisted way.
His hot-pink eyes were filled with nothing but complete love and adoration. Love for you, and adoration for what you had. In an instance, Jabber reached for your hands once more, and began running through the streets–long limbs helping his speed as he dragged you hopelessly behind him, the both of you laughing rather loudly and maniacally.
God, you two creeped everyone out so bad.
At the end of the town–Jabber came to a halt, laughing like a kid as he pulled your crashing form into his own, and swiftly–he fell back onto the ground, pulling your body on top of his own.
You laughed in glee; heart racing and limbs aching as you landed on top of your boyfriend.
God–he made you feel like a kid.
A light brown hand reached up, cupping the side of your face. You stared down towards Jabber–admiring the look of pure bliss and beauty that laid on his face. Your heart continued to pound against your chest as you leaned down, pressing a rather cute kiss against the tip of Jabber's nose once again.
A pout grew on Jabber’s lips, skin pulling as he knitted his eyebrows together. “No kiss on the lips for me, baby~? Especially after I used my own body to shield you from crashing to the ground!” In an instant; Jabber had manipulated your bodies, twisting so that he lay on top of you–who now laid on the ground.
He leaned down, pressing a rather rough kiss to your lips, which you quickly returned with just as much quickness and passion! In an instant, you guys pulled away.
“I never would have thought that I would ever meet someone who makes me feel so good!” That little melody played in your head again:
There ya go makin’ my heartbeat again, heartbeat again, heartbeat again–
There ya go makin’ me feel like a kid!
Won’t you do it and do it one time!
“I’m never letting this go, Jabber.”
“And I’m never letting you go, Y/n.”
Fu stared on from the distance–eyes wide as he watched in horror at his past teammates. He stood by Zanka, Enjin and Rudo–all who seemed to have had the same expressions on their faces as well.
☀︎ a/n — short little fic for my luv @zcnkaxo (sorry if it's bad or ooc, i wrote this late at night)
☀︎ word count — 1.3k
☀︎ content — enjin x reader, dad! enjin, enjin and reader have a kid, enjin is such a softie, made it where normal traditions are on the ground too, not proofread
☀︎ synopsis — Enjin has fought many trash beasts. He's taken on men twice his size. And yet...the scariest thing he's done in his life is swap a tooth out for some money.
── ☀︎ everything's growing in our garden
Enjin had seen plenty of strange traditions being brought into the ground, he had to have with just how many people are there!
Birthdays had become some of his favorites.
Bedtime stories that normal people read to their kids on the sphere, and every parent on the ground was thankful if a good condition book was tossed down.
The tiny paper crowns that floated down with the words “Burger King” on them became a good gift- they must have come from a king afterall !
He'd accepted them all with little more than a curious tilt of his head.
This one, however…
"...A tooth fairy?" His brows pinched together as he stared at the tiny white tooth sitting in the palm of your daughter's hand.
She looked up at him with the seriousness only six-year-olds could manage, "Mhm. Mommy told me about her! "
"...Is it...a fairy made of teeth?"
"No!" she giggled. "It's a fairy that takes teeth."
Enjin was sure a confused look would be etched on his face forever, "...Why?"
“Because…um…because…Mommy why does she take teeth?” She looked at you with just as much confusion as her dad. You smiled at the two of them, "So she can make castles."
"Ohhhh."
Enjin just nodded along, "...That makes sense."
It did not.
After dinner, your daughter sat at the kitchen table with the concentration of someone who was writing the next great novel. Her tongue was sticking out, a crayon clutched in her fist- precision on every messily written word, only stopping for breaks to ask you how to spell something.
Enjin leaned over your shoulder, "What is she doing?" You smiled, looking at him, "Writing a letter." He was even more confused…this fairy took teeth AND letters? "...To the fairy?"
"Mhm."
"...Why?"
"So she knows where to find the tooth."
"...Ah."
Right.
Fairies must love unnecessary paperwork.
Your daughter scribbled for nearly ten whole minutes before proudly holding up the page, "Done!"
You took it dramatically, "Let's see..."
Dear Tooth Fairy,
Thank you for coming to my house.
Can I have one hundred thousand dollars please?
Love,
Me.
Enjin blinked, "...One hundred thousand?" He wasn’t even sure if he knew how many zeroes that had in it. (You very helpfully told him it had five later that night)
"Yep!” Your daughter smiled proudly.
"For...one tooth?"
She nodded, “Mommy told me they’re priceless!” He gave you a look, like you were equally as insane as this teeth stealing, note loving, bad at directions fairy.
"The first ones are always the most expensive," you nodded along.
Enjin was wondering if this fairy also robbed people for a living.
Later that night, you tucked her beneath layers of blankets and kissed her forehead, watching as she carefully slipped the tiny tooth and the letter beneath her pillow.
Then she folded her little hands in a praying motion, "I hope she comes." "Oh sweetie," you smiled. "I'm sure she will."
She yawned, rubbing her eyes, "I hope Santa didn't tell her I cried when I lost it..." Ever since you’d sang her a song about Santa always watching, your daughter was quite fearful of this strange man.
You hid a laugh, "I don't think he would."
"...Okay."
Within minutes, she was asleep.
When he heard the bedroom door click shut, Enjin immediately turned to you, "...What now?"
You opened the junk drawer and pulled out a pink glitter pen.
He watched in silence, gaping once he finally caught up to what you were doing, "...You're the fairy."
"I am."
"So she’s not real?”
“Nope.”
“There’s no tooth castle?”
“Ew, no.”
He leaned against the counter while you began writing in the most outrageously whimsical handwriting he'd ever seen.
Every i dotted with a heart.
Every y curled dramatically.
Even your signature sparkled.
My Dear,
I don't have $100,000 right now because Santa Claus borrowed all my money for Christmas!
Luckily, the big, kind bunny shared some with me so I could give you a little surprise.
Thank you for taking such good care of your tooth!
Love,
The Tooth Fairy ♡
Enjin stared, "...Santa stole her money?"
"Borrowed it."
"...The bunny gave her money?"
"The Easter Bunny."
"...How do they know each other?"
"They're coworkers, obviously."
You looked up, a grin on your face as you folded the letter. He watched as the hearts, glitter, and loops disappeared as you folded into one tiny square.
He'd fallen in love with you a hundred different times, but somehow, watching you write a letter from a fairy might've been his favorite.
Around midnight, you nudged him awake, "It's time."
He sat upright immediately, "...Already?"
You handed him a folded bill, watching as his face dropped in utter despair, "No."
"Come on, you’re gonna play fairy for me.” Enjin was sure his heart was going to leap out of his chest.
But he was never one to back down, “She needs more than this,”
He checked his pockets and wallet and found loose bills, coins, and a bottle cap.
He frowned, "This is all I have." You smiled as you looked at the collection of money in his hands, "It's fine."
"...Really?"
"She asked for one hundred thousand dollars. She won’t know the difference.”
The hallway was dark when Enjin approached her bedroom like he was infiltrating enemy territory. While he felt like he was on a stealth mission of a lifetime, you simply leaned against the doorway, watching.
He looked back, "...She's asleep?"
"Mhm."
"...Deeply?"
You shrugged, "Probably."
"...Probably?"
You nodded, giving him a big thumbs up, "I believe in you."
You believed in him, your daughter believed in the tooth fairy…he just hoped at least one of them could be real tonight.
He opened the door slowly, making sure there were no creaks.
Good.
He took one step, and then another, his heartbeat deafening in his ears.
He's fought monsters. He's fought men twice his size. He's fought for his life. And somehow, none of it compared to this.
He knelt beside the bed.
Very, very slowly...
Lifted the edge of the pillow.
His breathing stopped.
He could see the tooth, so small compared to the pillow it was hidden under, and the letter- which was pushed so far back he was scared he might wake her.
Easy.
Easy-
The pillow shifted, and your daughter sighed.
Enjin froze, so much so that he didn't breathe. Didn't dare to blink. Didn't even think, too scared she would somehow be able to hear his thoughts.
Then she rolled over and let out another sigh- good, she was asleep.
After what felt like thirty years, he finally slipped the tooth out and replaced it with every bill he'd managed to gather.
He swapped her letter with your pink letter, trying to position it in the same way hers was- pushed back but still completely under the pillow.
He slowly lowered the pillow and backed away, one careful step at a time until he got to the door and closed it just as slowly and quietly as when he opened it.
He turned toward you, eyes wide and heart racing so loud he was sure you could hear it, "I did it."
You bit your lip, trying not to laugh, "So you did."
"I thought she woke up." He recounted the terrifying moment. "My heart stopped. I think I saw my life flash before my eyes."
You laughed so hard you had to cover your mouth, “Well, Mr. Tooth Fairy, you did it.”
And as much as he wanted to relish in the praise you were giving him, instead he opened his hand to look at the tiny tooth resting in his palm.
He stared at it for a while and then looked at you with another eyebrow raise,
જ⁀➴ After a long day on the field, Rin finds his way back to the place that feels most like home ♡
˚₊‧꒰ა The apartment was quiet with a faint sound of the television playing in the background. Curled up on the couch with a blanket draped over your legs, you absentmindedly scrolled through your phone while waiting for RIN to get home from his match.
The front door clicked open. You barely had time to look up from the couch.
"Welcome ho—"
The rest of your sentence dissolved into a startled laugh as his weight sank into the sofa with you.
One arm slipped around your waist while his head found its way to your chest, settling there. His cheek pressed against you, hair brushing your chin as he practically melted into your side.
It was less of a hug and more of a complete surrender. For a second, you suddenly wondered if something had happened during the match.
"Tough match?"
Then he let out a muffled groan.
"...Just tired."
"Oh."
His grip tightened slightly around your waist as he shifted closer, pressing his face further into your chest. The movement seemed entirely unconscious, like his body had simply decided that after spending the entire day running, fighting, and finding new reasons to be annoyed at Isagi, his body had automatically sought out the place where it could finally rest.
You smiled softly and threaded your fingers through his hair, earning a quiet hum in response.
Almost immediately, the tension in his shoulders eased beneath your touch, and little by little, the sharp edges he carried so naturally began to disappear. And before long, Rin had his eyes closed, content to let himself rest in the warmth of your embrace.
"...How was your day?"
You blinked.
The question caught you off guard; even clearly half asleep and exhausted, he was still asking about your day.
"…It was okay," you said softly. "I went grocery shopping. But the cashier accidentally charged me twice! Unbelievable. Do you know what I was going to do with that money? I was gonna buy that game I told you about."
"...Mm."
"And the neighbor's dog escaped again."
"...Idiot dog."
You laughed. Then you continued rambling about random little things that didn't really matter and everything in between. At some point, his hums faded away entirely, and when you glanced down, you realized his eyes had been closed for several minutes.
"...Rin?"
There was no response. Looking down, you found him fast asleep, and the sight drew a soft smile from you, and without thinking, you leaned down to press a gentle kiss to his hair.
"Good night, Rin."
Outside, the city continued moving, its lights glowing beyond the apartment windows. Inside, however, everything felt quiet. Rin slept through it all, secure in the feeling of home he always found in your arms.
☀︎ a/n — part of my you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love series :) find it here !
☀︎ word count — 2.1k
☀︎ content — sae itoshi x fem! reader, model! reader, established relationship, rumors abt reader, cheating mentioned once or twice, alcohol and drug use mentioned, not proofread.
☀︎ synopsis — You had your own career, your own friends, your own life. You should've been perfectly capable of entertaining yourself. But somehow whenever Sae left for away games or training camps, the entire apartment seemed to lose its color.
── ☀︎ that's just the thing that happens when my baby goes away !
The rumors started sometime around midnight.
You only found out because your manager texted you three screenshots of some sort of news article and the words
Mngr: Don't read the comments.
So, naturally, you read the comments.
itashifan44: Definitely cheating
saeitoshitoelicker: Sae's never home. What a hoe
bigbouncyballs: girl left the party early because she got caught
baroubaroukyun: She looks high as hell
You stared at the comments on your phone, then at the spoonful of ice cream in your hand, and then back at your phone.
You were wearing one of Sae's old hoodies, your hair looked terrible, and you hadn't left the apartment in three days.
"...What exciting lives they think I lead." With a sigh, you tossed your phone onto the couch cushion beside you while the television continued playing in the background.
It was some modeling competition. Nexx Top Model or something.
You weren't exactly sure what it was because, truthfully, you weren’t really paying attention. You knew there was a contestant who was crying because her photo shoot score wasn't high enough, but even that wasn’t interesting enough to keep your mind off of how the apartment felt too quiet.
It always did when Sae was gone, but you hated admitting it.
You had your own career, your own friends, your own life.
You were successful enough that your face was plastered on billboards and magazine covers.
You should've been perfectly capable of entertaining yourself.
But somehow whenever Sae left for away games or training camps, the entire apartment seemed to lose its color.
The silence became so loud to the point you jumped at every little noise, worried somehow someone had broken in while you’d been right in front of the door. The bed became so big you felt like it might swallow you whole. Everything around you felt just a little emptier.
It was embarrassing, honestly.
Every time he left, he gave you the same instruction, "Don't stay inside all day." As if you were a house cat!
And every single time you'd tell him, "I won't." Which was a complete lie.
Because whenever he wasn't home, all you wanted to do was wait for him to come back.
Because if you were inside, then no one could make up some story about you, and lo and behold when you'd actually listened to him for once, the rumors now on your phone stirred up once again.
Weeks ago your agency had hosted a huge party.
A networking event with all sorts of sponsors and designers being invited. Models, influencers, and celebrities were all in attendance. This was the kind of event that was supposedly important for your career, and yet you'd wanted to skip it.
Sae had been leaving for Spain that morning.
You remembered standing in the airport terminal while he adjusted the hood of your sweatshirt, "You should go." he said, as calm and stoic as ever.
You groaned, "I don't want to."
"You never want to."
"Because they're boring."
"They're important for you." You narrowed your eyes, hating how sophisticated he looked and sounded.
His mouth twitched into what could be perceived as almost a smile. Almost.
"Traitor." You huffed, glaring at him as if he really had betrayed you. "Go to the party."
You crossed your arms, "No."
He leaned down and pressed a quick kiss against your forehead, completely ruining your ability to stay annoyed, "Go."
And because you were weak for him- and definitely not because he called you and all but scolded you on staying in - you went.
Which, from the moment you’d stepped in the door, you’d known was a big mistake.
The second you'd arrived, you wanted to leave.
Music pounded through the walls. People were crowded in every room. Champagne flowed like water. And there were enough suspicious substances floating around to make you nervous.
You spent exactly an hour there.
One, singular.
You talked to a few friends and took pictures with sponsors like you were technically “supposed to.”
You smiled for cameras and pretended to enjoy yourself. Then the second the clock hit on the hour, you escaped.
You remembered slipping out the front door, relieved to be free of that terrible place full of terrible people and utterly ready to go home.
But nothing was ever simple in your life, apparently, thanks to a paparazzi photographer that had been waiting outside.
Within minutes, the headlines appeared:
MODEL CAUGHT LEAVING MYSTERY HOME AT MIDNIGHT
As if. No, not even just as if! As if you'd have the energy for an affair! As if you would cheat on the Sae Itoshi! And as if you would ever let yourself get caught if you were !
You barely had the energy to wash your makeup off after shoots, and these people think you have the brain power and energy to have a whole double life? You wished.
The second you'd gotten home that night, you'd called Sae, ignoring the time difference between the two of you entirely.
Your phone rang once. Twice.
Then with a soft click, Sae appeared on your screen.
His hotel room was dimly lit.
His hair looked damp, probably fresh out of the shower considering he’d definitely just gotten out of practice.
The sight of him immediately made your chest ache.
"There she is."
You rolled your eyes, "Hello my amazing, awesome, loving boyfriend."
A small pause, and with an amused smirk on his face, "Hello, Ms. Cheater."
You gasped, "Sae Itoshi." His expression remained completely serious, "How's your affair?"
"You quit that."
"The mysterious lover treating you well?"
"You're not funny." You shoved your phone against the bathroom counter before beginning your skincare routine.
The entire time you complained.
About the party and every random drug and drink that was offered to you.
About your agency who let rumors and lies spread about you for ‘good publicity’ instead of fixing it.
About the paparazzi who just had to sell the ugliest picture of you out of all the ones they’d taken.
About the headlines where your name was never mentioned- only known as Sae Itoshi’s girlfriend. You had a name goddamnit!
About the comments that people left because at this point, they were so unoriginal and unfunny that it hurt.
Truly, you complained about literally everything.
Sae listened quietly, occasionally humming in agreement and nodding along, and sometimes you’d catch him looking suspiciously amused.
You changed into pajamas, brushed your teeth, washed your face, and put up your hair…all while complaining to the man over the phone.
By the time you finally crawled into bed, nearly thirty minutes had passed and Sae had barely spoken, simply opting to listen to you and your problems.
You settled against your pillow, exhausted when he did finally speak, "Did you have fun?"
You stared at him like he’d grown a second head, "Sae Itoshi."
"Hm?"
"I just spent thirty minutes talking about how much I hated that place."
He nodded, "Right." You desperately wished he was besides you so you could give him a good smack, "So obviously I didn't have fun."
A laugh escaped him and you immediately felt your annoyance weaken.
Damn your traitorous heart.
"You're awful."
"So I've been told."
You sighed.
For a moment neither of you spoke.
You simply looked at him, memorizing him through the screen.
The shape of his face. The color of his eyes. The way his hair fell over his forehead.
God. You missed him.
And it had only been two weeks. Two stupid weeks! Yet somehow, the more you thought about it, it felt longer.
"I miss you." The words slipped out before you could stop them.
The teasing smile disappeared from his face.
His expression softened just enough for you to notice, "I miss you too."
Your chest tightened, "When are you coming home?"
"Soon."
"Soon isn't soon enough."
"I know."
You pouted and the mildly sad moment was gone because all Sae looked was amused again, "You'll survive."
"Will I?" You groaned.
He smiled, nodding along to your dramatic whines.
Suddenly everything hurt a little less.
Only a little, but it was enough.
Enough to get through another day without Sae by your side. Just talking to him reminded you that you loved him enough to wait. You could definitely keep going until he came home.
The thing that scared you wasn't the distance, you understood the distance. Afterall, Sae was a professional athlete and travel was part of the job. You'd known that from the beginning.
What scared you was how much you missed him.
Because you'd dated before. Not many people, but enough. And not in any one of those relationships had you ever felt this way.
Never.
You'd never heard a joke and immediately thought:
I need to tell him.
You'd never seen something cute in a store and wanted to buy it because someone specific would like it.
You'd never reached across a bed and felt disappointed when nobody was there.
You'd never missed someone so much that entire parts of your day felt incomplete.
It terrified you.
Because what if it never stopped?
What if you spent the rest of your life feeling this way whenever he left?
What if that was just what loving Sae meant?
Being with him made you happy and you were so loved, but you were also simultaneously missing him every second he wasn't there.
You weren't sure, but you thought about it often. Especially on nights like this when you were alone in your apartment, curled beneath blankets and listening to the distant hum of city traffic.
Waiting for a man who made your heart ache even when he was across the world.
Three weeks later, you were lying on the couch.
Again.
Exactly where Sae told you not to be.
A blanket cocooned around you while you binged another episode of that modeling show played on the television. Not that you were paying attention, no, you were scrolling through old pictures of Sae.
Pathetic.
A key turned in the front door and you froze, the sound barely registered at first. Then you heard the door open and your heart stopped.
No. No way.
You shot upright.
The suitcase was the first thing you saw. Then his pink hair. Then familiar teal eyes that you loved to look into.
For a second neither of you moved. Neither of you spoke.
Sae looked tired, travel-worn, down right exhausted, and somehow still the most beautiful thing you'd ever seen.
The blanket fell off your shoulders.
"Sae?"
His expression softened immediately. And that was all it took before you practically launched yourself off the couch, crossing the apartment in seconds.
His bag hit the floor as you crashed into him, arms wrapping around his neck.
His arms immediately circled your waist, holding you so tightly that you almost couldn't breathe. Not that you cared. He could suffocate you just like this and you’d be thankful. His face disappeared into your hair, taking deep breaths.
You felt his shoulders relax, like he'd finally stopped carrying some invisible weight.
For a long moment neither of you spoke, neither of you needed to.
You just stood there holding each other and making up for weeks apart.
Eventually he pulled back slightly, just enough to look at you.
His thumbs brushed your cheeks, "You look tired." You scoffed, "You just got off an international flight. You look worse."
A rare smile appeared.
God, you'd missed that smile.
You stared at him. Then stared some more like he’d disappear if you looked away for too long.
A frown filled your face and Sae raised an eyebrow, "What?" You buried your face in his chest again, "I really hate when you leave." The confession slipped out before you could stop it. "I know it's your job and I know it's stupid and I know you'll always come back but I still hate it." The words were muffled against his shirt.
You felt him rest his chin on top of your head. When he finally spoke, his voice was softer than usual, "It isn't stupid."
Your eyes stung unexpectedly, because when you told anyone else this they’d say you were silly for thinking like that, "You think?"
He nodded, rubbing his thumb under your eye to catch the few fallen tears, "I know so."
You squeezed him tighter, "You've ruined me Sae Itoshi,” you sighed. "I didn't use to be like this."
A small laugh vibrated through his chest before leaning down to press a kiss to your lips, then your temple, then the tip of your nose. And suddenly every lonely night felt worth it.
Because he was here.
Home.
And for the first time in weeks, the apartment didn't feel empty anymore.
☀︎ a/n — first time listening to mitski in like a year and i alr want to jump.
☀︎ word count — 2.2k
☀︎ content — modulo! yuji x fem! reader, very small modulo spoilers (not even but yea), mention of hospitals, mortal x immortal, mention of death, established relationship, angst - heavy angst yall, not proofread.
☀︎ synopsis — Yuji Itadori was cursed to walk alone forever, but as long as you would hold on- he'd never be alone again.
── ☀︎ i am a forest fire. and i am the fire, and i am the forest, and i am a witness watching it
The first gray hair he found on you, he laughed, "There."
Your head jerked away from the book in your lap as he pulled the hair out, "What?"
"You've got one." Yuji leaned over the couch, pinching the silver strand between careful fingers. "You're getting old."
You gasped, “No I am not! Don’t pull them it makes two more grow!”
"It’s just one," He smiled, impossibly bright. "It looks cute."
"You know what's not cute?"
"What?"
"You pointing it out." You stated as you swatted his arm.
He laughed so hard he nearly fell off the couch. Eventually, after pretending you were mad, you laughed too, leaning against him.
Back then, wrinkles were things that appeared only when you smiled.
Back then, old age was still a joke.
You met Yuji Itadori when you were sixteen. He was loud, kind, and always bleeding from somewhere.
You thought he smiled too much. He thought you frowned too much. You thought he was pretty loud. He thought you were pretty. From there, the rest happened naturally.
Movie nights became dates. Dates became shared apartments. Shared apartments became homes. Homes became places you stayed for decades.
You never got married.
He asked once, and only once.
He'd bought a ring with money he'd saved for nearly a year.
It wasn't extravagant because you would've hated extravagance. It was just a thin gold band with a tiny stone that caught the light whenever he turned the box.
"I know it's... weird," he'd begun.
You stared at the ring for a long time, and then you smiled, "You know why we can't."
"I don't care."
"I do."
"You'd still be my wife."
"I would." You reached over, closing the little velvet box with gentle fingers. "You'll still be here in a hundred years."
"I don't care." He’d said with the conviction of a hundred men. "I do." Your smile trembled, as if you were forcing it on. "How're you supposed to explain having the same marriage certificate from a century ago?"
"I'll figure something out."
"You always say that."
You leaned forward until your forehead rested against his, "You can't stop living because you loved me."
He wanted to argue. Argue that, yes, he’d find a way. He’d find a way to become mortal again- to age alongside you in this life and the next. But…he couldn’t promise that.
Instead, you laughed at his focused face, "Besides..." You kissed the tip of his nose, "I don't need a ring to know you love me."
And that was the end of it.
The ring stayed in the back of his dresser. He never threw it away…just in case.
The years were cruel in ways curses never managed to be.
You first complained about your knees. And then your back was constantly aching. Then your eyesight got worse.
Reading glasses appeared. Walking canes were an everyday accessory. Little orange prescription bottles lined your bathroom sink.
Yuji remained forever somewhere in between, withered and aged by the fights he had as a young teenager, but never looking old enough to match your aging pace.
Every few years, you moved to a new city with new names. You met new neighbors, and eventually, people stopped asking if you were dating.
Eventually, it turned to, "...It's sweet your grandson takes such good care of you."
You opened your mouth, but Yuji answered first, "Yeah."
The woman smiled warmly, "You're a good young man."
Young.
She walked away, unaware of how she added another crack to the already crumbling resolve he’d had. The silence lingered between you.
"You know..." You nudged his shoulder with yours. "I've always wanted grandchildren."
He groaned dramatically, "Oh my god."
"I'm kidding!”
You laughed together until neither of you could breathe.
And as much as he had laughed then, later that night- for as strong of a man that he was - Yuji cried in the shower where you couldn't hear him.
You’d wanted children, he knew that. Not because you’d explicitly told him, but he knew because you'd stop outside playgrounds. He knew by the way you always waved back when little kids stared.
Because you'd stop to look at tiny sweaters while shopping before quickly acting like you’d never known they existed.
One evening, the words just spilled out of your mouth, "I would've liked being a mom." The words were so soft he almost missed them.
"...Yeah. I would’ve liked seeing it."
"But..." You reached over the table, taking his hand. "I like this life more."
He couldn't answer.
His throat had already closed.
Time became measured differently. Not by birthday candles on the cake. No, instead it became measured by your monthly doctor appointments. By how many times they changed your medication.
By how often you had to do blood work and physical therapy.
How many stairs you could still climb. How long your afternoon naps lasted.
Whether your hands shook enough to spill tea.
Sometimes, late at night, Yuji would watch you sleep, examining the way your face had changed.
The smooth cheeks he'd kissed as teenagers now carried delicate lines.
Your hair had become soft silver.
Your hands…god, your hands.
The same hands that once grabbed his sleeve while running across streets. The same hands that braided small pieces of Nobara's hair because she'd insisted she didn't know how, although Yuji believed she just wanted to be pampered.
The same hands that held Yuta’s newborn before...
Before.
Now they trembled while pouring coffee.
Now they bruised so easily that he was afraid to hold them too tight.
Now they looked...so fragile.
He hated that word.
Fragile.
You were never fragile.
He almost asked, hundreds of times.
Do you regret me?
He'd rehearse it while standing in the hallway, watching television, while washing dishes. And just when he thought he’d gotten the courage…then he'd see you humming while making breakfast.
Your hands are spotted with age and moving slower than they used to, carefully gripping the pan.
And suddenly, he couldn't.
Because he already knew your answer.
"Never." You'd smile. "Not once."
But was that true?
Or were you just protecting him?
Eventually, the answer came without him asking.
You were sitting by the window wrapped in a blanket.
"You thinking?" He asked, standing in the door way, watching you the way you were watching the rain outside.
You smiled, "Always."
"About?"
"You."
He blinked, "...Me?"
"I've been remembering."
"What?"
"Our first apartment."
He laughed, "The one with mold?" You smiled, nodding, "And the broken heater." "The neighbor that played trumpet at three in the morning?" He added with a twinge of annoyance, man he hated that guy!
You rolled your eyes, "I loved that apartment."
That, he was confused by, "It sucked." You slowly nodded, "It did, but…”
You looked away from the rain and back towards him, "I would've lived there forever if you were with me."
"I'm glad I met you." His chest tightened as you spoke. "I'm glad I chose you.” You smiled, adding on.
"Every version of my life where I don't meet you..." A small shake of your head. "I don't want it."
Yuji looked away, because if he didn't…he was sure that he would cry.
The diagnosis wasn't unexpected, but the terminal part was.
The doctors spoke gently, and you listened calmly.
And all Yuji could do was wonder how no one else was scared, terrified even. He’d heard nothing after the first sentence, but he knew what it meant.
He was going to lose you.
He hated hospitals, always had since his grandfather passed away.
So he hated it more when the equipment came home. When monitors and oxygen got hooked up in the bedroom. Medication schedules taped to the refrigerator. Machines that beeped all night. Machines that, as much as he hated them, he learned to operate with terrifying efficiency.
The bedroom slowly stopped looking like a bedroom.
It became something else Yuji was entirely too scared to name.
"You should sleep." You mumbled, fighting your own sleep to see him close his eyes first. "I'm fine." He insisted.
"You've been awake for hours." You reached a hand over and ran it through his hair, a small laugh being pulled out of you. "Gosh. You look awful."
He laughed, "You have tubes connected to you." You smiled, "You still look worse."
Your world shrank to the bedroom, then the living room, and you could even go to the garden on good days.
Eventually, as much as Yuji tried to fight the passing of time, you were refined to just the bed.
Yuji carried you everywhere when you wanted to move, like it weighed nothing.
Like if he held you tightly enough…time would realize his willpower and give up on this battle with him.
One afternoon, after a week inside, you whispered, "I think..." your voice was shaky. "I'd like to see the sun." Yuji , ever loving and devoted, nodded immediately, "Okay."
He wrapped blankets around you and lifted you into his arms, very carefully, and took you outside.
The garden was blooming with hydrangeas.
You’d always loved hydrangeas.
He sat with you beneath them, your head rested against his shoulder.
"You remember..." You murmured. "The festival where you won me that giant stuffed bear?”
“I worked really hard for that-” He started, being cut off by your laugh. "You climbed the booth. The poor worker was so scared."
He opened his mouth to defend himself, but he could only smile, "He should've just given me the bear."
You laughed, as hard as you could now, and it turned into coughing. He waited until it stopped, hand patting your back with a practiced carefulness.
"I'm tired." You sighed, leaning against him. He felt his heart shatter once more, "I know."
You looked up at him, eyes hazy, "You'll stay?" "Always."
Yuji Itadori would give his life force to you if you let him.
The last night, you couldn't speak much.
You said it hurt to breathe, and Yuji could tell by the way every inhale sounded borrowed.
And yet, he held your hand. Just like he'd done thousands of nights before.
The monitor filled the silence.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Your fingers squeezed his once, weakly.
"...Yuji."
"I'm here."
"I know."
Another breath.
"I was..." You took a long shaky breath. "So lucky."
Tears blurred everything around him. "You gave me-"
He shook his head violently, willing you to stop- begging whatever god that was watching him to give you two more time together, "No."
"My whole life..."
Your smile…You still smiled so beautifully.
"...was so fun with you."
"It wasn't enough."
"It was everything." Your eyes drifted shut, "I love you."
He pressed his forehead against your hand. "I love you more."
The room grew quiet.
“Please don’t leave me.”
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Your grip loosened.
Yuji waited, surely- surely - you’d take another breath.
Please.
Another. Anything.
Instead, the monitor screamed one endless, merciless note.
Yuji discovered that everything became silent when you lost the person who made your life so full of love.
It was silent enough that he could hear the clock ticking. Silent enough to hear rain against the windows.
Silent enough to hear himself whisper, "...Hey." As though you'd merely fallen asleep.
He brushed your hair behind your ear, just like he always did.
"You'll catch cold." His voice cracked. "You always fall asleep without blankets." He pulled one over you, hands shaking, "There."
Silence answered.
His thumb stroked the back of your hand.
It was already cooling. "Please..." Not because he believed you could hear him. Not because he thought you'd wake.
Just…Please.
Not you too.
He had buried his grandfather.
He had seen his mentors Nanami and Gojo die.
He had lost Megumi.
Too many friends. Too many graves. Too many names that he couldn’t even recall.
He had endured all of it.
Because somewhere, you had always been waiting at home.
Now...
There was nowhere left to return to.
Years later, the house was gone. The city had changed. And no one remembered your name.
Children played where your garden once bloomed.
Yuji sat beneath a lone hydrangea.
Still stuck in a young body with a withered, old, traumatized mind. But he was still breathing. Still cursed with tomorrow.
In his pocket, a tiny gold ring sat untouched. He rolled it between his fingers.
The metal had never dulled, unlike everything else.
"...You know..." His voice disappeared into the wind. "I finally figured out how to explain it." He smiled, a shaky one, he was sure, "If anyone asks..." He looked toward the sky, "...I'll just tell them my wife died."
He'd never gotten to call you that, not while you were alive. So he did now.
Even if no one was there to hear it. Even if the world had forgotten you.
He never would.
And for the first time in more than a century, Yuji Itadori wished with every aching part of himself that he had been born an ordinary man.
Because ordinary men could follow the people they loved, he could not.
So he stood, slipped the ring back into his pocket, and kept walking.
♡ A/N: TYSM for 13 followers, and all of the love on my first two Gatchiakuta fics! It means so much for the support. Please don't forget that my inbox is open for any fic requests, or even headcanons!
♡ Word Count: 1.5k
♡ Content: Enjin is fatherly towards reader and brotherly towards Zanka, Cursing, Reader is gender neutral, fic if based off of the song Hey Jude by the Beatles.
♡ Synopsis: “You have found her, now go and get her.”
Zanka Nijiku was not a lover boy. That much was certain. He was tough, a growing man who wanted to be the best of the best inside of the cleaners. He wanted to be strong, to earn praise, and to most of all, make Enjin proud.
Some would say that Zanka has done most of that, but to Zanka, he hasn’t done any of what he strived to do with his life.
He was always hard on himself, lacked the confidence that he needed to up his strengths–and, most of all, he never believed in himself.
Maybe that is why Zanka undermined his feelings for Y/n. The cleaner whom he had always felt weird in the chest around.
In Zanka’s eyes, Y/n was everything that he could not be. They were strong, confident, and almost always had Enjin beaming at them with a smile of a proud father-figure. Zanka was utterly infatuated with Y/n.
“Ya know you’re starin’ don’t ya, Zanka?” A voice shattered every thought out of Zanka’s mind–, he felt his heart drop as he turned his head, coming face-to-face with none other than Enjin himself.
A cheeky smile grew on Enjin’s face at the flustered sight of the teen, slowly, he turned his gaze, looking over towards whatever–or, whoever it was that had Zanka’s attention the way that they did.
When his eyes met none other than Y/n, his grin only grew wider.
“Y/n, huh…?” Realization crept up in Enjin’s head as he turned to gaze once more at Zanka.
And boy, was Zanka flustered.
“It is not what it looks like, Enjin, I swea-” Zanka was cut off by Enjin holding one finger up in response, ultimately silencing Zanka.
“I have been waitin’ for this day forever– Honestly Zanka, I really thought you weren’t interested in anyone! Now, for it to be Y/n of all people? Makes me happier.” Zanka’s heart sped up at Enjin’s implications.
“Now wait just one second-,” Zanka pursed his lips, crossing his arms over lovey Assistaff as he scooted away slightly from Enjin. “I am not interested in anyone, certainly aint Y/n either.” God, he wished his heart would stop racing anytime he heard their name.
Enjin raised a blonde eyebrow at Zanka in response. “You really gonna deny it?”
“Yes.”
Rolling his eyes, Enjin turned in his seat so that he faced Zanka directly. He crossed his own arms over his chest, puffing it out to seem more mature–and more intimidating to Zanka.
“Ya gotta let people into your heart Zanka. Then, you can make yourself feel better, ya know? Less lonely, less distant from everyone else. Hell, maybe you’ll be even nicer to Rudo if you got yourself a partner, especially one as sweet as Y/n.”
Zanka could feel his brow twitch slightly in annoyance. Blue eyes looked away from Enjin’s golden orbs, instead moving to gaze over to where you sat between Rudo and Riyo. The three of you were eating true delicacy from the slums, laughing over your plates as you guys joked between one another.
“Y/n, Y/n, look at this!” Zanka scowled just a bit in jealousy, watching as Rudo held up his pretend pizza he had made out of his table scraps. He scowled even more once he watched you laugh just a little bit. “That’s funny, Rudo.”
“I can be funny…” Enjin laughed quite loudly at Zanka, who had not even realized that he had said his thoughts out loud.
Pale cheeks turned red in response, god Zanka was a mess.
He hung his head in shame. “Maybe you’re right, Enjin..”
A large hand clamped over Zanka’s shoulder, Enjin smiled as he gently rubbed it. “I’m always right, Zanka. Maybe you should go talk to them about how ya feel, maybe they like ya too. Ya never know.” Enjin pulled his hand away, shrugging his shoulders as he spoke.
“How would I even go about speakin’ to them, I mean, I can hardly hold a conversation with them as it is, Enjin. And plus, I hardly even speak to them anyways…I’d probably get rejected.” Zanka knew deep down that if you had rejected him, he probably would never love again. And, he did not want to fail at getting the one thing that he wanted–as much as he did not want to admit it. You.
Humming softly, Enjin lit a cigarette, balancing it between his lips as he placed a hand on his knee, manspreading as he leaned back.
“Y/n talks about ya an awful lot.” Zanka felt his heart skip a beat. “But I don’t even talk to her really…What do they have to talk about regardin’ me?” He gazed down at the table, placing his palm flat down on it and scratching gently at the surface.
“How cool they think you are, and how strong they think you are.” Enjin shrugged, taking a drag off of his cigarette, before offering it to Zanka. Zanka curled his lips in disgust, almost offended that Enjin even offered him a drag off of that thing.
“They think I’m cool?”
Enjin nodded, blowing out smoke as he took another drag. “In their opinion, you’re the coolest. Plus they love your hair, always askin’ me how you get it the way you do.” Zanka’s cheeks flushed as he reached a hand back, gently smoothing the back of his mullet down just a bit. “My hair…?” Enjin smiled and nodded.
“So, in my opinion, I think maybe they have a little thing goin’ on for you too, Zanka. Go and get them.”
Hours seemed to have passed before Zanka could get Y/n alone inside of HQ. but once he did, boy, he was determined not to get interrupted. So, that is how Zanka found himself inside of Y/n’s own room, fiddling with his Lovely Assistaff as he stood practically centimeters from where Y/n sat on the edge of their.
“What did you want to talk about, Zanka?” God, your voice practically reduced Zanka to mush.
Zanka could feel his heart rate pick up. Was he really going to do this? It was now or never.
“...Like you-” His voice came out barely above a whisper. Y/n furrowed their brows in concern, getting up to move closer to Zanka. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear what you said, Zan…” God, you were calling him Zan? Cute.
Clearing his throat, Zanka gazed down, bashfully hiding his face behind Lovely Assistaff. A few minutes passed of Zanka gathering his thoughts, and in a second, he had moved his head to now gaze right at you.
“I like you, Y/n. And if you don’t like me back, that’s fine. But I hope that you highly take into account the way that I feel abou-” He was cut off by the feeling of arms wrapping tightly around him. If Zanka were clumsy, he would have lost his balance, but swiftly, his arms wrapped around Y/n and his Assistaff, bringing them close to his chest in an instant.
“You like me?!” Y/n’s face was flushed with absolute happiness. Zanka was surprised.
“I didn’t realize ‘till today…Enjin was talkin’ to me bout it and i don’t know…It made me realize that I don’t want you with anyone else but me, Y/n, maybe that is selfish..but I don't give a damn.”
Zanka swore he could see tears brimming your eyes. In an instant, he reached up, cupping your face and wiping at them, brows furrowed in worry. “Don’t cry…Hey, hey…If you don’t like me back Y/n, you don’t gotta force yourself too…Just don’t cry, okay?” His voice was soft, his little accented drawl coming out softly as he carefully pulled Y/n close to him.
“I love you too, Zanka! I didn’t think you liked me at all, and–” Y/n paused to hiccup, sobbing as they wiped at their tears themself. “I just…It made me sad, and I told Enjin about how I felt, and I guess maybe that’s why he talked to you today–, but god, I spent so long awake at night thinking about what to say to you, how to make conversation–but, I didn’t think that you could ever love someone as plain as me.”
Zanka felt offended by their own words about themselves. In a second, he tilted Y/n’s chin up, and ever so gently, Zanka left the sweetest little kiss upon their lips. His eyes fluttered shut, as did Y/n’s as they melted into the kiss.
Slowly pulling away, Zanka rested his forehead against Y/n’s own. “I could never love someone as much as I love you…”
Y/n’s bottom lip trembled, and gently, they buried their face into Zanka’s chest, hugging him impossibly tight to them as they cried.