๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐.ย His hands were tear-stained and slightly damp โ- only having just left the confines of his face to feel the pulsing sensation of Satoruโs quick responses โ- but they were careful around the eyes that adorned the cube.ย It appeared to Suguru that they were still actively searching for something.
He couldnโt help but wonder: did those eyes truly represent Satoruโs?ย Was he looking around at Suguruโs surroundings, trying to figure out where he was?ย Oh, Satoru โฆ where else would he have been, if not in the place that reminded him most of you?
Suguru found himself looking around the abandoned home, as well โ- wanting to be closer to the other, to see through his eyes; to know what Satoru was thinking.ย Suguru had only seen the ugliness of this world โ- had only felt shame and disgust towards himself, at the very end of it all. But Satoru โฆ his Satoru, the strongest sorcerer of the modern age โฆ Satoru had always seen so much more than Suguru ever could, or ever thought himself capable of.ย
This akiya, too, had seen it all โ- the countless arguments, the angry tears and physical altercations when the frustration over Suguruโs defection and lack of communication got to be too much โฆ the agony surrounding the cult leaderโs lack of care around his mental and emotional well-being, and his new, chosen familyโs encouragement of that pain, as if they didnโt see it for what it had been โ- a cry for help, unheard and left to fester and die alongside whatever remained of Suguruโs morality, his ability to trustโฆ
It hadnโt all been bad, though โ- there had still been love here; a softness that remained despite everything they had been through, both separately and together.ย A familiarity that spanned countless lifetimes.ย He had picked up Satoruโs pieces here, in this very bed, and put him back together when the world had become too much โฆ too loud, too violent, too demanding of him.ย Gentle hands had cradled his face, Suguruโs touch quiet, reverent, as he traced along the edges of Satoruโs features, offering as much comfort and tenderness as he could whilst the otherโs chronic migraines felt him vulnerable and aching.
A fond memory, that was.ย When they had let each other in โฆ when they allowed themselves a moment of vulnerability, of trust in the other to keep them warm, and safe.
Hope had begun to nestle itself within the sinewy muscles of Suguruโs chest. Tendrils of longing and anticipation and despair and want, so much want it made Suguru feel crazy, wrapped tightly around his ribcage โ- around his very heart, and squeezed.ย While Satoru wasnโt there in a physical sense to wipe away Suguruโs tears and offer comfort while his defenses were down, Suguru could still feel him, all the same.ย And there was comfort in knowing that the six eyes were still present โ- ever-watchful of his movements, as always.
Suguru had always felt stripped bare underneath Satoruโs gaze.ย It was as though Satoru saw the very fibers of his being โ- his wants and desires, his fears โฆ the night terrors that kept him away from Jujutsu Tech; from a world that terrified him โ- that drove him utterly mad, in the end.ย Satoru had always seen the very heart and soul of Geto Suguru, hadnโt he?ย All that made him who he was, who he had been โฆ and yet Suguru had knocked on deathโs door with the preconceived notion that Satoru hated him for who he had become.ย That there was only room in his best friendโs heart for disgust over what Suguru had done to that village โ- to his own parents.ย Much less everything else that had transpired over those ten long years.
What an idiot he had been.
From the two quick pulses of the prison realm in his hands, Suguru could surmise that Satoru also didnโt have a clue about what this cursed object truly was.ย It was disappointing, knowing that somehow, such a special-grade weapon had made it past the both of them.ย Suguru didnโt have access to the library at Jujutsu Tech anymore, much less Kenjakuโs vast knowledge and understanding of the world at large.ย He couldnโt feel him, at least โฆ though the fear that he could come back whenever he so desired was enough to make Suguru reluctant to get any sort of rest.
He found himself wondering what he could possibly ask next that could be answered in a mere yes or no.ย Suguruโs grip on the object tightened as he began to overthink it all, caught up on each and every possibility.ย It was as if Satoru had picked up on his hesitance, though โ- even from some other dimension or plane of existence, Satoru saw him; knew him all too well โ- for the object began to sputter and shake, vibrations succinct, punctuated by brief pauses, as if he was somehow speaking through the cursed object.
Suguruโs brows knitted together in confusion and surprise as he attempted to make sense of it. It almost felt likeโฆ
โฆsome sort of code, maybe?
Suguruโs train of thought was cut off as he realized that the series of initial vibrations were becoming repetitive.ย Was Satoru attempting to speak to him inโฆ
โ ---Morse code? Fuck, youโre brilliant, โย he couldnโt help but let out an exasperated laugh as the realization hit.ย Suguru wasnโt well versed in morse code, but he was familiar enough to make the connection. He quickly began searching for some way to decipher the messages on the phone Larue had provided him with.
โ Try again, โtoru, โย Suguru encouraged, ready to record the otherโs message so he could determine what the other was saying.
When he finally figured it out, Suguruโs gaze softened โฆ as if Satoru was looking at him, somehow.ย He was always looking at him, wasnโt he?ย Cutting through his defenses โฆ it felt like his heart was in his throat as he attempted to swallow around it, emotions getting the better of him.ย
โ โฆYouโre trapped in some other dimension because of me, and youโre worried about my safety? โย His voice was as tender as it was quiet, a hushed sound that pulled at the empty spaces between them. โ Iโm okay โฆ Iโm safe. Iโm more worried about what you might be going through in there โฆ or wherever you are. โ
When that last word came through, Suguru closed his eyes.
โ I โฆ I donโt know. Itโs frustrating how much I donโt know.ย I think heโs gone, but I donโt trust that itโs over.ย That he wonโt come back at some inopportune time. He knows everything about me, though โ- he somehow had access to my cursed technique, my memories โฆ but I canโt recall anything thatโs happened since he took over.ย I wish I could, because maybe then Iโd know how to free you. โ
Silence hung heavy, punctuating the weight of the moment between them from worlds divided. Suguru took a moment to think โ- to breathe through the onslaught of emotions coursing through him.ย Everything felt so blinding and foreign, as if he were looking through eyes that werenโt his; not anymore. A disconnect between tendons and bones, an inability to walk โ- to move.ย Everything felt so wrong, so painfully wrongโ-
Suguru swallowed roughly, before continuing.
โ โ-I reached out to Shoko, but the soonest she can meet is tomorrow night.ย Or โฆ later tonight? Itโs been about โฆ six hours or so since you got locked in there, but the devastation is pretty horrific.ย Iโd imagine sheโs got a lot to handle right now. โ
โ Satoruโฆ are you safe, where you are? Are you okay? โ
