Love Thy Neighbour
Yandere Gojo x Reader
Thinking about Yandere Neighbour Gojo who had only started talking to you to use you as a cover when his one-night stands came back for more. Claiming he had entered a relationship with you and using you to chase his many lovers off. He hadn't anticipated how much fun you would be to talk to. How calming your presence would be, how endearing you would come to seem to him. Before he knew it he didn't want anyone else, just you. Whether you wanted him back or not.
Wordcount: 13k+ (Supposed to be like 6k at most but again that freaky-eyed bastard just does not let me write a short fic about him)
Notes: Not canon-compliant. Yandere behaviour, forced confinement and violence. Dub-con and non-con touching and kissing
Your neighbour was at it again, the sound of the bedframe knocking against the wall making it seem like they might just crash into your apartment at any moment. Moans so loud it sounded like someone was getting exorcised instead of merely getting their rocks off.
You pulled your noise cancelling earbuds out of your bedside drawer, plugging them into your ears with a sigh. You could only hope this particular session would be over before you fell asleep so you could take them out to ensure you didn't miss your alarm in the morning. Finally getting to read without the sounds of fornication to disturb you.
You must have fallen asleep while reading, when you woke up in the morning it was twenty minutes past when your alarm had started ringing. Turning the alarm off you forced yourself out of your bed and through your morning routine to get ready for work. Skipping a breakfast with the intention of grabbing something during a quiet moment at the library.
The elevator seemed to have been fixed over the weekend, making you feel slightly better about your day as you waited for it to open at your floor. Hearing a door open down the hallway and refusing to turn back knowing all too well what you would see.
"I'll walk you out. Need to check the mail." You heard a masculine voice say making you sigh inwardly. The elevator doors opened just as the found of footsteps started down the hall and you stood as far against the side as you could, hoping to be able to claim ignorance if caught not holding the door open.
A large pale hand grabbed onto one side of the closing door just as it was about to shut, the porcelain greek god like bare upper body of your neighbour coming into view as the doors opened back up. Gojo Satoru stood tall and proud as his partner from the night before clapped and cheered for him as though he'd done something miraculous. A smirk twisting up those naturally pouty pink lips as he sauntered in.
You crowded yourself further into the wall, not wanting to bear witness to their top 1 percent joy this early in the morning. They could have been mistaken for filming a condom ad with the sexual tension the two were oozing and how good looking they were, the pretty girl giggling as Gojo cornered her against the wall.
The moment the elevator doors opened you went flying past the lovey dovey pair, not wanting to spend even a moment longer in the presence of such nauseating physical perfection. It was criminal to have to bear witness to when you hadn't even had a drop of caffeine yet.
You'd never spoken to your neighbour, to be fair you didn't speak to any of your neighbours except when the lady across had asked if you lived in the building. That too because she had grown suspicious seeing you loitering in the doorway as you tried to find your key. You had the magical ability to go unseen, blending into the background wherever you went and it suited you very well.
You weren't like your glamorous neighbour who had a new paramour every week. Each as ridiculously beautiful as the last. Some you never saw again and others you heard crying and screaming outside his door late into the night. That was how you'd learned his name, between all the curse words and wishes of ill will, they called him Gojo Satoru when threatening him.
It was quite possible you may have never spoken to one another if only you hadn't bumped right into him later that week. You'd been on your way back from a closing shift at work, having picked up some thai curry to treat yourself for getting through a long week. The moment the elevator doors opened you could hear the screaming and crying telling you your neighbour was going through another rather one-sided breakup.
You kept your head down, not even looking up as the expletives got more colourful or the threats more ruinous. You had almost made it to your door when suddenly something large slammed into you making your container of curry pop open and spill all over you.
You stared down in shock as the hot curry sank into your clothes, glancing up slowly to look into blindingly bright blue eyes. You grimaced, about to step past him when a large hand folded around your wrist, holding you in place.
"Darling I'm so sorry, I didn't know you were coming early." Gojo said and you frowned at him, wondering if he was mistaking you for someone else but you really did not look like any of his usual visitors.
"Uh I think-" You started but were cut off as Gojo yanked you forward past your door to his apartment where the girl was watching you both in bewilderment.
"Goodness look what I've done. I'm so sorry, let me get these clothes in the wash and run you a nice bath. Sorry Shelly I forgot to tell you but my darling girlfriend here has finally decided she's done exploring and so we're back together. I can't be seeing anyone else, we're going to be exclusive now." Your neighbour said, opening his door and pulling you into his apartment. Slamming the door shut the moment you both were through.
"My name's Kelly you asshole." The girl outside yelled, a bang sounding against the door as though she had kicked it making you flinch. The sound of angry stomping footsteps down the hall told you she had finally had enough and left.
"Thank you so much for helping me back there." Gojo said and you turned towards him to find his blue eyes already on you. So bright they were a bit unsettling.
"Um no problem." You said, not thinking it was very polite to point out that you had actually not helped out so much as been dragged around like a ragdoll.
"I'm so sorry about your clothes and your food darling, I can wash those for you if you want."
"Sorry, I do need to clarify, you don't know me." You said, hoping he wasn't actually mistaking you for someone he knew. Considering the many visitors you had seen coming in and out of his apartment it wasn't too unfair to wager he might have lost track of all the faces at some point.
"I know." He said with a blindingly bright smile.
"I can give you something to wear while I throw those in the laundry for you. Order you some food while you wait to make up for ruining your clothes and dinner." Gojo offered and you came to the sad realization that you had blended into the background so well that your neighbour of the past eight months had no idea you lived right next door.
"We're neighbours actually, I live in apartment 610. I'll just go change there." You said, awkwardly pointing towards the direction of your apartment.
"Are we really?" Gojo asked and you nodded.
"Wow you must have just moved in." He continued.
"Not quite, but you have a good night." You said, about to leave before he could drill in any further how very unmemorable you were.
"Can I buy you dinner? To make up for making you drop yours?" Gojo asked and you shook your head, already reaching for his door handle.
"Wait, let me at least pay you for the dry cleaning and food then. You really saved me from what probably would have been an hour minimum more of screaming and crying."
He didn't even wait for you to voice your protests before he ran into his room. Emerging after a moment with a $100 bill in his hand. He grabbed your wrist, putting the bill into your hand and walking you backwards out of his apartment through the door you had opened before you got a chance to tell him it was entirely too much.
"Let me know if you need any help getting around the area, I've been living here for 8 months so I know it quite well." Gojo said, beaming down at you.
"Will do." You muttered, merely nodding as he bid you a goodnight and shut the door in your face. Turning to look at the spilled curry and your shoulders slumping as you realized you would have to clean that. Though you had made $100 so it wasn't all bad. Take out the cost of ordering food delivery to make up for the curry you'd dropped and you still had enough to treat yourself a couple more times than planned for this month.
That day you learned that on top of being a bit arguably promiscuous, your neighbour was also a clueless member of the upper class that didn't know how much dry cleaning and thai takeaway cost. What he was doing in your apartment building was beyond you, but you could only hope you wouldn't run into him again.
Unfortunately that was not the last time you walked right into one of Gojo's breakups. The next time was at the elevator. You had been on your way back from some errands, waiting in the lobby for the elevator to take you and your heavy grocery filled bags up to the eleventh floor.
The doors had opened revealing a girl holding your neighbour by the collar of his shirt. On the tips of her toes to get as close to screaming in his face as she could with him being over a foot taller. His blue eyes landed on you over her head and seemed to light up instantly filling you with trepidation.
"Darling you're here. You should have called, why are you carrying all these heavy bags yourself?" Gojo asked, sidestepping the girl and smoothly swooping to take your bags from you as you stared at him in wide-eyed bewilderment.
"Who is that?" The girl asked, lovely delicate little features twisted into a sneer as she looked at you.
"My muse." Gojo answered dreamily, looking at you in such performative adoration that it gave you the chills.
"That's your muse?" The girl asked and you couldn't blame her. You weren't exactly the picture of a muse on your best day but today was errand day so you were really slumming it as you tried to get through your chores to enjoy your evening.
"Yes, this is my darling muse so I am unfortunately quite unavailable for a relationship as I will be devoting all my time to this beauty. I wish you all the best." Gojo said, wrapping his free arm around your waist and tugging you back onto the elevator. Making a big show of leaning down to nuzzle your head and it was all you could do not to grimace.
"You smell very good." He mumbled against your head as the elevator doors shut and you leaped away from him.
"Thank you, I shower." You responded, reaching out to grab your bags back from him as he huffed out a little laugh. Holding the bags out of reach making you glance up at him in annoyance.
Now you may not have been the typical image of a muse, but there was no denying you were cute. Big, pretty eyes narrowed at him. Swimming in your oversized sweater and letting out a huff of annoyance as you failed to retrieve your groceries. You had felt all soft against him too like you'd feel great to cuddle. Not to mention it was kind to let him use you for the second time to escape someone who got overly clingy.
"Have you eaten yet?" Gojo asked, he had initially been planning to eat with the girl who'd just left but then she'd started talking about how she was hoping to score the Givenchy ad and he had decided it was time to call it quits.
"No." You responded, looking confused as to why he would ask.
"Great, let me buy you dinner to show my gratitude for you saving me yet again."
"There's really no need. Both times I've just sort of stood there while you mislead some very pretty girls into believing you're taken, by me."
"You could have walked away but you didn't. I owe you, let me treat you to whatever you want. Or I can choose since you're new to the area." He said making you sigh.
"I've got leftovers, thanks though."
"Great, you can feed me." Gojo said, stalking off down the hall as the elevator doors opened leaving you staring after him in shock.
"It's not really enough for two since I wasn't expecting a guest." You said, hurrying after him.
"No worries, I eat like a bird." He responded, standing expectantly outside your door, still holding your grocery bags.
Gojo Satoru did not in fact eat like a bird, unless the bird in question was the dinosaur that birds were said to be descendants of. He ate most of the stew you had made yesterday and intended to freeze so you could get some more meals out of it. You'd even had to make more rice when he asked for another bowl after finishing his second helping.
You'd learned over your mostly one-sided conversation with him over dinner that he was a photographer. Quite a nit-picky one by the sounds of it since he claimed he only photographed people and things of interest to him. That had earned him a reputation in the industry as having a discerning eye for rising stars which was why a lot of models approached him.
Suddenly all the beautiful people constantly coming and going from his apartment made sense.
"I don't like being used though. I make it crystal clear from the start that I don't mix my personal life with my work but they always end up wanting me to either include them in my next work or wanting a referral. Some want a relationship but I don't really do those either." Gojo said, finding a bag of candy amongst the groceries you had yet to put away and pulling it out of the bag.
"Mind if I open this?" He asked and you shook your head. You had enough manners not to deny guests food in your house.
You watched him eat your candy thinking about what different lives you led. While you were just your average employed person trying to keep up with all the chores and dreaming about having savings, this man from a whole different world lived right next to you. A world in which beauty was so plentiful that it had to be accompanied by something else to make it interesting. Where he had no idea how much dry-cleaning cost and could invite himself over without the slightest fear of rejection.
"You come from a rich family don't you?" You asked unthinkingly, voice coloured with so much disdain and the question so unexpected when you had been mostly quiet that Gojo nearly choked on the candy he had just popped into his mouth. Barking out a loud laugh that startled you back into basic decency.
"Oh sorry, that wasn't very polite of me to ask. You don't have to answer that." You reassured but Gojo waved you off.
"Is it that obvious?" He asked with a grin and you gave a little nod, unable to lie so blatantly.
"My dad owns a popular clothing brand. He wanted me to take over the company and I just wanted to disappoint him, hence photography." Gojo said and you nodded as though that made any sense to you. Being handed down a successful brand but instead too caught up in rebellion to take the opportunity.
"I would have become a painter but I'm terrible at it. Photography comes a little easier to me." He said and you nodded, unsure how to respond to that.
"I can't remember the last time I had a home-cooked meal. You're a great cook." Gojo complimented, leaning back and placing a hand on his somehow still perfectly flat stomach. Sometimes you thought people like him defied the laws of nature. Simply too perfect for things like bloating or acne.
"Thanks." You muttered, trying your best at a smile despite the envious turn your thoughts had taken but it didn't seem like you quite succeeded when Gojo barked out another laugh, startling you.
"You really can't hide your emotions, can you?" He asked, grinning broadly at you. Blue eyes positively sparkling with mirth only making you feel more lackluster in comparison and desperate to get this otherworldly perfect creature out of your apartment.
"I've been told I'm not great at it." You responded.
"By who? A boyfriend?" He asked, the grin falling from his face into a little smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"No, my boss. She says I need to keep control of my expressions when I get difficult customers."
"That's strange, I didn't take you for someone who would be working with people."
"I didn't think I would be but I'm the most junior member of the library so I don't get to choose my station. If they want me at the front then I've gotta be there."
"You're a librarian?" He asked as though it was the best news he had ever heard and you could only nod in the face of such enthusiasm.
"So you like to read?"
"I do." You said and he nodded his head along in agreement.
"I used to like to read but don't much have the patience for it anymore. Bring a book for me sometime, anything you like. I want to get back into reading." He said and you nodded though you had no intention of ever giving Gojo a library book even if it wasn't under your account. You had a strong feeling that the library would never see that book again.
You failed to stifle a yawn and Gojo got to his feet, carrying his bowl over to the sink and rinsing it off before setting it inside.
"You seem tired, I'll head out."
You walked him out, dutifully following behind though it was your apartment. Gojo Satoru was just one of those people that could enter a space and make it seem like it belonged to them. He swung open the door but turned in the doorway making you stumble back a step since you had been expecting him to walk out.
"Your apartment is very well-furnished for someone who just moved in." He said and you had to suppress the urge to roll your eyes by pressing your lips together into a thin line, calling upon all your patience to end this impromptu dinner party.
"Next time you gotta let me buy you dinner to thank you for the meal and helping me out of a tight spot twice now."
You only nodded again, willing to assent to anything as long as it got him out of your apartment with all his sparkling splendor. Sure he would probably not recognize you by next week.
"Well nighty night neighbour." He said, sauntering over to his apartment and just pushing the door open. There was apparently no need to lock his door since clearly people like him were even above getting robbed, but that was your last straw. You shut your door and locked it immediately in case he decided to come back for any reason.
That night there were no noises and you slept peacefully. Hoping you would never have to be involved in a breakup that wasn't yours again.
However it seemed the universe was not aligned with that. The incident repeated itself over and over. Suddenly it was like a week couldn't go by without you walking in on one of his breakups. At the mailbox, at the emergency exit, in front of the elevator, then in front of the stairs when you decided to take those to avoid him.
Every time his blue eyes would light up when they laid on you. He'd tell the girl you were his girlfriend that had just decided to give him another chance taking him conveniently off the market. To his credit, though he let them yell and berate him as they wanted, but didn't take it sitting when any of them turned on you. Looming over them with the easy smile dropping from his face as he told them he thought it best they left.
Though that terrifying expression had never been levelled at you, it made you quite determined to never get on his bad side. Afterwards he would either offer to treat you to dinner, or as you soon learned would follow you to your apartment and eat your dinner if you refused. After the third time of watching him wolf down your food like he'd never been fed before, you stopped denying his offers to buy you a meal.
Each time he would talk non-stop and force you to talk too. Letting out those loud barks of laughter that you had come to associate with him even while in the midst of quiet restaurants. When people turned to look at the noise they'd seem to positively melt when they saw where the laugh had come from. Smiling along dopily as though it was incredibly sweet instead of disruptive just because of the way he looked.
Your sour expression would only serve to further amuse him. There was free food though, good food at that so you tolerated it. It was also only fair that you got compensated somehow for being used by him to get rid of the pretty models after him for one thing or another.
After a long week of work and a particularly bad Gojo breakup where the girl had burst into fits of tears and you had been forced to stand by while Gojo tried to console her and make her go away at the same time, you were quite looking forward to the weekend. So when a knock came at your door after you had changed into your pajamas, you were not eager to open it and instead sank lower onto your couch and held your breath so they would hopefully assume no one was home.
"I saw you come in, open up darling." You heard the now familiar voice say and you sighed, praying to any gods listening to move one of you before you rose to answer the door.
There stood Gojo Satoru in a pair of grey sweatpants and a black hoodie, holding two boxes of pizza and two pints of ice cream balanced overtop.
"Are you not even going to let her eat before you break up with her?" You asked, this was cruelty you couldn't simply stand by and allow to happen. If you were promised pizza and ice cream and instead someone broke up with you making you leave single and hungry you'd be devastated.
"Break up with who?" Gojo asked.
"The girl I'm guessing is either in your apartment or about to come over." You clarified.
"No silly, there's no girl. This is for us. I thought we'd watch a movie and eat pizza and ice cream. You're not working tomorrow right?" Gojo said, walking right past you into your apartment leaving you blinking at the empty space where he stood trying to process what was happening.
"Did you call her over to see us here?" You asked following him in and watching as he set the food down on your coffee table, plugging the ice cream into your freezer and getting out plates as though he were the one who lived here.
"Call who over? There's no girl as I told you. I just came over to hang out with my pal. You're not working tomorrow so I thought it would be okay if we stayed up late and watched movies." He said, in theory the words made sense but coming from your gorgeous, air-brushed in real life big-shot of a photographer neighbour they were practically gibberish.
"How do you know I'm not working tomorrow?" You asked, choosing to tackle the statement little by little as your third-grade teacher had taught you when faced with complex problems. She'd been talking about math word problems but you applied that wisdom liberally.
"You told me you work alternating Saturdays and you worked last Saturday which means you're not working this Saturday unless Jeanine hoodwinked you into covering her shift again. You swore last time though that would be the last time you switched with her so I'm choosing to have faith in you."
"So you're just here to eat pizza and watch movies?" You asked.
"And ice cream, don't forget about that." Gojo chimed, walking past you to take a seat on your couch and turning on the TV.
"Mind if I choose the movie? I've been wanting to watch this one. Everyone says it's terrible." Gojo said and you could only mumble out a yes.
"Come sit." He said, patting the spot next to him and you followed his orders. Fully expecting a gorgeous young woman to throw your door open any moment, storming in and calling you a home-wrecking good for nothing curse word. It took you robotically nibbling on 3 slices and only making faint humming noises as Gojo talked incessantly over the movie before it sank in that Gojo Satoru really had come over just to watch a movie with you.
Why he chose to hangout with you on a Friday night was beyond you but you weren't rude enough to ask him to leave and he had brought over pizza and excellent ice cream. Though you did have to slap his hand away more than once when he tried to sneak his spoon into yours to steal your cookie dough pieces.
When you were both done he shivered at the cold ice cream and demanded a blanket which once brought to him he rudely curled into all by himself and then plunked his head down into your lap. You froze looking down at him. He had on occasion put an arm around your shoulder or waist or held your hand as he fake-professed his undying love for you before the women he was breaking up with but he'd never touched you when you were both alone.
It wasn't really inappropriate but there was an odd intimacy to the act of resting your head on someone's lap that had taken you aback. You guessed he was just used to being overly familiar with people in his line of work.
Of course not only was he inconsiderate to hog your blanket and use your thighs as a head rest, but he also had the audacity to fall asleep on you as the sequel of the terrible movie he'd chosen played out on the screen with the remote out of your reach.
You sighed, wondering if you should just push him off but your good manners and fear of his wrath kept you from doing so. Once the movie was over and the credits began to play and you really needed to get to the remote you tried shifting his head but he only turned over to face you. Wrapping an arm around your waist and digging his face into your stomach. Effectively rendering you incapable of moving him or yourself.
You sighed, resolved to never answer the door again regardless of who was knocking as you sat through the third movie in this series that never should have been created.
You were almost asleep yourself, head lolling and each time you'd be on the brink of sleep you'd be woken by the motion of your head falling forwards. On one such occasion you jolted out of sleep just as a terrible sound echoed out of the TV making you jump and waking the member of the bourgeoise asleep on top of you.
He rose with a low groan, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes and stretching out his arms making the muscles flex and revealing a pale strip on his toned, muscled torso making you wish you had pushed him off of you when you had the chance. Blue eyes opening slowly and a slow smile blooming on his lips as they laid on you.
"You're so comfortable." He muttered, positively latching onto you as though you were a stuffed animal.
You pushed at his rock-solid shoulder, trying to get him off of you but he sleepily bargained for five more minutes and rested his head over yours. Near smothering you in his overly large pecs making you grimace.
"Off now." You demanded and he pulled back with a pout, expression turning sheepish as you got unsteadily to your feet and glared at him when your legs felt like they had pins and needles going down them.
"You sleep like the dead." You muttered, smacking your fists into your legs to rid them of the odd feeling.
"I usually have a lot of trouble sleeping. I can't remember the last time I had a nap." He said and you scoffed making him looking at you with an innocent puzzled expression which combined with his sleep rumpled hair and clothes made you feel a bit like a sardonic old hag.
"You really expect me to believe you don't sleep well when you're constantly that fresh-faced and don't even have to seem under-eyes?"
"Good genetics I guess." He responded making your lip curl in hatred. You could sleep ten hours a night and still have bags from the sleep deficit you had accumulated while getting your undergrad. He breathed out a soft laugh, apparently a little less brash and loud when he had just woken up.
"You should go home and go to sleep, it's late." You said.
"Can't I sleepover?" He asked, widening his eyes in a surprisingly effective puppy-dog look for a man that was well over 6 feet and built with pure muscle.
"You live next door, your room is almost just as close as mine is. Why on earth would you sleepover?"
"Then you sleepover." He said, laughing when he caught the grossed out look on your face as you were all too aware of the things that happened on the surfaces of his apartment.
"I change my sheets regularly." He said.
"No one needs to sleepover, we live next door to each other. Movie night is over, back to your apartment with you." You said, motioning him out the way you imagined sheep were herded though you had little idea of how that was done and clearly you were not good at it considering the 6 foot sheep before you was decidedly un-herded.
"But I slept so well with you." He complained.
You merely motioned to the door again and he sighed, getting up to his feet. He was nearly all the way out when he suddenly turned back.
"Wait, what if I promise to buy you breakfast?" He asked.
"I cannot be persuaded with food to let you sleepover." You said, watching his shoulders slump and he turned back to head out. Giving you the puppy eyes until the moment you shut the door on him in the hopes he would be let back in.
Unfortunately that too became a regular occurrence. On Friday or Saturday, depending on whether you were working that Saturday or not, he'd bring over some form of takeout, two pints of ice cream and want to watch some horrible movie. He'd talk over the entire thing while you both ate, try to steal from your pint of ice cream and then eventually fall asleep with at least one limb on you in some way.
The breakups became more infrequent as did the noises until they stopped altogether. Soon he was showing up on other weekdays too with takeout or hurrying after you into the elevator in the morning just to tell you to cook for two in the evening since he'd be joining you.
You didn't understand why someone like him was spending so much time with you. Annoying as he was due to his impossible physical perfection, lack of understanding of how to be economical due to his being born into the upper-class, and the audacity he showed just constantly inviting himself in, he grew on you. He was admittedly fun to be around.
Things would have continued like that for god knows how long had it not been for the book club the library had forced you to lead. It was to attract more patrons to the library and since none of the other librarians wanted to lead a club taking place on Friday evenings, you were forced into it.
The group that turned up for the first one was the most mismatched group of people you had ever seen. An elderly woman who often told stories of her grandkids that lived in another country where her son had moved his family for a job. Two very giggly teenage girls who seemed as though they were laughing at everyone at first but eventually you realized were just giggling to cover up their own nerves. A middle aged man who seemed like he just did not wish to go home to his family. An accountant that was trying to branch out her reading materials from non-fiction finance related books. And lastly a young man that was new to the country and trying to learn the language through books and tv shows.
The club met weekly and though the first couple meetings were very rough with you struggling to lead and steer the conversation, eventually you all settled into a rhythm. The elderly woman related every topic to her son's family somehow, the teenage girls giggled at all delicate topics, the middle aged man rarely spoke but listened avidly and the accountant was highly opinionated on fictional characters and events. The foreign young man tried his best to contribute to the conversation and you all helped him along while he looked for his words.
Soon you even began looking forward to book club. Gojo wasn't a fan of it, it meant you were always busy on Fridays. He looked forward to unwinding with you after a long work week where no one could really inspire him. His thoughts on your bright eyes, transparent expressions and begrudging honest comments even as he worked with the most beautiful people and obscenely expensive items.
To hear you rave about these other people bothered him in a way he hadn't thought possible. He had never been the jealous type. Not eager to get into a relationship, he didn't mind when the people he slept with dated or fucked others. For some reason though with you even the thought of others getting to look into those pretty eyes or hear those sarcastic little quips you made had his stomach turning and skin crawling.
He hated how emotionally invested you seemed to be in each and every one of them. So sad for the old lady who missed her grandkids, sympathetic towards the teen girls struggling to become comfortable in their own skin. Understanding for the man who seemed to have built a life based on societal expectations that he wasn't built for and in awe of the accountant's unexpected passion. Inspired by the foreign young man's courage to uproot his whole life and move to a new place.
So many emotions he hadn't been able to inspire in you yet you made him feel things he hadn't even thought possible. Hadn't known how much he longed for the comfort and stability you represented. The calm of your easy, ordinary life. How much joy could be found in just regular activities like sharing a meal or watching a movie. The fire of jealousy that could threaten to burn through all of his being and spread to the world around him when you turned your gaze elsewhere.
"Have you told them about me?" He asked suddenly, cutting you off mid-sentence as you talked about how excited you were for them all to read the next book.
"Tell them about you? Why would I tell them about my neighbour?" You asked, confused where that question had come from. Not understanding why the bright blue of Gojo's eyes seemed to turn to steel. All warmth and light draining from them until they reminded you of the chilling endless depths of the ocean.
"I'm not just your neighbour, am I?" Gojo asked, plastering a grin back on his face that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"No, loathe as I am to admit it, I guess we are friends." You said, hoping the teasing would diffuse the sudden tension you felt in the room.
"Friends." He repeated as though testing out the word.
"Doesn't quite seem like enough." He mused after a moment.
Your brows furrowed and you used the palms you had resting down next to your folded legs to shuffle away from him slightly. His eyes flickering down to the movement making you pause. Of course you were just being silly, you had to be misinterpreting where this was heading. People like Gojo didn't think of people like you romantically. He could have models and celebrities. He couldn't possibly be into you in that way.
"Okay what would you call me then?" You asked, hoping fervently this was all one of his stupid jokes and he would say something rude and start laughing.
"Mine. I'd call you mine." Gojo responded, blue eyes taking in the frown on your face and realizing how ignorant you were to what was between the both of you. Sweet, innocent you that didn't even realize how special what the both of you had was. Gojo would have to show you.
"I don't know if things are different in the rich people world but for us regular people you can't own anyone and saying someone is yours usually implies you're in a relationship."
You didn't wait for his response, reaching for your glass, about to use getting a refill as an excuse to walk away but he latched onto your outstretched wrist. Your breath getting caught in a gasp as he pulled you into him.
"I know what it means darling. You belong to me, just as I belong to you. There's no one I've ever felt so comfortable with, no one whose felt like home before. I know you feel it too, no one has ever made you feel this way, have they?" He asked, hand coming up to cup your cheek. Stilling as you flinched away from the touch.
"I think you're mistaking friendship for something else Gojo." You started, words tumbling out as you struggled to make sense of the situation.
"You're rich and famous so people around you are probably constantly putting up a facade and you're not used to regular friendship. You're just confused." You said, sounding like you were trying to convince yourself more than him.
His hand trailed to the back of your head, angling your face up and lips crashing down on yours before you could understand what was happening. Your froze, your brain unable to compute how a friendly movie night had gone from discussing your work week to this.
His soft lips moved gently against yours, trying to coax you into kissing him back. Tongue darting out to lick over your unresponsive lips and a groan escaping him as he finally got a taste of the mouth he'd been fantasizing of for so long. The sound knocking you out of your shocked state and you pushed against his chest. The unexpected move forcing him to break apart but he instantly leaned down again making you call his name sharply.
Blue eyes flicked up from your lips to meet your gaze. Straightening up at the confusion and outrage he saw. No one had ever reacted to him like that before. Normally others came onto him and yet here you were seemingly very offended by him kissing you.
"You can't just kiss someone out of nowhere." You muttered, wiping at your mouth with your sleeve.
"I'll give you a warning next time, I'm going to kiss you again." He said, swooping back towards your lips but you cupped your hand over his mouth. Pretty eyes widening in surprise and your shoulders tensed up as though bracing yourself against an attack.
He frowned for a moment before his entire body melted as he realized what was going on, it was lack of experience. Shy, innocent you probably weren't used to physical affection the way he was. You'd never mentioned an ex, this was all new for you. He had to take it slow to avoid scaring you off. He pressed a kiss to the hand over your mouth, laughing breathily as you pulled away instantly.
"You can't kiss me." You warned, taking in a slow deep breath. Your shoulders slumping as you let it out and you swallowed nervously as though about to share some terrible news. A product of nerves he was sure, to someone inexperienced even a confession could be a frightening thing.
"I'm sorry Gojo, I don't really see you that way. I thought we were friends but if I've misled you in some way then I apologize. I don't really sleep around." You said.
"Oh darling is that what you think this is? I don't just want to sleep with you, I love you. I want to be with you always." Gojo said making your stomach fall.
"I don't understand." You mumbled. He had never given you any indication that he had romantic feelings for you. As far as you knew he wasn't capable of romantic feelings. All he did was sleep around and then kick them to the curb if they got clingy.
"Are you saying all of this to get me to sleep with you?" You asked and he shook his head immediately.
"How many times do I have to say it darling? I'm not just looking to sleep with you. Though I won't lie, I do want to but it's not just that. I want to be in a relationship with you." He clarified and try as you might even you couldn't interpret that to be anything but what he had said.
"Oh." You mumbled.
"Oh." He repeated with a laugh, cupping your face in his hands and leaning in as though about to kiss you again but you held your hand up between you again. Pulling back out of his hold making his smile drop a bit.
"Too fast?" He asked and you shook your head unthinkingly before nodding it, trying to find the right words so you wouldn't come across as cruel. You hadn't been lying, Gojo had become a friend to you. One whose feelings you didn't want to hurt.
"Gojo I've never really seen you that way and I'm not looking for a relationship so please don't take this the wrong way but I can't return your feelings. I'm so sorry." You said softly, watching as his smile dropped away entirely. Something unreadable in those eyes when you mustered up the courage to look into them, dropping your gaze again immediately.
"I get it, that's okay. We can be friends if that's all you can give for now. Once you're ready we can try for more." He said and though that hadn't really been what you meant you really didn't have the heart to shoot him down again.
"Sh-should I get out the ice cream now?" You asked, eager to change the topic and pretend that whole conversation had never happened.
"Sure." He answered, lips tipping up into a smile though his eyes still had that indecipherable look to them that filled you with the odd urge to get away.
The rest of the night was filled with an odd tension that had your chest filling with relief when Gojo finally bid you goodnight, as guilty as that made you feel. You worried that things between the two of you would never be the same and prepared yourself for the awkwardness that was sure to follow.
It was as though all he needed was to sleep off that conversation. From the next day everything returned back to normal between the both of you as though the confession and kiss had never happened. Though you sometimes felt like you'd see a flash of something akin to hunger in his eyes when he looked at you but he'd blink and it would be gone making you think you were only imagining things.
You couldn't help the way you got a little self conscious now when he rested his head on your lap or strung his arm over your waist while laying sprawled on your couch during a movie night. Before you hadn't thought much of it but refused to say anything because that would mean bringing up that whole conversation you wanted to leave buried in the past. It was just Gojo being Gojo you tried to convince yourself.
As you would soon learn you shouldn't have allowed him continued access to you after learning of his true feelings. Had you known then you would have been firmer in your rejection, leaving no false hope that would ultimately be your ruin.
The book club and its members became an engrained part of your routine. Adding more people to your isolated little world. Meetings that you looked forward to weekly as you became even more familiar with each of the members and you all opened up to one another. Sharing things about your lives and even sometimes planning to grab a bite after the book club meeting. You'd take a late lunch those days and glad to see the community initiative a success, your boss let you.
When the young man started turning up at the library outside of book club to borrow books, you were all too willing to recommend similar books to his favourites from the meetings. Finding some upon his request that would help him improve his language skills as well. He'd come up to you periodically to ask the pronunciation or meaning of words he didn't know which in the age of the internet others might have considered a hint but not you.
It caught you off guard when he asked you out to coffee, alone without the rest of the book club as he'd clarified. There was something about him that you had always found charming and so you agreed.
He asked you to meet at some fancy little coffee shop just a couple streets down from the library you'd never been to before. Looking so pleased when you showed up that you couldn't help but return his smile. Setting your first date nerves at ease by talking about the club's book of the week and then sounding genuinely interested as he asked you questions about your life, boring as it was.
When you heard your name called you turned around with a smile still on your lips from the lingering laughter at an off-handed comment your date had made at your boss' expense but it fell immediately as your eyes connected with a blue pair alight with fury. Flinching back as he stormed over to you, eyes flickering from you to where your date had rested his hand on top of yours. You pulled yours back like you had been burned. Glancing over at the gorgeous young woman who stood next to him, clearly another model who was busy scrolling on her phone and didn't pay the three of you any mind.
"What are you doing here darling?" Gojo asked and you looked at your date quickly who was looking very confusedly between Gojo and you.
"How do you two know each other?" Your date asked.
"He's my neighbour." You clarified quickly, knowing he had probably misunderstood the term of endearment Gojo liked to throw around with you.
"I think we're much more than that, aren't we darling?" Gojo asked, eyes daring you to contradict him.
"W-we're also friends." You explained.
"Now back to my question, what are you crazy kids doing here?"
"We are on - uh how do you say" Your date started, struggling to find the word and for the first time you made no attempt to help him.
"Date!" He exclaimed suddenly and you felt like your stomach had fallen out as you risked a glance up at Gojo to see the polite smile had fallen and he looked positively livid. Blue eyes blazing with outrage turned to you accusingly, jaw clenched so tightly it looked painful and veins beneath his flawless pale skin standing out prominently.
"How lovely, ready to date now are you?" Gojo asked and you shook your head instantly.
"I hate to be rude but you'll have to excuse us. Our apartment building is on fire so my neighbour here and I have to go." Gojo said, stooping down and snatching your wrist. Pulling you up to your feet and dropping the strap of your bag onto your shoulder. Completely ignoring the confused outbursts of both your date and the model that had accompanied him as he dragged you out of the cafe.
"I'm so sorry, I'll see you on Friday." You called out to your date not wanting to make a scene here. Getting yanked forward again and nearly tripping but managing to straighten and catch yourself.
Gojo herded you past the door, leading you to his sleek back car parked right outside the cafe and pushing you down into it the moment he got the door open.
"Gojo you had no right-" You started but were cut off as he swooped down so you were both face to face.
"Don't you say even a single fucking word right now or I may just go back in there and break every finger on that fucker's hand for touching what's mine."
"What?" You asked taken aback by the sudden aggression.
"I don't think I ever mentioned this but I really fucking hate being lied to and I've got a bit of a temper problem so it's in your best interest to let me drive off or your date is going to be the one suffering my wrath."
You shut your mouth instantly, something about his expression telling you that he wasn't bluffing and you didn't want your poor date to be hurt because of you. He finally slammed the door shut making you jump and rounded to the other side, getting in and reaching for you. You couldn't help the way you flinched back making him let out a slow exhale through his nose as he grabbed your seatbelt and clicked it into the buckle.
"I may have a temper but I'd never hurt you." He said solemnly, turning his gaze forward as he pulled out into the street, narrowly avoiding crashing into a car in that lane but you didn't dare say a word. The car filled with a suffocating tension for the short drive to your building.
The moment he parked you got out, walking ahead and hearing him follow you closely. Incredibly grateful for a young mother who got into the same elevator as the both of you with her two children so you weren't alone. Making up your mind then that you didn't want to discuss any of this with him right now.
His anger and threat had frightened you and you were in no rush to be alone with him while he was like this, it was probably best to let him cool off first. He was way out of left field for what he had done but you didn't think you'd be able to tell him that right now.
When you got off on your floor you walked to your apartment. Subtly finding your key in your bag, you turned to face him.
"Gojo I think you should take some time to cool off, we'll talk about this later." You said, turning back to unlock your door but before you could even put your key into the lock you were being turned back and lifted.
He held you up over his shoulder like you were a sack of potatoes as he passed your door to his own. Completely ignoring your cries for him to put you down as he unlocked his door and slammed it shut with a kick as he walked in. Depositing you down onto an armchair and instantly caging you in by placing a hand on either side.
"Now why don't you start by telling me why you were on a date with that fucker when you told me you weren't ready for a relationship."
"I really don't think I owe you anything after the way you've acted." You said, tugging down your clothing so it was all in place after being tossed about like an object.
"I held back, I didn't even say anything to that bastard for you. I went back to being your friend because you said you weren't ready for more and now I catch you out on a date with some asshole. It's my fault for trying to be so patient and understanding. I should have made it clear that you belong to me from the start to avoid all this confusion."
"I don't belong to anyone. I was trying to turn you down kindly, it's not my fault you misunderstood. No means no regardless of the reasoning someone provides. I don't see you that way and frankly after this I don't even see you as a friend." You stated firmly, breathing a little accelerated from how angry you were at the audacity he had shown. Forcefully taking you from your date and manhandling you, telling you that you belonged to him.
"See darling, now that's where you're mistaken." He said, lips twisting into a cruel smile, lifting his hand to trail his fingers gently along your bottom lip. Catching your jaw in his grasp as you angrily tried to turn your head away from his touch and leaning in until his nose nearly touched yours. Breath wafting over your lips as he greedily inhaled the air you exhaled.
"You are mine. If I ever see another man laying a hand on what is mine I will break every bone in his hand as you watch. It's a good thing you don't see me as a friend anymore, since you're ready to date I should be much more than that."
"You're nothing to me." You snarled, pushing at his touch but he caught your hand in his.
"Is this the hand he touched?" Gojo asked, wrapping his own around your hand as though trying to erase the evidence of anyone else's touch from your skin.
Your hand trembled in his, only now noticing how much freakishly larger his was compared to your own. The threats of breaking hands all too fresh for you to be comfortable with him holding yours.
"Where else has that fucker touched you?" Gojo asked.
"Get off of me before I scream." You threatened, voice wavering slightly even as you tried to keep it steady.
"Darling I think you know it's not uncommon for anyone to hear screams coming from this apartment, and other than you no one's ever been bothered by it so go ahead, scream for me." He said making you gulp.
"HELP." You screamed out, his hand coming up to trail across your lips again as he shushed you.
"See? No one's coming. Most of these apartments are soundproofed except that one wall adjoining our two apartments which they seem to have missed. No one can hear you." He said and for the first time you felt truly afraid of him. Realizing that you were trapped in his apartment with him while he was so much faster and larger than you.
"Tell me darling, did you let him kiss you?" He asked, brushing his thumb back and forth over your bottom lip forcing your lips to part.
"Gojo get off of me, you're taking this too far." You warned.
"I will if you answer my question."
"No." You mumbled honestly and he breathed out a sigh of relief, true to his word backing up and getting up on his feet but still standing over you.
"Good, you can't go letting other guys touch you when you're mine. I'll let what happened today go as a misunderstanding because I hadn't spelled things out for you and you can be so oblivious, but if I ever catch him or any other guy lurking near you again, I will kill them."
You stared up at him with wide eyes, feeling truly afraid of the man you'd considered a friend for the first time in your life. Heart pounding in your chest as your eyes darted over his shoulder to the door that seemed all too far away with his giant figure looming over you.
"Tell me you understand darling." He instructed and you gave a quick nod of your head.
The rage melted away from his face and all tenseness seemed to drain out of his body. He leaned down, pecking your lips quickly. Smiling as he pulled away.
"Should I make us something or should we order in?" He asked.
"I'm not hungry, I should go." You said, pushing up from the armchair but pinned in place when he narrowed those otherworldly blue eyes down at you.
"You're not trying to run away, are you? I really do want to believe you meant what you said about being mine but if you leave like this I'll have no choice but to assume it was just to get away."
"No I-I just have some stuff to do around the house." You said.
"Well surely you can spare some time to eat lunch."
"I already ate." You said, regretting the words the moment they were out of your mouth when you saw his jaw clench and nostrils flare.
"Yeah? How long exactly was this date of yours?" He asked, leaning down and resting his hand on the arm of your chair again.
"I had a sandwich before I went out." You said quickly.
It was the truth, the coffee date was at lunch time so you'd had a quick bite beforehand. Truthfully though it was half a sandwich leftover from your lunch the day before but Gojo didn't need to know that. After all that had happened your appetite was gone anyway.
"Oh you do make good sandwiches." He said with a little laugh of relief and you wondered how you had spent all that time with him and not noticed that he was absolutely insane.
"S-sorry I didn't think we would be meeting today or I would have made you one too." You said, eager to pretend everything was normal if that increased your chances at getting out of here.
"Always so sweet." He muttered, leaning down and pressing another kiss to your lips.
"What a lucky guy I am." He said softly, trailing the back of his hand reverently along your jaw. Noticing the way your breath hitched and allowing himself to believe it was just you being shy.
"Fuck I'm sorry, I know you're new to this and I need to take it slow but you are so fucking tempting. I could just eat you up." He said, hands squeezing at your waist making you let out an unwilling squeal.
"Gojo I really do-"You started but were cutoff by him.
"It's Satoru to you darling, we're dating now. You should call me by my first name." He said and you stared at him blankly a moment before giving a short nod.
"Right, well I should go." You tried again.
"Not until I hear you say my name."
"Satoru I need to go." You said, cutting yourself short when he groaned and dropped his head down onto your shoulder.
"My name sounds so good coming from you. Call me Toru." He demanded, lifting his head to see the affronted look on your face at him going back on his word so easily.
"Come on, just say it once and then I promise you can go."
"Toru." You said hesitantly and he dropped his head down so you couldn't see his face.
"Fuck." He muttered quietly and it was all the warning you got before he was pouncing on you. One hand wrapping around the back of your neck and other on your waist as he pulled you up into him. Lips crashing down onto yours and taking your gasp of surprise as an opportunity to drive his tongue into your mouth. Kissing you fiercely with his hands grabbing and groping at any soft flesh within reach as he pulled you in closer.
Your hands flailed a moment before you got your wits together and started pushing at his broad shoulders, protests muffled by his mouth. He pulled back only giving you enough time to drag in a much needed breath before he was on you again. The new angle allowing him to kiss you much deeper, a deep moan rumbling up from his chest at the taste and feel of you under him. Crowding you up on that armchair until you had nowhere to go by resting his knee down on the seat between your legs.
"Gojo!" You screamed when he pulled back just a fraction again.
Slamming your hands against his chest and he paused, staring down at you as both of you panted. Your lips glistening with your combined saliva from the messy kiss you had just shared.
He didn't think he had ever wanted anything more than he wanted you in that moment. He physically ached for you, painfully hard cock that was throbbing in need pressing up against the zip of his pants. Hands yearning to feel all your soft, pliant flesh beneath his palms and mouth salivating to taste every inch of you.
"You said you would take it slow, you promised to let me leave." You said while still panting for air. For a moment there you had really felt like he was going to devour you.
No one had ever kissed you like that before. His passion was all consuming and frightening. You never wanted to experience something like that again.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He said, hands flexing against the head of the armchair as he fought to regain control and force himself away from you. It took every ounce of will power he possessed and the mental reminder that you deserved for things to be taken slow with you. To be courted and wooed before he would finally get to have you. A little patience and then he would have you for life because he was never letting you go.
The moment he eased back you flew up to your feet. Grabbing your bag and holding it protectively against your chest as though that would really act as some sort of deterrent if he came onto you again. Your wrist was caught as you moved past him and you glanced back with big frightened eyes making his grasp soften.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" He asked and you forced yourself to nod. Anything to be let out of that apartment in that moment.
"Okay." He said and you gave a little tug at your wrist when he didn't let you go.
"God, I don't want to let you go but I did promise. Go now before I lose the willpower to let you leave this apartment." He said and you pulled your wrist forcefully out of his loose hold, scampering for the door.
Breaking his heart a little when you didn't even look back once as you slammed the door shut behind you but what did those little things matter when you were finally his. No last parting looks were necessary since you were going to be together forever now. It was only a matter of time before he would bring up living together and then he'd never have to let you go back to your apartment.
The moment you got back to your apartment you locked the door. Doing up the chain lock too though despite it you still felt hunted. You had this unshakable feeling that he was going to come after you and you needed to put as much obstacles in his path as you could. Like he would snatch you up even while you were behind the locked door of your apartment. The man you had considered a friend now just a monster out to get you.
The tears came then as you sank down against your door. A lump forming in your throat and eyes burning as you swiped the back of your hand over your mouth. Trying to erase his touch.
You weren't under any delusions that there was some easy way out of this. No one in their right mind would believe someone like Gojo Satoru had forced himself on you, dragged you to his apartment unwillingly and kept you there until you agreed to be his partner. There was no proof to go to the police with.
It wasn't necessarily that you wanted him punished, it was more that you wanted nothing to do with him. Cowardly as it was, all you wanted was to never have to see him again, to be free of him. The monster you had unknowingly invited in.
You rested your head in your hands as you let the tears escape. Biting into your sleeve to muffle your sobs so he wouldn't hear through that dreaded adjoining wall and come to investigate.
When your chest started to feel just the tiniest bit lighter, you wiped your tears and rose to your feet. There was no use in sitting there crying. You'd never be rid of him if you didn't do something. You had to move away. Luckily, you were only renting the apartment so all you would lose was the security deposit for not giving enough notice.
You were so desperate you wouldn't even be picky. First apartment you found within your budget you'd sign the agreement. It shouldn't take longer than a week or two and then you'd never have to see him again. Never have those unnerving blue eyes on you or feel those giant hands that pinned you so easily.
Sleep evaded you and instead you used the time to look into apartments. There was a branch of your library located on the other side of the city, but that felt too obvious. You would have to quit and survive for a bit on your meager savings until you found another job.
You'd call in sick for your next shift and go see those apartments, get a storage room to start slowly moving out your stuff without Gojo noticing. Despite how drastic it was, all of that was simple enough but the idea of having to put up an act in front of Gojo for the meantime was what scared you. If you wanted your plan to work, you would have to keep him from suspecting you.
Those two weeks passed with extreme difficulty. It felt like all your hair would fall out from the stress of it all. Moving your entire life in a matter of weeks was not easy but pretending you were willing to be with Gojo was the hardest part. Forcing yourself not to flinch when he reached for you, to not look away from the obsession you now saw gleaming in the depths of his eyes. To nod and listen and respond at appropriate intervals even when your mind was miles away.
It was a lucky thing that he was suddenly so busy with work. Unable to spend nearly as much time as he would have liked with you. If you were forced to be around him constantly then surely you would have given yourself away.
Gojo had never been happier. It was like he had merely been surviving before you came into his life and showed him what true contentedness and meaning were. Filled his life with purpose and joy. He didn't need to find momentary entertainment in beautiful faces or disappointing his dad anymore. Now that he had you, he would never want for anything else again.
He was reminded every time he saw you head for work though that he wasn't the only one who noticed how lovely and incredible you were. The thought of that bastard speaking to you again filled him with unbridled rage but he knew you loved your job at the library so he couldn't ask you to quit. Getting the man's study permit cancelled was easy enough though when he used his dad's contacts.
Hearing he was active in their circles again had his dad reaching out. This time he allowed the man to talk him into coming to work for him with one little condition that his father was all too willing to oblige if it meant the return of his heir. Everything Gojo did was for you and to be with you, you'd come to realize it soon enough.
Working for his dad and learning the ropes of taking over the business was busy work and it left him little time to spend with you. He used any chance he got to be with his beloved. Getting to hold you and talk to you, look into those pretty eyes and kiss those sweet lips was pure bliss. Even if resisting the temptation to do more was akin to torture, he'd wait for his darling.
He couldn't even have anticipated how sneaky you would be. How you could lie to his face for weeks. Disappear without a word as though you hadn't promised you were his. Leave him knocking on the door of an empty apartment like a fool.
He'd broken down the door when he tried calling you and your number was unavailable. Heart sinking when the wood gave to his strength and the apartment that had come to feel more like home than any place he'd ever lived in was just reduced to bare walls with no trace of you left.
He'd ignored the stricken looks of the other people who lived on your floor as he raced for the elevator. The world just a blur as he ran like a madman through the streets towards your library. Only to be told by a confused looking librarian that you didn't work there anymore.
The middle-aged woman's eyes widening as he began to laugh in the middle of the silent library. Laughing so hard he doubled over and nearly choked. Wiping tears from manic blue eyes as he straightened with a smile that was anything but amused before driving a fist straight through the front desk.
The woman ran to the back then and the kids recording him nervously lowered their phones. Those videos would be forcefully deleted by men people like his father kept around just for damage control. The library generously reimbursed to hand over the camera feed from that afternoon and the librarian warned to keep her mouth shut unless she wanted to be fired.
Gojo couldn't believe you would betray him like that. All he had ever done was love and adore you. All he had asked for in return for that blind adoration and devotion was for you to be his. He would lay the world at your feet as long as you simply returned home to him every night.
He hadn't even pressured you to love him, knowing you were oblivious and new to all of this so it would take you time to figure out your feelings. It would all be so much sweeter if you arrived at that conclusion yourself and confessed to him of your own volition. But you had taken all that trust and patience and thrown it in his face.
He felt like he couldn't breathe. Like the very air had turned to poison without you. He needed you back. It didn't matter that you had betrayed him, turned your back on him. Life wasn't just meaningless without you, it was unbearable.
He would make you realize you loved him, make you loyal to him and tie you irreversibly to himself as his very being was tied to you. He just needed to find you.
It wasn't hard but every moment without you felt like an agonizing eternity. He didn't eat, didn't sleep until he had figured out where you had gone. It took only a matter of days but in the span of those few days Gojo became unrecognizable. As though the madness within couldn't be contained any longer and had begun to show itself.
For men like him, it wasn't difficult to track someone down. He scoured the city while private investigators he had hired followed the trail left behind by your digital footprint.
He watched in his car, heart swelling with relief and air feeling like it entered his lungs for the first time in days as he watched you unlock the bookstore where you'd gotten a job. The large glass windows allowing him to see all the smiles you carelessly bestowed on all those who came in the shop but had snatched from him. Fingernails tearing into the skin of his palms until they were bloody as he clenched his fists to keep himself grounded and not barge into the store in broad daylight and carry you off.
He waited all day until you flipped that open sign to closed and locked the door. Moving around inside as you put the bookstore back into order for the next day before grabbing your coat and bag. Night had fallen by then and as you moved to the door he saw his chance.
You twisted the key until you heard the mechanism of the lock twist into place. A faint whisper of your name making you turn thinking it was the owner coming to check in on the store. The sight that awaited you however was all your nightmares for the past couple weeks come to life.
Blue eyes ablaze with mania and lips forming your name were all you saw before you felt a prick at the side of your neck and everything went out of focus. Large hands greedily clutching your slumping body and the nauseous feeling of the ground being swiped out from under you the last thing you felt before it all went dark.
The sound of crashing waves was the first thing you became aware of. The smell of the ocean in the air as your eyes opened blearily to a completely unfamiliar room. Your brain jolted itself to full consciousness as the unfamiliarity of your surroundings registered. The next thing you noticed was the cold weight of something around your ankle.
You glanced down and your heart skipped a beat as you saw the shackle gleaming in the light let in by the large windows clasped above your foot. The long chain connected to it rattled as you darted up and tried tugging at the metal even as your head throbbed and vision swam making you see double of everything.
"Are you finally awake darling?” The voice you had hoped you’d never hear again called from the door.
You glanced up to see his silhouette in the shadows just beyond the doorway to the room you were in. Gleaming blue eyes fixed on you through the darkness.
Your heart skipped a beat in your chest and you wanted so badly for this all to be a nightmare but were frozen, unable to so much as pinch yourself to figure out if this horrific sight was a reality. He stepped forward into the light let in by the giant windows, steps steadily decreasing the distance between you both but even as the urge to flee set alight your nerves you remained immobile.
The feeling of his large warm fingers beneath your chin as he tilted your head up finally knocked you out of your trance. You jerked away from him violently, scampering across the large bed but your ankle was caught and you were tugged back towards him. His hand curling around your leg as definitively as the shackle that bound you there just below it.
“Now where do you think you’re going?” He asked.
Other hand grabbing onto the back of your neck and forcing your head back to make you look at him. Caught firmly in his grasp. Those pretty eyes on him as he had longed for them to be and they'd never lay on another again.
Your heart hammered in your chest as you waited for him to fill the terse silence interrupted only by the crashing of the waves outside. His eyes darting around every inch of your face like he wanted to commit it all to memory.
Only he knew how he had survived those days without you, not knowing where you were or even if he would ever see you again. But now he had ensured that would never happen again.
“G-Gojo where are we?” You asked when he refused to speak first, too preoccupied looking his fill of you.
“We’re home darling.” He answered simply, brushing your hair out of your face. Fingers leaving trails of heat across your skin.
“C-can you please get this off me? It hurts.” You said glancing down at the metal cuff.
“I doubt it hurts. I made sure it was a little loose so it wouldn’t press into your skin. Look, I can even get my fingers in.” He said, tucking his fingers into the narrow gap between the unforgiving metal and your soft skin, making it tighten and you let out a hiss as it dug in painfully.
“Oh did that hurt?” He asked, carefully pulling out his fingers and you nodded. Gasping when he suddenly grabbed you by the shoulders and hauled you in close so you were face to face.
“Can you imagine how much it hurt me when I realized what you had done?” He asked, voice raising despite telling himself he was going to keep his cool. You flinched back but his firm hold on you didn’t let you get far.
“Can you imagine how I felt when I woke one morning to see your apartment was empty and you were gone?”
Your heart pounded in your chest as you prayed fervently, despite knowing now it wasn’t, that this would all be a dream. You’d wake up any minute now to your new apartment with the boxes still piled high in the corner waiting to be unpacked. Reach for the water you kept on your bedside drawer before realizing in this apartment the drawer was on the other side of the bed.
“Can you imagine the pain of knowing the only one you’ve ever loved, the one you put above all else lied to you and betrayed you? Pretended to be yours when they’d been scheming to leave you all along?”
The fury in his eyes dimmed slightly as they filled with tears, his grip slackening on your shoulders letting you slump back down on the bed.
"I-I was scared Gojo." You said.
"Scared of what?" He bit out, swiping angrily at the tears in his eyes with the back of his hand making the pale skin redden. For a moment your fear was forgotten and all you could see was your friend in pain but those blue eyes flashed when he saw the tender look in your eyes and the moment was gone before it even fully registered.
"Of you, of this." You admitted, your own eyes stinging with unshed tears as all the fight seemed to drain out of you realizing the hopelessness of your situation. All that planning and pretending and look where you had still ended up. People like you just couldn't go up against people like him.
"Scared of someone who loves you more than anything in the world?" He asked incredulously, catching your wrists in his grasp as you tried to drop your face into your hands.
"This isn't love, it's madness Gojo. Love isn't forceful or violent like this." You sobbed, fighting to pull your wrists out of his hold so you wouldn't have to look at him again. He gathered your wrists in one of his hands, forcing your arms behind your back so you couldn't push him away.
"How can you say that? How can you say I don't love you?" He asked.
"Let go of me." You spat, trying with all your might to get out of his hold but your strength was no match for his.
"I'll show you how much I love you. I'll make you realize you love me too, I know you do." He cupped your face within his hand so you couldn't look away from him. Ignoring your renewed struggling and cries as you were forced to look into those eyes and the madness that glinted within them.
"We have all the time in the world here darling. It's just you and me here on this island. No one to come between our love and nowhere for you to run."
