"I Hate it When You Cry."
True Form Sukuna x Concubine!Reader
Part 1 - (You are Here) Part 2
Words: 2k
Includes: True form Sukuna (yes including the stomach mouth, submissive little bitch reader, gender-neutral reader, Angst with a good ending, Sukuna is soft towards reader, power dynamic, slightly heated (no outright smut though), Sukuna only wants reader.
(Not Proofread)
‘This is it.’ You thought to yourself, gravel biting into your knees.
‘This is how I will die.’ As your gaze fixes down to the ground, watching as the bugs wiggle to and fro. They’re more free than you ever have been.
You can hear his voice, deep, loud, almost more growl that words. You haven’t seen him yet. Not in person. You’ve heard stories, of course. Seen paintings and sketches, heard about how terrifying he is. How those who dare look him in the eyes, don’t live long enough to tell the tale.
You suck in a breath at the sound of footfalls against gravel. Eyes squeezing shut, scared even the slightest movement may get his attention.
The day that every young child fears. The day those who are of age must learn to accept.
He comes to your village every three years. A small, quaint, unsuspecting village tucked into a valley of blooming Sakura’s and vivid flowers. A place no one would expect the King of Curses to choose his servants and concubines.
You have one of three outcomes in this moment.
One, you live another day, working in his palace, cleaning, forcing yourself to work to the bone day and night. Until you inevitably die of dehydration, exhaustion, or both.
Two, you live as one of his concubines. Serving his every whim, living in a room far better than your family could ever afford. Trying your best to go undetected, for fear the others may be jealous of you. Simply for being prettier, favorited, or a myriad of other foolish reasons.
Three, he kills you on the spot, bloody draining down the grass-covered paths of your village, serving as both a reminder and a warning, that even the slightest step out of line could be your end.
You hold your breath as the footsteps get even louder, eyes now open as you can practically feel his shadow looming over you.
“Rise,” he growls, voice scratchy and rough. Seemingly annoyed with the situation. Like deciding the fates of the youth who have their whole lives ahead of them, is such a bore.
You suck in a breath, pushing yourself to your feet, eyes staying stuck on the ground, knowing what could happen if your gaze dare to stray just a centimeter off.
Before you have a chance to process it, you can feel his skin against yours, his hand underneath your jaw, tilting your head up to look at him.
Your breath catches, eyes immediately closing, for fear he’s testing you.
But that’s proven wrong just a moment later… at least you believe it is.
“Open your eyes mortal, look at me.” He spits the words at you, watching as you tremble slightly in his grasp, eyes opening with hesitation.
His face is like nothing you could have expected. The paintings you’ve seen, stories you’ve been told, have never painted him in such a light as being…. Handsome..
His features are sharp, four eyes staring back at you, golden-red rings in his eyes pulling you in like nothing else.
His black tattoos almost shine in the light, drawing your eyes in. Gaze roaming over his face, your prior hesitation now nowhere to be seen.
He smirks, eyes roaming your face in the same manner. He then turns your head to the side, observing the way your skin feels beneath his touch “Hmm…” Your breathing stills, heart beating even faster than before.
He jerks his head in the direction of one of the servants. “You’re coming with me.” You finally exhale, breathing returning to normal as your heart tries to go back to its usual pace.
He lets go, and you finally get the chance to look at all of him. His toned and muscular form, tattoos moving down from his face and trailing over the expanse of skin he shows.
You can already tell they trail far past the waistline of the pants he wears, made of the finest silk.
He turns, beckoning you to follow as he walks towards the aforementioned servant.
You clasp your hands together, staring straight ahead as you walk, knowing if you make eye contact with those around you, you may not be able to move. You may not be able to go through with this.
He pulls you to his side as he faces the rest of those still on their knees.
“Let it be known that I expect more from you, filth. One acceptable concubine out of a group of seventeen?” He chuckles, the sound sending shivers down your spine.
So, he will be taking you as a concubine then… you try to imagine it, but nothing comes to you, unable to know what awaits you in the future.
He then turns to you once more, his second pair of arms crossing themselves over his lower stomach, covering the mouth that rests closed there.
He leans in, breaths ghosting over your skin.
“I want you to watch as I kill the filthy inadequate mortals your village leaders thought would be sufficient enough.” He smirks, taking your chin between his fingers once more.
“Let it serve as a lesson in gratitude.” Within an instant all you can hear are screams. The heads and bodies of those you grew up now covered in slashes, blood seeping onto the grounds of your village garden.
Staining the once green grass a maroon so deep and dark it’s almost black.
You don’t join their screams. You don’t let your tears fall. He’s taking you as his concubine, allowing you to live, for now at least.
You will not be letting this opportunity go to die.
You will bow your head, avert your eyes, speak only when spoken to.
You will do whatever he wishes of you. You will do whatever it takes to stay alive.
Your days at the palace have been… quiet to say the most. Your routine falls into place swiftly.
Wake, bathe, get ready, join the other concubines for breakfast, then spend the remainder of the day occupying yourself.
You’ve taken up a few hobbies upon realizing majority of your days are yours to… enjoy? You’re not quite sure what it is.
Once you arrived here you assumed you would be seeing Sukuna often, being at his beck and call all hours of the day.
Instead, you haven’t seen him since the day you arrived. He showed you to your room, and the shared dining room, then left you to your own devices.
In the meantime, you’ve picked up knitting, reading, and strolling through the garden.
You’ve had very few run-ins with the other concubines, who are both men and women.
You suppose it makes sense; the King of Curses can have anyone he wants.
Taking walks through the garden is your favorite activity thus far, proving to be a lovely way to spend your time and get some much needed sunlight, peace, and quiet.
You hum softly, fingers running over the roses planted near a simple wooden bench.
Walking among the rows and rows of colored flowers has provided a small amount of joy to you.
You’ve found yourself bringing the watering can out of the old shed, spending hours outside taking gentle care of the blooming plants.
You’re about to sit down, wanting to watch the sun set down the horizon, but the loud sound of footsteps break your focus.
You turn, almost coming face to face with Sukuna. You gasp, dropping to your knees and averting your gaze as quickly as you possibly can.
A scratchy chuckle sounds out from the man in front of your now-bowing form.
“Rise now, Mortal.”
You suck in a breath, forcing yourself to your feet, gaze stuck on the ground below, soft, vibrant grass now the focus of your attention.
He moves swiftly, once again grabbing your chin, far gently than the first time.
“Did I not tell you to look at me the first time we met? Raise your gaze, now.” He squeezes your chin ever so softly, the action surprises you immensely.
Why is he acting in such a manner?
“You’re out here quite often,” he hums, eyes dragging over your face. “I think you’re the only concubine who has ever dared to enter my garden.”
Your lips part, not realizing this area was off limits. “I-I I had no idea, I’m so very sorry.”
You apologize immediately, the words leaving your lips like they’ve been practiced a million times.
He moves just slightly, and you flinch, closing your eyes tightly, purely on instinct.
After a moment you realize nothing has happened, he has not moved. You take a breath, forcing your eyes open.
Sukuna stares at you, a soft frown on his face. “You’re allowed to be here. There is no reason you may not enjoy the gardens as I do.”
Your lips part once more, though this time it’s from surprise.
“Y-you said no concubine has dare enter the gardens...?”
He shakes his head softly. “I said that because it’s true, none have ever left the few rooms in the palace they know. Though, you have.”
He pauses, before continuing, voice slightly more stern. “The only room off limits to you is my own, unless you are invited in. Otherwise, you may go wherever you please.”
You nod, breathing finally returning to some semblance of normal.
Your eyes tilt down once more. “My Lord... may I ask a question.”
He sighs, tilting your head up further, frown returning to his features. “Look at me while you speak.”
You nod, words leaving your lips quickly, for fear you may lose the courage if you do not ask now.
“Where are the other concubines? It has been quite a while since they have come to the dining area for meals, or been seen around the palace.”
You can’t help but bite your lip, hoping to get an answer to the question that’s been plaguing your mind for days now.
He frowns once more; a sight you realize you’ve grown used to seeing. “They’re gone.”
You pause, eyes searching his features for an explanation. “Gone?” You question.
He nods, voice now rougher, less gentle than before. “Yes, gone. Could you not hear me the first time?”
You apologize quickly. “I-I heard you, I-Im sorry I just don’t understand… Where have they gone?”
He sighs once more. “You apologize far too much, it’s annoying.” He then squeezes your chin again.
“Most I murdered, a few were sent away with their belongings.” He pauses, “I think a few were also pushed off the neighboring cliff. I'm not completely sure though.”
You stare at him in shock. “They’re all gone?”
He shakes his head. “Did I not just say that? Have your ears stopped working? Are they stuffed with cotton?”
“N-no My Lord.”
He nods, gently letting go of your chin. “Good, I'd rather not have to take you to see the medical practitioner.”
So many questions run through your head. But mainly, “My Lord… Why have you gotten rid of them...?”
The second set of his arms cross over his stomach, a position you’ve seen him take quite a few times now.
With the other pair, he shrugs. “I got sick of them, so I disposed of them. I have no better explanation than that for you, Sunshine.”
The nickname flows over you like a thick coat of honey, soothing your nerves—even though you know you shouldn’t let your guard down around him.
You can’t help the way your cheeks heat, flushing a rosy shade of pink. Sukuna immediately smirks at the sight.
You want to know why he spared you. Why you’re the only one he kept. Why it’s their blood staining his hands instead of your own.
You shove down those questions, knowing that for now, simply being alive is a blessing.
Whether that blessing was granted by him, or someone else watching over you, you don’t know.
You watch as his eyes search your face, a smile pulling its way onto his features before he speaks. Words confusing you even further, pushing even more questions into the vast depths of your mind.
“I’d like you to join me for dinner this evening, Sunshine.”
