back to me
2: the overthinking olympics
overview: Seeing you two and a half years after a sudden disappearance post-graduation with a pink-haired toddler isn’t what he expected- but it definitely makes him see things differently. Sukuna misses you and that just solidifies the fact that he wants you back.
nerd!kuna is unc!kuna is soft!kuna is dad!kuna...sighs dreamily wc : 1.7k s.masterlist | ao3 | part three
When you get home, your eyes are still slightly widened, shock plastered on your face. The day couldn't have turned any more unpredictable to you.
Ryomen Sukuna at the park with his nephew. Seeing you and Suki after you tried so hard to keep your new life a secret...
Suki's soft sleepy sigh in your ear interrupts your thoughts.
"My sleepy baby." With a gentle kiss to her head, you set Suki down on the couch.
You carefully take off her shoes and jacket, moving slower than usual as to not wake her; Suki's tiny chest still rising and falling in a steady rhythm.
Your expression softens at how peaceful she looks.
So cute.
So oblivious to the way both your lives will change from now.
Your mind drifts back to the encounter at the park; His broad shoulders, his thick arms and stupidly good-looking smirk…
Snap out of it.
An exasperated noise leaves you at your train of thought, rubbing your temples as an attempt to massage the image of his muscles out of your mind.
Today has turned more stressful than expected.
Nothing could've prepared you for the abrupt reunion with Sukuna— not even months of preparation.
It was awkward… but less awkward than you would've imagined it going.
Which was a good thing, right?
He can't be that upset about the past if he asked for your number. Why did you give him your number so easily? Was it the fact that you felt guilty after your breakup- or maybe the fact that you hid a child from him?
Maybe it was those feelings locked away in the basement of your heart.
The same feelings that left you unable to tell him no in the past. It could be that you're still that girl deep down.
His girl.
The way he whispered your name was more than recognition too. What if-
None of that matters right now.
You shake your head, trying to stop the inevitable spiral of overthinking and over-analyzing, moving to the kitchen. What's more important is making dinner before Suki wakes up.
Your phone stays nearby on the counter while you prep, pulling out some vegetables and chicken.
Soup would be an easy dinner tonight— something Suki would actually eat. She's been in her picky phase.
Dicing chicken and chopping vegetables is a good enough distraction, rather than anticipating a message from Sukuna.
A text that can come at any given moment…
You sigh quietly, monitoring the boiling pot of veggies and chicken loosely with an occasional stir. It wouldn't be much longer until everything was fully cooked.
The minutes pass by slowly, your stove eventually singing a small tune when the timer ends.
Right as you turn to grab some bowls, you're met with Suki's tiny blank stare. You nearly jump, eyes widened and brows raised.
A breath leaves you, "How long have you been standing there, hm?" You chuckle after calming yourself; Suki giggling in return, rubbing her little face against your leg.
"Hi mommy. I hungry," Suki smiles up at you, eyes lightening as she glances to the stove. "Wice?"
You simply shake your head, picking her up. "No rice this time. Some chicken… and veggies. You like chicken," you hum, leaning over the pot to convince her.
"It's a yummy soup."
Suki scrutinizes the pot of soup in a suspicious manner, looking almost offended when she can't see any rice.
"No wice?" She repeats your words hesitantly, flicking her gaze back to you.
"No rice."
"I wan' wice."
This girl. You'd be annoyed if she wasn't your child.
"It's good without rice-" you begin, only for Suki's lips form a deep pout. "I promise you'll like it without rice, okay? I'll make you some rice tomorrow with dinner."
As you continue to negotiate with Suki while making your bowls, your phone is long forgotten on the counter.
Hours passed.
Suki reluctantly enjoyed dinner, still pouting about 'wice' well into bath time. You went through the routine bath and bedtime regimen with Suki, and now you're lying awake in bed.
Your eyes flick over to the nightstand, 10:21 pm mocking you in bright red.
Right beside the clock laid your phone. With everything else on your mind you'd forgotten about the text you were supposed to receive…
You deadpan, glaring at the empty space where your notifications usually are.
A text that never came.
The sight of your phone bare with no messages nearly annoys you—
No. It does annoy you.
Did Sukuna only want your number to have access to you again? It wouldn't be hard to put that past him, that's definitely something he'd do.
Whatever. You'll cross that bridge when you get to it. "Hopefully, he forgets and acts like he never saw me." You grumble, flinging your phone to the other side of the bed with a bit too much force.
The clatter of your phone falling off of the bed makes you huff, flopping onto your back— glare aimed at the ceiling.
It's not like you were genuinely wanting to talk to him again. Have one of those easy conversations like you used to…
Your lips press together, and you turn onto your side curling under the blankets.
Heart lurching from the memories of your past with Sukuna.
You weren't getting much sleep tonight.
Ryomen sat in his room, quiet jazz filling in the deafening silence.
He'd just gotten back to his own apartment after running multiple errands: Dropping Yuji off to his parents, strolling through the library— checking out a book that interested him, picking up some dinner.
Errands to distract himself from texting you.
Distracting himself from how uncharacteristically on edge he felt looking at your number.
Multiple times throughout the day— periodically, almost— Ryomen started a text, only to delete it afterwards.
'Hey. Thought we should talk more about your daughter.'
That's not right.
'It was nice seeing you again. I think we need to talk about some things.'
Not strong enough.
'Can't believe you have a baby that looks just like me. I need us to talk about that. Are you single?'
Too strong.
'Hey. I've missed talking to you, and I wanna know more about Suki. Can we talk?'
Too… vulnerable waaaay too soon. All of these mixed feelings over a text were new to him— he wasn't one to second guess himself, ever.
Nothing he drafted felt right to send to you. Not with how things ended between you. Not with the time apart and impromptu meeting.
Definitely not considering you had a daughter. A kid that's more than likely his.
He rolls his eyes, correcting his own thought;
A kid that is his.
Ryomen isn't stupid enough to think Suki wasn't his child; she couldn't have been more than two years old, the timeline adds up.
Coupled with the fact she has the same shade of hair as him, it's as good as a paternity test in his mind.
He grunts, still leering at the text box. Proluctance showing with every minute that passed with his phone in his hand. "This is stupid." He tosses his phone aside, rubbing his face in silent distress.
There's no reason he should be feeling this conflicted.
Ryomen told himself he was over you ages ago- right after you'd graduated. It was easy to say that when he rarely saw you.
According to the subtle flutter his heart did at the park, he clearly isn't.
And you looked great. You barely aged, but matured in such a beautiful way. Your hips were fuller, hair longer— you looked amazing, actually.
To Ryomen, it was like seeing his favorite flower bloom after a long, desolate winter.
It'd be a lie if he said he didn't think about you every now and then in his day to day.
When he's reading soft poetry; memories swirling around of times he used read to you.
When he's reviewing artworks at the museum and some woman's perfume smells too much like yours did.
When he's in bed and shifts to his side, imagining you beside him. That was really the only way he used to be able to sleep in college. Those memories are poignant.
He still can't believe its been years since he's seen you… Ryomen doesn't know how he's gone so long without you.
And if he doesn't come up with a text, soon— he doubts he'll ever see you again.
He'd rather eat his own foot than let that happen.
Ryomen shifts in his bed, reaching for his phone once again. 10:40 pm. Was it too late to text you now?
"She might be asleep by now." The eye roll comes naturally, but he continues anyway:
'Hey, hope this wasn't too late. Yuji enjoyed playing with Suki a lot, maybe they can have play dates when I have him- if you don't mind. Could we meet somewhere and talk tomorrow?'
Yeah.. that's good enough. Ryomen nods, rereading the text. Simple and to the point. Good.
'It's Ryomen, by the way.'
Okay. The hard part is done. Ryomen checks the time once again, mentally writing it down. After placing his phone back on the bed, he draws in a breath. "Where's my leftovers?"
By the time he finishes his leftover dinner, it's only been fifteen minutes. Still no reply from you. Ryomen figures you're asleep, and shrugs it off. He moves over to his record player, gingerly removing the jazz vinyl.
His nighttime routine was simple; shower, eat, read and relax, sleep.
When he crawls into bed, he's still glancing sporadically at his phone, as if trying to will you into waking up and texting him back. He only huffs as he realizes what he's doing.
"Idiot."
Ryomen sets his phone close to him in bed, just in case, he tells himself, lying back and finally closing his eyes.
In spite of everything, he really hopes you reply.
Ryomen wants— needs you two to reconcile. Not just for you two, but Suki. Deep down he's always liked the idea of a child of his own to nurture and care for. Being a dad. He hopes you let him be that for Suki.
A tiny grin on his face as he visualizes it; You, him, Suki… all together as a family. Spending holidays together. Having dinner…
It'd be nice.
a/n: can we feel the pining guys?? i'll aim to make these chapters a bit longer. i appreciate every comment, like, and reblog❤️ if you want to be added to the taglist don't be afraid to comment! i don't bite :) a masterlist for this series will be made soon!
taglist : @angierb05 @yasmbaile @yeletta @vvkitty @beereadzzz @natsolox @riimyn
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