Yuuji and Sukuna sketch
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Yuuji and Sukuna sketch
If you want to see more of my other art- just find the âMy artâ tag here :)
Please check it out! And thank you for visiting my blog â€ïž
HELP HAHAAH
Leigh Hunt, Songs and Chorus of the Flowers
woah đł
âShall we sit by the irori, my love?â
I commissioned the kind sukufalke for a cozy Sukumori scene! I asked for a warm, wintry scene, and the result is gorgeous! They're cuddling in front of the irori, probably on the matagi mountain đ
iâm gonna die they r so happy
THEY ARE SO CUTEEE
apocalypse - one undergroundboxer!kuna x reader [soulmate au]
warnings [mdni] - angst | implied trauma | mean sukuna
wc - 7.3k
series masterlist
â
ryomen sukuna knew three things about his soulmate.Â
she drank too much caffeine, she slept curled on her side whenever anxiety crawled beneath her skin and whenever she read for hours on end or colored, the noise in his head quieted enough to let him breathe.Â
it was fucking irritating.Â
the first time she got under his skin, it was in the middle of his first match.Â
heâd nearly put his fist through the guy, rage sitting ugly beneath his ribs as blood pooled in his mouth and sweat dripped down his spine.Â
then suddenly, he was overcome with serenity heâd never experienced before.Â
a calmness that wasnât his own, never his own.Â
something soft slipped beneath his skin then, warm and quiet in a way he wasnât used to. like somebody had pressed cold hands against the back of his neck after years of burning where he stood.Â
heâd won that match.Â
âagain?â toji muttered from across the gym, cigarette balanced lazily between scarred fingers.Â
sukuna rolled his jaw once before slamming another punch into the heavy bag hard enough for the chains overhead to rattle violently.Â
âfuck off.âÂ
toji smirked, tongue peaking out to lick at the scar against his lip.Â
the gym smelled like rust, sweat and the metallic ting of blood that both men were used to. it was a shitty set up buried beneath the city in the lower levels of an abandoned parking structure. it barely looked legal from the outside and the inside wasn't much better.Â
the concrete floors, flickering lights and men all too violent to exist comfortably above ground.Â
and it was the place ryomen sukuna felt alive.Â
sukuna had been fighting since he was fifteen and filled with a rage even he couldnât understand.Â
toji found him bloody outside a convenience store after some older guys tried jumping him for gambling money.Â
it was clear they didnât get the money but sukuna took that fire in his gaze out on them.Â
sukuna still recalled the way toji looked down at him, droplets cascading down his sharp features and dark hair, damp cigarette hanging from his mouth while blood dripped steadily from sukunaâs split brow.Â
âyou fight like an animal,â toji began, taking a drag of his fading cig before tilting his head at the salmon haired boy, âwhat if i told you that you could beat the shit out of guys every day and get paid for it?âÂ
a fucking dream is what that was. he gets to utilize his anger and he could finally get out of his fatherâs house.Â
how could sukuna even say no?Â
somehow, it turned into this.Â
years later, ryomen sukuna had become the name whispered through underground rings across the city. not because he was the biggest or the strongest, but because he was cruel.Â
there was something deeply unsettling about the way sukuna fought.Â
controlled, almost lazy sometimes. like violence came so naturally to him that he didnât even need to think about it.Â
people feared men who fought emotionally.Â
they feared ryomen sukuna more because he never did.Â
most nights, he fought beneath screaming neon lights while crowds chanted his name loud enough to shake the walls.Â
they bet on him like he was a sure thing and fuck, did he get a shitload of money from it.Â
heâd leave each night, beaten and bruised with a duffel of cash hanging off his shoulder.
he was living the dream.
that was until he arrived home, in his apartment downtown, and sat in silence while somebody elseâs emotions bled quietly into his chest.Â
a girl heâd never met yet somehow knew like the back of his hand, all too intimately.Â
he knew she liked coffee because of the bursts of energy heâd feel during mornings where he usually slept in because his fights usually carried into the night.Â
he knew she did yoga often because his muscles werenât as sore as they would get when he was younger and god knows it wasnât his doing. he didnât stretch nearly as much as toji nagged at him to.Â
he also knew that she despised him.Â
that one was obvious.Â
their bond always sharpened after his fights. her irritation sat bright and hot beneath his ribs every time he came home bruised and bloody.Â
sometimes he couldnât differentiate between his own rage and hers.Â
maybe they were more alike than he thought.Â
truthfully, sukuna didnât know how to do things any differently and frankly, he didnât care enough to.Â
he hated this whole soulmates shit. why would the universe ever pair two people together with the utmost certainty that they were perfect for each other?
and what fucking masacre did this girl commit to be bonded with him of all people?Â
violence was the only thing sukuna had ever been good at and he wouldnât change that for anyone, especially some girl who was almost a mere figment of his imagination.Â
he did that sometimes. pretended that he was a non-existent and that he was merely hallucinating her.Â
non-existents made up a very small part of the population and they were essentially humans who didnât have soulmates. like toji was.Â
lucky bastard.Â
sometimes sukuna believed toji was lying because heâd get this distant look on his face some days, kind of like himself when he felt his own soulmate torment him.Â
so maybe he was a late bloomer?Â
either way, he was in a better situation than sukuna was.Â
âyour girlâs pissed again?â toji commented dryly from where he leaned against the boxing ring ropes, head tilted with a knowingness sukuna hated.Â
toji was the one sukuna had to confide in because who else did he have?Â
when he was overwhelmed as a young teenager about his soulmate, toji would be the one he would reluctantly go to. the older man had taken him under his wing, so yes, he did trust him more than anyone.Â
he also knew that toji cared about him in his own fucked up way.Â
sukunaâs knuckles ached tonight, phantom annoyance curling beneath his skin that didnât belong to him. it was her.Â
probably studying somewhere in the city while silently wishing death upon him.Â
the thought almost made him grin.Â
throughout the years, pissing her off became a hobby of some sort, though he knew she didnât find it nearly as amusing as he did.Â
âat least you know sheâs got personality.â toji stated once more as sukuna finally stopped punching and turned to shoot the man a glare.Â
âshut the fuck up.â
toji huffed out a laugh, âgod help you both when you finally meet.â
the thought made sukuna freeze momentarily.Â
it was almost sad.Â
usually, at least from what sukuna knew, people usually couldnât wait to meet their soulmates.Â
then there was sukuna, filled with dread at the mere idea.Â
sukuna hated even talking about the bond.Â
he hated how aware he was of her.Â
because despite everything, the distance and never seeing her to begin with, she felt woven into him already, like a haunting.Â
some nights, when his insomnia clawed violently at his nerves after fights, heâd feel her wrap her arms around herself beneath warm blankets god knows where.Â
and sleep came easier those nights.Â
he couldnât explain it and truthfully, he didnât like to think about it.Â
he hated talking about her because the truth was ugly.Â
that he didnât particularly hate her. which is exactly why he knew meeting her would ruin everything.Â
naturally, his solution was to sabotage everything which is why he started to sleep around with non-existents whenever he got the chance.Â
and he knew what it did to her.Â
good. he hoped it made her despise him enough to never want anything to do with him, whether they meet now or twenty years down the line.Â
sukuna didnât want anything to do with her.Â
â
you hated downtown on friday nights.Â
it was always too loud and all too crowded.Â
neon signs bled into rain-slick streets while bass-heavy music spilled from every open doorway along the block.Â
girls stumbled across sidewalks in tiny dresses and tall heels, drunken laughter cutting through the humid summer night air while taxis lined the streets endlessly.Â
the city looked beautiful after dark, but you still wanted to be everywhere but here.Â
âstop looking at people with that judgy look of yours.â shoko muttered beside you, nudging your shoulder lightly as the three of you crossed the street.
âiâm not judging, iâm just looking aroundâŠâ you defended with a huff as you hugged yourself protectively, little kitten heels clicking against the pavement.Â
âyou are judging,â utahime confirmed, âitâs your classic disgusted and glare-ey look.âÂ
âwell excuse me, youâre the ones who brought me to crackhead-ville.â you glared at the two girls as shoko rolled her eeys before hooking her arm through yours anyway.Â
she pulled you towards the entrance of yet another overcrowded building downtown.
apparently, tonightâs party was being held somewhere above an abandoned old bar. or beneath it.Â
either way, something you found entirely too ominous but you were too distracted when shoko was explaining to actually disagree.Â
your soulmate had spent the entire evening restless beneath your skin. not angry but worse.Â
aware.Â
you felt him constantly tonight.Â
a steady pulse of adrenaline humming through your bloodstream that didnât belong to you.Â
your chest had felt tight since leaving the penthouse, some strange tension settling low in your stomach like your body was anticipating something before your mind could catch up.
it was unsettling.Â
you blamed the lack of sleep, or rather, you blamed him. you blamed him for it all.Â
âew, ewâŠâ you muttered as shoko pulled you through the door into what you could only describe as chaos.Â
warmth and noise hit you instantly.Â
bodies crowded wall to wall beneath flashing lights while music shook violently through the floorboards.Â
cigarette smoke lingered in the air despite the open windows somewhere deeper inside the space.Â
you physically recoiled.Â
âoh my god,â utahime muttered beside you, laughing softly at the expression painting your features, âyou look horrified.âÂ
âi am horrified!âÂ
shoko snorted, ârich kids.âÂ
you threw her a glare before the three of you squeezed through the crowd until you reached a quieter section tucked near the back of the room.Â
a curved leather couch sat half-empty beneath dim red lights, thankfully far enough from the speakers that your skull stopped vibrating the second you sat down.Â
you exhaled deeply, chest deflating as you blinked up at your friends who were looking at you with amusement.Â
âdrinks?â utahime questioned as shoko nodded eagerly while you merely hummed, shoulders tense as you gazed around the sea of bodies.Â
utahime disappeared toward the bar while shoko took a seat beside you, the leather beneath you sticky in a way that had you shuddering, sitting at the very edge of the couch.Â
fuck, you hated this and you couldnât explain why.Â
yes, you hated parties in general but you just felt wrong.Â
âyouâre being weird tonight.â shoko observed, eyes narrowed on your tense figure.Â
you frowned faintly, âi knowâŠi feel weird.â
your skin felt like it was buzzing, chest vibrating in a way it usually wasnât.Â
it wasnât necessarily bad, but simply off.Â
you felt your soulmate more than ever tonight, you were almost hyperaware.Â
he felt electric.Â
every emotion coming from him felt sharper somehow, close enough that you could almost mistake them for your own.Â
your pulse kept jumping for no reason.Â
fuck, you hated this.Â
âis it devils dick?â shoko casually asked as your eyes closed momentarily.Â
how would you explain that it was both yes and no.Â
yes, the bond felt different tonight.Â
but no, it wasnât muscle aches or phantom pain you were feeling on his end, though you didn't want to speak too soon.Â
it was a friday after all. friday nights usually meant bruised ribs by saturday morning.Â
âoh my god, guys!â hime stood before you, handing shoko her drink before placing a water bottle in your hand, âeveryoneâs saying gojo and his crew are gonna be here!âÂ
your eyes rolled gently, very much aware of utahimeâs obsession with those random illegitimate fighters.Â
underground fights happened constantly throughout the city.Â
illegal betting rings buried beneath clubs and abandoned buildings, violent enough that respectable people pretended they didnât exist despite everyone secretly knowing otherwise.Â
your father even told you how known politicians and well known figures even placed bets they hid from the public. Â
and lately, there was one name that everyone kept talking about-
âdo you think sukuna would show up?â shoko questioned, eyes wide with excitement, taking a sip of her cherry vodka as you looked between the two girls.Â
ryomen sukuna.Â
youâd heard it constantly from utahime the past few months.Â
uathime, shoko, sora and percy often went on double dates to these underground fights you had zero interest in.Â
you were very much used to fifth wheeling alongside your friends, that wasnât the issue. the issue was rooted in the prospect of spending the night in a filthy underground boxing ring riddled with people and violence alike. yuck.Â
still, amongst all the fighters utahime gushed about, ryomen sukuna seemed to be the most known.Â
the undefeated underground fighter with pink hair and a snake tattoo across his shoulders and collarbones.Â
people were terrified of him just as equally as they were obsessed with him.Â
âpercy says sukuna knocked his opponent unconscious in under thirty seconds last week!â shoko stated, taking another sip as utahime nodded frantically.Â
âheâs insane!â utahime gushed, âlike, gojo is obviously a show off and just cares about the clout he gets but sukuna? heâs terrifyingâŠâ
utahime continued, you were sure. you could see her mouth moving but you didnât-couldnât register the words she'd uttered.Â
the world around you turned hazy, just enough to feel like everything slowed in a way that definitely wasnât normal.Â
your heartbeat stopped, not metaphorically, but physically.Â
a sharp wave of adrenaline crashed violently into your chest hard enough to steal the breath straight from your lungs.Â
you went still, every muscle in your body tightening instinctively.Â
you could see both of the girls leaning towards you, brows furrowed in concern, mouths moving and uttering words you knew were dipped in concern. you couldnât hear any of it.Â
you swallowed hard, eyes darting up and around you, as if a siren was luring you towards the crowd, come to me, come, come.Â
fuck, were you drugged or something?
your heartbeat stuttered painfully beneath your ribs, once, twice then again.Â
you felt like youâd been dropped underwater while everyone else remained above the surface.Â
the bond felt raw and entirely too overwhelming.
it felt like standing at the edge of something life-altering, like your soul had recognized something before your mind could catch up to it.Â
for the first time since youâd first felt your soulmate, he didnât feel far away.Â
you had grown used to the idea of him, something intangible and not truly real.Â
merely a ghost haunting the edges of your nervous system, phantom bruises in the middle of lectures and an adrenaline rush at three in the morning.Â
he was the deep-seated exhaustion that riddled your body but didnât belong to you.Â
but this felt real. close enough to touch.Â
the sensation crawled slowly beneath your skin, winding around your ribs like invisible string being pulled tighter and tighter and tighter until you thought you might choke on it.Â
the realization hit your bloodstream like a drug.Â
he was here, you knew it. you could feel it in your bones.Â
your eyes darted towards the door that had swung open, summer air rushing inside alongside four figures dressed almost entirely in black.Â
the first thing you noticed was height.Â
they all carried themselves with the same dangerous sort of confidence, the kind that came from men who had never truly feared consequences before.Â
one of them had snowy white locks, the tallest of the bunch, bright enough to catch beneath the flashing lights, sunglasses balanced lazily across his nose despite the fact that it was nearly midnight.Â
another stood beside him, quieter with shoulder length black locks with stretched gauges in his ears and sharp eyes that swept across the room once before settling into bored indifference.
the third one was shorter than the rest but still tall, black locks in two spiked buns with a joint resting between plump pink lips, eyes hooded in a way that exposed that joint not being his first of the night.
they were all attractive in a way that felt almost unfair and dangerous.Â
people moved out of their path without being asked.Â
your eyes turned to the one trailing just a step behind them and your breath caught so violently, it hurt.Â
the salmon colored locks gave him away.Â
ryomen sukuna.Â
tattoos curled dark against tan skin disappearing beneath the collar of a black shirt that stretched across broad shoulders.Â
even from where you stood, you could see the dried blood and bruises across his knuckles.Â
he looked nothing like what youâd imagined from shokoâs descriptions.Â
and simultaneously, exactly like it too.Â
something deep inside you snapped taut, your stomach dropping.Â
you could tell he was dazed too, jaw locked and eyes blinking at a slow pace, eyes looking around the sea of bodies.Â
the soulmate bond surged so hard beneath your ribs, you physically recoiled, fingers gripping the edge of the leather couch.Â
oh god. no, no, no.
oh my godâŠ
âoh my god,â utahime whispered beside you, though unlike you, she sounded impressed rather than horrified.Â
shoko looked moments away from passing out entirely.Â
âthatâs him!â she breathed out quietly.Â
you couldnât answer, breath stilling and hands trembling.Â
because sukuna had stopped walking.
fuck, the realization came slowly enough to feel cruel.Â
maroon eyes met your own and the room around you dissolved entirely. the music became muffled noise, lights blurring and the crowd disappeared.
all you could see was him. him. him. him.Â
he was all you could see, feel and you knew all he could see was you.Â
sukuna felt it the second he stepped through the doorway.Â
you.Â
the bond snapped violently alive beneath his skin hard enough that his entire body locked for half a second mid-step.Â
he almost thought someone had drugged him until he remembered he hadnât even drank anything yet.Â
then what was this feeling?Â
his eyes locked on yours and he felt the most alive heâd felt in his life.
something even the ring and the violence couldn't offer.Â
there you were, all too pretty and wide eyed.Â
he barely heard gojo speak beside him anymore, the lanky man rambling on about some idiot from last weekâs fight who apparently called him out on twitter after.Â
sukuna ignored him completely because across the room sat a girl staring at him like sheâd seen a ghost.Â
and in some ways, he was your ghost.Â
he haunted you and lived under your skin in ways he was sure you didnât appreciate in the slightest.Â
his soulmate.Â
years of phantom feelings crashed together all at once so violently, it almost made him sick.Â
because the realization hit him harder than heâd anticipated and yes, he had anticipated this.Â
the moment heâd meet his soulmate.Â
well, he dreaded more than anticipated it.Â
it hit him hard because he realized that he knew this girl.Â
sukuna had never met you, yet, he bet he knew you more than the two girls hovering over you. more than fucking anyone.Â
you were the girl whose stress bled into his bones during finals week, the girl who wrapped her arms around herself at night and somehow lulled him to sleep from miles away.Â
you were real.Â
and you looked soft.Â
that was the first thing he took note of.Â
soft skin, soft wide eyes, soft pink shimmery gloss coating your plush lips he recognized only through phantom warmth heâd felt against his own skin before.Â
his soulmate was a pretty little thing, so pretty it almost made his chest ache. in your tiny skirt and halter top.
far too fucking pretty to belong anywhere near him.Â
âsukuna?âÂ
chosoâs voice cut through the haze faintly and sukuna snapped out of it, gaze finally leaving hers to glance at his friend who tilted his head towards the other side of the room.Â
sukuna resisted the urge to glance at you as he made his way across the room.
fuck, fuck, fuck!Â
this couldnât be happening, this was a fucking nightmare.Â
just as he made it across the room, he felt it.Â
warm fingertips brushing his own skin despite his hands at his sides.Â
his pulse stuttered once.Â
his gaze snapped to yours once more and your eyes widened instantly when you noticed his hand drift to his neck where your own hand was resting.Â
slowly and carefully, sukuna lifted his own hand.Â
his fingers brushed lightly against the side of his jaw, a barely there touch.Â
yet, across the room, your breath hitched sharply as warmth bloomed against your own jawline seconds later.Â
not imagined or coincidence. it was all real, so so real.Â
your stomach twisted violently.Â
oh no. no no no no.Â
shoko was gazing at you, âwhatâs wrong?!âÂ
you couldnât answer, eyes stuck on a pair of crimson that held you hostage.
her eyes narrowed as both her and utahime followed your gaze before catching sukunaâs eyes on you.Â
then they both looked between you both a total of five times before realization hit.Â
âwait,â shoko whispered harshly, hand shooting out to grip your arm, âWAIT.â
utahimeâs jaw physically fell open, âholy shitâŠâ
your heartbeat pounded so violently, you thought you might faint right then and there beneath the flashing red lights.
what you despised most is that it made sense.Â
of course it was him. a violent and dangerous underground fighter, fuck, that explained everything so perfectly.
if fate was a person, youâd have her by the neck right now.Â
because sukuna was still staring at you, as if he knew you already and perhaps, he did.Â
then horrifyingly, he smirked.Â
and suddenly, you understood exactly why the entire city feared ryomen sukuna.Â
sukuna moved before he could really think about it, jaw clenched but determined.
one second he stood on the other side of the room and the next, his body was already weaving through the crowd toward you like the bond itself had wrapped invisible fingers around his spine and dragged him to you. you. his soulmate.Â
people moved instantly to let him pass.Â
you took note of that immediately.Â
you noticed the way conversations died around him, the way bodies shifted out of his path and nobody dared touch him, even accidentally.Â
it was fear, you realized. people feared him.Â
the recognition made your stomach twist.Â
âoh my god,â shoko whispered harshly beside you, nails digging into your arm, âheâs coming over here!âÂ
âi can see that.â you hissed back faintly, though your voice barely sounded like your own.Â
fuck, you should leave. you should absolutely leave.Â
except, you couldnât move, body drilled to where you sat, frozen in place while ryomen fucking sukuna rossed the room toward you like some predator chasing prey.Â
closer and closer and closer.Â
until suddenly, all his 6â4 glory was towering above you.Â
your breath caught embarrassingly hard.Â
up close, he was worse.Â
taller than youâd imagined and broader too.Â
there were faint bruises scattered along his jawline beneath the dim lights, on the very spot that you woke up feeling sore. fresh cuts healed across his knuckles.Â
and his eyes, god, they looked at you with the same recognition burning through your own chest.Â
sukuna looked down at you for a moment too long.Â
fuck, you were even more ethereal up close.Â
that thought hit him first and annoyingly hardest.Â
his pretty little soulmate sitting curled into the edge of a leather couch looking at him with wide doe eyes, almost expectantly with a mix of fear and restraint.Â
âhey.âÂ
his voice slid down your spine like smoke.Â
low, dangerous and rough in a way even your mind couldnât conjure up.
fuck, was this really happening?
your throat tightened instantly, âhi.â
the word left you horrifyingly softer than youâd intended and sukunaâs lips twitched at the sound.Â
your voice was his favorite sound, instantly.Â
âum,â shoko hummed, eyes wide as she shared a glance with utahime, âweâll give you two a second.â
you almost wanted to yell in protest, but the two girls were already shuffling away, shooting you encouraging looks.Â
as you glanced up at the dangerous man once more, you felt your heart still in a way you hadnât ever felt before.Â
not in fear or apprehension but calm.Â
he made you feel calm, your body stilling and quieting in a way you hadnât expected.Â
regretfully, fuck, you despised it, but when that gentleness overcame you and you looked up at himâŠ
his disheveled pink locks, his handsome rugged features and his dark eyes, all of it was him.Â
and you felt stupid for trying to deny that this man was your soulmate.Â
who else would it be?Â
âiâm sukuna,â he stated lowly, moving to take a seat beside you, leaving an appreciative distance between you, âryomen sukuna.âÂ
your name left you softly with a nod.Â
as you gazed at each other, the same realization overcame you both.Â
even with barely an introduction, you knew each other.Â
while sukuna had only fond memories of what youâd done for him, your mind was riddled with poisonous ones.Â
this was the man who often trained in the middle of the night, filling you with soreness and a rush of adrenaline that left you sleepless most nights.Â
he was the one who fucked other girls knowing what that put you through.Â
your heart clenched.Â
beyond all those things, he was the one who hugged himself to sleep after that one night of utter hell.Â
he was the one who held a hot water bottle to his stomach when your cramps left you nauseated and pained in bed.Â
as much as you wanted to forget those things, to snap yourself out of the sad patheticness that riddled you, how could you?
how could you when those were the only memories that kept your hope that he wasnât a total monster alive?
your eyes travelled along his bloodied knuckles, âyou get those a lot.âÂ
sukunaâs fists instinctively clenched at the attention.
âand you burn yourself with whatever you do your hair with at least twice a week.â
your eyes widened instantly.Â
âand you get punched like every other day!âÂ
sukunaâs mouth twitched and you hated how your eyes drifted towards the movement and your heart stuttered.Â
âbarely.â sukuna stated cooly, a small smirk painting his features.Â
your eyes drifted toward him again before you could stop yourself.Â
and then you remembered.Â
every phantom feeling, every sleepless night and every ache.
all attached to him.Â
the violence, the pain, the girls.Â
your jaw tightened, "youâre not exactly the best person to be connected to, you know.âÂ
sukunaâs expression didnât shift much, still cool, but you felt it.Â
the hollow drop in your stomach that wasnât yours. guilt.Â
real and immediate, it almost made you laugh in disbelief.Â
of course he felt guilty, he had to know he was a fucking nightmare.Â
sukuna leaned back slightly, jaw working once as his gaze flickered away from yours for half a second, âyeah, i bet.âÂ
your brows lifted, âthatâs it?âÂ
his eyes returned to yours, low and indifferent.Â
you scoffed, anger bubbling up so quickly, it nearly startled you, âthatâs all you have to say?âÂ
sukuna let out a breath through his nose, âwhat do you want me to say?â
âoh, i donât know,â you let out a sharp little laugh that held not an ounce of humor, âmaybe sorry would be a good place to start?!âÂ
sukunaâs head tilted, âsorry.âÂ
you stared at him in utter disbelief before a laugh left you once more, this time softer and dripped in something worse than anger, âwowâŠâÂ
sukunaâs eyes borrowed, âwhat?âÂ
âyouâre unbelievable is what!âÂ
âyou asked for sorry.âÂ
ânot like that!â you nsapped, voice rising just enough to have your cheeks flushing, ânot like youâre apologizing for stepping on my shoe!â
his expression hardened slightly and you felt it immediately, the irritation beginning to curl beneath his skin.Â
ugh, you hated how the closeness made both your emotions so heightened.Â
though, you hoped he could feel your rage.Â
"an apology isn't gonna change shit. won't make y'feel better either."
his words enraged you even more.
âyou have no idea what you put me through,â you continued, voice trembling despite you rbest efforts, ânone.âÂ
sukunaâs gaze darkened, âdonât do that.â
âdo what?âÂ
âact like i wasnât there too.âÂ
you blinked at him, something hot and ugly twisting in your chest.Â
was he for real?Â
âyou were there?â you repeated quietly, âyou were there?âÂ
his jaw clenched, âdonât-â
âno, please,â you leaned forward slightly, anger sharpening every word, âexplain it to me. because to my knowledge, you were the one making my life miserable while i was the one trying to keep us both sane!â
sukuna looked at you for a long moment, jaw clenching and unclenching.Â
the lights washed over his face in flashes of red, making him look even more unreal than he already did.Â
âyou think i wanted this?â he stated more than asked and your heart clenched.Â
hurt shot through you, your eyes growing glassy against your will because you knew he wasnât referring to the pain heâd put you through.Â
he meant the soulmate thing in general, fate as a whole.Â
he didnât want you.
you bit the inside of your cheek, willing your tears to stay in your eyes before breathing out, âno. but neither did i.âÂ
silence settled between you then, not peaceful but loaded.Â
sukuna could physically feel your hurt and his eyes dropped briefly to your hands where they trembled in your lap.Â
your fingers curled instantly, too proud as you hid the movement.Â
it was too late. heâd seen it.Â
even worse, heâd felt it.
âi didnât know.â he stated lowly and you froze.Â
your eyes flickered up, âwhat?âÂ
his tongue pressed against the inside of his cheek, expression unreadable.Â
âat first,â he clarified, âi didnât know what it did to you.âÂ
your chest tightening, knowing what he was referring to and his words didnât soothe you in the slightest.Â
âand after?âÂ
in fact, it made it all worse.Â
especially as he said nothing.Â
your face fell slightly, all the anger in you cooling into something quieter and melancholic.Â
âafter, you knew.âÂ
his gaze remained on you as his fingers flexed once against his thigh, âyeah, i knew.âÂ
your eyes burned and you hated yourself for it.Â
you hated that it still hurt despite knowing already, you hated that hearing him say it aloud made it real in a way the bond never had.Â
âwhy?â you asked, the one word absolutely humiliating as much as it was devastating.Â
sukuna looked away first and somehow, that hurt too, âbecause it was easier.âÂ
your lips parted faintly, âeasier?âÂ
he lout out a grunt, âif you hated me, you wouldnât look for me.âÂ
the words settled between you like something deadly.Â
for a second, you genuinely couldnât speak.Â
then you did, âthat is the stupidest, shittiest thing iâve ever heard.âÂ
hsi eyes snapped back to yours, scowling, âcareful.âÂ
âoh, fuck you!â you hissed lowly, âyou donât get to do that! you donât get to hurt me on purpose and then act like it was some noble sacrifice.âÂ
his jaw tightened, âit wasnât noble.âÂ
âyeah, no shit.âÂ
âit was necessary.âÂ
you laughed once, incredulous, ânecessary? well, congrats, you got what you wanted, i absolutely fucking despise you.âÂ
sukunaâs jaw clenched, eyes glaring at you, âgood. because you donât know shit about me, this saves us both the hassle.â
âi donât know you?â you shot back, âi know you more than anyone, probably. i know your body hurts more often than they donât. i know you clench your jaw when youâre mad. i know you canât sleep because of your nightmares and unless somebody practcially forces your nervous system to shut down, you could go days without it. i know youâre so angry at the fucking world, it makes you so hateful.â
sukuna went still, too still.Â
you swallowed hard, eyes burning once more, âand i know that for years, i was the one cleaning up the damage you left behind.âÂ
his eyes darkened, âcleaning up?âÂ
âyes,â your voice cracked despite yourself, âme. i was the one hugging myself to sleep because you wouldnât. i was the one stretching every morning because your body always felt like fucking concrete. i was the one coloring like a goddamn toddler at three in the morning because it was the only thing that made your anger stop choking me!âÂ
sukuna said nothing and you hated that even more.Â
you wanted him to argue back, to answer, to fucking care.Â
âdo you know how pathetic that feels?â you whispered, âtaking care of someone who kept hurting me?âÂ
his expression shifted, barely, but you felt it again.Â
the guilt, even deeper this time.Â
sukuna looked at you like he wanted to say something cruel and couldnât quite manage it, settling with, âyou didnât have to do all that.âÂ
your laugh came out watery, tears now trickling down your heated cheeks.Â
fuck, you felt nauseous, you felt so fucking sick.Â
âyeah, i know that now.âÂ
something passed across his face then, a flicker of pain so quick, you almost missed it.Â
but the bond didnât allow you to miss anything. you felt it bloom in your own chest, sharp and unwanted. his.Â
for one terrible second, you almost let it soften you.Â
almost.Â
because there it was again.Â
that tiny, stupid sliver of hope youâd spend years nurturing because it was the only thing that kept you mildly sane.Â
the one that whispered that maybe he wasn't all cruelty. maybe there was something beneath all that violence and pain.Â
maybe the boy who held a hot water bottle to his stomach when your cramps got bad had to exist somewhere inside the man sitting in front of you.Â
you looked at him then, through your blurry vision, really and truly looked.Â
the hard line of his jaw, the coldness in his eyes and the casual arrogance sitting across his shoulders like armor.Â
and that hope crumbled quietly inside your chest.Â
not dramatically or all at once, but piece by piece, like something old finally accepting it had been dead for a long time.Â
utter disappointment filled you then. you should have known better.Â
this shouldn't be surprising.Â
sukuna had spent years telling you exactly who he was, painting you the worst image of himself and you had hoped it was just that.Â
the worst of himself.Â
except the worst was all of him.Â
sukuna was cruel. not because he didnât know better but because he did.Â
because heâd known what hurt you and decided hurting you was easier than wanting you.Â
you swallowed around the ache in your throat, suddenly exhausted in a way a thousand years of sleep couldnât fix.Â
all you wanted was to be home now, cuddled up with ani in your room alone.Â
âright,â you whispered, nodding once to yourself.Â
sukunaâs brows pulled together slightly, âright what?âÂ
you pushed yourself to your feet, smoothing trembling hands over the front of your skirt because you needed something to do. anything that didnât involve looking at him.Â
âthis was enlightening.âÂ
his eyes narrowed, âsit down.âÂ
the command sparked something sharp beneath your ribs, the thorn twisting in your heart.Â
you let out a hollow laugh, âfuck you.âÂ
his jaw flexed, âdonât make a scene.âÂ
your name left him then and you hated the way your stomach fluttered at the melody of it in his voice.Â
fuck, your heart hurt.Â
because he was your soulmate. yours.
because some sick, twisted part of you had expected the universe to redeem itself when you finally found him.Â
you expected the first moment to feel like every story youâd grown up hearing, witnessed amongst your friends.Â
warmth, recognition and relief.Â
instead, you were standing in front of the man who had turned your body into a battlefield and your heart into collateral damage.Â
âi hope i never see you again.âÂ
something flickered across his face then and you didnât stay long enough to decipher it.Â
you turned around, the crowd swallowing you almost immediately as you walked away.Â
music slammed back into your skull, bodies pressing close as you pushed through them with shaking hands and blurred vision.Â
your chest felt too tight, lungs too small for the oxygen your body ached for.Â
behind you, you felt sukuna rise before you saw it. the immediate pull.
his presence growing closer and your heart stuttered stupidly.Â
some miserable, pathetic part of you sparked alive at the thought before you could kill it.Â
maybe he did care.Â
maybe he was going to take back all the words he regretted, that he would stop you and apologize properly this time.Â
he would say what youâve been waiting years to feel.Â
the thought was so humiliating, it almost made you sick.Â
âfuck are you lookinâ at?!âÂ
you heard his voice aimed at the crowd of people that were watching you both, probably since your conversation on the couch.Â
you shoved through the door and stepped into the narrow hallway outside the main room, the music muffling instantly behind you.Â
the air was cooler here, damp with rain and cigarette smoke, blue neon bleeding through the cracked windows at the end of the corridor.
you took in a breath like you hadnât breathed in days, eyes shutting as your heart hammered against your chest, trying to simply process everything that had taken place.Â
âhey.â his voice followed you out and you froze, heart stilling.Â
stupid, traitorous thing.Â
you turned slowly, eyes fluttering open.Â
sukuna stood a few feet away, tall and shadowed beneath the hallway light.Â
away from the party, he seemed even more dangerous. less like a person and more like a warning your body had spent seven years failing to understand.Â
he was an enigma.Â
for one breath, neither of you spoke.Â
your hope stood there too, fragile and shaking, fucking pitiful.Â
waiting.Â
sukunaâs gaze dragged over your face once, catching on the wetness beneath your eyes and his expression tightened faintly.Â
say it, you thought bitterly.Â
say sorry! say you didnât mean it!Â
say something!
his jaw worked once, âno one can know.âÂ
your brows furrowed, the hope dying cleanly.Â
âexcuse me?âÂ
sukuna stepped closer, voice lower now.Â
his mouth opened to clarify when his gaze met your own once more.Â
your wide glassy eyes. your pretty face that was streaked with tears, your plump bitten lips.Â
the little sniffles that left you, making his ribs ache.Â
and suddenly, he froze, the words stuck in his throat.Â
fuck, he had to get it together.Â
âabout this.âÂ
your lips parted faintly, âabout us?â
the word us felt absolutely pathetic in your mouth.Â
all too soft and hopeful. undeserved, even.Â
something in his eyes shifted at the sound of it but it was gone before you could hold onto it.Â
âthere is no us.âÂ
oh. you actually felt that one.Â
not through the bond, nor as some phantom ache borrowed from him.Â
the pain was yours, all yours.Â
you laughed once, quiet and disbelieving as you took a small step back, âwowâŠâ
sukuna followed you, taking one step forward as his jaw clenched, âlisten to me-âÂ
âno,â you shook your head slowly, voice trembling, âno, i think i understand perfectly.âÂ
sukunaâs eyes darkened, âyou really donât.âÂ
âoh my god,â you shook your head, âi canât believe i thought-âÂ
you stopped, humiliation burning up your throat.Â
sukuna stared, taking a step closer, his chest now brushing your chin, âthought what?âÂ
his voice was almost desperate and you swallowed, blinking hard, ânothing.âÂ
his face tightened and he felt it anyway, of course he did.Â
the hope and hurt.Â
the fact that some tiny, unbearable part of you had wanted him to come after you because he simply couldnât let you leave.Â
sukuna looked away first as you took a step back. fucking coward.Â
âitâs dangerous.â he stated as you stared at the side of his face.
âdangerous?âÂ
âyes.âÂ
âfor who?âÂ
his gaze cut back to yours, âfor you.âÂ
you almost laugh but he continued before you could.Â
âpeople know me and if they know about you, theyâll use you. you make me weak.âÂ
the words landed colder than you'd expected.Â
sukuna watched you closely, as if waiting for the fear to register and maybe it did.Â
somewhere deep, deep down, but anger got there first.Â
âso thatâs what this is?â you whispered, tears leaving you without you noticing, âdamage control?âÂ
his silence was answer enough and you nodded faintly, tears burning hot once more.Â
âright.âÂ
âyou need to keep your mouth shut about it.âÂ
you flinched before you could stop yourself and sukuna paused, regret flashing through instantly.Â
âdonât talk to me like that.â you stated lowly and his jaw clenched.Â
âiâm trying to keep you safe.âÂ
âoh, how big of you.âÂ
the hallway seemed to shrink around you both.Â
outside, rain tapped gently against the glass.Â
inside, bass thudded like a second heartbeat through the walls.Â
you looked at him then, this man that fate had tied to you with an invisible string and cruelty dressed up as destiny. and for the first time since youâd felt him at sixteen, you stopped wondering what it would be like to find him.Â
because now you knew and god, you wish you didnât.Â
it felt like losing something youâd never even had.Â
âis that all?â you questioned lowly, clearing your throat once.
sukuna stared at you, nose flaring and throat bobbing once, âyeah.âÂ
another piece of you gave out as you nodded, âokay.âÂ
the word was so calm, it made his eyes sharpen.Â
you turned away, walking past him but his hand caught your wirst before you could take full step.Â
skin met skin and the bond went silent, completely and utterly silent.Â
no buzzing or aching or distance.Â
just him, all warm and real. terribly real.Â
your breath hitched at his touch. it was the first time heâd ever touched you.Â
sukuna froze too, fingers wrapped around your wrist like heâd touched fire and couldnât make himself pull away.Â
for one second, just one, all the cruelty fell quiet.Â
and you felt him beneath it, scared and lonely, wanting and waiting.Â
you felt it and you hated him for letting you feel it now.Â
slowly, you looked down at his hand then back up at him, âlet go.âÂ
his grip tightened by a fraction, âthis is the best thing for the both of us.âÂ
your face crumpled before you could stop it.Â
you pulled your wrist free and this time, he let you.Â
âoh, trust me, not having to be stuck with you? i couldnât agree more.â venom laced your words as sukunaâs expression changed, tightened and you felt the hurt then.Â
sharp and immediate and you were glad for it.Â
you turned and walked away then, tears streaming down your cheeks and a sob left you as soon as you were out of his vicinity.Â
for the first time, the bond didn't feel like a thread pulling you closerâŠ
it felt like noose.
â
an | was so late with this but had the worst past few days so SORRY! anyways PLSSS lmk what u think cuz i'm iffy abt the direction of this BUT this is lowk my fav thing i've written omg! this is kinda like a prologue pt2, next chapters will deffo be longer! i cannot wait to write more of these two and sukuna's a dick but bear w him ! also each chapter in the masterlist will be titled a song and i recommend listening to it while reading for the vibes đ«Ą
also lowk need toji BAD i wanna give him some lore so lmk if u want a one-shot of him in this au!
iâve been inactive for so long but hello. u should totally follow my insta @ iyawiyaz lol haha yea
i made my oc in tomodachi life đ„ș
animal farm by bibi but with maki
reject.
for your entertainment ch1: untouched
ౚৠexperienced!sukuna x virgin f!reader [adult boutique au] - ongoing series
â chasing your dreams isn't all it's cracked up to be. your apartment shakes when the train passes and eating a scoop of peanut butter and calling it girl dinner is getting depressing. when you finally manage to land a job at a store that sells sex toys, it's possibly the biggest relief of your life. there's just one issue: you're a virgin. you don't know the first thing about toys and you don't want your cute and flirty white-haired co-worker to know. against your better judgement, you find yourself turning to your other co-worker for lessons and learn the hard way he's just as much of an asshole in bed as he is at work. â
ౚৠcw ; mdni, 18+ only. fwb but you aren't friends. slow burn romance/fast burn smut. sukuna is 23ish, reader is 24/25ish. reader is sexually reserved but confident, nerdy, and a band geek. arrogant!sukuna. mild love triangle with gojo. dom!sukuna. mild corruption. size difference. sex toys & explorations of safety in kinks. smut & piv. virginity loss. see masterlist for full cw.
ౚৠwc ; 9.4k.
ౚৠart ; ackshuallyvalerie
main masterlist || series masterlist || next âȘą
There comes a point where you have to wonder if you just arenât meant to be applying for jobs. The amount of rejection emails and calls youâve gotten is staggering, and that doesnât even begin to touch on the amount of applications that simply havenât gotten a reply.
âWe regret to inform youâ feels like a personal attack at this point.
Sitting outside this particular store, however, has you questioning if maybe you just arenât cut out for work at all.
Itâs not like you expected a paying gig right out the gate when you moved to the big city to chase your dream of becoming a musician, but you at least figured you would be able to get something that pays in the meantime.
At this point, every rejection is a shot straight to the heart.
You applied to every store you could find with a hiring ad. Both online and in-person, skipping over the occasional store that you felt you werenât cut out for. Now, itâs come to the point where you donât have the luxury to be picky.
Still, the shoe store that wouldnât hire you? At least you have shoes, even if theyâre worn-in Vans and Converse for the most part.
The reception job at the law firm? Itâs not like you have a degree or can cite any, but you know general laws.
This? You sigh as your gaze traces the letters across the failing light box, deep red letters spelling out Adult Boutique.
Itâs not that you have anything against it.
Itâs that youâve never used a sex toy.
Hell, you donât know the first thing about them.
Youâve never even had sex before.
Sighing, you throw your head back against the headrest of your old rusting sedan and take a moment to breathe in the harsh disappointment of chasing your dreams. Your hands settle in your lap as you set aside any reservations you have, snatching your resumĂ© from the passengerâs seat and shutting the door behind you. You walk with as much confidence as you can muster into the shop, but itâs almost humiliating how far out of your wheelhouse you are when youâre met with the interior. For as confident as you are, it drains from you in an instant.
Humiliation is a kink though, right?
âID?â You pause in the doorway before you can get much of a look at the store, staring at a man with piercing blue eyes and white hair. Heâs handsome, maybe a year younger than you, and his friendly smile is horribly infectious.
You stand like a deer in the headlights, your lips caught in an embarrassing âoâ before your mind catches up. ID. Youâre in an age-restricted store. Right.
âShootââ Your hands fly down to your pockets, reaching for the walletâŠ
⊠That you left in the car.
Your jaw hangs ajar at the realization, warmth climbing from the back of your neck to the tips of your ears as the handsome clerkâs startlingly blue eyes pin you in place.
You shut your eyes, biting down on your lower lip. âIâll be right back.â
In the midst of your walk of shame back to your car across the street, every thought reminds you that you could just leave. You could forget this ever happened and simply accept you arenât getting the job. The fact that your wallet is so empty that you left it in your unlocked car in a shady part of town serves as a reminder that, again, you donât exactly have the luxury of being picky.
With a forlorn sigh and a drag of your hands down your face, you put on your best confident smile and make your way back inside. The clerk grins as you hand over your ID, leaning over the counter on forearms that you swear youâre not staring at.
Theyâre just veiny.
And incredibly hot.
âSorry,â you sigh as you pocket your ID again.
âDonât worry about it,â thereâs a small wave of his hand to brush you off, and when you look up to meet his eyes, thereâs a particularly sultry look to his gaze. Itâs enough to warm your cheeks again, and you can only pray he doesnât notice how much youâve been staring. âLooking for anything in particular?â He bears a lopsided tilt to his grin that sets your nerves further alight as your stomach ties in knots under the handsome strangerâs gaze.
Itâs gotta be a bad combination to be clueless on everything around you and thinking about the hot man in front of you rather than the job youâre applying for.
Shaking your head to center yourself, you put on your best smile. âYeah, actually.â The manâs expression changes to intrigue as you hand over your resumĂ©. His eyes skim it, brows raising.
He gives you a once-over, setting the paper down with a more genuine grin. âWe could use the help,â he admits. âThe ownerâll be in tomorrow morning, Iâll have her give you a call.â
Thatâs the most positive response youâve received to an application thus far. Although you find yourself nervously eyeing a bottle of G-Spot Stimulating Gel on the counter that you donât know the first thing about, youâre honestly relieved that things could be looking up. You can handle this job with a bit of research, surely.
âThat would be great,â you offer a smile. âThank you.â
â
So, the good news is that you have a job. The bad news is that you still donât know the first thing about what youâre selling. Admittedly, you probably should have done some research or looked over the product offerings on the storeâs site, but somewhere between preparation for a new job and trying to sleep through the train shaking your apartment every few minutes, you forgot.
The kind woman who interviewed you over the phone and the storeâs ownerâ Jillianâ greets you at the door as you push into the store. Her graying hair is curled tightly at her roots, her eyes wrinkled at the corner and kind. She wears a pale pink wool sweater that compliments her lip gloss, standing at about the same height as you. Sheâs old enough to retire and still gorgeous all-the-same.
âWelcome, dear,â she smiles brilliantly at the sight of you, ushering you towards the front counter with a hand on your shoulder. âI appreciate the help, itâll be nice to step back from the counter and keep my job behind-the-scenes.â
âIâm happy to help,â you reply with a kind grin, keeping up your best customer service attitude. As she leads you behind the counter, your eyes flick to the two tall men standing behind the counter. You recognize the first as the hot white-haired man who accepted your resumĂ©. Cheery, charming, and strikingly handsome with toned muscles visible from under his white t-shirt.
The man beside doesnât bear the same welcoming nature. In fact, theyâre the definition of polar opposites.
Standing a couple of inches taller than the one you recognize, he has black hair that must be dyed, pink roots standing out like a rose among thorns. His ears are pierced in a multitude of ways with matching brow and lip piercings and tattoos that travel up the back of his neck, reaching his jaw. Heâs in far darker and more casual clothes, arms crossed over his broad and built chest with his hip leaned on the counter, and a look of mild disinterest that does no favors for your nerves.
Where the white-haired man bears a friendly smile and a button-up that makes him look ready for a job in a cubicle, his black-haired colleague is very clearly assessing your every move, and looks like he could be on-stage at a dingy bar.
She introduces you to the men, earning a grin from the one you recognize and⊠nothing from the man with black-dyed hair.
âIâll be in every couple of days to do the cash deposit,â she explains. âIâll also drop by to check on the office and put together paperwork, but Satoruââ she points to the white-haired man who casually salutes in greeting, âand Ryomenââ her hand waves towards the frowning man who doesnât react save for a glance at the older woman, âwill train you. Satoru usually does the opening shift and Ryomen does the closing shift. Weâre closed Mondays and Tuesdays, but youâll work the rest of the week.â Youâre grateful for the consistency, if nothing else. âYouâll take the midday Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, youâll be alone for a bit while the boys are in classes, and youâll take the closing shifts on weekends to help Ryomen during busy hours.â
His gaze, a crimson so striking you have half a mind to wonder if theyâre contacts, flicks to you, indiscernible, then back to Jillian.
âYou wonât be alone while you train of course though, the boys and I will cover until youâre comfortable being alone.â She pats you once on the shoulder. âDoes that work for you, dear?â
âNot a problem at all,â you nod. You clasp your hands together politely.
âPerfect!â She claps once in glee, clearly happy to step away from serving customers. You can understand that sentiment. âIâll grab your paperwork.â
Satoruâs gaze follows her as she heads for the back room, then turns cheerily to you. âHey, newbie!â He steps forward from the counter, outstretching his hand. âNice to meet you.â Shaking his hand, you match his grin. âWell, by name anyway.â
You turn your expectations to Ryomen, who doesnât move from the spot heâs standing in. His weight shifts to the other hip, still leaning against the counter when he juts his chin out in less of a greeting and more of an acknowledgement. âHey.â
âNice to meet you, Ryomen.â You give him a little wave.
âSukuna,â he corrects you. His words arenât sharp per se, but they carry a blunt edge. âOnly the old lady can call me Ryomen.â His voice is as gruff as his style and stature, fitting of the brutish impression he gives off. His slightly narrowed eyes give off the notion that heâs evaluating you. Reading you.
With a tight-lipped smile, Satoru scratches at the back of his head. He shoots you an apologetic glance as you uncomfortably gather that this isnât unusual for Sukuna.
âGot it, sorry.â You offer an apologetic smile, which he accepts with a nod.
Satoru steps forward to save you from the interaction, motioning with his head out to the storeâs floor. âWhy donât I show you around?â
You nod gratefully, letting him lead you away from the counter. Sukunaâs gaze is quick to drop to the counter as he leans over a book of some sort, his chin resting atop his hand. You turn your attention back to Satoru as he leads you through the long back area of the store
A colorful assortment of dildos and vibrators line the walls of the first aisle, anything from glass to silicone in different shapes and size varieties. The light in the far corner flickers when you step into the aisle, faux wood creaking under-foot. The store has that sort of old strip mall feel where, although well-maintained, its age is evident in the old fixtures and failing lights.
âSorry about him,â Satoruâs voice is a near-whisper as he shakes his head. His hair falls in front of those striking blue eyes as he leads the way down each aisle. Youâre not sure youâd really call it showing you around, but youâre certainly walking the floor. âHeâs uhhhââ he waves his hand through the air as he searches for the right term. âMoody, or something.â He chuckles. âI donât know, you get used to it. Donât take it personally.â
âHe doesnât seem like a customer service person,â you admit sheepishly, keeping your voice down.
Satoru does no favors keeping his own down as he barks a laugh. âNo, not really, hey? Heâs Jillianâs friendâs son, soââ he shrugs as you mentally connect the dots that landed him this job. âItâs an easy enough gig and honestly business is slow.â
âThatâs a shame,â you offer, mostly for Jillianâs sake, although you donât mind it being slow.
âI said it was slow, not bad,â he grins, eyes narrowing to that sultry gaze he shot you when you dropped off your resumĂ© last week. âWe have a lot of regulars. People who spend a lot. Youâll recognize them in time.â He shoves his hands in his pockets. âItâll be nice to have some company for the end of my shifts,â he adds, tilting his head to eye you. He crosses his arms over his chest, catching your attention as you glance at his muscles just long enough to consider yourself caught. He takes the opportunity and swings with it. âIâm looking forward to getting to know you.â His voice drops a tone, the flirty lilt warming the tips of your ears.
âYeah, itâll be nice to get to know you too.â
Jillian returns with paperwork before Satoru can take the opportunity to flirt any furtherâ but you get the feeling he will. It seems to go hand-in-hand with his personality. Once everything is signed and Satoru has headed off for class, Jillian leaves training in Sukunaâs hands as she retreats to the back to file your paperwork.
Sukunaâs gaze is a slow drag down your form as he evaluates the dark blouse and nice jeans you chose to wear. Admittedly, you now feel a little overdressed given his relative comfort and ripped jeans, but in spite of the judgement clear as day in his eyes, he keeps it to himself. At least, as long as you donât count the frown he bears. You canât really tell if thatâs meant for you or if thatâs his neutral expression.
With a sigh, he shuts whatever book is on the counter behind him and gives you a rundown in short, clipped sentences. âFloor work first, cash after. You worked cash before?â
You nod, though the register looks fairly old here.
He gives a hum of approval. âGood. The floor's pretty self-explanatory. Everything is ordered by brand, then color. Shipments Mondays and Thursdays. Back room for any overstock.â He points over his shoulder to where Jillian disappeared as he lays out instructions like facts. âNo clock system. Just work when you work. Pay is every second Friday. Youâll get a check.â
Again, you nod.
His gaze travels the length of your figure, but it doesnât feel as though heâs checking you out. Itâs an evaluation. And youâre pretty sure youâre failing before youâve had the chance to start. âI donât care what you do when customers arenât around. Study, read, go on your phone. I donât give a shit.â
âOh, okay. Thatâs kinda nice.â
His tone is apathetic as he hums in agreement. âI didnât have time last night and I know Satoruâs lazy ass didnât clean this morning, so Iâll get you to organize the shibari while I put some shit away.â
You nod, slipping away from the counter onto the floor. His gaze tracks you as you very unconfidently thread through the rows in search of shibari. To your horror, nothing is well-labeled, which means there isnât a distinct section with some big flashy sign to point you in the direction of a kink you donât know the name of.
âItâs at the back,â Sukunaâs low voice calls out. Biting down on your lip, you move towards the back of the store, your gaze trailing along the wall. There are a number of bondage devices you canât name, ropes that you assume go with bondage, and chains and whips that all feel bondage-adjacent.
So, more or less, youâre still at a loss.
Really failing that evaluation now.
Behind you, Sukuna is replacing products that were atop the counter at the front, but his movements stop when he fixes you with his narrowed gaze. âThe ropes,â he points them out on the wall with displeasure prickling around the edge of his sandpaper-scraped voice. Now that you look at them, it feels obvious given how out of order they are.
âI know!â Heat flares beneath your skin in all the wrong places. Still, you wonât let him get to you. âI was just looking.â
He doesnât reply, his crimson gaze boring into your expression so hard that youâre pretty sure he can see right through you.
At least you canât fuck up the organization of the ropes.
Quietly sucking in a breath, you turn to the wall, pulling down the plastic-covered rope bundles that are out of place.
âSo,â you turn your gaze over your shoulder. âYouâre in school?â
âMhm.â
âWhat are you taking?â
âBusiness.â
Heâs difficult, too. Great.
Once the ropes are in a more sound order, you spin on your heel to face him. Heâs already turning away, moving to a different area to put away a vibrator.
âCan Iââ
âHere.â He tosses a bottle of lube at you, caught clumsily in unexpecting fingers. âPut that away, too.â
Pressing your lips into a tight line, you nod, more to yourself than him. At least you know what lube is.
You search the store for the spot where it belongs, twisting it on the shelf so the label faces out, then make your way to the counter where Sukunaâs already standing over his book again. Before you have the opportunity to speak, the bell over the door rings as a customer walks through the door. Sheâs around your age, and quickly flashes ID towards Sukuna, who nods.
A regular, you suppose.
The tattooed clerkâs eyes trail to you, jutting his chin out expectantly towards the customer.
Making your way up to the woman with cute blonde hair cut short, you fall into your customer service voice. âCan I help you find anything?â
âHi!â She beams at you, her smile putting your first day nerves at ease. âThank you, but I know where most things are,â she waves you off politely. âI appreciate it, though!â She moves past you towards the back of the store, whirling around suddenly as her gaze shifts between you and Sukuna. âOh, actually, did you get any more of the cherry stimulants in?â
You turn your attention to Sukuna, who fixes you with a lazy unsure expression. âShe can check for you.â He leans his hip on the counter again, arms crossed over his chest as he faces you. âItâll be in the back. They come in a box with a cherry logo on them.â
Worrying your lip between your teeth, you nod as you make your way to the back.
Truthfully, the cramped room is a bit of a relief from the uncomfortable tension Sukuna just seems to naturally exude. Him and Satoru are big personalities in the most opposite way you can possibly imagine, but at least Satoru is willing to chat.
Jillian glances over her shoulder from an old computer at the back of the room. âEverything going well, dear?â
âYeah,â you grin, though truthfully this already feels like a disaster where youâre being scornfully judged by your colleague and accidentally making enemies on day one. With one of the only people you work with. So thatâs great. âThereâs just someone looking for stimulants.â
She shifts in her chair, doing a once-over of the boxes. âNot back here. Thereâs an inventory list on this computer that you can usually use, but I donât want to lose progress on your files. Can you ask Ryomen to check the holds drawer? Satoru might have put some on hold if he knew they were looking.â
âSure, thank you!â
With a grateful smile, you head back to the front and relay the information to Sukuna.
âHolds drawerâs there.â He points to a handle on the lower inside of the counter. Within are a number of boxes and small sachet packs. âMm, there they are.â
Clearly one of the sachet packs is what sheâs looking for. Unfortunately, they all fail to say exactly what they are on the front with bright and bold brands rather than descriptors or even a damn cherry logo, which means you havenât the faintest clue what youâre looking at.
âThe orange one,â Sukuna adds when youâre still paused staring at the drawer. Thereâs an unimpressed lilt to his tone that has you wincing before you pull the sachet pack from the drawer. You do what you can to keep your expression neutral and feign confidence when you stand upright again.
The whole situation is tense and embarrassing. It might at least be tolerable with Satoru, but Sukuna either enjoys your suffering or heâs an asshole.
The unfortunate third possible option is both.
His grimace as you set the pack in his hand isnât lost on you, although you choose to head towards the register in hopes that he can at least teach you how it works and you can get on with this day. He chooses not to say a word to you as the customer finishes looking around, returning to the front with a rose-shaped vibrator.
âOoh, thank you!â She grins as she spots the packet at the register.
Sukuna nods, glancing over his shoulder to make sure youâre paying attention. âJust type the amounts into the register,â he explains, putting both prices from the stickers into the old machine. Once he hits the equals button, the cash drawer pops open as he gets the total and it calculates tax for him. The customer flashes a card, so Sukuna shuts the drawer and types the amount into the machine to his right. âWhile she pays, get the serials on each tag and write them here,â he explains, pulling the number from each barcode and writing them on a pad of paper left of the register. Once her payment is processed, a receipt prints, which he hands to her, keeping the second copy under the till. Finally, he bags the items.
She thanks him, giving you a polite little wave and retreating out the door.
You let out a breath, nodding. âThe register seems easy enough,â you try more friendly commentary in spite of his half-assed teaching, but you suppose by now you shouldnât expect Sukuna to be receptive. He hums, a judgemental flash in his eyes as he pins you in place with a narrowed gaze like he can see something you canât.
He works his jaw in a slow grind of teeth like he wants to say something but thinks better of it, dropping your gaze. âIâve got to study. Thereâs not much else to the job besides that, so keep yourself busy.â
Thankfully the rest of the day passes without much of a hitch and youâre able to leave as evening hits, with Sukuna staying to close the store.
He doesnât give you another word for the remainder of the day. He doesnât expect you to handle customers. He handles the till. He doesnât even look at you as you let him know your shift is over. You arenât sure whether to be grateful or dread the rest of your shifts with him, but thankfully youâre able to spend more time with Satoru tomorrow.
Given that youâre off a couple of hours before close, you use the opportunity to stake out local bars with stages and take note of a small pub tucked away in a little corner. The outside has a sign that doesnât light up in the nightâs cover, but within itâs rather warm, with string lights hung over a stage in the back. While you work on your online presence, itâs the perfect spot to get your stage skills up.
The thick metal of the door is cool on your hand, creaking on its hinge as you press through to the interior warmth. Thereâs a small two-man group on-stage performing low-energy grunge that seem to be garnering decent attention from onlookers and groups you would be willing to bet are regulars based on the way they move around the small scene.
Adjusting your jacket over your shoulder, you make your way to the bar. The bartender looks to be a couple of years senior to you, with short brown hair kept neat aside from a couple of stray strands that fall over his forehead. He has a prominent nose and sunken eyes that give him an overall air of tiredness.
The apron he wears over a clean-cut button-up pulls taut across his chest as he reaches overhead to set a bottle of whiskey along the back wall before turning his attention to you with a polite smile. âWhat can I get for you?â
âOh, um, actually,â you begin with a polite smile, âI was wondering who I need to impress to be up there.â You point to the grunge band at the back as his gaze follows you.
He hums, his calm demeanor shifting from the routine of bartending to something more friendly. âI can give you the ownerâs email. If you fit in with the crowd, heâll work with your schedule.â
Casting another glance at the two men on-stage, you nod, chewing on your lip in an effort to hide your giddy smile. âThatâd be great. So⊠whatâ a little moody, kind of chill? Maybe some minor chords in there?â
The bartender chuckles, picking up a glass like routine simply fills his subconscious. âSounds to me like youâve already got the gig.â
Leaving behind the smell of drowned sorrows and shared laughter, you can hold onto the fact that while your day took a turn for the worst, itâs just a job. Once you leave the building, you donât have to think about it and can focus on music. Sukuna isnât the end of the world and if you can manage to stay out of his hair, surely you can find some sort of common ground with him.
â
Wind whips too fast across the street when you lock your car behind you. Your unzipped coat flails in the wind, leaving you with a flustered expression as the shop door slams shut behind you.
âHey newbie,â Satoru greets you with an amused grin. You flash him a smile as you smooth down your outfit, far more casual than the previous one with jeans and a band shirt. âHow was yesterday?â He asks, wiping down the counter and tossing the wipe in a garbage as he claps his hands together to brush them off.
The chuckle that parts your lips is half-hearted as you drop your laptop bag atop the front counter. âKind of a disaster?â You wince, shaking your head. âIs he seriously always like that?â
Satoru stands upright, running a hand through white locks. âHe gets better when you get to know him, but yeah heâs kind of an asshole,â he laughs brightly, unbothered. âIâm pretty sure he thinks heâs all that and a bag of chips.â
âSure, if the chips are sour,â you mutter.
Satoru snickers, nodding. âWhat happened anyway?â
âI didnât immediately know where everything is without being shown,â you wave a hand through the air, letting it hang there for a moment in disbelief.
Satoru, unphased, grins. âOh, yeah. Sounds like a classic case of not running on Sukunaâs schedule. You should really get on that.â
You throw your head back with a sigh, giving a dismissive wave of your hands. âWhatever, itâs a new day, right? Maybe it wonât be so bad today.â
Satoru teasingly sucks in a breath through his teeth. âSorry newbie, but my sources are telling me todayâs weather is looking cloudy in Sukuna-land.â
Satoruâs unseriousness helps settle a modicum of your nerves as you find yourself laughing at his charm.
âBut hey, youâve got me for a couple of hours first.â He grins, settling the balls of his palms atop the counter as he leans his weight back. One of his sleeves, rolled to the elbow, slides down his forearm to his wrist. âWhat did he go over with you, anyway?â
You laugh loosely. âLike, nothing. He gave me a thirty second run-down of the till and told me I donât need to clock in or out.â
âThatâs gold,â Satoru shakes his head in an effort to get hair from falling into his line of sight. âI thought heâd be nicer to a pretty girl like you.â His face lights up as you avert your eyes, smiling at the scuffed floor underfoot. He keeps the conversation flowing like itâs second nature. âTell you what, Iâll actually try to show you around before he gets here, and you can tell me what brought you to the city.â
Recovering quickly, you fix him with a humbled expression at the callout. âIs it that obvious that Iâm not from here?â
Satoru barks a laugh. âYeah. Youâve got small town energy.â
âSmall town energy? What does that even mean?â You follow him out from behind the counter as he leads the way to the back room first.
âJust vibes,â he shrugs. âItâs good. Cute,â he grins. You get the feeling heâs a bit of a flirt through and through, but truthfully you enjoy the attention.
Plus, heâs hot.
âThanks,â you murmur with a bashful smile, chewing on your lip. âI uhâ I wanted to give my dream a shot before tying myself down in a career I hate.â
His eyes light up as he turns to you with a palm on the door handle for the back room. âOh yeah? Whatâs your dream?â
âSinging. Music,â you admit, feeling just shy enough that you avert your gaze in spite of your giddiness.
âNo way.â Heâs grinning widely now, his hand leaving the door handle as he chooses to lean against it instead, arms crossed tantalizingly over his chest. âI feel like Iâm obligated to be the annoying guy who asks you to sing for me now.â
You laugh heartily. âAt least you know it would make you that guy.â
With a chuckle, he finally turns around to lead the way into the back room. He peppers actual explanations of the jobâs inner workings between personal questions.
After explaining the inventory system on the back computer and how boxes are organized, he leads the way back through the aisles, pointing out different sections as you walk. âSo, do you take gigs between shifts?â
âWhen I can,â you nod. âIâm trying to put together the money to get some studio time soon. I have some self-recorded stuff, but I donât think Iâm much of a producer.â
âWill you at least tell me what genre?â
âUm,â you shrug thoughtfully, âI guess like punk or indie rock?â
âOooh, so youâre a moody guitar girl. I like it, I like it.â He nods his approval with a wide grin. The faintest of dimples forms at the corners of his lips, giving him a charmingly boyish smile.
Your genuine shared laughter sends flutters to the pit of your stomach, warm and welcome, as you finish threading through aisles and head back to the front counter. Satoru pushes up on forearms that flex under his weight as he settles atop the counter. You follow suit on the opposite counter, head tilting as you inquire about him.
âJillian mentioned youâre in school, what are you taking?â
âBusiness,â he replies with a lopsided smile.
âOh, like Sukuna?â
âDamn, you got an answer out of him?â Satoru chuckles. âYeah, heâs a year ahead of me but weâre in the same program. I think he wants to do the whole company startup thing though, Iâm looking to kinda take over for Jillian and eventually buy this place if things work out. Sheâs holding out until I finish.â
Your brow raises as you fix him with an inquisitive look. âYou wanna take over here?â
âDonât sound so shocked,â he chides, gaze lidded with an almost-cocky attitude. âDonât get me wrong, I know it doesnât seem busy even with online orders, but I actually think thereâs a huge untapped market here.â He straightens and you can see the passion and drive gleaming in his eager gaze. âI think the way sex toys are sold both online and in-stores is outdated and makes a lot of people feel uncomfortable and I want to try to do something new to help people feel more comfortable and open in terms of sex.â
You blink, nodding at the insightful way that he goes on to explain the ins and outs of his opinion on the industry and how, although he loves Jillian, he can see a lot of ways to use his knowledge to improve the business and hopes to change the way kinks are viewed.
Itâs not like it hasnât occurred to you just how inexperienced you are, but as you nod along to his passionate explanation, it occurs to you just how experienced he is. He doesnât say it outright, but he talks about the way condoms are made and how bad they can be for some people, how he hopes to bring in products for people who struggle with medication killing their sex drive, and even the intricacies of what products work well and which donât and how he would love to stop stocking them altogether.
It shouldnât come as a shockâ it doesnâtâ after all, heâs hot and flirty, but it certainly gives the butterflies in your stomach an edge that you arenât sure what to make of. Itâs not uncomfortableâ Satoruâs still kind and has a welcoming personalityâ itâs closer to inadequacy. Like you should know more, and not just for job purposes. It doesnât sit well.
But you shouldnât be thinking about your coworker like that anyway, right?
Thankfully, before you can think too hard about the subject, Sukuna walks through the door with a heavy step to his boots.
Maybe âthankfullyâ doesnât suit his arrival, though. His gaze flits briefly between each of you before he heads straight to the back, giving you both a noncommittal wave as you greet him.
When the door shuts behind the brute, Satoru turns to you. He grimaces, faux empathy shining in cerulean seas. âThe weather report was right.â
The day passes so quickly with Satoru even without a single customer entering the store that the rest of the day feels like a slog without him. Or maybe it just feels like a slog because Sukuna makes it clear he wants nothing to do with you. He even stayed in the back until Satoru had to leave in spite of the changes in their regular schedules just to train you.
Heâs not even that unfriendly with Satoru either from what the kinder of the two told you. He tried to reason that your tattooed co-worker simply isnât fond of new people, but youâre pretty sure your inexperience grates on his nerves.
And unfortunately, every little slip up seems to tack on. Your shifts with Satoru are a breeze that leaves you grinning bashfully over your new crush while your shifts with Sukuna have you questioning every life choice youâve ever made.
Your first weekend closing shift with Sukuna, youâre pretty sure you confirm your suspicions that he simply doesnât like you.
The bell rings overhead as a tall man with dark hair walks through the door. You greet him and offer a hand, but his gait is purposeful as he heads into the back after flashing ID. Passing the time by fiddling with a pen as Sukuna stares blankly at the door with a hand lazily strewn over his textbook page, your gaze lifts when the man returns.
âExcuse me. Do you know the difference between thisââ he shows you a bullet vibrator, âand this?â He holds up a hitachi wand next, âaside from size?â
Your jaw hangs open stupidly as you try to formulate a response but find yourself at a loss when size seems like the reasonable answer. Feeling your face flush, you glance sidelong at the business major.
If looks could kill.
The worst part? Itâs not even glare.
Itâs the most unfiltered and raw disappointment youâve ever seen.
He huffs, pushing up from the counter. âThe bullet is discreet but weak. It takes batteries and they usually only last for five hours overall. Itâs still a good amount of use, but they might be watch batteries, which can be a pain.â He shoots you a pointed stare that makes you wonder if you would rather have just embarrassed yourself in front of Satoru in spite of your crush. âThe wand is rechargeable, way stronger, lasts about fifteen hours, and has a lot more vibration modes,â he explains confidently.
The man nods, setting the bullet aside as he brings the wand to the counter. Over the course of the past few days, Sukunaâs taken most of the floor-related duties away from you in spite of the fact that you have tried to do some research and are getting to know the sections and general genres of toys. That question simply didnât come up. Yet for all of the times heâs made a motion for you to take over cash, he doesnât even offer it this time.
You get the feeling this goes beyond his usual irritation.
You can practically feel it radiating off of him in waves of negative energy.
The moment the customer walks out the door, Sukunaâs palm splays across the counter as he turns with frustrating evenness to face you. Somehow his ability to keep his actions level while being visibly affronted is worse than if he would have just yelled.
âDo you think youâre cute for making my job harder or did you just apply for the wrong fucking job?â
Okay. Fuck this guy.
âYou canât be serious right now.â
He lifts his hands in a loose shrug. âDo I look like Iâm kidding?â He replies, dry and even with venomous fangs.
You scoff, but relent nonetheless given that he is close to the storeâs owner and you can not afford to lose this job.
Literally.
You canât call a scoop of peanut butter dinner again.
âLook, Iâm sorry, this is justââ you hesitate, your mind muddled as you search for an explanation. Sighing in exasperation, you throw your hands up, letting them fall to your sides with a plop against your jeans. You settle on the truth before you take too long to reply. âSex toys are new to me.â
His jaw ticks as he leans his hip back against the counter, arms crossing over his chest. Somehow, he makes Satoru look smallâ not thin or short, but smallâ given how much bulkier he is. Heâs hot too, but his personality stands as a bit of a wall between you. His jaw works, eyes narrowed as he takes in your words.
At last, he chuckles. Dry and devoid of any amusement. âWhy the fuck did you apply here if you donât know anything about the shit we sell?â
âBecause I need a job?â You reply incredulously.
He huffs a sigh. âJust my fucking luck.â He turns back to the register, haphazardly tossing the receipt into a small bin under the counter before he grabs the bullet vibrator and heads out onto the floor. âFigure that shit out,â he calls sourly without looking back at you. âWatch porn or buy something, I donât give a shit. Just donât make my job harder.â
Leaning back against the counter where it meets the wall, you let your head fall back in disbelief.
Asshole.
â
You wish you could say your first month passes seamlessly, but Sukuna makes the seams painfully obvious.
With Satoru, theyâre subtle but you still feel them.
They both present separate problems.
Sukuna is an outright asshole and you want to get things right if only to not hear his virulent voice. The silence is somehow better.
Satoru is kind, open, and caring, but leagues ahead of you in experience and you have a massive crush. There arenât enough customers in the morning to embarrass yourself in front of him, but you do find yourself wanting to impress him and against your better judgement, youâre pretty sure youâve given him the impression you know what youâre doing from what little research youâve done and what youâve picked up over the month.
At least youâre trained enough that you get a couple of hours to yourself between Satoruâs departure and Sukunaâs arrival now that their hours arenât extended in order to train you.
âYou gonna be okay on your own?â Satoru asks, shrugging his jacket over his shoulder.
âIâll be fine,â you brush him off with a smile.
He nudges your arm, unknowingly sending goosebumps in a trail up your skin. âGood. Text me if you need something. Or, I dunno. If youâre bored.â
Your heart does a little flip. âYeah. Okay, thanks.â
You watch bashfully as he leaves, offering a little wave. Once heâs out of sight, you lean on your forearms over the counter. With a forlorn sigh, you drop your chin to the vinyl below, staring blankly out the window. Truthfully, itâs nice to have a breather between each man. You need the time to prepare yourself to handle Sukuna.
Your mindâs distraction comes in the form of your phone buzzing a few minutes later.
1:36 PM Satoru || not bored yet? ;)
A distraction to be sure. Whether itâs fortunate or notâ yet to be determined.
The door seems to be opening more and more with him these days and as giddy as that makes you, nerves are beginning to show more and more at the seams. Itâs foolish really, and you know that, but you find yourself constantly coming back to your lack of experience.
1:37 PM You || Give me like 5 more minutes and then I will be
You can practically hear the laugh he barks, having grown fond of his company.
Youâre still casually texting back and forth when Sukunaâs shoulder presses on the door. He moves confidently through the shop, casting a single glance at you before dropping his bag off in the back room.
Heâs still a pain in the ass, but Satoru was right that you do get used to it. Youâre not sure that youâd call that a win, but at least youâve come to some sort of silent agreement with him out of sheer necessity.
He didnât leave you with many options after realizing just how little you know about the industry. When he got in the following day and returned your greeting with a painfully mild âdonât botherâ, you had to figure out some sort of system that would prevent him from interacting with you altogether if it means his attitude is milder.
Thatâs how you landed here. He handles the floor and questions, you handle cash. You can tell he hates the arrangement given that heâs not a chatty guy, but at least you arenât pinned in place by his vile appraisal every time you interact.
Heâs civil.
Civil enough.
Most of the time.
For him, anyway.
Heâs less judgemental, at least, and when you are able to help on the floor, he tends to leave you be more often than not. Itâs like the loosest form of appreciation you can think of.
Youâre pretty sure âtoleratesâ is a fitting word for how he sees you. Like some sort of intrusive insect that sits just out of reach.
When he re-emerges from the back with his coat shrugged off, youâre surprised to see him in a black button-up and slacks, carrying his usual aloof expression as he makes his way to the counter. Admittedly, itâs a good look for him.
Itâs unfair that he gets to be hot and an asshole.
âIs there a reason youâre staring?â
Thank god you donât find him intimidating anymore. Heâs a dick. Even to customers from time to time, but you donât find yourself feeling small under his judgement. Maybe you should, but your ability to quickly bounce back could easily be placed at fault.
Blinking, you avert your gaze. âSorry. Iâm just not used to seeing you so dressed up.â
He examines your expression as though he suspects a lie in your words. âI had a presentation,â he explains, surprisingly open as he offers the explanation willingly.
Holy shit. Itâs the first sunny day in the Sukuna forecast.
âWhat sort of presentation?â
âA marketing pitch.â
âOh, nice.â You nod, trying to keep the peace. âHowâd it go?â
He nods, turning to the counter to open his laptop. âGood. Weâre gonna workshop it a bit, but Iâm hoping to pitch to investors soon.â Thereâs pride within the evenness of his voice that has you tilting your head, intrigued to get something genuine from him.
Leaning in, you push to see how much you can get from him. âLike, a startup idea?â You recall Satoru mentioning something of the sort.
His gaze fixes you from over his shoulder. You get the feeling with him that heâs always trying to read you. âYeah. A platform where people can pitch their businesses to customers within a certain distance without needing social media.â
âOh,â you blink, mildly surprised. âThatâs a really good idea.â
He hums, turning back to his laptop.
âYou donât really strike me as the CEO type, if Iâm being honest.â
âIâm not,â he agrees, surprisingly unbothered by the observation. You consider yourself lucky he doesnât take it as an insult. âIâd be looking for a co-founder to handle the personal, financial, and sales bullshit. Iâd run strategy and go-to-market.â
Admittedly, yeah. That suits him. Heâs sharp and straightforward, he seems like the type to be more inclined to work on strategy and run everything without the constant need for approval and help from others.
âThat sounds more your style. What made you think of the platform idea?â
He doesnât look back as he replies. âJust seemed like something that would make money.â
You recognize that as Sukuna being polite. Heâs shutting you down without a look that makes your skin crawl for once. You suppose itâs as good of a time as any to return to your texts. Your friend from back home has been religiously sending memes during your shifts to get you through the Sukuna days and today is no exception. You laugh at a few of them under your breath.
The day is as uneventful as usual. Sukuna even casts an approving glance in your direction when you correctly answer a customerâs question. Heâs not so bad when he isnât glaring every couple of minutes.
You pray the weather stays sunny in Sukunaland.
Shutting the register as a customer leaves, you turn back inside the store to find Sukuna back to work, hunched over his textbook and regurgitating the information into notes. You opt not to bother him, turning your attention instead to a flickering bulb in the back of the floor. Much like both men have chosen not to mention or fix it, you have too.
Turning your attention back to your phone, you cast a smile at your latest text from Satoru.
5:49 PM Satoru || howâs the pretty newbie handling our favorite co-worker??
5:53 PM You || The weather's looking surprisingly sunny today!!
5:54 PM Satoru || be on the lookout for rain. the weather can change on a dime
5:54 PM You || I can handle a bit of rain
5:55 PM Satoru || iâll bet you can ;)
There your stomach goes doing flips again. Your thumbs fiddle with the edges of your phone case, pulling at the plastic as you stare at the message with that horrible mix of nerves and your stomach tying in knots. You get so caught up in your own self-doubt, you donât realize youâre staring at Sukuna, busy with his own phone.
âWhat?â He gruffs, retaining that hint of annoyance.
âHm?â You blink, brought back to the present. Before you, Sukuna is leaning against the counter, phone in-hand as his jaw shifts left and right. His lip ring noticeably catches like heâs fiddling with it. âOh. Sorry.â With a shake of your head, you stare back down at your screen. Your gaze catches on the winky face. The underlying meaning behind it and his text. The impression youâve probably given off working at a sex toy boutique.
The goddamn butterflies, though. The same ones causing the wave of self-consciousness that you know is foolish. But fuck is it hard not to feel that way when Satoru is undeniably the kind of guy that has people hanging off his shoulder with little to no effort. Your experience shouldnât matter, but society has taught you to think otherwise.
âHey,â you speak up on impulse before your mind can catch up to the move your mouth is already making. You canât be certain whether itâs bravery or stupidity. âYou know a lot about what we sell, right?â
His eyes narrow, minute. Just enough to catch your attention. âYeah. Iâm good at my job.â
The dig at your knowledge has you pressing your lips together. God, heâs frustrating. âAsshole.â His brow raises slightly, like something he once deemed uninteresting or unuseful has caught his attention and heâs appraising the situation to find if youâre deserving of it. âIs there, like⊠a way to improve without watching porn?â You query, worrying your lip between your teeth.
No longer engrossed in his laptop upon noticing your stare, Sukunaâs gaze bores into you. He doesnât particularly make you uneasy now like he did when you first started, but it is sharp in spite of the evenness behind it. âI told you. Buy toys.â
You suppose you could have been a bit more specific. âNo, I know that. A lot of them need a partner, though.â
He waves his hand in disinterest through the air like youâve already answered your own question and heâs done entertaining any more. âFind one, then.â Heâs already looking away as he replies.
You suck in a breath. âIâm from a small town. I just moved here, I donât really know anyone.â
Sukuna just stares at you again like he expects you to figure it out yourself. His arms cross over his chest, his hip leaned against the counter. Itâs not until the air turns stifling, your words hanging a hair too long as you meet his gaze that he cuts the tension with a disbelieving laugh.
âYouâre asking me?â You canât make heads or tails of his expression when it sits somewhere between disbelief and intrigue. Itâs akin to the look you got upon calling him an asshole.
âNo! Orâ maybe? I donât know.â The wince you shoot him is humiliating as you try to navigate the stormy seas youâve set yourself sailing through.
âWhy donât you go ask Satoru?â He queries, pushing a hand back through his black-dyed locks like this question was never meant for him. Still, his tone doesnât give off the impression that heâs irritated by you, so much as something more curious in nature.
Your gaze averts as your jaw hangs open in a frustrating moment of hesitation. Briefly glancing at the texts sitting in your hand is the only tell Sukuna needs, unfortunately able to read you like a book for some god forsaken reason.
âYouâve got to be fucking with me,â he chuckles, airy and amused. He pushes up off the counter, taking a step towards you like heâs laying out a challenge. âYou donât give a shit about the job. Youâre trying to impress that fucker.â He rakes his tongue over his teeth, standing over you like he owns this damn conversation.
You cross your arms over your chest, fixing him with your own judgement. âYou donât have to make a big deal out of it.â
He pushes a condescending breath through his nose, smiling with nothing but mockery. âI donât, but Iâm gonna. You two would hit it off.â
Frowning, you opt to not give him the reaction he wants. Your nails dig into the skin of your arm. âI think I liked you better when you didnât talk as much.â
âMost people do,â he smirks. He steps forward, hands in his pockets as he leans over you. âYou still want me to teach you a thing or two, sweetheart?â His tone drips with condescension now that the person he once saw as little more than a pain in his ass has become something he can toy with.
You roll your eyes. You hadnât expected your quiet co-worker to be this kind of an asshole. Why couldnât he just say no and move on? Where did all the theatrics come from? âWhy are you such a dick?â
âAnswer the question,â he deflects, unbothered and painfully egotistical.
You huff, staring at the lemon-shaped vibrator sitting atop the counter that youâve been contemplating buying for the last hour. âFine. Yeah, I do.â
He blows a breath through his nose, standing upright again once heâs gotten your admission in his hands. âWhatâs in it for me?â The way he stands over you, chin tilted, and eyes narrowed, makes you huff.
You hadnât exactly thought that far ahead. Hell, you didnât expect to even voice your thoughts out loud. You barely even know enough about him to offer him anything. âI took business as a minor,â you suggest. âI could tutor you.â
âNah, Iâm set.â
You shrug, exasperated. Your hands wave uselessly through the air before plopping back down at your sides. âWhat do you want, then?â
He regards you with a thoughtful expression. âIâll train you to close. Doesnât matter what youâre doing, if I ask you to take my shift, you drop whatever youâre doing and take it.â
You shift your jaw to the left, chewing on the inside of your cheek. You expected worse.
âAnd you donât tell Jillian or Satoru you took my shift. I keep the money.â
Ah. Thereâs the âworseâ you expected.
Frowning, you give the nerves in the pit of your stomach a moment to settle over making a deal with the devil. You want to say figuratively but you arenât so sure. âFine.â You extend your hand, but the man shakes his head, frowning.
âRules first, then we shake.â He holds up his pointer. âDonât tell a soul. Not even your friends back home.â Another finger. âNo kissing. No making out. No sex.â He holds up a third finger. âThis isnât a little romantic fantasy thing. This isnât a relationship. Donât call this shit friends with benefits or fuck buddies, either. Weâre not friends. Donât expect anything cute from me. Got that?â
You donât bother holding back a scoff. âI wasnât going to, trust me.â
He smirks, unbothered. âGood.â His hand extends first this time.
For a long moment, you stare. You contemplate your life choices. You debate just ignoring your fears with Satoru and praying you can play the role of having experience. You equally contemplate just telling him you have no experience and that youâre nervous.
But somehow, the way nerves churn your stomach makes the butterflies worse. You want to squash them. You want to impress Satoru.
And you know. You know itâs stupid. You know you shouldnât have to impress him, but the heart and mind donât always connect, do they?
Against your better judgement, you clasp hands with him. You go to do the actual motion of a handshake but he keeps your hand in place. When your gaze raises to meet his in a silent question, heâs scrutinizing every little movement in your features.
His expression doesnât hold the condescension you expect. His gaze is devoid of amusement, fixated on the frown you bear. âYou really sure about this?â
You donât hesitate to nod.
His eyes narrow a sliver. âWell, aren't you full of surprises?â Thereâs that hint of assholery. âOne more rule.â His hand remains unmoving, still clasped with yours as he holds your gaze. âEither of us can shut this down at any time. It still never gets mentioned.â
You nod. âAgreed.â
Finally, he goes through with shaking your hand. âWhen are you looking to start?â
Your nose wrinkles at the way he makes it sound. âDo you have to say it like itâs aâ I donât know, job or something?â
âOh, my bad,â he sneers, his grin too proud. âWhen do you wanna get fucked?â
You shouldnât have asked.
Pulling your hand away from him, you rub your temples. Youâre definitely not about to prod any further, lest he get more vulgar. âIâm free tonââ
âNot tonight,â he interrupts. âI got someone coming over to study.â
Scheduling ahead doesnât sit right with you either. âCan we just decide during shifts? See how weâre feeling?â
âWhatever suits you,â he shrugs. The mild arrogance to his tone is⊠another can of worms to unpack, but as your colleague turns back to his studies, you only have one question for yourself.
What the hell have you gotten yourself into?
main masterlist || series masterlist || next âȘą
ౚৠa/n ; i hope you enjoyed the first chapter of what will be a VERY kinky series LOLOL. i'm having a lot of fun with these two so far and i hope you are too <3
as a note, i'm trying moving tags to another blog which some of you may have seen due to changes in how tumblr's bot detection system is working, so please bear with me while i figure out how to not get my account flagged while doing taglists đ edit; it's not working. if you weren't tagged, bear with me while i try to figure it out :')
ౚৠtaglist ; OPEN. age must be visible in bio. 18+ only. @gojosoups @yenayaps @m3owr3ow @tohru-tales @crimzie129 @lostgxrlblog @sterzin @scaraamo @sunyomz @norahlolzz @whateverineedsblog @buttclencher28 @blueemochii @pequnopastel @cupidxml @saintdilucc @officiallydrunk @yvannaille @brazzigy @ilovebeansyay @deewrites01 @martianzmars @volleyballgirl2022 @mtchamnsta @astrokenny @ge3ked @ri-sa20 @heichouaack @iluvgetosuguru @winkii @dishs0pe @renoamio @slutty-chronicles @elixoq @bam-boozledx @serinabean @schnunny @yoniknows @k1yomee @14pxa @imrandomstuffsblog @sixeyes0607 @tokyolhtl @ellybell2 @lalilou21 @weiiraru @torusangelface @hastletea @naomikozura @crunchycathy
writing, format & dividers © starmapz. art © ackshuallyvalerie. do not repost, translate, or copy.
it doesn't make sense
for your entertainment - r. sukuna
ౚৠexperienced!sukuna x virgin f!reader [adult boutique au] - ongoing series
â chasing your dreams isn't all it's cracked up to be. your apartment shakes when the train passes and eating a scoop of peanut butter and calling it girl dinner is getting depressing. when you finally manage to land a job at a store that sells sex toys, it's possibly the biggest relief of your life. there's just one issue: you're a virgin. you don't know the first thing about toys and you don't want your cute and flirty white-haired co-worker to know. against your better judgement, you find yourself turning to your other co-worker for lessons and learn the hard way he's just as much of an asshole in bed as he is at work. â
ౚৠcw ; mdni, 18+ only. smut. fwb but you aren't friends. slow burn romance/fast burn smut. sukuna is 23ish, reader is 24/25ish. reader is sexually reserved but confident, nerdy, and a band geek. arrogant!sukuna. dom!sukuna. mild corruption. size difference. piv (protected & unprotected). sex toys. dildos. vibrators. sybians. shibari & bondage. restraint. gags. butt plugs. fingering. cock rings. clit stimulants. g-spot stimulants. nipple clamps. remote controlled vibrator. lubes. sex games. blindfolds. aphrodisiacs. biting. marking. possession. dick piercings & tattoos. established safe word. used safe word. loss of virginity. oral (f! and m!). handjob. dacryphilia. mating press. overstimulation. cum play. manhandling. edging. sensory deprivation. (mutual) masturbation (f! and m!). choking. mild love triangle with gojo.
i aim to spread sex positivity, explore the effects of the stigma around virginity, and educate on safety in exploring kinks :)
ౚৠwc ; estimated 100k.
ౚৠa/n ; art by ackshuallyvalerie <3 shoutout to @/yenayaps for sukuna dick piercing brain worms <33
ao3 || wattpad || main masterlist
1 âč àŁȘ untouched - coming soon! 2 âč àŁȘ coming soon
ౚৠtaglist ; OPEN. age must be visible in bio. 18+ only. permatags will be tagged in chapters.
writing, format & dividers © starmapz. art © ackshuallyvalerie. do not repost, translate, or copy.
Drawing sukuna again after like an year
ghostface x itafushi

