darker instincts. - ryomen sukuna
pairing: reader x modern!Sukuna, f!reader x Sukuna, mma!Sukuna x anxious reader
synopsis: you aren't sure how you got entangled with famous MMA fighter Ryomen Sukuna, and frankly you're baffled by his interest in you. you're from different worlds completely, and he's not what you need in your life...right? (god i suck at summaries).
content/warnings: MDNI, swearing, harassment, smut, graphic descriptions of violence, strangers to lovers, opposites attract, descriptions of social anxiety, pining, no use of y/n, flirting, not proof-read,
a/n: I started this a while ago and then I got writers block and then i hated it but i really wanted to post this. sorry if the ending is crappy and rushed but i invested too much time into it to just scrap it. Hope you enjoy! reader is inspired by my socially anxious ass. p.s Sukuna's walk out song is SpinDatBac by 42 Dugg
Ryomen Sukuna could hear the shouting and cheering. It rang in his ears as he walked out to the octagon, draped in a red velvet robe, hood pulled up to cover his pink hair. He could see hands reaching out for him, begging for a touch, an acknowledgement from the notorious King of Curses but Sukuna moved past them, ignoring them like they were insignificant insects, beneath him, every last one. He kept his gaze forward, crimson eyes dark as he shouldered his way to the cage, followed by his team of trainers and medics like a procession behind an emperor. The heavy bass of Sukuna’s walkout song blared over the speakers, barely heard above the roar of the crowd as Sukuna climbed into the cage, his trainer Uraume offering him a drink of water.
Sukuna sat in his corner, still not acknowledging the crowd, keeping dangerously calm and composed, staring down his opponent as hands pulled off his robe and massaged his shoulders in preparation. Sukuna threw some water down his throat, eyes still on the opposite corner, flinging the bottle down as he heaved himself to his feet.
He didn’t pay attention as the referee made the introductions, didn’t care when he heard the crowd scream louder for his title being called, just moved forward to the centre of the cage when he was motioned forward. Sukuna stared down his opponent, some asshole with electric blue hair whose name he had already forgotten. They made quick eye-contact, the other with a cocky smirk on his face, which Sukuna met with an impassive, almost bored look. The two fighters touched gloves, Sukuna never skipped that, then he went back to his corner. His team slipped away, until it was just him and the other fighter, along with the ref.
As Sukuna waited, bouncing lightly on his heels, raising his gloves hands in front of his face, he took a deep breath in…then out, calming the excited pounding of his heart, the voice inside him screaming for blood.
Then when the horn blared, Sukuna rushed forward.
You’d never been to an MMA fight before. It wasn’t exactly your scene, at all, but when your friend Choso, who just so happened to be close with Sukuna, had practically begged you to come along, who were you to say no? Free tickets? Front-row seats to chaos and violence? You had an open mind after all.
You remained seated, clutching onto your drink for dear life as the crowd around you surged to their feet, screaming out Ryomen Sukuna’s name. You kept your gaze forward, unable to tear your eyes away from the cage holding the two fighters that were going at each other.
Sukuna moved with deadly precision, smooth as a panther, a sick, twisted grin on his face as he advanced on his opponent, Kashimo. His steps never faltered, his punches always landed, the corded muscles on his expansive, tattooed, back rippling as he fought. Sukuna was fast, spinning with expert, focused timing, powerful kicks barely being held back by Kashimo. The pink-haired fighter was relentless, backing the other into a corner as he got up in his face, landing an elbow strike on Kashimo’s chin with a sickening crack.
Kashimo struggled to keep up, obviously outclassed, trying every so often to take Sukuna down with a clinch or a trip takedown. Sukuna toyed with the blue-haired man, feinting, spinning and sending a backkick to Kashimo’s face. He was a walking natural disaster, calamity in human skin as he took hit after hit from Kashimo like a tank getting shot at by pebbles. You stiffened as you watched, every so often flinching at the sound of fists landing on flesh. Sukuna cackled, goading his opponent with a deep, raspy growl. Kashimo spat out blood, chest heaving as he sank down into the corner. The seconds on the clock counted down the minute-long break, but Sukuna stayed on his feet, rolling out the muscles in his shoulder.
The fight didn't last very much longer, the crowd roaring their approval as Sukuna wrestled Kashimo to the ground with incredible speed and force, using his huge legs to catch the other man in a triangle choke. You had to look away as you heard Sukuna land blow after blow on Kashimo’s face and could only look back when the horn blared, signalling the end. Sukuna was on his feet, pulling up a ruined Kashimo to give him a fist-bump. He raised his arms as the ref shouted out his victory, crimson eyes taking in the cheers from the crowd. Blood was splattered across his abdomen, not his own of course, and his face had returned to his impassive look of quiet calm from before.
You felt a shiver run up your spine, the smell of sweat and blood filling your nose as the crowd jumped to their feet. You didn’t know quite what to think, but mostly you felt sympathy for whatever loved ones these fighters had that were watching. Who could possibly find this entertaining? Violence for sport, you knew it had been part of human history since the dawn of time, but you wondered what it could do to someone, and what kind of man Ryomen Sukuna was, knowing his own ability he had to hurt someone.
You hadn’t meant to go with Choso to the afterparty at Sukuna’s huge, gated mansion, but he was personal friends with the fighter, and now you had personally met Ryomen Sukuna as the rap music deafened your ears.
If you could call it meeting Sukuna.
He had barely noticed you as Choso introduced you, both arms draped across the shoulders of a pair of pretty blondes that paid more attention to you than he did. To be fair, you’d been unable to make eye-contact with Sukuna for even a moment, your heart racing in your chest like you were being held at gun-point, but you hadn’t expected much from meeting the King of Curses.
You stuck close to Choso’s side, heavily regretting attending as you watched Sukuna get surrounded by his cronies and adoring fans. He sported a lazy smirk on his face, barely interested in the festivities as he downed a shot that had been offered to him. You weren’t really sure what you had expected actually, but you supposed this seemed about right for an MMA star.
After a while of being jostled around by the crowd of people at the party, you managed to excuse yourself to Choso, mumbling about finding the bathroom. You shoved through the crowd in desperate need of air as the haze of alcohol and smoke choked at you, and finally managed to slip away into a dark hall and you pushed a door open to find yourself outside. You took a deep breath in through your nostrils, filling your lungs with the sweet scent of the summer night air. Wrapping your arms around your shoulders, you leaned against the wall, trying to calm your anxiety-riddled thoughts.
You often felt like you didn’t belong, especially in social interactions, and most of the time you could check yourself and recognize it was the social anxiety talking, but this time you knew this really wasn't your scene. You reached for the railing of the balcony, taking a step forward, but a dark figure out of the corner caught your eye and you jumped about three feet in the air as Ryomen Sukuna knelt forward in his chair, elbows resting on his knees as he eyed you.
Sukuna wasn’t injured at all, the punches from his opponent clearly hadn't had much of an effect on him, but he seemed weary. He raised his tattooed fingers to his mouth, taking a drag from his cigarette and his eyebrow piercings glinted in the light of the fairy lights hung above the balcony. You panicked a bit, fumbling with your bag as you gave Sukuna a sheepish look.
‘’S-sorry-’’ You excused yourself, ‘’Didn’t know anyone was out here.’’ You inwardly cursed yourself for sounding like a damn scaredy-cat, especially in front of a man like Ryomen Sukuna. It was strange to place this man sitting near you with the fighter who had beaten Kashimo into a pulp only a couple of hours ago.
‘’You’re Choso’s friend, right?’’ His voice came out as a croon, low and rough, smoke billowing from his nostrils as he tilted his head to look at you. Sukuna’s eyes roved over your form, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes, but his lips didn’t change from his straight faced-serious look. You stopped, chewing nervously on your lip.
‘’Oh, yeah.’’ You mumbled a reply, repeating your name because you knew Sukuna obviously didn’t remember it. You didn't blame him. ‘’Just needed some air.’’ You explained, nervously glancing at the doorway, trying to find a not-so-awkward way of excusing yourself before you embarrassed yourself in front of Sukuna. Sukuna’s eyes narrowed.
‘’You watched my fight.’’ Sukuna said, not a question but an observation. You just nodded. ‘’Your first time watching MMA?’’
‘’Is it that obvious?’’ You chuckled lightly, your fingers fumbling with the hem of your skirt.
‘’You look like I’m about to attack you.’’ Sukuna drawled, taking another hit, the embers of his cigarette dimly lighting up his face, ‘’You scared?’’ He sounded like he was making fun of you. You shifted uncomfortably on your feet under his red stare.
‘’I’m-I’m not scared of you, if that’s what you mean.’’ You replied, waving your hand, ‘’Just haven’t consumed enough alcohol to function like a normal person at a party like this.’’ You offered Sukuna an apologetic smile. He dropped his cigarette to the ground, crushing it under his boot and he got to his feet. You craned your neck as he got to his full height, he just kept going, and going, and going. What kind of freak was that tall?
‘’Function like a normal person, huh?’’ Sukuna rumbled, leaning against the railing, crossing his arms in front of his huge chest. His eyes studied you like he’d never seen a person before and the thought crossed your mind that this could be some sort of intimidation tactic. You rubbed the back of your neck awkwardly.
‘’Yeah, you know, this really isn’t my scene.’’ You said and Sukuna snorted.
‘’I can tell.’’ He said, his lips forming into a slight smirk, ‘’Did you enjoy watching the fight?’’ Your mouth went dry as Sukuna asked you the question. You swallowed thickly, managing to meet his gaze.
‘’Honestly…it was kinda stressful to watch.’’ You replied honestly, ‘’Not to say you weren’t impressive, because you were, really, really impressive, good job by the way, but I mean-I’ve never understood the appeal of watching people hurt others for entertainment, you know? No offence…’’ You were rambling, and mentally kicked yourself as you trailed off, wanting the floor to open up underneath your feet and swallow you whole. You chanced a glance up at Sukuna, thinking he’d be offended, but his shoulders shook slightly as he chuckled.
‘’You think it’s about hurting the other person?’’ Sukuna asked, looking down at you as he took a step closer. You caught a whiff of his manly, dark cologne.
‘’Isn't it?’’ You asked, surprised at the slight challenging tone in your voice, ‘’You seemed to be enjoying it, when you were up there.’’
‘’Sure, I have fun in the cage.’’ Sukuna mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. He moved slowly, almost carefully. ‘’But it’s less about hurting someone else and more about testing my own limits. Walking the line between mastery and chaos.’’ A slight breeze tugged at your hair as you watched Sukuna talk. You blinked in surprise at the turn the conversation had taken.
‘’Mastery?’’ you echoed, feeling a little stupid.
‘’It’s hard to explain to someone who’s probably never thrown a punch in their life.’’ Sukuna said, teasing you, giving you a glance, ‘’Every fight is like a test for me, a test to see how much I can push myself, push my limits, see what I’m capable of. A real opponent I’m up against helps me improve. That’s what I enjoy.’’
‘’Pushing your physical abilities or…is there something else?’’ You dared to ask after a moment of silence. Sukuna turned to face you, intense stare boring into you. For a moment you swore you hadn't seen him look so interested in something all night. Up close you could see he was handsome, snakebite piercings on his lips curling up as he smirked.
‘’What’s this something else you’re insinuating, sweetheart?’ Sukuna asked, but he looked like he already knew what you were going to say. He was leaning closer to you, forearms resting on the railing in front of him but he was looking at you like you were the most amusing thing on the planet. You were thankful for the dim light that hid the hint of a blush on your cheeks.
‘’Aggression…violence…those qualities necessary to do the things you do in that cage.’’ You murmured. You had to break eye-contact with Sukuna, and you swiveled to look up at the night sky. ‘’Mastery versus chaos. That’s what you mean.’’ You heard Sukuna exhale through his nose beside you but he was quiet.
‘’You put it better than I would.’’ Sukuna finally said with a sigh. His shoulder was brushing yours now and you tried not to think about it too hard, ‘’Sounds cheesy but every fighter knows they have those darker instincts inside them. Some try to deny it, pretend to be someone they aren't. Others revel in it, lose who they are to the fight and eventually it’s the only way they know how to function. For me, I acknowledge it. I lean into it and use it to channel everything I got. It takes focus. Precision.’’ You listened to Sukuna intently, nodding at his words as he rubbed his bruised knuckles.
‘’Makes a lot of sense when you explain it like that.’’ You said softly, ‘’You’ve trained to stay composed, in control of who you are so that you’re aware of what you’re capable of.’’ You looked back at Sukuna to find that he was staring at you, a curious look on his face. His mouth twitched, but before he could say anything else the door to the balcony burst open and a gaggle of people looking for a place to smoke cut through the comfortable silence. They were too drunk to notice you and Sukuna, and the pink-haired fighter shot them a look over his shoulder.
‘’Anyway,’’ You said, trying a little too hard to seem casual in an attempt to shake off the little spell Sukuna had put you under with his watchful eyes, ‘’I gotta say, getting insight from an expert like you sure has made MMA a lot more interesting for me.’’ You joked, a small smile growing on your lips. Sukuna grinned in a way that made your heart flutter. Your eyes travelled over his broad shoulders, watching as he leaned down, face inches from yours.
‘’That so?’’ He rumbled, voice oozing seduction without probably meaning to, ‘’I’ve piqued your interest, hm, princess?’’ You did what you always did when you were nervous and you laughed it off. Guy probably princess’ed his way into most girls' pants. Your phone buzzed with a text from Choso, letting you know that your uber was outside. Sukuna’s eyes flicked down then back up to your face.
‘’I’m gonna head out, but it was really nice talking to you Sukuna. Thanks for the party and for the chat.’’ You said politely, letting go of the railing. Suddenly, Sukuna’s hand shot out, wrapping his large, warm fingers around your wrist.
‘’Have I convinced you to come watch another one of my fights?’’ He asked, holding you in place. His grip was surprisingly gentle for a man you’d seen easily pummel another into the ground with his fists. You felt your face flush and you nodded a little too quickly.
‘’Yeah, sure.’’ You croaked out, looking down to stare at where his hand wrapped around your wrist. Sukuna chuckled, letting go of you and taking a step back.
Sukuna was trying his very best not to sound like a pathetic simp when he picked up his phone to give Choso a call, but it really wasn’t working out in his favour. Choso’s questioning voice came through the phone as Sukuna chewed on his bottom lip, frustration thrumming in his veins.
‘’Yeah man, just give me her fuckin’ number.’’ Sukuna was growling into the phone, ‘’What do you mean why? Cause I want it, that’s why.’’
‘’I seriously didn’t think she was your type.’’ Choso chuckled as he sent Sukuna your contact info, and Sukuna felt his hand tighten around his phone when he felt it vibrate with the notification.
‘’Just shut up.’’ Sukuna scowled, ‘’I’m inviting her myself to my next fight, now leave me the fuck alone.’’ He hung up, cutting off Choso’s annoying laugh. Sukuna’s thumb hovered over your phone number, debating whether he should call or text you. He was highly irritated right now. He hadn't been able to get you out of his damn mind since the party three days ago. No amount of sparring, lifting, or ice baths could take his mind off you for long, you just crept back into the crevices of his thoughts. Sukuna hadn't spent too much time with you, but he could remember the way your voice sounded, how good you smelt, and how your big eyes glittered in the dim light of the balcony as you listened to him. He creeped your social media, which thankfully was public (he’d have to remind you to change that), getting a couple glances into what your life was like.
When you had been introduced to him that night, Sukuna hadn’t noticed you much. He was too busy, distracted by the high of his victory, the cheering and all the attention. You were just a random friend of Choso’s. Then he’d gotten a closer look and he’d found it increasingly difficult to keep his eyes off of you. Sukuna scoffed as he remembered the moments after you left the party. He ended the night like he usually did, with another girl in his bed, and it had done the trick for a while, but it wasn't long before he started to wonder what your lips tasted like instead.
Sukuna spun his phone in his fingers. It shouldn’t be too hard for him to get what he wanted, then for sure, he wouldn’t be so distracted anymore. He wasn't sure what it was about you that intrigued him so much. You were without a doubt, very pretty, your honesty and openness making you easy to talk to. You were so different from the people he usually surrounded himself with, so he chalked it up to simple curiosity.
As Sukuna typed out his message to you, he told himself he’d have to apologize to Choso later for going after his friend.
(unknown number): i’m sending you a pass for my next fight. Be there, and I'll show you just how entertaining the sport can be.
You felt your stomach tighten as you read the text. It was Sukuna, obviously, and you wondered how he got your number. Did he have people for this kind of thing? To track down girls’ numbers? Your fingers nervously typed out and deleted a message three times. You weren’t sure what the hell was going on. What dream (or nightmare) did you wake up to where a pro MMA athlete was texting you and inviting you to his fights? Well, he didn’t invite you really, more like he demanded your appearance. You shot a text to Choso first to see if he was going. Like hell you were attending alone. You swiped back to Sukuna’s conversation once you received confirmation from him.
(You): see you then. Thanks for the invite :)
Short and friendly. Perfect. You almost jumped out of your skin when you saw the three little dots pop up on your screen, signalling that Sukuna was already texting you back.
(unknown number): you’ll be like a little good luck charm.
Your face heated up, turning off your phone and flinging it onto the couch, your heart pounding. Whatever this was, it couldn’t be good. You’d spent years sifting through situationship after situationship, finally figuring out who you were, what you wanted. A famous MMA fighter flirting with you didn't fit in this self-healing journey of yours, but before you could get too ahead of yourself, you paused. You shouldn’t assume anything about Sukuna. Maybe he was just being friendly.
Okay, so maybe he wasn’t just being friendly.
You shifted on your feet as you watched Sukuna accept the thunderous applause from the crowd after yet another victory. He was shirtless, sweat making his muscled torso gleam under the lights of the stadium, and he swung around, flexing his huge biceps that made your stomach flutter. He caught your eye, winking as he smirked. Women in your vicinity screamed, and you had to laugh, shaking your head as Choso leaned into your ear to tease you, ‘’looks like he likes you.’’
Sukuna had given an incredible performance, having you on the edge of your seat for every minute. This time you didn’t glance away, even when his opponent managed to land some good punches to his jaw. You still didn’t exactly enjoy watching the fight, but you could see what Sukuna had meant. Watching him was like watching a wild animal, but his control blew you away. He was an artist, fluid movements almost graceful as he beat the other fighter to a pulp, harnessing all his power into his fists.
‘’How did I do?’’ Sukuna’s rumble made you look up at him. He had pulled you into the locker room after the fight, telling Choso he’d show you around, but he just plopped himself down on the bench, towel slung over his broad shoulders, watching you.
‘’You’re asking me?’’ You laughed softly, fingers fiddling with the hem of your shirt, ‘’I’m not an expert.’’ Sukuna chuckled, a low and dangerous sound that made your heart beat faster.
‘’I still wanna know your thoughts.’’ He replied, leaning back on his hands. You chewed the inside of your cheek.
‘’It’s…bloody,’’ You began, glancing at his bruised and bloodied cheek, ‘’But the more I paid attention, the more I thought you were pretty incredible. It’s interesting, seeing how you calculate every move, thinking through the fight even when everything is moving so fast.’’ Sukuna blinked, momentarily silent as you watched a slow smirk grow on his face.
‘’You’re very observant.’’ He mused, getting up from his seat. He wiped at the blood on his cheek as he took a step closer to you, ‘’Did you also observe how I was showing off a bit for you?’’ Like you did with most situations where you didn’t know how to act, you laughed it off.
‘’That was you showing off?’’ You asked, ‘’Didn’t know you were so eager to convert me into an MMA fan.’’
‘’Whatever gets you to come to more of my fights.’’ Sukuna replied smoothly, crimson eyes boring into yours, ‘’I could use a good luck charm, you know.’’ You inhaled sharply as the big man took another step closer, towering over you now, an irritatingly handsome smirk painted on his lips.
‘’Good luck charm? I’m sure you have a couple of those already.’’ You teased, your fingers nervously toying with your necklace. Sukuna snorted, but didn’t reply to that.
‘’You’re coming to the party, right?’’ He asked, sounding almost impatient to find out. You hummed.
‘’Oh, I don’t know, I’ve got an early morning tomorrow-’’ You began to protest, but Sukuna raised an eyebrow, interrupting you.
‘’You’re coming.’’ Was all he said, a knowing look in his crimson eyes as he turned away from you to get changed. You could hear his laugh from behind you as you stumbled out of the room to give him privacy, cheeks burning. You always had a hard time saying no to people.
As the alcohol flowed through your veins, and the music boomed in your ears, you suddenly recalled what it was like to be a normal, sociable person. Sukuna threw down another shot with you, his big hand warm on your shoulder as he kept you steady. Choso was there, your other friends as well, but in your buzzed state it was hard to escape Sukuna’s orbit. He pulled you in with the gravitational pull of the sun with the planets, and you let yourself be pulled. No harm in having a little fun, right?
You and Sukuna had stumbled into his room, laughing and giggling as he took another swig from a bottle of alcohol that had just been opened and was already half-empty. This wasn’t an out-of-control kind of drunk, but a fun, warm sensation that loosened your inhibitions and let you speak your mind freely. Sukuna showed you around his huge bedroom, pointing out his many trophies and UFC belts that he’d won. What you were most interested in was the pictures framed on his wall, pictures of him with his trainers, all at different ages. You laughed as you spotted one where he was just a lanky sixteen-year-old, pimples on his face, but the same lazy smirk.
‘’I can’t believe you had all those tattoos when you were that young.’’ You were saying, one finger tracing over the photo. Sukuna was right next to you, slightly wobbly on his feet, warmth radiating off his body as he leaned against you.
‘’As you can see my parents did not give a fuck.’’ He rasped, grinning from ear to ear. You burst out into a fit of giggles. ‘’Why are you laughing?’’ He asked, shoulders shaking as he started laughing as well.
‘’I don’t know-’’ You said breathlessly, clutching your aching sides, ‘’Just picturing sixteen year old Sukuna trembling in the tattoo shop.’’ You teased, and Sukuna growled, his arm snaking around your shoulders as you swayed.
‘’Brat,’’ He scoffed, ‘’I told you to call me by my first name.’’
‘’Ryomen?’’ You hummed, turning your head and looking up at him, ‘’So formal…why not Ryo? Does anyone call you Ryo? I think it sounds cute.’’ You were drunk, but not too drunk to appreciate how easy it was to be around Sukuna. God, maybe it was the alcohol, but he certainly wasn’t what you expected. Sukuna turned you so that you were facing him, leaning in a little closer, having to duck his head down to meet your gaze.
‘’No one calls me that, but I kind of like it when you say it.’’ He mumbled, his hands rubbing your arms. You giggled again, cheeks hot.
‘’Maybe I’ll start a trend, instead of Sukuna, the King of Curses you can be Ryo-’’ You were cut off suddenly by Sukuna crashing his lips down to yours, fingers tightening around your shoulders as he pulled you flush against him. You made a muffled sound of surprise, hands flying up to his chest. It happened so quickly, in an instant you were drowning in him, his earthy musky scent with a hint of his alluring cologne filled your senses, lips soft and hungry at the same time as he kissed you. His hands smoothed across your back, running up under your shirt, calloused fingers leaving a scorching trail of fire on your skin.
You were powerless against him, your mouth moving automatically to kiss him back before your better judgement could kick in, which it did, then you pushed back slightly. Your chest was heaving, and you managed to meet Sukuna’s gaze. ‘’W-wait-’’ You mumbled, trying to push him away but it was like trying to move a mountain. Sukuna wrapped his hand around your wrist, holding on tightly as he bent to kiss your neck.
‘’Let me kiss you.’’ He muttered darkly, his hot breath tickling your neck, lips leaving wet kisses on your sensitive skin. You couldn't pull away, couldn't move. You tilted your head back for him without thinking, caught under his spell once more and you felt his lips curl into grin against your throat.
‘’God, you’re cute.’’ Sukuna rasped, pushing you up against the wall, hands all over you. Squeezing your thighs, running up your stomach, sensual and captivating, those same hands that beat his opponents in the cage were the same ones that touched you with needy desperation. A tiny moan tumbled past your lips as Sukuna returned his attention to your mouth, nipping and biting, and your hands ran through his hair. You shivered when one of Sukuna’s hands hiked up your skirt, the other pulling up your shirt so he could squeeze your chest. Sudden realization dawned on you there, a sliver of rational thought making you wake up from the haze of want.
‘’We are not having sex,’’ You gasped into Sukuna’s mouth, and you felt his lips curve into a wicked smile.
‘’That’s fine,’’ He murmured, caressing your face softly like you were something delicate but his eyes were a raging storm, ‘’Just wanna touch you.’’ You groaned softly, resting your head against the wall as he caged you in, hulking body pressing into yours and forcing the air from your lungs. As much as you wanted him in that moment, there was still a sober part of you that was screaming at you to tread carefully. This man was from a different world and this didn’t make any sense whatsoever, but you supposed you could enjoy this one thing.
Sukuna pulled you to his huge, king-sized bed where you both tumbled onto the mattress, a flurry of limbs and giggles. He was on top of you now, one hand wrapped around your neck as he kissed you, messy, sloppy, fucking hot, the other dipping in between your legs. He laughed, eyes flickering back up to yours when he noticed how wet you were.
‘’You’re fucking dripping,’’ Sukuna crooned, his lips falling to your ear, ‘’Didn’t know you wanted me as bad as I want you, princess.’’ You bit your lip, trying to bite back the strangled moan as Sukuna slid two warm fingers between your folds, making your head spin.
‘’S-Sukuna-’’ You stammered, voice breathy and weak, your hand flying to his wrist. Sukuna kissed his teeth, biting down on your earlobe sharply.
‘’What did I tell you?’’ He scolded roughly, his thumb stroking your neck as he held you. He sank his fingers inside you, obscene wet sounds making you blush. ‘’Don’t call me that.’’
‘’Ryo.’’ You whined, bucking your hips up into his hand, and you swore you felt Sukuna shiver.
‘’Much better.’’ Sukuna kissed your jaw, fingers working their magic, and you felt that hot coil in your core tighten as you squirmed beneath him. ‘’Been waiting for this princess, thinking about this for days.’’ Sukuna continued to kiss you, your lips, your neck, leaving bruises you knew you’d have to cover up the next day, thumb toying with your clit and you felt yourself getting closer and closer to the edge. You were moaning, whimpering, almost begging him for release. His lips tasted so good, surprisingly sweet, and you chased them when he pulled away to look at you.
‘’Wanna watch you come on my fingers,’’ Sukuna drawled, ‘’Give it to me, princess, please-’’ His desperation made your eyes roll to the back of your head as you arched into his chest, body convulsing as the coil inside you finally snapped and a rushing wave of delirious pleasure crashed over you. Sukuna let out a low moan, peppering your neck and collarbone with soft kisses as you eased back onto the bed, heart still beating fast.
‘’Fuck.’’ You mumbled, blushing as you watched Sukuna lick his fingers, giving you an evil little smile as he rolled onto his side, running a hand through his disheveled hair. He must’ve finger-fucked the alcohol out of your system because you felt stone-cold sober now, suddenly feeling self-conscious and nervous as you hurriedly pulled your skirt down to cover yourself. Your thighs were a sticky mess, and Sukuna noticed, using a hand to wipe you up despite your protests.
“Don’t be so shy,” Sukuna rasped, teasing, “Makes me wanna pin you down and fuck you.” The tips of your ears burned, and you ducked your gaze away from him as you sat up in the bed, trying to adjust your shirt. This was fine, right? Not a big deal at all. Sukuna watched you fumble with your top, and reached over to help, fingers brushing against your skin gently. The hunger in his eyes was still there, calmer now, but the way he smiled at you as he whispered that you were beautiful made you think that maybe he was made of gentler stuff than he let on.
You spent the rest of the party trying to act like Ryomen Sukuna hadn’t just made you finish all over his tattooed fingers. You kept your face hidden in your glass of water as you sipped it, trying to focus on what Choso and your other friends were talking about. You could feel Sukuna’s heated gaze on you from afar, as he leaned against the wall, smoking cigarette in hand. You managed to skillfully avoid him, though he wasn’t chasing you. In fact, he looked frustrated, slightly annoyed even as he eyed you.
You walked down the hall from the bathroom, shifting through your bag to find your phone, when a strong arm wrapped around your waist and dragged you into a nearby room. You yelped, startled, but your sound of surprise was muffled by Sukuna pressing in close to your cheek, sharp canines dragging over your skin.
“Come over tomorrow.” He whispered, voice low and raspy. His hands held your hips with bruising force. You squirmed, hands on his shoulders to try and push him away.
“Why?” You asked softly, glancing up at him nervously. Sukuna frowned, pausing his movements as he narrowed his eyes coldly.
“Why? Don’t think any girl has asked me that before.” He grumbled, wrapping the tendrils of your hair around his fist, ‘’Why do you think, princess? ‘Cause I wanna see you.’’ Your traitorous cheeks blushed crimson, like Sukuna’s eyes.
‘’Why do you wanna see me?’’ You asked again, your hands on his shoulders feeling how he tensed up with irritation. Sukuna looked like he was about to snap something at you, but he managed to give you a wry smile.
‘’I like talking to you. Like looking at you, touching you.’’ His hand squeezed your hip with bruising force, as if to remind you he was there, ‘’Wanna do more of it.’’ You cursed yourself inwardly. Why did those words make your stomach flutter so easily? Make you wanna give in and surrender, nod and smile and tell Sukuna he was everything you were looking for. You knew he wasn’t. At least you thought so, but you weren’t what he was looking for either.
‘’Look, I…I’m flattered, really,’’ You began, words getting caught halfway in your throat but you managed to choke them out, ‘’But I want to save you the trouble and let you know that I’m definitely not whatever you’re looking for.’’ Sukuna stared at you for a moment, blinking, lips curling into a frown.
‘’The fuck?’’ He scoffed, leaning away from you, hands loosening their grip on your hips, ‘’What does that even mean?’’
‘’This-’’ You said, gesturing between the two of you, ‘’Wouldn’t work, so I’ll save us the trouble, because I’m not your type, you’re not mine, and-’’ Sukuna’s hand shot out, landing it hard on the wall next to your face, and he peered down at you, eyes flashing with something dark and dangerous, every instinct in your body telling you to turn tail and run.
‘’Sounds like you’ve been doing a lot of thinking about this, huh?’’ He drawled, feigned amusement evident in his voice, barely masking his frustration, ‘’Lots of assumptions about me too. What the hell do you know about me, hm? About my type? We worked pretty well earlier when I had you gushing all over my fucking fingers-’’ You made a scandalized sound and your hands came up to cover your face in embarrassment.
‘’God, stop!’’ You begged him, unable to meet his eyes as your face burned with the memory.
‘’No, I'm not gonna stop. Why are you making this so damn difficult? Just cause you’re a little different? Just because I am who I am? I didn't take you for that type of person.’’ Sukuna snapped, frustration simmering in his eyes.
‘’It’s not- wait, what do you mean I’m a little different?’’
‘’I mean, yeah, you got a point, you’re not like most of the girls I’ve been with or dated, but I dont give a fuck, I like you and-’’
‘’No, no, stop-‘’ You whispered frantically, but before you could finish your sentence, the sound of footsteps startled you and Sukuna out of your confrontation. You both glanced to the side to see Choso standing there, blinking with wide eyes as he stared, looking slightly embarrassed.
‘’Hey? You guys good?’’ The darker-haired man asked, tilting his head. You nodded, freeing yourself from Sukuna’s grip, and you heard a growl rumble in his chest.
‘’Yeah, I’m fine.’’ You mumbled, cheeks flushing. A million thoughts raced through your mind. You’re not like most of the girls I’ve been with or dated. Models? Famous actresses? That was what he meant, right? Not some random girl like yourself, no, Sukuna made it clear he didn’t fish in the pond you were in. He must not be used to not getting what he wanted. Short term satisfaction, you were sure that’s what he was after, and knowing you, you’d want more. Kissing him has made you realize that.
‘’Uber is here.’’ Choso said, eyes flickering cautiously between you and Sukuna. You just nodded, not looking back at Sukuna as you joined your friend. Choso spared Sukuna a glance over his shoulder and waved, and all you could hear was Sukuna kissing his teeth. You couldn’t look back, so you didn’t, but you felt his hot stare drilling holes into the back of your head. Shit.
The next week was strange to say the least. Sukuna was blowing up your phone, texts, calls, and you did your best to fend him off but he was relentless. You were awful at saying no to people. You hated ghosting, so ignoring him wasn’t an option, especially since Sukuna hadn’t done anything wrong, really. So, why were you evading him?
That was something your friends asked you about every day. Really, how can you say no to Ryomen Sukuna?
Fuck if you knew. To save yourself some heart ache maybe? Because you were a coward? Either one, or both.
You sighed as you placed the latest order of flowers on your kitchen table that had arrived moments ago. No note this time, but you knew who it was from. If Sukuna was trying to woo you, it would work, if you weren’t so deadset on saving yourself from heartbreak. Hadn’t he gotten what he wanted? If he was just after sex, which he probably was, you knew he could get it anywhere else, so why was he doing all this? To prove a point? To cross a name off his list? To show he could get anything he wanted?
Frankly, this was all very weird for you. You’d never been pursued like this, though you were beginning to wonder if Sukuna just liked the chase. It must be that. You quickly typed out a polite thank you for the flowers to him, and put your phone down. You had to think about the long-term. You didn't know Sukuna well, so all you could do was make assumptions about his motivations, and asking him was out of the question. Either way, you figured that he’d lose interest eventually, hopefully quickly enough so you could move on with your life, because no, you definitely did not like Ryomen Sukuna like that.
Sukuna raked his hand through his hair as he watched you from across the bar. After a month he had successfully managed to insert himself into your friend group, with the very purpose of getting closer to you. Choso knew what he was doing, and he’d only laugh as you brushed him off. It wasn’t everyday that Sukuna got rejected by a girl.
Was that what was happening? Was Ryomen Sukuna getting rejected?
Sukuna frowned down at his drink as his friends chattered around him, pondering that very question. He was doing everything right, at least, that’s what he thought. Flowers, texts, calls, not too pushy but clear enough of his intentions, but you still weren’t giving him the time of day, not like he wanted at least. Sure, you were friendly, you’d talk to him, but nothing more. Couldn't you tell what Sukuna wanted? Wasn’t it obvious that he wanted you? Your dumb-ass excuse echoed in his ears everyday.
I’m definitely not what you’re looking for.
Except you were. Sukuna knew you were. He replayed that kiss everyday in his head too, at night when he lay alone when usually he’d have someone warming his bed. He’d thought that maybe he’d be able to give up on his chase once he finally got you underneath him, but it only left him wanting more. That one night hadn't been enough to get you out of his system and initially he hadn’t thought it would be this much of a fucking problem to get you to go out with him, but here he was. Pathetically staring after you as you joked around with your friends at the bar, your smile catching his eyes like a shooting star he’d miss out on if he blinked.
You’d made an assumption about him, yes, but even Sukuna could understand. He had a reputation and you obviously thought you two wouldn't work, but you weren’t even giving him a chance to explain that he was so willing to make it work, so eager to prove himself.
So why wasn’t it working? Sukuna’s efforts usually paid off.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed you excusing yourself from your circle of friends, disappearing into the throng of people that swayed to the music booming in the background. That seemed to be happening a lot, like part of Sukuna’s attention was reserved only for you, to notice how you moved, who you looked at, what was making you laugh, even if it wasn't with him.
It didn’t take long for Sukuna to find himself looking for you, pushing through the crowd, towering over heads as he sought you out. The lingering effects of his multiple drinks made his head feel fuzzy, the pressure behind his eyes making him scowl as he eventually shouldered his way to the door, breathing in the cool night air. The sound of scuffling feet on the ground made him turn to the right, peering around a corner into a dimly lit alleyway, and he felt his blood run cold.
You were there, backed up against the brick wall as a stranger leered down at you, a foreign hand wrapped around your wrist and Sukuna could see your face twist into panic. You were struggling in said strangers grip, who was leaning in close to you, trying to pull you closer. Sukuna could hear your voice, shaky and tight, laced with barely controlled fear, but Sukuna was already moving, blood thrumming in his ears as his vision went red.
Those hands, pale and reaching for you, the man’s grimy mouth curled into a sneer as he called you some obscene name. You were cornered. Afraid.
Then Sukuna was there. He ripped the strange man away from you, one hand reaching around his shoulder tightly with an iron grip and Sukuna didn’t even stop to consider what would come next before he landed a brutal blow to the stranger's jaw.
‘’Ryo!’’ Sukuna heard you shout in surprise, voice muted, but his attention was on this prick who clearly had a death wish, scrambling to his feet as Sukuna planted himself between you and him.
‘’Get your fucking hands off her, asshole.’’ Sukuna spat, reaching down and grabbing the stranger by the front of his shirt, yanking him up towards him, nose-to-nose, ‘’You tryin’ to die tonight?’’ Sukuna smashed his forehead down against the man’s face, and he felt bone crunch under the impact, hot blood pouring from his nose as the stranger went sprawling to the ground, groaning in pain.
‘’Fuck, I’m sorry-’’ The man managed to croak in a strangled voice, choking on his blood as Sukuna straddled him, pinning him down under his weight. He could hear you calling for him, telling him you were fine, but he didn’t listen, crimson-eyes boring into the man below him. Sukuna didn’t say anything else, just raised his fist, bringing it down over and over again, tattooed knuckles breaking skin, blood spraying onto his shirt as he laid into the man’s face. It wasn't enough, one punch wasn't enough, not two or three, and Sukuna didn’t stop until the stranger’s face was a swollen, bloody mess, unrecognizable as he wheezed out for air.
‘’Go near her again and I’ll kill you.’’ Sukuna snarled, voice a grating rasp as his chest heaved from the effort, adrenaline and rage pumping through his veins. He’d never felt anger like this, seeping into his brain and controlling his actions, making him grab the stranger by his hair, wrenching him up towards him.
Another sickening crunch as Sukuna struck him again.
So this was losing control.
Not in all his years of fighting opponents had Sukuna let himself give into this ugliness, not when the crowd chanted his name, chanted for blood. Sukuna blinked, stumbling to his feet as he wiped at his face, leaving his victim crumpled on the ground, barely moving but thankfully still alive.
‘’Ryo?’’ Your hushed whisper snapped him back into reality, and he looked over at you. You were staring at him, leaning against the wall in support as you met his gaze. You were pale, lips parted in shock and eyes flashing with something that looked like fear. That made Sukuna sick. He took a step back, quickly scanning you for any sign of injury.
‘’Are you okay?’’ He rasped, hands itching to reach out to you, to take you into his arms where you’d be safe. But were you? Sukuna cursed inwardly. His carefully practiced control over his darker instincts had been forgotten the second he’d seen you in danger, seen the fear in your eyes, like it had never been there in the first place.
You nodded. ‘’I’m alright.’’ You whispered, taking a step towards him, but Sukuna stepped back, ‘’Ryo, are you-?’’
‘’Go back to the bar, sweetheart.’’ Sukuna interrupted you roughly, looking away, unable to keep eye contact, not wanting to see if you were scared, but this time, scared of him. He heard the silence of your hesitation. ‘’Now. Please.’’ Sukuna stared down at the floor, fists clenching tightly at his sides.
‘’Come with me.’’ Your murmured plea made his heart clench.
‘’You’re okay now.’’ Sukuna replied, ignoring your request despite it being exactly what he wanted to do, ‘’Just go.’’
And you did. Your footsteps faded behind him, and once he was alone, Sukuna leaned against the nearby wall, taking deep breaths to bring himself back down. Funny, that usually worked when he fought, but not this time.
Ever since that night, you’d gotten radio silence from Sukuna. He stopped texting. Stopped calling. Flowers no longer made an appearance. You should be happy, right? This was what you wanted, for Sukuna to give up the chase, because that’s what you’d assumed he liked about it, not you.
You remembered the crazed look in his eye as he’d pulled that creep off of you the other night outside the bar, pupils dilating into a thin, crimson circle, dark and stormy. It made your blood run cold, seeing his face twist with rage in a way you’d never seen before in any of his fights you’d watched. Sukuna had become a different person then, cruel and violent, somehow different from the King of Curses everyone knew and revered. He punched like he’d lost control, his rhythm off, unbalanced, like he was trying to kill the man who’d put his hands on you, and he’d enjoy it too.
And after he was finished, he’d gone so pale, barely even able to look at you. Like he was ashamed. You hadn’t understood then, when you begged him to go with you, but you understood it now.
That precarious line Sukuna walked in his career as a fighter, between his darker instincts and controlled violence, had he crossed it?
You stood up in the stands at Sukuna’s latest match, heart twisting painfully in your chest as you watched Sukuna lash out at his opponent. His movements were choppy, fists stuttering out in front of him with uneven force. He no longer danced around the other fighter, but stalked forward like a tank, taking hit after hit, to the nose, to the jaw, blood pouring down his face. Sukuna wasn’t thinking, he was reacting, waiting for the other man to move first like he was a cornered animal, but forcing out attacks like his life depended on it. His mouth was twisted into a dark scowl, and his opponent was all he could see.
The crowd booed their disapproval, thousands of feet thundering in the stand as they watched their favorite fighter fight like a monster instead of an artist. You clenched your jaw, furrowing your brow in concern as Sukuna’s rival landed a well-aimed kick to his chest, sending him sprawling backwards. Your breath hitched, hands flying up for a split-second as the other fighter wrestled Sukuna to the ground, fist making contact with his ribs over again.
Sukuna spat out blood onto the pale floor of the cage, arms reaching up to wrap around the other fighter’s neck, squeezing tightly, and he managed to get the upper-hand. Rolling over, he loomed over his opponent, a dark look passing over his face as his fist connected with soft flesh. You recognized that look, you’d seen it the other night, and Sukuna’s shaky grasp on his control was slipping through his fingers.
Jeers and whistles rang out through the air, and Sukuna’s head snapped up to glare at the onlookers, angry at the world, uncaring, and then he turned, making eye-contact with you.
You held your breath as your eyes met his, silently begging him to come back, one hand on your chest.
‘’Ryo…’’ His name fell from your lips in a whisper, and you knew he couldn't hear you, but his eyes softened for a moment, widening slightly as he stared at you. The tension left his body, and he got to his feet, staring down at the crumpled form of his opponent still on the floor. He shook his head, like he was trying to rid himself of something, bring himself to his senses. His body was littered with bruises, dark and purple blooms on his tattooed body, and his face was a bloody mess and it made your heart hurt. The horn rang out, signalling his victory, and the crowd roared.
But Sukuna didn’t seem to hear it.
He just stumbled back, clutching at his stomach as his trainer rushed to catch him before he hit the ground. Sukuna’s breath was obviously laboured, like every intake of air hurt. You heard Choso swear beside you under his breath and you watched helplessly as Sukuna was half-dragged back to his corner, hands reaching for him, guiding him away.
The second he’d disappeared into the back, your feet were already carrying you forward, leaving your friends behind because in that moment you knew you had to find him, see if he was okay. Panic rose in your chest, thoughts racing as you made your way to the locker room. Seeing Sukuna like that, it scared you, but you realized you were scared for him, scared of losing the Sukuna you’d grown to know and care about.
You knew him. You wanted to see him again, see that lazy smirk and watch him turn violence into an art form, a spectacular performance of his mastery he’d worked so hard for.
You stumbled through the double-doors, panting to catch your breath, and you saw Sukuna lying on a nearby couch, his trainers hovering around him as they pressed gauze to his bloody nose. He caught sight of you, red eyes flickering over your form, and he waved off his people. The crowd parted for you as you made your way over to Sukuna, and you sank to your knees, hands reaching for him.
‘’Ryo…’’ You murmured, looking over his roughed up form with concern. Sukuna’s lips quirked up ever-so slightly into that infuriating smirk of his you’d not seen nearly enough.
‘’Hey sweetheart,’’ He rasped, voice grating and choppy, ‘’The hell are you doing here?’’ You caught his bandaged hand in both of yours as you leaned forward, crouching next to him where he lay.
‘’I wanted to see you, see if you’re okay.’’ You replied softly, your eyes finding his crimson ones. Sukuna’s eyes softened slightly, his thumb idly stroking your palm.
‘’Got a little lost back there but,’’ He trailed off momentarily, eyes flickering away from yours with a hint of uncertainty, then back, ‘’You helped me find my way.’’ You choked out a strangled laugh as you felt tears of relief pricking in the corners of your eyes.
‘’Idiot.’’ You managed to say, shaking your head as you felt a weight being lifted off your shoulders. Sukuna’s eyes seemed less troubled, the storm hidden behind his irises gone as he focused on you. He bit his lip, suddenly looking uncertain, wanting to say something but perhaps not finding the words.
‘’Look, doll, I’m sorry if I scared you and if I pushed you too far, you didn’t have to come back here though-’’ He began in a low voice, as if bracing for the worst. His words tugged at your heart. Could he really not tell?
‘’Ryo. Shut up.’’ You cut through his words, one hand letting go of his, reaching out to cup his jaw gently. His eyes widened in surprise as you leaned down, acting before thinking and yet you didn’t even care because this felt right and you were tired of fighting it. You kissed him, pressing your lips softly against his, mindful of his injuries. You heard Sukuna inhale a sharp breath, then a warm hand cupped the back of your head as he kissed you back eagerly. Sweat and the iron tang of blood filled your senses, but all you could focus on was Sukuna’s touch sending your heart in a tailspin. You pulled back, breathless and smiling from ear-to-ear, Sukuna’s hard face now softened with shock.
‘’W-what was that for-?’’ Ryomen Sukuna, King of Curses, stammered like a lovestruck school girl. You laughed softly as your fingers smoothed down his chest.
‘’I want you,’’ You whispered, voice low so only he could hear, ‘’I want all of you, when you’re in control, when you’re not.’’ A traitorous blush rose to Sukuna’s cheeks, his lips parting slightly as he listened. ‘’I’m not afraid anymore.’’ His eyes softened as a genuine smile dawned on his face. One bandaged hand of his reached up to toy with a strand of your hair.
‘’About damn time.’’ He growled, hand twisting as he got a gentle grip on your hair, pulling you down to meet your lips with another kiss.