Work Text:
"Nanamin!" Yuuji's voice bounced throughout the hall together with his footsteps.
It's been a day since the unfortunate incident with Junpei. Yuuji spent his day watching movies in his room and pretending the world is okay. He cried a few times, thinking about Fushiguro and Kugisaki and how he misses them. He tried his best not to think of Sukuna and Mahito's resounding laughter as he grieved. So he watched movies, cuddled the punching cursed corpse and cried while tuning out Sukuna's jeers. He doesn't sleep, in fear of hearing the blames and cries of the people he killed if he does.
After a marathon of action and comedy movies, he raced to the lounge after Nanami's text. He found his mentor sitting on the living room with his phone in hand. He looks busy as he didn't looked up to acknowledge Yuuji at all.
"Hi there, Yuuji-kun!" Gojo greeted cheerily from the other side of the couch.
"Sensei!" Yuuji greeted back with equal enthusiasm, skipping down to Gojo's side.
From another angle, Yuuji was expecting to be greeted by Nanami's scowl everytime he answers a phone. Maybe even boredom since the older man has his chin resting on his palm. Instead, Yuuji is met with Nanami's rare gentle smile. His eyebrows are relaxed with his eyes closed, smiling fondly as he speaks. Yuuji feels like he's on another dimension. In the short time he have known his mentor, he had never seen him hold that kind of smile towards anyone at all. It's always some what fornal when he's speaking to Ijichi and downright murderous when it comes to Gojo. He couldn't imagine who could Nanami be talking to have 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 kinda smile. Maybe it's his mom? Or wife? Maybe he has children that Yuuji didn't know of?
"Looks crazy, right?" Yuuji turns to his teacher. "I have never seen him act around like that towards anyone else either. For a brief moment, he doesn't look like the same guy that looks like the world has forsaken him."
"Who is he talking to, Sensei?" Gojo shrugs. Even with a blindfold, Yuuji could sense the mirth of mischievousness in Gojo's eyes. "I think you'll find out soon enough."
Yuuji didn't get to ask more before Nanami called his name. The teen turned back to Nanami, looking a lot refreshed than he was this morning when dealing with Gojo. He even have a small smile in his face! Now Yuuji really wants to know who is this mystery person he was talking to.
"Would you like to have dinner at my house?" Nanami asked. Yuuji didn't waste any time and immediately bounced back on his foot, "Sure!"
"Yey! Dinner!" Joined by Gojo who also got up from the couch. Nanami turned to him and said, "Not you."
The white haired man dramatically fell back to the couch with a plomp, hand on his chest in feign hurt. "Ack! Forsaken! Unloved!"
"Please shut the fuck up," Nanami grits.
Gojo, who's now chuckling, pats Yuuji on the back, "Congratulations, Yuuji. You're gonna be served some heavenly food."
The student's ears perked up to ask a clarification but his white haired teacher is already nowhere to be found. He turned to Nanami who's already put on his jacket and is turning to leave. Yuuji hurried to follow his mentor to the hallway.
"Are you gonna cook tonight, Nanamin?" Yuuji asked when he catched up. He always bring onigiri for lunch and Yuuji had the honor of tasting one and it was so good he thought about it for days.
"No," Nanami replied. "I don't cook, I just bake, but my spouse does."
Yuuji practically forced himself to pick up his jaw from the floor. He wants to speak but no words comes out of his mouth. Nanami must've noticed his silence and he turns to him.
"Did I not tell you I'm married?"
"No!" Yuuji winced at his own volume. It's not a bad thing, really. Quite the contrary, he's glad! That means his mentor is not alone, very much in love and not brooding 24/7! He's very happy for him and all that. Its just that, this is a vital information! He had never seen a ring!
"Sorry! I'm just surprised is all," Yuuji adds hurriedly. Nanami nodded, "It's alright, I'm aware of my habbit of keeping to myself."
The clouds had already gathered along with a resounding cry of a thunder when they got into the car as if announcing the presence of a storm. It didn't took too long before the rain started pouring heavily and the adrenaline in Yuuji's veins felt like it's being washed away by the raindrops. He leaned into the window, feeling the coldness conduct to his skin. It was a little too late when he realized he never knew where Nanami lives. Yuuji imagines an apartment with high window walls that reach the ceiling. He probably has those fancy mahogany coffee tables and marble countertops. Yuuji refrained from asking anything about Nanami's spouse, he figured he'll soon knows about it anyways.
The car slowed to a stop and Yuuji opens his eyes to see that they're in front of a supermarket. Are they gonna pick up food? Or someone? His questions was soon answered when Nanami told him to stay inside and brought out an umbrella before exiting the car.
"Ijichi-san, have you ever met Nanamin's spouse?" Yuuji asked, forehead still pressed against the glass as he observes his mentor's silhouette, waiting and unmoving from afar.
There was a humm on the driver's seat before he hears Ijichi's voice. "Hm? Oh, Haibara-san? Ah, yes, of course. One of the nicer people I know, if not the nicest."
"Really? I think Nanamin called them earlier and I've never seen him so… I don't know, fond? So i was wondering what kind of person his spouse is," He didn't mean for his second statement to sound like a question, but found himself agreeing to it anyways. He sees a man exit the supermarket, looking around and holding two paperbags in both hands. His face was a little blurred because of the mist on the windshield.
"Ah, of course. Haibara-san has a certain aura around him." Yuuji continues to watch the stranger till he physically jumped as he spotted Nanami by the entrance. Huh, that must be his spouse. A husband, then? The stanger, must be Haibara, ran to Nanami's arms despite the rain. He could already hear Nanami's scolding about keeping dry but all he sees is Nanami's gentle smile.
"What kind of aura?" Yuuji asked absentmindedly. He could hear Ijichi ponder on the driver seat as Nanami and Haibara walk to the car, the latter animatedly talking to him while the former holds the umbrella for the both of them in his right hand, his left is wrapped around his husband's lower back.
"Hmm, it's like, when Haibara-san is around, no world is gloom enough to obscure the warmth that he gives," Ichiji replied. Yuuji perked up at his description just in time for the couple to finally reach the car and Yuuji felt like the sun himself had blessed him with a smile.
"Hi, Ichiji! Hi! You must be Yuuji Kento has been talking about! Nice to finally meet you!" Haibara slides into the car next to him with a wide smile. Ijichi's mood was visibly uplifted when Haibara entered the car. Even Yuuji couldn't help but be infected by his enthusiasm and replied with a smile of his own, "That's me! You're Nanamin's husband then? Nice to meet you!"
Haibara, hearing the name he used to call Nanami, laughs and turned to his husband, "Nanamin? Awww, I knew you have a soft spot for Gojo-senpai!"
"I did now allow Gojo to call me that," Nanami replied as he sat down and closed the door.
"Just Itadori-kun then? Oh dear, do I need to fight for your affection soon?" Haibara leaned his head to Nanami's shoulder briefly as he laughs. His mentor looks at them, unimpressed, "Yuu, we have the same surname."
Haibara turns to Yuuji, ignoring his own husband and cupping his hand beside his cheek as if whispering a gossip, "Did you know? I wasn't allowed to call him that either when we're in highschool! Now, I'm married to him, I couldn't call him that anymore!"
Yuuji giggles, "I think he married you so you wouldn't be able to call him that, Nanami-san."
"Most likely!" Haibara exclaimed laughing, hugging the groceries in his arms. "Oh, and call me Yuu, or much better, just Haibara. It's hard to be called Nanami if I'm with Kento."
"Okay, Haibara-san! You can call me Yuuji too! Nanamin doesn't call me that."
"Alright then, Yuuji-kun!"
The entire ride to Nanami's house was filled with Yuuji and Haibara loudly talking to eachother. Nanami had slowly stolen the other paper bag from Haibara's arms so he could talk freely with Yuuji. They share embarrassing stories. Mostly about Nanami and Yuuji absorbs all of it like a sponge, much as his mentor's chagrin. Yuuji tells him about Gojo and the curse with Mt. Fuji on his head. He tells him about his friends, Fushiguro and Kugisaki. He tells him how he got into the jujutsu world in the first place.
"You're Sukuna's vessel?!" Haibara gaped at him. Yuuji rubbed the back of his neck, looking down in embarrassment. Most people, sorcerers specifically because non-sorcerers doesn't know anything, would be terrified if the found out but for some reason, the sparkle of genuine interest in Haibara's eyes strips his shame away.
The Nanami household was how Yuuji expected it to be but at the same time, it wasn't. There's floor to ceiling windows, but it covered with royal blue curtains that bleeds to black. There's a mahogany coffee table, but covered with magazines and a jar of sweets. There's a marble countertop, but it's bright yellow for some reason. There are also a lot of things that Yuuji didn't even anticipate. Big potted plants by the balcony, pretty flowers on vases. There's a huge blue teddy bear by the sofa holding a bowl of rice beside an even bigger frowning teddy bear holding a bag of bread. There's a ridiculous looking mushroom patterned throw pillows on the couch too. But then again, Yuuji was excluded from the knowledge that Nanami is married until now.
"Do you want to help me make dinner, Yuuji-kun? We're having tonkatsu tonight," Haibara asked from the kitchen.
"Sure!" Yuuji skips to the kitchen to wash his hands. A fond smile was painted on Nanami's face as he watches them from the living room. Haibara must've noticed his stare as he held the whisk in his hand, pointing it threateningly to Nanami's direction.
"You're not allowed in here, mister!" Haibara huffs out. Nanami chuckles (chuckles!) as he raised in hand in surrender, "Alright alright, please don't hurt me."
"Is Nanamin bad at cooking?" Yuuji asked out of curiosity. To be honest, he doesn't look like a bad cook. He knows that Nanami is good at baking, said by the man himself and highlighted by Gojo and Ijichi's claims. Although he never really tried it, Yuuji knows Nanami wouldn't be that bad at cooking.
Haibara turns to him and laughs, shaking his head, "Oh no no, he just cooked for me way to much in the past that I don't allow him to cook anymore. He's banished into baking now."
"And I told you, I don't mind that," Nanami adds.
"But I do! I'm better at cooking than you anyways."
"I can't even help?"
"You can, but Yuuji-kun is here and I like him more than you, now shoo." Haibara waved his hand to shoo his husband away. Nanami doesn't seem to mind as he steps closer anyways with a smile on his own.
"And you said you might have to fight for my affection. But it seems like I have to fight for 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴," Nanamin smiles, hand circling around his husband's waist. Haibara responds with another laugh, hands on Nanami's chest as he leans in to place a chaste kiss on his lips.
Yuuji knows that staring is rude, but really, he couldn't help it. You'll never see this sight on Nanami that often. That knitted eyebrow, dark eyes and tired frown as he goes on missions or gives a lesson was replaced by love, fondness, and absolute adoration as he faces his spouse will not, maybe never, fail to make Yuuji feel an onslaught of emotions. Seeing them like this makes him happy, maybe even flustered. But at the same time, he feels envy gurgling in his chest. Maybe because the only love that he felt in his life is from his grandfather. He'd never met his parents. Sure he had a few girlfriends in highschool, but it's never something he could fathom into something more. There are also people out there that he cares for, not in a way in romance, not in friendship either. Maybe something like a sibling. The thought made him think of Kugisaki and Junpei immediately. His feelings for Fushiguro are not simple either, but it's definitely not on its way to platonic love at all.
Then there's Nanami too. A kind of love, not for lover, or a brother, but maybe for a father. Yuuji will admit, It's not the first time he thought of that. Nanami is like the first person that made him feel the love a father would. He had his grandfather, but his love that he received from his is the love that he needed. Nanami gave him the love that he craves. A love that would pat him in the back, whisper that it's not his fault then ruffle his hair. He felt it, when Nanami comforts him after Junpei's passing. But he wants more. He doesn't specifically wants that kind of love Haibara and Nanami have, but God damnit he wants 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.
Yuuji bit the inside of his cheek, ashamed of the thought of desperation that screamed in his mind.
Cooking dinner went by smoothly, eating dinner goes by even smoother. The food, just as Gojo has said, is 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘭𝘺. He feels like floating in happiness, in absolute joy with every bite he took. He feels like crying actually, the food made him feel like home, but he held it in by stuffing his mouth with rice. Haibara and Nanami watched him with a smile, urging him to eat more. If he didn't decline the fourth bowl, he might've go through the floor with how much he ate.
The rain grew heavier as the night goes deeper. Haibara suggested he stay the night and he accepted without much hesitation. Nanami walks into the living room where Yuuji and Haibara were laughing at their yearbook photos, saying he prepared a bath for him. When Nanami said that, he seriously just expected a simple shower, with a towel and all that basic stuff, not a whole damn 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘵𝘶𝘣 being at his service, multiple bathbombs stacked by the side. Nanami said take your time as he exits the bathroom, and take your time he did. He probably spent a whole forty minutes on the tub, playing with the rubber ducks and floating dinosaurs.
He felt like a new man after coming out of that bath, like a whole decade was stripped off his body despite only being fifteen. The pair of pajamas he was wearing was not the perfect fit but definitely comfortable. He feels like wearing water on how cold and smooth the silk is. He found the couple on the living room when he's done, Nanami has a pajama that's almost identical to his, except his are in copper and Nanami's are light blue. Haibara's pajama looks similar to them as well, only in soft yellow minus the pants exchanged for shorts. Yuuji wonders if they're wearing matching pajamas every night or if it 's rare. But seeing he's wearing something smaller compared to those two, maybe they've been doing this for a while.
"Yuuji! We're gonna see a movie, come pick out whatever!" He was so deep in his thought that he didn't realize they already noticed him.
He plomps down beside Nanami, "Is The Greatest Showman okay?"
"Greatest Showman it is!" Haibara picks up the remote, clicking on the show and they all sit back on the bed.
It didn't took long for Haibara and Yuuji to be sniffling as This Is Me plays in the screen. It wasn't even a sad movie yet it made him move. He looks up, stealing a glace beside the couple beside him. Nanami stares passively on the screen, hand on his husband's waist with his head resting atop of his while Haibara snuggles to the croock of Nanami's neck. Then for a second, the sadness that dwelves on his heart stirred as he became very aware of the lack of warmth on his body. It reminds him of the times where he spends the night into Junpei's house to have a marathon. Days he could never have anymore. And then, just as the thought had settled into his brain, a large hand run itself to his hair, pulling him to lean on his side.
"You're both awfully soft for fictional characters," Nanami mutters softly. His head rests into Nanami's shoulder, guided by the man himself. He stiffened, of course he did. And after a second, he melts. With the opportunity given by Nanami himself, Yuuji relaxes in his hold, snuggling on the crook of Nanami's chest and arm. A few tears escaped the corner of his eye, but he'll just blame it on the movie.
After the movie, Nanami received a call and excused himself. Yuuji pretended not to pout when the warmth slip out of his hands. The two were wiping their eyes as the credits roll, telling each other which song is their favorite. They decided to look for another movie to watch since Yuuji will be coming back to Jujutsu High soon and won't have this much time again. Yuuji suggests anime and Haibara beamed, pulling out his stash of Ghibli movies in the process.
"Doesn't he look professional?" Haibara said when their gaze fell onto Nanami who's holding folder, pinching the bridge of his nose while talking to the phone pressed between his shoulder and ear. "I've always thought he's the kind of guy that would work in finance, but when he did, he looked terrible!"
Yuuji giggles good-heartedly, "No wonder he looks ten years older than his actual age. I was so shocked to learn he's just twenty-seven!"
"Haha! He does have that vibe, don't he? I like it though. He looks mature, much better than his emo bangs in highschool." Haibara laughs.
"Oh yeah, I saw! I can't believe out of every adults, Nanamin has an emo phase! He even have the same hair as Junpei–"
The words were stuck in Yuuji's throat before he knows it, pursing his lips into a thin line. He's enjoying himself way too much that he somehow forgot the death of someone close to him. What horrible friend he is. He could already hear Sukuna's sneers and Junpei's begs, 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴, deep in his mind.
He didn't noticed Haibara, who had also gone quite when he did. The older man observes him with calculated yet concerned eyes.
"Junpei… he is your friend that you lost right?" Haibara asked carefully, voiced louder than a whisper but more gentle than normal. Yuuji looks down, of course he'll know about it. Nanami must've told him about what happened. How pathetic and powerless he was. How he killed people with his own hands.
Haibara must've took his silence as a yes as he looks to the window where Nanami stood, talking to his phone. "Did you know?" Haibara said. "I almost lost Kento once."
Hearing his words, Yuuji's heart got caught in his throat as he looks up to observe the husband of his mentor. "Did… did Nanamin almost... y'know."
Haibara turns to him with big eyes and a raised eyebrow. His eyes then widened in realization of how his words implicated, "Oh no no, I did, though. I died."
Yuuji couldn't stop his mouth from hanging as Haibara said those words as if it's not a big deal. As if he's telling a completely normal time he saw a dog on a random day.
"Y-you… You what?" Yuuji stutters. "But you said–"
"Haha, yeah. I died, then came back, but… I'm not really the same. Well, in a physical sense I guess." Haibara leans back, exhaling deeply as he stares at the ceiling, recalling those times in the past.
"My curse technique is Ameliorate. I can boost someone's physical strength, or their curse energy, by thirty percent, including mine. Me and Kento always go to missions together and we work well because our curse techniques are so compatible. That, and were the only one's in class."
Haibara tilts his head, humming as he picks up a throw pillow and pulls it close to his chest. He continues, "Then the mission on Akita happened. It– It was not a mission for, at that time, grade two sorcerers like me and Kento. It was village deity and–"
His shoulder's sags the same time he breathes out, a melancholic smile was on his lips. Even Yuuji felt the pain in his voice as he continue speaking, "We almost died. Kento was injured and my right calf was ripped away from my knee. I know I was dragging us down so I used my remaining curse energy on Kento so he could escape."
There was silence, interrupted by the percussion of thunder. Haibara croaked out, "I died."
On his words, the images of Fushiguro, standing in the rain with blood on his face, facing Yuuji with a smile as he says 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 flashes into Yuuji's mind like a hidden memory. At that moment, he was glad that Fushiguro is safe as he took over his body again, but at the same time, he wanted to cry, scream as his body plops down to the floor with a heavy thud when he was telling Fushiguro to 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 as he takes his last breath.
"But y'know, life is full of cruel suprises that suddenly, I found myself alive!" Haibara exclaimed, fake enthusiasm spilling out of his every words like uncontained flood. "Apparently, Ieri-senpai came as soon as she can and when she used her reverse curse technique on me, my body automatically used my own curse technique and she, by some miracle, managed to save me from dying."
Haibara turns to him with a gentle smile, "Gojo-senpai told me about what happened to you, y'know? How you resurrected, not Sukuna's part, he never told me that. And when you woke up, you were immediately thrown into training and didn't have time to process what actually happened."
Yuuji felt like his heart is being twisted in complicated knots on how point on Haibara's words were. It's true. He didn't actually have the time to process his death, or the pain it caused him. He didn't have time to ponder on what his friends might've feel about it. Kugisaki might not care that much, but maybe she'll be sad. Fushiguro… the last thing he heard as his world went completely silent was the choked sob of the raven haired man. He couldn't help but hope Fushiguro's okay.
"I don't blame you," Haibara said plainly. "If I were given a choice, I would've distract myself with work too, or training. It's sad that I didn't get to."
"Why?" The question left Yuuji's mouth before he realized it's rude to be nosy like that. But Haibara doesn't seem to mind as he close his eyes to speak, "I was bedridden. I couldn't move from the bed. I couldn't speak. Heck, I couldn't even stay awake for twenty minutes. That time, I completely understood what it's like to be completely useless. I hated it. I hated it so much that I was so tempted to just pull the life support myself. "
From the moment he met Haibara, he never expected nor imagined this much bitterness as he listened to his voice. "At that time, I wonder if my friends ever felt disgusted of me. The bright and optimistic Haibara Yuu they all know was nowhere to be seen when I was stuck to that uncomfortable bed, hating myself. The worst of it all is that I brought Kento down with me."
A single tear escaped Haibara's eye, who were fast enough to quickly wipe it away, sniffling, "He was with me when I woke up from the dead. He was with me when I was trying to ignore my situation. He was with me when I was rotting in my own mind. He was… he never left me at all. He even quit Jujutsu High so he can take care of me."
Ah, Yuuji thought, that's why. With the obvious love Nanami has for Haibara, it made a lot of sense for him to quit with that reason. Even the passing statement of Nanami cooking for him way too much. The respect Yuuji has for his mentor grew by a hundred fold.
"That's why, when I said I dragged Kento down with me, he… also lost himself. He was so desperate to bring back a smile to my face, to let me see the bright side of things again that I–" Haibara couldn't hold back the tears anymore as he let them fall, voice breaking as he said, "I almost lost him..."
Yuuji wanted to hug him. To do something, say something but nothing comes out. He fears, that if he ever opens his mouth, the damn might break if he hears his own voice.
"But even so, it helped y'know?" Haibara smiled. Genuine this time, even though his eyes are glistening with tears. "Processing grief, I mean. It took a lot off of my shoulders, it helped me heal and at the same time–" he turned his head to the side, to Nanami once again who noticed them looking and gave them a wave, which Haibara returned, "–it made me see the people who love me. It made me appreciate them more. And also–" Haibara turns to him this time, reaching over to his face to gently wipe the tears he didn't know he shed, "–it helped me forgive myself. To the pain I caused myself and to the others."
Yuuji sucks in a breath, choking on a sob as he did so. His lips trembled as he stared back to Haibara with both hope and fear in his eyes. "B-but… But how? I… I killed people… They died because of me… How can I just–"
"Yuuji," Haibara calls his name like how he imagined a mother would call her child. "We are Jujutsu Sorcerers. The life we have– 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 is cruel. It makes us do different things we don't want to do and experience things we don't want to."
The older man paused, bringing Yuuji closer to his chest into a hug which he quickly melts into. God just how much he craves for this?
"However, one thing is for sure," Haibara runs a gentle hand through his pink locks soothingly and he cries like a child, "We don't want this. 𝘕𝘰𝘯𝘦 of us asked for this kind of life but y'know what? You're not alone. And even if you once were, you'll never be again, I'll make sure of it. We'll make sure of it."
Hearing those words, the assurance that it's okay that he's alive, that he deserves to live too destroyed everything that stops Yuuji from letting all his emotions out. He cried, loudly. He clung into Haibara's chest and probably drenched his fancy pajama with snot but none of them cared. He sobbed his eyes out and the tears from his eyes kept falling. Haibara never stopped cradling his hair like he's a little child. In fact, he hugs him tighter as if also comforting his own self.
"Is everything alright?" They both heard Nanami's voice, laced with concern as he approach them. Haibara sniffles, looking up to his husband with his tear stained face and a smile. "We're okay, just kinda need to cry a little more."
"Nanamin…I'm–" Yuuji's voice cracked as he called his mentor's name. He got up, apology for unknown reason was in the tip of this tongue but Nanami was faster. The blonde man sits beside Yuuji, gently running a hand through his hair.
Nanami spoke up, "Why don't we all sleep here in the living room?"
Haibara huffs out a laugh, "Really? You? Suggesting we sleep here?"
"It's alright if it's not often," Nanami said, reaching out to wipe the tears off of his husband's cheek.
"Sounds good to me! What do you think, Yuuji-kun?" Haibara asked with his usual bright smile. Yuuji couldn't help but smile too, "Yeah! Sounds good to me too!"
"Alright, I'll get the pillows while you can arrange the place?" Nanami asked the two to salute as a response before he climbs up the stairs to get the pillows.
"Thanks you," Yuuji said between arranging the cushions. "Thank you for… telling me your story and… making me feel it's okay to be alive despite everything."
Haibara smiles fondly, chuckling as picks up the empty bowl of popcorn. "Of course, Yuuji. If you ever feel down, or even if you're not, the door in this house is open for you anytime, okay?"
Yuuji could feel his eyes stinging with tears again but he inhales deeply, holding it in. That's enough tears for today. As the three of them lay down on the futon, with Yuuji in the middle, watching Spirited Away on the TV, Yuuji spoke up between mouthful of popcorn.
"My Gramps would definitely like you both."
Haibara breaks into a string of questions about Yuuji's grandfather, effectively distracting the teen from seeing his teacher wipe off a tear.
Yuuji peacefully slept that night, dreaming of watching cheap horror movies with Junpei along with Kugisaki and Fushiguro. He dreams of two pair of arms circled around him in comfort and safety and the smell of summer with the fresh scent of lavender, they whisper, that tomorrow is a day he doesn't need to face alone.
Bonus:
"Yuu?" Nanami calls as he enters the kitchen, receiving a simple hmm? As a response. His husband stood by the sink, washing the vegetables he will use for tomorrow morning. Nanami approaches him slowly, hands slowly snaking through Haibara's waist, traces it with his palms before fully embracing him from behind. Haibara, who's already used to this when Nanami wants something, simply leaned back to reciprocate the hug he couldn't give back at the moment.
"Yes? That Yuu sounds like you're gonna ask me a favor," Haibara chuckles as his husband remains silent, further proving him right. He rinsed the last of the cucumber before wiping his wet hands on the towel. He taps the forearms on his stomach to let the other release him for a second so he can turn around and face him. Nanami's hesitant eyes stare right back.
Haibara gently cradles his husband's cheeks, pulling him closer to kiss the corner of his lips. Then his nose, his cheeks, his forehead, then a short chaste kiss on his lips. He smiles when Nanami's stiff shoulder relaxes in his hold.
"Alright, tell me what's wrong," Haibara said.
"I… my student…"
Haibara settles his hands on Nanami's nape, gently running his fingers through his undercut, "Mhmm, Yuuji Itadori, right? You told me before."
"Yes. He lost a friend today on a mission," Nanami said, sadness evident in his voice. Haibara's eyes visibly widened as he gasped. "Oh my god, is he okay? How is he?"
"According to Gojo, he's alright, but obviously repressing his emotions." Nanami's hands rubbed his back, a place where the scar that changed his life silently settled. In hesitant voice, he continued, "I wanted to comfort him but… I don't know how."
"And you want me to comfort him instead?" Nanami nods in confirmation.
"You're much better at these types of things than me," he said and Haibara's heart stirs with love. Oh if he just knows. If he just knew how many of his words were not true at all.
This man, who pulled him out from his misery and convinced him to try and live while facing the future in a bright light again, is asking for help to comfort someone, from him. He knows what his husband wants, for him to be the adult the younger generation could rely on. Nanami thinks he's not good at it but little does he know, he's the best and he's doing so damn well. Haibara couldn't help but smile widely, love overflowing in his heart. He really, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, loves this man with everything he have.
"I love you," he kisses his lips, full of love and admiration. "I love you so much."
Nanami blinks, uncertain on where it all came from but nonetheless happy to hear his declarations of love. "I love you too."
Haibara chuckles, pulling to kiss him again. That's more of a smack of lips to lips than anything. "Okay," the brunette said between giggles, "But you'll comfort him with me too, okay? Even if I'm better at comforting people than you, I know you want to comfort him yourself too. So, teamwork, okay?"
Nanami's eyes crinkled as he let out a chuckle, burying his face in the crook of his husband's neck. "Okay," he whispers.
"Alright!" Haibara cheers, throwing his arms in the air as he did so, making his husband laugh at his antics. They decided on their plan as they went to bed, tangled in soft cuddles and steady heartbeats as they wished for tomorrow to come quickly.