Work Text:
Raindrops slam against the ground, ingraining an intricate pattern into the tiles. Night casts its shadow across the sky and the moon perches comfortably in the vast expanse above. Several hours ago, darkness engulfed the city causing this battle to venture deep into the confines of the night. A fluorescent beam of moonlight illuminates the abandoned warehouse that stands before Megumi Fushiguro.
A low flickering light catches Megumi’s eye from inside the desolate building, elucidating a small corner of the warehouse. Confusion creeps its way into his mind, all the curses had now been exorcised and he was the only sorcerer who had been assigned to make sure this area was fully rid of curses. “Why would another sorcerer be here when Gojo-sensei made it clear where everyone would search?” whispers Megumi under his breath. Fear begins to pool in the pit of his stomach, but duty calls.
Hastily, Megumi makes his way towards the source of the light. Preparing himself for the worst, he takes each step slower than the last. As he nears the building, Megumi notices that a door on the side of the warehouse has been propped open. Careful not to make his presence known, he makes his way across the outskirts of the building towards the door. Megumi’s hand grips the steel handle, cautiously pulling the door open so it is no longer ajar and the inside of the building is revealed.
A small room comes into his line of view. What used to be a security office, is now trapped in time by thick coats of dust and memories. Bookshelves line every wall, each one adorned with an array of different books. A rickety, old desk is placed in the left corner of the room, paired with an oak chair that seems to be missing a leg. Dark layers of dust decorate every surface in sight, not leaving a single one untouched. A dim lantern placed on top of the furthest bookshelf, lights up the surroundings. Megumi turns his head and horror instantly replaces his previous confusion.
Slumped with his back against a bookshelf and clutching his arm, is Yuji Itadori. His head shoots up when he notices Megumi’s presence and a low chuckle escapes his lips, “Guess you found me.” His dusty pink hair lays ruffled on top of his head and a gaping wound mars his left arm. Blood oozes down his arm, leaving a crimson stain in its wake. His uniform is ripped and tattered, half discarded and half still on his body.
Megumi just saw Yuji when Gojo-Sensei was explaining his plan, but he didn’t look in such bad condition then? Despite his current state, a boisterous grin spreads across Yuji’s face. However, exhaustion still lingers in his eyes. When he realises Megumi is not returning the smile, his face drops and tiredness, the thief of joy, takes over.
Megumi’s limbs finally unfreeze themselves and he rushes towards Yuji, crouching down in front of him. “What the fuck happened? Why didn't you tell Gojo-sensei that you were hurt?” exclaims Megumi as he examines Yuji up close. Cuts mark his skin, not leaving a single part of his body unscathed. Exhaustion claws at his features but in traditional Yuji Itadori style, he still tries to pull himself together. “I’m fine. Let's go.” whispers Yuji, making an attempt to lift himself off the floor but he fails miserably. As his body gives out, he collapses back onto the ground, a small thump echoing through the room. Yuji grabs onto Megumi’s shoulder, trying to stabilise himself. Goosebumps spread like wildfire across Megumi’s skin, trickling all the way up his neck and down his back, a reminder of the effect Yuji Itadori has on him.
“Don’t move, you will make it worse.” mumbles Megumi as Yuji leans his full weight onto him. Megumi takes off his jacket, rips it down the middle with ease and he begins to wrap it around the wound on Yuji’s arm. Sheltering the deep cut from this rotten world. “You don’t have to do this.” Mutters Yuji, his previous cheerful act fading away by the second. He stares down at the floor, not willing to meet his gaze with Megumi’s. In an attempt to console his nerves, he subconsciously taps his fingers against the floor, a low patter filling the space. “I want to do it. You’re hurt, I’m not going to leave you.” says Megumi, glancing up to see Yuji’s face. A far away expression covers his face, his brows furrowed and eyes empty, only occupied by the black abyss of his pupils.
“I didn’t think I was worth saving.” mumbles Yuji under his breath, so low that it could have been mistaken for a breath. Megumi pauses the wrapping of his makeshift bandage around Yuji’s arm. Slowly, he looks up at Yuji but as he expected, Yuji refuses to make eye contact with him. Silence consumes the room, the only sound is Megumi’s hammering heart.
Megumi reaches over and places his hand on top of Yuji’s cold one to stop the continuous tapping rhythm. His thumb rubs small circles into Yuji’s soft palm. Yuji’s head shoots up and their eyes meet. Finally, Yuji gains the courage to lock eyes with Megumi, his piercing stare familiar to Megumi. As they meet each other's eyes, warmth spreads through Megumi, the extent of his love for Yuji only revealing itself at this moment.
“If you die, I die.” Blurts out Megumi. He swiftly continues, “Itadori, I won’t let even death do us part.” Shock plasters itself on Yuji’s features, his eyes searching within Megumi’s for a clue of why he would choose to say this now. “Wh-What.” Stutters Itadori, all thoughts of his injuries escaping his mind. Megumi doesn’t respond and instead dips his head to finish Yuji’s bandage. He has never been so vulnerable with anyone so he isn’t surprised that Yuji is shocked. Vulnerability isn't something familiar to Megumi, but Yuji has never failed to flip what Megumi thought he knew upside down.
Moments later, when Megumi is finished, he shifts to join Yuji against the bookshelf. The coolness of the concrete pressing against the small of his back, shoulder grazing with Yuji’s. Silence becomes apparent, however this time it’s comfortable, almost as if agreed between the two boys. Yuji rests his head on Megumi’s shoulder, his vibrant hair grazing Megumi’s neck.
“Talk to me.” Mumbles Yuji, exhaustion finally grasping at him. Megumi’s fingers roam through Yuji’s hair, parting the strands with each drag. “What do you want me to say?” Whispers Megumi to a sleep ridden Yuji. Without missing a beat, Yuji replies “Tell me why we can’t be together.” Megumi’s heart gets stuck in his throat, he loves Yuji so much that sometimes it blinds him. Drawing in a harsh breath, he prepares himself for his next words. “Itadori, you know why we can’t.” Each syllable burns his tongue before being released. ”It’s just… never mind.” Megumi cuts himself off at the end before he says something that even the night won't be able to hide. Something he may or may not deeply regret. A lump forms within Megumi’s throat. Cowardness always gets the best of him.
“Itadori we’ll talk about it tomorrow when you can actually keep your eyes open. Okay?” Megumi’s voice fills the void in the room. He glances down to see sleep clawing at Yuji’s eyes, begging for him to close them. For the first time, he looks completely at peace, almost as if he's found his anchor in the middle of a storm. “Promise me.” mumbles Yuji, on the brink of sleep. Confusion washes over Megumi and on cue his brows furrow. “Promise you what?” he says softly, running his hands once again through Yuji’s dusty pink hair. “Promise me that when I wake up you will still be here.”
Megumi’s thoughts stop running in his head and instead his mind goes blank, the only words written on the page are Yuji’s. Before Megumi has a chance to ask why he wouldn't be there, sleep has already pulled Yuji away from this world. A sharp breath that Megumi didn’t even know he was holding, releases itself and for a moment the entire city falls silent. The only two people existing are the ones in this room. Just a raven haired boy with his first and only love.
Sheltered within the depth of the night, Megumi Fushiguro and Yuji Itadori let sleep capture them. The only witness of the night's events being the moon and its stars. Words that will never be forgotten and love that can never be destroyed, linger alongside the low whistle of the wind. Beneath the quiet watch of the moon, even as sleep claimed him too, Megumi’s hand and heart remained tangled in Yuji’s.