[ Nanami's head turns to look at Yuji as he smiles at him, as he warns him to be careful and Nanami's expression softens just a little. He looks much less severe without his sunglasses after all, and sleep soft and disheveled like this, it's hard to look cold at all.
His free hand is going to reach up then and without asking, or thinking twice about it, he pets at Yuji's tiger ear, feeling the soft mix of fur and hair in his palm as he strokes him. ]
[ Yuji's ears are softer than his hair, and they flick unconsciously at Nanami's touch, more on instinct than anything else. As soon as he realises what's happening, he lets it continue, his eyes closing as he hums. ]
I know. You'd be able to say something like 'Itadori-kun, I think it's time for you to leave, now.'
[ Nanami doesn't say anything in response to that because that's exactly what he would say, Yuji isn't wrong.
So, with the way he watches Yuji's eyes close and the soft hum come from him, he just... continues with the petting. He know this made Yuji feel better that time in the park and it makes him feel a little better too so... what's the harm? ]
[ Yuji didn't get to spend as much time around Nanami as he wanted to, wasn't able to learn as much as he'd like about him, but he got to know enough. He knows how special it is that he gets to bother him just a little, that he can poke and prod and not get smacked around the head - not too much, anyway, just enough to be justifiable.
It means he relishes this, even if other people might find it a little ridiculous to be so happy and content around a mentor like this.
The petting keeps Yuji's tail coiling and twisting around, the end flicking, and from Yuji's throat comes an odd little noise. It might sound like a growl at first, until it becomes a little more clear; he's purring. ]
[ Nanami almost stops petting when he hears it. He doesn't quite know what's coming from Yuji's throat and initially does mistake it as a growl but when it clicks for him that first, it's a purr and second, it's coming from Yuji, he's not fool enough to not piece it together. It must be because Nanami's petting his ear.
Which is acceptable to him. It's hard not to do this, not to pet at his soft, soft, soft ears. It fulfills his need for physical touch and this strange desire to show physical affection to his mentee. He wonders how his own ears will feel when they come in altogether. Clearly he's a canine of some kind and that's not what he expected but he hopes he takes to it as easily as Yuji has taken to his tiger features. ]
[ His ears keep flicking against Nanami's hand, chasing the sensation of being pet, and Yuji is lulled into a quiet sense of security as he lets it happen. He doesn't see any reason not to when he's so content, and it makes him settle against Nanami a little more, breathing out.
He doesn't notice his own purring.
Eventually, though, he remembers what he came here for, and he opens one eye, then another, and then... He feels a little like he's blushing. ]
[ Nanami has been settled peacefully against Yuji with his arm wrapped around him to pet at his ear, the arm between the two of them still with his fingers laced with Yuji's. Especially as the purring continues. His own tail is a soft thumping noise in the background as this point.
When Yuji stirs though and opens his eyes, Nanami just looks at him curiously. ]
[ Nanami is given pause then when Yuji asks that question and his brow furrows slightly, eyes glancing towards the tail curling around his arm and taking it as a sign he shouldn't pull away and continue petting. So, he does, but his concern is still present — ]
Did Gojo-san or Choso-san explain imprinting to you?
[ Nanami considers the question then, taking a scan of his body to give Yuji an accurate answer. So far, the pain he was feeling that was so terrible he has to ask Yuji for help, it has faded quite a bit. A numbing throb that's going through him but nothing as mind-melting as before.
So, he nods. ]
Yes. I wasn't feeling very well before you arrived but this has helped a lot.
[ And honestly, more would be better but he doesn't know how to ask to hold Yuji. That seems like... a lot to ask of him, honestly, so he doesn't want to do that. ]
[ Gojo-sensei had made it sound like this was totally normal and expected, so he's not all that concerned about the slight shift in the dynamic here. He'd even imprinted on Yuji just a little, and knowing how touchy they both are there's no doubt in his mind that'll continue, and they'll be able to take care of one another.
For now, though, he gazes up at Nanami.
The petting does feel nice, and if it's helping him feel better... He has no reason to complain. ]
[ A shake of his head. He's been preparing for weeks to let his guard down enough to allow this to happen. It's happened a bit more naturally than he expected but he's still feeling relief in him that Yuji doesn't seem perturbed by his newfound need for physical affection. It sucks and part of him can't shake the feeling of breaking propriety with it but there's only a few people he cares for enough to do this with.
And the major one is sitting right in front of him.
So, he lets go of Yuji's hand to lift both to pet his ears and hair, scritching through the soft ears and redoubling his efforts to keep petting Yuji. ]
[ Yuji can't resist pushing into the touch of Nanami's fingers, the purring starting up again without him being able to do anything to stop it; his tail twists a little more around Nanami's arm, the tip still flicking here and there in delight, and he tries hard not to blush so hard he breaks into pieces.
He doesn't mind being this close with Nanami and imprinting either - he's already done it with Choso, and he'll end up doing it more with Gojo-sensei, too. If anything, he's glad to have the chance to do it, to be able to build on their pre-existing bond and develop their friendship, too.
[ It's practical, Nanami reminds himself. It's what this place wants you to do, to feel better, and to connect with others. He doesn't have any imprints just yet, except for Yuji, and he needs that touch to feel better. The idea of doing this with Gojo or Geto feels strange and unusual, but Yuji is just... someone who deserves affection in general, and while Nanami wouldn't allow himself to give it before — now there's a practical reason for doing it.
So, he considers for a moment before his hand drops to Yuji's shoulder and he tugs him in closer. Close enough for him to tip and fall into Nanami's chest. That's when he'll curl his arm around his shoulders, petting his ear with that hand as he holds him against his chest sideways, helping him get comfortable first before resuming his petting. ]
[ Yuji had listened to everything that Patho-Gen had said when he had first arrived, and he had sort of understood most of it - but it was Gojo who had explained the rest, and Choso too, so he has some ideas of what he needs to do. He has no issues with physical touch, with letting himself enjoy being around other people and making new bonds, but he's conscious of the fact that it's not the same for other people.
Not everyone wants to be embraced or hugged, or to be in his little bubble of people he hangs off and enjoys spending time with, so... He's trying not to be too pushy, even with the people who mean the most to hi.
Being drawn into Nanami's chest, though...
The relief he had felt at seeing him alive and breathing hits him all over again, and Yuji has to take a sharp breath in to stop himself from bursting into tears. Slowly, he sinks into the touch, lets himself enjoy the gentle petting, squeezing his eyes shut hard.
Nanami is alive. He's breathing, and warm, and he has a tail and that's a little weird, but... This is all he can imagine wanting right now. To know that Nanami is safe, and healing...? It's perfect. ]
[ It's in this moment that Nanami can't help but think of all the struggles Yuji has gone through, even after his death. Especially after his death. He thinks of how Yuji handled so much alone and continues to juggle it all by himself and how Gojo and Nanami had decided to make being in Karteria their second life, their afterlife. But Yuji isn't dead, he needs to return home sometime.
Except even if he does, he'll still be alone, won't he?
Nanami doesn't think twice about it, at that thought he wraps his arms around Yuji and hugs him to his chest, continuing to pet his ears with one hand while the other just holds him around the middle. His chin rests atop Yuji's head then and he just holds him gently, warmly.
Nanami isn't a man who radiates affection but... given the chance, he can perform it. ]
[ Yuji isn't thinking too much about what is waiting for him back home; if he had come from a different time, if he had been torn from his friends while they were fighting Sukuna or in the middle of trying to save Gojo-sensei, he might be stressing out, desperate to go back and finish things off, but... He wasn't. In his world, in their world, right now, Sukuna is dead, and they're trying to rebuild and fix things, to make a better future.
There's only so much he can do there, and he's not sure how helpful he'd be at sorcerer society anyway. It's not as if he's an expert, or from a family like Fushiguro or Okkotsu-senpai were. He's just... Yuji.
So here, leaning into Nanami, literally being pet because it makes their souls feels better and more at ease... He can't really ask for more. He can't think of anything more that he might want, anything more that he might demand, not when Nanami is breathing in his arms, and he's solid and real.
It's a good thing this is happening now and not at their first meeting, or he might have sobbed his heart out.
Slowly, he grips at Nanami, head resting against the warm skin of his shoulder, sinking into it like he belongs there or something. ]
[ Nanami's wolf soul has been a cautious, reclusive thing so far. It prowls in the back of his mind, watching his every move and waiting for its time to shine and take over. He knows it and he's biding his own time as well, staving off the effects through sheer willpower alone, but he's not completely unaffected.
It has made him crave physical touch. It has made him crave meat. It has made him want to bite, gnaw, rip, tear. And it has made him unfortunately too aware of his senses — sight, sound, smell, so on and so forth. It has made him desperately want to leave this god damn hotel as soon as possible, to have his own space — his own den — where he doesn't have to struggle through other people's scents.
But Yuji? Yuji is... something to him. Pack, if he had to take a guess. It's not a strong feeling yet but there's a tether there to the boy that he doesn't feel for other people. Yuji's scent soothes him, his touch soothes him, his presence soothes him. So, right now, as they cuddle together on the bed, Nanami feels the most sated he'd felt since he arrived here. The most at ease with his surroundings and the most the wolf soul in him has felt pleased with being paired up with Nanami. ]
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His free hand is going to reach up then and without asking, or thinking twice about it, he pets at Yuji's tiger ear, feeling the soft mix of fur and hair in his palm as he strokes him. ]
That's not my intention, Itadori-kun.
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I know. You'd be able to say something like 'Itadori-kun, I think it's time for you to leave, now.'
[ He laughs softly. ]
It's fine. I get it.
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So, with the way he watches Yuji's eyes close and the soft hum come from him, he just... continues with the petting. He know this made Yuji feel better that time in the park and it makes him feel a little better too so... what's the harm? ]
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It means he relishes this, even if other people might find it a little ridiculous to be so happy and content around a mentor like this.
The petting keeps Yuji's tail coiling and twisting around, the end flicking, and from Yuji's throat comes an odd little noise. It might sound like a growl at first, until it becomes a little more clear; he's purring. ]
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Which is acceptable to him. It's hard not to do this, not to pet at his soft, soft, soft ears. It fulfills his need for physical touch and this strange desire to show physical affection to his mentee. He wonders how his own ears will feel when they come in altogether. Clearly he's a canine of some kind and that's not what he expected but he hopes he takes to it as easily as Yuji has taken to his tiger features. ]
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He doesn't notice his own purring.
Eventually, though, he remembers what he came here for, and he opens one eye, then another, and then... He feels a little like he's blushing. ]
Nanamin...
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When Yuji stirs though and opens his eyes, Nanami just looks at him curiously. ]
Yes?
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[ Yuji swallows, cheeks a little red, even as his tail sneaks up between them to curl around Nanami's arm. ]
Is this part of us having the souls and stuff?
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Did Gojo-san or Choso-san explain imprinting to you?
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[ The tail tightens, just a little, and Yuji's eyes glance over at Nanami. ]
Is it helping you feel better?
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So, he nods. ]
Yes. I wasn't feeling very well before you arrived but this has helped a lot.
[ And honestly, more would be better but he doesn't know how to ask to hold Yuji. That seems like... a lot to ask of him, honestly, so he doesn't want to do that. ]
Do you want me to continue petting you?
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[ Gojo-sensei had made it sound like this was totally normal and expected, so he's not all that concerned about the slight shift in the dynamic here. He'd even imprinted on Yuji just a little, and knowing how touchy they both are there's no doubt in his mind that'll continue, and they'll be able to take care of one another.
For now, though, he gazes up at Nanami.
The petting does feel nice, and if it's helping him feel better... He has no reason to complain. ]
It's fine, as long as you don't mind.
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And the major one is sitting right in front of him.
So, he lets go of Yuji's hand to lift both to pet his ears and hair, scritching through the soft ears and redoubling his efforts to keep petting Yuji. ]
I don't mind at all.
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He doesn't mind being this close with Nanami and imprinting either - he's already done it with Choso, and he'll end up doing it more with Gojo-sensei, too. If anything, he's glad to have the chance to do it, to be able to build on their pre-existing bond and develop their friendship, too.
It just feels right, somehow. ]
Then... We can keep going. It'll help us both.
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So, he considers for a moment before his hand drops to Yuji's shoulder and he tugs him in closer. Close enough for him to tip and fall into Nanami's chest. That's when he'll curl his arm around his shoulders, petting his ear with that hand as he holds him against his chest sideways, helping him get comfortable first before resuming his petting. ]
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Not everyone wants to be embraced or hugged, or to be in his little bubble of people he hangs off and enjoys spending time with, so... He's trying not to be too pushy, even with the people who mean the most to hi.
Being drawn into Nanami's chest, though...
The relief he had felt at seeing him alive and breathing hits him all over again, and Yuji has to take a sharp breath in to stop himself from bursting into tears. Slowly, he sinks into the touch, lets himself enjoy the gentle petting, squeezing his eyes shut hard.
Nanami is alive. He's breathing, and warm, and he has a tail and that's a little weird, but... This is all he can imagine wanting right now. To know that Nanami is safe, and healing...? It's perfect. ]
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Except even if he does, he'll still be alone, won't he?
Nanami doesn't think twice about it, at that thought he wraps his arms around Yuji and hugs him to his chest, continuing to pet his ears with one hand while the other just holds him around the middle. His chin rests atop Yuji's head then and he just holds him gently, warmly.
Nanami isn't a man who radiates affection but... given the chance, he can perform it. ]
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There's only so much he can do there, and he's not sure how helpful he'd be at sorcerer society anyway. It's not as if he's an expert, or from a family like Fushiguro or Okkotsu-senpai were. He's just... Yuji.
So here, leaning into Nanami, literally being pet because it makes their souls feels better and more at ease... He can't really ask for more. He can't think of anything more that he might want, anything more that he might demand, not when Nanami is breathing in his arms, and he's solid and real.
It's a good thing this is happening now and not at their first meeting, or he might have sobbed his heart out.
Slowly, he grips at Nanami, head resting against the warm skin of his shoulder, sinking into it like he belongs there or something. ]
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It has made him crave physical touch. It has made him crave meat. It has made him want to bite, gnaw, rip, tear. And it has made him unfortunately too aware of his senses — sight, sound, smell, so on and so forth. It has made him desperately want to leave this god damn hotel as soon as possible, to have his own space — his own den — where he doesn't have to struggle through other people's scents.
But Yuji? Yuji is... something to him. Pack, if he had to take a guess. It's not a strong feeling yet but there's a tether there to the boy that he doesn't feel for other people. Yuji's scent soothes him, his touch soothes him, his presence soothes him. So, right now, as they cuddle together on the bed, Nanami feels the most sated he'd felt since he arrived here. The most at ease with his surroundings and the most the wolf soul in him has felt pleased with being paired up with Nanami. ]