[ The desperate urge to apologise is still ever-present inside Yuji, but he knows he hasn't done anything wrong. In his rational mind, he understands that seeing Mahito has triggered something in him, the same way that their first attempt at blindfolding him had done - it had drawn out that fear and panic that had been slowly eroded away under Suguru's careful touch.
Finding a way to deal with that is going to be harder, in the long run, but he's going to have to find a way to do it.
Wrapped up in Suguru's arms, he presses his face into his neck and lets himself break a little more, sniffling as the tears roll down his cheeks and his throat feels utterly clogged with the depth of his panic and emotion. ]
[ Suguru holds Yuji ā because there's not much else he can offer. He can't take these feelings away, can't teach Yuji's nervous system that he's finally free of the man who had tormented him for so long, not here in this moment. But he can hold Yuji through it. ]
I don't think he knew. I think it was a coincidence from living in the same area.
[ Right? Because Mahito shouldn't actually know where Yuji ended up and he certainly shouldn't have access to their location, so... coincidence, right? ]
He got lucky and saw the opportunity to cause a scene.
[ Yuji had always thought that he had moved far away from Mahito when he had been transferred, but he didn't really know that much about where Mahito's place had been. He feels on edge at the idea that the other man might know where he is, that he could come and find him and...
Do what?
Wouldn't Suguru take care of him?
Breathing out, he nuzzles into Suguru, trying to calm his shaking body. ]
[ Suguru rubs slow, gentle circles along Yuji's shoulder, up his neck as his other arm stays wound around his submissive's waist. He kisses over his hair, the top of his head, his temple. ]
I know.
[ And Mahito deserves every ounce of that hate. Suguru hates Mahito, and he's never even met the man. ]
But he will never get his hands on you again. Ever. I will always keep you safe.
[ Yuji nods his head, squeezing closer, trying to make himself small. Despite his bulk, despite the heavy weight of who he is as a person, he curls into Suguru as if he might be able to tuck into him like someone much smaller.
[ That's a hard question ā and Suguru doesn't think he has an easy answer. ]
... I don't know. [ Because Mahito didn't suffer any consequences when Yuji was removed from his home. No protective orders were filed, no guarantees that Mahito cannot engage with Yuji again ā so Suguru isn't sure what options are available to them. ]
I'm going to talk to Satoru and see if he has any suggestions. [ Gojo has one thing that Suguru abjectly doesn't, and that's the social cache and influence that comes with an established family like the Gojos. ]
But I don't want this to happen again. [ Or for it to get worse. ]
[ It's not as if a lot of people even think Mahito did anything wrong. Yuji was one of them for a long time: he used his submissive how he wanted to, and lots of people think that is the point of having one. To use them.
Frowning, he squeezes his eyes shut and breathes out a whimpering noise. ]
I hope Gojo-san can... I don't know if I could handle it, if he knew where we were and followed us...
[ Because that is exactly the kind of thing Mahito would do. ]
[ Yuji makes an incredibly good point, and it's something that concerned Suguru, too, though he didn't want to say it.
Sighing, he runs his hand along Yuji's back, petting slowly and soothingly. ]
Why don't we go over there now? [ To avoid Mahito immediately following them back to Suguru's place. ]
Do you think you'd be able to handle some time with Megumi while I talk to Satoru?
[ Suguru doesn't exactly want to have any discussion about Mahito around Yuji, lest it spike his anxiety or give him something to ruminate over instead, but he also doesn't want to leave Yuji alone, if he doesn't think he can manage it. ]
[ Worst-case scenarios are wildly throwing themselves around in Yuji's mind, and it's hard to focus for a moment - at least until there's a hand stroking down his spine and bringing him back to the moment, making him breathe out. ]
... Yeah. I can hang out with Megumi. He'll help me.
[ If nothing else, Megumi will cuddle him and offer him some physical comfort while he's away from his dominant. ]
[ Suguru is of the same mind about their current location. They're vulnerable, Mahito is probably still in the vicinity, and the longer they stay put, the more opportunities they give him to cause a problem.
He nods, kissing Yuji's forehead before he starts to unwind himself from around his submissive. ]
Come on. Let's get up front and I'll drive us there.
[ Hopefully, driving straight to the elaborate Gojo estate will also dissuade Mahito from following. ]
[ Yuji takes a few more moments to slip himself away from Suguru's grip, but then he's leaning up to steal a soft kiss before he's clambering off him and slipping to the side. ]
Okay. Let's do it.
[ He can crawl to the front of the car without getting out, at least. ]
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no subject
Finding a way to deal with that is going to be harder, in the long run, but he's going to have to find a way to do it.
Wrapped up in Suguru's arms, he presses his face into his neck and lets himself break a little more, sniffling as the tears roll down his cheeks and his throat feels utterly clogged with the depth of his panic and emotion. ]
I didn't - how did he... How did he know?
no subject
I don't think he knew. I think it was a coincidence from living in the same area.
[ Right? Because Mahito shouldn't actually know where Yuji ended up and he certainly shouldn't have access to their location, so... coincidence, right? ]
He got lucky and saw the opportunity to cause a scene.
no subject
Do what?
Wouldn't Suguru take care of him?
Breathing out, he nuzzles into Suguru, trying to calm his shaking body. ]
I hate him. I hate him so much.
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I know.
[ And Mahito deserves every ounce of that hate. Suguru hates Mahito, and he's never even met the man. ]
But he will never get his hands on you again. Ever. I will always keep you safe.
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[ Yuji nods his head, squeezing closer, trying to make himself small. Despite his bulk, despite the heavy weight of who he is as a person, he curls into Suguru as if he might be able to tuck into him like someone much smaller.
He wants to be protected. He wants to be safe. ]
I - I know you will. I trust you.
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Take some slow, deep breaths. We have all the time in the world.
[ And if Mahito tries to lurk around the car or cause more problems, Suguru won't hesitate to make it very clear where they stand. ]
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Is there anything we can do...? To keep him away?
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... I don't know. [ Because Mahito didn't suffer any consequences when Yuji was removed from his home. No protective orders were filed, no guarantees that Mahito cannot engage with Yuji again ā so Suguru isn't sure what options are available to them. ]
I'm going to talk to Satoru and see if he has any suggestions. [ Gojo has one thing that Suguru abjectly doesn't, and that's the social cache and influence that comes with an established family like the Gojos. ]
But I don't want this to happen again. [ Or for it to get worse. ]
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Frowning, he squeezes his eyes shut and breathes out a whimpering noise. ]
I hope Gojo-san can... I don't know if I could handle it, if he knew where we were and followed us...
[ Because that is exactly the kind of thing Mahito would do. ]
no subject
Sighing, he runs his hand along Yuji's back, petting slowly and soothingly. ]
Why don't we go over there now? [ To avoid Mahito immediately following them back to Suguru's place. ]
Do you think you'd be able to handle some time with Megumi while I talk to Satoru?
[ Suguru doesn't exactly want to have any discussion about Mahito around Yuji, lest it spike his anxiety or give him something to ruminate over instead, but he also doesn't want to leave Yuji alone, if he doesn't think he can manage it. ]
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... Yeah. I can hang out with Megumi. He'll help me.
[ If nothing else, Megumi will cuddle him and offer him some physical comfort while he's away from his dominant. ]
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[ Suguru feels confident that Megumi will take care of Yuji, prickly urchin that he is the rest of the time.
Nuzzling into Yuji's hair, Suguru drops a few more kisses where he can reach. ]
Are you ready to go or do you want to stay like this for a little longer?
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[ He does want a little longer, but being out in public like this feels too vulnerable. Slowly, he shakes his head. ]
I want to go. Now.
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He nods, kissing Yuji's forehead before he starts to unwind himself from around his submissive. ]
Come on. Let's get up front and I'll drive us there.
[ Hopefully, driving straight to the elaborate Gojo estate will also dissuade Mahito from following. ]
no subject
Okay. Let's do it.
[ He can crawl to the front of the car without getting out, at least. ]