[ Suguru can see the tension baking off of Gojo, and even knowing that the strongest sorcerer could blow him away and barely bat an eyelash, he takes a seat, setting down his tea and watching Satoru with a level stare. ]
What makes you think I wasn't taking care of him? I choose not to ignore the ugliness of someone's suffering, Satoru, and perhaps I know better than you that simply ordering a teenager stop one of their only outlets for relief won't change anything.
[ He gives a vague wave of his hand. ]
But by all means, tell him he can't ask me to hurt him anymore. I'm but your humble guest, Gojo-sama.
[ It comes out deathly quiet, sharp and harsh, and Gojo doesn't move an inch, the two of them staring at one another. They're wild animals, circling each other, and they both know who would come out of the duel alive. ]
Or telling him to speak to someone. Things are different from when we were children.
[ Suguru shrugs, reaching for his tea to take a sip. ]
Fine, then I won't. [ Like it's the easiest thing to promise.
He's not exactly doing it for himself. Well, the rough flavor to sex or the general edge that exists in Suguru is unavoidable, but the kind of treatment that requires significant healing? That's fine; he wasn't truly doing it for himself, anyway. He was trying to fill the gaps in the suffering of a boy he has no true power to help. ]
[ Gojo doesn't trust this - his trust in Suguru had faltered years ago, and he's aware of his own failings there as much as he is society's - but the quiet part of him that loves his best friend wants to trust in his word. ]
[ Suguru is about to settle in to drink his tea, content that this has been dealt with for now, but, with the presentation of a cell phone, Suguru's aloof mask slips into genuine confusion.
wait whut. ]
... Does it actually work?
[ He sets his tea on the table, leaning forward – though he doesn't reach for the phone yet. This still feels like it could be a trick. ]
[ Gojo turns the phone and flips it open - it's an old school thing - and presses a button. Somewhere in his pocket, his own phone starts to ring, an old anime opening as the ringtone. ]
It works. And there's two special numbers on there, too~
[ It would be easy for Suguru to be snide and cruel now, but a line of contact to his girls is... meaningful to him, when not much has meaning these days.
So instead, he nods. ]
I know you do. And I won't argue if you can convince him otherwise, but...
Create a world where he isn't required to sacrifice every part of himself to his own inevitable death?
[ So simple, so easy. Not.
After he establishes that his daughters' numbers are in the phone, he closes it and sets it on the table. Even if he didn't want to have this conversation, he does care about Yuji, and this... matters. ]
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What makes you think I wasn't taking care of him? I choose not to ignore the ugliness of someone's suffering, Satoru, and perhaps I know better than you that simply ordering a teenager stop one of their only outlets for relief won't change anything.
[ He gives a vague wave of his hand. ]
But by all means, tell him he can't ask me to hurt him anymore. I'm but your humble guest, Gojo-sama.
[ Somehow making an honorific sound derogatory. ]
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[ It comes out deathly quiet, sharp and harsh, and Gojo doesn't move an inch, the two of them staring at one another. They're wild animals, circling each other, and they both know who would come out of the duel alive. ]
Or telling him to speak to someone. Things are different from when we were children.
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If that's the truth, then why are you here berating me instead of listening to him?
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[ And it takes him seconds to teleport here and back; Yuji won't even notice he's gone. ]
You can't do that to him.
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[ Suguru shrugs, reaching for his tea to take a sip. ]
Fine, then I won't. [ Like it's the easiest thing to promise.
He's not exactly doing it for himself. Well, the rough flavor to sex or the general edge that exists in Suguru is unavoidable, but the kind of treatment that requires significant healing? That's fine; he wasn't truly doing it for himself, anyway. He was trying to fill the gaps in the suffering of a boy he has no true power to help. ]
Is that all, Satoru?
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[ It seems too easy, and Gojo frowns, finally reaching out to take the can from where it's making the table damp. ]
You're just going to do what I say?
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[ He sips at his tea, leaning back in his seat. ]
I found a solution to a problem, but you don't agree with my methods. I'm not his teacher, so I'll leave fixing the poor boy's heart to you, hm?
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What if he asks for it again?
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[ Shrug! Like it's the simplest thing in the world to turn down Yuji when he's vulnerable and hurting. ]
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No. Even you're not so heartless that you'd leave him 'suffering', would you? You'd just find something else to do.
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[ No big deal, they can just have more sex or something. ]
Is that good enough for you?
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[ Gojo knew what he was getting into, letting Yuji come here, bringing him here, and his gaze flickers over the other man, ever so briefly. ]
Do you promise?
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Cross my heart and hope to die, Satoru. You have my word.
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Well! It's good that we sorted that out!
Well! It's good that we sorted that out!
<small.[ Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a cellphone, dangling it between two fingers. ]</small>
Do you want a special prize?
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wait whut. ]
... Does it actually work?
[ He sets his tea on the table, leaning forward – though he doesn't reach for the phone yet. This still feels like it could be a trick. ]
the TYPOS
It works. And there's two special numbers on there, too~
THEY STRIKE THE BEST OF US
... Nanako and Mimiko?
[ Yuji's number and Gojo's number makes sense; getting to talk to his girls again feels like more of an impossibility that he shouldn't consider. ]
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[ Gojo flips the phone to himself, scrolling through it idly. ]
I thought, since you’d been on such good behaviour lately…
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I can behave in exchange for a phone. That sounds fair enough.
[ Like he's a grounded teenager... ]
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[ He holds the phone out. ]
Yuji loves you. Love him back properly.
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I'd like to see you do differently when you find him slicing himself up in the bathtub.
[ "Tell him to talk to someone" rings so hollow. ]
But I'll keep my promise. Anything you notice on Yuji in the future you can assume he did to himself.
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It can't be. ]
I'll talk to him. I care about him too, Suguru.
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So instead, he nods. ]
I know you do. And I won't argue if you can convince him otherwise, but...
[ He glances from the phone, back to Gojo. ]
He's suffering, Satoru.
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[ When they were younger. When he was too caught up in being the strongest to realise what was going on. ]
Is there anything we can do? Really do?
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Create a world where he isn't required to sacrifice every part of himself to his own inevitable death?
[ So simple, so easy. Not.
After he establishes that his daughters' numbers are in the phone, he closes it and sets it on the table. Even if he didn't want to have this conversation, he does care about Yuji, and this... matters. ]
Don't let him fall through the cracks.
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