He Thinks He's Gonna Eat Him

be my valentine?

fluff - parents au. ₊˚⊹ ᰔ preschool teacher! nanami, lots of cuteness from our sunshines◝(ᵔᗜᵔ)◜happy jaehyun day and happy valentine's ♡ !

little sunshines au

nanami's arts & crafts class quickly grew a buzz around the preschool once he broke the news to the children.

"we'll be making valentine's cards today."

their excited squeals and cheers immediately took over the classroom, his soft chuckle drowned by the kids' celebratory hollering.

"please pick the materials you need. we have colored paper, crayons, and stickers." he gestured to the basket full of supplies sitting on his desk. "if you need to use scissors, please ask for help."

first graders

"what's a valentine?"

the youngest zenin stood on her tiptoes as she tried to catch a look at nanami's desk, the bright pink colored paper drawing her in.

"a valentine is your... sweetheart." was the best explanation he could come up with (for a two-year-old, of course).

"sweet-hart?" she repeated, tilting her head slightly at the familiar word. she had heard it before, especially when her parents were in a good mood!

her little fingers wiggled in hopes of catching the end of the sheet of paper until nanami finally noticed and brought the basket down to her eye level.

"thank you!"

he began to hand out the material, the kids immediately claiming a spot on the floor and decorating their cards. everyone seemed too focused on their tasks, especially the youngest gojo son, as he furiously dragged the crayon back and forth against the piece of paper.

nanami decided to make small talk, not knowing the chaos it'd follow.

"who are you asking to be your valentine?"

"my mama." "mommy!"

"daddy!"

nanami watched the look of indignation in the youngest zenin's face as every kid mentioned their moms instead of dads, her little fingers gripping the crayon.

"why not daddy?" she frowned at the itadori twins since they sat directly in front of her.

the gojo kid stayed silent, clutching the card close to his chest as if protecting it while his eyes switched from the angry toddler to the twins.

"scary." mumbled the girl while her twin brother shrugged, not really having a reason.

second graders

yuuji had his hands full with several sheets of paper and crayons. "one for cho... one for mommy, one for daddy... one for babies–"

"that's a lot." the eldest gojo pointed out, looking at megumi, who immediately nodded his head, agreeing with him.

"that's alright." nanami quickly interrupted before things escalated, patting the gojo kid's back and guiding him back to his seat, and little yuuji frowning as he too walked away. "we can have more than one valentine."

"that's cheating." megumi's tone was nonchalant, but it was enough to ruffle yuuji's feathers.

"no, it's not."

"is."

"no!"

"is!"

yuuji spent the rest of the class hiccuping and wiping his red-rimmed eyes as he sat on nanami's lap, the exhausted teacher helping him with his multiple valentine's cards.

third graders

"she can't read yet, but I'll write a letter to my baby sister!" tsumiki stated proudly, picking a handful of pink stationary to make a card for her sister.

the geto twins instantly cooed at the thought.

"awhhh!" "we should do that for our baby brother!"

happy to encourage such gesture, the eldest zenin joined mimiko and nanako as they brainstormed ideas and shared their colors with her.

for once, nanami allowed himself to relax as the girls gushed about their younger siblings, glad that things finally went smoothly.

GOJO FAMILY

"no."

your sons stare at their dad with their blue eyes wide open. your two-year-old's eyes immediately fill with tears, and you smack your husband's arm, ignoring his childish whine.

"of course I'll be your valentine, baby!" you coo and lift the toddler in your arms, his limbs wrapping around you as he fights with all his might to hold back his sniffles. "i love you."

"love you too, mama."

"and you too!" you quickly add and side hug your eldest. "i love you both so, so much. papa was joking."

"it's just you and me, huh?" satoru pouts at the baby before munching on her soft cheek. however, your baby girl starts to fuss and makes grabby hands at you, fed up with her dad's attention. "not you too!"

ZENIN FAMILY

"daddy... for you."

you have never seen your little girl acting this shy, especially around toji. her hands offer the pink letter to her dad, his usual smug grin gone and replaced by a soft smile.

"c'mere, princess." he sits her on his legs as he opens the envelope, the bright pink paper decorated with colorful stickers. his chest feels tight once he's met with the cutest pink hearts and smiley faces doodled all over. "baby, you made this?"

"yeah."

he makes a mental note to order flower arrangements for his girls, but especially a pink bouquet for his little princess.

ITADORI FAMILY

your babies rush to you with their letters in their hands, clutched tightly in those tiny fingers and nanami right behind them.

sukuna catches sight of his daughter waving goodbye at her teacher, a pink envelope in his hand that looks identical to the one she's handing out to you.

he swears her little crush on the blond man is getting out of hand. so, naturally, he's about to walk up to nanami and have a word with him when his daughter's voice stops him.

"daddy?" her tone is soft, calling for his attention while her chubby little arm is stretched out, offering a heart-shaped lollipop at him.

"for me?" he can't hide his surprise, and when she nods, he lifts her up in his arms with a pleased grin. "thank you, my princess."

suddenly, all is well.

GETO FAMILY

"he can't even read."

"suguru."

"it's an adorable gesture!" he tries to defend himself, crossing his arms over his chest while shrugging, giving the fakest sorry look you've ever seen. "but I would've appreciated the gesture more than a baby who isn't even self-aware."

another sigh from you. the twins look slightly guilty, fearing that they've hurt their dad's feelings.

the sight makes you scowl at your husband who, once again, acts innocent.

"just saying!"

ino is hopeless.

nanami knows it. anyone with half a brain could see it—except for ino himself, apparently.

it starts subtly. little things that nanami catches because he’s perceptive, because it’s in his nature to notice details others overlook. at first, it’s harmless: ino’s eyes lingering on you for a beat too long when you speak, the way he straightens up whenever you enter a room, how he suddenly remembers the most trivial of errands whenever you’re around—just so he has an excuse to stay a little longer.

nanami finds it mildly amusing. he’s well aware of how attractive you are, how effortlessly charming, even without trying. it’s only natural that someone like ino, young and overeager, would fall for you.

but then, it escalates.

one evening, you drop by jujutsu high, bringing nanami a homemade meal because you know he’s been too busy to eat properly. you show up in casual clothes—just a simple, fitted sweater and jeans—but the way ino reacts, you’d think you walked in wearing a red carpet gown.

he visibly stiffens when you greet him, gives you a stammered “hey” that’s painfully awkward. nanami, who’s been flipping through reports at his desk, glances up just in time to see the way ino’s gaze flickers down your body before he forces himself to look away.

ah. so that’s where this is going.

ino is crushing, sure, but there’s something else now—something more desperate, more embarrassing. nanami recognizes it instantly, and this time, he does smirk. just a little.

ino, poor fool that he is, doesn’t realize nanami has noticed.

“kento,” you sigh, walking past ino like he isn’t even there. you set the bento box on nanami’s desk, leaning down to press a chaste kiss to his temple. “you really need to stop skipping meals.”

nanami catches the way ino’s mouth parts slightly, like the air’s been knocked out of him.

“thank you,” nanami says, calmly, like he hasn’t just witnessed his protégé mentally combust.

“it’s nothing,” you hum, straightening up. “besides, if you keep working late, i’ll just have to start showing up every night.”

ino makes a strangled noise. nanami takes a sip of his coffee, unbothered.

—

later, nanami watches as ino struggles to focus during a sparring session.

it’s bad. the kid’s already a mess under normal circumstances, but today, he’s downright sloppy. his stance is off, his movements sluggish, his strikes lacking any real force. nanami doesn’t have to guess why.

he sees it in the way ino flinches when you walk past the training hall, his shoulders tensing like he’s physically holding himself back from looking. but his restraint only lasts a second—his gaze flickers toward you anyway, like a moth drawn to a flame.

it’s pathetic.

nanami doesn’t even need to move much to dodge the sloppy punch ino throws next, sidestepping effortlessly. ino tries to recover, shifting his weight, but nanami can already tell he’s not putting his full strength into it. he’s distracted, his mind clearly elsewhere.

“you’re unfocused,” nanami states plainly, effortlessly blocking another weak attempt at a strike.

ino exhales sharply, shaking out his arms like that’ll somehow fix his obvious lack of composure. “just—just tired, that’s all,” he says, forcing a weak chuckle.

nanami stares at him, unimpressed.

“tired,” he repeats, tone dry.

ino nods, a little too eagerly. “yeah. long night.”

nanami doesn’t comment. he doesn’t need to. he’s known ino long enough to recognize his poor attempts at deflection. besides, nanami doesn’t have to say anything—not when ino completely exposes himself a second later.

because just as nanami steps forward to counter, you laugh at something in the hallway.

it’s not even loud. just a soft, amused sound, barely audible over the rhythmic thuds of sparring in the dojo. but ino hears it. worse, he reacts to it.

his body goes stiff, his focus snapping completely. nanami sees the exact moment his mind short-circuits—his fists unclenching, his stance faltering, his attention slipping from the fight entirely.

and so, nanami does what any good mentor would do.

he knocks ino flat on his ass.

“fuck,” ino groans, wheezing as he stares up at the ceiling.

nanami looms over him, arms crossed.

“if a simple distraction is enough to take you down, you won’t last long in the field,” nanami remarks coolly.

ino groans again, rubbing his face. “that wasn’t—i didn’t—”

nanami tilts his head. “if you’re tired, you should be able to focus through it,” he continues, watching as ino freezes. “unless, of course, something else is affecting your concentration.”

there it is. the telltale flicker of panic in ino’s eyes.

instead of pressing the issue further, he simply offers a hand. ino stares at it like he expects a follow-up attack, before reluctantly grasping it and letting nanami pull him to his feet.

“let’s go again.” nanami says, adjusting his sleeves.

ino exhales heavily. he nods, but nanami doesn’t miss the way his eyes flicker toward the door one last time.

instead of stopping him, nanami lets him suffer through his own turmoil.

—

by the time ino realizes he never had a chance, it’s almost pathetic.

you show up one evening, like always, but this time, you don’t just drape yourself over nanami’s shoulders—you practically melt into him, sighing contentedly as he rests a hand on your hip.

ino looks like he’s about five seconds away from passing out.

it’s honestly impressive—nanami has seen the kid go up against curses twice his level, take hits that should’ve knocked him out cold, but nothing has shaken him quite like this.

the moment you walk in, all warmth and ease as you slide into nanami’s space, ino tenses. nanami doesn’t miss the way his gaze flickers to where your hand rests on his shoulder, fingers curling against the fabric of his suit.

“kento,” you murmur, leaning down just enough that your breath brushes against his ear. “let’s go home.”

nanami hums, his grip on your waist firm as he turns his head slightly, his nose grazing yours before he kisses you—slow and deliberate.

you sigh into it, and nanami uses the moment to deepen the kiss, letting his hand drift lower, just enough to make a point.

when he finally pulls away, he opens his eyes and—ah, there it is.

ino looks wrecked. eyes wide, mouth slightly open, standing there like a man who’s just watched his last shred of hope crumble to dust.

nanami meets his gaze, calm as ever, but there’s something sharp in his expression—something that makes ino straighten up like a scolded dog.

it’s not a threat. not really. nanami doesn’t need to threaten him.

it’s just a simple fact.

you’re his.

and ino? well, ino never had a chance.

—> part two(nsfw).

Poster Request: "f1 driver carlos sainz jr and any of his wins." (2024)

i took some creative liberties with this request but i couldn't resist

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babydoll

frat!gojo x shy!fem reader !!

wc: 6.5k

part one ! part 2 ! part 3 !

part two in the works…

disclaimer !! slow burn, fluff, angst/comfort, yearning satoru, whipped satoru, satoru is just so enamoured with reader omg. follows the ‘was i just a bet?’ premise!! eventual smut (most likely). reader is implied to wear very cutesy kinds of clothings and enjoys very girly and feminine things !!

artist: thatsallitcheif on x!

“yo, toru. whatcha lookin at?”

standing so sweetly in line at jujutsu university’s student cafe, stood the most adorably breathtaking girl satoru swears he’d ever laid eyes on. looking up at the variety board of drinks with one adorable manicured nail tapping your chin, you shyly made your way up to the counter.

you we’re what he was staring at.

suguru nudged the white haired boys shoulder as they sat back on a bench, not far from the café’s store front. they lounged back with widespread legs, still dressed in their sweaty basketball jerseys.

“hey man, i’m talking to you.”

shaking his head trying to regather his thoughts, satoru half heartedly responded.

“yeah man that sounds good. whatever you wanna do.”

the purple eyed man let out an annoyed huff, “that’s not even— you know what? forget it.” used to his best friends frequent ditzy zone-outs, suguru knew it was best to just drop it and try his luck asking about what had him so enamoured later.

satoru paid no mind to it, still trailing his eyes over your frame as you seemed to stumble over your words when ordering whatever cute little iced drink he’s sure a sweet thing like you enjoyed. he wasn’t sure what had his eyes suddenly so drawn to you, a random campus girl he’d never seen in his life.

maybe it was the fact you had the whole, ‘girl next door’ thing down pat, or maybe how you looked like you owned fifty vintage Hollister sweaters, the real tight ones that showed off your body in that innocent kind of way. you were clad in just that, a grey one, paired with a cute skirt, some stockings and those leg warmers he always saw the cute girls on instagram wear.

very attractive, in his opinion.

he let out a deep breath through his lips as he watched you sip the straw of what looked to be an iced latte, your rosy pink gloss slightly staining the white paper. how could he see from so far away? no one really knew, satoru gojo was known for having real good eyes.

he was known for a lot, actually— his trust fund worth more than what it cost to build the prestigious university and then some, or his effortless charm that never failed to nudge pretty sorority girls into his bed.— but most of all, satoru gojo was most renowned throughout jujutsu for his insane ragers; the ones where the cops get called one way or another, and hundreds of drunken collage kids scramble in all directions out of his notorious frat, alpha phi. and sure, he was at uni for basketball like his buddy suguru, but satoru could ace any course this school had to offer, and that was the scariest thing about him, his sheer wit.

“suguru, d’you know that girl sitting over there, at the cafe? the one with the cute sweater.”

his friend raised his head from looking down at his phone to meet where satoru was pointing.

“ah, so that’s what you were looking at. glad i got my answer ten minutes fucking later, tsk.” suguru pocketed his phone and sat back against the bench, continuing.

“yeah i know her, the names y/n. she’s in my ethics class, a real cute one, huh? really quiet, always fiddling with her hair and shit, classical doll faced nerd.” he said pulling out a cigarette.

satoru nodded and hummed in response, still watching you from afar as you tapped at your phone, shyly tucked away at a table outside the cafe and under a big oak tree.

‘y/n…’

“what, you wanna talk to her or something? the whole shy and prude thing isn’t really your type, fuck boy. i’m almost certain a sweet thing like that doesn’t need a frat boy ruining her life, don’t cha think?” suguru chuckled with a now lit cigarette between his lips.

god, he was right. sure satoru had pretty much pictured your adorable little self in a long white wedding dress already—not sure why, since he never entertained the idea of getting married; especially not anytime soon—but the way you carried yourself, the way your sparkly little nails traced the lid of your cup as you looked down through your long, pretty lashes at whatever was on your phone had him completely entranced.

“jesus christ satoru. you look like a dog in heat staring daggers through her head like that.” the black haired man took a puff before continuing. “if you really want to, just go over and sweet talk her, get her number, fuck ‘er real good and get it outta your system.” suguru said nonchalantly.

satoru shivered a bit at the thought, like for once, just fucking someone and dipping was suddenly disgusting. for once he looked at someone he found attractive and instead of feeling the urge to rut inside and fulfil his desires, he felt a compulsion to care for and protect them. god what was he? a fucking dog? reluctantly, satoru sighed and stood up infront of the other male.

“nah man… you’re right, she’s just a bit too… ‘pure’ looking for someone like me. let’s get outta here, i need a drink.”

suguru chuckled as he clasped hands with his friend, satoru pulling him up from his seated position. “pretty girls like that deserve better than us, toru.” he only let out a breathy chuckle, knowing deep down he was very right, that he should just ignore the deep feeling of warmth inside his gut from when he was staring at you earlier.

~

later that night, now dressed in a black shirt and grey sweats (get my reference) paired with the classic fuck boy silver chain and jordan’s, satoru was sat on his frats couch, sipping the jungle juice him and nanami made earlier for tonight’s party.

bodies clashed on the makeshift dance floor as the smell of weed and booze hung heavy in the air. on any normal night, satoru would be in the middle of it all, dancing and making out with whatever sorority chick he chose for the evening, but now? he was moping alone at the edges of the crowd. his mind was hazy with a distant feeling of… dread? was he seriously feeling anxious in the one place he thrived the most?

he let out a sigh and stood up, downing his drink, trying to revoke some sort of ‘party satoru’ he knew was swimming somewhere inside him. but with each faked smile he plastered on his pretty face when greeting his fellow frat brothers with claps in the back, he felt himself growing more and more uneasy.

each thought swimming around in his head was full of one thing, and that was the cutie he saw at the cafe earlier today, ‘y/n.’

he repeated the name over and over again in his head. it was an adorable name, one fit for someone as sweet looking as you. what would she be doing right now? sleeping? studying? showering? his thoughts were interrupted when he heard the name he was just singing in his mind come from the familiar mouth of his friend, choso.

“y/n? who the hell is that?” suguru, choso, and yuuji were all standing around in a small semi cirlcle, drinks in hands as suguru was letting the alcohol talk for him.

“just this girl satoru couldn’t stop eye-fucking today.” he said slightly slurring his words.

satoru rolled his eyes and turned to join them. “what’s new? he’s always doing that.” said yuuji, earning a chuckle from choso. suguru also laughed before continuing.

“yeah, but this girl was different. she’s the sweet type, y’know? the ones that look so cute and untouched you feel bad for even lookin at em in that kinda way. ain’t that right satoru? poor guy didn’t even go up to her..”

the blue eyed man rolled his eyes. “tsk, so what i was staring? she was cute. and i didn’t want to sleep with her alright. just eye candy, that’s all.”

all three guys were inwardly confused. their party animal of a friend, the most confident ladies man they knew was getting all hung up over a quiet, shy girl he saw at a damn cafe? what the fuck?

choso tried to stifle a laugh. “you’re telling me you saw a girl you liked and didn’t fuck her? what’s wrong with you man, are you sick?” the small group laughed, and so did he. because they were right, not once had he not gotten what he wanted from a girl, but this time he held back.

why? why the hell didn’t he just go up to you and ask for your number? now he was stuck at this party he didn’t want to be at anymore getting harassed by his stupid friends. he was sucked out of his self pity when choso nudged his arm.

“gojo, five hundred dollars says you can’t fuck her by the end of june.” the brunette man said, taking a swig of his drink. before satoru could outright refuse, suguru jumped in. “raise that to one thousand. this guys not doing it.”

they were winding him up, and it was working. “you fuckers are so lost. but fuck it, whatever. two thousand dollars says that i can fuck her by the end of may.” it was currently march, so that meant two months to woo you.

god, he shouldn’t of shortened it. he shouldn't of said that at all! but what else could you do when your fuckass friends try brusing your ego?

suguru and satoru shook on it.

~

the first time you had ever seen satoru gojo was late one afternoon on campus, he had his tounge down a very pretty girls throat, one from your chemistry course. the girl was a tad bit bitchy but she never bothered you, so you just assumed it was her boyfriend and didn't think much of it.

oh were you wrong.

from then on out you had managed to catch the white haired male flirting, touching up on, and kissing four different girls on four different occasions throughout the collage grounds.

'oh, so he's a slut.'

you didn't have the brain space to think too much about the stupid frat guys that ran the school like teenagers with too much testosterone, so you never once thought of the guy again, chalking him up to just another fuck boy.

his friend suguru however? you weren't gonna lie, totally your type. he was in your ethics class and he knew his shit. he was tall, dark and handsome and god he looked like some guy out of a punk rock band. he was your little hallway crush, but you knew of his frisky behaviour being apart of a frat and all, so you only really payed attention to him when you needed something pretty to look at.

like right now, as suguru and the white haired guy you were yet to know the name of sat together squeezing water into their mouths from their water bottles after a basketball training session. they were both pretty guys.

you were walking from your physiology class to the library, shyly taking glances at the black haired male when he suddenly caught your eye. you quickly turned away and walked abit faster to your class, missing the way suguru nudged satoru's elbow with a grin.

"look, it's that girl we made bets on last week."

satorus head flew up to trace your retreating figure. 'god even from this far away she looks stunning.'

he had been searching for you around campus for almost a week straight, under the guides of 'scoping out some fresh meat.' he stood up almost as fast as his head rose and started jogging to catch up to you. god you were adorable, you were dressed in the cutesy style you always stuck to, walking so prettily as your shoes pitter pattered against the concrete. what the hell was he even gonna say when he got to you? he had no idea.

once he had caught up, not even slightly out of breath and still in his sweaty basket ball uniform. he slowed down and walked around beside you, clearing his throat as he stood off to the side but infront of you. he looked down to meet your eyes, and to say he was flabbergasted was an understatement.

shit, you looked even cuter up close. your big eyes and those fluttery lashes had him choked up, the way your hair framed your face, how your long sleeved shirt hugged your figure in all the right ways. he was speechless in your presence.

you were startled when the 6'4 jocked up guy you knew to be a notorious player suddenly approached you. he was towering over you, so much so that you caught a whiff of his heavenly cologne mixed with abit of his sweat.

gross? sure. hot? absolutely.

you assumed he was just trying to pass by so you also cleared your throat gently and picked up your pace, nodding politely in apology as you walked past him completely.

this made satoru panic. he stammered a bit before choking out an awkward "hey! wait up!"

you turned on your heel to see him still standing where he was, bashfully rubbing his neck as he looked away almost... shyly? what the hell?

you nervously played with the sleeves of your shirt that covered the better parts of your wrists, slowly rubbing your lips together as you looked up at him through long lashes. seriously this was getting weird, what did he want? this overly confident frat guy who was known for being rowdy and tuff was almost shying into himself as he stood infront of you.

"...yeah?.." your voice caught him a little off guard, it was silky smooth yet shy and unsure.

'very feminine', he thought.

'what the hell are you doing man... she looks like she'd rather be anywhere else but here standing next to someone like you.' he sighed and tried to push away his self deprecating thoughts. with a deep breath he stared back into your pretty little eyes and finally opened his mouth.

"you're uhm... your hair clip, it's pretty cool."

'her fucking hair clip? really satoru? the prettiest girl you've ever seen in your life is standing right infront of you and you chose to compliment her hair clip of all things?!'

he inwardly groaned, feeling more than embarrassed.

he was shoved out of his own head when he saw your cheeks dust an enticing pink as you fidgeted with the hem of your skirt. you looked so fucking good right now.

"oh, uh. thank you so much." you said with a small smile, trying to stay polite despite your immense discomfort at the moment. he nodded and coughed into a closed fist awkwardly.

'now what?!' since when did talking to pretty girls become this hard for him?! the two of you stood their staring at eachother stiffly, none of you sure what to say next. you were beyond confused, you were sure this was some stupid frat thing where they went up to random girls and tried poking fun at them.

"so uhm... your name is what? i mean- what's your name?" he mentally facepalmed at his idiocy, biting his lip as to not let anymore corny word vomit escape.

you brushed a strand of hair out of your face and blinked up at him, now noticing how ripped he was. each and every muscle on his visiable forearms were perfectly sculpted along with his sharp facial features and piercing eyes.

"it's y/n... and you?"

of course a sweet closeted thing like you didn't know his name. he was more-so famous around the greek scene, but nethertheless he felt his ego take a hit at the lack of knowledge. he looked you once over, trying his best to surprise the noise of appreciation for your absolute perfection from humming out of his throat.

"satoru. satoru gojo."

"uh, cool. did you... need something? from me?-"

"your number." he blurted it out almost a little too loud, immediately covering his mouth and flushing abit red. he cleared his throat and said it again. "could i have your number, please?" he readjusted himself, trying to regain abit of his confidence and act like he knew what he was doing, because he did, he'd done the whole flirting thing a million times for god sake! you were just making it abit difficult with that adorable confused look on your face.

you didn't fully process what he was saying, just that a guy way out of your social circle was trying to get your number, and you were gonna give it to him because you had absolutely no confidence to say no.

so, pulling out your phone encased in its cute pink cover and tons of dangly charms, you pulled up your number and showed it to him to copy down.

satoru, now composed and feeling abit more like his usual self, smiled at your shy gesture. he too took out his phone and quickly jotted down the number into a new contact, you watched him save it under 'n/n 💗' .

still flushed, you timidly watched as he pocketed his phone, turning his head to look back at where suguru was sat at the bench not far too far away.

"thanks, sweetheart. i'll text you later, yeah?"

he said it with more calm in his voice, a stark difference from how he first approached you. you nodded awkwardly and turned around to finally walk away. once you were a good distance away from satoru, you let out a breath you didn't know you were holding. did that really happen? why the hell did he of all people want your number? you were getting a tiny bit scared he'd use his frat boy charm to get you into bed and then ditch you like it was any regular friday.

you tried pushing it down, opting to forget about the entire interaction. it would be better on your psyche.

satoru on the other hand, he was estatic. he practically skipped back to suguru with a big goofy smile on his face.

"i got it! man aren't i awesome!"

suguru just smirked and patted his back like a proud father.

"good job, man. now all you gotta do is actually get close enough to her that she'll let you in her pants. an easy 2000 dollars, right?" suguru said a tad condescending.

satoru sucked in a breath, oh yeah, the bet.

~

later that evening, you found yourself studying quietly in your cozy dormitory. it was clad with plushies of all shapes and sizes, a pink plush bed full of fluffy blankets and pillows, and a beautiful vintage style vanity off to one side. your books lay scatters over the soft rug beneath you, you sat beside your bed re-reading the notes taken today in chemistry. with your major being in the science feild, you had frequent nights like this; cramming knowledge inside your pretty little head like there was no tommorow.

you were distracted from the comfort of your blanket pile on the floor by a buzzing on your phone, situated on the vanity across the room.

sighing and standing up with a small groan, you grabbed it and plopped onto your comfy bed. opening up messages, you saw an unknown number pop up the top with another notification.

xxx xxx xxx xx : hey pretty girl

xxx xxx xxx xx : it's gojo

xxx xxx xxx xx : hope i didn't scare you off too badly today 😅

you found yourself getting flustered at the messages. sure you got hit on pretty much all the time, but coming from someone as popular as satoru had you quirking your brow due to the clique difference between the two of you.

the only other guy who was similar to satoru that had tried his luck with you was sukuna… and that was a shit show. a big frat guy with an even bigger ego mixed with a sweet girl like you was not a good partnership. safe to say you two ended after a few months of being him pushing you around like his own personal plaything.

the thought of being involved with another mean frat boy like that really did frighten you, you wanted to feel loved, not like a trophy to show off.

reading satoru’s messages once over again, you decided to not respond. sure he was kind of sweet today asking for your number all akward and bashful, complimenting the hair clip you took five minutes this morning trying to pick out; but deep down you knew you didn’t really want to give him your number. you were just too shy to say no. at least now you had a choice to talk to him or not, and you chose the latter. better to keep yourself safe.

before you could set your phone down, another influx of messages appeared.

xxx xxx xxx xx : read? looks like i did scare you off :(

xxx xxx xxx xx : i’m sorryyy i came off too brash didn’t i?

xxx xxx xxx xx : i was being such an akward loser today

xxx xxx xxx xx : please let me redeem myself 🙏🏻

you once again found yourself smiling, maybe responding just once wouldn’t hurt.

n/n 💗: hey, sorry for not responding earlier !!

n/n 💗: i was pretty swamped with course work 🙁

you clicked on his number and made him a contact before he responded.

gojo : oh hey!

gojo : no worries, glad you're working hard 🤝

on the other line, gojo was grinning like a madman at the thought of your nose stuck in a text book.

he was lazing in his room shirtless with a pair of black shorts, his signature thin silver chain dangling from his neck. his room was dimly lit with posters of all the bands he loved plastered on the wall, what a perfect opportunity for a photo. smirking to himself he snapped a photo of his shirtless top half with a big smile on his face, clearly showing off his beautifully sculpted chest.

gojo : [Attachment 1 image] for my contact photo ;)

you did a double take at the photo, clicking into it and zooming in to make sure you were seeing what you thought you were seeing. you weren't normally the type to get all hot and bothered over guys, but shit, he was hot. you shook your head and saved the photo, making it his contact photo since you really didn't have anything else to set it as. your phone dinged again.

gojo : so? where's mine? can't have your photo blank now can we?

you bit your lip nervously. sure you put a lot into your appearance and knew a lot of people thought you were 'absolutely adorable', but you weren't really convinced yourself, so taking selfies wasn't something you were used to.

regardless, you found yourself putting on a small smile and snapping a picture of your pretty face. giving it a once over you hovered over the send button. why did you care about what this guy thought of you anyways? weren't you the one who was just lecturing yourself about not getting involved with another guy like sakuna? you huffed and sent the picture trying not to think too hardly of it.

n/n 💗 : [Attachment 1 image]

gojo : wowza 🤯

gojo : you're fucking stunning 😍😍

on the other line, satoru could feel his blood rushing south at the photo you sent, it was innocent and oh so adorable. everything about your features made his heart feel woozy. after staring for a good five minutes, analysing each and every aspect of your face and what he could see in the background, he set it as your contact, smiling to himself.

n/n 💗: thank you

he chuckled at the some what dry response. he could tell you weren't very comfortable and he desperately wanted to change that.

gojo : hey, so i was thinking... you seem really cool to hang with, we should totally go out some time, yeah?

he hit send quickly so he wouldn't overthink it too much. he watched his screen a bit worriedly. he wasn't sure how you'd respond to that after only just meeting him today, but it's the best he had under his belt. satoru was strictly a hook-ups-only kind of guy, going on dates was foreign for him, but for you, he would.

he saw you read the text and type out a reply, delete it, then type out another.

n/n 💗 : thank you for the offer ! i'm sorry if this sounds abit rude, but we kind of just met today... and you suddenly want to hang out with me of all people?

n/n 💗 : is this like, a prank or something like that?

gojo cringed at himself for making you feel like he was trying to hang out with you for ulterior motives -which he kind of was considering the bet- but it was more than that, he genuinely did think you were cute and wanted to get to know you.

gojo : what? no! i just thought you were really cute, that's all. if you don’t feel comfortable hanging out i totally get it!

he anxiously watched as you read his message, fiddling with the sheets beneath him.

you did feel bad, really you did. and god knows you're way too shy to outwardly reject anyone. so, you let out a sigh and decided to humour him.

n/n 💗 : no, no! it's fine don't worry, we can hang out.

with all his anxiety dissipating, gojo let out a breath and quickly typed out a reply.

gojo : awesomee how does tomorrow for coffee at lunch sound? my shout, ofcourse.

n/n 💗 : okay!

gojo : sweet, i'll meet you outside the cafe at 12, see you then sweetheart ;)

~

the next day came faster than you'd expected. your fingers toyed nervously with the zipper of your off shoulder jacket as you stood beneath the awning of the student cafe, you were standing off to one corner trying not to stand out too much as your eyes scanned the crowd for that unmistakable shock of white hair.

your mind was still reeling, you believe you’d said yes to him. the rational voice in your head had spent the entire morning trying to talk you out of it, replaying memories of the only boyfriend you’d ever had being a frat boy. sukuna.

but here you were—waiting for gojo. the satoru gojo.

he showed up exactly at 12:03, He strolled toward you like he owned the pavement, hands shoved into the pockets of his grey sweats, his messy white hair tucked under a backwards baseball cap. He wasn’t wearing his usual frat-boy grin—instead, his eyes flicked over you, softening as he approached, his lips curving into something almost bashful. maybe the frat thing didn’t look so bad on him. maybe.

“hey, sweetheart,” he said, voice light but laced with a note of something softer, something real. “hope you weren’t waiting too long.”

you shook your head, smiling shyly up at him. “just got here.”

you weren’t used to towering boys like satoru opening doors for you, but he did, motioning for you to walk in first. surprisingly gentlemanly. the café was warm, the windows fogged with spring condensation, the air filled with the soft hiss of the espresso machine. once you’d sat outside under the same oak tree he’d first seen you under, surprisingly, satoru stayed mostly quiet. he wasn’t bombarding you with charm or flirting overkill like you expected. instead, he seemed… careful. like he didn’t want to scare you off.

he glanced at the menu, but looked back at you quickly. “tell me what you’re having so i can grab it. i promised i’d pay, remember?”

your lips parted slightly in surprise—no cocky comment, no flirtatious undertone. you told him your order, voice soft, and he nodded like it was the most important thing in the world, striding to the counter with ease. you watched him exchange a joke with the barista, his laugh echoing warmly through the small space. he really was effortlessly charming, you had to admit that.

you shyly bit your lip as you replayed the whole situation you were in right now. you had to tell your best friend yuki all about this later.

he returned with two drinks—your regular iced latte and something caramel-colored for himself—and two pastries. “didn’t know what you liked, so i got a cinnamon swirl. it looked like something a girl as cute as you might like,” he teased gently.

you smiled, biting back a laugh. “thanks a bunch, i like cinnamon.”

“see?” he leaned back in his seat with a smug little grin, sipping his drink. “i’m good at this.”

it was awkward at first. you weren’t sure where to look—his face, the window, the table?—but he made it easier than you’d expected. he asked about your major, why you chose it. he didn’t interrupt. he didn’t make jokes at your expense. when you mentioned how much you liked microbiology, instead of zoning out, he asked, “that’s the one with the cute little organisms, right? like, the blob guys?”

you giggled, making his cheeks flush slightly pink at the sound. “kind of, yeah.”

he grinned wide, pleased with himself for making you laugh. “you like what you like. that’s cool. most people don’t talk about something and light up like you just did. i could get used to seeing that cute smile more often, y’ know.”

you felt your cheeks warm and looked down, hiding a smile behind your drink. you didn’t know what you expected from this coffee date—maybe a few hollow compliments and an invite back to his place—but you didn’t expect to feel... seen.

“i’m glad you came,” he said after a pause. his voice was a little quieter now, more honest.

you glanced up at him, unsure of what to say. so instead, you just nodded.

and for now, that felt like enough.

satoru and you spent the rest of what would of been your chemistry lecture talking about how much you loved being feminine, doing your make up and creating a dormitory that reflected fragile femininity to the tee. satorus smile never seemed to drop as he asked you question after question never seeming to get bored of your shy voice.

“so like, are you into james charles and stuff? he’s the only make up person i know.”

he said with a little laugh. you joined in, gigging to yourself.

“not really, i don’t go as heavy as him. i just like to… i don’t know, make my face look abit cuter? does that make sense?”

you covered your mouth with the sleeve of your jacket as you looked up at him bashfully.

his face seemed to soften seeing you hide behind your sleeve, reaching over and pulling it down, causing you to let out a small noise of surprise.

“you don’t need to hide your pretty face from me. it’s too cute not to be seen, you’re obviously doing a good job if you look that adorable.”

after a pause you nodded your head, making a note to try and not touch your face out of nervousness as you usually did.

“you know,” he finally said, tapping the table with one ringed finger, “i don’t usually do this.”

you blinked. “do what?”

“go for coffee. with girls.” his tone was sincere, his brows lifting slightly as if he was the one feeling small. “usually it’s just… parties, hookups, and then nothing. but you’re… different.”

you bit your lip, unsure how to respond. “because i look innocent?”

satoru let out a soft laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “no. because you are innocent. but not in a bad way. you’ve got this whole thing about you that makes me—” he paused, chuckling at himself. “—makes me wanna, like, put on a sweater and meet your parents or some shit.”

you couldn’t help but laugh quietly, hiding your smile behind your cup. “you’re weird.”

he grinned like he’d won the lottery. “yeah, but you smiled. that’s a win.”

and for a moment, as the sun filtered through the oak leaves and warmed your cheeks, you let yourself wonder—maybe, just maybe, this wasn’t the start of a cruel bet or a frat boy’s usual game.

the minutes turned to hours and suddenly you had sat through a five hour conversation with satoru about his basketball, your course work, the hobbies you both had, and the friends you liked the most.

“mmm. if i had to pick, i’d say suguru is my best friend. do you know him?”

‘ah, suguru.’ the hot guy in your ethics you have a small crush on, of course you knew him.

your face heated up as you turned your head to face or the window, stuttering for the first time in about four hours.

“y-yeah… i know him.”

satoru raised a brow at this. he wasn’t sure why you were suddenly so nervous, he thought he had overcome your shy barrier a few hours ago?

he cleared his throat, continuing on. “so? i hear you guys are in ethics together. is that like, good?”

‘is that like, good? seriously man? you’re sounding like a loser right now.’ he thought to himself.

“i.. yeah.. it’s good… he’s really smart, and pretty. p-pretty good at the subject, i mean!”

‘that was a shit save, y/n.’ you inwardly groaned. you could see satorus face slightly drop from his usual laid back grin.

satoru’s brow furrowed for a moment as he processed your sudden nervousness. it was subtle, but enough for him to catch it. he leaned back in his chair, studying your face, the way your eyes darted away from his and your hand fiddled with your jacket sleeve. something wasn’t adding up.

he wasn’t sure what was bothering you, but for the first time that afternoon, he felt a flicker of doubt. he had been so careful, so mindful of you—why were you suddenly pulling away?

“huh, really?” he said slowly, his voice softening, as if giving you space to explain. “didn’t know suguru was your type.”

you could feel his gaze on you, like he was trying to piece together something he hadn't understood yet. his usual playful smirk was gone, replaced by an unreadable expression that made you feel a little... vulnerable.

“ahhh, you’ve got it wrong. he’s… just a good guy,” you mumbled shyly, hoping the topic would pass.

but satoru didn’t let it slide. not this time. he was quiet for a few seconds, his fingers lightly tapping on the table. when he spoke again, his voice was quieter, more serious.

“y/n,” he began, his tone oddly gentle, “if you’re into him, that’s cool. i just want you to know, though, that i’m not here to play games. not with you.”

you looked up at him, meeting his eyes for the first time in what felt like forever. there was something unspoken in the way he said it, something that made your heart race like you had done something wrong. god you messed up. you’ve just had the most enjoyable time with satoru now he thinks you’re inlove with his best friend. yikes.

you were not one for confrontation, so you were getting nervous. you really didn’t like suguru, you just thought he was pretty, how the hell were you going to save this… you sighed deeply, peering into his orbs.

“hey, i don’t like him like that. i just think he’s a pretty guy… like you, you’re a pretty guy too.”

you bit your lip anxiously waiting for his reaction…

satoru blinked a couple of times, clearly processing your words. the usual cocky grin was nowhere to be found as his gaze softened, something almost vulnerable flickering behind his bright blue eyes. he leaned forward slightly, his arms resting casually on the table, but his posture had changed. it was like he was giving you space, like he was trying to understand you more than just joking around.

"i... i get it," he said, his voice low and a little more serious than you'd heard all day. "it's just... i’ve never really talked like this with any girl before, i’m not sure how this all works to be honest. and with suguru, i guess i was just making assumptions." he ran a hand through his white hair, looking out the window for a moment before turning back to you. "but, i’m glad to hear that. 'cause, you know, i really enjoy spending time with you. and i don't want you to feel like you have to explain yourself to me.”

you let out a breath you hadn’t realized you’d been holding, feeling some of the tension melt away between the two of you. "you’re a silly guy, huh?"

he smirked, the familiar mischievous glint returning to his eyes. "yeah, i know. but i’m also a pretty straightforward guy. so just, uh, don’t feel like you owe me any explanations, okay? you’re cool, y/n. like, really cool."

your heart skipped at the compliment, but you were still a bit nervous, unsure of how to react to his change in tone. still, you managed a small smile, feeling a little lighter.

“t-thanks satoru,” you said, your voice softer now.

he leaned back again, relaxing into his chair with that signature confident grin returning to his lips. “no problem, sweetheart. you’re way too cute for me to get all weird about things. just... don’t go falling for suguru, okay?” he teased, his smile widening.

you rolled your eyes, feeling the nerves ease, though your cheeks were still a little flushed. “i’ll try my best.”

"good," he said, winking at you. "because you’re already way ahead of the competition."

you shied into yourself at the flirty gesture, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear.

suddenly, satorus face dropped from his laid back casual expression to one of almost annoyance. you saw his eyes trailing at the entrance of the cafe to see a group of what looked to be frat guys walking out.

“you uh.. okay?” you asked sweetly, watching him shift in his chair.

satoru didn’t answer immediately. instead, he stood up abruptly, muttering, “stay here. i’ll be right back.” his tone was sharper than usual, and you couldn’t help but watch as he plastered on a grin, striding toward the group of guys with his usual charm. but this time, it seemed different. there was a bit too much of a show in his smile, a little too much forced energy in his greetings.

“look who it is. how’s it, gojo?” one of the guys shouted, clapping satoru on the back. the others chimed in with loud greetings.

you watched from afar as he made conversation, subtly steering the group away from where you sat. after a while you saw them wrapping up.

“alright, alright, go on then. catch you later, gojo,” one of them said with a half-smile, walking away with the others. he slumped back into his chair with a sigh, glancing over his shoulder again to make sure they weren’t coming back.

“… are you okay..?” you asked, your voice soft, a little quiet. you could see the tension still lingering in his eyes.

satoru ran a hand through his hair, looking anywhere but at you for a moment. “yeah, just—” he sighed again, his voice lowering. “you know how it is. guys like them… they don’t know when to quit.”

“quit?” you repeated, brow furrowed. you were trying to piece things together, but his mood had shifted so abruptly. “what do you mean?”

he looked at you finally, his expression softening a bit. “they can be… fuckwits, to put it lightly. don’t want them coming over here and making any fucked up comments or anything.”

you blinked, realization slowly dawning on you. “you didn’t want them bothering me?”

“yeah,” he said quietly, avoiding your gaze. “i mean, it’s one thing if they’re messing around with me, but... you shouldn’t have to deal with their shit.”

your heart fluttered a little at his words. satoru was trying to protect you, even if it meant dealing with his friends’ annoying antics. it was... sweet. "thank you," you said softly, a small smile forming on your glossed lips.

he glanced at you, a slightly sheepish look on his face. “no problem. i just didn’t want them to say anything messed up to you. that’s all.”

“that’s really kind of you satoru, very chivalrous,” you said, your voice teasing yet holding its own sense of shyness.

satoru’s smile returned, this time a little more genuine. “yeah, of course. don’t know what you’d do without me.”

you raised an eyebrow playfully. “i’m sure i’d manage.”

“nah, i’m irreplaceable, girlie.” he grinned, his usual cocky charm back in full force.

you rolled your eyes, but the truth was, you were starting to like this side of him—the side that wasn’t always trying to show off. satoru may have been surrounded by chaos, but right now, in this quiet moment, he felt... real.

“well, thank you,” you said, your smile softening. “for looking out for me.”

“always,” he replied, leaning back in his chair and looking at you with a glint of something softer behind his usual cocky grin.

your date with satoru revealed a lot about his character. he was a dork, a cute dork. he was charming, funny, hot as hell, but he was deeper than that. satoru had a layer to him you we’re sure only those close to him were allowed to see, and for the time you we’re together, he showed that side you you. deep down he was thoughtful, he was kind, observant.

he cared for people and how he was perceived. and most of all he made you feel like the only girl in the world on that date. not too flirty, but just enough to make your heart flutter with life, something you hadn’t felt since you had broken up with sukuna about a year ago.

for a second, you wondered if maybe there was more to this guy than the image he liked to project, maybe he’d let you see it if you stayed around. maybe you needed to do just that.

chat my first start to a long fic on this app what do we think 😟😟

nanami prides himself on many things—his discipline, his work ethic, his impeccable taste in ties. but above all, he prides himself on his ability to communicate clearly and concisely, whether in speech or in writing. his text messages are a testament to this:

nanami: I will arrive at 7:30 p.m. Let me know if you need anything.

capitalized. punctuated. grammatically flawless.

then there is you. his lovely girlfriend. his chaotic girlfriend.

you: oks eeu thns

nanami blinks. once. twice. he tilts his phone screen away, then back, as if a different angle might help decipher whatever cryptic language this is. "oks eeu thns" is not english. nor is it japanese. it is… something else. something eldritch.

"what." he mutters to himself.

this is not the first time. nor will it be the last. your texts are a battlefield, a warzone of typos, autocorrect fails, and complete disregard for sentence structure. you do not "text." you unleash a tornado of half-formed thoughts at an alarming rate, as though your thumbs operate on a separate plane of existence.

exhibit a:

you: r u cmg home latr i wan ice cre nanami: Are you asking if I will be home late, and if so, whether you want ice cream? you: ye nanami: …What flavor? you: gimme mint sumn u kno the blue green w the chunks idk idc nanami: You want mint chocolate chip. you: ye

he has, over time, become somewhat of a linguist. an interpreter. a man who now instinctively knows that when you say "bcum," you mean "become" and not whatever horrifying alternative that initially flashes through his mind. but nothing—nothing—prepared him for exhibit b:

you: bby whn u cming hom i wan hug n u also i los a sock idk where she go nanami: I will be home at 6 p.m. I assume you meant to say you lost a sock. you: y au did nanami: What does that mean. you: *ya i did nanami: Understood.

he did not understand. he once tried to gently correct your typos. you responded by sending him "ok grammarly" and proceeding to text even faster with worse errors out of sheer spite. now, nanami has simply adapted.

you: i made pasta bt i dropd some :( rip lil guy nanami: Rest in peace to the fallen. you: he wud hv wantd us to eat his brothr in his honr nanami: Then we shall.

sometimes, he marvels at how two people so fundamentally different could love each other so much. and then he remembers the first time you sleepily texted him "gn ily mwuah" at 1:43 a.m. with no capitalization, no punctuation, just raw, unfiltered affection—

and suddenly, he doesn’t mind deciphering your nonsense at all.

Hello! Can I request a fic where Carlos and reader are in the early stages of their relationship, and he finds out that reader has a cat? (Since we all know how he feels about cats)

CLAWS | CS55

Pairing: Carlos Sainz x OC (she/her/Sarah)

Warnings: None

Author’s note: This was such a cute request! Thank you! I hope you like it. I kind of realised while writing this that I’m more of a dog person, but I loved this and now I want a cat. Sorry, this ended up being a bit on the short side.

Masterlist

Carlos hadn't been on a date in what felt like years. The string of awkward silences and forced conversations had left him jaded. So when his friends, bless their persistent souls, convinced him to meet their friend for a blind date, he went in with the enthusiasm of a slug crossing a salt flat.

The tiny Italian restaurant buzzed with conversation, the air thick with the aroma of garlic and basil. Carlos fidgeted in his chair, replaying every embarrassing first-date anecdote in his head. Then, she walked in, a whirlwind of laughter and sunshine in a yellow sundress.

The conversation started easily, like a worn path they'd both walked before. They discovered a shared love of terrible puns and a mutual disdain for reality TV. Before he knew it,  hours had melted away, the clinking of plates replaced by their easy laughter. As Carlos walked her to her car, a warm, unfamiliar feeling bloomed in his chest.  He was surprised, not just by the connection, but by how quickly he let his guard down.  Maybe, just maybe, this wasn't another bad date after all.

Butterflies danced a frantic jig in Carlos's stomach as he pulled into the parking spot behind her car. Three dates, weeks of stolen glances and playful texts, and there he was, parked outside her apartment building. It wasn't a fancy high-rise, but a well-maintained brick building with overflowing window boxes and fairy lights strung across the balconies. A hint of jasmine, maybe from the blooming climbers by the entrance, tickled his nose. He wasn't sure if “coffee” was the only thing brewing tonight, and the uncertainty sent a thrill through him. He took a deep breath, the air thick with anticipation, and stepped out, ready to see what awaited him behind that unassuming door.

Carlos found her waiting by the building's entrance, a curious smile playing on her lips. Together, they navigated the slightly creaky elevator to the fifth floor, the silence comfortable as their hands brushed, sending a spark through him.

Reaching her door, she fumbled slightly with her keys before unlocking it with a laugh. Inside, the warm glow of fairy lights strung across the ceiling cast a whimsical light on the room. Carlos's eyes adjusted, taking in the cosy space adorned with mismatched furniture and bookshelves overflowing with novels. Yet, an unexpected detail snagged his attention. Nestled by the doorway sat two small, vibrantly coloured food and water bowls, a splash of lavender against the wooden floor.

Carlos froze, momentarily thrown. Weeks of flirting hadn't prepared him for the realisation that dawned on him slowly. He hadn't considered the possibility of her having a pet, and the bowls, clearly meant for something much smaller than a dog, left him confused. His gaze darted around, searching for a furry companion, but the apartment remained curiously devoid of chewed toys or the telltale signs of a playful canine.  A blush crept up his neck as the truth, both hilarious and slightly embarrassing, began to settle in. These weren't dog bowls – they were for a cat.

Reaching up, she retrieved a kettle from a shelf and filled it with water.  With a practised flick of her wrist, she pulled open a cupboard and retrieved a small, foil pouch adorned with a cartoon cat. With a satisfied smile, she ripped the top open, a pungent aroma of tuna wafting out.  Unaware of the revelation dawning on Carlos, she began meticulously scooping the wet food onto a dish by the door – the very one that had thrown him into a moment of confusion. A strangled laugh escaped Carlos's lips. 

“So, you have a cat?” he asked, the question laced with a hint of amusement that both surprised and relieved him. Sarah's smile widened, her eyes sparkling with delight.

“I do,” she confirmed, “though she's mastered the art of invisibility apparently.”

“What's, uh, she called?” Carlos continued to probe, his gaze scanning the room for any sign of movement.  He was starting to feel a little foolish for his initial confusion over the bowls.

“You're going to laugh,” she chuckled, a hint of mischief in her eyes.

“Please tell me it isn't like Carlita, or something like that,” Carlos retorted, trying to regain some composure. He secretly hoped for a normal, elegant cat name.

“When I rescued her, she was so small, we didn't know what her sex was, so I just named her Bean,” she explained, a warm smile gracing her lips.

“Bean?” Carlos asked, almost cackling as he watched her in amazement. The name did not quite match the image he'd conjured. Just then, almost on cue, a tiny, pitch-black cat emerged from under the couch. It wasn't your average house cat – its sleek form and patterned coat were more reminiscent of a miniature leopard. The little feline brushed against Carlos's leg, startling him with a soft purr. Bean, it seemed, was anything but ordinary.

“There she is,” she commented with a delighted giggle as Bean continued to weave her tiny body around Carlos's ankles, purring like a tiny motor. “And, I think she likes you.”

“Mmmh,” Carlos mumbled, his initial surprise morphing into a hesitant amusement. He glanced down at the cat, who tilted her head up at him with wide, emerald eyes. The little panther-like creature paused mid-rub, seemingly evaluating him in return.

Internally, Carlos was waging a battle. Part of him wanted to melt into a puddle at the feline's apparent affection. Cats, especially aloof ones, were notoriously difficult to impress, and here was Bean, practically begging for his attention. The other, more cautious part, was screaming at him to gently shoo the creature away. He wasn't particularly fond of cats –  childhood memories of getting scratched by his neighbour's tomcat were still vivid. Why hadn't Sarah mentioned she had a cat? Not that it was a dealbreaker, but the whole situation felt...unexpected.

Sarah noticed the almost pained expression flicker across Carlos's face.

“I take it you're more of a dog person, huh?” she wondered, her voice laced with a hint of curiosity. Carlos winced internally. He hated to disappoint her, but honesty seemed to be the best policy.

“Yeah,” he finally admitted, offering a sheepish smile. “Cats… not usually my go-to pet.”

A flicker of something akin to disappointment crossed Sarah's features, but it was quickly masked by a determined smile. Was this going to influence their relationship at all? She really liked Carlos, but if her having a cat deterred him so much, perhaps he wasn't the guy for her.  She excused herself to the restroom, needing a moment to take a deep breath. Surely her choice of pet shouldn't be an issue, but a knot of uncertainty tightened in her stomach.

Her brief absence stretched a little longer than expected, leaving Carlos in a peculiar situation. Bean, the tiny panther in disguise, continued her mission of feline affection. With a soft purr that rumbled in his chest, she hopped onto the couch, her gaze fixed on him. Carlos, still wrestling with his internal conflict, sighed helplessly. This wasn't how he envisioned the evening going. Cats, in his experience, were furry bundles of chaos – all claws, hisses, and disdainful glances. Yet, here was Bean, a picture of feline tranquillity, nuzzling his leg and gazing at him with those emerald eyes that seemed to hold a surprising depth.

He hesitantly reached out a hand, prepared for the inevitable withdrawal or worse, a swipe. But to his surprise, Bean leaned into his touch, her tiny body vibrating with contentment as he stroked her soft fur. It was surprisingly pleasant, the gentle rasp against his palm a far cry from the sandpapery texture he remembered from childhood encounters. A hesitant smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Maybe, just maybe, cats weren't so bad after all.  This Bean, this miniature panther with a heart of gold, was slowly chipping away at his preconceived notions.

A surprised chuckle escaped her lips as she peeked around the corner and saw Carlos, the self-proclaimed dog person, cradling Bean contentedly on his lap. The tiny panther, usually a whirlwind of energy, was nestled against his chest, a rhythmic purr rumbling through her small body. His hand, the one that had hovered hesitantly just moments ago, now stroked her back with a gentleness that surprised even Sarah.

“You're not so bad, Bean,” he whispered to the cat, his voice barely a murmur. “You think your Mom would mind if I called you Chili Bean?”

The question hung in the air for a beat, and then Bean, as if on cue, let out a contented chirp and nuzzled further into Carlos's embrace. A genuine smile bloomed on his face as he continued to stroke her, the warmth of her tiny body radiating against him. Sarah couldn't help but grin. Maybe, just maybe, this wasn't a dealbreaker after all. In fact, it seemed like Bean had a new favourite human. Sarah's surprise melted into pure delight as she witnessed the unlikely pair cuddled on the couch.

“Look at you two,” she gushed, a wide smile gracing her features. It was astonishing how quickly Carlos and Bean had become comfortable with each other.

“She's the loveliest cat I've ever met,” Carlos admitted, his voice laced with a newfound affection. He stroked Bean's soft fur with his fingertips, his earlier apprehension replaced by a genuine fondness.

“Told you she liked you,” she teased playfully, already heading towards the kitchen to make coffee.  The tension from earlier had dissipated, replaced by a comfortable ease.

“Does her Mom like me too?” Carlos countered, a mischievous glint in his eyes.  He was starting to enjoy this dynamic.

“Her Mom most certainly does,” she confessed with a sheepish grin as she grabbed mugs, "”especially after seeing you with her like that.”

Carlos chuckled, basking in the warmth of the moment. 

“Good, because I've kind of already, sort of, dubbed her Chili Bean and I want to take her home with me,” he blurted out in a rush, causing her to erupt in laughter.

"Problem is, we're a package deal," she countered, her eyes twinkling as she moved to take a seat beside him on the couch.

“That's fine, you can come too,” Carlos retorted with a playful smile. He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her cheek, the air humming with unspoken possibilities. They settled back onto the couch, content to watch Bean sleep, a tiny ball of fur nestled between them. The evening, which began with an unspoken misunderstanding, had taken an unexpected turn, blooming into something far more promising.

what!!

lads has fighting stuff?!?! i thought this shit was like episode💔💔 didnt know i’d have to work for it🤬

Dog-sitter!Toji - chapter 10

last chapter - series masterlist

Synopsis: Toji was quite accustomed to objectifying himself for a check. And to be frank, far worse actions as well. Now he’s not sure what to do with himself after meeting the kind and generous owner of the dog he pet-sits for.

read along as Toji learns that you don't need to lose yourself in order to love and be loved.

Qouth the poet, 'Come, love and health to all; then I'll sit down.' Only, at this feast of heart, the mind and soul is clear as day.

--

It had been right around late January when you started noticing your dog's anxiety. Early February before Toji started to look after the sweet boy while you worked. Back then, you had spent early mornings in the dark preparing for the day and late nights in the office, readying your space for the next shift.

The days had been monotonous, bleeding into one another. Quickly, you began to break under the weight of the expectations from your peers and superiors. It seemed that nothing you did was worthy of praise and every little error stood out more than any others. All achievement was expected of you and in the event you fell short, the worst you could hear would always be the silent thoughts coming from yourself.

It hadn't taken long for Toji to become an active part of your lives. And now, as the seasons changed, so too did your routine. With the advent of Toji, you were kept to a strict standard of self-care. The winter weather had always been a burden to you, only now, a warmth you hadn't ever known presented an arrival, coming into existence in the form of heated palms and gentle brushes on your cheek.

Toji would not hesitate to flick your forehead if ever he felt you were working too much. He had seen those parts of you and was determined to look after you in any way you would let him. With the growing relationship, he no longer would stand by and let you work yourself to the bone.

The new routine came comfortably, you and he simply fit into each other's lives without sharp edges or bumps. And not much changed in the dynamic you held. You had fallen into life with each other quickly and genuine was the care you had for one another.

Only now, in the evening when he finds you at your desk, pouring over something he doesn't even want to try and understand, instead of leaving you to your devices like a good employee, he leans down and kisses you. Waiting patiently for your acceptance before making sure you weren't overdoing things.

--

He kisses you often these days, as you are aware, he is not the type to hold back and he feels the urge to share breaths often. The urge to synch his heartbeat with your own when he holds you to his chest.

Toji's life had shifted so much in the past year that it could give him whiplash if he weren't so grounded in you. True to his word, he loves to look after the dog, only this time around, it wasn't because of the uncanny luck of the job, the generosity of this strange workaholic. No, it was because he had always been one to want the best for his family.

And for his you? Though he watches the dog with regularity, he refuses any money you could offer him. This was one of the real changes between the pair of you. And try as you might, Toji was stubborn in his assertions. It had come to be one of your first true arguments, but Toji was determined to push away any generosity that was not the food, amenities, or affection of yours.

He would see your frustrated expression when turning your money away. Had it been anyone else to push back against his wishes, he might have lashed out, but he knew well that he could only hold adoration for you.

Life had just as much routine to it for him as it did for you. He took up working at a shelter just by your neighborhood. He brought the dog with him often, and the socialization was good for both parties.

Plus, you always got all excited when he would send pictures of your boy playing with other dogs. More than anything, he loved to see you happy.

And as it would turn out, Toji made a very good trainer. He kept busy, on his feet and such. It felt good, to be outdoors so often. Working with the animals to help them overcome any issues that might keep them from adoption was one of his main goals now.

And beyond that, he was making his own money, that part felt good too, to retire the title of 'employee' from you. He would grin at the thought. So out of his league, and still, he had graduated to something far more intimate with you.

--

Toji had come over early one morning, intending to catch you before you left for the office. You were slipping your shoes on right as he stepped through the threshold of your side door.

He was dressed in a fitted pair of canvas pants. A thick hoodie hung just at his hips, and he swung his keys around in a loop as he leaned up against the doorframe, watching you move.

"Mornin'." Toji grins at you, the dog was bounding around him, well aware that a car ride awaited him in his near future. Panting in excitement.

"Good morning." You smile, trying to fix your makeup in a mirror on the wall, "You've certainly got him all excited." You laugh, tilting your head to the exasperated dog, his leg thumping loudly on the hardwood as Toji scratches behind his ear.

The man watches as you reach over to swing your jacket over your shoulders. He nearly bolted to you at the opportunity to be of service. Pulling your arm through the sleeve and wrapping you up comically tight. He sways you from foot to foot, his chin on your head.

You giggle, "He really likes going with you, ya know?" You look at the dog by the door patiently swaying his tail while looking between Toji and his car in the driveway.

"Oh yeah?" Toji leans down, kissing your neck. Not sensual, just sweet. He hums, wanting to stretch out the moment as long as he could. Silently promising to himself come over early from now on.

"Yeah." You pull his arms from your body and turn to wrap yourself in him instead. "You'll be here for dinner?" Your ear finds his pulse and you chuckle to yourself at the sheer speed with which it beats, and the fact that he acts all cool, you'd never have guessed.

Toji hums, head still resting on you, "I'd never miss it."

--

On one particular morning, Toji was off work, staying at your place. You had been leaving the house early that week, needing to implement a new system update for your company's software. A lot of the transfer relied on you and because of this, you were taking the brunt of the stress.

At one point in your life, coming home after a long day to another person with whom you would reliably need to interact with, would be, if nothing else, exhausting. Somehow, with Toji, that was not the case.

Coming home and seeing him there on the couch was like a breath of fresh air. You felt a fair bit giddy knowing he would be waiting for you during your commute those evenings.

You would find yourself excited, leaving for the office during such stressful days, knowing that by the end of your shift, he would be there for you.

That week, Toji had been watching you closely. He would come home from work and immediately prep some nutrient-dense meal.

One of the perks of loving a largely fit individual was that he knew how to get protein and vitamins, and he made sure to stock you full.

It was almost cute at times. Clearly, he didn't want to overwhelm you or be a bother. Still, he would stand awkwardly in the hall and murmur something about being sure to drink some water. That or just coming out and asking if you'd eaten. And if you had, he would want to know it was.

He never came across as a hyper-protective parent, simply caring. He knew you worked a lot and that you needed fuel. Sometimes being the one to care for you was more reliable. He knew you could forget at times. And that was okay, he didn't mind.

--

One of his favorite parts of the day would be when he got to tuck you in before leaving in the evenings. He didn't actually tuck you in, not in the usual sense of the word, but that's what he liked to call it.

He always predicted when you would start to offer to walk him to his car and would adamantly refuse to let you get the words out.

No, no, no, he was not going to let you out in this cold, are you crazy? You would be staying nice and warm, wrapped up in this fuzzy blanket that he kept mussing around you.

The best part about the whole thing for him was that for the first sustainable time in his life, he did not feel a pressure to be anyone but himself. He never felt compelled to change around you, to be someone else that you would like more. He could please you not by constant vigilance to create someone loveable, but rather, by being honest.

Looking back on his past, he had lived in a constant state of anxiety, a tension that was exhaustive. He wasn't a friend, a lover, or an employee. His relationships were never professional or real. He was whatever someone wanted from him at any given moment and then, after the fact a hollow shell of whatever he could salvage.

He was no longer void, he was fulfilled, his glass was half-full, he was no one but himself, and you wouldn't ask him to be anyone else.

For the first time, possibly ever, he did not have to lose himself to love or be loved.

--

One rainy afternoon, you asked him to move in with you.

It had been a recurring thought of yours, wondering how you should ask him. It came up naturally one evening. You were both lying on the couch, the dog at your feet. A blanket covered the entirety of your body. You had given up trying to share with the warm-blooded man.

Some movie was playing but neither of you was paying close attention as you flipped between different conversations.

Eventually, you just let it slip, "You know, you're here enough, and you've lived here before. Why don't you just move in?"

You weren't sure what you expected as his response, but when he grabbed your hand, kissing the back while shaking his head "no", you knew, it hadn't been that.

You tried to pull back but he wouldn't allow it, "What? Why not?" Your brows got all furrowed suddenly and he nudged a knuckle between them to smooth the disturbance there.

He smelled the lotion on your arm, finding the words, "Not yet...." He gave the back of your hand a lick and you really did jerk back this time. Wiping it off on his pant leg, laughing.

"Eww Toji-"

He slid his shoulder down on the back of the couch to lean on you, "One day... but not yet." He could see the gears turning in your head and he simply tapped your nose with a finger, "And it's not because I would feel like a leach, I just... I want to be ready?" Even he struggled to reach for the phrasing.

"I wanna pay everything off." He looked at you, "Don't even think to offer." You huffed, annoyed that he rarely let you pay for stuff anymore. "I wanna... I wanna be someone you deserve, I want to be good for you the way you've been good for me."

He had such a tender look on his face. It almost hurt to hear him say such a thing. "Toji..." You narrowed, pulling back from the weight of him to see his face "Whyever would you not be deserving? You've been nothing but...pure goodness for me." You scoff.

He rolled his eyes but that only frustrated you more. You shoved his shoulder a bit, only pushing yourself back, the damn immovable object he was.

"No." You continued on, serious, "You allowed me a more efficient schedule, you helped the dog overcome his anxiety, you... for heaven's sake Toji, you saved his life- twice!" You leaned forward now, yanking the blanket down onto your lap.

"You listen to me and you care, you help me stand up for myself and you cook for me, and you're ever so sweet" You tugged on his earlobe when he tried to look away from your gaze, "You have never been anything but good for me."

He just stared at you then, replaying your words over and over in his head. "But I won't ask you to do anything if you'd rather stay in your apartment until you're more comfortable; that's fine."

He wouldn't say it, but you knew he was at least slightly concerned about the wealth dynamic. After confessing to you that he didn't want to be paid anymore, the idea of being an employee to you was a long-gone notion.

Toji smiles down at you then, bringing the blanket back up under your chin. "Well... this place is closer to the shelter..." He shrugs, allowing himself to really consider the idea.

He loved his job, he loved how fulfilled he was, and most of all, he loved you. You had changed his life and set him on a whole new path. Opening his eyes to a new way of life that he had thought impossible for the likes of him.

If he could repay such a kindness, he would spend the rest of his life attempting to do so, with eager love more than any conviction.

And the funny part is? You felt the same way about him.

And in that dim living room, some silent movie droning on in the background, the dog at his feet, he can picture a future where you leave him notes. Something similar to how you once did, only this time, you would be asking him to pick up groceries for your shared kitchen. Something simple like that.

He wanted it badly, the domesticity. The house would look so different, though he had been staying there for over a year now, knowing it belonged to the beautiful word that is "us".

And God willing, that "us" would propagate into every second of his timeline. Every moment of his life. Every breath he took. Every pounding in his chest. Everywhere, his everything, till the moment he was dragged from this earth.

And above all, on that living room sofa, in that moment, he felt the most affection for the knowing little friend at his feet. The life that brought him to you.

For him, Toji was eternally grateful.

〰・♡・〰〰・♡・〰〰・♡・〰〰・♡・〰〰・♡・〰

Thank you for reading this story, I had the most fun writing it. I was deeply inspired to create a world where Toji could live comfortably without being forced to give of himself. In doing so, I was motivated to bring actual writing back to my blog for the first time in four? five years?

If you have dog-sitter toji thoughts, feel free to shoot them into my inbox! This chapter was intended to serve as an epilogue but who knows? I might add little one-shots in the future.

Thank you for following this journey! I had a blast! I will likely go through chapter by chapter and edit the story but for now, I hope the conclusion brings you peace!

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