Work Text:
“Mm.”
Sukuna stretches his arms above his head. The satisfying crack of bone makes him groan. He rolls his shoulders back. His muscles flex with the stretch, and the burn makes him smile.
Oh, how he missed having a body.
A gentle wind sighs, its warm breath rippling the sea of lush greens and bright blossoms. The tall blades of grass lap at his elbows and the tops of his knees where his leather greaves end. Even the tickling prickliness is a novel sensation.
Sukuna tilts his head back, enjoying the warm sunshine dappling his skin. The fragrance of the flowers is sweet and heady in the simmering summer heat. He takes another long draught of it, and it cloys at the back of his throat like the lingering afternotes of a beautiful wine.
The taste of freedom is even more exquisite.
Satisfaction curves his lips. It has been far too long since he took a stroll outside. A minor detour can be forgiven. He wades through the teeming field of wildflowers. The dense grass overflows into the sprawling treeline. All around him, broad trunks thicken into the stocky girth of titans, their brawny branches stretching up into the cloudless blue sky as if to carry the world.
The twittering of woodland creatures twines with the pulsing heat in the air in a living heartbeat. Sukuna can feel it too. The entire forest thrums with life. The trees and flowers grow wilder and wilder as he walks, every step bringing him closer to the heart of the forest.
The trees open up into a small glade. Hmm. Sukuna gives a cursory glance to the patches of flowers and the boulder in the middle of the clearing. Here is a good place.
Settling down in a soft patch of moss, he leans back against the tree. The leafy branches shade him from the sunlight, and the coolness is a balm on his heated skin. A yawn escapes him without even trying. His jaw clicks with the effort. The world wavers wetly as a tear squeezes out of the corners of his eyes. Sukuna yawns again.
A nap . . . would . . . be . . .
Sukuna stirs. Something brushes his skin, tickling and soft like a feather. He wrinkles his brow. His heavy eyelids flutter. Brightness flashes gold. He blinks blearily, still coupled with slumber in her deep embrace.
Odd, he thinks groggily. Very odd. He . . . the time . . How long did he doze off? He only meant to feign sleep.
The leafy canopy sways above him, revealing glimpses of blue sky in between its splayed branches. The ticklish sensation returns. Sukuna drops his gaze down to tanned fingers stroking his stomach idly. His eyes follow a strong forearm up to a built bicep. A bare shoulder slopes into a firm pec revealed entirely by the cut of the one-shouldered yellow tunic. Sukuna’s eyes linger on the tantalizing swell of it and the soft dusky brown nipple.
The stranger laughs, warm and teasing. Sukuna misses the sound as soon as he hears it. “My eyes are up here, you know.”
Sukuna turns his head.
Startling honey gold eyes gleam back at him. Wild rose gold locks frame a youthful, handsome face. Luscious flowers weave into a crown in his hair. Delicate butterflies flutter on the petals, flashing their jeweled wings. Lying on his side, the young man faces Sukuna, cheek propped against his palm. A charming smile curves his lips.
A nymph. Not a flower beauty bloomed from petal softness and ripe lushness that Sukuna is used to — that he expects — but a handsome beauty graced with golden youth and the liveliness of spring.
“Hello,” the nymph hums. He tilts his head. Sunlight dapples his cheek, lightening the honey of his eyes to bright amber. Beautiful, Sukuna thinks, distracted. The nymph furrows a brow. A frown mars his handsome face, and Sukuna’s fingers itch with the urge to smooth out the unhappy crease. “Are you hurt?”
Sukuna does not understand the question until the nymph strokes up his stomach, gentle fingers running over the dried bloodstains on his white tunic. Ah. The lowly maggots that dared to challenge him instead of writhing underneath his feet where they belong. The corner of his lips lifts up. “Will you nurse me back to health if I am?”
The nymph grins, all worry vanishing from his expression. “You sound well enough to me if you’re making jokes.”
Sukuna chuckles. He likes the playfulness of this one.
Without warning, the nymph rolls into him, a toned thigh slipping in between his knees. He reaches up and traces the inked band and circle on Sukuna’s bicep. “I’ve never seen a tattoo like this before,” the nymph says, blinking bright curious eyes up at him. Carelessly sprawled in Sukuna’s lap, he trails his fingers up and over the jagged, dark lines curving up Sukuna’s collarbone and edging his jawline. “These too.”
The nymph is temptation manifested, sitting so easily in his lap, all smooth, sun-kissed skin and defined muscles. There is no recognition in the nymph’s eyes. Just an innocent fascination. Amusement curves Sukuna’s lips. Would this nymph be so fearless if he knew who Sukuna truly is? He wraps an arm around the nymph’s waist and strokes up the nymph’s spine. The sheer fabric is all but air between his hand and the nymph’s skin, and the vulnerability makes hunger burn low in his belly. Playing at gentle, Sukuna murmurs, “Do they scare you?”
The nymph shakes his head. “No.” Honey gold smolders to liquid amber again in the glint of sunlight. “I think they suit you,” he says honestly. His gaze rivets to Sukuna like Sukuna is the only one he sees.
Sukuna can’t look away, reveling in the devotion. What a lovely creature. Sinful images flicker through his mind: those bright eyes glassy with tears, this warm body in his lap quivering with pleasure under his palms, that face looking up at Sukuna like he is his god while Sukuna bestows his terrible favor — Oh. Desire curls through Sukuna like a hot flame. He won’t discard this one afterwards like his other playthings. No, he will keep this one. He will leave him alive and —
The nymph bites his lips. The reddening plump of his bottom lip is maddening. Sukuna wants to catch it between his teeth and bite down. He thinks of ripe plums in reddish-purples, their juicy, firm flesh yielding easily under his teeth and bleeding tart sweetness. Desire widens its insatiable maw, and Sukuna wants to devour this nymph whole.
“You’re handsome,” the nymph confesses. His cheeks redden, and shyness creeps over his features. Warm fingers slip over Sukuna’s knuckles, and Sukuna folds his fingers, completing the gesture effortlessly, the naturalness of it like breathing. The nymph bites his lips again and swings their hands a little childishly.
Handsome, this nymph says so innocently. Hunger bares its fangs, his face breaking into a wolf’s grin, and Sukuna has to soften it into an amused smile. “Am I?”
The nymph nods, squeezing his hand.
“Coming from someone as gorgeous as you, I’m flattered,” Sukuna croons. The nymph blushes. Sukuna strokes over the pretty rosy reds blooming on his cheeks. Turning into his touch, the nymph nuzzles his palm. The curve of his embarrassed but pleased smile kisses Sukuna’s palm, and the trusting gesture makes Sukuna wet his lips. Lovely. So lovely. Sukuna lifts their linked hands up to his lips. A wolf in sheep’s clothing, he brushes his lips over soft skin, hiding the bite of his hunger in a chaste kiss. “Do I get a name?”
The nymph laughs, the sound golden and his smile sunlit. “Yuji.”
“Sukuna,” he returns. He waits, but there is not even a flicker of recognition in Yuji’s eyes. Sukuna hides his smirk. “Yuji,” he hums, cradling his cheek. “The name suits you.” He quirks a teasing eyebrow and pitches his voice lower to a sultry croon. “Do I get a kiss too? Or is that too much for a handsome stranger?”
Yuji surprises him by looping his arms around his neck and hugging him. The easy affection makes Sukuna falter. His scent is heavenly, like the breath of spring, all fragrant flowers and sunbaked earth. Sukuna breathes it in, eyelids closing briefly and thoughts hazing over.
“You have to catch me first,” Yuji whispers in his ear. Distracted, Sukuna feels more the gentle tickle of the words on his skin than their meaning.
Yuji pulls back. A playful grin curves his lips. He tugs Sukuna forward — since were they standing? — and walks backwards. “I wonder if you can though,” he hums, eyes gleaming with the challenge. He slips his fingers from Sukuna’s lax grasp. “I run really fast.”
Yuji skips back another few steps and spins. The yellow tunic is a sheer wisp of sunlight. Sukuna’s distracted gaze flits over his bared figure. Without warning, Yuji darts into the trees. On instinct, Sukuna follows, running.
A fast runner is an understatement. Chasing Yuji is like trying to catch a sunbeam. He is a trickle of bright light rippling seamlessly into the sundrenched forest. Sukuna sees only the flash of skin and eyes twinkling mischievously over a shoulder to goad him on. Yuji’s peals of laughter ring out in the distance between them, and the pure joy brings an answering wild grin to Sukuna’s face. The exhilaration of the hunt rushes through him. Sukuna’s blood thrums hot and fast, the feeling uncannily similar to when he fights on a battlefield and just as heady.
The forest blurs by him in greens and golds.
Losing sight of Yuji, Sukuna ducks under a low-hanging branch and skids to a stop. He swings his head, eyes roving wildly over the trees and shrubs. Where —
“Shadow chases Light
Out of reach, out of sight
On and on and on, the two lovers run
But alas, like the Moon to meet the Sun . . .”
The voice rings silver in his ears, so gentle and tender that an impossible ache bleeds from a heart that Sukuna knows he cast away eons ago. His breath catches. Moving, he strains his ears to hear the song. Every word is the delicate thrum of lyre strings, every note lingering like a soft caress. Yearning and desire anchors deep inside him, guiding him through the sea of spring verdure.
Who is singing?
Waxy grass gives way to hard stone under his sandals. A cave opens around him. Pointed stalagmites and stalactites replace the flora and the leafage. The voice rings clearer as he gets closer, reverberating off the stone walls like a ripple of water.
“Love blooms like dawn’s rose
But gold comes and goes”
No, it is water he hears too. In front of him, a lake ripples. Sunlight seeps into the stone cracks, veiling the cave in pale, hazy light. Vibrant green eyes, the exact shade of the sunlit forest that Sukuna just ran through, meet his own.
Beautiful. His breath hitches.
Messy, long tresses, as dark as a starless sky, glisten wetly against marble pale skin. Sukuna’s eyes track the stray water droplets dotting dark eyelashes and sharp, delicate features. This water nymph is as gorgeous as Yuji, but where Yuji is all bright charm and healthy glow, the black-haired young man before Sukuna is crystalline prettiness and graceful elegance.
Flowers ruffle against Sukuna’s legs. Lush grass blankets the stone, padding his footsteps.
Emerald green eyes glimmer, jewel bright against the lustrous dark of the nymph’s hair and the wet gleam of his pale skin. What a pretty shade.
Pebbles rasp over his knees as Sukuna kneels down.
Pale pink lips part on the last lingering sweet note. Sukuna thinks of plush blossoms and velvety petals. He wants to kiss him, wants to taste the cool lakewater in the heat of their mouths, wants to coax another sweet song from the nymph with moans for words and the rocking rhythm of their bodies for melody.
The nymph tilts his head, resting the curve of his cheek in the crook of his elbow. Lithe arms cross on the rocky, raised ledge. Watching Sukuna, he smiles, a touch of amusement in the crinkle of his eyes and his gaze as tender as new saplings. He reaches out and trails wet fingers over the tattoos on Sukuna’s jawline, much like Yuji did.
A cold wetness strangely seeps into Sukuna’s skin and clothes.
The water nymph cups his cheek, caressing. His smile softens, fondness in the corners of his mouth. Sliding both hands into Sukuna’s hair, he brings Sukuna closer as he tilts his head up. His eyes shine, dark eyelashes wet as if from tears.
The iciness soaks Sukuna further. Odd, he thinks, not looking away. Why does he feel cold when there is nothing but warmth in those green, green, green eyes? He leans in further. There is all but a breath between them.
The water nymph’s pretty features suddenly blur as if underwater. Freezing water douses Sukuna. Those green eyes narrow to slits. That pretty mouth curls back, baring teeth that lengthens to fangs —
Sukuna’s eyes widen. Fuck. He jerks his head away. Arms tighten around his neck and yank him back down.
Seawater rushes into his lungs. Sukuna chokes. Iciness burns cold. A shadow undulates below him in the shape of a fish tail. The nymph snarls, raking sharp talons into his neck.
Sukuna’s fury erupts. No. He snarls back. Not a sea nymph. A siren. He slashes his fingers across. Blood spurts. The siren hisses in pain. Sukuna breaks the surface of the lake. Hacking out water, he grabs the ledge and hefts himself up with one hand.
The water churns below. Narrowing his eyes, Sukuna pivots back. A pale, lean chest flashes out of the water, sliced flesh already knitted together. Not a regular siren then. Dark metal glints. A wickedly sharp trident stabs at him. Sukuna dodges. Grabbing the siren’s wrist, he yanks forward and hurls the siren through the air.
Emerald scales shimmer gold. Sukuna turns his head, but the siren never hits the ground. Instead, a leafy green shrub sprouts, cushioning his fall. A thick vine peels itself off the stone wall to coil around the siren for balance.
Familiar sunshine yellow flutters. Seemingly appearing out of nowhere, Yuji strides to the siren. Lifting him easily up in his arms, Yuji looks the siren over. He kisses the siren’s temple and nuzzles into wet, dark hair. “You hurt, Megumi?”
The siren — Megumi shakes his head. He wraps his arms around Yuji’s neck and hugs him closer. Lovers, Sukuna realizes with a start. Megumi presses their foreheads together. “I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
Yuji relaxes and nods. His eyes lock onto Sukuna though, smoldering molten gold and incandescent with rage. There is no trace of kindness or playfulness on his face now. The nymph who blushed so shyly in Sukuna’s lap and dared him on a childish chase lives only in Sukuna’s memory like a fading dream.
Sukuna does not hide his teeth this time, his hunger a clawing wolf done with this charade. Desire spikes into bloodlust, and his heart drums a war song. He almost prefers Yuji like this. He cannot remember a nymph or a siren ever daring to kill him before. Dark amusement sharpens the cruel smirk edging his lips.
He detoured to this island looking for a good fuck, not a fight. It seems he will have both after all.
Yuji carries Megumi back into the water. Megumi watches him, his eyes no longer viridescent spring but venomous, serpentine green. His fish tail flicks, glittering scales rippling iridescent brightness. Yuji makes no gesture, but the blades of grass rustle, scraping sharp as thorns across Sukuna’s calves, and the vines on the cave walls writhe.
So they are more than pretty faces. Sukuna’s smirk widens. These two would make such lovely pets.
“I see now,” he drawls, drawing Yuji’s attention. “You lured me here.” He met Yuji first, and the chase led him close enough to the cave to hear Megumi’s bewitching song. His eyes slide from Yuji to Megumi. “So that I could be a meal for your precious lover.”
They do not deny it. A wave laps the rocks as Yuji lowers Megumi gently into the lake.
Sukuna chuckles. “How naughty,” he purrs. “Seducing innocent souls to their death. I wonder how I should punish you.” He cocks his head and lifts a brow. “For daring to kill a god.”
Yuji stiffens. Megumi frowns. They both exchange a look before they survey him.
“Who are you?” Megumi asks. His voice is musical, the simple question still a silver melody ringing through the cave and in Sukuna’s ears.
“Sukuna.”
Yuji’s forehead only creases, but recognition flashes across Megumi’s face. Cold green eyes glint his way. “The God of Curses?”
“That is one of my names,” Sukuna agrees. “Among many others.”
Yuji blinks. Confusion clearly stamps his face. He tilts his head, undaunted and childlike in his innocence again. Sukuna might be a long-lost legend now, but Yuji must have been isolated on this island to never have heard of even his name.
Proving him right, Megumi narrows his eyes. “You’re supposed to be sealed in Tartarus. The gods defeated you. They scattered your fingers across the land and locked the rest of you up.”
There is not a trace of fear on Megumi’s face either. Just the shrewd calculation of a hunter changing not the choice of target but of weapon. Sukuna’s gaze dips down to the waters. That kind of cutthroat practicality would not be fostered in a pond. Megumi is not from this island. There must be an underwater tunnel connecting the lake to the ocean.
“All seals weaken over time, little one,” Sukuna condescends. “And no one ” — his lips curl back in derision — “can kill me. Not even those fools on Olympus.” He lets his other pair of eyes blink open on his cheeks. His black nails sharpen into claws. “I rule over all.” The declaration drums deep in his bones and echoes in the air, the terrible truth an edict for all to obey. “ Mortals and gods alike.”
Him? Defeated? Please. It took all of Olympus just to seal him, and by then, countless gods had been slain by his hand. True victory is submission or death. Sealing him is only a desperate way of buying time. It is weakness. What a sweet illusion those soft-bellied bastards are gorging on.
Well. A dark smile splits his face. No matter. It is the victor who will eat the last meal on the table.
“Why, even the Fates favor me,” he drawls with a smirk. “Letting an ambitious idiot walk in right when I needed a flesh vessel.” The memory amuses him. He wonders how long it will take for any of those idiots to realize the swapping of souls. Truly, when the world offers itself so readily to him, who else can be its ruler? Sukuna cackles. “Do you know who you offend now?” He spreads his arms in mockery. “I am your king.”
The lake heaves, churning into a whirlpool. “I answer to no king,” Megumi says coolly. He raises his trident. “And gods bleed too. They’re made of flesh, bone, and ego.” His eyes glitter like cut emeralds. “I don’t see why I can’t eat one.”
“You’re not innocent,” Yuji says, referring to Sukuna’s first words. His eyes flick over Sukuna’s bloodstained tunic. His voice hardens. “Most who step foot on this island aren’t.”
Like the flicker of sunlight, Yuji blurs in front of him. Fast indeed. Sukuna sidesteps. A fist jabs past his cheek. Wind streaks across his ear, and the ground vibrates with Yuji’s foot. He tilts his head. Rare too that a nymph would fight.
Yuji spins easily and kicks. Sukuna blocks. The power in the strike makes adrenaline rush through him. His face breaks in a wild grin. “Harder,” he croons. Yuji punches again. Sukuna raises his forearm and deflects. He sweeps his foot into Yuji’s legs and yanks Yuji by the tunic before Yuji can fall. “Put more power behind it,” he coos into Yuji’s ear, “and fight like you want to kill me.”
He slams his fist into Yuji’s torso.
Yuji grunts in pain. He skids backwards. His eyes, however, blaze with determination, and answering heat flickers through Sukuna.
The tremor under his feet is the only warning Sukuna gets before stone juts up in spikes and races towards him. Sukuna slashes his fingers across. The improvised mountains halve. Yellow flashes, and Yuji jabs from his right.
Sukuna pivots with a laugh. “Yes. Like that. More.” He kicks. Jagged stone peaks up, blocking his hit. Yuji lunges. Sukuna dodges. He grins even wider. “More.”
Yuji obliges. There is raw strength in every blow. Yuji fights on instinct, Sukuna can tell. There is no grace, no honed refinement. His power is untamed, the very wildness and savagery of nature in him. Life shapes itself at his will, stone into trees into flowers. In Yuji, Sukuna sees not the loving, affectionate nymphs of romantic epics but the forgotten, fierce guardians of old.
Megumi does not join, but Sukuna feels his cold gaze running over his skin, sharp and dangerous as Stygian Iron, observing and learning patterns and weaknesses.
Breathless exhilaration howls through Sukuna. The hunger in him claws sharper. Sukuna stumbled on a treasure trove here without even meaning to. “I think I’ll keep you two after all,” he muses, tilting his head. A bare foot grazes his cheek. Sukuna grabs it and pulls, but vines slither around his own ankles and yank him.
“We’re not your playthings,” Yuji growls, leaping back. His eyes burn, alight with his will. Sukuna thinks Yuji has never looked more radiant than now in his fury. The tall grass shifts into massive black spiraling thorns like a slithering mass of serpents. They burst forward. “We’re not yours.”
“You will be,” Sukuna promises. He snaps his fingers. The thorns blaze in purple flames. “It’s an honor to receive my favor. To be mine.”
Water jets from the lake and douses the dark fire. The charred earth browns again into fertile richness, and small green tendrils nudge up.
Oh? Sukuna gives Megumi a sidelong glance. It takes more than seawater to put out cursed fire. His eyes flick back to Yuji frowning down at the budding saplings, though even that slow growth itself should not be possible.
Interesting. A slow smirk stretches across his face. Very interesting. Whose sons are they?
Megumi swings the trident. Water scythes slash towards him. Sukuna evades easily, countering with a few slices of his own. The stone walls gash open around them.
Yuji surges from Sukuna’s right only to skid to a stop. Tensing, he turns his head, focusing on something beyond the cave walls.
Megumi sends another wave of water scythes towards Sukuna. Gripping the trident, he glances at Yuji. His brow knits together. "Yuji? What's wrong?"
"It seems you two have unwanted visitors," Sukuna answers for him because he can sense the intruders too. The god of malevolence is another one of his titles after all, and malice lurks in the distance like a pack of wolves on the hunt. He smirks. "Seeking vengeance for the comrades you've eaten, no doubt."
Yuji's jaw clenches. An explosion booms in the distance. Birds shriek in alarm, and the heavy crash of fallen trees echoes. Megumi stiffens. Yuji’s fists turn white-knuckled. Rage hardens into his face into unforgiving harshness. There was not the slightest lick of hostility or ill will from Yuji when he was charming Sukuna — almost as if feeding suspicious travelers to his lover is but another part of keeping the natural order. But now, for the first time, Sukuna feels the dark desire to kill from Yuji.
The ground quakes. Stone scrapes, rocks raining down from the ceiling of the cave. Power thrums from Yuji. Sukuna can feel the entire forest shifting according to Yuji’s will, the earth itself a slumbering beast awoken.
Not a normal nymph at all. The corner of Sukuna’s lips hike up. How magnificent.
“Yuji,” Megumi murmurs. Yuji’s gaze instantly slides back to them. The vibrations soften just a fraction. “I’ll take care of Sukuna. You go and —”
“By yourself?” Sukuna lifts an eyebrow. Amused, he sits cross-legged on the boulder and props his cheek on his fist. “And what can you do that the entirety of Olympus could not?”
Megumi narrows his eyes. “You’re not at full power. You haven’t recovered all of yourself yet.”
Sukuna smirks. Clever indeed. “You have a god in front of you regardless. Why don’t you try praying to me in your time of need? Hmm?” They both scowl. Sukuna chuckles. "What little faith you two have. But since I’m a benevolent god . . .” He pauses deliberately. Sukuna’s lips curve in a wicked smile. “Shall I gift you their heads?"
“You’re the furthest thing from benevolent,” Megumi retorts, but the corners of his lips tighten, and wariness creases around his eyes. He is weighing the offer despite himself, Sukuna can tell. Re-strategizing in that pretty head of his.
Yuji snorts. “What, and in exchange, we let you fuck us?”
“I have manners, brat,” Sukuna drawls. “Consider it a courtship gift.” He spots the outraged protest on Yuji’s lips, but another explosion in the distance cuts him off. Sukuna smirks. “Demigods can be such a pain to deal with, hmm? So eager to make a name for themselves and die as brave heroes in legend.” His voice drips with condescension. “I wonder what they’re calling this little noble quest of theirs,” he mocks. “The slaying of the man-eating siren? The defeat of the traitorous, two-faced nymph?”
“They aren’t noble,” Yuji says, voice darkening with resentment. “It doesn’t matter how many of them are there. They shouldn’t have stepped on this island. Just like you.”
“But if you want to win us over so badly, then go ahead,” Megumi says, taking the both of them by surprise. He vanishes the trident and swims up to the ledge. He raises himself up on his elbows, bare chest and torso on display. Megumi holds his gaze. “Show us what it means to be yours.”
Yuji walks over with a frown. Megumi reaches for him, and Yuji sits down on the ledge. Megumi wraps his arms around Yuji’s waist from behind and nuzzles into the crook of Yuji’s neck. He murmurs in a voice too low for Sukuna to make out, but whatever he says has Yuji leaning back into him, muscles uncoiling into lazy, inviting lines again, the very image of the alluring nymph that Sukuna saw when he woke up.
Megumi hooks his chin over Yuji’s shoulder. His green eyes burn, and the same dangerous dare smolders in Yuji’s eyes.
Beautiful and fatal. Desire throbs hot and low in his belly, a hunger that even devouring the world when Sukuna had it could not satiate.
“I prefer hearts, not heads,” Megumi says, not looking away. “And I like them fresh.”
Sukuna lifts his head from his fist. A sharp thrill crackles down his spine and buzzes in his fingertips like lightning.
Yuji grins. The bright charm contrasts the darkness of his demand. “I hate it when they fuck up the forest. If you don’t crush any of the flowers, then I’d be impressed.”
Flowers. Like weeds matter to Yuji more than the lives of mortals and demigods and gods.
Excitement sparks. His heartbeat thunders, and Sukuna feels again the blood of gods warm on his hands and the heat of a burning world searing his lungs. It should offend him, the audacity of these two daring to manipulate a god as ancient and powerful as he is. Instead, Sukuna throws his head back and laughs the hardest he has in a while. Green and gold immediately rivet to him. He grins.
“Oh? How bold of you.” He steps off the boulder and appears before them in the blink of an eye. “I like it,” he croons, sliding his fingers along Megumi’s jaw and tipping Megumi’s head up. Megumi lets him and looks up through thick lashes. The pale vulnerable hollow of his throat flashes, and Sukuna wants to sink his teeth into that soft flesh. Yuji watches him intently, body lax and open, another wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Sukuna had been hunting wolves, not sheep all along, it seems. His lips curl into something too dangerous to be a smile. “It’s a very good thing I’m a generous lover.”
Megumi nips his fingertips. The hint of sharp teeth sends another hot pulse of desire through Sukuna. “So are we,” Megumi says. His lips curve in a smile that must have led countless men to their deaths. Sukuna chuckles and tilts Megumi’s chin to taste the lie on his tongue.
The kiss is biting and fierce. Megumi gives as good as he gets. The challenge makes Sukuna’s blood burn. He deepens the kiss, flicking their tongues together. Megumi tastes like sea salt and rain-soaked heat. A sweet moan startles from Megumi. That sound. Before Sukuna can chase it, sharp teeth nick his bottom lip, and the copper tang of blood coats his tongue. Pain pricks white-hot. He groans, breaking the kiss.
Warm fingers slide over his nape. Sukuna’s eyes flick to the side from his cheeks. Yuji.
Green shifts to gold, and Yuji slants their lips together. A soft tongue gently runs over Megumi’s bleeding bite. Warm. Yuji runs warmer. Where Megumi pushes and pulls, Yuji coaxes, mouthing unhurriedly and tenderly like a lover. Sukuna caresses his cheek, and Yuji leans into his touch just as easily as before, sweet and docile like a doe. The submission, feigned as it is, makes hunger burn anew.
Heat seeps into Sukuna with every slow, lingering kiss he returns, honeyed and heady like ambrosia.
Yuji draws back. A sound of protest slips from Sukuna before he can catch himself. His gaze dips down to Yuji’s lips, reddened from both the kiss and Sukuna’s blood. “We don’t want the world, Sukuna,” Yuji says, voice rough. His eyes burn bright like undying embers, and Sukuna thinks once more of razed battlefields. “It doesn’t interest us at all.”
Cool, slender fingers lace his own. Megumi brings Sukuna’s hand up to his cheek. Crimson smears the corner of his lips, and a slight flush pinkens his cheeks. Sukuna wants to see him eat his fill. Blood is such a ravishing color on his pale, delicate skin.
“So . . . if you want the world at your feet,” Megumi murmurs, kissing his palm, “then you should take it before you pursue us.” Holding Sukuna’s gaze, he licks the blood off his lips, his tongue flashing pink. Sukuna’s mouth runs dry. Megumi nuzzles Sukuna’s palm and gives him a knowing look. “You’ll get distracted otherwise.”
Oh, Sukuna wants. Those pretty faces hide razor sharp teeth that will devour even him if he gives them the chance. That feral beauty calls to him like another siren song.
“The world doesn’t suit your taste, hmm?” He strokes Megumi’s cheek and smirks. “I’ll be more creative with my gifts then.”
He can feel their gazes on him as he leaves. Green and gold burn in his mind, and the lingering heat of their mouths tingles on his lips.
Sukuna smiles.
Temptation, thy name is you.