Chapter Text
“I hate this and I hate you.”
“Sucks to suck,” Maki said next to him. She was inspecting a black, linen suit on the rack like she was diffusing a bomb. They got here less than ten minutes ago and she was already tired of his shit. Well, the feeling was mutual, for her information.
He stepped side to side. Maybe there was more to suit shopping than he had realized. Then again, how many times could a person reasonably run their hands up and down stitching on a pocket? There was a sales lady standing a few paces away, rearranging and adjusting ties. She shot nervous glances up at them between every blink. Megumi couldn’t blame her. An unmated female alpha in fraying jeans and a hoodie shadowed by an unmated male omega in a band t-shirt, sweats, and tennis shoes on their ninth life. Maki moved on to another black suit.
“What are the chances Naoya is gonna be a dick to us?” Megumi said. He was starting to sweat under the bright, white lights. Also under that woman’s perfectly mascara-clad eyelashes.
“100%. He’s nothing if not an opportunistic shitstick. But you love me and I need to keep marriage demands off the table while I focus on my degree and if I have the promised one on my arm, no one will risk losing you.” Finally, she pulled the hanger up and off the rack so she could hold the suit up next to Megumi, eyes flitting back and forth between the two. “So you’ll put on the damn suit and keep your big, fat mouth shut so I can manipulate the higher-ups, who’re living amalgamations of poisonous insects, into respecting me.”
That was a tough ask for a female alpha. She walked up to the register.
“Yes, ma’am. Just get me the fuck out of here,” He followed obediently behind.
“I told you it wouldn’t take long. Toughen up,” she threw over her shoulder as she swiped her Zen’in issued credit card. She probably only got it because she told her dad it was for him.
The one lady behind then now found something else to do once the ring signifying payment went through and sounded out.
Megumi started walking out before Maki even grabbed the box.
___
His ceiling had a crack in it. He had no idea how long it had been there. “When are you gonna be there?”
“Probably later. Eight-ish, maybe. Sukuna hates stuff like this, only goes to please the old-folk and occasionally grab an end-of-night lay, but he’s my ride this time,” Yuuji said from his place on the floor. He wore just his boxer shots. Megumi’s AC sucked, so it only made sense that Yuuji hadn’t put most of his clothes back on. Megumi had had the same train of thought.
“Can’t imagine there’s a huge pool of willing prospects, is there? Virginity being held in high regard and all that nonsense, with so many eyes.” His back was glued to the couch through the power of sweat and exhaustion.
“That’s just for omegas. Betas and alphas rome free.” Yuuji put his leg up on the coffee table, presumably to air out as much of his body as possible. Shit, he should probably invest in a portable fan. They can’t cost more than five thousand yen, right? “Plus as long as you sneak out quietly, omegas will just deny. Virginity is just something to add to tip the marriage scales, but we all know it’s smoke. Why? Are you planning to make a great escape on the arm of a dashing young suitor?” Yuuji wriggled his eyebrows at him.
Megumi shot up from the couch. Wide-eyed and enlightened. “We should have a signal to get me the hell out of there,” he said. “A hand motion or, like, a text.” Yuuji started cackling at him. He had to sit up before he started choking on his own saliva.
“Not a chance, my friend. I actually like going to these things,” Yuuji said with a beaming smile on his face. Teeth shining brighter than the sun, in true Yuuji fashion.
“What? Why?” And then he truly saw Yuuji’s blissed-out grin. “Oh, don’t tell me–”
“I’ve got a suitor! Two of them, in fact.”
Megumi scoffed and flopped back down on the couch where the springs dug into his spine. “Yeah? Have you told them you recreationally fuck your best friend most weekends?”
“Aw, scared to lose my beautiful body?” Yuuji ran his hands across his torso. “They’re a couple of alphas looking for an omega to ‘complete’ them, so they probably wouldn’t mind anyway. As long as we end it once we get mated. I started washing thoroughly with anti scent wash whenever I get home just like you do, so they won’t get jealous anyway.”
“About time.” He often stunk like Megumi for a day or two afterwards. Their whole friend group knew the first time they screwed because of him. Yuuji settled back down on the vinyl flooring. “You sound sure about these two.” He just hummed dreamily in response. He’s always had his head in the clouds. Megumi hoped this time he’d keep his feet on the earth. He gave it a moment, then, “I don’t want to go.” Yuuji started laughing at him again, the bastard.
“You’re just gonna have to suck it up, Megs,” as he giggled at him. He did have the decency to hold up his wrist. An offering of comfort. Megumi took it and rubbed their scent glands together.
“Ugh, you sound like Maki.”
“You think?” That motherfucker sounded excited about the comparison.
“Shut the fuck up.”
“I’ve gotta go.” Yuuji gets up and starts gathering his clothes and his phone off the charger. “You should start getting ready too. It's gonna be a long night for you.” Megumi buries his face into the couch. “By the way, there’s a crack in your ceiling.”
“Oh my god, shut up.” The couch muffles his voice, but Yuuji must’ve heard him cause he starts fucking laughing again.
___
The Zen’in scrutinize from around the party the moment they can see them. Oh, the prodigal son returns. Actually, he’s valuable to them only in his connection to Yuuji.
They went to the same elementary school and were fast friends. Yuuji was fast friends with everyone, though, even as he grew up. His family, however, the Itadoris, didn’t welcome much of anyone. They were very protective of themselves. Yuuji, as an omega, wasn’t expected to work for the family business, but he did, if only as his brother’s secretary. Megumi had met all his brothers growing up. All ten of them. He hadn’t seen most of them in years, except for Choso. Who always brings him some practical house gift like napkins, or an umbrella, like the formal, but kind weirdo he is whenever he drops off Yuuji. But he also pays Megumi’s tuition under the promise he’ll work for the Itadoris once he has his degree.
The legal side, of course, as an editor.
All of that makes him very valuable. Before for sure, but now that they’ve invested in him? The Zen’in want an in and he’s it. And now that his father, The Zen’in Shame, is dead it’s a whole lot easier to get their hands on him.
So, now they scrutinize him and stare almost in awe of Maki. He wraps his arm around hers, keeps his head down and tucks his shoulder behind hers, like a good, submissive omega. He hates them all. Maki walks confidently into the garden venue, wearing a lightweight gown and heels that give her enough added height to make her taller than him.
God, get him out of here.
“Now what?” he spat out, under his breath.
“Now you shut up. I’ll handle it.” She was walking with a purpose to talk to… someone, probably.
“Ah, spoken like a true Zen’in alpha. Maybe you will make it in this family.” Maki just huffed.
It was a beautiful place, for sure. Fairy lights strewn across branches and paper lanterns on tables. All the flowers were in bloom, in every color. They gave off aromas that put any scent leaking from scent patches on the backburner, which was nice. The lake in the park reflected the setting sun. Just a few hours more and he’s off the hook for a while.
They agreed he didn’t have to go to every event, but a good chunk. Four a semester, and only two had to be big ones like this, to keep up a facade. Only two years total, to prove she had some charisma and charm. Then, make up some misstep on his part to justify a break. No biggie.
___
He had called it. That sounded like such a Nobara thing to say, but he was too tired to think of a more sophisticated way to put it. He’d been through enough that night and he didn’t need Naoya ruining it further.
“Finally figured out how to submit, huh?” The moment Maki had cut him loose, he found him. Megumi was just trying to find a quiet corner to text Yuuji, who should’ve shown up twenty minutes ago, but he hadn’t spotted yet. He had created the perfect ambush conditions.
“Found an alpha worth submitting to.” Megumi looked back to his phone and willed a text back that he did not get.
“Oh, is that it?”
“Yep.”
Naoya took a few steps closer. His signature cocky grin held strong but his eyes hardened. Thankfully, there wasn’t exactly a good way to corner him outside. “When are you gonna get it over with and properly submit to me?”
Naoya was the Zen’ins’ next big bet on the future, despite everyone knowing he was an ass. He was the next head of the family and the dog that they sicced on him. The asshole had just thrown some money at his feet and told him they were going to mate with a sneer on his face. That had not been a good day for either of them. Megumi wasn’t scared of him. Megumi closed the distance between them and whispered, just inches from his face, “The day that comes I’ll be dead. You’ll just be fucking a corpse.”
Naoya’s jaw clenches. “If that’s-”
“Got to find my alpha,” Megumi says as he steps back and away, turning his eyes back down. “Can’t be away too long, y’know. Wouldn't want to upset her,” and just to twist the knife, “you know how those powerful alphas can be.”
Megumi walks as fast as dignity will let him and does not look back. Naoya won’t tell anyone about that conversation. It makes him look too much like a bitch. Still, he kinda put Maki in a shit position if Naoya was the type. He promised to keep his mouth shut.
If on the outskirts behind a tree wasn’t enough privacy, where was he gonna get it? He kept walking, circling the party. Maki would call if she needed him, but they already put on plenty of a show.
One old ass beta asked if he was “intact”. Maki had confirmed without skipping a beat. Maybe it was just talk, but Yuuji could’ve given him a heads-up that people just ask that.
Eventually, he saw an opportunity. The bathrooms. An older, but well kept one-story building with a few dining tables and a set of restrooms. Surely people were hanging out in there, away from the bugs and the dancing, but behind the building might be clear.
He figured luck was finally on his side when he rounded the corner and a familiar pink undercut standing in front of him. “Fucking finally, Yuuji. Check yo-”
The guy turned around, slipping his phone in his pocket. Definitely not Yuuji. Looks like him. A lot. But also not. Fuck, he must be tired.
His eyes are red and sharper. Sharper everything actually. He’s also taller now that he’s looking properly and a few feet closer. Very fucking tall, actually. Shit, 6’5’’? Oh and his face is outlined in thick tattoos. That definitely stands out.
“Like what you see, Gorgeous?” He’s grinning at him. Fuck his voice is deep, and Megumi realizes how hot his own face feels. There’s no way he can’t see the shade he’s turned under the side light directly above him. He closes his gaping mouth and takes a deep breath to steady himself.
Mistake.
This dick isn’t wearing scent patches. He smells like… charcoal and spice and something else. And most certainly unmated. His cheeks feel warmer.
“You know my name, you degenerate,” Megumi says as he crouches down with his back against the wall and sets his eyes straight ahead. He came here for a moment of peace and he’ll still get it. No need to pretend for this audience. He takes smaller breaths. “You know where Yuuji ran off to?”
He doesn’t respond. Megumi waits until his face doesn’t feel so heated to look back over to his left. The guy isn’t smiling anymore. He throws him a bone. “It’s Megumi Fushiguro, Sukuna.”
“I know.”
Megumi looks ahead again. “Are you gonna tell me where Yuuji is?”
“Probably with his suitors, but couldn’t tell you where exactly.” The grass scrapes against his dress shoes as he closes the distance between them and he’s close enough that Megumi can tell when he leans his shoulder on the wall from the corner of his eye. It feels a lot different than when Naoya got this close earlier. He has no desire to flee. Fuck, he can feel Sukuna’s pantleg against his arm. “Why are you here?”
“None of your business.”
Sukuna doesn’t respond for a few moments. He almost thinks he’ll let it go. They haven’t spoken since Megumi’s last year of elementary school and Sukuna found other things to do with his time than hang around home with kids three years younger than himself. He had thought Sukuna was a beta, since Yuuji spoke about when Choso and Kechizu presented. Guess not. “Just wanna know what they could offer you to come to one of these things.”
“None of your business.” He snags his phone out of his pocket and checks his messages. Nothing. Sukuna pushes off the wall, steps in front of Megumi and crouches down, mirroring his position. His skin is scorching now, and he holds Sukuna's eye.
He’s smirking again. There’s something searching in his stare, but Megumi doesn’t know what for. Now he’s on edge. This was supposed to be peaceful.
“Yuuji won’t give you any attention, even if those alphas stepped away for a moment. He’s got people to impress and we both know that as long as he’s determined he won’t take his eyes off the prize.” His scent is so much stronger this close. He can’t not smell him like this. His breath starts stuttering. “We’re a lot alike that way.”
He doesn’t think he and Yuuji are anything alike, actually. Megumi doesn’t know what he should say to that, but he’s gotta say something and he knows Sukuna is watching him blush so he says the first thing that comes to mind, “Why are you here?”
Sukuna laughs. He and Yuuji have always looked alike, but polar opposites in personality. Now, he thinks if the only similarity they have is laughing at Megumi’s helplessness then it’s too much.
His laugh is deep, and rich, and feels unguarded somehow and rattles across the recesses of Megumi’s skull.
I’ll remember the exact melody of that laugh for as long as I live.
For the first time, Megumi wishes he wasn’t a literature major because there’s no way that’s an original thought he’s having about his best friend’s brother, surely.
“You won’t answer that question, but you’ll ask it? Hypocritical, don't you think?” Sukuna tilts his head, just so, and Megumi’s eyes flick down to Sukuna’s unguarded, unmarked scent gland. Sukuna notices. There’s the evil look in his eye he remembers. It’s the same one he had when he slipped frogs into Yuuji’s schoolbag.
“Forget it, then.” He puts his phone back in his pocket. Just let him have a moment of calm without an alpha making it a problem, please.
“Show you mine if you show me yours.”
“What?”
Sukuna downright cackles while Megumi stares shell-shocked. “Why are you here?” Sukuna clarifies.
Oh. Well, it doesn’t really matter. He’s just in a bad mood from earlier.
“Appearances,” Megumi says. It's as specific as Sukuna needs. He nods and reciprocates.
“Keep Choso off my back about the family image and chaperoning Yuuji,” Sukuna responds. Megumi scoffs and stands up. Sukuna follows him up, but doesn’t back up any. He’s less than a step away. He cuts Megumi’s path off to the right when he tries to sidestep him. Megumi makes a show of rolling his eyes at him.
“You don’t even know where he is,” Megumi reminds him. Sukuna just shrugs. He isn’t smiling anymore, but seems pleased with the situation.
“He can handle himself. He’s a grown man now. So are you.”
When Sukuna looks him up and down, Megumi feels warm in more places than his face.
He realizes he doesn’t want to leave anymore.
“The hell’s that supposed to mean?” Fuck, he hates how breathy his voice is. He hates how tight his boxers feel. Sukuna shoots a casual glance to either side of them. Megumi can’t tear his eyes away from Sukuna’s.
“Feel free to tap out.”
And without further ado, Megumi’s back hits the wall, there’s a thigh between his legs, and a tongue in his mouth.
He’s frozen against him. Frozen against very hard abs, that he can feel even through four layers of fabric, holy shit- the scent of an aroused alpha– an aroused Sukuna–
He closes his eyes. It feels good.
He kisses back. He’s already made his way inside Megumi’s mouth, now he's gotta make his way in Sukuna’s and he practically growls between his lips for him. Megumi wants to hear it again. He throws his arms around his shoulders and grips his own elbows, locking him in place. Sukuna’s not going anywhere, anyway. Scent patches be damned, there’s no way Sukuna can’t smell his slick soaking through his pants.
There’s a distant thought in the back of his brain, where he wonders if Maki will be pissed about the ruined suit she bought for him.
He’s a bit preoccupied for that thought though.
Sukuna grips either side of his hips, his thumbs digging into the bone, and drags him up across his thigh and there's a high keen in his ears and realizes belatedly that he made that sound. Megumi’s knees give out, but Sukuna’s got him. He grips his ass cheeks firm in either hand and does all the work for him. He drags his body up and down his. Slowly, and then quickly. Megumi can’t keep up mentally. Sukuna’s skin feels like it's burning and he notices his scent is too. He needs a candle with that smell.
When he pulls back to inhale, Sukuna shifts. He rearranges Megumi into one hand, fuck that’s so hot, and makes a fist around the hair at the back of his head and tugs down. The moan he lets out is from the base of throat and way too loud and he’s never been so turned on in his life. He bites his lip as hard as possible.
“So pretty for me, aren’t you?”
Megumi’s sopping wet.
Sukuna sucked at the front of his throat, while Megumi thrusts up into his body. He licks one long, flat stripe from underneath his adam's apple back toward his scent glands.
The moment his tongue traces the edge of his patches, the bubble pops.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck. Let me down, let me down, now!” He shoves and pushes at Sukuna, but he’s not putting up any fight.
“Alright, alright,” he says. “Damn, give me a chance before you start hitting me, Gorgeous.”
There’s no real argument in his voice. If anything, he’s laughing under his breath.
The moment his heels hit the dirt he gets the fuck out of there. He hears Sukuna speak behind him, but his heartbeat in his ears drowns him out.
Fuck. He’s soaked. And smells like horny Sukuna. And everyone here knows exactly how Sukuna smells because he doesn’t wear scent patches. He can’t walk through the party. Everyone will know. Fuck, fuck, fuck. He’s tired and horny and that’s a terrible combination when the goal is rational problem solving. He quickly decides to walk in as far an arc around the party as he can. He’ll get out of there, then what, call a cab? An omega in this state? Terrible idea. No moment of peace to be found.
Goddamn it, he’ll call Nobara and not say shit, cause no one is allowed to know this happened, even her. Also a terrible idea, but the best one he’s got.
He hears moaning and slapping skin distantly to his right and speeds up. It takes him twice as long as it should to get to the street and he pulls out his phone.
“Fushiguro-sama?”
Suddenly, in front of him is a beta with a white bob and kimono under a street light. When he looks up, they step aside and open the door to a black limo and gestures for him to get inside. “I’m Uruame, Sukuna’s assistant. He called. I’ll take you anywhere you need to go promptly, with no charge.”
The seats are nice leather. There’s a tarp on top of them. To prevent his slick from ruining the interior. That asshole.
He looks back at the party. No one’s looking at him in the distance, and even if they were they couldn’t smell him from here. Fuck it, Sukuna owes him. “Okay,” he says. Once Uruame’s in the driver’s seat he gives over his address.
He opens his phone and texts Maki,
Had to leave. Personal emergency. Sorry
He’ll come up with something convincing later. Before he can close his phone a message comes through. Instead of Maki, it’s an unknown number.
Get home safe
Shit.
This is also a later problem he decides. Sukuna texts again. How did he even get his number?
Shame you left after purring so sweetly against me tho
… he didn’t actually purr for him did he?