Work Text:
«The second body was found this week in the desert near the town of Rowena. Police are withholding statements, but anonymous sources report severe mutilations. The FBI is expected to arrive in town. Now, on to the weather…»
It’s Monday afternoon, and the bar is nearly empty. Old man Gakuganji is already drunk, passed out with his head on the table. Suguru is polishing glasses with the news murmuring in the background.
Choso, the guy who works at the auto shop behind the gas station, sits at the counter watching the foam collapse in his second beer.
Rowena is a small town where nothing ever happens and everyone knows each other. But ever since mutilated bodies started turning up in the desert, the air has changed. It feels heavier. Thicker somehow.
The front door creaks open, signaling a new arrival. Suguru readies himself to serve one of the regulars but freezes when he’s met with a familiar face.
Fushiguro Toji is wearing faded work clothes that fit his alpha build perfectly. His black hair is longer than the last time Suguru saw him, and he’s recently shaved his beard, leaving the scar by his lip starkly visible.
Suguru has to set the glass down on the counter to keep from shattering it, or hurling it at Toji.
«Well, look who finally decided to show his face.» his voice drips with irony as he grips the edge of the counter.
Toji winks at him, sliding onto a stool directly across from Suguru.
«Miss me?»
Suguru clenches his jaw.
«Your son doesn’t even remember what you look like.»
Toji doesn’t flinch. Instead, he pretends to study the chalkboard menu behind Suguru, as if this bar hasn’t served the exact same things for twenty years.
«Been busy. Seasonal work.» he says easily. «You got the money though, right?»
Yeah, Suguru got the money. An envelope with a few hundred bucks. Not even a note. Not even a single damn apology.
«If you think three hundred dollars makes up for months of—»
«Can I get a beer and some fries?» Toji cuts him off smoothly. Of course he does. He always does. Shows up after months gone, hands Suguru some cash when he feels like it, and expects that to erase the fact he knocked him up six years ago and left him with a kid to raise alone.
Suguru slings the rag over his shoulder and heads to the kitchen to ring up the order. When he returns, he drops the fries on the counter and practically shoves the beer at Toji. A few drops spill, darkening the man’s pants.
«It’s seven dollars.» Suguru says flatly.
Toji hands him a fifty. «Keep the change.»
«Is that a tip or child support?»
Toji smirks, utterly unfazed. «Every time I see you, you get meaner,» his gaze drags over Suguru slowly. It’s summer, scorching hot, and Suguru’s wearing blue jeans and a black tank top. «and prettier.»
«What do you want, Toji?»
«Nothing. Can’t I just stop by to see my baby mama?»
«I wouldn’t believe you if you were hooked up to a polygraph.»
Toji laughs, tossing a fry into his mouth. He traces a finger lazily along the rim of his glass, tilting his head to look Suguru in the eye.
«When do you get off?»
«Never. I work nonstop, Monday through Sunday.»
«Come on, mama.»
«Why do you care?»
«Told you. I was in town and wanted to see you. Hard to believe?»
Suguru arches a brow. Choso throws down cash for his beers and slips out without a word, and Suguru’s quietly grateful, now he can hide behind busywork and ignore the alpha.
«My shift just started. You’ll get bored and leave before sunset.»
But to Suguru’s surprise, Toji doesn’t leave. He stays at the counter, orders two more beers and a burger. The bar fills up and empties again. Suguru serves at least twenty-five today's specials, countless beers, rum and colas, then scotch.
Toji’s unusually patient. Even calm. People approach him, surprised to see him back in town, and he chats easily, offering vague answers about his jobs. He doesn’t even start a fight.
Suguru watches him closely between tables, waiting for the façade to crack.
Eventually, the lights dim. Closing time. Suguru says goodbye to Sukuna, the cook, and heads to his car, where Toji’s leaning, smoking a cigarette.
They drive back to Suguru’s place. The moment the door shuts behind them, he’s shoved against the wall, Toji’s tongue in his mouth and his big, calloused hands gripping his waist.
«Keep it down. Megumi’s asleep.»
Toji hauls him upstairs, stumbling into Suguru’s bedroom. He nearly tears the tank top off and latches onto his nipples, sucking and biting until it almost hurts.
Suguru throws his head back, grinding against the hard outline in Toji’s blue work pants.
«Show daddy how much you missed his cock, mama.»
Suguru drops to his knees. He frees him, presses the hot, heavy length to his cheek. Thick veins run along it, begging to be licked.
The tip’s red, slick with precum. Suguru kisses it, sucks gently, then grips the base and swallows as much as he can.
The alpha groans low, threading fingers through Suguru’s long black hair, guiding his pace.
«Fuck, you've got the tightest throat in the damn country. Show daddy if that sweet hole of yours is still as tight as I remember.»
Clothes hit the floor. Suguru’s jeans are discarded near the door. Toji bends him over the bed, ass up, exposing his dripping pussy.
«Put on a damn condom.»
Toji scoffs. «Don’t have one. I’ll pull out.»
«Last time you “pulled out” I had Megumi. Forget it. They’re in the nightstand.»
Toji rolls his eyes but doesn’t argue. He tears one open and rolls it on.
He drags the thick head along Suguru’s clit, making him bury his face in his arms with a muffled moan. Suguru’s always been sensitive, but that spot is lethal. Slick runs down his thighs; his hole clenches in need.
«Gonna eat you out after this till you can’t walk, pretty mama.» Toji growls, savoring the way Suguru shudders.
He pushes in slow, Suguru’s so wet there’s almost no resistance. That stupidly big cock rubs a spot that makes his skin prickle with goosebumps.
Toji grips his hips and starts pounding. The old bed frame groans, but neither cares; they’re too busy stifling moans so they don’t wake Megumi up.
Suguru rolls his eyes back, fists the sheets, and comes hard around him. Toji flips him over, kissing him through the next orgasm while still buried deep.
They go at it all night. Toji keeps his promise, making him come on his tongue. Suguru gets his throat fucked like he's getting paid for it and then Toji sticks it in him a couple of times without a condom. Suguru threatens to kick him out, so he rolls the condom back on and pounds him into the mattress, stuffing two fingers in his mouth to keep him quiet.
By morning, Suguru feels disgusting and sticky, his back sore and hair knotted.
He takes a long and warm shower, spending fifteen minutes untangling his hair with conditioner. When he finally heads downstairs, Toji’s at the table with Megumi perched on his lap, proudly showing off a drawing from school.
«Mommy!» Megumi beams when he spots his mom. «Look! Daddy’s home!»
Suguru smiles at him, because he doesn’t want to ruin this moment for his son. He steps closer and ruffles his wild black hair.
«I see, my love.»
«Mommy, can you make blueberry pancakes?»
«Yeah, Mommy. Your blueberry pancakes are the best.» Toji chimes in.
Suguru glares at him. «Can’t Dad cook them?» he asks rhetorically.
Megumi looks at Toji, then back at Suguru. «Daddy’s pancakes suck.»
Toji laughs and tickles the boy. «You ungrateful brat, I’ll never make you pancakes again.»
«Good!» Megumi yells through his laughter.
Defeated, Suguru starts making his famous pancakes, because he doesn’t want Megumi to stop laughing like that.
They eat breakfast together, sitting at the kitchen table. Toji deigns to make coffee for the two of them and warm up the milk for Megumi. Then he pulls Suguru’s chair closer and strokes his thigh under the table while their son talks about everything he learned about dinosaurs at school.
When they finish eating, the fairytale ends. Toji puts his shoes back on and says he has to go.
«Will I see you again before six months?» Suguru asks him as the alpha heads for the door.
Toji sighs. He places a hand on Suguru’s cheek, but Suguru bats it away. «Mama, you know I’m not built for this.»
«No, you’re not built for us. That’s different. You’re so damn stupid for choosing anything else over us.»
«Don’t make me leave like this, please.»
«Make you leave? I never kicked you out. I always welcomed you. You’re the one who leaves.»
«Mama, you know what I mean.»
«Go. You’re not the one who’ll have to explain to Megumi why his father left again.»
Toji doesn't say anything. He looks at him, hesitates for a moment, then leaves. Suguru keeps staring at the wall across from him as the door shuts, hearing only the sound of the lock clicking into place.
***
Satoru steps out of the car, sliding on his sunglasses, the air is so hot and heavy that, for a moment, he can’t breathe.
«God, what kind of oven is this place?» he mutters, running a hand through his hair.
«Central Texas in mid-July, were you expecting an ocean breeze?» Nanami replies dryly, shutting the car door behind him.
The agent shrugs off his jacket and rolls up his shirt sleeves to his elbows. «No, but I wasn’t expecting this swelter. I feel like I’m about to end up like a Thanksgiving turkey.»
«I’d say you’re already halfway there, Gojo. You’re stuffed full of crap as it is.» Mei Mei is flawless in her slate-gray suit; even her hair is immaculate, and she doesn’t seem to be sweating a single drop.
Yaga silences them with a grunt. «Compose yourselves, we’re about to meet the local authorities.»
From the Rowena police station comes Sheriff Naobito Zen’in. Gojo already knows him, back when he worked at the LAPD they’d overlapped, though on different teams. Then Gojo had joined the FBI while Zen’in moved out here, to a quieter area, to coast toward retirement. Gojo can’t stand him; he’s a slick, corrupt worm.
«Good afternoon, Sheriff. I’m Special Agent Yaga, head of the unit. These are Agents Mei and Gojo, and our communications officer, Kento.»
«Pleasure to have you here. Wish it were under better circumstances. Rowena’s a small town, it’s never seen anything like this.»
«Is there an office where we can set up?»
«I had the conference room prepared for you. Might be a bit cramped by your standards, but it’s all we’ve got.»
«That’ll do fine.»
As they make their way toward the station, Gojo glances around. The desert swallows nearly everything; the sun beats down so fiercely he’s sure he could fry an egg on the asphalt. Inside, it’s cooler — barely. The conference room has a ceiling fan that squeaks with every turn, and the case files are already laid out on the table.
He grabs a folder and starts flipping through it.
«Sheriff, any chance we can examine the crime scenes?» Mei asks, sweeping her long silver hair over one shoulder.
«Afraid not. The Cinn doesn’t spare anyone. The remains were barely recovered, but the scenes were already compromised — coyotes, sandstorms.»
«The Cinn?»
«Yeah, the Cinnamon Falls. The desert’s got that cinnamon color to it, that’s what folks around here call it.»
«Smart to dump bodies out in the desert. Low chance of witnesses, delays the recovery time, and heavy environmental contamination can wreck an investigation.» Kento observes.
«If we can’t view the crime scenes, we should start with victimology. What do we know?» Gojo asks.
«Victims were identified by dental records. Troy Lincoln, a high school teacher at St. Joseph’s, and María Gutiérrez, a housewife, very active at the local church. She was at every fundraiser, charity event, even did volunteer work.»
«They’re completely different. A man and a woman, he was white and she was hispanic, he was a beta and she was an omega, a teacher and a housewife, he was in his forties and she was twenty-seven. Any other connection? Did they know each other somehow? Same church? Same social circles?»
«In Rowena? Well, sure. Everybody goes to the same church. There’s only one.»
«If they don’t share physical traits, there’s another link. We’ll find it. I’ll have Iori dig deeper. If there’s a common factor, she’ll uncover it.» Yaga pulls out his phone and steps outside.
«Iori?» Zen’in asks.
«Our tech analyst.» Kento explains, pinning photos of the victims to the board and jotting down everything they know so far.
«Do we have the coroner’s reports yet?» Mei asks.
«Only Troy Lincoln’s autopsy. The cause of death was asphyxiation with a strap or belt. He was mutilated post-mortem, eyes and tongue removed, hands cut off.»
«Kept as trophies?»
«No. All recovered at the scene.»
«Then the mutilation’s symbolic. Any signs of sexual assault?»
«None on the male victim, but we’re waiting on María Gutiérrez’s autopsy. Ieiri and Inumaki are at the medical examiner’s office now.»
Naobito Zen’in watches them work. They’re an FBI profiling team, their whole operation is on another level.
«Do you always work this efficiently?» he asks.
«Oh, Sheriff,» Gojo takes off his sunglasses and sets them on the table in front of him. «we haven’t even started yet.»
***
«I’m about to evaporate.» Satoru stretches as they step into Rowena’s local bar, the town’s gathering spot.
«Please, evaporate after the case.» Mei Mei adjusts her watch as they head toward the counter. «It’s already hard enough working with you while you’re still in solid form.»
The bartender is pouring a whiskey on the rocks for three men seated at the bar. It’s Tuesday morning, and Gojo can’t imagine who would be drinking hard liquor at this hour.
The bartender is a beautiful omega with long black hair, partially tied back. A stray lock falls across his forehead, framing a pair of amber eyes that watch them intently as they approach. He definitely has the look of someone who doesn’t plan on cooperating.
«FBI agents. We have a few questions about the recent murders in the area.»
Mei Mei speaks as they both flash their badges.
The three men at the bar discreetly shuffle away with their glasses, but the bartender keeps glaring at them with open hostility.
«You’re wasting your time. Nobody knows anything here.» he replies, then goes back to pouring drinks.
«I’m afraid I’ll have to disagree with you. You might know more than you think. Anything could help. Suspicious behavior, a regular who comes in drinking at odd hours, someone who seems a little too interested in the case… or not nearly enough.»
«Agent, this is Rowena. People start drinking here in the morning, and no one talks about the case. The TVs are all on, tuned to the news. We listen, but we don’t talk about it.» he sighs as he sets the drinks on a tray. «Best I can do for you is pour you a beer.»
Gojo grins. «You’ve got quite the attitude, huh? Fine, I like people like you. If anything comes to mind, you can always give us a call.» he slides a business card across the counter. The bartender stares at it for a moment, then takes it and tucks it into his pocket.
«Can’t promise you anything.»
«At least tell me who I’m talking to? Or is that classified too?» Gojo leans against the counter, only to get smacked on the back of the head by Mei Mei.
«And there he goes, flirting already.»
«Was that really necessary?»
The bartender chuckles, hiding his mouth behind his hand. Both Gojo and Mei Mei glance at him.
«Are all you Feds like this?»
«No, just him. He’s adopted.»
«Mei, seriously?»
«It’s true. They found him in a basket outside FBI headquarters.» the woman says, addressing the omega.
«Okay, alright, enough bullying me. Anyway, if you change your mind, the number’s always active.»
They’re about to leave when the bartender calls out. «Agent.» he pauses. «My name’s Suguru.»
Back in the car, as they pull up to the station, Mei Mei glances over before getting out. «We don’t have a team line, did you give him Utahime’s number?»
«No,» Gojo smirks, holding up his phone. «I gave him mine.»
Mei rolls her eyes and opens the door. «You’re hopeless, Gojo.»
The white-haired alpha laughs, reclining against his seat. Once Mei walks off, he dials their analyst’s number and waits.
«What do you want, Gojo?» Utahime’s voice crackles through the line.
«Good morning to you too, Utahime. I’m doing fine, thanks for asking.»
She sighs. «Do you need something?»
«Yeah. I need you to dig up some info on someone. Name’s Suguru, works at Rowena’s bar, the Dusty’s.»
It only takes Utahime a few seconds to find the information, Gojo can hear her typing rapidly on her keyboard.
«Suguru Geto, male omega, twenty-two. Born and raised in Rowena. Been at Dusty’s for four years. His mother died when he was young, his father passed away a few years back from alcohol poisoning. Rising ballet star, full scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin, but he never went. Oh…»
«What?»
«He’s got a six-year-old kid.» she pauses. «I just sent you his license photo. Is he a suspect?»
«No, just a potential informant. Thanks, Utahime. I owe you one.»
«Gojo, you owe me so many I’ve lost count.» then she hangs up.
Gojo opens the photo she sent. The omega’s hair is tied back, the same stray lock framing his face. His almond-shaped eyes are the kind of golden honey he’s never seen before. His features are flawless — delicate, harmonious, with full and soft lips.
Fuck. He’s totally his type.
***
«Have you found out anything from the medical examiner?»
«Nothing new. The modus operandi is the same as with the first victim. Eyes and tongue removed, hands amputated, death caused by suffocation.» says Shoko Ieiri, their expert in sex crimes, as she pours herself a cup of coffee.
«Any signs of sexual assault?» asks Yaga.
«None.»
«So he didn’t rape his victims. If he’s not targeting a specific type, his compulsion isn’t rooted in sexuality. He’s killing for another reason.»
«Have we found any connection between the victims?» Kento asks, adding details about the second victim to the board.
«Iori hasn’t found out anything significant yet. There are links, but that’s inevitable in a town this small.»
«Did you two find anything at the bar?» Yaga turns to Mei and Gojo.
«Only that Gojo has a thing for dark-haired omegas.» the older agent teases.
«But we already knew that.» Inumaki cuts in. Gojo promptly smacks him on the back of the head.
«Watch how you talk to your elders, kid.» says the white-haired alpha.
«María Gutiérrez was a petite omega woman, she wouldn’t have been hard to overpower. But Troy Lincoln was a healthy beta male. We have reason to believe our killer is either an alpha or a beta male. He has to be fit, likely between twenty-five and thirty-five years old.»
«He kills his victims fairly quickly. He strangles them and mutilates them post-mortem, so there’s not much bloodshed. He’s clearly doing it for convenience, to avoid cleanup afterward, but it also suggests he’s not interested in torture. If he derived sexual gratification from it, he’d at least strangle them barehanded, just to feel the life leaving their bodies.»
«What he’s doing holds symbolic meaning for him. It’s the ritualistic value of death that matters.»
Yaga stays silent for a moment, then organizes the team. «Inumaki, I want you to focus on the modus operandi and figure out why our unsub is committing these ritualistic acts. Ieiri, you work on victimology with Iori, see if you can find any links between the victims. Kento, I want a press briefing by this afternoon. Gojo, Mei, go door-to-door. Question everyone. I want to know if anyone’s noticed strange behavior among the locals.»
The team disperses, each with their assigned task.
***
The houses in Rowena all look the same, prefabricated structures made of cheap materials, painted white on the outside with dry, lifeless yards.
Gojo and Mei spend the next few days questioning the locals, but without success. Some pretend not to be home, others refuse to cooperate, and the few who let them in have nothing useful to say.
«Nobody knows anything, nobody suspects anything, nobody goes into the desert.» the woman summarizes as they climb the steps to another porch.
«Bullshit, everyone goes into the desert. I can’t believe no one’s talking. What’s their problem with us, anyway?»
«You really are a city boy, Gojo. In rural places like this, folks don’t like outsiders poking around, especially not feds.»
They knock on the door.
A woman answers. She’s a beta in her forties, her brown hair tied in a bun at the back of her head, streaked with silver strands that make her look older than she is. She wears modest clothes and no makeup.
«Good afternoon, ma’am. FBI. We’d like to ask you a few questions.» They both flash their badges. The woman studies them for a moment, then steps aside to let them in.
«Kuroi, is everything alright?» someone calls from inside. It’s Suguru, the omega from Dusty’s. His hair is down today, he’s wearing sweatpants and a gray top, and he’s got a child with him.
The boy hides behind his mother’s leg, peeking at the agents with bright green eyes, studying them intently.
«You again? Guess you didn’t get tired of going around asking questions. I bet all you’ve found are closed doors, not that you listened to me anyway.» the omega says, crossing his arms.
«Well, if it isn’t my lucky day.» Gojo smirks, sliding off his sunglasses.
«What, are you following me on my days off now? Is this harassment?»
«I’d call it fate.»
Mei Mei rolls her eyes, already fed up with her partner. «We’re just here to ask Mrs. Kuroi a few questions. We didn’t know you two knew each other.»
«I live next door to Suguru. I help him out with Megumi sometimes when he’s working. Please, agents, come in. May I offer you some coffee?»
«If it’s no trouble, we’d love some.»
The woman moves toward the kitchen, but Suguru stops her. «It’s fine, Kuroi. I’ll take care of it.»
The agents step inside. Satoru crouches down in front of the child to meet his gaze.
«You must be Megumi, huh? Nice to meet you. I’m Satoru.» he smiles, but the boy eyes him warily and clings tighter to his mother’s pants.
Suguru laughs. «Kid’s got good instincts.»
Satoru quirks a brow at him. «Are you always this welcoming to guests, or is it just my face you’re allergic to?»
«Depends. Your jokes make me want to light up a cigarette, and I quit three years ago.»
Mei clears her throat. «Do you two need a room, or can we get started?»
Suguru looks down at his son. «Meg, love, how about you go upstairs and watch some cartoons?»
The boy gives Gojo one last wary glance, then nods at his mother and scampers up the stairs.
Kuroi leads the agents to the living room, and Suguru joins them shortly after with four mugs of coffee. He hands them directly to Mei Mei and Kuroi, but sets Satoru’s down on the table.
The alpha woman begins the questioning.
«Mrs. Kuroi, how long have you lived here in Rowena?»
«Oh, many years now. I used to live in San Angelo, that’s where I met my husband. We moved to Rowena twenty years ago to start a family, but… well, the children never came.»
Gojo glances around. There are photos of a man in a military uniform all over the walls, and he gets a bad feeling that’s quickly confirmed.
«He was a Marine. He died in Afghanistan on deployment, four years ago.»
«We’re sorry for your loss.»
«It’s alright. This too it’s part of life.»
«Have you noticed anything suspicious lately? Maybe a neighbor coming or going at odd hours, or a vehicle you didn’t recognize?»
«No, Rowena’s a quiet town. Nothing’s really changed in twenty years. People here stick to their routines, we like it that way.»
«We have reason to believe the killer is from around here or has ties to the area. The lack of a clear link between victims and the level of violence suggest this is personal. Is there anyone in town connected to both victims?»
«I’m afraid not, agents. Everyone here’s connected to everyone else. Mr. Lincoln was Suguru’s teacher in high school, and Mrs. Gutiérrez was active in the church, everybody knew her.»
«Suguru, can you think of anyone who might have had it out for Mr. Lincoln?»
«No one. He was a good teacher, gave us too much homework, sure, but not enough to want him dead. He coached the elementary school baseball team in his free time.»
«Whoever we’re looking for might not currently live in Rowena. Could be someone who used to and recently came back, or someone tied to the town through work.»
«No, there’s only—»
«No one fits that profile, agents.» Suguru cuts in. «I was born and raised here. If there were someone like that, I’d know.»
Satoru studies him a moment too long, but before he can speak again his phone rings.
He answers, seeing Inumaki’s name flashing on the screen.
«Gojo.»
«Hey, Gojo. I finished analyzing the modus operandi . Found something. Yaga wants you back at the station to put together the profile.»
«We’re on our way.» he hangs up and turns to Mei. «We need to go.»
The agents take their leave. Kuroi and Suguru watch as their car drives off.
The omega exhales. «You think they’ll catch him?»
«I really hope so, Suguru.»
Back at the headquarters, Inumaki lays out his findings for the team. Crime scene photos, grisly, detailed shots of the victims, are spread across the table.
«We know our killer strangles his victims before mutilating them. It makes the process easier, imagine trying to remove an eye from someone thrashing around, but on the first victim, I found hesitation marks around the wounds. He doesn’t need medical training for this type of mutilation, precision isn’t necessary because he doesn’t keep the amputated parts. But with the second victim, the cuts were cleaner.»
«He’s getting bolder.»
«Exactly. There’s been an evolution. But not in the strangulation. The belt marks are clean, precise, identical on both victims. His technique hasn’t changed because it didn’t need to. It was perfect from the start.»
«That doesn’t fit with the first-murder theory. Strangling someone is close, personal. If it were his first time, there’d be signs of hesitation.»
Inumaki nods. «I think he has killed before. It’s the first time he’s mutilating his victims, but not the first time he’s strangled someone.»
«Good. Let’s follow that lead. Call Iori, have her pull every strangulation case in the country from the last five years.» Yaga orders. «Let’s get this profile ready to release.»
***
When he’s at home, Suguru doesn’t watch the news. He doesn’t want Megumi to hear what they’re saying about the murders, so he only lets him watch cartoons.
They’re sitting in the living room, Suguru is cross-legged on the couch painting his nails, while Megumi is standing in the middle of the room watching a documentary about dinosaurs. He’s going through a phase where that’s all he cares about, and he can’t stay seated for too long. Suguru will soon have to sign him up for some sports club to help him burn off all that extra energy.
He had been just like his son at that age. That’s why his mother had enrolled him in dance classes with Mrs. Kuroi, who used to run a small dance school in Rowena. Then, when his mother died, ballet was all he had left to cope with the grief.
It had been years since he last danced. If someone had told his thirteen-year-old self he would stop one day, he wouldn’t have believed it. It had been the only thing that made him feel better. Back then, Kuroi’s school had already lost most of its students, so she would give him the keys to the studio, and he’d practice there until late at night.
That’s where he met Toji. That petty criminal had been looking for a place to hide after stealing liquor from the local convenience store.
Rowena is a small town. There’s nothing to do. The only cheap thrills are booze and sex, and Suguru had never liked drinking.
He’d been reckless, and he got pregnant. He never regretted having Megumi, his son was the greatest joy of his life, but, inevitably, there were times when he wondered what might have happened if his life had taken a different turn. If he’d kept dancing, if he’d gone to college, if Toji had stayed.
«Mommy, did you know velociraptors had feathers?»
His son’s voice pulls him out of his thoughts. Megumi is looking at him with those striking green eyes, just like his father’s, framed by long dark lashes that remind Suguru of the porcelain dolls his mother used to collect.
«Really, sweetheart?»
«Yeah, but in the movies they never show them with feathers.»
«Maybe because they’d be less scary that way.»
«Dinosaurs aren’t scary. They’re cool!»
«You’re right. Dinosaurs are cool.»
«Mommy, did you know that the people who study dinosaurs are called paleo… paleo… umm.»
«Paleontologists?»
«Yeah!» Megumi’s face lights up as he climbs onto the couch next to Suguru. « Palelolgists . But they have to dig a lot. They’re always digging.»
Suguru laughs and brushes a stray lock of hair from his son’s forehead.
«Would you like to be a paleontologist when you grow up? To study dinosaurs?»
«I don’t know. I like dinosaurs, but I like all the other animals too. I wanna be a palelogist of animals.»
Suguru thinks for a moment. «Well, there are lots of jobs you can do that involve animals. Like being a biologist, or a vet.»
«Can I be that?»
«Of course you can, my love.»
«Tomorrow?»
«No, baby, not tomorrow. You need to go to school for many years and study hard to get there.»
«But that’s so long!»
«It is, it’s a long time. But when you’re as old as Mommy, you’ll be glad you did it.»
«How old are you, Mommy?»
«I’m twenty-two.»
Megumi gasps. «Mommy, you’re old.»
Suguru bursts out laughing, leaning back against the couch. «I’m not old! How old did you think I was?»
«Uh… ten?»
His boy is so smart, sometimes Suguru worries he’s growing up too fast. But then he says something so innocent like that, and Suguru knows he’s doing a good job as his mom.
He hugs him and showers his cheeks with kisses, unable to resist his sweetness. Megumi squirms but laughs while trying to escape. Then he settles against Suguru’s chest and stays there for a while.
Suguru almost thinks he’s fallen asleep because he’s quiet for some time, but then he speaks again.
«Mommy, can I ask you another question?»
«Of course you can.»
«Is the Cinn bad?»
The Cinnamon Falls. The desert they grew up near, a cinnamon-colored wasteland that had turned into no man’s land. The very soul of Rowena.
«No, sweetheart, the Cinn isn’t bad. But it can be dangerous sometimes, which is why you must never go there. Do you understand? If you stay away, nothing bad will happen to you, okay?»
«Okay.» Megumi nods. «But Daddy’s not scared of it, is that why he goes there?»
It’s like taking a punch to the stomach.
«What… what do you mean, Megumi? Why do you think that?»
«Because it was on his clothes when he came over the other day. I saw it. They were dirty, the same color as cinnamon, like when you make cinnamon rolls and get some on your apron. Daddy’s clothes were like that.»
Suguru feels the blood in his veins turn cold. Sweat breaks out along his back, and suddenly there’s a bitter taste in his mouth, like he’s holding a piece of metal on his tongue.
«It was just dirt, baby. It wasn’t Cinn sand.»
«But it was—»
«It was just dirt, Megumi.»
Megumi accepts that answer and doesn’t bring it up again for the rest of the day.
***
On Friday night, a young couple goes to the Cinn to be alone. At dawn on Saturday morning, they stumble upon the third body.
Saturday is frenzied, unfolding in chaos. Ieiri and Yaga interrogate the couple, just two eighteen-year-olds from a nearby town, also bordering the desert. That morning, the girl had noticed a body lying among the dunes, she thought it was a hiker who had suddenly felt sick, but when they approached, they saw the mutilations.
According to the coroner, the woman, identified by the badge still pinned to her uniform, is Stephanie Reid, a thirty-eight-year-old beta woman.
She had disappeared on Thursday evening from the parking lot of San Angelo Hospital, where she worked as a nurse. After leaving her shift, she never made it to her car. No one noticed she was missing because she lived alone and wasn’t scheduled to work again until Monday.
The team pores over the available evidence without rest, but nothing new emerges from the modus operandi or the victimology. The best Iori can dig up is a prom photo dated 1984, that Troy Lincoln, the first victim, had attended alongside Stephanie Reid.
On Sunday, Gojo is at Dusty’s with Inumaki. Toge orders a pear juice, while he goes for a chocolate milkshake. They’re reviewing the case files to see if they missed anything.
«It’s clearly revenge, but why? Who would hold a grudge against a high school teacher, a housewife, and a nurse? Revenge… revenge…»
«None of them ever received threats, nor did they have enemies. The first two victims were married, and apparently, their marriages were happy. There’s a link, I’m sure of it, but what is it?»
«A teacher, a housewife, a nurse…» Satoru takes a sip of his milkshake. «A teacher and a nurse… hey, Suguru?»
The bartender walks over, dish towel slung over his shoulder, hair tied back as always, wearing his usual air of boredom.
«What is it?» he hooks his thumbs through the belt loops of his low-rise jeans, the fabric shifting just enough to reveal the lacy edge of his black panties. Satoru lets his gaze drop there for only a second.
«You went to St. Joseph’s High, right?»
«Yeah.»
«Who was your academic advisor, the one who handled college scholarship applications?»
«Professor Lincoln.»
«Thought so. Do you happen to remember if anyone ever won a scholarship in recent years, maybe for sports, but lost it after an injury? Maybe they were treated at San Angelo Hospital.»
Suguru pauses to think, leaning against the counter, his tank top stretches tight across his chest, and Satoru has to take another long sip of his milkshake. «No one I know of. The only person who’s won a scholarship from that school in the past ten years is Haibara Yuu. He’s a year younger than me, but he didn’t lose it. He’s studying liberal arts at the University of Dallas.»
Satoru looks at him, his blue eyes sharp enough to pierce flesh, and Suguru feels the fine hairs on the back of his neck stand instantly on end. It’s like a chill, despite the hellish heat outside.
«Toge, why don’t you call Ieiri and Kento and see what they want for dinner?»
«But it’s only two in the afternoon.»
«Go.»
Inumaki walks off, muttering under his breath. Once he’s out of earshot, Gojo leans in just enough for Suguru to feel his warm breath against his skin.
«I know there was at least one other scholarship student here, wasn’t there? Top grades, promising ballet career, destined for a bright future in UT Austin’s psychology department.»
Suguru inches back a few inches. «How do you know that?»
«We ran background checks on everyone in Rowena.»
«Are you saying I’m a suspect?»
«I’m saying it’s stupid to think you can lie to a federal agent.» his gaze sweeps over him slowly, deliberately, stripping him bare just to see his cheeks flush. «But don’t worry. You’re way too scared to be the killer.»
Now Suguru feels insulted, one brow arching in defiance. «Oh, yeah? How can you be so sure? I fit your profile, don’t I? I lost a scholarship to UT, like you said.»
«You didn’t lose a scholarship, you gave it up. That’s different. It was your choice, and you don’t regret it. You love your son too much, you’d choose him a thousand times over. You always listen to the news, when they talk about the killer, no matter what you’re doing, you slow down, stare off, listen closely.
That’s because you’re afraid. You think that soaking up as much information as possible will give you some sense of control. That’s also why, since Toge and I walked in, you haven’t moved from behind the bar and pretended to rearrange those cutlery trays for twenty minutes, you were eavesdropping. And don’t get me wrong, that’s normal. I get it. You’re just trying to protect your kid.»
Suguru meets his gaze, sharp-eyed, then curls his lips into the faintest smile.
«Congratulations, Agent. You must be a really good profiler.»
Gojo smirks and leans back, restoring a respectable buffer of space between them. «I’m the best field agent there is.»
Suguru rolls his eyes. From the kitchen comes the clear ring of a bell, Sukuna’s signal that a dish is ready. The omega steps away just long enough to deliver two beef steaks to a couple sitting at the table before returning to the counter.
«Anyway, Suguru. If anyone comes to mind who fits my description, let me know.»
«I’d like to help, but I know everyone here in Rowena. No one matches that. And honestly, I doubt it’d make a difference. Stephanie Reid was a pediatric nurse, I know because she treated Megumi when he broke his arm.»
Just then, Inumaki returns from his call. «Shoko said she wants roast beef for dinner. I told her you’re buying for the whole team.»
«Toge, Stephanie Reid was a pediatric nurse.»
«Really?»
«Yeah. Why didn’t we know that?»
«San Angelo Hospital’s small. Maybe their employee files don’t list specialties since everyone pitches in everywhere. You think it’s about a kid?»
«Not directly a kid, but maybe a parent, a teacher, a coach.» he stands, grabbing his jacket off the back of the stool. «Come on, we need to ask Iori to run a cross-check.»
«Wait, my pear juice.»
«I’ll get you another from the vending machine at the headquarters. Move it.»
They’re about to leave when Suguru calls out. «Agent.»
Satoru turns back to the omega, who looks at him — vulnerable, even shy. «Even if your theory about the killer’s wrong, you weren’t wrong about me. You’re right. I’m scared. I need control, so please, if you find anything out, tell me.»
Satoru steps closer and rests a surprisingly cool hand on his forearm. «You have nothing to be afraid of, Suguru. If anything happens, I’ll be there to protect you.»
«Sure you will. You Feds only show up once there’s a body, but at night, in my house, it’s just me and my son. Everyone in town knows that. If the killer’s from Rowena, they could just walk in and—»
«Suguru.» Satoru cuts him off. «I promise you, that monster won’t come near you or your kid.»
The omega exhales sharply. «Easy to make promises you can’t keep.»
«I’ll prove it.» and with that, Gojo really does have to get back to headquarters.
***
That evening, Suguru is making dinner when someone rings the doorbell. He goes to answer, thinking it’s Kuroi, but through the peephole he recognizes the figure of agent Gojo.
«What brings you here? Did something happen?» he asks, letting him in.
«No, I just came to check on you and your kid. I brought him some candy, I like that little guy.»
Suguru flushes at the federal agent’s words and quickly hides his face behind his hair so he won’t notice.
«You didn’t have to.» he mutters, shutting the front door behind them.
«Hey, I promised you wouldn’t be alone. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be a mother, but I understand why you’re scared. If this makes you feel better, I’m glad to help.» he flashes him a dazzling smile.
Suguru feels a hollow sensation in his stomach, the same one he gets when he takes Megumi on the rides at the town fair. It’s disorienting because it’s been years since he’s felt that in front of anyone.
«Ah, do you offer door-to-door service, agent? Do you do this for every case of yours?» to protect himself, he throws up his usual wall of sarcasm. He walks past the alpha into the room and returns to the kitchen, where he had been arranging toppings on the pizza dough.
Gojo laughs. «I know what you’re thinking, but I can assure you I’m really here just to put you at ease. If civilians involved in an investigation need support, we agents are encouraged to provide it. You’ve been the Rowena resident who’s cooperated the most with the authorities, so it’s not strange to check in on you now and then. Someone from around here might even see your cooperation as hostile behaviour towards the community.»
Suguru rolls his eyes, but he smiles and doesn’t argue.
Megumi walks into the room, holding a green dinosaur plushie and staring silently at Gojo.
The agent crouches to his level and smiles. «Oh, hey Megumi. Remember me? I’m Satoru.»
«I remember you.» the boy says. «Mommy says you’re an FBI agent.»
«Your mom’s right, I am.»
«Do you like dinosaurs?» he asks him. «Do you have a badge like in the movies? Can I see it? Do you have a gun? Can I see it? Do you guys use lightsabers too?»
«Whoa, okay. Let’s see… yes, I like dinosaurs a lot, yes, I’ve got a badge and you can see it, forget about the gun, and no, sadly, no lightsabers for us. Not yet, anyway.» Then he pauses to pull a pack of gummy candies out of his pocket. «I’ve got something for you, hope you like fruit candy.»
Megumi steps closer, intrigued, and his eyes light up when he sees the candies are dinosaur-shaped. He takes the pack in his hands and starts bouncing with excitement before running to show his mom.
«Mommy! Mommy! Look at the candy Mr. Satoru gave me! They’re shaped like dinosaurs!»
Suguru smiles at his boy and crouches to take a better look. «Oh, those are lovely, so colorful.»
«Can I eat them, Mommy?»
«Of course you can, but after dinner. Now thank agent Gojo for the gift.»
Megumi dashes back to the alpha and hugs his leg. «Thanks!» he exclaims before running off again to put them away.
«I thought he’d be shyer, but he’s pretty outgoing.» Satoru says, nodding toward the door Megumi just ran through.
«He’s just not used to new faces. At first he’s a bit distant, but he warms up pretty quick.» There’s a pause, Suguru tucks his hair behind his ear and clears his throat. «How’d you know he likes dinosaurs?»
«I guessed. When I was his age, I was obsessed with dinosaurs.»
The omega smiles as he slides the pizza tray into the oven.
«Well, since you’re here, want to stay for dinner? Just to make sure we’re doing okay.»
Satoru seems pleased by the offer. «I’d love to. Honestly, I was hoping you’d ask. Inumaki made me pay for dinner for the whole team, and I really wasn’t in the mood for roast beef.»
«Lucky you, I made pizza using Mrs. Cosenza’s recipe. Authentic Italian pizza.»
«Oh really? Well then, it looks like I don’t have much of a choice but to stay for dinner.»
The three of them eat in the kitchen, Megumi firing off question after question about Gojo’s job, and Gojo patiently answers every single one. Suguru learns a lot about him, like how he graduated from Stanford Law School, worked for a year in L.A. as a cop before joining the FBI, and now works at the headquarters of Quantico, in Virginia.
«How old are you, Mr. Satoru?» Megumi asks.
«I’m twenty-eight.»
Megumi gasps in shock, so much so that Satoru jumps, wondering if he said something wrong.
«Wow, you’re super old.»
Suguru bursts out laughing while Satoru pouts.
«Hey! I’m not old at all.»
After dinner, the agent helps Suguru clear the table while Megumi goes to fetch some of his toys. He ropes Gojo into playing with him until his mother finally tells him it’s bedtime.
The alpha stays downstairs while Suguru gets his son ready for the night and puts him to bed.
He glances around, the house is a little cluttered but clean, and Suguru and the boy’s presence is everywhere, in the toys, the magazines, the odds and ends scattered about. There are lots of photos. Family pictures of a younger Suguru, high school shots with friends, his graduation photo where he’s holding his six-month-old baby.
Megumi’s first birthday, his first steps, his first day of preschool, everything is captured on film. Everything but one thing.
There’s no trace of an alpha. Satoru should feel pity for a single mother forced to raise his kid alone, but instead, the realization only sends a sharp thrill straight to his cock.
How fucked up is he for wanting to have sex with a twenty-two-year-old single mom?
«Sorry I took so long. Megumi just wouldn’t settle down for bed.»
Suguru has tied his hair back, but a few strands have slipped free, giving him that effortlessly hot girl look. He’s now wearing lightweight shorts that show off his gorgeous thick, sun-kissed thighs.
Satoru’s mouth waters.
«Thanks for stopping by. Uh… you want a beer? I’ve got this craft beer Sukuna gave me, brewed at a local place nearby.» the omega says, gesturing toward the kitchen. Gojo doesn’t drink, but tonight he’ll make an exception.
«Sure.»
With two beers in hand, they sit out on the porch to enjoy the evening air. They talk about everything but the case, and Suguru, driven by curiosity, asks Satoru more about his life.
«Do you have any pets?»
«Yeah, I’ve got two betta fish. When I’m out of town on a case, my cousin Yuuta takes care of them.»
«Why betta fish?»
«I like them. They’re elegant.»
«But isn’t it risky to keep two in the same tank?»
«Oh yeah, it is. I only found out months after getting them. Luckily, they’re both female, so they’re less aggressive, but I’ve kept them in separate bowls ever since. If I’d known earlier, I’d have gotten just one, but I got attached to Killer and Casper. I couldn’t give them away.»
«Killer and Casper?»
«Yeah, one’s black and the other’s white, so, Killer and Casper . Cool, right?»
Suguru bursts out laughing, leaving Satoru annoyed.
«What’s so funny?»
«Nothing, you’re just… you’re quite the character, huh?»
«I prefer “exceptional,” but yeah, pretty much.» he takes a sip of his beer. It’s actually pretty good, it’s just that he doesn’t like alcohol in general. «What about you guys? I didn’t see any pets around.»
«Oh, no. Megumi’s already more than enough work as it is.» the omega chuckles.
Satoru looks at him. When they first met, he thought Suguru seemed older, but now he sees it. He sees the boy who should be enjoying campus life, worrying about term papers and dances.
«You’ve got a lovely home, you know?»
The omega laughs and gives him a puzzled look. «It’s just a stupid prefab.»
«No, I mean, you can tell it’s full of love and memories. It’s a beautiful place to raise your son.»
Suguru looks down, tilting his head just enough for his bangs to fall back across his face.
«Then you’d better leave before you get the urge to stay.»
«I’m afraid it’s already too late.»
***
Kento and Gojo head to San Angelo Hospital the following day. They argue because Nanami wants to listen to the news while Satoru refuses to change the station as a Tokio Hotel song is playing.
Eventually, they pull into the hospital parking lot, and the white-haired alpha gets a punch to the nose.
«No cameras, no surveillance of any kind. It must’ve been easy for the unsub to overpower the victim. At night, it was unlikely anyone would see.»
Inside the hospital, they talk with a few nurses and the supervising doctor, who escorts them to Stephanie Reid’s office.
«Do you work with a small staff in this hospital?»
«Unfortunately, yes. There’s a serious shortage of personnel. There are few communities in this area, so our hospital isn’t very well-equipped. We only handle minor accidents or emergency first aid, but more serious patients are transferred to Austin.»
«I see. Stephanie Reid was a pediatric nurse, wasn’t she?»
«Exactly. Many children are born around here, but we have a high rate of teenage pregnancies, so most are put into foster care, or families move to bigger cities for the comforts rural communities can't offer.»
«Why so many kids?»
«People get bored, agent.»
«Can we see the medical records of Rowena’s children Nurse Reid personally cared for in the past five years?»
«Rowena? Yes, of course. It’s a small town not far from here. There shouldn’t be too many.»
The two agents begin examining the records. Nothing suspicious seems to stand out, but it’s normal for something to slip by at first glance.
«We should ask Iori to check the fathers’ records for these kids.»
Satoru nods, then sees him pick up the file labeled “Geto” and yanks it from his hands.
«Hey!» Nanami protests.
«I’m thirsty. Would you grab me a cola from the vending machine?»
«What? Get it yourself!»
«My treat.» Gojo pulls out his wallet and puts it right in his partner's hand. «Get yourself a coffee too.»
Nanami gives up arguing and gets up with a huff, determined to buy himself lunch with the alpha’s money.
Satoru opens the file containing Megumi’s birth certificate. Born December 23rd, normal weight and height, normal reflexes, natural birth. Father: unknown.
«Doc,» Satoru approaches the doctor, handing him the file. «We need to check the parents’ records as per protocol. But for this child, the father is listed as unknown.»
The doctor examines the file, then sighs. «Geto, of course, how could I forget. The father isn’t unknown, this was just one of Suguru’s whims. We all know who it is.»
«Which is?»
«Toji Fushiguro. A nasty piece of work, in and out of reform schools all through his teens, always mixed up in some shady business. Now that I think about it, he’s recently come back around here.»
Satoru needs to make a call.
***
Utahime doesn’t take long to dig up Fushiguro Toji’s dirty laundry. His mother was a prostitute, he endured a troubled adolescence bouncing between reform schools and foster homes, and his rap sheet is as long as a Christopher Nolan movie.
«He’s done a bit of everything: bank fraud, drug dealing, identity theft, armed robbery. But the most interesting charge goes back six years ago, when he was accused of breaking and entering. He’d broken into a house he thought was empty, the couple living there was supposed to be away for the weekend. Only, their trip was canceled, and they came face to face with the burglar. That night, they were killed. Guess how?»
«Strangled.»
«Bingo.»
«He never went to prison for that crime?»
«No, he was acquitted and the case was filed as unsolved. Someone testified in his favor and gave him an alibi.»
«Who?»
«Suguru Geto.»
***
Mei and Yaga go to pick up Fushiguro to take him to the station, they find him in the studio apartment he rented, in a town just an hour away from Rowena.
They don’t tell him why he’s being held, but the man seems calm, actually, accustomed to it all.
Gojo is furious. He tries to stay composed, but his nonverbal cues don’t go unnoticed by the team.
He enters the interrogation room and slams the crime scene photos on the table, the ones not released to the public, the images of the mutilated bodies abandoned in the desert.
Fushiguro looks at them impassively.
«Well?» the white-haired alpha asks, pressing him to talk.
Fushiguro stares for a moment, then leans back in his chair. He’s handcuffed to the table, so he can’t move much.
«I’d say these guys don’t look so good.»
Gojo slams his hand hard on the table, but the suspect doesn’t seem fazed, if anything, he’s almost amused.
«Is this a joke to you? Three people are dead, and we have reason to believe you’re the one responsible. We’ll see how much you laugh when they throw you on death row.»
«Why do you think it was me?»
«Because they’re all somehow connected to your son’s mother.» Satoru picks up three photos, each showing one of the victims, and puts them in front of him. «His high school history teacher, who helped him get a scholarship to UT, the woman who raised funds through the church to support your child’s upbringing, and the nurse who attended the birth. Add to that the endless list of crimes you’ve already committed and your textbook sociopath profile, it’s enough to throw you behind bars.»
«Is that all? You don’t even have solid proof against me. This story won’t hold up in court.»
«You’re right, that’s not enough. But that’s not the only thing we have on you, we also know it’s not the first time you’ve killed someone.» Toji raises an eyebrow at him, and Gojo pulls out photos from another crime scene. «Six years ago, George and Mary Carter, strangled in their home after a robbery gone wrong.»
«I didn’t kill them. I didn’t kill anyone there. I was acquitted because I had an alibi.»
«Your alibi was a sixteen-year-old boy you manipulated, got pregnant, and then left?»
There’s a spark in Toji’s eyes. For a split second, it looks like he might actually leap at Satoru’s throat. But it lasts only a moment before he composes himself.
«Like it or not, it wasn’t me. Not now, not six years ago. Ask Suguru, he’ll confirm again what happened that night. As for these murders in the Cinn, you speak as if I hated my son, as if I blamed him for something, but that’s not true.»
«I think you’re mad at Geto for keeping the kid and, unable to hurt your son’s mother directly, you started killing everyone who tried to help him.»
«Megumi.»
«What?»
«My son’s name is Megumi. You know what it means? It means “blessing.” And do you know who chose that name? It was me. Suguru never wanted to legally recognize me as the boy’s father, but he gave our son the name I picked out for him. That’s to tell you I’m not trying to defend myself, I’m the worst father and alpha those two could ask for, but Megumi is the greatest blessing of my life, I truly love him. The only reason I keep coming back to this dump of a town is because of him.»
«You think a tearjerker speech will clear you?»
«Of course not, my innocence and the lack of evidence will clear me, officer. If you have doubts, bring the omega and the kid here. They’ll do everything to defend me.»
Gojo leaves the interrogation room. Waiting for him outside, behind the one-way glass, there's Yaga, who shoots him a stern look.
«You overdid it.» he warns him.
«He won’t confess.»
«He’s not the killer.»
«What?»
«Even though some aspects match the profile, he doesn’t seem like someone who kills for revenge. If these were murders for money or from a scuffle, he could be our guy. But here, there’s a deep hatred born from resentment. That guy in there is a piece of shit, but he doesn’t seem resentful.»
Satoru doesn’t answer. At that moment, a small group of police officers returns to the station, bringing Suguru, handcuffed.
One of the officers approaches and grabs a lock of his hair between his fingers. «Let’s see if you still have the guts to defend your alpha.»
«Toji isn’t my alpha.» the boy wriggles, trying to shake his hands off.
He laughs. «Sure. I’ve always thought you were a slut, after all, what else can you call someone who gets pregnant at sixteen? If you didn’t have Fushiguro’s protection, half the city would’ve jumped you already.»
The officer is grabbed and violently thrown backward. Gojo looms over him, staring with his frightening blue eyes.
«Try even thinking about something like that again, and tomorrow there will also be your body in the desert.»
«Okay, Gojo, enough now.» Yaga grabs him by the arm, stopping him from getting closer to the officer.
«Satoru, what’s going on?» Suguru’s voice breaks through his focus. The omega’s eyes are watery. «They came to take me from my home, in front of Megumi who was crying.»
«I’m sorry, Suguru. It will all be sorted.»
«We just need to ask him a few questions,» Yaga cuts in. «take off his handcuffs and bring him to the sheriff’s office,» he orders the officers who, still terrified of Gojo, obey without protest.
«I have to go with him.» the white-haired alpha says, but once again, he’s stopped.
«No, Gojo. You need to calm down. I’ll send Ieiri and Inumaki to interrogate him. You go back to the hotel. It’s clear you can’t work in this state.»
«But I have to—»
«That’s an order, Gojo.»
Satoru can’t argue, so he grabs his jacket and leaves the station, with his chest heavy.
Shoko enters the room where Suguru has been taken, followed by Toge, who offers him a cup of coffee and a bottle of water.
«Thanks.» he says, accepting them. «Where’s my son?»
«He’s just outside with Mrs. Kuroi, they’re waiting for you. We’re sorry about how you were taken.»
«It’s not your fault, it’s those pig cops. I bet they were just waiting for an excuse like this.»
«Suguru, are you willing to answer some questions?»
«Will you let me go back to Megumi afterward?»
«As soon as we’re done. It won’t take more than twenty minutes.»
«Alright, fine.»
«What’s your relationship with Fushiguro Toji?»
«He’s my son’s father.»
«Do you see him often?»
«Not as much as I should. He’s very absent, disappears for months without explanation, then suddenly shows up again trying to make amends.»
«Does Megumi know him?»
«Yes, he knows he’s his father. To be honest, he loves him like crazy. If he weren’t so close to him, I would’ve cut ties a long time ago.»
«Are you aware of his criminal record?»
«Yes, unfortunately. I’ve gotten calls from prison more than once in recent years.»
«We know that six years ago you testified in his favor in court and your alibi allowed him to be acquitted of a double murder charge.»
«Yes, that’s right.»
«Was your alibi verified? Was he with you that night?»
«Yes, that’s why he was cleared, because the alibi I provided was solid.»
«Did you have proof?»
«Yes, my proof is five years old.» Suguru says, Ieiri and Inumaki exchange puzzled looks. «My father was an alcoholic. It wasn’t the first time he spent our savings on getting drunk, and it wasn’t the first time I was left without money to buy my suppressants. I was going through heat without medication, so I called Toji for help. He stayed with me for a week.
The house where the couple was murdered was at least an hour’s drive from Rowena. He couldn’t have been away that long from an omega in heat he was nurturing without getting sick. That time, I got pregnant and had Megumi, so the jury had no doubts. Did you see them side by side? My son is his spitting image.»
Shoko notes down what Suguru says in a notebook and nods.
«Alright, one last question. More of an opinion, really.»
«What is it?»
«Do you think Fushiguro Toji could have committed the murders?»
Suguru sighs and leans back in his chair.
«If you’re asking whether I think Toji is capable of killing, the answer is I don’t know. I believe that man is capable of anything for the right amount of money. I can’t even say he wouldn’t hurt anyone because he’s been involved in way too many fights to claim that.
But this… the man who did those things is sick. A sadist. Toji has many flaws, but he’s not that twisted, and above all, he has a strange moral code, he would never hurt women or omegas. I’m sure of that. Senseless and unprovoked violence isn’t in his nature. So no, Toji isn’t the man you’re looking for, I swear on my life.»
«Alright, thank you, Suguru. You’ve been very helpful.»
***
At the hotel, Satoru took a cold shower and tried every way to let his anger cool down.
He called Shoko, who told him that Fushiguro Toji was no longer a suspect, but they would hold him for seventy-two hours to carry out further checks. Then he asked about Suguru, and she said he had gone to Dusty's for the evening shift.
Satoru shows up in front of the bar at closing time and seed the omega heading toward the parking lot with the cook.
The cook, Sukuna, a tall, broad alpha covered in tattoos, stares at him while holding Suguru close.
«Everything’s fine, Sukuna,» the omega says. «he’s an FBI agent, he’s a good guy.»
«Sure, Geto? I can kick his ass in five minutes if I need to.»
«I’m sure, he’s a good person. You can go home without worries.»
Sukuna doesn't look convinced but gives in and walks away to get into his car. As he leaves the parking lot, Suguru looks at him.
«I’m sorry about what happened today. The way they treated you and the things they said… it’s awful.»
Suguru shrugs and shakes his head like he's telling him not to worry. «It’s nothing. I know what they think of me in town, it’s no big deal. I was just a bit scared for Megumi, that’s all, but he calmed down quickly. Now he’s with Kuroi.»
«Good, I’m glad. Um… I came to tell you that Fushiguro isn’t a suspect anymore, but they’ll still keep him for seventy-two hours for checks.»
Suguru rolls his eyes. «Figures. He’s used to it. He’ll be fine.»
They stay silent for a while, the wind picking up and Suguru’s hair fluttering around his face. He’s beautiful, in the dumbest way possible, like the girls in Hollywood movies. The omega crosses his arms over his chest.
«Are you cold?» Satoru asks him.
«No, I’m just tired.»
«I get it, it’s been a long day.»
«Endless. You have no idea.» He rubs his face and sighs.
«I promise that when we catch him, all of this will be just a bad memory.»
«Mmh, yeah .» Suguru leans against his car and looks up at the alpha. «I don’t need your promises.»
«Don’t? Then what do you need?»
«A cold beer, a cigarette, and a good fuck.»
«Okay, that’s a lot to ask on the spot, and I don’t have alcohol or cigarettes on me.»
«Then you’re useless.» Suguru starts to walk away, but the agent grabs him by the waist and pulls him close. It’s unexpected, and the omega almost lost his balance, so he has to put his hands on Satoru’s chest — it’s firm and warm, and Suguru wants to lean into it.
«Maybe there’s something I can give you,» he says, leaning in a bit toward him.
«Yeah?» Suguru asks, but it’s rhetorical because right after, Satoru leans in to press their lips together.
Satoru kisses well, possessive just enough to make Suguru’s head spin. The black-haired omega wraps his hands around his neck and presses his body against his, making clear he wants him with the same intensity as they kiss in the dark parking lot of Dusty’s.
When they part, their lips are swollen and their breaths a bit short, but Satoru still holds him firmly against himself and doesn't seem ready to let go.
«There’s a motel not far from here.» he says, looking at him with those amber fox-like eyes. «It’s a shabby place with heavy curtains and rough sheets, but the locks work and the beds are wide enough.»
Satoru almost moans.
The motel is truly as shabby as Suguru said, and the sheets are really rough against his skin. But it’s cleaner than he expected, and honestly, he isn't in a position to complain.
Suguru makes him lie down on the bed and straddles him, Satoru’s hands slide under his shirt and caress his hips, savoring the feel of his soft skin beneath his fingers.
Suguru rubs against his cock, but there are too many clothes in between, and that’s starting to irritate his alpha.
With slow movements, he pulls Suguru’s shirt off and slides it over his head. The omega’s hair fall onto his chest and shoulders, his lips are swollen and glossy, cheeks slightly flushed. Satoru is sure he had seen this exact image in a painting before.
He wraps an arm around his waist and pulls him closer to kiss his neck.
«Hey, no marks.» Suguru scolds him, putting his hands on the alpha’s shoulders but without pushing him away.
Satoru grunts in response but still makes an effort not to leave visible marks on Suguru’s beautiful skin.
Meanwhile, the omega fiddles with the belt of his pants and unfastens them just enough to slip a hand inside and pull out his cock.
It’s thick and warm, he grips it tightly, making the alpha moan.
Satoru slips a hand into Suguru’s jeans, caresses his ass, and pulls down his panties, shifting the fabric so the friction rubs directly on his clit.
«I want to suck it.» Suguru whispers in his ear, sending a shiver down his spine. Satoru makes him get off the bed, and the omega kneels before him.
He spreads his legs and masturbates while the other presses his lips on the tip, getting them wet with pre-cum that drips obscenely down his chin.
Satoru could come right there on this boy’s perfect face, but he has a reputation to keep, so he holds back. Suguru makes it really hard because he parts his lips and swallows more than half his dick without breaking eye contact.
Satoru feels his skin burning like he has a fever, and the slow ceiling fan does little to help.
Suguru sucks him off like a slut, teasing him with his tongue and making him even harder, so much that he feels tensing up against his lips.
Then he pulls away with a wet sound and brushes his bangs from his forehead. «My goal was to make you come before fucking, but at your age, I don’t know if you last more than one round.»
Satoru raises an eyebrow. «I’m not that old.»
«You’re thirty.»
«I’m twenty-eight.»
«That’s practically thirty.»
The alpha tucks his hair behind his head, keeping it away from his face with one hand while the other adjusts his cock back between his lips. Suguru plays with it, sticking his tongue out to lick the tip and gently suck the head.
«Okay, you’re in a joking mood. Fine. Swallow everything like a good girl, and I’ll show you how many rounds I can do.»
Suguru accepts the challenge and wraps his warm mouth around the length. It takes him three minutes to make Satoru come, as promised. He swallows his cum and finds it surprisingly sweet, this is the semen of a man who eats fruits and veggies with every meal, takes supplements, and doesn't smoke. Very rare around there.
With a low moan, the alpha falls back on the bed clutching the base of his cock. Suguru takes off his jeans and panties, now completely soaked and useless, and tries to climb back up to straddle him, but Satoru flips their positions, and the omega finds himself pressed against the mattress in no time.
Suguru moans.
«Alright, you were good. Now relax and let me take care of you.»
He strips off his clothes because he prefers fucking naked and leans over the omega, who spreads his legs to let him settle in the middle.
Satoru puts a hand on his belly and presses lightly, Suguru whimpers and squirms, his hand sliding down to his mound and pressing his clit just enough to make him shiver while feeling slick dripping from his hole.
Satoru stroks his entrance with a finger and pushes gently, being fully swallowed by his soft walls. He’s incredibly wet, and he lets out a moan when Satoru touches him.
«You’re very sensitive. Maybe because you’re still so young, tender like a lamb.»
«A bit pervert to say to someone you’re about to ruin.»
«Why ruin? Baby, I’m about to make you shine with all the orgasms I’m going to give you.»
Satoru adds a second finger, his hands are big, and his fingers long and thick compared to Suguru’s. He doesn't often get fucked with fingers other than his own, Toji prefers using his cock and he hasn't had many relationships since Megumi was born.
Suguru meets him halfway with thrusts, moving his hips, moaning loudly without caring who might hear beyond the thin drywall. The alpha watches him hypnotized as he fucked himself on his fingers — if he acts like this now, what will he do when he gets the real deal?
Suguru digs his nails into Satoru’s arm, he sucks on his fingers to taste the omega’s slick, and his alpha inside lets out a satisfied growl.
He lets Suguru rest while he rummages in his bag and pulls out condoms, there are three of them — a bit few, but enough. He unwraps one and rolls it down his length.
Suguru turns on his side, holding a hand on his wet, throbbing pussy. Satoru makes him lie face down and slips a pillow under his stomach so that his ass stays up.
«Is it okay if I mount you?» he asks, stroking his thighs and spreading the wet lips of his pussy.
«Everything’s fine, just put it in now. I need it.»
Satoru doesn’t need to be told twice, he pushes into Suguru all the way to the base, making the omega tremble with pleasure. The way his walls stretch around his dick is perfect — he feels completely full, warm, satisfied. Satoru fucks him hard, hitting a spot inside Suguru that makes his eyes roll back and drool spill onto the sheets. He screams at how Satoru’s cock makes him feel, rubbing against the ends of his nerves and driving him to the edge.
He makes him come on his cock while mounting him. He fucks him laying on the side, holding one of his legs up and kissing him like they’re lovers. He takes it slow, letting Suguru’s greedy cunt swallow every inch, then rougher, filling the room with the wet sounds of their bodies and their moans.
He fucks him on his back while sucking his nipples, watching him twist and writhe, his face flushed and shining with sweat.
In the end, he comes in the condom while still buried deep inside him, then collapses onto the mattress, breathless, with his thigh muscles burning.
Tomorrow, his knees will be shot. Maybe Suguru was right, he really is getting old.
He nearly drifts off as Suguru gets out of bed and starts getting dressed. He slips on his jeans, his shirt, and picks his bag up off the floor.
«What are you doing? Get back here and sleep a bit.» Satoru mumbles drowsily.
Suguru laughs. «You wish. I’ve got to go pick Megumi up from Kuroi’s place and put him to bed. She’s gonna hate me for being this late.»
Satoru sits up, watching him rake his fingers through his hair in a poor attempt to hide the “just had wild motel sex” look, but there’s no helping to his swollen lips and the hard nipples visible beneath his t-shirt.
«Do you always leave right after sex?» Satoru asks from the doorway as Suguru’s already out in the hall.
The omega laughs. «I never sleep in the same bed as an alpha. Don’t take it personally, okay?»
He turns to walk down the hallway while Satoru watches him leaving, still barefoot and in his boxers. Only when he reaches the top of the stairs another figure step out to greet him in the darkness.
Suguru startles.
Choso’s face is pale in the moonlight, but his eyes gleam like stars.
«Choso, God… you scared me.»
«Sorry, Suguru. I didn’t mean to.»
«No, it’s fine. I forgot you lived her.,» the omega replies, relieved to see a familiar face.
Choso had moved to Rowena only a few years ago and had been living at the motel ever since. Part of his rent he covers with maintenance work, the rest comes straight out of his paycheck as a mechanic.
The young man looks at Suguru first, then down the hall at the open door spilling light across the carpet and the half-naked figure of agent Gojo.
The omega glances back at Satoru, then at Choso again. The man just shakes his head with a faint smile and walks past him.
«Don’t worry, I didn’t see a thing.»
Suguru exhales and smiles back. «Thanks, Choso. Beer’s on me at Dusty’s anytime.»
Choso waves a hand dismissively, as if to say it’s nothing, and disappears through the door of his room.
***
Toji is released by the authorities earlier than expected. He hasn’t gotten into trouble for a while, he’s been keeping his head down, he even has a proper contract with the construction company he’s working for. He’s with other laborers building a new mall north of the desert, and for once, he’s not being paid under the table to do shady work.
Suguru hadn’t expected to see him walk into Dusty’s so soon, but he’s not all that surprised either.
Megumi is with him that day, sitting behind the counter while his mother works, focused on his latest masterpiece — a green T-Rex with teeth far too big. His tongue sticks out in concentration, brows furrowed as he scrubs the colored pencil across the page.
«Hey, kid.» Toji says, catching his son’s attention. Suguru pretends not to see him.
«Daddy!» the boy exclaims, hopping off the stool and running to his father, who scoops him up effortlessly and plants a kiss on his cheek.
«How’s my champ doing?»
«Good! I’m drawing a T-Rex!» Megumi wriggles out of his arms and stretches across the counter to grab his paper. «Look, Daddy, do you like it?»
Toji studies the page with exaggerated focus. «Wow, it’s so good it could be a photograph.»
He laughs, and Megumi laughs along with him.
Suguru bites the inside of his cheek, pretending to focus on drying a glass. He stays silent.
«I brought you something.» the alpha says, fishing in his jeans pocket and pulling out a small plastic package. Inside there's a cheap toy dinosaur.
Megumi’s eyes light up. «A triceratops!» he shouts. «Thanks, Daddy!»
Toji watches him, pleased, then lets him down and shifts his gaze to Suguru behind the counter. «No lecture today about me spoiling him too much?»
Suguru shoots him a deadly look, the kind that reminds him of his middle school math teacher. «You’d spoil him less if you remembered to come around more often.»
Megumi, absorbed in his new toy, doesn’t catch the sharp edge in his mother’s voice. Toji does though. He tilts his head, a half-smile tugging at his lips, more teasing than anything.
«I’m staying clean,» he says, leaning an elbow on the counter. «legit job, legit contract. I even got a pay stub, if you can believe it. The cops let me out in just twelve hours this time.»
«What do you want, a round of applause?» Suguru fires back, not looking at him, wiping down the counter.
Toji rolls his eyes and takes a seat next to his son. Megumi seizes the chance to show off all his artwork.
They’re mostly drawings of dinosaurs, though a few feature characters from his favorite cartoons, and some include just him and his mom.
But in some of them, there are three people. «Who’s this?» Toji asks, pointing to a slender figure Megumi’s colored in black, drawn holding a gun.
«That’s Mr. Satoru, he’s a real FBI agent. Did you know he has a badge just like in the movies and a real gun for bad guys?»
«Is that so?» Toji asks, not really at him. He’s looking at Suguru.
«Yeah! He showed me his badge. He said I couldn’t see the gun though, but he’s got his own!»
«Mr. Satoru’s a friend of Mom’s, right, Gumi?»
«Toji, stop.» the omega cuts in, but he just glances at him and turns back to his son.
«Yeah, I think so. Mommy makes extra food for him sometimes, and he comes over at night to make sure we’re okay.»
«Megumi, why don’t you go to the kitchen and ask Sukuna if there’s any chocolate cake left, so he can give you a slice?»
«The one with the crunchy sprinkles?»
«That’s the one.»
Megumi’s a simple kid, and more importantly, he’s got a sweet tooth, so he doesn’t need to be told twice. He dashes toward the kitchen door, yelling for the chef at the top of his lungs.
Once he’s out of earshot, Suguru turns back to Toji.
«What the hell is your problem?»
The man laughs, leaning his forearms on the counter. «My problem? I’d say you’re the one who decided to cozy up to the FBI’s newest arrival. A fed, Suguru? Seriously? I thought you had better taste. Fell for the badge, huh? Can’t really blame you…»
«Cut it out, nothing happened.» he lies.
Toji must know, or at least sense it, because he leans across the counter and grabs Suguru’s face in his hand. His fingers are thick and rough against the omega’s soft, smooth skin.
«You’re a terrible liar, you know that? Nothing to be ashamed of anyway, everyone already knows you’re a slut.»
«Go to hell.»
«Already there. Your little friend nearly got me fired from the construction job.»
«That’s what you’re worried about? You were a murder suspect.»
«Wonder why. Maybe someone put weird ideas in their heads, sold them a story about me being some kind of serial killer.»
«Don’t be ridiculous. You know I’ve always had your back. Then and now. I wouldn’t do something like that to Megumi. The last thing he needs is his deadbeat father thrown on death row for killing three people.»
«Alright, alright. Let’s say I believe you.» Toji finally releases him. «Have fun playing cops and robbers with your FBI buddy, but remember, when this is over, your friend’s hopping on a plane back to Virginia, and you won’t see him again.»
«So what? Like I care…»
«I know you, Suguru. You always hope they’ll stay, but in the end, they all leave. You’re twenty-two, you should’ve learned that by now. Who’s still around?»
Suguru hates that Toji’s right.
***
«This is all the documentation I had on the victims, but it’s not much. Birth certificates, notarial deeds, I’ve even got a speeding ticket… but nothing significant. They were just ordinary people.» Sheriff Zen’in sets the boxes down on the table. Inside them is the sum of the lives of the three people murdered in Rowena over the past month and a half.
Inumaki picks up a file and flips through it, it contains documents regarding a property transfer for a house María Gutiérrez had inherited.
Gojo looks around the storage room where documents and evidence from closed or archived cases are kept. It’s mostly just piles of paperwork.
He glances at a container labeled “Byrons Case – 1999”, lifts the lid, and finds a stack of VHS tapes inside.
«Sheriff, what are these?»
Zen’in steps closer to take a look and read the name on the label.
«Oh, the Byrons case. That was handled by the sheriff before me. It’s a closed case, all charges were dropped.»
«What was it about?»
«Byrons was the janitor at Mrs. Kuroi’s dance school. He was very close to the kids who attended, um… he was accused of harassment. The police investigated, he had a few tapes of the children’s recitals, but he claimed he recorded them because those kids were like his own. Since nothing incriminating was found, he was cleared and the case was closed. Unfortunately, no one returned to the dance school after that, and it had to shut down.»
«Why didn’t we question Mr. Byrons?»
«He died years ago in a house fire. He and his wife owned a farm outside Rowena, but they went to church in town.»
«Mind if I take a look at these tapes?»
«Well, sure. But you’ll only find recordings of some recitals.»
«I’d like to check them anyway. At this point, let’s rule nothing out.»
Inumaki turns to look at him but stays silent as Gojo goes off to find a VHS player.
He locates one in the interrogation room and spends a good ten minutes figuring out how it works before finally getting the video to play.
The screen flashes white, then slowly, shapes start to take form. The footage shows a wide, bright room decorated with cheap streamers and a hand-painted banner that reads Spring Recital 1999.
A small audience of Rowena locals, mostly parents, is seated in front of a group of students lined up for the recital.
There are barely ten of them, all ages mixed. Some little girls look no older than five, while others are in their early teens. And then there’s Suguru — judging by the video, he must be thirteen or fourteen.
Classical music starts playing faintly in the background, the audio is terrible, but Gojo recognizes the melody. The little girls are clumsy, often losing their timing, but they’re giving it their all, adorable in their pink costumes.
Suguru is the tallest, standing in the back row with the older students. Gojo can’t see him clearly, but even in the grainy footage, he can pick out the familiar stray lock of hair falling over his forehead.
His movements are fluid and elegant, following the rhythm better than anyone else, effortless as breathing.
The video shifts to the omega performing a solo. He’s visibly younger, unpolished compared to now, but his movements are mesmerizing, imbued with a natural grace no lesson could ever teach.
There’s no awkwardness, no hesitation, not even a flicker of uncertainty. Just a boy who, for a fleeting moment, looks like a living flame trapped in a glass jar.
The song ends, and so does the performance. The audience erupts into loud applause, and even a few whistles can be heard.
Suguru’s smile shines brilliantly as he bows, then Kuroi joins him and pulls him into a hug before the footage cuts to static.
Satoru takes the tape, rewinds it with a pencil, slips it into his jacket pocket, and by the end of the day, he takes it home with him.
***
«Mommy, will you tell me a story?»
«Of course, what story do you want to hear?»
Megumi is in his bed, wearing his Spider-Man pajamas and clutching a stuffed toy in his arms. Suguru is sitting next to him, the bedside lamp still on because the kid won’t admit he’s afraid of the dark, but insists at least one light must stay lit in case his mother needs him.
«The salamander story.»
«The salamander story? Alright, okay.
Once upon a time, there was a very, very hungry salamander with an enormous belly that never seemed to be full. One day, he decided to try to quench its hunger and began eating the entire world: he devoured the mountains, the forests, the seas and rivers. It swallowed up the cities, the roads, and even the sky.
In the end, when there was almost nothing left, the salamander looked up and saw the moon. “It’s so big,” he thought, “if I eat that, maybe I’ll finally be satisfied.” He opened his mouth and tried to swallow the moon, but as soon as he bit into it, the moon exploded into a thousand glowing fragments like fireworks, falling down to earth.
Over time, from those pieces of the moon, the mountains, seas, rivers, roads, and cities were reborn. Even the salamander was born again, and one day he woke up with a terrible hunger.»
«And then?» Megumi asks, his eyes shining in the lamplight.
Suguru smiles, brushing a hand through his messy hair. «And then the salamander started all over again. He went back to eating the world, piece by piece.»
The boy furrows his brow, taking a long minute to think over the story his mother just told him. «But why? Didn’t he learn his lesson?»
«That’s just how he was, sweetheart. He couldn’t stop.»
«But the world never ended?»
«No, even if it was destroyed, it always built itself back up again.»
Megumi yawns and sinks into his pillow, his eyelids heavy, struggling to stay open.
«Mommy,» he murmurs just before drifting off to sleep. «you’re my favorite piece of moon.»
Suguru smiles and kisses his cheek, then, careful not to make a sound, slips out of his son’s room.
He takes the opportunity to tidy up the living room, put away Megumi’s toys, and wash the dinner dishes. He doesn’t always have time for housework, he tries to keep the place clean but can’t quite manage to keep it neat as well. Kuroi is an angel, she helps when she can, but Suguru hates asking too much from her. She already watches Megumi every day while he’s at work.
He’s putting the clean dishes back in the cupboard when someone knocks on the door. Suguru’s grateful they didn’t ring the bell, or Megumi would’ve woken up, but he also wonders who could be at the door at this hour.
Through the peephole, he recognizes officer Gojo.
He opens the door.
«Satoru, did something happen?» he asks, worried, his hand tightening around the doorframe.
The alpha stands there, shirt sleeves rolled up to his forearms and his loosened tie hanging against his chest.
«Everything’s fine.» he reassures him. «It’s just that I couldn’t sleep, and then I found this.»
He lifts a VHS tape and shows it to Suguru from the unlabeled side, so the omega just stares at it blankly.
«What is it?»
«A recording of an old dance recital. You, at thirteen, in white tights. I got myself a VHS player and watched it.»
Suguru goes pale, nausea twisting his stomach. «You… what? Are you completely out of your mind?» he hisses, pushing him inside and shutting the door behind them, terrified a neighbor might peek out and see them standing around in the doorway at this hour. «Where did you get that? Who gave you permission?»
«It was in the sheriff’s archives, an old case from ten years ago. I watched it because I wanted to understand you better.»
«Understand me? Isn’t what you see enough?» his dark brows arch over those golden eyes, fury blazing in them. He’s absolutely livid with Gojo right now. «You had no right to dig through my past.»
The alpha steps closer, dangerously reducing the distance between them, so much so that Suguru can catch his scent, usually faint from suppressants.
«I can’t help wanting to know more. I watched you move in that video and all I could think was how—»
«Careful how you finish that sentence.»
Gojo smirks, tilting his head slightly. «—perfect you were. Graceful. And completely wasted here.»
Suguru lets out a bitter laugh. «You don’t know a damn thing about me.»
«I know enough.» the alpha grabs his wrist, stopping him from pulling away. «I know you were smart and full of dreams. I know you danced like the devil himself was in the room, and I know you gave it all up. Why?»
«Why? Because I’m a mother, that’s why.»
«Being a mother doesn’t strip away who you are, Suguru. You’re still the kid who earned a college scholarship and who dances better than anyone I’ve ever met.»
«What the hell do you know about what it means to be a mother, huh?» Suguru takes a deep breath, he can’t risk yelling and waking his son. «Maybe Mr. Perfect doesn’t realize it, since you grew up in L.A., blowing daddy’s money between frat parties at Stanford and spring breaks in Cape Cod, but it’s different here.
Here, if you’re born an omega, you’re expected to keep your head down, stay quiet, and marry the first alpha who looks at you twice, like they’re doing you a favor. God forbid you want more.
Do you know what it’s like growing up in a town like Rowena? Where every Sunday they drag you to church, and you’re forced to listen to the pastor talk about purity and sin? And if you get pregnant at sixteen, everyone looks at you like your life’s over. You know what it’s like having all eyes on you, hearing people whisper your name the second you turn the corner?
I do, because I was the one sitting in the back of the church with a growing belly, listening to sermons about “redemption” and trying not to cry. And the alpha who knocked you up? He’s just an alpha, after all. He’s got needs, nothing to blame him for. But you? Oh, you’re just a whore.
So no, Gojo. You weren’t the one dragging a drunk father off the porch, scrubbing his vomit out of the carpet. You weren’t there the day I called an ambulance because he wouldn’t wake up, or when they cremated him because I couldn’t even afford his fucking funeral. You weren’t here. You weren’t the one left alone in the world.»
Suguru wants to cry, but it’s been years since he’s shed tears. His eyes glisten anyway, and it wouldn’t take much for him to break.
Satoru sets his hands on Suguru’s shoulders, really looking at him, as if he’s trying to wordlessly make him understand something. Something deep, aching, but startlingly gentle.
«Listen,» he starts. «I know what you think of me, okay? And honestly, you’re right. You’re fucking right, I’m exactly the spoiled rich kid you said I was. Back in college, I never skipped a single party, and I can’t remember a year my spring break wasn’t at Cape Cod.
But I’ve seen my fair share of shit too, alright? You’re not the first small-town omega teen mom I’ve met, and Fushiguro’s not the first dickhead alpha who didn’t realize what a treasure he had, but — seriously, damn it Suguru, listen to me for once — you can do this.
Your talent, your brains, your grit, they can take you so far. This is proof of it. And I don’t even need to tell you your sheer beauty could get you out of this hole, because you wouldn’t believe me, but it’s true. You say you’ve got no one? I say you’ve got no chains holding you back, nothing keeping you here. So why are you still curled up in this pit?»
«What do you expect me to do? Drop everything, move to some big city, hope to land a decent job that’ll support my kid and pay my tuition? Pray the world’s kind to me just once and I don’t end up homeless?»
«I’m saying you’ve got options, okay? That you can still be the person you dreamed of becoming when you were thirteen. Pregnancy isn’t a disease, you’re not some kind of condemned man. You still have time.»
«You know what I think? I think you’re one of those sick perverts with a savior complex, the kind who crawls into every omega’s bed in your cases, promising them protection and stability. It turns you on to see how desperate and starved for affection we are, you use them to get off and then you leave.
Because that’s what you do. That’s what you will do. You’ll leave when this is over, go back to your apartment in Washington with your betta fish and maybe you’ll think of me once or twice while you jerk off, but then another case will come along and you’ll find another omega begging to be saved.»
«You think that’s what you are to me? Some kind of sexual perversion? Just a way to get me off?»
«Yeah, and I’ll tell you this too: to me you’re just sex. You could be a dildo with legs and it wouldn’t make any difference.»
Satoru shoves him back until Suguru’s pressed against the couch, the alpha looming over him, gripping his face and forcing him to look up. The black-haired omega feels his cheeks burn, both from anger and from how close the agent is.
«You’re a terrible liar, has anyone ever told you that?» Satoru’s other hand tangles in Suguru’s long hair, tugging just enough to annoy him without hurting, forcing his head to tilt back but not his neck. «It wasn’t just sex when you were crying on my dick the other night.
You want to be that tough guy you think you are, but the truth is you’re a pathetic mess who’s been waiting for a real alpha his whole life. Someone to take care of you and your kid, someone to fuck you at night in the same bed where you wake up side by side in the morning.
Cereal and orange juice for breakfast, Sundays at the park, family gatherings, dinner at a restaurant on Valentine’s Day, red roses for your birthday. That’s what you want, fuck, you want to be a proper omega for once and stop playing the man of the house. You want to see it, Suguru? You want to see what it’s like to have a real alpha take care of you until you forget everything else?»
Gojo’s knee is planted firmly between the omega’s thighs, keeping him pinned, stopping him from slipping away. Suguru stares at him, gives in, sliding down just enough to squeeze his leg between his thighs. His cheeks flush crimson, his palms slick with sweat as he clutches Satoru’s shirt tight.
There’s a moment where they both just stare, like they’re no longer in control of their own bodies, like their minds have floated out of them and are just waiting to see what happens next.
And it’s instinct, pure alpha and omega instinct. No matter how stubborn they are, they can’t fight the pull of their pheromones mixing, calling them to each other.
Suguru can’t explain why he’s so insanely attracted to Gojo Satoru, he only knows every cell in his body is begging to be claimed by him. He wants him so badly it’s humiliating to even admit it.
«You’re an asshole.»
«You want me so bad you’re losing your mind.»
Satoru kisses him. There’s no gentleness in it, only urgency and raw desire. His hands grip his flesh hard enough to leave marks.
But Suguru doesn’t care, because Satoru’s right. He’s always right about him. He’s an omega who’s had to play alpha his whole life and all he wants is someone to fuck him stupid, take care of him and his kid, and offer him a better life.
God, anything would be better than this shitty hole he’s in now. Enough that he’s willing to fall for the false promises of a foreign alpha who swears he understands him, will protect him, maybe even love him.
Suguru moans when Satoru bites his lower lip, fingers threading into his white hair, silky strands slipping between them. He tugs, just enough to tease, to make him fight for control if he wants it.
He only stops when the alpha tries to undress him.
«Not here. If Megumi wakes up and comes looking for me, he’ll see us. Let’s go to my room.»
Satoru growls low in his chest but agrees, letting himself be led upstairs to Suguru’s room.
It’s cozy, with a double bed, a lamp casting a soft glow, and a wardrobe. That’s all Satoru registers before Suguru starts stripping for him, and suddenly it’s hard to focus on anything else.
He kisses him again, deep, like his mouth wants nothing but the omega’s, tasting him like something decadent, swallowing every moan and sigh like they’re his sustenance.
Suguru’s skin is warm, bare against his own. Satoru fumbles his clothes off, tossing them somewhere on the floor by the bed.
His hand strokes Suguru’s hips and thighs, teasing until it cups his slick, dripping cunt, throbbing with anticipation like a starved slut.
They break for breath, Suguru’s chest heaving, glistening under a fine sheen of sweat.
Satoru grabs his hips, dragging him until his mouth hovers just above his pussy. Suguru gasps in surprise, completely exposed, unable to move freely in this position.
All he can do is take it. Whatever Satoru chooses to do, he’ll have to take it like a good whore, and as terrifying as it sounds, just the thought makes his hole clench and slick smear down his thighs.
«I’ll show you what it means to be fucked by a real alpha, alright baby? Bite the pillow if you want, no need for your kid to see what a slut his mommy is, right?»
Suguru’s eyes blur with tears, he shakes his head, pressing a hand to his mouth as Satoru devours him.
He sucks his clit with just the right pressure, and Suguru feels molten honey pour into his stomack.
His tongue circles that tiny nub that makes the omega a dripping mess, flicking his opening, fucking his hole like he owes him rent.
Suguru whimpers, biting his hand to keep quiet, hips shifting what little they can. When Satoru hits the spot that makes his eyes roll back and his gut knot tight, he keeps the pace steady until Suguru comes undone, trembling, thighs draped over his shoulders.
Satoru presses gentle kisses to his swollen cunt, leaving red marks on his inner thighs while Suguru rides out the aftershocks, vision clearing. The alpha’s hands roam his hips as he grinds his semi-hard cock against his flushed, wet lips. Suguru moans at the feel of it rubbing against his most sensitive spot, nerves sparking fire that arches his back and robs his breath.
Satoru fists himself a few times, getting hard again easily with Suguru’s smaller hand wrapping around him, smearing his precum against his slit, mixing with his slick and Satoru’s spit.
He could slide in right now, he’s that wet, just one push of his hips — but he knows Suguru insists on condoms, so he keeps that fantasy for another time and pulls back to grab one.
Suguru helps him find it in the bedside drawer, offers to roll it on, and Satoru agrees, never expecting what comes next: Suguru puts it between his lips and unrolls it down his length with his mouth, taking almost all of him in his mouth, and the alpha nearly blows right then.
«Satoru,» the omega moans in his ear. «Make me yours.»
The agent grabs him by the waist and pushes him back down onto the bed, their bodies fitting together like they were made for it, Suguru’s legs wrapped around his hips and his arms locked tight around his body. Satoru braces himself on the mattress and lines up against his entrance before pushing in, inch by inch, until he’s buried deep in the very core of him.
He fucks him like lovers do, staring into his eyes as he pulls moan after moan from his lips, pleasure painted across his face, mouth swollen from kisses and bites.
Suguru claws at his shoulders, moves his hips to meet every thrust, and comes around his cock so many times that when he cries from overstimulation, all he gets is a deep kiss that leaves him wrecked and breathless.
Satoru handles him like a doll, and if he could, he’d take him apart piece by piece just to see what’s inside and uncover his secrets.
Since he can’t, he settles for fucking him against the wall, his back pressed to the rough wallpaper, grinding his hips against Suguru’s clit while buried deep inside him.
He takes him from behind, bending him over the nightstand, and when his hand reaches around to rub his clit, the omega squirts so hard he has to hold him up when his knees buckle. After that, he forces him to ride him while he’s sprawled out on the sheets, the omega bouncing on his cock while turning his back to him, giving the alpha the perfect view of his hungry hole swallowing him down.
Suguru asks him to fuck him slow, and Satoru fucks him into the mattress as if his hips were trapped between the thighs of a virgin on wedding night. He’s slow, tender, pushing all the way in and letting him savor every inch of his length, kissing him and whispering how beautiful, perfect, and tight his omega is.
Suguru comes when Satoru tells him how gorgeous he looks taking his cock, then begs him to stay inside. Satoru does his best, but the omega’s tight, intimate contractions drag him over the edge. Suguru has him take off the condom and lets him finish by fucking the space between his thighs, coating them in cum.
They spend the rest of the night tangled up naked, Suguru dozing off in his arms for a while. Even Satoru almost drifts asleep until he wakes to Suguru grinding against his thigh.
He begs him to fuck him again, and the alpha obliges. He fucks him so good, drawing out his orgasm as long as possible before finally making him come hard. Suguru purrs against his chest, completely satisfied.
At dawn, the omega tells him he has to leave. He can’t confuse Megumi by letting him find another man having breakfast in the kitchen. Satoru’s a little disappointed but doesn’t argue, dressing slowly before heading toward the door.
It takes forever because they keep kissing, like they can’t get enough of each other. Suguru is a goddess — hair loose and tousled, body bare and marked with bites and bruises, and that “fuck me” look in his eyes that won’t let Satoru go.
So Satoru kisses and touches him everywhere, down the hall, down the stairs. Suguru pushes him onto the couch while he’s fully dressed and straddles him completely naked, grinding his dripping pussy against the bulge straining in his pants.
«Go now, or I won’t be able to make you leave.»
«What makes you think I’ve got more willpower than you?»
«You’re the alpha. Aren’t you supposed to be the assertive one?»
«Baby, there’s nothing in this world I want less than leaving you here naked, needy, and soaked for me. Look at you, all loose and ready.» Satoru slides two fingers into him, and Suguru closes his eyes, riding them like he was born for it, drowning in the sensation until suddenly, it’s like reality hits him again.
He opens his eyes and pulls away with a wet sound, leaving Satoru’s fingers cold and wet with his slick.
«Please, leave now.»
Reluctantly, Satoru agrees. Suguru ties a robe around his waist and walks him to the door, but right there on the threshold, as they stand staring at each other, unsure if they should say anything, the alpha’s phone rings in his pocket.
«Gojo.» he answers.
Yaga’s tired voice comes through the receiver. «Get over here. They’ve found another body.»
***
A few hours later, Suguru takes Megumi to Dusty's. He’s not on shift, but he needs a coffee and they’re out at home, so he promises his son they’ll get Sukuna’s special waffles.
When she sees him walk in, Miwa glances at the clock.
«Hey Suguru, it’s not time to clock out yet.»
«I know, sorry to bother you, I just really need a coffee and Megumi wanted Sukuna’s waffles.»
The girl behind the counter smiles and looks at the kid.
«Then I’ll bring them right out. Megumi, wanna help Sukuna make the waffles?»
His son, of course, agrees eagerly, takes Miwa’s hand, and together they disappear through the kitchen door.
Choso is sitting beside him, eating eggs for breakfast, but he seems more distracted by the news. Suguru follows his gaze to the small TV mounted on the wall and watches the footage of the police and FBI on the scene.
«The victim was identified just minutes ago. Clint Walkers, fifty-one years old…»
«Isn’t he a social worker?» Suguru wonders aloud, unintentionally drawing Choso’s attention.
«What?»
«Yeah… damn, that’s definitely him. I know that man. When my father died, social services were constantly at our house, trying to put me and Megumi into foster care. I didn’t want them to separate us — it was pure hell. Luckily, I turned eighteen before they could actually do anything.»
Choso studies him, and Suguru can’t quite read his expression. He seems sad, almost stricken in a way.
«You know,» the young man begins, «I’ve got a little brother. His name’s Yuuji. He’s way younger than me, but we’ve always been close. I don’t know where he is now, he was put in foster care, and they won’t let me see him.»
«Damn, that’s awful. I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t be with Megumi. He’s everything to me.»
«Yeah… I get that.»
Just then, the kid returns to his mother carrying a plate of waffles with butter and syrup, and Miwa follows him, handing Suguru a cup of coffee.
«Sugar?»
«No, thanks Miwa.»
Choso gives Megumi a smile, just a small one, but Suguru has never seen him smile at all, to anyone.
«You’re lucky to have him. How old is he now?»
«He’ll be six in December.»
«Yuuji’s almost the same age.»
***
The police station is in turmoil.
There are four bodies, all strangled and mutilated, not a shred of evidence, and not a single suspect. Yaga’s team has been working nonstop with forensics, trying to get a DNA match from the crime scenes, but this unsub doesn’t seem to have left so much as a single hair behind.
It’s only late in the morning that Utahime’s call comes in. Yaga puts her on speaker so the entire team can hear her discovery.
«I think I’ve found the link between the victims. I was missing a piece of the puzzle, but I think I’ve figured out what ties them together.»
«Lay it on us, Hime.» Shoko replies.
«I started with the last victim, Clint Walkers. He was a social worker, a profession that unfortunately has the power to both tear families apart and save lives. I reviewed the cases he handled over the last five years, and I found something interesting.
It’s the case of two brothers, Choso and Yuuji Itadori. In and out of foster homes their entire lives, placed with different families multiple times, their last placement was here in Rowena. A local couple, Malcolm and Elizabeth Byrons, took them in until they died in a house fire — but wait, according to the autopsy report, there was no smoke in their lungs.»
«They were already dead when the fire started. The fire was just to destroy the evidence, not the cause of death.» Inumaki notes.
«Exactly. The brothers managed to escape, and shortly after, the older one, Choso, turned eighteen and was granted custody of his brother. I wish I could say this story had a happy ending, but the fairytale only lasted a couple of years.
It seems the first victim, Troy Lincoln, coached the elementary school baseball team Yuuji played in, and during practice, he noticed signs of abuse on the boy’s body. The brother tried to explain they were old injuries from their foster parents, but no one believed him. Stephanie Reid, the pediatric nurse at San Angelo Hospital, confirmed they were the result of years of abuse, and our own María Gutiérrez took the boy into foster care during the trial.
Unfortunately, the judge ruled that Choso was unfit to care for his brother, and little Yuuji was put back into the foster system.»
«It all adds up. The protective older brother kills the couple abusing him and the kid, gains custody of the younger one, but because of a bad judgment call, they take away the only family he has left. And Inumaki’s theory about the first murder checks out. I’m sure the Byrons were strangled.» Mei Mei says, flipping through the file with information on the latest victim.
«But why now? What made him start killing like this?» Kento wonders aloud.
«I’ve got an answer for that too.» Utahime cuts in. «It looks like Choso requested a review of his case, but just over a month ago, the trial ended, and unfortunately, the outcome wasn’t what he’d hoped. His request for custody of Yuuji was denied, and his brother’s new foster parents filed a restraining order against him.»
«There it is — the stressor. That’s what pushed him over the edge.» Gojo says.
«Why didn’t we find out this sooner?» Yaga asks over the phone.
«Because we’re dealing with minors’ cases. All the files were sealed, so I didn’t have access to them when I initially investigated Rowena’s residents.»
«Where’s Choso Itadori living now?»
«He’s at a motel on 52nd. Works at the garage behind the gas station.»
«Gojo and Inumaki, with me to the motel. The rest of you, head to the garage, see if he’s there.» Yaga orders, and the team springs into action immediately.
***
There’s no door Gojo can’t kick down, so finding Itadori’s motel room locked is no problem for him.
He storms into the small space, gun raised and vest secured, but it’s empty.
Yaga checks the closet and the bathroom, but it doesn’t look like anyone’s been living there.
Shoko’s name flashes on the alpha’s phone screen, he answers and puts her on speaker for the rest of the team.
«We didn’t find anything at the motel. You got anything?» the unit chief asks.
«Nothing at the garage either. But the mechanic says a trailer’s gone missing, we think Choso took it.»
«What would he even need it for? Is he after another victim?»
Just then, Gojo’s phone starts buzzing too. The number shows as “unknown,” which makes him hesitate before answering.
«Gojo speaking. Who’s this?»
The voice on the other end is shaky, frantic, but familiar.
«Agent Gojo, it’s Kuroi,» the woman says. «it’s Suguru… I came home from grocery shopping and found him in the yard, on the ground. There was blood, and I… I called an ambulance, and then I found your card in his pocket, so I called you too.»
Satoru’s heart plummets. For a moment, he can’t process what’s happening, not even Yaga calling his name can snap him out of it.
«I can’t find Megumi.»
Gojo isn’t even sure how he gets to Suguru’s house, all he knows is that when he arrives, there’s an ambulance in the driveway and paramedics crowding around Suguru, who, thankfully, is conscious again.
The omega tries to get to his feet when he sees him but is quickly restrained.
«Satoru!» he cries.
The agent rushes over, relief washing through him at the sight of him awake. Blood streaks down from a head wound, though it seems the bleeding has stopped already. His clothes, however, are stained with vomit — and it doesn’t take a doctor to know that might indicate a concussion.
«Suguru, are you alright?»
«It was Choso. I… he jumped me when I was walking home with Megumi, and he took my baby. Satoru, you have to find him. You have to bring him back to me.»
«Easy, Suguru.» the alpha kneels in front of him. «I swear on my life, we’ll bring Megumi back safely. When did you last see Choso?»
«This morning, at Dusty’s. God, I should’ve realized something was off. He was acting strange around Megumi, he said he reminded him of his brother.»
«That’s a good sign,» Inumaki cuts in. «if he sees the kid as a stand-in for his brother, he probably won't hurt him.»
«Probably?»
«Hey, Suguru. Look at me.» Gojo places his hands on his shoulders. «It’s going to be fine, I promise. But I need you to go to the hospital, you might have a head injury.»
«But I—»
«Utahime just called,» Yaga interrupts. «the stolen trailer had GPS. They tracked it to the Cinn. We’re heading there now.»
«Please, let me come with you.» Suguru grabs Satoru’s wrist, desperation in his eyes. «I can’t stay here.»
«It’s too dangerous, Suguru. I can’t allow it.»
«You’ll kill me if you leave me behind. Every second that passes, Megumi’s alone with that murderer.»
Satoru looks at Yaga, and they exchange a long, tense stare.
«He could help talk Choso down, convince him to let the kid go unharmed.» Inumaki suggests.
Yaga exhales sharply. «Get him a bulletproof vest.»
***
It’s hot inside the trailer, but Megumi is too afraid to say so.
Choso hasn’t been mean to him, he even made him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and gave him some juice, but Megumi saw him hit his mom on the head with the butt of his gun, and that weapon is still tucked into the pocket of his jeans.
Megumi has never seen a real gun before. He’s seen fake ones in movies or those plastic toys at the county fair. He knows some people own one, but his mom is against it and doesn’t want any in their home.
Even agent Gojo has one, but it always stays safely in the holster strapped to his belt.
«Choso,» the kid says. «when can I go back to my mommy?»
The young man ruffles his hair and crouches down to meet his eyes.
«I don’t know yet, champ. I’m sorry. I know how hard it is when someone takes away the most important person in your whole world.»
«But you… you hurt Mommy.»
«I know. I’m sorry. I did it for Yuuji’s sake. When I go get him, he’ll need a friend to play with, okay? When he’s with me, I’ll take you back to your mom.»
«But… will Mommy be okay? He… he wasn’t moving. He was like Grandpa that day.» Megumi’s green eyes brim with tears, his lip trembling as he speaks.
«Of course! Your mom’s tough, he just got a little headache, that’s all. He just had to lie down for a bit. But I promise you, he’s fine.»
Choso heads to the tiny fridge in the trailer and pulls out another box of orange juice.
«Want something to drink?» he asks the boy.
Megumi shakes his head, twisting the hem of his shirt. «I just want Mommy.»
Choso sighs, running a hand through his dark hair. «I know. When I was your age, I just wanted my mom too. But she never came back.»
«My mommy always comes back for me!»
«Your mom will come back,» he repeats, as if trying to convince himself as much as the child. «But sometimes… grown-ups have to do hard things to protect the people they love.»
«But you don’t hit Mommy!» Megumi raises his voice.
Choso goes still for a long moment, staring at him. Then, instead of getting angry, he gives a sad smile. «You’re right. You shouldn’t. But I didn’t mean to hurt him, just… scare him a little.»
«Agent Gojo’s gonna come get me. He’s got a gun and he’s not scared of anyone.»
Choso chuckles softly, a low, almost fond sound. «Oh yeah, he’ll come for sure. But I’m not scared of him.»
Megumi holds his breath for a second. «You should be.» he whispers, with all the conviction he can muster.
Choso studies him silently, and for a moment he doesn’t look human at all — more like one of those scary shadows from his comic books. «You’re pretty brave, you know that? Yuuji would be your friend right away.»
Megumi lowers his gaze, trembling just slightly. «I want Mommy.»
Choso nods, an almost tender expression on his face that clashes with the gun on his hip. «And you’ll get him. I promise you will. But first… first I need to fix a few things.»
Outside the trailer, the rumble of SUVs grows louder, then a voice calls out.
«Choso Itadori, step out now with your hands up and release the child.»
The young man draws his gun and grabs Megumi by the arm, the kid is so light it’s like lifting a backpack.
He kicks the door open and finds himself facing several police cruisers. FBI agents point their weapons at him, and in the back, Suguru is there too, restrained by Mei Mei.
«Megumi!» Suguru calls out to his little boy.
«Mommy!» Megumi screams, wriggling to break free, but Choso’s grip is too tight.
Megumi can’t see it, but the man’s gun is now aimed at him. Suguru feels like he’s going to throw up all over again.
«Let the kid go, Itadori!»
«Not until you bring me Yuuji. He’s my leverage. I want my brother back.»
«Itadori, listen,» Gojo says. He’s trained for negotiations, knows how to handle people like him. «I know there’s been a huge misunderstanding. They should never have taken your brother away from you.»
«They said it was me! They said I did those horrible things to him! But I’ve got the same scars on my body as he does. I would never hurt Yuuji, he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.»
«And I believe he knows that. Even though you can’t see each other, he wrote to you every single day. He can’t wait to hug his big brother again, and you can’t take that away from him.»
«How do you… how do you know that?»
«We spoke to his foster family. Not a day goes by without Yuuji asking about you. It’s not over, Choso. You’ll see him again, but if you hurt that boy now, I’ll have no choice but to shoot you, and Yuuji will be left all alone. Surrender, and we’ll make sure you see him. He loves you. He’ll come visit you in prison.»
Tears streak down Choso’s face. His grip on Megumi loosens. It takes a long, tense moment where Gojo keeps his gun trained on him, ready to fire if needed, but finally, Choso releases the child and tosses the weapon onto the sand, giving himself up.
Megumi bolts straight into his mother’s arms. Suguru clutches him tight, holding him like he’s afraid to ever let go again.
Yaga and Gojo move in, cuffing Choso and shoving him toward a police cruiser.
«Mind telling me why you did it?» Gojo mutters under his breath as they arrest him.
Choso stays quiet at first, then says: «You have no idea what a desperate man will do for the people he loves.»
Gojo doesn’t get it. It’s his limit — he never truly understands killers. He can study them, predict their behaviour, but he’ll never really grasp what goes through their minds when they take a life.
He glances at Suguru holding Megumi close as they climb into the car. Mei Mei will take them both to the hospital for a check-up, and Satoru will join them as soon as he can.
For now, though, Suguru stays kneeling in the sand, clinging to his child. He’s never believed in God, but he thanks Him anyway.
***
Later that evening, Suguru opens the front door. Gojo is standing on the threshold, weary and worn out, but relieved that the case is finally over. Today went well , he keeps telling himself.
«How are you?» he asks the omega, reaching out to brush his hair.
Suguru gives a faint smile, he’s exhausted too, having spent the entire afternoon at the hospital, more worried about Megumi than himself. Fortunately, his little boy, aside from a few bruises, was unharmed.
«I’m fine. The doctors ran a CT scan and said I have a mild concussion, but nothing serious, thankfully. I just have to report if I get headaches or dizziness in the next few days.»
«Good. I’m glad you’re both okay. I won’t lie, when Kuroi called me, I genuinely thought I was having a heart attack.»
Suguru lets out a quiet laugh and shakes his head. «Good thing you gave me your business card so she could call you right away.»
«Yeah, we definitely got lucky.»
«Would you like to come in?» he asks, stepping aside to let him in.
«Of course, if I’m not intruding.»
Gojo steps once more into Suguru’s house. The air feels heavy, both of them drained from the long day, but there’s also a sense of numb stillness, like the quiet that lingers after a storm.
«When are you going back to Washington?» the omega asks, leaning against the kitchen counter.
«Early tomorrow morning.»
Suguru lowers his gaze, suddenly finding the granite countertop incredibly fascinating.
«I see. Well, I always knew it would come to an end.»
Satoru approaches slowly, as though wary of startling a wild cat. He places a hand on the back of his neck and gently draws him closer until their chests are pressed together.
«Just because I have to go home now doesn’t mean it’s over. That’s the beauty of life, it keeps moving forward no matter what. I’m sure everything that’s happened in the past two months has worn you down, and honestly, you probably have more reasons to leave than to stay.»
«What do you mean, Satoru?»
«I mean there are plenty of diners like Dusty’s in Washington. I’m not saying I want you in Virginia just because I want to date you, even though that’s exactly what I want. I’m saying I think you’re ready to leave this place behind. If it’s not Washington, it could be Austin, or Dallas, or honestly, anywhere else in the world, Suguru. Somewhere you can start fresh.»
«But what about Megumi and… Toji, he has to see his son.»
«Megumi’s young, he’ll adapt quickly. He’ll make friends at school before you’ve even unpacked all your boxes. And Fushiguro’s a drifter, it won’t be hard for him to track you down wherever you go.»
«And me? What if I can’t do it? What if leaving Rowena turns out to be a mistake?»
«Your mistake was forgetting to believe in yourself. You could land a better job, start dancing again, and, why not? Maybe even enroll in college like you’ve always dreamed of. There are so many financial aid programs for single mothers going back to school. And then there’s me. I… could really make things easier for you, if you’ll let me.»
Suguru looks at him, speechless. It’s too much for him right now, and honestly, he doesn’t even know how to respond.
«That’s… a lot to take in right now.»
«I know, you don’t need to decide tonight. Too much happened today, and I think you still need time to process everything that happened with Choso. I just wanted you to know you have options. And that even if you think I’ll walk out that door and vanish from your life, I won’t, unless that’s what you want.»
«I… I don’t know what I want yet.»
«I get that. Just… please think about it.»
They fall silent for a while, it could be seconds or whole minutes, but it feels like the words need to linger in the air a little longer.
«Do you… want me to leave?» the agent finally asks. He came here because he doesn’t know if he’ll ever get another chance to see him after tonight, but he won’t stay where he’s not welcome.
«No… no, Gojo.» the omega whispers, cupping his cheek. His amber eyes are mesmerizing. «I want you to stay tonight. I want you to make love to me like you’re never leaving.»
Satoru doesn’t need to be told twice. He kisses Suguru slowly, tenderly, his lips are soft and taste faintly of mint toothpaste.
He’s as gentle as a husband, running his hand through Suguru’s long black hair, skimming lightly over where he’s hurt, then sliding an arm around his waist and holding him tight, as if it might be their last time.
He slips his hands beneath Suguru’s thighs, lifting him effortlessly and carrying him upstairs. Suguru has never let anyone treat him like a typical omega, fragile and delicate, because he knows he isn’t. He’s tall, independent, sharp-tongued, and years of training have given him a toned, athletic body. But tonight, he doesn’t mind indulging in a softness he used to scorn when he was younger.
Maybe, for once, it feels good not to be the one holding everything together. Not to be the provider.
Satoru remembers the way to Suguru’s bedroom. He closes the door behind them and undresses him with care, almost as if unwrapping a gift he’s afraid to tear.
Suguru keeps seeking his lips, sighing into the kisses like a lovestruck teenager, and runs his fingers through the alpha’s white hair with tender affection.
«Tonight, I want you to surrender, I want you to let me take control.» Satoru murmurs in his ear, sending a shiver down Suguru’s spine.
The alpha drops back onto the mattress, and Suguru straddles him. «I’m sorry, Satoru, but I can’t give that up. This time, I’m setting the pace.»
Gojo leans back slightly to look at him. He’s stunning like this — hair loose, cheeks flushed — radiating that kind of raw sensuality poets write about. Suguru is exactly that. Young, untamed, wrecked.
The omega cups his face as he kisses him, while Satoru’s hands roam the curve of his back, gripping his ass and thighs. He wants to mark that perfect skin with bites and kisses, but at the same time, he’s terrified he might break him if he holds too tightly.
Suguru leans over to grab a condom, rolling it down over his fully hardened length. Satoru’s cock feels thick in his hand, and he bites his lip at how good it always feels when he’s inside him.
It’s long and dense, stretching him so perfectly, filling him in a way that feels so right it borders on bliss. Satoru loves pounding that sweet spot deep inside him, watching him fall apart, but tonight, Suguru intends to drive him wild instead.
He lines himself up and sinks down slowly until he’s fully seated on his hips. It’s a little awkward in this position, he can feel every inch of the alpha, his thighs trembling as he rises slightly, only to slide back down onto him.
His walls clamp tightly around Satoru, his breath coming short and ragged, a broken sound slipping past his lips as he rocks against him. He’s soft and warm, and every time he drops down, he feels Satoru pressing deeper inside.
At first, Suguru moves slowly, teasing him, pulling up to the tip before sinking down again like a devoted wife. When he does, his eyes roll back from the pleasure, and a sound so filthy escapes him that Satoru wants to devour him whole.
His chest bounces slightly as he rides him. Even though he’s a male omega, he’s filled out since pregnancy, never quite shedding the weight from breastfeeding. It doesn’t matter to Suguru, but tonight Satoru discovers just how addicting that sight can be.
He braces himself on the alpha’s shoulders and closes his eyes. Slick drips down his thighs, making penetration easier, and he puts all his years of ballet training to use, riding him steadily, never faltering.
The tip of his cock teases that most sensitive spot inside him, and Suguru hisses when it brushes against it, but he can’t help angling himself again to take that sweet spot that makes him shiver and moan like a whore.
Satoru’s cheeks are flushed, in this position Suguru feels even tighter, like he’s trying to rip his dick off, but what makes it hardest for him to keep it together is that perfect body, riding him like it’s the last time he’ll ever be allowed to feel pleasure.
«Sa-Satoru.» It’s the first time Suguru has ever called his name during sex. Satoru’s heart skips a beat — at least, that’s what it feels like.
«Tell me, baby. What is it?» he teases him.
«Kiss me. Make me come on your cock and kiss me like I’m yours.»
Satoru doesn’t need to be told twice, he pulls Suguru down into a deep kiss and wraps an arm around his waist, guiding his movements until they become rougher, deeper, raw.
Suguru comes with a low moan, his legs trembling, and Satoru seizes the moment to flip them over. He fucks him slowly through it, stays buried deep inside and grinds his pelvis against Suguru’s clit, making him see stars.
Suguru can’t let him go, locking his legs tight around his waist and his arms around his neck.
«Stay like this, please. Stay inside me.»
Satoru doesn’t have the heart to say no, so he does. He fucks him through another slow, drawn-out orgasm, and while he does, he covers his chest with kisses and love bites.
Suguru asks him to stay, even afterward, when he’s tired and satisfied, his omega purring contentedly against him.
Satoru gives in, staying with him until morning, when he has no choice but to leave.
Suguru still hasn’t decided. He doesn’t know what will become of him and Megumi. Maybe he’ll really listen to Satoru and follow him to Virginia, maybe it’s finally time for him to change his life and move to Dallas to be closer to his friend Haibara. Or maybe he’ll stay in Rowena forever, and this will just be a fleeting chapter in his life.
Suguru still hasn’t decided, but he knows for sure that the kiss he’s pressing to Satoru’s lips on the doorstep won’t be their last.