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Satoru never considered himself to be classified into the patient type.
It's why he's now standing in the kitchen of his kids' dorm kitchen, leaning on a counter, while his son Megumi is cooking some curry.
His other baby son, Yuuji loved cooking, and he always got excited when teaching others. Unfortunately, Satoru was never the cook. He was the consumer through and through. Megumi however, liked learning from Yuuji, and was a decent cook himself, which is why he was now trying out this new recipe that Yuuji taught him.
Though, why wasn't Yuuji here with them to assist Megumi?, you might ask, well, that's because Yuuji went on a solo mission.
Solo missions of Satoru's students are dangerous. Ridiculously so, since they could easily be "miscalculated" and then promptly sent to their grave. Something Satoru will never, ever, ever let under his watch.
Satoru always checks the status of each mission. He can never let any danger befall them after that stupid fiasco that the stupid Higher-Ups did and worried (Downright terrified is the correct emotion) Satoru by killing Yuuji.
He checked this one around three times a dozen times and even went to the site, the night before Yuuji left, he even rechecked it before Yuuji left just to be sure. It was a safe mission. A simple grade one. He would be fine. Yeah, anyways if something happens Satoru drilled it into Yuuji's conscious that he must call Satoru, and he must get out of there. He knows Yuuji wouldn't listen to him on the latter, but at least Satoru managed to get him to wear an object drenched in Satoru's cursed energy, that way Satoru is constantly aware of Yuuji's location and can teleport to him if necessary.
Satoru's mind had been stuck on Yuuji the entire afternoon and evening. If anyone noticed, they didn't say anything, well, besides Megumi, who approached him and telling him about the new recipe that Yuuji taught him. He knows Satoru was anxious, because he was too. He'd experienced watching Yuuji dying in real time, no less hearing.
So here they were, both obviously worried for Yuuji, but instead of saying it, they passed it in a silent conversation like the vegetables being tossed and turned in the stove.
Yuuji was fine, Satoru could feel his presence, he was safe.
And then, Satoru's phone. Any other person and Satoru would've let it ring or decline just to piss the other person at the end off. But this wasn't anyone.
This was Yuuji.
Satoru straightened immediately, answering the call in a split second.
"'Ello?" He managed to keep his voice calm, "Yuuji-kun?"
Satoru saw Megumi straighten as well, but he didn't turn, only paying the curry attention. He did Megumi a favor and switched to speaker.
"Sensei" Yuuji's voice drawled, he sounded fine, no injuries, but his voice sounded… rather dark, unsettled.
But nothing could prepare Satoru from the next word that left Yuuji's voice at the other end of the all.
"Come here before I'm convinced to kill myself, please"
Megumi was now looking at him with horror on his face. The poor kid must have PTSD from the last stunt. Satoru's sure that his own face is probably mirroring Megumi too.
He's not going to drag Megumi into this, though. Yuuji called for him. It's something personal to Yuuji, so much so that he doesn't want anyone else's presence other that Satoru's. (How can Satoru tell? He considers himself the main parent And guardian of them for a reason! He made sure to study and note all of his kids behaviors and habits.)
Megumi opened his mouth to protest, but Satoru gave him no time, immediately warping to Yuuji's location, which happened to be an abandoned mall in the outskirts of Kamakura.
Satoru stood Infront of Yuuji, who was bleeding from the left side of his head, but other than that, relatively fine, though his eyes were... Dull, empty, tired. He was looking at the floor, even after sensing Satoru's presence.
"Yuuji-kun?" Satoru asked cautiously, bring his left hand to his head to perform RCT. That precious skill.
"Tell me, Gojo-sensei," Yuuji murmured, his eyes never leaving the floor, even as his the blood on his head began vanishing.
"What reason is there for me, to keep living?"
Satoru doesn't need a mirror to know that his face is drenched in horror and terror. Because that sounded like... Like-
Satoru wrapped himself around Yuuji.
"Yuuji-kun, you have so, so much more reason to love. Everyone around you needs you. I need you, don’t ever think that you’re not important, you’re one of the few people Maki-chan looks forward to for training, Toge-kun loves your cooking just as much as I do, Panda loves going on walks with you, Nanami loves your company, Shoko too, even if she doesn’t show it with her brutal words, you know how much Megumi and Nobara love you, how much I love you. You mean so much for us, we cannot let you go, you’re one of the reasons I get up everyday. I want to protect you, forever and ever, regardless of that stupid threat of execution- Those stupid elders will never be able to touch even a hair on your head with me keeping watch and I do entend to keep it that way. I already have plans to extend your execution to make you long till your old!”
Satoru took a deep, shaky breath, “So you understand…?” He murmured, “I can’t bear for you to ever, ever lose your life again, you mean so damn much to me, to us. We’re like a family, but you’re like the heart, and what is family without the heart? The warmth? The love?”
He paused to exhale deeply once more and buried his face onto the younger’s shoulder, to ground both of them, but mainly to himself.
They stayed like that for god knows long. Satoru thought about warping them back home, but he doubts Yuuji would want everyone crowding him, so, once he’s calmed down and comfortable enough to head back. Though, eventually, Yuuji’s arms finally wrapped around Satoru’s body and hugged him back. Satoru sagged in relief and let out another shaky breath.
”Sorry Sensei…” Yuuji mumbled,
”Nonsense, Yuuji-kun. I’m glad you called me,” Unlike a certain someone, “What messed up your brain so bad that you felt so out though?” Satoru couldn't help but ask, “There wasn’t any interference as I'm aware” And that was saying something. He was the most aware of everyone about this mission.
“There was no interference.” Yuuji agreed, “The curse… It had something to do with hallucinations and fake scenarios I guess…” He mumbled, looking into the deepness of the mall,
"That so, hm?" Gojo flashed Yuuji a smile, all teeth that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Come on, let's go home now, 'Gumi-bear made us that new gravy you taught him~"
"Really? I can't wait to try it then,"
Yuuji still sounded tired, that shouldn't be surprising. What also wouldn't be though, if he goes to check if Yuuji was assigned another suicide mission.
That though, he'll check once his precious child is well fed and rested.
God, how he loves his babies.