Chapter Text
The double nods slowly. There’s a somber air about him, as if he registers the gravity of what he’s just agreed to. Yuuji is asking him to rescue the human he tried to kill in order to secure his existence. And he’s possibly asking the double to betray his species. On top of all that, the double just revealed his last card to Yuuji- the one Yuuji most wanted to see. The alien, if he’s being genuine, has just put his life in Yuuji and Sukuna’s hands.
He looks up at Yuuji through ice-encrusted lashes, realizing that, despite having no more secrets to offer, he is still alive. His breathing is shaky from the cold and possibly from fear. Yuuji’s heart tumbles as he decides that he very much doesn’t like seeing such an expression directed at him.
“I believe you. Thank you. But we aren’t going to go looking for him just yet.”
He quietly asks for Sukuna’s permission, which is granted without fuss. With deft, careful fingers, he undoes the alien’s bindings. The creature goes stiff as a board. His exhausted, shadow-rimmed eyes lock onto Yuuji, expecting the worst.
“Truce, okay? Let’s start over. You’re coming back inside before we go anywhere.” He wraps an arm around the double and stands, or at least attempts to. The double buckles at the knees, pitching forward into Yuuji. He can feel the false Megumi’s heart thundering in his chest, the double apparently not convinced that Yuuji and Sukuna don’t have more in store for him. Yuuji catches him, supporting his full weight. Now that he knows this one is an alien, he notices that the density feels a little bit off compared to a human.
Yuuji picks up the doppelganger easily. “Alright, up you go.” When Yuuji pulls the alien close, carrying him like an indignant cat on their way to the vet, the doppelganger’s cheeks redden from more than just the cold. He pointedly looks away, eyes trying to rest anywhere but on Yuuji. Yuuji laughs warmly. “What, suddenly shy? I must have done some damage to you if you’re suddenly acting this way.”
He says it jokingly, but it’s only when Yuuji lays the double down in front of the fireplace that he realizes just how much damage has been done to the alien. Once more logs are added to the fireplace, the snow begins to melt off the double. He shivers violently from the change in temperature, only now aware of how cold he is. The double’s teeth chatter so hard Yuuji fears he’s going to chip them. Inhaling sharply and feeling his own blood turn chilly with guilt, Yuuji grabs a warm scarf from a rack near the fireplace. He wraps it around the double’s hands in a figure eight.
The doppelganger’s breaths are wet with a sickening rattle as he tries unsuccessfully to get his body back in sync. His eyes flutter shut every so often, only for the double to keep snapping them back open and looking frantically to Yuuji for any sign of trouble.
Yuuji’s face pinches. He runs his fingers through the doppelganger’s unruly black hair. It’s cold as ice. “You can sleep. Not going to try anything as long as you don’t.” The double looks unconvinced, glaring at him suspiciously, his nose peeking over his fabric-wrapped hand. He lays on his side, shivering uncontrollably. Yuuji lays a warm blanket over the doppelganger, preparing himself for a long night.
Occasionally, he feels a quiet buzz in his ears or prickle on his neck. He chalks it up to the doppelganger’s body going haywire. He sits by the fire for the rest of the night, adding logs and keeping the creature’s temperature stable. In the quiet, his brain resorts to ruminating.
Sukuna, am I weak? For being forgiving? I could still use him to get to Fushiguro without... without falling for another trap.
Brat, you know my idea of weak is very different from yours- or most people’s. There are only a few people in this world who impress me in terms of strength. As far as measuring people by their hearts... that, I am still learning. Still trying to figure out if that matters to me.
Yuuji sighs, rubbing his temples. That wasn’t very helpful...
Let me put it this way. Fushiguro would not think you are weak. He might not make the same decision, were he in your shoes. But I know that he trusts your judgment. He would want you to do things your way. Now, stop spiraling.
It’s not that easy! It’s not just... being gullible. He could be out there fighting! This whole time! And here I am... hiding. Kissing the enemy, apparently.
He feels Sukuna manifest control over his body alongside him. He feels Sukuna’s presence lay over his, enveloping him. His presence is reassuring, strong, absolute. Yuuji sighs happily. Sukuna feels like a weighted blanket.
Yuuji. I've always been very clear about how I feel about sorcerer society. Training the strongest people in the world to throw themselves at the enemy until they burn out or make a mistake is not a sustainable system. Yuuji- your life is allowed to mean something. You are not required to die for someone else to atone for whatever sins you think you've racked up in your life. That's bullshit. Now as much as I still hold onto my dream of total world domination, I suppose you are allowed to live out your days playing housewife.
Sukuna has just hit on one of Yuuji’s brain’s most popular spirals. Sukuna, and others, have told Yuuji a number of times that he is too self-sacrificing. Even when he first tried to become a sorcerer, he wanted to do it for others. For that reason, he almost didn’t make the cut. He needs to remember, needs that reminder, that it’s not a sustainable way to live. He’s allowed to live. He’s allowed to take a breath.
But he’s also ready to stop hiding. He’s not going to throw himself into danger. But he wants to find who’s left. He doesn’t know what’s left of his family, but he needs to. For the first time in months, he allows himself to have hopes. Yuuji imagines himself celebrating the holidays with the real Fushiguro. He imagines going on missions again, or going shopping with Kugisaki. Sukuna reaches up to wipe a stray tear from Yuuji’s cheek.
Alright, brat, that is more than enough moping. You have the beginnings of a plan. Just play nursemaid to this miserable mimic and then we will be able to act. I’m going to take a backseat while you pamper it. The pitiful thing is going to make me sick.
I didn’t know you could feel pity.
Sukuna materializes a tongue on Yuuji’s cheek to poke him in the eyeball. Your face is pitiful. And yes, as much as it disgusts me beyond measure sometimes, your human emotions keep sticking to me like bugs on a windshield.
Yuuji laughs and wraps his soul around Sukuna’s, suffocating the annoyed curse in warmth. “Get used to it, stubborn old man.”
Sukuna lets out an annoyed hmmph and retreats back to his heartspace. In the quiet again, Yuuji turns his focus to the double. He doesn’t seem to be stabilizing well after weeks in the cold. He’s been sleeping for a few hours, restless and tossing like he’s being chased. His temperature is all over the place throughout the night. First aid for aliens was not a course covered at Jujutsu Tech. Yuuji is feeling hopeless as he rubs at his prickling neck, wondering, not for the first time, if that’s coming from this double. He would have brushed off the quiet thump at the door as a pile of snow dropping- if the double hadn’t opened his eyes.