Chapter Text
Gojo’s POV.
“You are to evaluate the first years separately. Take each of them on a separate mission for the next three days and have them exorcise a special grade each. If they fail, they shall stay first grades and will be refrained from taking solo missions for the next 3 months.”
“ I have faith in my students. After all their teacher is no ordinary sorcerer.”
Chuckling to himself, Gojo had been summoned by the Principal to basically give his students a surprise test. He was told to accompany them to ensure no one gets seriously injured and since he has the best eyes, would also be able to evaluate their skills down to its very core. Megumi had always been good at solo missions so he’ll probably pass. He’s also recently tamed his elephant shikigami and honed his skills of using shadows more creatively. Next is Nobara, small yet spunky. She usually makes quick work of her missions complaining about wasting her time when she could be shopping with Maki.
Now Yuuji is a whole other ball game, he has the potential to out do them all. Not everyday you find someone so in tune with their body. The only thing holding him back is how empathetic the kid is. Always finding himself in danger to protect others. Megumi and Nobara have already accepted that some situations are inevitable and in those moments it’s better to protect themselves than die and leave everyone vulnerable in the process. Not Yuuji though, always trying to make sure everyone leaves with their lives even if the situation seems impossible. This has gotten him a trip to Shoko one too many times.. The kid is sturdy, he’ll give him that. Always getting up no matter how bruised and beat up he his, he’s also got a physique you would never expect on a 15 year old boy to have but what do you expect from jujustu sorcerers? None of them are normal or sane.
Pinching the skin between his eyes, Yaga sighs continuing on.
“Go. Now. You were late again showing up so quit wasting time with useless comments boosting your already inflated ego..”
Raising his hand to grip at his chest, Gojo pouts pretending to be hurt by Yaga’s mean but true comments.
“You wound me… after all those precious years you’ve been living you still refuse to learn some basic manners”
“LEAVE!”
~
“Eugh, this stuff reeks..”
Covered in purple gunk, Yuuji had managed to exorcise one of the curses he was sent to deal with. The curse had been associated with the mad cow disease so it was a fairly strong special grade but not too strong, those kind of special grades were left for Gojo himself only.
Hiding its presence another cursed spirit of the same origin was sneaking up on Yuuji. Yuuji hadn’t seemed to notice so he didn’t mention it yet. He wanted to see if Yuuji would be able to sense it eventually but ultimately, he failed the test. Stepping in, Gojo made quick work of the curse lest an oblivious Yuuji obtained more bruises. The curse Yuuji had exorcised was smaller in comparison to this one. Purple blood slid off his infinity, he doesn’t want to smell like this stuff. It’s nauseating.
Facing his stunned student, Gojo pipes up.
“Congratulations. You failed the test!”
“Wha- This was a test! There’s no way I could have noticed that last curse!”
“Which is precisely why you failed. A more skilled sorcerer like your senpai Okkotsu, would have noticed~”
“You don’t have to compare Sensei! You’re so rude!”
“Hmm, I might have to reevaluate my own teaching skills… All my students failed, how unexpected.”
“I’m right here you know…”
“How could I forget silly, did you forget that you absolutely reek~”
“You’re the worst Sensei…”
Laughing to himself, Gojo inspects the blood on Yuuji without him knowing. It’s not dangerous but doesn’t it look slightly different than the one he exorcised? Crouching down to inspect the curse he killed, he touches the blood of the curse and rubs it between his fingers, letting it stain the tips of his fingers. It tingles a little bit absolving into his skin before eventually eroding into nothing. Hm. It’s hopefully nothing.
“Yuuji, how is your skin feeling other than smelling like rotten milk?”
“You don’t have to point it out… anyways I feel fine other than a slight tingle from the gross guts and stuff.”
“If anything changes be sure to make a trip to Shoko for inspection. Better to be safe than sorry.”
With that over, he teleports them back to the dorms telling Yuuji to go get himself cleaned up before heading back to Yaga, reporting the unfortunate failings of his students…
~
It’s been a couple days since that last mission with Yuuji and everything seems to be going smoothly. He’s been making the first years train like hell as part of the repercussions for failing. Sometimes he’ll step in if he has the time to personally spar with them, making sure to comment on their forms and letting them know their flaws. He rarely has to comment on Yuuji’s form since it’s near flawless, that is until his inexperience shows and he ends up on the floor in a flash.
Pinning his student to the floor, he decides to cut Yuuji some slack and lets him struggle against him eventually making his way back up. Yuuji is sweating and breathing hard from their spar, still raring to go and honestly Gojo could probably keep entertaining him until Yuuji’s muscles scream to rest. That is until his own head pangs with a sudden small but sharp pain. Great. Well, that should be enough for the day anyways. Even the strongest needs to rest. Yuuji seems to notice too, ever the caring one of his trio.
“Sensei? Are you feeling okay? We can stop if you want to go rest, you rarely get time to yourself after all..”
“I’m okay, really. But you’re right, we both need to rest up. We can make up for lost training tomorrow morning so make sure to be back here 7am sharp.”
“So early.. but okay. See you later then!”
With that he watches as Yuuji takes his leave back to the dorms, his student shirtless due to heat of training. Is it just him or is Yuuji’s muscles looking a tad bit.. soft. He’s probably been lazing about lately if that’s the case, he’ll have to change that with a lecture tomorrow. It’s important to keep in shape as a sorcerer, it could prove fatal otherwise.
~
Is he catching an illness? His head and lower back are killing him today. His head is pounding and his neck itches more than usual along with his scalp and between his fingers. He is silently cursing himself for picking such an early time to train Yuuji today, he didn’t think he would feel worse today. Getting out of bed, he goes to get ready for the day, pouring a totally normal amount of sugar into his coffee.
~
More irritable than usual, he makes his way inside the training hall instantly spotting a mop of pink hair. Yuuji was already here it seems, hair sticking out in random spots revealing he hadn’t bothered to take care of his bed head. Ah. That reminds him, he needs to lecture him about his lazy habits.
Before he can mention it, Yuuji rushes to greet him first.
“Morning Sensei! I decided to show up a bit earlier since I kept waking up throughout the night. I couldn’t rest too well since my uh.. well my body just hasn’t been feeling too well lately.”
Now that he mentions it, Yuuji is definitely getting plump all around. It’s really apparent in his chest and buttocks though. He would never mention that to his student though lest he looks like a creep. Which he sure as hell isn’t. It’s just, why is Yuuji’s body changing so quickly?
“Also.. uhh. Sensei? Have you been working out more than usual? You look like your putting on more muscle if that’s even possible..”
Huh. He didn’t even notice his change in appearance, he was too focused on the pounding in his head and the soreness on his back.
“I could ask you the same thing. Do you think it’s okay to comment on my body when you’re starting to put on weight?”
To prove his point, he ends up harshly grabbing Yuuji’s wrist, lifting up his arm to show that his arms have indeed gotten softer. Using his other hand he grips his student by his cheeks, turning his face from side to side. Inspecting angrily.
“Even your face has lost its defined features. Look at how squishy your cheeks have become. It’s like you’ve gone back in time and haven’t shedded off your baby fat.”
“Ow! Ease up on your words and your grip at that too! Why are you so angry.. does looking at me really piss you off that much?”
Grabbing Gojo’s wrists to pry them off, Yuuji stares at him angry and fearful.
Seriously? Gojo thought. After all my actions he still has the audacity to try and make demands. Someone looking so small and soft shouldn’t be making demands so easily, especially to someone like himself.
“Submit.”
“What?”
“I said submit, why is that difficult for someone like you to understand?”
“Seriously what is wrong with you today, let me go!”
“Wrong answer. This is the last time I ask you. Let go of my wrists and submit.”
“Even if I wanted to which I don’t! How could I when you won’t let me go! You’re being such an asshole!”
He’s heard enough of his students blatant disrespect. In one rough move he forces Yuuji to scramble on his hands and knees, practically mounting the boy in the process. If he won’t listen he’ll have to show him what happens when someone like him doesn’t understand his place. Yuuji simply had to wipe that look off his face and avoid eye contact with him but he didn’t. He even dared to insult him him with a profanity. So now he can stay on his knees until he apologizes.
“What the hell!? Get off of me! What the fuck are you doing?!”
Watching him struggle is funny considering there’s no way he can even hope to move him. So Gojo stays put, holds him there until his struggle dies down. Looking over Yuuji’s shoulder, he wants to see if he’s learned his lesson yet.
Tears. A lot of tears.
Jumping back, Gojo pulls away as if he was burned. What the hell was he doing? Why is he trying to assert some weird dominance to his student? Yuuji. Shit. Did he hurt him, he needs to make sure he’s okay..
“Shit. Yuuji. I’m sorry I don’t- are you okay?!”
Curling in on himself, Yuuji hugs himself tightly while sniffling. Tears flowing against his will. Slowly he tries to calms himself, tries breathing slowly to himself, breath shaking. Eventually he turns his head to look at Gojo and swallows.
“Do you hate me. I don’t know what I did but don’t- I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry-“
Fuck. What the hell is the matter with himself. He basically just assaulted Yuuji and now look at him. The poor boy is so terrified, even apologizing when it should be himself apologizing. His head aches again. He doesn’t even know how to comfort him, hands just hovering around Yuuji’s body, refusing to make contact.
“Listen, Yuuji.. I’m.. sorry. I don’t know what came over me. Trust me that won’t ever happen again. I just felt so offended for some reason and It’s like I couldn’t help- Yuuji? Are you okay? Hey. Let me help you get up, I’ll take you to Shoko and if you want. I’ll assign Nanami to you for as long as you want, you won’t even have to see me again oka-“
Interrupting him, Yuuji shoots out a hand to grab him, facing him with red eyes and a tear stained face. Then just as quickly he lets go and looks down instead before speaking up.
“T-take me to Shoko but please. Stay with me. Don’t go. Don’t leave me alone.”
Well he is officially the worst adult in the fucking world right now. He’s pretty sure he just gave this kid some new trauma to deal with as if he needed anymore. Slowly he picks Yuuji up off the ground and carries him, patting his back soothingly, he heads off to see Shoko.
~
“Everything looks normal so far other than the bruises you gave him on his arm. Obviously there’s something wrong though, it seems as if you both are running a fever. Didn’t give you a right to pounce on him though.”
“Do you have painkillers I could take, my head is killing me right now.”
“I do but you’re not getting any after what you pulled. Deal with it. As for You Yuuji, I’m gonna prescribe these to you. It should help ease the discomfort and let you sleep.”
Passing a small container of medication to Yuuji, Shoko lets him know to only take it before bed as it will definitely make him drowsy. Head pounding, Gojo sighs to himself. He definitely deserves this after his actions. A silent but painful punishment handed to him rightfully so. Shoko then turns to look at him, staring at him with a bit of disgust before speaking out.
“You are gonna have to stay at the dorms tonight. Can’t have you free-roaming around as if nothing happened. I’d rather spare an unfortunate civilian crossing paths with you. But also because I don’t know what’s wrong with the both of you yet. Make sure to come back tomorrow so I can check if anything changed overnight. Now leave, it’s too early for this.”
Yuuji gets up first, thanking Shoko before he takes his leave. Giving Shoko and Gojo time to talk amongst themselves. Immediately she takes the opportunity speaking out about the situation.
“Obviously you didn’t do that because of your fever, no fever makes one act so aggressively so what made you act like such a pig?”
Jaw clenching, Gojo could feel himself tense at her choice of words. He definitely is a pig yet there’s a voice in the back of his head, insistent that he correct her rude tone. What the hell is going on with him?
“I don’t know. He was just being himself and then suddenly there was a rush of anger. It’s like every fibre of my body wanted to correct his behaviour, like he was disrespecting me even though he wasn’t.”
Shoko lit up a cigarette before responding, taking her sweet time as if pondering what to say next.
“Almost sounds like animal instinct. You got rabies or something?”
“Definitely not. Nothing could get past my infinity even if it wanted to.”
“Well you definitely have something I just don’t know what.. Yuuji seems to be caught up in it too so maybe he caught your sickness. From the sounds of it his head isn’t pounding like yours is so that’s a relief.”
“Can you please give me something to relieve this stupid headache, my rct is always active so I don’t know what could fix this other than simple painkillers.”
“No. After putting your student through some shit, the least you can do is suffer in his place, now get out. I’m not talking about this with you anymore than I need to.”
With that Shoko blows some smoke towards him. She knows he hates the smell of cigarettes, the smell is way too strong and that definitely isn’t helping his predicament. Getting the message, he rises and also takes his leave, heading over to one of the spare dorm rooms. He doesn’t know why but he feels the need to choose the one beside Megumi since he can’t get any closer to Yuuji. He’s doing this to make sure Yuuji’s safe, what if Megumi tries to do the same? Not while he’s here he won’t.
~
As night falls, Gojo makes his way back to his dorm, much to Megumi’s dismay, eager to catch some sleep, the day was longer than necessary. Doesn’t help he has a dreadful headache accompanying him. Before entering his room he catches a whiff of honey then piss.. Following his nose he ends up outside Yuuji’s door, is he using the bathroom? If so did he pee himself? It smells so strong. Hands almost reaching the doorknob, he stops himself before he does anything stupid again, he’d rather avoid adding more trauma onto the boy. Mentally beating himself up, he walks away ignoring the fact that he thought Yuuji’s urine smelt amazing.
~