𝐕𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐄 | jjk oneshots

IF ONLY... | GOJO

Satoru would constantly joke around with you, saying that he must've cannibalized and stolen all the cursed energy from you while you both were in the womb. It was funny at first—to him—but each jest carried a sting of truth, leaving a subtle ache in your heart as the words echoed in your mind.

You were spiteful. Every day, it served as a cruel reminder that you could never escape. You felt hurt, betrayed, and, most of all, forgotten.

But, when everything was all said and done, you couldn't ever find it in you to blame your brother. After all, he couldn't control the circumstances. He just happened to win the lottery, and you didn't—ended up getting not even a piece of the pie, but rather a single crumb of it.

But Satoru still loved you.

He tried his damn best to include you in everything—and you knew it. How he would ask you to come to the family meetings from then on. He succeeded, of course. No one could ever oppose him, but the utter looks of disgust that you would receive painted a canvas of silent disapproval and alienation.

You never did belong there.

You believed you didn't deserve his love, or anyone's love, for that matter. But even so, you couldn't help but accept it as a balm for the wounds of neglect inflicted by everyone else.

Satoru saw, and he knew what you were thinking—and what you thought of him. He would have to be stupid not to. But like the sneaky bastard he was, he kept on playing dumb. That is, during a day of training where you and Satoru were on the field.

You watched with your legs propped close to your chest and your hand holding up your chin, watching Satoru as he was supposedly "training."

You kept close to yourself, eyes eventually fluttering close for just a second. "..."

"Oiiii~! [Y/n]! What are you doing, zoning out like that, huh?"

You snapped from your daze, only to see Satoru's pale face right in front of yours, rubbing at the top of your head. "Nothing, Satoru. Now, stop pulling on my hair."

You didn't know if it was just boredom settling in or if you were that fed up with everything of your years of existence, but you finally asked the burning question.

"Satoru."

"Hm?" he turned around to face you. "What is it?"

"...Why do you stay around me?"

He tilted his head with an 'innocent' expression. But he knew. He always did. 

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean, Satoru. Why do you bother being around someone like me? I'm only holding you back. Mom knows it. Dad knows it. All the higher-ups know it."

"So?"

You were his twin. Whatever happened to him would reflect on you as well.

"But that's—!"

Satoru, with a thin line of a smile, edged on. "What's so wrong about it?"

You were left speechless.

"Why wouldn't I play with you? What are they going to do about it, huh? Kill me?" he smirked. "You're my other half, after all."

Something tickled her cheek—a tear. A tear was forming, but you wouldn't let it fall, and you wiped your cheek, which would turn every few seconds. You started chewing on your lower lip, and your eyes welled up with tears.

There was nothing left of your anger. Everything was gone. But it wasn't sadness that took it. You did not feel anything at all, but your face said otherwise. You could hardly keep yourself together.

The confirmation that your brother cared—saying it all aloud—made you crumble like fragile petals in a gentle breeze. Whether you wanted to or not, every emotion cascaded down your face like delicate petals. Tears escaped your eyes, followed by a hand coming over your shoulder.

You glanced upward. It was Satoru's, your brother's, hand.

"Hey, hey, c'mon. Why are you crying about this time, huh?" he teased while his other hand was extended, ready to pull you up.

Looking at him directly in the eyes, right into those pearly ocean eyes, you couldn't help but think.

"Hah, you were always a crybaby," he grinned.

You stifled a sniff of your nose, wiping the remaining tears from your face. "Shut it..." you shot back, but that came out softer than you meant for it to be.

A piece of vulnerability.

But Satoru's hand still remained extended.

And you took it, instinctively reaching out for your brother, just like you always tried to meet the expectations of those in the family. Yet, in that fleeting moment of silence, you not only reached but grasped, succeeding where you had previously faltered.

Gojo pulled your intertwined hands closer together, locking eyes with you. Your breaths were so close that you could feel both his and your every breath.

"No matter what happens, I'll protect you. Didn't I tell you? I'm the strongest, after all."

"You always say that," you laughed sheepishly.

"That's because I meant it. Every word."

Of course. You didn't doubt that. You never did.

While he may be the world's strongest jujutsu sorcerer, Gojo Satoru.

He's still your brother.