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Yuuji descends to the ground, his bright wings fluttering to control his momentum. His feet barely grazed the grass below him then in an instant, strong arms swooped in and around his waist from behind. A startled yelp escaped his lips.
But it was thanks to the familiar presence and the way he recognized the strength of those arms wrapping him tight that he stopped his fight or flight instincts, and instead, let out a breathy laugh as he was twirled around with vigor.
”Stop it, Sukuna! You’re going to make me dizzy!”
A pleased hum resonated behind him.
Sukuna’s chest rumbled in the process as he leaned in to press his lips down to Yuuji’s nape, inhaling the lovely peachy scent quite greedily. “Can you blame me, little dove? I have missed you.”
”I was only gone for three days.” Yuuji’s heart thundered in eagerness. The yearning to be with his mate was nonstop for the past few days and now that he’s here, it felt like the world brightened around him. “You know how important it is to me to attend the meeting.”
There was a discontented sigh from the alpha, then pulled his beloved closer to his chest. “Even so, such concern can be easily disregarded. I still detest the fact that these matters of yours take your attention away from me when it is supposed to be mine solely.”
Yuuji simply rolled his eyes, leaning back to welcome the warmth of Sukuna’s embrace. “Oh, be grateful, you greedy alpha. At least I am still permitted to leave the village’s premises by the elders.”
An amused huff sounded from Sukuna, pressing gentle kisses on Yuuji’s temple. His arms navigated expertly around the soft wings and closed the distance even more, completely unperturbed that it ws in the way, meddling, of their hug. “And never knowing that they had allowed a precious omega to slip from their grasp and into the hands of a monster.”
”You don’t look like a monster to me.”
A smirk appeared on Sukuna’s face, his hand traveling to gently caress his fingers through the soft, bright wings. “Is that so?”
Yuuji glanced up to smile at the man, placing his hand on the other’s larger one and interlacing their fingers together. “Come on, let’s get out of here before any of the scouts arrive.”
”Then, I shall take you to my abode and prepare you a delicacy I have in mind.”
A chuckle emitted from Yuuji as he felt Sukuna’s hold on him become firm. “And I shall look forward to it.”
~~~
The Winged people of the Dove Clan are never permitted to enter the lower territory.
They say it is because of the predators haunting the ground, prowling through the day and night. It is a restricted section, never to pass through and never to walk amongst for they belong to the trees and the skies. The earth below them is a whole different world and a dangerous path to tread.
Ever since Yuuji was young, he was always curious why they couldn’t try and live on the ground. Since, for certain, all of their food and their homes came from the earth’s surface. So in a way, living there could be so much easier than staying up to the skies and carving out a home in the trees. Not that they struggled to find any source of sustenance…
He would fly in the sky, joining the birds and the winged bugs, and stare at the ground below him. Wondering and wondering… There was a time he would cut a leaf into smaller pieces, sticking them to a tree trunk and letting his feet crush them in an attempt to learn what the grass feels like.
But the world below them is humongous, never a safe place for smaller beings like Yuuji.
Because creatures like him are easy prey to the predators that would come lurking somewhere beneath them, his people would tell him that the ground is a forbidden area to enter, and thus, he should never go to the deepest part of the world.
Until that one particular day, that is.
There was no rain. A perfect day to fly.
Yuuji was simply soaring through the lovely blue skies, joining his bird friends and humming a song with them.
It was a rather peaceful day when suddenly, pain erupted from his right wing and he let out a distressed shout, causing alarm to the flock of birds and having them flee away hurriedly as Yuuji descended and descended.
He was cushioned roughly by the tree below him. His body repeatedly slammed into the hard branches and the sharp edges of the leaves, slicing skin, drawing blood, and wounding his limbs, one after another. A pained grunt releases from his lips as more impact comes.
Then, his body hit the ground harshly.
His vision was darkening by the second, his ears ringing. Every part of his body is screaming in pain, unable to even let out a small cry for help. However, his eyes are trained solely on an odd-looking stick that fell a few distance away from him.
’Strange…’
If anything, the stick is shaped similar to a spear. The sharp tip is smeared with fresh blood but his thoughts are too jumbled to think about it longer.
Just when he was about to close his eyes and fall into the darkness, something came into view. A humanoid figure blocking his peripheral. ‘Someone’s here to save me.’
But at this point, his vision became too blurry and he finally succumbed to the temptation to shut his eyes.
He woke up three days later, fully healed. His muscles merely ached from the numbing sensation and he is heavily parched. He quickly assessed his wing, where he fully expected a missing piece of skin or an unwelcoming sight of a hole that pierced through his only source of flight and a means of escape.
But none.
Someone did save him.
It didn’t take long for this someone to introduce themselves.
A man. An alpha. His presence is palpable in the air and everything about him screams danger.
And he does not have wings.
Their first meeting was rough. Yuuji was deathly terrified, always scooting away from the man, no, from this creature he was unfamiliar with and uncanny. Yuuji could sense something odd from the stranger, as if his mind was recognizing the depth of the threat in front of him, telling him that this creature is capable of unleashing a dreadful calamity by any second now.
Exaggerated as it was, it certainly felt that way as he stared up at the man who watched with those intense, unreadable blood-red eyes.
But later on, the creature introduced himself.
A dweller of the surface. A nomad who comes from a different species.
His name is Sukuna.
And he was kind, caring, and a strong alpha.
He explained their difference to ease the fear palpitating in the air. Yuuji has wings and he does not. He lives in the ground like so many others, he says, surviving to the best of his abilities. He has his own culture much different than Yuuji’s.
With this knowledge alone, the latter is beyond fascinated.
Thus, they became fast friends, then lovers as the days continued. As Yuuji slowly healed, his rescuer was there doting on him.
Sukuna proves himself to be a capable alpha through and through, continuously providing for Yuuji’s needs and wants. Together, they explored the world Yuuji always thought would be terrifying, and then proven to be the complete opposite when he finds the surface so wonderful and amazing despite the claims of his people. Sukuna would only show him the best views, which the omega finds endearing.
However, beautiful moments such as this are never bound to last long. Alas, Yuuji must return to his home.
”Must you leave me behind, my sweet dove? Everything you can ever ask for is right here along with me.”
”I understand, Sukuna… But I must let my friends and family know that I am alive. I cannot bear the thought of their suffering. They will mourn for me because they think I died.”
”Returning to them would mean a loss of time spent with me. Don’t you see it? You belong to me now, Yuuji. It is by my side where you should always be.”
Yuuji allowed a frown to display on his face, his scent souring every second as Sukuna continued to object to him.
“Please, do not be selfish, my love. I miss my friends. You can’t take me away from my family… from the ones I hold dear in my heart!”
Fortunately for the omega, Sukuna is not one to express rage so openly. His face remained composed and his posture was calm. But it is always the eyes that are most expressive.
There is a glint in his crimson eyes, showing coldness and displeasure, with the way he narrowed them as he stared at his omega. The tension in the air grew as the silence prolonged. Yuuji found himself dismissing away the sudden drop of pressure, telling himself that it was only the cold when he felt himself shuddering.
”Fine…” Sukuna acquiesced, turning so that his back was facing the other, his posture now taut. “But you will return to me. At least promise me that. However, if your absence is longer than necessary, I will climb up to the trees, find you, and drag you back down. You will never leave my side by then.”
The intentions spark an unknown feeling within Yuuji’s heart. He fought the urge to release a wavering breath, scrambling to Sukuna and planting himself in front of him as an act of desperation. “Of course, I promise!” He cups Sukuna’s cheek with his palm, gulping when those sharp, icy, red eyes are immediately trained on him. “You are my alpha. My love. I could never leave you.”
Sukuna stared at him for a short while and Yuuji stopped himself from looking away. Then slowly reaching to take Yuuji’s smaller hand that was cupping his jaw, and crooned. “Good.” He proceeds to tilt his omega’s hand to the side and trail his soft lips on Yuuji’s wrist, causing a blush to pain on the latter’s face.
“Shall we proceed to the bed then?” He whispers, sultry and deep. “I want to spend the rest of the day inside you before your time with me is taken away by the undeserving.”
Yuuji allowed a small smile to grace his features, heart thundering from the current way Sukuna looked at him and the implication of his words. “Don’t say that. You think my friends and family undeserving of my time?”
”Indeed…” He did not hesitate to say. “Those who take your attention from me deeply displeases me.”
Sukuna nudged Yuuji closer. Their lips are inches away from touching. “After all, you are mine. Don’t forget that.”
~~~
Just as he expected, restrictions were placed on him by the elders after nearly causing everyone to faint and scare the life out of them when he showed up healthy and alive. Tears are spilled and hugs are shared. The day was full of catching up with people and learning what had transpired over the last couple of months he was away.
He did not even realize he was gone for nearly a year. The guilt he felt was heavy on his chest. He spent the previous months in bliss and pleasure while his people were grieving for him.
“You were gone for many months, Yuuji. We thought you died.”
”I’m so sorry, Megumi. I couldn’t go back right away. I wasn’t only just injured and healing down there…”
”Then, what else did happen?” Nobara urged.
”I… fell in love.”
”You what!?” Both exclaimed at the same time. A bewildered look on their faces.
Megumi sat up straight from the chair, confused and disturbed. “How could you fall in love? There is no one down there!”
”But there is!” Yuuji beamed, eyes sparkling from awe. “There are a whole bunch of people like us who come from different tribes! I met with one. We just didn’t know that!”
Nobara glanced at Megumi, bearing a troubled and uncertain expression. “I thought that the earth’s surface—I mean, the ground—was a dangerous place for creatures like us to live in? The world down there is so huge and pretty much incapable of making settlements.”
”That’s because it is,” Megumi’s voice turned grave. His gaze is focused intensely on his pink-haired friend as if trying to read his mind. “Yuuji, there are no records of people like us living down there. Winged or not. History should have stated if there are dwellers residing in that… that damned place!”
Doubt was quick to trickle into Yuuji’s mind. The image of Sukuna and his lovely home flashed in his vision. “B-But… But what about—“
”Creatures like us, no matter what blood or tribe we come from, cannot live down there. It is impossible. Many of our books are preserved from the ancient times and yet none of them ever wrote about our kind managing to live there.”
”But that can’t be.” Yuuji stood up like he was in haste, brows creased and fist clenching and unclenching. “Sukuna said that there are others like him. Maybe… Maybe they just didn’t bother writing it all down and informing us that living there is possible!”
Megumi and Nobara glanced at each other again. Yuuji finds himself hating when they do that.
Then, a knock resonated across them, interrupting their supposed reunion. The door opened and Junpei stood there with a solemn look. “Yuuji… The elders called for you.”
And so, their conversation was put on hold. Yuuji followed after Junpei, meanwhile, Megumi and Nobara also trailed after as well, a couple of distance away from their pink-haired friend.
”Did you smell him? His scent?” Nobara whispered, eyes not taking off from their now-enigmatic friend.
”Yeah…” After all, it was one distinct change from Yuuji. “It’s new.”
”It’s oddly…” Nobara had a frown plastered on her face, scrunching her nose from displeasure. “Possessive. I mean, alphas do that, but this one feels so… ominous. Don’t you think?”
Megumi couldn’t say anything much apart from how overwhelming and uncomfortable it was. The scent marking Yuuji is palpable in the air. Heavy and unwelcoming. It was as if to force people standing nearby to back off.
It drenched the whole place whenever Yuujii walked around, appearing as if he was unknowing he now bore a dangerous, oppressive, scent, which caused the general public to be cautious and attentive to their surroundings. Megumi truly believed Yuuji did not know that, judging by the innocent expression he usually wears.
Whoever this alpha was, he must have been a dangerous one.
Yuuji’s time with his friends and family was cut short. And so he stood there at the center of the courtroom, facing the cold-hearted elders, and explained what had happened.
However, as he faced the elders, he made sure Sukuna’s existence was cut out of the story.
Yuuji knew that the elders disliked the notion of having one of their people mated to a dweller of a place they were certainly forbidden to enter. Even when Yuuji tried to persuade them that it was not so bad staying down there, this angered the elders and thus told him ultimately that he was to never fly outside their territory again.
He was given a limitation. A small list of areas he is permitted to roam. But it greatly upsets him that his freedom became so restricted.
However, nothing beats the mountainous fear and the heavy dread falling in the pit of his stomach when the words were declared. Without even giving him a slight reprieve, he felt different emotions all at once. Alarm, anger, sadness, worry,
What would happen once Sukuna finds out? Yuuji could vividly remember the dark look Sukuna wore and the ominous glint in his eyes.
Indeed, his alpha is kind and sweet when he wants to be. But Yuuji also witnesses the other side of him. Ruthless, cunning, cruel, and selfish. Though he was grateful that he was never the receiving end of this attitude.
The time when he noticed the shift in Sukuna’s demeanor was an unfortunate encounter with a curious hawk. It was all because Yuuji was far too out in the open field, flaunting his dove-like wings and glimmering under the sun to impress his alpha when the bird swooped in out of nowhere, nearly snatching Yuuji away with its claws.
But Yuuji is under the watchful gaze of a stronger predator.
The hawk lost its legs and its wings when it made the wrong decision to decide Yuuji was worth taking. Yuuji, for the first time, saw Sukuna enraged and uncontrollable, displaying his sharp teeth when he opened his jaw wide and clamped them hard to heartlessly rip out the hawk’s wings with his teeth.
The feeling of this crushing atmosphere arises once more, much like the time when Yuuji first met Sukuna as a stranger. Later on, Yuuji was whimpering from the sight and Sukuna quickly comforted his omega after taking the life of an innocent creature, purring and whispering sweet words like nothing happened.
Yuuji was not afraid of his alpha… But that certainly gave him warnings in his brain. He was quick to remove those thoughts away, telling himself that Sukuna is just doing his duty. Protecting and caring for him.
Yet, Sukuna is commanding and possessive. Yuuji was sure of it that the threat Sukuna had declared was not a lie.
Regardless…
Regardless of it all, Yuuji loved him deeply. He wore his mark and will bear his children.
Because Sukuna isn’t always a heartless and ruthless individual. He never harms Yuuji. The way he dotes on him and proves himself time and time again that he’s a loving and caring alpha for his omega is something never to ignore.
Sukuna is a good alpha.
So when Yuuji approached his mentor, Gojo, he did not expect to receive a display of hostile behavior coming from him.
One moment Yuuji was just walking towards the man, then the next… Large wings spread out in alarm. Aggressive and unnerving. Giving one clear message to back off.
“Woah, now.” Gojo took steps back, raising his arms as if to brace himself.
Yuuji’s steps halted, freezing in his position, and his head tilted to the side. “Gojo-sensei? It’s just me, Yuuji! Y-Your wings are…”
It was starting to make him nervous. His teacher never acts that way around him!
Gojo’s wings are still perfectly raised from the unease. His beautiful white feathers are hackled up out of pure tension, likely recognizing that a threat is approaching him, yet not suspecting that it was just a friend sneaking up on him all along.
But Yuuji approached him just as he normally does. He blinked at his teacher in confusion. “Are you alright, sensei?”
He only received silence from the man, who was studying him intently with those eerie blue eyes. Then slowly, his wings calmed down, but still slightly tensed from the way he was caught off guard. A small smile later on graced his handsome face. “Ah, Yuuji! You scared me for a bit!”
Yuuji, initially thinking that he’d done something wrong, released a silent relieved sigh and returned the smile. “Really? Sorry about that! I thought you knew I was coming.”
Gojo waved his hand away in dismissal. “Well, I guess that’s because I couldn't smell your scent anymore.”
“My scent?” Yuuji lifted his wrist and took a sniff. “What do you mean?”
A grin replaced the smile on Gojo’s features. “You have an alpha, don’t you?”
With the way Gojo abruptly said it, Yuuji couldn't help himself but blush, growing flustered that someone had finally voiced their thought out loud. “Oh, yeah…” No one tried to bring it up, so this certainly caught Yuuji off guard.
“And quite the possessive one, too! His scent covered you from head to toe!” Gojo commented relentlessly, leaning a bit close to taking in the aforementioned scent, then scrunched his nose as if finding it foul-smelling. “Though I don't appreciate the fact that your sweet scent is now hidden underneath those alpha pheromones.”
Yuuji nervously placed his hand on his shoulder, staring at the ground as if he found it most intriguing. “Sukuna is like that. He likes to cuddle with me and I am never one to ignore the hugs.”
Then, something flickered in the other’s expression. With the name uttered, Gojo had a curious brow lifted. He hummed thoughtfully and questioned. “Say his name again?”
“Uh, Sukuna,” Yuuji repeated, now glancing at the man.
Gojo stood there, digesting the acquired name, now appearing lost in thought. Yuuji could swear he could see his thoughts running. But it wasn’t that he found bizarre.
Gojo became unusually silent.
Yuuji waited awkwardly, noticing that his mentor had yet to snap himself out as he remained quiet, which was strange on his mentor’s part, so he opted to call out his name again. “Gojo-sensei? Are you really sure you’re alri—”
“Now why does that name sound so familiar!” Gojo beamed, snapping his fingers.
‘Wait, familiar…?’
Yuuji really is becoming puzzled lately.
“What do you mean?”
“Ah, nothing quite important, dear student of mine!” Gojo clasped his hands together, still smiling as ever. “I find it very interesting, you see, that your alpha had the same name as the King of Curses who had once ruled and terrorized the Winged Kingdom a thousand years ago!”
Yuuji blinked at him in surprise. “King of Curses? Isn’t that just a story made up to scare the young ones?”
“Not exactly! It has some history even though it does sound like a fictional tale.” Gojo placed a finger on his chin, his head tilting up as if trying to recall something from the past.
“Let’s see… A thousand years ago, there was once a selfish and sadistic King immensely blessed with strong, beautiful, and deathly sharp wings—like me! He, too, was known for his extraordinary strength, and thus, many had challenged him. For his power or his throne. Whose speed was faster? Whose strength was greater? Well, in the end, it was always he who was the most superior of all. Quite a talented man, I must say.”
It’s certainly strange, Yuuji mused. Listening to this story now, the comparison between them is especially odd. His alpha sure does have all those traits. Fit, brave, and smart.
“And then he got bored.”
“What the…” Yuuji leaned back slightly in surprise. “Bored? That’s not what the old people used to tell me!”
Gojo could only shrug. “Some of our literature said he was bored, others say he was craving for more power. But anyway, all the reasons for that aside, he is also quite mean. His attitude is what caused others to fear him and perhaps the reason for his drive to kill.”
Yuuji’s heart, for some reason, stuttered from that.
Gojo continued, not seeing the slight change in his student’s expression. “Then, the King lived his life completely guided by his whims. Both pleasure and displeasure alone. He became more proud. A conceited man. Therefore, uncaring if his action results in harm. And so, the people of the Winged Kingdom revolted against him. Many died, of course, unable to end the tyrant’s reign. The wings of the King are so great and his strength is so overwhelming that some have given up fighting him. However, they still fought together at the end, combining forces, and finally managed to tear the King’s wings and banish him from the skies for good.”
“They say, he was exiled by sentencing him to the world beneath us. To die on the surface.”
Yuuji heard this story countless times when he was a child. It was only meant to scare the youth. A fresh mind always easier to enlist fear and control. That’s why they ought to apply the rule not to travel as low as they can and connect this story to the young ones to remember this important policy. However, the version he had heard wasn’t exactly as heavy or as dark as this.
Hearing this coming from his mentor was jarring. Creepy, to say the least. Especially when this is Sukuna they are talking about.
But that’s impossible, right?
This is a story from a thousand years ago. The monarchy had died. The last King of the Winged Kingdom died. Sukuna, the King of Curses, died. A long, long time ago.
‘How silly…’
Yuuji frowned at his teacher, disliking the fact that he basically compared his Sukuna and the evil Sukuna from before. “Sensei, are you trying to scare me?”
“Of course not, dear Yuuji!” Gojo laughed out loud. “I was only reminiscing my childhood days! Sukuna is a name not to be forgotten, you know. For someone else to share that accursed name is quite funny and sad in a certain manner.”
Well, Yuuji can’t dismiss that thought as well.
“But anyway! How did you meet your caring and loving alpha of yours?”
Yuuji immediately perked up. “Oh! He saved me! I fell from the skies and I landed on the earth’s surface. That’s where we met!”
Gojo became silent again.
“Uh… Sensei?”
This time his teacher was quick to recover. “Well then… I must say, your Sukuna and the previous Sukuna certainly had lots of similarities!”
~~~
Yuuji squirmed within the mass of heat wrapping around his form. His bleary eyes squinted from the dark. His body recognizes that it’s the early hours of the morning.
‘I should leave…’
Last night, he successfully sneaked out of his home again without alerting the scouts in the process.
It’s like a routine nowadays.
Back at his village, he’d wait until it was deep into the night and later on shoot up to the sky, hiding himself from the guards roaming around the area. It wasn’t easy with his white wings, but he was fast to descend to the ground, where his alpha was waiting with open arms.
Now, it’s early morning and he has to get back before he is caught. People are bound to go to his home and check up on him even at this hour, and the last thing he wants is for them to find out he’s gone missing and report it to the elders.
Yuuji fought to push the strong arms that engulfed him tight. But the hold on him became firm, pulling him back to Sukuna’s warm chest.
“And where do you think you’re going, little dove?”
His alpha is awake.
Yuuji hummed in delight, deciding to treat himself to this contentment for now, nuzzling further into the pleasant warmth. A moan was forced out of his throat when Sukuna slowly thrust his hips. The alpha’s cock still inside of him, never bothering to pull out from last night’s session.
“You know I had to leave,” He pouted as Sukuna sensuously glided his larger palm over to the distended part of Yuuji’s stomach, pressing it quite possessively.
“And when will you return?” Yuuji could hear the slight disdain in Sukuna’s tone. “I loathed the thought of our separation. Three days is all I could tolerate. If this happens again, I will simply have to force my way up there and bring you back to where you belong.”
“But Sukuna…” Yuuji released a tired sigh. ‘This topic again.’
There is an urge to shift in his position to face his lover, but the alpha is firm with his hold. Not to mention the cock inside of him prevents him from moving at all. “The meeting I am forced to attend was important. The elders are talking again and this time they’ve brought some bad news.”
“All the words they omit are always negative, my omega.” A frown dipped Sukuna’s lips. “There is nothing new about that. How is this talk with the scums any different? Especially one that is forced to require your attention for three whole days?”
‘Oh, here goes nothing.’
Yuuji dreads to talk about this.
“The restrictions have tightened.” Yuuji nudged his head deep into the pillow, his voice turning slightly muffled in the process. He had to release a silent sigh to ignore the growing tension in the air. “They say that if I am to fly, there shall be scouts accompanying me now and then. It’s… It’s going to be difficult to see you, Sukuna.”
His heart ached from the sadness. The thought of barely seeing his alpha dampened his mood. It even hurts to think about it.
Sukuna’s hold on him was unbearably tight now.
“What?”
“I-I’m sorry, Sukuna. There’s nothing I could say to convince them.” Yuuji gulped when he felt a shiver down his spine. The sour scent of his alpha increased by the second. “I think… I think they caught me descending from the sky. I didn’t know how or when but—”
“Shh… Hush now, my darling.” Sukuna interrupted and Yuuji had to press his lips tight from letting out another word.
The omega blinked, surprised by the sudden change of demeanor from his alpha, but hesitantly acquiesced. His silence allowed Sukuna to lightly brush his fingers through Yuuji’s messy hair, offering comfort. “You need not to worry, sweet one. I’ll take care of this. I promise…”
For a split second when Yuuji was explaining himself, he thought Sukuna would unleash his anger by spitting out vile words or tightening his grip on him even more. However, he doesn’t know whether this sudden drop in attitude relieves him or not. Either way, something about this greatly unsettles him.
He doesn’t know why.
“R-Really? But how? What can you do?”
Sukuna gave a thoughtful hum before responding. “I have some ideas… You will know in due time. But for now…”
Yuuji released a surprised yelp when Sukuna shifted to move above him, now covering the omega with his larger form. He is completely helpless as he is trapped from underneath the alpha and the cock still inside him.
“Let me have you again before I am forced to free you.” Sukuna leaned close to inhale his omega’s scent.
All plans Yuuji had in mind had vanished as he spent the morning writhing in pleasure. Sukuna was insistent on continuing their love-making, and thus, Yuuji fell inevitably to exhaustion and fell asleep.
Completely satisfied… and utterly unsuspecting of the wicked grin his alpha sported.
~~~
“You’re only telling us this now?”
“How come he didn’t have wings?”
Yuuji scratched the back of his head, guilt still weighing him down. “I am sorry… I just—” He shuffled upon receiving their full attention. “I just didn’t want this to be spilled out. A lot of people are watching me now, almost constantly. I don’t know why but it feels like every word I could say out in the open will be known immediately.”
When he noticed the shift in their expression, he was quick to utter some more words for assurance. “It’s not that I don’t trust you! It’s just that… we didn’t have much time of our own alone for me to say this out loud.”
“I know, Yuuji.” Megumi lowered his head, not glancing at his friend. “We understand.”
“It’s probably because of the new scent you have right now.” Nobara scrunched her nose. “It’s disturbing everyone.”
“Disturbing?” Well, Yuuji knew that it smelled unpleasant to others. Gojo already confirmed that. But he was curious to what others think of it… the extent of Sukuna’s claim over him. “In what way?”
“Well,” Nobara crosses her arms, a sign that she is in deep thought. There is a crease on her brows and Yuuji doesn’t know if she’s annoyed to explain it or uncertain to talk about it. “It’s like you’re standing next to a criminal. That feeling of danger looming over you is just so distressing, but you were just too caught off guard to notice that. It really drives people mad.”
“A sense of dread.” Megumi inserted, ignoring the look Nobara gave him. “Think of it this way… When people come near you, their first impression of you would be that you’re an ominous person.”
“Yeah,” Nobara nodded and shivered, likely finding the thought appalling. “A really unfriendly, ominous person.”
“Really?” Yuuji’s mood deflated, and uncertainty started to creep up on him. “I-I didn’t know—But I find Sukuna’s scent to be appealing.”
“Obviously, he’s got his sights on you and wants to attract you. The last thing for an alpha to court someone is to scare them away. He probably made his presence known around you too much for you to get used to it and then proceeded to court you.”
“Oh…”
Well, that made sense.
Then, Nobara quickly inserted, her eyes switching back and forth to Megumi and Yuuji. “And speaking of Sukuna, isn’t that the name of the last King of the fallen Kingdom?”
“Yeah, Gojo-sensei already pointed that out.”
“That’s been on my mind lately, too,” Megumi said, looking at Yuuji with a curious brow. “The King of Curses. The fallen. It’s quite a fitting name for someone who doesn’t have wings. It even made sense why he has a name like that.”
“Well,” Nobara released an amused huff, a smirk making its way on her plush lips. “At least he isn’t the ruthless, heartless, and sadistic person like the stories depicted him, right?”
Having nothing else to spew out to defend his alpha, Yuuji could only chuckle nervously. “Y-Yeah…”
~~~
Yuuji woke up from an uncomfortable sensation on his back.
Every part of his limbs felt sore. He tries to shift in his position, hoping to find some warmth behind him but realizes that something strange is happening to his body.
He opened his eyes, blinking slowly, and his heart pummeled.
‘This is not Sukuna’s bed.’
Everything about this was distressing him. He was lying down with his stomach pressed firmly on the hard mattress and his back exposed to the cool air that surrounded the room. His arms have been lifted above his head so that his whole front was pinned down on the rough bed.
It wasn’t the only thing he was scared about.
Yuuji tried to speak—to call out his alpha, but there was something in his mouth, preventing him from swallowing or saying anything. Out of fear, he tried to scream only to come out muffled. A whine resonated in the room and his fear was beginning to stench the room.
Becoming even more apprehensive, he squirmed around, opting to stand up with his knees but there was a heavy weight wrapped around his wrist and body.
His breath hitched.
Every part of his body is tied up.
He panicked. No, no, no, no!
His ankles are shackled together uncomfortably, the tie is rough and painful around his wrist, and his legs also share the same fate, preventing him from flailing his legs. His whole body was also strapped to the mattress, doing his best to sit up as best as he could, yet nothing.
He felt vulnerable this way and he hated it. He couldn’t even twist or move even if he tried.
And his wings…
He flapped his wings, hoping to at least have a sense of control of his body. But then let out another shuddered breath when he realized what happened.
His wings… They are tied together as well.
‘What’s going on?’
Yuuji could tell because the muscle near his spine was strained agonizingly the more he was prolonged in this position. He could feel the bones of his wings touching each other, and even when he tried to move them, they couldn’t flutter when they wanted to.
He’s trapped. Tied. And he’s terrified.
“Sukuna!” He tried to scream his alpha’s name yet it was muffled from the material in his mouth. Tears slowly dripped down from his eyes, lifting his head to assess his surroundings.
And suddenly, the air felt heavy once more. Yuuji’s eyes widened when he felt a presence behind him.
“Hush now, sweet omega.”
Yuuji jolted from the voice, flinching when he felt a palm touching the calf of his leg. ‘Sukuna!’
He tried to strain his head to look at the voice echoing from behind, but couldn’t. Sukuna is standing too far away for Yuuji to see him and he lets out a frustrated whine. He doesn’t want to be in this position anymore to confront his alpha. Him lying down with his stomach, completely naked, his back exposed, and his wings enchained together… It made him feel like a prey.
“What’s going on?” He wanted to ask, no, to scream.
But then he felt light fingers skimming the feathers of his wings. The soft touches trailed up to the tip and glided down almost delicately to the end, and skin met skin as Yuuji felt cold fingers meeting his spine.
“Such beautiful wings. I always do adore them.” Even without looking at him, Yuuji knows Sukuna is smiling. The glee in his tone is recognizable. “Stunning, just like the owner.”
Something moved from behind him and Yuuji quickly tried to take a peek at it but it was out of his sight once more.
“Unfortunately, you don’t need this. Not anymore.”
A cold and hard material touched the joint of his wings, and Yuuji recoiled and inhaled sharply.
“Don’t worry, sweet dove. I’ll make it quick for you.” Fingertips once again swept down on his spine. Sukuna savored each bump, eyes hungrily watching the omega squirming beneath his touch. “Now, you shall be mine forever.”
The next thing Yuuji knew was pain.
An earth-shattering screech came out from Yuuji’s mouth as an excruciating pain erupted from his back.
His wings. They’re being torn away from his body.
And Yuuji screamed and screamed, wailed, and thrashed around. It was agonizing and unbearable. The skin in his palms broke from the way he clenched them tight and Yuuji’s eyes blurred and darkened from the overwhelming torment he was forced to endure.
His sweet, loving, and caring alpha laughed as he tore the one thing Yuuji loved about himself.
Gone shall his will to live.
And as Yuuji suffered, he knew by then that freedom would be so scarce as he became the fallen.
His vision darkened.
~~~
The air reeked with the smell of blood.
The alpha hummed a tune, disregarding the blood staining his clothes, while dutifully cleaning the wall from the bedchamber. It was about time to add something new to the room where he and his beloved omega shared.
A new hanging decoration on top of their bed should be most appreciated.
After finishing his task, he stared at the lovely addition of the interior design, proud of his work.
On top of the bed is decorated with a pair of white marvelous wings.
‘Such stunning wings, indeed.’ Sukuna mused with a smirk on his face. ‘Just like the owner.’
~~~
It was a clear, blue sky. Beautiful as always.
Birds flocked the air, joining together as one as they migrated.
And among them is a curious dove, glowing so brightly under the sun. So odd, so out of place amongst the birds flying. But regardless, the innocent little dove was gorgeous and alluring in the skies.
The dove was so magnificent that it caught the eyes of a fallen.
‘So stunning,’ the fallen one says, staring on and on unabashedly. The longer he stares at the dove flying exquisitely, the more he craves…
For the first time in his life, he never wanted something so badly.
His fingers itched… To grab and hold the dove in his arms. But he merely licked his lips as he eyes ravishingly at the dove-like wings, never to take his eyes off of the innocent thing.
All good things have come to an end, and the little dove disappeared.
But it was enough for this yearning to create a new goal in mind… One that he wished to fulfill. He will get what he wants and he will have what he wants.
And so, he took a fallen branch and sharpened it, diligently carving the wood until he deemed it perfect for his plans. He made sure the tip was sharp enough to pierce, working tirelessly until the day turned to night.
Then, once he sees the beautiful dove with pink hair flying in the skies once more, he is far more ready to launch it in the air… Savoring the sight as his gift came falling and falling to him.
The little dove may have belonged in the air, but he is much more befitting right where he is supposed to be…
Right beside the fallen. As his omega.