The only way to weave the complexity of my emotions towards him was with that one simple phrase.

I love you...

Sukuna's face shuttered in a mix of shock and stoicism.

Tears pooled in my eyes.

"I've never felt like this. I'm scared." I cried.

He immediately rushed back over to me and pulled my body into his arms. I felt his hands clutch my back, speaking volumes about how he felt.

Sukuna was a man who expressed himself through action. He squeezed me harder and whispered. "Let's go home."

❂

As soon as we got into the car, he grabbed my forearm and brought me into a tender kiss. His breath shook, exhaling intensely. He entangled a hand in my hair and gripped it like strings.

It was like he was trying to say something through that kiss.

We pulled away and looked into each other's eyes. Exploring every hue and tint. I pecked the smooth flesh of his lips once more.

"Thank you, for today." I whispered.

The moon had taken over the sky on our drive back. I took a nap in the car, cuddled up on the passenger seat. My mind was at ease, it didn't even register to me that I was growing so comfortable around a man who used to terrify me. Strangely enough, I enjoyed his company.

When we arrived back at the mansion, he gave me a quick tap on the shoulder and unlocked the doors. I yawned, stretching out my arms.

"Let's go princess." He said sarcastically, gathering my shopping bags from the floor. I stepped out of the car with foggy eyes, still hazy from my nap. He carried my things to the door.

"I have an idea." I said, stepping inside the foyer.

"Hm?"

"Let's cook tonight." I smiled like an idiot. Sukuna raised his brows and sighed.

"As long as you don't burn my house down."

"Hehe, well I can't promise you that."

❂

Sukuna didn't manage to do much besides pass me the ingredients and make sure the food wasn't burning. However, I didn't mind, I liked cooking, especially if it was for other people. It reminded me that I wasn't alone. For about a year, I'd been living at home by myself, my father was in the hospital and well... my mother had been long dead for years. I had no one to cook for besides myself. But whenever I had the chance to cook for others, I cherished it.

The smell of freshly seared steak infiltrated the kitchen. I plucked the slab of meat from the pan with some tongs and laid it onto a plate.

Sukuna walked into the kitchen, "You actually did good. I'm surprised." He chuckled.

"See, have some faith in me."

I carried the platter into the dining room where two glasses, plates and utilities were all set up. The room was dim as the table was illuminated by gorgeous candles. Everything was so specifically placed and decadent. It looked like... a date.

My lips parted...

He did this...

It was beautiful.

I looked at him in surprise as he grabbed the plate from my hands and put it on the table.

"Just gonna stand there or are you gonna eat?" He laughed.

I nodded shyly and slipped myself into a seat, Sukuna sat across from me.

"Your face is all red again." He said.

I put a hand to my cheek, my skin was piping hot. I must've been a blushing mess. I was still baffled by the fact that he made this beautiful set up for dinner.

"The food is hot... it must be making my face red." I lied.

Sukuna only smirked to himself. This cocky fucker knew he was making me blush and liked it. He always had the upper hand over me didn't he.

The two of us cut ourselves a piece of steak. He tasted it and looked across the table at me.

"What?" I said.

"It doesn't suck."

"Is that a compliment?"

"Mm." He nodded, "Living with a woman definitely has its perks."

"Idiot, there's more to women than just cooking."

"You're fun to provoke." He chuckled.

Now he was just teasing me at this point.

"Well it's easy to get provoked living with a man like you."

"Am I that unpleasant?" He said with sarcasm.

"You have your moments." I grimaced.

"Moments?"

"Split seconds when you're likable."

"Is it when we're in bed?"

I nearly spit out my water, "You're so lewd!"

"It's a valid question."

This man just loved toying with me.

"It's too indecent of a question."

"I'm taking that as a yes."

I shook my head, I couldn't help the chuckle from my lips, "You're awful." I giggled.

"You say that while smiling."

"I'm frowning on the inside."

"Sure." He smirked.

I gave his shin a playful kick beneath the table.

"Resorting to violence I see." He laughed.

"I learned from the best, you."

"Good girl. Looks like I'm rubbing off on you."

"Only a little bit. I'd say I'm starting to rub off on you too." I said.

He took a sip from his glass, "How so?"

"For starters, you're nice to me. Nice as in, sorta-polite I guess."

"Don't get ahead of yourself on that one sweetheart. If it was anyone else who kicked me in the shin I would've ripped out their heart already. I'm good to you only... that's it."

I folded my arms across my chest, "Why just me? You know you can be a kind person to other people too. It's human decency-."

He swiftly interjected, "I don't love anyone else besides you y/n. Why waste my energy on kindness for people who mean nothing to me?"

I relaxed.

We just looked at each other. The sort of gaze that could speak a thousand words.

He loved me...?

"You okay?" He asked.

Of course it was typical for Sukuna to act all casual after he'd just dropped a bomb on me. Those words... love, meant a lot. I didn't take that lightly.

"Is it true?" I asked, putting down my utensils.

"Is what true?"

"You love me?"

Sukuna clenched his jaw, "I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true. I don't like wasting my time."

He cleared his throat and gazed at me, continuing,  "But, because it sounded so damn vague, I'll say it again... I love you y/n."

A weak gasp passed through my lips. The beat of my heart had reached a rapid high.

Never have I felt my heart pouring into one single person. Sukuna Ryomen was my first love... and the first person I was going to kill...

That alone, made all of our interactions bittersweet. Like we were on the edge of something that could never last. Reaching our hands out to a dream. Something so far away...

Is to love someone, to inevitably hurt them in the end?

The only words I could conjure up were "Then please don't leave me..."

❂