Gojo finished his assigned curse on sight but not just because he's the strongest.
The curse itself was about three steps below it's reported special grade capabilities meaning there were plenty of other shaman that could've qualified for that mission. Satoru was not needed there whatsoever and because it bore such an underwhelming presence it took far too much time to even find it.
His view right now is not that of his site but Elska's and Itadori's mission coordinates instead having warped there after receiving that phone call.
"Where the are they?!"
Disquietude swamps rationality once he overlooks the exterior of the abandoned building at the end of this gravel parking lot.
Everything seems so at peace and undisturbed, which is disturbing.
He's unable to sense Itadori but it seems like he can feel a hint of Elska, although with how weak the signal is, Gojo's losing his fucking mind.
"LOVE!"
Satoru waits for a second, tuning in his ears before running down the hill towards the structure's entrance once met with silence.
"YUUJI!"
The weathered front double-door blocks his path. Satoru's fevered eyes reluctantly take in the building's insinuated isolation for these handles clearly have not been touched in decades. They're slightly off hinge and therefore creates the appearance of poor function so Gojo sends a burst of energy through it.
"ELSKA!? ANSWER ME!"
The room on the other side is stygian and just as desolate prior to the newly entering light. Unsettled dust swarms into a cloud of grainy complexion, some escaping past his body to mix into nature. Glimmering speckles decorate the now stagnant air; it's almost pretty but what sends a flash glare into Gojo's eye's a few feet further inside momentarily stops the flow of time for his world.
"Wh-..."
After seconds of rattling surrealism, Satoru drops to his knees with his head lowering to his lap.
"Luh-ve..."
Its said in a whispering heave, all of his thoughts that are racing through but unable to formulate. Through bulging eyes he rakes up the gruesome details reflecting off the metal reminder.
"I am going to..."
Satoru releases his agony in the form of a rabid scream that reverberates off the walls and back to him, thus magnifying the heartache in his cry.
How could he allow this to happen?
As if a switched were flipped, Gojo's bent form begins to rumble with wildly deep chuckles.
"I am going to murder them all…"
His chuckles turn to unhinged giggles as he slowly comes apart from the sight before him, throwing his head back.
"All of them…ALL OF THEM!!!"
Satoru whines into a frustrated sob as Elska's left wing lies in front of his knees. He hails at the top of his lungs; a bellicose furor for a human male.
Shredded slivers of flesh are still attached to the end that would connect to her spine on the medial side of her shoulder blade. Torn muscles and skin drape over parts of the spiral fractured bones; dried blood drizzled over the areas and streaking down portions of the wing towards the ground now; some splattered from the removal.
"What have they done to you…"
Gojo stands up slowly without any outwardly detectable emotion other than the unaccompanied tears that fall as he erects his position.
"My love…"
He feels weighted, angered and humiliated once realizing that his lack of thought for the obvious has lead her into the hands of demise.
"FUCK!"
Satoru reaches down to hoist the heavy wing up and hugs the tip into his chest in a disastrous embrace. The minute amount of energy he sensed of hers was actually coming from the tiny means of life fizzling away in her feathers. With his infinity not registering Elska the tacky blood that has yet to dry seeps into his shaman uniform.
"My Elska…"
Its released as shaky whimper while simultaneously unleashing an immoderate wave of his energy to topple the building completely to the ground around him. Satoru's eyes shade darker.
"They were never here…"
He remembers how he felt once seeing that Yuuji and Elska's targeted curse was the closest to the academy; he was reassured by it. Now, however, Satoru comprehends that this placement was purposeful.
Although Gojo and Getou are merely acquaintances as far as Satoru is concerned, he's also aware that Getou has apparently made it his job to figure out how he operates. The mysterious cunt probably knew Gojo would plan to meet up with them after his own assignment which in turn gave them less time to work with Elska and Itadori's abduction.
'Did Naoya and Choso fucking know? WAS THIS THEIR FUCKING PLAN ALL ALONG?'
Rage and abhorrence animate Satoru's arms to embrace the wing tighter, cutting himself along the arms and abdomen while his hatred fuels more energy waves that lash out indiscriminately across the remaining compromised walls. He feels the stark absence of Elska's embrace, her warmth and the void created by this loss is already shredding what sanity he had left.
Gojo's discovers that he's unable to connect the rest of his personality now though, that he's experiencing an uncomfortable sense of numbness while the afterthought of her and Itadori's crisis simmers to a scald.
He has to find them.
Satoru screams again but the roar turns into disheveled, broken laughter that's exchanged with deafening sobs. The phone vibrates in his pocket but Gojo doesn't even budge to reach for it; he's just holding her wing as if it would turn into her if he waited long enough. He has to get to them soon and believes this a warning that Getou doesn't necessarily care for Elska's survival.
The idea of his love not existing cannot properly conceptualize through Satoru's mind for that's just not a possibility to him.
There is no life without her and there never will be again.
Gojo's lack of emotion still feels overwhelming as he's slowly submerging into a purely tactical mentality; wondering if the elders have finally made their move after years of waiting.
"They want to see what I'll do? I'll fucking show them."
An ominous grin forms across Gojo's face when he madly laughs to himself and imagines slowly slicing Getou from nut sack to chin. He wants to dive into Suguru's torso and yank out his organs as he did Elska's wing.
The experiments he's performed on Titers in the past tell him exactly which organs Getou could grasp to life without…wanting to make the experience as long and pleasurable as possible. Satoru knows this is Getou; that sick fuck gets off to violent shit like this. Gojo isn't the only one who's image is stained by immorality.
A few more deranged chuckles leave Gojo as he's feeling like completely letting go.
"Love...if I kill everything, nothing will come between us."
The simplest solution that he's tired of ignoring.
Voices sound off to Gojo but he doesn't turn to them for he's lost in his mind as he swirls himself and her wing within a light blue vortex of energy. His name is being called but its muffled, drowned out and quite frankly Satoru doesn't give a flying fuck over whatever its about.
"GOJO!"
The silver shaman raises his head but doesn't look towards the owner of the voice. His eyes are darkened and emotionless; peering into nothing but seeing through everything. He's currently deciding the fate of those in the world around him, menacingly.
"My Love…"
Satoru sweetly whispers into the wing.
"Should I just end them all?"
The new view from where Gojo stands within the demolished building oversees the city below. He can't help but feel disgusted when he imagines all of the ignorant people just living their lives as something so macabre as this has happened to his Elska. Satoru pours out more of his energy and considers leveling everything in sight, they don't deserve to live when compared.
His teeth push past his lips as he aims his red fury toward the unsuspecting below.
"HOLY FUCK GOJO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Toji is trying to near the silver shaman but even with all of his strength, there is a struggle against the intense winds wrapping around the shaman. He calls out to Satoru again but catches a circulating brick to the cheek so urgency compels him to warn his son.
"Megs! Get BACK!"
Toji grapples against the windstorm, leaning into it to power through as quickly as possible. There's nothing heroic happening here however and the giant would admit this if asked.
Have you ever witnessed something so alarming and disorienting that your brain creates an eerie hum that drowns out what horrific sounds may be attached? It's a state of shock and mortal realization; a reaction rooted so deeply into our genetic makeup to help us survive, to avoid the danger causing it.
The epitome of fear.
Toji felt this the moment Satoru failed to respond. It's as if Satoru's instability resonated with the giant because without explanation Toji fully comprehended what the shaman was intending. The broken atmosphere hardened with an apocalyptic air and for fear of his son's life, instead of running away, Toji chose to pursue the threat.
Once within reasonable distance, Toji builds his energy for a few seconds before aiming and thrusting it in Gojo's direction.
Megumi nearly topples backwards from the explosive attack suddenly leaving his father. The amount of power that left his hands was incredible, leaving the junior shaman stunned by Toji's output.
Although it didn't harm Gojo directly, his attention was finally caught and the commanding red technique concocting towards the city fades. As Gojo turns around to Toji and brings his cold, dead eyes to meet gaze, Satoru dispels the cyclone of energy and drops the wing to the floor as Megumi and his father both react to the single morbid remainder of Elska and Itadori.
"No…"
Is all Toji can breathlessly say with a churning stomach.
"Is that...is that ELSKA'S?!"
Nausea invades Megumi and twists his face into horror when the grim reality sets. The whole scene stinks of torture and against his better judgement, Megumi allows his imagination to run wild and serve him the worst conclusions possible. His eyes water and spill for Elska's obvious pain but also for Itadori whom there's no sign of at all.
"I am going to fucking annihilate their entire families. Every fucking sperm spawn that shares even remote relation."
The wickedness of Gojo's soul surfaces as he stares morosely into the wing of his lover. He retches over her assumed treatment. Every fictitious cry of hers that stems from the ones he used to cause, every second that she's waiting for help...every minute she's let down when he doesn't arrive.
"The innocent, the guilty, the young, the old, the elders, the clansman…they all fucking die. This is it for them."
"Gojo...you can't mean tha-…"
Megumi's voice is disheartened as his concern meets from Toji back to his sensei.
"Oh i definitely mean it Megs..."
Satoru clenches his fists before continuing his declaration.
"THEY ALL FUCKING DIE!"
——————————
Naoya is completely drenched in her blood and still feels like someone's flooding the room with carbon dioxide as he's not be able to recover from the fact that Elska is fading in his arms.
"Elska…please…you have to wake up…"
This is one of the few sentences that he's been able to manage as his wife-to-be lies limply into him, bleeding profusely. Naoya's holding her against his chest and cradling her head into his neck with his left hand while using the torn pieces of his robes to clot her wound the best he can with the other. Every time he reapplies pressure to the crater in her back his cries jump up octaves.
She feels so mangled, broken...gone.
Her other wing evaporates, causing him to yell in fear that's yet another terrible sign of her condition.
"ELSKA, WAKE UP!"
He weeps relentlessly into her hair while bittersweet images flash through his mind; memories that he single-handedly created of their future together. Some of his tears fall down to her cheek and stream for the ones she's unable to currently produce herself.
"Baby please..."
The Zenin begs while frantically reaching for his phone again to reach Choso but a portal forms and the hybrid being appears before him.
"Oh no…Miss Oda..."
Choso is immediately presented with her wounds because of where he arrived but the carnage alone causes him to freeze. Some of the injury is covered by the Zenin blue cloth but the being can surmise by the aftermath just how horrendous it must be.
"N-Naoya..."
He's watching the Zenin's heart shatter as the blonde breathlessly bawls and clutches to Elska's wilted body. Choso is so overwhelmed with the radiating sadness that he too starts to cry.
"Cho…"
Naoya sucks in air to finally breathe again.
"…help her…please fucking HELP HER!!!"
Choso's misty eyes widen as he rushes over to them to join the puddle of blood. He could feel Naoya's desperation and it strongly called to the being's humanity.
As he kneels behind Elska, Choso finds that he has to pry away Naoya's hand that's pressing the cloth.
"Naoya… you have to let me get to it…"
"But...she's bleeding...she's bleeding so mu-uch Cho..."
Stricken by having awareness of how deep this injury dives, Naoya 's panicked, puffy eyes dart to Choso. She's hurt so badly that surely anything they do to move her will make matters worse and is sure he's communicating that without words.
Choso places his hand over Naoya's and gives him a slow nod of reassurance and encourages until Zenin pulls his shaky one away. Naoya's trembling hand latches to her waist immediately to support Elska while watching the color come back to Choso's eyes. He needs to explain.
"Getou…he did this…right…"
Naoya's fighting back tears.
"…right in front of…I couldn't move…Choso…LOOK AT WHAT HE DID!"
Naoya's voice booms through the room as his emotions continue to swirl in visible context.
The volatile outburst created a golden-tinted light that traveled over Naoya's body. It happened so fast that Choso isn't even sure it was real. As soon as it flashed across his robes, it was also gone.
'What was that?'
Choso's mind is reeling over this mindboggling indicator, trying to mentally save that moment to go back to and dissect later before turning his focus onto the situation at hand. The being doesn't know what to say to Naoya, he has no idea how to comfort him either. He can only try to heal her.
Choso closes his eyes and inhales deeply before placing his hand over the gaping hole in her back. He winces as he perceives the particulars upon opening them and activating his healing technique; the horrific evidence of what she suffered riddles him with unease as well. When he looks over, Choso sighs quietly when Naoya finally seems to calm down a little to the process starting.
"Is she… going to be alright? Please fucking tell me she is!"
The Zenin's usually deep voice is still breaking but he feels the slightest hint of hope as Choso's energy shadows over her.
"You know, she was really upset when you were hurt too, Naoya…"
Choso's keeping his focus on her injuries but felt compelled to finally share this information.
"She asked me to take care of you. I think she would have stayed with you if things hadn't erupted on their end. She was worried about your condition."
He looks up to Naoya briefly to see the mixture of sentiments in the Zenin's face. At first, Naoya displays disbelief but his expression rapidly deteriorates into the strain of heartache.
"She can't die Cho…"
Naoya feels a surge of emotions creeping up again as he cements into the knowledge of her distress over him before. He knew he was right about Elska's feelings and deep down he's also certain that they somehow belong together.
"We have a whole life to live…she hasn't even seen the best parts yet."
Naoya closes his solemn amber eyes, leaning into her and feeling completely despondent until she suddenly begins to twitch. He gasps.
"CHO!"
Naoya sounds like his breath is nonexistent again as his mouth drops and he pulls away a few inches to view her face. Her eyes haven't opened but they're darting around under the lids.
A painfully wide grin lights Naoya's entire demeanor as he brings his eyes to Choso.
"I think it's working!! CHO! YOU'RE DOING IT!"
Naoya hugs her closely again but he readjusts his head overtop to give her clearer access to air.
"That's it Elska…come back to me…"
He feels completely overjoyed as he secures her body to him further, wanting to never let her go.
"I have so much to show you. Please come back to me."
"Na…Naoya?"
The Zenin involuntarily wails to the sound of her voice.
"Yes, it's me baby…just hold still a little longer!"
Tears fountain out of his eyes again but this time, they're of pure joy.
"It's going to be ok…just hold on…please hold on a little longer. You're safe now."
'Is this another one of those weird dreams?'
Elska is unsure of where she is, why Naoya Zenin of all people is holding her or why she's in so much pain. The Zenin's anguish though and the way his arms are shaking around her bring her an arsenal of questions.
"Naoya? What's…what's going on right now?"
She tries to raise her left arm to push up with but she can't. She feels heat radiating through her back and it brings her discomfort not knowing what it could be.
"Elska…"
Naoya regulates his voice to speak to her.
"I…failed you."
The blonde exhales slowly.
"This was never supposed to happen…I am so sorry. I would never have meant to hurt you!"
His words trail into her ear as she's suddenly jolted with the memories of what Getou did to her. She's triggered into a state of panic and tries to move her body around.
"Let me heal you Elska."
Choso chimes in and he feels her heart skipped a beat, like she didn't know he was even there yet.
"Naoya…I need to…"
"What is it? What do you need baby?"
The Zenin pulls away so he can look down at her again.
"Just tell me what it is and I'll get it. I don't care what it is and it doesn't matter the cost…"
"I need to…feed."
Naoya's expression as he looks down at her is of confusion initially. She can tell he wasn't sure about what she meant at first but as her eyes begin to glow and fangs form, he seems to comprehend. His reaction causes Elska to marvel at how unusually trusting he is of her.
Getou explained what he said he knew about feeding but it still didn't make full sense to Naoya; he's more of a kinesthetic learner. He's received her wonderful bite before of course but still hasn't aggregated much about how she functions. He also doesn't need to know the details to be convinced to improve her current status.
"If it will help you then do it from me immediately."
Naoya steels himself, closes his eyes and lifts Elska closer to him while holding whimpers over how flaccid and weak she still is.
Choso continues healing although he's not sure what to expect of this exchange. He's seen her like this before but her eyes are red instead of beaming purple like the last time when Naoya was hurt. The bright gleams hue into Naoya's skin and clothes as he tugs his collar down and away.
'What is she?'
Choso's officially taking an interest in what could explain her as he's only known his family and other curses to exist along side humans.
He watches how her head is fighting to lift near Naoya's neck until the blonde raises her more and prepares himself to give whatever she needs to take.
'So she really does eat people?!'
When her teeth sink into Naoya, the Zenin folds over forwards while still holding her against him, underneath.
Choso moves his hand away instantly when Naoya's moans fill the room. He's studying the two in shock as she begins to whimper pleasantly as well. His intrigued eyes take to the wound a few inches above Naoya's hand but Choso's mouth hangs as he witnesses her body quickly rebuild itself.
The bones from her broken wing fell to dust as the muscle fibers rethreaded hastily, building upon the shreds that remained.
She hums seductively into Naoya and its followed with another throaty moan of his as she continues to drink. Deep popping is heard when Elska flinches and Choso can only assume it was her remaining ribs forcibly realigning into proper place since parts of her body under the skin jumped in tandem. Her epidermis lastly adheres together as some of it too was threaded from existing areas around the wound. The being is in complete wonderment as he stumbles a couple steps backwards away from them.
'How can she do that?! That wasn't a reversed cursed technique nor was it her reported one.'
Elska alluringly whimpers into his friend once more which is when Choso begins to really absorb how exciting this activity can be.
'Naoya Zenin...'
Tears roll down Elska face as she drinks in all of his unexpected emotions.
Her heart breaks as the copied depth reports to her brain, making her understand how severely Naoya was broken by her recent condition. The sweetness of his flavor vitalizes her greatly and she clings to the section of cloth where his robes meet in an attempt to decrease the distance between their bodies.
Sounds of desire hide into his neck as she does not wish to spill a single drop but his own verbal reactions fill her core. There was no way of knowing that this is what Naoya felt about her. By the way he's acted she was never even given a chance to understand the truth that lies beneath years of his stonewalled heart.
She's been dreading that there was something about Naoya that her cells longed for but there's no ignoring it now.
Nor does she want to.
As she savors his soul, she feels like everything about him has been unlocked, decoded. Naoya's apathy is actually empathy, unlike when they first met; she's able to access the brightest and darkest areas of his thoughts now too.
The discipline Naoya exerts through his processing is something new to her, she doesn't understand how he's so right in design. He's morally rigid but spiritually flexible. Ruthless for love but merciful in adversity.
An abundance of kindness exists within his jaded mind as well, it actually is akin to something of unprocessed chocolate.
This new information tames Elska's reservations about Naoya's intentions with her as well. There isn't the slightest hint of malice within him in regards to her, not one bit. He moans again as she slows her suckling; the bass and beauty in his voice giving her butterflies as she feels overwhelmed by his emotions filling her.
She's raising her now movable left arm to bring her finger tips to the puncture marks, closing them. She tries to shake off the multitude of sensations he gave her as she remains curled in his arms. Elska keeps her head tucked in his neck for she doesn't know how to look at him and she's not sure what she'll do if she does. So much took place in such a short period of time and everything she thought she understood about Naoya was completely wrong.
She's entirely beside herself, lost in the translations with how gentle his true nature is.
His arms loosen their grip as he lowers her enough to allow their eyes to meet. His gaze is soft and genuine as it overlooks her while and he brings his right hand down to her cheek to brush the hair away from her face.
Naoya can't help but smile.
He can't control his watering eyes.
He can't stop himself from kissing her.
When their lips meet he swears he gained back a few years of his life that stress stole from him just moments before. She whimpers to his actions and accepts them without hesitation but he pulls up and back suddenly. He was so wrapped up in her survival that he wasn't thinking and with anxiously eyes her.
"Are you alright, Elska?!"
He hesitates to touch anywhere near the area of injury so he brings his view to Choso who is trying to understand how her physiology is set up.
"She healed herself…or I guess you did actually, Naoya."
Choso's rubbing his chin with his left hand.
"I merely brought her back enough to enable this I think."
He watches Naoya sigh into a relieved chuckle as he brings his smiling face back down to Elska's. Choso knew he liked her but underestimated the severity of his feelings; not always being able to take Naoya entirely seriously. Nonetheless, Choso finds himself quite moved by the display in front of him and the transparency that lingers where their vision intersects, showing a strange bond between the two.
"I think I'm alright now…"
Elska pulls her eyes away from Naoya apprehensively.
The warmth from his adorning expression was heating her too much and she's still not fully sure as to what is building between them. He leans down to gently kiss her cheek which leads to his bangs tickling the bridge of her nose. She inadvertently giggles to this and begins to squirm but liquifies when Naoya's deep laughter marinates her ears with tranquility.
They've never had a typical dynamic. Everything seems so extreme when it comes to Naoya and her but she finds herself noticing the normalcy they're experiencing. It's innocent, peaceful, loving. He leans down again and their lips reconnect. Her hands move by themselves to either side of his face as she feels a rush flood through her. He groans deeply to her touch as she's sure he just experienced the same budding sensation.
'Whew, this Naoya…'
He wanted to give her time! Show her that he was willing to wait and understand but as passion flourishes between them, Naoya's left hand slowly explores her. He trails his lips from hers to the corner of her mouth, down her jawline and into her neck. She gasps in response which causes his brow to furrow in desire as his heart rate increases.
He brings his mouth back to hers in a deep and slow kiss, their lips parting as if on cue to meet tongues. Her breaths multiply per minute and he feels himself throbbing beneath as he's still rejoicing in the fact that Elska's alive.
She nips his lip and he grunts but sends more of his tongue into her mouth, dominating the kiss. He fears he should slow this down but he also can't help himself, why would he intentionally ruin this moment? Still though...
His voice holds a slight rasp after so much yelling.
"Elska?"
She whispers a saccharine, "Naoya?", into him and he smiles against her for it.
"Forgive my past aggressions but I…"
Naoya stammers in his humility but feels it must be said regardless of how it shames him. He snaps his eyes down to her and and with full exposure of himself, begins to elucidate.
"I will never force you to do this with me. I do not expect it nor are you obligated. I was wrong to behave towards you as I have in the past but I swear that's not what I'm after."
She seems to pick up on this sudden significance to which she directs his face to slightly hover over her own. Her silence ridicules him but after staring into his worried eyes, he feels Elska's arm pulling him back down to her.
She's still so speechless by the vastness of Naoya's soul, the information she received from his blood. He feels so perfect wrapped around her and she fits so wonderfully into him that there's no denying the utter happiness being experienced by them both while like this. Naoya gives off the feeling of safety, authenticity and care.
As they continue back to their swirling of tongues her breath is hitched in expectancy once his hand cautiously dances down to her outer left thigh. His diffidence in regards to igniting a sexual situation is painfully obvious but she basks in the torture as she wonders if this is what it means to truly be cherished. He's so responsive to her.
'But he always has been...', now that she's mauling over their previous encounters. The fact that he cares more about her feelings on the matter than anything else, than pursuing the physical act blindly, it fills her with the courage to finally spill something that's been eating at her for months now.
"Naoya, you're not forcing me to do anything…"
Naoya feverishly begins to unfasten his robes as she tugs at the remnants of her shaman jacket. He glances to his left and is disturbed by the horrible reminder of what Getou did; her indention and blood in the floor is not something he wants to be prompted of.
Naoya lifts Elska while she's still struggling with her clothes and brings her to the bed. He hears a shuffle and before letting her push off her skirt he turns to find a flushed but stoic Choso standing by the door.
Naoya underhand waves to him, trying to kindly hint that they needed privacy. Choso waves back at first but soon catches on and smiles; although he left rather flustered from probably from watching as much as he did.
When Naoya brings his eyes back to Elska, he feels them soften unlike other areas of his body. His robes fall to the floor and he finishes unbuttoning his under shirt before pulling it over his head.
When he loiters his gaze to the expanses of skin he's not seen of her before, he takes in how delectable she is when left in a bra and panties. Every inch of Naoya's grin mirrors the ease of all of his insecurities regarding her as this interaction alone reinforces what he knows to be true.
They have something here.
Elska sits up partially on her elbows and scoots back, invitingly smiling towards him. He crawls over top of her and lightly laughs into their kiss while positioning himself between her thighs and she folds her knees on the sides of him.
This is what he's wanted from the beginning...he just took his time coming to the realization that she makes him bend in ways no one else can.
The moment his hands touch her legs though, her body temperature rises noticeably and she throws her head up, causing her back to arch. The loud wanton moan that shoots out of her is vulgar and needing.
The salacious wave beacons out and Naoya finds himself filling with lust but he's able intake and embody its call in an unusually tender manner.
This is the first time he's not clouded by the scent. There's something calming about it to him although he can't help but still feel arousal, he's just not a predatorial mess because of it like before. His chest still tightens and he feels like he's over heating but when he inhales the scent and closes his eyes, everything cools to the sight of her once he opens them.
She feels her own lids widen while attempting to compose herself in front of Naoya who just instantly set off her pheromones by grabbing her calves.
'What the fuck?'
She isn't sure how to feel about herself in the moment before that happened and she's even more puzzled now.
"Naoya…"
It's more of a whimper than words but there was no stopping it, every cell in her body is screaming for him. Elska curiously glances up to him to take in his reaction but it seems like he's actually waiting for what she thinks is an indication of her being alright.
He's somehow influencing the pheromones.
She leans up to meet his lips again and as they moan in unison, her mind wanders.
'This hasn't happened with Sati or Toji.'
But that's when it finally hits her.
"Wait…Naoya…"
Elska's eyes begin to tear up so he removes his hands from her and shifts from above her to being upright on his knees between her legs.
"Did you...you kidnapped me..?"
The Zenin grabs a pillow to cover his erection, regretfully sighing as he lays down next to her but with about a foot and half in between them. He avoids viewing her but responds.
"Yes."
A simple answer to a simple question.
"We took Yuuji Itadori too but Choso is especially invested in his care being superb…as I am for you."
Naoya's not wanting to look her in the eyes as he feels like a fool for saying he cares and admitting to capturing her in the same sentence. Especially after what happened with Getou.
"But...why, Naoya?"
Elska sees his change in demeanor; it's almost like he's afraid now. Maybe not afraid exactly but somewhere in a blended realm of uneasy. She can sense that he's still lathered in compassion though and this side of him is appealing to her even with such heavy conversation material.
"I can't share everything with you in this moment, Elska but I want you to know that all of this is for your protection."
Naoya scoffs at his own words though as he lifts his head to see that monstrous pit in the floor and is reminded of just how little he protect her a while ago.
"Getou still has a role to play so I can't eliminate him yet…or I shouldn't I guess."
He turns back to her and lays more on his side facing her direction.
"What he did to you…that almost killed me as well. I...can't even think about..."
Naoya shudders as he recalls and feels a reminiscent wave of the hopelessness from before. Just knowing that his precious intended was introduced with such detestable violence stabs at his ability to call himself a man. Having to witness it though and knowing that Getou did it to her because of his own mistakes?
How could he ever even consider himself deserving of Elska?
Her eyes illuminate red and they're so uniquely gorgeous that even with shame drowning him, the Zenin can't help but surrender his attention. To his complete surprise, his pity party is about to be crashed by an atypical response.
"My body is screaming for you right now, Zenin."
She can tell that wasn't the response Naoya was expecting and although he's being direct and intense, she can feel his presence level fluctuate from her words.
"I know that was random, it's just so overbearing and confusing, my need for you right now."
She takes a deep breath as she fights the desires within, giggling to his obvious interest for her to continue explaining.
"I wish I understood why but it's always been like that. You've had this effect on me since day one Naoya…"
She scoots closer to him so that the light from behind him domes her in his shadow. It feels incredibly good to be near him, like they've known each other for years.
"Hah! well mine is too if that makes you feel any better. I could probably skewer this pillow right now if you know what I mean."
He chuckles and reaches for her hand to kiss it.
"Since we're being honest with each other, I used to think it was that scent...but I quickly figured out that it was indeed you, Elska Oda, that I so loved much."
He tenses up after speaking so casually, embarrassed as fuck.
'DID I REALLY JUST FUCKING SAY THAT?'
Nervously, Naoya's eyes befall to Elska all while hoping he didn't freak her out but she looks the opposite, like she somehow already knew.
He curls her fingers into his and brushes his thumb along her knuckles, thinking about how weird things always end up when they're together.
"I know things are complicated right now..."
He places his head into his palm as he leans his elbow into the mattress.
"But when they are not so, understand that I want you to fully choose me."
Naoya cringes, feeling like the words came out odd so he quickly rephrases.
"As in I want it to be 100 percent your choice!!"
He awkwardly smiles while she giggles at him.
"I am pouring out my heart here my dear lady, how cruel of you to laugh!"
"I'm not mocking you, I swear! I just had no idea that this was who you are. You're actually quite charming, Naoya…"
The Zenin bashfully blushes.
She warmly smiles to him as the logic of the conversation starts to sway the tantalizing effect he has on her.
"Things are complicated and they became even more so very recently..."
She's thinking about Satoru and Toji, hoping that they're alright as well and not too worried.
"Shit, TOJI!"
Elska hurriedly sits up and looks to Naoya with remorse in her eyes.
"Toji…I made Toji like me but he can't feed from me if I'm here!"
"Does his bite feel like yours?"
Naoya didn't mean to allow that bit of jealousy out but his mind instantly went to her feeling that kind of bliss from his cousin's new fangs.
"I've never felt my own but it's likely…it does feel really good."
She lowers her voice not wanting to add too much emphasis in front of Naoya but not wanting to lie to him either.
"What happens if Toji doesn't feed from you?"
He grazes a hand over her arm out of pure instinct, just wanting to caress her but stops before landing it. She scoots even closer in response though, him not understanding where the boundaries are currently and certainly not trying to cross any.
"I don't know honestly but I have a feeling it's not anything good."
She sinks to the fact that she's more concerned for Toji than Satoru currently. Yes, Toji has legitimate concerns at hand but she can't ignore that she's kind of upset with Satoru after the three of them got together. She loves her sweet Sati's darkness but he was extremely rough with her and though some of it was hot, that's no the case overall.
"He...Toji just needs access to my blood."
"You do not need to lose more blood Elska…"
Naoya's expression becomes lamentable as he thinks of her being drained.
"I care about Toji a lot though too…he's my cousin you know."
He wishes he knew this before they took her and the boy so he could've incorporated that factor into his plans. Naoya would have done things differently had he known.
He falls to his back, bringing his hands over his face as he realizes how rough of a spot that puts him in.
'What the fuck do I do now? How do I make this work for everyone?'
He sighs as he drops his arms overhead to lay above them in metaphorical defeatism. Randomly, Elska brings her upper body over him and hovers her face over his. He can feel his surprise reveal itself as she gently kisses his jaw, her glowing eyes trained on his own.
"Elsk-…"
She crawls on top of him, taking in the smeared blood of hers that's dried on his skin. She straddles him but bends completely down and rests her head into his chest, waiting for his arms to slowly wrap around her.
"You're such a good man, why are you here?"
She brings her left hand to place on his chest, right above his heart and traces along his skin drawing nothing in particular.
Naoya grunts as he withholds the whole truth. He simply can't risk divulging what his purpose is.
"Just know that I have to be here. It's not exactly ideal to me either."
His embrace around her tightens as an idea comes to him.
"Maybe Choso can help us with Toji, I'll ask him soon. We'll come up with something so don't worry okay?"
A swarm of energy begins to fill the room and they both tense up to its sudden formation but Naoya relaxes first when he understands Choso is creating a portal to them. He nods to explain it to Elska and realizes that she's two pieces of little fabric away from being completely naked like himself. He quickly reaches over with his left hand and starts to bury Elska in pillows.
"I will certainly help you two…I am fond of Toji as well!"
Choso appears with his blackened eyes but a smile accompanying it.
"Why are you burying her Naoya?"
The being squints his eyes to answer his own question. He can't help but feel like a light bulb turned on when she resembles a mountain.
"Is that part of the mounting thing you like to do with her? Is it really ok if i watch?!"
"Ch-Cho!!"
"I guess that's wrong. Hmm...I did recently read about something called breath play?"
Mortified, Naoya laments with how Elska will take all of this and masterfully flips the script.
"You…you were fucking watching us, weren't you?!!"
Naoya's voice raises but it's not malicious.
Choso cowers but quickly comes up with an excuse.
"I…just…wanted to make sure she was actually healed!"
The black in Choso's eyes disappear as the anxious dark brown ones take its place. He's staring right at them, watching Elska shift underneath the pillows.
"Zenin, get these off of me!"
Naoya giggles to this when she sits up completely and throws the pillows off of the bed.
Choso shifts in stance as he looks over her, feeling a twinge in his groin from where he failed to finish himself a few minutes before.
"Cho!"
Naoya catches him internalizing her and huffs as he sits up to cover Elska with his own body as much as he can.
"Didn't we talk about this?! I'm pretty sure we talked about this you little perv..."
Elska removes herself from the bed but drapes Naoya's robes over her as she approaches Choso.
Naoya lets out a strange exasperated breath as he watches her don them, her being swallowed in the extra length.
She still finds it hard to meet the being's gaze because his eyes feel like they invade her mind but she also doesn't fear him like she used to.
"Thank you for helping me…who knows what would have happened had you not done that. I am forever grateful, Choso."
She hugs Choso but the being's arms are stuck to his side. He never thinks to return the gesture, not having been so close to a female before.
"Ahhhhhh you're welcome!"
He jumps backwards away from her, his gaze now fixed to the blue wall as he reddens.
She looks to the tub in the corner of the room and becomes overly excited at the option. She's still a bloody mess.
"You guys, I need a bath…"
She looks to Naoya's bare body and sees he's been painted by her too.
"It looks like we both do."
Naoya wheezes as she speaks, thinking that life has a funny fucking way of working out when she nears the tub and turns on the water. He looks to Choso with wide eyes and lifted brows, brushing him off.
"We-will-discuss-Toji-later."
The words are so monotone and rushed that he's not even sure there was a break between syllables.
"I will let Itadori know that everything is ok on this end then..."
Choso winks to Naoya which catches him off guard, the being has never done that before.
He then forms a portal again with his back turned to them as he grins widely to everything going rather smoothly between Naoya and Elska. He soon leaves through it and the room is left silent.
"Tch…he better not be observing this…"
Naoya's amber eyes narrow as he scours the room to Choso's absence but his attention is quickly stolen by Elska wetting rags in front of the sink and mirror.
He walks up behind her slowly as he saves the image of her wrapped in his Zenin blue robes.
'It suits her much better than I imagined…this has to be fate.'
She's bringing one of the rags to her neck and chest, trying to avoid soaking in the mess as much as possible once entering the tub. Naoya steals the rag from her and pinches the front of the robes together for her to grab. Once she does, her eyes flash to him behind her through the mirror. He slowly creates slack in the fabric to expose her back and shoulders to which he begins to caringly wipe down. Their eyes meet in the mirror as she watches his expression be of gentility and attentiveness.
It becomes sensual, the way he glides the folded cloth across her shoulder blades but his brow furrows in anger as he covers the area where Getou stole her wing.
"I'm ok now, I promise…it doesn't even hurt!"
She smiles warmly to him as she allows him to express his flavor through his actions.
'It only took months for him to do so…but it makes sense now...'
The tiniest giggle leaves her as she releases her grasp on the robes, letting them fall around her feet.
"I'm sure this is dirty too…"
She slides the straps of her bra off, being blown away by how comfortable she is around Naoya. Even though he indeed just forcibly stole her and Itadori she can't help but trust him.
'At least now this man is less cryptic…and what a wonderful man he is.'
She sees that he's not unfastening her bra so she reaches her hands behind her back but his meet hers in the process.
"I'll do it if you want me to, I just am not sure what's going on…"
He bears a confused smile as he unhooks the garment and lets it fall to floor, joining his robes. His eyes slowly take to her breasts through the mirror and he then immediately looks up to the ceiling to let out a long, deep groan as he fights back the urge to latch his mouth to them. He wants to know what her supple breasts would feel like against his tongue, how much she can draw from her with just that alone. He wants every part of her.
Naughty thoughts shoved aside, Naoya decides to continue cleaning the remainder of her back, being as he was almost done. She chuckles at him as he forms a smirk and warns.
"You're tempting a lion right now little miss minx..."
He can tell that she's getting a kick out of teasing him when he tosses the used rag into a nearby hamper and grabs a new one to wet.
"Maybe I like lions?"
Naoya shudders, wading in his own lust. Raising her challenge, he proceeds with even more discipline.
His arms reach out and around her as he turns the sink on again to douse the rag in the water, their eyes meeting and clearly reflecting affection into each other. His chin rests on her right shoulder until it the cloth is sufficiently dampened which he then places a light kiss to her neck before posturing himself behind her again. He rests the rag under her right ear and gracefully glides it down her collarbone, over her breasts and over to the other side.
She gasps to this and his erection begins to pump itself up again so he backs his hips away from her. He turns around noticing the running bath water again and jumps to turn it off before the level got too high.
"I can't believe I almost forgot!"
He laughs to himself as she nears the edge of the tub and slides her underwear down. He stares into the water not wanting to be too eager to see her fully nude, wanting to show he's capable of respect.
She had a fresh rag in her hand so as she submerges herself, she soaks it as well and sits on her knees while she begins to clean Naoya's arms that are hanging near her over the ledge. He seems shocked that she's wiping him down and can't ignore how cute he is as she continues.
"Let me do the same for you at least…you've been tending to me this whole time after all."
She speaks softly to him as he seems to melt into the floor beside her and the tub. When she wipes across his broad chest, she feels an intensity from him that causes her to dart her eyes up. His amber orbs are half lidded with desire but she doesn't fear any action from him.
'He's really trying to make a point here…'
She feels bad for tempting him further and gives a sigh as she sits down properly in the tub. She wants him terribly and feels like she always has but tried to ignore it since she couldn't make out who he was. She's waiting to see if he joins her with her eyes closed. She hears water dripping but it doesn't sound like he's getting in, instead she hears him breathing next to her as he begins to run the rag along her right leg that's under the water. His touch is applied perfectly to leave her calm and wanting all the same as he coasts down her thigh.
"I'm going to take care of you Elska and its because I want to."
His voice is lathered with sincerity as he continues.
"I know you feel for them too, I'm not expecting that to stop exactly…I just want you to be completely sure about me first."
He sighs heavily to her active listening.
"The elders decided you to be my wife years ago but I'm only alright with that if it aligns with what you want..."
"They WHAT?!"
Her surprise is evident as she hastily twists her orientation towards him, the bath water running down her breasts as she does.
Naoya's face is reddened as his gaze hones into her wet body but she lifts his chin and eyes to hers.
"You've mentioned marriage before…just how long have they had this planned out for us?"
She irritated that the elders think they could give her hand away like this. Naoya isn't the point of her frustration though so she relaxes her expression as she can tell he's not sure how to say the rest. He brings a hand to her cheek almost mirroring her grasp on him as he inhales and conducts himself in complete resolve.
"If you marry me, you would finally be safe."
His words are lenient in tone but serious in message.
"I would never let anything harm you again, no man…no curse…no one."
He kisses her on the forehead deeply before pulling back away.
"But don't worry about that right now, I'm still going to protect you regardless of your choice. I don't think I could turn away from you now."
She sinks further into the tub, mind racing. There are probably more appropriate questions to ask but the first one that escapes her throat is rather telling one.
"Does Sati know?"
"Yes and so does Toji…"
Naoya looks away, disappointed in everyone in Elska's life failing her. It makes him consider that she's had less autonomy than previously assumed and that makes his skin burn.
"Why am I the only one that's been kept in the dark about this? How does everyone else freaking know?!"
She's hurt by this and it shows as her teary eyes engulf him.
"I'm pretty sure they're going to try and stop it…but Elska, Gojo is dangerous."
Naoya didn't want to dive into this conversation right away but isn't going to lie to her as she relays her questions.
In a weak, shaky voice she replies as her vision is that of where the tub meets his abdomen while he leans over.
"I know…I know he is…but I do love him Naoya…I don't know why but I do...and I'll never deny him of that."
She begins to cry as she relives the night before, the depravity he showed…the lack of regard for her.
"I know what he is…he's a monster."
She feels Naoya's arms wrap around her as the steam from the hot bath water causes them both to sweat in their awkward embrace.
"Shh…its ok, just try to relax, alright? There's been a lot of excitement today. Forget I even brought any of this up..."
He sighs heavily as he sees her try to calm herself again.
"Just close your eyes and relax…I'm sorry this is happening Elska...you don't deserve it."
He continues to run the small towel down her leg but she's still visibly upset. He's been told tales of the mystifying powerful shaman woman that was in cahoots with Satoru Gojo but all he sees right now is a confused, scared girl.
"Here, lean up for me for a sec…"
She does instantly and he begins to maneuver his left leg around her into the tub first and then his right.
She scoots up upon comprehending that he's going to sit with her, the simple gesture moving mountains that were just pinning her to the ground.
When Naoya lowers himself behind her she leans back into his chest as he wraps his arms around her shoulders and bent knees. He feels her hands hang off of his forearms as he tries to provide her with the sanctuary she's lacking.
It's almost like his fantasy but somehow he appreciates this moment in time for what it is and is rather convinced that this intimacy is a greater reward.
"Naoya…"
She rests her head against his right shoulder as she lets the comfort of his body and hold steady her heart. She feels her soul being uplifted by his touch and eases back into his grasp until completely comfortable.
"…Thank you."