The Awakening {Gojo & Sukuna x Reader.}

☾︎14☽︎

Moonlight and Shadows

Aki's voice was the first warmth I felt in hours. "Are you fine? I felt like you were in danger... several times."

His worry cut through me sharper than any bruise on my skin.

Twins could feel each other—it wasn't just a myth. And Aki, unlike anyone else, could feel pain. Not just his own. Everyone's. As if it was stitched into his very existence.

I forced a smile, hoping it would reach my voice. "I'm fine. Did he allow you to come here? I don't want you to get in trouble."

His gray moonlit eyes studied me carefully, seeing through every lie, every attempt to protect him instead. He knew I wasn't fine.

But instead of pressing, Aki did what he always did—let me pretend.

He exhaled softly and began untying my yukata.

My breath hitched, but not out of fear.

This was Aki. My Aki.

We used to bathe together as kids, and even after we stopped, he never treated my body like something shameful or impure. He knew the reason behind every scar, every mark.

He also knew exactly what he was looking for.

His fingers ghosted over deep purple bruises, tracing each one with a touch so light, it barely registered. But even his gentleness couldn't erase the truth—our father's fingerprints were all over me.

His hand stilled against my stomach. His face darkened.

"Does it hurt?"

The words were soft. Almost a whisper.

I wanted to cry.

Because no one—not a single person—had asked me that. Not my father. Not the others in that room. They only demanded. Asked **about my power, about my strength, about the mark—**but never about me.

Yet Aki looked at my pain like it was his own.

I cupped his face, brushing my thumb against his cheek. "I'm glad you're my brother."

Something flickered in his eyes—guilt, love, regret.

Before he could fall too deep into his own self-loathing, I grabbed his hand and placed it against my mark.

"Now ask me about this," I told him.

The heat of his palm pressed against my glowing sigil.

"Zolda's simadi," he murmured, confirming what the others had called it earlier.

I frowned. "Greek again? I swear, this family—"

But my voice trailed off.

He already knew.

Aki had always known more about our family than me. While I burned books, he read them. While I fought against our traditions, he memorized them. He had rewritten the entire Shiro history book from memory alone after I destroyed it.

And yet—

He never told me about this.

The awakening. The mark. The truth behind our bloodline.

He must have noticed my thoughts, because he spoke before I could drown in them.

"Don't overthink. You have other brilliant skills."

I raised a brow. "Like what?"

Aki smirked. "Well, you're getting stronger every day. You're fun to be around. Your rebellious nature is surprisingly charming. And—" his voice dropped slightly—"you're a great smut reader in my bed."