Jujutsu Kaisen Oneshots

Between duty and desire-Choso

The silence in the room was suffocating, broken only by the distant hum of city life beyond the window. Choso stood at the edge of our apartment, the pale light of the setting sun casting long shadows across his tense form. His broad back was turned to me, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air between us.

I watched him, heart pounding in my chest as I read the letter he had placed in front of me moments before. My hands trembled slightly, betraying the calm I was trying to maintain. It was a mission—an undeniably dangerous solo mission. Choso had been chosen. Or rather, he had chosen it.

"You're going alone?" My voice sounded smaller than I had intended. The words felt heavy, foreign, as if speaking them made the situation all too real.

He didn't respond at first, just stood there, shoulders rigid, fists clenched at his sides. I knew him well enough to recognize the storm brewing within him. He was conflicted, torn between his duty as a warrior and the desire to keep me out of harm's way.

"I have to," he finally said, his voice low but steady. "It's too dangerous. I won't let you come with me, Y/N."

My chest tightened. "So, you've already decided?" I asked, stepping forward. The distance between us felt greater than ever. "Without even talking to me? You don't get to make that choice for both of us, Choso."

He turned to face me, dark eyes filled with an unreadable intensity. "Yes, I do," he said, more firmly this time. His gaze softened when it met mine, but the resolution in his voice remained. "I can't risk you getting hurt. This mission is suicide. You know that."

I swallowed hard, my heart sinking at the thought of him facing such danger alone. "And what if you don't come back? What am I supposed to do then? Wait here and hope for the best?"

Choso closed the distance between us in a few quick strides, his hands cupping my face gently, though the tension in his body was palpable. His touch was warm, familiar, but I could feel the hesitation in his fingers, the battle between his emotions and his sense of duty.

"I will come back," he whispered, his forehead resting against mine. "I have to. For you. But I need you to be safe. I need to know that no matter what happens to me, you're okay."

Tears welled in my eyes, but I fought them back. "How can you ask me to stay behind when you're going into something like this? How can I be safe when I know you're out there, fighting alone?"

His grip on me tightened as if he was afraid that I would slip away, or maybe that I would convince him to let me come. "Because I've lost too many people already," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I can't lose you too, Y/N."

I could see the pain in his eyes, the scars of a life lived fighting battles, losing people, and carrying the weight of survival. But I had my own scars too, ones that ran just as deep. And one thing I knew for certain was that I couldn't stand by and watch him walk into the jaws of death alone.

"I understand why you're afraid," I said softly, placing my hands over his. "But Choso, you're not the only one who feels that way. Every time you go out there, I'm terrified I'll lose you too. And if something happens to you on this mission... I'd never forgive myself for not being by your side."

His jaw clenched, and I could see the internal struggle play out in his eyes. The need to protect me, to shield me from the horrors he faced daily, clashed with the undeniable truth that we were stronger together.

"y/n..." His voice cracked, betraying the turmoil he was trying so hard to contain. "I can't put you in that kind of danger. I won't."

I stepped closer, until there was no space left between us, until the only thing I could feel was the warmth of his body against mine. "You don't have to protect me from everything. We've fought side by side before, and we can do it again. I'm not asking you to let me go because I'm reckless. I'm asking you to trust me, to trust that together we have a better chance of making it out alive."

He closed his eyes, exhaling slowly, and for a moment, it felt like time had stopped. We stood there, tangled in our emotions, the weight of our choices pressing down on us like a physical force.

"I do trust you," he finally said, voice barely above a whisper. "More than anyone. But—"

"But nothing," I cut him off, pulling back just enough to meet his gaze. "I won't stay behind while you face this alone. You told me once that we're stronger together. Let me fight with you."

His eyes searched mine, the vulnerability in them so raw it took my breath away. I could see the cracks in his resolve, the love and fear battling inside him.

"I hate this," he muttered, pressing his lips to my forehead. "I hate that you're right. I hate that I want you by my side, even though I should want you to be safe."

My heart fluttered at his words, at the admission of his deepest fears. I reached up, gently brushing my fingers through his hair, trying to soothe the turmoil I knew he felt.

"Then let's face this together," I said softly. "We'll be careful, we'll watch each other's backs. We've always been stronger when we're side by side, Choso. We'll get through this."

He let out a shaky breath, and I knew the battle inside him had been won. His hands dropped to my waist, pulling me closer until I could feel the steady beat of his heart against my chest.

"Together, then," he murmured, his lips brushing mine. "But promise me—if it comes down to it, if something goes wrong, you'll do whatever it takes to survive. Even if that means leaving me behind."

I flinched at the thought, but I nodded, knowing that now was not the time for empty promises. "I promise. But you better not give me a reason to keep it."

Choso chuckled softly, though the heaviness in his eyes remained. He kissed me then, slow and lingering, as if savoring the moment before the storm. The taste of him, familiar and grounding, calmed the storm in my own heart.

When he pulled away, there was a new determination in his gaze. "Let's make sure we come back from this, both of us."

I nodded, taking his hand in mine. "Together."

And as we stood there, holding each other amidst the growing darkness, I knew that no matter what lay ahead, we would face it side by side, bound by the same unshakable desire: to protect each other, even if it meant walking into the fire together.

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