Coexisting || Uta x Reader

➺ Chapter Six

Yoshimura contacted Uta about the plan. They were joining forces with allies and rescuing Kaneki from captivity when the CCG busted Aogiri in two days. You didn't want him to go, but you knew Uta had to. It would be dangerous, but he could handle it.

"I'm going with you," you said firmly.

"No, you're not. Ghouls and investigators everywhere is not a good place for you to be. That's the end of it," Uta retorted.

"I won't let you do this alone."

"I won't be alone; the whole alliance formed will be backing me up," he tried.

You crossed your arms stubbornly. "You know that's not what I mean."

Uta took a deep breath and thought it through. He didn't want you anywhere near the battle, but Hinami was going and would be with Yoshimura and Kaya. There were few he trusted with you, but those were ghouls he at least could.

"Only if you let me train you in basic defense skills," he bargained.

"Okay," you agreed immediately.

"Okay."

♡♡♡

After closing HySy, you and Uta went to the personal gym on the side of your building where you both worked out frequently to stay in good health. It was a couple days following your attack and you felt oddly great, excluding the cut that began scarring and an odd ache in your lower back.

Uta was shirtless and in shorts, which was distracting on its own. He always appeared so much larger than yourself and undoubtedly intimidating, but you just wanted to cuddle with him and a few more explicit activities.

He taught you defensive stances first and where your hands and feet should go, then how to punch, kick, and dodge. You listened to everything he said because you knew this was important to him and that it would help you. Uta went back to stand in front of you.

"Throw a punch at me," he directed.

"You're just going to dodge it," you complained.

"Yes, but it will help build momentum. Just start punching."

You did. You went after him with all your energy, but he dodged every move, even when you tried to throw him off by swinging your leg up. Uta rapidly gripped your arm and flipped you on your stomach on the mat, then pressed his front to your back.

"Very good. You might be able to take a low ranking ghoul but a lot more work will need to be put in to get me," he said in your ear.

"I'm sure it will be easier than expected," you replied, bringing your foot up to kick him off.

You rolled over on your back and breathed deeply, trying to get your lungs to function as if almost hurt to inhale. Uta fell next to you and you moved to your side and popped yourself up on your elbow.

"This is bad, isn't it?" you asked.

"Yeah," he replied, moving his arms to rest behind his head as he continued staring at the ceiling. "Lots of bloodshed. Not everyone will survive."

"You will," you said confidently.

"I will," Uta guaranteed. "I would never leave you defenseless in a place like this, where there are humans ready to kill and ghouls out for any blood."

"I love that you're a ghoul, Uta," you whispered. He glanced at you briefly. "I want you to know that it's never bothered me once to know who you are. You're the best living being I've ever known and will ever know."

"Don't talk like I won't come back," he muttered, reaching out to pull you against his naked chest where you laid your head. "But thanks. I know you're the only one who thinks that way."

"I wish I wasn't. The stigma that ghouls shouldn't live amongst humans is damaging and discriminatory. You have no choice in your diet, but most ghouls eat sensibly," you said tiredly.

"It's like humans. Some are idiots and hurt others without reasons. There are good humans and bad humans. There are good ghouls and bad ghouls. The difference being humans go to jail and ghouls get hunted and killed," Uta added sourly.

"It's ridiculous. I've never understood how anyone is okay with how they treat ghouls."

"You're special," he said, petting your hair. "My special one."

"That's why you keep me around?" you joked.

"Well, I'd never let you go," he responded tenderly. "The first day you walked into my shop, I knew. There were thousands of humans and ghouls going in and out each month, yet you were the only one who smiled upon seeing me. You were... sensational, and still are."

You clenched your teeth to stop yourself from suddenly crying. You wanted to, so badly, because he too talked like he wasn't going to be back.

"You made me nervous," he continued. "You were the first thing that made me second guess everything I was doing. I've been through hell and wars, but you were what rattled me to my core. I couldn't understand you and I liked having you around. It was perplexing until I snapped and made a move on you."

You traced the sun tattoo on his chest as you tried to compose yourself and get together what you wanted to say next.

"I was drawn to you like a magnet. I kept thinking about you and going back to the shop early, but I didn't want to look desperate," you admitted bashfully.

"How did it take us two years to get together?" Uta mumbled.

"I was shy and you were oblivious to how I felt."

You both smiled and laid in two heaps of sweat and tiredness on the floor as you let the time breeze by slowly. You enjoyed the silence and company of each other most in the world, especially at hard times like those.

"I love you," you whispered.

"I love you infinitely."