Work Text:
Chousou admits that he didn't realize when Yuuji sneaked out of their observation center while Gojou Satoru was fighting Sukuna. Yet the others notice, so, as a responsible older brother, he decided to bring the pink-haired boy back, hoping to still see him alive. Surely, Yuuji wouldn't just go there recklessly, without any reason.
…
Shit.
Chousou speeded up, trying to find his brother through their undeniable blood connection. What he didn't expect was to find Yuuji keeping some distance from the main fight and screaming from the top of his lungs.
“SUUUKUUUNAAA!!” The boy yelled so loudly that Chousou scowled, but the sound reached its receiver, with Sukuna actually pausing for a slight moment to look at the pink-haired boy. “TEA TIME!!” Yuuji shouted insistently, and Chousou gasped, his eyes widening in recognition.
He was aware of the implications of those words, the binding vow already in progress. Sukuna froze in his tracks, Mahoraga stopped at the command, and Gojou Satoru also paused in his attack, perplexed. The entire battlefield went completely silent for a second.
Then.
A big grin bloomed on Sukuna's features, his eyes sparkled with mischievousness and greed for possible knowledge. “What is it, Brat? What do you have for me?” He asked curiously, delighted, turning to the pink-haired boy who started jogging towards him.
Sukuna seemed completely unbothered by the sudden interruption, as if taking pleasure from it. Chousou sighed deeply and glanced at Gojou Satoru's confused expression, then decided to approach the white-haired man, already mentally preparing himself to apologize for his younger brother’s behavior.
The moment Yuuji reached Sukuna's side, a table and two chairs appeared out of nowhere. Then a tray of cookies, two teacups, and freshly brewed tea in an elegant teapot also materialized there. The air around them shifted, a veil of sorts surrounded them, making it unable to get closer to those two and eavesdrop.
“What the fuck?” Gojou Satoru mumbled and blinked, taken aback, then looked at Chousou for answers, his nose bleeding severely.
They both watched how Sukuna and Yuuji took their respective seats and then started talking animatedly, the sound of this exchange out of reach of their ears. Chousou scratched his neck in a nervous manner, already worried about what would happen after those two were over.
“What are they doing? Why can't we hear anything?” Gojou Satoru asked with a frown and raised his hand as if wanting to release his technique and pierce the odd veil, then thought better of it and simply gave up to observe the scene in front of him while tilting his head in puzzlement.
“It's Tea Time.” Chousou answered vaguely and got a very incredulous stare in response.
“So, Yuuji is just casually sipping tea with the living calamity that killed him once and I was just about to defeat for good while…” Gojou Satoru squinted his eyes at the way Sukuna laughed at something the pink-haired boy said with matching reaction. “Enjoying the conversation?” He ended slowly, skeptical, and then grinned dangerously.
“Well…” Chousou tried unsurely and faltered, ashamed. “They are enjoying the tea, it's just… They are not drinking. They are spilling it.” He corrected helpfully.
The white-haired man gazed at him for a few seconds, then blinked again. “The tea as in gossiping?” Gojou Satoru made sure, and Chousou nodded solemnly. “What the fuck?” He repeated, his eyes getting back to the chattering duo.
Yuuji was saying something, clearly invested in his story, while pointing at them. Sukuna listened intently, glancing in the pointed direction from time to time and nodding along, his eyebrows sometimes raising as if the information was something he found hard to believe.
“And we can't hear what they are talking about?” Gojou Satoru asked and clicked his tongue, annoyed.
“We can't.” Chousou confirmed and sighed with resignation. “That's part of their binding vow. If they talk, no one can hear them or interrupt them, and they can't engage in anything else than gossiping.” He revealed it in a grave tone. “I deeply apologize for Yuuji's thoughtless decision.” Chousou bowed on his younger brother's behalf.
“No, it's fine. I think it might actually save me a bit back there.” Gojou Satoru chuckled lightly, not taking his eyes off the duo. “I just wish Yuuji had told me about this binding vow in the first place beforehand.” He murmured and then sniffled with a wince, probably tasting blood. “I hate to say it, but I would love to do something about my bleeding brain.” The white-haired man laughed and glanced at him. “How long are they going to chat like this?”
Chousou sighed again. “The first time I witnessed it, not long after the Shibuya Incident, they were talking for hours.” He admitted and made an apologetic smile. “Yuuji can get very excited about other people's lives, I guess.” Chousou added with a sheepish laugh, which died awkwardly in his throat, so he hung his head low, embarrassed.
“Eh? Shouko?” Gojou Satoru mumbled suddenly, so Chousou turned where the white-haired man was looking to find the woman approaching them slowly.
“Can someone explain what is happening right now?” She asked right after she reached them, sounding done. Then the woman surveyed Gojou Satoru's body judgingly. “Whatever it is, thank Itadori for interfering. He just saved your life.” Ieiri Shouko stated bluntly.
“Nah, I'd win.” The white-haired man opposed, so the woman lightly hit the back of his head, the blood from his nose splattering on the ground with a loud smack.
They all winced and ignored the amount of blood pointedly, watching Sukuna being the one to talk now and the pink-haired boy nonchalantly sipping the tea while listening to him with wide open eyes.
“I hope Yuuji didn't spill something unnecessary.” Gojou Satoru snorted and then made a thoughtful expression. “Welp. Let's prepare for another round.” He grinned widely. “Now I feel like drinking tea~” The white-haired man intoned and winked at them playfully, then laughed loudly at their matching deadpan expressions.