Archive of Our Own

Since he was a small boy, Megumi unwaveringly approached danger without timidity.

He was always a shy child, but there were certain throes of life Megumi could not disregard. Instead of ignoring his bravado and having a calm childhood, the black-haired boy sought exhilarating experiences, luckily funded by his foster parent.

This included his lifelong passion: underwater deep diving.

He learned how to swim rather late, around ten years old. Gojo placed him in several different classes until they found the right instructor. His very first teacher was Instructor Getou, who also happens to be Megumi’s stepfather, technically. Not really, but after growing up with Gojo and Getou, it feels like it.

The two lovebirds met on Megumi’s third day of class. Gojo was smitten, told by the dozens of flowers he’d bring every session, but Getou was hard to win over. To this day, when they reminisce, Getou blames Megumi for how “adorable” he was, eventually leading to him accepting a date.

Getou was meant to be a parent. He fathered Megumi splendidly, in a manner even mothers would fawn over. Thus, Gojo fell in love, and they’ve been married for years now.

At sixteen, Megumi attempted scuba diving and hated it. He tried it again a month later—right after skydiving a week before—and saw a new perspective.

Maybe his bravery came from the fact swimming underwater wasn’t nearly as terrifying as falling ten thousand feet in the air. Who knows. But he went back and spent an entire day with the new class, swimming around reefs.

He happened upon a small turtle, barely the size of his palm. It was the first instance Megumi realized there was life blossoming around him. The outside world was so tiny compared to the ocean, akin to that cute turtle who nudged his knuckle.

Since that day, Megumi fell in deep, deep love.

Skydiving, caving, mountain biking—none of it came close to the wonders underwater. At twenty-seven, he works as a Scuba Instructor for teenagers, hoping to get the mastery certification before the end of the year. His students are a handful, way more eccentric than he ever was, but Megumi enjoys teaching them.  

He loves seeing the moment they become obsessed. Whether it be after an exhilarating dive, or they accomplish a training they’ve been practicing for months—it’s always surreal.

Megumi practically cries when he sees a student have that moment, knowing all too well the sweet serenity of underwater diving.

Suffice to say, for Megumi, life has never been better. He and his students are on a trip to the countryside to train in a few underwater sites. As long as the site is safe, they are free to train wherever for experience.

The countryside has an endless number of underwater sites that are perfect for ocean dives. Most are maintained by local diving agencies, but Megumi learns not to underestimate nature and her fickleness.

The Cursed Sinkhole sounds scary in name, but it’s a typical diving site. It’s hidden by shrubs and bushes, separated a few meters from the main ocean but substantial, nonetheless. Megumi has dived in it around thirty times, so he’s familiar with the layout.

“Hey,” Megumi holds the cell to his ear. “I made it to TCS. It should only be about an hour. Are you all doing okay?”

The other line goes static. Megumi hits his phone and sighs in relief when he hears the student respond. What a sucky fucking connection.

“Yes, sir! This hotel isn’t that bad. A few students did order food service, though…”

“That’s fine. I trust you guys,” Megumi gives a small smile. “Make sure you eat enough. You’ll be swimming your asses off tomorrow.”

“Thank god, I’m so excited!” The student squeals. They are one of Megumi’s most levelheaded students, evidenced by Megumi calling him of all people. “How is Instructor Kugisaki? We haven’t seen her in forever. You should bring her to class tomorrow, Fushiguro!”

Ah, right.

Megumi looks around the field.

He has his equipment set up on a rock, ready for wear, along with extra tanks. Instructor Kugisaki is one of his previous teaching partners, but she wasn’t able to make the trip due to…shopping arrangements. Go figure.

There is one rule Megumi tells his students to abide by. He places it on every test, mentions it in every conversation, and ensures they know it’s nothing to joke around with. The rule is—

Never go diving alone.

Nothing is scarier than being lost or abandoned underwater. You’ll have no technology (evidently) to call for help, and usually, you’re just out of luck. Diving with a partner is crucial. They can identify authorities in case of emergency. They can help assist with equipment issues. They make the overall dive much more fun, of course.

Diving alone is idiotic. It’s dangerous, stupid, and sets people up for trouble from the start. Megumi doesn’t care how much his students complain, he’ll drill it into their ears.

That being said, Megumi is diving alone today. That reckless part of him is still sparking, it seems.

“Kugisaki couldn’t make it, unfortunately,” Megumi says. “But I have a few buddies with me. I need to get going before it gets dark, okay? I’ll see you soon.”

“Okay! See you, Fushiguro. Good luck!”

“Thank you.”

Megumi hangs up. Tucking his phone into a bag, he starts taking off his jacket and dressing for the dive.

The process is tedious. The black wetsuit makes his body warm, so eventually, he jumps into the water to cool down.

He has to do a few breathing practices before finally putting on his scuba mask. Megumi double-checks everything ten times, a very serious routine.

The young diver places on his mask, counts to six, and slowly sinks into the water.

Instantly, it is peaceful.

The sinkhole is gorgeous. Tiny to large fish swim below. Megumi can already see it is going to be a gorgeous dive.

The Cursed Sinkhole is 478 meters deep. The edges are wide enough for casual/recreational swimming. However, Megumi intends to teach his students the importance of gradual ascents and descents, so it is the perfect site.

Megumi admires the pretty sea life he comes across. He’s trained now and knows touching them is not the best idea. So, he keeps his hands to himself and enjoys the sights.

The area is pretty clear. He doesn’t plan on taking the students deeper than a few feet. The diver sees underwater caves and swallows his need to explore. He always wanted to get more into cave diving.

As Megumi gazes, just by chance, he sees bubbles rising.

They are subtle, faint.

Out of curiosity, he swims downward, following their line of path. He switches to his mixed air, allowing him to explore more freely.

Almost instantly, Megumi is smacked by shock before slowing his breathing. He closes his eyes and tries to calm his fastening heartbeat.

It’s a dead diver’s body.

Their finned feet stick out of a medium-sized cave tunnel. It looks like they were trying to explore it but got stuck. It makes sense. Just from a glance, Megumi can tell the body isn’t small or medium, that’s for sure.

It’s his first time coming across one, though he’s heard stories all the time from Getou. Megumi glances at his depth reader. 65 meters.

He won’t be able to rescue, not without proper equipment. Rescue diving was something Megumi knew he wanted to perfect, so he’s taking more than enough classes to gain certification.

But it’s really unsafe to do it alone. He’ll add a mark, just to remember.

Megumi is pulling out a marker when bubbles enter his vision again. He blinks under the mask. He grabs the body’s calf and lightly pulls. It moves, light as air.

They aren’t stuck…?

Then, the leg kicks, and Megumi freaks the fuck out.

A slew of bubbles blow from his mask as Megumi catches his breath.

The body isn’t a dead man, but an alive man!

What are the chances he comes across another diver in the countryside? Is he seeing right?

The man’s movements are slow and corpse-like. Yet, Megumi sees the bubbles and knows he’s breathing.

He’s breathing. I have to save him.

All his training is meant for this.

Megumi reorganizes his equipment, so it won’t get caught in the strangers. He quickly places the man against the cave and organizes giving him a mixed gas tank.

Once changed, Megumi tries to initiate eye contact with him, but he’s fully out of it. A quick check of the man’s digital monitor shows he’s been diving for around thirty minutes.

Was he still swimming while I was prepping? Megumi thinks. I didn’t see a car or equipment bags.

For good measure, Megumi taps the mask’s tempered glass. The man’s eyes open, glancing around before seeing Megumi. The smaller male tries to wave, but the stranger is stubborn. He pushes Megumi away.

I’m trying to help you, Megumi sighs in his head. Don’t hold it against him. He’s drunk on nitrogen right now.

Thankfully, the man doesn’t fight when Megumi wraps a spare emergency rope around his waist. He musters all the strength in the world to swim upward, pulling the heavyweight.

Once the stranger realizes what’s happening, he attempts to swim again, albeit terribly. The effort is appreciated, though. Megumi flutters his feet and helps him when he accidentally flips himself over.

A few decompression stops later, they make it to the surface. Megumi immediately takes off his face mask and drags the stranger onto the bushes and shrubs.

The smaller male sits on the mud and lets out heavy breaths. He digs into his bag nearby and calls for an ambulance.

“Hello, yes, I need an ambulance, please,” Megumi huffs. “The address is…fuck…”

He fights to give a proper explanation, including the sinkhole’s name, though it isn’t officially recognized. Eventually, they track his cell’s location and tell him one is on the way.

The stranger is touching his face mask. Megumi hangs up and watches. It’s a funny moment, contrasting with the situation’s severity.

The man could have died. Megumi, too, if he wasn’t calm like he was.

Megumi…did it.

He saved him.

“Do you need help with your mask?” Megumi asks.

The stranger pulls at the rubber on his neck while lying on his back. That’s a yes. Megumi helps, carefully tugging to not rip out hair.

The man’s face is pale. He looks exhausted, short pale-pink hair spiked away from his forehead to show fatigued maroon irises. His jawline is sharp and shapely.

From a glance, Megumi sees the stranger is in great shape, so it’s a wonder he got himself in a dumb situation.

“I called an ambulance because I’m not sure if you’ll get decompression sickness. It’s better to check than regret it later,” Megumi sighs. “Do you need water?”

He sits on his knees and leans over the larger man’s broad torso.

The stranger is befuddled. Nitrogen narcosis will do that to you.

Megumi cocks an eyebrow. He reaches for an extra water bottle in his bag and twists open the cap.

“Can you understand me?”

Finally, the man glances at Megumi. They stare each other down. Megumi asks again. “Do you need anything?”

The stranger licks his dry lips. He whispers weakly like he’s in death’s throes:

“CPR.”

Megumi blinks. CPR?

“Huh?”

“I can’t breathe,” He strains; his voice is thick like honey maple. “You’re fuckin’ gorgeous.”

Megumi blinks again.

Water drops from his long lashes, rippling onto the stranger's wetsuit. His heart is beating fast, from confusion and an inability to respond to such a vulgar statement.

It feels like he’s the one drunk on nitrogen now, rather than the stranger.

“E…” Megumi swallows. “Excuse me?”

“I need your air,” The man places a gloved hand on his abdomen. “I can play dead if you want.”

He manages a grin, enough to make Megumi feel like he is dreaming of this encounter.

The young diver looks at the water bottle in his hand. The stranger is still lying on his back, ogling Megumi as if he hadn’t been minutes close to being a forgotten corpse.

Megumi scowls. He doesn’t care about the flirting. But he’ll be damned if someone takes diving like a game when he’s a certified professional!

As a response, Megumi pours the water on his face.

“Ah—!”

The larger diver turns away, but his body is too weak to move substantially, Megumi can tell. He stops pouring and watches him shake the water away, coughing.

“Thanks for the sip of fuckin’ water,” He growls. “You got a deadbeat not teachin’ ya simple shit?”

Megumi’s jaw nearly drops. What a complete asshole, from the second he came to the surface!

“As a fellow diver, I shouldn’t have to tell you that it’s dangerous to go diving alone. Not only that, but on compressed air at your depth. If I hadn’t had my tank, I would have had to leave you there,” Megumi crosses his arms. “So, instead of trying to hide your embarrassment—“

The stranger interrupts. “I don’t need your help, sweetheart.”

“Your words are still slurring. You couldn’t even recognize a stranger saving you, but you didn’t need my help?”

“Nah, I didn’t,” He continues. “Swim in that shit all the time. I don’t…need…yeah…” The stranger’s eyebrows scrunch up. He arches his back, a grunt of pain escaping his lips.

“Fuck.”

“What’s wrong?” Megumi asks. “Is your body hurting? Your chest?” Panic arises.

The ambulance should be here soon. But what if the sickness is too severe? The next emergency step would be to go back into the water and recompress so the man doesn’t die from gas in his blood.

Megumi scrolls through his choices. He doesn’t notice the stranger’s grunts falling into silence, body limp.

“I’m bringing you back in. You were under for too long.”

Silence. Megumi is in the middle of fixing his face mask when he says it once more.

The man is unconscious.

He can’t knock out right now.

The young diver tosses the mask to the side and places his ear on his chest. It’s slow. Panicked, Megumi places his palms on his chest and pushes.

There’s no way he actually needs CPR, right? No! He can’t focus on dumb things like that. If this stranger dies in his hands, Megumi will never forgive himself. Ever.

Ignoring the man’s past remarks, Megumi blows air into his mouth and performs the procedure. He’s pumping for at least ten minutes until the ambulance arrives.

A paramedic runs up once Megumi gives the stranger his last breath, mouth to mouth, and moves away. By the grace of Poseidon or whatever meaningless sea Gods that exist, he coughs and starts dry heaving.

Megumi’s face lights up.

“Hey! I saved you! You better not die!” He growls. His anger is misplaced since even the paramedics glance at Megumi oddly.

“He’s going to need a chamber, right now. Did you guys bring one? He’s not going to make it if you don’t,” They’re placing the stranger on a stretcher. “Please, just tell me you brought one!”

“Sir,” One paramedic, a woman, reassures. “You told us to bring one several times when you called. We have one. Do you not remember?”

“Huh?” Megumi blinks. “I did?”

“Your words are slurring a bit, sir,” The lady says. “We’ll get all your things. How about you come to the ambulance with us?”  

She lays a hand on his lower back and pushes him toward it. Megumi follows along, questioning, wondering what they mean.

Has he been out of it this entire time and didn’t notice?

Before they place them into two separate ambulances, Megumi catches the fellow diver’s eyes again. They’re busy trying to lift the stretcher, which is a hard task considering the man’s height and weight.

The pink-haired man raises two fingers to his lips, an index, and middle finger, and kisses them, blowing the flirty air Megumi’s way. It’s foolish how confused that makes Megumi, but also, gives him butterflies.

It’s a story he’ll likely tell his students, laughing around because they probably won’t ever meet again after this.

Right?

Fortunately, Megumi’s symptoms were from mild sickness due to ascending too fast, an indirect result of narcosis. He sat in the hospital for an entire day to ensure all symptoms disappeared.

As he did, Megumi mellowed over his dumb mistake and refused to see his students until he felt confident. Thankfully, Instructor Kugisaki drove down as soon as she heard and took them all out on a training dive to get their minds off Megumi’s hospitalization.

It’s ironic. His intention in diving into the sinkhole was to make sure it was safe enough for his students, yet he ended up doing a mediocre, dangerous rescue. Megumi caused the man’s sickness. He failed proper procedures.

It goes without saying that Megumi wants to apologize to him. So, he forces a nurse to give him the stranger’s room number and sneaks out that night to see him.

Megumi knocks lightly on the white door. No one answers.

“Um,” He stammers. “It’s Megumi. Shit, you don’t know my name yet. Uh, it’s the diver who saved you? Are you awake?”

He holds his hands behind his back.

“No.”

A stern reply. Megumi stops rocking back and forth.

“Then how are you answering…?” The smaller male scowls. “I’m coming in.”

The room is an exact duplicate of his own. It’s bright white with two visitor chairs, a wide window, and an uncomfortable bed. The stranger lays on it, arms wrapped in bandages from IVs, but face back in full color.

Megumi smiles. He is doing well, then.

“How are yo—“

“Don’t expect brownie points,” The stranger rolls his eyes. “Makes me sick. ‘The hell are you lookin’ at?” Megumi freezes. He already sat on the visitor chair, but now, he’s ready to leave.

“Is there something wrong with you?” Says the young diver. “Like, mentally?”

Surprisingly, the man cackles. “You should be asking what about me isn’t, sweetheart.”

“I can see that.”

“You come to chew me out more?”

Megumi cocks an eyebrow. “Huh? Why would I do that?” The stranger scratches the back of his neck.

“You look like the type.”

“Well, I already did so. There is no need,” Megumi sighs. “All I ask is that you get your gear inspected. I may have thrown it around a few times trying to lift you. And really, I wanted to say sorry.”

He takes a deep breath and continues. “I’m a certified diver, but I made mistakes back there. I should have taken my time with the rescue. I got too impatient.”

When Megumi looks up from staring at his fingers, the stranger stares back, bored.

“Seriously?” He asks. Reluctantly, Megumi nods. “You’re bitchin’ ‘cause you saved my life?”

The words hit Megumi like a breeze, cold as winter mint. Just before, the stranger said Megumi hadn’t saved him at all. What made him change his mind?

“I could have been safer—“

“—and I don’t know about that inspection shit.  Sounds like another gimmick for takin’ my damn money,” The man snorts. “Nice try, sugar.”

Megumi freezes. That minty breeze is now a blizzard, turning the diver’s entire body into an icicle.

Did he…did he just…

He can’t believe it. It’s one of the most important rules for deep diving! Always, always keep updated equipment.

“You don’t get your gear inspected?” Megumi breathlessly asks. “You’re crazy…how long have you had it?”

“Five years.”

“Oh my God…” Alas, that places the nail in the coffin. The smaller male covers his face in second-hand embarrassment. “…you’re such an idiot!”

Rather passionately, Megumi jumps from the chair. He points a jagged finger at the man, face scary, and grinds through his tightened jaw.

“Diving is not some child’s play sport! People die from simple mistakes, and it isn’t a joke! One day, your arrogance is going to make you a missing body!” He sucks in a breath. “You should get your gear inspected annually, at least. What you consider a waste of money could save your life someday. If you’re going to have such a dangerous hobby, don’t complain about the costs.”

The phone feels hot in his palm. Megumi throws his cell into the stranger’s lap as if it’s magma. The man doesn’t move to touch, too busy digging into his ear.

“Put your phone number in there, now,” Megumi demands. The stranger pauses at the tone. “It’s my duty as a diver to teach you. I don’t care about your complaints. Put in the number.”

The stranger reaches for the phone with the finger he just had in his ear. Megumi shouts. “Wash your hands!” The man jumps.

“Will you make up your damn mind?”

“Tch,” He snatches his phone back. Ear wax is gross, God damn it! “Just tell me. I’ll type it.”

It takes a few seconds for Megumi to create the contact. He casually moves for the name, before realizing he never got it. Megumi clenches the phone and hesitates to ask.

“Um…” He starts, his natural shyness peeking behind the curtain. “What’s your name?”

To mend the bubbles in his stomach, Megumi raises the phone’s camera and snaps a photo of the stranger’s scary face. It’s for a contact picture.

Unusually, the stranger ignores Megumi’s invasion of privacy and focuses on the question. He licks his lips and smiles like he did lying on those bushes and shrubs, flirting while half alive.

“Sukuna,” The handsome male murmurs. “You gonna call me?”

The connotation of those words makes Megumi blush. He saves the contact and turns off his phone.

“Be thankful you’ll be getting a text, if at all.”

“So cold.”

“Thanks,” Megumi stands up, heading to the exit. “Let’s keep it that way.”

They don’t keep it that way.

In fact, after that day, Megumi quite literally was a bulldozer in Sukuna Ryoumen’s life. He didn’t mean to.

Sometimes, he wonders what he’s doing, but excuses it on the guise that if he weren’t around, Sukuna would end up dying young.

Sukuna is a recreational diver with a natural allegiance to doing shit only technicals would do. Professionals. When Megumi brought Sukuna to a shop to get his gear serviced, they ended up getting a whole new set. His gear was more than five years old and was actually a hand-me-down he got off a resell market.

For the millionth time, how is this man still alive?

Sukuna is also twenty-one years old. He certainly does not look that young, but considering his arrogant personality, Megumi can get behind it. That, or Sukuna has always been this way. If he ever met family, he’d ask.

Considering his age, Megumi took his longing to see Sukuna as something mentor-like. He’d do the same for any of his reckless students.

Guaranteed, forcing Sukuna to go dive shopping, training him against his will, and showing up to his solo dives uninvited isn’t the ideal teaching technique but you know…it isn’t official, alright?

Slowly but surely, it became fun. It’s been years since Megumi had a deep diving buddy, mainly stuck with other highly-certified instructors rather than a friend. Sukuna isn’t certified at all, yet his experience is overflowing.  

On a particular day, after an exhaustive dive, they had dinner at a diner. Megumi ordered a chicken sandwich, while Sukuna got a tasty steak and potatoes. The smaller diver recalls glancing at Sukuna’s plate over and over, the smell winning his nose.

Sukuna cut his meal and, without much attention to it, gave Megumi half. Naturally, Megumi shared his as well so the man had enough to eat

“Been divin’ since I was six years old,” Sukuna said as he chewed on the bloody steak. “Not sayin’ I can’t die, but if I did, I wouldn’t be too mad.”

“That’s not a healthy way to live,” Megumi had reprimanded. The diner played soft music on the jukebox. “You should never let the water conquer you. Accepting death underwater is like accepting death on the surface. You’re pathetic, either way.”

Sukuna looked surprised. His cheeks munched like a squirrel, and his back slouched as digested the sudden rant.

“Damn, sweetheart,” He sucked his fingers. “I’m just talkin’. Gotta be so mean to me?”

“Absolutely,” Megumi hid the heat on his cheeks by taking a sip of his soda. “You’re too reckless. I know exactly how to handle you.”

‘I know exactly how to handle people like you,’ Megumi had meant to say.

Yet, he forgot to add one part, and he questioned whether that was significant or not.

Sukuna being a self-taught, highly-experienced diver is amazing. The only thing he lacks is proper procedure. He runs on complete instinct; it may have saved him in the past, but now that Megumi is here, the good luck has run out.

It’s time the man gets serious about valuing his life.

His endless struggle to get Sukuna to be safer, excused by his natural duty as a technical diver, is a farce. Well, it’s not a complete farce, but his reasons why aren’t entirely honest.

Bypassing all common sense and rationality, Sukuna Ryoumen has a gorgeous smile. Aligned white teeth shine like diamonds underneath mulberry lips. Megumi is twenty-seven years old. He’s far too old for Sukuna, in his opinion, but—

He is falling for him.

Embarrassingly fast.

When Megumi realizes, it’s late at night, and he’s thinking about how Sukuna grabbed his waist during a dive to assist him. He shoved a pillow on his face and screamed, kicking his legs as his cheeks burned.

Burning, always blushing. Isn’t the water supposed to cool those types of functions? They are permanent polka dots on his cheeks. 

It’s all Sukuna’s fault. He towers over Megumi, shoulders and biceps larger than Gojo and Getou’s combined, and his wetsuit is so tight that it…should not be legal. It should be considered public indecency.

No one would focus seeing…that all the time!

Sukuna is breathtakingly handsome, but he’s also charismatic in a way that actually isn’t charismatic at all. He flirts. However, he isn’t a people-pleaser, and you’ll never find him doing anything that doesn’t benefit him, either.

He is aggressively himself, and Megumi enjoys his buoyant personality. In a world where fake smiles are the norm, Sukuna’s bluntness is a breath of floral fresh air.

What makes matters worse is that his crush is not one-sided.

Sukuna has made it very clear, on numerous occasions, that he wants to take Megumi on a date.

It’s not surprising considering what he said when they first met. But that doesn’t take away Megumi’s shock whenever Sukuna asks again.

Megumi is going to be thirty before he knows it. There is no way Sukuna would stay loyal. Younger men prefer younger partners—they have a sweeter smell, or so poets say. They’d describe Megumi’s “river” as drying up.

Absentmindedly, Megumi said this to Sukuna one day. He just finished asking him on a date, to which Megumi quickly declined. Sukuna laughed at Megumi’s worries and said: “Things will be plenty wet when I’m around you.”

Things. Things.

Of course, Megumi screamed in his pillow again that night. His neighbor texted him, “r u ok?”

He ignored it.

As if ‘things’ weren’t wet now.

All the innuendos are driving him wild, and Megumi hasn’t had sex in three years. He blamed it on hormones and bought a few sex toys that next weekend. He used one several times a day, for an entire week, before throwing it in frustration when the battery died.

Dick doesn’t die, Megumi whined at the loss. Well, hopefully…

Sukuna found out about Megumi’s biggest diving insecurity after two months of knowing each other. Megumi frequented the countryside so much, he nearly forgot what the city looked like.

They had just finished exploring an underwater wave. Sukuna suggested they stay until nighttime, but Megumi adamantly refused. Then, Sukuna asked the dreaded question.

“Have you ever dived at night?”

The fat answer is no.

Megumi has never, and will never, dive at night. It’s not a safety issue. It’s perfectly fine to do so. Some people say nighttime diving is the best diving you’ll ever do, simply because of how ethereal it is.

But Megumi is downright terrified of the dark.

The young boy in him has bad memories of darkness. Before being placed in Gojo’s care, Megumi jumped from foster to foster, seemingly never finding his place.

His early foster parents were neglectful and forgot about the kids at home. They had no food and, frequently, no power. The darkness was scary and unknown, and it’s been an uncomfortable feeling he hadn’t mended at his older age.

So, Megumi told Sukuna he couldn’t, and the sun lit in the man’s eyes.

“Couldn’t?”

“Yeah…I don’t like the dark.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s scary? What else, genius?”

“That’s a shame,” Sukuna shrugged. “I thought we were the same type of person. Ya know, the type that’s a little crazy, a little too obsessed with divin’—” The words had hit Megumi’s pride, burning it alight. “—but beggars can’t be choosers.”

Megumi recalls packing his equipment, body still as Sukuna hummed a tune. He hardly noticed Megumi’s vex at all, too wrapped up in singing, so he didn’t foresee the attack.

The professional diver rammed into Sukuna’s side, throwing off his balance until he tripped back into the water.

The water looked pretty as Sukuna swam, rippling stars from the sunset. Megumi crossed his arms at the dock, lips tucked into a pout.

“Don’t ever insinuate I’m not in love with diving," He profoundly stated. “I’ll swim at night any fucking time. Name a date.” Sukuna looked silly halfway underwater. Soon enough, he made himself float on his back and smirked wildly at Megumi.

“Sunday night.”

The smaller diver nodded. “Sunday night, then. Text me the details.” In a cute fit of rage, he snatched his bag and ran from the dock, ignoring Sukuna’s laughter.

And well…that brings him to the current time.

Sunday night.

On a boat. In the middle of the ocean.

And Megumi is shaking.

The boat is rather small, enough for only two people, really. They aren’t too far from land, but far enough that Megumi can’t separate the horizon and the ocean anymore. It’s pitch-black, save for the flashlight on Sukuna’s hip, and the gibbous moon illuminating the ocean’s skin.

Megumi fiddles with his fingers as Sukuna straightens his gear. The man looks behind him, form statuesque, and curls his finger.

“Lemme check you,” He says. Megumi flusters. The taller male spends a few minutes reassuring Megumi’s gear is fine, and in the diver’s nervous haze, he forgets to—respectfully—check Sukuna’s as well.

“Not gonna ask me?” Sukuna steps back, gesturing his new gear. It’s likely fine, but if Megumi doesn’t look out for his diving buddy, he’s defeating the purpose of being who he is.

Just as Megumi reaches to turn Sukuna around, the man grins and falls backward into the water.

“Su—” Megumi curls his fingers around the air. “—Sukuna!”

The fear bubbles like gas in his lungs. Megumi clenches the boat’s rims and searches along the water. He can’t see, he can’t see!

The young diver jumps into the water and stretches his forearms outward to feel for him.

“Come on,” Megumi mumbles to himself. He nearly whines. “Don’t leave me here alone. I’ll literally die. I can’t—”

Like a beluga whale (or maybe, Megumi wants to call him that because he’s pissy), Sukuna jumps up from the water. He shakes his hair and whistles with those perfect teeth.

The moon casts light on his features, and for a moment, Megumi begs Buddha that he could be such an intangible thing—brightness, moonlight. It touches Sukuna’s skin so delicately, that you’d forget anything bastardly the man done, even if you hated him for it.

Megumi gets lost in space, or his thoughts, causing Sukuna to splash him. The young diver snorts and coughs, swiping his eyes as Sukuna suctions in his scuba mask.

“You ready?” he asks, voice muffled.

No.

“…yeah.”

Sukuna sinks in first, yet Megumi hesitates. His hands are shaking. Breathing in, Megumi slowly descends, shaky palm cradling his flashlight.

The drowning silence is the only peaceful element. Megumi can’t see anything. Anxiously, he clicks on the flashlight and shines it around the darkened ocean. He sees a few sea creatures, but the light is far too small to make any noticeable difference.

It only takes a few minutes before Megumi realizes he won’t be able to find Sukuna in this darkness, and the utter panic sinks.

It’s almost fatal to freak out while diving.

It expands your lungs, kills your sense of reason, and only alerts your body’s survival senses.

Thus, the first thought is to run to the surface, rather than handle what can be a fixable mistake, calmly. Besides, it’s deep-water diving. There is no time to run to the surface without serious health issues.

Nevertheless, before Megumi can descend any further, he wildly swims upward. His form is dysfunctional, heart is pounding fast. He doesn’t even think to look at his depth reader. He just wants to get out.

As he swims, Megumi’s flailing arms hit his mouthpiece.

It falls out. He reaches for it, but the bubbles from his breath are blocking the view. He whines, the sound echoing under the water.

At that moment, Megumi knew he was going to drown.

A warm sensation wraps around the young diver’s torso. Megumi grabs onto it, feeling ruffled gear and the smoothness of a wetsuit. He hums, conveying urgency, until he’s lifted into the humid ocean air.

Megumi snatches his mask off and heaves. The fright is settling in his nerves, laying eggs, forever memories. He’s trying to stay afloat, but all his limbs are rattlesnakes.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” Sukuna’s voice sounds like tornado sirens in his ears. “Are you stupid? An idiot? A fool?”

The man tugs him closer to his chest. Large palms wipe along Megumi’s face, clearing saltwater from inner corners. Megumi keeps coughing.

“I…” He huffs. “I can’t do it, Sukuna. It’s too dark—”

“It was hardly a minute,” Sukuna scrunches his eyebrows. “You were serious about never divin’ at night?”

“Yes! Do you think I’d lie for no good reason?” Megumi spits out water that crashes into his mouth, courtesy of the waves. “I almost died!”

“You weren’t gonna die. Relax.”

“I’ll stay on the boat,” Megumi shakes his hair. “I’ll only get in the way. Just…” He trails off. What does he really want to say?

He’s disappointed in himself.

He is ashamed, because after having so many dives under his belt, Megumi still isn’t close to perfection. What if his students acted the same way? Would he be able to help them, after knowing how much of a coward he could be himself?

There is an unsettling silence that floats between them. Megumi starts grabbing onto the boat to lift himself. In the midst, Sukuna sighs.

“Megumi.”

The smaller male ignores him. The insecurity only festers.

“Megumi.”

“What?” Megumi nearly shouts.

“You’re not gonna drown. Isn’t that the point of goin’ together?” Sukuna rolls his eyes. “Can’t believe you got me sayin’ this…but you make sure I’m safe, so I do the same. You sayin’ you don’t trust me?”

Megumi speaks softly. “You’re not certified.”

“I didn’t ask that,” He says. “Do you trust me?”

He dwells on it. Rather shyly, Megumi turns back around, arms waving underwater as he swims. Sukuna blinks and blinks until Megumi’s forehead reaches his chin, and they are close once more.

Megumi licks his lips. Water ripples down his eyebrow until dripping off a lash.

“One more time.”

“That’s a good boy,” Sukuna jokes, patting his head, but Megumi’s heart explodes. “Since I’m the expert here, you gotta listen to me. Got it?”

Megumi fakes an irritated sigh.

“We’ll see.”

“When we go down, we go slow. No rushin’. Give your eyes time to adjust to the dark. And don’t point the flashlight up. Keep it down, like this,” Sukuna cocks the diving light. “Actually…”

The man thinks for a few seconds. Soon enough, he nods in self-assurance. “When I tap you,  make sure you look at me, alright?”

Megumi nods. “Okay.”

Sukuna lightly folds their right hands together. He lifts them, the sounds of sloshing water bringing it to special attention.

“Don’t let go.”

Megumi hums.

“I need to put my mask back on though…”

“I meant when we’re ready, dumbass.”

They prepare once more, checking gear and ensuring everything is ready. Megumi feels the bubbles in his stomach boil as they get closer and closer to actuality.

“You can’t let go,” Megumi rambles, over and over, when Sukuna starts the countdown. “I’m serious. If you let go, I’m going to freak out.”

“I’m not gonna let go.”

“You promise?”

“I promise, Megumi. What are we, four years old?”

“Please,” The tremble is faint. “Please don’t make any jokes.”

Megumi clenches Sukuna’s hand tight enough to leave a bruise, but the man says nothing. He blocks the moonlight with his broad shoulders, a few beams peeking through to touch Megumi’s emerald eyes.

Sukuna keeps staring, and Megumi gets confused. He yelps through the mask.

“Are we going?” He says impatiently. “I can’t take the suspense.”

“Stay calm. I’m goin’ now,” The pink-haired man whispers.

They move agonizingly slowly. Megumi uses his left hand to grab Sukuna’s wrist for extra security. When Sukuna notices the shakiness, he freezes before leaning to the smaller diver’s ear, moving his mask last minute to say:

“I got you, sweetheart. I’m not lettin’ you go…”

Those are the final words he hears. The water surrounds his entire body, warm—thankfully—due to the hot sun cooking all afternoon. Megumi adheres to Sukuna’s advice. He switches to holding Sukuna with one hand, and slowly lets his eyes adjust to the darkness.

It’s an agonizing few seconds. His chest pounds, but Sukuna’s palm is so overtly large, that it mystically warms his entire arm. Megumi sees a light flash, and soon, has a full view of Sukuna.

The man tucks his flashlight in a belt, pointed downward, to allow them a bit of secondary light. Had Megumi been calm enough, he would have done the same…obviously.

Alas, after sinking a few more feet, Sukuna taps the tempered glass on his scuba mask. When I tap you, make sure you look at me.

Megumi obeys.

Even though Megumi can’t see Sukuna’s expression, he knows the man is smiling like a psycho right now. Call it intuition.

The larger man moves his arms and fins wildly. It would have been a concerning sight, had Megumi not noticed the glowing sparkles echoing the dance. It sends goosebumps along Megumi’s spine.

It’s like a fireworks show. Sukuna gestures Megumi’s hand, essentially saying: Try it.

The smaller diver stares at his palm. I can do that, too?

He wiggles his hand back and forth. Astoundingly, the azure glow reappears, and Megumi is questioning if Sukuna slipped some odd chemical in the water. It’s a childish thought, but nothing comes close to imagining it as this magical diving experience.

The more they swim, the more they glow, akin to stardust. The panic that once consumed him is gone, replaced by an unparalleled joy at experiencing the unknown.

With this in mind, Megumi lets go of Sukuna’s hand. I’m alright, now. The action reads. He swims to a few glowing reefs and hums.

A warm sensation wraps along his right palm. Megumi blinks under his mask and looks over. Sukuna gives a punishing squeeze, enough to make the smaller flinch.

He didn’t like that, I guess.

It’s picturesque. Everything, anything. Megumi starts regretting not carrying any mixed gases since he already wants to go deeper. What other sights is he missing?

He had no clue.

I would have never known.

When they reach the surface, Megumi throws his mask onto the boat and smiles. He pushes Sukuna’s shoulder playfully.

“Did you see that?” He rambles. “We were glowing. Did you see that glowing eel, too? It looked like a lightsaber.  Ha, I guess I feel like a kid again. Is that weird?”

He’s rambling so much that he doesn’t notice Sukuna’s silence. Megumi slams onto the boat, the man’s hands pushing his thighs for assistance. He continues until he sees Sukuna still in the water.

Sukuna leans on the edge of the boat. He sets his cheek on his palm, head cocked as he gazes longingly. Megumi reaches over.

“Did you need help?”

Sukuna hums. “Yeah, I need…”

Innocently so, Megumi outstretches his arm, the boat rocking. Sukuna’s eyes don’t jet from the beauty’s features, not once.

“CPR.”

It’s so soft, almost hesitant like he hadn’t meant to say it. Megumi retracts his arm. He searches along Sukuna’s cheeks, questioning if he’s daydreaming about the rare blush.

Megumi wants to laugh and make fun of him. Out of all the terrible pick-up lines, that’s the best one to revert to? He’s a siren calling for help.  

Except this time, Megumi wants the excuse of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, too.

He snatches Sukuna by the wetsuit and lifts him. Fingers crawl along his neck, palms cuddling his jaw. Megumi wishes he could take his gloves off, but the drunk look on Sukuna’s face is too sweet to miss.

The kiss is inebriating.

Megumi tilts his head and slots warm lips together. His tongue has a mind of its own, slithering into the man’s mouth as the connection gets lustful. The dam fulminates.

They are kissing over a boat, risking a tip-over because Sukuna weighs more than a ton. Megumi leans closer, his back arches. He’s drowning in the way Sukuna takes control.

When they break apart, Sukuna says, breathlessly: “It’s bioluminescence. It makes fish or algae glow in the dark.”

Megumi blinks, lips wet and swollen as a rainy rose. What?

“Huh?”

“The glowin’.”

“Oh…” Megumi touches his lips. “…come in the boat with me?” He doesn’t have to ask. Sukuna will do it anyway. The connotation is clear enough. Who cares about that right now?

Kiss me.

It feels like centuries since Megumi has felt another’s touch. He isn’t the type to have sex with a stranger or a person he’s only known for a few months. That includes Sukuna, the reckless countryside guy who wouldn’t stop loving diving even if he tried.

Maybe Megumi’s desperation comes from that; the good and bad of it. He doesn’t allow Sukuna a chance to forget about the kiss when he gets in the boat. Instead, he’s longing for it, needy and hungry.

This is his destiny. In every manner that’s cheesy and unoriginal—meeting Sukuna was supposed to happen, and Megumi was meant to be just as reckless as him.

Or else, they’d never find anyone who understood them.

Their gear is pushed into a corner, yet wetsuits are still sticky against their skin. It gets exceedingly uncomfortable the more they kiss, with Megumi’s wet back sliding against the boat floor as Sukuna hovers his lips.

“Are you a virgin?” Megumi blurts.

It takes the larger man by surprise and as a possible insult.

“No, I mean…having sex for the first time on a boat, in the middle of nowhere, isn’t ideal…”

“You wanna fuck?” Sukuna asks, shocked. Megumi blinks, skin tightening as water dries on his face.

“You don’t?”

They stare like confusing cats.

A water drop from Sukuna’s hair lands on his cheek. Megumi blushes, realizing he might have moved a bit too fast. That's so fucking embarrassing...

“Though I’m flattered, we only have an hour left on the rental,” says Sukuna. “And no, I’m not. I’m not that fuckin’ young.” He adds sourly. Megumi rolls his eyes and puckers stubborn lips. 

“You can be my age and a virgin."

“Gotta have a lot of patience,” He chuckles. “Which you don’t.”

Megumi sways his head along the boat’s floor. “So…that’s a yes or no?”

“Skinny dip with me.”

“W…What?” Instantly, the smaller diver recoils. “I’ve never—”

“Seriously? How borin’ are you?” Sukuna scoffs. “You better be glad you saved me or else you’d be snoozin’ till you’re dead.”

“Isn’t it the other way around!?”

They bicker a bit before Sukuna initiates the activity himself. Standing tall, he unravels the wetsuit, pulling the tight fabric away from his skin like glue. Megumi slowly begins standing, hands fumbling at the zipper to his own.

Sukuna is a painting, in and out; created with the best acrylics and sculptured to perfection. Megumi hasn’t had the chance to ask Sukuna just how and why he has the muscles that he does, but he never complains. His strength has pulled them both out of some shitty dives.

Megumi unzips his wetsuit the wrong way and curses. He’s far too nosey looking at Sukuna—fully nude, now—and honestly, he’s thinking about ripping it. Luckily, the pink-haired man notices.

“Come’re.” He commands, curling his finger.

Megumi does so quickly, failing to meet maroon eyes as he stands back to chest.

The callouses on his fingers are raw on his skin. Megumi closes his eyes, holding in a moan. He isn’t that touch-deprived, is he? The smaller divert wiggles his arms free as Sukuna helps.

Megumi does a small bounce when the suit gets to his hips. He pushes the fabric past his thighs. He feels Sukuna’s body heat, a sign he’s stepping closer. Soft lips kiss the back of his neck, and Megumi sighs.

“If we aren’t doing anything, then stop,” He begs. “I’m sensitive, you know.”

The air is light and teasing. Sukuna’s laugh sends vibrations through his entire spine.

“Have I ever told you how gorgeous you look in this?” Sukuna pushes the wetsuit further down, hands generously groping Megumi’s thighs. “I’d like you to wear it on our weddin’ day.”

“Oh, shut up.”

Megumi steps out of the wetsuit fully nude. Sukuna is crouched on his knees, pulling the last sleeve off his slim ankle. The larger man doesn’t rise immediately.

Instead, he finds a water droplet running down Megumi’s calf and licks it. Megumi yelps and leans onto Sukuna’s shoulder. It keeps him upright as Sukuna licks up his thigh, stopping under his ass before leaving a wet kiss on the lower back.

The simple tease isn’t very simple at all, because it tells Megumi that if they had more time on the rental, Sukuna would have fucked him into the seafloor. There is no way he prefers anything traditional and vanilla.

Sukuna wraps his fingers around his neck. Megumi hums in pleasure, chin tilted to the moon.

“Needy lil’ thing, aren’t you?” He whispers. “You aren’t embarrassed? You’re technically in public, acting like such a slut.”

“We’re in the middle of nowhere. It’s fine.”

“Is it?” Sukuna sighs. “I don’t have cash for a late fee.”

Megumi grinds his teeth together. “…then stop messing with me, asshole!”

In frustration, he kicks the nude man’s ankle. He jumps like the boat floor is boiling hot. The attack doesn’t end there, because if there is one thing Megumi loves doing, it’s catching Sukuna off guard.

The smaller diver grins and runs into Sukuna’s side. Regardless of Megumi’s playful attack, Sukuna rearranges his body so he practically dives in perfectly. It negates the purpose of Megumi being an ass, which makes him want to be an ass even more.

“Damned half-fish,” Megumi mutters under his breath. He watches Sukuna emerge from the water, swiping hair away from his forehead. “You’re taking me to a hotel tonight.”

Sukuna doesn’t reply. His eyes feather over Megumi’s nude body. Slightly embarrassed, Megumi squeezes his nose and prepares to jump. The water is colder now, enough to make his body shiver as he shoots to the ocean’s surface.

Amidst Megumi swiping his eyes, Sukuna glides him to his chest, spreading the warmth they needed. They wouldn’t last long swimming, but it cooled their heated libidos. In substitute, making out is all they can do. Megumi can do it forever. It feels like some dream.

His fingers glide through Sukuna's damp locks as they kiss. It's salty. 

“A hotel…” Sukuna tries to say, but Megumi is hungry, desperate. His words come out muffled and halted, courtesy of the smaller diver's lips. “You think...I’d take you there? You’re comin’ home...with me.”

Megumi pauses. Lips red as blooming roses, he licks and asks:

“Where is that?”

“A cabin.”

“Oh god,” Megumi digs his face into the man’s neck. “No. You’re too rural…”

“Don’t knock it till you try it. You get the best dives out here. It’s why I’m better than you.”

That makes Megumi almost resentful. Sukuna grins, soaking in that deathly glare. It strokes his ego.

“You’re not a better diver than me.”

“It’s called denial.”

“Even my students are better than you.”

“Oh?”

“Yep.”

“I’d love to meet ‘em.”

“Hell no,” Megumi glares at him. Their voices sound so loud, so different while in the water. It feels like they are speaking in a fishbowl.

“You’re a bad influence.”

Sukuna rolls his eyes. “I’m not.”

“You would have died if it weren’t for me. Remember?”

Megumi brings that day up. He does so often, like a tick Sukuna will never get rid of. Thankfully, Sukuna doesn’t mind. He’ll always give Megumi that same heart-plucking smile, the one that reminds Megumi of polka dots and moonbeams. It’s refreshing. Slightly ethereal.

It’s not such a bad thing to reminisce on these days.

“That’s what they say,” says the man, breathless.