Work Text:
Christmas is the most special holiday of the year. At least, that's what Tsumiki told Megumi.
Megumi never really thought of Christmas as special, it was just another day off from school, but it meant the world to Tsumiki so he went along with it. She made hot chocolate and they'd eat fried chicken and watch a Christmas Special, and things would be okay.
The kids in his class would always talk about getting gifts on Christmas from Santa, or their parents. They'd show each other what their parents got them and Megumi would just nod along and pretend that he knew what they were talking about.
Sometimes people would ask Megumi if he got any gifts and he'd shrug and copy Tsumiki by saying, "my family can't afford gifts." It wasn't exactly a lie, but he supposed the more truthful thing was that there was simply nobody to give him a present in the first place. The person would give him a pitying look and move on, and Megumi was thankful.
Tsumiki was now shaking him awake, her eyes gleaming and her hair a mess. Megumi groaned, rubbing at his eyes.
"Merry Christmas!" She exclaimed, pulling the blanket off him.
Megumi blinked a couple times. "Oh. Right."
"Don't wake Satoru. He's still sleeping, he's probably really tired." Tsumiki said. "Let's make breakfast?"
Ah.
Gojo.
The white haired man had appeared to him that summer, wiggling his fingers and going on about his father. Megumi hadn't cared in the least what his father was doing, if he saw fit to abandon them, well, let him go right ahead. Satoru Gojo had since become a regular pain in the ass. Tsumiki adored him. Megumi thought he was weird and childish. He'd heard stories about the great sorcerer Gojo and how powerful he was, and then he'd seen Gojo and thought to himself, "no way, no way this is the guy."
It was still strange having him around, even if it wasn't all the time.
And so now the strongest sorcerer in the world was sleeping in their spare bed on Christmas Day. All right.
Megumi washed his face and then joined Tsumiki in the kitchen, who was pouring batter into a pan.
"Can you help me decorate the pancakes?" She asked.
"Uh. Sure."
They ate their pancakes at the table together, Megumi adding extra whipped cream and Tsumiki smiling at him.
"Let's make Christmas cookies today~" Tsumiki sang.
"Cookies?" Megumi repeated. "Like those Santa ones?"
Tsumiki smiled. "Well, I guess, but we can decorate them however we want."
"What will we decorate them with?"
"I think Gojo brought over some things, we can look in the bag he brought."
Megumi hummed and went back to his food.
"Ehhh, you guys are up so early..." Gojo groaned, stumbling into the room and rubbing his eyes. Megumi hadn't heard him wake up.
"Good morning!" Tsumiki sang. "We saved you a pancake."
Gojo finished rubbing those creepily pretty blue eyes and grinned. "Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas," Megumi mumbled, sipping his coffee.
"Merry Christmas~" Tsumiki repeated, her cheeks a rosy pink.
Gojo sat down and dug into the pancake.
"You're not going anywhere today? Don't you have work?"
"I promised to spend it with you two." Gojo smiled. "You don't have clubs or cram school today right? So we can just stay in the nice warm house all day."
"We're gonna decorate cookies later. You can help." Tsumiki said, grinning.
"Of course, I'm excited!" He took another bite before saying:
"Why don't you look under my bed? There's goodies under there."
"Goodies?" Tsumiki asked, her eyebrows raised.
"Yep." Gojo winked.
Megumi stood and walked into the room, looking under the bed and seeing a large plastic bag. He pulled it out and looked at the contents.
"Wrapped boxes..."
Like the American TV shows he watched. Except it was under a bed and not a tree.
"That's for you and Tsumiki," Gojo said, smiling. "For Christmas."
Megumi's stomach was twisting. This was new. It wasn't something he'd experienced before.
"For us? Why?"
Gojo just kept on smiling, the same stupid smile.
"It's because it's Christmas."
"You don't need to give us gifts, we didn't get you anything," Tsumiki said, frowning.
"I didn't expect you too. Don't worry about it." Gojo said, waving his hand.
Megumi felt a bit uneasy about it. He'd never gotten gifts, especially not wrapped boxes. It made him feel nervous.
“Bring them over here, Megumi!” Tsumiki’s voice broke him out of his thoughts, bright and eager.
Slowly, Megumi walked back to the table, placing the bag on the chair next to Tsumiki. She reached in, carefully pulling out one of the boxes wrapped in red paper and tied with a thin golden ribbon.
“You can open them now if you want,” Gojo said, his voice softer this time, like he understood the hesitation in Megumi’s stiff movements.
Tsumiki didn’t need to be told twice—she began untying the ribbon with care, her fingers trembling slightly with excitement. Megumi, however, stayed frozen, staring at his box like it might explode in his hands.
“Go on, Megumi,” Gojo said, leaning his cheek on his hand, watching him with an unreadable expression.
Megumi swallowed and slowly started peeling back the tape, careful not to tear the paper too much. Inside, he found a warm navy scarf and a pair of thick gloves. They were soft, far softer than anything he’d worn before.
Tsumiki gasped beside him, holding up a fluffy pink sweater with a little embroidered rabbit on the chest. Her eyes sparkled. “It’s… it’s so warm!”
Gojo chuckled. “Glad you like them. I figured it’d help with the cold walk to school.”
Megumi glanced at the scarf again, running his fingers over the fabric. It was warm. And soft. And new.
Gojo didn’t push further, just chuckled softly and stood up, stretching his arms over his head.
“All right! Now that the gift-giving portion of the morning is complete, it’s time for phase two—cookie baking!”
Tsumiki gasped excitedly. “Cookies!”
Megumi glanced toward the kitchen counter. Cookies, huh? He wasn’t exactly thrilled about the mess that was bound to follow, but Tsumiki was already halfway to the cabinets, and Gojo was dramatically rolling up the sleeves of his oversized hoodie like he was preparing for battle.
“Come on, Megumi,” Tsumiki said, tugging lightly at his sleeve.
***
The kitchen had indeed turned into a nightmare.
Gojo had managed to get flour on every single surface. Megumi had no idea how he managed to do it, and yet, it was everywhere.
But, there was also a pile of cookies that were now cooling.
The three had been able to make three different types, a gingerbread, a sugar, and a kinako.
They were surprisingly good even if Gojo had added too much salt.
"You've got flour all over your face, Megumi."
Megumi rubbed at his face and glared. "Do not."
"Haha! On your hands too! Oh, and in your hair."
Tsumiki giggled. "Megumi's not the only one. Your cheeks have flour on them, Satoru."
"Does it? Oh, it does."
Gojo was wearing an apron, his sleeves pushed up and a smudge of flour on his cheek. He didn't look like a sorcerer at the moment.
Megumi watched as Gojo wet a cloth in the sink and wiped his face with it, rinsed it again, and then walked over.
"I can do it," Megumi insisted.
"Nuh uh." Gojo smirked and then leaned down, wiping at his cheeks and then his hands. "There we go."
Megumi scowled, feeling his ears burning.
"I can clean my own face! You're not my dad!”
"You'd miss a spot, I'm sure of it."
Megumi's mouth twitched. He wanted to scowl and yell, but he was also a little... happy.
"Thanks, I guess."
Gojo grinned and ruffled his hair, making Megumi grumble.
"Ah, this kitchen will have to be cleaned."
"You're mostly the one who messed it up." Tsumiki was never messy in the kitchen even though she did most of the cooking.
"I guess so. Why don't you watch a Christmas movie or something? I'll take care of the mess."
Tsumiki looked like she was ready to object, but then sighed and nodded.
"Okay, come on Megumi. We can put the cookies in a bowl and sit on the couch."
Megumi, secretly sleepy, was grateful to get a chance to sit down. They watched Winter Sonata together, eating cookies and drinking hot chocolate.
It was weird having a full house, but it was…comforting?
Megumi yawned, resting his cheek against his hand and watching the drama play out on the screen.
The snow had started falling again by the time the credits rolled.
Tsumiki stretched her arms over her head, letting out a little yawn as she glanced out the window. The world outside was painted in soft whites and silvers, the snowflakes drifting lazily under the pale afternoon light.
“It’s still snowing!” she said, her voice bright with excitement.
Megumi followed her gaze, his chin still resting in his hand. “It’s cold out there,” he muttered, but his eyes lingered on the snow piling up on the balcony railing.
Tsumiki turned to Gojo, who had plopped himself into the armchair with his long legs sprawled out in front of him, one hand resting dramatically over his stomach. He looked half-asleep, but one of his bright blue eyes cracked open when he felt Tsumiki’s stare.
“Satoru,” she said sweetly, clasping her hands behind her back. “Can I go outside and play in the snow for a little while? Please? I'll play with Shizuku." Shizuku, the girl who lived with her family 2 buildings down. The girl was in Tsumiki's class and possibly just as annoying as Gojo was.
Gojo sat up slightly, rubbing his eyes before grinning. “Of course! Just stay together. Megumi, are you gonna go too?"
Megumi shook his head. He had no desire to be pelted by snowballs, especially when it was now so warm and cosy inside.
Gojo smiled and shrugged, getting up from the armchair to lay on the floor. "Stay warm, Tsumiki. Come back when you feel too cold."
"Okay~" Tsumiki slipped her shoes and coat on, and then the door opened and shut with a snap.
"She's not going to stay outside long, is she?" Megumi asked.
Gojo laughed. "Oh, definitely not. She'll be back in 15 minutes, tops. I'm gonna take a nap real quick. Wake me up when she's back."
"Whatever."
Gojo stretched out on the floor, white eyelashes fluttering closed as his breathing grew slower and slower.
“You’re just gonna nap there?” Megumi asked finally, his voice quiet but sharp.
Gojo smirked, eyes still closed. “Why not? The floor’s nice and cool. You should try it sometime, kid. Builds character.”
Megumi scoffed lightly but said nothing, his gaze dropping to his lap. Gojo cracked one eye open, peeking at him from under his arm.
“You okay, Megumi?”
The question made Megumi’s shoulders tense. He gave a quick nod. “I’m fine.”
Gojo hummed softly, sitting up halfway and resting his elbows on his knees. His hair stuck out in every direction, like a snow-dusted dandelion. “Y’know, you can tell me if something’s bothering you."
Megumi hesitated, his brows furrowing as he glanced back at the window. “You… you don’t have to stay here, you know.”
Gojo blinked, his easygoing smile fading slightly. “What do you mean?”
“You’re busy. You have more important things to do than… this.” Megumi gestured vaguely to the room, the messy kitchen, the scattered cookie cutters still on the counter. “You don’t have to waste your time with us.”
For a moment, Gojo just stared at him, his sharp blue eyes unusually serious. Then he leaned back against the floor, letting out a long, exaggerated sigh. “Maaaan, you’re way too serious for a seven-year-old, y’know that?”
Megumi frowned. “I’m serious.”
“So am I,” Gojo sat up properly this time, crossing his legs to mirror Megumi’s posture. “Listen, buddy. If I didn’t want to be here, I wouldn’t be. You and Tsumiki are good company, and that makes spending time with you worth it. You're a kid and you deserve to have a good childhood. I don't have anywhere else to be today, so I'm happy right where I am. Understand?"
Megumi felt his ears flush, his small hands gripping his sleeves tightly. “But what if… what if we mess up? What if we make you mad, and you decide not to come back?” The worry tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop it.
Gojo frowned, his head tilting to the side slightly. He looked… almost sad. He reached out and lightly ruffled Megumi’s hair, even when the boy flinched slightly at the touch. "I won't ever leave you or Tsumiki. I promise."
Megumi swallowed, his eyes stinging suddenly. It was a strange sensation. He wasn't even sure what it was.
"I know I'm like, really annoying sometimes--"
"Sometimes?"
"But I'll always be here."
The prick of tears behind his eyes made Megumi angry. He hated being a crybaby. "But my dad left."
"Well, as you say, I'm not your dad. But, I'll be here for as long as you'll have me. Is that okay?"
He wasn't sure what it was, but something inside him felt a little bit lighter.
"Okay. Yeah, I guess so."
Gojo leaned back on his hands, tilting his head toward the window. “Tsumiki’s still out there, huh? Think she’s building a snow fort or something?”
“Probably,” Megumi said quietly, his shoulders loosening just a bit.
“You sure you don’t wanna join her? Could be fun.”
Megumi shook his head. “No. I’m fine here.”
Gojo smirked.
"All right."
He fell back on the floor with a soft thud.
"I'm gonna nap."
"Okay."
The room fell quiet again, save for the faint ticking of the clock and the muffled sound of children laughing outside. Megumi stayed on the couch, his knees pulled up to his chest as he watched Gojo stretch out on the floor like a cat in a sunbeam.
Gojo’s eyes were closed now, his breathing slow and even, although Megumi doubted he was actually asleep. The guy had a way of pretending to be totally out of it while still catching every little thing happening around him.
Megumi let his gaze drift to the window, where he could still spot Tsumiki in the distance, her pink sweater standing out brightly against the white snow. She was laughing, her breath visible in the cold air as she ducked behind a small wall of snow.
The scarf Gojo had given him sat folded neatly beside him on the couch. Megumi reached out, hesitating for just a second before pulling it into his lap. It was soft under his fingers, and warm, even though he hadn’t put it on yet.
The warmth in the apartment felt different now. It wasn’t just the heater humming in the background or the thick blanket draped over the couch. It was something quieter, something steadier—like the feeling of a promise he hadn’t realized he’d been waiting to hear.
Tsumiki came back inside in a flurry of cold air and snowflakes, her cheeks flushed pink and her nose red from the chill. She kicked off her boots and hung up her coat with slightly trembling hands, her excitement from playing still sparkling in her eyes.
“Megumi! You should’ve come outside! It was so fun!” she said, her breath still coming in little huffs.
“You’re soaked,” Megumi said flatly, though his eyes softened at the sight of her smiling face. “You’ll catch a cold.”
Gojo, still sprawled out lazily on the floor, cracked one bright blue eye open. “Well, that just means it’s time for round two of hot chocolate! Who’s in?”
“Yes, please!” Tsumiki chirped, already making her way toward the kitchen.
Megumi watched them, a soft, small smile tugging at his lips. Maybe, this could be okay.
The three of them settled back onto the couch a few minutes later, each with a warm mug in hand. Tsumiki sipped hers carefully, her head resting against the armrest, her eyelids already drooping from exhaustion. Gojo sat in the middle, one arm stretched casually along the back of the couch. Megumi sat on the other side, clutching his mug with both hands, letting the warmth seep into his fingers.
The room had gone quiet except for the faint sound of the heater humming and the occasional clink of a mug being set down. Tsumiki eventually dozed off, her empty mug sitting on the coffee table, her soft breathing filling the space.
Megumi let out a small sigh and, without thinking much about it, shifted closer to Gojo. He tucked his knees up to his chest and let his shoulder rest lightly against Gojo's side.
Gojo glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "Are you tired too?"
"Mm," Megumi replied.
Gojo hummed and moved his arm, draping it over Megumi's shoulders and pulling him closer. Megumi's cheeks turned a little red.
"You're weird," Megumi grumbled, closing his eyes. Gojo snorted.
"You're just a grumpy kid. But that's alright. Did you have a good Christmas, Megumi?"
"... yeah. It was good."
"Good. I'm glad."
He thought briefly about the kids at school—how they’d talk about falling asleep next to their parents on Christmas night, safe and warm and loved.
Maybe… this was kind of like that.
Megumi sighed and settled into Gojo's side, letting his eyes fall shut. Gojo's warmth and the rhythm of his breathing lulled him to sleep, and it wasn't long before he drifted off, his small hands still wrapped tightly around his mug.
Gojo stayed still, his hand resting lightly on Megumi’s shoulder, his own breathing evening out as the soft glow of the Christmas lights reflected faintly in his pale blue eyes.
For a little while, the world outside didn’t matter.
For a little while, everything was warm, quiet, and okay.