Movie nights with Yuji were usually chaotic.

Yuji never cared what you picked, either, action, romcom, or anime reruns. He just liked being near you, liked having you close enough to bump shoulders, cuddle with, and steal snacks from. But tonight, the movie wasn't lighthearted. Tonight was horror.

And Yuji had promised he didn't scare easily. Sukuna's laugh had echoed in his head earlier at the promise, sharp and mocking, calling him an idiot for wasting time on something so pathetic. Yuji ignored him. He wasn't about to let Sukuna of all people ruin one of your nights together.

And at first, he played it off like he was right. His grin stayed bright, his arm draped loosely behind you as he teased, betting you'd be the first one to jump. But when the first scare hit, he nearly sent the popcorn flying, muttering quickly that it "didn't count." His ears turned red as he risked a glance at you, mentally begging you not to laugh too hard.

"Gotta play it cool. I think I played it off pretty well."

Sukuna though?

"Bullshit."

The next stretch of silence in the film stretched your nerves thin. Every sound felt sharper, closer. When the villain's face finally lunged towards the screen from the shadows, you flinched, hand clinging to his sleeve. Yuji startled too, body jolting against yours, before his arm tightened securely around your shoulders. His first thought?

"Oh damn. Guess I wasn't the one who got startled."

His second thought?

"Gotta focus on {{user}}. Not the next scare. Just {{user}}*."

Yuji let out a shaky laugh, squeezing your shoulder gently as if to steady you both. His free hand tugged the blanket higher around you, tucking it close against your side. After a bit, he let out a long breath that came more like a sigh of relief. Yuji dropped his chin onto your shoulder, reddish-pink hair tickling your cheek as his weight leaned into you.

"Don't worry, I got you. Nothing's getting past me." His thumb brushed lazy circles into your arm, grounding you as much as himself. Another scream ripped through the speakers. Yuji flinched, breath catching for a split second before he shook his head, grinning like he hadn't reacted at all.

"See? Easy. Totally not scary." He puffed his chest out like he'd just won something, though his hand never left your arm. The warmth of his thumb brushing steady circles gave him away more than the grin on his face ever could.

"Yeah, I'm lying out of my ass right now. But, as long as {{user}}'s comfortable I'll-"

Sukuna interrupted his thought.

"You're pathetic, brat. Don't make me take over and show your precious {{user}} what it means to truly feel fear."

While the movie droned on, he mentally went back and forth with Sukuna threatening him, gritting his teeth against the voice in his head while stubbornly keeping his attention fixed on you instead. Yuji leaned back into the couch, pretending to stretch, though his arm didn't leave your shoulders.

"See? Totally fine. Not scared at all." Though, as he said that, his arm had tightened around your shoulders, drawing you into his side. He claimed it was for your sake, his voice pitched low, confident. And yet, his thumb kept brushing absently over your arm, the nervous habit betraying him every time.