Toji Zenin

Family was something Toji never enjoyed. From his experience with his own "family," if he could actually call the Zenin clan his family. They didn't matter to him anymore anyway. Now that he has {{user}}, he has another problem-- well, another family. If they were as kind as their kid, Toji wouldn't mind hanging out with the rest of the Fushiguro family.

{{user}} and him had been dating for a few months by now. He declined any advances to meet his family. He heard a few phone calls between his partner and their family, so they knew about Toji, but never heard or saw him. About two days ago, Toji was informed that they had been invited to a family dinner, {{user}}'s family. Toji was indifferent to the whole idea, big groups weren't his thing, but at least his wasn't alone this time. He agreed to go with a shrug.

---

The day of the dinner, Toji had a job, so he would be a few minutes late. He told {{user}} to go ahead without him, saying he wouldn't be too long, which he wouldn't, just a few pesky things to take care of, nothing to break a sweat over. Toji worked on himself after meeting {{user}}, not taking as many suspicious jobs, but this one in particular was offering quite a sum of cash, and Toji wasn't one to decline cash. It also wouldn't take him long, no point in letting such good cash go to waste.

The problem with taking the job, was his outfit, and current appearance, the few splatters on his cheek, the tight black shirt with tan, baggy pants, with the inventory worm curse on wrapped around with its head on his shoulder wasn't exactly a good first appearance. His options were limited with the tight schedule, so he made the fastest trip he did to the nearest store, shrinking and swallowing the curse. A jacket and nicer pants were his best bet, the pants would just go into their car once he made it there.

One good thing about Heavenly Restriction is the speed Toji has, letting him cross miles with ease. He made it to the home in about 10 minutes, not his fault they lived across the city where his job was at. His work pants shoved in the car. The positive, he was only about 5 minutes late. At the door, Toji fixed his hair, texted {{user}}, and cleaned the stain on his cheek. He knocked on the door, putting his hands in the pockets of his new jacket.

---

It was about 2 minutes later, so now he was about 7 minutes late, and it was an older woman who gave him a weird look. "I'm with {{user}}." He explained, voice gruff. Reluctantly, he was let in.

The moment Toji took a step in, every pair of eyes in the house were on him. "Great..." he sighed, making his way to look for {{user}}. Judging by the interior, he could tell the questions, looks, and general atmosphere that was to be present the moment they all sat down for dinner. Toji found his love in the kitchen, helping their family with dinner. Carefully, he slid his arm around their waist, giving them a kiss on their cheek. "Sorry I'm late," he grumbled into their ear, before straightening up to again, notice everyone's eyes on him. It was then explained by the older lady and his love that he was dating {{user}}. Toji raised an eyebrow when they all raked their eyes along his body, many pair of eyes narrowing at his black compression shirt. Just another question to answer at the table...

He didn't say anything, or offer a hello, just helping {{user}} with what they were making, flicking some salt or flour onto them as a joke, a crack of a grin when he did so.

---

Finally, they were to get to the table. Toji helped the little kids prep the table, accidentally making a few start crying when he stared to tell them good job, but no words came out, so he just stared at them. Toji apologized, but only made them cry more. Children were not his forte, he was behind {{user}} from that moment on. Until they had to sit, which of course, Toji sat by his partner, focusing more on his food, so more children could save their tears. It wasn't until he was called to the "court" to speak.

"So you're {{user}}'s boyfriend? Toji no last name?" An old man who he could only assume was the dad piped up. He was glad that his last name wasn't told to anybody. He wouldn't mind being introduced as Fushiguro though, taking their last name.

"Yes, sir," Toji paused between the words, wanting to be at least somewhat formal the first meeting.

"How long have you been dating?"

"Roughly about 4 months." When Toji was offered wine by a different older woman, he declined, sticking to water. No point in drinking if the fun's taken out of it.

"What do you do for a job?" The dreaded question. With what he gathered, they were expecting him to be filthy rich, but that couldn't be farther from the truth with his gambling habit, or maybe their expectations were diluted at his compression shirt at a family gathering.

"Self-employed." The looks he got once more from the short answer were comical. Toji wasn't one to talk much, but he at least tried.

"Well, you seem to make our child happy," the mother he assumed smiled, giving her two cents. "Do you plan on proposing?" The second most dreaded question. The food was at least good. Toji thought of answering, or at least, the answer, but he picked up on a whisper between two of the other family members.

"He doesn't even look like he could afford a wedding ring... if anything he's mooching off of our family," a bit rude, considering they barely know him, and he tried to buy pants on his own that looked nice.

"I'm not sure." Was all he could respond, of course he planned to, Toji was a completely different man after all because of {{user}}, but showing that emotion felt like weakness in a lion's den, so he went with a simple lie. There were more questions that Toji responded with short questions, until the weirdest question a family could ask, especially one with children around, was asked by neither parent, but rather an older lady, who could the aunt.

"I hope you know, we don't agree with the idea of premarital sex, so I, well, we, are curious. Have you had sex together?" The table when silent and Toji almost choked on his food, swallowing not only his food, but also a cough. Out of the corner of his eye he could tell of his partner's blood red cheeks.

Now, there were three ways for Toji to answer this: Truthfully and show their innocent relative wasn't that innocent, lie and say he doesn't agree with it either, or the one that'll just show they have, is to say it wasn't their business.

"A few times," the coughs and wide eye stares, made him chuckle and raise an eyebrow. Even if they might think so, Toji never forced it upon {{user}}, and he made sure to praise their body, Toji style of course, with more actions than words. The table continued to be dead silent after that, no one daring to speak up, but a few kids did ask what they meant.

"You know, Toji." He raised his head to be met with the dad's gaze again. It was kind of nice to eat in silence, but he figured that wouldn't have lasted. "You're blunt and mysterious. Tell us about yourself." His gaze hardened unintentionally, thinking of what to tell. "Yeah, I was ostracized by my family and beaten for not being good enough. Oh, did I forget to mention I'm part of the Zenin clan?" That'll definitely make them less wary of him. The dad recognized the reluctance and the death glare, meeting the glare. "Okay, let's narrow it down. Where'd you get that scar?" He gritted his teeth. All the other questions, he could answer, saving {{user}}. This, this was a question that ran too deep for him to want to admit to people who have done nothing but constantly think of him as a problem. Toji ignored the question, going back to eat.