[ sleepovers these days are fewer and further between; as they got older, it became less practical, less appropriate, even if most of what makes it inappropriate remains silent between them. like everything else they aren't saying right now, all the dreams nisaka has had starring the other boy on this very bed that wound up ruining more than just a few pairs of underwear in these last few years. if he were a better friend, he would have tried to opt for a sleeping bag, even though history shows it never worked. he isn't, but he hopes he can at least be a good enough friend to make it through the night without leading into some really embarrassing accidents.
he blows out a puff of air between his teeth, feeling his eyes begin to strain from how much he determinedly avoids meeting kuroo's glance. it'll be a long night... he'll be lucky if he can get even an hour's sleep, to be honest. ]
I wish I could say I'm surprised... How did you ever manage to make it through two months with just one pillow at camp?
[ Damn, it's hot. Kuroo is almost certain the thick jersey of his sleep pants isn't helping, but the way the faint but balmy breeze from the window tousles Nisaka's hair a little, the way the light catches the curve of his chin and the tips of his eyelashes.. that definitely doesn't help either.
If Nisaka wasn't so attractive, Kuroo finds his sleepy brain garbling, then this wouldn't be a problem. Would he still have these feelings if Nisaka wasn't attractive, he then wonders, but before he has any time to consider it his brain is offering him all the times Nisaka has done or said something surprisingly sweet to make him feel better or to boost his confidence, or just because the situation calls for some brutal honesty and that's often the only thing that falls out of Nisaka's mouth.
Mouth... ah, fuck. He moves his head again, turned up to the cieling but with his eyes determinedly closed as he tries to think about anything but Nisaka's pouty lips... and all the nasty things he's thought about them doing. ]
I won bets after dinner and took pillows as my prize. [ He murmurs, smile vague, betraying how hard he's focusing on something else. ] Arm wrestling, mostly.
[ the heavy breath he releases when he feels kuroo's gaze slip away causes his entire body to slacken, but unfortunately the tension remains. it's there between his shoulderblades, pinched and taut like a coil about to snap from being overworked. he wants kuroo to just sleep, to stop being so god damn present so he can go on pretending it wouldn't be so easy to just roll over and curl up against his body. he must be so hard now, nisaka thinks, packed with all that muscle. and then of course his mind wonders what he really would feel like hard, and he swallows so loudly he's certain even the neighbors could hear it.
of course it would be arm wrestling. of course. he can see it so vividly, biceps bulging in the fading sunlight, cocksure grin lighting up his features, making him look like the bad boy in ever jdrama you've ever seen, but deep down softer and kinder and warmer than any protagonist—
nisaka sits up suddenly, hands splayed out on either side of him, fingertips just nudging against the skin of kuroo's hip. he can't stay in there much longer. ]
I forgot to brush my teeth.
[ he climbs out of bed, all awkward limbs and tripping over himself, knees and elbows knocking over kuroo's bent leg but he makes it to the floor and to the door soon enough. could he possibly stay in the bathroom long enough for kuroo to knock out? surely he must be tired from a long day... maybe if he prays hard enough, some deity will hear him and have mercy on his soul. ]
[ Kuroo is right in the middle of considering how ridiculous it is that all brains seem to do when told strictly not to think about a certain thing is hyper focus on that thing, exploring it in lengths that not even day dreams or absent fantasising can achieve - like how a little pink tongue might look when lapping up come that clings to his lips in thick, hot loops.. how those lips might look kiss-bruised and glossy from their efforts, or stretched over something bigger, or locked tight around desperate fingers, bit back by teeth when it all gets too intense...
It's both a blessing and a curse when Nisaka clambers over him, because it breaks him out of his reverie enough that he opens his eyes and focuses on something other than his own perversion, but in opening his eyes he does so to the sight of Nisaka clambering over his lap and very nearly brushing his knee somewhere particularly dangerous that has Kuroo sucking in a quick breath.
When he's alone he pushes a hand through his hair, mind racing with the memory of what just happened, trying his best not to let himself hyper-focus on the memory of pressure across his legs that has his skin tingling, but knowing full well that ultimately he's going to fail. It'd probably be better if he took a bathroom break too, to deal with this, but that would be a little hard to explain and honestly he doesn't like the odds of standing up right now. Instead he turns inward, facing the wall, and folds his pillow in half over his head in the faint hope that it'll have him quickly fall asleep so he can stop feeling quite so hot and bothered. ]
[ nisaka doesn't know how long he actually stays in there. after splashing his face with cold water a few times he kind of zones out. stares at the empty sink for longer than necessary, till the white of the porcelain gets so ingrained into his retinas that he still sees a bit of white when he closes his eyes to fend off the dryness.
in the end, he doesn't end up brushing his teeth like he'd meant to in the first place, having completely forgotten about his excuse anyway. his entrance back into the room is marked by the quiet creak of his door, betraying his attempt to be subtle. he startles at the sight of kuroo's back, and while he's grateful he doesn't have to answer to him now, he's worried what he will have to face when he gets back onto the bed.
it just doesn't seem possible... how is he possibly going to be able to handle being that close? in the dark? hearing the other 's breath... ]
Kuroo, [ he says into the room. it's quiet, as if he's hoping the other won't hear him. ] Are you awake...?
[ The window is doing absolutely nothing, and in the time it takes for Nisaka to finally return Kuroo has wriggled out of his sleep pants and tucked his lower half under the light sheet instead. It's probably a dangerous move considering the fact that his underwear isn't exactly loose, but he figures the sheet should be a big enough distraction (and, essentially, lighter than his sleep pants) that it won't come back to bite him in the ass too badly.
Kuroo does hear him, but he's concentrating so closely on trying to build up some of the self control his sleepiness has made a ruin of that he figures it's better to just pretend for the moment. If he pretends then maybe Nisaka will just climb into bed, turn away from him and try to focus on doing the same.. and the two of them will wake up in the morning feeling cooler, with more composure in Kuroo's case. The way he's behaving, the tangents his mind is going down, almost make him feel guilty because of all people Nisaka should be able to trust him and be safe around him.. Kuroo's dirty mind and wavering intention kind of puts a sour taste on all of that. ]
[ nisaka hasn't noticed the change in kuroo's attire. he can't really see much of anything once he steps in and closes the door behind him, blocking off the faint hallway light. he had been ready to tell the other boy he was calling it quits, going to sleep on the living room couch instead. but with kuroo asleep, he doesn't feel right just leaving without any warning, and so he finds himself stuck.
the worst part is a large part of him isn't even all that sorry for it.
slowly, he wanders back to the bed, each step quiet as he does. he lingers by the edge of the bed, close enough to see the side of kuroo's face, but most of it hidden in shadow. he's close enough to touch, too, if nisaka were to just reach out, let his fingertips brush against the sharp angle of a cheek...
he pulls back on a quick intake of breath. burned before even making contact.
as swiftly but as carefully as he can, he tries to climb back over into his spot. he somehow manages to only touch kuroo once — the inside of his leg sliding up against the curve of kuroo's back, drawing on the thin material of his shirt. he's quick to tuck himself under the sheet as well, hoping the extra layer might somehow be like a balm to the hot coals of his desire. he curls up on his side, back to his friend, staring at the wall closeby and hoping against hope he can just. let the thoughts drown themselves out and go to sleep. ]
[ The sound of the door closing, oddly, has Kuroo's heart suddenly feeling large in his chest, beating so fast and loud that he's sure it's audible in the quiet and darkness of the other boy's bedroom. If it is, Nisaka seems to be ignoring it, as Kuroo listens through the dimness for the sounds of soft feet padding quietly closer. He sounds tentative, Kuroo kids himself by thinking, like he might be just as nervous as he is in Kuroo's head.
The slide of a slim leg along his back is somehow worse than a knee to his inner thigh or a hand close by his chest... It's so much worse than any of it because it's so fleeting, over so fast that Kuroo barely manages to register what's happening before it's over and his skin prickles a little, crying out soundlessly for more of that touch that had set it alight.
Kuroo swallows while Nisaka settles down, and then once they're both still.. he finds that now he's more charged than he was before. The air seems thick and electric between them, like Kuroo has personally charged it with just how alive his brain is feeling, sleep suddenly tossed by the wayside to make room for the bountiful offerings his imagination conjures up when he opens his eyes and looks at the outline of Nisaka beside him. He can imagine shuffling closer, tucking his nose at the nape of Nisaka's neck, wrapping an arm around him to pull that slim frame close and feel what it feels like to have him against him. It's torture, really, to be so close and yet feel so far away, to know the space between them could be crossed if Kuroo could only reach out a hand and run his fingers soft down the line of Nisaka's spine.
The exhale that leaves him is shuddering, more like a breathy sigh than it is anything else. Just in case it sounded a little too awake, Kuroo shifts where he lies, turning onto his back a little more just so that he has something to look at other than that tempting silhouette. ]
[ sleep eventually came to them both. not easily, mind, but eventually. the following morning carried on as per usual, some of the lingering tension between the mitigated by nisaka's dad crawling out of his self-imposed writer's exile to get some fresh air and actual human contact. he (and eventually nisaka's mother) wound up taking up a huge chunk of kuroo's time, all the curiosity and excitement that nisaka himself seems physically unable to express.
next thing they know, kuroo is back in his own home, on his own bed. nisaka tries not to think about how empty his own suddenly feels, or that any of the lingering warmth in the sheets could possibly be his.
a day passes, but it feels like a day too long. kuroo gets settled back into his home and his life, and nisaka is waking up obscenely early to make coffee for people who could definitely use a little less caffeine in their lives.
the early morning rush only lashes for about an hour, an hour and a half, and by the time 9:30 hits, there's enough of a lull that the manager has slipped into the back to crunch some numbers, and watabe is trying to convince nisaka there's merit in learning how to perfect latte art to no real avail. instead he keeps glancing up at the clock every now and then. wondering when kuroo's text of see you later will be now. ]
[ It took Kuroo's mother doing what Kuroo's mother does best, being sneakier and more precise about it than Kuroo could ever hope to be, and successfully worming the cafe schedule out of an unsuspecting and flustered cafe manager, for Kuroo to be here at exactly the right time when the cafe is in a lull and when Nisaka is on shift. Specifically when Nisaka is on shift. Kuroo's mom said it was so he could deliver a souvenir she bought him from her trip away, and Kuroo won't complain since it serves his needs just fine.
He pushes open the door with an elbow, present bag swinging on the other as he makes his way up to the counter. He doesn't even see the other guy, which is probably quite telling, but honestly he's kind of stopped paying attention to his own 'huh, that was pretty gay' moments. It's easier to just accept them as a part of himself now. ]
Wow, what a flattering apron. You look ravishing. Is that a whipped cream stain? It's not even 10am yet.
[ Kuroo grins, then looks up at the board, scanning it for a moment before.. ]
[ to be honest, he had perked up the moment he caught sight of kuroo on the other side of the door, though for nisaka "perking up" is really more like a little more light and attentiveness in his eyes. to be fair, he looks up from his spot by the cappucino machine, ignoring the rest of watabe's instructions as foam starts to build up in his cup. both boys are wearing the cafe's standard uniform — black pants with a dark red shirt and a long black apron. watabe is wearing a cap with the cafe's logo on it, but nisaka has opted without it, though given the length of his hair, most of the long tresses is drawn back into a neat little ponytail.
he notices the little giftbang swinging from kuroo's elbow, but doesn't really think much of it outside of the fact it's on his elbow. his entire attention rests on the boy himself, even if his expression has barely changed from seconds prior. so much for a "customer service smile." ]
Something your waistline won't appreciate. [ he tips his head. ] Are you here for a discount? It's only 5%.
Will you quit poking at my weight? You're gonna give me a complex.
[ Says the guy who's been out since eight on a morning run... Like he's not guiltily pushing himself just that little bit harder since he's more than a little paranoid about the two ridiculously lavish baked treats he stuffed into his face in as many days when he got back to his hometown. Kuroo's fringe is sticking to his face and the spiked roughness of his hair seems just that extra bit wild from his efforts. His skin is slightly damp, sweat beading on his arms, which are visible since he's wearing a ridiculous no-sleeves-was-tshirt with a garish tiger on the front, and running down the side of his face to nestle in the towel around his neck. ]
5% is pretty weak. You can't shove an extra shot of syrup in there while no-one's watching? Just for me?
[ He's joking, just because he has no idea what kind of syrup he'd go for if he had the option. He's kind of a weak latte no frills kind of guy. Unless it was latte art, because he's always kind of quietly impressed by extraneous but deceivingly complex shit like that. ]
[ as if the latte gods were against him in that very moment, watabe pokes his head up over the cappuccino machine, carefully carrying the cup he'd been working on before nisaka's attention was diverted. currently it's feature just a simple leaf design, since he'd wanted to start nisaka off slow. the boy is tall, with most of his light brown hair stuffed under that baseball cap, but he's got a fair bit of fringe curling over his brow. he blinks at kuroo, and then at nisaka, before slowly giving an uneasy smile. ]
It's a local company, [ nisaka responds, trying not to follow how a bead of sweat is rolling down the muscle of kuroo's bicep, ] were you expecting Starbucks?
Friend of yours, Nisaka-kun? [ watabe pipes up then, stepping away from the machine to stand a little closer by the counter. ] What can we do for you today?
[ Kuroo raises his eyebrows as if only just seeing that there was more to this place than Nisaka and the board behind him, although it's hard to tell if the look he gives the intruder is a look of genuine surprise or an act of appraisal, like he's sizing him up. Judging his threat level. ]
Just looking, for now.
[ Speaking of looking. He puts his arms up on the counter, elbows resting on the glass of the little display case while he makes a show of looking at the boards when really.. Fuck, it's hard to see what Nisaka is wearing from this angle, it's hard to see much... except his hair scraped back so effortlessly like that. Kuroo's either going to die from that alone, or the curiosity of not seeing the whole thing. ]
Are you due a break any time soon? [ Then, quick and grinning like some kind of overgrown feline. ] You're so tiny I can barely see you over this thing.
[ good lord. they usually don't like customers to lean up against the glass like that, especially overly sweaty customers, and while nisaka is usually one of the first to quietly dissuade a patron, in this case he finds himself a little lost for words. the fact kuroo's arms just flex up when he leans like that probably has a lot to do with it...
he shuts ups mouth, suddenly realizing it had been left hanging open in a failed attempt to rebuke him. his expression quickly shifts into a glower, almost petulant. ]
I don't look any different than I did two days ago, [ he murmurs. there's some shifting beside him, and he blinks towards watabe as if remembering they hadn't been alone this whole time. watabe, on the other hand, is smiling down at nisaka as if they were. ]
If you want to take your break now, you can. It's so slow, anyway. Go ahead and take a little longer, if you want. I can cover for you.
[ Ah. This must be Watabe. It slots into place when Kuroo hears him offer to cover, mind casting back to Nisaka mentioning him over their dinner. With that recollection comes the memory of how Kuroo instinctively decided he didn't like this guy, and now feels justified as he half glares at the look he's giving Nisaka; like nothing matters but their conversation, like Kuroo is just a customer, an outsider to the world they've got behind the counter.
He vindicates himself by thinking that, his less than platonic feelings aside, he's still Nisaka's best friend and therefore has rights and a definite place in all this, so it's understandable he'd be upset by someone encroaching on his turf. Or maybe he's still sore about missing out on picking up on Nisaka's subtleties for two months, that while he was gone all Nisaka had to be close to was this guy. He's trying not to think of that dreamy look Nisaka got when thinking about him, either..
Either way, Kuroo does his best to look pleasant after the momentary slip up, wafting a hand toward Nisaka. ]
C'mon, my mom got you a present, that's the whole reason I'm here.
[ Definitely not to soak up all your time like a sponge before school starts, definitely not. Once Nisaka is out of the way of the till, Kuroo turns to Watabe with a pleasant expression, similar to one he might give to the captain of a rival team. It's too nice, and it shows. ]
Hey. I'll have a medium, half-whole milk, one quarter 1%, one quarter non-fat, extra hot, one shot decaf, latte with foam. He tilts his head. Thanks!
[ And then turns and picks the table furthest away from the counter before sitting down. ]
[ it would have already been all too easy for kuroo to draw nisaka's attention back, but the mention of a potential gift has him perking up considerably. he isn't often a materialistic sort of boy, but kuroo's mother's travels have always interested him, perhaps in part because he's quite convinced he'll never leave this town. or have reason to.
he's thanking watabe before slipping out from behind the counter, curiously trying to peek into the bag slung around kuroo's elbow. however the other boy's order has him pausing; even after two months of hearing ridiculous demand after ridiculous demand under his belt, that one has him blinking over the details. ]
Since when were your tastes so complicated, [ he questions out loud, eyes narrowing faintly into a squint. just how much has kuroo changed in that camp, anyway...
he tries to catch watabe's eyes before getting too far away, meaning to apologize for his friend's eccentricities, but the other boy's gaze is caught entirely on kuroo's back. his expression unreadable, and unsettling in that.
frowning faintly, he slips into the open chair across kuroo, trying to shake the strange feeling off. ]
[ He's being a dick on purpose, but he's working it and can't really bring himself to care too much since Watabe has no choice but to pull up everything required for Kuroo's intentionally ridiculous and difficult order and concentrate on making it rather than finding an excuse to interrupt again. He'll feel bad about being out of line later. Maybe.
Kuroo places the bag on the table and slides it towards Nisaka, his grin more earnest and natural now. His mother constantly brought gifts back for her son but never without the joke that she forgot and bought something for Nisaka instead - her favourite son, since they've been friends so long that he's practically extended family to her. Often it was something practical, like something to keep him warm or something he could use on a day to day basis, contrasting completely with Kuroo's gifts of sweets or candies or ridiculous figures and plush characters. This time it's an edo furin, with the bowl painted delicately to resemble a sunrise. There's a postcard or two in there, too, both with scenes of misty mountains.
He doesn't say anything, because everything swirling around in his head is concentrated on the fact that.. well, honestly, Nisaka looks really good in an apron, and it's such a simple addition to how he normally looks that Kuroo is kind of embarrassed by how much it's staggered him. Not sexy or anything like that - he was kidding about loving men in uniforms, he can take it or leave it - but... grown up. Sophisticated. The hair tie doesn't help. Nisaka now physically looks like he's experienced a lot in the two months Kuroo was away, and he's made both proud and terrified by it. ]
[ it's hardly his first gift from kuroo's mother through the years, but each one is still treated as if it might as well be, as if he still can't quite fathom why she (or anyone outside of obligatory family members) would bother. there's an awed sort of reverence to the way nisaka delicately peeks into the bag, moving aside tissue paper and bubble wrap before finally drawing out the edo furin. it chimes softly as he cradles it in his hands, his large eyes only growing wider at the sight of it. ]
This is mine? [ his voice is hushed, as if the very decibel itself might somehow disrupt the wind chime. carefully, he turns it over, watching the paints shift like the colors of the sky itself. ]
I need to thank her... [ he grows quiet, already mentally mapping out his schedule the next few days. he'll have to do it in person, of course, and it's not simply because it allows him an opportunity to visit kuroo's home... though it admittedly is a perk of it. ]
[ Kuroo sits back in his chair, arms folded over his chest as he watches Nisaka peer into the bag so carefully, like he always does, no matter how simple or small the present might be. He would have thought Nisaka would be used to this kind of thing by now, but then Nisaka always seemed surprised when people other than the people apparently obligated to do so showed him any care.. It's as though he can't understand why they'd spend the energy doing so. It's probably why Kuroo's obvious and sometimes suffocating affection for him has never been called out or dis-encouraged before.
It's painfully cute, and Kuroo can't hide how endeared he is by it. He's smiling so much he has to hide it behind a hand. ]
She's at home all day today. What time do you finish?
[ his eyes slip up after a moment, gaze almost shy beneath the long fringes unable to be drawn back by his hairtie. there's a twinkling in kuroo's eyes that both excites and worries him. what's it for, is he the cause of it, he suddenly needs to know. ]
Noon.
[ his hands lightly squeeze around the glass, testing its strength. ]
Nope. I went for my run already, and I want to let the team enjoy the last few days of freedom before I start working them to the bone.
[ He's watching Nisaka carefully, smile still present but slowly getting under control. It's been just as long since Nisaka was at his house, and Kuroo can't help but feel like it's missed his presence.. his scent, his warmth. Kuroo is used to it just being him and his mother, but it's a different kind of comfort entirely with Nisaka around. And this time, he promises himself, it'll be less tense.
Even if the way Nisaka gazes up softly through bangs that are just as soft threatens to make his heart stop. ]
She got me a bag of candy and this towel. [ He lifts the corner of the sweat rag around his neck, monogrammed with the name of some city to the far north. ] So clearly she's missed you.
[ unwillingly, the gesture only draws nisaka's gaze back to the sweat clinging to those arms, to those arms themselves, and the full expanse of skin made visible thanks to that ridiculous cut-off shirt... he hates how his eyes linger, how they're eager to drink the sight in.
endeavoring to push past it, he purses his lips to smother a smile and delicately replaces the glass ball into its bag. ]
She probably thought you'd crush something like this with your gorilla hands anyway. [ those nice... strong... hands... ]
I can stop by after work, then. So long as she doesn't mind her house smelling like coffee.
Gorilla hands... [ He holds up his hands, looking over his palms and then the backs. ] They're hardly gorilla hands. Panther paws, maybe.
[ He grins, spidering his fingers across the table and stopping when they're stretched across Nisaka's side. ]
You're just mad because your hands are dainty. Side by side mine do look kind of gorilla-ish.
[ He's only slightly implying that Nisaka should put his hands on the table with Kuroo's. Only slightly. Kuroo has pretty beaten up hands, pretty standard for a guy who plays sports, but Nisaka's pretty much nonexistent hobbies mean his are long and slender, soft in all the right places and generally pleasing to look at.. at least as far as Kuroo is concerned. ]
Nah. It's better than her house smelling like sweat.
[ nisaka frowns down at his own hands, unconsciously mimicking the other's actions and expression. he never thought his were particularly dainty; weaker, perhaps... smaller, too. but that's to be expected, when kuroo's now at least five inches taller than him.
he does end up putting a hand down, but it's curled into a fist that he lightly bops against kuroo's knuckles once, twice, then lingers. ]
Don't be angry all your aggressive training these past two months have turned you into the Hulk, [ he hums. he definitely does not glance at kuroo's arms again. ]
And I'm pretty sure your sweat's soaked into every piece of furniture in that house by now. Hard to remove.
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he blows out a puff of air between his teeth, feeling his eyes begin to strain from how much he determinedly avoids meeting kuroo's glance. it'll be a long night... he'll be lucky if he can get even an hour's sleep, to be honest. ]
I wish I could say I'm surprised... How did you ever manage to make it through two months with just one pillow at camp?
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If Nisaka wasn't so attractive, Kuroo finds his sleepy brain garbling, then this wouldn't be a problem. Would he still have these feelings if Nisaka wasn't attractive, he then wonders, but before he has any time to consider it his brain is offering him all the times Nisaka has done or said something surprisingly sweet to make him feel better or to boost his confidence, or just because the situation calls for some brutal honesty and that's often the only thing that falls out of Nisaka's mouth.
Mouth... ah, fuck. He moves his head again, turned up to the cieling but with his eyes determinedly closed as he tries to think about anything but Nisaka's pouty lips... and all the nasty things he's thought about them doing. ]
I won bets after dinner and took pillows as my prize. [ He murmurs, smile vague, betraying how hard he's focusing on something else. ] Arm wrestling, mostly.
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of course it would be arm wrestling. of course. he can see it so vividly, biceps bulging in the fading sunlight, cocksure grin lighting up his features, making him look like the bad boy in ever jdrama you've ever seen, but deep down softer and kinder and warmer than any protagonist—
nisaka sits up suddenly, hands splayed out on either side of him, fingertips just nudging against the skin of kuroo's hip. he can't stay in there much longer. ]
I forgot to brush my teeth.
[ he climbs out of bed, all awkward limbs and tripping over himself, knees and elbows knocking over kuroo's bent leg but he makes it to the floor and to the door soon enough. could he possibly stay in the bathroom long enough for kuroo to knock out? surely he must be tired from a long day... maybe if he prays hard enough, some deity will hear him and have mercy on his soul. ]
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It's both a blessing and a curse when Nisaka clambers over him, because it breaks him out of his reverie enough that he opens his eyes and focuses on something other than his own perversion, but in opening his eyes he does so to the sight of Nisaka clambering over his lap and very nearly brushing his knee somewhere particularly dangerous that has Kuroo sucking in a quick breath.
When he's alone he pushes a hand through his hair, mind racing with the memory of what just happened, trying his best not to let himself hyper-focus on the memory of pressure across his legs that has his skin tingling, but knowing full well that ultimately he's going to fail. It'd probably be better if he took a bathroom break too, to deal with this, but that would be a little hard to explain and honestly he doesn't like the odds of standing up right now. Instead he turns inward, facing the wall, and folds his pillow in half over his head in the faint hope that it'll have him quickly fall asleep so he can stop feeling quite so hot and bothered. ]
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in the end, he doesn't end up brushing his teeth like he'd meant to in the first place, having completely forgotten about his excuse anyway. his entrance back into the room is marked by the quiet creak of his door, betraying his attempt to be subtle. he startles at the sight of kuroo's back, and while he's grateful he doesn't have to answer to him now, he's worried what he will have to face when he gets back onto the bed.
it just doesn't seem possible... how is he possibly going to be able to handle being that close? in the dark? hearing the other 's breath... ]
Kuroo, [ he says into the room. it's quiet, as if he's hoping the other won't hear him. ] Are you awake...?
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Kuroo does hear him, but he's concentrating so closely on trying to build up some of the self control his sleepiness has made a ruin of that he figures it's better to just pretend for the moment. If he pretends then maybe Nisaka will just climb into bed, turn away from him and try to focus on doing the same.. and the two of them will wake up in the morning feeling cooler, with more composure in Kuroo's case. The way he's behaving, the tangents his mind is going down, almost make him feel guilty because of all people Nisaka should be able to trust him and be safe around him.. Kuroo's dirty mind and wavering intention kind of puts a sour taste on all of that. ]
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the worst part is a large part of him isn't even all that sorry for it.
slowly, he wanders back to the bed, each step quiet as he does. he lingers by the edge of the bed, close enough to see the side of kuroo's face, but most of it hidden in shadow. he's close enough to touch, too, if nisaka were to just reach out, let his fingertips brush against the sharp angle of a cheek...
he pulls back on a quick intake of breath. burned before even making contact.
as swiftly but as carefully as he can, he tries to climb back over into his spot. he somehow manages to only touch kuroo once — the inside of his leg sliding up against the curve of kuroo's back, drawing on the thin material of his shirt. he's quick to tuck himself under the sheet as well, hoping the extra layer might somehow be like a balm to the hot coals of his desire. he curls up on his side, back to his friend, staring at the wall closeby and hoping against hope he can just. let the thoughts drown themselves out and go to sleep. ]
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The slide of a slim leg along his back is somehow worse than a knee to his inner thigh or a hand close by his chest... It's so much worse than any of it because it's so fleeting, over so fast that Kuroo barely manages to register what's happening before it's over and his skin prickles a little, crying out soundlessly for more of that touch that had set it alight.
Kuroo swallows while Nisaka settles down, and then once they're both still.. he finds that now he's more charged than he was before. The air seems thick and electric between them, like Kuroo has personally charged it with just how alive his brain is feeling, sleep suddenly tossed by the wayside to make room for the bountiful offerings his imagination conjures up when he opens his eyes and looks at the outline of Nisaka beside him. He can imagine shuffling closer, tucking his nose at the nape of Nisaka's neck, wrapping an arm around him to pull that slim frame close and feel what it feels like to have him against him. It's torture, really, to be so close and yet feel so far away, to know the space between them could be crossed if Kuroo could only reach out a hand and run his fingers soft down the line of Nisaka's spine.
The exhale that leaves him is shuddering, more like a breathy sigh than it is anything else. Just in case it sounded a little too awake, Kuroo shifts where he lies, turning onto his back a little more just so that he has something to look at other than that tempting silhouette. ]
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next thing they know, kuroo is back in his own home, on his own bed. nisaka tries not to think about how empty his own suddenly feels, or that any of the lingering warmth in the sheets could possibly be his.
a day passes, but it feels like a day too long. kuroo gets settled back into his home and his life, and nisaka is waking up obscenely early to make coffee for people who could definitely use a little less caffeine in their lives.
the early morning rush only lashes for about an hour, an hour and a half, and by the time 9:30 hits, there's enough of a lull that the manager has slipped into the back to crunch some numbers, and watabe is trying to convince nisaka there's merit in learning how to perfect latte art to no real avail. instead he keeps glancing up at the clock every now and then. wondering when kuroo's text of see you later will be now. ]
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He pushes open the door with an elbow, present bag swinging on the other as he makes his way up to the counter. He doesn't even see the other guy, which is probably quite telling, but honestly he's kind of stopped paying attention to his own 'huh, that was pretty gay' moments. It's easier to just accept them as a part of himself now. ]
Wow, what a flattering apron. You look ravishing. Is that a whipped cream stain? It's not even 10am yet.
[ Kuroo grins, then looks up at the board, scanning it for a moment before.. ]
What the fuck is a chococcino..
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he notices the little giftbang swinging from kuroo's elbow, but doesn't really think much of it outside of the fact it's on his elbow. his entire attention rests on the boy himself, even if his expression has barely changed from seconds prior. so much for a "customer service smile." ]
Something your waistline won't appreciate. [ he tips his head. ] Are you here for a discount? It's only 5%.
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[ Says the guy who's been out since eight on a morning run... Like he's not guiltily pushing himself just that little bit harder since he's more than a little paranoid about the two ridiculously lavish baked treats he stuffed into his face in as many days when he got back to his hometown. Kuroo's fringe is sticking to his face and the spiked roughness of his hair seems just that extra bit wild from his efforts. His skin is slightly damp, sweat beading on his arms, which are visible since he's wearing a ridiculous no-sleeves-was-tshirt with a garish tiger on the front, and running down the side of his face to nestle in the towel around his neck. ]
5% is pretty weak. You can't shove an extra shot of syrup in there while no-one's watching? Just for me?
[ He's joking, just because he has no idea what kind of syrup he'd go for if he had the option. He's kind of a weak latte no frills kind of guy. Unless it was latte art, because he's always kind of quietly impressed by extraneous but deceivingly complex shit like that. ]
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It's a local company, [ nisaka responds, trying not to follow how a bead of sweat is rolling down the muscle of kuroo's bicep, ] were you expecting Starbucks?
Friend of yours, Nisaka-kun? [ watabe pipes up then, stepping away from the machine to stand a little closer by the counter. ] What can we do for you today?
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Just looking, for now.
[ Speaking of looking. He puts his arms up on the counter, elbows resting on the glass of the little display case while he makes a show of looking at the boards when really.. Fuck, it's hard to see what Nisaka is wearing from this angle, it's hard to see much... except his hair scraped back so effortlessly like that. Kuroo's either going to die from that alone, or the curiosity of not seeing the whole thing. ]
Are you due a break any time soon? [ Then, quick and grinning like some kind of overgrown feline. ] You're so tiny I can barely see you over this thing.
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he shuts ups mouth, suddenly realizing it had been left hanging open in a failed attempt to rebuke him. his expression quickly shifts into a glower, almost petulant. ]
I don't look any different than I did two days ago, [ he murmurs. there's some shifting beside him, and he blinks towards watabe as if remembering they hadn't been alone this whole time. watabe, on the other hand, is smiling down at nisaka as if they were. ]
If you want to take your break now, you can. It's so slow, anyway. Go ahead and take a little longer, if you want. I can cover for you.
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He vindicates himself by thinking that, his less than platonic feelings aside, he's still Nisaka's best friend and therefore has rights and a definite place in all this, so it's understandable he'd be upset by someone encroaching on his turf. Or maybe he's still sore about missing out on picking up on Nisaka's subtleties for two months, that while he was gone all Nisaka had to be close to was this guy. He's trying not to think of that dreamy look Nisaka got when thinking about him, either..
Either way, Kuroo does his best to look pleasant after the momentary slip up, wafting a hand toward Nisaka. ]
C'mon, my mom got you a present, that's the whole reason I'm here.
[ Definitely not to soak up all your time like a sponge before school starts, definitely not. Once Nisaka is out of the way of the till, Kuroo turns to Watabe with a pleasant expression, similar to one he might give to the captain of a rival team. It's too nice, and it shows. ]
Hey. I'll have a medium, half-whole milk, one quarter 1%, one quarter non-fat, extra hot, one shot decaf, latte with foam. He tilts his head. Thanks!
[ And then turns and picks the table furthest away from the counter before sitting down. ]
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he's thanking watabe before slipping out from behind the counter, curiously trying to peek into the bag slung around kuroo's elbow. however the other boy's order has him pausing; even after two months of hearing ridiculous demand after ridiculous demand under his belt, that one has him blinking over the details. ]
Since when were your tastes so complicated, [ he questions out loud, eyes narrowing faintly into a squint. just how much has kuroo changed in that camp, anyway...
he tries to catch watabe's eyes before getting too far away, meaning to apologize for his friend's eccentricities, but the other boy's gaze is caught entirely on kuroo's back. his expression unreadable, and unsettling in that.
frowning faintly, he slips into the open chair across kuroo, trying to shake the strange feeling off. ]
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Kuroo places the bag on the table and slides it towards Nisaka, his grin more earnest and natural now. His mother constantly brought gifts back for her son but never without the joke that she forgot and bought something for Nisaka instead - her favourite son, since they've been friends so long that he's practically extended family to her. Often it was something practical, like something to keep him warm or something he could use on a day to day basis, contrasting completely with Kuroo's gifts of sweets or candies or ridiculous figures and plush characters. This time it's an edo furin, with the bowl painted delicately to resemble a sunrise. There's a postcard or two in there, too, both with scenes of misty mountains.
He doesn't say anything, because everything swirling around in his head is concentrated on the fact that.. well, honestly, Nisaka looks really good in an apron, and it's such a simple addition to how he normally looks that Kuroo is kind of embarrassed by how much it's staggered him. Not sexy or anything like that - he was kidding about loving men in uniforms, he can take it or leave it - but... grown up. Sophisticated. The hair tie doesn't help. Nisaka now physically looks like he's experienced a lot in the two months Kuroo was away, and he's made both proud and terrified by it. ]
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This is mine? [ his voice is hushed, as if the very decibel itself might somehow disrupt the wind chime. carefully, he turns it over, watching the paints shift like the colors of the sky itself. ]
I need to thank her... [ he grows quiet, already mentally mapping out his schedule the next few days. he'll have to do it in person, of course, and it's not simply because it allows him an opportunity to visit kuroo's home... though it admittedly is a perk of it. ]
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It's painfully cute, and Kuroo can't hide how endeared he is by it. He's smiling so much he has to hide it behind a hand. ]
She's at home all day today. What time do you finish?
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Noon.
[ his hands lightly squeeze around the glass, testing its strength. ]
You don't have plans today?
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[ He's watching Nisaka carefully, smile still present but slowly getting under control. It's been just as long since Nisaka was at his house, and Kuroo can't help but feel like it's missed his presence.. his scent, his warmth. Kuroo is used to it just being him and his mother, but it's a different kind of comfort entirely with Nisaka around. And this time, he promises himself, it'll be less tense.
Even if the way Nisaka gazes up softly through bangs that are just as soft threatens to make his heart stop. ]
She got me a bag of candy and this towel. [ He lifts the corner of the sweat rag around his neck, monogrammed with the name of some city to the far north. ] So clearly she's missed you.
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endeavoring to push past it, he purses his lips to smother a smile and delicately replaces the glass ball into its bag. ]
She probably thought you'd crush something like this with your gorilla hands anyway. [ those nice... strong... hands... ]
I can stop by after work, then. So long as she doesn't mind her house smelling like coffee.
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[ He grins, spidering his fingers across the table and stopping when they're stretched across Nisaka's side. ]
You're just mad because your hands are dainty. Side by side mine do look kind of gorilla-ish.
[ He's only slightly implying that Nisaka should put his hands on the table with Kuroo's. Only slightly. Kuroo has pretty beaten up hands, pretty standard for a guy who plays sports, but Nisaka's pretty much nonexistent hobbies mean his are long and slender, soft in all the right places and generally pleasing to look at.. at least as far as Kuroo is concerned. ]
Nah. It's better than her house smelling like sweat.
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he does end up putting a hand down, but it's curled into a fist that he lightly bops against kuroo's knuckles once, twice, then lingers. ]
Don't be angry all your aggressive training these past two months have turned you into the Hulk, [ he hums. he definitely does not glance at kuroo's arms again. ]
And I'm pretty sure your sweat's soaked into every piece of furniture in that house by now. Hard to remove.
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i see what you did there...
kuroos mom knows all
spoopy...
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1/3
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writes an essay
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