DaiwakaBRUH.

had a dream about kurodai working together at a restaurant and then they posed together like this,, just being happy working alongside each other 

“It’s not here? Oh hell” Daichi looked about the restaurant helplessly. It was a new umbrella too, one of the prettiest he’d owned- bright yellow with daisy prints on it. He sighed in some defeat, thanked the waiter and left. It was his own fault really, he’d only just remembered that he’d forgotten it here the next day. He’d had dinner at The Grizzly Cove the night before, a simple meal for one- roast beef, a side of potatoes, the usual. He came here often enough, he didn’t live far from the place and he liked to eat out now and then just to treat himself. The worst part of this? It was raining on and off for the past week and he really did need an umbrella. Daichi looked up at the cloudy sky and sighed yet again, deciding he ought to buy a new one right away before he headed home. Who would steal a goddamn umbrella.. He kicked at the pavement, grumbling like a child who’d just had his ice cream knocked out of his hand. Just as he rounded a corner, he saw a store that had a sale on umbrellas- Perfect. This time he’d get some boring monocolor umbrella, he thought to himself, a big frown on his face. He needed time to mourn his daisies, he couldn’t set about trying to find a replacement right away. Wouldn’t feel right. As he made his way through the store- it was evening time, and the clouds looked about ready to burst any second. But just as he found himself by the bin of umbrellas- he saw that it was empty, the sign with the big Pooh bear on it winking at him in a cheeky way, cruel almost, with his own yellow umbrella and rain-boots on. The man wasn’t having the greatest day so far. And to make matters worse, just as he stepped outside the store- Heavy. Pouring. Rain. Sawamura Daichi turned the collar of his jacket up and zipped it up to his neck. Sticking his hands in the pockets, he grumbled some more and walked along the pavement under the awning till he got to the bus stop. What a downpour it was- sending most pedestrians scurrying inside shops or under awnings. Except for the ones with their umbrellas. Of course. Well, he’d just have to buy one soon- maybe order one online. He stepped onto the bus that had arrived- it would just be 2 stops till home. As he paid his fare and settled down in a seat next to the window, he saw him. A man with sharp, messy black hair, a black coat, facing away from him as he walked out of a café on the opposite side of the road. The rain didn’t seem to faze him, reaching behind him to take out his umbrella. A yellow umbrella. A yellow umbrella with daisies on it. Daichi’s eyes bugged out of his sockets when he saw it open- the man walking down the street and away from him, with HIS umbrella. “O I – HE Y hey-“, he began practically yelling at the man, the thief, through the glass like he could hear him. The passengers on the bus frowned, but he didn’t care- that was HIS GODDAMN UMBRELLA. He stood up from his seat, his eyes fixed on his umbrella floating in the air as he made his way to the doors of the bus. It was carrying him away from it- his umbrella, his precious daisies- He couldn’t see it anymore- the man was getting into a cab just as Daichi was stumbling to the doors and demanding to be let out. And just like that, he missed his chance. His umbrella was gone again. Stolen by this.. this- Goddammit.

He was willing to put it out of his mind- after about a week of tossing and turning in bed plotting revenge. He might have even had a dream about the thief- his profile and a nasty smile on his face as he floats away with his umbrella like Mary Poppins. But today was going to be a good day, Little Women was finally out in theatres. Well, just the one cinema that was screening it. And that suited him just fine. He was sitting in the movie hall with a big tub of popcorn for himself. There were hardly 50 people in here with him, scattered all over the hall- the row two rows down from him was full, but the rest of the hall was mostly empty. He settled back in his seat as the movie started up. Daichi’s eyes wandered to that row several times- to the seat directly in his line of sight. He wasn’t quite sure why. The fellow had wild looking hair, sticking up every which way, made it look funny against the screen- and he kept leaning to his left to.. o h O h.. Oh for fuck’s sake, it was a public.. theatre.. He didn’t have to be chewing this girl’s ear off right in the middle of the park scene. It was distracting as hell. Daichi could just make out the smile on his face in the dark. That smile. Something very, strangely familiar about it. It had him feeling uneasy, shifting in his seat and trying to look back at the screen. And that’s when he saw it- the man shifted closer to his date, revealing by his knee.. an unmistakeably bright, yellow umbrella. Daichi’s neck nearly snapped, the way it shot forward to peer at it in the dark. Daisies. He could make out the pattern- white daisies all over it though it was folded closed. It was him, the man in black, the thief the- Oh his blood was boiling. The gall of him to come to his special movie night and taunt him with his long, lost umbrella. With his date too, poor thing probably had no idea of his criminal past. Oh he was going to get it now, he was going to snatch it right up from his hands. He would wait for the movie to end, and walk right up to him and ask him what the hell. But, fate have it, the credits began to roll and everyone seemed to be in a rush to get outside. This man with his annoyingly tall body and his very long legs- he was rushing out first, his date under his arm and pulling out HIS umbrella. No NO NO NO Daichi runs now, leaping down the steps, his muscles straining as he reaches the lobby of the theatre to find that they were gone. His umbrella, lost again. Taken by him.

Again. Daichi gives it another week- no, two- his eyes peeled for the man with HIS umbrella every time he walks down the street. Was it destiny then? That he should get his umbrella back? That he should slap his wrist and pry apart the fingers of the sinewy hand that clutched at its yellow handle. Goddammit.

This time, it was out of his mind. He’d been looking at new umbrellas online. Peonies, carnations, and yes, even daisies again. The tab was open on his browser all week, the check-out button waiting to be clicked. But somehow he couldn’t do it. He needed more time. And that was okay, he thought. He’d managed to stay clear of the rain for a while now, it wasn’t an urgent need. He was going to a little concert today, something he’d seen advertised on home-made posters on his street. A small event no doubt, happening at a sponsor’s home. Seating and tickets would be sold as you arrive- and Daichi fancied a nice cello performance, drinking punch in paper cups.. He liked this sort of thing, quiet, pretty music, and a good way to unwind after a busy week at work. Of course, when he arrived and bought his ticket, he sat right at the back with his cup of punch and waited for the room to fill. It was a small enough room to be full, maybe 30 people at best. The musicians began their performance- two cellists and one violinist. He smiled as he closed his eyes, letting the notes hit him softly as they came. He sipped his punch as he listened. When he opened his eyes, he saw him. The man, clear as day, sitting two rows down from his, whispering animatedly to the person on his left. Daichi blinked his eyes several times, watching his hair, the way it fell over his face, his strong jawline- yep, it was the same guy. And sure enough, right there by his knee, his beloved yellow daisied umbrella. This was it, this was his chance, heaven ordained. Daichi was not about to let go of it, standing up mid-concert, fuelled by the punch and making his way to his row. “Excuse me- sorry- excuse me- sorry”, whispered through the air as the man, clearly vexed, made his way to the centre of the row. His back was bent painfully so he could look this fucker right in the face- “H ey- that’s my umbrella” No answer. His head was turned away from him, his stupid, soft hair flopping as he nodded to the man he was so deeply engaged in conversation with. “O I I’m talking to you-“ Thankfully, the other guy alerted him to his presence, though Daichi could’ve sworn he was ignoring him on purpose. His face when he turned around, looked even more deadly, the thief looked up at him, his sharp gold eyes narrowing and brows knitting in confusion. “Th is-“, Daichi aggressively pointed at his precious article, “Is m y umbrella” The fellow tilted his head at him, like a damn puppy. “O h? Is it? It’s a great umbrella!” All of this whispered back and forth between them while 25 other people frowned at them- Daichi was suddenly very conscious of himself, shaking his head and jerking his thumb behind him for the guy to follow. He watched him being all sweet to the man, giving him a reassuring smile and pat on his thigh. He could’ve sworn that hand lingered. With a distinctly sour taste in his mouth, Daichi led the way outside, and stood underneath the awning overlooking the street,  pouring just outside of it. His arms were crossed across his broad chest as he stared down, uh- up at this jackass. “What’s the big idea huh- you stole that umbrella right out of The Grizzly Cove- that’s M Y umbrella bub”, This was no time for civility. No way. Sawamura Daichi might’ve even glared at him. But it didn’t seem to faze him in the least- the man put a hand up to the back of his neck, giving the sweetest, sheepish grin. Was that a blush..? “I’m so sorry! I just really needed an umbrella and had been putting it off for a while, so I uh- took it I guess- pretty thing-“ “Yes I know it’s pretty-“, he shot back at him. Clearly, at a loss for words and staring at his feet angrily. Well, that was that, the man held the umbrella out to its true owner with a smile. A genuine smile it seemed like, one of repentance. Good. He ought to repent. Daichi took it from him, happily curling his fingers around the familiar handle- he smiled down at it, then looked up to see several people exiting from behind him. He’d missed the end of the concert. Oh well, he wasn’t bothered. He was reunited with his umbrella, and it was looking up to be a great day. Daichi nodded at the man, thinking it better to not tell him just how many times he’s bumped into him since the past month. What was there to say really- it was some kind of mad coincidence. “Didn’t think I’d.. find you- IT- again..”, he mumbled at him. “Oh I had no idea somebody was looking for it!”, he said with another warm smile and looked out into the street. “You uh- leaving?” “Yep yeah- cheers then-“, Daichi nodded at him softly and stepped out from under the awning, the pouring rain that did not touch him, that made a perfect arc around him, owing to his pretty yellow umbrella. Life was good again. He took a few steps ahead, and then stopped. . .

.

“Sawamura Daichi”, a low, grumbling tone as he gives his name at the restaurant, a real fancy one at that. He was going to kill Suga for setting him up on this- or worse, make him pay his half of the dinner. It was one thing to tell him ‘it’ll be fun!’, ‘you need to get out more’, ‘he’s quite the looker Kenma said’ and wink at him like the imp he was. But this place was literally sitting on a beach- the dark waves crashing on the rocks just below them, several lanterns illuminated the night dimly as the strum of a guitar floated through the air. It was excessive. “Table with Kuroo Tetsurou?”, the man at the desk inquired of him politely, and the brown haired man nodded soberly at him. He was led past several other tables, most of them occupied by couples holding hands or cooing at each other in whispers. And suddenly, Daichi felt his stomach knot uncomfortably. He’d need half a bottle of something strong to get him through the night, that much was certain. He had made sure to dress appropriately- bringing out his nicer linen shirt for the occasion. And it was barely 7 pm, he was sure he was the first to arrive. Good, it gave him time to gather his surroundings and get started on some champagne- or maybe even scotch. But he was mistaken. As they neared his table- he saw Kuroo Tetsurou- sitting there with a glass of wine, his face turned to the ocean. He looked tall, well built, and had a handsome enough face. His hair looked like something wild that had been told to behave- covering a considerable part of his face. His shirt collar was popped open just enough to leave the eye.. wandering.. He turned to see him then, a polite smile on his lips as he stood up to greet him properly. Daichi was at a loss for words, was he supposed to shake hands with him? He couldn’t apologize for being late, he was exactly on time in fact. So he nodded at him instead, awkwardly standing there and avoiding eye contact. “A h h! Sorry I came early, I uh- I was eager I guess”, the other man said, smiling warmly, unabashed by his own lack of restraint. “Don’t worry about it! It’s uh- a pretty place..”, Daichi added as he looked around and motioned for him to sit. “It is! Glad they picked it..”, Kuroo settled back down easy, his hand idly reaching into his hair to card through it, which only made him wonder if it was a well placed tactic- What would it feel like, pushing his fingers through that hair.. Dusky gold eyes flickered up to meet his as a menu was placed on the table for each of them. “Something to drink? I’ve already got mine”, he gestured to his glass just as he takes a sip out of it. Red wine, he was a red wine kind of guy.. “Uh yeah- let me just..”, he looked down the menu, and ordered himself a whiskey sour, thinking maybe with two of those in him, he might just be able to have fun tonight. He wanted to have fun tonight, he decided, brown eyes trailing up the man’s hands, the corded muscle of his fore arms, and then his strong, broad shoulders. But when he looked up at his face, he saw immediately that Kuroo had noticed. His eyes seemed to settle heavily on him, something dark and magnetic that called from behind them. And that smile, he would see it for the first time that night, but certainly not for the last- the corners of his lips turning up slyly. What the hell was he smirking for. He was checking him out, so what, it’s a date, what else was he supposed to- The man moved forward to rest his elbows on the table, “Well you’re very handsome, guess I wasn’t wrong in telling Twitter I had a hot date tonight..”, Tetsurou’s words spilled out from his lips smooth and warm. Was he supposed to thank the guy? Oh no, Daichi didn’t roll like that, he wasn’t a shy man, and though he found himself severely enjoying having those eyes fix on him the way they did- he wasn’t going to make it obvious. At least not right away. “Mm? Your Twitter followers know?”, he said just as smoothly, deciding to lean towards him and let him have his full gaze. A small smirk on his face, “Are they expecting updates on how well it’s going too?” Daichi took a sip from his drink, watching him from above the rim of his glass. He seemed to enjoy it, the little tease had his lips stretching wider, slow and deliberate. Tetsurou hummed softly at him as he feigned being thoughtful about his answer. “No.. I think I’ll keep the more fun details to myself”, and sure enough, his eyes did a quick sweep over his chest, “Leave them begging for more-“ His lips formed the last words carefully, purposefully. It had Daichi exhaling slowly and sitting up straighter, very amused by his companion already.

kurodai week day 2!!

prompt: urban fantasy/supernatural

words: 849

warnings: swearing, demons, maybe a bit suggestive? i don’t remember, but kuroo’s in this (obviously) so probably suggestive lol

a/n: i like this one! my friend thought it was funny when i vaguely described it so here we go! and it’s edited and proofread too!

also on my ao3 here

“Oh god, this is so fucking… pointless!” Daichi groans, tossing his Latin textbook across his room. Taking a deep breath, he assured himself, “It’s fine, we’re going to get this, we’re going to say this right.” He sat up and grabbed the textbook. 

Daichi winced, preparing for the worst: that being the awful sound of failure that was sure to come from his own mouth. 

He took a deep breath and tried a new sentence aloud. It was not correct. The book seemingly twitched in his hands. “What the hell?”

“Oh god, what is it this time?” Daichi’s head whipped around, looking at the voice behind him. Sitting on top of his bookcase was a tall, handsome, Death Note Ryuk-esque man(?). His jet black hair stood straight up as if he’d been electrocuted, his cat-like eyes seemingly burning holes in Daichi’s skin, and his tiny, sharp horns were crooked.

When the man (thing? Ghost? Whatever he was) locked eyes with Daichi, his mood brightened. His brows raised and the corners of his lips quirked up.

“Oh, you’re a cute one!” Daichi frowned and cautiously scooted back.

“Cute what?” He asked, disregarding the compliment.

“Human, summoner, whatever you want to call yourself.” ‘Summoner. Okay, this thing is supernatural,’ Daichi thought. “So! What did you summon me for? Some of my favorite responses have been ‘are you not a genie?’, ‘please I just wanted a goth boyfriend’, and ‘ew what the fuck, fuck off’!” Daichi stared at him. ‘So this happens often?’

“I was just trying to work on my Latin pronunciation?” ‘I guess it was worse than I thought…’

“Oh, you’re one of those dark academia people?”

“No, I’m a student,” he replied firmly, getting rather tired of the guy.

“Well, I happen to like you, and since you seem like a decent guy, I’ll stick around for a while, how’s that?”

“No, go back to where you came from, wherever that is.”

“I’m Kuroo Tetsurou. A demon, if you couldn’t tell,” he added after taking note of Daichi’s silence.

“Wow, really?” He sarcastically asked, grabbing and opening his discarded laptop to do a bit of demon research ‘How to unsummon demons? Will that work?’

“So, what’s your name?”

“I’m not telling some otherworldly being who probably has the power to send me to hell.”

“That’s fair. Well, I guess I’ll figure out myself.” Twisting the bedroom doorknob, Kuroo left Daichi’s bedroom. Which wasn’t a problem at first, Daichi was pretty glad he left. Until he remembered his little sister was at home. In the living room. Watching Pokémon.

“Wait!” He whisper-yelled once he barreled into the hallway. Kuroo turned away from the family photos on the wall to face him and smirked, amber orbs glowing in the unlit hall.

“Caught feelings for me already, Daichi-kun?” He must’ve discovered his name from the family photo collage. Daichi hated that he kind of liked the sound of Kuroo saying his name.

Rolling his eyes, he groaned, “As if. You can’t go downstairs. My little sister is there.”

“If she’s even half as cute as you, I don’t see a problem.” Daichi crossed his arms and raised a brow. Kuroo’s face dropped. “Oh. You meant little little sister.”

“Yeah, and you’d scare the shit out of her. Get out of my house.”

“But I like it here!” Kuroo whined. ‘I thought demons were supposed to be big and scary? This one’s a baby,’ Daichi mentally analyzed.

“Come back to my room. You can stay for… an hour or so.”

“I’ll be sure to win you over by then,” the demon purred, winking as he sauntered back into the bedroom. Daichi groaned, burying his face in his hands. ‘I need to get my schedule changed, this is the last straw. No more Latin, I swear.’

“So do you eat apples or something?” Daichi mumbled, resuming his demon research after he re-entered. Kuroo was spinning in Daichi’s desk chair like he’d never seen one before.

“Stop watching anime, Daichi-kun, it gives you delusions like that,” Kuroo chuckled. ‘I have to make a summoning circle? And repeat the summoning phrase backwards? I don’t even know what I said!’

“What did I say that summoned you?” Daichi asked totally not suspiciously. Kuroo smirked.

“Why? Can’t get enough of me?”

“Definitely,” Daichi said unconvincingly.

“Daichi-kun,” Kuroo whined, “you wound me!” 

As much as Daichi hated to admit, the demon was growing on him. He was kind of funny, maybe a little attractive (who was Daichi kidding, he was hot), and an interesting character in general. Entertaining, that’s the word Daichi was looking for.

Standing up to get some air (and check on his sister), Daichi stretched. “I’m going to check on my sister and maybe get a snack. You’d better be gone by the time I’m back,” he commanded, though a tiny, very small piece of his heart hoped he’d stay.

“Sure, sure, Daichi-kun.” Daichi rolled his eyes and opened the door. “If you have some, can I try those things called potato chips?” Kuroo called after him. Daichi shook his head and snickered.

The wolf didn’t wake till afternoon, the light looking much like he’d left it when he’d fallen asleep. Time seemed to be evading him. Maybe he was dead after all. Kuroo looked down at his legs- breathing seemed to be easier to manage today, but he could still barely move a muscle without wincing in pain. And his legs were heavier than stone. Before he could fully look around him, a shape loomed over him, giving him a start. Two fluffy round ears, and a curious snuffle from the snout over the man’s hair, which tickled him, making him laugh softly. “Hey little cub”, he crooned softly at the bear-cub who was clearly very curious about the stranger. He raised his arms up above his head to give him soft scratches behind the ears. And instantly, the little guy was won over. The cub was settling his head down in the crook of his neck, sniffing at his body and nuzzling close. Kuroo smiled at the welcome he was receiving, petting and caressing his new friend- when two more arrived, both just as curious as their brother- taking turns sniffing around his legs and coming closer for cuddles. He was more than happy to oblige, giving everyone pats and scratches, a big grin on his face. “O h man..”, came the familiar voice from behind him, causing Kuroo to look up- an adorable sight, surrounded by three bear cubs who had nestled into his various crevices and made home there. He grinned at his benefactor, “I made friends!” “Mhm- alright guys come on, it’s like a furnace in here, give him some room-“, the brown haired fellow sat down, shooing the cubs away with paternal patience. The cubs relented, standing a little ways away, but not fully leaving- choosing to butt their heads into him instead. Warm laughter filled the cave, his eyes crinkling with joy as he shoved at the cubs playfully, “I’m busy! Quit playing-“, he smiled and grabbed at the faces that shoved into his sides. His hand seemed to have healed well enough overnight. It was cleaned and stitched up, looking much better than it had yesterday. Kuroo watched him bring out that shell filled with the salve again- and still plagued by the cubs who sniffed at it curiously, he came closer, rubbing the stuff on both his hands and setting his palms down on his chest. “How are you feeling today”, he directed at the wolf, patient, doting eyes on him. “Good..” Kuroo seemed at a loss for words, having spent the last few minutes simply staring at the other, his smile, his eyes, his strong arms- his chest now uncovered by any furs in the warmth of the day. And it seemed he was mighty distracted. “Good? Like you can walk out of here good or ‘you can’t feel your legs at all so I might as well cut them off’- good” Look at that smirk on his handsome face. What a cheeky bear. “I’m better, thank you- the salve did help, don’t think I have a fever anymore..”, he said with some patience, a brow raised towards the man who was now busy rubbing down his torso. Oh, he’d reached his hips already. There it was again, that unbelievable surge of heat down to his- “Yeah your color seems to be returning- I think you should be able to sit up tomorrow, but we’ll take it easy anyway-“ His hands had come back up to get his back, fingers following his spine down to his tailbone again. Kuroo had to close his eyes for fear they might roll upwards- his chest expanding less painfully now as he took in deep breaths. But it was over within seconds. Far too short this time round. Gold eyes followed him as he reached for a sack and brought from inside a fist full of pretty purple rocks- a beautiful shine to them, unlike any gemstone he’d ever seen. He watched as the man carefully set them down on his body one by one, following a line down his sternum to his belly, and down his two legs using the sticky consistency of the salve to hold them in place. “They’re beautiful..”, he said, his eyes flicking up to his face as he finished up his work for the day. “Aren’t they..”, a smile on his face as he put them away. The cubs had been deterred for only a little as they watched their older brother do important work. But they were at it again, sniffing at Kuroo’s body curiously. One even managed to lick at the sticky goop when the bear man caught him- “H ey stop that- get out of here, all of you”, he used that stern papa bear voice, too familiar to them no doubt. It was enough to have them pitter pattering out of the cave- the last one stumbling with his tongue hanging open and grunting from the sting of the medicine. “Cute kids..”, the wolf said to him in the fondest tone he’d used thus far. “Are they yours?”, he asked him curiously. The other shook his head no, looking just a little perturbed at the question. Kuroo had to, had to probe more, he wanted to know. “That was your mate right? The one I was hunting-“ “No.. she’s not- they’re her cubs and I take care of them sometimes but, she’s not my mate-“, his voice was weighed down by something he couldn’t quite decipher. But it would sate his curiosity for now. And with that, he was standing up to go- “O i where you going-“, he protested, raising himself up on his elbows to crane his neck back towards him- and then instantly regretting it as the pain shot through his torso. “Hey hey relax- just going down fishing, I was gone all day for the crystals, I need to see my family and cool off with them for a bit-“, he came closer, putting a calming hand on his shoulder to lay him back down. Kuroo looked up at him, upside down now as he watched his face. A playful little pout on his lips when he asks, “Well what if I need you..” His brown eyes must’ve widened, just a little. They quickly darted away, an awkward smile on his face, he tried to brush it off. But Kuroo wasn’t letting up, “I mean, what if I’m in pain and I need that salve again..” “You’re good for at least half a day now..”, he said to him with more patience than he should’ve- a softened look on his face as he stood up again. But he didn’t leave, looking back out at the cave entrance towards the cubs who were hanging nearby. “Okay, it’s time I taught you some signs then huh-“, he kneeled down again and scooted closer to Kuroo- giving him a face full of his gleaming chest in the last faint rays of sundown. Heaven.. heaven on earth.. “You listening?” “Yeah yeah- let’s learn some bear then-“, his eyes snapped up from their guilty pleasure to his face, showing him he was paying attention. The man leaned lower, his face level with the wolf’s. 

And it made his heart stop. The bear huffed through his nose at him, one, two, three times. Simple enough to replicate, though he wasn’t sure if his body language would be correct for bears, Kuroo mimicked him, tipping his nose up towards his and following along. “No-“, he put his fingers on his chin, directing it back down. It wasn’t easy to focus now, and he wasn’t quite sure why- Kuroo wasn’t one to shy away from physical touch, he quite enjoyed it, and a little touch to his face shouldn’t have had his adam’s apple bobbing nervously like it did. He tried again, three little huffs, keeping his nose level with his this time. This seemed to be more correct, granting him a smile and unfortunately, the leave of his fingers from his face. “You got it, just do that to any of the cubs, they’ll come get me-“, he said with some satisfaction as he got up one final time and turned to leave. “What does it mean-“ The bear man turned back, casually stating to him as he draped the furs over the wolf’s lower body, “Find my lover” Lover.

Lover? Lover..? The color rising in his cheeks was unmistakable as he tried to make sense of what he’d just said, blinking stupidly at him and completely speechless. He seemed to understand the confusion a little late, giving him an airy laugh, “It’s the same word for caregiver”, he said as he offered him a smile and what was a hint of playfulness in his eyes. He found him amusing at least, and not a pain, the thought left Kuroo smiling wider as he left the cave. His lover. A big sigh left his lips as he closed his eyes now, waiting for nightfall to come and for his lover to return. It was painfully boring in this cave, and the cubs weren’t around for him to entertain either. Not to mention the talk of lovers having ignited something in him that he found an absolute annoyance, given the state of his body at the moment. After what seemed like hours, he looked around the dark of the cave, and sensed nothing nearby. He cast his eyes down at the furs draped over his hips. Would his hips even work again.. The though of such a tragedy brought a small groan from his lips. It should’ve been the least of his worries, but he was after all, a mortal man, of the flesh and all that. It had been.. a painfully long time since he’d last- But then footsteps approached- familiar ones. 

His lover was home. Kuroo looked up to see him, his gold eyed glinting in the dark and seeing him clear as day. He had a.. giant fish in his mouth. And he looked happy, his hair dripping wet, as was the rest of his body. Oh no. “You need to eat! Come on! We got a great haul today, oh boy oh boy-“ he said, plopping the fish down in his lap as he crossed his legs and took a seat on the ground. He ripped out some of the flesh and offered it to him with his hand- Kuroo stared back and shook his head, “I’m not.. a fish person..”, he said weakly, feeling his stomach turn at the sight. “Eh? What do you eat then? Berries? We have some but you need meat in you if you want your legs back-“, he looked at him, the most adorably perplexed expression on his face as he tilted his head at him. “No I- I don’t eat them raw..”, he said with a sheepish look on his face. Cue a much more surprised, even scandalised look on the bear man’s face. “You don’t.. eat.. your meat.. r a w??” Kuroo can’t help but laugh at him then, clutching at his ribs for the ache it caused. He shook his head at him softly, “I cook it before I eat.. it’s just better for my body, I lived more around humankind than wolfkind.. just used to it like that” “Oh..”, he said now, and Kuroo could’ve sworn he saw his phantom bear ears droop a little. The very idea of.. cooking.. his fish.. seemed to depress the poor fellow. But he perked up soon after, swiveling around to find something. He rustled around back there and brought forth a few twigs, and smooth looking stones. And then he set about, doing something like clicking the stones together. Minutes passed as he concentrated on his task, while the wolf watched, a big, indulgent smile on his face as he looked up at him from time to time. “..with all due respect.. lover bear, what are you doing” The man looked at his face, eyes wide, his jaw tense. He didn’t seem to want to comment on the nickname just yet, though he’d heard it alright. “I’m making a fire.. this is.. how the humans.. do it..”, his voice trailed off when Kuroo seemed to not be impressed. “No..?” Shaking his head at him, “No”, he answered and took one stone from him- wincing as he raised himself up on one elbow. “Hold that in place-“, he reached for the fur at his hips with his other hand, gathering some of the loose furs on it and brought it back around to use as kindling- then struck hard at the rock in his hand. It took him a few tries but the warmth in that cave was kind enough to let the spark catch the fur- which Kuroo diligently blew at and fed little twigs. He settled back down when it seemed to grow, feeding more twigs to it till it was blazing as big as his fist at the centre of the cave. The other man seemed to be mesmerized by it, watching the flames dance in place, feeding it dry leaves from time to time. The gold and orange light flickered over their faces as they exchanged happy glances with each other. He held a stick of fish meat over the flame, turning it after a few minutes, while Kuroo watched him, happy enough to do just that. And then he came to him, stick in hand. He blew on each piece, pulled it off its skewer and held it to his mouth for the wolf to eat. And he did, chewing hungrily. He hadn’t eaten in more than a day now, he just realized. When he’d had his fill for the time being, he looked up at him with interest. “Do bears feed each other..” The question got him raising a brow at him, “Yeah we feed our cubs.. what, you want me to chew up your meat and feed it to you like you’re a 1 month old?” Kuroo sours a little, turning his nose up at him and looking up at the tall ceiling, illuminated by the light of the fire. “..wolves feed each other all the time.. don’t have to be a pup to get it” The bear man could sense something in his voice, something wistful, longing. It wasn’t a happy look on his face. So he tried to change the subject, huffing slightly, then in an amused tone, “That’s another thing- don’t even try to change here- I’m warning you, you do so much as yip like a wolf and I won’t be able to protect you-“ He crossed his arms across his chest as he continued on firmly, “The only reason they’re letting you stay here is cause of me- but if you seem like a threat to the cubs, I won’t be able to stop them from ripping you apart.” “Mm mm.. got it”, Kuroo answered with a small smile his way. But he didn’t stop there, smiling at the floor as his brown orbs twinkled. “Not sure how they’re overlooking that stench though”. When he looked up, he saw a disgruntled looking wolf man, an unamused look on his face. He looked like he wanted to bark at him right then and there. He laughed again, chortling at his reaction, “You have the pride of a wolf.. that’s for sure, but not much else I gotta say-“, he groans as he shakes his head, “They’re so noisy when they play, just loud and obnoxious- o h and the howling at the moon, hell on earth, what a racket” Yet again, this was cause for Kuroo to raise his nose at him, taking a deep breath to pace himself, till a smile grew on his lips. A dreamy look on his face as his eyes seemed to get lost in his memories. “Ahh.. but the moon’s so pretty, you can’t help but sing to it..” The other man looked at him, scooting a tad bit closer, and raising a single brow at his words, “You.. sing to pretty things?” The wolf man’s eyes darted back to his face, lolling his head towards him now with infallible confidence, “Why, you interested?” This confused him, though there was a little gnawing sensation at the back of his head. The bear ventured further, against his instinct, “In.. singing?” “In me singing to you- I can’t see the moon from here- you’re a pretty bear, might just howl at you one of these days..”, words spoken without hesitation as he looked into his eyes, an annoyingly charming smirk on his lips that was begging to be wiped off. He couldn’t help but blush when he said it all, and that’s what had him scoffing- laughing, disbelievingly, or perhaps just to distract himself from the near-hungry look in this man’s eyes. “Tell me this- is talking like a jerk just YOUR thing or is it just a wolf dialect-“, he shoots back at him now, thin lipped smile in place to control his face from erupting in color again. That definitely knocked him down a peg, stopping him in his tracks. Kuroo’s mouth was opened now, in a little scoff of his own, before he resumed that disgustingly smooth smile of his, “Tell me this! Is fondling your patient just YOUR thing or it just the magic of bear fingers-“ “FONDLING! H AH-“ he shook his head with some outrage at him, “You need to learn to keep your mouth shut, I’m not f o ndling you, I’m healing you, you ungrateful little-” But before he could finish his sentence, the wolf man was transformed in his affect- stretching his sinewy, muscular arms above him, his smile flashing as he presents his neck to him like a dog in heat, “Mmm healing me alright.. in more ways than one” Those eyes bore into him, watching him for a reaction, crafty and ready to pounce at any opening. 

And he felt the heat climbing down his body, flickering like the light in the cave, threatening to reach its destination. That was his cue to leave. The bear man stood up, grateful for the heavy fur he had draped around his middle, “Alright wise-ass, get some sleep”, he said with obvious bitterness lacing his words as his face steeled itself against any more unruly attacks from this jackass. “H ahhh don’t leave now, come on, I was teasing..” It was almost laughable how needy he sounded, but the fact that it was working like tendrils tying his feet to the ground- that wasn’t very funny at all, he thought. The bear swallowed slowly, determined not to give him another word- not another word for him to twist around and use against him. “Won’t you spend the night with me..?” Silence. Deep breaths to calm himself, and to fix a testy gaze on the man at his feet, who still seemed to be holding back a laugh. “Hey it’s been a while since you put that stuff on me, I might hurt at night..” Was there anything this guy wouldn’t do to get him to stay. And what if he knew that he’d won before he’d even tried. What then. The man sat back down heavily, reaching for some furs and laid them down- f ar from his side, the sign of a clear boundary. Which again got Kuroo chuckling to himself quietly as he watched him. He put out the fire with impatience covering it with hide, and in the darkness lay down on his fur. Deadly silence. “Hey uh.. what’s your name.. I forgot to ask..” Nothing. He was going to give him absolutely nothing. “..do I just call you my lover then?”   “Daichi- my name’s Daichi..” Kuroo turned his head towards him in the dark, the smile on his face gleaming bright at the neat trick he’d just pulled.

“What’s yours..” 

He waited in the dark for an opportunity to strike. She looked like she was alone. Not a very big bear, he could definitely take her if he aims for her throat. One big bite, even if she throws him off, he could try to land on his feet. He might break a few toes, but that was a very small price to pay if he could get food and shelter for the month. Kuroo stepped out into the clearing by the water’s edge, stalking closer behind the bear who seemed unaware of his footsteps. And just as he was about to lunge, he hears massive footsteps running towards him, causing him to turn wildly around- a giant bear, much bigger than the other was charging at him. Where had he come from, this wasn’t going according to plan at all. He ran back into the woods behind them, running for his life, his heart beating against his chest to carry him further. This was it, he was dying today, and for what- for a life of a petty vendor running errands between tribes for scraps. He could see his life flashing before his eyes as he scrambled into the woods- the grizzly was fast as he was big, even the trees weren’t deterring him like they normally should any bear. He managed to climb a leaf strewn slope up to a jutting rock- hiding behind it to try and catch his breath. He debated running further, calling for help from the neighboring packs- maybe someone would come after all, even if he wasn’t welcome there anymore, maybe they’d mistake his call for someone else. But then he knew, nobody would come. He was alone, and he would die alone, under the jaw of this grizzly. He’d have to put up a fight, and this was his one chance. He takes a deep breath, steels himself, and prepares to die. He aimed for the inside of the bear’s paw- a soft spot, easy to sink his teeth into and try to tear a chunk out of. As he connected with the beast, a terrifying, thunderous roar filled the forest, enough to shake new life into his body- he wasn’t all that small compared to him, his jaw clamping down on his entire paw, sharp fangs digging in deep. But the bear was bigger still, stronger, taller when he stood on his hind legs, and he was being thrashed around in the air like a ragdoll. Then finally, with one last shake, he was tossed into the side of that very same rock. His fate was cruel, but that wasn’t the thought running through his mind when the wind was knocked out of him- the only thought he had, as he whimpered loudly, tears stinging at his eyes- was the excruciating pain shooting through his entire body. His legs, his torso, his head. His head was spinning, the world was spinning- everything seemed to be going dark. This was it. This was the end. He was dying. Like the dog he is, bleeding against a rock in the middle of nowhere. He couldn’t breathe, his ribs surely broken and its contents jostled around. Only his heart seemed to beating still stronger, aching as it pumped life into his body that begged it to stop. Meanwhile, the bear seemed to be in immense pain, stumbling through the woods higher up the slope, leaving a trail of blood behind from its paw. Kuroo closed his eyes then, satisfied with at least that much. That he’d died a fighting dog. If.. if his parents knew, then maybe they’d be proud. And with that, he let the blackness take him. ——————————————————————————————————-  Kuroo opened his eyes. How much time had passed, he didn’t know. It seemed dark still, had it been a day already? No, he didn’t think so- it was his instincts driving him now, he needed a safe place to crawl into. Somewhere he could pass out in peace, not here where some animal or other would find him.

But could he move? He looked down to his legs, they looked bad- bruised dark, he could see it better now on his human skin. He was so sure he looked like a sad sack of meat as a man, but he knew he was too weak to change back, for a while at least. So not only was he on the verge of death, he was in his defenseless form- no sharp teeth or claws, or fur.

He reached down to the little bundle of rags he had tied to his thigh, and suddenly felt pain, bolts of pain running jagged through his torso. He gasped for air, struggling as he undid his clothes and managed to pull his hide-skin on. The bottoms were far worse to get into, his pelvis must be shattered he thought as he willed himself not to cry out loud. Panting, sweating, and delirious from the pain, he looked up the slope- all he needed to do was find a cave to lie down in. He wouldn’t move again for at least a week, but right now, he didn’t want to die of shock when something attacked him for meat as the night went by.

Taking in sharp hissing breaths through his mouth, he gripped at the rock beside him, and discovered that he couldn’t stand. He closed his eyes as the tears came, pain like he’d never felt before- and gritted his teeth, crawling up the slope as best as he could. Thankfully, it wasn’t too steep, and there were roots he could use to hoist himself up- his arms though bruised and hurting, could still carry him.

He managed to crawl on his knees some of the way- though it took the life out of him, which made him wonder if he might just survive this. Funny what 5 seconds of being upright can do to a man. Kuroo looked ahead of him just as the slope began to ease up, and saw the entrance of a tunnel that led into the mountain. It wasn’t used by any humans, that much was certain by the large bones strewn outside of it.

It wasn’t his best choice, but it had to do. The man managed somehow to stand then- his muscles aching, tears streaming down his face- he managed to hobble the rest of the way to the little doorway of the cave and collapse right in the middle of it, elbows hitting the hard granite.

This time he did whimper- and suck in a breath, eyes tired from staying open for so long. Crawling to the wall, he tried to sit up, but it hurt to put weight on his tailbone- so he slumped up against it instead. His peculiar gold eyes glinted towards the dark tunnel, praying that nothing came out of there while he was awake. Or that if it did, it would snap his neck first, do him a kindness.

What he didn’t expect, was a pair of eyes watching him from just inside the doorway- 

human eyes.

Kuroo sucked in a breath, his adrenaline kicking in for a few seconds while he tried to sniff them out. He smelled dangerous, it made him want to roll right out of the cave he’d so painstakingly brought himself crawling into.

What was that smell.. strange, human but, unlike any human he’s ever smelled.

The stranger came forward then, his face illuminated slightly by the moonlight outside- dark hair, dark eyes, his body covered in dark furs, and a rugged face that spoke of immense strength. He didn’t seem hostile.

The two men stared at each other for a while longer- till Kuroo finally becomes aware of the smell of blood on him. Injured, like him, taking refuge in this cave then. But, a quick glance over his body revealed to him that he was nursing his hand behind him, the blood draining from there no doubt.

His gold eyes flicked up to his face just as he’d connected the dots, and so had the other man apparently,

“You should’ve run when you had the chance- I didn’t want to make a body bag out of you-“, the young man said plainly, bringing his bleeding hand out into the light, bandaged roughly with some leaves.

“I didn’t think you’d let me go with my life, after I almost attacked your mate”, Kuroo answered, his eyes studying the man’s affect, his body language was calm, composed. It wasn’t like he was a threat to anyone in the state he was in of course, and clearly he was more in danger than this bear man was.

The stranger didn’t say anything, only looking down at Kuroo’s legs, then at his torso. “Why were you hunting her- didn’t expect a wolf to hunt a grizzly on his own, the stupidest thing you dogs have ever done”

That comment got his hackles rising- a low rumble in his throat, which died as fast as it had come. He was far too much in pain to care about his pride.

“I was hunting for my tribe in the village nearby.. fish was drying up over the fall, deer running far from here- bear would’ve given them fur and meat for weeks-“, his voice was weak, his mind focusing on breathing more than his story.

“You were hunting for humans? You live with them?”, bear man asked, scooting forward to hear him better. He had a curious look on his face, clearly out to get as many answers as he could from the man he’d just maimed beyond repair.

“I.. I travel, and sell my wares..”

“What do you sell..”

“Meat.. clothes, I’ve carried messages and found wives for tribes-leaders”

The man squints at him, not fully understanding, “You’re a matchmaker?”

A little laugh sounded from the injured other as he cranes his neck backwards, reminiscing almost, “Ah h.. I’m a salesman.. I make deals in return for some food, shelter from other tribes”

“So you’re a conman-“, the brown-eyed fellow shot back at him, quick as ever to pass judgement, much to the chagrin of the wolf. However, he wants to continue this conversation, he wants to humor him, play him with his words if he can. “It’s only a con if they’re not happy.. and besides”, this he says with a little more pride, “I sell medicine too, not stolen, crafted by me”

“You don’t run with a pack..?”

Oh, the real questions were starting now. The ones that were difficult to answer.

Kuroo shook his head at him, keeping his eyes cast at the fur that hung over the man’s chest. Grizzly fur.

“Your home..? Home pack?”, he prodded some more, unknowing of the look he would see on the man’s face at the mention of it. Kuroo turned, the dark black hair that hung over half his face was facing him now, eyes cast away from his prying brown orbs. 

Kuroo saw flashes of the faces again, he could smell the fire, the blood. He’d tried to make sense of it, not fully remembering any details only just piecing together what might’ve happened to his home, to his parents and his pack. His siblings, a sharp memory of a chasing game, and his mother.

It took him a few seconds, but with a slow blink of his eyes, he turned back to him, “You..? Your home pack?”

This topic seems to lift up bear’s spirits entirely- causing a wide smile to spread on his lips. Pride in his voice when he says, “Yep- lived here all my life, parents raised me here past the under-fall river, cliffs over there”

Kuroo watched him, nodding at the words, exhaustion climbing over his body slowly but surely. And it seemed that the other man noticed, his dark brown eyes showing some concern, maybe even warmth if he wasn’t imagining it.

Another minute passed before he said, “I can take you to my pack.. heal you there-“

The injured man looked at him, tired eyes, shaking his head, “What, let you take me to a forest full of bears? I don’t think so-“, he started off- but could not shake the look in his eyes as they bore into him, his wounds.

“I’m not going to survive another two days-“, Kuroo said to deter him further.

That’s when he came forward, this stranger who owed him nothing, and locked his eyes into his gold, his voice betraying no hesitation as he spoke the words. “I’m not going to let you die”

Kuroo’s head lolled a little now, which caused him to come closer, holding at his neck with his good hand, supporting his heavy, weary form with his strong arms. His strength was leaving him, so he whispered, brows knitting together as he shook his head at him again, “It’s not your place to save my life.. I tried to attack your family today- you can leave me here and go on with a clean conscience knowing they’re safe-“

“I’m not going to let you die”

His words were spoken even firmer, an air of finality about them, the stubbornness of a bear perhaps. The wolf could only watch those eyes, full of conviction, like they defied death itself to take him from him. And though he didn’t want to be moved, though he didn’t want to fight this awful, heaviness that was setting in his bones, he just knew he couldn’t say no to him.

Or maybe he was too tired to try.

The bear understood that this defeat meant a silent agreement to being in his care, which brought an impossibly warm smile to his face- the man who could have killed him, who came very close to doing just that barely a few hours ago. “Want me to carry you?”, he asked with clinical concern, but the response Kuroo gave was one of misplaced pride, “N o ..?”

Of course, that earned him an amused look.

A heavy sigh before Kuroo nodded, feeling his pride wilt, his tail between his legs at the thought of being carried like a cub to his cave- but the pull at his neck that he somehow expected instinctually, did not come. Instead, strong, capable arms despite his own injuries scooped underneath Kuroo’s torso and his legs carefully. Before he could protest, he was lifted in the air, and held close to his chest.

Swaddled then, like a baby. His mind seemed to snap when he saw the ground below them, a good way away, and he scrambled just a little to wrap his own arms around the man’s neck, wincing in pain from the movement.

And the gall he had to laugh at him. “Just like you dogs~ always the same, put you on a little shelf and all that pomp dies in seconds-“

Kuroo fumed at him, not appreciating the commentary as he was carried out of the cave-

“Alright alright, I’ll stop cause you’re injured”

“Dying-“

“Injured”

Stubborn. Big. Stinky. Bears. —————————————————————————————————

He was carried the rest of the way, past the river, and to the forest beyond the shallow fishing pool. The climb in the forest was gentle, the terrain naturally flowing back towards the riverside till it tapered to the side of a mountain. The rocky ledge he walked on was the worst hurdle- Kuroo didn’t dare look down to the depths below, burying his face into his shoulder, and closing his eyes shut.

But then, it cleared out onto a wide shelf overlooking the water- the bear cliffs were beautiful, something he’d only seen in the distance. The side of the mountain had several hollows inside of it- each one, full of sleeping bears.

His mouth hung open when he saw them, hardly believing his eyes.

“This is my home.. and you’re welcome here till you’re healed and ready to leave-“, he spoke finally, carrying him in the dark past several occupied caves and into a smaller, empty one.

He set him down on furs that lined the stone, gentle as a feather, showing exceptional control despite his severely injured hand- which the wolf suddenly felt so much guilt for giving him. Gold eyes heavy with sleep followed him as he walked about the surprisingly warm cave for where it was situated- then watched him as he kneeled by his side, a hollow shell in his hand.

“It’s a salve, should take away the fever and the pain for a little- help you sleep tonight..”, he said softly to the man in his care, trying to ease his worries. Looking down at his body now, the next words spoken were, “Strip your clothes off-“

Kuroo shouldn’t have- he shouldn’t have been able to ignore the exhaustion taking over his body, and look up at the man, a little smile building on his lips. But he did just that, eyes heavy lidded with sleep, but also something else-

The bear nearly huffed at him, raising his brow sternly, disbelievingly.  Was he being, suggestive? Of what? “Or I’ll just cut it off of you, you’re not going to be needing them anyway-“

“Alright alright, I’m doing it-“, he said with what bear could’ve sworn was a giggle. After all that he’d been through, the man was giggling and chortling like a pup as he winced and sat up to pull his hide-skin rags off of his torso. He even had the gall to reach for his skirt, which gave good enough access as it is, “This too..?”

A firm little slap on his ribs seemed to do the trick. The man reeled, and gasped for air as he lay down instantly, to the delight of the brown eyed other,  “Blood seems to be leaving your head, do better to lie down-” 

The sun seemed to be filtering through the air, it was morning after already. Orange rays of light fell on the bear man’s face as he leaned over him and applied the salve to his body.

Kuroo watched him as he did it, carefully, taking all the time he needed- first over his chest and under his ribs, then down to his abdomen. As that hand pressed soft circles into his skin, he watched its fingers travel lower, to his hips, and then to his thighs underneath the rags of his skirt. He went still lower to his knees, his shins, his feet and his toes- leaving a trail of burning-cooling tingles in his wake.

When he was done, Kuroo found himself wishing he wasn’t, waiting for another round of this, whatever it was that he was doing to his body. He’d used salves before on himself, but none hadf felt quite like this.

Oh but he wasn’t done, his warm fingers found their way underneath him, rubbing soft lines down his spine to the small of his back. His face was so close to his body while he touched him, his palm cupping over firm buttocks, and travelling.. between them.

Kuroo’s eyes nearly bugged out of their sockets when the firm fingers rubbed at his pelvic bone. There was not a moment of hesitation or awkward reluctance in the man’s eyes, only concentration on his task. A true healer at work, and a man of his word. He wasn’t going to let him die.

The wolf’s eyes poured into his, the words catching in his throat as he watched the bear put the shell down and wipe his one hand on the wall behind him, the other still covered in a bloody bandage and clotted, dirty. He came back to his patient’s side, smoothing over his forehead with the salved hand, a cool sheen of the stuff masking his skin and instantly giving him relief from the throbbing in his head.

“I’ll go find some crystals for you, they’re in a cave not far from here-“, he said to him, eyes full of not sympathy or even empathy really. They were full of care and quiet devotion. “They’re magic, they’ve healed the worst injuries we’ve had- broken bones, bleeding wounds, cured bad appetites and ailing hearts too”

Kuroo smiled faintly up at him then, “Thank you..”, he whispered, the events from the day fully settling on him as his eyes searched his brown. There was nothing there to read, only, inexplicable warmth. The bear’s thumb rubbed a small circle into his forehead, returning Kuroo’s smile with his own.

“Get some sleep..”

Kuroo was tired. But then again, he was always tired. That’s why he had a car to drive to work, a nice air-conditioned sedan that the company had afforded him. He didn’t have to pay for gas even, and traffic wasn’t too bad, he’d make it there in twenty. And yet, he’d decided to take the metro today.

Like an idiot. The tall man stood in the crowded compartment, trying his best not to lean too far left or right onto any unsuspecting old lady, shooting apologetic looks every time his briefcase whacked somebody when the train stopped. It had been a while since he took the train. It used to be a regular thing back in school and maybe he missed it- either way, he was regretting it now as he stared back at the digital sign. Two more stops. Dear god.. He very nearly groans out loud- but he’s got so much more patience than that. So he sighs quietly instead, barely noticing when the man enters through the doors and stands next to him. Kuroo gives him a cursory once-over. Shorter than he is, strong by the looks of his arms.. pleasant face. He had a sling bag that bumped against Kuroo’s thigh when he stood close. The man looks up at him, and it seems it takes him a few seconds to give a polite smile before he turns to the window and the city whizzing past them outside. It was the longer than average look-over that got Tetsurou interested. His eyes were pretty, big and brown. It didn’t take him long to decide he wanted to look into them again. A curious pair of gold regarded his face- the man who was paying close attention to the telecom tower they were passing by, but he couldn’t peruse for long- they were passing through a tunnel. For some reason, this pleased Kuroo- a small little smile of satisfaction building on his lips. Fuck that telecom tower. It was so silly.. he was being silly. But he didn’t care, he’d look if he wanted to- in the dark, his gold eyes would take in as much as they could of his outline. And he would look till they passed out of the tunnel, his eyes blatantly fixed on him as was evident in the bright sunlight. But color him surprised when he finds that those pair of chocolate were trained on him too. It was barely a second that they met, before he looks outside again abruptly. Kuroo felt it, the little thrill of knowing he had been watched. One more stop.. One more stop? It had him sighing again, morose. His eyes suddenly losing their lustre, and zeroing in on the doors in front of them as he reflexively tightened his grip on the handle of his bag. “Getting off?” The man spoke, nodding as he enquired this simple thing of him. “Mm-“, Kuroo nodded back- using this opportunity to the fullest, like the greedy, whorish man he knew himself to be. He doesn’t drop his gaze, an exchange that was supposed to be polite surely must’ve turned awkward by now. Several seconds ticked by, but the other man didn’t budge either. “You..?”, he finally managed to say, something to make his behavior more civil- something to mask the fact that he really just wanted to look at his face, as long as he possibly could in this short, short frame of time. He looked cornered, the poor guy. He probably thought he was some kind of creep, or looking for a fight- he simply shakes his head no- eyes still patient and pleasant as ever. Kuroo’s done. It’s time to go, it’s time to leave his two-minute reprieve from his real life. His manner seems to change in seconds as the train comes to a stop- politely smiling and making his way through the crowd to the doors. And just as they open- just as he steps outside, he hears a “Have a nice day at work-“ His head turns so fast, so fast towards the voice- to see his face, and a smile. A soft little up-turn of his lips, and he barely catches it but those eyes are flicking ever so slightly lower, climbing back up- lingering on his face as the doors close… before the train takes him away down the line, to whichever mysterious land. Kuroo stands there on the platform, unwilling to move for a while. Another big sigh. As he walks to his office, his mind is spinning. He’s.. a painter. No, he’s a server in a café. No, he’s a writer, he had a sling bag with some sheets peeking through it. All day, he sits in his swivel chair, clicking away at his computer- and every so often he looks up like lightning struck him- A script writer? Maybe he wasn’t even on his way to work? He takes the metro home, takes the same compartment- much emptier at this hour. No sign of him of course. He finds himself sinking in his seat, staring out the window, exhausted after the long day. Maybe he was visiting his partner. Maybe he was going to the airport.. At 8 am the next day, as Kuroo is brushing his teeth and watching the clock in his bedroom- he suddenly runs. What compels him, he doesn’t know- pulling his trousers on, his shirt buttons mismatched, his hair looking more dishevelled than was strictly normal. But he’s on the train again at 8:10 am, smiling apologetically at the old lady he saw yesterday and standing by the door. He watches that door till the stop comes, watches it carefully. Who’s to say it wasn’t a dentist’s appointment for fuck’s sake. Who’s to say he wouldn’t just get on a different train at 8:15 instead. Who’s to say he wouldn’t climb into the compartment just next to his. And yet, there he was- the same man, the same sling bag, and those big, brown eyes finding him as soon as he sets foot on the train. What a rush, what a mad fix this was turning out to be. Kuroo’s mouth was hanging open a little, marvelling perhaps, at his sheer luck. “Were you.. expecting me?”, the man says with a warm little chuckle. Warm enough to melt ice he’d reckon. “No.. actually..”, he manages to choke out, looking embarrassed as hell. “Hoping.. more like it-“ Trust him to say something stupidly bold like that as he looks back at his face. The man gives him a shy face, another chuckle, and a flutter of his eyes- before turning them to the window again. That damn.. telecom tower.. “Work sucks huh?” “Oh yeah.. sucks the life out of me-“ The tunnel was coming. He couldn’t wait, he could hardly contain himself when the compartment got dark- the pair of gold flitting over his form, his face, the outline of his hair, like a thief stealing his keep in the dark. Seconds later, light floods back in to reveal his dark brown eyes doing much the same- bolder today than yesterday as they fall over his shoulders, then climb back up his neck and his chin. It was such a mad feeling this, to be watched by this man. To want to be watched by him. He didn’t know who he was, his name, or where he came from. All he knew was that every time he glanced away from him, Kuroo felt this fiery urge to capture his gaze again. He hoped now, that he couldn’t tell what he was thinking. One more stop. One more stop? Well crap, he was sinking again. He didn’t want to go- did he have to go, couldn’t he just ride this train longer, stand in this slowly shrinking space between him and this man,

just a little longer. “Getting off?” Why did he ask. Why did he have to look at him with those big brown eyes and ask, like he had a choice. “Mm yeah-“, he answers, looking at his feet, a dog who didn’t want to be done with his walk for the day, didn’t want to admit that it was ending. Kuroo looks up as the train comes to a stop, exhaling slowly, fingers clenching tighter on his bag. There’s a lump in his throat as he desperately wills himself not to give himself away, failing miserably with a ‘See you tomorrow?’ He holds his gaze, waiting to see him falter- expecting him to give him an awkward little smile and sever his ridiculous new obsession right away. “Yeah.. same compartment?”, he answers casually, nodding at him like it was a business deal they’d just agreed to. Kuroo nods back hurriedly- eyes widening just a little at what had passed, he steps out the doors and onto the platform- turns around to catch his gaze. And he smiles, this man, right up to his big, beautiful brown eyes, “Have a nice day..” The train carries him away, pulling Kuroo’s neck in a long, slow swivel as he watches it go- his heart banging obscenely against his chest. The next day, and the next, Kuroo runs to the platform, takes that compartment and waits in his spot. For his brown-eyed man. And he comes, as promised, giving him a little smile which grows bigger as the days go by. Names are exchanged. Sawamura Daichi, who likes to take the train instead of driving to work, who likes to stop where he can get the best breakfast bagel in town and walk the rest of the way to his office, who has a pet raccoon called Meimei, and who has Kuroo’s heart in a buttery, warm vice every time he looks back at him..

i’m just reminiscing about bars and nightclubs bc haven’t been to one in over a year for very obvious reasons, and also wanted to draw them (pretty men)

the one and only thing i know abt jujutsu kaisen is that his design is so cool. i’m on the floor