When you exit the bathroom you see Tetsuro waiting for you, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed just like you were minutes ago. His pants hang low on his hips and his tousled hair from sleep misses the frame on the wall by a smidge, he certainly would've bumped into it had he stood a step to the right.

With bladders empty and the chance to make it back to bed as seamlessly as possible hanging by a thread, Tetsuro circles his arms around your middle, nuzzling his head in the crook of your neck once again and walking you both back to bed.

The cotton sheets welcome you back in its soft threads, along with Tetsuro’s arms around you and yours around him you are all set to surrender yourselves to a deep slumber.

“Tetsuro.” “Mhm.” His hum sounding more awake than you expected.

“I can’t fall asleep.” Earning a huffed a laugh against your hair from him. “Yeah, me neither.”

You have been playing for so long that when you look your surroundings, the ‘IRL graphics’ seem more saturated in comparison. Now with the lights turned off, you try again making it out of the boss fight alive; a different timing, another route, another hideout.

If it weren’t for the sound of the bedroom door hinges, your partner’s voice could have certainly startle you when he came into the living room, “Giraffe lady giving you a hard time?”

“No—Well, kind of, because I haven't figured out her timing but,” Sitting beside you on the couch, his arms circle your frame while he nuzzles his face in your hair. “I had to wear the head of a child as a disguise and seeing the head of my character scared me.”

Certainly playing with the lights off didn't help.

“It’s not that it was scary per se, but it was so ugly that it was scary, you know?” His hands rub soothing circles on your back as he keeps listening on whatever you tell him: the details of the gameplay, how far you are into the story and the items you haven't unlocked yet the person who posted the gameplay already has unlocked at the same checkpoint you are.

You don't notice that Kuroo slowly maneuvers you so you both are laying on the couch until you can hide your face in the crook of his neck. “You know how it is with horror games, they play with the ambience and sound so they can your mess with your mind.”

The combined sleepiness and exhaust from the day showing on your face are not lost on him. “I’m sure you’ll get it next time but right now you need to sleep.”

Snaking his arm past your waist, Kuroo grabs the controller, saving your progress and turning off the TV.

Rubbing your face awake, you gradually become aware of your surroundings. Not long after, a group of turtle like beings enter your room, followed by another one dressed in a cloak and their much taller leader.

Piercing red eyes that shoot daggers at you, framed by thick brows and horns; a spiked shell and claws that could rip easily through flesh. All reasons to feel threatened yet fear is nowhere to be felt within you, only a feeling akin to curiosity.

After the usual interrogation he gives to intruders, which you couldn't answer fully due to memory loss, the King of the lands you stumbled upon turns to leave without saying a word; leaving the subordinates by his side confused as to why the usual imprisonment order was never uttered.

You begin wondering what his plans for you might be when his deep voice pulls you back. “I’ll send you a change of clothes before dinner.”

The King of the Koopas, whom you learned goes by the name Bowser lent you his painting set with which you captured the beauty of the cascade of lava as seen from center of the castle. He reasoned that you would most likely need a way to not get bored during your stay at the Castle while your memories of where you come from came back to you.

Most recently he got you a few companions he couldn't quite name and neither could you but that didn't erase the fact that they were cute, somewhat resembling Bowser because of the spikes on their shells and their turtle-like physique; their combined purrs when you pet them on your lap help you get a better rest at night.

Days pass and you begin to question what could happen if you didn't regain your memories back.

Weeks pass and you no longer question the morality in pretending your memory never came back.

However that’s not the only matter on your mind. More often than before, as you stare at the volcanic rock ceiling late at night, you wonder if you should cross the threshold that separates you and a certain Koopa.

“Why do you insist on kidnapping her? Was one kidnapped person not enough?” You say in jest as you pinch a piece of fruit in your plate with your fork, careful to not let the honey drizzled on it drip on your fluffy robe.

“I want to convince Peach to give me another chance,” he takes a break to finish chewing. “And I didn't kidnap you, you came to me and I let you stay here.”

“Oh, is she an ex girlfriend?”

“No.”

“Were you married?”

“Not quite.”

Your knife cuts through the fruit on your plate, slicing a wedge and you stab it with the blade to hold it out for him to take, “I’m not following. What type of relationship was it?” Soon after an abridged retelling of the events you can pinpoint the answer.

An infatuation.

Why was he feeling nervous about telling you about it, that was beyond him. Why should he care about what you think of him is also beyond him, but the nods you make and the way your face shifts a while you listen intently have him feeling flustered? Has he ever felt like this before?

As you stir your tea, the glint in your eyes and the soft smile on your face when you eye the piranha plants he gifted you a few days ago make his heart skip a beat. “I believe you should be with those who love you and if she already expressed her rejection towards you, then you shouldn't knock on that door anymore.”

After that day onwards, upon hearing the word ‘peach’ Bowser thinks less of the Mushroom Kingdom’s Princess and reminisce more about the fruit you sliced and shared with him that morning.

Wandering around the grey stone halls, you end up in an area of the Castle where music can be heard even through the walls, inviting you to open the door to the room the music comes from.

You can't tell what's more impressing: the wall of lava that lights up the room or the one koopa that skillfully plays the piano sitting on top of a floating rock at the end of a suspending staircase.

“I didn't know you played the piano.” At the sound of your voice, his concentration falters making him hit the wrong note but he doesn't seem upset by your intrusion. “It helps me clear my mind off things.”

By the time you reach the last suspending stone step, Bowser scoots over to make room for you to sit with him.

The keys are not in the state you expected to see them in. They might be well worn but for such menacing sharp claws that play them with ease, the scratches haven't ruined them.

“Can I touch them?”

When your fingers don't hover over the pizno tiles, the King of the Koopas follows your line of sight to the scales on his shoulder, feeling a sense of smugness within him, “Of course.”

Your fingers move with a cautious touch —not from fear rather being mindful of not hurting him with your nails— on his body, tracing the pattern on his scales with your fingertips, admiring how the green color fades into yellow and how snug the bracelet sits on his arms when he subtly flexes it.

Your face is close to his and Bowser wonders if you would be okay if he closed the gap between you. Your hand lowers to the bicep below where the spiked bracelet sits, your fingers itching closer where you have been wanting to squeeze since—

“Sire.”

You break apart like water dropped on hot oil. You don't see the stema coming out of his nostrils nor the angered, hundred dagger look he sends to his advisor Kamek but you do feel his angered huff hitting the back of your neck and you try your best to not shudder at that.

Bowser and you walk to the outskirts of the Castle, by the time you enter the dry forest, with the moon above you, you are certain that something is different about him. His steps are unrushed, not exactly slow rather each step is taken with the intent of extending the time spent with you.

The curious and amused expression he used to have whenever he was with you is nowhere to be seen, in its place is a somber face void of the smile you had caught a liking to. “Where are we going?”

His steps halt in front of a path that leads to a wide green pipe before taking a breath. “This is where you were found. The pipe will take you back where you belong.” He isn't looking at you in the eye, he just reaches his hand out for you to take and helps you step on the edge.

And for once Bowser doesn't want to rely on violence. On any form, whatsoever. Not threats, neither abductions nor anything remotely close to forcing you to do something you don’t want to.

He doesn't let go of your hand, nor do you make any effort to walk further into the pipe.

And so, in the stillness between you does silence speak volumes.

Stay.

Turning your back on the pipe, thus making his hand grab yours in a tighter hold, a hug where you don't want to let go of the other speaks the words that are left unsaid.

Your fingers touch the tips of his, touching him just enough to give him space while letting him know you stay close. When his fingers wrap around your hand to give it a squeeze, that's when you take it as your cue to hold him; extremely observant of how he reacts at your touch.

Once his breathing has slowed down you kiss his temple while you rub soothing circles on his arm. “How are you feeling?”

“You really think that about me?”

Your eyes widen, “What? Of course not! See,” stretching your arm to retrieve a notebook with scribbles on it, you hand it to him. “I listed everything I liked about you and turned it into their evil versions.”

He reads the line where you wrote the thought process of what you had told him: «W boyfriend → L boyfriend ; L–eviathan»

He laughs bitterly at the thought that you had put so much thought into this and he ruined it by letting it get to him, “That one was kind of funny though.”

“You think so? I had a couple more left and if you still wanted more I was planning to spit on you—” “Ngh.”

Oh, crap, he didn't moan in his mind.

“Levi?” He turns to hide his face in your neck, the thought of looking at you in the eye too much to bare. “It's not that I didn't like it at first and I appreciate that you did this for me.”

“But the last two... Those were too much, I think.”

You whisper a soft ‘Noted’ before scratching the mean sentences he didn't like off your list and tossing the notebook elsewhere.

“You know why I told you those?” You subtly maneuver around him, so he is laying once again on the soft cushions. His mind tries to tell him it's because it's how you really feel about him and that's why he doesn't answer you; saying that out loud would make it too real, it would be a confirmation of every self doubt he has.

“It's because every day I think of how lucky I am that I met you and even after all the time we have been together I still get giddy when you kiss me or hug me or we link fingers.” Your words make him blush intensely and Leviathan tries to hide it by covering his face with his arm but you won't let that happen.

You kiss him where you can: his temple, his forehead, his other temple. Just a few kisses that distract him enough for you to pull his arm down and carefully cradle his face in your hands.

You kiss his forehead once again, then the tip of his nose, then each of his cheeks and finally you kiss his lips, giving them a soft peck until you feel him smiling into the kiss.

“Now if you let me, I want to let you know you everything I like about you and how much I love you.” You start undressing yourself, taking your top off first and making his cock twitch again in his pants.

You don't need a notebook for the praises you are going to whisper against his skin. You can just speak from the heart.

BONUS

Your fingers play with his bangs, “Are you feeling better?” Leviathan nods and the soft smile he gives you lets you know he is feeling better. “Can you do the spitting thing another time? In my mouth?”

“Sure! Want me to surprise you or will you let me know when you want me to do that?”

“Surprise me, I think that—” Ptui

“Kuroo has so many amazing qualities. Who wouldn't want to be his partner. I see lots of people looking at him because he really is that cool and charming and—Ahh.” ‘And while others are looking at him, who do you think he is looking at?’ Akaashi wants to say but doesn't, knowing it’s not his place to let you know about that.

You're sliding your bag on your shoulder, about to exit the gym after a much needed talk to calm your feelings. Akaashi beeding you goodbye and staying longer at the gym to wait for Bokuto and Kuroo to return. “Remember he’s just a guy. You will be fine.”

Not long after, your name is called from behind your back. When you turn, you see Kuroo Tetsuro catching up to you. “Hey, can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Sure, what’s up.” Your voice is as breezy as the pleasant summer wind. As if your heart wasn't eligible for a competition against a hummingbird every time you see Kuroo’s smug grin.

“Did you know there’s an echo in the gym that makes your voice audible from outside the gym?”

Your eyes widen. You did not know that.

And you certainly didn't know later into the night you would find out that Kuroo’s heart could also rival a hummingbird’s when he looks at you.

You didn't know that later into the night you would be gasping against the lips you dreamt about kissing for weeks, that the arms you often eyed not so subtly would be holding you close to him.

Playing in the dark feels more personal, with a hint of coziness and a helpful nudge to reduce your electric bill.

He follows you on the couch with his phone screen lighting up his face; you eye him from the corner of your eye and wonder how he doesn't seem to have any bad angle, not even with bad lighting he always manages to look—

The sky lights up in a blinding light, the brightness capable of briefly lighting up every single corner in your living room. As it has always been said: Light travels faster than anything, including sound and so the brighter a thunder seems, the closer it will strike.

Next thing, Kuroo quickly tackles you, leaving his phone and your handheld dropped somewhere on the floor and laying both of you horizontally on the couch and holding your body close to him in a protective manner. His body shields yours from the rumbling windows the thunder strike left until once again the sound of the pouring rain and far away thunders are all that surrounds you.

You notice how easy it could be to wrap your arms around his body to hug him and it would be a lie to say you haven't thought about doing that before.

“What are you doing?” Your breath hitting his ear makes his heart almost stop. “I ... don’t know.” Both of you talk in whispers, as if any of you could break anything in the room if you dared to speak at a usual volume.

“What do you mean you don’t know?” He truly doesn't. His body moved swiftly the moment he caught the frightened look in your eyes when you saw the light from the upcoming thunder.

He lifts himself just enough to support his weight on his forearm, catching your eyes glancing briefly to the muscle revealed by the sleeve of his shirt that rode up with the movement. “Well, aren't you afraid of thunderstorms?”

Never has he ever been more thankful that the lights were off, because otherwise you would have noticed the flush across his cheeks and the tips of his ears and probably would have made fun of him for being so corny. “Not thunderstorms in general, but when they strike close to where I am it gets a bit scary.”

“There. I'm protecting you.” Kuroo’s soft smile hides the worries within him; that he might have done something wrong, might have crossed a line without ever meaning to.

Shifting slightly on the couch, you make room for him to lay comfortably by your side and once again he follows, “Well, thank you. It feels nice.” A warm feeling fills his chest at realizing this is the closest he has ever been to you; so close he can feel your breath meeting his chin. “Did it strike 3 km away from here?”

“I would say 1 km to the west.” Kuroo's own lips stretch into grin mirroring yours. The same smile that effortlessly makes his heart almost burst out of his chest, he also wonders if you can tell by the close gap between you.

“How are you gonna determine the direction just from the sound?” The sound of the rain might be liked by many people all around, but he finds your laughter to be a tough contender for his favorite sound.

“Hey, don't question my methods.” Kuroo takes one finger to poke at your side, prodding more laughter to fall from your lips.

Like the photograph that encapsules a moment freezed in time, neither of you make any move to change, neither the position nor the closeness you are apart. Both of you wondering when are you going to act on your feelings, unaware the other is thinking the same thing.