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Saying Kuroko had a bad day would be an understatement.
He had been practicing relentlessly for weeks until their game against Touou, trying to perfect his Vanishing Drive and his Ignite Pass Kai. However, all of his efforts were for nothing, as Aomine had seen right through every one. Even his final trump card, misdirection overflow, failed. He felt so… small in the face of Aomine’s overwhelming talent. Hell, even during the battle when Kagami and Aomine were in the Zone, Kuroko still couldn’t do anything.
Kuroko’s brain was muddled as he walked home, his achey muscles making him feel like he was moving through jello.
He walked up the driveway to his door, and Kuroko attempted to shake the fog from his head. After all, he still had chores to do once he went inside.
His parents were out though, so he had the house to himself.
Thank god , he thought, I hate it when people see me cry.
He crouched to grab the key from underneath the doormat and slowly got back up, much to the disdain of his tired knees.
After many attempts, he finally slotted the key into the keyhole, jiggling the door open-
A hand rested on his shoulder.
“Hey, you good?” Kagami asked.
Kuroko froze, How did I not notice Kagami-kun?
“Sorry if I startled you, bro. You looked like you were thinking and I didn't wanna disturb you,” He said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
Kuroko turned around, trying to keep his voice even, “It’s ok, Kagami-kun. Why are you following me?”
“My house is undergoing some renovations and you said I could crash at your place for a bit, remember?”
He looked down at the shorter boy, confusion and concern showing clearly in his vivid red eyes. Kuroko looked back at the door, breaking eye contact with Kagami.
“Right, sorry. You can come in.”
He stepped into the dark house and flicked the light switch on, Kagami right behind him.
“Where are your parents?” Kagami questioned.
“Out. They'll be back in a little while.”
Kuroko kept his responses short, he knew he wouldn't be able to say much before he broke down. Fuck, he really didn't want Kagami there right now. The last thing he needed today was to be seen as weak by his partner.
The redhead looked around the home. A kitchen and dining room were in the front, with a hallway leading to a couple closed doors further back.
Kuroko signaled to Kagami and led him down the hallway, stopping at the door on the right.
Kuroko opened the door, “This is the guest room, and there's an attached bathroom so you can take a shower here. In the meantime, I'll grab some clothes that'll fit.”
“Thanks dude.” and with that, Kagami entered the room.
Kuroko grabbed some clothes and dropped them off in Kagami's room. 20 minutes later, Kuroko stepped out of his room, and, upon smelling the familiar scent of the spices from the instant ramen, he followed his stomach to the kitchen, where he found Kagami and two bowls of steaming hot ramen.
The next few minutes consisted of awkward silence with Kagami’s feeble attempt at light conversation being not-so-subtly shut down by Kuroko. They finished dinner, and the two washed the dishes together in awkward silence.
As Kuroko was drying the last of the dishes, he heard a ping from his phone. Upon checking it, it was a notification from his mom.
Mom
9:26 pm:
Hello Kuroko, me and your dad are
going to stay the night at a friend’s house.
Expect us to be back in the afternoon. Love you! ❤️
He picked up his phone and quickly typed out a short message as him and Kagami walked to their bedrooms.
Me
9:27 pm:
Okay.
Just so you know, Kagami-kun will be staying
the night because he's having renovations
done at his house.
Love you too, Mom.
"Who were you texting?" Kagami asks.
Kuroko sighs, "My mom was letting me know that her and my dad won't be back until tomorrow afternoon. I told her that you'd be staying the night too."
Kagami nods and puts his hands in the pockets of the hoodie Kuroko gave him.
Sensing that the conversation was over, Kuroko said, "Well, goodnight, Kagami-kun."
"Goodnight Kuroko..." Kagami hesitates momentarily before continuing, "Wait- listen."
Kuroko gives Kagami his full attention.
Kagami awkwardly continues, "What happened tonight sucked. We tried our best and still failed, but it wasn't just your fault or mine. We're a team. And being a team means that we're together, for better or for worse. It means that we win together and lose together. Just... don't forget that I'm here for you, okay?"
Kuroko gives him a rare, albeit tired, smile. "That's reassuring to hear. Thank you, Kagami-kun.
"Don't mention it, Kuroko." Kagami smiles back.
After saying their goodbyes, Kuroko enters his room, immediately flopping onto his bed. He turned off the lamp and took out his phone, plugging it in for the night and putting it on his side table.
Kagami's words were comforting, sure, but when he closed his eyes and tried to sleep, the memories from the game flooded his mind, as did echoing thoughts of self-doubt.
Damn it, He thought, the team definitely hates me now, who can blame them? I’m honestly just so fucking useless , it would be better if I quit basketball. That would give the team a reason to celebrate after the major loss I caused. Damn it, I’m even crying now. Not everything's about you Kuroko, stop being so fucking soft. If I only actually tried to improve more, maybe we would’ve won. If only I practiced harder to improve. If only I put in more effort, more hours, more anything to stop Aomine. If only, if only, if only…”
It was then that Kuroko finally found sleep, drifting off as tears streamed down his face.
❤️🩵❤️🩵
Kagami woke up to unfamiliar surroundings, momentarily confused as his brain pieced together where he was.
The realization hit him, Right, I'm at Kuroko’s place! Is it already morning?
He glanced around the room, trying to look for anything that could’ve woke him up. A clock ticking, or a leaking faucet, or-
Then he heard it. The sound that had woke him up.
It was a… muttering sound? And it seemed to be coming from Kuroko’s room?
Oh shit.
Kagami sprang up from his bed, quickly rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He quickly but carefully entered Kuroko’s room and scanned it, looking for Kuroko.
His eyes stopped at the bed where he saw the outline of Kuroko’s figure, shaking and muttering from under the blanket. Kagami rushed over to the side of Kuroko’s bed and mumbled under his breath.
“Oh fuck, are you okay?”
❤️🩵❤️🩵
Overlapping voices, shouts, screams, all pummeling Kuroko’s ears like a punch to the gut. So many people, Hyuga, Izuki, Riko, even Kiyoshi were yelling.
And it was all directed at him.
His dazed mind couldn’t remember what happened, but he knew that he had done something bad, and he was guilty.
What happened? He thought.
He was answered in the worst way possible when he heard Kagami’s voice sneer,
“You absolutely useless fuck. You claim to be a shadow, but you can’t even win this one stupid game. Not to mention, your style of basketball…”
Before he could finish, Kagami melted into the darkness of his mind, a new person taking his place.
“…will never win.” Aomine finished
Tears ran down his face, and he tried to speak.
“I know I- I'm sorry- I shouldn't have-”
He was interrupted by Aomine, who kept glitching between being Kagami and Aomine. “That’s right, you shouldn’t have. You shouldn’t have come to this school, you shouldn’t have joined this team, and you shouldn’t have played!”
Kagami’s leg swung forward, hitting Kuroko’s shin hard.
“You’re such a loser! You should never be allowed to play basketball again! Here’s an idea, maybe if I kick you hard enough, your leg will break and you’ll have to quit the team!”
Aomine yelled.
As he curled up into a ball, the figure materialized beside him, kicking and shouting as Kuroko squeezed his eyes shut.
I deserve this, they’re right. I should just-
“Oh fuck, are you okay?”
…
Kuroko opened his eyes and blinked the tears away until he finally found Kagami’s face looking down at him.
“I- uh…” Kuroko clears his throat and sits up, “Morning, Kagami-kun.”
Kagami stares at his seemingly nonchalant demeanor. After all the shivering and crying, he knew something was up.
Kagami tried to compose himself and gave Kuroko what he hoped looked like a soft, comforting smile, one that showed Kuroko he could tell him anything.
Kuroko looked down into his lap for a moment and sniffed, raising his eyes again to meet Kagami’s smile.
“... What’s that thing you’re doing with your face? Stop that.”
Kagami's face dropped and he rolled his eyes playfully, but stopped himself from getting distracted as he noticed Kuroko’s still trembling hands.
Kagami reached forward and gently clasped Kuroko’s left hand in between his right before sitting down on the mattress. Kuroko’s eyes darted from Kagami’s hand to his face and back again.
“Hey, it’s okay. It's not like I’ll hurt you.”
Kuroko’s eyes start to water at Kagami’s words, the memories from his nightmare saying otherwise.
Kagami’s worried expression intensified and he rested his left hand on Kuroko’s cheek, wiping away the trail of tears with his thumb.
“Do you want to tell me what happened?”
Kagami’s previous efforts at drying his face are all for naught as Kuroko’s eyes fill up again and more tears stream down his cheeks. Kuroko attempts to recall his nightmare through choked sobs.
“I- there was a nightmare. You and Aomine- you kicked me and-" The next few words spew out of Kuroko's mouth, like he can't hold them back anymore, "It's my fault ! I'm so sorry, you don't deserve me-”
Kuroko clapped a hand over his mouth to stop his rambling and his sobs shattered Kagami’s heart. Kagami pieced together Kuroko's dream.
He dreamed that I…. hurt him? But why? I would never- oh. Oh, Kuroko. All evening he’s been acting off… I should've noticed Kuroko's self esteem has never been super high in the first place... I think I know how to fix this.
"Kuroko?" He starts, "Can I hug you? Would you be okay with that?"
Kuroko gives a tentative nod and Kagami leans over and wrapping his arms around Kuroko. Kuroko melted into Kagami and took a deep breath, noticing how nice Kagami smells. He smelled of dark oak wood and soft, firm leather, and a little bit like Kuroko's shampoo, making Kuroko smile.
Kagami ran a hand through Kuroko’s soft, fluffy hair and murmured into his ear, “Don’t worry. It’ll be ok. Aomine might be an asshole, but we would never hurt you, and it’s definitely not your fault. I’m so proud of you Kuroko, you did enough.” He then pulled away, keeping his hands on Kuroko’s shoulders and made eye contact. Staring into his soft, bright blue eyes, he found himself adding one more thing to his Comforting Kuroko™ speech
“You are enough.”
Those words themselves were enough for Kuroko’s heart to swell with happiness. He leaned into Kagami’s arms, collapsing even more into Kagami's arms as Kagami tightened his grip on Kuroko.
“No one has ever held me like that before. Thank you, Kagami-kun.”
Kuroko reluctantly pulls away from the hug, but stops when Kagami cleared his throat.
"Yes, Kagami-kun?" He asks.
Kagami stumbles over his words, "Would you mind if I- I mean no pressure or anything- but..." Kagami's voice gets quieter as he continues, "Can I sleep next to you?"
Kuroko pauses momentarily, stunned by the question before giving a quick nod.
Kagami's face brightens, "Really? Are you sure?"
"Yes, of course, Kagami-kun."
Kagami smiled and lied down next to Kuroko who was burying his head in Kagami’s chest as Kagami stroked his back, trying to calm him down.
The two ended up falling asleep in this position, their legs entangled, Kuroko’s head in Kagami’s chest, and Kagami’s head on top of Kuroko’s.
It was the best sleep both of them had in a long, long while.