Chapter Text
Before all this, there would have been no cause for Kuroo to talk to Yamaguchi, and so, when Kuroo slings a lanky arm entirely too casually around his shoulders, Yamaguchi is thoroughly surprised.
“Heeeey Yamaguchi,” Kuroo drawls.
“Oh, Kuroo, uh, hello.” Yamaguchi shrugs a little in a vain attempt at dislodging Kuroo’s arm.
“How’s our buddy Tsukishima doing?”
Yamaguchi doesn’t believe for a second that Kei considers Kuroo a buddy, even if Kei were ever to use the word.
Kuroo claps Yamaguchi on the shoulder. The action wedges Yamaguchi closer in under Kuroo’s arm. Yamaguchi’s shoulder is probably jabbing Kuroo in the armpit but he doesn’t seem to mind. It’s hard to tell. Kuroo’s one of those people who just keeps grinning.
“Tsukki is doing better, thanks, though you should know that considering he played in the practice matches this morning.” Yamaguchi makes to duck out from under the vaguely oppressing warmth of Kuroo’s arm only to be tugged back. Kuroo’s hand on his shoulder feels like a clamp.
“Well, you never know with a stoic guy like that,” Kuroo says airily, “and who better to ask than his best bud.”
Yamaguchi doesn’t think Kei’s ever had a ‘bud’ in his life.
“You know,” Kuroo continues, “with how you follow that guy around I would have thought he’d be the one protecting you. Never would have guessed it’d be the other way round.” Kuroo laughs even as Yamaguchi’s posture shifts under his arm.
“We protect each other.” Yamaguchi forcibly removes Kuroo’s hand from his shoulder. “Besides,” Yamaguchi adds, “it’s not as if Kei needs me to protect him.”
Yamaguchi strides away.
Kuroo is fairly certain he's just offended the guy.
Kuroo doesn’t know how he manages to keep pissing people off.