Chapter Text
"You told me not to fall in love with you."
Kuroo meant that as a joke - the way he says things like he means it but hopes the other knows it's the opposite - he's pouring out his everything right here, right now, hoping for some solid ground to step on.
He hopes he has a chance.
He knows deep down he doesn't - but when Kei walks up to him that day, with the predictable stoic expression in his face, yet the contradicting shaking of his hands and the creases on his temples, Kuroo immediately knows something's wrong.
Kuroo wasn't that much of a pushy person, and Kei wasn't one to give in that easily, but perhaps the weather had both worn them down that afternoon, opting to sit down somewhere private, and just talk. The pouring of the rain thundered across the roof, but the pounding of Kuroo's chest overpowered the sound of the storm waiting outside.
"Something's wrong," Kuroo started, taking a sip of his water, as he eyed the blonde carefully. He seemed restless somehow - his hands drumming on his thigh, his cup of tea untouched. Kei, sensing that Kuroo was analyzing him with great interest, made him look away, his eyes narrowed.
Aside from Tadashi, Kuroo was one of the people who could read him with ease - whether it was the time they spent together or the fact that Kuroo enjoyed teasing the hell out of him enough to psychoanalyze him to mess with his head, Kei wouldn't really know. Heck, he didn't even know why he followed Kuroo to this coffee shop across the museum he worked in, as if Kuroo knew exactly when his shift would end, and came to pick him up right on time.
'Right on time,' Kei mused, his eyes slowly meeting Kuroo's. "Right on time," he murmured in a daze.
The playful smirk on Kuroo's face made Kei realize he's done something odd - again.
"What was that?" Kuroo raised his eyebrow, his grin, playful, in an attempt to lighten the mood.
"It's nothing Kuroo-san," Kei muttered, a sigh escaping his lips, his eyes now unable to meet Kuroo's.
"There's something wrong," Kuroo, however, repeated, his eyes serious. "So tell me already."
"I told you already-"
"You wouldn't have followed me here to talk if there was nothing wrong and there was nothing I could do about it. So, spit it out," Kuroo finished, leaving Kei stunned, unable to think up a reply.
He was right.
Although spilling the information out of Kei had been hard at first, his lips sealed tight, a little coaxing and patience took no time in letting the story flow naturally (as naturally as Kei can at least) out of the blond.
"You're frowning," Kei noted, his tea still untouched. "Well, to be fair, you're the one who insisted to know-
" Yes, I did," Kuroo interjected, "And I don't plan on regretting it."
Kei bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself from any snide remarks. There was no one else to ask help from right now but Kuroo.
"The event happens every week this month, " Kuroo stated, awaiting Kei's affirmation or objection. Kei nodded, so Kurpo continued.
"And you need a date for these 4 consecutive events," Kuroo finished.
"Not just any date apparently," Kei sighed, rolling his eyes at the stupid tradition his family upheld. "Partners in the Tsukishima family are taken seriously. But I just need you to play along for those 4 events - I'll deal with them afterwards."
Kuroo smirked at this, nodding along. "And so why me?"
At the remark, the tips of Kei's ears turned pink, his eyes finding sudden interest in his cup of tea. "Don't boost your ego like that, Kuroo-san. You weren't my first choice."
"Ouch," Kuroo dramatically held his chest, as if he'd been shot. He pretends to not feel the annoying stinging clawing at the space between his upper ribs.
"I'd have asked for Bokuto-san or Akaashi-san's help but they've been busy. I don't think I'd be able to stand Hinata or Kageyama in a room for 5 minutes without a fight breaking out, and Yach's with Kiyoko-san. I don't suppose she'd let me borrow Yach even for a while."
"What about Tadashi?" Kuroo drawled, his fingers encircling along his glass of water. When Kei remained silent, Kuroo looked up carefully, not wanting the blonde to see him staring lest he look away again.
The image of Tsukishima Kei with his hair messy, his glasses sitting on top of his head, and the burning bright red of his face had Kuroo gasping quietly in surprise. His golden eyes were narrowed in evident frustration and hidden sorrow - it broke Kuroo's heart just a little.
Oh. That's why.
Kuroo awkwardly laughs, snapping Kei out of his daze. Kuroo gripped his fist tightly, the roles switched as the black-haired boy refused to even meet Kei's eyes.
"I see," Kuroo nodded, breathing in deeply to regain composure. "Does he know?"
Kei's silence answered his question.
"Maybe you should ask him instead then-"
"No," Kei immediately countered. "I - I mean, I want to properly confess. Someday."
"Oh, so I'm a rebound?" Kuroo joked darkly and before he could process the words he said they were already out on the table.Kei's unreceptive stillness pushed Kuroo to fill the silence with his signature laugh, Kei sighing in relief.
Kuroo smiled ever so softly to see ease wash up against Kei's otherwise monotone expression. It was a painful punch to the gut to hear him say it out loud (and he didn't think he would, but he did. Funny how things work out huh?)
But maybe - just maybe -
Kuroo gulped, and pulled one of his charismatic grins, his hand placed in front of Kei's, ready to seal the deal with a handshake.
"Just one warning -" Kuroo started, "don't fall in love with me."
Kei snickered at this, and took Kuroo's hand in his. The two shook it at the same time.
"I wouldn't dream of it."
Kuroo meant that as a joke - the way he says things like he means it but hopes the other knows it's the opposite - he knows the situation's grim, and he's clawing for something in the dark he isn't even sure was there in the first place -
But he still hopes he has a chance.