Work Text:
“Please sign here.”
The man in the black suit points his finger to the black line above your printed name. You scribble your signature, black ink staining the white paper. He turns the paper over and asks you to sign again on a different sheet. You do this for the next five pages, and when you’re done, you lean back on your seat to look at the man in front of you.
Kuroo sits across from you, also busy affixing his signature. When he looks back at you, you smile, and he smiles back.
“I think that covers everything,” another man in a black suit declares as he stands up. “This was such a bizarre experience for us, but I’m happy with how things turned out. It was very, very smooth.”
Everyone else in the room shuffles and soon after, silence floods the room and bounces off the walls. You gather the papers on the table while Kuroo heads for the door. He opens it, gesturing for you to leave first.
He says, “After you, milady.”
You roll your eyes. “God, I hate you.”
He grins. “Of course you do.”
Street lamps flicker on as you step outside the building.
“It took us that long?” He asks.
You shrug.
Kuroo’s car is parked a mere ten steps away, and while you place the papers in the backseat, your stomach grumbles. You both stare at each other, and you say, “You didn’t hear that.”
Kuroo laughs at you and unclasps the steering-wheel lock.
“So where do you want to eat?”
“I want ice cream. From 7-Eleven. The one with two flavors.”
“Kitten, you have to eat real food.”
“Kitten?”
Kuroo scoffs and shakes his head. He turns on the car engine. “Fine, but after having actual dinner.”
You huff, and you rest your elbow on the car window, chin resting on your palm. “Fine.”
“Hmm?”
You look at him. “What?”
“I’m almost out. Can we stop by the gas station first?”
“Sure.”
You stare at the window as Kuroo drives, white lights coming into your view and zooming past your vision. It’s quiet in the car, and the silence stills all the fears in your heart.
When you arrive at the gas station, you tell Kuroo that you have to buy something.
“That better not be ice cream.”
“It will not be ice cream,” you hiss. “Why do you keep nagging me about my food choices?”
“I thought you liked that.”
You roll your eyes before you get out of the car and head to the convenience store. Upon entering, you grab the box of cigarettes nearest to you and a lighter. You give the cashier your payment and you exit the store.
“What did you get?” Kuroo asks while you slide into the passenger seat.
“Cigarettes.”
Kuroo hums. He starts the engine again and drives away.
After thirty minutes of driving, you arrive at the restaurant.
There is alcohol and meat and laughter as you dined with Kuroo. The conversations between you are as smooth as the wine that trails down in your throat. It’s the most civilized meal you’ve ever had with him in the last six months.
When the server hands the bill, you open your purse, but Kuroo stops you before you can pull out your credit card. “It’s fine kitten, I got this.”
You blink at him.
He fishes his wallet from his back pocket and assures you, “Today’s a special day after all.”
So you lean back on your chair and close your purse.
Kuroo is right.
Today is an important day.
As you walk back to the parking lot, Kuroo asks, “You still want that ice cream?”
“God, yes.”
“God, you’re such a handful.”
“Talking about yourself?”
You walk to the nearest convenience store and sit on one of the mini booths inside, licking and biting your ice cream. Kuroo sits across, phone in hand.
“Where will you stay tonight?” You ask.
Without lifting his head from his phone, he answers, “Probably Kenma’s again. His house is just an hour away from here.”
When you finish your ice cream, he still doesn’t look at you.
You sigh.
You walk back to his car and Kuroo drives you home.
Before you can open the door, he says, “Wait. You almost forgot your copy.”
Kuroo reaches for the papers in the backseat and hands it to you.
“Thanks,” you tell him.
As you get out of his car, Kuroo apologizes.
Then he adds, “I meant every word I said back then, kitten. I really wanted to have a family with you.”
You grip the signed papers in your hand, the ghost of the ring heavy around your finger.
“I know.”
You close the door and step aside. You light a cigarette with just one hand.
A smoke escapes from your lips and chases after Kuroo’s car as he drives away from you.