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Kenma had always been a loner. He knew it the first time his parents had taken him to meet other royal children.
He was only five, but knew he wanted nothing to do with them, preferring to stay by his parents side, even with all the entertainment that had been brought.
The only thing he was interested in was the reading of a book. He found it fascinating, how words could be stringed together to form sentences and make a wonderful story about princes and princesses and fairies.
Ever since then, Kenma spent all of his spare time in the palace library, reading alone in one of the cushions in the very back where no one would see him.
Until one day, when Kenma heard the doors open and close.
He didn’t pay it much mind, seeing as if he stayed quiet, most people didn’t even know he was there.
But to his dismay, the person, a boy who looked to be about his age, came to the back. He had jet black hair in a crazy bedhead, and really pretty hazel eyes.
Luckily, even though he noticed Kenma, he didn’t bother him, picking out a book and sitting down in another cushion that was a few yards away from Kenma.
For a couple weeks, they would sit there and read silently, at least until the ravenette spoke up.
“Hey.”
Kenma looked up. “Me?” The boy laughed.
“Yes, you. Who else would I be talking to?” Kenma blushed. He wasn’t good in social situations.
“Well anyway, I’m Kuroo. What’s your name?” The boy moved his cushion closer. Kenma paused, trying to decide whether to lie or tell the truth.
In the end, he told Kuroo that his name was Kenma. No one knew the prince’s first name, so he would never know.
“Cool.” There was an awkward silence before Kuroo looked at his watch. “Oh, I have to go. See you next week?”
Kenma nodded. “Bye!” Kuroo called, waving as he left. Kenma waved back, a small smile creeping into his lips.
Four years later, they were in that same library, with Kuroo nagging Kenma as usual.
“What’re you reading?” Kuroo asked.
“It’s called ‘The Floor is Yours.’ It’s about a princess who wants to marry her best friend but can’t because he’s not of royal descent.”
Kuroo frowned. “Why do you read all the sad books? That’s so boring.” Kenma huffed.
“Just because it’s sad at the beginning doesn’t mean it can’t have a happy ending. Haven’t you learned anything?”
Kuroo grumbled. “I just enjoy happier books, realistic ones.” Kenma rolled his eyes.
“This is realistic. My tutor told me.”
“Your tutor lied.”
Kenma scoffed. “How do you know? You’re not even a year older than me.” Kuroo tackled Kenma, jumping on the cushion.
“Maybe, but I’m still in a higher level than you.”
“Oh hush. And get off me, I’m going to suffocate to death!” Kuroo laughed, rolling off the grumpy royal.
“Fine. But could you at least practice swordfighting with me?” Kuroo exclaimed.
“Absolutely not.” Kuroo groaned.
“Why won’t you do anything with me?”
Because I don’t want to draw attention to you.
“Because I don’t want to. And besides, I’d rather do combat from afar. Like a bow and arrow.” Kuroo rolled his eyes.
“Then we can practice in the shooting range.”
Kenma sighed. “I’d rather practice by myself.”
“That’s so boring!” Kuroo sighed. “I’m not convincing you, are I?” He asked, flopping down and looking up at Kenma.
Kenma raised an eyebrow, turning back to his book. Kuroo laughed and picked up his own book, flipping to his marker and beginning to read, his side against Kenma’s back as the younger leaned against him.
A little while later, the door was opened by an unknown woman.
She gasped, clearly recognizing Kenma, who immediately winced. Damn it… But to his surprise, she turned to scold Kuroo.
“Tetsurou!”
“Mom?” Kuroo asked in surprise. “What are you doing here?” He frowned slightly.
“Me? What are you doing? That’s the prince!” Kuroo turned to Kenma, who was looking away. “You never told me that!” He exclaimed. He looked more confused than hurt.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” He asked. Kenma sighed.
“I’m always treated differently once people figure out that I’m the prince. I didn’t want you to do the same.”
Kuroo frowned. “Why would I treat you differently? Maybe you’re the heir to the throne, but you’re human too. And treating someone a certain way based on their status is why all the nobles and royals are so haughty.”
“Tetsurou!” Kuroo’s mother scolded.
He cringed. “No offense.”
Kenma shook his head. “No, you’re right. If I’m being honest, I hate all the haughty nobles and royals. But you didn’t hear that from me.”
Kuroo grinned. “You have my word.” Kuroo’s mother sighed.
“Please don’t tell anyone,” Kenma mumbled, becoming suddenly shy. He didn’t do well with adults. She shook her head.
“I won’t, cross my heart. I have some work to do now, so I’ll let you be, but Tetsurou, promise me you’ll be respectful.” Kuroo smiled up at his mother.
“Promise.”
An hour later, Kenma was fast asleep. Kuroo smiled at him, not moving so as to not disturb the smaller boy.
Another half hour later, Kuroo was still reading diligently when the doors burst open. Or rather, they were kicked down.
Kenma shot up like a spring, having always been sensitive to noise. “Prince Kozume?” A servant asked, her eyes wide with fear.
She spotted Kenma lying next to Kuroo and she, along with what was probably twenty guards, rushed over. “Prince Kozume! Thank goodness you’re alright!” The servant said, taking his arm.
“Who is this?” One guard demanded.
“He’s my friend- ow, let me go!”
“We still have to question him,” another rumbled, picking up Kuroo by his arms.
“Don’t hurt him! If you hurt him, I’ll throw you in the fraw!” Kenma yelled as he was dragged away.
…
“You didn’t tell him? What were you thinking?!” His stepmother demanded.
“Well, he’s the only one who treated me like I was another regular person, so I saw no need to tell him. And didn’t you want me to make friends?”
“With other royals! And you’re the prince! You need to show your power or you’ll never be a good leader! You’ll never find a wife!”
“I don’t want a wife! And sorry that I don’t want to be a tyrant like you who takes every opportunity to flaunt their power!” Kenma’s father stepped forward.
“Kenma! Apologize to your mother!”
“She’s not my mother! I’d rather not have a mother at all than have her be associated with me.” Kenma stormed off, not even caring that his stepmother had started to cry.
“Kenma! Get back here and apologize!”
He didn’t answer, stalking off to his quarters and slamming his door.
He flopped down on his bed, running his fingers through his hair, his fingers catching onto the four hair clips Kuroo had given him.
An hour later, there was a knock at the door. “Prince Kozume? It’s time for dinner.”
“I’m not hungry.”
No one disturbed him for the rest of the night.
The next day, his father was at his door at the crack of dawn. “What do you want?” Kenma grumbled sleepily.
“You will eat breakfast downstairs and you will apologize formally to your mother.”
“Stepmother,” Kenma corrected. “And fine.”
“…You’re not going to argue?” His father asked.
“Do you want me to?” Kenma demanded.
“No, just- I’ll see you at breakfast,” the king scoffed.
“Yui Asuyama, I offer you my sincerest apologies for the way I acted yesterday. Though necessary, I realize now that my actions have hurt you. While I cannot promise that it will not happen again, I can promise to help you get better so our relationship can heal.”
That was one of the highest forms of disrespect anyone could use against a member of the royal family.
Not only had he spoken using her first name, he used the last name of her late husband. And he had twisted the words just so that it was not outright hate, but so that the hate was intertwined in what he said.
“Kenma Kozume!”
“You ungrateful brat!”
“I did what you asked,” Kenma told his father. He then turned to his stepmother. “I believe you have forgotten that I have royal blood. I have more power than you do. So I would watch yourself.”
He turned and left.
He ended up in the library, where Kuroo was, to his surprise.
Kenma opened his mouth to speak, but Kuroo interrupted him. “I’m not mad. I’m just glad you’re okay. And that you’re not mad at me. Oh, I found a great new series. I think you’ll like it.” He patted the cushion next to him, and Kenma gratefully sat down.
“Greater than ‘Wishes Upon Wishes?’” He asked. Kuroo grinned.
“It’s even better. It’s like a second part to the series, written by a different author.”
Kenma’s eyes lit up and he leaned over Kuroo’s shoulder. “What are you waiting for? Open it!”
Seven years later, it was Kenma’s eighteenth birthday. He, to everyone’s surprise, presented as a nine-tailed fox.
Nobles and royals from all around had come to celebrate.
And he hated it.
He hated all the attention he was getting. He didn’t mind someone stopping by to wish him a happy birthday, but he hated the royals and nobles that would come up to present their daughters or ask when he was getting married.
The only one Kenma loved was Kuroo; not that anyone knew that.
As it started to get later in the evening, Kenma managed to slip outside to catch a breath of air.
“I figured you would show up here sooner or later…” a familiar voice murmured from behind him.
Kenma whirled around, relaxing when he saw that it was Kuroo.
“I can’t stand all those haughty nobles and smug royals. ‘Have you met my daughter? She’s a great pianist, her fingerwork is amazing.’” Kenma fake gagged. “It’s disgusting.”
Kuroo slipped an arm around his waist, gently leading him to one of the enclosed terraces.
“While I agree with you, I don’t think that the royals in there would approve of you speaking in such a manner.”
Kenma sighed, leaning against the railing, but Kuroo stopped him, pulling him into his embrace. “What do you think you’re doing?” Kenma demanded.
“I would hate to be responsible for you falling off the terrace, so let’s keep our feet on level ground,” Kuroo murmured, his voice box reverberating against Kenma’s back in a delightful way.
“I still can’t believe you’re a nine-tailed fox…” the tall noble murmured, reaching to scratch behind Kenma’s ears.
Kenma leaned into his touch. Even though he had only presented that morning, Kuroo was still able to easily figure out the places where Kenma was sensitive and the places where he loved to be touched.
Kenma shuddered as Kuroo leaned down to rest his head on Kenma’s shoulder, his warm breaths pulsing against the prince’s neck.
Though they would often sneak into the library to kiss and cuddle in the back where no one would see or hear them, Kenma would never get used to Kuroo’s little gestures of love.
A kiss on the hand, resting his head on Kenma’s shoulder, burying his face in Kenma’s hair, doing his hair, and keeping him up to date on the things he normally wouldn’t have bothered to care for.
“Kenma, love,” Kuroo murmured into his ear. Kenma jumped.
“Yes?”
“I asked you for a kiss. Were you listening?” Kenma jumped.
“I was thinking!” He protested.
“About what?” Kuroo asked, humming softly.
Kenma flushed, looking away so Kuroo couldn’t see. “It doesn’t matter.”
“If you were thinking about me, just say so.” Kenma flushed an even deeper shade of crimson, grateful for the darkness that hid his blush.
“I was not!” He paused, clearing his throat. “I would never have such vulgar thoughts.”
Kuroo hummed. “I’ll trust you on that one. And, my request?” Kenma leaned up to peck his lips.
Kuroo chuckled. “You know what I mean.”
Kenma rolled his eyes but still leaned up to give Kuroo what he wanted.
Kenma would never get over how soft Kuroo’s lips were, and how great of a kisser he was. His hands moved perfectly to support his head and waist, while simultaneously pleasuring Kenma as much as possible.
He always knew how to make the most of even the shortest kisses, and always held Kenma close to him like he was afraid of letting go.
“Thank you for fulfilling my request, Your Highness,” Kuroo murmured against his lips. Kenma sighed into his lips.
“Don’t expect me to give in so easily next time,” he warned.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
They stayed there for a while longer, relaxing against one another.
After a little while, Kenma pulled away regretfully. “I should return to the gala,” he murmured. Kuroo nodded, releasing the fox.
“See you tomorrow?” Kenma frowned. “I’m not sure if I can make it. I believe my parents have a few meetings scheduled. But I’ll be sleeping in the sunroom tonight if you wish to join me.”
He slipped back into the night and returned to the gala as if nothing had happened.
“Where were you?” King Amir asked. “I just needed some fresh air,” Kenma explained.
Amir nodded. “It’s getting late, and I believe everyone who wished to say something and socialize has done so, so if you would do the honors…?”
Kenma took a deep breath before stepping up onto the platform that overlooked the ballroom.
“I thank you all for taking the time to come to this celebration, and for all the gifts and offers you have made me. I believe we would all like to retire for the night soon, so I will be ending the main festivities here. Have a good night.”
Kenma bowed, and the guests bowed back.
Kenma gave one final wave before turning and leaving through one of the back hallways that led straight to his room.
After completing his nightly routine, he slipped into the sunroom unseen and began to wait.
Kenma was about to settle down when there was a soft rustle of cloth before Kuroo appeared before him.
“I was beginning to think that you weren’t going to show up,” he murmured to the taller male.
“I would never do such a thing,” he murmured. “I was merely preoccupied.” Kenma raised an eyebrow almost playfully. “With what? You don’t have any duties to attend to.”
“Thinking about you.”
Kenma didn’t know what he was expecting Kuroo to say, but it certainly wasn’t that.
His cheeks flushed, and he began to scold the demon.
“Don’t say things like that!” Kuroo chuckled. “If it flusters you, just say so.” Kenma turned an even deeper shade of crimson, huffing. “That’s besides the point,” he grumbled, pouting.
Kuroo smiled, pulling him close. “Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. But I really was thinking about you,” he said as he ran his fingers through the prince’s hair.
“I have reason to believe that I’m the only thing that crosses your mind.” Kuroo hummed. “That and military tactics.”
He sighed. “I can’t help it. Anyone would be lucky to have you. You’re just so… perfect.” He caressed Kenma’s forehead gently.
Kenma blushed, feeling his heart flutter. The things Kuroo did to him.
He leaned up and pecked the noble’s lips lovingly. “I believe it’s time for us to settle in,” he murmured, allowing himself to relax against Kuroo.
Kuroo nodded, reaching for the large blanket that lay at the foot of the bed and bringing it up to their chins.
“Goodnight, love,” Kuroo murmured.
“Goodnight,” Kenma responded. “And Kuroo?”
Kuroo hummed softly, not wanting to disturb anyone or bring attention to them. “You will always have a place in my mind.”
Kenma felt Kuroo smile against the back of his head as the ghost of a quiet I love you resided against his neck.