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“Oh my god you’re a morning person.” Kenma whispers, horrified.
His old friend just shrugs, grinning. “How did you not know this already, Kenma?”
“We’ve never slept together before!” The words slip out before Kenma can process them and he blushes hotly.
Kuroo stretches, reminiscent of a cat. “Oh? How salacious, your highness,” he wiggles his eyebrows. Kenma turns around, burying his face in the bed. It has an unfamiliar smell - it’s a camping bed, not the one in his room.
“Shut up, Kuro. You know what I mean.”
“That we’ve never slept in the same tent because I wasn’t technically part of your guard before this? Ah, but that’s the boring meaning,” Kuroo complains.
In response, Kenma just rolls his eyes. “Let me sleep for five more minutes.” Unfortunately, Kuroo just hauls him up by the scruff of his neck.
“Come on, your highness, up and attem!” Kenma wiggles around in vain, trying to kick Kuroo. His freakishly muscled friend just laughs.
—
Thirty minutes later, a disgruntled Kenma stands outside his tent. He glares at the sky. “Stupid sun,” he mutters. “If it wasn’t in the sky I would still be asleep.”
Inuoka pops up next to him, a bright smile on his face. “Good morning, your highness! How was last night?” He’s one of the few people that know about Kenma’s stupid little crush on Kuroo.
Kenma narrows his eyes. “You know I could have you executed, right?” Inuoka shrugs, amusement written all over his face.
“Oho? Why are we executing Inuoka here?” Kuroo walks up.
“Treason.” Kenma deadpans.
“Shame, he was a good guy. Anyway, how about breakfast, your highness?”
—
“Kuroooooo!” An energetic voice calls from inside the castle.
The man in question brightens, turning around. “Bokuto! My buddy!” He jogs ahead, leaving an unimpressed Yaku with Kenma. Indeed, Bokuto sprints forward and they collide in the middle, laughing.
Kenma can just make out Akaashi’s amused expression.
Once they’re close enough, Kenma politely extends his hands. “Hello. You look happy.”
“Do I?” Akaashi dips his head bashfully. “I believe it may have something to do with Bokuto.” Ah. So they finally got together. Good for them. “And you?”
Kenma nods. “I’ve been well. Thank you, your highness.” The formal language sounds easy on his tongue, but Kenma hopes the courtiers will go away soon so they can go back to speaking like normal people.
As if on cue, their guards stroll up to them. “Your highness, you must be tired,” Kuroo says loudly. “Let’s go put our stuff away.”
With a grateful nod, Kenma quickly follows him and Yaku into the castle.
—
That night, Kenma stares at the ceiling of the room. He thinks of his friends and Akaashi’s soft smiles, Bokuto’s fleeting, almost accidental touches gentle enough to look like nothing. He thinks of his own wandering gaze, always, always drawn to clever eyes and a catlike grin.
“Kuro?” he whispers into the dark. There’s an answering hum.
“I’m glad you’re here. With me.”
Kenma hears the smile in Kuroo’s voice. “Glad to be here, Kenma.”