Chapter Text
"I'm home!"
Koutarou struggled to get up from the couch when he heard the door of the apartment shut and almost tripped over some dirty pants either he or Kuroo hadn't cleaned up yet. Not that one pair of pants would change anything about the mess that was the living room.
"Hey Hey Heyy! Bro, you're already back?"
"I always come home around this time, you're just always out." Kicking an empty can out of his way Kuroo entered the room, grinning. He ruffled through his hair and dust floated to the ground.
"What about you though, don't you have someone to save or something?"
With a pout Koutarou dropped back on the couch.
"Nothing ever happens here, there's nothing to do."
Kuroo snorted and plopped down next to him.
"Then train, I don't want any more broken door frames."
"That was one time!"
"Do I have to remind you of the other 'one times'?"
"Uncool, bro. Training is boring, it's more fun in a fight!"
"Because every villain will take you seriously if your hand randomly transforms into a talon."
"I could pretend it's intentional!"
Kuroo groaned, he probably realized he was getting nowhere, and Koutarou didn't plan on leaving the apartment that evening anyway. He was in the mood for a lazy movie night, even if it was only Tuesday.
"Bro, you know what, I'm taking a shower and when I come back you better have some popcorn ready."
"Movie night!", Koutarou exclaimed and threw his fists up in glee. Sometimes he thought that maybe, just maybe, Kuroo had superpowers too and just kept them secret – more often than not he seemed to read his mind.
"Bokuto, one thing: No superhero movies! I've had enough of these for a while now!" With that Kuroo shut the bathroom door, leaving a grumpy Koutarou to ready the snacks. Kuroo really could read his mind.
After searching for a bit in the shelves for the popcorn he put the bag in the microwave and waited.
Maybe they could watch a spy movie, James Bond, or some animated movie, those were cool too.
Still lost in thought he didn't realize the popcorn was already done for a few seconds before he opened the microwave, burned his fingers on the hot bag and dropped it.
"Ahh, fuck!" He glared at the steaming package on the counter. Where were the oven gloves again? Did they even have oven gloves? Maybe he could try and put the popcorn in a bowl using his transformed hands – just transformed into what?
A sudden rain of hot water droplets hitting his back distracted him and he turned around. Kuroo was in his usual sleeping outfit, T-Shirt and Boxers, but still dripping wet. Of course he had to splash water on Koutarou, who could have resisted that opportunity.
"Don't even try, Owl."
"I knew it, you are a mind reader! What did I think just now?"
"Stop assuming stupid things or I'll get that water cannon from my room. You're just easy to read, bro."
"I'm lucky you don't like reading that much, huh." They both grinned and Kuroo took on the responsibilty for the popcorn.
"Bro, you're dripping on the whole floor, why didn't you use a towel?", Koutarou asked after a second of silence and Kuroo sighed a bit too dramatically.
"They're all dirty or in the laundry."
"I guess we should take care of that."
"Nice guess, you're right. But first, movie. I choose." With a smug grin Kuroo left the kitchen with the popcorn and Koutarou hurried after him.
"No fair! I want at least a say in it!"
"You had your say in it the last five times, you chose them." They plopped down on the couch and Kuroo snatched the remote control away before giving Koutarou the chance to even spot it. Damn him and his quick reactions.
"News should be on too, interested? Superheros have to know what's going on, right."
He groaned, of course Kuroo was right, but first not choosing the movie and now having to watch the news on top of that? In the worst case there was some catastrophe that needed him right then to help. And he didn't even know where his outfit was, or if it was okay to wear or dirty like everything else in their apartment.
"Do we have to watch that?"
"Stop being so grumpy, Bro. It's only news."
And the TV screen lighted up and showed the usual reporter with her usual outfit and her usual pokerface.
"- and now on to other events. Starway's Industries announced the completion of the Venus project that was supposed to be finished five years ago, but was delayed due to the loss of one of the project's leaders Akaashi Daisuke fifteen years ago."
A picture of a dark haired man was shown, messy black locks with some grey streaks, and the thickest bags under his eyes Koutarou had ever seen. Then the picture changed to a live video of a pale old man with almost no hair and a typical black suit.
"Isamu Katsuro, the founder of Starway's Industries, explained to us why the project was delayed for so long:"
"Thank you. You see, it wasn't an easy decision to let Akaashi-san go, but the project he suggested back then was too risky to be reasonable, and he was too persistent. He lost sight of the actual project, lashing out on his co-workers who wanted to remind him of his priorities, and putting the whole project at risk as he almost destroyed the equipment in his rage. It was a loss for the company, but in hindsight it was better and safer for everyone to continue without him. We tried to hire his son, though he declined our offer. It's a shame, the boy is a genius like his father back in the days. He's probably too upset because of what happened."
"What kind of project are they talking about? And what's the deal with this Akaashi guy?"
Eyebrows raised, Kuroo muted the TV and looked at Koutarou.
"You don't remember? We were like ten when all this happened."
"I'm not a space nerd, bro. What were they talking about?"
"This guy had some idea to, I don't even know anymore, explore some space stuff I guess. But they said it was too risky and he worked on it on his own, so they fired him. But as if that wasn't enough they made a huge deal out of it, like really huge, I'm surprised you don't remember the drama."
Fifteen years ago... As a child Koutarou had always hated the news because they were boring, but for a few months they were even more so, telling the same thing again and again, had it been because of this matter?
"I think I remember especially boring news, but I don't remember what that was about. I had other stuff to do."
"Playing volleyball, huh. No, they ridiculed him and called him madman, like an illness."
"And why are they bringing this up now? Wasn't it enough to fire him back then?"
"They probably want to remind us that they got rid of him, like 'hey we're clean now, remember, that madman isn't part of our company anymore, you can invest in our company, y'know'"
"If I ever need space equipment I know where I'm not going. Those guys are fucking rude."
"That's business for you. Now let's watch a movie. How about Harry Potter?"
"Bro! You should have told me that was your plan, how could I ever say no to owls!"
"The movie isn't about owls."
"More than other movies at least."
"Touché."
The rest of their evening was filled with laughter, snarky comments and way too much popcorn on the floor, a truly enjoyable movie night. Akaashi Daisuke and Starway's Industries were long forgotten, buried under the popcorn Koutarou promised to clean up tomorrow.
Unbeknownst to him, only a few kilometers away a frustrated Akaashi Keiji turned off the TV.