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Dental school had been one of Kuroo’s best decisions; he could explore his interest in sciences even more while also using his attention to detail and social capacities to a maximum. Some things just refused to go the way he wanted, though. He walked out of his class lacking his usual smirk, his shoulders were tight, the smell of disinfectant still stuck in his clothes, replaying the professor’s deadline in his head. He wanted to go home and bury himself into the mattress where none of his current problems could reach him.
He had just been assigned a project, THE project. Half his grade on clinical assessment, a subject he’d always aced (before this project, at least). He couldn’t help but wonder how strict his professor would be when grading, and imagine millions of ‘what if's' while the calmer part of his mind outlined the solution. He needed to find someone reliable who wouldn’t just disappear and was cooperative enough to let him poke and prod into their mouth for a while. He thought to ask either Bokuto and Akaashi, but both of them were a long train ride away and he didn’t want to inconvenience them.
He knew they both had busy lives now as adults and could probably spare so much time for other stuff. On the other hand there was his roommate and boyfriend of 6 years, Kenma. He lived close to the faculty and would probably be cooperative enough if he managed to convince him, and there laid the problem. His boyfriend was stubborn and even as he didn’t usually spend his energy on arguing it would not be easy to get him to agree, and pushing it always had the opposite of the desired effect.
He walked to their dorm on autopilot mode, his mind racing with possible candidates as he turned the dorknob.
Their cat, Domino, was laying on top of the couch, belly exposed as she napped peacefully. They had found her on the way home, she had rubbed in between their legs as they walked. Kenma picked her up, letting both of them have a closer look at her white fur with big spots of black over her back and on the side of her face. The small black spots on her white tummy made Kuroo think she looked like a piece of domino. The rest was history.
He gave her a pat on the head as she emitted a soft purr and turned to her side. He dropped his stuff at their bedroom, where Kenma was in front of his monitor, jaw clenched and a deep frown on his face. His health bar was nearing its end and it seemed he wasn’t even halfway through the level. As he changed out of his scrubs Kuroo heard the mouse slam onto the desk as Kenma raged quit the level, flopping down onto the bed. Golden eyes followed him through the room, taking in his unusual clumsiness and quietness. “What is it?” He asked, snapping Kuroo out of his thoughts. “I’ve got a project” Kenma’s eyes focused on him, confusion phasing through them. “You haven’t failed any” Kuroo sighed, sitting beside Kenma. “It’s… I have to find a patient...” His boyfriend instantly shook his head. “I know where you’re going. Don’t” Kuroo nodded. “I know you don’t like it, but it would help me a lot. It’s half my grade and you’re unfortunately the most reliable person I know” He shook his head again. “Nope— he stood up from the bed, walking out of the room— that’s my final decision”
Kuroo knew his boyfriend wouldn’t give in easily but he had been more resistant than usual. However, he had just rage quit his game which meant he wasn’t in his best mood. Still, pressing him always had the opposite of the desired effect.
He turned off the lights as he walked out of the room, Kenma was sitting on the couch scrolling mindlessly through his phone.
He checked the clock, it was around 8pm. “Have you eaten yet?” He asked, his voice echoing through the silent dorm. Kenma shrugged and kept scrolling. “You have to eat, come on.” His boyfriend shook his head. “Well that leaves more food for me, win-win” He eyed Kenma again as he cracked two eggs in a pan.
Once they were ready he plated them, one for Kenma and one for himself. He grabbed two forks from the drawer, holding them tightly into his hand.
He walked towards the living room, setting the plate besides his boyfriend. Golden eyes looked up at him, pausing his game. He sighed and grabbed the fork, taking a small bite. Kuroo set his on his lap, cutting a chunk and chewing it absentmindedly. Kenma was focused on a rhythm game, tiles flying over the screen at high speed. He somehow managed to catch them all. “Well, seems like those fingers are great at many things” he said with a smirk. The double sided pun earned him a glare as he took another bite. “You’re gross,” Kuroo chuckled. “And you’re not eating, you know blue light has no nutritional value, right?” Kenma rolled his eyes, cutting a chunk and stuffing his mouth with it. As his mind lost to the game again he swallowed wrong, sputtering bits and pieces as he coughed. “I said eat, not choke” Kuroo said, patting his back and standing up.
He came back with a glass of water. The coughing fit was nearly over, but Kenma seemed completely out of breath. He grabbed the glass and drank a bit, breathing heavily in between sips. He pushed the plate away. Kuroo ate what he left.
He took both dishes to the sink and washed them along with the pan he had used. When he was back, Kenma was still playing on his phone. “I have some work to do, I’ll be at the table if you need anything.” His boyfriend gave a nod, eyes still focused on the screen. Kuroo took out his textbooks along with his laptop and a notebook. He went over the patient requirements: 18 and up ages, full permanent dentition (optional wisdom teeth), no ongoing dental emergency, consent for photographs and charting, agreement to be discussed for academic evaluation. Then he read over the protocol to follow: medical history, dental history, extraoral exam, intraoral soft tissue exam, teeth and restorations, occlusion, oral hygiene assessment. As he skimmed over the rubric he noticed two additional sections: Radiographic interpretation and, Diagnosis and Treatment Plan. He sighed, this was going to be a nightmare.
He spent the next hours studying, he took notes, went over his flashcards and did some mock tests. It wasn’t final season by any means but Kuroo thought it was crucial to prepare everyday.
As the time went by he felt a headache creeping in, along with a sharp pain along his shoulders every time he hunched over to take notes. He was stressed and he knew it. His body always spoke louder than his mouth did. He pushed through the sting in his eyes as he looked at the class slides. Exhaustion made it hard to focus, every term sounded like gibberish and he had to go back and read the same sentence over and over.
After a few tough slides he closed his laptop and took his phone. It wasn’t the ideal hour to do it, but the sooner, the better. He messaged everyone he thought could be a good candidate, even offering to pay depending on their closeness.
Ex-classmates from Nekoma, neighbors from where he used to live, cousins, even people from the same dorm tower as them. A few answers, all of them read the same thing. ‘No’. Phrased kindly sometimes, with a polite excuse. Some left him on read.
Some were straight up rude.
He sighed, as he rubbed his stingy eyes. The light from his phone physically hurting him. He rested his head on top of his hands, just for a second. Just a second…
Kenma played on his phone until the low battery forced him to get up and plug it in. As he walked towards their bedroom he noticed Kuroo sleeping over his notes, his mouth was half open and there was a frown on his face. His phone lit up with a notification and Kenma couldn’t help but peek at his lover’s device.
It was a message from one of Kuroo’s ex-classmates.
The guy was friendly, he even came to some of their volleyball games, cheering loudly when they scored a point.
‘Hey, sorry man yk im a busy guy, I can't do it.’
The message read awkward even for Kenma. Kuroo? Asking for favors? Then it hit him, the project. He had probably asked every person he knew to be his patient. Kenma sighed, he hated that he felt slightly guilty for his boyfriend’s distress.
He tapped the raven-haired’s shoulder in an attempt to wake him up. Kuroo slept through everything, but stress always managed to make his sleep very light. He jostled awake, rubbing his eyes and looking at Kenma. His golden cat-like eyes focused on his face.
“Guess I fell asleep, notebooks are a much better pillow than I thought.” His neck cracked as he turned his head. The pain returned to his shoulders and he could barely mask a wince. Kenma placed his dying phone on the table, standing behind Kuroo and placing both hands on his shoulders. He rubbed small, awkward circles over his shirt.
It was the cutest attempt at a massage Kuroo had ever experienced. It barely lasted 10 seconds before the other removed his hands and returned to face him. “Go to bed” Kuroo nodded and stood up from the chair, legs numb and clumsy after sitting down for such a long time. “Goodnight, Kenma” he said with a big yawn.
He brushed his teeth and slipped out of his clothes, leaving only his boxers on. He was out cold as soon as his head touched the pillows.
The alarm rang loud and obnoxious aggravating the headache that had come back from the night before. His jaw felt tense, like he’d been clenching all night.
He knew how bad that was for his teeth.
Kenma lay beside him, curled into a lump under the blankets. A few strands of hair sticking in different directions. He groaned as he heard the alarm and kicked Kuroo in the shin without even opening his eyes. The older one pressed the stop button, just then he felt a pair of paws creeping onto his chest.
Domino yowled at him as he sat up in bed, he scratched behind her ears. “Good morning to you too” They walked towards the living room, where he scooped a good portion of kibble onto her plate along with a spoonful of her favorite wet food.
His head was pounding, the sunlight peeking from the blinds making it even worse.
His first class was at eight, it was currently quarter to seven.
He showered and brushed his teeth feeling like a zombie, the warm water had soothed the worst of his headache but there was still pressure sitting behind his eyes.
He ate a simple bowl of cereal and a protein bar. Before he left he placed a sticky note on the fridge that read ‘PLEASE EAT BEFORE I GET BACK’. Kenma tended to postpone eating as much as he could and Kuroo had to fight him to get him to eat 3 meals a day.
The younger boy was pretty independent, he could cook basic dishes when hunger really kicked in. However, Kuroo knew it wasn’t good for his body to function without food for long periods of time, even if Kenma’s appetite was small.
On his way to class he took out his phone, hoping to receive at least one positive answer to his petition. Same as last night, everyone said ‘no’.
Class made his situation even worse, some classmates already had the clinical history format filled and were currently getting a slot at one of the exam rooms. When the professor asked for his, he shook his head. “Sorry sir, I haven’t found anyone yet” He nodded and turned to the class. “Remember your deadline is in 2 days, anyone that doesn’t have a patient until then fails the class” Kuroo felt his professor’s eyes on him as he moved to the next row.
After classes were done he checked his phone again, Kenma had sent him a picture of a yoghurt bowl a few hours ago. He smiled and sent a thumbs up emoji. ‘Everything alright?’ He typed. The answer came fast ‘yeah’. He walked around campus unsure of what to say. ‘hey, let me look at your teeth for my project while i ask you personal questions about your health’ yeah, no. He was a social guy but he didn’t dare ask a random person. Besides, they could have terrible habits and his senses would suffer the whole way through.
He walked back to his dorm, he just wanted to lay down next to Kenma until it all passed. But he had responsibilities to fulfill if he wanted to graduate.
He got to his dorm with a plastered smile on his face. “Hey, miss me?” He said with a casual smirk. Kenma rolled his eyes but Kuroo saw the light smile he tried to hide behind the screen.
He sat down next to him as he replied to each of the denying messages. Phrases like ‘don’t worry about it’ and ‘no big deal’ leaving his fingers as he typed. But it was a big deal, and something he was worrying about endlessly.
He sat down and placed his laptop on the table. He looked at the form, tapping his fingernails on the wood. He closed the file and went back to the slides he had been studying the day before. ‘In third-year clinical practice…’ ‘rubber dam…’ ‘four points of contact…’ ‘gingival sulcus using dental floss…’ The paragraph barely made any sense, his mind could only focus on those 11 words ‘Anyone that doesn’t have a patient until then fails the class’.
He closed his laptop, looking at his boyfriend sprawled out on the couch. He had already said no, he couldn’t force his consent. Golden eyes met his, taking in his features.
An hour or so later, he heard a few meows around the house. Kenma stood up from where he had been lounging. “I’ll do it,” he said, feeding Domino and cleaning up her litterbox. As he dumped the dirty plastic bag onto the trash he looked over at Kuroo.
His boyfriend had been extremely tense the night before, pretty quiet too. He usually had at least one story from his day, but lately it seemed like that damn project was sucking him up. Finally, he spoke: “I’ll do it” Kuroo looked up at him confused. “I thought you had fed her already..?” “Not that, idiot. Your… project or whatever” His lover’s eyes shot wide and Kenma swore they were glassy with relief. He stood up from the table and embraced him in a hug, running a hand through his boyfriend’s knotted hair and muttering ‘thank you's' into his hair, after a few seconds Kenma squirmed his way out of it. “Thank you so much, Ken. Seriously, I owe you big time” The younger boy just rolled his eyes.
“I have a format to fill if you don’t mind, just basic health questions”. Kenma sat down at the table, looking unbothered. “Shoot”, Kuroo nodded. “Name, age, occupation; I’ve got those down. Any chronic illnesses?” Kenma shook his head. Kuroo typed as Kenma answered each of his questions. ‘Medications and allergies denied’. “When was the last time you went to the dentist?” Kenma thought for a moment before answering. “Like uh, a year ago. Closer to two years” Kuroo nodded. “Have you gotten anything done before? Fillings, braces, anything like that?” Kenma hesitated before answering. “Uh, filings I think” Kuroo nodded and filled it in. “You still have your wisdom teeth?” Kenma nodded. “Mhm, now I know this might be embarrassing but I need you to answer. Any bad taste in your mouth? Bad breath?” Kenma shook his head. “Alright, do you grind or clench your teeth?” Kenma looked down at his hands, “Sometimes, mostly when I’m gaming”.
Next, they recorded his habits and asked about any pain. In Kenma’s own words: ‘I’m fine’.
“I have a slot at the clinic tomorrow morning, 8:30 am. It worked as pressure I guess.” Kenma groaned. “Why so early?” Kuroo gave him a smirk “It’s not that early, you’re just very lazy” He rolled his eyes. “But seriously, thank you so much.”
The next morning, after a few kicks to his stomach and a couple “five more minutes” from the younger boy Kuroo got Kenma to get dressed and brush his teeth before going to the clinic. They were running late, which left them with no time for breakfast. However, Kuroo promised they would go out for brunch after the appointment. Kenma kept yawning as they walked. He signed in and guided his sleepy boyfriend to the exam room. “Okay, ready?” Kenma shrugged. “Have a seat, get yourself comfortable” Kenma flopped down on the chair, hands into his pockets.
He watched as Kuroo washed his hands and snapped on gloves. To his left there were various instruments all connected to a small tube. He recognized the drill and some polish thingy. Next to it was a small sink-like thing, it had a small cup of water beside it. Kuroo rolled his stool over to his side, adjusting the operating light. “Alright, I’m going to start by looking at everything outside your mouth.”
His voice was slightly muffled by the mask and he had a navy blue scrub cap over his bedhead hair. He sat in front of him looking at his face, then moving it to the side. Kenma looked away, moving his feet rapidly. Next, Kuroo grabbed a small metal ruler. “Open your mouth as wide as you can. Just like when you yawn” He measured starting from his top teeth to his bottom ones. He nodded and put the ruler away. “Can you move your jaw side to side for me?” Kenma complied. Kuroo placed his fingers on both sides of his face. “Open and close slowly” He noted any clicks or shifts in his jaw. After that he palpated below his jaw all the way to his ears, asking about tenderness.
Once they had finished that part Kuroo gave him a playful wink. Kenma’s ears went red at the tips.
He reclined him completely and placed the operating light so it was just above his mouth. “Open up for me please” Kenma complied, gloved fingers retracting his lips.
They went all along his top gums then checked along the bottom. He was asked to stick out his tongue and lift it up. Kuroo grabbed something from one of the drawers, a flat wooden stick. He hated those from his sports physicals. Kuroo gave him a sympathetic smile from under his mask.
“Just a little touch. I have to check the back of your throat.” Kenma squeezed his eyes shut and opened his mouth. The stick pressed uncomfortably on his tongue, it was out in 5 seconds. “That was foul” He muttered under his breath.
After that, his cheeks were pulled back with the mirror. “You’re doing great, Ken. I’ll check your teeth now. Open up nice and wide” Kenma rolled his eyes but did as instructed. The mirror entered his mouth, checking along the bottom first, then moving up to the top.
The pointy thing followed it, scraping near his gumline and on the surface of his molars. Kuroo took it out after a moment and grabbed one of the tools connected to a tube. “This will spray some air and water on your teeth, tell me if it bothers you” Water pooled in his mouth, next he felt air blowing along his bottom molars. The suction came in a moment later, drying out his mouth.
Kuroo moved up to the top next, air blew on a tooth and he couldn’t help but give a little flinch at the sensitivity. That made the older boy pause and poke it with the pointy thing. “You’ve got a cavity starting here. Nothing serious yet.”
The next few minutes were spent with water and air all over his mouth, he was almost asleep when the sudden taste of iron made his eyes shoot wide. “It’s okay, your gums are bleeding a little. We need to improve your flossing, Ken”.
That got him flipped off and an eye roll. Kuroo just chuckled and poked at his gums a little more before putting his tools aside. “We’re almost done, bare with me.” He hooked a gloved finger into his cheek. “Bite together for me.” Kenma complied. Next, Kuroo asked him to move his bite side to side. “And… we’re done with the mouth part, you were a fabulous patient. We’ll just take some x-rays and you’re free to go” Kenma groaned at the thought of more minutes in that torturous place.
Small plastic tabs were placed on his mouth and he had to bite down on them as a machine hovered beside his cheek. They repeated that on the other side. Just as he was about to jump out of the chair Kuroo stopped him. “What now? I thought you said we could go!” He was frowning and tightening his fists. “Just your results, it’s quick. You have a small, early lesion on one of your top molars. We can reverse it with good hygiene and some fluoride. Your gums are a little irritated, as I told you, you need to floss a little more. Aside from that, you have a bit of plaque buildup near your back teeth. Nothing serious but you could use a cleaning.” Kenma nodded exaggeratedly at each phrase then stood up as soon as Kuroo allowed it.
They walked out of the exam room after Kuroo had finished tidying everything up.
“So, where do you want to go for brunch?” Kenma shrugged. “I’m not hungry” Kuroo gave him a small smile. “Maybe you’re not but your microbiome is, c’mon, we’ll go to that cafe you like”.
They walked together towards downtown. Kenma even intertwined his fingers with Kuroo’s once before looking away while brushing furiously.
When they arrived they sat down in a corner booth. Kenma had a slice of apple pie and an iced vanilla latte. Kuroo on the other side, had coffee as black as his hair and a ham and cheese baguette. Kenma grabbed his phone as he ate, watching Minecraft gameplay.
He had maybe three bites before being absorbed by the screen.
Kuroo tapped his shoulder and Kenma looked up at him, irritation clear in his golden eyes. “You’ve barely had a bite”, he said pointing to the nearly untouched slice on the table. Kenma paused the video and huffed. But before he could reach his fork Kuroo had snatched it.
The dark-haired boy cut a small piece, directing it to his boyfriend’s mouth. “Say ahh…” he said with a smirk, resting his cheek on his palm. Kenma shook his head, face bright red. “We’re in public” He shout-whispered, Kuroo shrugged. “Look over there”. Across the room, there was another couple. They wore matching outfits, matching watches, and were feeding each other. Kissing in between bites. Kenma had a disgusted expression on his face. The younger boy couldn’t control his expressions to save his life. The couple shot them a fierce look and Kenma gave a small jump on his seat, returning to face Kuroo. “You’re a sap” He muttered before reluctantly taking the bite.
Kuroo hand-fed him the entire slice, giving him sips of his latte in between. When it was over Kenma had his mouth twisted in a disgusted grimace while Kuroo grinned like a maniac. “I hate you” the younger boy muttered, taking out his phone again. “Love you too” came the retort from Kuroo.
Once the taller boy paid for their meal they wandered around the city, even taking candid pictures in different scenarios. A shy smile from Kenma at the park. Kuroo flexing his biceps while window shopping. Kenma out of breath at a bench after Kuroo dragged him across the avenue.
When they got back to their dorm around midday, Kuroo quickly changed into his scrubs and waved Kenma goodbye. He was running late for his class, he sprinted the whole way to campus, barely making it. He worked through the rest of his project as the lecture went on. When his professor asked for the report, he showed him the form along with a full charting and diagnosis.
With an approving nod he submitted his project on the platform. Praying to every god out there to receive a decent grade. After all, it was the mouth of the love of his life.