|| KUROKEN ONESHOTS ||

If I 2

Tetsurou is 17 years old and he's holding hands with the boy he's been obsessing over since he was 12. Stepping off of the train just a couple of hours earlier and seeing Kenma's touchable and non-pixelated face, Tetsurou had felt like he'd won a game for the first time ever.

Tokyo is big and loud, but Kenma leads him towards a dark, narrow alley. It smells dangerous and it looks like it came out of a nightmare and Tetsurou's heart beats fast. He's not sure whether it's because of the mild fear of getting murdered or because of the feeling of Kenma's sweat where their hands are clasped together.

"This," Kenma says with a wide smile on his face. "Is where I come to smoke with my friends. Well, friend. Yamamoto mostly watches."

"Very romantic spot for a first date," Tetsurou replies. "I like the piss smell."

Kenma's nose twitches, and Tetsurou, incredibly charmed, looks away, hoping to hide the admiration in his eyes. "Nerd. You care about first dates?"

Yeah? Tetsurou wants to say. He doesn't, because he's scared this might not feel as important to Kenma as it does to him and he doesn't want Kenma to find out how bad he cares about this. About them.

Kenma doesn't know how hard he shakes just thinking about him, in his own bed, in his own house, miles and miles away. Kenma doesn't know how easy it would be for him to tear Tetsurou apart. So, he keeps quiet.

Not yet, not yet.

Kenma punches him in the shoulder with the hand that's holding Tetsurou's. "I don't care about formalities so kindly cut that shit out. I wanted privacy."

And Tetsurou's petty, so it would be easy to start fighting about formalities. Tetsurou actually has fun when they fight – it's like a boss battle, or a sports match between equals where both parties are aware that the only way to win is to strike the enemy in their weakest spots. It's a chance to show off how much they know each other.

But, Kenma said he wants privacy, which is an exciting sentence to hear, especially when he's so close and when his breath so warm on Tetsurou's cheek.

"Privacy? What illicit acts were you planning to commit?"

"I wasn't planning anything," Kenma said, his eyebrows arrogantly arched. "You promised, remember?"

How could Tetsurou even forget? Picking up the call, hearing Kenma say, If I were there right now, trying not to lose his mind or his cool, listening to his own voice answering, kiss you, kiss you, kiss you.

Kenma's eyes are wild, moving restlessly from Tetsurou's face, to his shoes, to the wall behind Tetsurou's head, to Tetsurou's face again, and it's suddenly clear what he needed privacy for.

Tetsurou starts to lean in – he has to keep his promise, right, that's what Kenma wants – and Kenma takes that as a sign to meet him halfway, to press his lips against Tetsurou's, hard. Tetsurou tries to steady himself; despite having fantasized about this moment countless times, his mind couldn't have possibly prepared him for the tangible, solid feeling of Kenma's nose digging into his cheek, Kenma's hand scratching through his hair. He shivers when Kenma bites his bottom lip.

They pull away.

"So," Kenma says, like he doesn't find kissing his internet – what, boyfriend? – for the first time fazing at all; except Tetsurou feels the hand he's still holding shake slightly. "I guess you should meet my folks."

He takes Tetsurou to his house.

When they are inside he yells, "Kuro's here!"

Kenma's parents rush to the entrance together, like they were waiting for this to happen. Tetsurou's pretty sure he's blushing. He clears his throat and says, "Thank you for having me."

Kenma's mother tells him to Quit the formalities, sounding so much like her son that Tetsurou feels a wave of affection for them both. And also a pang of jealousy. "It's not like we don't know each other. Have you boys eaten already?"

"Ugh," Kenma says and shakes his head. His mom sends a disappointed look his way and then speaks in a voice that leaves no room for objection. "Stay here, your dad will cook something for you. I'll go and get Kuroo's futon ready."

Kenma's father smiles at Tetsurou. He disappears into the kitchen after saying, "So that's how tall you are."

Tetsurou's not sure what he's supposed to be feeling.

The Kozume's are asking him not to be formal, they're treating him like he's always been one of them, like nothing out of the ordinary is happening. Tetsurou's father, in the same situation, would have caused a scene, asked questions, embarrassed the living shit out of Tetsurou. The jealousy is still there, and so is the affection, but it's all mixed with an unfamiliar sense of comfort and an underlying fear: can he really have this?

Not yet, not yet.

They eat.

When they get to Kenma's room, Tetsurou feels powerful – maybe it's because the main lights aren't on, only Kenma's bedside lamp is, and it reminds him of the alley from earlier, of the single kiss they shared. He hears the soft noise of Kenma messing up the futon that's lying on the floor next to his bed.

"Is that your way of tucking me in?" Tetsurou asks.

Kenma rolls his eyes at him. "You're not sleeping there, dumbass."

The implication is clear, and Tetsurou can't help but let out a surprised and charmed laugh.

Kenma rolls his eyes again, sits on the bed and looks expectantly at Tetsurou – he wants him to do the same.

But something's on Tetsurou's mind, and he feels powerful, like maybe he can ask Kenma to do something and Kenma will do it for him, and he can't sit down. Not yet.

He thinks about the correct way of phrasing what he wants to say. "Are you my boyfriend?"

Kenma scoffs. "Why do you need to define shit all the time? Isn't it clear how I feel about you?"

"Because," Tetsurou huffs, a familiar anger building inside of him. "I can't know what you want from me unless you tell me."

Kenma frowns. He's calculating, Tetsurou knows this look. He's measuring his words, looking for the right thing to say in order to win. He wonders nervously if he'll take the bait. If he'll start arguing about formalities. Tetsurou can't stand the wait.

"Anything you're willing to give," Kenma finally says. "I'll give it back."

And Tetsurou will probably cry if he tries to speak again so he just gets into the bed, holds Kenma as tight as he can and squeezes his eyes shut.

Kenma pokes him on the forehead. "I did not drag you into my bed so you could sleep."

Tetsurou laughs so hard he worries he'll wake Kenma's parents up.

The next day, Tetsurou goes back home.

Lying in his own bed, in his own house, miles and miles away, he thinks about Kenma's warmth, how solid his body felt beside him.

That night Kenma texts him, so, was I everything you'd hoped for?

And more, Tetsurou texts back.

He doesn't know how to say that now that he has touched and felt Kenma, being apart hurts worse than ever before, so he just says, I hate this long-distance thing.

don't worry. I'll get into your stupid college if it kills me. we can even share a stupid apartment

Tetsurou's smile makes his cheeks hurt. Kenma remembers what college he applied for. Kenma's considering doing the same thing next year. He types, You'd do that for me?

duh, comes Kenma's reply. you're my boyfriend.

#NowISpeak

I hope everyone who liked If I enjoyed this sequel as well! Of course, this is for my sister who's needy but also lovely. Good luck on your stupid exam, bitch. You're the best.