In the Middle. | Bokuto x reader x Kuroo |

Chapter 10: Home Again

The moment that you walked off the plane. The moment that you were back home. To your true home.

There weren't any strings attached this time. You purchased a one-way ticket and you were stood in an airport you had stood in twice before.

The first time you were crying because you were terrified. In a new country with no friends, only an advisor to pick you up and show you to your new apartment for your brief exchange trip.

The second time you were crying because you were saying goodbye to the two best boys you had ever met. You still remembered the way you felt when they gave you your necklace, and the way that your body trembled as they hugged you.

Now— your third time here— you were holding back the tears as you waited at the gate. They had warned you they might be a little bit late, but it was okay. You had waited months already, you could wait a few minutes more.

It was going to be worth it no matter what to see them. So many hardships of the last few months wouldn't matter. They were going to be in front of you once again and this time it was going to be to build your futures together in the country you had learned to adore as much as them.

You were practically shaking with excitement as you looked to the direction they should be coming from. So far no signs of them, but it couldn't be too much longer before—

Your feet were taken out from under you and you let out a yelp subconsciously as you felt arms wrap around you. Your heartbeat was in your ears as you started to panic at the feeling, but your panic didn't last long as you soon heard a familiar voice.

"You're back!" said Bokuto's voice as he hopped up and down, lifting you in his arms.

"I'm here!" you said, wrapping your arms around his neck, clinging to him closely.

He leaned his head against yours as he stopped moving so much and wrapped his arms around your back to keep you even more in place. You held on to him like you were a child at this point. Your legs were wrapping around his torso and he didn't seem to want you to leave from the spot because he brought a hand down to hold your thigh so you wouldn't slip away.

"I don't get anything, huh?" Kuroo's voice said. You brought your head out from the crook of Bokuto's neck to look over at him with a big smile. Tears were already cascading down your face.

He brought his hand over to cradle your face as he wiped away some tears with his thumb. "I thought I wouldn't have to dry tears anymore once you came back."

"You know they're happy ones," you said as you looked into those beautiful hazel eyes.

"I would hope so," Kuroo said as he glanced around. The area was very crowded and he already spotted some people giving the three of you some strange stares as he looked. "You good carrying her? I got the luggage."

"Of course I am," Bokuto answered happily as he rubbed your back. "This is what I train for!"

"Not volleyball?" you asked with a laugh.

He scrunched up his nose. "Oh, nah, not that," he answered. "Carrying my beautiful girlfriend is much more important."

You laughed as he started to carry you towards the door. Maybe it looked strange from afar, but you didn't care and neither did he. Kuroo didn't even care about the stares as he walked by your sides. He wanted to kiss you then, but knew that a first kiss after so long had to be more special than that.

Seeing the two of you together again was enough for him. He couldn't wait to share with you what he and Bokuto had been working on building together, and he couldn't wait to see how much further the relationship between all three of you could go.

Bokuto carried you all the way to his car despite the fact that you told him over and over that he didn't need to keep on carrying you like that. "I want to hold you," he responded as he walked through the doors. "If I hold you tight I can make sure you never leave again."

You smiled, feeling more tears building in your eyes. The realization that you really never had to leave again didn't hit you until that moment. This was it. This is what you dreamed of.

Bokuto set you down in the backseat of his car, finally letting go of you. As you sat and looked up in his golden eyes, you could feel your own growing more tired.

Kuroo's head appeared behind Bokuto's shoulder. "Jet lagged?" he asked with a smile.

"No, I'm good," you said, but you started yawning directly after answering. It may have been nearing the afternoon here, but that would mean the middle of the night for the time zone you had grown used to. Despite finally being here, your time of separation was gonna leave marks for a little bit longer.

Kuroo put his hand on Bokuto's shoulder to turn him around to face him. "Can I have my time now?" he asked.

"Of course," Bokuto answered. "I'll drive."

You wondered what exactly Kuroo meant by that, but after he went to put your luggage in the trunk of the car, he came back to the door that you were sat partially out of. "Come on," he said with a smile. "Let me in."

Moving further into the car, he climbed in after you and shut the door behind him. "Get comfy. We don't want you tired for tonight," said Bokuto as he climbed into the driver's seat and started the car.

Kuroo gently pulled you to lay on him as he positioned himself to be partially leaning against the door instead of the seat. He cradled you as you cuddled into his chest. "Drive carefully, babe. We've got precious cargo."

Your heart fluttered. It wasn't even at him calling you "precious cargo" — if you were conscious enough you probably would have scoffed at such a comment— but hearing Kuroo so easily throw out a pet name that wasn't a variation of "Owl" was adorable. "Owl" was cute already, but them being even more open about their feelings was that much more special.

You felt Kuroo place his hand on top of yours as Bokuto began to drive. His other hand was tracing soft shapes into your hip as he held you.

Sleep came easy as you sat there like that. The ride was short so you knew you wouldn't be able to get too much rest, but it was hard to resist between the complete safety of being in Kuroo's arms again and the gentle rocking of the car as it brought you back to where you truly belonged.

Safe, content, excited— there were so many words to describe you in that moment. You were just so happy to finally be home again.

pssst hey guys :D
i started a new book that i think is going to be a great one ultimately and i'm really proud of what i have written for it so far

it's a tendou x reader entitled "Monstrous Intuition." and writing it alone gives me butterflies like the ones i got writing "Between."

give it a chance if you have the time :) only chapter one is out but up to chapter five will be dropped before friday !

xxxx