Yellow||KuroKen

Excuses

"Hey, Kuroo?"

"Yeah?"

"It's getting late, shouldn't you sleep some?"

"I probably couldn't if I wanted to," he responded quickly, eyes scanning over his notes as he muttered to himself. "You go ahead, though. You definitely need it."

"Alright, I guess."

"Shit. Pass me my phone."

The blonde handed his friend the device without much response. Kuroo dialed a number, the person picking up on the third ring. "Hello? It's so late, Tetsurou, why are you still awake? This is why you're so tired all the time. Up late with nonsense."

"Mom, I have insomnia, if you forgot. Sometimes, I can't sleep. I'm studying. I just wanted to tell Yuki goodnight."

A heavy sigh. Kenma scrunched up his nose in slight distaste for the woman on the phone. Rika came passing through the hallway, hesitating in the door at the visible tension in the room. She stood, listening in. Not to be creepy, just to see what was wrong. "She's sleeping. You're the one who let it slip your mind while you were 'studying'. What were you actually doing? Playing around with that boy? He doesn't hold your future, Tetsurou. I can lead you to it."

Kuroo gritted his teeth, eyes narrowing. "I didn't know that having friends was bad. Wow, thanks for the info. I actually was studying. Ask Rika. We have an algebra test coming up," he hissed, gripping the device in his hands with such a grip he could likely break it.

"Careful, Kuroo. Don't break your phone. You know she won't get you another," Kenma warned quietly. By now, Rika had beckoned Akio over, her husband listening intently.

"Don't catch an attitude with me. Those Kozumes are a bad influence on you. Especially Rika. That little hood rat isn't good for you. Any female who decides to abandon her womanhood to be 'masculine' is bad."

Rika growled, her eyes narrowing as she stepped into the room, Akio grabbing her arm. Kenma looked ready to blow. Kuroo beat them all to it. "She's an amazing person. She raised one amazing son and she's in the process of raising another. Have you seen that little angel? No one bad could be so loving, so tender, so accepting, so absolutely adoring of some kid that isn't even hers. She's never judged me, never made me feel worthless, never ever hurt me...do not EVER call her horrible when she's raised 3 amazing people."

"What do you mean three, Tetsurou? She only has two sons."

"Well, that's where you're wrong, Mrs. Kuroo. You see...

...I am that third child."

Rika's anger evaporated near instantly. Kenma stared, Akio releasing his wife.

"What, you thought you were my mom? Well, yeah, I guess you were, but uh...you're not gonna disrespect her like that."

"Tetsurou."

His rant fell silent at the change in her voice.

"I will see you tomorrow," she bit out, voice cold as ice. He shivered, hand on his phone relaxing.

"Mother, I, uh, I--"

She hung up. Kuroo ran a hand down his face, cursing. "Goddammit."

"I appreciate what you said about me, sweetheart, and don't worry. If anything happens, we've all got you." Rika murmured, placing a hand on his shoulder and giving a gentle squeeze.

"You don't-- I-I won't be able to come over anymore."

"That's alright, we'll come to you!"

He gave a small smile. Kenma seemed to be ignoring it all, sitting on his phone with his earbuds in, likely having his music all the way turned up. He wasn't, though. He'd probably made his own plan and all, Mrs. Kuroo not scaring him one bit. Although she should. He sighed, frowning deeply. "Fuck."

"No matter what, we're here. If she goes too far, just tell us. We'll put an end to it all right quick!"

"Thank you." He knew he'd keep his mouth shut. Talking got him in trouble. Life sucked. He checked the time. It was 1:00 in the morning. Damn. "You guys should get to bed," he stated, hugging Rika with one arm and allowing her to press a gentle kiss onto his forehead. She did the same for her son, before leaving with a soft, "goodnight, sleep well." and Akio followed her out. Kuroo sat staring forward for a few moments, before turning to look at Kenma. He wasn't sure how he looked. Probably how he felt, now that his act had dropped. Kenma simply held out an arm, letting the ravenette fall into him. He rested his head on the blonde's shoulder, hugging him tightly. "Don't breathe through your mouth unless you're breathing out. You know how you get. Look, in through your nose," Kenma instructed, pausing to let the taller follow the instruction. "Out through your mouth."

He heard no exhale. "Holding your breath isn't good either, Kuroo."

After a few more moments, the raven-haired exhaled slowly. He was given his bear, which he clutched to and buried his face in. "Breathe," the shorter reminded him. "It'll all be okay, I promise."

After a while, Kuroo finally calmed down. "Now we're gonna get you to sleep because you need a fuck ton of it after that."

The tall mid-blocker nodded, putting his notes and stuff away and returning to the bed, where Kenma ran his fingers through his hair until he drifted into something similar to sleep. It wasn't as serene, haunted by nightmares. But, such was to be expected after the incident that night. Kenma had them regardless, and woke them both up multiple times, screaming and looking ready to pull his own hair out as he devolved into sobs. Kuroo soothed him each time, and eventually, they had to go to school. Hopefully, that didn't throw 'fuck you's in their faces too.

***

Practice was cancelled again, meaning he had to go home that much faster. "I don't...want to.."

"I know. It'll all be okay. Call me as soon as you get upstairs."

The ravenette nodded. Kenma hugged him, sighing heavily. "Look. If she does anything, tell me. It doesn't help keeping it to yourself. I won't tell anyone, not even my mom. I swear." The short boy held up a pinkie, letting the taller link theirs together. "Besides, you get to see Yuki," the blonde added to soften the blow he knew was coming soon.

"Yeah. I'll call you. Seeya. Tell Rika I said hi."

"Of course."

As soon as Kuroo entered the house, he was greeted by yelling. Shouta and his mother. Were they arguing or something? He crept over to listen.

"--His choice! He loves them like family! You gonna say that's so wrong!?"

"I am still the mother!! She's poisoned him! He said she was his mother! He was so disrespectful!"

"You were firs--"

"Enough!" The slap resounded through the first floor of the house. The rooster-haired winced. Shouta's voice was bitter.

"You'll drive us all away. I'm turning 18 soon enough. I don't wanna leave him, but...you're worse." With that, the older walked out, the middle child having rushed back to the door to close it and act like he'd just walked in. "I'm home! Yuki? Shou? M--"

"I'm in here. Yuki's upstairs and Shouta needs some thinking time."

"Oh, okay..." He entered the living room reluctantly, tensing when he saw the scene before him. "W-wait, I-I wasn't that bad...I-I- I didn't mean it, I was delusional, I was almost asleep, I-"

"Cut the excuses. Come here."