Courting Fate

Two

Barely stifled laughter echoed down the second-floor hallway of the apartment block. The two students leaned groggily against the door as Bokuto tried, unsuccessfully, to fish the front door key from the hip pocket of his jeans. 

"It can't be that hard! I thought you were good with your hands," teased Emma, nudging her new companion.

"Hey, unfair! These hands are magic - just ask Akaashi," whined Bokuto, still struggling.

"Oh, I see how it is. Akaashi knows all about what your hands can do, does he?" She pushed his hand aside before he had a chance to protest. "Here, let me do it." Her tiny hand dove into the front of his jeans and emerged holding a brass key. She was sure she noticed a blush on his cheeks as she handed it over.

"Thanks", mumbled Bokuto, sliding the key into the lock and granting them passage inside. Emma followed him in and was surprised at what she saw.

"Whoa, sweet place." The apartment was nicer than it looked from the outside, decorated in an industrial loft style and featuring a large open-plan living area. She slung her bag and jacket over one of the kitchen stools and began to wander about, examining the bits and pieces that lined the shelves.

"So you are actually pretty good at volleyball then, huh?" Emma turned to the boy, who was now slumped on the sofa, and held aloft an oversized trophy. 

This immediately got Bokuto's attention and he sprung up to inspect the prize in her hand. His face lit up as he spoke. "Yep, I'm the ace - have been since high school." 

Emma rocked back on her heels to survey his physique more closely. "Let me guess, wing spiker?"

The boy's eyes widened in surprise. "You know volleyball?" His smile broadened. "Not just a pretty face, huh?" It was his turn to nudge her, and her turn to blush.

"Well, my brother was captain of his high school team so I have been to my fair share of games and picked up a thing or two." She replaced the trophy and picked up a small photo, framed in black, that showed Bokuto and a tall, raven-haired boy standing as brothers-in-arms. A flicker of familiarity tugged at the corners of her fuzzy mind. "Who's that?"

Bokuto looked over her shoulder at the picture. "Oh, that's my teammate, Kuroo. We have known each other since high school. Can be a bit of an asshole sometimes, but he's like my brother, so..." He trailed off with a shrug.

Emma's gaze lingered on the photo a little longer, her brow furrowed as she tried to recall where she had seen him before. She was sure she could not forget a face like that if they had met. Perhaps Bokuto noticed, as he took the photo from her hand and placed it further back on the shelf than it had originally been. 

"You hungry?" He asked. She caught his gaze and was again mesmerised by his caramel eyes. Hard to forget a face like this either, she thought. 

"Starving," she replied, smirking slightly, and Bokuto bounded to the fridge in search of some late-night snacks. 

His head disappeared inside the freezer for a moment before he emerged, triumphant. "Ice cream." He dug two spoons from the drawer and tossed her one, looking surprised when she caught it one-handed. "Nice catch!"

"You're not the only one good with their hands." She cringed inwardly as the words left her mouth.  She could blame the alcohol or the lack of recent practice for her lame flirting abilities, but luckily her companion seemed not to be too harsh a critic. He settled on the couch again, his eyes directing her to the cushion beside him. 

The pair chatted like old friends, trading stories of college friends, past relationships, and family drama, laced with equal parts banter and suggestive comments. By the time Bokuto's spoon captured the last scoop of ice cream, they had found a comfortable rhythm with each other. "Lucky last," he taunted, waving the spoon in front of Emma's face.

Quick as a whip, she reached up and grabbed his arm, trying to hold it still so she could devour the final bite. Bokuto's brow raised. She was stronger than he thought, and he found himself struggling to hold her at bay. Emma began to giggle as she shifted her body for a better position, pulling the boy with the hypnotic eyes closer. He paused for a moment,  noticing his head was now level with her chest, and gave her a grin. 

She leaned back in mock offence before making her move. She darted forward, lunging for the spoon but missing and ending up with a dollop of ice cream on her nose. Her surprise attack had thrown Bokuto off balance and they hovered like that for a split second, faces inches apart, before toppling off the couch, sending the coveted spoon skidding across the floor.

"Oh!," Emma exclaimed, finding herself suddenly lying atop her new friend. 

"That is usually what girls say when they are in your position, but with a little less surprise." He smirked again, raising his eyebrows. She aimed a swipe at his shoulder, but even in his alcohol-affected state he was too quick for her. He grabbed her wrist and held it. "Now, now, Emma. Play nice". 

He snaked his other hand up to tickle her lightly on the side of her stomach, and Emma collapsed forward, giggling uncontrollably. "Stop, stop!" She begged lightly between breaths, "I'll do anything."

He paused his sensory assault. "Anything?" There was a raspy edge to his voice that made her glance up. Their faces were inches apart and there was no mistaking the glint of wanting in his eyes. Or the tension that stretched thick between them. Her heart began to thump. Her body seemed to move on its own, lowering until her mouth was beside his ear. 

"Anything," she whispered. Emma felt the warmth of his sigh on her neck as his breathing shuddered. She found his eyes again and became lost in them as she lowered her mouth until her lips just grazed his. She hovered there, savouring the sense of anticipation. He broke the tension first, pulling his mouth to hers with soft urgency. She returned the gesture, deepening the kiss and tasting him with her tongue.

Emma pulled back ever so slightly. "Ice cream", she smiled. Bokuto gave a throaty laugh before reaching behind her neck to pull her mouth back to his. He tugged at her bottom lip with his teeth and she let out a sigh. "Bo," she breathed.

She felt him shift beneath her and was aware of his obvious desire as he pressed her to his body. She clutched at him as he sat up, nimbly shifting her legs so they wrapped around his torso. Bokuto rose effortlessly, his hands under her thighs. "Sleepy?" He kissed her neck softly.

"Not in the least," she replied, leaning back to allow his lips to wander.

"Great, then let me show you my bedroom."