When You Were Here // Kuroken

Mom

Kenma could have spent eternity in Kuroo's arms. 

But life had to move on, and Kenma's parents would be expecting him to come down the stairs to mope around the kitchen looking for leftovers and pie. 

He didn't need them to walk in on him talking to Kuroo, which would likely to them just look like he was talking to a hallucination. They'd definitely force therapy if that happened.

But he didn't want to make Kuroo wait. He didn't want to make him sit alone, wondering when Kenma would come back or how long he would have to kill time alone. 

"Kuroo."

"Yes, darling?" Kuroo still held Kenma in his protective manner. 

"I don't want to leave, but my family is probably wondering if I'm okay," he started to pull himself out of Kuroo's grasp.

"I get it. I'll be waiting for you, okay?"

Kenma nodded, and tripped and stumbled across the room, before walking out the door and down the stairs. He quietly padded down the stairs, stomach rumbling on cue. He stumbled into the kitchen and began his routine of digging around the pantry and cupboards before checking the fridge.

"Hey Kenma," his mother walked into the kitchen, her hair still tied up sloppily.

Kenma waved silently to her, still scuffling around for something to eat. His dad must have already left for work. He wanted to quickly get in and out of the kitchen. Less talking, less interaction, and right back to Kuroo. His mother, of course, had other ideas. 

"So who were you talking to this morning?" she sounded a little concerned.

Kenma froze a bit as he dug through the fridge. Should he tell the truth? He decided against that. His mom would force him into therapy if he did. He had to fabricate something quickly.

"I was talking with Kiyoko-san, the manager from Karasuno. The team we played at Nationals."

"Ah I see. Glad to hear that you're talking to your friends again," his mother did a good job at toning down her excitement, but Kenma could tell she was happy.

It made him feel a tiny bit guilty, but he wanted his mother to stop worrying about him so much. He didn't matter enough for that. His mother hummed and scooted Kenma out of the way and grabbed stuff out of the fridge.

"Mom," he groaned.

"Hey, it's been a while since I've made you something fresh and not just some leftovers. Let your mama cook you something," she lightly bonked Kenma's head with a spatula. 

Kenma sighed and sat down at the kitchen table in a defeated manner. He watched his mother shuffle around the kitchen in her fuzzy slides, wondering if Kuroo was still a ghost sitting in his room. He felt that ache of sadness wash over him as he thought more and more about Kuroo's new situation.

His mother set a steaming plate of eggs and rice in front of Kenma a few minutes later. Though initially not thrilled, he was grateful to his mother for the nice-smelling meal he dug into. He quickly scarfed the eggs and rice down, feeling satisfied by the warmth in his stomach.

"Thanks, mom," he murmured.

His mother beamed at him, and happily took his plate to rinse and put in the dishwasher. Kenma sighed and walked over to his mom and hugged her, feeling mass amounts of comfort as she wrapped her arms around him and patted his back.

He missed just hugging his mom without reason and having her make him breakfast. Maybe it was time for him to open up a little more to her.

"I love you, mom."