Ready [Kuroko No Basket | Soulmate AU | AoKuro | MidoTaka]

Midorima: Two

He wasn't even in the room a full minute before someone notices the mark. He isn't sure who exactly it is but there's a loud call of "Oi, everyone, look who got their mark." which is followed by someone adding "Guess that explains why he's been making that fashion statement all day!" 

Midorima glares at the ground and closes his eyes, taking a deep breath. "Shouldn't you all be practising?" He asks, raising his head so his glare is now directed at them.

A few of the people on the team whose names Midorima hasn't bothered to learn flinch and hurry off to practise. They must be first years like him.

After being teased by his upperclassman (mainly Miyaji who seemed far too amused that Midorima actually had a soulmate - Midorima was surprised he wasn't angry with the late start to practise), Midorima is approached by Takao... who says nothing. He just picks up a basketball and begins to practice, driving past Midorima with ease as the taller boy was too confused by Takao not saying a word.

"Hah!" Takao exclaims. "I got past Shin-chan! Captain, captain! I got past Shin-chan!"

Midorima frowns. Did Takao just-

"Doesn't count when you do it while his mind is elsewhere." replies Otsubo.  

Realising he's been used, Midorima glares for what is the millionth time today. He reaches out to smack Takao but the other moves out of his reach, used to needing to avoid being beaten by now. 

After they (Midorima) gets passed this, everything seems to return to normal. The mood shifts to a serious one and they all began to practice. 

"Do you have your mark yet?" Midorima asks Takao randomly as they run up and down the gym. 

Takao shakes his head. "No, I don't. I don't think my soulmate is ready."

Midorima feels something settle in his stomach. It's an ugly feeling and Midorima chooses to ignore it, not wanting the feeling identified at all. He doesn't care that Takao hasn't got his mark. He doesn't. 

Soon, they stop running and Takao walks over to aother pair of first years that he's been working with recently to help all three of them improve. 

Midorima is sometimes amazed at the shift in Takao during practising. One moment he's cracking dumb puns and the next he's extremely focused (still light hearted, though). In some ways Midorima admires the shorter boy... Not that he'll ever admit that to anyone, ever. In fact, he actively tries to make the opposite seem true. 

Sighing and telling himself that no one cares about the mark, that basketball is far more important to everyone of them than his dumb mark, Midorima starts to practise shooting now that they're running exercise for endurance is over.

After ten minutes, he's so focused that he can barely hear those around him. 

Takao is practising driving and dribbling with a few other first years who also like the position of point guard and look up to him. He tries not to let the praise they give him go to his head but it's so different from the way Midorima treats him that he can't help it when his heart swells in pride. 

He throws the ball to one of the first years and grins. "C'mon, you try and drive past me now."

The other boy nods, a determined look coming over his face. He starts dribbling and is just about to drive when his friend yells for him to go the other way. Automatically reacting to the words, the boy drives the other way. Straight into Takao. 

"Ugh." grunts Takao, winded as he begins to stumble backwards... straight into Shin-chan. 

The other first years yelp and quickly start to move away. 

Everyone in the room freezes when two bright lights, both green, light up from Midorima's neck and from the back of Takao's shoulder. Midorima panics for the second time today, frozen in his position where he was preparing to shoot.

Takao?! His soulmate is... Takao. 

What? Just... What? 

He feels like a computer that's had too much information put into it. He's struggling to understand this data. 

His soulmate is Takao. His best friend and teammate. The boy that had saw him as an enemy but somehow became his best friend and even called him by a dumb nickname. Midorima nearly hits himself when he realises what his mark is about. The step. The fucking kiddie step that Takao had brought for himself to keep at Midorima's flat so he could reach the things up on the top shelves.

How the hell had he not seen that?!

Oh, God. He thinks he might be sick. This is the worst way for him to find out who his soulmate is. Not only is Midorima barely over the fact that his mark is actually there but the whole team is watching them. Midorima ignores the way his heart pangs at the fact Takao must be just as embarrassed. 

In the back of his mind, Midorima knows that he shouldn't be that surprised. He has always been... fond of Takao. In a way. Takao had a certain charm about him. Not that Midorima could ever admit that to anyone but himself. Well, sometimes himself. Most of the time he just shoved all the feelings like this to the very back until he barely knew they were there. 

"Wait." Midorima says, suddenly able to move. He turns to face Takao. Everyone is watching. "Why didn't you say that you got your mark? You left me to be embarrassed all by myself." He huffs and pushes up his glasses. 

Takao stares up at Midorima with wide eyes. "I- I didn't know. It's on my back." 

Midorima stares back at him, suddenly nervous. What the hell does he do now? He grows more aware of their audience and glances to the side at their teammates before shifting awkwardly.

Would they think that he's even more of an outcast now that it's clear his soulmate is a man? Midorima himself isn't bothered that it's a guy and he supposes that there are worse people than Takao.

Wait. What? No, no. What the hell is he thinking?! It's Takao. He can't have a relationship with Takao.

 "Shin-chan... Stop just staring at me." 

"What am I meant to do then, idiot?" Midorima huffs. 

"You could kiss me..." Takao offers the taller man a cheeky smile.

Midorima frowns before he turns on his heel and walks out of the gym.