Chapter Text
Kuroo was probably the last person you wanted in the kitchen.
He could throw together a meal, sure, but fortune did not smile upon him in most cases, ending in him mixing up salt and sugar, overseasoning things or straight up burning it.
He had never set the kitchen on fire, but maybe this time might be it. He figured his luck might actually be at its worst now, when it would be truly important.
Cookies. He was going to make cookies. Bring them to Daichi, score a date, try to make contact again without things being awkward. That was the plan. It would be as easy as a slice of pie, or in his case, as easy as a tray of blueberry cookies.
Akaashi was kind enough to recommend a recipe. Bokuto wholeheartedly approved it, saying that if there was a way to get to a man's heart like Daichi's it was through his stomach. Though Kuroo was pretty certain Daichi would more so appreciate the gesture in general, even if he was a guy who liked food.
He had made a mess. His arm was tired from whisking as he didn't have a stand-mixer, his clothes were dusted in flour and he was trying his best to be patient enough to let the dough chill after forming little dollops.
Kuroo had used fresh berries, which did end in his fingertips and palms stained a burgundy-ish color.
The dough had tasted good, he had tried some just to be safe when washing the utensils he used. No mixing up sugar and salt this time. Kuroo tried not to pressure himself too much. If it failed, he could buy some and bring them tomorrow. It would be just fine.
But they didn't fail. After baking, Kuroo had one and it tasted great. Without inflating his ego to high heavens, they were really good. He got his finest tupperware box and placed most of them inside, practically ready to head to the police station right then and there.
The next day the excitement hadn't ceased. But even that kind of motivation couldn't survive a grueling day filled with paperwork and meetings. Kuroo's back was just about through (again might he add) and his eyes burned with every blink as he readjusted his reading glasses. Normally he would've worn contacts but he had to take them out in favor of the glasses that didn't cause his eyes to burn even worse.
He kept checking the clock in hopes of time passing by faster, mentally calculating just how long he'd have to wait to be done.
He patted himself on the back once he had it all finished, saying goodbye to his coworkers and taking a different route from usual, in the direction of the police station. With the tupperware box in hand and a coat over his shoulders he was on his way to the station.
Doubt and anxiety washed over him soon. Would Daichi think it was weird? Should he have texted him in advance? Would Daichi even be at the station?
Kuroo knew he was thinking too much. Daichi wasn't judgemental, it wasn't that serious and if Daichi wasn't there he could wait until he came back from patrol.
The station wasn't super big but still, Kuroo felt a bit intimidated. A woman in uniform was outside smoking and she looked friendly enough.
Apparently it was obvious he needed help because she greeted him first. "Hi, there, can I help you?" She put out her cigarette.
"Uh, yeah, I'm looking for an officer that is stationed here?" She smiled, looking a bit relieved that Kuroo's issue wasn't an emergency.
"Do you know their badge number?"
"Ah, no, but his name is Sawamura? Daichi Sawamura."
"Oh, yeah he's here!" She laughed. "The newby, I got you. Follow me." She waved him over and led him through, passing by a couple of other officers. Kuroo suddenly felt insecure about being stressed and a little disheveled after a long day. Though his attire was formal enough, he was jittering with nerves.
She brought him to a lounge, a couple of other officers talking and having a discussion of sorts. "Sawamuraaa!~" The woman called, followed by a couple of intrigued 'ooooh's. They probably thought he was being called in for something bad.
"You have a visitor!"
"I... do?" Stepping out between two taller male officers came Daichi, fully in uniform. Kuroo felt like sinking into the floor as Daichi's eyes locked on him. "T-tetsurou!" His cheeks flushed and he then smiled, coming closer. "What are you doing here?" The female officer stepped away, giving the two of them some space.
"I uh... Wanted to see you." Kuroo rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "As a thanks, some cookies." He offered Daichi the tupperware, which the other took and opened. "You... Baked cookies?" Daichi's expression spelt confusion but he also looked... Happy. "Why?"
"Uhm, yeah. Since you made breakfast?" It wasn't actually because of that. Kuroo just needed a better excuse to see Daichi in person again.
"Thanks, Tetsu. You didn't have to." That smile, oh my god. Kuroo's heart was too weak for this.
"I wanted to ask-" Kuroo was promptly cut off.
"Are those cookies, Sawamura?" A voice spoke up. One of Daichi's colleagues, wrapping an arm around Daichi's shoulders. He was taller and much leaner than Daichi. He had bleached hair which stuck out quite a bit between his other coworkers. Kuroo could read his name tag: Officer Takeshi.
"You know I've always been so nice to you, you don't mind sharing, right?" Takeshi grinned, hand hovering above the box.
"I wouldn't, but let me at least have the first one." Daichi scoffed, moving the tupperware out of the guy's reach. Which wouldn't exactly be effective, Takeshi was taller than him by quite a few inches.
"Or, I don't know, introduce yourself maybe? They were a gift after all." Daichi rolled his eyes. "Tetsurou, this is Takeshi. Takeshi, this is Kuroo Tetsurou."
"Your boyfriend?" Daichi's face turned beet red and so did Kuroo's. Did it really come off that way? 'Shit, I really should learn to be more subtle...'
"O-oh we're not..." Kuroo laughed nervously but Daichi spoke up.
"The guy I've been seeing." He corrected and Kuroo's heart nearly dropped to his feet.
It was true, kind of? They'd seen each other. Was this confirmation that Daichi was interested? He didn't know how to process that.
Daichi was looking at Kuroo for confirmation and he could only smile. Yes, they were seeing each other. "Or at least we have seen each other. Once or twice." Daichi corrected himself and Takeshi laughed.
"Okay okay, spare me the lewd details. Mr. Kuroo, can I please try some of those cookies?" He was grinning, obviously enjoying the teasing.
"Uuh, sure." Kuroo swallowed the thick lump in his throat. He had gotten so close to asking out Daichi right then and there!
"Lower your expectations, though, I'm not a baker by any means." Kuroo was quick to interject.
"I'm sure they're as good as they look." Daichi reassured him, already taking a bite. Blind trust, huh? With the way Daichi's dimples appeared on his cheekbones it seemed the cookies were approved of. Kuroo felt relief wash over him. "Mhmm..." Takeshi hummed and gave a thumbs up, finally letting go of Daichi as a few other officers called him over to get back to work. Daichi waved before they left, swallowing his bite. "These are great." He complimented Kuroo's work, looking back up at him. Kuroo had to pretend like his heart wasn't pounding.
"Now, you wanted to ask something?" Talking with your mouth full shouldn't be cute, Kuroo thought as Daichi spoke with a puffed up right cheek.
Right, Kuroo's true reason for showing up. "Well, if you aren't busy on one of the upcoming days..." Kuroo looked away, suddenly very interested in the pictures lining the walls of the lounge. "Would you want to go on a date with me?"
Daichi swallowed his bite before responding. "Are you asking the wall or me?" Daichi retorted and Kuroo's eyes flitted back to him in an instant. Daichi raised an eyebrow with a smirk that should, quite frankly, be illegal.
"Sa- Daichi. Would you want to go on a date with me, maybe in one of the next few days?" Kuroo repeated, nervously shifting his weight a little.
"I'd love to." Daichi replied, smiling softly. "I could do... This Friday if that works. Did you have a location in mind?"
Kuroo couldn't help but smile back. "Not yet, no."
Daichi hummed, perking up when some other officers called his name. "Well, try to think of something while I get back to work. See you later?" Kuroo nodded and Daichi patted his shoulder as he left.
Kuro ended up staying. As fate had wanted it, rain was pouring so harshly outside the station that he decided on keeping the other officers some company a bit longer. It was all in hopes of the storm fading soon, but even after some of the officers had left to drive home after a long day of work, Kuroo was still standing by the entrance, watching the partly flooded parking lot through the glass doors.
Fall storms were no joke.
"Kuroo?" Daichi's voice nearly made Kuroo audibly yelp.
"Hm?" "Do you want me to drive you home? I don't think it's a wise idea to go now, especially without an umbrella." Oh and Kuroo would very much like a ride home, maybe even to Daichi's place. Though it would be impolite to ask that.
"Worrying about me not being rain-repellant?" He joked, sticking one hand into his pocket with a smirk.
"I don't exactly want you to get sick." Daichi rolled his eyes and made a motion with his hand for Kuroo to follow him. "C’mon." He twirled his car keys around and opened the glass door. The rumbling thunder overhead wasn't exactly encouraging.
They made a run for it, Kuroo practically throwing himself into the passenger seat. His hair and clothes had gotten alarmingly wet in such a short time. He gingerly undid his tie and unbuttoned his shirt a little, not exactly pleased with how it stuck to him. Also, it was cold.
He watched Daichi put the key in the ignition and turn the heater on, pushing back his dark hair so it was out of his face. He was wearing a jacket but even that wasn't a saving grace from the water.
Kuroo spoke up after they both settled in the car.
"Are we moving the date to now instead of friday?" Kuroo asked, out of curiosity.
"I mean... We could. Do you want to?" Daichi raised an eyebrow. "I don't think getting in a restaurant in soaked clothes is a wise idea." Kuroo snorted. "Of course not. We could go back to mine." He offered.
"Or mine. I'd have to shoo Suga into his room, but we have a kotatsu. Might be nice to warm up under." Daichi's cheeks were a bit red.
"That sounds really nice." Kuroo commented and watched Daichi's eyes flit down to his exposed neck.
"Ogling people like that is unbecoming, you know." Kuroo teased and Daichi looked up to make eye contact. "Sorry, the hickeys. They're distracting."
"That sounds like a you-problem, Dai. If I remember correctly you're the one that put them there." He got a jab to the gut for that, which was fair. "I thought you might cover them." Daichi argued.
"I don't own makeup." Kuroo retorted. I usually wear dress shirts buttoned all the way up, anyways. They're not all visible."
"Shameless, truly." Daichi snorted.
He then added after a little pause: "My thighs still look like a warzone."
"Oh I'm sorry, did you not enjoy getting them? I vividly remember you-" Daichi slapped a hand over Kuroo's mouth with wide eyes. "Alright, I get it." He almost squeaked. "Let's get home.”
He refocused his attention to the car, pulling out of the parking space.
The drive was rather uneventful and the the quiet discussions on the radio made up for the lack of noise coming from both of them.
Daichi's home was a somewhat small but homey apartment that he shared with Suga. He had gotten home from work in soaked clothes as well, though he had already changed into something dry.
Before Daichi could send Kuroo off to get into dry clothes from Daichi's closet, Suga stopped them in their tracks. This wasn't a surprise. Kuroo knew Suga enough to know that they wouldn't be off the hook easily.
"Oh well hi, Kuroo! What could possibly bring you here?" Suga grinned. Kuroo let out an amused huff and waved from over Daichi's shoulder.
"Kou, please." Daichi had a look on his face that screamed 'Don't embarrass me like this'. "I'll make enough dinner for three, deal? Just... A liiittle bit of privacy?"
Suga had a grin akin to the Cheshire cat.
"Alright, deal. Keep it PG, though, I have to grade student papers." He waves a finger around in their direction.
"Aaaand." He looked over to Kuroo. "One question, you're not Edward Scissorhands in disguise, right? Because those scratches were-"
"ALRIGHT!" Daichi interfered loudly, pressing a hand over Suga's mouth and maneuvering him through the hall to what Kuroo assumed was his room. He couldn't help but chuckle, even after Daichi came back and glared at him. Wordlessly, he was handed a big shirt and pajama shorts. He wasted no time getting out of his wet clothes, changing in the nearest bathroom. When he was back Daichi had changed as well, wearing a shirt and sweapants.
"Were the scratches that bad? I didn't think I'd get compared to a guy with knives for fingers." Kuroo muttered as they walked to the kitchen, following Daichi's heels. "Is that who that is?"
"You don't know Edward Scissorhands? What about Freddy Krueger?" Kuroo asked, incredulous.
"Nope."
"Ghostface?"
"That one I vaguely know. Never seen it though."
"You are uncultured, sweetheart. That is... Embarrassing." Kuroo teased in a smooth tone and oh, Daichi turned a very pretty red at the nickname.
"I just don't like horror. Anything else pretty much and I'm good, I do not like horror."
"Too spooky for you?" Kuroo loomed behind him as Daichi reached for a heavy notebook high on the shelf.
"Maybe. I never got into them, I was stuck watching the same 5 movies in rotation through most of my childhood, as per my siblings having an obsession with Ghibli movies." Kuroo could feel the lighthearted annoyance in that statement.
"Is cooking a secret hobby of yours?" Kuroo asked instead, watching Daichi set the book down. A nice change of topics. "Moreso a family tradition." Daichi answered, setting it down on the counter and opening it. "The Sawamura cookbook." He presented it rather dramatically, laughing softly. "Probably my most prized possession."
Kuroo skimmed through the titles as Daichi flipped through it. Different handwritings stared back at him, all capturing recipes.
"Liking food runs in your blood?" Kuroo's question was lighthearted.
"Suga said it must be our love language." Daichi flushed red as he waved his hands around. "I think I can see it. I was just taught how to cook from a young age and I liked taking care of others and me with it." "That's... Really sweet." Kuroo leaned his hips on the counter. "Who taught you?"
"My mom and grandma, for a while. After that I taught myself. My dad was... Out of the picture." Daichi's smile faded a bit.
Kuroo felt like continuing that topic. He didn't want to waste this instance of Daichi being vulnerable. "Really? I'm sorry." Kuroo frowned.
"It's okay. I just... Took on taking care of my siblings from a young age." Daichi explained and his hands stopped on a page.
"How young are we talking?"
"Around 10." Daichi made a vague hand motion. "My mom worked a lot, trying to provide for us. Wasn't any easier on her. She is the best." Kuroo watched Daichi turn more towards him, an apologetic look on his face. "Sorry, I don't mean to ramble." "I asked you, Daichi." Kuroo spoke softly. "So... It was just you... How many siblings do you have?"
"Four. I have two younger brothers and two younger sisters." Kuroo blinked. "Five kids total?"
That... Explained a lot, Kuroo realized.
"I'm... That's really impressive." He managed to get out. "I mean, you took care of four other kids, while still being one yourself."
"I... I always thought of them as my younger siblings. Some might say I was like a father but I wasn't." Daichi clarified. "I wanted nothing to do with that guy." The last sentence was spoken in an almost hushed tone, his resentment clear.
Kuroo took a deep breath.
"I know you probably got pitied a lot afterwards and I'm not here to just repeat that." Kuroo started. "I think it's sad that you couldn't always be a kid yourself, but it's admirable. It also... Explains a lot, in my eyes." He let out a nervous chuckle. "I always wondered how you were able to be such a great captain. You were responsible, determined... We all kind of envied you." "Who's we..?"
"The captains."
Daichi rolled his eyes. They were a bit watery. "You're just saying that."
"I'm not. Bokuto and I talked about it the other day."
"You two talked about me?" Daichi nudged him.
"You're a nice topic to think about." Kuroo cooed and Daichi huffed, pressing a palm to Kuroo's chest. "Stop it."
He gets back to the book, his hand slowly running down Kuroo's torso before leaving the other completely.
"What do you feel like eating for dinner?"
"Am I just watching you cook?" Kuroo leaned in a bit, scratching an itchy spot on his neck absentmindedly.
"You can help. Or just... Watch me and work as a constant distraction." Daichi offered and Kuroo grinned, placing a hand on his chest. "I'm a distraction?"
"You're very distracting." Daichi confirmed, eyes flitting to Kuroo's. Kuroo felt his stomach flip.
"Do you have anything with fish?" Daichi hummed and traced his fingers along the row of bookmarks, opening the book at a half-way point. "I don't happen to have a lot of recipes. There is some... Salmon and mackerel in the fridge." His eyes glanced somewhere off into the distance as he tried to remember. Observing these little things about Daichi made Kuroo happy, in a way.
"Well, Mackerel is a personal favorite of mine."
"Mhm... Salmon it is." Daichi joked and Kuroo didn't hesitate to condemn him for it. He poked Daichi's sides, trying to find a ticklish spot, fingers eventually pinching the other's ribs as he laughed loudly.
"Tetsu, stop!" He howled, Kuroo catching an incoming hand before it grabbed him. "Still think salmon sounds good?" He teased, watching Daichi shake his head as his body wiggled against the counter. "I was joking." Daichi giggled.
"I know. But I don't joke around about my favorite food." Kuroo squinted, giving Daichi some space again. The other caught his breath rather quickly.
"You scratch, you bite, you love fish... Yeah, no wonder you were in Nekoma. You're like an overgrown, bratty cat." Daichi flicked Kuroo's chest and grabbed some things from the fridge and pantry, including mackerel.
"I am just lovable and cuddly too, though."
Daichi paused for a moment and then smiled. "Yeah, that's true."
They got some vegetables ready on the cutting board soon and Daichi put rice into the rice cooker. The fish could be cooked later, as that took less time.
"What about you?" Daichi broke the rather comfortable silence again, tasking Kuroo with cutting some vegetables by handing him a knife. Nothing he could screw up, really. Unless he promptly chopped his fingers off. That'd be embarrassing for a first date for sure.
"What about me?" Kuroo raised an eyebrow.
"Any dark background story I should know about?" Daichi joked, pressing his body more into Kuroo's side in a playful manner.
He also got his hands busy, chopping carrots after peeling them.
"Well, I like to think I got lucky with my family, but... Any other relationship after that kind of... Failed." Kuroo's eyes were strictly focused on peeling the potatoes he had in front of him. "Aside from high school, of course."
"As in dating?" Daichi asked to clarify and Kuroo hummed. "Yeah. I tried a couple of times, men and women, it just was exhausting me. Turning to hook-ups was not better in the slightest but the commitment was at least short-lived and not as draining."
"Doesn't really sound fun in the way you're describing it either, though. Do you know what was usually the issue?" And it felt so easy to talk about it, Kuroo noticed. It was like a safe space.
"It felt so... One-sided, you know? Like I was supposed to take care of both me and my partner." Kuroo wanted to add that it didn't feel that way at all with Daichi, that it had felt freeing.
Hell, he had been on the receiving end for once. That alone was rare.
Being distracted while peeling potatoes was an obvious rookie mistake. His eyes focused again when he felt Daichi's hand lift his thumb and save it from doom, nearly being sliced into. Kuroo must've cut the skin off the potato a little too thinly for comfort.
"Sorry." Kuroo practically coughed out and Daichi reassured him.
"You got distracted, it's okay. I was asking if..." He cut himself off and Kuroo looked at him. Oh, he was blushing again. How cute. He was even looking away, contemplating if he should ask.
"Don't get shy, you can ask." Daichi snorted and rolled his eyes, glancing at Kuroo before asking finally.
"How often did they... Take care of you? Equally." And it hung heavy in the air. Frankly, Kuroo could count them on one hand, even without his nearly-sliced off thumb.
And Kuroo thought it may be now or never to set the record straight.
"Like you did? Almost never." He let that sit, pausing before continuing. He could tell that Daichi took it to heart, his eyes had softened and went just a little wider as he was looking at the cutting board.
"I had 3 encounters, I think. Where it started off as that, one hook-up where it was like that the whole time." 'Not that any of it was as good as you.'
It was quiet for a moment and Kuroo got back to the task at hand. Like they weren't having the most genuine heart-to-heart. Like it wasn't making Kuroo's heart race.
Daichi, like he always does, catches him by surprise. Kuroo just barely let his thumb escape the blade this time.
"Would you be willing to give it one more chance?"
Daichi's tone was quiet, as if he was dipping his toes into dangerous territory, and even if Kuroo knew exactly what he was going to ask. He wanted, no, yearned for Daichi to say it.
"Try what?" He looked at the other, Daichi's eyes focused on his own hands, clearly nervous. Daichi being visibly nervous was unusual, but... yeah, it was sweet. Because Daichi had nothing to worry about.
"A relationship." He answered, then finally looked at Kuroo. He couldn't quite hold eye contact, looking from Kuroo's eyes to his shoulder to the counter. "Because I would like to be your boyfriend, if you'd want me."
"Have I ever given you the impression that I didn't?" Kuroo put a hand on Daichi's cheek, turning his head so Daichi looked at him.
"I would love to be your boyfriend. Being around you... It's wonderful." He admitted and Daichi smiled, face warm under Kuroo's palm.
"I love you too." Daichi cooed and before Kuroo could make another peep, he pulled him down for a kiss. They were so close, Kuroo felt almost bad for Daichi's neck as he had to practically lean his head back completely.
Kuroo's lips were tingling and he kissed back on instinct. His hands moved, both cupping the sides of Daichi's neck, one thumb resting along his throat.
Daichi's hands stopped on Kuroo's waist, bringing him closer.
The shorter man made a small noise in the back of his throat when Kuroo licked into his mouth.
He hadn't expected it, for sure, but Kuroo could feel the other's pulse. Daichi was excited, tasting Kuroo as their tongues touched. His Adam's apple bopped down and up under Kuroo's thumb, swallowing down almost greedily what was given to him. And phew, Kuroo had to initiate them parting because he definitely lost his breath a bit feeling that.
"I love you too, Dai." Kuroo chuckled, feeling Daichi move his head to hide his face in his chest. "Happy now?" A small nod. "Trying to get my mind back to food." Daichi commented, hands slowly leaving Kuroo as they regained some space.
The rest of the food prep had no casualties, the air was light and both of them were slightly flustered, but happy. Kuroo was surprised that they still got the timing right despite all the confessing. The rice, fish and veggies were pretty much all done at the same time.
And it was delicious.
Daichi had called Suga down once it was done and the teacher too had very much approved, before returning to his work and promising Daichi to take care of the dishes tomorrow morning. Daichi did most of it nonetheless, loading the dirty dishes into the dishwasher and letting it run. Now it was just the two of them again.
"Did you want to stay the night?" Kuroo squished Daichi's face in his hands as the other spoke. He looked soft, tired from work, cooking and a very heartfelt conversation. "Mm, if you want to." Kuroo smiled softly, watching Daichi nod before kissing him again.
And his boyfriend was really tired, he could tell. He was leaning against him pretty hard, lips moving just a little, moreso letting himself be kissed.
Kuroo ran a hand through his hair, musing it before sending Daichi to the bathroom to brush his teeth. "I'll join you, yeah?" Daichi hummed simply as he waddled to the bathroom, getting ready for bed. Kuroo as promised followed, grabbing a spare toothbrush. He was still dressed in the shorts and shirt from Daichi and figured they were fine for pjs. The clothes were rather worn and loose around his neck. He could feel those dark brown eyes glued to his collar again as he brushed his teeth.
And yeah, his hickeys were dark, but Daichi's thighs weren't any less impacted. He watched Daichi strip down to just boxers and admired his work for a bit, before they both got settled on Daichi's bed.
It was comfortable, really. Kuroo couldn't complain even after Daichi decided to plant himself pretty much right on top of him, half his body covering Kuroo's, their legs tangled together and Kuroo's hands busying themselves by scratching lightly across Daichi's scalp. He traced behind his ears and the back of his head where his hair was shortest. It gained a few pleased sighs as well as warm kisses to his shoulder, before they both fell asleep.
Kuroo didn't remember sleeping that well in ages. Then again, he hadn't had a real boyfriend like this in ages either.