The first time Kuroko ever had someone ask him for something was in college. Akashi sauntered (an even closer term would be strutted) up to the cerulean haired man and demanded one simple thing, "Paint me the stars."
"Excuse me?" Sitting in the library, Kuroko was, well, reading. He was unprepared by this sudden approach and could barely process how to respond. Not only was the request extremely sudden (not to mention rude, for Kuroko and Akashi had never even spoke one word to each other before), but also disorienting for the usually invisible young male.
But Akashi Seijuurou was never one for subtlety. He pulled out the chair across from Kuroko and sat, leaning forward, hands folded (almost as if he was in a business meeting). "I don't like repeating myself; I want you, Kuroko Tetsuya, to paint me the stars." Silence passed between the two students. Sharp, piercing eyes met dull, blue eyes. Nonetheless, their staring contest built tension in the area that scissors couldn't even cut.
Kuroko sighed, giving in first (not because he didn't have the will, he was simply wondering how staring would help him understand the current situation he was in). He lied the book down, saving the page. "May I ask why Akashi-san wishes for me to paint the sky?"
"No." Came the immediate response. Akashi smirked, knowing fully that he was in complete control (he most likely didn't even bother with things that he couldn't easily grasp authority from) of the conversation. "You're majoring in visual arts correct?" Kuroko nodded. "Then I just am asking for a simple request. I'll even pay you for it. Paint me the stars."
"And if I refuse?"
"I'd advise against that." He smiled (sickeningly sweet, utterly fake) waiting for a response (a specific response typically beginning with the letter 'y').
Kuroko just marveled in this moment, pondering if he ate anything that would give him such an odd dream. Akashi Seijuurou, son of a major industry in the corporal business world, someone whom he had never even properly met, had just asked (demanded) a painting from him. He couldn't help but shake his head.
"Is that a no, Kuroko?" Kuroko didn't miss the glint in the redhead's eyes, one of them seemingly beginning to show specks of a golden yellow (must be the light).
"No, I'm just trying to wrap my head around this."
"So a yes?" (Does he have much of a choice?)
Kuroko frowned slightly, eyes glancing downward. "I guess... I will do it.
He's not sure why he agreed. He had no reason to comply, yet he decided to take up the task. Perhaps it was the charm, the straightforwardness. Or maybe it was the fact that Kuroko currently had way too much free time on his hands. He had finished his assignments a few days early and no tests or bills were coming up. Just in a day or two Kuroko had done anything and everything he usually does in his spare time. Library, Maji Burger, talk with Kise, play street ball with Aomine, make sure Kagami was properly keeping up with his studies (he wasn't).
Maybe Akashi had noticed Kuroko's lack of tasks and had taken upon himself to give him something to do. If he wanted the sky, then that's just what Kuroko would give him.
Paint me the stars.
Kuroko's eyes glassed over as he looked up at the sky. He tilted his head left, then right, then left, then back right. Which stars does he want? Does he want constellations? From a certain angle? He was a extremely confused, and he hadn't even started. "I feel as if Akashi-san may be expecting too much from me."
Taking no risks, the young man sat outside on a park bench. He quickly sketched thumbnails trying to include different features in each one. He was an artist, not an astronomer (nor a slave, why was he doing this again?), so something like this came as a bit of a challenge to him. Plus, there were so many possibilities. The sky seemingly stretched on endlessly. The white dots began to blur.
"Urgh." Kuroko groaned and leaned back on the bench, holding the sketchbook out. He drew thirty different pictures and wondered how he was supposed to do this. He closed his eyes, grateful for the cool, quiet night.
"Wow." Akashi praised, examining each of the thumbnail sketches. "I'm impressed, Kuroko. You've exceeded my expectations."
"Say that when I actually paint it." Kuroko muttered.
Akashi smiled, not 100 percent pure, but not full of threats or malice. He handed the sketchbook back. "They're all good. I like them."
"Do you have one you really like?"
"Hmm. Not particularly."
Kuroko frowned, flipping the pad closed. "Well, that just makes my job that much more difficult." He sat adjacent to the other, cocking his head slightly. "Can you just pick a favorite, Akashi-san?"
"That depends," mischief danced upon his face (it looked out of place on his regal features), "may I call you Tetsuya?"
"Excuse me?"
"You know how I feel about repeating myself."
Kuroko stood up and left.
His pencil rested against the canvas waiting for orders, but Kuroko was confused again. He'd never done something so free form. His works usually consisted on pre-planning and step by step instructions (line of action, form the body, fill in with fat, rough details, cleanup), but he had no idea how to go about this. So he went to the one resource he could think of.
Google.
Numerous tutorials appeared and Kuroko watched with curious eyes. Everyone seemed to go about it differently. Even if he were to copy their style, it would still feel foreign to him. He didn't want that (art was supposed to be refreshing not taxing).
Kuroko sat on a stool, pencil and canvas forgotten, and stared out his dorm window. The moon was a waxing gibbous, if he was remembering correctly (Cleomedes' Lectures on Astonomy: A Translation of the Heavens). It was truly strange how much effort he was putting into this project. Books, tutorials, and even phoning Midorima hoping he could shed some light on how the galaxy worked.
"Though Oha Asa bases off the horoscope of the constellations, the predictions are based on different factors." Midorima chastised over the phone (Kuroko could almost hear the frame of his glasses being pushed up on the bridge of his nose). "Therefore, I have limited knowledge on actual astrological facts and properties."
"Oh, that's too bad."
"Though I must say, Sagittarius was ranked fairly low today. I'd advise wearing a knitted sweater today as it is your lucky item."
Kuroko hung up. "It's the middle of July, Midorima-kun," he grumbled to no one in particular.
Kuroko deemed Akashi a very strange and surprising person. The off-handed request he could deal with, but the next thing he said pushed him over the edge.
"Tetsuya," A smile (He never got permission for a first name basis), "can you paint at my house?"
Kuroko stopped what he was sketching and looked up at the red male warily. "Akashi-san..."
"Yes, Tetsuya?"
"Why?"
"Well, I just want to see an artist at work." He gave a simple explanation, but that didn't make it any less weird. "Say, at eight o' clock p.m. tomorrow?" Akashi looked at Kuroko, obviously expecting an agreement. As he believes, anything said by him is absolute.
Kuroko just let out an exasperated breath. His pencil dropped onto the paper, and he racked his brain for a decent excuse. Other plans? (He would most likely dismiss them.) Fake sickness? (He would probably just drag him out of his dorm.) Express that he's not comfortable with that? (Like he would care.)
"I'll bring my canvas."
Akashi's house (estate, mansion, castle) was certainly a sight. It was easily spotted from miles away and shone with a rich aura. Kuroko nearly dropped his supplies just beholding the front gate.
"Name?" A buzz of a voice flowed out of the speaker on a column.
It surprised Kuroko, but he made a quick recovery. "Kuroko Tetsuya. I'm Akashi-san's... friend?" He didn't mean to sound so unsure, but he still was. What exactly was the extent of their relationship? Not really a stranger. Acquaintances sounded too distant. There's a grey area around 'friend' and definitely nothing past there.
Nonetheless, the gate manager accepted the answer and opened the pathway to the large manor. Kuroko hesitantly climbed up the stairs to the front door and wavered at the doorbell. This was... beyond awkward, and he just kept asking himself why he even agreed to come.
Before even coming close to building up the courage to knock, the door opened from the inside. Blue eyes met red as Akashi Seijuurou greeted him. "Tetsuya." He motioned for him to step in. Kuroko complied. "Thank you for coming."
For the second time that day, Kuroko nearly split everything in his hands from awe alone. What would a room like this even be called, he wondered. Grand hallway almost seemed to light of a name. It was a large area, very western, but still had that Japanese flair to it.
"This is... Akashi-san's house. This is just a small part of Akashi-san's house." Kuroko stared for a while, before snapping out of his trance. "Ah, I'm sorry. I was just..." He trailed off.
Akashi maintained a neutral expression."No, I understand. It is a lot to take in." A flicker of annoyance passed through, but it was easily replaced. "I'll show Tetsuya where to take off his shoes."
Kuroko and Akashi both sat on a lush couch, a canvas in front of one and a computer in front of the other. Kuroko, still in the sketching stage, made swift, careful movements. He didn't want to be seen erasing too many times. Not that it would even matter, Akashi was in no way even looking at him. The redhead gaze was instead locked on the screen. Various graphs and notes were appearing and disappearing.
Kuroko tried to keep up with the information, but whenever he began to concentrate on the computer, Akashi would say, "Tetsuya." and Kuroko would immediate return to drawing. Despite the contradictory in Akashi's appeal, Kuroko couldn't help but find the environment relaxing. The window he was looking out of was much larger than the one in his dorm. The whole air gave off a relaxing vibe that the park just couldn't recreate. And maybe, just maybe, having Akashi by his side provided another calming effect.
"Akashi-san."
"Yes, Tetsuya?"
"I didn't plan on making it this far. I regret to say that I didn't actually bring any paint."
"Huh?" Akashi stopped for a moment and looked up at Kuroko and his work. The draft was finished, though sloppy, it was the way Kuroko preferred to have it. It was a mental trick allowing him to correct things as he paints, instead of feeling as if he had to follow the lines. "Tetsuya. I can barely tell what's going on."
Kuroko frowned as he returned his pencils into a case. "Sorry Akashi-san, but that's how it is. Believe me, it makes for a much better finished work in the end."
Akashi looked at the canvas thoughtfully. He then closed his laptop, catching Kuroko's attention. "I guess I'll trust Tetsuya's judgement here." He stood and faced Kuroko, looking down upon him. He patted his baby blue locks, gracing him another smile, "But it was bad thinking, forgetting to bring paint."
Kuroko stiffened under Akashi's hand. "I- er... didn't think I would finish. Not this quickly."
"Is that so?"
"Yes." Kuroko looked up, meeting the other's eyes. "But something about here makes me feel more focused. More relaxed. I like it here with Akashi-san."
Akashi's expression dropped. He removed his hand. "Hey, Tetsuya." Akashi kneeled down so that their faces were inches apart. Kuroko instinctively backed his face away. Akashi instinctively moved forward. "Call me by my first name."
"Eh?"
"Tetsuya-"
"You dislike repeating yourself, I know." Kuroko looked away from those eyes. The eyes that almost felt violating. "You just caught me off guard. Again."
Akashi chuckled. The faint rumble shook through Kuroko's bones. "I see. Well, maybe I should catch you off guard, one more time."
Close. Close. Akashi was getting much too close. "A-Akashi-kun..." Kuroko's back was firmly pressed against the couch, there was no where to back off to. He felt sweaty. He felt jittery. Akashi continued leaning in. "A-Akashi...!"
Kuroko's foot hit the easel and the canvas fell down flat surprising the two males. Akashi let off, looking down at the fallen art. Kuroko gripped his T-shirt unsure of what was even happening anymore. He was flushed and flustered. "Ah," he pushed himself off the couch, past Akashi, and gathered the canvas and supplies up, "I'm s-sorry. It's late, I have an early class tomorrow. Thank you for having me." He hastily walked out of the room, holding close to his art materials.
Akashi was left kneeling over an empty seat.
