Home was warm and welcome. It was late and the light in Tatsuya's room was off, so he crept through the house silently. Still cold pocari sweat in hand, he fell into bed face first and hand damp. He'd showered at the station and his hair was still wet even after the walk home. Finishing his drink and forcing himself to roll over, Kagami was pleased by the twenty four hours off he was given. He hadn't had a sleep in since he arrived and now was such a welcomed chance he almost turned off his phone to ensure he could truly enjoy it.
Falling into sleep was easy. A work out on top of the events of the evening were weighing heavy on him and sleep was the perfect solution to his aches and pains.
"Kagami Taiga? Like the animal?"
Blinking awake, Kagami stared up at what should have been his ceiling but instead was a roof of what appeared to be the basketball court from his high school in LA. Sitting up, hand to his head, he looked around with wide eyes and immediately went into panic mode. If this was a dream it was doubtless the strangest he'd ever had, especially since he recognised none of the people standing around him.
"He's so very human, disgusting."
"Midorima-kun, please don't say such things.
"Will this take long? I need to go back to the kitchen."
"Murasakibaracchi. This is Kurokocchi's saviour, at least give him five minutes."
Kagami was freaking out. Completely and totally freaking out. This was in no way a dream, especially as he was heaved up on to his feet by strong arms. Kagami was tall. It was one of his most defining features, but he suddenly felt incredibly dwarfed by the giant standing before him. Coupled with impossibly large wings, the man, no angel in front of him was truly terrifying.
"Kagami-kun." He couldn't breath, he was sure he was dying and at the tiniest touch of his elbow, he all but jumped through the roof. "Kagami-kun" the small voice repeated. "I am here to thank you, please ignore the others." Looking away from the purple haired monster, Kagami was wide eyed as he met the sky blue gaze of a small angel to his left.
As if fading in from the darkness, the angel from the burning warehouse smiled up at him warmly. "Thank you." His voice was quiet and mellow, the kind of voice you wanted from a doctor or a nursery school teacher. The unnatural perfection he'd so admired before came through in all too real light. Without the ash and blackened soot, his wings matched the colour of the sky on a clear day. Blue and silver with slither of white and the smallest hints and highlights of dark blue. They were enchanting and ever so beautiful. "Thank you Kagami-kun. My feathers are highly prized by collectors, would you like one?"
Losing his breath, the redhead couldn't decided if he'd accidentally spoken out loud or if these monsters were reading his mind.
"We're not monsters and yes we entered through your conscious."
"Just to thank you." Coming in from the darkened sidelines of his internal basketball court, two another angels joined him at the centre mark. He knew one. Kagami had been him everywhere. On the subway, on top of taxis, on the billboard behind the back of the station. The golden poster child of the GOM, the heads of RULE Japan, Kise Ryōta. The other he didn't recognise, tall and lanky, green haired with glasses, he had an uncontrollable moment of confusion as he wondered if angel needed glasses.
"Yes of course. I don't wear them for vanity." Frustrated Kagami put his hands over his ears as he fending on the eavesdropping angels.
Rolling his eyes, a bandaged hand pushed his glasses up his nose as the green haired angel sighed.
"I have said my piece and seen your saviour Kuroko, I have no desire to stay further. Good night." Turning with a flurry of feathers and distaste, Kagami was slack jawed at the flashing colours that shone in the angel's wings. How were they that beautiful? It was like walking through a forest, greens and browns shining and shimmering as they faded into the darkness.
"But what about my wings Kagamicchi? Are they not the finest you've ever seen?" The flash and flare of pure gold shone before his eyes as Kise spread his wings wide. "See? Gorgeous." Opening his mouth, too surprised and overwhelmed to reply, Kagami was thankful when the small blue angel pushed his companion aside.
"Please Kise-kun, I need to give my thanks myself. I am thankful for your input but it is not needed. Take Murasakibara-kun with you and leave. He looks hungry."
"I'm always hungry Kuroko-chin." Monstrous wings of violet and silver folded down against his back as the purple giant waved him goodbye, dragging the golden angel off with him under very verbal protest.
"Wait, but please, Kagamicchi you can have one of my feathers if you like. One sold for three million yen on ebay last month."
Listening to the fading voices in his head. Kagami rubbed his temples, wishing for nothing but a good night's sleep and this intrusion to be over. He must have been dreaming. It was just the influence of the day. Things like this didn't happen, angels didn't talk like that. Not like real people. Angels were pure and virtuous, not vain or gluttonous and rude.
"Wrong Kagami-kun. Angels are the same as humans. Worse in some cases. We are immortal. Our lives are longer, forever and in many cases our faults are intensified because of it." Jumping as the small angel touched his elbow again, Kagami was almost pulling his hair out.
"That's so creepy. Just fucking get out of my head." He paused staring around the empty court with a sudden shudder. "Am I dead?" Smiling a little, the angel shook his head.
"No, not yet. And neither am I thanks to you." Holding out his hand in a familiar human gesture, Kagami was nervous to take it, least he get bitten or torn in two. Firmly shaking the smaller hand, he shook it while forcing a smile. "Tetsuya Kuroko, the shadow of the GOM and one of the seven heads of RULE Japan."
"Kagami Taiga, fireman?" He didn't mean to sound so unsure, but he'd never met an angel before and in the matter of minutes he'd met four, it was unnerving at best.
"Relax Kagami-kun, I'm not going to eat you." He smiled, "or tear you in half." Forcing a small laugh, the redhead sighed, feeling uncomfortably sleepy.
"Thanks for that."
"No, thank you." Bowing low, his head almost to his knees, Kuroko's wings almost touched the floor. "I owe you my life and I will be eternally grateful."
He was used to thanks, especially in his line work. But this was a hundred times different. It felt all too important, like being owed a favour from the Mafia or winning luck from a rabbit's foot. There was going to be a catch to this, he just knew it.
"It's okay, really. It's my job, it's good to see you're looking well." The searing smell of burning feathers came to mind, but with a sneaky look now, his wings looked full and fluffy. No burns or singes anywhere.
"We heal quickly." Spreading his wings and offering him an unobstructed view, Kuroko smiled at him. "They're fine, thank you." Yawning, Kagami felt almost delirious with lack of sleep.
"That's good to hear. I'm glad, they're too beautiful to wreck." Looking pleased, the smaller man bowed again, waving slightly as the court and the blue of his hair faded.
"Thank you again Kagami-kun. Good night, sleep well."
Jolting up right, his head pounding, Kagami licked his dry lips. He felt like he'd been out the whole night drinking but had nothing to show for it but a horrific hangover. Checking his phone for the time, he pleased to see that lack of messages and emergencies on screen. Laying back and staring at the ceiling, he considered going back to sleep, but only for a minute. Forcing his legs over the edge of his sagging spring bed, the redhead hopped up on shaky feet. They ached like the devil and his head didn't feel much better. He needed coffee or an energy drink, or both at the same time. Not so surprised to see Tatsuya had left for work, there was no note left behind this time and he still had to sort out the recycle. Checking the fridge as he boiled the kettle, Kagami groaned as he sorted through the shelves. His brother was still locked in the American love of frozen food. Lots of pre fried things in boxes ready to be stuck in the oven at a moments noticed. When he'd lived alone and worked such late hours, mid night snacks were common place and without the skill to cook up decent meals after midnight, Tatsuya usually ate fairly badly.
Taking out a wilted bag of salad mix and pulling a face at the liquidized sludge at the bottom of the bag, the redhead refused to cook anything from this fridge. A shopping trip was in order and that would take time and effort on his day off. But unless he wanted to live off frozen spring rolls and quiches he needed to. Fueled by coffee and a drink he managed to snag from the vending machine in the foyer, Kagami thought about using his merger savings to pick up a new bed, one large enough to accommodate his entire height. And not have that giant, whacking great bar running down the middle. Even the rest beds at the station were in better condition.
The large open air market around the corner from their apartment block was the perfect place to pick up fresh fruit and vegetables. Enough to get him through the day at least. Searching through a stack of zucchinis, he turned to glance at the price before looking back to the pallet. There was something. Something standing just beyond his vision and out the corner of his eyes. Looking up suddenly and focusing on the blur, the redhead rubbed his sore and tired eyes at the empty space beside him. He was losing his mind, dreams about angels and feathers were doing his head in. Maybe he could talk to the counsellor on staff at the station, this sounded far too much like the PTSD he'd seen his crew go through after traumatic events in the past.
Arms filled with produce and paper wrapped meat, he walked back down the long, busy stall aisles, groaning as the apple on the top of his pile rolled to the floor. Only it didn't. Caught in mid air and replaced snugly on top of his pile between the quarter pineapple and chicken breast. Jaw slack, Kagami almost dropped his bundle, turning to glance beside him, behind him and nearly bumping into an elderly trio of ladies as he did. He was certain he was losing his mind.
"It's alright Kagami-kun. It's just me." Oh and now the voices started. He needed to call that shrink right away and book in a session before some little leprechaun started telling him to burn things. "Kuroko." The voice confirmed. Eyes wide as he instinctively looked up and was reward with nothing but the sky, his eyes burned with the brightness of the sun, but still no blue eyed angel.
"I am legit going crazy."
"Please relax Kagami-kun," came the quiet voice somewhere impossibly close to his ear. "This is my gift, misdirection." Confused but realising he was blocking the path between the stalls, the redhead pushed on. He needed to find a bag, just a single plastic bag for his food and just pretend that the incredibly dangerous, all powerful, invisible immortal wasn't following him.
Bag in hand and mind racing, Kagami tried in vain to erase his mind. Keeping it blank in order to avoid any mishaps like the night before, if that had ever really happened anyway. But it must have. Looking over his shoulder again to any casual observer it would appear to be a very large man looking very scared about being stalked. And all for no reason as again there was nothing there.
"Are you going to do some cooking?" What a casual tone and so close to him as well. Licking his dry lips and crossing the rail bridge just after the station, Kagami just stared straight ahead.
"What the fuck was that last night?" Could he swear in front of angels? Would he be going to hell for that?
"I do apologise for the presences of my colleague. After such a long time together boundaries are a hard thing to establish. I am very sorry." That still didn't answer his question, but rather then make an issue of it, he chose to remain silent. "Angels have long had the ability to enter the dreams and minds of humans, one of our seven has a particularly strong ability to do so. So strong he can even project our conscious to yours all the way from Teikō. But again I apologise for the others. I simply wanted to convey my thanks."
"And now?" Kagami grit out, pleased to see the foyer door of his apartment building slowly approaching.
"And now what?" The voice said, still so polite and mild.
"And can you read my mind now?" There was almost laughter, although it sounded more like a scoff.
"Well obviously not Kagami-kun." Letting out the breath he'd be holding and take another deep one, the redhead sighed. That was somewhat of a relief. It was so incredibly difficult to try and think about nothing and only nothing. It was in those moments that all his worst secret came to mind, however remembering how he wet his bed at summer camp was probably of little use to an angel, but it was uncomfortable all the same.
"So can I help you?" Getting to the door of the foyer, he wondered if Kuroko would need to be invited in, like some kind of vampire.
"Not at all, I'm simply here to observe and help you. Think of me as your helpful little shadow." Thinking of the best way to reject his kind offer, Kagami jumped as his phone rung, so on edge he nearly pissed his pants.
"What?"
"Rude." His brother's voice was clear and cut through the tiny speaker with ease. He was most likely locked in his office looking professional and capable but playing Peggle on his phone. "I was just calling to see if you were up. Want to get some lunch? My lunch break starts in fifteen minutes." He couldn't deal with this right now, not when there was a unhelpful shadow on his tail.
"Not today, I just got some lunch. Maybe tomorrow." Hanging up as he heard Tatsuya go to draw out another word, Kagami sighed.
"I am very thankful for the offer Kuroko..." he paused, unsure what the correct honorific would be. "Kuroko but I think I'll be fine from now on. Thank you." The startling lack of a reply worried him. If he offended the angel would he go on some kind of international hit list? He'd probably be dead on the next site fire, nothing too suspicious. The greater population couldn't know angels were going about murdering people, there would be mass panic.
Opening the door to his apartment and putting down his bags to straighten his shirt, the redhead jumped a literal foot in the air as he raised his gaze. It was as if he'd materialised out of thin air to stand there barely a foot away. Wings tucked neatly against his back and blue eyes taking in the room.
"Holy fucking shit snacks. Can you not!?" Too angry to be scared of any divine wrath, Kagami held a hand to his heart. "You scared the shit out of me."
"I was always here Kagami-kun, please calm down." About to cram his foot up his ass, angel or not, the redhead was stopped by Kuroko soft words.
"It's been such a long time since I entered a mortal's house." Scanning the room, he walked around the perimeter, dragging his fingers along the shelves of collectables and staring intently at the paintings above them. "This is Masako's work." Pointing to a particularly fetching red and white landscape, the small angel cocked his head to the side. "I liked her older works better. Before Alex passed."
Choosing to ignore his unwanted house guest, Kagami picked up his bags and made his way to the kitchen, leaving Kuroko to his human observation and inspection. He was just washing the corn and cabbage for his lunch, when blue eyes caught his attention from across the breakfast nook.
"Are you owned by Murasakibara-kun?" Confused, Kagami shook his head slowly.
"I don't think so. I don't know what that is." He was getting frustrated now and flustered and all he wanted was his stir-fry.
"Murasakibara-kun. The titan. The tall angel with purple hair you met last night." Flashbacks to the monstrous giant and his colossal wings made him cringe.
"Ah yeah him. No, I have no connection to him at all." Pulling a face, Kuroko hummed as he brought his hands up to the kitchen light, Tatsuya's prized feather in his hand.
"No? Because this belongs to Liu-senpai and you have quite a few of Masako's painting. Both are members of the titan's household." Thinking over this new information as he sliced the meat for his dish, Kagami shrugged.
"I don't know, my brother works with angels selling their art and stuff. It's probably through that." Looking thoughtful, the small angel walked around the kitchen, his fingers running along the stainless steel of the bench and its many appliances.
"Human and angel relations are rocky at the moment. Any positive interaction is good interaction." Frowning as he thought about his only interaction with an angel ever, it was easy to see why.
"What are you making?" Kuroko was so close, appearing at his elbow to lean in over the wok with large eye. Resisting the urge to thump him back a step, Kagami took a deep breath.
"Stir fry." Maybe if he was blunt and quiet enough, the angel would get the message and leave. Although as he watched the smaller male walked back through the kitchen and sit down at the breakfast nook, he nearly blew a fuse. "Look Kuroko, I'm happy you're okay and I'm pleased you're taking an interest in humans and all that. But this is my day off, so if you'd like to come see me at the station sometime I'd be happy to meet you there." Sitting on the edge of the chair, swinging his legs back and forth, Kuroko hummed.
"I can not be seen in public Kagami-kun. I observe without interaction."
"Then why are you here now?" Focusing on tossing the wok and coating the meat and vegetables with sweet and sour sauce, took his mind from his guest but only for a second.
"Because Kagami-kun has already seen me so I have nothing to hide." Just his luck. Beyond his small size the blue haired, little immortal was tenacious.
"Well maybe come back when I'm doing something more interesting to observe."
"This is interesting enough. I haven't watched someone cook in centuries. Oh wait, that's a lie. Murasakibara-kun cooked us breakfast a couple of years ago." He paused, a far away look entering his eyes. "It was such a disastrous." Unable to stop a small chuckle, Kagami glanced over his shoulder quickly at the small angel.
"Can't cook?" Shaking his head, Kuroko looked pleasantly comfortable, even without leaning against the back of the chair.
"Oh no, Murasakibara-kun is a brilliant cook. But there were all six of us, plus consorts helping out. After that everyone was banned from working in the kitchen together."
Taking the wok off the heat and moving to the fridge, the redhead poured out a glass of juice, reconsidering as he went to put the carton back.
"Do you want a drink?" Under the scrutiny of wide, blue eyes, Kagami resisted the urge to shudder.
"Do you have any milk and vanilla essence?"
"Um..." Running down a mental list of inventory, he shrugged. "Maybe? Is that what angels drink?" Nodding slowly, Kuroko waited patiently as the redhead raced around the kitchen.
"It's what I drink. Usually with iced cream." Narrowing his eyes as he passed him the glass, Kagami pulled a face.
"You mean a milkshake? You like vanilla milkshakes?" Taking a long drink, Kuroko shrugged.
"I suppose, the staff know what I like." Finishing serving his lunch, Kagami spilt the dish, offering the angel a small bowl of steaming vegetables and beef.
"You have staff?" Wishing he could react the question the moment it slipped from his lips, the redhead could have hit himself. He had doubtless been waited upon on hand and foot since he was born. Had he even had second rate stir fry with slightly sinewy beef and crunchy, undercooked corn? Probably not. But as they began their meal, Kagami was pleased to see he didn't spit it back out.
"Thank you very much Kagami-kun, this is very tasty." A little thrilled by the compliment, the reality of the situation suddenly hit him like a ton of bricks. He was sitting in his kitchen, sitting side by side with angel. It was an impossible situation he could have never dreamed of and yet here he was. Scoffing down his meal in record time, the redhead sat back with a grunt, stomach full and head no longer pounding.
"So why were you even in that warehouse? It was condemned months ago. The only others in there were a couple of junkies, you trying to get a hit?" Shaking his head, Kuroko refused to meet his eye, staring into the depth of his milk as if it held all the answers to the universe.
"RULE business." Raising an eyebrow, Kagami thought over the vague information with mild curiosity.
"Angel business eh? Must have been some kind of business to have you trapped in a burning building." The silence continued to hang heavy in the air, even as the angel stood up and moved across the kitchen, ditching his dishes in the sink.
"Immortality is not a certainty Kagami-kun. As I said before I am so thankful for your efforts in my escape. And thank you for lunch." Twisting in his seat and watching him go to leave, the redhead smiled slightly.
"Okay, well just doing my job. And ah, you're welcome? Sorry it wasn't what you're used to." Shaking his head, the angel smiled warmly.
"Not at all. Good bye Kagami-kun, I hope we meet again." Going to get up but only getting half way there as the mysterious angel slipped out of existence without a sound, Kagami tossed up his hands in frustration. That was obviously a touchy subject and by his quick escape it was nothing he wanted to share, even with his grand saviour.
Cleaning up with his head slowly beginning to ache with fatigue, Kagami promised himself a nap before dinner, just to make up on some of his missing sleep. Especially with his slumber so rudely interrupted the night before. Dragging his feet through the living room, the strange nature of the day was completely lost on him, Kagami made sure to lock the door, least he receive any more unwelcome guests. Turning to head down the hall towards his room, something caught his eye. Inwardly groaning, the worry that he hadn't really lost his shadow was quickly put to rest and replaced with awe. Laying side by side Tatsuya's prized artist's feather, was a startling collectible of blue and silver. Unique and shimmering, Kagami couldn't help but smile in amazement. The highly prized feather of Tats Kuroko now called his mantel piece home. Convinced his brother was going to flip out, the redhead left the feather perched upon the velvet, ready for a nap and a hopefully relaxing afternoon.