Note: A few minor spoilers for Jurassic World.

Breed

Chapter 10: Curiosity

"Hey, girl, you make me wanna write a song. Sit you down and sing it to you all night long. Had a melody in my head since you walked in here and knocked me dead. Yeah, girl, you make me wanna write a song.

"And it goes like, 'Ooh, what I wouldn't do to write my name on your heart, get you wrapped in my arms, baby, all around you.' And it goes like, 'Hey, girl, I'm blown away.' Yeah, and it starts with a smile, and it ends with an all-night, slow kiss. Yeah, it goes like this."

―"It Goes Like This" by Thomas Rhett

oO_Oo_oO_Oo

Kise doesn't enjoy swim night as much as he usually does. While Aomine showers, the blonde lays in bed, having insisted on bathing separately tonight. It's obvious that Aomine knows something is wrong, but he hasn't pushed. Thankfully.

The door opens, and Kise takes a deep breath. This is it. After three years, he's coming out with it. Right now. He promised Akashi. Now. Any time now.

Aomine drops his towel and crawls onto the bed, straddling Kise. "Are you going to tell me what's up?"

Kise couldn't have asked for a better mate. Even if he doesn't show it outside of this room, Aomine can be so sweet when he wants to be and pampers Kise like royalty whenever he has the chance.

"I…um…I promised Akashicchi a while back that…" Kise swallows. "…that I would tell you about…this thing…when he fell in love…so I…."

"What thing?" A tanned hand brushes through his hair and traces his cheekbone and jaw with rough fingertips.

This is torture, Kise thinks. So instead of dwelling on how embarrassing it is, he bursts, "Will you touch my tail?"

Aomine gives him a confused look. "Huh?"

With a vibrant blush, Kise grabs a pillow and tries to suffocate himself with it. Seems easier than talking about it at the moment.

After he takes a few breaths, Kise continues into his pillow, "My tail…is really sensitive―especially…you know, where it starts. I know…I know it sounds weird…but―"

"Ryouta."

Kise peeks over the top of the pillow.

Soft, blue eyes smiles at him. "Why didn't you say something sooner? I don't mind touching any part of you, including your tail."

"But you said my tail feels weird," Kise mutters into the pillow.

"The top of you is human and the bottom is a fish. Yes, it feels weird, but I never meant that in a bad way." Aomine yanks the pillow off his mate's face and kisses his cheek. "So yes, I'll touch your tail if you want me to."

Kise beams and pulls the other man down on him. "Thanks, Daiki."

Oo_oO_Oo_oO

"So what movie do you want to see?" Kagami asks as they look at the times.

Kuroko glances over the unfamiliar titles. "I don't have a preference, but I don't really like scary and overly violent movies."

Kagami pauses, as that rules out most of the movies he wants to see. "Have you ever watched the Jurassic Park movies?"

"No, I haven't. What are they about?"

"A scientist comes up with a way to recreate dinosaurs. This new one is supposed to be really good, and you don't really need any background, or at least that's what Tatsuya told me."

"That sounds nice."

"Cool."

Having no experience with movie theaters whatsoever, Kuroko mostly follows Kagami around the place. The popcorn looks odd though in his opinion, far too yellow. The kind he eats at home is white, so what's different about this kind? And why is Kagami putting a yucky-looking liquid on it?

By the time they walk into the theater, the lights are already off, or at least, Kuroko thinks they were. He can't tell sometimes due to his vision.

There aren't very many people in the theater, so Kuroko also doesn't understand why Kagami goes towards the back. Won't the front be better? Regardless, Kagami leads him to a pair of seats a few rows from the back and sits down, pulling down the seat. The sitting contraption looks dangerous to Kuroko, so he hesitates for a moment before following suit, and then every time he moves, he feels like the thing will swallow him up.

Kagami offers the popcorn. "Want some?"

Cautiously, Kuroko picks a piece from the top. "Is it good?"

"Theater popcorn's the best! It's so much better than the microwave stuff," the redhead replies before he stuffs a handful in his mouth.

Well, if Kagami thinks so, Kuroko guesses it won't hurt to try.

And it is good. Really good. It has more flavor than the kind he has eaten in the past. He plucks another piece from the container. "What's on it?"

"Butter. Have you never had buttered popcorn?"

"I don't think so, no."

"You have so much to learn, Kuroko."

Content with the validity of the statement, the smaller boy nods and pops another piece in his mouth.

The movie is very intriguing in Kuroko's opinion, and when it comes out on DVD, he needs to rent it so his brothers can see as well. Akashi and Midorima will love it.

Some parts are iffy though. Humans can be dimwitted sometimes, yeah, but how can someone possibly think they can keep such a dangerous creature in captivity, especially one so smart? Kuroko thinks of it as putting Akashi in a cage and expecting him to be unable to escape. And isn't there a better time for the main characters to kiss? Seriously, people are being killed right before your eyes, soon your family, and you think it's a good time to make out? You deserve to be eaten, Kuroko concludes.

Kuroko also wonders why Kagami's hand has been laying on the armrest palm up through most of the movie. Isn't that uncomfortable? Maybe Kagami has messed up bones?

Light blue eyes drift to the other people in the theater, and a few of them are holding hands. Kuroko pauses. Kise and Aomine do that sometimes, though usually they link as soon as one of them offers, but he assumes it's the same idea.

So Kuroko puts his hand on top of Kagami's. Sure enough, the other man smiles a bit and interlocks their fingers. Kuroko has never really understood the whole holding hands thing, but he guesses it feels nice.

After the movie, Kagami drives Kuroko home in his pick-up truck. They talk the entire time, and Kuroko finds himself laughing, which is unusual for him to some degree.

In the driveway, Kuroko pauses once he unbuckles his seatbelt. "I had fun tonight, Kagami-kun. Thank you very much for inviting me."

"Yeah, me, too." Kagami smiles. "Would you want to do this again sometime?"

Kuroko finds himself smiling back. "Of course. I would love to."

"Cool, I have your number, so I'll text you sometime, right?"

Kuroko doesn't really know why Kagami is asking him whether or not the redhead will text, but he goes with it. "Alright. Goodnight, Kagami-kun."

"Night."

As soon as he opens the door, he hears various responses.

"Kurokocchi's back!"

"Tell me about Kagami. Tetsu, if he hurts you, I swear I'll kill him!"

"W-welcome h-h-home…?"

"You're so cute, Kouki."

"Akashi, don't turn into Kise."

"Mh? Kuro-chin, was the food good?"

Kuroko makes his way up the stairs and sits down on the couch with Midorima. "It was nice."

Kise is splayed out on the loveseat with his head in Aomine's lap, getting his scalp massaged, and he pouts at Kuroko, half upside down. "That's it? No juicy details? I'm working on an evaluation here!"

"I believe Akashi-kun usually has the final say-so on the matter," Kuroko says, hoping the Fire will direct attention elsewhere.

Instead, Akashi rests his cheek on his fist as his elbow is propped against the arm of the chair, his other arm wrapped around Furihata's shoulders. Crimson eyes meet azure. "How can I approve of whether or not this human is trustworthy if I know next to nothing about him?"

Kise smirks the slightest bit while Furihata doesn't even try to hide the happiness in his expression.

Kuroko discreetly checks to see if his other brothers may help him. Murasakibara isn't paying very much attention, Midorima waits for him to continue, and Aomine has a rather frightening expression on his face, even as Kise tries to poke it away. This leads to the blonde squirming, and Kuroko does not want to know what Aomine's hand is doing under his mate.

After a moment, Kuroko says, "We just saw a movie. The popcorn there is much better than the kind we get, and the movie was rather interesting―"

"But what about Kagami?" Aomine interrupts.

"He was…sweet." Kuroko feels no need to explain further.

And no one pushes, because that statement is pretty significant coming from one Kuroko Tetsuya.

However, the day had been spent teaching Furihata for the most part, so the brunette is tired and requests to turn in early. Akashi offers to go as well, but Furihata insists that he stay as long as he wants. What Furihata doesn't know is that no one will ever put him on the spot. Akashi is a different story.

"Two lightning storms in a row," Kuroko muses.

"Rather peculiar, don't you agree, Akashicchi?"

"I believe it snowed a rather large amount last night as well," Akashi says. "Notice that the fish was out of its aquarium."

No one but Kise understands the connotation of that statement. Despite the pink on his cheeks, the Water replies, "But really, I've been curious: are fires brighter in darkness?"

"Yes, and vice versa applies."

At that, Midorima chokes. Some things even the clueless doctor understands. "Too much information, Akashi!"

The redhead isn't fazed. "And while the darkness played in the fire, I believe that the scale balanced, wouldn't you agree, Kise? Assuming everything's vertical, it had been a little top-heavy."

It takes a moment for Aomine to comprehend the reference, but when he does and looks down at Kise, the blonde flushes even darker.

"Can we drop the conversation?" Kuroko asks. "As amusing as your verbal battles are, I would rather you two discuss your sex lives in private."

Midorima pushes up his glasses. "It's far too indecent to discuss."

"Says the virgin," Murasakibara says, who apparently has been listening.

"You're not any different," Midorima retorts.

A violet eye cracks open for a moment to look at the Air. Then the giant chuckles the tiniest bit and falls silent.

"Midorima, we all know who's been there and who's not," Aomine comments.

Kuroko says, "It's nothing to be ashamed about."

"Come on, stop teasing him. He can't help it if he's never gone the extra step," Kise says with a wink in Midorima's direction.

"The five of you are ridiculous!" Midorima huffs.

"Oh, so you did take the extra step?" Akashi asks.

Midorima pushes up his glasses again. "That's none of your business."

"Midorima-kun, you're far too easy to read. It takes the fun away from the experience," Kuroko says.

"I hope that was a pun, Tetsu."

oO_Oo_oO_Oo

"Sei?" Furihata asks as the door opens. He's rather comfortable in his blanket nook and doesn't want to disturb it to see who came in, as if it isn't obvious.

"I thought you were asleep?"

"Working on it." Furihata watches a flickering, orange light reflect on the wall. The first time he saw Akashi's fingertip on fire, it freaked him out, but he guesses it's useful sometimes. As soon as the light is there, it's gone again, and the mattress dips beside him at Akashi's added weight. A cool arm wraps around his waist, but he doesn't mind, even if it destroys his blanket nook. Akashi's embrace is much better.

"Then I'll help you with that," the redhead whispers before he presses a kiss to his mate's neck. "Goodnight."

"Night."

A few moments later, Furihata asks, "Sei?"

"Hm?"

"Your family…is really cool."

"I'm glad you like them."

Furihata shifts a little and rolls over to face Akashi. "Are you as close to Kise as he says you are?"

Even with the tiniest bit of starlight coming through the window, Akashi's eyes seem to glow a bright scarlet. Or maybe that's just Furihata's vision. "I would say it's a form of opposites attract, but Murasakibara and Midorima don't get along at all. Aomine and Kuroko are like Kise and I as well."

"So you guys get along well?"

"I wouldn't go that far." Akashi pauses. "We know each other backwards and forwards, could blackmail each other to the world's end, and fight every now and then." Then he chuckles. "Tuesday afternoon, did you notice a sudden storm? Popped up out of nowhere and then vanished within ten minutes?"

"Yeah, it was kind of freaky."

"That's what happens when Kise and I fight."

"You guys fought recently? About what?"

"You."

"Me?"

"Yes, you." Akashi slips a hand under the back of Furihata's shirt and rubs up and down his spine. "As you can probably tell, we had differing views on the topic for a while."

"O-oh."

"But enough of that. Go to sleep, Kouki."

Next door, Midorima stares at the ceiling in darkness. Is he really the only virgin in the family? He knows Akashi has experience from his time with Nijimura and then Kise and Aomine…well, enough said, but he hadn't thought Kuroko has been with anyone. And Murasakibara, too?

It's reasonable, he tells himself. It's not like he has time for much outside of work and family, and he has never wanted to do anything with someone in that way. Sure, he's a young adult male, but he can take care of that on his own, though he'll never admit he ever does that.

"Shin-chan, are you a virgin?"

Takao has no sense anyways. And it doesn't matter if he has or hasn't done anything of that nature; he's one of the best doctors in the hospital, and that's what matters.

Has Takao…? Midorima knows he shouldn't care, but he can't help but wonder. The nurses tend to fawn over the smaller male, and even Midorima will admit he isn't half-bad to look at. Those bright, amber eyes. A smile that can melt you. Silky, black hair. A lean but muscular build, and light on his feet.

Midorima shakes his head vigorously, and had he been wearing his glasses, they would've flown off by now. Takao isn't that attractive! He just happens to have a few good looks, that's all.

And regardless, he shouldn't care what someone else's sexual experience is. If he really wants to know, he can ask, and he doesn't want to know anyways.

Oo_oO_Oo_oO

So why is this happening?

Takao blinks, his pen frozen over his paper. "What?"

Midorima quickly looks back down at his paper, cheeks growing warm. "Never mind. It was nothing."

"Coming from you of all people, I don't consider that 'nothing'. Is something wrong?"

It's a well-known fact around the hospital that Takao is practically a therapist in-training, but he always brushes it off as being his friends' and sister's shrink for most of his life. However, Midorima often finds himself being read by his assistant.

"I'm perfectly healthy."

"Yeah, and rather out-of-touch with your thoughts and emotions." He can feel the amber eyes staring at him. "Sometimes, it helps to get it out, and you know you can trust me; I won't tell anyone." Then a smile. "So what's bothering you?"

Midorima continues to stare at his notes and asks in a matter-of-fact voice, "At what age is one supposed to lose his or her virginity?"

He expects Takao to laugh at him. Instead, the ravenette leans back in his chair with his arms folded in his lap. "At whatever age you're ready. I mean, in this day and age, it's rare to meet someone my age who hasn't had sex, but there are some. It's not something you're necessarily supposed to do, and really, you can stay celibate your entire life if you want."

Midorima watches the tissue box for movement, the one on the right side of his desk, on the side Takao is not on. "I know it's a personal question, but have you―?"

"Yeah, back in high school. During my sophomore year, I had been dating a guy for a little over a year, and we decided together that we would go to the next level. At the time, I thought I might marry him, but we broke up a few months later. There have been a couple other guys since then."

Midorima feels something tug on him, but can't place it. He doesn't try to either. "Does it usually matter to other people whether or not someone has experience?"

"In my personal opinion, anyone who cares about that probably shouldn't be in your bed to start with, but that's just me. If you're looking for a relationship, it shouldn't matter; everyone has to start somewhere, right?"

"Right…."

Takao pauses. "Did someone say something to you about it?"

A green-eyed glare is shot his way.

"I mean, other than me, and if I upset you, I didn't mean anything by it. Sorry."

Midorima shakes his head. "No, it wasn't you. My brothers…all have experience, so…."

"I don't know what to tell you there. If it really bothers you that much, you can always ask someone to teach you."

Takao watches Midorima's cheeks light up as he splutters about that being so indecent. Cute.

Later that evening, Midorima asks, "Do you want to go out somewhere?"

"Sure. Where to?"

"Anywhere. I don't care." He rubs his temples and closes his eyes.

Takao smiles, understanding what he means. Sometimes, an excursion clears the mind. "You know how to play basketball?"

Midorima shakes his head.

"I'm willing to teach you. Want to?"

"Yeah."

I'm more than willing to teach you anything, even the stuff you're way too embarrassed to ask about.

Just kidding.

Author Note: Poor Takao. Kise and Akashi are such perverts! And isn't Kagami so sweet? Tell me what you think about the chapter, and please, Please, PLEASE REVIEW!