He sighed heavily when he walked into the nearly empty locker room.

He didn't like the way Kagami and Hyuuga were standing there, with an open first aid box next to them.

"Kuroko," and that was Hyuuga's no funny business tone," Take off your shirt and sit down."

Fuck.

He looked between Hyuuga and Kagami, and based on the look in their eyes, he knew that he didn't have a choice in the matter," I don't have a choice in this right?"

"Nope." "No."

He sighed heavily.

He knew it.

Taking off his shirt, he sat down on the bench with almost a pout.

Ever since they had found out that he was Black (that sounded weird), they had started to nag and dote on him.

At first, they tried to convince him to stop fighting, and they actually managed to stop him from fighting for a few days (Not that he made it easy for them, it took some threats and restraining to get him to stop). But they quickly realized that Kuroko truly had a bad temper, something that they didn't realize since he was able to control his temper most of the time. Kagami had learned this after Kuroko managed to accurately throw a pencil right into the wall, barely missing Kagami himself. All because Kagami tried to scold him one more time about fighting. After seeing Kuroko nearly snap during practice, they decided that it was best to just let him continue his early morning past time.

So they let him fight again, and the change was instantaneous. He was calmer and slower to anger. He tolerated a lot more from other people, had less of a presence, and he apologized for almost snarling at Furihata.

But they were insistent on checking on him every morning to make sure all of his injuries were treated, despite the fact that he did it himself before he went to sleep.

He was touched by the act, it just showed how much they cared about him. But he would appreciate it more if they didn't do it every. Single. Time.

"Jesus!" Kuroko almost rolled his eyes at Kagamis words," What did they hit you with?! A chair?!" Kuroko just sighed as he answered him," Someone threw another two-by-four into the ring."

"what do you mean another?!" He lifted up his arms as Hyuuga started to poke and prod at the bruises that were there," Its happened a few times."

He wasn't going to mention how people have thrown crazier stuff in the ring in hopes of making Kuroko lose so they could win their bets.

A finger poked a particularly painful bruise and he was quick to slap it away as he hissed in pain," Don't touch it! Just leave it alone!"

"Just stay still," Hyuuga ignored his words as he started to spread a balm over the bruise, ignoring the way Kuroko flinched away from him.

"Leave it the hell alone!" He felt a vein in his forehead start throbbing when they ignored him. Clearly, they were getting used to his little outbursts of anger.

He yelped when another hand poked another painful bruise and when they didn't let him get away from them so they could stop messing with him.

He snapped.

"Alright!" He grabbed onto their collars and dragged them down to his eye level. The both of them tried to get away from him but he held on tight, glaring into their eyes," I don't mind you helping me," He growled out his words through his clenched teeth," But I will tell you when I need help, ok? I don't need you checking on me every night, I've been doing this by myself for almost five years ok?" The two men nodded their heads, and upon seeing their willingness to leave him alone, he felt his anger ebbing away.

"Um…" Three heads snapped to look at the doorway. Kuroko felt the vein start throbbing again when he saw Kiyoshi peaking his head around the corner into the locker room. He had most likely heard their exchange and was probably concerned. But as soon as he saw Kuroko and his bruised state, he quickly entered the room and approached them," Kuroko! What happened?!"

Are you fucking serious?

Kuroko let go of their collars and groaned loudly as he roughly ran his hands through his hair," You have got to be kidding me!" Kiyoshi was taken aback by his reaction, while Hyuuga and Kagami didn't really look that surprised. That was to be expected, they were the ones who got to see Kuroko somewhat lose his temper.

Snatching his shirt off of the bench, he pulled it on before gathering his stuff," I'm leaving, you guys are going to make me lose my mind."

"Ah wait! Don't forget to treat you-"

"I know already!"

He was seriously going to burst a blood vessel if they kept on treating him like that.

After ditching his phone at his house, he was quietly sipping at his vanilla milkshake happily. Kagami was eating his usual meal of an exorbitant amount of hamburgers, and he looked to be amused by the expression on Kurokos face.

Nothing like a vanilla milkshake to calm down the fighter.

They weren't talking, but it wasn't awkward, it was a comfortable silence between two friends.

Then that silence was disturbed by some kid sliding into their table, sitting right next to Kuroko and sinking down into the seat. Kuroko stared at him with his usual impassive face while Kagami rose an eyebrow," Can we help you?"

The kid had brown hair, his brown eyes flickering towards Kagami in a glance before leaning towards Kuroko," Hey Black, let me hide with you guys for a little bit, there are some morons from my school here and I don't feel like dealing with them today."

Kuroko immediately recognized the voice and groaned loudly in annoyance. He knew that voice from anywhere.

"Wrath, go away." Wrath sunk even father into his seat but this time, directed towards his glare towards Kuroko, the two fighters blatantly ignoring Kagami. "Come on, you owe me! Who was the one who took you to the hospital after those bitches jumped you in the bathroom?!"

Kuroko closed his eyes and seemed to be asking a higher power for the patience that he needed. Sighing heavily, he conceded,"…Fuck, fine, then we're even after this."

"Are you forgetting that I also lied for you?"

"Son of a fucking bitch." Kuroko reached into his pocket and surprisingly, he pulled out Black's trademark beanie and nearly slammed it onto Wrath's head," Put that on," He growled out his words and continued to growl them out," Who are you avoiding?" Wrath grinned in relief and joy as he pulled on the beanie. Making sure that he tucked all of his hair into it before sinking even lower into the seat.

Kagami was just staring at them, munching on his meal as he watched the two of them interact. While he was surprised to see Kuroko so annoyed and exasperated, he was curious about their interaction. That was the first time he had seen Kuroko act like that with someone so he was just going to sit quietly and watch.

Besides, if it was Wrath, then he had no intentions to annoy him.

"The table in the back, the guys with bleached hair." Kuroko glanced to the table where he could see the people Wrath was avoiding, "They look like a bunch of idiots, just kick their asses and get it over with."

"I already did, they want me to be the leader of their gang now." Kuroko gave him a weird look, but after a few seconds, he quickly moved past it, "I would prefer that than my teammates finding out about what I do at night."

That made Wrath perk up, he glanced between Kagami and Kuroko for a few seconds before turning to Kuroko, his hand shielding his face from Kagami like that was enough to give the two of them some privacy, "Oh, so…he knows?"

"Even if he didn't, he would now, but yes he knows." Wrath gave Kagami a polite smile and extended his hand for a handshake, "Oh cool, my name is Wrath, nice to meet you."

Kagami blanked out for a few seconds, just staring at his extended hand since that wasn't common in Japan, but quickly grabbed a hold of it, "I uh…nice to meet you too, I'm Kagami."

"Kagami…?"

"Don't answer him, just knowing your last name is enough." Kuroko just sipped at his milkshake after he said that, but he was quick to scrunch up his face in disgust. He put his milkshake down onto the table and pushed it away as if the flavor suddenly took a turn for the worse.

Wrath sighed dramatically, "Oh come on, I know your name, why can't I know his?" Kuroko just crossed his arms and leaned back into his seat. Kagami still looked amused by their interaction and was just having fun watching them. Although it was kinda weird to see Kuroko talking in such a rude way, it was almost funny," Correction, you know my last name, and I don't know yours."

"Well do you want to know my name?"

"No."

"Sweet Jesus you're in a bad mood, who shat in your milkshake?" Kuroko didn't even bother answering the question, he just stared directly into Wrath's eyes. That was his answer and although it took a few seconds, Wrath got the message, "Wow rude."

"I have enough with seeing you every night."

"You know, I'm think I'm actually going to try and knock you out again this time." Kuroko froze at those words. But within seconds, he had a feral grin on his face and was leaning into Wrath's space to sneer at him," Will you now?"

Wrath straightened up and mirrored the look on Kurokos face," Yeah, come on, what's the score now?"

"42 wins, 43 losses and two ties, its your win, but not for long."

"You sure about that?"

"you sound pretty confident."

Kagami flicked his eyes between the two teenagers, his head was reeling from the way their demeanor suddenly changed. They were bickering and all of a sudden, the two of them were staring each other down as they talked about their next match. Shaking his head to bring him out of his stupor, he intervened, "Alright you two," They got a flick to their foreheads, making them come out of their little standoff," That's enough, Wrath, those guys are gone, Kuroko, stop being an idiot, just wait for a few more hours and you guys can fight." Kuroko rubbed at his forehead bitterly and almost glared at Kagami.

Wrath stared at the basketball player in shock, surprised that he had flicked him like that. And then he burst out in laughter," Wow!" He slapped Kurokos back, much to his annoyance," I gotta get myself a friend like that! But you heard him, see you tonight?"

Kuroko sighed and waved his hand around tiredly," Yeah yeah, hurry up and get out of here." Wrath was quick to take his leave.

"…That's one weird friendship you guys have…"

"Kagami."

"Yeah?"

"Shut up."