Love is Not Extinct

Chapter 12: Escalation

Kuroo watched Tsukishima, Yamaguchi, and Haruhisa as they talked with Masako Sawai and her son. Leaning against the opposite wall, he waited, like he promised he would. He was calm but he couldn't deny that there was a bit of anxiety building up in him. The look that he had received from Tsukishima when he had headed back up the stairs after talking to his son was not favorable for Kuroo. He hoped that this didn't mess up any chances he had of getting to know the paleontologist better. That would be a bit devastating, because despite his promise to his best friend, the more he was getting to know Tsukishima in the little snippets of time he had spent with him the more he was starting to fall for him. And when Kuroo fell, he always fell hard.

His eyes slowly raked over the tall blonde as he stood in the doorway, one hand on his son's shoulder and the other on his hip. It was a casual enough stance, but Kuroo felt like he could drool. Did this man know how alluring he was without even trying? Calm, collected, and so cool. Kuroo had a hard time not letting his mind wonder, wondering how it would feel to run his hand along the delicate slope of his neck, ghosting his fingers down those broad shoulders. Wrapping his own long fingers around the blonde's waist and pulling him up against him…

The sound of the door shutting drew his attention back to reality.

Tsukishima spoke quietly to Yamaguchi, who responded, glancing hesitantly at Kuroo, before nodding and turning to head back down the stairs himself. Then Tsukishima took two steps over so that he was now in front of Kuroo, looking as unimpressed as ever. Kuroo grinned to hide his nervousness. He had no idea how much trouble he was really in but he knew it was always best not to lay all your cards on the table.

"Do you want to give me your explanation?" Tsukishima's voice was flat but Kuroo could hear the slight edge of impatience and irritation playing at the edge of each word.

"Not much to explain, really," Kuroo admitted with a light shrug as he stood up straight once again and turned to walk up the next flight of stairs. "I was trying to get a hold of you and ended up texting your son because he answered me. I asked him where you were because that's what I would have asked you, had you been the one to answer, and he was just honest with me. It's not like I was trying to hide anything really, just because I didn't come out and say that when I found you at the club."

"Tch." Tsukishima clicked his tongue, his eyebrow twitching in annoyance. "Seriously? That's your lame-ass excuse? You used my son to stalk me and now you're trying to play it off like it was all some sort of coincidence. I find that very irritating. And where are you going?"

The dark-haired man stopped with his right foot resting on the first step as he looked back over his shoulder. His hazel, cat-like eyes peered back at Tsukishima with a glint of something the man couldn't quite place, as the corner of Kuroo's lips lifted ever so slightly into a sly grin. "I am walking up the stairs to go to my apartment. I figured you didn't want to just stand here and talk right outside the door of your son's friend's apartment. Also, I am exhausted and, though I am happy to talk to you as much as you want, I would like to at least be able to sit down and ditch this duffel bag."

Tsukishima hesitated as he watched Kuroo. He tried to analyze what it was that Kuroo might be planning with this, but it was hard to tell. Despite the man's grin and the glinting look in his eyes, Tsukishima couldn't deny that the man did look tired. He had faint bags under his eyes and his posture was slightly slack, though he could tell the journalist was trying to hide it. "Whatever," was the only response he gave as he stepped forward and followed Kuroo up the stairs and to the man's apartment.

When they walked in, the place was dark and, without having to turn on the lights, Kuroo slipped off his shoes and dropped his bag by the door before stepping up the single step and into the apartment's living room. Tsukishima stepped forward but didn't go past the step. He wasn't about to get comfortable in the apartment of someone he barely knew, and he also wasn't going to walk into said man's dark apartment. That was reckless even if he didn't feel threatened by Kuroo.

Flipping on the light, Kuroo shrugged off his jacket, tossing in on the back of the couch, which disturbed the large calico cat that had been curled up there. This caused it to hiss and jump off the couch before meowing affectionately once she realized who it was that had just come home.

"Hello Pansa, my pretty, little kitty." Kuroo purred to the animal as she rubbed up against her owner's leg.

"You would have a cat…" Tsukishima mumbled.

Kuroo looked up at him. "What was that?" But when Tsukishima just rolled his eyes without responding, Kuroo shrugged with a smile. "Well anyway, about the club. I wasn't trying to play you or be a creeper. Yes, I wanted to run into you and it wasn't by accident, but it was simply because I wanted a chance to talk to you again. And you aren't exactly very responsive through text."

"I am when it's someone I actually want to talk to," Tsukishima dead-panned as he leaned to the side, resting his shoulder against the wall.

Kuroo smirked with a low chuckle. "Well damn, aren't you salty?" His grin widened. "But fair enough. Either way, that's why I wanted to meet you again. I'm interested in you and I wanted to get to know you. You weren't really giving me much of a chance to do that so I took matters into my own hands. Can you really blame me?"

At the sound of a heavy sigh, Kuroo looked back at Tsukishima as the man adjusted his glasses. "Why?"

"Why?" Kuroo parrotted as he plopped down on the couch, carefully moving a controller and game case out of the way. Kenma must have left them out when he went to bed, whatever time that had been this morning. "Why what?"

"Why are you interested in me? I am the most boring person I know."

"Whoa man! Self worth check. I would hardly say you are boring, you work with dinosaur bones. That's epic."

"I don't often work directly with the artifacts." Tsukishima corrected him but Kuroo seemed to not care.

"So you're smart, have you shit together with a career, have a sharp tongue, which is totally hot. Well..." Kuroo smirked. "There is a lot about you that's hot but that's not really the point i'm trying to make. What's so odd about the fact that I think you are cool and just want to be allowed the chance to get to know you? Is it because I'm a guy? I mean I know a lot of guys who are supportive of gay friends but get super werided out by someone being attracted to them in that way. Is that what this is?"

"I, what? No." Tsukishima shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts, which had jumped all over the place in the last few seconds. This guy thought he was hot? Why is that the first thing that comes to my mind?... He chastised himself as he folded his arms, feeling unnecessarily defensive. "I'm not creeped out by gay things. I just don't understand why anyone would be attracted to me. Male or female."

Kuroo opened his mouth astonished. He wanted to point out the fact that his little shadow that was waiting for him downstairs obviously was all hot and bothered for his childhood best friend, but he decided that it was better if he didn't share that information. For more than one reason.

Instead, he leaned back, putting his hands behind his head, and closed his eyes. "You need a reality check, man. You are a catch. Not to sound picky or anything, but I don't just chase after anyone."

Silence rang through the empty apartment.

The silence lasted so long that Kuroo cracked one eye open to look at Tsukishima. The blonde had a puzzled frown on his face, as if he was concentrating, trying desperately to understand what Kuroo was saying.

With a chuckle, Kuroo stood up and, with only a few strides, managed to close the gap between the pair, causing Tuskishima to stumble back a little at the sudden close proximity. "You have clearly been out of the dating game for too long, Tsukishima." He spoke his name without a teasing tone, wanting the man to know that he was being serious, wanting him to take these next words to heart. "You have a lot to offer. All I'm asking for is the chance to get to know you, to see if there is more to this than physical attraction and curiosity. Can you honestly tell me that you don't feel any sort of pull toward me? Do you find me that repulsive?"

Tsukishima's initial shock at the lack of distance now between them had worn off and he looked into the man's cat eyes with a serious and analyzing expression that Kuroo couldn't quite figure out. "I don't find you repulsive." Was the response Tsukishima chose, skirting around the honest answer. "I never said anything like that. I believe some of the words I have used are annoying, idiotic and obnoxious."

And the dam broke. Kuroo doubled over, holding his stomach and laughing like a hyena, with a stupid grin on his face. Tsukishima watched him, puzzled, but the man just kept laughing, as if his reply had been the funniest thing in the world.

Once he had finally calmed down, Kuroo stood up straight once more, that stupid, wide grin never leaving his face. "I can live with that, if it means I'm not repulsive." Kuroo leaned forward, resting his forearm against the wall next to Tsuksihima's head, once again getting further into the man's space than he had been expecting. But Tsukishima was stubborn and this time he didn't give him the satisfaction of moving back, even if it was just because he was startled. Unfortunately for Tsukishima, that response was even better than Kuroo could have hoped for. "Tell me honestly, Tsukishima Kei." The way he spoke his full name suddenly made Tsuksihima's throat feel dry. What was this? "Do you find me attractive?"

Tsukishima clicked his tongue, pushing against the man's chest, hoping to create more space between the two of them. Unfortunately, Kuroo was much more solid than Tsukishima had been expecting, so the man hardly budged. "I'm not going to sit here and stroke your ego so that you can feel better about yourself."

That irritating grin grew and Kuroo leaned even closer.

"So, that's a yes?"

"What is your obsession with trying to get that answer from me?" Tsuksihima recalled him at the club trying to figure out, or insisting, that something he had said admitted to Kuroo that Tsukishima thought he was attractive. "Nothing that I said gives any indication as to my opinion on your looks. You are just desperate for validation."

"Maybe I am," Kuroo admitted, and his honesty took Tsukishima slightly off guard. "You can't really blame me. I find you extremely attractive, so of course I am hoping for validation, that you might find me at least somewhat good looking."

Tsukishima sighed with a frown. "And if I tell you that I find you attractive, then what? What do you want from me Kuroo?" He was tired of this game and he just wanted Kuroo to say directly what he was hoping to gain from all this. Kuroo wasn't subtle, but Tsuksishima was over this whole song and dance. His own feelings were all over the place and this wasn't helping him at all.

"I've been honest about this from the start." Kuroo leaned in a little closer and it took all of Tsukishima's self control to keep himself from moving back. "I like you and I want you to give me a chance."

"A chance?"

"Yes. I want to see if this attraction could be something more." His hazel eyes were dark and intense, unwavering as he looked into Tsuksihima's warm brown orbs. "Let me take you on a date, and allow yourself to be open and honest instead of deflecting everything."

The paleontologist pondered this, more than Kuroo had expected him to. He looked as if he was truly giving thought to how he felt about Kuroo's request, and it gave the man some hope.

"You realize I've never dated a man before."

Kuroo shrugged. "There is a first time for everything." He grinned suggestively. "I promise, I'll be gentle."

Tsukishima rolled his eyes. "Don't act like you'll be getting anything from me if I agree to this date." Tsukishima's careful choice of using if, didn't go unnoticed. But Kuroo didn't let it crush his hopes, or his playful manner.

"Not even a kiss?"

"I don't really see why going on a date is a required precursor to kissing someone," Tsuksihima said dryly. But he regretted it as soon as he saw the cheshire grin growing on Kuroo's face.

"Are you saying I could kiss you without taking you on a date?"

"No." His response was firm and emotionless. "I am simply saying that physical attraction doesn't have to be wrapped up in social obligations. If you wanted to kiss someone it's not necessary to jump through all these rules of conduct just to test if the actual physical touch is as good as the sexual tension has brought your mind to believe."

Kuroo raised a brow at the man's nonchalant openness in this area. "My, my. You are much more open about casual relations than I would have expected."

The blonde clicked his tongue again and Kuroo couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to have that sharp tongue against his own. He had to resist the urge to swallow, his throat suddenly feeling parched.

Sexual tension indeed.

"I am twenty-four, single, never been in a serious relationship in my life, and have a seven-year-old. Do the math and tell me if it's really all that surprising that I am not some hopeless romantic. Serious relationships have never been my thing. I believe in them, but I have never been interested in having one."

"Okay then, I propose an experiment." Tsukishima eyed Kuroo suspiciously, but allowed him to continue. "Let's test the physical attraction between us and see if it would be as good and I think it will. If it is on both ends, then you let me take you out on a date this Saturday. If it's not, then I'll back off and we can return to just being friends."

"Your proposal is flawed." Tsukishima couldn't help but snicker, amused by Kuroo. "Firstly, you're the only one who has admitted to having physical attraction between us. Secondly, to return to being friends would require us to have been friends in the first place."

The journalist wasn't affected in the least by Tsukishima's attempts to skirt the offer he had made and, instead, stepped forward, giving the man no choice but to stumble back a little as their bodies collided. Tsukishima felt his back hit the door and his heart rate suddenly picked up. The soft light from the living room behind them gave a dull glow around Kuroo, and the subtle shadows on his face only emphasized his well-structured features. Tsukishima felt pinned, trapped, like an animal being stalked by a predator; his instinct to run kicking in, but his reckless stubbornness kept him at bay. He wouldn't let Kuroo win. He also wouldn't admit that something else might be holding him in place right now.

The dark-haired man's scent was overwhelming as he took another step, closing the gap between them once again, something fresh yet with an earthy musk, it seemed more natural than artificial. Tsukishima felt a little twist pull in his stomach, but he forced himself to look into those cat-like eyes and steel his expression, though he was coming undone inside. It's just been too long, he reasoned with himself, making excuses for the way he was responding to these direct advances. It's been too long since I have had any physical interactions so my body is acting up. That's all.

Kuroo's voice pulled him out of his reasoning. "I'm going to kiss you now." The sound of it was almost a whisper, wafting in the air all around him, echoing in the sudden emptiness of his mind. In vain, he tried to focus and regain control of the situation; Tsukishima Kei did not like feeling out of control.

"Hey, I never agreed that you could…"

Lips pressed softly, but with burning intensity, against his own, Kuroo leaned forward, resting his forearms on either side of Tsukishima's head. It all happened so fast. He was being kissed and his head was spinning, then the warmth moved away, though the culprit didn't move far. His warm breath was still tickling his cheek and neck, smelling like cinnamon.

"...kiss me." He finished his sentence lamely, not knowing how else to respond to the sudden proximity and physical touch of a man he was just starting to get to know. But his heart pounded like a drum and it was hard to quiet down the thumping that echoed in his head.

"I couldn't wait forever for you to accept that you feel attraction towards me too. I see it in your eyes every time you look at me. You try to act like I annoy you to distract yourself, but it doesn't work. You are attracted to me, just admit it."

"Tch." Tsukishima clicked his tongue again, turning his head away, trying to be defiant, which only proved Kuroo's point. He also couldn't hide the redness rising in his cheeks, despite his efforts to stay composed. "And what? Just because I think that you are attractive, it gives you the right to kiss me without my permission?"

"Should I remind you that you didn't stop me?" Kuroo smirked as the taller man looked back at him with a weak glare. "You would enjoy it even more if you actually let yourself kiss me back."

Rolling his eyes, Tsukishima leaned his head back against the door, exasperated. "Not like you really gave me the chance," he mumbled, only half realizing that he was speaking out loud. "You pulled back before I could really think about what was happening."

He didn't have to look down to know the smirk that was growing on the cat's face, and he felt him once again move closer. "My apologies, let me try that again then." But this time he waited. Waited until Tsukishima looked back at him, and waited for the stubborn blonde to relent and give his consent. Kuroo was serious about this, he wanted to test the waters and he wanted Tsukishima to actually consider this.

With a reluctant sigh, Tsukishima relented, "Fine." He responded, his tone sharp and annoyed, but his body language spoke louder than his words. His shoulders visibly relaxed and his expression shifted to a more calm and curious one. Kuroo wondered if he looked like this often, when he was working or studying the things that fascinated him. Kuroo wanted to know more, he wanted to see the sides of Tsukishima that he so carefully tucked away behind his sarcasm and brooding demeanor.

This time, when Kuroo leaned in, there was no resistance. He pressed his lips once again against the other man's, slowly and deliberately, wanting to take in everything: the soft yet dry lips against his own, the sweet mint scent of his breath, and then he realized that the blond's lips had parted ever so slightly. As promised, Tsukishima was kissing him back. Weakly and unsure, but he was actively participating and it sent a jolt of electricity down Kuroo's spine.

He pressed closer, putting one hand on the slim, toned waist he had been itching to touch. He parted his lips, eager to taste more of him even as he kept himself in check, not wanting to push his boundaries too far. The kiss was slow, tantalizing, and full of exquisite tension, and Kuroo knew he was falling, falling so hard he didn't know if he would be able to survive the impact once he hit the bottom.

"You kissed him?" Yamaguchi's voice cracked and his outburst came out squeaky and strained.

"Gee, Yamaguchi! Why don't you say that a little louder, I don't think the people in the next town over heard you," Tsukishima hissed with an annoyed look, watching his friend shrink at the glare as his cheeks reddened from embarrassment.

"Sorry Tsukki...it's just…" Stumbling over his words, Yamaguchi found himself fiddling with his fingers to try to relieve the nervous energy that was starting to suffocate him. "I can't believe you kissed him. I thought you were pissed and going to chew him out."

The brunette looked up at his friend who simply shrugged, putting his hands deep in the pockets of his jacket. He looked indifferent, but Yamaguchi could tell that he was feeling a little uncomfortable being put on the spot about this, maybe even a bit shy. But it was also clear that he desperately wanted to talk to his friend about what happened so that he could make sense of it himself. So, Yamaguchi swallowed down the pain and jealousy, forcing himself to be open and responsive for his best friend. Tsukishima clearly needed someone in his corner right now while he tried to figure out what exactly this was between him and Kuroo, and Yamaguchi would be that person, he would always be the one there for his best friend, no matter what.

"Okay," he started again slowly, looking forward, not sure if he was ready to see the expressions Tsukishima would make when talking about Kuroo anymore. "So you kissed him."

"Technically, I just let him kiss me," Tsuksihima corrected.

"You didn't kiss him back at all?" Yamaguchi couldn't help himself from looking over at the blond walking next to him. And it was hard to miss the light blush that dusted his cheeks as he adjusted the scarf around his neck.

"Maybe."

Yamaguchi huffed and snickered, lifting the back of his hand to try and cover his mouth though it didn't muffle anything. Tsukshima glared at his friend before looking forward once more, trying not to allow himself to become even more embarrassed than he already was.

"Shut up, Yamaguchi."

"Sorry, Tsukki." Yamaguchi was still holding back giggles. "Okay, so you kissed back a little at least. And? Did you like it?"

"Tch. What kind of question is that?" Tsukishima rolled his eyes. "He didn't slobber all over me, so yeah, I guess so. Kissing is kissing, right? Doesn't really matter if it's a guy or a girl."

The volleyball coach disagreed completely but decided that his personal preference for gender wasn't really the point here, so he decided not to share that opinion for now. "I guess. But I think there has to be more than just that. You have to at least have some chemistry between the two of you, right?"

"Yeah I guess."

Yamaguchi waited, and when he realized that his friend wasn't going to provide more of an answer than that he knew that he needed to push a little to get him to open up more. "So, uh... Then there was chemistry between the two of you?"

He could see the taller man's shoulders tense a little, resisting his normal reaction to close up and block out his friend, like he would others, when things got too personal and intimate. But this was Yamaguchi, and Tsukishima didn't shut his friend out. Even though sometimes it was uncomfortable being so open and vulnerable with someone.

"I don't know, I guess so?" He shrugged, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets. "I mean there's...something. Something's there, but I don't know. I don't really know what this is. The guy drives me insane. But..."

"But you keep thinking about him?" Yamaguchi finished his friend's sentence with a sad smile that he hoped Tsukishima didn't notice. Of course he couldn't stop thinking about him. Kuroo was funny, talented, and gorgeous, all the things that Yamaguchi knew he was not. Not that those things were what mattered most, but they still made a difference and that difference was drawing his friend in, pulling him in dangerously deep. And the worst part was, Yamaguchi couldn't even be mad. He was happy that his friend was finally starting to open up to the possibility that he didn't have to live alone for the rest of his life. So how could he hate that? How could he hate that Tsukishima might find some happiness, just because it was with someone else?

Sighing heavily, Tsukishima's posture slouched forward. "Yeah. It's infuriating but I can't control it any more."

The brunette shrugged, looking forward once again. "It can't be helped. You have a crush, Tsukki." He saw the frown out of the corner of his eye and grinned as he amended, "a small one, but a crush none the less. You are attracted to this guy, just accept it and let the chips fall where they may. Just because you have a crush doesn't mean you've found your soulmate."

"Tch. Don't be ridiculous. That shit isn't real."

Yamaguchi giggled. "I'm just saying. Don't think too much into it. If you want to get to know this guy, then do it."

Tsukishima stopped walking and turned to face his friend with a curious expression, one eyebrow raised as he looked down at him. "Since when did you become this wise, old sage?" The blond smirked, a genuinely amused smile twisting onto his lips at Yamaguchi's expense, and the brunette couldn't stop his heart from fluttering away without him as he forced himself to pout. Both of them knew it was fake.

"Shut up Tsukki." He sounded like a spoiled child. They both laughed.