AN: WOW I wasn't expecting this much support. Thank you guys very much~
Possible trigger warning: I mention some murders. Don't go into much detail though.
Kuroko never questioned why there were patches of merlot in Akashi's older clothes; if he was a murderer, he would done away with Kuroko by now. No, he just tried his best to scrub them out or dye the article of clothing a darker hue. Many trousers were now a dark brown or blue and shirts were black. Anything with a tear or hole would be mended. Simple household chores in exchange for food and shelter was a bargain some would kill to have.
Winter had passed and spring was nearing its end. Shamrocks replaced the snow carpets. A plethora of greens canopied the grounds, only beams of sunlight peeked through where the trees weren't as close.
"Don't go outside at dark for a couple of weeks." Akashi advised, pulling off his coat.
"Is there something wrong, Akashi-kun?"
"The Northern Necromancer likes to pick lost travelers as his sacrifices; he doesn't say in one area for too long, but it's better safe than a victim."
Several nights later, the door creaks, louder in the silence. Kuroko already has a knife in his hand and waits in the shadows casted by the fireplace. A figure creeps towards Akashi who passed out of the hold a club in their hands and move to swing at him. Kuroko doesn't let them; he sends crystallized umbra into their leg and drags them into the shadows.
The shifter wakes up to the smell of blood. It doesn't usually bother him, but its a surprise to see his roommate covered in it. The shadowmancer greets him good morning as he finishes tying up the intruder. Akashi joins him and delicately wipes the blood smudges from his cheek.
"Did you sleep well?" Kuroko asks.
"Very. So who is our guest?"
"An uninvited one. He was up to trouble. I'm sorry for the mess." Kuroko bowed in apology.
"No trouble. I'll take care of our visitor if you take care of his mess." Akashi nudges the body with his foot.
"Is… Is that what i think it is?"
"Yeah, I believe so."
Murmurs of bystanders and locals made Kuroko's curiosity sit on the edge of it's seat. This wasn't the first time he has gone into a town or village and have eyes following him and people shuffling out of his way. It was strange to have some much attention on him; Kuroko felt exposed. Particles of Umbra stirred in the shadows from his unease, wanting to pulling him in. He shooed the fragments away.
He was on an errand run: deliver a message to a "Midorima" and bring back what he receives. Kuroko tugged the cloak's hood lower. The crimson fabric ruffled as he made a sharp turn down an alley, glancing down at the written instructions. The walk away grew narrow, room for at most two people. It lead to a little courtyard. A set of ascending stone brick stairs before a hickory door.
He check the address on the paper and the door before knocking.
Curtains in the window left of the door ruffled, spruce-blue eyes peeked out. Kuroko made sure to stay hidden in the cloaks hood.
The door creaks open a crack. A mop of emerald was visible.
"...Akashi?"
"Good afternoon, I was asked to pick up a letter."
"Eh, you're not Akashi." The spruce blue eyes from before are suddenly close and the door is wide open. Kuroko pulls his hood back.
"Indeed. He asked me to retrieve a message from," he checks the list once more "Midorima-san. Is this where he resides?"
" I am Midorima. This is my… roommate, Takao. Please come in." Midorima drags Takao by the shirt of his collar into the house. Kuroko follows and shuts the door behind him.
"So you are Akashi's roommate?" Takao asked.
"Yes. In exchange for boarding with him, I do errands and anything else he would like my assistance with."
"But how? Akashi is terrifying to strangers."
"...We've met previously."
Just as Takao was about to interrogate that matter, Midorima returned from his study with a stack of notebooks and letters. Some of the pages were just yellowing at the edges, some were daffodil-dyed and a few were the color of medallion. Bindings varied between thick thread and being glued into a hard cover.
"Here you are." Midorima packed the documents into a walnut picnic basket.
By the way, Kuroko, what is your star sign?" The green haired man asked as he added a checker handkerchief atop the documents.
"Aquarius."
"Third from the top. Be sure to take the unbeaten path on your way home. Give Akashi my regards." The Cancer hands Kuroko a bronze compass.
"Thank you, Midorima-san, Takao-san."
Kuroko pulls up his hood as he travels back home. While in the forest, the main path splits; the commonly used on the left, very little vegetation, and the left where vines and leave are the carpet. In remembrance of the cleric's words, he turns left.
"I'm home."
"Welcome back, Kuroko. How did it go?"
Later on, Akashi would tell his roommate of the ditch he almost fell into.
It was an honest accident, a coincidence. Kuroko had just finished checking the perimeter of the woods by hopping through the trees' shadows. He was going to report his findings to Akashi: the streams water level was average and the greens of the south side were beginning to turn orange.
He never intended to walk in the middle of Akashi shifting back to human, he never meant to freeze up when Akashi tried to talk to him ,and he certainly didn't plan to stare (ogle) at Akashi's body. Kuroko knew his roommate was attractive, with the scarlet hair and all, but he didn't know how nice his-
Alright stop right there.
Snapping out of his trance Kuroko distanced himself and apologized. "I should have knocked…" But Kuroko catches three scars that bloom across his Akashi's abdomen.
"Kuroko?"
The shadowmancer walks closer and reaches out, running his fingertips along the jagged and discolored skin. Akashi stands still until Kuroko draws his hand back.
"Do you remember now?"
"You… were the injured wolf. The one I found in the snow."
One day, Akashi finds his roommate staring off into space with tears welling in his eyes. Kuroko holds the cloak close and lets out a deep breath.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Kuroko blinks at the sound of his voice.
"...While in town, I heard murmurs of locals about Jabberwocky…how their activity suddenly decrease. I remembered why I took your offer in the first place..."
Rain began to pour outside.
"Jabberwocky murdered my family; Riko-nee had been beaten to death, Hyuuga-nii had a knife in his chest. Kiyoshi-nii and the others… I feel ill just thinking about them."
Akashi remember hearing about the clan from Momoi; only a few members remain active.
"So when I found my family, and found the people who did that to my family, I… was very, very upset."
Akashi place a hand on his shoulder in support. He can't be meaning…
" I slaughtered them, Akashi-kun. I made sure they felt everything my family and I had experienced." he said with flat voice. Fat tears fell as Kuroko turned his gaze to the scarlet haired shifter.
Akashi pulled into a tight embrace and rubbed circles into his back. Kuroko fell asleep in his arms.
"Want to come with me to visit some friends?" Akashi asked during breakfast.
"Sure, I have nothing planned for today."
Kuroko ties the cloak around Akashi's shoulder, carefully avoiding eye-contact. "I thought would you want this today."
The shifter doesn't hold back the chuckles that escape pass his lips. Kuroko pouts (Akashi never thought the day would come where he would see that pout, nor would he expect his heart to do that thing where it kinda hurts, but in a pleasant way).
The shadowmancer rides along in Akashi's shadow since the path is narrow through the maze made of building, alleyways and staircases.
Akashi knocked thrice against what seems like the side of a brick staircase, until the surface moves and opens like a door.
There, Kuroko slips from the shifter's shadow and scares the living daylights out of a bubbly blond and his slightly rude navy-haired companion. ( We say "companion" because the way those two grab on to each other can easily be mistaken for something else, but it's best to not assume.)
After heart rates calm down, introductions and names are exchange. It turns out the two are a thing but are incredible shy about it. (Kuroko is certain that Akashi gets a kick out of embarrassing them and seeing their faces bloom rosy).
Midorima and Takao soon join them, followed by a violet-haired giant and a shorter man with one eye covered by his black hair.
When that said giant ("This is Murasakibara." Himuro greets for them) saw Kuroko, he could help but make a small comment to his black hair friend.
"Ehh, he's so tiny." The air becomes tense. Takao, Aomine, and Kise smother their cackling in the far corner while Midorima pinches the bridge of his nose.
"Say that to my my face, you fucking tree.*" Kuroko deadpans, narrowing his eyes.
The shocked expression on the bystanders' faces are priceless, Akashi thinks. Murasakibara shuffles behind Himuro.
"Say my name."
"I refuse."
"Tetsuya," Kuroko ignores the heat spreading across his face. "I call you by your name, so it's only fair-" The shadowmancer covers Akashi's month. (The light and fluttery sensation in his chest hits him like a train).
"S-Sei- I can't do it." Akashi pulled away the hand and presses kisses in his palm.
"Please?"
To see one of the Big Bad Wolves beg would be a dream for some. But Kuroko just melts into the shadows, hiding his crimson cheeks.
Akashi sleeps soundly under a blanket in his bed. Kuroko pokes his cheek, just to be sure the shifter isn't faking. He takes a deep breath, "Seijuurou…" To much of his surprise, a hand grabs his shirt and pulls him into bed.
"See? It wasn't that difficult, now was it?"
"Why?" Kuroko asks as he cleans the gashes along Akashi's sides and upper arm.
"What are you talking about, Tetsuya-"
"You know exactly what I am talking about." Kuroko refuses to look into the marigold and ruby. Akashi stays silent.
"Why did you take on the lead of Jabberwocky by yourself?" He finishes wrapping the shifter's side and moved to his arm.
"What was I suppose to do? I couldn't just leave him to live after all he has done."
Kuroko sucks in a deep breath. " You weren't suppose to do it by yourself." He intentionally tighten the bandage.
"I don't understand why you're so upset. I came back alive, right? He is no longer a problem."
Kuroko stood up. " I am incredibly happy that he is no longer in the world of the living, I'm inexplicably happy that you came back.-"
Akashi stood as well, wincing. "Then why are you so upset-"
The shadowmancer looked at him with an appalled and frustrated look on his face, trying to see if he was serious.
"Oh god, you don't get it-"
"Get what?" Akashi nearly shouted. Kuroko pulled him down by the shoulder, their foreheads touching. He looked straight into his eyes.
"That I love you, Sei." The shifter froze
"I love you so,so ,so much. I know you can take care of yourself, but it hurts to see you act like your life wasn't at risk. I love you, Seijuurou,please be careful. I couldn't take it if something bad happened to you. So please…" Akashi never noticed the faint freckles that were sprinkled across his cheeks.
The scarlet hair man pulled Kuroko in and stole his lips. He peppered the shadowmancer's cheeks with "I'm sorry" 's and "I'm here" 's in between. From eyelids Akashi held his face closely " I love you, too, Tetsuya."
Kuroko laid atop a bundle of currant fur as if it was a pillow. He was making up a list of things he need to pick up from the market ( both legitimate and black). It was early morning, the sun just just awaken from it's slumber and now shined against the white snow outside.
"Do we need anything else, Sei?" The wolf just buried his head into the quilts. He really didn't want Kuroko to go.
"I'll take that as a no."
Kuroko got up and stretched. While Akashi moped around, the shadowmancer pulled on his boots and grabbed the basket. Just about as he was going to leave, the crimson cloak was tied around him. Akashi pulled the edges of the hood and invaded his mouth. Before Kuroko became aware of what was happening, Akashi pulled back and pecked his cheek.
"It's cold out there. Come home safely."
Extras:
1. *= a quote from sh-04e ,you can find her on tumblr and AO3. I highly recommend you read her writing
2. Kuroko has faint freckles because a) i wanted him to and b) he doesn't go in the sun very often
3. I have to research for that kissing scene, it was incredibly difficult, please never ask me to write one ever again
4. I used questions that were left in the reviews as a base
I didn't have much time to edit, so please excuse the mistakes.
Thank you for reading~