Rated: T

Prompt: Cooking

Thanks to Ginpachi-sensei, deLovelyBones, uniquemangalover, BashyBunny, Sannur, FallenxLinkin, Anglo-Chan, requiems dream, Day-DayRyoshka, Ryuuchi, and Another observer of the world for the reviews!

Hope you guys enjoy this one too!

Curry

"Akashi-kun. Do you mind if I cook instead?"

Akashi stopped and slowly turned around to face Kuroko.

"You? Cook? Tetsuya. If I recall correctly, the only thing you know how to 'cook' is boiled eggs. Though, I'm not sure if you can even call that cooking."

The teal head's eyebrows furrowed as he pouted. "There's a pot, food, and a stove involved. It is cooking. And besides...I've been learning from Kagami-kun."

Mismatched eyes narrowed. "Oh? Why was I not informed of this? Since when have you been learning to cook?"

Kuroko looked to the floor, clasping his fingers together. "...Ever since that one time I tried to cook for you..."

"Which ended with you almost burning the kitchen down."

"...Yes. Akashi-kun goes to work for the company after school, and since I don't really have anything to do after classes are over, I went over to Kagami-kun's place and asked if he could teach me. I...wanted to surprise you."

Eyes softening, Akashi smiled and walked over to his Tetsuya, wrapping his arms around him and placing a kiss on his forehead.

He knew how bad Tetsuya felt on that day.

Akashi had just come home from work, and the moment he smelled smoke from when he walked through the door, he had ran to the kitchen to see the stove and his Tetsuya uncharacteristically freaking out. Needless to say, Akashi was both angry and scared. Angry that Tetsuya was attempting to cook a full course when he didn't know how, and scared at the thought of him being hurt...and possibly losing his beloved. After putting out the fire, he had whirled and yelled at the teal head for 'doing something so irrational and stupid'. And Kuroko, who was still shaken up and scared, had replied with a weak, '...It's not stupid and irrational. I just...wanted to do something for Akashi-kun who is always working so hard'.

After being stunned for a second with those words, he had held his Tetsuya for the rest of the night, never letting him go and made him promise him that he wouldn't attempt cooking again without guidance.

"So? What did Taiga teach you how to make?"

"Well...so far, he's only taught me how to make curry."

"...It's not going to give me any sort of a stomach ache, right? I still have to work tomorrow." The red head winced as he felt a jab to his ribs.

"That's mean, Akashi-kun. My cooking isn't as bad as Aida-san or Momoi-san's. Kagami-kun is a strict teacher, so he made sure that my cooking is no longer on that level."

"Mm...then let's get started, shall we? I'll help."

"No." Kuroko looked up at the red head, palms on his chest as he lightly pushed him away. "Please let me cook by myself. I want Akashi-kun to eat the food I made. It would make no sense if he were to help me."

"...Very well. I will watch then."

Giving the red head an assured smile, Kuroko rolled up his sleeves with a flash of determination within his eyes as he got to work.

Akashi stood back and leaned on their kitchen table, arms crossed, his eyes followed and never left his lover as he waltzed around the kitchen. He made a mental note to one day pay Taiga a visit for a conversation...the topic being his Tetsuya. The red head understood that they were just friends, though he couldn't help but get a bit jealous whenever the teal head mentioned him. He knew Tetsuya treasured his friendship with Taiga, but Akashi...felt that he needed to claim and make clear what is his.

After a while, the red head looked up to see Tetsuya setting a plate of steaming delicious curry on the table.

"Here you go, Akashi-kun."

Sitting in his chair, Akashi grabbed the spoon that was given to him, first glancing at Tetsuya, who was nervously picking at the apron he wore to protect his clothes from getting dirty while cooking, and took a bite.

"H-How is it?"

"Mm...it's delicious."

"...Is it really? Please don't lie to me, Akashi-kun."

"And when have I ever lied to you, Tetsuya?"

Eye brows furrowing, the teal head picked up the red head's spoon, scooped up a good portion of the curry and rice, and took a bite.

His eyes slightly widened. "...It's good."

Smiling, Akashi rested his elbow on the table, leaning his cheek on his fist. "See? I told you. I guess I'm going to have to spare Taiga this one time and thank him for teaching you how to cook this meal. Thank you, Tetsuya."

Kuroko looked away, not wanting to look at the sight of Akashi smiling so gently at him. He's never and it feels as if he won't ever get used to seeing a genuine smile on his face.

"However, I'm going to teach you to cook from now on?"

This got Kuroko's attention, facing Akashi again. "But-"

"Okay?"

"...Okay."

"Good. By the way, the apron looks good on you. If I recall, Satsuki gave you this as a Christmas gift, correct?"

"Ah...yes."

"She has wonderful taste. I wonder how you'd look in just the apron."

"...Please stop thinking of such lewd thoughts, Akashi-kun."

"Can you blame me? You're adorable."

"Please just finish your food."

"Oh come on, Tetsuya. Don't tell me you've never thought of such things before."

"...Finish your food, Akashi-kun."

"You didn't deny that. Looks like I'm not the only perv-" Cut off mid-sentence, Akashi was forced to pause and then appreciate once again the fine taste of the curry that was forced into his mouth. Eyes locking with cyan orbs, the spoon withdrew from his mouth as he chewed, only to be greeted with another spoonful of food. The red head continued to go along, mentally smirking and satisfied that he won yet another round of their conversation.

...I wrote this last night when I was hungry for dinner. When was the last time I had curry? -lesigh-

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