Scratch
Chapter 22:
15 Minutes Late with Starbucks
A brand new year.
New Years had come and gone, leaving Kenma with a bunch of memories he was sure he didn't want to forget. He had a wonderful time, he was surprised at how much fun he had at a party he hadn't even been sure he wanted to go to.
Feeding his cats, he allowed himself a moment to reminisce.
After he had gathered the courage up to kiss Kuroo, Shouyou had came up to him to give him a hug. After the hug, he then dragged him around the vet office. Kenma had seen so many people he recognized, he had no clue how they all decided to show up to Kuroo's party. Shouyou had gotten him a water when Kuroo joined them again. The curiosity got the better of Kenma and he asked, "How did all these people know to come to the party?"
Kuroo laughed and pointed to the front of the office. On a wide see-through window, a huge flyer was posted there, saying that there was a New Year's Party and that it was open to everyone. Next to Kenma, Shouyou had gasped and said, "Did Yachi make that?! She had told me someone had asked her to make a flyer like that!"
"Yup, she made the flyer! But I don't think she's here today. Something about a quiet night with her girlfriend?" Kuroo had answered. Shouyou gasped again and darted off, yelling about Yamaguchi and how dare he not tell him that Yachi wasn't coming! Kenma's gaze followed him for a while, watching him tackle Yamaguchi and be yelled at by Tsukishima.
He was distracted when Kuroo slipped a hand into his, and squeezed lightly. Kenma had blushed, but now that he thought about it, he doubted it would have been noticeable. There was too much other things going on at once, he was surprised he hadn't gotten motion sickness. Bokuto and Oikawa had been running around, causing trouble, and there were people making out every way he looked.
Kuroo had led him to a couch and sat down with him, and they cuddled up together. They talked for the rest of the night. People filtered in and out, but by around 3am, most of them had left, going to wherever people went after a party. Kenma didn't know. He didn't really care, either. He was drifting off to sleep in Kuroo's arms. The last thing he remembered before falling asleep completely was a kiss on his forehead.
Scratching Clyde behind his ear, Kenma decided all in all, it wasn't a total horrible experience. He knew he'd never be a party person, or completely charismatic like Kuroo, but he had been happy. That's all that really mattered. He had also kissed Kuroo, which was definitely a big step. Even now as he remembered it, his cheeks burned.
Kenma shook himself out of the past with a huff. There were other things rather than reminiscing that he should be doing. Like actually going to work, for example. The office had been closed for New Year's, but had re-opened on the following Monday. Kenma hadn't gone to work. He didn't go on Tuesday, either. Now it was Wednesday, and he thought he had done a sufficient amount of reminiscing. The time had finally come to be a normal, working adult, once more.
Thankfully, the night before, he had slept wonderfully. He woke up early in the morning, entirely rested, a rare occurrence. By the time he had completed his morning routine and began to fed his cats, it was still early enough to get some coffee and pastries from the cafe near his work.
"Bye guys, don't get into too much trouble," he told his cats, who dutifully meowed back at him. Kenma smiled and pocketed his keys after making sure his door was locked. When he stepped outside, it was bright and sunny, maybe even a bit warm for a January morning. Everything pointed to a good day.
He should have known.
Every time that he has a great day, something happens. Something always happens, making his day turn out shitty, or just plain weird. Today was option number three: weird and shitty.
When he had visited the cafe, he hadn't noticed. When he had sat down to eat his muffin and drink his coffee before work, he hadn't noticed. Only when he was leaving and the door was held open for him, did he notice.
"Thanks," Kenma said politely, not making eye contact with the man who held the door open. The man made some type of you're welcome or no problem type of noise. Kenma recognized the sounds. He looked up, and sure enough, his day was flipped upside down. He choked on air, and said nothing. Then, almost as an observation, "Kageyama."
"Oh, uh, hi, um, Kenma," Kageyama stumbled over his words. Startled, he let go of the door and it hit the next person leaving. He muttered out a quick sorry, his cheeks red and turned to walk away. Kenma had walked the same way, needing to go that way to get to work.
They stayed like that for a minute at most: Kageyama trailing behind Kenma at a safe length. Unfortunately, the only thing more awkward than walking together was him walking behind at the same pace. Sighing, Kenma slowed his pace and allowed Kageyama to catch up with him.
Kageyama stared at him. He ran a hand through his hair, messing it up. It seemed like he was on the verge of saying something important, but he never did. Instead, a quick smile, and some small talk.
They talked. About the weather, how it's a beautiful day for the beginning of January. Kenma's job. The holidays. How family had come over. Everything was simple. It was actually not as horrifying as talking to Kageyama as he had expected. Sure, he was a bit intense, but that was just … him. Kenma could almost forget how rude he had been.
Almost.
Kenma was a forgiving person, but he never forgets. If someone does anything to hurt him, that stays with him the rest of his life. He noticed things too much; always over analyzing. He forgives, but doesn't forget. It's hard to open up to someone that had already hurt you once.
Next to him, Kageyama pulled at a loose thread on his coat. The string stretched out for a while, and finally broke. Kenma, in the back of his mind, noticed that Kageyama was walking slower to match his pace. He watched Kageyama for a while, having an internal conflict.
Eventually, Kageyama cleared his throat, "Um. I just wanted to say. That. Um. I'm sorry."
Tilting his head slightly, Kenma looked at the other man. He even made eye contact, but looked away quickly. Kageyama was actually sincere, and his eyes showed it. Kenma stopped walking and stood off to the side, taking several deep breaths.
"Actually, I never really hated you," Kageyama admitted, playing with another loose thread. He stood next to Kenma, a reasonable ways away, avoiding eye contact. "I never hated you. I was insecure and jealous. I'm … I'm really sorry, you know. Really -"
"I do know," Kenma said brusquely, if only to stop the apologizing. This was too much. Suddenly, it was loud, he couldn't hear anything. Scuffling noises came from Kageyama's shoes. Cars honked and people yelled. There was music coming from the store they had stopped in front of. He couldn't hear himself. His heart rate began to slowly rise. It was hard to breathe, to concentrate on anything at all.
No, not here, not now. Please … not with Kageyama.
There was rushing in his ears, but somehow he could still hear Kageyama's voice. He was distant, far away, but Kenma heard him. "What can I do to help?"
"It's … loud."
Kenma tried to focus himself, noticing everything around him. Kageyama, next to him. There was a small antique shop, with another shop next to it. It wasn't too cold. Kageyama, again, digging through his bag. A potted plant on the front step of the antique shop. People passing him. Kageyama, a third time, holding his headphones out.
"Noise canceling headphones."
He took the headphones from Kageyama and put them on. Counted one through ten. Again. His heart rate went down, and the rushing quieted. One through ten. Finally, his breathing evened out, and the world's sounds were normal again.
"Thanks," Kenma said a few minutes later. He took the headphones off and gave them back to Kageyama. Kenma began to walk again, and was surprised when Kageyama followed him. With those long legs of his, Kageyama had caught up with him easily.
They walked the rest of the way to Kenma's office in mutual silence. At the entrance to the lobby, Kageyama reached a hand out to stop Kenma, but yanked his hand back. He coughed awkwardly and instead called out, "Kenma!"
Kenma turned around. He wasn't sure what more they could say to each other. With one last calming breath, he asked, "What?"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
Kageyama shuffled around and avoided eye contact. Kenma watched him for a long time, until he finally gathered the courage to finish his thought. He cleared his throat. Once, twice. "Thank you for letting me apologize."
Kenma raised his eyebrows. That was not what he had been expecting. At all. For a second, he didn't know what to do. His lips twitched up into a smile, and he shook his head to himself. Looking up, he smiled at Kageyama, who finally smiled back. He actually looked sweet when he smiled. Kenma turned away and walked into his office. Over his shoulder, he said, "Bye, Kageyama."
"Bye, Kenma."
[From: Kuroo
To: me
Received at 11:14am
what are u doing tonight ?
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
no lol but for real whatcha doin?]
[To: Kuroo
From: me
Sent at 12:11pm
Not you, that's for sure.]
[To: me
From: Kuroo
Received at 12:15pm
well obviously, party pooper
anyway im taking that as 'i have absolutely nothing to do pls come entertain me kuroo pls pls'
im coming over tonight with a new romcom that's practically screaming our names.]
[To: Kuroo
From: me
Sent at 12:16pm
Maybe I have something to do tonight.]
[To: me
From: Kuroo
Received at 12:16pm
do you?]
[To: Kuroo
From: me
Sent at 12:17pm
No, I'm free tonight. Bring something to eat, too. Preferably pizza.]
[To: me
From: Kuroo
Received at 12:19pm
okie dokie artichoke. i'll see u at 8!]
"Hey," Kuroo said, swiftly giving Kenma a kiss on the head. He put the pizza on the living room table and flopped onto the couch. With a hand on his hip, Kuroo posed suggestively. Kenma rolled his eyes and sat on him, squishing him into the couch. "Alright, alright, I get it. I won't be a sexy model on your couch."
"You make a better couch than a model," Kenma smiled, not getting up. The cats all joined in, too, piling on top of Kuroo. Kenma laughed and spread himself out, laying on top of Kuroo.
"It's like a dog pile, but with cats," Kuroo snorted and gathered the cats up into a hug. He leaned up and kissed Kenma on the lips, before grinning and resting his head again. "That's too much effort. Why don't you come down here?"
Kenma smirked and leaned down. He paused right before kissing Kuroo, and instead blew a raspberry into his neck. Kuroo laughed and squirmed underneath him. To retaliate, he wrapped his arms around Kenma, holding him in a big bear hug.
"Now you're trapped forever. Sorry."
"Kuroo," Kenma whined, but Kuroo was having none of it.
He shook his head and smirked. "What's the magic word?"
"Hmm," Kenma pretended to think about the answer. He shifted to make himself more comfortable. He also shoved Clyde off the couch to make more room for himself. "I don't know, is it 'Cats'?"
"Beeep! Wrong answer!"
"Please, Kuroo," Kenma whined again, pushing himself off Kuroo. "The pizza's going to get cold."
"Oh, well in that case," Kuroo grinned and let go. He watched as Kenma stood up and went to a plate from the kitchen. He came back with two plates and served them both some pizza. Kuroo stretched and put the dvd in the dvd player. "I brought Elf."
Kenma scrunched his face up with amusement. Sitting down on the couch, he handed a plate to Kuroo. "You know, Christmas was a month ago. It's almost February."
"It's always time for Christmas," Kuroo said. Pushing Lynn and Colin off the couch, he settled down next to his boyfriend. Within seconds, the two cats came back to curl up in his lap. He sighed, both exasperated and happily. "You can never go wrong with a bit of Christmas cheer."
A half hour into the movie, both men had finished their pizza. They moved around on the couch, ignoring the annoyed meows. For the rest of the night, they were curled up against each other. They watched Christmas Vacation after Elf, and teased each other the whole time. But Kenma wouldn't want it to be any different. That is where he felt the most comfortable, the happiest: cuddling with his boyfriend and cats, watching Christmas movies a month too late.