Author's Notes:

ok yall... after a frankly too long ride, here is the last chapter. i have an epilogue planned but will post that tomorrow since it's already written.
if i had all the time in the world i'd do like 3 more chapters of fluff but im tired of this fic and just want it over tbh. but im not too rude as to leave this fic in abandon. so here u go, a bullshit last chapter that i hope someone will like.
all fluff yall and they say the Big 3 Words!
also the chap title comes from im sticking with you by the velvet underground! its a cute song go listen to it

Scratch

Chapter 24:

I'm Sticking With You

Life was good.

Better than it had ever been.

Kenma had been going on dates with Kuroo, allowing kisses and even public displays of affection. It was a big step, and Kenma felt more at ease in his relationship than he had ever before. Especially after that one night.

Kenma also had pet-play dates with Sugar and Sebastian at Shouyou's apartment. He'd visited all the kittens that Sugar had, including Aone's. A lot of times he would have lunch with Yamaguchi. He'd get annoying text messages from Oikawa, for whatever reason. Bokuto would send him pictures of owls and memes.

Everything was good, and he hadn't fucked anything up.

"So… How do you feel about a double date?" Yamaguchi asked, a sly smile on his face. Kenma coughed, nearly choking on his salad. He stared at Yamaguchi. A leaflet stuck out of Kenma's mouth. An accurate description of his utter confusion, really.

A couple of days ago, Yamaguchi had worked up the courage to ask his "boss" for lunch dates. They actually got along really well, more so than Kenma would have ever thought. It was awkward at first, but soon enough, they opened up to each other. Yamaguchi told him all about the kitten he had adopted, assuring Kenma that the little guy was perfectly happy in their family. In turn, Kenma told his employee about his own life. He was reluctant, at first, to talk about anxiety and depression.

Turns out, Yamaguchi gets it. Like, really gets it.

More specifically, Yamaguchi had anxiety, too.

The lunch dates got much easier after that. The two men became quick friends, helping each other through different problems that arouse. Everything had been fine. Until now. Damn Yamaguchi and his bravery. But also, it was something to admire.

"A double date?" Kenma asked, unsure.

"Yeah!" Yamaguchi said, excited. His cowlick flopped when he nodded enthusiastically. He leaned forward, like he was sharing a secret. "I want to go on a double date with you and Kuroo. I know you've known for like, ever, that me and Tsukki are together. And I know how Tsukki gets along with Kuroo. It'd be great! What do you think?"

"I don't know. I thought Tsukishima didn't like Kuroo."

"No, that's such a facade, it's ridiculous. He was like that with me at first, did you know?" Yamaguchi leaned back with a huff. His cowlick flopped again, and Kenma found himself fascinated with the piece of hair. It kept bouncing, and it mimicked Yamaguchi's mood. Bizarre. But also interesting. "Tsukki always acts like he hates people, but in reality he likes them."

"Do you use hair product?" Kenma blurted randomly. He cursed himself for not thinking his sentences through. But. Oh well. Yamaguchi blinked, confused. His hand went to his hair and he looked scared, like he assumed he looked ugly or something. "It's just… your cowlick. Do you do anything to it?"

Yamaguchi blinked again, looking up, as if he could see his hair. He smiled and his cheeks turned bright red. "I try to, but it always comes back. It doesn't matter what I do to it. Why?"

"It's just… so fluffy."

"Is this you trying not-so-subtly to change the subject? You never answered for the double date," Yamaguchi pointed out. He grinned. Nothing got by him! "Come on, it'll be fun! I promise! We can go bowling, or something like that."

Kenma sighed. "Okay. Sure."

The double date wasn't as bad as Kenma had been expecting.

Kuroo loved the double date. Not only was he a pro at bowling (who knew?) but he had a ton of fun messing around with Tsukishima. Kenma was, as predicted, a terrible bowler, but so was Tsukishima. They bonded over that fact. Yamaguchi was pretty good, although he bowled with his eyes closed.

After two agonizing long rounds of bowling, both of which Kenma lost, the four messed around at the arcade. Yamaguchi dominated air-hockey, beating even the obnoxious teenage boys that challenged him. Tsukishima was amazing at dance-dance revolution. It was funny, as he danced, he kept a straight face. Wild. Kenma liked the roller coaster simulation ride, and was pretty good at the hitting-the-groundhog-game. Kuroo, that fucking idiot, spent way too much money on the crane game. He only gave up after he won a small kitten for Kenma.

"It looks like you!"

"No, it doesn't."

"Yes it does."

"No."

It did. But Kuroo didn't need to know that.

After the wild ride in the arcade, the group of four went to get ice cream. Yamaguchi and Kenma hung back while their respective boyfriends bought their ice cream. They gossiped, laughing when Tsukishima tried to trip Kuroo. The two came back, still fighting over something or another. Yamaguchi whispered something to Tsukishima, whose face turned bright red. Kuroo snorted, accidentally choking on his ice cream.

It was a mess, but Kenma loved it.

Kenma leaned into Kuroo, not really minding if that was considered public display of affection. He was tired and comfortable, it was more of an unconscious action than anything else. Kuroo smiled down at him, dipping his finger in ice cream and smearing it on Kenma's face. Kenma gasped dramatically and returned the favor. There was more ice cream on their faces and the ground than that had gone into their mouths.

The evening had been nice.

The night was even nicer.

Yamaguchi had hugged Kenma goodbye, after making sure it was okay, of course. Tsukishima had patted him awkwardly and the two left, holding hands. Kuroo followed Kenma home, and it felt normal. Comfortable, even. Like Kuroo had been staying the night at Kenma's apartment for ages. Kenma wondered if he'd ever get over the fact that they were together. He hoped not. The idea of Kuroo coming into his apartment gave him butterflies every damn time, and he never wanted the feeling to go away.

Once they were at Kenma's apartment, Kuroo fit right in, like he belonged there. He petted all the cats, saying hello to each and every one. They all liked him. If they could speak, Kenma was sure they'd say they approved of him.

"Tonight was nice," Kuroo commented offhandedly, sitting down on the couch. Lynn wanted to jump onto his lap, but Kenma beat her to it. He sprawled himself over Kuroo's lap, his legs stretched across the couch. Kuroo looked surprised. "Well, hello there."

"Shut up," Kenma told him. Promptly after that, he blushed and buried his face into Kuroo's neck. His arms fit nicely on Kuroo's waist. It was like he was a big baby, being held by Kuroo. But it didn't feel weird. He felt at home, right in Kuroo's arms. "Don't say anything stupid."

"How did you know I was going to say something stupid?"

"You always say something stupid," Kenma laughed, rolling his eyes for dramatic affect. Sugar jumped onto the couch and settled down in Kenma's lap. Now there were two beings in Kuroo's lap. Kenma snorted. "Second-hand lap."

It took Kuroo a second. The joke made no sense at first, but slowly registered on Kuroo's face. He laughed, shaking his head. "You're stupid. That makes no sense."

"You thought it was funny," Kenma huffed.

"But I think everything you say is funny," Kuroo shot back, a megawatt smile on his face. He pretended to flip his hair. "I have to laugh at everything you say and tell you that you're right all the time. I'm the most perfect boyfriend, after all."

Kenma was quiet for a long time. Kuroo was about to ask what was wrong when Kenma kissed him. The kiss was different than anything they had ever done before. It was less chaste, more passionate. Just … more. Kuroo was left breathless. Mostly because he forgot how to breathe, but that didn't really matter, did it?

"What was that for?"

"Because you're right," Kenma mumbled shyly. He wanted so badly to hide his face, to ignore the flush appearing across his cheeks. But he had to do this. Mustering all the courage he had, he looked Kuroo in the eyes. "You're right, you're the perfect boyfriend."

Kuroo didn't respond. He couldn't respond. Kenma was too damn cute he couldn't handle it. Kenma was too cute and he was Kuroo's boyfriend. What a steal.

"You're thinking something weird, aren't you?"

"Of course not," Kuroo scoffed. As if he'd ever think anything weird. Did Kenma did know him at all? "I was just thinking about how cute you are. And the fact that you're my boyfriend. Basically, I was just thinking about how lucky I am to have such a cute boyfriend."

A pause.

Then, Kuroo asked, "Can I kiss you?"

Kenma nodded.

Kuroo squashed down the smile that was taking over his face. A smile would mess up their kiss. Granted, it'd be funny, but they'd already had their fair share of funny kisses. They deserved a real, passionate kiss. Kuroo vaguely recognized that Sugar jumped off their lap. It didn't matter. There were better things to focus on, after all.

Kuroo slid a hand up Kenma's side, coming to rest on his jawline, under his hair. He leaned in, bringing their lips together softly. Kenma closed his eyes, and Kuroo could feel him physically melt in his arms. Approval. Kenma's hands settled on Kuroo's shoulders, pulling them closer together. Kuroo had to remind himself to breathe.

Taking a second away from the kiss, Kuroo smirked. Kenma knew something was going to happen, because why else would Kuroo smirk? Suddenly, he was lifted princess style and carried to his bedroom. Kenma actually felt like they had gotten married and he was being carried across the threshold. They fell onto the couch, and they jiggled more than Kenma would have liked to admit. He couldn't hold his laughter back.

Kuroo chuckled, too, hovering just above Kenma. He smiled, and nuzzled Kenma's neck. "I love your laugh. It's so cute and pure, it always makes me laugh as well. I wish you would laugh more."

"Be funnier, then," Kenma retorted, immediately. Kuroo went wide-eyed and gasped. How - how dare his boyfriend suggest that he wasn't funny? Though he had to admit, it was a nice comeback. Kenma himself looked surprised. He laughed and said, "I don't know where that came from. But anyway, would you like an ice pack for that burn?"

Kuroo burst into loud laughter, burying his face in the mattress. He can't handle this. When did Kenma learn how to be sassy? Okay, that's a lie. Kuroo knew Kenma was sassy since they had met. But Kenma was roasting him at the wrong time; he should save it for later. When they weren't doing … this. Whatever this turned out to be. Kuroo told him as much, saying, "Ouch. Please keep your insults to a minimum, I'm trying to seduce you."

"It's not working very well," Kenma said, trying not to giggle. The blush was still on his face. He looked away, trying to ignore the fact that something was happening. Before he could stop it, his mouth formed the words, "I need to be wined and dined before I'm sixty-nined."

Oh.

Oh.

Kuroo looked shocked. Absolutely devastated. Kenma felt like he could die. He wanted to crawl in a hole and never be seen by society ever again. How could he say that? He wasn't even thinking anything remotely close to that so how did those words come out of his mouth? This was all his anxieties fault. When he got anxious, he babbled. This was just a severe case, that's all.

But still.

Damn.

"Oh my god, Kenma," Kuroo damn near squealed, rolling off him onto the bed. He sprawled out and pretended to die. His face was bright red, too. He had imagined all three parts of what Kenma said. It didn't turn out so well. "Did you - did you really just say that? I can't believe -"

"Shut up! I say stupid shit when I'm nervous!" Kenma groaned, still wanting to die in a hole. He rolled over and stuffed his face into a pillow. If that was what came out of his mouth, then he just wouldn't talk.

A few moments later, Kenma could feel the bed shifting. Kuroo moved up and wrapped an arm around his waist, gently moving the pillow away from Kenma's face. He pulled Kenma into a half hug, half cuddle type of embrace. Stroking Kenma's face, he said, "You know, we don't have to do anything tonight. I've told you before that I'm willing to wait for you. As long as I can still be with you, I don't care how often or how late we do anything. Okay?"

"Okay," Kenma murmured back, tilting his head sideways so he could see his boyfriend. "I was so close, you know? I got nervous, is all. At least now I know you really will wait for me. I'm so glad I have you, because I want to do all these things with you, I really do. It just takes me longer to be okay than it does with others."

"I know."

"I want to do everything with you, I want the whole dream," Kenma said, leaning to kiss Kuroo on the lips again. He played with Kuroo's hair, roughly tugging on the ridiculous bed hair. "I'm sorry it has taken me so long to say it, but … I love you."

"I love you, too," Kuroo replied, with no hesitation at all. That made Kenma happy. His boyfriend didn't have to think about saying he loved Kenma back, he just did. Butterflies crept into his stomach, and his heart felt like flying. Kuroo kissed Kenma on the nose. "I love you so much. I will wait for you, always."

Kenma smiled, a real smile. The one that Kuroo always said he looked incredibly handsome doing. He rolled them over so they could get under the blankets, and he tucked them in. Together. It felt so natural, to be in a bed together with Kuroo. Kenma could get used to this.

"I want to be with you forever."

"I know. We will be," Kuroo promised Kenma. He tugged the blanket all the way over them and brought his phone out. It was like a miniature tent, with the light coming from the phone. Even in such a weird lighting, Kenma looked beautiful. Kuroo was lucky to be able to promise himself to such a wonderful individual. He chuckled, and told Kenma, "I plan on being that Grandpa that yells at kids to get off our lawn, you know."

"Oh my god, you're such an idiot."

"Okay, Kenma, but get this," Kuroo whispered, and paused for dramatic effect. For too long, maybe, because Kenma rolled his eyes and huffed. He was quiet just a bit longer. Eventually, he said, "I'm your idiot."

Kenma laughed and rolled his eyes again. He made it a big point to roll over and ignore Mr. Drama Queen. Kenma would be hearing this type of joke for the rest of his life. He couldn't bring himself to be disappointed. In fact, he was kind of looking forward to it.

"Yeah, you're right. You're my idiot."