Brothers

(GoM's third year in high school)

"It was a good game," said Kuroko.

Kagami snorted. "It was an amazing game."

"Yes," agreed Kuroko, even though he didn't know quite how to feel about the aftermath. The immediate aftermath, that is. For what was going to happen next, there was going to be a whole different aftermath, which he was more worried about than he let on. Kagami, however, knew him well enough to know exactly what he was apprehensive about – as expected of someone who'd spent so much time in his head.

"Hey. It's going to be alright," said Kagami. "Whatever happens with Tatsuya, I will be alright. You don't have to worry about me, Kuroko."

"Of course I do," said Kuroko, and Kagami was probably the only person in the world who would have been able to tell that something was off in his deadpan tone. "Because you're my brother too."

Kagami rested a hand on Kuroko's shoulder and gave a reassuring squeeze. "So, did you see what you needed to?"

Kuroko stared down at the court, to where Aomine was on his knees, head bowed in defeat, looking like he was about to cry, still not used to defeat even though Touo had failed to win a single tournament championship since Aomine joined, always making it to the championship match, always losing. His teamwork and playstyle had both improved, and from a glance Kuroko would say that his attitude had improved by leaps and bounds as well. And on the other side of the court Murasakibara was celebrating. Over a basketball win. With snacks, yes, but celebrating nonetheless, letting Himuro Tatsuya shoot snack cakes at his mouth and trying to catch them, laughing, slapping his kouhai on the backs if they wondered past, looking as happy as if he'd just found out the moon was made of maibou.

And in the match for third place, he'd watched Akashi battle it out with Midorima, and for the first time in six matches, Shuutouku had come out on top. Midorima, sobbing as he hugged Takao Kazunari, had been a heart clenching sight. But so had the small, self depreciating smile on Akashi's face, graceful in defeat, and not as concerned about the loss as he was about rallying his teammates and making sure they all kept their heads held high.

"Yes. I've seen what I needed. Shall I go?"

Kagami adjusted the thick, non prescription glasses he was wearing as part of his disguise. The rims were so thick at top and positioned at just the right spot to hide his distinctly recognizable eyebrows. Paired with the blond wig he was wearing, he looked ridiculous, and probably, to anyone else, unrecognizable.

"Yeah," said Kagami nervously. "I'll meet you at that place."

"Excuse me, Himuro-kun."

Himuro had wandered off from his team for a moment to collect himself, as their data had predicted he would. It saved Kuroko the trouble of strolling into Yousen's locker room and having a reunion of his own with Murasakibara while trying to arrange a reunion for Kagami and Himuro.

Himuro looked around confused, even though Kuroko was standing right in front of him, and lost a few more points in Kuroko's mental assessment of him.

"Right here," Kuroko said finally, when he saw Himuro was about to give up and write his voice off as a trick of his imagination.

"What? Oh!" Himuro jumped, then laughed slightly at himself when he realized Kuroko was standing right there. "Oh, hello there. Are you lost?"

Kuroko blinked at him. Then blinked again. And mentally deducted fifty more points. "No. I am not lost."

Two years ago, he wouldn't have been this annoyed at anyone. Drifting with Kagami so much had brought his emotions closer to the surface, and made his blood boil faster, even though he was still as good at hiding it as ever. Which was probably really healthy. But on the flip side, drifting with Kuroko had cooled Kagami down, and given him the ability to think things through rationally. That had been an immense help for dealing with those who criticized the teenagers' rights to pilot their jaegers. Kagami had acted perfectly like a level headed adult. Everything was balanced out in the end.

"I have a question for you," said Kuroko, as calm and blank as ever.

"Oh? What can I do for you?" Himuro asked politely. And Kuroko mentally gave him a couple points back for not asking if he wanted an autograph. Just a couple points, mind you. And depending on how he answered the next question, he might lose them and a whole lot more.

"Your brother still wears the ring you gave him. But you don't wear yours. Why not?"

Himuro flinched almost violently, and blinked rapidly at Kuroko. Kuroko could practically see the thoughts flying through his head. In no interview had Kagami ever said that the ring had been given to him by his brother. And people had asked about it so many times, wondering if there was a woman in the picture, or if it was a family heirloom. All Kagami had ever said was that it was something very important to him. And from the looks of things, Himuro knew that. He'd been keeping tabs on his little brother, from a distance, the best that he could. And he was smarter than Kuroko had given him credit for. Kuroko saw the exact moment he started to suspect who Kuroko was.

"May I ask how you know about that?" asked Himuro after quickly composing himself.

"After you answer my question, you may. It's only fair," Kuroko conceded.

"I don't wear it anymore because everyone is wearing them now," said Himuro. "Wearing it made me feel fake."

Kuroko hid a frown. "Why?"

"I'd like to know who you are before I answer that," said Himuro. "I don't mean to be rude, but I have no intentions of discussing my brother with anyone from the media."

"I'm who you think I am," said Kuroko. "That's how I know about it. And your brother wants to talk to you."

Himuro's face lit up. "Taiga's here? He came to my game?"

"We've come to at least a dozen of your games in the past two years."

"Why didn't he ever come to say hi?" asked Himuro.

"You know why."

Himuro flinched again. "Well. That's the answer to your question from earlier."

"What?"

"Why wearing the ring made me feel fake," Himuro answered. "That's why."

Kuroko didn't bother to hide his frown now. "Do you still mean what you said to Kagami-kun back then? Do you still want to sever your brotherhood?"

Himuro smirked a little. "Are you going to beat me up if I say yes?"

Kuroko just stared at him. He stared at him so long that Himuro's smirk crumbled away like the façade it was.

"No," said Himuro finally. "I don't want to throw away what we had. I regret saying what I did back then. And not just because Taiga's gotten all famous now, but because I've grown up since then. I was a dumb kid."

Kuroko silently agreed.

"Do you think . . . do you think Taiga can forgive me for that?" Himuro asked hesitantly.

Something in his expression tugged at Kuroko's heartstrings. For a second he wondered if he was staring into the future. His own situation was different, but it was coming, and if the Generation of Miracles reacted like this . . . Kuroko would be very happy.

He wanted to hate Himuro. He had thought it would be impossible to ever like someone who'd hurt his best friend as much as Himuro had hurt Kagami. But forgiving was in his nature. And he knew what kind of person Himuro had the potential to be, might already have become. Holding the past against him, if he truly planned to make amends now, would be like holding double standards, one for the Generation of Miracles, and another for Himuro. Kuroko tried to be fair. It was hard, since he didn't have any real connection of his own to Himuro, only what he had through Kagami. But he wanted to be fair.

"Kagami-kun never thought there was anything to forgive," Kuroko admitted. "Nothing would make him happier than to put that incident aside and pick up where you and he left off."

"Oh. I see." Himuro looked genuinely pleased. "You say he's here? And he wants to talk to me?"

"Yes. Please follow me." Kuroko started walking. "And Himuro-kun?"

"Yes?"

"Please do not do or say anything that will cause Kagami-kun more pain."

"For some reason when you say that, I feel like I'm being threatened."

Kuroko gave him a sideways look. Kagami-kun's big brother was indeed perceptive. "That said . . . Kagami-kun is going to give you an opportunity. You are free to accept or decline. My earlier request was not related to this opportunity at all. So please, take some time to think it over and make the decision you feel is right for you. Kagami-kun will not be disappointed in you with whatever you decide. But whichever you decide, please get along with him again."

Himuro's eyes went extremely wide, and Kuroko saw he had guessed what offer was going to be made. The rumor mill had been busting at the seams lately, since Kiyoshi had been spotted visiting Kyuusho College where Nebuya and Mibuchi had gone on to play, and Izuki had been photographed at a restaurant, in the act of handing Hayama a folder with the Japanese Jaeger Program logo on it. A folder, he might add, identical to the one Kagami would be handing to Himuro in a few minutes.

"I don't suppose you're going to tell me your name?" Himuro asked after several minutes of walking in silence.

"Not yet. I apologize for my rudeness."

"Oh no, I understand. But . . . you know. I'd just like to know the name of the boy who gets along so well with my brother. Because from what I've seen, you've been a really good influence on him. He seems much more put together now. Calmer. Grown up." Himuro sounded nostalgic. "My little brother's really become amazing."

"He's been amazing as long as I've known him," said Kuroko, then realized that probably sounded like he was trying to pick a fight, or undermine what Himuro was saying. So he added, "He saved my life the day we met."

He hadn't planned on telling Himuro that. He hadn't planned on getting along with Himuro at all, but Himuro was winning Kuroko's grudging respect. He would have told the other teen his name, if he could have, but he couldn't afford for Himuro to let it slip to Murasakibara. Murasakibara would immediately tell Akashi, and Akashi might or might not tell all the others. Kuroko didn't want any of them knowing he was already there. He wanted them to make their decision to become a Jaeger pilot or not, strictly for their own sakes. He didn't want them being tempted to come, or stay away, because he was there.

He'd give Himuro his name later, after the Generation of Miracles made their choices without Kuroko in the equation. And for now, he gave Himuro a scrap of information that would mean more to him anyway.

"What happened, if you don't mind me asking?" asked Himuro.

"I was waiting for a friend on a streetball court. Right as I was about to leave, some punks started bullying these kids on the court. I tried to intervene. The punks tried to gut me like a fish," Kuroko said tonelessly. "The kids ran away when they had the chance, so they didn't see. The punks left me there. Kagami-kun found me. He took me to the closest hospital himself."

"He didn't think of calling 911?" asked Himuro.

Kuroko gave him a deadpan look. "The number for emergencies in Japan is 119, Himuro-kun. Kagami-kun didn't know that either, though. He tried dialing 911. When that failed, he carried me to the closest hospital in his arms. He didn't even know me then."

"Oh. That's . . . exactly like him," said Himuro, smiling slightly. Then he added, "I'm glad he was there that day."

"I am too." Naturally.

"I think it was a very good thing that he met you."

They walked the rest of the way to the meeting place in silence. It was at the sport's center's outdoor basketball courts, empty now since it was winter, and night, and there had been a tournament going on inside. Kagami was already there waiting, shoulders slouched to hide his posture and height a little. He'd ditched the wig and glasses to avoid eternal humiliation, but had his hood up to help disguise his identity instead. When he heard their footsteps he glanced over his shoulder.

"Tatsuya."

"Well, well, Taiga. What a surprise to see you here," said Himuro playfully.

"You don't look surprised. Still keeping your usual poker face?" returned Kagami.

"I ain't keeping a poker face. It's just my nature," said Himuro, stepping closer, then holding his arms out.

Kagami stepped into them and embraced his brother. "It's damn good to see you again, Tatsuya."

"I hear you've been around before. You should have stopped by."

Kagami gave Kuroko a surprised look. He clearly hadn't expected Kuroko talk much with his brother, especially since he knew how Kuroko felt about Himuro.

"Yeah, well, I didn't want to risk it then. If word got out we were coming to your games it would have caused so many problems, we would have had to stop," Kagami said.

"Worried I'd steal your fangirls?"

"You can have them!"

"But then who would write slash fiction about you and Kiyoshi-san?"

"Do you want me to punch you in the face? I'm really thinking about punching you in the face, Tatsuya, setting a good example be damned."

"Aw, and I thought you were here to talk to me about the Avengers Initiative," pouted Himuro.

Kagami gave Kuroko another surprised look, then looked back at Himuro. "You didn't torture my partner for information or anything, did you?"

"Of course not. I know he didn't like me much at first because of our past, understandably, but I won him over with my charm," Himuro smiled.

"Well, I know that's a lie," Kagami said. "Kuro – I mean, hey! Partner of mine! What do you think you're doing, sneaking away?"

"Oh? You caught me." Kuroko's eyes were bright, so Kagami knew he wasn't in a mood, or slipping away because this was upsetting him, but still.

"Where are you going?"

"To detour anyone who might come this way. And give you some privacy."

Kagami gave him an incredulous look. There was pretty much no such thing as privacy when you let someone else into your head. Kuroko looked at Himuro, then Kagami got it. Himuro didn't get the drift yet, didn't know that whatever happened here, Kuroko would learn about through their neural bridge the next time they killed a kaiju. Neither of them were going to bother to explain that, but Kuroko thought Himuro would be more comfortable if it was just the two of them. Probably especially since Kuroko wasn't even giving Himuro his name yet.

Kagami scowled, but waved him away.

"Just try not to give anyone heart attacks," he grumbled, but inside he was pleased. Kuroko liked Himuro. And vice versa, it seemed. For some reason, that thought made him incredibly happy: his two brothers getting along.

Kuroko no Drift Compatible

(From Kuroko's POV)

Kuroko didn't expect the sharp pain to clench in his chest when he saw them all walk into the cafeteria together. It didn't make any sense. He'd seen all of the other members of the Generation of Miracles individually, or a few at a time, even though they'd never seen him. Why should seeing them all together make any difference to him? But apparently it did.

Or maybe it was seeing them all there together, without him.

He sat at the Seirin table, watching them grab their trays of food as they talked to each other, giving smiles that didn't quite reach their eyes, but trying nonetheless. Aomine with his arm slung around Kise's shoulders, Kise talking on and on, Murasakibara eating with one hand and carrying his tray with the other while they walked, Midorima holding a stuffed Alaskan malamute plushie that must have been his lucky item, and Akashi surveying them all with thinly veiled affection.

"Who are they, the Skittles Rangers?" asked Rin, one of the new pilots that Kuroko and Riko had handpicked for their experimental trial. An experiment that had paid off tremendously, resulting in three new teams of jaeger pilots, promotions for Riko, Hyuuga, and Kuroko, and more free reign when it came to recruiting more pilots. And, of course, six new friends. Actually, seven counting the manager/trainer they had brought with them. Kuroko glanced up at Rin, who'd stopped behind his chair, but hadn't sat down at the Seirin Table. The Iwatobi group, as they were collectively called, had no wish to tempt fate and possibly call down misfortune on the Seirin Six by sitting at their, since the last time other people had sat at the Seirin Table, and some members of Seirin had sat elsewhere, disaster had struck. Even though they rationally knew that wasn't the cause, superstitious minds couldn't really rest easy.

"Did Gou-san not inform you? The new candidates arrived today," said Kuroko.

"All of them are new recruits?" Rin asked, sounded a bit incredulous. His gaze indicated that he didn't just mean the group of rainbow haired men, but a number of others who'd either already been in the cafeteria or were still arriving. He himself had been chasing new recruits who didn't know any better away from the Iwatobi Table and the Seirin Table, saving Kuroko the trouble of talking to people. Kuroko appreciated it.

"Yes. All of them."

"And they're really all drift compatible?"

"Coach and I scouted them all ourselves." It wasn't a lie. Just an omission of the truth. Misdirection was still Kuroko's specialty.

Rin's eyes narrowed and his sharp, shark-like teeth became visible as he saw his copilot talking to the Generation of Miracles. "What do they want with my partner?"

To Kuroko it looked like the conversation was amiable, but Rin must have been focusing more on the size difference. Nitori was literally dwarfed by all the tall basketball players, and Rin's protective instincts for his partner had immediately gone into overdrive. He started toward them immediately, looking ready for a fight.

Kuroko didn't bother trying to stop him. Nitori would sort things out when he reached them. He wondered, briefly, if he and Kagami were that bad about being protective of each other. He didn't think so, but he couldn't be sure, since people tended to overlook their own flaws. One of the side effects of the drift, as they'd found out, was that copilots tended to develop something similar to codependency on each other. They sometimes found it harder to function when the other wasn't around, got nervous and anxious when they were apart for long periods of time, and could become rabidly overprotective of each other. So far, at least, nothing worse than a few fistfights had come of this, and those had been started by the pilots who predated the Seirin Six. Overall, Kuroko didn't think it was worth worrying about. It seemed like the natural progression of having a nearly psychic bond with someone who you risked your life with on a monthly basis or so. Nonpilots just needed to realize that messing with one jaeger pilot meant messing with their copilot too. Hell, nonpilots just needed to learn not to mess with jaeger pilots, period. People who killed giant monsters in giant robots for a living were not people who you wanted to mess with, even without the robot in the equation.

Kuroko had noticed that it was difficult to sleep when Kagami wasn't around. Kagami had gone on furlough to visit his family for a week, a few months ago, while Kuroko stayed on base and helped Riko with training the Iwatobi boys, and scouting new potential drift compatibles. He'd hardly slept at all, the room he and Kagami shared too quiet without his copilot's steady breathing to lull Kuroko to sleep. When Kagami finally returned, two days early, the dark circles under his eyes showed that he'd experienced the same, and Kagami told him flatly that next time Kuroko was coming with him whether he wanted to or not. Kuroko readily agreed. Without Kagami there, the memories of being alone and how it had been the closest thing to hell that Kuroko ever knew had started to come back, and the next time they drifted, Kuroko had started to rabbit hole, or get lost in his own dark memories. Kagami had pulled him back by yelling at him in his head. When he'd reminded Kuroko of the promise they'd inked on their skin, his words had gotten through, and Kuroko had come back.

He felt like he'd been trapped back at Teiko for a month at least, but in reality it had been only about half a minute. With Kagami right beside him, Kuroko had been able to shake it off, and no one had been able to complain about their results. They'd taken the kaiju Manitou down with one well placed Ignite Pass that caved in its face and skull. Kuroko half expected someone to make them go to therapy for that, but miraculously, they skated under the radar.

Kuroko pulled himself back to the present as he watched Nitori nod to the Generation of Miracle, say something, then wave and walk away. He changed course when he noticed Rin walking toward him, and intercepted his copilot before Rin could get the idea to chase after them.

Well, one crisis had been averted, but another seemed imminent, as the Generation of Miracles made their way right toward Kuroko's table, and started taking seats. With Rin off talking to Nitori, distracted, there was no one except Kuroko to tell them that this table was permanently reserved. And Kuroko suddenly found himself frozen, unable to speak or do anything except stare at his friends as they sat around him, almost instinctively, like they registered his presence on a subconscious level, Aomine taking the chair on one side of him, Murasakibara the one on his other side, and no one trying to sit between them, where Kuroko was now.

Looking at them all together, smiling at each other, trying so hard to get along and be friends . . . it made Kuroko's chest hurt and his eyes burn.

"This is just like old times," said Kise, smiling widely. Then his smile faded slightly and he added, "Or almost just like old times. If only . . ."

"Shut up," said Aomine. Then, as if that had been a cue, they all looked right at Kuroko, who quickly, frantically, lifted his milkshake tumbler to hide the lower half of his face and give him a second to compose himself.

Jaws dropped as they saw Kuroko sitting there, and a few chairs fell backwards as some of them stood up. Then they all spoke at once.

"Tetsu!"

"Kuroko!"

"Tetsuya!"

"Kuro-chin!"

"Kurokocchi!"

Kuroko set down his milkshake and struggled to keep his voice blank as he returned their greeting. "Hello. It's been awhile."

"You little . . . when did you get here?" demanded Aomine, and his arm went around Kuroko's shoulders. Its weight and warmth had once been familiar, but now felt foreign and uncomfortable. Kuroko couldn't help but stiffen, and he saw a little bit of hurt cross Aomine's face because of it, but he couldn't help it. The only people who touched him so familiarly for the past two years had been the rest of the Seirin Six. Slinging an arm around his shoulders was what the others liked to do after he and Kagami took down another kaiju, or what Kagami did after an intense practice.

Aomine looked like he was about to withdraw his arm, but then Kise leapt over the table, yes, the table, clearing the whole damn thing, his feet not even grazing it, or anyone's food on it. He landed right by Kuroko, then gave him a bone crushing hug, trapping Aomine's arm in the process.

"Kurokocchi! You're here!"

"I've been here since the beginning," said Kuroko, in his usual deadpan voice. Then, Murasakibara reached over to start patting him on the head and Kuroko's eye nearly twitched in annoyance. Then he felt a second of panic. Was he maybe feeling this annoyed and indignant because he was becoming entitled? Would he be feeling this way if he wasn't a pilot of the jaeger with the highest kill count?

No, Kuroko told himself. I've never liked being pet on the head like a dog. And it's natural to feel . . . upset at seeing them all again. Even if they're not the same people I remember.

"Please stop," he told Murasakibara, recoiling slightly from the giant's touch.

"It's very good to see you, Tetsuya," Akashi said, a smile ghosting over his face.

"This is a pleasant surprise," agreed Midorima.

Kuroko stared at them, trying to read them all at once. It wasn't easy with so many people, but once upon a time, he'd known them all. He'd had a bond with them once. He had history with them still. They had been the closest thing he had to family once. So he could see more than he would have been able to with absolute strangers. There was weariness in all their eyes, and stress lines on their young faces, like they'd aged more than they should have in just a few years. High school hadn't been kind to them. Or perhaps it had been. Certainly better than middle school had been. They'd all learned how to lose in high school. Even Akashi. And they'd learned the importance of teamwork. That was why they were here, for the most part. Because the bonds they'd been able to forge had made them drift compatible with certain people. Most of them, anyway.

Kuroko was happy for them. The ones who'd found that kind of friendship, at least. But he wasn't sure if he was happy to see them or not. Not that his feelings on the subject mattered too much. The world needed more jaeger pilots. So, they were on the same team now. Holding a grudge wouldn't help anyone.

"Everyone! I have something important to say!" Kise said suddenly when the silence started to get awkward. "I call dibs on Kurokocchi as my co-pilot!"

"What, you can't do that!" shouted Aomine, before Kuroko could tell them that he already had a partner.

"I wanted Kuro-chin," Murasakibara said, reaching for Kuroko's head again.

Kuroko reacted on instinct when he slapped Murasakibara's hand away. His training over the past two years hadn't just been basketball. Combat was a large part of it too, and building up the kind of reactions you needed to be a fighter. Leeching off Kagami's fighting instincts had helped develop Kuroko's own. So when he saw a hand coming toward his head, he reacted like he'd been taught to react, and batted it off course.

Everyone stared at him. The looks they were giving him were like they didn't know him anymore. Well, that made six of them. Kuroko stared back at them unapologetically. He hadn't done anything wrong just now, even if he had caused this awkward silence to settle over them.

"So, uh, when did you get here, Tetsu?" Aomine asked, sounding like someone trying really hard to change the subject. "You should have said something when you sat down."

"I was sitting here first. You sat down at my table," Kuroko pointed out.

"Oh. Er, sorry."

"Still keeping a low profile, I see," said Midorima. "Same as always."

Akashi seemed to weigh his next words carefully. "There's nothing wrong with that, of course. Out of all of us . . . you were the only one who didn't need to change."

Kuroko stared at them blankly.

"The rest of us . . ." Akashi looked at his former teammates, then back at Kuroko, and made eye contact. "We . . ."

"Uh, hey? New guys?"

Kuroko almost jumped out of his seat at the realization that the rest of the Seirin Six had arrived while he'd been preoccupied. Kiyoshi was the one who'd spoken. He stood near Kuroko, frowning down at the Generation of Miracles, who, Kuroko realized belatedly, he hadn't gotten around to chasing away from the Seirin Six table yet.

"Sorry, about this . . ." Kiyoshi said. "There's no polite way to say it, and no matter what, it's going to sound like I'm just trying to give you a hard time, but I swear I'm not trying to . . . but this is our table. One of the veteran pilots' tables. Specifically, this is where the Seirin Six always eat."

Several of them stood up instantly – Aomine and Kise, to Kuroko's surprise. Midorima and Akashi began to gather their things. Murasakibara didn't immediately start obeying the not quite voiced request.

"Does it matter that much?" asked Murasakibara. "There's other free tables."

"Yeah, but they're not our table," Kiyoshi said. "I know I'm being really rude, even if you are just trainees, but you're athletes too. You know how superstitious we can be, and the last time we switched tables RimFire got an arm ripped off, and Clutch Time got a hull breach while they were underwater."

Kuroko's arm stung at the mere mention of that, even though he hadn't taken a physical injury during that fiasco. Unconsciously, he touched his left arm, fighting back a grimace.

"Of course we'll move," said Akashi. "Come, Tetsuya."

"I'm staying here."

Then Kagami arrived and batted Kuroko in the back of the head.

"Hey!" Aomine slammed down his tray and started forward like he was going to start a fight. But then he drew up short, eyes going wide at the mere sight of Kagami. Kuroko's new light had that effect on people.

Kuroko couldn't see the glare that Kagami fixed on Aomine, but he could feel it. He knew exactly what it looked like, and just how much distaste and enmity his best friend could pack into just one look. It was similar to the look Aomine used to give other basketball players in middles school. That you disgusting, filthy weak piece of shit, how dare you breathe the same air as me? Look. Except ten times more caustic, with the overwhelming defensiveness of an alpha lion whose pride you were messing with thrown in, sending off the message: If you even think about touching my friend I'll rip your arm off.

Even Aomine was frozen under that look. And when he didn't make a move against Kagami, Kagami turned his attention back to Kuroko.

"Idiot," he said, and the Seirin Six were probably the only ones able to hear the slight tone of affection in his voice. "How many times do I have to tell you, you can't live off milkshakes?"

"At least once more," Kuroko said, not even bothering to look up at him.

Kagami sighed and dropped a burger down in front of him.

"Eh, you really shouldn't live off hamburgers either, Kagami," said Kiyoshi, taking the seat on Kuroko's left, leaving Kagami's designated chair open on his right.

"I eat other stuff," Kagami said, dismissively. Then he clamped a hand down on top of Kuroko's head and glared at the Generation of Miracles. "What are all of them doing at our table, Kuroko?"

"They thought this table was free and sat down," Kuroko explained. "But Kiyoshi-senpai just explained our situation to them. They don't want us to die horribly, so they're moving to another table."

He touched his left arm just below the elbow again, and knew that Kagami was doing the same, as the memory caused a spike of phantom pain.

Kuroko's middle school friends noticed this time, and Kuroko saw on their faces as each one realized what was going on. What the situation really was. In middle school, their bug eyed expressions would have brought a smile to Kuroko's face, without fail. But now, years later, facing them as more or less strangers . . . it didn't seem as funny as it once would have. Again, the weight of what he'd lost weighed down on Kuroko. But Kagami's hand was still on his head, and with it the warmth of what he'd gained.

"Wait a second . . . What . . . Kurokocchi's . . ." Kise gaped at them in disbelief.

"Tetsu, are you . . ." Aomine didn't seem quite capable of believing it either.

Then Kuroko heard it: the soft electric buzzing that always filled the air right before the kaiju klaxon came on. Not everyone could hear it, but Kuroko could.

He stood up, suddenly becoming hyper aware of his teammates, all of whom had arrived now. He met Izuki's eyes, since Izuki was the only other one of the Seirin Six who could hear the electric crackle. The two shared savage smiles, then Kuroko turned to Kagami.

"We're up."

The schedule for which pilots were up changed constantly. To someone on the outside, it would seem confusing and probably not make a lot of sense, but to those who knew the logistics behind it, it was easy to follow. Adding in the Iwatobi Boys hadn't changed much.

Three teams were on call at all times, from noon to midnight. Every twelve hours, the teams on call changed. Which teams were on call, and which two were given priority to go in depended on a number of factors, including experience, the experience of the other team that was going, and how good you were at keeping damages to a minimum. Even though it had been over two years since a kaiju made landfall in Japan, they still had to take into account damages done to the jaegers themselves. Some damage was always inevitable. Dents and scratches were inevitable when you were beating kaiju to death with metal, or any material really. The name of the game had become taking down the kaiju while taking as little damage possible. After every fight, any jaeger involved was taken out of rotation and gone over with a fine toothed comb to make sure everything was in perfect working order. The longer it took them to make repairs, the longer you were out of rotation. And no one liked being out of rotation. Being out of rotation meant a tripled training menu. And worse: missing out on the chance to kill more kaiju. No one liked missing the chance to kill a kaiju.

Needless to say, Kuroko and Kagami had gotten very, very good at killing kaiju, taking the minimal amount of damage. And now, according to Kuroko's calculations, it was their turn to go in tonight. Theirs and Koganei's and Mitobe's.

"What?" Kise asked, right before the siren cut him off, and the announcement was made.

"Kaiju alert. Pilots Kagami, Kuroko, Koganei, and Mitobe report to the battle bridge immediately."

"Alright! We're up, Mitobe!" Koganei crowed, quickly putting his tray down in his designated spot at the table then, jumping into the air. "Let's go armor up!"

The look Akashi was giving Kuroko was like none Kuroko had ever seen on his ex-captain's face before. It was like someone might look if they'd been playing with a kitten that suddenly morphed into a viper.

"How did you know?" he asked, his voice remarkably well controlled despite his expression.

"There's a kind of electric crackle three seconds before the siren," explained Izuki. "A couple of us can hear it, so we get a few extra seconds heads up."

"Come on, Kagami-kun," Kuroko said, doing his best to his ex-teammates out of his mind. They had work to do. "Let's go kill another kaiju."

Kagami's smile lit up his whole face. To anyone else, it was probably at least mildly terrifying. To Kuroko it was like the sun.

"Engine on," he said, holding his hand out and bumping fists with Kuroko as they moved toward the door.

He heard Aomine made a small sound, not angry, but not happy either. Surprised, and maybe upset. But Kuroko couldn't afford to care about that now. He had a monster, a real monster to deal with, not just an egotistical basketball prodigy who thought he was a monster.

His steps matched up perfectly with Kagami's as they left the cafeteria at a brisk pace, quickly striding toward what would be their twenty-third kill.

Fated Souls

They changed back on their own. Without me. I'm glad but . . . they didn't need my help. They didn't need me.

They never did.

Kuroko's thoughts in the drift were dark and scared, and Kagami knew exactly what path they were going down. He was starting to wonder if maybe no one needed him. No one seemed to have needed him the entire first fifteen years of his life.

I need you, Kagami thought back as hard as he could. I will always need you.

He did his best to drive off images of that day in the rain, listening to Aomine tell Kuroko that he didn't even remember how to catch his passes anymore, essentially saying that he didn't need Kuroko anymore. His weapons were memories of his time with Kuroko: getting RimFire's emblem inked over their hearts, and in a band around their biceps. Playing two on two against the Becket brothers, two jaeger pilots from America who'd they'd met and backed up in Hawaii. Doing touristy stuff afterwards, hanging out just like two normal friends on vacation. Their first kaiju kill, and how nervous they both were at first, then how fearless once their thoughts had melded and they realized that they were in this together, and that with the other by their side, there was nothing they couldn't do.

Thank you, Kagami-kun. Kuroko's thoughts had stabilized and calmed. Kagami had successfully pulled him out of his funk.

For the record, they can't have you back. You belong with us now, and we're not letting you go.

Yes, Kuroko agreed.

Kagami smiled at the sincerity of that one word. Suck it, Aomine!

Kagami-kun.

Sorry. I'm not sorry.

Maji Burger after this kaiju? Suggested Kuroko.

Like they'd let us.

I could sneak out and get it for you again.

Better not risk it. I think Coach is onto us.

"Everything's looking good, boys," came Kagetora's voice through the speakers in their helmets.

"We aim to please," quipped Kagami.

"So you know, you've got a pretty big audience tonight. Kiyoshi invited all the new recruits into the battle auditorium."

Remarkably, Kuroko's thoughts remained stable. Kagami telepathed his approval to his partner and gave him a smile.

"So in other words, put on a show?" asked Kagami.

"No. In other words, don't get your idiot selves killed. You'll scare them all away if you do, and then where will we be?"

"It wouldn't be our problem. We'd be dead," commented Kuroko.

"Your sense of humor still needs work, brat."

"Huh? You thought he was joking?" asked Kagami in an ambiguous voice. Then he gave a hearty laugh to clear up any doubts. "Don't worry, Kagetora-san. Don't get killed. Don't scare away the recruits. Don't cause unnecessary paperwork. We've got it covered."

"We're going to Maji Burger after we kill this kaiju," added Kuroko.

"No, you're not," said Kagetora.

Kagami sighed. "Well, it was worth a try."

"Why can't we have Maji Burger? You guys never let us go anywhere!" whined Koganei through the radio.

"Because you are minors in the care of the military, who live on a military base. There are rules about when you can come and go. You should be used to this by now. Now stop screwing around. You'll reach the drop site in T-minus forty seconds. You remember your orders? RimFire is to engage the kaiju codenamed Naitaka. Ever-Changing Magical Star is to hang back and try to figure out a better name. And provide support for RimFire."

"There's nothing wrong with our name!"

"Understood."

"Got it."

"'Alright, we got it,' is what Mitobe says."

Those forty seconds flew by, and then the helicopters carrying RimFire and Ever-Changing Magical Star released them, dropping the jaegers into the ocean, along the continental shelf, off the coast of Chiba.

The water was chest deep for the jaegers there, and the currents were rough in that area. A storm seemed to be in the process of brewing, churning the water and making it impossible to see beneath the surface.

"We don't see the target," said Kagami after they'd gathered their bearings and turned in a full circle, looking for the kaiju.

"Back to back, Magic Star," requested Kuroko.

"Roger that." Koganei and Mitobe immediately moved into the defensive position, guarding RimFire's back and trusting RimFire to have their back.

"Any visuals on it from above?" Kagami asked.

"Negative. And this storm is blocking our satellites from picking up its heat signature."

Should we fire off some shots in a random pattern and see if we get lucky and hit it? asked Kuroko in Kagami's mind. That might help flush it out.

Might as well. It'll beat waiting for it to come to us, like some idiot who dies in a horror movie, thought back Kagami. "Hey, Magic Star. We're going to take some random shots in the water to see if we can flush it out."

"Good idea. This wait is – Auh!"

Kagami and Kuroko immediately reacted to Koganei's startled cry and pivoted around. Then they saw the kaiju, on top of Ever-Changing Magical Star, its long snake-like body wrapped around Magic Star, tangling up the jaeger's hand and arms, preventing Koganei and Mitobe from using most of their weapons. Its two spindly, T-Rex-like arms were trying to claw through Magic Star's chest, and its crocodile-like jaws were clamped over Magic Star's head. That had to be a terrifying visual for the two pilots.

"Hang on, Senpai!" Kagami and Kuroko shouted in unison and lunged at the kaiju.

Koganei gave a slightly stressed laugh. "We're not worried. Not with the two of you here."

RimFire's right fist struck Naitaka in the neck, and Kagami hit the switch that extended RimFire's arm blade – a new modification that was exactly what it sounded like. Activating it caused a blade the size of RimFire's hand to pop right out of the jaeger's wrist. The blade sunk into the kaiju's scaly skin, putting a nice rip in the hellspawned creature's hide.

The kaiju screamed and thrashed, making it worse for itself and increasing the size of the wound. RimFire's left hand came up and grabbed hold of one of Naitaka's arms. They wrenched the monster off Magic Star and into the water. Naitaka turned on them, its tail lashing out and wrapping around them like an anaconda, but it wasn't in a good position. RimFire had it locked down.

"Please go for its head, Magic Star. We'll hold it," requested Kuroko calmly.

"Got it, RimFire. Take this you ugly mother!"

Ever-Changing Magical Star avenged the ambush attack the kaiju had launched on them by giving it a good haymaker to the face. As it did, Kuroko and Kagami squeezed the kaiju's arm as hard as they could, trying to crush it in their grasp.

"And this! And this!" Koganei shouted as he reigned blows down on the kaiju.

With a monumental amount of effort, Naitaka managed to free itself. And by monumental effort, I mean it sacrificed its own limb, letting it get ripped off so that it could get free. Then it snapped its jaws toward RimFire's head.

"Shit!" Kagami swore, but Kuroko, cool as a cucumber, like always, had already shown him the counter they needed. They grabbed the kaiju by the throat with RimFire's left hand.

"Get clear please, Magic Star. Plasma cannon is powering," Kuroko warned.

"Oh man, that's going to be awesome! You're literally going to blow its head off! Mitobe says we've got to YouTube this!"

The kaiju thrashed and struggled, trying to get free, but it seemed that sacrificing its head wasn't on the table when it came to escape plans, and Kagami and Kuroko had no intentions of letting it get away again.

"Plasma cannon fully powered. And firing," Kuroko remarked. He could have been remarking on the weather, he sounded so calm and unconcerned, but through their bond Kagami could feel vicious glee. Kuroko was actually pretty damn savage when it came to kaiju. Even the rest of the Seirin Six thought that most of RimFire's nastier finishing moves were Kagami's ideas, but Kuroko had actually come up with the majority of them.

The plasma cannon built into RimFire's left hand went off and Naitaka's neck and head exploded in a blast of ozone and light. Ichorous chemicals, chunks of skull, brain matter, and globs of scaled skin flew in every direction.

"I love my job," Kuroko commented, as RimFire was bathed in dead kaiju bits.

"You sound like you love your job," said Kagami.

"Do I really?"

"No."

"Oh. Well, I do."

"I know."

"Good job, RimFire. Magic Star. The helicopters are on their way down now. Prepare for extraction."

"Roger," Kuroko and Kagami said in tandem.

"Roger," echoed Koganei a moment later. Then he gave a slight laugh. "Thanks for that back there, Kagami, Kuroko. You saved our bacon."

"You would have done the same for us. You have done the same for us," said Kagami.

"You've got our backs, we've got yours," Kuroko added.

"Of course, but I've still gotta thank you. Next time Maji Burger is on Mitobe and me. Whenever they let us out again."

"Much appreciated," said Kuroko.

"Not as much as we appreciated that save. Don't take this the wrong way, but I love you guys!"

The helicopters reached them again then, and the pilots busied themselves with helping prepare for the extraction. Then, once all the cables had been attached to their jaeger, and they were hoisted back into the air and on their way home, Kuroko and Kagami relaxed, basking in their victory, and the warmth of their partner's presence in their mind. It was a constant reminder of how amazing it was they'd found each other, out of all the people in the world, they'd found the one who they could team up with perfectly. A constant reminder of what amazing things they could do together.

You see? You belong with us. We need you. I need you. I couldn't do this with anyone else. And even if I could, I wouldn't want to.

I know. And Kagami-kun . . . thank you for always being here.

The GoM are finally here! And some of their teammates! Now all sorts of drama can ensue! I'm planning the aftermath of their abrupt reunion and this fight right now!

If you like Pacific Rim/KnB crossovers, there's another fic called "Kuroko no Jaeger" by Saota that's worth checking out. And there's a link to her tumblr page in her profile with pics of Kuroko and Kagami in jaeger pilot armor, which are awesome!

Rin and Nitori are borrowed from Free! Iwatobi Swim Club. No copyright infringement intended.

Please review!