Kagami hated feeling helpless. It was the worst. Like that night before the Winter Cup final, when Kuroko had told the team about how things had all gone wrong at Teiko and Kuroko hadn't been able to do anything to fix it. Kagami had offered his opinion on what could have been done, which had not been helpful at all, in retrospect. It had only made Kuroko feel more guilty and morose, as if he should have been able to take Kagami's ridiculous suggestions and make them work, even though he wouldn't even meet Kagami until long after.

At least Kagami had been able to cheer Kuroko up, a little. The others had helped, too, and Kuroko had seemed his usual self by the end of the night. And yet, afterward, Kagami lay in his bed and thought about Kuroko's story, and it wouldn't stop bothering him. When he thought about it, he realized that nothing he'd said had made any sense. He couldn't come up with a solution for what Kuroko could have done. It made him feel helpless and angry and twisted up inside, and he hated that. He hated it.

At least he had been able to use those bad feelings to fuel his basketball the next day. His desire to help Kuroko, to make things better for him, had given wings to his feet for a while and boosted the team at the beginning of the match. Later, when he had felt down and helpless again, Kuroko had lifted him in return.

But that was basketball. This was different. Kagami felt helpless again, but the secondary emotion wasn't anger. It was fear. And the stakes weren't victory at a basketball tournament. They were much, much higher.

Who knew hospital emergency rooms could be so busy? Who knew that they could be passed over again and again because their problem was "just" a fever? Who knew that simply sitting in a chair, waiting, could be this agonizing?

"Taiga." Dad's voice was quiet, but no less commanding for that. "Come and sit next to me."

Kagami had been sitting in one of the single chairs across from where his dad had taken over one of the few sofas, cradling Kuroko in his lap. Kuroko was limp against Dad's chest, head tucked under his chin, legs sprawling on the cushion next to them. His eyes were closed, and his breathing kept sounding worse and worse. Too short, too fast, too loud. Now Dad wrapped one arm around Kuroko's back, holding him secure, and reached his other arm out for Kagami.

Kagami went to him without hesitation. He pressed up against Dad's side like a little kid seeking reassurance, lifting Kuroko's legs into his lap as he went. Dad's arm wrapped around his neck and pulled his head down to rest on his shoulder. If Kagami lowered his face a handful of centimeters, he could bury his nose in Kuroko's hair.

This close, he was even more aware of the heat radiating from Kuroko, his labored breathing, the stillness of his body except for the pumping of air in and out of his lungs.

"Dad," he whispered. "Is Kuroko gonna be okay?"

Dad sighed and tilted his head to rest his cheek on Kagami's crown. "Yeah, he will. I know it's scary right now. He's very sick."

"I've never seen anyone this sick," Kagami said, his voice hushed with the fear of it.

"I'm sure it's an infection of some kind, though I don't know what it is. He needs antibiotics. Once he gets the right medicine, he'll start getting better quickly. A few days at most, and all of this will seem like a bad dream. We just need to get through a few days."

Kagami nodded, then went still again. "But you have to go back to America next week. Won't you take a flight on Sunday?"

"There's this thing called parental leave, and they even have it in America. When you have a new child, and that includes adoption or foster placement, you can take time off. In California it's paid for a while, unlike most of the States. Granted, this is short notice, and I haven't filed the paperwork yet. But don't worry. I'm not going back for a long time. If ever."

"Oh. Good." Kagami relaxed more fully into his dad's side.

Dad sighed and let his head rest back against the sofa. "I know this is all happening fast. I didn't expect it, either. I thought this weekend would just be a nice visit, and we would work everything out later. I would have liked to give Tetsu-chan more time to get to know me before I officially took custody of him."

The edge of anxiety in his voice had Kagami tilting his head up to look at his dad's profile. "You don't... You don't think Kuroko is going to regret this, do you?"

Dad shook his head. "I don't know. He was very out of it when he asked his father to let him come to us. I don't even know if he'll remember saying it."

"Dad." If Kagami had had room and could have done it without disturbing Kuroko, he would have punched his father in the side. As it was, he could only remonstrate with his voice. "Don't be ridiculous. I promise you, he wants this."

Dad was quiet for a second, blinking up at the ceiling. "You sound very sure."

"We talked about it. Well, not about the adoption, because we didn't even know it was a possibility then. But I know very well that he wants to stay with us. I started getting worried, thinking about how maybe he'd be better off with someone who knew what they were doing instead of me, and he shut me down real quick. Even told me to stop thinking because I wasn't good at it."

A startled chuckle burst from Dad's lips. "You are very comfortable friends."

Kagami nodded. "I know he seemed nervous and shy in some of the video chats, but that was just because he wanted so much for you to like him. Once he was sure you did, he was more relaxed with you than I've ever seen him be with any other adult. Ever."

"Ah." Dad lifted his hand, dangling over Kagami's shoulder, to push it roughly through his hair and muss it thoroughly. Then he turned his head and planted a kiss on the side of Kagami's head, right in the middle of the mess he had just made. "I'm sure I have you to thank for that, Tiger Cub. He trusts you absolutely and without question, so he was able to trust me, as well."

On an ordinary day Kagami would be a bit embarrassed by this open affection, especially out in public. Today, he soaked it up. "Thanks, Dad," he said quietly. "But it wasn't all me. You're a really good guy, you know. Kuroko is observant. He could see how trustworthy you are even through a video chat."

Dad hummed. "Maybe we both did some things right, then."

"You..." Kuroko's voice. It was breathy and faint, almost inaudible. Kagami and his dad both went still, Kagami watching Kuroko's face intently, Dad staring at him because Kuroko's head was still tucked under his chin. Kuroko stirred sluggishly, his eyes struggling to open. "You both..."

"Kuroko." Kagami reached out and rubbed a hand along his upper arm. "It's okay. Go back to sleep."

"Wasn't...asleep. Resting." Kuroko finally forced his eyes open. They were glazed and distant, filled with pain. They made Kagami want to cry.

Kuroko leaned his head back, sliding along Dad's chest, and Kagami didn't get what he was doing at first. Dad lifted his arm and caught Kuroko's head in the crook of his elbow. Kuroko tipped his head back, back, then he smiled when he saw Dad's face, looking down on him with concern. Oh. He just wanted to look at them.

Kuroko bent his head forward so he could see Kagami, too. Kagami had lifted his head from Dad's shoulder and craned around so he could watch his face in return. "Wanted...to tell you..."

"It's okay," Dad said, low and soothing. "Whatever you need to tell us, it can wait till you're feeling better. You can just rest right now."

Kuroko shook his head, slow, certain. "No. Tell you now."

Dad went still, his face fierce with listening. Kagami nodded solemnly to let him know he could go ahead.

Kuroko smiled again, sweet, his eyes falling half shut. "You are both...amazing."

Kagami and his dad were still for a moment, taking this in. Then Kagami laughed, breathless in surprise, and Dad huffed out a breath drew his arm in tight to tuck Kuroko under his chin again. He bent his head to plant a kiss on the top of Kuroko's head, right in the messiest part of his bedhead. "You darling boy," he said. "You could have told us that later."

Kuroko's eyes fell all the way shut again, but he was still smiling. "No. You were both being silly. Had to tell you."

"All right. You told us. Go back to sleep."

Kuroko wriggled in protest. "Not asleep."

"Right, resting. Go back to resting."

They all fell silent. Kagami put his head back down on Dad's shoulder and listened to Kuroko breathe. Kagami wondered how much Kuroko had heard, how much of the conversation he'd been listening to. He knew that Kuroko tended to tune out when he found things too overwhelming and confusing, so even if Kuroko had been awake, he might not have really understood what he and Dad had said to each other. Even though they had been careful to keep it in Japanese.

But after a minute or so, Kuroko stirred again, his fingers twitching where they were clenched in Dad's shirt. He obviously wanted to say something again, so they both held still and listened, all but holding their breath. Kuroko didn't bother opening his eyes again, just forced out the words.

"Am I...Kagami now?"

Kagami and Dad exchanged glances. Dad raised the hand he'd held wrapped around Kuroko's back and stroked his fingers through his hair. "Not quite. The contract just gives me custody. The right to take care of you. But you are still Kuroko Tetsuya. You're old enough that I can adopt you under the inheritance adoption. Your name would be written under the Kagami register and erased from the Kuroko one."

Dad was silent for a moment, considering. His fingers still swept through Kuroko's hair. "We don't have to do that. I haven't read the contract, but I know it's solid. I can take care of you without taking away your name."

Kuroko was still for a moment. Then his head moved in something like negation, though the movement was so slight that Kagami almost didn't catch it, even watching as closely as he was. "I wouldn't...miss it..." he said softly. "Kuroko...has suffered. Much. I would like to be Kagami."

Dad's hand stilled in Kuroko's hair. He looked up at the ceiling, blinking away tears, then lowered his head to rest his jaw against Kuroko's hair again. "I know," he murmured. "I know you have suffered, Tetsu-chan. But this is a big decision. Let's talk about it again when you are well."

"All right." Kuroko slumped even more heavily against Dad's chest. Kagami thought he might be truly trying to sleep now. But then he stirred again, his eyes opening just a sliver. He was looking at Kagami, and his expression was disappointed. "But that means...Kagami-kun isn't Taiga-nii."

Kagami's heart almost burst out of his chest. He had to mouth the words for a few moments before they would come out, and then his voice was thin and choked. "Oh, Kuroko. You can call me Taiga-nii if you want to."

Kuroko's eyes slid closed again. He smiled. "And I am Tetsu-chan?"

Again, Kagami was completely incapable of speech for about five seconds. "Yes," he managed at last. He reached out and rubbed his arm again, because he couldn't think of anything else to do. "Yes, you are Tetsu-chan."

He had a sudden urge to go punch a wall until he felt a little more manly. Good lord, he and his dad were going to spoil this kid to within an inch of life the instant they had the opportunity.

Kuroko...Tetsu...responded to this by snuggling into Dad's chest. His smile turned soft and satisfied. "Hiroshi-san, Taiga-nii, Tetsu-chan," he recited sleepily. "A fresh start."

"Yeah," Kagami said, his voice rough and low. "A fresh start. Now for pity's sake, Tetsu-chan, go to sleep."

It might have been the fever. It might have been delirium. When Tetsu was healed and in his right mind again, he might not want to use those names between himself and Kagami anymore. But for now, Kagami held them close to his heart and was achingly, unbearably glad.

Dad's arms tightened around them both, hauling them in close and safe and warm. Kagami still felt helpless. He still thought the hospital was taking far too long to give his little brother the help he needed. He was still frightened and worried, trapped face to face with the worst illness he'd ever witnessed up close.

But he was happy, too. And when Dad whispered, "It's going to be okay," and again kissed Kagami's head, then Tetsu's, he even believed it might be true.