#not my gay ass drawing cass again

[nokdunal]

Swords and shields no.1 fan

[ggomos-maribat]

[42/?]

BDBWM Day 29 | Baking

original prompt | complete masterlist

“Okay, look alive, everyone!” Marinette yells. Behind the kitchen island, her picks are lined up, stiffly standing. “Alfred’s not home yet and we need to bake a cake for Dick’s birthday!” 

She clears her throat, batting her rolling pin against one hand. “Normally I’d volunteer to bake it myself, but we’re short on time today and I’m planning a big and extravagant birthday cake!” 

Her rolling pin points towards Jason. “I thought you’d be more delicate in these kind of things than the others—plus you radiate occasional malewife energy so you must have some talent in baking—” 

“Radiate what?” 

“And you!” She directs the pin towards Tim, who’s struggling to be awake. “You can follow instructions well. Most of the time. You’ll be good as long as we follow the recipe.” 

Tim gives a halfhearted salute. 

“And finally, Dad!” She points to Bruce. He’s wearing an oversized chef’s hat and an apron with ‘Best Dad’ written on it, except that the first word is crossed out. “You’re a grown ass man! You cannot fuck this up!” 

“Language, dear.” 

Marinette coughs. “Sorry.” She sets the pin behind her. “Anyway, I would’ve gotten Cass to help but unfortunately she’s on decoration duty. Now, let’s begin!” 

---

“Next, drop a stick of butter—” 

Marinette stops, seeing Tim plop the whole piece of frozen butter into the mixing bowl. “Tim! I told you to soften it first!” 

“It is soft.” 

“No it’s not!” 

He tries to break it down with a whisk but the hardened butter doesn’t relent. Tim unblinkingly stares down at it. 

Marinette puts a hand over her eyes. “We’re going to wait for that to soften up.” Then, she scowls. “Or you can start all over again.” 

---

“Jason.” 

He doesn’t look up from his phone. “Yeah?”

“Why is the cake in the oven burning?” 

“What do you—shit!” He lifts his gaze and sees it: the cake he popped into the oven is in flames. He scrambles over to it and is about to open it when—

“Use a glove, Jay, damn it!” Marinette shouts. 

He hastily picks one up and frees the smoke into the kitchen, causing the fire alarms to ring. Marinette sighs as she gets doused with the sprinklers’ water. So much for malewife energy. 

---

Marinette watches as Bruce draws over the cake with icing, which is coming out of the piping bag in irregular bursts. He tries to smoothen it over with a scraper but it barely makes the icing even. 

He catches her looking and his eyes widen. 

“You’re doing great, Dad.” Marinette smiles weakly. I can just fix the icing later. 

Taglist:

@maribat-bdbwm@tinybrie @sinoffalsejudgement @its-maemain @kamarallil @toughluna @golden-promises @whatamoodhoney @trippingovermyfeet @m4ster0fnone @alexizlazy @plz-excuse-my-inner-gay @maybeanalien0-0 @imchaotic-dontmindme @ev-cupcake @flowers-n-fandoms @crusherccme @ji-nk-ies @depressed-bitchy-demon @duskyashe @multplelifes @authorpendragging@iloontjeboontje@thatonecroc@user00000003@paradoxaloccurance@kking13@laydeekrayzee@chaos-inperson@astol07@the-coffee-fandom@nerd-nowandforever@nightmarewasteland@certainmuffinbagelcalzone@the-hospitality-of-knives@stainedglassm@talia-scar123@trying414@starling218@buginetye@ascetic-orange@myazael@child-of-the-clouds@ladythugs@adrestar@therealkotlc@blueneko9314 @kinda-craz-fan @kitsun369

[otto-von-stirlitz]

Wicdiv #45 notes

 I It’s all so... weird and surreal. One last post to honor the tradition that really did keep me hooked on here for years. Something about those 5 years just ending. Having followed wicdiv almost from the beginning, I really feel attached to it and view it through a VERY personal lens of all the changes that happened during those years. From a depressed and passively suicidal 17yo in a highschool, to an almost graduated 22yo, trying to figure out it all with a bit more hope and a bit less of mental health issues. Eh, let’s cut it out and move to a standard spoilery bullet points format, I’m too wordy and pretentious

Of course this issue had to be happy and sad at the same point, as both life and death shine through as central motifs of the whole book, especially underlined here. Two sides of the same coin (no Yavien, you will not say ‘alexa play hyori ittai by yuzu’ to cry over hunter x hunter. no)

You know how as an urban activist I’m ideologically not a big fan of cars, but damn, that McKelvie design! Reminds me of prototypes of future cars I saw in the BMW musuem, kudos for capturing that futuristic tech feel.

I like the subtle implication that Eleanor did grow and change. But then again, she had so much time, so it’s not even that high of a bar.

‘What’s a funeral without morbidity?’ after all those years Cass stayed THE #1 goth of the cast (but Umar gets pretty close with channeling Cam). Yes, I love Cass and I love how after the kiss from #44 we got a whole ass lauracass feels issue, amazing, showstopping, incredible etc etc. You know, Im just a fan.

Gotta admit, reading the issue the first time I did miss that Laura says ‘them’ to refer to Zahid. It really explains why Kieron was so cagey about the pronouns ask back during Fandemonium. They did have time to explore thier gender and pronouns after all of the ‘2 years’ baiting. It’s a win for the nbs (sobs and cries on the floor)

Also goddamn McKelvie really popped off with all the older character designs? All those little details and shout-outs to their youger selves? And all the Minanke practice in drawing basically the same character but as a teen and as a grandma did pay off. And this all while chasing deadlines with hypermobility? Chapeau bas. Although I’m sad that Jon got his fathers aging genes, however his mom looked that age must’ve been better...

‘Every time it rains’ yes A CHRISTMAS SPECIAL SHOUTOUT BUT I AM ALRIGHT I REPEAT I AM ALRIGHT ITS NOT TEARS, IT RAINS (haha both baal ref and fma hughes funeral ref IA M FINE)

Also I’m crying for Aruna, she was in such a bad place by #13 and this issue? HEr new body? The way she learned to mix miracles and songs? And in general finally having this authority over her life? And deciding to use it paritally to help people she often barely knew? I am fine i repeat

Meredith and Zoe, glad to see you and your names confirmed and a confirmation that you were also a part of the Pantheon

Umar’s line about hospitals (and the picture from #16) seems to imply Cass passed away after some illness. Eleanor saying it’s unfair that she smoked and ‘got away’ with it and Cass being prepared she’d die soon kinda ties into that theory? Was it cancer or something else?

Also yeah re: that pic (and the invitation to Was It Cam Or Cass debate) - Umar has two hands, period. And like the fact that Umar literally quotes words Cam said moments before his death in Umar’s hospital room? Yeah, it’s really raining, lieutenant...

Delivering your own eulogy via a hologram is exactly this level of gay panache that Cass would embrace, I LOVE HER SO MUCH. Also being nice AF to literally everyone but in the snarkiest way possible? PEAK CASS. But yeah, something more changed because she wears a white (!!!) shirt. Now that’s a massive wardrobe change

Zahid being one of the closest friends of Cass? I love this song

Also ‘you were never my type. until you were’ should be An Iconic quote of gay tumblr and twitter and yes i will be using it as my lauracass otp tag from now on.

Also Cass focus on how everyone changed themself and tried to change the world, so the future people are born into a better one.

And yeah, same, I also didnt always want to be buried beneath a tree but now as I’m growing out of my old edgeperson ways? It sounds wonderful, I want to be an acorn even after death.

Also yeah, the final themes of growth that takes time, becoming better and finding hope... they resonate with me now, as I also feel like I’ve been through hell for 2 (or actually more, i think) years. But you know, rip to that old me but im different (now). Thank you Kieron for luring me into a flashy colorful YA, then a messed up and depressive story, and then climbing up the walls of hell back when I did. It was not always going to be okay, but then it was okay.

And yes, to the whole fandom, fandom that let me find so many friends all over the world and grow up as a person and have so much fun with our stupid puns and shitposts: I love you. I’ll miss you. (but honestly, still feel free to HMU etc, its not like we actually die. We just lost a source of monthly engagement, thats it. Im just a dramatic lil shit too)

Also yeah, one last word: may Two Slow Dancers by Mitski be the final, ultimate Lauracass song. Let’s all play it now, and cry. No, it’s not raining anymore, I really am crying thinking about Them.

[fyideanisbi]

Unraveled secrets

This fic is a destiel high school AU. It has bullying and angst just by the way.

Being gay was his secret. Everyone had one and that was his. Where he lived didn't help his situation, homosexuality wasn't exactly accepted to put it lightly. While he had never participated in the bullying of a few of his classmates, he did witness it. Castiel knew he was gay, he had known since he was thirteen. A girl had shown him her breasts and he had just stared, feeling nothing. His first jack off session had ended with a boys name on his lips. So he kept that part of him buried deep deep down. Castiel lived in a small town, where religion and god played a huge role in the lives of everyone. It'd been in the newspaper before: local gay boy beaten to death. Up until now he had been able to ignore it then Dean Winchester moved to town.

The guy was beautiful with emerald green eyes, many freckles, and sandy blonde hair. When he had walked into his junior English class and saw Dean Winchester seated directly across from his, he knew he was screwed and that brings him to where he was now. Dean was wearing a short sleeved shirt and Castiel could see freckles spreading across his arms, disappearing under the material of his shirt. It got him wondering if he had freckles in other places like his-

"Castiel" He was ripped from his thoughts of Dean's ass to the current lesson.

"Um sorry what?"

The class snickered and the whispers started like they do every year. "Can you name a famous Shakespeare quote?"

"Um uh what is a name uh that could smell as sweet as um the rose"

"Correct"

Castiel lowered his eyes, staring at his paper, not bothering to listen to the lesson. Picking up his pencil to look like he was taking notes, he started drawing bees on the edge of the paper. A hand tapping his shoulder made him look up to see Dean staring at him.

"You don't know what we're doing do you?" Dean asked him.

"No"

"We’re supposed to be doing the assignment on the board together as partners."Castiel nodded and pulled out his book.

"I haven't gotten your name what is it?"

"Castiel"

"Castiel, huh kinda a mouthful can I call you Cass?"

"Uh Yeah Cass is fine."

They didn't talk again for the rest of the period. The bell rang and Castiel couldn't wait to leave and get to his next class before Alastair caught him. He was lucky and got to math. It was weird Alastair hadn't been bothering him at all that day and it worried Castiel.

Alastair had started bullying him a little at the beginning of the year but nothing too bad. Castiel really wished he knew why so he could fix it or say sorry at least but he had been unsuccessful. Lunch was his worst time of the day, everyone roamed the halls. He didn't like feeling the constant anxiety about where his bullies were during lunch and the library was one place he knew they'd never go. Castiel tuned out as he made his way to the library to read. This lunch seemed to stretch on and on and he couldn't seem to focus on the words, anxiety flowing through his veins. The bell rang and he nearly sprinted out of the library to his government class.

History was his best subject and he thoroughly enjoyed the class, until he noticed Dean was in the class too. ‘Great now I'll never concentrate’, he thought as Dean sat in his seat looking nervous. As usual Mrs. older than the textbook, started the class and it became hard not to daydream of freckles, green eyes, and sandy blonde hair. He wished he could style his hair that way if it would cooperate but his curly raven locks wouldn't have it. The bell rang, startling him out of his thoughts. What had happened? Did they have homework? Who knew, not him. Castiel gathered up his stuff and began his trek to his car parked on the opposite side of the school. His thoughts wandered as he walked, what was for dinner?; did he have homework?; could he do his homework?. Hands grabbed him from behind and Castiel yelped loud in surprise. Hands went over his mouth to hide his struggle as he was dragged behind the school to the place called "smokers pot." An arm pushed him backward into the brick wall and he was faced with Alastair.

"Evening Castiel" Alastair said to him with a smile.

"Let go of me" Castiel said as he struggled to wiggle free from Alastair’s cold grasp on him only making the fingers grip him tighter.

"Oh no no talking Castiel" Alastair said before stepping back and another boy he didn't know stepped forward, throwing the first punch across his jaw and another to his nose. Castiel cried out as pain rang through his body, which earned him a punch to the mouth so hard he fell to the ground. Feet kicked themselves into his gut and he gagged and the feet got harder. Another set of hands grabbed his, yanking his arms painfully behind his back forcing his head backward. Punches rained down on his face for god knows how long.

Something hard and painful that felt like a baseball bat was hitting his stomach, getting harder as the hits continued. Distant voices rang in his ears and the bat hit him hard in the head. A similar object was skillfully whacked into his neck. The punches and kicks continued and Castiel had stopped fighting, hardly breathing. Something hard, cold, and sharp was digging in his shoulder and Castiel couldn't help but whimper as it carved into his skin. The kicks had stopped on his stomach but were starting on his back. He distantly heard a new but familiar voice yelling and that was all he heard before he drifted off.

Dean

Dean had thought someone was messing with sports equipment and went to see what it was but what he found was far worse. He saw bats, ski sticks, knives, and six familiar faces. One of those six was on the ground and the other five were brutally beating him. Dean had never seen so much blood in his life and his dad was a hunter.

"Hey" he found himself yelling.

Surprised shouts of fuck, get out, move, and stop rang out as the guys rushed to run away. Dean didn't even care, he was running to the one on the ground. He looked like he was attacked by an animal, blood flowed from various spots on his head, there was deep red line on his neck that was bleeding lightly and seemed to be getting worse, there were cuts on his shoulder which was what was causing so much blood to flow, and so many red marks. He walked gently but fast over to him, ripping his flannel and then his tee off to press to the shoulder wound. His face was familiar but he couldn't place him until he saw the familiar necklace he saw on him earlier.

"Cass? Castiel?"

Nothing. Dean bent down and as gently as he could press the tee to the cut and picked him up and ran to his car parked a few rows down. Placing Cass in the back seat, Dean jumped in the front and booked it to the first hospital his phone brought up. He'd never felt this anxious about anything before. The drive to the hospital was really only about seven minutes but felt like hours until he finally arrived. He didn't spend time finding a parking spot and stopped the car under the big ER sign. His ears were ringing as he lifted Castiel out of the back seat and raced inside the ER.

"Help! Help he's hurt real bad" Dean yelled as he got into the entrance.

A nurse came out and gasped, wide eyed as she called for a gurney and a doctor. His shirt was soaked entirely with blood from the cut on Castiel's shoulder. Doctors raced out faster than he'd seen since his mother's accident. They gently pried Dean’s arms off of Castiel placing him on the gurney and speeding off. He watched as the gurney was rolled into a surgical room, his head spinning. Air blasted through the vent above him and Dean became painfully aware of his absence of a shirt, shivering. A nurse led him gently to the bathroom, where he realized his hands and chest were covered with blood, which the nurse took samples off. Dean stared at himself in the mirror, very aware of what he had just done. His hands shook as he turned the water on and cleaned his hands until the water ran clear, doing the same with paper towels on his chest. Unwrapping his flannel from his waist, he slipped it on ignoring the red splatters of blood on the soft material. Walking out of the bathroom he was greeted with three nurses and two police officers.

"Son will you come with us" one of the officers asked him.

Dean absently nodded his head. They led him to a private waiting room.

"Name?"

"Dean Winchester"

"Huh haven't heard that before, you new in town?"

"Yeah I moved here a little over a week ago"

"Alright do you know the name of the boy you carried in?"

"Castiel I don't know his last name"

"Castiel-

The officer paused.

"Castiel Novak yeah Novak, how did you find him?"

"I heard some noises coming from behind our high school and wanted to see what it was, I thought it was someone messing with some sports equipment and found 5 guys beating on Cass"

"How do we know you didn't participate?"

"I don't have any blood on me that's mine, my knuckles aren't bruising, I didn't do it"

The officer squinted at him as if he was trying to decided to believe him.

"Chuck come on it"

A man came into the room looking very worried, he had Castiels same eye color, if he was guessing he'd say this was Castiel's father.

"Yes hi"

And the awkwardness.

"Sir this is the young man that found and brought in your son"

Dean looked up at the man.

"Thank you uh-

"Dean"

"Dean thank you"

The officer looked over at him.

"Son you're free to go if you'd like-

"Hell no I'm staying here until he wakes up"

Both men other than Dean were silent.

"Alright" Chuck responded, smiling at Dean. A nurse chose the time to come in.

"Chuck Novak?"

Chuck was instantly up out of his chair.

"Yes that's me"

"Alright is everyone in the room family?"

"No but they're all welcome to stay"

"Okay so Castiel has a concussion, five cuts that need stitches on his head possibly caused by a blunt object, light burning and mildly severe cutting on his neck, the most serious was the letters carved on his shoulder which start close to the hyoid bone and travels back to his shoulder bone, severe deep bruising, and many minor cuts and scrapes. The surgeon is working on his neck and shoulder right now. Your son was very lucky if the laceration had been more than 3 inches to the right and he would have been paralyzed. We'll let you know when you can see him"

The room was left in silence. Dean hadn't realized until that moment the weight of what he'd done, he'd saved Castiel's life. He wanted to know more about him.

"Dean?"

Dean looked up somewhat warily at chuck.

"Yeah"

"You don't have to stay I can call you when he's stable but I would like to know how do you know my son?"

"He's in my English, government, math, and biology classes"

Chuck nodded and seemed relieved.

"Do you have any idea who did this?"

"I recognized the faces but the only name I know is Alastair"

"Thank you for saving him"

Dean smiled a little and got up to leave the hospital, giving his phone number to Chuck in the process. He walked out of the hospital and to his car parked in the front, trying not to notice the smears of blood in the back seat. He can't go home now, he can't force himself to go face John after what he just saw. Dean knows of harsh lives but he never thought another person could cause such damage to another. Now he's scared, he's scared to see his dad after what he just saw, he's to vulnerable. Sammy can't see him this way. So he drives, he drives until the sun starts to go down. Dean doesn't want to go home but he knows he can't escape the inevitable. He takes a huge breath before driving his baby up the driveway, getting out and walking through the door. Dean turns to go down the hallway and is met with a fist to the face.

“Where th’ hellve you ben’ boy”

Dean squeezes his eyes shut as pain radiates from his jaw. Another punch lands on his cheek, seconds later another lands in the exact same spot, and he crumbles to the floor.

“Answer me boy”

“I was with a friend”

Dean only receives three kicks to the stomach before John mumbles something and stumbles to his room.

“Dean” he hears a quiet whisper from somewhere to the left.

“Are you okay?” Sammy asks as he came out of his room.

“Yeah yeah I think so” Dean grunts out as he tries to stand helped by Sam. The kid was only 14 and had already passed Dean in height.

“You don't have to keep doing this, I can take dad”

“Sure you could but you're only 14”

“De-”

“No Sammy”

Sam rolled his eyes.

“Jerk”

“Bitch”

Castiel

He doesn't know what happened, where he is, or how he got here. He remembers being in the back of the school. And pain, so much pain. Castiel doesn't understand why he can't move or why his eyes aren't opening. His throat hurts, it's so dry. He can hear sounds echoing throughout his head varying in volume. It's as painful as it is bittersweet because he's alive but being alive means he has to go back to the hell that is his life.

Castiel cracked his eyes open just a smudge, seeing nothing but blurred shapes. He tries to focus his hearing to at least understand what’s going on. Castiel’s heartbeat speeds up when he hears his father's voice. Oh god, he knows about the bullying now. His thoughts started to grow out of control and an annoying but insistent beeping got faster. Black spots appeared in his vision as everything faded out and went black

[lesbianlametron]

BoKuroo Week Day 1

Prompt: Beginnings and Endings

Title: Kuroo’s Guilty Pleasure

Rating: T

Summary: Bokuto and Kuroo have graduated high school and play college volleyball together. One day after a work out, Bokuto finds out Kuroo’s guilty pleasures and Kuroo is mortified. Luckily for Kuroo, Bokuto might not find his secret as weird as Kuroo expected.

Inspired by this and this.

             Bokuto had just finished his work out and was on his way out when he ran into a large crowd. It was mostly girls and they were all crowded around one of the studios. All the studios had a single wall of windows for viewing and every inch of it was blocked with bodies. Bokuto knew they were used for group classes, but he preferred to work out on his own so he never ventured to this part of the gym. It seemed strange, but then again Bokuto could care less. He was only here to lift weights and stay in shape for Volleyball. He was about to shrug it off and go home until a conversation caught his attention.

             “Have you ever taken one of his classes?”

             “I wish. I wanted to take this one, but it always fills up. They cut it off when the studio gets too full.”

             “I know, when I heard about it, I thought it was weird, but it’s a good work out.”

             “I mean I can hardly walk in heels and he can dance in them. He dances better in them then his teaching partner.”

             “And that’s saying something because Cass is a goddess.”

             “I heard they’re dating. Kuroo and Cass are perfect together, talk about a power couple.”

             Bokuto had to stop himself from butting into their conversation. He knew Kuroo’s teaching partner was Cass, but they weren’t dating. No way. Tetsu’s gay, he told me in high school. Unless he decided he was bi…I only found out I was bi after living with Testu…damn those thighs…wait! Focus. No way would he be dating Cass, he would have told me. Bokuto swallowed and jealousy burned in his stomach like acid. He’d actually never seen Kuroo show interest in anyone since coming to college. Kuroo talked to the other guys on the Volleyball team and called Kenma once a week, but he wasn’t dating anyone. At least that’s what Bokuto hoped. Oh god, I’m hopeless…stupid feelings, he doesn’t even like me. Bokuto deflated and was about to leave when the first girl spoke up again.

             “No way, Cass has a boyfriend. Also, I heard Kuroo is gay. It’s a shame really, he looks so sexy in those heels.”

             Bokuto perked up again. Right! They mentioned Tetsu dancing in heels, that’s something I have to check out. I knew he taught dance classes but I didn’t know he taught a class like that. Bokuto pushed to the front of the crowd, not caring who he pissed off in the process. His mouth fell open the minute he spotted his roommate. Kuroo was dressed in a baggy tank top and leggings along with the rumored black stilettos. Living together, he’d seen many sides of Kuroo, but this was new. He had always admired Kuroo’s thighs, but the heels made his calves look amazing too.

             Kuroo’s dance was sexy to say the least and very controlled at the same time. Every time Kuroo shook his hips the girls in the crowd swooned and Bokuto’s mouth went dry. The dance was not easy in the slightest, but Kuroo made it look effortlessly cool. It involved several body rolls and shimmying and while Kuroo and Cass were in sync with every move, Kuroo was obviously the superior dancer. Bokuto didn’t know where to look, Kuroo strutted in time with the music and the lines he made with his body were beautiful and elegant. The teachers played off each other with passionate looks and smirks full of playfulness and complete bliss. Kuroo took time, when Cass was teaching to walk around and help the girls and adjust their movements. The girls would smile sheepishly and he would praise them for their efforts.

             Bokuto knew the heels should have made Kuroo look girly, but they didn’t in the slightest. They just made him appear powerful, dominant, and he worked them like a king. He was completely exhilarated, and slightly turned on, by the dance and understood why the class filled up so fast. Not only did it look fun, but they had excuse to watch Kuroo’s every move closely. Bokuto’s mind went blank and all he could think was, fuck, Tetsu, marry me. Before he realized it, the class was over and Kuroo was thanking the students for attending.

             “If this is your first time, I teach hip hop classes on Tuesdays at 7 and 8, this one Wednesdays at 7:30 and 8:30 and Cass and I also teach a hip hop/ballet class on Thursdays at 7 and 8 as well. The first time is the beginner class and the second is advanced. Join us next time and make sure to give a like on Facebook to tell the gym you like your instructors, okay? I want to keep my job.” Kuroo winked at the last plug and a few of the girls in the back sighed dreamily.

             Bokuto waited until the class cleared out before walking into the studio. “Holy shit, Testu…”

             Kuroo’s back was to the door and he was helping Cass clean up, but he recognized the voice and his back went rigid. “Cass, I…I gotta go.”

“Kuroo, wait.” She wanted to stop him. He couldn’t see Bokuto’s face. He wasn’t making fun on Kuroo like he had thought. Bokuto was biting his lip, his eyes raking every inch of Kuroo’s body.

“Just tell the next class I had something come up.” Kuroo went into complete panic mode and avoided Bokuto’s eyes as he ran out the back door. He didn’t even think to grab his bag or his sneakers. He just had to get out of there. I know this class wasn’t exactly secretive, but I never thought Bo would find out. He already has to deal with having a gay roommate who is completely in love with him and now he’s going to see me as a freak. I mean, he’s my best friend, but Bo’s a normal guy. He lifts weights, he plays college volleyball, he goes home with girls… He’s always been accepting of me, but this might be too weird.

“Sorry, Bo, I tried to stop him.” Cass gave him an apologetic smile. “He was always worried about what you’d think about this. He always assumed you’d be too exhausted or busy with extra spiking practice to come to the gym at this time.”

“No worries, Cass. I’ll clear things up.” Bokuto grinned at her and grabbed Kuroo’s things. He ran out the back door and chased after Kuroo. “Tetsurou! Come on, I just want to talk.” Bokuto had grabbed his things for him and raced out the back door. “Damn, dude, how are you so fast in those heels?” He caught up with Kuroo, but Kuroo refused to look at him. “Let’s at least go home and talk about this.”

             Kuroo wanted to run, but they were already drawing eyes and he was still in his heels. “Fine.” There were both silent on the way home. Kuroo could tell Bokuto was basically bursting with questions, but was respecting him by keeping quiet. They knew each other so well after meeting in high school and Bokuto was his partner in crime. Never had they had a silence this tense and awkward between them. Sure, they fought in high school, but it was mostly about volleyball. Even then, they ended up making up the next day because they couldn’t stand not talking to each other.

             Bokuto let them into to their shared apartment and Kuroo immediately slumped onto the couch. Bokuto strode into the kitchen and grabbed them both a beer before sitting across from Kuroo. “I knew you taught classes to pay for tuition, but damn, that was a shock.”

             “Yeah.” Kuroo took a sip of his beer then quickly pried his heels off. He wanted to throw them across the room, but more than that, he wanted to run.

             “Tetsu, why are you so upset?” Bokuto hadn’t seen Kuroo like this before and he just wanted to understand. Bokuto wasn’t good at seeing the people he cared about in pain when he couldn’t do anything. It just made him feel helpless.

             “Because I’m embarrassed. That was like my dirty little secret and I didn’t know how’d you react when you found out.” Kuroo still refused to meet Bokuto’s eyes and picked at the label on his beer bottle.

             “Dude. You’re my best friend, nothing you could do would make me hate you. Remember when you got drunk at the party and punched me? I forgave you. Or in high school when you’d make me so mad blocking every single one of my cool spikes? You pissed me off, but I still loved you, bro.” Bokuto leaned forward in his chair and he wanted close the distance between them.

Kuroo had purposefully sat as far away from Bokuto as possible, with the coffee table as physical barrier between the two of them. Yeah, but I don’t love in that way. I love you in every sense of the world. Don’t tease me like that.

             “Do you really want to know what I thought about it?”

             “Yes.” Kuroo voice was small, but hopeful at the same time.

             “Okay, but first I want to ask you a question.”

             Kuroo let out a huff through his nose and crossed his arms. He just wanted to know that Bokuto wasn’t going to judge him for this, but he complied anyway. Bokuto hadn’t shamed him or laughed at him yet. Kuroo made the mistake of looking at Bokuto’s face, he wasn’t smirking or mocking him, he was just honestly curious. “Fine, go ahead.”

             “Why the heels?”

             “Have you ever tried to walk in them?” Kuroo winced and he wanted to smack himself. Of course, he hasn’t. “Anyway, dancing in heels is harder than dancing barefoot or in sneakers so it’s more of a workout. Also, they’re good for strengthening your calves…and I guess they make me feel powerful and stuff. I brought the idea up to Cass and she was equally as excited at the idea.”

             “You told Cass that you like to wear heels before me? I feel betrayed.” Bokuto placed a hand on his chest and pretended to look terribly offended.

             “She’s a girl and my coworker and the class is wildly popular.” Kuroo avoided the topic at hand. I couldn’t tell you because I’m in love with you and I didn’t want you to run. Of course, I’d be more worried about your opinion than anyone else’s.

             “Duh, dude. They get to watch you dance in those heels for an hour, who wouldn’t want that? Have you seen how your legs and ass look because of them? And those pants of yours help too.”

             “What?” Kuroo swore his brain had just short-circuited. Bokuto normally flirted with him in a joking manner. They did it to piss off their friends and because it was just hilarious to them. Bokuto’s tone was nothing like that. It was serious and it made Kuroo’s heart squeeze in his chest.

             Bokuto smirked and winked at him. “I thought that was the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.” Kuroo looked up in surprise, meeting Bokuto’s eyes this time and he saw honesty and affection in those beautiful golden irises. “I couldn’t take my eyes off you and all I could think was ‘marry me, Testu’.”

             “Wait!” Kuroo cut him off, not believing his ears. “What? You’re straight, Kou. I’ve never once seen you with a guy at a party.”

             Bokuto grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck. “You see, the thing is, I have a thing for this guy. He’s really cool, a totally bomb dancer and the best middle blocker on the team. I didn’t realize I saw him as more than a friend until we started living together last year. He’s definitely into guys so I thought because he never made a move that he wasn’t interested. Maybe I wasn’t being obvious enough with how I flirted with him. The reason I never went home with a guy was because I wanted it to be special with this guy.”

             Kuroo stood up and was gaping at Bokuto the whole time he was speaking. “I didn’t make a move because we’ve always been that way! I came out to you in high school and you were flirty, but I thought that was just our joke.”

             “So, parading around in only my boxers and complimenting your body wasn’t obvious enough?”

             Kuroo gasped and thought back on their past year. All those times Bokuto would look him up and down or comment on how sexy his behead or his legs were…they were all real flirts! All those times he’d stare at Bokuto’s bare arms or his chest, Bokuto had been showing them off on purpose. Kuroo’s heart started pounding in his chest and he wanted to launch himself across the coffee table at Bokuto, but he still didn’t fully believe it. “You mean all those times you looked at me like that, it wasn’t a joke? And you hate clothes so seeing you half naked wasn’t a surprise.”

             “I’m always serious when I flirt with you.”

             Kuroo searched Bokuto’s face for any trickery or teasing, but his face was open and his smile was warm. “Shit.” He was usually more eloquent than that, but he couldn’t speak.

             Bokuto grinned at him. “How long have you liked me?”

             “I don’t know.” Kuroo paused to think about it and knew it seemed like a stupid moment, but that was the moment. With the two of them helping Tsuuki together, he knew he admired Bokuto as more than a friend. “I realized it during our third year at the training camp. Remember when I told Tsukki to shut you up?”

             “Yeah? I told you to make me.”

             “Yeah, I wanted to kiss you to shut you up.”

             Bokuto burst out laughing, holding his stomach as tried not fall of his chair. “Dude. Are you serious? That’s when you realized?”

             “Shut up. I think I’ve liked for a while, but our third year is when were closest.”

             Bokuto was about to come back with a retort but he had another idea. “Why don’t you make me?”

             Kuroo smirked, “Oh yeah?” He walked around and took Bokuto’s face between his hands. He hesitated to give Bokuto the opportunity to pull away, but one look in Bokuto’s eyes and he was sure. Bokuto’s gaze was unwavering and full of sincerity and challenge. Kuroo pressed their lips together and Bokuto immediately hugged Kuroo close. Kissing Bokuto was like coming home, it was a finally, a beginning and an end all wrapped up in one. It was the end of their friendship and the beginning of their relationship. And it all started with a pair of heels.