Get into the van, kiddo.

[captaincatblock]

[Peace is a funny thing. It's been teased and denied for so long that now that it's happening, it's almost weird. He'd missed most of the drama with the princess and her traitorous Terran Knight -- not that he's fully convinced of it, but if it gains them this peace, then he won't question it -- but he had been returned to his kin as Earth's first peace offering.]

[Kuroo hadn't been too happy about that, hadn't even had the time to say good bye to Tsukki after being whisked away by a couple of generals and then thrown into political chaos. But he had endured it, because he knew that eventually, the princess would get to the small issue of Kuroo's kataphrakt and how he intends to spend his time on Earth. He could be a diplomat, he'd offered, or teach his fellow Versians about Terrans, since he's learned a lot. Anything, he had added meaningfully, if he allowed him to keep his landing castle close to Earth if not entirely on its soil.]

[He'd gotten some leeway in the end, after weeks of endless talks, so here he is now striding into the hanger where they kept his mech, in full Count regalia. Oddly enough, he only has Terran escorts with him, and they back away well enough when he reaches his destination.

Tsukki? Oiii, I'm looking for your mechanic, Tsukishima Kei. [first he calls out, and then just outright asks someone to find Tsukki for him]

Comments

[hellacene]

[that earns him a glare, and before kuroo even gets to saying 'by his side' tsukki will interrupt him.] Kuroo, shut up.

[although it's more or less the same kind of tone he has when he tells yamaguchi to shut up. he's going to live there. don't compromise on that, kuroo, he doesn't want to give up the observation deck. that's all he's saying to him about the subject.

although that seems to have shifted the mood a bit, since now both of them were wondering why the hell did kei just tell this man who's supposedly his lover to shut up .... and kei painstakingly reiterates that their relationship was slow to begin with, and yes it started when he was assigned to him the day after he surrendered to the military, and they've gotten together a lot better than he thought. yes he complained a lot about kuroo, but eventually didn't his complaints stop? and wasn't he upset when he left? weren't they both there to see how upset he was when it happened?

none of this justifies leaving in a rush, and he's sorry for that. another round of explanations follow. another round of answers mostly to questions regarding how they will treat him.]

[captaincatblock]

[Kuroo just grins at Tsukki, and shrugs at him, before contenting himself with letting Tsukki take over again. But the more he watches them, the more he can see that they're just worried for Tsukki, and probably won't want to get in the way of his stubbornness.]

[More importantly, Kuroo gets a small sort of happy kick out of listening to Tsukki recount the evolution of their relationship, and finding out about his own behaviour about Kuroo leaving. He touches Tsukki's elbow at that point.]

We can always bring them to the landing castle to show them. [He hadn't meant to actually say it out loud, had only been thinking it, but oops.]

[hellacene]

You're going to keep my whole family hostage - I'm kidding.

[he says as another bout of anxieties flare up on akiteru's part.

either way, it is late, and there's a lot to think about. his mother decides to break the argument by asking both of them to stay for dinner and then possibly discussing it afterwards. kei is reluctant, but either way, he agrees. and shows kuroo where the kitchen is so they can help with the table while akiteru reluctantly observes him keenly.]

[captaincatblock]

[He looks around curiously at everything -- he's never actually been in a Terran house -- and brightens at the herbs that Tsukki's mother keeps.]

You have a garden, too. [This, he says to Akiteru, since he doesn't want Tsukki to be disturbed.] We have one in the castle as well, it looks just like this. Well, the plants are different. I'm told the flowers are called daisies.

[hellacene]

[it's nice that they have some time to bond, however, so akiteru can at least see for himself how kuroo is like while they talk about the gardens and what's in the backyard. it's all strained, normal talk, but it's talk nonetheless, and akiteru's a lot more social and forgiving than kei is so it moves sort of smoothly. his mother sighs about kei eloping with a wealthy and powerful man, but he seems like a nice and handsome man and she just hopes kei knows what he's doing. his only comment is that he's not as powerful as the other knights but he's a lot better than the rest of them, and then his mother notes that kei does seem a lot happier than before ....

he sits beside kuroo during dinner time, and starts teaching kuroo about the food and how to eat them.]

[captaincatblock]

[Kuroo secretly confides in him that he'd accidentally wrecked a pot trying to teach his staff volleyball in the castle -- to great disaster. This above all is probably what made Akiteru soften up a little.]

[This is where Kuroo truly shines, because his strength is being able to use his weakness to endear himself to those who have walls against him. He praises the food and recounts his first Terran food -- omurice and strawberries -- and mentions an awkward time in his castle when his staff had brought a jackfruit on board and no one knew what to do with it. He stays away from the grimmer Versian stories that might relate to the war, or the war in general. Barely even mentions his time as a prisoner. Kuroo's dressed down, too, removed his coat and cravat so he's not so formal in what appears to be a comfortable environment.]

[hellacene]

[dinner goes a lot smoother than it did earlier when they arrived. kuroo is endearing when he turns up his charm a notch, his genial manner winning over his mother first, who starts asking more involved questions from kuroo - nothing too heavy for the table, but only things like what he does and what kinds of hobbies does he have and of course, will kei be able to eat properly in his castle. as soon as his mother starts asking questions, akiteru will, too, a lot less hostile than he had started earlier. tsukki allows him to talk, answering whenever he's addressed, but for the most part he lets them get to know kuroo.

he gives his hand a squeeze under the dining table to let him know he's doing really well.]

[captaincatblock]

[They're actually difficult questions, because Kuroo's life is very engrossed in what he is, as a count. But he has picked up new hobbies and things to do, lately, so he shares that with Tsukki's mother. Things like watching old movies that Tsukki showed him before, and music, and videogames. It really comes out as if Tsukki has influenced Kuroo's life way more than the other way around. He admits that Terran food is still something that they're learning on his castle, but they're doing well enough -- if Mrs. Tsukishima would have any recipes that would be simple to pick up for a group of young men and women in space, Kuroo would be most grateful. Why, if she'd even give the list of food items he has in his hold a glance and say if they're even at all appropriate or lacking anything, he'd be really obliged.] I told my vassal to get strawberries because Tsukki likes them, and he came back with half of a ton of it. [dryly]

[Akiteru is easy. Once the topic moves on from hobbies, they start talking about Tsukki. And how cute he is.]

When we first met, he was laughing at how I liked grass so much. [squeezing Tsukki's hand back, chuckling.]

[hellacene]

[his mom finds that absolutely cute, feeding a batallion of soldiers as well as tsukki. she tells tsukki to remind her to buy a cookbook for them so he won't miss the food from home. she's very happy that kuroo has the strawberries problem covered and gives him tips as to which desserts tsukki wants.

he does start protesting when they start talking about him, though. especially when akiteru starts talking about how cute he is as a kid playing volleyball!!!] Shut up about my childhood.

[captaincatblock]

[Kuroo laughs lightly, squeezing his hand. And then he leans to kiss Tsukki on his cheek, and closer still to murmur directly at his ear in a voice just loud enough to be heard by the others if they listen carefully:] I want to know more about you. I'll tell you all about my childhood later if you want, love.

[He's playing the game "How many Tsukishimas can he make blush?"]

[hellacene]

[it's a palpable hit. akiteru rises up and protests something rather weakly, his mother is surprised that tsukki can be this bold with his boyfriend, and tsukki just wants to be swallowed up by the ground. he has enough presence of mind to retaliate with,] I can also just not talk to you for the rest of the night.

[which proves rather futile when akiteru recounts a time when he was known as a bully in grade school because he was too tall and too smart and too mean .... and then adds that he was really cute .... and then his mother goes off to pick up an album. tsukki sighs as he finishes his food. at least some people are happy.]

[captaincatblock]

[Kuroo knows Tsukki wouldn't do that, he'd never be able to convince his family that they're a loving couple otherwise! Right? Right...]

[He does tell Akiteru delightedly that he was drawn to Tsukki because of that, though. Being too smart, too mean, and too tall while still being really cute. It makes him want to take care of Tsukki! And of course, Kuroo is completely taken in by the albums of the family when the sons were younger.]

I'm kind of jealous, I feel like I missed out on a lot of fun by not having an older brother. [But he did have good parents! Short-lived, but good.]

[hellacene]

[he's quiet about that. he glances at akiteru, and then - ]

It can be pretty frustrating.

But most days .... it's not that bad.

[now that they're not fighting - he just feels exhausted. he slips his hand around kuroo's arm, leaning against him while he keeps flipping through his photo album.]

[captaincatblock]

[Akiteru gets this look on his face like he's sad and incredibly touched at the same time, even as he's helping their mother clean up the table. Kuroo notes it, will remember to ask Tsukki later, but for now he behaves. He does give Tsukki a kiss on the temple when he leans on him, then asks about a photo or two for context. He's completely comfortable now.]

[Eventually, though, he has to ask:] Are you staying here for the night? I can sleep at your Terran base and come back tomorrow.

[hellacene]

.... yeah, I'll stay for the night.

[that might help calm his family a bit more. he wants to ask kuroo to stay with him, too, but it might be better to have him away for now. besides, he's going to be with him for all the time once they get back to his castle.] Come for breakfast tomorrow, and then we can go.

[this really took a lot longer than he'd expected, but he supposed it can't be helped. things got really complicated back there.]

[captaincatblock]

[He nods agreeably, and gets up and begins making his excuses to Tsukki's mother and brother. He's still a little formal, but he's glad to see that the two are no longer so wary and alarmed by him.]

Till tomorrow, Kei. [Kisses him on the cheek and goes, before he gets tempted to be even more touchy with his boyfriend. His retinue is still outside, in the vehicle at the end of the street, although they've somehow produced their own meals during the night. They're an efficient bunch.]

[hellacene]

[they help him pack as soon as kuroo goes. it's all very emotional and a lot of tears were shed, but at least by the end of the night he's got a bag full of his clothes and a box full of everything else his mother and akiteru thought fit for him to bring, including four cookbooks for kuroo's kitchen, two in japanese cooking and a big one in a more western-style kind of cuisine. unsurprisingly the last one is a big book of desserts.

he wakes up bright and early to help make breakfast in the morning, walking around the house in a shirt that was definitely kuroo's that had made it through his wardrobe and his boxers as he checked the laundry and the to make sure he hasn't left anything. it's a bit saddenning to know he's leaving the house, but at the same time, he's kind of excited.]

[captaincatblock]

[Kuroo does arrive early the next day, bringing with him a box of small cakes as a peace offering. His men wait at the end of the street, same as last night. He knocks, feeling nervous all over again. What if they said no after all? Or worse still, what if Tsukki got into a really awful fight with his family because of him?]

[Still, he smiles politely at whoever opens the door. He does have another peace offering, though, tucked under his arm. Maybe that would allow them to forgive him for stealing Tsukki away.]

Good morning.

[hellacene]

Morning.

[at least tsukki had the sense to put on pants as soon as kuroo had gotten there. he takes the box of cakes from him, and tells him in exasperation,] They helped me pack. I have two full suitcases and a giant box.

[captaincatblock]

Only? [Kisses him on the cheek, and peers over Tsukki's shoulder.] We can carry more up if you need anything else. We don't have to hurry home, though.

[hellacene]

I can't bring everything in my room, that's ridiculous.

[especially if kuroo already has bought a lot of things for him before he even gets there.

still, the family receives kuroo a lot warmer than yesterday, and his mom in particular was really pleased with the cakes. akiteru was going to start a speech on how he should take good care of his brother!!! which is interrupted by tsukki saying that he really should stop because he doesn't sound as threatening or cool as he'd like him to sound; besides, it's not like kuroo doesn't know.]

[captaincatblock]

[Kuroo laughs at that, and reassures Akiteru anyway that Kuroo would rather die first than let anything happen to Tsukki. It sounds dead serious despite the joking tone.]

And I sent for this last night. [hands over the Versian version of a tablet to Tsukki's mom and brother. It's actually more like Mars' version of the walkie talkie, though.] It's rigged to work on your um, Web. Internet? So you can talk to Tsukki even when he's up in space.

[hellacene]

[tsukki just gives him a look at his words and says nothing, but he does roll his eyes at the statement. considering kuroo went back for him just to show him the stars and to make him live with him, however, he's not discounting the fact that he's dead serious about what he said too.

akiteru and his mom are grateful and they go over the instructions for how this thing works. tsukki busies himself in the kitchen, setting the table for everyone and making coffee.]

[captaincatblock]

[Kuroo demonstrates how it works -- they end up making a call to, thankfully, Kai, who's polite and looks very reliable as always.]

[He sniffs the air in the middle of the last instructions -- ah!] It's that traitorous drink, isn't it? [And then he succeeds in making the other two laugh at his story of his first ever palpitation through caffeine.]

[hellacene]

I'll fill your cup with more milk than sugar instead of coffee.

[a bastardized version of a latte. it's not exactly something he approves of, but at least it'll get kuroo through the day.

the rest of the morning passes in relative calm, up to the point where tsukki has to leave and his mom starts crying again and akiteru tries not to cry and tsukki feels overwhelmed with all of them. there are more hugs. his mom goes to kuroo and gives him a nice hug too, and akiteru thumps him on the back with some reminders to tsukki about calling every now and then.]