Akashi came out as gay to his parents when he was 16. It wasn't the prettiest situation; his parents were quite shocked with it.

His mother became fairly quiet for a couple of days before approaching him. She sat him down and apologized much to Akashi's shock. She cried and held his hands as she apologized for not being able to support him earlier. That was the first time Akashi cried in a long time. He held his mother in his room and they both sobbed as they came to a mutual understanding that there was an unconditional love between them.

His father was much more quiet. He didn't talk with Akashi for nearly three months. At night, he was able to hear his father and mother fighting. It took about a year of receiving the silent treatment until his father had a chat with him. He was very serious, he expressed that he wasn't disapproving of Akashi but he was having a hard time accepting it as well. But then, he asked Akashi to send him articles explaining different sexualities and potential parental guides. Akashi laughed a little, his father was old fashioned but he wasn't opposed to changing his mindset if it meant gaining respect from his son. He wanted to be a good father, he asked Akashi to give him time to become a better father. Akashi agreed.

Kuroko came out as gay to his mother when he was 19. His father had walked out a couple of years before so it was just his mother and him in the house. His mother always wanted the best for her son, she got worried very easily, she nagged him quite a bit, she always asked him too many questions.

She started to suspect that Kuroko wasn't straight way back at the beginning of highschool. She watched with clever eyes as her son blushed whenever he was around his best friend. She giggled when she saw how flustered Kuroko was around attractive boys. His mother was known to make bold moves so when she straight up asked Kuroko if he was gay when he was 15, he denied it immediately.

Kuroko's mother didn't press any further but she had come to accept the fact that her son was probably, most likely, not straight. She supported him and didn't pressure him to talk. That was, until Kuroko got into a relationship with another man. A man which his mother did not approve of. It wasn't the fact that he was a man that made Kuroko's mother upset, it was how he treated her son. He wasn't very nice, he was pushy with Kuroko, he wasn't treating him right. So she confronted her son. She stood in the kitchen with her arms crossed and said,

"I'm not mad at you. I want you to know that it's ok if you're not straight, but I still need to talk with you about relationships and sex and safety. So I want you to tell me the truth; are you in a relationship with that boy?"

Kuroko broke out into cold sweat, his heart was racing. He wasn't exactly in denial about his sexuality, but he just didn't want his mother to know. He was terrified of telling her. He lashed out and told her it was none of her business.

His mother raised her voice, "It is my business because I want to make sure he's treating you right!"

"Jesus Christ mom, fine! I like dick! Cock, penis, whatever! Are you happy now?"

That was how Kuroko came out to his mother. They stood in silence and then broke out into laughter. They talked about Kuroko's relationship with his boyfriend and eventually they broke things off. It wasn't working out and it was true that his boyfriend had been extremely pushy.

Akashi and Kuroko were now both 29 years old. They were working full time, they were both comfortable in their own skin, they felt open and free most of the time. There were still people who were homophobic and projected their bigoted views on them, but overall, they were blessed to be surrounded by good people.

It was nearing June and people were preparing for the pride parade. Kuroko had gone back when he was in university but hadn't been for the past couple of years. This year, he was determined to go. Akashi went every year with his friends; Aomine, Kise, Murasakibara, Midorima, and Momoi. Aomine had made a joke back in highschool that if they all stood side by side, they could probably make a pride flag with their hair colors alone. Since that joke, they've been going every year to have fun and support each other.

Kuroko wore a pair of jeans and a white button up t-shirt. He would've spent more time preparing a nice outfit but he was always stuck working overtime so he had to stick with a casual outfit this time. He tried not to carry too many things with him. The pride parade was generally safe, but there were always several incidents after the parade and he didn't want to lose anything or get anything stolen. Most of his pride experiences had been fairly good. He had, however, also experienced a lot of trash talking on the bus on his way back home after the parade. There were two complete opposite spectrums during pride month. It was terrifying. Kuroko had been a little scared to go out after that experience.

When he got to the event, the roads were already closed off in preparation for the parade. It was incredibly crowded as always and he felt the excitement start to bubble in the pit of his stomach. Kuroko smiled and he went to buy a long pride flag and a drink. An hour later and Kuroko was wearing beaded necklaces of every color, he had rainbow painted stripes on his cheeks, a pride flag wrapped around him like a cape, and a soda. He looked at the crowd and felt his heart warm at the sight of all the pride flags. There were transgender, bisexual, polysexual, lesbian, asexual, and many more flags everywhere. The colors blinded him with a happiness he hadn't felt in a while.

Akashi wore a white baseball cap with a rainbow heart on the front. His friends had told him to wear some more color but he stuck with black pants and a white t-shirt. He walked around with his friends and enjoyed the festivities. It was always so comforting to be at the pride parade and he appreciated how his friends always came with him. They watched the multiple floats and performers walk down the long street and cheered as everyone celebrated.

As the parade came to an end for the day, Akashi noticed that people had begun to disperse to get on the bus or train to get home. There had been more violence over the past couple of years and although the organizers added more security, hateful protests continued.

Akashi and his group of friends were stopped by a couple of older women. They sneered at him in disgust and said, "Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?"

The redhead flinched at the harsh words, he turned to face the women, "Excuse me?"

"How do you sleep at night knowing that you're a disappointment to your parents? This isn't God's way." One of the women reached out to touch Akashi's hand. He stepped back.

"I sleep just fine, thank you very much. And my parents are extremely pleased with me."

"Akashicchi," Kise said hesitantly, "you don't have to fight this."

"No, I want to know what they have to say." Akashi stood tall and stared at the group of women.

Kuroko was getting ready to leave the parade when he saw a group of colorful haired people having a dispute with some women. He watched from afar and saw that a red haired man with a stern expression on his face was talking with them. His friends looked worried.

This must be the hateful protests I've been hearing about. Kuroko thought to himself, his grip tightened on the pride flag that hung over his back like a thin blanket. He glanced over at the left over paint buckets from an event earlier in the day and grinned as he thought of a great idea.

Kuroko colored his hands in a rainbow with the excess paint and walked over to the group.

"It's unnatural for a man to kiss men and be intimate with them. You can still change, I'm sure you will be forgiven." The women continued their never-ending 'pleas' of trying to 'help' Akashi.

The redhead was irritated. It was as if he were talking to a brick wall. His friends tried to intercept and put an end to the dispute but it only got worse when the women started raising their voices.

Kuroko shoved through Akashi's friends mumbling a quiet, "Excuse me, sorry." as he made his way to the red haired man at the front.

The blue haired boy tapped Akashi's shoulder with his colorfully painted hands. Akashi turned to see who it was.

Kuroko cupped Akashi's face and leaned up to kiss him. His painted hands colored Akashi's face in red, blue, green, yellow. Akashi stood wide eyed before grabbing Kuroko's waist and pulling him closer. The blue haired boy let out a small noise in approval as his hands wiped paint over the other's white shirt. They were complete strangers yet there was no satisfaction greater than sticking people's extreme views up their asses.

The women gasped harshly and covered their eyes. They ushered away in disgust. It didn't change the views of the women but Kuroko had managed to dissipate the situation quickly and he got to kiss an attractive red haired man.

Kuroko pulled away, breathless. Akashi opened his eyes and thought he was looking at an angel. The rainbow stripes were slightly smudged on Kuroko's cheeks, his hair was dusted with glitter, the beaded necklaces tangled against his paint covered shirt, the long pride flag trailed behind him.

"It's not worth arguing sometimes." Kuroko said, "We can only hope that one day the world will come to see multiple viewpoints and accept them. Until then, stand proud. You are loved."

He kissed Akashi's cheek and turned to leave. It was Momoi who stopped him. She grabbed his hand, "Wait! It's getting kind of late, at least let us drop you off home for helping us. We drove here, it'll be safer than taking public transportation."

Kuroko smiled, "Are you sure? If it's not too much trouble then that would be great. I'm Kuroko Tetsuya, by the way."

The group introduced themselves and made their way to the car. Akashi and Kuroko walked a little further back away from the group.

"I...uh, thanks for helping out. I was getting a little heated." Akashi mumbled while scratching the back of his head.

"I could tell," Kuroko laughed, "it was my pleasure. I mean, I got to kiss someone as beautiful as you. Sorry if you're not comfortable with the kiss though. I should've asked first."

"No, that's alright. It was nice."

The blue haired boy raised an eyebrow at him, "Just nice?"

Akashi laughed, "Better than nice."

They sat in the car together as Midorima dropped them off. When they dropped Kuroko off at his apartment downtown, Akashi asked for his number. Kuroko smiled as he added himself in Akashi's contacts and then ran up to his apartment.

Kise shoved the redhead's arm, "Someone's got a crush."

"Shut up."

"This is great, Akashicchi. You're getting old anyway, it would be nice to find someone. Kurokocchi seems really sweet, you should take him out on a date." The blond teased.

Akashi looked out the window, "Maybe I will."

They started texting and having late night calls together. Sometimes they met up on the weekends to spend time together but since they were both busy with work, it was fairly rare. They continued to chat for months. When Kuroko told Akashi about how he came out to his mother, the redhead laughed so hard he thought his sides would split.

"Stop laughing! It was so embarrassing." Kuroko pouted over the phone.

Akashi wiped away some tears, "Sorry, sorry. It's just funny because it's just so you."

"So me? And what exactly is that?"

Akashi stretched out on his bed, it was so relaxing to talk with Kuroko in the evenings. He couldn't get enough of him, "Hm, you're reserved but you're not afraid to speak your mind. You stand up for what you believe in and you're stubborn about it too. Your determination alone is one of the things that made me fall for you."

Kuroko was quiet. The redhead could tell that he was deep in thought. Akashi felt a little nervous with his feelings just out there in the open but he trusted the other enough to confess.

"Akashi-kun, do you want to go on a date this weekend? If you're not too busy. A date date. Not a hang out."

"Yes!" Akashi exclaimed over the phone, "Yes! Of course. Uh, do you have anywhere you want to go?"

"We can discuss it during the week and set a day and time."

They said their goodbyes and hung up a couple minutes later. Kuroko stared at his ceiling with a wide smile plastered on his face, he rolled around on his bed and decided to call his mom to tell her that he had a date.

Akashi buried his face into his pillow after he had ended his call with Kuroko and he screamed. I can't believe it. A date with an angel like that. Unbelievable.

They decided together that Akashi would pick Kuroko up Saturday afternoon and they would have a picnic together at a park. Kuroko was excited, he couldn't wait for the weekend to come. He worked hard for the remainder of the week and tried to get all his work out of the way before rushing home on Friday to bake some cookies for their picnic. Akashi practically ran to the grocery store after work on Friday to buy ingredients to make sandwiches. He was bursting with anticipation. They had hung out many times before, but this was the first time they had explicitly stated it was a date. They felt like teenagers again.

The picnic didn't go as planned. Although the weather had called for a sunny day, it started raining quite a bit once they got to the park. Kuroko laughed at their luck and suggested that maybe they could move their picnic to the car. Akashi admired Kuroko's ability to adapt to any situation. He parked his SUV at a scenic location and lifted the trunk door. They sat in the trunk, the door functioning as a makeshift roof to protect them from the rain. The picnic may not have gone as planned but every moment together was amazing and it made their hearts flutter.

They sat in the trunk of the car until the sun started to set. It was beautiful. Akashi glanced at Kuroko; the blue haired boy was always stunning.

"Tetsuya…" Akashi slowly placed a hand over Kuroko's, "Will you go out with me?"

The blue haired boy turned his hand over to interlock their fingers, "That's all I want."

They shared a kiss as the last remaining rays of sunlight disappeared over the horizon. Akashi and Kuroko continued to date for months and they eventually decided to move in together. After a year of dating, Kuroko's mother demanded to meet her son's boyfriend.

Even in her old age, Kuroko's mother was as energetic as ever. Kuroko invited his mother over to his apartment for dinner; he was a little nervous. Not because he thought his mother would disapprove of Akashi, but he really wanted her to like him.

When his mother arrived, Akashi greeted her politely and shook her hand. She immediately slapped him on the back and told him to not be so formal with her because it made her feel old. The redhead laughed and went to help Kuroko with dinner,

"She's quite the character. Very different from you but you two look the same." Akashi said as they both stood by the stove.

Kuroko chuckled, "She's always been like that, but I guess a lot more so after dad left."

Akashi wrapped an arm around Kuroko's shoulder and squeezed him tight. The blue haired boy didn't talk much about his dad, if ever, and Akashi didn't ask. He could tell that Kuroko didn't exactly hate his father but he wasn't very welcoming about him either. All Akashi could do in times like this was hold his boyfriend tight and remind him that he was loved.

Kuroko's mother sat at the dinner table and watched as her son gave Akashi a small kiss on the jaw and Akashi returned the kiss on her son's forehead. She smiled, she was relieved to see her son find someone. She simply wanted Kuroko to be happy and treated well.

Dinner with Kuroko's mother was insane. Despite her age, she still drank better than Kuroko and Akashi combined, although Kuroko rarely drank. They had a fun night together and urged her to stay in the spare room so she wouldn't drive home.

After the dinner with Kuroko's mother, they planned a dinner with Akashi's parents. Kuroko got along very well with the redhead's parents, it almost seemed like they liked him more than their actual son. The dinner with Akashi's parents was the first time Akashi saw his boyfriend tipsy. The redhead didn't drink since he had to drive them back home after but he enjoyed watching Kuroko let loose. The blue haired boy shined brighter than the sun as he giggled with Akashi's mother while they talked.

Akashi's father watched his son look at Kuroko with so much love. He approached him and gave him a pat on the back, "You found a good one."

The redhead laughed as Kuroko and his mother danced in the living room, "Dad, he's actually the one who found me."

After the dinner, Akashi drove his tipsy boyfriend back to their apartment. Kuroko dozed off in the car and startled awake when the redhead shook him. They barely got into the apartment when Kuroko pulled Akashi into a deep kiss. He laughed and ruffled his boyfriend's red hair,

"Mm, my boyfriend is so handsome."

Akashi blushed as he led Kuroko towards their bedroom, "Yes, yes, let's get you out of these clothes and then we can go to sleep."

"Oh my, stripping me already? Wow, are we going to have sex?"

"I'm just changing you to your pajamas so you can sleep comfortably. Were you hoping for sex?" The redhead asked with a smile as he wrestled Kuroko out of his clothes.

Kuroko pouted, "I've been waiting for you to just ravish me, Seijuro."

Akashi chuckled as he tucked his boyfriend into the bed. He kissed the blue haired boy sweetly, "I think I can do that. But tonight, you're going straight to sleep."

"You promise?"

"I promise. Now go to bed, I'll be back after I wash."

Kuroko yawned and then nodded. The redhead washed up quickly and slept with his boyfriend tucked in his arms.

Akashi stayed true to his promise during their second year of dating. They got back home after a new year's party with their friends and the redhead wanted to surprise his boyfriend. They spent the night tangled on their bed in the warmth of their home. Akashi was relentless and could only feel pure euphoria as he listened to Kuroko's breathless voice and felt Kuroko's body burn.

They woke up with their memories the day after when their tally marks were exposed. They got their 65th tally mark and prepared to get married.

A year after their marriage, Akashi collapsed suddenly. He groaned, his head pulsing. Kuroko was by his side comforting him. The redhead fell into a comatose state shortly after.

Kuroko visited him every day at the hospital and refused to leave his side until the nurses informed him visiting hours were over. Kuroko's mother and Akashi's parents tried to get the blue haired boy to take a break and rest at home, but he refused. He took a temporary leave from work and stayed with his husband.

Kuroko fiddled with the wedding band on his ring finger as he observed Akashi's soft features. He held his hand, "My little duckling...why…"

He knew why. Akashi didn't have the mental strength in this lifetime to withhold so many memories. It has been a long time since one of them fell into a coma as they spent a lot of time maintaining their mental health. It was heartbreaking.

Kuroko continued to pray for the day that Akashi woke up, but it didn't seem to come.

Shockingly, Kuroko passed away during a car accident on his way to the hospital a couple of years later. Their families and friends were devastated and continued to take care of Akashi at the hospital.

Three years later, Akashi's parents made the difficult decision to pull the plug on the life support. Akashi passed away in a deep slumber but he dreamed of his beautiful blue haired angel.