Aomine finally broached the subject after Kuroko passed out for the third time. There were still nightmares every night and crying and shaking, but full-on panic attacks were the final straw. Both men saw that the problem wasn't going to fix itself. At least, not any time soon.

Aomine waited until he was recovered enough to be at least semi-useful before bringing up a heist to try and cheer Kuroko up. "Hey, Tetsu, you wanna go on a job today?" he offered, leaning against the kitchen counter to talk to Kuroko who was making something to eat.

Kuroko tensed for a moment before forcing a smile. "I don't think so. I'm kind of tired. I think I'll just stay in today," he replied.

Aomine noticed the tension and came to wrap his arms around Kuroko, trapping him in place against the counter, and settling his head on his shoulder for good measure. "Hey, what's up? You know, I'm not as bad at seeing lies as you seem to think I am at telling them."

"I just... I don't know if I want to keep doing this," Kuroko mumbled, looking down at the floor.

Aomine froze. He slowly lifted his head and removed his arms to give Kuroko some space. Oh God, oh God. I scared him off, Aomine thought in horror.

Kuroko frowned when Aomine moved away from him. "What are you doing? You don't have to look so worried. Shouldn't the cop be happy that I want to stop stealing?"

Aomine froze once more, processing that. "Oh. Oh, oh my God, oh God." Aomine sunk to the floor, holding his head in his hands, his chest heaving in relief. "Oh thank god." He could have cried. "Tetsu, I was so worried you didn't love me anymore or something. God. Don't scare me like that. Tetsu…"

Kuroko looked on in both confusion and worry as Aomine lowered himself to the floor before explaining himself to Kuroko. And then Kuroko was right by his side, wrapping his arms around him and placing light kisses all over Aomine's face. "God no. No, of course I still love you. That's not what I meant at all. I just don't know if I want to keep stealing. I absolutely want to still be with you," he said between kisses.

Aomine just held Kuroko to him, steadying his heart. "I love you, Tetsu. I love you so much. Don't scare me like that."

"I love you too. I'm sorry. I love you, Daiki," Kuroko murmured back.

"Since we're in the sharing mood right now, do you maybe wanna talk about why you want to take a break from the thing you loved so much before? I sleep with you, you know. I know something's wrong. Really wrong." Aomine considered ending it there, but decided to take his chances and push it further. They really needed to settle this. "You just said you love me. And I love you. So let me help. Please."

Kuroko hesitated, biting his lower lip as he debated on if he wanted to talk to Aomine about this. He really didn't want to, but he supposed he should. He hid his face against Aomine's shoulder before he started speaking. "Stealing is what got you hurt, made me have to kill someone, and the reason I now can't sleep at night. And I know you keep on saying that it's not my fault, but none of the stuff with Haizaki would have happened if I hadn't decided I wanted to steal from the biggest drug lord in Japan, and I don't want to make that kind of mistake again, because what if you're the one who dies next time? What if I have to kill someone again?"

Aomine rubbed Kuroko's back as he mulled over his response. "...Will you be happier without stealing? We don't have to tackle the nightmares right away. I've seen police officers deal with their first kills. Those aren't easy symptoms. But I just want you to be… more okay?"

"I don't know how to fix it, but I think, at least right now, stealing would make it worse," Kuroko mumbled into Aomine's shirt.

"And you'll be okay with just your day job?" Aomine was leaning down to rest his forehead on Kuroko's head, staring down at the head of blue hair tucked into his shoulder.

"I don't know," he repeated. He'd mostly been just trying to not think about it. "Would the police even let me go back to my day job? I signed a contract with them."

"Well, that was mostly because you were a criminal. And as much as I hate to admit it, the chief actually likes you. Thanks for making my life hell at work, by the way. But anyway, I think he'd trust you enough to let you go back to teaching. You did take out the leader of one of possibly the biggest criminal organizations in the country. That counts for something—even for criminals."

Kuroko wasn't sure that it actually would count for something, but he nodded anyway, which was more like nuzzling Aomine's shoulder considering the position he was in.

Aomine smiled and lifted Kuroko's head so that they made eye contact. "You know you're my boyfriend, not my pet right? Er—" Aomine recalled the scare he'd just gotten. "—Um, that is, if you want to be my boyfriend of course. No pressure. I just, uh, assumed, after, uh…" Aomine continued stuttering until Kuroko stopped him.

Kuroko let out a small laugh. "I thought we clarified this before when I asked if we were in a relationship. Yes, I'm your boyfriend," Kuroko told him. "And I was trying to nod, don't make it weird by comparing me to a pet."

Aomine grinned. "But you finally looked at me."

"Because you made me," Kuroko accused, gesturing to the hand that had lifted his head up.

"Well," Aomine murmured, moving closer to Kuroko, "we can't do this if we aren't facing each other." He closed the gap for a kiss.

"Perhaps just teaching isn't the best job for you. You did get bored with that before, and that's what led you to breaking the law in the first place. However, I can think of another job for you that doesn't involve stealing," Imayoshi said to Kuroko.

"What do you mean?" Kuroko asked with a slight frown.

"Companies contract people to test their internet security via hacking. You get a contract that asks you to hack the client's systems and send in a report when you're done, outlining what needs to be improved. With the police backing your skills, you'll be able to pull in some big contracts that should prove a challenge. And all without breaking the law. Imagine that. You can hack into things for shits and giggles legally." Imayoshi's smile was equal parts condescending, pissed, and amused. It made for a terrifying combination.

Kuroko looked between Aomine, who shrugged, apparently as surprised as Kuroko was at the offer, and the police chief uncertainly. "Would I be doing that and teaching? That doesn't sound like a full time job," he finally asked.

"That is why I said just teaching. After all, you've proven that you can be both an extremely annoying thief and a decent teacher in the past. I'm sure hacking a few security systems should be no different." Imayoshi's tone of voice was ice cold. "I suppose the challenge now is to prove that you will be able to survive not running all over town." He spared a glance at Aomine who was wisely remaining silent in the corner. "Though I suppose my dear detective might be enough to keep your hands full on the side." Imayoshi flashed one of his signature grins.

Aomine would have protested if that grin hadn't held his tongue.

Kuroko considered the idea. It would keep him entertained, and he wouldn't be pissing off anyone who could potentially hurt Aomine. He finally nodded agreement. "Okay. I can do that," he decided. "Would you like me to start with your station? It's not as hard to hack as a police station should be."

"Actually, I'd like to start with rethinking this offer. There are several flaws with this plan that I'd just love for you to keep pointing out. Go on. Do continue, Mr. Phantom." Imayoshi leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands together, waiting.

"Not a flaw with the plan. Just your system. I was suggesting that you be my first contract. I've already hacked your—"

"He gratefully accepts the offer, Chief. And of course, he means all due respect to this department and is merely making a formal request as to whether you would like to submit a contract of your own to… test out his skills. And also see what kind of reports he would submit. He's willing to do a test run with the department." Aomine plastered on the biggest, phoniest grin he could muster, trying desperately to save his boyfriend. And people thought Aomine dug holes too deep to climb out of.

Kuroko frowned at Aomine, but didn't argue the matter. Seeing as he had hacked the police twice now, he could probably already give them a report, but he supposed they would want a step by step, so he'd probably have to do it again.

As if he sensed the condescension radiating off of Kuroko, Imayoshi kept his gaze on the now former thief, waiting for a reason to rescind his offer. When he received no such provocation, he smiled. "Glad to see we have a deal. Let's get this in writing, shall we? And Officer Aomine, I expect you to keep a close eye on our dear Phantom."

Aomine straightened up under the weight of Imayoshi's stare, nodding dutifully with only an "Of course, Chief."

A few months later found Kuroko on his and Aomine's couch, passed out, surrounded by lesson plans and reports with his laptop open and half way through hacking into something. They were too used to living together, so they had simply moved into Aomine's apartment after leaving the one they had been in for the past few months working for the police. The nightmares were happening less often now. Aomine had been there for him through recovery. He was still working on that, but he could at least get a decent night's sleep most of the time. Like now. That is, until Aomine walked in the door, the sound drawing Kuroko from his sleep.

"Hello, Daiki." Kuroko mumbled, looking at his boyfriend through half open eyes.

Aomine nudged the door closed with his foot, his hands too full of grocery bags and… a bouquet? Kuroko eyed the bouquet curiously.

"Why are there flowers?" he asked around a yawn as he slowly sat up and stretched.

"Um, Satsuki said maybe I needed to make the apartment not so… 'gloomy'? I dunno. But people like flowers right? It's romantic and all that." Aomine set down some grocery bags and then scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Was it dumb? I figured watering these thing would be another thing you could do? I know you're still kinda bored even with everything…"

Kuroko smiled at him, moving some things so he could get up. He walked over to Aomine and stood on his tiptoes to press a kiss to Aomine's cheek. "It was sweet. Although, there's not much watering to do with flowers that have already been picked and put into a bouquet. That's usually for ones still attached to their roots and in pots."

"Oh, um, I can always buy more for you later. But I guess we have these for now?" Aomine offered the bouquet out to Kuroko, turning his head in an attempt to hide the blush. "I, uh, I also wanted to tell you that it's not so bad that you can't steal anymore, considering you did pretty well the first time around." Aomine grinned stupidly.

"Huh?" Kuroko tilted his head in confusion. He'd just taken the offered flowers when Aomine had started talking again. "Do you mean Akashi Corp?" he asked with a slight frown.

Aomine gave Kuroko a mock pout. "Wow. You know, you stole something way more important, Tetsu!"

"You didn't say important though. You said first," Kuroko said, looking even more confused.

"Alright, fine." Aomine crept closer and hugged Kuroko to him, his hands hooking behind the small of his back, maybe a bit too close to his ass. "So what comes to mind now?"

"Your... shirts?" Kuroko asked uncertainly. He was still stealing Aomine's shirts every day after all. He wasn't even sure where any of his own were at this point.

"Oi, now that I think about it, do you ever plan on wearing your own clothes?! You only ever take my comfy shirts," Aomine complained.

"I do wear my own clothes. These are my pants. I am wearing your boxers though. I wasn't really paying attention when I got dressed this morning."

Aomine frowned. "You know what I'm talking about! Couldn't you at least ask?! No no no, wait. That wasn't even what I wanted to talk about!"

"Then what did you want to talk about?" Kuroko asked, the confusion coming back.

"Ugh, you know, you totally ruin every romantic moment, bastard." Aomine playfully nipped at Kuroko's bottom lip to soften the jab.

"Are we still talking about the flowers then? I told you, I thought it was sweet."

"You're making me lose track of the conversation. I was gonna be really cute and everything."

"You were talking about me stealing something," Kuroko reminded him helpfully.

"Oh… Yeah! So, I was saying you don't need to be a thief anymore, Tetsu. Because you've already stolen something really important." Aomine nuzzled his face into Tetsu's neck and tightened his embrace.

"Care to enlighten me on what that something is?" Kuroko asked.

"Mmm." Aomine pulled back to look Kuroko in the eye again and grinned. "My heart, dumbass." He leaned down for a proper kiss this time, still smiling. "I love you, Kuroko Tetsuya," he whispered into Tetsu's mouth when they broke apart, just enough to catch their breath.

"How long have you been waiting to use that line?" Kuroko asked him, amusement tinging his voice.

"Since I fell in love with you, stupid. Now don't ruin the moment." And he leaned in for another kiss.