Code: FNBF-OSTMB-MC

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the featured media, the rights go to their respected owners.

Media: Kuroko no Basket

Title: Only Six-Thousand Miles Between

Notable Sub-genres: [Kagami Taiga/ Kuroko Tetsuya] Anime 'verse: Canon Compliant. Drabble-ish.

Rating: "T" for Minor Language and Some Mature Themes like: Racist tones, Major Injury, Recover Homosexuality, Mentions of Homophobia.

Chapter: Series of connected one-shots, sort of.

Status: In-Progress

They stood at the airport, with the last call approaching and Kagami should have already left. They'd talked and Tetsuya understood, had agreed to let Kagami go to fulfil his potential and be with - a new team, a new life. Having him come running back, when they'd already parted, after they'd left him in departures at his gate, made this harder. Made Tetsuya want to reach out, grasp hold of his partner and not let go.

'This - this won't be goodbye,' Kagami insists after a pause of silence as they gaze at each other; as Tetsuya drinks him in like it will be the last time. He is breathing as though they'd just gone into the second half of a game, harsh and desperate and Tetsuya has to ignore the fluttering of his own heart. Tetsuya had resolved to get through this goodbye, to not to react. 'This ain't gonna be like last time. I'm not leaving you behind.'

Tetsuya had been able to see Kagami's brilliance from the beginning; could tell he was just as much a miracle as his old teammates. Maybe that's why he wasn't surprised when Kagami got that phone call. Tetsuya can't find the words now, in the face of Kagami's promises but he'd never lied to Tetsuya before, so he nods in agreement if only in faith for their partnership, their friendship.

Kagami hesitates then before he rounds his shoulders, his expression hardening in determination as he looks at Tetsuya. He closes the distance kept between them and Tetsuya forces himself not to move back; to try and lessen the blow, and lifts his rough hand to Tetsuya's check. 'You - no matter what, we'll always be…us.'

'How eloquent, Kagami-kun,' Tetsuya states after swallowing thickly but his voice is too breathless, too emotional to fully accomplish his typical deadpanned delivery. He wants to keep them normal; to have this last memory as least painful as possible. That does not stop him from leaning into Kagami's touch, from his stomach fluttering through the knots.

'Shut up,' Kagami snaps without his usual ferocity. It's more of a grumble. He presses in closer and Tetsuya's gut twists when he feels Kagami's uneven breaths fan over his cheeks. They're so close now, getting in the way of people with places to go. So close, Tetsuya can't allow himself to wish for this. 'Just…tell me - tell me I'm not misreadin' nothin'.'

Tetsuya's lips tremble as he tries to keep them a straight line. He wants but he has wanted before and it would be - easy to step back, to just…leave, like Kagami and go back to day-to-day without him. This was infinitely harder, this could…break them in a way that Kagami's absence wouldn't.

Kagami's eyes burn and they look straight at Tetsuya, like he's the only thing in the world. His toes curl hopelessly in his shoes. 'Please,' Kagami breathes. It echoes in Tetsuya's ears as the intercom calls out for passengers running behind.

His blood sings and he feels numb as he stands so close to one another but he's never been a coward and he can't start now, not with Kagami, who's put so much faith in him, so much trust.

Tetsuya steels himself, puts out of his mind everything that could happen, that could make the memory of their time together darken and grey. He reaches out and refuses to be intimidated as his fingers curl around the collar of Kagami's shirt. He pulls, a sharp tug with the strength that is enough to rival monsters.

Kagami makes a startled noise that muffles itself against Tetsuya's lips as they smack together. Their teeth clash before Kagami pulls back an inch, eyes wide in surprise before they settle and he swoops back down, gentler. Out of the two of them, that makes sense.

(It's Tetsuya's first kiss; their first kiss.)

They linger but it's over too soon and they have to pull apart. They know Kagami has to leave, that his flight is boarding. He has to go back to America and be brilliant without Tetsuya because Kagami could always make it on his own.

'I'll message you when I land,' Kagami promises as they part.

Tetsuya nods.

Kagami steps back and it looks like it's physically painful. Tetsuya feels it in his bones as the cold sets in. 'This isn't gonna be like last time,' Kagami promises again.

Tetsuya nods.

'We'll still be us,' Kagami continues as he picks up the hand luggage he'd dropped.

'Don't…' Tetsuya breathes. 'Don't make promises you can't keep, Kagami-kun.'

Kagami frowns but he doesn't turn when they announce his gate is closing. His jaw clenches as he raises his fist between them, closing the distance, lips stretching into a goading smirk. 'Trust me,' he demands of Tetsuya. He can't remember Kagami ever having asked before.

Tetsuya had been burnt in the past and Kagami was fire.

'When you land,' Tetsuya says quietly and refuses to blink. If he blinks, the tears would escape and he didn't cry. He didn't cry and Kagami would panic. The softie that Kagami was, gruff appearance and all, he didn't deal with sadness well and Tetsuya didn't want to guilt him.

Kagami's face brightens. 'I'll message you.'

Tetsuya allows a tiny smile to spread across his lips and tries not to allow it to shake. 'Okay.' They fist bump. Tetsuya grew up alone; he's not clingy, has never been able to be, but here and now, he doesn't want to let go.

'We'll make this work,' Kagami says as their knuckles continue to brush.

Tetsuya doesn't want to hold Kagami back because he can succeed and be so much bigger in America. But Kagami has never lied to Tetsuya and he wasn't in the habit of doing things he didn't otherwise want todo. This would have to be more than obligation.

'You're going to miss your flight, Kagami-kun,' Tetsuya warns him numbly, throat stubbornly disobedient.

Kagami blinks at him for a moment before panic morphs his expression. His feet shift and his Nike's squeak as they catch on the floor. He mutters an expletive under his breath. Tetsuya didn't quite expect the swooping kiss that tingles the skin of his cheek or the hand that ruffles through his hair, like a hundred times before. Kuroko hasn't a chance to punch him.

'Twelve hours,' Kagami calls as he turns to run, gazing at Kuroko from over his shoulder. Kuroko finds himself touching his cheek, wishing to hold the kiss in place. He watches long after Kagami has had to turn away.

'Twelve hours,' Tetsuya repeats. 'Okay. Twelve hours.'

Con/Textual Vomit: So I'll admit I wasn't keen on the changes made to the anime adaptation of KNB: Extra Game. How Kagami was sent to America just didn't fit thematically and it honestly wasn't a great point to end a show about friendship, working together and how wining wasn't everything. Also, another message - a reason Kagami was from America to start - was to prove Japan wasn't bad at basket ball, it was probably why Extra Game featured a foreign team, it further undermines it. I honestly found it really confusing and after I was so hyped to see it after reading the manga, I have to say I wasn't all that happy with it?

If there's any errors, I'm sorry. I'm very tired. Tired and these notes are too long.

Originally Uploaded: 09/03/18

OZ