Bokuto set down the takeout container he was holding on his nightstand before turning right back around and leaving his room. He had to go to work now and had told Akaashi this earlier. He was not allowed to leave unless he absolutely needed it.

It sounded mean but Akaashi also wasn't used to walking and could get seriously hurt. Bokuto hated that he'd said to stay put but it would do for now.

Kuroo just needed to drive him to work and this would be done with.

"Hey Ko?"

"Yeah man?"

Kuroo opened his mouth before closing it. He sighed. "I need help finding a boyfriend."

"Oh? Since when are you into dating?"

"I'm not. I just really need someone and I need to get stuff moving so I can finally move out."

Bokuto nodded. "I didn't know you were that serious about that stuff. Good for you, really. What type of guy are you looking for?"

"Longish hair I guess. Someone who is considered nice but can be playfully mean."

"Just someone to be nice to be with?"

"Mhmm."

Bokuto turned his phone back on. "I think Iwaizumi's partner has someone he knows that would work."

Kuroo nodded. "Great."

"Why the sudden interest?"

"I'm tired of having to be alone."

Bokuto went quiet. He sort of sat there for a moment. He wasn't alone. Bokuto was always with him. He always had Kuroo's back. Sure not romantically but it was certainly something.

"Come on, we have to get to work."

"Wait what do you mean-"

"Will you just come on?!"

Bokuto stopped what he was doing all together and froze. "Why the actual fuck are you yelling?"

Kuroo took a deep breath. "I'm just tired." He got out and slammed the door shut. Bokuto got out after him, walking a few steps behind so they both didn't lose their cool on each other.

Bokuto got mad easily and when he did get mad he wasn't able to stop his words or actions too fast. His mother had been helping with that but sometimes he slipped up. One of those times couldn't be now or that could jeopardize everything between the two.

****

Akaashi messed with the gauze he'd been handed, silent. Bokuto glanced at Kuroo, who was staring at him from across the room. "You wanna help?"

"No."

"Gotcha." Bokuto tapped the bed. "Lay down."

Akaashi laid down and watched Bokuto fix his bandages. He then went to his legs and was gentle enough not to make his legs hurt as the gauze was peeled back. Bokuto fixed everything and got him out of bed.

"You look like you're doing great. Are you feeling okay?"

"Mhmm." Akaashi stretched. He stared at Kuroo, who had been staring him down the whole time. Kuroo was going to become a marine biologist and he wasn't very keen on the fact that a mythical creature was standing in front of him. He wasn't accustomed to fake beings like Bokuto.

Bokuto was great, really. It's just that he was blind to a lot. For one he was blind to Kuroo's constant staring and smiled. Secondly he was seemingly blind to how dangerous this was. A creature with powers so strong that if they backfired he would be destined to die? That was dangerous.

When they had found him he wasn't even remotely human either, just a humanoid. His skin was nearly pale blue when they had found him and his tale was incredibly large. He had gills and sharp teeth and blackened eyes. His back had a raised spine that was webbed and blue. Even his hands had webbing between the fingers.

Just because he looked like a normal teenager with suspiciously clear skin didn't mean he was normal and Kuroo wouldn't accept him as such.

Bokuto opened his closet and found his bag of clothes. He got short sleeves and shorts, handing them to Akaashi. It didn't look like he was too beaten up wearing this. "Sorry I keep asking this stupid question but can you talk at all?"

"Mhmm."

"When? Or how?"

Akaashi looked around before pointing to the bathroom quickly. He ran to the bathroom and turned on the bathtub water. Kuroo and Bokuto watched him fill the tub before he dunked his whole head into the water. He popped back up and gestured to the water.

Bokuto knelt down and put his head under the water. He kept his eyes shut, not wanting it to sting.

"I can speak under water. It hurts to talk above it but I can work on it. My actual name is Akaashi Keiji."

Bokuto popped out of the water. "Yo?!"

Kuroo shrank back. He hated everything about this. No creature should be able to do anything remotely close to what he was doing. Had Bokuto been put under a trance or something?

Akaashi eased up slowly and smiled. His neck had little indents but he quickly changed it.

"Wait you can control if you show fully or not?!"

Akaashi nodded. He gestured to Kuroo and pointed to the water. Kuroo left and he faltered. Bokuto sighed.

"He's just really tired right now."

Akaashi stuck his hands in the water and hummed. The webbing between his fingers returned and he smiled.

"Do you miss it?" Akaashi nodded. Bokuto put his ear to the water. "Tell me about it."

Akaashi leaned down. "I do miss it. But I do not miss my people."

"Why is that?"

"They murdered my sister."