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“Delayed Attraction” - Kuroo x F!reader

When Tetsuro knew you back in high school, he never really paid attention to your looks. The most notable thing for him was your hair, long, falling past shoulder length, and that sweet, beckoning scent that lingered through your strands when you swept by. To him, you were merely just another cute girl who sat in front of him in class, someone he never truly took a moment to observe.

Back then, all he recalled was having a few of the same classes with you and how your obnoxious boyfriend at the time would tag along. He had nothing particular against you; you were a pleasant classmate who often lent him pencils and erasers when he forgot and helped him with classwork. What he had a problem with was your type in man. Or rather, your boyfriend. He called it his “masculine intuition” how he hated him. Something about your man irked him. Pissed him off when he’d walk around campus with you next to him

It wasn’t jealousy of any sort, he told himself. He reasoned that he didn’t know you to like you like that. Tetsuro did know one thing, though, and it was that you deserved way better than that nincompoop with a shit face.

God, I’d treat her so much better than that fucker— put him on a cuck chair if I could, were his recurring thoughts. Unlike your boyfriend, Tetsuro had restraint and respected your relationship. Not like he was going to pursue you anyway. He only really indulged in you from afar as a classmate and nothing more…respectfully, of course. That’s what he told himself, at least.

Tetsuro hated your boyfriend so much that he would internally gamble how badly he would eventually fumble you. He knew it was wrong to anticipate someone else’s breakup, but he couldn’t seem to contain himself from waiting to hear “yeah, they broke up” someday. So, when the day came when he was the one to witness the end of your relationship, a seed was planted somewhere deep in his mind.

It was the sophomore year of college when he was invited to a party at a dingy lodge just outside the city. The place was filled with people he’d seen around campus, and some of his friends had tagged along. He never intended to show up at the function, but through some convincing and threats from his buddies, he tagged along as the designated driver. To his surprise, you were there too, with your fugly boyfriend, of course.

Tetsuro spotted you from across the room. You stood anxiously, stranded behind a mob of people, whilst your eyes darted around. He had approached to ask if you were alright, just basic decency. You smiled and assured him that you were fine and that you were looking for your boyfriend. He tsked, unimpressed at the guy for leaving his girlfriend all alone at a college party. Who knew what kind of creep would bother you? Tetsuro was appalled, utterly irritated on your behalf.

When the party started to die down, and his friends all abandoned him for their hookups and others for more late-night drinking, he drove off on his own. The moment he truly, really took a moment to see you in that way was when he saw you walking alone down the forested road, down the deserted highway. He slowed down his car to ask what you were doing out there all by yourself with nothing but concern and an overwhelming instinct to protect.

Shivering with tears glistening down your cheeks, you could only mumble a “he left me” and a weak smile.

He gambled damn well, but that was no good. The bastard left you to walk out in the dark. Even though he was pissed, he spoke to you softly, telling you to get in the car, that it was dangerous to be walking out there, and that he’d take you home. You seemed reluctant at first, but when you heard some critter howl from afar somewhere in the forest, you gulped and plopped yourself into his passenger seat with a quiet bow of gratitude.

Though distraught, you looked beautiful and Tetsuro wanted nothing but to reach out and hold you. To tell you that he was there and that asshole didn’t deserve you. Having self discipline was hard for Tetsuro when you looked so weak, but he kept his hands tight on the steering wheel as he started the car.

During the ride, Kuroo let you to sob quietly while resting your forehead on the window. He did his best to make sure you didn’t feel embarrassed. Left you alone with no questions, just comfortable silence. A silence that didn’t ask anything of you.

He came to terms with the fact that he was interested in you but had been suppressing it because you were in a relationship. His attraction for you suddenly came in full force that moment he found out you were broken up with. Not his proudest moment but boy, was he ecstatic that your asshole ex was no longer hanging around you.

And that was that. He thought about that night often. Mostly, he thought about you. Wishing he’d reached out, stayed with you a bit longer.

Years had passed since the night he drove you back home without question. Ever since then, he noticed your absence around campus and parties, soon figuring out that you were overseas. You became just another person he knew, someone who he wanted to pursue at the wrong time, nothing more.

That was until he was at a work dinner with his colleagues when one of the members from a different division announced the arrival of a new team member joining the dinner. It was all excitement amongst the group. It wasn’t anything out of the norm for him to constantly meet new people that he’d be working around. It was just another introduction to him, something mundane. But when he heard everyone calling over this new person and he looked up to meet eyes with you, his stomach unexpectedly burst with something of nostalgia and something of surprise.

There you were walking into the restaurant with your long hair cut short, layers framing your face as you jogged over to the table. The new haircut made you look exquisite, so different yet so much more fitting on you. Something pleasant washed over him to see that you were looking well. The last time he saw you, you were broken and to see you like this, relief and a sort of pride had settled in. It was truly nice to see you better off.

Above all that, he just couldn’t douse down the heat of attraction sprouting in his chest. Throughout high school, he’d always seen you half-assedly and seeing you like this now, he wondered what had gotten into him. Tetsuro loved women with long hair, only ever crushed on celebrities with long hair, and dated girls with long hair. What was this unexpected flutter?

The feelings he had forgotten over time had been resurrected after seeing you.

“Long time no see.” He gathered confidence to start the conversation when he found you alone outside to catch fresh air while everyone was inside.

“It has!” You nodded, “How have you been?”

“Good, good, y'know just doing what I love…” He scratched his head awkwardly when you caught him eyeing you, “Uh, uhm, you look good— I mean— you’re looking well. I see you, uh, cut your hair.”

You giggled, watching him making actions of your hair getting chopped off with his fingers like a flustered idiot, “This? I thought some change would be nice.”

“Very nice, yes, you look…” He sputtered, “very pretty.”

At that, you froze, slightly taken aback, “Really? Didn’t expect you to compliment my hair. I know you’ve always preferred long hair.”

“I do, but…you just really pull it off. Really.” He assured, smirking slightly at your hesitation to take his compliment.

“Well, thank you, Kuroo.” You returned his smile.

“Tetsuro. Just call me Tetsuro. No need for formalities between us.” He stated.

“Tetsuro.” You said his name as if to test the waters and he made a soft sound of approval.

“I hope this doesn’t sound inappropriate, I’ve always preferred women with long hair but I think you might just be an exception.” He said under his breath, not realizing it was loud enough for you to hear.

You burst out laughing, catching him by surprise and embarrassment.

“I— what I mean is, I think short hair suits you better. N-not that your long hair was bad, it was great but this look is beautiful. I fancy it. I fancy you. I have been since college but I didn’t realize it until now. Seeing you now just resurfaced those very hidden feelings, I guess. Haha, took me a while.” He spoke rapidly like a shy kid thrown on stage, face as red as his neck tie.

You couldn’t help but gape at his abrupt confession. He was always just a handsome guy with a naturally dependable personality. Until now, you didn’t realize that maybe, you might’ve seen him more than just someone you’ve known since high school.

“I quite fancy you too, Tetsuro. And I’m still grateful for that night back in sophomore year, when you dropped me home without bombarding me with questions. I felt safe with you and who knows if I would've even gotten home if you didn’t pull over on the side of the road.” You thanked him.

“Just always thought you deserved better. I hated that douche you dated with a passion.” Tetsuro tsked, face irritated at the memory.

“I could tell. You always had a scowl on your face when my ex was around.” You giggled at the memory.

“What? I guess I wasn’t so slick.” He huffed as if caught red handed.

“Were you waiting for us to break up?” You raised a brow.

Tetsuro turned to you in shock, “Could you tell?!”

“No, just guessed.” You replied, “Why didn’t you do anything about it?”

“Cause…you disappeared after that night. I never saw you around.” He responded, voice softening into something more firm.

“Hmm. I’m here now.” You shrugged, implying that a door was left ajar for him.

“Shit, didn’t think I’d have an office romance in my book.” He chuckled under his breath.

“I’m not even in your department, Tetsuro.” You smirked.

He mirrored you upon hearing that, “You’re telling me it’s okay for me to ask you out on a date then?!”

You nodded, “Yeah, not like we’re gonna lose our jobs.”

“Wait, does this mean you’re saying yes to me asking you out on a date before I even ask you?” He started blushing harder than before.

“Yes.”

“God bless your short hair.” He bowed.