Thread by @squidlywhiplash

#BokuAkaKuroKenWeek2023 touch starved

Out of the four of them, Keiji was the last inclined to touch. Not to say that he disliked when his boyfriends touched him, why date them if that were the case? But more in the sense that he could go without it, whereas the others could not.

Bokuto was free with his affection. Orbiting close to the nearest person and pressing against them with casual contact.

He was the first one to offer up hugs and the last one to let go of hands.

Physical affection was built into his very being, and being with three different people meant that he never went without.

Kenma liked to pretend that he didn’t enjoy touch, scrunching up his nose or whining when he was scooped up or held close, but Keiji saw the truth.

Saw the way he burrowed closer for warmth, and gravitated towards them in a silent request for contact until one of them provided.

Kuroo was a little more complex. Like Keiji, he never shied away from touch.

He was always willing to give it, but when left to his own devices, his initiations were always too casual.

He was more likely to slap one of them on the back, offer up knuckles, or dish out noogies than he was to hug someone.

His default method of affection was almost childlike in nature, something adorable and eye-roll inducing all at once.

Keiji was the oddball. Seeing the three of them curled up together provided the same warm feeling in his chest as actually being a part of it.

Sometimes Keiji sat alone, close but out of reach, and they respected that.

Today was not one of those days.

Today, where was an itch in Keiji’s brain, an itch that felt an awful lot like lonileiness even if he wasn’t alone.

He could see all three of his boyfriends from his spot at the kitchen table.

Kenma, on the floor in front of the couch, controller in hand.

Bokuto, by the microwave, heating up leftovers.

Kuroo, watering the plants because as much as Knema loved them, the man never remembered to do it himself.

Keiji loved them. So much that sometimes it made his heart ache as if he didn’t have them at all.

His body felt tingly and wrong, like he needed another’s warmth to ground him.

The feeling had built up since the early morning, and now it was impossible to focus on anything else.

Wordlessly, he migrated from his temporary workstation and settled onto the middle of the couch.

Close to Kenma, but not touching.

Initiating the contact himself felt like cheating. He wanted to feel wanted, wanted to be touched but also didn’t want to ask for it.

Sounds confusing, huh?

Well, that's just how his brain was sometimes.

Luckily, Keiji was not the only one of them attuned with the others.

Kuroo had tracked his move from the table to the couch with steady eyes.

Boktuo’s ears had perked as the couch coils squeaked faintly, and Kenma’s body was already naturally leaning towards Keiji’s warmth.

Twenty breaths later (Keiji counted them), found Kuroo next to him, leaning his arm over the back of the couch and pulling Keiji in close.

Bokuto settled on his other side, takeout in one hand,Kenma in his other, dispositing the smallest of his boyfriend’s into Keiji’s lap, as Kenma continued to play seamlessly

Bokuto's shoulder leaned into Keijis own as he ate.

Just like that, Keiji’s anxiety settled. He was able to breathe deeper, taking in the feeling and scent of those he loved most without having to utter a single word.

They knew him, just as he knew them and were more than happy to give Keiji what he needed.

The afternoon was spent pressed together, quietly talking, watching movies, or napping peacefully, and when Keiji eventually needed his space again, they let him go

Knowing full well that he'd always come back.