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“Hey Iwa, you alright? You look constipated. Even more than usual.”
Choosing to bypass the insult, Iwaizumi replied with a simple, “Yeah, just a headache is all.”
Oikawa studied him for a moment, something akin to worry reflected in his eyes, before smoothing out his expression. “Probably from scowling too much,” he said with a stupid smirk on his lips, which turned into a bright smile when Iwaizumi sent a murderous look his way, “See just like that.”
They spent the rest of the short walk to school engaging in stupid banter, but as much as Iwaizumi pretended to be mad, everything felt so warm and nostalgic. From the familiar twists and turns of the Miyagi roads, to the cool morning air, to Tooru himself, an ever-constant figure in his life.
“Iwa? Are you ignoring me?” Oikawa said with a small pout.
“Oh sorry, just got lost in thought,” Iwaizumi said, a slight blush rising on his cheeks, though it could be blamed on the brisk winter’s air.
“Alright everyone! Let’s start stretching!” Oikawa said, much too chipper for how early it was. “Iwa, would you mind leading this fine Friday morning?”
Iwaizumi sent him a quick irritated look but did as he asked. It was during the stretching that he noticed a slight nauseous feeling in his stomach, but he chose to ignore it.
Soon enough it was the end of the day, which found Iwaizumi heading to the gymnasium to set up for a practise match with Karasuno.
The match got off to a great start with Oikawa landing a service ace right off the bat, leaving Karasuno a little dumbfounded, but they quickly retaliated on the next point, scoring with that insane first-year quick attack. The score was neck-and-neck with each team battling hard. By the time they had moved into the second set (the first being taken by Seijoh), the match had attracted quite the crowd. However, with each spike, each receive, each miniscule movement, Iwaizumi could feel himself fatigue. The nauseous feeling in his stomach was getting unbearable, his eyes going in and out of focus, his head hammering, before everything turned black.
Oikawa was on his A-game today, each serve, receive, toss, being completed with 100% accuracy. In short – he was feeling super fired up. After a chance ball was sent to Karasuno’s side of the court, Oikawa and Iwaizumi were standing next to each other in the rotation, preparing to block Hinata and Kageyama’s freak quick before Oikawa saw movement in the corner of his eye, he glanced over and everything suddenly turned to slow-motion as he watched his best friend fall towards the gym floor.
“IWA!” He shouted, leaping out to catch him as he fell. “Iwa! Iwa, can you hear me?!” He yelled, frantically at the limp body in his arms. He laid him down against the cold floor, continuing to shout as the rest of the team crowded around them.
(“ROLL HIM ON HIS SIDE QUICK!”) (“What’s going on?!”) (Seijoh’s ace just collapsed!) (“Oh my god what happened?!”) (“Iwaizumi!”) (“Iwa! Iwa! Wake up!”) (“He’s not waking up!!”) (“Shit!”).
What the hell? Why is it so loud?
(“Wake up Iwa please!”)
Tooru?
(Wake up!)
Wake up?
Iwaizumi slowly opened his eyes, “What the...?” He said groggily, squinting up at the blurry figures around him.
“OH MY GOD IWA YOU’RE AWAKE THANK GOD!” Oikawa yelled, quickly latching onto Iwaizumi’s arm.
“Give him some space Oikawa,” the coach said, weaving through the crowd to crouch down next to Hajime. “Do you know where you are son?”
“The gym…?”
“Who are we playing?”
“Karasuno?”
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah I’m-” Iwaizumi went to reply, before suddenly clamping a hand over his mouth, bolting upright. He scrambled to his feet, muscling his way through the crowd, and bolted across the gym floor.
“IWA! WAIT! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?” Oikawa yelled, running after him.
Iwazumi continued running while doubled over, before slamming open the bathroom door and promptly throwing up into the nearest toilet.
“Iwa?! Oh shit-” Oikawa began before running towards the stall Iwaizumi was in.
For the next minute or so Iwaizumi sat hunched over the toilet bowl, throwing up non-stop, while Oikawa sat next to him rubbing circles into his back and carding long fingers through his spiky hair. After a few dry heaves, Iwaizumi stood up and went to wash his mouth out over the sink.
“You alright?” Oikawa asked softly.
“Yeah, I think so, I’m sorr-”
“Don’t even think of apologising Hajime,” Oikawa interrupted sternly, snaking an arm around Iwaizumi’s waist to support his weight. He was a bit taken aback by the use of his first name but didn’t mention it as they walked out of the bathroom.
Walking back out into the gymnasium, all eyes were glued on the pair, in turn making Iwaizumi glue his gaze to the ground. This is so humiliating, he thought to himself as he heard footsteps approaching.
“Iwaizumi! Dude, are you alright?” Hanamaki asked.
“Yeah man, you gave us a good scare,” Matsukawa added.
“Iwaizumi.” It was the coach.
“Um yes sir?”
“Go home and get some rest. Oikawa, go with him.”
“Yes sir,” Oikawa said, leading Iwaizumi out of the gym.
When they arrived at Hajime’s front door, Oikawa leaned over to get the spare key from under the welcome mat before unlocking the door and heading inside. Hajime’s mother must have heard the noise because she popped her head out from the kitchen.
“Hajime? Tooru? What are you doing here? Practise isn’t supposed to end for another hour,” she said walking towards them.
“Hi Aunty, Iwa’s been sick.”
“Oh dear,” Hajime’s mother said with a sigh, placing her hand against Iwaizumi’s forehead, “You definitely have a fever. “Tooru, please take Hajime upstairs to his room, I’ll be up soon with some medicine.”
“Of course,” Oikawa replied, walking towards Iwaizumi’s room before he opened the door and gently sat him down on the bed.
“You should get changed Iwa,” he said. Iwaizumi grunted in response, walking over to his dresser and picking out some clothes. He shrugged off his practise gear and pulled on the Godzilla shirt and sweatpants he’d picked up without any thought.
“I can feel you staring,” Iwaizumi said, not looking back.
“Maybe I like what I see,” Oikawa replied with a flirtatious lilt in his voice, but if Hajime turned around, he would see a bright blush and a bashful smile on his face.
“You can probably go home now, I’ll be alright.”
“Yeah right, I’m not leaving you all alone,” Oikawa responded with that same stern tone from back at the gym. Iwaizumi was happy he wanted to stay, he didn’t want to be alone with his own thoughts and even if he didn’t admit it out loud very often, he enjoyed Tooru’s company.
A few hours later Tooru found himself sitting on Hajime’s bed, watching the credits of Godzilla roll, with Hajime laying against his shoulder. Iwaizumi had thrown up a few more times since being in the gym, but thanks to the medicine, the healing soup his mother made, and some good ol’ T.L.C, he was feeling much better. Tooru leaned over to place a kiss on the crown of Hajime’s head, whispering, “I love you, Iwa.”
“I love you, Iwa.”
The words played on repeat in Iwaizumi’s mind.
Was I meant to hear that? Did Oikawa think I was asleep? Did he mean platonically? But then why would he kiss my head? Is this all a fever dream?
If he was in tip-top shape he likely would have continued down this rabbit-hole for the next few hours. However, he was not in tip-top shape, so soon enough he was fast asleep, dreaming of chocolate hair and equally chocolate eyes.
Iwaizumi awoke feeling warm. Or more accurately he felt something warm against him.
Wait
He opened his eyes to see Oikawa sleeping soundly, a slight amount of drool coming out of the side of his mouth, with his arms wrapped around Hajime. Iwaizumi jolted, waking Oikawa, who opened his eyes, surveying their tangled legs and linked arms before hurriedly trying to get off Iwaizumi, which sent them both toppling off the bed in the process.
“You didn’t have to shove me so hard idiot!” Iwaizumi hissed, rubbing at his head.
“Sorry, sorry,” Oikawa replied, face tinted pink, “But jeez Iwa, cuddling me in my sleep? You must really love me,” he said, a shit-eating expression coming over his face.
“You’re the one who said you loved me last night,” Iwaizumi retorted without thinking. Oikawa raised an eyebrow and tilted his head ever so slightly to the side before recognition flashed in his eyes.
“Wait fuck Oikawa I didn’t-”
“You were awake?” Oikawa asked, voice even and expression unreadable.
“I – yeah I was,” Iwaizumi replied, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt.
Oikawa stared at him for a beat, “And you didn’t think to gee I don’t know, say something?”
“I-”
“Unbelievable.”
Tooru made his way to the door, but Hajime grabbed his wrist before he could reach the handle.
“Let. Go.” Oikawa spat.
“Would you just listen to me?”
“No.”
“Please?”
“No.”
“Tooru.”
Oikawa looked up at him, eyes blown wide and finally stopped trying to wriggle free of Iwaizumi’s grasp.
“I didn’t say anything because I didn’t know whether you meant for me to hear.” Hajime said slowly, struggling to meet Oikawa’s heavy gaze.
“Well, I guess it’s out in the open now isn’t it?” Tooru replied bitterly. “I’m sorry, I really am, I know you don’t feel the same.”
You know how people say that sometimes their body moves before they can think? Well in the next few moments, Iwaizumi didn’t feel in control of his own body, all he wanted was for Oikawa to know that he felt the same.
The kiss was desperate, trying to convey feelings accumulated for years, but neither of them could imagine anything more perfect, and more…them.
Eventually Iwaizumi broke the kiss and leant his forehead against Oikawa’s, “I love you too, Tooru. So goddamn much.”
The walk to school the following Monday was just as familiar as it was that fateful Friday. They walked down the same Miyagi streets, and breathed in the same cool morning air, but there was something undeniably different this time. From the way Iwaizumi brushed a stray piece of Oikawa’s hair behind his ear, to the way they held hands.
It was a good different though.