scotlandyard | I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ANYMORE!!

I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ANYMORE!!

[So it's like... getting late. Let's say it's around 9:00 PM on a pleasant weekend and all's quiet and peaceful BUT NOT FOR LONG because suddenly there are footsteps loudly making their way toward Iwaizumi's door.

And then it's being thrown open as Oikawa barges in and drops down on Iwaizumi's bed, his face buried in a pillow like he owns the place as he grunts out some weird, garbled greeting.

He couldn't even be bothered to text that he was coming over, that's how considerate he is.]

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[Iwaizumi flinches as hands slap down on his shoulders - Oikawa's stronger than he looks - but he doesn't move, lower lip jutting out in a stubborn pout as he stares pointedly at a spot in the floor, his fingers curled into fists in his lap.]

It's true though, isn't it? If I could play like that maybe we would've beat Shiratorizawa a long time ago.

[But he can't and here they are and here's the feeling of not being good enough creeping back slowly into his mind.]

[His grip goes slack along with his jaw so that he's staring, open-mouthed in horror at what Iwaizumi's just said.

And then his expression shifts, turns sour with the memories. They'd been doing so well in avoiding the topic of their loss to Karasuno, yet here they were with Iwaizumi feeling vulnerable again.]

If you're trying to piss me off, it's working.

[He lifts a hand in order to jab a finger at Iwaizumi's forehead.]

Weren't you the one to tell me that there are six players on the court for a reason? It's no use blaming yourself.

I'm not blaming myself. I just—

[He breaks off there, lips thinning in frustration as he tries to figure out how best to phrase things in a way that Oikawa might understand. He isn't a genius or blessed with incredibly good sense, or even gifted with an amazing amount of raw power. There's only so much he can do and while that's fine most days, other days it hurts more.

But he'll deal with the ugly feelings, sort them out later like he has with everything else.]

Never mind. [Iwaizumi lifts a hand and waves it in a dismissive gesture.] It doesn't matter anyway.

[If Oikawa can bring about abrupt subject changes, then so can he.]

It does matter! [he practically shouts. His hands drop down and away from Iwaizumi to grab hold of the blanket in a death grip, hard enough to turn his knuckles white. He has to direct his frustrations into something and he thinks he'd leave bruises on Iwaizumi's skin if he holds on long enough.

There's a stubborn set to his chin and an equally stubborn fire in his gaze as he looks straight into Iwaizumi's eyes.]

You're enough. You've always been enough.

[It's rare to see Oikawa in such a fit of impassioned anger and Iwaizumi's jaw goes slack as he stares at his best friend.

A moment passes by, then two, and then Iwaizumi's pursing his lips, expression uncertain as he tries to piece together the words he wants to say. So are you maybe, or I'm glad you're around. But both those sound cheesy and out of place, and ultimately he settles for something far more lame.]

Wasn't there a movie coming out next month you wanted to see? I'll go with you.

[A concession that he's heard those reassurances, and taken them properly to heart.]

[There's a second's pause as Oikawa registers the meaning behind those words and the frustration and heat coiling unpleasantly in his gut fade away. His expression loosens, turns a bit melancholy before he lets out a long breath, shoulders dropping and fingers relaxing from their tight hold.]

What am I going to do with you, Iwa-chan?

[It's a question left more to himself with the way he murmurs it softly. He leans forward, bumps shoulders with Iwaizumi as a small smile spreads across his face and his voice picks up in volume.]

Well, that saves me the trouble of trying to drag you there myself.

[Thankfully, the answer to that question's easy enough, Iwaizumi leaning over to flick Oikawa in the forehead.]

You can start by not calling me Iwa-chan anymore. We're not kids anymore.

[Even if he knows Oikawa won't ever stop calling him that. It's still a dumb nickname, one that makes him roll his eyes every time he hears it. At least there'll always be copious instances of Trashykawa to counter it.]

And don't be so smug. Maybe I'll change my mind before then.

[Ah no, there's no backing out of this one and it's apparent in the self-satisfied twist of Oikawa's lips. But he knows better than to press the issue, even teasingly, and opts for taking the win for now.

Besides, there are other things he can poke fun at.]

Oh? What would you rather I call you, then? Hajime-chan?

[He visibly cringes at Hajime-chan and immediately responds by shoving a fist into Oikawa’s gut. (Sorry, it was right there.)]

Don’t make it sound like I’m one of your girlfriends, Oikawa. [Even if they are basically attached at the hip.] That’s way too quick of a rebound.

[He doubles over with a dramatic gasp, arms crossed around his middle as he flops into Iwaizumi's lap because hello, backfiring my old friend.

And he's not budging with the way he lets go of his own midsection to cling to Iwaizumi's own.]

None of my girlfriends would ever treat me so cruelly! If only someone had taught you manners, Iwa-chan!

[Hurk. Iwaizumi lets out a small grunt as the air (and life) is slowly squeezed out of him and vainly tries to shove Oikawa off.]

Maybe they should treat you more cruelly, that's the only way to get anywhere with you!

[What sort of logic is that? The worst logic, that's what.]

[Yeah, no, he's here to stay and his hold only tightens when Iwaizumi tries to pry him off.]

What a terrible thing to say!

[But then the mood shifts, his arms loosening up a bit when he turns to bury his face in Iwaizumi's shirt as he mumbles a second reply.]

You'd make a terrible girlfriend.

[Ugh.....what a ugly barnacle. But Iwaizumi knows when he's lost and settles for propping his chin on his palm and staring at his wall while messing up Oikawa's hair with his other hand.]

Good thing I'm your best friend instead. I'll be here to knock sense into you.

[Oikawa angles his body into a more comfortable position, but otherwise doesn't move from Iwaizumi's lap. He's content and it shows, the tension leaving his shoulders and his eyes slipping closed with a soft hum of agreement.]

Do you have a lot of homework left to do?

[Maybe it's because they've been friends for so long that Iwaizumi doesn't protest the shift in his lap, or notice when his fingers switch from purposefully mussing up Oikawa's hair to combing idly through it instead.

They're extensions of each other at this point. It only makes sense.]

I can finish it later. Why?

[There's no comment about the fingers carding through his hair with Oikawa leaning into the touch the only indication that he's well-aware of what Iwaizumi's doing. To him, to them, this was the norm.

At the question, he opens his eyes to peer up at Iwaizumi, a casual smile in place.]

Just wondering how much longer I can keep you to myself.

[What a confusing statement. Iwaizumi looks down, a frown on his lips.]

I don't have anywhere else to be.

[Which is true enough. His social life isn't anywhere near as active as Oikawa's, and while he could call up Matsukawa or Hanamaki easily enough, it's also late enough in the evening that he's not particularly inclined to put the effort into dragging himself out of the house.]

[He matches Iwaizumi's gaze steadily and wants to believe that this, having him all to himself, had no expiration date.

But he knows better.]

You know, I've been thinking a lot lately...

[In the barest of pauses, Oikawa's expression turns unpleasant, the smile he'd worn so easily now slipping off.]

—About university.

[And there that moment goes, muddled by some unseen factor he can't pinpoint. It's happened more and more lately much to his irritation, and repeated questioning's earned him nothing except a pointed jab that he might be going senile with all his old man ways. Why's all this have to be so complicated?

The frown doesn't leave his face and neither does the confusion.]

What about it? If it's not being scouted to one, you don't have anything to worry about.

[Like anyone wouldn't immediately want Oikawa, really.]

[A warm feeling spreads across his chest and he's aware of his heart picking up in speed once he registers Iwaizumi's response. He sounds so sure, almost like he's daring the world to try and prove him wrong. Oikawa can't help but stare dumbly up at him, remembers using the word invincible once upon a time when it had been just the two of them and wonders why he thinks of it now.

No, he knows why. This was his best friend, the fixed presence in his life that he could always rely on, could always turn to when he was wavering and undecided and in need of something solid.

His gaze falls, shifts away to stare pointedly at nothing. Anything but Iwaizumi.]

Mm, it's not that. [He picks at the fabric of his shirt and struggles back on track.] Have you thought about where you want to go, Iwa-chan?

[Positive attention focused on him for once, how rare.

But instead of making any sort of mockery of it, Iwaizumi takes the question seriously, falling silent as he tugs loosely at a few more strands of Oikawa's hair. Has he thought about where he wants to go? Of course, and maybe a little too much, if he's honest. The chances of him receiving any sort of sports scholarship sits firmly on the side of none, hence his determination to do well in his classes and keep his grades high. But without the draw of volleyball, there's other things to think about: the type of atmosphere he wants to surround himself with, an area of focus for his studies, what he wants to do post-university. It's all rather messy still, no single concrete plan sticking out at him yet, but he'll deal with things as they come.]

Not really. There are a few smaller places in Tokyo I'm looking at but their exam score cutoff is pretty high.

[Tokyo. His mind works furiously to go through the list of offers he'd gotten so far. It's nothing too long or too grand with the way he'd never made it to the crucial scouts occupying nationals, but it's enough to keep him undecided and enough to satisfy him when he realizes that yes, he's got a few offers from their nation's capital.

Him and Iwaizumi in Tokyo, hah. It's hard to imagine either of them in the big city.

It's hard to imagine them in different schools.

Even so, he manages a reassuring smile, almost too at ease with the ambitious answer. Oikawa's always been known as the hard-worker, but Iwaizumi worked just as hard and excelled just as well. He only happened to know when to take a break.]

If that's where you want to go, you'll make it happen.

[Small town boys living the big city life. It's terrifying and exhilarating and if getting in to one of those schools means he has to throw away every Friday night to boring studying he'll gladly do it. And in any case, he has other reasons to want to go to Tokyo.]

Someone has to babysit you, after all. Make sure you don't overwork yourself again.

[Emphasized with a sharp tug at Oikawa's hair. It's such a minor reason, compared to everything else, but he honestly can't imagine being separated from Oikawa and having to hear news about him secondhand.]

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I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ANYMORE!!

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tags this back anyway while i ponder pokemon

has millions of threads btw cute icon?!

i got nonconned into making it 8/

:') i love it

gives you a tag i guess

wow val u know i'm at least top one in ur kokoro

eh maybe top five

ok.... knows i'm top one tho

eh

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