Vrrrrr. Vrrrrr. Vrrrrr. Vrrrrr.

Oikawa snapped open his eyes and intuitively turned his head –

The kitchen counter.

That.

Fucking.

Phone –

‘Y-you should answer it,’ Hinata said. ‘Something could’ve happened.’

Those fucking mechanical vibrations had killed the moment. 

Plus Hinata was right. Oikawa gritted his teeth. With the fury of Zeus, Oikawa got up and stormed towards his phone, seething.

Fucking earthquakes and fucking phones. If someone hasn’t died, then I’m going to kill them –

It was still ringing when Oikawa reached the counter. In an instant, his rage dissolved into fear: Iwaizumi. Oikawa couldn’t answer it. He knew he’d get an earful. But had something happened? It stopped ringing. Shit. His voicemail was so full Seijoh’s ace wouldn’t be able to leave a message. And he already had over 100 texts he needed to respond to.  

What if… there was something really dreadful in there?

‘Oikawa-san, who was it?’

‘Iwa-chan.’

The softness in Oikawa’s voice was like an injection in Hinata’s ear.

‘You should call him back,’ even Hinata was alarmed by the harshness in his voice. He hadn’t even wanted to say those words.

Hinata watched Oikawa. It was like Oikawa hadn’t heard him. The setter was frowning, worried, Hinata could tell, as he tapped through his phone. Karasuno’s number 10 sighed. Of course. The blackout. The earthquake. So many people were worried about them… Hinata’s mind drifted to his dead phone and his team. If his phone was working right now he’d probably be calling all his teammates too.

‘Oikawa-san.’

The assertiveness in that attractive voice ripped Oikawa away from the screen.

‘You should call back everyone,’ Hinata said, with conviction this time. ‘I’m sure they’re all worried about you.’

And, Hinata thought, if you weren’t looking after me so much you probably would’ve replied to them by now.

Oikawa glanced at his phone: there were messages from his parents in there, his sister, from his team, friends and distant relatives. He  wanted to be beside Hinata but – these people were important too.

‘Give me five minutes chibi-chan and I’ll be back!’

It wasn’t five minutes. Hinata watched and listened as Oikawa stood, anchored to his charger and called his parents, his sister, every member of the volleyball team, friends from school, distant relatives; Hinata noted the way all these different people brought out different sides to the setter; his parents made him formal, his sister – goofy, his teammates – some captain-like, some jokey but with Iwaizumi Oikawa always seemed apologetic and reverential and this, for some reason, made Hinata feel like a cauldron of boiling green liquid. With friends and other relatives, Hinata could tell Oikawa worked his charm and breezed his way through conversations feigning confidence particularly regarding the earthquake. Sure now it was nothing but Hinata had felt the weight that he and the blackout had placed on Oikawa, he had seen the chinks in the captain’s armour.

Hinata switched the muted TV off. Oikawa had his back to Hinata so he didn’t notice the spiker climb onto the bed, lie on his back and stare at the ceiling. That pleasing voice of Oikawa’s was like soothing background music. Hinata sighed. 

Even his voice is good-looking. Oikawa was talking to an aunt in Hokkaido.

All these people are who he’ll return to tomorrow. All these people get to have a purpose in his life. While I’m…

Hinata turned onto his side and faced the wall.

What am I to Oikawa? Sure I saved him from the chandelier and he feels indebted to me but outside of that… Has this time affected him as much as it has affected me? Maybe I’m just someone he’s had to look after for a couple of days. A chore…

The thought made Hinata’s chest ache. I can’t expect it to be more than that. He has his own life full without me. And we only knew each other as rivals –

Hinata frowned. Why am I so bothered by this? I don’t understand –

Suddenly – silence. Hinata heard Oikawa put his phone down and walk over to the bed. Hinata didn’t move but knew that Oikawa was observing  him. The spiker felt the warmth and weight of a body sit behind him on the mattress. A hand started at his shoulder and stroked all the way down his arm, briefly grasping his elbow before finally holding his hand. 

Hinata could not help his uncontrollable heart.

‘Sorry chibi-chan,’ Oikawa whispered, rattling Hinata’s hand in his own. ‘That took longer than I thought. I’m all yours now.’

Hinata closed his eyes and deeply inhaled and exhaled. Why does he have to say it like that?

‘Are you upset with me? Can you forgive me?’

Hinata rolled to his other side so that he broke away from the  setter’s hand and faced Oikawa, leaving an empty space of where his body just was.

Oikawa could tell immediately on Hinata’s face – something was wrong. He was as easy to read as an alphabet book.

Hinata could not articulate his feelings even if he tried: a fleet of contradictory emotions fought each other blindly, none of them making  sense. How could this moment bring him pain and joy at the same time when nothing was any different?

Before Hinata could form a sentence, Oikawa joined him on the bed, lying on his side facing the tiny spiker, exactly as Hinata was seconds ago. Oikawa did not close the gap between them but stared equally levelled at Hinata’s eye line, resting his head against the pillow. The middle blocker could see the concern in the setter’s face and already knew that Oikawa would not push him.

The hours, minutes, seconds were ticking by.

Make the most of it.

‘Can I… hold you?’ Hinata asked, tears forming in his eyes.

‘You don’t have to ask.’

Hinata closed the gap and held onto Oikawa, his head tucked under the setter’s chin. He didn’t make a sound but Oikawa knew that he was crying.

What happened? Oikawa asked himself. In the space of minutes? What is going on in that little Karasuno’s mind?

Oikawa wrapped his arms around Hinata and felt the comfort from his small body.

‘You know you can talk to me,’ Oikawa said. ‘About anything. But only if you want to.’

Hinata scrunched up his face against Oikawa’s chest. Oikawa’s long eyelashes. His tilted head. The promise of his lips. Hinata clenched Oikawa’s shirt tighter in his fists.

With a loose hand, Oikawa grazed his fingers up and down tenderly against Hinata’s back.

‘I’ll – I’ll miss you,’ Hinata barely said above a whisper.

The chains squeezed Oikawa’s heart. The setter clutched the spiker tighter.

‘I’ll see you again. I’m teaching you how to serve, remember?’

But what if you weren’t? Hinata wanted to ask. What if I hadn’t asked you? Would you still want to see me? Well. Obviously not. Why would he? He had his own life. Besides… why do I still want to see him?

The questions, the possible answers, frightened Hinata. If he said anything to Oikawa now, Oikawa would only be speaking out of a sense of duty and pity, to comfort him. Not only that but –

Would they see each other again? Oikawa’s hands were badly hurt. How long would they take to recover? And regardless… this time together now…  it won’t be like this anymore…

Oikawa kissed the top of Hinata’s head and then rested his cheek there. Fizzy fuzzy fiery feelings darted through Hinata like fireworks.

‘Hinata.’

The crow didn’t reply but Oikawa knew that he was listening.

‘If you keep thinking about tomorrow, you’re going to miss today.’

Hinata breathed out. He’s right. This has to stop. Worrying is not getting me anywhere. And for now… Oikawa is right here…

‘Oikawa-san, can you stay with me like this?’

‘Of course I can,’ Oikawa could not resist kissing Hinata’s head again and nuzzling into him. ‘But actually -’

Oikawa tore himself away and switched the lights off. And he put his phone on silent. The electricity from the neighbours provided a sufficient soft glow to the darkness through the large kitchen window. Oikawa returned to Hinata who clung to him even stronger than before.

Is he really… dreading parting that much? He can’t be… it must be… something else…

‘What can I do to help you?’ Oikawa murmured, stroking Hinata’s hair.  ‘I wish I knew what was going on in that pretty head of yours, chibi-chan.’

I wish I knew…

Hinata breathed in Oikawa’s intoxicating scent –

… what was going on with me too.

They stayed like that, amalgamated to each other, Hinata didn’t know for how long. Eventually his grip on Oikawa eased, his senses unwound to the hypnotic rhythm of Oikawa’s heartbeat, the unique smell of the setter, and the shared heat from their bodies. 

He drifted, between paradise and reality, his body light, wrapped in a blanket of warmth. He dreamt of a beach with palm trees swaying, felt the rays of the sun and a hand caressing his back lovingly. Then it was dark. Was he awake? No. There were shapes and colours merging and changing – purple, brown, turquoise – flowers – orchids, and giant vases – beautiful long fingers and red, red blood… the warmth against his body moved away, his head fell slightly back but was caught by something soft and firm. The same person, again and again. Dangerous brown eyes, slim firm lips… a pining more ferocious than a storm on a sea… just an arm’s length away, he reached out, his head tilted back even more, and suddenly – lightning  struck water and flashed its way down to its depths – the pressure was finally here, passionate, hungry on his mouth. Lips opened lips, sweet sweet breath… he arched his back, fully giving in to the pleasure he had so ardently yearned for, as he clutched on wet cloth like sails…

Hinata woke to dreamy sunlight streaming in, making Oikawa’s home bright and beautiful. He was still curled up in the setter’s chest but his body trilled from electric dreams. Was it a dream? Bashful, Hinata ever so carefully inched back and peeked at Oikawa.

Oikawa’s long eyelashes dusted his face, his expression was peaceful, a mop of fringe fell across his forehead and – Hinata’s heart tripped –  his lips were slightly open, and he sucked in and blew out air softly. With the dexterity of a burglar, Hinata drew his hand up and ever so carefully touched the setter’s face. Oikawa didn’t stir. The spiker couldn’t help himself, with the tips of his fingers he circled Oikawa’s inviting lips, feeling the setter’s hot breath against his skin. Hinata suddenly dug his nails into palm. He’d woken with his dick semi-hard from the dream but he was getting… harder. He wanted to touch himself. Or… he wanted Oikawa to touch him…

Hinata sharply exhaled.

And.

He wanted to touch Oikawa.

Hinata locked his fingers together and shoved his hands between his legs to stop himself from doing something improper. But being so close to Oikawa, and a sleeping Oikawa… what is wrong with me? Hinata forced himself to think of boring roads, of shopping malls, anything unimportant until he felt himself get flaccid again.

Hinata hoisted himself down to the edge of the bed and slid off. He checked. Oikawa was still asleep. He peed in the bathroom then got a glass of water. But. Nothing else in the room caught his attention. Also, this was the morning, he’d be going home. This was the last time he knew for sure that he would be close to Oikawa…

The spiker crawled back onto the bed but this time his weight rippled and woke the sleeping beauty. Oikawa blinked a few times before undermining all of Hinata’s efforts: moaning, he drew Hinata to him, cuddling and spooning the orange-haired human pillow, and nuzzled into the boy’s naked neck sending a tingle down Hinata’s spine.

‘Morning you,’ Oikawa breathed, his breath hot, hugging his rival’s chest. ‘Did you sleep better last night?’

Hinata was rock hard and if Oikawa’s hands even grazed near his midriff…

‘Because I did,’ Oikawa murmured into the back of Hinata’s neck before resting his head on Hinata’s head. Oikawa took a deep breath and drank in Hinata’s scent.

Hinata gulped down air, his heart punching against him. His whole body was as stiff as a statue. It was a good that Oikawa seemed to be settling into falling back asleep. Oikawa started breathing deeply unaware of Hinata’s paralysed state.

‘Why aren’t you saying anything chibi-chan?’ Oikawa mumbled, half-asleep.

KNOCK KNOCK.

Oikawa’s eyes snapped open. Both of them had frozen.

No, Oikawa thought, already?

Hinata felt his spirit crush like a can of coke and yet – there was a sting of relief there too. But at the same time – this was it. The end.

Hinata felt Oikawa’s body leave him for the last time and felt the mattress recover as Oikawa stood up. Hinata quickly hid his erection by adjusting it up, in his waistband and luckily Oikawa’s t-shirt was baggy enough.

Oikawa was about to go to the door when once again, a stretch in his t-shirt stopped him from doing so. He turned. Hinata had sat up and was gripping his t-shirt, staring up at him with glossy, wholehearted eyes –

‘Oikawa-san, I will always be grateful that you took care of me -’

Knock knock knock knock.

With a panic, Oikawa realised it was so obvious they had slept on the same bed.

‘Sorry chibi-chan -’

Hinata released him and Oikawa stretched the duvet cover before plumping the pillows. He threw one onto the sofa, just to make it look like he’d slept there. He turned to the cutest thing in the world, sitting atop his bed and sadly smiled.

‘Me too. I’ll always feel that way -’

Hinata watched, like in slow motion, Oikawa trudge to the front door, open it, and pretend.

Twenty minutes later, after thank yous, my-look-how-handsome-you-are, what-a-lovely-apartment, Hinata’s mother got into the car right outside the house. Oikawa stood at the threshold and Hinata on the doorstep.  

Oikawa was smiling but Hinata could see the sadness in his eyes. The urge to hold Oikawa one last time almost killed Hinata but he couldn’t – not while his mother was watching.

‘You’ll teach me how to serve.’ Hinata said, with an edge in his voice.

Oikawa nodded.

‘As soon as your hands feel better,’ Hinata demanded.

‘As soon as my hands feel better.’

‘Promise me.’

‘I promise. Your mother has my number but you should give me yours so I can text you as soon as I can.’

Hinata recited it and Oikawa saved it in his phone by awkwardly typing with the bent back of his index finger. He smirked but when his eyes met Hinata’s again his expression changed.

‘Don’t look so sad chibi-chan, I can’t bear it,’ Oikawa whispered. ‘Rest your leg, focus on getting well and I’ll see you soon.’

Hinata didn’t want to leave. Every single part of him felt like he was meant to stay there, with Oikawa. Somehow his feet moved and walked  him to the back – he got into the car. His mother waved as they drove away. Hinata knelt on the backseat, watching Oikawa wave back, the smile fade from the setter’s face, for as long as he could. Hinata then checked his feet, legs, hands and arms. It felt like a part of him was missing, like a huge part of his body had been left behind. He was sat in his mother’s car but really he was in the belly of a whale at the  bottom of the ocean surrounded by darkness, silence and emptiness.

When the car rounded the corner, Oikawa took out his phone and typed a text:

What are you doing a week tomorrow? My hands are feeling better.

Send.