Best I Ever Had [IwaOi Angst]

Chapter 6

Oikawa lets out a piercing shriek as he tips over into the creek, hands flying back to try to catch himself. He ends up landing on his butt, the water lapping high up at his waist. His shorts are soaked, and he starts tearing up, pouting angrily at the boy who pushed him.

Iwaizumi is laughing, clutching at his stomach and leaning forward. His large brimmed straw hat has fallen to the ground, and his bucket has been safely placed aside. He's tearing up too, but for vastly different reasons.

"Iwa-chan is so mean!" Oikawa sputters, standing up with difficulty. His shorts cling to him awkwardly, saturated a darker blue from the water. It's enough that it drips down his bare knees and calves. He wipes at his snotty nose with the back of his hand, blinking back the tears of betrayal and turns away from his best friend. Instead, he climbs up the bank of the other side of the creek.

Oikawa is done with Iwaizumi. Done with him forever he decides. So he doesn't turn around, but crosses his arms angrily as he stands there, cold and upset. He hears Iwaizumi quiet down his laughter and take in a sigh, "To-chan, come on. Don't be like that. You were the one being a butt."

"I was not." Oikawa defends, spinning around to face him from the other side. Offended. He was the victim here!

"Were too." Iwaizumi rebuts, sitting down calmly to take off his shoes and socks. He slips the latter into his shoes neatly to make sure they don't get dirty. He doesn't want his mom to yell at him. "You said bugs were stupid."

"They are." Oikawa affirms, sitting down and copying Iwaizumi from his side of the creek, mostly because his socks are wet and gross and his feet feel slimy and he wants them off. He just kind of kicks them off however, he doesn't really want to touch them now. They're dirty and icky. "It's a fact."

"Then go home." Iwaizumi spits out and descends into the creek without another word. He slides down the bank with practiced ease, landing inside the creek, where the water is shallow and comes up to his mid-calf. He has his bucket in hand, and net in the other, ready.

Oikawa frowns, digging his heels into the wet mud at his feet. He draws his knees up to his chest, hugging himself tightly and watching as Iwaizumi starts wading through the water, eyes intently watching its translucent surface. Completely ignoring him. He hates it.

"...I thought we were going hunting for tadpoles, not bugs." Oikawa murmurs, frowning at his knees. Not only had he been betrayed, but lied to as well.

Iwaizumi doesn't look at him, "I am."

Oikawa whines, "We are." He insists with a little huff, glaring at the other little boy. Was he already forgotten?

"No, we're not." Iwaizumi says matter of factly, looking up to stare at him finally, "You're sitting in the mud."

Oikawa whines harder, picking himself up and sliding down the bank back into the creek. "I wanna help." He pleads, fidgeting, all gangly limbs and open teary eyes.

Iwaizumi looks over at him, and he seems to soften. Because Iwaizumi can never win with Oikawa. Oikawa always ends up getting his way. But only because Iwaizumi would rather have fun with Oikawa than to be alone. And so his eyes do shine a little as he states, "Ok. Grab one of the nets in the bucket and go."

Oikawa grins at the permission, running over and shoving a hand into the bucket only to screech as something slimy slides between his fingers. He pulls back in horror, a slug crawling up his arm, and he shudders gagging at the horrendous sight. He's about to cry (again), breathing heavily and frozen in horror.

Oikawa jumps when a hand touches his arm but he relaxes as best he can when he sees that it's only Iwaizumi. His hold is soft, careful, and his eyebrows are furrowed as he studies the problem. But then the slug moves closer up his arm and Oikawa shrieks at the feeling and wants to flail his arm. But Iwaizumi keeps him still with his grip.