Best I Ever Had [IwaOi Angst]

Chapter 19

Iwaizumi stands back by the bin of volleyballs and watches as Oikawa speaks to his coach. He can see Oikawa using his forced, polite smile. See how he grits his teeth by the clench of his jaw. Can see he's trying to argue and the coach is having none of it. He can't hear the news but it can't be good.

The coach points at the bench and Oikawa stomps over to sit down. Iwaizumi comes over to him. Oikawa's rubbing his knee through the brace, the stomping must have hurt.

"Hey." Iwaizumi greets, gruffly.

Oikawa doesn't look up. He's got his face in his hands, hunched over. Iwaizumi frowns and sits down beside him. He twirls a volleyball in his hand idly and waits.

"I'm not allowed to play." Oikawa murmurs into his hands after a long minute.

"For how long?" Iwaizumi probes, because he'd already figured that part out.

Oikawa lifts his head and leans it against Iwaizumi's shoulder. It's a nice weight, and Iwaizumi bears it without comment.

"At least until fall."

Iwaizumi's eyes widen and he looks down at his best friend, "That long?"

Oikawa buries his face into Iwaizumi's shirt and nods his head. Iwaizumi frowns.

He accidentally drops the ball he was spinning but he doesn't bother to pick it up as it rolls out of reach.

"Get up." Iwaizumi demands, placing his bag down on Oikawa's bedroom floor.

Oikawa peaks over the book he's reading in bed. He doesn't respond, instead he turns to his side, his back facing the intruder. Iwaizumi grits his teeth, "Oikawa."

"I'm supposed to be resting." Oikawa glowers, curling up a bit tighter.

"Bullshit." Iwaizumi snaps, walking around the bed to face Oikawa. The brunet grips his book tighter, as if it were a shield, "You're supposed to be doing physical therapy."

Oikawa turns around again so he faces the opposite direction, "I don't care."

Iwaizumi grabs his arm, pulling him over. Oikawa doesn't resist as he's hauled out of the bed, book forgotten.

"How can you not care?!" Iwaizumi growls, "Don't you want to play volleyball?" Oikawa glares at the floor. Iwaizumi continues, "Don't you want to defeat Ushijima at Inter High?"

"Of course I want to beat him." Oikawa hisses, "But how can I ever beat him now."

Iwaizumi lets go of him, "If you do the exercises you'll have a full recovery."

"How do you know that?" Oikawa huffs, unconvinced.

Iwaizumi ignores the question, unzipping his bag. He takes out a stretchy band. Oikawa recognizes it from the gym. "Here." Iwaizumi says, "Start."

"I don't even know what I'm doing." Oikawa whines.

"It's your own fault for not taking care of yourself." Iwaizumi reminds harshly, but then he seems to soften. He crawls onto the bed, "Come on, I'll help you."

Oikawa swallows but finally nods. He obeys as Iwaizumi motions for him to lie down. He looks up at him nervously. Iwaizumi takes his right leg carefully, "Tell me if I hurt you at all ok."

"Ok."

"I mean it. Even a little sting. You tell me immediately." Iwaizumi clarifies with a pointed look.

Oikawa smiles a bit, "You're giving me permission to whine?"

Iwaizumi cracks a smile and his hands are too occupied to hide it, so he ducks his head down, "Just this once."