Ill-Fated Calf-Love

Kuroo

Akaashi wasn't avoiding him. If anything, Kuroo and Akaashi had only gotten closer since he confessed. It drove Kuroo nuts how he'd catch Akaashi staring at him before looking away with a blush, or how they sometimes walked close enough for their hands to brush. He imagined grabbing Akaashi's hand when that happened, but was too afraid to ruin their newly formed bond.

October and most of November passed that way and Kuroo wondered what present Akaashi was getting him. Akaashi had yelled at him when Kuroo invited him to his birthday party the week before, shocking everyone by how upset he'd been that he didn't have more time to get something. Iwaizumi had laughed at the expression on Kuroo's face when Akaashi ran off.

As excited as Kuroo was for the party, he was nervous about Oikawa and Iwaizumi being together for the first time since their fight. Football didn't count, since they avoided each other and focused only on the game. He hoped they'd be able to put it aside as long as Ushijima wasn't brought up.

Yaku was the first to arrive, helping Kuroo finish the enormous amount of decorations his mom had bought. Iwaizumi and Akaashi got there at the same time. Oikawa, however, was an hour late, not answering calls or text from the others. They played games to kill the time while waiting for him. It was nearly dark when he finally showed up, hair damp from a shower. "Sorry I'm late."

"You sure took your sweet time," Iwaizumi quipped, arms crossed across his chest.

"Ushijima wanted to grab dinner and we lost track of time."

"You should have said no when you already had plans. That's the stupidest reason to be late. You could have at least answered our calls." Iwaizumi started in on him before the back door even had a chance to close.

"I couldn't! My phone was dead. Stop telling me what I can do in my relationship! It's not your place."

Yaku sighed. "Can we not do this right now? Let's just enjoy the party and have fun."

If they heard him, they didn't show it, continuing to scream at each other.

"You were late to your friend's brithday party because you chose to go on a date! You're a jerk!"

"The only jerk is you for getting mad at me for having a boyfriend. You're jealous! Just admit it. You. Are. Jealous."

Akaashi chose that moment to step between them to quell the fight, receiving a fist to the eye as Iwaizumi swung at Oikawa. He stumbled into Oikawa who kept him from falling. Slowly, he touched his eye and winced in pain.

"Iwaizumi, what the hell?"

"Shit! I'm so sorry, Akaashi! I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay! Just... stop yelling. Please. Kuroo, could I have some ice," he asked, covering his eye with his hand.

"I'll get it. You sit him down. Oikawa, Iwaizumi, seperate," Yaku commanded, then rushed inside.

Kuroo directed Akaashi to one of the lawn chairs. "You couldn't have put it aside for one night? I better go tell my mom."

He found her in the living room and told her what happened. Immediately, she called all three's parents, each saying they'd be there to pick up their boy.

"Sorry for ruining your party, Kuroo."

"I'm sorry too. I didn't want this to happen."

Iwaizumi and Oikawa each apologized when Iwaizumi's mom got there, picking both of them up since they lived down the street from each other.

"Are you okay, Akaashi?"

"Yeah, I'm good. My eye hurts, but it should stop soon. I don't know why I thought I could stop them from fighting. I know better than to get in the way of Iwaizumi's fist."

"I should have only invited one of them."

"Then the other one would have been upset. This isn't your fault, Kuroo."

"Akaashi's right. They did this, not you. You had to invite both or neither. They need to work things out."

A car pulled into the drive and Akaashi stood. "Sorry about your party. It was fun while it lasted. I'll see you Monday."

Kuroo watched the car pull off down the street before he and Yaku went back inside.

"Hey, you might as well open your presents. I know you were dying to see what Akaashi got you."

The two grabbed the packages and moved to his room. He tossed Iwaizumi and Oikawa's presents to the side, too annoyed to open them right then. Yaku's present was a new game that Kuroo had been raving about from the moment it was announced. Yaku passed him Akaashi's gift; a relatively cheesy card from the store saying 'Happy Birthday' across the front. Inside, Akaashi had written a message and stuck a smaller envelope.

'I know it's not much, but you didn't get me a lot of time to get you something. Still, I hope you enjoy.'

The smaller envelope contained stadium tickets to Kuroo's favorite football team.

"How did he manage to get those? They sold out almost immediately!" Yaku voiced the question for him. "You're going to take me if he won't go with you right?"

"I... Yeah. If he doesn't want to, you can come with me. I don't get it. These sold out in a day almost a month ago and were super expensive. I told him about my birthday last week. How did he get these?"

"Ask him on Monday."