Conquering the Great King

𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵 45

It took awhile before they relocated to the couch. Oikawa slowly told him about the situation, and Kenma didn't flinch or get second hand embarrassment when he cried. He didn't look uncomfortable and he didn't say much. But he listened very intently, and there was enough movement behind his eyes to be sure that he was thinking it over thoroughly.

Kuroo came home after a time. "Hey, I saw Oikawa's car, what's--"

Oikawa glanced up at him and Kuroo's face evened out. He put his hand on Oikawa's shoulder, squeezing it lightly, "Want some tea?"

"Sure."

"What do you want?"

"Organic Honey with wheat flakes."

Kuroo almost snorted.

"Anything is fine, Kuroo."

"Green tea with a shot of vodka?"

Kenma scrunched his nose.

"If you're going to do that just give me a shot of vodka," Oikawa said, almost chuckling.

"I can do that. That is a thing that can be arranged."

"I'll save the hard liquor for later."

"Sure thing," and with those words he disappeared into the kitchen.

When Oikawa blinked his eyes were tender. He made a mental note not to look in a mirror, because he was sure he looked like death warmed over.

"Hajime cares a lot about you," Kenma said.

"I know." In truth, Oikawa felt a little guilty for storming out. But he had been losing it, everything, and he didn't want to have a full on breakdown in front of Iwa-chan. It would probably just make him feel worse than he was already feeling, anyway. Oikawa wasn't an idiot. He knew he wasn't the only one who was upset.

"Okay so is it alright to rehash the situation, or should I wait for my explanation?" Kuroo asked, walking back out into the living room.

"Hajime was offered a better position at a bigger publishing house up north," Kenma synopsized.

"Fuck," was Kuroo's knee jerk response.

"Indeed," Oikawa agreed miserably.

"He hasn't decided if he's going to take it or not," Kenma added. "You can extrapolate the rest."

Kuroo sat down heavily on the couch. There was a moment of consideration, and then Kuroo said, "Did you tell him?"

Oikawa glanced up at him, "Tell him what?"

Kuroo narrowed his eyes, "That you love him."

Oikawa's face twisted in horror, "Of course I didn't tell him!"

Kuroo raised his hands, "Why not?"

Oikawa lifted his voice into false cheer for dramatization, "So what, 'Oh hey Iwa-chan, I know you're trying to decide on what's best for the course of your life and career, and I know that might involve leaving me, but recently I realized that I'm in love with you!' YEP, that doesn't sound like emotional blackmail at all."

Kuroo twisted his mouth, "Well when you put it that way."

"I still think you should tell him," Kenma spoke up.

Oikawa shot him a surprised glance, "Really?"

Kenma nodded, but he wasn't making eye contact anymore, "Love has as much weight on a person's future as their career, right? Isn't it at least of equal importance?"

Oikawa and Kuroo both stared at him.

Kenma shifted, cheeks maybe turning a little red. "What? It's not that weird, is it?

Kuroo blinked up at Oikawa, "I would bus tables my whole life if it was the only way I could be with Kenma." His voice was serious.

Kenma's face was definitely red now, "I--" he nervously flicked at his hair, "feel the same."

Oikawa's lip twitched. "I understand that, but you guys have been in love..." he flicked his wrist at them, "your whole lives. This is different. It's new, it's more of a risk. He could... take a chance on me and then we could end, and he would have sacrificed something great for no reason."

Kenma stared at Oikawa, gold eyes sharp, "Do you actually think that would happen?"

Oikawa blinked, eyes wide. Kuroo looked down at Kenma, "Woah," he said.

"Kuroo," Kenma addressed him, turning his head slightly to the side, "how many men has Tooru bothered to care about? How many?"

"I know, Kenma, but--"

"I wasn't going to say anything, but you brought it up."

Oikawa looked down at his lap. He wasn't wrong. But Oikawa couldn't let himself get lost on... whimsy. This was real life. Things go wrong. People clash. Things that seem perfect break apart.

Kenma was staring at the floor, "I'm just saying everything should be considered."

"It's not like I disagree," Kuroo said, "but Oikawa has a point too."

"It's all bullshit," Oikawa muttered. They both turned to look at him. Oikawa was smiling sadly, "I think the reason I'm most upset is because I don't even know what he should do."

"Tooru," Kenma said quietly.

"I know what I want," Oikawa responded, "but I don't know what's best."