bluecastleace | PSL/Meme Continuation Post

You think you can manage to sneak to the parking lot? I’ve got a car.

[!!!!!!!!!!]

Yes. I think so. I can, I will.

Let me know when you get here, okay? I'll work on it from my end.

I’ll see you soon.

[Iwaizumi wastes no time after that, and true to his word, he pulls up to the edge of the Shiratorizawa dorm parking lot not twenty minutes later. It’s late, already dark out, so in the interest of being inconspicuous, he shuts off his headlights and shoots Shirabu another text with his location.]

Do I need to pull around somewhere else?

I'm sorry Iwaizumi, I didn't know he was going to do this. He won't cause any trouble for us, I promise, but he insisted.

[After that text from Shirabu, the passenger side door of Iwaizumi's car opens - and an extremely tall boy with strawberry blond hair slides into the seat, cocking his head at Iwaizumi with an inscrutable expression.]

Hello, Iwaizumi-san. Can we talk for a minute?

[This must read exactly like an impending mob hit but Kawanishi doesn't actually plan to threaten Iwaizumi or anything like that. Being real about it, Iwaizumi could probably kick his ass into next year. He just needs to know a little bit more about this Romeo and Juliet situation involving his best friend before he's willing to sign on as cover story for overnight dalliances.]

[Scarcely does Iwaizumi have the time to furrow his brow at his phone before his door is being pulled open.]

The fuck?

[He starts just a little when what may as well be a perfect stranger slides into his passenger seat, but his look of surprise quickly shifts into a glare of irritation.]

You make it a habit of popping into people’s cars uninvited, punk? What the hell do you think you’re doing?

[Kawanishi blinks in surprise. Eep. He's scarier face to face...

... also, punk? That's a new one.]

I'm Kenjiro's roommate, Kawanishi Taichi. [And, you know, Shiratorizawa's middle blocker that isn't Guess Monster? He holds that back, though, not wanting to anger Shirabu's apparent boyfriend.] Nothing personal, but if Kenjiro's going to be sneaking out with someone from Seijoh, never mind their ace - I'd like to hear your side of what's going on before I agree.

[Kawanishi wants to add that Iwaizumi would undoubtedly do the same if his backup setter or one of his first-years suddenly announced that they were dating Ushijima, but chooses to hold his tongue again. Hopefully his good intentions will shine through the abruptness of this gesture because he's really not trying to start anything between teams; this is entirely about Shirabu's safety, physical and emotional alike.]

Okay? [And?] I’m not sure what you’re looking to hear, pal.

Didn’t Shirabu fill you in himself?

Just what I said. I've heard Kenjiro's side, I want yours.

[A rather pointed use of Shirabu's given name to make their positions very, very clear. Iwaizumi's no threat to what Kawanishi has with Shirabu and he doesn't want any of what Iwaizumi seems to have claimed. He just wants to make sure their stories match so there's less chance of hearts (or one specific heart, really) being broken on his watch.

But he's gonna have to explain himself a bit more to get anything from Iwaizumi, isn't he? Well, if he must...]

He doesn't really show it, but - Kenjiro's easy to hurt. He gets attached. [Kawanishi gives the back of his own neck an awkward rub.] I'm not here to threaten you or anything. I just need to know you're on the level if I'm going to lie for you.

[Iwaizumi would have probably been a little more willing to talk at first if Kawanishi hadn’t randomly popped into his car unannounced, but when he stops to consider the guy’s intentions and realizes that he’s not there to cause any trouble, he does ease up a bit, sighs, turns in his seat and gives the guy a stare. He’s still scowling - that’s kind of just what his face looks like a good amount of the time - but he’s not on the verge of yelling anymore at least.

[It seems these two have a common goal anyway, and that would be to, well...to care for Shirabu. It makes Iwaizumi’s heart twinge a little to think of it, familiar flutters building up in his stomach.

[Okay, okay. So he’ll talk. But he’s not going to mince words.]

I care about Shirabu. [There it is, and part of Iwaizumi thinks that should be enough, but will it be?] I’m not sure what level you’re talking about, but I’m not just fucking around here.

I wouldn’t do that to him. [Like he said, he cares - he really cares.] I don’t want...to hurt anyone.

Especially Shi—- [Hm.] Kenjiro.

[Has he ever called him that before? Once again his stomach is fluttering - the name really suits him.]

Really.

[And there you have it. The toughest tough guy on Seijoh, tougher even than the one they call Mad Dog, has just spoken plainly about his feelings. Can't say fairer than that.

Kawanishi's expression barely shifts when he finally gives a single, decisive nod, but there's an almost-perceptible grin on his lips.]

'Kay. Thanks.

[He considers wishing Iwaizumi luck as he climbs out of the car, but decides it'll probably sound too dryly sardonic coming from him. In truth, he really does wish them luck with all of his heart - not like either of them has an easy road ahead, and if anything, Iwaizumi's will probably be toughest.]

As far as I know, Kenjiro never left our room tonight. Have fun. [With that, Kawanishi closes the door and heads back for the school.]

[A minute or two later, Shirabu throws the door open and drops heavily into the passenger seat, his face flaming red and twisted up with mortified anger.]

I can't believe - I'm so sorry, Iwaizumi, I never would've expected - ugh!!

[Iwaizumi’s face is looking a little red too by the time Shirabu enters the car himself because, hey, that whole situation was a little embarrassing, and even though he didn’t say much, he does feel a bit like he just bared his soul to a random rival that probably previously had known only his tough facade - but, the guy seems like a pretty reasonable dude, and once Iwaizumi sees Shirabu, his mind switches to the conversation they’d had earlier, the reason he’s here in the first place.

[A charmed, warm, exceptionally affectionate smile breaks out on his face, and he leans over to capture the other boy’s lips with his own before he can finish lamenting.

[“Boyfriend”...

[He throws an arm around his shoulder in a tight squeeze for good measure.]

E-eh?

[Somehow, Iwaizumi manages to leave Shirabu twice as red in the face as he was before, blinking in stunned silence. It's incredibly sweet to have Iwaizumi look at him like that, so very soft and loving, but in this context?

Shirabu now strongly suspects that Kawanishi shared something that'll embarrass the living daylights out of him.]

I'm... really not sure I want to know what he said to you.

Not much. [Iwaizumi is still smiling as he pulls away, though slightly amused now. It’s cute and a bit funny that he can make Shirabu blush so easily.] But who cares about that. I’m here to see you, remember?

We’re still doing this boyfriend thing, aren’t we?

[That’s what he’s excited about. Forget that other guy to be honest - though, Iwaizumi won’t forget that Shirabu has someone out there who cares about him that much. It’s comforting to know he has friends, especially when he himself can be so...well, cold at times. But Iwaizumi knows him a bit better than that now, and he’s glad others see how warm he really can be.

[It’s hard to stay mad at that little punk Kiwanishi when he thinks about it that way.]

[Of course. How did he get distracted enough to forget the massive step he took this evening, the one that brought Iwaizumi here to him in the first place?

His boyfriend.

He reaches out and grabs Iwaizumi's hand in both of his, giving it a firm squeeze. All the happiness of earlier rushes back and his expression shifts from earnest to alight with giddy affection.]

Yes. Yes, of course!

[Iwaizumi might spend the majority of his time reflecting the smooth, cool character that he is, but when Shirabu takes his hands like that, he can’t help the wide, giddy grin that breaks out on his face. He gives the other boy’s hand a tight squeeze back, and leans in to take another kiss, then another, then one on the cheek—-

[Maybe he should reel it in a little, but hearing it confirmed out loud, he can’t help but be excited. He has more experience than Shirabu in a lot of ways, but when it comes to an actual official relationship, he’s never had one and has spent most of his time convinced that he probably never would.

[When he pulls away he’s laughing.]

Sorry—- Good. I was hoping you hadn’t changed your mind. [He pauses, smile a little more reserved now, but it’s only in appreciation for the face before him. He feels his stomach flutter as he looks at him - his boyfriend, his cute, sweet, smart, intriguing, and deceptively gentle boyfriend.] It’s really nice to see you smile like that, Shirabu.

[It's equally amazing to see Iwaizumi lit up this way: not with the ferocious glee Shirabu's seen on the volleyball court, or the slightly sharp grin he often turns on his teammates, or even the soft fondness that always makes Shirabu's heart skip when it's focussed on him, but the singularly thrilled excitement that comes along with -

- well. The early stages of what can become love. He doesn't want to tag it with the Big L just yet, at least not on Iwaizumi's part.]

No, no, not at all. I've been thinking about this for so long... since our first date, if I'm honest. But I didn't want to force you into a complicated choice and risk driving you away. I'm - so relieved too, Iwaizumi.

PSL/Meme Continuation Post

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