bluecastleace | PSL/Meme Continuation Post

[Here Oikawa is thinking about how obnoxious it is that he’s fallen into the expectation of living with Iwaizumi - meanwhile, Iwa would be nothing less than butthurt if he’d suggested anything else (and Oikawa probably knows that). It’s not like he’d want to live with some random stranger - of course you’re going to live with him, you little shit.

[That won’t stop Iwaizumi from acting irritated by the entire situation himself, though, especially when Oikawa sticks his head in the door and criticizes his bedroom while he’s dead in the middle of unpacking a box.

[He turns to glare at him, voice already raised beyond it’s usual volume before he even gets two words out.] Does it look like I’m finished unpacking, asshole?

[This is what you chose, Iwaizumi. This is your life now.]

Maybe you should unpack faster. [A suggestion offered like the hypocrite he is, considering he isn't anywhere done yet either. It's mostly for the sake of riling Iwaizumi up, though. For a kind of banter that feels incredibly comforting in its familiarity. Too comforting sometimes.]

We've been unpacking for hours already, Iwa-chan. [Tooru leans against the doorframe, a more genuine smile on his face now that he's done heckling like the great friend he is.] If we don't go out and get something to eat soon, your face will get even grumpier than usual.

[For the 1,000th time, Iwaizumi finds himself questioning his life choices. He picks up a small stuffed Godzilla out of the box he’s working on (Oikawa got it for him when they were probably 10 years old) and chucks it at the other boy without looking up, then continues unpacking.]

Maybe you should unpack at all. You know I like to have my shit set up. It would go faster if you’d leave me alone for more than five minutes.

[For someone with the reflexes he has, snatching the toy out of the air is no problem at all. Tooru stares down at the soft plush with an unmistakable fondness, feeling just a little touched that Iwaizumi had chosen to bring it along. He has the stuffed UFO toy he'd gotten from Iwaizumi in turn, sitting conspicuously on his desk in the other room.

He clears his throat, wagging the Godzilla plush in front of him.] That's so rude! What did Godzilla and I ever do to deserve this?

[Walking into the cluttered room, Tooru sets the toy down on Iwaizumi's bed before crouching right down next to his friend.]

In case you were wondering, that wasn't a suggestion. At this rate, we'll both be too hungry to be productive, and who's the one always telling me to take better care of myself, hmm?

You’re right. Godzilla didn’t deserve having to touch you.

[He’s grumbling, still unpacking the box when Oikawa appears next to him. He turns to him with a flat glare, then promptly puts his hand on top of the boy’s head and tries to shove it into the box.]

Since when do I take commands from you, huh Shittykawa? [He’s still pretty calm as he says this, though his voice is rough with irritation - nothing out of the ordinary, really.] Piss me off too much and I’ll go eat by myself. [Still not letting up on that big head of yours, Oikawa.]

[The outrage! Tooru would be gasping in offense if he weren't too busy flailing and making indignant noises he'd never make in front of the team. He has a reputation to uphold.]

Iwa-chan, not the hair! [Somehow he manages to squirm away, valiantly attempting to fix it without looking in a mirror. Tooru pouts outrageously, despite knowing it's 0% effective against the person he's trying to use it against.]

I just finished styling it! Hmph, I was going to offer to buy lunch for both of us, but I've changed my mind.

Yeah, whatever. [Iwaizumi sighs, puts his hands on his knees as he pushes himself up from the ground, then grabs Oikawa’s collar, pulls him along with him.] Quit bitching and come with me. I saw a place on the way in I wanna try.

[That’s not a suggestion, by the way, he feels like saying, but he won’t, because the truth is that they’ll end up going wherever Oikawa wants to anyway, and Iwaizumi is just fine with that.] Why are you so whiny, anyway? Your hair looks the same no matter what you do to it.

[Why is it always the collar?? Though Tooru fusses at Iwaizumi for it, he also lets himself be towed along with some level of resignation. Things have always been this way with them, and at least Iwaizumi's going along with his plans now, even if it'd involved some cajoling.]

That's what you think. [Tooru sniffs, mildly offended.] You barely do anything with yours, of course you wouldn't be able to tell.

[Finally, he tugs Iwaizumi's hand free of his shirt, pointedly smoothing the invisible wrinkles out.] Which place caught your eye, anyway?

I don’t do anything with mine. [He says it with a small snort. Oikawa’s maybe caught him running some gel through it on special occasions, but that hardly counts, right?

[He lets go with little issue, irritation already seeming to have faded completely.]

Just some noodle place by the campus. Fried tofu on special, though. We walkin’?

It shows~ [Tooru quips without missing a beat, ready to duck away from Iwaizumi's hand if he swipes at him in retaliation.

As they walk, Tooru discreetly shifts his weight onto his other leg, testing the injured knee. He's been careful with it recently, mindful of the times it had started twinging during his runs, and is gratified when he feels none of that discomfort now.]

Sure. We can walk there. [He tucks his hands into his pockets, falling into step beside his friend with ease.] We'll have to learn what's in this area anyway, might as well do it now.

[Not discreetly enough, or maybe it’s just that Iwaizumi is already considering Tooru’s knee without the other boy having to do or say anything - he always thinks of Oikawa first, even if the other boy doesn’t realize that. He glances down at it, not terribly worried about being discreet himself, then back up to meet Oikawa’s eyes.] You sure? I can drive.

[It’s been a while since they’ve had a serious practice or game, anyway. He wouldn’t be surprised if it was starting to stiffen up again.] How’s your knee? Be honest.

[As far as Tooru can tell, he has a few options. He could brush it off, like he does sometimes when Iwaizumi worries about him. He could be honest. Or he could find some middle ground between the two, giving his best friend some of the honesty he deserves while keeping the weakness he dislikes so much hidden still.]

Iwa-chan, are you worried? [He teases first, a playful smile already on his lips. Then lets his expression smooth out.] You don't have to. I haven't been over-training, I promise.

[Tooru's hand comes to a rest on Iwaizumi's back, just between his shoulder blades, as he ushers him along.]

Let's walk, let's walk! We haven't had a chance to stretch our legs out all day.

[Iwaizumi won’t argue - it probably wouldn’t do much good anyway, and if Oikawa is being truthful about the over-training, a block or two walk probably won’t bother him too much. He lets himself be ushered forward, grabbing his bag as he walks and slinging it over his shoulder (not particularly minding if it knocks Oikawa’s hand away when he does it).]

If I have to carry you home, I’m kicking your ass.

[He and Iwaizumi grew up together; he knows better than to think it's an empty threat.]

Good thing you won't have to! [Tooru practically chirps, not paying any mind to Iwaizumi's gruff treatment, used to it as he is.] Imagine the kind of impression we'd give our neighbors on our first day here.

That you’re a dumbass? They should probably know up front, don’t you think?

[To anyone on the outside, Iwaizumi would still sound angry, but he’s not, and he trusts Oikawa will know that. He’s teasing now, and it’s a brand of affection that they’ve both grown quite used to over the years - at least, Iwaizumi’s always felt that Oikawa was pretty good (even frustratingly good) at reading him.

[He pushes the door open with his hand, steps to the side, and gestures for the Great King to walk through ahead of him.] Ladies first.

Excuse you, people think I'm amazing.

[Tooru knows it's falling on deaf ears, though. All teasing aside, Iwaizumi'd be the first to tear him apart if he started doubting his own skills, and he's well aware of it.

That doesn't stop him from patting Iwaizumi's shoulder as he walks past and teasing right back.]

If that's the case, you should've gone in first. Ah, table for two, please! [The last part's directed at the waitress, who Tooru smiles at winningly.]

[Iwaizumi rolls his eyes. How lame of Oikawa to just hop onto the end of his joke and throw it right back at him like that, though not surprising - not surprising either the way he tries to charm that waitress. What kind of friend would Iwaizumi be to let him get away with that, huh? He tugs on his ear a little roughly, making sure the waitress hasn’t turned her back yet before doing so.] You don’t think we’ll need an extra seat for your ego, Shittykawa?

[Ugh, seriously!! Tooru tries not to grimace as the waitress hides a smile before leading them to their booth.]

Only if we get an extra seat for your temper, Iwa-chan~

[Once the waitress is gone, though, Tooru whips his head around and pouts at him.]

Why do you do that whenever a cute girl is around? [It's on purpose, Tooru knows it is.] Just because you scare all of them away with your face doesn't mean you need to do the same for me.

Mostly to show them what a pathetic wimp you are. [It is definitely on purpose, and he is definitely smirking right now as he takes his seat.] Sit down, ya drama queen. She has to come back to serve you anyway - unless she’s so put off she asks to switch with that guy.

[He nods in the direction of a large, very hairy young man with a face that Iwa’s mother would probably call “unfortunate looking”.] You could take him home instead. I’ll leave you two to your privacy.

[It's not the first time Iwaizumi's made such a comment, but the sudden, cold grip of unease in his chest doesn't get any easier to ignore, no matter how many times he feels it. Tooru pushes the feeling down, squashing it down relentlessly until it disappears.

As purposefully as he can, he flips his hair and looks the waiter up and down like he didn't just internally freeze up at the very suggestion. Like he doesn't sometimes wonder if Iwaizumi's opinion of him would change if he--

No. There's nothing to wonder about because he doesn't think like that at all.]

As if. [Tooru sniffs, flapping a hand dismissively as if the whole thing is ridiculous to him.] Not my type at all. You know my tastes are much prettier, Iwa-chan.

Pretty boys, yeah.

[There he goes again. Iwaizumi’s not sure why he does it, really. He’s got no problem with boys going for boys, girls going for girls, whoever going for whoever, but...

[It’s something he’s always teased Oikawa for, and something he’s been teased about by plenty of guys - a jock thing, right? You mess with each other about that sort of thing, push buttons, get responses. He doesn’t mean anything by it, really! So why does making that particular jab sit so heavily in his gut? Maybe because he knows deep down that he’s projecting something—

[But no, no. He’d never go for that. Not really. And neither would Oikawa, right? That idea sits even more heavily on him.

[No, Oikawa would never go for that. So it’s fine. Right? No big deal.]

[Another joke that he should be used to, yet can't shake off as easily as he'd like. "Why, are you volunteering?" is on the tip of his tongue, as it always is, though he never brings himself to say it. Letting those words rolls off his tongue, no matter how flippant he could make them sound, would be crossing a line that Tooru isn't ready to even admit is there yet.]

Now, that isn't nice. [Tooru peers over the top of his menu, falling into a familiar teasing tone.] Just because it annoys you when the cute girls flock to me doesn't mean you should insult them like that.

[There, nice and simple. Side-stepping the joke and bringing up his popularity with the girls at the same time--Tooru feels both relieved and sick at how easily these little misdirections come to him now.]

[Iwaizumi can’t help but roll his eyes at yet another mention of all the many girls that flank Oikawa wherever he goes. It would be easier to stomach if it weren’t true, which only makes it all the more annoying. They’re in a new place now, but Iwaizumi is sure that it won’t take long for Oikawa to gain a new following once school starts. A familiar - and even more irritating - pang of jealousy twinges in Iwaizumi’s gut.]

Yeah, whatever. [”As if I have any problem getting girls,” he wants to say, but...Oikawa would know better than anyone that Iwaizumi doesn’t really get around - that’s by choice mind you, but putting himself in a position where he’d have to point that out would only be more nerve-racking.] You gonna sit there whining, or are you gonna eat something?

[He picks up the menu himself, distracts himself with it (as if he’s not gonna go for the tofu he literally picked this place out for).]

Says the one who started it. [Breezy answer aside, Tooru relaxes as their conversation finally shifts away from the danger zone and into something much safer.]

The ramen sounds good. [Filling and warm, and not too odd, considering the weather hasn't started changing just yet. Tooru smiles, more a smirk than anything, but still fond, as he lightly kicks at Iwaizumi's foot under the table.]

Stop pretending to look at the menu. We both know you picked the tofu as soon as you saw it was today's special.

[Iwaizumi kicks him back (maybe a little too hard), but can’t hide the small grin that crops up with their playfulness.] Shaaaddup. Like you aren’t about to ask to stop for milk bread on the way home, you creep.

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ooh boy here we go

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