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Language:
English
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Published:
2025-06-21
Completed:
2025-07-12
Words:
26,388
Chapters:
6/6
Comments:
25
Kudos:
168
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30
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2,097

Don’t Build Hope on Something Broken

Chapter 6: Epilogue

Notes:

the end is here! your comments have been very sweet!
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(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Oikawa slowly becomes aware of his surroundings again, coaxed out of slumber’s warm embrace. Sunlight peeks through the blinds, warming the exposed skin in its path. He lets out a quiet, content hum when he feels soft kisses pressed to his temple. They make their way lower, trailing down his cheekbone, then to the soft plushness of his cheek, and finally to the tip of his nose which scrunches at the contact.

“It’s three in the afternoon, Tooru, aren’t you going to get up?”

It’s been one year since the Olympics, and Oikawa can’t believe how things have changed. Months flew by with his rekindled friendship with Iwaizumi, and Oikawa would have been content with just that, but the universe had more in store for them. Somewhere along the way, they began to trade soft I love you’s during phone calls that they dreaded the end of.

“Your mom will kill us if we don’t make it by for dinner today.”

Reluctantly, Oikawa’s eyes creak open, and he’s met with the sight of Iwaizumi’s face pressed to his own, noses brushing together in closeness. Iwaizumi smiles at the sight of Oikawa’s brown eyes, reaching a hand up to cup his jaw and run a gentle thumb over his cheek.

“Happy birthday, baby,” Iwaizumi presses a quick peck to the corner of his mouth, innocence and gentleness in its purest form. “How’d you sleep?”

“Why’d I schedule such a last minute flight?” Oikawa groans into the pillow, pulling the blankets up higher and cocooning himself with their warmth.

“You had a game, baby.”

“Ugh!”

Iwaizumi sneaks a hand into his hair, combing out Oikawa’s messy bed head with practiced fingers, separating the knots in his hair. Oikawa loses himself in the comfort, eyes slipping shut again. Iwaizumi allows it, indulging him a little. His hand slips down to cradle the back of Oikawa’s neck, pulling him impossibly closer.

“We could cancel on your mom and stay in bed all day, but something tells me she’s already started prepping your birthday dinner and wouldn’t be too pleased.”

“Ugh!” Oikawa repeats, just to be dramatic.

“C’mon, idiot, let’s go get ready. I’ll even wash your hair for you.” No more baby, then. Oikawa can only get so lucky.

That offer perks Oikawa up, sly grin tugging at his lips. “Happy birthday to me!”

Iwaizumi pinches his cheek in faux-annoyance before slipping out of bed and peeling off his blue sweatshirt (which has Oikawa printed on the back in large letters), leaving Oikawa to trail helplessly behind him like a lost puppy.

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

“Happy birthday!” comes the loud cheer as Oikawa opens the front door to his mother’s house. His eyes widen when he sees all his old friends crowded in the living room, most of them from Seijoh, some of them not. Tears well in his eyes when he’s pulled into a tight hug by Hanamaki and Matsukawa. Like a sixth sense, he can feel Iwaizumi’s presence behind him moments before a gentle hand rubs up and down his back soothingly.

“Make way for the birthday boy’s mother, won’t you?” Iwaizumi scolds the two of them. They let go, and Oikawa’s mother cuts through the crowd, watery smile on her lips.

Oikawa pulls her small frame to his own, arms wrapped around her lithe shoulders.

“My son,” she mumbles into his shoulder, pressing small kisses into the collar of his shirt. She pulls her face back to look into his eyes, small hand cupping his face. “My baby.” It’s so fond; Oikawa’s heart swells in his chest.

Movement on the other side of the room catches Oikawa’s eye, and he looks over to find his nephew, Takeru, leaning against the wall, one arm crossed over the other to hold his elbow. He’s so grown now, Oikawa can’t believe it. He kisses the top of his mother’s head before making his way over, Takeru’s smile growing as he approaches.

“Happy birthday, Uncle Tooru.”

Oikawa reaches out to ruffle his hair, which has grown long over the years, tied back in a loose bun at the base of his neck.

Oikawa flutters around the party, conversing and catching up. Iwaizumi is never more than a few steps behind him, his hand in Oikawa’s more often than not. It feels so good, to feel this loved. Oikawa laughs and smiles until the muscles in his jaw start to ache, and he keeps smiling after that. His exhaustion has faded away, fueled by the energy of everyone around him.

Hinata and Kageyama stop by at some point to say a quick hello. Hinata drops off a card signed by the entirety of the Black Jackals (even the ones he’s never met), and Kageyama leaves a gift bag with a shirt that says ‘eat. sleep. volleyball. repeat.’. Knowing Kageyama, it’s probably not a gag gift.

He’s 28 now, so it’s not like he has many presents to open, but when Oikawa makes his way into the kitchen to escape for a moment of peace and quiet, Iwaizumi presses a small box into his hands.

Oikawa raises an eyebrow at him. “What’s this?” He stares down at the little red ribbon that’s tied around the box.

“Happy birthday,” is the only explanation he offers.

Butterflies flood his stomach in nervous anticipation. He wasn’t expecting anything, not really. A week and a half off of practice to spend with Iwaizumi is gift enough. He peels back the ribbon and opens the box.

Inside is a shiny silver key and a card embossed with the number ‘204.’

Oikawa’s bottom lip trembles. “Your apartment number.”

Iwaizumi nods, caressing his arm with a gentle up and down motion. He presses a kiss to his shoulder. “Just—for when you’re in town.”

Box dropped onto the counter, Oikawa pulls him in for a kiss by the collar of his shirt. Sparks fly between them, and Iwaizumi snags a hand around his waist, thumb pressing into his rib. Oikawa’s hands loosen the grip on his collar, and he slides them back to lock behind Iwaizumi’s shoulders. Oikawa pulls back for a breath of air before Iwaizumi is leaning forward, chasing after his lips.

He lifts Oikawa up and sits him down on the counter, box getting pushed to the side as he slots himself between Oikawa’s legs.

“I love you,” Oikawa laughs into his lips, tangling a hand in Iwaizumi’s short hair. “I’ve missed you.”

Iwaizumi grins, pressing one final kiss to his lips before pulling away. “I’ve missed you too.”

Notes:

and that’s the end of it. what was originally supposed to be a oneshot of around 15k words almost doubled in length. i had a lot of fun.

ive been toying with the idea of writing this all from iwaizumi’s perspective, showing what he got up to during their time apart. and possibly showing the missing bits of them ACTUALLY getting back together. but that all depends on if i get motivation to write more. im working on a fic for another fandom atm, so im a bit preoccupied, but i do hope to come back to these two some day.

i hope you enjoyed! come find me on tumblr! i sometimes post little sneak peeks of what im writing! i also post a lot about interview with the vampire, so if you’re a fan, you might like it.

until my next fic! :’)