Chapter Text
“I’ve noticed that you’ve gotten friendly with one of the workers.”
Oikawa looked up from his book to see his mother standing in the door to his room. “Sorry?”
“Don’t play dumb,” she said. “I’m not blind.”
He shrugged. “I like to practice where he works. We talk.” He forced himself to sound lighthearted, but his heart was hammering against his ribs. In the week since the sparring incident, he’d been spending a fair amount of time with Iwaizumi. It was always under the pretext of irritating him, but he enjoyed it more than he’d like to admit.
“What about?”
“Literature. Politics. The intricacies of the garden’s plumbing.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You can keep your conversations to yourself, but make sure you don’t do anything more than talk. You always did have an appetite for servants.”
“So vulgar.”
“Don’t act like I didn’t know about every maid, cook, and gardener that found their way into your bed, Tooru. Things are different here in the colonies. Even the servants are of lower quality. The last thing this family needs is another scandal, understand?”
“Yes, mother. Is there anything else?”
“Actually, there is. We’re expecting a visitor from home tomorrow.”
“Really? Who?”
“Your old classmate,” she said. “Ushijima Wakatoshi.”
Oikawa nearly snapped his pen in half. “Ushiwaka? Why?”
“He’s shipping off to Ba Sing Se, and since your fathers are so close, I offered to put him up for the night while he passes through Omashu.”
He made a face. “Is it too late to revoke the invitation?”
“Don’t you start. When he’s here you’ll treat him with civility, understand?”
He groaned and leaned back in his chair. “Who’s next, Tobio-chan?”
She smirked. “Well, there is talk of sending Kageyama to join the war effort, so we might have the pleasure of hosting him.”
“He’s too young,” Oikawa snapped, suddenly plagued by the image of his father bestowing Tobio and Ushiwaka with medals of service.
“Well, he’s a genius, you know,” she said, an evil look in her eyes. “His parents think he’d be a valuable addition, age notwithstanding.”
He glowered at her, then turned away. “I have to study.”
“Of course.” With a swish of her robes she left him alone.
Ushijima Wakatoshi. Of all the people he didn’t want to see during his summer exile, he was near the top of the list. That presumptuous asshole, heading off to be a war hero, to take Oikawa’s spot on the front lines. And what was he supposed to do, cheer him on? Shout words of encouragement as he rode off into the distance? Wave a handkerchief? Even worse, Oikawa hadn’t seen him since the incident. Ushiwaka always thought he knew best, so he would definitely have some words of wisdom for him. He already felt like vomiting.
Oikawa abandoned his book and went to the garden he’d been frequenting for the past week. He listened for a moment, then followed the sound of screeching metal and irritated grunts. There was Iwaizumi, on his back in one of the empty flower beds, sweating profusely as he welded pipes together with his bare hands. He had to admit, it wasn’t a bad look.
“Iwa-chan,” he whined.
Iwaizumi jumped, then looked up to see Oikawa peering into the hole. He glowered and wiped the sweat off his face. “What?”
“I need you to murder someone for me.”
He rolled his eyes then went back to work. “Who is it this time?”
“The embodiment of evil. Ushiwaka.”
“I thought the embodiment of evil was that kid from the Fire Nation. Toby?”
“Clearly you don’t listen to me when I talk. It’s Tobio, and he’s my archnemesis, not the embodiment of evil. Though he might share the title.”
“To be fair, you talk way too much. I memorize everything I can. Besides, how many enemies do you have? I’m starting to think that you’re the common denominator.”
“Not true! People just get jealous of my natural radiance.”
“Right. So what’s so bad about Ushi-whoever?”
“Ushiwaka. To start with, he’s an absolute idiot. Totally braindead. You can’t have a conversation with him. Second of all, he’s way too good at everything. It’s completely obnoxious.”
“It’s starting to sound like you have a problem with talented people. Jealous?”
He made a face. “How could I be jealous of talent when I am the epitome of excellence?”
“I don’t know, but you somehow find a way.”
“Very funny. Anyway, he’s going to be here tomorrow, so I’d really appreciate it if he’d somehow miraculously trip into a flowerbed and end up with a pipe through his neck.”
“Sorry, but I’m beginning to get the impression that half of the people you complain about are the real victims in these situations.”
“If you knew what he sounded like, you’d get it.” He scrunched up his face and lowered his voice several octaves. “Oikawa, if you simply knew how to delegate your time and resources, you could be a much more effective soldier. I know everything about everything, I have reached the height of wisdom, the Fire Lord himself wipes my ass, because I am Ushijima Wakatoshi-”
“Wait,” Iwaizumi said, suddenly all ears. “Ushijima Wakatoshi?”
“Uh, yeah? Why?”
“Uh… I’ve just heard of him, is all. He’s also the son of a general, right?”
“Yeah. Our dads know each other, it’s why I have to deal with him. But why do you know that?”
He shrugged. “When your city is under attack, you learn information about the attackers.”
“Okay, then. Ruin the mood much?”
He glowered. “Colonize my home much?”
“Okay, okay, fair point.” He held up his hands. “Anyways. I wanna go out tonight.”
“Okay?”
“Into Omashu.”
“Sounds thrilling.”
“I’m asking you to take me, idiot. I need someone who knows all the local spots.”
“I’d rather not spend my time hauling a Fire Nation prince around alleyways.”
“I’m not a prince.”
“Then why do you dress like one?”
“Because not all of us are content to wear grease stained loin cloths all day.”
“Listen, I need to work.”
“Please?” Oikawa asked. “I need to get out of here.”
Iwaizumi let out the world’s longest, loudest sigh, then threw his hands into the air. “Fine. Whatever.”
“Hurray! Iwa-chan stopped being a buzzkill!”
“Don’t push it,” he grumbled. “Meet me outside the compound tonight. But seriously, go away, I’m behind.”
Oikawa complied, grinning ear to ear. His powers of persuasion continued to astound him. He started on his way back to the manor, when he ran into Roosterhead.
“How’s the garden coming along?” he asked. “You seem very interested in its progress.”
“Very well. Good plumbing. The pipes are… shiny.”
“Hm. Does your mother care that you’re spending so much time with the help?”
“Yes, but not enough to do anything about it. Yet.”
“I heard Ushijima is coming tomorrow. Exciting.”
Oikawa made a retching noise.
“You know, I heard he was there when you had your little meltdown,” Kuroo said. “Is that true?”
His expression darkened. “You don’t know anything about that,” Oikawa said, his tone full of daggers. “So don’t act like you do.”
Kuroo held up his hands, as if surrendering. “I never said I did. I’m just trying to understand the situation a little better.”
His tone was innocent enough, but Oikawa could see the glint of steel behind his facade of curiosity. Kuroo had intended for his words to sting, maybe just to see what his reaction would be. “Forget whatever rumors you heard about that. I have a problem with Ushiwaka because he’s a pretentious asshole, and that’s it.”
“If you say so. I remember him being a little uptight, I suppose.”
“I have to go,” Oikawa said, turning to leave. As he went, Kuroo watched him closely, his eyes glinting in the dim evening light.