Chapter Text
Oikawa Tooru glared at the flight information screen. In the two hours since his flight from Buenos Aires had landed at Frankfurt International Airport, an hour and a half late, his connecting flight to Tokyo had been delayed three times due to “inclement weather.” It was already well past 11 pm, and Oikawa would rather have shaved his head and gone through transit security again naked than have to spend the night at the airport.
It wasn’t that he was particularly eager to go back to Miyagi. He had originally planned on staying in Argentina for the winter offseason, and he only begrudgingly booked a flight at the last minute after his mother sighed dramatically about how the next time her only son would see her would be at her funeral. But after a cold 13 hours of being crushed between a pair of aggressive elbows on either side and having his seat back relentlessly kicked by a screaming toddler, Oikawa was eager to lay his stiff, battered body into something soft and horizontal.
The display on the flight information screen did not change. It must have been intimated by Oikawa’s glare. Feeling that it was safe enough to look away, Oikawa shouldered his carry on and turned to find somewhere to sit until it was finally time to board. His gaze happened to wander over to the waiting area of the adjacent gate, where a lone traveller was hunched over in his seat, appearing to be writing in a notebook. There was something unnervingly familiar about him: Straight black hair, all black athletic wear, white sports bag resting at his sneakered feet.
Oikawa felt the entire inside of his body prickle.
It was Tobio.
The traveller was too far away for his face to be made out clearly, and he looked tanner and fitter than what Oikawa saw on television, but the prickling in Oikawa’s body made him feel quite certain it was Kageyama. Oikawa hesitated. Kageyama (if it was really him) was still engrossed in whatever it was he was writing and would have been none the wiser if Oikawa chose to avoid him. But if Oikawa moved now, his movements might attract Kageyama’s (or whoever’s) attention and he’d have no choice but to talk to him (if it even was him). But talking to him would have been the polite thing to do (if it was in fact Kageyama), and Oikawa knew that not knowing for sure the traveller’s identity would eat at him forever. But Oikawa was tired and hungry and, therefore, cranky; his hair and his face were oily; and his body and his breath were slightly stinky--not the ideal Oikawa-san for potentially reconnecting with a tall, dark, and handsome rival from his bitter past.
Before Oikawa could bring the battle raging within him to a conclusion, the traveller suddenly looked up and straight at him. His stomach did a backflip.
Even from this distance, there was no mistaking those eyes.
Or that scowl.
Oikawa swore to himself. Of course Kageyama’s freaky setter senses would have picked up on his presence, even here in some random airport in the middle of the night, continents and years after Oikawa thought the only way they’d ever see each other again was through a sheen of sweat and misplaced antagonism across a volleyball net.
Those blue eyes appeared to widen, mirroring Oikawa’s surprise and uncertainty. Knowing he was now past the point of no return, he picked his way through the rows of seats to stand in front of Kageyama, who quickly stuffed his notebook into his sports bag.
“Yoo-hoo, Tobio-chan. Long time no see.”
Now that Oikawa was able to see him up close, the extent to which Kageyama was tanner and fitter in person made Oikawa’s stomach do another backflip. Italy looked good on him. If Kageyama were to stand, Oikawa wouldn’t have been surprised if he had to tilt his head up to look at him. The possibility both annoyed and thrilled him, which annoyed him even more.
“Oikawa-san.” Of course Kageyama’s voice was deeper too. “This is--what are you doing here?”
“I’m on vacation, of course! I heard that Frankfurt’s airport is a must-see; even better than the Christmas markets.”
Kageyama titled his head to the side.
Too cute.
Oikawa was really annoyed now.
“I’m here on a layover,” he huffed. “I’m visiting home during the offseason break. My mother told me to stay in Argentina and not waste the time or the money, but being the dutiful and loving son that I am, I insisted on going home!”
“Oh.”
“Wow, Tobio-chan. You could try just a little bit harder at hiding your disbelief.”
“Sorry.” Kageyama looked genuinely sorry. Oikawa’s heart hummed. “How long will you be in Miyagi for?”
“Two weeks. At least, I’m supposed to be, if my flight ever leaves. Can you believe it’s been delayed three times?”
“Yes.”
“Well, it’s completely unacceptable! Aren’t the Germans supposed to be famous for their punctuality?”
“Oikawa-san, you shouldn’t say things like that out loud. And your flight was probably delayed because the weather.”
“The weather! What kind of pilot can’t fly through a few snowflakes? Anyway,” he continued quickly, seeing Kageyama’s mouth open again, “At the very least, I should be grateful it hasn’t been cancelled.” Oikawa narrowed his eyes. “I’m assuming you have a layover, too? We’re not on the same flight, are we, Tobio-chan?”
“Yes. I mean, no. I mean, I have a layover too, but we’re not on the same flight. Mine’s already been cancelled, so I’m waiting for the next one tomorrow morning. I’m... also going home for two weeks.”
“Oh?” Oikawa studied Kageyama’s face for a hint of a blush. “Well, don’t get any ideas about us hanging out while we’re both at home. I’ll be far too busy, and I have much better things to do.”
“Of course,” Kageyama mumbled.
I may have gone too far there, Oikawa admitted to himself as they fell into silence. Kageyama was definitely not blushing as he avoided Oikawa’s eyes and looked pointedly past him. Just as Oikawa was about to try diffusing the awkwardness with an inane question about pizza, Kageyama’s eyes widened as he leaned forward.
“Oikawa-san, you’re supposed to board at Gate 72, right?”
“Yes, Tobio-chan, and thank you for reminding me, I completely lost track of the time! It’s been a delight catching up, but I should go and start getting ready--”
“Oikawa-san, your flight was just cancelled.”