Chapter Text
"We're back!" Oikawa sang out as he and Iwaizumi appeared in the courtyard of their Guild Hall. Several mages and familiars who had been relaxing in said courtyard acknowledged the return, some waving or calling a greeting, others groaning and rolling their eyes. "Mattsun, Makki, Kindaichi, Kunimi, office, please," the Guildmaster called, already on the move, headed into the fortress-like Guild Hall. Two mages and their familiars followed Oikawa and Iwaizumi. Once they were in the office Oikawa used when he needed to meet with his top mages, Iwaizumi closed the door, then leaned against it. The other two familiars, Hanamaki and Kunimi, glanced at the war god, noting the tension in his posture.
"So where did you two go off to this time?" asked the older of the other two mages asked.
"We met with Karasuno and their allies, Matsukawa," Iwaizumi answered.
"Those crows yesterday were right. There's a war coming," Oikawa announced. "Karasuno, Nekoma, and a couple of independent mages will be joining us here. Mattsun, Makki, I want you two to take a few mages and scout the area. Kindaichi, Kunimi, make sure we have provisions and space for everyone. Iwa-chan, could you check our defenses?" Iwaizumi moved away from the door, and the other four left. Once they were gone, Iwaizumi closed the door behind them and leaned against it again, arms crossed and gaze fixed on Oikawa. "Iwa-chan? What's wrong?"
"You've told me about several previous familiars you've had, but nothing you've told me would explain why that short hybrid's familiar would be so angry with you about them. I get the feeling you're not telling me something," Iwaizumi said. Oikawa smiled brightly.
"What do you mean, Iwa-chan?"
"Cut the crap, Oikawa. You can't lie to me. You can try, but you know I can tell," the familiar growled. "And with Karasuno coming here, it'll come up. So just tell me what's going on." Oikawa's smile faded, and he sighed.
"I don't suppose you could just let me keep this to myself?" Oikawa asked. Iwaizumi just raised an eyebrow, and Oikawa sighed again. "That angry familiar used to be mine," he admitted. "The last one I had before you showed up. Kageyama...he and I didn't part on very good terms."
"Why did you sever his bond?" the war god asked. The mage was silent for a moment.
"If it were anyone else, I'd say it was his awful personality," Oikawa said finally.
"Like you're one to talk," Iwaizumi snorted.
"Mean, Iwa-chan!" Oikawa pouted. His familiar chuckled, then tilted his head.
"But since it is me, what was your reason?" he asked.
"He's good, Iwa-chan. Really good. His skills at manipulating other people's magic are almost as good as mine - or they were, years ago when he was my familiar." There was a pause, and Iwaizumi waited, knowing from years of experience that the enchanter would continue eventually, as long as his familiar kept giving him the same level look. "I got scared, okay? If a familiar could do what I could, what use would I be?" Oikawa stared down at his hands. Iwaizumi decided that he'd done enough leaning sternly against the door and took a few steps forward, resting his hands on the desk and leaning toward the mage.
"So you severed his bond because you were afraid. I'm guessing you didn't tell him that." When Oikawa didn't answer, his familiar sighed. "You're human. Sometimes you do stupid things." Oikawa let out an indignant squawk, but Iwaizumi kept talking. "I'm more worried about why you didn't tell me about Kageyama, and why I didn't hear you say anything against his suggestion of you severing our bond and asking me to kill all of your enemies."
"You told him no. Isn't that enough?" Oikawa replied lightly. Iwaizumi didn't answer, so Oikawa finally looked up and met his familiar's serious gaze. "I'm not considering severing our bond, and I never will. I promise, Hajime." For a moment, they studied each other. Then Iwaizumi nodded, apparently satisfied, and Oikawa relaxed. "Besides, you know too much about my weaknesses. I couldn't let you go off and tell anyone!" Iwaizumi grumbled and reached over the desk for the mage, who scooted his chair back to avoid being grabbed. "Don't you have defenses to check, Iwa-chan?"
"And you need to fill the rest of the Guild in on the situation. With Matsukawa and Hanamaki scouting the area, checking the defenses can wait. People might think we're in serious danger if I'm not with you when you tell them what's going on," he replied.
"You don't think having a big, strong war god at my back will make people more nervous?" Oikawa countered. Iwaizumi raised an eyebrow. "Okay, okay, you're right. Let's go tell everyone our big news, Iwa-chan! Then I'll check the defenses with you!" Iwaizumi nodded, then turned to the door and opened it, his characteristic scowl in place.
"You four are supposed to be long gone," he growled, glaring at the two mages and their familiars who had been listening at the door. They squeaked and scattered, and Iwaizumi sighed. "Oikawa, your Guild members are undisciplined, just like their Guildmaster," he announced. Oikawa smirked as he slipped past Iwaizumi, out of the office.
"You should discipline their Guildmaster, then," Oikawa replied lightly as he set off down the hallway. Iwaizumi paused, processing that, then followed him, scowling at the mage's back.