Level Pair; Day Nine 3/4

They promised that dreams can come true—but forgot to mention that nightmares are dreams, too. ~Oscar Wilde

Shouyou watches the match from the edge of his seat, his heartbeat ticking an unsteady rhythm with each strike of the ball. His small hands are clasped in such a tight grip in front of him that the muscles in his arms shake and the skin up to his wrists is half white, not just his knuckles.

His unit had gotten there early and set him up out of sight at the back of one of the spectator stands. They hadn't been totally confident he'd remain unnoticed until they got there and found the stands half-filled already. Apparently a match between the Grand King and his son was a big draw.

He'd felt very out of place and self-conscious by himself up there instead of down on the airfield and that was when it hit him. Watching his unit, his teammates… his friends warming up, he'd felt the weight of his reality full force yet again. He would never play with them again. He would never share the singular feeling of elation after scoring a point or winning a match, and knowing he'd directly contributed to the victory. He would never suffer the crushing depression of defeat alongside them, shouldering the loss with them. He'd never get to feel invincible with the team— with Kageyama, at his back again. He hadn't thought his heart could break any more… but he'd been wrong. As he'd watched them stretch and start sending balls popping between them, his soul fractured, the cracks spidering out through his very consciousness like a tattered web. He'd never be a part of this again.

Under the duress of lament, he'd sincerely doubted the wisdom of coming— until Kageyama had shown up. Shouyou had locked onto him the moment he saw him fly into the field area with the Grand King, his large black wings throwing the angled evening sunlight like scattered ribbons of gold. His face had been set in his normal disinterested expression when he'd broken off as their unit surrounded him. Shouyou had been hard pressed to find any indication in those first few movements that his wing was bothering him aside from a slight stiffness, but he hadn't been convinced that everything was somehow fine now.

Kageyama'd met and spoken with Daichi and the others, nodding a couple times before warming up. He hadn't looked off really in any way and Shouyou couldn't find anything in his face besides the tunnel vision focus he always got for a match. It had been both a relief and a stinging insult to his pride that his not being down there with them apparently wasn't bothering black-haired setter.

Noya and Tanaka, on the other hand, had kept looking up at him through the warmup and Shouyou had wanted to bark at them; if the goal was to make Kageyama think he was still in the infirmary, then why the hell were those idiots announcing his location with those seeking glances? He didn't think Kageyama had noticed, but Kageyama was generally a little more oblivious to unusual idiosyncrasies in his teammates— especially in a game. He'd once made it through three sets of a match before realizing Tanaka had cracked a rib on a midair collision with Asahi on one of the first plays in and was having a tougher time of it. Actually, the only reason he had noticed was because the larger crow had more or less gone despondent mid-match and hadn't been able to hit anything, not because of Tanaka's ginger movements.

But they hadn't even started playing yet and he'd doubted Kageyama was that deep down the 'focus' rabbit hole yet. They'd all found his gaze at one point or another, but seriously, those two had been highlighting him like a spotlight until Daichi had whacked Noya with a wing when he'd caught him. Appropriately chastised, they'd carefully avoided his section after that.

He had taken a few moments to evaluate the other team and almost grimaced. The Grand King had handpicked half the players from their childhood nemesis team, the key one being Iwaizumi. Really, Iwaizumi was basically inducted into Tooru's inner circle already at this point and Shouyou is halfways surprised he hasn't been adopted into the family and made the heir apparent over Kageyama by now with how well those two seem to get along. The attacker was definitely in top form today, and comfortable, too, having even exchanged light banter with the Grand King at one point.

When they'd taken the pitch, Shouyou had been genuinely surprised at his unit's lineup. His unit had made Suga the designated setter and moved Kageyama into his own attack position. They'd set up with opposing setters in cross positions in the past with the setter on the front line doubling as a hitter so they could keep three attackers on the front line at all times, but it was rare. Shouyou could only remember it happening two or three times since he'd learned to play all those centuries ago.

Kageyama was phenomenal at all positions, but his strongest was the setting point. Yet in comparison to Suga, his attacks were superior. They had set up so Kageyama would be available to attack when he was in the front line. Shouyou had initially smirked at the tactical setup.

At least until the game began.

As the points began to fall, the grounded redhead had seen the flashes of movement that betrayed that injured wing. And they were worst when Kageyama went to attack. Every time he splayed that wing wide to hit the ball broadside and send it sailing over the net, Shouyou noticed the way it would close for an instant and he'd seem momentarily off balance.

They'd survived two rounds of the Grand King's serves thanks to Noya's impeccable receiving skills and even Daichi had gotten under one. Asahi and Tanaka were nailing perfect sets from both Suga and Kageyama as they cycled through positions. Shouyou knew he was privy to info regarding Kageyama's injury, so maybe that's why he was seeing it as if it were clear as day, but if one person's performance had steadily seemed to slide just a bit, it was the black haired setter's. His attacks were on point but not as powerful and he hadn't managed one of his insane serves all game. He was slowing just a bit as they lapsed past fifteen points apiece, and Shouyou had seen him noticeably flinch at least twice.

Kageyama had been the driving force behind their team since they were kids. He was always the one pushing them to get better, pointing out their faults so they could fix them, and working them until they were polished and perfect. His determination that they all get better was as much the reason that they had been reigning Volley champions for centuries as their own personal drive. He still coordinates the field now, but he's taking a secondary position— an almost submissive demeanor. Shouyou can see that he's openly adhering to the calls of the others on the pitch, especially Suga, only forcing one of his own when he deems it necessary. It is the single greatest indicator that he isn't at full strength.

And Shouyou knows that Daichi and the others know it, too. They all move to compensate and stretch to their very limits to ease Kageyama's strain. And they've never looked more in sync to Shouyou. They are fluid, moving as if they were always only six, and the redhead feels another sharp pang in his gut. He feels more and more forced out of the only world he's ever known and all he can do is watch it happen. He can almost see the invisible distance between himself and the others yawn wider the longer he watches them, but while it tastes bitter in his mouth he can't bring himself to condemn it. The game has stayed nerve-wrackingly even because of how they are connecting, with both sides holding leads at one point but neither pulling ahead.

The score is still close now at nineteen to twenty, but Shouyou's nerves are rattling. It is the Grand King's serve once more, and he can tell that his unit is getting tired. Daichi manages to pop the serve up but it's off target and Kageyama is forced to react and take the second hit. He sets only to have Tanaka's strike blocked and it drops before Kageyama can get under it.

Nineteen, twenty-one.

Two more points land on Kageyama's side, one a service ace, and Shouyou doesn't even realize he's moving. He's down at the observation deck railing when the Grand King serves again and it comes off Daichi's arms wildly, leaving Kageyama scrambling. He gets a wing on it and keeps it in play but it crosses the net plane. A defender is there and sends it straight back at him and he can't quite react fast enough.

Match-point.

This is bad. They are five points behind and they only have one to lose. To make everything worse, Shouyou is sure the Grand King is somehow targeting Kageyama. Four of the last five points lost were off Kageyama's touches. It's almost like he's rubbing the match into the younger black-haired crow, making a point of making sure their loss is at Kageyama's direct expense and mistakes. Shouyou can't help but be angry and in the middle of his ire, he forgets himself.

"Kageyama!" He screeches, his piercing voice carrying across the open area.

Kageyama freezes and his eyes snap searchingly in his direction. The rest of his unit turns toward him and the crowd around them dampens.

"You better not lose, you moron!" He shouts down at him and the taller boy locks onto him. "If you fail, I'll never let you live it down that you couldn't win without me. I don't care what's at stake! Don't you dare lose!"

Silence descends around them and Shouyou has an instant to regret his outburst and pitiful lack of control. Wasn't distracting Kageyama what they'd been trying to avoid?

And then Kageyama scoffs, a slight smirk pulling at his mouth.

"Your timing sucks, dumbass. The game isn't over yet." He says loudly before turning back to the field. Shouyou's mouth twitches. That was always something he said when one of them started panicking because they were in a bad spot. That Kageyama, their resident Volley slavedriver and killjoy, is the one feeding it back to him now makes him want to both laugh and weep. The whole world really has gone mad.

The Grand King is watching them with a nonplussed expression and Shouyou recognizes annoyance. Tooru serves and Daichi brings it up perfectly. Suga is in place in a moment and the volley begins. Back and forth, both teams scramble and rally. Shouyou's nails are digging into the wood railing in front of him by the time Kageyama smokes it off a block and it sails out.

Twenty, twenty-four.

It's still match point, but they have the ball now. They have a chance. Their unit is all breathing hard, but so is the Grand King's team… and it's Kageyama's serve. Shouyou feels awful for wanting him to go all out even with his wing injured like it is, but he wants him to lose even less. Kageyama's serve is arguably his strongest direct weapon— though he hasn't hit one of those fast arcing ones yet today.

The game is almost over; hold out just a little longer Kageyama. Shouyou mentally encourages him.

The black-haired crow tosses the ball high and bursts forward, his momentum spinning him ahead and his wing splays wide. Shouyou cringes only slightly as the ball cracks forward off the broadside and flies like it always does.

Ah, there it is.

It rockets toward a defender before careening and splitting the distance between two and dropping sharply. Shouyou lets out a joyous, exuberant 'whoop' and jumps where he stands. Kageyama's first serve is perfectly executed and perfectly untouchable.

Twenty-one, twenty-four.

So is his next.

Twenty-two, twenty-four.

His third isn't quite as powerful and quick and Shouyou sees him cringe after the ball leaves his wing. It doesn't matter, because it still ricochet's off a defender's touch.

Twenty-three, twenty-four.

Shouyou almost wants to breath easy because he can see the mood dropping on the other side of the net, but Kageyama is flexing that wing gingerly. He is talented enough that he can attack at the front line with either, but serving… his off side is definitely the weaker and he will have to stick with his injured dominant.

Shouyou's gut twists when he sees Suga zip over to him with a concerned look on his face. Kageyama shakes his head as the ball is tossed back to him and Suga reluctantly drops the issue. The team is all watching him, but Kageyama disregards their concern and lines up once more. He tosses and springs forward but his wing isn't splayed as wide when it connects. The serve is dead on, but is lacking its blazing speed.

A defender brings it up, the Grand King sets it, and an attacker hits. Noya dives, Kageyama— still resetting off the serve with what Shouyou can see is noticeable discomfort— sets off balance, and Asahi attacks.

From this distance, Shouyou catches the movement on the Grand King's side. He doesn't know if Kageyama or the others on the field saw the last second shift in the back line and wants to screech at them to prepare for a switch play. The Grand King receives Asahi's attack cleanly, popping it up perfectly to Iwaizumi who moves in to set. The ball goes right back to the Grand King who attacks from the back line and he aims directly for Kageyama.

The back line attack is harder for Shouyou's unit to time correctly to get the block and the ball brushes through Tanaka's reach. Kageyama scrambles, his entire body stretching, straining, to reach for the ball. It glances off one of the long bones of a wing but it's too low; even though Noya dives, he can't hope to reach it. The ball drops and the air field arena erupts.

People flood the pitch as the players all come to land but Shouyou can't move.

Kageyama lost.

He barely spares a thought for what this means for himself; he's more concerned with the black haired crow who'd immediately landed and now stands staring at the ground with rigid shoulders. His injured wing slowly flexes a couple times and Shouyou's pretty sure Kageyama doesn't even realize it. Suga clasps him on the shoulder and speaks to him intensely as the others surround him. But Kageyama doesn't look at any of them. Instead he raises his head and finds Shouyou, still standing at the railing of the stands.

His gaze is curiously vacant, and it terrifies the redhead. He's half over the railing, intending to buzz down toward them in a hurry before he pauses at Noya's frenzied shout.

"Oi! The stairs, you idiot!"

He blinks before remembering that he doesn't have wings. Huffing in frustration, he backtracks and heads for the stairs at breakneck speed. He's down on the field in a flash, but Kageyama is no longer with the group. The Grand King is leading him away with a hand on his shoulder and an easy smile on his face as if they were old friends and Shouyou feels ire glow white hot in his chest.

"Kageyama!" He yells.

The other boy's shoulders stiffen and he pauses for a moment, but doesn't look back. The Grand King says something with a half sigh before patting the shoulder and turning back towards them. Shouyou ignores him in favor of watching Kageyama walk off alone without a backward glance.

"You guys played well… I'm sure if Hinata had been in, we'd have never had a chance." The Grand Kings says and Shouyou finally glances at him with a dark frown.

"We thank you for the opportunity." Daichi says, the chip not quite perfectly masked in his voice.

"We should go again sometime. As per our agreement, Tobio will be transferred under my command. You have all been moved under the game master and you will get your rehoming order shortly." He says briskly before turning his brown eyes on Shouyou with intent. "I recommend the rest of you go collect your things so you can move tonight yet. I would like to chat with Hinata for a bit before he heads back to the infirmary."

Shouyou may have had a healthy amount of respect for this man, but he has no great like for him. This is the man that made Kageyama what he was before the rest of them came along. That kid that never smiled or ever looked like he was having fun… or that he even knew what fun was. That lost, lonely kid he'd been so long ago— that still occasionally surfaces— this person was the cause of that and Shouyou has no desire to speak with him.

"Hinata, it will be alright. Your mom is supposed to be on her way back to stay with you tonight, so we will see you later." Suga says reassuringly when he stays silent after the Grand King's remark.

"Thanks." He says bluntly without breaking eye contact with the dark eyes of Kageyama's father. The rest of his unit leaves reluctantly and it's just the two of them surrounded by sentries aimlessly conversing around them.

"Shall we take a walk?" Tooru asks.

Where, off a cliff? Shouyou bites his tongue and nods.

"Can't exactly fly anymore, so sure." He can't help himself and the words slip out with distaste. The Grand King huffs in amusement.

"You've grown bolder, too." He says and turns away. Shouyou falls into step beside him.

"Yes, well… I've already had my wings shorn, what more could you do to me?" He asks cynically.

"I suppose you have a point. I had wanted to ask you about the attack. Do you remember anything that would help?"

Shouyou frowns. He'd have thought this would have been one of the first things he'd have been asked upon his return but this was the first time he was hearing it. Even Kageyama hadn't pressed him for anything which… Shouyou did find a little odd but an immense relief all the same.

"Probably not. He was big, easily larger than you or Kageyama with white wings. I didn't recognize him at all but I figure he was probably an eagle or something. He didn't exactly stop to introduce himself." Shouyou says haltingly.

"I see. It is regrettable that you lost your wings; I'm sure everyone will miss you."

Shouyou turns a bland look of irritation toward the Grand King.

"I'm not dead." He grouses and the King smiles cheekily.

"No, you aren't. I will make sure we have a suitable place on the ground picked out within reasonable proximity for you."

The redhead scoffs.

"That didn't take long." He mutters and almost flinches with feral tension when the Grand King drops an arm over his shoulder.

"Hinata, try to understand. Tobio has a large role to fill; he cannot afford the distraction of looking after a grounded unit member. I know unit ties are strong and he will feel compelled to tend to you because of that, but the extra stress will do nothing but make him resent you. The less contact you have with him, the better he will be able to focus on his other responsibilities. This is really the best option for him and I can assure you, you will be comfortable."

Shouyou feels another flash of white anger even as the words strike deep, their brutality not dulled even when Shouyou reminds himself who they are coming from. The doubt has always been there; the Grand King has simply voiced it aloud.

"I don't need your pity." He snaps, stamping down the choking feeling in his throat, and the Grand King blinks at him with surprise.

"Then what do you want? You did save Tobio's life, by his own words. I owe you something for that." He says with a patronizing note, his arm dropping away and his eyes turning a bit darker.

Shouyou's frown grows agitated.

"I want you to be a parent for Kageyama, not a ruler." He growls. "He's finally figured out how to be more than that and you are separating him from everything he cares about."

"He must start more intensive training in order to take over one day." Tooru reasons genially and Shouyou scoffs.

"You are phenomenal at strategy and tactics. You excel in bringing out the best in people or using the worst in them as you see fit, but you don't know a damn thing about Kageyama. If you can't figure out how isolated this will make him, then you are going to lose him."

"Being a ruler is to be alone, and he will frequently have to make difficult choices; it is better for him to learn that lesson young." He says easily. Shouyou's gaze goes hollow.

"That's pointless—not even you rule alone. You can't do it without your unit leaders and enforcers, so why would you ever expect him to? Nevermind the stupidity of it; the way you did it was low. On some level, I guess I can kind of understand you forcing him to make the choice, I can even forgive you taking everything away from him provided you leave him with something to fight for. Things like that happen in life… but that match…" Shouyou glares at him a long moment. "If you can't figure out how you failed, then I won't tell you either; Kageyama wouldn't appreciate it anyway." He says venomously.

Tooru pauses, his eyes sharpening.

"You mean his wing." He says and Shouyou stares at him.

Rage, cold and icy, slides through his veins.

"You knew." He says, offhandedly surprising himself when he answers in a level voice. "You knew and still you forced that match." A huff of disbelief escapes him. "And you have no idea why we all call you monster. You're the worst. These people might blindly adore you, but there's something amiss when your own son can't stand you. You have no idea what lengths he'll go to just to avoid you. And what's more, you don't seem get why."

"Tobio and I have always had this arrangement. He's known since day one what is expected of him." He says dispassionately, a tightness around his eyes that somehow seems out of place. But it doesn't deter him and Shouyou steps close, closing a hand on his shirt. The redhead glares up at the Grand King, almost expecting retaliation for the action but couldn't care less.

"That right there is the issue. You have an arrangement, not a relationship. You can be a King and a father, those aren't mutually exclusive. For your sake, I hope you learn that before the one thing you really care about finally abandons you. For his sake, I hope you try." Shouyou growls in a low voice.

It doesn't matter that he is smaller than the man before him, weaker, and now grounded, too. His temper has slipped out of his control and he knows it. For a moment he doesn't care because all he wants to do is yell and hit and punch this jerk until he gets it. Instead, he releases the Grand King's shirt with disgust and turns away. His outbursts have probably already made Kageyama's immediate future that much more bleak— and his efforts are all probably wasted anyway.

"Where are you going, Shrimpy?"

There's an odd tension in his voice that Shouyou can't place and wants to bridle so badly at the nickname the Grand King gave him so long ago in those first years, but he keeps his gaze straight ahead.

"Back to the infirmary. Take care of Kageyama, Grand King." He spits.

Kageyama's father lets him go. It's just as well because Shouyou is almost blind with irrational anger. He makes it back to the infirmary with decent time considering he's hoofing it— eighth hour call rings out just as he gets there— but that might be because his whole frame is still positively vibrating with irritation. He ducks inside and heads for his room, still replaying the Grand King's words over and over in his head and, even though he knows that tumbling these thoughts around repeatedly will only make him more irate, he can't help it.

But it's not the only thing. As much as he's rattling with rage, he's nearly trembling with a pervasive dread. The Grand King had quickly found and laid bare the single greatest fear that has lingered in his head since this all began. What if Kageyama was frustrated with this turn of events? What if he really did feel compelled to look after him, not because he wanted to, but because it would simply be what was expected since he'd been part of their unit? What if Kageyama felt as if Shouyou was now a burden to be borne? Would he really come to detest him because he'd always have to deal with the stress of making sure Shouyou was okay on top of the monumental task of leading the murder? Would he really rather just not have to deal with all of this? Would he really want Shouyou to leave?

He's nearly to his room when a thump makes him pause in the middle of working himself into a chaotic frenzy of anxious fear and toxic ire, and he glances over his shoulder with a frown.

Did that guy he just passed trip or something?

There's another heavy impact and Shouyou discerns a large form hitting the floor around the corner. His neck prickles with unease and he takes a step backward. He's almost freaked out of his skin when he's shoved aside by another sentry heading for where that brief scuffle echoed and died in moments. But he doesn't even make the corner as someone covered from head to toe in shapeless attire meets him head on.

Shouyou instinctively backs up against the wall. The intruder is smaller than the sentry crow and the lithe limbs make him think it's a woman, but after the first swing from the sentry, he knows she's wicked quick. She dodges and returns the attack and no more than a few seconds have gone by and the larger crow is slumping to the floor. She looks up and heads his way and his hackles instantly rise. She's probably just as strong as he is and he's willing to bet just as fast— possibly even faster… and he has no wings so he can't flee.

Oi. Not good.

He adopts a defensive stance all the same. And then falters when she raises a finger to where her mouth would be under her covering. He frowns… because the gaze staring back at him— he knows it.

"What—?"

She cuts him off with a shake of her head and grabs his arm before he even thinks to react. And then he's stumbling along behind her at a ridiculous pace, her wings blasting air into his face. They are outside the infirmary in moments and he nearly stumbles over the unconscious guard just outside the door. He watches her critically, his confusion mounting all the more.

He's sure he knows this person. All of her movements are familiar, just more precise and determined. She jerks him to the side and skirts the building, sticking to the shadows as much as possible. He's so completely blindsided by this turn of events, he has no idea what to think, because the feeling he's got forming in the back of his head is tripping him out. He finally pulls up, slowing her to a stop. She turns back to him urgently and tugs once more.

"No! What's going on?" He asks with a deep frown. She shakes her head.

"In a minute, Shouyou." She says and his eyes nearly fall from their sockets as her soft voice hits his ears. She takes the opportunity to capitalize on his shock and they are off again.

His thoughts have totally scattered on him. He ambles along behind her, utterly bewildered and any resistance long sapped from his limbs. He can barely form a single coherent thought.

Mom?

...

What the hell?

A/N: Longest chapter so far... and probably my most maddening one. Seriously, like 9 rewrites on it and I'm thoroughly convinced that I have no handle on Oikawa's character at all. It feels slower to me and definitely rougher/less 'easy' than earlier chapters until the very end. I don't like how it came out, and I was still making little edits the last few minutes before posting. My patience kind of gave me a healthy 'f-you' and this is the result; I hope it's still interesting... I'm off to do another rewrite on the next chapter for tomorrow :)