Tsukishima hesitated outside of the library entrance, listening to the soft humming that meant Yamaguchi was already at work.

He balled up his fists in determination. He could do this. He'd done things much harder than this. By the Fates, he'd just stopped a war.

Compared to that, extending one little invitation to dinner shouldn't be that hard.

Taking a deep breath, Tsukishima stepped into the library.

Yamaguchi noticed almost immediately, looking up from his book and smiling. The early morning sunlight illuminated his face, making his freckles stand out like constellations.

"Hey, Tsuki," Yamaguchi greeted happily.

"Morning," Tsukishima said, the greeting coming out lower than he intended.

"I wondered if I'd see you this morning," Yamaguchi said, smile turning mischievous. "Given how you suddenly disappeared on me last night."

Tsukishima flushed. "Sorry, I had an….unavoidable Suits matter to take care of. I didn't mean to abandon you."

"Oh, it's fine," Yamaguchi reassured him, standing up and coming around to lean on his desk-barely a few hand breadths away from Tsukishima. "I was just teasing you. I figured it was something like that….especially given all the commotion that happened later."

Yamaguchi face shifted to serious, turning up to Tsukishima. "Speaking of which-not to overstep-but...is everything okay?"

The tension in Tsukishima's shoulders relaxed. "Yes, it's fine now."

This close, the brown of Yamaguchi's eyes pulled him in like an undercurrent.

"And are you okay….Tsuki?"

Tsukishima smiled. "I am."

"Good."

Tsukishima wasn't quite sure when but somehow it seemed that Yamaguchi had gotten even closer without Tsukishima ever noticing him move.

It took another long second before Tsukishima realized he was the one who had moved forward, now looking down at Yamaguchi from a distance much too close to be considered normal.

Tsukishima swallowed. "I actually had a question I wanted to ask you."

"What is it?"

Yamaguchi was staring up at him-all bright intelligent eyes, kind words, and loud laugh-and Tsukishima honestly couldn't think of a time where he wanted anything nearly as much as this.

It was terrifying.

"I...Nevermind," said Tsukishima, heart pounding. "Sorry for bothering you."

He made to move away but right before he could, he caught it. Disappointment flashing across Yamaguchi's face before it began to settle into his normal careful smile-less bright than before.

Yamaguchi opened his mouth, no doubt to give some kind of reassurance or acceptance.

"Will you go to dinner with me," Tsukishima blurted out, mouth moving far faster than his mind could catch up.

Yamaguchi's face cleared, this time in visible surprise before comprehension overtook it and he moved.

And suddenly, Tsukishima found himself yanked forward by his collar to meet soft warm lips shaped in a breathless kind of smile.

And, for once, Tsukishima was glad his brain seemed to be working slower because it meant he couldn't think of one doubt before he was kissing those lips back.

When Yamaguchi eventually pulled away, hand still on Tsukishima's collar and not going far, his cheeks were flushed red and Tsukishima wasn't the only one breathing heavy.

Yamaguchi beamed. "I thought you'd never ask."

ooooooo

Oikawa fidgeted, looking in the mirror of Spades' visitor suite and trying to wrap his mind on exactly how he went from reluctantly delivering a letter to getting ready for his first meeting with the rest of the Cards Suits.

A sudden laugh bubbled out, echoing around the room. Well, at least Matsukawa and Hanamaki would be amused. When, Oikawa finally got around to telling them that is.

Sunlight shone down from the window, hitting against the new silver of the Mark. Oikawa supposed he better start getting used to seeing his hand uncovered.

"Young King?"

Oikawa spun around, grinning. "Ha! Not this time! I was expecting you to show up!"

Ushijima merely regarded him calmly as if the Fate hadn't spent the better part of a decade popping up randomly in attempt to give Oikawa a heart attack.

Oikawa rolled his eyes, turning and adjusting his collar in the mirror to make sure it laid right. "So, what is it this time? Finally come to brag or is it something else? Don't tell me there's another county planning a take over?"

"Actually," Ushijima said, back stiff as ever. "I've come to say goodbye."

Oikawa's hands stilled on his collar. "Goodbye? Why? Fates don't go on vacation, do they?"

"Not particularly," Ushijima answered. "However, we Fates are only supposed to intervene in the most dire of circumstances. Times when the future of Cards is at stake."

Oikawa turn to face the Fate and crossed his arms. "You've been stalking me for twelve years."

Ushijima nodded. "And now my task is done. Now, you are King of Hearts."

The Fate glanced down and Oikawa followed his gaze to stare at the Mark.

"Huh, so this is really supposed to be goodbye, isn't it," Oikawa asked, feeling a lump in the back of his throat that he quickly swallowed down.

"It is," Ushijima answered. "Unless the kingdom is in need of my intervention once more."

"You know it's kind of funny," Oikawa said. "All these years trying to get rid of you and now that you're finally leaving, I don't know what to say."

Ushijima gave a thoughtful hum but didn't say anything.

Unexpectedly, Oikawa let out a laugh. "What am I saying? It's really you I should be worried about, shouldn't I? What are you going to do without me as your constant source of amusement?"

Ushijima blinked, looking unfazed. "I'm sure I will manage, Young King."

"C'mon, Ushijima." Oikawa grinned. "You know you love me."

"Actually," Ushijima broke in firmly, "you've been the hardest King I've ever had to work with to date."

"Aww, stop," Oikawa gushed. "You're going to make me blush."

"I am not joking. Centuries and centuries and you have, by far, given me the most difficulties."

"Oh, Ushi-chan,I feel the same way."

"You'll make a great King, Oikawa."

Oikawa froze.

A small smile spread across Ushijima's face as he continued, "One that will be remembered through generations….It has been my honor to lead you on your path."

Oikawa swallowed, slowly returning the smile.

"Hey, Ushijima….thanks."

"Of course, Young King."

When Oikawa next blinked, he was standing alone in front of a mirror.

He laughed, scrubbing a hand over his face. "How annoying."

There was a knock on the door and Iwaizumi stuck his head in, smiling when his eyes landed on Oikawa.

"Hey, ready for the meeting?"

Oikawa turned, doing one final check in the mirror before he reached out and grabbed Iwaizumi's hand.

"Yes. Lead the way, Iwa-chan."

ooooooo

"Okay, why do you keep smiling," Hinata asked, eyeing Tsuki suspiciously.

"I'm not smiling," Tsuki responded, unsuccessfully trying to smother his smile.

"Uh-huh," Hinata said, narrowing his eyes. "Sure, you're not."

Tsuki huffed. "What I should be doing is strapping you down in the infirmary and having Asahi knock you unconscious for a week while your wound heals."

"Pft, I'm fine," Hinata said, subtly shifting to hide how he was favoring one side. "Honestly, Tsuki, after having three mages heal me, I'm probably better than fine."

"You were stabbed," Tsuki reminded, deadpanned.

"Only a little bit."

"And drowned."

"Just briefly."

"You didn't have a heartbeat. You were medically dead."

"But, I got better," Hinata insisted stubbornly.

Tsuki glared. "No missions for another two weeks."

"...yeah, that's probably fair," Hinata relented, happily stridding forward. "I'm still definitely going to the meeting though."

"Fates helps us," Tsuki commented but didn't make any move to stop Hinata as he reached for the door.

Surprisingly, Hinata paused anyway, turning to Tsuki in realization.

"Oh my gosh, I figured it out," Hinata said, grinning.

"Where the meeting is," Tsuki asked dryly. "Congratulations, bit less impressive since it was never a secret."

"No," Hinata cried out, a grin so wide it was reaching manic. "Why you're smiling. It's Yamaguchi, isn't it?"

Tsuki immediately turned bright red.

"You finally asked him out," Hinata accused. "Tsuki, that's-"

"Oh, look. The meeting," Tsuki interrupted, pushing the door open and hurrying inside before Hinata could say anything else.

Hinata laughed loudly, following him inside. As if I won't wait until after the meeting…

"HINATA!"

Hinata had barely closed the door, when two giant arms grabbed onto him and lifted him in the air.

"Oi," Tsuki called out followed by a loud sigh from Akaashi. "Careful with the recent stabbing victim!"

Hinata was quickly sat back down and faced with the anxious face of one King of Clubs.

"Ah, sorry. You okay?"

"Yeah." Hinata said, giving him a thumbs up.

Bokuto immediately brightened, slinging an arm around him and pulling him into a slightly gentler one armed hug.

"Hinata, I can't believe you were the Ace of Spades and you didn't tell me!"

"Um, sorry," Hinata said tentatively, glancing around the room to try to gauge the expressions. None of them looked mad, so that was good.

"Nah, it's cool," Bokuto reassured him, leading him further in the room. "This is going to be awesome! Think about all the stuff we can do now that I know you're the Ace!"

"Which is still a secret to everyone outside this room," reminded Akaashi sharply, looking at Bokuto.

Bokuto grinned back. "Of course!"

Across the room, Kuroo sent him a wink. "And, I'm still definitely expecting that rematch. Don't think you're getting out of it just because there's not a threat of war."

Hinata smiled, searching the room until his eyes landed on Kageyama and quietly taking the seat next to him.

Across the table, the new King of Hearts-and wasn't that still a surprise-was regarding Hinata curiously.

"You're the servant from last night, right," the man asked, tilting his head before nodding. "So, you're the Ace of Spades. That makes a lot of sense actually."

Hinata was about to ask what he meant before Suga cleared his throat.

"Alright, everyone, let's start the meeting." Suga announced and all eyes turned to him. "First order of business, I think we have a new member." He smiled at the new man. "If you wouldn't mind introducing yourself?"

The man nodded and Hinata noticed Yahaba and Iwaizumi straighten in attention.

"I'm Oikawa Tooru," the man answered, mouth turning up into a grin with a definite mischievous edge. "Glad to finally meet you."

Further down the table, Kuroo snorted. "Right in time, too."

"Which is the second thing I want to know," Tsuki huffed, crossing his arms. "Where in the world have you been for years?"

"And why do our dear Iwaizumi and Yahaba both already seem to know you," Yukie asked, sending Iwaizumi a smirk. "Holding out on us, eh?"

Iwaizumi and Oikawa exchanged a look before Oikawa grinned, Iwaizumi rolling his eyes at his side.

"Well," the new King of Hearts began, "it's kind of a funny story…"

ooooooo

That afternoon-having once again avoided the clutches Asahi's infirmary with minor help from Noya-Hinata snuck through the castle, trying to avoid both Tsuki and Yachi.

Really, it wasn't like he was trying to be a bad patient. He just wanted to go to the meeting...and see the rest of the Suits off….and maybe spend some time with Kageyama. Then, he'd head back to the infirmary definitely.

Besides, he'd made it through much worse than a mostly healed stab wound….probably….well, it hardly even hurt anymore, honest!

Hinata checked around the next corner for signs of the Jack or his assistant before slowly easing around and-

"Hey! Wait!"

Jumping about a foot in the air before clutching his side and stifling a wince.

Okay, not to self: Asahi and Tsuki might have a minor point about the whole not making sudden movements thing.

Then, Hinata looked up and all thoughts of the injury fled.

"It is you," King Yudai said, smiling and breathing heavily from running down the hall. "I...I saw your hair."

"Your Majesty," Hinata greeted politely, already nervous about where this conversation would go. He fought the impulse to glance down at the clearly marked servant attire that he knew he wore.

The smile slowly faded across the former prince's face and he shuffled uncomfortably, glancing down at the Spade's crest embroidered over Hinata's heart.

King Yudai cleared his throat. "I've been meaning to ask you since last night but...um, you're not...well," the King's cheeks colored, "not what I thought you were, are you?"

"No," Hinata admitted.

King Yudai nodded, meeting Hinata's eyes. "You're the Ace of Spades, aren't you?"

Hinata's breath caught and he froze in the middle of the hallway. If Yudai knew that, than he'd probably already pieced together what really happened to his father. Hyakuzawa would have reason to declare war.

King Yudai held up his hands in a calming gesture. "It's alright. You don't have to answer. I think I already know anyway."

"Your Majesty…." Hinata started slowly cut off when King Yudai shook his head.

"No, please, call me Yudai," the King told him, eyes kind. "Please relax, I'm not going to tell anyone, I promise. I just wanted to see if I was right."

Hinata stayed tense, trying gauging to gauge if he could really be telling the truth.

And, really, the surprising thing...Hinata actually believed he was.

Yudai smiled again, the same slightly shy one that he'd had months ago when walking a lost stranger around the city.

Then again, maybe this wasn't surprising at all.

"I'm sorry about your father," Hinata said, abruptly.

Yudai's brow furrowed, mouth turning back down again as it did and Hinata...Hinata could almost regret it-not for the dead King, never for him, but for his son.

Eventually, Yudai shook his head, glancing away and at bird's nest right outside the window. "Don't be. You don't have to be, he doesn't deserve it. My father...my father was a terrible, ruthless man. This was always going to be his fate...His or yours."

Yudai looked back at Hinata. "Did you know he tried to have me killed when I was seven?"

Hinata shook his head.

"He ended up killing my nursemaid instead," Yudai continued, voice dry until suddenly he huffed out a humorless laugh. "I'm sure that whatever his latest plan was didn't have a nice ending for me either. I just thought…" the king sighed, running a hand through his hair, "I just thought that at least this time, I might be in a position to stop him. That this plan would at least give me a chance to help some people, even if it wouldn't be my own people."

"But now," King Yudai said, a determination and a fierce sort of joy taking over his face. "Now, I can finally help all of them. Now, I finally have the power to change Hyakuzawa for the better."

"I'm glad," Hinata said, finally speaking up.

"Thank you," Yudai said before meeting Hinata's eyes with an unbearably soft expression. "Thank you. I couldn't...I would never have been able to stand there last night if it hadn't been for you."

Hinata smiled. "Anything for an ally."

Yudai paused before nodding. "An ally, then….Since we're allies, would you mind if I asked you one more question?"

Hinata shrugged. "Depends on the question."

Yudai's smile grew, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "What's your name?"

Hinata paused, surprised before laughing.

"My name's Hinata."

ooooooo

By the time Hinata finally made it down to the courtyard, it appeared that everyone except for the Suits had already left.

Which kind of suited Hinata just fine.

Kenma was the first to see him, giving him a nod and a small smile that alerted Tsukishima and Kageyama beside him.

The Jack of Spades rolled his eyes. "Should've known you weren't actually going to stay in the infirmary."

Hinata grinned, unrepentant.

"Aww, I can't believe I gotta wait all the way until Fall to see you guys again," Bokuto said, pouting before a sudden smile broke out. "Just wait though! Clubs' festival is going to be even more exciting."

"Fates help us," Akaashi said dryly but his lip was twitching up, too.

Yukie hummed, slowly peeling an orange. "Well, I suppose we still have the bets from the Aces' Match to settle. That always livens things up."

Kuroo jostled his arm against Hinata. "You planning on coming?"

Hinata hesitated and Suga laughed. "I suppose we might be able to bring Spades' official manservant along with us."

Suga turned back, handing a small piles of books over to Lev-who looked down at them back up to Suga with not a small amount of hero worship.

"We better get going," Iwaizumi said, looking towards the sky and then down to Oikawa. "Going to be a crazy time at the palace once they see this guy riding with us."

Oikawa's head shot up. "Oh, speaking of the palace, I almost forgot. Iwa-chan, visit your grandmother more!"

"Wait, what," asked Iwaizumi, looking so bewildered that Yahaba had to hide a laugh behind his hand.

"Sounds like you have another interesting story ahead of you," Suga commented, but his eyes were trained on the castle wall and Hinata followed the gaze to see Daichi, the Knight's Captain, looking back down. Taking note of the softness in Suga's expression, Hinata wondered if the Queen had his own story to tell.

The courtyard gate opened and the royal guests started slowly making their way out, still caught in idle conversation as they did.

Beside Hinata, Kageyama came to stand and slipped a hand down to intertwine with his.

Hinata leaned into him.

"Good festival, wasn't it," Hinata commented. "You know...in the end."

Kageyama nodded, staring out at the departing Suits.

"I'm kinda sad it's over," Hinata admitted before turning up to Kageyama with a grin. "I guess we're back to the boring old normal stuff now, huh?"

Kageyama shrugged. "Actually, I was thinking about doing something a bit different tonight."

"Yeah," Hinata asked, curious.

"I was just wondering," Kageyama began, hand tightening around Hinata's, "if you could show me around the city? I think….I'm ready."

Hinata looked up at him, slowly raising on his toes to land a short, soft kiss against his King's lips.

"I'd love to."

ooooooo

And up above, on a rarely used balcony and completely unnoticed, stood two Fates, observing the courtyard below.

"Aww, look at that, Wakatoshi," Tendou cooed, leaning a bit too far over the balcony to technically be considered safe. "Your little King's finally learning to play nice with the rest of the Suits. You must be so proud?"

"He's not my anything," Ushijima said flatly before tilting his head in consideration. "But...yes, I am pleased that the Young King seems to be acclimating well."

"That's the spirit, Wakatoshi," Tendou cheered, conjuring up two glasses and a decanter of the kingdom's best wine. "Gotta let them out of the nest someday. I kept telling you if you let me try to convince him, we would've gotten this handled ages ago."

Ushijima raised an eyebrow. "I'm fairly certain the kingdom wouldn't survive that degree of your help."

"Ha!" Tendou shoved a filled glass at Ushijima. "And people say you don't joke."

"I was not joking."

"Anyway, it's kind of sad, isn't it?" Tendou sighed, looking back down. "Seeing them all grown up and not needing our help anymore...Almost brings a tear to my eye."

Ushijima coughed into his hand, offering an awkward pat to Tendou's back. "There is no need for that. Cards will always need its Fates."

Tendou brightened immediately, turning back to Ushijima with stars in his eyes. "Yeah, I suppose you're right. Plus, that Ace is too fun not to keep playing with!...I suppose this does give us some free time though, right?"

"Our work is never complete," Ushijima disagreed, trying to subtly hand back the wine glass.

Tendou didn't accept it.

"Come on, Wakatoshi," cajoled the Fate of Chaos, gesturing to Suits below. "Just for one night. Don't you think we've earned it?"

There was a moment of consideration where Ushijima looked down at the glass-filled with one of the best and strongest drinks the Card kingdom could offer-then started down long and hard at the new King of Hearts before finally, decisively, tipping the glass up and drinking it all in a single gulp.

"I suppose our Suits can manage alone for a single night."

Tendou grinned, already refilling the glass.

ooooooo

20 Years Prior

"...Mama?"

"Yes, dear?"

"The Spades story has a happy ending, right? Everything turns out okay?"

"Oh, my darling little Ace, the Story of the Card Kingdoms has as happy ending as you chose to make it. I promise."

"...Then I'm going to make it the best ending! Okay, Mama?"

"That sounds wonderful, my bright sun. Make it the very best you can."

ooooooo

A/N: Wow. It's honestly hard to believe this story is finally done. Thank you so much for all your support throughout this! I say this often but seriously you guys are the best and I have loved reading every one of your reviews. Thanks, guys! ALSO, I do have a sequel to this planned so if you're interested just follow me or this story and I'll post a notification when I start posting. That said, it will probably be a month or two while I finish my other current story (the second one in my Harry Potter/ Haikyuu AU). Last, as always, thanks you for reading and hope you enjoyed!