When Argentina loses to Japan, Iwaizumi is there, crossing the net to reach Oikawa, who has fallen to his knees, hiding his face in his shirt collar, his shoulders trembling with broken sobs. Hajime wraps his arms around him, and Tooru collapses into the hug. There are no words in Spanish, English, or Japanese that can alleviate the sadness, the failure, and the defeat.
When Japan wins the set needed to advance to the quarter-finals, Oikawa stumbles out of his seat and runs onto the playing area, leaping over the billboard to the surprise of many fans, with a toothy, proud smile. Hajime looks up with teary eyes and lets out a wet laugh, catching Tooru in his arms as he leaps onto him, holding him tightly. There are words, "I'm so, so proud of you, mi vida", "you did it, I love you, I love you, I love you", "the quarter-finals, damn it, I knew you'd make it," soft and sweet, just for Hajime.
When Argentina suffers another defeat, Iwaizumi doesn't let Oikawa sleep in his own room. He drags him to his, and they shower together. Iwaizumi leaves him clothes with the promise that this time Oikawa will return them (which, of course, he doesn't). He applies kinesiotape strips to Oikawa's shoulders and arms, and then they watch their favorite movie on the laptop, cuddled up in the tiny bed. They talk about the movie, laughing at the most absurd scenes. Tooru lies with half his body resting on Hajime's, his head nestled against Hajime's broad chest. Hajime's hand roams through Tooru's hair for a while before wandering down his strong back. As they prepare to sleep, Iwaizumi holds him tightly, kisses his forehead, and whispers there’s no one like you out there, you are the greatest player the world has ever known, this is just another step towards the top, I love you and you are my pride.
When Italy eliminates Japan, Oikawa stands among the Japanese fans, giving a standing ovation to the team. He tries not to cry, fighting the sting in his eyes and the burn in his nose. But when he sees Iwa-chan bow towards the stands with the rest of the team in deep gratitude, when he sees Iwa-chan wiping away his tears with his sleeves, when he sees Hajime comforting a defeated Hinata, Atsumu, and Kageyama with pats on the back and hands in their hair, when he sees Iwa-chan checking to make sure the rest of the players are okay, and then searching the stands for him, giving him a sad smile, Tooru breaks down too. He comes down from the stands, and there is Hajime waiting. They hug, sinking into each other’s arms because there’s nowhere else in the world they’d rather be. Oikawa becomes Iwaizumi’s solid pillar, catching his sobs, sinking his fingers into his hair, and gently rubbing his back.
“Why are you crying so much, Iwa-chan? You're going to get snot all over my shirt!” Tooru teases, though he’s not much better, with teary eyes and a red nose. He lifts his head just to cradle Iwaizumi’s face in his hands, gently brushing his wet cheeks with his thumbs. When Hajime’s eyes meet his, he smiles softly. “It’s okay, my love, it’s all Tobio-chan’s fault. Geez, couldn’t he have paid more attention to the Italians when they were talking during the game?”
Despite himself, Hajime laughs, leaning into Oikawa’s touch, leaving a sweet kiss on the palm of his hand.
“That applies to you too, you know? We beat you, and as far as I remember, Japanese is your native language.”
“I was paying a lot of attention, but you kept covering your faces every time you talked!” he protested childishly.
Iwaizumi rolled his eyes, amused, before sighing and resting his forehead on Oikawa’s shoulder, feeling heavy and exhausted. Tooru kissed his cheek, resting his own against Hajime’s head while hugging him again, feeling the strong arms of the love of his life tighten around his waist.
“I wanted to win so much,” then he whispered, small and weak. “Not just for me, or my parents, or the team, or the country. Also for you. Especially for you. I wanted to share the fucking podium with you, Tooru. To share the medal like you did with me in Tokyo.”
Tooru wants to tear his heart out. He wants to sell his soul to the Olympic committee to redo these Olympics Games and start over. He wants to show that they are the strongest six. He wants Iwa-chan to prove it too. He wants them both to reach the highest peak, to face each other at the top.
He hates losing. He hates the taste of failure, salty and wet. He hates defeat.
But he also understands that this is volleyball too. Two teams separated by a net, bouncing a ball back and forth. The ball isn’t allowed to touch the floor, isn’t allowed to be carried but to be connected. Volleyball is also fun, even in defeat. Because it makes you stronger and because losing doesn’t mean the sport disappears forever.
“You will,” Tooru says, his voice grave, honest, and unwavering. You will because I believe in you. You will because this isn’t the end. You will because we’ll keep playing volleyball. "We will. The next Olympics will be in Los Angeles, and I'm going to kick your ass there, Hajime. I’ll reach the podium first, I’ll share the medal with you again, and it will be the gold.”
Iwaizumi snorts, snuggling into Oikawa’s shoulder for a few more seconds before lifting his head again. He cried again. His eyes are still wet, the skin beneath them red, trails of tears crossing his cheeks. But he smiles, wide and sincere.
“As if I’d let you beat me, babe. I’ll be the one taking you to the podium first.”
“Oho, Iwa-chan, do I smell a bet?” Tooru intertwining his hands behind Hajime’s neck.
“If I reach the podium, the honeymoon will be in Philippines.”
“And if I reach it first, it’ll be in Bali.”
“Deal.”
“Kiss to close the deal?”
“What about the handshake?”
“Bleh, boring!”
Hajime laughs, leaning in to rub his nose against Oikawa’s.
“Thank you,” he whispers against his lips, half-closing his eyes “for everything, Tooru.”
And Oikawa smiles, sweet and completely in love.
“That’s my line.” And with that, they kiss in the middle of the Paris Olympic Stadium.
...
as furudate once said: today you are the defeated, but what will you become tomorrow?
u can find this and me on my ao3 🍉
