summary: The masquerade ball is in full swing, the band is playing, people are dancing and alcohol is everywhere. Two "strangers" meet, dancing together for a song before meeting in the garden at 11:57. There, they see who they really are.
prince!oikawa tooru x princess!reader
The ballroom was full, women and men in extravagant gowns and suits. Headpieces and over the top accessories were a must at tonight's ball. The band, consisting of a pianist, cellist, 2 violinist, and a harpist, played a simple piece of music. It was light, traveling over the crowd of people.
Walking down the steps, your eyes scanned the gathering although it was somewhat hard to see through your mask. In your invitation, you were instructed to wear a mask, a means of keeping the identities of everyone a secret. You're a princess, although your kingdom was small, you still got invited to these balls every now and again.
Sadly, you're nearest kingdom and strongest ally was a kingdom with an arrogant prince. He was far too handsome for his own good, causing his ego to inflate as he grew up. As kids, the two of you got along but once he started to realize his good looks, you backed away.
It's certain he's at this ball, he gets invites from everyone. If the Oikawa Tooru isn't at your party, it's almost not worth it to throw one. That being said, you made your way down the grand stairs, greeting people as you went.
After about an hour, the band went to a slow dance song, people coupling up quickly. Feeling a soft touch on your shoulder, you turned to see a man with light brown hair, who stood at about 6'1. He gave you a bow, holding out his hand.
"Care for a dance, princess?"
His smirk was clear as day, even without his eyes you could see the mischief looming behind his demeanor. Sighing, you nodded.
Placing your hand in his, he gave the back of your hand a soft kiss before pulling you in. He wrapped his left hand around your waist, the other holding your hand. Your free hand held onto his shoulder.
The two of you moved with the music, looking at what you could see of each other through the masks. Something about him seemed familiar, the tone of his voice, the way his hair fell, the feeling of his hand on your waist feeling all too casual to be a new person.
Your brows furrowed, trying to figure out who he was before your thoughts were interrupted,
"Whats your name, princess?"
You scoffed, "This is supposed to be anonymous"
His grin widened, "Rules are meant to be broken"
Your head quirked to the side slightly, caught off guard by his eagerness to break the rules.
"Not for me,"
You looked up at the clock, reading 10:47pm.
"You'll have to wait an hour and 13 minutes if you want to find out."
His grin faltered slightly, "Fine then,"
His hand slipped out of yours, his other hand leaving your waist.
"Meet me in the garden by the fountain, 11:57, not a moment late."
11:57
You spent the rest of the evening eating extravagant dishes, drinking with new found friends and dancing. Looking up, you noticed the clock read 11:57.
Excusing yourself, you slipped out the large, mostly glass, doors to the garden. You walked around before finding the fountain and the stranger from before. Except, there was a serious lack of mask covering his face and you realized who he was.
His voice? You'd heard it millions of times. His hair? You'd seen it a million times. His hands on your waist? You felt it millions of times before when the two of you would sneak off to dance together in one of your parents ballrooms.
"Oikawa?!" You frowned.
He nodded, "That's me"
Sitting on the fountains ledge, he looked up.
"I knew it was you the second I saw you standing on the stairs." He smiled
You crossed your arms, your mask now discarded in the dirt next to you. The sound of gentle trickling water filled your ears along with the sound of the band floating out the doors, indistinct chatter filling in the empty space.
Sighing, you sat next to him. "What is this supposed to be, Oikawa?"
You looked at him, his hair falling over his eyes as he shifted to look down.
"I guess, somewhat of an apology? For being an asshole the last few years." He admitted,
"I tried talking to you weeks ago but, lo and behold, you refused"
You let out a breath you didn't know you were holding, resting your hands on the ledge of the water fountain.
"Can you blame me? You basically started treating me like some foot stool piece of trash once you discovered a mirror," You frowned
"You were my best friend, losing you really sucked."
Running a hand through his hair, he looked up at the sky again.
"And I'm sorry. No amount of apologies will fix what we had-" He inhaled sharply, shaking off his last remark
"I mean, you were my best friend too." He rubbed the nape of his neck nervously.
He stood up, hearing the band inside play one last song. Pushing his hair out of his face, he held his other hand out for you.
"One last dance, princess?"
You looked up at him, an unreadable look on your face. Although, you couldn't say no to him. Not to him. Never to him.
Nodding, you took his hand and stood up. He pulled you close, his hand holding onto your waist gently and other hand interlacing with your fingers. The silence was comfortable, the two of you didn't need to fill it with meaningless small talk.
"All those girls, they were never you," He spoke, almost a whisper.
Confusion on your face, you looked at him.
"What?"
He smiled, but it wasn't his usual cocky smirk. No, this was sincere. His gaze softened,
"All the girls I've dated? None of them were even half as amazing as you are, [y/n]."
He ran a hand through your hair, his hand stopping at the side of your neck. His hand on your waist stayed and his thumb gently ghosted over your side.
You looked at him, a glint of something unusual in his eyes. Not his usual mischievous gaze, no, this was something softer. Something you'd never felt before.
The two of you stayed there for a few moments before he spoke,
"[Y/n], I... I love you"
He didn't give you a chance to respond, gently kissing you. You didn't mind though, kissing him back. Your hands found their way to the sides of his face, smiling when you felt how soft they were. Of course...
The world around you slowed, almost freezing, the music from inside fading out and chatter from before calming down to a light buzz. And when you finally pull away, you looked at him in the soft moonlight. You'd never seen him like this before. It was different
But you didn't mind, not really. Not when he looks so pretty like this.
"Worthless pride, huh? That's true... Listen up, Ushijima. I never thought my decision was wrong, and my volleyball hasn't ended at all. Don't you ever forget my worthless pride."
•
You guys I just... really love him, okay?
First time trying stumpwork and it was not even quite as awful as I was anticipating!
an: highly recommend to listen to “travel - ma, pauwi na” by cesca! it’s inspired by it ;)
❀。• *₊°。 ❀°。
if there was anything you’d ask for to the gods above, it was more time. glimpses of what could’ve beens and what ifs linger into your thoughts late at night. staring at the ceiling and drifting away to sleep; you wish, and in all honesty, hoped, that if there was a way to see him again, be it in your dreams. ‘cause how could you face him? running away from your problems were easier, than running to his arms. hell, how ironic is it that the reason you need to take a break from everything is also your solace of light. hajime iwaizumi, just what did you think the outcome of your actions would be?
this wasn’t like the stories your mom used to tell you. things weren’t always like this, with a flicker of time, your perception of love changed.
———
“tooru, please help me out.” nags as the girl rolls her eyes at oikawa. with a cocky grin he turns at her saying “august, i’m not as competent as you think. i’m scared of him as well.”
“great, what now? should i just leave his book in his desk with a note saying ‘thanks :)’?” augusts blurted out what’s going through her mind. oikawa shrugged her off by saying “not the best but it’s a good idea. c’mon, just take this chance as a way to peacefully part ways with him.”
“it’s not that easy. especially when i don’t even know what to say..”
“so are you willing to leave it at that? without closure and all, you know? won’t it hurt less if it ended good?”
“does it really? we already agreed we should stop talking. how is it easier if i, myself, break no-contact?”
oikawa stops in his tracks and paused for a moment. if there was no other way to get you to talk and to keep himself safe from iwaizumis temper once he returns the book and not you, then so be it.
“just keep the book to yourself then. if he looks for it, then that just means he’s the one breaking no-contact.”
some points were said, a brief moment passes by and you laugh.
———
“For hope would be hope for the wrong thing; wait without love”
one line from the book left you awe struck.
in the depths of longing, where whispers linger,
you regret how everything ended. you wish there was any other version of this story.
but you don’t have the courage to save what cannot be. you only have yourself to rely on; keeping yourself sane and not looking back.
———
the perfect hue of the afternoon sun reflects on her face so beautifully.
that was all that iwaizumi could think of when august comes her way to the club rooms.
“hey, did you wait long?”
“not that much. we don’t have practice today so it’s fine to hang-out.” says iwaizumi as he smiles at her.
on their way to the library, august stops by a vending machine to ease her thirst. today was a long day, and everything was practically a mess, you have incoming exams and projects around the corner. it’s a good thing iwaizumi has offered to become partners and study together since you both were classmates.
heading to the library you both agreed to, not many students are around, you think.
sitting down and fixing your things, you explored different types of topic. a book in his bag piqued your interest, you ask him about it.
you loved this fiery look in his eyes whenever he talks about something he likes. he suggests you to read the book, you refuse because you don’t have time, but he insists you can return it whenever.
you don’t want to deny it, you’ve liked iwaizumi for awhile now. it was a surprise when he told you he wanted to try.
there was no hurt in it, right?
time helped the both of you to progress naturally, and the walls you’ve originally put ever since, has crumbled in his defense.
no one was to blame for you falling too hard.
———
you knew how much he was passionate about his sport, you knew him too well to know that he’s doing everything he can to support his team.
does this go further as abandoning his own support?
“i dream of coming to the nationals with my team, august.”
you were aware of that.
“you would get it if you were me.”
how does that changes anything?
“it’s for the better. i couldn’t just watch you offer everything in whatever we have. i honestly don’t even know where this is going.”
why didn’t you say so from the start? “whatever” isn’t a word to describe what the thing between you was.
“trust me, i did try to be on the same page as you.”
iwaizumi hajime waited without love.
how disappointing.
to exist in this timeline with you is something, but to completely lose you when i never had you in the first place is a far greater agony.
———
his words echoed in your head as you try to focus on the book that you’re reading. time will mend all wounds,
so why are you trying to stop it by reading something that reminds you of him?
you want to forget, you want to go to places where you wouldn’t see a part of him.
there was no time for you to recall the walk homes, late night talks, cafe runs, secret glances at school, hiding from people, and watching his games.
but you can’t help it.
so you decided that once summer vacation starts, you’re gonna go back to your hometown.
a fresh start is what you needed, and in hopes you convince your mother to let you stay there permanently. she makes up her mind about the sudden idea.
———
“so, when are you leaving?” oikawa asks you on the phone.
“i’m not sure yet. but let’s wish it’s as soon as the break starts.”
“i’ll always look out for you and support your decisions, but going away is too far, don’t you think?”
he says as he feels a sharp pain in his chest, he thought of how the three of you used to be tied together, practically glued to the hip. now, it felt like it was crumbling because both of you are going away, him as he venture out to the other side of the world and you needing some time to cool off.
“don’t worry. things just happen and that’s fine.” august spoke, trying to comfort her friend.
“i know that we'll always be here.
just not in the same way like before”
———————
i’m so bored that i tried writing :,) sorry for the errors or if it didn’t make sense, it’s my first time lol
