university!au

"In which Iwaizumi only realizes he likes you after he sees you crying about how no one does."

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The moment he unlocked the front door and stepped inside, Iwaizumi knew something was off.

It was a Friday evening, the living room was pitch-black, the TV was turned off, and you weren't waving at him from your usual spot on the couch with a mountain of snacks by your side and the remote in your other hand.

He checked his phone again just in case he'd missed your text on the commute, but nothing. You'd decided to skip Friday Movie Night without any heads-up. If that wasn't alarming, Iwaizumi didn't know what else could be.

This was a ritual you'd established from your first month of living together, and he knew just how much you loved your movie time to unwind after a long week of adulting. Especially this one which marked a new start at a different university for you.

Flicking the lights on and toed his shoes off, Iwaizumi wondered if you were out with your friends. Before he could decide whether to call or just message you, a loud sound of glass breaking followed by a thud traveled from your room. He paid no mind to the fact that it took him no more than two seconds to cross the apartment and fling your door open—knocking be damned.

"What the fuck," he muttered at the sight of your sprawled form on the floor, an arm across your face as your favorite mug lay shattered not far away.

As he rushed to kneel beside you, asking if you were okay, if you were hurt, if the tea spilled on your thighs burned you, and berating you for always being a clumsy little shit, the last thing Iwaizumi expected was for you to burst into tears. He froze before he could order you not to move till he'd cleaned up the glass, panic coursing in his veins. His admonishing tone was replaced by the softest voice you'd ever heard falling from his lips as he called your name, now genuinely worried, not only about your physical but mental well-being as well.

What you slurred in between breathless cries was completely lost on him. But he allowed you a few moments to let it all out before shoving the shards away barehanded so you didn't cut your feet and helping you sit up against the bed frame. Heart clenching at the trails of mascara running down your cheeks, he settled next to you. It was several more strangled sobs and hiccups with your head on his shoulder and his hand soothingly stroking your arm before you somewhat quieted down.

Holding your chin, he forced you to look up at him. "Better?"

Nodding, you hid your face in the crook of his neck. You knew behind the collected exterior was a storm of inquiries he was only holding back because he'd never seen you this messed up, and you appreciated his patience.

"Nobody likes me," you whispered after a long pause, but hearing it aloud only prompted another fit of whimpers.

The effect this confession had on him was startling. He had no time to dwell on it, though, and rushed to comfort you: "Of course not, why would you think that?"

"I didn't make any new friends this week. Everyone I tried to talk with ran away after a couple of words. All my classmates have already formed little groups and are inseparable all the time. I just feel so left out."

Iwaizumi sighed, but you carried on before he could say anything, "There's even this cute guy that's been giving me the eye, but when I finally mustered enough courage and walked up to him to ask him out, he gave me some half-assed excuse and left."

At this, Iwaizumi's brows furrowed, and that effect was back at the forefront of his mind. Why did he not like the sound of that? And why now of all times? It had never bothered him before.

Pulling away from him, you held his stare, and he blushed lightly as though he'd been caught red-handed, suddenly hyper-aware of his quickening heartbeat.

"Is there something wrong with me?"

"Huh?"

"You've known me long enough. Hell, you are the only friend I've made after high school. Is there something I should change about myself? Is there something I'm unconsciously doing that scares people away?"

His gaze danced heatedly across your disheveled hair, messy makeup, and puffy eyes before he glanced down and mumbled, "Of course not, dumbass."

"Iwa, you're just being nice. Please, be honest with me. I won't get upset, I—"

"I said there's nothing wrong with you, idiot! You're perfect just the way you are," he cut you off more harshly than intended as he sprang to his feet. Your pout almost tempted him to sit back down and caress your back till you fell asleep in his arms, but he checked himself and said, "Now get your ass up so I can clean up this mess."

Helping you up, he asked you to stay still while he fetched you a pair of slippers. Once they were placed before you, he stood upright, towering over you as you took hold of his wrists for support and slid into them. Holding his breath the entire time your touch was scalding his skin, Iwaizumi only exhaled when you finally let go and thanked him for always being there for you.

With an adorable scowl, he evaded your gaze and mumbled that it was nothing.

"Oh shit, there's mascara on your shirt."

You laughed as he tugged at his collar, looking all goofy as he tried to peek at it while it was still on him, flinching when you reached to tuck it back in place.

"Don't worry, I'll throw it in the washer with my whites later. That way, we're even," you said with a reassuring smile and a wink before leaving to wash your face, unaware that your words had left him with a raging hard-on.

Why was the thought of his shirt mixed with your clothes so sexy all of a sudden?