Song: Earth Angel- Death Cab for Cutie

It's nearly Christmas, and I can't wait until Friday to post these last two chapters. Thank you all so much for reading. I love you guys, especially for sticking it out over this trainwreck of a fic💕

The make up was awkward.

Tobio's parents were still uncomfortable, not knowing how to deal with having a gay son since they'd both been raised in very conservative households.

But they were trying.

His mom had apologized, and his dad had hugged him and reprimanded him for running off. Percy had talked to them in the park afterwards, trying to help nudge them in the right direction. But Kageyama could see that they were both trying.

Even if they'd both been assholes, he knew they'd eventually come around.

Now, everyone was awkward and confused, but at least there wasn't any more screaming involved. The front lawn of Kageyama's dorm building seemed to barely contain both families now.

"We'll call you to figure out what you want to do for summer break," Aoi said after giving her son a final hug. "And to talk about...you know. Everything." She straightened up, returning to her usual confident, commanding demeanor. "It was nice to see you, Tobio."

Shiro was next, looking a little embarrassed. "I hope you decide to come home for break. We've missed having you kids around." They hugged.

Then, Percy tackled his brother in a bear hug that lifted him off of his feet and crushed his stomach. When Percy set him back down, both boys were laughing, tension forgotten. "You better text me, okay? I never hear from you anymore." He gave him a noogie, having to reach up to touch Kageyama's head. He made sure their parents were out of hearing range before he gave Tobio a genuine smile and said, "Don't worry. We're a family, and we'll work through this like we always do."

Next to them, Hinata and Yuna were giving their final goodbyes, too.

"You're going to call me?"

"Yes, momma."

"And you won't forget to keep me updated on Tobio?"

"No, momma."

"And you're still taking your meds and going to therapy?"

"Yes, momma." Hinata sighed into her curly auburn hair, eyes threatening to bubble up with tears even as he was smiling.

His mom pulled away, taking Shouyou's cheeks in both hands and squishing them together. They shared a long look, eyes perfect mirrored images of each other, and she kissed him softly on the forehead.

"I'm so proud of you, Hinata."

They hugged one last time before Yuna walked over to Tobio's parents. "It was... Interesting to meet you both." She stuck out her hand and shook with both parents. It was like an unspoken peace treaty had been signed between both sides.

She thanked Percy for all he'd done, shook his hand, then moved on to Kageyama himself.

The boy went to shake her hand but was stopped by Yuna's outstretched arms. She gave him a look that meant she wouldn't take no for an answer. "Come on, bring it in, Tobio."

He smiled, allowing himself to be enveloped by her welcoming embrace.

"Thank you for everything." He said gently.

They pulled away, Yuna tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I think I should be the one saying that to you."

Tobio was about to ask what she meant, when she nodded to their left.

Back on the grass, Percy and Hinata were chatting casually, both laughing and smiling.

"A year ago, I never would've thought that it was possible to see him smile again." Her eyes shone with a million stories untold. They were the eyes of a mother. She looked back at Tobio, still full of that warm love. "I really do believe that you are the reason, Tobio."

He stood confused, unsure as Yuna looked back at her son across the yard. "The reason for what?"

He watched as she smiled, tears suddenly at the brims of her eyelids. Something fluttered in his chest.

"The reason Hinata chose to live."

Kageyama followed her gaze across the yard. Hinata and Tobio had really come so far since their first meeting.

When they'd first met, Shouyou had been a bubble of energy- an act he'd put up so no one could see how sad he really was. They'd generally ignored each other since they weren't personalities that seemed to fit well together. Then Hinata had quit the club, and Tobio went after him, only to end up saying mean things in a bad attempt to bring Hinata to his senses. Hinata eventually came back during the volleyball match, running away to the park and having a panic attack. Tobio found him, brought him back to his dorm, and they kissed. He'd been able to get Shouyou to open up and tell him the story of his past, about Natsu, and Hinata apologized to the club and asked to come back. Then Tobio brought Hinata to the ice skating rink, where he'd punch his ex-teammate for being an asshole, and both boys ended up confessing their feelings to each other on a bridge. Later, Kageyama and Hinata had sex, and they'd cuddled in public, and they'd made each other better people, and everything was going to be okay.

"He loves you, you know." Yuna was still smiling, a small tear rolling down her face.

"Thank you for giving him his reason to live."

+++

When all goodbyes were finished, both boys were sad to see their families go.

They stood in the yard, waving as both cars drove away. When they both disappeared from view, something dawned on Tobio, and he knew he wanted to be the first one to say it.

He took his boyfriend by both hands and made Hinata look at him. Their eyes met, a collision of golden stars and blue oceans, the sea and the sky.

"I love you, Hinata."

For a moment, Shouyou was silent. His eyes went wide, his lips opened, and suddenly, he was smiling harder than he ever had before as tears bubbled in his eyes.

He threw his arms around Tobio.

Both boys were smiling now, crying onto each other's shoulders in a weird confession. All of those unspoken words passed between them, happy memories flooded in their hearts, and ideas for the future rested on their tongues.

"I love you, too. So god damn much."

In hindsight, both boys would look back on the moment and wonder what the hell the other was thinking since they'd just confessed their love and yet were crying. But in the moment, they knew.

They were crying, not out of sadness- out of joyful exultation.

For the people they'd become, for the people that had helped them along the way: Daichi, Sugawara, Yamaguchi, Kenma, Tsuki, Kuroo, Yuna, Percy: all in their own special ways.

They were crying for everything they'd gained through their relationship, for how their hearts felt ready to burst with love.

They were crying because no matter what happened, they'd met their first love, and that was something special that no one could take away.

They would always have each other.

And as they cried, both boys understood that perfectly.

Nothing would ever compare with those three words that they'd spoken out of pure and utter adoration: in three words as simple as I love you, they were defeating their dragons.

Hinata's depression, Kageyama's doubt; this marked the end of their dragons, and the beginning of their kingdom.