Here's the last part of this mini-series. I can't believe it took me almost two years to finish this lool. But anyways, yeah, here it is.
Thanks so much for reading this short fanfic, everyone. :)

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STEAL YOUR LOVE
Part 5: Newfound Strength

From your neck, Iwaizumi Hajime slowly trailed his kisses down to your chest while his deft fingers worked the buttons of your shirt. Despite not having enough experience, he seemed very sure about what to do next.

You were now inside your bedroom, on the bed, on heat and so eager to touch each other.

Iwaizumi was already half naked, exposing his toned body and muscles, and was in the process of discarding your clothes when you suddenly held his hands in place. He looked at you, frowning as he studied your reaction. "Why? Do you want me to stop?"

You shook your head slowly, your eyes starting to moist with tears as doubt filled you up for a moment. Would Iwaizumi accept you as you are?

"Than what's wrong?" he asked, worriedly this time.

You hugged yourself, not knowing how to express what you were feeling at the moment. "It's just that..."

Iwaizumi stared at you for a second before planting a small kiss against your forehead. "It's okay, you don't have to force yourself. I'll wait until you're ready—"

"No," you interrupted him before he could finish. "That's not it. It's because of this." Hesitantly, you removed your shirt, exposing your upper torso to the frowning man in front of you.

Iwaizumi's eyes widened at the sight of your body, littered with bruises and marks. They weren't that visible though, as they were in the process of healing, but they still stood out because of your pale skin.

There was silence for a while, Iwaizumi just kept on staring at the marks on your body. You couldn't read his expression at all, but you knew he was thinking about something because he wasn't moving an inch.

After about a minute, he reached out to touch one of your bruises and you nearly flinched in pain. He ground his teeth upon noticing your reaction. "Without you telling me, I already know where you got this from."

He didn't wait for you to respond, he pulled you in for another tight, securing embrace. It was as though he already knew what you needed. You needed him—his warmth, his scent, his love.

"I don't care if I'm not your first, [Name]. I don't mind at all. But this—" His grip on you tightened. "This is unforgivable. I can't forgive him for this."

You pushed him away from you, just enough distance for you to stare into his eyes. He looked so mad, yet hurt at the same time—hurt not because Oikawa was your first, but because he could never imagine all the pain you had went through in the hands of that despicable guy.

"I love you, Iwaizumi," you started, caressing his cheek lovingly, "After everything that's happened I won't even be surprised if you feel disgusted with me, because I do. I don't deserve someone like you. I knew that from the very moment you said you loved me, but still I couldn't stop myself from wanting you to be near me."

He quietly listened to you, as if he didn't want you to stop from telling him how you really felt.

"I want to forget about Oikawa and everything that he did to me," you admitted, "I wanna be a person who's worthy of you, Iwaizumi. Because I want to be with you always."

His lips pulled into a gentle smile as he wiped away the tears that had streamed down to your cheeks. "You don't have to do much, [Name]. You just need to love yourself more, as much as I love and respect you."

What he said made you sob like a child. It felt like your chest would burst any moment soon. Iwaizumi had always been the only person there for you. He was always there to make you feel so special, always there to put a smile on your face.

You had been so damn focused on your stupid feelings for Oikawa that you hadn't noticed the person who really treasured you above all else.

"I love you so much, [Name]."

Iwaizumi captured your lips yet again in a gentle kiss that made your heart flutter. He was so sweet you forgot everything but the taste of him. Regrets didn't matter anymore, what mattered was this moment.

Iwaizumi Hajime was all that mattered to you right now.

So you responded to his kisses with equal passion, prompting him to continue what you two had started earlier.

And he did...

You two made love, again and again.

***

The days that followed were different. In a good way.

You started hanging out with your friends, creating happy memories with them and making the most out of your senior year. Of course, they had asked you about Oikawa, for the setter had been gone for weeks now, yet you merely told them you had no idea because you two already broke up.

Honestly it didn't bother you anymore unlike before. You were more concerned now about how to enjoy each and every day at Aobajousai, and of course, with Iwaizumi.

The guy hadn't change at all, if anything, he became more direct about his feelings for you. He would tell you how much he loves you every day and would never fail to make you feel so special in his own way.

"I'll come and get you after I'm done with practice, okay?"

Iwaizumi walked you to the salon upon hearing you talk about getting a hair cut. Suddenly you got so bored with your hair being long so you decided you wanted to try something new.

"Okay," you said, nodding your head.

He smiled then smoothly run his long fingers through your [Hair Color] locks, the fondness evident in his eyes. "I love you. I'm going to miss your hair."

You could see your face in the mirrors becoming a little redder due to his sweet gesture, and you tried your best to act calm as possible. "I love you, too."

Iwaizumi left shortly after bidding goodbye while you sat on the chair and waited for the stylist. You couldn't deny the fact that you were excited about getting a new haircut. It felt like it's been forever since you had actually looked at your own reflection, thinking about what hairstyle suits you. Yeah, well, because for the past few months all you had been doing in front of the mirror was check for new bruises and apply concealer to hide them.

Thirty minutes had passed and you were done. Your hair was a lot shorter now it barely reached your shoulders, but you could say it suits you. Smiling in satisfaction, you thanked the stylist and paid before leaving the establishment.

The sunlight that touched your skin once you stepped outside was warm, and you inhaled deeply as the gentle breeze blew.

That moment felt utterly peaceful. It was perfect.

"[Name]."

Until you heard that familiar voice. You gasped and turned to look at the man standing just a few steps away from you.

"T-Tooru..."

You stood stiff as a board as you stared at the man who had hurt you over and over again. However, you frowned, something was off. He seemed different. He looked different.

He looked lost, and broken, and miserable.

Oikawa inched closer and you were quick to step away from him. It made him stop, looked at you with wide eyes, then spoke, "[Name], we need to talk."

"There's nothing to talk about," you replied, as calmly as possible.

You couldn't explain what you were feeling at the moment, but there's one thing you were sure of: it wasn't love. Far from it.

"Please, [Name]." Oikawa's eyes somehow sparkled in your sight as he pleaded, and it was then that you realized he was crying. He took another step closer and kneeled in front of you—much to your surprise. "I can't live without you. I love you so much."

"Tooru, just stop." You tried to push him away but he clung to you like a little child, sobbing as if he'd lost everything.

"No, please. I'm sorry for all the things I did. I spent every day of my life since then regretting everything I've done to you..." At that point, his voice trailed off. He was breaking, and yet you felt almost nothing about it. "I've been such a jerk. I don't deserve you, [Name]. All this time I know I don't."

Your eyes widened at that, but you didn't say a word and quietly wiped your tears away.

"I'm so sorry. I'm sorry, [Name]." You could hear nothing but regret in his voice. "Please forgive me."

"Tooru, I forgive you." Taking a deep breath, you pushed him away from you then took a couple of steps backwards. "But I'm sorry, I won't let you ruin my life again."

He wasn't able to respond to that, if it was because of surprise or because he ran out of words to say, you didn't know. But he remained on the ground, kneeling, watching you distance yourself from him.

"If you really love me, respect my decision," you continued, "The wounds you gave me are deep, but now that I know how to value and respect myself more than anything, I know it won't take long before they heal completely."

"I'm sorry—"

"I forgive you," you cut him off, giving him a small smile. "I'm stronger now, Tooru. So I'll forgive you, and I'll make sure nobody else can make me question my worth again."

Leaving those words, you turned your back and walked away.

***

You found yourself outside Aobajousei's volleyball gym, waiting for Iwaizumi to come out. He was supposed to come and get you from the salon so you were sure he would be surprised as soon as he sees you there.

And you were right. He was indeed surprised.

"What are you doing here, [Name]?"

You immediately greeted him with a tight hug, as though you hadn't seen each other for a long time. "I have something to tell you."

In details, you told him everything that happened between you and Oikawa earlier. He listened as you speak, all the while frowning. It seemed as though he had a hunch this would happen because he wasn't that surprised anymore.

"Actually, Kunimi told me he saw Oikawa earlier, and that he was asking people about you." He paused for a while, then hummed. "I think someone saw us leave the school together earlier and told him about that."

You nodded your head absentmindedly. You were still puzzled as to how he managed to find you but you figured it didn't really matter. So you responded, "I see."

"Are you okay?" Iwaizumi asked worriedly.

"Yes, I am." You gave him a reassuring smile. "I'm not scared of him anymore."

"That's good." He squeezed your hand, returning your smile. He pulled you closer to him then kissed the top of your head lovingly. "I'll always be here for you, [Name]. I won't let him or anybody else hurt you again."

"Thank you, Iwaizumi."

You weren't scared of Oikawa anymore—or anything anymore. If there's something you were scared of, it's losing yourself again because of loving someone blindly.

Then again, that's impossible.

Because loving Iwaizumi Hajime taught you how to love and respect yourself. It made you realize your true worth—that you deserved more. You deserved all that you wanted.

And that you were a diamond, nothing could ever break you.

***
fin.