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Ichigo just wished Shuhei would say something or at least do something like punching him right in the gut. This deadly silence was somehow far worse than a physical altercation. It was manipulating on the Lieutenant's part and worked wonders in making Ichigo squirm in discomfort. If only Shuhei would stop staring at him with such dead, hollow-looking eyes. The lack of visible emotion made the moment ten times worse because he couldn’t read an ounce of feeling.
Simply said, Hisagi looked statuesque in his anger. It was disarming in the worst of ways.
“...It would be best if you return home.” Hisagi’s voice broke through the unsettling silence to make the hair on the back of Ichigo’s neck stand up. No, they shouldn’t avoid this! Whatever he did, they could fix it, so if Shuhei would just spill the beans and tell him what he did wrong-! Was it for going late to drink with Renji instead of him? Or for making a joke about Hisagi’s bankai?
“Shu-!”
“It’s Hisagi..preferably Lieutenant Hisagi.” The male murmured, his lack of tone being deafening. Clasping his hands behind his back, Shuhei gestured for the male to leave the office. He had better things to do than explain for the millionth time why Ichigo had deserved his anger. The fool didn’t get that Hisagi was getting fed up with his reckless acts. Someday the substitute soul reaper’s luck was going to run out and yet he couldn’t get that through his thick skull.
“You can at least understand how to use manners, correct?” Hisagi bit, finally a ting of frustration vibrating in his words. He felt a tad guilty when Ichigo flinched like he’d been slapped in the face, but luckily for Hisagi’s sanity, the teenager corrected himself and stepped back to give up some space.
“I...I’ll leave you be for now Lieutenant Hisagi, but we will discuss whatever is going on. It’s not healthy to leave this unsettled between us.”
Hisagi’s blood nearly boiled from hearing the response. It was mature yes, so progress but did Ichigo not get it still??? Even if they discussed Hisagi’s issues with Ichigo’s reckless habits, nothing would change. All because what made Ichigo who he was, was rescuing those in need. If no one was depending on Ichigo for his strength, he always lost faith in himself. For someone radiating with confidence, he was quite fragile.
“....Yes.” Hisagi sighed, not adding another word when Ichigo’s eyes scanned over him, as if in search for some hint of something, but finally the substitute soul reaper left him behind to his own thoughts.
“...idiot.” He sighed, rubbing his hands against his face as his exhaustion started to kick in and making itself apparently noticeable.
“I probably am.” A voice cut through the air like a knife making Shuhei stumble back on his heel only to feel a hand cup the back of his head. “Sorry, Shu.” Ichigo had a bad habit of pushing back against commands, and it was showing. He couldn’t resist returning. Ichigo had always been one that always resorted to crazier methods to resolve the issue he faced right away.
“Let me guess, this is because I got hurt? I’m sorry, Shu.” Ichigo’s free hand came up, his fingers brushing back black bangs away from startled, yet still guarded eyes. “I won’t promise that it won’t happen again because I’d be lying. But I promise to try harder to avoid the harm and keep coming back to you.”
“How can you even dare try promising such a thing? You always get caught up in unnecessary battles that aren’t even yours to take on-!” Shuhei hissed, immediately lowering his voice when he heard feet pattering parallel to them, likely Mashiro hurrying down the hall in search of a victim to train her kicks against.
“I can’t really, you’re right. But I mean it Shu. I’m always thinking of how to get back to you.”
Shuhei nearly made a face at the sappiness. “Who helped you come up with that?”
“Eh?” Ichigo blinked only to sheepishly break out into laughter as his fingers stroked absentmindedly Hisagi’s cheek. “Orihime. That obvious, huh?”
“Very.” The corner of Hisagi’s lips curled up slightly. “You should probably stick to your heroic words and dorkiness.”
“Dorkiness? You think I’m dorky?” Ichigo looked generally alarmed but zipped up when his lips were silenced with a faint press of lips.
“Ichigo, I can’t keep doing this. Consistently worrying about you is stressf-”
“Have you ever considered the fact that I feel the same about you? You have a habit of overworking yourself, and I’ve heard rumors you’re overly exerting yourself in missions, like as if you have a death wish. Sound familiar?”
Hisagi’s brows furrowed and he would have looked away, but Ichigo’s fingers moved down to grip his chin and hold their locked eyes in place. “You’re right, I have my things to work on, but the same goes for you Lieutenant Hisagi.” He said the last bit with the title to bring his point home, and it seemed to do the trick from Shuhei’s growing look of displeasure. They both hated being wrong.
“Fine...and enough with the Lieutenant. You’re making me feel old now.” Hisagi groaned, giving up on the argument as he plopped his head down against Kurosaki’s shoulder.
“You asked for it in the first place. Blame yourself~” Ichigo chuckled, looping his arms around that slender waist, tugging the male closer until their chests were completely lined up and touching. “So how about we put this past us and go get something to eat?”
“Food isn’t going to patch this up,”
“There’s a store near my Dad’s clinic that sells pasta with to die for sausage,”
“We can go.”
Ichigo laughed at the quickness of the reply. He’d used one of Shuhei’s favorite foods as bait, and it had worked even better than he had hoped for. “Perfect. Then let’s go Lieutenant Hisagi~”
“Now you’re wearing it out.” Hisagi groaned with no heat as his hand dropped down to grip Ichigo’s as the substitute soul reaper broke out into laughter again and led the way.
Hisagi hated how easily he gave into that radiating smile, and still managed to forgive the same mistakes. They would likely face the same argument again in the near future, but if he just lived in the moment, then he wouldn’t have to fear for Ichigo’s life….at least that’s what he prayed for.