[Log] Byakuya, Renji
Title: SURPRIZE BEARHUG, LOLZ (part 2)
Characters: Byakuya (
gogochan), Renji (
gogodgene)
Timeline: July 8, 2007
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Pictures are worth a thousand words, but Renji's sketches are worth two kisses, a bearhug, and a porcelain snake.
=====
Oh my…
A shiver snaked down Byakuya’s spine in response to Renji’s low moan. If the lawyer was able to get such a reaction from simply playing with his hair…he could only imagine, well…hmm…
Such thoughts began to tickle his fancy, amongst other things…
“Mmm…” was answer enough, though his right hand went immediately to the elastic band that held Renji’s ponytail securely atop his head. He eased out of the kiss, sucking and tugging on the redhead’s eager tongue as he pulled his head back ever…so…slowly. He breathed through his nose, feeling all the more light-headed as he refilled his empty lungs with oxygen.
Byakuya stepped even closer to Renji in order to work the elastic out of his hair without pulling or encouraging any snarls. His body was now flush against Renji’s, to the point where he could feel the younger man’s heart beating in his chest. Byakuya pulled away from Renji’s lips as he fussed with the elastic band, turning his head until his lips and tongue made contact with the redhead’s ear. A hot, pink tongue darted out to tease the very bottom of Renji’s earlobe. The brunette traced his tongue lightly around the outer shell of the roadie’s ear before returning to the fleshy lobe. Another teasing lick was followed by a playful nip.
Then, as the elastic band slid cleanly out of Renji’s hair, Byakuya finally took the sensitive earlobe into his mouth, sucking and nibbling as his hands buried themselves in the thick, crimson curtain of hair.
Renji’s hair felt…amazing… Byakuya’s long fingers combed through it easily. One hand trailed through the scarlet mane from root to tip, while the other hand fisted a soft clump of hair closer to Renji’s scalp.
The billionaire finally ceased teasing and tugging on Renji’s earlobe in order to reclaim hip lips.
“I really like your hair,” he murmured before delving back into the kiss.
Renji knew this had to stop. And soon, unless Byakuya had plans to further this kissing--which the redhead knew he didn't. What the lawyer was doing, though, was heavenly and was certainly causing his stomach to churn in anticipation. Renji could feel heat radiating from his face from the stoic man chose to tease his ear with that sensual tongue, fingers combing through his tresses. The tattooed hauler had to bite his bottom to keep himself from panting or moaning.
Of course, how was Byakuya supposed to know attacking either of those sweet spots was a straight road to getting into his pants? Point was, he didn't. And if he didn't stop, Renji would unwillingly show him. Which was really a no-no, considering their close proximity. Luckily, the ivory teeth and hot muscle finally retreated from the grooves of his ear and focused back on his mouth.
It wasn't that the kiss wasn't hot; no, far from it. He could just control it better.
Renji's arm easily wrapped around the lawyer's waist, keeping their bodies in close contact. His lips sucked on the other's tongue, while his own wet muscle licked at the the man's lips.
"Byakuya..."
When Byakuya heard the desire in Renji’s voice, he realized that one of two things needed to happen. It was either time to ease out of the kiss, or…start disrobing.
As much as he would like to just…keep going, he’d promised himself that he would take things slowly. In his mind, this was their first real kiss. As incredible as it felt, doing anything more would be too much, too soon. Besides, Renji had just apologized for trying to move too fast. While part of him (the very male, very sexually aggressive part) wanted nothing more than to drag the sexy redhead down to the kitchen floor and see what other kinds of moans he could elicit, the cautious and responsible part of him reasoned that such actions were no way to thank Renji for his apology and subsequent behavior.
He kept the kiss going for a moment more, savoring the feel of Renji’s tongue and lips, and marveling once more at how perfectly his willowy body fit against Renji’s larger frame. He combed his fingers through the silky red locks a few more times before snaking his arms under the redhead’s to likewise wrap around his waist.
A playful idea came to mind the moment his hands touched the waistline of Renji’s jeans. As he softened the kiss, his hands dipped even lower, grasping what he could of the redhead’s muscular ass in a reprisal of their adventures in the alleyway. He couldn’t help but smirk the tiniest bit as his hips connected with Renji’s. The smirk quickly gave way to surprise as he encountered the unmistakable evidence of the younger man's…enthusiasm. Of course, it wasn’t as though Byakuya’s body had been completely unresponsive to the kissing, Renji’s soft moan, or their physical proximity. It was a moment of truth for them both, perhaps.
The aloof billionaire wasn’t trying to lead Renji on. A slight flush began to creep up his neck as he gave the redhead’s bottom a final little squeeze. He pulled out of the kiss slowly, but then stepped away nimbly, a bit mortified that his own arousal was so evident.
“So,” Byakuya said, clearing his throat delicately. “Would you care for some…coffee? I was thinking of making some tea for myself…”
Well...shit.
Renji looked down at his current situation, suddenly feeling very embarrassed. Why did he have to go and get all excited? Surely he could've controlled himself a bit more.
What a complete and utter lie. The redhead was probably more into it than Byakuya, which he was only going to admit to himself. Renji looked down to the floor, flush on his face just as apparent as anything that might have happened to his pants in the last couple minutes, and cleared his throat. That was their first real kiss, and it had been really nice, but it currently had both of them acting like two infatuated teenagers.
The redhead turned in his seat, face now staring at the bar instead of the floor.
"Uh, yeah, coffee would be nice." The tattooed hauler placed the bagel he had been eating back into his mouth to prevent him from saying anything more. He was sure that if he didn't keep his mouth in check, he was likely to say something completely inappropriate. Luckily, fate had seen fit to keep him distracted from outside stimuli, as there was a pad of paper and a pen sitting on the bar. Renji immediately grabbed it, starting to doodle on it to keep his focus away from Byakuya's ass--which he was pretty sure he needed to stop staring at.
How pathetic; acting all horny after just one kiss. Had it been so long since his last lay?
Although, once he got into the swing of things, Renji's mind went blank as continued to flesh out a small drawing on the sheet of paper. Too lazy to put his hair back up, he kept it out of his face by leaning on his hand. His fingers kept the strands trapped to one side and his pen seemed to take a life of its own as it moved swiftly across the page.
Thick lines here...cross-hatching there...some shading here... Hmm...
Byakuya was grateful to now have the bar in between himself and Renji. Not because he didn’t want to be close to the beguiling redhead… He just needed to put some space between them in order to…calm down…
“Very well,” he replied, putting a kettle on to boil before fishing the coffee beans out of the freezer and milk out of the fridge. It didn’t occur to him that the young roadie might be looking at his ass. And it was a good thing he didn’t know, since, if Renji could clearly see his ass, he could also see his groin-once Byakuya turned back around. The billionaire’s slim cut trousers weren’t as thick or sturdy as the redhead’s blue jeans, and the sleek material left very little to the imagination.
Thankfully, the horny lawyer was able to busy himself with making coffee. He was still keen on using his espresso maker, though he no longer cared about fussing over a cappuccino. Steaming some milk for café au lait would be distraction enough. He pulled one of his favorite black teas out of the cabinet and used a tea strainer to collect a precise amount. As the espresso machine did it’s thing, grinding the coffee beans, straining the grounds through near-boiling water, and steaming the milk, Byakuya ventured a glance over at Renji.
Renji had kept his hair down, much to Byakuya’s delight, and appeared to be drawing something on the pad of paper he always kept on the bar. The lawyer simply watched his guest for a moment, pleased once again by how comfortable the younger man seemed to be in his home. It was almost as if the brazen redhead belonged in the penthouse. Though, such a thought was quite presumptuous, if not utterly preposterous. It was more like Renji coming to the penthouse for Sunday brunch was a completely normal, or regular, occurrence. Well, at the very least, the brawny young man seemed to have enjoyed the bagels. He had a very healthy appetite; that was for sure.
The thought of Renji’s…appetite…or, rather, the gusto that he put into just about everything, made Byakuya wonder what he’d be like in bed. Though, of course, such thoughts were not conducive to calming his libido…
Byakuya turned his attention back to their respective caffeinated beverages. He poured the hot water over his tea first, so as to let it steep while he finished Renji’s coffee. A double-shot of espresso went into a large mug, followed by a generous helping of steamed milk.
“I hope you like strong coffee,” said the heir, while handing the mug across the bar to his guest. “There are brown and white sugar cubes here in this bowl,” he continued, nudging the small jar of sugar in Renji’s direction. He hadn’t bothered to put out any sugar substitutes, like Equal or Sweet n’ Lo. The tattooed redhead did not seem like a sugar substitute kind of guy…
Byakuya caught a quick glimpse of whatever Renji had been doodling, and was surprised to see that it looked rather…intricate.
“What are you drawing?” he inquired, his stoic monotone doing nothing to belie his actual curiosity.
Once Renji entered "Sketch Mode," not much really got his attention. He tended to ignore the outside world until he was done with his drawing. One time, his buddy's niece even braided his hair and put pink hair clips into it without him even twitching. So, when Byakuya moved swiftly about the kitchen, placing a coffee mug in front of him, and even the sugar, Renji didn't bat an eye. In fact, he even passed the time by singing in his head.
It's a crime you let it
Happen to me
Never mind I let it
Happen to you
I don't mind, forget it
There's nothing to lose
But my mind and all things the things I wanted
Every time I get it, throw it away
It's a sign, I get it
I wanna stay
By the time, I lose it
I'm not afra--
"What are you drawing?"
The redhead jerked up, pen scratching across the page. He was surprised easily, and even a little jumpy when he got his adrenaline going, but, in his defense, he hadn't expected Byakuya to care. After he had settled down, Renji combed the bangs in front of his face away with his fingers, smiling nervously.
"Uh, nothing, really. Was just sketching the fish..." The ex-tattoo artist flipped the paper over. He took the cup into his hands, absentmindedly spooning in sugar as he talked. "Uh, it's not that great. Just got bored and started doodling, ya know? I do that sometimes when I'm nervous or something. Or, when there's nothing to do. I mean, not that I'm bored, cause I'm not, was just doing it while I waiting. And not that it you took a long time to make the drink either, no, of course not." Renji finally took a sip of his coffee, noticing that he had put in too much sugar. Oh great.
"Tastes good." But, not really. Not with all the sugar in it. He'd drink it anyway, because Byakuya made it for him.
Byakuya couldn’t help but smile softly as Renji stumbled over his words. He honestly hadn’t meant to startle his guest; he’d just been curious about the drawing. The lawyer walked back around the bar with his teacup in both hands, and glanced down at Bucephalus-or, rather, “Bucky.” The fish was at the surface of the water, blowing air bubbles, as if he hadn’t a care in the world. The prissy billionaire had to admit that Bucky was a very handsome fish, indeed.
Byakuya tried to glance over at the sketch, but then Renji had flipped the pad of paper over. …Which only served to peak the heir’s curiosity even more. He wanted to reach out and grab the sketch, but…that would just be childish and rude.
He watched as Renji sipped at his coffee and thought that it must taste awfully sweet. The redhead had scooped several large sugar cubes into his cup. Byakuya hadn’t really figured him to have a sweet tooth, but…somehow it made sense.
“Oh good,” Byakuya said in response. He was glad Renji liked the coffee. Tea he could brew with his eyes closed, but he had a tendency to make coffee too strong.
He transferred his tea to his right hand and leaned one elbow on the bar. “Your sketch, Renji…” he said in as encouraging a voice as possible, “May I see it?” He nodded towards the pad of paper and then looked Renji in the eyes.
Renji looked down at the pad of paper and contemplated whether to rip the sheet off or just show the man standing next to him. Usually, he didn't look for other people's approval, but Byakuya was different. The guy obviously had an eye for good art, and Renji didn't know if a silly doodle of a fish would entertain him much. Never mind it was done in pen and there was bound to be more than a couple mistakes...
Biting the inside of his cheek, the redhead handed over the paper hesitantly. Hopefully, Byakuya would just lie to make him feel good.
"Um, it's just a sketch, so it's not really much to look at. Plus, I did it in pen, so, ya know, there's tons of mistakes..."
Byakuya took the pad out of Renji’s hand and slowly turned it over. Then, he just held it for a moment, and cocked his head to look at the drawing from a slightly different angle.
To say he was surprised was an understatement. His quick glance at the sketch had shown it to be rather complex. Though a drawing, or any work of art, could be complex and still lack refinement. And so, what Byakuya wasn’t expecting was for the pen-and-paper rendition of Bucky to be almost photorealistic. The billionaire art collector was…seriously impressed. He looked down at the real fish once more and then back at the sketch. Renji hadn’t been able to capture any of Bucky’s shimmer with a simple, blue ballpoint pen, but he certainly conveyed a sense of fluidity and movement-as if the fish was swimming through the paper.
“Renji…” Byakuya said, his voice soft and mellow, “this is…exceptional. I had no idea you possessed such artistic prowess. Where did you learn how to draw?”
Of course, no sooner had he said that than he thought of his adopted sister and her natural skill with a camera. Renji had more or less the same upbringing as Rukia, and therefore probably didn’t have any more opportunity to cultivate his talent than she did.
“Or, are you self-taught?” he finished smoothly, not wanting Renji to think less of his obvious talent because he hadn’t attended an art school or received formal training.
Renji immediately perked up at the gracious complement Byakuya had given him. He really hadn't thought the man would like it, seeing as his taste was more...refined. He hadn't been able to do much with the pen; he could probably do a much better version in pencils. But, to hear Byakuya say it was "exceptional"...well...he doubted he would stop smiling anytime soon.
"Um, well, when I was a kid, I would always doodle with crayons and stuff. As I got older, I just tried out different things and just started sketching whatever I saw. I would've loved to go to school to learn real art, but, ya know, I'm not exactly the luckiest with money." Renji have a short chuckle.
"Guess I can't be too bad, though, being self-taught, if I got to be a tattoo artist." The redhead blushed a bit, trying to hide his flushed face behind the coffee cup as he went to take another drink.
"Thanks for the compliment, Byakuya. Means a lot to me..."
Byakuya’s eyes softened ever more when Renji made a joke about luck and money. The billionaire was, obviously, just the opposite. To think that the good-natured redhead had wanted to go to art school, but had barely been able to make ends meet… Well, it tugged at something deep within the heir’s cold and bitter heart.
“You’re welcome. And, it’s never too late to explore such a talent,” Byakuya said, sincere attitude lending a certain authority to his voice. “There are several excellent schools in the city that cater to adults looking for part time or continuing education--including SVA, and the Art Students’ League…”
Just then, Byakuya had an idea. He continued speaking to Renji, but strolled over to the lowboy underneath the TV in the breakfast nook. The top shelves served as curio cabinets, and the fastidious lawyer had stored random (expensive) knick-knacks and artifacts there.
“A tattoo artist?” he said in his best lawyer’s voice. He hoped to encourage Renji to keep speaking. “How interesting.” It was interesting. Not that Byakuya knew anything about tattoos, but considering Renji’s own array of ink…it made perfect sense.
“I know nothing of tattoos except that they are permanent and are placed under your skin by way of a vibrating needle,” Byakuya admitted. “Truthfully, until I met you, I never would have put the words ‘tattoo’ and ‘artist’ in the same sentence…”
He shot Renji a wry little smile before kneeling down to look into the curio cabinet. He peered around for a moment before withdrawing a small, porcelain Herend snake. Byakuya had completely forgotten about the snake until just a moment ago. He was intrigued with Renji’s skill, and was curious to see him sketch something else. The porcelain snake--with it’s yellow, hand painted fish scale pattern-seemed just the thing. It even looked a bit like the redhead’s serpentine pet…only much, much smaller.
The quiet heir stood back up and moved briskly back to Renji’s side. “Here.” He placed the Herend snake down in front of Renji and nodded once. “Would you sketch this for me?”
Renji looked at the porcelain snake and quirked an eyebrow. He looked to Byakuya and back to the snake; this would be infinitely easier than the fish. Well, if Byakuya wanted the redhead to draw it for him, then Renji couldn't deny the request. He flipped the page on the pad of paper, immediately setting to work by drawing rough lines of the figurine's shape.
"Not many people think of tattooists as artists. A lot of places don't take the time to do actual works of art; they'd rather just copy from an existing design." The redhead pressed the ballpoint pen harder into the paper, giving the mass of lines an actual shape by darkening the line-art. He worked slowly, trying to keep the lines heavy and dark, but also keeping them steady. "I mean, sometimes that's what you gotta do, whether you want to or not. But, there are people who actually take the time and effort to produce something original. That's what I wanted to be; one of those people." Renji sketched out the fish scale design with care, not wanting to go over it too many times. Thick lines on the design of the snake would make the picture look unbalanced.
"So, when I was 18, I did my research and got an apprenticeship at a little place that accepted nothing less than a portfolio with fifteen original designs. Me, of course, I just went in for the job with a folder full of stuff." Renji laughed. "Not exactly professional. Luckily, the guy who was interviewing me gave me a break. Said if I could organize the pictures into a more respectable looking binder, he'd be willing to let me have the job no problem." The ex-tattooist shaded in the eye, trying to place the same reflection of light in the room onto the paper.
"Next day I go in, shit organized and looking nice, and I suddenly have a job I've been dreaming about. 'Course, you don't exactly get paid a lot to be an apprentice, since you mostly do janitor-type work, but if I could just survive it for a year, then I'd be a real artist. I had to get another part-time job to keep up with bills 'n stuff, but it was worth it. A year later, I had my first customer and it was quite possibly one of the best days of my life." Renji smiled, shading the snake to make it more realistic. He grew quiet for a moment, concentrating on the lighting differences.
"Too bad I got fired." With a few more cross-hatching here and there, and after a good couple of minutes of silence, Renji smiled at the sketch and showed it to Byakuya.
"You like it?"
Byakuya sipped his tea and leaned against the bar. He watched intently as Renji’s pen danced over the paper. The redhead truly was quite talented. Byakuya wouldn’t be able to draw the snake, let alone the complicated pattern. And, once again, Renji had been able to make the drawing look three-dimensional.
As enthralling as it was to watch the snake "come to life," so to speak, Byakuya was even more pleased with the easy manner in which Renji recounted the details of his former career. The pampered, prissy, well-bred heir began to concede that perhaps, just perhaps, tattooing was more than just than battle scars and sordid imagery favored by unsavory men and trashy women. Not that he could ever imagine himself getting a tattoo, but…he could see how there was a certain…artistry…to it.
Byakuya had an affinity for art and artists; otherwise he wouldn’t be working in the music industry. Though, of course, there were very few true artists among the bratty bands and indulgent divas signed to Hougyoku Records… Honest to goodness talent seemed to be quite the rare commodity; which made the roadie’s gift all the more precious.
And certainly made the easy going young man that much more interesting…
When Renji asked, "You like it?", Byakuya didn’t hesitate to answer. “Yes,” he murmured, “Very much so…” Though, as he spoke, he hardly gave the drawing a second glance. In that moment, he only had eyes for Renji.
The overscrupulous lawyer would never be so tactless as to inquire why the young tattooist had been fired. It was quite commendable that Renji had even admitted such a thing. Though Byakuya was a complete stranger to the politics of hiring and firing at tattoo parlors, he did know that Renji was punctual, hard working, and…one of the genuinely nicest people he had ever met. Perhaps the firing had been a fluke, or a simple ego clash and/or turf war. Artists clawing and scratching their way to the spotlight, or stabbing each other the back for a better deal, was part and parcel of the entertainment lawyer’s daily existence.
“So that is why you are currently employed as a roadie?” Byakuya asked rhetorically. “Hmm… It is a shame to waste such obvious talent.” He spoke slowly and carefully, weighing every word to make sure Renji knew he was completely serious. “You should not allow one little bump in the road to deter you from your passion. I cannot imagine there is much outlet for creativity and artistry in the work of a roadie?”
Creativity?
Well, no, not really. If Renji was really so dedicated to his job, he might be able to come up with some excuse as to how the job might be creative. But really, he couldn't think of a single thing. He did his work because it got him a paycheck, plus he kind of liked mingling with all those rock bands. It wasn't like he got bored or anything. How could someone get bored going to rock concerts almost everyday?
It was true, though. He shouldn't have let one occasion of getting fired get to him so much. But it had. It had really hit him hard. Maybe he was being a big baby about all of this and just needed to toughen up. Apply to another place. Surely getting fired from one job wouldn't bar him from ever getting into tattooing again...
Why was it Byakuya, of all people, who would suddenly make him realize this? Probably because no one had ever said more than "oh, that sucks," or "screw them, you don't need that job." He would be sad to leave the Vaizards, but realistically, he wasn't making as much money, and he knew the stoic lawyer was right when he said his talent was being wasted...
Renji couldn't do much but avert his gaze to the floor. It was embarrassing, not really having much of an excuse to be working his job other than "it brings in a paycheck." Instead, his chose to ignore the subject, just shrugging his shoulders as an answer. It wasn't exactly the most polite answer to give, but it was better than nothing at all.
The redhead's attention averted to the Beta, who was currently floating around without a care in the world. He wished he could be like Bucky.
"Sooo, do you like the fish?" A desperate change of subject was needed at the moment, and Renji needed to get out of his funk.
Byakuya knew better than to press the issue. Having been fired was obviously still a very touchy subject. The billionaire glanced down at the sketch of the snake. Again, it was a remarkable depiction. So much raw talent…
As a lawyer, Byakuya knew there were times when you just weren’t going to come out on top; when you just had had to admit defeat. In his life, such instances were few and far between, but… Each experience with failure should make a man stronger, should help prepare him for the next battle. And he hated to think that the brawny redhead was the kind of man who would give up after one defeat.
Well, at any rate, Renji would have to decide for himself what do with his career.
Byakuya turned his attention to his new pet. The beautiful fish was swimming gracefully around his bowl. Such a fine little creature… The plain fishbowl was…adequate, but the pampered heir felt that Bucephalus deserved deluxe accommodations. If there was nothing suitable in the penthouse, then surely he could find a fishbowl-shaped vase from Tiffany’s or Asprey.
The elegant brunette looked away from his elegant Beta and cocked his head slightly.
“Yes, Renji, I do like him. Thank you,” he said in a deep, velvety voice. “He is…quite the fish…”
Maybe it was the sugar-laced coffee that was sure to give a him an all-new low, crashing feeling when the evening hit. Maybe it was the fact that he was really happy that Byakuya hadn't pressed him harder about the whole incident. Maybe it was because Byakuya liked his present so much. Whatever the reason, Renji felt happiness bubble quickly to the surface, which caused a nicely sized grin to break out on his face.
In one swift movement, Byakuya was encircled in his arms, held close to his body in a crushing bearhug.
"Awesome! So glad you like Bucky!" Even after he had proclaimed his delight, Renji was reluctant to let the stoic man go. Eventually he would. ...Well, maybe.
Byakuya began to tense up the moment Renji’s arms encircled him. He couldn’t help it. Other people might take comfort from such a warm-hearted embrace, but the prickly, defensive heir could not handle feeling crushed or trapped. He did not appreciate having his personal space invaded without his expressed consent, and did not like to be coddled or…held.
The pragmatic lawyer realized that Renji meant no harm, of course. He had simply responded with his usual enthusiasm and was expressing a normal degree of happiness and affection.
Byakuya knew all this, and yet…he was stiff as a board and completely unresponsive. The uptight billionaire had his boundaries, and the affable redhead had just crossed them. Byakuya’s jaw was clenched tight, and-try as he might-he could not stop the feelings of ire and antagonism that were stewing in his gut.
He should have been savoring this moment, but all he could think of was physically repelling Renji and rebuking his advances. The financially pampered heir had never been hugged or held much as a child, and, now, such physical attention was threatening as opposed to soothing.
The fact that he couldn’t move his arms or push himself away made it that much worse. And Byakuya would not allow himself to be reduced to squirming. Renji should have recognized how uncomfortable he was and…let go. But no…the big, brawny roadie continued to hold on as if for dear life.
Much more of this, and Byakuya would end up acting and sounding a lot harsher than the situation warranted.
All this fuss over a hug. A hug. A simple, yet sincere, gesture of true affection. Isn’t this what Byakuya wanted? Perhaps… But as with everything else, physical affection and sexual advances had to be on his terms.
And that’s all there was to it…
The controlling Kuchiki took as deep a breath as he could, considering how his lungs were compressed by the roadie’s bulging arm muscles.
“Renji…” he said, slowly and firmly, his deep, authoritative monotone muffled somewhat because one side his face was crushed against Renji’s broad chest. “That is quite enough.”
Something painful and ugly began to twist in Byakuya’s gut the moment he took a step back and began to push against the redhead’s embrace. Having Renji over for brunch had been…absolutely lovely… Not even five minutes ago, the perfectionist brunette hadn’t been able to take his eyes off the red-haired Adonis. And now…he desperately needed to get away from him. Once again, this was not how Byakuya wanted their time together to be.
Were all of their interactions, their (dare he say it?) dates, fated to end this way?
It felt really nice to have Byakuya's body close to his, warmth seeping into him. Actually, it just felt nice to hug the guy. Renji knew that sometimes he got pushy with anything that involved physical contact, but it wasn't like he didn't have good intentions. He was just a touchy-feely person.
Although, once he felt Byakuya stiffen against him like a statue, he knew that the other man didn't seem to like it or was extremely surprised. When Byakuya had told him "that is quite enough," Renji knew the former to be true. He let go abruptly, surprised by Byakuya's tone and how much he seemed to hate it. The redhead scratched his nose as an awkward feeling settled in his gut. ...He always seemed to jump the gun on something whenever they were together.
"Oh... Uh, sorry. Didn't know you don't like to be hugged." Renji laughed nervously. "I just hug a lot of people without thinking about it sometimes..." But then again, he was dating Byakuya, wasn't he? Weren't you supposed to shower the person you were dating with affection? It shouldn't be weird to do such a thing. The redhead cleared his throat, sitting back down on his bar stool, and stared back down at the floor.
Byakuya pursed his lips together and just stood as still as a statue. He didn’t want Renji to apologize, and he certainly didn’t want this…awkwardness. He supposed this was why he never really dated very much. He was used to having authority over people, and he was well versed in dealing with work and business relationships, but interacting with people-like Renji-on a…personal…level was obviously not his forte.
He knew he was making this more difficult and uncomfortable for the both of them, but…that didn’t mean he had any idea how make amends or diffuse the tension. He had to say something in response… But what? There was no way in hell he’d be able to say the truth-that he was never held or hugged much as a child and had grown to be overly protective of his personal space. The prickly perfectionist could barely admit character flaws like that to himself, let alone discuss such personal and private information with someone else. Especially someone he was attracted to. …Someone he was really starting to like. …Someone he hoped to impress. Someone who was now staring at the floor with a very dejected look on his face.
Renji…
Byakuya made an effort to relax his stance so that he didn’t appear quite so stiff. He let his eyes trail over to the fishbowl and again felt the dull knife of…what was that, guilt?...stabbing at his gut.
“It’s fine…” he said, picking up his neglected teacup in an effort to make things seem normal. …As if they were still enjoying their brunch. …As if Byakuya and his walls and boundaries hadn’t just completely ruined the mood.
The reticent heir cleared his throat delicately before continuing. Perhaps there was something he could say to smooth things out; to excuse or explain his negative reaction to the hug… “It’s not you, Renji,” he ventured, “I simply get… claustrophobic…on occasion…” Byakuya glanced over at the redhead and offered him a thin, wan smile that quickly faded into his usual stoic expression. The fussy billionaire did get claustrophobic from time to time-especially in crowds and elevators and such.
“It can really be a burden at times…” he finished, voice lower and softer than usual.
A burden, indeed...
Renji cocked an eyebrow in question, looking at Byakuya as the man did the same. As much as he wanted to just go along with what the lawyer had told him, an unsettling feeling in the pit of his gut couldn't allow him. It was almost as if the excuse had been made up right then and there. The redhead wouldn't have minded so much if the man had just told him the truth; that he didn't like to be hugged. Renji had met people like that. Only a few people, but they were out there.
Byakuya could, of course, be legitimately claustrophobic. But, for some reason, Renji didn't believe it for a second. He just nodded instead, going back to his forgotten coffee. He sipped at the cooling beverage, the sugar overload not so bad anymore.
"Oh yeah... I guess it can." Renji returned his gaze to the porcelain snake on the bar.
Great. He’d obviously said the wrong thing. Maybe he should have apologized as well, or tried to return the affection in some other way. Or, simply conceded that Renji had caught him by surprise. Or…
Damn. There had been such natural, effortless chemistry between them, and now… Now, Byakuya really didn’t know what to do or what to say.
Why was this all so difficult?
The aloof heir was used to keeping people at arm’s length. In contrast, the friendly redhead admitted to showering people with hugs. Was there a way to compromise? Maybe, just maybe, Byakuya could let his near-impenetrable guard down, if-and only if-Renji didn’t hold him quite so tightly.
Perhaps…
In that moment, the icy brunette wished he could be more like the warm-hearted redhead. If only he could throw his arms around Renji, press his body up against those firm muscles, and lean his head against the other man’s strong neck. But, of course, he couldn’t. He could easily initiate the physical interactions that led to various sexual activities, but he was rather inexperienced when it came to the give and take of simple, heartfelt affections.
The introverted lawyer worried that any attempt at bridging the chasm between himself and Renji would only serve to make things worse. “Mmm…” was all he said, choosing to study his teacup as if the answers could be found within.
After a moment, he risked a glance over at the redhead and found the man gazing at the Herend snake.
“It was hand-made and painted in Hungary,” Byakuya said, referring to the small porcelain figurine. “Each piece is a unique work of art…” He couldn’t remember a time he’d felt so anxious about filling an awkward silence.
Renji seemed to like the little yellow and white snake, which the lawyer hoped to use to his advantage. “It rather reminds me of Zabimaru,” he drawled, “only much more docile…” He cocked his head in order to see around the younger man’s curtain of scarlet hair.
“Yes,” he continued slowly, “If you like it, why don’t you take it home with you? We’ll consider it an even exchange for the sketches. You keep the snake, I’ll keep the two ‘Renji originals’…”
Now he was the one babbling. Sort of. It wasn’t as though his deep, languid monotone was all that conducive to babbling. Still, even this negligible amount of ‘chatter’ was highly unlike him…
Renji turned away from his mug in surprise, letting his eyes linger on Byakuya. He glanced back over to the snake, not sure if he could take it or not. It looked and sounded rather expensive. The redhead almost felt like it would be really out of place at his apartment. Although, it was nice, and it did remind him of Zabimaru, and Zabi might like the porcelain animal next to his tank...
"Um, that's really nice, Byakuya. Are you sure you just want me to take that? I mean, it looks expensive... And you said it's unique, so it's gotta be a collectible." Renji allowed a nervous smile. "I mean, Zabi would like it, if I set it next to his tank. And, ya know, I would've let you keep the pictures for nothing. I did draw them for you..."
He was doing it again-being absolutely, irresistibly…Renji. The poised and proper billionaire found it utterly adorable when the sweet redhead gave “Zabi” and “Bucky” anthropomorphic qualities. Byakuya knew very well that snake was attracted to heat and movement. A cold, lifeless figurine wasn’t going to be any more interesting to him than a plain old rock. Realistic as it was, the matter-of-fact lawyer had no intention of expressing such an uncreative viewpoint. Plus, it was much more fun to pretend-or, in Renji’s case, believe--that the pet python would enjoy the company of his Herend look-a-like.
Byakuya’s icy gray eyes began to sparkle in response to Renji’s nervous smile. “I want you to have it…” he said, the depth and timber of his voice making his words seem extra serious. He looked into redhead’s auburn eyes for a moment longer before picking up the small figurine to inspect it closely.
The snake had once belonged to Hisana. She had taken a fancy to the Herend animals and Byakuya had been quick to buy her a large menagerie. The plump little rabbits had always been her favorites. He still had several of them, of course, tucked away in the curio cabinet or wrapped up securely in storage. He had considered giving them to Rukia someday…perhaps… Out of the assortment of porcelain animals, Byakuya had found the snake to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing. Snakes were so often portrayed as dangerous and evil (and after meeting Zabimaru, he could certainly see why…), but the yellow and white pattern made the snake looked almost…cheery. Somehow, it seemed quite fitting that it should now belong to Renji.
He admired the workmanship and artistry that went into the miniature serpent for a moment longer before holding it out for Renji to take. “It would make for quite a conversation piece if you placed it next to or near…Zabi’s…tank.”
Byakuya cocked his head and let his eyes trail subtly over Renji’s features. So handsome and masculine… Add the long, tousled scarlet hair, and Renji was gorgeous. Not to mention incredibly sexy. Byakuya wondered if the good natured roadie had any idea how attractive he truly was…
Renji took the porcelain snake figure and looked at it as if he had been handed the key to the city. It wasn't so much that it was an expensive collectible, it was the fact that Byakuya had given it to him. Although, Renji really just wanted the hug to work out. He'd draw a hundred thousand pictures for the man if he could be a little affectionate. Of course, that was just Renji thinking wistfully; not everyone was as comfortable as him with their personal space being invaded.
In fact, the redhead almost forgot for a moment on how awkward the last couple of minutes had been, wanting to throw his arms around the stoic brunette again. He restrained himself, fortunately, opting for a beaming smile instead.
"Oh wow, thanks! That's really nice of you. I'm sure Zabi will like it. Wish I could afford another pet snake for him to hang out with, but this will do just fine." Renji admired the figure again. "Can't believe I got something so cool for some sketches. You know, I just like to doodle. You don't ever have to give me anything to draw you something." Just a little while ago he didn't even believe Byakuya would think he was any good. It had been quite an ego boost to hear the guy tell him he obviously had talent.
"Um, well, I think I should be going. I'm gonna hang out with a friend later, and I haven't seen him in a while. Oh, but I guess I don't wanna leave until I put this in something. I don't want it to break on the way home..."
Renji was leaving? How…disappointing.
And there was that phrase again: ‘hang out.’ Byakuya wondered if ‘hanging out’ with this friend was at all the same as ‘hanging out’ with him. That thought was immediately followed by a rather ugly pang of jealousy.
“Oh…” he said, brow furrowing just slightly. “Well, I certainly do not want keep you.” Naturally, he was able to mask his disappointment by keeping his voice placid and his features nearly expressionless.
Byakuya was relieved and also quite pleased that Renji so appreciated the Herend snake. The aloof billionaire hoped the impromptu gift was enough to make up for the awkwardness that ensued from the impromptu hug.
He glanced at the delicate figurine in the redhead’s large, calloused hands and then looked deeper into his kitchen. “I’m sure I have something to wrap the snake in…”
After a few moments in the kitchen, Byakuya handed two fluffy dishtowels and a small paper gift bag across the bar to Renji. “Here. This should keep your new objet d’art from incurring any damage on the way home.”
He was dying to know exactly who this friend was and exactly what they were going to do. Of course, Renji didn’t seem the type to callously announce that he was going to spend “quality time” with another man. The redhead had also admitted to liking Byakuya, though he’d been a bit tipsy…and horny…when he’d made that bold statement.
Byakuya paused after coming back around to Renji's side of the bar. "Thank you again the gift," he drawled, "I will endeavor to take excellent care of Bucephalus." He cocked his head slightly and then gestured to the door. "I'll walk you out whenever you're ready."
The redhead slowly wrapped up his new art piece, careful to not accidentally break it or anything. He had bad luck like that, sometimes. When it was safe between the barriers of the dishtowels and secured inside the bag, he started his way over to the door. He'd still have to protect it with his life on the subway, unfortunately. Actually, there probably wasn't one place in Manhattan where he wouldn't have to protect the artifact with his life. Anything could happen, after all...
Once in front of the door, Renji turned to Byakuya and smiled.
"Thanks for inviting me over and giving me the snake. I'll have to try some of that lox stuff when I get the chance. Wouldn't want to eat it in front of your new roommate," Renji finished, pointing over to the new fish. "Sorry I'm kinda leaving so abruptly. Just remembered that I had to meet my friend. Would've loved to stay longer..."
Byakuya couldn’t help but grin when Renji mentioned not eating lox in front of the fish, a.k.a. his ‘new roommate.’
“My pleasure,” he murmured softly, pleased as punch by Renji’s desire to stay longer. Though the redhead’s kind words quickly soothed the sharp stab of jealousy, Byakuya now faced yet another quandary. Their last two get-togethers had ended abruptly and awkwardly. Now, they were lingering at the door, which was sweet…but still awkward in its own way. Should they discuss future plans? Should Byakuya say he’d be the one to call? Would they kiss again? Or was it too soon for that kind of intimate goodbye?
“The best lox I’ve ever had came from a kosher deli in your neighborhood.” A long piece of red hair had fallen in front of Renji’s left eye. It took a good amount of that famous Kuchiki willpower to not reach out and tuck it behind the man’s ear. “I can give you the address, or…” Byakuya tilted his head in order to catch the redhead’s warm gaze. “…Perhaps we can go there together…”
Had he just asked Renji out on a date? To a kosher deli? Not exactly romantic, but…
It was a start.
Renji gave a smirk, tucking his hair behind his ears when he saw Byakuya glance at the falling strands. He probably should've put it back up, but he was too lazy and it felt a lot better to have his hair worn down. Sometimes, those ponytails of his were a bit too tight, but it was all he could do to keep it out of his face while he worked. Sometimes his friends would ask him why he kept the long hair; why not just cut it? He would probably spend less on his water bill every month (he was always in the shower longer than needed because of how long it took to wash his hair).
But Renji liked his long hair, and it was worth it when people, like Byakuya, also liked his hair.
Speaking of Byakuya, the man had just asked him on a date. The redhead was actually quite flattered, no matter where the quiet man wanted to go. He just wanted to be around the lawyer; scenery didn't matter.
"Sounds like fun," Renji said, leaning down to steal a quick kiss from Byakuya. He had let the guy have his way with their other kiss, so a quick smooch wouldn't hurt. "I'll call you."
With a final wave, Renji was out the door.
Characters: Byakuya (
gogochan), Renji (
gogodgene)
Timeline: July 8, 2007
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Pictures are worth a thousand words, but Renji's sketches are worth two kisses, a bearhug, and a porcelain snake.
=====
Oh my…
A shiver snaked down Byakuya’s spine in response to Renji’s low moan. If the lawyer was able to get such a reaction from simply playing with his hair…he could only imagine, well…hmm…
Such thoughts began to tickle his fancy, amongst other things…
“Mmm…” was answer enough, though his right hand went immediately to the elastic band that held Renji’s ponytail securely atop his head. He eased out of the kiss, sucking and tugging on the redhead’s eager tongue as he pulled his head back ever…so…slowly. He breathed through his nose, feeling all the more light-headed as he refilled his empty lungs with oxygen.
Byakuya stepped even closer to Renji in order to work the elastic out of his hair without pulling or encouraging any snarls. His body was now flush against Renji’s, to the point where he could feel the younger man’s heart beating in his chest. Byakuya pulled away from Renji’s lips as he fussed with the elastic band, turning his head until his lips and tongue made contact with the redhead’s ear. A hot, pink tongue darted out to tease the very bottom of Renji’s earlobe. The brunette traced his tongue lightly around the outer shell of the roadie’s ear before returning to the fleshy lobe. Another teasing lick was followed by a playful nip.
Then, as the elastic band slid cleanly out of Renji’s hair, Byakuya finally took the sensitive earlobe into his mouth, sucking and nibbling as his hands buried themselves in the thick, crimson curtain of hair.
Renji’s hair felt…amazing… Byakuya’s long fingers combed through it easily. One hand trailed through the scarlet mane from root to tip, while the other hand fisted a soft clump of hair closer to Renji’s scalp.
The billionaire finally ceased teasing and tugging on Renji’s earlobe in order to reclaim hip lips.
“I really like your hair,” he murmured before delving back into the kiss.
Renji knew this had to stop. And soon, unless Byakuya had plans to further this kissing--which the redhead knew he didn't. What the lawyer was doing, though, was heavenly and was certainly causing his stomach to churn in anticipation. Renji could feel heat radiating from his face from the stoic man chose to tease his ear with that sensual tongue, fingers combing through his tresses. The tattooed hauler had to bite his bottom to keep himself from panting or moaning.
Of course, how was Byakuya supposed to know attacking either of those sweet spots was a straight road to getting into his pants? Point was, he didn't. And if he didn't stop, Renji would unwillingly show him. Which was really a no-no, considering their close proximity. Luckily, the ivory teeth and hot muscle finally retreated from the grooves of his ear and focused back on his mouth.
It wasn't that the kiss wasn't hot; no, far from it. He could just control it better.
Renji's arm easily wrapped around the lawyer's waist, keeping their bodies in close contact. His lips sucked on the other's tongue, while his own wet muscle licked at the the man's lips.
"Byakuya..."
When Byakuya heard the desire in Renji’s voice, he realized that one of two things needed to happen. It was either time to ease out of the kiss, or…start disrobing.
As much as he would like to just…keep going, he’d promised himself that he would take things slowly. In his mind, this was their first real kiss. As incredible as it felt, doing anything more would be too much, too soon. Besides, Renji had just apologized for trying to move too fast. While part of him (the very male, very sexually aggressive part) wanted nothing more than to drag the sexy redhead down to the kitchen floor and see what other kinds of moans he could elicit, the cautious and responsible part of him reasoned that such actions were no way to thank Renji for his apology and subsequent behavior.
He kept the kiss going for a moment more, savoring the feel of Renji’s tongue and lips, and marveling once more at how perfectly his willowy body fit against Renji’s larger frame. He combed his fingers through the silky red locks a few more times before snaking his arms under the redhead’s to likewise wrap around his waist.
A playful idea came to mind the moment his hands touched the waistline of Renji’s jeans. As he softened the kiss, his hands dipped even lower, grasping what he could of the redhead’s muscular ass in a reprisal of their adventures in the alleyway. He couldn’t help but smirk the tiniest bit as his hips connected with Renji’s. The smirk quickly gave way to surprise as he encountered the unmistakable evidence of the younger man's…enthusiasm. Of course, it wasn’t as though Byakuya’s body had been completely unresponsive to the kissing, Renji’s soft moan, or their physical proximity. It was a moment of truth for them both, perhaps.
The aloof billionaire wasn’t trying to lead Renji on. A slight flush began to creep up his neck as he gave the redhead’s bottom a final little squeeze. He pulled out of the kiss slowly, but then stepped away nimbly, a bit mortified that his own arousal was so evident.
“So,” Byakuya said, clearing his throat delicately. “Would you care for some…coffee? I was thinking of making some tea for myself…”
Well...shit.
Renji looked down at his current situation, suddenly feeling very embarrassed. Why did he have to go and get all excited? Surely he could've controlled himself a bit more.
What a complete and utter lie. The redhead was probably more into it than Byakuya, which he was only going to admit to himself. Renji looked down to the floor, flush on his face just as apparent as anything that might have happened to his pants in the last couple minutes, and cleared his throat. That was their first real kiss, and it had been really nice, but it currently had both of them acting like two infatuated teenagers.
The redhead turned in his seat, face now staring at the bar instead of the floor.
"Uh, yeah, coffee would be nice." The tattooed hauler placed the bagel he had been eating back into his mouth to prevent him from saying anything more. He was sure that if he didn't keep his mouth in check, he was likely to say something completely inappropriate. Luckily, fate had seen fit to keep him distracted from outside stimuli, as there was a pad of paper and a pen sitting on the bar. Renji immediately grabbed it, starting to doodle on it to keep his focus away from Byakuya's ass--which he was pretty sure he needed to stop staring at.
How pathetic; acting all horny after just one kiss. Had it been so long since his last lay?
Although, once he got into the swing of things, Renji's mind went blank as continued to flesh out a small drawing on the sheet of paper. Too lazy to put his hair back up, he kept it out of his face by leaning on his hand. His fingers kept the strands trapped to one side and his pen seemed to take a life of its own as it moved swiftly across the page.
Thick lines here...cross-hatching there...some shading here... Hmm...
Byakuya was grateful to now have the bar in between himself and Renji. Not because he didn’t want to be close to the beguiling redhead… He just needed to put some space between them in order to…calm down…
“Very well,” he replied, putting a kettle on to boil before fishing the coffee beans out of the freezer and milk out of the fridge. It didn’t occur to him that the young roadie might be looking at his ass. And it was a good thing he didn’t know, since, if Renji could clearly see his ass, he could also see his groin-once Byakuya turned back around. The billionaire’s slim cut trousers weren’t as thick or sturdy as the redhead’s blue jeans, and the sleek material left very little to the imagination.
Thankfully, the horny lawyer was able to busy himself with making coffee. He was still keen on using his espresso maker, though he no longer cared about fussing over a cappuccino. Steaming some milk for café au lait would be distraction enough. He pulled one of his favorite black teas out of the cabinet and used a tea strainer to collect a precise amount. As the espresso machine did it’s thing, grinding the coffee beans, straining the grounds through near-boiling water, and steaming the milk, Byakuya ventured a glance over at Renji.
Renji had kept his hair down, much to Byakuya’s delight, and appeared to be drawing something on the pad of paper he always kept on the bar. The lawyer simply watched his guest for a moment, pleased once again by how comfortable the younger man seemed to be in his home. It was almost as if the brazen redhead belonged in the penthouse. Though, such a thought was quite presumptuous, if not utterly preposterous. It was more like Renji coming to the penthouse for Sunday brunch was a completely normal, or regular, occurrence. Well, at the very least, the brawny young man seemed to have enjoyed the bagels. He had a very healthy appetite; that was for sure.
The thought of Renji’s…appetite…or, rather, the gusto that he put into just about everything, made Byakuya wonder what he’d be like in bed. Though, of course, such thoughts were not conducive to calming his libido…
Byakuya turned his attention back to their respective caffeinated beverages. He poured the hot water over his tea first, so as to let it steep while he finished Renji’s coffee. A double-shot of espresso went into a large mug, followed by a generous helping of steamed milk.
“I hope you like strong coffee,” said the heir, while handing the mug across the bar to his guest. “There are brown and white sugar cubes here in this bowl,” he continued, nudging the small jar of sugar in Renji’s direction. He hadn’t bothered to put out any sugar substitutes, like Equal or Sweet n’ Lo. The tattooed redhead did not seem like a sugar substitute kind of guy…
Byakuya caught a quick glimpse of whatever Renji had been doodling, and was surprised to see that it looked rather…intricate.
“What are you drawing?” he inquired, his stoic monotone doing nothing to belie his actual curiosity.
Once Renji entered "Sketch Mode," not much really got his attention. He tended to ignore the outside world until he was done with his drawing. One time, his buddy's niece even braided his hair and put pink hair clips into it without him even twitching. So, when Byakuya moved swiftly about the kitchen, placing a coffee mug in front of him, and even the sugar, Renji didn't bat an eye. In fact, he even passed the time by singing in his head.
It's a crime you let it
Happen to me
Never mind I let it
Happen to you
I don't mind, forget it
There's nothing to lose
But my mind and all things the things I wanted
Every time I get it, throw it away
It's a sign, I get it
I wanna stay
By the time, I lose it
I'm not afra--
"What are you drawing?"
The redhead jerked up, pen scratching across the page. He was surprised easily, and even a little jumpy when he got his adrenaline going, but, in his defense, he hadn't expected Byakuya to care. After he had settled down, Renji combed the bangs in front of his face away with his fingers, smiling nervously.
"Uh, nothing, really. Was just sketching the fish..." The ex-tattoo artist flipped the paper over. He took the cup into his hands, absentmindedly spooning in sugar as he talked. "Uh, it's not that great. Just got bored and started doodling, ya know? I do that sometimes when I'm nervous or something. Or, when there's nothing to do. I mean, not that I'm bored, cause I'm not, was just doing it while I waiting. And not that it you took a long time to make the drink either, no, of course not." Renji finally took a sip of his coffee, noticing that he had put in too much sugar. Oh great.
"Tastes good." But, not really. Not with all the sugar in it. He'd drink it anyway, because Byakuya made it for him.
Byakuya couldn’t help but smile softly as Renji stumbled over his words. He honestly hadn’t meant to startle his guest; he’d just been curious about the drawing. The lawyer walked back around the bar with his teacup in both hands, and glanced down at Bucephalus-or, rather, “Bucky.” The fish was at the surface of the water, blowing air bubbles, as if he hadn’t a care in the world. The prissy billionaire had to admit that Bucky was a very handsome fish, indeed.
Byakuya tried to glance over at the sketch, but then Renji had flipped the pad of paper over. …Which only served to peak the heir’s curiosity even more. He wanted to reach out and grab the sketch, but…that would just be childish and rude.
He watched as Renji sipped at his coffee and thought that it must taste awfully sweet. The redhead had scooped several large sugar cubes into his cup. Byakuya hadn’t really figured him to have a sweet tooth, but…somehow it made sense.
“Oh good,” Byakuya said in response. He was glad Renji liked the coffee. Tea he could brew with his eyes closed, but he had a tendency to make coffee too strong.
He transferred his tea to his right hand and leaned one elbow on the bar. “Your sketch, Renji…” he said in as encouraging a voice as possible, “May I see it?” He nodded towards the pad of paper and then looked Renji in the eyes.
Renji looked down at the pad of paper and contemplated whether to rip the sheet off or just show the man standing next to him. Usually, he didn't look for other people's approval, but Byakuya was different. The guy obviously had an eye for good art, and Renji didn't know if a silly doodle of a fish would entertain him much. Never mind it was done in pen and there was bound to be more than a couple mistakes...
Biting the inside of his cheek, the redhead handed over the paper hesitantly. Hopefully, Byakuya would just lie to make him feel good.
"Um, it's just a sketch, so it's not really much to look at. Plus, I did it in pen, so, ya know, there's tons of mistakes..."
Byakuya took the pad out of Renji’s hand and slowly turned it over. Then, he just held it for a moment, and cocked his head to look at the drawing from a slightly different angle.
To say he was surprised was an understatement. His quick glance at the sketch had shown it to be rather complex. Though a drawing, or any work of art, could be complex and still lack refinement. And so, what Byakuya wasn’t expecting was for the pen-and-paper rendition of Bucky to be almost photorealistic. The billionaire art collector was…seriously impressed. He looked down at the real fish once more and then back at the sketch. Renji hadn’t been able to capture any of Bucky’s shimmer with a simple, blue ballpoint pen, but he certainly conveyed a sense of fluidity and movement-as if the fish was swimming through the paper.
“Renji…” Byakuya said, his voice soft and mellow, “this is…exceptional. I had no idea you possessed such artistic prowess. Where did you learn how to draw?”
Of course, no sooner had he said that than he thought of his adopted sister and her natural skill with a camera. Renji had more or less the same upbringing as Rukia, and therefore probably didn’t have any more opportunity to cultivate his talent than she did.
“Or, are you self-taught?” he finished smoothly, not wanting Renji to think less of his obvious talent because he hadn’t attended an art school or received formal training.
Renji immediately perked up at the gracious complement Byakuya had given him. He really hadn't thought the man would like it, seeing as his taste was more...refined. He hadn't been able to do much with the pen; he could probably do a much better version in pencils. But, to hear Byakuya say it was "exceptional"...well...he doubted he would stop smiling anytime soon.
"Um, well, when I was a kid, I would always doodle with crayons and stuff. As I got older, I just tried out different things and just started sketching whatever I saw. I would've loved to go to school to learn real art, but, ya know, I'm not exactly the luckiest with money." Renji have a short chuckle.
"Guess I can't be too bad, though, being self-taught, if I got to be a tattoo artist." The redhead blushed a bit, trying to hide his flushed face behind the coffee cup as he went to take another drink.
"Thanks for the compliment, Byakuya. Means a lot to me..."
Byakuya’s eyes softened ever more when Renji made a joke about luck and money. The billionaire was, obviously, just the opposite. To think that the good-natured redhead had wanted to go to art school, but had barely been able to make ends meet… Well, it tugged at something deep within the heir’s cold and bitter heart.
“You’re welcome. And, it’s never too late to explore such a talent,” Byakuya said, sincere attitude lending a certain authority to his voice. “There are several excellent schools in the city that cater to adults looking for part time or continuing education--including SVA, and the Art Students’ League…”
Just then, Byakuya had an idea. He continued speaking to Renji, but strolled over to the lowboy underneath the TV in the breakfast nook. The top shelves served as curio cabinets, and the fastidious lawyer had stored random (expensive) knick-knacks and artifacts there.
“A tattoo artist?” he said in his best lawyer’s voice. He hoped to encourage Renji to keep speaking. “How interesting.” It was interesting. Not that Byakuya knew anything about tattoos, but considering Renji’s own array of ink…it made perfect sense.
“I know nothing of tattoos except that they are permanent and are placed under your skin by way of a vibrating needle,” Byakuya admitted. “Truthfully, until I met you, I never would have put the words ‘tattoo’ and ‘artist’ in the same sentence…”
He shot Renji a wry little smile before kneeling down to look into the curio cabinet. He peered around for a moment before withdrawing a small, porcelain Herend snake. Byakuya had completely forgotten about the snake until just a moment ago. He was intrigued with Renji’s skill, and was curious to see him sketch something else. The porcelain snake--with it’s yellow, hand painted fish scale pattern-seemed just the thing. It even looked a bit like the redhead’s serpentine pet…only much, much smaller.
The quiet heir stood back up and moved briskly back to Renji’s side. “Here.” He placed the Herend snake down in front of Renji and nodded once. “Would you sketch this for me?”
Renji looked at the porcelain snake and quirked an eyebrow. He looked to Byakuya and back to the snake; this would be infinitely easier than the fish. Well, if Byakuya wanted the redhead to draw it for him, then Renji couldn't deny the request. He flipped the page on the pad of paper, immediately setting to work by drawing rough lines of the figurine's shape.
"Not many people think of tattooists as artists. A lot of places don't take the time to do actual works of art; they'd rather just copy from an existing design." The redhead pressed the ballpoint pen harder into the paper, giving the mass of lines an actual shape by darkening the line-art. He worked slowly, trying to keep the lines heavy and dark, but also keeping them steady. "I mean, sometimes that's what you gotta do, whether you want to or not. But, there are people who actually take the time and effort to produce something original. That's what I wanted to be; one of those people." Renji sketched out the fish scale design with care, not wanting to go over it too many times. Thick lines on the design of the snake would make the picture look unbalanced.
"So, when I was 18, I did my research and got an apprenticeship at a little place that accepted nothing less than a portfolio with fifteen original designs. Me, of course, I just went in for the job with a folder full of stuff." Renji laughed. "Not exactly professional. Luckily, the guy who was interviewing me gave me a break. Said if I could organize the pictures into a more respectable looking binder, he'd be willing to let me have the job no problem." The ex-tattooist shaded in the eye, trying to place the same reflection of light in the room onto the paper.
"Next day I go in, shit organized and looking nice, and I suddenly have a job I've been dreaming about. 'Course, you don't exactly get paid a lot to be an apprentice, since you mostly do janitor-type work, but if I could just survive it for a year, then I'd be a real artist. I had to get another part-time job to keep up with bills 'n stuff, but it was worth it. A year later, I had my first customer and it was quite possibly one of the best days of my life." Renji smiled, shading the snake to make it more realistic. He grew quiet for a moment, concentrating on the lighting differences.
"Too bad I got fired." With a few more cross-hatching here and there, and after a good couple of minutes of silence, Renji smiled at the sketch and showed it to Byakuya.
"You like it?"
Byakuya sipped his tea and leaned against the bar. He watched intently as Renji’s pen danced over the paper. The redhead truly was quite talented. Byakuya wouldn’t be able to draw the snake, let alone the complicated pattern. And, once again, Renji had been able to make the drawing look three-dimensional.
As enthralling as it was to watch the snake "come to life," so to speak, Byakuya was even more pleased with the easy manner in which Renji recounted the details of his former career. The pampered, prissy, well-bred heir began to concede that perhaps, just perhaps, tattooing was more than just than battle scars and sordid imagery favored by unsavory men and trashy women. Not that he could ever imagine himself getting a tattoo, but…he could see how there was a certain…artistry…to it.
Byakuya had an affinity for art and artists; otherwise he wouldn’t be working in the music industry. Though, of course, there were very few true artists among the bratty bands and indulgent divas signed to Hougyoku Records… Honest to goodness talent seemed to be quite the rare commodity; which made the roadie’s gift all the more precious.
And certainly made the easy going young man that much more interesting…
When Renji asked, "You like it?", Byakuya didn’t hesitate to answer. “Yes,” he murmured, “Very much so…” Though, as he spoke, he hardly gave the drawing a second glance. In that moment, he only had eyes for Renji.
The overscrupulous lawyer would never be so tactless as to inquire why the young tattooist had been fired. It was quite commendable that Renji had even admitted such a thing. Though Byakuya was a complete stranger to the politics of hiring and firing at tattoo parlors, he did know that Renji was punctual, hard working, and…one of the genuinely nicest people he had ever met. Perhaps the firing had been a fluke, or a simple ego clash and/or turf war. Artists clawing and scratching their way to the spotlight, or stabbing each other the back for a better deal, was part and parcel of the entertainment lawyer’s daily existence.
“So that is why you are currently employed as a roadie?” Byakuya asked rhetorically. “Hmm… It is a shame to waste such obvious talent.” He spoke slowly and carefully, weighing every word to make sure Renji knew he was completely serious. “You should not allow one little bump in the road to deter you from your passion. I cannot imagine there is much outlet for creativity and artistry in the work of a roadie?”
Creativity?
Well, no, not really. If Renji was really so dedicated to his job, he might be able to come up with some excuse as to how the job might be creative. But really, he couldn't think of a single thing. He did his work because it got him a paycheck, plus he kind of liked mingling with all those rock bands. It wasn't like he got bored or anything. How could someone get bored going to rock concerts almost everyday?
It was true, though. He shouldn't have let one occasion of getting fired get to him so much. But it had. It had really hit him hard. Maybe he was being a big baby about all of this and just needed to toughen up. Apply to another place. Surely getting fired from one job wouldn't bar him from ever getting into tattooing again...
Why was it Byakuya, of all people, who would suddenly make him realize this? Probably because no one had ever said more than "oh, that sucks," or "screw them, you don't need that job." He would be sad to leave the Vaizards, but realistically, he wasn't making as much money, and he knew the stoic lawyer was right when he said his talent was being wasted...
Renji couldn't do much but avert his gaze to the floor. It was embarrassing, not really having much of an excuse to be working his job other than "it brings in a paycheck." Instead, his chose to ignore the subject, just shrugging his shoulders as an answer. It wasn't exactly the most polite answer to give, but it was better than nothing at all.
The redhead's attention averted to the Beta, who was currently floating around without a care in the world. He wished he could be like Bucky.
"Sooo, do you like the fish?" A desperate change of subject was needed at the moment, and Renji needed to get out of his funk.
Byakuya knew better than to press the issue. Having been fired was obviously still a very touchy subject. The billionaire glanced down at the sketch of the snake. Again, it was a remarkable depiction. So much raw talent…
As a lawyer, Byakuya knew there were times when you just weren’t going to come out on top; when you just had had to admit defeat. In his life, such instances were few and far between, but… Each experience with failure should make a man stronger, should help prepare him for the next battle. And he hated to think that the brawny redhead was the kind of man who would give up after one defeat.
Well, at any rate, Renji would have to decide for himself what do with his career.
Byakuya turned his attention to his new pet. The beautiful fish was swimming gracefully around his bowl. Such a fine little creature… The plain fishbowl was…adequate, but the pampered heir felt that Bucephalus deserved deluxe accommodations. If there was nothing suitable in the penthouse, then surely he could find a fishbowl-shaped vase from Tiffany’s or Asprey.
The elegant brunette looked away from his elegant Beta and cocked his head slightly.
“Yes, Renji, I do like him. Thank you,” he said in a deep, velvety voice. “He is…quite the fish…”
Maybe it was the sugar-laced coffee that was sure to give a him an all-new low, crashing feeling when the evening hit. Maybe it was the fact that he was really happy that Byakuya hadn't pressed him harder about the whole incident. Maybe it was because Byakuya liked his present so much. Whatever the reason, Renji felt happiness bubble quickly to the surface, which caused a nicely sized grin to break out on his face.
In one swift movement, Byakuya was encircled in his arms, held close to his body in a crushing bearhug.
"Awesome! So glad you like Bucky!" Even after he had proclaimed his delight, Renji was reluctant to let the stoic man go. Eventually he would. ...Well, maybe.
Byakuya began to tense up the moment Renji’s arms encircled him. He couldn’t help it. Other people might take comfort from such a warm-hearted embrace, but the prickly, defensive heir could not handle feeling crushed or trapped. He did not appreciate having his personal space invaded without his expressed consent, and did not like to be coddled or…held.
The pragmatic lawyer realized that Renji meant no harm, of course. He had simply responded with his usual enthusiasm and was expressing a normal degree of happiness and affection.
Byakuya knew all this, and yet…he was stiff as a board and completely unresponsive. The uptight billionaire had his boundaries, and the affable redhead had just crossed them. Byakuya’s jaw was clenched tight, and-try as he might-he could not stop the feelings of ire and antagonism that were stewing in his gut.
He should have been savoring this moment, but all he could think of was physically repelling Renji and rebuking his advances. The financially pampered heir had never been hugged or held much as a child, and, now, such physical attention was threatening as opposed to soothing.
The fact that he couldn’t move his arms or push himself away made it that much worse. And Byakuya would not allow himself to be reduced to squirming. Renji should have recognized how uncomfortable he was and…let go. But no…the big, brawny roadie continued to hold on as if for dear life.
Much more of this, and Byakuya would end up acting and sounding a lot harsher than the situation warranted.
All this fuss over a hug. A hug. A simple, yet sincere, gesture of true affection. Isn’t this what Byakuya wanted? Perhaps… But as with everything else, physical affection and sexual advances had to be on his terms.
And that’s all there was to it…
The controlling Kuchiki took as deep a breath as he could, considering how his lungs were compressed by the roadie’s bulging arm muscles.
“Renji…” he said, slowly and firmly, his deep, authoritative monotone muffled somewhat because one side his face was crushed against Renji’s broad chest. “That is quite enough.”
Something painful and ugly began to twist in Byakuya’s gut the moment he took a step back and began to push against the redhead’s embrace. Having Renji over for brunch had been…absolutely lovely… Not even five minutes ago, the perfectionist brunette hadn’t been able to take his eyes off the red-haired Adonis. And now…he desperately needed to get away from him. Once again, this was not how Byakuya wanted their time together to be.
Were all of their interactions, their (dare he say it?) dates, fated to end this way?
It felt really nice to have Byakuya's body close to his, warmth seeping into him. Actually, it just felt nice to hug the guy. Renji knew that sometimes he got pushy with anything that involved physical contact, but it wasn't like he didn't have good intentions. He was just a touchy-feely person.
Although, once he felt Byakuya stiffen against him like a statue, he knew that the other man didn't seem to like it or was extremely surprised. When Byakuya had told him "that is quite enough," Renji knew the former to be true. He let go abruptly, surprised by Byakuya's tone and how much he seemed to hate it. The redhead scratched his nose as an awkward feeling settled in his gut. ...He always seemed to jump the gun on something whenever they were together.
"Oh... Uh, sorry. Didn't know you don't like to be hugged." Renji laughed nervously. "I just hug a lot of people without thinking about it sometimes..." But then again, he was dating Byakuya, wasn't he? Weren't you supposed to shower the person you were dating with affection? It shouldn't be weird to do such a thing. The redhead cleared his throat, sitting back down on his bar stool, and stared back down at the floor.
Byakuya pursed his lips together and just stood as still as a statue. He didn’t want Renji to apologize, and he certainly didn’t want this…awkwardness. He supposed this was why he never really dated very much. He was used to having authority over people, and he was well versed in dealing with work and business relationships, but interacting with people-like Renji-on a…personal…level was obviously not his forte.
He knew he was making this more difficult and uncomfortable for the both of them, but…that didn’t mean he had any idea how make amends or diffuse the tension. He had to say something in response… But what? There was no way in hell he’d be able to say the truth-that he was never held or hugged much as a child and had grown to be overly protective of his personal space. The prickly perfectionist could barely admit character flaws like that to himself, let alone discuss such personal and private information with someone else. Especially someone he was attracted to. …Someone he was really starting to like. …Someone he hoped to impress. Someone who was now staring at the floor with a very dejected look on his face.
Renji…
Byakuya made an effort to relax his stance so that he didn’t appear quite so stiff. He let his eyes trail over to the fishbowl and again felt the dull knife of…what was that, guilt?...stabbing at his gut.
“It’s fine…” he said, picking up his neglected teacup in an effort to make things seem normal. …As if they were still enjoying their brunch. …As if Byakuya and his walls and boundaries hadn’t just completely ruined the mood.
The reticent heir cleared his throat delicately before continuing. Perhaps there was something he could say to smooth things out; to excuse or explain his negative reaction to the hug… “It’s not you, Renji,” he ventured, “I simply get… claustrophobic…on occasion…” Byakuya glanced over at the redhead and offered him a thin, wan smile that quickly faded into his usual stoic expression. The fussy billionaire did get claustrophobic from time to time-especially in crowds and elevators and such.
“It can really be a burden at times…” he finished, voice lower and softer than usual.
A burden, indeed...
Renji cocked an eyebrow in question, looking at Byakuya as the man did the same. As much as he wanted to just go along with what the lawyer had told him, an unsettling feeling in the pit of his gut couldn't allow him. It was almost as if the excuse had been made up right then and there. The redhead wouldn't have minded so much if the man had just told him the truth; that he didn't like to be hugged. Renji had met people like that. Only a few people, but they were out there.
Byakuya could, of course, be legitimately claustrophobic. But, for some reason, Renji didn't believe it for a second. He just nodded instead, going back to his forgotten coffee. He sipped at the cooling beverage, the sugar overload not so bad anymore.
"Oh yeah... I guess it can." Renji returned his gaze to the porcelain snake on the bar.
Great. He’d obviously said the wrong thing. Maybe he should have apologized as well, or tried to return the affection in some other way. Or, simply conceded that Renji had caught him by surprise. Or…
Damn. There had been such natural, effortless chemistry between them, and now… Now, Byakuya really didn’t know what to do or what to say.
Why was this all so difficult?
The aloof heir was used to keeping people at arm’s length. In contrast, the friendly redhead admitted to showering people with hugs. Was there a way to compromise? Maybe, just maybe, Byakuya could let his near-impenetrable guard down, if-and only if-Renji didn’t hold him quite so tightly.
Perhaps…
In that moment, the icy brunette wished he could be more like the warm-hearted redhead. If only he could throw his arms around Renji, press his body up against those firm muscles, and lean his head against the other man’s strong neck. But, of course, he couldn’t. He could easily initiate the physical interactions that led to various sexual activities, but he was rather inexperienced when it came to the give and take of simple, heartfelt affections.
The introverted lawyer worried that any attempt at bridging the chasm between himself and Renji would only serve to make things worse. “Mmm…” was all he said, choosing to study his teacup as if the answers could be found within.
After a moment, he risked a glance over at the redhead and found the man gazing at the Herend snake.
“It was hand-made and painted in Hungary,” Byakuya said, referring to the small porcelain figurine. “Each piece is a unique work of art…” He couldn’t remember a time he’d felt so anxious about filling an awkward silence.
Renji seemed to like the little yellow and white snake, which the lawyer hoped to use to his advantage. “It rather reminds me of Zabimaru,” he drawled, “only much more docile…” He cocked his head in order to see around the younger man’s curtain of scarlet hair.
“Yes,” he continued slowly, “If you like it, why don’t you take it home with you? We’ll consider it an even exchange for the sketches. You keep the snake, I’ll keep the two ‘Renji originals’…”
Now he was the one babbling. Sort of. It wasn’t as though his deep, languid monotone was all that conducive to babbling. Still, even this negligible amount of ‘chatter’ was highly unlike him…
Renji turned away from his mug in surprise, letting his eyes linger on Byakuya. He glanced back over to the snake, not sure if he could take it or not. It looked and sounded rather expensive. The redhead almost felt like it would be really out of place at his apartment. Although, it was nice, and it did remind him of Zabimaru, and Zabi might like the porcelain animal next to his tank...
"Um, that's really nice, Byakuya. Are you sure you just want me to take that? I mean, it looks expensive... And you said it's unique, so it's gotta be a collectible." Renji allowed a nervous smile. "I mean, Zabi would like it, if I set it next to his tank. And, ya know, I would've let you keep the pictures for nothing. I did draw them for you..."
He was doing it again-being absolutely, irresistibly…Renji. The poised and proper billionaire found it utterly adorable when the sweet redhead gave “Zabi” and “Bucky” anthropomorphic qualities. Byakuya knew very well that snake was attracted to heat and movement. A cold, lifeless figurine wasn’t going to be any more interesting to him than a plain old rock. Realistic as it was, the matter-of-fact lawyer had no intention of expressing such an uncreative viewpoint. Plus, it was much more fun to pretend-or, in Renji’s case, believe--that the pet python would enjoy the company of his Herend look-a-like.
Byakuya’s icy gray eyes began to sparkle in response to Renji’s nervous smile. “I want you to have it…” he said, the depth and timber of his voice making his words seem extra serious. He looked into redhead’s auburn eyes for a moment longer before picking up the small figurine to inspect it closely.
The snake had once belonged to Hisana. She had taken a fancy to the Herend animals and Byakuya had been quick to buy her a large menagerie. The plump little rabbits had always been her favorites. He still had several of them, of course, tucked away in the curio cabinet or wrapped up securely in storage. He had considered giving them to Rukia someday…perhaps… Out of the assortment of porcelain animals, Byakuya had found the snake to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing. Snakes were so often portrayed as dangerous and evil (and after meeting Zabimaru, he could certainly see why…), but the yellow and white pattern made the snake looked almost…cheery. Somehow, it seemed quite fitting that it should now belong to Renji.
He admired the workmanship and artistry that went into the miniature serpent for a moment longer before holding it out for Renji to take. “It would make for quite a conversation piece if you placed it next to or near…Zabi’s…tank.”
Byakuya cocked his head and let his eyes trail subtly over Renji’s features. So handsome and masculine… Add the long, tousled scarlet hair, and Renji was gorgeous. Not to mention incredibly sexy. Byakuya wondered if the good natured roadie had any idea how attractive he truly was…
Renji took the porcelain snake figure and looked at it as if he had been handed the key to the city. It wasn't so much that it was an expensive collectible, it was the fact that Byakuya had given it to him. Although, Renji really just wanted the hug to work out. He'd draw a hundred thousand pictures for the man if he could be a little affectionate. Of course, that was just Renji thinking wistfully; not everyone was as comfortable as him with their personal space being invaded.
In fact, the redhead almost forgot for a moment on how awkward the last couple of minutes had been, wanting to throw his arms around the stoic brunette again. He restrained himself, fortunately, opting for a beaming smile instead.
"Oh wow, thanks! That's really nice of you. I'm sure Zabi will like it. Wish I could afford another pet snake for him to hang out with, but this will do just fine." Renji admired the figure again. "Can't believe I got something so cool for some sketches. You know, I just like to doodle. You don't ever have to give me anything to draw you something." Just a little while ago he didn't even believe Byakuya would think he was any good. It had been quite an ego boost to hear the guy tell him he obviously had talent.
"Um, well, I think I should be going. I'm gonna hang out with a friend later, and I haven't seen him in a while. Oh, but I guess I don't wanna leave until I put this in something. I don't want it to break on the way home..."
Renji was leaving? How…disappointing.
And there was that phrase again: ‘hang out.’ Byakuya wondered if ‘hanging out’ with this friend was at all the same as ‘hanging out’ with him. That thought was immediately followed by a rather ugly pang of jealousy.
“Oh…” he said, brow furrowing just slightly. “Well, I certainly do not want keep you.” Naturally, he was able to mask his disappointment by keeping his voice placid and his features nearly expressionless.
Byakuya was relieved and also quite pleased that Renji so appreciated the Herend snake. The aloof billionaire hoped the impromptu gift was enough to make up for the awkwardness that ensued from the impromptu hug.
He glanced at the delicate figurine in the redhead’s large, calloused hands and then looked deeper into his kitchen. “I’m sure I have something to wrap the snake in…”
After a few moments in the kitchen, Byakuya handed two fluffy dishtowels and a small paper gift bag across the bar to Renji. “Here. This should keep your new objet d’art from incurring any damage on the way home.”
He was dying to know exactly who this friend was and exactly what they were going to do. Of course, Renji didn’t seem the type to callously announce that he was going to spend “quality time” with another man. The redhead had also admitted to liking Byakuya, though he’d been a bit tipsy…and horny…when he’d made that bold statement.
Byakuya paused after coming back around to Renji's side of the bar. "Thank you again the gift," he drawled, "I will endeavor to take excellent care of Bucephalus." He cocked his head slightly and then gestured to the door. "I'll walk you out whenever you're ready."
The redhead slowly wrapped up his new art piece, careful to not accidentally break it or anything. He had bad luck like that, sometimes. When it was safe between the barriers of the dishtowels and secured inside the bag, he started his way over to the door. He'd still have to protect it with his life on the subway, unfortunately. Actually, there probably wasn't one place in Manhattan where he wouldn't have to protect the artifact with his life. Anything could happen, after all...
Once in front of the door, Renji turned to Byakuya and smiled.
"Thanks for inviting me over and giving me the snake. I'll have to try some of that lox stuff when I get the chance. Wouldn't want to eat it in front of your new roommate," Renji finished, pointing over to the new fish. "Sorry I'm kinda leaving so abruptly. Just remembered that I had to meet my friend. Would've loved to stay longer..."
Byakuya couldn’t help but grin when Renji mentioned not eating lox in front of the fish, a.k.a. his ‘new roommate.’
“My pleasure,” he murmured softly, pleased as punch by Renji’s desire to stay longer. Though the redhead’s kind words quickly soothed the sharp stab of jealousy, Byakuya now faced yet another quandary. Their last two get-togethers had ended abruptly and awkwardly. Now, they were lingering at the door, which was sweet…but still awkward in its own way. Should they discuss future plans? Should Byakuya say he’d be the one to call? Would they kiss again? Or was it too soon for that kind of intimate goodbye?
“The best lox I’ve ever had came from a kosher deli in your neighborhood.” A long piece of red hair had fallen in front of Renji’s left eye. It took a good amount of that famous Kuchiki willpower to not reach out and tuck it behind the man’s ear. “I can give you the address, or…” Byakuya tilted his head in order to catch the redhead’s warm gaze. “…Perhaps we can go there together…”
Had he just asked Renji out on a date? To a kosher deli? Not exactly romantic, but…
It was a start.
Renji gave a smirk, tucking his hair behind his ears when he saw Byakuya glance at the falling strands. He probably should've put it back up, but he was too lazy and it felt a lot better to have his hair worn down. Sometimes, those ponytails of his were a bit too tight, but it was all he could do to keep it out of his face while he worked. Sometimes his friends would ask him why he kept the long hair; why not just cut it? He would probably spend less on his water bill every month (he was always in the shower longer than needed because of how long it took to wash his hair).
But Renji liked his long hair, and it was worth it when people, like Byakuya, also liked his hair.
Speaking of Byakuya, the man had just asked him on a date. The redhead was actually quite flattered, no matter where the quiet man wanted to go. He just wanted to be around the lawyer; scenery didn't matter.
"Sounds like fun," Renji said, leaning down to steal a quick kiss from Byakuya. He had let the guy have his way with their other kiss, so a quick smooch wouldn't hurt. "I'll call you."
With a final wave, Renji was out the door.