Call Of The Thunder (Chapter 2)
Ichigo woke to the sound of soft humming, a cool hand gently stroking his hair and a delicate throbbing beneath his cheek. Blearily, chocolate eyes opened, only to see an expanse of delicate pale flesh. It was only the that he realised he was resting on the snowy haired boy's chest, still sitting on the chair, his upper body slumped over the frosty captain. He stayed perfectly still, deciding not to alert the captain to his waking; content to enjoy the feeling of this closeness.
'I know you're awake, Ichigo' Hitsugaya's voice resonated from his chest, gentle vibrations tickling Ichigo's cheek. The orange haired man sighed.
'How come?' The white haired boy chuckled.
'With the way you snore, anyone would think you're actually quieter when you're awake' he jibed, amusement glittering the frosty captain's tone.
'Che... Well, at least I don't go passing out on people.' The firey teen quipped 'I swear you nearly gave me an aneurysm, Toshiro!'
With an indignant huff, the snow crowned boy none too gently shoved the firey substitute off of his chest, sending him tumbling to the floor with an almighty crash. Ichigo groaned in authentic pain, as the chair he had been occupying promptly fell on top of him. The tiny captain chuckled at the teen's antics, earning him a half-hearted glare from the man. Usually, the frosty captain would have found this sort of behaviour annoying in the extreme, however, he couldn't bring himself to feel anything other than mild amusement from the firey substitute. Afterall, he owed the man more than anything; he had helped the snow crowned boy through the Kusaka ordeal and, even after Hitsugaya had taken a swipe at him, the teen had stood by him. He had patched him up, and held him close. He had even stayed the night at the captain's request. Affection flowed through his veins as he gazed upon the substitute, who was currently doing battle with a chair. A small smile flitted across the captain's features as he stood up and lifted the chair off the teen.
'Come on...' the snow crowned boy said heaing towards the door. The teen looked at him quizzically. 'Do you want breakfast or not?'
The teen grinned, before following the small captain out of his quaters, towards his office. Once inside, Hitsugaya summoned a hell butterfly, sending it to the divisional kitchen, with the orders for two breakfasts. Within five minutes, they had arrived. Ichigo thanked the young girl who had delivered them, whilst Hitsugaya gave her a curt nod. Ichigo lounged across the sofa, shovelling down his breakfast, whilst the captain dilligently worked through his paperwork, neglecting his plate of food.
The teen watched the boy working for a while, concern swimming in the chocolate orbs. Was the captain really putting work over eating? The fiery substitute stood, softly padding over to the desk and swiping the brush out of the frosty captain's hand in one fluid motion. Teal orbs blinked, uncharacteristically confused, at his small hand, before looking up at the orange-crowned man. He reached to grab the brush from the firey teen, only to have Ichigo's other hand catch his wrist; teal eyes snapping to chocolate ones.
'Toshiro...' distress evident in the firey man's voice 'How can I not worry about you when you choose paperwork over eating?'
Teal eyes slid away from Ichigo's, downcast. He had never intended to make the substitute worry, however he had done so. Guilt flowed through the frosty captain's veins; however, he was not allowed to reminice for very long. The callused hand released the slender wrist, and came up to cup the pale cheek, tilting the captain's face up to look at him. Teal eyes widened at the affectionate gesture, looking at the orange haired teen.
'Please...' the teen said, the pad of his thumb stroking the soft skin 'at least have something to eat before you work.'
Leaning into Ichigo's hand, teal eyes slid shut, savouring the warmth for a second, before opening again, nodding at the substitute. The substitute smiled warmly at the snow crowned boy, as he stood up from his desk, walking towards the couch. He sat down gracefully, putting the plate in his lap, eating slowly. The orange haired man came and sat next to the captain. The teen was so close to him that his heat was practically palpable on his skin and could smell his autumnal scent.
'How are your wounds?'
Hitsugaya quickly swallowed his mouthful, and as he took a breath in to answer, he felt a piece of food get lodged in his throat. Aqua eyes buldge and his lithe body was racked with coughs.
He felt a strong, warm hand administering firm pats to his back, trying to aid the snowy captain, but it didn't work. He just continued to cough. Chocolate eyes widened as the snowy captains lips started to turn blue. Thinking quickly, he manouvered himself so that he was behind the boy, linking his arms around his waste, one hand clenched in a fist and the other hand on top. He pushed hard on the small boy's abdomen, and after a few tries, he succeeded in dislodging the foreign object from the boy's throat.
The captain sucked in a huge breath of air, leaning back against Ichigo's chest. He felt himself being moved so that he was cradled in the subititute's arms, one large hand coming up to rub his chest and stomach.
'Easy... Easy, Toshiro... Are you alright?' The tiny captain managed a nod. Ichigo felt immense relief at this. Truth be told, the firey teen had been more than a little worried when he saw the captain in distress... In fact, now that he thought about it, seeing the snow crowned boy in pain, had actually caused the other pain... Ichigo was brought out of his thoughts by a small voice:
'How... How do you always do that? And why? What did I do to deserve this?'
'What?' by now the teen was thoroughly confused.
' You always help me, no matter how I act towards you, no matter how much I push you away. Why do you keep on helping me? After the way I've treated you, you have more reason than anyone to hate me. Even after you found out about Kusaka... If any other male found about about the... nature... of our relationship they would not have wanted anything to do with me... But you, you just sit here comforting me, holding me. Aren't you afraid? I'm not normal... I shouldn't be like this...'
Ichigo promply burst out laughing, holding his sides, a few rouge tears streaming down his face. Teal eyes looked wounded and immediately became guarded. He knew it was too good to be true. No one would be able to accept him... Now he saw how it was; Kurosaki was just making fun of him... All this time... And that hurt more than anything. The frosty captain stood up, fighting to keep the hurt look off of his face...
'Woah! Toshiro, where are you going?' the substitute asked, catching the boy's wrist. Histugaya tried to pull out of the hold, but Ichigo's hand remained steadfast. Seeing the wounded expression on the boy's face, the firey teen immediately became concerned, trying to ease the boy's pain.
'Hey, hey. What's wrong?'
'Get the hell away from me!' the tiny boy cried, his voice breaking. He tried, once again, to free himself from the teen's hold.
'Not until you tell me what's wrong.' the substitute stated stubbornly.
'YOU LAUGHED! I KNEW IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANYONE TO UNDERSTAND... WHAT WAS ALL THIS TO YOU? A JOKE? SOME WAY TO ENTERTAIN YOURSELF?' The frosty captain screamed, the air around him freezing.
'Huh? What are you? Stupid?!' the substitute revered. 'I was laughing because of how utterly dense you sounded just then. Crap Toshiro! Do you really think I would do that to you?' He took a deep breath, calming his nerves. 'Look, I laughed because of what you said. I'm not afraid of you, by any means and there is absolutely nothing wrong with you, Toshiro. You're my friend, so of course I'm going to comfort you when you're down, regardless of gender, orientation - Hell! You could be green with seven limbs and I'd still comfort you.'
The captain stared at him, dumbstruck.
'Come here.'
Still slightly shellshocked, the captain took a step straight into Ichigo's welcoming arms. A small hand crept up the front of Ichigo's Shihakushō, clenching in the soft fabric. The captain was feeling rather stupid right now. He had just accused Ichigo of toying with him, when he had been doing the complete opposite; nevertheless, the firey teen had still welcomed his back into his arms. He really didn't understand what he had done to deserve this, but right now, Hitsugaya decided not to analyse what all of this meant, and simply enjoyed the feeling of closeness and warmth - something he hadn't felt since he left his grandmother.
Thank you, Kurosaki
'I know you're awake, Ichigo' Hitsugaya's voice resonated from his chest, gentle vibrations tickling Ichigo's cheek. The orange haired man sighed.
'How come?' The white haired boy chuckled.
'With the way you snore, anyone would think you're actually quieter when you're awake' he jibed, amusement glittering the frosty captain's tone.
'Che... Well, at least I don't go passing out on people.' The firey teen quipped 'I swear you nearly gave me an aneurysm, Toshiro!'
With an indignant huff, the snow crowned boy none too gently shoved the firey substitute off of his chest, sending him tumbling to the floor with an almighty crash. Ichigo groaned in authentic pain, as the chair he had been occupying promptly fell on top of him. The tiny captain chuckled at the teen's antics, earning him a half-hearted glare from the man. Usually, the frosty captain would have found this sort of behaviour annoying in the extreme, however, he couldn't bring himself to feel anything other than mild amusement from the firey substitute. Afterall, he owed the man more than anything; he had helped the snow crowned boy through the Kusaka ordeal and, even after Hitsugaya had taken a swipe at him, the teen had stood by him. He had patched him up, and held him close. He had even stayed the night at the captain's request. Affection flowed through his veins as he gazed upon the substitute, who was currently doing battle with a chair. A small smile flitted across the captain's features as he stood up and lifted the chair off the teen.
'Come on...' the snow crowned boy said heaing towards the door. The teen looked at him quizzically. 'Do you want breakfast or not?'
The teen grinned, before following the small captain out of his quaters, towards his office. Once inside, Hitsugaya summoned a hell butterfly, sending it to the divisional kitchen, with the orders for two breakfasts. Within five minutes, they had arrived. Ichigo thanked the young girl who had delivered them, whilst Hitsugaya gave her a curt nod. Ichigo lounged across the sofa, shovelling down his breakfast, whilst the captain dilligently worked through his paperwork, neglecting his plate of food.
The teen watched the boy working for a while, concern swimming in the chocolate orbs. Was the captain really putting work over eating? The fiery substitute stood, softly padding over to the desk and swiping the brush out of the frosty captain's hand in one fluid motion. Teal orbs blinked, uncharacteristically confused, at his small hand, before looking up at the orange-crowned man. He reached to grab the brush from the firey teen, only to have Ichigo's other hand catch his wrist; teal eyes snapping to chocolate ones.
'Toshiro...' distress evident in the firey man's voice 'How can I not worry about you when you choose paperwork over eating?'
Teal eyes slid away from Ichigo's, downcast. He had never intended to make the substitute worry, however he had done so. Guilt flowed through the frosty captain's veins; however, he was not allowed to reminice for very long. The callused hand released the slender wrist, and came up to cup the pale cheek, tilting the captain's face up to look at him. Teal eyes widened at the affectionate gesture, looking at the orange haired teen.
'Please...' the teen said, the pad of his thumb stroking the soft skin 'at least have something to eat before you work.'
Leaning into Ichigo's hand, teal eyes slid shut, savouring the warmth for a second, before opening again, nodding at the substitute. The substitute smiled warmly at the snow crowned boy, as he stood up from his desk, walking towards the couch. He sat down gracefully, putting the plate in his lap, eating slowly. The orange haired man came and sat next to the captain. The teen was so close to him that his heat was practically palpable on his skin and could smell his autumnal scent.
'How are your wounds?'
Hitsugaya quickly swallowed his mouthful, and as he took a breath in to answer, he felt a piece of food get lodged in his throat. Aqua eyes buldge and his lithe body was racked with coughs.
He felt a strong, warm hand administering firm pats to his back, trying to aid the snowy captain, but it didn't work. He just continued to cough. Chocolate eyes widened as the snowy captains lips started to turn blue. Thinking quickly, he manouvered himself so that he was behind the boy, linking his arms around his waste, one hand clenched in a fist and the other hand on top. He pushed hard on the small boy's abdomen, and after a few tries, he succeeded in dislodging the foreign object from the boy's throat.
The captain sucked in a huge breath of air, leaning back against Ichigo's chest. He felt himself being moved so that he was cradled in the subititute's arms, one large hand coming up to rub his chest and stomach.
'Easy... Easy, Toshiro... Are you alright?' The tiny captain managed a nod. Ichigo felt immense relief at this. Truth be told, the firey teen had been more than a little worried when he saw the captain in distress... In fact, now that he thought about it, seeing the snow crowned boy in pain, had actually caused the other pain... Ichigo was brought out of his thoughts by a small voice:
'How... How do you always do that? And why? What did I do to deserve this?'
'What?' by now the teen was thoroughly confused.
' You always help me, no matter how I act towards you, no matter how much I push you away. Why do you keep on helping me? After the way I've treated you, you have more reason than anyone to hate me. Even after you found out about Kusaka... If any other male found about about the... nature... of our relationship they would not have wanted anything to do with me... But you, you just sit here comforting me, holding me. Aren't you afraid? I'm not normal... I shouldn't be like this...'
Ichigo promply burst out laughing, holding his sides, a few rouge tears streaming down his face. Teal eyes looked wounded and immediately became guarded. He knew it was too good to be true. No one would be able to accept him... Now he saw how it was; Kurosaki was just making fun of him... All this time... And that hurt more than anything. The frosty captain stood up, fighting to keep the hurt look off of his face...
'Woah! Toshiro, where are you going?' the substitute asked, catching the boy's wrist. Histugaya tried to pull out of the hold, but Ichigo's hand remained steadfast. Seeing the wounded expression on the boy's face, the firey teen immediately became concerned, trying to ease the boy's pain.
'Hey, hey. What's wrong?'
'Get the hell away from me!' the tiny boy cried, his voice breaking. He tried, once again, to free himself from the teen's hold.
'Not until you tell me what's wrong.' the substitute stated stubbornly.
'YOU LAUGHED! I KNEW IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANYONE TO UNDERSTAND... WHAT WAS ALL THIS TO YOU? A JOKE? SOME WAY TO ENTERTAIN YOURSELF?' The frosty captain screamed, the air around him freezing.
'Huh? What are you? Stupid?!' the substitute revered. 'I was laughing because of how utterly dense you sounded just then. Crap Toshiro! Do you really think I would do that to you?' He took a deep breath, calming his nerves. 'Look, I laughed because of what you said. I'm not afraid of you, by any means and there is absolutely nothing wrong with you, Toshiro. You're my friend, so of course I'm going to comfort you when you're down, regardless of gender, orientation - Hell! You could be green with seven limbs and I'd still comfort you.'
The captain stared at him, dumbstruck.
'Come here.'
Still slightly shellshocked, the captain took a step straight into Ichigo's welcoming arms. A small hand crept up the front of Ichigo's Shihakushō, clenching in the soft fabric. The captain was feeling rather stupid right now. He had just accused Ichigo of toying with him, when he had been doing the complete opposite; nevertheless, the firey teen had still welcomed his back into his arms. He really didn't understand what he had done to deserve this, but right now, Hitsugaya decided not to analyse what all of this meant, and simply enjoyed the feeling of closeness and warmth - something he hadn't felt since he left his grandmother.
Thank you, Kurosaki