[ As they'd drawn nearer and nearer to the hotel, Byakuya had considered the logistics of getting Renji to book him in, rather than occupy Ichigo's own room - practically, it wouldn't be much of an issue. On a different level, however, he would have to leave Renji flustered and uncomfortable with the knowledge that he'd done a bad job at preparing for what had been his own project to begin with. It seems the kind of discussion he'd prefer to have with him in person to avoid unnecessary dramatics, really.
Also, to avoid Rukia ever hearing about it at all.
Consequently, he'd ended up letting things happen until now, they're on the way to bed, Ichigo preparing to sleep on that, frankly, unacceptable couch (Byakuya had taken the chance to feel it out with his hand when Ichigo had been in the bathroom and promptly made another decision with regards to the bed). The bed is much more appropriate - it's too tall for his tastes but the mattress is fine and the sheets are... synthetic, yes, but they'll do for the night.
His borrowed hotel standard nightdress is equally synthetic but surely, certainly, it beats whatever would have awaited him in that hotel room down the seedy alleyway. He's content, if not particularly comfortable. Thus, he's getting into bed, taking up exactly one side of the bed and nothing more, when Ichigo asks him about his mother's flowers.
He brushes his hair away from his face. ]
They wilted within a day or two. [ He glances sideways at Ichigo. Then, he promptly glances away again because the man honestly isn't wearing much and he's got enough to ponder on his own when he gets home without adding to the chaos. ] My servants exchanged them for spider lilies. Hopefully, you won't mind.
[ He's not asking, exactly. But he'd made an assumption with regards to the small vase and the flowers, the bench that has now become a shrine in its own right. If Ichigo doesn't want that for his mother, he's in his rights to refuse. ]
[ exchanged them for spider lilies, Byakuya says from his place on the bed, far right side, like there isn't a whole half bed left for him to occupy. Ichigo, who was otherwise about to crawl onto the couch, halts completely, slowly turning his head towards the other man. His eyes are a little wide. Almost disbelieving.
He's made a place for Ichigo's mom on that stupid bench? In the middle of his private garden? There's something so casually thoughtful about it, Ichigo doesn't really know what to say in return. He can't remember... when last... He doesn't know.
So, he decides to be frank. ]
It doesn't intrude?
[ However, as soon as he's posed the question, Ichigo regrets it, because it's like sowing doubt about Byakuya's ability to make such calls on his own. It's Ichigo's mom, yeah, but it's the other man's garden and his flowers and his efforts. The way he knows Byakuya to be, he can administer those things just fine, right?
Under the right circumstances, he makes solid calls. The rest... Well, isn't that how it is for everybody? The rest gets you maimed and murdered. Nothing to be done about that but fight back, do something, put out spider lilies for a dead woman you don't even know.
Ichigo's cheeks flush. ]
Thanks, I mean.
[ He crawls halfway under the duvet, the couch hard as rock beneath him. Shit. ]
I appreciate it.
[ enough that the distance between them as he says that seems weird. ]
[ He can hear that couch doing absolutely nothing to counter Ichigo's weight in any way. It makes his own skin crawl, the thought alone. Then, there's the rest of the situation to consider - Ichigo, who appreciates his efforts, who suggested tea in a quiet place and offered him a place to stay tonight in lieu of staying outside in the cold. It sits badly with him, to take the bed when there's nothing appropriate available apart from it. He takes a moment to consider his words before lying down on his side, turning off the lamp on the sidetable and saying: ]
That couch is a ridiculous compromise.
[ He pulls his sheet up to about mid-waist. The nightwear is reasonably warm, even against the coolness of the cycled air in the room. His hair falls all over his face like this, curtain-like and it makes it easier to turn on his side in Ichigo's general direction, not because he doesn't want to look at him but because it feels a bit much, knowing that he might look back somehow. ]
You should take the other side.
[ He doesn't give any reasons or try to turn it into a discussion - after all, this man is quite stubborn and these days, it seems, stubbornly intent on refusing himself what little easiness he might take from life. Byakuya knows a losing battle when he sees one - it's rare enough that he can't mistake it for anything else.
Instead, he just leaves it there, out in the open. Sleep better, it means, I won't mind if you do. ]
[ Ridiculous. That's one way to describe the couch. Ichigo doesn't lie down fully, although he should, instead continuing to stare across the room at Byakuya on the bed, sheet pulled up to mid-chest, his borrowed hotel nightwear looking kinda cheap on him, but it was that or naked and... Ichigo's really glad he's wearing something, yeah. Shaking his head, at himself, at his train of thought, weird and Byakuya's comment, even weirder, Ichigo still finds himself sitting back up, legs dangling, naked, out across the side of the couch. He sits like that for a moment, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, his oversized t-shirt nonetheless more or less hugging his chest.
If he takes the other side, they'll be sleeping in the same bed. Something about that doesn't sit right with him, although it's difficult for him to put a finger on why. It would be totally innocent, of course, he'd probably just keep his back on him all night and no harm done, right? One thing is that Rukia would beat him up, if she knew he was even considering sleeping in a bed with Byakuya, but another thing is the vase, his mom's flowers that Byakuya has turned into a ritual, a sacred place, completely without being asked to. Somehow... to be closer to that... that kind of consideration... Wouldn't that be worth risking Rukia's wrath?
Ichigo slowly gets to his feet, grabs an armful of duvet and pillow, wandering over to the bed, dropping it all on the empty side. He keeps his eyes down as he goes through the motions again, crawling onto the bed, rolling onto his side, back to the other man, pulling his duvet to chest-height. ]
Thanks.
[ It's all he says and it should cover all of it. The bed, the flowers, the whole day away from his annoying group of people who would take advantage of a situation like this, you know, when Byakuya just stays behind him, unmoving.
It takes a long time before Ichigo closes his eyes. ]
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saviorcomplexed) wrote2025-03-17 12:16 pm
no subject
Also, to avoid Rukia ever hearing about it at all.
Consequently, he'd ended up letting things happen until now, they're on the way to bed, Ichigo preparing to sleep on that, frankly, unacceptable couch (Byakuya had taken the chance to feel it out with his hand when Ichigo had been in the bathroom and promptly made another decision with regards to the bed). The bed is much more appropriate - it's too tall for his tastes but the mattress is fine and the sheets are... synthetic, yes, but they'll do for the night.
His borrowed hotel standard nightdress is equally synthetic but surely, certainly, it beats whatever would have awaited him in that hotel room down the seedy alleyway. He's content, if not particularly comfortable. Thus, he's getting into bed, taking up exactly one side of the bed and nothing more, when Ichigo asks him about his mother's flowers.
He brushes his hair away from his face. ]
They wilted within a day or two. [ He glances sideways at Ichigo. Then, he promptly glances away again because the man honestly isn't wearing much and he's got enough to ponder on his own when he gets home without adding to the chaos. ] My servants exchanged them for spider lilies. Hopefully, you won't mind.
[ He's not asking, exactly. But he'd made an assumption with regards to the small vase and the flowers, the bench that has now become a shrine in its own right. If Ichigo doesn't want that for his mother, he's in his rights to refuse. ]
no subject
He's made a place for Ichigo's mom on that stupid bench? In the middle of his private garden? There's something so casually thoughtful about it, Ichigo doesn't really know what to say in return. He can't remember... when last... He doesn't know.
So, he decides to be frank. ]
It doesn't intrude?
[ However, as soon as he's posed the question, Ichigo regrets it, because it's like sowing doubt about Byakuya's ability to make such calls on his own. It's Ichigo's mom, yeah, but it's the other man's garden and his flowers and his efforts. The way he knows Byakuya to be, he can administer those things just fine, right?
Under the right circumstances, he makes solid calls. The rest... Well, isn't that how it is for everybody? The rest gets you maimed and murdered. Nothing to be done about that but fight back, do something, put out spider lilies for a dead woman you don't even know.
Ichigo's cheeks flush. ]
Thanks, I mean.
[ He crawls halfway under the duvet, the couch hard as rock beneath him. Shit. ]
I appreciate it.
[ enough that the distance between them as he says that seems weird. ]
no subject
That couch is a ridiculous compromise.
[ He pulls his sheet up to about mid-waist. The nightwear is reasonably warm, even against the coolness of the cycled air in the room. His hair falls all over his face like this, curtain-like and it makes it easier to turn on his side in Ichigo's general direction, not because he doesn't want to look at him but because it feels a bit much, knowing that he might look back somehow. ]
You should take the other side.
[ He doesn't give any reasons or try to turn it into a discussion - after all, this man is quite stubborn and these days, it seems, stubbornly intent on refusing himself what little easiness he might take from life. Byakuya knows a losing battle when he sees one - it's rare enough that he can't mistake it for anything else.
Instead, he just leaves it there, out in the open. Sleep better, it means, I won't mind if you do. ]
no subject
If he takes the other side, they'll be sleeping in the same bed. Something about that doesn't sit right with him, although it's difficult for him to put a finger on why. It would be totally innocent, of course, he'd probably just keep his back on him all night and no harm done, right? One thing is that Rukia would beat him up, if she knew he was even considering sleeping in a bed with Byakuya, but another thing is the vase, his mom's flowers that Byakuya has turned into a ritual, a sacred place, completely without being asked to. Somehow... to be closer to that... that kind of consideration... Wouldn't that be worth risking Rukia's wrath?
Ichigo slowly gets to his feet, grabs an armful of duvet and pillow, wandering over to the bed, dropping it all on the empty side. He keeps his eyes down as he goes through the motions again, crawling onto the bed, rolling onto his side, back to the other man, pulling his duvet to chest-height. ]
Thanks.
[ It's all he says and it should cover all of it. The bed, the flowers, the whole day away from his annoying group of people who would take advantage of a situation like this, you know, when Byakuya just stays behind him, unmoving.
It takes a long time before Ichigo closes his eyes. ]