After being on hiatus for quite a long time, here's a oneshot
Collide
He reached for her and there he was, his palm resting gently on her collarbone, his nose almost touching hers. His gaze was steadier than it ever was (Ichigo always had a knack with steady gazes), and she was somewhat surprised, somewhat comforted.
She put her hand over his, pausing for a moment and leaving it there for more than a second before lifting his hand off and away. Their fingers broke contact, and the circuit was left open. The flow of electrical current ceased.
"I'm sorry."
All he did was to shake his head, almost imperceptibly.
He began stroking her hair with his other hand. One, two, three times - she lost count. Her skull tingled and her heart pumped blood to her brain, telling her to think, and think harder about what she was pushing herself into.
The cogs in her brain started to move, creaking with agony. At last, they started to whirl acceptably smoothly, and then-
"Wait."
She summoned uniformed, cold determination and undid all knots of reluctance, stepping away from him; she desperately curled her toes to stopper her racing pulse. He watched her as she gathered herself, as she tried to find the right order of words.
"It wouldn't be fair."
"What wouldn't?"
"This."
Putting her right hand over her heart, trying to make him understand.
"Kaien-dono."
He waited for her to find the second half to her broken sentence. A silent, reassuring presence.
"I haven't gotten over him yet, and-"
A deep breath. She could stand there and breathe him in, right now.
"I can't use you to get over him."
He blinked once. Not a confused blink - she dared think he understood. She tried again, hoping the tracks that her train of thought travelled on would merge with his, and-
"I can't use you."
Collide.
He was closer now, why didn't she notice him move closer?
But she didn't move away when he bridged the gap and wrapped her with himself. His arms and hands were around her waist, palm against her spine as he buried his face in her neck. Breathing her in. She let her arms lead the way, snaking slowly up his shoulders in two parallel lines, left on his left and right on his right. Hooking her fingers and palms onto his shoulders, like two lifelines with grappling hooks.
"You're not using me."
He pulled away a little, his nose almost touching hers again. Back to where they started - or were they?
"I'm helping you."
redcheese