A/N: This is my first Bleach fic, though I've written another one which I will post in a few days. Be nice and review.
Ichigo x Ishida is not my favorite pairing, but I have to admit that it does have the most interesting dynamics for ficcage (which is probably why it's the only Bleach pairing I've managed to write so far), what with the Quincy vs. Shinigami thing, not to mention more recent developments in the manga. Actually, considering that I tend to favor the pairings with the most ficcage possibilities I'm honestly surprised that it's not my favorite; if anyone has any idea why I prefer Chad x Ichigo, please tell me (so far I'm guessing it has something to do with crossed signals in my brain; damn thing never was wired right).
Spoilers for chapter 186 of the manga.
Quincy Pride
His back was pressed almost uncomfortably hard against the chilled concrete wall, a stark contrast to the heat that radiated from the person who had cornered him there and was standing far closer than acceptable.
"Kuro– " the objection was cut off in the middle as strong arms wrapped around the small of his back and dragged him away from the wall.
"Shut up, Ishida," Ichigo said, pulling the Quincy against his chest.
"No," Ishida objected, insinuating his arms between their bodies. "We can't do this. I can't do this." He pushed against the Shinigami's chest. "I mean it! Let go!" Ichigo complied, but it required considerable force on the Quincy's part.
Ishida crossed his arms over his chest like a barrier and refused to meet Ichigo's eyes.
"We talked about this already," Ishida said. "I'm not going to repeat myself."
"I ain't a real Shinigami," Ichigo returned. "So it don't apply to me."
"You're close enough to count. I'm not going to dig around for loopholes; I'm not that selfish and they won't be accepted anyway."
"So I'm selfish? So what!" Ichigo shouted, grabbing the front of Ishida's shirt in fistfuls and shoving the black-haired teen back into the wall, the Quincy's arms dropping from their defensive position with the shock. "Is it so wrong that I don't want to loose this!" Ishida still continued to avoid Ichigo's stare. "Damn it, Uryuu! Look at me!" The Quincy's eyes snapped to Ichigo's reflexively. The Shinigami's brown eyes confronted him with anger, bitterness, and poorly hidden pain.
"Please don't make this harder..." Ishida murmured as he closed his eyes; his fingers dug into the cold wall, scraping painfully.
"Fuck you! I'm going to make it as hard as possible!"
"Why can't you just respect my decision?"
"Because it wasn't your damn decision, it was your father's!"
"No, Kurosaki," Ishida said, opening his eyes to challenge the other with what little frost he could manage. "It was my decision. He offered. I accepted. I made the choice."
"Some choice." Ichigo retorted viciously. "Ch'." Now it was the Shinigami's turn to look away. He let go of Ishida's shirt, but his broad hands still rested on the thinner boy's chest. "Damn your Quincy Pride." Ichigo's forehead fell to Ishida's shoulder.
"Don't cry."
"I ain't crying, asshole." Ichigo's voice returned, slightly muffled. "I ain't gonna either. Wouldn't give you the satisfaction."
The Quincy's arms slipped around the Shinigami's back, the fingers of one hand curling gently in the orange hair at the nape of his neck. "I'm sorry, Ichigo."
Reviews are Muse fodder!
Feed the Muse!