Characters: Orihime, Ishida
Summary: Every time she hugs him, she notices how he leans into her, like he's ready to fall the way she is.
Pairings: IshiHime
Warnings/Spoilers: No spoilers
Timeline: No timeline needed
Author's Note: Again, just another short drabble. I've been bad about writing really short stuff lately, but I'll only write as far as inspiration takes me.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
He's recalcitrant at times, of course. Ishida's not really used to being touched or having to endure physical contact for any prolonged amount of time, hasn't been raised that way, but it still irritates Orihime a little bit when he tries to pull away when she hugs him, as if she's holding a hot, ringing poker up to his flesh.
What bothers her more, however, is when he doesn't try to wriggle out of her grip.
However slight and lean Ishida may seem he always feels heavy when he lets Orihime hug him and doesn't pull away, like his bones have all turned to lead. Tired, too, and weary, letting someone lead him on home for the first time in a very long time instead of trying to stand on his own.
They've both learned how to keep each other upright—it's a necessity, it's the only human thing either one of them could do. Dark days have come and gone and both have desperately been in need of support during storms outside.
Ishida's always been reliable. Right there, always there, always ready to lend a hand or a shoulder to cry on. Orihime's learned how to work like that too.
But when she notices how he leans in to her, tired and weary and leaden, Orihime starts to wonder how long he's been ready to fall, and how long it will take, for both of them.
With any luck, they'll at least fall together.