Title: In So Many Words
Characters: Byakuya x Renji
Word Count: 370
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Sappy and fluffy drabble about Renji finally realizing what he feels for his captain.
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Byakuya never said it, and Renji was sure he could never get himself to admit it, but the feeling that went well beyond attraction was there. It was always pushing them together and was what let the redhead allow his captain to touch him in ways he would never have dreamed of. But it was also the same feeling that would squeeze his heart tightly that sometimes he feared that it would stop beating. As well as the same feeling that made his stomach do flips and quell his normally large appetite.
One night, while he was resting comfortably next to Byakuya in the nobleman's bed, he mused, "Kinda funny isn't it. I mean I don't really like guys like this an' all, but I'm fine if it's you, ya know."
"One would wonder about your motivation in this relationship then," Byakuya answered flatly.
At those words Renji's stomach knotted and his heart felt like it was clenched in an icy grip. He knew the feeling was in danger of being lost between them and that was the last thing he wanted after going through so much for it. "I didn't mean anything like that," he quickly said sincerely, "I mean ya know I'm not that kinda guy to use people like that. It's just, I got friends that I've known for years an' all, but I wouldn't ever want 'em to do what you do to me. And then there's the whole way you make what I think should feel bad feel really good. And even when we're not doing that stuff, it's kinda nice when you're around just being you, not like the whole Captain Kuchiki thing you do around everyone else. 'Cause I feel like I can relax too and even say all this stuff that I just can't tell anyone else, and I really can't believe I'm telling you."
Renji's surprised to hear a chuckle from the other man, and is even more surprised when Byakuya leant over and kissed him. Then something finally clicked in his head and he finally figured out what the feeling was as he looked at his captain smile at him lovingly as the nobleman said, "I love you too, Renji."