Prompt: 016. Fight

"You two must argue a lot." It was an observation made by the ever-aware Kyouraku Shunsui, directed at one of his best friends and said man's unfortunate subordinate.

Shinji, who had taken the liberty of inviting the other captain over for a post-celebration celebration of his own fifty-year mark as the Fifth Division's leader, glanced between the two before snorting lightly. "No way. We never fight."

"Ohh?" A lazy gaze slid its way over to the subordinate. "Is that really true?"

Aizen nodded a quiet consent and couldn't help but smile faintly at the visiting captain's suspicious look. "Captain Hirako is my superior. It's not my place to question his judgments."

A flat moment of silence passed before Shinji sent a scowl toward his lieutenant. "Hey, Sousuke! Ya ain't gotta be so obvious with that fake attitude! Ya question things I do all the time!"

"Do I?" the youngest of the group wondered, tilting his head in mock confusion. "My apologies, sir. I mean no disrespect, of course."

"Liar! Stop puttin' on a show just 'cause Shunsui's here!" Shinji scoffed, turning his attention back to Kyouraku. "Ya see what I gotta deal with?"

"Calm and respectful?" Kyouraku nodded serenely. "It must be Hell."

Prompt: 017. Naked

Shinji's brow furrowed in immensely deep thought as he surveyed the disheveled room around him. A slight rustle of covers caught his attention and he pivoted his head to take in the sight of the man next to him, rousing from his slumber.

"...Sousuke?"

It took a moment for the brunette to realize he was being addressed, another for him to blink his mind awake, a third for him to sit up in a proper position, and a fourth to take in the situation as a whole. The fifth brought a screaming headache and a vague remembrance of something about a celebration the night before, and more alcohol than he was sure even Kyouraku had seen in one night.

"Captain?" he finally responded.

"Why are ya in my bed?"

"I can only imagine the reasons, sir."

"Don't be imaginin' things like that!" Shinji gave an irritated sigh and turned his attention away from the other. "Why the hell are ya naked?"

Aizen took a good look at his bare upper half and could tell by the feel of sheets against his legs that his lower regions were no more spared the exposure. He also couldn't help but notice that the other man was in a similar position.

"You are, as well."

"Eh?" Shinji gave a shrug. "I always sleep naked. But, an' I can't stress how much more important this one is, I also sleep alone."

A faint grin tugged at Aizen's lips. "Always alone, sir? That can't be healthy."

"Th-that ain't what I meant!" Shinji exclaimed, narrowing his eyes at the other man. "An' what're ya still doin' here? Get out!" The covers shifted and immediately Shinji turned his head away, covering his eyes tightly with one hand. As soon as Aizen was gone, he would be thoroughly cleaning his room and ignoring any signs of evidence that anything other than sleeping ever happened.

Prompt: 018. Push

"Are ya sure this is safe?" Shinji had been atop many high towers and buildings in his time and the dizzying heights that humans would be terrified of barely even fazed him. That was, however, when he was in control of his spiritual pressure and could easily catch himself from falling, if he even fell in the first place. In a gigai, strapped to an elastic rope, and perched on the edge of a bridge, he was beginning to understand the fear.

"It was your idea, sir," Aizen reminded him patiently, tilting his head in curiosity. "Do you wish to back out?" The reaction was undoubted.

"I ain't backin' out!" Shinji snapped, shooting a quick glare over his shoulder before turning his sights back to the menacing obstacle ahead. "I'm just startin' t' think this bungee jumpin' thing is kinda dumb."

Aizen couldn't agree more, but the sight was priceless. "If you're sure you'll continue, then please jump."

"Ya ain't gotta sound so happy 'bout the idea," Shinji muttered. "Sounds like ya want the rope t' snap or somethin'."

Instead of responding verbally, and positive that quite a few people would kill to be in his place right then, Aizen stepped forward. With one push, his captain was hurtled over the side of the bridge, screaming obscenities the entire way down.

Prompt: 019. Alive

"You're quite lucky to be alive."

Though the words had been spoken hours ago, they rang in Shinji's head as if Unohana had just relayed them moments ago. He could even almost feel her presence still in the room and the heavy realization that he owed someone his life. Someone, he mused, that he did not wish to owe a single thing, let alone something as serious as his entire being.

"Captain Hirako?"

When Shinji looked up, he had to admit he was fooled for a moment by the real concern reflected in his lieutenant's eyes. His next thoughts convinced him otherwise, and he attempted to define a hint of condescension or disgust mingled in with the worry.

When he couldn't pick any particular thing out, he forced his brain to implant it in his memory, so he could continue hating the man in front of him.

"M'fine," Shinji muttered, shifting to look out the window by his bed. He was fine, but he had nearly not been. He would have been, certainly, if he hadn't been trying to protect some Rukongai kids from the assaulting Hollow. But there were always unforseen complications, and he most definitely hadn't forseen nearly being consumed by the soul-hungry beasts.

Aizen could take a hint and he hadn't expected his captain to open up to him, anyway. He was sure the other man was putting up his defenses because he was ashamed at how easily he had been taken down or embarrassed at what a fatal mistake he had made in battle. Aizen wanted to assure him that even the most skilled fighters slipped up and no one was guaranteed a win in every battle, even if they were as strong as his captain was. But he knew, especially coming from him, that such words would only sound demeaning and injure the other's bruised pride.

He would have many opportunities to point out Shinji's flaws. For the time being, he opted for a silent bow and a quick exit to leave the blonde to his thoughts.

Prompt: 020. New

"I thought 'e hated me, Shunsui."

"I think it's obvious that he doesn't."

"He wasn't even with me. The bastard followed me out. Said 'e had a bad feelin' an' got worried. Ya think it's all bullshit?"

"It's hard to say," the elder Shinigami admitted with a teasing smile, "but I don't think he would have rescued you, if he wished for your death. Like you said, he wasn't even supposed to be there. He could have pretended like he never saw anything. But that's not like Sousuke."

"It's exactly like Sousuke," Shinji countered. "Always twistin' things t' fit in his story."

"Well, even if that's true, then it just means he wanted his story to be 'I saved my captain's life' rather than 'I lost my captain in the line of duty'. Or however he would say it."

Shinji didn't really care how Aizen would phrase anything. He had been so content in their mutual distrust of each other that he never thought he'd have to consider how he'd react if the other actually did something for him that he didn't demand. He certainly hadn't asked to be saved.

"Don't worry about it so much," Kyouraku suggested, tilting his head back to look up at the blue skies above, "maybe this can just be the start of a new relationship between you two."

Shinji thought on the possibility for a moment, then promptly allowed his body to flop back against the ground. "As if."