Give Your Heart a Break

-I don't own Bleach
-I don't own Give Your Heart a Break

Requested by goduenas

I know you're scared it's wrong
Like you might make a mistake
There's just one life to live
-Demi Lovato

The first time Rangiku saw Gin he was buying a cushion in a décor store. It had been blue and distinctly unfrilly. It was a manly cushion, if a cushion could be considered manly. He had smiled at her as she picked up a pink blanket. Not manly in the slightest.

She had smiled at him and he had responded with a smile she would learn was his default face. She had struck up the courage to ask him if he wanted a post-décor-shopping coffee. He had agreed taking her to a coffee shop hidden behind a wall of trees and white roses. She went on and on about her life, her friends Rukia and Nanao, her job as a police officer and her arrogant Persian, Haineko.

He had kept up the ridiculous smile somehow managing to sip his coffee with it in place. He had given her his number at the end of the coffee, dare she say it, date.

The second time Rangiku saw Gin she learnt that all his relationships had failed miserably. She only found out when they walked by an ex-girlfriend of his at the supermarket and noticed the way his smiled dropped ever so slightly. He told he just wasn't destined to love or be loved, but that he certainly enjoyed her company.

They had walked out of the supermarket with the makings of a picnic in hand before hiking out into the woods. It was a well-known, well-travelled path Rangiku felt safe taking. They had spent the day laughing, eating and admiring nature. He had tucked a small daisy into her volumous strawberry blonde hair.

As they grew closer Rangiku began to notice things. Gin didn't like to show too much affection. Sweet gestures and passionate words were fine but anything truly meaningful was nipped in the bud. Was this why his relationships all failed, or was this a result of the failing relationships? It was during the nights she spent in bed next to him, never in his arms, that she wondered what she could do.

She loved him. That much had been clear to by their tenth date. He had taken her out to a cabin he owned in the nearby forest. It was a bit run down and had been a bit drafty at night but when they cuddled up by the fire, wrapped in Rangiku's pink blanket with hot chocolate in hand, it felt as warm as the tropics. Rangiku had looked over at Gin, seen the twinkling fire in his eyes and she knew then that she could never be happier with anyone but him.

Rangiku saw the flash of panic in his eyes when she suggested they move in with one another. She had tried to deliver the offer as a throw away comment, something that could be easily brushed off once she saw his reaction. She wasn't prepared for the sting of rejection. It was something she hadn't felt in years. Was it truly so awful a fate to him? Did he really not want to commit to her? They already spent almost all their nights together.

"Gin," her voice was a whisper the next time she saw him, "I know you're scared to love me and you made it clear when we first met that you didn't want to, but I love you."

His ever present smile had fallen from his lips. His eyes were close to opening, an event she had seen only ten times before. This was her moment. Rangiku knew she had just one chance to convince Gin to let her love him, or he'd run and she'd never see him again. Her heart as broken as his.

"You're scared, you've been hurt. I know that, but I swear to you Gin. I'm not like any of those women. Please, give me a chance. Give yourself a chance. Gin, please, let me give your heart a break."

He stared at her; the woman he had first seen buying a pink blanket that he later learnt was part of obsession with the colour, the woman who had accepted him broken and distant, the woman who had given her heart to him, and he hadn't even noticed.

"Shit, Ran. I messed up bad didn't I?"

She looked at him with a tiny smile playing on her lips. Barely visible, even with his eyes fully open.

"So, uh, do you want to move in together?"

Her smile was full blown and her cheeks as pink as her blanket.

A/N: Okay, I am so so sorry it has taken me so long to post this. I'll admit that I suffered some intense writers block and lost quite a lot of my motivation for all things Bleach related. The story is just going so slowly.

I hope this is what you wanted goduenas. I'll try to get onto your other requests soon. I promise.

As per usual I'm not happy with the ending but then I never am.

Anyway, enjoy everybody. I do still accept requests and I'm more than happy to write for another ship or another fandom (one I know is best of course).

Please review, thanks,