Title: The Key
Characters: Byakuya x Renji
Word Count: 485
Rating: PG
Summary: Renji and Byakuya can't seem to find a place to be alone.
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Renji was beginning to wonder if there was such a place for him and Byakuya to ever be alone. After several months of searching Renji was just about wits end about finding a place were he and his captain could have some alone time with out interruption. His place was out of the question since he lived in the barracks and there was no way to tell which night his friends would decide to get drunk and crash at his place. Byakuya's place was full of servants and of course housed Rukia as well, and Renji just wasn't ready to face her just yet about dating her brother. Byakuya refused to mix business and pleasure so despite the fact the offices of Seireitei had ample enough closets and unused meeting rooms that was out of the question. The last resort would've been an inn somewhere but a nobleman checking in to a room with someone clearly less than noble would attract far too much attention than either wanted.
Captain Kuchiki's voice breaks his train of thought when the older man asks, "Vice-Captain Abarai, are you writing your report or trying to paint the parchment black?"
Renji drops his writing brush on the ruined piece of paper on his desk and reflexively straightens himself up. "Ah, Bya- Captain Kuchiki, didn't notice ya there. I was busy working-," the redhead says before noticing the report he had been working had been turned into an ink blob, then amends, blushing, "Or maybe not so much working."
"I could see that," the nobleman replies, "I have finished my work for the day and before I leave there's something I need to give you." From the folds of his neatly pressed uniform Byakuya pulls out a single key and hands it to the younger man.
Renji stares at the key and then looks up at Byakuya's face questioningly. "This is for the back gates of the manor. If you follow the path from it into the manor it will lead you into my private practice area. I'm sure you remember the way to my room from there and the area tends to be relatively servant free from around sunset until the late morning. I hope it will not take you the full night to finish writing your report, for while I do not plan to get much sleep tonight I would rather not be kept waiting."
The Sixth Division Captain leaves the redhead to wrap his head around all the information and between-the-lines hints. And to his credit Byakuya isn't completely out the door when Renji answers him with, "I won't let ya down, Captain."
Forgetting years worth of lessons of slacking in the face of office work learnt from the Eleventh Division Renji is able to finish the report in record time. And ends up being able to leave the office just in time to admire the setting sun.