A/N: i ship ishida/orihime way too hard for a show that practically never gives me a reason to do so. sigh.

A/N: title from the lana del ray song "video games"

A/N: set at her rescue during the Arrancar arc, right around Ichigo's fight with Ulquiorra


Drabble collection: when in doubt, bleach it out

We are the sum of our experiences. We do not tremble. We do not fall. We conquer. -full cast, at various points


Title: Video Games

Summary: There are many things he wants to say. –Ishida/Orihime

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(Is this what it's like, to save the princess?)

"Inoue—" he starts, and she looks up.

Ishida blinks; she looks like she's forgotten he was standing there. The wind rustles her hair and the white Espada clothes she wears. She's still looking at him, but her mind is above the ceiling, with Kurosaki.

(What does the knight say to the princess? he wonders.)

I'm glad you're alright.

It doesn't feel correct. She isn't alright, not yet anyway, not with her champion still fighting. He sighs. The girl looks like a sun, even amongst the rubble of Las Noches. Not even this place of eternal night was able to blot out the sun.

I came here to save you.

He wants to be heroic, like Kurosaki was when he saved Rukia from execution. For a moment, he envies Rukia's instinctive understanding of Kurosaki. She could call him an idiot, and he would know that she was working for his good. Inoue does not understand. She's still staring with big grey eyes.

(The knight would whisk his prize away to his kingdom.)

I put my life on hold too, he thinks. I gave up everything to be here for you, too—!

She's still waiting, but he cannot drum up the right words for this moment. What did he think he was going to say, when he finally found her? Now, Ishida figures that he would've just watched passively while Inoue wept and thanked them all, but mostly Kurosaki.

Kurosaki-kun, she'd say. And she'd probably cry a little, and brush her tears prettily away. Oh thank you, everyone. But she'd be looking at him.

(The knight does not allow the princess to dance with the pauper.)

I feel bad when you look at him.

He blinks, trying not to let bitterness take this moment away from them, but, he reflects, this moment does not really belong to them, does it? Inoue's still listening for Kurosaki's cries of pain or of victory, waiting for him to sweep down from the ceiling and take her away.

The proud Quincy bows his head a little.

(A knight does not bow his head!—even less so a Quincy!)

He won't do that, he wants to tell her. He won't sweep you off your feet. Kurosaki doesn't know how to sweep someone like Inoue off her feet. He doesn't understand the power in his veins—he still can't even read Spiritual Pressure! Kurosaki would never be able to—

But I could. The words feel like a challenge, or a promise.

"Ishida?" she calls softly, her voice concerned. She steps a little closer.

(The knight dares dragons and witches and black magic.

It's you, it's you, it's all for you—everything I do.)

There are many things he could say, but he knows they won't reach her now. Ishida vows to himself that he will make time—another time—to tell her everything he wants to tell her. For now—

(The knight drops his knees to the princess.)

"Everything will be alright, Inoue," he says, offering her a tiny smile. "Kurosaki will win."

She looks relieved, but he knows from her eyes that she knows. She knows that is not what he wanted to say. And it teaches him to hope, yes i will say someday.

(The knight carries her home.)

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fin.


A/N: i don't know about this. please review.