Chapter Fifty Nine:
"I've never seen him act like that towards anyone." Starrk said quietly as he closed the door to the Sexta's room.
"He's had a soft spot for her from the moment he brought her here." Grimmjow muttered, throwing himself down in his armchair as he watched Byakuya perch on the couch, "You alright?"
The nobleman looked up as he was addressed, sitting back comfortably, "Of course, who do you think you're talking to?"
The Sexta just rolled his eyes and looked up at the Primera, "Interestin' though... Ain't it? The only person around here who can melt the Cero's heart is a kid..."
"Indeed, I would never have expected it myself." The brunet sat on the arm of the couch beside Byakuya, sighing, "For a moment... When he was talking to her I was certain he might cry. It's as if he loves her."
"He does." Byakuya said simply, staring at his hands, "Ichigo's sisters wouldn't have been much bigger than Nel's child form when they died. It's undoubtedly part of the reason Shiro formed such a close bond with her."
"Do you think he's gonna... You know..." The blue haired Arrancar winced, "Get worse again, now she's grown up?"
"I wouldn't like to hazard a guess." The Kuchiki heir bit his lip for a moment, "One thing is certain, we cannot tell Nelliel that we plan to send Shiro away. I honestly believe she would stop us in a heartbeat."
"Agreed." Starrk nodded once, "I will make sure the other's are aware that they are to treat her with caution as far as our plans are concerned. The last thing we need is for everything to be ruined when we are so close."
"You said Aizen leaves next week?" One eyebrow quirked as steel eyes narrowed, "It may be our best opportunity for a while, we have to take it without fail."
"For better or worse, next week we make our move." The Primera agreed.
Byakuya looked at his hands again, flexing his fingers. He had complete control back, full sensation and mobility. He was ready.
By the time Shiro had finished settling Nelliel into her own room and making sure she had provisions and clothes, the former Tres Espada had been fast asleep in her own bed. They'd talked, they'd laughed, he'd almost cried. But the loss of the child on his hip wasn't quite as heavy as he had expected it to be. He'd gained a friend. Maybe his only friend in Las Noches. That was worth something.
Nelliel was beautiful, just like Aizen had said. But her beauty wasn't just in her appearance, she was beautiful on the inside too. She seemed loyal, respectful and diligent. Logical and sophisticated, intelligent. But she was kind too. Unbelievably kind. There was a warmth to her that Shiro had never felt from another living being. An acceptance for who and what he was.
Smiling as he closed the door of the King's Suite, the albino rested his forehead against the cool stone, letting out a small breath as he tried to make sense of the bubbling feelings of joy running rampant in his head and chest. He knew without a moment of hesitation, had Aizen not already disclosed the intention to make Nelliel the new Cuatro Espada he would have claimed her as his Fracción. He wasn't interested in subordinates, he would probably never select any for himself. But Nelliel would have been the only one.
"You seem happy." Aizen's voice came from somewhere within the Suite.
"I am." Shiro admitted, turning slowly to locate the brunet Shinigami.
Aizen wasn't at his desk, which was unusual enough. But he also wasn't seated on the couch near the balcony either, which was usually his preferred choice when not working. Wandering further into the room, Shiro tucked his hands in his pockets. The bathroom was vacant, the balcony empty and the bedroom immaculate, all of which left one very bizarre notion.
The albino stuck head head around the door of the kitchen with raised eyebrows, staring at the sight of Aizen serving food into two bowls and placing them on a plain wooden tray. The smell in the room was aromatic and it made his gut grumble loudly.
"Did ya use yer Shikai on me when I wasn't lookin'?" The Cero asked teasingly, folding his arms as he leaned against the door frame.
"Not that I recall." The Shinigami matched his tone, giving him a sly side glance, "Is it so surprising to learn that I am capable of cooking for myself?"
"Considerin' I don't think I've actually seen ya eat... Yes." He snorted.
"You are hardly one to talk," Aizen raised an eyebrow, "I don't think I've witnessed you eat anything besides a chunk of Ulquiorra's shoulder during your battle and the few breakfasts you've sampled here."
Shiro sneered and rolled his eyes, "I eat. Sometimes." He muttered, "Anyway... Special occasion?"
Brown eyes reflected his amusement, "Do I require a special occasion to cook you a meal, Shiro?"
"Me?" An innocent blink, "Yer cookin' for me?"
The current lord of Las Noches paused, released a single sigh and picked up the tray, "Do I appear to be in the habit of inviting random Hollows to dine with me in my own room?"
Glaring for all of a minute before his expression broke into a grin, the albino followed him out onto the balcony where a table had been prepared for them, "Point taken. Thanks."
Aizen's reply came in the form of a half smile as they sat down opposite each other and began eating. Shiro felt himself relax into his seat, admiring the sight of Hueco Mundo and the full moon overhead.
"I gather from your mirth, and the familiar reiatsu down the hallway, that Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck has returned."
"Yeah," the albino nodded, "I made sure she was comfortable in the Cuatro's room, she was asleep when I left."
"Your bond with her is very strong." Aizen commented thoughtfully, "I'll not pretend I didn't check the cameras during her treatment."
Shiro scanned the Shinigami's face in silence, taking a sip of tea before he considered answering, "Ya seem surprised. Is it because it's me or because ya ain't used to Hollows developin' bonds?"
"Your willingness to be straightforward with this sort of conversations is as refreshing as ever." He chuckled, "In all honesty, it is a surprise for both reasons. The only bonds I have seen Hollows create are those of a hierarchy. Espada and their Fracción for example. As for you..."
"What about me?" He pressed, clicking his tongue against his teeth in annoyance.
Patting his lips with a napkin, the brunet sat forwards, "As for you, we are both aware that your desire to bond with those around you is, ah, limited at best."
"Meanin'?"
"As long as I've known you, you have never shown interest in bonding with anyone other than myself, which in itself is not strange given that we are both aware of how you feel towards me, and with Ichigo's influence, Byakuya Kuchiki." Aizen tilted his head very slightly, "Hence my surprise that you became so close with Nelliel, and that you managed it so easily."
Shiro's face reddened and he suddenly found it very difficult to maintain eye contact, "It ain't so surprisin' when ya think about it... Not really..."
"Oh?" The brunet seemed genuinely interested, elbows on the table as he interlocked his fingers.
The Cero shuffled awkwardly in his seat, "Don't go all distant on me alright?" He muttered, folding his arms as he glared off to one side, "But it ain't all that surprisin' when ya consider that... With you and Kuchiki... Love was involved."
"Interesting." Aizen murmured, "So, you're saying you love Nelliel as well, hence why you have created a strong bond with her."
"I think so." His expression softened and his shoulders slumped, "Not in the same way but... When I think about all the stupid things we got up to and... Even if it was rememberin' Karin and Yuzu that stopped me killin' her at the start I took care of her because I wanted to. Not because of memories. And... I know it hurt, the idea of her growin' up and maybe not wantin' me anymore. It felt like grief."
"As ever, you take me by surprise Shiro." Sitting back slowly, the Shinigami smiled faintly, "From everything I have learned while here in Hueco Mundo, and everything I have seen I believe that Hollows experiencing something like love is a rare event. Not unheard of, but certainly unusual."
"Well I'm nothin' if not unique." He grinned.
"Believe me when I say, I am aware." There was a small pause before Aizen added, "And glad of it."
Flushing again, the albino found himself playing with his hair shyly, "Well... Thanks."
Aizen got to his feet, reaching out to take one of Shiro's hands he pulled the Cero Espada up as well and pulled him in close, sliding his free hand around his waist, "Tell me, why did you think I would 'get all distant' on you?"
Tongue ghosting over his lips as he tried to think of something clever to say, something to change the subject or distract the man from his question, Shiro faltered and tutted, "Well, ya know... I don't wanna make things uncomfortable... Like ya said, ya know how I feel..."
"I see." Quirking one eyebrow Aizen offered a half smirk, "If I was bothered by how you felt, do you think I would acknowledge it at all?"
Shiro tried to come up with some form of reply, but his mind fizzled into nothingness as they came nose to nose, Aizen's breath rolling against his face and neck. It was ridiculous how his heart started thundering, how his steady breaths turned to heady gasps. The look in those dark eyes, Aizen knew exactly what he did to him.
Snaking his arms up around the man's shoulders, the albino ran his tongue along the Shinigami's lips teasingly, enjoying the faintest of quivers he felt in response. Jolting as he felt teeth bite down on his tongue, drawing the muscle into the warmth of the brunet's mouth Shiro's eyes slipped shut as a low moan escaped him from the back of his throat. He enjoyed the way they seemed to fit together, each curve and swell sliding into place.
They staggered into the King's Suite, balcony left abandoned as they followed the route to the bedroom that seemed so readily mapped in their minds. They tumbled onto the bed parting just enough to begin the rushed removal of clothing, but somewhere along the line the hurried fumbling of fingers and thumbs slowed, becoming more sensual, more deliberate.
The albino ended up on top, straddling his lover's waist as he rolled his hips against him, enjoying the low hum of pleasure that rose from the brunet at the action. Shiro took the time to slip free of his own jacket and shihakusho, throwing the offending garments to the floor as he watched heated eyes roaming the pale plains of his chest and stomach.
"If I gave ya free reign to do whatever ya wanted... What would ya do to me?" He asked, never once stopping the insanely slow gyration of his hips.
"There are few things I haven't done to you." Aizen dragged his fingertips down the middle of the albino's chest, feeling each muscle and tendon ripple beneath his touch, "If I gave you free reign... What would you do?"
Shiro's fingers pushed the other man's shihakusho open, slowly circling the Hōgyoku with a curious gaze and grinned manically, "Stupid question... I'd torment ya."
Allowing a rare laugh to escape him, the brunet reached up and gripped the wandering hands of his Cero Espada tightly by the wrist, rolling them until he was hovering over the albino, hands pinned above his head, "Then I shall forever be grateful that I am the one in charge. I doubt even I could survive your torture."
"Only a fool would would think they could." His grin never lessened, even as he felt a harsh bite on his collarbone and a subtle flurry of kisses and nips along his chest.
"Good thing that I am no fool." Aizen breathed, completing the task of undressing them both with a restless urgency before once again pinning Shiro's hands above his head.
They kissed, hard and heated and deep. Teeth clashed and moans were shared until neither was sure who they'd originated from. Shiro found his wrists bound by their formerly discarded sashes, stretched above his head as the material lassoed him to the headboard, leaving him exposed and almost defenceless.
Gentle and firm touches roamed his thighs, gripping with just enough pressure to border the line between pleasant and painful, rousing a subtle whine from the back of the albino's throat. Shiro's feet dug into the mattress, toes curling with a restlessness that continued to build as Aizen's fingers traces small intricate patterns across his skin, taunting and teasing their way towards his core. He was hard, horny and helpless as he pulled against his binds.
"Do you recall your reaction the first time I bound you?" Aizen asked, voice coming out as a husky purr.
Teeth worrying at his bottom lip, the pale Espada shivered, "Yeah, I told ya not to treat me like a dog."
"Indeed you did, you were quite furious." There was an unsettling smirk on the brunet's face, "I do believe it was the only one of our encounters you threatened to walk out of unsatisfied."
Groaning as fingertips continued to travel treacherously close to his now aching length, Shiro arching his hips towards the other man in hopes of receiving some relief, "As I recall... Despite calmin' down after ya explained why... Ya were tyin' me down... I still stayed angry enough that yer bed broke..."
Dipping down to flick his tongue against the edge of the albino's navel, chocolate eyes narrowed deviously, "Ah yes, it took almost all of my deceptive powers to come up with a good excuse for that." Teeth scraped against flushed skin, "This bed is far sturdier... I wonder how damaging your rage would be..."
Shiro raised one eyebrow very slowly, growling menacingly, "If ya don't touch me right fuckin' now... Ya will find out exactly how damagin' my rage can be."
"Is that a promise? Or are you making the dangerous mistake of threatening me?"
Excitement coursed through the Hollow's veins at the sudden low tone of the brunet's voice, his back arching in response as a breathless moan escaped him, body sparking with heat and jolts of need as the aching spread and clenched at him like a fist in the gut, "Well... That depends."
"On what?" He dragged his nose along the smooth plains of Shiro's chest until they were face to face.
"On what's gonna get me fucked until I can't walk, Sōsuke." He snapped his teeth with a wide grin etching itself across his face.
Aizen's expression didn't change, but his grip tightened on his thighs, becoming bruising. Their lips met harshly, Shiro released a yelp as teeth cut into his tongue and the tang of blood hit his senses, rousing a guttural groan from him. His legs were pushed up roughly towards his chest, a firm slap against his buttock had him releasing a startled cry that turned into a manic cackle as firm bites were tracked down his throat, leaving winding angry marks.
The mewling, wriggling Espada crowed as his erect length was grasped at long last, half purring at the rhythmic and aggressive strokes. His eyelashes fluttered as three fingers were thrusted demandingly between his lips and teeth, sliding against his tongue as they gathered saliva. He sucked on the digits as their eyes met.
Making sure to bite down teasingly as the fingers were pulled free, Shiro squirmed expectantly as he felt the wet touches against his thigh, dragging lower and lower so slowly he thought he'd lose his mind more than he already had.
His toes curled as those same fingers finally dipped into his body, his head falling back as the brunet Shinigami's hands rocked firmly. The albino yanked at his bonds in frustration, the need for more building rapidly, his face flushing as he briefly contemplated begging. He could feel his lover's fingers working him, preparing him but it just drove him further to distraction.
"Remind me," Aizen's breath was hot against his ear, "Was it a promise or a threat?"
A single burning moan escaped him, gold eyes flicking to the side to find a dangerous expression plastered across the man's face, "Threat." He breathed with a fearless smile.
Gasping in surprise as he found himself forced onto his front, possible only due to the length of the sashes around his wrists enabling it, his legs were tucked up under his body leaving him exposed and very defenceless. The satisfying but torturous touches were gone, leaving him aching worse than before. Longing for that completion.
A hard slap struck him across both buttocks this time, making his spine arch and his skin tingle with delight. Another slap followed the first, the sting making his eyes roll with arousal as his muscles tightened, expecting a third strike. When it came, it was harder than the first two and he had no doubts in his mind that it had left a satisfyingly red hand print.
He felt his hair being grabbed, being wound around a hand tightly, the sudden yank that pulled his head back. Shiro let out a long moan, the anticipation growing in the pit of his stomach as he felt the pressure of Aizen's chest against his back. His breathing quickened, pupils dilating.
Without warning, Shiro's body curved as he felt Aizen's length enter him, pushing deep, pushing far, filling him completely. The painfully tight grasp on his hair was used to drag his body back, pulling him against the brunet's lap hard, fast, fingers twitching in his silvery locks as dual moans were shared to the naked air.
Teeth dragged along the line of his spine, nipping and sucking in turn, an arm wrapped around his middle for greater leverage as the movements became frantic, primal, desperate. Over and over and over, the insane cycle of rolling, thrusting hip action rose louder and louder cries from the albino's lips.
"Don't you dare come." Aizen's voice was sudden, husky and rough, growled through clenched teeth.
Moaning in disbelief at the order, Shiro released an almost desperate cry of "please" despite his pride demanding he remain silent.
There was a throaty chuckle as nails dug into his hip, "Not yet. When you're sparring tomorrow... With Grimmjow... Or Nnoitra... Or Nelliel... I want you aching and wincing and sore. Every time... You have to parry a blow or dodge an attack... I want you to remember that you asked for this... When you dared threaten me..."
His head would have fallen forward at his words, were it not for the lingering grip in his hair, keeping him firmly in place. His body jolting with each thrust, the sound of the headboard hitting the wall was like music playing in the background. Shiro's hair was released without warning, his face sinking into the bedding only to jolt upwards as he heard the ringing of steel, a sword being drawn.
His hands were free, sashes sliced by the ever sharp blade of Kyoka Suigetsu. A gasp broke free as he was lifted, pulled back into the Shinigami's lap, arms encircling him, keeping him in place. Kissing peppering his shoulder as a hand spread across his throat, tightening around his wind pipe, choking him.
"Move." It was a simple order, but betrayed the hoarseness of Aizen's voice. He was close.
Hips rocking, Shiro continued the movements, faster and faster rising up and down on his lap. Moans escaping freely as his erection was grasped once more and pumped in time with his thrusts. There was a whisper of permission, so quite the albino almost missed it but his body reacted and his world inverted as his climax rolled across him and washed him away with it, a strangled howl breaking free from him. Body and muscles spasming and twitching and clenching tighter and harder than before, completion snatching his breath as he heard the satisfyingly breathless groan of the man beneath him orgasming too.
"Fuck..." Shiro had tears in his eyes, the intensity making his voice several shades of slurred, "I love ya."
Aizen's forehead was resting on a pale shoulder, eyes closed as he caught his breath, "You fear me becoming distant from you... Because of your feelings..." His voice was quiet, not quite restored, "Why would I, when I share them?"
