Warnings: Iba being Iba
"I just thought it was a little concerning, Abarai-san," Orihime said, half-frowning as Renji and Iba chortled. Only Isane looked amusingly sympathetic.
It was a little after-hours and the four prison staff had gathered for a late dinner in the canteen. Isane Kotetsu, the local psychiatrist, only dropped by once every two weeks, so it was a great first-time opportunity for Orihime to get to know her. Iba and Renji had mentioned her politeness and expertise in psychiatry, but sitting in her presence was more awe-inspiring than she'd expected it to be. The charm of the room, however, was superseded by dinnertime conversation.
"Hirako's just shit-talking, Dr. Inoue," Iba bragged, very blatantly leaning slightly in his chair to rest his elbow on Isane's armrest. "The criminal mind thrives on attention. It's a dog-eat-dog world so they want to come out on top, right? Be the centre of attention." He yawned. "Urahara's Cross is just a theory. A bunch of hogwash invented by bored inmates lookin' for something to girdle the gears, y'know."
"Mental stimulation?" Isane asked innocently, but Renji and Orihime noticed the amused smiles she exchanged with them. They stifled laughs behind their palms as she kept goading Iba to go on about his observation on criminal behavior to an actual, trained psychiatrist.
"Yeah!" Iba snapped his fingers. "Mental stimulation."
Renji shook his head, wiped amused tears from his eyes so he could regard Orihime seriously. "Don't worry, doc," he assured. "We've checked all the vents and tunnels behind these walls. There was nothing that indicated some sort of mythical bridge or passageway out of here. If there was, I'm sure some smartass would've found it by now." He smiled. "So, so far, it's just talk. Thanks for bringing it up with us, though, I really appreciate it."
Iba nodded. "Gotta keep sharp," he said, turning to Isane importantly. "The job ain't easy, y'know. Spending hours with rugged criminals, always having to watch your back - we're just as locked up as they are, but it's a man's honor to do his duty, right?"
Orihime smiled. "I'm sure Dr. Kotetsu would know, given her years of experience working closely with convicts," she said, turning to Isane. "When my friends discouraged me from coming here, I always assured them it would be just like the work at medical school, but...I guess it's a little different. Getting through to prisoners is a little harder than I thought it would be - I don't know how you do it."
She thought of Ichigo and how she'd managed to talk him down only a few hours ago, but gotten no closer to getting through to him. She frowned dully.
"Oh, don't put yourself down, Dr. Inoue," Isane dismissed, lightly whacking Orihime's arm. "You know, when I arrived at the courtyard this morning, I saw Kurosaki-san smiling at you. I don't think I've ever seen that in my few consultations with him, the first few months after he arrived." She lightly sipped her beer, then added, "All it takes is a little patience and practice. You'll get the hang of it."
Orihime raised her own bottle to her mouth, ignoring the heat in her cheeks.
"Besides, you already have, doc," Renji pooh-poohed. "Most of the cons already love ya. Helps that you're incapable of being mean, I guess. Lots of guys here haven't experienced that kind of kindness in years - decades, even."
Isane nodded. "The problem with people outside the medical industry is that it's hard for them to empathize with someone if they're not a 'model' patient - the pregnant mother, the devoted husband with lung cancer, the fair, cherub-faced baby." Isane regarded Orihime. "When you work in prison, you really jump past all those barriers. Start to see these men for what they are beyond their taglines and life sentences."
The room grew silent as everyone contemplated her words.
"Eh, when all's said and done, you still can't go too easy on 'em, Dr. Kotetsu…" Iba began, as he went into another round of 'deviant behavior,' and 'putting your foot down' and something about 'drawing the line.'
Orihime and Renji visibly gave up, sharing knowing grins with each other while Dr. Isane had somehow gotten herself warped into a fruitless and endless debate with him.
x.x
While they were saying their goodbyes and parting ways, Orihime decided to catch up with Isane. She was shrugging on her coat, checking her pockets, but she smiled when Orihime approached.
"Dr. Kotetsu?" Orihime said, catching up to her. "I wanted to tell you I really liked what you said earlier. It really helped my approach to the kind of work I'm doing here."
"Not at all," Isane said sweetly. "Considering your college research, I'd say you're already halfway there. Working with inmates more will only give you more structure and understanding."
Orihime nodded. Under the light, they both regarded each other a little awkwardly, unsure of what to say, now that a silence had fallen upon them. Orihime bit her lip, wondering if she should bring up what she'd been thinking about all through dinner. It was frankly pestering her now, brimming on the edge of her mind, and she needed an expert opinion.
"Can I ask you a question?" she blurted.
Isane raised her eyebrows, but said, "Sure."
Orihime looked away for a second, crossing her arms. When she turned back to Isane, she was sure the other woman could see the concern in her eyes. "Is it- do you think it's possible for murderers to experience post-traumatic stress over their murders?" She tilted her head, wondering if she framed that well. "Like, would you say a criminal's guilt over their crimes could posit into post-traumatic stress over time?"
Isane blew out air through her cheeks, looking like she was considering the question deeply. "Usually, in cases of murder, guilt is very rare. Most of the average killer profile includes someone who is narcissistic, or even emotionally empty to the point of being remorseless," she explained. "Significant time in prison could contribute to guilt, sure, but I'd say killers suffering from PTSD are quite rare, if not case-specific. In fact, the victim's family is more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress, than the murderers themselves. We can't always talk about human behavior in absolutes, though, so I'd err on the side of caution." She nodded, seeming satisfied with her answer. Then, she frowned. "Is this for a case?"
"N-not really," Orihime stammered, not knowing how else to answer that question. "Well, I guess it kind of is." She regarded Isane for a moment. "When you were consulting with Kurosaki-san, what exactly did your findings suggest about him? If there's something in there that can help me get through to him, I'd really appreciate you telling me." She sighed. "I feel like I'm very close to finding the answers, but I just don't know how to get there."
Isane smiled. "I know what that feels like - it's frustrating, isn't it?"
Orihime nodded fervently.
"Well, Kurosaki was a difficult case," Isane replied, thoughtfully. "I never visited often enough to establish rapport with him, and he didn't seem too keen on building a bond either, but I did treat him for insomnia, his first week here. He was having a really hard time sleeping, so I was glad to be of help there. But honestly? Other than that, I never really found anything significant - except for maybe this underlying self-loathing that I could never really get him to talk about."
"Did he...did he ever talk about his mother?" Orihime asked uncertainly.
Isane laughed, a little dryly. "I'd suggest you broach that topic very carefully, Dr. Inoue," she said. "Last I brought it up, I completely lost him as a patient."
Orihime frowned. "What happened?"
"He withdrew his name from all future sessions with me."
x.x
On Friday, there was someone at the cell door.
Usually, Ichigo went out during leisure time. He played basketball with the other guys or just walked around the courtyard aimlessly with Chad until call time.
That Friday, however, they'd both chosen to stay in with Ishida. The pre-monsoon humidity seemed to be awful weather to play in, and Chad was working on a song, so of course they'd stayed in. Ishida was perched on his bed as usual, Chad and Ichigo chilling on the floor.
He hadn't seen Orihime since the day of his breakdown in her office. It wasn't like he had any further check-ups with her, but he'd somehow managed to avoid her whenever he saw her in the library during his reading hours (and her lunch hours).
It wasn't even that he was trying to avoid her, it was just that he knew - as a doctor - she would want to get to the root of it. To help. What scared him wasn't that she wouldn't be able to, it was that she already had. Significantly. That was scary.
So he didn't go. He was eagerly waiting for call time anyway, to see if Karin would call.
He should have known, however, that people would notice he stayed in. The kind of people that had unfinished business with him.
"Kurosaki," Zommari, the man, rumbled. He was tall, bald, and dark. Ichigo had seen him with Grimmjow a couple of times. He wasn't present during the night of the attack, but that hardly counted for much. Ichigo knew if he was here, he was here on behalf of the entire posse. "Grimmjow requests an audience with you; second and third allowed." His eyes darted between Chad and Ishida.
Ichigo sighed. "Don't wanna," he said shortly, waving off Zommari like he was just some kind of fly that could be swatted away. "Play that chord again, Chad, I think you had something there."
"We understand you're upset," Zommari interrupted, still at the door with a carefully neutral expression on his face. "But Grimmjow wants to make amends."
Ichigo raised an eyebrow, ready to mouth off exactly where Grimmjow could put his amends, when Ishida cut him.
"Kurosaki," he said, giving Ichigo a look. "Perhaps it would be wise for us to listen to what the man has to say."
Ichigo glared at him, but when it seemed obvious that Ishida wasn't willing to compromise, he made a great show of standing up and stretching. "Well," he said, with an elongated sigh. "Let's go, then."
x.x
A little down south, by the bend of a corridor, was Grimmjow. More specifically, Grimmjow and his guys.
It was no surprise to anyone that he owned the entire B-Wing, all cellmates in that area owing him their willing or unwilling allegiance. It had been that way for a long time, considering Grimmjow had the manpower and inside influence with a few of the guards that made it happen.
A bunch of men were all clustered around the door to Grimmjow's cell, but when Ichigo, Chad and Ishida began to approach, he waved them away.
As the other men began dispersing, Grimmjow leaned against the wall to appraise Ichigo. When the last of the group had ducked into their own corners, his mouth raised into a smirk.
"Kurosaki Ichigo in the flesh," he jeered, crossing his arms. "Alive and kicking."
"No thanks to you," Ichigo muttered, levelling his gaze to hold Grimmjow's.
"Damn right." Grimmjow's eyes hardened, something primal shining behind his steely blue gaze. "Listen. Now that we've all kissed and made up, let's talk business, yeah? Put the whole 'I kicked your ass' behind us?" He brought one hand up to rest it on Ichigo's shoulder, but shrank back when he saw Ichigo's eyes pierce him threateningly. He held his hands up. "All right, all right. No touchy, got it."
"What do you want, Grimmjow?" Ichigo demanded, crossing his arms. Behind him, Chad and Ishida straightened too.
"Now here's the deal, Kurosaki," Grimmjow started, snapping his fingers. "This entire wing you see behind me? I'm the king of the ring." He gnashed his teeth and leaned into Ichigo's space, voice low. "And a king doesn't like it when you fuck with his kingdom, right?"
"What's that got to do with me?" Ichigo asked, sounding bored.
"I'm getting there!" Grimmjow snapped, but none of the men in front of him flinched. He sighed, shaking his head. "See, I know you know very well what's yours and what's mine. I mean, you and I are friends, Kurosaki - we go way back." This time, he did wrap his arm around Ichigo's shoulder. "But I ain't that lucky this time around, 'cause Abarai and his new lady friend, they got wind of our little tango and now…" He leaned in to whisper in Ichigo's ear. "I'm in deep shit."
Ichigo stilled, feeling the blood in his ears run hot. "You and I both know the doctor had nothing to do with this," he said, trying to keep his voice casual and indifferent, but feeling the persistent push of his racing heartbeat, anyway. "No one got wind of shit, Grimmjow. You got caught. By Abarai."
"Tch. Maybe so," Grimmjow sighed. "But now they want my ass in the Nest-" Ichigo resisted the urge to laugh. "- and they're willing to let it slide if you don't press it further. File a complaint, tattle to the blues, get me?"
"What, a tough guy like you is too chicken to do time in the Nest?" Ichigo scoffed. He knew for a fact that Grimmjow had been there before.
And Grimmjow most certainly wasn't the type to beg for silence. But when Ichigo looked into his eyes, there was a tiny, momentary glimmer of fear. It disappeared as soon as it arrived.
Grimmjow clenched his fist, looking physically strained from trying to hit Ichigo. "I'm offering you a deal, Kurosaki," he spat, right at Ichigo's feet. When he looked up, his eyes were blazing desperately. "One P.I job in exchange for your silence, take your pick and shut the fuck up. That's the deal."
Ichigo's first reaction was to reject it. While prison industry was an appealing offer, he wasn't about to accept an olive branch from Grimmjow.
Then, his eyes widened. Library was a part of the many prison industry jobs, wasn't it? Dusting the bookshelves in exchange for more reading time didn't sound half-bad, and he was about to open his mouth to say as much, when Ishida harshly pinched his elbow.
"What the fuck, man?" Ichigo growled, turning to glare at him.
"Pick clinic hours," he hissed, from the corner of his mouth, urgently.
"What? No," Ichigo said, frowning. "I'm picking -"
"Pick. Clinic. Hours," Ishida pressed, giving Ichigo a hard stare. Over his shoulder, Ichigo was surprised to see Chad giving him a similarly stern look.
"Ladies, I don't have all day," Grimmjow said smoothly, staring at his cuticles.
Ichigo, feeling irritably pressured from all corners, turned around and snapped, "Clinic."
Grimmjow loosened considerably, the corner of his mouth lifting up - in what looked like - poorly concealed relief. "Aw, look at your two little wingmen, trying to set you up," he teased. He punched Ichigo's shoulder, making his way back inside his cell. "I'll let the concerned men do what they gotta do. Pleasure doing business with ya." Then, he turned, as an afterthought. "Oh. And say hi to the nice lady back at the infirmary for me, will ya?"
He cackled, leaving through a thick mess of curtains without waiting for a response.
x.x
Back at the cell, Ichigo blew up.
"What the hell was that about?" he demanded, crossing his arms as he regarded Ishida and Chad. "What's going on with you guys?"
Ishida and Chad glanced at each other, seeming to have telepathic conversations that were communicated with twitching eyebrows and exaggerated expressions. Well, as exaggerated as things got on Chad, anyway.
"Hellooo?" Ichigo asked, feeling his impatience rise with every twitch.
"We were under the impression that you would not object to this, considering your, ah, friendship with the doctor," Ishida said carefully.
"That has nothing to do with this," Ichigo growled, as Chad watched them back and forth like a tennis match. "Actually, scratch that. It has everything to do with this. Do you know how creepy it's going to be if I just show up to the clinic on P.I? It would be like I'm stalking her!" And it was embarrassing how soft he'd gone in her arms but he'd die before he mentioned that to either of them. Returning from the clinic and acting normal that day was hard enough, he couldn't imagine telling them he'd gone a little haywire after a stupid flashback.
"Since when do you care what people think?" Ishida retorted.
"Friendship is not creepy, Ichigo," Chad added wisely, furthering Ichigo's blood pressure through the roof.
Something was off here. He had only known these two for a few years, but they were behaving strangely. Somehow he knew they weren't doing this just for the sake of him getting out of his cell more and talking to Orihime. Perceptive as they were, Ichigo knew that wasn't the case from the way they clearly seemed to be in a silent disagreement over something.
Cooling down a little, he decided to let it drop. If it was important, he figured they'd tell him when they were ready.
Besides, he could always catalogue this as a favor Ishida would owe him one. The two birds - visiting Orihime often and getting Ishida to do his bidding - made the metaphorical stone kind of worth it. Even if he wasn't willing to let himself get excited at one of them.
He grinned evilly.
"You're gonna call this in as a favor someday aren't you?" Ishida narrowed his eyes at him warily.
"Better pay your dues when your time comes, my guy," Ichigo replied smugly.
Shorter chapter. I'd appreciate a review or two, just to know people are still here and still interested :)