a/n: here's the next chapter. As always feedback is nice and generally means more content. Even if said feedback is really just "cool story bro, needs more unicorns." Thanks and enjoy.

Chapter 3: Thief and Snake

Renji stood panting, still holding Ikkaku back. He'd yanked him away from the table, away from Gin's legs. Away from damaging the one chance they had of getting Byakuya back safely.

Gin's words still rang in his ears. He'll never trade if you break me!

Those words were what brought him back to cold reality, what had poured icy cold fear inside of him. Because Gin was right. If he knew anything about Aizen Sousuke, and how ruthless that man was, whatever they did to Gin here, the same – if not worse – would be done to his Byakuya.

And he refused to let that happen.

Aizen Sousuke would not accept any damaged goods.

Ikkaku shook him off and turned to snarl at him. "The fuck is wrong with you? We could've made him suffer!"

"Like hell I'll let you fuck up our one chance to get Byakuya back!" Renji growled, meeting the challenge head on. "Just because we're pack, I'll forgive you this once, but try anything like that again, and I'll beat you into the floor!"

Both men growled at each other, neither backing down. It wasn't until Kisuke stepped between them that the tension eased.

"Now now, Ikkaku, Renji's right. If we want any chance at all of getting Kuckiki back, we have to play by the rules."

Renji turned to scowl at him. Says you who wanted to break his fucking legs, he thought. But knew better than to say so. These people were trying to help him, after all. He couldn't go spitting it back in their faces.

"I'll take him back to his cell," Renji announced, breaking away from the others. Unshackling Gin from the table and escorting him back to the dingy little cell he'd emerged from earlier. The bulk of the tension easing out of his body the moment he was out of sight of the other men.

They walked down the long corridor of the facility in silence, Gin trailing along in front of him so he could see if the man tried anything funny. Not that it was necessary as Gin was still shackled. But still, Ichimaru Gin was a snake. It was best to be cautious in dealing with snakes. A lesson learned the hard way.

When they reached Gin's cell, Renji opened the door and gestured for Gin to enter. "Get in," he ordered. Trying to keep his voice calm and steady. Difficult as it was. He'd been shaken up enough for today, and he refused to let it show in front of the enemy. Though earlier events had blurred the lines of who really was the enemy.

He may be the thief who'd taken Gin from his home and his lover, but he'd only done so for the sole purpose of getting Byakuya back.

The others... well, they just wanted to torture Gin as payback for betraying them.

Gin looked into his cell, and then to Renji. Searching his face for a moment. "Thanks," Gin said after a moment. "For saving me back there."

Renji snorted. "If they broke you Aizen would never trade for Byakuya," he said simply. "I didn't do it for you."

Gin nodded, keeping his head down. "I know. But even so, thanks. They nearly broke my legs back there."

Renji nodded. Not knowing what else to say to that. "It would've been the least you deserved," Renj admitted. Because he, too, had been burned by the traitor. "But like I said, if they had, then I'd never have any hope of getting Byakuya back safely."

Gin managed a little smile. "Yeah. I know Aizen. He'd have broken your Byakya to all fuck. An eye for an eye, like they say, ne?"

"Something like that," Renji answered him. Not wanting to give too much away. Especially not to this man. He may be in captivity now, but even captive snakes were dangerous. And this one's bite was venomous.

"Can I just ask one thing, though, before ya lock me back up in there?" Gin ventured gently.

Renji considered it for a moment, what harm could one small question do? "Sure, go ahead," he said.

Gin nodded, before he spoke. "I assume you called them folk back there ta help ya get yer Byakuya-kun back," he began, his voice steady. Steadier than Renj expected for a man who;d almost had his legs broken not five minutes ago that was for sure.

"Yeah," Renji said. "What of it?"

"Are they really tryin' to help ya get 'im back? Or are they jus' out fer their own agendas? I mean, we both know Aizen don't take back damaged toys. An' I'm sure they know that too. I get why they did it. I mean, they gotta get me ta talk, right? But there's a lotta less brutal methods they can use ta do that."

Renji listened quietly, trying not to think about the words too much. This was a traitor talking to him, after all. "Yeah sure there are," he said. Having to agree with that. "But what's your point?"

Gin looked up at him, opening his crimson eyes and staring straight at him. "My point is," Gin said quietly, standing up tall and meeting Renji's firm gaze even though his wrists and ankles were shackled together. "Are you sure they're really your friends in this?"

Renji stared at him. "What are you talking about?" he asked. "Of course they're my friends. They agreed to help me get Byakuya back whatever it took."

Gin shot him a skeptical look. "Even if it meant breaking my legs?" he asked. Which made Renji stop and think. "Because surely they'd know Aizen wouldn't take me back broken," Gin added. "Kisuke would, if no-one else."

Renji thought about that for a few moments. Far longer than he should have, anyway. Gin did have a point there. Kisuke had known Aizen far longer than any of them. He of all people would know how Aizen Sousuke's mind worked.

"Think about it, Renji," Gin told him, voice soft yet full of a sense of urgency. "Do you know who you're working with? And if you don't, find out. And then work out who the real enemy is."