Posting for HK for doing her homework because the reward system works :)

a/n: A possible Game scene but I don't know what to do with it yet

Notes: 'Game' spoilers [duh]. Shameless waff and shipping. And flower language yay. Also unimagnative title is unimaginative.

Enjoy. I'm in a lot of pain now so I am going to curl up in bed and read.

Strawberry

Aizen sat at his desk, pressing a bag of ice against his black eye. Cursing that wretched Kisuke Urahara for all he was worth. Which apparently wasn't much, given the black eye, bruised ribs and general unsteadiness he'd acquired during their brawl because he'd left himself open. Like an idiot.

He lifted the ice bag away and gingerly touched the bruising around his eye with his fingertips, wincing at the pain. He hadn't looked in the mirror yet, but from the feel of it the bruise would be massive. Not that it mattered. He'd managed to defend his Gin's honour, land a few hard punches, and warn that fucker off, so he could chalk it down as a success. He just hoped Gin wasn't too angry at him for starting unnecessary fights. Ah, on second thought, Gin had grown up Rukon too. So he doubted Gin would say anything about it. Gin might have a few words to say about his bruises, though. His Gin could be quite soft like that sometimes. Even if he did grow up in the outer Rukongai districts.

It was part of why he loved Gin, though. Not that he'd admit that, of course.

He smiled to himself at the thought of his lovely Gin and pressed the bag of ice back onto his eye. He hoped it wouldn't swell up too much. Kyouka Suigetsu could hide the shiner from the outside world, he knew. But it would still be uncomfortable if his eye swelled shut. For one thing it would impede his vision. And then how would he look at his sweet Gin?

A knock on the door brought him back to reality, and he looked up with his good eye to see Gin standing unobtrusively in the office doorway. Holding a plant in a little pot. Though from this distance and with only one good eye, he couldn't see what kind of plant it was.

"Hey," Gin said gently. "Can I come in?"

Aizen nodded. "Of course."

Gin walked in quietly with the plant and set it on his desk. Aizen tried to smile at him and winced at the pain. Damn, he'd forgotten how badly black eyes stung. Gin gently laid a hand on his head.

"Bet that smarts," Gin said. "You okay?"

"Few bruises but I'll live." he replied. Trying to shrug it off. Tis but a scratch, he wanted to joke. But he just didn't have it in him. He was too beaten up to play it off. Instead he glanced at the plant on the desk. "That for me?"

Gin nodded. "Yep. A lil thankyou fer whalin' on Urahara fer me."

Gin smiled sheepishly and Aizen grinned despite the pain. If Gin was happy, he decided, the beating was worth it.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Strawberry." Gin answered, smiling shyly. "Look, you can see the fruit forming."

"Yes, I can see." Aizen smiled softly. Strawberry. In our language: 'esteem and love'.

"I hope ya like it." Gin said.

Aizen just smiled again. "Thankyou Gin. It's lovely." he said, finding Gin's hand with his own. "And I do so love strawberries. Perhaps we can share them sometime."

Gin broadened his smile, flushed pink, and Aizen softened his expression. Yeah, getting kicked and bruised was definitely worth it.