Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
Word Count: 410
A Kiss for Shelter
Incorrigible
Renji did indeed appear a few hours later. The mission assigned to a select few of Squad Six had taken them away for a few days and the lieutenant reflected the tiresome nature of the task.
Xochitl sat seiza just inside the shoji and offered tea when the redhead tiredly climbed the steps up to the porch.
"Naw," Renji rubbed at the back of his neck, a yawn escaping, "Can't say I'd make it back up if I sat down, Xochitl-san." He offered a crooked smile and she gave him a sympathetic one in response.
She gazed up at him and could see the dark circles beneath his eyes. With a slight frown she reached a hand up and understanding Renji gripped her elbow and helped the woman to her feet. It took a moment before Xochitl felt grounded enough to move forward.
"All went well?" She asked as he assisted her down the stairs.
He yawned again before settling into a smirk and grumbling, "If by well you mean we didn't come across a damn trace of the instigators of that riot…"
As they began to tread the path Xochitl shot him another considerate glance.
When she looked forward again, Renji couldn't help but study her out of the corner of his eye as he internally debated whether to sate his curiosity. He knew women were sensitive about… well a lot of things…
"Sooo… was that- ugh- the woman the clan sent- the one I saw heading to the manor from here?" He asked as casually as he could manage, watching her for any sign of temper.
To his surprise Xochitl replied without hesitation, "Yes. She brought breakfast she had made."
Renji's brows winged upward, "Really? So- you two- you're not like slinging insults or…"
She laughed, "We get on just fine."
"Hmm," Renji nodded pensively. Then his nose wrinkled slightly as his brow scrunched, "So what… You're all just gonna live here like some kinda- commune?" He'd probably been stealing the wrong books about pregnancy…
Xochitl did not turn to him as she spoke rather off-handedly, "Well I suppose I might become your captain's concubine if he chose to wed Sakura-san…"
Renji nearly tripped, his wide-eyed gaze whipping in her direction, "Seriously? I mean- shit- ugh- I did say somethin' about a harem- but I was just trying to get under the captain's skin!"
Xochitl clicked her tongue and gave him a wry glance, "You're too incorrigible, Lieutenant."
AN: Renji was totally thinking of a hippie sex commune… Perv.