A/N: Had a funny dream, so I'm gonna continue the story. Reviews are food for my furry plot bunny!
This is a story continuing the 'Every Man's Fantasy?' tiny little world, completely unrelated to all the other tales I've spun for my Bleachverse. The main difference is that in this one, most of the characters are happier.
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They were snowed in.
Kuchiki Byakuya glared out the small grimy window at the snow, blaming the gently drifting flakes for his predicament. He hated being stuck in one location, especially when the one location was co-inhabited by his lieutenant.
On the Abarai Renji side, the redhead was just gazing at the falling whiteness. He had always been fascinated by snow. It also brought back memories of aching, gnawing hunger, of cold, of hugging Rukia and the rest of their crew together in that little shack smelling of loneliness and abandonment and dried beans.
"What is the report from the Twelfth?" the captain snapped suddenly.
"Hmm?" Abarai woke from his reverie. "Uh... ten hours, six at best."
Byakuya sighed with resignation. If he knew the mission would turn into this... predicament... he would have sent his third and fourth seats. Though, since it had been an arrancar sighting, the Gotei commander-general had decided to be cautious andsend the top two officers of the division in charge of the district.
It had been an arrancar, of middling power but tenacious and cunning. Abarai had managed to trap it with Zabimaru before Byakuya slew it with an unreleased Senbonzakura. An uneventful mission, other than the sudden bout of heavy snow.
The snow was pretty, he had to admit, but he was never a person who enjoyed cold weather. He was already cold enough; the scarf about his neck was as much for the warmth as for the status it proclaimed. He always felt the cold too easily.
"Be nice if we could have marshmallows," remarked Abarai, as he examined the small hut they had taken shelter in. There wasn't any kindling. Abarai shrugged and broke an old chair into pieces, tossing it into the fireplace.
Byakuya interrupted. "Let me light the fire."
"I know the spell, taichou."
"Yes, and you might just blow up the house should you forget to regulate the flow of reiatsu." Byakuya stepped forward, trying not to seem too eager to have warmth. As the wood ignited, he breathed out slowly with satisfaction. Heat washed over him and drove the cold away.
Abarai settled on the floor near the fireplace. "I don't know if it's a good time to mention this, but I have good news and bad news."
"I'm not inclined to play such games, fukutaichou," Byakuya remarked, the indirect rebuke evident.
The redheaded shinigami glanced at his captain. "Good news is we have fire and warmth now. Bad news is, that is the only kindling we have."
Surprised that he hadn't noticed, Byakuya did a quick scan of the room. Indeed, there was no more old furniture to burn for heat. Reiatsu supposedly regulated a person's temperature, but Byakuya knew he would still feel the chill of the snow.
"We will deal with the bad news when it arrives," he said abruptly, not wanting Abarai to see him in a moment of indecision.
"Whatever you say." Abarai huddled into his cloak and curled into a corner. "I for one will be glad to get out of here."
"You're not the only one," Byakuya said under his breath and seated himself directly in front of the dancing flames. Even with the fire and his scarf and the fur-lined cloak he liked to wear, he was beginning to sense the cold inching into his bones. He resisted the urge to hunch into the cloak. Instead he focused on the flames and visualized them filling him from inside.
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Byakuya awoke with a shiver. It was pitch dark, and he was certain he was leaning against the wall. Which was strange, because he hadn't been leaning on anything earlier. When did he fall asleep?
Right now his main preoccupation was that he was feeling very cold. The fire had gone out, and even the embers were cold, so that meant it had been perhaps two hours since the fire died. Before he could stop himself, he sneezed.
"Taichou?" asked Abarai.
Byakuya blinked and tried to force his night vision to restore itself. Gradually the homogeneous darkness gave way to shapes and shades of deep grays and browns. Abarai wasn't in sight though.
"Taichou, are you feeling cold?" asked Abarai again.
Now Byakuya realized why he could not see Abarai. What he took for a wall he was leaning against was Abarai's arm. He sat up and kneaded the bridge of his nose.
"How long have I been sleeping?" demanded Byakuya, trying not to sound petulant.
"About three hours or so. The storm's getting worse outside; I lost radio connection," answered Abarai.
Byakuya sighed. This was horrible. If he was in the human realm, it would have been so simple: just unlock a door into Seireitei. But to be snowed in in Rukongai... the sigh turned into a choked sneeze. Then Byakuya felt another cloak, rough-woven cotton-and-wool, being draped over him.
"Don't be ridiculous," he told Abarai. "You'll fall ill too and I will be put to the trouble of doing your work along with mine."
"Gee, taichou, you're all gratitude." Abarai withdrew his cloak and wrapped it about himself. "I just thought you needed it more than I do."
Now Byakuya could almost see his lieutenant. Abarai had let down his hair, apparently to trap more body heat, and was seated in a hunched-up manner.
"I thank you for the sentiment," Byakuya said at last.
Abarai let out a sound that might have been a snort or a chuckle. "The way you keep sneezing, taichou, I think I might have to pick up your slack."
"I'll be fine," said the noble, before rocking back on a sudden and violent exhalation. He regained his composure quickly. "I just need some hot soup and a very hot bath when I reach home. As would you."
"That sounds real good."
They settled into a quiet uneasiness. Byakuya wondered why he felt uncomfortable with his lieutenant. They had been working well recently; in fact, their collaboration now possessed a certain level of easygoing informality that had been missing prior to the Rukia incident. But truth was he felt – vulnerable, if that was the word – here in the small room, locked in darkness, with someone his junior and also his subordinate.
He sneezed again, his nose aching on the inside from the abuse.
Abarai stood up. "Alright, that's it. Even if you kill me afterwards, you're gonna share this cloak."
Byakuya forced down an irrational surge of nervousness. "Like I said, I do not wish for you to fall sick. It would really – aahtchoo! - I'm sorry. It would really be a burden for me."
"Likewise, taichou." The tall shinigami sat behind the captain and wrapped his arms about Byakuya, pulling him into the additional warmth of his cloak and his embrace. "There. This should do it – stop fighting to get out! You're letting out all the heat."
"Abarai Renji, let go of me this instant."
"Taichou, relax," said Abarai, tightening his hold instead. "When we were younger, me and Rukia and all the others would hug together in winter so we'd stay warm. It'll be fine."
"Rukia and I," Byakuya corrected absently. It was pleasantly warm. If Byakuya really wanted to break free, he could. And Abarai wouldn't dare to presume to start any funny business. Not like that day in the office.
:If I may be so bold, Kuchiki-sama, you were the one who started it.:
Senbonzakura-san, I did not ask for your input.
:I apologize. I shall withdraw now.:
In the cage of Abarai's muscled arms, Byakuya focused on the heated breath washing over the left side of his face, on the warmth seeping into him from behind, on the remarkably soft lips on the shell of his left ear...
Wait a second.
"Abarai-fukutaichou."
"Yes, taichou?" Abarai answered softly, sounding drowsy. Every syllable tickled the fine hairs near Byakuya's ear and sent tingles that had nothing to do with the snow down the captain's spine. "Something wrong?"
Byakuya shooed the errant thoughts away and invented wildly. "I – I need to shift a little. This position isn't very good for the lower back. I need to sit straighter."
"Mm-kay."
The non-word sounded inappropriately seductive, as Abarai obediently spread his legs so Byakuya could settle with his back leaning more fully against Abarai's chest. When strong legs pressed against the outside of his own thighs, Byakuya couldn't help the sudden lurch of his heart.
I can feel his heartbeat. This is not a good idea.
Abarai's mouth was at Byakuya's ear again. With the slightest motion, Byakuya would be able to press his face against his lieutenant's lips. The arms about Byakuya had relaxed and the hands were over his lower abdomen, practically in his lap. Abarai was leaning forward slightly and his broad chest wrapped about the smaller frame of the noble. It was warm – more than warm – now. Byakuya could smell Abarai: the officer-issue soap and the odd hint of almond and a tinge of sweat and smoke.
This really isn't a good idea.
Before he could register what he was doing, Byakuya had turned his face to the left. Abarai's soft mouth brushed over his left cheek and the redhead inhaled with sleepy surprise.
"Taichou?"
"I dislike you for putting me in this situation," Byakuya informed his lieutenant sternly, before sliding his own mouth over Abarai's. The lieutenant had no chance of rebuttal as Byakuya pressed the advantage, tongue slipping into Abarai's mouth and drawing out the taste.
Being in the dark had one advantage, Byakuya realized; he wouldn't be able to see Abarai's shocked expression.
Being in the dark had one disadvantage; Byakuya wouldn't be able to see Abarai.
The dark-haired shinigami didn't tear at clothes or try to dominate Abarai, taking his time to appreciate the passionate heat of the kiss now being returned. He twisted around further so he could face his lieutenant and pull that glorious mane of red hair closer to himself. Byakuya could always visualize the blood-red hair in sunlight, catching highlights from brilliant beams and becoming ardent crimson locks. Ignoring Abarai's half-hearted attempts to ask questions, Byakuya rearranged himself so he could sit in the redhead's lap. His pale, gloved hands captured Abarai's face, keeping it close.
Their breaths flowed and mingled as Byakuya continued exploring Abarai's mouth. First a lick over the lower lip, then a roll of his tongue deep inside, then sucking on the younger shinigami's reciprocal deep kiss... a stolen breath, a short moan, cut off, and soon large, hot hands swam under the scarf around Byakuya's neck.
"Taichou," gasped Abarai, tugging the scarf down partially.
Byakuya, being the prodigy that he was, practically pushed his lieutenant to his neck and he threw his raven locks back as Abarai proceeded to lick up the porcelain column offered to him. A kiss and a small nibble below his ear and Byakuya cried out, wanting to feel more of such exploration.
"Taichou." Abarai wasn't asking for permission this time. His tongue circled the outer rim and then pushed into the ear. Byakuya gasped aloud, feeling the sensations ripple through him to pool at the base of his spine. Involuntarily his hips shifted forward, earning a groan from Abarai.
I like that sound, Byakuya thought muzzily, biting back another exclamation when his lieutenant let his tongue trace the contours of his ear. The captain moved his hips again, hardness against hardness, and shuddered.
Abarai groaned again. "You're not – possessed – are you?"
"Cut the nonsense," Byakuya ordered with as much hauteur as he could summon. In the gloom all they could make out were vague shapes. Byakuya buried his face in Abarai's hair, absorbed by the scent and image of fiery silk about him. His fingers curled almost convulsively into the silken strands, kneading the strong neck and sliding over clothed shoulders.
Abarai's hands dropped from Byakuya's back and began massaging the firm muscles of his backside. Byakuya heard a soft whimper and was startled to realize it was from his throat.
Equally surprised, Abarai inquired in a rough whisper, "Should I stop?"
"Don't you dare," ordered Byakuya thickly. His hips were riding a steady rhythm now, and Abarai had a talented mouth that was making its mark all over his exposed neck and collarbone. The younger male's hands gripped Byakuya's hips and firm fingers ran over hipbones that they found under layers of fabric.
The cloaks fell from their shoulders and pooled over their legs; neither cared enough to notice. Byakuya's movements sped up, not heeding that Abarai had parted his robe enough to lick his chest. His slim elegant fingers tangled into wild scarlet, thumbs brushing and tracing cold ears.
It was decidedly, oddly erotic, feeling only the slick velvet of his mouth and tongue over his own skin, feeling the moist, hot breath, hearing the pants and groans and grunts and occasional half-uttered curses, sensing the tension in hips and thighs and calves and arms as they rocked and tensed and relaxed in matched motion; oddly, decidedly erotic in having to imagine the gleam of perspiration over Abarai's tattooed body, having to picture the brilliant ruby of his hair spread over tanned skin, having to visualize his full lips parted for breath, having to recall dark red eyes darken further with desire and want and ohgodsthisisthisisityesyesyesahAHahhAAAH-
And then they were both over the edge, hands clutching and leaving bruises and not giving a damn, mouths seeking each other's blindly.
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"Don't mention this. Ever."
"Taichou," said Abarai, trying to restrain an eye-roll, "do you think I want to be dismembered?"
Byakuya fussed with his scarf. "I would not presume to know what you want," he remarked icily, colder than the weather outside.
After he pulled on his cloak, Abarai suddenly said cheekily. "But can I presume that you want me?"
"I do not," stated Byakuya. "It was a... reaction to a stressful situation, in which my decreased capabilities to reason due to a sudden respiratory ailment and the inclement weather caused me to temporarily lose the facility of rational thought."
Abarai paused as he worked out the statement. "You were feeling cold and thus you lost your sanity?"
Byakuya directed a glare at him. Unfortunately its effectiveness was lost in the dark. "You will not mention this."
"How about the other time in the office?"
"Abarai-fukutaichou, I'm warning you-"
The redheaded shinigami sounded impatient. "Look, taichou. That's twice you've jumped me. Twice. I think that's reason enough for me to believe you have a certain amount of interest in me, at least physically."
"You were just... handy," sputtered Byakuya, temporarily derailed by Abarai's frankness.
His lieutenant didn't buy his callousness for a minute. "You expect me to believe Kuchiki-taichou is the kind to leap on random young shinigami for his carnal pleasure?"
"Abarai-fukutaichou..."
"Kuchiki-taichou..." Abarai mimicked. "It's just you and me, here and now, in the dark." He paused again, and then placed a hand on Byakuya's knee. "Is it so hard to admit that you kinda, maybe, sorta like me?"
As he tried to figure a way out, Byakuya breathed in slowly. Then he let the breath out.
"Abarai-fukutaichou," he said at last, "I do think you are a very attractive young male."
"See? That wasn't so hard."
"But you are going out with my sister."
There was a long beat of silence.
This time it was Abarai who sighed. "She is gonna kill both of us if she ever hears of this."
"And thus we are back to square one," commented Byakuya quietly. "No one mentions this, ever."
"We don't have to mention it," said Abarai in a resolute tone. "It's not gonna happen again. Right?"
Byakuya twiddled his thumbs. It's not going to happen again? Damn.
Abarai nudged his knee. "Right, taichou?"
"Right! Right." Byakuya could only wish he was determined as he sounded. Maybe I could... No, I shouldn't. But still I'm sure I could... No. that's unethical. "We'll, uh, keep a professional distance."
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