For the amazing Glowing Blue!

Prompt: Thermostat

Rating: K+

She never knew it was possible for a person to be that still. She could easily mistake him for a statue if she didn't pay attention to the soft rising of his chest.

Not that she blamed him. Moving required energy, and exerting energy only made the heat worse.

The worst heat wave in years had hit Karakura, and, of course, the Kurosaki Clinic's air conditioner had chosen now of all times to break. The best Karin could do was close all the blinds, wear only as many clothes as needed for modesty, and park herself underneath her living room ceiling fan. The past few days had consisted of her splayed on the carpet, hoping against all hope that the fan would start producing cold air instead of merely circulating the hot.

What she didn't understand was why Hitsugaya Toshiro was laying spread-eagle beside her.

Sure, they were friends, and he had started visiting her more often, but it was a known fact that heat and Hitsugaya never mixed well, and Karin wouldn't wish this misery on her worst enemy. Yet for some reason, the icy captain had taken time off to join her in her suffering and impersonate an inanimate object. It defied all logic.

"Toshiro."

His eyes were closed, though she saw a slight movement beneath his eyelids at the sound of her voice. After a few beats, he grunted in response.

She would have rolled her eyes if it didn't take so much energy. "Toshiro, don't worry about me."

He didn't answer, still not moving. His snowy hair stuck to his forehead.

She hadn't known that gigais could sweat. Urahara sure is making them realistic, she mused. Usually dressed nicely, the heat had made Toshiro just as much of a bum as her. He had forgone a shirt entirely, lounging instead in only a pair of shorts.

For her part, Karin had thrown on an old wife-beater of her brother's, the hem of which had risen above her belly button, and a pair of her soccer shorts. At this point, though, it was a miracle she was wearing any clothes at all.

Her eyes flicked to the thermostat on the wall, big numbers informing her it was thirty-five degrees in the house. It could only be worse outside.

"Toshiro," she continued, managing to gesture dramatically. "You don't have to do this. Save yourself!"

For a brief moment, her arm came in contact with his, a shiver running through her. She had forgotten that Toshiro's body temperature typically ran a little on the cool side.

She had a revelation.

Using more effort than she liked, Karin scooted closer to the shinigami with a built-in cooler. She knew he heard her coming, but his eyes didn't snap open until she had gotten uncomfortably close.

"What are you doing?" he demanded.

She knew that she was invading his space, and that though both a boy and a friend, Toshiro was not her boyfriend. Still, she couldn't find it in herself to care as she inched to his side, throwing an arm around his middle. She sighed contentedly when his cool skin met her feverish skin.

Karin felt him immediately tense. "What are you doing?" he demanded again. When she looked up at him, his face was flushed, though she couldn't tell if it was from embarrassment or the heat.

"I'm sorry, but it's just too damn hot!" she retorted, feeling her own face flare up.

"It's not my fault it's so hot, Karin." This close, she could feel his gigai take more rapid breaths. "What do you want me to do?"

"Make it snow?" she suggested.

"You know I can't do that," he scoffed, aquamarine eyes almost glaring down at her. "It's an abuse of my power."

"Fine," Karin huffed, hooking a leg around one of his. It forced her to be flush against him. "This'll just have to do then," she murmured into his neck.

For a few more moments, she thought he would fight her. But then she felt him sigh, the tension leaving his body. He shifted his arm to be around her shoulders, simultaneously giving his consent and making Karin more comfortable. He shut his eyes again.

Karin let out a pleased hum.

They laid there in companionable silence, the only noise in the room the whirring of the fan's fruitless endeavors. And when an hour later the door slid open and her brother entered—completely bewildered and upset about their floor cuddle-session—, Karin merely offered him one of Hitsugaya's arms.