Requested by Kiharu Lamperouge- thank you

Shuuhei x Ichigo

Crunch

He heard the crunch of gravel outside his office window, and smiled to himself as he pushed his hair off his forehead. The heat was oppressive, his body suddenly home to small pools of sweat that gathered in cloying pools on his body- in the hollow of his collarbones, behind his knees, inbetween his legs. It was this kind of weather that made him curse whichever shinigami that had decided that their uniforms would look best in thick, heavy, black material.

There was only one person who walked along the gravel that ran the length of the building in a narrow passageway between their exterior wall and that of the next division along. It was not wide enough for a man to walk through with ease, having to turn slightly to his side and walk at a strange angle. Most - sensible - people just used the front door, which was always the more sensible option for any visit.

Hence, he knew exactly who it would be, because there was only one idiot who crept down there to prop his elbows on the ground-floor windowsill, and glare in at the fervently working Lieutenant.

"Oi, what are you doing, still working?"

Shuuhei's smile, at the abrasive voice that cut through the heat, did not fade.

"It has to be finished."

"It's too hot for work. Come on, they're all expecting you."

Hisagi shook his head, flicking a balled up piece of paper at Ichigo's head, stuck through the window. Unsmiling, but with a exasperated huff that was not unkind, he withdrew, and crunched away again. Shuuhei rested his head on the desk for a moment, before sitting up, and continuing to work. He had twice as much to do as any other shinigami at the moment (except, he reminded himself, Izuru- at least Hinamori had been excused from duty) and although he did not begrudge it, it did not mean that he could ignore it. He half-listened to Ichigo's footsteps, until they were out of sight.

That was the morning.

A few hours after lunch, that crunch could be heard again as Ichigo came back, bearing his lovely frown and, unfortunately, no food to ease the grumbles coming from his stomach.

"You want food? Leave your desk."

Shuuhei shook his head, Ichigo rolled his eyes, and to the Lieutenants relief, a Fourth division shinigami arrived to fix the air conditioning. The sweltering heat subsided a little, and he shut the window, to cool the room down.

There there was a knock on the glass, waking him up. Paper stuck to his face, his eyes fogged with sleep, and Ichigo's face pressed up against the window. The air was cold, but pleasantly so, although the cooled sweat on his skin was making him feel a little clammy. Dark outside- he did not remember when he had fallen asleep, but he knew it had been light when he had. He opened the window, and Ichigo hoisted himself through.

"It's like a freezer in here."

Shuuhei rubbed his eyes.

"Has everyone gone home?"

Ichigo rolled his eyes again, insolent, affectionate.

"It's your birthday, you idiot. No one is going anywhere until you come out with us for a drink."

He smiled, because although his work still was not finished he could tell from the numbered pages that he had made more than a good dint in it. Work was over, and now was time for the real day to begin- even though it was nearly over.

"Oh yeah, and happy birthday."

Ichigo pressed a kiss to his mouth, with closed lips and the rough taste of sake (even though he was underage! his mind protested, only to be ignored). Shuuhei felt dizzy with happiness.

"Come on. You are far too many drinks behind to ever catch up, but half of the seireitei wants to buy you a drink, so hurry up, yeah?"

Shuuhei did not let go of the substitute's arm, resting his tired face in the crook of Ichigo's neck.

"In a bit."

"You said that hours ago."

A hand slipped between the fabric of his uniform, and Ichigo let out an involuntary gasp. The room may have been cold, but the breath on his neck was as hot as the afternoon had been. Murmured whispers in the shell of his ear made him sigh; the group waiting for them was forgotten.

"I thought you were tired?"

Shuuhei laughed, quietly.

Needless to say, they were even later than they should have been, but by that point everyone had had too many drinks to notice their rumpled uniforms and flushed faces.