Author's Note:
Doing nothing all weekend definitely did not prepare me for the lots of something I had to do this week. Also, this is AU again because… I… don't… want… to… face… the… realitiessss.
Kaleidoscope
a Bleach (© Kubo Tite) fanfiction
Theme #93
Flame
Opening Song: "My Dark Side" — Glee Cast
The fire is warm and melts the chill from her bones almost immediately. With a sigh of content, Rangiku sinks into the warm blanket and the pillows nested around her on the ground. "My fingers feel like they're gonna fall off," she mumbles as she pulls the soaking mittens off her hands. They fall to the side with a wet "plop," on top of the other articles of clothing she's discarded. "Hey, can I get some—"
"Hot chocolate?" She blinks at the steaming beverage, then gratefully takes it into her red hands; the heat warms her skin. After shedding off his jacket, boots, socks, and other outerwear, Gin sits beside her, pulls their shared blanket closer, and sips at his hot chocolate. "This is the life, ain't it?"
She shrugs in an attempt to throw off how happy she actually feels. "It could be better. I could be rich and twenty-one and a fashion designer." He nudges her with his elbow, and a small smile cracks on her face. "But I guess, considering the circumstances, yeah, it's pretty good."
They're sitting too close, but Rangiku's the only one who seems to notice. Embarrassed, she tries to focus on sipping on her drink without burning herself, and when that doesn't work she glares intently into the fire. "It's just Gin," she tells herself, "no big deal. You do this all the time. It's been like this since you were kids. This is totally normal." But obviously, her subconscious tells her, this isn't totally normal because it's bothering her so much. Something is off.
"Do you wanna watch a movie or somethin'?" he asks. Maybe the silence is bothering him too; maybe it doesn't feel natural to him anymore either. "I'll go grab one o' my DVDs."
"No, it's fine," she says, despite herself.
"Ya sure?"
"Yeah. This is fine." Whatever this is.
His shoulders slacken a bit as he sets into his seat. The fire casts a shadow on his face that makes it difficult to read his expression. "Okay." His arm presses against hers, but she doesn't pull back. She tells herself it's because she likes the warmth.
Closing Song: "Hundred Dollars" — Punch Brothers
Finding motivation to do anything is major struggs.
Alsoooo, thank you to everyone who has reviewed thus far! I'm at 1100 for this drabble series, which is so much more than I could have ever hoped for. You're all so wonderful. :)
xx, der kapitan