It doesn't hurt me,
You want to feel how it feels
You want to know,
Know that it doesn't hurt me
- Placebo, Running Up That Hill
Aizen walked quietly through the main gates of the Fifth Division; the cheerful guard far too loyal to question his trip. He was Lieutenant Aizen, after all, the well-mannered, polite and oh-so-faithful second in command. A refreshing break from their wild Captain. He wondered about the man then, Shinji Hirako, the untamed spirit of a panther. He wondered what he would be doing at the moment; listening to his favorite human music, running around chasing the short girl from the Twelfth or perhaps sleeping. For some reason, Aizen had the sudden urge to talk to his Captain. Not reports or receive instructions, but actually talk with the man that intrigued him more than he would let on. He wanted the blond to tell him something he couldn't figure out by watching him behind the shadows at night, or listening in on his conversations. Something from his heart.
But then that would form a bond between the two men, and of course they couldn't have that. It would be too risky. So Aizen settled for a smile that wasn't as forced as it usually was, as he tapped lightly against the bamboo of his Captain's door. Faint chatter could be heard from the inside, and the unmistakable trill of Shinji's laughter. It wasn't particularly soft or high pitched, quite the opposite, but he found the sound...pleasant.
'C-Come in!~'
Shinji hadn't bothered to clear his throat before answering and the tinkle of his laughter melted in with his words like an improvised melody. Aizen's smile grew just that little bit wider before he tentatively opened the door, peeking large brown eyes through the space. He could see Shinji's head thrown back against the couch, the rest of his body lying on top of Captain Kyoraku's, hands shoved deep into the pockets of his hakama. Shimmering bangs hung over his eyes, framing his face and bringing out the pure pink of his lips that were pulled back to reveal large teeth.
Laughter immediately died out as the Captain's poppy gold eyes snapped open to lock with Aizen's. In a matter of seconds, the laughing, carefree and almost happy expression on his pale face shifted into a dark annoyance reserved especially for his Lieutenant. Aizen watched him sit up and sigh, fingers brushing through his hair before looking back up at him.
'Eh, Sosuke. Still got those papers fer' ya' ta' fill out.'
His tone was bored, exhausted and cold as he studied the younger man in front of him. If Aizen had been anyone else, he would have cringed.