Ichigo never would have guessed that Toushiro was shy. He commanded an entire division, he routinely yelled his lungs out at his Lieutenant, and was not one to take any crap from the other captains, his soldiers, or his boyfriend. He usually spoke his mind when it came to matters discussing the Soul Society or Gotei Thirteen. But Ichigo realised all too late that he was so confident because it was his job to be.

"How would you like to come with me to a work dinner?" Ichigo asked looking at him from over the back of the office couch. He placed his chin on his folded arms as Toushiro took a short while to answer.

"A work dinner?" he asked as he set aside the file he had been working on.

"The hospital is trying to get funding from some corporation and they want me to be there."

Toushiro raised an eyebrow. "You especially?"

Ichigo scowled playfully. "Hey, I'm the best trauma surgeon on staff."

Toushiro hummed. "Why do I need to go?"

"We're supposed to bring guests. And everyone wants to meet you."

"Who wants to meet me?"

Ichigo grinned. "I talk about you a lot."

Toushiro sighed. "When is it?"

"Next Saturday."

"I'll... think about it."

Toushiro tried several times to back out, making up several flimsy excuses that were way below his usual calibre. He didn't have a good excuse not to go and Ichigo knew it. But he had also promised several of his co-workers that he would introduce them to his boyfriend that night. He talked about Toushiro a lot; every staff member knew that he was in a committed relationship with Toushiro Hitsugaya; he had even shown them pictures. But they had yet to see him in person. And as much as Toushiro didn't want to go, Ichigo wanted him to just to prove that he wasn't imaginary.

He was silent when Saturday night came around and put on his best suit with minimal resistance; Ichigo only had to help him with his bowtie. No expenses were speared for this dinner; Ichigo didn't think that he would ever be able to walk into a five-star hotel. He felt slightly overwhelmed as a valet pried his keys from fingers frozen in shock. Before stepping into the lobby, he held out his hand for Toushiro. He expected him to refuse it and waltz in with his head held high, but instead he hooked his arms around Ichigo's elbow, tucking himself into his side. Ichigo smiled at him and lead them into the banquet hall. They were instantly swept by a crowd of tuxedoes and high heels, and he felt Toushiro's grip tighten.

"Why are there so many people here?" Toushiro muttered.

Ichigo shrugged, "It's a big hospital."

Toushiro sighed. "How long do we have to stay?"

"For the whole thing I'd imagine. They did take the time to invite me, and I don't want to seem rude-"

He was cut off as a tall man with impeccably styled, grey hair came up to them. "Ichigo, glad you could make it," he smiled, clapping Ichigo on the back.

"Of course, when I saw the menu I wasn't missing this thing for the world."

The man chuckled loudly, clapping Ichigo on the back again, then turning to Toushiro. "Is this your..."

Ichigo gently nudged Toushiro forward. His shoes squeaked on the marble tiles as he stumbled slightly. "Toushiro, my boyfriend. This is Dr. Hamasaki, he works in the oncology department."

Toushiro nodded and shook Dr. Hamasaki's hand.

"Ah, it's nice to finally be able to put a face to the name-"

"You've seen him in pictures."

Dr. Hamasaki smiled again. "In person, then. Your boyfriend speaks highly of you."

Toushiro eyed Ichigo as a light blush spread across his face. "I... he..."

"It's nothing bad," Ichigo said with a smile.

That got him another chuckle. "We're starting with speeches in around twenty minutes. The chief wants us to mingle until then." He clapped Ichigo's shoulder once more then slipped away into the crowd.

Ichigo felt Toushiro's fingers dig into his arm. "You okay?"

Toushiro nodded and took a deep breath through his nose. In hindsight Ichigo should have realised that that breath hadn't been a good sign, but he after talking with Dr. Hamasaki he was too focused on meeting up with co-workers and potential sponsors. He was in the middle of a highly animated conversation with a senior anaesthesiologist and the one of the dignified guests when the chief walked up to him.

"Sorry, to interrupt," he said as he sidled up to Ichigo's side. "Ichigo, I'm going to put you on the spot here; Dr. Mizushima was supposed to do the opening speech, but she called a few minutes ago to say that she's stuck in a traffic jam."

Ichigo blinked. "You want me to do the opening speech?"

The chief nodded. "Walk with me."

"Oh, okay, uh, I guess I'll talk to you guys later." He made to pull away from the conversation, but realised that Toushiro was still hanging on to his arm. "I'll be right back, Shiro, find someone to talk to." He unwound Toushiro's arm from his and stepped away.

The fact that the chief had asked him to give the speech was an honour in itself. He wasn't even a senior staff member, but he been asked by the man himself. This certainly meant that a promotion was in his near future. Well, as long as he didn't mess this up. He wouldn't; it was just a speech, and one that he hadn't even had to write himself. Though, when he was up at the podium, and everyone was seated at their respective tables, he did a quick scan of the room, hoping to comfort himself with meeting Toushiro's gaze. But he couldn't find his boyfriend anywhere. They had been seated at table twelve at which he saw two empty seats. Instantly he began to feel nervous; where had Toushiro gone? Had he left the room, gotten lost? He shook his head and forced a smile to his face; there was no reason to panic, Toushiro could more than handle himself.

He gave the speech as best as he could, making sure to make eye contact with most of the potential sponsors. At least the chief seemed happy with him when he was done. When he sat down he immediately asked if anyone at the table had seen Toushiro. They hadn't. He slipped from the room as soon as he got the chance. He called Toushiro's cell phone and texted him when he didn't answer. He hoped to whatever god there was that there hadn't been a hollow attack. He was still crap at sensing them, and Toushiro wouldn't have disturbed him. But if it was a hollow, it shouldn't have taken him so long to get rid of it. He wondered around the lobby, asked the receptionist if he'd seen him, and was thankfully pointed to the bathroom. Although, the man said that had gone there almost half an hour ago, but he wasn't in the banquet hall so Ichigo hoped he was still in there.

He recognised Toushiro's shoes under the far stall and immediately ran over and knocked on the door.

"Shiro? Are you okay?" he asked, worry creeping into his voice.

"I... Can we go home?" he called back softly.

"Why? Are you sick?"

"... No..."

"What's wrong?"

"I... I..." he trailed off with a harsh sigh.

"You sure you're okay?"

There was no answer.

"I'll crawl under the door if I have to."

Toushiro unlocked the stall and stepped out. Ichigo instantly pulled him into a hug.

"What's wrong, baby?"

Toushiro buried his face into Ichigo's chest and took a few deep breaths. "I don't like crowds."

Ichigo frowned slightly. "There's not that many people here. No one is swarming around you."

Toushiro shook his head. "There's still too many... I can't... it... makes me nervous."

Ichigo chewed the inside of his cheek. He knew that Toushiro hated crowds; he couldn't move well in them because he was so small, but the banquet hall was big enough that there was sufficient room for everyone to move around freely. Maybe Toushiro was nervous because he didn't know anyone.

"Well, everyone is eating now, so how about I introduce you to some of my friends?"

Toushiro tensed. "Can't we just go home?"

"Sorry, babe, this is too important for that."

He felt Toushiro deflate slightly, but he didn't plead any further. Back in the banquet hall, the food had already been served and he slipped easily into the friendly conversation the fellow surgeons were having.

"Hey, Ichigo, you found him?"

"Yeah," he answered smiling as Toushiro slipped into the seat next to him and began picking at the steak on his plate. "He just had to step out for a minute."

"Toushiro, right? I'm Shinichi; I don't think we've met before."

Toushiro looked up and swallowed slowly. "Hello." He glanced to Ichigo then to his plate and back to Shinichi. "I, uh... I don't think so. I'm Toushiro... but you already knew that... uh..."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow as Toushiro blushed furiously. He'd never seen Toushiro stumble over an introduction before. Thankfully, Shinichi just smiled.

"There's no need to be nervous; I don't bite."

Toushiro looked down at his plate, forcing out a severely uncomfortable laugh.

"You don't bite?" Ichigo asked raising an eyebrow.

Shinichi shrugged. "Just trying to lighten the mood. You didn't tell me he was shy."

Shy? He looked at Toushiro, who was rigidly perched on the edge of his chair. Toushiro wasn't shy. Not with the way he constantly told Ichigo what he was thinking, shouted at Rangiku, and ordered his division around. Sure, he was a bit awkward with people he didn't know, but he wasn't shy. Although... he was acting a bit more nervous than he usually did in unfamiliar situations. Ichigo cut a piece off from his steak, watching Toushiro poke his food with his fork.

"So, what do you do?" Shinichi asked.

"Hmmm?" Toushiro looked up, surprised. His shoulders hunched slightly and he dropped his fork to play with the napkin on his lap. "Oh... um... I... um... I work in defence-"

"Defence? Like the police?"

Toushiro looked to Ichigo who found himself frowning. Toushiro was crashing and burning and he was only two questions into a simple conversation.

"No... I..." His knuckles were white as he balled the napkin.

Ichigo reached over and covered his hands with one of his.

"He works for the government, foreign defence policies. Technically, he's not supposed to talk about his job."

Shinichi's eyebrows jumped to his hairline. "How old are you? Sorry, you just look a little young to be working for the government."

"I'm older than I look..."

"Okay, fair enough, that was a rude question."

Ichigo sighed internally. This was a very important function, but seeing how uncomfortable Toushiro was made him uncomfortable as well. Why the hell hadn't he noticed how shy he was before? He thought back to all the times he had brought Toushiro out. He had never thought twice when he made him order his food at restaurants, or how he insisted that they needed to go somewhere quiet for dates. He thought back to him clinging onto his arm earlier, and just then recognised the look on his face as fear when he had left to prepare the speech. And to top it all off he had made him come back in and socialise with one of his friends. Toushiro was going to hate him for this.

"Fuck me," he muttered.

Shinichi glanced his way with an inquisitive frown. Thinking quickly Ichigo dug his phone out of his pocket and brought it to his ear. "Uh, hi dad... can't really talk right now. I'm at... wait what happened?!" He eyed Toushiro, who had dropped his napkin and was staring at him in concern. "Is she okay?... Okay, I'll be there as soon as I can." He 'hung up' and turned to Toushiro, now that the entire table was watching him. "We have to go; Karin had an accident while playing soccer. She might have a serious concussion."

Toushiro paled and stood up immediately. Ichigo nodded to Shinichi, and scratched the back of his neck. "Sorry, we uh..."

"I'll tell the chief you had to leave; keep my updated, okay? It was nice meeting you, Toushiro."

"Likewise," Toushiro muttered as Ichigo hurried him to the exit.

They were both silent as Ichigo drove them out of the city, but when Toushiro realised that they were heading home and not to Karin's place, or the Kurosaki Clinic, he turned to Ichigo.

"I thought that Karin-"

"Nah, I needed an excuse to get us out of there."

Toushiro blinked. "But you said that-"

"It's not that important. Plus, any idiot could see how much you wanted out of there."

Toushiro sighed deeply and settled back into the seat. "Thank you, Ichigo."

Nico Zi liked the idea of Toushiro being shy. I agree whole-heartedly :) he'd at least be somewhat socially awkward considering his upbringing imo.

up next is HoneyandPeanutbutterSammiches, then ShiroHalla.

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-Mymomomo