prologue II
Title: Three Parts DeadChapter: Prologue II
Rating: NC-17 | M
Pairing/Character/s: Renji x Byakuya
Word Count:10,867
Warning/s: Spoilers. Man Sex. Angst.
Summary: Food is the quickest way to a man's heart, and it's not slow with the pants either.
A/N:This is the second half of the prologue portion of the Role Play between myself and Gali. As usual, she plays Byakuya, I play Renji. Please give her some love too if you like Byakuya's portrayal. :)
"We have only this moment,
sparkling like a star in our hand...
and melting like a snowflake.
Let us use it before it is too late."
- Marie Beyon Ray
Two days later found Renji halfway through two rather large stacks of paper; still sorting through what needed a captain's attention and what didn't. His recent foray into the administrative workings of Seireitei had, rather surprisingly, shown him that the amount of work that absolutely demanded such attention was shockingly low. This meant, of course, that Sixth Division was one of the few divisions expected to run nearly the same as it had previously. What this translated to was a lot of long days and nights following the redhead's release from Division Four, because, while most of the paperwork and other miscellaneous duties could be managed by a lieutenant, quite a few of those tasks couldn't be handled by a division's top seats. It had been a nice break to step out long enough to escort his captain home - he glanced up at the time, knowing that said person often came in fairly early and expected today to be no different.
With a sigh, he returned to the twin piles of paper and double checked them once more before setting a stack on the side of the desk Byakuya preferred for unfinished documents and picked up the other stack, bemusedly noting that his was still a bit larger. Normally, he might have cared, but currently it bought him some peace of mind knowing that it was a subtle way of making sure the stubborn noble didn't overwork himself too much his first day back.
As Renji predicted, Byakuya was indeed early; earlier than most days, in all actuality, as he attempted to avoid the bulk of the Sixth Division's members coming to him with questions and concerns - most of them were still sleeping, or preparing themselves for the day at this time. Those that were present in the hallways received a nod of acknowledgement as the noble passed and approached his own office, surprised at once to find the door open half-way. The captain swept into the room, starkly highlighted from the darkly furnished setting with the ethereality of his presence. His eyes, settled and calm after an additional day of rest, swept coolly about the room before falling upon Renji archly.
"Good morning, Renji. I hardly expected you to be up so early," the noble drawled, his voice clear and free of the tremor it may have possessed two days ago. The extra day had been just enough to bring his health and mind back on par with normal function, and Byakuya inwardly thanked his lieutenant for implying that it was needed.
Renji looked up from his perusal of the paperwork when Byakuya walked in, catching the man's words with an easy smile. "Well, ya have ta get up pretty early to beat you to the office," he quipped, really being far more casual that he should have with his superior, but it was a side affect of uneasiness that often showed itself. He doubted Byakuya had really picked up on that yet, and thus didn't really try to conceal it, and glanced back at a particular set of reports that'd been at the bottom of his stack for a few days now. He hedged on whether or not to bring them up, thus his nervousness.
Allowing the lack of formality for now, Byakuya approached his desk, quietly observing the direction that which Renji's uneasy gaze was focused. Another moment's worth of scrutinization determined that it was certain articles of paperwork that seemed to be making Renji notably insecure. The noble slid around the back of his desk, pushing the chair back and taking a seat as he reached for the offending stack without sparing it any analytical glance. "Is there something here that needs my attention?"
"Well, the whole stack..." Renji trailed off and then turned around completely, resolving this to be, at the very least, a good method of deciphering where they now stood with each other. "There's an incident report on the bottom... it was submitted by the Fourth Division," he explained, albeit hedgingly.
Byakuya paused, and then flipped to the last report, scanning through the first few lines of it and realizing to what these documents pertained. A level gaze arose from the papers and fixated upon Renji as the captain dropped the paperwork onto his desk once more. "You seem concerned over the incident report. Why is that? It is merely routine protocol."
"Attacking a superior officer is grounds for dismissal at the least," Renji answered neutrally. They both knew the circumstances and reasons, so there wasn't a need to bring them up. He had made the decision, though, knowing that there would be repercussions, and while Byakuya thus far seemed amiable to him, the fact remained that his actions were a severe breach of the laws that governed Seireitei. He was conflicted as to what resolution he wanted to hope for. On the one hand, he now held a healthy respect for his captain and wanted nothing more than to stay in Seireitei under his command. On the other hand, that same respect made him hope that the noble hadn't been completely disillusioned with the rules he had sworn to uphold. He couldn't even imagine the other man without some sort of guiding principle...
It had been his decision. "... And I'm not going to submit a plea for extenuating circumstances, so I need to know where you stand before I finish my report," he added, maintaining eye contact.
Sitting back, the noble's face remained set in its expressionless mask as he mulled his options over in his mind. Had he been given this report the day of the incident, prior to any interaction with Rukia (or that Kurosaki boy), he would have been far less reluctant to set any punishment upon Renji. His vice captain's actions now seemed rather justified, and though Renji was a prime candidate for outright expulsion from the Gotei 13, Byakuya hesitated to take such an action. His normally stringent hold on such "routine protocol" wavered in this instance, due to the realization of his own mistakes and the tentative trust he had allowed himself to place in the younger man.
This honestly would have been much easier had Renji decided to lean upon extenuating circumstances as his excuse - but with all personal conflicts aside, it came down to Renji's usefulness. There was no denying that the redhead was a valuable commodity, more so than any vice captain Byakuya had held prior, and that alone made him balk at the idea of dismissing Renji permanently. In the state Seireitei was in, capability and confidence was needed, and Renji possessed both.
"In normal circumstances, your actions warrant a dismissal and otherwise lofty punishment," Byakuya began carefully, not wanting to portray anything other than professionalism. "However, considering the current state Seireitei is in, it would be unwise of me to suggest either." Pausing long enough to pull the report back to him, a pale hand reached for his brush and ink to make note of his decision, his eyes dropping from Renji's briefly. "I will see to it that your punishment is postponed to a later, more convenient date, when your assistance is not so urgently needed. Consider the matter of no further importance." Calm eyes fell upon Renji once more, gauging his reaction.
Leave it to Kuchiki Taichou to introduce an option not wholly different and yet entirely separate from his thought process. Although, for perhaps the first time, the lieutenant was grateful for his captain's usually frustrating logic. He wasn't entirely settled on the outcome, but knew that it was favorable to him and that they were still at least pretending protocol at the moment, which meant the noble expected a response shortly and respectfully. He bowed his head slightly with a word of acknowledgement and thanks, but hesitated in leaving immediately.
Perhaps the man had truly meant the matter to be closed, but calling it a "matter of no further importance" just didn't sit well with the redhead. Not only that, but it was very clear that his captain had chosen his words very carefully. Even though he'd had some practice, by now, with Byakuya's colloquy, he wasn't entirely sure of the meaning behind the words. That, combined with the events only two days prior, made him all together off-kilter when it came to dealing with the other man.
"... Can I ask then, Taichou, if you plan to dismiss me when this is over?" He broke eye contact to say it, which hurt his pride more than anything, but couldn't bring himself to ask while maintaining the gaze. "It won't change anything - I'll still be here and - I, uh... I'd just like to know." He looked back afterwards, for some reason able to meet his captain's gaze in silence when he couldn't while talking.
A flicker of something, exasperation or amusement - Byakuya honestly could not pick out which it was himself - went across the noble's otherwise neutral visage. Renji certainly was exasperating in the sense that he could not simply accept Byakuya's lenient ruling, but amusing in that, well… again, Byakuya could not put a finger on it. It was simply unusual to see Renji act in such a way, as the redhead normally had no reason to be serious, or truly concerned.
"Are you so eager to leave the Sixth Division, Renji?" Byakuya asked levelly, though subtle mirth had settled easily into his eyes that met Renji's. He placed his elbow onto the desk and propped his chin into his hand, leaning forward slightly as he regarded the other shinigami, an eyebrow rising in question. "I had no intention of dismissing you now or anytime soon, but if you are indeed so eager..."
Renji blanched. "No - not at all - I really want to stay, I mean, if you'll have me, of course," he hastened to assure, missing the amusement mostly because he'd never really seen Byakuya portray the emotion before. "I just... you never seemed to really... ah... want me here ... before. And then - recently - it was like you suddenly actually... think I'm worth somethin'." Now that it was out of his head, it felt as though he'd started some sort of chain reaction he couldn't be held wholly accountable for. "A week ago you wouldn't have let me determine assignments and then just the other day you trusted me with the entire Division. And I ... I don't know where it's coming from, Taichou.
"I... I'm not like you. You say one thing and then do somethin' else completely-" Here, he knew, he was treading in deep waters, but damned if he could stop now, “But I can't just keep guessing. You know me. I'm bound to mess up ... I thought I already had. So I... I just don't know. ... I don't know how to be around you."
"You have proven that you are worth more than I previously expected."
The response was immediate after Renji stopped speaking, and firm enough to cut off any other words that may have wanted to leave the man's mouth. The captain's eyes remained settled on Renji, steadily locked there as he lifted his chin from the palm of his hand and spoke. "That is why you will, of course, be staying in my Division. If you insist on knowing my reasoning, it is because I could not decide if you were simply another fool to wander into my Division, or someone better suited to my expectations."
Byakuya shifted in his seat, and smoothed his haori against one side before he looked back to Renji. "Your effort and persistence, however, have proven the latter, and until recently, I could not, in good conscience, entrust any valuable part of this Division to you." The older man paused, and then allowed a small frown. "You may have 'messed up', Renji, but it was... appropriate, in its timing. As for your other concerns - I am afraid I do not know how to remedy them." Exhaling slowly, the noble allowed his grip on protocol to relax just slightly, knowing that if he did not allow it and resolve all tension between Renji and himself now, it would never be done. "I am aware that I am not the most approachable of men, but please take this opportunity to speak freely so that we may perhaps... solve the problem."
Renji stood for a moment, absolutely floored; mind hitching on the sentences last uttered by the last person he ever expected to hear such sentiments from. He wondered, for a moment if he'd heard right before quickly deciding that it wasn't worth trying to figure out. He might never get a chance like this again and he wasn't about to let it simply pass by. Thus resolved, he moved closer so that there was only the desk between them and bluntly questioned, "If I ask about what happened two days ago... will you say what you mean and not what you think you should mean, or am I th' only one who can 'speak freely'?"
Clearly taken off guard, Byakuya, for a moment, could only blink in response. He shifted back further in his chair, suddenly uncomfortable - well, not necessarily uncomfortable, but unaccustomed to the close quarters before speaking as calmly as he could manage. "I will attempt to answer your questions as truthfully as I am able." Inwardly, he struggled not to allow his mind to clamp down upon the emotions he had felt two days previously and withhold them from his comprehension.
Having had about enough of diplomacy to last him many life times, Renji set his stack of papers on the desk and then put his hands on it, leaning forward to maintain the short distance between them. "That's what I meant, Taichou. That's not an answer, that's a reply. You take 'yes' and 'no' and make them really hard to understand 'maybe's. So, I'm just gonna ask, straight out, because it's been on my mind and I'd really like a simple 'yes' or 'no' ... did I do something to make you pull away? Was it my fault?"
Stopping himself from sinking further back into his chair and thus retaining some form of dignity, Byakuya drew in a slow, steadying breath and told himself that this was within the privacy of his office, between himself and Renji only. Answering a simple question would not bring about any cataclysmic reactions... or so he hoped. His eyes warily glanced back to Renji and he slowly shook his head. "...No." Though his voice was quiet, his answer was firm. "It... was not your fault."
Renji let a small sigh of relief pass threw and relaxed a smidgen, but didn't move from his position. "I'm glad to hear that," he stated less harshly than before, trying to soften the questions a bit since it was obviously distressing his captain, but also wanting them answered and therefore unwilling to pull back. "All excuses aside... exactly what happened, Taichou?"
Having expected Renji to pull back, Byakuya did not relax, having to virtually tell himself to breathe or else he probably would not have. The noble hesitated, the wary glance he cast Renji slowly dissolving into something resembling worry. "...What happened between us? Or what happened to cause me to pull away?" Neither question he wanted to answer, nor could Byakuya decide which one he favored.
"Both," the redhead immediately answered, keeping his eyes firmly on Byakuya's own.
Byakuya almost visibly winced before catching himself. He faltered under Renji's gaze and averted his eyes, frown deepening as he let out a sigh and accepted that he might as well talk, because Renji was not going to let it be so easily now that it was brought up.
"...I am not sure I know what happened... between us," Byakuya admitted as he tried to meet Renji's eyes again and failed. "If you were offended, then... I apologize. I..." The older man shook his head in a helpless gesture, obviously flustered and struggling to vocalize the complicated emotions that wound about his head and fought back every time he tried to pull them free. "...I had just recently been reminded of past events, and even though I attempted to not fall prey to such things as comfort..." Another shake of his head accompanied Byakuya's words, and after another moment, he finally murmured, almost inaudibly, "If it is any consolation, I... do not regret what I did." A shaky breath broke his words before he continued, however unsurely: "I did not pull away because I wanted to; I pulled away because of propriety."
Renji sighed and dropped his head, muttering, "You and your propriety." He shoved himself back to a standing position and eyed his captain for a moment before walking around the desk and boldly placing a hand on the side of his face, turning his head so the noble had to look him in the eye. "I wasn't offended. I am not offended... and if I regret anything it was the look on your face afterward. That's why..." he sighed and forewent further explanation in favor of a brief, light kiss.
Tensing in surprise beneath the touch of Renji's hand, Byakuya hesitated as if wanting to speak, but found himself cut off as he was kissed. Blue eyes widened, hardly believing Renji would have been so bold, flickered with worry for a brief moment before he sighed softly into the kiss and permitted himself to relax. Renji's presence, however daunting at times, did have a certain warmth that seemed rather adept at calming the noble's still-edgy nerves, so Byakuya simply let himself be calmed.
As quickly as it had been initiated, Renji pulled back from the kiss, smiling a bit when he saw his captain had calmed somewhat. "I know it's not easy... taking comfort... but if you ever want it, I'd be honored to be the one who gives it to you." He exhaled quietly, simple enjoying looking at the man before him. "And if you don't... I'll still be here."
Byakuya blinked sluggishly once the kiss was broken, taking a moment to refocus his attention on Renji with a slight nod. His tongue absently wet his lower lip, tasting what of Renji that was left there before he spoke, albeit self-consciously. "I appreciate... your support, Renji." The man lifted his eyes, meeting Renji's eyes completely for the first time in several minutes. "Thank you."
Renji's smile deepened to a smirk. "Any time, Taichou," he answered easily and pressed another kiss to Byakuya's forehead before straightening again. "It's going to be a long day." He offered a glance at the stacks of paper on the desk before returning his gaze to his captain. "Do you think you can stand being interrupted for lunch?"
If Byakuya hadn't been guarding himself carefully, he would have flushed beneath the second display of affection. Instead, he shifted his own eyes to the stacks of paperwork with a quiet sigh. It wasn't as if he didn't expect it after missing a week of work in the office; he was lucky it was not a higher stack, and he silently thanked Renji again for taking care of what he had. "Because it seems you have already taken the bulk of my work from me, lunch is entirely acceptable."
"It seems I've been caught," the redhead teased lightly and walked around to the front of the desk, snatching up his own, still larger, stack of papers and straightening them out. He glanced back at his captain and calmed a bit, his smile softening to less blinding levels. "I'll see you later, Taichou," he spoke quietly, giving the noble a signal that he was finished taking advantage of the momentary lenience of protocol. "... And thank you," he added with a slight inclination of his head.
Unable to pinpoint exactly what Renji was thanking him for, Byakuya decided thinking too much at the moment would put him at risk for another headache so he simply accepted the words for what they were and nodded. Perhaps this would be easier than he thought.
"Make sure you are not late for our lunch break," the noble said easily as he turned to his own work, "or I will find someone else to dine with." His own smirk, though bitten back, was all but visible in his voice.
Several hours later, Byakuya still found himself mulling over certain aspects of Renji - specifically, when the redhead had left his office that morning, the captain could feel a discernable difference, as if his source of warmth had fled all but completely. Though he had spent most of the morning distracted by such curious things at that, Byakuya had still managed to catch up on the majority of his paperwork and only had a few reports left to review, most of which dealt with important matters that would need to be discussed with other captains.
Deciding the reports would be taken care of after lunch, the noble carefully stood from his chair, stretching his back. The sun had risen further now, bright and full in the sky and pouring into his office through his window. Briefly, Byakuya allowed himself to bask in that heat as his eyes swiveled to the door of his office. Perhaps he was looking forward to Renji's presence far too much, but he could not find a reason to care at the moment. As long as it didn't affect his work - and it, as of yet, had not - he would not be concerned.
As if in response to Byakuya's attentions, the door to his office slid open but a few moments later and in stepped his vice captain. Renji glanced around for a second, having expected a long procedure involved in extracting his captain from his work, and therefore a bit surprised to find him elsewhere. "I think this is the first time you've gone on break before me, Taichou," he teased by way of greeting.
Pushing himself off the front of his desk that he had leaned upon, Byakuya allowed a quiet snort and straightened his haori out of habit. "Perhaps. I was attempting to avoid another headache; overworking myself would not benefit anyone." He lifted an eyebrow in Renji's direction. "What did you have in mind for lunch?"
"Well," Renji began, suddenly a bit self-conscious about what he was going to suggest, but going along with it anyway. "... I live pretty close by and usually just go back to my apartment to eat," he carefully prefaced, even if it wasn't all the time as he implied. "So if you like, I can make us both something... whatever you want, providing I have ingredients, of course."
Considering it was a rare occasion for the captain to take a break, let alone for lunch, the suggestion was rather welcomed. A chance to relax and Renji's company - normally, Byakuya would have thought the two did not go hand in hand, but as of late, his opinion differed. "That sounds fine." Byakuya paused, then added, "And for the record, Renji... I am not picky. Whatever you feel like making is good enough."
"What kind of food do you like?" Renji asked, turning slightly towards the door again, to indicate that they should probably get going.
With another brief stretch, Byakuya walked across the room and to Renji's side. "Anything spicy; tempura especially..."
Renji nodded thoughtfully and stepped out, turning to close the door after Byakuya. "Tempura would take a while to set up, but I have some spicy curry that should be ready for cooking by now," he offered, and turned back around, subtlely managing to maintain control of their destination while remaining a step behind the noble, which had practically become a habit at this point.
"That sounds fine," Byakuya agreed, not particularly concerned about food. Renji's presence, he admitted, was more of the objective. As they stepped outside, Byakuya hoped to himself that Renji's apartment was not too far from their office building, as he wanted to utilize all of the time he possibly could without the interruption of work and otherwise tedious tasks.
"It's just over the wall at the edge of the Division grounds..." Renji explained as they walked, enjoying the warm sun and, for once, calm atmosphere. He'd never really thought about it before, but when Byakuya wasn't upset, stressed, or generally tense, the man's reiatsu was actually quite pleasant. "So what do you normally do for lunch, Taichou?"
"I don't," Byakuya answered dryly, turning his eyes upward briefly to take in the clear sky as he allowed Renji to lead the way, the blue reflecting into his eyes before he tipped his head down again. "I am usually too busy, or do not feel the need."
Renji just sighed and shook his head lightly. "I guess we'll have to make this a habit then... for the sake of your good health, of course." He smirked a bit at the end.
In spite of himself, Byakuya found a small smirk of his own tugging on his lips. "Of course. For my good health."
The following moments passed in amiable silence, and it was only a short time before Renji diverted from the main path to unlock a door that did not seem to have any features to define it from the few others in the area. He slid it aside and gestured for his captain to enter. "It's not exactly an estate, but it's a lot nicer than non-officer quarters." At first glance, the apartment was, as should be expected, quite a bit smaller than the sprawling halls and gardens of the Kuchiki household, but it was, at the very least, well kept. Several small, personal touches added to the rooms visible - at this point mostly the entranceway, living area and part of the kitchen - gave it a personality and lived in feel that the Kuchiki manor painstakingly lacked.
Byakuya stepped into the apartment, and upon glancing around, slowly relaxed. He had neglected to mention that, if he did take lunch, it was usually at his own household; despite the luxury there, he felt much more at ease in this setting. "It seems good enough to me," the noble murmured while trying to ignore the absent tug of his mind that wanted to seek out Renji's side and lean into him now that they were behind closed doors.
"Well, if it's good enough for Kuchiki Taichou..." Renji grinned and stepped out of his shoes before continuing into his living area, glancing over his shoulder to gesture Byakuya further into the room. "Have a seat where ever you want. I'll get some tea going before I make lunch," he offered while stepping into the kitchen area and disappearing from sight.
Albeit hesitantly, Byakuya slipped off his own shoes and ventured into the room before taking a seat gracefully upon the couch. A hand absently rose to brush his hair over his shoulder as he sighed and leaned back, shutting his eyes. Really, it was irritating to feel so awkward in casual situations such as this. Hopefully, Renji would not notice him struggling.
A few minutes later, Renji re-emerged from the kitchen with two cups of steaming green tea. He stopped upon entering the living area, having to smile at sight presented and then only slowly made his way over, standing to Byakuya's left when he finally spoke. "Tea's ready, Taichou..."
Currently not paying any mind to the presence of reiatsu, Byakuya jumped slightly at hearing Renji's voice before opening his eyes and glancing up at the redhead with a small, harmless frown. "Must you insist on sneaking up on me?"
"In this case, it was unavoidable," the redhead answered with a grin, holding the ceramic cup out by the top for Byakuya to take before taking a seat beside the noble. "We've got a few minutes before I can boil the rice," he added by way of explanation.
Taking the cup from Renji, the noble took a delicate sip as Renji sat next to him. "I am glad to hear it was for a worthy cause," he drawled, but despite the sarcasm, shifted closer to Renji's side.
"You should have seen how startled you looked," Renji teased relentlessly, and took a sip from his cup, laying back into the couch cushions comfortably.
With a quiet huff, Byakuya resisted the urge to elbow Renji in the side by taking another drink from his cup. "I take it you enjoy startling me?"
"Why wouldn't I?" the redhead queried back, casually watching his captain over the rim of his cup. Seeing the other man loosen up like this was quite rewarding. "You've always got that same expression on your face... it's nice to see others."
"There are better expressions than surprise," the older man pointed out, and then added, "and I do not see why I should waste the time and effort to allow many persons a view to any expression other than one." He took another sip of tea before allowing the half-filled cup to rest in his lap.
“I never said everyone had to see them; just that I'd like to," Renji countered and then stood up. "Food'll be out in a second," he announced, walking back into the kitchen, disappearing behind the wall again.
Opening his mouth, and then shutting it again, Byakuya managed to look a bit ruffled before sitting his tea cup on the table next to the couch and settling back into the cushions more comfortably. Well - perhaps he would have to allow himself to relax, just a bit more. It would be Renji's just reward for helping as much as he had in the past week.
Not a few minutes later, the redhead stepped out of his kitchen once more, this time artfully balancing two plates of hot food, two pairs of chopsticks and the kettle of hot tea. He laughed a bit at Byakuya's initial reaction to this. "I'm used to havin' a group over, Taichou, just pick a plate... and grab the kettle if ya' don't mind," he added.
Byakuya blinked a little before heeding his word and sitting up to carefully take a plate from him, as well as grab the kettle. "You could have asked for my help earlier," the noble murmured, setting the kettle down onto its near-by coaster that was still on the table from previous engagements.
Renji chuckled and arranged the food and utensils with little thought. "Have to stay in practice, anyway," he informed the noble, moving to refill their cups before finally taking his again. Picking up his own plate and chopsticks, Renji sat back on the couch, and began the meal with a simple "Enjoy."
Nodding his thanks, Byakuya picked up his own chopsticks and began to eat. After a few moments, he broke the comfortable silence between them with a teasing, "If nothing else, Renji, I think I will keep you around as a decent cook."
This provoked an outright laugh from the younger man, mirth easily visible in his gaze. "It's good to know that you intend to put my talents to good use," he joked in return, nothing if not flattered by the casual rib.
An eyebrow shot up at that, but Byakuya bit his tongue, hid the smirk that threatened to show, and turned back to his meal. "Aa. Indeed."
Unable to catch what would not be shown to him, yet still quite aware of the raised eyebrow, Renji couldn't help but let his jovial grin slip to a more amused smirk. "I've yet to see any favorable talents from you, however," he couldn't but help pointing out
"And perhaps you have not given me good reason to show them, Renji," Byakuya countered with ease, finishing his plate in the next moment and sitting it aside after taking a sip of tea, his smirk visible now.
Is that a challenge?" Renji arched an eyebrow at the noble, leaning forward to put his plate on the table as well.
The older man sat down his cup and gave a slight shrug of his shoulders, meeting Renji's eyes in a sideways glance. "If you wish to make it one."
A grin firmly affixed itself to Renji's lips again as he used his current position to his advantage, moving his weight to the side to he was now leaning against Byakuya. With a hand on the noble's thigh, he pressed a kiss to the sensitive flesh near the base of a pale neck. "I do," he murmured against the soft skin.
Unable to stop his reaction, a quiet, catching sigh escaped the noble's lips as his eyes fell half-way shut and his head tipped to the side obliging. "Then by all means," Byakuya murmured, a slender hand sliding to rest on top of Renji's, thumb brushing the back of the redhead's hand.
Renji shifted to press the noble against the back and side of his couch, moving his hand farther up the thigh it was resting on to supplement the move. His lips easily found their way up the arc of neck exposed to him, the texture and curve already engraved in his mind. He reached the jaw line shortly, and followed it until he was finally gifted with Byakuya's lips. He nipped lightly on the bottom lip before drawing both into a long, deep kiss.
Possessing a clear mind this time, Byakuya found surrender a bit more difficult, but after resisting the redhead's kiss for a moment, he relented with a low sound of pleasure and parted his lips beneath Renji's, eager for his taste. Shifting underneath him, the noble freed an arm and slid it about Renji's neck, his fingers splaying lightly against the back of it, tightening when the younger man's own hands would wander.
Renji smirked against Byakuya's lips, trailing his hands up to the nobleman's hips and curling his fingers around the top of the hakama. He titled his head a bit to get a better angle for the kiss, taking his time to explore every part of his captain's mouth, all but drowning in the sensation. Eyes lidded partially as hands crept towards flesh, merely enjoying the moment.
The last bit of the noble's resistance melted away beneath Renji's lips, eyelashes fluttering as he struggled to keep his eyes open and on his companion. One of Byakuya's hands reached blindly and grasped the front of Renji's robes, slowly pulling the vice captain more firmly against him as his flesh tensed and trembled from Renji's touch.
Slowly breaking the kiss, the redhead cast a glance at his captain, more than content with the expression now fitted upon the noble's face. How rare, and yet all the more enticing because of it. With surprising care, he began removing Byakuya's more extraneous articles of clothing. "You know..." he began softly, "this would probably be a lot more comfortable in my bed."
Slightly dazed from the kiss, Byakuya somehow managed to untangle his fingers from Renji's robes and help shrug off his haori at the very least. He drew in a slow, calm breath through kiss-bruised lips before nodding slightly in agreement. Then, compulsively, the noble leaned forward and drew his lips across the side of Renji's neck, kissing the skin softly and lingering there for a moment as he simply basked in Renji's presence.
Renji let his eyes drift shut for a moment, a soft sigh escaping him at the gentle touch of returned affection. The reciprocation was much better then their previous moments together. Then, he stood slowly so as not to roughly dislodge his captain and drew the other man up with him, leading the way without words to his bedroom only a short distance away. Once inside, he led them immediately to his modest bed, and then turned once more to Byakuya, threading his fingers through the layers of the sash at his waist.
"It's a little strange... seeing you without your haori," he commented lightly, untying the sash.
The noble stood still, eyes dropping to watch Renji's hands as they untied the sash at his waist. "You don't approve?" the older man softly countered. He took a step closer to Renji and slid one arm about the redhead's neck, stretching up just enough to gently tug on his lower lip, his teeth grazing the sensitive flesh. Byakuya's hand traced a slow trail down Renji's chest before curling into the other man's sash and hooking his fingers into it.
Renji made to answer, but only a soft groan came out. His eyes fluttered shut, barely putting up a fight to the soft sensations Byakuya managed to elicit with such small moves. He finished undoing the sash and pulled it free with his left hand, letting it drift to the floor carelessly. Hands sifted through two layers of robes, tugging at the cloth he couldn't remove just yet. With an easy tilt of his head, he caught Byakuya's lips once more, couching the man into a shared kiss.
Without hesitation, Byakuya returned the kiss, parting his lips against Renji's more insistently than before and coaxing Renji to take control as his tongue moved against his. His left hand moved from the back of Renji's neck to tangle into whatever bit of hair his fingers could as the other slipped into the knot of the sash and tugged, loosening it until it joined his own onto the floor. A slight forward shift of Byakuya's body pressed the two shinigami flush against one another, chest to chest.
With a soft, almost inaudible growl, Renji circled his hands around Byakuya's waist, brushing his skin lightly as he went, and then slowly drew his hand up the elder's back, fingers trailing along the spine. The kiss deepened slowly with this gesture, the redhead wanting to draw it out as much as possible, having already grown rather fond of not only the action, but his captain's reaction to it.
A soft, breathy groan escaped into the kiss as the noble's back arched beneath Renji's hand, his body twisting into Renji's in the process. Byakuya's breath hitched again at the torturous friction the motion caused and he sought to repeat the sensation by way of his hips that slid against Renji's, along with the thigh that carefully positioned itself between the redhead's legs.
Renji brought his hands around just far enough to slip over Byakuya's shoulders and then down his arms to remove the top half of his outfit in one motion. Afterwards, he brought his left hand down to grasp the side of the noble's hip, firmly repeating the action the other man initiating, causing him to break the kiss as a groan forced it's way past his lips. He was quick to pick up the kiss once more, however, this one more heated and rough than the last.
Byakuya's grasp returned to the redhead's shoulders, pulling down clothing and Renji with it. Their lips met firmly, and Byakuya savored it slowly only for a second before he gave into the heat, panting between the dueling of their tongues, moaning when the kiss roughened. Rather eagerly, the noble shifted his hips forward in an arc, the press of his thigh against Renji hard and insistent as he rocked against him. The motion drew several more breathy sighs from Byakuya's lips, and sent searing trails of flame down his spine.
"Bed," the captain murmured breathlessly, sharply tugging on Renji's shoulder once more.
Being unable to resist such pleas, Renji immediately took the half step needed to reach his beside and then sat down on the edge, drawing the noble down with him. The hand on Byakuya's hip hooked around the top of his hakama once more, gracelessly yanking on the material; intent on seeing it removed. His other hand swept up and behind his captain's neck, fingers weaving into the hair at its base. He used the leverage to tilt Byakuya's head back, exposing a pale throat which he could not help but worship with quick bites and nibbles, soothing occasionally with his lips and tongue.
With a shiver, Byakuya attempt to slide his body close against Renji's once more, the air of the room seeming chilly once his legs were bare. His hands brushed to the back of Renji's neck, fingers closing there with his nails dragging and digging into golden-tan flesh when the redhead's talented mouth would bite, lick, or just graze his lips over an especially sensitive spot. A soft mewl fled past his lips before he could properly bite it back, his eyes half-lidded and breath heavy as he lost the coherent thoughts needed to do much more than cling to the other man.
Renji smirked against pale skin, enjoying the thrill of knowing he could bring his revered captain to nothing more than quivering flesh and breathy sighs. As his lips pressed against Byakuya's shoulder, he shifted his hand slightly, bringing them down to hold the left shoulder and right thigh. He gave a gentle bite to the untouched skin of the noble's right shoulder and then easily turned to the side, laying Byakuya on the bed as he adjusted himself over the other man, pausing long enough to gauge his reaction to the change in their positions.
Tensing initially, Byakuya gradually settled and decided this new position wasn't such a bad thing. His fingers uncurled from the back of Renji's neck, absently tracing the jagged tattoos there before lifting up and gently tugging his hair free of its holder. Mesmerized, the noble tangled his fingers through the vibrant red strands as they spilled across his own chest, tickling the pale skin there. A gentle tug on Renji's hair encouraged him to come down for another soft, brief kiss.
With a soft smile, Renji relented, bringing their lips together once more in a gentler meeting. They parted soon after and the redhead returned to his perusal of the body laid bare before him. He was, however, still mindful that he was, in all likelihood, the noble's first male lover and if not that, then at least the first he'd had in 50 years. He wanted Byakuya to relax and feel good about this, but he also knew - far too well, in his opinion - that the man could easily snap to emotions and feelings not exactly benefiting their current situation. As such, before he left Byakuya's sight entirely, Renji murmured, "Tell me if somethin's uncomfortable, Taichou," glancing back for a response before continuing.
Currently quite relaxed, Byakuya nodded, watching Renji through his eyelashes and responding with a quiet, "All right..." Breathing slowly, the captain shifted just slightly for a more comfortable position, sending his hair fanning out behind him as he did. His fingers trailed out of Renji's hair, releasing him to let him do as he would.
Once assured, Renji returned to his oral ministrations, trailing his lips back down the arc of Byakuya's neck and then on to his chest, biting and kissing the skin along his way to a nipple. Remembering how Byakuya had enjoyed such things before, the redhead ran his teeth and tongue over the sensitive nub while his hands travelled lower; fingers tracing each dip and bend in the pristine skin.
A gasp caught in the noble's throat as his chest automatically arched up against Renji's mouth, his head tipping back a little further as he sucked in a calming breath. Byakuya's hands fisted into the sheets at his sides and he shivered, trying not to squirm beneath the redhead's hands but doing so anyway as they grazed down sensitive skin.
Renji adjusted his position so that he was more to the noble's side than above him, and reached lower until his free hand finally brushed the evidence of Byakuya's arousal. With a smirk obviously hidden from view, he began light, teasing touches up and down the hard length, sucking lightly at the nipple as he did, as if trying to remind his captain of what had happened during their previous encounter.
Byakuya's groaned as his hips automatically rolled up into the touch, wanting more than simple teasing. His fingers tightened in the sheets as he writhed, his breathing now beyond settling as it hitched with every touch Renji bestowed upon him. "...Renji..." The redhead's name was a plead now, breathy and wanton as the noble dropped whatever mask he had left, and simply lent himself to Renji's will.
The sound of his name spoken in such tones made Renji shiver visibly. He pushed himself up on his elbow, pressing a kiss briefly to Byakuya's lips when the noble protested the removal of his hand, and rolled to the far side of his bed, finding the nightstand there and digging through the drawer until he found a small, plain looking container and then rolled back over, immediately moving to nibble on his captain's neck. The sensitive skin there was quickly becoming his favorite spot to devote attention to.
With the blind skill of someone who'd performed a particular action enough times to no longer put thought to it, Renji opened the container and covered his fingers with a clear, scentless oil, and then closed it once more without dripping any of the viscous fluid. Keeping his gaze locked upward, on his lover's visage, he carefully nudged the noble's hips to the side so he could slide his hand down the man's cleft, and rub a single slickened finger along Byakuya's entrance.
Tension immediately flooded Byakuya's body, causing his hips to jerk and arch away simultaneously as he let out a sharp gasp. The slow breath he attempted to draw in didn't quite make the noble relax, but it did somewhat, and that was enough for his mind to register that Renji's hand still sent little sparks of heat and pleasure up his spine; now, it was just in a different, more intense way. Gradually, Byakuya's form sunk back against the bed, shaky, hair tumbling into his face as he panted quietly, but otherwise calmer and relaxed and permitting Renji to continue. The bulk of his tension he had focused into his hands, wherein his fingers still clutched rather tightly - maybe even nervously - at the sheets.
Having expected such a reaction, Renji kept still, watching with a critical eye. It was a strange thing to experience for the first time, more so if you weren't used to same gender partners and the last thing he wanted was to chase the other man away. Again. He sighed and leaned down, softly kissing Byakuya on the lips.
"We could switch, if you'd like that better, Taichou..." he murmured softly, trying to catch Byakuya's gaze with his own. Personally, he really didn't care which of them did what, so long as it was enjoyable, but some people just had hang ups.
Briefly, the noble shut his eyes, the temporary darkness combined with Renji's lips and voice soothing his nerves and prompting him to relax a fraction more. "...I'll be fine," Byakuya quietly answered, his eyes slowly opening once more and meeting Renji's. The redhead's gaze settled him and eventually, his vice-like grip on the sheets loosened and his hands, as well as the rest of his body, became pliant once more.
Renji offered the man a soft smile, and then kissed him again, long and slow, to provide a good distraction as he carefully ran his fingers over the same spot once more. When he was sure Byakuya had truly relaxed, he slipped a pair of fingers in, letting him get used to the sensation before cautiously beginning to move them.
A ragged groan was swallowed by their kiss, Byakuya's breath caught as he tried to keep his breathing steady and rhythmic but failed. The sensation was different, but not unpleasant; in fact, after a few tense seconds, his body responded favorably and he arched back against the intrusion, catching soft, shaky breaths between kisses when he was rewarded with more pleasure.
"Just like that..." the redhead purred into their kiss, curling his fingers in just the right direction to send a real jolt of pleasure through the man beneath him.
Gasping harshly, Byakuya's hips bucked automatically, forgetting himself and simply trying to prolong and repeat whatever caused that white-hot pleasure to course through him. "That... again," the dark-haired man could dimly hear himself all but pant out.
Renji grinned, eyes sparkling at the plaintively spoken demand, and all too willingly obliged, hitting the same spot twice more before withdrawing his fingers completely. He gave Byakuya's shoulder a kiss in consolation as his pushed himself up a bit to slicken his length with oil. That done, he carefully drew Byakuya into his embrace, holding the man from behind as he drew them flush against each other. Since he'd moved them to lay on their right sides, Renji slipped his left leg between Byakuya's, gently keeping it up enough to allow him to slide into position. He paused then, watching Byakuya closely before moving on.
Another small shudder of pleasure wracked Byakuya's form, but he managed to stay relaxed, especially upon feeling Renji's warm body against his own. The now-familiar heat soothed whatever part of him was still wary and the noble shifted, settling more comfortably against Renji's chest. Byakuya's head tipped back and his lips brushed underneath the redhead's chin, breathing in Renji's scent mixed with desire before he tilted his head away again.
"Go on," was the murmured consent as Byakuya drew in a slow, albeit shaky, breath.
Returning his lips to his now favorite spot near the base of his captain's neck, Renji very slowly began to push in. It wasn't right, he thought peripherally, for someone so cold outside to be so hot within. He moaned loudly when he was finally seated deep within that heat, his teeth close to bruising the pale skin once more as he battled the strong urge to move instead of giving the noble the time he needed to adjust.
A loud moan of his own echoed the redhead's as Byakuya's body immediately tightened around him, only to eventually relax and unclench a few moments later. His head rolled back against Renji's shoulder, exposing more of his neck and wholeheartedly encouraging the caresses there as he became accustomed to - and enjoyed - this new experience.
Renji eagerly partook of the offered skin, nipping and licking it as he began to slowly pull out and then thrust back in. He raked his teeth across soft flesh as a diversion from thrusting too hard or too fast, though allowed himself to reach a moderate pace. He groaned, gripping the other man tightly, immersing himself in pleasure while not allowing himself to be lost to it.
Byakuya's quiet gasps accompanied the movements of Renji's hips, as well as low, breathy groans that escaped with the sensation of Renji's teeth against his neck. His left hand's fingers twisted into the sheets in front of him as he arched and pressed back into the redhead's next thrust, the reward a sharp tremor of pleasure and a shuddering groan.
Feeling Byakuya's reciprocation, Renji sped up a bit, encouraging the noble to move in tandem with him. He snaked his left hand down his captain's side and then down in front, grasping the other man's erection, mimicking the movement of his hips with his hand. He lifted his head slightly to catch a glimpse of Byakuya's expressions, seeking to burn them into memory.
Falling prey to sensation, the noble let out another shuddering moan as found himself trapped between the rough heat of Renji's hand and the rhythm of his hips. He had gradually abandoned his pride and simply let go, showing this now as his head pressed back against the redhead's shoulder, eyes open but unseeing, kiss-swollen lips parted as he panted, even mewled when the angle of Renji's thrust was just right. For once, Byakuya didn't fight his desire for more, and his head turned, lips moving against Renji's neck as he breathed out a barely audible, "Please..."
Renji reacted immediately to the softly spoken request, arcing deeper into the noble with a loud moan. The paced changed, his thrusts becoming harder as he adjusted his hand with them. He couldn't take his eyes off the body beside him, splayed so beautifully across his bed, arching against him and whispering words just loud enough to drown him in mindless pleasure. He held himself just shy of such things, though, keeping himself from falling into a rougher pace that may be wonderful now, but would certainly put his captain in a bad mood later. For now, that was something he preferred not to deal with.
The change of pace opted Byakuya's body to react accordingly, wherein he found himself nearly twisting in Renji's arms as his breathing grew shallow and fast. He could feel the hunger Renji's eyes held burning into his flesh and that sent him tumbling over any hurdles left with a wordless, breathless cry, trembling against Renji as tension and held-back passion fled from him in waves.
The sensation of clenching muscles combined with the undeniably sensual timbre of Byakuya's voice threw him over the edge of completion in seconds. His own voice joined in wordless abandon as pleasure's waves rolled through and then out of him, relinquishing him to the blur of afterglow.
With his nerves and senses numbed, Byakuya was in no mind to pull away and was content to lie still against Renji as his breathing and mind settled into something more manageable and controlled. Every part of himself seemed to ache, but not unpleasantly, and the noble let himself be lulled into the comfortable post-coital bliss that his body craved. Though his vision was still blurred, he tipped his head up and lazily nuzzled beneath Renji's chin.
Renji smirked faintly at the gesture, and returned it lightly. For a man of ice, Byakuya was far more tender than one would guess. He carefully parted their lower bodies so he could hold the other man properly and gently swept back a lock of silken black hair.
A low rumble of pleasure fled the noble's throat and he leaned back against Renji slightly for a more comfortable position. "We should leave soon..." he pointed out quietly, not particularly liking the idea of work for the rest of the day, but recognizing his responsibility. Despite this, Byakuya made no attempt to move.
"Mmm..." Renji replied absently and after a moment sat up with a sigh. "We need to get cleaned up first." He glanced back down at the noble, smirking faintly at the image he provided. "You up for movin' just yet?"
"Not particularly," the noble responded dryly, but slowly pushed himself up anyway, shaking his hair out of his eyes only to have it fall right back. Byakuya sighed, looking mildly annoyed, and not at all thrilled with the idea of redoing his hair and kenseikan along with it.
Renji pecked Byakuya on the nose, unable to resist. He grinned and stood up, stretching. "Th' bath is just down the hall. We don't really have time for one, but we can at least clean up." His grin softened a bit as he took in the rather disheveled state of his captain and appended, "Should I bother offering to help with the Kenseikan, or would I just make it take longer?"
Byakuya blinked slightly at the kiss, but the annoyance soften from his gaze soon after. Carefully, the captain slid from the bed, hiding a wince and stretching his back slowly as he ignored normally sore muscles, and grew accustomed places that had not been sore before. "You can help," the noble murmured, reaching up to unweave the headpiece from its already loosened state, and then properly shake his hair free.
"It's too bad you can't keep it down," Renji commented almost without realizing it. "Let's get washed up first, though, then I'll try ta' help with it." With that he walked out of the room and almost straight into his bathing room - the apartment really was quite small. He quickly found a hand towel and dunked it in a bucket of warm water, squeezing it out before handing it over to the noble and finding another for himself.
The noble briefly fought down a flush from the veiled compliment, and quickly decided that he needed to reestablish a few barriers before he left Renji's apartment, or Seireitei would be rightfully stunned by his demeanor. He opted to wait for a few more minutes, however, and followed Renji into the other room, accepting the towel and cleaning himself without a word.
Though upcoming meetings, paperwork that was due, and other such tasks should have been on Byakuya's mind, the older man saw no reason to bother at the moment, and instead enjoyed a few more minutes alone with Renji. Absently, his eyes glanced about for a comb, knowing he needed to begin on his hair sooner rather than later.
As if anticipating the thought, Renji placed a surprisingly well made comb directly into Byakuya's hand. He gave a quick smile with the gesture and then turned to find a hair tie for himself, digging through a box set against the wall. He decided, somewhere between holding the tie with his teeth and sweeping all his hair back up, that spending time alone with his captain was not nearly as foreboding as it had previously seemed. He grinned at that, and grabbed the tie once more, managing a firm hold on his thick hair that would stay for the rest of the day before glancing back to see how Byakuya was fairing.
After nodding his thanks, Byakuya set about to completing the daunting task of his own hair. After combing it free of tangles, he slowly parted it, managing to divide the strands of hair before glancing back at Renji. "If you still would like to help, it would be appreciated," the noble said quietly, knowing very well that he was capable of doing this by himself, but any excuse to have Renji near him was a good one.
Renji nodded and stepped closer, "Just tell me how..."
"Here." Setting the comb down, Byakuya pulled Renji's hand over and closed it upon the three parted strands of hair that usually dangled into his face. "Keep those apart..." Having his hands freed, Byakuya set about parting the other sections of his hair and began painstakingly weaving the kenseikan into the two strands at the side.
Renji nodded, slipping the pieces of hair between his fingers to keep them parted. "You don't need a mirror for this?" He couldn't help the small bit of surprise from coloring his voice.
The noble shrugged slightly instead of shaking his head. "After so long, it isn't nearly as difficult as it seems." Finished with one side, Byakuya reached for the comb once more and made sure the part through the rest of his hair was perfect before reaching for one of the strands Renji held, and wove it into the next piece before adding, "and I currently happen to have a third hand, which is quite useful."
The redheaded chuckled at the comment, relinquishing the one flock of hair to Byakuya. "Good to know I'm useful," he quipped, smirking at the noble.
"You should know that by now. I would not have kept you around, otherwise," the captain threw back, a smirk of his own tugging at his lips. Slowly, he pulled the second strand of hair from Renji's fingers and began threading it into the headpiece. Finally, the third and last strand was added and he gently brushed Renji's hands away to make sure everything was straightened and in place. He cast a wry glance in Renji's direction. "I'll trust your judgment - does it look presentable now?"
"Be careful, you looked "presentable" to me when you weren't wearing it," Renji laughed, but still looked closely, slipping around behind the noble to check the back as well. He came around to the front once more and nodded. "Perfect as usual," he approved.
"Be that as it may, I doubt the rest of our Division, let alone Seireitei, would recognize me with my hair down," Byakuya breezily pointed out. Satisfied, however, that his hair was now suitable for public interaction, the noble turned towards the bathing room's door. "We should go get dressed."
Renji chuckled and shook his head lightly, and then nodded at Byakuya's suggestion that they find their clothes. When they made it to his bedroom, he set about picking up the clothing and discerning whose was whose by laying them out on the bed. Eventually he stepped to the side, grabbing his own pants and slipping them on. "Your haori's still in the other room," he reminded, though he was sure it was unneeded.
Taking his pants, Byakuya began dressing, albeit stiffly. Walking wasn't too difficult, but moving otherwise was, and silently, Byakuya longed for a long nap to sleep off any sore muscles, despite how easily he hid the fact he was stiff and achy. He reached for the other layers of his clothing and responded with a dry, "I know; careless of me."
"Oh, I take full responsibility for that," Renji boasted brashly and slipped on his outer gi. Noticing the other man's slightly stiff movements, he quickly moved closer, brushing away Byakuya's hands. "Hold still," he frowned slightly, unseen by the noble in front of him, and began a firm massage of the man's lower back. "It will just take a minute," he assured, knowing his captain didn't want to take extra time, but thinking the man would prefer not to walk more stiffly than usual - which, given the talent that would take, would be of some note.
Byakuya opened his mouth to protest, but found it extremely difficult to do so when Renji's skilled hands began working at the tight muscles in his lower back. A rumbling groan escaped him as the tension began to melt away, and he shut his eyes briefly, savoring the attention. Renji was far more thoughtful than Byakuya had ever bargained him to be.
True to his word, Renji stopped a short time later, and stepped back. "Better?"
Nodding, the noble caught himself before he could wobble on unsteady legs. Really, it should be a sin to be that good with one's hands. Byakuya shook his head bemusedly to himself as he turned back to dressing, tightening his sash about his waist and tying it securely.
Smiling lightly, the redhead stepped to the side, picking up his sash and adjusting his gi properly before tying it shut. He glanced around for a second afterward and then gave a soft laugh. "I think my lieutenant badge is with your haori," he humorously theorized.
"And I must take full responsibility for that," Byakuya teased, a small smirk still gracing his lips as he straightened his clothes a last time. Glancing about to make sure he had left nothing, he took a step towards the bedroom door, gesturing for Renji to do the same.
"Guess that makes us even, then," the redhead answered a bit softer than his previous jabs. He followed the noble out to the living area, taking a moment to grab the plates left there and throw them in the sink - hardened curry was not something he felt like fighting with later. He exited the kitchen shortly thereafter, looking around for his badge.
Having retrieved his haori from the couch, Byakuya searched beneath an out-of-place pillow and found the badge. "Here." The noble offered it to him as he slid the white material of his haori one once more.
"Thanks, Taichou." Renji took the offered badge, finding the sash he used to keep it in place, and began the awkward task of affixing it to his arm.
Before Renji could actually begin, Byakuya gently stopped his hands and took hold of the sash and badge. The captain easily tied the badge in place, and then readjusted it so it was perfectly straight. "You always tie it too loosely, so it slips," the noble pointed out with subtle amusement, as if justifying his assistance.
Renji chuckled a bit and nodded. "Yeah, I know. Can never get it tight enough with one hand," he explained needlessly. He glanced at the clock on the far side of the room, and his smile broadened. "Unless I'm mistaken, you've just had your first hour long lunch break, Taichou," he reported amusedly, glancing back for Byakuya's reaction.
Byakuya's own eyes flickered to the clock and back again. "It was well spent," the older man said neutrally, but the softening of his gaze in Renji's direction betrayed much more than that. "I may take you up on another offer of lunch in the future."
Renji's smile curled into an affectionate smirk. "I'll look forward to it, Taichou."