Bleach ficlet: Sticks and Stones (1/1)
Jun. 18th, 2013 10:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lucymonsterTitle: Sticks and Stones
Rating: PG
Characters: Byakuya + Renji (ByaRen if you tilt your head a bit)
Word count: 500
Summary: In his career at the Sixth, Renji has received thorough training in a whole range of useful life skills. Accepting compliments hasn't been one of them.
Notes: For![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
nobleandstray, who said: “I imagine even the smallest compliment from Byakuya would turn Renji into the happiest and most excited puppy ever.” Well, I ran with that, and somehow this happened.
-
Sheer horror held Renji rooted to the spot - too horrified to move or speak, to lower his weapon, to throw himself to the ground and grovel for forgiveness. He could only stare, eyes popping, mouth flapping uselessly open, still reeling from shock and unable to process what had happened. What he’d just done.
Kuchiki-taichou raised one slender hand slowly, ponderously, and wiped a thumb across the slow trickle of blood oozing out from his freshly split lip.
“I’m...fuck...I’m sorry, Taichou,” Renji gurgled, his throat constricting as though trying to trap the words before they could escape. “I didn’t know you were behind me...I was just training and, and...I heard something behind me and I just...I didn’t know it was...you came up so quietly...I didn’t mean to...”
Kuchiki-taichou didn’t answer immediately. He pulled his hand back from his mouth. Stared down at the blood staining his thumb. Worked his jaw carefully. Tilted his head.
Time stood still.
“Good hit,” said Kuchiki-taichou at last.
Renji could have sworn the bottom dropped out of his stomach. “W-what? What did you - I mean, I’m sorry Sir, I don’t...what?”
“Good hit,” the captain repeated, slowly, as though talking to a small child. His eyes glanced over the training sword that had collided so unexpectedly with the side of his face, and was now being held in a grip so tight, the wood of the handle was beginning to creak and splinter. “A powerful blow. Too fast for me to dodge at such short range. It would seem your long hours of practice are paying off.”
The noise that Renji made was like the battle-cry of some small marsupial. He couldn’t hold it back - through the haze of shock something was welling up within him, building pressure, making his hands shake and his heart pound frantically in his chest. Taichou was...Taichou said...Taichou had noticed...
“I came out to oversee your training,” Kuchiki-taichou continued, politely ignoring the strange squeaking sounds issuing from his lieutenant’s mouth. “It seems my assistance will not be required after all.” He turned, graceful as ever, and over his shoulder he added: “Mind your grip. You hold your arms too stiff - relax them a little.”
“Y-yes Sir! Thank you, Sir!” And then the captain was gone and there was only Renji, gaping at the empty space where he’d stood. That something in his chest was rising higher, churning, bubbling, buoying him up. He’d done it. Not once in his whole career had Kuchiki-taichou ever paid the slightest bit of attention to his progress, or shown any shred of approval for his hard work...and yet...and yet now...
Light-headed and positively giddy with pride, Renji squared his shoulders and readied his stance for a second, freshly motivated run through his drills.
In the privacy of his own office, Byakuya sat down at his desk and rubbed his jaw gingerly, feeling out the extent of the swelling. “Ouch,” he said.
Rating: PG
Characters: Byakuya + Renji (ByaRen if you tilt your head a bit)
Word count: 500
Summary: In his career at the Sixth, Renji has received thorough training in a whole range of useful life skills. Accepting compliments hasn't been one of them.
Notes: For
nobleandstray, who said: “I imagine even the smallest compliment from Byakuya would turn Renji into the happiest and most excited puppy ever.” Well, I ran with that, and somehow this happened.-
Sheer horror held Renji rooted to the spot - too horrified to move or speak, to lower his weapon, to throw himself to the ground and grovel for forgiveness. He could only stare, eyes popping, mouth flapping uselessly open, still reeling from shock and unable to process what had happened. What he’d just done.
Kuchiki-taichou raised one slender hand slowly, ponderously, and wiped a thumb across the slow trickle of blood oozing out from his freshly split lip.
“I’m...fuck...I’m sorry, Taichou,” Renji gurgled, his throat constricting as though trying to trap the words before they could escape. “I didn’t know you were behind me...I was just training and, and...I heard something behind me and I just...I didn’t know it was...you came up so quietly...I didn’t mean to...”
Kuchiki-taichou didn’t answer immediately. He pulled his hand back from his mouth. Stared down at the blood staining his thumb. Worked his jaw carefully. Tilted his head.
Time stood still.
“Good hit,” said Kuchiki-taichou at last.
Renji could have sworn the bottom dropped out of his stomach. “W-what? What did you - I mean, I’m sorry Sir, I don’t...what?”
“Good hit,” the captain repeated, slowly, as though talking to a small child. His eyes glanced over the training sword that had collided so unexpectedly with the side of his face, and was now being held in a grip so tight, the wood of the handle was beginning to creak and splinter. “A powerful blow. Too fast for me to dodge at such short range. It would seem your long hours of practice are paying off.”
The noise that Renji made was like the battle-cry of some small marsupial. He couldn’t hold it back - through the haze of shock something was welling up within him, building pressure, making his hands shake and his heart pound frantically in his chest. Taichou was...Taichou said...Taichou had noticed...
“I came out to oversee your training,” Kuchiki-taichou continued, politely ignoring the strange squeaking sounds issuing from his lieutenant’s mouth. “It seems my assistance will not be required after all.” He turned, graceful as ever, and over his shoulder he added: “Mind your grip. You hold your arms too stiff - relax them a little.”
“Y-yes Sir! Thank you, Sir!” And then the captain was gone and there was only Renji, gaping at the empty space where he’d stood. That something in his chest was rising higher, churning, bubbling, buoying him up. He’d done it. Not once in his whole career had Kuchiki-taichou ever paid the slightest bit of attention to his progress, or shown any shred of approval for his hard work...and yet...and yet now...
Light-headed and positively giddy with pride, Renji squared his shoulders and readied his stance for a second, freshly motivated run through his drills.
In the privacy of his own office, Byakuya sat down at his desk and rubbed his jaw gingerly, feeling out the extent of the swelling. “Ouch,” he said.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2013-06-18 02:01 am (UTC)I've commented on the ficlet on Tumblr, but I just want to say that it's so hard finding writers that really GET ByaRen/RenBya; not only as a couple, but as individuals too. My OTP forever! I'm so happy to have found you, and grateful that, through you, I've met another couple of skillful writers, such as w3djyt, who also has quickly taken a spot among my teeny tiny list of favorites! But beyond the fics, I really enjoy conversing with you and I just think you're such a bright and awesome person.
Sorry for the embarrassment, I really should try not to gush so much, but I feel like I've finally found my niche among the ByaRen community. :D
no subject
Date: 2013-06-18 02:24 am (UTC)Do you have any idea how much more ByaRen fangirling on tumblr has been since you came over there? I'm reeeeally glad you decided to join in because you've somehow made everything so lively and so much fun! I'm honestly so glad I met you too, our conversations always make me feel so happy and energetic and I swear we practically mind-meld when it comes to this pairing.
Just...I'm gonna just cling to you lots, DEFINITELY make this your niche ok and let's always keep fangirling together! <3
no subject
Date: 2013-06-18 04:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-06-18 06:16 am (UTC)"...politely ignoring the strange squeaking sounds issuing from his lieutenant’s mouth."
lol
no subject
Date: 2013-06-18 07:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-06-18 07:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-06-20 05:07 pm (UTC)I love this little ficlet, it is brilliant.
The boys getting a little physical with each other is definitely one of my fave things to read about. :D
no subject
Date: 2013-06-21 12:43 pm (UTC)If you like, try and write the opposite to this. How would Kyakuya feel being complimented by Renji (versus like every other compliment he must get, the glorified noble) I would love to see that.
no subject
Date: 2013-06-22 01:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-06-23 12:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-06-23 12:18 am (UTC)Very glad you enjoyed reading! ^_^
no subject
Date: 2013-06-23 12:20 am (UTC)