Ichimaru Gin is a fox-faced bastard (fox_face) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-10-16 23:52:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, gin ichimaru, rangiku matsumoto |
Who: Gin Ichimaru, Rangiku Matsumoto
What: After a night of drinking, Rangiku wakes up from a dream and confronts Gin about it.
When: The morning after the the drive-thru jaunt and a whole lot of alcohol. (for I am lame & forgot to post this.)
Where: Gin’s house.
Rating: Medium, for teasing flirtage and breakfast boobs.
Status: Complete!
Thankfully, Gin hadn’t left Rangiku on the floor after she passed out the night before from the vast amounts of sake...as well as all the other liquor they drank from his now raided liquor cabinet. No, instead of the floor, he had put her into his own bed, and had her all covered up like she had been tucked in.
There had been plenty of times in his dreams when she had gotten way too drunk when she was still in the Shinigami Academy, and he had done much the same thing. It felt like an old habit, although it was harder to loosen her clothes up for her to sleep in than it was with a uniform or robe. Also different was that he didn’t usually stick around and was gone before she woke up. He had a plan and that plan meant that he couldn't while away the hours at Rangiku’s side, like he wanted to. In fact, it meant he took off a lot of the time when she was awake as well, and he still didn’t ever tell her where he was going.
It made for interesting times when she blustered and accused him of seeing some girls on the side. Which was fine with him, because she was cute and funny when she huffed and puffed and threatened to punch a house down and kick the pieces aside. When she got around to doing it, at least.
In the meantime, in the here and now, Gin lay next to her on the bed, still clothed, and on top of the covers. The last thing he wanted was for Rangiku to think he was taking advantage of her, especially if she was passed out. He had drunkenly dozed off with the tips of his fingers in her golden hair and was drowsily staring at them. He didn’t dare move them too much or try to hold on at all, because she might turn in her sleep and then yoink. Hair pulling could happen. He imagined that wouldn't be a good way to wake up.
Rangiku had passed out. She didn’t remember exactly how much she’d drunk. But it was a lot. Like usual. Her liver one day was going to kill her. MURDER HER. Until then though, she enjoyed the hobby. There had been jokes. Probably a few punches. Some teasing. The usual fun. Then she’d lost it and konked.
She vaguely remembered him tucking her into bed. She wasn’t sure if that was all dream or reality. Not that it mattered. No. She was happily sleeping away the buzz, comforted by the fact she was taken care of. Even asleep she felt it and was able to really sleep. And for awhile she did nothing but sleep. Comfortable, dreamless.
Then she began to move lightly in her sleep, as if she was dreaming. The OC had gotten it’s grip on her, finally (considering she’s lived here for most of her life!). She went from asleep, to awake and sitting straight up in a matter of seconds, fingers curling into the blankets, eyes wide, blinking, as she tried to focus on the here and now and not the dream that felt so real. So lifelike.She swallowed and looked, wild eyed, down at Gin.
It was almost unnerving how she looked at him - as if seeing him for the first time.
Gin hadn't moved, although her hair had slipped over his fingertips when she suddenly sat up. Instead, he laid there, one arm laying on the bed held out toward her, his eyes half open, and only the barest hint of a smile on his lips. In the morning, it took a little while to get it ramped up and firmly in place.
"I must look like hell if you're starin' at me like that," Gin joked, waiting for confirmation of what he knew was coming, and that was probably - ultimately - going to sour things between them. It was what he was simultaneously waiting in anticipation and dread for.
“Honest answer. Right now. No lies. No deceit. No pussy footing around,” she began ever so softly, her voice quiet and gentle, but her eyes locked on his, not exactly letting his gaze go. The tone said she wasn't accusing him of those things but that she didn't want him to try and play nice. No sugar coating. “These Dreams on the network. Truth? Are they real.”
Her eyes narrowed a bit as she didn’t move, fingers still wrapped tightly in the bedding. Her heart was pounding in her chest, waiting for him to answer before she went on.
In response to her question, Gin slowly closed his eyes and let out a long, silent sigh. She would have to ask that of him, on top of indicating she was getting a reading on the bullshit meter where he was concerned.
"Ahh. So you got hit with 'em too," he said, softly, laying there and not moving at all. He figured that was enough of a confirmation, without giving too much away or really incriminating himself. Yet, at least. "Other people seem to think they're real enough. Maybe you're just a late bloomer."
She gave him an exasperated look. "And you. What do you think because I dreamt about you ." She did unfurl her hands and sink back down to sprawl next to him. Giving him a subtle sign she wasn't going to throttle him for his evasion. Not yet anyways.
Rangiku moved to lean on her side so she could look at him. "I dreamt of us. As kids." She waited to see if he made fun of her or not. Her eyes held a softer look, as if she wanted to believe her dream. It wasn't all pretty but it was, overall, comforting.
It was hard for him to forget that he had found her, passed out and starving, in the middle of the North Rukongai. He had offered her food, told her she must have powers too if she needed to eat, and told her his name. Certainly, even starving, Rangiku could still tell him that his name was weird. He took her to his home, fed her, befriended her, took care of her when she couldn't do so for herself (for Rangiku with the sniffles was like the end of all worlds happening), let her cry all over him when she needed to, and even gave her a birthday.
And now, Gin knew everything was going to start going downhill from there. It really did start and end with Rangiku, after all.
That said, the look in her eyes did cause something to twist painfully and momentarily inside of him, not that he let it outwardly show. In fact, Gin hadn't moved much and that smile was starting to weave it's way over his lips again. He was always going to be a little evasive, because sometimes the less she knew about certain things like his profession the better. That was simply part of his nature.
"What do I think? I think it sounds like ya weren't dreamin' about drinkin' or shoppin' sprees," was Gin's reply, when he finally bothered to reply. He did offer a potential explanation, "Maybe it's because we've been hangin' out a lot lately or we could get all psychological with it. Maybe your biological clock's tickin' and ya want a lil' me baby. Aww, I'm flattered, Rangiku. But I don't think we're at that point in hangin' out together, where we need ta talk about stockin' up on the preggers tests."
He knew she was stubborn (along with moody and lazy) and that she was not going to buy that excuse. It was worth a try anyway. If he didn't get knocked right off the bed.
Her eyes narrowed, dangerously so as he opened his mouth. For a minute she thought he was going to be honest with her, without some smart ass commentary. But no. He followed through with classic Gin. Which to be fair was part of his charm and draw. Even if right now she wanted to wipe that smirk off his face with her fist. She sat back up, slowly this time, making the time to push her hair out of her eyes. Her movements were slow and careful.
Then without warning she was leaning over him, hair dangling over his face as she stared at him, nose to nose.
“If you think I’m buying that bullshit, go sell someone an oceanside house in Montana. I’m not stupid, Gin. Even if I look like a fucking blonde bimbo, I’m not stupid,” she said, her voice was very quiet. Her eyes were bright and she wasn’t playing around. Then she sighed softly and moved to sit down next to him again.
“Sorry.” she managed after a moment. She pulled her knees to her chest and laid her head on them. The Dream had really thrown her for a loop. It was such a sad beginning. And it resonated within her, as if she knew it was true and not just words. “Please,” she said ever so softly, pairing it with a broken hearted look.
“You gave me a birthday,” she said quietly, as if that one of the things that stuck with her the most.
After all that, it seemed like a never-ending hush had settled in the room, before it was shattered with one softly spoken statement, "...you ain't never been a blonde bimbo to me, Rangiku."
He finally rolled upward into a sitting position, instead of laying flat on his back. They were arm to arm, shoulder to shoulder for another long moment, before he put that arm around her shoulders and drew her close to him.
"Don't need to be sorry," he told her, tilting his head enough to rest his cheek on the top of her head. "There's a lot that I can't tell ya and might not be able to ever tell ya? But when the time's right...I'll try not to sell ya a landlocked house with a ocean view." Another pause and he finally confessed under his breath, "...I missed you."
The silence was almost terrifying. She had tensed herself, waiting for another statement that would make her livid with him. But that statement wasn’t one of those and she relaxed, and confirmed enough to her to suit her for now. She sighed softly and felt her breath catch then slowly let it back out. She turned her eyes back to him, with that sorrowful gaze before she broke it with a smile.
“That… is comforting to hear,” she said after a moment longer.
She let him pull her closer and laid her head against him. She tried to sort out what feelings were real. What ones were dream induced and how she could puzzle it all out. But the moment passed, for the time being, she wanted to savor this. It was comforting, warm and all around delightful.
“I’ll hold you to that word, Gin,” she said ever so softly. “And don’t you be thinking just cause you warned me there are things you can’t or won’t tell me, I won’t ask anyways.” she said, making sure he knew that.
Then she savored his words, the quiet way he did it. Without really knowing why. Or understanding it, really, she smiled softly. “I’m here now. I may not understand everything. Or really know, but I’m here.”
"Wouldn't be the same if you weren't," he told her, letting her know it was okay to ask, but she probably was going to expect a lot of frustrating answers. "You're gonna haveta keep it quiet, since I haven't been letting people know that I know anything about any of those dreams. Ya gotta promise."
Other than that, his gaze went off to one side in a shifty-eyed look, because he would have to deal with Rangiku's Captain and Yachiru, at some point or other...as well as every other Shinigami who was going to remember, eventually. It wasn't anything he was fearful about, but more as though he was most comfortable skirting around the edges of things, and being evasive was simply the way he was. It was...easier.
"At least I didn't have ta pour tea down your throat or wipe your snotty nose when you were too lazy ta do it yourself," he joked, trying to lighten the mood. "Or pick up after you, roll up the bed mats, tend the trees, gather the food, fetch the water, cook, clean, wash our clothes, do the dishes, listen to you complain it was too cold, go get firewood...listen to you complain it was too hot...."
That list could go on, because frankly? She might have always wondered where he was going off to without saying anything, even when they were much younger...but it was because he was taking care of the chores she couldn't be bothered to do or help with.
"You're so lazy," he said, fondly, with a smile on his face. One that wasn't so fake. It was less harshly defined and set in stone, than his usual sly smirk.
She nodded lightly.
"I won't tell anyone you know anything about them. Its not my place to tell." Although not telling Yumi was going to be hard. Rangiku's eye started to twitch. "I was not that awful was I?"
She frowned at him. Oh yes she was lazy. She knew that. Oh so well. Her lips pursed as he finished the list.
"I'm not that lazy. .. damn it." She did note that he spoke fondly though and with a real smile. One she returned.
"Thanks, Rangiku." He relaxed inwardly, even though he always looked outwardly relaxed. Gin's eyes were open as he looked up toward the ceiling for a moment, and then it was right back to smiling again. He imagined she wanted to throttle him.
"You're pretty lazy, but I never minded," he confessed. Of course, any confessions of his came with a fair bit of teasing. "I liked doin' that stuff for you. It meant we weren't alone, an' let's face it? You were gonna starve if I hadn't found you. That was close to my birthday, too. So it was like you were a present. One that took a lotta assembly an' had no batteries included so I had ta go to the store to get 'em, then I got the wrong batteries, so I had ta go back...."
"You’re welcome. " She smiled at him. Rangiku reached up to ruffle his hair a bit. He was adorable when he was concerned.
"GIN!" She grinned at him. She leaned against him as he spoke and sighed softly. "No alone was bad. Together was better. " She did poke him in the arm as he got to the part about needing a lot of batteries and assembly.
"You're a handful, in more ways than one." He was teasing her, of course. It felt like old times, in his dreams, and that wasn't a bad thing. The bad things hadn't happened to her, yet. There was always a 'yet'. But if there was one person who knew him a bit better than anyone else, then it was Rangiku.
That was why he gently grasped hold of her poking finger, and then took hold of her hand.
"Sometimes, we still gotta do what we gotta do,” was his cryptic response, that pretty much covered...everything. “That’s even if together's better than alone. And that’s even if you're a high maintenance kinda girl. Lucky me, ‘cuz I like to listen to ya complain."
Rangiku nudged him at that one, lightly but enough to make herself smile at him. His teasing didn’t bother her as much as it did a few days ago. Nothing was wrong, yet, and even then, Rangiku was stubborn enough to make him stay.
She smiled at him and let him take hold of her hand, fingers curling against his. “We make do. We survive. But always stronger with two not just one.” she smiled at him, gently. “I’d be offended but it’s true. I’d apologize but I’m not sorry.” She smiled at him.
There were some things he knew he had to do on his own, but he wasn't about to bicker with Rangiku over that. They were there, now, the two of them. For however long that lasted.
"You're gonna get angry when I'm gone without tellin' ya where I went," he guessed, tilting his chin down enough to look at her. At least she was smiling and not crying. Rangiku didn't cry over nothing, so when it happened, it was a big deal. Not some trivial, happens at the drop of a hat, kind of thing.
"You don't have nothin' to apologize for," he said, and he meant it. "I like ya the way you are. But if we sit here much longer, my butt's gonna go numb, an' I'll be the one starving to death. Are ya hungry?"
Before she could really answer, he pressed a kiss against one side of her forehead. It wasn't an act that was done swiftly or lightly this time, either.
"Maybe. We'll see yeah?" No she totally was going to get mad. It was her thing after all. Especially since she remembered getting mad as a kid with him.
"Well thankfully here neither of us can starve to death. Right?" She grinned a bit then nodded. "Always hungry. Lets get up then?" she said as she looked at him.
The kiss stopped her dead in her tracks unable to move as she felt his lips against his forehead. A blush crept up her cheeks as she turned her head to look at him, before moving to return it against his cheek.
Behind squinty eyelids, Gin eye-darted and laughed a little bit, because Rangiku clearly had no idea that he was already at the full extent of his powers. Of course, any thoughts on that matter were utterly derailed when he felt her lips against the side of his face.
"Aww, you're makin' me feel warm an' fuzzy inside," he said, leaning in so he could playfully tumble them both sideways, even if they went right off the edge of the bed in the process. At least it was one of those platform beds and low to the floor, so there wasn't that far to fall. "Maybe I wanna starve ta death in bed with you. Or I might nibble on ya. You look pretty tasty in the mornin's, with your bedhead an' makeup all rubbed off."
They tumbled to floor, a tangle of limbs and sheets. She giggled softly as they landed together. "We can starve then. I won't mind I don't think. "She ran her nails through his hair.
"Oh? Am I a snack food now?" She was blushing red though at that. Still laughing though. Her long hair in tangles as it settled under her, under them.
There had been the sound of him saying 'ouch' softly until he wasn't going kerthud with his knees and elbows since they were twisted around. Luckily, they didn't go kerthud into her. But how quickly it was that he forgot about that. He also forgot about food for a moment too, merely being tangled up with her and seeing her face flushed, looking so happy.
"I dunno, I'll have to try ya and see," he said with a impish smirk, tipping his head down to give her an experimental nibble on the side of her neck. Just for effect, he left his lips against her neck when he said, "Huh, go figure. You're sweet an' sour."
He was ready to get thwapped one for that comment. But at least he hadn’t described her as tangy or anything, so bonus points for him. Go Team Gin!
She felt bad as they landed in a pile. But it was hard for her too really feel too bad. She shuddered softly as they finally settled where they were. He was adorable.
"Oh? Really?" She laughed softly then he nibbled on her neck and she went still, breath caught in her throat. Then he murmured against her neck. She made a happy sound as she thwacked him. "More sweet than sour right?" It wasn't hard, Her thwacking that is. She didn't feel like making him move. "What about you then? "
He laughed at the thwapping, conveniently with his lips still pressed against her skin, and then gave her another nip on the neck.
"Kinda a blend of both, but I like it." He placed a kiss there like he was making it all better, before raising himself up on his arms enough to look down at her, so they were eye to eye. "Me?" A pause. Another big smile. "Natto."
She squirmed under him. Then smiled softly at him. Long arms curled around him not letting him get too far away. A playful grin danced on her lips as he spoke. "Natto... oh my."
She ducked her head around to nip at his neck herself, laughing softly as she did so. She wanted to taste for herself.
His breath caught in his throat for a moment. It reminded him of when they first got past the 'you show me yours and I'll show you mine' phase of things, which happened after he first stole a kiss. It was a whole wide world of experimentation during stolen moments, here and there, after that.
Of course, that was there - wherever there was - and this was now. And he was having a very difficult time telling himself that waiting to pounce her was a great idea. Even if he was also reminding himself that if they did end up doing anything, he might regret it later if she shunned him.
He groaned under his breath. It was partly out of dismay because he knew he was going to have to stop soon, and partly because it felt so good.
If all else failed? Joke about it, "...s'it taste slimy an' funky?"
Rangiku wasn’t generally the type to, ah, fall into bed with someone anyways. So she was happy to flirt and tease. But she’d put a stop to things before they got too far, too. She had all these mixed up feelings and she couldn’t help it. That familiar feeling about him was comforting, and she trusted him. At the moment anyways. That could change later.
She took another little nibble before laughing softly against his neck. “No, not slimy or funky. You don’t taste like Natto.” She laid her head back down to look up at him, eyes sparkling with mischief, a soft smile on her lips. She let the flirty moment pass, not wanting to rush something. Anything. But she also had no desire to let him go just yet. So she lifted a hand and ran her fingers over his cheek lightly then through his hair. A sweet, gentle gesture from a woman terribly good at violence.
A woman terribly good at violence and at playing hard to get. Gin knew that. He was also terribly sneaky, elusive, a tease and a prankster, but for the time being, his eyes were wide open so he could look at her, without it being through a perpetual squint.
He wanted to tell her that he didn't want to do something she might regret, someday. That was why they had to stop. Instead of saying it, he merely smiled down at her and moved to kiss her.
"...after this, I'm makin' breakfast," he promised and then their lips met, so he forgot everything else. It was a chaste but loving kiss which proved he wasn't about to push things...because Rangiku would rip his junk off and throw it against one of the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and no one needs to see that happening. C'mon. Seriously.
Rangiku was also a woman who felt like she was coming home. It was a feeling she hadn't expected. She smiled up at him, loving his eyes, having a feeling it was a special thing.
She smiled. How could she say no to breakfast? She couldn't. It wasn't possible. The fingers that had run across his cheek curled against his neck as she leaned up into the kiss.
There didn't need to be passion. Or fire. She was happy with the soft, loving touch. And the return kiss was very much a reflection of his kiss. Sweet and gentle.
Gin truly loved the girl, so that was another good reason why he was taking it slow. And if she didn't try to strangle him, there were plenty of opportunities for that, later. In fact, there was copious amounts of passion and fire when she was angry or upset, along with those times when they simply tackled one another. For right now, though, it was all where it needed to be. Otherwise, yeaaaaaah. No problems in the passion department, because she was hot and beautiful. Now he was going to need a cold shower before breakfast.
When the kiss ended he tilted his head while smirking and then lowered it to give her one last nip on the neck. It was a little reminder that he wasn't all smushy, he had a little bite to him too.
"You figure out what ya want, while I'm in the shower," he told her, as he tried to untangle himself from her and the sheet and blanket. It was like trying to wrestle an octopus. "I'll try ta cook it, if we got it."
They were going to be eating poptarts.
Rangiku was content. Things could happen as slowly as necessary. She felt at peace, which was rather nice. Although unknown to her, that would change in a few memories time. Things would get complicated again. But at the end of the day she was just happy he admitted he knew. She felt less crazy, even if she was still lost in the whole thing.
She laughed softly as he nipped again before she shook her head gently. Men! But she found she liked the little feisty. Overall she felt he complimented her fiery nature - he was the ice to her fire, the order to her chaos. And she didn’t think she’d have it any other way.
Rang was laughing as he tried to untangle himself from the sheets, her limbs and the blankets. It was hilarious as she tried to help and ended up tangled worse and him free to go. “Alright.” poptarts, by the gods. Remind Rogue to teach him to really cook. Good lord.
While he was in the shower she untangled herself and remade the bed. She may be lazy 98% of the time but she did know how to take care of things, too. Despite his litany of laziness factors against her, she could make beds! She was sitting on it when he finished, her long hair had been combed out with her fingers, the curls still tangled a bit, but it was pretty. Yumi was going to have a fit at the state of her locks.
Oh girl. Bedhead is never acceptable. Yumichika rolls out of bed surrounded by sparkles, rainbows, and baby unicorns, without a hair out of place. But that’s another story, entirely.
What was a story, was that if Gin was the order to someone else's order to their chaos, that was going to make for very, very interesting times. But, in a sense, it was also true, since he was always calm and he did like to have everything planned out, with all of his ducks in a row...usually so he could take their heads off in one shot.
What? It was convenient!
He could also cook but he was also too lazy and if he was going to be 'making the rounds' by standing on thin air or hopping from rooftop to rooftop, then he needed something portable and that meant poptarts. Considering in their dreams that they lived off a fair amount of dried persimmons and loved it because they were sweet and sugary, Gin had a sweet tooth that wouldn't quit.
As for the shower, she can have all the hot water, because he used 0% of it. After that, he needed to go sliding over a smooth as glass glacier, just to cool off. All thanks to Rangiku. Who really wasn't helping matters when he walked out of the bathroom with a white robe on and towel dried hair, and saw her sitting there with her hair tumbling down around her shoulders on his very made bed.
It didn't stop the teasing, "Ah, so ya can get offa your butt an' do stuff. You must've learned something between that life an' this one, like all that yelling at ya to work an' stop napping has finally rubbed off."
Gin was smiling at her, because she didn't remember yet that Toshiro was the one doing all the yelling, since he was a work-a-holic. It would be yet another dynamic where Rangiku would be the fire to the ice.
Bedhead was never okay. Even Rangiku didn’t LOVE it, but she also knew it could look pretty awesome. If done right of course. She kind of wished she had Yumi there to fix her hair then vanish again like the best damn stylist known to man. She heard the water shut off and snapped out of her daydream to look up at him with a tiny smile.
Despite it all, Gin really was the balancing force to Rangiku. It’s what made them so compatible. Somewhat anyways. They were like magnets, to - turn them on one end and they push each other away. Turn them around and they pull together stronger than anything. Her lips curled upwards as she tilted her head at him.
“Feel better now?” she asked before pursing her lips at his teasing. “I do know how to take care of myself, at least here. And probably really there, too, when it counted.” She gave him a look before smirking a bit at him and pushing herself off the bed to stand. She frowned a moment, looking down then back up again. “You best have another of those. I am not wearing what I wore to bed for breakfast,” she stated, a little of her natural vanity peeking out to play.
Then another smile. Quick as the frown had come it vanished.
“Were those persimmon trees I saw last night?” She asked curiously, even drunk she was observant.
They were definitely a yin and yang combo. And she definitely wasn't in need of any help from Yumichika, since he would probably find a split end and waste zero time pointing it out, before he pranced away.
"Mmhm, and ya only did that when no one else would do it for you," he joked, before turning to the side a little bit and pointing back toward the open bathroom door. "There's another in there, folded up with the towels. An' if it was up ta me, you wouldn't be wearin' it. But since there's a roomie goin' in and outta here, and I live in a glass house, we don't need to be givin' everyone a show."
He seemed pretty comfortable in the robe, so he didn't bother getting dressed. He slowly walked past her toward the bedroom door, reaching out with one hand to tousle her hair up a little bit more as he passed.
"Anyway, trees? Yep," he finally replied to her question. "Those were a pain in the butt ta transplant like that, expensive too. Worth it, though." He paused before adding, "Maybe the trees jogged your memory."
Rangiku smiled at him and laughed softly. “Mmm but I learned so just appreciate the fact I did it on my own.” Her eyes sparkled as she snickered. “Good. I’ll grab that and no, glass houses are not made for running around naked. Sorry to say,” she said with a laugh as she ducked towards the bathroom, pausing as his fingers ran through her hair. A soft smile graced her lips before she continued onwards.
She actually ducked into the shower for a minute, rinsing the night’s smells off her frame. The smell of sake and booze clung - it always did - and she didn’t really love it. Unusually quick in the shower today, she came back out wrapped in a comfy robe (which really didn’t do much to hide her shape because dude, boobs.) but she was kept decent and comfortable and not in last night’s clothes. Ick.
Her long hair was longer with dampness, and curled at the ends as she stretched and walked out.
“Mmm maybe, I don’t know. But no matter, the cost or if they jarred my memory, it’s nice to see some around.” She was recalling the taste of persimmons with a smile. “So. What are we eating this morning?” she asked as she walked towards him.
Dried persimmons were their favorite food after all. The fruit wouldn't be that great this year, but next year - if the trees he had weren't on the attack again - there was probably going to be a much better harvest.
Of course, he wasn't thinking about persimmons when he looked around the edge of the fridge door and saw her. Then she got a cat call whistle and a devilish grin.
"Lookin' good, Rangiku. An' I dunno. Depends what you want. There's eggs. There's some cold soba noodles with some sauce on the side. Cucumber slices. Toast. Tea. Or poptarts? I got the blueberry kind without the frosting, cuz that frosting's overkill. Or we can go out. Lady's choice."
Rangiku smiled a bit at the cat call and the grin. “Behave.” she said with a smirk.
“Thanks.” A flirty smile crossed her lips. “Mmm cold soba noodles sounds divine right about now, actually.” She ran her nails through her hair and smoothed out the damp locks. “And tea, a nice cup of tea would be perfect.”
She smiled at him and stopped next to him to kiss him lightly on the cheek.
“You’re a good host, Gin.” She grinned a bit. Poptarts. No she wasn’t that hungry. Later maybe.
"Behaving is so hard to do," he confessed, without that devilish grin dying down a notch. Especially not after the cheek kiss. "This' nothing. I usually have a few things to eat in here, in case I come home and I'm hungry. It doesn’t take that long ta make udon or anythin’. That an' Jessie, the roommate? She cooks. Rogue from the network cooked here too. I got people cookin' for me. Yay."
He took out the cold noodles and sauce, and chopped up some scallions to mix in. That was all while he boiled water for the tea. While he got their breakfast thrown together, he was quiet, but smiling. It was nice to be able to take care of Rangiku again, even if he knew he would have to be out killing a whole lot of people at three a.m. on Saturday.
She laughed softly. “I understand, I do. Trust me.” She smiled a bit.
“Well then aren’t you just spoiled?” she teased as she followed him into the kitchen taking time to examine his home through sober eyes. She smoothed her hair again before sitting down at the table to watch him.
Rangiku liked this. Not because she wasn’t cooking. Or because she was being lazy. But he did it all with a smile and didn’t seem bothered by her habits or mannerisms that she found a lot of people hated. She was watching him but not paying attention, her mind off replaying the dream, a far away look in her eye, and a melancholy smile on her lips.
Gin's home was stark white and minimalist, and seemed to be more wide open thanks to having a wide open view of everything around them. Of course there were blinds that could come down at the press of a button, but he didn't like that. He liked being able to keep one eye open, even if he never seemed like he was doing that, at all.
Those bad habits and mannerisms she had were things he liked, and even if it drove everyone else up the walls, it never bugged him. Even if she tried to open up a can of whoop ass on him, he remembered it as a great opportunity to train in how to dodge and weave. See? Even a tiff or an argument could be useful to Gin! Everything was an opportunity! (:D)
He placed her tea and noodles down in front of her, then sat down at the table across from her.
"Can't help it if I was spoiled," he lightheartedly told her, "cuz I learned it by watchin' you."
Om nom nom went Gin, who hoped his teasing had gotten her out of what looked to be a funk she was slipping into.
Rangiku liked the house. The white and the glass really made it nifty feeling. The place felt more comforting than four solid walls ever did. It wasn’t that she didn’t love her house, she did, and her room especially, but sometimes simplicity won out even in her complicated heart.
It was good that he enjoyed her quirks because she certainly came with a few of them. Once she found her footing again she’d be back to her usual snarky, vain, lazy self but the dreams had knocked her off kilter and now she was a little unsure of herself, and it came across as quiet and thoughtful.
Him setting the tea and noodles before her snapped her out of her daydream and she smiled at him.
“At least you learned something from me,” she replied with a light hearted grin. She wasn’t really in a funk, just trying to sort it in her head, reconcile her dreams with her reality and make them mesh. Rangiku never wasted time, at least not too much, worrying. Life was too short to worry about everything (unless it was hair, makeup, etc).
"I do a lotta people watchin'," Gin said, after he could talk without a mouthful of food. The funny thing was that he even smirked when he chewed. It was creepy cute. "I learn a lotta stuff that way. 'Nuff that I can't tell ya it'll be alright, with those dreams. It is what it is, I s'pose, but you gotta wait an’ see for yourself."
He wasn't about to incriminate himself, since he wanted to see what Rangiku would say or do. Would she forgive him? Would she hate him forever? He couldn't very well explain it ahead of time, or he really just didn't want to. Whatever happened between them was going to happen anyway, so he was simply being his usual evasive self.
He smiled at her. It wasn't reassuring. His smile wasn't a lot of the time. It was simply Gin being Gin, and hiding something as usual.
Rangiku eyed him for a minute then sighed softly. She was getting used to him talking in circles. Evading. But it was okay. She felt like it was a quality she did like about him. Even if it was frustrating.
"No I wouldn't expect you to lure to me about it, Gin. Nor would I want you to. I'll figure out out as it happens. You're here. That's enough to help me get through it all. " Her faith in him was all gut. She just felt like she should trust him to watch out for her. He had as kids in the dream, after all.
"Less depressing talk now." She flashed him a warmer smile ignoring the faint twist in her gut about his not so reassuring smile.
"Less depressin' talk," he agreed, taking a leisurely sip of tea. "Are ya gonna fill out that application or what? I think it'd be a good job for ya, Rangiku."
Because it would be a hilarious job. Between her and Abarai, that place might go out of business!
She was tempted to throw noodles at him for that one. "Ugh. That's depressing talk that I actually need a job. " She instead stuck her tongue out at him.
Drunk is the only way Rangiku could handle a customer service job. No Lie. She'd go nuts otherwise. "Ugh."
Gin snerked and started laughing, as soon as he wasn't in danger of choking on his breakfast.
"I like the look on your face," he teased, when he was able to talk again. "I have ta go to a overnight accounting convention on Friday night. But I wouldn't mind if ya wanted to come over whenever ya want."
Just...maybe no staying over on Friday night because he was going to be coming home wearing someone else's blood, even after he gets rid of the clothes and evidence. He’s simply not going to say that to her, because they weren’t at that all too important ‘Honey, I kill people for a living’ point in their...whatever it was. Togetherness? Yes, that.
She held up a noodle in a threatening fashion. You know, because a wet noodle is totally terrifying. But at least it meant she was joking around and not seriously going to beat him. For the moment anyways. She wrinkled her nose at him for the laughter at her expense. Still waving that noodle.
“Sounds like you’ll be having a blast, then.” she said with a wry smirk. Accounting sounded boring and very unlike the man before her. She idly wondered if that’s what he really did or not. She was leaning towards not, although she didn’t have a clue what WOULD fit him better. Oh well.
“I think.. I think I would enjoy that. But why don’t you let me know when it’s cool to come over, so I don’t bother you or your housemate.” she said with a smile, putting the ball back in his court. Their Togetherness. It was the weird beginning of a weird life, yes ma’am!
After dropping his chopsticks, Gin held up both hands like it was a stick up, before she thwapped him with a cold buckwheat noodle.
"I have lotsa people over, I don't mind. Jessie's here when she's not at work," he pointed out. "Maybe Saturday mornin's a bad idea, since I'll get home early that mornin'? Other than that, if ya wanna, just come on over."
He was comfortable enough with Rangiku doing that, that he could probably explain away anything.
"Ya wanna key?" he cheerfully asked her, even if it was mostly to see her reaction. She might fall out of her chair in shock, and - if he was lucky - the girls would pop out of the robe if that happened.
Win/Win.
She huffed a bit at him before going back to eating. That plan didn’t last long as she looked up and smiled. “That’s understandable. Get yer rest. I guess I can pop by sometime after that.” she smiled at him, before making a noodle vanish. It was magic. She swears.
Rangiku almost did fall out of the chair in just shock. Paired with what Yumi had said the other night she was red faced in a half second and clammering to keep her balance. Which did lovely things to his view, that robe was not meant to hold the girls in while she was wobbling all over the place. No full view but a lot more skin than a half second ago.
One hand moved to her face to hide the fact it was red. She could FEEL how warm her cheeks were. Damn you, Yumichika, damn youuuu you precognitive bastard was what was running in her head at the moment.
“Oh… you… don’t have to do that you know,” she managed after a minute of trying to find a good response that wasn’t an over enthusiastic yes.
Somewhere in the O.C., Yumichika suddenly felt the need to puff up with pride and say ’nailed it’ in a gloating whisper. Do not question the Yumichika. He's right and beautiful.
Gin, on the other hand, was using his happy squinting to the best of his ability, to stare right at where the vast expanse of newly exposed flesh was. When her face blushed, he noticed there was a bit of a blush to her breasts too. Bonus points. Especially for a boob man.
"That ain't a no. Do ya or don’cha?" he said, sounding sly as a fox, and going right back to calmly eating the rest of his soba noodles, while waiting to see how she was going to answer.
The jerk was always right even if Rangiku didn't like admitting it. She could almost hear his gloating whisper. Jerk. Beautiful, amazing, bff forever.
There was a faint blush extending down her neck to the swell of exposed boob flesh. She hadn't noticed the fact her robe had moved yet she was too busy trying to come up with an answer. And hiding how red her face was.
Rangiku didn't like being knocked off balance. She was overthinking for the first time in a long time. She took a deep breath (go ahead Gin, stare) before nodding. "As long as you don't mind me having one. .." Yumi was going to have a field day.
"No, Rangiku, I don't mind," he said, meaning about the key or the view. That smile on his face turned into a devilishly delightful grin once again. "I ain't givin' you a room of your own though. Ya gotta stay in mine, with me."
It really was fun razzing her sometimes, because sometimes? She was easy to get all wound up. It was practically a hobby to him, like people watching, or the occasional prank pulling or surprise by popping around a corner suddenly so people almost crapped their pants.
Or appearing over Rogue while she was laying on her back trying to remember how to breathe. THAT was fun. Good job Gin. She ran her nails through her hair almost shyly.
“I’ll accept the key then…” Then she looked up at him, noting the grin. “Oh I do huh?”
Yes she was already getting wound back up. She was pretty easy to razz into violence. Even if it was with a limp soba noodle or a spoon. Didn’t matter to her, but he was making her blush again.
Sometimes, scaring and razzing people was lotsa fun.
"We can probably warm that soba up on your face. Is it hot in here? Ya look pretty warm."
He leaned forward, taking a chopstick and slowly sucking it clean. He turned it around so that the newly clean part was between his fingers and the dry part pointed toward her, and then he moved it in toward her chest, poking it right between her breasts, before he used it to pull the robe closed a little bit.
Then he appeared thoughtful, as though that wasn't right.
"If you're hot," he very innocently offered, "I could open it back up if ya want?"
“Just remembering what one of my friends said, that’s all,” she said as she fought to shush that blush and smile at him. She watched him clean his chopstick. It was kind of teasing to watch. Men. Hmph.
She squeaked in surprise when he poked her right between her breasts before closing her robe. Her mouth opened as if she was trying to say something. Then closed it for a moment before smiling a bit.
“Oh you’re so helpful!” She fluttered her lashes at him. She was daring him. DARING him.
"Ain't I? That's me. I’m always tryin' ta help."
Daring Gin wasn't exactly the way to play it safe. That smile was somewhere between sweet and devilish, right before he fwipped the chopstick to get the robe much more open on one side and then the other...or as far as he could get them around her breasts, at least.
"Now ya got some extra air conditioning," he joked, while tapping the chopstick very lightly between them. It was right in the middle of her chest, like he was drumming it in time with her pulse. "They looked a lil' smothered an' now they can breathe."
She just stared at him. Wide eyed and totally shell shocked for about three point six seconds.
“Just what I always needed, air conditioning.” She blinked at him then laughed softly. She set her own chopsticks down and ever so carefully adjusted the girls so they were comfortable, still exposed and still decent.
Slender fingers did snag the chopstick that was tapping between her chest, grinning softly as she looked at him.
“You enjoyin’ the view, yeah?” She curled her lips into a wicked smile.
"I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't," Gin all too sweetly responded, still holding the other end of the chopstick. "It ain't like they've popped out but I think the only thing holdin' the robe on is your nipples, right 'bout now."
What? It's not like it wasn't the truth. She was in that space between being exposed and yet still being decent, after all. That wide-eyed stare had been worth its weight in gold.
"...you're gonna break this chopstick in your hand, aren't ya," he said, knowingly. "I got about two seconds ta let go after ya say yep, don't I."
"Well I'm glad to be of service then. " She leaned forward just a bit to tease before grinning wickedly. At least he enjoyed the view.
"Yep." True to her word she gave him two seconds before snapping the chopstick in half. Do note however she didn't readjust or cover up more. More she let them hang out to tease him.
She did smile at him sweetly. At least she liked him enough to not knock him out for playing with the girls' coverings. Bonus.
Yay for getting away with stuff that would have gotten other people's faces punched or kicked in. Bonus.
Since Gin was done eating, he luckily let go before it snapped in two pieces. Smile on his face, he put one elbow down on the table and his chin in the cup of his hand as he slouched forward and enjoyed the view.
And what a view it was.