damned_institute | Nightshift 23: M11-M20 Hall

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Nightshift 23: M11-M20 Hall

Gin sat quietly on the edge his bed, hands folded in his lap as the doors unlocked. The knives were still beneath his pillow, where he'd stuffed them before Naoe came in for dinner. He'd prefer the man didn't know he had them, but if Ran arrived before Naoe left, well, it wasn't that important.

He still didn't know if she was going to show up at all. He'd wait a few minutes, check and see if her spirit thread was getting any closer, if not... there were plenty of other things he could do tonight. Jack was reliable if nothing else and wouldn't be too difficult to find. The disembodied voice of the announcer was right though. It was possible, terribly likely in fact, that he was not on the grounds. That he was somewhere else entirely. It would help if he knew a little more about how their announcement system worked. Obviously the Head Doctor wasn't the only one who could use it.

Regardless, he had to focus his thoughts on the here and now and then proceed forward. He sat patiently, for now at least, waiting for his visitor.

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[From 2 threads down]

Rangiku knocked lightly on the door, leaning close so she could speak quietly. "It's Ran," she said, loud enough for him to hopefully hear her. She knew better than to walk in unannounced on another shinigami, let alone one as powerful as Gin.

Hopefully he was still waiting for her. It was difficult to guage time in this place.

He turned at the sound of knuckles on his door. The voice that followed confirmed it. He'd thought she would just walk in, but he supposed he could answer the door for her. He stepped near it, cracking it open to confirm it was her, then pushing it a bit more. He never stepped out into the hallway, on the off chance someone else might be waiting.

He waited for her to catch the edge of the door and then turned back to his bed, picking up the knife, still in it's 'sheath,' and holding it carefully in his hands. He didn't hold it out to her, not yet.

"You're late," he said simply, a smile on his lips.

Ah, so it was the right room and he was still waiting. She caught the edge of the door when Gin pushed it opened it, slipping inside and shutting the door behind herself.

She returned his smile and nodded. "I had to meet Kuchuki-san and one of Renji's friends," she replied with a shrug. "Things take so long to organise here." Nurses watching all the time, and it was difficult to move around quickly during the night.

"That so...?" he returned. He'd been turning the words over in his mind for most of the day. He took a step closer. Gin still felt a little silly in his new apron, but it was functional enough. He slipped the sheathed weapon into his front pocket.

"Organizin' a lil' traveling party? I hope y'not here for all business n' no pleasure."

She raised an eyebrow as she looked him over, an amused smile curling her lips at the sight of the apron. She couldn't deny the practicality of it, but it was still an amusing sight nonetheless.

"We have a lot of things we need to get done," she replied, keeping her eyes on him as he advanced. "And that depends on what you had in mind," she added carefully.

He put his hands up in a playful shrug, "Ara, nothin' in partic'lar, just wonderin' how long I have t'chat with you b'fore you'll be scootin' off."

She seemed relaxed, that was a point in his favor he supposed. "Had a lil' chat with Abarai-kun earlier," he said, still smiling as he watched for her reaction. "You'd be right proud. I didn't even stab him once," he offered jokingly.

"A few minutes, I suppose, before they come breaking down the door," sh replied, looking at him fondly.

She nodded, leaning back against the wall and giving him an exasperated look. "I know. He told me you came to some kind of truce." She smiled wryly at him. "Glad to hear it. I think hiding a knife in a shower would be a feat even for you," she added, a teasing not to her voice.

"So short," he commented, leaning close enough to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Ara, you're gonna make me blush." He chuckled at her supposition. As nice as it would have been to have a weapon in the shower, there were a limited number of places that it could be hidden and he wasn't that desperate yet. The laughter melted away and his face became a bit more serious, if that were possible.

"About the truce," he paused, holding her gaze. "Seein' as... here and now we've got one similar goal between us all, I think we're gonna need more n' just a truce."

She sighed softly, tilting her head against his hand. It was always too short a time between them. "I know."

And it was nice to hear him laugh, even at something as silly as that. It was gone too soon as always though, more serious matters at hand. She nodded in agreement. "We need as much strength as we can get," she replied. It was like those lessons in strategy from the Academy; divide and conquer. If they were all scattered, then they were so much weaker. Some measure of trust would be helpful.

The feel of her warm skin beneath his fingers was distracting. He forced himself to focus in spite of it, gently stroking her cheek.

He gave her a lopsided smile as she put it all together. "Exactly. An' as strong as Abarai-kun and th' others are, won't make much difference if they don't have the wits to use it properly, ne?" He traced his thumb along her jawline, speaking soft as a whisper. At this distance, he didn't have to speak any louder. "I c'n help. But not if I don't have inf'mation. Not if no one trusts me."

His other hand went for the pocket of his apron, pulling out the knife. He held it between them, handle facing her, a symbol of his own trust.

It was all too easy to let go of herself and lean into that touch, letting her eyes drop closed for a moment before meeting Gin's eyes again.

It was unfair that he still had this effect on her after so long. Unfair advantage and she could feel his breath on her lips. "I trust you," she said after a moment, smiling sadly because it wasn't enough. She couldn't force Renji and Rukia to trust him. She sighed softly, lowering her eyes. "I'll see what I can do." her voice dropped slightly. "I don't want to have to fight you."

She couldn't follow where he went, not this time. But she didn't want to lose him either.

She grasped the handle of the knife between them, drawing it towards her and turning it away from his body. She leaned forwards then, resting their foreheads together. "Thankyou."

He knew it already, even as she said the words. "I can get us out of here Ran, you know I can. All I'm askin' is for you t' see if I c'n do the same for th' others. Said it before, but we're not gonna get far spread out like we are. Even if it's jus' information, it'll get us outta here that much quicker."

I don't want to have to fight you. It surprised him, only for a moment before his smile faded back into place. He didn't want to fight her either. But if the time came... no, that time wouldn't come, not here in this place at least. And that was his present concern.

They were too close now, too close to just pull back and play at their flirtatious game. He moved those last few inches, pressing his lips to hers in a kiss that was much softer, much gentler than the one he'd taken the other day.

"Have a safe trip," he said simply, once he had breath.

She did know it. He'd always been smart enough to get them out of trouble as children, whereas she'd always been far more obvious and open. Even his actions in Soul Soicety had proven that. But there was such bad blood between him and the others, it wouldn't be easy. She nodded. "I'll share what I know and see if I can't work something out with Renji." He'd said he didn't care as long as Gin stayed away from Rukia, but things couldn't be changed so quickly.

She sighed softly when he kissed her, eyes closing so she could just enjoy it for this moment without worries. It ended too soon.

"You too," she replied when she felt able to speak again, turning for the door.

She seemed hesitant to leave, and somehow, it amused him. Always leave them wanting more, wasn't that how it went? It was so easy to be cold about things, and it was only with her that he hated himself for it. Much as he might want to forget everything else around him and focus only on Ran, he knew he couldn't, and she knew it as well.

He didn't say anything as he watched her go, what was said had already been enough. He smiled at her though, and maybe, just maybe, there was a bit of sadness to it.

[Going back to Rukia/Sora thread]

to here (http://community.livejournal.com/landels_damned/94850.html)

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Nightshift 23: M11-M20 Hall

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