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The moon hung high in the sky, casting dusty gray light over the grounds of the Butterfly mansion. Within, it was silent and still as patients, doctors, and caregivers slept. It was a peaceful night; gray clouds hung silhouetted against the black sky.
Rengoku sat on the porch, overlooking a carefully manicured garden of low growing shrubbery and small gray pebbles, traced into intricate looping patterns. His legs tucked beneath him, he took in a long deep breath, eyes closed as his lungs swelled within his chest. At the back of his mind, he noticed a dull twinge of pain on one side of his ribcage, all that remained of the injuries that had brought him back to the mansion in the first place. They had been just severe enough for the Kakushi to usher him back against his will; if he had been on his own, with one fewer bruise, one less cracked rib, he likely wouldn't have bothered. Recovering on his own was no longer a hassle, and in fact often saved him from situations such as this: a few too many days spent in bed and away from his sword, and he could tell he was already getting stiffer than he liked. It would do him no good to start slacking on his training regime, especially not at a time like this.
Hot breath hissed from between Rengoku’s clenched teeth. He opened his eyes, bright and flashing. He seized his sword from beside him, affixing it to his hip as he stood swiftly and turned to walk away. He supposed it would do him some good if he eased his way back into his training, rather than throwing himself in head first. They were always telling him off for his refusal to slow down. He supposed he couldn't blame them; they only ever saw the aftermath of their battles, the broken, twisted bodies, the sucking wounds, the snapped swords. It was something of a survivorship bias, only ever seeing the failures. They never saw the payoff of such intense and ruthless self discipline, never counted the lives that were saved simply because they had been fast enough, had been smart enough, had been good enough. In a way, they never knew the true cost. He could not afford to slow down. Not him. Not with so much at stake.
The soft swish of fabric against fabric. Rengoku paused, ears pricking up. He had reached one of the sparring rooms on the mansion grounds and was surprised to hear the sound of someone moving within. It was a subtle thing, nearly quiet enough to escape him entirely. But it was there. The imperceptible sound of someone exerting themselves, of something whizzing through air. He took a ginger step forward and cast a glance into the room, straining for a glimpse.
A flash of hair, white like fresh snow. Uzui.
Rengoku watched as he swung his swords, letting go at the height of their arc and flicking his wrist just so, sending one of the pair careening over his head. He caught it delicately behind his back with a soft clatter of chains and was twirling it back around his front in an instant. It was an intricate dance, flashes of light glinting off the perfectly polished blades, swiping wide, deadly arcs through the air as Uzui stepped expertly across the tatami mats. His ponytail and beads swung around him, a beat behind the focused turning of his head, constantly aloft and drifting about his face. His features were calm and focused, an imperceptible furrow in his brow as he performed his practiced routines, eyes closed.
He caught his sword once more, tucking it against his back before opening his eyes and turning his head towards the doorway, meeting Rengoku’s gaze.
“Rengoku.” His voice was smooth and level, resonant in his wide chest.
A surge of warm blood rushed through him. “Uzui! I apologize. I didn't mean to interrupt you. I thought this room might be empty.”
“No, it's alright. I wasn't doing much.” He held his swords at his sides, tips resting on the ground. “I didn't know you were here.”
“Just a bit of recovery, at my crow’s behest.” He straightened his back, puffing out his chest. “I've been in bed too long, though! I thought I might get back to some training before I leave, so I don't get too out of practice.”
“Hmm.” Uzui tipped his head to the side a bit, beads clattering softly. He looked at him for a moment, his magenta eyes observing him. A small smile tugged at the corner of Uzui’s mouth. “Do y’wanna train together? I imagine it might be a bit more engaging than whatever you could do on your own. I don't mind.”
“Sure!” Rengoku stepped into the room, shrugging off his haori and unsheathing his sword. He took a few measured steps back, sucking in breath through his nose to ready himself.
Uzui watched him carefully, bringing one sword up to rest on his shoulder. He mirrored his movements, stepping around the room to keep himself face to face with him. He tipped his head forward a bit, eyes shining as they bore into his like a beast watching its prey.
Rengoku found his heart skipping in his chest. He didn't consider any of his fellow Hashira terribly intimidating, but of the eight of them, Uzui was second only to Gyomei in sheer size and presence. Being the way that he was, it was impossible to ignore him when he entered a room. But despite everything, it was his energy that seemed to steal focus the most. It was sleek and smooth, like a sheet of glass. He moved with the utmost grace and care, more than one might expect from someone of his stature. When he wanted to, he could turn into something of a black hole, seeming to absorb all the sound in a room into himself, creating a void of presence that unsettled the nerves and set hair tingling. There was something else too, something in those red eyes of his. Something that made some part of Rengoku feel… unfocused. Like gazing at a hazy patch of air. He couldn't quite pinpoint it. He didn't know if he cared to.
It was Uzui who moved first. Half a step in his direction, and then a whirlwind of chains and orange tipped blades came at him, slicing through the air with enough speed to vibrate it, creating a humming mass that hung all around him. Rengoku tuned out the sound, cutting a glance at the flicker of white to his left and throwing his sword out just in time to catch the edge of Uzui’s blade. A careful flick of his wrist freed his sword and brought it swinging the other direction, sweeping around to angle towards Uzui’s side. Uzui stepped aside easily, swinging his swords over his head to block. A smile grew across Rengoku’s face despite himself. He had missed this. Luxuriating in bed with workers at his every beck and call simply did not befit him. This was more his speed.
Rengoku blocked another swipe of Uzui’s blade, bending backwards to avoid the tip of the one he swung over his head. This was, he supposed, an even better training session than he had anticipated. Being able to spar with someone like Uzui, who was a full head taller and several breadths wider than Rengoku even on his best days, wsa invaluable. Being forced to adapt to a taller, larger target was somewhat new to him and it activated parts of his brain and body he hadn’t worked in months. He felt his pulse quicken, heart beating hard in his chest despite his careful and measured breathing.
He dashed forward, taking advantage of his speed to make a move for Uzui’s unprotected back. He liked Uzui. He liked all his fellow Hashira, of course, but he realized some time ago that he spent very little of his time with Uzui. He supposed their paths rarely crossed. On the rare occasions there would be a Hashira meeting, they might meet up to spar like this, but they both seemed to take up missions that took them to opposite ends of the country. That was a shame, Rengoku thought as he ducked to avoid the orange-black blur of a blade. He liked Uzui. He really did.
He was shaken from his thoughts by a sudden mass rushing towards him. It was Uzui, who had noticed his minute lapse in attention and seized the opportunity to go on the offensive. He forced Rengoku to reel away from him, barely bringing his sword up in time to slot it between his two blades. As Uzui bore against him, he felt his feet sliding on the tatami mats. Suddenly, he was aware of Uzui’s flushed skin, radiating enough heat for him to feel it on his own cheeks. This close, he could smell the warm air huffing from his nose, the sweat clinging to his temples. He looked up, and found Uzui staring into his eyes. His face was bright and determined, a confident smile spread across his lips.
“Maybe you needed this training more than you thought,” Uzui teased, his breath coming in strong, solid huffs. “You seem a bit slow. Are you sure you're all healed up?”
Rengoku felt himself blush. “Um.” He wanted to think. But Uzui was so close. He ducked down and took a step to the side, slipping his blade out from where it was locked. He shook his head, steadying himself before resuming his defensive position. “Stiffer than I thought.”
Uzui smirked. “Did you stretch before you came down here?”
“No.” Rengoku felt a warm blush creeping up his neck.
He tipped his head to the side, the beads of his headband clattering softly. “Hmm.” A flourish of his arms brought his swords in front of him. He stepped to the side silently, not letting his eyes stray from Rengoku. “I suppose I could ask why you're awake at this hour. Training in the middle of the night doesn't seem very fitting for someone who's in recovery.”
Rengoku narrowed his eyes. “I suppose I could ask you the same.”
Some of the tension in Uzui’s form seemed to melt away, his back straightening and his grip on his blades loosening. “I got hurt a bit ago. I'm better now, but I'm in between missions. I couldn't sleep, so I figured: why not train?”
Rengoku let his own form relax, eyes still trained on Uzui’s weapons. “Why not… spend the time with your wives?”
A soft chuckle. “They're all three very busy women. I haven't seen them in a little while.”
“Oh.” Rengoku bit back his tongue, cursing himself for letting such a heavy word slip from his mouth. What did ‘Oh’ mean?
“You seem distracted.” Uzui dropped his stance entirely, walking across the room to his things and putting his swords down. “Do you want to do something else? Stretch, maybe? You seem a lot stiffer than I remember.”
He felt a flush crawling up his chest. He shook his head a bit and replaced his swords in its sheath with practiced fluidity. His head was spinning, he noticed suddenly. Why was his head spinning? And why wouldn't his heart slow down? It was still practically galloping in his chest from when they had locked swords. It had… startled him. Why was he startled?
When he looked up, Uzui was in front of him, looking down at him with a puzzled expression. Rengoku took a short intake of air. He hadn't noticed him approaching. He made a soft sound in the back of his throat.
“Um! Yes! Stretching would be good. I haven't been able to do very much on my own.”
Uzui stared at him a moment more, his head tipped gently to the side again, before he nodded and turned away. Rengoku watched him as he strode across the room, heart pounding in his chest. He shook his head as he went to the other side of the room, setting down his sword and slipping off his haori.
When he turned around, Uzui was already sat on the tatami floor, folded over his straightened legs. Rengoku sat across from him, watching the way the muscles in his back flexed beneath his uniform, strong and stretched taut. He straightened his legs in front of him, wrapping his arms under his knees and leaning forward to stretch his back. His sore rib complained immediately, dull pain rippling through his chest. He bit back a hiss, pushing himself to stretch further. When he sat up after a few moments, Uzui had moved into another pose, legs splayed open and elbows resting on the floor. Rengoku copied him, his gaze fixed on a stain on the floor to avoid Uzui's piercing magenta eyes. They were beautiful, he thought. Almond shaped, with thick pale eyelashes and warm irises the color of pomegranate, full of curiosity and strength. It was all too much for him to consider now, not in a state like this.
“It's been a while,” Uzui said, resting his chin in his palm, “since we last were together like this. Just us.”
“I agree! It's so rare that we get to see any of the other Pillars. It's unfortunate.”
“Yeah, but I mean you, specifically.”
“Oh.” There it was again. ‘Oh.’
“Sometimes, I think you're different. From the other Pillars.” Uzui shifted, bringing his feet sole to sole and pushing his knees flat against the ground. “There's something about you. I'm not really sure what it is.”
Rengoku copied him, biting his tongue at the way his rib ached. “I feel the same way!” he said with a smile. His hip rewarded the stretch with a sharp stabbing pain. His eyebrow twitched. He really was stiffer than he thought.
Uzui looked at him quietly. “Do you need help?”
“Oh, no, I’m ok. I just--”
Uzui didn't listen to him. He was already rising to his knees and shuffling behind him. Rengoku sucked in a breath through his nose, heart beating double time as Uzui knelt behind him. He could feel the heat radiating off of his massive form, towering over Rengoku even on his knees.
“It's easier, sometimes, with another person,” Uzui murmured.
He reached around Rengoku, placing his hands over his on his knees. His palms were dry and hot, burning his skin where he touched him. Even his hands were huge, enveloping Rengoku's own. He bore down a bit, pushing his knees flat against the floor. His hip complained once more with a throbbing ache that pushed a tight grunt from Rengoku. He straightened up, finding his back pressed against Uzui's chest. A warm blush crept up his face.
“Where are you stiff?”
Rengoku fought to keep his voice steady. “My… hip. And my side. I thought my rib was better but it's still giving me some trouble.”
“Here?” Uzui moved to place his hand flat against his side.
Rengoku closed his eyes. He could hear the soft sound of him breathing, feel the gentle rise of his chest, smell the mild tang of sweat on his brow. His shoulders wanted to bow forward as Uzui leaned against him, steady pressure on his back. He struggled to focus on just one thing: the weight of his hand against his ribcage.
“Um. Yeah. Yeah, I bruised it a bit ago. I thought it was healed enough but apparently not.”
“Hmm.” He could feel his voice rumble in his chest. “Maybe you shouldn't be up training just yet?” As close as he was, he swore he could feel his hot breath hushing over the back of his neck. He strained to hear him. Was he always speaking this softly?
He turned his head to the side a bit, angling his ear towards Uzui’s mouth. “I couldn't stand being in bed another day. I was bored out of my mind. You of all people could understand.”
He realized too late that moving his head was a mistake. Uzui's lips were close enough to his ear now that he could feel breath tickling his earlobe when he let out a soft laugh. Moving closer still, he murmured, “We wouldn't want you hurting yourself even more, would we?”
A shiver ran down Rengoku's spine. He jerked his head suddenly, wrenching it to the side to look back at Uzui. He flushed when he saw how close they were. His face was mere inches away, so close that he could feel his breath on his cheeks. His face was calm, eyes half lidded and cool as he gazed down at him. He searched his face, looking for something Rengoku couldn't pinpoint.
“Um.” Rengoku's voice was hushed, barely above a whisper. He wondered absentmindedly if Uzui could feel how hard his heart was beating against his ribcage. His gaze dropped, suddenly fixated on the plump curve of his lips. They were damp, just slightly, as if he had recently licked them. They looked soft. So soft.
Rengoku jolted from his thoughts when he felt a hand brush against his cheek, fingers trailing over his hot skin. He shuddered at the touch, pressing his mouth closed and exhaling hotly through his nose.
“You're so warm.”
“I… Uh…” He blinked dumbly, mouth and mind full of cotton. He was at a loss for words.
Uzui tipped his head to the side, curiously.
It was a curious thing, the kiss. It was gentle. It took only the slightest motion, both of them leaning forward a hair’s breadth. The barest amount of pressure as their lips touched. Rengoku could hardly register what was happening, he was so overwhelmed by the hummingbird fluttering of his own heart, by Uzui’s massive presence, by the way his hands felt, one on his cheek and the other still flush against his ribs. The hand on his cheek moved back, cupping his jaw lightly. He could smell the soap Uzui had used on his body, the sweat still clinging to his brow from his earlier training. His lips were soft and warm and wet and gentle, so, so gentle. His head spun.
One moment, one singular, endless moment later, Uzui pulled away. He let out a soft breath, lips parted ever so slightly. His own cheeks were flushed pink and he looked at Rengoku with wide watchful eyes. He stared back at him, mesmerized and dazed.
Before Uzui could speak, Rengoku had shifted, turning around to face him. He sat on his knees, hands flat on the floor. He leaned forward again, slowly, shyly, just enough for their lips to almost brush. He took in a slow breath through his nose and closed his eyes. He leaned forward the rest of the way, pressing his mouth against Uzui’s. He accepted the kiss graciously, humming softly and leaning into it. His hand found Rengoku's cheek once more, cupping his face. It pushed back into his hair, gently grasping at a fistful of his fiery locs. Rengoku tilted his head a bit, slotting his lips against Uzui’s. He felt a slow, warm press at the crease of his lips and parted them obediently. Uzui's tongue met his in his mouth. A soft groan came from Rengoku as they kissed, the wet warmth of his tongue exploring every corner of his mouth. The hand in his hair tightened, fingernails scraping at his scalp.
They broke away a moment later, chests heaving gently. Rengoku pulled back to look at Uzui. Uzui blushed, looking down at the floor.
“I. Um.” He sounded shy, unsure of himself. “Sorry. I--”
“No, it's… I’m the one who interrupted you. I should… I can…” Rengoku rose, finding his legs rubbery beneath him. He stumbled towards his sword and haori, fumbling them in his hands. When he turned around, he jolted to find Uzui standing behind him. His face was drawn and unsure.
“You don't have to--”
“How long have you been wanting to do that?” Rengoku asked suddenly, surprised at his own brazenness.
Uzui's mouth snapped shut and the blush on his cheeks deepened.
“A while. I wasn’t-- I didn't want to… uh.” He looked away. “…It's like you said. We don't see each other.”
Rengoku toyed with the hem of his haori, heart beating hard. “What about your wives?”
“Oh, it's-- We're, um. We all have an… open relationship. It's ok to see other people.”
“Oh.” Rengoku gripped his haori in his fists, fabric crumpling between his fingers.
“I shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry.”
Rengoku looked over at Uzui. He seemed withdrawn now, shoulders hunched just slightly. As if he was trying to disappear. He dropped his haori, walking towards Uzui. Hesitantly, he reached out and took his hand. His palm was warm and had begun to sweat.
“I didn't say I didn't like it,” he said softly.
Uzui met his gaze, eyebrows drawn together. Rengoku saw his shoulders heave gently, sighing out a breath. He pressed his lips into a line.
“Can I kiss you?” Rengoku asked, placing a hand on Uzui’s broad forearm. “Again?”
Uzui nodded gently. As Rengoku reached up to touch his face, his eyes fluttered shut. He brushed the backs of his fingers against his cheek and cupped his face. His skin was soft, pale and warm. Along his jaw, soft translucent hairs laid flush against his skin, prickling under his fingertips as he touched his jawline. He brought his other hand up to press at the back of his neck, prompting him to lean down. He stood on his tiptoes to reach as he kissed him. He heard Uzui take in a soft inhale of breath as their lips met. His hands found Rengoku's waist, pressing flat against his back and drawing him against his body. Rengoku hummed, snaking his arms around his shoulders.
When they broke apart, Uzui’s eyes shone with light. Rengoku held his face for a moment and smiled, eyes crinkling at the corners. He withdrew, crossing his hands behind his back.
“I’ll, um, get out of your way,” he said shyly, cheeks red. “I should probably go rest now anyways. Try and spend a little more time healing.”
Uzui nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, I--” He looked at the ground for a moment, a soft smile on his lips. “Yeah.”
Rengoku bent to pick up his things, fastening his haori around his shoulders and fixing his sword on his hip. He stood for a moment, watching as Uzui knelt to fuss with his swords. Silently, he left, sliding the door shut behind him. His head spun as he walked back to his room. He could hardly believe what he'd done and said, could hardly believe what Uzui had said.
He stopped at the porch overlooking the garden. He sat cross legged on the floor. He gazed up at the moon, just emerging from behind a cloud to wash him in dusty light. He brought his hand to his lips, tracing the shape of them and remembering how soft and warm Uzui's had been. His chest warmed as he thought of it, heart fluttering in his chest. He couldn't be sure what any of this meant, if it was real or just the product of two lonely, overtired people, but he was hopeful.
He was hopeful.