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Karin finished wrapping gauze around the injured shinigami’s arm ready to move onto the next when the distinct chatter of the hallway came to a halt. She looked up, a bit wary, trying to identify the reason. From below, where she sat, she saw a flock of white hair. Instantly, almost tripping over her own feet she rose. Her legs like they had their own mind moved, rushing towards him.
“Toshiro!” She was flying through space, never once bumping into any of the shinigami although the little space was full. They disappeared from her vision as her eyes finally zeroed out on the squad’s Captain. He was slightly slouching, shoulders falling forward, a thick white bandage covered his whole torso and his entire right arm, till the top of his palm. The white haori was draped across his shoulders, torn and bloodied, a reminder of his last battle. “Toshiro!” Karin called out for him again, but his attention was already on her. Two more steps and she closed the distance between themselves, slowing down, not to crash into him, but even then he had to take a step backwards. He was standing but barely. Frantic, Karin pressed herself against him, one hand clutching the worn down haori the other wrapping around his uninjured shoulder. She let out a ragged breath, shaky, mixing with a pained cry. The smell of disinfectant, fresh bandage, dirt and blood filled her nose, nothing, not even distinctly like the way he used to smell. Her heart ached. She pulled him closer, laying her ear on his chest.
He felt dazed and dizzy when, much later than what she was used to, he hugged her with his left arm and gingerly rested the right on her hip. Karin sucked in a breath, fighting her tears. Tears of relief. The stilled, breathing in the moment.
The teal eyes which were on Karin the whole time, glanced towards his men, his gaze hardening. A second passed and he gave a curt nod. The squad members bowed before turning back to whatever they were doing before his appearance, silently obeying, giving them some privacy.
Finally with no eyes on them Toshiro laid his head on top of hers, warm with affection despite everything, compensating for the lack of comfort of his injured arm, wanting to envelope Karin as much as he possibly could.
“You died.” Her voice was weak, shaky and too high pitched. The words ghosted over his chest. “Your heart stopped.” Her words trembled with her and Toshiro tried his best to tighten his hold without ripping open the freshly healed wounds. He was on strict orders of rest.
He felt the outline of Karin’s ear clearly. Then suddenly the soft pressure was gone, he had to lift his head as Karin looked up to him. The gray eyes swimming in pain and despair. Her hand clutching his robes so hard her knuckles went white. “Your heart… stopped.” She was trembling again, her gaze was wild, and she repeated the words like she wasn’t sure he heard her the first time. “I could feel it.” She murmured from the back of her throat, almost only mouthing the words, like they hurt her. “I felt it.” Before his brain caught up with all the emotions flashing across her eyes, her face was back against him, suddenly in silence. With a sigh he brought up his left hand, long fingers weaving through the thick black hair anchoring her to himself. With the most tender press of his hand as she tried to immerse herself in the steady beating of his heart.
He let her. In any normal situation he would have excused themselves and found a more private place. In any normal situation he would have never hid tiny kisses in her hair, letting his eyes close as he inhaled her, letting himself get comforted in her embrace. His mind was still fuzzy and his legs were weak but Karin held him in every sense of the word.
They stood there until her breathing calmed, until she wasn’t in a frenzy anymore, until the hammering of her heart tamed to the gentle but steady rhythm of his.
“We should go.” He rasped, his mouth was still dry from being unconscious for so long.
Karin shook her head. “I’m sentenced to bed rest for a week at least.” He tried to persuade her, not having to say the rest, not wanting to say the rest in front of so many ears, that they could continue this at home for as long as she liked. It sounded like a simple request of an injured man, instead saying it out loud how much he needed it as well. He trusted that she would understand, he knew she would. They were so attuned to each other after barely a year together. It should have scared but at least surprised him, but it didn’t. Karin still didn’t move. “I need to rest.” He ushered her gently, his words so quiet it was only Karin’s ears that caught them.
After waiting a few more seconds, a few more comforting beats of his heart she nodded. “Okay.” She straightened in his arms a bit. “But don’t you dare to do anything like this ever again.” Her words were muffled and came out almost as a threat but he heard her. The silent plea hidden behind her words, asking for a promise.
Resigned, ready to soothe her, he buried his lips and nose back into her hair. “Understood.”