hostage
☾ Summary: Working too hard has its consequences if you don't take a break. (Un)fortunately, Gin is there to help.
☾ Characters: Ichimaru Gin x Reader
☾ Word count: ~1,3k
☾ Content warning: not beta-read
☾ A/N: [entry for the Bleach Is Forever With You collab]
This is awfully self-indulgent and maybe Gin's a little OOC but we all need love from this man because I said so. ME WHEN
Heaving a sigh of relief, you sat down on the ground, leaning against the wall, finally able to sit and rest for what felt like the first time today. Your legs had been hard at work since morning: Running errands for your captain and lieutenant, handling missions as well as reporting them to your captain and supporting your fellow squad members was tedious work. All while practicing and honing your skills on your own. After all, you didn’t want to fall behind and be a burden to anyone.
Not that it wasn’t your usual kind of work but lately, your workload had increased significantly due to an unexpected increase in Hollow activity and injuries.
It had gotten to the point where you had been reprimanded by a seated officer, which made your mood drop. A break was what you desperately needed, so being able to sit down, close your eyes for a bit and just breathe in peace was very welcome. You rested your head on your arms and took several deep breaths. However, the tranquility didn’t last too long.
“Slackin’ off in broad daylight, how naughty,” a voice that was too familiar to you taunted you. No doubt, it was the voice of your companion who happened to be the captain of the third division. “Just taking a little break,” you murmured in reply, not even bothering to open your eyes to look at Gin. Tiny bits of his powerful reiatsu licked at your skin. What other shinigami perceived as chilling and eerie was soothing to you. In fact, Gin’s presence alone was a source of comfort.
“Heard you were scolded today, weren’t you?” he asked with his usual grin and crouched down in front of you. A sigh escaped from your lips as you recalled the events from earlier, “Yeah. Apparently, I’m not doing my work well enough anymore. “Negligent” is what they said.”
“’s that so?” he asked, brows furrowed and voice fraught with menace. You shook your head. “To be fair, I haven’t gotten a proper break for quite some time now. I’m exhausted,” you clarified. The silver-haired man nodded in understanding, his mind whirring with potential courses of actions he could take. “Suppose I could talk to your captain? I could have you transferred to my division too,” he suggested, face plastered with a fake grin, but you shook your head again.
“I appreciate it, but I don’t think it would help much. And if I am transferred to your squad, I fear someone will hold it against you or that it will cause trouble,” you explained, “I will wait and see how the situation turns out. If worst comes to worst, I can still do something about it.”
However, the situation barely changed. Weeks passed and your workload hardly decreased. Busy as ever, you whirled through the corridors from place to place... until a slender hand appeared out of thin air and caught your wrist.
Before you could process what was happening to you, someone covered your mouth with their hand and pulled you into a room. Your heart stood still for a second as you collided with something solid— no, with someone.
“Seems like I caught a little mouse scurryin’ around in here,” Gin whispered against your ear and your body instinctively relaxed at the sound of his voice. “Say, d’you think Central 46 would punish me for stealin’ another captain’s subordinate from under his nose?”
“…But I suppose they wouldn’t, not when I just caught an intruder.” He stressed the last word and removed the hand he had used to cover your mouth. Intruder? You looked around the room curiously and sure enough, this wasn’t the place you were supposed to deliver something to at all. As a matter of fact, it was a captain’s office.
“Poor thing. Not payin’ attention for a moment and endin’ up in the snake’s lair. My, my, what should I do with you?” he taunted, grin widening. He was right, how did you end up in his barracks in the first place? Were you that lost in thoughts? Maybe it was a force of habit? Or perhaps it was something else entirely that you couldn’t pinpoint at the moment.
“Gin, I’m so sorry but I have no time—” you started and struggled somewhat to free yourself from his grip. “Sorry, love. No can do,” he said, “you’re in my territory and as captain, I get to decide how to handle certain intruders. Y’know snakes don’t like lettin’ go of their prey, much less a precious one like you.”
You protested, still struggling, “Gin, please let me go. I really can’t entertain your games right now.” Finally breaking free from his grip on you, you turned to leave and resume your duties. However, Gin had other plans for you. It took him one flash step to face you directly. In swift motions, he easily trapped you within his captain’s haori.
“Not playin’ any games here, ‘m holding you hostage. Aren’t you gonna obey a captain’s orders?” Gin’s voice sounded slightly threatening and if it had been another subordinate, they would have been intimidated. But not you. You looked at him, only to see the intensity and seriousness of his electrifying gaze on you. His eyes showed concern for you. Sometimes Gin would act rather peculiar by using fairly unconventional methods, but you knew he meant well.
Your mind told you to surrender to him. There was no way you could win against him anyway.
And yet, some part in you felt the need to half-heartedly justify your position— to no avail. The man snorted, “Ah, ah. Don’t think so.”
Gin started walking backwards with you still wrapped in his haori until his legs collided with the couch that was in the room, promptly making both of you drop onto it. “You gotta stay here and rest.” Sighing in defeat, you nodded, “Fine.”
Not that you could complain about the situation. After all, this was the first time since forever that you could catch your breath and take a proper break. You might as well take this opportunity and you had Gin to thank for it.
Hearing his steady heartbeat was like your personal lullaby and you could feel your own heart following his heart’s rhythm. While finding a more comfortable position in his arms, your eyes fell shut. “Thank you, Gin,” you murmured sleepily.
“Mhmm. Missed you, my love,” he muttered in response. “You’re mean… for saying such a sweet thing… I’m ‘bout to fall asleep…” was the last sentence you could manage to say.
Eventually, the exhaustion that accumulated over the past few weeks slowly took over and clouded your mind until you slipped into dream land. Looking at your peaceful face, Gin hoped that you slept well. In fact, he would ensure that you would get the break you deserved.
The room was filled with silence… until Izuru barged into the room, ready to report to his captain. “Captain I—”
If there was a way to end someone’s life with looks only, Izuru’s life would have been in mortal peril by now but luck was on his side. Upon seeing your serene face on his captain’s chest, the blond shinigami stopped dead in his tracks. He knew very well not to disturb you and Gin right now if he cherished his sanity.
Gin spoke softly, yet his voice was oozing with chilling authority that no one would dare defy, “Izuru. Inform their captain that I will take care of this one today.”
“Yes, I understand,” Izuru replied and swiftly left them to their own devices. The room returned to being silent once again.
The silver-haired man looked at your sleeping figure with fondness in his eyes.
“One day, I’ll whisk you away to a place where you don’t have to work. All you gotta do is stay by my side,” he whispered and planted a sweet kiss on the top of your head.
tags: @shirohyorin