Just a little too warm...
You notice it the moment you return.
Captain Ukitake is usually composed even in the smallest things - his posture, his careful movements, the quiet grace that clings to him like a second haori. But tonight, there’s a softness to him that you have not yet seen before. A faint warmth in his cheeks. A looseness to the way he’s leaning back in his seat as if the world has finally stopped asking him to hold himself so firmly.
The lantern light catches his eyes when he looks up. And he smiles.
Not exactly the polite, gentle smile he gives everyone - this one is slower, more private. Like it belongs only to you.
"…My love," he says, voice warm as freshly made tea. He doesn’t rise immediately. Instead he watches you approach as though he’s savoring the sight. His gaze follows you in a way that makes your heart tighten - not with worry, but with that familiar ache of being cherished just by a glance itself.
You set your things down carefully and step a little closer. "Jushiro?"
His lashes flutter when he blinks, just a bit too slowly.
"Mhm." He nods once, then again, as if confirming something important to himself. "I’m here."
There’s a tiny pause before he adds quickly like he knows exactly what you’re thinking:
"…I’m not ill," - his voice is soft before it turns into quiet laugh - it's small and breathy, almost shy. "Not at all. I… may simply be a little warm."
Warm. That’s a very deliberate choice of word. It makes you smile even before you can stop yourself.
"You drank alcohol" you say gently.
"I did." His eyes crinkle, pleased—almost proud of himself, which is so rare it feels like being shown a secret. "Only a little. The others were… insistent."
You lean closer, studying him. The flush on his cheeks is faint, but real. His shoulders are relaxed. His voice isn’t slurred, not truly - but it glides softer than usual, and there’s a sweetness in it.
The thought makes your chest flutter with fondness, especially together with that adorable flush on his cheeks.
Jushiro tilts his head slightly, studying your expression. "You’re smiling."
“I’m allowed,” you tease gently.
His smile deepens. "Mm. I suppose you are."
You move closer to him, and he immediately reaches for you. His fingers find your hand first, sliding into your palm, then weaving between your fingers like he’s always belonged there. Like he can’t imagine being without it.
His touch is warmer than usual, you feel it immediatly as his skin touches yours.
"Jushiro," you murmur, softer now, “how are you feeling?”
He considers that like it’s a real question. A serious one at that. His eyes drift down to your joined hands before he responds - his lips curling upwards in quiet contentment.
The words are so simple, so honest, that it steals a breath from you and maybe even a heartbeat.
Then he glances up again, gaze shining with unguarded affection.
"And perhaps… a little bold," he adds, like a confession. Like he expects you to scold him.
Instead, you lift his hand and place a kiss to his knuckles.
Not in fear - never that. Just startled, the way someone gets startled when they’re given something they secretly wanted but never dared to request. His breath catches in his throat, and the faint blush across his cheeks deepens, spreading like watercolor.
"My-" he starts, then stops. His voice comes out softer when he tries again. "My dear…"
He shakes his head once as if he can’t find the correct words. The tipsiness makes him honest, but it also makes him lose some of his careful composure.
"I…" He laughs again, quiet and helpless. "You shouldn’t look at me like that."
He doesn’t answer immediately. He studies your face, eyes so gentle it almost hurts.
"…Like I’m something precious," he whispers almost shyly.
Your heart squeezes. How can he even doubt that? It is beyond your beliefs.
You lift your free hand and cup his cheek. He leans into it instantly like he’s been waiting for it all night. His lashes flutter again, and when you thumb over the corner of his cheekbone, he lets out the smallest sound of contentment.
Then, without thinking too hard, you say it:
"You are precious. The most precious to me."
Jushiro's eyes widen slightly.
Then his lips part, and he exhales - as if something inside him has finally been given permission to soften.
"…Ah," he breathes, his voice trembles faintly. "That isn’t fair."
You smile. "But it’s true."
His expression flickers at your words with disbelief and tenderness so big it doesn’t know where to go. He looks away for half a second, but your hand keeps him gently anchored, palm to his cheek, reassuringly warm.
And then, in the most devastatingly tipsy way possible, he blurts out with a soft breath:
Your breath catches and Jushiro blinks at you as if he’s suddenly realized what he’s done. His ears go pink. His cheeks burn a little brighter.
"Oh." He swallows. "I - I always do, of course, but… I said it too directly, didn’t I?"
You don’t answer with words.
You answer by leaning forward and kissing him.
It’s a gentle kiss. Warm. Unhurried. But it still destroys him nontheless.
He makes the tiniest startled sound - then melts, hand rising to your waist with reverent care. His fingers curl there as if he’s afraid this is only a dream. His breath trembles through his nose, and when you deepen the kiss just slightly, he makes a helpless little laugh into your mouth like he’s overwhelmed by happiness.
When you pull back, his lips remain parted, breathing a little uneven.
"…My love," he whispers again, his voice warm like honey.
When you kiss him again his cheeks go even redder, and he gives up pretending that any of his composure remained. He leans into you this time, as if he can’t get close enough. His arms come around you more fully - careful, always careful - but tight enough that you can feel how much he wants to hold onto you.
Then the corner of his mouth again.
And Jushiro laughs, brighter this time. It’s so sweet it almost makes you ache. He tries to speak - still tries to protest - but every time he opens his mouth, you steal it with another kiss.
"W-wait," he breathes, voice shaking with delighted surrender. "Please - I... "
You kiss him again and then he finally gives up completely, hiding his face against your shoulder as if you’ve overwhelmed his entire being.
His arms tighten around you.
You feel his breath warm against your neck as he exhales.
"…That's far too much," he mumbles, smiling into your skin. "You’re far too much."
"Liar," you whisper, pressing a kiss to his temple.
He laughs again, so soft and bright.
Then his voice becomes lower but grows tender in that way that turns your bones into water. Yet still he hesitates, breath warm against your shoulder, as if he’s gathering courage for something that shouldn’t be so hard to ask for.
"…May I…" he murmurs tenderly.
"…May I keep you here a little longer?"
You stroke his hair gently and answer with a smile. "I’m not going anywhere"
And Jushiro goes still before he breathes out something that sounds dangerously close to relief. Like those words reached a part of him that’s been quietly afraid for far too long.
"…Thank you," he whispers.
You feel him nuzzle into your shoulder, shamelessly affectionate now that the tipsiness has loosened his restraint. He presses another soft kiss to your collarbone through your clothes- clumsy only because he’s so warm, so openly fond.
"…You’re beautiful," he murmurs.
You tilt your head. "Jushiro…"
"I mean it." His voice is earnest, almost stubborn. "I must be a little intoxicated, because I can’t stop thinking it out loud."
He lifts his head just enough to look at you again, his gaze shining, cheeks still flushed.
"…Am I embarrassing?" he asks quietly, genuinely concerned.
You cup his face again, thumbs brushing his cheeks, and smile so softly it should be illegal.
"No," you murmur. "You’re adorable... an adorable sweet man."
Then his eyes widen in slow-motion horror.
He swallows, cheeks burning. "…If you call me that, I may not survive the evening."
You snort, and he laughs too - warm, open, bright. It’s such a beautiful sound that you kiss him again just to hear it once more.
And when he melts against you, still smiling, still flushed, still too soft to protect himself from love -
Then you realize this is your favorite kind of intoxication.
Just Jushiro... warm and unguarded, letting himself be adored.
This is how i imagine our white haired captain being tipsy. Please read and repost if you can imagine it too. 🥰
