Spoiled Milk (Shiro/Rukia)

He knocked on the door, knuckles against wood. Hopefully she's home. The hour's late, late enough where those not on night shift have already turned in. The last they talked, he had told her to take it easy. Shiro hope she put his words to practice. If she had, the likelihood of her answering her door is better than none. However, he won't hold his breath forever. She's a hard worker after all.

If or when she comes to answer her door, she'll find Shiro there, dressed casually. His usual attire's become refined thanks to her, so he appeared put together, but she'd see that his eyes lack their usual cunning charm. He's not been brushing his hair or shaving either, tangled locks and light stubble tarnishing his good looks. The worst part though is the small frown on his face, a clear sign that something's wrong.

He didn't say anything at first when she opened the door. Noticing her pajama's, his frown deepened. He had disturbed her sleep, and he had known he would have, but seeing her actually open the door for him still upset his stomach. There are only a few reasons to keep a person up late at night, and he's unsure if he's here for any of them.

"Sorry to bother you. You going to work in the morning?" He started, stepping into her abode. His eyes flicked here and there, recognizing his surroundings. It has been a while since he's been in here, huh? But, that's besides the point. Rukia's probably wondering why he's here so late, and probably why he looks worse for wear, and where's he's been lately. The last question part probably didn't need an explanation, with how busy everything's been.

"I had a nightmare," He'd spit out though while crashing on her couch, slumped. His eyes didn't focus on her because saying some pussy shit like having a nightmare sounded lame. "And it's been a while..." He'd end with, letting a bit of his pent up frustration with their situation reveal itself as well. His bros would probably call him a female for this, but hey. He has a girlfriend, and they don't. What's the point if he can't be vulnerable sometimes?

He didn't mind the extra weight, but he did feel awkward about being a cushion out of the blue. Their time a part has left him feeling a bit deprived, so her sudden intimacy didn't help his wayward thoughts. That's why he kept his eyes canted to the side.

A playboy reduced to a good Samaritan, huh? Life has a way of flipping the script on a person, and it always employs a monkey to do so. Shiro's existence is a tragic comedy if you think about it. There are the highs and lows, and whoever is watching over that balance needs to be fired. Everything's been a steady decline as of late. His inability to sleep without reliving his past is enough proof.

"I'm seeing them again, Ruk," Shiro started, not putting up any resistance to sharing his trauma. "My old crew, our captors, and my victims. I think all this crap's getting to me."

His nose crinkled as mentioning the past brought back vivid flashbacks.

"If only it was that easy. I wouldn't be here if it was," He muttered, sighing as he laid his head back on the couch. "But, hey. An excuse to see my gal is an excuse."

Though, his mind's going back to his talk with Hisana. All that talk about chilling out really didn't help, and he was the one who gave the advice, but who'd have imagined that he'd start having nightmares... He shouldn't have started drinking more... Not like he's going to share that little detail.

He hesitated.

"...I've missed you too."

Yet his voice didn't have his heart in it. There's only one thing good about being alone, and it's the fact you have time to think. When you can think without interruption, you get to plan, and when you plan, you act. These last few weeks have been filled with nothing but rumination and planning. The nightmares have only worsened his need to get his butt moving. There's just one big issue, and it involves the woman laying on him.

"I'm going to start training again, Rukia," He started. "I know you're busy, so it's mostly going to be solo training."

He wondered if she'd insist on helping, but then she'd have to take away time from working or getting her needed rest. For a guy who does nothing but work and play, he could never pull her away from actually important business.

"They say that training with your Zanpakuto helps you look into yourself, so that's what I'm going to do. If these nightmares are bothering me, then that means I've got something on my mind, and who better to help with that than the person in my sword?"

That is their function after all, a mirror into the soul.