The roof was cold, but Ichigo didn't feel it. Not with Chad's forehead still pressed to his, not with the way Chad's hand had turned in his, fingers slotting between his like they'd done it before.
They hadn't. Not like this.
"You're shaking," Chad murmured.
"It's not cold," Ichigo said, and it wasn't. It was the aftershock of too many years pretending this wasn't there.
Chad huffed, almost a laugh. "You're terrible at lying."
"Yeah. You're terrible at saying anything."
That got a real laugh out of him, low and rough. Chad pulled back just enough to look at him, and Ichigo hated how long it took him to breathe again. Chad's eyes had always been steady. Even when they were fifteen and outmatched, even when Hueco Mundo was falling apart. Steady on him.
"I'm saying it now," Chad said. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."
Ichigo swallowed. "You say that like I haven't been waiting to hear it."
Chad's thumb brushed over his knuckles. "Then stop waiting."
They didn't kiss again right away. There was too much to say without words. Chad shifted, pulling Ichigo closer until their sides were pressed together, until Ichigo could feel the heat of him through his jacket. It wasn't a battlefield lean. It was heavier than that. Like letting go.
"I don't have my powers," Ichigo said, staring at the city. "Feels like I'm missing a limb sometimes."
"I know," Chad said. "But you're still you."
"You're still you too," Ichigo said. "Even when you don't use it. Even when you act like you're not part of this."
Chad was quiet for a long time. Then: "I use it for you."
Ichigo turned his head. Chad wasn't looking at him. He was looking at their hands, at the way Ichigo's fingers were laced through his.
"I know," Ichigo said. His voice came out rough. "You always did."
The wind picked up, carrying the sound of a train in the distance. Chad lifted their joined hands and pressed a kiss to Ichigo's knuckles. Slow. Deliberate. Not asking for permission because he didn't need to.
Ichigo closed his eyes.
Later, they walked back through the empty halls of the school. Chad's shoulder stayed against his. Their hands stayed linked. No one was around to see, and even if they were, Ichigo didn't care.
At the bottom of the stairs, Chad stopped him.
"Come home with me," he said. Simple. No weight behind it except everything.
Ichigo nodded.
Chad's apartment was small, clean, and smelled faintly of coffee. He flipped the light on, then off again a second later, like he didn't want the room too bright.
They stood in the dark for a minute. Then Chad pulled him in, and this time the kiss wasn't soft or careful. It was grounding. Like remembering how to breathe. Ichigo's hands found the back of Chad's neck, and Chad's found his waist, and neither of them let go.
"You don't have to be strong right now," Chad said against his mouth.
"I'm not," Ichigo admitted. "Not with you."
Chad pushed Ichigo down onto the floor smooth yet rough. He held Ichigo by the waist, kissing slowly, with tounge.
When Chad stopped he looked at Ichigo fondly as Ichigo gasped and let out a slow moan.
"Geez let a man breathe won't you? This is my first time kissing someone...with tounge" Ichigo said, blushing.
Chad laughed.
Ichigo glared at him.
Chad proceeded to unbutton Ichigo's shirt and pull down his pants, exposing Ichigo's body to him.
Chad smiled. Knowing he and only he had seen Ichigo like this.
Chad leaned down breathing in Ichigo's calming scent while fondling with his nipples. Ichigo let out a small moan. shutting his eyes.
"Ah! Wait!" Ichigo cried out as Chad wanted to pull down his underwear.
Too late.
Chad saw a.... cunt? "What the-?" Chad said, confused.
"Um I-I..." Ichigo said nervously while bringing his knees to his chest.
Chad smiled. " It's fine. Whatever. Now I know why you always didn't want to change with the rest of us and insisted on changing alone in a cubicle."
Chad brushed aside a strand of hair that was resting on Ichigo's face. Ichigo blushed.
Chad spread Ichigo's legs apart, making sure Ichigo felt comfortable. They had moved to the bed.
Chad put two fingers into Ichigo's hole, making a V. Ichigo yelped at the sudden move Chad did. "H-hey! Don't do things so suddenly!"
"Wow you're so wet in here Ichigo. Your hole is sucking on my fingers." Chad grunted as he put another two fingers in.
"Ah! Just put it in already..." Ichigo groaned.
"If I don't prepare you your cunt is going to rip form my length's size," Chad said.
"Fine..." Ichigo pouted. Chad chuckled.
*~After their sexy time~*
They ended up on the couch, tangled together, jackets abandoned on the floor. Chad's arms were around him, solid and real, and Ichigo buried his face in his shoulder. He could feel Chad's heartbeat, steady and slow.
"I've got you," Chad said.
Ichigo believed him.
Outside, Karakura kept turning. But inside, for the first time in a long time, Ichigo wasn't waiting for the next fight. He was just there. With Chad.
And that was enough.
---
(I'm a lazy person okay ?🤷♀️)
