There's nothing like a trail of blood

[tozasemurcielago]

Ulquiorra felt an uncomfortable weight in his stomach as he made his way to Aizen-sama's office. Apprehension, he knew, but he wasn't accustomed to it and it lingered on the edge of his awareness, clouding his thoughts. His eyes remained downcast, and his hands in his pockets.

Seeing L at the meeting had been uncomfortable. Ulquiorra's throat had tightened, and he'd felt something much like this, a weight, and a twist in his stomach that he desired to shake. Murcielago hadn't helped, and had enjoyed Ulquiorra's discomfort. It had been a relief to focus on a task and push L and what Ulquiorra had done, and found out, from his mind.

He was trying to do that now, but he knew that he would have to explain his actions to Aizen-sama. Ulquiorra would prefer not to discuss it. He wasn't sure which part of Aizen-sama's reaction he would prefer to face, either; disappointment was a possibility, anger seemed unlikely as Aizen-sama had not made this discussion a priority.

He had allowed his emotions to get the better of himself. That was unacceptable.

He also could not let Aizen-sama know what Murcielago had offered him in the aftermath. Having to deceive Aizen-sama, at least having to keep information from him, was not going to be easy. There was more to come, Murcielago had promised, when he was ready, but the Hollow had capitalised on a wobble in Ulquiorra's self control, and Ulquiorra was wary of it attempting the same again. It may appear to be of benefit to Ulquiorra now, potentially, but it also presented a risk.

The hollow had managed to complicate the one relationship Ulquiorra had found easy. He was just a tool, a thing for Aizen-sama to use as required, to do whatever Aizen-sama required without hesitation or question. It had not been a complicated purpose, but it had been clear, and Ulquiorra had done his best to serve it. Now it would not be so simple.

Ulquiorra stopped outside Aizen-sama's office, and knocked twice, not because he would need to inform Aizen-sama of his presence, his presence would undoubtedly be felt, but simply out of propriety.

He entered only when he was invited.

Comments

[tozasemurcielago]

In the depths of his mind, Ulquiorra could hear Murcielago laughing at his expense. The Hollow had planned to isolate him, he'd realised that much. Forcing Ulquiorra to deceive Aizen-sama had been a deliberate step on the Hollow's part, and Ulquiorra had allowed it to happen.

When he was emotional, he was less aware of what Murcielago might be up to. That was, right now, an important reason to keep his self control. Emotional outbursts were weakness, and weakness the Hollow could exploit.

He held on to that fact, and ignored the niggling feeling as Murcielago tried to needle him further and continue a conversation Ulquiorra had no interest in participating in.

He re-read a passage he hadn't paid enough attention to the first time.

[theschemer]

Zexion stood where he was as the kettle boiled, half lost in thought. The quiet hiss of the boiling water eventually made it up to a near roar ... or at least it sounded that way in the silence of the library. A click sounded the end of the boiling stage and it quieted down as he made the tea.

Zexion was, among other things, exceptionally observant. He paid attention to a lot of what went on in the kitchen, or other neutral gathering places. He didn't make a habit of putting himself in amongst Aizen's subordinates, or Gin Ichimaru, or whoever else, but he had picked up on a few things and he put one of those bits of gleaned information to use.

He picked up the cups and headed back towards the section he had been occupying. Ulquiorra looked distracted, deliberately so. He was doing exactly as he had been and using the book before him as a method of forgetting whatever was bothering him. He frowned slightly as he walked, the expression mostly hidden behind his fringe, and placed a cup down to the side of Ulquiorra's book.

He didn't speak, or even linger. He simply left the cup where he'd put it and headed back to his own table with his own drink in hand.

[tozasemurcielago]

Ulquiorra didn't pay Zexion much attention as he approached. It seemed likely that he was simply going to the bookshelves, and Ulquiorra didn't notice the second cup in the Ryoka's hand until it came into view, placed at the side of his own book.

He looked up, watching Zexion's retreat with blank incomprehension on his own face. Ulquiorra continued to stare after Zexion as he moved back to his own table.

He recognised it as a gesture, but of what? And for what purpose? Ulquiorra was an Arrancar; Zexion would have no reason to pity him, and his reaction earlier had suggested fear, and nervousness.

Ulquiorra picked up the cup, and inhaled its scent before taking a small sip. It wasn't too strong, and it was sweet enough.

That was curious. Zexion had paid attention to such a detail, or he was better at judging people than anyone might have realised.

"Thank you," he said, after a pause he knew had likely stretched on too long. In the quiet of the library, he knew he didn't have to be close to be heard.

[theschemer]

Zexion, already seated by the time Ulquiorra spoke, looked up and shook his head a little. His expression didn't give anything away. He turned his attention back to his book, delicately lifted the pen from between the pages and set it aside.

"You look like you could use it," he said, eyes on the page.

You look how I feel, was the response that went through his head.

[tozasemurcielago]

Ulquiorra still found himself perplexed by the gesture. Looking as though he could use a cup of tea was not, in Ulquiorra's experience, usually reason to make him one. Ulquiorra was unaccustomed to kindness; he wasn't the type of person who invited it.

The answer left him no wiser as to Zexion's motivations than he had been before receiving it, and Ulquiorra, deciding he had nothing more to add to the exchange right now, turned his attention back to his book in perplexed silence.