#I'm sure other characters will be in this but main pairing is aiichi

[sisterofoblivion]

Considering writing more to this lil idea of mine. Not sure what to title it. But it'd ultimately be Aizen/Ichigo and some kind of "club" AU type thing. Idk I read a fic from 2014 and was sad there wasn't more to it. And the account was orphaned so :(

Brats Don't Prosper

Aizen speaks first. "You're quiet, Renji." He doesn't push much, not with words, but his raised brow is more than enough.

Renji drinks his sparkling water, having uncharacteristically avoided his customary gin and tonic. He's also avoiding Aizen's eyes, more deliberately than usual.

"Share your mind," Aizen requests, giving Renji the full weight of his attention.

Renji is silent for a couple more moments, staring into his hissing water.

"Remember that… friend I mentioned?" Renji asks, glancing up to meet Aizen's eyes only briefly before looking back down and rubbing his arm.

"The orange-haired one with the mouth and bratty tendencies?" Aizen asks. Renji seldom talks about any other friends so anonymously, often using others’ names in conversation. He's kept this one to himself, though. “Is he why you reached out before tomorrow?”

Renji looks genuinely uncomfortable, and that's a red flag for the older Dominant. "Y-yeah. He was wasted, trying to shower last night. Which-" Renji furrows his brow, "isn't like him. I found him just…” Renji's eyes go distant, reliving the likely distressing memory, “messed up his shoulder and stuff on the way down. But..." Renji closes his eyes. "He had..." He shudders. "There's bruises on him. Like. Not..." He waves his hand, "y'know. But bad."

Aizen nods, looking off to the side for some seconds to make Renji more comfortable.

"He's a masochist, is he not? What about the marks seemed unusual?"

"See, I asked… or I tried to. Shouldn't have, but I did and he said that they, whoever they are, didn't stop. That it was fun, seemed legit, until it wasn't. They got rougher, ‘n’ didn't stop at his safe word."

Aizen briefly flares his nostrils, feeling annoyed at such blatant disrespect and disregard. Before Renji can see, he schools his features. These things happen, possibly even in his own space, but he has safeguards in place. Prevention is easier than picking up the pieces.

"He told me some details, but I couldn't understand much. He said it happened  last Friday. I found him Tuesday. Eleven days and he still looked like that."

It's Thursday mid-day. He's right. More than a week and his friend still looks so rough? Aizen's chest tightens, but he keeps his reactions to himself. He doesn't really get worked up, and Renji's fairly raw right now. Adding fuel to the fire and asking for information he doesn't have isn't going to be helpful.

"He's not usually... like... I don't know."

"Impulsive or reckless?"

"I guess? Like, not all the time. But he's been just..." Renji sits back and scratches his scalp vigorously.

Renji's getting worked up, and, frankly, looks exhausted. Aizen has no authority here, not technically, but as one of three hosting Masters in their area, it doesn't matter. His words still carry, as would Shunsui and Jūshirō's. 

"Renji." He makes his tone firm, but not any louder. He hasn't needed to raise his voice at the red haired man in several years. He isn't about to start.

"Sorry." He crosses his arms. "I warned him, sir-- sorry, I-- gah."

"It's all right. I know it's a habit; you're doing nothing wrong, Renji, just be mindful." Aizen sips at his cooling Oolong. "Continue."

"I know as good as anyone that this stuff isn't therapy. I know that. We all do, sorta. Ichigo's going to get himself into trouble."

"Likely, yes," Aizen agrees flatly, setting his tea down and lacing his fingers.

"What do I do? I brought him into this lifestyle. I..  showed him this. And he ran with it, but I'm not a top, Sōsuke. I can't--" He's getting heated again; if it's progressed this much, Aizen's surprised this is the first he's hearing about it.

"Renji, I understand why you're worked up, but I want you to listen to me. Okay?" Aizen waits until he has the other's eyes and gives him a soft smirk. "You are not responsible for any of this. None of it. Do you understand me?" When Renji's head starts to turn away, Aizen follows enough to bring him back. "Do you understand me, Renji?"

Renji nods, and Aizen lifts his brow. He knows better than that.

"Yes, I understand you." He doesn't sound happy about it, hunching his shoulders forward and making himself smaller.

It's a start, Aizen admits to himself. He knows when to pick and choose his battles, and small victories are still victories.

"Wondeful. Now, is there anything you want of me outside of a sympathetic ear and a firm talking to?" He can see it clearly on the tip of Renji's tongue, but the man knows Aizen isn't going to offer. Maybe a couple years ago, but he's witnessed Renji grow too much in his home events and at outside gatherings.

"You can say no..."

"I'm aware," Aizen says, trying to add some levity while proving a point.

"Can Ichigo be my plus one tomorrow night, Sōsuke?"