To Cleanse a Guilty Conscience

Title: To Cleanse a Guilty Conscience
Author: Ansela Jonla
Fandom: Bleach
Rating: 15
Warnings: bondage, whipping
Summary: Renji's straying eyes and wandering hands get him in trouble.
Word Count: 1294
Notes: Written for the springkink prompt: Byakuya/Renji - possessiveness/ jealousy (real or imagined), "I do not share". Betaed by tea_fiend. Title suggested by delwynmarch.

Renji knew he was watching. That's why he did it. It was the reason for letting his hand linger on that girl's arm a little longer than necessary when he stopped her fall. It was why he let his eyes stray so low when he passed that gang of wannabe street toughs. (Okay, the fight that followed them realising this was also part of the reason, but no one could really blame him for still being an Eleventh Divisioner at heart, especially when those were the same thugs that tried to shove Rukia and Inoue down the school stairs earlier in the day.) He knew he was being watched, so he subtly flirted with almost everyone he met.

It was when he returned to Soul Society that this flirting paid off. His verbal report to Byakuya was professional, as it always was, and he even included details of the fight that he'd won with ease. He sat down and scribbled out a draft of his written report to back up the verbal one, making sure to detail exactly what injuries he'd given those thugs without getting more than a few bruises in return. Byakuya let him do this in silence. To anyone looking into the Sixth Division office, they were Captain and Lieutenant, a good working team but not a good match on a personal level, and never likely to have anything more than a coolly professional relationship.

A jerk of the head in the direction of Byakuya's apartment, the small set of rooms he maintained for the days when all he'd have time for was a short nap and a quick snack before returning to work, told Renji what to expect when they left the office at the end of the day. Byakuya was waiting for him when he arrived, not even out of breath despite outpacing Renji across the Division and up a flight of stairs to the apartment.

They didn't speak as Renji closed the western-style door behind him and toed his waraji off into their proper place by Byakuya's. They didn't need to. Byakuya led Renji through to the main room, his footsteps silent on the tatami that covered the floor. Renji wasn't nearly as quiet, his own clumsy steps making more than enough noise for them both.

Renji knelt in the seiza position on the floor in the centre of the room, his hands curled into loose fists on his knees and his head bowed. He didn't move as Byakuya prowled over to a cupboard, not even looking up as his Captain pulled a heavy riding crop and a set of shackles and chains from a hidden compartment within the recessed storage space.

It was only after Byakuya had affixed the large central ring of the chains to a hook in the ceiling that either of them spoke. Grabbing a fistful of Renji's hair, Byakuya pulled his Lieutenant's head back to a painful angle, forcing Renji to look up at him.

"Do you know why I am displeased with you, Abarai?" Byakuya hissed, twisting the ponytail that he held until Renji yelped.

"Because I disobeyed ya, taichou." Renji didn't resist the hold Byakuya had on him, pleasure warring with contrition in his eyes. "I disobeyed yer direct orders, the ones ya gave me in person before I left ta the living world fer my one week mission."

"And what were those orders, Abarai?" Byakuya asked, pulling Renji's head back further. "What did I tell you?"

"Ta not flirt wi' anyone there. Ta keep my hands and my eyes and my cock ta myself and ta not think o' anyone but you."

Byakuya released Renji's hair, wiping his hand on the Lieutenant's shoulder as if the contact had dirtied it. He stepped around Renji to grip his chin, forcing the Lieutenant to meet his eyes. "That is correct, Abarai. I gave you those orders and you disobeyed me. Why? You know I do not share."

"I dunno. Because I could, I guess." Renji's eyes slipped away from Byakuya's. "I have no excuse for my blatant disregard of your orders," he added, his tone and words suddenly politely formal.

"No, you don't." Byakuya released Renji's face and took a step back. "Allow me access to your back, Abarai."

Renji nodded and pulled his kosode and shitagi open, slipping the fabric from his shoulders to pool around his waist. He shivered as Byakuya's gaze raked his body, tracing the scars and tattoos on his chest and stomach with his grey eyes.

Byakuya pulled Renji's left arm up above his head, locking his wrist into one of the dangling metal shackles with no resistance. He repeated this with Renji's right arm, forcing the Lieutenant to rise to his knees to avoid having his arms pulled out of their sockets. Byakuya tested the fit of the shackles, making sure that they were not too tight for Renji's muscular arms, before kneeling to look Renji in the face.

"You remember how to stop this at any time, Renji?"

"Yeah, I do." Renji twisted his hand round and touched a small knob that protruded from the upper edge of the right shackle near the lock. "I also remember how ta release myself from these things."

Byakuya nodded and stood, circling round Renji to pick up the riding crop he'd placed on the floor. He traced the tattoos on Renji's back with the tip, smiling as the Lieutenant flinched away from the cold leather. He admired the sight in front of him; the strong, muscular man on his knees, the top of his uniform hanging around his waist, with the tips of his spiky ponytail brushing the arms held high above his head, and that tattooed and scarred back open and vulnerable, with Byakuya free to do whatever he wished to it. Renji had too much pride to ever end their play, no matter what Byakuya did; it was up to Byakuya to recognise when he was going too far.

Byakuya took another step back and raised the riding crop. Renji cried out as the leather tongue struck his back, arching away from the blow automatically. After a moment he relaxed, and Byakuya struck again, on the other side of Renji's spine. Renji didn't flinch this time, twisting his hands round to grip the chains and hold himself steady.

Soon there was a pattern of red welts over Renji's upper back. Not a single one of them touched another, and there was a clear space of unmarked skin for an inch either side of Renji's spine. Byakuya paused mid-strike as Renji's hands let go of the chains, allowing his body to fall forwards as his knees gave way beneath him, his entire weight supported entirely by his shoulders.

Stepping round his Lieutenant, Byakuya placed the crop under Renji's chin and forced him to raise his head. Renji stared at him from tear-stained eyes, and his tongue darted out to lick his bitten lips. Byakuya resisted the urge to undo his hakama and force his cock into that mouth; this play was for Renji's benefit, and there would be time enough for that later, when Renji felt better about whatever his real transgression had been.

"Would you care to tell me what you really did wrong, Abarai?" Byakuya asked sternly. Renji sighed, his eyes fluttering closed as he nodded. "Speak then."

Byakuya couldn't hear Renji's muttered explanation, but it didn't matter. He didn't need to hear it, just for Abarai to say it. When Renji stopped speaking he looked up at Byakuya, silently begging for his forgiveness and permission.

"You are forgiven, Renji," Byakuya said quietly. He knelt down in front of Renji, laying the riding crop on the floor as he leaned in to give his Lieutenant a chaste kiss. "I will always forgive you."