Noise in the courtyard below drew Erich from his desk and over to the window, curiosity and boredom overriding his need to finish the last of the paperwork before he had to leave Urahara’s guild for good. From what he’d read, they weren’t expecting anyone — no missions had come in, no supplies were due for another three days, nothing that justified the level of noise he was hearing — so what in the world—

Alexis looked up at him from the courtyard and waved cheerfully, as if her being there was natural, to be expected, and—

“Aha, I see you noticed them before I could tell you,” Urahara said from behind him. “Sorry! I meant to tell you but Benihime decided to travel back with them instead of giving me a heads up so I didn’t exactly have any more warning than you, and—”

Erich spun to face Urahara, shock and suspicion making his voice sharper than he’d intended when he said, “You sent Benihime into the Quincy Guildhome in order to, what, summon Alexis? Why?”

Surprise flickered across Urahara’s face and he took an unconscious step back, one hand rising in a placating gesture. “Maa, maa, we’re a small guild and if you’re insisting on returning I didn’t… I didn’t want you trying to do it alone when everything we’ve known is turned on its head like this!”

He could… almost understand that. Almost. Except the last conversation of substance he’d had with Urahara had involved discussing a triad between him, Urahara, and Alexis, and he’d told the man that he refused to agree to anything without Lexi’s agreement and now…

Now Alexis was conveniently here, called to them by Urahara under the pretense of ‘escorting him home’ by a letter delivered by Benihime and…

Well. He wasn’t exactly incapable of putting the pieces together.

With a grimace, he stalked past Urahara, ignoring the way the man trailed after him as he strode down the steps and through the building to the courtyard. He needed to speak with Alexis, needed to figure out what Urahara had told her, before she was potentially blindsided by the man’s crass suggestion.

(Even if—)

(No.)

(He wasn’t going there.)

Alexis handed the reins of her mount to Briar and moved to meet him halfway, her smile lighting up her face. His annoyance at Urahara melted as she caught his hands and pressed kisses to his knuckles, then pulled him into a tight, warm hug.

“It’s been too long,” she murmured in his ear as she nuzzled at his cheek.

Erich chuckled and tipped his head enough to kiss the corner of her mouth. “You could always have joined me out here. The offer was open.”

“And given the elders an aneurysm? … Ah, you’re right, perhaps I should have,” she agreed teasingly, even as she freed a hand to cup his chin. She pulled him into a proper kiss, tangling their magic together as one of her fangs nipped at his lip.

He hummed. Leaned in. Reveled in closeness-touch-love—

They broke the kiss when a strangled noise reached their ears, pulling apart and turning to see Urahara looking away, his fan out to cover the lower part of his face and the tips of his ears tinted red.

Erich blinked at the man, startled by Urahara’s reaction to seeing them kiss. “Urahara?”

“Maa, maybe I should leave you two to get reacquainted,” Urahara said with an awkward chuckle, rubbing at the back of his head and not quite meeting Erich’s gaze. He paused then, attention darting to Alexis and then past her to her adventuring party, and cautiously said, “Unless you’re planning to leave immediately?”

“Not until the morning at the earliest,” Alexis said with a knowing smirk. “Would you be so kind as to find a place for my men to stay?” She draped an arm around Erich’s shoulder and leaned into his side, adding, “I think I would like to get reacquainted with my fiance before the world decides to intrude, if you wouldn’t mind.”

Emotions flickered through Urahara’s eyes too quickly for Erich to catch, before the man laughed and gestured grandly towards their guild building. “You two have fun now!” he teased.

“We intend to!” Lexi called back as she nudged him towards the door inside.

Comfortable, familiar silence fell between them as Erich led the way up to his room, both of them just enjoying the other’s presence. It had been years since they’d had more than stolen moments together, both of them busy in their respective guilds, but now…

It was going to change no matter what they decided to do, Erich knew. Whether they stayed with the Quincy or found a way out, they would be doing it together and that felt… good. Right.

The door to his room shut behind them and suddenly Alexis pulled away from his side. She spun to face him, mischief on her face, and Erich had barely enough time to brace himself before she grabbed his wrist and yanked.

They tumbled backwards. Landed on the bed with a muffled thump.

“Menace,” he growled, pushing himself up enough to scowl playfully down at her. She grinned, her doubled canines on full display—

Being yanked down into a sharp, desperate kiss wasn’t a surprise, after that.

He laughed and pressed closer. Deepened the kiss. Gentled it.

(They didn’t need to be hasty, could take all the time they wanted—)

Alexis wriggled under him, got a grip on his side, and rolled both of them over so that she was on top. She sprawled across his body, pinning him to the bed with a smug, content look.

Erich groaned and tipped his head back, body going lax under her weight. He breathed out. Felt the stress draining from his body. Reveled in how well she knew him even now.

“Fun now or discussion now?” Alexis asked.

“Menace,” he repeated without heat. “You’re going to make me think about things now?”

She laughed and nuzzled his neck, pressing a kiss to his pulse point. “We could always continue and talk about it later. After all, someone seems to think that’s what we’re up to.”

His hand rose to settle in her hair, fingers combing through the silken strands, teasing a pleased hum from Lexi’s throat. “We should probably—”

“Ah, ah, ah. Not ‘should’. What do you want?” she asked, prodding at his ribs with curled fingers. “The world won’t end if we take some time to enjoy ourselves first.”

He squirmed under her, trying to avoid the almost-ticklish sensation. “I know it won’t, but—” He yelped as she poked him again, her fingers scraping against his side and making him shudder. “Okay, okay!” he gave in with a laugh, hands catching hers. “We’ll talk about it later.”

“Perfect,” she purred. “Just what I wanted to hear.”

Erich laughed. Urged her up. Claimed her mouth in another kiss.

(Everything else could wait.)