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“The human world is so lively.”

Glancing around, Tesla noticed the green grass and flourishing plants surrounding them. The human world, to an Espada, was a strange place–their human lives ended hundreds of years ago, leaving them familiar with only the desolate sands of Hueco Mundo. His mind drifted, remembering the dunes of sand and ravines that stretched as far as the eye could see; never a single sign of greenery, nor this many people.

“Too lively,” Nnoitra coughed, narrowing his eyes in disdain at the scene before him.

The pair had been allowed to get some air once they’d recovered in Mayuri’s laboratory. Ukitake happily suggested they check out Karakura town, with the spring Cherry Blossom Festival coming with the season. Nnoitra complained about the “idiotic” idea at first, but agreed anyway at the mention of mortals he could possible injure.

Tesla stuck closely behind his master, deciding to be vigilant even though there was seemingly no threat around them. If any harm came to Sir Nnoitra, he wouldn’t be able to live with himself. If it wasn’t the shame he’d have to deal with, it’d be a beheading from Nnoitra himself. Neither was an outcome he desired.

“What is that?” Nnoitra pointed a boney finger at a food stand.

Stepping closer, Tesla read the sign, “Fresh baked red paste buns.”

Red bean buns, surprisingly, he’d never heard of the food before. What a luxury it must be to eat like this all the time.

“I can read ya idiot!” Nnoitra yelled, but stared at the stall once more, and grinned, “I bet ya human food is terrible. I don’t get the point of flowery shit like this.”

Tesla held back the urge to chuckle before heading up to the stand and requesting a bun. ‘I should try one’, he grabbed it from the vendor's hand and returned to Nnoitra’s side.

“Who said ya could grab that?!” Nnoitra eyed Tesla daringly, who opened his mouth to take a bite of the freshly baked bun. A silence followed from Tesla before looking up at him, guilty.

“Making sure it’s not poisoned, sir.” Tesla replied with a respectful nod. He was not naive enough to tell Nnoitra he actually wanted to eat human food.

“Bullshit!”

Nnoitra leaned over and took a bite of the bun, nearly knocking it from Tesla’s hand. He stood confused, why had he done that if he was insulting it earlier? Then again, as per usual, Nnoitra was unreadable.

Nnoitra silently chewed before frowning, then scrunched his nose dramatically, “Tastes terrible.”

Tesla smiled to himself, knowing that if Nnoitra truly hated it he would have spit it out and destroyed the stand where it stood. Instead, Nnoitra turned away, chewing on the bun with a weird look on his face.

“If Sir Nnoitra does not like it, I will take it upon myself to finish it.” Tesla said, taking a bite.

The delicious taste coupled with the fact he’d be eating after Nnoitra only gave him more reason to want the bun.

Nnoitra glared, “Keeping things from me, are ya?”
He angrily grabbed the bun from Tesla once again and shoving it into his mouth as he stepped away to other stands.

Tesla finally let himself give a small chuckle as he followed his Espada. It took him back to their first meeting, when he had been assigned to be Nnoitra’s fraccion. Back then, Nnoitra hadn’t even entertained the idea of being shared with, especially when it came to his food. He’d often berate Tesla, demanding to know how stupid he was for even offering him anything.
But now, seeing Nnoitra enjoying himself–and the stolen bun–warmed Tesra’s heart. Maybe no longer being under Aizen’s rule was what Nnoitra needed, finally being able to live for himself.