#tesra

It wasn’t much of a fight. At least it didn’t look like it to you. It didn’t appear like one to your master, either, and yet, Tesla stood on the sidelines, ready to intervene as if he would be allowed to take a singular step onto the battlefield in the first place. 

You thought that the way he stood was funny, all straight with square shoulders and a gloved hand on the hilt of his Zanpakutō. You came up next to him to watch the battle. Your Master Nelliel fended off Nnoitra’s crescent axe with a thumb looped in the loose belt around her waist. You leaned forward, staring at Tesla from the side of your eye to gauge his reaction to the match. He gave nothing away other than the stiffening of his shoulders. You studied his eyepatch and leaned farther forward. Perhaps he didn’t see you.

“Can I help you?” he grumbled.  You let out a slight huff of satisfaction, mirroring his stance mockingly.

“Nnoitra is struggling.”

“Master Nnoitra is doing no such thing!” Tesla whipped toward you, hand now fully gripped around the hilt of his Zanpakutō, ready to draw at any moment. The motion didn’t escape you. Your eyes flickered downward, but a deep sigh ultimately overtook you as you fluttered to the sand below.

Tesla blinked, taken aback as you situated yourself among the white grains. You sat on the side of your thigh, leaning on one of your palms as you drew reishi pictures in the sand. The shapes glowed. Tesla frowned, watching as you smoothed out the particles.

“What are you doing?” he asked curtly. You glanced over to the match to your right, just in time to see Nnoitra go tumbling by the sheer force of Nelliel’s sword. He left a lengthy skidmark as he was enveloped by the white substrate below. You turned back to your little drawings. 

“This is going to take a while,” you sighed absentmindedly. “What are you going to do, Sidekick? It’s not like Nnoitra would let you intervene anyway.” 

Tesla looked at the field as you did. Nnoitra was bleeding from the shoulder, and Nelliel was already walking away. But despite his injuries, Nnoitra had already begun charging with his weapon, splashing sand behind him, only to be struck down again. Tesla studied you a moment more before he sat down with you. 

He sat with his legs crossed, letting his elbows rest on his knees as his back bent with the slightest slouch. His Verruga drew a long line in the sand by Tesla’s hip. You drew four diagonal lines between you and another four across them in the opposite direction.

“Do you know how to play?”

“Yes, I know.”

“First move is yours.” You clasped your hands in your lap, watching the board. Tesla didn’t make a motion to play, studying you intently instead. He scowled, sitting up the slightest bit in alert. 

“Why would you give me the first move?” he asked assusingly. Tesla crossed his arms over his chest, his brow furrowing in annoyance. You shrugged, running over one of the lines that didn’t fully form in the sand. 

“Our masters are the ones with the rivalry, Tesla. I have no ill will against you.” 

Tesla met your eye, watching you closely before he ultimately gave in and played the first move. 

By the time Nnoitra had enough, you and Tesla had made it through at least five games. He had relaxed some, bent ankles spread on either side of your game board with his head on his palm. Nnoitra barked Tesla’s name, causing him to jump.

“Tesla! Get over here; we’re leaving.” 

“Coming, Master Nnoitra!” Tesla scrambled up, smudging a quarter of your game with his boot. He did a trouble-take, almost freezing where he stood as he glanced briefly back to where you sat on the sand. Tesla’s lips parted and then closed. A nearly inaudible strangled sound stalled in his throat as he whipped back toward Nnoitra. 

“We’ll do a tie-breaker next time,” you said, dusting yourself off as you stood. You offered a slight smile and a nod. The corners of Tesla’s mouth threatened to turn upward.

“Tesla!” Nnoitra shouted somewhere in the background in a rage. Tesla jumped, turning on his heel to follow after his master. 

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