Ichigo sniffed roughly and wiped his tear streaked cheek with the back of his hand, the other bringing up his fifth and half empty beer bottle to his dry lips and chugging down another mouthful. Still, the images of that particular night wouldn't leave his mind, they keep plaguing his broken heart and a fresh batch of tears tumble their way out of his eyes.
''How…dare…that bastard…'' he whimpered despite the harshness leaving his lips and pulled up his legs to his chest and placed his chin on his knees. Ichigo and Ginjou went out for almost two years, and not more than a week ago, Ginjou dumped Ichigo, telling him it wasn't Ichigo's fault at all, but it was himself. Ichigo had of course been heartbroken, having loved Ginjou with all his heart. He had tried to contact Ginjou after the abrupt phone call –yes, he got dumped through the fucking phone- and that night, having had enough, he strode to the apartment of his lover of two years and saw something which made him choke on a pitiful sob.
Ginjou was eating a blonde's man's face. A blonde man who posed as his friend and a blonde man whom Ichigo himself had introduced to his now ex- boyfriend.
''Fuck you Kisuke.'' Ichigo wiped at his red flushed cheeks again roughly. What did he even do to deserve this? How long had they been together? Was Ginjou cheating on him as well?
Just then, the sound of the doorbell ringing abruptly interrupted his thoughts of despair for a microsecond and Ichigo ignored it for the sake of thinking about his cheating bastard of an ex-lover who was probably drowning in pleasure together with that blonde bitch while Ichigo himself was –
The ringing became incessant now and Ichigo groaned, covering both of his ears and burrowing his head between his knees. The ringing doesn't stop and finally with a 'who the fuck is interrupting me even my misery? What the fuck is wrong with the world?' he pulled the door open with more force than necessary without even checking who was on the other side which he probably should have.
Brown eyes widened as they took in the tall blue haired man standing on the other side of his door. He craned his neck as he started at his neighbour who in all honesty, he had never had the chance to talk to before. So he couldn't help but wonder what he might have wanted at what he was sure was nearing midnight. Or something, his mind was really fuzzy right now.
Ichigo raised an eyebrow when he wasn't getting a response or any kind of anything from the man who had almost destroyed his doorbell in less than three minutes and finally reaching the limit, he asked point blank. ''What do you want.''
''Oh, Hey.'' The man said to which the shorter frowned at.
''If you don't have any business here, get the fuck out of my—''
''Shh..Hey, listen. It's just that I saw you coming back with two six packs and you had obviously cried and I know it's none of my business but I have just one request. Just don't die okay?''
''What in the hell are you—''
''I just kind of moved here and I don't wanna move again. The last time I saw someone cry on Halloween night, they had shot themselves. I still have nightmares about that one.''
''Halloween? We don't celebrate that in Ja—''
''And don't cut yourself no matter what alright? Because blood is—''
''Fuck you! Don't keep cutting me off you asshole!''
This seemed to have silenced the tall man. Ichigo was livid, what kind of nonsense was this man even spouting? Insanity costs you no matter how handsome or hot you look, and this man should know that dammit! Ichigo breathed in and out, anger and annoyance replacing agony and despair for the moment, ''First off, we don't do Halloween in Japan.''
''Yeah but it's still October 31st so—''
''Second off, I won't kill myself. Look, I don't even know why I'm telling you this but I just saw my so called lover sucking tongue with my friend. The bastard broke up with me over the phone without a proper explanation and a week later, I see that. I know that's depressing but it's not the end of the line you know...''
Wait, was Ichigo councelling himself right now?
''…I mean, yeah, I loved him, but I'm not going to take my life over him. How much did he even love me that he lusted after my own friend? I won't take my life over a cheap shit like that. So, no. No life taking suicide crap tonight.''
The tall man's lips curved up at that, and heat rose up Ichigo's raw cheeks because that was a very charming smile the dork had going on there.
''Glad to know that.'' Sharp blue eyes shone with clarity and crinkled at the corners. ''I'm Grimmjow by the way.'' He extended his hand for what Ichigo assumed was a handshake.
''I'm not drunk enough for this.''
Grimmjow's canines looked sharp when he grinned, giving him a façade of mystery and slyness and betrayed his dorky, insane personality. He still looked unfairly hot, which had to mean something.
''Kurosaki Ichigo.''
''I'm an engineer originally from America. I moved to here three months ago.''
Ichigo sniffed. ''I can tell.'' Grimmjow pulled his hand back, and bowed slightly.
Ichigo didn't reciprocate the gesture and leaned on his door frame with a smirk. Grimmjow raised both his eyebrows and his eyes widened a bit, ''You sure are a tough cookie aren't you? For someone whose eyeliner is running horribly down his cheeks.''
Ichigo screamed and ran to his bathroom. He screamed more and uttered God's name over and over again when he caught his reflection in the mirror. ''What did I do? Oh good lord- I look disgusting! And I was acting all fucking sassy, I can die over this! Fuck my life,'' Ichigo splashed his face over and over again with cold water. The shock of the past fifteen minutes was enough to get Ichigo down from his high, adrenaline pumping hard throughout his body.
When Ichigo returned, to his happiness, Grimmjow was still waiting for him at the door. The tall man stood in the carpeted hallway with a tilt of his head and a small smirk playing on his lips. Ichigo couldn't deny that even a gesture as simple as that made the man look more than fine.
Ichigo halted in the middle of his living room, heart beating softly and safely inside his rib cage, wet towel in his hands, and he was sure his cheeks were flushed red from the abuse and his eyes must have been swollen. But he swallows and bites his lip, pulling at the innocent skin with his sharp teeth while he stared at his neighbour through his bangs. It was in no way intended to be seductive, because if it was, Ichigo would instead be licking his lips and slowly stripping but barely naked.
No, Ichigo was contemplating and wondering why he already likes his dorky neighbour. Not in a romantic way at least, but he felt some sort of strange affection which swelled his heart.
''Won't you….come in?''
He asked, wanting to spend time with Grimmjow, wanting to know more of this insane yet charming person.
Ichigo wonders if he imagined something flash across the taller's blue eyes.
''You don't mind?'' The man asks, taking one step towards the door.
''I wouldn't have invited you if I did, now would I?''
Without further argument, Grimmjow entered into Ichigo's apartment flat and closed the door behind him.
''So…''
''Do you have company tonight?''
''No.''
''Alright. Do you wanna watch a movie then?''
The corner of Grimmjow's lips turn up. ''Sure.''
Ichigo brings out his stash of potato chips and the rest of the beer before playing a horror movie. He feels much better now as he settles down into his couch cushions and exhales a heavy breath out. Grimmjow is sitting at the other corner but he doesn't touch any food or drink, his presence of strangely comforting. He doesn't feel so alone.
''Grimmjow.''
''Yeah?''
''Thank you, for giving me company.'' This probably shouldn't be something to be talking about when that little girl is chain sawing a man.
Grimmjow doesn't speak for a few beats but Ichgio doesn't mind at all, ''That guy sounds like an asshole.''
Ichigo hums in question although getting an idea of who the taller was speaking about.
''Your ex. Either your friend must look ethereal or that dude has got to be blind.''
''What are you going on about?''
Grimmjow turns to look straight into his eyes, the lights reflecting off his eyes making them look like icy crystals reflecting the sky. Ichigo held in the urge to get lost in them, without any thought.
''You….I don't have the words to describe how absolutely attractive you are. If he left for beauty, he must be blind. If he left for personality,'' Grimmjow shakes his head before looking back up into brown, ''I have to admit you might be sassy but certainly not boring. I would never count that as a negative.''
''Is this what you have been thinking about the entire time? Why Ginjou dumped me?'' There was no offense to it, just amused curiosity.
''No. I was thinking about something else.''
''Which is…?''
Grimmjow's eyes slowly travel from Ichigo's eyes, down his nose and linger on his lips for a couple longer seconds before he looks back up to a now flustered Ichigo's eyes. ''Would it creep you out if I said I was thinking about holding you?''
''Yes.''
''Then I was thinking about whether I had left the oven on in my kitchen.''
''Did you cook?''
''No. I didn't.''
''Grimmjow, my eyes, cheeks, lips, everything is swollen from too much sobbing. My eyeliner was running when we talked for the first time. I looked like a fucking panda. Why would you find me even remotely attractive?''
Grimmjow's lips twitched into that oh-so-charming smile and something like amusement sparkled in his eyes, ''What are you even talking about? All I saw was an adorably grumpy teddy bear.''
''I just vomited in my mouth.''
''I'd still kiss you senseless.''
''Go die.''
''Not today, maybe some other day.''
As Grimmjow leaned in to brush his lips softly and gently against Ichigo's, with so much care as if he was afraid to damage the smaller man in anyway, Ichigo felt his heart flutter, reminding him of the feeling of falling in love.
When the warm rays of sunlight woke up Ichigo the next day, the other side of his bed was cold and empty and he was beginning to be crestfallen until his hands brushed against the crisp surface of a paper. He lifted it up to his face and squinted hard to understand the numbers written on the yellow post it was a phone number with an English G written at the bottom corner.
A smile unwillingly took over his face.
To Be Continued. Maybe tomorrow :p