He hadn't meant to run into the other man. He wasn't really paying attention, he was too focused on suppressing the fury rising inside. These "therapy sessions" were going to be the death of him. He was supposed to be attending them, forced into it by his boss, to handle his "anger issues". And he was supposed to be on time. And he was late. So he was rushing, walking as fast as he could, and pushing past everyone in his way. So he didn't notice the other until it was too late.

"Ah!"

He turned to see a young man sprawled over the stairs, rubbing at his head slightly where it seemed to have bumped the railing.

God, if he pressed charges... or some other shit...he just couldn't handle that today, not on top of everything else.

"Hey are you-" the most brilliant brown eyes he had ever seen opened, "-ok?" he finished lamely. Those eyes were fire. And they were glaring daggers into his soul.

"Wow, jackass, rude much?" the young man hissed, getting to his feet. "You should learn to pay better attention, Cornflower."

Grimmjow blinked. Cornflower? What the hell kinda insult is that? He felt a sharp prick of anger and grit his teeth, determined not to lose his cool. "I'm sorry, Carrot-top, I didn't see you, though it's a wonder how I missed ya at all." Whoops. So much for keeping cool. He did manage to hold in the growl, though. That was better than usual.

The other stood, lips forming a bit of a snarl himself before he seemed to come out of a trance, blinking slowly. "Yeah, whatever," the fire seemed to have gone out of him, and Grimmjow stared as the young man walked away without another word. He followed the man's back with his eyes until he was out of sight, wondering why it was that he was so intrigued. A bell tower in the distance chimed, and he shook himself. Belatedly, he remembered his session, and sprinted inside.

It was not until later that evening that he recalled the young man, and wondered why he was also seeing the psychologist.

xxx

"Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. Running a little late, aren't you?" the woman sitting at the secretary desk smirked, leaning towards him. "Although I guess it's fine, since the doctor wasn't ready on time for you anyway." He could never remember her name, something that started with a 'Y' of all things, because her annoying behavior towards him was too distracting.

"But he's ready now?" he huffed, diverting his eyes from the woman's form, trying not to think about her prominent cleavage. She was always doing crap like this, despite the fact that he had made it pretty clear he wasn't interested. Still...a man had needs...No. Not when she knew that something was 'wrong' with him. No way. He wasn't about to be a pity fuck, even if that wasn't her intention.

"Yes." she practically purred, flicking her long purple hair over her shoulder. "Dr. Urahara will see you now."

The bluenette rolled his eyes and entered the office, heading to his usual seat on the couch. The doctor was nowhere in sight, and Grimmjow forced himself to breathe slowly, counting to 50, regaining his control. He couldn't have another episode like last time. He was just reaching 35 when the familiar green-and-white hat entered his field of vision.

"Grimmjow! How good of you to stop by." Kisuke Urahara. Psychologist and therapist. Probably a psychoanalyst too. He didn't know. He didn't really care. "How are you feeling?"

"Swell." he muttered, eyes downcast. He just wanted-

"You're lying again." He looked up to see the doctor peering over the edge of his clipboard at him. "You fidget when you lie." The bluenette frowned and looked down at his hands, where he saw that the doctor was correct, his fingers repeatedly curling and uncurling. He hadn't even noticed he was doing it, nor that it was one of his tells.

"Ah, you've caught me." he gave an annoyed huff and forced himself to be still, sitting up straighter. "I don't want to be here, Urahara."

The man sighed, leaning back into his armchair. "We both know that, Grimmjow. But your boss-"

"My boss can screw himself." he snarled, his voice raising and his fists clenching tightly. "If it weren't for that dirty bastard I would be rising the corporate ladder instead of stuck in the middle." he shot to his feet and bounced on his heels, suddenly aching for a fight.

"Now, Grimmjow, take it easy. You're here because of your outbursts. Like that one." he came back to himself, blinking at Urahara who had shrunk into the armchair as if he was afraid. Afraid...of him. "Just start counting, remember? Whenever you get angry or feel you might get angry, start counting. The end number can vary, but the results will be the same."

"Sorry." he muttered, running a hand through his hair and sat back down, breathing deep breaths. "It's just, sometimes I don't know how to hold him back and I-"

"Wait, him?" Kisuke scribbled something on his notes. "Who's 'him'?"

Suddenly Grimmjow felt embarrassed. He'd never discussed this with anyone, and he-well, he didn't want people thinking he was crazy. Well, crazier. "Uh, it's nothing."

"It is most definitely not 'nothing'. Who is it that you're trying to hold back?"

He bit his lip. "I call it...Pantera. It's not really a 'him' I guess, but pronouns were always confusing for me and since it's a part of me it's just easier to call it him, since I'm a 'him' you know?" blue eyes glanced up to find the doctor nodding enthusiastically, scribbling away. "So...yeah. Pantera is like, all my instincts. The beast side. I know that most people would be mad about getting passed over for a promotion but they'd be more civil about it after a while. But Pantera? No. He's livid. Fucking livid. Because in the animal world, you don't just settle for a weaker, annoying, no-right to have-" he felt himself growling in the back of his throat and quickly started counting. When he opened his eyes again, he found Kisuke smiling at him.

"See, that's better. You're doing much better." he tipped his hat away from his face and tapped his pen against his clipboard. "Thank you for telling me about Pantera. Do let me know if anything else happens with him."

Grimmjow took it as a dismissal and stood to leave, muttering his reply. "Sure, doc." He had his hand on the doorknob when the words sank in. "Wait, like what? What would happen with him?"

Kisuke flashed him a strained smile. "Oh, you know...just anything."

That did not make him feel any better.

"Sure, doc." he walked out and shut the door behind him, turning to see the secretary already smirking at him.

"How'd it go?"

"Fine." He needed to grab lunch and get back to work. He was wasting time, and therefore wasting money.

"Aw, Grimmy, you never seem to want-" she squeaked as his hand hit the edge of her desk, hard.

"I'm not interested," he glanced at her nameplate, "Yoruichi-san. Have a nice day." he paused at the top of the stairs, looking back over his shoulder at her.

"And never call me that again."

xxx

The clock finally ticked to 5:00, and he was the first one up and out the door, ignoring the stares and questions thrown his way by his co-workers. He couldn't stand most of them, and the ones he could...he just didn't want them to get burned by him right now. He was so worked up that he could feel the muscles in his face tensing, ready to snarl.

That stupid bastard.

He had called in Grimmjow to his office, then proceeded to ask about his sessions. As if it was any of his goddamn business. But no. Grimmjow had to sit and smile and play nice or else...

Or else what?

Well, he'd be back on the streets in no time, he knew that with certainty. No other employer would even think of giving him a job if they heard he'd lost his previous one due to "violent outbursts and audible death-threats." Not that they would be just audible, no...he would make good on his promises-

No. He blinked, shaking himself. He couldn't act like that. He had to keep this job. He had to. Who else was going to take care of his sister? He hurried to the train station, thoughts of his sister racing through his mind.

He almost didn't see him on the train. The trains were busy all the time, no matter what day or time Grimmjow showed up. It was crowded, as usual, and he was standing, having offered a woman his seat. Jaegerjaquez was raised proper, of course. And when he stood up... well, the flash of orange was hard to miss.

"Carrot-top?" he murmured in confusion, recalling that he had knocked into the man that morning. As if he had somehow miraculously heard him, the younger man turned, and those eyes...

They were so bright and full of life. He had never seen such eyes like these. They made him just want to-

"Cornflower" he mouthed back, smirking slightly at Grimmjow.

-punch him in the face.

XXX

Hey! So, it's been a while, huh. I have not given up on BttB or Hollow, no need to worry. I've just been rather uninspired until I had this new idea hit me like a bus. I, uh... I wanted to write a new AU for you guys, so here we are. I have an idea where I want this story to go, but I don't know what'll end up happening. So I'm not going to tag any pairings. That being said, I'm a sucker for Grimmichi but I don't know if I can make myself write it lol. I will have cover art up for this soon, but I wanted to post this first chapter and it's late and I need to sleep.