Grimmjow waited tensely outside the small apartment complex, arms crossed over his chest as his foot tapped restlessly against the ground. He leaned against the black lightpole, staring down one door in particular. It was the first door up the stairs, second and top floor, and it was painted dark blue like all the rest. But Grimmjow knew that behind it lay a treasure, something that wafted off a scent that was brighter by far than the budding spring and, when rarely it spoke, had a deep tenor range that made the air ripple. Grimmjow had to set eyes on that gem- it was the only thing that could make his worries fall away.
He heard the click of the doorknob turning and slid quickly into the shadows. He always felt just a little like a stalker when he did this, but someday soon he wouldn't hide anymore. The door swung open, and Grimmjow caught his breath. He always ended up stunned, somehow, at how gorgeous his gem was. His chin-length black hair shone with undercurrents of purple in the light and so beautifully offset his pale skin, framing his childlike face and its small features. All of his was petite, almost woman like but still distinctly male, and his black skinny jeans framed his lower half nicely even while his plain black t-shirt gave distinction to his torso.
His hands were in his pockets as he stepped out, his beautiful green eyes still turned to his large Mexican friend who stood the doorway. Nonetheless, Grimmjow know that the nails at the end of his long fingers were painted as black as the rest of his attire. He wore a thick studded bracelet on his left wrist, and in the darkness of the night he looked like he belonged with the creatures of the dusk and not with the humans who shunned him. Grimmjow longed to show him what he was missing, even as the sight of him calmed him down.
"See you later, Chad," he said, speaking to the massive Mestizo blocking the light from the room. That was fine with Grimmjow- his sensitive eyes couldn't handle much more light at all. As that voice carried gently to Grimmjow on the breeze, he felt himself shiver despite the relative warmth.
"Mm," Chad said, nodding. From what Grimmjow could tell he was a man of few words. A petite redhead girl with big doe eyes and every asset a man could want in a female popped out from behind him, smiling widely.
"Bye-bye, Ulquiorra-kun!" she chirped. Oh, such a beautiful name, and Grimmjow could never get enough of hearing it. Ulquiorra… it was so unique, so individual, and it so belonged with such a spectacular young man. From the angle Grimmjow was looking from, the thin teartrack tattoos that Ulquiorra had down his face from both eyes were nearly invisible, but that was alright. Grimmjow knew they were all there.
"See you tomorrow, Orihime-san, Tatsuki-san," Ulquiorra said, addressing the redhead and another athletic looking girl Grimmjow couldn't see. He was so much more formal with them, Grimmjow noted, and he got the distinct feeling that Ulquiorra was only ever there for the sake of seeing Chad. Orihime disappeared from view as she waved and turned back to speak with Tatsuki, and the way that she brushed Ulquiorra off made Grimmjow a little irritated. Chad, though, watched Ulquiorra walk to his own door a few rooms down to be sure that he made it safely.
Grimmjow watched him too. Given the way he dressed and looked one expected him to walk a little hunched, but his back was straight and proud. He walked with a certain dignity, like a person who had been through life and could hold his own. His movements were smooth and graceful, and following them made Grimmjow relax farther. He was so glad for how slowly, easily Ulquiorra walked, not rushing himself, giving Grimmjow the longest look he could get. Grimmjow didn't dare blink, though his eyes burned.
Ulquiorra stopped at his door, turning his back to the open night and Grimmjow as his hands came out of his pockets, one holding a shiny gold key. Grimmjow leaned forward a little, watching him unlock the door; he was glad that Ulquiorra was cautious. Crime waves in the small, wood surrounded town had gone up, and Grimmjow's kind thought that it had to do with the increased number of hunters around. Things were getting dangerous, and a locked door was at least some protection; more since a few nights ago when Grimmjow had hidden a stone arrowhead under Ulquiorra's doormat. It was ancient, and once upon a time human hunters had used it to his Grimmjow's great-great-grandfather. It wasn't a particularly strong charm, as Grimmjow didn't want to draw unwanted attention to Ulquiorra's place of dwelling, but it could subconsciously guide hunters away.
Grimmjow heard from across the street the click as Ulquiorra's door unlocked. That click weighed on his heart, because he knew that it meant Ulquiorra was going in. as certain as the sun rises, that soft form opened the door, flicking on the lights as the door closed again, this time on him on the other side of it. Immediately Grimmjow's body went a little slack, even before Chad shut his own door. He sighed a little. It was never long enough. The tenseness was already creeping back in; and now Grimmjow had to go home. He knew just what his father would have to say to him.
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"Why do you keep going to see him?" Grimmjow's father shouted, his stress and frustration boiling over as he slammed his broad hands down on his desk and stood up.
"Because he's my mate!" Grimmjow shouted back, taking a step forward angrily. "Aren't you the one that told me so when I described to you what it felt like? Or was that only before I told you he was a male?"
"How would you know?" Grimmjow's father argued, ignoring the last question. "You're so young! You could be wrong! You're only nineteen, you don't know anything about the world!"
"I know that I'm a were!" Grimmjow defended. "I know that the hunters are killing my people! I know that we're different from humans! I know that I can't tell anyone outside of this mansion because they would think I'm insane! And I know that I have found my mate!"
"Oh really?" Grimmjow's father retorted. "Then what's his favorite color? What does he hate eating? Does he like coffee? What type of books does he read? Does he read books? What are his parents' names?"
"Don't you think I want to know?" Grimmjow cried. "Don't you think I want to ask him?"
"Does he even know you exist, Grimmjow?" Grimmjow's father asked. Grimmjow winced at the pain in his chest that came with that question, and at knowing that his father had wanted it to hurt. "Has he ever seen your face? No! Why do you just assume that he will love you back someday? You know nothing about him!"
"I know that he's my mate!" Grimmjow shouted. "If he wasn't, would I have used granpapa's arrowhead on him?" Grimmjow's father's eyes, the exact same shade of blue as Grimmjow's own, widened furiously.
"You WHAT?" the man shouted loudly, his voice gaining a semblance of the roar he gave in his bear form. "I gave that to you so you could protect yourself when you're in human territory!"
"He lives in human territory!" Grimmjow yelled. "He is a human! He has no claws or teeth or venom that he can use to protect himself!"
"You're putting your life on the line for someone who doesn't know you!" Grimmjow's father shouted.
"He will know me!" Grimmjow said, walking backwards to the door. If he stayed here any longer, he could end up doing even more damage to his relationship with his father. And he didn't want that to happen at all. "He will!"
He slammed the door with a loud bang behind him, growling angrily at the members of his 'family' who had heard the commotion and come to listen in. "What do you think you're looking at?" he asked dangerously, lifting the side of his upper lip to show his deadly teeth. The weres, only a few of the many that stuck around Grimmjow's dad for protection, backed off. Some of them looked scared, others curling their own lip but knowing that they couldn't take Grimmjow on; the blue-haired teen was well-known as a powerful fighter, and even if they could take him down they knew that would mean death by a certain werebear, one who was currently cursing alone behind a door Grimmjow had just slammed.
Why was it lately that Grimmjow left his father to do that so much?