Chapter 1.
A/N: Aah back after a long long loooong break from fanfics with a Grimmichi! This one won't be slow-build but it'll have a pretty big plotline. Hope you enjoy!
The odour of sweat and worn-out sneakers lingered in the air. Ichigo was breathing heavily, yet he couldn't smell any of that. All he could smell - no - sense, was the adrenaline that coursed through him and the burn in his thighs as his heart beat in sync with the music. Shoes squeaking to a halt, the music faded away, leaving only a chorus of panting, everyone too tired to speak. The dancers began to disperse after a long silence. Some went off for a drink, some left the studio.
Few, like Ichigo, straightened themselves up and got ready for another round.
Being a dancer in London was far from the glamour one would think it promised, unless that glamour consisted of dinner at 11pm and auditions from 5 to 9. Ichigo led that life. Right now, he was practicing a routine for an important audition coming up. Later on he would go to the supermarket and then home. It was 6pm now and his work as a part-time store clerk didn't need him in today, fortunately.
Ichigo finished up the routine for the tenth time that day. Sweat was running down his face and lean body, drenching his black hair. Not his natural colour, but he couldn't risk outshining the main star. He was, after all, a backup dancer. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't just steal the spotlight. He was ok with that. Just dancing made him happy.
After towelling himself off, Ichigo slung the messenger bag across his body and began to walk to the store. He made a mental checklist of what to buy. Fruits, vegetables, milk, soup. No meat. No chance he'd risk eating meat before an audition. With the state of the music industry today, if he got the job it would be 40% dancing skill and 60% looks. They want someone with a body that would look good nearly bare.
Not to mention, the video he was auditioning for was one for Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez.
The man - or according to magazine covers - 'the image of sex if sex had blue hair', was a pretty famous singer-songwriter and actor. Not to mention, that body and those piercing blue eyes everyone's raging about. If you selected some tabloid randomly from a shelf there would likely be at least one article about the man's new album or whether his hair colour was natural. Hell, despite Ichigo's natural colour being bright orange, he didn't think it natural.
Arriving at the supermarket, Ichigo broke the train of thought just long enough to grab a basket and begin his little shopping trip.
The thing that concerned him was how Grimmjow's music videos simply loved to showcase backup dancers in the skimpiest outfits, performing intimate gestures with him. It helped the 'bad boy' image the man had.
If he were a few years younger he would've shuddered at the thought of getting intimate with anyone else on film. Except he wasn't, he was jaded by this industry and beggars couldn't be choosers, after all. He sighed as he put a carton of milk in his basket and made his way to the checkout.
Tomorrow would be a long day.
"Ichigo Kurosaki, auditioning for a backup dancer. Your number is 1115."
The petite woman passed a label with the number 1115 to him. Ichigo bowed, a habit he never really shook from living in Japan all his childhood, and stuck the label on his shirt.
He arrived rather early to the audition in hopes of a fast audition. It was rather futile. Although he had arrived at 10am, the audition stated to begin at 9, there was a tremendous amount of people in the waiting room and it would be long before his number was called.
"Should've come at 9 exactly..." Ichigo grumbled, his perpetual scowl deepening. He noticed a lot of younger dancers auditioning this time, presumably hoping to get up close and personal with the oh-so-dreamy Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. Ichigo scoffed.
Starstruck newbies who hope this job will lead to romance seriously need a wakeup call. Around him, he saw a few familiar faces from other jobs, but not many.
He only took up this audition because it was surprisingly well-paying. Normally, a music video pays around 300, but this job paid a good sum of 650. Rehearsals too, normally 100 to 200, are 300 for this job. Ichigo heard from a friend who had worked with Grimmjow before that the man himself ensures his dancers are paid well.
As far as he knew, singers typically didn't care about their backup dancers. At the end of the day, they were the star of the show. Not the backup dancers, them.
A crisp, female voice called out and that was when Ichigo realized his thoughts had run on long than expected. "Number 1115, please come in!"
Ichigo hurriedly stood up from his seat, patting his hair down and dusting off his clothes. He walked briskly to the audition room.
"Number 1115, Ichigo Kurosaki. 22 years old. Auditioning as a backup dancer." Ichigo recited his formalities and bowed deeply. He wore black tights and a crop top, showing off his flat stomach and lean body. It was sure to score him a few points with them right off the bat. He looked up and allowed his eyes to linger over the people present for a moment. Two nondescript men were present, along with a petite female sporting black, short hair. The female Ichigo recognised as Grimmjow's agent.
Caramel brown eyes resting on the three in turn, he finally moved his gaze to the fourth in the room. His eyes widened, meeting a piercing blue gaze. Vision travelling up and down, he saw bright blue hair, a muscular physique, pearly white teeth and a mischievous smirk.
A trademark smirk.
Of Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez himself.