Again, I'm going on vacation soon and I apologize for late updates. It takes me forever to update anything, but my room is clean and I found all of the papers so updates should be more consistent. Realize that I make up the stories a day or two before the update comes out and most of this is done while trying to drown out my siblings. Okay, what kind of scene should I do when he gets his name? Who should come up with it? Stuff like that is up to you guys.
Chapter 2
Grimmjow glanced around warily, noticing the absence of his nakama. He frowned. Usually at least Nel attended class. Making a sudden U-turn, he strode back up the hall. Picking up the pace, he wondered where they were? The first place to look would be the 'empty' classroom at the far end of the east wing. He and his nakama had turned it into their private hang-out, decorating it with an eclectic collection of random posters and furniture that looked surprisingly good. There was even a stack of futons in the supply closet branching off of the classroom for when they slept in the room.
Pushing the door open, he barely managed to duck the orange streak that flew past his head at eye-level. "What the hell?"
He was promptly ignored.
Gin snickered, moving the laser light up the wall. Pantera leapt off the back of a chair, swatting wildly at the light. The light switched back to the floor, Ichigo bouncing off the wall on all fours, twisting in midair to just barely miss the still-moving red dot.
With a triumphant mewl, he dove on the light- which was now glowing on Grimmjow's chest.
Swearing, Grimmjow hit the floor hard, ecstatic orangette now sprawled on top of him.
Purring in apology, Pantera slipped off of him, taking up the hunt again.
Growling, Grimmjow grabbed Gin by the scruff of the neck, removing the light from his hand and turning it off with a click. Pantera paused, crouching on the back of the couch. Hopping down, he crawled fluidly across the throw rug to over to Grimmjow before sitting back on his heels quietly. He tipped his head in feline curiousity, holding out his hand expectantly.
Surprised, Grimmjow just dropped the penlight into his waiting palm.
While Pantera fiddled with the device silently, Grimmjow set Gin back on the couch. Sighing, he ran a hand through his unruly blue to Ulquiorra, he asked, "Who's this?"
"He goes by Pantera, apparently," answered Ulquiorra monotonously.
"He?"
Grimmjow looked back, but the glossy mane blocked his view of the so-called male's face. Crouching, he brushed the sunset locks away. Pantera looked up in surprise at the touch. Luminous amber eyes met with sharp azure.
"Are you Grimmjow?" asked a soft voice.
"Yeah. Now, what the hell are you doing in my gang's hangout?"
The smaller male huffed. "The beanpole dragged me here," was the now-irritated response.
Grimmjow sat back on his heels, turning to Nnoitra. "Nnoi, why'd ya bring him here? He doesn't exactly look like much."
"He's got spunk," Nnoitra answered lazily.
Grimmjow snorted. "Spunk doesn't cut it here. He's not one of us."
Nnoitra snorted. "I think he can handle himself, Grimm. He flipped me over his shoulder like I didn't weigh nothin'."
Grimmjow blinked in surprise. Looking back at the orangette, he asked, "You can fight?"
Pantera huffed in irritation. "Duh."
Nel smiled. "Yeah Grimmy! He was raised by animals too!"
"Huh?" asked Grimmjow, startled.
"Jaguars!" chirped Nel.
Grimmjow blinked. "Oh no. You're not keeping him." He scowled darkly. "Do you even know how dangerous jaguars are? They're instigators! They fight constantly, they're vicious!"
Pantera grinned disturbingly. "Why thank you."
"That's not a complement, idiot! Jaguar's are like the hyenas of the cat world! They're ruthless! They'd even kill their own cubs!"
A low snarl from Pantera startled them. "At least we're not lazy, overweight mongrels!"
Grimmjow growled back. "Scavenger!"
"Canine!"
"Scum!"
"House cat!"
Grimmjow snarled and pounced, surprised by the amount of strength coiled into the orangette's muscles as he fought back exuberantly. The two clawed and snarled and bit, turning over and over in their contest of power. By the time Nel pulled them apart, Pantera was hissing furiously, swiping and tearing with his fingernails and teeth. The orangette was obviously going to have bruises, but so was Grimmjow, who was also covered in cuts and scratches.
The low, rending snarl showed Pantera was far from done. Grimmjow was surprised at the other. Why didn't he attack? When the realization that Pantera was holding back because Nel was between them hit him he paused.
"Why didn't you attack her?"
"Why would I? Jaguars are a lot more violent than most other cats, but you panthers think you're so high-and-mighty and trounce all over us. We love fighting, but we're not monsters." Pantera was obviously upset. "And if you say something like that about my family again I will hurt you. Severely. But I won't kill you because that would upset Nel, and I like her."
"Aw, that's so cute!" Nel glomped Pantera, who sighed and hoped for his own survival. Sitting down, she drew him onto her lap.
"Seriously, Grimmy! I like this one, and I don't want you to hurt him! Hitting girls is a no-no!"
Grimmjow blinked at her.
"And yes, I know he's a guy, but he's a submissive, so he counts as a girl!" she defended. "And I'm keeping him! He can't fight really good, so you don't have an excuse! Plus he looks just like Shiro, but more colorful! Don't you want to know if they're related!"
Grimmjow opened his mouth to argue, but wilted under her furious glare. He stared as she scooped up the orange-head and carried him back to the couch, settling him on her lap as Syazel moved to sit beside her. He continued to stare as they began to pet him, and as he started to purr.
Finally, he sighed, shook his head, and collapsed into an armchair. Apparently the leader's opinion didn't count.
