There is so much cliche to Grimmjow's and Ichigo's relationship in this story... but since I don't think I usually toy much in cliche, it's kind of a fun change of pace. Still, it's also a surprisingly difficult change of pace... I am not good at writing such docile things! D: I hope you guys are enjoying it because I can't honestly tell if it's any good or not... And I keep getting distracted by the yet to be posted horror story I'm slowly working on
Anyway, you can ignore my pointless rambling.
Enjoy!
"Tell me, Grimmjow," Ichigo bid, a mischievousness to his words, "have you ever learned fencing?"
"Fencing?" The big man frowned a bit, taken off guard by the seemingly random question. "Like with swords?" Ichigo nodded a bit, something of an endeared smile worming it's way to one corner of his lips. Grimmjow's gaze fixated on it for a moment, before he shrugged, "No... Closest thing I've ever been to it was when I was a kid, 'sword fighting' Nnoi with whatever we happened to find laying around." A reminiscent grin stretched his handsome features.
Ichigo chuckled and took a last drink of his beer, "Well, it's time you learned then."
Grimmjow followed his lead, and the two left Ichigo's room behind, taking a right down the hall and heading further into the house. "You just happen to have a sword fighting arena in your house?"
Ichigo, leading the way and so turned away, finally let his smile show as he nodded a vague motion, "Fencing," He corrected, "and it's not really an arena, just a large, open space, but yeah, basically."
He pushed open a door at the very end of the hallway, revealing clean, white walls and a landing with a staircase that led up on one side, and down on the other, but no where else to go. Low level light flooded the small space with the introduction of movement. Ichigo stepped through the doorway, holding it for Grimmjow to follow, before he began descending the staircase on the right.
"How big is this place?" Grimmjow asked, not in the least shy about his lack of experience or knowledge of tall district homes. And Ichigo had apologized for his room being small... The bigger teen grunted a short sound and followed as they went further into the depths of Ichigo's home.
"Well, the main floor is as you've seen," Ichigo answered, his pace easy but not slow and his strides confident and graceful. "plus my father's rooms, and my sisters'. They share rooms. Then there's this lower level that we mostly use for fencing and archery." Ichigo explained vaguely. They were headed there now, so there was no point in describing it further, "And of course the upper level, which leads to the roof. It's been gated off, but it's still open aired. That's usually where we host parties or whatever. Yuzu's garden is up there," He turned to look over his shoulder, up at the young man following him with a proud smile, "Karin and I helped her plant a row of trees a few years ago. So she's got something of an orchard as well."
"Real trees?" Grimmjow couldn't help but ask as they stopped before another door at the base of the stairs, "Not these little decorative ones planted all over the tall districts?"
Ichigo nodded, a genuine smile on his handsome features, "They're only a few years old, but most of them are already taller than my father. He's about your height, so I guess they're growing pretty well."
Even Ichigo knew how rare that was. Most of the trees were small, genetically modified to grow indoors. They weren't real trees. They had the same basic functions, obviously, converting carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. They grew leaves, and needed water and sunlight to a degree. Some even produced bark, while others had smooth trunks. But they didn't bear fruit. Very few even budded with flowers, since their climate was kept near constant and there was no real seasons indoors.
The outdoor parks usually had larger trees, but those were equally modified to stay a certain size and specific colors. Besides, only the rich had access to those areas, not people like Grimmjow. And the orchards where fruit for consumption was produced were off limits to the public completely, even to Ichigo.
Ichigo turned, pushing the door at the base of the staircase open behind him as he smiled up at the bigger teen, "I'll show you sometime." He promised.
Grimmjow grinned right back at him, beyond pleased. Not only was he going to get see and touch real, living trees, but the smaller's promise also meant that Ichigo apparently planned on keeping him around, and that he would be visiting the tall district boy more than just this one time.
The topic at hand shifted when the space Ichigo had opened flooded with bright, crisp lighting. As he'd said, the space was mostly bare and unfurnished. The floor was a durable, rubberized tile, the walls kept purposefully blank. A perfect circle had been marked out with a different color of tile; large and encompassing nearly half the room. At the far end of the vast space, targets for archery lined the back wall. Along the wall the door opened up from, something of a utility area had been marked out with a half hight wall. Within, shelves and cases and hooks were located; all the gear and equipment, guards and armor that could possibly be needed for the activities Ichigo had said were preformed down here.
Quivers of arrows hung along pegs in the wall; different lengths, colors, different arrowheads, and various styles of fletching. Bows hung nearby; compound, traditional, long and short. Fencing swords were kept in glass cases, every size and shape imaginable, some with differently shaped guards and hilts. And of course the characteristic white armor used for fencing had been folded neatly and placed upon shelves nearby.
Ichigo slipped through the opening in the short wall, making his way to the shelving where all the fencing equipment was. He pulled out a white, lightly armored jacket and gloves, tossing them to Grimmjow. The bigger teen of course caught them, and shook them out to look them over.
"Foil is the most common type of fencing," Ichigo explained as he pulled out his own gear. Customized and fitted, his practice gear had been made in black rather than the regulation white. He had a different set he used for competitions. "named for the type of sword used, but we'll start with épée. The rules are easier to remember." He glanced over at his guest to make sure Grimmjow was following his lead, then moved to select an appropriate sword. "In épée, the entire body is a valid target and any hit with the tip. The blade does not count as a mark, so if you land a hit with it, it wont count against your opponent. We can also simultaneously mark, rather than like with foil, where only one person can score at a time and a right of way rule is used."
Ichigo pulled a sword from the rack, settling the tip against the ground as he measured it up to Grimmjow. Deciding it wasn't quite the right fit, he put it back and pulled another sword free, before handing it over, hilt first.
Grimmjow accepted it and looked it over. The blade was dull, not sharp like a real sword's, and the tip was rounded. No doubt it would still deliver quite the painful blow, but that was what the armor was for. The guard was bell-shaped, and covered most of his hand when held properly. The whole thing was much heavier than he'd expected, though, considering how thin and almost whip-like the blade looked. He hefted it's weight and held it out at arm's length, point extended away from Ichigo, to get a feel for it. "It's pretty heavy for such a flimsy lookin' thing."
"Yes, épée swords are much sturdier than foil blades." The orange haired boy smiled a bit as he pulled his own practice sword from it's place. "Since I'm just going to be showing you how to use the sword for now, we'll forego the masks, but in actual practice or competition, the mask is very important."
The two left the storage area and Ichigo led them to the circle that had been marked out in the tile. Because Grimmjow was barefoot, he toed off his shoes as well, before moving to stand in the very center. Grimmjow followed, sword in hand.
"Ok, the entire point of fencing is finesse and grace." Ichigo started, sliding one foot back and raising his sword into position, "You can only score with the very tip, so precision is key."
After demonstrating a few motions, Ichigo had Grimmjow go through the same routine. He was surprised to find the big man was incredibly smooth in his movements, confident like he'd done this a million times. He probably shouldn't have been so impressed by that, considering Grimmjow seemed ever sure of himself, but he was nonetheless. The bigger male picked up on the basics incredibly quickly. There was still an unrefined wildness to his style, but it was better than Ichigo had seen from some people who'd been fencing much longer.
When Ichigo had gone through all the rules and basics he could think of, he trotted back to the equipment storage and pulled out two masks. Tossing one to Grimmjow, he donned his own, and the two squared off for real. It was a little careful and slow at first, while Ichigo gave Grimmjow pointers and corrected his motions when need be, but soon enough, they were dueling in ernest and Ichigo even ended up on the defensive a few times.
After nearly twenty minutes, the two were a little short of breath, but clearly enjoying themselves. Good natured taunts were thrown back and forth as often as blades and laughter rang through the large space on panting breaths.
"Goin' easy on me, birdie?" Grimmjow half laughed as he thrust his sword in close. There was a wicked grin hidden behind his mask, and it showed in his rumbling voice. Ichigo nearly tripped backward to avoid the mark.
Ichigo breathed out, "Not really!" as he threw his blade up and across his body to parry another strike. Behind his own mask, black rather than white, brown eyes went wide as he caught Grimmjow's sliding motion a split second too late. It was a move he certainly hadn't taught the man, and it was a little underhanded, but since they were only playing, it was certainly effective.
Tripped up while he tried to backpedal, he grunted as his back hit the mat. Before he could even blink, the point of a sword was resting against his chest, just above his heart. His armor insured it didn't cut into skin, but he still felt clearly the pressure. "That's cheating..." He informed, but there was enough amusement in his voice to show he didn't truly mind.
Grimmjow merely shrugged one shoulder carelessly, the grin behind his mask growing all the wider as he stared down at the black clad figure pinned below his fencing sword. "Still won, didn't I?"
Ichigo smirked right back, though of course, it couldn't be seen, "I wouldn't be so sure."
Blue eyes widened a bit as a light but obvious tapping proved that Ichigo's sword was still up and that the smaller hadn't been beaten just yet. He glanced down warily at the thin blade resting along his inner thigh, uncomfortably high and much too close.
"In épée, nowhere is off limits." Ichigo reminded. If Grimmjow was going to play dirty, so would he. "I'd say this match is a draw."
Grimmjow started to bark a laugh, but before anything could be said, a small round of applause rose up through the space. Both young men jolted slightly, masked features swinging around to find two little girls standing a few feet away from the marked out circle.
"Well done!" Yuzu congratulated, clapping as a smile lit her pleasant features.
Beside her, Karin grinned and arched a brow. "It's about time someone beat you, Ichi-nii."
Grimmjow grunted an amused laugh and finally pulled his sword away, extending a hand to the smaller figure still laying on the ground.
Ichigo too lowered his blade, accepting the hand, and climbed to his feet. "Shouldn't you two be routing for your brother?" He pulled his mask free and moved over to welcome his little sisters home with a quick, but affectionate hug. "Besides! It was a draw, I didn't lose..."
"Whatever you say." Karin rolled her eyes, before directing her attention at the man in white armor. He was too tall to be most of the friends Ichigo usually had over. Ishida, maybe, but the man was much too broad to be the thin teen, and their father was obviously still at work, not to mention that Ichigo had seemed to be having far too much fun to be sparring against their father. "Who's your friend?"
Grimmjow pulled his mask free as he moved to stand by Ichigo's side, looking down at the two younger Kurosaki's.
"Oh, uh, this is Grimmjow, you two." Ichigo introduced, "Grimmjow, this is Karin and Yuzu, my sisters."
"It's very nice to meet you." Yuzu said, her voice a sweet, polite chime. At her side, Karin held her hand out and Grimmjow shook it in greeting, a bit of a smirk on his handsome features as he looked down at the two. The dark haired one frowned back up at him, her grip surprisingly firm.
Despite that the two were very much different, they were in sync the way twins usually were, and they studied the bigger boy for a few moments, before looking to their brother and back with varying degrees of appraisal. After a moment, Karin spoke up, her voice a conspiratorial whisper, "We like this one, Ichi-nii." Then she grabbed her twin's sleeve and the two turned to scurry from the lower floor, disappearing up the stairs to leave the older boys alone.
Grimmjow watched them slip through the doorway, then turned to see that, at his side, Ichigo's features had flushed a light shade of lively pink. Rich, brown eyes slid almost hesitantly over to meet vivid blue and a handsome grin spread across Grimmjow's features as he barked a pleased laugh.
Not long later, they had stripped from their fencing armor and put all the gear away, and were making their way back upstairs to the main floor. Of course, since Ichigo was playing the part of host, he lead the way and Grimmjow walked behind him. It left Grimmjow with quite the view and it was an exercise in self-restraint. Lacking a filter, he settled for speaking his mind, "You have a perfect ass."
Ichigo's steps faltered as he choked out a sound and his features heated up, now very much aware of the intense gaze sweeping his form. As bold as that was, though, some part of it was flattering, the openness of the bigger man's confession.
Before Ichigo could stutter out a response, Grimmjow chuckled a deep, reverberating sound and continued, "So… your sisters didn't approve of your last boyfriend, I take it?"
"He wasn't really my boyfriend…but no, they didn't like him much." They made it to the landing and Ichigo pulled the door open, allowing Grimmjow to proceed him into the hallway of the main floor. He smirked a bit as he followed.
"So I'm better looking than your last guy, and your family already likes me." Grimmjow laughed a rumbling sound, pausing for a moment so that Ichigo ended up at his side as they headed down the hall, plush carpet soft below their feet. He draped a muscled arm over the smaller's shoulders and turned a shark, bone-melting grin towards Ichigo, "Guess I got nothin' to worry about, then."
Ichigo scoffed, but a bit of an amused curve tugged at his lips, "You're despicable." He didn't pull from the bigger male's side though, and, after a moment of hesitation, even looped an arm back around Grimmjow's waist.
Halfway down the hall, they paused before Ichigo's bedroom, and the smaller pushed the door open before unlatching himself. Grimmjow stepped through and turned to walk backwards into the large room as Ichigo followed him across the space. "So does this mean I can call you mine, now?"
The orange haired young man snorted a derisive laugh, and cocked a brow as he watched Grimmjow seat himself comfortably on the edge of Ichigo's bed. There was not a trace of unease in the bigger man. That self-confident little grin tugging at handsome features seemed nearly permanent.
Hands on his hips, Ichigo looked down at his guest, standing close enough to very nearly be between Grimmjow's parted knees. "Is that your way of asking me out?"
Grimmjow shrugged a bit, grin still firmly seated upon his features, "Yeah, I'm asking you out."
"Pitiful." Ichigo said with a fake haughtiness. He crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his chin up, though couldn't quite hide his small smile, and said, "You'll have to do better than that."
With a sly little smirk, Grimmjow climbed back to his feet in a fluid motion, to stand so close to the smaller boy that they were nearly chest to chest. Soft brown eyes widened a bit as Grimmjow studied the higher standing citizen's features for a moment. Then he threaded long fingers through orange hair at the back of Ichigo's head and drew the smaller forward, tilting his head back a bit.
It would have been absolutely ridiculous to claim that he was caught off guard by the kiss, considering how easy it was to see coming, but what Ichigo hadn't counted on, as he watched Grimmjow stand and that knowing grin had claimed angelic features, was that it would have stolen the air from his lungs. The hand so carefully pressed against the back of his head was hot, almost burning. It was a firm but not harsh pressure, gentle, despite the strength behind it. Yet it was lost to his senses entirely the moment their lips came together.
It was warm, suffocating. The bigger man's lips were a little dry, a little rough, just like the man himself was, but they fit so perfectly against Ichigo's own. Slim fingers found and caught Grimmjow's borrowed shirt and the small space between them disappeared completely as the smaller voluntarily pressed closer to the sturdy, well-honed muscle of Grimmjow's chest.
A hot, slick tongue just barely glided across the seam of Ichigo's lips and the smaller shuddered ever so slightly, the barest hint of an airy sound coming from his throat. He started to part his lips, ready to allow Grimmjow to deepen the kiss, but just as he did, the bigger male pulled back. He didn't put space between them, didn't unlatch the fingers from his shirt or remove his hand from vivid, orange locks. Their lips still touched, a light tickling of movement, as he spoke in a rumbling whisper, "Will you allow me to call you mine yet, Ichigo?"
Before Ichigo even found the air to speak, the words were tumbling from his lips. Pliant, rich brown stared up into cool but not frigid blue, and Ichigo whispered back, "Yes." as his hands traveled up, slowly coasting, until his arms wound around the back of Grimmjow's neck and he was standing on his toes, "Yes." As he pressed his lips to Grimmjow's again and he knew that Grimmjow was not like those around him.
There was nothing fake with Grimmjow, nothing hiding below the surface. There was no need to hold up pretenses or put on a show. Grimmjow was raw, he was genuine, and around him, Ichigo could be himself. He didn't have to worry about appearances or worry about adhering to what was right and what was considered ok. There was nothing expected of him, the pressures of his high class didn't matter while he stood there, right where he was. Around Grimmjow, he was free. Around Grimmjow, he had wings.
The big hand slid from his hair, traveled down the side of his neck, traced the curve of his ribcage, and finally settled upon his hip, matched by Grimmjow's other hand. A deep sound crawled up the bigger's throat, rumbling in his muscled chest. Pressed against his front, Ichigo felt it in his own body and a shiver worked down his spine.
This time, when Grimmjow's lips parted and his tongue ever so carefully found the seam of Ichigo's lips again, he didn't pull away. Ichigo groaned a short, barely there sound and granted the silent request. Arms still wrapped around the back of Grimmjow's neck, the smaller took a small step forward, forcing Grimmjow an equally small step backward. The backs of Grimmjow's legs met the mattress of Ichigo's bed and a sinful smirk tugged at his lips as his tongue caressed against Ichigo's. The young man in his grasp smelled divine, felt perfect, and tasted even better. It was an intoxicating mix. They stood indoors, thousands of feet above the ground and surrounded by metal and concrete and glass, but kissing Ichigo was like coming face to face with all that he'd always loved so much, like finally meeting a god that had once ruled over their world of artificial structures.
Molded against him, Ichigo's features were trying desperately not to match the small smirk he could feel against his lips. Another small step, a gentle nudge, would leave the bigger man sprawled upon his bed and he fully intended to join the man. It was beyond tempting. To have such a wild, uncultured, untamed person so enamored with him was like the rush of fresh, cool wind. It was dizzying, the kiss was dizzying.
He was just about to act upon his desires -and he realized Grimmjow knew it too, as the bigger male tensed up just slightly in wait- but a level tone from behind him startled him from his bliss.
"You could at least close the door, Ichi-nii." Karin's dry tone interrupted any further action.
With a startled sound, Ichigo jerked back and spun, like he could hide the larger male behind him. Grimmjow's grin only widened, amusement obvious in his features, and resettled his hands against Ichigo's hips from behind. Like he couldn't quit touching the blue haired teen, Ichigo's hands strayed behind himself, one settling over one of Grimmjow's hands, the other finding the big male's fabric covered thigh. "Karin-! Uh…We weren't doing anything…" He stammered.
Dark eyes rolled as the younger Kurosaki gave her brother a level stare, before her gaze flicked up to her brother's new friend's gaze, and back. "Whatever." She dismissed Ichigo's pathetic attempt at innocence, and crossed her arms over her chest, "Dad's assistant called: he has an emergency he has to attend to, so he'll be even later than usual. Your boyfriend staying for dinner? Yuzu's cooking."
"Oh…" Ichigo turned to look over his shoulder, studying the handsome features looking back at him. Blue brows were raised just slightly, the expression on Grimmjow's face a neutral one. He wasn't saying he couldn't for one reason or another though, so Ichigo turned back to Karin, "Yes he is."
Without a word, and no more than a nod to show she'd heard, Karin turned and ducked around the doorframe to disappear from sight, no doubt headed toward the kitchen to where her twin was surely planning dinner. When she was gone and out of earshot, Grimmjow used his grip on lean hips to spin the smaller around to face him.
"Ya know," He started, voice deep and a little low. There was a bit of a smirk on his face, but only just. "you don't have to feed me all the time…"
Ichigo stared up at him with an incredibly blank expression for half a second. The bigger teen's meaning was a class thing, he knew it was. Grimmjow was being ridiculous, probably feeling emasculated because he took it as Ichigo trying to keep him well fed, like he couldn't take care of himself. Ichigo rolled brown eyes in a parody of what his sister had done -must have run in the family, Grimmjow noted- and pushed the bigger male backward. The backs of Grimmjow's knees hit the bed and he sank backward to sit upon the edge of the mattress, bouncing twice before Ichigo was once more standing between his parted knees.
"You're being ridiculous," Ichigo informed, "I was merely giving you an excuse to stay longer."
"Is that what you were doing?" Grimmjow asked, though there wasn't much of a question in his tone, more of a sly amusement.
"Yes," Hesitating for a split second, Ichigo reached up and carded his fingers through the blue locks that danced in natural chaos atop Grimmjow's head. It was thick, and not exactly silky soft, but healthy all the same, as was to be expected of someone with Grimmjow's physique. He clearly took care of his body, why would his hair be any different. "that is what I was doing."
Grimmjow hummed an approving sound, tilting his head back a bit under the light pressure tugging through his hair. "Good thinkin'. We got interrupted."
Ichigo snorted a short laugh, a smile playing at his lips. Big hands coasted upward, away from his hips. The brush of fingertips lifted the edge of his shirt, dancing feather light, burning trails just above his waistline. Ichigo settled his hands over Grimmjow's, and finally leaned down to give the young man what he wanted. Their lips again met as Ichigo slowly sank down to sit across one of Grimmjow's legs, one hand still threaded through the thick, blue hair at the back of Grimmjow's head.
Not all that long later, it wasn't a sister in his doorway that interrupted them this time, but rather a call from down the hall. It seemed neither of Ichigo's little sisters were quite brave enough to come fetch him and his friend for dinner.
"At least they're quick learners." Grimmjow commented with a chuckle as he followed the smaller lad down the hallway. Ahead of him, Ichigo merely shook his head and tried not to think about it much.
When they made it to the end of the hall, they took a right, toward the kitchen Grimmjow had seen upon entering. All the appliances looked brand new, like they'd never been used, but the smell in the room suggested otherwise. Off to one side, a modest but decently sized dinning area held a long, rounded table. Food in different bowls and upon platters had been laid out upon its top, a small feast enough to feed at least twice as many people as were currently in the home.
Grimmjow followed behind Ichigo, allowing himself to be lead to a seat and a bit unsure as to the customs of dining with a family that was practically royalty. As close to it as their society got, at any rate.
He wasn't so surprised when the head of the table was left empty, and himself and Ichigo sat to the chair's right, while the twin girls sat to its left and directly in front of the boys. He was a little surprised, however, when Ichigo thanked his sister for cooking, and dug right in, no further ceremony or tradition proceeding their meal. The girls dug in as well, and so Grimmjow followed.
The food was amazing, like something he'd expect to find at a fancy restaurant. "Your sisters made all this?" Grimmjow asked as he ate, peering at Ichigo where the smaller sat at his side, and then back over toward the young twins. They were several years younger than Ichigo, probably four or five, maybe six.
"Yuzu did, yes. Cooking has become something of a hobby for her." Ichigo smiled as he took another bite, "A rather useful hobby that we all greatly appreciate and enjoy."
In front of him, the blond twin flushed slightly, but gave the older boys a brilliant and grateful smile.
After eating their fill, dessert was brought out and even though Ichigo insisted he couldn't eat another bite, his sister set a dish before him and he allowed Grimmjow to convince him to at least split it. Karin picked up her own dessert, and motioned for her sister to follow, as she left the room. Yuzu smiled at her brother and his new friend, and the twins left the two young men to themselves and each other.
As Grimmjow sat there, surrounded by finery he'd never known before and in the company of a young man that should have been far beyond his reach, he couldn't help but notice the differences between them.
Ichigo and his family, they could have anything and everything. Anything they set their sights upon, they could call their own without a second thought. Status alone would get Ichigo almost anything, and if it couldn't, than he need only scan his limitless account.
Grimmjow was the high standing teen's opposite in every way. All he had to his name were his looks and his charm, but he hardly even had a name, unregistered. Nonexistent. He had nothing. He was nothing. For all the kindness Ichigo had already shown him just in this day alone, he had nothing to give back, no way of repayment.
Self-doubt wasn't the bigger lad's most notable trait, but he was sitting there, high in the sky in a kitchen that was the size of a house where he was from, surrounded by the very best that money could by. Even the fine crafting of the silver he twirled between his fingers and the handsome smile on the fair features aimed in his direction, put a crease in his usual confident and self-assured ways. All of this, all that sat before him, was too much. It was as much a shock to his system as visiting another world would have been. He came from the ground, the earth and the dirt. He wasn't meant to fly.
Pushing a grin across his features and banishing such ill thoughts for later, Grimmjow stole the spoon from Ichigo's hand and helped himself to another bite. The smaller male feigned offense, and both laughed about it.
After dessert, they retreated to Ichigo's rooms again, and the smaller teen rolled open the seamless wall that formed a sort of solid curtain and blocked out a window that took up the majority of the wall beside his bed. Grimmjow took the unspoken cue to crash on the expansive, plush mattress and it took little convincing on his part to get Ichigo to follow him.
A little hesitant, more because he thought he should be than because he didn't want to cuddle up next to the lower standing lad, Ichigo settled down upon his bed, his back to Grimmjow's chest. As the sun sank below the artificial horizon of concrete and glass that rose high into the sky, the two fell into an easy lull.
"You probably don't get to see the sunset very often, do you?" Ichigo asked in the slowly lengthening shadows around them. His voice was quiet, leaving the peacefulness and silence between them mostly undisturbed. The roughness to the edges of his words suggested that the comfort of his bed, the warmth of the man behind him, and a full belly were quickly taking their toll on him.
Grimmjow smirked a bit, rumbling a quiet sound as he felt the smaller male relax against him, comfortable and happy. Blue eyes nearly aglow in the fiery light of dusk, Grimmjow watched the spectacle through the enormous window and draped an arm over Ichigo's middle, his long fingers finding Ichigo's. Then, after the quiet had stretched comfortably between them for a moment, he finally answered, "No, it's hard to find a place to see it from downstairs. Sometimes if you're in the right area while on the ground…"
"…you go outside often?" He could practically hear the small frown in Ichigo's soft voice.
"As often as I can." Grimmjow quietly rumbled back.
"What's it like?"
Grimmjow was quiet for a few heartbeats, thinking, trying to decide just what to say in answer. "It's beautiful," He finally settled on. Visiting the ground was as taboo as it was for him to climb so high in order to find Ichigo, but the high class boy hadn't faulted him for that. Perhaps he wouldn't judge Grimmjow for this either, "It's not all buildings, like it seems up here. Eventually you find the end, and when you do, and you step out into clear land, it's beautiful. There's not many trees anymore, and everywhere shows signs of people; old buildings still made of wood, a cemetery with headstones sticking out of the ground. But grass grows around it all, and moss covers some of it and birds hop through the grass."
And so Ichigo drifted off to tails of what real grass felt like below bare feet, how mud smelled and the imaginary buzz of insects, stories of how you could run and run and run until you couldn't breathe and your legs shook and still there was nothing caging you in. His mind painted vivid images to match Grimmjow's low, passion filled descriptions; pictures of smooth, tan skin washed in warm sunlight, and thick, blue hair swept back with the speed of the bigger man's motions as he pulled Ichigo along by the hand, showing him everything the ground had to offer that humanity had forgotten about.
The last words he heard before he fell asleep, rumbled in deep, low tones; "Maybe I'll show you after all."
In the dark, Grimmjow let out a long, low breath and ran his fingers over Ichigo's, where their hands were still intertwined against the smaller's toned belly. He lowered his head behind Ichigo's, resting it across his folded arm and burying his nose in healthy, orange hair to inhale the boy's scent. If he hadn't realized he was in trouble before, he certainly did in that moment, as he was enveloped in silence only broken by sleep evened breathes, the rise and fall of which created a steady, peaceful rhythm against his chest.
Yet, despite the quiet, undisturbed shadows around them and his comfort, sleep eluded Grimmjow for a long time. Hours went by before he finally fell into a light, almost restless sleep. He wasn't asleep long when he was awoken again, by what, he wasn't entirely sure, but he had a good enough idea.
Looking around the dark room, the low level illumination of digital numbers told it was nearly 2:30 in the morning, and he laid back again, studying the sleep slack features facing him now. After a few moments of internal struggle, blue brows pulled downward, Grimmjow decided he'd be better off if he left sooner rather than later. Ichigo too.
Quietly, he extracted himself from Ichigo's bed, tugging a corner of the bedspread over the smaller's form as he straightened at the bed's side. Then he turned for the door, grabbing the worn shirt and dirt smeared pants he'd been wearing when he'd arrived.
The house was dark with the onset of night, and Grimmjow was careful as he picked his way down the hall. He was still half asleep, but he was almost positive he'd heard the front door open not long ago, as he'd been sleeping, and the arrival of Ichigo's father was surely what had awoken him. As late as it was, the elder Kurosaki had most likely retired straight away, but Grimmjow had no desire to run into the man under these circumstances, so he was careful and quiet nonetheless.
It took him by complete surprise when he heard the barest whisper of scuffing feet behind him. Grimmjow had half a second to turn and ready himself, before hands were on him and he was shoved, hard, against the wall beside the front door. He dropped the bundle of clothing in his hands and grunted under the unexpected impact, features twisting with leeriness as he readied to defend himself.
Facing him and mere inches away, an older, but not elderly man man stood before him. There was a well earned strength behind the grip upon his borrowed, tight-fitting white shirt and broad shoulders promised that the older man was no pushover. His strong jaw was set, his features stern and maybe just barely aggressive. Intelligent, dark eyes studied his right back, drilling into blue as if in search.
Unsure what to do, Grimmjow said not a word, his hands raised halfway between them, ready to push the older man back or pull the hands from his body. He'd been caught, barefoot and sleep rumpled, by Ichigo's father and it didn't take a genius to figure out what was going on, why he was there.
After the silence dragged out for a moment, then two, and Grimmjow watched dark eyes narrow as they made a sweep of his figure, before the older Kurosaki finally eased up and Grimmjow was able to relax away from the wall he'd been pinned against. When the man spoke, his voice was a deep, commanding tone, but quiet in the dark, "How long have you been seeing my son?"
Holding his hands out to the sides a bit, in a way that was meant to be neutral and calm, Grimmjow shook his head in a small motion, "We didn't do anything…"
"That's not what I asked you." The frown on the doctor's features deepened, dark eyes narrowing slightly.
Grimmjow hesitated, before answering, "…we met at the fete a few weeks ago."
The older man seemed to think for a moment, nodding slightly as he did. Then he stepped back, no longer crowding the young man he'd caught sneaking out.
"This is the first time I've been here…" Grimmjow began again, not liking the odds of facing an angry, protective father, nor wanting to get himself or Ichigo in trouble. He still couldn't read what was going through the man's head. Standing in the dark, whispering in hushed voices, made determining that all the more difficult. The last thing he needed was for a rich and power, tall district citizen to call the authorities on him. "We didn't-"
Isshin waved it off, "I believed you the first time." He said, almost absentmindedly. Then he let the silence drag out for another long moment, letting the air grow tense with that fatherly menace. "You were sneaking out, do you not like my son?"
Grimmjow's answer was immediate, forceful even, though his deep voice remained quiet in the effort not to wake anyone. "I do-! I…" Blue brows tugged downward, "I really like Ichigo a lot…"
The doctor arched a brow slightly, and folded thick arms over his burly chest, "And he very clearly likes you, yet you were leaving… Why?"
A bit of confusion marred Grimmjow's features, because he couldn't see why Ichigo's father would ask him such a thing. After being caught in the older Kurosaki's house, obviously with his son, Grimmjow would have thought the man would have been happy to be rid of him. Maybe warn him never to come back or something.
He paused, studied the older man, before deciding it'd be best to answer honestly. "Because…he's too good for me. Your entire family is, your daughters… There is nothing I can give Ichigo, I have nothing to offer him. I don't deserve him and he deserves more than me."
Again, all fell silent. The darkness of the house was stifling. Then some of the frown on the older Kurosaki's features lessoned a touch, and he clapped a hand on Grimmjow's strong shoulder just long enough to turn him back toward the hallway that would lead to Ichigo's bedroom. "What's your name, son?"
The younger's frown deepened, "Grimmjow, sir."
"Listen, Grimmjow," Isshin started, "Ichigo does deserve better, but, as a father, I'm going to think that of anyone he ever meets." The elder man paused for a moment, a bit of a smile touching his features now. Then he continued, meeting swirling blue in the darkness, "He's got more money than a boy his age knows what to do with. He doesn't need anything from you, Grimmjow, not in the way you're thinking. What he does need, is someone that can make him happy… The other day was the first time I've seen him with a genuine smile in too many years. My son likes you…a lot… Don't take that from him over something so petty. You don't need to spend money on him, you only need to spend time with him."
Grimmjow remained quiet, but his gaze flickered off to the side, toward the room he'd snuck out of.
The doctor chuckled a quiet, reverberating sound, "Now, if you have prior commitments in the morning and must leave, you best go wake him up and tell him you'll be back. Or at the very least, write him a-"
"I don't." Grimmjow shook his head.
With an approving nod, Isshin stepped out of the way and swept an arm in invitation towards the hallway, "Then I'll be seeing you for breakfast, Grimmjow."
Grimmjow didn't say anything. His crystallin gaze swept back to Mr. Kurosaki as he edged passed the man, and headed back down the hall. Before he'd made it all the way to Ichigo's bedroom door, the older's quiet voice finally warned him of what he'd been expecting since nearly being pushed through the wall.
"And Grimmjow, I expect you to stay fully clothed and respectful while under my roof, especially while the girls are home."
Grimmjow grunted something of a laugh, but turned a lopsided smile towards the older man and nodded slightly, before continuing down the hall.
Isshin watched the young man track down the hall without a sound. The boy was careful when he made it to Ichigo's door, pushing the portal open noiselessly just far enough to slip through in silence, then just as quietly push it closed behind himself. After a moment, he relocked the front door and only then did Isshin reach up and tug his tie loose as he followed behind, headed toward his own room. He left the small bundle of dropped clothing on the floor where they'd landed forgotten. The maid would pick them up and wash everything in the morning.
After a long day at work and nearly having a heart attack at finding someone sneaking around his home in the middle of the night, Isshin was more than ready for bed.
As he carefully, quietly navigated the large room, Grimmjow looked upon the still sleeping figure laying on the bed. Ichigo was turned away from him, a blanket pulled up around his shoulders. The sight nearly made him ache, and he decided he'd have to remember to thank Ichigo's old man in the morning.
The bed dipped as he started to crawl back under the covers, and Ichigo grumbled a wordless sound, rolling over to face him. Grimmjow paused, not wanting to wake him. Too late though, and he smiled as sleep-heavy brown eyes blinked open at him.
"What're you doing?" Ichigo mumbled tiredly, sounding as if still mostly sleeping.
Grimmjow chuckled and slid the rest of the way under the blanket, slinging one muscled arm around Ichigo's waist to pull the smaller against his chest again. "Bathroom," He said by way of excuse, not wanting to tell Ichigo he'd nearly left. "go back to sleep."
"Oh," Brown eyes fell heavy again, and Ichigo sighed a sleepy breath as he curled against Grimmjow's form, "you found it ok?"
"Yeah, you showed me earlier, remember?"
"Oh yeah," Ichigo was quiet for a long moment, breathing deep and even as it feathered across Grimmjow's collarbone. Then, in a voice thick and slurred by the vail of sleep he was under, "You have a nice butt too, by the way."
Grimmjow nearly choked in the effort not to wake the smaller up with his laughter. With a wide grin on his handsome features, and Ichigo's head tucked under his chin, he closed his eyes for the night.
Hope it was a worthwhile update~
