Chapter 10: Taste Test

He still had flowers sent to Orihime at RBM.

Ulquiorra nodded to Orihime whenever she came into the coffee shop. He would make light conversation before handing her order off to someone else. They didn't talk about what happened on Halloween, but he found out why he was so drunk. Nnoitra had given him a stronger than normal concoction and didn't bother to tell Ulquiorra as he handed it off.

Like a dumbass he had drunk the entire glass in one go. No wonder he'd been drunk.

Grimmjow didn't really say anything about it either. His friend was always smirking at him when they got together for a beer or a coffee, which didn't happen much. The blue-haired man would tell him what Orihime was up to, or what their plans were, and how Ulq should hang out with them.

No thanks.

He wasn't an idiot.

He didn't want to watch Grimmjow practically fuck his girlfriend while he was the audience. He went into Starrk's a lot for the weeks leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. At least three times a week. It was comforting to be around other people who were just as miserable as him. Nnoitra leaned on the bar during a slow period and was chatting with him.

"Eyy, you look down man."

"Yeah, a bit. Holidays always are a bitch. Birthday is coming up… Parents' anniversary..." Ulquiorra took another sip of whiskey, swirling it in the glass.

Nnoitra nodded but Ulquiorra missed it. "Grimmjow's woman ain't looking your way..."

The scoff was loud. "She's Grimmjow's; not mine. She's a friend, Nnoitra."

"You ought to see your face. You believe the lies you tell yourself? Is she fucking both of you?"

Ulquiorra's head swung back and forth. "No, you know Grimmjow doesn't share. I don't want her and she's not disloyal to him. She has class, unlike some of the bitches you've drudged up to take home," he stated in an almost bitter tone.

Nnoitra laughed. "Damn man, you got it bad."

Ulquiorra shrugged and finished his drink. Maybe he did. Maybe he didn't. It wasn't anyone's business.


Grimmjow sat on the other side of his boss' desk. Kuchiki was out for blood today. "You've had more than enough time to close this deal. What is the hold up? What is Inoue doing? Is he preparing to say yes to a full or partial media package?"

"I have no clue, sir. Ulq is being difficult. He doesn't want to see the proofs yet. He's been yanking Orihime around about it, too."

The businessman sighed. "I wanted this closed by the time we shut down for the holidays. It may not happen. Do you think it could be closed by then? If she can't satisfy him, I'll let her go and you get demoted."

Ouch. When Kuchiki went for the throat, he really went for it. "Got it, but you know how Cifer can be, sir."

There was a nod from his boss. "How are things with Riruka? Everything with the Dollhouse Designs project going according to plan?"

"Absolutely. She's happy with the logo and the media package. However, she wants to see more color options, and we're having samples printed up," Grimmjow said. "She also wants stickers, which we've designed."

The man hummed and nodded. "You have that advertising convention coming up soon; first week of January right? You should take Orihime down there to see what it's like."

"Anything else?"

"That is all, you are dismissed Grimmjow."

When he walked back into his office, he flopped down on the desk chair and sighed.

When Kuchiki wasn't riding his ass, work wasn't stressful. He could see his girlfriend practically every day. They had sex everyday. Grimmjow had gone back to using condoms because he liked making Orihime come and he knew she didn't like the mess. Everything was sunshine and rainbows.

Except those damn flowers continued to show up. Ulquiorra probably still eyefucked Orihime whenever he saw her. It didn't bother him… Not really… Okay, he was lying. He wanted to tear off the other man's head and launch it into the damn lake. The thought of Ulquiorra touching Orihime made him mad. The thought of the man fucking her-he couldn't think of it. He turned irate and usually ended up at Starrk's pouring his thoughts out to Nnoitra about the whole thing. It irritated him to no end.

Nnoi told him this was karma.

Grimmjow didn't believe in karma.

To make things more stressful… He told his mom he was bringing his girlfriend to meet her. Ellen Jaegerjaquez was critical of anyone he had brought home. Whatever Ma; your choice in men wasn't the best. Grimmjow wasn't knocking chicks up left and right. He had a great job with a nice benefits package and a 401K. He didn't have to answer to anyone.

He sighed. It wasn't even eleven am and he wanted a drink or sex; something to relieve the stress he was feeling.


Orihime's finger hovered above the send button. What was she so afraid of? It was ridiculous. She needed to put her big girl panties on and get shit done.

- Hey, it's me. Can we meet at the shop or something and go over these proofs? I have finals coming up soon and I'd like to either get to work or shelve this project before I have to buckle down. LMK. Thanks,

Orihime

There, that wasn't so bad, right? All that he could say was no and she would be back to worrying, though.

It wasn't the only thing she was worried about. Things had been better with Grimmjow to a degree. He still had that wackadoo client riding his ass. He was going out without her a bit more. That was fine, though. They were at the office together almost daily and they always stayed the night together barring rare exceptions, but he seemed a bit distant.

And now she had this Thanksgiving thing in Highland Park to drive to. It was nowhere near as far away as Orihime had imagined. It would just be a day trip. For some reason, that kind of disappointed her. If she made a poor impression the first day, she wouldn't have the next to try to make up for it.

She was sitting at her desk at Rotten and tapping on the side of her foot as she thought, when she overheard her name in the hallway. She got up and walked over to the filing cabinets that lined the wall, trying to overhear.

"Yeah. She stopped by and asked why she was still working here when he got her fired," Susan said in barely hushed tones.

Karen squealed in delight. "Wait, is this the same Brynlee that he took to the company Fourth of July Picnic?"

Silence at first. "And then he took her out with him on Kuchiki's yacht. It was them, Kuchiki, his girlfriend or whatever and a couple people in accounting. Apparently she thought he was getting serious and then a month later, she was canned."

"Harsh," Karen said. "Do you know what happened?"

"Apparently he had thrown a project her way and she fucked it up, so it was legitimate. But he should have never given an intern a project like that," Susan said.

Karen snorted. "Ha! Sounds like a pattern to me. Speaking of underqualified interns," she paused and walked into the room.

Orihime dove her head into the filing cabinet, letting her hair fall over her face.

"Orihime! Can you run a coffee order? I need a- What's the flavor of the month?"

Orihime's first bitter thought was that apparently she was the flavor of the month. She pursed her lips and swallowed that thought down for the moment. She carefully raised her head and walked over, hoping that Karen didn't see where she had been originally. "Um, it's orange/cranberry," she said, acting breathless, like she had just jogged over.

"Oh, um, okay. Well, that sounds like a good muffin but a terrible drink. I will take a muffin then, and a pumpkin spice black coffee. Susan?"

"I'll have a cranberry/orange cafe au lait and a peanut butter cookie."

"Sure, okay, I'll be right back."

Okay. What in the ever-living fuck? Had Grimmjow just been test-driving both of them and then fired the rejected car? She was furious as she stormed into Coffee & Sadness and marched right to the counter. It wasn't busy.

Rangiku looked at Ulquiorra who looked back at her. He then shifted his gaze to Orihime. The two had been standing against the back counter ribbing each other like they did at times. "Hey Orihime," Ulquiorra said as he moved to the register. "What can I get for you?"

"I can't even…" she sighed. "Sorry. Cranberry orange cafe au lait, peanut butter cookie. Cranberry Orange muffin, pumpkin spice black coffee. A fucking sedative for me," she growled.

Woah. He took a step back. He had never seen the tiny redhead angry. He rang everything up and handed them off to Rangiku before his fingers flew over the screen. The printer started printing another sticker. "Come down to the pickup counter. I've got something for my favorite flavor tester."

He turned away from her and began to make a latte but he added gingerbread flavoring to it with just a smidge of english toffee. He was still trying to work out December's Flavor Of The Month. He added a tiny dash of cinnamon to the whipped cream on top and then brought it over to her. Rangiku hadn't even begun making the other two orders. He slid the cup across the counter and then leaned against it. "You okay? You seem a bit… pissed off?"

"I can't even begin to describe how I feel right now," she muttered, shaking her head and picking up the cup. The smell hit her and she paused. She sniffed again and took a sip. This tasted like… It tasted like memories of the holidays she wished she had growing up. Of comforting fantasies and dreams. She closed her eyes and a hot tear slipped out of the corner of one eye. "This is really, really good, Ulquiorra," she whispered, nodding but not looking up.

He wanted to reach across the counter and wipe the tear from her face. He couldn't. He promised himself he would behave. "It reminds me of you," he admitted. "You're..."

She raised her eyes to him and stared, waiting for him to continue. When he didn't, she asked him, "Ulquiorra, we're friends, right?"

"Yeah, I would say we are," he said giving her a hint of a smile.

"Can I ask you a favor? Maybe in your office?"

When he nodded and then turned, Ulquiorra saw Rangiku's face light up like a Christmas tree. "Mind your business," he hissed at her as he was going past. There was a giggle before Ulquiorra flipped her off. He waited for Orihime to reach him before he turned to the left and went down the hall then made another left at the door to the apartments. They passed the bathrooms and reached another door, which he held open for her. "Come in."

She walked inside and stood there, waiting for him to join her.

After a second of evaluating the situation he did and then closed the door. "What do you need?"

"Could I have a hug?" she whimpered, looking at his chest.

A hug? She wanted a hug from him? He took several steps towards her and took the cup from her hand and set it on the desk. The hand reached for hers again, his trying to match up their palms. Her hand was so small in his. He tried to calm himself as his hand ran up her arm and then pulled her closer to him. His other arm wrapped around her waist. "Anytime you want one, you can have one. Just text me and we can meet somewhere," he whispered to her.

She leaned her cheek against his vest and breathed uneasily, putting her hands on the backs of his arms and holding firmly, letting her body melt into his. "Thank you," she whispered, not letting go.

Ulquiorra didn't let go either. But he did move the hand that was around her shoulders to tilt her head up. "You're welcome. You never have to thank me for this," he said. Again his face was dangerously close to hers. Fuck it. What was the worst Grimmjow could do to him? The worst Orihime would do was stop talking to him. It was a risk he'd take. He didn't like her being angry or sad or needing hugs from him.

It was just his slightly dry lips brushing against hers. That was all it was and it left him wanting more.

There was a faint trace of tobacco on his lips. It made her feel safe. She wasn't disloyal. Ulquiorra didn't want her in that way. This was just one, lovely, generous, beautiful friend giving the other the gift of comfort. That's what she told herself. She pulled her face away but did not let go, nestling her head under his chin. "Thank you," she whispered.

"Do you want to tell me about it?" he asked, stroking her neck.

"Do you want to hear? He's your best friend. I don't want to poison the well," she sighed.

Ulquiorra chuckled and gave her one of his rare smiles. "The well was poisoned years ago. Tell me what he did. I know he's behind this. You wouldn't ask me for a hug if it didn't involve Grimm. Did he hurt you? Cheat on you?"

She told him about Brynlee. Everything that Zara had told her, what Grimmjow had admitted, and what she overheard Karen and Susan gossiping about. When she was done, she felt drained, and was practically slumped against him.

He listened. He put the puzzle together. He sighed when she finished. "Yeah. Grimmjow usually fucks both interns and then when he finds the one he wants to spend the summer with he gets the other one fired. Except that usually stops when the college kids go back to school. I was dating someone who worked at RBM and Grimmjow fucked her. As soon as I confronted him, he had her fired. She went back to New York and I've not talked to her since." He talked quietly as he leaned against the desk, still stroking her neck. "He kept doing it too."

Her throat felt tight. "He's taking me to meet his mom this weekend," her voice sounded like a rough rasp. "Does he do that to all of them, too?"

"No. Ellen would kick out more than half the women he's fucked if they even set foot in her house. He took Nel home. She's my cousin. After he took her to meet his mom… that's when it happened." Ulquiorra replied. He sighed. "I want to kiss you again, Orihime. I want to make this alright for you."

Her face turned red. "He told me he loves me." Her weight felt heavier.

"He told Nel he didn't fall in love. He liked her… A lot. He adored her. Grimmjow stood her up one night-he had to work on something-and Nnoitra fucked her. Grimmjow walked into him and Nnoi's apartment and saw it. I was there to witness that for a second before I retreated."

She felt confused. What Ulquiorra was telling her gave her mixed signals about Grimmjow. It mostly felt like he was treating her like another in a line of heartbreak, but he didn't fall in love with those women.

He said he was in love with her. He said it all the time. "You and me, Princess. I want it to be you and me." He meant those words, right? He didn't say that to all of them, did he?

What if this was all a big misunderstanding? What the hell was she doing here? Grimmjow would not forgive her if this got out of hand. She started to straighten up. "I'm sorry, I have no manners coming in here like this when you're working."

"It's okay. I own the place," he said and smiled at her. "Have you been getting my flowers? I send one to you every day."

Her eyes snapped to his. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish. "What- You? But he…?" she looked down and around at the floor like someone might jump up from under the rug and tell her it was some kind of joke.

"I started sending them to you in October… the third, I think. I asked the florist to send a single flower every day you were there," Ulquiorra said. He sighed and shook his head. "Grimmjow took credit for them, I know. He wouldn't think of that kind of stuff on his own. He told me I made him look bad."

She took a few steps backward and the back of her knees hit a chair, which she fell into. "What the hell? Why would he?"

"I was trying to charm you. I thought it didn't work. Then I saw him in a store when I was out. He told me that you weren't interested in me. He kept saying… He knows I want you. He knows I want to be your friend, and maybe more, but you're with him and all I can be is your friend."

It was then that it occurred to her. She was leading him on. "I'm sorry, Ulquiorra," she said, shaking her head. "I've been hurting you, haven't I?"

He shook his head. "No," he stated. "I knew you were something I couldn't have. I stupidly went for it. I can't back down from a challenge. Grimmjow said I would never get you. I guess he's right." Ulquiorra gave her a tight smile before he reached beside him and handed her the lukewarm coffee cup. "You should probably get back. Susan and Karen need their carbs."

She knew he was lying. She had been hurting him, and now she was being dismissed. She couldn't hold it against him this time. She nodded. "You are too good for me," she whispered as she took the coffee and left.

Rangiku came to get him as soon as Orihime left with her items. "What happened? Did you have sex with her?"

"No. I value her too much to have sex with her," he answered. "She's unhappy with Grimmjow-"

"Ulq, she's been unhappy with him. Her and her little friend came in and were spilling all kinds of tea and throwing shade everywhere. You were off work that day… One of your mental health days," Rangiku said. "He's been fucking her without a condom. I've told you Grimmjow's a minute man. He's gone maybe seven minutes the longest with one… Maybe more. It's not been over ten minutes."

"Can you stop reminding me that you've fucked him," he said through gritted teeth, balling his hands up. "Jesus, Rangiku."

"Ulq. That was a long time ago. Shouldn't you get over it?"

"Why? Tch. I'm going back to work."

"Do you want to have sex?" she asked as he opened the office door.

Ulquiorra stood there for a moment. "No. Not with you. Knowing you..."

She laughed. "I wouldn't blab about it. Besides the most action I've seen in months is making a coffee delivery across the street and caught the owner's eye for five minutes before some woman came up to him. You should have seen the way she got shot down."

"You're such a diva, Rangiku. C'mon we've got a shift to close before I hand it over to Izuru."


I smell trouble, do you? Let us know what you think, Happy Valentine's weekend!