TW: Implied domestic violence

Chapter 17: Anti-White Chocolate

It was the middle of January when Grimmjow took Orihime out to a decent Italian restaurant. They had good ravioli there. Ever since they came back from Chicago, things had been going good. He made plans with Lucy to visit with her and Brady every week. He even got to spend Christmas Day with his son. It was a magical time for him. It was like he had a little family, which was the truth. He had a son. He could feel himself growing closer to Brady's mother.

He had a girlfriend, though. Orihime seemed like background noise lately. They opened presents on Christmas Eve then went to Starrk's for a drink. When he came back from the Christmas day visit, he spent time with her, trying to ignore the bruises on her arms. He didn't ask questions either. They were probably from her basketcase mom, or maybe Nnoitra had grabbed her. Grimmjow didn't know.

"So," he said after the waiter left their table. "I've been talking to Lucy, and an opportunity has dropped into my lap."

"Oh?" Orihime asked, her eyes lighting up. Recently when she was able to get away from Louise, she was just so grateful to have some peace that she was overjoyed by the smallest things. Grimmjow's hunch was right; Orihime's mother was becoming more and more abusive as her illness progressed. Orihime wasn't able to scrape together enough money to pay Nnoitra as fast as Louise wanted drugs. It was a cycle: Orihime would get paid, go down and get a baggie from Nnoitra, Louise would calm down and be quiet for a couple of days, then run out, then hound Orihime until she was pretty much chased from her own home, waiting for the next Friday when her piddly paycheck got deposited into her account and she could go down to Starrk's and get more of mommy's "medicine". Lately the screams would quickly turn to scratching and pinching and slapping and whatever else the older woman could do.

"I'm selling my apartment and moving down to Chicago. Lucy has a position in her company and wants me to work for her. I want you to come with me."

"Oh," she said, her eyes widening impossibly far. "Oh, well… This is really unexpected!" she said as a smile pulled at her lips. "Um, I guess I could commute next semester…"

Grimmjow smiled. "I know that living with your mom isn't the best circumstances. Chicago is a big city. She couldn't possibly find you there. You could find somewhere to work down in Chicago, like at an art gallery, while going to school. After all, you're an artist."

"That would be fantastic," she breathed, imagining a life as far away from her mother as she could. "I'll start looking right away."

"Good, this is progress. And I was thinking, since we're going to be moving down there, you can finally meet Brady. I'll probably orchestrate all of this while you're on spring break so you don't have to take classes off," Grimmjow said. He was smiling. He was happy. "I've told Brady about you. Lucy is there when I talk about you."

Her smile widened. "Oh? What do you say?" This was news.

"That you're a good person and you're fun to be around. You have a good heart. You'd help out anyone if you could. That you could be friends with anyone, even mean old Ulquiorra." Grimmjow let out a chuckle and shook his head.

Her smile faltered for a bit. "Yeah… Well he's not that mean, you know. He's friends with you and Nnoitra," she countered, her nostrils flaring in disgust when she mentioned the taller man's name. Just another reason she hated Fridays. She was worrying already. She didn't want to bring it up and dampen her boyfriend's enthusiasm, though. No, she would just keep this good part of her life separate from the shitty parts, and hope the shitty parts could fade away in time. It was the best plan she had.

"Ulq is mean. He's turned meaner since he started dating Rangiku." Grimmjow laughed again and shook his head. "I don't know what she sees in him. They're constantly hanging out."

Orihime felt like she had been slapped in the face. "They're dating?"

"Yeah. He told Nnoitra all about it. I see her leaving the shop through that door that goes to the apartment when I go in there after work."

She pursed her lips and nodded slowly. She felt numb. Nothing mattered. She certainly didn't. "Well, that is a surprise, and also not, I guess. She always acted like she was carrying a torch for him, I guess."

Grimmjow raised an eyebrow and stared at Orihime for a moment. There was some underlying emotion to her words; he couldn't put his finger on it though. "Well, maybe he finally got the message you're not interested in him and moved on. I'm just glad he's done mooning over you."

She smiled at him and nodded. "Yeah, me too." The waitress arrived then with her food and she could thank every angel in heaven for her timing. "Wow, this smells amazing!" she squealed softly, swallowing down the bitterness in her throat.

The blue-haired man liked seeing how pleased Orihime was with this news. Maybe this move was a good thing. "When is your spring break? I'm asking so I can put in my two weeks. Lucy says there's a great apartment building a couple blocks from her place."

"Wow, perfect, let me see," she said, taking out her phone. "March twenty-first to the thirtieth," she read when she pulled up her calendar.

"So around the first of March, put it in. Lucy says I should be working a week after we move in," Grimmjow stated. "Are you cool with this? You get more opportunities down there. You get away from your mom, and Ulq too."

She chuckled. "Well, getting away from Louise is a given. I haven't seen Ulquiorra since right after that conference, though. I am not the coffee runner anymore," she said, acting proud of herself.

It was true. She wasn't tasked to run coffee errands anymore. That was Charlie's job, now. She had been promoted to junior designer. It was still just a part-time job, but it paid a bit better and she had a business card and everything. She did not dare tell Louise about this, though. The money would end up in Nnoitra's pockets if she ever found out.

"Did you want to stay at my place tonight, then?" Grimmjow asked as he speared a ravioli with his fork. "I mean, you could kinda start moving your stuff in with me now. We wouldn't have to pack two places."

She dropped her fork. "Oh, Grimmjow, do you mean it?" She began to tear up. She would gladly leave her place behind. Screw her credit. Screw potentially getting evicted and having that on her record. If she could escape her mother, all of it would be worth it.

"Duh, yes, I mean it. Your mom probably doesn't contribute much. I know you're trying your best to graduate and you'll do that soon," he replied. Grimmjow smiled at her, although he felt a pull at his heart. He was making an effort to bridge the slow-growing gap between them. Louise was just one layer of this shit cake. Ulquiorra another layer. Nnoitra and his leering grins another. And yes, he was still being spiteful, wanting to keep Orihime to himself. He hadn't matured much when it came to things like that… Lucy had been right weeks ago.

Orihime wiped a tear from her eye and smiled at him. "I'll start packing tomorrow when she's at the doctor."


That night when she went to the bathroom to clean up after having sex with Grimmjow, she pulled out her phone and looked at that last text message from Ulquiorra, the one with his smiling face attached to it. She turned the shower on to mask the sounds of her cries.

He had moved on. The precious time that they had shared together had been exhausted, with no hope for rekindling.

Orihime could feel the distance between herself and her boyfriend. Tonight had been a big step in the right direction with him asking her to move in, but sex was starting to become a chore for both of them over the past month or two, and there were far fewer I love yous directed towards her.

Brady, rightfully so, got plenty of I love yous, from Grimmjow. The way her boyfriend's voice and face lit up when he talked to his son both warmed and chilled her heart. The way he spoke to his son's mother was also concerning. She understood that they needed a good relationship for Brady's sake, but seemed to Orihime that her relationship with him ought to be at least that good or better. It wasn't, though. Once again, she was fading into the background.

Her tears had slowed at that point, so she rinsed off and turned the shower off, then dried her body and took out her phone.

- I heard. Congratulations.

Her thumb hovered above the send button. Then she sighed and deleted the message. It wouldn't be fair. Ulquiorra deserved to be happy. The text would seem passive aggressive at best. So she decided on another blog post.

1.17.20

Evanston, IL, Coffee & Sadness: White Chocolate Lattes and Marshmallow Hot Chocolate

I'm not a fan of white chocolate. There, I said it. Despite my general aversion, my co-workers seem obsessed with C&S's new flavor of the month. Sadly, I don't get to visit much these days, but I do love the hot chocolate with marshmallows.

In other news, New Year, New Beginnings! I found out today that an old friend of mine is dating someone. Congratulations. (heart) I wish for your eternal happiness. This one's for you:

Here she inserted a doodle of two angry sparrows having coffee together; the one from the Coffee & Sadness logo, and another, slightly more feminine looking one beside it with a second cup of coffee.

Anyhow, here's today's playlist: Let Her Go - Passenger; Against All Odds - The Postal Service; Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division; Hard Habit to Break - Chicago; With or Without You - U2; We Don't Talk Anymore - Charlie Puth/Selena Gomez; Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins; Love My Way - The Psychedelic Furs; White Flag - Dido; Lips Like Sugar - Echo and the Bunnymen; Pictures of You - The Cure

She didn't care much if her message wasn't subtle enough. If he wanted to take her congratulations at face value, he could. If he listened to her playlist, though… Well, too late, it was posted.


Ulquiorra looked at Rangiku who was sprawled out on his couch. He glared at the back of her strawberry blonde head. What the hell was he doing? Why did she add those stupid pink highlights to her hair? He had to stop himself from sighing audibly.

Internally though… He just mentally let out the biggest sigh ever.

The same day Orihime told him that they couldn't be friends, he had waited for Rangiku in the office of Coffee & Sadness. He pounced on her as soon as she came into the door. They had sex in there. Ulquiorra was disappointed in himself, but he had to take out the hurt he felt on someone. Rangiku said it was the best experience she had ever had.

Like Ulquiorra cared.

He didn't have an explanation on the recurrences of the event or the fact that his manager now referred to herself as his girlfriend. Okay, so they were together. It wasn't like it was serious. He told Nnoitra, who spread the news to Grimmjow.

And now Ulquiorra was looking at Orihime's newest blog post. So she was the one who always ordered the marshmallow flavored hot chocolate. Then she wanted to congratulate him?

Orihime was the one who said they couldn't be friends. She was the one who turned him away. It was only right, because she was still happily attached to Grimmjow, but still… The rejection still burned.

Her entire post burned him.

Her words said one thing while her song selection said another. Which was it? Was she happy for him, or was she sad that he found someone to pass the time with?

Ulquiorra sighed.

"You're working too much," Rangiku said from her spot.

"I am not. Dating you makes me work twice as hard. You think you can laze around now," Ulquiorra stated.

"I worked until five. I'm allowed to be lazy. What time did you take off today?"

He huffed. "I didn't get much sleep last night."

Rangiku laughed. "You never sleep. Humans require more than three to four hours a night," she replied. "Do you want me to go back home? I can leave you to brood in solitude."

Ulquiorra's head whipped in Rangiku's direction. What the hell did she mean by that? He opened his mouth to ask her that question but his phone chimed.

It was Grimmjow.

- Hime and I are moving to Chicago soon. Just letting you know.

The words on his screen froze his insides, then anger overcame his senses. How fucking dare him. That asshole!

"Ulq?"

"What?" he snapped, throwing his phone onto the desk. He glared at Rangiku. "What Ran?"

"I'm leaving. I hope you get some sleep and are in a better mood tomorrow," his girlfriend said.

Oh. As fast as the emotion came on, it left Ulquiorra, and he sighed, which further deflated him. "Okay. Thanks."

"Why don't you go grab a drink with your friends? It might help you relax."

He nodded absently. "Drive safe," he said.

After he heard the apartment door close, Ulquiorra picked up his phone and read the text Grimmjow sent. He read it for a third time. Then he switched over to the last text Orihime had sent him.

It had been weeks since he had seen her. It had been weeks since he talked to her. He decided to be that asshole.

- I hear congratulations are in order for you too. I'm not the one that is going to offer them though.

He sent it off without thinking and stood up. Rangiku was right. He needed to get out of this building. Getting his stuff together, Ulquiorra made his way down the stairs, making sure his coat was closed against the icy wind and his winter hat was firmly placed on his head. He caught the bus that would deliver him to the nearest stop to Starrk's and then walked into the bar.

The dark interior and the smell of wood polish combined lemon cleaner brought back memories of Halloween and the time he sat with the redhead. It brought him back to the memory of walking her home.

"Eyy, Ulq, you gonna come in or just stand in the door?" Nnoitra called out.

Ulquiorra took off his hat and scarf and then walked to the bar, knowing what the next words out of the tall man's mouth would be. "Maker's mark please; no water tonight."


Orihime was home alone the day after Grimmjow asked her to move with him. Home, packing her things and hoping her mother wouldn't get home from her doctor appointment early as she packed as much as she could from her apartment to bring back over to Grimmjow's. She knew what would happen if she was there when Louise returned. She had still had the bruises on her back and shoulders to remind her from last time Friday rolled around and Orihime hadn't visited Nnoitra yet.

She glanced at her phone. She didn't have a lot of time. She zipped up the bag she was packing and started grabbing some things to put in a tote bag when she heard her phone chime.

Ulquiorra.

What did he mean? Did he know about the move? Why would he care? He had Rangiku to keep him warm at night. He didn't need her. He didn't miss her. Was he just being vindictive?

She sighed and sat on her bed, which now smelled like her mother. On nights when she had to stay at her own apartment, Orihime slept on the small chair in the corner of her studio. Her shoulders shook and soon she couldn't see anything that was in front of her.

Why was her life such shit? Why couldn't she just work hard and get ahead like everyone else? Why was there always all this baggage attached to everything?

She didn't hear the footsteps on the stairs.

"Orihime Louise! What the hell are you doing? Is that my stuff?"

The sharp voice pulled her out of her pity party and she blinked her eyes clear. "Mom? No, I was just going to take this to Grimm's for the weekend," she denied.

"Ha. Well, you're not going anywhere before you get me my stuff. Last time I tried to get it myself. You remember what happened, don't you? I am too tired to deal with that shit today," Louise replied, sighing as she went to the bathroom and started taking a shit with the door open.

She couldn't stand it. She absolutely couldn't stand it. "I just got paid. I'll go over there and come right back, okay?" Orihime said, completely defeated.

The toilet flushed and Louise came out. "Move your ass, then. You know how much this hurts, don't you?"

"No, mom, I really don't. I'm sorry you are sick," Orihime offered quietly as she turned to get her jacket.

She didn't get far. She felt a yank on her hair.

"YOU feel sorry for ME?! Don't look down on me, ya stuck up bitch! You think you can just coast through life with your tits and your pretty face? Get a real fucking job! I have needs! You want to know how much this hurts?!"

Orihime closed her eyes. She remembered hazelnut hot chocolate and gingerbread cookies. She thought about clove cigarettes and warm hugs and talking about art while eating Indian food. A couple of minutes later, she opened her eyes. Louise was worn out and sitting on the bed, huffing.

"Just get back soon. I can't keep doing this, Orihime."

She nodded and left. She left her bags by the front door and walked over to Starrks without looking in the mirror.


Ulquiorra was engrossed with his second drink of the night when Nnoitra got his attention. "Your lover girl is here," the tall man said in a mocking, sing-song voice. "Or Grimmjow's lover girl. Either or."

He glanced at the door and frowned as he saw Orihime walk into the bar. This was great. The one person he didn't really want to see. "Can you settle my tab?" Ulquiorra asked.

"Nah, not yet. I got business to attend to," Nnoitra replied. He didn't move though. He stayed leaning on the bar near where Ulquiorra sat.

"Asshole."

"I know. Damn. Look at her. Her mom must have went psycho. That bitch is nasty by the way. The shit she'll do for a hit..."

Ulquiorra sighed. "Would you please shut the fuck up, Nnoitra?"

Orihime walked to the end of the bar where she normally did business with Nnoitra and just stared at the surface. She didn't lift her eyes past the edge of it., at least not at first. She just waited for him to come over.

When no one came, her eyes rose slowly. Oh. Oh no. She couldn't do this. It was too much. She saw the angry glint in Ulquiorra's eyes. She saw the smile on Nnoitra's face. Of course he would be loving this.

"Nnoitra? Could you come here, please?" she asked. Her voice sounded quieter than she thought it would. She cleared her throat and called a bit louder, "Nnoitra? Please?"

Nnoitra shook his head and stayed where he was, smirking. "Your legs work. Get over here," he called back. This made Ulquiorra glare harder at him.

Orihime's eyes closed again. Her face turned red and then she opened them and walked over to where the two males stood. "Hi Ulquiorra," she said quietly without making eye contact, and then dug a bank envelope out of her pocket and set it on the bar.

"Miss Inoue," Ulquiorra said. He tried to ignore the envelope on the bartop. He tried to ignore the state of her person. What the hell was the redhead getting into that she looked like hell and was giving Nnoitra money?

Nnoitra chuckled. "You know, if you ever get tired of paying me, I got a nice spot in the backroom to do business in, Hime," the man said with a leer.

"Not in this lifetime, Nnoitra," Orihime hissed with a tiny sneer. It hurt her face to do it, with the red welts that were growing there thanks to mommy dearest, and she winced.

"Never say never, bitch. It's getting expensive to supply your habit since you want stuff that doesn't send your mom to the hospital. It's an extra twenty-five next week," Nnoitra said taking the envelope off the counter and then handing something to Orihime.

Orihime quickly took what was given and stuffed it into the inside pocket of her coat and then zipped it up, then pushed off the bar. "Sorry to disturb your evening," she said before turning to the exit. Before she got past the end of the bar, she paused and turned around. She scanned the bar; it wasn't too busy. She didn't come back to Ulquiorra and Nnoitra, instead just saying it loud enough to be heard across the bar, "If she comes in here and asks for something directly, don't give it to her. Wait for me. She… Just wait for me."

"I don't give bitches tabs," Nnoitra said. He waved her off like he usually did after their little chit chats. "Your mom pays her own way, dumbass."

Orihime's brows knit and eyes bulged. "She what?! She doesn't have any money!" she said.

Nnoitra laughed, and the way he did it made Ulquiorra uncomfortable. This wasn't his business though. "Can you settle my tab now, Nnoi?"

"No dumbass, just wait," the bartender said. He stood up straight and walked around the bar over to where Orihime stood. "Don't worry about your mom. She's not a coward like you."

Orihime scoffed in disgust and turned on her heel, marching directly into the cold night air. She felt ill. Her mother was worse than she imagined. And according to Nnoitra, she was perfectly capable of supplying her own habit. She was just using her.

She felt like she might be sick. She needed to get out of this town.


A/N: Oi... Yeah she does. Let us know what you think about these developments, and thanks for reading!