WARNING: MATURE CONTENT
Chapter 3: Breathe Again
Komamura had other surprises for him when they got to the coffeehouse. Gin was there, standing beside his mother. What the hell were they doing here? It seemed like a bit much for record executives to be at an almost nobody's gig.
He texted Orihime the address anyway, and told her what time to be there.
"Ah there's my star," Gin said, gesturing for Ulquiorra to take a seat.
He scowled as Nemu plunked an iced coffee in front of him. "Did you—"
"Yes, cream and I got you white chocolate today."
Oh. He continued to give his manager, his mother and Gin a dirty look. "This seems like overkill," he pointed out.
"You're not the only artist from Espada Records here. Perhaps you need your ego deflated," Maria stated.
"I've got to keep an eye on my personal project. Maria's here to make sure Jackie doesn't have an incident like she did last year. Of course there is that one guy… oh, what is his name…"
"Yukio," Komamura offered.
"Right, the little blond who does the amazing Dubstep." Gin smiled at Ulquiorra. It felt like a threat or a challenge.
"So here is the plan, this set is only supposed to last for half an hour. That's four songs and some talking," Komamura said. The manager looked rough and Ulquiorra kind of felt bad for him.
"Which songs? Where are Ggio and Aaron?"
Gin clapped his hands together. "That's the thing! You can pick any four songs you want. Those two are doing their own thing this morning. So it's just you."
The older adults turned away from Ulquiorra and he bit his lip. He could pick any songs he wanted? He was going to need help.
- help meeeee. Pick two songs for me to sing.
Orihime smiled at his text, still sitting on the bed in the hotel room.
- hmm, anything? Anything at all? In that case Please Forgive Me and Bound to the Floor
Ulquiorra gave his phone a disgruntled look. Please Forgive Me needed a keyboard to sound right. He sighed.
- it's just me today. Ggio and Aaron are doing their own things today. I'll put Bound To The Floor on the list. Need three more songs. I would do Please Forgive Me but…
Orihime knew what he meant.
- mmm, then your favorite. Also the easiest. Then one that you're not sure about but want to try. Sorry can't be more specific but I don't know what you've been working on lately (frownface)
The green-eyed male took her suggestions into account as he scrolled through his YouTube… He could do… No… What about… No. Ugh. He felt someone sit down across from him and he lifted his eyes up. His mother. "Hey Maria," he said.
"Oh, It's Maria now?"
"You're not much of a mom, so I figured you wouldn't want me to call you that," Ulquiorra replied and stuck the straw of his iced coffee into his mouth, not wanting to talk anymore.
"What are you working on?"
"My set list," he said with the straw still in his mouth. He didn't see the nod. "What do you want?"
Maria sighed. "I want to help you."
"Why, you dropped me, remember? I'm now at the mercy of Gin and Tosen. No thanks."
"Ulquiorra, please." Her tone made him look at her again. He could see the hurt in Maria's eyes. "I understand your girlfriend is here. I would like to meet her," she said.
He shrugged. "That's up to Orihime, not me. Do you have any suggestions on what I should do?" Ulquiorra asked. She was offering an olive branch, so he might as well try.
"Sadly, I don't. Why don't you do two covers and two songs from the album?"
Ulquiorra's mouth twisted to the side as he thought about it. "Did Ggio and Aaron really have their own gigs today?"
Maria nodded. "They have a side band all of their own. It's some kind of fusion genre that doesn't really fit with Espada Records. Ggio has a good voice, but he's not marketable material. Too short. Too arrogant. We've tried."
Oh.
"Ulq, I know I'm hardly there for you, but I am proud of what you're doing. A lot of people would have crumbled or turned to drugs and partying. I-"
He didn't want to hear this. Ulquiorra slammed the cup down onto the table. "Stop. I don't need to be upset before this happens. Do it afterwards."
He heard his mother's chair scrape against the floor and knew she had gotten up. Not even two minutes later a piece of paper was shoved onto the table and a pen thrown on top of it. He sighed as Nemu sat down. "Koma wants your setlist. Write it down."
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
"I didn't get much sleep last night," she replied, folding her arms over her chest and frowning. "The people on the other side of the wall were vocal in the early hours of the morning."
Was she saying she was his room neighbor? If that was the case, then shit. She probably heard everything. Ulquiorra avoided her gaze as he wrote down two songs. The third song was easier and he finished with Bound To The Floor.
"Something In the Way? Everybody's Free? Whore?" Nemu said and snatched the piece of paper away from him. She scoffed. "I'll take this to Koma, but don't be surprised if he comes over and talks to you."
God, she was being a bitch. Ulquiorra didn't think that they were bad songs. He knew them. He knew how change the words to make it match his gender. Nemu was probably just butthurt about the fact that he wouldn't have sex with her.
And sure enough, after Ulquiorra texted Orihime his song selection, Komamura sat down across from him, his hands folded on the table. "Kid, Nemu tells me that you've been distracted."
Distracted? Of course she would say he was distracted. He wasn't focused on her and had Orihime around. He opened his mouth to deliver a comment but the manager held up a hand.
"Look, I know your girl or woman is here. I know she's performing around the city. But this is your opportunity to make it big. You do well here, 'n maybe your ten city tour turns into a thirty city tour. I need you to focus. You've got a lot on your plate. You don't deliver and I can guarantee that you'll be back in Ohio, posting cover songs on Youtube," Komamura said. "Once this week is over, invite this Vega back to LA. Rekindle your romance there. Do not do it on Espada Records' time. Got it?"
He had to admit that Komamura was right. He needed to focus on his gigs. He wanted to focus on Orihime, though. Ulquiorra nodded. "I got it. I'm focused on music," he replied.
"I mean, get your rocks off if it helps, but I need Obscuras IV here. If you need hookers or whatever to achieve that, then go for it. Get some groupies," Koma said. "I ain't one to judge."
His band manager stood up and walked away, leaving Ulquiorra feeling slightly disgruntled. Hookers? Groupies? No, thank you.
"Hey Orihime," the tired, disinterested voice greeted her.
"What's up, Shu?"
"This show tonight. There have been some requests." He did not sound pleased about this.
"Oh? What kinds of requests?"
"Well, they want us to recreate our magic, whatever that is. No Kira or Momo or Ikkaku. Just us. They want you to wear something pretty."
"Pretty? That's vague. I generally don't wear ugly clothes." Orihime was clearly displeased by the implication.
Shu scoffed. "Also, I'm going to need you to put some makeup on me. They don't want to see my bruise, thanks to your little boyfriend."
Orihime sighed silently. "Alright. I'll bring my stuff back, and you guys can help me pick something to wear and we can fix your face."
Another scoff. "You don't have to be so mean about it, Hime. You know I like you. Would it be so hard to, I dunno, let me down a little easier?"
"I'm sorry, Shu. We talked about this already. It is what it is. Anyway, were there any other requests?"
"Yeah, they want us to do a bunch of songs. You need to get back here so we can run through them."
"I'll be there by three-thirty. The show isn't until eight. That should be plenty of time."
"Okay. See you soon, Hime."
The call ended and Orihime blew out a breath. She wasn't in the mood to deal with lovesick Shuhei Hisagi. She packed up all her stuff and grabbed Ulquiorra's rental car keys and a bite at the grocery store again, then headed over to the coffee shop.
He opened with Everybody's Free then followed it up with the OIV cover of the Local H song. Then came his rendition of Nirvana's Something In The Way. Ulquiorra had seen Orihime in the crowd and kept his eyes on her as he spoke into the microphone. This was just like performing that one time at Sado's.
"I've always liked this song and uh, someone special sang it for me… Well we performed it together," he said giving the crowd a glimpse into his life. "This is Whore."
He adjusted the strap that held the acoustic guitar and he started playing the chords. His voice sounded dark and Ulquiorra knew he was playing for one person in that room. "I'm the guy you've been thinking about. The one thing you can't live without. I'm the guy you've been waiting for, have you down on your knees; have you begging for more."
He went on with the song and still looking at Orihime. The crowd erupted into applause when he was done and Ulquiorra bowed before leaving the stage.
Komamura handed his guitar off to Nemu who was already putting it in the case. "That was good. That was great. See what a bit of focus can achieve. Gin had to leave but he said you've got this down. You're a natural. Get something to drink and I'm going to have a word with your mom."
Ulquiorra wasted no time in finding Orihime in the gaggle of people. "Hey," he said, walking up to her.
"You were fantastic!" she cheered, a huge grin on her face. "I couldn't help but notice that I was, uh, monopolizing your attention, though. May want to give the rest of the audience a taste of your love. On stage, that is." She leaned in to give him a hug.
"I tried. It was nerve-wracking up there. I mean... " He sighed and embraced her. "Uh, We've got to talk about something. Koma, my manager… He wants me to focus and says that you're a distraction. No more sleepovers, I guess, at least for a couple of days."
Orihime's face fell flat. "Is he fucking kidding? What's next, he's gonna set you up with some actual hookers?"
"I have no clue. He said he wouldn't judge me if I needed them, but you know I want nothing but you."
Orihime rolled her eyes. This sucked. "I have your car… are you going to need it today? I mean I got all my stuff out of your room, because I thought I might need something tonight, so at least there's that. Umm, oh yeah, here," she said pulling his keycard out of her wallet. She was not getting laid after all. He had promised, and she was dumb enough to let herself believe it was more than just words.
He sighed. "Orihime, this isn't my fault. My boss is here. I'm under scrutiny from all angles. Even my mother is here," Ulquiorra said. He felt bad for letting her down.
Orihime raised an eyebrow and scanned the room, sneering unreservedly when her eyes landed on Nemu, but unable to recognize Ulquiorra's mother. As she looked around, she spoke. "I get it, it just sucks. We should have done something this morning."
"Well we have time right now. I don't have that other gig until eight," he replied, putting his hands on her hips. They could totally go back to the hotel and go a couple of rounds, fucking themselves stupid.
Orihime sighed. "I have to get back to Shu. The people throwing this party have all these requests and we have to figure out how to sing them. Ugh," she groaned loudly. "What time is it now? I don't have to be there until 3:30."
"It's around two-forty. Fuck," he complained. "Do you want to make plans for tomorrow and we can meet up; hang out? I'm really sorry, Babe."
She shook her head and planted a solid kiss on his lips. "Tomorrow will have to do. Did you need your car, or can I keep it overnight?"
"Keep it, that way it guarantees I see you tomorrow," he said, before returning the kiss. "Maybe we can have a date one of these nights while we're here?" Ulquiorra didn't know how agreeable she would be to that.
"As long as it's not Wednesday, I can probably make it work. Damn it. Is there a…" Orihime's neck twisted around again as she scanned the room for the restroom sign. What was she thinking? She didn't want her first time with Ulquiorra after all these months to be in some filthy public restroom. She shook her head and looked back at him. "I love you. I should go now, or I am going to drag you to the toilet."
"I love you. And no bathrooms. You're worth more than a bathroom fuck," he said.
She gave him a hug and a kiss and turned to leave. She took a couple steps and then turned, one eyebrow cocked, "Oh, and Ulquiorra, just so we're clear, Vega frowns on hookers. Severely."
He grinned. "Okay, but where does she stand on groupies?"
Orihime used her thumb to mime the action of someone's throat being slit. "On top of a pile of their corpses, I imagine," she growled, then smacked her own ass as she turned and left.
Her disappointment evaporated slowly during her drive over to Momo and Ikkaku's neighborhood, and by the time she arrived she was in much better spirits. She bounced up to Momo's door and knocked.
The shorter woman came to the door, rubbing her eyes. "Hey, Orihime," she said in a low voice.
"What happened to you, Momo? Are you sick?" Orihime was worried. Momo seemed out of sorts, at least.
"No, I'm fine. Had a bit too much to drink then got in a fight with Shu last night. He's back over next door. I'm thinking about calling up my ex just to show him what he's missing."
"Well, that's an option. I was actually going to ask you if it's okay for me to stay with you again, Ulquiorra's band manager doesn't want me there. Apparently I'm a distraction."
Momo scoffed. "You can say that again," she said, checking Orihime's ass out in her clingy white striped skirt. "I'd do you."
Orihime gave the woman a half smile. "If I weren't all up Ulquiorra's ass, I'd let you." Orihime had to bite her lip, hard. She was way too wound up. "Anyway, is it okay if I stay?"
"Do you have any other option?"
"Not really. I could sleep in Ulquiorra's rental car."
Momo sighed and nodded.
"Thanks. Do you want to come next door while we rehearse?"
"Sure," Momo said, leading her way to the door.
Orihime had let Yumi and Momo go through her luggage and pick out something for her to wear while she and Shu rehearsed and Kira and Ikkaku critiqued them. The set list was very romantic. "Is this some kind of anniversary party or something?" Orihime asked.
"You didn't tell her?" Ikkaku squawked with laughter.
"Didn't tell me what?"
"This is a wedding reception."
Orihime's face said it all. This was not what she had in mind. Sure, she had performed at plenty of wedding receptions, but it was always lounge stuff. The problem with them is people always felt entitled to ask for performers to stay and play longer, often at a discount. Plus they had a tendency to demand songs and get upset if she didn't know them.
Shuhei saw her grimace. "C'mon, Hime. It's for this couple whose family has all these connections in Austin and there are going to be industry people there. Plus we're getting a thousand bucks each."
That changed things. "Oh," Orihime said, her eyes widening. She could use a thousand dollars. Desperately. "Why didn't you say so? Do these people also want me to go catch an armadillo and teach it to sing? Because for that much money I would consider it," she said, chuckling.
So she and Shu rehearsed. They rehearsed what they had already performed on YouTube, plus the extra numbers from the Peach Cobbler show, plus Maroon 5's What Lovers Do, Christina Perri's A Thousand Years, John Legend's All of Me, Bruno Mars' Marry You, and Unchained Melody. It was very, very cheesy, even by Orihime's standards. However, Shuhei assured her this was what the happy couple wanted.
What made it worse, though, was that Shu sang these sappy, romantic songs as if he meant every single lyric and he meant them for her. It was too much, and Orihime had a hard time getting into it, and the moments that she did, she found her mind drifting toward Ulquiorra, which made her either anxious or horny or melancholy. Yeah, they were working things out, but they hadn't done it yet. They had a long way to go. The lyrics in these songs pointed out all their shortcomings and hurts. By the time the rehearsal was over and it was time to start getting ready to go, Orihime was half glad she wasn't going back to his hotel room. It was too soon. They had almost jumped right back into the fire that had burned them up the last time they were together.
"Hey, Vega!" Orihime heard Yumichika's feminine voice call from down the hall as Shuhei was packing up equipment. She followed it until she got to the master bedroom, finding Yumi and Momo and a pile of her clothing on the bed.
"What's all this?" Orihime asked.
"Options," Yumi said, starting Orihime on a series of outfits, and finally arriving at an interesting choice: a black circle skirt that fell right below the knee and a black silk camisole with lace detailing at the top.
"You guys, this is underwear, I hope you know that."
"I know and I don't care," Yumi retorted. "It looks beautiful and delicate and elegant. Do you have a necklace or something to go with it?"
"No,I don't have any jewelry," she responded. That wasn't true; she had some really chintzy costume jewelry, but felt it wouldn't go with this ensemble.
A scoff came from Momo. "How long have you been with that loser that he didn't buy you any jewelry?"
Orihime had to think. "Um, we were only together for about a month."
"That's it?" Momo looked very confused. "He acts like you have been together for years."
"Well, we've been friends a couple years."
Yumi interrupted. "Too bad, just go without it. Do you have any black pumps?"
"No, I only have boots," Orihime answered.
"What size shoe do you wear?"
"Seven."
"Same as you, right Mo? Can she borrow some?"
Momo nodded and left to go back to her house and get the shoes. A moment later Shu popped his head in the door. "Wow."
"Wow what?" Orihime asked, her back to him, then turned around.
"Double wow. You look really… You look pretty," Shu said with a blush. "Are you ready to hide my shiner?"
Orihime laughed. "Thanks. Yeah, let's go to the bathroom, there is better light in there." She grabbed her makeup bag and followed him into the bathroom and told him to take a seat on the closed toilet, so she could reach his face more easily. In the next room, Ikkaku and Yumi were bickering and Kira was playing his guitar loudly. It was obnoxious, so she closed the door before walking back to the sink and opening her bag.
She took out a small sponge and some concealer, and started dabbing the beige concoction onto his cheek. "So, Shu, what happened with Momo? She seemed to be kind of discouraged."
Shu cleared his throat. "Um, yeah. It didn't work out. I like her, but not like… I'm not the kind of guy who is in it for just a week, you know?"
Orihime hummed and nodded. She never thought that he would be interested in something like that. "You mean you're married to Ohio? I know with your probation you have to have permission to leave, but I'm sure something could be worked out. She really likes you."
"I really like someone else."
Orihime closed her eyes for a moment, slowly releasing a breath. It was fair. She had said the same thing to him, more or less. She decided not to comment on it. "So, you're staying here then? I've been kicked out of the hotel, too. Something about being a distraction, can you believe that?" She laughed and tilted her head to see if she had hidden the bruise from all angles. There was a shadow on his face, so it was hard to tell. She took a step closer to him to check. "I'm going to have to blend this in, so let me know if I hurt you," she warned, turning her sponge over to the clean side.
Shu sighed. "So you're back?"
Orihime nodded. "Mmhmm."
Shuhei's hands came up to Orihime's waist and pulled her down to sit on his knees, their noses nearly touching. "So you're not sleeping with him?"
Orihime was in shock. What the fuck just happened? She opened her mouth to speak and at first the only thing that happened was her breath washing over Shu's face. She blinked a few times and found her voice. "No, but-"
Shu had only heard what he wanted to hear. He tipped his chin forward and that was all it took to capture her open lips in a kiss. He wasted no time teasing the opening of her mouth with his tongue.
Once again, Orihime was shocked. It took her almost two seconds before she was aware of what was happening. Then she started to flail, pulling her face back. "Shu! What are you doing?!"
He didn't let go, gripping her waist with one hand and with the other grabbing her shoulder in an attempt to keep her in place. "Don't, Orihime. He doesn't want you. I do. I'd never leave you halfway across the country. I'd never kick you out of my hotel room. Please, just give me a chance," he pleaded with her, before going in for another kiss.
Orihime actually put her hands over his mouth, since she couldn't get away. It worked; he stopped. After a moment he dropped his hands too. His eyes took on a pained expression as Orihime stood up.
"Shu, I'm sorry. I told you before and I'll tell you again. I am in love with Ulquiorra. You could be the best guy on planet earth, and it wouldn't change that. You need to respect it. I really like you. I like performing with you. We sound great together-"
"Can you imagine how we'd feel together?" he interrupted, a desperate kind of look on his face.
"No. I can't and I don't. Now please, let this go," she said, picking up her bag and leaving the room.
He had been so focused on letting Orihime down that the gig at the gay bar was almost a disaster. He missed the cues Aaron gave him. He couldn't concentrate on the lyrics he was singing. Ggio pulled him to the side.
"What the hell man? Get it together!"
"I've got it together," Ulquiorra growled back.
After the sixth song, for which he forgot an entire chorus, Komamura pulled him to the side after Ulquiorra announced a break. "What the hell is wrong with you? Focus, because you're quickly tanking," the manager bitched.
"I don't know what the hell is wrong with me. Maybe it's because I have all these people telling me what the hell to do!"
Komamura rolled his eyes. "Excuses! You're always going to have someone telling you what to do in this business. Do you need to call someone to get off? Or do you know someone who is into whatever shit you're into? Drugs? A drink? Normally I don't encourage this stuff, but you really need to get your head out of your ass, Ulq."
He huffed. He didn't need to get off. He didn't use drugs. He didn't need a drink. "Is that people's solutions to everything? You can't get your shit together so here's some substances?" Ulquiorra walked towards the bar and ordered himself a bottle of water. He couldn't have much else since he had a bold black X on the back of his hand.
"Problems?"
Ulquiorra couldn't contain the eyeroll as he heard Nemu's voice. "Why do you care? All you want to do is fuck me," he snapped.
"I do not. I want to help you," Nemu said.
"Bullshit," he stated and turned to look at her. Ulquiorra was mad. Everything felt off and it had felt that way all damn day. He glared at the stylist. "What do you want?"
"Don't get mad at me because your girlfriend won't have sex with you. You're the one who used me because your fragile little ego couldn't take being rejected," Nemu said.
Ulquiorra's eyes narrowed even more. "Wow, you want to help me? As soon as I get back to Los Angeles, I'm finding a new stylist."
"Everyone in Los Angeles is the same. They all want to fuck you or fuck you over, Ulquiorra. You're just as bad as the rest of them."
He opened his mouth and then closed it, pressing his lips into a thin line. He felt his phone buzz and turned, walking back to the stage area and behind the curtain. He slipped into the dressing room and flopped onto the couch and read the text message.
Orihime had texted Ulquiorra on the way to the wedding. She was still upset by Shuhei's actions.
- something weird happened. I don't know what do. Text me when your show is over. Good luck tonight (heart)
He probably shouldn't reply. He was too irritated. Ulquiorra did anyway, because he was worried by her message.
- The show isn't over but we're taking a break. I'm not doing so well. I can't focus. I keep forgetting words to the songs. I've felt off all day. What happened?
Orihime sighed. This wasn't the right time to tell him.
- sounds like you have bigger problems. I've got it handled so I'll tell you later. As for the focus thing, just remember what we talked about before the show at Sado's. Pick something to look at. Breathe. You're a pro. You got this. I believe in you (heart)
Ulquiorra ran a hand over his face as he watched her message pop onto his screen. He blew out a breath. The thing he had focused on was her, and Orihime was nowhere around. It wasn't her fault he couldn't focus.
- Are you sure you've got it handled? You can tell me anything, you know this. It's not like you're leaving me for another guy… Are you? My problems are big, that's true, but she was supposed to go back to LA. I have a feeling Nem is gonna be sticking around.
Hmpf. Orihime was not surprised.
- Hate to sound like Nel but she is *so desperate*. NOT LEAVING YOU. Also I don't want to further distract you from your performance. I will let you know the second anything gets out of hand again, although it shouldn't. Maybe focus on the one person in the crowd who looks like they need your song most.
It was a bar full of gay, drunk people on the prowl for something. Ulquiorra wasn't sure if there was anyone in the crowd who needed their songs at the moment. He heard a knock on the door before it came open.
"It's time," Aaron said.
When Ulquiorra got back out on the stage, he looked for the one person in the crowd that he could connect with. His eyes locked on to Nemu's. Not the most ideal person, but it had to do.
Momo sat at a table absolutely fuming as she watched what appeared to her to be Shuhei giving Orihime a private serenade in public. What was so special about the redhead? She didn't even really care about Shu. She did not seem happy to be there. Why was he so hung up on her?
She continued to sit and watch them on the pretense of playing with her phone. It wasn't until they started the Maroon 5 song that she saw it. It was the first song that wasn't totally wistful or bittersweet. This was upbeat. Fun. Orihime appeared to engage. She made a bit of eye contact with her co-performer and smiled.
Shuhei began to shine in response. He smiled and acted confident. He hit notes that he had no business singing. He loosened up. He also looked at Orihime like she was some kind of treat.
Momo has been recording the songs that she liked. Maybe she could learn a thing or two about what made Hisagi tick by watching them. Also, maybe she could convince Ulquiorra that it was in his best interests to take his girlfriend as far away from the other singer as he could, as quickly as possible. She took a still from the video, one where Shu was giving Vega a smoldering gaze, and texted it to Ulq.
- Dude. Somebody wants to eat your girlfriend. Can't you get her a room of her own or something? I'm getting cockblocked.
Thirty minutes later he got the text and scowled. What the fuck?
Ulquiorra packed his stuff into Koma's van before he texted Momo back.
- Where the hell are you? That doesn't look like a venue.
Momo got his message and rolled her eyes.
- They're playing a wedding. $$$
This made his blood boil. Didn't he tell that bastard that his girlfriend was off limits? Maybe Orihime was playing both sides of the fence. Maybe she was reluctant to sleep with him because she was also sleeping with Hisagi.
- When are you guys done there? I'm meeting you at your house. Hisagi is going to get his ass handed to him.
Momo smirked.
- we should be back in about an hour if these dipshits at the wedding don't throw more money at them. They're almost out of songs. Vega looks done with it. I'm not supposed to even be here. She begged me to come along. Wouldn't say why tho.
Ulquiorra had a feeling that the thing that happened to Orihime had to do with Hisagi. Fuck Komamura and his focus thing. Fuck Nemu and her damn offers. Fuck his mother and her half-ass apology. That was his woman, and he was going to bare teeth and snap at anyone who dared to take her away from him.
- I'm gonna get something to eat and then catch an Uber to your place. Do not tell anyone I'm coming.
And he did just that. He left the club with the manager and waited for Momo to reply.
- you got it, Hoss. I'll send you the google map with the address. Ikkaku and Yumichika should be home.
It took him thirty minutes to eat with his bandmates, and when when they left, Ulquiorra ordered the car. He then got a text from Nemu just as the driver arrived to pick him up.
- why aren't you with Aaron and Ggio? I've been waiting in your room for you. We need to talk, Ulq.
- No, we don't. I have something I need to take care of. It's urgent. Like this is a huge ass problem for me. Or it will be if I don't address it. Also… Get the fuck out of my room. I don't want to talk to you Nemu. If you want to talk about the looks I was giving you during the show there's no point. They were just me focusing on something.
He didn't get a reply back. It wasn't like Ulquiorra cared. When the car pulled up to Momo's house, he got out. The lights were on at Ikkaku's house and he saw his rental car. He decided to text Momo, just to make sure.
- You back yet?
There was no reply for about five minutes.
- on the way. At a red light. I'm driving. ETA 10-15 min
Orihime had insisted that Shu sit up front with Momo, and pretended to be asleep in the back to avoid any awkward conversation. When Momo got Ulquiorra's text and returned it, Shuhei was curious.
"Who's texting you that needs a reply while we're driving?"
Momo rolled her eyes. Now he cared? "Nobody special, why do you ask?"
"No reason. I just think it's kind of weird that you can't wait ten minutes to get home before responding when you're driving. I could have done it for you, you know."
"Uh, no you couldn't. It's private," Momo replied, slipping her phone into her left pocket.
Shuhei raised an eyebrow. "You move on pretty quickly," he said and chuckled.
"No, I don't." Momo was not one to mince words.
How the fuck was Texas so hot in the daytime but chilly at night? Ulquiorra sat on the hood of the rental car with his arms crossed over his chest, trying to conserve body heat, when a car pulled up. It had to be them. He waited for the car to shut off and the people to get out to decide what to do. He could go after Hisagi. The idea wasn't appealing to him, but he could totally tackle the guy and just start wailing on him like some kind of possessed person.
He didn't think his body would appreciate it. He didn't think Momo would like it. He didn't know how Orihime would feel about it.
The other idea involved showing Hisagi that Orihime was his. Ulquiorra would ask Momo where the room Orihime was going to use was located, take her back there and make her scream his name.
For some reason he didn't think the women would appreciate or like that.
When the car came to a stop, Orihime opened her eyes. She got out of the car and started walking toward the house before the car was even shut off. Then she saw him.
"Ulquiorra? Ulquiorra!" The frown she had been wearing melted away in an instant as she ran towards him.
He caught her by the waist and then looked at Hisagi with a deadly stare. "Momo, I need to borrow a room," Ulquiorra said. "Let me in."
Momo was more curious and amused than anything. This was going to the story-telling highlight of the year, to be talked about for many to come, she was certain. "Have at it, Ulq," she said, opening the front door. "Should we have some coffee brewing? Or would you rather we went to Ikkaku's?"
"Stick around," he said, walking past her and taking Orihime with him. Once they were inside the small house, green eyes turned to the redhead. "Which room were you using here?"
"The office, it's right here," she said, pointing at one of three doors in the tiny home. There was a bedroom, a bathroom, an office, and an open kitchen/living area. That was it. Inside the office there was a small sofa and a desk and some musical instruments. It was cramped. The sofa just barely fit Orihime lying down, but that was where she was meant to sleep.
He slammed the door shut behind him and then stared at Orihime. Ulquiorra wasn't mad at her. The anger would be directed at Hisagi later. Right now he felt like a predator, waiting to pounce on some prey. "You know why I'm here, don't you? You have to have some idea."
"Um, you missed me?" she asked, hopefully. Then a thought occurred to her. "Did Momo say something? Did I tip you off with the texts? I was trying not to be a distraction again, but… You deserve to know."
Deserve to know what? Was there more to this than she was telling him? Ulquiorra dug his phone out of his pocket and then brought up Momo's text. "Dude. Somebody wants to eat your girlfriend. Can't you get her a room of her own or something? I'm getting cockblocked," he said, reading the dark-haired woman's words. "She even sent a picture."
Orihime looked at the picture and frowned with a sickened expression. "Even after what I told him? I don't know how much more clearly I need to say it. Do I need to slap him? He tried to kiss me again today."
"He did what? Why would he try to kiss you even after you told him you didn't want him and he got punched?"
"He said that you sent me back here so that meant you didn't want me. I told him it wasn't like that but he wouldn't listen."
Ulquiorra scoffed. Irritation ran down his spine. Ugh. These assholes didn't know when to quit. "Here is what is going to happen. I'm going to finish what we started this morning. You're going to get all your stuff. I'm going to get you a hotel room at the Hyatt; if I can't you'll stay with me." He paused and stared at Orihime. "Or, I'm going to go out there. I'm going to do more than just punch Hisagi and you can stay here."
Orihime was slightly frightened. She had never seen him like this before. It was also arousing. "Do you like my dress?" she asked nervously.
"It's nice and I'm probably going to ruin it. I'll replace it, but still," he replied. "Which one do you want?"
She didn't answer, but pulled the camisole over her head and set it on the desk and then unzipped the skirt and stepped out of it and Momo's shoes. She approached Ulquiorra and went straight for his fly, kissing him as she pulled down the zipper.
He responded by pulling her closer, his hands roaming over her body. "Don't get me wrong," Ulquiorra said, breaking the kiss. "I'm still going to beat Hisagi's ass into the ground, but I'm making you mine again first."
"I've been yours since September," she purred into his mouth as she pushed his jeans down past his hips. She had no interest in being discreet about this. If this is what it took for Shu to get the message that she was with Ulquiorra, she would send it loud and clear.
Ulquiorra shuffled Orihime backwards until she was against the desk. It didn't take much for him to lift her onto it. After that it was just a matter of taking his shirt off and throwing it in the direction of the couch, toeing off his shoes and shoving his pants the rest of the way down. Just remembering everything that had happened to them already, and his need to be inside of her was overwhelming him. As he shoved the boxer-briefs down his hips, his cock sprang into view. "I know what I said. I'm not going to let some asshole try and take you away from me. I'm not going to play a waiting game to see if Hisagi wants to die if he pursues this," he growled before kissing her again. He moaned as his hips came into contact with Orihime's body. He broke the kiss, panting. "We can take it slow after he gets the message and you're in California with me."
Orihime stared hard into his eyes and nodded, adding breathlessly, "He could chase me but he'd never catch me. Not while you're in my life." Then she pushed her lips to his again, practically drinking his tongue into her mouth.
A whine left his throat as he cupped her breasts, kissing her a few seconds more. Ulquiorra wanted all of her. Not just kisses and touches. He wanted to mark her. He wanted to claim her. He had never felt this way for another person in his life. Breaking off their kiss again, Ulquiorra moved his mouth down to her neck, sucking on the skin while using his thumbs to stimulate her nipples.
Orihime had a problem; she still had her panties on. She raised one hip and then the other, trying to shimmy them down to her thighs, panting and out of breath. She could feel the blood vessels in her skin breaking under Ulquiorra's mouth and it only turned her on more. "Oh," she moaned at his touch, simultaneously feeling the damp panties slide between in inner thighs as she got them down to mid-thigh. That was about as far as she could go on her own, they were stretched as far as they would go.
He looked down to see why she was shifting around and his eyes landed on clothing stopping his progress of getting laid. They narrowed as he recognized the lacy black panties. He'd bought them for her. They probably went to a bad habit. Fuck it. He stepped away from Orihime and with both hands tore the lace from each side of her thigh, letting the now scrap of fabric fall to the floor. "That's better," he said as Ulquiorra returned to his position.
Orihime took a sharp inhale at his action and then looked into his eyes, her own twinkling with wonder. She giggled a bit and then put her hands on his body, letting her palms make contact with all her favorite parts as she craned her neck up to capture his lips again. She let her inner thighs move up and down the sides of Ulquiorra's legs as she undulated her body in a serpentine motion, changing the points of contact as she did.
He wasn't in the mood for a game of cat and mouse, and that's exactly what her movements felt like to him. Ulquiorra took Orihime by the hips, positioning her at the edge of the desk. Holding her with one hand and his cock in the other, he let the head slide against her. Holy fuck, she was wet.
He was impatient. She was impatient too, sure, but she was a little scared. It had been awhile. Ulquiorra was pretty well-endowed. She was worried she might not be ready. When his body touched hers, she whined. She was wetter than she had thought. She removed her hands from him and put them, palms down, on the desk behind her. She leaned back slightly and spread her legs further, biting the corner of her lower lip and looking up at Ulquiorra with dark cheeks and darker eyes. She lifted her knees and kept moving them apart until her soft folds parted on their own, revealing the slick pinkness underneath. Orihime closed her eyes and hissed at the cold air on the exposed skin, then reopened them. "Do it, Ulquiorra," she said in a firm voice to reassure herself.
"Do what? Fuck you hard? Remind you what it's like to be claimed by me?" he asked in a deep, lust-filled voice. Ulquiorra was still rubbing himself against Orihime and getting lost in the sensation of how their bodies felt.
"Yes. I want you to fuck me. I want you to fill me and mark me. I want him to smell you on me when I walk out of here. I want him to see the bruises and know that they're from you," she answered in a low, raspy voice. "I want to remember how it feels to be your lover."
A slow, steady breath left him as the head of his cock slipped into her. Ulquiorra's eyes rolled back and he bit his lip to keep from embarrassing himself by moaning or whimpering. He had forgotten what this felt like. He'd forgotten how good she felt against him. As he continued to press inside of the redhead, heat engulfed the length of him. Fuck, this was just like the first time they had sex. "Orihime," he murmured once he was entirely inside of her.
"Ulquiorra," she answered in a high, reedy voice as her hands came off the desk and wrapped around his shoulders. The feeling of oneness at their reunion caused her to feel overwhelmed with emotion. "Oh, god, I missed you." she said, latching onto the skin under his jaw.
Echoing the sentiment, Ulquiorra said, "I missed us. I missed this. I missed you." He grabbed her thighs as he began to draw back, once again feeling that wave of pleasure assault him. "I love you. I love you."
Orihime released his skin and choked back tears. "I love you so much, Ulquiorra. I-" she couldn't speak again before a small sob broke through. "I can't stand it. I need you. I love you. I want you and I just want to be with you. Please," she begged without filter. This was too much. Too much relief to so much pain; too much pleasure and too much hope and too much love. She trembled as she kissed whatever skin was nearby.
"Shhhh, we're going to be together," he said as he began to move with her. Already the tension was pooling in his thighs. "Touch yourself for me. I'm not going to last long."
She didn't want to. She wanted to hold him to her and in her for, well, forever. But, she didn't want to disappoint him, either. She nodded into his chest and brought her right hand down the front of his chest until it was between them where they met. She backed up enough to allow herself a glimpse of where their bodies connected. She gasped at the sight. Oh shit. She had never seen it before. The way her lips cradled his cock and the reflection of her wetness in the dim desk lamp light renewed her desire. "Fuck, that's us," she breathed as she grasped the base of his cock firmly and pulled it back into her before she started caressing her nub in small circles.
His heart about stopped. His brain didn't respond. With just that touch, Orihime broke him. Heat traveled up his cock and torso as he glanced between their bodies and her face. "Orihime. Oh God. Woman. My woman," he moaned. His pace picked up as he rocked into her body faster.
She whined, loudly, in response. "I love you, Oh." Her breathing began to hitch as Ulquiorra's movements became more and more intense. She could feel her walls heat and swell, making everything more sensitive. The movement of her fingers made her inner thighs tremble and spasm. "Ulquiorra-ah!" she called out as his cock plunged in and out of her at a punishing pace. She let her head fall back as she surrendered to his drive, letting high-pitched, feminine grunts push through her throat with each thrust.
Something fell to the floor with a thud but Ulquiorra didn't care about anything but Orihime and himself. He reached with a hand to grab her chin and kissed her, his moans becoming louder. The fire that had been at a dull roar poured through him and he felt ecstasy race down his nerves. "I'm coming," he said to her, looking at the redhead before he squeezed his eyes shut. "Fuck!"
Orihime wasn't quite there yet. "Stay in me after you're done," she ground out through clenched teeth, before taking a deep breath and holding it as she worked her fingers with more intention.
It would be a challenge but Ulquiorra could do it if he needed to. He felt his cock pulse inside of her as he continued to thrust. Even after the shocks of pleasure died down, he continued his pace, sliding in and out of her, digging his teeth into his bottom lip. "Hnnngh," he whined.
She was close. So close. "Just press deep and stay," she whispered on an inhale, then held her breath as her orgasm started to buzz through her body, starting at her toes and shoulders and vibrating its way up and down her to her core, where it ignited what felt like a bomb exploding in her belly. Her legs seized up and she finally released her breath and a loud, "Ah! Ulquiorra!" then panted as her walls started to squeeze and release his softening length and her clit burned and felt like a top spinning at full speed. "Oh fuck, Ulquiorra," she huffed after the worst -or best- of it was over. She still touched herself, though, her eyes pressed shut, and her legs jerking upward as the last of her pleasure shot through her veins, until the sensation became unpleasantly overstimulating. She relaxed her legs and let her chin hit her chest for a moment as she tried to catch her breath, putting her wet hand over Ulquiorra's shoulder for support.
His legs were shaking. Ulquiorra had to lean against her to keep from just dropping to the floor. "That-I-Jesus," he huffed trying to find words to describe what he wanted to convey.
She was still out of breath. "I… I'm dead," she chuckled.
"Same," he replied with a small laugh.
Ulquiorra tilted her face up and kissed her slowly, gently. "As soon as I recover, I'm kicking Hisagi's ass."
She reached her lips back up to his and kissed him again, this time with more fire in it. When she broke it a moment later, she said, "I know I shouldn't encourage you, but… hnngh." she leaned into his face again and sucked his bottom lip into her mouth, gently pulling on it and humming with it between her lips. When it fell out, she said, "I want you to claim what's yours."
"I want you to come back with me. Stay with me. I'll get you a plane ticket back to Ohio," Ulquiorra said, staring at her with a heartfelt expression in his eyes.
She held his gaze with tears in her eyes and nodded. She didn't want to go back with Shu. She didn't want the other man to have any false hopes. She didn't want to give Ulquiorra a hint of doubt about her. She didn't want to be without him for a second longer than she had to. "Yes."
When his lips met hers there was more passion behind it. There was no way Ulquiorra could get it up again, at least for a little bit, but the sentiment was there. "Let's get dressed and get out of here," he said with a smile.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed for a few seconds, then let go, and very, very carefully got off the desk. Her hips were sore. "Um, can you pass me what's left of my underwear? I don't want to make a huge mess," she giggled in embarrassment as her feet hit the floor softly.
Ulquiorra did as she asked, bending down, grabbing the fabric, and handing it to her. "I'll replace them," he said quietly as he watched her. "Are you okay? I didn't hurt you, did I?"
"I wouldn't say I'm hurt, just a bit sore, you know, like after you've worked out the first time in forever," she said, giving him a grin and turning around to clean herself a bit.
He went around fetching his own clothing where he had thrown and kicked it. Ulquiorra turned his back to her as he put the shirt, underwear, and pants back on. When he was done, he pivoted and watched her. "How was it performing tonight besides your human killjoy?"
She had the camisole on and pulled the skirt up her legs without underwear and zipped the side, then turned to face Ulquiorra. "Um, it was a very, very lovey-dovey setlist. It was wistful and bittersweet. It made me think about us a lot. There was one song that wasn't so serious, and that was fun to perform. He is easy to sing with. It might be the crush, but he is responsive to my cues, even if I don't really try to give them. But you know, it may just be his personality. He's kind of a collaborator type, I think. I may be more of a dictator," she said with a self-deprecating smile.
A laugh left Ulquiorra. "You a dictator? I wouldn't have guessed that at all," he teased. Walking towards Orihime, the musician drew her close and hugged her for a long moment. He breathed in the smell of her hair.
"How does it feel to have me like this again?" she asked. A small part of her was worried it might feel different.
"Truthfully? It feels like home. It feels like I'm complete. Without you, I'm nothing," Ulquiorra replied. "You?"
"Same. I've been living in limbo for months. I finally feel like I can breathe again."
"Let's grab your stuff and get the hell out of here before I decide to be more of a wrathful dick and tell Hisagi off." Ulquiorra hugged her before letting her go. "I love you, Orihime."
"I love you, Ulquiorra."
A/N: Hope you are healthy and hanging in there! Thanks for reading. Please leave a review with your feedback, getting these chapters posted is a challenge with homeschooling and juggling this new normal. Your words encourage me to make time for doing this!