Neliel pulled up to the apartments with a scowl already locked into place.

She could see him leaning against the wall, casually smoking a cigarette, not looking the least bit put off. Her eyebrows knit even tighter together, and she glared at him. How nice for him that he wasn't worried in the slightest. How nice for him that he wasn't the one to drive halfway across the county.

She took a deep breath, and shut off her car. Double checking that his card was in her hand already, she stepped out onto the asphalt.

He didn't say a word as she approached him, didn't even look at her. She returned the silence, and held out the card in front of her. He took one last, long drag, before reaching down to crush his cigarette on the bottom of his boot.

"I won't lie, I wasn't expecting you to bring it back." He smirked, but still didn't look at her.

She grit her teeth. "If you don't want it, I'm more than happy to take it back."

She'd barely dropped her arm, when his hand flashed up and grabbed her wrist. Before she could think better of it, she punched him in the face.

The heavy sound of crickets settled around them.

Neliel's fist throbbed, and her stomach tightened as neither one of them moved. Her whole body was buzzing with adrenaline, although she wasn't sure if it was in fight or flight.

His obnoxious smirk was finally gone, and she couldn't help but feel a little satisfied at the look of shock he wore. He let go of her wrist, and reached up to rub his jaw. He slow blinked, and nodded to himself.

"Fair enough."

She flicked the card at him, and walked away. She climbed back in her car, slamming the door. Her keys rattled slightly in her hand, but she couldn't shake the smile that spread all through her. Ha, take that you fucker.

The drive home was over before she knew it, her brain in a buzz. It wasn't before her door was closed and locked behind her that the tension finally left her shoulders and she took a solid, deep breath. She stared at her wrist, where he'd grabbed her so easily, his massive hand clamped around hers like a vice. She's met dozens of men whose touch had burned her skin afterwards, that she's felt the need to scrub and scrub away. Trying to scrub away her fear. The remnant of Grimmjow's hand was hot, but it didn't fill her with anxiety.

"Fuck." She laughed dryly at herself. "Fuck you." She almost regretted leaving him in such a rude way. She pushed herself back to her feet, and made her way into the kitchen, running her hands under ice cold water. She sucked in a shaky breath, and held it, counting to five before she let it back out, much more steady.

"Fucking asshole."

"What's the matter with you?"

Neliel stared at Rangiku, her eyes focusing again.

"You've been a million miles away all afternoon." Her friend frowned, reaching up to hold a hand to her forehead.

Neliel forced a laugh, "I'm fine" she brushed her away, "Just thinking about stuff."

"Yeah well, if you keep standing there all useless, you can 'think about stuff' on dish duty." She scooped up a steaming plate in each hand and left the kitchen. Neliel shook herself a little, then gathered up her drinks and followed Rangiku onto the floor.

The rest of her shift passed without incident, the afternoon a blur. Her mind continued to drift back to the feeling of Grimmjow's hand, clinging to her skin like some rabid ghost. Her stomach turned at the thought of him, but the memory refused to leave.

When the evening came, and their shifts came to an end, Rangiku and Neliel left the restaurant together. Neliel's head still swam as her friend chattered away beside her. Her day off had gone so fast, wasted away on chores and men. She didn't get a break at all.

"So…yes? No?"

Nel blinked at her. "What?"

Rangiku stuck her hand on her hip, and gave her a look. "If you don't want to chill with me, just say that, I can tell you're off somewhere else today.

"I'm not, I just— Sorry, Giku, it's just been a long day. You're right, I was not listening, tell me again." Neliel gave her a sheepish smile as an apology, which she accepted with an eye roll.

"I know, I know, we've all got those days." She sighed, "Anyway, I was wondering if you wanted to go shopping my next day off, 'cause I know you're off too. Nnoitora and I have a party something coming up, and I wanna get my dress early so then I can lose whatever weight and be the hottest one there." She stuck her tongue out with a grin.

Neliel laughed, "Yeah, actually, that sounds nice. I need tomorrow to just chill, but yeah, we should."

"Okie dokie." She replied in a sing-song voice. "I'll text you later then. I don't know what my plans are right now, but I'll let you know."

"Sounds good, I'll see you then."

They left each other, the quiet of the night settling in.

Neliel went straight home, and straight to bed. She turned her alarm off before falling into the deepest sleep she'd had in a while.

The sun was streaming in the kitchen windows, and Nel hummed as she did her dishes. Thankfully she hadn't been home very much this week, so the pile was small.

The morning had been full of minor chores well done, and she felt much more on top of her life with her house in good order. She had a shopping date with Rangiku the next day, and knew all too well that she would not have the time later.

She had just put the last plate away when her doorbell rang. She grabbed a towel, drying her hands as she made her way to the door, her slippers barely making a sound in the morning quiet.

She opened the door to find a tall, annoyed looking man in uniform.

She glanced around, but saw no one else. "Yes?

"Do you know this man?"

She blinked as a photo was shoved in her face. The man was gruff and rude, and she was immediately annoyed. She leaned back a little to get a good look at the small picture.

Grimmjow Jaggerjack was captured in perfect detail, staring over his shoulder from the middle of a crowd of blurred out faces.

Neliel frowned at him, and then looked up to take in the man who came asking. He was thin and broad shouldered, even a little taller than Grimmjow himself. He was dressed all in black, with long red hair that was pulled back into a ponytail. He was wearing a headband, but Neliel could see thick, black tattoos that decorated his forehead. He reeked of suspicious energy, and she found herself not wanting to tell him a a damn thing.

"I might have have seen him before. Why?" She leaned against the door frame, continuing to dry the soap from her hands. She met the man's glare with her own, and raised an eyebrow. "Who's asking?"

He ignored her question, and tucked the photo away. "If you see him again, call this number." He handed her a card with a clean printed phone number, but no name to match.

Her eyes flicked from the card to him again. "I think I would, if I knew who I was calling. Or at least why I'd be reporting him." She reached out to take it.

He opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, but then seemed to think better of it, and closed it again.

"Just know that he's dangerous."

She thought for a moment. She could have told anyone that. And as annoying as the strange man was being, she still wondered what for.

"Are you the police? What is he wanted for?" She asked him, keeping her tone steady.

The man was already turning to leave, "You can trust us. Remember to call that number as soon as you can."

Neliel was burning with more questions, but she didn't want to spend any more time sharing space with the rude stranger. She closed the door behind herself, studying the little card. It was crisp, official looking paper. There was no mark or decoration besides the phone number. She set it down on a small table, and went back to the kitchen to return the towel to its place.

She stilled as a creak sounded through the quiet house. In her bedroom directly above her, the floor squeaked again.

The house filled with a heavy quiet as she stood, motionless, listening.

She slowly hung up her towel and took her frying pan from where it hung at the edge of her cabinets. The cast iron was heavy in her hands as she tiptoed to the stairs. Her slippers cushioned her steps, and she crept up to the second floor, stopping to listen every so often. No other noise came, and the farther along she went, the more she was convinced it was nothing.

Her bedroom door was open, just the way she'd left it. She tightened her grip on the iron pan, raising it up in front of her in case she actually needed to use it. She crept closer and peeked around the corner, scanning the whole room. Empty. Just as she thought.

She sighed, feeling a little silly as she dropped her arms, and went to close her window. Just as she was about to toss the pan onto her bed, she paused. Hadn't she been sure to close her window? A creak behind her sent a shiver up her spine, and she whirled around and swung the heavy pan with all her strength.

The iron connected hard with a body, and a clang shook all the way up her arms. The intruder stumbled back with a groan, but Neliel was already swinging at them again.

"Ow, fuck! Damn it woman, stop!"

The pan cam to an abrupt stop as a powerful hand clamped around it, stopping Neliel dead swing.

Her heart was hammering against her ribs as Grimmjow stood still for a moment, holding his head.

"What the fuck." He groaned, glaring at her. They were both breathing hard, but as soon as she recognized him, the tension dissipated quickly.

"'What the fuck'? That's all you have to say? What the fuck, me? What the fuck, you! What are you doing in my house!?" She gave him a chance to reply, although she was already certain of the answer. "I don't suppose this has anything to do with the creepy ass cop at my door asking about you?"

His eyes flicked up at her, and she caught a look of nervousness.

"Jesus. I get the feeling that I don't want to know." She rubbed her own temples, more in annoyance than pain. "I was really just hoping to have one day to myself."

She stomped out of the room, pausing at the door. She looked back at him, where he was watching her with an odd look.

"What."

His scowl wore more of a conflicted look. "I wasn't trying to scare you. I didn't know it was your house." His eyes darted up. "I was just— I was hiding."

He frowned, refusing to look at her. "What did he say?"

Neliel stared at him for a moment, basking as he looked uncomfortable in the silence. As much as she didn't particularly like Grimmjow, she could tell he was, in his own way, afraid of that cop. Or at least of what the cop knew. That was something she could understand.

"Nothing I didn't already know." Her voice was much softer than she'd intended it to be, and he also looked surprised at how gentle it had come across. She immediately frowned, now the one uncomfortable in the silence.

She whipped around, "He said that you're a bastard and that I should stay away from you."

She took a few steps, but leaned back when he didn't follow. "Come on then."

He looked up at her, his face blank.

"Since you're already here, you might as well have a drink or something. I kind of owe you after the whole thing with Starrk." She rubbed her neck sheepishly, "And for hitting you in the head."

He just blinked.

"Oh my god, do you want to come down or not?"

Whatever stupor he was in vanished and his eyebrows knit together, the Grimmjow she knew quickly resurfacing. "Would you shut up!" He stomped after her, "I'm coming, aren't I?"

She huffed away, muttering to herself, "Keep being an asshole, and I'll actually call that number".

But quietly, she knew she would not.