Chapter 3: Going with the Flow


August 21st, 2014

He couldn't work. He couldn't cook, or clean, or exercise or go outside for any decent amount of time, he had to take pills and get shots and lay in someone else's bed all day. And to top it all off, Ichigo had bought him new clothes. The right size. 3 full outfits.

He wanted to strangle the man.

Or kiss him.

He probably wouldn't decide until he got close enough.

It came to a head at the end of his first week at Ichigo's. He'd gotten off earlier than normal in exchange for a full shift on Saturday, and had decided to order pizza.

"Just let me cook!"

"Grimmjow, you can't-"

"I am not useless!" He yelled, standing up. He felt a faint stab of pain, but grit his teeth and stood up straight. "Stop treating me like I am!"

"If you can make dinner with what's in that kitchen, then get in there and start waving your wand!" Ichigo snapped at him. "Considering there's a gallon of milk, some butter, and a couple cups of instant noodles, I won't hold my breath. I have enough for pizza tonight, and I get paid tomorrow. Now sit down and shut up for a moment."

He sat down, feeling like an idiot. Ichigo sounded very tired, however he tried to mask it. Working full time was hard enough, without having to take care of Grimmjow on top of it. And it was going to start to hurt financially soon too, once the medical bills started to roll in, and getting food for two. He needed a job.

"You should let me coming shopping with you." The words were out of his mouth the moment Ichigo hung up. He hadn't really meant to say it.

"Uh...why?" Ichigo was giving him a funny look, and he fought down a blush. He had done more than enough blushing lately.

"It's cheaper to cook at home than eat out all the time. And healthier than cup noodles."

"Right...you cook?"

"Um, yeah. A little bit." Ichigo looked like he wanted more details, but rather than asking, just shrugged and threw himself down on the couch alongside Grimmjow.

"Wake me up when the pizzas here." And to Grimmjow's surprise, Ichigo proceeded to actually fall asleep.

He paid for the pizza without waking him. Ate a couple slices without waking him. And went to bed without waking him. Reheated pizza tasted just fine, and Ichigo needed to sleep. Let him yell about it tomorrow.


August 22nd, 2014

After the third 'no, this aisle', Ichigo had given up following directions. Grimmjow wanted to come along so badly, he could lead. The limp in his walk was barely noticeable, and if it hurt, he gave no indication. Kisuke had to sign a release for Grimmjow to work again, but he didn't need anything to help out around the apartment.

He hadn't told Grimmjow how well he actually knew the doctor-or 'quack', as Grimmjow was fond of referring to him (not that he blamed him). The eccentric doctor had moved here from Karakura only a few years before Ichigo had, and yet had owned shares of both the apartment complex and hospital. Not controlling shares, but enough that he was pretty free to do as he wanted. He had no idea how Kisuke did it. All he'd seen of the man was him running an-by all appearances- unsuccessful candy shop.

"So you...actually cook?" Grimmjow looked over at him. He seemed more hesitant than confused.

"I guess?"

"I mean, I can make, like, pancakes or…" Grimmjow reached for something else. "Spaghetti. Basic stuff." He glanced at the cart. "Not what you're getting." The cart had little in the way of anything he'd ever used. Vegetables, fruits, meats and seasonings. Things that would require actual cooking ability to do anything.

Grimmjow shrugged and didn't say anything.

Right when Grimmjow seemed finished, he came to an abrupt halt, forcing Ichigo to do the same.

"You...do have cooking stuff, right? Pots and pans and everything?"

"Uh, yeah, I should. A friend gave me a set when I moved."

"Really?"

"Well, I mean, most of it's still in the box, but-what? At least I moved out of my parents house!" Grimmjow's face turned an angry shade of red to match Ichigo's.

"I wasn't aware I was still living with them!"

"Not the same thing, and you know it!" Ichigo said with an air of finality, remembering they were in a public place. Grimmjow rolled his eyes and pushed the cart toward Ichigo, who took it and moved toward checkout.

$85.00 wasn't a bad total, provided Grimmjow could deliver on edible food. The cashier had seemed almost impressed that they were buying food to cook, but then again, she might've just been impressed by Grimmjow.

Dinner that night was just a couple of lightly seasoned steaks, but it was good. He'd had enough of listening to Grimmjow scoff at every pan he had to pull out of a box, and had turned the TV up as loud as he could without setting off his neighbors.


August 24th, 2014

"Please let me work."

"Hmm…" Kisuke poked his side a few more times without saying anything.

"I'm going to go insane!"

"Do you have a job waiting for you?"

"Well-no, of course not, but I can't even go looking unless I get cleared."

"Cleared...by me...hmm…"

Grimmjow bit back a groan. "Yes...by you."

Kisuke seemed to be deep in thought now. "What would make me clear you…"

"You could just admit I'm able to work?"

"No, no...not that. Besides, you technically aren't. Stomach still has a hole in it, even if it isn't that large. Ah!" He clapped his hands together. "Would you stop calling me quack?"

"Probably...not."

Kisuke nodded. "I appreciate your honesty. Why do you want out so badly? Aside from claustrophobia."

"I don't have claustrophobia, wanting to work isn't weird, and-well, Ichigo's going to end up broke or he's going to run himself into the ground if he has to keep paying everything by himself."

That was what he'd wanted to hear. And Grimmjow was absolutely right, too. It didn't matter that they barely knew each other-indeed, Ichigo didn't even know Grimmjow's last name. A peek into his file had revealed the name Grimmjow gave was his mother's maiden name. He'd honored Grimmjow's request not to contact his family, but he doubted Grimmjow had thought to clear it up with Ichigo.

"I'll clear you on one condition." Grimmjow looked apprehensive, but motioned for Kisuke to continue. "Stay with Ichigo. For at least a year."

Grimmjow blinked. "...What?"

"You may not be thinking about it right now, but you are absolutely the type to jump ship the moment you think you could afford your own apartment. Don't. Stay with him and pay your bills."

Grimmjow eyed him cautiously. "Until his lease is up?"

"No, no, that's the end of this year. But I'm sure by that time the two of you could find a nicer apartment."

"...why?"

"Because A, I feel you have a reasonably lower chance of getting stabbed again if you stay with someone, B, You'll be able to pay off your bills faster if you're only paying half the rent, and C, I think it would do both you and Ichigo good."

Grimmjow crossed his arms and scowled at him. "Would do Ichigo good, you mean?"

"And why do you say that?"

"I had to pull out nearly an entire dishware set just to cook a couple of steaks."

"I don't mean his cooking ability, though I appreciate that you seem to have some. He'll work himself to death whether he has extra bills to pay or not. He doesn't know what else to do."

Grimmjow was curious now. "What do you mean?"

"He won't tell you that, of course," Kisuke said, deciding a flare for drama wouldn't be harmful, given the situation. "But it's true. Boy doesn't know what he wants out of life. If he had any amount of free time-if he didn't have to keep working just to afford living-I think he might turn out better. More than just a cog in the machine, you know?" Grimmjow did seem to understand, but Kisuke also suspected the man found him long-winded. "So, do we have a deal?"

The blue-haired man sighed. "He could kick me out, you know."

"And if he does, then that's what happens. But I will know if you drive him to kick you out on purpose."

"I-alright. Like I've got anywhere else to go." Kisuke offered him his hand, and after a seconds hesitation, Grimmjow shook.

"Glad to hear it."


August 26th, 2014

"Believe it or not, getting a job is not as simple as saying 'please.'"

"Shut up!"

Ichigo leaned back on the couch and stretched, yawning. "No. I'm kind of enjoying this." Grimmjow glared at him. "Have you had a job before?"

"Of course I have!"

"Did a family member hire you?"

Grimmjow opened his mouth, closed it again, then said "Well...yeah…"

"I'm not surprised."

"I gathered that." Grimmjow turned to face Ichigo, scowling. "Why is that a bad thing?"

"It's not," Ichigo said. "Just it's obvious you've never actually applied for a job. They don't get back within the hour, you know. And if you keep pacing, you'll ruin the carpet."

Grimmjow sighed and flopped down next to him. "I suppose that means I can't rely on how the interview went either?"

"He probably asked the same questions, just-"

"He fell asleep halfway through."

"Oh." They were quiet for a moment, before Ichigo stood up and walked over to the kitchen.

"Hungry?"

"No," Ichigo said thoughtfully, picking his phone up. "Just...had an idea."

Grimmjow watched him walk past, quickly realizing this plan involved him. "You uh, wanna tell me about it?"

The door opened. "Wasn't planning on it!" Ichigo called back. The door closed.

Oh boy. Grimmjow thought. I better get some sleep.


August 27th, 2014

Ichigo said nothing during the car ride, not where they were going or what they were doing. Grimmjow didn't ask, either. At some point during the events of this month he had just given up pushing back against whatever Ichigo wanted him to do.

That being said, Grimmjow felt uneasy about being taken to the mall.

"You better not be taking me on a shopping spree," He growled as they walked through the doors.

"Don't be ridiculous," Ichigo said, waving an airy hand. "I won't be spending a dime. They insisted."

"Good-wait, what? Who insisted? Ichigo, where are you going?"

"Be back after work!" The orange-haired man said breezily as he walked back through the doors.

"So, you're Grimmjow." He froze, and turned around slowly, to find a short, raven-haired woman examining him. "Even if the dye is wearing out, the blue hair is a giveaway."

"You know what shade that is, Nanao?" A woman with long red-hair and ill-fitting shirt asked another black-haired woman, who nodded.

"I think so."

"Good, because I bet it looks good when it's full."

The short one pulled at his shirt. "It was nice of Ichigo to get you some clothes, but the man has no fashion sense. You'll never get a job looking so...ratty."

"Excuse me?" Grimmjow was offended, before remembering his priorities. "Who are you, anyway?"

"I'm Rukia, that's Nanao, and the one who doesn't know how to wear clothes is Rangiku."

"I know how to, but I get discounts and tips this way. Don't be jealous."

"We all work here, and we're all friends with Ichigo," Rukia finished, pretending not to hear Rangiku.

"Right...nice to meet you, and all, but what are you doing?" Rangiku abruptly swooped down on him, throwing her arms around his neck and dragging his head uncomfortably close to her cleavage.

"It's makeover day!"

"No."

"Too bad!" Rangiku said, and began dragging him along with her.

"Let him go," Rukia snapped, and Rangiku, pouting, did. "In all seriousness, we are trying to help. It's easier to get a job if you look more presentable."

Grimmjow rubbed at his neck. "Right...but-"

"Pay us back later if it means that much to you," Rukia said, rolling her eyes. "But this is going to happen."

Grimmjow realized that short of running full speed the opposite direction, he wasn't getting away from this. Tempting as that option was, he needed a job.

"Fine."

"Great! So, Nanao is a hairstylist, I work at one of the clothing stores, and Rangiku is...good at talking to people. So between the three of us, we should be able to cover everything. We also know all the places in the mall that are hiring."

Grimmjow looked at Rangiku. "I'm not sure her brand of...talking, to people, necessarily transfers well."

"First of all, I am actually good at preparing people for interviews. I helped Rukia get her job. Second," She placed a hand on his chest. "You might be a guy, but trust me hun, you've got plenty to work with."

"Right…"

"I know this is probably painful for you Grimmjow, but the sooner we get started, the sooner we're done."

Grimmjow sighed, and nodded. "Alright."

"Then let's go!"

.

.

"Stop touching my chest!"


Chapter titles are hard. :s

Thanks for reading!