August 27th, 2014

Grimmjow collapsed on a bench near the doors, feeling positively harassed. His hair was freshly died, though the hairspray was coming out, and the spikes were drooping. He couldn't help but feel it was an accurate image to go along with his current exhaustion. He'd been at the mall for nearly 7 hours, which he'd decided-about halfway through-was more than any rational person ever should, bar the people who worked there.

He checked his watch.

Ichigo should've gotten off a half-hour ago. He wasn't sure where he worked, but doubted he was that far away. He hadn't gotten a chance to check the time in all the chaos. Nanao had disappeared not long after seeing to his hair, apparently having to take care of her boss, but Rangiku and Rukia had dragged him to every location in the mall, from the restaurants, to the day-care, even though he told them there was no way in hell he was working at one of those.

It had only taken so long because many of the mall managers were interested in him for seasonal work, which wasn't necessarily encouraging. It was early for seasonal hiring, but the girls said many of the managers were looking to have more experienced workers around for the holidays, so they wouldn't have to go through the chaos of staffing right before the holiday season. It was logical thinking, but also meant he would likely be one of the first ones to go come the new year. He'd had multiple interviews after being stuck into a suit by Rukia-who was far stronger than she looked-and thought they'd gone decently enough, though he felt the women dragging him around might've counted against him at some locations.

Lunch had been an hour of hell at Rangiku's work, where they faked up a resume for him despite his protests. He hadn't had serious work before-some seasonal stuff, and he wasn't willing to admit to working at his father's company. The last thing he wanted was his parents getting a reference call for him.

Both Rukia and Rangiku had promised to support his application at their work, and he hadn't decided whether that was a good thing or not. They meant well, and were nice, if pushy and overbearing. Working at a restaurant appealed to him more, but he knew, if given the choice, he would work with Rukia at the clothing store instead. He'd learned the hard way today that overexposure to Rangiku Matsumoto was best avoided.

He was waiting on the bench by the same entrance they'd come through, now alone.

He checked his watch again.

Ichigo was getting increasingly late, and he had nothing to entertain himself with. Now that he thought about it, he didn't have anything aside from what he was wearing, and the old clothes in the bag at his feet.

And these clothes are Ichigo's, too. He nudged the bag with his foot. Sure, the clothes were for him, but he hadn't bought them. He still didn't understand why Ichigo had seemed to drop everything to take care of him. He wasn't so stubborn as to not be grateful, but there was a line between giving a stranger a ride and inviting them into your home.

He heard the sound of the last shutter being pulled down, and looked up to see a mall security officer approaching him. Before the man had a chance to say anything, Grimmjow stood up.

"No problem. I'll get going."

"We can wait a few minutes if-"

"It's fine. Not that cold out yet." He grabbed his bag and walked toward the door, the security officer following him with keys.

"You waiting for a ride?" The man asked at the door, and Grimmjow nodded.

"He's late, but he'll show up."

"Got a way to contact him?"

"Nah. But I'll be fine, really." He caught sight of the security officer staring at his bag, and raised it up to eye level. "It's clothes."

The man reddened. "I-I didn't-"

Grimmjow walked out the doors without a backwards glance. He supposed he might've been suspicious in the other man's shoes, but couldn't help but feel the suit should've given him some credit.

He spent another 10 minutes waiting at the base of the parking garage before Ichigo pulled in. The man didn't even notice him, driving right past and into a parking spot. Grimmjow got up and followed him, reaching the car as Ichigo got out.

"Did you get hit by a car on the way here?" He asked, grinning. Ichigo looked like he'd had a worse day than Grimmjow in every way.

"No, no. I'm sorry-"

"Relax, I'm fine." Ichigo didn't relax, but got back into the car, Grimmjow walking around to the passenger's side and getting in.

"The closer called in sick, because of course he did, and Lord knows no one else could possibly stay. Who cares if I have somewhere to be?"

"Well, that's what happens when you're a giant pushover."

Ichigo started the car. "I am not!"

"Oh, yes you are. You'll do anything if someone asks. Or if they don't. Or if they don't even want help."

"Right," Ichigo said dryly, clearly not missing the point. "Next time someone's freezing to death or dying of a stab wound, I'll just tell I'm taking some 'me-time'." They backed out of the parking garage and left.

Ichigo's car wasn't nice. Grimmjow couldn't help but notice, even if it made him feel petty and more than a little spoiled. Ichigo didn't seem to have anything that was particularly nice. The apartment was kept well enough, but showed it's age. The car was small, beat-up -though Ichigo had said it had been pre-owned, and he'd never gotten in an accident-and the paint was wearing off. Most of his clothes were old, and his work clothes were always either in the wash or being worn.

It drove Grimmjow crazy, though he tried to hide it. He didn't know Ichigo as well as he should, but he knew that if he said anything the other man would take it the wrong way. It didn't bother Grimmjow that the apartment was old or the car was old or that Ichigo, by all accounts, was rather poor. What drove him crazy was all that and the fact that Ichigo was still paying his medical bills!

Grimmjow slumped in his seat, failing to hold in a sigh.

"I can't imagine getting harassed by Rukia and Rangiku all day is that much different than getting harassed by customers," Ichigo said. "Have fun today?"

"You're evil, and should've warned me," Grimmjow grunted. "But...thanks."

He caught sight of Ichigo's smile, and looked out the window of the car. The streets were dark, but he could make out the apartment complex from here.

He didn't think he'd ever call it 'home' but…

It was something.


September 4th, 2014

"You really can't get anyone else? I've just worked 6 days in a row! ...yes, I know it's early, but just because I'm the only you managed to wake up by calling them doesn't mean-So try again! I'm tired, dammit! … I don't drink coffee, for the hundredth fucking time-Yeah, I'm mad!"

The conversation went on for some time as Grimmjow stared at the ceiling, idly wondering if Ichigo was aware he'd woken him up. He was also wondering if the exchange had or would wake up anyone else in the complex.

"Oh my God, fine. But if you try to go home first, I'll send you there in a bag."

Beep

"Hard to make hanging up satisfying with a cell phone, isn't it?" Grimmjow asked through a yawn.

"Ah, shit, I'm sorry."

Grimmjow shifted so he could look at Ichigo.

"You're a foul mouth in the morning,"

"Oh, shut up." Ichigo put his phone down and went to fill a glass of water.

"Just generally rude, then."

"It's not even 6 am. I have a right to be...grouchy."

Grimmjow grinned slightly, and Ichigo looked away, cheeks going red.

"Do you really not drink coffee?"

"Eh? No, why? I mean, you don't."

"That's because you happened to catch me near the end of one of my mother's moods. She'd randomly ban caffeine from the house for a while, and yell at us if she caught us with any. Always went back though. I figured you just got coffee at work."

"Not everyone in the world drinks coffee."

"Everyone should."

"I'm going to go get ready for work now."

"Want any help?"

"Want to keep both of your eyes?"


Grimmjow shivered slightly as the mall came into view. It was going to start getting a lot colder soon. He was going to have to figure out a bus route. And a bus pass. And...money.

He couldn't but feel that books and movies made building yourself up from nothing seem a lot simpler. Not easier, but less head work, and they got to skip over all the waiting.

He was beginning to haunt the mall now, forced to accept Rangiku's offers of lunch if he wanted to eat. He was sure Ichigo would give him money if he asked, and was equally sure he would never ask that man for anything again, if he could help it.

Today, though, he was going to swallow his pride. Today, he had a mission.

He tracked Rukia down while she was helping a customer, and waited a respectful distance away. The man she was helping was apparently shopping for someone else, and he could tell they'd been at this for a while. When the man finally left, thanking her, Grimmjow walked over as she leaned against a nearby pole and sighed dramatically.

"He might be a good boyfriend, but he is terrible with numbers," She said. "I had to guess the size of the clothes from a picture of his girlfriend."

"Not Christmas shopping already?"

"I don't think so. Though I will say, if he is, I don't think that girl will ever have to worry about him forgetting an anniversary."

"Or maybe she does," Grimmjow countered. "Maybe his memory is so bad that he buys presents this early because he's certain he will forget." Rukia laughed. Her job normally had her wandering the story, fixing displays and helping customers, so she had time to talk to Grimmjow. They'd struck up a quick friendship over the week, generally enjoying each other's company.

"So, what dragged you out here? I hope you're not checking on your application. Checking in every few days might be dedication, but four days in a row is annoying."

"Nah, and now I'd rather you not mention I was here. I was going to ask you a favor."

"Oh?"

"I was hoping to borrow some money."

Rukia's eyebrows shot up. "You are asking for money? What on earth is so important?"


Ichigo all but fell when he got in the door, and Grimmjow actually stood up from the couch, looking concerned.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Just tired."

"You were gone for-"

"For an entire opening shift, yes. On the bright side, Ikkaku has to cover for me tomorrow or lose his job. And he's not that dumb."

"Oh." Ichigo looked up at the disappointed tone in Grimmjow's voice.

"What?" He asked suspiciously.

"Nothing, nothing."

"That's not convincing. You're lucky I'm too tired for this." He slipped off his shoes and walked over to the kitchen, his throat a little dry. It wasn't until mid-drink that he noticed the new addition to the room.

"Grimmjow..."

"Yes?" The man asked innocently.

"What is this?"

The blue-haired man gave him his biggest grin.

"A coffee pot."

For the record, I don't drink coffee.

Also on the record; I'm terrible, and my life is a mess. This thing was done for a few days, but I fell asleep without uploading it, and then thought I'd uploaded it.

And then I almost clicked out without uploading this again.