A/N: Whew, it's been a while since I updated Stray… Ahaha… and I seriously have no other excuse for that except that I was too focused on finishing Catwalk… anyway, with the poll over there about my next multi-chap fic still on-going, I thought I'd put in something for this…
Anyway, the time setting for this is just after Grimmjow is reinstated as Sexta Espada. Oh yes, I'm finally doing another proper Hueco Mundo setting… or close to it anyway.
I got the concept from the novel 1984 by George Orwell, where 'Big Brother' watches over everything that the citizens of his country (Oceania) do. Basically, the Two Minutes Hate in there is a regularly scheduled 'activity' where the enemies of Big Brother's Party are presented on screen and the people more or less express their anger towards the so-called enemies, usually with shouting and a tad bit of er, violence (throwing things and the like).
So. I thought of Aizen. The Espada. And (in this fic's timeline) the upcoming war against Seireitei.
From G to U
"How're thing's goin', Aizen-sama?" a silver-haired man asks as he enters the Monitoring Room, an Arrancar following close behind him pushed a trolley with two mugs and a teapot on it.
"Gin," the ex-fifth division captain acknowledges as he turns around the chair, chocolate eyes landing on his right-hand man. "How kind of you to join me here today…"
"'S nothin'," the fox-faced shinigami replies as the Arrancar that followed him finished pouring the tea on the two mugs and promptly left the room, closing the door as it did. "So, how's today's session brewin' about, hn?"
"It's going perfectly, as expected," Aizen answers, standing up to take his mug of tea and sipping on it.
Meanwhile, Gin peers through slit-like eyes at the widest screen of all which featured the Espada and their Fracción congregated in the Meeting Hall. Instead of lounging on their usual seats, however, Aizen's strongest ten were mostly standing up, eyeing a drop-down TV screen with loathing.
Shinsou's wielder gave a small whistle as he stood back to watch the more or less rampaging members of their army. "Ya sure got 'em fired up for the war," he commented, shifting soundlessly to stand near his Captain.
"Preparation is a must, isn't it?" Aizen replied with his usual smile, setting down his mug.
"They sure look like a bloodthirsty lot," Gin stated in a tone of approval.
From G to U
"We will destroy Aizen Sousuke. Defeat him and monstrosities that he has created with the Hougyoku."
An ancient voice boomed in the closed room, echoing eerily as the image of a wizened man on the screen moved his lips in time to the resounding words.
Meanwhile, on the ground, a number of the Espada and their Fracción were growling at the Shinigami Commander-General's image. Shouts of outrage contested the old man's booming voice.
"-things like that should never have been brought into existence–"
"I REFUSE TO LISTEN TO YOUR BULLSHIT! DROP DEAD!"
"FUCK YOU, YOU OLD GEEZER!"
Mila Rose and Apache had taken it upon themselves to voice out their superior's thoughts. Halibel was standing just behind her subordinates, arms crossed as usual but with a piercing look of hatred etched upon the visible features of her face. Her black-gloved fingers gripped the white sleeves of her own arm tightly, attempting to keep herself in check; how could she reign in her fracción if she herself didn't show any composure? Sun-sun, for her part, kept quiet for once not bothering to silence her fellow fracción; the same boiling anger visible her eyes as she looked at the lined face on the screen with strings of expletives running along her mind.
"-put them in line. Those barbarians must not be allowed to run amok."
"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME AS SUCH? ME, BARRAGAN LUISENBARN! THE GOD-KING OF HUECO MUNDO!" The Segunda Espada's gravelly voice challenged the booming speakers. "YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A FILTHY RAT, SHINIGAMI! BOW DOWN TO ME!" Barragan's fracción were not far behind in exalting their master.
The image on screen changed, now showing flashes of other Shinigamis in their black uniforms. Some of them were donning white haoris, while one other is donning a pink one along with a straw hat.
At that, more roars of outrage and a couple more expletives filled the room. Almost, but not quite, drowning out the First Division Captain's steady voice, which now acted like a voice-over.
"What a lame bunch of eyesores!"
"You can't fucking defeat us!"
"Dream on, bitches!"
"Come on here right now and I'll show you who's boss!
"Go to hell you bastards!"
"But… technically speaking, Hueco Mundo is hell…"
"Who fucking asked you, pinky?!"
Before the Octava Espada could snap back a reply to the wielder of Santa Teresa, a much louder voice broke through.
"YOU! YOU GOD DAMNED MOTHERFUCKING PIECE OF SHIT!" Grimmjow Jeagerjaques' voice rose above the rest as the image of an orange-haired shinigami substitute showed up on the television screen.
"I'LL TEACH YOU TO LOOK DOWN ON ME!" the Sexta's voice was raging, his sapphire eyes burning with hostility at the teenager on screen. "I'LL FUCKING RIP YOU APART, ASSHOLE!"
The rest of the room was still shouting but the aqua-haired Espada's voice was by no contest the loudest of all.
Pale blue brows were creased and his right hand had actually drawn out Pantera.
"TAKE THIS, FUCKING SHINIGAMI!" Grimmjow had just raised his right hand, his body shifting into a position of propelling his sword towards the screen, most probably aiming to destroy it when a beam of green-hued cero beat him to it.
All sounds ceased as the television screen burst apart with the cero's impact. The screen was now nothing more than some sparking wires and what few scrap debris scattered smoking on the white floor. All Arrancar present seemed to be momentarily speechless, as though they've broken out of a trance.
Slowly, Grimmjow, with his whole raging composure dissolved, turned to face the source of the green cero; because, really, there was no other suspect.
Sitting on his usual seat at the meeting table meant for Aizen and his Espada was Ulquiorra Schiffer. The Cuatro Espada faced the others with his own right hand raised, his pointing finger standing out and directed at the now non-existent screen. A mien of distaste took over the usual indifferent expression that was etched on his pale face.
"Manwhore."
Pairs of eyes widened at the uttered statement. Not only was it their first time to hear such a term but it was their first time to hear anything close to obscenity pass the Cuatro's black and white lips. In fact, everyone present could have easily shrugged it off and passed the blame to some other Arrancar if not for the fact that they saw Ulquiorra say the word with their very own eyes.
Seemingly content, Ulquiorra took hold of the teacup that was previously resting on the saucer he held on his left hand and took a sip of tea, subsequently turning his chair to face the table once more.
With his anger rising again, the Sexta Espada forcefully sheathed his blade before he roughly marched towards the dark-haired Arrancar. Everyone else appeared to be frozen on their respective spots.
"What the fuck was that about, Ulquiorra?!" Grimmjow spat as he placed a hand on the back of the chair and robustly turned the furniture around, forcing the pale-skinned Espada to face him.
Cool green eyes looked up impassively at the fuming Espada. The teacup and saucer that he held before was now nowhere in sight; he must've placed it back on the table previously, or else his white garments would've been soaked with an unsightly stain of tea.
"What the hell were you thinking?!" Pantera's wielder continued to rage at receiving no reply, placing his other hand on the backrest of the chair as he loomed over the relatively smaller Espada.
With Grimmjow's hands firmly implanted of both sides of his seat, and the muscular Espada's harsh breathing falling onto him, Ulquiorra was feeling quite constricted. Sighing, he raised his right hand and placed it firmly against the middle of the Sexta's chest.
Confusion seeped into Grimmjow's face as he eyed the cold hand against him.
Using a fair amount of force, the Cuatro Espada slowly pushed the taller Arrancar away, making the latter back up two steps, as he stood up from his seat as well. Green orbs stared equally at the sapphire pair that mirrored them.
Quietly, as though no one else is supposed to hear his words, Ulquiorra parted his lips and stated.
"You're being too loud, Sexta. Much too loud."
A meaningful look was directed at the blue-haired Espada to accompany the implicative statement; the porcelain hand gradually travelling down Jeagerjaquez' front. Black-tipped fingers ghosted over the taut muscles and the scar that marked Grimmjow's front, stopping short of the tell-tale hole before completely drawing back.
"Keep your volume in check." Ulquiorra added as he pocketed both his hands, "Do you understand, Sexta?"
There was an odd glint in those too-green eyes and Grimmjow could only find enough sense in him to nod wordlessly. The slight inclination at the corner of the Cuatro's lips was gone as quick as it appeared, and Murcielago's wielder merely stood back, still eye to eye with the Sexta.
Gray-eyed Starrk buried his head in his arms again, resuming his nap at the meeting table. The Primera Espada had been dozing on and off for a while and the sudden crash alerted his senses, waking him with a jolt. But now that things appeared to be pacifying again, the wavy-haired brunet found his awareness slipping away once more.
Politely coughing, Szayel Aporro flipped his hair, speaking airily as to break the thick silence that had settled in the room. "Oh dear, look at the time… I suppose I should be returning to my lab now… My experiments are direly about to be thrown off schedule…" With that the pink-haired Espada was first to waltz out of the room. All the others soon followed suit; the fracción dutifully walking behind their superiors.
Pretty soon, the Meeting Hall was empty save for the Sexta, the Cuatro, and a dozing Primera.
"Since when did you learn to blackmail, Ulquiorra?" Grimmjow finally asked with a raised brow and a wide scowl on his lips, taking the first steps towards the wide open doorway which their 'brothers and sisters' just used as an exit.
"Since it was necessary," came Ulquiorra's monotonous reply.
"Tsch." And Grimmjow said nothing more as they made their way out of the Meeting Hall, for if he had translated the Cuatro's words correctly, simply agreeing was the best option that he had.
Because apparently in Schiffer-speak,
'You're being too loud, Sexta. Much too loud.'
translates to
'You're screaming louder that I can make you do in bed and that is impermissible, Sexta.'
And
'Keep your volume in check. Do you understand, Sexta?'
really means
'Shut up or I will not hesitate in cutting you off for a year. Understood?'
And sometimes, Aizen's sixth strongest finds himself wondering just how the hell was he even managing to top the Cuatro…
From G to U
Speaking of Aizen…
"Gin?"
"Yes, Aizen-sama?"
"Did you just witness our Cuatro Espada saying, pardon the word, 'manwhore'…?"
"Yep, I believe Ulqui-chan said just that. Referrin' to the Kurosaki kid, he did. Blasted off yer television screen with his cero, too…"
"…Right… And then he walked out of the room with the Sexta…?"
"Mm-hm. Seems like those two're gettin' along pretty well…"
"…"
"… Now, I wonder if this is related to Ulqui-chan's request last month for sound-proofing the Grimm-chan's chambers…?"
Never had there been any stain other than blood to mar the pristine whiteness of Las Noches until that fateful day… as far as the ex-shinigami captains knew, at least. But what Aizen knew for sure was that whoever answered his summons to clean up the tea from the floor would have to be silenced.
From G to U
A/N: Did I make you expect something serious? Sorry about that… Haha… Well, this is sorta kinda serious… of sorts… And yea, the things that Commander-General What's-his-name said are just made up… :P
Yes, it's very OOC of Ulquiorra to say that but given that he already has an established (yet undisclosed) relationship with Grimmjow in this story, I suppose the Sexta's vocabulary had rubbed off on him… or something… But please don't sue Ulqui for voicing my opinion. I'm the one who labels the Kurosaki Strawberry as a manwhore and I apologize if that offends anyone.
And man, you just know Ulquiorra would have Grimmjow whipped (metaphorically and/or literally but most likely both) if they ever got into a canon relationship… So this is like, an attempt at a seme!Ulqui… somewhat… Well, he's got the right attitude…
And you've just gotta love Gin's accent. That is the WINN.
Also, I'm sorry for this being very, very short. I'm still hung over from Hetalia Day… ;) –huge sigh- So much fanservice, so little time. Mind you, I started this the moment I got home! Yes, its another spur of the moment fic… I never do get tired of those… :D
1,845 words for this one~!