Part 4- The Evolved… Female?
They're all asleep in the sitting room, none of them ready to explore the old mansion yet, when a soft crack is heard. Angela opens her eye, peeking over to the cushions where Grimmjow lays with his female. The ivory and onyx crumbles slowly, much more so then when Grimmjow woke. She's up in a flash, waking the others and carefully calling to the teal haired male. With a yawn and a feline stretch, the cyan eyed male looks over to see what the commotion is about.
"He's waking," she points out excitedly.
"Calm down, Angela," Hudson says. "All this excitement may not be good for him."
She forces herself to calm, watching with baited breath as the small male carefully sits up. He's very slender, so feminine one could mistake him as such even when he's awake. His hair is a bright orange, laying in unruly spikes about his head, and his eyes are almost gold they're so amber.
"G-Grimmjow," he whimpers. "I hurt."
"It's okay, we're safe now," he assures as he holds the smaller male to him. "I'll take care of you, okay? You're gonna be fine."
"Why would they do that?" he cries. "I… I didn't do anything wrong, did I?"
"Of course you didn't," Hudson snaps. "They're in the wrong. They should never have sent you into battle, especially knowing you were of mating age! That's just stupid!"
"… Who are you?" Ichigo asks quietly.
"This is the clan we're staying with right now," Grimmjow purrs. "That's Hudson, Lexington, Broadway, Goliath, Angela, Demona, and Brooklyn."
"And Bronx! Don't forget Bronx," Broadway grins as he pats the canine gargoyle's head. "He's the most important member, huh?"
The wingless creature gives out a sound that resembles a bark, prancing about the hefty male before settling once more. Ichigo has a soft smile on his lips, always better with new people than Grimmjow, and cuddles closer to his male.
"We can help heal your wounds, if you'd like," Demona says. "I've been alive long enough to learn that trick, at least."
"… Please."
She steps close, holding her hands over Ichigo's heart as his body starts to glow. His wounds close and heal over, the light also working on Grimmjow. Once that's finished, there's that reigning silence again. No one is sure how to address this new creature, so no one is brave enough to try.
"So, you're a girl?" Brooklyn comments.
Everyone face palms at his abruptness, wishing for once he would keep his mouth shut. This boy, even Demona can feel, has the most abundant power in the room… he's not to be insulted or trifled with. They're surprised when they hear a soft laughter, the clan watching the young teen.
"I suppose you could say that," he answers. "I'm a male, obviously, but there was a problem with the evolutionary system. Since so few females were created, some of the younger males pushed reproduction genes active. The birthing process isn't all it's cracked up to be from what I've heard, but none of the children actually lived. I'm the first, but they never expected that genetic to stay that way."
"So… you're a girl."
"I'm a guy… but I can give birth. That's all it means," Ichigo smiles. "I'll answer to that, though… if it makes you more comfortable."
"Nah, that's okay. I just needed to get that straight… You certainly look like a girl," the white haired youth mutters.
"Yeah, I'm afraid that's a side-effect," Ichigo blushes. "Not my best trait."
"It's one of my favorites," Grimmjow murmurs.
Ichigo's blush brightens at the remark he wasn't meant to hear, his elbow hitting his teal haired dominant for thinking such a thing. Grimmjow grunts at the harsh connection to his gut, settling his chin atop orange locks as a form of apology.
"So… what now?" Angela questions. "I mean, you're safe for now, but those guys will eventually find out you're here."
"What guys? What happened?" Ichigo inquires as his eyes turn to Grimmjow.
"… Aizen and Yamamoto showed up to check on the newcomers," he murmurs. "Goliath claimed this as his territory since it was still free, that's why we're safe here."
"What? No! They'll kill them for helping us, we have to go!"
"Go where, Ichi?" he frowns. "This place is smack dab in the middle of three territories, if we leave we'll be traveling straight through one of them and then we'll be targeted."
"But… this isn't fair! Why are they doing this to us?"
"You know why."
The comment is quiet and soft, holding no malice or accusation, but it still has Ichigo taking in a sharp breath. The gargoyles don't know why Ichigo is so upset or what reason Grimmjow says he knows, but they know by the look on the slender male's face that he blames himself. On shaky legs, Ichigo stands with Grimmjow's help and pulls away to walk upstairs. For once, the teal haired male allows him to move on his own and hangs back to let the other have some alone time.
"What was that all about?" Lexington asks quietly.
"… Ichigo thinks all this is his fault," Grimmjow states, confirming their suspicion. "It's really complicated, but… let's just say that Ichigo is very special."
They leave it as that, Grimmjow laying back to sleep though he never closes his eyes. Angela watches the handsome male for a long while, wondering what he's thinking about with such serious eyes, and then falls asleep soon after. Once everyone is asleep, movement to his left has the teal haired Espada turning his attention that way.
"I think she likes you," Demona smirks. "You would be her first crush."
"She doesn't have very good taste," Grimmjow frowns.
"Oh, I don't know… You're handsome, strong, caring… All in all, I'd say you were a rather satisfactory mate."
"It'd be best if she found someone else to fawn over," the feline-like man murmurs. "I can barely care for the mate I have, I don't want another."
"She's young yet, she'll grow out of it," the crimson haired female chuckles. "Just don't lead her on. She's a strong girl, she can handle a broken heart, but that would just be mean."
Grimmjow nods, sending one last glance at the female he's inadvertently caught the attention of and frowning a bit deeper. Ichigo and Angela were right, eventually their clans will find them… and they'll kill the Manhattan clan for harboring them. He needs to figure out how to stop all this, how to keep Ichigo and stop this stupid war for good. He doesn't know how, doesn't know where to start… but the Visoreds might.