~ Chapter 7- Celebrating ~

Ichigo hadn't slept a wink since he had been kicked out from the bed. He'd blasted music to not hear anything, but apparently Shinji is an excellent moaner and that spanking sound on round two, was not something he would forget for a while. When the sun peeked over the rooftops, the movements seized and the small apartment got quiet. He hadn't dared to move a single toe since. The clock was moving towards 7 AM and he was starting to get hungry but as far as he knew, Nnoitra still hadn't left. He was in the mood to eat a big breakfast, like eggs and bacon or a bacon and egg omelet maybe? His stomach growled at the delicious thoughts of food. If he tip toed to the kitchen maybe he could pass the bed unnoticed.

Ichigo rose from the couch and bravely threw an eye on the bed as he walked into the kitchen. Shinji was snuggling close to his one night stand while the other slept carefree. One of them must have lazily covered them with a blanket before collapsing. There was much skin to see in the small chaos they had managed to create. He scratched his head as he looked through the fridge for food. A standard pot of coffee was put on while he cooked eggs and bacon. Ichigo was so mesmerized in his cooking that he failed to notice a person leaning against the door frame.

"If ya hadn't ruined ma car, I'd fuck ya right now."

"I'm not so sure about that." Ichigo said unbothered as he flipped his eggs.

"Those low ridin' shorts says otherwise."

"I'm not into men so you better drop it."

"Yer a fruitcake on miles distance, so obvious."

"Just because you can't control your morning boner, don't take it out on me." Ichigo murmured a little embarrassed.

"Say what?"

"Nnoitra weren't you heading for a shower?" Shinji interrupted as he joined them in the kitchen. He got a grunt for an answer as Nnoitra left for one. The kitchen fell silent aside from the sizzling of the pan.

"I'm only asking because I know you are dying to tell me- how was it?"

Shinji went ballistic and Ichigo pretended to listen as his friend gave him a detailed rapport of his sweaty night. "Your eyes are blood shot!" Shinji suddenly exclaimed.

"No shit Sherlock. I've been awake since you decided to have sex on me and you weren't even trying to be quiet."

"I was just expressing my feelings."

"Loud and clear." Ichigo rolled his eyes and scoped out his breakfast on a plate.

Shinji was about to say something but made a strange face. "What just happened, I don't want to know." Ichigo seriously said.

"That's how it goes when your condoms runs out."

Ichigo groaned, took his plate and sat down to eat his breakfast. "At least wear protection Shinji, you don't know where it has been."

"If you got some more often, you as well would realize that the moment is all that matters. A thing such as a condom isn't gonna break it."

"I just want what's best for you."

Ichigo sipped his coffee while staring out through the window. "But seriously, of all people in this town, you had to spend the night with him. He was the one who fixed my bike when I got a flat and while driving my unconscious ass to Grimmjow I puked down his car."

"No wonder he's so grumpy towards you."

Ichigo shrugged.

Nnoitra came out from the bathroom fully dressed and put on his shoes in the hallway. He leaned against the wall while taking out a cigarette from his pack. "Gimme your number." Shinji said.

"That good huh?" Nnoitra grinned. The man hauled up his phone from his back pocket. "Gimme yers and I might call ya. Yer not so bad yerself."

Shinji typed in his number into the phone. "I'll hopefully see you around then?"

"We'll see… Tell the berry that we're even about ma car."

"Okay…one last thing though." Shinji stood on his toes as he pressed his lips on the others, not really understanding why. Nnoitra didn't want to be worse himself and easily took over Shinji's initiative. It ended with Shinji leaning heavily against the opposite wall as he tried to catch his stolen breath. "Yer years away from taking the lead, remember that."

~~xxx~~

While Nnoitra had been getting lucky, his blue haired friend slept. The medication had done miracles but they usually made him drowsy and sometimes nauseous, this time no exception. He felt years better when he woke up the following day but stayed in bed to not get sick all over the floor. If Grimmjow had horses he would bet them on that he soon would get a call to hear about Nnoitra's victims from the night before and speaking about the trolls.

"Yes?" Grimmjow said as he answered his phone.

"Ya have no idea whose friend I got home with last night?!"

"Let me guess…hmmm, no?" He frankly couldn't care less.

"That fuckin' kid's friend! What are the odds?"

Okay so he did care. "No way. How did his friend get into Szay's?"

"He worked there."

"Seems legit and?"

"Let's say that the kid doesn't own me for the car anymore."

"Poor kid! You didn't break him did you?" Grimmjow could actually feel a little sorry for the kid. Nnoitra is someone he never would want to see in the mist of fucking. The man had too freaky tastes.

"Haha, no way. Just some sleep depriving. I tried ta hit on him too, but he didn't take the bait. He even tried to make me believe that he isn't gay."

"How can you know that?" Nnoitra didn't have a gaydar, he usually prayed on everything that looked interesting to him.

"Duh, ya have to be blind to miss it and I'm only half blind. It's that obvious."

"I'm all better by the way, thanks for asking."

"Another day in bed then?"

"Yeah, to be on the safe side."

"I got some work to do, but beer and video games someday maybe?"

"Sounds cool."

"It's a date then." Nnoitra cackled.

"In your dreams. I'll be in touch."

Grimmjow hung up the phone, thinking about what Nnoitra had said. It was interesting in a way that he had come across the kid's blonde friend. Nnoitra was a huge one night stander tough so it probably just was a onetime thing any way.

~~xxx~~

"I can't believe it!" Ichigo exclaimed.

"What? Shinji peeked out his head from under a pillow.

"I got a job interview for the swim guard job!"

"Wow, congrats Ichi."

"Thank you." He said as he read through the details. "It's soon, gaah, I'm nervous already."

"Just be you and everything will be okay."

It was okay, Ichigo got the job the day he went to the interview. He couldn't be happier. Pool season would be beginning in a few weeks and he couldn't wait. His employer supplied him with all the necessary clothes and he was expected to attend planning meetings and go through introductions to get to know his job assignments before he could start for real. It would be great to know everyone before he had to be concentrated on the waters. Shinji of course tried to gauge him into giving him pool tickets for the outdoor water park. He said no.

The days came and went. Ichigo spent his days at the pool while Shinji spend the nights working in a club. This resulted in that they rarely saw each other more than a few minutes per day. When Ichigo came home Shinji left for work and vice versa. It was days when the blonde didn't even come home to rest, if that where the case he usually went home with someone and left straight for work afterwards. Ichigo was relieved that it hadn't been anymore incidents since Nnoitra.

When Ichigo came home from a hot and tiring day, he wasn't met by Shinji on his way to work in the door as he was used to. Instead he could hear the TV from the main room.

"Hey, are you sick or something?" He took a seat in the couch next to Shinji.

"I'm actually having the night off.

"That's rare."

Shinji tucked a loose strand of long blond hair behind his ear. "We never celebrated your new job…"

"Shinji…"

"Come on! It's a reason to get tipsy and ogle hot ass all night. You're single now; you need to get out on the meat market to see what's on it."

"I'm not a slut like someone here."

"At least I get dick."

"You already decided that we're going, haven't you?" Ichigo sighed.

"Oh yes, and you can't say no. I'll kidnap you if I have to."

~~xxx~~

The bass vibrated heavily through the club. In the middle of the room was a dance floor, occupied by dancing humans. Shinji had apparently known the bouncer of the night and they had walked past the long line of people wanting to get inside. His friend seemed to know a lot of important people; somehow their first beer was free of charge.

"Let's get this celebration started! Two shots please!"

"Nonono, no hard liquor for me."

"Don't be a baby Ichigo."

Two shots appeared on the bar counter, Shinji took both of them and handed one to Ichigo. They raised them in the air first before quickly swallowing everything down in one swallow. Ichigo had to cough a little as the alcohol burned his throat. Shinji put the glass upside down on the bar and called in two more, which was drunk in the same fashion. Ichigo could already feel his brain tingle a bit, as he wasn't used to drinking, but it felt kind of nice to be buzzed. It had been long days since he'd started working.

A few moments later he and Shinji had made their way down to the dance floor. They danced with each other, moving in rhythm to the music. He could feel the hungry eyes digging into his back. It egged him on to sway more with his hips, God he loved music. It was hot and he could feel the sweat gathering in beads on his forehead. He shouted in Shinji's ear that he was going for a drink. "I will be there in a minute Shinji shouted back over the music."

With an ice cold beer in hand, Ichigo stood at a railing nursing his beer. Shinji was busy having fun on the floor with some guy. What he had felt from the shots had disappeared probably because of his dancing. He didn't feel the need to get drunk today so he was pleased with it. Shinji really did want to celebrate his job and if he's happy, Ichigo was too. He got abruptly kicked out of his musings as someone elbowed his precious beer out of his hand.

"Watch it!" He exclaimed, clearly irritated. The man who knocked his beer away didn't seem to notice him. Not thinking about the consequences Ichigo tapped the man on the shoulder. "I'm talking to you."

"Is there a problem?"

"If I threw your beer on the floor would it be a problem to you?"

The man turned around, the blinking lights illuminating his face. The eyes where sharp, and a smirk were plastered on his face. "Still talking before thinking, I hear."

Ichigo squinted his eyes and took a step closer. "Grimmjow?"

"Don't look so surprised, this is one of the better clubs in town after all."

Why did I have to run in to him of all people!

"Why don't you come join us? That must be better then standing here alone."

"'us'?"

"Yeah, I don't go out with only my bestie as the chicks do."

"That's insulting." Ichigo muttered.

Grimmjow rose an eyebrow. "Come on, I'll buy you one on the way."

As promised, Ichigo got a new beer and was trailing behind Grimmjow to his friends.

"You have a bad habit, picking up strays."

"Shut up Nnoitra."

He just had to be here, didn't he? Ichigo sat down on the bench with Grimmjow following after him.

"Grimmjow, don't be rude, introduce us." A man with pink hair and white glasses said, sitting opposite to Ichigo.

"Ichigo, Szayel and Szayel, Ichigo." Grimmjow said in a bored voice while pointing back and forth at them. Both men nodded at each other in a form of greeting. Ichigo took a swig of his beer to make things less awkward and since Grimmjow didn't bother to introduce the others at the table Szayel did for him.

"Nnoitra, which you've already met, I've heard. Then we have Ulquiorra and Starrk."

"Where's blondie?" Nnoitra pervertly asked.

"On the dance floor. Why? You gonna run over and sweep him of his feet?"

"Whatever bugs you the most."

Grimmjow caught Szayel staring at the ginger curiously and obviously thinking of something to which Grimmjow shook his head 'no' to. The pink haired man got the hint and nudged Starrk in the ribs to keep him awake. Not wanting to be the quiet one, Ichigo tried to start a conversation with the group, mainly towards Grimmjow since he sat closest to him.

"Always out in the middle of the week?"

"It happens."

"Cool." Did he just lamely say that?

"You?"

"Shinji wanted to celebrate my job, I didn't and here I am. He's hard to say no to."

"He must be a nutcase to be able to handle Nnoitra."

"Something like that, but he has some good sides too." It buzzed in Ichigo's pocket. He pulled out his phone to read a new message.

[Shinji: Where are you?]

[Ichigo: With Blue and Co. U-sofas at the back.]

He put it away, relieved that his friend soon would show up.

"Was it you mom?" Nnoitra mockingly asked.

"She's dead." He answered quietly with a blank face.

"Low blow, you idiot! Never joke about family, that's our ground rule." Grimmjow barked back.

"ICHIGO!" Thank God… Shinji save me.

"Hey Shinji, tired of dancing?" Ichigo asked to take the attention from him.

"Drank too much." Shinji slurred.

"Come sit down Blondie." Nnoitra called and patted at the empty space next to him.

"Move over Ichi!"

Grimmjow and Ichigo rose from their seats to let Shinji on, who instantly got glued to Nnoitra. The decreased space forced Ichigo to sit closer to Grimmjow. Their arms where touching and their thighs too. Ichigo could feel the body heat clearly from the other man. He smelled nice too, despite of the warm, moist environment. He could feel how the body moved every time the older man took a breath. Wait, when did he get so conscious of Grimmjow?

Shinji balanced an empty bottle of beer on his forehead, only to make it fall against the table and hitting a half sleeping Stark in the face. Grimmjow started laughing alongside the others at the antics. It vibrated through Ichigo making him shudder. Shinji and Nnoitra ended up engaging themselves in some heavy making out, full bodily contact included. Both where too drunk to care about the innocent people around them.

"How despicable." Ulquiorra said in a bored voice.

"Yeah! Get a fucking room if you're gonna turn PG." Grimmjow said and threw peanuts at them.

"So.. how do you know Grimmjow?" Szayel asked Ichigo. The orangette stared at the man for a moment before answering. After all, things where a bit complicated.

"We have met during some unfortunate circumstances."

"Hmm.. You're not involved in any trouble are you Grimmjow?"

"What? No. I did just save the kid's ass from his trouble."

"Aren't you the hero." Ichigo muttered sarcastically.

Grimmjow turned his strong frame towards Ichigo not appreciating the sarcasm. Ichigo did his best to ignore him but he still got bugged from it. He turned his attention to Szayel who seemed to be the most reasonable one at the table.

"What's wrong with him?" Ichigo turned his gaze to Stark.

"Too much to drink, but he's usually tired. Starrk's sharp so don't let it fool you."

Ichigo finished his beer and put the empty bottle on the table. It was getting late and he was tired of this.

"Shinji, are you coming or getting laid?" The blonde turned his head uncertainly to Nnoitra. "He's getting some… and don't ya worry about yer beauty sleep. We will stay away, If ya don't want ta watch that is."

"In your dreams."

Grimmjow got the hint and rose from the seat to let Ichigo pass. Their chests brushed when Ichigo stepped out, both took notice of the closeness. "I'm leaving." Ichigo said and made a gesture with his hand.

There was a small line of people in front of the club's closet. A big group of friends had decided to get their jackets when he did. The man behind the counter worked efficiently and Ichigo didn't have to wait long before they could leave the establishment. He greeted the man and reached in his back pocket to retrieve his number slip except for some reason it wasn't where it was supposed to…anymore. Hoping that he got the wrong pocket, Ichigo tried the other one but he found it empty too.

"Damn it, I can't find my number. Must have dropped it."

"No number, no clothes."

"But I can see my jacket from here. It's right over there." He said and pointed at it.

"Look, you will have to pay for the lost number and wait until the last guest has gone home before you can have it. Next time, take a picture of the number with your cell and you only need to pay for losing the slip."

Sigh. "I'll come by tomorrow, can't stand here all night waiting on a stupid jacket." Very expensive designer jacket but that's beside the point.

Ichigo felt the slightly chilly night air as he stepped outside the club. His arms got goose bumps straight away. Should be his luck to get sick when he finally had a job to go to in the mornings. The short walk to the bus stop came to an end and the next buss would be arriving if fifteen freezing minutes. The weather had been great the last couple of days though, must be some bad weather arriving. Fourteen minutes to go. He just had to go outside to early. Sometimes it punishes to be in time…or drop the number slip. Ichigo had a strong urge to hit his head repeatedly on the pole holding the time tables.

"Kurosaki!"

If he wasn't mistaken it sounded like Grimmjow was shouting his name, but that would be ridiculous sine he's inside enjoying himself. Ichigo thought as he turned around. It was Grimmjow, who was holding a jacket.

"Is that my…?" Ichigo said and pointed at it.

"Found your tag in the booth when I was about to sit down, but you already left so I got it for you." Grimmjow stretched out his arm with the jacket which Ichigo gladly put on. He felt much warmer already. It wasn't until now he realized that Grimmjow wore his own jacket.

"Are you going home too?"

"Since I left to give you your jacket, I guess so."

Grimmjow had done it for him? One more thing that he had managed to trouble the bluenette with. "Can I buy you something? Like coffee, Mc Donald's?" He said before giving it any thought.

"You are aware of that the buss is the last for the evening, right?"

"Uhm,.. I'll take a cab. I feel that a 'thank you' is in order for everything you have done for me." Ichigo could feel his cheeks heat up.

Grimmjow chuckled quietly. "Sure thing, I need to sober up anyway. Mc D's both have food and coffee so let's go there."

~~xxx~~

The two men currently stood in the line of the only open cashier as Mc Donald's. It had been a quiet walk to the fast food chain and Grimmjow had swayed on his feet the entire way. He didn't look that intoxicated when he'd rushed out to give Ichigo his jacket, maybe he is good at hiding it. People in front of and behind them, considering the hour was happy, drunk and loud.

"What are you having?" Ichigo asked Grimmjow who stood to his left.

"Hmm…-" Grimmjow squinted his eyes as he read on the menu board. "Bacon clubhouse burger, diet coke, carrots instead of fries and a coffee."

"I'm craving for fries and ketchup."

The line moved forward quickly, Ichigo could soon place their orders and get the food. Grimmjow had meanwhile gone to take seats for them. It wasn't hard to find the bluenette thanks to his hair. Ichigo sat down opposite to Grimmjow and they dug into their food in silence. Ichigo couldn't understand how the man had done it, but Grimmjow's burger was nowhere to be seen. Impressive. Ichigo dipped each fry in ketchup before devouring them. As his fingers became salty, he absentmindedly licked them off. Unknown to Ichigo, Grimmjow couldn't take his eyes off from the fingers going in between Ichigo's lips. He shook his head in disbelief for his lewd thoughts and sipped the coffee.

"I heard that Nnoitra got his revenge on you."

"Yeah, how nice of him to kiss and tell to everyone."

"I'm sure you would have as well if you found out that the person you slept with is a friend to the one who ruined you 'baby'."

"Probably…"

"Besides Nnoitra don't bring home people he just met so he couldn't help it." Grimmjow took a mouth of coffee.

"Unlike you?" Ichigo raised a brow to make his point.

"That's completely different. Couldn't leave your sorry unconscious ass."

"I've only been trouble since I first met you. I'm grateful for everything, I really am."

"Don't say that, I mean, you have caused some trouble but it stirred things up. Life got interesting again and Nnoi got someone to fuck, everything's good." Grimmjow laughed warmly.

Ichigo really wanted to sink through the floor in embarrassment. He picked at his straw in his cup.

"Dessert?"

"Huh?"

"Dessert, my treat." Grimmjow repeated.

"Mc Flurry strawberry with chocolate chunks, it's-" Ichigo frowned at Grimmjow who snickered to himself. "Funny Grimmjow. Yes, the strawberry wants strawberries. Hardy har har."

"I know the joke got old the first time you heard it, but still slightly tipsy and trippin' on a caffeine boost I can't help thinking of it as funny. It's a beautiful name though… The one who protects. You feel like a protector."

Ichigo's breath got stuck in his throat. The bluenette first laughed at him, then said his name was beautiful and knew what it meant. No one had ever said that before, usually they didn't know the meaning.

"Sometimes protecting backfires at you." He said sadly.

Grimmjow stiffened in his seat and nodded in agreement. The mood turned dark when both men seemed to know the heavy meaning behind protecting someone.

"So… dessert?" Ichigo asked.

Grimmjow rose from his seat and went to order. Ichigo stared at his back wondering what the bluenette had gone through. He returned quickly and Ichigo dug in straight away. He saw that Grimmjow hadn't bought one for himself.

"You didn't want any?"

"Nah, I don't eat sugar. You look to be the type to, that's why I offered."

Come thing of it, Grimmjow didn't physically look to be one to indulge in candy and ice cream. His body is very defined in general. Wonder if he's strong too?

"What do you do? I mean for work?"

"I work as a professional trainer at the gym I go to. I only do that for fun tough; I got the money I need already."

Grimmjow almost sounded like he was loaded with money. Ichigo wondered if that was the case and how that had happened. He didn't look that old to be working himself to be a millionaire. "That's good; one should do what he loves to do. If you don't mind me asking, how do you already have that kind of money?" Ichigo asked carefully.

Grimmjow leaned forward, over the table and spoke low in Ichigo's left ear; "Don't tell anyone this but I was the one dragging home that huge lottery win everyone was so excited about." Ichigo shivered from the deep resonance hitting his eardrum. Ichigo swallowed. "Okay, promise."

"Does the bike run as I should after the flat tire?" Grimmjow asked as nothing had happened, while sitting back down in his seat.

Ichigo was forced to take a minute to compose himself before he was able to answer. "It's not in my possession anymore. My ex didn't let me have it."

"Thought it was yours?"

"I was under that impression too." Ichigo replied bitterly and yawned. "That's my cue to get some sleep."

They walked out from Mc Donald's and waited for Ichigo's taxi. They stood in silence and enjoyed the night. The only sound emitted was when Ichigo yawned and the squeaking sound from Grimmjow's leather jacket. The taxi came quickly and before he got in to it, he once again expressed his gratitude, but Grimmjow brushed it away saying it wasn't needed after Mc D's. Both parted in the night with the same curiosity in their chests. They had gotten to know each other better but there still was something that felt hidden within.

TBC.