Author's Note: Alright. Sorry about the wait, I have excuses but nothing worth typing out lol. Anyway! This chapter (part 1 and 2) is gonna have plenty of Grimm and Ichigo, but we're still focusing on the other Ichigo-centric pairings. ENJOY!
Lies Open Prison Doors
Chapter 14: A Lil' Favor
(PART 1)
Lasagna.
They have fucking LASAGNA!
Ichigo just stared at his tray in disbelief the first five minutes of lunch before he could bring himself to finally take a bite. The garlic toast and juicy-juice was a nice touch too.
And fuck if it wasn't the best thing he's had in over a month.
"Hey, get a fuckin' room if you're gonna be makin' noises like that."
Ichigo hadn't realized he started moaning in delight after the first bite, and he couldn't find it in himself to be embarrassed, not even when the others started laughing.
Ichigo spared Kensei a short glance and then retorted through a mouthful of meat, cheese, and sauce, "Me and this lasagna are having a great time, okay? No need to be jealous." He then exaggerated his next moan after swallowing and almost laughed when not only Keigo, but Renji, Shuuhei, and even Shinji lowered their heads to hide their red faces.
Had they always been so easy to fluster?
Somehow, between now and the time he caught Renji and Shuuhei fucking in the restroom yesterday, their roles had been reversed, and Ichigo was the one making them fidget.
Maybe it was his boost in confidence today.
After Yumichika sucked him dry, Ichigo didn't feel as pent up and tense anymore—Shinji had been right when he said sex was a good way to calm down.
Plus, getting to see Nel and his sisters definitely lifted his spirits, and that surprise kiss from Byakuya was the cherry on top.
Ichigo was so content that he wouldn't be surprised if he was glowing right now. He noticed how his good mood seemed to infect the others as well, especially Keigo. The guy was pressed as close to Ichigo as possible without actually touching him, and he kept sneaking glances when he thought Ichigo wasn't paying attention. The orangette saw it, of course, but he was in too good a mood to be annoyed by it. Ichigo's smile shrunk but didn't drop when he felt the back of his neck tingle.
Keigo wasn't the only one eyeballing him.
He didn't even need to look back to know exactly who was drilling holes in the back of his head. Grimmjow had been staring him down since lunch started. Ichigo tried not to let it bother him, but it was starting to dampen his mood. He slowly turned his head to peer over his shoulder just to prove himself right and a shiver curled up his spine when he locked eyes with stunning cobalt. Although it was such a cold and chilling color, the smolder from that gaze made Ichigo's skin sizzle with heat.
He shouldn't have looked.
Now that their eyes were locked, he was having trouble looking away. He barely even noticed Keigo trying to get his attention. His gaze finally shifted downward only to watch Grimmjow raise his hand. With the same smirk that made Ichigo weak in the knees, Grimmjow curled his finger in a 'come hither' motion.
Ichigo swallowed the nervous lump that had lodged in his throat.
Was he being beckoned?
No.
Screw that.
Ichigo had to pry his eyes away before he could turn his head back around. He blinked through the trance Grimmjow's eyes alone cast on him and then winced when he looked up to see large smirks directed at him.
"Oh, fuck off." He snarled before shoving another sporkful of lasagna into his mouth. He could still feel those eyes boring into the back of his skull and took another quick peek to see Grimmjow's damn smirk hadn't wavered.
"So I guess it's really true about you two."
Ichigo tore his gaze away once more to scowl in Kensei's direction. He had no idea when he became an official part of this particular group, but they seemed to have taken a liking to him. Though he couldn't say he trusted any of them yet.
"What?" Ichigo asked, but he already knew what Kensei was trying to say before the man even tilted his head in Grimmjow's direction.
"You and Blue. You guys have... history." He wasn't even asking. He knew from watching Ichigo squirm under the other's gaze that there was definitely some sort of chemistry between them.
"Guess you could say that…" Ichigo grumbled but he didn't offer up any more information.
"Ya know he ain't gonna quit starin' 'till you go over there," Was Gin's helpful input and he just smiled back when Ichigo glared.
"I'm not going anywhere near him unless absolutely necessary."
"Why not?" Keigo wondered curiously while tilting his head. Ichigo wanted to sigh in frustration but Keigo's genuine curiosity made him deflate.
"Becauuuse…" Ichigo waved a hand in the air as he tried to think of how best to explain their complicated 'relationship'. "He may be acting all friendly, but he actually hates my guts. Trust me—it's just better if I stay away from him." Ichigo automatically rubbed a thumb over his palm where it was rough and scarred from his last real encounter with the man: Before the 'White fight' and after the initial 'Dethroning', when they played Basketball.
'Play' perhaps wasn't the right word for that moment...
"Pffft, there's no way he hates you." Keigo boldly scoffed and rolled his eyes at Ichigo's incredulous stare. "I heard Luppi complaining the other day 'bout how Blue used up his 'only free favor' to get transferred to our cell." He paused to nibble on his toast before looking back up to see Ichigo staring down at the table with an unreadable expression. "And I'm pretty sure he doesn't give a shit about me or Renji—so he must've moved for you."
Ichigo shook his head in denial as he absently stabbed at his food. "He probably moved so he has a better chance to get the stupid title back. I'm sure he's bored now that he can't boss everyone around." Ichigo's pitiful attempt at reasoning fell short, causing a few chuckles to circle the table.
"If he was that eager for his title back then he woulda stepped up during the auction." Renji rationalized and then grinned when wide chestnut eyes jerked back up.
"So he was there!" Ichigo smacked a hand against the table then curled it into a tight fist. That flash of blue he saw! Even though he'd been drugged at the time, he knew he didn't hallucinate it. But then... that meant Grimmjow was just standing there in the crowd while Bazz-B had his way with Ichigo. He wonders what was going through Grimmjow's head at the time: Would he have stepped in if Zangetsu never did?
Ichigo shook the thought away.
"I actually have a theory about why he didn't challenge you during the auction." Shinji butted in and leaned over the table to grin at Ichigo from around Kensei's larger frame. "He musta already known you were Reaper from the beginning—Am I right?" He waited to see Ichigo nod before continuing, "So! He probably decided to spare himself the humiliation of getting his ass kicked in front of us—again," He paused to chuckle at Ichigo's modest reaction from the praise, "OR!" Shinji's sparkling teeth glinted when his lips spread into a devious smile, "He didn't want to risk you losing the title because it was the only thing keeping you from getting SOLD."
Ichigo blinked in disbelief at that last part.
"I'm telling you guys, it's not like that. Grimmjow doesn't care if I'm sold or bought or whatever—He'll take his title back as soon as I let my guard down." Ichigo tried to explain but then cursed when his face grew hot against his wishes. They needed to stop talking about Grimmjow—for fuck's sake.
"Then why save him from White? Seems a lil' dumb to rescue a guy you want to avoid." Ichigo had to suffocate the urge to reach over and punch the wise-ass grin off Renji's face.
"He's an asshole, but he didn't deserve to die!"
"Funny hearin' that from you, Reaper." Ichigo's body tensed at the new but familiar voice that came from behind. He didn't bother looking back and just scowled ahead when he noticed Keigo being shoved aside. The others noticeably tensed and glared when Nnoitra's lanky form settled in the spot Keigo just was. The man merely smirked at the looks he received. "So, lemme get this straight," His straight, pearly whites gleamed through a wide grin, "You, an assassin, gets to choose who deserves to live and die? Must be tough to have the whole world on your shoulders—no wonder you're so strong." He whacked Ichigo's back for emphasis as he laughed.
Ichigo let the verbal jab slide right over him and sighed in defeat when Nnoitra's arm latched itself around his shoulders.
"What do you want?" He groaned, voice dripping in irritation, before taking a long sip of his juice. He sucked it dry and then squeezed the box with unnecessary force. It was better the juice than Nnoitra's skinny neck.
"S'not really what we want." Nnoitra smirked while gesturing to the others standing behind them. Ichigo finally looked up from his tray to see that Yammy, and a few other familiar faces he recognized but had no name for, were lining up behind them. Ichigo assumed they must all be Vasto Lordes because his new 'friends' were fidgeting and sharing looks of disdain. "King wants to talk, so we're here ta escort ya."
"So you're his errand boy?" Ichigo scoffed with a snort and he didn't miss how boney fingers dug into his shoulder.
Nnoitra sneered in a low voice while his visible eye narrowed, "Watch it, Fruit," But there was no way he could intimidate Reaper. It was obvious they still didn't respect Ichigo enough to call him 'King', even though the title belonged to him, but they were still wary of him. In the end, Ichigo wasn't sure if he really cared. With a huff, he placed the crumpled juice box on his tray and then shrugged away Nnoitra's hand before turning to eye the men surrounding them. He took a quick glance at the doors to see Zaraki and Ikkaku, who had been quietly conversing, were now turned towards their table. In fact, the whole room seemed to be eyeing them.
"Look… just tell Grimmjow if he wants to talk to me, then he can come over his damn self."
Nnoitra clicked his tongue in irritation but kept his face expressionless as he replied, "You're goin' over there whether ya like it or not, Buttercup. So we can do this the easy way or…" He let the threat trail off but they all knew what he meant.
"King doesn't have ta go anywhere with you pieces a' shit." Renji jumped to his feet and the others rose from their seats as well. The inmates that had been paying attention to the exchange were also getting up, and the hard looks on their faces showed they were ready for a battle to break out any second. Ichigo tilted his head when he heard Keigo squeak and watched as the cowardly man melted beneath the table.
With another quick look around, Ichigo also noticed Bazz-B remaining seated at his table. Granted, the man's attention was locked on them, but he was just calmly witnessing the spectacle unfold. Ichigo could safely assume that the other seated inmates must be part of the same gang, the Quincy. They would rather stay back and let the Shinigami and Vasto Lordes tear each other apart, and Ichigo couldn't blame them.
Zaraki reached up to hover a hand over his radio in case he needed to call for backup.
Frustrated, Ichigo slammed both hands on the table hard enough to make his tray clatter and then shot to his full height.
"Christ sake! Sit the fuck down!" He snarled. To his slight amazement, they all actually listened. Renji had been the first to stand but also the first to sit his butt back down. He could tell the redhead didn't like being bossed around by the deep frown marring his face, but he wasn't about to argue with Ichigo.
The orangette waited until all the tension slowly faded before snatching up his tray. He shoved Nnoitra out of his way then walked towards the side of the canteen to chuck his scraps into a trashcan and tossed the empty tray on top, the hard slam sounding much too loud in the silent room. Without missing a beat, Ichigo stormed towards Grimmjow, who was grinning victoriously.
Smug asshole.
"Fine. You win." Ichigo took a seat straight across the object of his frustration while Nnoitra and the others who 'escorted' him settled around the rest of the table. "Now what do you fucking want?"
"Just wanted ta ask ya a lil' favor."
Ichigo leaned forward with his arms crossed and didn't know how to respond to that at first.
A favor?
Was he being serious?
"And why should I do you any favors?" Like a giant wheel had been spun, Ichigo let his reaction fall to hostility and he wasn't sure why.
Grimmjow's smirk shrunk slightly but remained as he immediately countered, "Why you still so hostile? Didn't you find out who ratted on ya?" The amount of confidence in that rugged voice and sudden tilt in conversation had Ichigo crumbling. The question sounded utterly rhetorical, like Grimmjow already knew the answer and just wanted to watch him squirm. "Of course ya did… 'Cause I know it wasn't me. And you know it now too—I can tell." The smirk was gone. All that remained was the gleam in his eyes. Then, without even having to put Ichigo's curious expression into words, Grimmjow answered, "It's the way ya look at me now…" Before Ichigo could even feel the familiar burn of a blush tickle across his cheeks, Grimmjow kept going, "Less like ya wanna rip my guts out and more like you wanna rip my clothes off."
"I don't… I..." Ichigo shook his red face to try and finish denying what his lips seemed unable to. He managed to calm himself when he finally looked away from the man, only to lock eyes with cold violet ones glaring daggers at him. Luppi, who had made himself comfortable at Grimmjow's side, was giving Ichigo the dirtiest look he could muster. It must've been difficult to express so much hatred on such a petite, round, boyish face, but he definitely pulled it off. "Uhm…"
Blue eyes shot down to see what had grabbed Ichigo's attention and Grimmjow sneered when he noticed the smaller inmate.
"Man, get the fuck outta here. In fact, all of ya—scat!" He swept his arm towards the rest of the Vasto Lordes that were huddled around the table, watching the two of them like hawks. All but Luppi automatically stood and scattered to other tables on command. The smallest of them remained and continued glaring holes into Ichigo. "Loop…" Grimmjow growled warningly and Luppi's expression curled into a wince. He gave Ichigo one last dirty look before slamming down his spork and strutting completely out of the canteen without a word.
Now that it was just him and Grimmjow, Ichigo felt his shoulders relax, if only a little. Other inmates were still eavesdropping, but at least they weren't being crowded anymore.
"So… I won't promise anything, but what kind of favor do you want?" Ichigo asked, needing to know why he'd been dragged here in the first place.
Grimmjow looked like he wanted to say something snide, but he conceded with a shrug and got straight to the point, "I want you to help us get the Gym back."
Ichigo shifted on the bench and tapped his fingers across the table in thought.
"Why would you need my help? Thought you were a badass here—can't you just win it back?"
Hot air huffed from Grimmjow and he straightened his back to give Ichigo a hard glare. "That was the plan, but I'm still recovering," He rolled his injured shoulder gently for emphasis, "And my boys're already banged up from fightin' over the cafeteria... Granted, Nnoitra probably wasn't the best choice for preparing food. I'll be the bigger man and admit the Shinigami are better in the kitchen…" He said with a bored frown while swirling what was left of his lasagna in a pool of sauce. "But those fuckers got too greedy. Ever since you showed up, they've been acting like they own the place again—because they think they own YOU. That's why I want your help. You got us into this mess—whether ya intended to or not—It's only fair we at least get the Gym back."
Ichigo huffed through his nose in reluctance, but didn't voice it. He thought about the Shinigami for a moment and how they stood up for him when Nnoitra tried to 'fetch' him just now. They also helped him get his transfer papers back with very little effort, and, if Ichigo had to guess, Kaien must've been one of them when he was here in Hueco Mundo years ago. The Shinigami have been rather accommodating compared to others, but there was a lot of truth to what Grimmjow was saying. Ichigo couldn't exactly argue against it, but he was still curious, "Does it have to be the Gym..? What's so special about it?"
Grimmjow blinked in surprise at the question, because it almost sounded like Ichigo was actually considering... He quickly wiped the expression from his face before answering, "Keh-I mean, it doesn't have ta be the Gym, but my guys have been gettin' antsy lately so... Wait-hold on," He paused to work something out, and tilted his head, "You... haven't been there yet, have you?" The tense line of his shoulders sagged with relief when Ichigo shook his head but then tightened all over again when chocolate-brown eyes narrowed with hungry curiosity. Grimmjow's tongue grew heavy with realization once the full consequences of his request began to sink in. "Uhh.. Good.. Good." He scratched his cheek to distract himself when Ichigo's expression hardened with growing interest, "It's just a workout room-really-but, depending on who OWNS the spot, its purpose changes. We only used it as a regular workout room and to hold occasional meetings." Grimmjow shrugged while gesturing towards his scattered men, "The Shinigami though..." His face scrunched up in distaste at the thought of them, "THEY call it the 'Training Room'." This was only succeeding in stoking Ichigo's curiosity until Grimmjow added "I wouldn't recommend goin' in there by yourself-We'll go there with ya." Now THAT just pissed him off.
"By 'we', I assume you mean your 'boys'," Ichigo leaned forward to add in a whisper that only Grimmjow could hear, "The Vasto Lordes—The same gang that is led by a man I've wished death on most of my LIFE. So—I'll ask again… Why should I help you?" His voice drifted into a deep growl that expressed Ichigo's feelings of betrayal.
Yes, he knew he messed up by assuming Grimmjow had snitched on him, but that didn't mean Ichigo owed him anything. Especially when the bastard still worked for Grand Fisher.
If anything, Grimmjow owed HIM, after saving his stubborn ass from Zangetsu—which, now that Ichigo thought about it...
"Why did you challenge him?"
Blue eyes blinked and then a single brow rose curiously. "Huh?"
"Don't play dumb. I'm talking about Zangetsu. What started that whole White Fight?"
"Tch. I shouldn't have to tell ya that…" Hooded chestnut eyes glared straight back at him, and Grimmjow was forced to relent. He already knew he'd never win a battle of willpower, not when his opponent was the most stubborn asshole he'd ever met, "For cryin' out loud… Not that I really give a shit 'bout you r' anythin', but White was gonna kill ya the second he found out you were Reaper—so does it really matter?"
"He wouldn't have even known if I didn't say anything, and I only announced it because of you."
"You don't get it! I overheard him askin' the Vizards 'bout 'Xcution'. He mentioned a guy named Kenpachi," Grimmjow noticed how Ichigo winced and took a quick look around to make sure no one overheard them, and did he just glance at Captain Zaraki? Hm.. Grimmjow stored that little tidbit for later before pushing on, "And it didn't take long for the conversation to veer towards the infamous 'Reaper of Xcution'—He ain't a moron—he woulda figured it out eventually. But it's better that you told him yourself. It caught him by surprise. If he'd found out from someone else then he woulda stabbed ya in your sleep. I wouldn't be surprised if he convinced someone to kill you while he's stuck in Psych. White has the pull and the money ta talk even your butt-buddy, Keigo, into fuckin' with ya." Ichigo scoffed at that. After Keigo stood up to White by pressing the man's own dagger against his back, Ichigo really doubted the guy would flip sides again so easily. Keigo was strange, sure, but he wasn't a threat. Ichigo blinked and looked back up as Grimmjow leaned forward to give him a close up view of those fangs. "Ya can't trust any a' these shitheads."
"That includes you." Ichigo snapped back. "I used to think I could—but I can't trust you when you're working for that son of a bitch."
"It ain't like I had a choice!" Grimmjow swung his arms out and rose his voice to an angry snarl, but then quickly reigned himself back down to a whisper, "I had to choose a gang or be sold in that fucked up auction. I had ta go through this same bullshit too! 'Cept, unlike you, I didn't have any friends or a fuckin' reputation as an assassin ta fall back on. So when I found out their leader was Grand Fisher, I actually got excited—to be honest witchya."
"'Excited'? Why?" Ichigo's lips pressed into a tight line, reluctant to hear the answer even though he already asked.
"Because you were so hellbent on killing him! I figured if I stuck close to the guy then you might… Ya know…" Grimmjow couldn't meet Ichigo's wide eyes as he trailed off. He grit his teeth and dug two knuckles into his own forehead. Ichigo felt his chest squeeze with so many different emotions as he watched Grimmjow try and recollect himself. "I figured ya might eventually find him... Thought maybe you'd sneak in as a guard or somethin'... but then ya had to go and get yourself caught. Dumbass." The very corner of Ichigo's lips quirked upward. The name calling was a good sign. It's funny yet strange how easy it is to fall back into old habits. "You're lucky ya got people watchin' your back around here. Otherwise you'd be hangin' from your own cell by now."
Ichigo's scowl returned with force at that.
"I can take care of myself, asshole. I never asked you to have my back."
"Cheh." Grimmjow snorted and recoiled so he wasn't right in Ichigo's face anymore. "Who the fuck said I was? I was talkin' 'bout your Shinigami buddies. They have a lotta eyes watchin' you. And now that you have backup, I can't just jump ya to get my title back."
Ichigo silently eyed the man for a minute, noticing how blue eyes darted everywhere but back at him. He couldn't stop the tiny smirk from forming when he saw the way Grimmjow's jaw clenched and unclenched; a nervous tic that he discovered a long time ago.
"I see… Is that why you moved cells? So you could attack me at your convenience?"
"Why else would I?"
Ichigo watched patiently as Grimmjow attempted to distract himself by drinking his juicebox. "Well… If you REALLY wanted your title then why didn't you fight for it during the auction?" He smirked victoriously when the man choked. "Everyone else was jumping at the chance."
"Huh?" Grimmjow hacked and bumped a fist against his chest. With a grunt, he chucked away the cursed juice that made him choke before glaring up at the other reason for his lack of air. "I'm not answerin' that."
"Then I'll just assume—and you know how great I am at that."
"About as great as you are at singing."
Ichigo's smirk widened and then tilted into a large grin without much thought when buried memories of a certain Karaoke night flooded his mind.
"One stupid, drunken dare—just one! And now I'll never live it down, will I?"
Grimmjow took a quick peek at Ichigo's infectious smile and, before his own lips were tricked into joining, he growled, "Ya shoulda let White kill me if you wanted to keep that a secret." That brilliant, million-dollar smile slowly fell into a thin, troubled line. "In fact… Why did you stop him? Back then, you still thought I was the one who ratted on ya. You were fuckin' pissed at me."
"No matter how upset I was at the time… I wasn't going to let him kill you… And I could ask you the very same question: After everything I put you through, why would you fight Zangetsu to the death just to stop him from finding out about me?" Ichigo blinked curiously while propping up his face with a single arm. He nervously tapped his fingertips against warming cheeks in a hopeless attempt to cover up some of his embarrassment. Why was he always such a blushing idiot around Grimmjow? No matter what the situation—Despite how much they hurt or tormented each other—there would always be this strong magnetic pull that sucked him in. Physically, Ichigo feared he'd never overcome his attraction towards the blue-haired adonis.
The impulsive itch to run his fingers through the man's thick, silky hair grew harder to resist each time he saw those chaotic locks.
Ichigo was hooked.
He knew he shouldn't speak for Grimmjow, certainly, but he couldn't be the only one feeling this… Right?
Grimmjow turned his head away and refused to meet his gaze.
"Look…" Ichigo began after he realized the conversation had died and they still needed to sort a few things out. "I'll help you—but only you." He emphasized with narrowed eyes. "I want nothing to do with the gangs here, and I especially don't want to help that fucking—" He cut himself off with a rumbling huff but Grimmjow already knew who he was referring to. "However... if you want my help then you have to do something for me too."
Blue eyes shot up to lock with serious chestnut and Grimmjow's frown deepened. He really had no idea what to expect from Ichigo after all these years. On the surface it looked like they were getting along… maybe? But there were too many muddled emotions to comb through before anyone could see the bigger picture. Fangs flashed as Grimmjow sucked air through his teeth before finally saying, "What could you possibly want from me?"
The defeated tone to his voice made Ichigo retreat, face popping from his fingers to lean away. Chestnut eyes softened to a golden hue and Ichigo felt himself wither. He never expected this kind of reaction from Grimmjow, of all people. But there he sat across from him, looking like a roughed up teddy-bear that had been tossed aside by the only child who ever hugged it.
"Look... I'm sorry for—"
"Don't." The man raised a hand to stop Ichigo from saying more, but he was persistent.
"I'm just trying to apo—"
"And I don't wanna fuckin' hear it…" Grimmjow let his glare drop to the table with a frustrated growl. Ichigo noticed how his right hand reached out to clench the corner of the table, like the man was forcing himself to remain seated.
"But Grimm—"
Long fingers shot forward and Ichigo shut up real quick when they wrapped around his throat, but he didn't try to block it. Grimmjow yanked him forward, practically dragging him across the table, and Ichigo winced when the edge dug into his hip.
Before Zaraki or anyone else could decide whether they should step in or not, Grimmjow released his hold with a huff, allowing the other to plop back down into his seat and take a big gulp of air.
"Don't go gettin' all weepy n' shit. It's fuckin' disgusting." Grimmjow wrinkled his nose in disapproval as he turned away. "So what the hell kinda favor do you want?" He kept one elbow on the table as he circled his hand in the air, signaling that Ichigo could finally speak without interruption.
The orangette carefully rubbed his neck where Grimmjow's talons had just been, and let his thumb massage the tender flesh. He waited until his heart was no longer hammering against his ribcage then, without looking up, said in a low whisper, "Just promise me you won't say anything if you notice I'm missing at lockdown tonight."
Grimmjow's eyes bounced back and forth between intense chestnut hues and pink frowning lips. For a while he didn't say anything; He just stared at Ichigo like a thousand piece puzzle got dumped in his lap.
"If I asked what you're up to, would you even tell me?"
"Depends…" Ichigo said purposefully, "Can I trust you?" He was being serious with the question this time.
He needed closure.
He needed to know where they stood.
"When have I given you a reason not to trust me?"
"Just answer the question…"
"..." Grimmjow once again found himself avoiding those big, pleading eyes that made him feel so... so WEAK. His fingers twitched with the urge to punch that look right off the man's face. Ichigo had no business looking so innocent and friendly.
Not after what he did.
Grimmjow had to remind himself that this was the same pretty face Pantera fell for, right before devious claws sank into his back. And now his brother had to be pushed around in a goddamn wheelchair.
"The real question is whether or not I can trust YOU…"
Ichigo looked like he'd been punched right in the gut with that simple sentence. His brows furrowed and he shifted under Grimmjow's unwavering gaze. He knew exactly what was going through the other's head: He was thinking about Pantera. So, if he really wanted Grimmjow's trust, then Ichigo needed to make the first step… But did he really want the man's trust? Adding him into the mix was only going to complicate things.
Ichigo sighed and looked up with a sense of resolve, like he'd finally made up his mind.
"I'm going to sneak into Psych Ward tonight."
Grimmjow had to lean forward to catch the whispered words and he wasn't sure if he'd heard them right.
"You're doing what?" He said with an incredulous huff and then continued before Ichigo could open his mouth again, "Unbelievable. I manage to get that fucker outta here, and you're tryin' to bring the freak back?!"
Ichigo quickly raised both hands and motioned for Grimmjow to calm the fuck down. He didn't want the eavesdroppers learning what he had planned.
"So what if I am? After knowing what I put him through, I think helping him out is the least I can fucking do." He tried to defend his case but Grimmjow was having none of it.
"You already know he's not gonna forgive ya, so why bother?"
"I get it, alright?! But this is just something I need to do." Ichigo grumbled. He was really sick of everyone else telling him what he already fucking knew! First Byakuya, then Inoue, Rukia, and now Grimmjow!? There was no way Ichigo was going to lose this argument. "If people only got help when they asked for it, then what would be the point of perspective?"
"What..?" Grimmjow flexed both hands out and lifted his shoulders in disbelief as he gave Ichigo the 'are you fucking stupid' look. "Are you empathizing with him?"
"Of course!" Ichigo shot his own hands out and let them drop heavily on the table. "Even with your lack of imagination, you have to understand what it must've been like for him."
"Yeah, but guess what?" Grimmjow slammed both fists down beside Ichigo's to mock the other's intensity. "Shit happens! What's done is done!"
"Regardless…" Ichigo said, his voice cold and unrelenting. "I'm getting him out, end of fucking story."
Grimmjow's fingers curled with rising anger, nails scraping against the gravelly surface of the table and then he leaned forward, nostrils flaring and teeth bared, "... Do you love him?"
Ichigo blinked and reeled backwards as if he could physically escape the question that sounded suspiciously like an accusation.
"What? No! Are you kidding?" He shot back defensively, but the reddish hue staining his cheeks wasn't missed by anyone in the room. "Why would you even ask me that?"
It was Grimmjow's turn to recoil and his lip rose in a sneer as he recalled what Zangetsu whispered to him during their fight.
'I meannn, he was pretty drugged up when I had my way with 'im, but I didn't hear any complaints~'
"'Cuz you let him fuck you."
'Ichigo's a kinky lil' fucker too, ain't he?'
"You just fuckin'..." Grimmjow cut himself off with a snort and nearly choked when mental images of Ichigo and Zangetsu invaded his mind. He felt his skin crawl in shame—
'He really got going when I spanked him.'
—Ashamed of how angry and jealous he felt from just imagining it.
"You LET him, Ichigo!"
"I was drugged! You were at the auction, asshole, I know you saw Hotshot stick me! So why was Zangetsu the one who stepped in first if it bothers you so fucking much!?"
Grimmjow groaned and slapped both hands against his own face to massage away the threatening expression plastered there. His cheeks felt tight after snarling so much. His last few years as King of Hueco Mundo had him accustomed to smirking, not frowning.
"You and I both know that doesn't mean shit! Even drugged, ya coulda said 'no'!"
"Alright… I see what you really want." Ichigo's palms dug into the table as he lifted himself out of his seat to lean across and hover over Grimmjow, who was now glaring up at him through his fingers. "You wanna hear me say it, don't you?" Blue eyes flashed dangerously, but Ichigo didn't waver. He pressed forward to let his breath tickle Grimmjow's hand, which was braced against tightening lips. "You're right, Grimmjow. I LET him fuck me, and I enjoyed it."
It looked like only a single thin line of string was all that held Grimmjow back from blowing up. He was absolutely furious, but the man managed to keep himself under control. Barely…
Grimmjow, as calmly as he could manage, swallowed the emotions rising from his stomach and up his chest to squeeze his throat. When he refused to react, Ichigo scoffed under his breath and gradually retreated until he was sitting back down; The tension between them nearly palpable at this point.
And despite the threatening aura leaking from Grimmjow, Ichigo had the gall to press on in a quiet whisper, "And he isn't a freak… Not sure how many people here already know this, but the counselor has been experimenting on him for a long time—that's why he looks like that. The pale skin, white hair, his eyes… they're all side effects." Ichigo noticed the way sharp eyes finally softened and then shifted away, but Grimmjow still didn't make a sound. "I'm going to that lab to gather evidence… and I'm not just doing it for Zangetsu, I want to stop Sousuke from hurting anyone else."
As if on cue, harsh coughing erupted a few tables down. Ichigo had to stand slightly to look over the crowd and saw poor Ukitake curled over the side of his bench, hacking up blood like he'd done before. Shunsui was by his side in a flash and he helped pull the fragile male to his feet. Ichigo and a few others watched as Shunsui escorted the man out of the canteen, back towards their cellblock.
Ichigo sunk back down and then looked to Grimmjow with a meaningful expression that silently shouted 'See!?'.
Blue eyes rolled.
"Tch.. You shouldn't be stickin' yer neck out for criminals, dumbass."
"What Sousuke's doing is still wrong." Ichigo hissed back insistently.
"You'll only end up makin' shit worse trying to stop him."
"Huh..?"
Before Ichigo could get a proper answer, both males tensed when someone suddenly joined them. Ichigo could feel his blood pressure skyrocket as soon as he saw a familiar flash of pink in the corner of his eye. He slowly turned his head to glare at their uninvited guest, but Bazz-B was impervious to the heated look. If anything, it just excited him.
"The fuck you want?" Grimmjow snarled and scooted over to get in the other man's face, but evergreen eyes never strayed from Ichigo. Bazz-B licked his lips as he watched every little straining muscle in Ichigo's neck and arms twitch. He could tell the man was holding himself back from lashing out.
"Just wanted to remind his majesty 'bout our lil' date after lunch." Bazz-B finally released Ichigo from his intense stare to watch Grimmjow's reaction. He enjoyed the way those eyes that were as blue and sharp as glaciers stared back at him, like they wanted to slice right through his soul. "Only a couple more minutes left. You ready, Pet?" His gaze shifted back towards Ichigo, who was trying to scoot away, but Bazz-B didn't let him get far.
Grimmjow's scowl deepened when he saw the way Ichigo raised one clenched fist in the air, as if he were debating whether or not to use it. The knuckles along each finger paled the more he resisted temptation. Ichigo looked extremely uncomfortable and there was a slight tremble to his movements. Grimmjow then noticed how Bazz-B's left shoulder dropped and followed a path down the man's arm until it disappeared beneath the table. Grimmjow jolted sideways so fast that he nearly smacked his cheek against the bench and felt a deep, angry snarl tear from his throat; Bazz-B had his fingers clenched around Ichigo's leg, just above his knee. The hold wasn't bruising, but it was hard enough to keep his prey from sliding away.
To make the already tense situation worse, Bazz-B ever so slowly slid his hand up the muscular thigh within his grasp. Ichigo curled his head down and nearly collapsed in on himself from the humiliation.
Being toyed with like this was infuriating… and yet he couldn't do anything to stop it.
"Are you fucking kidding me!?" Grimmjow's head shot up as he straightened to glare back and forth between the two across from him. "If you don't fuckin' punch him, then I will!" He snapped, blue eyes burrowing straight into Ichigo as he pointed towards Bazz-B's constantly-smirking face.
Ichigo grit his teeth to hold back all the dark curses he wanted to spit out when greedy fingers started making tiny circles against his inner thigh, gently massaging the sensitive area. Then Bazz-B had the nerve to slip his hand even higher until he was cupping him right between the legs. The playful smirk twisted into something much more wicked when he applied pressure to Ichigo's privates until the man winced in discomfort. Ichigo refused to say anything though. He merely turned his face away so he could avoid Grimmjow's murderous gaze while keeping his lips sealed shut.
"Un-fucking-believable…" Sharp canines flashed as Grimmjow hissed in disappointment. "You're really gonna let this sack a' shit manipulate you? DAMN your reputation! Damn the points! Just fucking DO SOMETHING!" When Ichigo still wouldn't look up, Grimmjow switched his cold gaze to Bazz-B. He wished he still had his brass knuckles, because each and every one of his fingers ached to feel cold metal between them. He wanted so badly to ruin that smug bastard's face in the ugliest way.
BEEP.
Attention inmates. Lunch is over. Clubs will be starting in 20 minutes and remember that you have until 6 o'clock to be back in your cells. Thanks!
BLLP.
"Ah… Welp! That's our cue, Pet."
Ichigo cringed when he was pulled to his feet by one arm, like a cheap whore getting tugged along. Grimmjow watched with an expression warring between frustration and seething rage as Ichigo was herded towards the exit without a single protest.
Ichigo looked up to lock eyes with Zaraki as they passed. The giant man got a good look at the defeated expression and took a step forward, but Ichigo, the stubborn bastard, shook his head. He waved the man away.
Something was off. Grimmjow's brows furrowed as he watched Ichigo leave with Bazz-B. This was about more than just 'points' if Ichigo wouldn't let the captain help him out. What the hell did Bazz-B have on Reaper to make him so willing to destroy himself?
Grimmjow stewed in his anger as the rest of the inmates slowly filtered out of the canteen. He only looked away from the doors when he felt the bench droop slightly next to him, indicating he wasn't alone. He glanced sideways to see the only other man he trusted in this god forsaken place.
Ulquiorra Schiffer.
The mysterious man sat without a word, as usual, but Grimmjow frowned when he noticed the way impossibly green eyes stayed right where Ichigo had disappeared.
"What's got you so interested in him…?" Grimmjow asked and his curiosity only grew when Ulquiorra's lips curved into a small, almost invisible smirk.
"To be honest… I'm not entirely sure… It may be the same reason everyone else seems so drawn to him. Or it could be the same reason you constantly find yourself trailing after him." Ulquiorra shifted to lock eyes with troubled blue. "It's painful to watch how desperate you are for his attention… And yet, like a trainwreck, I can't seem to look away."
"Cheh…" Grimmjow huffed under his breath and tried to shrug away the unnerving observation. He hated looking like a punk, but he also hated watching Ichigo ruin himself. "If you knew what that man was capable of—in AND out of bed—then you'd be lining up to suck his dick too."
"I think he's trash..."
A chuckle escaped Grimmjow, forcing his lips into a tiny grin as he looked back towards the door.
"Well… What's that old saying? 'One man's trash is another man's treasure'..?"
He heard a soft snort in response, which is about the biggest reaction he'll ever get from Ulquiorra.
"He's still trash to me."
Grimmjow reached up to lightly scratch his temple as he quickly debated whether or not to defend Ichigo. He knew the guy didn't really give a shit what others thought of him, but it bothered Grimmjow when these assholes didn't give him the respect he deserved.
"Yanno, that 'trash' is tryin' to finish what you failed to do…"
Hooded green eyes peered at him before Ulquiorra slowly turned to face the bigger male, dark brows rising ever so slightly.
"Wait… you mean…?"
"Yeah. Guess he's plannin' to break into the lab tonight."
Colorless fingers drummed against the table as Ulquiorra thought over this new piece of information. It looked like his icy wall was beginning to crack.
"How? There's no way he can get in without the proper card key."
Grimmjow shrugged and waved a hand in the air as he said, "Fuck if I know. He seems pretty confident 'bout it though-Ahhh, Shit. I hope he's not gonna do what I think he is…" Blue brows scrunched as he scowled in frustration. "It's bad enough he's lettin' that smug bastard walk all over him…" He gestured heatedly to where Ichigo had been dragged away, "If he let's Sousuke—that arrogant FUCK—touch him too—just… fuckin' hell, man. I can't stand watchin' these motherfuckers jump him like this."
Ulquiorra eyed the seething male curiously. He'd never seen Grimmjow come undone like this before. Usually the ex-sergeant was much more composed and cocky than this frazzled mess he's become. Ichigo had so much power over Grimmjow without even trying.
"Don't get yourself worked up about Dr. Aizen… You can worry about him later." Ulquiorra spoke in a deep, calming voice as he tried to drill some sense into the man's stubborn skull. "For now, are you going to just let Hotshot walk away with your so-called 'treasure'? There's still time to stop him." His gaze dropped to witness Grimmjow's grin as it curled back to life.
That was all the push he needed.
"You're right… Wouldja be a pal and round up the boys-It's 'bout time we showed him he ain't in charge anymore." Grimmjow rose to his full height, prompting his partner to do the same. The smaller male seemed almost elated at the promise of violence, but it was hard to tell with those large, expressionless eyes.
"You know we've got your back. Just don't go soft on us..." Grimmjow's lips stretched into a wide, sadistic smirk as he shoved Ulquiorra towards the exit. "... Trash."
"Remind me to teach ya some new insults, buddy."
…
..
…
Ichigo was quiet the whole way to Bazz-B's cell, which was located in a part of the building that he'd never bothered exploring before. It looked like an ordinary cellblock, but as he passed each cell, he began to notice a difference.
Upon first glance, everything seemed normal, each cell was blocked by the same sliding, barred doors and separated by thick cement walls. Inside, however, was a little different. Like every other cell, there was a toilet and a sink inside, but they had only one bed instead of multiple bunks. Each inmate here had their own room? No cellmates?
Are you fucking kidding me?
While every other inmate here had to be crammed inside a small room with three other assholes, these guys got to enjoy a little solitude?!
And where the hell are the guards?
Ichigo looked around but all he saw was a sea of pale grey jumpsuits and big black letters that spelt 'GEN POP''. His thoughts were pulled back to the problem at hand when Bazz-B gave him a forceful push. They made it to the room at the very end of the hall, and of course this was Bazz-B's cell. Not only did he have that single, larger mattress to sleep on, but he had an actual desk pressed against the far corner and a flatscreen television bolted into the wall. Beneath the TV was a small table where an actual router and cable system was set up. There were even a few posters taped up and thick books lined across a shelf and... Wait… Was that a cell phone? Ichigo eyed the small device with wide eyes until Bazz-B noticed. The man quickly snatched up the phone from its charging station and tucked the device away inside his pocket. Ichigo shook his head at the hasty reaction before taking another look around the room.
The first word that came to mind was 'Spoiled'.
It was no wonder Bazz-B thought he had complete control. Yhwach was allowing him to get away with so fucking much. Pampering him even to the point of allowing his gang members to have their own cells and comfy beds. It wouldn't be hard to rack up loyal Quincy with these kinds of perks.
Chestnut eyes snapped towards the entrance when he heard multiple footsteps shuffling closer and blinked when he recognized a few faces in the group. Chad's tall and thick physique stood out like a sore thumb among the others, who, like Mizuiro, were much more petite. Each of them crowded around the door and kept their eyes glued to the floor as they waited to be acknowledged. Mizuiro gulped down a nervous lump when evergreen eyes pinned to him first.
"Uhm… M-Master..? Do you want us to—"
"Not now. Go entertain the others and tell Askin and Gerard to keep watch while I'm… busy." He glanced meaningfully towards Ichigo with that last emphasized word, and the orangette shivered.
Angry blue eyes flashed across his vision as he remembered how Grimmjow watched him leave. If only he realized how much Ichigo did not want to be here… He couldn't believe he was being forced into this… But he always knew that his biggest weakness was family. It's why he'd tried so hard to keep his identity a secret while he was Reaper. He knew the repercussions to his second life could potentially hurt his loved ones.
He'd do anything to prevent that.
"Yes, Sir…" Mizuiro bowed his head and no one else said a word as they did what they were told. It was so sad to see a man have so much power—so much control over other men like this, and Ichigo was no better than these pitiful 'Pets'.
"Now then… Shall we begin?" Bazz-B hummed in excitement as he started towards the bed, gesturing for Ichigo to follow behind. He didn't bother looking back to make sure did, because why would Ichigo refuse?
"Aren't you at least going to…" Ichigo trailed off as he jutted a thumb towards the unobscured entrance, where anyone could just walk by and watch what was about to happen. When Bazz-B raised a dark magenta brow curiously, Ichigo clarified, "Can you put up a sheet or something?" All he got for the effort was a condescending smirk.
"Aww, why so shy all of a sudden?" Hotshot cooed before finally turning, his eyes hooded as he looked the other up and down slowly. "Almost everyone's seen ya naked already, so I don't see the point." He licked his lips as he approached and Ichigo felt himself tense all over again. "But if it'll help ya relax…" He reached for the sheet on his bed and tore it off with ease.
Despite what he said, Ichigo couldn't relax, not even when the large fabric was tucked into place. He suppressed the urge to lean away and growl when Bazz-B circled him closely. Eager hands drug across his body as he moved, tugging lightly at Ichigo's clothing until he came to a stop at the zipper. Bazz-B's expression dropped but he kept his eyes locked on Ichigo's face, soaking in the man's reaction as he tugged the zipper down one tooth at a time.
Ichigo's body trembled with rage. Bazz-B was definitely putting his willpower to the test. He felt like he might snap at any moment.
'Calm down. Take a deep breath.' Ichigo closed his eyes and inhaled through his nose, then he let the air seep between his lips. 'Just get this over with so you can get back to your mission. Man up, deal with the situation, and move on…'
After his little inner pep talk, Ichigo felt slightly more confident. He realized that the sooner he got Bazz-B off, the better.
Once his suit was opened enough, Ichigo quickly shucked off the top portion and then shifted his legs so it pooled to the ground. He stepped out of the discarded article as he reached for his own shirt. His limbs vibrated with suppressed rage, but all hesitation was gone. Ichigo shook off his shoes and socks so that the only thing left was his shirt and boxers.
Bazz-B's grin returned.
He hummed his appreciation while taking a few steps back to watch as Ichigo pulled the shirt over his head and then started a pile in the corner where he'd kicked his suit and shoes.
Bazz-B was amazed that he didn't have to bully Ichigo into giving in more. He really thought Reaper would put up more of a fight… It was actually a little disappointing.
"You must really love her…" His grin doubled in size and he ignored the warning imbedded in narrowed chestnut orbs. "Even after she dumped your ass and let my cuz knock her up? Or… is it your baby? Uryuu mentioned something about her not being too sure." Green eyes quickly dropped to watch Ichigo's fists clench, but he didn't swing. Not yet. "Or maybe there's a third guy she hasn't told you 'bout—wouldn't put it past her. She looks like a ditzy slut who likes riding bare cock, but she's real pretty. Hell, I wouldn't mind puttin' a baby in her eith—" Bazz-B's mouth snapped shut with an excited yip and he quickly ducked away from the fist aimed right for his temple. He'd been anticipating a reaction like that and instantly reached up to grab the extended wrist. He used the grip and momentum to throw Ichigo up and over his shoulder. The orangette growled when his feet lifted off the ground and then grunted as his back collided with the mattress.
"Hell yeah~ That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!" Bazz-B cackled then leapt towards the bed to straddle Ichigo's torso, pinning him back down when he tried to roll away.
"Motherfucker." Ichigo snarled and bucked upward to dislodge the man. Bazz-B nearly hit his head as he was thrown forward by the sheer force. He reached up and pushed back against the wall to steady himself, but that meant releasing one of Ichigo's wrists. He wasn't able to dodge or block the next punch. A small trickle of blood pooled in his mouth, which was immediately swallowed, and Bazz-B's tongue sought out the chip in his tooth. Despite the painful throb, his grin never faltered. An airy grunt escaped when Ichigo surged upwards and Bazz-B struggled to keep him down.
"Shhh, shh, shh," Bazz-B crooned as he settled further onto the writhing body, using his full weight to keep him still. "I'll admit I deserved that…" He said and finally dropped the grin to rub his tender cheek against his own shoulder. Ichigo's struggles lessened little by little. "But, before you hit me again, I wanna show you somethin'..." And now all movement had ceased. Ichigo was starting to realize what his impulsive reaction might have caused, and Bazz-B planned to reinforce that.
Ichigo scowled but kept his mouth shut while Bazz-B reached beneath the bed. When he sat back up he had a remote controller in his hand, so Ichigo automatically looked towards the television. His next breath caught in his throat when the screen came to life and his scowl drooped with regret at what was revealed to him.
Playing on the TV was live footage from an unknown source. The feed was clear and the resolution was high so there was no mistaking that light brown hair and pretty smile in the distance.
Inoue.
She was sitting on the bench at a playground Ichigo instantly recognized. It was the same one they took Nel to every weekend, and there she was; crouched down with a large chunk of chalk in one hand and BawaBawa, the stuffed animal Ginjou gave her, tucked safely in the opposite arm.
Nelliel probably begged Inoue to go there after returning from her visit with Ichigo.
One by one, his muscles went limp. All fight left his body like a plug had been pulled and he sunk deeper into the mattress. He frowned but didn't take his eyes off Inoue's peaceful face when Bazz-B shifted. The man moved to settle along the side opposite of the TV so he wouldn't obscure Ichigo's vision. Bazz-B hummed in amusement as he watched the other dissolve into a puddle of malleable goo. He now had full control over an assassin—over Reaper. The surge of power he felt was almost overwhelming yet absolutely intoxicating.
Ichigo shivered and finally looked away from the screen when fingers slid from his sternum and traveled down his abdomen until they reached his navel. Bazz-B circled the area a few times until he felt the muscles quiver. He finally retracted once he had Ichigo's full attention.
"As you can see," Bazz-B gestured to the screen as he spoke, "I have someone watching her very closely today. All I gotta do is send one lil' text and… well… Then ya won't have to worry 'bout saving up for her college tuition." Bazz-B chuckled at his own dark joke and whipped out his cellphone to wave it in the air mockingly.
Ichigo's eyes narrowed with determination, "So what's to stop me from taking that from you..?" He quickly pressed sideways and rolled so he could reach for the precious device, but Bazz-B instantly pulled it out of reach.
"Welllll… You could take it if you tried—probably even destroy it, but you should know that if I don't text back an hour from now, then my friend already has the go-ahead to kill them." Bazz-B's smirk seemed to have no off switch, it only grew and grew with each defeated expression Ichigo wore. He met no resistance this time when he pinned the man back down on the bed, orange hair spreading atop a plush pillow.
"Aren't you worried about how your cousin—what's his name… Uryuu?—will react to you hurting his new girlfriend..?" Ichigo took the chance to try and turn this around. One last, 'Hail Mary' attempt to stop this!
Bazz-B's amused chuckle chased away any remnants of hope Ichigo clung to. The laugh itself was enough to know he wasn't going to get away, but then Bazz-B had to dump words on top, like fresh sprinkles on already melted ice cream, "To be honest witcha, the guy is a priss and he annoys the shit outta me. We don't talk much. Actually, the only reason I even KNOW about Inoue is 'cuz father got to meet her at some family dinner a few days ago. He told me all about it. Guess Uryuu was showin' her off to the family—Ya know how that shit goes." Bazz-B shrugged one shoulder as he lifted a hand to casually slide his fingers between the hard, sculpted muscle around Ichigo's ribs. His soft touch tickled, but Ichigo ignored the sensation and willed himself not to shift away. "If there's one perk to being stuck in prison, it's that there's no obligation to attend shitty family gatherings… But anyway… It's just a huge coincidence that Inoue happens to be your ex…" Bazz-B's grin curled with glee at the seething glower he received. "A coincidence that I intend to take full advantage of. SO! You ready to cooperate now..?"
...
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...
TBC
Okay so this whole chapter kinda got away from me, so I had to separate it into two parts
My bad
And I kinda want to see how this part is received before posting the next
Oh and here's a little bonus sketch of Nelliel with BawaBawa