Author's Note: Hope everyone's staying safe and healthy with all this craziness going on. Hopefully it all passes soon… Until then enjoy this chapter! There will be some Ichigo and Grimmjow interacting but you'll also be hearing Grimmjow's side of things.
Lies Open Prison Doors
Chapter 15: Are You a Bad Guy?
Unbetad
Ginjou's tongue stretched towards the sparse traces of whiskey that dripped from the open flask, cursing his own high tolerance and wishing he had a whole bottle instead. He tilted his head back and raised the flask, hovering it upside down over his mouth. He drank every last drop like it was water after traversing an entire desert.
Ginjou ignored the condescending snort to his right as he tucked the silver item back inside his chest pocket. He had nothing left to drink and only a slight buzz to show for it. After indulging for so many years, he almost had to imbibe throughout the day to stave off withdrawal symptoms like migraines, nausea, and stomach cramps. Whiskey was like his medication and he desperately needed a refill.
Oh, and it was only 1:34 in the afternoon.
"Haven't changed much, have ya?"
Ginjou grudgingly turned his head, eyes snapping first to the small puddle forming on the concrete floor and then to shiny, wet, combat boots. His gaze traveled upwards with a contemplative hum, inspecting the sopping wet guard uniform. Ginjou continued tilting backwards until he was looking up at the taller male with a raised brow. He smirked before replying, "Could say the same to you, big fella… but then that'd be a lie, wouldn't it?"
Zaraki lifted a brow of his own and crossed both arms, letting the towel he'd been drying himself with fall across his shoulders.
"You don't seem as bloodthirsty as I remember… then again, you weren't a father at the time… I gotta say—I was actually SHOCKED when I heard the ' Kenpachi' s had a kid together." Ginjou stifled a laugh when Zaraki did a quick sweep of the hall to make sure they were truly alone before turning back to glare at him. Without breaking eye contact, Ginjou pressed on, "You guys didn't even gimme a chance to congratulate ya before you up and disappeared on me. I mean, really—what is it about babies that turn y'all into these timid little dogs..? Oh c'mon, don't glare at me like that. Be honest—when's the last time you actually killed anyone?"
That question seemed to put a wrench in Zaraki's anger and he immediately recoiled with a defensive sneer.
"That's none of your damn business."
"See?" Ginjou exclaimed, as if Zaraki had just confessed to being a member of some recovery group called 'Killers Anonymous'. "Reaper hasn't reaped anyone either—not since he found Nelliel."
Unsure of how to respond to that new bit of information, Zaraki decided to ask a question of his own, "Speakin' of him—Didn'tchya say you'd help explain why the hell I got dragged into this whole mess?" He jutted his thumb towards the restroom where Ichigo and Grimmjow were still holed up.
"Oh yeah…" Ginjou hummed with a smirk that Zaraki had no idea how to interpret. "The thing is.. I kinda showed up late to the party as well. Grimmjow already raped Bazz-B by the time I got there."
"Yeahhh.. I noticed Hotshot was… uhm.. bleeding. .." Zaraki nodded uncomfortably while shifting to lean against the wall, arms still crossed over his chest, "But Blue wouldn't do that without good reason. He knows Yhwach will have his skin once word gets out—Him and whoever helped'm out. And there's nothin' I can do 'cept stand back and hope Ichigo doesn't get caught in the crossfire. I have a feeling he's gonna get 'imself involved either way..."
An amused snort, "If it's to help someone he's grown even the slightest attachment to—" Ginjou cut himself off with an irritated groan that morphed into a reluctant chuckle, "Ya know... For a legendary assassin, Ichigo has the most obnoxiously big heart, doesn't he?"
The very corner of Zaraki's lips lifted into the beginnings of a fond smirk, but he instantly crushed it away. He needed to stay calm and FOCUSED around this man.
Ginjou's smirk fell and he let his gaze drop to his own black boots, "From what I gathered, Grimmjow attacked Bazz-B because he refused to call off Bambietta—who was out FILMING Inoue and Nel at the park. Bazz-B threatened to hurt or kill one of 'em if Ichigo didn't…" He trailed off while circling one hand in the air. There was no need to be specific since Bazz-B's intentions were obvious, "And that jackass even had the video of them playing live on his TV!" Ginjou paused to automatically reach for his flask but then remembered it was empty. With a sigh, he dropped his hand, "And if that wasn't enough, he and his sister set a precaution; If she didn't hear from him within a certain amount a' time, then she could kill Nel. Grimmjow… I guess he thought he could intimidate Bazz-B into backing down, but it wasn't enough." He looked back up into Zaraki's purposefully blank face as he got to the part that actually involved him, "Then Unohana and Yachiru showed up on the video with Nel… Which is crazy, isn't it? By some impossible twist of fate—or a terrifying amount of luck, YOUR daughter happens to show up at the park with Unohana?" Ginjou paused for a moment to really emphasize how inconceivable it all was. As if the universe and planets themselves would align just for Ichigo's sake. The young man was an enigma in most things, but when it came to luck, he could scrape by any situation with all of his limbs still intact. "But anyway… The others must've recognized your daughter which is why Grimmjow sent someone to find you, andddd that's when I came in. I gave Hana a call, in your stead, and asked if she could help out."
Zaraki's visible eye narrowed.
"By 'help' you mean...?"
"Yup," Ginjou shrugged one shoulder, "Before you bite my head off, you should know that I barely pushed her to do it—I'm honestly surprised she didn't put up more of a fight…" He choked on an unexpected laugh and threw his head back, "Yes! Even SHE would do just about anything for Ichigo… Glad I'm not the only suicidal one when it comes to that brat."
"Soooo…" Zaraki fought back a long sigh as he reached up to scrub a hand across his entire face; He suddenly felt exhausted, "Lemme see if I got this right. You asked Unohana—my ex-wife ," Zaraki emphasized with a tired growl, "To kill Bazz-B's sister, who are both distant relations of mine, by the way, 'cause Bambietta was gonna kill lil' Nel if Ichigo didn't fuck Bazz-B?"
"Essentially… yes."
".." Zaraki quietly digested that information for a bit before eventually asking, "What did she say when you asked for help..?"
Ginjou blinked in surprise when Zaraki's snarl softened ever so slightly while referring to Unohana. It made him wonder why they even got divorced in the first place, but he brushed that bit of curiosity away real quick. He was pretty sure Zaraki would try to crush his spine by the end of that conversation.
"Hmmm, well, she hung up on me at first.. then she called me a 'rat'." Ginjou scratched at his chin with another shrug, unaffected by Unohana's hostility, but he noticed how Zaraki's shark-like grin returned. Just as the captain was about to interrogate further, shouting erupted from the showers.
"Hey! Heyeyey! Don't you fuckin' leave me like this! YO! I'm not jokin'! ICHIGO!"
Said orangette came storming out of the restroom with a fresh towel wrapped tight around his waist. His steps were steady and he seemed much more sober than last they saw him. Zaraki struggled to remain calm when he recalled the way Ichigo's body felt in his lap. The taste of his lips… The feel of his hands…
"YOU FUCKING FUCK! I'll kill you!" An enraged roar followed that threat, snapping Zaraki from his steamy thoughts.
The captain gave his head a good shake to clear it before straightening to greet the approaching male, "What's that about?" He jutted his chin towards the showers.
Ichigo simply shrugged in answer then came to a stop. His chocolate gaze switched to the only other person in the hall. His lips shifted into a small smirk as he addressed Ginjou, "Surprised your head's still intact. You guys patch things up or what?"
"Waaaait, wait, wait…" Zaraki held up a hand and then turned it to pinch the bridge of his nose in irritation, "You knew this fucker was here and didn't gimme a heads up?"
Ichigo scoffed lightly, "Didn't feel it was important," When Zaraki opened his mouth to argue Ichigo added, "He's actually the one who forged my signature which got me sent here in the first place, so I'm pretty pissed at him too." Zaraki turned to stare at the wildcard of a man with his eye narrowed suspiciously, but Ginjou just grinned up at him. Knowing a fight would inevitably break out, Ichigo changed the subject, "Grimmjow filled me in on what happened—Can I see one of your phones? I know it's against the rules but I want to call Inoue and make sure they're okay…"
Zaraki reached to dig out his phone, but Ginjou was faster. He had the device in Ichigo's waiting palm instantly. Ichigo shook his head at the pleased look that crossed Ginjou's face when Zaraki huffed at him, but then shifted his focus to dialing Inoue's number.
Ichigo's throat tightened with a nervous gulp as he placed the phone to his ear. He saw Ginjou's reassuring smile and quickly spun around to face the wall because he wanted some sense of privacy, even if the others could still see him. He just needed to know if Inoue and Nel were safe.
If anything happened to them...
Ringgg. Ringgg. Ringgg.
Ichigo's grip on the phone tightened with each empty ring as anxiety swelled in his chest.
Inoue and Nel better be okay.
Ringgg.
If she didn't pick up, Ichigo swore to himself that he would kill every single motherfucker in this goddamned prison—starting with Bazz-B.
Ringgg.
Pick up, Inoue.
Ichigo clenched his eyes shut and held his breath as he waited.
Ringgg.
Pick up pick up pick up pickup pickuppickuppick—
Click
"Hello…?"
Ichigo nearly choked on a relieved sob when he heard her voice.
"Thank god…" He sagged, facefirst, against the wall with a small, satisfied smile.
"Ichi…go…? Is that you?"
He was silent.
Chestnut eyes stared down at the floor and he dug his forehead into the wall as he debated whether or not he should answer. The prerecording that was supposed to play when receiving a call from an inmate was obviously missing, but did she notice…? And even if she did , it's not like Inoue would tell anyone about it, right?
He should hang up…
But—
"ITSUGO?! Isth that Itsugo!? I wanna talk! Mommy, lemme talk to Itsugo!"
Ichigo felt a sting behind his eyelids from what could only be the beginning of relieved tears, but he blinked them away. Hearing her small voice shouting for him made his heart swell, as if it had been running on empty.
"Put Nel on the phone…" Ichigo winced when he realized how serious he sounded and quickly added, "Please, Inoue."
To her credit, Inoue didn't comment on Ichigo's odd behavior nor the suddenness of the call. There was only rustling and then soft mumbling on the other line before Nel's loud, lispy voice pierced the receiver, "ITSUGO!"
Ichigo gathered himself back to his full height and readjusted the towel around his waist for good measure; It didn't matter that she was miles away and nowhere within eyesight, just talking to his little girl made him feel... vulnerable .
"Hi, baby girl."
"YAYYY! Nel's happy!"
Ichigo couldn't stop the smile even if he wanted to. She sounded so genuinely excited. Ginjou and Zaraki couldn't see his happy expression but they could hear it in his voice as he said, "I'm glad Nel is happy! You being a good girl for Mommy?"
"Hehe! Yeaahhhhhh. We went to the playground! And I got to sthee my friend Yasthiru! We played tag and she helped me build a biiiiig sthand casthle! But now we're goin' home… 'Nd I don't WANNA go home.."
"Well, did you have fun at least? Anything happen that you should tell me about? You know you can tell me anything..." Ichigo's smile fell little by little when she went quiet. That girl could babble nonsense for hours—He's actually witnessed Nel TALK herself to sleep—so if she was at a loss for words, then that meant something important was on her mind; Something she couldn't wrap her little head around. "Whatsamatter?" Ichigo asked, trying to keep his voice light and cheery.
"Itsugo… are you a bad guy..?"
Ichigo's heart squeezed painfully inside his ribcage and he suddenly felt nauseous.
How the FUCK was he supposed to respond to that?
"Who told you that…?"
Irritated that she didn't get an answer to her own question, Nel made a small huffing sound, but she responded to him regardless, "Uroo said you were a bad guy and tha'sth why you can't be my daddy anymore."
The phone creaked in Ichigo's grasp as rage burst through him.
"Uroo? You mean Uryuu?" He managed to keep the growl out of his voice, for her sake.
"Yeah. Mommy's new fwiend with glasses. He's got a shiny car, and a biiiigggg house, and he's got a giant pool, and he's real nice, andddd—oh, and he makes pwetty dresses."
Dresses..? Ichigo's scowl took over when he recalled the gorgeous silver dress Inoue wore when visiting him… She wouldn't do something like that though… would she?
But the more he thought about it, the more he concluded that it was one of Uryuu's dresses.
But why?!
Didn't she see how inappropriate that was?
His anger towards Inoue piled up with each negative thought, but he brushed it aside. Despite everything, he still loved her and he was happy to know she wasn't hurt. In the end, Inoue was still taking care of Nelliel and raising her while Ichigo was off strangling the ghosts of his past.
Ichigo was willing to forgive a lot of things—but to let some guy tell HIS daughter that he couldn't be her dad?
What the ever-loving-FUCK?
Who did he think he was?
Ichigo was fucking finished with the whole goddamn Ishida familyline at this point*.
"Well Uryuu is wrong, babygirl. Don't you dare listen to him." Ichigo was stern, but not harsh. He didn't want to upset her, though he had to make it clear how serious he was, "Nelliel-Tu. Listen to me. No matter what happens—No matter how far away I am, or how long I'm gone—I will always be your dad. You got that?"
"O-okay…"
"Nel, I want you to say it back to me so I know you understand."
He heard her giggle before saying in a loud, confident voice, "Itshugo will ALWAYS be Nel's daddy!" But after a short silence she added, unsure, " So.. you're NOT a bad guy?"
Both anger and annoyance reared their ugly heads but then seeped from Ichigo's body in one long sigh. A chuckle managed to escape as he realized the ridiculousness of this conversation.
"Do YOU think I'm a bad guy?" Another small, hysterical chuckle tittered across his teeth.
This was crazy… Because he really IS a stereotypical 'bad guy'.
He's a convict!
A thief!
A liar!
For fuck's sake—He's KILLED people!
A lot of people...
Despite all of that, Nel's response was immediate and soaked with confidence—like when she learned two plus two equals four, "No! I told Uroo dat there's NO WAY Itsugo's a bad guy!"
"Well there's your answer then."
"Heheh. I knew it!"
"Good. Now pass the phone to Mommy, I'd like to have a word with her."
"Okeedokee! Love youuuuu!"
"Love you too, baby girl." Ichigo's smile fell away once more as she passed the phone.
"Is everything alright?" Inoue didn't give him a chance to speak first, and Ichigo couldn't blame her for being anxious. He did sound kind of panicked when he first called, but after speaking with Nel he felt much better.
"Yeah… yeah. Everything's okay." Ichigo confirmed and he could almost see her sag in relief. "Didn't mean to worry you. Something just… came up… and…" Ichigo really wasn't sure how to explain the situation without giving away too much. He might just end up worrying her more if he tried. "Listen, I don't—"
"I'm sorry, Ichigo." Inoue interrupted, " But I have to let you go. We just got home and I need to get Nel down for her nap…"
No. There's no way he's letting her hang up yet.
"Did you know he was saying stuff like that to her?" Ichigo waited to see if Inoue would answer, but she went silent. He couldn't tell if she was thinking about her answer or maybe pretending to have already hung up, but he could still hear Nel laughing and babbling in the background. "Inoue, he told her I couldn't be her dad… And I want to know if you knew about it."
"I… I-I really have to go, Ichigo."
"Okay…?" Ichigo reluctantly agreed and there was a short pause on the other line. She was giving him a chance to say one last thing and, for some reason, Ichigo felt like it should be something meaningful, but all he could think about was Uryuu and what that bastard was telling his little girl. "Fine, but I really want to talk about this... alright?"
"K-kay…" Inoue whispered nervously into the receiver, which seemed a little strange. Ichigo wanted to ask about it but he didn't have time before Inoue said a quick, " Bye" then hung up.
Ichigo pulled the phone away and stared at the device as if the words 'call ended' had all the answers to his cluster-fuck-of-a-life.
Well, at least they were alive.
Tragedy averted.
Ichigo slowly straightened off the wall to turn around and toss the phone back to its owner. Ginjou caught it with ease and stuffed it in his back pocket.
"Guessin' everything worked out?" Zaraki wondered gruffly.
"Yeahhh…" Ichigo rubbed the back of his neck and slowly tilted to face the man, who was grinning so hard that each of his sharp teeth were in full view. He looked like a wolf; His features all pointy and dangerous and hungry … and Ichigo really couldn't stop the small excited shiver even if he wanted to. "What?" He snapped with a little more venom than he intended.
Zaraki didn't seem bothered by his tone. In fact, his grin stretched a bit wider and he answered with a chuckle, "Your 'daddy' side is fuckin' adorable. I like it~"
Ichigo fought off an incoming blush and quickly reversed his emotions from embarrassed to insulted. Reaper wasn't supposed to be 'adorable', dammit!
ZzzZztt… Krrrsshhh… SSHHHHtch
All eyes turned to Zaraki's radio as it crackled to life. An electronic squeak pierced the air and then grew to an unbearable, high-pitched squeal.
ssSCREeeeeEEEEE!
Zaraki winced away from the sound and ripped the device from his shoulder. He shook the water off, but it continued to screech in protest.
"Fuckin' hell.." Zaraki growled and turned it off before snapping it back in place. He turned to Ginjou, who didn't even react when his own radio was snatched away. Zaraki turned the knob located up top until it was tuned to his personal channel then held it up with a frustrated sigh.
"Whoever that was just now, I didn't catch whatchya said. Repeat." He released the button, allowing whoever was contacting him to speak.
Beeep.
'Captain? Can you hear me?' Ikkaku's familiar voice came through.
"Yes. What is it?"
'Just did my rounds and there's no sign of Blue. I tried askin' around but his fuckband are tight-lipped all a' sudden. No one's seen him OR carrot-top since lunch. ' Ikkaku reported and Ichigo let a knowing smirk crawl along his lips; There he goes again, trying to go above and beyond for his captain. ' Not sure where Blue went off to, but you think Hotshot still has your lil' buddy?'
Zaraki rolled his eye at that last part and reached up to reply, but his hand froze midway when he noticed the curious look plastered across Ichigo's emotionally weak face.
That was always something he could never understand about Reaper… Zaraki has punched and kicked his way through life for so long that it was second nature for him to gauge people's strengths and weaknesses, but he never really paid attention to their emotions . It was unnecessary and distracting, especially in life or death situations. With Ichigo though, it was hard NOT to notice the guy who fought with such passion. It helped strengthen him in fights, sure, but Zaraki always assumed it would be his downfall. Damn kid may as well carry around a bright neon sign announcing every little emotion he felt.
"What's that look for?"
Ichigo's expression brightened with another grin, "Does he know?" He pointed to the radio to show he was referring to Ikkaku.
The corners of Zaraki's lips drooped into a mean frown and he huffed through his nose. The question was vague yet obviously about one thing: Kenpachi.
"'Course not. Why?"
"I was just wondering if his eagerness to 'please you' was out of FEAR orrr… uh, ya know…" Ichigo shrugged a shoulder while Zaraki stared at him like he'd just announced they were all giraffes.
"No, I don't know. Please elaborate, ' lil' buddy' ." Zaraki growled, daring the other man to put those crazy thoughts into actual words.
Ichigo waved a hand to brush off Zaraki's hostile curiosity, "Eh. I'll let you figure that one out on your own…"
Blp.
'Uhhh… Captain? You there?'
Ikkaku's voice pulled their attention back, and said captain instantly reached for his radio.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm in C Wing. Those two knuckleheads are here with me, so don't worry 'bout it…" He was about to let go but added as an afterthought, "Ey. Grab one of the nurses from medic and escort'm to Bazz-B's cell. He ain't gonna like it, but he needs a ' special' check-up."
'Uh… okay. No prob.' Ikkaku sounded surprised at first but then there was a chuckle. 'Hah. Hotshot finally got what was comin' to him, huh? That's awesome—can't fuckin' wait to see how this blows up. Warden's gonna be pissed, man.'
"Yeah, yeah. Was there anythin' else ya needed, or you just gonna use up my channel for gossip?" Zaraki growled irritably. He was too tired for this shit and wasn't exactly in the best mood after being blue-balled by an overprotective ex-sergeant with a superiority complex.
'No, sir! Sorry, sir!'
"Hold up, can I ask him something?" Ichigo raised his hand, palm up expectantly. Zaraki tilted his head back and looked down his nose at the appendage, snorting at it like each finger personally offended him. Ichigo then realized he might be pushing a line here—bossing the captain around like he wasn't an inmate in prison right now. The radio piece was slapped into his waiting palm with a grunt and Ichigo quickly placed the device against his lips to hide the smirk.
"Hey Kuku, ya mind grabbing something for me while you're at Bazz's cell?" Ichigo chuckled when the first sound to come through was an agitated growl.
'Ya gotta knock it off with the Kuku thing… but fine—since ya always get your way, PRINCESS … What am I lookin' for?'
Zaraki furrowed his brows at the interaction. They sounded a little too familiar with each other... His long arms weaved together across his chest as he peeked over at Ginjou, hoping to find some sort of explanation. The brunette grinned mischievously back at him then shifted to be directly behind Ichigo. He then pointed at the radio and mimed performing a blowjob just as the orangette continued to speak, "There's a few items in the right pocket—which should still be in there." The fake card-key, the flash-drive, his mother's engagement ring, Yumichikka's temporary hair dye, and that one reporter's business card. He didn't want to list them aloud, not with Zaraki and especially Ginjou present, so he added instead, "It's a total of 5 items. If even one thing is missing.. you can tell Bazz-B that everything Grimmjow did will seem like gentle petting by the time I'm finished with him." He let a small snarl solidify the threat and it was quiet for a long second before he got a response.
'I think I'm startin' to understand why the captain likes ya so much.'
Ichigo glanced up at the bigger man to see his reaction, only to find that golden gaze aimed down at his chest, or rather his nipples. The single eye flitted back and forth between each bud, like Zaraki was debating which one to pinch first. Feeling a little playful after the events of the last hour, and maybe Bazz-B's drug hasn't completely worn off yet, Ichigo lifted his empty hand to smooth it over his own bare chest. It caught Zaraki's attention like a hook to a fish, and the giant man watched, hypnotized, as Ichigo's hand slid down ever so slowly. Long fingers dipped between toned muscles and very gradually went lower and lower until it came to a stop at the towel's edge. Ichigo readjusted it to snap Zaraki out of his trance. He then sent up a teasing wink as he returned the radio. Before either Zaraki or Ginjou could comment, Ichigo turned on his heel and strutted away.
"Ey! Where you runnin' off to?"
"I need to let Grimmjow loose..." Without looking back, Ichigo swung a small set of keys around his right pointer finger as he returned from whence he came.
Zaraki's hand instinctively patted his belt, where his handcuffs should be. A short moment passed while he pieced together the fact that Ichigo must've taken them earlier when he was… distracted … and now Grimmjow was cuffed somewhere inside.
And that's why he was shouting.
The mental images following that line of thought had Zaraki coughing into his fist, as if he could hack up all the salacious ideas popping into his head.
'Oh, Captain! Forgot to mention...'
Zaraki held back another sigh as he lifted the radio once more. "What is it?"
'The reason I went lookin' for Blue—he's got a visitor.'
Kenpachi's thumb hovered over the reply button for a moment as that sunk in. Grimmjow hasn't had a visitor in… well… ever.
"Who is it?" He asked, pure curiosity controlling his voice.
'Dunno… But they look alike. My guess is they're related, 'cept this guy is a lot less... blue . Only saw him for a split second before Sousuke started showing him around—didn't know that pompous asshole gave tours...'
Zaraki took a moment to search his memories for any hint of information he had on the Jeagerjaques family, but nothing came to mind. Then he heard a whispered, "Shit…" tumble from Ginjou's frowning lips, halting every train of thought Zaraki had.
"You know somethin', don'tchya?" The question was more of an observation mixed with a command to 'keep talking'.
Ginjou rubbed the back of his neck with a nervous shrug but managed to open his mouth and say, "I was hoping his brother wouldn't show up so soon. Now things are gonna get complicated..."
…
..
…
Before Ichigo turned the corner to enter the showers he paused when he heard… nothing. The hiss of water from the same shower that Zaraki held him beneath should still be running, since Grimmjow—the only person inside, was handcuffed.
Well… was handcuffed.
As Ichigo walked further inside, he realized his mistake: He underestimated Grimmjow.
Surprisingly, the showerhead was still attached to the wall and the cuffs lay open on the ground where they fell. The clever man must've learned a trick or two while here in prison. Ichigo was actually impressed, but he should've known better. Grimmjow wouldn't just stand around and jerk-off like the rest of these knuckleheads... Ichigo's mind wandered for a moment, reminiscing the golden age of Sergeant Grimmjow Jeagerjaques. Ichigo could still picture him in his freshly pressed uniform, Medal of Honor dangling from his chest, just below the colorful array of hard-earned badges.
Would he still be back with his squad, shouting orders, and chasing new recruits around if they never met?
Of course he would.
Ichigo was drowning beneath guilt-ridden flashbacks, each one making it harder and harder to breathe… but his focus was inescapably brought back to the stark naked man standing in the middle of the room, dripping wet from a recent shower.
He must have taken the first chance he got to rinse Bazz-B's blood off his dick.
Grimmjow had his back towards Ichigo and the orangette's first reaction was to glance down at the well toned backside presented to him. The small spark of arousal that came to life was snuffed out when he came across discolored splotches. The prison suit had done an excellent job hiding them, but now the bruises were clear as day. There was a particularly nasty one along his ribs; already turning a dark purplish-green.
Ichigo forced himself to look away, brows scrunched and lips pursed. He wondered if he could get his hands on some of that healing gel used on him after his fight with Zangetsu, but then he felt a blush creep its way up his neck when he thought of the price a favor like that would cost… especially from Yumichika.
Grimmjow was too busy toweling off his hair to catch the bashful look, but once he was finished, he turned to find he wasn't alone. With a sharp click of his tongue, he let the towel drop from his head to drape across his shoulders.
Ichigo always loved the way his hair looked after a shower; slicked back with a few stubborn strands trying desperately to stay in its usual chaotic wave. Ichigo felt like fidgeting when both his growing libido and conscience fought for dominance.
It didn't help that Grimmjow's expression was carefully tailored into an unimpressed snarl—the same one that made Ichigo feel uncharacteristically insignificant. Almost like he was unworthy to be in the man's presence. Ichigo dropped his head to avoid the aqua gaze as it scorched his face. His focus was drawn to the man's feet when they approached, cocoa eyes snapping to them like a magnet.
Ichigo clenched his eyes shut and braced himself when Grimmjow got within striking distance; He wasn't sure what to expect but he knew that he deserved a punch, or maybe even a kick, or an uppercut, or… or SOMETHING, but all Grimmjow did was bump his shoulder as he passed.
That's it?
No.
That can't be it.
He reached out to grab an elbow, but Grimmjow must've been expecting him to try something because the hand was instantly smacked away. Grimmjow whirled around, shoulders raised like the hackles of a pissed off tiger.
Ichigo lifted both hands innocently, "Just… hold on. Wait a second, okay? I want to—"
"Tryin' to talk your way outta this one too, huh!?" Grimmjow barked, bright eyes glowing with unrelenting rage. "Well, you can save your breath! I'm done havin' your back when ya won't do the fuckin' same. If you EVER leave me like that again—I'll—YOU—you're gonna see a whole 'nother side to me, and it ain't FUCKIN' PRETTY," He was seething so hard that it was difficult to form coherent sentences, but Ichigo almost sighed in relief. He didn't fuck up THAT bad if Grimmjow was actually giving him a chance to redeem himself.
Of course, he'll have to walk on eggshells around the guy now.
The strained emotion in Grimmjow's voice stirred up multiple memories at once, fragmented pieces floating through his subconscious. Each echoed sentence squeezed his guilt-ridden heart until all breath left his body.
' There's no fuckin' way I'm lettin' you run from me again .'
'Sorry ta burst your bubble, but I've never once lied to ya-that was more your forte.'
'Yeahhh… s'what I thought. All you do is run! Ya quitter! Ya chickenshit!'
'Wherever you're goin'-whatever you're about to do, I want to be a part of it…'
'All I want is for you to trust me…'
How could he have EVER thought Grimmjow was the one who turned him in...?
Ichigo's somber eyes slowly sank towards the floor, as if the weight of his shame were attached to each iris.
Leaving Grimmjow handcuffed to the showerhead probably upset him more than he realized... and the stubborn jerk won't accept any form of apology. Especially not now. Ichigo reached up to lightly finger the spot on his throat where long fingers had choked him for even trying to apologize during lunch. He would have to try a different approach.
"I understand…" He started and took it as a good sign when Grimmjow actually backed off a bit, "But, for what it's worth," Ichigo paused to lick his lips nervously, "From this point on, you have my complete and total trust. No more lies. No more running. And... I want to thank you for… Well, for everything ." His jumpy gaze flickered to every painful mark that littered Grimmjow's body. Ichigo felt responsible for every single one of them. The warm flush that had been slowly devouring his neck found his cheeks and bit at the tips of his ears. "You've done nothing but help me, even after I've caused you so much pain… A-and I'm not just talking about the White fight or what happened with the Quincy..." Grimmjow's silence was unnerving, so Ichigo forced himself to keep going, "Honestly, why aren't you trying to kill me right now? I mean... if anybody hurt my sisters the way I hurt your brother, I'd kill them in a heartbeat. So I… I just-I don't understand you…"
Grimmjow's shoulders relaxed, little by little, and he retracted his metaphorical claws. Soft chestnut eyes roved across every inch of his damaged skin, flustering Grimmjow all over again, but he remained quiet.
Ichigo's warm stare inevitably landed on the long, jagged scar across his torso. Amazingly, it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. Stitches kept the skin stapled together and went all the way from his right hip to the opposite shoulder. They were itchy and ready to pop out any moment. The skin between sliced flesh was already fused together with dark purplish-red tissue. There was no sign of infection or irritation but it wasn't finished healing yet either.
In the end, It could've been a lot worse...
"This ain't nothin'..." Grimmjow brushed it off with a snort then shrugged the towel from his shoulders. He wrapped it around his waist with a cringe when Ichigo fucking smiled at him. "And Pantera got what he deserved… Let's just leave it at that."
"Uhm… Okay… Well, I promise I'll never leave you behind. Never again."
Grimmjow had to turn and look in a completely different direction so he could focus on his own composure.
Damn Ichigo for being so fucking pretty.
And fuck him for being so damn forgivable.
"I said it's nothin'. Quit bein' a gushy fairy." Grimmjow growled. He walked over to the shelf stocked with folded prison uniforms and chucked one at Ichigo, silently demanding that they get dressed. Ichigo scoffed under his breath as he dropped the towel then yanked on clean boxers. He shoved each leg into the prisonsuit as he thought about his next move. They've wasted enough time here.
'Hopefully Ikkaku can get my stuff back. Knowing my luck** though, Bazz-B will have everything hidden away by now…'
Ichigo needed the cardkey back before he could even think about confronting Sousuke, and his mother's ring… There was no way he'd let that precious item stay in Hotshot's greedy hands. He knew going anywhere near the manipulative bastard was risky, but… Ichigo's forehead twisted and scrunched with frustration. Damn it all—He didn't have TIME to be correcting this fucked-up day!
Ichigo scathingly dragged the t-shirt's entire front across his face as he pulled the damn thing on.
"What's the hold up?" Grimmjow must've seen the conflicting emotions on Ichigo's face when he looked up to see the other still wasn't fully dressed.
"Uh…" Ichigo blew off his sudden anxiety with a shrug, "I…" He really didn't want to drag Grimmjow into this—not after seeing the damage caused (intentionally or not). "Eh. It's nothing. Don't worry 'bout it," Ichigo used the same flippant tone Grimmjow just used on him. He then swooped down to pull the suit up his legs before tugging the zipper halfway. He wrapped the empty sleeves around his middle to keep everything from falling like he'd seen most of the other inmates do.
"Fuck you." The words were punctuated by a long ' ziiiiiipppp ' as Grimmjow fully closed his own prison suit. "You JUST said that I had 'your complete and total trust' and now yer goin' right back ta lyin' ta me?"
See? Eggshells…
"I'm not lying! This isn't about TRUST!" Ichigo snapped back, voice climbing higher in bewilderment. Feeling a little betrayed by his own vocal-chords, Ichigo took a sudden, anxious step forward, landing him right inside Grimmjow's personal space. One blue brow rose and, when a hand reached for him, the larger male leaned away with the same cautiousness of a stray evading a friendly pat. All of those tensed muscles and straining tendons visibly relaxed as gentle fingers traced the diagonal path along his front. "Tell you what—ya want some truth—fine." Ichigo sighed under his breath, still not trusting his own voice, "Truth is, I'm not the same bloodthirsty killer you met back at the barracks. I don't want to kill anymore, but...," Ichigo twisted his fingers in the fabric of the other's collar and pulled him closer. Grimmjow gulped when he was forced to lean forward so Ichigo could continue speaking against his lips, "Listen.. I know you can handle yourself, but if something ever happens to you..." Ichigo stared straight into narrowed eyes, where a war between anger, frustration, and embarrassment waged noticeably. "It ain't gonna be fuckin' pretty." He adopted the same verbiage that was used on him earlier then pressed forward to graze his teeth over the other's bottom lip.
Ichigo hummed with interest when fingers traveled up his sides then dropped and swung around to grab his backside. Grimmjow used the grip to pull him closer then slipped one hand up Ichigo's front, starting at a narrow waist then up firm abs. He paused to caress a smooth throat with his thumb before diving his whole hand into silky orange locks. Ichigo's heart fluttered with excitement. He could feel the poor organ thudding against his ribcage and it nearly skipped a beat when lips pressed against his. Grimmjow's expert tongue knew exactly how to turn his entire body into putty while firm hands molded them together. Powerful arms kept Ichigo grounded while his head felt light enough to float away.
All too soon, Grimmjow pulled away, but he didn't go far. His hands stayed latched and his teeth lightly nipped Ichigo's jaw as he spoke, "Now that we understand each other," Grimmjow's voice was a deep, sexy rumble and Ichigo couldn't stop the shiver that rolled up his spine, "Why don'tchya tell me more about these dreams you've been havin' 'bout me." He chuckled when he felt Ichigo stiffen. He must've forgotten that particular moment in his drug-induced haze, but Grimmjow was more than happy to remind him.
The heated moment was ruined by a loud cough.
Grimmjow stretched to peer over orange strands while Ichigo turned his head to scowl at Zaraki, who was casually leaning against the entrance.
"Ey, if you two are done bein' a pair a' blushing schoolgirls, move it. I ain't got all fuckin' day," Zaraki spoke with a teasing smirk aimed directly at Grimmjow.
Payback's a bitch, right?
With a snort, Ichigo spun to face the giant, "Fine. Here's your stuff. Go knock some heads in or something," He tossed the handcuffs back, along with its keys, "But you're right, I've wasted enough time with this fiasco ." Ichigo hardened his stance and moved to storm back into the hallway but Zaraki stopped him with one hand; The other was busy reconnecting the cuffs to his belt.
"Not so fast, Buttercup. I'm takin' you to medic," Before Ichigo could protest, Zaraki continued, "I wanna make sure that whatever the hell made ya go all loopy is outta your system."
Ichigo turned to Grimmjow with an expression that screamed 'is this guy fucking serious!?', and silently asked for some backup, but the bluenette crossed his arms.
"Actually, I agree with 'im. You should go get checked 'fore ya wind up in another… situation . Last time you were doped up ya let WHITE fuck ya—so your judgement is obviously fucked right now."
"Wait, he did what?" Zaraki demanded but a soft grunt puffed from his chest when Ichigo shoved him aside in one swift motion, feet struggling to keep himself upright like the roots of a dying tree. Ichigo didn't bother answering. Apparently not even Ikkaku filled the captain in on Ichigo's 'auction experience'. Might be for the best.
"You know-Just 'cause you and I used to sneak around n' fuck— years ago—doesn't mean you can boss me around like a jealous housewife, SARGE ." Ichigo snarled instead, hoping to put a dent in Grimmjow's ego, but the only reaction he got was a tight frown. Ichigo raised his arms and shouted at the ceiling, "I'm FINE!" Then he whirled on Zaraki and glowered until the man took a step back. "I appreciate the concern, but I don't remember asking for help. I had everything under control—" His expression darkened when he heard multiple scoffs, "I will get through this day, one way or another... I WILL help Zangetsu get out of that fucked up place," Ichigo's head whipped to the side so he could glare at Grimmjow over his shoulder. He waited for blue eyes to relent before switching his glare to Ginjou, who was posted up across the hall, "After that I WILL kill Grand Fisher," Zaraki shrunk back some more when Ichigo's wrath turned on him next, "And then I'm getting the FUCK outta this godforsaken place!"
With that settled, Ichigo brushed out the wrinkles in his shirt and readjusted both sleeves tied around his hips before starting towards 'B' Wing. He shoved both doors open, but then he stopped. His feet stayed planted to the ground while his head and body twisted until he could reconnect his gaze with Grimmjow. A meaningful, yet silent look passed between them. Ichigo wanted it to be clear that he wasn't leaving the man behind. He waited for the stubborn asshole to get the message then turned to complete his escape.
Grimmjow, like a sailor answering their siren's call, moved to follow, wanting more than anything to accept Ichigo's hidden invitation, but a large hand suddenly dropped onto his uninjured shoulder. He tried to shrug it off, but iron fingers clenched down, ultimately stopping him in his tracks. He could tell from the size alone that it was Zaraki so Grimmjow didn't bother looking away from Ichigo's retreating form.
The captain didn't speak until the doors slammed shut, "Did I just hear him say he was gonna kill Grand Fisher..?"
"He never told you?" Grimmjow asked in wonder and he barely managed to tear his gaze away to inspect the giant man critically. He could've sworn that Ichigo and the Captain were... close —judging from the way Ichigo clung to him.
"He told you ?" Their attention drifted to Ginjou and Grimmjow's upper lip rose when he found himself on the receiving end of the same critical look he just gave Zaraki.
"What? Surprised?" Grimmjow sneered, arms crossed defensively. He didn't have to prove himself to these assholes. In a way, he felt honored to know that Ichigo didn't share details like that lightly, but then who was this jerk to know more than him? A small spark of jealousy crackled to life in Grimmjow's gut but he wouldn't let it show.
"Tch," Ginjou pushed off the wall with a click of his tongue, "His trust in you never ceases to blow my fucking mind. At first, I couldn't understand why it took him SO LONG to trap Pantera, come to find out he was off playing lover-boy with you ." He pointed an accusing finger at furrowed blue brows only to have it smacked away, "Not only that! He even told you his real name! After I specifically ordered him not to leave any witnesses, and yet here you are." Onyx eyes rolled when Grimmjow puffed out his chest. The man was practically glowing with pride. Wanting to pop that bloated arrogance, Ginjou added, "You think you're special n'all, but if Ichigo really cared about you then why did he leave you behind? Huh?" The victorious grin nearly broke his face in half when Grimmjow's expression darkened, and then he bravely continued, "Yeahhh, I know all about that—Oh, and didja know he retired not long after?" Blue brows furrowed into a terrifying glare, but Ginjou didn't back down. He raised a single hand as he swore, "Honest to god. He quit looking for Grand Fisher and settled down with Inoue, a beautiful woman —SO, essentially, what you and your brother went through because of him was for nothing. And that's exactly what you are: A sorry sack of nothing he tossed aside like a used condom."
Zaraki leaned back and silently observed the sudden glaredown. As much as he wanted to step in and ask what the fuck Grand Fisher had to do with any of this, he decided the information wasn't worth getting between two alpha males. Not that he couldn't handle them, he was just too tired to give a shit.
Ginjou was trying his damndest to rile the man up, to make him lash out, but Grimmjow was showing an impressive amount of restraint, which earned him some respect points from Zaraki.
Sharp canines flashed as Grimmjow's smirk curled back to life.
"'Nothing', huh? Yeah, that was a whole lotta nothin' we were doin' a minute ago." Grimmjow licked his lips with a hum, like he was savoring the flavor of Ichigo, then jutted a thumb towards the restroom. Normally, Ginjou's spiteful bait would've worked and he'd be absolutely livid about his feelings towards Ichigo, but after seeing the way he unraveled in his arms… No one could convince Grimmjow that it meant 'nothing'. So fuck Ginjou for even trying to put that in his head.
"That shit doesn't count. He was drugged." Such a weak argument coming from a DRUNK.
"Ya know what…" Grimmjow shrugged his shoulders high and left them there as he tilted his head, pearly whites glistening between a vindictive smile, "I bet I understand him better than you ever could. And the fact that he trusts me MORE than you really pisses ya off, don't it?" He challenged.
Ginjou grumbled to himself and proceeded to walk away, allowing Grimmjow to feel like he 'won'. Before pushing through the same doors Ichigo had disappeared through, Ginjou said, loud and clear, "Good luck with your visitor!" Then he was gone.
"Visitor?" Grimmjow echoed curiously. Realization tore a reluctant groan from his throat. His head fell back as he groaned, "Fuuuuck."
"Yeah... C'mon." Zaraki motioned for the other to follow. Grimmjow refused to budge.
"But…" Blue eyes flickered back towards the double doors. "I know that dumbass thinks he has everythin' figured out… but I should really keep an eye on him."
Zaraki's first instinct was to defend his old comrade and say the man was more than capable of handling himself, but after this past week… He wasn't so sure anymore. "You're not the only one watchin' his back. He'll be alright. But are you sayin' ya don't wanna go to visitation?"
Grimmjow's lip rose in distaste. He stuffed both hands in his pockets and swung damp bangs away from his face.
"If it's who I think it is, then FUCK no. That bastard had YEARS to visit me, and now all a' sudden he shows up? I never told him Ichigo's identity, but I know his fuckin' face got leaked online.. It can't be a coincidence, and m'not in the mood for Pantera's fuckin' games."
"Your brother?"
Grimmjow's shoulders sagged and his gaze fell to the floor with a huff.
"How'd you know..?"
"Ginjou said somethin' 'bout you havin' a brother named Pantera after he heard the guy looks just like you. How he knows your brother—I got no fuckin' idea, but I ain't surprised. Ginjou knows too much for his own damn good."
"What the hell? I just met the asshole today—who the fuck is he?"
Zaraki suppressed a sigh and gestured once again for Grimmjow to follow. This time the bluenette moved willingly; if it meant learning more about the mystery guard that seemed to have strong ties with Ichigo, then he'd play along.
The captain kept a cool face and spoke low so he wouldn't be overheard as they exited C Wing, "Since Ichigo seems to trust ya so much, I guess it won't hurt… Ginjou is the leader of Xcution, and he's the one who took Reaper under his wing—trained and taught him everythin' he knows."
"Huh…" Grimmjow let the new information roll around his head. That had been his original guess when Ginjou mentioned he 'ordered' Ichigo not to leave witnesses, but it felt strange to have it confirmed. Xcution was infamous and known worldwide, but all of it was mostly rumor. There wasn't much information about them that was credible or even substantial. Only a rare few names like 'Reaper', 'Kenpachi', 'Bookend', and 'Bount' were ever whispered in public. Grimmjow knew this because he did his own research after… Well…
After Ichigo left him behind.
He didn't let it show, but Ginjou's words had stung, like the fucker somehow discovered that old, rusty, metaphorical knife stuck in his back and started yanking on it. Back then, he really did feel like 'nothing'.
Blue eyes grew dull and distant as he thought about that day in the desert...
It took 18 hours for that stupid paralysis drug to wear off. Dehydrated, weak, and mentally torn, Grimmjow remembers walking his battered and broken motorcycle all the way back to base. Pantera was still in surgery by the time he got there. He was comatose for a whole week and when he finally woke up they argued... but how long could you really fight with a man who couldn't even stand on his own two feet anymore? He never questioned Pantera about Grand Fisher, but he should have. He might have actually found Ichigo with that little bit of information—but that would mean admitting he spoke to the man just before he escaped. Grimmjow wanted to avoid revealing the fact that he got ditched, and, more than that, he didn't want to break Ichigo's trust.
Grimmjow tried to return to a normal life—the way it used to be. Before he ever met 'Tensa Reitsu'.
But it wasn't the same…
Grimmjow stayed at that damn base for 6 long months before he eventually snapped. He needed to find Ichigo—or die trying. So he left. Deserted his whole squad, his brother, his friends… his country , all because he couldn't handle the heartwrenching ache that Ichigo left behind.
Deserting had been easy enough. Grimmjow used his brother's access codes to delete what information he could find about himself then packed up some essentials, including his gun and a car full of special equipment. Then he was gone. Finding the Kurosaki family had been child's play. They owned a small family clinic in Karakura. Quaint little place. It was run by Dr. Isshin Kurosaki, the father, and there to help him were two young girls, Ichigo's sisters if he had to guess.
None of them shared Ichigo's bright-ass orange hair, but they all had similar features. Seeing that little family laugh and interact was such a strange moment in Grimmjow's life. The fact that it had been so fucking EASY to find them... It made him truly appreciate the amount of trust Ichigo placed in him that night.
Grimmjow never introduced himself to the Kurosakis and he was careful to keep his distance***. He wasn't sure how much they knew about Ichigo and what he did in the shadows, so it was best to steer clear. The best thing to do was set up a small base of operations at a hotel down the road. Luckily he was able to get a room high enough to see the entire neighborhood. He then used his wide array of spying tools to see if Ichigo would ever show up. Grimmjow wasn't exactly a patient man… but he assumed Ichigo must be off doing god-knows-what as 'Reaper', so, to pass the time, Grimmjow did some digging for information on Xcution.
He never found much…
But now he had access to Kenpachi, a fucking legend. Not that he really needed the information anymore, thanks to Ichigo's dumb-ass gettin' caught, but Grimmjow's unsated curiosity was practically jumping for joy.
"Are you really Kenpachi?" Grimmjow heard the aggravated sigh and quickly added, "I only know 'cuz when I mentioned Zangetsu was askin' around about 'Kenpachi', Ichigo looked worried and I saw his eyes dart to you, so I put two and two together." He smirked up victoriously when Zaraki sighed again.
"Yeahhh… Just-for fucksake-keep that shit to yourself. Bad enough those other two keep bringin' it up." Zaraki trusted him enough to talk about Ginjou, so it wasn't a big deal.
"No worries, I ain't a snitch. But, so, what was it like? Bein' in Xcution—I mean."
Zaraki shrugged a shoulder and waved his hand like it wasn't anything special. "Honestly, I don't know much about how things're run inside. Ginjou always hand delivers dossiers for the targets s'well as our payments. He doesn't trust communicating electronically. Says it's like askin' to get caught. Him and his partner were the only ones ever in contact with the clients so we didn't have to reveal ourselves."
"Partner?" Grimmjow echoed, zeroing in on that little tidbit.
"Tsukishima—or you'd know'm better as 'Bookend'."
"Huh… Yeah I've heard a' him. Legend has it he'll make his victims disappear—not just die, but their names would be wiped from history. Like they were never even born."
"Sounds 'bout right… That skinny prick has access to all sortsa weird government shit. Call me old-school, but I think a good neck-snappin', some gasoline, and a match works just fine."
"Ya said the jobs were delivered, but didn't you guys have a 'base' or somethin'?"
"Naw. It was all pretty discreet. If Ginjou does have one then I don't know nothin' 'bout it."
"Then how'd you meet Ichigo?"
Zaraki slowed to a stop and waited for Grimmjow to look up before saying, "Nosy lil' punk, ain'tchya?"
Grimmjow made a defensive noise that was a cross between a snort and a scoff and he took a long step backwards, but Zaraki pulled him close with a laugh. Grimmjow's upper lip rose when a heavy, and still damp, arm landed across his shoulders. The captain was careful not to hurt him though. Zaraki continued laughing as he walked forward, this time with Grimmjow tucked under his wing. They passed a few guards and a group of inmates, making Blue feel self conscious, but Zaraki distracted him by picking up the conversation.
"There was a client 'bout 9 years ago offering a fuckin' rediculous amount o' money for the head of some Yakuza general. Normally, I only worked with Unohana, who was my wife at the time, but…" Grimmjow looked up to see the deep frown on Zaraki's face before it got buried beneath a simple smirk. "But for that assignment, Ginjou insisted I take the new guy. I thought it was cuz he happened to be fluent in Japanese—and pretty much every other asian language you could think of. For a while I thought I was gonna have to be his bodyguard r' somethin', but, by god, Reaper could fuckin' fight!" Zaraki took a quick peek to see Grimmjow's blooming grin. It was small but visible. "Actually, he ended up savin' MY life on that mission. Almost lost my other eye to that asshole with the machete—hehe." Zaraki chuckled at the memory but then forced them both to come to a stop. A metal detector was blocking their way to the large, solo visiting room. Quietly, so the nearby guard couldn't hear, Zaraki continued, "Anyway.. We went on a couple missions together, but never really got ta know each other, ya know…? He never mentioned his family or anythin' from his old life—but he did talk about you ." Zaraki had to suppress a chuckle when wide blue eyes blinked up at him. The man looked completely stunned as he stood frozen beneath the other's arm. "Between you n' me—If I had known Unohana was gonna leave like she did, then I woulda chased after him too." He gave Grimmjow a friendly pat on the back after he finally removed his arm, to show that he respected and understood the man's pain. "Now… you gonna go see your brother, or you wanna go back to your cell?"
Shaking off his initial surprise, Grimmjow's lips tightened to a thin line and he turned to glare at the closed door. It was the only thing standing between him and his older brother, who he hasn't seen or heard from in 5 long years.
Zaraki quietly stood by and watched Grimmjow's inner turmoil as it bubbled to the surface. Anger slowly morphed to frustration which eventually surrendered to curiosity. Grimmjow grudgingly pushed his way towards the metal detector, forcing the solo guard on duty, Maki, to jump into action. He did his job of inspecting the inmate and patting him down—mostly because the captain was right there watching. Grimmjow turned to give Zaraki a short nod which was reciprocated before the Captain left to find a fresh, dry , uniform.
Once Zaraki was out of sight, Maki noticeably sagged in relief. Grimmjow frowned but decided not to comment. Instead, he went straight to the entrance and opened it. Thankfully, Maki didn't follow, so he shut and locked the door behind him.
The first thing he noticed was Pantera's outfit: Grey sleeveless shirt, showing off thick, muscled arms, and when Grimmjow leaned sideways to look beneath the table he saw dark blue jeans and dark brown combat boots. He was so accustomed to seeing this man in uniform, it was almost awkward when he dressed so casually. Everything else about him was the same: The top half of his silver hair was pulled back into a high ponytail while the bottom half, from the forehead down, was shaved with decorative streaks left behind. The dog tag dangling from his neck was a familiar sight and eyes, blue as his own, stared back at him with that same sinister spark that made the entire room feel cold.
Grimmjow tore his gaze away only long enough to glance down at the lone manilla envelope laying ominously on the table. He looked back up skeptically.
After a solid minute of them just staring, Pantera spoke first, "You look like shit."
Grimmjow stepped forward just far enough to grab his chair, not feeling at all obligated to properly greet the man after that insult. He knew exactly how to get under his brother's skin and watched with glee when dark brows furrowed. "Whaddya want? And what the fuck is that?" He demanded while tilting his head at the lone folder. It was placed just out of arm's reach, as if it was mocking him.
"I'm here for a few different reasons, some of which have nothing to do with you, but before we get into all of that…" Pantera's fingers walked across the smooth surface as he spoke, leading the way to the object in question, and, with a quick flick of his wrist, slid it across the table. "This is for you."
Grimmjow immediately bent the little metal pin, releasing its flap and reached in. He pulled out a small stack of papers. Thankfully, the first page was all he needed to see.
Executive Grant of Clemency
A Full and Unconditional Pardon
by the
President of the United States
HO-LY SHIT...
This is an actual, honest to god, Presidential fucking Pardon!
He and his boys joked about getting one of these because it was such an impossible wish! A myth! Something that was made up and passed around to give these caged men some weak semblance of hope… It was a joke . Stuff like this didn't happen!
Be it known, that this day, I, the president, pursuant to my powers under
Article II, Section 2, Clause I, of the constitution, have granted unto
Grimmjow Jeagerjaques
a full and unconditional pardon.
No fucking way…
This wasn't just some 'get out of jail free' card, it was a ticket to start over. His title and military honors would be reinstated. He could return to a normal life.
Grimmjow grazed his thumb over the embossed seal tucked in the corner to confirm that it was, indeed, a genuine document. He let the papers fall, one sheet at a time, in absolute shock. All he could do was sit there and stare down with unblinking eyes as he tried to convince himself this whole goddamn day wasn't just some weird dream.
"I knew that would put you in a better mood. Ready to chat now?"
Pantera's voice snapped Grimmjow out of his stupor. He glanced up, crossed his arms, and slowly leaned back, looking rather defensive. His initial surprise melted away then hardened into suspicion.
"What's the catch? How the fuck did you even manage to get this!?" He slapped a hand over the documents for emphasis but then quickly retreated, as if touching the thing would make it disappear.
"No catch. I already notified the warden, Mr. Ishida. You're a free man."
"..." Light blue brows furrowed into a tight knot of disbelief. "Why..?"
Pantera took his time reaching across the table to gather the papers and place them back neatly inside its envelope then asked his own question, "You don't remember seeing me while you were getting stitched up, do you?" He pointed first to Grimmjow's chest then to the deeper wound at his shoulder. That's where the doctors focused most of their attention, stitching muscles and severed veins while trying to keep him alive. Zangetsu really dug that blade in with no remorse… "I'm not surprised, you were heavily medicated by the time I got there. Plus, you lost a lot of blood—good thing we're the same blood type."
"Woah! Wait—What? You gave me blood ?" Well… that's a troubling thought.
"So you could live, yeah. And as soon as I left, I started working on getting you this—" He tapped his finger over the documents. "You have no idea how many Generals and government officials I had to call.."
While the younger was busy recollecting his memories of that painful day, Pantera shrugged and sat back in his chair. He wiggled a bit to make himself comfortable. That's when Grimmjow realized something wasn't quite right...
"'Ey… Where's your wheelchair?"
Pantera's lips spread into a wide grin and he looked almost triumphant as he slowly stood to his full height. Grimmjow remained seated as he stared up into blue eyes that reflected his own. It's been a long time since he saw Pantera on his own two feet. It was… a miracle?
"But how?" Grimmjow instantly demanded. He could clearly recall a team of experts hovering over the man's body and saying stuff like 'He'll never walk again', 'It's irreparable', or 'There's nothing we can do.'
So how in the hell...
"I have Dr. Aizen to thank." He said casually while lowering himself back into the chair.
" Sousuke Aizen..?"
"How many 'Aizen's could you possibly know?"
Grimmjow couldn't say he was shocked. They've both known Sousuke for a long time now—Back when the man still worked as a Cytologist for the military.
Grimmjow and Pantera got recruited the same day—same second really, but Pantera was the first to get promoted. That was normal, the oldest usually precedes the youngest in most family dynamics, but that never stopped Grimmjow from trying … In any case, since Pantera was bumped up first, he learned that the higher you go the more people you're 'allowed' to know.
Grimmjow met Sousuke through Pantera. More than likely, it's the only reason he hasn't been dragged, feet-first, through his psychotic experiments. He knew all too well that Pantera could just nod his head once and Grimmjow would be sitting alongside Zangetsu—who was probably jammed full of needles at this very moment.
Grimmjow pinched the bridge of his nose and tried his best to piece everything together.
"You let that prick stick ya with his drugs—didn't you?" He growled. "Yer lucky ya've already got white hair…"
"Sousuke perfected the serum before injecting me. There are no more side effects."
"He… completed it?"
"Not quite. He says it's not finished, but he worked out all the kinks. You should be thanking him too."
"Huh..?" Grimmjow lowered the hand digging into his temple to glare across the table. "Thank Sousuke? For what? "
He'd been so careful to avoid taking anything from that maniac. No requests, no FAVORS. Nothing. He didn't want to be another one of his guinea-pigs. So, unless the clever bastard put something weird in the cafeteria food (which Grimmjow would not put it past him), then he was clean, dammit!
He didn't owe Sousuke a damn thing!
"If you didn't die from bloodloss first, you'd still be laid up in that hospital bed, unable to use your arm, if it wasn't for us."
"Waaaaait, wait, wait, wait… 'Us'?" Grimmjow raised both hands then pushed back against the chair with a forceful stretch, making it scratch loudly against the gritty concrete floor. "When exactly did ya take that serum?"
"'Bout a month ago. It only took a few days for my muscles to regenerate enough to walk. Now I can do everything I could before—and maybe even more."
"So… the blood you 'gave' me… it had that stuff mixed inside… Didn't it?!" Grimmjow's eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. No direct answer followed, but the sly little smirk that crossed Pantera's lips was all he needed. "You fucking poisoned me."
The smirk fell with an exaggerated huff. Pantera's upper lip rose in distaste as he spoke, "What a cynical way to put it…"
"And.. so.. what ? I'm just supposed ta accept that you showed up after years of complete fuckin' silence to save my ass? A-positive blood-types aren't that rare! Even with only one arm left—I'd have been FINE without you." Grimmjow snarled and let his face drop towards the table. "I wanna know why you're REALLY here..."
Pantera didn't make a single fucking noise. He just stared at Grimmjow until the younger was brave enough to look him in the eye. The blistering emotions that charged that icy gaze made Grimmjow want to lean away, but he refused to be intimidated. His upper lip stretched into a snarl and fingers twitched impatiently, like he was ready to lash out at any second.
When it was clear that Pantera wouldn't open his mouth any time soon, he pressed with a different question instead.
"Why are you making me leave?"
That seemed to get Pantera started. He shifted in his seat and let out a small sigh before shrugging his shoulders. He looked uncomfortable now, though Grimmjow couldn't understand why.
"Making you leave..? Why don't you WANT to be free?" Pantera was trying to reverse everything back on Grimmjow. "That orange haired monster really got to you, didn't he?"
' Here we go …' Grimmjow couldn't hold back the giant eye roll even if he wanted to.
"I don't know how, but he managed to turn you against me! After everything I've done for you, BROTHER… Now the mere thought of me helping you makes your face twist into that ugly glare. What did I do to deserve such scorn ?"
"Quit tryin' to turn this around! Ya might be outta that damn wheelchair but you've gotten real fuckin' comfy in the 'victim' role, haven't ya?!"
"I AM a victim! He tortured me—Remember?"
"Oh boo-fucking-hoo!"
Pantera's careful control slipped as he slammed both hands on the table. Before he could growl out a single curse, the door's lock clicked open and in came the blonde-haired guard, Jugram—otherwise known as Warden's 'bitch' to the residents of Hueco Mundo.
"I'm here to escort you to your cell so you can gather your things. Then you must leave the premises." He explained to both simmering males. His narrowed gaze landed on Grimmjow as he said, "Congratulations on your early release, Sergeant Jeagerjaques."
The hatred he saw in those eyes reminded him of Yhwach, who probably heard what happened to Bazz-B by now. If anything, Grimmjow was dodging a bullet, but he knew better.
This was far from over.
…
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TBC
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…