A/N: My apologies for not updating sooner. I just haven't really been feeling it. Plus, I was without a laptop for a little over a month over the holidays because my hard drive decided it was time to crash and burn in several ways and screw me over. However, I'm going to do my best to get through Damaged and get it finished as soon as possible so that I can move on to other fics that I've been attempting to get off the ground. So thank you for your patience, and I hope you enjoy the show.

Summary: He couldn't believe he was doing this. How was it that he always managed to get into these awkward situations? When Shuhei, a freelance writer damaged by his past is hired to interview an up and coming author, he never in a million years would think that he would have anything in common with the guy. After all, they're complete opposites…right?

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

-;-

It was a week later that Shuhei finally went back to Grimmjow's to get his phone. It was a rainy day; a little chilled, with a brisk wind that swept across the streets and brought down the rain even heavier than it would have otherwise.

In other words, a bad day.

The dark haired male slammed the door of his car, sighing as he looked over the building that he was about to go up to and hopefully not die from knocking on the door. Sighing, he stepped up onto the curb and shoved his hands into his pockets, taking care to ensure that his hood was flipped up, before going up to the door and rapping his knuckles on the thick wood.

It was several long moments before there was any answer, and when the all too familiar male with the blue hair and cerulean eyes cracked open the door, eyes half-lidded with sleep, it was all Shuhei could do to swallow.

"Something I can do for you, kid?" he yawned, popping his shoulders as he leaned against the doorframe.

Shuhei was momentarily struck silent by the non-hostile attitude that the blunette was taking with him, but then regained his mental footing and straightened slightly.

"I left my phone here."

"Uh huh." Grimmjow confirmed. "Unfortunately, I don't have it."

"What?"

Surprise shot through Shuhei, and he thought only for a moment before his eyes narrowed. Grimmjow noticed immediately the motion, and shook his head before Shuhei could speak.

"I gave it to your friend. Matsumoto. She said she'd get it back to you." The blunette said, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it with a lighter that he seemingly pulled from nowhere. "But considering it's been a week and you're only showing up now, it didn't happen."

"No, it didn't."

Grimmjow shrugged, exhaling his mouthful of smoke into the air, where the rain quickly punched holes through it and caused it to disperse in seconds.

"All I can tell you is that I gave it to your friend. Go talk to her if you want your phone back. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a book to write and coffee to make."

"Uh…"

Shuhei had nothing to say to that, and as the door closed, the male turned and slowly walked back to his car. Grimmjow had actually been civil. Not that he hadn't been the night that he'd brought him back to his house from the alley, but then again, he'd also been a pretty big prick about it too.

Opening the driver's side door, Shuhei lowered himself in and blinked.

There was some strange shit going on here.

-;-

Grimmjow watched Shuhei drive off, a cigarette hanging out of the corner of his mouth and an empty coffee mug in his hand. As soon as he was sure that the smaller male was gone, a smirk tugged at his lips.

He was absolutely positive that he'd managed to fuck with the kid's head. The blank expression that Shuhei had had on his face when he didn't insult him told him all he needed to know.

His thoughts trailed back to the conversation that he and Rangiku had had at the bar for only a moment as he moved over to the coffee machine, and as he began his morning ritual, he couldn't help but see what the woman meant by him being closed off. It was like a brick wall slamming down behind those ever so alluring eyes, and unfortunately for Shuhei, Grimmjow was becoming more and more intrigued by the male who continued to pop up in his life these days. Sure, the total amount of time that he'd spent in the same place as him amounted to maybe four hours, but that wasn't really the point now, was it?

"Well, it looks like she was right when she said that he was strange." Grimmjow muttered, rolling his eyes. "But maybe life'll get a little more interesting because of him."

-;-

"So, anything you want to tell me, Ran?" Shuhei raised a brow, crossing his arms. "Like, you know, actually having my phone for the last week?"

Rangiku's face went blank for a moment before she erupted into a flurry of motion, lunging for her overly large bag and rummaging through it as though her life depended before victoriously pulling Shuhei's phone from its depths and grinning.

"Here it is!" she crowed, looking far too pleased with herself. Shuhei lifted a brow, silently holding out a hand for the electronic device that was basically the only thing that he actually needed in his life. The busty strawberry blond heaved a sigh, but handed it over, not willing to earn the wrath of Shuhei when he was clearly in one of his short fuse phases.

"Fine." She sulked. "By the way, Grimmjow's a very attractive guy. You should give him a chance."

Shuhei froze at Matsumoto's words, and he immediately thought back to the conversation that he had had not all that long ago with the male.

"What did you do." He deadpanned, leveling a stare at her. The woman at least had the decency to look mildly ashamed of whatever she'd done, but she shook her head.

"Oh no. I'm not telling you anything. You can go ask him yourself, if you're that curious. I'm staying out of this one."

"Uh huh. As if you haven't done enough." The dark haired male muttered, pocketing his phone and shifting his clothing so that he was neat and orderly again. "I'll see you later, Rangiku."

She was tempted to call after him as he climbed back into his car, but then again, there was the whole secrecy thing that she'd been sworn to by Grimmjow, so she couldn't really say anything. Damnit, she really regretted getting talked into that….

Stupid pretty people.