#worried
Phoe
xxxx
ps thanks for the reviews. I think i replied to them all, if i didn't i'm sorry.
Chapter 7
Sappy? Yes. True, Grimmjow wasn't sure. He'd not said that word to anyone that wasn't family and not in years in that case either. But he knew his heart hurt when he thought about what the boy had gone through. As much as he wanted to take things further it felt right to stop just now, and try again another time. He pulled the boy closer, feeling him snuggle into his side and rest his face into his chest.
His phone woke him again, this time it was light outside and he had to disengage from his lover to find his jeans and pull his phone out. He was expecting his mother, freaking out over her car or Nel giving him a heads up that his mum was freaking out. Starrk's number was on the screen and he stepped out of the room to answer, not wanting to disturb the other boy from his sleep. Closing the door he accepted the call.
"Hey Starrk, what's up?"
"Hey kid. You know you're in the shit when you get home right? Where are you anyway?"
"Remember that guy we were talking about? He called me in the middle of the night needing help. It was kinda important or I wouldn't have just left without saying anything."
"Yeah I know that. I was in the office when I heard you leave. I wished you'd left a note at least."
"I texted mum, is she pissed?"
"Well lucky for you she was going out this morning with her friends and I said you'd taken the car early, just not as early as you actually did."
"Thanks for covering for me. Look, if she's out can I bring some people round? I'll explain later alright?"
"Yeah, as long as you don't make a mess." Starrk's yawn was cut off as he hung up the phone.
Grimmjow quickly used the bathroom before heading back to the bedroom, seeing his new boyfriend lying on his back, covers hanging off his round backside. The tattoo on his lower back was tempting him, so he gave in and crawled up the bed, holding the sides of Ichigo's hips gently as he ran his tongue along it, dipping down in the cleft slightly. A shudder went through the body and Ichigo twisted; sleep still heavy on his face as he smiled down at his molester. "Morning."
"Well it was morning when we went to sleep, it's nearly afternoon."
Ichigo sat up, rubbing at his eyes, smearing the liner he hadn't removed the night before. "Aw shit." He looked at his kohl covered hand. Grabbing the pack of wipes of the bed side cabinet he started scrubbing at his face, folding the wipe as he used it. "Did I get it all?" Grimmjow nodded, watching the boy toss the used wipe on the surface before he stood up, stretching his body out, fully aware of Grimmjow's eyes burning into his skin. He sat on the floor, tucking his feet under the bed, starting to pull his upper body off the floor, twisting if back and forth as he straightened.
"Seriously? It's Saturday morning, you've been at work all night and you doing sit-ups before breakfast."
Ichigo chuckled. "Do you think this stomach stays ripped by itself? Do you have any idea how hard I've been working to burn off all the shit I've been eating at lunch this week?" He didn't stop, sounding occasionally breathless but keeping his motions smooth and effortless looking. After his set he flipped onto his front, pressing himself up and down quickly. He started to hold himself in the up position, counting in his head before dropping and rising again. Turning, he gripped onto the bed frame with his back to the bed and lifted himself with his arms, working the back of his arms.
Grimmjow just stood against the wall watching him, having no desire to join him. He trained, kept himself fit but it wasn't an obsession like Ichigo had. When Ichigo finally stood, sweat was gathering on his skin, his chest rising and falling harder than normal as he smiled up at the taller man. "Breakfast?"
They made their way into the kitchen, seeing Yuzu standing and wiping down the surfaces. She turned and smiled at them. "Morning brother. Good morning Grimmjow."
"Hey Yuzu, did you and Karin get something to eat already?" Ichigo ruffled his sister's shoulder length hair, making her blush.
"I made her toast with the last of the bread. I was just going to have cereal, do you want some?"
"Yeah, I'll get it, go and sit with Karin in the living room. I'll bring it through." Ichigo had a small smile for his sister, watching her leave. "I'm afraid I've only got cereal. Is that alright with you? You can pick from cornflakes or cheerios." Ichigo pulled both large family sized boxes out of the cupboard, both boxes from a supermarket's own brand. He pulled two mismatching bowls out of the next cupboard and sat them on the surface. Grimmjow chose cheerios, pouring them both a bowl as Ichigo chose the same. Ichigo walked over to the large fridge freezer in the corner, hauling on the door harder than should be necessary and lifting the carton of milk. He opened it, pouring it onto his bowl and both made faces as first watery, then lumpy white liquid fell into the bowl. Ichigo looked at the carton in horror, checking the date before holding it to his nose, jerking it away as he buried his nose into his elbow joint, swearing under his breath. He threw the milk at the sink violently, swearing louder and walked over to the fridge. He opened the door, shoving his hand in to check its temperature, noticing he was standing in a small puddle on the floor. His language was only getting worse as he closed the top door, hesitating as he opened the freezer. The puddle at his feet became a small lake as icy cold water flowed out, fragments of ice in it.
"Fucking hell, what the fuck," He started to slam the freezer door over and over again, working his frustrations out. "Fucking nothing goes right." The door was slammed one more time before Grimmjow surrounded him with his arms, pulling him away as he pushed the door closed with his foot. He pulled the agitated man away from the broken appliance, feeling him wilt in his arms. Looking at the door, he saw Yuzu standing there, her hand over her mouth and Karin standing behind her, arm in its sling and half a slice of toast in her mouth. She just raised an eyebrow at her brother's behaviour, taking Grimmjow's head jerk as a hint to leave and dragging her sister with her.
Now their audience had gone, Grimmjow turned Ichigo round, holding his face. The boy was flushed with shame, not wanting to meet Grimm's eyes. "Hey, it's alright. Come on I'll take you to my house, you can get a hot shower, or maybe a bath? And we can have breakfast."
"I can't leave the girls, not after last night."
"I didn't say we were leaving them. Come on, let's get dressed."
The four of them took about ten minutes to get ready, Karin having to just wear a zip up jumper as she couldn't get her arm through a t-shirt. Grimmjow ushered them all into the car, Ichigo tossing a bag containing the ruined milk and breakfast into the outside bin on the way out.
It took about ten minutes to get to Grimmjow's, Ichigo still avoiding his eyes. He pulled in behind the navy blue Volkswagen and led the way into the house, noting the girls awed looks. Grimmjow chucked his shoes into the rack and tossed his slippers on, requesting they removed their own shoes before coming in. They were quick to do so, Yuzu helping her sister and they left them neatly lined up at the side of the shoe rack, one pair of small pink lace ups, one small blue Velcro trainers and one larger black lace ups that had seen better days. The three followed Grimmjow further into his house, Ichigo gripping Grimm's upper arm for a moment. "Are you sure your parent's aren't going to be upset that you brought us? I don't want to get you in trouble."
"Nah, mum's out and I asked Starrk first."
"Who's Starrk, your butler or something?"
Grimmjow laughed at that, holding open the kitchen door so they could all pass. "No, he's my mum's new husband. I don't think I told you my parents got a divorce about six years ago. Dad's on the coast, don't see him very much now."
Ichigo looked him in the eye for the first time since they arrived. "I'm sorry, I didn't know. Are you alright with it?"
"Yeah, and Starrk's cool. Dad sends me emails and stuff, and pays my credit card bill. Total guilty conscious for leaving me with mum."
Ichigo just raised his eyebrows at that, sitting in the seat he's shown, his sisters perched on the ones next to him at the breakfast bar. Grimmjow goes round the other side, leaning on the marble surface. "Right, so I can offer toast, scrambled eggs, sausage or porridge. But I'll warn you my porridge is lumpy."
Yuzu put her hand up, big smile on her face. "Can I have scrambled egg and a sausage please?! We never get sausages." The excitement in her voice was clear and it brought a smile to Grimmjow's face.
"Yup, Karin?"
"Sausage, if that's ok."
"Absolutely. Ichi? All of the above?" He looked over at his boyfriend, his grin leaving his face for a moment as he saw Ichigo's face looking so down. He walked around, putting his hands on the other's shoulders. He put his mouth near his ear, keeping his voice low. "Remember, love not charity." Ichigo looked up, still sad eyed but he had a small smile on his face.
"Can I get sausage too please? I love a bit of hot sausage." The sad eyes bled to naughty eyes, one eyebrow raised at his innuendo.
"You know, I have recently come to the same conclusion." Grimmjow winked, heading to the large double door larder fridge, pulling out the trays of sausages and eggs.
"Did you not used to like sausages Grimmjow?" Little Yuzu was so innocent when she asked the question but Karin just smacked herself in the face, horrified at her brother and his boyfriend.
They stayed in the kitchen to eat, Grimmjow just standing at the end of the bar next to Ichigo as he scooped egg up with his fork. Yuzu and Karin were eating delicately, slicing their sausages and taking bites of toast as well but Ichigo just stabbed one of his and lifted the whole thing, looking straight ahead as he put the end in his mouth and bit down, knowing Grimmjow was watching him. A trail of hot juice ran out the side of his mouth and he licked at it, using his finger when it got too far, sucking it clean afterwards.
"Oops, that is a juicy sausage." He jerked, smile not leaving his face as he rubbed at his shin, Karin having belted him with her heel. Yuzu was oblivious.
Grimmjow took them all upstairs after that, giving the girls free reign of his TV in his bedroom as he took Ichigo into his bathroom, giving him a thick green towel and showing him quickly how to use the shower. He was about to leave him to it when Ichigo grabbed his arm, stopping him for a second.
"Thank you. You don't know how much I mean that."
"I've told you, I want to help you out. Whether it is give you breakfast or getting your hot water running again, I want to do it for you."
Ichigo's scowl snapped down. "I really don't need your money. Things are bad just now because of the cost of moving and of new uniforms for school. We'll be alright in a couple of months when I get back on my feet."
"And until you do, you can come here to get a shower at the weekends, and not bitch when I buy you lunch at school. And I will be replacing that fridge this weekend. You've got two girls that need to eat, you've said it yourself."
Ichigo went to argue but stopped himself, leaning up to peck the other on the lips before he stripped down, looking back saucily before he stepped into the shower, closing the frosted glass door. Grimmjow joined the girls watching some show about a boy band still in high school, whipping his phone out to mess around until Ichigo got out. He should have told the boy to take his time.
He exchanged a couple of texts with Nnoitra, the taller boy asking why he wasn't in the shower with his bo, Grimmjow had told him Ichigo was at his house but had left out all the details. Ichigo emerged, green towel hanging low off his hip bones as he opened the door, hair still dripping slightly. He asked if Grimmjow had any clean underwear he could borrow, not wanting to put ones he'd worn over his clean body. Grimmjow got a red and black striped pair out of his drawer and tossed them to the boy, Ichigo closing the door for a moment or so until he came out, half dressed and rubbing the towel through the longer hair on the back of his head. His toned upper body was still on display and he held his white t-shirt on one hand. He returned to the bathroom after he judged his hair clean enough, running his fingers through it to put it in some semblance of order. He joined Grimmjow on the bed, sitting with one leg tucked under him as he sat close. The girls were focusing on the TV, sitting on the floor at the foot of the bed and Ichigo used the small privacy to press another kiss on his boyfriend's lips. Grimmjow lifted a hand, smoothing it along Ichigo's jaw, and into the damp strands at the back of his head. They broke away, matching grins on their faces as they studied each other's faces.
"This is the first time I've seen your eyes unlined." They seemed paler brown, almost a caramel colour with just the dark orange lashes surrounding them. There was a ring of darker brown round the outside and his pupils were small at that moment as he focused on the close face in front of him.
"Yeah, I got into the habit about a year ago." He pulled a liner pencil out of his pocket, nearly sharpened down to nothing. "It's like my only luxury item. Won't be getting another one this month though." Ichigo got up, heading to Grimmjow's mirror on the wall, holding his lower eyelid out and running the black along it, doing the other eye before closing one then the other as he coated the top ones. He used his fingers to smudge the lines under his eyes a bit, turning as he finished.
"I'll buy you one. Any one you like."
"I take it you approve of the look then." Ichigo returned to the bed, leaning into his lover.
"Yeah, makes you more badass looking. But I like the real you more, I just don't want to share you." That earned him another kiss, this one lasting longer and including a small tongue touch. It ended abruptly as his door banged, a knock sounding first before it opened, Nel having a wide grin as she saw them on the bed. The girls on the floor jumped at the appearance of the girl in the door, her long green hair loose and around her shoulders as she stood in a tank top and jeans.
"Ah, I knew it. I knew I didn't have a chance. Hi I'm Nel, Grimm's sister." The girl was not shy at entering the room and held her hand out, shaking Ichigo's as he smiled amusingly.
"Hey Nel, thanks for knocking and waiting for me to invite you in. This is Ichigo, and his little sisters, Yuzu and Karin." The girls waved as their names were called, Yuzu shrinking into her twin slightly.
"And you were doing that when they were in the room?" The comment drew a dark look from Karin aimed at her brother who returned the look, raising his eyebrow at her.
A loud bang downstairs stopped her, Nel turning to the door. It had been the front door slamming with more force than necessary. Grimmjow's name was hollered, Sophia's voice sounding more like a harridan than normal.
"Shit, I had hoped we'd be gone before she got back. I'll be back, don't move alright." Grimmjow got up and left the room, Nel hurrying after him. Ichigo got up, putting his t-shirt on, not willing to leave his lover to face an irate mother when it was his fault Grimmjow had to borrow the car in the middle of the night. The girls got up and followed him, curiosity getting the better of them, but they tried to keep themselves out of sight.
Grimmjow was in the downstairs hall when he realised he was being followed, Ichigo about nine stairs above him and two little faces peeking out around the wall at the top of the stairs.
"What gave you the right to take my car in the middle of the night? You didn't ask, and just left without even a goodbye. You have that horrendous machine you made your father buy you if you need transport. What if I had needed my car?" Sophia was standing in high nude spiked heels, her long wide-legged black trousers swishing around her feet as she stomped around the hall. Her hands, with the perfectly manicured nails were firmly planted on her hips, a sleeveless camel coloured cowl neck sweater on her upper body. Her long blond hair was half down, bouncing around her shoulders as she moved. Beautifully shaped eyebrows were drawn down, making the family resemblance between Grimmjow and his mother more evident, each having a similar temper.
"Mum, I'm sorry; I got a call from a friend asking me to take his sister to the hospital. She had a dislocated shoulder. I could hardly take a twelve year old on a bike."
"And if she needed to go to a hospital, why did her mother not take her? Or even an ambulance? Why did it have to be you? With my car? There better not be any blood on my upholstery."
Grimmjow rolled his eyes to the ceiling, feeling his temper come to an end. Nel was clinging to his upper arm as she half hid behind him. Ichigo levelled with him, standing at his other side. "I'm sorry ma'am, it's my fault. I didn't have anyone else to call." Ichigo was bringing the devil onto himself, but took a small step to the side, distancing him from his boyfriend.
"Oh, and now he's here," she glanced up the stairs, catching movement in the corner of her eye. "I see they are all here." She turned on her son, her heels bringing her nearly eye level. "You have no right to bring people here without asking, especially kids! I just said that yesterday about that boy from your class." The look on her son's face told her enough. "And it gets better and better. So he's a trouble maker, who can't take care of his sister? Getting into fights at school. I'm not surprised now I see him though." Sophia got right into Ichigo's face, actually flicking his ear tunnel with her nail. Ichigo took a half step back, horrified at the woman's actions. Grimmjow gripped his arm and pulled Ichigo behind himself, taking a step into his mother's space. He stood taller, frown deep on his face.
"I asked Starrk if I could bring him here. And he's not a trouble maker, he was at work when it happened and just needed some help. I thought you'd be alright with it when you found out a little girl needed to see a doctor." He was on the verge of shouting in her face.
"And what work does a seventeen year old have at two in the morning? Unless he's a hooker as well as a punk." Sophia shrieked at her son, gesturing with her hands wildly.
"Enough."
The word wasn't particularly loud. It wasn't even a forceful word, nor was it said forcefully. But somehow it stopped everything, including Sophia's rant. She looked towards the speaker, incredulous that he had raised his voice to her. There was a very good reason Starrk was good at his job, and that the criminals were scared shitless of him. He could blanket a room with his presence, his gaze cutting you deep and his tone suffocating you. Even with one word.
He stood in the double door way leading into the family living room, not even looking particularly angry, until he looked at his wife.
"Inside." He stepped to the side, letting everyone trail into the living room; a look up at the girls on the stairs brought them down too. Grimmjow was standing next to one of the sofas, Ichigo sitting between his sisters beneath him. Nel stood behind the sofa, clearly showing her support. Sophia was on the other side, standing behind the facing cream couch, arms now crossed under her breasts defensively.
Starrk closed the doors and stood in the middle of the room, able to see all of them. He turned to his step son first. "Grimmjow, you know you worried your mother, something she doesn't react well to and even though you sent a text, you should have let us know before you left. Do you understand that?"
Grimmjow nodded, keeping quiet. Sophia wasn't satisfied with that answer and marched round the furniture. "He shouldn't be going out to rescue strange children in the middle of the night, whether he asks permission or not. I still don't understand why their parents didn't take them."
Nel piped up. "They don't have parents, remember? Grimmjow told you that last week."
That stopped Sophia in her tracks, making her take a physical step back as she looked at the small family on her sofa; the little brown haired girl had tears in her eyes as her brother pulled her onto his lap, one arm around his other sister. She knew she would win no competitions for mother of the year, but she truly did love her son and her previous panic driven anger was reducing as she saw the youth of the boy before her, seeing that he was the one trying to raise his sisters himself.
"But, surely there is someone there? It was eleven years ago, you can't have been alone all this time." Grimmjow took Yuzu's seat, leaning in to comfort his boyfriend without making his mother fly off the handle again.
"We went to live with my mother's sister for a while, but she put us into care after a few years. The girls were no longer babies, and she wanted children of her own but couldn't with us still there."
"Ichigo you don't have to tell us just now." Grimmjow could hear the pain in his voice, obviously not wanting to have this conversation. Ichigo reached out his hand, clasping Grimmjow's bigger one and squeezing gently.
"Yeah, but you mum is right to ask, and you should know anyway."
Sophia's eyes widened as she processed the hand hold, realising the relationship this boy had with her son. She opened her mouth, but Starrk stopped her by just saying her name. She looked over at her husband, eyes still wide and he joined her, taking her hand as he pulled her to the couch, sitting beside her and holding her.
"Care split us up at first, I got sent to a boy's home and the girls got fostered, I was nine, the girls just having turned four. I got to see them at Christmas but that was it. We all managed to get into a children's home the next year, having to stay in different wings because I'm a boy but at least I could spend time with them. We were there till I was fifteen. People kept trying to get the twins adopted, but they refused, freaking out when parent's visited. I did want them to get a home, but I still wanted them with me at the same time. They are all I have left of my family. Yuzu takes after mum a lot, her hair and soft, gently personality, whereas Karin is more like a cross between dad and me, dad's hair and strength, plus a bit of my attitude."
"How did you end up alone?"
"I took my leave of the system at sixteen, the minimum legal age and petitioned to take my sisters with me. It was denied, twice, because I was too young. So they left, illegally I guess. We moved to a different city, I got a job and they went to school. You know why we moved here I guess, and I went back to school as well this time because I was just working evenings and weekends. And that's it really."
"Eh, maybe want to not mention the illegal part in front of Starrk too much, he's police." Grimmjow's eyes were squeezed shut as he realised how much trouble they could now be in from the one adult who was on his side. Grimmjow had suspected things weren't all above board, but he'd planned on keeping that a secret from his family.
Ichigo looked over at the man, eyes wide as he clutched at his sisters. He immediately saw the man as a threat to his family and was now panicking.
"Calm down. You might have broken the law, but it was for a good reason. And you seem to be doing well for your sisters; even if you struggle sometimes there are worse parents in the world than a loving brother living off a part time wage. And just for arguments sake can we clarify that you are in fact not a hooker? Both for my peace of mind and Sophia's."
"I'm not a hooker sir."
"Right, then you are welcome here at any point. Isn't that right dear?" His wife just nodded her head. "We will leave you in peace. Girls, why don't you let Nel take you upstairs and raid the spare room. I've got boxes of her old clothes in there, I'm sure you could find something in there you could steal. I can't remember if twelve year old's still play with dolls but the toys are in there as well. Nel?"
The girl nodded at her dad, coming round the sofa to hold her hands out. The younger girls were happy to go with her, Yuzu giving her brother a small wave as she left the room. Ichigo and Grimmjow were left along in the neutral coloured room, Ichigo slumping down and leaning his head back, covering his face up with his hands.
Grimmjow tucked a leg up under him as he turned, rubbing his hand along the arm nearest him. "I am so sorry about that. She had no right to speak to you like that. Are you alright?"
Ichigo dropped his hands, looking up with a wry smile. "I like your step dad. He's the coolest cop I've met."
"He's not just a cop, he's the Superintendent."
"Shit, well that will keep you clean anyway, having him at home. You mum seems a bit tightly strung though."
That drew a laugh out of Grimmjow, him leaning back and looking into Ichigo's lined eyes. "So what is your job? I thought it was in a restaurant or something but nowhere is open that late at night so I have no idea now."
"Really? Guess, I'll tell you if you give me three good ones." Ichigo was smiling warmly now.
"Eh, the circus, after that rope trick in PE." Ichigo just shook his head, smiling cutely. "Right, stripper? With that body you'd make a mint." Ichigo raised an eyebrow at that. "Last one, cage fighter. Like one of those mixed martial arts guys that rip each other's ears off. You've never had bruises or anything which makes me think probably not, but it would be cool."
Ichigo shook his head again, sitting himself up and turning to his boyfriend. He was nervous looking, taking one of Grimmjow's hands and turning it over, tracing a design onto his palm. "I don't really want to tell you, I don't want it to change your opinion of me."
"Hey, unless you were lying to Starrk and you are actually a hooker, there isn't anything you could say that would make me think less of you."
"You were closest with your second guess. I'm a pole dancer."
Grimmjow raised his eyebrows, not sure what to say, and distracted by the visuals in his mind of Ichigo dancing around a pole. "As in for men? Notes in your underwear pole dancer?"
"Here, yes. I started out in a mixed bar, men and women dancers and customers. I was one of the pole art dancers, not sleazy if you can believe me. Here though it's just men that come in, and I dance on the stage, never the individual tables or the private booths. And no, no bills in my underwear, my tips go into a box on the stage. I'm not a stereotypical dancer; my mentor was into the strength and grace of the movements. I don't just shake my ass to music and grind on a pole."
"Could I come and watch?" Grimmjow was getting excited at the thought and he pulled the other into his lap, Ichigo straddling him.
"When you are eighteen." Ichigo ghosted his lips over Grimmjow's jaw, nibbling at his earlobe.
"Can I ask a dirty question?" Ichigo just raised his eyebrows in anticipation. "Want to dance on my pole?" Ichigo grinned, lowering his body onto the other and wrapping his arms around his neck, opening his mouth to invite Grimmjow's tongue inside.
Hope i didn't disappoint anyone.