"Are we going on a date?" Grimmjow asked when Aizen explained his plans for an evening out.
"Are you embarrassed to be seen with me, Grimmjow?" Aizen was selecting a jacket from the closet while Grimmjow flicked channels. "Or perhaps any man?"
Grimmjow stopped flicking. His face reddened. He couldn't deny it was sort of strange to him.
"My, my, after everything we've done together…"
"Sorry," Grimmjow blurted out but Aizen was smiling in that annoying, mocking way of his. Grimmjow scowled at once. "Oh screw you! I'm just…I'm—"
"Embarrassed, Grimmjow, I think we've established that clearly now."
"Fuck." He shut off the t.v. "I ain't embarrassed, come on, let's go."
Aizen pulled on his coat and smirked as if he knew how perfectly he'd just played Grimmjow.
"Of course, our reservation is for seven."
Despite pretending it was cool, Grimmjow really was quite uncomfortable. He didn't know how to put into words his relationship with Aizen but going out like this was putting that relationship out there for everyone to see—and to judge. He couldn't help that his shoulders slouched a little more than usual, or his scowl was deeper than most days.
"We can go home if it's really bothering you," Aizen whispered as he walked them to their table on the rooftop of a beautiful restaurant where everyone was dressed to the nines. Grimmjow didn't care so much that he was underdressed—he'd never dressed up for anything in his life and damned if he was going to start now. But he did feel every eye that was on him for a different reason.
"No," he said at once. "I don't give a fuck what these assholes think."
"Good."
They wined and dined. Grimmjow would have much rather enjoyed a beer at the pub but he supposed that wasn't at all Aizen's style. In fact, as he thought on it, they really didn't have much in common save their criminal backgrounds.
"Can you take me to my place after this?" he asked between mouthfuls of wine which to him still tasted sour even if it was some old, fancy vintage.
"You want to go home?"
"Just for some of my clothes and shit." He shrugged, not wanting to make a big deal about it.
"Does that mean you plan on staying for a while?"
Grimmjow sniffed and diverted his eyes. "Yeah I guess, give it a go."
His hand was grasped over the table. He abandoned the decorative plant he'd been staring at and looked back to Aizen.
"I'm very glad to hear that."
"I just thought, well, it kinda makes sense I guess…"
"I does." Aizen still hadn't said that it was safe for Girmmjow to leave, but in the past week it seemed clear to him everything was back to normal. He had been thinking about leaving every day, but every day he'd decided to put it off. Now, he finally realized why.
"But I kinda want to keep my place," he said suddenly, afraid he'd committed too much. "I mean, I'm going to pay you back for the I.D., and I'll need my place to do work."
"And you still don't want to give up your independence," Aizen said what Grimmjow wouldn't. "I understand that."
"Good."
"Shall we go then?"
"Yeah, sure." They got up from the table but Aizen didn't ask anyone for a cheque. When Grimmjow asked, Aizen explained he owned this place.
"You're the owner here too? How many businesses do you own?"
"Several, but much classier than Katagiri's." In other words, no strip joints.
They descended the steps from the rooftop back into the main restaurant.
Grimmjow stopped dead on the second last step when he saw who was leaning on the hostess's counter, talking to a nervous looking blonde girl.
"Grimmjow?" But Aizen only had to trace the path from his eyes to the two police officers—one fat and short, the other tall and muscular. His face hardened.
"Go back upstairs, Grimmjow." Grimmjow started to turn back, but that thick voice carried across the room.
"Hold it!" The officer called "Yeah you, kid, stop right there."
Grimmjow froze, gripping the rail white knuckled. Aizen descended to meet the pair before they could reach Grimmjow.
"Is there a problem, officer?"
"Yeah. We've come to arrest that little punk."
"On what grounds?"
"He assaulted a police officer."
"I assure you he was with me all day."
"Three officers were witness. If you have something to say to the contrary, you'll have to come down to the station and have your statement taken."
Three officers. Three fish in the barrel. And now another ploy to make sure it was only Aizen who could go get him out. This meant Katagiri must be planning something big and he wanted Aizen out of the way.
"If you don't move, you'll be aiding and abetting a criminal."
There was no choice in the matter. If they arrested Aizen, then he'd be well and truly out of the picture. Grimmjow understood it all. He turned back to face the pair. Aizen was unmoving. He saw the fat one reach for his weapon.
"I'll go," he said it strained, his hand ever on the rail to steady him. "Aizen it's okay."
"Grimmjow—"
"I understand what they're doing and I know you do too. I won't let them get what they want."
He willed himself to release the rail and walk down the last steps.
"I can stop them."
"Not without getting yourself locked up." And not with all these witnesses, Grimmjow thought. These bastards had planned it all out. He crossed the floor to them.
"Good boy." The fat one grinned and grabbed his wrists, forcing them around his back and closing the cuffs around them. "Let's get going."
He stumbled from the shove. His legs were slow to move and the tall one ended up grabbing his arm to get him walking. He almost looked back, but he didn't. His resolve was iron when it needed to be, but every other part of him was screaming for Aizen to rescue him, to shoot these bastards in the head no matter what the cost.
But they took him to the car without incident. They opened the door and put a hand on his head to force him in. He struggled then, because he knew what would happen soon. A shot to his kidneys got him in and he fell face down against the seat.
"Hmm, I think he might be a danger to himself." The fat one said to the tall one—Yoshi, Grimmjw recalled.
"Yeah, Taka, I think he might be. Should I sit back here with him?"
"Good idea, Yoshi."
A wide hand came down on Grimmjow's head again, pinning him in place as Yoshi moved in behind him.
"His belt could be a weapon." Taka said, slamming the door behind Yoshi and taking the driver's seat."
"Of course."
Grimmjow bit his lip to keep from calling out. His belt was undone and yanked from his pants. His boots too, so if he managed to get a kick in it would have less impact.
He couldn't get a good blow in anyway. The close quarters in the back seat didn't allow much room to move and the man had him basically immobilized just by pinning his head and hip.
But Yoshi just held him in place. He knew they wouldn't really start until the car stopped
When it did, however, and the door above his head opened, he did not see the police station. In fact, they had driven into a building. He looked around, it was a car park. Theirs was the only car inside.
"Sorry kid but Katagiri really wanted us to hurt Aizen. We won't be taking you to the station."
The back of his coat was grabbed. He was hauled out of the car and shoved roughly to the ground. He quickly tried to right himself but a boot to his ribs caused him to fall against a cement pillar.
"Easy, Yoshi." Taka walked slowly toward his prey. "We don't want to rough him up too much. Not yet, anyway."
He crouched. Grimmjow was righting himself as best he could. His eyes scanned the dark premises. It appeared to be a private parking garage, probably attached to an office building. There would be no reason for anyone to be parked in here after the work day and it probably required a pass to get in. It was the perfect location for their game.
Although this was sounding less like a game and more like the real thing.
"You gonna kill me?"
"It's what's going to happen first your need to worry about." Taka took hold of the front of his shirt. "If you sit still I might not hurt you so bad." He leaned in, taking a grip of Grimmjow's hip. His mouth came up to Grimmjow's throat.
"Fuck you."
Grimmjow rolled to the side and got to his feet. Yoshi had been waiting for him to try something. Grimmjow didn't have enough room to run so he swung a leg up and tried to kick.
The bastard caught his ankle. It was a rough fall this time. Yoshi threw him with enough force he rolled several times. He smelled oiled and felt grit between his teeth. It took him longer to get up this time and by then they were both on him. Yoshi's fist made him see stars. He tightened his stomach muscles before the kick got him but it still made him cough out harshly. He panted against the pavement, pulling his knees in to get up but a boot on his hip rolled him over and hands on his shoulders stayed him.
"You're a hell of a fighter kid." Taka straddled his waist, crushing Grimmjow against the ground, grinding his cuffed hands deeper into the dirt and his back. "But this was a fight you could never win." He reached into his back pocket and drew out a long, thin case. "Might as well get the nasty part over now."
"What the fuck is that?" Grimmjow asked when he saw him snap open the case and saw the syringe.
"You live in a bad neighborhood, surely you know, son."
"WHAT IS IT?" Grimmjow writhed beneath him when he took hold of his upper arm.
"Liquid Cocaine."
Grimmjow eyed the amount. It was surely a lethal dose.
Steel pierced his skin.
No. He hadn't survived that maniac who'd spawned him just to die here like this. He hadn't fought his way out of poverty or survived all that he had to be destroyed here by something a vial as Cocaine or someone as disgusting as this man.
He sat up straight and opened his mouth. The moment he tasted salty flesh, he bit down.
Hot liquid flooded his mouth and drenched his neck and chest. The tang of copper filled his senses. Something soft flopped in his mouth. He sat back and spat out the skin and cartilage of Taka's pudgy nose.
The screams that came from the fat man were deafening. He fell away, clutching his face. Even Yoshi was stunned by the bestial act and didn't move for a moment. Grimmjow rolled free, drew his feet up and forced his wrists forward. He felt something pop in his shoulder but it didn't hurt. Actually, nothing did. He felt his blood pumping, his heart pounding. He felt like he could see and smell and hear every minute detail.
Yoshi finally snapped from his trance and looked to the blood drenched young man they'd come here to rape and murder.
Grimmjow smiled.
Yoshi fired a shot in panic. It went wide and a tire popped. He shot again but this time Grimmjow wacked his hand at the last moment and not only did the gunshot miss but Taka screamed again and it was clear the bullet had hit him. He went quiet soon after. Yoshi's eyes were wide when Grimmjow grabbed his wrist and hauled back. There was a snap, the gun clattered to the floor. Grimmjow rolled away while Yoshi was still reeling from the pain but he didn't go far. He dodged under a swing and came up behind the tall officer.
It was over after that: he got his hands over Yoshi's head and brought his chained wrists down around his neck. Then he hauled back.
Yoshi struggled. He drove his elbow back into Grimmjow several times. He kicked, he bucked. He even clawed backwards. But eventually his knees gave. This allowed Grimmjow to gain more leverage. He pressed a knee between Yoshi's shoulders and even though the cuffs cut into his wrists, he yanked back harder.
Yoshi went limp, tongue bulging from blue lips. Grimmjow staggered back.
That was when the electronic door opened behind him. He dropped forward and grabbed one of the guns.
"Stop!" He heard running feet. He spun but Kaien caught the barrel. "Ah fuck…ah dammit!" Kaien staggered at the sight of the downed officers but took the gun from Grimmjow and pulled him away from the bodies. Taka was still moaning. The shot hadn't finished him.
"Ah shit!" he swore again and this time Grimmjow felt a sharp pain. He looked down his arm and saw Kaien withdrawing the needle. "What did they inject you with?"
"Nothing, I stopped him," Grimmjow said calmly, staring at where blood dripped from the injection sight.
"KID!" Kaien shook his shoulders.
"Yo, stop freaking out."
"God dammit." Kaien let him go and pulled out his cell. "Hurry the fuck up!"
But the call was pointless as tires screeched coming into the parking lot and Grimmjow recognized the dark suits that got out. Stark emerged from one car, Aizen from another. They both converged on Grimmjow where he still stood with Kaien. Stark's eyes widened at the sight behind him. Aizen reached out and held the side of Grimmjow's face, staring intently into his eyes.
"It's okay," Grimmjow said. "I stopped them."
"Grimmjow, tell me what they gave you."
"Nothing, I stopped them." But he saw Kaien shake his head and lift up the syringe. Grimmjow squinted. More than half the liquid was gone. "But it didn't go in me," he argued even though Stark was now taking his arm as if he expected him to collapse.
"Coke," Kaien said after having inspected it.
"No…"
"Aizen I'm fine," Grimmjow assured again. "I stopped them. I saved myself."
Aizen ignored him. "Get these fucking things off of him," he ordered. Kaien obeyed and undid the cuffs with shaking fingers. Stark withdrew and retrieved the gun from the ground. Grimmjow turned just in time to see him put a bullet through Taka's skull. Then he felt fabric on his cheek and Aizen's arms holding him.
"I'm okay," he said again.
"I should have killed them in the restaurant."
"I'm okay…" His knees buckled unexpectedly. Aizen stopped him from falling but withdrew, letting Kaien take his other side.
"That dose could still kill him," Kaien warned getting him in the back seat of the car. "But he can't go to hospital covered in that evidence."
"I know. Clean this up."
"I don't know if I can."
"You and Stark. Get it done."
The door slammed shut. Grimmjow sat where he'd been deposited. The black seats wavered before him. The road seemed to zigzag all over the place. He tasted copper and salt. He laughed.
"Grimmjow." A hand was on his knee. He smacked it away. Then he turned and saw Aizen. He saw brown eyes and cold eyes and glasses and ice. He saw a red tie, felt silk and heat and hands. He grabbed and kissed and rubbed. He heard his name repeated several times. He smiled and let his head fall back as he was held. Then he drew forward again and dug his fingers into toned flesh.
"Grimmjow!" Aizen held him back with a hand around his jaw. "You're high."
"I'm not," he argued, rocking his hips where he'd come to straddle Aizen. "Fuck me, Aizen."
"You have to calm down. You're body's in turmoil."
"It is," he agreed, trying to lean in again but Aizen still held him back. "I need you to take me. As hard as you want, I don't care. Please, Aizen…please…"
Aizen stopped restraining him. He dove in but suddenly his body twisted and his back was against the seat. Aizen pinned him from above. Grimmjow jerked in the hold. His vision spun again. He let out a moan. Then a sob. His stomach contracted. He felt tears and acid all at once. He vomited and laughed and cried and gagged. He felt gravel beneath his hands. He didn't remember leaving the car. He didn't remember falling to his hands and knees but he felt himself falling now.
"GRIMMJOW!"
"GET OFF OF ME!" he ripped away from the hands on him. Metal clattered to the floor. Silk sheets threatened to trap him. He fought his way free of them and onto hardwood floor. In a quick scan of the room he saw a man in a white coat clutching his face where he'd been struck. He saw a trail of white bandages across the bed and realized on of his wrists was stiff with the protective wrap already. He tore it off, seeing the deep crimson from beneath.
"Stop, Grimmjow, we're trying to help you."
"Fuck you, you bastard," Grimmjow swore at Aizen who tried to approach him. Grimmjow grabbed the door handle. Aizen quickened his pace but Grimmjow was faster, darting out the door and in to the apartment.
"Stop."
"No you fuck."
"Why are you mad at me?"
"I'm not." He jumped the couch and landed on the other side in a half crouched, using it to shield himself from Aizen.
"Why are you running from me?" Aizen clarified.
"I don't know but I'm sure there's a good reason." He glanced toward the patio door. Aizen stiffened.
"Don't."
"Fuck. You."
Grimmjow bolted. This time, Aizen was fast enough, grabbing him just before he could open the patio door.
Grimmjow left bloody hand prints across the glass as he was pulled back. They fell on the floor in a panting heap. If Grimmjow had gotten outside in this state, he may very well have jumped.
Aizen rolled and got his weight on top of Grimmjow to restrain him. Then it didn't take long for him to begin to shake and pant.
"Shhhh. I've got you."
"Aizen what's happening?"
"They shot you up with cocaine."
"Am I gonna die?"
"No. The doctor's here to help you get past it."
"Well shit lot of good he's doing," he gasped out. He felt hot. He felt sick. His face flushed in pain and panic. "Ah fuck…" his breath choked. He shook and tears began to escape him. "Ah those mutherfuckers killed me."
"No. You're going to get through this."
"You don't know that. You're just saying that! You don't care, you just want a good fuck! What difference does it make to you if I'm dead? You'll just find some other shithead to drill."
He tried to escape the hold on him. He struggled on the floor, not caring how much he smacked his bruised body against the ground. "Argh let me go!"
"Never." His face was suddenly against Aizen's chest. Aizen held him up, hands wrapped tight around his bare back. At first Grimmjow pushed back but then he shook worse and sobs came in earnest and he clung to the man holding him.
"How much?" he whispered.
"What?"
"How much will it cost this time, for you to save me?"
"Ah…" lips pressed into his forehead. "Nothing." The whisper came in his ear. "And everything."
Grimmjow shut his eyes. He waited for death or salvation—which ever came, it would come in these arms.
Thanks for the reviews!
~ZQ