Willing and Able, Chapter One
When a chunk of one's life (or afterlife as it were) revolved around being a simple pawn in someone else's game of chess after centuries of being alone, it was hard to adjust to what existence could look like afterwards.
The walls of Los Noches were still being repaired, if reduced. The palace was far too big for the truly low number of remaining arrancar, but Harribel saw no reason to reduce the entire thing to rubble, but it was taking longer than expected to fix due to the interruption of Yhwach. Arrancar were no longer like other hollows, able to simple endure the vast desert or the horrifically dense Menos Forest. No, arrancar had adjusted to their human-like bodies (if they had them) and the safety that walls provided. So, Los Noches stayed, with Harribel on the old throne as queen, and Nelliel and Grimmjow as her right and left hands so to speak.
Patrolling the desert or rounding up to harass lesser hollows to do reports wasn't really amusing enough for Grimmjow, finding that tedious and annoying. Nelliel was better suited to it, able to both fight and communicate. Grimmjow could fight, but talk? Eh. Dicey.
More often than not, when Harribel didn't need him for something or to do something, Grimmjow found himself in the living world, bothering Kisuke, Tessai, and Yoruichi.
Kisuke always welcomed him in, smiling and waving the stupid fan of his, and offering him tea or food. Not that Grimmjow ever took the tea or food, just like he hadn't when Aizen was around. Aizen hadn't ever poisoned the tea out anything, but Grimmjow just never drank it. Actually, he wasn't certain any of his fellow espada had. Maybe Ulquiorra had, trying to please Aizen, but beyond that he wasn't sure. He hadn't paid the other nine much attention during those meetings unless he was made to talk to them directly. Still, Kisuke always offered, always teased him about not accepting his hospitality, and always granted him access to the underground training room.
If he was alone, he'd train by himself, if Yoruichi was around and in the mood, they'd play a game of tag. Shunpo versus sonido. Once, the two were competing to see which was faster, but the results were inconclusive. The only real data collected was that sonido made it much harder to track the user, even able to bypass arrancar pesquisa. These days, it was a friendly game of tag. It was... Honestly fun to Grimmjow now. The ability to run around freely and even run on his fours like a jaguar again in resurreccion was liberating and fun, and Yoruichi never let him down by pulling her punches.
Tessai was... Alright, he supposed. He couldn't say he liked or disliked the guy, but he did enjoy bothering him when the other two weren't around. Sure, Tessai got frustrated and occasionally used kido on him, but he'd never really actually told him to stop being a nuisance. Sometimes, it seemed Tessai found his bothering endearing. Grimmjow would push stuff over, hide it, pluck something from Tessai's hands to look at it... Once Tessai had actually taken advantage of his need to be an annoyance and had him stand on the larger man's shoulders to grab something from an awkward shelf slot in the back. Of course, he had helped, but he'd complained the entire time.
Of course, what he'd really wanted to do was to find Kurosaki and fight him.
But, the human wasn't reachable at that point and Grimmjow didn't want to seem... He guessed desperate or something. He liked his tag with Yoruichi, and hunting hollows for a snack, but it wasn't the same. He wanted an all out brawl. It might kill him with Ichigo's newfound bundle of bullshit power, but he didn't care. He just enjoyed the thrill of their fights. All adrenaline and taunting. Blood and sweat and no holding back.
He missed it.
He... Sort of missed Ichigo.
One day, Grimmjow arrived outside the shop like normal after spending time wandering around Karakura town, only seen by a few people here and there (some guy called Asano freaked out seeing him, he wasn't sure why, but he had gladly grinned and swiped the guys legs).
Kisuke opened the door to the shop, beaming happily and waving his fan. "Oh Griiiimjoooow~," he cooed in a sing-songy voice. "I have a gift for you!!"
Grimmjow's eye twitched at the tone, but huffed and wandered over, hands as far into his pockets as he could shove them. "What do you mean you got me a gift," he asked. "Coming from you, I'm immediately suspicious."
Kisuke gasped in fake offense. "Oh Grimmjow, I'm hurt! After all we've been through together?"
Grimmjow rolled his eyes, following Kisuke inside. "Shut up," he grumbled. "You just want me as a guinea pig."
"Well, if that were the case, we wouldn't be friends, now would we?"
Grimmjow's eyebrow quirked up. Friends... Is that what Kisuke considered him? Is that what any of them considered him? He couldn't see why, all he did was use them for his own desires and intentionally annoy them. Or try to anyways. Maybe that's how the three viewed friendship from him though. It wasn't like he was rocking up and attempting to destroy everything. At worst, he'd gotten rowdy and angry and thrown a table when Jinta tried pulling his mask. Which, in his defense, had really fucking hurt. He sighed. "Fine, what did you get me?"
Kisuke led Grimmjow to the back and into the small lab-like room that was tucked away from prying customer eyes. He proudly stopped by a table and beamed, gesturing at a sort of body. "Ta-da! It's you," Kisuke exclaimed.
Sure enough, on the table was a gigai, dressed in clothes Grimmjow had previously stopped once to look at. Dark grey pants, a black graphic tank top, dark blue boots, and a black leather vest. There were also a few bracelets and two rings. The gig didn't look like him yet, but it was certainly dressed like he had intended to dress if he had access to human clothes. He didn't care about being human anymore, any desire for his humanity died a very, very long time ago. But getting to wander around and interact with the living world like an actual person... Maybe even find and bother Ichigo... The bastard couldn't ignore him if his whole family could see him. Well, as far as he knew Isshin could have spotted him ages ago and knew damn well who and what he was, but from what little he's heard about this Yuzu... Maybe Yuzu would demand Ichigo be nice to one of his "friends" and pout until Grimmjow was let in. Yeah, that could work.
Grimmjow stared at it for a long moment then looked at Kisuke. "Okay, what's the catch?"
Kisuke smiled and covered his face with his fan, clearly pulling the "innocent shop-keep" act. As usual. "The catch is that you have to behave yourself," he said. "And... Attend a gathering tonight here in the shop."
Grimmjow scoffed and turned to leave.
"Ichigo's coming by too."
Grimmjow froze and dared a glance over his shoulder. The smug look in Kisuke's eyes made him angry, but he couldn't deny that the opportunity to see Ichigo, maybe even fight him, excited him. After a long moment, Grimmjow groaned and wandered over to the gigai. "Can I at least go wander around before then with this thing? Get used to it? Assuming I can, in fact, use it."
"Of course you can. You'll be the first arrancar in a gigai, and it'll be your first time in a physical body again. You'll need the time to adjust to the living world and the people seeing you as a fellow human."
Grimmjow sighed and looked at the gigai. Humans seeing him as a human... The idea felt strange and disquieting. He hadn't been human in a very long time, and the notion of being perceived as one brought on feelings of weakness. Dread, even. Grimmjow sighed heavily and moved to step into the gigai.
The sensation was strange... His limbs suddenly felt weak and clumsy. His hollow hole was still clearly there, but felt like it had been sort of... Plugged. He gasped as he sat up, the lungs of the gigai trying to inflate and function as its heart started pumping and the blood began to flow. He had blood and lungs normally, but those of the gigai felt so... Heavy in comparison. Thick, even. He reached up to touch his face and winced at the absence of his mask on his right cheek. Everything about him suddenly felt frail as his soul settled into the new body. He nearly gagged before speaking. "Holy shit..." he breathed out. "Fuck... This feels awful."
Kisuke started to do an examination of the gigai, taking vitals and testing it for function. "Move your arms above your head, please," he said, his clinical and researcher self coming through the flamboyant act.
Reluctantly, Grimmjow did as asked. Arms above head, stick your tongue out, stand up, walk to the wall, walk back, spin around, etcetera etcetera. It felt stupid, but he knew Kisuke wouldn't let him leave until he did the tests. He did not want to face any shape of Benehime in the gigai.
Eventually, Kisuke smile and smacked his folded fan into his open palm. "Congratulations!", he exclaimed. "You have a perfect bill of health and you're the very first arrancar to inhabit a gigai!" Kisuke beamed as Tessai and Yoruichi seemingly appeared from nowhere to clap and celebrate this apparent achievement.
Grimmjow asked, shoving his hands into his pockets like normal. "Great," he muttered. "Can I go now? Get used to this shit before Kurosaki shows up?"
Kisuke bowed dramatically and gestured to the door with his fan. "Of course of course. There's a wallet in your back pocket with plenty of money if you want to try out shopping. Don't forget to use some human manners, and remember to not punch anyone if you can help it." He leaned in, smiling at Grimmjow. "And if, god forbid, a fight arise or a hollow you can handle shows up, there soul candy in your other back pocket so you can pop out of your gigai to handle it."
Grimmjow huffed and shoved past the group, waving a hand over his shoulder. "I got it, just shut up already," he growled out, irritated by the fake cheerfulness. "I'll be back whenever." With that he wandered off into the city.
The city of Karakura Town was... Surprisingly large.
Well, for something called a town anyways.
But it's streets bustled with people shopping around, spending time with their families or friends, and generally just living their lives. Grimmjow looked around absently as he walked down a sidewalk, doing his best to remember he was visible to the humans around him now. Solid, real... He hadn't been real to the living in a long time. The scent of coffee hit his nose and and paused, looking to his left to see a coffee shop and bakery. The coffee smelled delicious, better than the tea Aizen or Kisuke made, and so did the hot sandwiches. He wondered if real food would taste different with the gigai's tongue. He'd tried eating food that Kisuke had made once, grilled snapper and rice with chili oil. It had tasted almost of nothing to him. Hollow flesh tasted better.
Grimmjow stepped up to the cafe window, looking at their posted menu, curious. He'd be willing to give real food a try, if he could just make a decision... Lavender, chocolate, raspberry, hazelnut, chai... Who put chai in a coffee? Oh, blueberry. He tilted his head. Maybe white chocolate mocha with blueberry would be good. Something deep in his memory resonated with the suggestion of blueberries. Probably his human memories trying to whisper in his ear and remind him of the things his original body and soul had enjoyed. Fine, white chocolate and blueberry. He skimmed the hot sandwiches, trying to find something simple to ease himself into. He didn't want to get something to eat only to hate it. The square, rubbery looking egg on the picture of a breakfast sandwich looked atrocious.
Huffing, he settled on a strawberry fruit sando and wandered inside to order.
Ordering took no time and no fuss. The worker was polite and speedy, helping him count out his money (he hadn't used money in... Well, as far as he could remember, ever), and gladly telling him she'd bring him his order when it was ready.
Grimmjow took a seat in a corner, trying to keep away from everyone and just watch. He found himself enjoying watching people mill about. They always seemed so self interested and yet, somehow, oblivious to themselves. They put on acts for each other, pantomimes of politeness and friendliness. It was as amusing as it was frustrating. It reminded him of the fake loyalty and politeness he'd had to put on for Aizen, which had made him feel nauseous.
Loyalty...
Few hollows had loyalty, but Grimmjow had experienced it himself from his fraccion. Shawlong, Yylfordt, Edrad, Nakeem, and Di Roy... They'd followed him in Hueco Mundo, sharing meals with him, and eventually asking him to eat parts of their bodies so he may grow stronger and go on without them. Meeting them again as arrancar had created a strong sense of pride and... Perhaps joy in him once he'd realized who they were. They'd been ecstatic to see him. Well, outwardly it was Yylfordt, Edrad and Di Roy that expressed joy. Shawlong and Nakeem had stood back quietly and simply greeted him with reverence. Through the halls of Los Noches and to the skies and streets of Karakura, they'd followed behind him, just happy to serve him. They'd barely followed orders from anyone else, typically ignoring the likes of Nnoitra, Ulquiorra, or even Barragon. They's stuck with him, and he'd led them to their deaths.
They wouldn't have had it any other way.
The image of Ichigo and his friends came to mind, then. Humans, as far as Grimmjow could tell, had limited loyalties. He'd watched humans a few times before becoming an arrancar and always found that their loyalty was conditional, fleeting, and loose. His pack of hollows hadn't been, and honestly, Ichigo's group reminded him of that loyalty. Orihime, Rukia, Chad, Renji, and Uryu... They'd stuck by Ichigo despite him trying to cut them off, despite him repeatedly going against their stated desires, and despite his bad choices and hollowfication. They believed in him, and they stood by his side through everything. Odd bunch, they were.
But Grimmjow supposed he and his fraccion weren't so different in presentation. At least Ichigo's group looked like they belonged in the same friend group. Grimmjow and his idiots looked like they'd happened across each other at a bus stop.
Grimmjow sat up as his order arrived. He absently thanked the employee and sipped his coffee. He paused, then sipped again. It was sweet and the taste of blueberry was prominent, but the espresso was still noticeably, pleasantly so. He took a big bite his his sandwich and slowed his chewing when the flavors hit him. The bread was essentially just a vehicle for the cream and strawberries. The sweetness of the cream mixing in with the sweet and tangy fruit was delightful. It was probably the best tasting snack he'd had in his memory. Sure, he enjoyed the flavor of hollows, but his core was ablaze with delight over the flavor of fruit and sugar. In his spirit form, it would have likely tasted like sand. He had to bother Kisuke about how he made the gigai actually register flavors...
---------
Later than night, Grimmjow wandered back to the shop, absently looking through the bag he had with him. After his snack, he'd decided to shop a little. It had taken so much in him to not kick a few screaming children clean across the shops, but he'd managed to not do it. He'd actually bought Kisuke a fun pink fan too. He figured it was probably "polite" to give something to his regular host besides attitude.
He paused outside, hearing laughter and music deep into the back of the shop. Sounded like everyone was already there... He closed his eyes and breathed. His pesquisa worked well in the gigai, surprisingly. Well enough anyway that he could tell Ichigo was in the building. Excitement and anticipation ran through him as he opened the shop door.
In the back, Kisuke was fanning himself and laughing as Yoruichi teased Ichigo for being awkward around women still. "Oh come on, Yoruichi," he defended, still sounding teasing himself. "He's a young man, still finding himself!"
Yoruichi chuckled, sitting back. "He should be used to women's attention by now," she argued. "He's so handsome, I'm sure he gets plenty of attention."
Kisuke shrugged and looked over as the door slid open. "Ah! Our finally guest! Hello, Grimmj-!" He got cut off by a pink fan being slapped into his face. "-ow." He rubbed his nose, pouting. "Well, that was rude!"
Grimmjow rolled his eyes, wandering further in. "Boohoo," he quipped. "Be thankful I bought you something, you insufferable weasel." He plopped himself right next to Ichigo, ignoring the protests of Renji. He looked at Ichigo and paused. The redhead had cut his hair shorter, making him look more mature than before. He looked older, but not bad at all. He also looked... Happier.
Well, he would look happier if his stupid face wasn't twisted in idiotic surprise.
Ichigo stammered as he pointed at Grimmjow's face. "Y-y-your mask!" he cried, baffled. "What the hell did you do?!"
Grimmjow rolled his eyes, digging through the bag again. "I'm wearing one of Kisuke's experimental gigai's," he muttered. "He wanted me to test it out." He looked at Kisuke, who was playing with his new fan. "Food tastes like food in this thing, by the way."
Kisuke gasped excitedly. "Really?! Oh that's fantastic! Tessai's preparing dinner and you should absolutely have to taste it! Oh, do tell, what did you eat?"
Grimmjow shrugged, setting down a chocolate bar in front of Ichigo. "White chocolate blueberry coffee and a strawberry sandwich thing." He pointed at the candy and glared at Ichigo. "This is to convince you to fight me later," he growled.
Ichigo huffed and snatched the chocolate. "What is with you?" he asked. "Can't you even say hello like a normal person?"
Grimmjow stared blankly before patting his right cheek. "I know you can't see it, but the hollow mask is still there," he replied. "I'm still a hollow, so not as you say 'a normal person'. Dumbass."
Ichigo sighed and sat back, hugging his chocolate bar while watching everyone else. He'd been stunned, but glad to see Grimmjow, but now he just wanted to shove the arrancar away. The guy was so damn infuriating, and for what? Was it genuinely just an attempt to goad him? Or was it some weird affection? He wasn't sure and he wasn't sure he wanted to know either. What would even count as affection from a hollow like Grimmjow?
Nelliel was affectionate, overtly so. She loved hugs snd touching others when excited and happy. However, Grimmjow and Harribel made it clear that her personality was an outlier among hollows. According to them, the next closest when it came to affectionate to others had been Starrk, who doted on Lilynette like a daughter despite technically being the same entity.
Though, speaking of Nelliel and Harribel...
"Hey, Grimmjow, are the girls coming too?"
Grimmjow blinked rapidly a couple times, sipping a soda he'd been given. He looked over. "No?" he replied. "As far as I know, I was the only arrancar invited." He looked away again, setting his can down. "Besides, only New would enjoy this. Tier would just mom everyone to either a first or second death."
Ichigo smiled a bit, chuckling. "Wait," he started. "She'd 'mom everyone'?"
Grimmjow nodded, accepting a bento box from Yoruichi and absently examining it. "Well, she was a mom, you know, he said as he started eating. "She forgot how she died, but even she's pretty sure she died either giving birth or protecting her kid."
A small pit settled in Ichigo's stomach. Sometimes he forgot the arrancar, and other hollows, had once had a human life before they became the creatures that inhabited Hueco Mundo. For some reason, knowing Harribel died in such a human manner ate at him. He accepted his own bento. "How'd you die?"
Ichigo tensed as Grimmjow stopped. The question had fallen out of his mouth before he could think about it, but he did want to know. The curiosity ate him. How did someone like Grimmjow die? Was he anything like he was now? Did he experience technology or was he so old that he barely understood what a car was?
Grimmjow paused for a long moment before turning back to eating. "Violently," he said finally. "I don't remember anything specific, just that it was violent."
Ichigo nodded slowly, accepting the answer as it was. Prying wouldn't do anything except maybe annoy the other man. He turned back to his own food to eat, content to just enjoy the company of his friends. As he ate, he pondered that... Was Grimmjow his friend? It wasn't like Grimmjow actively hunted him anymore. According to Kisuke, Grimmjow had been wanting to spar with him again, but he hadn't taken it seriously. He'd actually doubted Grimmjow had been in the living world at all, but if the shop staff and Yoruichi were to be believed, Grimmjow was basically another member of the Urahara Shop family. Jinta called the guy a mooch, but Ururu seemed to disagree. Tessai claimed Grimmjow acted like a cat with him, including knocking things over and stealing things to hide.
Everyone in the shop seemed pleased with the ex-espada's presence, especially Kisuke.
Renji looked across the table, speaking to Grimmjow suddenly. "So, Jaegerjaquez," he said. "How's the gigai? Feeling weird at all?"
Grimmjow shrugged, sipping his drink and snagging a second bento from the stack of extras, but didn't seem interested in talking to Renji. Which amused Ichigo greatly. Renji was basically him in a separate font, so one would think Grimmjow would take interest. Apparently not, though, even as Renji spoke louder, indignant at being ignored. Grimmjow really was like a cat in many ways.
The group went quiet as Grimmjow suddenly tensed and stared out of the corner of his eye at Ichigo.
Ichigo had reached up to scratch behind Grimmjow's ear. He hadn't thought it through, hell he wasn't even sure he'd thought at all. His hand had just reached up as Grimmjow was taking a bite of sashimi and started scratching into the blue hair behind Grimmjow's ear.
Grimmjow let out a low growl. "What the hell are you doing, Kurosaki?"
Ichigo yanked his hand back, blushing and sputtering, flustered. "S-Sorry!" he exclaimed. "I don't know what the hell I was thinking! A-actually I don't think I was thinking at all?"
"Do you ever think?", came the snark from one Mrs. Abarai.
"Shut up Rukia! I didn't ask for your opinion!"
Rukia smiled smugly, as did her husband. "Uh-huh. I know," she drawled, greatly amused. "You just wanted to see if he'd purr like a little kitty cat."
Ichigo stood, pointing at Rukia as he spoke. "Shut up! I don't need this! I'm getting some air!" He quickly scurried outside before anyone could protest or quip back at him.
Grimmjow stared after Ichigo, irritated but also confused. Why the hell had the younger man thought petting him was a good idea? Then again, Ichigo had said he hadn't been thinking when he'd done it, which Grimmjow could fully believe. Ichigo tried to think regularly, especially during fights. He was better about it as he'd aged, but back during their first few fights, Ichigo thought and thought and thought, to the point that it caused him severe injury. The redhead always fought better when driven by instinct in Grimmjow's opinion, but of course he thought that. He was a hollow and instinct had been what kept him from being eaten for so long. Maybe... Maybe that was what drove Ichigo to pet him?
Soul Reapers hadn't observed it as far as he knew, but there were times when hollows who made up a pack, like he and his fraccion had, would occasionally groom one another. Grimmjow could distinctly feel Shawlong's clawed fingers gently prying debris and sand out of the plates on his panther body long ago. He could also remember the taste and texture of Yylfordt and Edrad's hair as he'd pinned them crankily and groomed their hair like a demanding mother jaguar. Not that they'd really complained. Both had liked their hair being played with and groomed. The only one in the group who hadn't really received or done any cleaning was Nakeem, but that was okay. Nakeem wasn't really a fan of touch, which no one begrudged him.
Sighing, Grimmjow finished his second helping and stood. He grabbed two -196 cans (he figured why not try drinking alcohol in his gigai) before following Ichigo outside.
Outside, Grimmjow found the redhead sitting on the ground, head in his heads, clearly going through it. He sighed and cracked open his can before holding the other out to Ichigo.
Ichigo had startled at the can opening and looked up. He paused then took the unopened can in his face. "Oh... Thanks," he mumbled.
Grimmjow grunted, leaning on the wall beside Ichigo and sipping his drink.
After a long moment of silence, Grimmjow spoke up. "Look, you didn't do anything wrong," he said. "I'm not mad. Hollows pet at and groom each other all the time."
Ichigo looked up in surprise. "Wait, really? They do?"
Grimmjow nodded, staring ahead. He really hated having to educate Ichigo on hollow behavior, but it wasn't exactly like anyone else has taught him. The soul reapers only knew so much, and could only document so much before getting attacked and eaten if they dared try their studies in Hueco Mundo. "Sometimes we form little packs and it's not uncommon for us to just clean each other or show what little affection we're capable of," he explained, slipping down to sit. "My guys and I used to clean each other up a lot. Though, they usually fixated on me."
Ichigo sipped as he listened, intrigued. He hadn't expected such... Community centric behavior from hollows. Sure, Nelliel and her fraccion were close and familial, but it was made obvious ages ago that Nelliel was different to many hollows and arrancar. "So... Were they like your brothers," Ichigo asked sincerely. "I mean, Renji said that the blonde one called him brother constantly."
Grimmjow swallowed, annoyed by the slight tightening. He hated that he missed those idiots. "Yylfordt Granz," he replied. "He had a brother, a twin, Szayelapparo, so... No. He didn't value brothers or brotherhood like you're thinking." He couldn't help but grin as he let out a laugh. "The twins didn't like each other. Szayel barely cared about Yylfordt and called him his brother only when it was to try and manipulate his ass. Yylfordt decided to make a mockery of the word because, shit, who wants to legitimately say their brother is someone like Szayel?" He downed his drink, already feeling a bit of it in his head. It wasn't unpleasant, but he was regretting drinking it. Eating food and it actually tasting like food was nice, but alcohol? Tasted like shit and made his head feel funny.
Grimmjow sighed a bit. "But, no, he and the rest weren't my brothers, and it's stupid of you to ask," he continued, blatantly ignoring the offended and cranky look he received. "They were my subordinates. My servants. My pawns to toss aside as I damn well pleased."
Ichigo listened to Grimmjow quietly. Something in him didn't believe Grimmjow felt so little for the five men who had so loyally followed him to Karakura town that night. From what he could tell, their absence weighed on Grimmjow, at least a bit. But, he thought better of pressing that particular button. He really didn't feel up to thwarting a cero or, god forbid, Desgarrion. "So... You let me pet you," Ichigo said hesitantly. "Does that make me a member of your pack? Like them?"
Grimmjow laughed loudly, head tossed back and holding himself a bit. "What?!" he cried. "No! Not like them!"
Ichigo blushed, feeling completely stupid for asking. And of course, Grimmjow just had to make fun of him for it.
Grimmjow's laughter died down after a moment, reduced to tiny giggles to himself, before he suddenly leaned a bit on Ichigo. "I'm not head of a pack anymore, dumbass," he said. "As much as I still believe I can kick your ass and kill you, you regularly figure out how to punch harder and harder, and that means you're in charge of a pack."
Ichigo stared at Grimmjow for a long moment. Was the arrancar really saying that he, as a human and a soul reaper, had a hollow pack? "Wh-what," he sputtered out. "I don't have a pack of hollows!"
Grimmjow snorted and gestured with his thumb towards the door. "The hell do you think they are?"
Ichigo looked towards the door, hearing the laughter of his friends inside. Chad, Uryu, Orihime, Rukia, Renji... Everyone. They weren't his subordinates or servants, but they were certainly a close knit group... Yeah, sort of like a pack of wolves he guessed. They tended to one another, cared about each other's needs and wants, and they spent a lot of time together. Ichigo looked back at Grimmjow, warm against his shoulder. "Do... You want to join that pack?"
Grimmjow snorted and stood. "Like I have a choice," he murmured. "You'd hunt my ass down if I started avoiding you the exact way you avoided me for months."
There was a surprising amount of hurt and disappointment under the snarky and dry tone. Ichigo's heart broke a little, watching Grimmjow kick the dirt and looking dejected as he shoved his hands in his pockets. Had Grimmjow, of all people, missed him? Ichigo smiled softly and stood. "Hey, I'm sorry, alright," he said, moving closer. "I was wrapped up in college courses. This is my first extended break in a while." He leaned on Grimmjow's back, smiling playfully. "I'll call you more at least, you needy ass."
Grimmjow growled and back handed Ichigo in the nose, blushing. "I don't need your pity," he yelled. "I'm just fine without your pathetic excuses for attention!"
Ichigo held his bleeding nose, yelling back. "You're literally sulking because I wasn't talking to you!"
"I do not sulk!"
"You sulk exactly like a cat who wasn't let into the bathroom when it's owner was shitting!"
"Stop comparing me to a damn cat, Kurosaki!"
"I'll compare you to whatever I want!"
The two glared at each other for a long moment, both equally cranky with the other.
Eventually, Ichigo sighed heavily. "...I missed you too, Grimmjow," he mumbled.
Grimmjow's eyes widened slightly before he turned away and scoffed, trying to seem nonchalant. "Whatever," he grumbled. Whatever remained of his heart clenched with unfamiliar joy as he mulled over the fact that he was missed. That someone missed his presence, however annoying or aggressive he could be to them. He didn't pull away when Ichigo took his arm.
Ichigo gently tugged Grimmjow along, back inside. "Come on," he coaxed. "Everyone's probably worried about us." He smiled warmly at Grimmjow.
Grimmjow swallowed a bit as he followed Ichigo, his mind racing at the smile. He'd seen Ichigo smile before, but never this warmly, and never at him. And he couldn't help by enjoy the warmth from Ichigo's hand on his arm...
As they walked back into the back room, Ichigo apologized to everyone and was quickly absorbed back into the idle chatter of his friends. Meanwhile, Grimmjow sat back, eyes focused on the redhead, unsure what these newfound feelings meant, or if he should even pay them any mind. It triggered a sensation of dread and anxiety to wonder what these feelings, however fleeting they may or may not be, could mean for his whole being.
Hollows weren't meant to feel true affection for others. The affection shown between most hollows was performative; it was acts of kindness done out of necessity, done to survive and hopefully be strong enough to not have to pay fealty to anyone again. Hell, even the light friendship between Grimmjow and his fraccion had been transactional. Safety in numbers, and the five had relied on him to guide them to greater power. Even as arrancar, they'd quickly reformed their pack so as to not die as quickly to the others. Not that mattered in the end, obviously.
Kisuke sat by Grimmjow, hiding his face behind his fan. He spoke lowly. "Pinning, are we?"
Grimmjow snorted and crossed his arms, leaving back against the wall. "Hardly," he answered, scowling. "I don't have an affectionate bone in my body."
Kisuke smiled knowingly behind his fan. He wasn't a man who understood the nuances of romance or how hollows viewed dating and relationships, but even he could see a spark of potential love in the Arrancar's eyes. "Sure, Grimmjow, sure."
