Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Learning To Fly trilogy ❯ 2 The Stray ( Chapter 2 )

Authors Note: I don't own Bleach and make no claims on it. If I did, there'd be a whole hell of a lot of kinky shit going down.

 

The Stray

 

“Aw come on, Ulquiorra. `S not like I'm askin' ya to chop off an arm or somethin'. You're bein' a fuckin' prick.”

 

Ulquiorra gave Grimmjow a blank look. Experience told him that if he ignored the ex-Espada long enough the man would leave him alone and go bother someone else. Ulquiorra knew Grimmjow had the attention span of a retarded goldfish. He just needed to be patient and pretend the other Espada wasn't even there.

 

“All I asked was if you wanted to go out and have a few drinks with me. For, ya know, old times sake or some shit. Come on, we're the only two Espada here. It makes sense we'd hang together.”

 

Ulquiorra stared at Grimmjow. What the former Espada was asking was beyond strange. They'd never been anything even remotely close to friends in Hueco Mundo. There were no old times for them to share a drink over even if Ulquiorra had been inclined to go out drinking with Grimmjow in the first place.

 

“I have things to do that don't involve you.”

 

“You're still a fuckin' priss, Ulquiorra. I can't believe this. We're the only ones who had the brains to switch to the winnin' team and you make like we're strangers. Hell, you hang with what's-his-name, that snotty Captain of the Sixth Division all the fuckin' time and you barely know him, but you won't spend one freakin' evenin' havin' a few with me, who you've known for, like, ever.”

 

“Who I choose to spend my time with is none of your business, Grimmjow. Conversations with Captain Kuchiki are guaranteed to be interesting. The man has refined taste and no trouble carrying on a conversation that's about more than the latest fight or commenting on the quality, or lack there of, of whatever sake is plunked before him.”

 

Grimmjow snorted and crossed his arms over his chest. He was getting to Ulquiorra. Once the former Espada started saying more than two sentences at a time, Grimmjow knew he'd managed to push Ulquiorra's buttons. Grimmjow smirked. Now the fun was starting. If he kept poking at him, Grimmjow was sure he could get Ulquiorra to lose his temper. The sexta Espada found getting the normally reserved Ulquiorra to the point of swearing in anger a challenge and more fun than trading insults over cups of sake with the other Shinigami from the Eleventh Division.

 

“Ya know, people have been noticin' that you smell like a girl pretty often now. Just like that Captain Kuchiki, matter of fact. You hangin' with him all the time and smellin' all flowery and shit… kinda makes a guy wonder if you're turnin' fruity.”

 

Ulquiorra's brilliant green gaze could've frozen lava. He gave Grimmjow a dismissive once-over and snorted softly. “At least my pleasing aroma and sense of taste assures me that I won't wither and die on the vine; rejected by even those desperate for something to quench their desires.”

 

Grimmjow's smirk slipped. “Wha? Didja just insult me? For your information, I could have anybody I wanted. Hell, I could have you if I wanted it bad enough. If I was, ya know, into guys. Which I'm not.”

 

Ulquiorra shook his head. Grimmjow logic always gave him a headache. The man's arrogance irritated him to no end and his cocky attitude needed to be taken down a peg or three. Ulquiorra was annoyed with himself for even getting into a discussion with the man when his plan had been to ignore him until Grimmjow became bored and left on his own. The man was impossibly insufferable, but Ulquiorra wanted to get in the last word of their argument.

 

“If I thought it'd do any good, I'd fire a cero blast up your nose. Since I'm sure it wouldn't have the desired effect of blowing your brains out, I'm not going to waste my time or energy on a pointless task.”

 

“Oh yeah? Why not? Ya know I'm too fast for ya to hit me? `Cause, ya know, I am just that fuckin' good,” Grimmjow said with a confident grin.

 

“No, it would require there actually being brains in your head to blow out in the first place.”

 

Ulquiorra stepped around Grimmjow, ignoring the outraged expression on the ex-Espada's face and walked out of the Eighth Division barracks without a backward glance. Grimmjow scowled and muttered choice swear words about stuck-up former Espada who needed to take the stick out of their ass and have a little fun.

 

“Did you really want him to go for a few drinks with you or did you come here specifically to tease him?”

 

Grimmjow jerked his head around to find Kyouraku Shunsui, Captain of the Eighth Division, staring at him over the rim of a sake cup. Grimmjow blinked. How had he missed the man reclining on the floor drinking sake not fifteen feet away from him? Grimmjow couldn't even feel the barest trickle of reiatsu from the guy. His eyes travelled over the clothes the Captain wore and Grimmjow snorted softly. What kind of Captain wore a pink flowered haori and girly pins in his hair? Did he have any idea how pouffy he looked dressed like that? The man looked like he'd just rolled out of bed, too. Grimmjow smirked. He was willing to bet his last few coins the casual, lazy attitude of Captain Kyouraku drove the work and order obsessed Ulquiorra bat-shit insane. That alone made the Captain an almost okay guy in Grimmjow's books.

 

“What's it to ya if I did?” Grimmjow asked with a grin.

 

“I prefer my Division to run smoothly, as does Nanao. You really don't want to antagonize her. Take my word on that. Ulquiorra's going to be all out of sorts now. I hope Byakuya can get him in a better mood before he comes back and runs into Nanao. You really need to find another outlet besides needling him. I've seen you do this before. Why do you irritate him like that nearly every time you see him when you're friends?”

 

“Friends? With emo-boy?” Grimmjow snorted. “We're not friends. I just like to yank his tail. A guy has to have somethin' to do for fun. Ya can't drink all the time, no matter what the guys in the Eleventh say.”

 

Shunsui tossed back the sake in his cup and studied the former Espada in front of him. Grimmjow was almost the polar opposite to Ulquiorra. Shunsui had heard from Kenpachi that the sexta Espada was a good, solid fighter and could hold his own in the ever important drinking nights with the rest of the Eleventh. Shunsui had heard that Grimmjow's ability to follow orders left something to be desired and that he seemed prone to going off on his own personal missions when the mood took him. Shunsui smiled slowly. Grimmjow reminded him of a stray cat and he'd always had a soft spot for the independent creatures.

 

“You're welcome to drink with me if that's what you're in the mood for. I can guarantee that my sake is better than whatever rot-gut the Eleventh usually gets hold of.”

 

Grimmjow shrugged and dropped into a seated position next to Shunsui. “If yer buyin', what the hell. Emo-boy doesn't want to play and I got nuthin' better to do.”

 

Shunsui poured a second cup of sake and passed it to his new drinking companion. Grimmjow accepted the cup, sniffed the contents and took a cautious sip. His eyebrows rose in surprise.

 

“Hey, this is really good shit. Where'd ya get it and how much does it cost?”

 

“My family's personal cellars and I don't think you want to be shelling out two weeks pay for just one bottle of sake. Although, I could possibly arrange something for you at a slight discount if you really wanted it.”

 

Grimmjow nearly choked on his mouthful of sake. He shot a look at Shunsui to see if he was teasing but the Captain seemed perfectly serious. Grimmjow shook his head at the thought that Shinigami were a strange bunch. He sure as shit wouldn't have shared anything that expensive with a virtual stranger. The men drank in silence for a time, the only noise the occasional clink of the bottle on the rim of the cup for refills.

 

“So, do ya know if Ulquiorra has started to play for the home team? I mean, yer his Captain so you'd know about shit like that, right?”

 

“I don't pry into the free time or lives of the Shinigami under my command unless it starts to affect their job,” Shunsui said as he watched Grimmjow over the rim of his cup.

 

“So ya don't know.”

 

“I didn't say that. Does it really make a difference what the sex of your partner is in the grand scheme of things? As long as you both enjoy yourselves, what does it matter if it's two men together or two women or a man and a woman?” Shunsui asked watching Grimmjow intently.

 

“All you Shinigami are perverts, ya know that? Fuckin' perverts,” Grimmjow muttered as he gulped his sake.

 

Shunsui smiled into his cup. He noticed that Grimmjow hadn't denounced the idea of male/male relationships. He'd only said that all Shinigami were perverts and that wasn't exactly a news flash. Shunsui wondered what would happen if he made a move on Grimmjow. Would the ex-Espada hiss and spit and scratch like a cornered cat or would he turn into a purring kitten that demanded more petting and belly rubs? Shunsui thought it would be well worth the risk to see which way Grimmjow would go. He had a hunch it would be an interesting combination of the two.

 

“You know, you remind me of a stray cat,” Shunsui said as he poured them both another drink. “It makes me wonder if I'd get my hand clawed off if I tried to pet you or if you'd arch into the touch and purr for me.”

 

Grimmjow stared at Shunsui; sure the man was drunker than he seemed to have just said what he said. Words like that were just begging for an ass-kicking. Grimmjow ignored the urge to punch the Captain and tossed back the sake in his cup. He was a little tense as he waited for Shunsui to actually try something, but after several refills of the sake cups with no questionable moves, Grimmjow decided it had to have been the sake talking and that the Captain was just trying to yank his tail. Grimmjow could appreciate good teasing since he liked to do it so much himself.

 

“Ya know ya had me goin' there.”

 

Shunsui raised an eyebrow and waited for Grimmjow to continue. He was actually quite surprised the ex-Espada managed to hold his tongue for as long as he had. Shunsui wouldn't have been surprised if Grimmjow had physically attacked him and for a brief moment, he'd been sure the sexta Espada was going to do so.

 

“With the talk about pettin' me and shit,” Grimmjow clarified when it didn't appear Shunsui would say anything. “Not that I don't like that pettin' kinda stuff. Just not with a guy. I mean, if some chick with huge tits, like that Masumoto broad, were to offer to pet me, I'd give her something to pet.”

 

“How do you know you wouldn't like it if a man were to pet you if you've never had a man do that? It doesn't have to be something sexual. It can be something soothing, you know,” Shunsui said with a little smile.

 

Grimmjow narrowed his eyes and focused intently on Shunsui. He could have sworn the pervert Captain had meant it sexually when he'd talked about petting and getting him to purr. Grimmjow wondered if he was maybe a little drunker than he thought. His mind always hit the gutter, his dick soon following, when he'd had a few too many. And the shit they were drinking was damn good. He didn't feel drunk but that didn't mean he wasn't.

 

“Come here and I'll show you what I mean.”

 

“Nuh uh. Ya think I'm stupid? I get all close to you and the next thing I know; you'll be tryin' to shove your hands down my pants or some shit.”

 

Shunsui adopted his best innocent expression that tended to fool everyone except Nanao. “I swear I won't do anything such thing. You have my word of honour as a Shinigami on that. Of course, if you're worried that you won't be able to keep your hands to yourself….”

 

Grimmjow snorted. Like he'd want to paw at some guy. Grimmjow set his cup on the floor and moved cautiously closer to Shunsui, taking up the implied dare. “Your hand goes anywhere near my dick or my ass and I'll rip your arm off and beat ya with the wet end.”

 

Shunsui set his cup down and motioned Grimmjow closer, crooking his finger and patting his chest lightly. At Grimmjow's puzzled look, Shunsui smiled gently. Taming this stray was going to be so entertaining and quite possibly vastly rewarding. Shunsui hadn't had this much fun in ages and he'd barely even started.

 

“Rest your head on my chest while I stroke your hair. I'm fairly certain you won't put your head in my lap seeing as how that's awful close to my cock, so this is the next best thing.”

 

Grimmjow narrowed his eyes and moved warily toward Shunsui as if he was waiting for Shunsui to pounce on him. The Captain worked to keep the smug smile off his face. Grimmjow was only reinforcing the mental image that he was a stray cat wary of any and every kindness. When Grimmjow finally rested his head on Shunsui's chest, he kept himself stiff and ready to bolt. Shunsui's hand settling lightly in his hair made him jump and try to jerk away from the unfamiliar touch. Shunsui's fingers tangled in Grimmjow's hair prevented the ex-Espada from going anywhere.

 

“What the fuck? Hey! Leggo!”

 

“Relax, Kitten. I think you'll like this. And my hand is about as far from your dick or ass as it can get while still touching you.”

 

Grimmjow growled low in his throat, irritated that as much as he pushed his head against Shunsui's hand, he wasn't able to break free unless he was to use both hands to shove Shunsui away. With a soft grumble of frustration at being outclassed so easily, Grimmjow stopped fighting against Shunsui's hold and sulked as he submitted to the touch; the sexta Espada's pride in his strength dampened by the easy power of the Captain's hold. Shunsui smirked and combed his fingers though Grimmjow's hair slowly once the man stopped struggling to get free. Shunsui was confident he was going to be able to get this stray cat to relax and welcome the offered touch. If things went according to plan, Shunsui believed he might even get a quiet purr if he was lucky. It took longer than the Captain thought it would, but eventually Grimmjow relaxed against him.

 

Shunsui carded his fingers through silky soft, pale blue strands. He hadn't expected Grimmjow's hair to be so soft given the rough nature of the man. Grimmjow's eyes had fallen closed in pleasure from the gentle massage of strong fingers against his scalp. The Captain was surprised at the warmth and smoothness of the bone mask against the skin of his chest and he smiled to himself when Grimmjow subtly rubbed his cheek back and forth against his chest, the teeth lightly scraping his skin, as if scent-marking him.

 

“So, are you willing to admit that this feels nice, Kitten?” Shunsui asked quietly, continuing to pet the head resting on his chest.

 

“Mmm… `skay… for a guy,” Grimmjow murmured in a contented voice. “And the name's Grimmjow not kitten.”

 

Shunsui laughed softly and picked up his sake cup, finishing off the contents. “I know. Kitten suits you better.”

 

“Fuck you,” Grimmjow growled in a low voice as he pushed his head a little harder into Shunsui's hand. “Don't stop though.”

 

Shunsui thought his little experiment was going much better than he'd hoped. He used the grip afforded him by his fingers in Grimmjow's hair to tilt the man's head up. Grimmjow's eyes were closed and Shunsui used that to his advantage, pressing a light kiss to Grimmjow's lips.

 

Grimmjow blinked slowly at Shunsui. The kiss had been light and quick; over before he'd really had a chance to object to it. The Captain's fingers continued their stroking through his hair as if the kiss never happened and, for the briefest of moments, Grimmjow honestly wasn't sure if it had or not. Liking the feel of Shunsui's hands moving through his hair, Grimmjow gave a mental shrug and closed his eyes again. He made contented noises in his throat, the soothing massage draining away tension he hadn't even been aware he'd had. He was startled from his relaxed haze when Shunsui gave his head a gentle push away from his chest and stood.

 

“Wha…? Hey! I was comfortable there.”

 

“Off you go, Kitten, before I'm tempted to take you home and keep you,” Shunsui said with a smile.

 

Shunsui picked up the sake bottle and handed it to Grimmjow. He leaned down and dropped a light kiss on Grimmjow's nose and walked away humming softly to himself. He knew he'd confused the hell out of the ex-Espada with his behaviour, but he figured the best way to catch Grimmjow's attention was to make him curious and leave him wanting more. Shunsui was confident that his stray cat would search him out after that little bit of gentle and non-threatening petting. He simply hoped it wouldn't be long before his stray cat would be back demanding more than soft rubs behind the ears. Shunsui'd enjoyed the quiet, peaceful time and the feel of silky strands running through his fingers. There was also the small matter of the pleased sounds Grimmjow had been making that went straight to his cock and made Shunsui think of doing more intimate things than just scratching his stray cat behind the ears.

 

Grimmjow stared at Shunsui's retreating back in confusion. He wasn't sure if he should be mad over the two kisses he'd gotten from another guy or the fact that he'd liked the feeling of utter relaxation he'd gotten from a guy playing with his hair or the fact that Shunsui kept calling him Kitten. Grimmjow stared at the sake bottle in his hand for several minutes before scowling and bringing the bottle to his lips to finish off the contents.

 

“Perverted Shinigami,” Grimmjow muttered even as he made mental plans to drop by the Eighth Division some time soon.

 

Ulquiorra was always fun to tease and if the ex-Espada wasn't there, maybe Captain Kyouraku would have more of the kick-ass sake and want to share. And maybe another one of those really good feeling head rubs; even if they were both guys. The Captain had some seriously talented fingers. He smelled nice, too. Like sake and fresh cut grass. Satisfied that he'd settled things in his head, Grimmjow stood, weaving only slightly, and made his way back to the Eleventh Division barracks absently noting the direction Kyouraku had gone when he headed home just in case he wanted more of that sake and didn't feel like going all the way to the Eighth Division to find the Captain.