Gladiator

Chapter 4

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Three or four weeks later, Grimmjow was both proud and annoyed to have Ichigo as part of his family.

On one hand, the guy could fight, and that gave Grimmjow extra sparring time; and he had an attitude that rivaled Grimmjow's own, which was always fun and kept the blue-headed slave on his toes. He was smart too, and could stimulate Szayel's curiosities when all Nnoitra and Grimmjow wanted was to sleep.

On the other hand, the guy could fight, which meant Grimmjow wasn't the top slave anymore - he shared the title. And he was smart, which meant that he knew how to get anything he wanted from anyone without them knowing they were being manipulated until it was too late - if they figured it out.

Those things aside, Ichigo was a looker, which lead to stares everywhere they went. Grimmjow didn't know why he was annoyed beyond a little irritation that the stares weren't solely aimed at him anymore.
He didn't like people looking at Ichigo. He didn't like them ogling him like starving men at a piece of fat, juicy meat. It didn't help that all Ichigo ever wore was a fabric around his waist to show he was Aizen's slave.

It was in a market place that Grimmjow snapped - well, almost.

"Go out into the city center a town over, Ichigo, and pick out new cloths for the lot of you. These all are getting worn. Take Szayel with you, he could use fresh air." Aizen had drawled in his exceedingly irritating way. Grimmjow wasn't sure what he was most angry about - Aizen speaking to Ichigo nicer than all the times he'd spoken nicely to the other three put together or Ichigo batting his big brown eyes at their master coyly.
" And Grimmjow, go with them. I don't want anyone near them."

So there they were, wandering peacefully through the marketplace of the next town over, trying to find the tailor. Grimmjow was kind of confused and most definitely lost, but it at least seemed like Ichigo knew where he was going as he chattered with Szayel a few paces ahead.

Grimmjow followed leisurely behind them, his fingers linked behind his head as he grinned at the people whose eyes he caught.

A wolf whistle snagged his attention, and Grimmjow curiously turned his head straight forward to see a man down the street shouting in their direction.

"Ey! Listen sweetcheeks! Why'on'chya c'min'ere!" he called, and Grimmjow knew immediately that the building the man stood just outside of was a whore house. He frowned at the man - why did he call me sweetcheeks? And most of the men in there are much smaller than me.
But the man continued as they drew closer.

"Ditch'ya man'n c'm get fucked in'ere real nice! We ain' got 'nough red'eads 'n lossa men think'at red'eads is exotic!"

Grimmjow was blind with fury. The man had been hitting on Ichigo and Szayel!

However, when Grimmjow looked to Ichigo for permission to go and fuck the guy up (as Grimmjow had been told by Aizen to behave and Ichigo could decide what was 'necessary fighting'), Ichigo wasn't there.

No, Ichigo was already marching his way down the street, fists clenched angrily at his sides.
His companions quickly followed after and watched in fascination as the red-head grabbed the man by the collar of his rags.
His grip was tight and his face was set in the heaviest scowl Grimmjow had ever seen on him as the man was picked up off the ground, left dangling in the air.
"Do we look like fucking women to you? Do we look like we take it up the fucking ass? Do we look like we want some nasty ass old fucker bent over us, huffing and puffing and sweating on us, fucking us with some tiny dick he thinks is impressive?"
The man hastily shook his head no.
"No! We don't! So I'm gonna put you down, and you're gonna stop fucking catcalling people, or so help me you'll not live to see tomorrow!"
Ichigo tossed him to the ground and huffed in annoyance. He then turned nonchalantly to Grimmjow and Szayel with a radiant smile, as if he hadn't just threatened a man's life in the middle of the city center.