The second time Grimmjow surprises him is also after a spar. Ichigo’s freckles have darkened since, the relentless July sun turning him gold bronze and warmth in ways that would make him stand out awfully amongst the hueco mundo dunes.
Grimmjow continues to look at him, not through him and not as a challenge to overcome either. He hesitantly would acknowledge the new scrutiny was nice, if it wasnt happening every single time Grimmjow got within two feet of him; which was always and frequently.
This time Grimmjow collapses first, on his side supine and sinuous. His long spine curving his body to protect his back but also the little sliver of skin his resurreccions hierro doesnt cover. His hair pools into the damp earth in a wash of blue tangled with blood.
Ichigo reaches out, makes it known, makes sure the fabric of his sleeve pulls and zangetsus chain clinks. Brushes back the snarl of wild seafoam blue hair out of the arrancar’s face and in doing so clips the edge of his feline ear. The effect is instant.
Grimmjows ears pin back and his black lined lips draw taut in his typical sharp animal grimace. His gaze flicks over in wide slitpupiled offense.
Raising his hands placatingly Ichigo lets him settle down again too tired to talk and make his case. But the fur whilst coarse held an underlying softness.
Under the pretense of combing move unruly hair out of the way he angles his knuckles, purposefully stroking them against the soft taper of Grimmjow’s ear and exhales when the Arrancar doesnt react further, stoically refusing to yield an inch of space. So he grows bold, uncurls his fingers now he knows he doesnt risk losing them and gently pinches the cartilage and shock of fur that capped the lobe of the ear, rubbing the grain of the fluff until it bristled out beneath his thumb.
Grimmjow sinks a little lower into the dirt.
Ichigo shuffles in to maintain the distance.
He gently swirls his thumb up from the lobe and clockwise into the shell of the ear, Grimmjows tail cracks against a boulder somewhere behind them, bone scraping over shale and scattering the shards haphazardly. Grinning where Grimmjow cant see, Ichigo repeats the action and is rewarded with a soft, unmistakable rumble.
Grimmjow stares resolutely ahead, unnaturally still, except for the quiet ramping trill in his chest.
Biting his lip so he doesnt say something super idiotic like “oh my god youre purring.” Ichigo curls the rest of his hand around Grimmjows ear and strokes firmly.
And almost gets disemboweled when On reflex, the arrancar bunny kicks out with his lethal digitgrade hind leg.
“What the fuck.” Grimmjow spits, uncurls, ears pinned back once again as he sizes Ichigo up, Ichigo cant help himself, grins and waves at him with the offending ear molester hand.
“You didnt hate it.” Ichigo answers for them both