Title: First Cut
Summary: Ronald has his female friends at the office. Grell is a wild flirt. What about sensible William's love life?
I had this come to mind after watching the OVA about William. While it was not subbed and I had hardly any idea what it was talking about, it did inspire me and get me to thinking of a girl for William, specifically when Ronald is flirting with one of the female workers.
I know William is Grell's "true love" and I really adore the WilliamxGrell pairing, it is a guilty pleasure of mine, but I wanted to try to challenge myself to write a William story and this is what I have so far. I worry about them being out of character, but I will give it my best.
Chapter 1
It was only 10:30 in the morning and William T. Spears was rapidly developing a headache. He had been given orders by his higher-ups to show a batch of fresh graduates from the Shinigami academy around the office. That in itself was no problem. Unless of course one had the flamboyant Grell Sutcliff following every step they made, flirting the entire way.
"That tour took forty minutes too long," William mumbled to himself as he checked his watch. He hated wasting time. He reached the elevator banks, intending to go to his office. Pushing the button to summon the elevator using his death scythe, a pruning pole, he let out a sigh.
His hopes of his day not remaining as it started were dashed when the elevator reached him. He heard footsteps behind him and turned to see who was rushing his way. It was Ronald Knox, a younger Shinigami who did respect William but was a little wild.
'Not as bad as Grell though,' William thought, holding the doors to the elevator open with his scythe.
"Thanks, William," Ronald said, sliding into the elevator with a nod to his superior.
'And he doesn't call me 'Will'.'
"Where you are heading?"
"My office."
"Ah," Ronald said with a smile, "Grell bothering you?"
Narrowing his yellow eyes, William glanced sideways at Ronald. Ronald was leaning nonchalantly against the back wall of the small space, his arms crossed behind his head and a faint smile on his face. "Did you put him up to that madness this morning?"
Ronald let out a laugh. "I don't have to put him up to it, William. Grell does what he does."
'An adequate summary.'
What was Ronald saying? William cleared his thoughts to listen to the partly blonde Shinigami.
" – can possibly stop him if you start dating someone. You would hurt him, but it could work to get him to leave you alone. I can introduce you to one of the girls in General Affairs. It would help if I knew your type, though."
William raised an eyebrow but said nothing. The elevator finally came to a stop, after what seemed like several dragging hours to William, at the fourth floor. Straightening his glasses, William stepped off the elevator. He expected Ronald to continue to one of the higher floors to find something female to flirt with, but Ronald followed him out into the hallway.
The older Shinigami did not speak until he reached his office, the small gold plate beside the door with William T. Spears carved on it winked at William in the bright sunlight streaming through the window. 'Sanctuary,' William thought. 'Just ten minutes of peace, quiet, and no Grell Sutcliff is all I ask.'
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his key. Ronald leaned against the wall and looked as though he was studying William. The air of leave me alone! that William was trying to give off did not seem to reach him. Suddenly, he straightened up, his attention on something behind William.
William turned slightly to see what had caught Ronald's attention. Coming down the hall was Bartholomew Daniels, one of the highest ranking Shinigami, well over William's status. At his side was a woman William had not seen before.
Her long black hair was tied back in a braid. Like all Shinigami, she had yellow irises, green pupils, and wore glasses. She was dressed neatly in a suit and tie, a silver tie pin matching her silver glasses and small silver stud earrings.
William vaguely wondered if it was the presence of Bartholomew or if it was this woman that had caught Ronald's attention.
"William, Ronald, this is Annabelle Sims," Bartholomew began. "Right now she is working as a typist," he said, indicating the files she held, "but I might send her to reap with you, William. Would you be willing to train her if she chooses?"
William looked her over quickly. She was dressed perfectly, no dress code violations in sight. The way she held herself was calm, nothing like the wild younger Shinigami and Grell. He nodded, satisfied that she might be one to actually follow the rules.
"Excellent. Right now though she has your assignments." Annabelle smiled faintly at the two of them before shifting through the files she held in her hand.
"Mr. Spears," she said, offering him a file. It took her a bit longer to find Ronald's assignments but she offered them to him as a well with a simple, "Mr. Knox."
"Ronald." he told her.
She smiled again, and added, "We were told these were no hurry but you might want to start shadowing these people soon enough. I'll see you gentlemen later."
With that she and Bartholomew headed for the elevators, no doubt off to give out more assignments.
Ronald looked at William over his glasses, something that William missed due to his looking through his assigned death list. "A stickler for rules, it seems. How about her, William?"
"Hmph." William shut his file and opened his office door, shutting it deftly behind him.
"Just ask and I'll set it up!" Ronald called from the hall.
With a sigh, William sank down behind his desk. He leaned back in his simple black chair and began to massage his temples. More than once he had considered asking for a transfer. More than once he had decided against it, knowing full well there was a demon in the area. He also felt it was his place to watch out for the demon, Sebastian Michaelis. The two had met more than once, and William would not allow him to feast on any souls he was meant to take.
After several quiet moments of mediation, William again grabbed his death list and looked it over. With his headache dulled, he felt it was time to try to get to work.