"In the Crosshairs"
Author note: Hey, it's onixxfilth! I've decided to pick on Ronald a bit- not sure how long this story will go exactly but I'm giving it a whirl. It's meant to be set somewhere between "Grell Gets His Wish" and "Serpentine" (yes, I know I haven't finished that one yet!) but I'll try my best not to screw up the events in "Serpentine" with this story. I've never written two stories simultaneously, but I'm giving it a shot!
Grell Sutcliff was almost certain that it was not going to be a good day when, almost as soon as he arrived at work, he was summoned to William's office.
I can't have done anything yet; I've barely just clocked in! he thought to himself.
Instead of a reaming, however, he found himself face-to-face with not only his manager but a striking young man with long blond hair tied back by a navy-blue velvet ribbon and piercing gray eyes.
"Ah, Mr. Sutcliff, happy to have you join us," William greeted, looking up from some paperwork he was finalizing at his desk. "Do come in. This is Collin Burrwood, one of our recent graduates. We've recently begun a new program of pairing our latest additions with a more established reaper as a mentor of sorts. I have no idea why, but someone higher up seems to think that you and Mr. Burrwood would be a good fit."
"I've heard so much about you, Mr. Sutcliff!" Collin enthused, extending a hand for Grell to shake.
Grell took it and thought that this could be a very good thing indeed. As they left William's office, Grell noticed the appraising glances Collin was casting at other staff. He recognized the look; he himself had done much the same when he'd arrived as a new recruit. Collin was most definitely checking the other men out. Grell grinned toothily.
"Like what you see?" Grell teased, elbowing Collin good-naturedly.
Collin colored slightly but on the whole seemed to take his superior's ribbing in stride.
"Of course, I'm taken," Grell said, extending his left hand to show off his ring, "but I'm mated, not blind. Look but don't touch, you know."
"Is it true that your mate's a demon?" Collin asked.
"Oh yes," Grell assured him. "Phenomenally sexy."
Grell shuddered deliciously just thinking about his Sebby.
Suddenly Collin seemed to focus in on one reaper in particular.
"Who is that?" Collin demanded, licking his lips.
Grell followed the direction of his gaze and reddened himself.
"That, my dear Collin, would be Ronald Knox. Sweet boy, but I'm afraid he just isn't 'that way,' as some would put it."
"Oh, he will be," Collin promised, eyeing the hapless Ronald hungrily. "He'll be in my bed by the end of next week; I guarantee it."
"Suit yourself," Grell shrugged. "Though you're barking up the wrong tree. In fact, you're not even in the right forest."
"You're welcome to your opinion, sempai, but he's mine; he just doesn't know it yet," Collin assured him.
Grell found himself amused by the young pup's audacity.
"I still say it's as pointless as insisting I'm not a lady," he replied.
"As you said before, suit yourself," Collin said, turning Grell's words back on him.
"I like you," Grell grinned.
Collin made an odd face.
"Not that way!" Grell chuckled. "Don't go all deer-in-the-headlights on me! If you could have seen your expression in the mirror! No, you're far too young for me, even if you were my type."
"Oh, I prefer being on the receiving end, anyway," Collin shared.
"An aggressive bottom, eh?" Grell remarked. "Sebby's young master can be at times."
"I was warned that you enjoy talking about sex," Collin revealed. "Everyone said you're a flaming perv."
"I won't dispute the flaming part," laughed Grell. "But perv? Really."
He huffed, a mock-injured look on his face.
"Sempai, you're too much!" Collin howled, doubling over with laughter.
"Are you okay, Collin?" another recent hire named Thomas Plainfield asked concernedly as he walked by the pair.
"Just…fine," wheezed Collin, still laughing. "It's just…sempai here…"
He broke off, overcome by a fresh gale of laughter.
"Dear God, boy, you're turning practically purple!" Grell exclaimed. "And, I must add, that shade doesn't suit you at all. You need paler hues; you're so fair that something dark threatens to overwhelm you."
Alan approached, rolling his eyes as he caught up to Thomas, who apparently had been assigned to him.
"What on earth is going on here?" he asked Thomas, puzzled.
"Fashion advice?" ventured Thomas, equally baffled.
"It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest," Alan remarked. "Grell fancies himself quite the fashionista."
"Himself…fashionista?" Thomas repeated, no doubt confused by the masculine pronoun paired with the feminine noun.
"I'll explain later," Alan assured him.
Collin had finally managed to catch his breath.
"Say, Grell-sempai, would you mind introducing me to Ronald?" he requested. "I've heard that you two are friends, and a friend of yours, well, I think that's someone I ought to meet."
"You don't fool me, mister," Grell said as they walked away. "You don't just want to be friends with Ronnie. I saw how you looked at him earlier. I'll introduce you, but there's one thing I have to make clear- don't you dare hurt him or I will make you miserable."
"If he won't have anything to do with me beyond friendship, as you insist, how could I possibly hurt him?" Collin asked.
"Don't be smart!" Grell snapped. "Mind yourself."
They arrived at Ronald's desk.
"Hope you're not terribly busy, Ronnie, I have someone I'd like you to meet," Grell said. "This is Collin; I'm meant to be his mentor."
"Oh, hello, Collin," Ronald greeted. He stood up and shook Collin's hand. "I'm Ronald."
"Pleased to meet you, Ronald-sempai," Collin said, all sweetness and honey.
He looked up at Ronald through lowered lashes, a move that had made other boys melt during his days in the academy. They would think, "How sweet and pretty!" and fall into his bed like nothing. Ronald, however, looked slightly alarmed. He'd never had another man act this way around him before and it was a bit bewildering. But something intrigured him about the gray-eyes young man in front of him-
No! he mentally shook himself. This is creepy!
"I'm sorry, Ronald," Collin apologized. "I'm making you all uncomfortable. It's just, well…I saw you when I came in and thought you were cute."
"Oh, umm, thanks, I guess," Ronald managed.
"Now look what you've done, Collin," Grell mock-scolded. "You've gotten Ronnie all flustered!"
Grell wasn't sure how much of this cutesy shyness was an act and how much was genuine. He wondered if he'd ever acted to sickening over Sebastian. Oh, who was he kidding- he probably still did!
"Say, Ronald, you going to the big holiday party next week?" Collin asked.
"Of course! Practically everyone's going! Mr. Spears probably won't show, though."
"That old stick-in-the-mud?" Grell laughed. "Such a Scrooge. I love parties; they're the perfect excuse for a new dress!"
Collin could picture it now. The party would be the perfect time to make his move! Everyone drank at least a little at a party; that ought to make Ronald more amenable to seduction. The very thought was making Collin hard. He could picture the two of them, perhaps in Collin's own bed after the party, entwined in a lustful embrace with Ronald inside of him. He'd show Ronald how amazing it could be with another man. Being his teacher in the bedroom would be delightful. He imagined Ronald would be a fast learner. He closed his eyes and shuddered deliciously.
"Collin, are you okay?" Ronald asked, concerned.
"Just fine," Collin assured him, letting the teensiest hint of lust show in his smile.
It was so hard to concentrate when he was wishing Ronald would just shove him back on the desk, rip his clothes off, and take him right there. But since that wasn't likely to happen, he needed a distraction and fast. He opened the folder he was carrying and realized that he had a death coming up in twenty minutes.
"Yikes! I'd better get going!" he exclaimed. "See you two later!"
Perhaps some soul-harvesting would help him work off some energy.