*Gulps* My first attempt at a romance fanfic here. And it stars the shinigami. I've never written them as the main charas before, so please, reaper fans, tell me how I did. I've only used them as side characters up til now.
To use them as serious, main protagonists is a big step for me. I hope I don't disappoint! I was planning to upload this after I finish HTTYD but it was begging me.
Warnings: A few pairings aren't resolved in this chapter. They will next time.
Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroshitsuji.
William T. Spears opened his eyes stiffly, unable to ignore the ringing of his phone. He knew that ringtone- it belonged to a certain co-worker, one Grell Sutcliffe. Checking the alarm by his bedside, the man groaned.
6:45 AM Sunday.
Sunday, of course. William sat up stiffly, squinting at his surroundings, and trying to quell an incoming migraine. He picked up the glasses by the lamp and set them on his face. That was better. He refused to pick up the phone.
Luckily, he was always prepared for a headache. Always. The glass of water and pill lay on the beside table. William gratefully took them both.
The phone stopped ringing. Finally.
William glared at the switchphone, remembering a certain conversation with the new employee, Ronald Knox. "Man, who still uses those?" Well, to be frank, William considered iphones and their apps a huge waste of time and money. That and the screen dirties too easily for his liking. Scanning greasy fingers over the screen over and over again? Then putting it to one's ear? Disgusting.
He especially hated it when his underlings played games on their phones when they were supposed to be working. His phone was now vibrating- stop texting me, Sutcliffe!
He left the bed unmade and headed toward the bathroom, the lack of decorations and ridiculously plain furniture surrounding him. He hated clutter. His home was the exact opposite of Grell Sutcliffe's.
William reached for the medicine cabinet, and opened a fresh tube of toothpaste: mint and white, as plain as he liked it.
Speaking of Grell, sometimes he had to wonder why he was even friends with that... man (?).
William had known him since high school. Sutcliffe used to be one of his "bullies" for lack of better word. Grell was the quarterback, the gymnastics captain, the varsity player, the honor roll athlete. The redhead had been the manliest boy William had ever known, and Grell was eager to prove it too.
And Spears had been the silent, messy haired, B-grade nerd. True, he hadn't been applying his best in the first years of high school, and true, he had been a rather moody teen.
Sutcliffe's taunts and torment seemed to disappear the day they got in a fight. One fight that William would rather wipe out of his memory. It had been in the cafeteria- it had been messy- blood had been shed- and they were both suspended for a week.
He didn't know about Sutcliffe's parents, but his own guardians didn't care too much.
And that was how he befriended Grell. Tragic.
William dipped a bit of mouthwash in his mouth and rinsed. After highschool, they had gone to the same college (regrettably), and Grell had changed. The redhead once told him that he never had a girlfriend because none of them were good enough for him. No one doubted Sutcliffe's masculinity though- he always had enough scandals and friends with benefits under the table.
Grell had grown his hair out in university and taken to the color red. After his father died, Grell had undergone even more drastic changes. He made more girl friends (not girlfriends, girl friends) than he usually did. He spoke louder, flaunted his body more. Hell, he started wearing makeup.
And there was that day Grell dragged him to a gay bar. Because they were supposedly close friends- no, he was just using him to make another man jealous.
After college, Sutcliffe told him over coffee that he wanted to be a woman. William had snorted, waving it off as a joke.
It was not a joke.
William left the bathroom, drying his body with a white towel. His suit hung on the door, ironed and ready. There was no work that day- grumbling, he went to the drawers instead. He didn't have many leisure clothes.
Grell could pass for a woman now. He was even saving money for a full operation. And he insisted on flirting with William 24/7. That was not an exagerration.
William flattened the collar of his polo shirt and sighed. He could either leave the apartment for coffee or stay and skip breakfast. He picked up the cell phone and clicked it open.
"William, playing hard to get are you?" it read.
"Will, let's go out today."
"Will, there's this nice-"
"Will, meet me at the mall."
"Will, come on!"
"Willy, willy-"
"Please, will, please, please, please-"
He glared at the messages and texted back. "Going to Starbucks, the one on 91 Avenue. Come if you want, I don't care. Honestly, stop bothering me."
He flicked the thing shut, stuffed it in his pocket and left the room.
William sighed, Grell grinning from across the small round table. He stirred his coffee- plain and dark, he didn't like cream or sugar.
"Will, want to come shopping with me?"
"No."
"Come on, please." The redhead batted his eyelashes. William glared, pushing his glasses up. "No means no. Why don't you get Knox to go with you?"
Grell scoffed. "That boy? Please, he'd be knocking up some girl before I even finish picking out a dress."
"No means no."
Grell leaned forward, uncomfortably close. "William," he purred, "don't you have a market survey to do today?"
He remembered! William mentally moaned. Without saying a word, he picked up his coffee and left the table. Grell was behind him in a second, laughing gleefully (or evilly- it was hard to tell). "I'll drive!"
William was off examining garden tools. And Grell was left alone, picking out dresses from the sales rack. His size was hard to find. Damn it. Some women were on the other side of the rack, none of them as pretty as himself of course.
He wondered if he should buy a bikini next. William would be so surprised. He grinned to himself.
And that was when he saw it- the beautiful redcoat, the last one in stock. 75% off. He raced over to it, fingers poised to yank it off the rack when- another hand closed over his.
The woman stared at him, astonished, her short red hair flowing with the momentum.
"Excuse me, this is mine," he threatened. She raised an eyebrow at his voice.
"Well, ma'am, I believe I saw this one first."
Ma'am? How dare she! "That's miss to you."
"I'm warning you. I am in a very bad mood."
"This is how much I care." He pulled the coat towards his chest, and she crashed into him, breasts pushing into his flat chest.
"You're a man!" she snapped. "No, I'm not."
The woman pushed herself off him. She pointed at his shoulders. "I am a doctor. Those broad shoulders, the chest muscle, the hips- this is the figure of a male, you got that?"
"I don't see a PhD on you!"
The argument had attracted the attention of several customers, and soon the store manager was marching toward them.
"Angelina, Grell!"
Nina Hopkins adjusted her nametag and took the moment to tap her foot impatiently at the duo. Grell cleared his throat. "I'm your best customer, Nina! She- I don't even know what she is!"
"I'm your best customer! And that should be my line, you... you!"
Nina snatched the coat from his hands. "Last one in stock. I usually let customers fight it out, but I don't think that'll work with you two. So either I hold it for someone else entirely-"
"NO!" they both yelled.
"Or you share it. Buy it together, wear it together." She eyed them skeptically.
And almost in unison, "fine."
William stepped into the elevator- Grell could take the escalators, he didn't really care. It was a "SALES" day- that meant Sutcliffe would be fighting some poor woman for whatever article of clothing that caught his eye.
Ding.
The second floor doors slid open and someone familiar stepped in. William felt a frown creep across his face. Sebastian Michaelis stared back, startled for a moment, before adjusting his tie and taking his place by the doors' sides.
"Fine day, isn't it, Mr. Spears?"
"Wonderful. Another face that I loathe."
"The feeling's mutual."
"What's a butler doing here?" William asked sharply.
"The young master's aunt is shopping here. And she requires transportation."
"I wouldn't want to be in the same car with the likes of you."
Michaelis sighed. "You hold grudges quite well, Mr. Spears."
The elevator stopped again. Sebastian gestured for William to leave first. The other man shot him a glare. "Your young master still hasn't apologized for that court case. Just so you know, butler- I'll be suing you again for that."
He stepped out. There were several things he could let slide, but this incident he could not- the boy had been kidnapped and held for ransom at none other than the warehouse in his charge. And the butler just had to get in some convoluted fight that destroyed all the cargo.
That was how he met Ciel Phantomhive and Sebastian Michaelis.
He lost the court case. The financial and timely loss of the incident had plagued him every day since.
Angelina Durless left the mall, holding the red coat to her chest as she strided across the parking lot. The deal had been made- she would get the coat for two days. Then he would for two days. Then so on and so on.
His address and number were tucked safely in her pocket. She didn't want to give him her address (he reminded her of a serial killer)- no, he had to settle with a cell number.
"Would you like me to take that for you, Madame Red?" Sebastian asked, already juggling a total of ten bags.
"No need, Sebastian. I'll hold this myself."
He loaded the bags into the car and shut the trunk. Her mind was elsewhere- it had already been four years, more or less. But the loss was still heavy.
Sebastian plugged in the keys and started the engine. Madame Red shut the door. "Tell me, is he happy?"
"The young master," the butler chuckled, "rarely, but he's pleased to see you."
Is he happy? Ciel. Sometimes she wondered if that was who she was really asking about. Was he happy? Vincent.
He leaned forward and she groped a clothed thigh. The butler stiffened and Madame Red smirked- well, there were some other distractions around.
On Monday, Grell couldn't help but feel cheated. He showed up in his Victorian-esque suit, made tabs on all the tools, and prepared to be half salesman half assistant supervisor. The perks were that he could show up later than usual and wear whatever he wanted.
William was the supervisor. And he never took advantage of his perks.
Grell wondered about the redcoat, imagining that woman doing horrible things to it. What was her name? Dur- Angelina something. She was annoying.
Feisty. Red. Red hair. Red clothes. Curvy. Large breasts. He was a bit jealous. A bit... a bit... intrigued.
He had never been intrigued by a woman before. But so much red- they must have a lot in common. Pursing his lips, he took out his phone. Well, a quick text couldn't hurt.
It wasn't like he was asking her out or anything. He shuddered at that. Ladies are asked out, not the other way around. That would imply he wanted to play the part of the man.
He smirked. Texting William couldn't hurt either. Ah, that man was drop-dead sexy. He felt normal again.
"Grocery shopping together? Thursday?" William glared at the text. His computer currently had 3 programs and 8 tabs open. He was beyond busy making calls, editing reports, and evaluating employees. Not to mention placing orders and negotiations.
He didn't want to reply.
"1093 Lovers St. Meet me with the coat. Tonight, 11 PM." Madame Red stared at the text. Hmm. He really was desperate for that coat. Maybe when she was done with Elizabeth's tea party, she'd go. And take pepperspray, just in case.
The blonde giggled as Ciel held up his cup for more tea. Madame Red put the phone aside and returned to the game.
"Where ya going, boss?" Ronald asked, stretching his arms, pockets bursting with numbers from female clients. The young man grinned.
"A bar," Grell replied, yawning. 9:00 PM. It was time for them to close shop. William usually stayed til 2 in the morning.
"Meeting men?"
"Hot men, thank you very much. And no," he hesitated. "I'm meeting a woman."
Grell turned around, and Ronald almost crashed with the floor.
Druitt's Late Night Bar was open all night and well into the morning. It was a rich place- for clubbers with too much money to spend. Madame Red had a drink too many.
Rachel was stripping. And Ciel was making out with Sebastian. Vincent had a twin. Vincent was the bartender. Barnett was a cup. Her baby was on the ceiling.
She was a heavy drinker, she admitted that much.
These hallucinations were normal. The pepperspray, knife was heavy in her hand. Knife- she should put it away, someone could get hurt. That was funny. She laughed.
"What's so funny?"
She blinked.
Grell eyed the woman suspiciously, taking a seat beside her and ordering a glass of scotch. The redcoat was on her person. Even her cheeks were flushed red. So much red.
"You're drunk, aren't you, Angelina?"
His voice was nice. Deep, flamboyant. Nothing like Vincent's. Nothing like her husband's. Oh! The knife. What if he was here to kill her? He grinned, shark-like teeth menacing in the dim light.
"Bad girl! Bad bad girl!"
He leaned forward, stroking her hair. "I usually prefer bad boys, but you- you're a special one, Angelina. Let's be friends."
"Friends," she said. Friends, Friends. Like a sister. Rachel's best friend. Vincent's best friend.
"No!" He jumped, startled. What the- He was only trying to pry the coat off her- she seemed too drunk to notice- then
Her lips smacked into his, their crimson lipstick smearing one another's mouths. He shook her off. That was- that was-
She did it again.
No. No. No! No! No! No- it wasn't that bad. It was thrilling, the kind of thrill he hadn't received in a very long time.
"Awake?"
Madame Red lifted her head off the bar counter, feeling dizzy. The strange man was beside her, smirking, his red-framed glasses a bit disheveled. "You..."
"Grell Sutcliffe."
She groaned. "What happened-"
He kissed the air and giggled. Oh my- . Her head fell. His breath was right next to hers. "Don't worry, Angelina- it didn't go far. Besides, you're not my type. I like men, you know." What a surprise.
"Madame Red." "Huh?" "You may call me Madame Red."
He draped the coat around his shoulders. "Alright then, Madame Red."
"Ta ta!" And he was gone, or so she assumed. She banged her head again. The kiss, ugh. It hadn't been so bad in her dream- with Vincent, it had been... nice, actually.
William hugged his groceries on the way home, Grell chattering beside him. As always, he ignored the other's comments. They rounded a sidewalk, the upperpart of the city.
"You know, Will, you could afford to live here you know. Why don't you?"
"Waste of money."
"Pffft. What do you have to spend on?"
"Taxes, retirement, groceries, insurance, honestly, need I go on?"
"Sebby darling!" William turned around. Grell was racing toward Michaelis- he almost forgot, this was the Phantomhive Residence. Sebastian took a step back, a little brunette hanging on his back, his master tugging at his hand, and a blond boy pulling at his tailcoat.
"Sebastian, play with us!" "Sebastian, hurry up!" "Sebastian, higher!" All giggles and childish impatience.
"Hello... Grell," he spat.
"I know you're pleased to see me, Sebby, my darling neighbor. How about a kiss, eh?"
"No. I'm very busy, Grell. Go bother your lover."
"I'm not his lover!" William snapped, walking towards the group. Embarrassment sunk in. Michaelis never stated that he was said lover. Too late.
"Aw, Will- so cold!"
He tugged at Grell and dragged him away. "Go back to being your master's toy!"
"This is a very esteemed job!" the butler called.
Madame Red passed the infant store sadly. Some things she would never have. Cradles and rattles and frames she would never put up. She sighed.
Her phone rang. Without looking, she picked it up- "Hello."
"Madame Red."
Grell Sutcliffe. "What do you want?"
"It's been two days. Want your coat back?"
She blinked- she'd completely forgotten about that (stupid!). The whole point of her extended vacation was to- she didn't want to think about it. "I... yes, I do!"
"Meet me at the Royal Cafe- texted you the address."
"Uh... thanks?"
"You don't have to come, you know. I could just keep the coat to myself forever and ever and-"
"I'm coming!" She ended the call and let out a loose laugh.
Blissful silence. William took his nap on the couch, the clock ticking away. Sutcliffe hadn't texted him all day. It was heavenly.
The phone rang. The ringtone was a bit rarer, but annoying nonetheless.
"Hello."
"Bossman! You'll never believe this!"
"What?"
"Grell's dating a girl!"
He choked on his reply. Those words didn't sound right. Especially not from Ronald Knox's mouth. "WHAT?"
"Seriously!"
"He has lots of female friends, Knox."
"Come on, I know how a guy looks at a girl he likes and a girl he likes a lot. That's how he's looking at her right now."
"Why are you telling me?"
"I was gonna call Eric, but touched your number by mistake. Doesn't matter- we're pretty close, right?"
"So?"
"I'm at the Royal Cafe. Wanna come, boss?"
"No."
"Wait, wait- he's trying to kiss her!"
He hung up.
William hid behind the newspaper with Ronald. This was ridiculous- why was he even doing this? Grell was currently saying something in the woman's ear, in that over-bearingly seductive way of his.
She smiled tauntingly. Said something.
And their lips touched.
He had enough. William got out of the chair and marched out of the cafe. This was for lack of better word, retarded. He doubted Grell even saw him leave.
"Like that?" she asked.
"I don't know. Recreating a kiss with someone in your dream who isn't really that person is a bit odd."
She scoffed. "Well, you didn't mind."
He put a finger on her forehead. "Let me tell you one thing, Madame Red. I am an amazing kisser."
"For guys or gals?"
"Haha, very funny." He grinned again, tilting her upwards. "I'd like to say both."
No calls. No texts. Sunday. William woke up and rolled over in bed. He planned to sleep in.
No. He was worried. Maybe Sutcliffe was- nah. He didn't care about Grell's wellbeing- it would just be a pain to find someone to replace his position.
He shut his eyes.
The phone lay dormant.
Damn it. William snatched the phone and brought it within 2 milimeters of his eyes. He squinted and dialed.
Grell lay cocooned in the velvet covers, wondering about what to do. Call William? Text him? Well, the man never replied anyway. Madame Red?
Madame Red. An odd woman indeed. He'd never met anyone quite like her.
And he still knew nothing about her, other than that her favorite color was red. Might as well go shopping together. He dialed.
William's call was promptly ignored.
A sassy gay friend. Madame Red resisted the urge to snort- that was exactly what Grell was to her at this point. He was even more feminine than her, if that was even possible.
And yet there was something in the way he talked to her- almost as if he was flirting.
"I thought you liked men," she teased.
"This suits you quite well." He threw a scarlet bandana around her neck. "Trust me, I do."
She was about to pry the thing off and check the pricetag (he had good taste, she gave him that) when he abruptly pulled her towards him. Golden green eyes stared at her.
Stared hard.
"I don't like women, Madame Red." Their noses touched. "I really don't." But I think I kind of like you.
William left the apartment. Three straight sundays of sleep without annoying calls or texts. Maybe he should check his email- everything not work-related he put in the junk section.
What to do? There had to be something he needed to do. Groceries? Done. Doctor's? No need. Pills? Enough. Toilet paper? More than enough. Coffee?
"Morning William!" a lightly accented voice called.
Eyes shut, Lau waved at the man. William didn't return his neighbor's gesture. "Hello Lau."
"Going to work?"
"We're off today."
Lau fell in stride beside him. "Can't say the same for me." The same carefree smile. "Got a date today?"
William snorted. "I do not waste time on dates."
"Really? What about that red-haired woman?"
"That's a man. And he is not and never will be my date."
Madame Red wandered the streets. "You shouldn't stay out in the city too late at night, madame," Sebastian had advised. She laughed aloud. "I'm a grown woman," she had replied.
I'm a grown woman. I'm a doctor.
"I'm a mother." She rounded a fire hydrant, laughed at the sky. A drink too many, bumped into everyone. Grell had the red coat. She stopped, stared.
It was a sin to take one's own life. It would be downright immoral to leave her nephew behind. But he had others, didn't he? His servants, his father's side? She hiccuped.
The blurry lights of passing cars flashed by her. Flash. Flash. Flash. Two more days, then the coat was hers.
"I lived in red," she said. For you Vincent. For you. "I'll die in red." She would drown in red- wait until all the goodbyes were said- then she'd leave- find her husband again, her child, her family, him.
She staggered forward; the only one who knew about her drinking habits was Grell Sutcliffe. Ah, Grell. I wish we could have known each other longer.
She stumbled; the doors lay open- the doors to the Phantomhive estate, right, right? She pushed. The sign stared back: Little Peking: Chinese Cuisine.
Someone walked past her, shoving her aside. Half the lights were switched off, the chairs lying upside down on the tables. A young man ushered her out- she wouldn't budge.
"We're closed," he said, accent heavy.
"No, it's fine, our last customer," someone else said. He said something she couldn't understand. The man leaning on the table, slits for eyes and ruffled short hair. "I'll make her one last dish."
Grumbling in his language, the waiter set her at a table. She stared at the menu, pointing absently at things she didn't even bother to look at. "Do you have cash on you?" the chef asked, blunt and yet still so without a care. She was jealous.
"Credit."
"We're a little short on stock. How about that- chow mien?" "Fine."
Chow mien? What was she doing? She wasn't even hungry. Her phone buzzed- she switched it off.
Grell turned off the T.V. Soap operas these days- horrible, he was far better looking than those children who dared call themselves actresses. Amateurs. It was close to 1 AM.
He had a report to do for William. That could wait- there were far more things on his mind at the moment. Why did he have the urge to see Angelina Durless so badly? Why did he want to find out so much about her?
He hadn't been this confused since high school, when hormones kicked in and life had been one large lie. If only his father could see him now- oh, old man Sutcliffe would certainly kill him- her. There used to be a point of time when he would give anything to feel like a man, to feel like his classmates, "normal." When he'd cry himself to sleep, ponder suicide, all sorts of strange alternatives to get away from what the world thought.
He let himself go, let himself go hard after his father died- motor accident. He liked himself now, liked how he felt- now he would give anything to be a woman, not just feel.
Enough money for the operation. But did he really want to go through with it? Was it neccesary?
Not like I chose to be this way. He glared at the ceiling. His fantasy used to be: becoming a full-on female and marry William, or at least someone like him, (ie Sebby). And now that woman was bungling all his plans. Made him want to play the part of groom.
Groom.
He shouted in frustration.
Lau took the woman's hand in his own and maneuvered her fingers over the sticks. "You use them like this," he said.
"Oh." Clumsily, she stuffed a wad of noodles in her mouth.
"It's a bit late out here, you know."
"Mm."
He put his arms behind his head. "Ah, the city's not a nice place for people at night. Wouldn't it be nice if life was like that bowl of mien?"
She raise a brow at him. "Like a bowl of mien?"
"If we were all just noodles, mixing, mixing in a bowl." He chuckled. "Without a care in the world."
She was silent. "Yes, that'd be quite nice."
"Of course, in a bowl of noodles, we'd all get eaten and torn and digested," he trailed on. She glared at him. "You can be quiet now."
"Ah, sorry- but it does make a nice metaphor, does it not?"
"Pfft."
"William, I need you now!" Grell's voice shouted.
Sighing, William flipped the phone shut and shoved it in his pocket. Apparently Sutcliffe had some sort of apocalyptic dilemma. He wondered what- deciding what to wear? Or did he gain an ounce of weight?
Lau flipped the sign of his restaurant- OPEN. The night before had been quite special; that woman, she was fun to talk to. Then again, everyone was fun to talk to when they didn't know what to talk about.
The door swung open. And in stepped William T. Spears, his red-haired friend wailing by his side.
"Get us a table, Lau. Immediately." Glasses up his nose.
"Out on a date, William?"
"Now."
He called for the waiter and pointed at the duo. Once the table was set, chopsticks present and forks ready, he slid the menus at them. He didn't personally serve customers, nope- but neighbors were neighbors, no?
"And what would our lovers like today?"
"We're not lovers," William shot, picking up a menu.
"It's not right, Will!" Grell screamed, "it's not right! It's not right!"
At least there were no other patrons to witness the scene. William took comfort in that. "Aren't you going to ask me what, Will?"
"No."
"It's not right! I'm a woman, Will!"
"I told you so," Lau piped. William sent a death glare in his direction.
"I think you've made that clear, Sutcliffe."
"No! No! Not in this way- I'm feeling, I'm feeling." A whimper. A whisper. "Turned on by a woman."
William's brow twitched. That was the big problem? "So what."
"I think I'm in love with her, Will!"
The menu's binding snapped a bit in William's grip. This was ridiculous! Sutcliffe was ridiculous.
"And this is a problem how?"
"She makes me want to be a man." More sobs and annoying shouts.
"My, my, what a crisis," Lau remarked. Another death glare.
"Peking duck. The large plate- that's all we'll have." William handed him the menu, "and maybe more napkins."
Grell blew his nose on the tablecloth. Loudly. "Make that a lot of napkins."
William typed the report in the dark, glaring at his laptop. Percentages, marketing opportunities, consumer satisfaction, Grell Sutcliffe. The hell! He backspaced.
"Damn you Sutcliffe," he hissed. Of all the annoying things, his colleague just had to worm his way into his subconscience.
In love with a woman. Good. Then Sutcliffe would stop bothering him. Give him some peace once in a while.
He took another pill. Damn headache. Ba-dump.
"Honestly, now I have heart problems because of you." He cursed. Ba-dump.
His heart was beating too fast for comfort. Too loud for comfort. Not because he was ner- wait. Nervous. Anxiety. For what?
"It'd be wonderful if you come to that party, Grell," Madame Red said into the phone.
"Will there be lots of handsome men?"
"Well, I'm sure someone will show up." She smirked.
"And am I going as your... date?" Did he just hesitate? She raised a brow. "Do you want to?"
"I wouldn't mind, Madame Red. In fact..."
Was he trying to purr? She grit her teeth- there it was again, Grell and his/her oddness- making her want to melt or turn away in disgust. "I very much want to be your date."
"..."
"Madame Red?"
"..."
"I'll make it romantic. Carry you in my arms. I'll be your Prince Charming, how about that?"
I thought you liked men! A blush crept across her cheeks. Why the hell was she blushing over another "woman"? She might as well indulge him. "Pick you up at three, Friday," she said.
She slid her finger across the screen. Ended the call. A sigh.
He loved her. Grell was never one to be in a slump for long. There, he said it, he told her. The first woman he ever attempted to chase. Angelina Durless, and he would make her his.
He'd be Prince Charming. He'd be the one making the first move, the one carrying her, the man he'd always wanted for himself.
Grell wiped off his lipstick and applied chapstick in its place. He removed the earrings and dabbed off his makeup. This didn't feel right. No, this did feel right. No, it didn't.
He took the brush, put it back. He picked up the comb and raked the scarlet locks back, tying it up in one long trailing ponytail.
He examined himself in the mirror. My, my, aren't you a sexy hunk?
Ronald made an audible "AH" when Grell waved at him. "Boss," he choked, "is that you?"
"You're looking at him." The redhead spun around on his... dressing shoes (no high heels!), and adjusted his tie. "I have to look my best for the lady, you know?" A razor grin.
Ronald choked again. "It's not April fool's is it?"
"Will!" Grell waved at the supervisor. No winks. Just a wave between friends.
William's jaw slackened slightly. "G- Grell Sutcliffe."
"This is the new me, handsome, aren't I?"
And he walked off, no doubt to surprise some young woman who had never laid eyes on Mister Sutcliffe before.
"Hey, bossman."
William stared after him.
"Bossman."
Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Damn anxiety. Damn Sutcliffe for catching him offguard.
"Bossman, yo!"
"What, Knox!"
"Just wanted to make sure I wasn't seeing things."
Lau flipped the sign and locked the doors. He pressed the metallic sheet- let it come down, he didn't want to deal with a robbery. That'd be bad! He turned around, just in time to see the red-haired woman fall forward-
-into his arms.
"Ma'am?"
She hiccuped and stared up at him with swollen eyes. "Didn't I tell you it wasn't safe to be out so late?"
"Nothing's working out for me," she huffed. He could see the fresh tears forming.
"Ma'am?"
"This isn't very safe. I mean, I'm a stranger- I could just rape you here and bury your body in the dumpster and-"
"You were right."
"Not that I was ever raped in the city, not that I'm implying anythin- huh?"
"Noodles get chopped and broken. We're all," she sighed, "noodles, eh?"
"..." He hoisted the bag on his shoulder, the woman having dozed off on his arm. Okay. What to do?
Cursing lightly in mandarin, he lifted the woman up and walked on. Hopefully this wouldn't end up like that movie he saw the other week, the one where the sleeping woman turned out to be a very violent killer. At least he only saw it on T.V.
Madame Red woke up with a screaming headache on a strange couch. This apartment- no, she'd never been in this place. What happened? She groaned.
Where the hell was she? She sat up and eyed the red trusses on the wall- the Chinese restaurant? Some of the decorations looked familiar. Then where was the table.
She heard a toilet flush. Her vision cleared slightly. Desperately feeling for her iphone, Madame Red pulled it out of her stiff coat. Sleeping in her coat was something she didn't hope to do again. At least her organs were intact.
10 messages, all from Ciel Phantomhive. Ah, her darling nephew was worried.
"Awake?"
The Chinese man stepped into the light. She recognized him. "Where am I?"
"My home."
"Stay back. I'm warning you."
He shrugged. "Okay."
"What am I doing here!"
"You fainted... on me, and uh, I couldn't find a hotel for you- and I didn't really want to touch your things or your clothes. There are lots of germs in this world! So... here we are."
He smiled. She frowned- well, it wasn't the worst of all the stupid things she'd been doing over the course of her stay. Or thinking about doing.
"Say, would you indulge me in a favor, mister..."
"Lau. Just call me Lau, not Lao."
"Fine, Lau, where the hell are we?"
"My home?"
"Address, please. Some people need to pick me up." Some people being her nephew's butler and/or his trio of sidekicks.
"Oh. Uh, let me remember..."
William sat up in bed. He groaned- that happened too fast. No messages. No texts. No calls.
He didn't feel relieved. On the contrary, he was a bit annoyed. And it was affecting his work pattern. Gritting his teeth, he picked up his cell (fully charged) and dialed Sutcliffe's number. He'd give him a piece of his mind.
"Hello?"
"Grell!"
"Oh, hi Will! Wait- gimme a sec- Madame Red, might I add that your figure is dashing!"
"Grell!"
"Wait a minute. Hmm, that doesn't suit you. Oh, pish posh! We'll have lunch later."
He ended the call. Damn Sutcliffe!
"Hey Bossman, What's up?"
"Sit down!"
"Right!"
Ronald sat in the chair opposite William. The other eyed him intensely, hands folded on the table.
"I believe our work pattern is being severely disrupted. According to the survey and personal experience, this all lies in Sutcliffe's problems."
"What survey?"
"Quiet!"
"Right."
"He's been acting oddly. And I think it would be best if we told him to leave his personal issues at home and come to work properly."
"Not really. He's actually more proper now."
William pushed up his glasses and glowered. Ronald shut his mouth.
"It's gone too far. Sutcliffe has been ignoring my calls and messages- as his superior, this is horrible conduct. Now, since you work with him the most often, has he been slacking in duties lately? Would it be best to fire him?"
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" Ronald laughed, trying to stop from doubling over.
"Show some respect, honestly!" "Is this about the lady?"
Ba-dump. William's finger froze in mid-air.
"I think you're jealous, bossman."
"Jealous of Sutcliffe? Why in heaven's name?"
"Well, we are your only friends (acquantainces!), okay, acquantainces, and he's moving on and you're not."
"Preposterous!"
"I don't think it's Grell you're jealous of."
Ba-dump. The young man grinned.
I'm just going to end this here. Originally wanted this to be a one-shot, but it's getting too long. It'll be a two-shot. So please tell me how I did!
And I hope you enjoyed reading, and that the length doesn't annoy you.
Ranmao shows up next chapter. And there's a surprise pairing at the end. Also, don't worry, Grell won't stay "OOC" for long.