Compromise

William groaned and buried his face further into his lover's crimson hair as his alarm clock blared incessantly. Honestly, William didn't think he had ever wanted to skip work, knowing how vitally important a Shinigami's job was, but he had never realized how comfortable it could be lying in bed with a warm body pressed against him. Grell seemed to share the opinion as he wrapped his arms tighter around William's frame and sleepily nuzzled his face into the crook of his lover's neck.

"Mmmmm… 5 more minutes" the redhead mumbled.

"No," William sighed, pulling himself away from that tempting warmth before sitting up and stretching. "We've got to get ready for work."

Grell pouted and pulled the covers over his head. "Aaa~ it's always work work work with you William~! You're no fun!"

"My, aren't we cranky in the morning?" William deadpanned in response to his lover's melodramatic whining. "Honestly Grell, you're just now realizing that I actually care about my job?" He asked, yawning and moving the sheets to get up.

"Don't you care about me~? I didn't even get a good morning…" Grell whimpered pathetically, his pout so pronounced it was audible through the thick comforter.

William sighed and rolled his eyes. He seriously considered not gracing such a ridiculous question with a response. Grell should know he cared about him, the redhead was clearly just fishing for attention. Then again, William supposed he was the one that signed up for this, and giving his lover this kind of attention was precisely what one did when one entered into an intimate relationship, or so he'd been told.

Lying back down and ducking under the covers, William fixed Grell with an irritated glare as he spoke, "Of course I care about you! That was an idiotic question and you know it! Honestly, I simply understand the importance of what we do, and I wish you would as well, then perhaps you would take your job more seriously Grell Sutcliff!"

Grell started wide eyed back at him, shocked at Will's total lack of tact or romance as he gasped for some sort of response, when Will's eyes softened slightly as he leaned forward to kiss the redhead on the tip of his nose. "And…good morning Grell" he mumbled as an afterthought, his cheeks dusted a faint pink.

Grell could only giggle and smile at Will's complete and utter… Willness, before capturing his lover's lips in a quick kiss. "Good morning Will~!"

William smiled softly at the lingering feeling of Grell's lips on his. "Now come on…" he quickly pecked the redhead on the lips once more before throwing the covers off them, sitting up and reaching for his glasses on the end table. "…work."

"Fi~ne fine! You win~!" Grell groaned, though he smiled playfully as he said it.

Grell sat up and stretched, watching shamelessly as Will got up to find a suitable outfit for the day. Noticing Grell's eyes glued to his naked form, William blushed and covered his genitals while sputtering. "G-Grell, what are you doing? I-It's impolite to stare!"

Smiling mischievously, Grell replied. "I'm just enjoying the view. It's not like I haven't seen it before darling~! You really need to loosen up~!" the redhead purred as he continued to stare.

Huffing as Grell made a valid point, William found some trousers as quickly as possible and slipped a leg inside. As he stood balanced on one leg, fighting his way inside his trousers, Grell changed the subject.

"Hey Will, I think we should move in together~!"

William's jaw hit the floor. So did the rest of him, as he lost his balance and toppled to the ground. Rocketing back up, William adjusted his glasses and blushed furiously. "Move in? But… we…" he noticed that Grell's eyes were trained on his member as he still hadn't gotten those damn trousers up. "Oh honestly Grell!" He yanked the trousers on and glared at his lover. "We can't move in together! These things take time! You have to court one another… and then propose… and have a period of engagement! And we only just… had… you know…"

"I think if you're having it, you should be able to say it Will" Grell said with a smirk, clearly enjoying the other man's discomfort.

Sex sounded so vulgar! F-Fuc… that word was right out! There was making love, which William supposed it most definitely was, for him at least at any rate, but it seemed too… intimate, which seemed ridiculous, seeing as how the act itself was about as intimate as it got. William realized he had been standing there blushing like a school girl for far too long, so clearing his throat he picked the most appropriate term he could think of, "…copulated for the first time two nights ago!"

Grell raised an eyebrow at Will's terminology, but decided to pick his battles on that one. "Yes, but generally people don't copulate before they're married, so we've already gone a bit out of order there. Besides, we've known each other for decades Will, aren't we a bit past the "courting" stage? Though… if you wanted to take me out to dinner I definitely wouldn't say no~!"

William had to admit that Grell was actually making a fair bit of sense, but it was still too soon for that! William had always fiercely guarded his personal space. He still wasn't quite sure how the redhead had made it past the veritable no man's land of trenches and barbed wire that was William's personality, but Grell had somehow weaseled his way past his defenses. William was just getting used to the fact that Grell had been inside is home, his bed, several times now! Living with him was just too much!

Sighing, William raked a hand through his hair and met Grell's eyes looking slightly apologetic. "Grell… I… I'm just not ready for that yet" he murmured, hoping his lover wouldn't take it as a rejection.

Grell simply sighed and flopped back on the bed. "Fi~ne, have it your way! I'm at least borrowing your toothbrush today, and bringing my own next time I come over, and I won't take no for an answer! Maybe some other toiletries… and a change of clothes or two…"

As Grell continued to rattle off a list of things he would supposedly be bringing over, William rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed. He had heard that relationships were about compromise, and he figured this was a prime example. William was used to telling people what to do and what not to do, using a well placed icy glare or a swift smack from his deathscythe to enforce his orders, but that was at work. In his private life, which William had to admit he didn't seem to have much of until a few days ago, he couldn't just impose his will on his lover. "Alright, you can bring over a few things."

"Thank you Will~!" Grell exclaimed gratefully, though William heavily suspected the redhead would have done what he pleased with or without his permission.

As Grell cheerfully jumped out of bed and bent over to gather up his scattered clothing, William was scandalized to find himself staring... rather shamelessly.

To be continued...