If I owned Kuroshitsuji there would have been LOTS more Grell, but alas I don't.
Warning: There is a minor graphic description in this chapter, but nothing too bad yet. The next chapter will have a lot of graphic violence and the rating will be upped to M. Therefore if you like this story you might want to add it to your alerts (stories rated M don't automatically show up in the search).
There is slight William/Grell, but they're not the focus of this story.
Thanks to everyone who read the first chapter. A special thanks to: Flower-Child14, Winterlove4, Fleya, Sebassy-Chan, Poison1234, Why, Bra, Artfan, and RonaldFaustus for your reviews. Thank you, everyone, I really appreciate all your kind reviews. I hope you all enjoy this chapter too!
The flashbacks are in italics.
The two older shinigami exchanged glances then resumed their gazes upon the one sitting before them. He had removed the bloodstained coat, but large splatters of red still covered his shirt.
The scent of human blood rarely bothered reapers as they came to associate it with work, much like those in an office setting were accustomed to the smells of paper and ink. However the stench of the blood of a supernatural creature was a different story.
"Sutcliff," William said in his usual calm, yet authoritative voice. "Will you please tell us what happened with Knox?"
Grell shifted uncomfortably. For a split second both shinigami could have sworn they saw a smidge of pity in his eyes before that sick grin reappeared.
"There's no need to involve Ronnie in this, William, darling," Grell said while dismissively waving his hand. William's face showed annoyance at Grell's usual method of adding endearments at the end of his name. Grell placed his arms on the table and leaned forward. "Maybe you're more interested in hearing how I ripped those piles of refuse to shreds? Hmm?" he asked in a voice that would lure the curious innocent to their demise.
"So you do admit to killing them?" Norton asked with his pen ready. *
"I thought that was pretty obvious," Grell said without care as he ran a hand through his long tresses. With Grell's head turned in profile with that shark grin, William recalled how Grell looked not two hours prior with splotches of crimson covering his face in the moonlight.
"Why did you kill them?" Norton asked.
Grell shrugged the question off. Instead he focused on the details of the story. "The ugly one with the three horns and that awful combination of light and dark orange," he began. Norton stared with wide eyes while Grell continued his narration. "His speed was no match for mine. I ducked under his massive arms and slashed upwards into his abdomen. The flesh left on that obviously artificially enhanced lower ab dangled like a loose nail that's too painful to pull. I slashed again, lower, intentionally lacerating the intestines. I knew with one more cut I could disembowel—"
"Sutcliff!" William yelled. The other two stared at William who held a hand to his head. He was reminded why each moment he spent with Grell often ended with a headache. "You are on possible trial for murder. The second time in a two year period. Can you please answer the questions?"
Grell sank. "I am answering the questions," he answered. "I'm saving you time trying to piece together what happened."
"You were asked why you killed them not the gruesome details of how," Norton reminded the man in questioning.
Grell sighed. All hostility had vanished from Grell's face. "Is that really important?"
Were Norton's feet not firmly planted on the tiles he would have fallen back in his chair. "You do realize what the punishment might be if you're found guilty of cold-blooded murder?" Norton asked, his voice lightly shaking.
The look in Grell's eyes told his superior that he knew what could possibly happen to him. However that fierce glare that remained in the front of his eyes showed that there was something else that was of greater importance.
"Detective Norton," William said to the other shinigami. The mentioned glanced up at the standing reaper. He adjusted the black-rimmed glasses and asked in a calm voice, "May I have a few moments alone with Sutcliff?"
Norton twisted his lips. He knew the importance of being present during the interrogation. However the red-haired shinigami showed no sign of relenting useful information regarding his motive anytime soon. Seeing as how Spears was closest to Grell he could possibly get a confession out of him.
"Take as much time as you need," Norton said as he stood. The legs of the chair creaked along the tiled floor causing the other two to wince at the shrill noise. Norton leaned in and whispered in a voice only loud enough for William to hear. "I'll be listening in on the other side."
William nodded in agreement. He watched as the detective disappeared beyond the door. The windows were tinted so that the individual under surveillance and questioning could not see out, but those on the other side could see in.
William turned to face Grell who was staring absently at the table before him. There were no signs of his usual grandeur or vanity. What concerned Spears more was the fact that when he and Grell were often left alone the latter clung himself to William's side and flirted nonstop. By the vacant stare in Grell's yellow-green eyes, there was obviously something else on his mind.
"Sutcliff," William said catching Grell's attention. William abandoned his usual cold manner and leaned forward against the table so that he was making direct eye contact with his subordinate. "Norton has left, it's only the two of us."
"Are you trying to seduce me?" Grell asked. He darkly chuckled then added, "All the times I've come onto you and you've rejected me. But now that I'm in here…does this turn you on?" Grell asked, his nail tapping the tabletop. "You like the bad girls?"
William fought the urge to shout at Grell. If he wanted the younger shinigami to cooperate he needed to keep calm. He slowly descended in the chair Norton previously occupied. He folded his hands on the desk all while keeping his eyes on Grell.
"Sutcliff," William addressed the other. While he often tried to keep himself from showing any emotion towards those who worked under him, there was a hint of concern in his voice. "I ask you to reconsider what you're doing."
"Are you worried about me?" Grell asked.
William was unsure if that question was asked in sincerity or mockery. It was sometimes as hard to read Grell's emotions as it was for others to read his. When Grell wanted to keep something hidden it would take every tool in the box to pry him open.
"Please, for once, listen to what I'm saying," William tried again. "You were already on trial a year ago. The judge is going to have that in the back of his head while listening to this case if you don't have a good reason for killing those demons."
"Why does my past matter?" Grell asked in an annoyed voice. "I'm not like that anymore."
"Because it does matter, Grell!" William snapped. "Please stop being so stubborn and just tell me why you did it!"
Grell's eyes widened. His boss never referred to him by his first name unless it was of the upmost importance. He sighed and glanced down at his lap.
"Fine, I'll tell you," Grell conceded while looking down. He glanced up with sorrow covering his face. "But you can't tell anyone else." Grell could see the forming question in William's eyes and silenced him before he had a chance to voice it. "I don't care if I go to jail for eternity, or even if I'm put to death."
That statement alone was enough to fuel William's curiosity. However, Grell refused to say a word until William agreed to his terms.
"Very well, you win," William stated. The two shook on it. When their hands collided William could feel that Grell was slightly trembling.
Grell brought his hands together with his elbows resting on the table. He found it difficult to look at William while confessing his testimony.
"As you know me and Ronnie were on a reaping mission," Grell stated. In his peripheral vision Grell witnessed William nod at the statement. "Everything went fine at first."
Grell glanced down at the paperwork to confirm that the woman standing on the corner fifteen feet from them was the same in their file. Both shinigami watched her calling out to potential clients. She turned her head to cough into the bloodstained linen cloth in her hand.
"It's kinda sad no one will remember her enough to come to her funeral," Ronald stated.
Grell shrugged. "It's hard to believe one as ugly as her attracted any customers," Grell replied. He recalled all the prostitutes he painted up during his days as Jack the Ripper. All of them were genuinely beautiful that he could easily enhance.
"Well maybe she's good at her job," Ronald said with a laugh while making lewd gestures with his body.
Grell laughed along with Ronald's comment. While he enjoyed reaping missions with William, there was no replacing Ronald's humor.
The first time he met Ronald Knox was when the latter arrived at the academy. Grell was assigned to Ronald as a tutor and advisor (as punishment for Grell's sexual harassment of Alan in the office). Grell moaned and groaned at first for being assigned to help the new kids, but when he met his apprentice they immediately clicked.
Grell even went so far to vouch for Ronald when William sought a replacement for an opening in his office when the previous reaper was killed in an accident involving a rogue angel. William was hesitant to accept someone Grell recommended at first, but seeing Ronald in action, combined with his impressive academic scores, William was willing to give the new kid a chance. While Ronald had his quirks, much like Grell, he was a reaper worth his keep.
Thirty years later and the two were the closest to best friends as reapers could be. Grell actually looked forward to missions in which Ronald was his partner. While occasionally William regretted teaming up two oddballs, he had to admit their productivity was best when they worked together.
Grell was pulled from his thoughts at the sound of hacking. Both pairs of eyes landed on the woman destined to die. A wad of blood flowed down her chin, staining her weathered, yellow gown.
She die fell to the ground giving Grell his cue to begin the judgment. His precious chainsaw ripped into her chest, revealing her cinematic record. Ronald stood beside Grell with the lawnmower in his grasp. The human's soul was gathered and sent to William who would then have her transferred to her proper afterlife destination.
Two men walked past the corpse, not even providing her with a glance. Grell turned from the bloody mess of a woman and put away his scythe in exchange for the manila folder he kept tucked inside his jacket.
"Who's next on the agenda?" Ronald asked.
Grell opened the next file and frowned.
"Something wrong, Miss Grell?" Ronald asked.
Grell slapped the file against Ronald's chest and smiled. "Nothing, we just have a double reaping," he said sadly.
Ronald opened the folder and discovered the reason for Grell's sudden sorrow. Two children: one five and one six were to die of influenza in twenty minutes. Through his thirty years of working closely with Grell, Ronald discovered that it always bothered the older shinigami when he had to reap the souls of young children. Grell occasionally told Ronald how he desired to be a mother, but unfortunately being a grim reaper interfered with that dream.
"Hey, Miss Grell!" Ronald exclaimed as he glanced over the document following the children.
The redhead turned to face the younger shinigami that he had come to consider a brother.
Ronald continued, "This man is supposed to die two minutes after these kids…" he trailed off and handed Grell the file with a smile. "How about I take care of the double myself and you handle him."
Grell smiled at the blonde. "That's kind of you, Ronnie, but I don't think that's a good idea," he countered.
"Come on, it'll save us some time," Ronald argued.
"I really think I should accompany you," Grell retorted.
"I'm not giving you a choice, I don't want to be out here all night," Ronald said with a laugh.
As always Ronald tried playing it off with selfish reasons, but Grell could see right through that. He could tell Ronald was only trying to spare his feelings.
Grell consented. At times like that he regretted telling the younger man his views on reaping children. Ronald was too kind for his own good sometimes.
The two approached their destination. From outside the drafty house Grell could hear the sound of one of the children coughing. It broke his heart, but reapers were supposed to be objective during their work. Ronald was such a good friend to him.
"I'll take care of this one," Ronald said with a grin, clutching his scythe.
The red reaper bit his bottom lip. "I really don't think that's a good idea," he countered with a quick shake of his head.
"Stop worrying, I can handle this," Ronald retorted. "I need a chance to show my skills, you've said so yourself."
Grell recalled the numerous times he spoke to William about allowing Ronald a chance to show his true worth as a reaper (an idea Spears was most opposed to). All those times Grell thought Ronald was out of earshot, but it appeared to be the opposite.
That smug grin that the smaller reaper wore was Ronald's way of thanking Grell for taking a leap for him, as Ronald was much too timid to approach William with the proposal himself.
The almost cued coughing provided the red reaper with the final factor in his decision. "Alright," Grell said much against his gut warning. Before leaving he left his friend with a caution, "Be careful." His tone became grave. "If you feel any presence, get out of there immediately."
Ronald gave Grell his own signature hand signal which made him feel like a doofus, but it made Grell proud to know he encouraged him to do so.
Grell's stomach twisted when he walked away from Ronald. The most important rule when it came to the dispatch was to always look after one's partner. They were both well aware of how demons preferred the souls of children and how dangerous it was for a reaper with little defense training such as Ronald to be facing that risk alone. However, Ronald was not going to allow Grell to win that one and Grell was partially relieved not to have to steal a child's soul.
Besides, he was only going to be a few yards away. Grell told himself, if only to calm his nerves, that nothing would happen in three minutes time. If only he knew how dead wrong he was.
Thus ends chapter two. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please send any comments, compliments, and/or criticisms in the form of a review.
*I don't know when ball-point pens were invented, but seeing as how the reapers have high-tech equipment for death scythes, I think it's possible to believe they'd have pens before humans did.
Until next time!