Chapter 2
A-N: Ohh goodie! I am a fat man in the line for the worlds best Mexican burrito right now! All of those yummy reviews! That makes me so happy and then when I see that other readers of my other fic's are coming to visit this one make my giant fat belly jiggle with happiness and joy!
Also, I need to clear something up, real fast that's been being pointed out to me on a number of occasions... So, I love Ronnie, he is super cute and all that jazz, I love him to death, I love them all to death, but I pick on Ronnie, because it's so easy to as well, if you've read my one shot I pick on Grell and Will as well, but that's more obscure. Ha ha, but yes, I love all the characters and their insanity, but I just love some more than others. Shh, don't tell them that.
Okay, my Darlings! Enjoy! See you at the end!
…/
"May, I help you?" Grell asked again when the figure didn't seem to hear him. He watched now when the black shadow looked up. Grell noticed that he was reading the book he left, the book was snapped shut and set on the roof with slow movements. He cocked his head something was familiar about it. "Show yourself." His hands waiting to summon his scythe.
Black shadow standing, Grell saw the smooth lines of the figure and relaxed just slightly figuring a demon would have attacked him by now, if it were smart.
"Where were you?" It spoke, voice almost unrecognizable, it was low and growl-like. Grell didn't answer the question. "Grell!" That voice, it was familiar now. William, it just had to be, the stature of how he stood, the way he carried himself and the tone of voice now, but it was strained with worry and relief. "Where were you?"
Grell relaxed and walked forward his heart throbbing quickly against his chest still from the fearfulness of something happening that he wouldn't live another day to reap again. William walked forward with a sigh, he was in his street clothes. Wearing dark blue jeans, (jeans were invented in 1856) a dark button up black shirt, and leather jacket. William walked forward and grabbed for Grell's wrists.
The red head pulled up his arms and pressed them to his chest taking a few steps backwards, the back of his knees hitting the edge of the roof top now. His instinct to flee now after what recently happen, his mind instantly frightened. Seeing William with drawl quickly his face growing interested and upset.
He spoke calmly to Grell. "I apologize. Grell, I was worried that the old Undertaker came and took you away." He was frowning. "You were gone for an hour and a half."
'I was gone that long?' Grell thought to himself thinking it was only a few minutes. 'The old man out side waited for me... what is that? That is creepy.' Grell sighed and looked at the male in front of him. "I went to look in the old mans shoppe to see if anything has changed since the last time there was inspection." Grell watched William as he walked forward quickly grabbing Grell spinning him away from the edge of the rooftop. He tensed and let his body be moved like it was a piece of furniture, taking a deep breath and pulled away tripping over himself, but never falling. "N-nothing changed."
"You could not have been anymore idiotic! You could have gotten hurt! Do you know that!?" William grabbed Grell's upper arms and shook him.
Eyes narrowing, he didn't need to be manhandled, Grell pulled back. "Don't you think you think I know that William! You think that didn't run through my head!? We went through the Academy together! In the same classes! William just stop! I am a big boy and I can take care of myself!" Grell started to yell, he did not need his boss and ex-lover to be telling him what to do now, and start worrying about him when it never happen before.
William stared at his underling now shocked at his behavior. "Bu-"
"No! Be quiet," Grell snapped cutting William off. "Why now!? Why do you care now!? Am I something you cannot have! Is that it!?" His head cocked and his fist rose clenched in a tight fist. "Or do you feel the guilt!? Feel the guilt of not being able to do what Ronald did, or is it that you did not come when you heard me scream for you!?" Grell twisted his face in anger. "Tell me William, what is it, why so protective, so close to me now?"
William took a step closer. "I, I cannot stand this, you being depressed. You acting like I do not care when I do! You know policy-"
"Who does not know of policy, William, when you are around!? If you care or had any shred of tender part in your uptight buttock you would not care for the policy!" Grell frowned. "Now, that Ronald did that to me-"
William covered Grell's mouth leaning close. "Please stop. Just stop, that hurts me as much as it hurts you." William swallowed harshly. "I heard your scream, I heard it Grell, I just did not pay attention to you." William seemed to have glassy eyes, Grell noticed the glassy look in his supervisors eyes. He was still somewhat afraid his own eyes watered and he backed away.
"You... you heard me!? Yet you refused to come help? When have you ever heard me scream like that William? Nevermind!" Grell pushed against his chest when William closed in even more. "Just leave me alone! Let me do my job." The last bit was a mix between defeat and sadness.
William pressed his lips together trying to figure out what to say or do. He stared at Grell. He didn't want to leave, nor leave him alone now that Grell has already seemed to disappear on him already. William reached forward touching Grell's cheek, to only have it slapped away.
"Go away Boss. I don't need nor want you here." Grell hissed. "Let me do my job." He repeated again.
William's eyes widened at the words. Never before he would ever think he'd hear those words uttered by the the red head. William didn't want to leave, he left, abandoned, and ignored Grell in the past and the day he was violated, now he couldn't find it with in him to leave now, now with the old man may or may not be lurking around.
"Sutcliff." William started. "Grell, why don't you take a nap, when you wake up I'll leave."
"No, I have a job to do and I am doing just that." He sighed. "I'm perfectly fine here alone, first you sent poor little Alan, to come check up on me then you come yourself. That's annoying Boss, really, it is...you care now of all times when I'm the most safest!"
William flinched at being shunned from the one person who wasn't afraid to just run up and attack him even if he were in a bad mood. He wanted to protect him more than ever now, he was one of the few that knew the extent of the rumors of that damned Undertaker. He was back and he's been terrorizing the city.
"Grell, just give me this."
"No!" Grell growled and pushed his superior officer. "Just leave, I'm fine here just reading my book and watching the old coots shoppe!" The red head sighed as William's bottom hit the ground. "You can't just start caring now, it's too damned late." He stepped over his body and sat down in his little nest picking up his book the William dropped.
William stood up quickly and dusted himself off. "I will be back soon Grell whether you like me to, or not." He looked down at the red head before vanishing.
…/
Will landed in the library right in front of the all too big stature of the Reaper that Grell was keeping an eye out for, William scowled at the large scale marble. He didn't come to stare at the giant statue, but to find the Reaper he punished.
William looked around for the damned reaper that ruined the one thing he cared for, the dark haired man traveled to the large scale library to where he left his blonde underling. When he reached the area where he was William watched Ronald work in putting large volumes in place. Ronald didn't notice the appearance of his superior officer as he shelved the books slowly. He was lowly grumbling to himself as he did so, he didn't notice when William picked up a book from the creaky cart and threw it at the youngers head.
"You bastard, you ruined him!" William growled as he watched as Ronald scowled at him. "He won't even speak to me with out vemon in his voice!" William threw another cinematic record at him. Ronald scowled and walked up to his superior his hands clenched, William only stood his ground, Grell was more scary than Ronald was, even when he was happy. "What are you going to do now!? Hit your superior officer!?"
Ronald only stared at him, before turning to the door. "Screw you and your punishment, I was not caught in the act so therefore-"
William lifted his head, "You walk out of that door Knox and you'll have hell to pay. That's an order."
The blonde stopped and just stood there listening to William. 'What worse can- I can get fired and never see Grell again... and I want Grell,' Ronald thought to himself. He stopped and sighed turning back to his supervisor. "Fine," He stated angrily.
William snarled at his young co-worker, "You will be under my watch, and a careful one and that. Do you understand me Knox!?"
Ronald only nodded slowly a scowl on his face not liking this already, he wanted to go pay Grell a visit and see if he could patch anything up with his superior, and if things went right he could be a shoe in for some good sex. Things have seemed to turn on him as William appeared and demanded him to be his lacky.
"Come, Knox. I have paperwork for you to do." William said as he turned on his heel and marched out of the library. Ronald had no choice to follow, he had not other job.
Passing the great Undertaker statue William glowered at the too tall and now inaccurate thing. Ronald caught the look, yet said nothing he wanted nothing to do with the man right now. He only had one person in mind and that was the tall slight feminine reaper. Maybe he would have brought him a bottle of wine and sat there with him, then he'd see where he'd go from there, he was tired of waiting around. Now he had a date with paperwork.
William lead him to his office, which was immaculate. William waved him to the all too uncomfortable chain that sat on the opposite side of his desk. William sat down with a sigh of relief in his big comfortable high backed chair. Opening a drawer in his big desk he pulled out a stack of papers that were perfectly stacked, setting them in front of Ronald he nodded to it.
"There's your start for this evening." William chuckled. "Maybe you will thank me one day."
The younger frowned and stared at the large stack. He thought this may take a few hours depending on how he paced himself. Looking at the first page he saw that this was paperwork from last month. William set a pen and ink in front of him. Leaning forward he began on the paperwork.
William did the same, but at a slower more diligent pace.
For William it was harder to concentrate for he kept thinking of how Grell kept turning him down, up on that roof. Then their past was flying at him like a ton of bricks. He hated this feeling and hoped he could fix it and never feel this pain again. Just looking at the blonde was pissing him off, he wanted to tear him apart, but that would just end up hurting his position as head of management.
William went through the paperwork quickly and when he finished he looked up and just watched as the younger worked slowly not used to really used to doing so much paperwork.
"Why'd you do it? Why'd you hurt Grell like that?" Will just blurted out his face angry.
Ronald looked up startled from his work. "I-I..."
"Would you fucking tell me before I rip it from your head!" He stood his hands slapping flat on the table growling. "You stupid boy!"
Ronald stood as well trying to stare William in the eye, but it was no use. William was in a slightly crazed moment only demanding not wanting to be calmed by the look of his eyes. He just wanted and needed answers.
"He kept denying me!" He yelled. "He didn't want me! All he wanted was you! And only you! You are just ruining it! If you weren't around he'd be all over me! You are an up-tight asshole, that's blind to a wonderful person that wants you body and soul! Your so damned blind that you-"
At that point William launched himself across the desk his hands encircling Ronald's neck. Both stumbled for a few seconds and Will managed to stand straight first. He threw his body against Ronald's growling twisting the blonde's face to the side slamming him against the wall.
"You son of a bitch! Don't you ever-!"
Ronald growled. "Grell, should never be in your sight! You hurt him too much with your words!" Ronald yelled through his teeth as his face smashed against the wall again.
"I'm going to rip your dick from it's roots! I'm going to bloody your fucking face! Smash it in!" William kneed him in the leg. "Fuck you, Ronald Kno-"
The door smashed in and Eric, tall and big his hands clenched at his sides. Stalked over yelling William's name he grabbed his boss. Alan skittered in quickly after Eric taking hold of Ronald pulling him out of the room making little cooing noises. Ronald grabs his neck in pain, spitting at William's restrained body. Eric's whole body had to hold back his boss's
When Ronald was out of the room, Eric grabbed William by the collar and shook him. "What the hell is wrong with you!? You attacked one of your employees! God damned it Will!" Eric threw out his arms in a shoving motion making his boss stumble and curse. "You!" He pointed at him. "You, should know better than to take this shit to work with you! If this shit had to happen take it to the woods and beat the bloody 'ell outta 'im!" The more Eric started to yet the more his words slurred and grew deeper with accent. "Tell you wot! Go home and sleep, God only knows that you need it! An I don't want you going the that bloody red-head either." Eric started to pace around and pick up some of William's things. "I 'ave it handled from here."
William frowned still wanting to beat his co-worker into a pulp for even touching Grell.
…/
Ronald sat in Alan and Eric's office still holding his throat silently. Alan scurried around in his little med-kit. He made little mother hen noises. He looked up his glasses sliding too far down his nose, he pushed them up slowly.
"Whatever you have done to anger him, I suggest to stop it now. If you insist on angering Spears, it would not be wise." Alan walked over with a brown bottle. He set it lightly on Ronald's lips.
"Drink this." He tipped it up and drained the contents into Ronald's mouth.
Ronald grunted at the taste. "Wot' was that! That was disgusting." Ronald wiped at his mouth with a small sneer. "And wot' is it to ya' to know wot's going on between me and Spears. I had it handled."
"Having it handled, is not: pressed against the wall with our boss's hand against your throat. That, is not having it handled, Ron." Alan pushed up his ever falling glasses once again. Alan only shook his head slowly, he couldn't believe the things going on between all of his co-workers these days. "I'm serious Ron, what you're doing to Will to make him mad, stop now, or you will regret it for the rest of your life."
Ronald stared at his superior with a sigh, Alan has been there longer than he has and should know how Spears gets. He has seen the extent of the male with Grell. The thought of Grell made his cheeks hot and slightly pink. He noticed that Alan just stared at him his eyes fierce, something rare in the small brunette.
"Ron, just stop your antics, there is enough the board has to deal with than a petty argument if anyone takes it there. Now, just calm down, all will be fine. Besides, have you not heard? There is word that The Undertaker is being seen once again, our division is on the case." Alan informed the younger as he pulled on his bolo tie. "So, we have to be on the top of our game if we want to bring him down and give him justice." Alan hated saying the words about the legend. The Undertaker was one to respect and honor, not catch and humiliate, even if he had done something wrong.
…/
William managed to convince Eric that he was fine and that he needed to go check up on Grell. His mind was made up, he would start to show Grell that he really cared for him and would do anything for him. He just wanted to have the old Grell back, the one where he would run and attack him at random moments of the day and just babble happily to avoid any kind of meeting or scolding.
William gathered a blanket, and a few books for Grell. He would want any kind of excuse to just see him. William smiled to himself and with all this in his arms he made his way to the old Undertaker's shoppe, well, the roof where Grell decided to stake himself for the duration of this mission.
With easy steps William stepped out of his phase and noticed that Grell was standing, the stance was defensive, like a cobra ready to strike. Even when Grell noticed who it was he didn't let his guard down, but he did sit down and pick up his book that he was reading, still not letting his guard down for a second even though it was his superior, no exceptions now.
"What do you want now?"
William was not about to tell Grell that he tried to kill Ronald. He bit his tongue and held up the blanket that he grabbed from his office. "I thought you might be cold. And I, uh, brought you more books if you went through that one too fast." William walked forward and slowly lowered himself to his knees to set the blanket and books next to Grell. "I don't want you to over work yourself. I want you-"
"Overwork!" Grell scoffed loudly with a sour laugh. "The first time I think I ever hear you say that Boss," Grell gave a few more forced laughs. "Overwork."
"-to get some rest ever so ofter." William didn't pause in his small ramble, but he still heard what Grell bit back. "I want to sit with you for a while...and just, uh, catch up. How's that sound? Catching up?"
"From where William," the way Grell said his name made him wince and frown. Where indeed. "From when we split in the Academy? Or where another of our relationships went into sod! Hmm, where do you want to catch up from William?"Grell's voice was getting pitchy and loud. "Or, perhaps, would you like to start over and begin us all over once again!?"
William could see the evil, sad, glare he received from the red-head. That was an arrow in the heart. William knew Grell was hurting, he could see it everyday, day in and day out at the office.
"Grell, look I'm sorry. I really am. I hate what I've done to you and I hate what Kno-"
"Don't you even say his bloody name!" He cut his superior off. "Don't you even utter his name to me! He can rot in hell!" Grell cursed him. He felt the sudden urge to throw up. He stood and ran to the edge of the building's roof and heaved over the side. He coughed after heaving his stomach up a few times. Will walked over and grabbed Grell's hair pulling it to the side. As he held the males hair he rubbed his back as soft as possible.
"It's okay. Just let it out."
Grell watched as his glasses now dangled off his chain hitting the side of the building. He stared down at the street his eyes catching the old man staring up at him. There was a large smile on his face as he stared up at the two Reapers against the side of the roof. Even from there Grell could see the man leaning over his cane his weight on the walking stick. He just watched the two happy as can be, just standing and watching.
Grell's rage got to him and he threw up again over the side, coughing more, he felt William grab his hair more and keep it out of his face. "Grell, calm down."
The red head did not hear him he stared at the old male on the street, something about him seemed different now. The way he tilted his head and crossed his fingers over his cane. Grell blinked a few times before another wave of nausea hit him.
When he was done he straightened up and wiped his mouth on his sleeve and burped as he did so. He made a face at the taste in his mouth. He looked back to the ground and the old man was gone. He raised one eyebrow and turned around and William was digging through a small bag. Grell leaned against the edge and watched his superior dig through his bag. He pulled out a glass bottle and walked back to Grell and held it out.
"Rum,"
Grell lifted his eyebrow higher. "Really, Boss? Rum, on the job?"
As if challenged William uncorked the bottle and took a long swig. When he pulled away he made a low sigh when the lip of the bottle was away from his lips. He walked up to Grell and handed him the bottle. "Drink. It will make you feel better."
Grell took the bottle looking at it. "Really? William, you are always on me not to be drinking on the job?" He rolled his eyes, although it did take a lot of alcohol to get a Reaper drunk. He only stared at the bottle now. William grabbed Grell around the waist pulling him closer to where he was about to spread out the blanket.
"Come on, the mission is practically a dud, drink. Besides it will make you feel better." William spread the blanket on the roof top. "Come on, sit down and relax with me." he sat down patting the place next to him.
Grell just stared at the blanket. "And if I said no?" He was holding the bottle as if he were ready to throw it. He actually wanted William to just leave. He wanted to go back into that old musty shoppe. He wanted to look around more without getting spooked. He wanted to just go investigate and look around more. See if the old man was actually there, he could be leaving little hints that he was.
The old Reaper had many tricks up his sleeve and Grell knew that, and when dealing with the legend himself, one had to be careful where he tread. It was like dealing with a snake in the grass, you never knew where he was until he decided strike.
William felt dumb struck as he stared up at his oldest friend, this was too odd behavior for him. Refusing to cuddle or even sit with him. He seemed too withdrawn from everything so detached with everyone. He was somehow not whole anymore. Something had happen and William didn't know what.
"Will," Grell finally said after a few moments of silence. "I think it is time for you to go. I want to be alone. I want to do my job and watch this old coots home, parlor, thing." Grell groaned. "Just, leave, I want you out of my job right now. Just, I will bring in my paper work when it is done. Okay? Just please, leave me to my work." Grell pointed in a random direction. His face was slightly contorted.
Grell himself didn't know what he wanted from him. But he did know he wanted to be left alone, left alone so he could go see the old man's home again. He could just feel something now. William stood up and stepped in front of Grell. He tried to embrace him, Grell stepped out of the arms as soon as they started to surround him. Will settled with his hands on Grell's shoulders giving them a squeeze. He leaned forward to try and steal a kiss.
It did not work out the way William wanted it to, Grell twisted his head slowly away and then his whole body followed his head a second later.
"I will see you later Grell." William told him. He stepped forward a few times and then vanished into thin air.
The red-head stayed quiet and with his body in the same position for a while until he could calm his head. When he calmed down just slightly he shook his whole body and went to the edge of the building and looked over the edge with a sigh. He spotted the older man again pacing back and forth leaning on that cane of his. Grell shook his head and leaped over the side of the building's edge once again landing quietly aside for his boots clicking on the cobble stone.
Standing up straight Grell walked over to the door once again. His fingers touched the knob and the old man spoke from within the darkness. "Forget something it there, did you?" The old man gave a short giggle as his neck craned up to look at Grell. "Hm, that old Undertaker hasn't been round since you were here a few hours ago."
Grell shook his head and slowly opened the door and stepped into the parlor he looked closer than he did before seeing a slight shimmer to the room if he really looked, it was tampered with, or as some of the elder Reapers called it a 'trance'. Shaking his head and blinking a few times he looked passed the trance and smirked.
'Hm, good trick ol' man. Good trick.'
The room revealed itself to him now, spotless. No dirt anywhere and there were a few papers spread along a few old unfinished coffins. Grell walked over to the papers and picked them up. He wanted to read them but were in a language that surprisingly could not read. He huffed and set it down looking over he spotted some cookies on the desk with a cup next to it. He walked over and lit a candle that sat on the desk as well Grell sat down and grabbed a cookie. He sniffed it.
'Hm, smells fresh.'
The red-head slipped some of the cookie into his mouth breaking off a piece and chewing it slowly. He closed his eyes as if it were the best cookie in the world, and of course it was. He knew that the Undertaker made it. He missed the taste. Standing he made his way to the kitchen looking past the trance, he saw that the rice and beans were still there and yet there was more food in the kitchen than he saw due to the trance. Smiling he touched jars full of dry goods. There were no dirty dishes in the old sink basin.
Grell spun and walked down at long hall and to the old Shingami's room opening the door he walked in. It looked the same as the last time he was there. A room fit for a king.
'I love this room already.'
Walking to the bed he flopped onto it belly first and buried his face into pillows. He inhaled the scent of the old man. He just didn't know how to describe the smell. He lay there for a while just basking in the musk of his old friend that he missed dearly. He lay there still and memories were popping up into his mind about the old man and how he used to ditch work to come drink tea and eat the mans biscuits.
The Undertaker would tell him of when he was first starting out as a Reaper. And how when he was younger he was not always the smartest one in the bunch but then he started to get the hang of himself and then he was looked at as a leader and man of wisdom. He then started to do great things in his time. Grell always loved listening to the old mans stories and ramblings.
Soon Grell heard the distinct of light boot clicks on the hard wood floor and then the louder, thunk, that was a bit obscure.
CLICK-CLICK-THUNK
Grell sat up and cocked his head. He looked toward the door of the room as the sounds grew nearer. He stood. Just as he stood he saw a hunched over old man. He was the same man that was outside. Hunched over and small.
"Uh, Sir. You said this place was haunted, what are you doing in here?"
The man looked up and Grell now got a good look of him. He had eyes so blue they were silver, his hair so blonde it was white, even in his old age. His face seemed timeless and wise. He had a small grimace on his face. His hands wrinkled and scared as they gripped hard onto the cane handle, his arms and hands shook along with his legs that appeared to be hardly holding his body.
"I wanted to see what was so interesting about this old parlor. I wanted to see what so many people have been here over the years to find that the old mortician has moved on. I wanted to see inside the old place." He uttered so quietly his voice raspy. "So this is what you come to do sleep in my bed."
Grell shook his head. "No I came to-" The words sunk in slowly. "'my bed'?" He questioned.
The old mortal straightened. His stature seeming to making him grow in size and make him look stronger as he stood upright. The walking stick was tossed past Grell, it missed and landed on the bed. Slowly, he shed his outer coat revealing tight pants with buckles, tight black boots covered up to his thighs, and an over coat that hung to his knees clad in buckles.
"Yes, my bed."
Grell's lips opened as he saw this man, he was not old anymore as he watched the transformation. Shaking his head as he tilted his head back long silver locks unfurled down his back to only touch the back of his knees. When he looked up opening his eyes they were that silver-green Grell knew and loved so well. A smooth smile crossed perfect lips.
"Now, now. Don't you think I wouldn't leave my home unwatched for too long, Grell Sutcliff?"
…/
A-N: Oh man! Chapter two after so damned long. I hope the wait was worth it. I know my beta is happy this is finially up! Thank you so much SYN! You are great to me and my fic's! I love you and your support!
So, I thank each and every one of you who read, reviewed and faviorted! And what ever else! You are too good for me..!
Thank you, and until next time! Stay peachy!