Summary: He wasn't supposed to fall in love with her, but sometimes love just happens.
Pairings: Phantom x Valerie
Written: September 2013

Grim Reaper (Death)

Valerie Gray, currently the age of twenty-five and working at call center while seeking better employment. She sat on her bed in her cramped apartment with the newspaper spread around her. She circled various job opportunities with the red marker in her hand. On occasion, she would start to circle another ad then shake her head and scribble it out with the marker. She was very determined to get out of the rut after being fired from her last job and forced to take up the position at the call center just to make ends meet until she could find a job that would pay far better, with good hours, and a lot less stress.

Phantom bumped into her on a few occasions. He was allowed to do that, though he was probably bending the rules close to breaking them by the number of times he had spoken to her under the guise of being human. Sometimes, they were allowed to interact with the mortals to better judge their souls and determine if they were ready. The first time he spoke with her, it was meant to be as innocent as the rest. She was only twenty-two at that time and working at a restaurant at the time. That made it much easier to stage an encounter. All he had to do was wait until he would be seated in her section, and he would be able to speak with her as she waited on him. She seemed quite friendly, and he rather liked her spirit.

The job lasted until about half a year ago, when some men got a bit too tipsy and thought it was well within their right to grab at her in inappropriate ways. Phantom wasn't allowed to act in times like that, even if he truly wished to interfere. He was meant to be an observant bystander, not to interact with the mortals far too much, and he already done plenty of "too much" interaction when it came to her. Valerie hardly needed his help, though. She had one man on his back in a matter of seconds before she grabbed the other man's wandering hand and twisted the arm around to the point of nearly snapping it. He was left breathless, despite not needing to breathe, at her quick, graceful, and strong movements to take down the men harassing her. Naturally, however, her boss couldn't allow her to continue working there after assaulting two customers, despite how much they deserved what they got. Phantom couldn't interrupt that natural flow, but he was allowed to be there to console her after she left the restaurant. He listened to her angry rants, and he tried his best to be helpful. When she ran out of steam, Valerie thanked him for simply being there, and Phantom felt something he never had. He never received thanks in his line of work. And who would thank him? People, generally, didn't wish to die.

"You're doing a very poor job."

Phantom jumped at the voice and felt a chill run through him. He tore his green eyes away from the woman and hesitantly drew them to the one who appeared randomly beside him. "Clockwork! What are you doing out of your tower?"

Clockwork leaned on his staff, the wispy tail below him flicking lazily back and forth. "You're three years late on reaping her soul." His red eyes pierced into him as if his gaze alone could strip away everything that Phantom was. "It should have been quite an easy task. Any beginner could have accomplished it by now. Why the delay?"

Phantom drew up his knees like he perched on an invisible shelf as his gaze turned back to Valerie. Clockwork hardly needed to ask when he knew all of time. "I don't think I can take her life," he said in a small voice, arms hugging about his knees.

Clockwork nodded. "I thought this would be the way time would flow." He waited until Danny turned to him again. "You love her."

Phantom jerked up, nearly falling out of the air from his shock. He never heard of a reaper falling in love, and most definitely never with a mortal. But now that it was said out loud, he began to understand that strange draw toward the woman. He had seen it often enough with other mortals. That longing desire to be near them for no other reason than their presence felt like home. That wish to be something more than just friends, as they had slowly become since that first meeting.

"But if you knew, why did you allow it?" Phantom's brow creased as he tried to puzzle out the Master of Time's motives. "Isn't it not allowed for us to love mortals? You could have prevented that by assigning someone else to her."

"True." A smirk tugged at Clockwork's mouth. "But I also know how things would have gone had you not met her." He frowned darkly, gazing across the apartment but not seeming to be seeing what lay before him. "A grim future indeed."

"I don't understand." Phantom frowned, wishing Clockwork wouldn't be so cryptic all the time.

"Naturally." Clockwork turned to face the young reaper. "It's not often that your kind finds love. It's a rare thing, and in most cases, it can corrupt and turn a reaper into something dark." He surveyed Phantom with his red gaze. "You, however, seem to be among the rare few that isn't affected in that manner. I shall allow your relationship with this young Miss Gray."

"What?" Phantom gasped out, almost not believing the words the wise, ancient being said.

"There are conditions, however." Clockwork raised a hand to stop any premature celebration. "You must explain to her exactly what you are. If she is unable to accept it, I shall reset this time and assign someone else to do the job you cannot. You, however," his mouth pulled thin, "will be imprisoned. Are you willing to potentially sacrifice your own freedom for this?"

Phantom hardly hesitated for a second. "I am."

"Then I believe you have a conversation to start." Clockwork smirked mysteriously before vanishing in a swirl of a large clock hand.

Phantom phased into the hallway and checked that no one was around before shifting into a visible appearance. He swallowed nervously as he raised his hand and knocked upon the door. After several moments that left him sweating unnaturally, the door opened, and a smile appeared on his face as he stared at the woman.

"Where have you been?" Valerie drew him into a fierce hug, and Phantom wrapped his arms around her. "I feel like you've been gone for ages."

"It's only been a month," Phantom reminded her with a laugh.

Valerie rolled her green eyes that sparkled like emeralds. "Yeah, yeah. So maybe I missed you a touch." She stepped aside to allow him to enter her apartment before closing the door behind them. "What brings you by?"

Phantom stared at her as a hint of worry wove itself through his entire being. What if Valerie rejected him and they both suffered the consequences of that reaction? No, he couldn't think like that! She would accept him. He had to believe in that. "There's something I must tell you."

stickgamesfan: Yay! 8D I'm glad you liked it~

Guest: Of course! =) They are on my list~ 8D

ghostanimal: I'm glad you thought the last three were cute. =) I guess I could have left Danielle and Youngblood as kids. I didn't even think about kiddie crushes. XD;;; I shall add them! I don't think I've ever seen any of those. XD;; I was going to do a Vlad and Desiree one at some point. XD;;

Kira Sema: New pairings all around! 8D I'll add that on too.