A/N: Dawww, Eric in this chapter is so cute. I want to hug him. I'm not completely sure what I want to do with Eric and Alan. I have the scenarios planned out for all four ending with them (saving both, one or neither of them) but I'm not sure which I'm going with yet. They're currently all possible. Thank you for your reviews last chapter, I'd love to get more.
"What are you getting Mr Alan for his birthday, Mr Eric?" Ronald muttered in Russian.
Eric frowned and tapped his pen against his current report. "I've told you enough times you don't need the formalities. And it's tomorrow, Ron, haven't you thought about it before?"
"I thought about it but I don't know," he replied. Alan was watching them having heard his name. He frowned and glanced at Eric. "What have you got him?"
"I've told you, it's a surprise, and if I tell you or Sutcliff then he'll find out," Eric said.
"Stop that, you two," Alan said quietly.
"We're not doing anything, sweetheart," he laughed.
"Where's Miss Grell?" Ronald said.
"Who knows," he said. "At least without him things are kind of peaceful."
"Seriously though, I don't know what to get him," Ronald said returning to Russian.
Grell burst in and slammed in his scythe on the desk. It there was blood on the blade. Ronald frowned. Their job very rarely involved that much blood. Eric and Alan seemed to have noticed as well.
"Something go wrong, Grell?" Alan said quietly.
"Nothing," he growled. "Bastard got away..."
"You missed a soul?" Ronald said a bit louder than he'd meant to. There was movement in William's office and Grell glared at him. "Sorry."
"No, I got the bloody soul," he snapped. "But the demon got away. I almost had him!"
"Sutcliff," William snarled from the next room. "Be quiet and get on with your work."
Ronald sighed and rested his chin on his hand. "What's with you and Miss Galloway hanging out all the time anyway?"
"I'm just getting to know her better, you know," he muttered. "She's pretty much a part of the gang now. Besides she's helping me with my surprise."
"Anything I can do?"
"Get your own present."
"Hey, come on," Alan said. "I worry when you to start talking and I can't understand."
Ronald smiled and picked up his files. They were almost done with their shift and the past few days Ronald had been finishing early. He just wanted to get it over with and get to William's office.
"So, did you have any plans for tonight, love?" he heard Alan say as he strode towards the door.
"Oh, I was going out with Michelle this afternoon," Eric replied. "But maybe after that we can do something."
Ronald frowned and knocked on William's door. "Come in."
He opened the door and stepped in. William was working quietly on reports and Ronald smiled, leaving the door open. He smiled. William glanced up.
"Something wrong?" he said quietly.
"No," Ronald said. "I've just, you know, finished my work." William nodded. "Miss Grell's back."
"I heard," William murmured.
"He's moaning about a demon," he said. William nodded. "How much more have you got to do?"
"About an hour's worth." Ronald nodded and set down the files on the desk. "Want me to wait?"
"It's up to you, Mr Knox. You can sit down or you can go and wait with the others."
"Alright, I'll be soon then," Ronald said. "I'll let you finish your work."
William nodded and Ronald returned to the main office. Eric was trying to apologise to Alan for going out with Michelle. He was sure that Eric and Michelle were probably doing something for Alan's birthday. Of course, they couldn't just tell him that.
"Hey," Ronald said quietly, leaning over him.
"Hey," Alan muttered, not looking up from his work. "Not with Mr Spears?"
"He finishes faster if I'm not distracting him with my sexy cuteness," he laughed. He sighed, adjusted his glasses slightly and leant down to kiss his cheek and whisper in his ear. "They're up to something for your birthday."
"Oh..." He smiled and glanced over at Eric who had settled back into work. "Anyway, if you're not busy, why don't you do some of Grell's work. Or go and see if Miss Galloway would like some help."
"And Mr Eric tells me off mixing formalities."
"Mr Knox, no distractions," William snapped from the next room.
Ronald sighed and walked over to Grell's desk. "Gimme some reports and the notes on your list."
Grell handed them over and Ronald sat at his desk. The reports were generally just a more formal way of presenting the death list. Given that the reports had yet to actually be filed the souls weren't yet sorted, he could take another look at the records but usually the notes on the list were enough. It didn't take long to finish off Grell's reports and they were done within half an hour. Grell disappeared almost instantly, muttering about going to find a demon.
Eric didn't seem in any hurry to leave after work. He gave Alan a brief kiss as he left and went to find Michelle. Alan looked distinctly unimpressed and Ronald began to wonder if he was getting jealous of all the time they were spending together. Ronald brushed it off as just Eric needed help with a birthday surprise for Alan. He could be incredibly romantic sometimes, but birthday surprises weren't easy to pull off on your own. So, in an attempt to keep him busy, Ronald offered to let Alan come home with them for dinner.
"Are you sure, Ronald?" Alan said quietly.
"Come, Alan," Ronald laughed. "It's no problem. I love spending time with you." He smiled and leant against his shoulder, resting his chin on the top of Alan's head. "The boss won't mind either. Maybe we can get him to join in this time."
Alan giggled and Ronald turned away towards William's office again. The chances were that Ronald and Alan wouldn't go nearly as far as they had the last time it was just the three of them. Their little make out session was really just something they both needed to get out of their system. William looked almost done with his work. Ronald grinned and knocked on the door before striding in, not even waiting for permission.
He pulled William's chin up away from his work and sat on the desk, his feet resting either side of him; one on the seat and one on the arm. William frowned and ran his hand over Ronald's thigh, seeming to take great pleasure in the way he shivered.
"Is there something you wanted, Mr Knox?" he said quietly.
"There's definitely someone I want," Ronald chuckled.
He smirked and leant in for a kiss but William pushed him away. "Mr Knox, I'm trying to work. You're in my way."
"You are very mean to me, Mr Spears," he said. Finally he captured William's lips and William drew him down onto his lap. "There... better?" He smiled and pulled away William's collar, moving his mouth down into the crook of his neck, determined to leave a mark. "You look stressed. Just relax."
"Hmm..." He seemed to be relaxing a little, then he frowned and pushed him away. "No. We're at work. You know the rules. I'm almost done."
"Fine," Ronald sighed, climbing off his lap and pulling Alan down to the couch where he landed in his lap. "You can keep me busy, right Alan?"
"Of course," he said, kissing Ronald's cheek. "I love to keep you busy. Especial with Eric being so busy with Michelle."
"I'm sure he doesn't mean to upset you, Alan. It'll all be worth it when you see what he's got planned for you tomorrow. And it's our day off, right, so we can spend all day together, celebrating. William made sure we had it off for you."
Alan smiled and blushed slightly, leaning down to kiss him gently. It was nothing like the desperately passionate kisses they'd share the week before. They had worked out their longing for each other- for now at least. They had returned to normal, they were like a family again. Ronald no longer wanted to push Alan down and claim him as he had that day. It was all just a faded memory. He just wanted Alan's comfort.
"You could always wait at home, Mr Knox," William said. "Before the snow gets too bad."
Ronald grinned- as he always did when William called his apartment their home- and glanced out the window. It was starting to snow. He smiled and glanced up at Alan. "Wanna go?"
"It's up to you."
"I'll get my work done quicker without distracting little reapers in my office," William said.
"Alright," he sighed and Alan pulled him up. "Come home soon."
"I will."
Ronald's gin widened and he returned to William's side, pecking his cheek, then his lips, and turning to leave with Alan. The brunette walked along at his side as they pulled on their coats and scarves. Alan had a thick pair of woollen fingerless gloves to pull over the top of his normal gloves too.
"Ronnie!" two voice called.
They turned to see the pair of receptionists waving them over. Ronald grinned and pulled Alan over. "Hey girls."
"Ronnie," one giggled. "Are you working your way through all the fellas in your division?"
"Nah," Ronald said, linking his arm with Alan who blushed slightly when Ronald leant in to kiss his cheek. "Me and William are happy. I'm just keeping him busy while Eric sorts out his birthday surprise."
"It won't be a surprise if you keep telling everyone, Ronnie," the other one laughed, patting his head. "When are you coming back to the girls, love? I'm getting bored of seeing you around and not being able to flirt with you."
Ronald laughed and leant against Alan's shoulder watch the pair. The redhead was... Amanda? No, Alexandra. And the short, slightly more busty- not that Ronald was the type of guy who looked at only a woman's body- brunette was Clarissa... possibly... Yes, he was sure it was Clarissa.
"Well, just because it's suddenly become common knowledge that I swing both ways doesn't mean you can't flirt with me still, Al-"
"Amanda, Ronnie."
"I was right the first time. Sorry. Anyway, as I was saying, part of the whole swings both ways thing is that being with a guy, doesn't mean I'm not interested in girls still. You follow what I'm saying?"
"Don't be patronising, Ronald," Alan said quietly, tapping their foreheads together gently. "I'm sure she gets it."
"Yeah, Ronnie," Clarissa said. "We get it."
"So, you can still come to our party next week, right?" Amanda said.
"Of course," he laughed.
"Hey, what's it like being with Mr Spears anyway?" Clarissa said. "I mean, he doesn't seem like your type. You're usually with the really good looking party people."
"The boss is good looking," he said. "One of the hottest people I've ever met."
"Yeah, but he'd so strict and kind of scary," she said. "And he's not caring at all. How can you be with someone so cold? I don't mean to be rude, Ronnie, but what did you see in him in the first place?"
Ronald smiled and lowered his head slightly. "I dunno. I guess at first it was just how handsome he was, and you know, he was so smart and a really good reaper, I just kind of admired him at first." The girls giggled and Alan squeezed his hand. "And he was there in the hospital after my attack and it just felt good, you know? It's like you know, when something just kind of clicks..."
"Awww!" they squealed, suddenly hugging him tightly.
"You're so adorable, Ronnie," Clarissa said, kissing his cheek.
"It's so cute, a kid like you with someone like Mr Spears," Amanda said on the other side of him. "What's he like really? Like outside the office?"
"He's kind of softer, I suppose." He blushed slightly and pushed his hands into his pockets, stepping away from the girls. "He's still kind of distant and stern, but he's... he's just so intense, you know? I've never been with someone like him."
"Oh come on," Betty- in the Ex-Reaper Management department now Ronald believed- said. "Do you honestly think Mr Spears wants you as anything more than a bed warmer, Knox?"
"I know he does," Ronald said, folding his arms and glaring down at her. "He's the only person I've ever met who makes me feel that special. I can only imagine you're being so cynical because you haven't ever found someone to make you feel cared for. I'm not surprised. You're kind of bitter, even if you are cute."
"Bitter?" she snarled.
"I think we should go," Alan said, pulling Ronald away. "Before you cause trouble, Ronald."
"Yeah, bitter," Ronald said. "Cold, angry and bitter. We all know about your big break up with Charlie because you were too possessive and controlling, isn't that why we broke up?"
"Ronald," he said, trying to tug him away. "Ronald, listen to me. Ronald."
"Oh please," she snapped. "Charlie is an idiot, just like you. We broke because you're so damn childish. You're just so stupid and that's why all you'll ever be is a pretty little prize hanging off the arm of your boss."
Alan got between them and tried to push him away but Ronald wouldn't move. He was about to snap back when Betty was shoved against the desk and Grell was snarling down at him. "Don't you dare ever talk about our Ronnie or Will like that again, do you understand me?"
"I-I'm sorry Mr-" Grell snarled and she squeaked "-Miss Sutcliff. I won't ever do it again. I swear."
"Good," he laughed. "Come on, Ronnie. You should listen to little Alan when he says not to get into fights."
He was pulled away out the building and Ronald sighed, letting them lead him. He sighed and held Alan's arm again. He shouldn't have lost his temper like that. Alan was gently stroking his arm and he suddenly realised he was shaking. Was he really that worked up?
"You're ok, Ronnie," Grell said gently, ruffling his hair. "Just take a few deep breaths. I don't know who that bitch thinks she is. If she ever talks to you like that again you tell me and I'll give her a nice new hair cut with my scythe."
"I have the horrible feeling you don't mean that literally," Alan said quietly.
Ronald smiled slightly and nodded as he unlocked the front door. His front door. His smile grew slightly. He couldn't help it, every time he remembered that a warm wave hit him. He'd never been so serious with anyone that he'd moved in with them. He couldn't help beaming every time William said it was their home.
"You guys want a coffee? We've got the good stuff?"
"Yes please, Ronald," Alan said quietly.
"That'd be just darling of you, Ronnie," Grell said, flipping his hair over his shoulder.
Ronald smiled and nodded setting the kettle on to boil and reaching up into the cupboard. For his new favourite mug. It wasn't anything like the old one really but William had taken the time to go out shopping with him and had brought it for him and that made it perfect. Betty was wrong about William. He knew that. William had said he loved him, why would he lie?"
"Ronald," Alan said quietly.
"What's up?" Ronald said.
"Can we speak hypothetically for a moment?" he said. Ronald frowned but nodded. "Good. So, if William did something bad, something really wrong, and you knew, would you stay with him?"
"I dunno, yeah, probably," he laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I mean, it would depend on what it was, obviously."
"So... if he'd... ok, what if you were in my position and if he acted on those stories about collecting souls to cure you, how many souls is too many?"
"If he honestly believed he was doing it to make me better, even knowing what the consequences if he was found out, I'd think that showed how much he loved me."
"Alright, then what if he cheated on you?"
"Way to look on the bright side, Alan," Grell laughed.
"I don't know, Alan," Ronald said pouring out the drinks. "Would I still be his number one? I mean, I'd still be the one in his bed, the one he comes back to, as long as he still loves me he can do whatever he wants. As long as he doesn't make a fool out of me, he can have other people. He loves me, right?"
"Here's the problem, Rona-"
"I don't see it as a problem," he snapped. "Neither you nor Eric care what the other does with me, right? That's cheating, but it's alright because you love each other and I'm no threat to that. Just like William might not like that I get involved with you guys, but he knows I love him and you guys are no threat to him. How's this any different?"
"Don't you hate it when he gives you such rational arguments?" Grell chuckled. "Come on, Alan, what's wrong with your? He loves him."
"I know, I just worry about you sometimes, Ronald." Ronald smiled and offered him his coffee. "I'm not trying to be patronising or unfair, that's Eric's job. I just want you to be ok. I just don't want to see you upset, you know."
"I know," he said quietly with a bright smile. "It's ok. I know you're just looking after me. I need it sometimes, I know that."
"Ah, Mr Spears." William glanced back over his shoulder to see Darla running over with a file in her hands. "I was looking for you."
"I thought I made it clear the last time you approached me, Miss Finch," William growled. "I don't agree with the higher ups' decision to let Mr Thomas take most of the blame for your actions. I believe you knew exactly what you were doing when he asked and I'd even go so far as to say you were a partner in his work rather than merely complicit."
"Mr Spears, I-"
"I don't want excuses, Miss Finch," he snapped. "I want you to tell me what you wanted- and this better be from someone with authority- and then you can leave me to get on with my life."
"Mr Spears, I just..." She sighed as he glared down at her. "Miss Rose wanted your final report on the church." He nodded and handed her the file. He was going to hand it in once he'd handed in that day's reports. "A-and I wanted to give you this."
He frowned and took the file, opening it and flicking through the first few pages. "This is Mr Knox's personnel file. I have a copy of this."
"You have the division copy," she said. "Didn't you know there are different versions?" There were different versions, he knew that, but there was generally very little difference between them. The division leaders were only given the final reports, while the reports for higher ups contained more details. "This one has a lot of the reports blacked out still, all names and details and so on, but you should get the gist of it." He frowned and turned away taking the file with him. "Mr Spears."
"What is it?"
"I am sorry, Mr Spears, he's not right for you. You should see that."
"I don't take advice on my personal life from the people who know me," William said. "What makes you think that I'd take advice from someone who doesn't?"
"I was in my ninth year at the academy when he arrived," Darla said. "People talked about him; this gorgeous, quiet intelligent first year who wanted to work in collections. You should have heard the rumours when he returned so different the next year."
"What rumours?" he hissed.
"The Richard St John case," she said.
William growled to himself and turned to her, glaring down at her. "If he were involved in that in any way I would have been informed before he transferred."
"Only rumours, remember?"
He turned and strode away. The first things first, he needed to drop off that day's reports, then he was going to look into just what happened to Ronald at the academy to bring on his drastic change. He decided that his first stop was going to be Ronald's old roommate. He'd had the same one throughout the academy.
"Mr Jefferson," William said.
Miles looked up from his tea and smiled. "Mr Spears. Umm, what can I do for you?"
"I'd like a word with you, if you've got a few minutes," he said.
"Yeah," Miles said, nodding quickly. "Of course. I'm on my break, I've got half an hour, would you like to talk here or an office."
"Here will be just fine." He took a seat across the table from him and set down Ronald's files. "I wanted to talk with you about Ronald Knox."
He laughed and nodded. "I haven't really spoken to him recently. Not since that whole thing with Mr Thomas. He's been kind of off, but I guess you know that. I was really pleased for him when I heard, you know. He's wanted you since he first saw you."
"So I'm told," William said. "That's what I wanted to talk about actually. As I'm sure you know better than most there was a significant change in Mr Knox's behaviour over the late first year and then an incredibly drastic change at the start of the second."
"Yeah, yeah, I remember."
"I hear there were rumours about the Richard St John case." Miles' face dropped at this and he nodded. "Tell me about what happened to him."
"Hey, Michelle," Eric said as they walked through the park. "You know this birthday surprise everyone things you're helping me with?"
"You have no clue," Michelle laughed. Eric nodded. "Don't worry, I've got it covered. Don't you worry about it. I might not being doing anything hands on as far as souls go, but I told you I've cover for you, didn't I? All you have to do is make a nice birthday cake, ok?"
"I can handle that," he said, nodding slightly. He noticed a group of girls giggling and having tea in the shade of the trees a little way off. "What about them? No one's around."
"No, try to avoid them," she said, pulling him away. "I know them, they know the Queen, that'll set off alarm bells."
"You mean Phantomhive."
She nodded and he sighed. It was hard. He was making more progress with Michelle at his side advising him. Again, he began to wonder just what it would have been like to have been tutored by her. He'd looked into it and investigated a few of her previous wards. Most had really gone places and most didn't have a bad word to say about her. In fact, they all said the same thing, what the reports said. Almost word for word as if they'd memorised it just to make it seem like they weren't so impressed by her. She was a monstrous, corrupt, murderer with an addiction to power and playing mind games. And he remembered what Grell had said, that if you looked passed her obvious flaws and actions, she was a good friend.
"Try not to get involved with the Queen and Phantomhive. That demon moving around will cause Will to investigate," Michelle warned.
"Yeah," Eric said quietly. "Let's just get a few and go home, ok? I don't want Alan to think I'm ignoring him. He gets really uptight sometimes."
Michelle nodded. "It's all up to you."
"You haven't asked me for anything yet."
"No..." He frowned. She looked like she wanted something but wasn't saying it. "You sure about this?"
"Yes. Tell me. What do you want? You know my terms, you know what I won't do. What do you want?"
"Will you help me kill?"
Eric clenched his jaw and swallowed. This was spiralling out of control, but then he'd already killed nearly two hundred people for Alan. What was one more?
"Can we do it quickly?"
"Of course, it won't take long at all," she said quietly. "Let's get yours first."
Eric nodded and Michelle pointed him to group of ten or so children playing out of sight of any adults, in the trees. He was going to hell for this. His fist clenched around his scythe and he took a moment to steady his nerves. They were children. He even caught sight of a little blonde playing with a slightly fragile brunette. He swallowed heavily, pushing away the images of the boys they looked so much like. That was why he was doing it after all; so Alan would live and Ronald could look after him. He was a monster.
Michelle handed him a bag of sweets, took his scythe gently, held it behind her back and he nodded slowly before calling kindly to the kids. "Hey there."
They looked up, looking terrified as he approached until the little blonde Ronald-look-alike stepped up and smiled. "We're sorry if we were making too much noise, mister. We'll be quiet."
"Hey, it's ok," Eric said, patting his head gently. "Where are your parents?"
"We... we don't have any," the little brunette said. "There's a bigger boy who looks after us in the orphanage." Orphans, great. As if he wasn't guilty enough about having to take their little lives. "Who are you?"
"Eric," he said quietly with a small smile.
"If we could hurry this along, please love," Michelle said sweetly coming up behind him. "We have places to be."
"Right, of course," he muttered. "Hey, you guys want some sweets before my fiancé drags me off?"
He offered them the bag and the kids cheered, crowding around and waiting patiently as he handed them out. The blonde and brunette hung back though. The blonde looked far more suspicious of him and was keeping his friend back.
"Don't you two want some sweets?" he said quietly.
"We're not supposed to take sweets from strange men," the blonde said. "My big brother says strange men aren't to be trusted. They can kidnap you and take you away and force you to work."
"Does he now?" Michelle said. She picked up the sweets from Eric and pressed his scythe into his hand as she walked towards the pair. "You're brother's a smart man then, isn't he? I bet he looks after you well, doesn't he?" She couched down so she was a little lower than the blonde's eye line and level with the brunette. "So, what does your big brother say about taking sweets from a strange man's nice fiancé?" She smiled and the blonde frowned. "They're not poisoned, see?"
She popped one in her mouth and the brunette seemed to relax but the blonde didn't. "He says that nice ladies break men's hearts."
"Very smart man. But nice ladies don't break little boys' hearts, do they?" she laughed softly, shaking the bag gently and offering it again. "Don't you worry, we don't want anything. We never knew our parents, we're told they're dead but we don't remember them. We just want to give you kids some happiness in your life." Finally they took the sweets and she grinned. "Now, Eric."
Eric reacted without allowing himself time to think. He swung his scythe and removed several souls without a mark and one or two with just a scratch. The kids fell to the ground with peaceful smile on their lips. The blonde's eyes widened and he grabbed his little friend's hand, pulling him away. He could let them go. Eric gripped his scythe tighter. He could just let them go.
"Eric, they've seen us. Do you want them to know what you've done?"
He ran after them and had the blonde on the floor, scythe resting against his neck. The brunette wouldn't leave him, just standing a little way off, watching and whimpering and the blonde yelled at him to run. Eric couldn't help thinking how typically Ronald and Alan that was. They would be them in the same position. Ronald would try to be strong and Alan would refuse to leave him to suffer. Michelle's hand fell on his shoulders and squeezed gently.
"Think about it this way," she whispered in his ear, closing one hand around his on the handle of his scythe. "If they live, Ronald and Alan will find out."
"I can't do it," he breathed.
"It's alright, that's why I'm here. I'll help you through every doubt," she said, gently drawing his hand back, cutting the link between soul and body, killing the blonde. Eric closed his eyes and tried not to think of the look of terror in the boy's eyes- or the memories that came flooding back of the same look in Ronald's eyes. "See, now Ronald won't know. He'll still look up to you. He won't be scared of you." She moved his hand upwards and there was a little resistance- the body and soul of the brunette screaming for his friend to wake up. Then silence. "And Alan will never know either. He'll still love you. He won't hate you."
Eric nodded slowly. She was right. He'd done what had to be done. He'd done what had to be done... He kept repeating that to himself. He'd done what had to be done. He was going to save Alan.
"I think I'd like to go home," he murmured.
"Go, I'll catch you up. I'm going to finish cleaning this mess up and then I'll join you," Michelle said, stroking his hair.
"No, I'll wait for you." Michelle moved away and silence fell again. Except he could still hear the kid's in his mind. "Talk to me."
"Huh?"
"Please, just talk. Block out their screaming."
And Michelle did. She spoke quietly about Grell and about things she'd done with William and Grell and their other friends before William became cold. Eric didn't moved from the ground until Michelle gently pulled him up and guided him away. There was nothing else to be done and no excuses he could make. He'd murdered a bunch of children. Ronald was right to be afraid of him. He glanced at Michelle. She was enabling him, helping him. The still idealistic part of him said that her presence would keep him strong. She would make sure he wasn't caught and would make sure he didn't hurt the people he loved.
He'd done what had to be done to save Alan, but it didn't make him feel much better about it.