Title: Heat
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Characters except for the unknown ones.
Warning: This story deals with gender bender, it's AU, and OOC for some characters.
Author Notes: Due to recent computer issues, I'm sorry to say that my updates will become less frequent as I cannot afford to replace my computer and getting it repaired would cost too much.
Pairing: Claude x Sebastian, Undertaker x Grell
Chapter 39.
Claude was the first to see the shadowy figures outside, though even he only got a fleeting glimpse of them. Stopping mid-sentence, he turned sharply to look out the window, his golden eyes scanning the horizon. Something was out there and he didn't like it. Those that meant no harm wouldn't be skulking about in the shadows like that.
"Claude, what's wrong?" Alois questioned, his blue eyes gazing up at the taller demon that was no longer paying attention to their conversation. He wasn't annoyed but a little puzzled. After all, they had been discussing where the nursery should be in relation to the room where Claude and Sebastian would share.
"I saw something," Claude absently replied, moving over to the window to see outside more closely. He was already frustrated because of missing his precious mate so badly and if they were attacked, at least he'd get to vent some of it out on whoever was that stupid.
Entering the room with a tray covered with several cups and a pot of tea, Hanna paused when she saw Claude standing by the window. Setting the metal tray down, she moved over to where he was, glancing outside as well. "What do you see?"
Then, seeing a shadow dart across the grass and out of sight, she tilted her head. "Never mind; I just saw it myself," she murmured. "We should get Thompson in here, along with the two humans. They're outside, Claude; whatever is out there will find them first..."
Ciel frowned slightly. "What is out there?" He didn't like the sound of this, not if Hannah wanted to bring Bard-Roy, Finnian, and Thompson inside. That implied that it could be trouble of a nonhuman sort and for the moment, he rather felt like he had had enough of evil demons for a while.
Claude and Sebastian were excluded from that since none of what had happened was really their fault, and the same went for Hannah and Thompson. But having spent several hours in the Demon World inside of a Demon Lord's estate, not to mention fighting Demons- well, Ciel had had his fill of that for a while.
Alois looked scared, clutching at Ciel's right arm and visibly shivering. He really didn't want another fight here when things were going so well and they were making plans and everything. "Not again," he moaned dramatically, visibly pouting at the dark-haired teen he was clinging to.
"You'll be fine," Ciel assured the slighter blonde, though he was a little flustered at how Alois was holding on to him as though his very life was dependent upon it. Maybe he really was that scared? "Mey-Rin, can you see anything out there?" Getting his gun at the ready, though somewhat awkwardly with his left hand, Ciel was prepared for whatever was coming towards them.
Mey-Rin was about to go to the window, having removed her glasses so she could see to the best of her ability, when it finally happened. The long moments of tension were broken, as a scream broke loose from Alois.
Glass shattered within the frame of the windows, exploding inwardly and sending the debris flying through the room. Fine particles of glass and wood, along with larger pieces of both rained upon everyone presently inside of the room. With almost all of them temporarily blinded, mostly screaming could be heard from within, along with the sounds of guns discharging.
Over at Undertaker's building, the place where he both worked and lived, a pouting Grell had departed to Lord Lucifer's estate in the Demon World. He had gotten a goodbye kiss from Undertaker, but he wished that he didn't have to rush off so quickly like this. It simply wasn't fair.
About as unhappy as Grell over him having to depart so quickly, Undertaker gave William and Ronald both a rather dark look. "Hurry and do what you need to do so I can join him as soon as possible," he instructed, not caring that he was retired while they were not. "I have an ominous feeling about this and while it is out of the ordinary, I rather hope that I am wrong..."
Ronald gulped and nodded, not liking the expression he was given. "Of course," he replied, careful to keep up the appearance that he was still calm and not concerned. It was, quite honestly, a deception; or rather, it was an attempt at one.
William gave Undertaker a rather sharp look of his own, getting rather tired of being bossed around by him. If Undertaker wasn't who he was, being a legendary retired Shinigami, then William would have told him where to put his orders. Additionally, rumors said that if one crossed Undertaker, then it meant they were crossing Demon Lord Lucifer.
Hence why only the very brave- and foolish- ever dared to try. William might be a lot of things, but he couldn't be called foolish. Bravery, though; he preferred not to think on that. He wouldn't necessarily call himself a coward, though, since he had stood up to Sebastian on occasion. Of course, Sebastian was of an entirely different caliber than either Undertaker or Lucifer.
Ronald and William simultaneously teleported themselves to the Shinigami world to make their report, though Undertaker was rather glad to see the two of them go. All he'd wanted was a little time for himself and Grell, though that was obviously not to be. It wasn't really Lucifer's fault or Sebastian's, though, so he couldn't blame them.
A rather soft look was on his face as he regarded the sleeping demon that he held, musing to himself that some things never changed. Sebastian Michaelis was as sweet now as he'd been as a child; Undertaker was glad for that. At least he would remain happy and innocent for as long as possible.
It had been like watching his own child growing up as Undertaker took care of Sebastian and protected him when Lucifer could not. That young waif had had him wrapped around his littlest finger in the blink of an eye, almost as much as his grandfather did. There was very little those two could ever ask of him that he could easily refuse, for they asked for so very little.
His own power coming to him as he concentrated, Undertaker faded from sight, focusing on Claude Faustus' energy signature. He had no idea, of course, that he was about to enter into a war zone. Otherwise, he would have gone elsewhere with the vulnerable and pregnant Sebastian.
Grell had to duck the moment he appeared back in Demon Lord Lucifer's estate, though it was clearly not the way they'd left it. Demons were scurrying about, the sound of fighting echoing through the hallways. Remembering his primary objective, which was to keep Lucifer alive, the long-haired Shinigami ran through the halls.
He didn't bother asking those exchanging blows where Lucifer was, for he didn't know who was fighting for the Demon and who was trying to kill him. Pulling out his rather dainty pair of scissors, which was his current Death Scythe, Grell sorely missed his illegally modified scythe. At least that hadn't felt like it was going to break if he manipulated it too hard.
Dodging around a pair of demons, Grell continued his search. He didn't want to attack anyone not knowing if they were Lucifer's servants or not. Then, just up ahead, he spotted the Demon Lord. There was no mistaking that waterfall of ebony hair, nor that robe of iridescent green that had several rips within it.
What caused him to stop short was the sight of the black scythe that Lucifer was using; it was almost exactly identical to Undertaker's. How was that possible, the redhead wondered, gaping slightly as the elegant male before him cut down his opponent with no mercy.
Lucifer turned as blood sprayed through the air, spotting the distinct flash of crimson hair. He stalked towards the Shinigami, nonchalantly dissecting another demon who attempted to stab him and leaving his corpse to rot.
"Why are you here, Grell?" Lucifer questioned, uncaring about the blood and various other things upon his body right now. This was much more than a simple battle and the last thing he needed was a liability.
"William sent me because he doesn't want you to die," Grell blurted out, wielding his scissors in one hand and biting his lower lip. "He's afraid of what will happen if you do and…"
Lucifer exhaled slowly, not entirely sure of what to think of that. William T. Spears wanted him to live? What a coincidence, for Lucifer didn't particularly want to die. Then, seeing the scissors the other held, he couldn't hold back his faint disgust. Whether or not it was a scythe, such a weapon was impractical when fighting like this. "Who gave you that?"
"W-William…" The green-eyed Shinigami lowered his gaze, pouting slightly. He couldn't blame Lucifer for his look of disgust; every Demon here was fighting with a long weapon such as a sword or, in Lucifer's case, a scythe of his own. "I was punished for something a while back and he took my own scythe and-"
Lucifer shook his head. "You can't fight with that here," he stated grimly, "or you're likely to get yourself killed, Grell." He would have said more, but more of his would be assassins burst into the room, heading directly for him.
Standing his ground, he brandished his scythe as a warning, the dim light glinting off the metal. Blood stained it, both fresh and dried, leaving it different shades of red. As one charged, he stepped aside, impressing Grell with his speed, grace, and accuracy. At the same time, he brought the scythe up in a solid arc, slicing across the pale neck of his attacker, crimson spraying in the wake of the blade as it slit the soft skin.
Grell was very impressed; he almost felt as though he should applaud. Clearly Lucifer was no beginner at fighting, for not everyone could wield a scythe with such deadly accuracy. So intently was he watching Lucifer, however, that he failed to notice the demon coming up behind him.
To be continued