The Choice is Mine: Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I do not own the Kuroshitsuji characters but Briar is mine all mine!
I would have love to believe that the rest of the day would run smoothly. Sadly, that is a luxury that I can't afford to give myself. Something always has to happen and while some people would say that I'm calling events into existence I call it "Not getting my hopes up". That's what I think as I notice that I have five additional names listed on my order sheet.
"Who are these people? And why did they have to come here?" I think to myself.
"A warning would have been nice assholes." I mutter as I enter my prison, I mean, kitchen. With the seconds ticking away I quickly set off to work. Ten orders weren't going to fix themselves and I would love to be off my feet before nine. With no time to waste I group the entrées together, cooking chicken, vegetables and starches to complete each meal. Utilizing every space available I create each order and I must say that after thirty minutes I see some actual progress.
"Excuse me, Chef." spoke a male voice.
Internally I groan as I turn away from the counter. In front of me are the FM who I caught talking shit about FSS earlier and a random stranger that I've never seen and could care less to see now in my kitchen.
"These guys just got back from the field, can they put in an order?" said the FM
I nod my head and watch as the mystery male takes the book out to the front. I stand there just looking at the door. Imagining how close I was to finishing all the meals, how this order or orders could mess my schedule up and how it wasn't fair for me to cook food for someone that didn't even have the decency to call in his order before the meal period started. So many things could have been done and instead he took the route that would be inconvenient for me. Who am I anyway? Just an airman in the lowest ranked career field. Apparently, I signed up for this but all those big wigs that like to say that are dead wrong. I didn't sign up to be mistreated by customers, I didn't sign up for power hungry NCO'S to use their rank against me, to abuse me. I didn't even sign up for this life. All the struggles I went through trying to move forward and getting slammed ten steps back. For what?! What purpose does this suffering have?
"There is another way."
My breath catches, I thought I would be alone for the rest of the day. Dam these tears, I can't get them to stop. The liquid pooled over, leaving wet trails down my face, evidence of my emotional turmoil. That doesn't halt his speech for one second.
"You could opt out of all of this. Start a new life." Said Grell
"How long was he here?" I think to myself. "Was he just watching me? Plotting to exploit a moment of weakness."
"You could end it all. Come on. You know you want to. I see your thoughts. You think about it all the time."
His voice sounded closer now. I didn't dare turn around because the Grell that I knew from earlier was not the Grell that was behind me now. His voice came out sweet but sickly like a grotesque invitation to an elite VIP party. One that I had to R.I.P for before my actual time was up.
"Come on Bestieee. You said it clearly. Living is a drag. You can start anew in the afterlife as a reaper. Just think about it."
Silently I waited. Glued to my spot like the doll that I was, motionless with a sense of emptiness inside. Just hollow from life gutting my inner parts out. After a few minutes I finally allowed myself to move, I unleashed the flood gates that I tried to keep under control. They were silent tears but tears none the less. It's in these moments that the truth refreshes my memories. All the representatives that come to see me, from hell and from the reaper cor. They each have their agenda for me, no one truly cares about My wellbeing. I can't let the smiles and conversations fool me into thinking otherwise. The side I choose will be the one that is right for me and me alone.
I toss and turn in my sleep that night, my unconscious is restless and is trying to send me an urgent message. The dream is the same, two rabbits on the side of the road. One is dead, its body is being torn by a crow while the other bunny just sits there and watches. Not one part of his body moves, not even its tail.
Hours later I finally rustle myself from the dream. The side of my face that I slept on is damp and my morning breath has reached its peak level. Slowly my eyes focus and that's when I see him. Standing there, clad in a butler's uniform, shrouded in darkness. His red eyes piercing as always, straight to my shivering soul. We hold eye contact which only breaks when he decides to release it.
"Rise and shine Airmen Briar." He flicks on the switch; the room instantly becomes illuminated.
"I've gone on ahead and turned on the stove, fryer, sanitizer and vent…" He helps me rise from my chair that I sleep on religiously. Swiftly he pulls my uniform out of my posting bag.
"I also took out the bacon to defrost and transcribed the orders for this mornings breakfast."
He hands the uniform to me and with long strides he makes his way to the door. Before he exits, he turns to look at me. His eyes are smoldering like they were on fire and me being helpless I stand there and let his gaze melt me.
"I'll let you get dressed; in the meantime, I'll get started with breakfast." With a slight bow he leaves the room.
"Wow" I say to myself, hoping that his ears didn't hear me. "I swear, if he wasn't a demon I would love him to pieces."
"I know right? Mhmm, That's a man right there."
"Grell! What are you doing here?! It's not your day!"
"Girl. I didn't come to see you." Replies Grell as he flicks up his collar. Like a proud peacock he strides over to the mirror that is mounted on the wall. Admiring his reflection, as usual. I sometimes wonder if he would suffer the same fate as the Greek character that kept staring at himself in a river. I'll probably never find out, or maybe he already received his punishment.
"I came here to see my man." Continued Grell.
"You wait just one minute! You know what's going to happen once you leave this room."
"He's not going to do anything but love on my fine self."
I roll my eyes, he's insane. He said that the last twelve times and for the last twelve times Sebastian used him for target practice. Guess a hard head really does make a soft bottom.
Grell who isn't listening to me blows a kiss at the mirror and then proceeds to open the door. I count to ten like I usually do and then I crack the door open. Kneeling on the floor and crying his eyes out is a defeated Grell. At closer inspection I can see that there aren't any knife cuts which is and always will be Sebastian's preferred offensive style of attacking. Seeing that he wasn't hurt I relaxed a little, Grell might be a pain but that doesn't mean I'm not a little fond of him. Still, it was hard to see Grell crying over a man, it just reminded me of how I used to cry over one or two. Fine! It was several. Sheesh.
"Hey, its not so bad, usually he cuts you up when you interfere. This time he just kept you from entering. That's a good thing. Maybe he's softening towards you."
"Softening?" I watched as he pondered what I said and then he jumped to his feet.
"How could I not see it? He must be falling for me."
"Eh? Um, Grell that's not"
"I knew he was falling for me from the moment I saw him at the Phantomhive's estate. It's just been growing and growing. Oh, I could swoon right now!"
"Grell that's not"
Before I could make Grell see reason he was already halfway through a portal spouting nonsense about fate and love over time.
"Well that didn't go well. Now he is completely delusional about Sebastian." I think to myself as I watch the tip of his coattail vanish through the portal.
Ten minutes after the ordeal I am dressed and heading for the kitchen. You would think I was walking to the gallows by how my feet dragged. Can't really help it, they know the destination and they are not happy about it. Once I make it to the common area, I hear the battle taking place on the tv screen. One of those fighting games is on which is the usual for the cops. I was surprised I didn't walk in to see breast on the screen like so many other days. Reaching the kitchen, I open the door and what I see does not surprise me.
"Well, I see you've been busy."