Title: Predator

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the known Characters.

Warning: This story has graphic sexual encounters. Please keep that in mind when reading. This has no connection whatsoever to Heat. References to rape in this chapter.

Genre: AU, Rape, Violence, Hurt/Comfort, Angst

Pairings: Claude/Sebastian, Eric/Alan, Undertaker/Grell

Chapter 10.

Grell was finally awake again, eating breakfast with Undertaker, though it was quite obvious to the retired Reaper that his younger lover was definitely not all right. The smaller redhead was unusually quiet, only speaking when he was spoken to, and his cheerful, exuberant personality was completely subdued, no trace of a smile present at all.

Aching for him, Undertaker gently touched Grell's cheek, a solemn look upon his scarred face. "We'll get him for what he did, Grell," he softly promised, pulling his lover into his arms and holding him close. "That Demon will die, my love..."

Grell nodded, his green eyes lowered slightly behind the lenses of his red glasses. His face pressed against his older lover's chest, feeling the fabric of his shirt as he whispered, "D-Do you really think William didn't tell me on purpose? That he used me to lure the D-Demon out?"

Hearing the way Grell's voice cracked, Undertaker's arms tightened around his small love, a pained, angry expression within his green eyes. "I don't know," he admitted, "but I don't care why he didn't tell you. He should have warned you, and the fact that he only showed up after the Demon was done with you... That is a very big coincidence, I think, and I don't like it at all."

"What will you do if he did do it deliberately?" Grell hated that he even had to consider that it was a possibility, but he'd be foolish not too. Somehow, the idea that William had done this on purpose hurt him far worse than what the Demon had done, though he was still sore and, for the moment at least, Grell still felt rather numb emotionally. He hadn't cried yet, aside from the time right after he had heard the argument between his lover and the man who was supposed to be his boss.

Undertaker had no hesitation as he looked at his younger lover in the eyes, still holding him close. "If he purposefully allowed that Demon to hunt you without you having any knowledge of it, Grell, then William's fate is sealed," he quietly said. The pale-haired mortician was deadly serious in his plans for William. If it had been an oversight that he hadn't told Grell, then he wouldn't actually kill the brunette; maim, yes, but his existence would be spared.

If, however, William had been so vindictive as to not tell Grell because he was that jealous and angry, then that was a different matter. When the elders came after him for destroying William, Undertaker would tell them everything that William had done to Grell since their relationship had begun. The elders wouldn't dare punish him and if he told them of how William had used Grell as bait for the Demon, Undertaker knew that they would see his actions as justified.

Grell nodded, his long, red hair unbound as he was pulled closer, shivering just once as he was brought to sit in his older lover's lap. His eyes widened as he tensed briefly, though the younger Reaper relaxed when all the elder did was gently stroke his hair with one hand. One arm remained around his waist, keeping him close, and the redhead closed his eyes, laying his head upon his love's shoulder as fingers gently combed through his hair.

In another location, William had just finished the meeting with all of the Grim Reapers, though he was clearly distracted. He kept lapsing into silence, and though he tried to act normally, the way he kept looking off to the side and lowering his gaze did not escape Eric's notice.

The fear that the younger Reapers felt was apparent; they were pale and cowering behind each other, whispering back and forth. They certainly didn't notice anything out of the ordinary with William.

Alan was asleep in one of the cots that had been prepared, so Eric had come to see how everything was going. He had expected the fear that he saw, though the pallor that William held, how he kept looking thoughtful and biting his lip; that was not the William T. Spears that he had known for years.

As soon as the room was mostly clear, Eric walked over to William briskly, looking him square in the eyes. "What's wrong with you?" he demanded in a low whisper. "You're supposed to be the one taking charge and showing strength in this time of crisis, yet you look like you're close to having a panic attack, William."

The brunette was startled, clearing his throat and pushing his glasses up. He knew better than to tell Eric everything; he might side with Undertaker on this issue. William still couldn't figure out why he had said nothing to Grell. He prided himself on being strictly professional, but when it came down to it, had he let Grell be hurt strictly for personal reasons?

Taking a slow, deep breath, William finally spoke, licking his lips as he phrased his words carefully. "Grell was attacked by the Demon, Eric," he softly said, his eyes lowered slightly. "The Demon drained him and... hurt him in a personal way, worse than he did to Alan."

Eric paled, swearing softly at William's words. Grell had been hurt worse than Alan had? Alan had been groped and that had been horrific enough. Not needing more of an explanation, he gritted his teeth, knowing that this news would hurt his gentle lover. "Where is Grell?" he questioned, knowing that the redhead wasn't in the infirmary with the other victims.

"With the Undertaker," William replied, careful to keep his voice neutral. "I knew Grell was dating someone but I didn't know it was him of all people... He kept the Demon from actually killing Grell." Somewhat uncomfortable with admitting to the relationship between the two, and not the least because it reminded him of the promise of revenge that Undertaker had made, the brunette cleared his throat once more. "Grell will probably be out for several days, Eric. He's definitely not ready to face anyone else right now, not after what happened..."

Eric nodded slowly, wondering how he was going to break the news to Alan. The two were close friends, as unlikely as it might seem given their different personalities, and the frail brunette would be very upset. "Let me know when Grell is up for a visitor? Alan is sure to want to see him as soon as possible," he requested gently, seeing the raw look in William's green eyes. Perhaps he cared more about Grell than he let on?

Not commenting on it right now, though, Eric instead focused on what else they needed to do. This Demon needed to be killed before he hurt anyone else. And since the latest victim had been Undertaker's lover, it was entirely plausible that the legendary Reaper would come out of retirement to help them.

To be continued