The brunette Shinigami didn't return home until late that night, when he was sure Eric was asleep in bed. Silently, Alan climbed into the bed that he shared with his lover and tried to stay as far away from him as possible. Alan looked at the clock and calculated when he would need to get up, in order to leave before Eric got up. He hated sleeping in fear, but it was the only way he could sleep that night.
Getting up at about three thirty that morning, Alan locked himself in the bathroom and showered. The hot water seemed to wake up the sleepy Shinigami. Hurrying as fast as he could, Alan got dressed and left the apartment without waking up Eric. Once he was walking down the cobbled streets of the Shinigami Realm, Alan began to breathe more deeply and slower. At least he could have some alone time for a little bit.
Entering the Shinigami Dispatch Society, Alan quickly scurried past Ronald and Grell and into his office he shared with Eric. Hopefully he could get most of his work done before Eric showed up. Later on that morning, Eric walked in and silently sat down behind his desk to begin his paperwork.
The silent tension that was filling the room was eating Alan alive. He knew that Eric was going to do something at any minute. But Eric never did anything; he just sat there and did his work like Alan.
When lunch rolled around, Alan found Ronald and Grell at a table and joined them. "Hey there little Alan," Grell said as the brunette sat down.
"Hi guys," Alan mumbled.
"So do you men have any plans tonight?" Grell wondered.
"Yeah, Fangurl and me are having a date night at her place," Ronald informed.
"Oh, how is Fangurl, I haven't seen her in a while?" Grell asked.
"She's good, she misses you, Eric-senpai, William-senpai, and Alan-senpai," Ronald said.
"Hmm, I'll have to drop by and see her and Sebby sometime," Grell decided. "How about you Alan, do you have any plans tonight?"
"No, Eric and I are probably just gonna find something to do at home," Alan said quietly.
"Well that's good, to have some alone time with your lover," Grell agreed.
Alan cringed when Grell said the word lover. He didn't know what Eric was to him. Yes they were occasional lovers, but ever since he'd started being abusive towards Alan, the two of them hadn't done anything like that. "I've gotta get back to work guys," Alan replied quickly as he stood up.
"You just got here," Ronald reminded.
"I know, but there are some things I need to go work on," Alan quickly spat out before leaving his two friends and coworkers.
When Alan closed the door to his and Eric's office, he didn't expect two hands to grip his shoulders tightly. "Where the hell were you last night?" Eric growled.
Alan felt tears rise in his eyes. But he didn't answer his lover. He then felt himself be shoved into the desk, knocking his head into the corner, where a gash was forming. "Don't you ever ignore me you little bitch, do you understand?!" Eric shouted. The brunette Shinigami nodded as tears glided down his cheeks. He then felt Eric begin to slap and punch at his head, face, and torso. "You were over at Fangurl's again weren't you? Answer me right now Alan Humphries!"
After Eric stopped hitting him long enough for him to respond, Alan said "Yes, I went over to the Phantomhive Manor, but Ronald was over there with me, so it's not like we were alone or anything."
Eric grabbed Alan's face and brought it closer to his. "You are going to be in so much trouble when we get home," Eric warned as he squeezed Alan's face harder in his grip. The blonde Shinigami released his bleeding lover. "Clean your face up, you look like trash."
Alan grabbed several tissues and began to wipe away the blood from the gash on his face. It stung and hurt and Alan wished he could go home alone for a change. But all he could do now was cry.
When it was time for the Shinigamis to clock out for the day, Ronald caught up with Alan as they walked towards their apartments. "I'll tell Fangurl you said hey, alright?" Ronald asked as he opened a portal to the Human Realm. Alan forced a smile and nodded.
Alan Humphries unlocked his apartment door and stepped inside. He sat down on the couch and awaited Eric's arrival. The brunette Shinigami's heart pounded as he heard the loud footsteps of his angry lover come down the hall. The front door flew open and Eric stated "Now I will teach you a lesson on what you can expect if I ever hear that you were at the Phantomhive Manor."
Closing and locking the door to their apartment, Eric quickly stepped over to Alan and grabbed him by his throat and slammed him against the wall. "Do you think I enjoy this Alan? Do you?" Eric questioned as he slapped Alan's face with his other hand. When he released Alan and watched him fall to the floor, Eric entered the kitchen and grabbed a knife.
Alan's eyes widened as Eric knelt down and ripped open his work shirt. "Eric, stop no, don't touch me with that!" Alan yelled as Eric brought the knife closer to him. Eric slammed Alan's head back against the wall, giving him the chance to slice two gashes on Alan's stomach, one on his chest, and another across his cheek next to the gash he'd gotten earlier.
The brunette Shinigami screamed out in pain and watched Eric step back and look at the mess he had created on Alan. As he turned to put the knife back in the kitchen, Alan stood up and fled from the apartment.