Like any good thing, its counterpart came to bite eventually. And Ronald's roaring headache was proof of that.
He and Eric had gone out drinking last night (again), both agreeing to not drink too much since they had work the next day, but alas… the glasses had piled up (again) and before they knew it they had been kicked out (again) with a mighty long bill that had burned their pockets.
Ronald didn't remember much. That was his biggest worry whenever he went drinking with Eric, not remembering. Not knowing what happened, who he talked to, what they did… Which was why he usually didn't get drunk often. Except last night had been different.
They'd been celebrating.
Not an engagement or a promotion or anything worthy of celebrating, really.
They were celebrating a bet. A very stupid one that was proclaimed somewhere between Ronald's sixth or seventh shot. The two grown men had giggled over the idea and Ronald, silly, drunken Ronald, had accepted the challenge.
Throughout their next few drinks (which was when Ronald's memory really started to fail him) they had discussed the details of this particularly odd bet. Ronald didn't really remember much, except giggling. A lot of giggling. Whatever the bet was about, it must have been quite silly.
"Bugger! Just shut up!" Ronald roared, going to the farthest corner in the tight office to escape the loud noise.
He'd gone for some coffee, forgetfull of the machines' loud bonks and whirrs as it poured out the hot, black beverage. His head was pounding and he covered his ears, accomplishing little as the machine (slowly, but) gradually filled his cup.
Once it stopped Ronald dropped his hands and gave the machine his very best glare, narrowing his eyes to slits and cursing under his breath. He grabbed his cup and stomped back to his desk to find Eric seated at his own.
"'morning," he grumbled as he sat down. Eric had his head in his hands. Ronald noticed he was wearing yesterday's jacket; it was all rumpled and there was a stain on it from last night's drinking.
Ronald didn't blame him; it had taken him five tries to get his shoes on the right foot this morning.
Eric mumbled back some unintelligible greeting and raised his head. His hair wasn't brushed and he had black strands poking out of his cornrows. His eyes resembled Ronalds'; half-shut and bloodshot with bags drooping below.
They sat in silence for awhile, Ronald trying to imagine working for eight hours (or more, depending on his particular proclivity for overtime) and Eric trying to remember last nights' events. He squeezed his eyes shut in concentration and winced, it only made his headache worse.
He looked up at Ronald after a moment and grinned. Ronald stared back at him, his eyebrows creasing. He didn't see anything worth grinning about.
His grin turned into a full on smile and within seconds Eric was bent over laughing, banging his hand on his desk and sending papers to the ground. Ronald was as confused as ever. What the devil—
Ronald smiled, biting his lip at the thought. He couldn't stop himself from bursting into laughter as well, hiding his face in the crook of his elbow with his shoulders shaking. Laughing so hard only worsened their headaches but it was just too funny not to laugh.
Their incessant laughter brought curious onlookers and annoyed receptionists to their door. They stared at the happy duo in confusion, wondering what could be so funny to bring tears to their eyes at eight-thirty in the morning.
"What on earth is going on here?" demanded a familiar voice. Eric and Ronald looked up to see Alan with his thin arms crossed over his chest, giving them both a deadly serious face. Eric stopped laughing at once and stood up, his chair falling over in his hurry. Ronald's laughter quieted into a soft chuckle before he too, understood and shut up.
"Uh, we were just um…" Eric tried to explain lamely.
"Laughing," Ronald finished for him.
Alan raised a thin brow at both of them. "Care to share why you were both disturbing the whole floor before they could start work?" He might appear small and almost powerless but Alan could compel Eric (and most of the time Ronald as well) into confessing almost anything. He admired their boss, William Spears and when he wasn't around to direct these fumbling idiots, he took it upon himself to carry out orders.
"Does it have something to do with last nights' drinking?"
"No."
"Yes."
They replied simultaneously. Alan gave Eric what was usually known as "The Look". He knew his partner was lying, it might not even be important why, but he liked asserting dominance once in a while. It made up for his weakened appearance.
"Yes…" Eric mumbled sheepishly, casting a glare at Ronald. Alan wouldn't approve of last nights' bet and now they wouldn't have a choice but to tell him. Bloody fool.
When neither of them explained what was so funny Alan sat at his desk, glancing at the door to see the mob had all but disappeared. He started his work while the other two stared at each other, wondering why Alan wasn't interrogating them. They shrugged and followed the brunette's example, Eric reaching for his fallen papers.
"Morning all~!" A simpering voice called out just as red heels appeared in the doorway. Grell gave them all a bright smile before hopping onto her chair, propping her feet up on her obviously ignored pile of work for the day.
When no one answered Grell just pulled out a nail buffer. "Whatever's the matter darlings? You're all so deadly quiet, did I miss something?"
Neither Ronald or Eric said anything, merely keeping their heads down over their work. Grell gave Alan a questioning look. He rolled his chair over to Grell's desk and recited the story.
Eric looked up, seeing Alan and Grell gossiping together over this mornings' excitement. He rolled his eyes and tossed a bunched up piece of paper at Ronald. It hit his glasses but it accomplished in getting Ronald's attention.
"What?" he whispered.
Eric grinned, "You remember the bet?"
Ronald grinned back, "Oh yeah. 10 days was the deadline right?"
Eric nodded. He glanced up and saw Alan and Grell listening to their whispered conversation. His grin vanished.
They continued their whispered gossiping, leaving Eric slightly worried. He turned back to Ronald.
"You remember the rules we set out? No drinking, and it has to be consensual," he whispered to the blond. Ronald nodded.
"Does that mean you're not going to drink for ten days?" Alan asked aloud, he and Grell sporting the same smirks.
"Nope," he replied with a sly smile.
Alan opened his mouth but William appeared in the doorway before he could say anything.
"Good morning all, good to see you're all here on time," William's gaze fell on Ronald, "for once."
"What can I say, your smile drives me to work every morning." Ronald winked, a huge grin plastered on his face. William pursed his lips but didn't say anything, leaving their office just as Eric guffawed.
"Burn~"
Once everyone had quieted down they retreated to their desks and started the days' work. Ronald and Eric kept sneaking glances at each other, smirking and snickering beneath Alan's disapproving glare. Grell remained oblivious and buffed her nails between papers, keeping quiet and out of trouble for once. Things were running so smoothly you'd have thought someone had died (no pun intended). William was constantly checking in on them like little children to make sure he wasn't imagining this peaceful morning.
After a couple of hours of deadly silence, Grell pulled out her portable radio and soon enough soft jazz filled their office. It wasn't often they were graced with music, usually the office (theirs in particular) was full of commotion and coming and goings and music just didn't fit in to their busy day.
Ronald stretched back into his chair and ruffled his hair, followed by a quick fix of his glasses. A traditional Knox move that meant he was on the prowl. Eric picked up on the gesture and giggled to himself as he started on a new sheet.
Alan's brow furrowed when Ronald got up and muttered an unconvincing "be right back". He looked at Eric questioningly but his partner remained mute. Shaking his head, he decided to leave them be and get on with work.
Ronald stood in front of William's office door and straightened his tie. He rarely ever buttoned up his shirt or adjusted his tie but he felt that this was a moment when it was necessary to impress.
Clearing his throat he decided to go in without a knock. Annoying people made them look at you. And that was exactly what Ronald needed.
"Hey Spears," Ronald greeted nonchalantly, running a hand through his dual-colored hair. William gave a soft sigh of exasperation at the lack of a knock but resumed his work none-the-less.
"What is it that you need Knox?" Ronald slid into one of the two armchairs situated in front of William's desk. Purely for décor really, Reapers didn't really sit and chat with their superiors.
"Oh nothing, really. Just you, between my legs, preferably soon," Ronald answered bluntly. William's pen scribbled out of control for a moment and he looked up at his flirt of a subordinate.
"I beg your pardon?"
"You heard me." He winked.
William didn't bother giving in to his silly taunts. It was the same ordeal with Grell. Bothersome. Tiresome. Relentless. William hoped to the Gods Ronald wasn't developing the same kind of infatuated-crush on him as Grell had. He would have to start handing out restraining orders.
Ronald pressed on, "Were you raised on a farm?"
The question took William by surprise of course and he couldn't stop the confused look cross his face.
"Of course not Knox, all Reapers are created here and hence have little to no memories of their human past, merely 'coming back to life' as you could say, as a grown being—" William tried explaining to Ronald, absolutely ruining his pick-up line.
"Spears! Spears, it was a joke." Ronald raised his eyebrows with a smile, hiding his disbelief that his boss couldn't spot a pick-up line when he heard one. Especially when it was directed at him.
"Let's try this again, were you raised on a farm?"
William remained stoic. "I'm not going to sit here so you can ridicule me with your incessant lines, get back to work."
Ronald stuck his lower lip out in a childish pout. William huffed and started scribbling away.
"Were you raised on a farm?" Ronald tried for the third time,
"Knox."
"Cuz you sure know how to ra~ise a cock."
William slammed his pen on his desk and gave Ronald a sharp look, "Will you get back to work?" he snapped.
Ronald was now treading on thin ice but decided to keep going. Once you got started it got pretty difficult to stop.
He smiled teasingly and twirled a lock of blond hair between his fingers, trying to get William's undivided attention.
"You know sometimes, I just wish that you were my shins."
William stared at him, refusing to look away.
"So I could bang you all the time."
William's eyebrow twitched. Ronald smiled victoriously.
"Flatteries will get you nowhere Knox, keep that in mind," William retorted.
"Oh it does get you places, actually. As I would know."
Silence.
"We should go do some math together…" Ronald started. William narrowed his eyes at him as if daring him to keep talking.
"Just subtract our clothes, add a bed and divide your legs," Ronald ticked the reasons off on his fingers. "And then it goes 'and hope we don't multiply' but that's only for the ladies."
"You find this amusing do you?"
Ronald nodded, unable to wipe the smile off his face.
"Well let me tell you that you could do with a trip to the Undertaker's and learn a thing or two," William shot back. Ronald feigned hurt but took that as his cue to leave. The door clicked shut and William let out a long-awaited annoyed and slightly exasperated sigh.
Ronald was chuckling as he sat down at his desk. He and Eric shared a look.
"How'd it go?"
"Almost kicked me out."
He was all out of horrible pick-up lines anyway.
New fic I've been working on for ages!
Please review, it'll encourage me to work on chapter 2 :3