To Be Claimed
Summary: Shinigamis' have a "Claiming Season". To the dismay of everyone...this year's season is nothing but the most unusual one they ever had.
[Circus Arc AU]
The following few days had been more eventful after that exchange at the coffee shop.
Eric had started staying more and more at Alan's desk rather than his, resulting in piles and piles of undone paperwork on his own.
"Senpai, you should really start working on your paperwork...William-san will end up forcing you to overtime at this rate," Alan warned him.
"Meh, he can try but I highly doubt he'd succeed," Eric answered cheekily as he moved his swivel chair closer to Alan. "So are we still on for dinner?" he asked.
"Of course, senpai...now go do some paperwork," Alan answered with a smile.
"Great! I'll be back for you after work then~" Eric said as he wheeled himself back to his desk to get at least a small percentage of his paperwork done.
After a few more hours, Eric got up from his desk and stretched. "Yosh yosh~ Dinner with Alan~" he said happily to himself.
About to take a step forward, he stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Going somewhere, Slingby?" a voice said.
Inwardly sighing, Eric adjusted his glasses. "Crossman.." he muttered, "What do you want?"
Alfred Crossman smirked, "I'd like a few minutes of your time before you head out, that's all," he told the other.
Looking up at the clock and at Alan's already empty desk, Eric sighed. "Five minutes," he told him.
"More than enough," Crossman said before smirking and pulling out his scythe.
"What the hell?" Eric exclaimed as he moved out of the way in the nick of time before he got hit with the scythe. "What is wrong with you?" he asked.
"Behave Slingby...it'll make this Claiming easier for us," Crossman said before lunging.
"Ah shit.." Eric said as he ducked and materialized his own scythe in his hands.
Parrying another attack, the blond gritted his teeth. "As I've told countless others, Crossman...don't even think about it," he growled before attacking as well.
~0~0~0~
A few minutes later, Alan leaned back at the pillars of the gates of the Dispatch Division. "What's taking him so long?" he asked, shivering a bit as he looked at the snow on the ground. "He's never been this late before," he added in worry.
"Alan!" Eric called out, a happy grin on his face. "Been waiting long?" he asked the younger.
"Yes..." Alan answered honestly.
Chuckling, Eric placed an arm around Alan's shoulders. "Sorry about that...got held up at the office by some annoying guy," he said in apology. "So, 'ya hungry?" he asked..
"Very," Alan said sheepishly, smiling a bit.
"Let's go then~" Eric said as he lead the way, pulling Alan closer when he felt him shiver.
As they walked down the street, Eric glanced back at their office building and grinned as he imagined the thrashed office he left behind.
It was a clear sign for everyone in the morning. A sign that Claiming season had begun.
TBC..