A/N: So...yeah. They can't have always been so cute with each other. But i think it took some breaking down to get there. I'll bring back the others next chapter i swear! I'll do my best to post because this next two weeks is finals, but I shall try! ^_^ Again, thank you for the reviews!
"Ugh...where...?" Alan yawned and looked around as best he could, trying to place both where he was and what happened to his glasses with no luck. Past the lack of glasses he realised he was no longer freezing, in fact he was dry and warm and...inside. He found his glasses and slipped them on quickly, looking around properly to get his bearings. It was dark except for a light and glorious smell coming from what could be the kitchen. The heat form the fireplace wafted through the room and over to the large dark blue couch Alan was currently curled up on. He looked down and recognised the black and white paisley comforter as well as the oversized black pajamas as Eric's. But, Eric's place was usually a lot more disorganised wasn't it? Then again he'd not been to Eric's place an a few months, though the last time he barely remembered. Before he could get too carried away with his thoughts, the smell of warm chocolate, chili and warm cherries distracted him, as well as the sight of a certain blond sitting across from him.
"You know...for an honor student you really aren't all that intelligent," Eric looked up and smiled at his partner, offering him a mug of his special cocoa. Hot chocolate with milk and chilis and whiskey for extra warmth, perfect for any occasion even when the weather was insanely hot out. He smiled as Alan took the mug and sipped it quietly, smiling a bit and laying his head down again. "What were you thinking wandering around like that? You could have died out there! You could have caught a cold or had an even nastier attack than you did! I mean do you have any idea how worried I w-"
"But I didn't, did I? And now I'm fine, I'm not in any immediate danger now and...and maybe I should head home now," He pulled the blanket off and made to get up, only to be stopped by an annoyed, exhausted Eric Slingby. He blinked and stared up at the blond, pushing up his glasses before they fell off. "Eric, please, I'm fine. Honest, I mean it's not that bad out, is it? And what on earth have you been drinking? Your breath is terrible! I mean, you worry about my health, I should be worry-" He was cut off by Eric grabbing the front of his pajamas and pulling him close and into a rough kiss.
"Stay here, Allie~. I need to go get somethings from Ronnie-bug...I'll be back as soon as I can," He ruffled Alan's hair before climbing off of him and adjusting his glasses. "I won't get eaten by the snow, don't worry..." He sniffed and grabbed his coat and scythe before leaving the flat and Alan.
Eric sighed as he stood in a small alley to avoid the wind, the snow wasn't stopping anytime soon but he could at least not suffer windburn while we was out. He finally managed to light a cigarette and came out of the alley, looking around for another few souls to gather. After suffering through the masses of overtime he finally was able to get back to helping his partner. He sighed and heard some noise or other over the blasting winds.
"What the hell...?" He narrowed his eyes and finally looked up at an open window. From it were the sounds of maybe a either a prostitute or a very dramatic actress moaning and shouting like it was going out of style. He took a heavy drag from the cigarette and began to climb up the fire escape, stopping when he hit the window and standing outside of it. Once he got there he realised unfortunately that it wasn't quite the latter. It was an actress alright, a young alto who'd become very popular at the opera lately by the looks of her, and one of the stage hands. If her manager only knew...He peeked into the window once more and only then realised that she looked very similar to Alan. He swallowed and stared silently, holding his breath to avoid scaring them and to keep his mind from wandering. He really did feel terrible leaving Alan alone like he did, but the thought of him in his flat made his stomach do flips. Not like they'd ever done anything of that sort of course, Alan was far from the type to and on top of that, he didn't even have those sort of feelings for Eric! A particularly load groan from the couple inside startled Eric and he stood up again quickly. He swallowed hard and peeked in to see them cuddling in the small room.
"Damn...talk about loud,"he was glad the wind covered his voice and slipped through the window, cutting the girl with his saw as he went. She didn't even feel it or see Eric go past them, smiling as he could add the soul to his list. He sighed as he left the flat silently, glad that his scythe was a bit more portable in situations like this now.
"Mr. Slingby, I'm from the death scythe department, I have your modified scythe," Eric blinked and looked up from his paperwork. He'd not filled out anything to have his scythe modified, at least not tht he could remember right away. It hit him then, that kid, the one he's supposed to mentor Albert or Andrew, whatever his name is,had forms to modify a scythe, didn't he? He shook his head and stood up, looking at the intern. He was struggling with holding two scythes, both made only an hour or so by the looks of them. They were quite nice really, though which one was Eric's he couldn't tell, at least until he saw a small note engraved on the handle of a very large and very sharp saw.
"Mr. Slingby, sorry for causing so much trouble. I'll try to do better! A. Humphries" The brunette chuckled and took the saw from the kid, tossing it in the air a few times and giving it a few swipes.
"Kid didn't have to do that. I'd prefer he hadn't...who's the meat cleaver going to?" He nodded in regards to the other scythe the man was holding. It did look like a meat cleaver with an extended handle, and really very shiny. He winced a bit and waited for an answer, getting one when Alan slinked into the office ad looked at them, only just realising what he was holding.
"Is that my new scythe? Oh, it's beautiful! Thank you so much!" He grinned and took the cythe from him and twirled it around in his hands. "Thank you so much for taking the trouble, If there's anything I can do to repay you, let me know!" The man nodded and left eh two alone, Eric's demeanor instantly changing.
"What gives you the right to go behind my back and request a new scythe for me, huh?" He grabbed Alan's bolo tie and pulled him close, free had raised to slap him. "You think that because you're new and because I'm hard on you, that you would grow the balls to do something like THAT? You can't even collect a soul on your own without begging for help! Whatever moron let you out of the academy should get their head checked! Now get your things and bugger off, Hancock!" He slapped the young reaper hard enough to sed him to the ground and returned to his desk, tossing the saw across the room.
"Y-yes sir...s-sorry..." He sat there shaking for a moment before collecting himself quickly and grabbing his things. It had been two months by now and Eric still treated him like garbage! What would he have to do to change his mind? "And by the way...It's Humphries. HA-MU-FU-RI-ZU, try to remember it, you bastard," He narrowed his eyes and slammed the door shut on his way out.
Eric ran a hand through his hair as he wandered through the ballet dorms of the opera house, looking for at least a few girls that could serve his purpose. In retrospect, he really could have been a lot nicer to Alan when they first met up. He really hadn't meant to be but after a hundred years of nothing but rules, overtime, black suits and everyone being the same, he was over it. He was disillusioned and angry and done with being a shinigami, all he wanted to be a regular human again. Maybe not with the life he'd had before though. He sighed as he slid his saw along another girls body and dashed off. Alan must be worried beyond anything.
Alan sighed as he made his way back up to the office, wiping the blood of of his scythe on the way. He stopped in Eric's office and set his jacket down, stopping when he saw an envelope on his desk from the academy. He knew exactly what it was, they'd allowed him three months to remain in the dorms instead of one due to his honour student status. He bit his lip and turned over the envelope to open it, a little annoyed to find it had already been opened and read.
"You've got to be kidding. That no good arrogant playboy read my letter? Ugh, how dare! What nerve! I bet he's probably throwing a party in honour of my being thrown out into the streets! I knew I should have gone to the—eh?" He stopped when a second pale green envelope caught his attention. He set the academy letter down and picked up the envelope, turning it around in his hands. There was no indication of who it as from aside from the handwriting. Although that was a bit difficult to place as it was much fancier than the usual, only writing "Alan Humphries" on the front of the envelope. "Did he...?"
"Oh come on William, the kid's got nowhere else to go,"
"Forget it, Slingby. If Mr. Humphries has failed to file papers regarding housing by now then that's his responsibility. You would do well to stay out of it."
"Oh come on! Be reasonable for once, Mr. Spears..." the voices vanished as they went futher away, leaving Alan alone again. He bit his lip and opened the envelope slowly, pulling out a short letter written on the same green paper:
"Alan, I know that I'm hard on you and for that you might be rather hateful towards me. There's a key and some money for rent and directions to my flat. If you'd rather sleep in the office then fine. Do whatever the hell you want, but know that you can always crash with me if you need to. E" Alan smiled a bit and pulled out a rather large amount of pound notes and a key from the envelope, smiling a bit. He heard footsteps approaching again and shoved them into his desk drawer, instead gathering his last few files and leaving to return to the dormitories. He had only one week left there and he was going to get the most out of it or die trying.