A/N: Poor Ronald! The boy can't catch a break, can he? Not just in the story, I mean, in general! -hugs him- This pissed off my Ronald muse actually so he might not allow me to write him for a while. I hope not though! Your reviews are very sweet, and I'm very grateful to everyone reading, you have no idea how much I appreciate that people like my writing! Anyways, on to the story! ^J^
"Ronald...What's been up with you and the boss lately?" Eric lit a cigarette as they stood on a rooftop during their break, watching the various people down below. Ronald had been acting funny since they left the office. He was way more quiet and sombre than he usually was and it made Eric worried. He might not enjoy having a different partner until Grell was allowed to work solo again but at least Ronald was mildly entertaining. Today though he was silent and cold and all around depressed. "You know you can talk to me, right? If you need to vent, I'm here for you..."
"Yeah, that's real bloody easy for you to say, right? You've got it all figured out, ne? Great job, nice office, Alan in your bed every night. What gives you the right to act like you know how I feel, huh? Everyone's got somebody, 'cept little ol' Ronnie, eh? You know what, Eric? Fuck you and horse you rode in on, alright? Unless you get your heart shattered by Alan, then don't talk to me, got it?" The younger blond scowled then hopped to another rooftop, making his way to finish his soul collections without Eric.
"What the hell did I do...? Tch, kids..."He sighed and shook his head, looking down at the snow covered roof to see he'd been doodling absently with his finger. Thank goodness for leather gloves otherwise his finger might be frostbitten. He swallowed when he realised he'd been drawing little stick figures of him and Alan kissing cutely and brushed it away quickly. "I must be going crazy...no more hanging out with Grell..." He cleared his throat and stood up, skipping rooftops after Ronald. Perhaps work would get his mind off of his fantasies about Alan. He stopped when he saw Ronald examining one of the records and landed silently next to him.
"I told you to leave me alone. Go back to Alan,"
"As much as you would like to think there's something between Alan and myself, there isn't. We're friends and that's all we're gonna be. Just...friends..." Ronald looked up at him as the older blond forced a smile. He shook his head and sent the record away, stamping it complete and walking away. "Ronald, somewhere in your heart you had to know...but if you want to try, I'd suggest taking a chance now while he and Grell aren't together. Just think about it alright?" They younger blond stopped and looked back at him, pushing up his glasses silently.
"Oh, Eric~~! Darling, I've missed you so!" Grell threw his arms around the brunette and squealed girlishly. "You'll never believe what's happened~ it's the most wonderful news!" Eric merely let the redhead cling to him as he twirled and giggled. He already knew what it was, another break-up most likely and judging by the burning glare they were catching from William, it was Grell that dumped him this time instead.
"You guys are 'taking a break' again? Jesus, will you two make up your minds already?" He sighed and shoved Grell off of him finally. Every time Grell and Will broke up, that insipid redhead would run right to him and try to spend some time in his bed. That was hardly what Eric wanted, he preferred his reputation as being a rather skilled with persuasion. At least when it came to the boys in the Glasses Department, they were rather easy to sway, especially one of the newbies.
"We're not taking a break, Eric. We broke up. And it was for real this time!" He pouted and put his hands on his hips, swaying a bit. Eric was crueler than William sometimes, rejecting him whenever they broke up or took a break. "Come on, Eric...I know you've been pining for me for the longest time! Now's your chance to-"
"No, Sutcliff. Go ask someone else. If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times: I'm not interested! Now bugger off and leave me alone," He shook his head and shoved Grell out of his office, far from being in the mood to listen to him. He'd just have to find someone else to seduce.
"U-Uh, Mr. Slingby? Sorry I'm late...I didn't mean to-"
"Whatever, just get your paperwork and get out of my face. You've already wasted my time," He looked over and glared at Alan, raising an eyebrow and running a hand through his hair. He stayed silent as Alan came in and gathered up his reports and collection list, noticing there was something...off about him that morning. He looked like he hadn't slept, or hadn't done very well if he'd managed. His hair and suit were a mess and he looked like he'd been crying, confirming that by the quiet sniff he heard. "You know what,why don't you stay in here today? You don't want to be out in the drafty bullpen anyway, do you?" Alan looked up and swallowed heavily, convinced that Eric was going to attack him with that saw the second he sat down and instead managed to retreat into a dark corner.
"Mr. Sutcliff? Are you sure you're alright? I mean, if you're not doing well maybe you could go home. I can handle this on my own..." Grell sniffed quietly and glanced up at Alan. What was up with him? He seemed nervous about something, just what was impossible to place though. It was like that with Eric too. "I'm really sorry about what happened with Mr. Spears, I'm sure you two really love each other deep down..."
"Don't be ridiculous, Alan. He meant it this time! He'd rather worry about his precious overtime than our relationship! He's cold and cruel and a total rat bastard, I hope he falls into a fiery pit of despair!" Alan was speechless and ran a hand through his hair, glancing back to the ground. He leaned against his scythe for support and blushed when he saw Eric land in his field of vision. The blond looked rather annoyed and lost, like he'd been trying to follow someone. Perhaps he'd been chasing after Ronald? He swallowed and didn't realise his scythe slipping and giving out as he fell onto the roof.
"OW!" Eric looked up and saw Grell sitting on the rooftop, raising an eyebrow. The redhead pointed to the other end of the roof with Alan attempting to get up, brushing the snow off of his coat. "Oh, h-hey Eric..." The brunette smiled a bit and waved once he was upright again, puzzling the blond when he started blushing. Instead of asking Eric simply gave him a smirk and cocked his head to the side.
"You miss me yet, Alan? I'll be sure to make it up to you later," he winked before running off again after Ronald. Alan just stood there silently, still blushing and not looking at Grell, though he was certain the redhead was going to be tormenting him the rest of the day. Starting now.
"Ooooohhhhh, Alliieeee~! What have you two lovebirds been doing? What's it like? Is he gentle? Does he like to get creative? I bet he's wonderful with those hands of his! And he's probably got some incredible uses for that smart m-"
"Grell! Stop it, please!Nothing like that is going on with me and Eric! We're just friends and that's wrong anyway! How could you even think such perverted things about your coworkers? I mean-"
"My god, you're still pushing that whole 'two men together' is wrong thing? Alan, come on. You should know by now that it's beyond common for the guys to hook up! So why don't you ask Eric to take care of your virginity problem so we don't have to listen to your preaching!" Alan swallowed hard and looked back at the ground, keeping an eye out for their next collection. Maybe Grell had a point, and well...lately his fantasies had been mainly centered around Eric. He'd been asking himself similar questions to what Grell had, was Eric a gentle lover? Maybe his hands were good with other things besides cooking...whoa wait a minute! He shook his head and held his scythe tight enough to turn his knuckles white inside the gloves. He knew for certain he was blushing heavily and his face was very warm and not because of overheating.
"Grell...can you keep a secret?"