Kuroshitsuji © Yana Toboso
OCs © reaper-of-lost-souls
A/N: BAM! Next chapter up! Thank you for cooperating with me. I'm still having a LOT of problems right now . the major one is my laptop wasn't working… again. Had this problem just before finals and now I have it again. Well now the laptop is working… sort of. I'm still using my school's computers and my mom's laptop till I have it working right and everything updated again. Anyways I hope you enjoy this next chapter! And thank you for your comments!
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"… so maybe the next time I'm here can I treat you out to dinner?" Marius coughed nervously and rubbed the back of his head. "b-but if you don't want to I don't care. I just figured since you've been helping me all this time and I've been a fool to not see it –"
"Alright Marius alright," Margaret chuckled lightly to herself, "How about next week at 7:30?"
"7:30am?" Marius asked rather confused, "W-wouldn't you have worked or something –"
"No silly!" Margaret laughed harder, "7:30pm. Well?"
"Y-yeah okay," Marius chuckled as he looked to the ground nervously.
"Great!" Margaret smiled. "See you then," she waved to the two siblings as Marius walked away from the counter uncomfortably and continued to look at the ground. "Wow, that brother of yours –"
"Is a dork?" Sophie laughed to herself.
"N-no I wouldn't say that…" Margaret blushed slightly, "Just…"
"… Oh don't tell me you liiike~ him?" Sophie grinned deviously.
"I wouldn't say that!" Margaret gasped as she held her hands in front of her hands. "Just –"
"Hey give me a second alright?" Sophie smiled as she walked away from the desk, skipped over to Marius, and grabbed his hand before he walked out the door. "Hey Marius, need me to go with you?"
"N-nah that's alright," he sighed, "but thank you for helping me… are you sure you okay?"
Sophie let go of his hand and let out an agitated sigh. "Well I can't say I'm okay, but at least you told me. Plus I understand why you did all, but… I don't know. It may be a little while till I'm over everything." Then she shrugged and began to walk back, "Tell everyone I said hi'yah. Oh and I al~most forgot, will you come as my escort at the upcoming meeting? It would be nice for everyone to see us together, plus I need someone behind my back just in case someone tries to kill me or something like that."
"Y-yeah I can make it," Marius smiled. "See you soror."
"See ya'h," Sophie waved as Marius left the building. Then Sophie skipped back over to Margaret, who was the only person at the counters since the other secretaries were in the back lounge talking. "It's been so long! Sorry about being gone and then not coming around and seeing you. It's been a bit hectic right now –"
"That's okay," Margaret smiled, "You don't have to explain… Marius told me everything. I was really worried about you Sophie."
"Hey it's all in the past right?" Sophie winked. "Anyways… so you have that secretary job you've always wanted huh?"
"Yes!" Margaret exclaimed. "Thank you about everything Sophie. You know we should meet up and do something later, like old times?"
"Yeah maybe," Sophie shrugged, "but as I said, I've been neglecting to see everyone because I've been busy. This job and a whole more other jobs, both civil and uncivil. It's just a chaotic right now… but if I plan on going out with Julia then you can come with us! Just keep me away from the alcohol… I still haven't fully recovered from my addictions yet."
"Right… okay," Margaret smiled. "What are you doing tonight?"
"Undercover work probably. I may or may not end up going home to sleep… I don't know. I'm used to taking my work to the extremes and right now I have to serve as this butler and… well whatever. I don't know," Sophie shrugged, "just have to take whatever life throws at me –"
"aaaAHH! There she is!" a bunch of women shrieked from behind the counter. "Margaret you know the Dark Rider?"
"What, Sophie?" Margaret asked completely confused by their sudden yelling.
"No! The Dark Rider!" the women squealed.
"Awe shit," Sophie groaned quietly to herself. "What is with all this hubbabaloo?"
"Well I heard from Bill in accounting that you saved ten shinigamis from a hoard of demons –"
"And Wilma in special affairs said that you captured a sinister bandit at a pass that exploded –"
"And you stopped an avalanche in the MacKenzie Mountains before it hit a shinigami center –"
"And…"
Sophie's smile slowly turned to a neutral look on her face, listening to some of the stories that the women had to say. Her eyebrow twitched when she noticed some of the stories had been made up. Plus she never liked office gossip; it got on her nerves and she never bothered to go along with most of it. "Okay…" she said calmly to quiet them down, looking over at Margaret with annoyance before looking back at the shinigamis circling around her like vultures over a dead carcass. "How about you go and find out if this is true? Because trust me, the story about the alligator is wrong. It was a crocodile and it wasn't even alive," she huffed slightly with her arms crossed over her chest as Margaret snickered.
"… But –"
"Well Margaret I'm going to go back upstairs," Sophie sighed, "and we can find a time for that outing later. You have something to prepare for anyways."
Then she gave her a wink and left, the group of shinigamis watching as Sophie walked down the hall casually with her boots clicking across the floor and her hat tilted over her eyes. "What a hothead!" one of the women huffed.
"No wonder I thought she was a he," another grumbled.
"Maybe she's is really a he and isn't a woman at all?" one thought.
"Yeah!" a few more cheered.
"Hey!" Margaret huffed as she got a few of their attentions, "I know Sophia Serbus is a woman. Don't put a rumor out there that she isn't." Then she sighed, the shinigamis barely listening to her as she grabbed her stuff and clocked out for the day.
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"Can this day get any –" Sophie paused, listening up the stairs as she heard commotion coming from the N level of the building. She took slow steps and peek her head around the corner at the once familiar voice she heard.
"The Dark Rider took on about a thousand demons!" Lewis laughed, "and saved our unit of only five shinigamis! Then she was right back into the desert capturing bandits and robbers."
"She didn't take on a thousan –"
"Ben that's not important!" Lewis huffed, "but one time she – What's with that look on your faces?" he paused, looking around the room as everyone stared fearful behind his back. Lewis looked over at Ben, who was smirking at him.
"Lewis~ darl~ing~~" he heard from behind, a chill going down his spine at the eerie tone in the being's voice, "How many times did I tell you about talking about things that are~n't true? You're higher on my list now, cute~pie~~"
"But –"
"The rest of you get back to work," Sophie said roughly, "and if I see one of you not working in three seconds I'll fire you before you can even squeal in protest. One –"
Then she smirked, watching as everyone ran away and back to their cubicles. "I warned him," Ben shrugged as he jumped off of a table and casually walked back to his desk, "but he didn't listen."
"Shove it Ben," Lewis growled. "What number is that –"
"Two," Sophie just shrugged, turning around about to leave.
"Two?" Lewis gasped. "But –"
"You're luckily you're not one… but then again that angel isn't here is he?" Sophie smirked before tipping her hat to him. "Good day –"
"That's a bit harsh Dark Rider," came a deep voice leaning against a nearby wall as Sophie walked by.
"Yeah," Sophie shrugged, "but I'm not one to tolerate erroneous rumors, Black Blood."
"Sounds dirty," he chuckled.
"Can it Jay," Sophie sighed, "I'm going to sign those forms before clocking out."
"Alright. See you later," Jericho waved back, watching as Sophie grabbed papers off of Ben's desk and casually walked back down the stairs.
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"That's only a rumor," Sophie sighed as she sat at her cubical and signed more papers.
"But –"
"Rumor Ronald," she groaned in disgust. "What, so I am the popular thing today? Tomorrow it will be something else that's stupid right?"
"Well I'm sorry that you're annoyed," Ronald pouted.
"Sorry but I hate gossip," Sophie sighed, "because it's always wrong. Why can't you talk about someone else? Why me?"
"Because we l~ove you," Grell giggled from behind them, making Ronald jump.
"Ewww," Sophie said in disgust. "I don't want a bunch of fans trampling over me before the week is over… by the way when are you –"
"Seven," Grell shrugged as he walked over to his cubical and sat back down to work.
"Oh and if you want to know something accurate about me, ask me. I'll tell you if it's true," Sophie sighed as she stood up. "And no, I didn't get the name Dark Rider because I'm secretly gothic. It's because of the black horse I ride," she smirked as she gathered her things. "Now if you excuse I – …"
"… Is something wrong?" Ronald asked when Sophie suddenly paused before swinging her messenger bag over her shoulder.
"… Do you feel a chill in the air?" Sophie asked as her eyes darted around the room.
"Chill?" Ronald asked again.
"Whatever are you talking about over there?" Eric grumbled as he lifted his head off of his desk and looked over at them.
"… Probably nothing," Sophie chuckled nervously, sighing to herself as her eyes darted around the hallway and at all the corners. They watched her as she started to walk down the stairs. "Gotch'a – oh no that's not it," she sighed as she continued to walk down the stairs.
"Paranoid much?" Eric asked.
"Yep," Grell only shrugged, finishing his papers and putting them away.
"Now where is the hyperactive Mr. Sutcliff we usually see?" Eric grinned.
"Tired," Grell sighed, "but don't worry, he'll show up rea~lly soon –"
"SssshhIIIITTTTT!" they heard a woman yell from the stairs and then a crash and tumble at the bottom of the stairs.
"Sophie?" Grell stood up as everyone rushed over the side of the railing. "Sophie!" he continued to yell down the stairs.
William staggered out of his office. "What's going on here?" he grumbled.
Everyone turned to him, except for Grell who was hustling down the stairs as fast as he could. "We heard Mrs. Serbus scream and –"
"What the hell?" they heard Grell yell from the bottom for the stairs.
William grumbled, pushing past the other shinigamis as they followed him down the stairs. "Now what is going on – … Sophie who is this?"
Sophie groaned, still keeping her foot pushed into the other woman's stomach and her long black scythe keeping her a nice distance away from her as she clawed for her. "Sorry. Just a pest –"
"Oh so I'm a pest now?" the intruder growled back. "I raised you girl!"
"You did not," Sophie huffed.
"Did so!" she huffed back.
"Not!"
"So!"
"Not!"
"So!"
"Not! Undertaker –"
"That's who he calls himself now?" the woman laughed lightly. "Now give me a hug –"
"Ew no," Sophie narrowed her eyes.
"Aw~ don't be that way –"
"Chloe you'll just slobber on me again!" Sophie shivered in disgust.
"That's no way to treat your teacher!" Chloe huffed, whimpering her bottom lip. "And a-after all we've been through," she sniffled, "w-we're almost like family –"
"Alright," Sophie let the scythe evaporate in between her fingertips, "but – AAGH! Chloe!"
Sophie groaned in disgust, her body completely being trapped in a tight hug. "Oh so cute!" she squealed as she swung Sophie around. "But you're turning into a miniature angry version of Undertaker," she huffed in disgust.
"So what?" Sophie groaned feeling rather dizzy. "Now let go please…"
"Nope," Chloe giggled as she kept a vise grip on Sophie and cuddled her close.
"Shit…" Sophie groaned and closed her eyes in defeat.
"Mrs. Serbus who is this woman?" William said sternly.
"Oh isn't he Mister Grumpy," Chloe puckered her lips and set Sophie down on the ground, causing Sophie's legs to give out underneath her and she rolled over to the side. "You know what," Chloe said as she pointed a finger at the taller man and poked him in the chest, "my sister is a director around here and I don't think she'd like to hear that her little sister got assaulted –"
"Chloe can it," Sophie groaned as she stood up and picked up her hat.
"Awwwww~ but I want to piss someone off and I haven't done it today," she sighed in a dramatic fashion.
"What is that? Your goal for the new year is to piss someone off once a day?" Sophie sighed.
"Yep," Chloe giggled.
"Okay whatever," Sophie shooed her a little. "Mr. Spears this is Chloe Obki, a… uhhh friend, and Chloe this is William T Spear –"
"Hey that's the shinigami you and Alex call Mr. Tyrant right?" Chloe asked.
The others snickered as William narrowed his eyes and moved his glasses on his face. "Chloe…" Sophie grumbled under her breath and shook her head.
"Hey when are you free?" Chloe yelped. "I don't know how long I'll be in town so –"
"I don't know, I don't know!" Sophie sighed in a very tired way and narrowed her eyes at her, "but I just want to clock out right now. Can't we go over this later?"
"Fine, whatever," Chloe shrugged. Then Chloe pulled her hands through her short hair, her blue and black hair rustling behind her as she dramatically let out an annoyed huff. "I'll see you later wif~e~" she winked her one-iris green eyes at her, suddenly disappearing and teleporting herself out of the building.
Sophie just shuddered, turning around to meet the gaze of her coworkers. "What?" she shrugged as if everything was nothing.
"What? What?" William growled. "Who is she? A shinigami?"
"A none-of-your-beeswax," Sophie shrugged, "because I promised her I wouldn't tell a soul. Anyways I'm going to go home… this is a long day. See you Grell." She gave them a wave and turned the corner into the main hallway.
"… I like that girl already," Grell grinned and giggled lightly.
"Great. Another person who gives me a headache," William grumbled to himself as he began to ascend back up the stairs.
"Hah! That was hilarious," Eric laughed, leaning against Ronald who was also laughing and leaning against a wall.
"Tyrant? I love that name! Mr. William Tyrant Spears!" Ronald laughed.
"… Yeah that's pretty funny," Alan admitted with a chuckle.
"If anyone calls me Tyrant one more time I will give you a mountain of overtime for the next month," William snarled as he walked continued up the stairs and disappeared.
Grell chuckled to himself quickly, running right up after William to stop and talk to him. "Wow… I guess he's mad now," Eric shrugged, "but still funny!"
"Yep!" Ronald laughed. "And that girl… Chloe right?"
"Knox don't even think about it," Eric laughed. "She's probably a few centuries old."
"What?" Ronald gasped as he jumped away slightly. "How can you tell?"
"I have an eye for those things," Eric winked as he began to walk up the stairs. "Plus I know that Mrs. Obki, the DMD for this whole division, is told to be at least two thousand years old."
"Wait what!" Ronald gasped and jumped up again in shock.
"Coming Mr. Knox?" Alan asked as he began to walk up the stairs and after Eric.
"… Yeah," Ronald grinned again and ran up the stairs past Alan. Alan sighed, walking slowly up the stairs and rubbing his chest in an uncomfortable way. "Hey you okay?" Ronald asked, causing Eric to stop.
"Y-yeah… I'm alright." Then Alan stood up tall and proud, passing the both of them on the stairs. "I only want to get back to work." Ronald looked up at Eric, who held a stern expression on his face. Ronald figured he shouldn't ask and ran after Alan, passing Eric as Eric watched Alan walk up the stairs.
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"So did you and William make up yet?" Sophie said to the figure dressed in a black trench coat walking into the kitchen.
"… I guess," Grell shrugged as he set his coat aside and grabbed a pastry from a tray in Sophie's hand, "but it's on a trial basis. I think I got through to him about the job though… he won't have me reap infants anymore."
"Well there you go," Sophie smiled as she walked out of the kitchen and down the hall with Grell trailing behind her, "progress! See I told you that sitting out in a public place like a restaurant and discussing the situation civilly would help… but did it really~?"
"Actually yes," Grell chuckled lightly. "Thank you."
"Hey no problem!" Sophie smiled as they walked into the dining room where Anne was waiting for her desert. "Glad to help. Here you go ma'am."
"Thank you Sophie," Anne smiled as she dug into the desert placed in front of her. "Grell, whatever you had to do did it turn out well?"
"Yes ma~lady," Grell grinned happily, "Great even! Will Sophie be staying tonight?"
"Well I wasn't planning on it –"
"But you must!" Anne gasped. "Your shinigami life may be livelier than your made up human life, but I would like to hear one of your stories tonight."
"R-really?" Sophie paused, "… well alright. Now?"
"Sure," Anne smiled, letting Sophie sit down with Grell sitting next to her. "Tell us every~thing~"
"Okay," Sophie chuckled. "I use the name Athena Ernest as my human name and, of course, my hair is different when I use it," she looked to her auburn hair and played with a strand for a while, "but before I disguised myself I still used the name, Athena, in my unit. After coming up with the perfect undercover name I just use it regularly… or used to that is."
"Why the name choice?" Anne asked as she grabbed a pastry and bit into the gooey center.
"I chose Ernest because it's an old name, Germanic, and it means to be serious. It also means something along the lines of being stern, moving forward in the face of battle. A battle to the death I guess," Sophie shrugged, "and I liked that aspect, a battle to the death, so I use it as my last name. Now Athena… well Athena is an ancient Greek name meaning wise. Since Sophia means wise I liked to keep the same meaning." Then she chuckled, "Though another reason is because of the goddess Athena from Greek mythology. I like looking up to her because she is a virgin goddess of wisdom and also of war. My mom told me about her when we went over ancient mythologies," she shrugged. "Also… I don't know… I feel that there's a deeper reason I use that name but I can't quite put my finger on it. Oh well…"
"I think it's a lovely name," Anne smiled. "Athena… Sophia, beautiful names."
"Thank you," Sophie chuckled. "It's nice that you like them. Now… can I say something that's been on my mind since I've met you?"
"Sure," Anne shrugged, pulling her plate away from Grell as his hand had snaked around the table to grab for her food.
"I… ummm… I used to be human," Sophie began to explain, "for seventeen years. I died when I was seventeen… but very recent ago. 1870 I believe… and… my father was a mortician… and he was a noble… so I went to a party and…"
"… Huh," Anne responded, "And?"
"At the party my relatives upset me and I took off," Sophie shrugged, "and… I danced… with The Juvéniles of Dance, which is what they called themselves at the time. We did a variation of Swan Lake and everyone was amazed to see me perform… and I danced the flamenco towards the end… ummm… I met you there Angelina, but you were younger than me at the time."
Anne paused, trying to remember as Grell only looked at the two of them curiously. "… a young lady they called the White Swan correct?"
"Yes!" Sophie laughed. "That's what they called me. You remember?"
"Vaguely," Anne laughed, "but I was sad to hear when you died – Oh god… Sophie? Mortician's daughter, Sophie? It's been so long! Do you still dance? Still go to balls?"
"Not really," she shrugged, "but only when I'm dragged to it. Actually in the supernatural world I'm, as you would put it, a 'grand duchess'? So I only go to balls unless I have to, obligations and all that."
"Grand duchess?" Anne gasped. "That's a large title to be calling yourself! Are you sure about that?"
"Trust me," Sophie chuckled. "If I wasn't serious about that I wouldn't have used the word. Okay, maybe not duchess, but our system of operations is different than a monarchy. So it's hard to put myself into those standards," she shrugged.
"How then?" Anne asked with sudden curiosity.
"Yes do tell!" Grell also asked, munching on a pastry that he obviously stole off of Anne's plate.
Sophie smirked. "Okay. Well we have a few different categories, but I come from a category of supernatural beings called Gods of Death. Shinigamis are a branch off of Gods of Death, but not necessarily. It's complicated, but to put it simply Gods of Death are usually headed by families. The oldest man in the family is in charge of the household for all affairs that concerns them. There are different degrees of families, but most are in hiding right now and either don't use their real names in society or do but don't go to social occasions often," she shrugged. "My family is famous for what we have done for the last two thousand years and has high prominence with natural and supernatural beings alike." Then she sighed, "The reason I am the one in charge is because I am the only survivor of my family. From our standing we can't just give the title away; plus my father doesn't have relatives so it's only me. I don't know what else to say, but that's the most of it."
"Interesting…" Anne thought aloud. "Serbus correct? Yes I think I've heard of you, but of a young man named Marius."
"I have been the head of the family for about fifteen years," Sophie sighed, "but Marius is my older brother. He actually died in my mother's womb, but for supernatural reasons that I don't want to explain because it's been a long time ago… I had him serve as the head of the family while I was working as a shinigami. That being said, I've officially been in charge for ten years. Right now I'm trying to establish my authority… but yeah Marius is my older brother."
"Oh I'm so sorry to hear that," Anne frowned. "I didn't know…"
"Well no one else does," Sophie chuckled, "so it would be better if we don't spread that piece of information around."
"Of course!" Anne smiled. "I promise."
"Good," Sophie chuckled, continuing with the conversation as she grabbed a pastry off from Anne's plate before Grell could swipe another.
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"… Hey do you hear that?" Anne asked as she heard moans and groans coming from the hallway.
"… I wished not," Grell grumbled, moving the blankets he wrapped himself in and rubbed his eyes. "Oh geeze… not again."
"Again?" Anne yawned, stretching and fiddling around with her red silky nightgown. "What is it?"
"Sophie… oOOF COouuurse," Grell yawned and slowly stood up. "I better tend to her –"
"I'm coming with you," Anne said as she jumped out of bed faster than Grell and put a robe around her waist. "If she is to be my servant then I must know everything about her, even nightmares."
"Okay fine," Grell grumbled as he also grabbed a robe and put it on, leading out the door with Anne trailing behind him. "… Do you think this is a good idea to let Sophie in on our plan?" Grell figured he should ask, "Because she may be a good friend of mine… like a daughter actually, but this could turn out bad for both you and me if she knows everything."
"Don't you trust her then?" Anne asked, raising an eyebrow. "She said she would keep everything secret. And… now that I know who she is… you know she used to make my day a lot brighter at balls when we were young," Anne chuckled to herself, letting out a sigh as she continued to think. "Oh… she was good at pointing out everyone's flaws and who would go right with whom. Actually, overtime those people ended up with each other, if you can believe it."
"Like who?" Grell decided to ask.
"My sister for one," Anne shrugged, "and Mr. Vincent Phantomhive… oh… I loved him, but Sophie said that because of his underworld work he would probably go for a woman who is naive. Sure, Vincent and I had lovely conversations, but my sister… wasn't one to ask questions…" Then Anne let out a sad sigh, "Yeah… she got several relationships correct. Sophie told me to not go for a man like him, but still… well you already know," she shrugged. Once they got to the door Grell opened it for Anne, letting her proceed into the room first. Anne peeked in, watching as Sophie tossed and turned in her sleep, whimpering to herself. Grell only sighed, rushing over to her to wake her up, but Anne shoved him lightly away and woke her up herself. "Sophie… Miss mortician wake up now."
"N-no…" Sophie groaned as she gripped hold of the sheets before her eyes shot open full of fear. "Oh… sorry if I awoke you two," she sighed as she stretched as if the dream she wasn't bothering her.
"… What was that?" Anne asked.
"I-I … have nightmares. Sorry… maybe I should have warned you," Sophie sighed, "but I usually don't sleep this long. I figured I would just rest my eyes, but I fell asleep and –"
"Hey Sophie you're coming to sleep with us," Grell huffed.
"W-what?" Sophie practically jumped out of the bed and almost fell out. "Grell I'm a virgin! A-and if you two are doing something I don't want to get involved –"
Her shouts were died down as she listened to Grell and Anne laugh hysterically. "What? Oh, as gullible as always," Anne laughed. "No, what Grell means is do you want to just sleep in the bed with us? No funny business or anything… just sleep."
"… I don't know… I don't want to be a bother," Sophie said as she looked at the two of them suspiciously, "and I'm not a kid," she huffed insulted.
"Yes you are!" Grell smirked, jumping onto the bed and causing Sophie to yelp and back away from him. "You are my little lady right? Well a lady can be afraid sometimes right?"
"But a lady also sleeps in her own bed," Sophie huffed.
"Not always~" Anne grinned, "and besides, if you want to stay here then you have to obey my rules, understand? The rule is that little Sophia has to sleep with one of us every night, alright?"
"… Did Grell tell you something?" Sophie frowned, "Because I haven't told anyone about my problems sleeping and such."
"Yes," Anne nodded, "plus I need to know my workers' problems and concerns. I wouldn't be a good mistress if I let everything lay on the waste side."
Sophie blinked, still unsure of the whole situation but nodded in agreement as she only wanted to go back to sleep. "Okay… fine," she sighed and yawned into her hand, "I guess… I can do that. Just… tell me what you know first."
Anne smiled, "You have nightmares every night and have problems sleeping. That's all Grell told me and I'm fine with this. Plus if you don't want to tell me these things you don't have to, but you should sleep properly Sophie."
"Now come to bed," Grell grinned, grabbing Sophie's waist and picking her off of the bed.
"Hey you!" Sophie growled, suddenly feeling shy about being picked up roughly. "Just!... Grell no!" she whimpered and hid her face into her sleeves.
"Aaaaww~… she's like Ciel when he's picked up," Anne giggled, poking Sophie's cheek as she whimpered back. "Let's not waste time. I want to get," she yawned, "my beau~ty sleep."
"Geeze," Sophie grumbled to herself. "You two are mean."
"It's only because we care," Grell grinned and sneaked in a quick peck on her cheek. Sophie lifted up her head and frowned, her face turning bright red. "Plus I know how you get when you sleep all~ alone, by yourself~. Now you don't have to worry right?"
"… Okay…" Sophie nodded, still rubbing her face to get rid of the redness in her cheeks as they walked down the hall. "But… what about Undertaker?"
"Oh him~?" Grell huffed, "He gets you all to himself! I honestly think he's greedy," he grumbled. "I want to take care of you too~ like I used to."
Sophie smiled, a small giggle escaping her lips as she set her head on his chest. "Okay… but don't do that again. I'm getting dizzy."
"Alright, I pwwa~mise," Grell giggled and snuggled his cheek against hers.
Anne opened the door for Grell as he brought Sophie in, plopping her down on the bed before crawling back in himself. Grell and Anne looked at each other as they sat back into the bed, noticing that Sophie instantly went back to sleep. "Is she always like this?"
"Yeah," Grell sighed, "but I know she's just being tough. Sophie actually likes to be cuddled, but maybe being gone for so long from those who care about her has made her fearful of others."
"Like little Ciel…" Anne thought to herself, letting out a tired sigh as she turned in the bed and looked over at Grell.
"I know this must be hard for you –"
"No. I actually like this," Anne chuckled lightly. "She is like a little daughter I've always wanted."
"Same here," Grell chuckled back, wrapping his arms around Sophie's waist and letting her scoot to him in her sleep. "We shinigamis… we can be rather lonely all the time; that's why having someone like Sophie around is a nice change of pace. When we first met I only thought of her as a kid, but after a long time she grew on me. I don't know… she's one of the closest to my heart right now, right next to you Angelina," he confessed.
Anne smiled, "I think it's nice what you're doing for her, even if Sophie doesn't know it yet… she seems to be slow with the details."
"Yeah," Grell chuckled, lightly laughing it off till he heard his voice fade away. "… We better get to sleep. A big day tomorrow."
"Yeah," Anne nodded as she closed her eyes. Then she let out a surprised yelp, feeling one of her hands being pulled closer to the center of the bed. "Grell what are you doing?"
"Just letting you get comfortable," Grell grinned, setting Anne's hand around Sophie's waist and intertwining her hand with his. "Sophie doesn't mind… now let's sleep."Anne looked over before setting her head back down, making sure Sophie was really asleep, and then went right to sleep letting Sophie shift a little and pull her hand closer to them.
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A/N: Aw~ that's right. The fluff doesn't have to be with just Sophie and Undertaker XD I hope you guys liked this chapter! For clarification, I'm trying to show a more motherly side to Grell. I think that's how Grell's and Sophie's relationship would be since he had to take care of her when she was being brought in for questioning 15 yrs previous, and they bonded of that. Plus I like Madame RedxGrell, but not in a 'just have sex all the time' context. Honestly I would think Grell would have a close relationship with Anne… but hey maybe that's just me. I don't know =O Whatever though. I just liked it ^^
Chloe – Greek – green shot