|Upper Realm|
"You are a complete and utter idiot. An embarrassment to the corps, not to mention you don't even have the balls to ask out a former apprentice!" Rafael snapped as he picked up some forms from his desk, more to have something to do than because it was necessary. While they were waiting for the other archangels he might as well chew out his brother in arms.
Michael groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sheesh Raf, you're going to make me blush. What's been eating your feathers?"
"Your apprentice!" Rafael snarled, slamming the papers on the table. "The one you insisted on drafting in the Upper Realm a little while ago?"
"It's been 200 years and you are-"
"Don't nitpick semantics with me! If you weren't still infatuated with Lucifer we wouldn't be in this mess. But no, you had to have a thing for the cursed girls. Not only that, you keep making moon-eyes behind her back even though we both know that if it was possible you'd crawl back to Luce and offer your balls on a silver platter to her." Rafael seemed very displeased, wiping his chestnut hair from his eyes as he spoke.
"Is this what it is about? My feelings for Madeleine won't interfere with anything," Michael promised, taking a bite from the lunch they'd picked up before this small meeting.
Rafael exhaled so strongly Michael could feel the air current from where he was standing. "It is already interfering! You sent her out on a mission even while you know what happens to apprentices who've gotten a second Reel."
"Only if someone tells her things she doesn't have to know. Who could she have possibly met while doing some basic recon?" Michael retorted, taking a big bite of pasta and spinach. "What are the odds of her running into someone who can even see a cloaked angel?"
"I know you're standing there, y'know?" Undertaker announced to Madeleine who had been hiding behind his back with the baby. The angel pouted, trying to peer around his robes to the book he was pouring over.
"That's because you are not having tea with me and Edward like you promised. What's so interesting about those old books anyway?" she asked, finally managing to poke her head around his body so she could have a closer look. Panicking he slammed the book shut, actually hopping on the counter to sit on it.
With a grin he folded one of his legs over the other, leaning forward. "Spoilers! I can't tell you just yet."
"Not even if I tell you a joke?" Madeleine asked, tilting her head to the side. For some reason she still couldn't figure the man out. It was obvious he had some issues - nobody was this weird without issues - while she couldn't get a read on any emotions, not to mention none of her shields had an effect on him. And he kept talking as if he knew who she was. All in all he was a riddle she wanted to solve.
"Then I'll tell you who you are. But this is a special something and you'll just have to wait." With a grin he hopped off the counter, stashing the book beneath it as he ushered her to the door. When he presented the dark gray coat to her she raised her eyebrows at him.
"Why do you have so many secrets?"
With a chuckle he took the baby from her, tiny fists at once grabbing his long hair. Undertaker managed to keep looking cheerful while Edward tugged at the strands with all his might. "One of the perks of age."
That was another thing. Judging from the hair he should be rather old but he was too sprightly to be ancient, speaking from a human point of view. With her two hundred and something years she was the oldest being in this room and still this man had the capacity to call the shots. It was unbelievable.
"M'Lady," he offered, holding the door open for her before sliding the 'closed' sign visible for customers to see. Their visit to the clothing shop last time had directed them to one of the better off families in London. If the information was right that would be an end to the current investigation. Madeleine sighed. Solving this mystery hadn't taken nearly as long as she had secretly hoped.
"What's the matter then? You want to hold the baby?" Undertaker asked, draping his gray scarf so the child wouldn't drool on it.
Madeleine shook her head, stuffing her hands in her pockets as they walked. "No, it's not that. After we deliver Edward I'll have nothing to do down here anymore. Then I'll be stuck up there decorating a Christmas tree because it's 'dangerous' for me to be down here."
The only thing that was wrong with her right now was how woozy her head felt as she tried to remember her last name, or how her body sometimes tried to return to the Upper Realm if she wasn't paying attention. She failed to see how those things were being caused by her stay in this realm.
When Undertaker grasped the fabric by her elbow she looked up in surprise. Despite most of his face being hidden he still managed to look quite agitated by her sudden declaration. "There are still plenty of things you can do here! And you still don't know why I know so much about you."
Madeleine smiled, putting her hand on his in an attempt to comfort him. She hadn't thought the strange man would be enjoying her company so much. And honestly speaking, she had come to appreciate his company as well, for as much as one could in less than four days having known one another. "I believe you are quite right about that. Still, how cruel you should keep secrets from me like that."
The smile on her face showed she didn't quite mean that last part, despite actually being quite frustrated she didn't know yet. Undertaker relaxed his shoulders. "Good. I mean… If you don't want to be here, or if you think me to be a bother-"
"Nonsense. You've been a delight," Madeleine at once corrected him. "I think that without you I really would have gotten lost. Things have changed."
Wistfully she waited on the street to let a carriage pass. All around her there was proof things had evolved while she had been gone. The streetlights alone mystified her to a certain extent. Humans had really become something else after her death.
"Things never stay the same. And what's been lost can only seldom be recovered," Undertaker muttered underneath his breath before guiding her across the street. As they walked he rubbed Edward's head, seemingly quite pleased. "Though when you get back what had been lost… it's a strange feeling."
"I think they'll be very happy to see their baby back," Madeleine announced, pointing to the house the shopkeeper had directed them to.
With a nod Undertaker followed her lead, pausing at the door as the angel knocked. When the maid opened to ask what they wanted, the man presented the gurgling child with a broad grin. "We thought you might've lost a little something. One baby, house-delivered."
Two hours later they were standing outside, Undertaker holding a pound cake while Madeleine was the proud owner of a bottle of wine. To her great chagrin the kid had been named 'Marcel', one which she found wholly unsuitable for a babe. When he saw her face it took several minutes before Undertaker regained his composure.
"Oh, please stop laughing. Can't a person frown anymore these days?" she asked him, looking as annoyed as could be.
"To think you'd get so offended over someone naming their kid. I think I cracked a rib," Undertaker sniffled, wiping a finger underneath his bangs.
She snorted, throwing her hands over one another. "Big meanie."
The insult made him chuckle. With an air of familiarity he mussed up her hair, cool fingers drawing in between locks of dark chestnut. "Only to people I like."
"Like, huh?" Madeleine repeated, looking up at Undertaker. Under her scrutiny the man suddenly became more serious, looking anywhere but at her.
"Well, when I say like, I mean in the way where one likes to-"
"I like you too," she said, slowly. "Despite all of your mysteries, you've been quite a friend to me."
Somehow her words seemed to make him sad instead of happy. He motioned for her to walk along with him, back to his shop. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, the gloom around him almost material. Madeleine wondered if she had said something wrong.
"You will never guess what I just heard!" Eduardo shouted, entering Madeleine's room. The angel was sitting together with Tamrat on the bed, engaged in a game of cards. The two of them were in their pajamas, legs crossed while they were bent over their game. At the intrusion of their male friend Tamrat tossed a pillow at him.
"No entrance allowed unless you're wearing pajamas. And where's Costel? He should have been here by now," Tamrat complained before drawing a new card.
The redhead pouted, tugging at his robes in frustration. "C'mon Tam, it's not like I'm actually sleeping over with you in this room. Y'know how the bosses make a fit if you haven't registered properly."
"Less excuses, more getting in the game. She's murdering me with her luck," Madeleine complained, looking at how the cards were dealt.
"Seeing as how you're already dead, that is quite impressive of me," Tamrat agreed, playing an ace. Madeleine grunted as if physically struck by the card.
She waved her arms weakly as she sunk back in the pillows, dramatically sighing. "No, that's it. The final blow. Tell mother I- aaagh!"
Eduardo rolled his eyes, hovering over the bed so he could take the higher ground. "That is the most horrible acting I have ever seen. And I have a century on you, Mad, so that's saying something. And listen to me when I have juicy gossip for crying out loud!"
"Then spill."
The boy folded his arms as he nodded sagely. "Well, actually Costel told me, but Rafael has him running errands. Seems like there have been problems with the Reapers, and I'm talking like a huuuuuuge problem. Not like Mad here setting fire to the dining hall,"
"Okay, that was just the once. You know I'm not good with fire."
Eduardo ignored the comment. "One of them went rogue for a few months. They say people got killed by a Reaper and they're calling it the 'Ripper Incident'. Can you imagine one of them going ballistic and killing people? These are the guys we use as a demon deterrent. They're supposed to care for humans, not off them when they have a chance."
Tamrat groaned. "Urk, the bosses are not going to be happy. So glad all we have to do is get rid of supernatural disturbances. Can you imagine having to work with mortals on a day by day basis? I know we're supposed to protect them but we do so much more useful stuff curbing the baddies out there."
Madeleine nodded to agree before she was suddenly assaulted once more by the strange thought that that reasoning wasn't quite right. Personally she'd enjoyed working with Undertaker the past few days. She shouldn't. Something in her mind whispered she should only be focused on doing good for more people. Not spend time with one. The scent of vanilla reached her nostrils.
Eduardo was holding out a piece of candy to her. "Costel sent these along for now. You okay there, Mad? Looking kind of pale."
After she'd accepted one of the candies she remembered a small pack of biscuits Undertaker had given her. With a smile she shared them with her friends, hoping that whatever it was that had made her new friend so sad all of a sudden would be over soon.
"Anyway, I talked a bit more with Costel about that, and turns out this isn't the first time one of the Reapers went rogue," Eduardo continued, nibbling on his biscuit after commenting on the shape. "They had one a while back, seemed to be a pretty decent guy. Real good at his work until he botched it up one day after falling in love with a target. But he stayed with the force, so they figured it was all good. Then, one day, he ups and leaves. Took a bunch of books with him and his Scythe."
Madeleine finished off her first biscuit, wiping some stray crumbs from her face. "I didn't know Reapers could fall in love. Guess they're more like angels than we realized."
"Well, I wouldn't want to run into the last one. They never managed to find him again, and they tried. Even the archangels want to get their hands on him so who knows how strong he is? These cookies are great by the way."
Undertaker sneezed, for a moment thinking about the superstition that only happened when someone was talking about you. Sitting in his workroom with a book on his lap he finished off the last of his specialty biscuits. In the middle of the room was one of his fresh guests, a young boy of around fifteen. The body was ignored in favor of his current research, though he did plan on returning to it eventually.
Nothing. Nothing. Triple-damned nothing! It had taken him decades to crack the codes in these books. He uncrossed his legs, allowing the book to drop to the ground. Though the book had taught him a lot about Memory Reels and other curiosities, nowhere could he learn the location of memories that had been stored away. But he was certain they existed. During the practice sessions for correctly reading a Reel, Reapers were presented with an angel's Reel to learn the difference. They had to store them somewhere.
With a heavy heart he walked towards the marble slab that held his current visitor. Tomorrow would be Madam Red's big day. Though he wouldn't miss her that much - she had an appalling idea of humor - he had done his best so the day would be indeed her greatest feast ever. And he'd get the chance to poke fun at the tiny Earl while he was at it.
A languid sigh broke from his mouth as he placed his hand on the dead boy's forehead. The skin, cold as ice, was unpliable but didn't possess the qualities Undertaker considered necessary for his next steps.
It wasn't easy finding the Reels that belonged to the bodies. Most of the time he was lucky; Reapers were so overworked a Reel sometimes had to wait a day before it was picked up. Unless of course he happened to pass by first and steal the little pretty away.
"I just want to make her happy," Undertaker explained the dead boy on his table. The poor thing had died from cold and hunger, not the first this season and certainly not the last. How wretched a mortal life could be. He wanted Madeleine to be happy, but for that to happen first she had to return to the Madeleine he had used to know.
He tapped the boy's nose, pushing a few strands of hair behind his ears. "They have to be keeping the Reels somewhere safe."
Maybe he should take a look in the Reaper archives again. They had a large collection of books there detailing every life and yet he had never found Madeleine's book. He'd searched for it all the while he'd remained with the force. The angels probably removed the books as well, only handing them over when a practice session required it. Still, better be safe than sorry and break into the Reaper archives once more before he ventured in more dangerous territory.
He had so many things to do. He enjoyed keeping his shop running, loved being able to work with wood and crafting his coffins. But he had things to do and now that the little Earl was getting in deeper troubles with every step he took…
All these centuries he had taken care of the Phantomhive family, in one way or another. He trailed the small mourning locket that contained Claudia Phantomhive's lock of hair, bringing it up to examine. She had been interesting as well, though in other ways that Madeleine had been.
His dearest was becoming more and more convinced that she wanted to know. Sometimes she would stand up as if she was going back to the Upper Realm before pausing by the door, questioning what she was doing. Then she'd sit back down and ask him again what he knew. If she kept doubting the Light as she was doing now he'd be able to tell her. At least it did not seem as if she was planning on being a good angel and obeying her superiors.
As the boy's Memory Reel started to show Undertaker examined it, waiting for the moment where he knew he had to adjust something. Perhaps further contact with his dearest would show him what he still needed to make this experiment a success. He was comforted by the thought that she considered him a friend, almost as much as he was wounded by those words.
They had been friends, once. But they'd also been more. There had been a time when he could reach out to take her hand in ease, instead of hoping she would not turn him down on ground of him being a creep. Back then she would have turned her back on the Light in a heartbeat if he had asked her to.
Now he had to wait and hope she would grow curious enough to want to believe him. And then he would retrieve her Reel and things would be right again.
Not much to say right now, except that I hate exams ^^ I won't be free of them until the 25th, so cry T.T
Amandalucia : Undertaker is about as mentally stable as I am ^^" Which... isn't really a compliment for me, now is it? Oh well, he is quite fun to write ^^ And I get to do a whole other angle than in my Seb story so it's a win win either way ^^
Razzeeberry : Gah, thank you so much T.T I always get worried I'm getting the pacing all wrong, and this story is superspecial to me so I really want it to be good ^^ Thank you for the confidence boost ^^