Forgiven

[death_glare]

[ No one questioned anything when William suddenly left his office that morning. "I've been called to a meeting" was all the information he gave the rest of Dispatch. To them, it wasn't surprising, seeing as he was the head of the department. For William, however, the summoning came with zero notice. As he made his way to the upper managements' offices, all he could wonder was what issue his subordinates caused that he'd have to clean up after, this time.

It wasn't until lunch break that William returned to Dispatch. The others expected they'd get reprimanded for something, but William remained quiet, his face expressionless as he closed the door to his office. ]

Comments

[death_glare]

Either they allow you to cross back over with me, essentially giving you a free pass - which I highly doubt they will agree to. Or, I stay.

[ Tying a tight knot in the bandage he fetches her shirt from the ground, handing it back to her to put on. ]

[untodeath]

[ William won't witness her jaw drop, but he'll certainly catch sight of her gaping at him with absolute bewilderment. ]

There is positively no chance of this happening. I've truly lost it.

[ She says, even as she takes her shirt, too numb to put it on just yet. Instead, she makes her way over to the bed to sit down, staring at her shoes for a moment as she recollects herself. ]

[death_glare]

Either you believe me and play along or I will simply leave again, if you'd prefer that. But make your mind up, the stench of that corpse is not something I ever wanted to endure again.

[ He glances towards Gertrude, before sighing and shaking his head. ]

[untodeath]

[ That certainly gets her to look at him again! It seems that she wants anything BUT that. ]

I'll try to, but I need you to explain it to me, so that it makes sense. Why would you do such a thing?

[death_glare]

I'm not completely uncaring.

[ Stated as if it should be obvious to her. ]

[untodeath]

[ With a huffy pout, she frowns at him! ]

William, it's more than that. You've planned to stay here-- give up heaven. For me.

[ She almost looks upset! ]

It doesn't add up!

[death_glare]

Heaven isn't quite as blissful as one would have you imagine. If anything, I was feeling the same as I had here.

[ His own eyes cast to the side and he sighs. ]

And perhaps I'll admit that I'd been a bit lonely. Bored, even.

[untodeath]

...Ah.

[ Well, there might be a bit of hope to her eye, at that. Her hands fiddle at her shirt, as she wills back some of the energy to be her old self. ]

Are you-- saying that you missed me?

[death_glare]

I wanted to believe you'd move on without me here. Wishful thinking, I suppose.

[ Clearing his throat, he continues on. ]

When they'd contacted me about you... [ He guesses he has to come out and say it. ] I felt guilty. I had no intention of hurting you by leaving, but it was inevitable, it seems.

[untodeath]

Guilt, was it...

[ Her hope falls flat, leaving the redhead to sigh quietly. With a touch of struggle, she sets to putting on her shirt. ]

You're only going to resent me, you realise. Coming back for something like that.

[death_glare]

Yes, guilt. That means that you mean something to me, otherwise I wouldn't care what happened to you. I would have stayed in heaven.

[ Back to being completely blunt because she's not taking him seriously enough! ]

I'm not doing this as a favor to management, I'm doing it for you. Like I did the last time you decided to go rogue. Do you know how much I had to do to persuade them to lessen your punishment? You were set to be transferred to another branch entirely and your scythe to be revoked indefinitely.

[untodeath]

[ Grell blinks incredulously. ]

What? [ Pausing in fastening her buttons, she simply forgets about them! ] What do you mean? How did you convince them?

[death_glare]

I told them that I desperately needed you as one of my agents, because, at least in the field, you are one of the top at reaping. Also, I took the dock in pay that they would have done for you, as well as the negative marks on my performance report.

[ Perhaps not as romantic of a sacrifice as she was hoping, but it was a big one in William's mind. He points at her shirt, insisting she finish buttoning it up. ]

[untodeath]

[ Really, any sort of sacrifice he could've made is huge, in her mind. It leaves her stricken, hands falling to grasp at the sheets.

When he points at her chest, she's confused for a moment - but when it hits her, she waves it off, moving to stand. ]

William, why didn't you tell me?

[death_glare]

I didn't want you thinking you could just go off and do whatever you pleased because I would cover for you every time.

[ He shakes his head. ]

Yet, here I am again.

[untodeath]

[ With a shake of the head, she closes the distance between them - and she reaches out for an embrace. If he doesn't shove her away, she'll quietly nestle herself against his chest. ]

[death_glare]

[ Despite the fact that he's probably getting some amount of blood on his shirt, he lets Grell lean against him. Even going so far as to place a hand on the small of her back. ]

I won't be working in Dispatch anymore, you understand. Nor will I return to being a reaper.

[untodeath]

[ Once she's there, she might find herself holding on a bit tighter than she intended, fingers grasped into his shirt and cheek pressed against his chest. Why, even her breath wavers! ]

Then-- what incentive do they have for you to stay?

[death_glare]

Aside payment and housing, none.

[ William didn't realize just how anxious he was about the situation until Grell's clinging to him. Perhaps he was afraid she'd already have strayed too far to be brought back. But he finds himself heaving a heavy sigh of relief when she's back to her old self. ]

[untodeath]

[ Peering up at him, her upturned brows press together. ]

So, all this, just to have you bring me in...? [ Her eyes are glistening with unshed tears, for she's relieved, too. It's finally settling in, that he's really back, real and tangible. ] I don't trust it.

[death_glare]

I believe they are going to give you a new position, until you prove you can be sent into the field again with no issue. But I got them to drop the pay deductions. And you are walking on extremely thin ice. All this I've said and done for you, do not insult me by running of and misbehaving again. They may very well send me off again and do away with you.

[ He rubs her back slightly. ]

This would be a good time to start redeeming yourself.

[untodeath]

[ Grell's paying attention well enough - until he starts rubbing her back. Though a small gesture, it's the most affection that he's ever afforded her. It's immensely powerly, somehow, the comfort it affords her, and the tears begin to fall freely from her eyes.

Pressing her face flat into his chest, she's partly embarrassed, but for the most part, immensely happy. ]

[death_glare]

[ If it weren't for the small sniffles he hears every so often and the damp spot he can feel forming on his shirt, he may have never known about her tears. Alas.

Somewhere in his inner jacket pocket he pulls out a handkerchief, offering it to her. ]

Stop getting my shirt a mess. I haven't brought much with me to change into.

[untodeath]

[ Grell shakes her head against him with something between a whimper and a scoff, and when she finally looks up at him, her glasses are fogged up with water, cheeks and nose flushed, lips rosy. She imagines that she hasn't cried like this since she was a mortal child, and she's beginning to fear that there's no way to stop! ]

I-it's your-- own doing. [ She exclaims through hics and sniffles, then bowing her head just so, in hopes that her fringe will conceal her face. She must be hideous! ]

[death_glare]

[ It's true, he's never known Grell to show herself in such a vulnerable state. He feels a sense of relief knowing he did the right thing in returning.

Tightening his hold around her just slightly, he allows her to continue letting it all out. ]

When you're ready I will take you to the medical wing to get your wounds properly treated. After which, we'll return to your flat so you can rest. Meeting up with management will happen tomorrow.