thedispatch | Forgiven

[ Grell blinks incredulously. ]

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

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. ]

[ 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?

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.

[ 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. ]

[ 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.

[ 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?

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. ]

[ 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.

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.

[ 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. ]

[ 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.

[ 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! ]

[ 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.

[ Grell takes the handkerchief, removing her glasses to press it over her face - and, as such, resume huddling against his chest while she gathers herself. With a bleary nod, she responds, voice barely audible, muffled between their bodies. ]

Fine. [ Sniff. ] If you promise you'll be there.

Of course I will be. I'm essentially your counselor, at this point.

[ He tries not to huff impatiently while waiting for her to compose herself. Instead he idly looks around, finally taking note of the length of her hair. Sure, she's in disguise but he hasn't seen her hair this short in decades. ]

Did you honestly cut your hair?

[ With a shaky, but MIGHTY huff, she finally peels away that handkerchief away to look up at him with and angry pout. But, given the state she's in, and her eternally pressed brow, she looks rather pathetic, instead. ]

They cut it-- on purpose, I'm sure! [ Oh, right, context is a thing. ] When they did this. [ She clarifies by gesturing towards the wound he'd dressed. ]

I fixed it the best I could, but... [ She droops. ] It's hideous.

[ Taking a few whisps in his hand, he surveys the state of it. ]

It is a bit choppy. Plus, it's odd seeing you with brown hair.

[ William, that's not how you respond to a lady telling you she no longer feels beautiful. ]

We'll simply have to visit a barber tomorrow after your hearing.

[ Okay, yeah, tears are definitely welling in her eyes again. ]

I... I suppose I can fix one of those things...

[ Temporarily tucking the handkerchief into her collar, she runs her hands through her hair, allowing it to shift back to its characteristic red hue. ]

They ought to allow me a free pass to kill that agent.

No. And you better not threaten them, either.

[ He nods at her hair turning back to red, though. It really does suit her more. ]

The length isn't bad at all. Nostalgic, even.

[ Well, she doesn't like that, quite evident by the frown William earns. The only thing keeping her from verbally protesting is the almost-compliment he gives her. It has her fidgeting with the handkerchief he's given her, actually. ]

I suppose it would be, wouldn't it... I'm surprised you remember.

[ She looks away with a sigh. ]

It's just awfully masculine, is all-- but. I suppose I'll manage.

Women can have short hair, too.

[ On top of the almost-compliment, he almost just referred to her as female! Or at least acknowledged that part of her. ]

Besides, we've worked along side one another for a century, and you're hardly one who's easy to forget.

[ Well, the flush was finally fading from her cheeks, but it's back in full force now! Not only did he acknowledge such a thing, he reassured her when he had the perfect window to knock her down. AND he finished it off with an ACTUAL compliment! She might just faint.

Fortunately, she doesn't-- but she will grip onto the lapels of his shirt, as she looks up at him with nothing but love in her eyes!! ]

I-- [ Now that she's on the receiving end of such a thing - from him, anyway - she's not entirely sure what to do. ] I think I'm ready to go.

Good. Collect whatever you need and let's go, then.

[ Removing her hands from his shirt, he makes a pointless attempt to brush it clean. Hopefully the blood will come out, otherwise he may as well toss it out. ]

I'll teleport us there so there's no issue.

[ And he'll wait for her to get what she needs and take him arm before jumping them to the clinic. Certainly news of Grell's escapades has been gossiped around the site. Pair that with a pardoned, now angel William suddenly returning and the two of them are getting quite a few looks and whispers thrown their way. Even the nurse looks a bit nervous when she comes in to greet her patients. ]

[ Grell opts to take very little, and stays close by William's side. By habit, she'll let go of him upon their arrival - as it typically would earn her a very firm elbow to the stomach otherwise; however, she's nearly shoulder-to-shoulder with him, all the while. It isn't merely the fondness that she holds for him, but... well, she can't quite pin it, other than she feels that she needs him there.

Any stares she meets are challenged with a quirk of the brow, a rise of the chin, or a dismissive pass of her gaze. She doesn't bother putting on any airs, no off-kilter grins or silly antics. It might as well be that she doesn't know these people.

Her focus seems in and out, as she processes the situation, falling into unusual silence when she's not addressed. ]

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