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]

We've both been rather good at holding in our true emotions, haven't we?

[ Grell's hands are removed from his waist, but he keeps hold of them as he teleports them to the cafeteria. Letting go, he approaches the counter, reading the offerings for the day. ]

You should get something small and eat it on your way to the janitorial office. We wasted quite a bit of time getting here.

[untodeath]

[ Grell's eyes stay on his, even as he releases her hands-- positively lovestruck. Even taking that small gesture to the public, however brief, has her heart fluttering like mad. ]

Mn, that's the plan♥. [ She joins his side, knuckles brushing the underside of her chin as she looks over their options. ] But you should enjoy your meal before getting yourself into negotiations with the housing department. You might need it!

[death_glare]

[ There's a nod as he approaches the counter. He takes Grell's suggestion, opting for the full breakfast platter and a cup of black coffee. ]

Choose what you want then. I should get a payment today so I'll have them add it to my tab for this afternoon.

[untodeath]

[ Grell beams, chipper when ordering-- though, instead of giving thanks to the worker behind the counter, she spins to plant a kiss on William's cheek! ]

Thank you, my love!

[ She accepts the items handed to her over the counter, affording them a more forced sort of smile. ]

I'm already looking forward to spending lunch together. My day will be so dreary without you.

[death_glare]

[ While she previously would have gotten a shove for that kiss (at minimum!) all he tosses her is a warning look. His own tray is taken from the worker and he scans the room for an empty seat. Having his former coworkers whispering about them is irritating enough, so he certainly doesn't want to deal with any questions. ]

Get going. And I don't want to hear of any complaints from your new boss.

[untodeath]

[ The warning look has her teeth pressing into her bottom lip as she grins! ]

You're the only boss I'll ever honour, Sir.

[ And with a wink, Grell is off, sipping at her iced coffee with an indulgent hum.

The next he sees her at lunch, she's already found herself a seat, cheek smooshed up in a palm as she rests into it tiredly. She doesn't even notice William at first-- but when she does catch sight of him, she perks right up, eyes alight! ]

Wiiilll♥~ [ Surprisingly, though, she doesn't shout it! Must be tired! ]

[death_glare]

Then behave and do your job properly.

[ Though she's already off as he's giving instruction.

Lunch time having arrived, William approaches the table with his own coffee and pastry in hand. Not the best of lunch choices, but being an angel has its perks. Completely ignoring Grell's crooning of his name he stops before her, not bothering to take a seat. ]

Get up. We're eating elsewhere.

[untodeath]

[ Grell hasn't grabbed food for herself, as of yet, so it's all too easy for her to hop up at his command! She loops her arms around one of his to hug it to her chest, briefly nuzzling into his shoulder. ]

Gladly. Where do you have in mind?

[death_glare]

Get something first. I'm not giving you mine.

[ He shakes his arm to get her to let go. Gently, as he doesn't want to spill his coffee. ]

[untodeath]

[ Though she may release him from her hug, Grell still keeps a hand in the crook of his arm to tug him along-- and she briefly sticks her tongue out at him, on the way! ]

Stingyyy♥ I'll be getting a real meal, though, just so you know. I'm starving.

[death_glare]

[ He follows along, rather grumpy that he can't sip his drink with her latched onto him. ]

I should think so, considering all you had was coffee for breakfast.

[untodeath]

[ Once they're finally in line, she shoots him a sly little grin. ]

Worth it, I think.

[ Grell opts for a sandwich, salad, muffin, water, AND a large coffee-- intending to take the coffee and pastry to go, if she isn't hungry enough to scarf it down right away.

With a full platter, she turns to William, beaming. She's really SO excited for this food. ]

Lead the way~♥

[death_glare]

[ Well, he wasn't expecting quite that much, so he eyes the overflowing tray with a frown before shaking his head and sighing. But then he's off, leading her out of the cafeteria, down towards the back of the main building and out one of the rear doors, which he holds open for her. There's a narrow stone path that leads around the building, ending at a rather secluded sitting area. There's no one else about and even any windows to the courtyard are fairly obscured by flowering buses. William takes a seat at the metal table, a convenient large lawn umbrella providing a nice amount of shade. ]

This is where I would come to eat, when I wasn't taking my lunch in my office.

[untodeath]

[ Breathing a sigh of wonder, Grell is quick to set down her tray so she can turn to take in the sight of it all. ]

You know, I recall stumbling across this place once or twice, but I never would have thought of it otherwise...

[ Finally sliding into the bench, she turns to him with a smitten little smile. ]

Mm, well, something like this is best shared, in any case♥.

[death_glare]

To think I would come here to escape you. And now I'm bringing you along here, willingly.

[ How times have changed. He'll let her get situated and begin her meal before the reaches into his coat pocket to retrieve something. He tosses it on the only free spot on her tray.

It's a key to their new flat. ]

[untodeath]

[ For a split second, she's perplexed, brows furrowing as she observes this non-food object on her platter. It's a very shiny key, indeed, but she can't see why he'd feel the need to--

OH.

Joy flooding into her features, she picks it up, holding it as though she's been presented with the most precious gift. ]

You got it?!

[ Surely, William has taken precaution and set aside his coffee by now, as he's anticipated how she'll fling herself at him, arms about his waist and cheek to his chest. ]

I was certain they'd make us wait forever--!

[death_glare]

[ Thankfully he's known Grell long enough that he takes that precaution before even retrieving the key. ]

Seems they have a few two-room flats available. Not as many couples about, at the moment, I suppose.

[ He'll let her cling for a bit, but if it lasts too long, he'll pry her off himself so they can eat. ]

[untodeath]

[ Sitting herself upright a bit more, she cups his cheek with a purring hum, buzzling at his nose. ]

And what did you say? That I'll need a close watch?

[death_glare]

Honestly, that is a given.

[ The attention to his nose gets him to scrunch it up and pull back slightly. ]

I told them we've become romantically involved and would like to live together. They seemed to find that humorous.

[untodeath]

[ Grell watches him, seemingly love drunk with endearment-- until he gives his reasoning! She pulls back this time, brows raised with shock. ]

You didn't--

[ Except this is William, and he's only just begun to develop his sense of humour; it certainly hasn't advanced THAT far.

Also, he's always been rather blunt, to say the least. She'd just thought that, with his reservations regarding physical affection and public displays... Well, that he might be embarrassed, or something like that.

The progression of thought shows on her features, from deducing to something of awe-stricken. ]

[death_glare]

I told them if they had issue they could sod right off. Honestly, I didn't return here, doing them an immense favour, simply to be mocked.

[ He definitely seems irritated by it, if the tone of his voice can say anything about it. ]

[untodeath]

[ There's a pang of guilt in her chest, at first-- she's subjected him to something that caused her great grievance, once upon a time; something that she's already conditioned herself to brush off, over two lifetimes! Now he's to deal with it...

Ah, but then the aggression triggers back, the corner of her lips twitching! ]

Rightly so--! Just what did they say to you, my darling?

[death_glare]

Well, they certainly didn't contain any snickering. One of them even had enough gal to say I could have saved them the hassle if I'd admitted it sooner.

[ Perhaps the man was right, but that doesn't mean it's an appropriate comment to make. ]

I made it quite clear to him that his own sufferings meant nothing to me.

[untodeath]

[ Ah. Ah, that does make her anger subside just so. While, yes, that sort of commentary certainly isn't professional, it isn't quite as derogatory as she'd assumed. ]

Mn, and I bet you looked quite sexy when you did... [ She melts against him, nails tracing above where his collar meets his neck. ] So that was that, then? No-- mentions of buggery, or-- something as antiquated as such?

[death_glare]

I stopped him before he was foolish enough to continue.

[ With his usual huff he breaks a piece of of his scone, dipping it briefly in his coffee before partaking. ]

I hope you haven't gone swooning to everyone about our private time together.