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

[untodeath]

[ With a tilt of the head, she quietly reads his eyes for a moment before sighing with a lopsided little smile. ]

Says the angel. [ A short chuckle. ] Really, you've finally overcome the worst of it. Be kinder to yourself-- and save the aggression for me.

[death_glare]

I was comparing my mortal self to being a reaper.

[ There's a huff at her being correct. ]

Mostly I hardly remember I am now an angel. I'm still so unused to the idea.

[untodeath]

[ A soft hum of understanding sounds past her lips. ]

You're still my William.

[death_glare]

That, I'm certainly not unused to hearing. Though now I suppose it's true.

[ He relaxes more, turning his gaze to the canopy of the bed and sighing rather pleasantly. ]

Did you have any other questions? From our earlier little game, that is.

[untodeath]

What a silly question.

[ Well, if he will be looking off elsewhere, she'll just stretch her arms over him comfortably, cheek nuzzling against his chest. The smell of him is just divine. ]

I want to know everything about you.

[ Breathing another contemplative hum, though, clearly formulating one. ]

Now that you know-- when did you first have feelings for me? Hmmnn~?

[death_glare]

I first realized it when I was speaking with Christine. When it actually started is another matter. [ He thinks for a moment. ]
Perhaps the first time you got yourself in trouble with upper management and I chose to bail you out.

[untodeath]

[ A huff, albeit good-natured. ]

So when your ex told you, in other words.

[ Okay, she can't help but grin a bit at that. ]

You know, I can't even recall what I'd been in trouble for, but I do know that I'd been positively astonished that you took that chance... Mn. You always made me feel cared for, in a way. Might've been the first. It was nice.

[death_glare]

Perhaps you should write her a note of gratitude.

[ As if it were even possible. ]

I told our superiors, and myself I suppose, that you were more too good a field agent to do without. Certainly not worthless, as you'd put it earlier. A headache, yes, but worth the trouble in the end.

[untodeath]

[ Yeah, no. Not possible, and not gonna happen. Grell rolls her eyes, at that-- but then, the latter takes her attention, and she's just moved so much by his words. They may seem simple, but to her, they're anything but.

Her chest rises and falls with a quiet breath. ]

Thank you, my love.

[ But just as quickly, she forces some of that humour back into her tone! Can't get all weepy now!! ]

Though, I still hope there was truth to it. I held a great deal of pride in that, you know!

[death_glare]

[ There's a simple nod at her thanks. At least he was able to get that bit of gratitude from her. ]

Do you know me to make up stories simply to get my way? Of course it's true. And they must have believed so, as well, seeing as my requests were honored.

[ Though, not this time. But the consequences were far higher this time, so in his opinion they came out on top regardless of Grell's demotion. ]

[untodeath]

[ With a begrudgingly agreeable sound, she reaches up to pet a knuckle along his chin. ]

You're right, I suppose... [ And then, a boop! ] Your turn!

[ You bet she's going to change the subject, because it's a very awkward feeling to suddenly not know what to say, and she definitely doesn't know what to say to positive reinforcement. It isn't as though it happens in... ever! ]

[death_glare]

[ It's easy enough to sense that awkwardness, so he lets the subject be. But, as he already knows the exact moment Grell fell for him, he has to come up with another question. He thinks on it a bit, but finally comes up with something. ]

If you were to change one thing about me, what would you choose?

[untodeath]

[ With an upward twitch of her brow, Grell picks herself up just so. ]

Oh! That's a good one!

[ Already knowing that she's going to need it, she crawls over him to grab one of those glasses one wine. ]

The thing is, even if you lack a sense of fashion, I don't know that I'd necessarily change that about you... it's a bit endearing, finding that flaw...

[ She ends up gradually muttering into her glass as she raises it to her lips for a sip. A long one. She's clearly struggling. ] Your self deprecation. Even if you're just as beautiful in your sadness, it just... [ She licks over her lips. ] Doesn't sit as well with me, I suppose.

[death_glare]

[ Even though he'd asked, he's still frowning at her answer. He'll own up to the fashion one, but the other has him grabbing for his own wine. ]

What about depression is beautiful? Besides, that has improved greatly since being forgiven. [ He takes a sip before correcting himself. ] Or returning here, more so.

[untodeath]

[ She holds out an index, gesturing to hold, that she'll be addressing his first point. ]

It's not a simple answer, but it's that sense of relation. Its knowing that pure bliss can only be experienced once facing despair-- and wishing to hold the one in suffering... [ With a roll of her hand, she moves on. ] And you are consistently blaming yourself, William. Your habits haven't ceased entirely, apparently.

[death_glare]

[ His frown only increases as she explains. ]

What logical sense does that make? Happiness is hardly derived from despair.

[ He'll reach out and move that hand down from his view of her. ]

I said they had only improved, if you'd payed attention. Honestly, you can't expect that feeling to simply disappear. Angel or not.

[untodeath]

[ She gives him a look, pushing at his hand to splay it, so that she may thread her fingers with his. ]

Now who is misunderstanding? [ A huff, as she gives his hand a squeeze! ] You asked what I would change, and I would have you love yourself more. Not later, but now! How does that make you angry?

[death_glare]

[ Since he'd obviously steered the topic elsewhere he huffs and sips at his drink. ]

Well, as I said, it isn't simple. Though, I wouldn't mind that changing, either.

[untodeath]

[ With a quirk of the brow, she nods. ]

If it were simple, we wouldn't be here, now, would we?

[ She kisses at his knuckles, before allowing him freedom... and she also takes the opportunity to grab a strawberry off the platter. ]

Now, same question for you.

[ She's preparing for this one, glass held at the ready whilst nibbling away at her sweet. There will surely be a list! ]

[death_glare]

[ He opens his mouth to start doing just that, but resorts to taking a few short sips of wine. This may be harder than it initially seemed. ]

Many of the things I would have listed a month ago don't seem to apply quite so much anymore. You've tamed yourself decently enough, and I've come to accept many of your attributes.

[ Goodness, is he really stumped on a question that should have such easy answer! ]

[untodeath]

[ Grell has to forgo a second bite of that strawberry, as she's too busy gawking, instead. Did she just hear any of that right? ]

You--... I... [ Wait. Her brow furrows! ] Tamed?

[death_glare]

Yes. You've been surprisingly respectful towards me since I returned.

[ Ah, but what complaint is she going to have against his word choice. ]

[untodeath]

What, you mean that you don't have to throttle me over incomplete paperwork anymore?

[ Because she doesn't really see what he means, otherwise... oops!

But that amused little grin plucking at her lips droops all too quickly, recalling that precise work that triggered her initial reaction. ]

Tamed, though! Please tell me that doesn't mean I've become boring!

[death_glare]

The moment you become boring is the moment Knox settles down with a woman.

[ He joins Grell in nabbing some fruit from the platter. The green stem is meticulously removed from the strawberry before he takes a bite. ]

[untodeath]

[ With a blink, a corner of her mouth twitches upward with a snicker. Apparently appeased, she takes the final bite if her own strawberry, setting the stem aside on the platter. ]

Well, alright, you flatterer. You still can't tell me that there isn't one thing you'd change, with how crazy I drive you.