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]

You have been teasing me since we first met. I believe it's about time I try to return the favor.

[ With the next scoop of water, William makes an attempt to avoid it running down her face. ]

I'm succeeding with it then?

[untodeath]

[ Much better! He even gets a giggle out of her, too. ]

Succeeding with what, teasing me?

[ Running her hands back through her hair, she shifts to turn enough so that she may kiss his cheek. ]

Yes. And just about everything else, too.

[death_glare]

Good. Not a mediocre student anymore, then. Which I remember you were quite offended by when we first met.

[ Done with her hair, he rinses the bubbles from his hands before resettling against the back of the basin. ]

[untodeath]

Well, as it turns out, you just required some inspiration.

[ She says, grasping at the edges of the tub so that she might turn to face him. Such requires her to slide her knees down along the outside of his thighs, instead. ]

Your turn, darling. What shall you have me wash?

[death_glare]

You kicked me in the chest. How else was I meant to deal with that?

[ Looking to the wall of bottles, once more, he picks out one he'd decided to try earlier that week. ]

Wash my hair, as well.

[untodeath]

[ Grell hums with approval at the choice, before setting it aside. First, she'll tilt his head back with care, so that she may pour handfuls of water through his hair. ]

Most would cower and apologise to me for being a nuisance. Some would curse under their breath but fall in line. You were different, though, weren't you?

[ Pouring some product into her hands, she takes a moment to disperse it between her palms before threading her fingers through his locks. ]

[death_glare]

There was no reason to apologise as I'd done nothing wrong. And you certainly weren't in a place to be commanding my actions. It was the only logical response, in my opinion.

[ His eyes close, enjoying the warmth of the water and the way her nails rake across his scalp. ]

[untodeath]

[ That earns a crooked grin. Still, once she's ensured she's evenly distributed the shampoo, she begins massaging it into his scalp, gently using her nails in circular motions to lather it up. ]

Dynamics change with enough power and confidence. I thought it interesting that such things didn't have much effect on you.

[death_glare]

Am I the only one you've found to not fear you, in the slightest?

[ The question ends with a slow, calm exhale. He really should have her wash his hair more often. ]

[untodeath]

[ She gives a contemplative, though mildly disinterested hum! ]

Or make nervous, at the very least.

[death_glare]

I believe the only time you've made me nervous was after I told you I was leaving.

[untodeath]

[ That issues pause! ]

You didn't think I was going to hurt you, did you?

[death_glare]

[ He frowns, apparently confused by her question. ]

No. Why would I think that?

[untodeath]

[ She blinks whilst mirroring his frown, head tilting. ]

Then why were you nervous?

[death_glare]

Your reaction. I expected it to be loud and violent, but it was the exact opposite. I thought I'd broken you, for lack of a better term.

[untodeath]

[ Her expression slacks a bit, as she recalls that moment. With all that's happened between them, she'd briefly forgotten, and perhaps healed a bit from it. It feels a bit like ripping a bandage away from a wound to take a look. ]

Hmn. Well. I suppose I had, in a way.

[death_glare]

[ There's a hum and he looks down to the water, recalling it, as well. ]

I am sorry.

[ He looks up, realizing he hadn't said so until now. Apologies aren't something he gives out often, so it's sincerity is apparent. ]

[untodeath]

[ Grell's lips twinge into a half-smile, and she leans in to place a kiss upon his lips softly. ]

I've already forgiven you.

[death_glare]

[ He nods, lightly and gives her a kiss in return. ]

You know, I something occurred to me the other day, while you were at work.

[ This talk of their past and all made him remember. ]

[untodeath]

[ That gets Grell to blink at him curiously! Also, she realises that she can strain those suds from his hair, now. Oops. ]

Ah~? What's that?

[death_glare]

That novel Thomas Wallace had written -

[ He's expecting her to remember the kid's name, despite it being so long ago. ]

It has come true, in a way.

[untodeath]

[ It does take her a moment, as it's been so long since the name has been spoken, but the recognition shows in her eyes once it clicks. ]

What makes you say that? I remember it being a story of you with some other woman. [ A brow quirks high in scepticism, but she's also smiling. ]

[death_glare]

Well yes, my love interest in the story was not you. However, in terms of giving up everything in order to save the one I'd fallen for, you fit that role quite perfectly.

[untodeath]

[ Shoulders falling with a sigh, her wrists lower to rest on his shoulders briefly, as a lopsided smile settles on her lips. ]

Mm. I suppose you're right. You sacrificed eternal happiness for me... [ Which, suddenly, seems quite sad. Maybe she's just gotten herself into a mood. ] This version is better, in any case. I am a more intriguing love interest than some frail mortal woman.

[death_glare]

I'm not certain I even know what eternal happiness would have been for me there. But, I know that I am happy now.

[ With a tug at her forearms, he gets her to lean against his chest. ]

And you are more intriguing than anyone I've met, in any of my three lives.