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]

[ The reaper's squeak of delighted surprise gives way to laughter, as she reflexively drapes an arm behind his back. ]

My Hero~♡

[ Well, that's the last of the Southern drawl, as she cups her free hand to his cheek and steals a kiss! There's a bit more giggling against his lips, though. ]

[death_glare]

[ As she kisses him, there's flash of heavenly light that surrounds them! Radiant white wings emerge from William's back, and the dreary London sky seems to brighten with the angel's presence. ]

Stop it with that, you sound ridiculous.

[ The iridescent feathers flutter as the wings stretch out to their full length. Then with barely a push from the ground, they're up, rising with each beat of his wings. ]

[untodeath]

[ The flash brings a gasp, and she reflexively clings to him just a little tighter. Watching with wonder, her heart pounds in her chest.

Angels had always been considered something of a spectacle, in the reaper world. Their turned their eyes away from the beauty of their forms, instead choosing to sneer at their status, mock them. Perhaps they've been wrong to do so.

No, even so, she can't imagine she'd ever feel this sort of admiration for any other.

Though she parts her lips to respond, she can only cry out with excitement for a good moment! It's quite different from springing across the rooftops, as she's so accustomed to. A weightlessness. ]

Is this always what it's like?!

[death_glare]

Hm. It's such a contrast to the gloom that surrounds us as reapers. I'm not certain I'll ever grow accustomed to it.

[ Despite the wings beating, there's no effort being exerted on William's part. It is truly like being weightless, simply floating like the slowly parting clouds. The sun peeks through, casting a spotlight upon them as they drift calmly over the cathedral. ]

[untodeath]

[ It does take a moment to get used to, certainly. The air gushing over her skin, the sunlight in her eyes-- but after closing them for a moment, and taking a steadying breath, she recalls the security in his arms, feels his warmth, and it doesn't seem so bad anymore. She begins to take comfort in the sensations - and then, of course, there's the sights that meet them. ]

It's incredible... [ She exclaims breathlessly. ]

[death_glare]

It is.

[ Even he has to agree to that. Odd as it may be, his soul feels so light in this form. It was a blissfulness he was almost afraid to experience, as if he'd lose himself entirely. But instead, he feels as he was always meant to - at peace. Happy. ]

[untodeath]

Mn, it's a wonder that you'd ever come down. Even the sky seems to welcome you home.

[ Suddenly, it all seems so bittersweet. She's sighing whilst leaning over to peer down at the specks of humanity below. ]

If this is a hint at what being an Angel Of Heaven is like, I hate to think that I might be the reason keeping him from it-- and yet, I couldn't have it any other way, you know? Truly. I'd have perished without you.

[death_glare]

I know you would have.

[ As they cross over the bridge, the clouds part with them, never once leaving them in shadow. ]

As perfect a setting as Heaven's meant to be, the one thing keeping me from experiencing true peace was still here. That's why I became your guardian angel.

[untodeath]

[ As beautiful as the scenery is, Grell finds herself looking at William, now. ]

It's a shame that we never found one another in life. It's clear to me that this is how it was always meant to be.

[death_glare]

[ With her attention on him, he leaves them to hover there in the brightened sky, his wings beating in a slow and steady rhythm. ]

I would have thought you'd prefer it this way. It's far more dramatic, even more romantic.

[untodeath]

Oh, it absolutely is. Why do you think I'm so positively obsessed?

[ Her hinds find their way to his face, and she leans in close, just a breath away from his lips. ]

You know I'd relive that misery a thousand times, if it meant I could rejoin you like this. It's mere musings, my love.

[death_glare]

[ His stern features soften just a bit and he glances away from her gaze. ]

I can't say the same. Not entirely. But, I believe we would have met in some way, regardless of what we'd been subject to in life.

[ With a sigh, he looks back to her. ]

I suppose I have to admit to believing in fate and soulmates, now.

[untodeath]

[ Ah, well, that briefly has her gaze falling with sadness, but she nods, regardless. Even manages to perk up a little at his latter admittance. ]

All it took was Heaven to spell it out for you.

[death_glare]

Yes, you've made it quite clear over the years that you believe I'm stubborn.

[ Though he can't really deny it, especially now. ]

[untodeath]

[ That gets her to chuckle with a shake of her head. ]

It's more than that; I know it.

[ Pulling away just so, she settles her arms against his chest, looking out to the bridge over the river. The air is much cooler here, and she briefly closes her eyes to breathe it in. ]

[death_glare]

You should also know that I could drop you at any moment.

[ Ah the teasing and bickering. He hates to admit how comforting it is to him. ]

[untodeath]

[ It proves to better her lowered mood, as well; she's got a lopsided little grin on her lips, when she turns to shoot him a glance. ]

Please, Will. I've already fallen for you!

[death_glare]

[ The pun gets him to consider actually dropping her. But, he decides against it, tucking the idea away for a time she's truly irritating him. ]

That one was terrible. Now, is there anything else you'd wish to fly over, or are you satisfied for the day?

[untodeath]

If you're offering...

[ Gaze drifting to the clouds, she puts some thought into it, perhaps more than either of them were expecting. ]

Your home. Do you remember it?

[death_glare]

Of course. Though, I've avoided the area as much as I could, handing most of the assignments there off to the lot of you.

[ But, perhaps it's time to push past that fear. With a forceful beat of his wings, he rounds back over the bridge, heading south to where the decently well-off would have lived at the time. As he reaches the townhouse, he descends, carefully landing them before the mid-sized building. He sets Grell down on her feet, his face expressionless as he scans the building front. ]

[untodeath]

[ Grell looks up at it with some wonder, ascending the steps to take a closer look. It's clearly been remodelled over the years, but it seems to have the same bones, as it aligns with its neighbouring homes. ]

Your family, what was it like?

[death_glare]

[ It takes him a moment, as if he's replaying his mortal life in his mind. Viewing his own record. ]

Which? My parents or wife and child?

[untodeath]

All of them, silly.

[ Placing her hand on its door, she peeks back to shoot him a grin. ]

Tell me, how did you grow up? Where did you meet your wife?

[death_glare]

[ Honestly surprised at her wanting to know the last bit, he concedes. He retracts his wings and takes a seat on the stoop of the building. ]

I was an only child, so my mother was basically my closest friend. She gave me a lot of attention, but I never found it easy to be social with others. Her relationship with my father was fairly strained, as he was always working. A trait I regrettably inherited despite how much I wish he'd been around.

[ He's fairly monotone as he recalls, and he reaches into his coat pocket to retrieve his cigarettes. ]

I ended up in the banking field as he was, perhaps hoping to be around him more. But, by that point, I don't think I even knew what to say to him anymore.

[ He lights one, taking a long puff before letting the smoke out in a slow exhale. ]

It's a wonder Christine ever got me to open up.

[untodeath]

[ Grell lowers herself to take a seat beside him, nearly shoulder-to-shoulder. To his recollection of his mother, she smiles, although her expression is replaced with something of sympathy as he continues.

Resting against the door, her eyes trace the skyline between the buildings. ]

Perhaps she reminded you of your mother? That's how it goes, I hear. [ A chuckle. ]