thedispatch | Forgiven

Must I?

[ But perhaps just because she'd due for a rough day, he sighs and follows her. It's bad enough he'll have to deal with her moods later. ]

What do you want to know then?

Everything.

[ She spares him a glance over her shoulder, and looks rather grateful to see him following her. ]

Did they have you face the God Almighty Himself? Were you able to catch a glimpse of the higher-ups, at all-- such as Michael, for example?

[ She settles into the chair placed at her vanity, placing her cup within reach while she cants her chin to look over herself in the mirror. ]

And what was Heaven, for you?

[ As Grell goes about her daily pampering routine, William speaks about his brief time in Heaven with little excitement. He's actually quite relieved when she doesn't take as long to get ready as he'd thought - also meaning they could move on to chatting about other things.

During their late lunch together, William could sense just how anxious Grell was becoming. It was still odd to see her in such a state, but it seemed far better than the one he'd found her in yesterday. Finishing up, William hurried them off to headquarters.

The meeting went as you would have expected. Plenty of scoldings and reminders that she's lucky to be given another chance. Though there were many protests from her, she was issued a medical bill for the agents she'd injured, had her scythe revoked indefinitely - without scissors to substitute this time! - and had been transferred to custodial detail. Whether or not that was better than the original plan of cafeteria worker was left up for debate, but William had insisted that putting her in the kitchen was going to bring them even more damages.

Having concluded, the two of them linger outside the higher offices, William very much ready to have that cigarette. ]

[ After the inevitable fits, Grell looks positively drained-- but not as she usually might be. Her shoulders aren't slumped, and she isn't whining for attention. The redhead simply looks-- void.

After standing there for a long and quiet moment. ]

...Will?

[ He knew none of this was going to sit well, but her current state is something entirely new. ]

Hm?

[ With a breath of resolve, she seems to be struggling at pulling herself to the present. ]

Could you-- hold my hand?

Let's return to your flat. I don't believe either of us want to be here, right now.

[ And he will take her hand, both fulfilling her request and bringing them back home, quickly. ]

[ Once they've arrived, Grell holds onto his hand with a firm desperation, and looking up at him somewhat meekly, she steps closer to lean her weight against his chest. ]

[ Being that he's let her do this twice since he returned, he allows it with no refusal. As in the first time, he places his free hand on her lower back. ]

Would apologizing help?

[ He'd admitted he felt guilty, and whether or not Grell sentences were her fault for getting out of control, or his for leaving in the first place are unclear, even in his logical mind. ]

No. [ Her response is immediate - and muffled against his chest. ]

I used to love the job. Be proud of what I was. All at once, I was left wondering why. A hundred years of going nowhere, pretending to redeem myself toward something I never really cared for.

[ She closes her eyes with a heavy sigh. ]

You're it, Will. The only reason I'd stay.

[ He's silent, not sure how to respond. He'd only ever shoved her aside when he professed her adoration of him, but he can't bring himself to do that now - he doesn't want to. Why she ever fell for him, he still can't fully understand, but he has no doubt of her sincerity anymore.

Remaining quiet, he allows his gesture of holding her a bit closer let it speak for itself. ]

[ Swallowing down the emotion that quells in her throat, she nuzzles nearer. While she knows that William won't judge her for crying, she still can't bring herself to openly do so.

It's so nice to have him near. Supportive. Or, at the least, not kicking her down when she's weak because he's just terribly guilty.

She, in turn, feels like a terrible person for continually doubting him, but it all just seems too good to be true, after so long. Perhaps fabricated by her fantasies, not all that it seems to be. She's been told that she tends to blow things out of proportion like that, after all. ]

My rock in the storm. [ She mutters, perhaps somewhat incoherently, both to remind herself and confess his importance. Her voice cracks just so. ]

[ He can't quite make out what she says. But that doesn't really matter at the moment. There's a pat to her back, indicating he'd like them to part. But, as they separate, her hand remains firmly grasped in his. ]

Today has been exhausting. Adding the uncomfortable sleep we both had, I think a nap is in order.

[ Not what Grell wanted to hear, surely. Though, she may rethink that when he leads her by hand down towards her bedroom. ]

[ Parting with William is precisely the last thing that she wishes to do; it pains her heart a bit, truly. It's surprising that he keeps her hand, but she's thankful for it, nonetheless.

The reaper can't even argue the idea of a nap given her current state, and his intentions don't even occur to her. Perhaps that he intends to shove her into bed and clean his hands of her, but nothing more. ]

I suppose I could try... but Sleep and I haven't exactly seen eye-to-eye, as of late.

[ Pulling her along, he leaves her to get some more comfortable clothing on, while he exits the room. Appearing to have left her to sleep herself, he reemerges, now clad in his own pajamas. He climbs into Grell's bed, immediately noting how much more comfortable it is. Perhaps he should have chosen this as his sleep spot last night, after all. ]

Hopefully you will sleep better with me beside you.

[ Indeed, Grell had assumed just that! Having removed her makeup and changed into her sleeping clothes, she'd just crawled into bed, herself - and so, she sits there in bed, hands clutching at the covers with her mouth agape, just watching William making himself comfortable! ]

Will--♥

[ Her words are carried on the most delighted gasp. Teeth pressed into her lower lip, she wiggles nearer so that she can snuggle herself down onto his shoulder with a croon~ ]

[ William shifts around, managing to get his arm wrapped around her shoulder. The covers are pulled around them snugly. ]

I do really wish to get some sleep, though. You need to, as well, so don't let your excitement keep you up.

[ Draping an arm across William's middle, the redhead is simply flushed with glee. To say that she's excited would be an understatement at this point, as she's not just sleeping beside the other, but cuddling with him-- AND it was his idea! ]

Sleep sounds divine, but-- my heart is beating rather quickly.

[ Closing her eyes, she attempts to simply relax. It will certainly be a challenge. ]

I'm sure you understand how happy this makes me.

I think anyone could have figured that out, by this point.

[ He shifts a bit more, not used to having someone curl up with him in a long time, but eventually he finds just the right spot on the pillow. A pleasant sigh is heard. ]

This is rather relaxing. I will admit to that much.

[ A faint wince shows in Grell's eyes when she shifts, to allow him some wiggle room-- just long enough for him to get comfortable and stop moving, anyway. She's echoing his sigh, once they're both settled. ]

That's surprising... You've never been one too keen on physical affection.

[ It seems he's right, though? It's so comfortable that she can feel herself beginning to drift off already. She's rather shocked, herself! ]

Perhaps because I initiated it this time.

[ It also helps that their responsibilities are done for the day. There's no deadlines, just the rest of the day to themselves. It's been coming his way for a long time.

With a final shift of his hips he closes his eyes, completely content in this moment. ]

Mn. [ She nuzzles into his shoulder once more, now that they've finally found all the right positions! It feels heavenly. William's arm even keeps her from laying entirely on her side, preventing her from curling her chest painfully... so perfect! ]

I hope you'll initiate more often... I do enjoy it . . . [ A sleepy sigh, as she begins to doze. ]

We'll see.

[ Giving her hope, for once, William follows along into his own slumber. So long as Grell doesn't shift about too much, he could probably sleep straight through dinner time. ]

[ You see, Grell hasn't been sleeping very well for the past several weeks; restless, a few hours at a time. Now that she has William beside her, she's more relaxed than she's been in a long while. He's physically there, his scent, his warmth-- it lulls her into a dead slumber, on which she won't budge.

However, once he begins to stir, her lashes flutter just so, and she mutters unintelligably, burying her face against his neck with a breathy sigh. She's managed to wrap her leg around his, clinging to his torso as though he's some sort of life preserver!! ]

[ Even if he'd climbed into Grell's bed on his own, that doesn't keep him from looking groggily around her bedroom, initially confused. And when he feels her face against his neck, he shudders slightly, not expecting the sensitive skin to be touched. Give him a moment, though, and he'll start to recall things. ]

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