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 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. ]

[death_glare]

Hm.

[ He hums as though the thought had never occurred to him, but made quite a bit of sense now that he heard it. ]

I think her persistence played into it, as well. Perhaps something I favoured in you, despite complaining about it on the regular.

[untodeath]

[ Well, that earns a bit of a wry smile, being compared to the other woman-- and yet, she knows it to be a good thing. A compliment, nearly! ]

It would be like you to deny another lady....

[death_glare]

[ Grell's comment, however, gets a decent frown from him. One that almost makes him look saddened. ]

I wasn't meaning to deny either of you.

[untodeath]

[ The redhead can't ever recall seeing sadness like that in him, and quite nearly flinches for it pains her heart so! Immediately, she reaches out to encircle his shoulders, pulling him to her chest, where she cradles his head. ]

Not like that, my darling! I didn't mean it, I'm sorry! [ She kisses the top of his head with a sad little croon! ]

[death_glare]

[ The sensation of having someone holding him this way - cradling and comforting him with tiny gestures of affection - it's something he can hardly recall his last memory of. That cold, icy out shell of his melts near instantly, and he lets himself rest limply against Grell's chest.

It feels nice. Like something he's needed for a long time. ]

I should be apologising, not you.

[untodeath]

[ Such a reaction surprises her just as much; however, this time, her heart overflows with affection. She would blame maternal longing, perhaps, but she certainly doesn't mind continuing to coddle him in such a way.

Brushing his loose bangs away, she tenderly traces her fingers along his temples and along his cheekbones. ]

You needn't apologise for anything any longer, my love. It's in the past.

[death_glare]

[ Christine had said much the same to him when he saw her. It was all the held back emotion that spilt from him that finally had him feel release over his past.

Grell's words do much the same, but rather than tears welling up in his eyes, he closes them with a calm sigh. The cigarette is left to fall from his fingers, no longer needed. ]

Can we continue this back home, in bed?

[untodeath]

[ Nestling her nose into his hair, she finds herself able to relax with him, lashes lowering to flutter over her cheeks. ]

Mm. You know I'd like nothing more.

[death_glare]

[ It only takes a moment for them to teleport, landing with a soft thump atop the mattress. Who needs to bother with front doors when you're already nestled so nicely together. Certainly, William could stand, remove his shoes and get into something far more comfortable. Instead, he's draping an arm across Grell's chest, face content to stay in the crook of her neck. ]

[untodeath]

[ Its with a soft sound of surprise, merely by reflex, that she plops back against the pillows. Chuckling in spite of herself, she readjusts her hold on William just so, fingers raking through his hair while tucking his head back against her.

Once settled, she crosses her legs over at the ankles, closing her eyes and heaving a content sigh. ]

Are you comfortable with telling me more? Or do you need just this for a while longer?

[death_glare]

I'm alright.

[ But he's comfortable, and the fingers against his scalp feels nice, so he'll remain where he is. ]

I need to be alright with this.

[untodeath]

[ The reaper's fingertips play through the tips of his hair and trace down his neck. ]

If that's what you feel, my darling, tell me when you're ready.

[death_glare]

I certainly feel more at ease than I ever had as a reaper.

[ And then he's quiet for a bit, thinking over everything he's been through, both present and long in the past. It's long enough that Grell may have thought he'd drifted to sleep. But eventually his voice sounds again, soft and contemplative. ]

Perhaps it's good that the sorrow doesn't go away entirely.

[untodeath]

[ Indeed, she had, but her affections had never ceased - her hand merely stills for a moment, as she takes in those words. ]

Oh? [ She smiles, for she agrees - and yet, she can't help but inquire further. ] Why is that, mn?

[death_glare]

I would hate to look back on it all and smile, as if it was all okay and never hurt. It would be dishonest, and almost mocking.

[ There's an exhausted sounding sigh. ]

Or do I sound foolish?