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]

[ Grell bats her lashes at him, humming appreciatively into her tea, as he takes her plate. ]

It was merely for aesthetic before you came along.

[ Ah, but earning more of William's tea has her excitedly finishing hers off, to leave the cup for him. ]

I'll do what I can, darling!

[ And with that, she teleports off - because walking is not the most favorable alternative, at present!

Once William makes his way to the sitting room, he'll find that she's layered her fluffiest blankets over the couch and topped it with a spare quilt, grabbed their pillows from the bed, and left a throw for them to share. There also appears to be a stack of books on the coffee table, and though she's mainly collected books of sonnets and eulogies, there's a murder mystery or two in the mix.

Easing herself onto the couch with a dissatisfied tick of her tongue, she pushes her hands into the added layers of cushioning whilst muttering to herself. ]

[death_glare]

[ Two cups of tea in hand, William rounds the side of the couch, fairly surprised with how many blankets she had in the tiny flat. ]

Is there an issue?

[ He opts to set her tea on the side table since she doesn't seem to have settled enough to take it from him. ]

[untodeath]

It's better, but I suppose one can only do so much to add comfort to a rock.

[ Her face softens looking up at him, though. ]

Everything should be at the fireplace, love.

[death_glare]

Would setting the blankets up on the floor prove better?

[ That says a lot for how uncomfortable the couch really is. He leaves his tea beside Grell's, moving to the fireplace to set some logs on the hearth. They're lit, the fire's glow setting a cozy mood to the room. ]

[untodeath]

[ With a blink, the readhead's teeth press into her lip with a grin! ]

I think it would, now that you mention it. Much better.

[ It also seems terribly romantic! So, of course, she's keen to pull up all of her work and drag it onto the floor! ]

[death_glare]

[ He stands there watching as Grell puts in great effort to set the cushioning up just right. And once it seems she's satisfied, he takes a seat next to her. She's done quite well, as he only adjusts the pillow behind himself once. ]

Grab the tea before you get comfortable.

[untodeath]

[ Face alight with satisfaction at seeing William pleased, she hums in affirmation to do just that. Except she reaaaches to grab their cups, instead of getting up. Her hips are undoubtedly less stiff than when she woke, but they still smart a bit! ]

Here you are♥ [ And once she's handed William's off, she snuggles in close to lean against his shoulder! ]

[death_glare]

[ He watches her with a frown as she stiffly fetches their tea. And once she's settled, he still refrains in taking a sip. ]

Did I honestly hurt you that badly?

[untodeath]

[ At his stillness, Grell curiously peers up at him. ]

Hn? What, did you think I was lying, Will? Yes!

[ But with that said, she's breaking into a grin. ]

It was perfect.

[death_glare]

I don't believe I will ever understand that aspect of your personality.

[ But he's not complaining, either. Still, there's concern in his features, something that had never been there all the previous years of abuse he'd inflicted upon Grell. ]

[untodeath]

No? [ That concern catches her rather off-guard, and she finds herself craning to nuzzle beneath his jaw, in some form of comfort. ] Did you not enjoy yourself?

[death_glare]

I did. However, I wouldn't derive pleasure from receiving pain, myself.

[ He doesn't think, at least. Still, Grell's question leaves him a bit unsure. He'd certainly gotten off to seeing her so vulnerable, but now he was almost feeling guilty for treating her in such a way. He's not certain if that's to do with him now being an angel or a feeling that goes along with loving someone.

Whichever it may be, for now he's slinking his free arm around her shoulder, holding her close. ]

[untodeath]

[ A chuckle, as the reaper closes her eyes with a content sigh. ]

I wouldn't expect it of you, my dear. It's quite different, I'd say, though both function as fabulous outlets, in their own right.

[death_glare]

[ He hums. ]

I don't believe I'd feel right treating you in such a way, should you become female one day.

[ He pauses, now not certain if that should apply now or not. Perhaps he's thinking over the topic a bit too much, as he's gotten himself confused. ]

[untodeath]

[ Silent for a moment, Grell glances up at him, gauging him. ]

It's not a simple matter, and not one that many can wrap their minds around, let alone accept. Don't fret.

[ A sigh. ]

But, you see, I've always been female. It's not something that I was physically born with, but I knew it, deep in my soul.

[death_glare]

Yes, that's what got me to pause.

[ He shakes his head. ]

I suppose to me, you are just Grell. And whatever that entails. You're unique, that's for certain. And I think, by now, it's obvious that I fancy it all.

[untodeath]

[ There's the faintest can't to her brow, seemingly surprised that he had taken such a thing into consideration. ]

That's all I could ever want, really. [ Okay, she might even sound a bit choked up about it! ] I love you, Will. Unlike anyone I've loved before.

[death_glare]

[ Getting her to feel so happy brings a calm, sort-of almost there smile to William's features. It's certainly nice to know he's doing things right, for a change.

Rubbing at her shoulder as acknowledgement of her words, he sips slowly at his tea, hoping to mask that bit of smile. ]

Were you wanting to read? You laid out quite a few books.

[untodeath]

[ Just as William hides his smile, she swallows down that emotion and blinks back the mist in her eyes. ]

Yes. [ She will gladly take that subject change, thanks! Sitting up, she turns to grab the topmost one off the stack. ] I thought it might be nice. There's not much variety in my collection, but I figure you might enjoy a good tale of mystery?

[death_glare]

Murder mystery, I assume?

[ The book is taken from her and he thumbs it open to see if the title gives any indication, as the cover is a bit worn and not quite as easy to read. ]

[untodeath]

[ With a chuckle, she grabs one for herself, as well - whatever it just so happens to be. ]

But of course. That one has quite the interesting twist, you'll find.

[ Laying hers out before her, she takes in the title whilst sipping at her tea, humming in approval. ]

[death_glare]

[ He's slightly intrigued, and flips forward to the first chapter. The fire crackles softly as they sit reading their respective books. It isn't too long before William's engulfed in the story. He'd always enjoyed reading, but barely found time to, almost always climbing straight into bed after an extra late shift. ]

[untodeath]

[ Eventually, Grell places her pillow against his side and settles down there, book held above her face. She's prone to breaths of excitement, soft croons and giggles whist reading-- such probably doesnt make her the best reading partner, but she truly is enjoying herself! ]

[death_glare]

[ William tolerates all the noise she's making, for a bit. But eventually he looks down from his book with an irritated frown. ]

What exactly are you reading?

[untodeath]

[ Hugging the book to his chest, she looks up at William curiously as he speaks, before breaking into a shameless little grin. ]

You could probably guess. [ But, even so, she pulls away a hand to tap at the cover-- a book of sonnets by Shakespeare, and it's well enough read that its bindings are nearly repeating from the spine. ] In some ways, I'm dreadfully predictable, I'm afraid.