William the Reaper
Chapter 3.

Grell sat in William’s dark office, clutching a book to his chest as he waited for the reaper to return. The man hardly left his office, so he had been surprised when he had found the door locked and the cold-hearted man to be nowhere within the reaper realm. Of course, breaking in had been easy. The man hadn’t locked his window.

William returned to the dispatch and returned promptly to his office. He unlocked his door, frowning when he saw Grell "How did you get in here Sutcliff?"

“Window.” The redhead said simply, standing up. “Will…we need to talk. I know Father told me not to but I can’t…handle the hurt of you not remembering anything of our childhood anymore. It seems like you blocked out everything before we started the academy.”

William sighed, mentally reminding himself to have the window lock fixed. He looked at Grell, not having any clue what he was talking about "What on earth are you rambling on about Sutcliff?"

“This!” Grell pulled William back to the sofa William kept in his office and set him down, sitting next to him and shoving the book into his hands. “We practically grew up together, Will, and you act as if you only knew me since our days learning to be reapers.” He said, urging the man to open the album.

William tried to get up, but had sat down and thrust the book into his hands before he could even move. He sighed and looked at the album carefully. Something told him not to open it; against his better judgment, William ignored the voice and opened the book to the first page.

An old photograph of Grell and William playing happily in Undertaker’s shop was pasted into the middle of the front page. Grell was holding a doll and William was braiding Grell’s hair, a determined look on his face as he fought tangles, trying to make it perfect.

“See?” Grell said softly, “William…I’ve loved you for a very long time. As a friend…as a brother…and now…it’s something more.”

William stared at the photograph, he reached up slowly, touching it delicately with his fingers. His hands began to shake, he cried out as his eyes began to burn with the same searing pain he'd felt at the house. He dropped the book and fell from the sofa, holding his eyes and crying in agony

“Will! William, are you okay, darling?” Grell gasped, falling to his knees next to William, holding his shoulders, “What’s wrong?”

The pain faded as quickly as it had struck. William stared at the floor for a few minutes, panting. He lifted his head, his eyes were once again a vibrant shade of red. He looked at Grell, a frantic expression on his face "W-What's happening to me?"

Grell yelped, startled, and backed away across the floor, his shirts getting caught under he heel and slowing him down, “Wh-what’s…Will, What’s happened to you?”

"I...I don't know..." gasped William, his fear growing by the minute. He winced as his gloves grew suddenly tight. He ripped them off, his fingernails had grown into claws, "W-What....a-am I?"

“You…have the eyes of a demon…” Grell gasped out in a whisper, his back pressed against the wall.

"D-Demon...?" William growled, pounding the floor with his fists "I-I...I’m not a Demon! N-not anymore..."

“Wh-what do you mean, ‘not anymore’?” Grell choked out, cautiously crawling closer to the red-eyed, black-clawed reaper and shakingly reaching out to touch his shoulder.

William tensed a little as Grell touched his shoulder, but he didn't move away. He closed his eyes, "I...I think I was born a Demon....He shuddered as the memories slowly returned "I...ran away...Undertaker turned me into a reaper..."

“Th-that’s impossible! I found you! You had green eyes, not red…you came from Whales…Father took you in. How can he have changed you into a reaper? It’s impossible! You are a reaper…you are…”

"I-I'm not..." William raised his head and looked at Grell, two of his teeth had changed into fangs "…I'm a Demon..."

"Impossible! Will...I...I don't know what's happening to you but...you can't be a demon!" he shuffled closer, reaching out to touch William's cheek.

William moved his head so Grell could stroke his cheek, "Look at me Grell" he said softly "This is the real me"

"The...the real you? Will...I don't understand."

"I was born a Demon, not a reaper." He repeated in annoyance.

“Will…I…” Grell leaned forward, pressing his lips to William’s, “I can’t begin to understand what’s happening…But you are still William Spears.”

William blushed as he felt Grell's soft lips against his. A low rumble echoed from his chest as he started to growl involuntarily. He moved closed to Grell, suddenly needing to be close to him.

Grell blushed and slipped his arms around him, “We can fix this…I’m sure we can, darling. Just…let me stay with you…help you.”

William wrapped his arms around Grell, holding him close and growling a little more "You would...stay with me?"

“Of course! William…all I have ever wanted was to be with you. I know I flirt with other men in the office but…You are the one I have feelings for.” Grell whispered.

William nuzzled Grell, feeling his cheeks heating up, "I...I have feelings for you too..."

“You do..?” the red reaper got a stubborn look on his face, “Then why do you always push me away?”

"I was....scared" said William. He wasn't sure why he was suddenly sharing this with Grell, but it felt right, and it was a distraction from the reality of what he was. The lie he had been living. "I've never felt like this before..."

“After all we have been through, you were scared of letting me love you?” Grell pouted.

"I know, I know, it's silly"

“‘Silly’? No, it’s cruel!’ Grell snapped, “You were cruel.”

"C-Cruel?" said William, blinking a little. He moved away from Grell slightly, his words hurting

“Yes! Cruel. I hid none of my feelings for you all these years, and you acted as though you hated me. It hurt, Will.”

"If I hurt you, I promise it wasn't intentional"

“Well, you did.” Grell breathed, and…Will, I don’t know how much more hurt I could handle…but…” he reached out, taking William’s clawed hand, “I can’t quit you.”

William very gently held Grell's hand, being careful with his claws "I am yours for as long as you need me" he said, softly

“…Why now? Because this…thing is happening to you?”

William growled sharply, now feeling frustrated. He moved away and stood up, "You just don't get it, do you?" he said, "Do you want to know why I couldn’t tell you my feelings? Do you know what its like to see the man you love hanging off some other man's shoulders as soon as your back is turned?" he started to walk away. He stopped and turned, his eyes flashing, "I'm a selfish man, Grell" he said "I don't share, I want all of you or nothing at all"

Grell’s eyes widened as he remained on the floor of the office, looking up at William, “…Woman. You should know that by now.” He muttered, adverting his eyes, “…And you could have had all of me years ago. I’m single, Will. I have the right to keep my options open when the man I want to be with ignores I exist unless I’m causing him problems. You may be selfish, but I need attention!”

"Just because I choose to show some decorum and not hang from your elbow like a primate all day long doesn't mean I was ignoring you" said William. He turned to face Grell, he pushed his glasses up, "Remember all those mornings there were cups of tea on your desk? Or those evenings when you feel asleep doing overtime, you'd wake up with a blanket around you?" said William "Who do you think did those things, Grell?"

“It could have been anyone! You aren’t my only friend! Alan’s my best friend, Eric’s like a brother to me when we aren’t fighting, and Ronnie has gotten to be close too! I never thought it could have been you…you act so…cold.”

"I'm only cold because I have to be, when you four mess up it’s my arse on the line." William sighed, his expression softening "Just because I distant myself, doesn't mean I don't care."

“Will…” Grell pushed himself to his feet, “You distancing yourself is what drives me to flirt with other men. Even if you are a demon…” he sighed and took a strong stance, “I don’t care what you are. I just want to be close to you!”

"Then promise me you'll be mine and mine alone" William walked over, wrapping his arms around Grell "You can have all of me, if I can have all of you."

Grell nearly melted under the man’s ruby gaze, a strange feeling washing over him, causing him to submit, dropping that hint of irritation he held towards William, “…Take what you want of me. I’ll be yours…” he whispered.

William held Grell closer, his eyes began to glow just a little. He growled softly, gently stroking Grell's hair "What do you wish of me, Grell?" he asked "I belong to you now."

“Just…that you stay close…don’t push me away or hurt me anymore…make me feel like I am yours so I’m not tempted away again by the smile of another man…” he paused, hugging him tight, “Just…love me, and I’ll forever be yours, mind, body, and soul.”

William tilted Grell's chin up gently, softly stroking his cheek "I will always be by your side, I promise" he leaned down and captured Grell's lips in a deep kiss, closing his eyes and pulling him as close as possible.

Grell smiled into the kiss, feeling as if his dreams were all finally coming true. Until, he felt a burning sensation diving deep into the skin on his hip where William’s left hand rested. Yelping, he pulled away, clutching his hip, “Wh-what was that?” he turned away, lifting his skirts up so that he could see, finding an intricate seal practically glowing with demonic energy marring his perfect skin. “On Rhea!” he gasped in realization as to what it was.

William frowned as Grell yelped and turned away from him, "Grell?" he reached out to touch Grell's shoulder, he winced as he left had suddenly because to throb and sting. He lifted it up, his eyes widening in panic as he watched a demon seal etch itself onto the back of his hand.

“Y-you really are a demon…” Grell breathed in shock, “…I think… Oh sweet mother Rhea, I think you contracted to me.”

William's eyes somehow widened even more. He backed away, freaking out a little, "W-What?!"

Grell looked up from the contract mark and looked at William, dropping his skirts again, “I…I don’t understand…Why is this happening?” he whispered.

"I...I don't know" William sighed and closed his eyes. He never thought not listening to his mother about contracts would ever come back to bite him so spectacularly in the ass.

The redhead hurried forward and reached out, grabbing Will’s wrist, “Come, we have to get you out of here. You look like a demon and if anyone sees you…”

William frowned a little with worry. He got an idea and scooped Grell into his arms, "I know where we can go" he ran swiftly out of the dispatch, into the human realm and to the old house.

Grell stayed silent, his eyes taking in the old house’s appearance, “…What…is this place?” he asked.

William gently placed Grell on the floor. He blushed just a little, "....this is where I grew up."

“Where you lived? Before you came to live with Father and I?” Grell glanced around and spotted the broken picture frame, picking it up and looking at it. His eyes widened, “This man…I know this man…” he looked at William, “You said you didn’t have parents!”

"I lied alright? I lied so you would take me to the Shinigami realm." said William, turning away "I ran away from my parents when I was ten and I haven't seen them since."

“Why?” he demanded, “What’s so great about being a reaper that you could break your parents’ hearts like that?”

"You think I don't regret what I did? I know I hurt them, I know what I did was wrong" William sighed "I loved my parents dearly, and I still do, but I'm not the son they wanted, I'm sure they're better off without me"

“I think that’s utterly crap!” Grell snapped, but sighed, “…But it’s in the past…we can’t change it. But I’m still mad you lied to me.”

"I'm sorry, I was young and confused and I didn't understand what I was doing" said William. He sighed again and started to walk around the house "I still miss my parents, even now" he thought back to his encounter with Sebastian, remembering the harsh words he'd said to him.

“Maybe you can find them again…” Grell suggested, “I know I’ve seen this man walking around London.” He said, handing the photograph of William and Sebastian over to Will.

William carefully took the picture, slowly wiping the rest of the grime away. He sighed, "I don't know, I wouldn't even know where to start looking"

“Well, you have time. You can’t go back to work looking like that!” Grell pointed out.

William examined himself briefly and sighed "That is true" he said. He looked at the picture and carefully removed it from the broken frame. He stroked the image of Sebastian gently "Mother...please forgive me..."