One Door Closes

  Grell shivered as he closed the door to his apartment.  He was hoping that William wasn’t home because he needed to come and get some of his belongings.  He had already decided that he wasn’t going to live with Spears any longer – not after all of the abuse.

  “What do you think you’re doing here?”

  Grell flinched as he heard William’s cold voice coming from the couch.  He tensed and reluctantly walked into the living room so that he could speak with the elder.

  “I…” Grell gulped and looked down at the ground.  “…I came for my things…”

  William snorted before mumbling, “Choosing that old Reaper over me...  I knew this would happen one day…”

  Grell’s heart broke as he recognised the faint hurt in the raven’s voice.  He took a few more wary steps towards his abuser.

  “…Will…?” Grell whispered loud enough for the elder to hear as he stayed a few feet away.  He lifted his head and studied his ex’s face.  He was shocked to see that William had been crying.  “…Will, are you okay…?”

  “What do you care…?” William sounded so defeated and depressed.  Grell had never heard him like this before.   “Clearly you’ve abandoned me…”

  “I…” Grell sighed and looked back down at the ground.  “…I didn’t like how you treated me…”

  William’s cold stare fixated on the red-head.  “What was wrong the way I treated you?  I punished you when you acted out and made sure that you knew your place.”

  Tears welled up in Grell’s eyes but he couldn’t let them fall.  He just couldn’t.  It was over between him and William now so there was no need to show the elder just how much his words hurt him.

  “…I…” Grell licked at his lips before continuing.  “…I’m getting my things and then I’m leaving…  I’m never coming back…”

  “Go right ahead.”  William spat.  “Do it.  I’ll get you back one way or another.  You’ll soon see that you love me more than you do him.  You’ll be back…  You’ll crawl back to me on your belly like a dog.”

  One tear slid down Grell’s cheek but he didn’t reply.  Instead, he turned and walked into his old bedroom and grabbed his things.  He made sure to pocket the photo that was taken of him and William when they had first gotten together – he found it impossible to part with because it reminded him of when he was happy with the raven.

  Minutes had passed before he was finally ready to leave with the few belongings he wanted to take with him – just some clothes, his hairbrush, a few personal items and the photo.  As he passed by the couch again on his way to the front door, his heart shattered as he heard William let out a sob.

  Grell couldn’t help but hesitate by the door, but even so, he didn't say a word – didn’t even turn for one last glance at what was once the love of his life.

  -XX-

  Two days had passed since Grell had last seen William.  He was currently in the bathroom of the funeral parlour washing the sweat and tears from his face.  He had woken up crying from the nightmares again.

  “Will…” Grell whimpered as he fought to hold back the fresh wave of water.  “Will, why…?”

  “Another one?”

  Grell turned at Undertaker’s voice.  He knew that his face was red and stained with tears, but he also knew that Undertaker wouldn’t make a cruel comment about it like Will did.

“Y-yes…” Grell mumbled, ducking his head.  “…I’m sorry for making you get up…”

  Undertaker tsked as he approached the red-head.  He wrapped his arms around the slim body and pulled the younger close.  He rested his chin on top of Grell’s head.

  “Why are you sorry?  A gentleman should always make sure that his lady is okay.”

  Grell smiled softly.  He reached up and grabbed the bony hand.  “…I’m going to get ready for work…  William has given me the earliest shifts possible…”

  Undertaker held his new boyfriend for a few moments more before he let the smaller male go.  He placed a kiss on Grell’s forehead before leaving the room.

  It didn’t take Grell long to get ready for work.  He fixed up his makeup before heading back into the front of the shop where Undertaker usually slept.  He smiled when he found the elder sleeping peacefully in what seemed to be Undertaker’s favourite coffin.  He reached out and shook the silver-haired male awake.

  “Hey…” Grell whispered as Undertaker stirred.  “I’m going now…  I’ll be back tonight…”

  Undertaker blinked a few times before nodding.  He closed his eyes once again before mumbling out a, “…Love you…”

  “I love you, too.” Grell smiled as his partner fell back asleep.  He then hurried to the Shinigami Dispatch Association, not looking forward to having to deal with William again.

  Grell’s office was somewhat of a sanctuary to him.  The only ones who ever walked through the door besides himself were William and Ronald – no one else liked him.  However, when he was in his office, he could lock himself away from the rest of his fellow Reapers and pretend that nothing was wrong with his life.  He didn’t get the dirty looks or the scathing comments.

  Grell smiled softly as he looked at the mounds of paperwork that was scattered all over his office.  He certainly wasn’t one for working.  Maybe he could talk Ronald into doing it for him again?  He grinned at the thought of dumping his work off on his subordinate.

  But then, almost as if it were fate, his mood took a turn as he saw William striding towards his office.  He was tempted to lock the office door, but he knew that it would only make things worse for him if he did that.

  “Just leave me alone…” Grell mumbled as the door handle was twisted.  He instinctively stared down at the ground in submission as William’s cold stare penetrated him.

  “How many times have I told you about the paperwork?” William snarled.  He stepped in and closed the door behind him.  “You little slut – you think you can get away with never handing in your work?  You’re lucky – I’ve got a soul collection for you and Ronald to do.  As soon as that is done, I expect all of this paperwork on my desk.  You’re not leaving until it is done – regardless of the hour.”

  Grell just nodded, too scared to say anything. 

  William smirked.  “Good.  Ronald is aware of the situation.  He’ll meet you here when he is ready to leave.”

  Grell nodded again.  He flinched and whimpered as William made a sudden move which only made said Reaper’s smirk widen in satisfaction.

  As soon as William had left the office, Ronald made his way in.  Grell looked up to make eye-contact with his subordinate.  He wasn’t surprised to see the bruises that marred Ronald’s usually perfect skin – William had taken to blaming the younger for losing Grell and took any opportunity that he could to make Knox’s life hell.

  “Are you ready, Senpai?” Ronald asked quietly.

  Grell nodded.  “Yes…  Let’s go, Ronnie…”

  As the two walked out of the office together, Grell couldn’t help but feel that something was about to go horribly wrong during the soul collection.  No matter what he did, he just couldn’t shake the feeling – and how right he was.