"I don't think I'll need your help much longer."

Sebastian lifted his head, about to settle in to feed from an unfortunate woman on William's list.

"...Beg pardon?"

"You heard me." William's voice quavered just a bit, but his shoulders were squared and his mind resolute. "The reasons I had for partnering with you have been resolved. I won't need your help much longer."

The demon sighed, leaving the woman slumped on her chair.

So soon? I should have known...alas, we'll make it work...

"We never set a time for when I would be leaving."

"And that is why I'm telling you now that it won't be much longer before I dismiss you."

One of Sebastian's eyebrows rose a fraction of an inch in incredulity.

"And if I don't want to go?"

"How would you go about staying."

"Merely by doing what I am now. I have the resources."

William paled a bit, adjusting his glasses, uncertain how to reply.

"Besides," the demon continued. "Even if you did dismiss me and I did go on as I am now, what could you do? Tell them about me? Fine. But when they're sent out to track me and they notice every one I take is one of yours...when they start looking back and realizing they've all been yours...what are you going to do?"

The reaper tried to speak, but could only come up with a stammering response. He hadn't thought of that, and as the demon pressed closer, he found he could hardly think at all.

"I think I'll be staying as long as I please, William." Sebastian's voice was smooth and dark, muffling the sound of the rest of the world somehow, becoming the only thing he could hear. "And why should you complain? Hasn't it made your life so much easier? Hasn't it taken so much off your already full plate?"

He couldn't lie; everything Sebastian had said had been true. Working with him made everything so much easier, but the longer they did so, the greater the chance he was found out...

"Don't lie to me, William. I've never lied to you. Are things easier for you now that we're working together?"

"...They are..."

Sebastian was hardly an inch away from him now, but his posture wasn't aggressive; it was easy, almost flirtatious. As William took a step back, he realized that somehow again, he had been pinned to a wall. Half-glancing over his shoulder, he was greeted by the demon's smug, knowing smirk.

"...You don't really want me to leave, do you? You like having me around, though you're loathe to admit it. You can say it to me, William." He gave a soft laugh, leaning in to whisper into the reaper's ear. "After all, who am I going to tell?"

William fought to keep control of himself, to not be swayed by the demon's words and actions. He adjusted his glasses again, trying to move away from the demon, but Sebastian laid a gentle, restraining hand on his cheek. The touch was feather light, but trying to push against it was trying to move a mountain.

"We'll see how you feel in a few week's time," Sebastian suggested, his voice a purring whisper. "If you still wish to dismiss me, we will negotiate. But don't say that just yet." He laughed softly. "Once I'm gone, the work will pile up again, just as it always does. I may still stay here for a bit longer, quietly, not causing any commotion, to give you time to reconsider." The demon licked his lips, tongue brushing lightly and briefly against William's ear. "But we won't think of that now."

William shuddered at the voice in his ear, the feel of the warm breath and especially the sensation of Sebastian's hot tongue on his skin. He was trying his best to resist the inexplicable draw of the demon, to dismiss the things his actions brought to mind, but he couldn't completely stifle the soft groan that rose in his throat.

He felt the demon's lips curl into a grin in reaction to it, just as he felt his cheeks burn in shame. The red-eyed man pulled back just enough to see William's face, his smirk wide, amused, and dangerous.

"My, my..."

"I-I wasn't expecting that-!"

Sebastian laughed as the reaper tried to explain himself.

"You don't have to defend yourself, William..." There was a dark laugh in his voice. "I rather liked the sound..."

About to speak again, William's words died on his lips as Sebastian ran a hand through his hair, the demon's nails skittering lightly over his scalp and teasing the sensitive area at the nape of his neck.

"You're really quite attractive when you're flustered. It happens so rarely." He laughed softly, resting his forehead on William's. "But more frequently as of late, I've noticed."

"I wonder why that is." The reaper's voice was dry, dark, and sarcastic, and only made Sebastian smile more widely.

"You're so entertaining. What would I do with myself if I didn't have you to keep me busy, William? You don't want to consider that, do you?"

The reaper closed his eyes and tried to look away, but Sebastian raised a hand, resting a finger on his cheek.

"Ah, ah, ah...I want an answer. Tell me you'd rather know what I was doing than have me be loose on my own."

"Let go of me, please..."

They both heard the tremble in his voice, not from anger but fear, uncertainty. He didn't like being so close to the demon, so close to losing control. He could feel it the longer they were like this, his mind losing to his body and the desire to give in.

"What's wrong, William?" The voice was little more than a dark whisper, something he could practically see behind his closed eyes, a sensuous black smoke wrapping around them both, pulling them from reality and into a place just a hair's breadth away. There was still the stone wall at his back, still the building around them and the city beyond that, but there was a paper-thin barrier that kept it all away. He could sense it, the same as he could sense the demon's influence.

"Sebastian, please-"

When the demon spoke again, the usual mocking tone was gone from his voice. It was gentle, quiet. The hand pressing against his cheek cupped it instead, a tender gesture.

"What is it? You can tell me anything. I haven't a soul to tell your secrets to. Don't let them weigh on you."

"I can't-"

"It isn't healthy for you, William. Maybe it can't kill you-we're immortal, after all-but it will affect you."

"Sebastian, I can't do this."

"Why not?"

The question was so simple. Why not. Why not? Why not try this thing, break this one taboo. No one had noticed Sebastian's presence. Who would?

Grell. Think of Grell. Grell would notice.

"William?"

"P-please, just let go-"

"But look at you, so tense...I know why, William. Did you think I wouldn't?" His hand moved, stroking the hair near his temple, slipping to the back of his head as he leaned in to whisper in William's ear. "He'll never know."

"You think I could do that to him-?"

"He wanted to. He wanted to forget all about you. But this isn't about him. This is about you. What you want. You can change your mind any time. But if you don't ever try, this torture won't ever get better. It won't go away, William. Curiosity doesn't work like that. It drives men mad."

"You would say that..." But his voice was weak, and his eyes were open again, staring at the demon's lips as they moved. "I-I don't see how this could work..."

"All he needs to know is that you're getting your work done. That's all anyone needs to know. They shouldn't ask, especially when it comes to you." The familiar grin returned, his eyes lowered this time and smoldering softly, lust coming off of him in waves, his breath playing over William's lips as he spoke. "Everyone knows the devil's in the details..."

He couldn't help the soft groan again, fighting with every ounce of his being to remain under his own control. But it was impossible to resist any longer. For so long-too long-he had fought. He was exhausted by the demon, and finally gave in, resting his head back against the wall. He watched Sebastian's smile grow even wider as he sensed the reaper's defeat, regarded by the cool green eyes in a way the showed both his disgust and desire.

He was quick to jump on the moment of weakness, pressing up against the reaper and speaking softly, lips brushing William's as they moved.

"This is a heavy decision, William..."

He gave the demon a flat glare, reaching up to take the demon's glasses off and fling them aside.

"Shut up already."

"Full of surprises today, aren't you..." He laughed softly, pressing closer.

The reaper's expression was still the flat glare, thinly masking the hateful desire beneath as he reached up to grab a hank of the demon's hair. But Sebastian was quicker, dipping his head to press his lips to William's throat. The reaper let out a ragged gasp, not expecting the touch on such a vulnerable place. Sebastian gave a soft, dark laugh, his tongue trailing over William's throat and up to the hollow just behind his ear, drawing a breathless moan and a violent shudder from him. His hand finally settled on Sebastian's hair, clenching around it to have something to hold on to as the demon continued to abuse his ear. William's knees buckled at the demon's fanged teeth closed gently on the sensitive skin of the lobe of his ear, and for a moment he thought he would fall, but then he felt Sebastian's arms around him, holding him up. It was the touch he was familiar with, hardly felt but impossible to break. As the teasing ministrations continued, his free arm came up to wrap around the demon. Sebastian's hold on him tightened for a moment then, and he pushed up against the reaper as he took the man's wrists and pinned them to the wall. Pulling back from the kiss, Sebastian smiled at him for a moment, noting the way the act of aloofness had all but vanished.

"Sensitive, are we?"

William could only give a small sound in response, aching for more. More of his heat, more of his touch, more of the taste and scent of him.

"What is it, William?"

Sebastian was close enough to him that he could feel his breath, but craning his neck he still couldn't quite reach the demon's lips. He almost wasn't aware as he breathed a word.

"More..."

There was an odd sound, almost like a large cat purring, as Sebastian smiled and flicked his tongue over William's lips.

"What?"

"M-more..."

He was slower this time, more languid about it as he traced the reaper's lips with his tongue. Both surprisingly and not, he felt William respond in kind, his actions a bit clumsier, too desperate for finesse. He finally acquiesced, pressing his mouth hard to the reaper's and carefully exploring every inch of his mouth. William let out a guttural moan, hands clenching but still held against the wall. After a moment, he seemed to gather himself enough to respond more skillfully, sucking on Sebastian's tongue until he was rewarded with a low groan. This was beyond entertaining to the demon, who let him take the lead this time. Releasing William's wrists, he allowed himself to be turned and thrown against the wall, the kiss never broken. The reaper pinned his hands this time, and though he could have easily overpowered William, he allowed it. This was proving interesting. He let his eyes close as William methodically explored his mouth, the demon nipping and teasing now and then. To his delight and surprise, William was incredibly skilled, drawing another lustful moan from him. At the sound, the reaper redoubled his efforts, releasing Sebastian's wrists but grabbing a fistful of his hair tight enough to cause a twinge of pain. The demon smiled against his lips at the feeling, his hands sliding into William's hair. He laughed softly as his head was jerked down to what was apparently a better angle for the reaper. This was far more enjoyable than he thought it would be, feeling him give into his darkest desires. Already, the crisp, clear taste of the reaper-not unlike the sharp, almost sweet taste of a glass of cold water on a sweltering day-was becoming smoky and muddled by a different flavor. He rather enjoyed it, relishing William's taste while he could. The sinful saint, the reformed rouge; they were all the same when it came to the taste. He would settle for glimpses of it. He could make the man bleed later, when his mind was more malleable, and taste more strongly then. For now he could delight in the way the reaper was teasing the more sensitive areas he'd discovered, one hand still locked in his hair as the other travelled to his waist, then lower to grab hold. Pulling Sebastian to him, their hips ground together, and both men let out a moan. It was hard to say who reacted first, as both sought to create more friction between them. Eventually Sebastian pulled away from the heated kiss, biting almost to hard at William's lips as he spoke.

"I'm impressed, William..."

"Shut up."

With that, he drew away enough to grab Sebastian by his lapels, and with surprising strength, lifted him and laid him out on the sturdy wooden table behind them. There was that purring sound again as the demon's eyes flashed crimson, glowing in the dimness of the room. He propped himself up on his elbows, legs hanging off the table, and watched as William tugged his gloves off with his teeth.