Brook X GN Reader || I'm The Grim Reaper

Chapter 57

"I can get you full access to Case X, Chase." "Thank you, mom. That's fantastic. When should I come to-" "Wait. Let me finish. I can get you access, but I need to do a couple of favors for the hospital. They're... A little bit outside my comfort zone, and it will take a while. So, you need to do something for me, Chase. I need you to just sit still and wait. Be patient. No more risky stuff like that Red Spades infiltration. Sit still and let me do these favors." Chase, disgruntled, looked to the side. He didn't want to wait, he wanted full access for Scarlet. "Do you understand, Chase?" Chase stopped for a moment. He'll get it eventually. "Fine. I'll behave."

"Thank you, Chase." "No problem, mom. Uhm... How are things going at work?" "Oh! Uhm, things have... been going fine! Well, I mean. There have been some strange things happening. And way, way, way too much work for us to ever be able to investigate in a million years. But the good news is... Overall, crime rates are lowering..." You zoned out of the conversation, letting your chin hover over Brook's shoulder as you tried to see what he was doing on his phone. He glared at you, leaning as far from you away as he could without literally leaning on Chase.

You rolled your eyes, looking forward at the cat that was on the table. Reaching out to pet it, she meowed and you smiled. You liked animals. "Huh... Well, I felt like we were having a nice conversation." Chase mumbled, looking down at his phone. You turned your head to look at him. "Oh well. You heard her, Scarlet. We're going to get access to Case X. We just have to wait a bit for chief to work her boss magic. We have to lay low for a bit, and only go after the most inconspicuous sinners. Scarlet?"

You scrunched up your face, returned to looking over Brook's shoulder as he typed. He seemed so involved in whatever it was that he didn't scoot away when you rested your chin on his shoulder to look at his phone. You weren't paying attention to what he was typing as you looked around the room.

"Hey, are you still thinking about the stuff we found out at The Red Spades? Again, Scarlet, I'll never think differently of you for the things that Ante did. Thinking about what we found out without access to the entire case will just drive us in circles... So, let's not dwell on it until the chief calls me back-" "Chase,"

You let out a sigh. Brook seemed to suddenly become aware that you were resting your head on his shoulder and he seemed like he was holding his breath. You lifted your head. "T-That's not it." I'm really just wondering... When we're going to acknowledge the rabbit and deer in the room?" The cat rolled over in front of Brook, seeming to get comfortable. Brook was tapping away, the sides of his hair covering his face. You leaned forward slightly to see the other two people at the table.

"I know it's kind of weird that they're working with us, but I promise you, this s the best option for everyone." He glanced at the two of you, as did Scarlet. You flashed them a toothy smile. They looked away awkwardly. Brook nudged you with his elbow and you leaned back. "Rude,"

"Honestly, the way I managed to get through to them is one of the more impressive points in my career. Now that we're aligned, he can help you out with your demon." They both looked at you two again. "Why does your dog look like a *******?" "What the fuck did you just say about Lightie, you rabbit-footed bastard?" Brook stared unbothered at his phone and you stood up.

Scarlet put a hand on Chase's shoulder. "Chase. Hold on a second. We don't want to start fighting already." Taking a step over, you stood behind Brook and Chase. Grabbing Brook's shoulder you pushed him to where you were sitting, taking a seat between Chase and Brook. They both glared at you, but you just let a hand in front of you. 'Lightie' licked it. "Yeah, be a good boy and listen to your girlfriend." "Brook!" Scarlet took her hand off of Chase's shoulder.

"Forget I said anything. Go for it." "I-I-I-I can't a-anymore," Chase's face flushed. Putting his phone down, he glanced past you. "Anyway. So. Since this is our new gig... I'm gonna crash here too, alright?" "Hell no." Brook looked into his lap and you had to stifle a smile.

"Oh... I understand... You don't want me to get in the way of you two dancing the devil's tango, huh?" You snorted. Chase flushed even more. "W-w-w-we don't do that. We d-don't have that kind of relationship. Besides, you're just saying that to get me to agree to let you stay out of the pressure of deniability. I've been a detective for years, Brook. Your little games won't work on me."

"Oh, really? Well, I've been alive for more than a century... And I can tell from a mile away that you're in lo-" Chase reached a hand over you to slap it to Brook's mouth, stopping him from finishing his sentence, trembling slightly. "W-well, what a-a-about you two, hm?" Brook raised an eyebrow. "What are you on about?" You grabbed his wrist, pulling it down so Brook could speak.

"A-Aren't you two together?" Brook's eyes widened and you grinned. Brook turned away from Chase. "Er, not anymore." He mumbled. You leaned your arm on him. "Well, we could always change that-" He pushed you back and you landed on your back on the floor, giggling.

"Hey. Uhm... Am I supposed to know how to dance? Cause I really don't wanna learn." You all looked to Scarlet, who was looking down at the table. You started giggling again. "You got lucky, rabbit." "Right, right. Whatever. Your emotions have nothing to do with me, so I don't really care. So let's just get to the things that do have something to do with me." He glanced at you, then Scarlet. then narrowed his eyes.

He pointed at her. "We're going to teach you how to tame that demon. You're a walking time bomb Scarlet. And you don't know how to defuse yourself. You have Chase for now, but if anything happens to him, we're fucked. We have absolutely no time to lose. We're going to start training. Immediately."

Scarlet nodded and you all sat in silence for a bit, until you sat back up. "So, are we allowed to stay here?" "I thought you had an apartment next to that one woman, Ana? I saw you walk out of one..." You turned to look at her and stretched your arms. "I was staying with this old lady, working for her. She was nice, but she died. So," You glanced at Brook. "If I did, you wouldn't need to stay here either. Her son sold the place," You explained again. Brook nodded. "Whatever, fine, let's go."

You walked next to Brook, swinging your hands at your side as you followed his lead. Chase and Scarlet followed close behind.

"We're heading pretty far out of the city. I guess that's the smartest thing to do," Chase muttered behind you. You pulled your arms up and intertwined your fingers to support the back of your head, your elbows out as you walked. "You won't find a soul out here. No one lives outside of the city. The next Bastion is a thousand miles away..." A phone ringing made all of you either halt or slow in your steps.

You glanced behind you as the ringing continued, and Scarlet was digging in her pockets. "...Someone's calling you?" Chase asked in a disbelieving tone. His eyes seemed wide. Was he seriously her only friend? If she didn't have a problem getting attached to mortals, you'd figure she'd know more people. But, alas, seems not.

She got her phone out, sighing as she looked at the caller ID. She let it ring out. "It's Liam. I don't want to answer. I thought about it. And you were right. Talking to him was a bad idea... I can't handle the... guilt." You and Brook stole a glance at each other. This seemed personal. Shrugging, you stuffed your hands into your pockets and kept walking. Brook went into step beside you as the voices of the two faded out, then became louder as they kept walking.

"It's alright, give me your phone. I'll block his number for you. "

(Liam stood behind a wall, watching the four's retreating figures as they kept walking. "Scarlet feels... Guilty?" He looked down at his phone, thinking.)

Looking at your feet, you kicked a pebble along with your steps. You vaguely thought of trying to grab Brook's hand again, but, knowing how it would end, you decided against it.

"The gangs all here" - Graveweaver

Word Count: 1517