Chapter Text
Everything was quiet. It was just another evening at the Dispatch, a cold November day. William turned on his desk lamp before refocusing on the papers in front of him. So much paperwork… such was the result of losing two Retrieval agents.
The man hadn’t talked much since the loss of Alan. He had almost regarded the young Reaper as a son ; that’s what others would say at most, anyway. Because he had never said such a thing out loud, although he considered it. He thought of him as his son, but had never said it. He had never said it out loud. And now, he wasn’t there anymore to tell him.
That was what that loss had brought him.
Hopefully, Ruby was still there. William turned his head towards the door that opened on the side-room of his office. It was where he kept his daughter during the day, so she would have a place of her own and not be alone in the halls of the institution. He used to let her walk alone through the hallways but, since the incident, he had doubts about all his subordinates - Grell was the only exception. Sometimes, he would let her walk around as she wished, but only if he or his wife was with her. He simply could not lose his only remaining child.
It was only then he noticed that the side-room was not lit. It was getting dark, and the thick clouds were only accentuating the obscurity. The black-haired man didn’t like that.
“Ruby?” He called. The young girl only answered with a whining sound. William got up from his chair and advanced to the half-open door. It was common for the girl to cry, but the loss of her older brother had been a radical shock for her. “Is everything alright, dear?” His hand reached for the switch light and froze when he saw no trace of the little red-head in the room. He stepped in it to be sure she was not hiding anywhere. Only her March Hare plush was laying on the sofa.
Strange. It was uncommon for Ruby to leave her favorite plushie behind. The father stepped further and took the plush :
“What are you doing all alone?” He mumbled while he inspected March Hare. He stared at its eyes as if it could answer him. Of course, it was only a plush hare sewn in his image by Grell ; Ruby would take it everywhere and hug it when he wasn’t around, as it reminded her of her beloved father. The latter shook his head, placed it in his arms and left the office with restrained haste.
Normally, he liked the almost empty corridors of the establishment. No background noise, no ambient stress. But that night seemed to stand out for its... inhospitable atmosphere. It was no colder as usual, nor was it darker : the lights were bright. William just wanted to hurry, something was pushing him forward. The worry, surely the worry.
There were several places Ruby could be. The closest was Grell’s office. Perhaps the girl had gone to see if her mother had already returned from her collections. When the man reached the door, he could hear a sigh near him. He tried to open the door then glanced at the handle : it was locked. Next place would be the break room.
The break room was on the other side of the main corridor and every Reaper had to go ahead of the Glasses Department. ‘Pops’ was still working, which wasn’t unexpected ; the old man was always working. William approached slowly and Lawrence raised his head.
“Good evening,” commenced the dark-haired man, “I was wondering if you had seen a young girl pass by.”
“Ah, the little Ruby? Indeed, I had. About ten minutes ago, maybe less.” Pops stared at the hare plush. “She has the same one.”
He nodded. “It’s hers.”
“Yet, she hasn’t come back.” Retorted the older Reaper.
“She must be in the break room, I believe. Thank you very much, sir.” William walked away to let him finish his work, hoping that he would not finish too late. However, he could not hear the man’s machine going on again.
Behind him, Lawrence Anderson seemed confused.
When the supervisor reached the break room, he could hear feminine chatter. Two women were standing in front of an affrighted Ruby. The little one’s hands were shyly fidgeting with one another and her gaze remained frozen in theirs. She was silently whining.
William did not bother to listen to what they could say. He immediately walked towards his daughter and took her in his arms. The two other Reapers should have read in his eyes the annoyance he felt, since they fell completely silent and left without further ado. Meanwhile, the young red-head had had time to hide her face against his shoulder. He gently caressed her back.
“Sorry dad, I just wanted a glass of water…” Her voice was muffled against the fabric of his black uniform.
William only sighed in relief, nestling March Hare in her arms. “I understand, sweetheart. Here.”
Ruby raised her head and let a slight smile paint her freckled cheeks at the sight of her favourite plush. “Thanks dad, I left him on the sofa.”
“But you always take it with you, don’t you?”
“Of course,” she frowned, “I only put him on the couch right here.”