"I'd love to know just what you're thinking"

Just a few days after John accusation it was clear to see that it had all taken its toll on the white haired butler's work performance, it was only a few mistakes made, but them small mistakes could affect his reputation.

The heavens suffocated the sky with a dark pall , the darkness was illuminated by small balls of fire that shone above, everything was visible since the sky was clear.

The white haired butler was tidying up around Lia's room while she lay on her bed, eyes not leaving the book she had in front of her. Pipin was of course there, he never left her side, the white ball of fur lay beside her, his head resting on her stomach. There was a noise, something had fell. The blonde haired girl lowered the book to see two books on the floor and Ash standing beside them.

He looked mortified.

She sighed. "Right, that's it." She gave Pipin a small nudge, causing him to sit up, she sat up herself, her nightgown covering her knees and legs, she placed the book beside her and before she could do anything else Pipin sat in her lap, making himself rather comfortable.
"Ma'am?"
"There is clearly something on your mind, I can tell. You've been messing up a little for the past few days. Tell me, what's wrong?" She slightly tilted her head to the right-hand side, looking at him with a soft gaze.
"Nothing, it's nothing that you should concern yourself with."
She was stubborn, not accepting that answer from him. She patted on a space next to her. "You are going to sit here and tell me just what you're thinking."

He did exactly what she said after putting the two books back where they originally had been. He sat down, amethyst gaze set on the floor as he gathered his thoughts.

"Well?"
"Well, your father mentioned the fire that happened in London and how I coincidentally was moved to work in a different country."
"Oh Ash, you shouldn't think about that, it was just a simple thought, he tends to do things like that a lot."
"I know, but Ma'am it made me think, think about how none of you know anything about me, about when I worked at Her Majesty's palace."
The blonde gave a small nod, "That is very true, you've never actually spoken about yourself... Okay, tell me everything."

It was as if he was in a church, sitting in a confession booth, talking about his sins. He told her everything. Fallen angel, former female counterpart, the fire in London and the death of Vincent and Rachael Phantomhive. What he confessed could put his job and reputation in complete danger, yet he told her anyway. He felt comfortable telling her these things, and she stayed quiet until he had finished.

"Right, so let me get this straight, you're a fallen angel?" She sat hunched over, something that would be seen as unprofessional and not lady like, but she didn't really care about all of the rules when she was in Ash's presence.
"No."
"No?"
"I was a fallen angel."
"Oh. So, you're an angel now, wait, how does that work? I thought that if an angel becomes a fallen angel they become a demon afterwards."
"That is correct. But things happened, and we were separated. Angela then took the blame, claiming that it was all her doing and that I was still worthy to hold the title of being an angel. Honestly, that was, to my knowledge, the nicest thing that she has ever done for anyone."

Lia smiled, she believed it was a nice thing to do, it was a sacrifice that the woman was willing to make, taking everything on board.

"So, just to clarify, you're just male now?"
"Yes."
"Well that's good news." What should have been a mental thought came out as a small whisper to herself, whoops.
"Hm? Did you say something?" The angel turned his head to lay his eyes upon her.
"Me? No,no, I didn't say a word." She lied, better than telling the truth in that moment.
Ash allowed a soft sigh to pass his lips as he faced straight ahead again. "You most likely have a different view on me now, don't you?"
"I don't, the situations that you have been through have not exactly always been your fault, I understand that you were not in the best mental state at that time when it all happened. You were following orders, like any butler does..."

Lia placed her hand on top of his black gloved one that was set on the blanket, she gave it a light squeeze of reassurance. They both looked at each other, smiling.

"... I still think of you exactly as I did before, nothing has changed."

You've let me step into your life, know things that others don't. Now, let the walls slowly crumble.