Discipline

Warnings: Necessary shoutaliciousness.



Bathing Discipline, Part II



Closing the door behind his young master to keep the fragrant warmth within, Sebastian took a few steps into the chambers to display it, and himself, to best advantage. As Victorian decorum demanded, he refrained from holding out his arms in prideful display of his masterpiece. Instead, he put a hand to his chest and bowed with as much humility as his temperament permitted. He used the mirror opposite to glance at Ciel\'s reaction in its reflection, and his mouth stretched into a full, satisfied grin as the one, wide, unpatched eye grew even wider at the display.



The bathing room was as perfect as Sebastian\'s ample, enthusiastic skills and demonic abilities could render it, an artistic and functional masterpiece that existed nowhere else in England. It might, perhaps, be outdone by the bath of some Roman Emperor or legendary Sultan, but he was confident he had provided his young master with a chamber quite unique among his contemporaries and would soon offer him a bathing experience unmatched in inimitable distinction at his devoted and agile hands.



That Ciel Phantomhive\'s first words once he could find them within the steamy, aromatic paradise were "I did not command a bathing chamber" made Sebastain\'s eyes sparkle with delight as he deepened his bow. That his next utterance—accompanied with the gesture of raising his slender arms from his sides—was "Undress me" offered even greater gratification to his eager butler, who responded in graceful haste. "Yes, my Lord," said he, rising and stepping forward.



Sebastian had already had the ritual pleasure of disrobing the child, removing the day\'s ornate, fashionable garments and neatly reclothing him in pristine white nightshirt. Doing up the numerous tiny pearl buttons and laying the lace at the neck and wrists just so brought a little thrill from Sebastian\'s fingertips right up through his entire body, for so fashioned was the human form with its strange nervous system that enchanted the demon more than he thought possible. And now? A repetition in reverse, usually reserved for the mornings but now to be done in the candlelit glow of the bathing room, with multi-hued reflections from the magnificent hand-wrought stained glass panels gently decorating the young master\'s precious body.



Sebastian brought his long-fingered hands to their task with relish, indulging himself in the slightest of indiscretions befitting this new, unfamiliar space. Reverently, he unbuttoned each tiny button, moving more slowly than need be. Ciel was still and silent. Sebastian let his fingertips brush the flesh of his ribcage as he lifted the nightshirt over his head, eliciting a shiver despite the warmth of the room, but no words of protest. He tipped up the round little face delicately then reached around to remove the eyepatch, rather than untying it from behind. Ciel\'s mouth opened to protest the unnecessary intimacy, but then closed. Sebastian could feel his momentary submission and drank it in like finest wine. Such submission would not last, nor would he wish it to. But the bathing chambers, with its rich glow, dark floral scent, and ornate beauty induced an awed silence in them both, and provided the young Phantomhive with a brief, alien respite from the burdens of living.



The crimson-eyed demon did not fool himself into thinking his master would not resent the near hypnotic state he had induced, but nor did he delude his nimble mind into believing, for one moment, that Ciel did not want and need this little escape. As the naked boy watched, Sebastian removed his gloves and jacket and tidily rolled up the sleeves of his pristine white shirt. He bent forward and took the proud boy into his arms, cradling and carrying him to the large, beautiful tub, filled with rose petals and water he knew to be of perfect temperature (and would make so with powers he need not mention to Ciel at this delicate time if it were in the least displeasing). Had the child uttered some biting quip about how Sebastian\'s hand touched his bottom or stroked his thigh, the butler would not have been surprised, but there was no word to break the stillness.



Slowly, carefully, he lowered his precious charge into the warm wetness, observing a few pale petals that clung lovingly to his flesh, then remarking in his eyes a hint of trepidation. Why should a bath be fearful to his brave child-master, one who had seen so much of death and destruction in his meager years? Ciel was bathed more regularly than he wished, more frequently than those of this era and culture enjoyed, and he had always done so without worry—though, like many a child, he complained often and loudly of being made to do something he did not always wish to do. There was, perhaps, something of surrender in the ritual they enacted together this night, something that hinted of a future in which Ciel would yield his soul, as he must, to the demon with whom he had made contract. But even a touch of fear was too much for Sebastian to allow the valiant child to endure if he could do otherwise.



"Is the water warm enough, young master?" Sebastian said softly, releasing his hold and coming to his knees before the tub. His demeanor was all attentiveness, his voice soothing.



Ciel held to the sides of the tub and brought his gaze to Sebastian\'s. "It will do," he said, sitting upright and beginning to gaze around the room.



Speaking as the true master he was to Sebastian had called the child to himself. Good. Now Sebastian could dare more. "Allow me to bathe you, young master," Sebastian offered, reaching over to grasp the bar of almond-oil soap Ciel favored. The butler often assisted in such matters as the rinsing of Ciel\'s hair and holding out a hand to escort him from the tub. But the boy insisted upon washing himself. He would demand he was not a helpless infant, but Sebastian also noted well his dislike of being touched. Quite understandable, given his circumstances. Humans needed touch, however; Sebastian knew this from ample observation over a long existence. And Ciel did permit it, in certain ways. He even relished it, when it came to such matters as dressing him or protecting his body from one who would do him harm. And there was the occasional spanking, of course, though that was of another order.



Permitting Sebastian to wash him was new. Forbidden or at least unexplored. But the bath chamber was a haven, a place for the heretofore prohibited to be permitted, especially when all the boy had to do was offer an imperceptible nod before Sebastian went to work.



"This soap comes from a new manufacturer, young master," Sebastian said, voice even and calm, to ease any tension as he brought his lathered hands to Ciel\'s shoulders and gently rubbed them clean. "I found its foam smoother and more ample than the product we have been using." He reached lower, taking Ciel\'s hand into his own and caressing up and around the lean little arm, covering it with suds and then lowering it back into the water. Cupping his hands, he rinsed it well and then brought himself to the other side of the tub to wash his other arm.



Ciel remained largely motionless, except to allow himself to be manipulated. Whether he was tranquil or ill-at-ease, Sebastian was not entirely sure. But such uncertainty roused and engaged the demon, who welcomed unpredictability as the novel treat it was. "Should you prefer this soap to the other, I am certain the small company could easily be brought into the holdings of the Phantomhive empire." Ciel bit his lip and let his eyes drift closed as Sebastian lathered his small torso, paying particular attention to his sensitive underarms.



The small circles he drew around the boy\'s nipples, however, were more than the child could endure without comment, and he balled his little hands into fists and gave the single-word command, "Sebastian." The butler inclined his head with a smile and turned to the more innocuous work of scrubbing his back.



"I do like this soap," Ciel conceded as his hair was soaped carefully with one hand while Sebastian held a small towel before his master\'s eyes to protect them. Sebastian gave a small smile and nod that the boy could not see and tipped his head back to rinse.



Once he had swept the wet black mass carefully back and smoothed it down with the little cloth to ensure he would not trail unwanted drips of water into Ciel\'s face, the boy spoke again: "Have we finished?" he asked with quiet firmness, and Sebastian could not help but enjoy all that was unsaid.



"Almost," the dutiful butler pronounced as he brought his hands deep into the water to spread his pale thighs. Ciel\'s gasp thrilled him to the core as he carefully pressed them further apart to wash his legs and belly, dallying with increasing nearness to his tiny genitals.



"Sebastian," protested Ciel, but in vain and without conviction as Sebastian took hold of his little cock and stroked it softly in the warm, sweet-scented bathwater. His other hand dipped further down, amply lathered, to press a finger into the little hole between the perfect cheeks of his young master. Ciel moaned involuntarily and looked down at Sebastian\'s hands. It aroused Sebastian deeply to have this reminder of his master\'s superiority: how many others would have closed their eyes and denied what was happening even as it happened? But not Ciel Phantomhive. He watched as Sebastian stroked the diminutive shaft, pulling back the slender foreskin and exposing the minute head. He gazed as his dedicated butler pressed his finger in deeper, reaching a spot of pleasure that brought a sweet, high whine from his throat. And at last he brought his eyes to Sebastian\'s as those dedicated fingers at last brought him to a climax that decorated the tub with a slender ribbon of nearly clear ejaculate and left Ciel slack-jawed, panting and needing. Sebastian could do no less than satisfy that need, and brought his mouth to Ciel\'s, kissing him sweetly and deeply, savoring this sample of what would one day be a more perfect and permanent embrace.



With characteristic determination, Ciel quickly regained his composure and broke the kiss then rose, demanding Sebastian bring him a towel and dry him. Sebastian nodded and obeyed instantly. As he rubbed the flushed, petite body firmly, he asked in an even, dispassionate voice, "Does the bath chamber please my young master?"



"It is too colorful," Ciel Phantomhive replied, "but it will suffice." He pursed his lips in thought. "I would like warm milk before I sleep," he added.



"Yes, my Lord," answered Sebastian with a smile.