Akashitsuji - Red Butler

Grell was quiet, he felt like running away and crying someplace alone, but he had to keep his composure. This situation could help him, maybe if he pleased master Ciel, he would get in his favor. Maybe Sebastian could be pleased with him too. And if not, he could always be proud of himself for being able to make such splendid tomato soup, for he knew, no one could top his. Grell looked up at Sebastian, trying not to show any emotions, just like the black butler was so good at. ‘Fine, I’ll make the tomato soup.’
Sebastian made a short bow as he left the room.

As Sebastian’s footsteps faded away in the hallway, Grell stood up from the bed, straightened out his hair and tied it together. Nothing could go wrong in the kitchen this time. He pulled up his sleeves as he made his way to the kitchen. As he was about to step into the kitchen, he almost got run over by Meiren who lost her balance with a pile of plates. ‘Careful with those!’ At the last moment Grell could stop the plates from falling.
Meiren looked relieved. ‘Ah, thank you mister Grell, I sometimes have trouble seeing where I’m going.’ She smiled at him in a shy way, before disappearing into the hallway again.

All other servants were busy preparing everything for dinner as Grell looked around in the kitchen. He was fired up to let everyone know how great he was at making tomato soup and he wanted to start as soon as possible. He started gathering ingredients and before he knew it, he was stirring a delicious smelling red substance. He was lucky the Phantomhive family was so rich, for even some rare herbs, needed as the secret ingredients, were present. Meiren kept running in and out of the kitchen with various tableware and bard was cooking the main meal, so now and than aided by Sebastian.

Grell noticed no one really seemed to care about what he was doing, but that was fine. He still hadn’t gotten over the little incident with Sebastian just now. He shouldn't have gotten so close to him, how stupid of him to think the ‘favor’ Sebastian was asking for, would be something connected with love? Sebastian could be so harsh at times. Right now, in the kitchen, he hadn’t even bothered to look over in his direction. Bard was too busy doing his own thing apparently, instead of wondering what business the red haired shinigami would have in the kitchen.

Grell’s thoughts wandered off again as he thought about his own stupidities, as a tear fell down in the tomato soup. He sniffed, it startled him, why was he emotional? Somewhere he knew, but he didn't want to admit. He did not feel welcome here. ‘Aww Ill make the soup salt this way..’ He quietly talked to himself as he kept stirring. He wiped his tears away just in time as Meiren was the first to come and take a look. ‘Ahh this smells so good, what is it?’ She bent over slightly as she sniffed the scent of the soup. Grell didn't believe his ears, did this girl not know what tomato soup smelled like? ‘It’s tomato soup’ he explained. ‘I never had tomato soup, but it smells delicious Mr. Grell!’ She exclaimed so loud everyone in the kitchen looked up. ‘C-Can I taste it?’ Meiren asked boldly.

Before he knew it, he handed her a tablespoon to try the soup. ‘Well someone should taste the soup before it’s served, ne?’ His sadness was gone as he looked at Meiren’s face, smiling when she nodded at him in approval and tried the soup. Grell waited in anticipation when he thought she was the first person here to open up to him. She didn't seem scared of him or treating him like he was useless. He appreciated her positivity and smiled. ‘And, what do you think?’ ‘Mmm! Its so delicious!’ Before he knew it she had turned around to the rest telling them all to come and taste the soup.

Because of Meiren’s enthousiasm, Finni, Bard, Tanaka and even Sebastian came over to taste the soup. Grell didn't know what to do with the sudden attention, he stayed quiet and waited till everyone had their turn of tasting his soup. Bard slapped him on the shoulder ‘That is some great soup you made, didn't see that coming’. Tanaka showed his satisfied face. Finni’s face was probably the most surprised one out of the bunch. ‘.. he is not so useless after all.’ He stated after trying the soup, then walking off again. Grell decided to take those comments as a compliment. Sebastian was now tasting the soup, Grell started fidgeting with his sleeve. Sebastian looked up as if trying to remember something, as if he was about to weigh his words and tell Grell just what was missing in the soup, but instead he just said. ‘Delicious, let’s serve it while it’s still hot.’

Grell was beaming on the inside, how did Sebastian always succeed in playing with his emotions like that. Before he could think any further, Sebastian gave him two soup bowls on a tray. ‘I think it would be appropriate if you serve the soup.’ Grell gave him an uncertain look. Was he sure about that? To let such a clumsy butler serve such an important customer. Sebastian could read the doubt on Grells face, but somehow he had faith Grell would do fine delivering his own soup. It couldn't be that hard, could it?

Grell filled the two bowls with his tomato soup and garnished them with some parsley.
He took a deep breath and started walking to the dining room with it, he never liked the Phantomhive dining room much. The table was just too long for so few people, and the room was dark. There was no coziness, no nice colors, yes that was it, there was no red in this room. He knocked the door and entered with the soup. As expected the young master was in his usual seat at the right side of the table, and the customer was all the way on the other side. Ciel looked up when he came in, Grell could see he was a little surprised, probably because he had expected Sebastian to come in.

‘Ah, Mr.Grell Suthcliff, I heard you made the first course.’ Ciel looked at him expectantly. Grell walked up to the table. ‘Yes I did, young master, this tomato soup is my specialty. Thank you for requesting it.’ He carefully placed one bowl of the tomato soup in front of Ciel, as he tried to balance the other bowl still on the tray. That was hard, since the other bowl had no balance from the first bowl anymore. Grell had always found it difficult to carry heavy things around on a tray, he still had a long way to go before being able to pass for a skilled butler, but he did his best to improve. He walked to the customer with the second bowl of soup. The man gave him a curious look. As Grell was about to take his last step forward, something stopped his foot from moving. He reacted too late and tripped. He could see the bowl of soup break on the floor.

The customer jumped up from his chair, he had gotten hot soup over him and started yelling immediately: ‘You idiot! What kind of butler are you?’ Grell kneeling was on the ground, making excuses, he did not understand what had made him fall down, why did this always happen to him, his day finally seemed to go well. The man couldn’t stop yelling at him, than turning to Ciel demanding him to fire this incompetent butler. ‘I-I will clean this up right now, please forgive me, i-it was an accident..’ The red haired shinigami couldn’t take much more as he stood up and rushed out. He bumped into Sebastian on his way out, who of course, already came prepared. He carried a cloth and a bin with him and ignored Grell completely as he walked by. This wasn’t good, not good at all.