Akashitsuji - Red Butler

Since everyone had been tired because of the hectic evening with the special guest, the servants went to bed early. Also young master Ciel had already been tucked in by Sebastian. They had had a short conversation about the things that happened during dinner. Ciel had told Sebastian he didn’t trust the customer that much anyway, but that he had to stay polite. He had told Sebastian of the small toy that was lingering around, which made Grell trip, and that it wasn’t the shinigami’s stupidity. He had wanted to warn him. Ciel had entrusted Sebastian to tell Grell he shouldn’t worry about getting fired over such a little thing, though he wasn’t too happy about the interest the red haired butler seemed to have in his personal favorite.

So that’s how our black butler Sebastian ended up knocking Grells door. But to no avail. Grell didn’t seem to be in his room. Sebastian, as he was ordered to do what he had to do, decided to check on every other place the red butler could be. He soon heard the shower running as he checked on the several bathroom doors. As he listened carefully, he could hear someone cry, it was definitely Grell. He did not understand why humans needed to cry so much. Was Grell even human? He thought about it, and found out he wasn’t quite sure about it. What he was sure about though, was that the shinigami was a peculiar one. He started to wonder what drove the lively and chaotic redhead to stay at the estate and push himself so hard into learning to become a butler.

As Sebastian stood in front of the bathroom door, he figured it could take a while. He could better wait for Grell in his room. He walked around in Grells room, he knew it inside out, as he had furnished it himself. The shinigami didn’t have many possessions, he probably didn’t need a lot of belongings. One of the closets was opened, and Sebastian tilted an eyebrow, did he see a red dress? It definitely looked more like a dress than something a man would wear.. Knowing it was impolite to look through someone else’s stuff, he sat down on the bed, ignoring the closet. He waited till he heard footsteps on the hallway, it was Grell.

The redhead came walking into his room and closed the door. Sebastian thought he had seen him but that he just ignored him. Grell had been crying so he would understand why. Despite the darkness, Sebastian could see the tired look on Grells face, and red eyes of crying so much. Even though his eyes were red of rubbing them, Sebastian found there was something charming about it. He couldn’t quite pinpoint it until Grell started walking towards the bed where he was still sitting. The shinigami came closer and let his bathrobe slide off him, letting the moonlight shine on his body as Sebastian gasped and finally put together what had been different about Grell, he didn’t see the demon butler at all because he wasn’t wearing his usual glasses.

Grell stopped in mid-step as he noticed an other presence in his room. He panicked, he did not know who it was and the thought he regretted not having gone back for his glasses shot through his head immediately. ‘W-who is..’ Grell started, but he stopped as he heard a familiar voice apologize. ‘Excuse me, I am so sorry, I..’ It was the first time Sebastian had to think what he could say in this kind of situation. ‘I was ordered to talk.. but I did not notice… your glasses..’ Sebastian could hit himself in the head for his incoherent blabbering. This should never happen again.

As Sebastian was apologizing, the situation dawned upon Grell, his cheeks started to color almost as red as his hair was. Sebastian quickly got up, he picked up the bathrobe from the floor and put it back around Grell to cover him up somewhat. Grell had now turned quiet. It must have been the first time the shinigami was so quiet around Sebastian.
It was not an ideal situation, Sebastian didn’t know how to start, besides, the situation left him quite speechless himself too. He did not know the redhead annoyance was hiding such a fine body under his ever so red attire. Sebastian tried to put the thought aside, and do what he came for.

Grell was startled, Sebastian had been in his room all this time, waiting for him. Oh, only the idea made him think of all kinds of romantic settings. He knew it wasn’t the case, but he never thought Sebastian would even once be waiting for him, in his room, on his bed, at such an hour. But not only that, he had completely shown himself to the demon butler. He only noticed as soon as the other gasped in surprise. Grell did not really know what to do, as Sebastian started apologizing. He didn’t have to, really. As Sebastian stood up and draped his bathrobe around him again, Grell answered finally. ‘..my glasses, it seems I left them in the bathroom.. ’ He smiled clumsily at the silhouette of Sebastian he could now make out in the dark.

Sebastian was glad Grell did not make a big fuss of this, he was pretty tired too, and he didn’t want to add any more drama to everything that happened already that day. ‘I could get you your glasses now if you want me to.’ Sebastian offered, but Grell shook his head. ‘I’m fine, I don’t need them when it’s this dark.’ He pulled his bathrobe a little tighter around him and sat down next to Sebastian. ‘What were you ordered to tell me.. Sebas-chan?’ Grell gave him a curious look. He liked calling the demon butler sebas-chan, without anyone noticing he was saying so, it still sounded like he just said Sebastian really fast.

Unlike what Grell thought, Sebastian did notice the nickname the redhead gave him all the time, but he paid no attention to it, he didn’t really care. Sebastian was a temporary name anyway. He turned to face Grell, it was weird how cute he could look without his typical red glasses. Too bad he will probably wear them again tomorrow, he thought.

Sebastian ripped away from his musings as he reminded what he came her for again. ‘Well, first I must compliment you on the tomato soup you made. Young master Ciel was very happily surprised about the taste. He wants to eat it more often, he asked me to tell you.’ Grell smiled, he knew the soup was a success, he just didn’t know if the young master liked it. This cheered him up a little. Sebastian continued: ‘The young master also wants me to let you know he wanted to warn you for the toy you tripped over when you served the soup. He was too late, else you would have noticed, he apologizes for it and he doesn’t blame you in the least.’ Grells eyes started glistening with tears again. But this time they were tears of joy. ‘Really?! Oh my I totally didn’t see what I tripped over.. I am so glad he is not mad at me.. even though his customer ran away.’ Grell still felt guilty.

‘I would not worry if I were you, the young master is good to all of his servants, he would not just fire someone over something trivial like that.’ Sebastian reassured the red butler. ‘Besides, he told me he was not really happy with the man’s attitude anyway.’
This must have been the most Sebastian has ever talked to me, Grell thought. He wanted this moment to last longer. Maybe he should just tell Sebastian what he felt for him? Just like that? …As he thought it over, Sebastian stood up. ‘Well I suggest you go to bed, I think you could really use some sleep.’ Grell noticed the source of warmth beside him had disappeared, he could make out Sebastian’s silhouette in the moonlight.

Oh how badly the red haired shinigami wanted to tell Sebastian about his true feelings, when it came to it, he was just too scared of rejection. Grell stood up too, the least he could do was wishing his nightly visitor a good night of sleep. Without asking, he wrapped his arms around Sebastian. He cuddled up against his chest and breathed in the other’s scent. Sebastian protested a little. ‘Ehh.. Grell..’ Please don’t push me away, not now, not yet… Grell pleaded in his head. Grell didn’t know, that if he had worn his glasses, he could see how Sebastians cheeks had colored a nice shade of pink at that moment. ‘Goodnight Sebaschan~’ He mumbled against his chest in a sleepy voice. Sebastian hesitantly hugged Grell back. ‘.. Goodnight to you too’. Sebastian let go and softly pushed Grell back by his shoulders. ‘See you tomorrow morning.’