Nevermore

Also: Homo, shota, references to past rape. Future buttsex.

Author’s note to the readers: I’m sorry this chapter took longer than usual. I needed to re-assess just where the hell I’m taking the story, plot-wise. I have some basics in mind, but the climax just doesn’t seem to be building up like it should. Also, I had a paper to write while working on this chapter, so I was sort of… not in the mood to write. I HATE FINALS SEASON. x-x

Also: Pardon me for taking liberties with the layout and furniture in Ciel’s bedroom, I couldn’t find a consistent reference for his room.


…



Ciel did not awaken all at once, but instead in a slow process that started when Sebastian’s grip around him shifted. The curtains had yet to be pulled back from the windows, leaving slivers of white gold light to creep through the part in the thick fabric. It seemed to shine directly onto his eyes as well, which caused the young earl to turn his face downward, into the warmth that waited for him at the crook of Sebastian’s neck. The devil butler had kept his word and hadn’t moved away from Ciel the entire night and a generous portion of the morning, allowing the ‘man’ of the house to have a long and satisfying night of sleep. However, it was now time to get up and Sebastian wasn’t the type to dally.

“Good morning, Young Master.” Ciel groaned and flopped over, his blue-black hair a fuzzy mess all over his head as the boy crawled under the blankets entirely and hid from his butler, who climbed out of the bed elegantly in one swift motion. His master could not see him due to the cover of the sheets, but the devil looked quite pleased with himself at that moment. He buttoned his shirt and tucked it in neatly but did not bother to put the vest, tie, or jacket and whatnot back on. Only his shoes. After all, he didn’t plan on wearing dirty clothes for the rest of the day, not when they had business company on the way.

Spending his nights in Ciel’s bed to protect the boy was disrupting his nightly routine of preparations. Either Ciel would have to wait for something to be done that morning or the boy would need to do something for himself.

The bad part of that equation was that Ciel hated waiting and Sebastian didn’t trust him to know just how to do most things for himself. He would have to ask about that, wouldn’t he?

One ungloved hand gingerly took hold of the young earl’s bed sheets and swiftly yanked them off of him, earning a look that would unnerve anyone else – that was, if the boy’s hair wasn’t sticking up at every angle possible. “I believe we have something important ahead of us today, My Lord.” Sebastian’s grin was as it always was – mocking, polite, and amused. The little lord crawled down to the low footboard of the four-poster bed and slid onto the cool wood of the massive steamer trunk there, the rough aged texture of the wood and the cold of the metal hinges were shocking against his bare skin beneath his nightshirt. He looked across the room at where his mirror had shattered the day before, finding, oddly enough, that it had already been replaced. Ciel wasn’t sure when Sebastian had found the time to do that, but he could see himself from across the room, then blanched. “Sebastian!” He squawked, hopping up off of his seat in a fearful hurry. He pressed his face not even two inches from the mirror while one hand peeled back the collar of his night shirt. “There’s a strange mark on my neck, I don’t recall injuring myself there. Did I do something to myself in my sleep last night?” The young noble’s expression was genuine – had his passenger attempted to hurt him in his sleep last night? He’d thought that being held close to Sebastian would keep it at bay!

“Sebastian! Say something!” Ciel’s fear turned into worry, then anger. “Wha-“ Those dainty brows drew downward upon taking a look toward Sebastian, who was gathering his discarded clothing. The demon’s face was split with an impossibly wide grin – a rather smug one at that. On top of that, he wasn’t saying a damned thing, which was, quite frankly, scaring the hell out of poor little Ciel Phantomhive.

The teen turned to face him entirely and jerked his collar out of the way, pointing to what looked like a deep red bruise. “What is this?” Obviously, from the devil’s behavior, he knew.

Casually, Sebastian stepped close enough to Ciel that the boy could feel his body heat, then bent low over him as if ‘examining’ the mark on his neck. “Ah, yes. I believe I know exactly what this is and how it got on you, Young Master.”

Ciel felt as if he could punch Sebastian but instead cast a deadly look at him.

“I did it.” That smile never wavered from the butler’s lips, even as he stood straight, extra clothing draped over one arm. “Last night, before your bath.”

Ciel didn’t say a damned thing about the hickey after that. “G-Go wash yourself, I’ll be here waiting. Don’t take too damned long, demon!” Ciel, flustered again, attempted to shuffle off toward the bed again to lounge idly until his servant returned to him; however, Sebastian caught him around the middle first. An affectionate little kiss was given to the top of the teen’s head before he was released. “I won’t be long, My Lord.” The demon stated simply, smiling pleasantly as he bowed, then left the room to go make himself ‘presentable’. Ciel silently huffed in his room and went back to the mirror to examine the mark.

It must have been made when Sebastian had been sucking on his neck the night before. Ciel’s cheeks flushed an intense color, still in shock that they’d done what they’d done. Hell, he was still in shock about kissing Sebastian for the first time – and now getting little randomized bits of affection from the butler whenever they were in private. Awkwardly, he plucked up a silver plated hair brush with a large ‘P’ for ‘Phantomhive’ monogrammed onto the back. With a (seemingly) bored sigh, the boy’s thumb ran over the brown bristles at the other side. If their current situation continued the way it did, adjustments would need to be made to their schedules – that or Ciel could start dressing and bathing himself.
With a pondering expression, the dark haired boy lifted the brush to try and tame his unruly slate colored hair. It was sticking up in just about every direction possible, and he only really managed to get a few tangles out. Styling hair was difficult. He’d rather wait for Sebastian.

Ciel momentarily regarded himself in the mirror again, noticing how the mark in his eye seemed to fade into its original blue when Sebastian was out of the room, like losing a radio signal. Things hadn’t always been like that. He knew it was the passenger attempting to sever their connection – but failing. Looking at it sent shivers down his spine, so Ciel chose to instead look down. Perhaps he could get himself ready? That idea was shut down as soon as it appeared. Ciel was terrible at buttoning buttons and though he could tie a knot, his bows and ties looked like ugly nooses.

Well, at least he could pick out his own clothes! With as dignified of a stance as possible, the surly little teen tossed open the doors to his wardrobe, picking out clothing that matched. It was a little different than a combination that Sebastian might pick out, less subtle perhaps, but Ciel didn’t really care. Blue and black.

What the hell was Sebastian doing? Ciel frowned as he finally decided to have a go at putting on his clothes. The little lord positioned himself in front of the mirror to try and undo the buttons of his nightshirt. After two, he got frustrated and simply tossed the thing up over his head, then let it fall to the floor by his ankles.

A jewel blue blouse was slipped on over Ciel’s slender shoulders, his head tilted to one side while regarding himself, finding it odd to be staring at himself in the mirror, mostly nude, while trying desperately to button the first few buttons of his shirt. He leaned in over the desk that held the huge mirror, bent at the waist, with elbows braced on the smooth wood while he worked his fingers tired on only the fourth button (he’d had to restart due to the buttons being misaligned!). Just as an irate sound of frustration was passing his lips, Sebastian reappeared in the bedroom. Ciel’s gaze turned immediately upon him, somewhat frozen in a rather undignified position, bare rear turned out toward the middle of the room, the upper half of his body facing downward upon the desk, the deep ocean blue of his silk blouse draping unbuttoned across a smooth thigh. “Uh.” He made some sort of a noise but Sebastian seemed more than willing to simply stand right where he was after having closed the door.

“Sebastian…?” Ciel mumbled, starting to stand up straight. His butler’s head cocked to the side, regarding the boy’s rear end with a less than innocent look.

“Yes, My Lord?” He finally replied, stepping further into the room once Ciel had turned and moved to sit at the side of his bed. “Button this up and put the rest of my clothes on me. You took forever down there, what on earth were you doing?”

The demon knelt in front of his pretty little master, buttoning down the shirt expertly before placing gloved hands upon the top of either of the earl’s cream-white thighs, earning a light flush from the boy. “Our visitor has arrived.” One could sense the irritation in that fake smile that the demon flashed, but otherwise, he really didn’t give away his thoughts on the matter.

Ciel rolled his eyes. “Of course Lau would try and surprise us rather than simply replying to the letter.”

Sebastian said nothing but instead took the brush from the desk that Ciel had used a moment before, brushing the boy’s hair into the style he usually kept it in – hair swooping gently over the contracted eye to partially hide the eyepatch. Perfect. Ciel’s clothes went back on without much event, though Ciel insisted that he brush his own teeth, which amused Sebastian to no end.

When he grinned like that, Ciel wanted to knock his block off… or just kiss him hard enough to make him stop it.

The young earl tugged at the butler’s shirt and, not wanting his clothing to wrinkle or crease, Sebastian obliged by leaning down. Ciel flushed a bright red, apparently losing the courage to do what he’d wanted, which was to steal a quick kiss from the butler who had done all of the seducing thus far, which was something that certainly troubled the young master’s male pride! “I… um, you… don’t let Lau do anything perverse…” He couldn’t think of anything to say that would justify him having tugged his butler down to eyelevel with him and Sebastian knew it – his expression was nothing if not expectant. Ciel first bit his own lip, then sighed and leaned in to press his own lips to those of his demon – a mouth that had surely corrupted countless bodies and souls throughout the centuries. His entire system flooded with heat and butterflies when Sebastian immediately responded by kissing him right back. Ciel, though typically stoic, could not seem to overcome the thrill that came from the fact that he was kissing Sebastian. Kissing him! The moment was short, however, because there soon came a knock on the door, then an awkward female voice stammering behind it, muffled by the thick wood.

“Mister S-S-Sebastian! The um, Lau is… is… he is waiting, sir!” There was a shuffling of fabric outside the door.

The butler smiled at Ciel as if they’d not just been sharing a rather sweet kiss, though placed a hand on the small of his master’s back when looking toward the door. “The Master and I shall be right down, Maylene. Please do not attempt to serve him any tea.” His voice lowered, as did his chin when those color-changing eyes peered upon Ciel. “Shall we?” He was given a nod in reply.

Even footsteps clicked dully over the plush rug that lined the long hallway as Sebastian lead his master toward the visiting area of the house. Ciel wore a frown that could be seen even from underneath that fall of hair and his too-large eye patch. Lau was really quite an irritating man, though useful more often than not. As was to be expected, Ran Mao was perched like an exotic bird atop the man’s left knee, idly
staring out a window whilst fanning herself with an oriental paper fan – for looks, certainly; it was a comfortable temperature in the mansion – Sebastian made sure of that.

Ciel felt as if the forever-squinting Asian man was mocking him even before he managed to say a thing. “So…” The visitor started, flourishing elegantly with a hand, his expression that same oddly serene grin that seemed to almost never leave his face. “I hear that you have need of me.” Lau continued when both Ciel and Sebastian said nothing, seemingly waiting for him to continue. “You know that what you’ve asked for me to acquire could be seen as immoral, especially for ones so loyal to the queen, such as yourselves.” His brows drew into quite the serious looking frown.

Sebastian took over for Ciel, who wished to say as little as possible. “You are quite aware that the young master has no interest in this product’s recreational uses, and I’m sure you know that we are prepared to pay a generous compensation…”

Lau’s expression shifted to a clueless grin as those hands of his lifted in a rather elaborate shrug. “What exactly are you wanting me to acquire, anyway?”

Ciel practically choked from across the room, leaning forward in his seat and attempting not to sputter. “Damnit, Lau!” Dainty arms crossed over the boy’s chest and an irate look crossed his face – again. “You are always doing that!”

“Doing what?” The Chinese man grinned, settling his hands, one on the arm of the loveseat and the other upon Ran Mao’s thigh.

Sebastian subtly rolled his eyes. “Laudanum. It’s not illegal, you should have no problem getting it to us, given your trade, so we expect it soon.” Again, the butler’s lips peeled out into one of those enchanting grins he used to charm women and scare the living hell out of other men. Lau looked uncomfortable but didn’t waver in his own smile when he replied. “Of course! I can have it by tomorrow.”

“That is good to hear!” Sebastian purred happily, casting one ruby eye toward his grumpy little master, who sat with one leg elegantly crossed over the thigh of the other leg, arms tightly hugging his chest. “Well, I do suppose our business is done here. Would you like some tea before you leave?” He hoped Lau would say no. After all, another night with that mark was another night that his young master would have to spend in his arms. He couldn’t say he wasn’t looking forward to it – or teasing the young lord for the rest of the day beforehand.

The demon’s smile remained in tact but seemed to go from warm to cold. Lau and Ran Mao stood. “I’m afraid we must go… speak… to some people about your order.” The silent woman pressed against him like a housecat begging for attention.

Ciel momentarily wondered why the other man was acting strange but figured it probably had to do with Sebastian giving him the stink eye as he escorted the two to the front door (presumably to make sure they actually left, as Lau had a tendency to… stick around).

Ciel wandered off to another room while Sebastian was doing this, knowing the demon would find him regardless of where he was. The scar on his side hurt. Removing it would hurt worse, but then the thing inside him would leave. Probably.

When Sebastian returned from escorting their ‘guests’ to the carriage, he found Ciel poking around at paperwork in his study. He didn’t look up when the butler silently entered, closing the door behind himself with a soft click. “That was an extraordinarily short visit.” The earl said. “I do wish all of my business could be conducted so quickly.” The boy lamented on this for a moment, then finally met his servant’s ruby gaze. “What else is on today’s schedule?”

Sebastian crossed the room with neat and even strides and took his usual stance behind Ciel and off to one side so as to not block his light from the window. “I’m afraid there isn’t much else to attend to. I was apprehensive about scheduling lessons because I was unsure of how long Lau would stay. You’ve no business meetings for another week at least, and no letters have come from the queen.”

“I’m bored.” Ciel stated matter-of-factly, then sighed. At times, on those rare occasions during which he had no responsibilities to attend to, no unexpected visitors, and nothing entertaining to occupy himself with, the young earl would take a nap. Such was the life of a privileged young noble, after all. However, sleep was, of course, not an option.

“Shall I fetch a game to play? Chess, perhaps?” Sebastian’s smile was eerily submissive – as usual. He knew very well that Ciel would decline, as the boy hated losing and quite frankly, who could win any sort of game against a demon?

Ciel gave him a look that said ‘oh come on, really?’ without him having to open his mouth. The boy’s perfectly manicured nails thrummed on the desk in thought. “Sit down.” He mumbled. Sebastian was always standing, and with their recent… activities… it suddenly seemed rather weird.

“Young Master, I am perfectly happy to con-“ The butler started but was unable to finish. “Just do it.” Ciel stated, turning to face him entirely. The younger male dragged his seat (it was on wheels, so it wasn’t a difficult task) around so that it was directly in front of his demon. Sebastian’s hands practically twitched to get up and move the office chair for him. Instead, Ciel simply sat down. “Seeing as I’ve nothing else to do today, why don’t we chat?” One leg crossed over the other as the teen leaned casually back in his seat, catching Sebastian’s eye.

The demon conceded and took a seat gingerly in the chair he’d been backed up towards. Sometimes he thought that Ciel would have been quite successful if he’d been born a demon rather than a human with the way his mind worked. Sebastian got a thrill from that idea. “Well, Young Master, what would you like to cha-“

“What is your real name?” Ciel interrupted, head tilted to one side and eyes sparkling with mischief and curiosity. “I would like to know more about you.”

It was obvious that in the few seconds before Sebastian replied, he was seeking his mental library for loopholes in the question. “You named me yourself, Young Master. My name is Sebastian Michaelis and I am a the loyal Phantomhive butler.” Smile.

“What was your name before we made our contract?” Ciel questioned.

“I am not quite sure that I recall, furthermore, it does not matter. My name is Sebastian now and it shall remain as such as long as our contract is intact.” Sebastian replied curtly, earning a frown from Ciel.

“I will have the cats that you have hidden in your room removed from the property if you do not tell me.” Ciel stated.

The butler looked torn.

“I will adopt a puppy.” It was Ciel’s turn to grin, as both Sebastian and he knew who would be entrusted with the care of said puppy, should Ciel decide to purchase one, and Sebastian hated dogs.

“Julian.” Sebastian’s expression was a sour one and Ciel’s was the opposite. He’d won. The butler was very nearly grinding his teeth. The admission of one’s name to a human was a great sign of weakness, and Sebastian, once Julian, was far from weak. He seethed angrily while his master sat a foot or so away, pondering the name. “Julian.” The boy repeated experimentally, earning a death glare from his butler, who was seriously considering allowing Bard to prepare the boy’s next meal.

“Don’t worry, Sebastian. I won’t use that name.” The boy leaned forward, uncrossing his legs to do so. That grin was absolutely smug. “I was merely curious. Tell me more. Are demons like you born or do you simply ‘exist’?” Excitement and anxiety filtered like boiling water through his veins, burning at his cheeks and causing pale fingertips to tingle when the boy looked at Sebastian. What the boy really wanted to ask was something that even he had to work up courage for.

The demon in question neatly folded his hands over his knees and looked like he was attempting to burn a hole into his master’s forehead with those glowing eyes of his. Why was Ciel suddenly interested in him? He’d never seemed to care before, not until… Oh.

Oh.

Sebastian seemed to recover instantly and even leaned forward in his seat – dangerously close to his little master, who watched him almost bashfully through those lovely long lashes. One thin black brow arched upward at this. “Some are born, some are fallen angels, some were once humans, some are residual feelings of extreme hatred, evil, and pain, condensed into a weaker demon with no physical form.” His voice was a coo, even while giving his answer… as if he were taunting Ciel or about to start.

The little master picked up on this but attempted to not react too strongly. He had to be collected when he asked the next question or else Sebastian would laugh him off and he’d never get an answer. “You avoided answering the question.” He leaned back again, slowly lifting one leg to cross it back over the other thigh. Ciel could very easily guess which he was currently harboring inside his head, but had a hard time figuring out just what he thought Sebastian might just be. Somehow, he felt anxious about the possibility of knowing. Ciel didn’t quite understand why, but he quite preferred thinking of Sebastian as a man, a human, even if he never seemed to act like one. “Nevermind, Sebastian. You’ll keep avoiding the answer…” He sighed and rubbed at his temples idly, casting that china blue gaze out the window.

“Yes, I will.” Sebastian smiled, standing. His master hadn’t specified just how long he had to sit down, after all. “I’ll go prepare you some tea, you appear fatigued.”

The demon butler was just turning to move out of the room when Ciel grabbed a hold of one of his coat tails, causing the taller male to turn and eye him curiously. He was still angry about being manipulated into giving away (part of) his real name, but the face that the boy was making was just… well, he couldn’t very well stay angry for long. Besides, as a demon, he got over things rather quickly.

“Wait…” Ciel’s voice was smaller than usual, less sure. Almost breathless. Sebastian could see the faint tinge of natural rouge staining the boy’s pale cheeks.

Ciel had the prettiest blushes.

“When… when you…” Oh god, Ciel’s heart began racing and his breath came faster. He shouldn’t have started to ask, it was a huge mistake. That pink little tongue dipped out and flicked across plush lips, wetting them nervously as he peered up at his tall butler through immensely thick black lashes. Sebastian stared quite openly at this, though had no reason to hide it, as it was only polite to look at his master when being spoken to.

Red eyes followed the little flash of tongue, remaining on the earl’s lips even afterward.

“When you… did those things to me. You know, when you… touched me. Why did you do it?”

The demon’s eyes narrowed, pupils constricting into slits again. They glowed. “Because,” He started. Ciel was certain his answer would be because Ciel had wanted him to – after all, he’d been the one who startled Sebastian with a sudden erection that night.

“I wanted to.” Sebastian grinned as he finished, leaning in to place a hand upon the young earl’s shoulder. “The Young Master was looking quite delicious and it seemed like a waste to not take what was being offered to me so prettily.”

The teen felt all the blood had drained from his body so that it could all rush to his face and color him the same hue as a rose or strawberry. His heart pounded. So… Sebastian hadn’t simply been attending to his master’s needs. Sebastian had wanted it.

Sebastian had wanted him.

“Oh.” Ciel replied, still blushing brightly.

“Is that a problem? If the young master wishes for me to refrain from such advances, I can certainly attempt to behave myself, though…” The man, no, demon, turned and cupped his pretty little master’s face, tilting his chin up with no resistance. “I somehow doubt that.”

One smaller hand clamped over the gloved one upon Ciel’s cheek, holding it in place.

Ciel looked ever so determined and prideful, as if about to accomplish some impossible task set before him by the queen. He licked his lips to speak, but when words came out, they sounded like a pleading request. “Sebastian, kiss me.”

Whatever wall had been separating them for the three years that they’d been master and servant was crumbling, and when they met halfway for a kiss that was wholehearted on both their parts, it was like a hammer slamming into the wall’s weakest point, cracking it. One more hit and it would be completely destroyed forever.

This time, Sebastian closed his eyes. Ciel released the man’s coattail in favor of sliding that hand up the front of his vest and shirt to grip at his tie and rein him in closer before closing his own eyes. Ciel was learning more about the mechanics of a kiss by this time and so they both moved in a more two-sided kiss, unlike their previous one-sided ones. Sebastian still led them on, but it was Ciel who bashfully parted his lips to knowingly invite the other’s tongue inside. With a faint rumble of a growl inside the demon’s chest, the invitation was accepted and soon their tongues twisted, wet, against each other.

The burning in Ciel’s side faded while the two of them touched, and when Sebastian’s hand slid lower to take a hold of the boy’s waist, his gloved hand slid over the cloth-covered mark that troubled them both. The pain subsided completely then, if only temporarily, and Ciel gasped against Sebastian’s mouth, then slid his free hand up and over the butler’s shoulder.

The demon knew that he could very easily lay the young master on his back and have him completely that very moment, quite willingly. The demon’s eyes burned brightly like twin embers and he felt his instincts screaming to mark the boy as his own, to slide lips down the pulsing line of the teen’s jugular and bite down with those sharpened canines just at the junction of neck and shoulder - to take him and claim him with the scars from his canine imprints. However, he did not do so. Sebastian wasn’t sure if it was some residual conscience from millennia ago or just a gut feeling, but he decided that he would leave this at a kiss for now – albeit a rather heated and wanton kiss. He broke it off with a playful nip to his master’s pretty lips, now red and plump from Sebastian’s somewhat forceful kissing.

Ciel voiced a non-verbal complaint when his butler moved away, frowning and settling back in his chair to cross his arms indignantly. “Let me guess, you’ve got to go make dinner?”

Sebastian nodded. “Yes.” He smiled quite serenely, though his eyes remained as predatorial as before. It was strange to look at, as Ciel was still not quite used to seeing noticeable emotion on the butler’s face at all. “That.” Pause. “And I’m not entirely certain how long my Young Master’s innocence would remain in tact if I decided to stay. Now, pardon me.” Sebastian bowed and exited promptly, leaving Ciel sitting and feeling like a hot mess with that last sentence replaying itself in his mind over and over again.

He continued to sit in a huff like this through dinner, as well, then sat in his study attempting to enjoy a novel but thoughts of Sebastian’s statement continued to bother him even there. Ciel was both troubled and excited by it, which caused a terrible conflict inside his mind. On one hand, Ciel felt a secret thrill at knowing Sebastian wanted him, and even better, the man seemed to care enough about the boy that he was displaying a (rare) sort of self control in order to attempt to preserve the boy’s supposed innocence – which was odd, considering in the past, Sebastian had stated openly that the more tainted his soul, the better it would taste. He blushed at the thought of Sebastian having any sort of fond thoughts or feelings about him beyond demonic hunger or lust, but didn’t put much trust in the idea (he couldn’t help but hope though, admittedly), however, that all meant that Sebastian didn’t know.

Certainly, the demon had shown up, they’d made the contract, and he’d killed all of those men… but that didn’t mean that Sebastian knew exactly what they’d done to him. He didn’t know what they’d done to his body. The young earl released a humorless snort of a laugh as he put down his book after staring blankly at a page for fifteen minutes, earning an odd look from Sebastian, who’d been keeping watch just to the side. His stomach felt somewhat sick to think about that month.

Nothing Sebastian could do to him would make him any dirtier than he already was, and Ciel was absolutely filthy, or so he saw himself.

“Sebastian.” He demanded, hugging himself. “Draw me a hot bath.”

The look on his master’s face told Sebastian not to say a word other than “Yes, My Lord.” Before he retreated to go heat water to put into the bath. Ciel went ahead up to the bathroom that was attached to his own and sat on the cushioned stool that he normally sat on while Sebastian brushed and occasionally trimmed his hair. The uncomfortable burn of nausea stung at the base of his throat, though Ciel willed it to go back down. They were only memories… and soon, even the mark, that dreadful, haunted, evil mark on his body would be removed. It was only a little, but perhaps he’d feel a little less filthy when it was gone. Sebastian was quick, and soon he was running cool water into the bath from the taps. He chanced a worried look at his master while choosing a scent for the bath. “Lavender, rose, mint, chamomile, jasmine, or clove?” The older male asked, stopping the cool water before too much ran into the bath.

Feeling his stomach turn again, Ciel pointed at the barely used bottle of mint oil. It would help with his stomach. ”Mint.”

Sebastian applied a few droplets to scent the bath and then added the freshly boiled hot water, kicking up an immense steam when it hit and mixed with the cool that was already in the bath. As usual, he soon removed his jacket and rolled up those sleeves.

He then disrobed his young master, knowing better than to tease him while he was looking so… broken. Tentatively, the butler lifted the boy’s arms and unclipped the bandage around his middle, rolling the fabric away from the teen’s petite body. Sebastian knew he should do something but didn’t know what. Never before in his long, long life had he ever felt any need or desire to comfort a human. He’d faked it before, but this was intensely different and for the first time that he could remember, Sebastian had no idea what to do.

“Young Master…” He murmured, placing one ungloved hand to the boy’s cheek, frowning minutely as the boy looked up at him with an unreadable expression. All of the stupid emotions that the boy stirred up made it hard to read Ciel’s own. Sebastian cursed mentally. “Here.” He opted not to say anything at all for the time being. Instead, Sebastian carefully lifted his little master, turned, and lowered him into the hot bath slowly and carefully. Ciel, for once, allowed this without complaints of being treated like a doll or a woman. He simply watched Sebastian as he reached behind himself to pluck a washcloth and unscented soap from where he’d prepared it beforehand. Slowly, Ciel relaxed into the bath and closed his eyes, leaning not lengthwise in the tub, but instead he sat facing the horizontal edge where Sebastian sat, arms crossed over the lip of the tub and chin resting atop them.

Sebastian knew Ciel really wasn’t in need of a bath, so the washing was kept mainly to gentle strokes over his back and shoulders and sweeping brushes of the washcloth over Ciel’s arms. It was as comforting as he knew how to be.

The little earl eventually perked up after his stomach discomfort had long since faded away and watched his butler lazily from beneath his lashes again.

“Close your eyes, Young Master.” Sebastian warned, scooping water up before drenching the boy’s hair in it, then repeating this action several times before working a touch of a gentle soap into the thick yet baby-fine locks. Ciel sighed, closed eyes catching a touch of soap upon his lashes. Sebastian flicked it away before rinsing the boy’s hair again.

Wet hair hung in inky blue-black, almost like liquid over Ciel’s face before he brushed his bangs to one side. Master and servant both watched one another for a full minute, sitting in companionable silence the entire while. Neither moved, neither changed expression, even as fat droplets of water dribbled from Ciel’s nose and chin and over those slender shoulders and neck.

It was the earl of Phantomhive who broke the silence. “I am not innocent, you know.”

Sebastian’s brows rose high up on his brow. “Oh?” He quickly deduced what Ciel meant but didn’t understand just when he could have had the opportunity to… lose that, not while under his own almost constant watch.

“Before you saved me.” He elaborated, knowing the incredulous expression that his butler wore meant that he was trying to figure things out.

“I see.” The black haired man frowned darkly. He should have known. His little master needn’t say more. He understood completely.

When they had first made the contract, Ciel wouldn’t allow Sebastian to bathe him below the waist, didn’t like to be touched, and seemed wary of anyone who so much as attempted a handshake. He’d known they’d hurt him, but to go that far?

Sebastian would gladly kill them all over again if given the chance… but more slowly.

Ciel watched him quietly for a moment before reaching for the demon’s shirt collar and fingering it idly. “Hold me.” He commanded. Promptly, Sebastian reached into the water and hooked his arms under the boy’s arms, lifted him, then pulled Ciel from the tub entirely and placed the boy in his lap, allowing the younger male to cling to him tightly.

“Sebastian…” Ciel said, his voice determined, not weak or frightened. “Erase what they did to me. Go over every place on my body they dirtied and replace their mark with your own.”

“Young Master I-“

“This isn’t an order… I just want you to.” Ciel looked up at Sebastian, who appeared to be in thought.

“Tomorrow, the physical mark will be removed, regardless, but the rest of me is still so filthy. I can’t get their scent off of me. After all this time I still…” The boy’s face screwed into an expression of discomfort, which prompted Sebastian to stroke his hair, still looking quite surprised.

Sebastian hardly considered himself to be clean, after all, he was a demon… and really, though he was high ranking and physically powerful… he was still quite ‘unclean’ in the eyes of many. Especially humans. It was strange to him that Ciel considered him to be capable of ‘cleansing’ the young master, though he understood what he meant.

Ciel wanted to be shown what sex was like when the humiliation and pain he’d once associated with it was replaced with trust. Sebastian couldn’t say that he was capable of love because he himself did not know, but whatever he felt for the boy in his arms was a far cry from what one would feel towards a meal, and much stronger than mere affection.

He felt his heart thump. Odd.

Ciel felt it too, and that was the only answer he needed before the boy took a hold of either side of the demon’s face, sliding those elegant fingers up his butler’s noble jaw-line to pull the man close enough to kiss – and kiss he did. The boy crashed his lips to Sebastian’s, and Sebastian had no thoughts of declining.

“If you ever leave me, I will never forgive you, Demon.” His lips twisted against Sebastian’s as the demon butler returned the kiss, making it difficult to speak.

Ciel Phantomhive did not know if he had it in him to love someone again, but whatever this was, it was pretty damned close and every bit as beautiful.

“I will never leave you, Master.” Sebastian murmured, ending that kiss by giving another, much more curt one. “Let’s move this to your bedroom, shall we?”

Ciel nodded.

“Young Master, you’ve gotten my uniform quite soaked.” The butler feigned disappointment as he plucked the boy like a flower and carried him back toward the bedroom.

“It doesn’t matter, it won’t be on you for much longer.” Ciel had gone from needy to his usual demanding, snarky self.

Sebastian grinned. Oh yes, he would have made a wonderful demon, indeed.



…



Notes:

Laudanum is a mixture of opium and alcohol which was used in the last two centuries for a large number of ailments, quite often as an analgesic, though it was also used commonly to sedate due to it’s alcohol content and a large amount of the drug opium. Long story short: it’d knock your ass OUT. It was very commonly abused by old people, who used it as a painkiller and ended up addicted. Troofax.

So, about the naming of the character Lau… Yana Toboso, I see what you did there.

An update! I bet you thought I quit! I hope the boys aren’t too terribly OoC in this chapter… I mean, Ciel isn’t a very dramatic person, he’s actually quite stoic, I’ve found, except when it comes to that mark on him from when he was held captive. I kinda sorta took advantage of that and I hope he’s not too weepyfaggoty :C

More porn is in the next chapter. This one was mostly plot and drama and tension building. Yayyyy, I’m an asshole and cliffhanger-ing the sex scene.