"I have no regrets, and I do not wish to depend on anyone."
No one else has my drive to see this through to the end- even Sebastian stands by me only by an order. I cannot depend on others. I've sacrificed that right, that privilege, that comfort.
Ciel stood and kissed his Aunt on the cheek, indulging himself in tenderness as the moment presented itself. It really was a glorious feeling to wish a good night upon another. As he walked through the town house to his bedroom, Ciel felt a twinge of guilt for pushing her hand away. While a gentle pet was common, even cherished, when he was a boy, he had buried that part of himself with his parents.
The earl left the door cracked as he walked into his room, un-surprised that not a speck of dust was to be found in the abandoned space. But Ciel was eager to continue his game of teasing Sebastian, and quickly thought up a snipe of a comment concerning his butler's work ethic. A click of heels behind him made him toss the remark over his shoulder, chiding Sebastian for not properly dusting the backs of the curtains.
"Well, that's just enough of a crime to fire him for, isn't it? Perhaps I'll find him in my service after all." Ciel spun and barely cooled a flustered blush as his Aunt crossed the floor towards him. Angelina smiled at him, though her eyes held an undeniable sadness as she turned to rifle through his dresser, mussing the clothes from his butler's pristine folding. "I told Sebastian I'd put you to bed tonight."
Ciel shook his head at his aunt's antics and blew a sigh as she managed to find his bedclothes, finally. He blushed again and stammered as she went to remove his clothes. "I'm your aunt, Ciel, and I've seen you naked before." "I was a child then!" The earl protested, flailing against her effort. She froze before him, a shadow falling over her face. "Ciel, you still are a child. Have you forgotten even your age in this reckless pursuit?"
Ciel looked away, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. "My 'pursuit' as you called it is as calculated and planned as possible. It is relentless, yes, but the furthest cry from 'reckless'."
Madam bit her tongue as she resumed her task of unbuttoning her nephew's suit, trying not to waste their time together arguing. The earl didn't reject her help for the same reason, but only Angelina knew how short their time together would end up being.
Ciel reigned in his composure, his aunt letting him change his pants by himself, though insisted on buttoning his night shirt and tying his robe for him.
"Do you sleep with this on?" Her fingers brushed his forehead by his eye patch. Ciel simply nodded in affirmation. A reminder, even in my rest, of what I have done, and what is to become of me. Of course, not that my rest isn't already disturbed...
Ciel was shaken from his thoughts by the gentle brush of his aunt's lips on his forehead. The earl let his eyes close as his aunt gently guided him to lie back, sitting next to his curled form as she repetitively soothed a hand through his short hair. Silence settled peacefully between the two, the tie of family enough to end even a Phantomhive squabble.
She stayed for a short while, Ciel relaxing a bit more with each stroke, until she bent to whisper a strangely choked "Good night" before exiting the room. Ciel heard his door creak open again, and sighed before opening his eye.
"…Well? How about it?"
A/N-Disclaimer: I claim no rights or affiliation with Yana Toboso's work. Also, flipping back through the cannon scene's in the manga, I realized after I was 530 words into this fiction that Ciel is already dressed for bed when he and Madam finish their chess game. But I liked the way it turned out and I can't get these two out of my head. I hope you enjoyed it as well