Alois sat up from his bed, fast. His eyes were wide and fearful from his nightmare. He hugged his knees and pressed his face into them to stem the flow of tears.

There he was.. Alois was trapped in a spider's web. A wingless butterfly, he looked around and struggled frantically. He saw the spider coming towards him, and he panicked. But when he realized it had the face of Claude, his hurried attempts to free himself quickly ceased. He beamed his smile up at him.

But Alois froze when he saw another thing. The spider was ensnaring yet another butterfly, which strangely resembled.. - a flash of rage and desperation - Ciel Phantomhive.

He tried to call Claude's name, but all was in vain. Alois watched as Claude lustfully devoured the form that was Ciel. He watched. He watched. He screamed. His heart died.

Then, he fell. The web holding Alois in place snapped in that particular spot, and he fell. He reached out a hand to Claude, who only turned his back on him. He screamed out.

Alois sobbed into his balled-up fists. He tried not to make much noise, so that the cause of this demeanor would not show up.. like he always would.

Claude was always there for him. Always came when he needed him most. Always held him tight when he was afraid. Always.. always. But.. why..

"Why do I feel unwanted..?"

Alois's painful whisper into thr night wasn't answered. Only the steady raindrops on the other side of his windows answered him.

He hated him. He hated Ciel Phantomhive for this. Hated him for stealing any chance of Claude returning his feelings. Claude only wanted his dinner, and Ciel was obviously his flavor of the month. Not.. Not him. Not the one who needed him the most. Not the one who cared so dearly for him. Memories flashed through his mind.

"Claude, no! Not you! Don't get burnt, Claude, don't get burnt!"

He never wanted to lose him..

"Everyone, even you, in the end, will.."

"I want nothing but to deeply desire my master."

It was a lie, wasn't it? The only thing that bound Claude to him was the contract they had created. Alois was fine with Claude having his soul, but.. he wished that he could have actually, truly desired him. To Claude, Alois was just another victim to collect. But.. Ciel was so much more to him, wasn't he?

He was Claude's spice. Claude didn't want a regular, easily aquirable taste. He wanted a game, a challenge, and the reward of a rare treat. Alois could provide none of these things for him, he knew. He knew he could never be good enough.

His tears then flew down faster. His agony was.. immeasureable.

I have only you..

Why did Ciel Phantomhive have to step in? If he hadn't been here, Claude may have.. may have wanted him, in the end.. He whispered to himself, biting his lip to try to hold back the screams.

"Does he love you the way that I do?"

At this thought, Alois couldn't help but cry out into the night. He wanted Claude so much, he loved him so much. I want to tear off a wing, so that you can never run away..

He barely heard the sound of the door swiftly being opened, then silently shut on the other side of the room. He heard a small thump on the floor next to him, and turned over on the bed fast. His eyes were stained with tears and had become irritated.

"Danna-sama, are you alright?"

Claude was kneeling next to him, his head upturned alertly towards Alois.

"Yes.. It was just a nightmare."

He wiped his eyes fast.

"If you wou-"

"Stay with me, until I fall asleep."

Claude had a slightly surprised look on his face, then smiled kindly up at him.

"Yes, your Highness."

As he sat up on the bed at his side, Alois turned his back to him. But after a few minutes, Alois curled up to him, head in his lap. Claude placed a gloved hand on his head and played with his hair to sooth his master.

"Sleep well, Danna-sama."

Alois didn't care if he felt it at this moment, but a single tear slipped down his cheek at this.

Even if you can never return these feelings which hurt my heart.. I'll pretend that you're really here.

As Alois fell off into a slumber, he didn't notice the pained expression that flit across Claude's usually smooth features as he sensed his unease.

In his slumber, Alois realized..

I've been alone all along.