A/N: Well, it's been almost a year since I published anything on here. How's everyone been?
This fanfiction is actually a fanfiction for another fanfiction (mindexploded anyone? xD) written by the lovely IhUgGeDaBeAr called " His Master, Sticky Situations" (If you have not done so already, please read that fanfic, for I will be making references from IhUgGeDaBeAr's fanfic, and some bits of this fanfic might be confusing otherwise. But of course, that's to the choice of you lovely readers out there) This is my interpretation the "punishment" that Sebastian gave Ciel and it should take place approximately after Sebastian rescues Ciel from Claude. (Again, please read IhUgGeDaBeAr's fanfic to know what I'm talking about xD) Here's the partial-url of that fic: s/7316852/1/His_Master_Sticky_Situations
This fanfiction is written with a style in which some details are purposely written vaguely to allow the reader to interpret the situation as they see fit. (This is also a first for me so if it's good or bad, please comment! I'm always open to constructive criticism.) This will eventually be a three-part fanfic and, as a warning people have commented that this fanfiction, thus far, is rather dark but please, I do hope you enjoy reading it nonetheless. As a last note, due to this site's lack of different fonts, flashbacks have been put into "centered" to differentiate itself from the actual story. It might get somewhat confusing but please bear with me. ^^;; Also this fanfic, unlike the other Kuroshitsuji fanfic I've written about a year ago, is not as focused on being IC.
Thank you very much to my dear friend IhUgGeDaBeAr for the inspiration to write this and much thanks to my last-minute beta-reader Saya for taking this fiction and editting it so quickly. Much love to you both~!
Without further rambling by yours truly, I do hope you enjoy this and please leave reviews. I always hope to strive and improve as a writer.
Young master… what have you done? How could you have done something so lewd with that creature…? Humans… as amusing as they are, can be so cruel…
Not too many words were spoken between the young Phantomhive Earl and his butler Sebastian Michaelis ever since he rescued his master from the grasps of that spider demon – that despicable thief…to think Claude Faustus would stoop so low as to taint his – wait, was his master still his beloved? There was an unsettling feeling inside him – almost a nauseating feeling – every single time he played back what he had witnessed in that dark alley only mere hours ago. Can I truly blame you for the pain I am suffering now, Young Master? Or was this all my doing? Was this, perhaps, your way of punishing me? To think that you would be so cruel. 'Punishment'… that word echoed in the Phantomhive butler's mind as he mentally scoffed. Would his little master understand? Sebastian would hardly think it possible. Even if this was the young master's way of punishing me for my misdoings, why allow his own body to bear the markings?
Carrying his master directly to the bathroom, he immediately prepared a bath, running all potential possibilities and scenarios through his mind. He could not help but frown while peeling away the remnants of the young master's tattered clothing. His master even carried the putrid scent of that spider demon. That alone was almost enough to make Sebastian sick.
"Sebastian, you idiot!" The sound of his master's angry cry halted his train of thought. "The water is much too cold. What the hell is wrong with you?" Then the familiar sound of splashing water before the feeling of having his entire front side soaked with water registered in his mind. Normally, he found his master's behavior to be rather amusing – to make such a fuss over such trivial things – but not today.
"My deepest apologies, Young Master," Sebastian replied monotonously, bowing; his eyes refused to make eye contact with the other before adding more hot water to the bath. His mind was truly elsewhere at that moment – immediately returning to his train of thought in an effort to decipher what had happened. Even the water now carried the repulsive scent of that spider demon. If this was his punishment…would he be in the wrong were he to seek out the Claude and have him maimed for touching his master?
"What are you waiting for, you daft bastard? Clean me already!"
Once more, his master's voice interrupted his thoughts. But what was he to do – other than what he was told? He was still the Phantomhive butler after all. Taking his master's left hand, Sebastian began to lather his arm with soap before scrubbing away the dirt only to reveal small patches of reddened skin. He stopped what he was doing immediately; his mind, once again, wandering off in deep thought.
"Sebastian!"
Were those… made by Claude? They had to be. The scent of that demon was so strong – it brought a new wave of anger and disgust along with sadness and disappointment. Exactly what have you allowed that despicable thing to do to you…?
"…stian…! Sebastian!" His master's voice sounded rather frantic now, "You… you're hurting my… arm! Let. Go! Release me… at once! S-Sebastian!" Sebastian could hear the desperation and fear that echoed in his master's voice – that voice called his name over and over again; louder and louder until his mind returned to the present.
"Ah…!" He finally managed to snap himself out of his own thoughts, releasing his master's arm as if startled, "My deepest apologies, young master. Are you alright?"
"No! You almost broke my wrist! Were you human, I would actually begin questioning whether or not you were in your right mind!" Sebastian watched as his master moved his bruised wrist gingerly, making sure that it wasn't broken. "Though that doesn't seem to be the case, is it, demon? What the hell was that for?"
Sebastian remained silent at question, his head bowed low; his mind, almost immediately, replayed the images he saw when he found his young master… in that dark alley, being violated…Were you afraid, young master?
"Sebastian! Look at me when I'm talking to you!" Sebastian could hear the anger and frustration in his master's commanding voice. He did not speak – or rather – he could not find the heart to. Exactly what was on your mind when you ran from my sight, young master?
But an order was an order. He slowly lifted his head; his crimson focusing on Ciel's form only to see that his mismatched eyes were glaring right back at him. He heard the movement of water before hearing the sound and feeling the sting of a slap that was delivered across his face. Nevertheless, he stood his ground. Silent.
"This is even beyond your usual disappointments, Sebastian," the young earl began, speaking in a forced calm voice.
Sebastian could tell by the stinging that remained on his cheek for a few long seconds, his master had slapped him as hard as he could. That must have hurt his master's hand as well. Was his little master that naïve? In an effort to punish his own butler, was he doing anything he could to inflict the pain, physical or mental, without a single thought to the consequences it will have on his own body and mind?
"Well?"
Sebastian remained silent, pondering. There was no point in arguing with his master – not that his social standing as a butler would allow such a thing to begin with.
"Sebastian! What the hell are you staring at? Are you even going to defend yourself? You're absolutely useless!" Wobbling slightly, Ciel slowly propped himself up to stand, his hands holding to the edge of the porcelain tub. His hand then darted out to grab Sebastian's tie, pulling the butler down to meet his none-too-pleasing gaze. "Now talk."
"Young Master, you'll catch a cold if you stay like this for too long." What else was there to say during such a moment? His emotionless eyes stared back to meet his master's furious glare, his calm façade slowly cracking. By contract, I am a butler first and foremost after all. My emotions – to allow them to hinder my abilities to fulfill my tasks as a butler would only serve to yield the most disastrous result imaginable. A demon's emotions are not to be trifled with. "Now please, if you are finished, allow me to dry you and put you to bed. Tonight's rather… unfortunate events must have exhausted you and it is my duty to ensure your well-being."
There was a moment of silence between the two as the master and his butler stared at each other, unwavering, before the young Earl broke the silence. "Fine. Dry me and dress me for bed. I can see that this conversation is getting nowhere and serves to be nothing more than a waste of time." He pushed his butler away before wrapping his arms around himself, "The water is freezing."
"Of course." Grabbing the fluffy dry towel from nearby, Sebastian quickly wrapped it around the His master's body before lifting the child from the tub only to set him down; skillfully balanced the child on the edge of the tub with one hand, then knelt and began drying the his feet. No more words were exchanged between the two while Sebastian, upon finishing his current task, stood up to retrieve the young Earl's night shirt before draping it over his master's shoulders, taking the his arms, one by one to guide them into the sleeves. "Please allow me to escort you to your room." Sebastian stood quickly, once he finished buttoning his little master's nightshirt, sat him down back onto the ground before turning around quickly – avoiding the avoiding his master's gaze.
With his eyes focused on the floor, he bowed waiting for Ciel to lead before following him at a respectable distance. It was not until they arrived, the bed readied, and the young earl tucked in, that the silence the two had held was finally broken.
"Sebastian, I'm cold," Ciel's eyes peeked from the sheets to stare at his retreating butler's back expectantly, "Won't you fix it?"
"I will fetch an extra blanket for you, Young Master. It will be but a moment." Sebastian responded without looking back and closed the door behind him. Had he turned back to face his master at that moment, he could have seen the pleading eyes that stared at him.
The Phantomhive Earl, left alone and cold in his room, curled up to hug his knees. It's so cold…Letting out a shaky sigh, he stared at the door that closed with a soft click as his butler left, waiting. You always laid in bed and held me…and kept me warm…He wrapped his own arms around his small frame in an effort to keep himself warm. It hasn't even been a full day… and the two of them went from sharing a meal together to… this? All because he was ambushed by that Trancy butler? It wasn't my fault, damn it! He held the tears that collected in his eyes as he bit his lips before turning his back to the door. The last thing he needed now was to allow Sebastian to walk into the room to see him cry.
It wasn't my fault…
Sebastian returned moments later, as promised, with a spare blanket in hand. Quietly opening the door, he watched his master's sleeping form – curled up into a ball, trembling. "Ah… perhaps I have taken too long." Without a sound, he unfolded the blanket before draping it over the other. What is this scent I smell…It seems to be coming from the young master… it holds his scent and it's fresh… Pondering for a moment, Sebastian decided to investigate. It was only natural for a butler to be concerned with his master's wellbeing.
With a wave of his gloved hand the candles within the room ignited – the light immediately bathed the room in a soft, orange glow. Walking closer to the young Earl's bed, Sebastian noticed a small wet spot on the young master's pillow; right under the area where his head rested. It was the scent of tears the crimson-eyed demon had detected. Young Master, did you cry yourself to sleep? The light of the candles reflected on the drying tear stains from his master's cheeks. A fresh tear reflected the light as it slid down his porcelain cheek and dripped onto his pillow.
Young Master… why are you crying?
Kneeling beside his master's sleeping form, Sebastian removed his white gloves to rest his hand on his master's head and tangled his fingers into the soft, grayish-blue locks. Sebastian leaned closer, his tongue darted out to lick at the salty remnants of the sleeping child's drying tears. "Why are you shedding tears, I wonder," Sebastian whispered, his eyes gazed upon the other's sleeping form. "Are you, perhaps, experiencing the same feelings of frustration and hurt as I?" As if in response, another tear formed at the corner of his master's eyes. "My, my… it is as if you are crying for me." He gently licked the stray little tear from the corner of Ciel's eyes. "I have often said that the very thought of anyone other than me… touching you disgusts me in ways beyond human language can hope to explain. But at whom is my anger directed at the moment? I suppose I wonder about it as well." Sebastian leaned even closer to his master, their lips on the verge of connecting before he stopped himself in his tracks. No… now is not the time for such things.
With that, he pressed his lips against his master's forehead before withdrawing. He stood up, taking the white gloves in his hand, and left just as silently as he entered. Rest assured…he will pay dearly.