Happy 2012, everybody! I actually dreamed this whole fic, and the idea wouldn't leave me alone for days afterward, so I finally caved and wrote it. It turned out really long, so I decided to split it into two parts. This is just part one :) Anyway, if you like this fic, I would love it if you checked out my other Kuroshitsuji project, "Till the Clock Strikes;" it's SebasCiel as well, and it's a fairty-tale based story. I do not own Kuroshitsuji or its characters. With that out of the way, please enjoy (and review!)...
(Mis)Adventures in Babysitting
6:00 PM
Thoughtfully, twelve-year-old Ciel Phantomive tapped the cool crystal chess piece against his bottom lip. He stared at the black and white checked board from his belly-down position on the floor. Tonight was the beginning of a new game. That was how Ciel looked at his babysitters, anyway. The only way he could tolerate the idiot adults who tried to boss him around was to treat them like pawns on a board. The primary object of the game was to find a way to manipulate them so that he got whatever he wanted, then, when that got boring, to torment them. Ciel tired quickly of this phase, however, and proceeded to find a way to get rid of the pesky sitters, casting them off like old toys.
It was, perhaps, a bit of a cruel exercise, but what else was a supremely intelligent, perpetually apathetic, and mostly reclusive boy to do for fun? Ciel hoped today's plaything would be good sport; he was growing so sick of the bubble-brained teenage girls and crochet-and-cookie obsessed old grannies. The boy's idle wonderings were cut short by the fluting of his mother's voice up the stairs.
"Ciel, darling, come meet your new babysitter!"
A small smirk alighted on Ciel's typically serious face. Let the games begin.
OoO
The first thing that Sebastian Michaelis noticed was that the house was an old but well-kept Victorian manor, rather than the McMansions he was accustomed to; the second was that Mrs. Rachel Phantomhive, with her Rapunzel tresses, heart-stopping blue eyes, and willowy frame, was a pretty hot mom. Sebastian smirked, thinking that Vincent was one lucky son of a bitch. Of course, Sebastian didn't let any of these thoughts appear on his perfect poker face. He listened, polite and attentive, as the parents gave him the usual speech.
"Now, Ciel has his bath around eight and changes into his pajamas then," Rachel was saying, "he should go to bed no later than nine-thirty."
"Of course," Sebastian nodded with that reassuring smile that never failed to put parents at ease. And if his smile lingered just a little longer Rachel? Who could possibly notice—certainly not Vincent, who stood quietly and authoritatively at his wife's side like all the fathers Sebastian ever encountered.
"Now, Ciel's already had his dinner, but he has quite a sweet tooth, so if you would just keep an eye on that..." the mother went on, just as a small form appeared at her side.
"This must be Ciel," Sebastian said with a friendly grin in the boy's direction.
"Yes," Ciel said, voice soft and sweet. He was half-hidden behind his father's leg, but Sebastian could see that the boy took after his mother—huge, thick-lashed eyes as blue and deep as the ocean and the fine, rounded features of a Botticelli angel. His hair, however, was charcoal-colored, rather than blond, and it shone in the light with notes of silver and lazuline.
"I'm sure we'll have a good time," Sebastian murmured his standard line to the shy child.
"I hope so," Ciel replied, and that angelic face was illuminated by the most beautiful smile Sebastian had ever seen.
As the elder Phantomhives left and Ciel scampered off into another room, Sebastian found himself thinking that this boy really was rather cute. Typically, Sebastian didn't care either way for the children he looked after—though he never let that show—and simply tolerated them as a means to an end. It may have seemed a bit strange for a teenage boy who didn't particularly like kids to be a babysitter, but Sebastian didn't mind the job. He was by nature good at taking care of others, and these rich WASP-y types shelled out truly astonishing amounts of money just to have someone watch their brats for a night. Also, they tended favor cats as pets, which was definitely a perk to Sebastian.
Now, as Sebastian stepped from the foyer to the parlor he was once again struck by how undeniably adorable Ciel Phantomhive was. He reminded Sebastian of a little pure-bred kitten, all curled up on the couch like that. The child had a chocolate chip cookie in one hand and a paper-back book held open with the other. He was wearing a pair of round, black-rimmed reading glasses that were distinctly reminiscent of Harry Potter.
Sebastian's lips quirked up almost affectionately, and then Ciel did something that made Sebastian's burgundy eyes widen. Upon finishing the cookie, Ciel licked his fingers. Slowly and quite absentmindedly, the boy slipped the tip of each digit between his plump lips, sucked, and pulled it out with a little pop. Each wet noise seemed to go into Sebastian's ears and straight to his groin. He forgot his usual cool composure, staring the child down from his black, skull-emblazoned t-shirt to his crisp blue jeans and striped gray socks. So small, so fragile...Sebastian just wanted to swallow him up. Ciel must have felt Sebastian's heated look because that little body tensed, and an almost-imperceptible shiver shook its spine. Delicious.
Ciel's head turned, and surprised sapphire eyes met Sebastian's from under long, smoky bangs. There was innocent confusion in those orbs, but then they lit with understanding. Sebastian's eyebrows knitted with uncharacteristic concern because somehow, Ciel knew every sinful thought the teen had been thinking about him. But then the boy turned, unconcerned, back to his book, which Sebastian could now see was The Hound of the Baskervilles.
"My name is Sebastian Michaelis," the raven-haired teen said after clearing his throat.
Ciel looked over once again, and this time those eyes were ice-cold and uninterested. "Whatever."
Sebastian sighed; it was going to be a long night.
6:30 PM
Ciel frowned into the black squiggles of lettering in his book. Something very strange had just happened. What he'd seen in Sebastian's eyes moments ago...It had startled Ciel at first. That expression was hot, intense, predatory. Ciel had never come across anything quite like it. As such, it had taken some time for the boy to identify the look for what it was: lust.
Well, that was...unexpected.
Indeed, tonight's game was going to be unique among others. Now, Ciel knew what tactic of manipulation would be the most effective for Sebastian, and it was one Ciel had never before attempted or considered. He was, admittedly, apprehensive, but then and again, isn't it the challenge and the possibility of failure that makes winning the game so rewarding?
OoO
Okay, there were a number of things very wrong with this situation. First of all, Sebastian was not attracted to boys. Second, and more importantly, Sebastian was most certainly not attracted to children. Still, he could not deny the fact that Ciel Phantomhive, who was both a boy and a child, aroused him. What a...predicament. In a distant sort of way, Sebastian was curious to see how all this would play out. Sebastian was not one to deny himself indulgence in the things that...interested him, but he was also very prudent in whatever he did. This attraction was a slippery slope, so Sebastian would just have to descend it carefully.
Another thing that had become clear was that Ciel's behavior in front of the parents was an act, the same as Sebastian's own. The boy was obviously quite brilliant, and quite jaded, if his more recent conduct was any indication. That made things even more dangerous, even more exciting. Oh yes, Sebastian's interest had been piqued.
7:00 PM
"This is crap," Ciel informed Sebastian in monotone. He took the white ear-bud between his thumb and forefinger, fiddling with it. Alice Cooper's throaty voice pulsed through the tiny speaker, and Sebastian was vaguely peeved by Ciel's inability to appreciate good music. Of course, Ciel was just a kid, so Sebastian would forgive him this minor flaw.
"Oh?" Sebastian raised his eyebrows at the boy, "what kind of music do you like?"
"Well, I enjoy all the great composers of the classical era—particularly Schubert and Hadyn," Ciel said, little nose held high, "...and Linkin Park's also kinda cool."
Sebastian couldn't help but be amused by the boy's statement, though he kept his expression serious. "Linkin Park is overrated emo noise," Sebastian said with the air of a martyred teacher, "however, I think I might have some Beethoven somewhere on here."
Sebastian flicked through his I-Pod until he found "Ode to Joy." For the briefest of instances, the teen thought he might have seen a tiny smile grace Ciel's lips, but he supposed it must have been a trick of the light. "Your turn," Ciel said simply.
Sebastian drew a card from the pile between him and the boy. Double purple. Sebastian advanced his plastic piece on the rainbow-hued board. Ciel grimaced at the move. The pair were seated across from each other on the floor of the parlor, playing Candyland of all the ridiculous things. Sebastian had been surprised when Ciel had approached him with the game box, but mostly he was intrigued. What are you playing at, Ciel?
They continued in silence, save for the sound of violins, horns, and crashing timpani of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. Sebastian took all too much pleasure in the sight of Ciel's clenched fists when the boy drew the dreaded Plumpy card. Moments later, when Sebastian's piece slid into the final square, Ciel's stony glare prompted a smirk to the teen's sensuous lips.
"It's just a stupid game of luck," Ciel grumbled as he clamored to his feet.
"Absolutely," Sebastian agreed in patronizing tones. Should he really be this smug over winning a child's board game?
"Well," Ciel snapped as he brushed non-existent dust from his clothes, "maybe next time, we can play strip poker. That's a game of skill, and you'll lose."
Ciel stormed off, and Sebastian couldn't help it—he laughed. The melodious sound followed Ciel up the stairs, making the tips of the boy's ears go pink. What a stupid thing he'd just said!
"Tch," Sebastian shook his head as he picked up the pile of cards Ciel had accidentally-on-purpose kicked over before leaving in a huff, "Sore loser."
