Bars and strip clubs were never really the type of place Ciel liked to hang out. In fact, he'd never even been to one until the evening previous. It was an enormous step out of his comfort zone, like walking into a zero-gravity chamber after living your whole life with invisible rocks on your shoes, weighing you down to the earth.

He already despised the smell of the place, a scent of pure and utter sin that reeked and made his blood boil. The flashing neon lights, blue and pink and whatever have you, also helped spike some irritation out of the bluenette, as did the horridly loud and obnoxious music that the place seemed to blare everywhere. The detective sighed, a pointer and index finger pinching the bridge of his nose as his face lowered closer to the bar.

He didn't know why he'd decided it would be a good idea to take a break in this kind of place. What was he thinking?

"Gee, Ciel, won't it be fun to get yourself wasted and sit alone at a bar at 12 in the bloody morning? Won't it be grand to throw up in the lavatory a few hours later, regretting every decision you've ever made? Who knows, maybe you'll even meet a fucking stripper! Soil your name and reputation! How great of a break would that be?!" The man silently chastised his thought process and groaned.

"Feeling alright?"

A voice? Was it speaking to him? No, it couldn't be, it sounded far too inviting and sweet, like a little lullaby for a child with trouble sleeping. It was the color of May and the smell of first snow. In other words, it was soft and enticing. It chuckled.

"Deaf, are you? Bluie, I won't bite."

It was speaking to him. The man turned his head to peer at the beholder of the voice, tempted to know why in the world someone with such a melodic tone to their speech would-

Oh no.

Oh no.

They were attractive, too. Shit.

The first thing that caught the detective's attention were their eyes. Dear god, there was no way they were real. They were almost transparent, such a saturated shade of light blue. One could have thought Ciel had been impaled by those glaciers, that cold, icy stare making him freeze in surprise. At the same time, they were warm, welcoming, making the air around the pair get a little hotter. The blue was almost hidden behind a pair of thick, long black lashes. He wondered if they wore makeup, as black didn't seem like it would be the natural color for something so light. Regardless, it was intriguing. He was fascinated by this person's eyes.

Next was their hair. That light shade of flaxen glowed in the lighting of the place, a platinum blond that, if they were outside on a sunny day, would surely be radiating sunbeams. The strands of the color were styled with effortless precision, a cowlick along their pale forehead and little pieces ending along their cheeks, yet not one flyaway was found. It looked soft to the touch, as if it was the purest of silk. The bluenette couldn't help but envy them, as his own locks were constantly mussed and in disarray.

Plump and rosy pink lips were third in the line of what Ciel took into account, staring at the things a bit longer than he should have. One could compare them to rose petals, they seemed that delicate, but little marks where teeth had chomped down on the things were visible. It led him to believe he was a prostitute of sorts, as the mark was rather deep and no one in their right mind would ever bite down so hard as to make it bleed unless they were receiving the utmost pleasure.

He then stopped focusing on the main features and moved on to rest, drinking in the whole of this mysterious stranger.

They were certainly eccentric, no denying that. He discovered eyeing their chest that they were actually a he, as if that was the only piece of evidence besides the small, barely noticeable bulge in his lap. Odd, he thought, that a man would be wearing such a revealing outfit.

He was dressed in rather casual attire. That is, if you were a woman. A purple crop top exposed a somewhat toned midsection, and just a bit lower were black high waisted short shorts. Special emphasis on short shorts. Thighs were clad in yea high black socks (thigh highs, he clarified for his memory), and calves sported dull brown high heeled lace up boots with purple ribbon, a bit more vibrant than his top. Slutty, if you asked the bluenette.

"Tch, you seem a man of few words. Are you mute, or is it just me?" The jubilant blond spoke again, and he giggled.

Wait- he giggled. Dear god, this man was more girly than Midford.

"Cocky, aren't you?" The detective retorted, taking a little sip of the beer before him. He recoiled in distaste. Shit tastes like they haven't cleaned their tap in years.

"Well, yes, I suppose. But I'm sure if anyone else looked as good as I do, they'd be a tad bit cocky as well," the blond claimed, his voice still lovely as ever.

"An overdeveloped ego. How attractive," Ciel quipped, turning his head in the opposite direction to appear a dilettante.

This small action of rejection, however, only seemed to make him more of an intriguing target to the other male. He chortled, "Isn't it though?"

The bluenette said nothing, simply kept his bored eyes trained on the woman on the stage as boondoggle.

Unbeknownst to him, the stranger smirked and licked his lips. Oooo, he's playing hard to get. Fun.

"So tell me, detective, to whom do I owe the pleasure of this conversation?"

What the- how did he-?!

"Pardon?" Ciel had whirled around, deep blue eyes wider as brows furrowed. "Terribly sorry, but how did you know my status?"

"I didn't. You just told me."

"Then- then how did you guess as much?"

"I figured. I mean: white collar, black tie, beige trench coat, not to mention those disgusting black trousers; and that eyepatch. It just kind of screams, 'detective with troubled past trying to escape problems at strip bar,' doesn't it?" The pristine baby blue eyes shone as he explained his odd logic, baffling even the official.

Ciel was known for coming up with leads out of nothing, having little to no evidence and still somehow connecting what he had to discover the culprit. He'd been praised for this feat and his equanimity worldwide, becoming one of the most notable and impressive men in the business. But this? What the towhead had just done? It was ludicrous! Utterly idiotic, and yet it somehow was brilliant! And he had been correct, as well?

Dear god, he had to know this boy's name.

"Oh, and I nabbed this while you weren't looking." The blond's delicate index finger and thumb held up the other male's badge with a playfully proud smirk.

Never mind.

Ciel's eyes narrowed and he snatched the golden piece back, clouding it with his breath before rubbing it gently with a gloved finger as to polish it. With the thing in his hand, he reached into his coat to place it in the hidden pocket it held. He was pissed, he wasn't even given a chance to equivocate and rile up this blond.

Stranger's face fell into a childish pout, placing an elbow on the bar so his hand could support his jaw. "Hmph, no fun."

Just as quickly as his mood had dissipated, it has risen once again. The candle behind his eyes, smoking from being put out, had been lit again, the fire the mischievous and entrancing glint the light colored orbs held.

"So, are you planning on answering any of my questions?

He's so god damn capricious.

"Actually, I-"

"Don't pull that, 'I'm the one asking the questions,' shit on me. I'd asked you quite a few before I even knew you were of authority, and you still didn't give me anything. Besides, I'm only trying to be nice. You seemed lonely, and you aren't exactly unpleasant to look at, thus," he brushed a lock of blond from his face with a pleased grin, "I arrived. A bar isn't exactly the best place to be alone."

Ciel couldn't tell if he wanted to kill this stranger or if he was ready to take him home.

With a faux groan of ennui and a roll of his eyes, he complied. "Fine. What was it you wanted to ask?"

The man smiled, a perfect row of dazzlingly white teeth being shown off. How the fuck...? How does someone get teeth that white?

"Well," the blond began, the smile fading into more of an open mouthed pout as he furrowed his brows, "let's see, I had a lot, didn't I?" He paused to think, and Ciel found himself wondering if a man who couldn't remember the questions he had asked only a few minutes ago was truly serious about getting his answers. Or maybe he just had short term memory? Or maybe-

The blond snapped his fingers, a lightbulb practically flashing its annoyingly bright luminescent yellow into the detective's eyes right above his head.

"Yes, that's right! I asked you if you were feeling alright, if you were deaf, if the cat had your tongue or if it was just me, and to whom I owed the pleasure of our conversation!" He nodded rapidly, delight showing in his squinted eyes.

The blue haired man, once again, overindulged upon admiring this handsome stranger. He was just so... happy... about remembering questions he asked. So happy that little crinkles formed beside his eyes when he squinted the bright blue things, and the smile he donned seemed to be real, genuine, putting him at such ease in such a revolting place.

He was lost in him, taking in every detail of the male as he possibly could in that moment. Entranced, caught like a fly in a spider's web, bewitched, what have you. He was all of those things.

Those little dimples on his cheeks disappeared as the blond frowned, perfectly shaped brows lowering as irritation set in.

"Are you just going to sit there?" He questioned, leaning back in his seat and crossing lanky arms over long legs, fashioned much the same.

"Huh? Oh," the bluenette was snapped from his fantasies yet another time, shaking the repulsive thoughts from his head. "Uh, right." He could only find it in himself to chuckle nervously.

The stranger wasn't amused. He blinked only once in response, his eyes uninterested and lidded. He almost looked sleepy. The detective hated to think of himself as a bore...

"Uhm," Ciel cleared his throat, a fist over his mouth while the other held his unappetizing beer. "Well, I'm- feeling rather fine, thank you, I'm obviously not deaf," he rolled his eyes at that last part, "I admit, you had my tongue, and the 'pleasure' of this conversation is indebted to Ciel Phantomhive. Now, if you'd answer me these; why didn't you simply look at my badge to find my name, and what happens to be yours?"

Now the blond broke out an ear-to-ear grin, clearly very happy to have gotten his desired information. Ciel could only hope he would be so kind as to give him the same pleasure.

The adorable creases by the stranger's eyes remained, but grew a bit fainter as his teeth disappeared behind impressed plump lips.

"First answer; I did look at your name, but I wasn't quite sure how to pronounce it. Honestly, I thought it was some odd spelling of Kyle."

The detective pursed his lips irritably, eye twitching. Is that so...?

"Second answer; My clothes, face, mind, entrails, and body are all mine."

Again, a flash of frustration coursed through his system, showed by the vellication of his lower lid.

"N-No, that isn't what-"

Ciel's 'companion' sniggered, placing a manicured hand over his mouth as the noise was produced.

"Sarcasm, ever heard of it, detective? My name is Jim Macken," the last part was soft, sweet almost. And it had the bluenette's cheeks turning pink.

Jim Macken...

His being was slowly poisoned by the joy he received by learning the stranger's name, thoughts he would never think outside of this rubbish place checking in to his mind. Speaking of checking in, he had a hotel room, didn't he? And he already had a key... Jim did give off the vibe that he wasn't here just to chat, and Ciel was more than up for the idea-

"Well, I'm pleased to have met you, Jim," the eye-patched gentleman interrupted himself before he allowed his thoughts to dribble down into the gutter, grabbing them by the neck.

Jim bobbed his head ever so slightly, "And I'm pleased to meet you as well. Where're you from?" He inquired, slipping a £10 bill to the bartender and requesting a Sex on the Beach.

"Here, actually. I live downtown, but I booked a hotel 'round here for the night," Ciel responded.

Jim's eyebrows raised slightly at that, as if he were surprised that someone would do such a thing. It gave Ciel the feeling he had to explain himself.

"I'm- well, work isn't exactly easy, and my reputation precedes me almost wherever I go. It's bloody annoying. I'm just taking a break for the time being, no one knows me in this joint," he answered tiredly as if it was obvious, another sip of beer passing through his lips. He swallowed. "I take it you're a regular at this place?" Deep blue eyes once again eyed the man up and down, using his outfit confirm his query was one worth asking.

The blond tittered, "You could say that. I'm actually a dancer here."

Ciel choked on his drink.

"You're a stripper?" He exclaimed, wiping his mouth with his coat sleeve as his brows furrowed in shock. That explains the odd fashion choice...

Bright icy blue eyes lost their light as they slanted downward.

"Yes, I am. Problem with that?" Jim spat curtly, sneering.

Detective Phantomhive raised his hands in defense and shook them to show he meant no offense to be taken.

"No, not- ahem, not in the slightest, I just- I-I've never met a male exotic dancer."

The other squinted his eyes and sized up the bluenette, as if looking for even the smallest twitch of a muscle that would signify dishonesty with his odd deductive skills. Brushing a piece of hair behind his ear was his accolade to Ciel, signifying he believed him.

"I suppose there aren't many of us. Unless you count the ones in Magic Mike," he kid, snickering.

Ciel laughed along, his chest bouncing as he did so. "Yeah. You as good as them?" Another joke.

Jim's drink was slid to him, and he caught it in one swift motion of three fingers. His elbow on the bar, the other hand held up his cherubic face as he took a sip. He swallowed, smirking.

"Better than them."

A black eyebrow raised, challenging the statement.

"Is that so?"

"Mmhmmmm."

"What makes you so sure?"

"Have you seen Magic Mike? They used abs and v-lines to disguise their sloppy form and techniques. I'm a professional."

"I know many professionals who aren't exactly a natural at their trade. How do I know you aren't falsely advertising?"

Jim raised the glass to his lips, staring at the orange and red drink as it tilted into his mouth.

"Do you have people paying you £700 just to sit on their lap for ten minutes?"

Well, damn.

The platinum haired seducer set his drink on the polished wood, a flat stomach hidden by the crop-top-clad chest he possessed as he leaned forward.

"I happen to have quite the reputation. I'm very good at what I do," his voice grew softer, more sultry, two of his fingers walking up the bluenette's thigh.

Ciel knew it all along. Jim was looking for a fuck. And the frustrating part was that he didn't feel like declining the offer.

The detective's face wore a sly grin, conniving.

"What say you we test that theory?"

"I'd be happy to prove it. Where're you staying?"

"The Cavalier. Room 457. Am I expected to pay?"

"For you, Bluie, there's no charge."

~oOo~

"...And, thus, I had sex with a serial killer without a clue of his actual identity."

Sebastian's face was unblinking, utterly bemused. He merely stared at the man in front of him put his head in his hands embarrassedly as he processed what he'd just been told.

Ciel, on the other hand, was absolutely disgusted with himself. Now that he'd retold the story, recalled the memories and vivid pictures into his mind, he'd realized just how suspicious that damn blond was. He was humiliated, fucking enraged even, that he'd been so blind in that moment as to let a complete stranger know such personal information. What kind of a detective was he?!

He'd let down his city, and if he hadn't been so bloody foolish, he would've been able to bring justice to the families of those who had lost loved ones thanks to that psychopath. Hell, his own family could have lost him...

This was a taint on his pride, a stigma he would be forced to bear for the rest of his life. He swore, no matter what, he would find and capture Alois Trancy. He would kill him with his bare hands if it came down to survival. He would win. He would get his justice. Alois would-

"Your arse must be sore," Michaelis interrupted his friend's brooding with a mock sympathetic pout.

Ciel felt his blood boil, his jaw dropping in revolt.

"Excuse me? We are in a public setting, you can't say such things! Someone could hear you!" He scolded, looking over his shoulder now just to make sure they weren't getting any looks.

"Please. You just retold the highly innapropriate story of your one night stand with a murderer. If anything, you should be worrying about people hearing what you said."

The detective sighed, "I suppose you're right. At any rate, we should keep our voices down."

"Yes, that's reasonable," Sebastian agreed and went silent for a moment before he began again. "So... Does it then?"

"Why on earth does it matter to you?"

"It would help with my understanding of the circumstances, of course."

The detective groaned, shutting his eyes as he gave up. "No, it does not. But I'd be willing to venture that his does."

Sebastian raised his brows. "I didn't think you'd really admit it," he started to snigger, clapping his hands together slowly, teasingly.

"I sincerely hope you choke on the shit you talk one of these days," Ciel insulted, rolling his eyes.

As Sebastian collected himself, the blue eyed man took another drink of his coffee. It was more bitter than he remembered... Another pack of sugar was added to the concoction, swirled with a previously unused spoon.

"Perhaps I will consider the notion, Phantomhive." The other was back to his suave nature.

Ciel sighed, "Well, until then, this was a nice meeting."

"Yes. Are you planning on telling Midford about this?"

"Are you crazy? Midford will have my head if she ever catches wind!"

"What makes you think that? The woman is head over heels for you."

"Yes, well, despite that, I had intimate relations with a criminal, Michaelis! If I tell her, she'll not only go off on me because she practically thinks we're soulmates, but I'll absolutely be stripped of my position and beat out of my mind. She may be a girly, cancerous bitch, but when she gets mad... I have seen some shit."

Ciel's friend scoffed, standing from his hunched state. "Well, I sincerely hope you clear your name then."

"That makes two of us," the bluenette added. "Leaving so soon?"

Sebastian shook his head to confirm, a solemn look on his face. "My assessment is in half an hour. I've got to meet with her."

Assessments? Fuck, when was his... 2:00, right. He still had some time to kill before he had to deal with Elizabeth. Maybe he could research a bit more on Alois in the meantime, find out some of his weaknesses-

"I hope we'll be able to meet again soon sometime," the black haired detective shook the other's hand. Ciel had never understood why he was oh-so formal about everything, a perfectionist at its finest. He reminded him of a butler, the way he always needed everything to be crisp and neat, even his speech.

"I'm certain we will. I'll try to plan something for us soon, text me." He clapped his companion's hand with his other, bidding him farewell and good luck as Sebastian exited the building.

It was then that he realized the bastard had left him with the bill.