At Night: The Butler, Demonstrating


A butler's day ends late. He is the last to finish his work at night and the first to begin his work in the morning.

Dinner must first be prepared using the finest ingredients. The vegetables are fresh from the market, each one hand selected by the best (by yours truly, naturally). Cooked with rice or maybe a potato, they are made into elaborately seasoned side dishes to be paired with the choicest of protein. A Grilled Filet Mignon with an earthy mushroom purée on the side to taste.

Before dinner can be served, the dining table must pass the butler's inspection, making sure that the table cloth has not a single stain or a wrinkle, and that all the silverware was polished correctly to a mirror-like shine. Every plate and glass cup must be checked for any chips or damages. (With servants like ours, this step is the most important…)

Once the preparations meet his high expectations, the butler must then inform his Master that it is time for dinner and conduct the servants on their next tasks. (As far and out of the way as possible.)

After dinner, when the Master retires to the lounge, the butler must go through his inventories to ensure that the manor is fully stocked on everything that is needed for tomorrow's duties.

In the evening, the butler will lay out his Master's sleeping attire. It is routine for the Master to be washed and dressed. The butler is not allowed to retire for the night until his Master as gone to bed.

Before retiring himself, it is the butler's responsibility to go around the manor and lock up as he is the holder of the keys, it is his duty to secure the household at the end of each day.

Such is the duty of a butler who manages the household.

Sebastian strolled briskly through the service hallways that run under the manor. He ponders through his mental checklist before he is satisfied that the day is truly over. On his way, he walks past the servant's dining area where Baldroy, Mey-Rin, and Finny eat their meals.

He overheard the boisterous lot chatting among themselves about things that were of no interest to him. Finny talked about how embarrassed he was when he knocked over another tree earlier in the day but was able to weed the lawn without totally destroying the grass. No one will notice the bare spots in the shaded areas. Mey-Rin mentioned how she finished all the laundry and was happiest about how the table cloth at dinner was in pristine condition. She hoped Sebastian noticed her efforts. That she did. Baldroy boasted about his new ridiculous invention for cooking tomorrow's breakfast that will surely burn down the kitchen.

Their work was over for the day, and so long as they stayed out of trouble and didn't disturb the Master, they could spend the remainder of the evening at their leisure.

Sebastian walked with long strides as he rushes by undetected. He did not want to be invited to their little circle and did not want to trouble himself with having to turn down their offer.

One of the final chores for a butler is to check that all the fireplaces in the house are safely damped out. The day's weather was favorable so only one fireplace was used, and was regrettably forgotten about. Leaving it uncleaned.

The day slipped away from the butler, even a butler as good as Sebastian. Between tending to his Master's needs to cleaning up after the servant's messes, he had little time in his itinerary for this minor detail. He was never good at delegating his work to others. This was proven as much by Agni. Such as, the time he got the servants to work together as a team in the kitchen by giving them jobs that worked to their strengths. Something Sebastian couldn't previously do.

Indeed, this butler would much rather take care of his own tasks himself, and as the Phantomhive butler, he could not leave the matter untouched.

In advance of waking up his Young Master that morning, he took it upon himself to take away the chill in the bedroom from the cold night air. Concerned for his Master's health, Sebastian lit a small fire in the fireplace in the front room; a room located just outside of the Earl's bedchamber. As the temperature from inside the manor warmed up considerably that afternoon, the fire was no longer needed, but the mess remained.

Sebastian slipped into the front room and gently closed the door behind him. While setting down the candelabra before removing his tailcoat, he thinks to himself how furious he would be if the servants woke up the Young Master from his much-needed rest, so he must lead by example. If he worked quickly his Master would never know he was there. However, his job would be completed much faster if he used his demon abilities but time was not an issue. This was no trouble to a creature who doesn't need to sleep. He began prepping his work area how a human might clean a fireplace. It was all part of his butler aesthetics, and the chore was an excuse to whittle away the time.

Suddenly he heard a door creak open.

"What are you doing?" Asked a groggy voice from the other side of the room. Sebastian turned around to see his Master, Earl Ciel Phantomhive, standing in the doorway of his bedroom. The fearsome watchdog for the Queen of England was only a mere young boy of 13. He was wrapped in a blanket for warmth. The over-sized blanket cloaked him like a hooded robe covering a head of messy blue-grey hair. His small arms gripped the blanket tightly around his small frame.

"Eh…" Sebastian uttered. This was a surprise to him. He hadn't been sensing if his Master was awake purposely, because he expected him to be soundly asleep at this time.

In his mind he questioned. Why in the world is the Young Master awake? He hasn't done anything yet to have awoken him.

Sebastian manages to calmly say. "Young Master, my apologies if I disturbed your sleep." Even though he was confident he did not.

"Relax. I was already awake," Ciel said dismissively. "Besides I can hear that door opening from the other room. The sound travels through the walls."

"Oh, I hadn't realized… I will see to it that it's fixed immediately." Sebastian says with a smile, hiding his mild annoyance. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"I did ask what you were doing." Ciel reminded him and started to walk towards his butler's side of the room, the blanket dragged on the floor behind him.

"Just a tad bit of last-minute cleaning," Sebastian answered. "How about I escort you back to your bed-" Ciel took a seat on the couch that stood opposite the fireplace. "-room…"

There was an awkward moment of silence between them.

Sebastian knew what his Master was doing. He was looking for an excuse not to stay in his room. A distraction so he didn't have to sleep, retaining that childish impulse to evade bedtime.

"What is keeping you awake, Young Master?" The butler questioned. "Did you have another nightmare? They've been happening more frequently." He stated pragmatically to the little lord on the couch.

Nightmares were nothing new. Ciel's nights have been plagued by nightmares since the day they met. Although the nightmares have been occurring more often than ever as of late. Before, Ciel could sleep through most nights only having one or two bad dreams a month, but now his nightmares have been happening almost every other night.

"That's pretty presumptuous of you." Ciel snapped. His words shocked him. They came out more aggressively then he intended, sharp and a little anxious. Ciel looked up at Sebastian who was staring back at him with surprise. "I… I'm just not tired, ok…" he didn't want to talk about it.

"Presumptuous?" Sebastian repeated with a laugh, pretending to be offended. "Don't think I haven't noticed you spacing out during your lessons. I've been kind in letting it slide but I won't tolerate it if you deliberately avoid sleeping entirely. You know how strict I am."

Sebastian failed to mention how his Master's drowsiness was also affecting Ciel's ability to complete his daily tasks as an Earl or his paperwork regarding his toy business. His lack of sleep has reduced his willingness to exchange pleasantries with either guests or servants. Of course, Sebastian was only focused on how his Master was disrupting his lessons.

"Fine, fine!" Ciel exclaimed embarrassingly, he was aware that his lack of sleep was becoming a problem. Even the servants noticed a change in his temperament. However, Ciel wasn't in the mood to be talked to like a child. "I just don't want to be in my bed right now. Just… let me fall asleep on my own time." Ciel brought his knees up to his chest and hugged his arms around them in defiance. Refusing to move.

"If that is your wish," Sebastian said with a bow, the laugh was gone from his voice. "My Lord." He turned around to continue his chore of cleaning the fireplace. If his Master didn't want to sleep he wasn't going to press the issue.

I imagine watching me will bore him to sleep. I just have to be patient. Sebastian thinks to himself as he rolls up his sleeves.

Sebastian removed the grate from the fireplace and began to scoop the ashes into a bucket. He was kneeling before the hearth, on a large piece of cloth to protect the floor and catch any debris that might miss the bucket. He took his time, intending to extend the job for as long as possible. Thanks to regular maintenance, the whole task only took him 15 minutes, even at a slow pace.

He carefully folded the cloth that was now lightly dusted by ash and draped it over one arm. With a full bucket of ashes in hand, Sebastian stood up and moved towards the exit. As he walked by he took a quick glance over at his Young Master still on the couch. Ciel's eyes stared straight ahead, ignoring his butler's movements. His mismatched eyes slowly blinked with tiredness but he refused to succumb to the urge to sleep. The butler could see the dark circles under his eyes.

Sebastian signed. Such a stubborn child... He thought to himself as he placed the items by the door. He turned around and walked back over towards his Master.

"I'm not going to bed yet." Ciel said preemptively, in anticipation of his butler returning to their last topic of conversation.

Yet, hmm?

Sebastian's red eyes looked down on his Master. "I know," he said with a devilish smile in feigned defeat. "You've made up your mind and I can't change it." So I'll adopt a new strategy. He considered to himself.

Since negotiations to get his Young Master to sleep won't work and patiently waiting to see if he'd fall asleep on his own is taking too long, Sebastian decided to resort to what he does best.

Tricks.

In Ciel's dreams, the same story played out over and over again. Sebastian had an idea of who and what haunted his Master's nights. After all, he was there during his Master's most tragic ordeal, even though he was only a witness to the very end of that story.

His Master never talked about it and he never asked, but for Sebastian and his skills of deduction, piecing together what happened during the time his Master spent in captivity wasn't hard to figure out. However, he didn't understand the traumatic effects since it's not in his nature to have sympathy for others.

Sebastian stopped at the opposite end of the couch next to the fireplace. "I am curious as to what has triggered so many of these nightmares all of a sudden," Sebastian said with a hand on his chin. "I suppose you have been working hard lately. Running a successful business, keeping up with your studies all while maintaining your duties as the head of your family. You must be under a lot of stress."

Ciel hugged his legs a little tighter. Both men knew the real reason behind these nightmares, and Ciel was grateful that Sebastian didn't bring it up. He wanted to leave behind the memories of the circus he was ordered to investigate just weeks ago. Wanted to forget the room that reminded him of his past inside that psycho's cellar, during their visit to Baron Kelvin's estate. An exact replica from that cursed night on a full moon 3 years ago and the weeks of torture leading up to it. All the evidence in that house burnt away by hellfire along with the children he could not save. He preferred it to be left unspoken. It was much easier to pass off these sleepless nights by blaming it on the the young Earl being stretched thin and overworked.

"Oh, I know!" Sebastian said excitedly, hitting his closed fist down into his palm for emphasis, lacking the sensitivity needed for Ciel's somber mood. "You must be going through what boys your age go through. Puberty I believe it's called! It forces your mind and body to go through 'changes'. You might finally get that growth-spurt that's overdue-!" Sebastian was hit with a couch cushion to the face. The butler caught it in his hands as it started to fall to the floor.

As the cushion fell away it revealed a deadpan expression on Sebastian's face. Despite knowing full well a butler shouldn't speak out of turn, however, this was no way for a highly distinguished Earl to behave. It suited the two of them as they're both fakers only playing the roles of Master and servant. Nevertheless, this childish reaction was to be expected from a Master who is always so difficult.

The blanket Ciel was swathed in now pushed aside. He was in a crouched position with his arm outstretched from just having thrown the cushion, eyes glaring angrily at his butler. One eye the colour of sapphires and the other eye stained the colour of violet by the mark of their covenant.

"That's enough from you!" Ciel snapped. He sat back down and wrapped himself in the blanket once more. "Don't talk about such rubbish!" He resisted the urge to command his butler to leave. As annoyed as he was, Ciel didn't want to be left alone.

"I won't allow you to stand there and invented these conspiracies about me. I am fine!" Ciel insisted angrily, feeling the need to put this demon in his place. He didn't believe his butler is pretending to be ignorant just because he's not human. Sebastian knew talking like that would be embarrassing for him. It was as if he intended to make his Master angry. How it is in his nature to rile people up for his own amusement

"Forgive me my Lord, it was a mere jest. You know how I am." Sebastian confessed with a bow. He stepped toward the couch and placed the cushion back where it belonged. "You do not need to be so defensive." He said while looking at his Master with a sly grin.

Ciel continued to glare at his butler before turning away with a "Hmph!"

His fatigue as turned him into more of a brat than usual, although, his mental fog is preventing him from arguing any further. That last outburst should have used up a good amount of his energy. Sebastian was going to take advantage of this opportunity.

Ah, it's time.

The demon butler slowly started to walk in the space between the couch and the fireplace.

"Don't be angry Young Master. Take a deep breath-" Sebastian whispered gently as we strolled passed casually, temporarily blocking his Master's line of sight. Ciel blinked as the butler approached. It was only for a split second but when he opened his eyes there was a roaring fire, blazing before him. "-and just focus on the fire."

"Wha-!" Ciel says in surprise. One minute the fireplace was cold and empty, now it's stocked with wood and alive with light. For as long as he's known Sebastian it still shocks him when he does his inhuman tricks so suddenly. He was ordered not to do so, otherwise, he could draw unnecessary attention to themselves. In order to convince everyone that he is human Sebastian needed to perform his tasks like a human by using the necessary time and resources. A normal butler can't just light a fire with the snap of a finger. Ciel didn't appreciate his butler's boldness even if it was just the two of them.

"This is much better, yes?" The butler said, his eyes closed with a cat like grin. He was now standing on the other side of the couch next to his Master. "Now there is no need to be worried about this dark room, my Lord."

"Excuse me? Are you implying that I'm afraid of the dark!?" Ciel snapped.

"No, no, of course not." The demon butler reassured quickly. "I simply misspoke. I was going to comment on the fire and how it provides just enough light to create a relaxing ambiance. I felt this room was much too dim and dreary without it."

"Of course that's what you bloody meant..." Ciel said sarcastically in anger.

"I don't lie." The butler reminded his Master with a tilt of his head. "Focus on the fire." he insisted again, leaning forward. The flames cast a light that outlined his pale face.

"What are you doing?" Ciel questioned, unsure of his butler's motives.

"I did not mean to vex you so much earlier. Allow my simple gesture to help you relax." The butler whispered. He motioned with a long arm. His hand pointed towards the fireplace.

Ciel turned his head to look into the fireplace with his eyebrows knitted in confusion. He blinked a few times as his hetero-chromatic eyes adjusted to the light of the roaring fire.

The young Earl got comfortable again by bringing his knees up to his chest and embraced them, hair falling into his eyes.

There was a long pause. The room was silent with only the sound of burning logs crackling in protest from the heat of the flames. Ciel wondered what he was expecting to happen. What is he looking for?

The butler spoke again when he thought enough time had passed. "Watch the flickering glow of the fire, as it fills the dark corners of the room with light…" He paused again. He glanced down to observe the boy on the couch encased in his blanket.

"Now… Follow the sound of my voice… and let go." The demon spoke in a soft whisper, placing his hand on the armrest of the couch.

"Let go of your mental chatter. Let go of the memories from the day's activities." He began to walk around the couch, dragging his hand along the armrest. "Let go of the thoughts of all things you need to do tomorrow." Down the armrest, up the backrest and across, his hand traced the structure of the couch until he was standing behind his contractor. Sebastian left his hand on the cushion that Ciel was resting against so he could connect with him without directly touching him.

"As the light fills the room, allow it to also fill your mind. Focus on the mesmerizing fire that demands your attention as it dances and twirls. Its radiance provides light and heat." The demon who plays as a butler leaned forward so his voice was closer to his contractor's ear. "Humans told their greatest stories around a fire. It shaped the way your kind communicated your history. Notice the hint of the pleasant smell of burning wood. This familiarity offers comfort in cold temperatures-."

"Fire can also destroy." Ciel muttered. His eyes were half-lidded. The light reflected off his cursed eye, changing it to a darker purplish hue.

Sebastian was surprised, yet pleased. His Young Master had a stronger will then he thought.

Curious. He's not fully hypnotized yet, or maybe he was but was brought back out from it.

Fire has never been kind to his Master. This could be the source of his pain and guilt. Perhaps he strongly disagreed with the mention of how comforting fire is or maybe it was this demon's fascination of humans that caused him to sway off topic. In any case, the Young Earl did not remove his gaze from the fire. The demon should be able to continue while this boy is still memorized.

"Yes, this is true. Fire also brings with it energy. An energy which can destroy," The demon paused, reflecting on the times he was commanded to burn down mansions, destroy evidence and take lives for his Master by utilizing that destructive energy. "Then again, from the ashes, life is reborn. When ash blankets a forest, the new saplings that sprout beneath benefit from the charred remains. You see, fire brings with it transformation. There is no need to fear it."

"Let go. Let go of the stories from your past."

Ciel watched the flames dance and spark forth as the voice urged him to allow the fire to fill the dark corners of his mind. Allow it to burn away his negative thoughts and fears, insecurity, and anger. To let his worries melt away. He could feel the heat. It was no longer a representation of destruction, but a warm presence.

He felt strange, he didn't feel tired anymore. He didn't feel anything anymore, but overwhelming calmness. He was resting his chin on his knees, unable to take his eyes off the fire.

Ciel was beyond the point of realizing how a demon was hypnotizing him. He was aware of Sebastian's talent for swaying the human mind through manipulation but only to an extent. Let alone, did he ever image this talent would be used on him… A potentially dangerous skill that would surely result in a certain butler getting a scolding from his Young Master if he was caught.

If the demon butler treads lightly, his Master won't remember a thing in the morning. Sadly, what his Young Master is feeling is only temporary.

Sebastian smirked. It was finally time to damp out the fire.

The demon's voice talked slower. "You're eyes are beginning to get heavy… Allow the warm energy to flow over your eyelids… to massage away the tension. You can hardly keep them open. It starts to move over your face… head… and neck. As this energy spreads to your chest… let the warmth soften your heart as it makes its way down into your stomach… filling your belly with a warm glow… The energy begins meandering through your legs… When I'm finished counting down from ten, your eyes will fully close and the energy will be gone as it starts to escape out the bottoms of your feet…."

"Ten, nine, eight, taking with it your anxieties… seven, six, freeing you from your guilt… five, four, burning away your worries … three… two… one... The energy is now gone, leaving you feeling at peace."

Sebastian walked around the couch to face his Master and admire his handy work.

Ciel's arms that were once hugging his legs had fallen to his sides. He was slumped in his seat with his head bent down and chin resting against his chest. When Ciel let out a faint snore the butler confirmed that his Young Master is indeed asleep.

"That position can't be very comfortable." Sebastian mused. He proceeded to pick up the small boy with a hand around his back and an arm under the legs, taking with him Ciel's sleeping form and blanket he was still wrapped in. Sebastian carried the young Lord to his room.

"It's time for you to go to sleep now, my Lord. Get some rest and take with you this feeling of well-being into your dreams." Sebastian said wishfully to the little Earl.

The butler had to unwrap his Young Master from his blanket cocoon with care not to wake him and make his Master's bed properly before tucking him in. Sebastian looked down at the boys sleeping face.

How troublesome… he sighed and walked out into the front room, carefully closing the door behind him.

The demon stood alone in the room. He contemplated for a moment, justifying to himself about the use of this trick on his Master. In full earnest, Sebastian did intend for this to be a one-time use only trick. As the butler to an Earl, it was his duty to help his Master get some much needed restorative sleep. Sebastian shrugged his shoulders. A butler should be able to manage that much.

He grabbed his tail coat that was still hanging from the chair. The butler slipped the jacket on over his shoulders and picked up the candelabra as he walked past the fireplace.

In one fluid motion, the fireplace was once again empty.

The flames vanished, now void of warmth and light. Nothing was left behind, not even a spot left to clean.

The butler disappeared without making a sound.


I have not written a fanfiction story in almost 12 years. When I was writing fanfiction my stories were exclusively about Fullmetal Alchemist, and I haven't been a fan of Black Butler for very long. This was a lot of fun to write. I did some research on meditation to get inspiration for hypnosis, and I even read up about butlers.
I don't intend for Sebastian's actions in my story to be applauded. He is supposed to be off-putting as a demon, all while believing he is actually doing right by Ciel as a butler, but in actuality, he's being too invasive in the process. If he made you feel uncomfortable that was my intention. I don't want to give too much away but don't feel bad for Ciel just yet.

Stay tuned for Chapter 2. Thanks for reading!