Hello everyone! I know that I have not completed any of my previous stories, but I have been very busy with my studies. Also, I have developed this bad habit where I never finish what I start! /)*_*(\
I promise to complete this one!
Anyway, this story is dedicated to a friend of mine, Rory! I hope it is to your satisfaction!
The blood-red curtains that adorned the Trancy manor were opaque enough to block out the sun; that, of course, was just how Alois liked it. He rose from his bed and stretched begrudgingly, popping his knuckles in the process.
"Claude!"
The young master's tone reflected the irritation he felt. Upon receiving no response, Alois frowned slightly, slipping his feet into a pair of fuzzy bunny slippers before sashaying his way over to the door.
"Claude!"
Once more, his voice grated on the silence of the manor, flooding through the halls and slipping between crevices in the walls.
He glanced at his watch; it was precisely seven o'clock sharp. His butler would have risen by now.
With a deflated sigh, Alois crawled back into bed before flinging the covers back over his head. If Claude was going to ignore him, then he may as well get an extra hour or so of sleep while he could.
When Alois awoke again, it was dark. The rectangle of light that had sparkled upon his floorboards earlier in the morning was gone; in its place was an ominous black patch in which Alois was too afraid to investigate.
"Claude?"
His voice trembled; the frightened boy gripped at the hem of the blankets, which lay tangled at his feet in a crumpled mess of red and gold.
"Hannah?"
Alois now stood at the door again, his amygdala spiked with a fear not even a wrangler could tame.
After being met with silence for the umpteenth time that day, Alois decided to take his first steps beyond his bedroom.
He made his way silently down the steps, his fingers poised over the varnished banister in somewhat of a tentative manner.
The kitchen was dark and deserted as well. For how long had he been asleep?
The steady tick-tock of the clock on the wall suddenly caught his eye.
Alois gazed up at the porcelain plate, his faith in possible reassurance dissipating with each passing minute.
Suddenly, the back door swung open.
Alois swung around, his cerulean eyes hopeful.
Yesーno!
It wasn't his beloved Claude.
"Good afternoon, Alois."
Trembling hands gripped a teapot as Hannah attempted to serve herself and the young earl a drink. "How long have you been up, young master?"
"Not long enough," Alois pouted, feigning bravery as he folded his arms over his chest.
"I'm sorry," Hannah breathed, her words laced with apprehension. "Would you like me to turn on the lights?"
"If you must," Alois yawned in response.
After light had bathed the room in gold, however, Alois felt much better.
"Would you like some jam and toast?" Hannah asked quietly, her gaze still peeled to the floor. "I'm afraid Claude won't be back forーa while."
The boy noticed the unease in her voice, but thought better than to question it.
"Just tell Claude that I expect a nice long foot rub when he returns!" Alois called over his shoulder as he made his way back up the stairs.
Claude had indeed returned home late. Alois had been sitting at his desk, his eyes sweeping over a personal card, inviting both him and his accomplices to a royal ball at the Phantomhive manor.
Alois paused in his reading, hearing a key twist in the lock.
Laughter suddenly burst from Alois's lips as he rushed to his butler, enveloping his waist in a tight embrace.
"Claude! Oh, Claude! You're back!"
The demon's arms hung loosely by his sides, his master's love unreciprocated.
Instead, the bespectacled man made his way over to the bed before sitting down to remove his shoes.
Oblivious to Claude's obvious dissatisfaction about something, Alois sat beside him, the grin still plastered to his face. "Guess what? Hey, Claude! Guess what?"
"Hm?"
"We've been invited to a royal ball! Of course, it will be loads of fun! Ciel will be there too andー"
"Are you great friends with Ciel?" Claude asked suddenly, his voice monotonous.
"Whaー" Alois frowned again, his lower lip protruding in a pout. "Why do you care?"
The demon lifted a shoulder, a small indication of a shrug.
Alois stared at the other. Claude certainly wasn't acting like himself today. Well, even more serious than he usually was.
It was only when Claude reclined to his bed, linking his arms behind his head as he gazed up at the ceiling that Alois knew something was amiss. He chewed the inside of his cheek.
Perhaps tonight wasn't an acceptable time to toy with his butler.
"Claude."
The taller of the two rolled over to face him, his face placid.
"Is something bothering you?"
Alois clambered in beside him, yanking the sheets over their head to guarantee a more private conversation.
Below, Alois could hear the clanging of pots and pans as Hannah washed up. Now that was definitely odd! A butler wasn't doing his duty!
The blond opened his mouth to chastise the demon but seeing the look ofーwhat was thatーpure agony on Claude's face shut him up. Claude wasn't looking at him now; he was staring wistfully up at the ceiling, his attention apparently directed at the whirring fan above.
There were multiple implications dancing in Claude's auric eyes, yet Alois could not place a finger on one of them.
"Claude," Alois whined and snaked an arm around the brunette's lower back. A naughty smile slipped itself across the earl's lips as he slid his other hand under the demon's shirt; spreading his fingers over the porcelain skin of Claude's chest.
No emotion was evident in the butler's eyes.
"Why are you so sweaty?" Alois inquired, his lips coiling into a mischievous grin. "Are you wet for me, Claude-y?"
Upon receiving no indication of sexual interest, Alois grew impatient.
"Claude! Why aren't you paying attention to me?"
Thin fingers ghosted over Claude's torso, lingering at the collar of his shirt.
"Maybe you're just hot," Alois concluded as he began to unbutton the butler's shirt. By then, Claude had rolled over onto his back, leaving the front of his body exposed and vulnerable.
Alois slid his hands over Claude's biceps, feeling the firmness and instantly submitting himself to the demon's will.
He contented himself by nuzzling against the butler's neck, his head resting directly under Claude's chin. Beneath the fort of blankets Alois had created for the two of them, the air was beginning to get stuffy.
"Claude?"
"Yes, my Highness?"
The first real words Claude had spoken since his return.
"You've been awfully quiet, you know. I suggest you tell me what's bothering you or else I'm not taking you to the party with me."
The corner of Claude's lip twitched, an attempt at a smile.
"You cannot attend the ball without my being there to escort you."
"Who says?" Alois snapped, defiantly.
Claude didn't respond; he had closed his eyes.
Alois brought his knees up to his chest before giving Claude a light peck on the cheek.
"Claude, I'm not tired yet! Plus you still haven't told me what's been bothering you!"
"Nothing is bothering me. Now go to sleep."
The young master's eyebrows knitted together in evident concern. As he looked over Claude, he realized that the demon's body was coated in a sheen of sweat, his golden orbs glassy and vacant. The look in the demon's eyes startled Alois; there was something terribly wrong here.
"I forgot to mention one other thing," Alois began, attempting to distract himself from the gnawing fear in the pit of his stomach. "The ball is tomorrow at noon. Is that okay with you?"
"Fine," Claude croaked, rubbing Alois's hair in a feeble attempt to coax him into sleep.
"Claude?"
"Yes?"
"Goodnight."
The next morning, Alois was up bright and early.
Not surprisingly, considering last night's events, Claude was still fast asleep. The young earl suddenly had the very audacious idea of dipping the butler's hand in a bowl of warm water.
It would be quite interesting to see the reaction!
Before he could even contemplate the idea, however, the flickering of his bedside lamp caught his attention.
As he went to switch it off, something red and shiny captured his eye: the stamp.
Alois stooped down to pick up the invitation before folding it promptly and stuffing the card in his shirt pocket.
He turned back to Claude, who looked unusually innocent whilst he slept. One arm was looped around his pillow while his knees had been brought up to his chest in an alluring fetal position.
Alois climbed on top of the cabinet facing the canopy of the bed. A sly grin slipped across his face.
One. Two. Three!
Alois leapt from his position on the cabinet, landing on Claude's stomach with a loud, "Whoop!"
Claude gasped painfully, his breath hitching in his throat as he lurched into a sitting position.
Alois giggled, expecting Claude to speak or make an exclamation of surprise.
The smile on the blond's face faded though, as Claude stared at him in mild contempt.
"Sorry, Claude! But you would have slept forever!" Alois laughed obnoxiously before handing the butler his glasses.
"What would you like for breakfast?" Claude asked, making his way over to the dresser for a comb.
Alois shrugged. "I don't care much. I always love what you cook."
Claude nodded.
As Alois watched the demon tidy himself up for the day, he noticed that Claude still had that restless, disheveled look about him.
Of course, it wasn't just that "messy" look everyone had upon getting out of bed; the look Claude had was ashen; almost skeletal.
Now the butler fumbled with his buttons, teeth gritted in concentration.
Alois rocked on the balls of his feet awkwardly before moving over to help Claude.
"Just say so if you need help; don't stand there like a dummy."
"Yes, my Highness."
Alois adjusted the bow around his neck. He played around with the frills for a bit before turning to face his butler.
"Do I look stunning, Claude?"
"Very."
"You look wonderful, Claude-y."
"Thank you."
The mirror stood tall and elegant before the two men, each reflective on the experiences they may share. Alois brushed at his bangs and huffed.
"Claude, do I need a haircut?"
"No."
"Good."
"Claude?"
"Yes?"
"It was considerate of Ciel to invite us."
The demon remained silent, although the comfort level in the room had dropped a notch.
Suddenly, Hannah came bursting through the door, her cheeks flushed as though she had just ran a marathon.
"The carriage is ready, Mr. Faustus and Mr. Trancy!"
"It's about damn time," Alois whispered to Claude, nudging him in the ribs as he did so.
As the two exited the front door of the manor, Alois reached for Claude's hand and squeezed it.
Claude stepped back to allow his master to enter first before climbing in after him.
"I get the window seat!" Alois scrambled to the window before leaning out to inhale.
Claude didn't react. Instead, he scooted beside the opposing window and looked out, chin in hand. His body had also coiled into thisーrigid position.
Once more, Alois took note of his odd behavior. As they rode on, bumping and swerving through the forest and winding paths, Alois hoped Claude would at least try to behave normally.
Still, he worried.
The clattering wheels of the Trancy carriage alerted the guests of a new presence. While the ball had barely begun, Alois and Claude had still arrived late.
They were ushered through the doors by an extremely red Ciel and a slightly condescending Sebastian.
Outside, it had begun to pour; the clouds wrapped around the moon like a gloved hand.
In the seclusion of Ciel's office, Sebastian hung their wet coats on a rack.
"Late," Sebastian mused, throwing the Trancy members a bored look.
"Fashionably," Claude replied, coolly.
"Bloody hell you two!" Ciel snapped, scattering his papers all over the desk in frustration. "Is it that hard to get your arses in the carriage at a reasonable time?"
"Claude couldn't make up his mind wether I should wear high tops or flats," Alois retorted before poking the younger boy in the chest.
"Excuse me, Mr. Booty Shorts for not taking into consideration your obsessive fashion necessities."
Alois felt his cheeks burn at the nickname but crossed his arms aggressively.
"Master, shall I get you anything?" Sebastian whispered, lips too close for Ciel's liking.
"Yeah. How about a nice hot mug of leave me the fuck alone?"
"Master?" Sebastian looked dubious.
"Go!"
Ciel tossed a pen at the butler.
Sebastian chuckled good-naturedly before exiting the room.
"Look, you may as well be nice. I mean, you invited us, didn't you?" Alois tapped his foot, only mildly irritated.
"Come downstairs then." Ciel muttered, not looking him in the eye. It was the closest they would get to an apology.
The ball was absolutely raging by the time the three had made their way downstairs.
"Why don't you two get yourselves a snack at the dessert table? I need to go find Sebastian."
"What? Noー" Alois gripped onto Ciel's arm, his grasp like a vice.
"Get off me!" Ciel snarled, stumbling back in surprise. "Whaー"
"I just want to dance with you. Just one dance. Please."
The unexpected request hit Ciel where it counted. Almost instantly, his cheeks blossomed a rosy pink. "Aloisー"
Beside them, Claude flinched involuntarily.
Before Ciel could protest, Alois grabbed his hand and led him to the center of the ballroom, where a new piece had started and eager couples had already coalesced into a yarn of dresses and suits.
Claude realized that he was alone, so he made his way over to the dessert table before lifting a plate of cherry jubilees to his nose. All at once, he felt his heart thump wildly against his chest, his stomach drop like a dead weight and the aroma of food sicken him.
He looked up, craning his neck above the sea of heads to find Alois.
There he wasーdancing with Ciel.
Alois had spun the latter in a circle before throwing his head back and laughing.
Had he ever made him that happy? Had heーClaude Faustusーevermade him laugh like that?
The noise of the ballroom had become like white noise in his head.
He heard girls shrieking, men roaring with laughterーdid he really though?
All Claude could see was Alois, Alois, Alois!
An inevitable whimper escaped Claude's lips, and he gripped the table to steady himself. Some figure was making its way over to him.
"Faustus!"
The sugar-coated voice was all too familiar: Aleister Chamber.
Claude blinked, disoriented.
Suddenly, gloved hands had placed themselves on his chest, the aroma of cheap perfume and alcohol filling his nostrils.
"Claude!" Aleister slumped against him, evidently drunk. He hiccuped and raised a glass. "Cheers! Cheers! Wonderful partyーbeautiful women!"
Claude stepped back as the man sank to his knees. The demon's head pounded. Sweat poured from his temples.
He had to find Alois.
He had to.
A new orchestra had begun. Claude looked about, half-expecting Alois to throw himself at his feet, begging for a dance.
But he never did.
And Claude told himself that he didn't mind.
Halfway through their dance, Alois stopped Ciel. He placed a hand on the brunette's chest before staring him straight in the eyes.
"Ciel?"
"What?"
"Do you think our butlers would be very happy to have us engaged?"
"Wh-whaー?" Ciel blushed deeply, his dark eyes widening in astonishment.
"Shh," Alois giggled and pressed his lips against Ciel'sーright there smack in the middle of the ballroomーhushing Ciel as well as himself.
And then, at the exact moment the kiss had taken placeーa certain Faustian butler collapsed.
To be continued. . .