Chapter One


Subject: WEB

To: Ciel Ph.

From: Upset reader

I am not going to lie, I am not a regular reader of WEB. However, I can't stand the insisent, narcissistic, incompetent tone I come across when reading your articles. I understand, as an only child that was orphaned, why you'd feel so self-absorbed that you display that in your writing. However, it is lacking any depth that a normal person could successfully write. My 8 year old son could write better stories than you, and actually look good doing it.

Sincerely, Upset Reader.


Subject: Your review :)

To: Upset Reader

From: Ciel Phantomhive

I find your over-excessive use of 'however' amusing, even more so than you inability to properly spell 'insistent'. My past means nothing to me, nor anyone else.

It seems that you spend an extraordinary amount of time watching your 8 year old son 'look good', doesn't it? :)

As you can see, I can use things excessively too. :)

Sincerely, Ciel Phantomhive.

Breathing slowly, Ciel's hand hovered over the keyboard, ready to click ENTER and send the letter off. But doing so would promote more angry emails to be sent his way, not to mention his reputation as cheif editor at 'WEB' would crumble if anyone got wind of Mr. Ciel Phantomhive replying to hate mail with hate mail. Leaning back in the chair, he turned away from his computer to the blank wall. White and boring, just like the rest of the office. He looked back at the screen again, glaring, taping his fingers on the edge of the desk. Someone leaned over the wall of his cubicle.

"Ciel, have you finished tomorrow's article?"

"Almost, Mr. Faustus. I'll get it in at six."

"Very well." Claude left, and Ciel looked over his shoulder as he walked away. He felt distaste for the man, but at least the CEO knew his line of work. Most CEO's wouldn't bother to check in on their workers; Claude did. He walked down the halls of the five story building, knowing his workers one on one. Cutting any weak links. Keeping the papers up to date, consistently holding meetings, even checking up on the building's architecture, Claude Faustus kept things in order. Ciel admired that, still, he hated when the man came up behind him to catch him off guard. Luckily, Ciel was just as punctual, intellectual, and and consistent as him. Earning Ciel the secret title of 'favorite'. Which only involved not getting yelled at like his coworkers.

Swallowing, Ciel reached down quickly, pressing 'DELETE'. He would not be the company's downfall, although one hate mail certainly wouldn't cause that. He needed this job, the money.

On the brightside, he got to hold meetings as well. And yell at his own coworkers if he pleased.

Subject: WEB Meeting.

To: EE

From: Ciel Ph.

Meeting at seven. We will be putting the finishing touches together for this week's magazine. Everyone will email their works to the company's email.

Quick reminder that we have idea presentations tomorrow morning, nine to twelve AM.

Ciel pressed send this time, making sure everyone who needed to get the email would get it. These emails should've been the secretary's job. WEB didn't have a secretary though. So Ciel was relied on to do these things. Busy, boring, exhausting. But it was HIS job, that's all that mattered. If he hadn't shown his competency in his first year here, Claude might have let him go. But Ciel was an asset, someone the company needed.

Grabbing his coat, Ciel glanced at the time. He was going to get some coffee.


"Mr. Landers, what do we do with the body?"

"Put it in the car, drop it off behind the diner this time. Our friend wants the body."

"Him? Of course him, he's a creepy old bastard..."

"Just get it out of my sight! It's disgusting..."

"Sorry, boss."


Bringing the coffee to his lips, taking long slow sips, Sebastian checked his watch. 4:12 PM. Plenty of time to make it back for the office meeting, get some good pictures of the workers doing their jobs. He took another sip, glancing across the street. The light grey building with open windows, and a round front spread across his view, the words 'SUIT' in bold black on he front. A name which Sebastian chose himself, though his boss would never admit it. Sebastian was fine with that, because it wasn't his job to be pleased with how the company presented itself.

Once a freelance photographer straight out of art school, Sebastian was now SUIT's best, not to mention only, photographer. For most, that meant good pictures, turning those pictures into Alan at the front desk of the building, collecting your money, then going on your way. Not for him though.

Sebastian showed high quality social skills. In other words, he got word of the 'dirty' things in the city. He was willing to pull paparazzi on famous celebrities. He was a rat, or rather a snake, getting into organizations, places, or even reporting on SUIT's own employees. Great at photography, good a understanding people, exceptional at getting what he, or others, wanted. And at the end of the day, he got the highest paycheck, next to the CEO of course.

Grabbing the extra coffee on the table, he decided to head back, waving at the waitress on the way out. The CEO would want his coffee too. William, cold and reserved, had a strange dislike for Sebastian, because Sebastian was the type he hated; a snake, focused only on money. Despite this, William trusted him, because Sebastian had earned it time and time again over the past seven years.

Opening the door to the Cafè, Sebastian moved aside to let a familiar face through. Ciel, blue haired, blue eyed editor for WEB. WEB, the only other major magazine in London. Ciel paused, stepping back to let Sebastian out.

"Good afternoon, Ciel."

"Sebastian," Ciel retorted coldly, crossing his arms.

"It's a fine day today."

"So it is. How's your life been?"

"Fine. How about yours? Claude's?"

Ciel knawed on his lip, then seemed to realize and stop. He lifted his chin to glare defiantly at the taller man.

"I'm fine. Claude's... fine," Ciel sighed, and Sebastian smiled cheerfully. The grin felt too forced, and Ciel noticed. The shorter man tapped his foot impatiently. "Claude's still mad for the Christmas fiasco."

"That was months ago. And I truly did not mean to spill punch on him, that was..." Sebastian trailed off, thinking. He glanced behind Ciel at the buildings, WEB and SUIT, side by side. He remembered the closing party at Christmas time, the one WEB held before the holiday break. He remembered crashing the party, and walking into the famous Claude Faustus, with a glass of punch in his hand. Claude, had been wearing a five hundred dollar suit that day, and the thought made Sebastian smile.

"That was an accident."

"Hah. I see." Ciel swallowed, than walked into the cafè impatiently, making it clear he didn't want to talk. "Goodbye, Sebastian."

"Goodbye, Ciel. Be warned, their coffee is a little burnt." Sebastian stalked away, hurrying across the street. The editor was interesting, very interesting. The type of person he'd consider asking out, if they weren't working at rival companies. Sebastian took out his camera, preparing for the meeting.


Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler.

Summary: Sebastian Michaelis, photographer, liar, with an uncertain future, likes to play mind games (from a distance) with Ciel Phantomhive. But the other man, an editor with a rocky life, will soon have games to play too, and he can be quite the accomplished liar as well.

Pairing: Mainly Eventual!SebaCiel. Other possible pairings.

Rating: Might go up to M.

Warning: Violence, a lot of bad language. Possible smut. Drug abuse. Different pairing types. Don't like, then... don't read...? O.o

Extra Notes: AU. Absolutely AU. Wrote this because I was bored, and I never wrote SebaCiel before. Suggestions on plot or pairings can be left in the comments (please give me suggestions on pairings). 3rd person POV, follows a few people. First chapter is short and brisk, to start things up. I have no beta-reader, so it's cool if you point out my mistakes. It'd be appreciated.

Chapters that have smut will be marked with a smiley face. Because I know some people just want smut, others want to avoid it.