nov 2015 update: hi everyone! it's been a few years and i'm floored with the reception this fic has gotten. it's my most successful fic to date and i'd like to thank everyone who read, faved and/or commented. that being said, i have recently become very uncomfortable with the way i used incorrect pronouns for grell in this fic. at the time i wrote it, i did not recognize her status as a trans woman and chose to write "yaoi" stories about her. in the past few years i have become more concerned with trans visibility and respect, and have thus chosen to correct grell's pronouns. i made no other changes, as grell is canonically pre-op (has not undergone surgery). i'm sure some of you will be upset, but i consider this change necessary for my own conscience. thank you to everyone that has supported this fic in the past, and i hope for your support continuing into the future.
In retrospect, perhaps he regretted it. He'd been bound by the laws of the contract, and of course the boy had been about to die anyway, but Sebastian dreaded that the next few centuries would be filled with nothing but tepid boredom.
It was worth it for that soul, he thought to himself. One utterly delicious soul; innocent and evil at the same time. The demon couldn't help but lick his fangs at the memory of Ciel's tender, spicy life force—it had been weeks since his feast, yet he could almost still taste the exquisite flavor. The "high" from a soul of this caliber had lasted for days, and even now, after the euphoria had worn off, Sebastian would be able to survive almost a year without any further sustenance. Its power had even restored his lost arm completely.
However, this didn't keep him from thinking back almost wistfully to the good times at the Phantomhive Manor as the demon perched delicately atop a church spire. He was in his true form, and invisible to the human eye. If only at least one of the manor staff had managed to live, he sighed internally. Perhaps he could have amused himself with their predicaments.
A flash of movement caught his attention, and Sebastian flicked his crimson gaze towards the motion. Nothing was there, other than a few dustbins and a mangy dog, and the demon scowled. This is utterly pointless in every way, he mused. He couldn't begin to fathom why he was still lingering in the human world. Honestly, it was really very dull.
He leapt from the spire, landing gracefully in spite of the tall, spiked heels of his boots.
"You know, you look even more stunning in your true form," said a familiar voice. Grell Sutcliff stepped out of the shadows, signature grin planted firmly on her face.
Sebastian watched the shinigami haughtily, holding his chin high and narrowing his eyes. "What do you want, Grell?" he demanded.
Grell pouted dramatically, but the smile never left her eyes. "So cold!" she gasped, clutching her heart in mock pain. "Relax. I just want to talk, Sebasu-chan. Oh! I guess that's not your name anymore, right?" The redhead giggled gently, pressing a gloved hand to her mouth.
The demon continued to regard Grell with disdain, but inside he was relieved at how tamely the reaper was behaving. At the very least, she hadn't immediately molested Sebastian on sight, nor was she flirting too obnoxiously. The demon decided to reward Grell's good behavior by answering her question.
"It doesn't really matter. Demons are brought into existence without names," he explained offhandedly, inspecting his long black nails. "So we hold on to our most recent titles until we enter into a new contract."
Grell nodded, humming a little in response. "Your kind is so fascinating…I wish William would let me study demons. Well, whatever. Sebasu-chan it stays," she said happily. Sebastian neglected to correct the purposeful mispronunciation. It had never really bothered him. "Anyway, not that I'm at all disappointed, but I couldn't help but notice that you haven't returned to the world of demons yet…" The shinigami, in a rare display of timidity, looked down, and then peered back up at Sebastian through her bangs. "So…Is everything all right?"
Sebastian raised an eyebrow at Grell's reticent concern. "Why does it matter to you?" he countered, perhaps a bit harshly. He wasn't really sure what kept him from returning. He just didn't want to return…not that this world was much better than the demonic realm.
A flash of genuine hurt passed over the ostentatious reaper's face, but it was replaced almost instantly with that sharp grin. "Well, if you must know, Sebasu-chan, I've been thinking about that whole affair with the angel and the bridge. The way I see it, I really helped you out that day—without my help, you'd never have gotten free from all those negative souls." She flipped a lock of hair over his shoulder. "You can check with Will—I cut off more of those foul leakages than the rest of the London Squad. Combined. Anyway, I was thinking back on everything, and I realized that you owe me at least one favor…"
"Absolutely not," snapped the demon. "You were just doing your job."
The grin simply widened. "About that…as far as "jobs" go, your former master also promised that I'd have a day to do whatever I wanted with you. Now, I think I'm being pretty reasonable for not demanding an entire twenty-four hours of your time, especially since your master would have almost certainly died without my help."
Sebastian hissed involuntarily, angry at himself—it had been his own fault that his master had needed to rely on another at that time. And perhaps—perhaps—that perverse angel would have been able to best him in combat if Grell had not helped on that day. In both instances, Ciel had been far too close to death for Sebastian's liking.
The effeminate shinigami, apparently sensing the demon's indecision, began to speak again. "Come on, Sebastian," she pleaded softly. "Just one favor. Then…you never have to even see me again."
Sebastian pressed a hand to his forehead, hiding the tiny, spontaneous smile that had crept upon his lips. He couldn't help himself—Grell simply reminded him too much of a kitten mewling for its dinner. And Sebastian had always had a soft spot for cats. Forcing a straight face, he looked back at the shinigami.
"All right, I accept," he said finally. "What's this favor you're so keen to get?"
Grell looked about ready to explode from joy, and she bit his lip (how did she manage to do that without drawing blood? Sebastian wondered idly) as if to restrain herself from screaming. The demon braced himself for an imminent and most likely violent expression of glee, but the redhead calmed down with an uncharacteristic display of self-control. Her smile softened; became gentle and genuine, and Sebastian felt a pleasant little shiver run down his spine at this new, composed side of Grell.
The shinigami took a slow step closer, green-gold eyes shining in the moonlight. "What I want…" she whispered, "is for you…" (she moved closer) "…to let me…" (Sebastian could see himself reflected in Grell's eyes) "…pleasure you…" she finished, placing one black-gloved hand lightly on the taller man's chest. All traces of childish mirth were gone from the shinigami's face, replaced with a grave, haunting expression that Sebastian couldn't quite place, though it reminded him somewhat of his most recent master.
When the demon remained motionless, Grell continued. "Think of it however you want—hell, close your eyes and pretend it's some faceless, nameless whore if that's more agreeable to you…" The shinigami's words sounded so bitter and pained and the emotion on her face was so reminiscent of Ciel that Sebastian had pulled Grell into a comforting embrace before the demon even realized he had moved.
He heard Grell gasp, and Sebastian would have been lying if he told himself that he was not surprised (and perhaps more than a little confused) at his own action—it was something he might have done for Ciel, not this crazed reaper. But the demon stayed still, simply waiting for the stunned shinigami to make the next move. He had agreed to grant her a favor, after all. If nothing else, the beings of hell had to hold to their agreements.
After a long moment of motionless silence, Grell pulled back, hiding her face with her long, scarlet hair. Sebastian watched her patiently, letting the reaper compose herself. Grell looked up with traces of tears (why had she been crying?) in the corners of her eyes, motioning for the man to follow.
"As eager as I am to have your favor, I really am not comfortable making you do this in public," the shinigami explained. "Even if no one can see us except immortals…No, scratch that, especially because immortals can see." The familiar smile started to reinstall itself in the form of a smirk. "A lady has to uphold her reputation, you know," she quipped, leading the black-haired demon into a burnt-out and abandoned residential building.
Sebastian's eyes adjusted instantly to the darker interior, and the two immortals easily navigated the labyrinth of charred wreckage. This building hadn't been hit so badly compared to some other parts of London; many pieces of furniture and even entire rooms were still essentially intact. Grell had apparently been here before, as she headed straight for a relatively clear area containing a simple but large bed.
When the shinigami turned around, Sebastian noticed an anxious look in her eyes. "Is something wrong?" the demon asked. "I thought this was what you wanted." Inwardly he wondered at himself for showing any concern. He blamed the fact that Grell was acting almost exactly like a cat—unpredictable, mysterious, sensual—wait, what…? Unpredictable? Mysterious? Sensual? Sebastian nearly blushed at his own train of thought. At least I certainly know she's catty.
The shinigami glanced at him sharply, and Sebastian thought he saw a flash of anger in her gaze. "Of course it's what I want," replied Grell with conviction, perhaps even indignation, and she pushed the compliant demon down to lie on the bed. She peered down through her glasses warily. "Don't you dare go back on your word."
Sebastian smiled, remaining in a spread-eagled position. So that's your worry, little kitten. "I'm not going to run away, Grell," he said softly. "We agreed to a contract—a minor one, but still completely binding. So until I do your favor, I am yours."
A complex series of emotions passed rapidly across the shinigami's features, far too fast even for a demon to catch them. Finally she settled on her customary grin, which Sebastian realized with a jolt was simply a mask for something he could not identify.
The redhead climbed on top of the bed, straddling Sebastian's waist and placing a hand on either side of the demon's head. "Just relax…" she instructed, her hair cascading down to form a blood-red curtain around her shoulders. Slowly she leaned down, bringing her lips to Sebastian's in an impossibly light, feathery kiss.
When the demon did not pull away, Grell grew slightly bolder, pressing more firmly and moving her mouth sensually. When her warm pink tongue slid across the demon's lower lip, Sebastian opened up readily, accepting the shinigami's kiss as it grew more and more heated. Sebastian relaxed into the sensations; the gentle caress of Grell's lips and the twining dance of her tongue. He began to join in, letting his own mouth respond, but the shinigami groaned softly and broke away, panting lightly and casting a searching look over Sebastian. Slowly the shinigami brought one hand to her mouth, biting one finger of her glove and pulling it off with her teeth. She repeated the action for her other hand, and stroked the demon's collarbone with newly exposed fingertips. The reaper began to nimbly undo Sebastian's clothing, petting each inch of skin as it was revealed. The demon grew warm at these touches, and he let out a tiny sigh of contentment.
Grell was working faster now, tugging the fabric off of Sebastian's graceful shoulders briskly. When the garment was removed, the shinigami let her hands roam freely over the demon's firm chest, massaging it slightly before she leaned down and closed her mouth over a dusky nipple. Sebastian hummed at the wet pressure as Grell licked and sucked the hardening bud.
The reaper removed her mouth, switching his attention to the demon's other nipple and lavishing it with the same delicious treatment. At a particularly intense suck, Sebastian made a soft pleasured noise and moved his hand to stroke through Grell's hair. Its texture was as silky-smooth as Ciel's had been, but much longer and thicker; Sebastian's fingers curled around the strands as if they had always belonged there.
Grell squeaked and raised her head—unbearably alluring with eyes lidded and clouded; cheeks and lips red. "Y-you don't h-have to do anything," she stuttered.
The demon blinked slowly and resumed petting the shinigami's scarlet locks. Grell closed her eyes and rubbed against the hand, keening softly. Sebastian ground his hips upward as a reminder to continue, pressing his hardening erection against Grell's and eliciting a gasp.
The reaper pushed herself up, shedding her coat, vest, and shirt rapidly until her pale torso was completely bare. She slid down Sebastian's body, running her elegant fingers along the demon's sides and hooking the digits over the waistband of his pants. She pulled down slowly. Finally, Sebastian's arousal sprang free; Grell whimpered desirously and removed the trousers completely before lowering her mouth onto the heated organ.
It was the demon's turn to moan as soft, pliant lips wrapped around his member, engulfing him in satiny heat. For the first time in years Sebastian was able to simply relax and succumb to his body's lustful urges—he could literally count on one hand the number of times he had climaxed since entering into Ciel's service, and at least half of those had been by his own hand.
So it was far sooner than usual before the demon felt the press of orgasm drawing near—however, Grell stopped her ministrations abruptly. Sebastian growled halfheartedly; he hadn't wanted to come so quickly, but he hadn't wanted the reaper to stop, either.
The shinigami was panting, lips slightly red, as she hastily fumbled with her own trousers, revealing the stiff erection with the removal of her last piece of clothing. Suspicious, Sebastian eyed Grell with a questioning expression. She simply climbed back on top of the demon, letting their arousals rub together while she gave a softly passionate kiss.
Watching Sebastian with sultry, hooded eyes, Grell repositioned her body so that her tightly puckered entrance rubbed teasingly on the head of Sebastian's shaft. Realizing what Grell was planning, Sebastian opened his mouth to protest (surely the reaper wasn't about to take him dry), but instead loosed a guttural moan as the redhead lowered her body, enveloping the demon in blissful heat.
Grell was tight—far tighter than any virgin maid that the demon had deflowered—but her passage was slick. Again, Sebastian was taken by surprise; the shinigami had evidently stretched and lubricated herself before they'd even spoken.
"Nngh…ah, Grell…wh-what would you…have done, had I…refused…?" the darker man murmured. He'd slept with countless others without so much as batting an eyelash, but his body was reacting much more strongly than ever before. Perhaps it was because he wasn't in control—it was the first time someone had had his way with Sebastian, and not the other way around.
The shinigami atop him mewled—a most appealing sound—and responded through her excited pants. "Hahh…s-same—nnn!...as always…I'm—oh God!—used to disahhh…disappoint—nyaa…!"
The rest of her sentence was lost to more aroused cries—precious little noises fell from her lips like gems. Grell was vocal, but not in the loud, obnoxious way that Sebastian had expected. The demon groaned audibly at the mental image of Grell pleasuring and preparing herself; distractedly, Sebastian vowed to someday watch that scene with his own eyes.
For the moment, however, the feeling of Grell's body compacting his throbbing member was more than enough, and beyond heavenly. He was now fully sheathed, and his hips were fairly vibrating with the effort of restraining wild, animalistic bucks. The reaper's straining cock had begun to leak precome, and her sharp teeth had finally managed to break the skin of her quivering lower lip, which now seeped her crimson blood.
Sebastian reached out his hands, and Grell flinched as if expecting a blow, but the demon simply grasped her shoulders, pulling her down so that their faces were but an inch apart. "Don't hurt yourself…" breathed Sebastian, licking the coppery blood away with his hot, wet tongue. The shinigami shivered and nodded, lips trembling and eyes misty.
Vibrant green-gold eyes locked with scarlet, and Grell began to move her body slowly up and down Sebastian's sizeable erection. The stimulation awakened the pleasure-hungry beast that resided within the demon, and Sebastian began to move his hips in sync with the woman above him.
"Aah! Se-sebasu…" the reaper moaned breathily, her pace still slow and teasing. "E-enjoying-…yourself?" She half-smirked through a haze of lust.
Sebastian wrapped his hands around Grell's porcelain hips and returned the smirk. "Not nearly enough, yet," he purred, tightening his grip and pushing the shinigami down onto his cock while thrusting up deeply into her velvet passage.
Grell screamed aloud, ecstasy written all over her face. "Again! God, Sebastian, right there!" she commanded, back arching beautifully. The demon was quick to comply, slamming in at the same angle again and again with a merciless rhythm. The shinigami rode him perfectly, meeting him thrust for thrust with more vigor than any mortal could hope to possess.
Sebastian wrapped a hand firmly around Grell's throbbing member, pumping and squeezing it with each thrust, and causing the woman to cry out exultantly.
"More, more," the shinigami sobbed, "Nyaa…Seba-ahh….I'm…almost…"
Grell threw back her head and gasped, muscles clenching exquisitely as she came. Her seed spilled into Sebastian's waiting palm, and her fingers scrabbled for purchase on the demon's shoulders. The reaper clamped down with nearly excruciating pressure on the shaft embedded within her; Sebastian released his own essence, thoroughly overwhelmed by the sight, sound, and feel of Grell.
The shinigami collapsed, falling half onto Sebastian's pale broad chest and half onto the stale sheets of the bed. She sighed with contentment, obviously utterly spent, and the demon unthinkingly laced his fingers through the red hair spilling over their bodies. The room was silent but for Grell's occasional satisfied murmurs, and Sebastian let his mind wander. He could not recall ever having felt this wonderfully complete after sex. It was something akin to devouring souls; he felt lethargic and sleepy, comfortable, even amiable. The demon had thought that the only reason to engage in carnal acts was to get what he wanted, either directly or indirectly. Suddenly Sebastian didn't know what he wanted.
Grell's breathing had slowed, and she was now looking at Sebastian with hesitant chartreuse eyes. "…Th-thank you… I guess I'll… go, now…" the reaper murmured, pulling away, and the demon saw tears beginning to glimmer under her long lashes.
"Wait," Sebastian called suddenly. Grell turned to look at him incredulously, shoulders shaking with silent sobs.
"What? Did I do something wrong? Didn't we both come?" the shinigami rasped. "You're free of me now, Sebastian. You don't have to see me ever again. Doesn't that make you happy?" She was shivering fiercely; fighting to speak through shuddering breaths; blinking her tears away rapidly.
Sebastian sat up and brought a hand to Grell's face. The shinigami shied away at first, but when the demon's motions did not become violent, leaned into the touch very slightly, and closed her eyes with a desolate sigh. With graceful movements, Sebastian once again pulled their bodies close and pressed a kiss to the other's lips.
Grell made a puzzled noise as the demon broke away. "What…?" she breathed in bewilderment, bringing a hand to her mouth.
"I…" Sebastian started to say, then realized he didn't know how to finish. He didn't know why he'd stopped the shinigami. He didn't know why the thought of Grell leaving—especially in this state—was making his chest hurt. "I don't… want…." The demon searched wildly for the right words. "You don't… have to go…" he finished, meeting the reaper's mystified gaze with conviction. "Don't go."
Comprehension broke out on Grell's face, and her expression grew more and more doubtful. "You do realize I got my scythe back, Sebastian, and that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned… If you're toying with me, I swear…"
"Grell." Claret eyes flashed seriously. "Even demons can be sincere about certain things, and this is one of them." He brushed the shinigami's cheek with a slender thumb. "I don't want you to leave. Nor do I want to leave you."
For the first time since they'd met, Sebastian saw hope in Grell's expression. He realized her eyes had always been dull and lifeless—though this had been carefully concealed behind an exuberant, excitable façade, the true light now shining through was giving the shinigami more beauty than Ciel's fierce determination could begin to match.
"May I be so bold as to request another contract, Grell?" Sebastian asked, smirking.
"…Th-that depends…" the reaper replied, twisting the bed sheets nervously. "What are the terms?"
The demon pretended to think aloud. "Well, let's see. Shinigami have no souls, correct? So you can't promise me yours. How about another type of exchange, then?" He took Grell's hands in his. "If you promise me your heart, I shall give you mine."
The hope shone out more fiercely. "And the contract's length?" Grell demanded breathlessly.
Sebastian smiled gently, pressing against the other's trembling frame and wrapping his arms firmly around her slim waist. Leaning in close, he whispered in the shinigami's ear, letting his lips brush the supple shell. "Eternity."
"…Y-yes," Grell laughed. "Oh, Sebastian, please, yes…"
"Then…shall we seal it with a kiss?" The demon did not wait for a response, swooping down to claim the shinigami's welcoming lips with more passion than he had known could exist.
