(Requiem) One More Night
A/N Welcome to my third SebaCiel fic. Wow, aren't I a busy beaver? Well my workload hates me as it's getting bigger and bigger while I'm rattling these out. I seriously need a few more chapters of my manuscript finished in the next week but I'm too tempted to write this as I'm still mourning Sebby's apparent 'death' in the manga. That's right, I'm a sceptic. Or just a foolish optimist in utter denial. Anyhow, for anyone else who's crying over him, here's a romance for you, involving plenty of sweet lemony love. I think my lips are becoming puckered from too much lemon. Oh dear, time to get the rose balm out…
Zephyr
Part One
The Sweeter The Berry, The Stronger The Wine
Humans celebrate each passing year of their lives, usually with a rambunctious and garish party declaring that on that day, this person was born, and now they are this old. Sebastian never fully understood the reasoning behind celebrating birthdays. Each day that passed only brought you closer to death, and so why mark three hundred and sixty five days of dying with a celebration? Humans, such complex yet simple creatures. They always tried to sugar-coat things rather than see the truth, so it was always refreshing when a human did not care to see things through rose tinted glasses. One of these rare specimens was Ciel Phantomhive, head of the Phantomhive house and Sebastian's master. It was approaching his thirteenth birthday and he was being questioned tirelessly by those around him of what he desired on his birthday. To every person who asked such questions, he responded more or less the same;
"It is a day, like any other. I do not want any frivolous decorations in my mansion nor do I wish for gifts wrapped in garish papers or false niceties. Just allow me to carry out my day in peace." He would remark snidely. It did not deter people but they were met with the same stubbornness each time as was expected from Ciel Phantomhive. Sebastian kept it to himself that he approved of the boys behaviour.
The night of December thirteenth would see Ciel awake the next morning, December fourteenth, a day older, but on a landmark birthday in the human world. He would officially be of teen age, though what difference that made Sebastian could not comprehend. Nor could Ciel, seemingly. He expected that people would treat him with the same level of respect he deserved – and that was utmost – at any age. Whether he was thirteen or thirty, he did not care. Ciel Phantomhive was Ciel Phantomhive, at any age, on any day. Though on this night, he seemed to be acting more peculiar than usual. His usual poker face held notes of sadness in it, sadness Sebastian could not determine the cause of. Surely it was not that he truly desired to celebrate his birthday? If so, then why had he refused so profusely? There had to be another reason. Perhaps he missed his family and longed for their company, perhaps that was why he didn't wish for a party. He had lost both his parents and now also his Aunt, Madam Red, was gone from this world. The child was truly alone. Sebastian considered this as he dressed the boy for bed, wondering if his assumptions were correct and if so, how to act upon them and what reaction his own actions would obtain. For once, Sebastian was unsure. The young master was often difficult to read.
He left the boy in his bedroom to clean the kitchen after a busy day, only to be met with more mess than he anticipated. Meirin, Finnie and Bard had invaded his kitchen and seemed to have raided the pantry, for they were all crowded over a large mixing bowl pouring this and that into it.
"What are you three doing?" Sebastian asked and they jumped, startled by his presence having not noticed the quiet butler enter the room and linger to watch them.
"We're making Ciel a birthday cake!" Finnie exclaimed, licking batter off the rim of the bowl.
"He said he didn't want a party but he didn't say anything about cake." Bard grinned, avoiding his cigarette ash dropping into the mixture.
"And we all know how much Ciel loves sweet things." Meirin nodded, squinting behind her glasses to read a cookery book that was now dusted in flour. Sebastian sighed, took off his tailcoat and rolled up his sleeves.
"If you want to please Bocchan on his birthday, then this will just not do." He pushed the bowl aside. "Bocchan has very specific tastes and won't be satisfied with less than the best. Leave it to me, I promise I'll tell him you all made it."
"Eh? Really Sebastian-san?" Meirin blushed in awe of the butler. "How kind of you!"
"Yes, how kind. Now just leave me to do this, the day is over now, so go to your rooms or whatever it is you do."
When they all departed, Sebastian set to work creating a much more pleasing cake for Ciel, glad that he could blame it on those three if he indeed had meant what he said and wanted to spend the day as though it were any other. But then, those three were hardly competent in the kitchen, even Bard, the manor's chef, could only burn things to charcoal with his flamethrowers, wherever he managed to acquire them time and time again. Ciel would, without a doubt, know it was Sebastian who had crafted the cake, especially if it were particularly decadent as a birthday would require. So it would not be decadent, just a simple cake. But Sebastian didn't do simple. He could tone it down a little but by no means would his pride allow him to give his master something less than perfect. So it would be aesthetically pleasing but nothing spectacular. His original plan of creating a cake of a small scale Phantomhive Manor was scrapped. That was too ostentatious.
Morning came and Sebastian was prepared to wake Ciel at the normal hour, at his request of his birthday being carried out as any other day. And so he stood at the door, gazing at the boy's sleeping figure and ruffled teal blue hair and wondered how he should wake him. In the normal manner or should he greet him brightly with a happy birthday? No, no, he would rouse him normally and leave it until the others surprised him in his study with the cake to say happy birthday. His mind settled, he walked towards the bed and placed the tray bearing his morning tea on the nightstand but hesitated before waking him. The boy always looked so sweet in his sleep, so innocent and young. Before those hardened eyes opened Sebastian was almost fooled he was just a young boy after all, human, even.
He chose to wake him with the light and drew open the heavy curtains, letting the winter morning light illuminate the room. Ciel's sleeping figure moved under the covers before he pushed himself up and leans against his mountain of pillows, grinding sleep roughly out of his eyes and then turning them to Sebastian. His right eye glowed slightly, the purple an attractive contrast to the cerulean of its partner.
"Good morning, Bocchan. Your tea is beside you." Sebastian greeted him. Ciel's face is somewhat grumpy, as it always is in the morning. He's almost pouting. "Breakfast will be served in thirty minutes, today it is a poached quail egg and smoked salmon with sides of mint salad with savoury scones." He had to avoid adding is it to your taste? Just because it was his birthday. Ciel only nodded as he turned the pages of the London Times and sipped his Earl Gray, the milky white skin of his face imprinted with the creases of his pillow. He remained quiet, which was unusual, as often he would discuss what he read or work or various other things, but today, he was silent and didn't even look up from his paper. Sebastian waited for him to finish and then dressed him in a brand new suit. Ciel didn't seem to notice that it was new, or if he did, he made no comment. Sebastian had thought it appropriate that he wear a new outfit, and it was very becoming on the boy. The shirt was not white, but a soft ivory that complemented, or rather, mimicked his skin. Sebastian always thought that he looked very attractive in black, like a jewel placed on velvet or a star against the midnight sky, and had specifically chosen a black suit today which featured midnight blue pinstripes to marry with his hair, also, the pattern was very much in vogue.
The Earl had a busy day ahead of him, and Sebastian wondered if he was simply avoiding the fact it was his birthday. After breakfast, he had lessons all day, including French, violin and English literature. Later, he had paperwork to go through regarding a new prototype for a train set his company were creating. It needed the approval before Christmas. Ciel said nothing of his birthday all day, nor did anyone else, until it was time for him to head to his office to 'work' – he gave no other explanation, and Sebastian knew he simply desired to be alone. It was a pity that those three were waiting for him.
"Surprise!" They screamed when he opened the door. "Happy birthday, Ciel!" The birthday boy stared at them, in shock bordering on disdain, but his eyes softened slightly, but just slightly, at the sight of the cake they so proudly displayed. Sebastian had spent hours figuring out just the right level of decadence and had finally settles on a three tiered chocolate cake with white frosting and an elegant black damask pattern painstakingly iced on. The pattern itself took close to an hour to complete. Atop it was a black marzipan bow and around the lower tier, Happy Birthday was iced in black. Sebastian was very proud of his masterpiece.
"We all made it just for you!" Finnie clapped. "We know you didn't want a party but we know you like sweet things, so do you forgive us?"
"And we know you are very fond of this piece, so I'm sure you'll excuse us…" Bard said as a record began playing. Bach, Ciel's favoured composer.
"And we all got you this…" Meirin blushed, holding out a small box wrapped in blue paper and tied with a gold ribbon. "I hope you like it!" She handed it to him and he stared at it a moment before turning his eyes back to his servants. For once, they were not hard as steel nor did he wear a foul expression. His face had softened and he smiled at them all graciously.
"You really didn't have to do all this for me, let alone buy me something." He said as he undid the ribbon and Sebastian watched expectantly, having aided them in choosing an appropriate gift. Ciel lifted the lid and on a bed of red velvet was an elegantly crafted silver pocket watch with a ruby in the centre. Ciel stared again, unable to find the correct words and so unused to saying, "thank you." He said quietly, lifting it from the box and opening it to admire the pretty face.
"Do you like it?" Finnie asked, his hope in his wide eyes.
"Yes, I do. It is a lovely watch." He said, bestowing upon them a genuine smile, an expression so rarely seen on the boys face. But in an instant it was gone, as though it was painful for him to smile. Hadn't he said he had long since forgotten how?
"I shall go make some tea for everyone. I expect you all to behave while I am gone." He directed at Finnie, Bard and Meirin. They all saluted him and he left them to entertain Ciel.
"Hey, Ciel. You're an adult now, eh?" Bard snickered, elbowing him, his cigarette dangling from his lips. "So how 'bout a little adult fun?" He whispered, holding a bottle of brown liquid in his hand.
"What is that?" Ciel asked, narrowing his eyes and expecting the worst. It was Bard, after all.
"Whiskey from my country. Try it, it's good sh – stuff." He thrust the bottle into his hand. Ciel looked at it like it was a vial of poison. "C'mon, it's your birthday!" Bard encouraged.
"No glasses?" Ciel enquired.
"Just drink it as it is, quick, before Sebastian returns." Ciel warily unscrewed the lid and sniffed it, recoiling at the scent a little before taking a sip, and recoiling further and the strong, burning taste as it slid down his throat.
"That stuff is foul!" He exclaimed, coughing a little.
"Ah, just carry on drinking it, you'll get used to it." He said, patting him on the back. "Don't be such a coward." Ciel shot him a look of utter poison before determinedly tipping his head back and swallowing a large mouthful of the burning, almost sour liquid. His eyes squinted shut but he swallowed yet another before thrusting the bottle back into Bard hand, restraining himself from coughing before spluttering, his throat burning horridly.
At the door, Sebastian could hear what sounded like Ciel choking and quickly entered the room again with his service trolley, just in time to see Bard hide the bottle of alcohol in his inner pocket and see Ciel coughing into his hand, a grimace on his face. Sebastian sighed and sent Bard a warning look that promised he was in trouble, and being in trouble with Sebastian was perhaps a fate worse than death at times.
"Bocchan, why are you coughing?" Sebastian questioned him, taking in the sight of his red cheeks and squinting eyes. Ciel still managed to give him a look of reproach before he composed himself.
"No reason." His voice came out weak and he asked himself why he was hiding the fact he had drunk alcohol from his butler, a mere servant. The answer he knew but refused to admit it. He respected Sebastian and didn't want to disappoint him.
"And I suppose you were choking on air?" Sebastian pressed as he reached into Bard's pocket and revealed the bottle of American whiskey. He grimaced at it and gave it back to him. "If you are going to drink alcohol, at least choose something worth drinking." He continued as he produced a bottle of expensive red sauvignon from the cart. Gasps were heard around the room and Bard's eye glittered with amusement. Who knew the straight-edged butler had it in him?
"Wine?" Ciel gasped, just as surprised as everyone else. "You brought wine, didn't you? Not tea." He couldn't help the little grin on his face, nor did he care to. Those few drinks of whisky were already affecting him minutely. Little Ciel had no idea just how strong that particular liquor was.
"How clever, Bocchan. I assumed something like this would happen, given your age and Bard's conniving ways." His tone reminded Bard he wasn't being let off that easily. "And as it is a celebration, I do not see the harm in a glass of wine. It is a very fine bottle, I hear it is the best red available, so I hope you appreciate it." Sebastian smiled as he uncorked the green bottle and poured it into glasses. He handed them out, giving Ciel's his last and held his own up.
"To Ciel." He simply said, and everyone raised their glasses repeating the same. "Happy birthday, Bocchan." He said to Ciel, their glasses joining in a delicate 'clink' before he sipped at the burgundy liquid, his red eyes still on Ciel as he appeared to blush a little before following en suite and tasting the wine.
"It's…" Ciel began, but was lost for words. "Much nicer than that foul stuff." He decided it was fitting to be just a tad insulting, as was in his nature.
"Yes, I thought it would be to your taste." Sebastian smirked in self satisfaction, watching as Ciel less than elegantly drank the remainder of the wine in his glass. Sebastian poured him another and sat watching as Ciel was occupied by Finnie's incessant chattering and Bard replaced the wine in his glass with whiskey. Oh well, can't win them all.
Ciel did rather enjoy the wine, perhaps a little too much. He appreciated the delicate balance of subtle and strong flavours, the bouquet on the nose and the warmth that glowed within him with each mouthful. The whiskey had been sharp and burning, this however, was soft and warming. Because he was so preoccupied with talking to his servants he didn't quite notice just how much he was drinking, however, Sebastian did. He watched as he moved onto the second bottle with a malevolent spark in his ruby eyes. The wine was loosening his tongue and he didn't even realise it. He was engaged in conversation that flowed as freely as the wine, his usual defences lowered and he was even laughing at jokes and stories. The three really did seem to enjoy his company when he was a little kinder to them and revealed he did have something of a personality hidden away behind his dead pan face. Sebastian was going to tell him he was drinking to much, but seeing the glow in his eyes – or rather, eye – was almost moving. He was happy. He was genuinely enjoying himself and Finnie even managed to get him to dance a little, and while he did, his new best friend was still grasped in his hand. Wine. He adored it.
"Bard, Meirin, Finnie. It is after midnight, I suggest you get yourselves to bed. Just because it is the master's birthday does not mean you can neglect your duties tomorrow." And I expect you will all have hangovers any way. The workload will all be on my shoulders, yet again. Sebastian sighed.
"Awh, Sebastian! Don't be such a party pooper!" Bard whined, a little drunk. One look from Sebastian was all it took to quieten them all and the diligently bid Ciel goodnight and happy birthday before leaving him. Sebastian observed the slightly messy room, knowing he would have to tidy it after putting Ciel to bed to recover from the amount of alcohol he had consumed. He counted seven glasses of wine, and had no idea how much whiskey he had drunk. He was well and truly drunk, the way his eyes were misted and struggled to lock onto anything and how unsteady he was on his feet confirmed this.
"Sebastian!" Ciel slurred, falling onto the butler, whose body remained sturdy as a pillar as he caught the small boy in his arms. Ciel clung to fists of his jacket and looked up at Sebastian, trying to regain his footing.
"My, my. You are even more worse for the wear than I originally perceived. Perhaps this wasn't such a good idea on my behalf." Sebastian spoke to himself as opposed to the drunken teenager hanging off him.
"Sebastian!" Ciel repeated, giggling slightly. "I want to dance. Dance with me." He commanded, finally finding his footing and standing in front of Sebastian determinedly. His snowy complexion was tinged with rouge, a drunken flush that was attractive on the boy.
"You? Dance?" Sebastian said incredulously. "You're worse than I thought." He muttered, knowing the boy despised dancing and avoided it at all costs.
"I'm not that bad!" Ciel retorted, thinking he was talking about his dance skills. "And I danced with you in that – that dress and corset, so I can dance now! You can be the man!" He declared as though he were a genius or had discovered penicillin.
"You wish for me to lead you in a dance, Bocchan?" Sebastian smirked, intrigued with the drunken Ciel who stood before him, gazing up at him with a single bleary eye and ruffled hair.
"I just said that." He frowned in confusion. "Didn't I?" Sebastian made a noise somewhere between a chuckle and a sigh. He bowed slightly and held his hand out to the boy.
"May I have this dance, my lord?" Shockingly, Ciel smiled at him and accepted his hand.
Sebastian led him in a dance and Ciel followed in the lady's steps, surprisingly competent in his movements. Sebastian looked down at him and noticed Ciel was looking up at him, a peculiar expression on his face that he had never seen before. Now that the others were gone, Sebastian reached up and untied his eye patch and it slid to the floor. He brushed hair from his eyes and admired how pretty the boy looked, even drunk. If anything, the rose coloured tinge to his ivory skin made him all the more attractive, and the openness of his face was definitely a welcome change. What was most disarming about his appearance was the smile that played on his lips and grew when their eyes met. Sebastian pressed him close against his body, testing him further. Ciel did not complain as he normally would, instead, he rested his face against Sebastian's broad chest as the demonic butler slowed down, taking him into a much slower, intimate dance. He had one arm tightly around his narrow waist and the other held his hand as he turned him about. Ciel laughed lightly, a beautiful sound that was much too rare to hear him make.
"You're a good dancer, Sebastian." He complimented. An even rarer sound; Ciel praising another.
"Tonight, you aren't too bad yourself. Perhaps it is because the wine has taken away your inhibitions and therefore your clumsiness."
"I'm not that clumsy." Ciel protested, and Sebastian answered him by leaning him back and therefore leaning over him, their bodies still pressing together in a way that was particularly tempting to the butler.
"No, you're right. You're dancing like a feather tonight." Sebastian smirked, bringing him back up. Ciel stumbled forwards a little, the sudden rush of blood to his head making him a little dizzy. He tried to fix his eyes on Sebastian and giggled to see two of him.
"There's two of you!" He laughed. "Which one is you?" He reached his hand up to try and touch the face of the real Sebastian and when he found it, his eyes turned a little more serious. "Sebastian?" He asked.
"Yes, my Lord?" Came the reply.
"Kiss me." Ciel whispered.
"My Lord, you have certainly had too much to drink – " Ciel cut him off by kissing him himself. He grasped Sebastian's tie and lowered his mouth down to his before closing the gap with his mouth. When he broke away Sebastian stared at him with a multitude of emotions confusing him.
"I said kiss me. It's an order." Ciel repeated. Sebastian smirked his little smile before inclining his head slightly.
"Yes, my Lord." He smirked and inclined his head further, meeting Ciel's waiting lips with his own in a much more pleasing manner, more skilful that the boys clumsy forcefulness. Ciel made a small sound somewhere between a sigh and a moan and wrapped his arms around his butler's neck. Sebastian's lips quirked up and as he pulled away from Ciel, who moaned in discontent.
"Most definitely too drunk." He smirked.
"I am not drunk. And Sebastian?"
"Yes, my Lord?"
"I ordered you to kiss me." Sebastian repeated his last words and pressed their lips together once more, pulling his lips away and licking his tongue over Ciel's lower lip and then pushing it into his surprised mouth. Ciel melted into the feeling of Sebastian's body so close to his, his tongue playing havoc with his senses. He had denied being drunk but knew he was. He was kissing a man. His butler. Not only his butler, but his demon butler. Sebastian pulled away from him and stroked his face.
"I think it is time for you to sleep, Bocchan. It is late and you will be suffering from a terrible hangover the morrow." Ciel shook his head.
"No."
"Bocchan – "
"I said no. I am the master, and it is my birthday, and I will do as I like." Sebastian's nasty smile returned.
"And what is it you would like to do, Bocchan?" He breathed into his ear, flicking his tongue over the lobe and up along the shell. Before he could answer, Sebastian was nipping the lobe with his teeth and proceeded to lick his tongue behind his ear and traced it further down his neck, pausing occasionally to kiss his tender, delicate skin. Each time he did he enjoyed the little noise Ciel would make, and when he nibbled and sucked at the hollow of his throat, he was rewarded with a delicious sounding groan from the young boy, whose breathing was becoming ragged and heavy. Just how drunk was the boy? And just what would he do when he was intoxicated like this? Sebastian's hand – which had been at the small of Ciel's back – dipped lower and still the boy didn't have any words of protest to voice, only noises of pleasure as Sebastian persistently kissed his neck and teased him with his teeth. Ciel gripped handfuls of his tailcoat with his fists, tilting his neck to one side to expose more of his skin for Sebastian, whose hand had decided it wanted to test him further and now slipped to his front, trailing down his chest and considerably lower.
"Mmn, Sebastian, what are you – " Ciel cut himself off with his own gasp as Sebastian's hand cupped around a part south of his waist in which a pressure with building. "Sebastian?"
"It is your birthday, my Lord, and as you said, you may do as you wish. Indulge in what you want, in hedonistic pleasures…" Sebastian murmured to him, ceasing his kissing only momentarily before kissing him roughly on the lips.
"Wh-what do you mean?" Ciel stammered, pulling back in alarm at the heat in Sebastian's voice. He looked up at his butler in alarm who wore a look that Ciel could only describe as 'sensual' on his face, his lids lowered slightly, his lopsided little smile on his lips.
"You ordered me to kiss you, did you not? But there is so very much more I could do for you…" Sebastian explained, his breath hot against Ciel's ear as he paused to kiss the lobe, sucking on it. "So many pleasures I could give you, if that is what you desire. So much more than this. I can set your whole body aflame, make you feel like you have never felt before. If that is what you desire…is it, Bocchan?" He slipped his hand into the waistband of Ciel's trousers and his gloved fingers came into contact with his hardening arousal. Ciel gasped and writhed against his hand, half struggling to get away, but half of him longing to stay just where he was; with Sebastian, sinfully.
"Ah, Sebastian…" Ciel moaned as those fingers moved against him.
"Is it what you desire?" Sebastian pressed him, his fingers continuing in their ministrations. Ciel knew he should tell him to stop. He knew this was wrong. He shouldn't let Sebastian do this to him, he shouldn't want Sebastian to do that to him, but he was too intoxicated by the wine and by Sebastian to think straight or to care.
"Yes…" He said breathlessly.
"Yes what?" Sebastian said into his neck as his teeth played with his skin.
"It is what I des…desire." Ciel moaned; Sebastian had managed to swiftly undo the buttons of his trousers and they had fallen to the floor, allowing his hand more space to move. He grasped his hand around his master's now fully-formed erection and toyed further with him, making his knees weak and body shudder.
"Yes, my Lord…" Sebastian smirked, lifting the boy into his arms and carrying him to his bedroom. The trousers were left on the floor for a confused Bard to find later.
A/N I bet you all adore me for leaving it there, huh? I need motivation to keep posting it up. That's right, it's actually all completed so I can keep reading, but you can't until you review and tell me how much you love me and need me to continue this for you! I do enjoy teasing you. But you all tease me so! Please, I beg of you, favourite my story and maybe even myself and review for me, it keeps me going, typing out these stories for your enjoyment. I need to know if people enjoy my work otherwise it's truly a waste. So come on, tell me you love me, baby…
Zephyr