A/N: Onto the next chapter! ^^ This note will be short because I'm running on about four hours of sleep and I'm about to crash XD Was up all night worrying about a sick friend D8 Thank you everyone for reading and I hope you enjoy this chapter! I'm excited to post it for various reasons haha.

Many, many, many thanks to Kitty Gets Loose for reading through this story and giving me advice. And to Imperial Mint and Eien. Ni for encouraging me along the way ^^

Warnings: Language, unbeta-ed, Claude/Sebastian

Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroshitsuji or any of the quotes in the chapters


As a rule: revenge is a poison meant for others, which we end up swallowing ourselves


It was still dark outside and the air was cold without the sun to warm it up. A small amount of frost was still on the windshield but it would melt away once the car finished warming up. Alois shivered and wrapped his hands around the mug of coffee that he had just made before looking up the stairwell that led to their apartment.

Ciel wasn't a morning person and it had taken a lot of convincing before Ciel had agreed to this mini road trip. However, Alois knew that the arguing was only for show and that Ciel really didn't mind going to the rodeo. Ciel had a soft spot for horses and this would give him a chance to go see them, along with listening to the country music that he secretly liked. Alois shook his head; deep down Ciel was really just a southern, Texan boy who liked to act as though he had been raised in the city his whole life.

He glanced up to see Ciel coming down the steps, bundled in a heavy winter jacket. The winter months had been unusually cold this year and Ciel wasn't exactly fond of winter. The door opened and Ciel climbed in before shutting the door behind him, sealing the warmth inside the car.

"It's too damn early for this," he complained and buried himself further into the warmth of his jacket. "I don't know why I even agreed to such a thing."

"You'll have fun," Alois said quickly to reassure Ciel in case he decided to back out. Grell had been able to get tickets right on the edge of the arena and after pulling up a seating map of the AT&T center, he had pointed out the place where Sebastian would perform. It wasn't right next to him, but they would still be able to get a good view from their seats and Alois was hoping that everything went as planned.

Ciel hummed softly and closed his eyes as Alois backed the car up. Car trips always made him sleepy and with the early morning start, he would be back asleep in no time. They stopped in front of the gate and waited for it to open before Alois made his way out onto the main road.

It was a simple drive. Straight down I-35 and at the early hour on a Saturday, traffic would be light. They had plans to stop at a coffee shop for breakfast before continuing further into San Antonio and Ciel was looking forward to that stop and the doughnuts that would come from it. After that, it would be around ten and the rodeo would just be opening up to the public.

Ciel wiggled slightly in his seat and turned his face away from Alois so the older male wouldn't see his expression. It had been years since Ciel had last ridden a horse. He had stopped riding right before he entered high school, knowing that equestrian wasn't something that most people thought was interesting. And at the time, his fencing lessons were taking up most of his time, as was perfecting his grades to get into college.

He missed the large animals and was excited to see them again; to feel their soft noses and smell the scent of hay and grain in the air. It would be different though, as Ciel had ridden the English saddle and those that rode in the rodeo competed in the Western saddle. But the love for the animals was still the same and Ciel found that it was something he was craving.

After being stuck in the large city, the smells of a barn would be welcoming and was almost a reminder of home. Or at least his summer home. During most of the year, they lived in Stablewood, a county that was part of Houston. An expensive and elite community, it was known as the most expensive suburb in Houston. It was there that Ciel grew up and spent his years, riding at the local stable and doing other various activities.

It wasn't until he was ten that his parents purchased a vineyard out in the Hill Country, about four hours away from Houston. They traveled there every summer and spent the months there, enjoying the quiet of the small town where the vineyard was located. The town was rustic and small, with a population of only a thousand people. The animal population probably outnumbered the human population, but it meant that Ciel was always able to ride during the summer and enjoy the many water attractions that were offered around the area without worrying about them being crowded.

Ciel had stopped going to the Hill Country during the summer he entered high school, using the summer months instead to take classes that could count towards college credit. His mother wasn't happy that he decided not to come anymore, but his father seemed pleased with the dedication and allowed him to stay home.

Blue eyes watched the city flash by as they merged onto the highway and Ciel let his head lean against the window. It was nice to leave the city and he wondered how hard it would be to visit the vineyard during spring break instead of going back home. He grunted softly and pushed the thought from his mind. Spring break was almost a month away and right now, it was too early to be thinking that far ahead. For now, all he wanted to do was sleep so he wouldn't be tired when they reached the fairgrounds.

"Wake me up when we get to the coffee shop," he said quietly and let his eyes close. The jacket was warm around his body and with the heat coming from the vents; it didn't take long until Ciel was back asleep, leaving Alois alone in the car.

Light blue eyes slid to the side to look at Ciel before turning back to focus on the road. It was eight in the morning and the sun was just starting to peek over the horizon. Thick clouds hid it from view though and Alois sighed slightly, hoping that this plan would work.

The day after Valentine's Day, Alois had mentioned the rodeo and was promptly shot down by Ciel. The excuse of school was brought up, but Ciel didn't push too hard to argue the facts. It was the only hint that Ciel was actually interested in it and Alois knew that he had Ciel's attention. It was just a matter of selling the rodeo and making it into something that benefited Ciel.

Grell was quick to offer his help that afternoon when Alois arrived at work and was able to get ahold of an old friend who worked at the ticket office during peak season. When Alois questioned him on such a thing, Grell had eventually admitted that it was how he was able to get prime seats to see Sebastian perform during opening week. After pleading and begging the man, Grell had managed to get the same set of tickets for Alois to the upcoming show during the weekend.

That night, when Alois broached the subject again, it was several minutes before Ciel turned the idea down. Claiming they were a gift from a co-worker, Ciel seemed to consider the idea more after Alois mentioned that he already had tickets. Throughout the night, Alois watched Ciel glance at the tickets before looking away and shaking his head no. But he could tell that Ciel was slowly caving into the urge to go.

In the end, it was Grell's flyer that had done the trick. The picture had been left in a binder that Alois often used for work but had been accidently left at the apartment that day. Halfway through the day, Alois had called Ciel, frantic for some phone numbers that were in the book and Ciel had been forced to go through the binder to give the numbers to Alois. The younger male didn't ask about the picture, but the pause that came from Ciel after he opened the binder was enough to tell Alois that Ciel had found the flyer.

Alois didn't ask about it when he came home from work, choosing instead to thank Ciel over and over again for giving him the numbers. It wasn't until dinner that Ciel had looked up from his pasta and simply said. "You're driving us down to San Antonio on Saturday morning. We'll get a hotel that night and leave in the morning."

Alois could only agree, knowing that he didn't really have a say in the matter due to the debt that hovered over him. It wasn't as though he would disagree either, seeing as it had taken quite a few strings to get everything into place. And now Alois owed Grell another poster, as the original had somehow vanished during its stay at the apartment. He had no doubt that Ciel had taken it and it was currently somewhere in the younger male's room. But Alois wasn't about to sneak into Ciel's room to confirm his suspicion. That was dangerous grounds and he had worked hard to get back on Ciel's good side after their argument on Valentine's Day.

The rest of the week had been quiet though and once Ciel had decided that they were going, he didn't bother to bring it up again. It worried Alois at times and he feared that Ciel might've changed his mind going into Friday as Ciel hadn't mentioned anything about hotel reservations or what time they were leaving the next day. Alois had been forced to worry about it during work and snapped at Grell more often than usual. He felt bad for the older man, but too much was at stake now and he'd be damned if it fell through at the last minute.

By the time he came back home, he had worked out how he was going to ask Ciel about Saturday without seeming too overzealous. If he seemed too eager, Ciel would suspect something and would be on guard. But it turned out that Alois didn't have much to worry about, as he quickly found out, because as soon as he walked into the apartment to see Ciel running around in a plaid button up shirt, he knew that they were indeed going.

It brought a smirk to his lips and Alois knew that Ciel was excited, even if the younger male wouldn't say it aloud. He could see the blue eyes shining and dancing under the soft light in the living room as the country music blared from the stereo. But everything came to a screeching halt once Ciel realized he wasn't alone. The music shut off in the blink of an eye and Ciel had vanished into his room the next second. No one was allowed to see Ciel lose his composure, especially to something as simple as a rodeo.

But today was the day they had both been waiting for, even though they both had two different reasons for looking forward to today. Alois glanced over at Ciel, noting that the younger male was passed out once more. Ciel never was a morning person and if he had the chance to sleep, he would take it. It wasn't that he was lazy, but that often times he worked himself too hard and wore his body out until it was exhausted. Alois tapped his fingers on the steering wheel in thought, scowling slightly as he changed lanes. How was it that he saw all these little things that defined Ciel, but Ciel couldn't do the same to him?

It didn't seem fair and Alois's foot pressed harder on the gas pedal. The needle moved up, passing the normal seventy on the dashboard until it was nearing ninety. The quick rush had Alois clenching the steering wheel in anger as frustration once again rushed over his body. The scenery flew by and the long stretch of highway ahead called to Alois to go even faster; as though going faster would help him run from all the problems plaguing his life now.

He sucked in a deep breath and eased his foot off the pedal, letting out a gasp of air as the car started to slow down. His body trembled with the adrenaline rush and Alois shot a quick glance at Ciel to make sure the younger male was still asleep. He let out a sigh of relief at seeing that Ciel hadn't moved an inch during the whole episode and felt his shoulders slump. It wasn't often that he let his anger over his current situation take over him like that.

Whenever the frustration did mount to such a degree, Alois always found it easier to take his anger out on some poor sap who happened to be at the right place at the wrong time. It was easier to chew someone out who happened to run into him than giving into the urge to wrap his hands around Ciel's neck. The younger male would probably never know how thin a line he walked at times.

The only thing Alois knew was that one day, Ciel would get in over his head and someone would chew him up and spit him out. And Alois wanted to be there to see it; if only to help Ciel pick up the pieces afterwards and possibly admire the person from afar. Because no matter how much Ciel pissed him off, Alois could never bring himself to do something like that in person to Ciel. Behind his back, yes. But never to his face. He cared too much for Ciel to do such a thing and it was just further proof that his life was messed up.

Pale blue eyes looked up at the exit signs stretched out over the road, making sure that they hadn't missed the exit for the coffee shop. They were still about ten minutes away from it and Alois reached over to shake Ciel awake. It would take about five minutes to wake Ciel up and the remaining five for the younger male to wake up fully.

Ciel grunted slightly and batted at the hand on his shoulder. He was warm and content in his blanket like jacket and didn't want to open his eyes to the slowly rising sun. There was something about a bright blue sky in the early morning that didn't sit well with him. It was too cheerful for an early morning hour and it bothered Ciel. Nothing should be that cheerful at that time.

"Go away," he snapped and pushed away the persistent hand. It continued to shake him and Ciel's head whipped around, eyes flashing at Alois. He glared at the older male, annoyed at being waken in such a manner.

"Good morning to you too," Alois said sarcastically. "We're almost at the coffee shop and I figured you'd want to primp yourself up before we arrived there so it doesn't look like you just woke up."

Ciel's glare increased but he didn't say a word as he ran a hand through his hair, flattening out any parts that were sticking up badly. He didn't want to go anywhere looking like he had bed hair and didn't care about his appearance. Even when he was staying at the apartment all day, he tried to make himself look halfway presentable. You never knew who would randomly drop by and Ciel would never forgive himself it he looked like trash when someone important came by.

"How much further do we have to go?" He asked, flipping the visor back up. The sun was still hidden by thick clouds and Ciel hoped that it wouldn't rain while they were at the rodeo. The weather hadn't called for it, but Texas weather was unpredictable, especially in the winter.

"To the coffee shop or the rodeo?" Alois asked, changing lanes so they could exit soon.

Ciel glanced out the window. "The rodeo," he answered. The car was already headed towards the next exit so it was easy enough to guess that the coffee shop was coming up quickly. He was anxious to get to the rodeo and see the sights. It was a nice break from school and would help to settle him for the upcoming midterms in a month or so.

"About thirty more minutes from here," Alois stated and took the exit. The shop they were looking for was right off the highway and he pulled into the semi full parking lot. It was surprising to see the place so crowded in the early morning and Alois pitied the people who had to work the morning shift.

The car came to a stop and they climbed out, Ciel stretching his legs and lifting his arms up over his head to pop his back. He glanced back at the highway before heading towards the front doors where the smell of coffee was already heavy in the air. The scent perked him up slightly and he followed Alois inside.

Pastries lined the glass display under the counter and next to it and Ciel instantly moved over to pick out the ones he wanted. His sweet tooth was calling and while he tried to limit his sugar intake during the morning meal, he figured today was an exception to that rule. Within moments, he had a small bag sitting on the counter as he paid for it while his cup of coffee was being mixed.

Alois already had his coffee and was sipping it next to the window; the older male couldn't eat so early in the morning and had already said that he would eat once they arrived at the rodeo. "What do you want to do once we get there?" He asked after Ciel sat down.

Ciel hummed as he pulled out the first pastry and bit into the flaky crust. "Horses," he finally said after swallowing the first bite. "I want to see the horses before moving out from there. They should have an equestrian section for tack as well and I wouldn't mind looking at the saddles."

"The rodeo doesn't start until later," Alois stated, tracing the edge of his cup. "We'll have time to go check into the hotel and poke around the River Walk before it starts. Unless you want to hang out at the hotel until it starts. Up to you."

Blue eyes regarded Alois carefully. Ciel wasn't one to forget about Alois's outburst earlier that week and while he gave props to Alois for sucking up, it was starting to get annoying. He enjoyed it when Alois was a little cruel; it kept him on his toes and made the day more interesting. So long as Alois remembered who was in charge and who would remain in charge, they would be fine.

"We'll see how we feel after touring the grounds first. It's a lot of walking around and there's plenty to do, so we might be tired after it." He took another bite into the pastry and licked his lips to gather the crumbs that had collected on the side of his mouth. "I don't want to be falling asleep at the show tonight."

"Of course," Alois answered and brought the coffee up to hide his smirk. Ciel had taken the bait with Sebastian; it was easy to tell. A small part of Alois squirmed at the thought, knowing that Ciel was looking at someone other than him, but he quickly reminded himself that it wasn't anything new. If anything, once Sebastian turned Ciel down, it would help Ciel see what was in front of him. Or so Alois hoped.

Ciel finished off the last bit of his pastry and closed the bag, saving the rest for later on. He took a drink of his coffee before standing up. "Let's go. The grounds will open soon and I want to see most of the horses before they leave for the afternoon shows."

Alois nodded and stood up as well, pulling the keys from his pocket. They walked back out to the car and climbed in without a word. The scent of pastry's and coffee filled the car as they moved out of the parking lot and back onto the highway. Soft music filled the car, leaving them to their own thoughts, something Ciel preferred and he stared out the window, watching the exit signs flash by.

He was too excited now to go back to sleep and the hints of sunlight were already starting to peek through the clouds. With any luck, the clouds would go away by noon, leaving the sun to warm up the air so it wouldn't be so cold. The minutes passed quickly and all too soon, the exit sign for San Antonio came into view, along with the towering buildings that marked the downtown area.

It was similar to Austin, with its tall buildings and one-way streets, making Ciel feel right at home. The large AT&T center was easy to see from the highway and Ciel found himself sitting up straight as they approached it. Next to the large building were the fairgrounds where the colored tents and rides were visible as they rounded the corner.

"Looks like fun," Alois commented as they exited the highway and joined the flow of traffic leading into the city.

Ciel nodded, too busy looking around to take in Alois's words. He had never been to San Antonio and it was interesting to see the large city. It was home of the Alamo, he remembered that much from his days in school. His class had never taken the normal and almost required trip to see it and now Ciel was wondering if they would have time to go look at it quickly. He shook his head as they turned and passed under the highway.

He wasn't here to see the sights of San Antonio, no matter how much they may tempt him. Instead, he was on a mission. Horses might've been the main reason he wanted to come to the rodeo, but he had another goal. One that involved the man on the flyer in Alois's binder.

If Ciel was one thing, it was determined and he was determined to find him. Sebastian Michaelis, if Ciel remembered correctly. He had looked Sebastian up on the rodeo's website to make sure that the man was indeed performing that year and Ciel had been pleased to find that Sebastian would be staying the whole time. He was highlighted as being one of the top team-roping members in the country and was also competing in some of the smaller classes that took place during the day.

The Western world of riding was something that Ciel had never bothered to look into. English was the more widely ridden saddle and he considered it to be more dignified compared to Western. The Western saddle made Ciel think of cowboys and rodeos, to which they were mainly used for. But Ciel had never had an interest in pursuing such a thing. While the Western events looked fun, Ciel never considered them to hold much class to what Ciel associated himself with. His neighborhood would frown at such activities.

But there was nothing wrong with making an exception here and there, and said exception was inside the gates just ahead. Ciel wiggled slightly in his seat, trying not to appear too excited as Alois parked the car. He didn't know when the older male had paid for the parking but he really didn't care. He was out of the car in the blink of an eye and he shoved his hands in his pockets to keep from tugging Alois towards the entranceway.

Already the smell of hay and horses filled the area and Ciel could hear them neighing and whining in the barns. They paid their way in and Ciel made a straight beeline for the barns after finding them on the map. It wasn't hard to find and the scent helped to give them away. Behind him, Ciel could hear Alois sniffing, the smell not sitting well with him and Ciel couldn't help but laugh.

"You get used to it quickly," he said and walked around a tent. Food vendors were already there, firing up the grills and getting the food ready for the day. Within a few hours, the place would smell delicious and Ciel pondered the idea of getting a turkey leg.

"Hopefully I will," Alois grumbled. Grell had failed to mention the overwhelming scent of animals. But then again, Grell hadn't remembered much about the rodeo outside of seeing his precious Bassy perform.

Ciel pointed to building. "There," he said, excitement leaking into his voice. It wasn't just one barn, but three and the loud cries from the horses gave away just how many were actually in the barns.

Without another word, Ciel started forward, allowing the sweet scent of hay to wash over him as they entered the barn. Horses poked their heads out of the stalls and riders moved up and down the aisles, pushing wheelbarrows and carrying bales of hay. It was a familiar sight and Ciel moved over to the first horse, taking in the sleek brown coat and neatly trimmed black mane. The animal nickered at him, bobbing its head, as though asking for a treat. Ciel glanced around to make sure no one was watching before stroking the velvet nose, sighing softly at the soft feeling.

He ran his hand over the nose a few more times before he moved away. Several horses were being led up and down the aisle, some with their tack already on while others were still wearing their blankets from the night before. A beautiful palomino pranced by, her owner scolding her lightly for being so frisky.

"Quarter Horse?" Ciel asked as they passed by and the male nodded, stopping the mare.

"She's a sweet girl but she's feeling her oats this morning. She won't bite though, if you want to pet her," the man stated, holding the mare firmly by her halter.

Ciel smiled politely and approached the horse without a second thought. She sniffed at his hand before pushing her nose into his hang and Ciel's fingers trailed up her forehead, scratching the spot underneath her forelock. The mare snorted in pleasure before Ciel stepped away; thanking the man for letting him see his horse.

They parted and made their way further into the barn. Country music floated out from overhead speakers and Ciel found himself humming along with the older songs that he used to listen to as he was growing up. As the minutes passed, Ciel lost himself in the memories of old songs and the numerous horses that surrounded him.

After exhausting the first barn, Ciel moved towards the second one, Alois trailing after him. The older male was probably bored but Alois had suggested it in the first place so Ciel really couldn't bring himself to care.

He moved into the second barn, hearing more music coming through the speakers. The barn was less crowded with people but more horses filled the stalls. Soft snorts filled the air and Ciel drifted over to the first row of stalls, a buckskin catching his eye.

The horse snorted at him and tore into a flake of hay before turning away from him. A tail swished at his face and Alois chuckled slightly. "I don't think he likes you very much," he said, a small smirk settling in his lips.

Ciel snorted. "They can't all like you," he stated and moved away from the stall, looking for the next horse. "Or maybe it's you that he doesn't like."

Alois scowled slightly. "The smell still hasn't gone away."

"What did you think they were going to smell like?" Ciel asked. "Apples and cinnamon spice?"

"No," Alois stated with a huff and sniffed slightly. He didn't bother to say anything else and instead trailed after Ciel who was already walking away.

A loud whiney pierced the air in the next row followed by an annoyed snort and Ciel found himself drifting over to the noise. The animal sounded wound up and probably wanted to run instead of staying in the box stall, making it frustrated. Ciel walked around the last stall and moved down the next aisle, hearing the shuffling noise increase even more.

Another shrill cry left the stall and Ciel's pace picked up, wanting to see the animal that was causing such a problem. He jumped as the horse struck the door with his hoof and snorted before finally settling down. Ciel approached cautiously, knowing that the animal was on edge but he couldn't stop the curiosity from pulling him forward.

Dark, black eyes stared at him through the bars on the stall and delicate ears swiveled around as he moved closer. The coat was coal black, with only a small snippet of white near the hooves and Ciel marveled at the animal. Nostrils flared as he stopped outside the stall and for a brief moment, the pointed ears flew back before they flickered forward.

Ciel's fingers twitched, wanting to reach through the bars to stroke the soft coat. Whoever owned the horse took excellent care of the animal; the coat shone under the lights and looked sleek, like black liquid. Muscles rippled under his coat and dark eyes spoke of intelligence, making Ciel even more drawn to the horse.

"He's a wicked demon," a voice said and Ciel jumped, moving away from the horse so he wouldn't get in trouble. "A real devil that one."

Ciel glanced at the man. "Is he yours?" He asked, unsure why someone would talk so cruelly about their horse.

The man shook his head. "No, thankfully. My horses are better natured than this one." He scowled at the horse. "I wouldn't get near that animal with a five foot pole. He'd sooner bite the hand that feeds him. I'd stay away from him if I were you. You're likely to get hurt around him."

Ciel nodded his thanks as the man walked away after shooting one last glare at the horse. Once the man vanished from sight, Ciel turned back to the horse and looked around for a nameplate. He found it next to the stall door and he ran his fingers over the name. "Belial," Ciel murmured and the horse snorted, knowing the sound of his name.

"That sounds like a girl's name," Alois commented, stepping forward to look at the horse. "Maybe that's why he's so mean, cause he's named after a chick. What kind of owner gives a male horse a female name?"

Alois yelped and jumped back, arms pin wheeling as Belial's head swung towards him, teeth barred and ears back. Alois grunted as he landed harshly on his ass and his palms scrapped against the concrete floor. Pale blue eyes glared at the horse before flickering to Ciel who was smirking slightly.

"He's an intelligent horse," Ciel stated, turning back to Belial. "To know that he's been insulted."

Alois scowled. "He's a demon," he said, repeating the man's words from earlier.

Ciel chuckled. "Doubtful. He doesn't look like a demon to me." He glanced back at the horse, noting that the horse was once more relaxed and his ears were forward. His fingers twitched to rub the soft nose but something told him that it wouldn't be a good idea. "He seems like a good horse.

"He is," a voice stated behind them. "Unless you're messing with him and he doesn't like you. Then he'll be a little cranky."

Ciel spun around, breath catching slightly at the sight of the man before him. Wine red eyes pierced his own and Ciel couldn't help but let his gaze trail up and down the body presented before him.

The flyer, Ciel decided after having ogled long enough, didn't do Sebastian justice. The red eyes pulled him in and Ciel was certain that a lean body was hidden under the work clothes that Sebastian wore. The man was amazing and Ciel wanted him. Wanted to have that chiseled body leaning over him as Sebastian thrust hard into him and to see what the man looked like in the throes of passion.

Ciel shook his head slightly, pulling his mind from the dangerous thoughts. It wouldn't do to stare at the man and Ciel didn't want to make a bad impression. "Did you breed Belial yourself?" he asked, hoping to start up a conversation.

"I did. And several other things too," Sebastian answered with a smirk. He reached forward and unlatched the stall door before letting himself in. "I heard you say that he was a good horse. What makes him a fine animal…?" He trailed off and glanced at Ciel, eyes searching for a name.

"Ciel," he answered quickly and walked over to the bars so Sebastian could hear him. "Belial has good bone structure and his hindquarters look strong. You can tell he's a Quarter Horse from his slopping hindquarters."

Sebastian nodded and turned to face Ciel, his arms hanging out of the stall through the bars. "Nice to see that you know what you're talking about, Ciel." He held out his hand, showing off black painted nails. "Sebastian Michaelis."

A small smirk spread across Ciel's lips as he gripped Sebastian's hand, eyeing the nail polish briefly before simply feeling. The skin was calloused and told the story of a hardworking man trying to tame the land and beasts that lived on it. The contact was short lived though and Ciel reluctantly let go, missing the tingle that came from Sebastian's touch.

"This is my acquaintance, Alois," Ciel said, gesturing back to the blond male. "He's a little inept on the workings of the equestrian world. Please forgive him."

Sebastian cocked his head slightly, smirking at Ciel. "Acquaintance?" He questioned but didn't bother to question further. Instead, he pulled his arms back inside the stall and moved over to Belial, stroking his coat. "Would you like to see Belial up close, Ciel?"

Ciel nodded his head and started forward, leaving Alois behind. There was no invitation for the older male and Ciel doubted that Alois would want to come in if given the chance. In the end, there was no need to worry about Alois; the older male would get over being left out and Ciel couldn't bring himself to care at the moment anyway.

Belial snorted at him as he entered the stall and Ciel was able to push all the thoughts of Alois out of his mind. Right now, it was just Ciel and Sebastian, alongside Belial; there was no Alois in the current picture. The horse bobbed his head at him and Ciel moved closer, reaching out to let Belial sniff his hand.

"He wants a treat," Sebastian stated and moved to stand behind Ciel. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a carrot, placing it in Ciel's hand. "Hold your hand out flat, like this." Calloused fingers straightened out Ciel's fingers until the carrot balanced in the middle of his palm and Sebastian guided the hand towards Belial.

"I know," Ciel breathed and leaned back slightly into Sebastian's body, smelling cinnamon as his body pressed against Sebastian. He barely felt Belial's lips brushing over his palm as the carrot was taken and hadn't realized that he had been holding his breath until Sebastian let go of his wrist and moved away. Ciel blinked and the loud crunching of a carrot brought him back to reality quickly as he lowered his hand.

Sebastian chuckled. "A little scared?" He asked.

"No," Ciel snapped. "I just forgot what it felt like, that's all."

Sebastian hummed and nodded. "Time is a cruel mistress. She'll take everything from you. Time, memory, and life." He reached forward and patted Belial on the neck before moving over to check the hay net that hung from the wall.

"How very poetic," Alois drawled from outside the stall. A frown crossed his lips and he couldn't help but scowl at Sebastian as he looked at the man. Grell had stated that Sebastian was in a relationship, but he was openly flirting with Ciel, or so it looked that way to him. If Grell had lied to him, Alois would make sure that the rest of his life was living hell.

Ciel shot a glare at Alois before turning his attention back to Sebastian. "Are you competing today?" He asked, moving closer to Belial. The animal was a neutral interest between them and as of now, was the only thing that was letting him stay here.

Sebastian nodded and walked back over to his horse. "I'll compete tonight at the rodeo." He ran a hand down Belial's leg, asking for the hoof. "Hold his head for me, please."

Ciel grabbed Belial's halter, keeping him still while Sebastian checked the back hoof, allowing Ciel to stare shamelessly at Sebastian's ass. A low groan left his throat as the jeans stretched over the shapely bottom and Ciel didn't bother to look away, even when Alois coughed discreetly behind him.

He could feel the jealously raging from the older male, but Ciel had told Alois repeatedly that there would be nothing between them. Ciel didn't feel that way about Alois and he was nothing more than an investment.

There was a soft clearing of a throat and Ciel scowled before flicking Alois off, tired of hearing the older male voicing his discontent. He could feel eyes burning into the back of his neck and Ciel was about to turn around to snap at Alois when a voice finally spoke up. "What the hell are you doing?"

Ciel's head snapped around at the new voice and he blanched at the sight of another person standing outside the stall. He opened his mouth to tell the new person off when Sebastian stood up and dusted his hands off. "He was helping me because you were late," he stated and waved Ciel out of the stall. He followed him out and shut the door behind him, locking it tightly before turning to look at the new male. "His leg is fine, no swelling from last night."

The new comer shook his head and held up a brown bag. "I was getting us breakfast." He handed the bag over to Sebastian. "A croissant with egg, bacon, and cheese. And a hash brown patty. "

Sebastian hummed and accepted the bag. "You spoil me, Claude," he stated and peeked inside the bag.

"So now you can tell me what you were doing," Claude said, glancing between Sebastian and Ciel. His eyes lingered briefly on Alois, something unrecognizable flickering through the golden pupils before he looked back at Sebastian once more.

"This is Ciel," Sebastian said waving a hand at said man. "And his…acquaintance, Alois. Belial took a liking to Ciel so I had him help me so I could check his leg."

Claude clicked his tongue. "And if Belial hurt him somehow? The committee would've kicked you out in a heartbeat."

Sebastian's eyes danced. "Call it a gut instinct. I would've stopped Belial from hurting Ciel. No matter what." He glanced at Ciel, red eyes almost glowing as Sebastian smirked at his words.

Ciel shivered slightly but returned the smirk with one of his own. He hid his dislike for Claude though, even though irritation was already building towards the man. He wasn't sure why, but something about the man irked and frustrated him to no end.

"Regardless," Claude stated, looking over Ciel and Alois again. "It's against rules to let the public inside stalls. The grounds are responsible, as are we if anything happens. You signed the statement of agreement when you arrived here."

Sebastian sighed, waving his hand slightly. "Yes, yes. I know." He looked at his watch. "It's late and we need to get going. Registration starts in fifteen minutes."

Ciel blinked. "You're leaving?" He asked, feeling as though it was too soon. Everything had been going perfectly until Claude had shown up.

"We need to get some work done," Claude answered and elbowed Sebastian in the side.

"It was nice meeting you though," Sebastian stated and held out his hand one last time to Ciel. They shook hands briefly before he brought his finger up to his lip. "And you'll be sure to keep this little incident between us, yes? Our little secret?"

Ciel bobbed his head up and down quickly. "Of course," he said. "I won't tell anyone. And neither will Alois. Not as though he has anyone to tell."

Claude's eyes narrowed at Ciel and his lips curled. "Charming," he said sarcastically. He turned to Sebastian and pushed on his shoulder. "Let's go."

Sebastian nodded, giving one last wave to Ciel and Alois before following Claude down the aisle. He listened intently as Claude talked; watching the man gesture with his hands before they rounded a corner and disappeared from sight.

As soon as they vanished, Alois punched Ciel slightly on his shoulder. "You could've gotten us in trouble too. And you're flirting with the wrong guy. How do you even know he's gay?"

Ciel shrugged and started to walk the opposite way. "I just know. He gives off that vibe. That and his nails were painted black, which was slightly odd but I think it fits him." He moved out of the barn and his nose filled with the scent of food. "Let's get something to eat and finish walking around the grounds. Then we can check into the hotel and catch up on sleep before tonight."

Alois jogged after him, quickly catching up. "What if he has a boyfriend?"

Ciel turned to him, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. "Then I'll make him forget about that boyfriend. I always get what I want and right now, I want Sebastian Michaelis." He laced his hands behind his head. "After tonight, I'll have Sebastian moaning my name."

Alois shook his head as Ciel walked in front of him. "Whatever you say," he stated and ducked his head as his own sinister smirk spread across his lips.

.:|As a Rule|:.

The crowd screamed and yelled as a bull bellowed and bucked in the center of the ring while a cowboy held on for dear life. His hat had long since fallen off and the clock above him was counting out the seconds quickly, even though it probably felt like ages to the man.

From the stands, it was entertaining and everyone was calling for the man to stay on. A collective groan sounded around the seating when he was bucked off and Ciel chuckled before sipping at his drink.

The bull was led away and the large pit was cleared of all animals as the clowns came to provide entertainment as the next event was set up. Ciel shifted in his seat, ignoring the idiotic clowns and instead watched the men set up the chute. The team roping was next and according to the program that was the event Sebastian was in.

Ciel shivered in excitement. He couldn't wait to watch the man perform and he glanced at the chute again. It wouldn't be long now and after Sebastian was done, Ciel would seek the man out. He had already planned everything when they were at the hotel and he had been too excited to nap for the first half hour they were there.

It was the real thing now and Ciel leaned back in his seat, trying to calm his nerves while the announcer introduced the next event. There would be a few heats and those who were competing in the semi-finals next week would go at the very end to get a practice run in before the final competition.

The crowd was once again on its feet, cheering and yelling for the first round but Ciel watched it with uninterested eyes. Sebastian wouldn't be competing until the end so there was nothing for him to get excited about yet. Instead, it would allow him to run through his plan one more time, making sure that everything was ironed out and it was almost fool proof.

Alois didn't have any idea that he had planned this, which was the first part of Ciel's plan. The older male had perked up after the start of the rodeo, surprising both himself and Ciel. Ciel suspected it was the bull riding that really got Alois hooked. Watching men trying to stay on an angry bull was probably hilarious to Alois and he only looked at this whole thing as amusing entertainment.

Ciel chuckled to himself as the second round started and he glanced over at Alois, wondering what was going through the older males mind. Alois had been quiet at the hotel earlier and if Ciel had to guess, he would say that Alois had been sulking. Whether it was from being bored or watching Ciel flirt with someone that wasn't him, Ciel wasn't sure. He was more inclined to believe that it was the latter, but Ciel tried not to think about it. Alois just wasn't the person he wanted, Sebastian was.

In the end, it didn't come down to Alois owing Ciel a debt; although that did help to keep Ciel from becoming interested in the older male, but it was more about how Alois acted and behaved. Often times, Alois could act like a child, prancing around and acting immature for his age. That type of thing was a turn off for Ciel, who considered himself more mature than most of the people his age.

It was one of the reasons why Ciel wouldn't date someone younger than himself. He wanted someone older and more mature, who knew what they were doing and where they were going in life. Ciel knew what he wanted and had already planned for most of his future, so it was only fitting that his partner had similar tastes. He didn't want to date someone who would only hold him back as they 'tried to find themselves' and moved from job to job.

That was something Alois couldn't give him and Ciel found that he couldn't stand such a thing. Even now, Alois didn't know what he wanted once he graduated college, outside of taking care of his growing debt. But the debt would hold him back, which in turn, made Ciel look away from Alois. A plan hidden inside a master plan, in which a person who could hold him back became almost obsolete because of something tying them to Ciel.

Such a thing made them inferior to Ciel, which was another thing that Ciel refused to do. Date someone that was lower than he was. He wanted someone who was educated and could hold a steady conversation about the subjects happening in the world. They could have all the money in the world, but if they didn't have any sense, then they were worthless to him.

Alois was all of these, which made him unattractive to Ciel. Physical beauty yes, but Ciel found that he could look beyond that. He wanted not just the physical parts of a person, but their mind and personality as well.

Ciel shook himself from his thoughts, not wanting to think about such things when Sebastian would be performing soon. Sebastian was the reason Ciel had decided to come down to the rodeo in the first place. The man was not only physically appealing, but he knew what he wanted to do with his life. He had already started on it already. And Sebastian was obviously doing well if he was set to compete in the finals next week.

A small hum left Ciel's throat and he leaned forward as the last rider finished, marking the end of the final round. Energy filled the coliseum and Ciel laced his fingers together, resting his chin on his hands as his eyes focused on the dirt arena. The announcer was speaking again and Ciel opened his ears this time, not wanting to miss a thing. Anything that could be used to impress Sebastian would better Ciel's chances in getting the man to like him even more.

"Our last and final team roping event for the night," the loud voice boomed overhead. "Are native Texans, hailing from north Texas. They're set to compete next week in the semi-finals and are ranked number one in the team roping ranks."

Ciel's eyes shifted to the chute where they settled on Belial entering the first stall. Sebastian sat tall on his back, holding a black rope in one hand while the other hand steadied the horse. Next to him, his partner sat still as well and Ciel scowled slightly when he realized who it was.

"Ladies and gentlemen, header Sebastian Michaelis and heeler Claude Faustus." The announcer paused as the calf was released into the chute and the noise rose inside the coliseum. "Gentlemen, when you're ready."

Ciel's body tensed, watching as Claude turned his head to focus on Sebastian, waiting and looking for the signal. Sebastian gave a quick nod of his head and in the blink of an eye, everything started to move. The calf broke from the chute, Sebastian and Belial right behind it, and before Ciel could suck in a breath, the lasso was already around the calf's horns.

Sebastian turned Belial to the left, putting the calf into prime position for Claude, who already had his own lasso raised above his head. The rope found its way around the calf's heels and Ciel straightened up as both men lined their horses up, allowing the rope to keep the calf still.

His head whipped to the side where the timing board was and blue eyes widened slightly at the time. It was the fastest time for the night and Ciel turned back to look at Sebastian. A small smirk was present on the male's face and his eyes were dark with amusement. He shouted something at Claude, making the other male shake his head as he looped his rope back up.

"Let's give these fine men a round of applause," the announcer called and waited for most of the noise to lower before speaking again. "But before you go, Sebastian, I have a favor to ask."

Belial slowly moved around to face the announcer and Sebastian cocked his head before glancing at Claude, silently asking what was going on. The other male only shrugged and offered an amused smile as an apology.

The rest of the coliseum had quieted down as well, curiosity filling everyone, Ciel included. He hoped that nothing wrong had happened during the roping that would get Sebastian in trouble. Even though it would give him a new angle to work when he approached Sebastian later on.

"I just so happened to hear the results of this afternoons cutting finals," the announcer stated and Sebastian's head whipped to the side, eyes narrowing at Claude. "Myself and the rest of the rodeo committee would first like to congratulate on your win and were wondering if perhaps you could give a small demonstration to this amazing crowd here."

The volume in the arena once more increased, as Sebastian seemed to debate with himself over what to do. Finally, Sebastian nodded and touched the brim of his hat in a mock salute to the announcer before guiding Belial to the side of the arena.

He settled the horse next to Claude's and Ciel watched the two talked quietly as a small herd of calves was released into the arena. Sebastian's eyes locked onto the animals and even Belial perked up, his ears swiveling forward to focus on them.

Ciel cocked his head, waiting for Sebastian to head out once more. He wasn't familiar with cutting but the chance to see Sebastian perform again made him excited. Belial turned once more as Sebastian sent him out at a walk and Ciel froze as they headed towards their section.

"You act like he's going to see you," Alois commented next to him, speaking directly to him for the first time since the rodeo started. "He won't be able to pick you out in this many people and I doubt he remembers what you look like anyway."

Ciel shot Alois a scathing look before turning back to watch as Sebastian neared the section they were in. Crimson eyes gazed over the crowd and Sebastian's lips curled into a smirk at something before he led Belial away. Ciel could only stare at the man jogged away; noting for the first time that Sebastian wore a blue shirt that almost matched his eyes. A smirk of his own crossed Ciel's lips and he leaned forward to watch Sebastian work once more.

Sebastian settled Belial in front of the herd, searching the animals for the right one before moving into the herd. A single calf was separated and Sebastian kept Belial in between the herd and the calf. His hand lowered onto Belial's neck, giving the horse his head and Ciel held his breath, waiting for them to move.

The calf bellowed before moving to the right and Belial moved with it, keeping it from joining the herd again. Black ears flattened and Belial's neck stretched out, head snaking towards the calf in order to keep it from moving forward again. Sebastian's hand stayed low on his neck, letting the horse predict the calf's movements as it once again tried to dart around Belial.

Dirt kicked up under Belial's hooves as his legs moved quickly to keep up with the calf. He jumped forward, chasing the young animal down the short span of the arena. For a moment, they stared at each other before the calf snorted and turned away from Belial and Sebastian let it go.

The crowd cheered its pleasure and Ciel let a smile grace his face as Sebastian touched the brim of his hat and inclined his head towards the stadium. Belial snorted and pawed at the dirt, making Sebastian pat him on the shoulder before urging him towards the exit. They met up with Claude and Ciel fumed slightly at the smile Claude gave Sebastian. He stood up as Claude and Sebastian exited the arena, wanting to go see the older male.

"Where are you going?" Alois asked, looking up at him.

"To the bathroom," Ciel answered.

Alois pouted. "You're going to miss the calf scramble. High school students chasing after calves and trying to catch them." A hint of a smirk appeared on Alois's face. "Should be entertaining."

Ciel shook his head. "Bathroom first, then I'll come back and I can laugh at them."

The older male sighed. "Fine," he stated and waved his hand. "Go pee."

Ciel rolled his eyes and made his way up the stairs until he was in the main lobby of the AT&T center. He glanced around and started to make his way to the back of the center where the horses and riders had been entering from during the rodeo. The area was almost empty of people; the few that were out were those heading to and from the bathroom and the concession stand.

They were ignored though in favor of reaching his destination and Ciel paused as he rounded the corner. A security guard sat next to the door leading to the back door and was currently blocking Ciel's way to Sebastian. He huffed slightly in annoyance but Ciel had planned for this as well and he continued forward without hesitation.

The man looked up at him with a bored expression. "No one is supposed to be here," he said without expression.

"I know," Ciel said politely. "But it smells like there's cigarette smoke in the bathroom."

An annoyed look settled on the man's face and he stood up. "Damn people, can't even go a few hours without a smoke. Don't they know that smoking isn't allowed in the building?"

He stormed off, leaving Ciel alone in the hallway. Before the man could realize that he wasn't following, Ciel darted to the door and slipped through it, shutting the door quietly behind him. The scent of horses filled his nose and Ciel trotted down the long hallway, searching for the tunnel that led to the main arena. The sound of horse hooves against concrete caught Ciel's attention and he moved off towards the noise.

Poking his head around the corner, Ciel froze as his eyes settled on several figures, quickly picking out Sebastian in the group. The man was talking with Claude and other people Ciel didn't recognize, making Ciel shift nervously. He couldn't walk out there without getting in trouble but staying here any longer wasn't that great of an option either.

He pulled his head back, silently listening for the talking to stop. Ciel pressed his back against the wall and glanced quickly at his watch, wondering how much time he had left. Footsteps had Ciel's head jerking up and he pressed back against the wall, trying to blend into the brick as best he could.

"You could get in trouble for being down here," a soft voice spoke just around the corner. Ciel jumped at the voice and he glanced to the side where the wall hid Sebastian from view. "Start walking so I can get you out without anyone seeing."

Ciel nodded, even though Sebastian couldn't see and started to walk forward. As soon as he cleared the wall, he felt Sebastian press up behind him with Belial trailing alongside him. "How did you know I was here?" he asked quietly.

Sebastian chuckled. "A hunch, maybe a feeling built through an old contract." He nudged Ciel in the side, making him turn around the next corner and then pulled him to a stop. "Why are you down here, Ciel?"

Blue eyes glanced up at Sebastian. "To congratulate you," he stated, moving forward slightly. "And to tell you that you looked stunning out there, when you were working the calves and riding Belial." His hand trailed up Sebastian's arm, feeling the strong muscles hidden underneath the blue shirt and Ciel shivered slightly, wondering what they looked like.

A hand reached out and gripped Ciel's quickly. "Thank you, Ciel," Sebastian said and lowered Ciel's hand to his side. "But I fear you're after the wrong person."

Ciel cocked his head. "What do you mean?" He asked and pressed closer, letting his hands come up to rest on Sebastian's chest. "I know exactly what I want," he purred.

Sebastian hummed. "So you say, but you're still so young and what makes you think that I'm into guys anyway?" he asked, cocking his head slightly and looking amused despite the situation.

"You're not pushing me away in disgust," Ciel murmured, tilting his head up to run his lips over Sebastian's neck. "Your heartbeat is racing and your breathing is coming fast; you're aroused by me." A small nip was given to the pale skin, but Ciel didn't push further than that. Coming on too strong the first time wasn't always wise and would make him look needy.

"Aroused might be a strong word," Sebastian stated and tilted his head to the side, trying to keep his lips out of reach of Ciel's.

Ciel's hands came up to rest on Sebastian's hips, rubbing small circles on Sebastian's skin through the material of his clothes. "Whatever you want to call it, your body still wants me." A bold finger slipped under Sebastian's shirt to brush against bare skin. "You still want me, no matter how much you try to deny it. Don't you, Sebastian."

"I think not," a cold voice said behind Ciel. "Whose boyfriend do you think you're flirting with?"

Ciel's head whipped around, finding Claude standing directly behind him. Harsh, golden eyes glared at him and Ciel couldn't help but glare back, pushing up against Sebastian more in the process. "Who's to say that he wants to be your boyfriend?" Ciel snapped.

A low growl left Claude's throat and he closed the distance between them. He leaned over Ciel and grasped Sebastian's chin, pulling him in for a rough kiss. Tongues met and curled around each other, and Claude's other hand came up to thread through Sebastian's hair, holding him in place as they continued to kiss.

They broke apart, a thin strand of saliva connecting them. It broke when Claude licked his lips and glared down at Ciel. "That's what makes me think he wants to be my boyfriend."

Sebastian lifted Ciel's hands away from his body. "I'm sorry, Ciel," he started. "But Claude and I have been dating for a few years now."

Ciel smirked. "I'm surprised you could put up with him for so long, Sebastian. I would be a much better boyfriend than him." His hands slipped inside his pocket. "And seeing as you didn't push me away, I'd say that you were interested."

"You're just a brat," Claude spat and waved a hand. "Get out of here now before I call security. You're not even supposed to be down here."

Ciel shrugged. "Fine. But I'm sure Sebastian knows who would be the better lover." He started to walk back towards the back door that led him into the tunnel in the first place, giving a small wave of his hand as a farewell. Behind him, he could hear soft murmurs from Claude and Sebastian talking, before the sounds of kissing reached his ears.

It made Ciel scowl slightly but he wasn't out of the game just yet. He had managed to slip his number inside Sebastian's pocket and Ciel knew the man would be calling by the end of the week. No one could resist him. He would have Sebastian on his back as he rode the man's cock by the months end and Claude Faustus would be a thing of the past.

Ciel smirked as he slipped out into the hallway unnoticed. All according to plan.