A/N: Thank you for all your wonderful reviews, as well as favs/alerts. I'm glad you find this fic interesting =D Special thanks go to my beta Carrie2sky, who is also going to look at the chapters from this fic from now on :)
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Chapter 2
Sebastian Michaelis is a man of science, not a man of religion or superstition. He's never seen a church from the inside since his eighth year and he doesn't care for any kind of god.
Therefore, he of course would never even think of believing in the existence of demons.
But – and this is always this great but that he hates – it turns out that there's one sitting in his car, a bratty one at that, and it's currently playing with the switches of the radio, pressing and twisting them with barely hidden curiosity. Sebastian can only steal a few glances at the creature, but he is, of course – understandably – still in doubt. It might have been a good trick. Who knows what parents buy their children these days. Who knows what ridiculous crap is on the market these days. There might just be something that turns eyes red, special contact lenses: You press a hidden button and your eyes turn red.
Sounds highly dangerous.
Some parents would still buy it.
The doctor rolls his eyes and decides now that he's over his initiate shock, he can think more clearly.
He stops at the next bus stop.
The boy looks at it. "I take it that this is not your house."
"It isn't," Sebastian agrees. Wonders what on earth is wrong with this boy.
The child - Ciel – raises an eyebrow. "Why not?"
"I'm dropping you off because I'm not going to entertain you any longer. You're trying to trick me and I'm not falling for it."
He has for a second. But rational thinking always saves the day, doesn't it?
The boy nods. "Are you… scared, maybe?"
No, he isn't. "Listen, kid-"
"You are, are you not? Scared, I mean. This is why you're in denial." Again, a nod. The boy seems satisfied with his conclusion. "Demons exist. You better believe me."
"Get out," Sebastian says through clenched teeth. He doesn't know why he let generosity override him in the hospital when he saw this boy, seemingly lost and trying to hide it with arrogance and haughtiness. He made an exception and let the child come with him but now he knows that he won't be deceived by such vulnerable-looking children anymore, since this one, obviously, is very adamant on grating his nerves into fine powder.
Nothing happens.
Sebastian outstretches his arm and the boy hisses.
This makes him pause for only a split second before he unfastens the boy's seatbelt.
After a short moment, the boy opens the car's door, slams it shut and leaves.
Sebastian stares after his retreating form. He has expected a quarrel, a discussion, he has expected the child to put up a little fight, hoping that the doctor would fall for the prank eventually. This is fairly anticlimactic.
He drives home.
For the shortest split of a second, he wonders whether he just did the right thing, letting a child out in the heart of London, all alone. Then he thinks that he isn't Ciel's father and that this isn't his problem.
When he arrives at his flat, there is somebody leaning against the wall next to his door. Sebastian recognises the fancy clothes, the tall, lean body so similar to his. For a short moment, there is a familiar pure, hot rage inside of him, coiling in his stomach, wrapping around his heart and blackening it, and there's this other disgusting feeling, hitting his inside like a fist to the guts. I could kill you, he thinks for one moment, and the next, he wills it all away and smiles.
"Claude."
The other man lifts his head, looks him up and down, and nods. "Sebastian."
"What brings you here?" The doctor moves to open the door to his flat. He lets his brother in first, taking in his appearance. Claude is impeccable even when at a low moment.
"I needed some peace." The celebrity goes to Sebastian's living-room without taking his shoes off. He looks around the room, around the whole flat, the two bedrooms, the kitchen, the bathroom, the study. If he has expected a change, he must be severely disappointed. The flat will look like this until Sebastian buys himself a house.
"So you decided to come to me," he concludes. "Why didn't you announce yourself?"
"I'm not the one who never switches on his mobile phone, you know?"
They stay in the kitchen. Claude doesn't speak much when there's no camera in sight, but at the same time he wants his brother to fill the silence. Sebastian, on the other hand, refuses to. It's always the same routine they go through: See who speaks first. See who gives in first.
These days, it's always Claude.
Sebastian silently wonders what is happening, changing, but on the other hand, he figures he doesn't care. Never cared. The bastard should be happy about his career, shouldn't he? Sebastian still is only a kindly smiling doctor at a hospital, barely allowed to do a real doctor's work there, and look who takes in less space every time he visits, look at who's become a chain smoker, look who can do what he loves, who has the money and the girls (does Claude even like them would be the other question, but there are many men, too, swooning over him). Look who's never moved a muscle to help when somebody needed it despite having the means to, who has always pushed everyone aside just to be where he's now. And see how he doesn't want it anymore.
It just doesn't seem fair somewhere.
"Aren't you going to offer me anything?" Claude asks.
"You never eat," Sebastian replies with a shrug.
The singer looks at him for a long while, too long maybe, the younger brother can't tell. Then he silently gets a mug from the cupboard and places it under the coffee machine. As the beverage pours into the mug, the singer leans against the counter, barely sneering. "You're always so antagonistic."
"I'm not," Sebastian insists.
Claude falls silent as he takes his mug and inhales the coffee's scent.
"Where is the boy?" The doctor finally asks.
"At home," Claude replies.
Sebastian thinks it's better this way. Young Alois has a tendency to strange behaviour that the doctor can't approve of. He never misses the promiscuous, hungry looks thrown his way (or Claude's, fairly regularly), and he doesn't even want to know what the boy and his guardian are doing when nobody's watching. He refuses to think about it. And he just can't warm up to Alois, but neither can he towards Claude, so somewhere, this doesn't surprise him.
Sebastian doesn't know why Claude keeps showing up. The singer is doing this more often, claims that he's stressed more regularly. What Sebastian doesn't understand is how a person who can handle stress as well as Claude – this man lives for stress – suddenly wants to come to that one person that causes even more strain to his nerves, claiming that he just wants to calm down a bit. It's contradictory. It's illogical. It's new.
Sebastian can't handle it.
(He doesn't want to.)
They share an hour in strained silence before Claude looks at Sebastian in an unreadable way and gets up. Manners dictate that Sebastian shows his brother to the door, and so he waits for Claude to quickly check his appearance in the mirror at the entrance. "You know," the older of the two starts, rather suddenly, and his voice – no matter how quiet – is loud compared to the sudden stillness, "you'll never know when you see somebody for the last time."
Sebastian almost snarls at him. "Oh, but there are your posters, and the TV spots in which you are, you are on the tongue of every female in London and all over the world, you play in movies… How can there possibly be a 'last time' when I see you all the time?"
And Claude departs, leaving his baby brother - (and they were smiling, little children that they were, young Claude wrapping his arms around a grinning Sebastian) - to stare at his retreating form. He also lets that vicious beast stay, the one that uncurls in Sebastian's chest, disgusting and slimy, and whispers of all things forbidden and unacceptable to him.
There would be no problem if Claude just disappeared.
But he doesn't, won't, and Sebastian is wondering who's suffering more from this.
OOO
The next morning is rainy.
Switching on his coffee machine in the kitchen, Sebastian listens to the prattle of raindrops against the blinds, interrupted by a mewl coming from the living-room. He goes to the bathroom and –
Mewl?
-and returns to the living-room again, dubious. He's on the third floor. Maybe his hearing is failing him already.
The cat, it turns out, is sitting in front of the door to his mediocre balcony. Sebastian stares at it at first, not sure how it came up here, but the feline just brushes past him elegantly, entering his flat without wasting another glance on him. The doctor can't help but smile to himself. Cats certainly are royal animals.
As he closes the door and turns around, he notices that the cat is sitting on his sofa now, and its eyes shine red.
Oh.
It's impossible to say that he has suspected this to happen, but it seems that while he's shocked and surprised that this… creature is in his house, he hears this little part of his brain chiming 'I knew it.' Maybe that's just pitiful self-assurance talking here, but he'd like to think that he indeed knew this would happen.
The next part of the process of understanding is the acknowledgement of another species' existence. It's much harder than it sounds. There is this real feeling of dread spreading inside him, moving forward into every single digit. His brain assumes that adrenaline must be a solution to cope with this situation, and his natural instinct is telling him to run.
Sebastian just stays where he is, watching in rapt and horrified fascination as the cat's limbs stretch, as the animal grows, as bones move under bare skin. The creature dissolves into thick black smoke before it is the boy again that Sebastian saw in the hospital.
Only with much less clothing.
Ciel is just wearing black undergarments, and he looks at the naked flesh of his arms, apparently very displeased, and then straightens despite his state of clothing in something that looks like pure pride. "Is this very improper?"
Sebastian relaxes minutely. Then he nods.
"Well, fetch me clothes, then."
It is apparent that something didn't go quite as the demon has planned, and the doctor can't help but pick it up. "I'm sorry, but I don't have time to fetch you anything. I need to go to work."
"Work can wait," the boy says. "This is more important. Lend me your clothes. I believe we've got a certain matter to discuss."
Silence ensues.
The child's eyes narrow dangerously, and for one second, Sebastian can see something very wild and unrestrained in those red orbs. This demon might not be the most experienced, he thinks (and he has proof to support this little theory of his), but that doesn't mean that it can't kill him. The creature is just waiting for it, isn't it? Or rather, it's playing with him. Sebastian doesn't want to be a part of this game.
He turns around and goes into his room. There, he catches a glimpse of his own reflection in the wardrobe's mirror. And doesn't he look terrible? The horrified look in his eyes doesn't suit him, and this must be the first time he's ever worn it. He wants to rip if off his face, burn it, but it remains where it is, so he averts his eyes, opens the wardrobe and takes out the first thing that his fingers touch. It's the only hoodie that he possesses, but it looks comfortable so he takes it and returns to the boy in his living-room. Ciel gets up and looks at him imploringly. When Sebastian wants to give him the piece of clothing, the child steps back a little, raising an eyebrow.
"What?" the doctor asks and finds that while dangerous, he just wants to get over with their conversation as soon as possible.
"Dress me," the child commands as if it's the most natural thing in the world to dress the creature that has the power to murder you in the most horrible ways (Sebastian secretly wonders whether he will be possessed by that demon).
The doctor frowns.
The child remains perfectly still.
Finally Sebastian sighs. "Well then. You might want to lift your arms."
The boy complies, and the hoodie is pulled over his head.
This is just another game to him, isn't it?
The piece of clothing is way too large, and wearing it makes this beast look endearing. With a small nod, the boy sits down. "I expect you to bring me proper clothing for humans my age when you return from your workplace," he says.
"Pardon?"
The child rolls his eyes. "I'm staying here, in case you didn't realize." He lazily slouches on the sofa, leaving Sebastian no other choice but to stand. "Are you willing to continue our little conversation from yesterday?"
No, Sebastian wants to say, but in the end, he shrugs. There is this strangeness about the creature's gaze; it's analysing something as trivial as a shrug, it's filing this reaction away.
"As you know, I am a demon," the child finally says, a hint of pride in his voice, "the son of Lucifer's counsellor." He raises an eyebrow as if waiting for Sebastian to cower. There are too many things and threats implied in that single sentence, and Sebastian must admit – however, only on the inside – that he's frightened. To death.
Ciel purses his lips as nothing happens, and mimics the doctor's shrug. "I came to Earth to form a contract with a human. You have caught my eye, doctor Michaelis, and I hope to form a contract with you. As I said, I'm offering my services in exchange for your taste."
"My taste?" the doctor repeats.
"A taste of you."
Silence.
Then: "You're not going to eat me, are you?"
The boy raises an eyebrow, giving him a look that implies how imbecilic this question was. "Of course I am."
Sebastian hasn't quite anticipated this response after that look. But he does understand that being a demon comes with a very different way of thinking.
Now seems like an awfully good time to either call the police or run.
And right after calling it a plan, the doctor heads for the door. He only gets so far, though, because the door to the hallway is slammed shut right in front of his nose. Startled, feeling his heart skip a beat, the doctor curses, something that he usually doesn't do. It's not aesthetic, it doesn't possess any elegance whatsoever. But he can't care less right now, and he forgets his carefully cultivated attitude. Besides, 'Fucking hell!' sums things up very nicely for once.
He spins around to a child that is still slouching on his couch, red eyes glowing while assessing him, and Sebastian feels his insides twist. Ciel seems so unreal in his flat, he cannot possibly be there on that couch.
…Sebastian comes to the very logical conclusion that he must have been working too hard. He's been tending to patients day in and day out, way past his shift, and this must be the price: He's hallucinating. It can't be any different, can it? Claude has inherited the nerves of titanium from their parents, Sebastian's on the other hand, while able to endure, aren't of the same high quality as Claude's. He's had moments of exhaustion. He is able to wear himself out.
(Claude isn't. He can function for six days without food, running from appointment to appointment; he can put on twenty different faces, making a labyrinth out of his so very bland real personality; he can take everything thrown at him, and then come to visit Sebastian at night, just to listen to his baby brother's angry silence; he will sigh afterwards, as if done with the world, and then he'll get up, go out and dive into the sea of sharks that is called show business. He hasn't snapped once.
Sebastian has, though. Right now.)
"But," the boy speaks up lazily, "just taking your soul away goes against my aesthetics and pride. I shall give you something in exchange for it."
The doctor covers his eyes with a hand, closing them in the self-made darkness. He needs to think. This can't be normal.
"I should go back to bed," he says to himself.
"Not before you listen to me."
And if he ignores the child, it will vanish, right?
"Hey."
Since he's obviously a product of Sebastian's imagination. Though he can't recall having seen a child like that before yesterday. He goes to the door, trying to open it.
"Human!"
It's locked.
He frowns, and tries it again.
Nothing.
This imbecilic door doesn't even have a key. He's lost it a while ago.
… Oh.
"You're real," Sebastian says at last.
"And you're quite dense." Ciel huffs, then gets up from the couch. "And rude. I'm offering a contract, you should be glad."
"I suppose it is only a natural reaction not to be, since it comes with a high price."
"You need to pay according to what you get in return." Ciel smiles dryly. "I can accomplish the impossible for you if you want me to. I can make all your dreams come true." He approaches the doctor, slowly, deliberately.
A predator, fully in its element.
"What is it that you want? I can give it to you. I can make it your new reality."
The need to sit down or just yell is growing. But while his nerves aren't titanium, Sebastian can keep emotions inside him, where they belong. So he stands still, trying to find a good footing in this new territory, and as his mind goes on overdrive, he realizes quite a few things.
One, if this is a demon – really a demon -, it's an inexperienced one. He can see this in the creature's behaviour, in its bluntness. It's lacking a certain amount of finesse. Even Sebastian would have taken a different approach at contracting somebody were he a demon.
This one - he's sure of it - is either young and/or hasn't been in contact with humans often.
Two, if this is indeed a young exemplar, and if it doesn't know humans, then it doesn't know the rules, either, does it?
Three, if you don't know the rules, you can't play the game.
Four, Ciel seems quite willing to play, but he's at a disadvantage.
Five, Sebastian is going to play this little game with the child. But not to lose his soul, no. He doesn't want to form a contract because -
Six, there is nothing on this earth he deems worthy enough to sell his soul for. Nothing at all. So -
Seven, he will try to get rid of this creature, and as fast as possible, if possible. He wants to live his life in peace, thank you very much.
The change in his behaviour is instant: Now that he has a general direction, a vague plan, Sebastian has something he can work with. Now that he's got a goal, he can start calculating. Demons aren't something he knows much about, but he will do his research to know his enemy better. And then he will find a way to get it out of his life.
But first, he will try to discourage the child. With self-confidence and the fact that he doesn't want anything. If the demon loses its interest in him, he may not have to do anything else.
With a slight smile, he steps away from the door, approaching the child in return. Ciel stops immediately, eyes narrowing in a scrutinizing manner, but he waits. Sebastian takes another step, silently, and when he's only a foot away, he starts circling the boy.
"I…" The demon seems confused. "What is it that you want? Fame? You're young. I can lead you on the path to a wonderful career, in whichever profession you want. We don't need to stay with your current profession."
Sebastian answers with silence. As he finishes his first round, glowing red finds wine red. Ciel is trying to read him now; Sebastian notices with satisfaction that this calculating manner in a demon's gaze doesn't stray too far from what it looks like in a human's eyes.
"I can give you wealth. I can take you anywhere you want on this world and provide you a new life." The child lifts his chin. "I can kill for you. Be your tool for revenge. Your justice. Power."
Sebastian circles him again, this time feeling a little bit overwhelmed at the advantages of selling his soul. After all, he's human, he thinks sardonically. His hand comes to rest on milky skin. Surprisingly, it's warm and smooth, this young swan neck. And the boy tenses deliciously beneath his fingers. How easy it would be to break this ne-
"I can be your tool," Ciel says after a short pause. "In any sense. If you want this body, have it. Take it."
And here, Sebastian stops right beside the boy. Feeling the eyes on him and the warm skin just above the neckline of the hoodie, he smiles, more to himself than to the creature. "You would do anything in exchange for my soul?" he asks.
"Anything."
Sebastian does not lay his eyes on the flesh, but he feels how big his hands are, how well his fingers can curl around that fragile windpipe, and briefly wonders whether demons need to breathe. But he quickly dismisses the thought and the whole notion in order to lean down a little, in order to inhale that clean scent of the body so close to him. His heart is beating too fast, he's feeling dizzy, and he just wants to laugh right now, but he fears he won't be able to stop once he's started.
He rests his forehead against the boy's head, that one hand still around the thin throat, and he can't help but wonder whether Ciel is feeling comfortable right now. To intimidate a demon – wouldn't that be a grandiose feat to accomplish?
"Such a shame," he finally says, "that I don't want anything."
There is a very short beat of silence. Sebastian knows that since he's declined the offer, he might be too close. But then again, he might as well just stay there. If distance doesn't matter to this creature, he will at least know when he's being attacked, when claws will cut him.
With one swift, yet oddly fluid movement, Ciel takes a large step away from the doctor. "What?" He's short of baring his teeth, just like an animal would do.
Sebastian crosses his arms in front of his chest. "I'm not interested in forming a contract with you. You might want to continue your search, but you won't get to eat me."
"Everybody wants something."
"That is true," Sebastian agrees, "but not everybody is willing to sell their soul for this."
"They are!"
Sebastian shakes his head.
"They are," Ciel insists icily, his voice cutting, his temper flaring (somebody doesn't like rejections), "and you are, too. Don't think too highly of yourself, you're just as greedy. I can feel it, I can smell it in the air around you, on your skin. You are just like them. You are one of them. And just like them, you want something."
"But I'm not willing to sell my soul for it." Sebastian shrugs, showing his nonchalance while something inside him is cringing.
"Not yet." The boy stands regal and proud, so confident that Sebastian feels tiny pinpricks of doubt somewhere behind his eyes. "There will be a time when you will need me. And I shall help you in exchange for your soul."
A soft click is heard in the suddenly quiet room. The door swings open all by itself.
When Sebastian doesn't move, Ciel huffs in faint annoyance. "Don't you have to go to work?"
Blinking, the doctor realizes that he can leave now, which he slowly does. He loathes turning his back to the demon in the room, but when nothing happens after he's out the door, he breathes deeply, carefully, controlled.
Then he goes to the hospital, walking instead of taking the car even if he will be tremendously late, and he stops once, next to a café, to collect his scattered thoughts and to fully understand what has just happened.
Please don't forget to tell me how you liked it ;)
(And if you want to read another ongoing fic of mine, you might want to check out 'Crescendo'. It's a modern AU with musician!Ciel and painter!Sebastian... Hehe, me and my advertising XD)
