"No, I don't think I've seen you before. And to be honest, I would probably remember you. Don't get this wrong, but you aren't that easy to overlook."
Ciel stayed quiet for a moment, a sour expression on the young, wounded face. Of course he wasn't easy to overlook, and now that he was well known amongst his peers for none too positive reasons, he really didn't consider standing out too much of a positive thing anymore either. His big blue eyes seemed to look right through Sebastian with a sad expression and the raven briefly wondered what shade of blue he would use if he were to draw these eyes. Navy blue wouldn't be bright enough and Azure would be a little too colorful. Maybe royal blue? Or maybe I could just mix them together?
Not that he actually wanted to draw him, he was just wondering.
With Sebastian's heavy gaze on him, Ciel wasn't sure whether he was supposed to say something or not. The silence wasn't too bad but it felt like much needed to be said right now. It would only be a matter of time until Sebastian would hear about what Ciel had done or he might even see one of the pictures that he himself had taken not too long ago, blinded by fear and panic, not thinking of the consequences. It was only weeks ago but to Ciel it felt like years had passed since then. Somehow, everything had changed so tragically within these weeks that whatever had happened before was of little importance to him anymore. Weeks ago, Ciel hadn't been that nervous when he had talked to people. It had been easy to keep up the mask of indifference towards the majority of his peers and, along with it, keep distance from them simply because he knew that by the end of the day, they probably won't spare him another thought. As long as you're boring to them, as long as you don't provide a funny story, they don't care about you too much. That thought had always helped to calm him down if just a little. But sure as hell, talking to people or having people do so much as look at him, wasn't an easy thing to endure anymore at all.
By now, Ciel Phantomhive wasn't just some prude, boring wallflower anymore. On the contrary. And the bluenette hadn't been as naive as to believe that things would stay as they were before this incident. When he had first heard people joking about him, he had convinced himself that he was being paranoid. How could anyone have seen the pictures? But they had. And he had never expected that the harsh comments, the beatings and the whispering wherever he went would last for more than two weeks. But it had. And now, laying in the floor in front of Sebastian, the young boy didn't know what to say.
"Do you not talk to people? Or are you lying to me?" The words came out more roughly than intended and seemed to hit Sebastian right in the face. Yes, he had been lying and he didn't talk to too many people. So what? Deciding to play innocent, he smoothly answered, "Do you want to tell me you're famous or something? Or are you just overly confident, kid?" He didn't miss the way Ciel winced at the word famous and it was only after Sebastian had spoken these words that he noticed their bitter irony of them.
Famous indeed, not for the best reasons though... Sebastian wasn't the sentimental type.
"My name is Ciel. Ciel Phantomhive," no further explanation was given from Ciel's side.
"Okay then, Ciel. You look pretty bad and I'm not sure what exactly happened to you (another lie), but maybe we should get you to the infirmary. Believe it or not but I actually thought you might be unconscious or dead just a few moments ago, plus your face is covered in blood and.. dirt," the raven explained with a forced smile and brushed a lock of blue hair out of his face. It stuck to the dirty skin as if to prove his point.
However, he didn't expect a panicked, "No!"and a small, pale hand gripping his shirt tightly and pushing him away all of a sudden, followed by a short coughing fit. He moved his hand away as though he had burned his skin and looked at the other, eyes wide. As soon as the younger realized just how obviously strange his reaction had been, he let his hand drop on the cool asphalt and concentrated on breathing properly, the tiniest blush appearing on his face, barely noticable due to the red blood that still covered big parts of it. Sebastian was quite sure that those bruises wouldn't disappear anytime soon.
He crossed his arms in front of his chest and eyed the mess of a boy in front of him questioningly. He wasn't completely sure what he had done to cause this outburst.
"So then, are you like, scared of people touching you or something?" he asked amusedly, mouth working faster than his brain. Before Sebastian knew, a small chuckle had left his lips, his usual charming personality showing. He frowned a second later. Maybe I should just stop feeling guilty every time I say something that might somehow be related to that thing with the photos of his. It's not like he knows that I know. It's not like I'd care if he did.
The boy answered with nothing but a cold stare and a mumbled, almost inaudible, "Not everyone likes being touched by jerks."
"Did you just call me a jerk?"
Ciel simply rolled his eyes, doing his best at looking like he wasn't in pain as he lifted himself up from the ground to sit properly.
"Yes I did, and you should really learn to think before you speak, you jerk," Ciel answered, sounding more exhausted than a boy his age should. He sounded tired. Sebastian didn't know what to say for a moment. This boy certainly was an interesting teenager. Having such a big mouth right after being beaten up, it's almost comical.. he's just making things harder for himself with that attitude.
"Way to talk to someone who went out of their way to help you, Ciel. Besides, you're the one with the potty mouth here, don't you think?" he smirked as Ciel suddenly became uncomfortable with looking directly into his eyes. His eyes focused on something in the distance instead.
"I didn't ask for help."
As these words left his mouth, he didn't sound angry, nor exhausted. But utterly lost, as if he'd accidentally spaced out while speaking.
"You don't want my help then?"
"I don't need you to help me. I'm fine," the boy answered curtly, his voice sounding strained as he stood up, standing on weak legs that were visibly shaking. He spit on the floor and it left a red stain. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve, looking disgusted. "See?"
Sebastian stood up as well, and only when he was standing in front of the other, he really noticed their height difference. The boy wasn't only thin, but extremely small too. Coupled with his doll like face, he looked way younger than he actually was, not at all like the other boys his age. Most boys his age either had those had those lanky bodies, their legs being too long and their proportions extremely messed up, or they were overweight with broad shoulders. Not this boy, despite the unusually thin and bony look, everything generally seemed to fit just fine. It was hard to explain, especially since Sebastian had practically seen the body in front of him naked and he didn't want to feel like a total creep staring at his body.
"So, you're not going to the infirmary then?" he asked again, feeling unsure about leaving Ciel all by himself in his current state.
"No, I'm not."
"Why not?"
"I hate nurses, doctors,.. all of them. Having them look at me like I'm some interesting little experiment, having them touch me," he sighed, as if recalling a memory.
"Did you have a bad experience with a doctor or anything?" Sebastian went on asking another question, not really understanding Ciel's problem with doctors. Sure, it was never too pleasant to visit them but still, it wasn't that bad either, was it? Or was he being insensitive again?
"I had asthma as a child. I guess it classifies as childhood trauma. Being dragged from doctor to doctor, I've always hated it," whilst speaking, the boy coughed loudly. He then turned away, "I'm going home, goodbye Sebastian."
Sebastian wanted to ask whether the boy really was okay and whether he still suffered from asthma, but before he got the chance to, Ciel had already walked away and disappeared behind a corner. That was fast, he could barely stand moments ago.. And that coughing...
However, he didn't get the opportunity to further think about the boy's strange behavior, his thoughts were interrupted by a group of people with rather loud voices. He didn't need to look at the people leaving the school's ground to know just who exactly they were. After all, those were the ones who had been beating a defenseless (it was strange to Sebastian, using this adjective to describe Ciel when the boy himself seemed to try anything just so he wouldn't appear weak) boy. Not just any boy, the boy that had plagued his brain for the last few days because of that goddamn photos everyone knew you shouldn't send to anyone if you didn't want them leaked. The boy who had been beaten up and whom he let go all by himself while he was practically coughing up blood. God damnit, stop worrying.
He looked over to the group of about 10 people chatting a bit too loud and feeling a bit too smug for his liking. Not like he'd try to pick a fight with them, he wasn't that much of an idiot. He wasn't proud to say that he knew all of those guys by name. Neither was he proud that one of them was his half brother, Claude. Sebastian wasn't sure whether Claude had decided to join those guys simply because he himself was an idiot or whether they had seen some sort of idiocy potential in him and contacted him or whatever, but it didn't matter. Ever since Claude had started hanging out with them, even being in the same room with Claude had become more than exhausting. Luckily, his elder half brother practically lived at his girlfriend's apartment with her and barely even showed up at home anymore. He was not sure what exactly Claude saw in Hannah (other than her boobs of course), the girl was well known for sleeping around and breaking innocent guy's hearts, but somehow, their relationship had lasted for three months already. And for both, Hannah and Claude, that must have been their longest relationship yet. Sebastian wasn't that sure though, he had never been one to talk about such things, especially not with his half brother.
"I seriously thought he'd still lay here, it's a shame," one of them said, sounding seriously disappointed.
"Yeah, sounds like him to just run away. Faggot. Well, he'll come back, he has to. He can't just skip all of his classes, after all." The group agreed, like a pack of dogs being assured that they'll get their food soon.
"Do you guys want to go to the Undertaker's and have a beer or two?"
At this, Sebastian's eyes widened slightly and he turned to look at the group who still hadn't noticed him. He walked right past them without another thought and turned right, following the street on which Ciel had left barely two minutes ago. Sebastian was not sure what exactly this feeling was, but something told him that it might be for the best to go and see whether the boy had already made his way home. He wouldn't have followed him if it weren't for the fact that Claude and his friends wanted to go to the Undertaker's, a bar located in the middle of the village. And with the few streets here, it would be more than likely that they'd bump into the small boy if he really wasn't home yet. No matter how much of an insensitive guy Sebastian was, he wouldn't let that happen.
The raven looked around, scanning the deserted street for the mob of blue hair. He wondered where Ciel lived and why he had never seen him around if he had actually been living here for a long time. He wondered too why Ciel hadn't wanted his help. Did it have something to do with keeping his pride or what? Or does it have something to do with not wanting my help?
He hurried a little, walking past the school, past some small gardens and past the old, romanesque church. Looking at the the flowerbeds filled with roses of different colors, some red, some dark purple and some black with a blue shimmer, he almost overlooked the lithe body sitting on the stairs, curled up into something resembling a ball. Thin arms were wrapped protectively around his legs. Ciel's head rested on his knees, blue hair hanging from his head and covering his whole face. Like a curled up little kitten, Sebastian couldn't help but think. The body was trembling and Sebastian was sure that, if he'd look at the boys face, swollen red eyes and a waterfall of salty tears would be visible.
It looked rather depressing, seeing Ciel like this.
Sebastian took another few steps and neared the smaller teenager. Somehow, it felt wrong getting closer to the boy while he was to busy crying to even notice. It gave Sebastian the same feeling he'd had after looking at the picture, like a more than private thing was happening in front of his eyes, and yet, he just couldn't stay away. He felt like he was invading the boy's space once again, and this time he would notice.
Not making a sound, Sebastian placed his tall body beside the smaller one, not so close that it would cause too much discomfort, but close enough to feel somewhat capable of helping to calm the boy down. Or convincing myself of that. He just sat there and looked at the hair that didn't seem quite as vibrant as he remembered it to be, it looked darker now. Colder, somehow.
The heavy breathing calmed down a little after a minute or so of just sitting there beside Ciel, unsure what to do. It was only when someone passed by and Sebastian's staring was interrupted, that he remembered the reason he came to search the boy.
"Ciel?"
He didn't flinch, in fact Ciel didn't seem at all surprised as Sebastian addressed him, which shortly left Sebastian wondering whether Ciel just was a really observant person, even in such a situation, or whether he himself was the exact opposite of observant. He seriously hadn't been sure whether the boy had even noticed him or not.
"It's to much to explain right now, just come with me for a few minutes. I'm not doing anything, okay?"
As the other raised his head and looked at him with what could only be described as utter mistrust in those teary eyes, Sebastian didn't even wait for an answer. He just grabbed to boy's arm, destroying the atmosphere of time having stopped that had existed until moments ago, and pushed him to stand on his feet. A look of discomfort crossed Ciel's face and the boy flinched. Sebastian ignored it.
"What are you? Hey, leave me alo-"
"Shut up," Sebastian interrupted the boy's whining and he pulled the younger, who was unable to properly defend himself against someone with as much strength as Sebastian, along through the garden none too gently and on the parking lot behind the church in a hurry.
Ciel used his whole strength to try and break free from his grip but it was to no avail until Sebastian deemed the area safe and let go, almost causing Ciel to lose his balance and fall on the ground. If it weren't for Sebastian's fast, cat-like reflexes, at least. Before the boy could hit the floor, he had gripped his hoodie, causing him to stand, albeit on shaky legs.
Ciel looked him in the eye, dead serious, with the most accusing look he could manage. "What was all of that about, you moron?"
Sebastian took a deep breath. "You can thank me once your temper is tamed, and just so you know, I just saved your ass."
"Don't drag me around like a fucking psychopath and then tell me to calm down!" He rubbed his temples like it would help him somehow. "Now, could you explain this to me and be a bit more precise, please?" He half ordered, half asked, only now remembering to wipe away his tears from before.
"Shut up for a moment and I'll tell you, okay?"
A small nod followed.
"Good boy. You were beaten up minutes ago. The guys who did it came back and searched for you and they're passing by in a minute or two and I'm sure you wouldn't have enjoyed being punched to death or whatever. Precise enough?"
"And why exactly would you want to help me? It's not like you're my-"
"A simple thank you would have been enough, you know?"
The boy crossed his arms in front of his chest, breathing heavily, looking more than exasperated.
"Fine. Thank you. So, do you think it's safe now? I kind of really want to be at home right now and I have no intention of standing on this parting lot for hours until the group of idiots has passed by. I'm not feeling too good, you know?"
The fact that the boy had just admitted to being weak almost caused a look of shock to cross the boy's face. He eyed him with a smirk.
"If you're leaving now I'm coming with you," he declared.
Blue eyes widened just to narrow a second later, pink lips pulled down into a bitter expression.
"I don't get it. What do you want from me? Do you want me to be in your dept or something? I'm not a 10-year-old, Sebastian, I can walk the 500 feet to my house by myself." He looked away.
"I don't know about you, but if I find someone lying on the ground, bleeding and crying, I somehow feel like it's my duty to at least do something. Especially if they refuse to see a doctor."
"I wasn't crying, I simply had trouble breathing."
"Sure," Sebastian smirked at the boy who had chosen to ignore the main message in what he had just said,"so come on now, and hurry a bit, you want to be at home as fast as possible, remember? And I don't need to waste more time than necessary on this."
A somehow annoyed and somewhat insecure expression appeared on Ciel's face. "Then don't waste your time on me, it's not like you're getting anything in return. You don't even need to feel bad, I'm fine. I don't need any more help."
Sebastian eyed him, unfazed. Why do you want to keep me from coming with you so badly?
Sebastian Michaelis had a lot of personality traits that wouldn't necessarily be considered positive by everyone. One of them was his stubbornness.
"Stop talking and let's go, okay? What direction?"
The boy didn't say another word, noticing how it was useless to try and change Sebastian's opinion.
He just started walking into the direction they had come from, crossing the small church garden without turning around to see whether Sebastian was following him or not. Which he was, of course.
Even as the boy crossed the street, Sebastian didn't receive the slightest bit of attention, an entirely new position for him to be in. Usually, he had others following around if anything. I have willingly let this boy put me in the position of a dog.He shuddered, thinking about how filthy and dumb dogs were in his opinion.
As they continued to walk, things didn't change. Ciel walked ahead, at a surprisingly fast pace for such small legs, Sebastian noticed. The younger felt red eyes stare at him and he couldn't help but feel a bit uncomfortable. He tried to hide it, but obviously attention wasn't something he enjoyed as much as others seemed to. The closer they got to his home, the worse it got. He felt nervous, anxious even. Or maybe it was just the head injury from earlier that made him feel a bit dizzy. He wasn't completely sure.
"We're almost there, I can walk the rest by myself," as Ciel spoke those words he already knew they would be ignored. He still wasn't completely convinced with Sebastian's reasoning for following him but he wasn't in the mood to make a scene either. Besides, it was not like he could do anything if Sebastian really was set on following him. The raven was a lot taller and, quite surely, a whole lot stronger than him.
They neared the end of the village, with only a few houses left. Sebastian eyes them and guessed which one would be the one Ciel lived in. The houses were small, some looking new and a few looking quite rundown. Nearby, the forest began.
As the boy turned to walk to the front door of one of the houses, Sebastian began to understand why he didn't like showing others where he lived.
The house was old, that much was sure. However, it was not the nice kind of old, it was not old fashioned or elegant. Rather than that, the outside looked like it was in need of a renovation more than anything, ivy having began to grow on it, making the walls look briddle. The garden was quite the mess and it looked like it hadn't been taken care of properly in a long time. Somehow, Ciel didn't have the appearance of a person living under such conditions at all.
As the boy suddenly stood still, his head turned to he had to eye nothing but the floor as he spoke.
"We're there. Thanks for helping me earlier, Sebastian. See you."
The way he didn't even look him in the eye had Sebastian swallow for a second before answering. "It's nothing. Take care, Ciel," he spoke,"and if you ever need help or something, just tell me." Those nice words felt weird and yet natural as they left Sebastian's mouth. Ciel had already entered the house as the sentence was finished. Sebastian stood still for another few seconds and eyed the house for a few more moments, noticing how all the curtains were closed for some weird reason.
As Sebastian made his way back to the school, he thought about the mess of a boy he had encountered today. Ciel Phantomhive. The boy who the whole school had seen naked. The one with the blue hair and the intense eyes.
And somehow, he had even more questions than he had before.