Shackled

It began snowing and Ciel, who got out the taxi and gave the cabbie a generous amount of money – quite a bit more than what the driver asked for – was walking down the street. There, in the city centre, the snow melted into grey slush because of the salt, dirt and countless feet and wheels rushing through it. The magic of winter that was very apparent in the outskirts had no power in town.

The young earl was making his way through the crowd. Even around midnight, the streets were very lively. The teal-haired teenager looked around to make sure he was not followed; not seeing Sebastian anywhere, he formed a pleased smile and slowed down for a bit, making a turn to enter a yard of a small block of flats. It was a shabby-looking place, and as he started walking up the stairs to get to one of the flats, each and every of the steps creaked under his feet. He was making a lot of noise and so he was not surprised when several doors opened and people looked outside to see who was passing by.

"Hey, Alois," he kicked the last door on the first floor, because that was the only damn door that didn't open. Well, it was to be expected, because that guy was as deaf as a log and just as thick. There was no use hoping that he might hear anything going on outside his place.

"Coming," came muffled from behind the door and then some sounds which suspiciously resembled the sound effect of a person's body falling flat on the ground after stumbling over a pile of trash. Eventually, the door opened and Alois was standing there, his blonde hair messy and bags under his eyes.

"You look horrible."

"Glad to see you, too," Ciel snorted and passed by the blonde to make himself comfortable. "So why'd you call me out here? Also, why is it so dark in here?"

"Last time I was here, I forgot to have the light bulb fixed," Alois yawned and ruffled his hair, then closed the door.

"I see. And why did you want me to come here?"

"Come on, Phantomhive. Hang out with a classmate on your birthday."

"Nonsense. My birthday was yesterday."

"Oh, is it already past midnight?" There was another yawn. "Maa, I guess it doesn't matter. Want something to eat or drink?"

"Depending on what you got." Ciel sat down where he remembered a couch – it was way too dark in there to see anything. The curtains were thick and closed permanently, from what Ciel knew. This flat was Alois' hideout for whenever he felt like he needed a breather. He was – sort of – a noble as well, but didn't really bother to live up to it. In fact, he got to the title like a blind guy to a violin and had no clue what for. And so, every time he felt he was fed up with the stuff he had to do, he just slammed the door and went to that tiny flat he called his lair.

A light flashed dimly as Alois opened his fridge. "Some snacks and beer. Oh, and one last can of coke."

"I'll have the coke, thanks. And just to make sure, I hope we both mean the drink, not the drug."

"I don't intend to drug you," the blonde chuckled and grabbing Ciel's and his own drink, he went to plop on the couch next to Ciel.

"When was the last time you showered, for God's sake?" Ciel's nose wrinkled as he took the cold can, opening it with a psst. "You stink like garbage."

"Hmmm… Let's say, sometime last week?" Alois shrugged. "I've been depressed."

"Why?" Ciel took a sip. He didn't care about Alois' problems, but he knew he would have to listen to them anyway.

"Boyfriend trouble."

"Oh?" Ciel leaned back and stirred uncomfortably because the couch was a piece of shit which should've been thrown out ages ago. "What kind of trouble? Maybe he hates the fact you're openly gay?"

"Oh no, not that kind of trouble," Alois finally opened his beer and gulped down more than just a little. "He doesn't mind that. It's just…" he went silent.

"You don't have to tell me if you feel uncomfortable about it," Ciel said, hoping desperately that Alois decides to change the damn topic. He really couldn't give two shits about Alois' love relationships. There were always too many. Though, for once he said he'd decided to see only one person at a time and it seemed he actually broke it off with his sex friends for that man. If this was not Alois' form of love, then Ciel had no clue what would be.

"He said he wanted someone to join us in bed," Alois let out after a while of silence. "It feels… awkward."

"And?" Ciel stretched, gazing into the dark. "Did you decide to agree?"

"I'm… not sure." Alois' voice was quiet. "I would have to have that person's consent, I guess. If they agreed, I would probably go through with it. It has nothing to do with the fact I am openly gay," there was a chuckle, "don't make me laugh, he's more open about it than I am."

"Is he?"

"Yeah. Unlike someone I know." A sharp nudge to Ciel's ribs made him jump.

"I'm not gay," Ciel hit Alois the same way promptly back.

"Ooh, outright denial. Except I know you did get hot for a guy," Alois snickered and emptying the can of beer, he got up to grab himself another. "Back to topic," sitting onto the couch again, he let out a huff. "What do you think? Should I listen to my boyfriend's demands?"

"Hell if I know," Ciel shook his head and took another sip of his drink. "If you don't mind and the third party gives their yes, then I guess there's no problem?"

"Would it be okay?"

Ciel didn't notice the slight change in Alois' voice. It was a grave mistake, but at the moment, he still had no clue what was hanging above his head. "I think so?" he answered, assuming Alois was asking for another confirmation because he was feeling anxious about having a threesome.

The next thing he knew, Alois pushed him down; the can of coke clattered on the floor. He couldn't follow because it was dark and before he managed to bark out, what the fuck his classmate was doing, there was another pair of hands on him – quite probably Alois' boyfriend; there were fingers opening his coat and a different person's hand trying to unbuckle his belt. And Ciel finally understood.

He was tricked.

He fell for the dumbest trick ever.

It was a mere play on words and he fell for that.

He put on a struggle, but Alois was sitting on his legs and the blonde's partner tugged down his coat in a way that nearly immobilized his arms.

"Stop fucking around, Alois," he hissed, trying to wriggle his way out of the situation he was in – vainly.

"Sorry," Alois whispered. "I couldn't but do what Claude asked for. And I can understand why he wanted you to join us. You're hot beyond measure," the blonde's tongue licked Ciel's pierced ear. "It's not fair you go out searching for random night stands when you can't bear it. There are people who would love to spend a night with you."

Claude's hands stroked the nape of Ciel's neck and he shuddered. This was not good, not good at all.

"How do you even know I do that?" he asked, hoping to get some time to think.

"Claude's a worker at a gay bar you frequent."

"Really?"

"Yeah. The stripper."

"Wait, seriously?" Ciel remembered that person; it was a thin, red-haired guy with glasses, it didn't feel like he'd be Alois' type. He found that too hard to believe.

"No, I'm kidding," there was a giggle as the blonde pulled down Ciel's trousers forcibly, "one of the barmen."

"Stop stripping me, for fuck's sake," Ciel decided to drop the nobleman act; it was no time for such things.

"No-no, you agreed to it," Alois' hands slid under Ciel's shirt.

"Okay, that's quite enough. Let go of the young master, right now." Suddenly, a flashlight illuminated all three of them. Sebastian was standing there, holding said light in his hand, and he was frowning darkly. Ciel shot a look at him, then quickly glanced up to see what Claude looked like so that he could get back at him if he ever had the chance. Alois looked at the intruder, eyes wide open. "H-How did you get inside? W-When?"

"I have my ways. Now, let go of the young master," the butler repeated, his reddish orbs gleaming strangely as they reflected the light. "Otherwise I might be forced to use violence."

Alois got up reluctantly, stepping aside; Claude huffed and let go of Ciel as well and eyed Sebastian. "I know you," he chuckled and watched the butler lean to the earl. When Sebastian started fixing Ciel's clothes, oblivious to everything else, Claude continued. "You became somebody's dog instead? I was sure last time I saw you, you had a promising future. Throwing it all away for the sake of one little brat, what happened?"

"You don't know me," Sebastian stated coldly. "We've met once, I was a lady's escort at the time and we had a business chat you happened to overhear. Apparently, though, you got fired from that fine restaurant, since you started working at a bar." While saying that, Sebastian's hands fixed the earl's clothing and tugged the teal-haired teen to his feet. "My apologies for the sudden intrusion, young master, but I assumed it was the right time to interfere," he bowed his head slightly.

Ciel hit him on the head; it was not a hard hit. "We'll talk about this after we get home," he responded. "Let's go, Sebastian." Getting up, he left the flat, not looking back once.

True to his word, Ciel remained silent the whole way home; then, once they both were in the earl's bedroom, said earl sat on his bad and crossed his legs. "First of all," he started, but Sebastian interrupted him.

"I am deeply sorry, young master. I have overstepped my bounds." Kneeling on the floor in the middle of the room, Sebastian continued: "Knowing you have forbidden me to show myself, I went and let you see me. Not to mention I behaved rudely and might have triggered things that might become troublesome for you. I regret it sincerely."

There was a moment of silence, then Ciel said: "Are you acting, or do you actually mean what you just said?"

"I mean every word, my Lord," Sebastian didn't move an inch. "It would pain me to cause you any inconvenience."

"Inconvenience? You saved me from molestation! I might have been raped, hadn't you come!" Pausing, the earl looked at his butler. "However, there are some things I would like to know."

"I'll do my best to answer your questions, my Lord."

"You've never been to that flat before and couldn't know the furniture layout nor the placement of the piles of trash Alois has there," Ciel said. "How was it possible for you to stay completely silent?"

"…" Sebastian bowed his head deeper and didn't say anything. Ciel sighed. "Sebastian, this is an order! Answer all of my questions, immediately and truthfully, understand?"

"… Yes, my Lord," the butler gritted his teeth.

"How come you didn't make any noise in the flat?" Ciel inquired again.

"… Night vision goggles."

"And how did you get inside?"

"… I own a set of jimmies."

"The stairs and the porch creak like hell, too. Why didn't I hear you come near?"

"… I am able to walk silently even in such conditions."

"And why didn't you jump in to save me earlier?" Ciel crossed his arms over his chest, frowning.

"I didn't want to lose the advantage of catching them off-guard. For that, I apologise again. Now, may I ask you one thing as well, young master?"

"Ask away," the young earl nodded curtly.

"I overheard Alois saying the reason you go out is that you go searching for… men to sleep with them, if my assumption is correct. Is it true?"

"It is," Ciel nodded, his blue eyes darkening.

"I believe it is my duty as a Phantomhive butler to ask you to stop it, then," Sebastian got up and bowed. "With all due respect, young master."

"What makes you think you have the right?" Ciel said, narrowing his eyes. He, however, didn't wait for an answer and continued immediately. "Whatever. Tell me one thing. Your job before serving me… what was it?"

Sebastian clenched his teeth. "I used to be an assassin, my Lord."

There was a long while of silence, filled only with the sound of a ticking clock. Then, Ciel got up and walked to his butler. "Are you saying you want me to stop searching for men to relieve me because it might stain the family's name?"

"That's exactly what I had in mind, young master," Sebastian didn't raise his head.

"Thing is," Ciel's fingers grabbed Sebastian's chin and made the butler look up at him, "masturbation is not enough. If I were to stop going out… If I were to try and stop being this depraved… would you be the one to help me release?"

"I beg your pardon?" Sebastian stepped back a little.

"I might be asking for the impossible," Ciel smiled bitterly. "You are a hetero, I can see that much. If I were to order you to hold me, would you be able to do it?"