brothers

Ciel hid in the wardrobe as his twin brother stood before his parents, shame faced as they berated him for losing the prototype for the toy that was to be sold in the company his father was trying to build. Ciel felt bad that his twin would take the blame for something he had not actually done; however it was an unspoken rule between them that no one should ever see the two together at once.

The toy itself was not actually lost; it was just that the truth was on a scale that to speak it to any one was to sound as if he was telling an unbelievable lie after reading too many fairy tales. That would be embarrassing as Ciel made sure all his lies were believable. Hence why the stuffed rabbit was lost (the lie), rather than sitting at the top of the tallest tree in the park, the one almost two days drive from the mansion where Ciel had been all week (the truth). Both boys had realised they had left the rabbit about two seconds after they got home, approximately 10 seconds before his parents realised that the rabbit was not in the play room where it had been left the night before.

Ciel was well aware that, while the picnic had been his bother's idea, it was still partly his fault for agreeing. As a Phantomhive he believed in causing chaos and escaping the blame, however as a Phantomhive he was also loyal and did not believe in sacrificing his friends to do so.

Finally his parents left and he was able to extract himself from the wardrobe and face his other half.

'You didn't have to do that; I don't like it when you take the blame for me,' his small voice quivered as his guilty conscious plagued him.

'It was my fault any way. I am the eldest, I should know better than to suggest things like that and I should have double checked that we had everything before leaving.' His bothers voice was gentle and calm; it felt like he was staring in a mirror that stole the emotion from the reflection.

'But it was still partly my fault. Why do you always protect me?'

'I told you, I am the eldest; it is my job to protect my adorable younger brother.'

'Even from the little stuff like a scolding?'

The other boy took Ciel's delicate face, identical to his own, between his two hands and looked him in the eyes so he would grasp how serious he was.

'Especially from the little stuff, besides it was only words. It is better that I get a speaking to than for you get a beating.' Ciel considered this but didn't entirely agree. While he had seen Edward take beatings for Elizabeth's wrong doings, he was aware that his brother was a little different to hers.

'No one knows you exist do they? Mother and father act as if they do, so do the servants, but they do not actually believe me when I say that you are around.'

'No they don't.'

'You have been with me my whole life, so I guess I take what you do for granted, but we would be in trouble if anyone else found out wouldn't we?'

'Yes we would.'

'Am I too much trouble? Will you leave me one day because you have gotten sick of protecting someone like me? I know how the world works; no one gives something for nothing in return.'

'I do get something in return; I get to stay by your side. I will never leave your side as long as it is my choice. I will always protect you, from the little and the big.'

Together the two boys stood like that, one holding the other and looking into eyes that almost exactly matched his own. This was a serious conversation and a serious promise and they both felt it, however neither knew exactly how that promise would shape the years to come.

'We should get the rabbit,' Ciel's words broke the silence that had been building, startling the other boy.

'Excuse me?'

'The Rabbit, we should get it. It is important to mother and father and I fear they will not give us dessert if we do not return it. Afterwards we can play chess, you are the only person I cannot beat and I would like to change that statistic.'

The other boy smiled, he knew well Ciel's constant desire for sweets and treats and his competitive nature.

'I am the oldest; of course you cannot beat me. The day you beat me at chess will be the day I lose all pride in myself as your brother.'

Together to two left the nursery to retrieve the missing toy. Later, after the rabbit had been returned, dessert had been eaten and three games of chess had been played and won or lost depending on who you where, Ciel lay in bed and considered his brother. All would be fine so long as he had him. Lizzy, Edward, his parents, the servants, were all well and good, but for some reason he had the feeling that his brother would be there for him in ways they never could be, that his brother would protect him from things his parents would never see.

He trusted his brother, but even as a child he knew that promises could end up broken despite best intention.