The morning routine began as normal, tea and breakfast was served to a sleepy young earl while his butler rambled off today's activates. Thankfully, it was a short list; the only tedious thing was they were requested at some Duke's manner for something or other.
Sebastian breezed around the manor, tidying up the minor disasters and scanning the place with an eagle's eye. He then hurried to his Young Master's room to pick out the clothes he should wear.
Something blue…Sebastian mused as he pushed the door open.
Ciel looked up from his shirt, "Perfect timing, I can't figure out how too out this bloody thing on!" he snapped, waving his sleeves in desperation.
Sebastian slammed to a halt and stared, the Young Master had somehow gotten the shirt tangles in his hair, eye patch, and itself all at once (quite a feat) and then had succeeded in pinning his left arm inside the shirt while his right arm stuck out awkwardly from the neck hole. "Oh dear…"
With a well practiced flick of the wrist, the butler freed his master from today's beast of burden. "Now, allow me to dress you…properly." Sebastian purred, slipping the shirt on over his small charge's head. He ignored the annoyed huff and worked on the buttons, starting from the bottom and working up. His gloved hands brushed against the exposed skin, causing Ciel to shiver slightly. The butler wrapped his hands around the tiny neck and fixed the collar. His fingers brushed the nape of the young noble's neck, sending goose bumps cascading down the earl's neck. Sebastian placed the jacket around the noble's shoulders and secured the belt on the navy blue pants. He handed his earl a top hat and a walking stick. "Ready?"
Ciel brushed aside the strange feeling and nodded, "Yes, let's get this over with."
Sebastian smiled and followed his young charge out the door.
-one rain drenched walk later-
Ciel stood in the rain fuming. The bloody Duke had been asking him about leads for the Jack the Ripper case. That had been solved months ago! "Bloody moron!" Ciel hissed, stomping off, ignoring Sebastian's calls of warning.
"YOUNG MASTER!"
"Huh?" Ceil glanced up and froze, a horse and buggy was barley three feet away, barreling towards him at and ungodly rate. He flinched violently and closed his eyes, waiting for impact.
A force suddenly collided into the young earl, but not from the direction he had expected.
The buggy thundered past, leaving a wet, empty street behind it.
Ciel felt a wall behind him and a tall warm something pressing against him. He opened his eyes and blinked a couple times, "Sebastian."
The butler backed away a little to give his young master some breathing room, but was still rather close, "Young Master, please pay more attention to your surroundings!" Sebastian sighed with exasperation.
"Sorry." Ciel muttered, slightly stung by the bluntness.
Sebastian gave the earl a once over to make sure he was indeed alright before placing an arm around the thin shoulders and steering the boy away from the street.
-another walk in the rain later-
Ciel took his hat off and handed it to Sebastian before wandering off to his bedroom muttering something about a bath.
The butler hung the hat to dry and patently followed the noble down the hall and into the bathroom, "Would you like me to run a bath for you?" he inquired.
"Yes." Ciel said, and then set about taking his clothes off and hunting down his favorite robe.
Sebastian ran the water and tested the temperature before plugging the drain and filling the tube with incense and foam.
Ciel untied his eye patch and stepped into the tube, sighing in content as the warmth seeped into his stressed body, releasing the high strung muscles. "Ahhh…" He was content to lie there forever but it was getting late. He picked up the soap and was about to begin washing his arms when two cool hands gently slid the soap from his fingers.
"Allow me, Young Master." A soft voice purred.
Ciel had begun to argue when smooth hands started to rub circles into his shoulders, easing out all then knots and tension. The hands pressed into the skin and slathered the soap studs along the small back, lingering on the young noble's sides and lower back.
Sebastian watched as the tension in his lord drain away as Ciel leaned into his hands willingly. A small craving erupted inside the usually vapid butler, but he concealed it easily.
Ciel hummed low in his throat as the hands massaged his back and shoulders, leaning into the slight caresses and touches without much thought.
The butler dipped his hands in the water to wash away the soap before grabbing a wash cloth, soaking it with water, and began wiping down the young lord. He placed the wash cloth aside and reached for the lavender smelling shampoo, squirting a decent mound in his hand. He ran his fingers through the silky hair and began to lather it into his scalp. He scrubbed gently at the roots and slid his fingers through the locks of hair, coating the young earl's head in white. He then placed his hands on the small shoulders, "Young Master I will need you to lean back."
"Mhh…alright." Ciel murmured; and allowed Sebastian's hands to lean him backwards to submerge his hair in water, washing away the shampoo.
Sebastian rinsed away all the whiteness from the chocolate locks before helping his young master out of the tube and into a silk robe.
Ciel wandered over to a chair and zoned in and out as Sebastian gently towel dried his hair, oblivious to the fact that the fingers trailed longer than needed down the nape of his neck, or that the hands seem to caress the sides of his head while drying.
"Time for bed Young Master." Sebastian purred, helping his young charge to his feet.
Ciel walked not two steps before a head rush overtook him, "Agh…" he stumbled slightly to the side and Sebastian caught him.
"Young Master?"
Ceil felt the smallest of smiles pull at his lips from the concern in his butler's voice, "No need to worry…I'm just tired."
Sebastian nodded and steered him to his bed before helping him change into his pajamas. "Is that all you need tonight, Young Master?"
Ciel frowned, "No…" he glanced to the side, unsure of himself for once.
Sebastian, being as observant as he was, noticed his master's uncertainty, "Is something wrong?"
"No." Ciel said with a sigh, "It's nothing…"
Sebastian nodded thoughtfully, "Would you like me to sit with you tonight?"
"Yes."
"Very well."
Ciel climbed into bed and snagged his Steven King novel and immersed himself immediately in it while Sebastian took his usual place in the chair.
-An hour later-
Sebastian looked up to see that his Young Master had fallen asleep again. He smiled and stood, bookmarked the page in the earl's book, and placed him horizontal in his bed. "Goodnight Ciel." Sebastian murmured before leaning down to kiss his head lightly.
Ceil's eyes snapped open and he leaned upward, catching his lips into Sebastian's shocked ones. Fire erupted in both their chests as the noble's lips molded into Sebastian's. The moment felt five seconds and five years before Ciel pulled away and blushed, "Good night."
Sebastian blinked and recovered his wits; he smiled and poked his master's nose, "Very clever." And then as he breezed out of the room he heard Ciel chuckle quietly.
He closed the door and let his composure slip. A small smile curled on his face as his hand lightly traced over his lips. The butler's tongue darted out and swiped over his lips, before retreating back inside. He savored the taste of his lord for a couple seconds before walking down the hall and turning off the lights.
