A/N: Thank you everyone for your support! :3
Warnings: Language
Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroshitsuji
Restaurants were overrated, Claude decided as he examined several DVD's inside the entertainment center. Why would anyone want to propose in a restaurant where everyone could see? It was better, Claude thought, to ask the question in the comforts of one's home where they could avoid the scrutiny of everyone around them. Yes, restaurants were overrated and cliché. Sebastian didn't deserve cliché, no; he deserved something warm and comfortable.
Claude could do that. And he secretly thought to himself that no one could see him fumbling as he tried to propose to Sebastian. Not that he still felt nervous mind you, but sometimes the thought of asking had his stomach doing acrobatic flips that could put any gymnast to shame.
He turned his attention back to the mass selection of titles and selected their favorites, trying to balance the selection carefully to help set the mood. Sebastian had locked himself up in his office all day, working to finish the latest draft for his newest book after his editor stopped by to hound him for the draft.
Seriously, who would've thought that a child's author would have so many deadlines?
Claude shook his head and set the stack of DVD's on the table. Ever since Sebastian's editor, a tight ass named William who seriously needed to relax but never took their advice because 'this is both our jobs on the line if you don't finish the book, Michaelis' followed by a quick adjustment to his glasses, left their house, Sebastian had busied himself with work.
Sebastian alternated between children's books filled with illustrative pages, designed by the wonderful Lau; whom Claude swore dealt drugs on the side because no illustrator could afford luxuries like that, and an ongoing series for slightly older children. The series circled around and stared Sebastian's beloved cat, Soot.
Who, subsequently, hated Claude.
Claude and Soot met in Claude's junior year of college after an unfortunate incident that involved Claude stumbling into the apartment late one Friday night and his shoes. Sebastian had told him that morning over breakfast, and Claude forgot as soon as he stepped outside the apartment, that he would bring home a kitten that day.
Had Claude been in his right mind that night and not seeing double, he might've remembered Sebastian's words. As it was, the conversation from that morning slipped past him and in Claude's drunken mind, he saw Soot as a large rat. He acted accordingly and threw his shoes at her before Sebastian swooped in to save her.
Sebastian cuddled the trembling kitten to his chest and proceeded to yell at Claude for trying to kill Soot. The only thing Claude remembered was how endearing Sebastian looked with his ruffled bed head and loose sleep pants. He told Sebastian as such and received a slammed door in his face for his troubles.
Claude passed out on the couch after that and awoke later to find a blanket covering his body that wasn't there when he fell asleep. A glass of water and medicine waited for him on the coffee table, an olive branch from Sebastian and his way of apologizing for yelling at Claude the previous night.
However, Soot didn't offer him the same peace treaty, as Claude found out several hours later when he went to put on his shoes. He had screamed at Sebastian and nearly tried to kill Soot again, this time for using his shoes as a litter box, but Sebastian defended her claiming she was just a kitten and didn't know better. But the gleam in Soot's eyes spoke otherwise and promised to make Claude's life as painful as possible.
To this day, Claude still checked his shoes before he put them on, hoping to avoid any future surprises.
They left each other well enough alone after that, although Claude swore that Soot's hatred for him grew even more once he started dating Sebastian. Claude longed to toss the cat out, but Sebastian loved Soot dearly and simply telling Sebastian that Soot ran off one day would devastate him.
In the end, they put up with each other because they both cared for Sebastian so much. An unsteady alliance built on the strong love they held for Sebastian. Claude knew there was some sort of irony in that sentence.
Claude grunted at the thought and stood up, ignoring his sore knees as he walked into the kitchen. He supposed he shouldn't hate Soot, because in a way, she had given Sebastian the start he needed with his book series. A series that circled around Soot's mischievous adventures that she would have while her owner worked during the day
He found Soot enjoyable in the books though, where her many journeys spread throughout the pages. At least in the pages of Sebastian's books, Soot couldn't hiss at him when he pulled Sebastian close.
"Insufferable," he muttered under his breath and scanned the small pantry for a bag of popcorn. He found it sitting on a lower shelf and he grabbed it with a small hum. Popcorn, some movies, and other snacks. The perfect night in and Claude patted his pocket, feeling the small box that rested comfortably there. But not for long.
He refused to let that little box mock him any longer and Claude knew he found the perfect solution to his proposing problem. By the time night fell, Sebastian would have a ring on his finger and Claude would show the velvet box who was boss. Yeah, he could do this. He was Claude Faustus, no tiny box would trump him and nothing could ruin tonight.
"Sebastian," he hollered down the hall and opened the microwave. "Come take a break, I have popcorn and movies."
He punched in the time and started the microwave before stepping back into the living room. Claude fluffed a few pillows that sat on the couch and grabbed a lightweight blanket for added measures. It was a needed accessory and Claude stared at their mini nest, feeling pride swell in his chest.
Claude could already see how the night would progress. They would start with the first movie, something action-y with traces of humor to help unwind from the long day. Sebastian would need that after staying cooped up all day in his study while he worked on his story. They would take a small break to get something to eat, something a little more filling than popcorn, before migrating back to the couch.
The second movie Claude had picked was a classic movie. Slow and careful in its plot and one that they had seen several times, so much so that they could almost recite the lines to the entire movie. But watching that after a filling meal and a hard day at work, Sebastian would start to nod off. And as he always did when he fell asleep during movies, Sebastian would gravitate closer to Claude, clinging to him after finding a comfortable position.
Which varied on Sebastian's mood but Claude's favorite position was when Sebastian would try to align their bodies and get as much bodily contact as possible. He usually pulled that particular stunt during the cooler seasons, because Claude swore Sebastian was half cat and sought the nearest heat source to stay warm. So long as Sebastian didn't pull the 'I'm going to put my head in your lap and pass out' routine, which teased Claude more than anything, Claude could handle whatever Sebastian decided.
Because honestly, Sebastian's head was right there! Mouth open and breathing softly so that Claude could sometimes feel that teasing breath ghost across a certain part of his anatomy. It made it hard for Claude to keep his body under control, especially when Sebastian would try to press closer, nuzzling either his stomach or other nearby body parts. Those were the times Claude just knew Sebastian wasn't really asleep. Damn tease.
Regardless of the position Sebastian chose, they could still cuddle together under the blanket and enjoy each other's company. Sebastian would doze for at least half an hour before waking up again and after that, Claude could ask the question. Although Sebastian wasn't the most coherent when he woke up and probably wouldn't appreciate Claude trying to propose right after a nap.
Claude frowned at that and his finger brushed over the soft velvet as contemplated that part of, almost, flawless plan. He could wait until Sebastian woke up a little more. Or, or! Claude grinned at his newest thought and shook his head for not thinking about it in the first place. There was nothing that a little kissing couldn't fix. Combine that with soft words and even lighter touches, and Claude had an instant romantic setting. The perfect time to propose.
It was a good idea, if Claude could say so himself and he mentally patted himself on the back. Not only was it the perfect idea, time, and place, but this time around, Claude didn't feel as nervous. Not that he felt nervous the first time, mind you.
Now all Claude needed was Sebastian. Who had yet to leave his office.
"Sebastian!" Claude shouted again and looked down the hallway. The door remained closed and Claude grumbled under his breath. No wonder Sebastian hadn't heard him the first time. No matter, a simple door couldn't stand in the way of Claude proposing to Sebastian. Nothing could ruin this day and the perfect date Claude had planned. Nothing!
He moved back into the kitchen to grab the bag of popcorn, its buttery scent filling the kitchen, and Claude carefully pulled it out by the corners. He rattled the bag around to fluff up the popped kernels and carried it down the hallway to Sebastian's office. No one could resist the smell of popcorn. But more than that, Sebastian couldn't resist the smell of popcorn after a long day working and the promise of a comfortable couch curled up next to Claude.
Again, the perfect plan. Honestly, Claude could find no flaws with his plan and felt rather proud of himself.
Claude knocked on the door before carefully pushing the door open. "Sebastian," he said and watched as Sebastian perked up at the smell that quickly permeated the office air. "It's getting late. Why don't you come and relax for the rest of the night. I'm sure Mr. Dull Point Spears will understand."
Sebastian chuckled and looked at the bag of popcorn longingly as the computer whirled behind him. Claude could almost see Sebastian's mind weighing the options and he shook the bag again, hoping that it would sway Sebastian further.
"Come on Sebastian, come to the dark side. We have popcorn and movies," he paused and leaned against the doorway, trying to look seductive. Judging by Sebastian's face, he missed his mark. "We have a warm inviting couch with a blanket?" He tried again.
"I didn't think the dark side could have warm and inviting things. I always assumed them cold and uninviting, terrors that destroy everything in their path," Sebastian said and cocked his head in contemplation but Claude knew he had already won. If Sebastian didn't want to join him, he wouldn't drag out his decision. "Do you come with this warm and inviting couch with a blanket?"
Claude smirked and sauntered up to Sebastian. "I think I can pull a few strings," he said and grasped Sebastian's hand. "Do we have an accord?" He purred lowly and pressed a kiss to the back of Sebastian's hand.
Sebastian pushed him away with a low laugh. "You're hopeless."
"Hopelessly in love with you," Claude answered, his lips quirking.
"And corny," Sebastian said and his eyes danced with mirth. "Very well, I think you have convinced me to join this dark side of yours. Let me backup these files real quick." He turned back to the computer and Claude pumped his fist into the air in a silent celebration. "I can see you," Sebastian stated, cutting Claude's victory celebration short.
Claude sulked as Sebastian closed his laptop and spun around in the chair. "Way to kill my excitement," he said and held the bag of popcorn out of Sebastian's reach. He smiled as Sebastian stood on his tiptoes in his attempt to grab the bag and Claude kissed the tip of Sebastian's nose. "I'll consider that compensation."
Sebastian rolled his eyes. "I'll go change and leave you alone to your excitement," he teased as he dropped back down to his feet. "I hope you picked out some good movies."
"Only the best," Claude answered and drew Sebastian close for a chaste kiss. "Love you."
"The dark side sure is affectionate," Sebastian said, his voice light with laughter before returning the gesture with a light kiss of his own. "Love you too," he murmured against Claude's lips and the words had Claude's heart pounding in his chest.
He pulled away and Claude watched him go, tempting hips swaying on purpose. Claude waited patiently, letting his heart and body calm down before pumping his fist into the air again. Step one complete, he told himself and pushed his glasses up once more. His fingers patted the heavily weighted box in his pocket before Claude hurried to the living room.
With an exaggerated sigh, he dropped down onto the couch and tucked the box into the corner of the couch so Sebastian wouldn't feel it on his person. Claude made sure he could reach it easily and then propped his feet up on the coffee table. He started up the first DVD, letting the menu run in the background while he waited (im)patiently for Sebastian to change.
Knowing Sebastian, he would change into something comfortable for their movie date. Read comfortable, as in, comfortable for Sebastian because he wore Claude's sweats that were too big for him and gave teasing glimpses of his skin. Especially when he reclined on the couch. The baggy sweatshirt would bunch up and show off that thin strip of skin just above Sebastian's hips.
Comfortable for Sebastian, not so much for Claude. Try torture. Because nothing aroused Claude more than seeing Sebastian wearing his clothes and seeing those small snippets of skin drove Claude crazy. And Sebastian, the teasing imp that he was, knew that all too well.
Claude drummed his fingers along his knee and glanced at the television screen again, feeling anxious. He tried his best to wait, but several more minutes ticked past and Claude grunted. "Sebastian, popcorn doesn't taste good when it's cold," he shouted, hoping to hurry Sebastian along. Seriously, what was Sebastian doing in their bedroom?
The softest sounds of footsteps behind him made Claude turn around and he frowned at the serious expression on Sebastian's face. "We have to cancel the movies tonight," Sebastian said and his grip tightened on the bundle in his arms.
Claude blinked and stared at Sebastian, his mind trying and failing to process what Sebastian had just said. The words repeated in his mind but the meaning refused to take root and Claude asked the only question he could process. "What?" He asked intelligently.
"We can't watch movies tonight. Or rather, you can but I can't," Sebastian repeated. "Soot is sick."
"What?" Claude asked again, because surely Sebastian wasn't serious. Claude wasn't about to let Soot show him up and ruin yet another attempt at proposing to Sebastian.
Sebastian adjusted his grip on the blanket and Claude could see Soot buried in the warm, fuzzy blanket that usually lined her bed. "Her nose is dry and she hasn't eaten anything all day. I can't leave her like this."
Claude sputtered, feeling his perfectly laid plans slipping through his fingers like sand in an hourglass. "But Sebastian," he protested, not whined although he truly felt like it, and turned to look fully at Sebastian. "You can't, she can't. Movies," he finished ineloquently and gestured at the television that still played the menu screen. He couldn't bother to form proper sentences, too lost in the maelstrom that had suddenly wrapped around him.
"Claude, she's sick," Sebastian said, putting emphasis on the word sick. "It's not like she decided to play sick and did this on purpose."
Oh, Claude wanted to disagree there, not aloud of course because Sebastian would call him crazy and give him that unamused frown, but the words remained regardless. He knew, one hundred percent without a doubt, that Soot did this on purpose. Soot hated Claude, plain and simple, and any chance she had to make his life miserable, she would take it.
Not that Sebastian ever saw it. Soot could do no wrong in Sebastian's eyes and they had their mutual agreement to act nice to each other when around Sebastian so he didn't know about their silent feud. But this, this was a break in their pact and Claude didn't appreciate it. Not one bit.
"I'm sure she's okay," Claude tried to reason and shifted on the couch, silently trying to get Sebastian to join him on the couch. "It's probably just something she ate that's upsetting her stomach and it'll pass by tomorrow."
"Claude, look at her," Sebastian stated and drew closer so Claude could see.
And Claude saw. He saw the triumphant gleam in Soot's eyes as they looked at each other and the way her whiskers twitched just so, making her look smug as she hid her smirk. Oh yes, Soot had planned this. Claude didn't know how, but somehow the cat had discovered his plans to propose and had taken it as her duty to thwart Claude at every turn.
It was the only logical explanation.
Claude glared back at her and Soot let out a pitiful mew, making Sebastian draw her back to his chest once more. "I see no difference," Claude said flatly and Soot made a low growling noise at him; that Sebastian missed of course.
Sebastian sighed. "Her coat is dull and her eyes are lackluster," he said and rubbed Soot's paw. "Plus the pads of her paws are hot and so is her nose. She has a fever and it's lasted almost all day, seeing as she didn't eat breakfast."
Claude ran a hand over his face as Sebastian fussed over Soot. Any other time, he would've teased Sebastian for getting so worked up over Soot, but this wasn't any other time. He planned to propose this time. Who knew when the next chance would come around?
"But movie night," he said, or rather whined. He could admit he whined. Because dammit all, he had been so close! Only to have his plans derailed by a mischievous little cat who loved her owner too much and was rather possessive of him.
"We can have another one," Sebastian reassured him and Claude could see the guilt in Sebastian's eyes. It helped ease the knot of disappointment in Claude's stomach but only barely. Soot mewed again and Sebastian's attention turned from Claude back to Soot. "I need to get you to the vet," he murmured, scratching her ear.
Claude's stomach dropped at the words. He didn't think Sebastian would take Soot to the vet. At most, he expected Sebastian to fawn over the cat for a few hours and then come back once he felt satisfied she felt better. But a trip to the vet would take more than a few hours. It would take the rest of the night and Sebastian wouldn't come back home until late, and even then he wouldn't want to relax.
"Can you help me get some toys for her while I get her carrier?" Sebastian asked, already scanning the living room for Soot's favorite toys. "My poor girl, sick all day and burning up with a nasty fever. I'll make it up to you, I promise."
Claude grunted at Sebastian as he continued to fuss over Soot and his eyes narrowed at the television, feeling something unpleasant coil and snake throughout his stomach. He couldn't exactly pick out feelings but several knotted together and like vomit, word vomit that is, they spilled from his mouth without warning.
"Just forget the damn cat!" Claude snapped as his frustration bubbled over. The moment the words left his mouth though, his eyes widened and he closed his mouth with a sharp click of his teeth. Those were not the right words to say to Sebastian. Oh dear, someone kill him now because the hole he dug himself was about to become his grave.
Silence settled around them, thick and ominous, and Claude chanced a quick glance in Sebastian's direction. He saw Soot's smug look first before Claude looked up further to study Sebastian's face. "Care to repeat that, Claude?" Sebastian asked calmly.
Only Claude knew Sebastian was anything but calm. No, that was just a façade, something to lure Claude into a false sense of security. Like a cat playing with a wounded mouse. Come here little mouse, I just want to play with you before I deliver the killing blow.
But Claude would rise to take that bait. Because, in his skewered logic, he was already in a hole and what was wrong with fighting for something he wanted? He would not back down now.
"I had the whole night planned out, Sebastian. We haven't had a proper night in since last month at the restaurant," Claude defended and raked a hand through his hair. He felt his defense falling short because he couldn't exactly tell Sebastian why tonight was so important to him.
Sebastian's eyes narrowed slightly, and even though the degree of anger lessened in crimson eyes, Claude still knew he had lost the fight. "We can always have more nights in or spend time together," he started. "But I'm not about to ignore Soot when she's sick, especially if it's something serious that could kill her."
Claude grumbled under his breath. "She did this on purpose. And you always pick her over me." He was not jealous of a cat, dammit.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Claude," Sebastian hissed. "Just forget all the times we went together on trips and I left Soot behind even though she cried for me, or that I constantly spend time with you every night. You know that's a lie. Just this one time, Claude, will I pick her over you."
"But tonight," Claude tried again, rather weakly if he told the truth.
Sebastian grunted. "Fine. Next time you're sick, I'll ignore you in favor of watching movies with Soot. Would you like that?"
Claude shook his head dejectedly. "No," he admitted.
"Didn't think so," Sebastian said coolly and left the living room without another word.
Killing blow delivered.
Final score? Soot 1. Claude 0, plus a night or two on the couch.
Claude didn't move from the couch as Sebastian gathered the things he needed for the trip to the vet and his eyes settled instead on the spot where he hid the ring. They didn't venture from the area until Sebastian walked into the living room and towards the front door. Only then did Claude tear his eyes away from the spot and stand up.
"Sebastian," he said quickly and grabbed Sebastian's wrist, making sure not to grab the arm that held Soot's carrier. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said all those things. It's just tonight," he trailed off.
Sebastian's face softened some but hard lines remained around his eyes. "I'll be back later tonight. Don't wait up for me." He hesitated, debating with himself before brushing his lips over Claude's temple.
He left after that before Claude could say or do anything and the door slammed behind him. The velvet box hidden in the couch mocked Claude loudly and he trudged back to the sofa, walking the march of a defeated man. With a heavy sigh, he collapsed on the cushions and pulled the box out. He flipped open the lid to look at the band then snapped it shut again with a groan.
It would take weeks to get back into Sebastian's favor now. Someone up there truly hated him.
tbc...