Sebastian wiped the sweat off his brow as he pulled a roast lamb out of the oven. It took him a lot longer than usual to cook his master's meal, almost as long as it takes a human. He leaned against the counter, fighting the migraine growing inside his head. Why am I in so much pain lately? Although demons are not immune to pain, they don't experience it from doing simple tasks like cooking and ironing. Nevertheless, Sebastian couldn't preoccupy himself with this mystery as it was almost dinnertime for his master.
He placed the tray of lamb onto the cart, along with a salad bowl and a basket of toasted bread rolls and rolled through two doors that lead to the dining room. Once he got there, he was shocked to find the young master already seated at the table with chipped plates and cracked glassware set in front of him. The beaten roses from the garden were used in the centerpiece and covered in candle wax as the melted wax dripped all the way to the table's linen surface.
"Sebastian, what is this?" Ciel inquired with a confused scowl. The butler stood there speechless.
"Do you like it Sebastian?" Finny asked, pure innocence shining in his eyes.
"We worked hard on it, yes we did!" Meyrin pipped up.
"Thought you could use some help," Bard explained, "we even have Tanaka to play the flute while the young master eats."
"Ho, ho, ho," Tanaka chuckled before puffing into the instrument, sending a melody into everyone's ears. Finnian grabbed Meyrin and started dancing. They twirled around and around while Bard clapped his hands. Ciel watched his servants with slight amusement.
Sebastian stood there, eyes forced shut and fists clenched as the pain in his head returned. Every mental stab he felt left a stinging scar in his brain. He felt his hand reaching to the edge of the table while the other to his head. He felt the heat of anger burning inside of him as he tried to calm himself down. How badly he wanted to tear his ears off his head, ending the torture of listening to Tanaka's high-pitch notes combined with the laughter of the servants.
"ENOUGH!" Sebastian bellowed, slamming his hands on the dining table. Everyone froze once the music ceased playing. The servants turned to the butler, frightened of his angry outburst.
"Do you have any idea how long it will take me to clean all this up?! Despite whatever notion you simpletons may have thought up, I do not enjoy fixing every damn screw-up you make! And not only do you make a mess, but you all come to me whining and sniffling like bratty infants! You are Phantomhive servants and it's about damn time you act it or so help me I wi-"
"SEBASTIAN!" Ciel growled, "My office, NOW!" Sebastian didn't argue, he simply bowed and marched out of the dining room with the young master.
•••
The sound of Sebastian's white leather glove slapped against his cheek echoed in the room.
"What the hell was that about?" Ciel demanded, throwing the glove aside.
"I'm terribly sorry, young mas-"
"I don't want an apology, I want an explanation!"
"I don't know why I'm like this," Sebastian replied, confusion etched on his face. What's wrong with me? "I usually hide my irritation so well. And these sudden pangs I'm experiencing..." His eyes widened. Oh no, it can't be...
"Sebastian?"
"I got to get out of-Aaaaagh!" He brought his hand to his side, almost clawing his black nails deep into his rib cage. He fell to the floor hard, sending a skull-splitting pain to his head. His other hand began to pull on his hair.
"Sebastian!" Ciel cried, a tinge of fear in his voice as he commanded him, "get up this instant!"
"It...h-huuurts..." the butler said through his teeth. He let out another scream before his vision faded to black.