A/N: Thank you all for your lovely responses! This chapter has officially been made pretty (and more comprehensible) by the wonderful Carrie2sky! And now, without further ado: Vincent.

CHAPTER 2

When Sebastian came to, he found himself with a splitting headache (he'd probably hit his head falling) and tied to a chair in an elaborate study. He blinked several times, looked around a little. Huh. He had kind of expected something less… descriptive. He didn't try to fake being asleep. The sooner he got over with, the better. Now that he got captured without having killed Ciel, he knew that his people would rather kill him than save him. He didn't want to be saved anyway. He'd disappointed himself, too.

"I see you're awake," somebody said to his right. There was a mahogany desk at the centre of the room. A beautiful, well-dressed man was sitting there, one arm draped behind the back of his chair, the other arm supporting his chin. As their gazes met he got up, slowly, almost sensually, and rounded the desk, sitting down on the smooth surface. "You injured my son."

Straight to business. "Vincent Phantomhive, I presume," Sebastian said after a moment.

The man smirked. "Precisely. And I know who you are."

Sebastian immediately felt cold but he masked it expertly. "Oh?"

Vincent procured a folder from his desk, flipping through it. "You've been working under the name Sebastian Michaelis for ten years now, mainly for one particular group. Nearly all of your jobs are in here." He waved the folder. "I take it you know a man named Undertaker?"

From where he was sitting, Vincent had the perfect view of Sebastian's wrists, meaning he couldn't tamper with his restraints. So he relaxed instead, trying to throw Vincent off that way.

"The one who gave me this job, in fact," Sebastian said. "But that shouldn't be news to you."

"It isn't," Vincent said easily. "And I can guess why they would want my son dead. Your people kept tampering with my business, and I sent them a message to leave us alone or else." He tilted his head to the side. "Apparently it didn't work."

"I guess you made them angry," Sebastian said. "Those were efficient people that you had killed."

Vincent chuckled. "Efficient, you say. They sent me you. I dare say you are the most efficient in the lot, looking at" – he put the folder back on his desk – "all of these."

Sebastian remained quiet.

Vincent hopped from his desk, coming to a stop right In front of Sebastian. "You injured my son," he repeated. Curiosity underlined his scrutinizing gaze. "But you didn't kill him. You dressed his wound instead of letting it fester. You gave him his inhaler when he needed it. What do I make of you?"

The door opened and one of the two men from earlier entered, his gun visible on his belt. Vincent turned around to meet him. "Ash."

The white-haired man smiled in a disquieting way. This person had felled Sebastian – who did have an extensive history in combat training - with one single hit. It was embarrassing and infuriating. Never again would Sebastian overlook a man in a simple suit. "Diedrich wanted to come, but he's still watching over your boy with Klaus."

"He is where he has to be," Vincent said solemnly. "Any news?"

Ash stared past Vincent at Sebastian for a long moment, most likely confused as to why Sebastian would be allowed to listen in. "Well… Your son is awake and lucid. He's still demanding the same thing, though."

"Then he isn't lucid," Vincent said. He turned around to face Sebastian once again. "You didn't kill him, but you manipulated him."

"Don't shoot him."

It slowly dawned on Sebastian. Ciel didn't want him dead. Why was a question for another time. He had to find a way to use this information. "I didn't do anything but help him. Maybe that is what convinced him."

"By all means," Ash said from behind Vincent, "just have this man killed before he thinks he has more luck with Rachel."

Vincent didn't even bat an eyelash. Sebastian assumed that Ash had been trying to gauge some sort of reaction from his boss. "Sebastian," he said, ignoring his employee. "My son wants you alive."

"I am glad to hear that," Sebastian said.

The flash of a gun caught Sebastian's attention. He stilled instinctively when it was pressed to his temple. Vincent gave him a smile and Sebastian knew he was close to reaching a limit. If he didn't want a bullet embedded in his head, he had better choose the right words from now on. "My son wants you alive. I have yet to be convinced."

"Guns don't scare me," Sebastian said calmly. "I am a dead man already."

Phantomhive shrugged. "You don't have to be. Just help us get rid of the vermin you came crawling from and none of my people will ever harm you."

It sounded like a deal, but how could Sebastian be sure? He didn't know much about how Vincent handled his business. He had never been caught before. Never been close up with his enemy when he wasn't armed. If he took a risk now and agreed to the deal, he was a traitor in his group's books. Lifelong friendship or not, Undertaker would have to give out the job of killing Sebastian.

But they wouldn't find him if he didn't stay here.

He'd have to run, leave Europe. He knew where his group had people, but they didn't go beyond the European borders. They were expanding, yes, but compared to Vincent's "criminal empire," which was nearly worldwide, they were nothing but children playing in their sandbox. (The payment was still very good.)

Take a risk, see where it leads you, he thought. If you die now, your friend won't have to kill you. If he didn't, he'd wait for the right moment and then leave.

"I know names," he finally said. "Names, looks, locations."

"That's not a lot, I must say."

It was a lot, and they both knew it. "I might have lists on targets, business relationships."

"You really don't want to die, do you?" Vincent was grinning like a Cheshire cat now, obviously pleased. He put his gun away and went back to his desk, keeping a watch on Sebastian's restraints. He couldn't wait for a moment to surprise them. No twitch went unnoticed. This scrutiny made him extremely uncomfortable, but Sebastian would be an amateur if he weren't able to hide it completely.

"I'd prefer to stay alive, that is true," he said.

"With all due respect," Ash piped up, and Vincent glanced at him. "It would be a bad idea to allow this man to stay alive."

There was a moment of silence in which Vincent regarded Sebastian. "I think it's a fabulous idea," he finally said. Ash looked appalled.

"You are too kind," Sebastian said, barely suppressing his own confusion.

"Ciel has to start choosing his men," Vincent went on. "He has to find out whom he trusts. Develop relationships. It will be a lesson."

Ash honestly looked thrown off. Sebastian could somewhat understand Vincent's reasoning, but if he had a son, he definitely wouldn't put the guy who'd tried to kill him anywhere near his child. This seemed… extreme. Wasn't Vincent worried for his son's life?

"He wanted this man to stay alive," Vincent went on. "He might as well take responsibility for it. And…" He smiled at Sebastian. "You still have information to give to me."

With a gesture of his hand Vincent told Ash to leave the room. The white-haired man did so reluctantly and with obvious distaste. When the door had closed behind the man, Vincent walked up behind Sebastian. The next moment Sebastian felt his restraints loosening.

… Was this man serious?

Sebastian's hands came free, but he only folded them in his lap. Somebody who did something like that was either very sure that nothing would happen and had taken according precautions… or they were completely bonkers. One of the two, for sure.

But you didn't become a criminal mastermind by madness alone. So Vincent just had to be prepared for the case of an attack on his person. And Sebastian sure didn't want to experience whatever he had in store.

"We will draw up a contract," Vincent said. "Make it official." He went over to a shelf and retrieved a bottle of whiskey, two glasses. He poured a generous amount into both glasses and handed Sebastian one of them.

"What would the conditions be?" Sebastian asked as he accepted the glass. There was no way in hell he'd drink from it, and they both knew it.

"You will give me that information on your little group. And, of course, you will watch over and protect my son. I do not want him harmed in any way. If he dies, you die. Your life equals his." Vincent waited until Sebastian nodded before he went on: "Further details on that should be discussed with Ciel once he feels better. I expect nothing but loyalty and competence from you. You will, of course, be paid handsomely for you efforts."

Sebastian could only give his consent, and Vincent jutted down some notes. "I will give you time to get settled, in case you have any objections. Should any come up, talk to Ciel about it. He is your employer now."

ooo

After having discussed a draft with Vincent (or rather after Phantomhive had held a monologue about it), Sebastian was led through the manor to a large room in which Ciel recovered from his wound. "There are cameras," the maid who had brought him said. Then she left.

Sebastian was so confused at the Phantomhive way. Cameras, no cameras… What was going to stop him from killing Ciel and quickly making a run before anybody reached this room?

They boy was alone in the room. Whoever this Diedrich and Klaus were, they had left now. Only the boy lying in the four poster bed was left. Sebastian walked up to the bed to find Ciel awake. The boy regarded him without any expression in his face. He was most likely on a heavy dose of painkillers.

"So you're alive," the boy finally said. He seemed lucid, at least.

"Only thanks you to you, kid." Sebastian smiled what he thought to be his most charming smile.

Ciel frowned. "Before Diedrich left he told me that my father has put you down as my employee. Is that true?"

"My, news travel fast here." Sebastian nodded. "It is indeed true. I am to protect you against my own kind."

The boy lifted his chin a little. "Then you will address me with 'Young Master' from now on."

Sebastian stared. "Fine," he eventually said. That child was already a brat in his book. He didn't want to know how much worse it could get. Thankfully Sebastian was a man of loose morals and close to no shame at all. On the other hand he was a proud man and he could already see this particular trait clash with Ciel's personality. He might just have to put up with it for now. Vincent was transferring money to Sebastian's bank account as they spoke.

"With that out of the way," Ciel went on, "let us talk about your work." He tried to sit up, only to hiss and slump back down, having unintentionally moved his leg. Maybe he wasn't on enough painkillers.

"You must be exhausted, ki-… Young Master. Perhaps you want to wait with that until tomorrow…?" Sebastian politely inquired. After having been put down like a rowdy child, talked to by a criminal mastermind and given over like a damn pet, Sebastian wasn't much up for another talk about business. What he needed was a good night's sleep. Come to think of it, once word of his failure came out (once Ciel went back to school), Sebastian would have to expect attempts on his life from his own group. It wasn't personal, he of all people should know that. He himself had put group members down for treason. It was just their way. And Sebastian was a traitor now.

"No," the boy said with a heavy scowl. Sebastian himself could not hide his displeasure. "This is important. You are to protect me with your life, so I do not want you straying from my side unless I explicitly say so."

He made a pause, as if waiting for Sebastian to process the information. Sebastian felt a flicker of anger inside him. How dare this child think he wasn't smart enough?

"I do not want you being dishonest with me," Ciel continued. "Are you married? Do you have children?"

"No to both questions," Sebastian said.

"You will keep no secrets from me," Ciel said with as much authority a boy his age could have. "You will not betray me. I am now the most important thing in your life."

"I shall worship the ground you walk on," Sebastian drawled.

Ciel shot him a dirty look. "Do not test me, Sebastian. Now, I wish to take a bath."

This time, it actually took a while for Sebastian to process the words. "Excuse me?" This boy was not making him his maid, was he?

"Are you hard of hearing?" Ciel asked. "My last bath was the evening before yesterday. I'm positively filthy from all that blood. No thanks to you."

"With all due respect, Young Master, maybe you shouldn't have tried to run away, then."

"Oh, do forgive me, I didn't know I was doing something wrong by trying to save my life."

Sebastian felt the corners of his mouth twitch. "You see what you end up with for your efforts."

"A lot of discomfort." The boy made an impatient waving motion with his hand. "If you would assist me now. The bathroom is behind that door." He pointed.

Sebastian was loathe to play caretaker, but apparently he had to. He offered calling somebody Ciel knew better than him - Klaus and Diedrich seemed close to the boy, having watched over him – but Ciel declined, insisting that Sebastian do it.

This must be his punishment, Sebastian mused. Helping a child as awful as Ciel. Yet, had he known that Ciel was such a brat, Sebastian still wouldn't have shot him the other day. Killing children had always seemed a little extreme to him, honestly.

He didn't mention that the boy should wait until tomorrow, with the wound still being fresh. Ciel would only tell him to shut up. Instead Sebastian went into the bathroom to draw up a bath. The bullet wound had gone through the calf (Sebastian was glad he'd missed the knee); it would demand awkward shifting to keep the wound out of the water, but it could work.

When the bath was ready Ciel procured crutches from the other side of his bed and determinedly hopped towards the bathroom. Sebastian didn't see why he should help, so he leaned against the far wall and watched the boy struggle. "You do know that you should take it easy, right? You were shot yesterday."

"Yes," the boy hissed. "I know. The painkillers have worn off so I am acutely aware." With that he disappeared into the bathroom.

Sebastian felt a twinge of regret but told himself he shouldn't find it in him to worry too much. First of all, Ciel was essentially a stranger. Secondly, if he felt like having stupid ideas like taking a bath right after his wound had been dressed, he himself was responsible for any further injury. Sebastian would have no part in it. But he did begin to rummage through the bedside drawers and found pills that looked promising. Ciel would likely be better off in a hospital instead of this hideout but Sebastian could understand why the Phantomhives wouldn't bring a boy with a bullet wound into a hospital, whether they had employees there or not.

Lots of hissing and splashing came from the bathroom, but unless there was a scream or absolute silence, Sebastian would keep his (respectful) distance. Ciel hadn't closed the door completely. Maybe he'd forgotten.

The bedroom door opened without warning and the black-haired man from earlier entered the room. He frowned at the empty bed, then even harder at the bathroom door. Then he looked at Sebastian.

"You're really bad at looking after wounded kids, you know that?"

"Hello to you, too," Sebastian said. He didn't think he sounded half as dismissive as he would have been if he hadn't been on this man's employer's territory. "He wanted to take a bath."

"Yes, and you should have just knocked him out." The man rolled his eyes. "What do you think the pills are for?"

That… didn't really sound like the stranger knew how to handle kids, either.

"Diedrich," Ciel called from the bathroom. "I don't have any fresh clothes."

Said man stared at the bathroom door. "I'm not your maid," he finally said. But he did go to the wardrobe to fetch a new set of fresh clothes. "Are you always this cranky when wounded?" he asked as he fully opened the door and went inside.

Ciel's snort could be heard before the doors closed.

Diedrich came out a few minutes later, carrying Ciel back to the bed. He was shooting Sebastian a look that clearly read 'This is your job', and Sebastian wanted to vehemently disagree. Bodyguard, Vincent had said. Not nurse. He didn't even know the first thing about it, and frankly didn't want to. Knowing how to care for his own wounds on the run was all the knowledge he needed in that area.

Diedrich placed Ciel on the bed and rolled his shoulders. "Your room is the next room to the right," he said. "Vincent said you'll be working for us now."

"For me," Ciel corrected. Diedrich looked at him for some time before taking the pills from the bedside table, handing them to Ciel and telling him to take a few. The boy only glared at him.

"That is correct," Sebastian finally said.

"We'll have you watched," Diedrich said, looking decidedly unhappy.

"I was told," Sebastian said.

"The bullet tore through muscle." Diedrich crossed his arms. "Once the wound is healed there will only be a scar left. You are one lucky bastard, Michaelis. Vincent would have killed you otherwise."

Sebastian chanced a glance at Ciel at those words. The boy didn't seem particularly upset at the thought of his father murdering people in his office. Instead he put on an eye patch over his normally closed right eye. There was no scar tissue or anything that would need hiding, but maybe it was just a personal preference.

"How did you track him?" Sebastian asked, nodding at Ciel. "Or did you somehow manage to track me?"

Diedrich snorted. "We didn't track you. Ciel should tell you about it himself, if he feels like it."

Ciel shot Sebastian a dark look.

This job was going to be terrible.