Well, here's chapter two! Hope you guys enjoy it.
Since I'm not sure if Sebastian will explain it to Ciel yet I'm just gonna explain the whole sitter service thing. It's an agency where demons are sent to when they've wither broken a rule/contract or devoured too many souls out of contract. I'll let you guess the reason for Sebastian.
xxx
When Rachael Phantomhive revealed the news about Sebastian to the rest of her family, the reactions were as expected. Meaning, Vincent agreed with her and Ciel threw a hissy fit.
"A babysitter? I'm not a baby, mother, I don't need one!" Ciel growled, his expression almost hateful. Rachael just hoped it wasn't toward her.
"Now, son," Vincent began, looking almost fearful of the young boy, "I know you are an intelligent, sophisticated boy but...you've become so moody lately. Anything we tell you goes through one ear and out the other! Besides, won't some company be nice when we're working?"
"No," Ciel deadpanned, sneering at his father. "I'm happy to be alone. I don't need anyone to play with, I have my toys."
Rachael reached over, placing a gentle hand on Ciel's cheek. "Toys are one thing, human interaction is another. Besides, your grades are suffering. Is the work too hard? I thought you liked advanced placement..."
"It isn't too hard!" Ciel look mortified that his mother would even suggest the possibility of him being less intelligent than he thought he was. "I can get my grades back up, mother. I don't need a babysitter, really."
Rachael frowned, staring at her son. He looked like he really meant it. Maybe he didn't need a sitter after all. Maybe her decision was too rash...
But, no. That was the problem, wasn't it? They always gave Ciel whatever he wanted, did everything he said. She couldn't back out on this, not again. Ciel was a problem child, he needed this more ever.
"I'm sorry, Ciel. But my mind is made up. Sebastian will arrive here at noon. I expect you to be on your best behavior. No tricks," Rachael said, her voice cold and dominating. It was such an unexpected occurrence for both Ciel and Vincent to see Rachael use this tone. It usually never strayed far from the warm, soft voice she normally had.
Ciel opened his mouth, then shut it. He looked down at his plate (filled with salmon, peas, and mashed potatoes; all untouched) then back at his mother. "Fine. Don't expect me to like some filthy nanny right away, though." Then, the young boy stood from his chair. "I'm going to my room."
"You haven't taken a single bite, Ciel," Vincent chided, frowning at the child who had already gone to the steps.
"I'm not hungry," he hissed, looking right at his mother when he said this. She looked right back, seemingly unfazed by the glare. After a few seconds of this, Ciel ran up the stairs, making sure to make as much noise as possible.
Once the sound of his bedroom door slamming shut was heard, Rachael covered her face and let out a soft sob. Vincent immediately got up, wrapping an arm to console his weeping wife.
"It'll be alright, dear. You're absolutely right, this is just what our boy needs," he soothed, kissing the top of his wife's head.
Hesitantly, she put her hands down to her lap. Honestly, Vincent was still surprised how beautiful she looked, even with a quivering lip and tears gliding down her cheeks. "I don't want him to hate me, Vincent. I just want to help him..."
"I think he knows that, truthfully. But he's stubborn, Rachael, we both know that. Give it a few days, maybe a week, and I guarantee he'll adore Sebastian."
Rachael looked up, a hopeful smile on her face. "You think so?"
Vincent kissed her, he just couldn't help it. "I do. Really."
As the couple hugged, the feeling of relief was mutual between both of them. Yes, Ciel was going to like Sebastian. Adore him. Love him, even.
xxx
The next day, at noon precisely, Sebastian Michaelis was knocking on the door of the Phantomhive manor. For the first time in what felt like centuries, he actually felt excited about something. That something was named Ciel Phantomhive. He couldn't quite put his finger on what intrigued him about the little boy, he didn't even like children, but this one seemed so deliciously interesting. He might have promised Hannah that he wouldn't do anything unprofessional, but he never quite specified what unprofessional meant to him, now did he? He tried to hold back the devious smirk that was beginning to form on his face when Rachael answered the door.
She was certainly a pretty woman, one that would age nicely. She didn't seem the like the type of person to obsess over looks, however, seeing as her hair was in a sloppy ponytail.
"Ah, you must be Sebastian!" Rachael smiled, looking over the man. He was definitely not the type of person she visualized as a sitter. No, nothing about his red eyes, pasty skin, or formal black suit screamed 'child care' to her. But, somehow, he seemed perfect for her boy.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Phantomhive. I'm Sebastian Michaelis, it's wonderful to meet you," Sebastian greeted, bowing. He took Rachael's hand, giving it a quick kiss that made her giggle. If it were anyone else, she would have been offended. But Sebastian was...well, different.
"As it is to meet you, Sebastian. Please, do come in. Ciel is just in his room." The woman walked back into the manor and Sebastian followed, looking at the furniture inside the manor. It was much too modern for his tastes, but he guessed it fit the owner of a toy company.
"Ciel! Sebastian is here!" Rachael called out, giving the man in black an apologetic smile. After a minute or so, the young boy shuffled down the steps, and that surge of hunger ran through Sebastian when he saw him. It was even better seeing him in person.
"Say hello to Sebastian, dear," Rachael said softly, putting a hand on her son's shoulder and giving him a pointed look.
"...Hello." Ciel studied the man, also intrigued with the stranger. He wasn't what the boy imagined the sitter would be. No, he imagined a fat man with a ridiculous mustache and puppets on his fingers. Sebastian was...different. His eyes stood out the most to Ciel, the ruby-colored orbs piercing into his ocean ones.
Quickly, his mood went back to normal and he scowled at Sebastian. "So you're the sitter? Don't expect me to want you around here. I'm only doing this because I was told to."
"Ciel!" Rachael scolded, then turned to Sebastian. She assumed the man would look shocked or angry or something close to that nature. But no, his polite smile and calm demeanor were still there. As if Ciel never insulted him.
"I do not expect anything of you, young master. My job is to be your sitter, not force you to like me. Be as rotten as you please, I am not going anywhere," Sebastian said cheerfully, eyes sparking with amusement. Rachael was relieved, while Ciel was both shocked and frustrated. His glare intensified on the babysitter, who kept on smiling.
Rachael checked her watch, sighing a bit. "Sebastian, I'm sorry to leave on such short notice but I do have a shift. You don't mind looking after Ciel, do you?"
Sebastian bowed once again. "Of course not, madam. That's why I'm here, after all." He peeked at Ciel, giving him a small wink. Ciel sneered right back. Oh yes, he didn't mind at all.
Rachael sighed in relief, before kissing her son on the cheek. "Behave, darling. I better be off. Thank you, Sebastian!" She smiled kindly at the man, before hurrying out the front door.
Now they were alone. Sebastian stood up straight, smirking at Ciel. The boy stared at him, his gaze cold and unwelcoming. It was a full minute before the older spoke, "What would you like to do, young master?"
Ciel scoffed, turning around and walking toward the steps. He stopped midway and looked at Sebastian. "I want to play in my room. Come on, then."
The other chuckled, following the child. "Yes, my Lord."
xxx
Ciel Phantomhive's bedroom was different from the rest of the manor, and Sebastian was relieved to see it. Different kinds of medieval weapons decorated the walls. They were covered, so Ciel couldn't use it, but the artillery made Sebastian feel even more hungry for this child. All the other furniture looked particularly old-fashioned, and the only other thing that stood out was a small chess table in the center of the room. Ciel sat in one of the chairs then scowled at Sebastian expectantly. Clearly, this is what he wanted to play. Sebastian sat in the seat across from him, studying the chess board.
"Chess is your favorite game then? I wouldn't expect it, considering your father's business and all." Sebastian picked up a bishop, examining it closely. This was no cheap set, that was obvious.
Ciel watched him, resting his cheek onto his hand. "Toys are for children. They are mindless objects for entertainment. Chess is used with the mind, therefore it is better than a bunch of toys."
Sebastian quirked an eyebrow. "Oh? What happens to the toys you are given then?"
Ciel jerked his thumb toward a large, wooden box in the front of his bed. "They go there. My parents still think I play with them."
"I see." Sebastian asked nothing else, just smiled pleasantly at the younger male.
Ciel looked down at the chess pieces, then gave his sitter a smirk. "You know, I like to compare these pieces to the people in my life sometimes. My father, the king. My mother, the queen. And everyone below them..."
"And what would you be?"
"I'm the player," Ciel replied, his smirk widening slightly. "I get to decide how each of them move, using only my wits. It's my job to defeat the opponent. Which is what you are, Sebastian."
"Oh?" Sebastian seemed more amused than anything, and it really pissed Ciel off.
"Yes. You might think that you'll just get by without any problems, but I won't let you win. I always win. So you could always give up now," Ciel suggested.
Sebastian laughed lightly, and just that sound alone made the younger boy shudder for reasons he couldn't very well explain. "My Lord, what fun is chess without the game? Quitting wouldn't make you a winner, young master, not really. I like a challenge, especially when my opponent is as feisty as you."
"Are you making fun of me?" Ciel snarled, balling his hands into fists.
"Not at all, young master. Not at all."
There was a moment of silence between them. Then, a soft knocking on the bedroom door was heard.
"Come in," Ciel commanded, eyes still locked on Sebastian.
Mey-Rin entered the room, her face turned beet red when she noticed Sebastian. He was the most handsome man she ever saw, was he really just a sitter? Shame, she thought, men that attractive should be male escorts. "Lunch is ready, young master."
"Bring it up to my room, Mey-Rin. I'm playing, can't you see that?" Ciel glared at the maid, who gave a soft squeak in return.
"Right! Um, would you like anything, sir?" The maid looked at Sebastian shyly, tilting her head in question.
"Nothing for me, miss. But thank you for asking, such good etiquette. I can see why you are the only maid here," replied Sebastian. Mey-Rin giggled, flushing even more.
"Thank you, sir. I will be back with your food, young master." Mey-Rin practically skipped out of the room, and a squeal was heard when the door shut.
Ciel groaned, rolling his eyes. "Morons, all of them..." He looked at his sitter curiously. "How did you know she was the only maid?"
Sebastian smiled at the boy, shrugging a bit. "I do my research. You honestly didn't think I wouldn't be curious about the Phantomhive family, did you? If so, than I'm afraid you're not the genius you think you are, young master."
Ciel growled, standing from his seat. "Are you insulting me? I could have you fired, you know?"
Sebastian ignored this comment, his smile as amused as ever. "Such temper. I wonder, how many children your age enjoy your company?"
The boy gaped at the sitter, then flushed. "Be quiet..."
"I can't imagine that little boys and girls would like a moody, temperamental boy who acts as if the world revolves around him," Sebastian said cheerfully, chuckling.
"Shut up! You are merely a sitter, what do you know?"
"I know that the only person your age that can stand you is the girl your family wants you to marry someday, who is also your cousin. Elizabeth, was it?"
Ciel narrowed his eyes. "How do you know about her?"
"As I've said, I've done my research. Do you fancy her then?" Sebastian laughed lightly at the horrified look the child gave him.
Ciel practically exploded, grabbing the collar of his sitter's suit and yelling, "What kind of babysitter are you? All you do is belittle me and laugh at me and ask me dumb questions! Everyone else may be fooled, but I'm not one of them! I despise you, Sebastian, and I've just met you! You can't-"
Ciel was cut off when the man in black ran his fingers down his spine, making him shudder. He wasn't expecting such a gentle reaction, he didn't want one like that. It occurred to him how close they both were right then, and it was a feeling that shouldn't have come with being close to his much older sitter.
Before anything else could happen, Mey-Rin knocked on the door. "Young master, I have your lunch."
Ciel pursed his lips, slowly going to the door and retrieving his food. "...Thank you, Mey-Rin."
The woman bowed in response, then went off to go clean something or whatever she did. Ciel shut the door, and huffed angrily when Sebastian was still smiling at him.
"You're weird," he mumbled, sitting on his bed and beginning to eat his sandwich.
"I know, My Lord."
The two of them played chess for the next hour (Sebastian won at the two games they played), then Rachael came home and called both of them down.
"Were you good for Sebastian?" She asked Ciel sternly, and he scowled in response.
"Indeed he was, madam. Your son is quite interesting to be around," Sebastian said, smiling politely at the woman. She beamed, ruffling the blue-black hair of a grumbling Ciel.
"Well, sweetie, did you like your new sitter?" Rachael inquired hopefully, expecting the usual 'no' from her son. The response she got instead was shocking.
"Yes. Will he be returning?" Ciel specifically didn't look at his babysitter, he really didn't want to witness the smug smirk that was sure to come.
"Ah! Um...yes, he will. I'm thinking of working more often at the hospital, so it might be necessary," Rachael looked at the older man. "Is that alright with you, Sebastian?"
"It would be my pleasure, madam."
"Great! Well, I'll call when I need you then," Rachael gushed, grinning happily.
"Very well. Goodbye, madam, until then." Sebastian bowed, giving Ciel a quick smile. "And goodbye to you as well, young master."
Ciel didn't reply, only pouted as the other left the manor. As his mother talked on and on about the man, the boy started to wonder about why he agreed that he liked him. He was irritating, and always smiling like he thought Ciel was some kind of imbecile. Yet, when he touched his spine...God, Ciel shivered just at the memory. It was strange, but...nice.
All in all, Sebastian was just...different. And Ciel Phantomhive guessed he liked different.
xxx
End of chapter two, y'all. Hooray for badly written sexual tension!
Someone suggested spanking, and I'm honestly considering it. Any thoughts?
See you next time, lovelies.