It is nearly 4 a.m. here, I think, roughly thereabouts. Please forgive the mistakes that may follow, I'll re-re-read it in the morning after my coffee and replace it if it's terrible. Right now my mind is filtering out the mistakes so it can sleep sooner but I really don't want to wait until morning to post this. If I start procrastinating I may never stop.

Thank you so much for the reviews, follows and favorites, I really appreciate your feedback!

Yaoi, Sebastian/Ciel, romance, lemon eventually, etc. etc.

Disclaimer: I do not own Black Butler or any of it's characters, they belong to Yana Toboso and so on and so forth.

A Taste of Innocence

Part Two

"Mind your place, butler." Ciel snapped.

He straightened in his seat and took a sip of tea, inhaling it's sweet fragrance. He willed his embarrassment to stay away from his face and closed his eyes so he wouldn't have to acknowledge the pretentious smirk on his servant's face. He was the master, he was supposed to be in control of this situation. What was supposed to be an exercise in manipulation had backfired on him and turned into some tasteless display of wanting. All he could do was pretend it was intentional and make sure it wouldn't happen again.

Being a demon was nothing like he'd imagined. Some parts were easy enough - you existed, you swallowed a soul once in a while and you watched the rest of the world change while you always stayed the same. He recalled Sebastian once telling him that a human lifetime went by in a flash for a demon and so far that seemed to be the case. Well, it wasn't literally a flash and he hadn't been a demon for a human lifetime yet but the past 28 years had gone by swiftly compared to his 13 years as a human.

The first few years had been a little strained, with the air being so thick between them. The older demon had been scorned and rather than being angry or contrary about it, he just seemed...sad? On a rare occasion when he caught that solemn expression in his butler's face he felt the momentary urge to apologize to him, to offer some condolence. But he couldn't do that. What could he possibly apologize for? Why should he apologize at all? None of this had been his doing, he had no more control over the outcome than Sebastian and he wouldn't accept the blame or be sorry for it.

Yes, technically it was his fault that Sebastian was bond to his side forever, whether he liked it or not but Ciel couldn't honestly say that he was sorry for that either. The day Sebastian's attitude towards his "enslavement" had changed, Ciel felt a weight lift off his shoulders and maybe his heart. He still didn't understand what exactly had happened to change it and perhaps he should have been concerned and quizzed the other about it but he didn't want to. Sebastian seemed to be content to stay with him now, what else mattered? He didn't want to chance ruining things by looking for answers he probably wouldn't like.

He didn't want to be alone forever and he knew it was highly unlikely that the older demon would have volunteered to stay by his side once he was no longer useful to him. He wasn't born a demon - if demons were in fact "born" - he didn't have the instincts or sensibilities of a demon. Alone, without Sebastian to protect and teach him, he would have perished, as much as he hated to admit it to himself. In that respect his life now was much the same as it was before.

But now, suddenly, he found himself confronted with an array of needs and compulsions he hadn't expected. Lust was the flavor of the year now. As a mortal he hadn't given much thought to the prospect of sex. He had a fiancé that he never expected to live long enough to marry and as much as he loved Lizzy as his friend and a relative, he couldn't imagine being intimate with her. He couldn't have offered her anything besides a life filled with lies, danger and unrequited feelings, until the day when he would inevitably die at the hands of his butler.

Now, said butler, was the leading man in his every fantasy. As much as he tried to weed him out of his thoughts it was impossible. He supposed it was due to overexposure. Sebastian was with him all the time, almost all day, everyday. He was the only constant thing he had so surely it was only natural that his mind would fixate on him.

He sighed and opened his eyes. Sebastian was staring right at him still, that infuriating curl in his lips.

"Look somewhere else!" the master barked. The servant obediently averted his eyes, a low chuckle rumbling from his throat.

A couple sitting at a nearby table looked up from their conversation, startled by the outburst. The woman shook her head disapprovingly. Ciel's face flushed and he cursed himself for sounding like such a spoiled, ill-mannered child. A brat. He glared daggers into the side of Sebastian's head as his tongue made a "tsk-tsk" sound.

"I'm done!" Ciel announced with a huff, the cutlery on the table rattling as he stood. Sebastian turned his head to face his lord but his eyes remained averted, as ordered.

"I'm sure the master means he is finished. Dinner is done. People are finished."

With a growl the boy turned on his heels and left without another word, leaving his coat, his hat and his butler behind. If he allowed himself to speak he knew he'd end up saying something humiliating and he wasn't going to give Sebastian that satisfaction...yet again.

He walked for a while, never looking back but he could hear Sebastian fall into stride behind him. After decades of listening to those footsteps, always following behind him, he knew them by heart. He reached the steps leading out of the plaza and felt a cold drop hit the tip of his nose and then another on his forehead. He looked up and the sky suddenly gave way to a sun-shower.

As the third drop hit his face he was swept off of his feet, his coat suddenly draped over his head like a veil. Sebastian was carrying him bridal style and they were up the steps and out of the plaza instantaneously. Inhuman speed was one of the few demon abilities Ciel was actually able to access so far and he was almost able to match the older demon's pace when they practiced. But he didn't mind being carried. Picking him up in minor situations like this was something Sebastian did of his own accord, without being ordered to. Even though it wasn't necessary anymore he still did it.

In seconds they were at their hotel, instead of using the front door Sebastian cleared the building in one bound, landing on their fifth story balcony gracefully.

Sebastian sighed. Despite his best efforts his master had still gotten wet in the downpour. He deposited the boy on a chair in the en-suite, ran the bathtub faucet and went to retrieve his night shirt, never once making eye contact, as per his earlier instructions.

"You do recall that I can't catch cold anymore, right?" Ciel called after him.

"Why yes, my lord. But surely being soaked and chilled to the bone can't be comfortable for you, even as a demon. But if you'd prefer then I'll remove bathing you from my list of duties, as your butler." He chimed in that dutiful tone, knowing very well what the answer would be.

"No." came the obvious response. "I shouldn't deprive you of your activities. What else are you supposed to occupy yourself with all day if you have no services to provide? You'd simply vegetate. It was selfish of me to suggest such a thing."

The butler's eye gave an involuntary twitch. 'Activities?' Like he was some half-wit child that needed to be occupied.

He knelt and grabbed the sides of the boy's waistcoat and shirt together, yanking them both up rather roughly. His master yelped as the shirt's collar got caught on his neck, buttoned up too tight to fit around his head.

"What are you doing?" He shrieked, all the snideness replaced with shock and anger.

The demon butler smirked, watching the smaller one struggle, his wrists were trapped in the cuffs of his shirt too, all he could do was exasperate himself.

"My apologies, master. Being unable to look at you seems to hinder me somewhat."

"Grr...look at me, you idiot!" His snarl was muffled by the fabric, it was quite cute and amusing Sebastian thought, now able to see his handy work.

"Oh master, 28 years and you still haven't conquered buttons." He sighed in mock disappointment. "It reflects so poorly on me as your butler and teacher."

"Shut the fuck up and get this off of me, now!" Ciel ground out, all faux airs and graces out the window, he was just pissed off now. The shirt constricting around his neck and hands felt like a straight jacket that tightened the more he tried to break free.

Before he could express his anger any further the shirt was gone and he was being dropped into the bath. The warm water hitting his skin drained the annoyance out of him immediately. His body had been colder than he'd realized, stone cold. It was only noticeable to him now as it was leaving him. Sebastian was right.

"May I, sir?" his servant asked, sponge at the ready.

"You may..." the master huffed, too tired to argue or make smart remarks. "...but no nonsense."

"If you insist, my lord."

He wasn't sure what had woken him, he thought it was his name being called but it wasn't Sebastian's voice and he wouldn't call him by name. He rolled over so he was facing the balcony door. It was dark and cool and the rain had stopped. He'd fallen asleep straight after the bath, before the sun had set. He didn't need to sleep anymore really but he liked to, he liked to dream. His dreams as a human had mostly been nightmares and he still had some nightmares but nowadays his dreams consisted primarily of himself, a certain other individual and sometimes cake. So he slept, for the fun of it.

Before he could lull himself into another dream he felt it again, something pulling him back, calling him but there was no sound. He got out of bed and walked to the balcony. He didn't even have to look for it, there it was standing on the street across from the hotel gawking straight up at him. He swallowed hard as the creature below called to him again without words or sound.

"It's alright, master. I see him." Sebastian was suddenly on the balcony too. He looked him over, he didn't seem phased by this intruder.

"How long has he been down there?" He turned to meet the stranger's stare again. He was a tall figure with dark hair, dark clothes and dark eyes.

"A few days."

"A few days? And you didn't think you should mention it to me?" The boy snapped.

"I'm surprised it took you three days to sense him, master. You really are helpless, aren't you?" The taller demon's hot breath was suddenly on his ear and neck, he'd moved from the other side of the balcony to directly behind the boy without being noticed, just to emphasize his point. Ciel suppressed a shiver.

"What does he want?"

"Hmm, he's just looking." Sebastian replied, as though that were an explanation.

"Looking at what?" Ciel asked. He hated vague answers that had to be followed by more questions.

"Well, we are quite the spectacle, the pair of us." Another vague answer.

The younger demon's brow furrowed, preparing for the agonizing task of dragging real, coherent answers out of the other. But before he could begin his verbal abuse he was off the ground and being carried back inside and laid on the bed.

"Please don't concern yourself, my lord. He is merely curious about our...particularly special circumstances. Don't let it keep you from your sleep."

The smaller demon began to protest but lost his train of thought as Sebastian started to remove his clothes down to his pants and shirt. He scooted over automatically and the butler stretched out on the bed facing him. A strong, ungloved hand pressed him to lie down, the same hand travelled up to cup his cheek and rested there. Ciel's breath caught, Sebastian's expression was calm, his crimson eyes serene with a curve in his lips. It was soothing, assuring that they were safe and there was nothing to worry about. As usual Sebastian would take care of it.

His stubborn and proud mind knew he was being manipulated into shutting up. It urged him lash out and slap the servant across the face for being so brazen and familiar but he told it to be quiet. Sebastian was keeping something from him, he would be punished for it but not tonight. He didn't want to lose the older demon's closeness, voluntary closeness that he hadn't ordered him to give. He inhaled the other's scent, it was masculine, distinct and sweet.

"...Sebastian..."

"Sleep, young master. I will watch over you, as I always do."

Sebastian exhaled, watching his master give in to sleep finally. He let his hand linger on his face, gently tracing down his temple, over long lashes and down to his dusty pink lips. He had never had the urge to kiss someone before, demon or human, man or woman. Kissing was a useful tool for manipulating humans but he had never understood the appeal personally. Here it was now though, this urge. Curiosity prompted him to lean forward until his face was mere millimeters from his master's, his soft breathing smelt sweet. Their lips met in just a peck but in that moment Sebastian felt strange. He felt anticipation and something else, something funny that he couldn't put a name to. It wasn't gratification but it was like...the promise of gratification and yet...more than just that. He wasn't sure whether he liked it or not.

His pondering was interrupted by the visitor downstairs. It was calling to his master again, trying to get him to come outside but his master couldn't hear the call anymore, Sebastian was using his own means of manipulation to defend his lord's mind.

The demon downstairs wasn't a worry to him, he could sense the other's power, it would never be able to match him, which was why it didn't try to come inside. It had stalked them for over a week and though the butler didn't want to go outside and make a scene that might attract attention from more dangerous fiends, his patience was beginning to wear thin.