And here's chapter one! I actually remembered that it was Thursday this week! Lol XD But anyways, thanks for your reviews so far! It's good to know that you all are enjoying this story!
Please DO NOT ask me about "What May Come" in any reviews. Thank you.
Disclaimer: Neither Disgruntled Minion nor I own Kuroshitsuji or any of its characters.
Sebastian hummed softly as he finished icing the tray of cupcakes that sat before him. The desserts were going to a party tonight to celebrate Valentine's Day, and Sebastian wanted them perfect for the event.
His other cooks were already busy preparing the other courses for the dinner, but the desserts were Sebastian's specialty. It was what his catering company was most known for, and he delighted in selling the sweets.
The tray was placed on the rack, and Sebastian wiped his hands off with nearby towel. The cupcakes had been the last dessert that the customer had ordered, and Sebastian could now check to make sure that everything was running smoothly.
"Mr. Sebastian, your eleven o'clock appointment is here," a voice to his right said. She handed him a piece of paper with the details.
Sebastian sighed and brushed a piece of hair out of his face. He had forgotten about the appointment today. And on such a busy day as well; how annoying. Waving his hand at the girl, he padded out of the kitchen and into the room where the clients were waiting.
Brushing off any remaining flour or sugar, Sebastian knocked lightly on the door. A polite 'come in' sounded through the door Sebastian pushed the door open.
A blond woman, who appeared to be mid-twenties, looked over with a huge smile on her face. Her green eyes lit up. "Oh! Hello! My fiance and I are here to look over your menu." Her smile darkened slightly. "He had an important phone call to take, but he should be back any minute now. I'm Elizabeth Middleford," she finished.
Sebastian offered a polite smile, as was his job."Congratulations on your upcoming marriage. I'm Sebastian," he greeted, holding out his hand. They shook briefly before Sebastian took a seat across from the female and pulled out a notepad. "Would you like to wait for your fiance to come back or would you rather look over some sample menus while you wait?"
"I'll wait for him," she decided, even though her fiance had told her to go on ahead if he wasn't back in time. "How long have you been in business?"
"A little over seven years," Sebastian answered. "I worked my internship at another catering company and just recently opened my own business about five years ago."
"That's a long time," Elizabeth commented. She checked her watch and gave a small huff. "I thought he'd be-" The door began to open, interrupting her. She glanced over, and her smile immediately brightened. "You're back!"
"Yes, sorry I'm late."
The woman jumped to her feet and rushed over to her fiance's side. "This is my fiance," she said proudly, casting him an adoring smile. "Ciel Phantomhive. And that is-"
"Sebastian," Ciel whispered, his heart thudding to a stop as he laid eyes upon the one man he hadn't seen in five years. The one man he'd hoped never to see again.
Elizabeth blinked. "Sebastian Michaelis. How did you know?"
"I've seen advertisements for for his catering business before," Ciel mumbled, averting his gaze. He could sense green eyes watching him, but his facial expression gave nothing away, and eventually, Elizabeth shrugged and returned her attention to the other man in the room.
"Please, take a seat," Sebastian stated, gesturing to the two seats at the table. His face was carefully guarded, and he made sure not to let his emotions show. Ciel was the last person he had expected to see again in his life. He had seen pictures of him in the newspaper but those were just fleeting glances during a time of weakness.
It was easier to pretend that the younger male didn't exist anymore. That it wasn't Ciel's picture staring up at him from the business section when he joined his fathers company. Or that it was another male featured in the entertainment section when the paparazzi caught him with a blond female, reported to be his fiance.
To Sebastian, it was easier to pretend and forget that it wasn't Ciel. Because remembering only made annoyance, hate, and a small dash of pain build up inside him. Because it was the younger male who had tossed him aside five years ago.
Clearing his throat and pushing the unsettling thoughts aside, Sebastian took a seat. "Do you two have any thoughts about your wedding yet?" He asked and looked at the couple. "Any themes that will help me get a better idea for a menu?"
"Ciel loves sweets, so there has to be a good selection for desserts," Elizabeth stated. Any tension in the room went right over her head. She was in wedding planning mode, and nothing could tear her thoughts from that. "We want only the best because it will be the wedding of the year, and we'll have important guests attending."
Ciel, meanwhile, had picked up a sample menu and now began to idly flip through the pages. Different foods caught his eye, and he remembered them from before when Sebastian would cook for him to taste test them. He swallowed. He didn't want to remember those years. It was better to just pretend as if they had never happened.
"I see," Sebastian murmured and jotted down the order, even though he knew just how much Ciel loved sweets. He offered a forced smile. "You're in luck. My company specializes in sweets; they're a trademark of ours. I have some samples in the kitchen if you would like to try a few now; get an idea of what you would like."
The woman clapped her hands. "That would be excellent! Don't you think so, Ciel?"
Ciel dragged his eyes away from the menu. "Hm? Oh, yes. It would be," he replied, hoping that he'd said the correct thing.
Sebastian nodded and stood up. "I'll be right back," he said politely and moved towards the door. The cool air in the hallway brushed over him, helping Sebastian clear his mind. This was going to be a hard order for him, but the opportunity was too good to pass up. The publicity that his company would get from this wedding would boast their sales, and Sebastian didn't want to throw that away just because his client was an ex.
The door clicked open and shut, and soon Ciel was standing in the hallway with him. "Sebastian."
The older male turned around. "I'm sorry, Mr. Phantomhive, but only employees are allowed back in the kitchen area." He gave Ciel a cold glare. "You'll have to wait, I'm afraid."
Ciel was taken aback at the sharpness with which Sebastian had spoken. He blinked. "That's fine. I wasn't going to follow you. I just..." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "It's good to see that you're doing well."
Harsh comments were ready on Sebastian's tongue, and they wanted nothing more than to cut into Ciel like barbed wire. Instead, he swallowed them and shrugged slightly. "I can say the same for you."
An awkward pause reigned while Ciel struggled to think of something else to say. Words were on the tip of his tongue, but he refused to speak them. He had ended things with Sebastian five years ago. There was no use in opening up old wounds.
"Are you going to take the job?" He asked instead.
"If you and your fiance like what I have to offer, I will," Sebastian answered. The words were heavy on his tongue, coating his mouth and making them hard to speak. "It's not my place to turn down a job because of past issues."
Ciel nodded. While he wasn't keen on spending time with Sebastian, he couldn't deny that Sebastian's sweets were the best. He took a deep breath. "Do you still make-"
He was interrupted when his fiance poked her head out of the room. "Ciel, there you are! We need to pick from the menu. I already have some ideas."
He sighed. "All right." Without a backwards glance, he followed Elizabeth back into the room.
Sebastian's eyes narrowed slightly at the blond, not liking the way she ordered Ciel around. He swallowed his tongue and turned around to head back to the kitchen. There was nothing that he could do about it, though, and the best thing to do now was to focus on work. Ciel had made it clear all those years ago that he wanted Sebastian out of his life.
Clearing his face of emotions, Sebastian selected several plates from the kitchen and set them on a cart. His hand paused over a sweet that Ciel liked, and after a few second debate, the dessert was set on the tray.
The cart was wheeled out of the kitchen and into the room where Ciel and Elizabeth were waiting. "I've brought a few desserts for you to try. They range from cakes to tarts, and even simple cupcakes."
Elizabeth seemed to be having difficulty choosing one to try, but Ciel went immediately for the sweet that he liked. He took a bite, finding it to taste the same as he remembered. Suddenly, the chocolate turned to sawdust in his mouth as memories flooded back to him. Swallowing with some trouble, he set the fork back on the plate.
Elizabeth looked over at him. "Did you like it?"
"Yeah, it was good," he answered and watched as she tried it.
Elizabeth made a face. "That's too sweet, Ciel. How can you like it?"
He shrugged. "Different people have different tastes, I suppose."
"Well, we'll put that one on the 'maybe' list," she decided.
Sebastian nodded and jotted the note down, letting the couple finish sampling the rest of the sweets. The appointment would be ending soon, and then Sebastian could get back to his kitchen. At least there, it was easier to work.
"Have you selected a few dinner plates for our next meeting?" Sebastian asked.
Elizabeth nodded, pointing out five dishes that she wanted to sample. Ciel had been basically silent during the meeting, only speaking when asked a question, and even then his answers were hesitant and halting. He felt like he was back in high school, being tutored by Sebastian and unable to concentrate because he was distracted. He wondered if Sebastian was also feeling the same way and spared a quick glance at the older man.
Sebastian ignored Ciel in favor of writing down the dishes. "Very well. I can have these dishes prepared for you the next time we meet." He pulled out a calendar and set it before them. "What's a good day for you? And would it be easier for me to come to you or the other way around?" He asked, a small cringe crossing his face. The last thing Sebastian wanted was to visit Ciel's home to discuss his future wedding.
Elizabeth pondered for a moment. "We can come here again," she finally decided. "Ciel, honey, which date works best for you? I know you have a busy schedule."
Ciel glanced at the calendar. "I'm free in the afternoon this Thursday. If that doesn't work, then I don't have anything Friday morning, either."
The blond woman frowned. "I'm looking at dresses this Thursday and will be gone all day. On Friday, I have a manicure scheduled before the party we were invited to."
Sebastian's eyes closed as he resisted the urge to roll his eyes. After being in this business for so long and dealing with one too many demanding brides, Sebastian swore that he would never get married. And if he did, it would be done at the courthouse with a small reception at the end with family and friends.
"I can deliver the plates late Thursday night, when Miss Elizabeth would be back from shopping," Sebastian suggested, mentally kicking himself for even suggesting such a thing.
"That's not nece-" Ciel began, but was cut off by his fiance.
"Oh, that's a good idea!" She exclaimed. "We can meet at Ciel's house, then. Do you need the address?"
Ciel gritted his teeth. He did not want Sebastian in his house, even if they wouldn't be alone. In fact, Ciel wanted to see Sebastian as little as possible. Too many painful memories.
Sebastian forced a smile. "That would be helpful," he said and passed a pad of paper over to Elizabeth so she could write the address down. His eyes darted to look at Ciel briefly, to see how the younger male was handling this situation.
Ciel's jaw was tight, a sure sign that he wasn't any happier than Sebastian was. It was a look that Sebastian knew all too well, usually coming from a stressful situation or when something was just annoying the younger male.
A harsh smirk spread across Sebastian's lips. At least he wasn't the only one suffering. Although he could only hope that Ciel was having a harder time handling this than he was. It was the only thing that soothed the ache at seeing Ciel again.
Ciel pinched the bridge of his nose. He was becoming very irritated, feeling as though he were going to explode at any moment. He'd already been stressed when he'd gotten here, and discovering that Sebastian owned this catering business only doubled the stress. Mix that with Elizabeth's perky, bubbly self and he was surprised he hadn't had an asthma attack from all the stress.
Elizabeth handed the paper back to Sebastian, making sure to use her left hand so he could see her engagement ring. There was a huge diamond in the middle, and diamonds lined the band so that no matter which way she turned her hand, the light caught it and sparkled brilliantly.
The ring was ignored as the sight only made Sebastian want to gag. It was a trashy piece of jewelry, and Sebastian wondered if Ciel picked it out himself or if his fiance had chosen it. Tapping the papers twice on the tables surface to straighten them out, Sebastian mentally rolled his eyes. Women. Never before had he been so grateful that he found the other sex unattractive.
"I'll see you two next Thursday then," Sebastian finally said and stood up. He offered his hand to Elizabeth. "Once again, congratulations on your upcoming wedding," he said, forcing himself not to grit his teeth.
Elizabeth beamed, taking his hand. "Thank you." Movement to her right caught her attention. "Ciel, don't you want to thank him?"
Ciel slowly turned back around. "Ah, I'm sorry. I have a million things running through my head right now." He walked back over to Sebastian and extended his hand. "Thank you for taking the time for this appointment."
For a moment, Sebastian hesitated before accepting the hand that had been offered. Ciel's skin was soft against his, just like he remembered it, and memories threatened to overcome him.
Sebastian jerked his hand back quickly, blocking the memories from his mind. "You're welcome. Have a nice day," he said and held open the door for them, wanting nothing more than for Ciel to leave.
Ciel had also felt overwhelmed by memories. He remembered all too well those hands on his body. He felt like going home and taking a shower to rid himself of the memory of Sebastian's touch. "See you Thursday," he murmured as he and Elizabeth walked out the door, the woman taking hold of his hand as they did.
A low growl left Sebastian's throat at the sight, and the papers crunched slightly in his hand. He hated the female for taking Ciel away, for giving him everything that Sebastian couldn't give to the younger male. But more than that, Sebastian hated himself for letting his own emotions get out of control. He was better than this, and he was over Ciel. It was over five years ago when Ciel had left Sebastian with nothing more than a shoddy excuse.
Nodding to himself, Sebastian straightened his shirt out and left the room. He would remember that next time he saw Ciel. Because the younger male was nothing more than a client and there was nothing between them anymore.
Thursday evening found Ciel hunched over his desk in his home office, poring over the day's production graphs. Business had been good ever since he'd taken over more responsibilities for Funtom Company. His father was currently still the owner, but he was grooming Ciel to be ready to take control when he retired.
His phone buzzed, and he flipped it open. It was a text from Lizzy, stating that she was going to be a little late for the meeting. Ciel sighed. With Lizzy, 'a little late' could mean an hour or two. Looking at the clock, he suppressed a groan. It was too late to call Sebastian and tell him to come later. He only had the business' phone number, and Sebastian had most likely already left. Ciel also had his cell phone number from five years ago, but what were the odds that the red-eyed male still used that number?
Ciel loosened his tie and took it off, undoing the top two buttons of his dress shirt, as well. He stood and made his way to the kitchen for some tea. His house wasn't huge like the one he'd grown up in. This was a modest, two bedroom house, and he had no doubt that as soon as they were married, Lizzy would begin to search for a grander house so she could host parties and entertain guests.
After filling the kettle with water and turning on the stove, he leaned against the counter and allowed his thoughts to drift. He was dreading this upcoming meeting with Sebastian. He wished that he could feign illness and skip it, or just say that he wanted a different caterer. But Lizzy had her heart set on Sebastian, and if Ciel were to refuse, Lizzy would go running to her mother and Ciel did not feel like arguing with Aunt Frances.
Of course, she wasn't really his aunt. She and Ciel's father, Vincent, had grown up together, so it was only natural for Ciel to call her 'aunt.'
Just like it was only natural for him to marry Lizzy.
The kettle whistled then, saving Ciel from his thoughts. He chose Earl Grey tea, his favorite. He waited a minute for the liquid to cool slightly before taking a sip. It tasted good, and it helped to soothe his frazzled nerves.
A knock on the door drew Ciel from his thoughts, and he slowly moved towards the door, already knowing who it was. When the door was opened, Sebastian looked back at him, looking none too happy to be there either.
The older male was balancing a tray on his hand, and his eyes flickered once over Ciel before focusing on a spot over Ciel's head. There was no need to explain why he was here; they both knew the reason, but Sebastian wasn't about to invite himself in.
Ciel stepped aside. "Come on in," he said. "If you follow me, I'll show you to the kitchen, and you can put the tray down." He inclined his head to the right and began to walk, listening as the other man followed. Once they reached the kitchen, Ciel pointed to a counter. "There will work fine." He took another sip from his tea, then added, "Do you want something to eat or drink?"
Sebastian shook his head after the tray was set on the counter. "I'm fine, thank you. Is Miss Elizabeth home or still away?" He asked, taking the covers off the food and rearranging some small items that had shifted earlier.
Ciel scowled. "She's still away. She said that she was going to be late." He rolled his eyes to look at the digital clock on the stove. "So she could be here anywhere between now and two hours from now."
A frown marred Sebastian's face and he glanced at his watch. He couldn't stay two hours waiting for Elizabeth to return home; he had other plans and dinner to make still. Not to mention that Soot was waiting for him back home and was probably hungry herself. "Hopefully she'll be home soon," Sebastian finally said and looked at his watch once more.
Ciel nodded, then spoke. "What if you just leave the food here for her to taste, and then we'll call you when we reach a decision? I'm sure you have other things to do than just stand here and wait." He glanced at the tray. "I can tell you right now what I like, but Lizzy has different tastes than I do."
The offer was tempting, and Sebastian could easily say yes but it wouldn't be very professional of him to do that. After all, it was last week that he had promised himself that he wouldn't let Ciel and Lizzy get to him. He shook his head. "I can wait for a while. If it becomes too late then I might have to leave." A small smile spread across his lips. "Dinner doesn't cook itself."
"No, it doesn't," Ciel agreed. Most of his dinners consisted of take-out or TV dinners that could be heated in the microwave. He wasn't much of a cook to begin with, and since he was the only one who lived there, it seemed rather pointless to cook. In fact, he couldn't remember the last time he had used the stove.
Ciel's stomach growled just then, and he realized with a start that he hadn't had dinner yet, having gotten caught up in the paperwork. He sighed, supposing that he would just go hungry for the time being.
Sebastian's lips twitched, and he shook his head. It seemed as though Ciel still didn't know how to cook, and the cruel side of Sebastian hoped that Elizabeth wasn't a good enough cook either. The thought made him laugh, and he was forced to swallow it quickly.
Ciel glanced over at Sebastian, a slight frown on his face. He could've sworn that Sebastian had said something, but he shrugged it off, thinking that he was hearing things. The silence stretched on for what seemed like hours, and Ciel was ready to scream when he saw that only five minutes had ticked by.
"Why don't we go to the living room? It's more comfortable there," he suggested.
There was a moment's hesitation before Sebastian nodded. "Sure," he agreed and followed Ciel into the living room. Soft carpet squished beneath his feet, and Sebastian took a seat on the offered couch, making sure to wiggle deep into the cushions so that Soot's fur rubbed off onto the fabric.
Ciel took a different seat, opposite Sebastian. He didn't want to sit by him, and yet he did. He missed Sebastian, if he were to be honest. There hadn't been a day during the five years they'd been separated that he hadn't thought of him, wondering how he was doing. And now here they were, five years later, staring at each other from across the coffee table.
He wasn't sure what to talk about. Reminiscing about old memories was a bad idea, he decided. But Sebastian didn't seem to be in a talkative mood, and Ciel knew that when he was in a bad mood, it was best to just let him be.
A tickle rose in Ciel's nose, and he sneezed, glaring daggers at Sebastian afterwards. "Still have that damn cat, don't you?"
A small smirk settled across Sebastian's lips. "Of course I do. She's a fine pretty lady now, and still loyal to me." It was a low blow, and probably out of line, but Sebastian couldn't bring himself to care at the moment. Ciel probably had no idea how hurt Sebastian had been after the younger male had walked out with nothing but a simple explanation.
Ciel's head snapped over to look at Sebastian, his lips in a thin line. His blue eyes flashed as he seethed quietly about the insult he had received. "You must be a very simple man if owning a cat is able to satisfy you," he stated in a low tone.
Sebastian smiled. "Who said she's the only thing that's making me happy?" He asked and couldn't stop the next string of words coming from his mouth. "Not as though you would know any of that now."
Ciel sucked in a sharp breath, trying to ignore the sting he felt. "Well, I'm...glad that you found someone else to amuse yourself with. Is it another college student? Or that annoying redhead friend of yours?"
A small frown settled on Sebastian's face. "Neither. I'm not amusing myself with anyone." He paused. Unless you counted Soot, but she was an animal and he was a human so therefore out of the question. "If anything, I've been amusing myself with work. Taking a page out of your book and focusing solely on work and no play."
Ciel was dismayed at the relief that he felt upon finding out that Sebastian didn't have a significant other in his life. It showed that perhaps Sebastian had been a bit more affected by the break-up than he led everyone to believe. He didn't like the thought of Sebastian moving on and finding someone else to share his life with, to share his bed with.
Ciel's hand unconsciously clenched, gritting his teeth. He definitely didn't like the thought of Sebastian lying in bed with another person, hands and lips caressing every inch of skin.
"And you were the one who told me that there was nothing wrong with enjoying the simple things in life," he scoffed. "You sound like a hypocrite to me."
Sebastian shrugged. "I guess I matured a bit more in the past few years. I have you to thank for that." He leaned back into the couch a bit more, looking indifferent about the whole subject, even though anger simmered right below the cool facade.
"Is that so," Ciel murmured, rethinking his opinion that Sebastian was still upset over the break-up. He looked away, not knowing why it mattered to him whether or not the older male was upset. After all, it had been Ciel himself who had broken things off. Why should he care if Sebastian was bothered by it?
Because he still-
The doorbell ringing put an end to the disastrous train of thought Ciel had been establishing. Quietly excusing himself, he rose and hurried to the front door, knowing that it was Lizzy. He quickly opened the door, and she burst into the entryway in a blur of pink.
"Ciel! I missed you!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms exuberantly around his neck.
He staggered backwards slightly, but managed to keep his balance. He patted her back gently. "That's good to hear."
Lizzy smiled brightly before giving him a kiss on the lips. Ciel's only thought was that he hoped Sebastian couldn't see them from his spot on the couch.
Ciel's hopes were ignored as Sebastian padded into the foyer, offering a small smile to the couple. "Miss Elizabeth, it's good to see you again. I apologize for being so hasty, but I'm afraid that I have another place that I have to be soon." He gestured to the kitchen where the plates of food sat. "If you please."
"Oh, Sebastian! I almost forgot that we had an appointment tonight." She and the red-eyed male followed Ciel into the kitchen. "Mm, this smells delicious," she sniffed the air appreciatively. Taking a plate that was handed to her, she took a bite. "I must say, your cooking is marvelous. How do you have the patience to do all of this? I mean, your desserts that we tasted the other day were designed so nicely, and what do you do during the times when you're waiting for the food to be done baking?"
"I'm sure he finds some way to entertain himself," Ciel muttered, then smiled at Lizzy when she turned a curious glance to him. "Sorry, just talking to myself." He lifted his fork to his mouth to prevent any further comments. He knew all too well how Sebastian wasted time when the food was cooking.
Sebastian shook his head. "Nothing that interesting I'm afraid. I fear that I live a rather boring life. Not much happens in it." He paused slightly, knowing that the words were a slight lie. Sometimes he was attacked by his old college friends and dragged out to the bar. Claude was the most recent to stop by his apartment a few weeks ago, but the older male hadn't stopped by since then. And Grell, much to Sebastian's relief, had moved away a few months ago.
Shaking his head, Sebastian cocked his head at Elizabeth. "How do you like the choices that you picked out?" He asked. He hated to act so rushed, but Sebastian really didn't want to stay around anymore. Any longer and there was a chance he might strike the female for taking Ciel away.
Lizzy pointed to two of the dishes. "I like these two."
Ciel raised an eyebrow, noting that once again, neither of them were his favorites. It appeared as though his tastes were being neglected. He sighed. He really didn't care. This huge wedding hadn't been his idea. Rather, it had been his parents, Lizzy, and her parents who had decided that this would be a grand affair. He would prefer to have a small ceremony, or no ceremony at all. Casting a sideways glance at Sebastian, he watched the man look at the clock.
He had to admit, it was good to see him again, even if their relationship was nonexistent. His gaze drifted over Sebastian's face, which appeared to be older and weary, and traveled unbidden further down Sebastian's body, which still seemed to be in excellent shape.
Sensing the gaze, Sebastian turned to look at Ciel before letting his eyes fall onto the clock on the wall. It was late, and he still had a long drive before he could get home. "Will you need some more plates to try before you decide on the main menu, or will these be the dishes you want?" He asked, slightly curious as he knew none of them were something Ciel would like.
They were too plain. The sauce was just right, and not nearly sweet enough for the younger male who liked to taste the different flavors of the dish. These spices were blended together so you couldn't taste them, leaving on the meat of the dish as the main flavor.
"No, these are good," Lizzy replied with a smile.
Ciel said nothing. It would do no good to argue. If he wanted Lizzy to be happy, then he had to let her get her way. At least, most of the time. There were some things that she wanted to do that he staunchly refused.
Recently, she had begun to express a desire to be more intimate, but he just wasn't ready for that. Yes, they had kissed, but that was as far as they'd ever gone. It wasn't like he and Sebastian, where he was attracted to him and wanted the physical contact. He wasn't interested in women, and he never would be, no matter how much he may try.
He took a breath, only to find that a wheezing sound accompanied it. "Excuse me," he rasped as he hurried out of the room to search for his inhaler. He couldn't remember the last place he'd had it, which meant that he had to practically tear the entire house apart while he struggled to breathe.
Sebastian arched an eyebrow at Elizabeth. He knew what was going on with Ciel, even after all the years that had passed, and he scowled slightly when his fiance didn't seem to care about the minor attack. "Shouldn't you go help him?" He asked after a few moments of silence. It only seemed like the right thing to do, and he wasn't sure why the female was just standing there as though nothing were wrong.
Lizzy blinked. "Um, yeah." She stood up and hurried to where Ciel was, only to discover that he'd already found the inhaler. She hovered over him for a minute or two to make sure that he was fine, but backed away when he said that he needed some space to breathe.
Ciel rubbed his forehead. While he didn't have asthma attacks very often anymore, when he did have them, it only made them that much worse. Thankfully, he could count on one hand the most severe ones that he'd had. One of them had happened six years ago as a result of cat fur, spring allergies, and-
A slight red tinted his cheeks, and Ciel coughed hoarsely. He walked back into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water, ignoring the other male still standing in the room. He set the glass down on the counter when he was finished, resting his hands on the flat surface.
"You okay?" Sebastian asked softly, knowing firsthand how bad the attacks could be. He hated it every time Ciel had one, and Sebastian felt as though he couldn't breathe right alongside Ciel. If they were still together, Sebastian would already have Ciel in his arms, running his hands up and down the younger male's arms to comfort him until he felt better.
Ciel nodded, finally lifting his head to look at Sebastian. Their eyes met, and Ciel felt like he couldn't breathe again. The older man's eyes were filled with concern. Even though things had ended rather abruptly and badly between them, Sebastian was still worried about him. Ciel gripped the edge of the counter to keep himself from reaching out for him. His eyes softened. "Sebastian..."
Unbidden, Sebastian took a step towards Ciel. Ciel's face looked innocent once more, like it once had all those years back, and Sebastian wanted nothing more than to pull the younger male back into his arms.
Ciel turned slightly towards Sebastian, staring up at him as he advanced closer. His heart pounded so loudly, he was positive the red-eyed man could hear it, too. Sebastian now stood directly in front of him, and Ciel could reach out and touch him.
Blue eyes never wavering from Sebastian's gaze, Ciel slowly lifted a hand up. His fingers almost brushed against Sebastian's cheek when Lizzy bounced back into the room.
"Honestly, Ciel, you'd think that you would be a bit more organized with your things," she complained, then stopped and blinked at the two men in the kitchen. "Um, Ciel?"
Ciel quickly jerked his hand back to his side and took a few steps back. "Sorry. I'll try to organize better from now on."
Sebastian shifted back slightly, putting even more distance between them. "If you two have settled on the dishes, then I think I'll take my leave now." He cursed himself for letting himself care; to believe that for a moment, Ciel cared as well.
But that was all a thing of the past. Ciel's future wasn't with Sebastian; it was with his bubbly, very much so female fiance. Once the wedding was over, all ties with Ciel would be cut once more, and the younger male would be out of his life again.
"Oh, of course! We don't want to keep you any later." Lizzy crossed over to where they stood and pointed to the two dishes she liked. "These two were especially delicious. What did you think, Ciel?" She asked, turning to her fiance.
Ciel shrugged. "They were fine." Just not his favorite, he knew, and he figured Sebastian knew that, as well. It didn't matter, anyway. This was Lizzy's wedding, her dream day. She was going to plan out every last detail how she wanted it, and no one could dissuade her otherwise.
Sebastian sported a small frown as he wrote down the choices, but decided to stay silent in the end. It wasn't his wedding, and if Ciel didn't want to speak up for himself, then there was nothing he could do about it. This was the path that Ciel had chosen for himself, and sadly, it was something that Sebastian would have to deal with.
"I'll add these two dishes onto the menu," Sebastian said and gathered up the pieces of paper, putting them in his bag. "I'll be in touch later for the rest of the dinner. Have a good night."
"You, too," Lizzy said as she and Ciel walked Sebastian to the door. She looped her arm around Ciel's and leaned her head against his shoulder.
Ciel glanced down at her, then averted his gaze. His eyes grazed over Sebastian's face, but he couldn't distinguish what his expression was; he was too far away. After he watched Sebastian's car pull away, he turned his attention to getting Lizzy to leave so he could be alone.
Memories of years long past were running through his mind, and he knew it would be best if Lizzy wasn't there. Finally, after much whining and pleas to stay the night, she dejectedly left.
Ciel leaned heavily against the door, running a hand down his face. These next few months were going to be absolute torture for him.
