Now we're in present time! Set roughly two years after chapter one- give or take several months.
Disclaimer:
I own nothing but my OC(s), and the idea for this plot. Everything related to Black Butler/Kuroshitsuji belongs to Yana Toboso.
The Demons Inside
III.
Suffering as a Servant
When he had agreed to the contract two years ago, he really should have been a bit more careful about accepting the brat's demands. Selfish, indulgent, snarky even. It really should not have been possible for the brat to dive into those habits so quickly after all of the trauma he'd been through. Within the first three months, he'd developed a hot temper. Granted, his cooking had been seriously lacking, even he himself could admit to that. But the chores, the housework, the little snot would nitpick at the most microscopic speck of dust.
Surprisingly, even after two years, they were still residing at Dr. Dalles's private flat. Yes, an entire living space, with plenty of room for all four of them.
And guess who was stuck looking after the place, keeping it immaculate, as per the demands (and assurance to his aunt that, since she was kind enough to let accommodate them, the least they could do was pitch in and help keep the place up and going)…
That's right, the hired guard. Now posing, and expected to play the part of…a butler. Well, he always did enjoy a challenge. But housework and cooking? He never thought he'd be subjected to stoop so low.
But when he wasn't feeling an artery clog at the insufferable demands and wants of the child, he took time to wonder why Ciel had not insisted on hurrying the process of reconstructing his family's manor. He'd tried inquiring the boy a few times, but each time Ciel rebutted him with snide remarks. Such a fickle tyke.
"It's nearing ten in the morning." Tanaka approached the young man, chuckling into his wrinkled knuckles when he started.
"Is that so?" He looked to the pocket watch, the same one he'd seen Tanaka use upon their first meeting. Now that Ciel's game plan required him to act as the new head butler, the old man had placed its care and ownership to him. But, the old steward had been incredibly helpful in the early stages. He was patient, and guided the new servant in the ways of being a good butler, and what the job actually entailed. He'd never admit it aloud just how much, but he was appreciative of the guidance. "Indeed you are correct. My, the time has gone by without me this morning."
Tanaka nodded, smiling. "It's been a slow Saturday. But that doesn't mean we can slack off. Madame Red has plans for all of us today, so hurry on and wake the young master, Sebastian."
"Indeed."
Ah yes, that name. 'Sebastian Michaelis.' A faux name for a faux being. How appropriate, and all thanks to little Lord Phantomhive. What was uncalled for, was the first name deriving from Ciel's dog that had been lost in the fire.
He'd just have to grin and bear with it, though. He'd already made the deal.
He shook his head, picking up a silver tray- set already with a light breakfast and steeping earl grey tea. Thoughts like that would get him nowhere, and as his schedule was already leaning more towards unpleasant, he didn't need to add another reason as to why it would be less than ideal.
Making his way down one of the shallow halls, Crow perched the tray to his hip with one hand, using the other to knock at Ciel's temporary room. "Master Ciel, it is time to wake up."
He heard a faint groan of protest, taking that as his cue to enter. The door opened with the smallest of squeaks from its hinges. He made his way in long strides, placing the tray on the nightstand beside the queen-size guest bed. A small lump buried in all blanketing layers shifted with another groan.
He found that amusing. Crow held back his simpers at the child's whining, moving to open the curtains and blinds. It was partly sunny, with a fifty-fifty chance for storms later on in the day. "I apologize, young master. But we have a busy day ahead, and it would be best if we could get you ready soon."
By that point, the now-twelve year old scowled up at his protector-and-servant. Although the look really resembled more of a pout. 'Sebastian' chuckled, shaking his head at the deepening frown while he poured the brat a cup of tea.
Ciel huffed. "What's on the menu today, Sebastian?"
"A cup of earl grey for a much needed wake up call," the butler spoke lightly. "And a small scone. We will be taking lunch in town, today. It will be a much needed break between Madame Red's excursions today."
He knew the brat had completely disregarded everything else he had said after the word "scone". He shook his head, going to one of the dressers and began rummaging through their contents. "You must be quick about your late-morning treat. You still need a shower, young master. Your aunt expects us to be ready to leave in roughly one hour."
Ciel was frowning at his back, even as he munched on his scone. Subconsciously, as he mulled over how the orange peel in it had really added a tasty tang, his right hand had begun to creep up to the bottom of his right eye.
Sebastian looked up, seeing the boy's softening frown and distancing gaze. "Are you alright, Master Ciel? Is your eye bothering you?"
The boy snapped out of his trance. "Of course not!" He hissed.
Lies.
He had lost the majority of his sight in his left eye. His vision was still partial, but much poorer than it had been, to the point he had taken to putting bandages or an eye patch over it. The imbalance of vision between the eyes was enough to make him suffer constant headaches. And so far, it appeared eye surgery was not a fix.
Sebastian nodded hesitantly, placing the clothes he had gathered in a neat stack at the foot of Ciel's bed. "Well then, I will take my leave now."
Errands turned out to be more like redoing her entire wardrobe, when it came to Angelina's shopping excursions. Not only was she shopping for herself this go-round, but she was purchasing enough clothes to last Ciel through the late summer, entirety of winter, and should he not endure a growth spurt, the beginning of spring. She'd even gone out of her way to buy both servants new attire- very upper class, and very pricey.
"Think nothing of it!" Angelina insisted at Tanaka's light reprimanding. "You're as good as family. And every man deserves some nice clothing for when he has the opportunity to go out for a night on the town."
"You humble us," Sebastian would have given her an acknowledging bow out of respect, as was proper etiquette of his servant's status. But he couldn't. Because he was the only one capable of carrying her multitudes of boxes and bags. So he was stuck, as she had dragged the lot of them to her hairdresser. Tanaka, being the aged gentleman he was, had tried to coax the red lady into allowing him to help out. But she only laughed, telling him he shouldn't strain himself.
And now, because the old man was off the hook, he sweet-talked Madam Red into letting him poke in at the bookshop across the street.
That bastard…
"Just set those down there, Sebastian." Angelina was at the counter, chatting it up with a young worker, who was looking over their bookings.
The servant took her up on that offer, placing all twelve bags and five boxes down, strewing them over several of the large chairs scattered around the hair salon's front shop. Exasperatedly, though still cool and composed, he took off his servant's jacket, allowing it lay over the back of a chair he himself took occupancy of. Across from him, already seated and had been since they arrived, was Ciel. The brat was snickering at his expense.
Two can play at that game. Sebastian grinned impishly, tone professional and polite. "Yes? Is something wrong, young master Ciel?"
The brat's face soured quicker than ice melting in Death Valley. Before he could retort back, the sudden loud voice of his guard's newest number one fan squealed in the most horrendous way possible.
"Madam Red, how I've been dying to see you!"
Sebastian's face nearly paled, though he kept it as straight as possible. The little shit across from him, however, was nearing busting a gut as he held in an apparent burst of laughter.
From the back of the shop, a wild, red-haired man came sashaying up to the front. Apparently, he was a good friend of Angelina's. Actually, he didn't quite cover it. The man was a loon, as far Sebastian was concerned. Flamboyant, dressing in a mix of men and women's clothing, obnoxiously loud, and demanding to be recognized as a she.
These were all but minor irritants. The real problem Sebastian had was how adamant his new pursuer had been, for the last two years, whenever he caught wind or sight of him. This nuisance was actually Angelina's hairdresser as well. It had all happened the very first time Sebastian (and Ciel) had been unfortunate enough to be dragged along while on her errands-run, and she'd had a hair appointment scheduled. It was spring. She wanted something fun for her hair. And what better time than when everyone apparently suffered spring fever? To cut the tale short- he'd been nearly sexually assaulted, and had nearly snapped the other's neck.
Since then, the other had been lusting and obsessing after him. Not enough to stalk him. But enough to try and get a rise out of him, with hopes of hot and kinky sex.
Sebastian's skin always crawled. Which was impressive in a horrifying way, because what he had done in his life should bother him much more than the sex-crazed hairdresser.
And speak of the devil… "Bassy! Annnne, you need to let me know when you bring my pumpkin along!"
And there were those arms, wrapped in red as per usual, invading the personal bubble around his neck.
"Oh Grell!" Angelina just laughed. "I'm sorry love; it must have slipped my mind. I thought it was assumed already that he'd be around whenever I'm on my seasonal excursions."
"Indeed, indeed!" More strangling suffocation around his neck. The little brat wasn't helping with his cheeky little grin. The damned red-headed man was trying his last strands of patience, nuzzling his cheek and moving down to his jaw. "Baaassy, my love! Oh how the years have dragged slowly! Your arms not there to protect me, your body not beside me to warm my bed at night…!"
Michaelis forced a grin, a cold-blooded, merciless spread of his thin lips, and slipped out of Grell's grip without so much as a struggle. "Pardonne moi, 'my lady'. But it is most inappropriate to publicly grope anyone, let alone a lowly servant such as me."
"How rude!" But Grell was only more heated in his passion. "But so cold, as expected. You can always set me ablaze with that icy heart of yours, Bassy."
~.:*:.~
The appointment was taking longer than it should, if one were to ask the tense and peevish servant.
It didn't help when Ciel had pestered him for five minutes about his French slip. Finally, he vaguely let slip he'd lived in France at one point. When the brat asked for elaboration, he silenced him with a sharp look. "It would be wise of you to keep out of it, young master."
His head was leaned back, pressing into the wall behind his chair. Above him, a television played, too loudly, but yet hardly heard by the abundant chatter within the salon. Women.
However, one of the women had been vaguely watching the television from the mirror as her stylist continued adding bleach in patterns to her hair (along with watching him, as did the rest of the women on the premise). It was the one flickering her attention three ways, that suddenly let out a gasp, bringing her hands, covered by the plastic drape, to her mouth as she murmured and tsked. Soon enough, the rest caught on.
"I know…! It's such a horrifying thought."
"How terrible!"
"I don't feel safe on these streets anymore, not with heinous crimes like that going on throughout the city."
"You're telling me! My hubby won't even let me run to the store down the street from our house once the sun goes down."
Ah, yes. The sudden outbreak of dead women. All single, all successful in their own right. And they all appeared to be prostitutes. Doesn't this sound familiar; history enjoys repeating itself in the most…humorous of ways and circumstances.
There wasn't a paper or news program who wasn't discussing the serial murders- a sudden outbreak that had been going on for roughly six weeks. And Ciel was following it intensely.Under negotiations of their contract, Crow had been quite surprised that the Phantomhive family was responsible for the organization and order of the underground crime rings throughout England. Tanaka confirming it, made it all the more real and unbelievable. It was systematic network, keeping the balance of law enforcement and criminal activity leveled out. The Phantomhive family had a topside business, an old toy and confections company that been around since the mid-1800's; and it was still running strong. Tanaka had taken over control, until Sebastian could oversee it. When Ciel reached appropriate age, everything would be handed over to him, and he could take the reins as heir.
For now, Ciel's focus was his schooling- both academically and of his family's heritage and duties. He was a quick learner, and whatever happened to him after his parents died and he was kidnapped, had only hardened his heart- making for an excellent merciless ring leader of England's underground. This case current case was on a grand scale, one of which Ciel wanted to see what his two years of education had taught him. He wanted to see how prepared he was for his ultimate goal. All the more interesting. I wonder what this boy is capable of, despite his weak demeanour.
And who was his new servant and guard, to argue with his young master?
Grell hummed forlornly, melodramatic and all. "So tragic! So many beautiful women, wiped off this earth. Only the coldest of hearts, or most passionate, could do such a thing."
Ciel turned to look at the crazed man. "Are you saying you know something, Grell?"
"No more than anyone else," Grell shrugged, snipping more of Angelina's hair into layers. "I can tell you this. Only beneath the surface are people talking. Rumor has it, the murders are lookin' more and more like those old Jack the Ripper cold cases from centuries back."
"Indeed," Anne agreed. "Back at the hospital, there's been nothing but gossip about it. No one knows much, and what they do, it's rather gruesome."
Sebastian noticed the contemplative expression crossing his young master's features. He wanted to know more, now that his curiosity had been piqued.
"So if you're saying someone, hypothetically, wished to learn more, they should look underground?"
Well, the boy wasn't earning any favors by the greying complexion of the women in the salon. Even his aunt seemed to pale. Grell looked at the boy with a fixed and sizzling gaze.
"…Aren't you a little young to be wondering about this…?" Grell spoke carefully.
Ciel shrugged, turning back in his seat to stare at his butler. "Call it mere curiosity."
"What was that, back there?" Anne demanded of her nephew once the four of them sat down for lunch. They had found a small bistro, with an outdoor patio. The weather was still fair, and Anne felt it be best that they take advantage of the nice weather while time permitted.
"Morbid curiosity." Ciel spoke plainly, sipping a cup of tea as if the demanding inquiry were never asked.
Anne was not eased by that response. "Ciel…sweetheart. I know what your family has left behind for you to take up…but don't you think you're going in a little too fast? You're still a child, only twelve. You should be enjoying your adolescence while you still can…"
His one visible eye fixed a sudden glare on the center of her face. "And what would you know? My childhood died on my tenth birthday, and I'm willing to leave it buried there in the past. What matters now, is that I find whoever wronged me, before they strike again elsewhere."
"Ciel…"
He shook his head, taking another sip of tea. "It matters not, think nothing more of it." He paused, looking down into his cup, before looking up to his aunt again. "I'm still curious as to what your friend was speaking of…"
"He was indeed speaking of the underground, young master." Sebastian grinned at the brat, fingers drumming silently around the side of his own cup. "But where, I couldn't begin to tell you. There are so many labyrinths that lead to more mazes in just London alone…"
Anne looked to him skeptically. "…Why would you want to know…?"
"Easy," Sebastian chuckled lazily. "I was hired to be his gun. When he signals the trigger, it is my job to do the dirty work, as per the contract's agreed negotiations."
She frowned at him. "From what you've mentioned, I'd say you could easily find out everything on your own without anyone else's help." A challenge.
"Enough, Aunt Anne." Ciel frowned as he took another sip of tea. "Just as Tanaka agreed to stay on as my concierge of sorts, Sebastian has been added to the staff as my underground shadow. Why not make it easier on all of us, and pass on any information that you can. You're a top surgeon at the Wellington hospital; surely something has to have been leaked. And if you cannot disclose anything to us, then you can point us as to who can. You're nightlife habits had to have landed you several contacts and acquaintances."
Angelina stared at her nephew, perplexed at how grown up he sounded. How much he'd changed…darkened…fallen…
She shook her head, sighing. "Alright, alright. Yes, the underground is crawling with talk right now- but even that won't amount to much. But, there is one place you can try," her eyes shifted, staring directly at Michaelis. "There is pub that doubles as a nightclub, run by a man who doesn't really go by any name. Word has it, that he hears and sees just about everything that goes on underground. Your best chance at getting a meeting with him is this Friday evening. The club is only open Friday and Saturday nights. The pub is open every day, but you will never see him then. It's tricky getting in, and it's damn near impossible meeting with him."
She took a long drink of wine she'd ordered with her lunch. "The place has great beverages. The bouncer is a cutie if you're into rugged men. There are two hostesses, but one of them I rarely see. I've never seen the owner in person myself- very few ever have. But of all the rumours I've heard, the best time to see him is Fridays- late into the night."
Sebastian was intrigued, though he barely showed signs of interest. That was the easiest bit about this butler position he was forced to take on; not showing emotion or letting on as to what he was thinking. "Pray tell, what is this establishment called?"
Madam Red downed the last of her wine before she made to respond. "'The Parlour'."
Author's Endnote:
If you think we're going right to the nightclub, you're mistaken~
(Also- yes, Sebastian says "Madame" rather than "Madam". I'm sure y'all can figure out why...)
~ AoZ
