I don't feel the best about this chapter, and I may end up re-writing it in the future. I hope it makes sense.
Warnings: Sebaciel starts here, although not NSFW.
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"Sebastian!" Ciel woke screaming, hands clutching at his bedsheets as he writhed within their cumbersome folds. He did not often dream as a demon, but the energy of being around humans once more seemed to tap into his former self and awaken old wounds. As such, Ciel's sleep had been wrought with havoc and fear: alway his parents, always their death, and never being able to save them. Tonight, a new element had been added: Ciel was also engulfed in flames, his flesh melting away but the sweet release of death never finding him.
"Sebastian!" Ciel hissed once more, eyes brimming with tears and face dripping with sweat. He gasped in shaky breaths, searching the room for any presence. He could hear nothing outside of his own ragged breathing, punctuated by soft whimpers. "He left me." The child demon wailed to himself as he buried his face into his pillow and remembered the period in which Sebastian had broken their contract, shortly before Sebastian's altercation with Ash. Ciel, though he wouldn't openly admit it, couldn't blame the demon for escaping tonight; this town was filled to the brim with souls, and Ciel would happily start his own contract in a moment if he had been deposited here as a full-fledged demon. He was not afraid to be on his own as a demon, but he knew nothing of this new world and it made him feel very alone.
"Now, why on Earth would I do such a thing?" Ciel's head shot up at the smooth voice, Sebastian propped against the frame of the room's open French doors. Gossamer blue curtains wavered in the chill breeze of the night, ruffling Sebastian's unkempt bangs and cooling the sweat upon Ciel's skin. He shivered, but his eyes became dangerous with anger.
"Where did you go, why did you leave me? You damned idiot, what if something had happened to me?" Ciel shouted from his position on the bed, Sebastian's stoic gaze never faltering at the young demon's words. Slowly, the elder pushed himself from the frame and toward the bed, doors clicking shut quietly as he smoothed damp tendril's from Ciel's slick forehead.
"Nothing did happen; you are still safe in this bed. I needed to hunt, young master. It has been a very long while since I have been able to eat." Ciel quickly looked away from the piercing gaze, a sliver of guilt running through him. Being around people made him realize the gnawing hunger within his own stomach; Sebastian had been hungry even before they'd made the contract, with Ciel as the meal the older had deserved. Over one hundred years later and still without food, Ciel knew that he could not begrudge his butler for leaving to feed. Sebastian seemed to be able to read what Ciel was thinking, pale hand moving to cup the boy's face. "You know I will never leave you, Boccan." Ciel nodded against the cool flesh, sighing.
"Being back around this human engery….I had a nightmare, Sebastian." He kept his gaze averted from the crimson orbs peering down at him, Ciel feeling stupid and vulnerable as he confessed his fear. "I felt so alone."
"Do you still feel alone?" The quiet response came. Ciel nodded again, not moving as Sebastian crawled onto the bed, gracefully kicking his shoes off before sitting against the headboard and pulling the younger against him. Ciel sighed, then stiffened as he smelled the acrid mixture of smoke and perfume upon his butler's clothes.
"How was your hunt? What is it like out there, Sebastian?" The aforementioned demon sighed, wondering how much he should divulge to the young demon. Ciel knew the town was full of sinners, but he was still from a different time and did not have any of the knowledge Sebastian had gleaned. He thought for a moment before responding.
"While there are many to choose from, Bocchan, the pickings of this town are not ripe. The young woman I found was a local, but she was the meagre 'prize' among five thousand or so. This is not to say that all endeavors will be so difficult, but finding a soul worthy of your tastes will not be as simple as it once was." There was no sarcasm in Sebastian's voice, merely fact. Ciel reclined his head, eyes flashing violet for a moment as he made eye contact with his butler.
"And did she sate you?" Sebastian could not help but smirk, a chuckle vibrating in his throat.
"So possessive, my young master. Do you fear that a ripe soul will push me to leave you?" Ciel looked away quickly, scoffing. The idea was not a stranger to him, but he wouldn't ever openly admit his fear to Sebastian.
"Definitely not. We are bound by a contract." Of course, as Ciel could not uphold his end, he wouldn't be surprised if Sebastian left him. For them to have been together as long as they were, even without Ciel's soul on the table, seemed to be some sort of blessing to the young noble. Tense, he shifted away from Sebastian and threw the covers off, stretching before he got out of the bed. "I am rested enough. I would like to see this town for myself."
"Yes, my Lord." Sebastian rose and began to gather an outfit for his master. The night clubs weren't usually closed until 4am. They had plenty of time.
—
The year was still cool enough that Las Vegas wasn't busy, but there were a decent amount of people meandering the Strip when Ciel and Sebastian arrived. Sebastian wanted to start small, having them explore the outside sidewalks and become familiar with the layout before going into casinos and nightclubs. Ciel did not argue, staying close to his butler as they dodged drunken groups of men and pornographic card-flickers. All souls were dark, tainted with their slimy jobs or slimier personalities. Most were drunks, many were tiddly girls in short skirts who pawed and winked at Sebastian, and few were merely tourists wanting to take in the evening glow of LED screens. Ciel shook his head; how did the world get so lecherous? He could barely look at the girls, so immodest were they compared to the days of his former life. The Americans, on a whole, spoke in loud tones and slurred their words with drink. The men were casual, beyond anything Ciel had ever known, and too men of them were smelly in the way of not having bathed.
"Are you alright?" Sebastian stopped them before a lake, tiny replica of the Eiffle Tower across the way making a mockery of France. Ciel nodded, though his stomach grumbled. He couldn't look up at Sebastian, too embarrassed; he would never willingly hunt one of the slobs walking around. "Wait here." Sebastian instructed, and Ciel nodded slowly as he stood against the railing surrounding the lake. He could hear music starting, a song he definitely did not recognize, but found pleasant nonetheless. Suddenly, jets of water erupted from the lake. Ciel's mouth couldn't help but drop in astonishment, the streams dancing around and pulsating in time with the music that was playing. Ciel couldn't tear his eyes away as he watched the water show, enraptured by the sight. It was truly a feat to behold!
Once it ended, Ciel clapped politely with the other handful of onlookers before he turned around to look for Sebastian. It wasn't long before the older demon walked swiftly up to him, crushing their lips together.
Ciel started to give a shout, and felt as Sebastian took the opportunity to push something searing hot and pulsing into his small mouth. He naturally bit down on it, deliciously thick liquid pouring out and coating his throat as he swallowed greedily. Sebastian had just French-kissed him a soul.
"I'm sorry, young master." Sebastian gave a contrite bow as he spoke, but his eye shone with something Ciel couldn't quite place. "I wasn't sure how else to deliver the soul to you." Ciel nodded, breathless as he focused on the taste within his mouth. He wasn't full, exactly, but he felt something akin to being sated and that was enough.
He was enraged.
"How could you do this, how could you get the soul for me when I am here to hunt for myself?" Sebastian quickly clamped a hand over the younger's mouth, Ciel too loud for his liking.
"Bocchan, this is a new environment and it will be your first hunt. Forgive me for my insolence, but I felt it better if I could obtain the soul for you. You want the first time to be in a quiet area, and this is not quiet enough." Sebastian gestured to the scatter of tourists; he failed to mention that he also wanted to enjoy watching his master during the fountain show. Ciel nodded, but frowned.
"Take me home, then. We are done for the night."
The young noble frowned the whole of the trip, despite his satiated stomach. He wanted to make his own kill, and it wouldn't do for Sebastian to continue babying him.
It also wouldn't do if he continued to kiss his butler…no matter the reason.