A/N: Just found out snakes listen through vibrations hitting their jaw. I thought that was too cool. I also assume any abilities Sebastian has, Claude would have, like knowing foreign languages and being able to manhandle Finnian if he wanted. The first part of the story is a little sappy sweet, but the second part takes a darker turn.
Mellow Candle, part 4
Finny jerked awake and realized someone was next to him, holding him. He stilled his body and let his eyes get used to the dim, banked fireplace light. For a moment he thought it was Bard with him, because they'd shared beds for the heat when the winter got too cold over the last two years, but Bard didn't hold him like this. The body was shorter and had a slighter frame than the American chef. Besides, Bard and he had always slept back-to-back with each other.
He realized it was Snake, and he felt his face flush just as a clock struck three in the morning. Sharing a bed with Bardroy felt vastly different than sharing a bed with Snake. Finny started to puzzle out why it felt different, but he couldn't quite understand it.
The most he could figure was that Bard felt absolutely safe; with Snake, though, there was something not spoken between them. He knew where he stood with Bard and his place in his older friend's life. With Snake, he had no clue where he would fit in, so this intimacy made him feel a little uneasy.
He peaked up his head from the fluffy pillows and realized he was in a strange room. It came to him; he was in Trancy House, and it had started snowing outside. He heard Snake moan, draw him back down, and murmur, "Finny, are you okay?"
Finny settled back down on the bed and turned on his side so he could meet Snake's glowing, amber eyes. He smiled and whispered, "I'm fine. I just felt a little confused."
Finny realized they were both under several linsey-woolsey blankets, so it was a very warm, scratchy barrier to the room's cool temperature. Finny felt his temperature rise even more, though, when he realized he and Snake were in the their skivvies with their bodies close together.
"I was worried. You weren't speaking English before you fell asleep and I wasn't sure if you were hurt from Count Trancy. Does your throat hurt?"
"No, not at all. It takes a lot for me to feel pain. I was shocked more than anything."
"It's because of what those people did to you?"
"Die Wissenschaftler? They changed me in several ways. One of the things they did was make me tough, tough enough to ignore a lot of pain. But there was something more. The main thing they did to me is...their main thing was to make me... what makes me really different..."
Snake held Finny closer, still, and said softly, "If you aren't ready to talk..."
"No! I need to," Finnian said glumly. "Maybe you haven't noticed what I can lift and carry around, or how fast I can run?"
Snake was typically busy when the gardener was at work, but he had heard one or two strange things about the younger boy. There was one morning Bard kept bellowing for Finny to take the old wood stove to the scrap man in town. Snake had wondered why the ex-solider wasn't going to help toss out the cast iron stove, and why others weren't called to help Finny. Normally, it would have been put on a cart by five burly men and driven into town to the scrap man.
Snake had been called to carry a letter to the Midford household before he could watch how such a skinny boy could manage something like that by himself, so that mystery wasn't solved. But from what he understood, Finny had ran the entire 400 pound thing miles into town with no help, barehanded, no cart. There were a few other strange things like that he'd noticed, too.
"They changed me. They gave me shots and it changed my body over time. It made me very strong and fast and tough. I don't know why they changed me, but it hurt. I was kept locked away in a cell, every day, apart from others. When Sebastian rescued me, it was the best day I can remember. I could be outside for once."
"It really happened?"
Finnian showed Snake his left forearm and all the track marks. "I have more. All over my body."
"I didn't realize. Even when I was undressing you tonight. I tried to respect you, so I kept my eyes down."
"Then you didn't see it?"
"See what?" Snake asked.
Finnian rolled over on his other side so his back was now to Snake. He wrapped his arms across his stomach and waited for disgust. None came. Instead, he felt Snake's arm around his waist and Snake pressing his body against his back.
"That thing on your neck? Don't worry about it. You're very beautiful, and that marking doesn't change that."
Finnian shivered and said, "I don't even know if I ever had a real name or not. I was only known by that letter and numbers until Master Ciel gave me a real name a little over two years ago."
"You have a name, now. Enjoy it. It suits you well." They were silent for several long moments, then Snake said, "I'm so sorry I didn't think we could understand one another. I misjudged you. Please forgive me."
"Of course! I'm sorry I was so secretive with you," Finny said quietly and pressed his back firmer against Snake's chest and hips. He was just enjoying contact with another living being. It just felt so good to touch another person. Growing up, he was never touched with kindness or in friendship.
Finny shivered when Snake pressed his lips tentatively against the side of his neck. He slowly tilted his head and hoped Snake would take the invitation to his bared neck. Snake did gently press his lips to Finny's pulse point.
"You know I'm venomous. We can't share certain kinds of kisses. That is... if you want my kisses." Finny, even as naive as he was, could tell Snake was nervous. Maybe he was nervous of rejection, too?
"I was given a lot of poisons after certain shots, so don't be afraid. I'm not. I want to feel you kiss me," Finny pleaded, then he felt extremely shy, suddenly. This was like a dream. This was truly someone, besides Bard and Mey-rin, he could understand and would understand him!
Finnian rolled over again and put his arms around Snake's neck. "Please kiss me."
Snake seemed to hesitate, but then slowly pressed a kiss on Finny's lips. Finny relaxed and let his mouth be opened by Snake's lips. Snake moved his tongue in. Finny learned how to return the kiss, and this was explosive. His stomach felt as if it were melting. This kiss felt wonderful.
Snake broke it off and Finny panted for a few seconds. Finny let Snake's tongue run up the hollow of his throat. "You smell so good. So sweet."
Finny's eyes popped open wide and his head cocked to the side in confusion. "Hun?"
"I smell with my tongue. You aren't the only one who's different, you know," Snake said, with a timid smile, and then he gently nudged Finny onto his back.
Finny felt his bare legs rubbing against Snake's. He tried to repress his nervousness as Snake pressed more kisses to his neck, but something shattered this moment when Snake's legs parted Finny's and then he settled on top, pinning Finny to the bed. Snake started to moved in a blissful rhythm against Finny's body, but suddenly, everything turned sticky and red in Finny's world.
"Please stop," Finny pleaded and choked, feeling his chest seize up. Snake froze and moved carefully off of Finny. Finny appreciated how Snake made a safe distance very carefully between them. It was no more than six inches he moved, but Finny was able to feel in control again.
"I'm so sorry if I hurt you. I never meant to," Snake said, looking so very worried.
"No! It wasn't you. It was me." Finny felt his chest constrict again. How to tell Snake, on top of everything, he'd been molested four months ago by Sir Garner? He really, really liked Snake, but he just wasn't ready for that level of "friendship" yet. At least, not until he sorted out some of his feelings. Finny said, "I haven't gone this far, so I'm shy."
"Oh. I understand that, says Wilde," Snake said, with the hint of a smile.
"What! He's not here spying, is he!" Finny said, bolting up on the bed.
Snake chuckled, and then shook his head. "No, they're all at home. I was just teasing you."
Finny almost got miffed, at first, but then began to laugh at the joke pulled on him. He smiled at Snake and said, "That's the first time I've seen you really smile and tease!"
"I normally don't, but you needed it."
"Could we just hold each other? If you don't want to, or want me to go to another bed..." Finny asked, shyly.
"It's okay. Come here," Snake said and took Finny gingerly in his arms. "I won't put my hands anywhere you don't want them." Snake then said, darkly, "I know how that feels, and it feels awful. So just rest, Finny, and know I'll respect your space."
Finny eased himself into Snake's arms, but then felt dismal about what Snake had just said. Didn't that imply Snake'd been molested at some point?
Snake woke up sore, realizing he'd been wrapped around Finny all night, not something his body was used to. Finny was still in a deep sleep.
He climbed out of bed, careful to not wake Finny, and quickly got to the fireplace so he could get it going again. He pushed at the bank and saw embers. He got the fire going again with the wood on the hearth and a striker from the mantle. Snake had no choice. He had to either stay right by the fire, or run over to the bed and cuddle next to Finny.
The room was as cold as ice. Outside of those two spots, Snake knew he could fall into hibernation. He just couldn't do that to Finny, especially, here at Trancy House.
He chose to stay by the fire and let Finny have his space. Finny may have a lot of strength and such, but Snake still felt protective over the younger teen. Finny, for all of his sweetness, was just so gullible. Snake had used to hold that trait in contempt. He never understood it until he met Finny. It was what made Finny's tender heart kind to anyone: good, bad, or ugly.
Finny's heart was so large, and it wasn't his fault he never saw the outside world beyond two years ago and wasn't more worldly. Snake clenched his fists in frustration. That kind, beautiful, generous heart was going to get torn apart if Finny kept being like this out in the world. Snake decided Finny needed one of two things: he needed to get jaded, or he needed to get a keeper.
Snake smiled slowly and started some tea on the fireplace. He decided he was going to become Finnian's keeper, but he swore he'd treat Finny like gold. He'd never raise a hand to him and try to always speak kindly towards him.
Snake planned on asking Finny if they could be "special friends" when they got back home. He missed the companionship he used to have with his circus mates. Not that he had "special friends" there, but, still, he missed the deep camaraderie and needed it. His hopes were all pinned on Finny's acceptance. He really wanted to start courting him the minute they got back to the Phantomhive manner.
All the Phantomhive servants had been welcoming. Sometimes they hadn't cared for his friends, but they were different like him. It really wasn't that much of a transition from circus attraction to footman, but there was a deeper camaraderie he was starting to desire. He'd never felt so drawn to someone before he'd met Finny.
The room slowly warmed up. Eventually, it was fine for Snake to get back into his formal tailcoat and trousers after a cursory wash in the basin. As he finished dressing, Finny woke up and gave him a bright, but drowsy, smile.
"Good morning," Finny said and tossed aside the blankets. He washed his face in the cold water-basin and threw on his dressier outfit quickly. "How are you?"
"I'm fine. I figured we'd leave right away. I want to get back to my friends." Snake shared the hot tea, and they quietly enjoyed it for a few moments. They both finished warming up, and then Snake felt his stomach growl. "I'm getting hungry."
"I heard Sebastian was planning on making croissants. Mmmm... so buttery!"
"You really like food," Snake observed. They left the servant's quarters, almost running into the triplets. Once again, Snake had his same flare of dislike towards them. They had no smell and no heat. They were NOT natural in any way. It was a lot like when he was around Pluto, only Pluto put out too much heat.
He put himself between Finny and the triplets, giving them a glare. The three of them glared back, whispered among each other, and then started to walked on. They were cheating with their whispers, so Snake did the one thing that gave him an advantage over that. He knelt on one knee, took off his white gloves, and pressed his left hand onto the floor. He put his right fingertips on his his jaw. He could now hear them through the vibrations on the floor.
"Daft, scaly-boy. Our bratty master hates him," one whispered. "Why have such a creepy footman? At least he left his pets at home."
"I don't blame the bratty master one bit. Too bad the other one isn't the footman. He's easier on the eyes, but really dumb," the second one whispered.
"True that. That gardener looks as stupid as they come. The footman looks like he knows something," the third one whispered. Then they looked shocked and all three gave Snake narrowed eyes.
The triplets paused and gave a harsher glare. Snake had been found out, so he stood and nodded with a meaningful glare back at them as he pulled his formal, white gloves on. Snake said, "Don't cross me. I have plenty of ways around you three."
"Let's not have any bickering between the servants of Phantomhive and Trancy. Now, now, it looks like both of you Phantomhive servants will be here for a while. You may as well work off your room and board."
Snake and Finny both swirled to look at the butler who had snuck up on them. Finny was the one that politely, hands clasped at his chest, walked up to Claude with wide-eyed confusion. "Sir, we were planning to leave now."
"Impossible," Claude said and walked over to a curtain in the hallway. He drew it back and revealed a major blizzard. There were small hills of snow, and the sky was almost black. Claude pushed up his glasses and gave them a hollow gaze. "You're Trancy House servants for the foreseeable future. Get used to the idea. And I would recommend you both learn the rules quickly. Young Master Alois is one to dole out punishments rather quickly and harshly."
Finny stood up to Claude, no fear there, to Snake's amazement. "We are Phantomhive servants! Not Trancy House servants!" Finny shook his head vigorously. Then he burst out with something akin to sorrow, "I will never serve anyone but Master Ciel! He would never cast me off, so I'll be loyal to him! No matter what!"
Claude gave Finnian a resounding slap. Snake's stomach twisted and his fists clenched. He noticed Finny let the slap roll off and he just looked surprised more than anything. Claude, looked surprised, too. But then his expression grew dark.
Claude smacked Finny again, this time with a lot of force. Snake was shocked to see Finny stumble. At first, Snake figured Finny was too shocked at the action and not really hurt. If Alois didn't hurt Finny yesterday, he shouldn't be hurt by Claude today. Then again, Snake was surprised to see a bruise was growing across Finnian's left cheek and a little blood on his lip.
Snake now knew there was more to Claude, maybe something like the triplets, only, he couldn't pick it up! Claude had scent and heat, but Finny should not be bruised by a simple slap. He decided to get them out of Trancy House as soon as possible and never let Finny come here with him again.
Finny's eyes emptied of everything. The gardener grew meek, his shoulders slumped, and he whispered, "Es tut mir leid. Ich werde gehorchen."
Claude's expression grew haughty. He turned to Snake and gave a smirk. "You will do as I say or suffer at Master Alois' dictates. Be prudent, like your fellow servant. Now, I have some tasks to keep you both busy and out of Master Alois' hair."
Snake wrapped his arms around Finny quickly, because he knew they needed to have peace with Trancy House for a while. Finnian, rather than fight Snake, settled in his arms and looked up at him. Snake just nodded and gradually let him go when he felt Finny's tension had left.
"Good," Claude said, looking down his nose at them. "Go clean the cellars. Just put the trash out back behind the the old kitchen cabin in the back yard. It will be dealt with later."
"How will we know what's trash?" Finny asked, Snake could tell he was honestly baffled on how to do the job. The dark butler walked over to Finnian and leaned down as if he were a spider eying a moth caught in his web.
Claude caressed Finny's jaw, raising a deep blush from the gardener. Snake felt jealousy as the man leaned close to Finny's ear and whispered, "Nothing is sacred. Toss it all. It was all the old Count Trancy's things that offends Master Alois. Can you manage the task I set you? You don't seem like a typical gardener, but I can imagine you'll manage just fine."
"I'll do my part. I wouldn't want anyone to think less of Phantomhive servants. I'll have it done."
Claude then gave several slow, gentle strokes to Finny's hair. "Das ist ein guter Junge. Jetzt halten aus den Augen des jungen Herrn, und alles wird gut."
As Claude walked out with the triplets in tow, he gave the finally warning to Finnian, "You remind Master Alois of some bad times. He has a lot of anger, and he won't restrain himself much longer. He will unleash his wrath on you if he sees you. Out of sight, out of mind."
"Yes, sir," Finny mumbled. He and Snake then went to go find the cellar.
Snake finally saw Finny's strength first hand, but only after Snake confirmed there was no one watching. Finny took up huge crates, with no effort, full of cast iron items and carried them out as if they were nothing.
Snake, after an hour of this, took Finny aside and sat him down in a corner. He put an arm around the younger boy and said, "Don't go so fast. I know you're trying to make Phantomhive look good, but you'll tip your hand too much if you keep going at this rate. Move slower. Only carry half of what you're able. To protect the Phantomhive estate, you must hide your abilities. Do you understand?"
"You didn't do that so well this morning," Finny pointed out, with a baffled expression.
"I know. I made a mistake. Still, they know not to cross me now. I want them to know that so they know not to hurt you."
Finny tried smiling. "We'll be fine. I'll work slower, and we won't have to worry about them much longer."
Snake then paused and looked down. Finny asked, "What's wrong?"
"Two snakes. Hibernating under this flag stone. Black snakes. They feed off of spiders. No wonder they live here, but still. It's getting to be too cold them. Please help me rescue them."
"Stand back," Finny said. He slipped his fingers under the gap between flagstones and easily lifted. Sure enough, two snakes lay there, coiled, and fast asleep. "Let me hold them, since I'm warmer. Will they attack, though?"
"They have no venom."
"I wasn't afraid of that, I was afraid they'd be scared of me," Finny explained.
"Don't worry. When they wake up, I'll explain everything to them."
Finny then carefully picked them up and tucked them into his shirt. "Oh... they ARE cold!"
Snake nodded. "Give them a while. When they wake, I'll take them."
They continued the task Claude had assigned. By the end of the day, Snake had two more friends: Longfellow and Wadsworth.
To be continued.
A/N:
Die Wissenschaftler = The scientists
Es tut mir leid. Ich werde gehorchen. = I'm so sorry. I'll obey.
Das ist ein guter Junge. Jetzt halten aus den Augen der jungen Graf und alles wird gut. = That's a good boy. Now keep out of the eyes of the young master, and everything will be fine.