"How are you feeling today?" The healer asked as he began examining Sebastian.
"At the present time, I feel fine. Ciel has seen to that." Sebastian thought for a moment.
"Would you mind checking on him before you leave today, for my own peace of mind?"
"Of course I will, has he been feeling ill as well?"
"Ciel has been providing me with more than the minimum amount required, as a result he's been having some dizziness and fatigue."
"How much exactly?" The healer asked.
"When my pain is too much,he has been giving me two to three in a row so that I may rest easily."
"I'm -I'm sorry,two to three at a time?" The healer asked in astonishment.
"Yes." Sebastian answered.
"You must mean a lot to him. Is he taking the fluids I've given?"
"Yes, as far as I know every time he provides a feeding."
"Good. When we're done here, I'll talk with him. I'm impressed that he can manage, he hasn't said anything about pain or feeling faint at all?"
"Every once in a while he will tell me that he feels dizzy and need to sit down."
"Nothing else?"
"Not that I've noticed."
"Alright, when you get those bad pains, how bad are they exactly?"
"The worst I've ever felt. Luckily, Ciel doesn't allow it to continue for long. He will give me as much as I need to rest comfortably."
"My advice to you my prince, if I may offer it, Keep him. You will find so few that will go beyond one goblet no more than thrice a day. Truly you are fortunate to have such a demon in your life."
"Yes,Ciel is very special. I will never be able to repay him for his gift. " the Healer smirked.
"I've known you since you were born, never in all these years have I heard you speak so highly of anyone, Cynna included. Ciel does seem to think the world of you. He's very unique as far as demons go,even the ones who were once human."
"My Ciel is at my side always, he has a very good bedside manner most of the time whether he admits it or not." Sebastian was beginning to feel sick again, he closed his eyes and sighed.
"This is why starving yourself isn't advisable. I can get Ciel for you and -"
"I'm right here." Ciel announced approaching the bed, goblet already in hand.
He handed it to the older demon.
"How did you -"
"I had a feeling." Sebastian emptied the goblet slowly and placed it on the night stand.
"Thank you." Ciel took Sebastian's hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.
"Since you're here love, I would appreciate it if you allowed the healer to have a look at you as well." He requested.
"Sebastian, I told you, I'm fine and you don't have to worry about me."
"As I mentioned many times before, I will always worry about you,please,for me?" The older demon pleaded. "I would feel so much better."
"Fine,but I've told you that I'm fine." Ciel replied.
"Ciel, if you would just sit down on the other side of the bed, I'll get started and be done before long." Ciel complied and the healer began.
"have you been feeling alright?" He asked
"For the most part."
"Good, I've been told that you have been offering two to three goblets at times how do you feel after that?"
"really tired." Ciel said.
"anything else?" The young demon thought about his answer.
"Ciel, it's important to me that you tell him everything, please don't hesitate because you worry that it might upset me."
"I feel dizzy,and drained after the third one." Sebastian felt a rush of guilt. He knew it could have been avoided.
"have you been having any pain or fainting?"
"No."
"He nearly did the other day." Sebastian added.
"Nearly doesn't count." Ciel replied.
"It does when it's a matter of keeping you from -"
"Let's not argue, you need to rest and Ciel, I think that to give him more than one in the times he needs it most is a very good thing to do, however. If you're going to do that, you will need to take more of the fluids."
"How is it good if it makes him-"
"Quiet Sebastian." Ciel ordered.
"You no longer get to say that and certainly not if you're to be ill tending to me."
"Will you tell him I'm going to be fine?" Ciel asked becoming irritated.
"He'll be alright, just be careful, no more than three at a time, wait until the dizziness goes away before giving taking the fluids, if you give three, take four. That will cut back on this feeling. Also Ciel, if you feel like you need it, lie down for a while."
"I have been."
"Good. I'll leave a few more bottles, if you get low, send Cynna to me and I will get it for you, other than that, I think you're both doing very well. Sebastian has a way to go yet, but keep taking care of each other and I shall return to check on you in a week. If you need anything before then, send for me."
"We will." Ciel promised as he watched the healer leave.
He turned to Sebastian who had pushed himself into a sitting position with a great deal of difficulty.
"You don't trust me." Ciel stated without looking at Sebastian.
"I trust you with my life, your life however I have my doubts."
"What's that supposed to mean?" The anger was clear.
"It means that if I had not asked you to tell him everything, you would not have done least not in my presence. I don't want you to hide these things, if something happened to you Ciel, It would break me. I couldn't go on, you know this. Shielding me from your situation is never a good idea. If you are ill, say so. I will take care of you and give you whatever you need. I can't do that for you if you are not honest with me. I do understand your reason but please try not to protect me, it is and always will be my responsibility, my privilege to protect you from harm, not the other way around." Sebastian explained softly.
"You've done your job, I'm not your responsibility anymore, isn't that why you sent your friends to me?"
"I sent them because you refused to allow me to care for you myself. You are not a chore Ciel, I get a sense of fulfillment, happiness in caring for you. My role is your protector."
"It's not, I've learned to be more independent Sebastian, all this time on my own, you don't have to do that anymore." Sebastian's crimson eyes filled with sadness at the demon's words.
"You no longer need me." He said he wanted to be happy for Ciel.
Suddenly, Ciel moved closer and kissed him, Sebastian wrapped his arms around the younger demon lovingly. Once the kiss ended, Ciel rested his forehead against Sebastian's.
"I'll always need you to be in my life. There won't ever be a single day that i don't want you with me. But I'm not human anymore, I'm not made of glass, I won't be broken so easily. I can take care of myself, that should take some of the pressure off you."
"So you can care for yourself you say, perhaps that's true but my darling Ciel, you still cannot button your shirt properly." Sebastian chuckled before fixing them.
"There, see I told I'd always need you." Ciel smiled.
"I love you so much Ciel, more than you will ever know. I know I say it often but I feel as though I can never say it enough."
"I love you too." Ciel leaned into Sebastian and placed his head on his chest. Sebastian held him close. Sebastian had been surprised that Ciel liked to be held, as the young master, Ciel had been quite different. Sebastian had loved the human, he loved the demon who now lay in his arms. Nothing would ever take his Ciel from him again, he could feel it in his heart.