Title: Heat
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Characters.
Warning: This story deals with gender bender and is slightly au, possibly even ooc for some of the characters.
Pairing: Claude x Sebastian
Chapter 7.
Claude heard Ciel Phantomhive's heated demand, inwardly sighing, though he did not look back over at the boy, concentrating mostly on Sebastian. "I told you what happened to him, Lord Phantomhive," he replied, careful to keep the sharp edge out of his voice, holding Sebastian within his arms carefully. "Did you think that Timber could do what he did with him dressed?"
"Then why not dress him again after you stopped them?" Ciel was embarrassed at seeing Sebastian like this, never mind how often his contracted demon had seen him without his clothes. He looked away, a slight blush on his face; he'd never even seen another person naked before.
"Time was of the essence. Sebastian was no longer conscious and I thought it more important to get him somewhere safe than to take time dressing him again. His clothes are over on the chair against the wall. When he is conscious and healed, they're ready for him…" A flick of his golden eyes told him of the reason, and if Claude were not so concerned about Sebastian, he would most likely be amused. Demons had no seen of modesty, not as Ciel Phantomhive so clearly did, at least in regards to him seeing others without their clothes. Or maybe it was due to his age; teenagers tended to be embarrassed so very easily about trivial things.
Alois, seeing Sebastian stir and moan softly, looked at Ciel, sighing audibly. "We'd best go inform the others that you and they are staying," he whispered, a tiny pout on his lips for how the other was blushing over seeing Sebastian with no clothes on. "Besides, we might wake him if we keep talking in here like this. I'll send Thompson up to prepare rooms for the three of you; Claude was making dinner." There, he paused, before looking at his butler. "When Hannah comes back with the water, she'll have to resume taking care of him so you can finish dinner."
"If that is your wish, your Highness, though Hannah is not the same type of demon as Sebastian and myself," Claude smoothly stated, and it wasn't a lie. Hannah was a flower demon and the appearance she showed was, in fact, her true form, while both Claude and Sebastian kept their true forms hidden away, being of a much stronger demon type than her. Hannah was powerful in her own right; it was just that she was different from them. If Sebastian lost control of himself or his powers returned and went berserk, only another demon of the same caliber could stop him. "If this fever makes him delirious, I am not certain that she could stop him if he were to do something unexpected…"
"And you could?" Ciel interjected, realizing what Claude was telling them. Under normal circumstances, this would not be a concern, but Sebastian had been brutalized, at least in part, and with his fever, he could easily burn the whole estate down. Looking uncomfortable, he chewed on his lower lip for a few moments. "Alois, can't Hannah finish making dinner? I've seen what Sebastian can do when he is himself and right now he is clearly not capable of rational thought, not with a fever. The last thing I'd want is for him to damage your home in this state; Sebastian is my servant and not only would it reflect badly on me, but it would also upset him to learn of what he'd done." Pleading shone in his blue eyes as he looked at the smaller blonde; Claude seemed to be the best choice to take care of Sebastian right now, especially since he had proven himself before to be at least equal to Sebastian in battle if something untoward were to happen.
In addition, Claude also appeared to know what to do in regards to the fever; he'd sent Hannah to get some water for it and told Ciel that medicine would not work on Sebastian because he was a demon. What a human would take would make a demon ill. Surely Alois would see reason in this, Ciel hoped. It might inconvenience him but better a little inconvenience than a destroyed estate.
Scowling for a few moments at Ciel's verbal plea, Alois was about to say no, that he couldn't do without Claude for however long it would take Sebastian to recover, though he stopped when he saw the expression on Ciel's face. Those dark blue eyes were wider, looking softer than he'd ever seen them, and with a fervent hope reflected within. Combined with the flush on the other boy's cheeks, Alois thought for a few moments on how adorable Ciel looked like that, so hopeful and needy.
"Tch," he muttered, brushing part of his blonde hair away from his pale eyes. "I suppose, though I can't do without him for very long. Sebastian had better recover quickly, before I lose my patience…" He meant it, though he also said it to avoid looking like he was going soft. It wouldn't do to have such an exploitable weakness known to everyone else. "I'm going to go see what the devil is keeping Hannah and send Thompson off; perhaps you should tell your servants you're staying here, Ciel…" With that said, Alois sauntered off, his hips swaying as he did so.
Staring after Alois for a few moments, Ciel then shook his head, looking back at Claude. "How long will Sebastian be like this?" he questioned, not liking how still his butler was. It was unnatural, considering how much Sebastian moved about at home, cleaning and tidying everything up just so. Though Ciel was surprised that Alois had agreed so quickly; he'd expected some sort of argument over Claude being allowed to take care of Sebastian, instead of Hannah doing so.
"It depends on how long the fever lasts," Claude murmured, raising a hand to gently brush some of Sebastian's hair off of his forehead, seeing how the strands were clinging there because of the sweat. "The sooner I get water into him, the better; there are no demonic medicines here in this plane and going back to where we came from to get something would be rather tricky. Hopefully, rest and plenty of water will do the trick."
"I'll do whatever it takes to make Sebastian well again," Ciel vowed, meeting Claude's eyes squarely for a moment, before he turned to leave. At the doorway, he paused and looked back. "Even if it means storming the Gates of Hell myself." Grim determination showed on his face, still youthful despite what all he had been through, and then the young lord left, heading back to the entryway where Mey-Rin and Finnian still waited.
Once everyone else had finally gone, Claude was able to fully concentrate on Sebastian, rearranging the blankets around his slim body. "Sebastian Michaelis," he murmured, closing his eyes before he nuzzled the smaller demon's neck, "just what am I going to do with you?" His tongue lapped at Sebastian's pale neck. He didn't move from his position, not until Hannah finally returned, bearing a pitcher of water and a glass that she placed upon the table next to his bed.
"I went to the cleanest source of water around here," Hannah explained, knowing Claude was a little vexed at how long it had taken her to come back. "It's best for him, right now. Getting there wasn't easy, though; I had to slip out where those servants of the Phantomhive boy couldn't see me, especially that girl with those extraordinary eyes." Giving him an apologetic look, she poured a glass for Sebastian so he could start drinking. "I heard everything, though, so I'll go finish dinner up tonight. I hope for your sake that Sebastian recovers quickly, though; our master may not remain patient for very long…"
Purple shone in Claude's normally golden eyes as he looked at Hannah, knowing that she was right- but he definitely didn't like it. Alois was very clingy to him and while right now he was happy that Ciel was here, no one could be certain as to how long that would last. As long as it did, though, then Claude could tend to Sebastian the way he'd wanted to, without anyone else trying to interfere. He knew best out of everyone here how to care for Sebastian; who else here had his experience, his wisdom, or, for that matter, such a vested interest in Sebastian's welfare.
"I know that, Hannah, but I wasn't lying to them," Claude pointed out calmly, moving further onto the bed and being careful not to jostle Sebastian too much. Shifting the slighter male to a sitting position, he braced the red-eyed demon's back against his chest, wrapping his left arm around Sebastian so he wouldn't fall over. Taking the filled glass, he brought it to hover just before Sebastian's closed mouth. "Sebastian, part your lips and drink; you need the water to keep from getting dehydrated with your fever," he ordered, though not being sharp with Sebastian at all. "Being dehydrated won't kill our kind but it is rather painful…"
Sebastian weakly parted his lashes, peeking out at Claude when he heard his voice. "H-Hot," he whispered, a bleary look within his eyes. Taking a sip when Claude poured some water into his mouth from the glass, he swallowed it, feeling very thirsty, though he was also quite unable to move right now.
"I know," Claude softly replied, giving Sebastian more to drink, absently pressing a gentle kiss to the top of his head without even thinking of what he was doing. "This will help you feel better soon, Sebastian, so you must keep drinking."
Hannah watched silently; she would have argued over what Claude had said, even if he was technically right. Still, he'd left out quite a few things, but she didn't have the heart to scold him for that right now, not when she watched him being so tender with Sebastian. If she didn't know better, she would swear that Claude was in love with Sebastian- that turn of events would certainly set Alois off.
At the same time, though, Hannah was feeling very much an intruder right now, as she saw the interaction of the two male demons before her. Sebastian looked so very helpless and weak, quite a change from his usual self, and Claude, normally so cold and indifferent, offered comfort, warmth, and support, something Hannah certainly never thought she'd see him give to anyone.
Leaving the room silently, she went off to finish dinner, though a little envy pricked at her. No one had ever looked at her the way Claude looked at Sebastian; no one had ever even cared during the times when she'd been sick and alone. Life simply wasn't fair at times, she mused. Not that she wanted either Claude or Sebastian for herself, but just the fact that they had that bond right now, even if it wasn't permanent. She had a nagging suspicion that it would be, before too much longer went by.
To be continued
