AN: Hey! I hope you all like this chapter. It's a bit happier compared to the other chapters I suppose. By the way, I have something somewhat unrelated to say. I have created a Sebastian/Grelle video on YT. It's called Black Butler Summer Nights. Check it out if you want. It's my first ever video and I'm kind of excited. :D
Warnings: Dark themes, non-con, Ciel bashing, Will bashing, violence, eventual consensual M/M, minor OCs (villain, side characters)
Disclaimer: By now you really should know I don't own Black Butler.
CH 8
Grelle awoke feeling more comfortable than he had in a while. He was warm and surrounded by softness. With a little moan and a yawn, he opened his eyes. It was rather dark, though there seemed to be some candle light. Grelle blinked a few times and realized he was not wearing his glasses.
"I am glad to see you're awake, Grelle. Here," Sebastian's voice came from beside him and suddenly his glasses were being placed on the bridge of his nose. Grelle turned to see Sebastian sitting on the edge of the very large bed he was in. Odd, thought Grelle. I don't remember falling asleep.
"You fell asleep shortly after eating," Sebastian told him, seemingly reading his mind. Grelle looked surprised.
"I did? Oh, I'm sorry Sebastian," Grelle apologized. Sebastian shook his head.
"Do not apologize," he said. Without really thinking about it, Sebastian reached out and stroked Grelle's hair in a comforting manner. Grelle blushed and Sebastian took his hand back. Clearing his throat, he held out a plate of toast.
"I did not want to make you sick by preparing too much for you," Sebastian explained. He gestured to the side table and added, "I also brought some Earl Grey tea." Grelle thanked him and began to eat the toast. Sebastian was, for once, unsure what to do with himself.
"Sebastian?"
"Yes?"
"I…I was just wondering, but, I thought you…liked that brat Earl. Why did you kill him?" Sebastian stared at Grelle in surprise for a moment.
"Like him? Hardly; I may have at one point been somewhat fond of him, but that is all. He was my food source. When his soul was taken from me and he turned into a demon, I hated him," explained Sebastian.
"Oh." There was really nothing else Grelle could say. Yes, he was thrilled he had been wrong about Sebastian's feelings towards the boy. Normally he would have proclaimed his love for Sebastian again right then and there; however, he really did not want to be kicked out, or beaten up.
"I must say, I was expecting more of a reaction to that, Grelle. I was sure you would say you love me like usual," Sebastian chuckled. Grelle shook his head.
"You don't love me?" asked Sebastian, raising his eyebrow. Grelle looked up at him in shock.
"Of course I love you!" he exclaimed, forgetting himself and grasping Sebastian's arm. A sharp pain in his back reminded him, however, and he quickly pulled back and blushed.
"I thought so. For a moment, I thought you might not be yourself," Sebastian smirked. He stood and took the empty plate away before handing Grelle the tea cup. "I'll be back in a moment."
While he waited, Grelle examined his surroundings and sipped at his tea. The main feature of this bedroom was quite obviously the giant bed. It was circular and took up most of the room. The covers were black velvet, the sheets white satin. There were long black curtains above, creating a canopy. Grelle looked around and noticed many lit candles in niches of the stone walls and beside the archway leading to the bathroom. All in all, it was a very nice room.
Grelle leaned back against the pillows and sighed in delight. How long am I going to be allowed to stay here? he wondered. Grelle had no idea why Sebastian was caring for him. Why had he not brought him to the reaper's realm? Or, at the very least, to the Undertaker? Not that Grelle was complaining.
The door across from the bed opened at Sebastian walked in.
"Sebastian?" Grelle started.
"Yes, Grelle?" replied Sebastian as he sat on the edge of the bed beside Grelle.
"How long am I allowed to stay here?" asked Grelle.
"In all honesty, I'm not quite sure. I haven't thought about it. Until you are better at least," Sebastian said. Grelle nodded.
"Thank you for the tea…and for everything, Sebastian," Grelle said, looking up at him with an appreciative smile. Sebastian nodded then noticed something. Grelle was crying again.
"Why are you crying?" he asked, wondering if the reaper was still in some sort of pain. Grelle looked momentarily surprised.
"I-I don't know. I just can't seem to help it recently," replied Grelle, trying to wipe the tears away. Sebastian moved to sit beside him against the pillows and allowed Grelle to rest his head against his shoulder.
"I've been so pathetic recently. I never used to cry this much," Grelle murmured.
"After what has happened I'd hardly call you pathetic, Grelle," Sebastian said.
"Really? Even though I cried every day since you left?" Grelle asked. He then added hastily, "Not that I'm upset with you or anything! You had your duties and no obligation to me."
"You were really so upset at my departure?" Sebastian inquired.
"Of course I was! I love you," Grelle replied hugging Sebastian's arm. Sebastian honestly did not know how to reply to that. He had been quite convinced that when Grelle always said that he loved him before, it was more of just an infatuation. No one had ever missed him before, let alone become upset at his absence.
"Can I ask you something else?" Grelle asked out of nowhere.
"You've been asking a lot of questions recently," Sebastian commented, glancing down at Grelle.
"It's hard not to. You're a bit of a mystery, why would I not want to know more?" replied Grelle.
"Alright. What is your question?" asked Sebastian.
"Why do you have a bed? And such a large one? I thought demons didn't sleep," inquired Grelle. Sebastian actually laughed. He had not been expecting that question.
"You're right. Demons don't need sleep, but we can if we like. I am quite fond of sleeping, to be honest, though I haven't done so in a while. Besides, beds aren't just for sleeping," Sebastian explained with a smirk. Grelle blushed.
"Oh, I see. That makes sense," he muttered. Sebastian chuckled again.
"You're blushing like a virgin, Grelle," said Sebastian. Immediately, Grelle's entire demeanor changed. His smile vanished and his eyes lost their sparkle. He turned his head away.
"Grelle?" Sebastian asked.
"I…I don't want to talk about it," Grelle muttered.
"I obviously said something to upset you, my apologies," Sebastian said, "But through my experience with humans, they often find it easier to deal with things after they've talked."
"…I…I was a v-virgin until…until I was s-sold to…hi…hi…" Grelle could not finish his sentence, it was too difficult. Sebastian moved his arm and Grelle began crying, though he was surprised when Sebastian wrapped his arm around his shoulders. Grelle hesitantly leaned against him and rested his head on Sebastian's chest.
"Not to seem rude, but, you are a reaper and have therefore been around for some time…." Sebastian let the question drift as he was not sure how to phrase it properly.
"I wanted to wait for someone special," explained Grelle, sniffling softly, "And when I met you…I…well I knew it was unlikely to happen, but a girl can dream. It's completely impossible now, though."
"You wanted me to be your first sexual encounter?" Sebastian asked. Grelle nodded. Sebastian was a bit surprised. Demons did not usually care about virginity unless it came to using it against humans. Sebastian knew that humans valued such a thing, and apparently Grelle did too. Sebastian was oddly flattered by the thought, not that he would admit it.
"It doesn't matter now though," Grelle sighed and wiped away his tears.
"You're right. Such a thing doesn't mean much to demons," Sebastian replied. Grelle blinked up at him, confused.
"Shall we talk about something a little less upsetting for you?" suggested Sebastian. Grelle agreed.
"You know…I was very worried when you lost your arm, Sebastian. I'm glad it grew back," Grelle said. He giggled lightly, and added flirtatiously, "Though I must admit, you look amazing covered in red, Sebby."
"Oh? But red suits you much better, Grelle," Sebastian replied with a wink. Grelle just barely withheld a squeal and Sebastian chuckled. It was too easy to get a reaction out of the reaper.
"Hmm…well, you looking very dashing in black, darling," purred Grelle. It was so nice to feel almost like normal again.
