A/N: I'm really sorry this chapter took so long to post. The last two weeks in September were absolute hell for me and I couldn't edit this chapter properly. But I'm hoping to post the remaining chapters weekly as I had before. I'm sorry again for the wait. I hope everyone enjoys the chapter ^^
Warnings: Mentions of non-con, mental trauma, violence, and language.
Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroshitsuji
(June 2011)
Golden eyes darted to the side, subtly looking at Grey and Tanaka to judge their expressions. This was the first time either of them heard the story behind how Sebastian had outsmarted them and Claude wondered what thoughts raced through their minds. No doubt, it was a blow to their pride. To have their operation brought down by a defiant college student who was determined to get away from them. Never doubt the power of determination, especially when that person was Sebastian.
Claude chuckled and leaned back further in his chair. Only one part of the story remained and things were quickly ending. Everyone knew what happened at the end, but they still needed that final piece of the puzzle before everything connected and made sense. A small shiver worked its way through Claude's body at the thought of that night.
That night when everything finally went down. It still haunted him and Claude could still see the blood on the floor and hear the gunshots that had echoed throughout the room. Still remembered what it felt like.
William cleared his throat and next to Claude, The Undertaker straightened slightly in his chair. "How long did Sebastian stay at the bar?" Will asked, glancing down at his notes.
"About two months, almost three," The Undertaker answered. "They found him late February and he started working there at the beginning of March. We couldn't pull him out until the beginning of June."
"And where are we in the story?" Will questioned.
The Undertaker smiled slightly. "We're almost done, Your Honor. I still have thirty minutes left from the time limit that you gave me. However, I only need to tell of how we finished building the case and the events that led up the day of the bust."
A brief hint of annoyance flickered across Will's face but he didn't tell The Undertaker to stand down. The Undertaker still had time left and Will wasn't going to go back on his word by taking it away. "How many days passed from the meeting with Sebastian and Claude until the time you pulled him out?"
Claude shifted. "That would be about two weeks, Your Honor," he spoke up and tried to keep his voice level.
Will winced slightly. "That's a long time for him to stay in those poor conditions," he said softly. "I imagine his situation didn't improve during that time."
The Undertaker shook his head. "They were impatient to say the least. It helped that I was buying more time with Sebastian and letting Claude spend that time with him, but I was only one person. It wasn't until Sebastian's last week there that we knew we couldn't wait any longer. Claude came back after a session with him, furious and ready to put a hole in Grey's head himself…"
.:|Wine Angels|:.
(June 2011)
Claude's mouth moved down Sebastian's neck, licking and nipping lightly at the pale skin. Beneath him, Sebastian shuddered in pleasure and his fingers gripped his shirt tightly. Sebastian tilted his head back more, giving Claude more space to work with and he placed soft kisses to Sebastian's jaw.
His lips sucked on a patch of skin until it turned a bright red color that promised to leave a lingering mark. "Beautiful," Claude murmured as he pulled away and let his fingers skim down Sebastian's sides. He could still feel Sebastian's ribs and they were a growing concern, but with any luck, Sebastian would leave soon. "You're so damn beautiful," he said again.
Sebastian laughed lightly, his eyes closed in pleasure. "I'm a guy. Guy's aren't beautiful. We're attractive and handsome, but not beautiful. That's for girls, and I assure you, Claude Faustus, that I am no girl."
Claude chuckled and reached down to cup Sebastian's groin. "Indeed you're not. You are one hundred percent male and I wouldn't have it any other way." His fingers rubbed small circles over Sebastian's thigh, slowly moving up the covered thigh until Sebastian jerked harshly. Claude's eyes darted up as Sebastian tensed in his arms and a faint tremor ran through Sebastian's body. "Sebastian?" Claude murmured and carefully brushed over the spot again, invoking the same reaction.
"Don't," Sebastian hissed and his eyes squeezed shut tightly, worry etched on his face.
Golden eyes narrowed and Claude carefully sat up, moving to sit on the bed so he wasn't straddling Sebastian's hips. The past times that they were able to meet, Claude made sure to touch Sebastian all over, as though he was erasing Grey's touch from Sebastian's body. And Sebastian allowed his hands to wander, touching everything from skin that everyone could see, to those spots that only Claude had the pleasure of seeing.
However, today was different. Claude had noticed it earlier but chose not to say anything further. The fact that they were both still fully clothed was a blaring sign. In times past, Sebastian would hurriedly undress Claude while Claude leisurely removed each article of clothing from Sebastian.
It was Claude's subtle way of checking how Sebastian was doing; silently searching for new marks and seeing if Sebastian lost more weight.
"Sebastian," Claude said carefully and his hands came up to rest at the waistband of Sebastian's pants. "Don't hide anything from me. You know I won't think anything less of you."
Sebastian shook his head and trembled on the bed but made no move to stop Claude. "I'm not worried about that," he answered finally and allowed Claude to pop the button on his pants. "I'm worried about what you'll do after you see it."
Claude's eyebrows furrowed and he slowly eased the tight pants down. He wasn't surprised that Sebastian went commando, considering how tight the pants were, and under normal circumstances, it would've been an arousing sight. But all thoughts of that fled Claude's mind at the sight of a large bruise on the inside of Sebastian's thigh.
It was a dark blue, almost black, giving testament to how recent it was. Claude leaned closer to look at it and a hiss left his throat when his eyes settled on the impression of teeth that marred Sebastian's skin.
"Who?" He asked and started searching the rest of Sebastian's legs for any other bite marks. "Who did this to you Sebastian? Tell me so I can shove their genitals down their throat."
Sebastian shook his head. "They're not worth your trouble," he said, staring blankly at the ceiling. "I don't want you going after them and getting yourself in trouble. They're not worth it."
Claude's fingers were soft as they brushed over Sebastian's legs, trying to calm the trembling limbs. "Did he touch you anywhere else?" He asked tensely and felt Sebastian stiffen under him. "Where, Sebastian."
"Nowhere," Sebastian whispered, his eyes closed tightly.
Claude pressed a soft kiss to the spot before moving up Sebastian's body and cupping his cheeks. "I won't go after them, Sebastian. No matter how much I want to, no matter how much I want to put a bullet in their head, I won't. Because that won't help you any if I'm locked up behind bars." He stroked Sebastian's cheeks carefully. "But please, tell me where else they touched you so I can erase it and brand my touch instead on your body."
For a moment, Sebastian seemed to debate with himself, trying to work up the courage to speak the words Claude wanted to hear. "Let's just say you and The Undertaker are really making him jealous," he said finally. "He wanted to know if he was better than you in certain sexual areas," he finished with a whisper.
A low growl left Claude's mouth as understanding settled in his mind and he buried his face into the crook of Sebastian's neck, feeling Sebastian's arms circle around him. "We'll make him suffer, Sebastian," he promised. "Make them rot in jail for the rest of their life until they die there and they can no longer touch you. And I'll take you far away from here when you graduate. To Europe or the Mediterranean; anywhere but here."
Sebastian's arms tightened around Claude's body. "Don't make promises you can't keep," Sebastian muttered. "You might not even want me still after this whole mess is over. Who knows how much longer I'll be here. I would understand if you decided to stop coming to see me."
Claude shook his head. "Don't you dare think that, Sebastian Michaelis. Every night I go home, I yearn to have you back at my apartment, safe in my arms. I hate going back to my empty place, knowing that you could be there and at my side, but instead you're stuck here. I miss you so much that it scares me." He clutched Sebastian tightly. "I've never felt this way before about anyone."
He felt Sebastian shift under him before lips pressed against his cheek and Claude lifted his head up so they could kiss properly. It was easy to forget themselves whenever they kissed, and just block out the world, pretending that nothing was wrong and they weren't here. It was just them in their own little bubble as they touched and kissed each other slowly; enjoying all the feelings that came with the touches and lusting for them even more.
They kissed softly, savoring the touch of their lips against each other as they shared innocent kisses. They were chaste, the purest form of a kiss and the most loving. It conveyed their feelings without words and with each kiss that passed, Claude could feel the desire mounting inside their bodies, the desperation twisting and coiling deep in their heart until those innocent kisses turned passionate.
Tongues brushed against each other and Claude tried to pull Sebastian closer to him. It wasn't enough, it never was with Sebastian, and Claude whimpered despite himself as his hands tore at the shirt Sebastian wore. He wanted to feel that soft skin against his, feel Sebastian's heart race against his chest in proof that this was real, that Sebastian was still in his arms.
They broke apart as Sebastian arched into his touch and reached up, pulling Claude's face down again. "I want you," he panted, hot breath fanning over Claude's face. "I want you so badly."
Claude groaned lowly at the words and he cupped Sebastian's hand with his own. "I want you too," he admitted and rolled his hips against Sebastian's, letting Sebastian feel how much he wanted him. "But I don't want our first time to be like this. Not here where they'll only make them even more jealous."
Sebastian shook his head. "Let them be jealous, I don't care anymore. They can't do anything to me if I have you."
"No," Claude said quickly, surprising both himself and Sebastian. "It'll only taste hollow if we do this to make them jealous. I care for you too much to use you like that Sebastian. I don't want our first time to be ruined and remembered that way."
"But I want you so much," Sebastian whispered and his face looked distraught.
Claude cupped Sebastian's cheeks. "I want you too. Please don't think that I'm saying no because I don't want you. But when I take you for the first time, I want it to be on my bed, late at night after we've spent the day together doing nothing but enjoying the day with each other." He lowered his head and pressed their foreheads together. "I'll take you in my mouth and pleasure you until you're a mess on the bed before I prepare you with my fingers."
Sebastian moaned softly at the words and rocked his hips against Claude's, silently urging him to continue. "Don't stop," he finally breathed and closed his eyes.
"Once you're ready, I'll put you on your back so I can watch your face the whole time and kiss you whenever I feel like it," Claude murmured, his eyes closed as well. "And then I'll bring you pleasure that you've never felt before. I'll make you scream and pant, and make you lose control as we indulge until we fall over that edge together."
"Yes," Sebastian panted and his nails dug slightly into Claude's back. "And then?"
Claude shuddered. "Then I'll pull you tight against my body as we both try to breathe properly again, never letting you go and muttering sweet nothings in your ear. I'll lick the sweat away from your body and kiss you again until we fall asleep. And I'll hold you all through the night until I wake in the morning." He opened his eyes and waited for Sebastian to do the same. "I'll watch you sleep and kiss you all over, moving from your shoulder, up your neck, and to your ear."
Hazy crimson eyes struggled to focus and Claude could Sebastian's cock, hard and throbbing against his. Sebastian panted against him, just as aroused as him and Claude watched as Sebastian's tongue wet his lips. "And?" Sebastian asked quietly, almost as though he was afraid to ask.
"I'll whisper 'I love you, Sebastian,'" Claude finished, the words surprising him as they fell easily from his tongue. But despite how easily he said them, Claude still didn't know if he could wholly mean them just yet. A strangled cry left Sebastian's mouth at the words and his body jerked as he came without warning. His chest heaved and Claude held him tightly as Sebastian's body trembled harshly against the bed. "Breathe," Claude murmured as Sebastian fought for breath.
He watched as Sebastian gulped several mouthfuls of air before the trembling finally stopped and Sebastian lay limp on the bed. Crimson eyes closed and Sebastian's cheeks flushed as Claude littered his face with kisses. "Don't stop," Sebastian murmured suddenly.
"What?" Claude asked, pausing in his actions.
"Don't stop what you're doing," Sebastian said and Claude breathed a sigh of relief that Sebastian didn't call him out for saying those words.
He smiled softly though and lowered his head until his mouth rested next to Sebastian's ear and instead murmured soft words while his hands trailed fire over Sebastian's body.
.:|Wine Angels|:.
The Undertaker climbed into the car that waited for him outside the bar and signaled his driver to take them away. It was important to keep up appearances and it looked better if he had someone drive him to and from the bar. It made it look as though he had money to continue spending on Sebastian, and Tanaka would continue letting him see Sebastian so long as he had money. Never mind the fact that the car belonged to Claude and his driver was Claude.
With Claude as the driver, it gave him reason to be there in case something backfired and anyone started to suspect something. No one would ever question Claude if they found him lurking in the back alleyway one night. They would just think that Claude was bored while he waited for The Undertaker to leave the bar and was trying to find a good place to smoke and let off some steam.
They door closed behind him and The Undertaker watched as Claude's hands tightened around the steering wheel as they pulled away from the bar and he found himself frowning. "What's wrong, Claude?" He asked.
"That bastard left a mark. Bit him on the thigh, near a place Sebastian didn't want them to touch and then they went against their word and touched him there anyway," Claude growled. "If we don't get him out soon, they won't keep holding back any longer. There's only so much Sebastian can take and that I can do for him before he breaks."
"I'll look at what we have and see if we can't pull him out sooner," The Undertaker said. "We need a solid plan though before we go in. There's enough there to ask for a search warrant but we need to catch them in the act."
Claude's eyes flickered up to look at The Undertaker in the rearview window. "How much longer will that take?" He whispered.
The Undertaker glanced out the window, not wanting to look at the desperation in Claude's face. "Give me a few days," he answered finally. "I want him out as much as you. Never doubt that," he stated, voice serious for once.
Claude nodded and focused on the road, trying hard and failing to stop worrying.
.:|Wine Angels|:.
The Undertaker sighed as he stared at Vincent and the mess of paperwork that sat on the desk. "Do we have enough?" He asked, feeling tired and edgy. He didn't like the police station and if it hadn't been for Sebastian and Claude, The Undertaker wouldn't have accepted this case. Sebastian's mind intrigued him and he enjoyed watching Sebastian work. It was a shame to let him stay in that place and while The Undertaker couldn't help everyone, he vowed to help Sebastian.
"We have enough to get a search warrant for the locked areas under the pretense that we believe the painting is hidden there," Vincent said finally. "But simply getting in there isn't enough. We won't find the painting and I doubt they've hidden it there to begin with. At most, we'll only get away with arresting Tanaka and charging the other patrons. We can imprison them for a few years, but Grey's lawyers will get him out within weeks."
"Even with the evidence we have against Grey?" The Undertaker asked. "We have the physical proof, all those pictures don't lie. They show that he was at the bar and partaking in those actions with Sebastian. Against Sebastian's will, mind you."
Vincent shook his head. "But in court, it will come down to Sebastian's word against Grey's. And seeing that Sebastian's record shows that he willing worked there the first time, a jury or judge may not believe that Sebastian didn't want to work there a second time." He scowled and ran a hand through his hair. "Grey plays a good game and has the money to back everything up."
"Then, we need to catch him in the act of something more heinous that makes it near impossible to escape," The Undertaker finished and a thoughtful frown crossed his lips. "Something like murder."
Vincent sat up straight in his chair. "What are you thinking, Undertaker?" He shook his head. "I'm not about to let him murder someone just to get a conviction."
The Undertaker laughed. "That's the problem with you, Vincent. You don't think outside the box. Probably because you're always stuck inside this office and never out chasing down the leads." He gestured at the pile of papers. "You come up with the warrant and I'll figure out the way to make sure he can't escape the courts."
Without a word, The Undertaker vanished from the room, leaving Vincent to rub his temples in frustration. "That man is going to kill me," he muttered to himself before picking up the phone so he could call for a warrant.
.:|Wine Angels|:.
The Undertaker stared at Tanaka who gazed back at him with an eager expression. "He willingly agreed to this?" Tanaka asked, his eyes light and excited while next to him, Grey glared coldly at the wall. Grey hadn't liked the question from the first time The Undertaker had asked it but a harsh word from Tanaka silenced him quickly.
"He did. We've been spending time together for the past several weeks, hours at a time usually and just the other day he told me how much he wanted me," The Undertaker answered. Somewhere, Claude was going to kick his ass for this. "I asked about it before and he's always refused, but this time he came to me asking for it. I figured I should clear it with you first before asking to stay the night with him and potentially becoming his only visitor."
Tanaka frowned slightly. "I can agree to you staying the night with him, provided of course he did agree to it. But I'm afraid that he has other clients he needs to see from time to time." He tilted his head to the side. "You understand that, don't you?"
The Undertaker nodded. "Of course. I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask though." He smiled slightly. "But we have a deal for tonight then?"
Tanaka stood up. "First I need to clarify that Sebastian did agree to this. He was very adamant about not having sex with his clients. And while I'm not against his sudden change of heart, I simply want to make sure he agreed to this."
"I understand," The Undertaker answered and stood up alongside Tanaka, pointedly ignoring Grey. Grey hadn't stopped fuming the entire talk and violence flashed in his eyes. Someone else was going to take something that Grey had deemed his and he didn't like it. It didn't help that Sebastian had flat out refused to let Grey touch him but was now willing to have sex with someone he knew for only a month or so. The emotions flickered across Grey's face, making him easy to read, and The Undertaker realized just how serious things were about to turn.
How humorous.
This stunt was costing Claude a pretty penny, but he had vehemently declared that Sebastian was worth it and he wanted Sebastian free from Tanaka and Grey's clutches. With any hope, Sebastian would be free tonight and the two accused would be in police custody.
They moved down the hallway to Sebastian's room, the number thirteen gleaming brightly on the door and The Undertaker couldn't help but snort at the irony. Unlucky number thirteen, Fallen Angel, Demon. They seemed to play the theme up when it came to Sebastian. In all honestly, The Undertaker was surprised they hadn't placed a devil tail and horns on Sebastian.
The door opened and Sebastian gazed at them as they entered. The Undertaker made certain to stand behind Tanaka, as though he was giving Tanaka space and respect. What he really wanted was to tell Sebastian to agree with the demands and that everything would be okay without anyone seeing.
"Sebastian," Tanaka called, his voice pleased and he waited for Sebastian to make his way slowly to his side. Once he was close enough, Tanaka reached out and ran a hand down Sebastian's cheek. "I knew you would break eventually," he purred.
Sebastian didn't say anything but The Undertaker could see the brief confusion that flickered in crimson eyes. It vanished the next second and The Undertaker quickly nodded at him, mouthing a single word and silently telling him to play along. Understanding dawned in Sebastian's eyes before he nodded.
"I suppose I can make an exception to one every now and then," Sebastian answered and pushed Tanaka's hand from his face before moving over to The Undertaker's side. He pressed a soft kiss to The Undertaker's cheek before letting his lips trail down his neck and under his jaw. "He's very attractive, don't you think?"
Oh, Claude was definitely going to kill him once everything finished. But for now, Claude would just have to forgive him.
With a small smirk, The Undertaker grabbed Sebastian and pulled him close, nipping his ear lightly. "I think it's the other way around. You are very sexy, my Fallen Angel. I can't wait to fuck you senseless tonight."
Sebastian shuddered and reached down to grab The Undertaker's cock through his pants. "I can't wait to have this inside me. I can only imagine how it'll feel. Hard and thick, stretching me and hitting all those places just right," he purred. "I've had it in my mouth before and I know you only play the modest gentleman."
Tanaka cleared his throat behind them and Sebastian's hand stopped rubbing The Undertaker but it didn't move away. "Before you two continue with your actions, The Undertaker and I need to set a few rules first. Can't have you hurt after all."
Sebastian seemed to pout and he placed one last kiss on The Undertaker's cheek. "Fine. I suppose I can wait just a little bit longer." He gave The Undertaker a small wink. "But not too long."
The Undertaker shivered as Sebastian walked away and stretched out on the bed behind him, looking anything but innocent as he rested his head on his arms. Tearing his eyes from Sebastian, The Undertaker forced himself to focus on Tanaka once more. "You mentioned rules?" He said finally.
Tanaka nodded. "Yes, a few for safety reasons of course. You will not leave any lasting damage or visible marks. You will use a condom of course and only toys that were in this room upon your arrival. We know they're clean and we like to make sure we run a clean business here."
"I understand," The Undertaker answered, relieved to hear that the bar took some precautions at least. "Anything else?"
"Payment," Tanaka answered without hesitation; this was a business after all and he wasn't one to skip around when it came to profits.
The Undertaker nodded. "Right," he answered and pulled out the thick roll of bills before passing it off to Tanaka. He could see Sebastian's eyes widen briefly at the amount of money that passed between their hands before Sebastian buried his head in his arms, hiding his face from view. "If that's all then…"
Tanaka quickly counted the bills before placing them in his pocket. "I believe it is. You'll have twelve hours with him and we'll come get you in the morning. Enjoy your time." He moved to the door with a pleased smile on his face before vanishing into the hallway, shutting the door tightly behind him.
Once he was gone, The Undertaker let out a long sigh. "Claude is going to kill me," he said and laughed despite the situation. "But this is too much fun to pass up."
"Are you crazy?" Sebastian asked, voice muffed in the folds of his arms. "What the hell were you two thinking? And with that kind of money too. Do I want to know how much you paid for this?"
The Undertaker smiled widely and walked over to the bed. "Sebastian," he said and sat down carefully next to him. "Claude was willing to pay everything he had to get you back. And if it will make you feel better, once this is over, he'll be compensated."
Sebastian lifted his head up, crimson eyes searching The Undertaker's face. "And when will that be? Two weeks from now? Two months, two years?" He shook his head. "He can't keep paying for this and I can't make him wait that long."
"Sebastian," The Undertaker cooed softly. "We're getting you out tomorrow morning. This is the last night you'll stay in this place."
Sebastian jerked back quickly at the words and he blinked rapidly as he tried to process the statement. "What?" He croaked.
"This is part of the plan. Claude will switch out with me, as usual, and he'll stay the night with you. Grey is already furious and when he comes down to find you with someone else, someone you care for, he'll snap." The Undertaker said and leaned in closer. "And this is the part that I'm going to ask you to trust me."
.:|Wine Angels|:.
Sebastian moaned lowly as Claude's hands rubbed over his back, kneading and pressing the tight muscles until the knots slipped away. He cried out loudly as Claude's fingers hit a particularly tight spot and he hissed as Claude started to rub at the area. "Ah…oh…there," he groaned and pressed his chest further into the bed.
He felt Claude shift on his hips before pressing harder and Sebastian's eyes fluttered shut as the tight knot slowly loosened. Another groan left his mouth, making Claude falter and Sebastian could easily feel Claude's cock rubbing against his ass. The feeling made Sebastian chuckle and Claude nipped at the back of his neck in retaliation.
"Hush," he growled and went back to rubbing the spot. "I can't help it when you're making such arousing noises."
Sebastian tilted his head to the side so he could stare at Claude from the corner of his eye. "But I'm not doing anything," he said innocently, but his eyes shone with a mischievous light.
Claude snorted. "I beg to differ," he stated and pressed harder on the spot he was working. The action made Sebastian cry out before the knot vanished under Claude's fingers and Sebastian fell limp underneath him.
"You have magical fingers," Sebastian slurred.
A soft chuckle left Claude's mouth and he trailed his hands down Sebastian's sides, feeling the bumps of his ribs. They had eaten already and Claude was adamant that Sebastian eat everything. He couldn't wait to get Sebastian back home where he could start putting weight on again. "Would you like to see what else my fingers can do?" Claude asked, pushing the thought from his mind as he leaned down to kiss the bumps of Sebastian's spine.
His only answer was a low groan from Sebastian, and Claude couldn't help but lay another kiss to Sebastian's shoulder blade. He was so helplessly, head over heels for Sebastian, it wasn't even funny. When it had happened, Claude couldn't say but he wouldn't change any of it for the world. Teeth scraped lightly over Sebastian's skin, making Sebastian shiver before Claude pressed another open mouth kiss to the area.
"I'll take that as a yes," Claude murmured and shifted until he was sitting on the bed. With a small smirk, he rolled Sebastian over and watched as hazy crimson eyes gazed up at him. Claude's eyes lowered, taking in the tented pants and damp spot on Sebastian's pants, showing that Claude wasn't the only one who was aroused.
Sebastian hummed lowly as Claude's eyes darted over his body and he shuddered as Claude reached down to cup his cock. Gentle fingers rubbed against the fabric, slowly teasing and arousing him until Sebastian rocked his hips up into the touch. "Claude," he moaned, feeling his orgasm just within his grasp. "I'm going to come."
Claude smirked and leaned down to press a kiss underneath Sebastian's chin. "Then come."
"Too soon," he answered and shook his head. "You just came here."
"I have you for the whole night, Sebastian," Claude answered and nibbled at a patch of skin on Sebastian's neck. "I have more than enough time to spoil you and please you."
Sebastian grunted at the reminder and pushed at Claude's chest. "You're an idiot," he growled and tried to look annoyed but his heaving chest made it impossible to look serious. "I'm not worth however much you paid for tonight."
Claude clicked his tongue but pulled back so he could look at Sebastian. "It was worth every penny and I would do it again. It's my money and I say you're worth it."
Crimson eyes narrowed. "I saw the wad of money that The Undertaker gave Tanaka," he stated. "Claude. That was a lot of money. I can't…I can't accept that you paid that much for a night with me. I feel guilty," he finished with a whisper.
"Sebastian," Claude said softly and rolled off him. Sebastian gazed at Claude warily and shifted forward into Claude's lap at the silent request. A soft sigh left his mouth as warm arms embraced him and Claude nuzzled his neck. "You're always worth it to me, Sebastian. I want you back with me more than you can understand. I know you feel bad, but please, let me have this moment with you without the worry of money hanging over your head."
"I'll pay you back," Sebastian stated, the guilt still sitting low in his stomach. It felt like a heavy rock had settled in his body and his stomach churned as Sebastian remembered the thick roll of cash that passed between Tanaka's hands.
Claude shook his head. "The police will compensate me after tonight. No matter what happens, I won't lose money."
Sebastian frowned. "Then let me pay you back for all the trouble I caused you." He placed two fingers over Claude's mouth to keep him from speaking again. "Please, Claude. It will make me feel better. I know why you're doing this and I understand that. But no matter what, I'll still feel guilty if I don't give something back to you."
"Design my next restaurant for me then," Claude said suddenly and pressed his lips against Sebastian's fingers. "Do that and we can call things even between us. That's the only thing I'll accept from you, Sebastian. I'm not about to ask you to pay me back through sexual means."
Sebastian's shoulders relaxed slightly at the words. "I can do that," he answered and shifted closer to Claude, pressing their foreheads together. "I'll draft the best layout for you that will put all your other restaurants to shame."
Claude chuckled lowly. "Good. We'll build it in England and buy a flat nearby so we can watch it grow," he stated and Sebastian shivered as Claude ran his fingers down his arms. "You can bring Soot and you can have a windowsill garden. And every night I'll brand my touch to your body, erasing every trace of this place from your mind."
"Claude," Sebastian moaned and his hips arched into Claude's body as he let the words surround him. He pulled them close and let his mind wander, imagining everything Claude had mentioned. His mind reminded him that the words were nothing but a dream and not to get his hopes up too much, but Sebastian couldn't bring himself to listen.
He wanted everything that Claude said and more. He wanted to spend lazy afternoons with Claude, curled up with him under the sheets as the rain splashed against the windows. He wanted to continue their cooking contests and enjoy the easy banter between them. But more than that, he wanted to keep the feelings that Claude sparked inside his body.
Claude made him feel wanted and loved, something that had eluded Sebastian throughout his life. And to know that Claude honestly cared for him made Sebastian cling to the feelings that he felt. He knew he shouldn't think about the future, knowing that several years or even months from now, they could part ways and never look back, and instead, tried to take one day at a time.
But knowing that didn't stop the thoughts and desires that swam through his mind. Relentless and powerful, they battered against his thoughts like waves buffeting a ship during a storm. They kept him company when the hours stretched too long and pushed him forward when Sebastian felt like giving in.
Dreams weren't easy to break compared to the human body. Every time Grey came in for his nightly training session, Sebastian could slip into his thoughts and ignore Grey's voice as he taunted him. Sebastian's fantasies wrapped around him like a blanket, numbing his body to the kiss of a whip and giving Sebastian a sense of peace while he remained in hell.
Sebastian hated the thoughts and desires, but at the same time, he couldn't let them go. It made him feel weak; clinging to the fanciful idea of sharing his life with Claude and thinking that everything would work out properly. He knew it wouldn't. Life didn't work that way and it had more curves, potholes, and bumps than a road that moved across the mountain's face. But if only for a short while, Sebastian allowed himself to dream and hope.
Even if they parted ways in the future, Sebastian would still enjoy the time that they had now and keep those memories close. "Silly little dreamer," Sebastian murmured softly and felt Claude's hands still over his body. He glanced at Claude, golden eyes watching him intently and Sebastian smiled slightly. He didn't regret anything with Claude and wouldn't trade anything between them.
"Something on your mind, kitten?" Claude asked, pressing a light kiss to the base of his throat.
Sebastian shook his head. "Just dreaming with my eyes open," he answered.
Claude's eyebrow rose slightly. "You're very eloquent tonight," he said and pulled back more to regard Sebastian. "Are you sure everything is fine?"
Sebastian nodded. "Of course it's fine. I have you for the rest of the night." A small smirk flickered across his lips and he reached forward to remove Claude's glasses. He set them to the side and leaned forward until their lips brushed over each other. "What do you plan to do with me?" He asked.
A low growl left Claude's throat and he surged forward, closing the minute gap between them. Sebastian's fingers threaded through Claude's hair, tugging him closer and pushing his previous thoughts into the far reaches of his mind. He couldn't entirely ignore them and given the chance, Sebastian would properly sort though them.
But for now, he had an entire night with Claude and he didn't want to waste it by dwelling on disheartening thoughts. There would be another time and place to ponder them, but not now. Not when Claude pressed against him, arms warm and strong around his hips, and mouth hot and demanding. For now, just let him feel and dream. Thinking could come later.