CHAPTER 10

Hello everyone! Well, I guess it's been a while – long time, no post – so now that I'm back from the year end mayhem and the horror exam, I shall be dutifully taking this story out of hiatus as well. Enjoy!

Curled up uncomfortably onto the office chair, Ciel was chewing nervously on his nails, completely ignoring the food in front of him. He looked tense enough to make me uncomfortable in turn and I swore inwardly, knowing it had been such an incredibly stupid idea to get him involved in the first place. Alright, admittedly I had no choice in the matter, since he had turned out to be the only key to all the answers I was seeking, but still…

"So, why did we do this again, Sebastian? First you say there's some funny shit going on with Alois, then we go find him like… like that… By the way, is he still alive or that doesn't really matter? Because right after finding him lying in a pool of his own fucking blood you go and say 'leave him there'! Just what the fuck was that about, exactly?"

"Look, it's bad enough that we asked Tanaka about him earlier, now straighten up and eat your food before someone realizes that wasn't the real reason we left the office," I said, popping in another chip and focusing on the laptop screen, "Don't worry, I can tell he was still alive when we found him, and we started the alarm, so he must have been found by now and taken care of. But it is crucial that no one finds out it was us who found him!"

"Why the hell not? What exactly is that we have to hide? What the fuck have you got to hide, huh?"

I breathed out a sigh, taking in the boy's worn countenance. What the hell was I doing? He was still very, very young and all this was probably too much for him. Sooner or later, he would crack.

"You know, Ciel, when I first met him the Undertaker said a very wise thing about all this – this is a war which you can't win. You've been around for what, two years now? And that's only because you're an investigator, probably. But you've already lost one eye, your parents are dead, and soon enough you will be dead too. Hell, it's not at all unlikely that I will be, too. And why is that?"

"Wha-…what do you mean?" He was even paler now, and his hands fell limp to his sides as he stared blankly at the tips of his boots.

"I mean how unreasonable it is to send only two people in a breed-infested plant, for example? And if this is a Vatican affiliated organization, what are I and Finny and very possibly other breeds doing being employed here? Don't you think it's weird, to put it mildly?"

The boy didn't answer right away. "You spoke with the Undertaker?" he said after a while, calmly, reaching out for his drink and taking a long, noisy slurp.

"I did. But the fellow was sporting a brand new scar on his throat so he wouldn't say much. The only thing he did mention though was that you should talk to your confessor…"

The petite investigator huffed, slamming the paper cup back onto the table. "See? See? That's what's really fucked about this place! That fucking weirdo creeps around getting all sorts of funny ideas into people's heads, like there's something mysterious and ...occult…and some fucking conspiracy going on, and then it all turns out to be one of his fucking jokes. What the hell? And if you must know, I had a confessor when I was very little, and it was only because Mom wanted to, but fuck! I haven't spoken to him in years! The fuck, I've got nothing to confess!"

Oh, I think you do…and you're still little… I inwardly chuckled. "That's not how he meant it, Ciel. He said that the confessor has things to tell you, that there are some things you should know," I explained, only getting in return a roll of eyes as Ciel stuffed his mouth with a handful of my chips.

"Mark my words, Sebastian - I am SO not doing this! Pfftt… I can't believe you fell for the Undertaker's tricks. Stupid demon!"

Maybe I should have just let things unfold and done nothing, I told myself as I walked out to 'dinner'. Trying to get some sense into Mr. Ciel Phantomhive investigator extraordinaire had proven every bit the epic failure I had expected to begin with. Of course he didn't trust me, I was the demon. The stupid demon, more precisely. And besides, I had nothing but my suspicions to share, nay, not even that. I had only my questions to share with him and as far as he was concerned there was nothing which raised any particular question. It wasn't because he wasn't a smart boy, but because deceiving himself into believing everything was just fine was more comfortable that thinking something was wrong, especially after all he'd been through. And I couldn't blame him.

Not a word of the library alarm and of what had happened to Alois got out, not as much as the faintest rumor, therefore I assumed that probably Father Faustus had already taken care of covering things up effectively. In these circumstances, I sure wasn't going to push my luck by asking any nosy questions. In fact, I was going to keep as low a profile as possible, until the waters stilled, telling myself that a bit of subtlety couldn't hurt for once. Of course, I didn't think the Undertaker had been joking about anything – that scar clearly wasn't a joke and it was hard to believe that he'd inflicted it onto himself just for the sake of making things look real.

The more I thought of it, the more I convinced myself that there was something awfully fishy about Father Faustus in particular. He was just too composed, too fearless for someone doing that kind of job – after all he was fighting against things that clearly surpassed any human. And it was no absurd determination of a cracked fanatic about him, but rather the calm of someone who knew exactly what they were doing, without any risks and without any uncertainty. And that was the most puzzling fact.

I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner that night, taking enough time to indulge in some quite entertaining 'dessert' as well. It was a much welcomed break from the regular torments of my job, and it turned out I really needed one. All the more since soon enough more crap was going to come my way.

It must have been around three in the morning when I made my way back home, purposely ignorant and oblivious to any oddity I might have encountered on my return at that odd hour. I sped up through the dark church and down the stairs, and then all the way to our little apartment with brisk steps, not looking right or left, as if chased by someone unseen I was desperate to escape. This wasn't altogether impossible, at any rate.

I carefully locked the apartment's main door behind me, noiseless even, and noticed that everything was quiet. Good. I went straight to my room, without bothering to turn on the light, and dumped my clothes on the floor in a heap before slipping between the cool, welcoming sheets. I stretched, allowing myself to relax at last, my body still slightly elated by the remainders of earlier pleasure, for once grateful for the large mattress. My chest expanded as I took a deep breath, taking in the scent of fresh linen, and my heavy eyelids closed at last. But then my sprawled out fingers encountered something that shouldn't have been there, in my bed - which was supposed to be empty – and I bolted upright in a surge of panic, with a loud gasp and patting around desperately to switch on the nightstand lamp.

"What did you think it was, a monster in your bed? Heh, I totally owned you!" Ciel snickered with a lopsided grin from under the duvet. Still up on my feet, I blinked, now past the initial shock, and resisted the urge to jump and strangle him on the spot. Why was I the demon, again?

"What the fuck?! There is a monster in my bed," I grumbled, ill-humored. The petite investigator patted the mattress next to him and I slid back onto the soft bed, my panting gradually subsiding. "Just how idiotic are you, Ciel? I could have ripped you to shreds just now! What the hell were you thinking, sneaking up on me like that?" I growled, refusing to raise my voice too much and thus show more weakness.

The boy just snuggled closer to me in reply and snickered some more. "Like hell you would have, you should have seen your face, Sebastian. Scared shitless, weren't you? Heheheh!"

Obnoxious little shit! "So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this unusual visit? Any particular reason for deciding to plague me with your presence at this late hour?"

"Why are you so mean? I just needed to be with you," Ciel murmured against my bare shoulder, his breath warm and moist. "And what the hell took you so long tonight?"

Oh, so he had been monitoring my movements all this time. Argh! And yeah, I had taken my time. So what? There had been no emergency. But for some reason I suddenly grew self-conscious and sniffed rapidly and discreetly, to check whether the perfume of my previous prey had lingered on my skin. Negative. Well, not that it was any of his business. And why the hell was I mean?

Ciel, we are SO not having this conversation again!" I pointed, but my tone softened. And what the hell did he mean, 'needed to be with me'? "What's the matter, anyway? Are you afraid to sleep alone?"

My biting insinuation hit its target, because the petite investigator stirred suddenly, kicking the covers off, sat up abruptly and without a warning straddled me, reaching to grip both my wrists and pin them down. For a moment I thought he was about to punch me in the face next, but instead he leaned down to kiss me. Just a soft, nibbled peck onto my lips at first, gradually growing into something more fierce. My hands rose to get a hold of his small waist - undecided whether to push him away or not – and my fingers accidentally slipped under his shirt, ghosting over the heated skin underneath.

Ciel pulled back suddenly, a mixture of hurt and disbelief in the large, blue orb fixed upon me. "No, d-don't!" he stammered, forcefully pushing my hands away from his body. "You… don't really like me, do you?"

I sighed loudly, folding my arms onto my chest defensively. "What's not to like? You called me a stupid demon about ten times today… And I lost count of how many times you called me an idiot, oaf and many other charming things. I have never been or felt so showered with affection in my entire life, both as a human and as a demon. And tonight you crept into my bed to scare the hell out of me just for your amusement!"

"I said nothing untrue! And if you were a real, mature man you would assume it, too!" he retorted right away, pointing a finger at me accusatorily.

What?

I scowled and grimaced, unable to control my facial expression as I couldn't decide whether to get really, really mad or to burst into laughter and laugh my ass off – he was that unbelievable. Eventually, I resolved to give him a taste of his own medicine.

"Fine," I agreed, raising my palms up in acceptance. "I fully assume it – I am a stupid demon. The very fact that I ended up being a demon is the result of my own fuck up and I take full responsibility for it. But are you equally ready to admit that you are a short-fused, bipolar bastard who is afraid to sleep alone, even if you're what… almost nineteen?"

Ciel said nothing in reply, averting his gaze, but the sharp intake of breath made it clear that he'd taken the hit in full. Serves him right, though…the little bastard. I reached up to pull him gently in my arms and he did not oppose. "You don't like me," he eventually concluded, his head resting against my shoulder.

"Maybe I like you a little, but I don't want to take advantage of your confusion. And earlier you didn't kiss me because you wanted to, but because you are afraid of something and you're seeking my protection. But Ciel, I am here to protect you anyway, you don't have to do anything to get onto my good side"

"I'm not confused about this, I do want you," he breathed, lips brushing against my collarbone," Even if yes, I admit that it helps me stop thinking about other things. The petite investigator pushed himself up a bit, his mouth finding mine once more. "I…mmph… take me, Sebastian…" he muttered between hurried, sloppy kisses," Ahhh, make me yours! I want to be all yours!"

The next second I was on top of him, my lips pressed against the hot flesh beneath which pulsed the forbidden blood, rapidly disposing of the pieces of clothing which got in the way the most – namely his boxers and mine. His scent was intoxicating and I let out a low, pleased growl as I nibbled at the soft, sensitive spot on his neck. "Mmmm, delicious..." I complimented in earnest, but then the petite investigator gently pulled my face up and he glanced into my eyes with a mixture of excitement and fear.

"Sebastian…" the boy murmured softly, as he pushed his left thumb past my lips and impaled the small pad onto my sharp teeth. The flavor of the few tiny drops reaching my tongue invaded my mouth, almost instantly throwing me into something very close to a drunken haze. I realized this would have been really dangerous had I not been already full for the night. Like this, it was only some more 'dessert'.

Ciel hissed as I hungrily sucked onto his thumb and lifted his hips in order to press our groins together, wrapping his legs around my hips and seeking the much needed friction. His dainty fingers clawed impatiently at my bare back and I wasted no more time, burying myself in the tight, welcoming heat of his body almost without preparation, driven by my lover's addictive moans.

The boy threw his head back, his whole body arching against the mattress as he moved his hips in rhythm with my own thrusts, with more confidence this time. "Oh God, S-Sebastian! More, ahnnn, more! Harder!" he cried softly as I repeatedly hit his sweet spot - his sensual voice feeling like the strongest drug to my ears – and I couldn't but oblige him, as I felt my own climax drawing near. A few powerful thrusts later we were both spent, panting in each other's arms.

I scooped Ciel up in my arms, careful not to disturb his light sleep, and carried him back into his own room. I laid his – this time fully clothed – little body onto the mattress and gently moved to tuck him in before I could return to get some more rest myself.

"Mmmm… the fuck are you doing, Sebastian? Did you just kick me out of your bed?" the petite investigator grumbled half-asleep, shifting between the covers with an ominous scowl.

"Love, it's already seven in the morning. You-know-who might pop in here any minute now just to 'check what you are wearing', so it's best if we take measures to prevent any inconvenience. Last time she was getting pretty close," I explained defensively and making quite the effort to sound coherent myself.

Some unintelligible growling came in reply as Ciel pulled the duvet over his head. "Mphhhhat…the fuck is wrong with her…"

"I have to say, all these precautions are starting to make me feel like I'm having an affair with the prime minister's wife of something. All risqué and stuff…"

"Sebastian…"

"Yes?"

"You say the stupidest things!"

To be continued...