WARNINGS: (slight) Violence. swearing

Chapter Ten

"You fucking bitch!" Alois' angry voice gave Ciel the morning wake-up he would be better without. Rushed steps neared their bedroom before the door opened with a loud slam, the handle creating a small bump to the wall. "How fucking dare you!"

"Good morning to you too Alois", Ciel sat up and yawned, rubbing his sleepy eyes while trying to focus his gaze to his lover. "What did I do now?" No matter how he tried, he couldn't keep annoyance away from his voice. Alois however noticed it immediately and got just a little more boost to his outburst.

"Oh, you should know yourself!"

"I don't know what you are talking about", Ciel admitted.

"You left me on the floor!"

"Oh", Ciel sighed and scratched the back of his hair. "Well, you didn't give me much choice."

"I could have gotten sick!"

"I put a blanket over you."

"I could have died on my vomit!"

"I rolled you on your side", Ciel said though he couldn't remember doing that. What did it matter anyway, Alois probably couldn't remember anything either.

"You left me alone!"

"Is this thing going somewhere?" Ciel asked and looked at his lover's eyes. He could see that Alois was desperate to find something to scold Ciel over so that he could get an excuse on hurting him. This time though, Ciel knew he hadn't done anything wrong. Alois examined Ciel, his eyes scanning every part of his face as he tried to think something to say. Ciel could almost hear the wheels turning inside Allen's brain and suppressed a smile. This fight he was going to win.

"… You have a hickey", Alois said when his eyes stopped to the nook of Ciel's neck.

What?

The boy just barely stopped his hand from moving to his neck. Victorious smile appeared to Alois' face while Ciel tried to think where he had got it from. The men? It was a possibility but very unlikely. So that only left…

Ciel's lips widened to a happy smile and he had to put his hand over his mouth to keep Alois from seeing it. Sebastian. The man had actually left a mark behind, a mark that made Ciel feel like he belonged to the man. The memory of Sebastian's touch all over his skin made Ciel almost chuckle and he felt his cheeks warming up. It was a nice feeling, but it came on a very wrong time. Just one glance on Alois told Ciel that he was in serious trouble. If only he knew how to speak himself out of it…

"You have a fucking hickey!"

"You sent me to a client last night, remember?" It was a good explanation and he wasn't technically lying, Sebastian had been his client, only not last night.

"No, that client didn't do it", Alois said and walked closer to Ciel before he sat beside him on the bed. Ciel tried to cover his almost naked body and leaned outwards a bit, he didn't know what Alois had in mind. "You look different."

"I'm full of bruises, thanks to your-"

"Don't play smart with me", Alois said and grabbed Ciel's chin, lifting his head up a bit. He looked closely in Ciel's eye and examined his neck. Fingers moved to trace along the sensitive skin and made Ciel shiver unwantedly before they moved to his hair and yanked hard. Ciel let out a small wince but Alois didn't mind, Ciel could already see that Alois had figured it out.

"You have another lover", Alois said slowly, his voice barely audible. Some part of Ciel hoped that Alois would actually feel betrayed or sad or something negative, but the man just smiled widely. "You are in love."

"Do you really think I have the time to date another man?" Ciel asked. He felt Alois' hand shiver lightly on his scalp and made it just a bit more painful.

"You have plenty of time if you want to find it", Alois said and pushed Ciel down to the bed, hovering just lightly over him. "Have you done with him yet?"

Ciel blushed beef red and it was enough answer to Alois. A fist smacked to Ciel's cheek and made his lip crack. Muffled cry left Ciel's throat but he kept his eye Alois, thinking of what he should say.

"What does it matter to you anyway. You cheated on me first", he knew it was a mistake, but it was all he had.

"It matters because I own you", Alois spoke against Ciel's lips and gave them a slight lick. "And no-one can take you away from me, not even your precious Sebastian."

A shock wave went through Ciel's body and he froze. Alois knew it was Sebastian. How long had he known? And most of all, did it mean that Sebastian was in danger.

"Oh please, don't look so surprised. Of course I know", Alois moved to kiss Ciel's neck, just above the hickey and made Ciel shiver, not from pleasure though. "You think I haven't noticed what you two too?"

"I-I don't know what you are talking about", Ciel winched when Alois' teeth sank to his neck hard enough to draw blood.

"Well, the ring for first", Alois licked the blood away. "And then the new number on your cell phone."

"What number?" Ciel asked, truly confused. He hadn't given Sebastian his phone number, and hadn't asked Sebastian's.

"Pfft, like you didn't know", Alois said, pressing his leg hard against Ciel's crotch and made the male moan. "Besides, you moan his name in your sleep."

"I do not!" Ciel protested, though he couldn't say that for sure. He did think about the man all the time when he was awake, but for him to come in his sleeps too… meant that he was screwed.

"It doesn't matter whether you did or not, the point it, that he won't get you", Alois grabbed Ciel's wrists hard and quickly tied them together to the headboard before Ciel could protest. "I'm going to make you forget all about him."

"As long as you won't touch him, it's fine", Ciel said and Alois looked genuinely surprised before he smirked.

"Oh? So that means I can do anything I want to you?" He sniggered and pulled Ciel's pants down. "This I'm going to enjoy."

His whole body was sore. At some point, he had passed out but didn't know when, nor that what had happened afterwards. What he knew, was that his head was killing him and his left wrist throbbed nastily. He still lied on the bed, the ties loose enough that he could get away from them but he didn't have the will to do so. It had been bad, much worse than what he had experienced in a long time. Alois had never been so rough, nor so cold towards him. If Alois usually behaved like he didn't like Ciel, now he acted like he wanted the boy dead.

Mixed emotions swirled inside Ciel's mind and he didn't know if he wanted to laugh or cry, though it felt impossible to show any emotions on his face, he was just too numb. Slight buzzing came from the nightstand but Ciel couldn't tell what it was, he just wanted to fall asleep and pretend that everything had been a dream. The buzzing however didn't stop. It continued in loops, quieting for a couple of seconds before it started again. Ciel had no other choice but to open his eyes and look at his phone that vibrated and flickered on the stand.

With shaking hand, he reached to the device and saw Finny's name on the screen along with mark of 23 missed calls and 14 messages. Ciel's eye widened as he tried to register what he read. For real? The ringing didn't seem to stop and Ciel was just about to answer his friend when the call cut off. Not knowing if he should feel relieved or not, Ciel put the phone back to the table, only for it to ring immediately after again. This time Ciel answered the phone.

"Hello."

"Ciel! Where on earth were you?!" Finny's worried voice almost pierced his ear and he had to move the phone away for a second. "We were so worried! Is everything alright?"

"Everything's fine", Ciel answered, too tired to explain what had happened.

"We're coming to get you", Finny said and for a second Ciel couldn't understand what he meant. "Come open the door, we'll leave right now."

"…What?"

Slight knocking came from their front door and Ciel frowned.

"Hear that? We're right behind your door", Ciel could hear Finny smile but felt anything but happy himself.

"N…no", Ciel protested. "I won't let you in."

"There's nothing to worry, Alois left just twenty minutes ago", Finny said. "We were actually very worried when you didn't answer you phone all day."

"I was…", come on Ciel, you can tell them, they already know… "doing laundry." Shit!

"Laundry?" Finny questioned and Ciel knew the boy didn't believe him. "Then you have no excuse to open the door."

"I… need to put on my clothes", Ciel said and looked at his naked body. Covering this mess up was going to be difficult. His abdomen was the easy part, and his legs, but his wrists and cheek…

"Fair enough. We'll give you five minutes. If you haven't opened the door by then, I'll kick it in", Finny cut the call before Ciel could protest. Shock was the only feeling Ciel could name at the moment. His mind was completely numb, he couldn't get his body to move, yet alone breathe. Clothes. He should probably put his clothes on. Shirt, where were his shirts. It took Ciel almost a minute to get out of the bed and awake his sore muscles. He threw on something, not actually checking as long as he was covered completely. How much time had he left? Two minutes? Or just one? It was too little, he wasn't prepared yet!

Ciel walked down the stairs, gritting his teeth every time his feet touched the ground and made his back muscles work and his bottom hurt. He cursed Alois for being so rough he had probably torn something.

"We're coming in!" Finny shouted through the door. "In ten, nine, seven…"

Ciel walked through the living room and leaned against the front door. He wasn't mentally prepared yet.

"Four, three, two, o-"

"I heard you", Ciel opened the door, Finny's smiling face immediately greeting him. Bard and Sebastian stood behind him, both looking a bit uncomfortable.

"I knew you'd come", he smiled but his smile soon dropped when he saw what state Ciel was in. "Let us come in?"

"Sure", Ciel moved to the side so that Finny could enter. Bard smiled at him as he passed Ciel and Sebastian stopped to give him a small peck to the cheek and smiled sweetly before entering. Ciel couldn't keep the small blush away from his cheeks and gave the man a sad smile. He knew why they were there and knew what they wanted, but he wasn't so sure if he could give it to them.

"So", Finny said and sat down the couch. "What happened?"

Straight to the point, huh?

"Nothing much", Ciel lied and turned his back to his friend. He quickly glanced at Sebastian, the man smiling softly, but oddly, it only made Ciel feel worse. Three pairs of eyes followed his movements when Ciel went to get cups from the kitchen. He didn't have anything other to serve beside water, but it was a way to keep from things from happen too quickly. Everyone took their cup when Ciel ordered them though they stayed silent.

For a moment Ciel felt really out of place, he didn't know whether he should sit or not, his back screamed in pain, but he knew his bottom wouldn't handle sitting. Besides, he couldn't find a comfortable place anyway.

"Come here", Sebastian said sweetly and sat to the couch next to Finny and Bard. Ciel looked at Sebastian's pointed hand and slowly moved to grab it. Sebastian's movements were slow and gentle as he guided Ciel to sit on his lap. Normally the position would have made Ciel very embarrassed, but now the warm feeling of Sebastian's warm body against his made him relax a bit and the pain eased.

"Ciel", Finny said gently and looked at Ciel. "Where's your first aid kit? We need to treat your wounds."

"…In the bedroom closet", Ciel answered, not giving it a longer thought.

"I'll be right back, okay", Finny soothed Ciel's cheek and disappeared to the upper floor.

"Bard! You should come in here!" Finny shouted soon when he entered Ciel's bedroom. Ciel would have jumped out of Sebastian's lap if the man hadn't been holding him.

"No, Finny, get out of there! I can get the kit!" Ciel yelled and tried to squirm free from Sebastian's hold. "Let go of me!"

"No", Sebastian stated, he didn't sound angry but Ciel knew he wasn't going to let go.

"Bard, don't go there!" Ciel yelled to the man and grabbed his hand just when he passed Ciel. "Please, don't go!"

"Sorry Ciel, I'll come right back", Bard said and released Ciel's hold on his hand. The boy watched powerlessly as the man disappeared to their bedroom. Ciel knew it was a mess, he knew they could guess everything that had happened to him, but could do nothing about it.

"Sebastian", Ciel pleaded. "I'm begging you, let me go."

"No", Sebastian soothed Ciel and kissed his neck lovingly.

"Really, Ii need to go, now", Ciel's started to hyperventilate and hid his face. He felt the panic rise inside him and shivered strongly. He didn't know what was going to happen, and it feared the hell out of him. Too familiar pain shot to his right eye and he let out a curse.

"Ciel, calm down", Sebastian pulled Ciel closer to his body and soothed his hair. Ciel rolled so that he could hide his face to the nook of Sebastian's neck and breathe in his scent. Sebastian held Ciel close to his body, just like the time at his bathroom. Ciel heard Finny and Bard come down the stairs but couldn't bear to look at them. They knew everything now.

"Give me your hand", Finny said and took Ciel's left wrist gently. When Finny had found out about it, Ciel didn't know, but was grateful when something cold pressed against it. He let out a sight that Finny seemed to misunderstand.

"Does it hurt?"

"Not that much", Ciel said. He let Finny treat his hand, first examine that nothing was broken and then bandage it. For some reason Finny knew how to treat wounds and sprains. Wasn't his father a doctor or something? Truthfully, Ciel couldn't remember a time when Finny spoke openly about his past.

"Show me your face", Finny said and rolled Ciel's head to the side gently. Ciel smelt disinfect when Finny whipped the cuts clean. It felt nice to have someone to care for him, but he also knew he shouldn't get too used to it.

Finny took extra care to examine Ciel's whole body, though the boy protested at first when Finny tugged his shirt up but let him treat his wounds. Only when Finny asked about his lower part, Ciel shook his head and pushed the boy away. Finny understood what Ciel meant and put the first aid kit away before he sat beside him. Sebastian kept holding Ciel close and gave him the secure feeling he needed so badly.

"So…" Finny scratched his chin and wondered his next word. "What happened?"

Ciel stayed quiet and wondered what he should say. It wasn't like Finny didn't know already, along with Bard, they just wanted him to say it out loud.

"Why are you here?" Ciel knew he avoided the question but he needed more time. Finny only huffed and repeated his guestion:

"What happened?"

"I fell on the stairs."

"Fuck it, Ciel!" Finny jumped up and Bard had to grab his shoulder to keep the boy calm.

"Easy there, Finny. Ciel had gone through a lot, give him some time", Finny glared at the man with narrow eyes. Hadn't he yet guessed what had happened? The look on his eyes said he had. Finny took a deep breath to calm himself down. Bard was right. Ciel needed some time to decide his words. He had been covering up for years; it wouldn't be easy to admit it straight away.

"Sorry Ciel. I didn't mean to yell at you", Finny whispered and pressed his head to Ciel's chest. His friend flinched a bit before he wrapped his bandaged hand over his shoulders.

"It's fine", Ciel said quietly, patting his friend's back for a moment. They all fell in silent, Ciel rubbing Finny's back and Sebastian gently running his fingers through Ciel's hair. He knew he had to say it eventually. He felt a sting of pain in his eye and pressed it tightly, letting out a hiss of pain. He noticed both of his friends tensed, but they didn't say a word, which of Ciel was grateful. He needed just a bit more time.

After he had planned what he was going to say, Ciel took a deep breath and opened his mouth, trying to speak, but no words came out. He shut his mouth and tried again, not proceeding any further. He glanced at Sebastian worriedly. He couldn't do it. Sebastian took Ciel's hand and squeezed it comfortably before he kissed the boy's forehead.

"It's okay, you can do it."

Ciel nodded and took a deep breath before he spoke, nearly audible: "I'm sorry", Ciel whispered, "I'm sorry for lying to you."

The miserable look on Ciel's face was enough to bring tears to Finny's and the boy quickly whipped them off.

"It's alright Ciel. We are here for you", Finny said and soothed his friend's back,

"... Alois", Ciel swallowed. "A.."

"What did Alois do?" Finny asked, looking Ciel gently in the eye.

"… He got mad", Ciel said.

"For what?"

"I did wrong", Ciel covered his face. "I'm sorry", he turned to look at Sebastian, his eyes miserable and on the brick of tears. "I should have never fallen for you, I betrayed him." Ciel could see the pain in Sebastian's eyes and it made him own chest clench in pain. "I'm so, so sorry."

"What are you talking about?" Sebastian asked, ignoring Finny and Bard's surprised faces.

"He found out my feelings for you", Ciel whispered.

"How?"

"He just put it all together", Ciel said. "Apparently he realized the ring was from you, and I had your number on my phone."

"… I haven't given you my number", Sebastian frowned.

"What? Then why did he…"

"Umm", Finny raised his hand and looked a bid guilty. "That would have been me."

"Excuse me?"

"I gave you Sebastian's number a couple of months ago. I thought you noticed", Finny looked sad. "Sorry, I hadn't guessed that it would come to this."

Ciel was speechless. Sebastian looked frozen too, only Bard laughed a little.

"It's… fine", Ciel said when he finally found his voice again. It really was fine, he couldn't blame finny for something he did to help Ciel. He was sure that Finny gave the number to help Ciel and Sebastian's relationship move forward. Too bad he hadn't found the number earlier.

"Thank you", Finny hugged Ciel tightly.

"I hate to bother you guys, but we're running out of time", Bard said and glanced the clock. "Alois will be here in any minute."

"We'll take him away from here", Finny said and stood up. "You can stay with me if you want."

"I don't think that's the biggest issue here", Bard said. "How do we protect Ciel from Alois?"

"I'll give him a good beating if he comes near Ciel again", Finny cracked his fingers and let out a mad laugh.

"We need a plan", Ciel said quietly and they all turned to him.

"Are you saying that you won't come with us?" Finny's expression hardened immediately and he glared at Ciel. "Because if you do…"

"No, I'm not saying that. I just mean that right now…"

"We can think of a plan later, just now we'll just take you out."

"You won't take him anywhere", Alois said calmly from the front door. The whole room seemed to chill five degrees and Finny and Bard moved to stand between Alois and Ciel who Sebastian covered with his body.

"Sebastian?" Ciel's voice was quiet and scared when Sebastian held him closer to his body.

"I'm here. You are safe now. You will never come back again", Sebastian whispered.

"We will take him, you have nothing to say about it", Finny said and lifted his fist. "Or do you want to try how hard I can punch you?"

"Oh? You are threatening me in my own house?" Alois laughed and looked at Finny with his murderous eyes. "I can easily call police, you know."

"I'm not threatening you, just stating facts", Finny said back. "You have no right to keep Ciel to yourself."

"Has he told you why he is with me in the first place?"

"What?"

"Oh, I guess he hasn't", Alois smirked at Finny's surprised face. "You know, Ciel here is in serious debts. I am the one who helps him out of it, not you. He owns his life to me."

"You can't own people!" Finny yelled and was ready to storm to Alois but Bard stopped him. "Let me go!"

"Easy, Finny. Don't do anything you'll regret later", Bard whispered to him. Finny grit his teeth but managed to stay in place.

"Well then, I think it's time for you to leave", Alois said and stepped to the side, showing Finny and Bard the door.

"We will leave, but Ciel will come with us", Finny said and Alois' eyes turned to Ciel who hid himself better to Sebastian's arms.

"Really?" The question was pointed to Ciel but the boy kept silent. "You really intend to leave?"

Ciel just nodded slightly. He had never in his life been so scared. Sure Alois looked somewhat calm at the moment, but he know that the volcano was about to erupt.

"…Fine", Alois said and raised his hands. "If you want to go, leave."

They all were shocked by Alois' words. He was going to let Ciel leave, just like that? Sebastian slowly rose from the couch and stepped past Alois. He only managed to take two steps before Alois grabbed Ciel's arm and whispered something to him. Ciel's eyes widened in shock before Sebastian pulled Ciel away from Alois' touch.

"Don't you ever dare to touch him again."

"Oh, I won't touch… him", Alois laughed madly and walked to the other room. The friends wasted no time to leave the apartment and out to Sebastian's car.

"Are you sure you'll be alright?" Finny asked Ciel who lied on Sebastian's bed. The boy nodded his eyes a bit drowsy from the medicine Sebastian had given him earlier. "If anything happens, don't wait to call me, okay?"

"Okay", Ciel said and looked as Finny exited the room. He could hear the three men speak outside the door, but they spoke so quietly Ciel couldn't hear them. It didn't take too much to guess though. After everything that had happened, Ciel was surprised that they hadn't left him yet. It would have been better for all of them if they left Ciel alone, the only way to keep them safe, though Ciel doubted that. Alois knew now who to attack if he wanted to hurt Ciel, and he surely would.

The bed creaked when Sebastian laid to his own side, pulling Ciel out of his thoughts. The man snuggled closer to Ciel and hugged him close before placing a loving kiss to his hair.

"How are you holding up?" Sebastian asked.

"Fine, I guess", Ciel answered. Truthfully, he didn't know. Sure he was glad that he wasn't with Alois, but he couldn't help thinking his next move.

"It's going to be alright", Sebastian whispered. "I promise."

"No one can guarantee that", Ciel said back and made Sebastian rise to his elbow.

"What do you mean?"

"Alois is a sadist. He'll do anything to hurt me", Ciel said. "he won't stop until I'm his again."

"I won't let anything to happen to you", Sebastian tried to kiss Ciel again but the boy pushed him away.

"No, you don't understand", his eyes were serious when he looked at Sebastian. "As long as he hurts just me, it means that everyone else is safe!"

"Stop talking like that", Sebastian said.

"I won't because it's true", Ciel said. "If he ever hurts anyone of you, I won't forgive myself."

"Ciel", Sebastian pulled Ciel to a tight hug and soothed him. "Nothing will happen to us. We are safe."

"…"

"Just sleep for now, everything will be better tomorrow", Sebastian said and closed his eyes. Ciel listened to Sebastian's slow heartbeat but couldn't sleep. He kept imagining different things what Alois would do to his friends and Sebastian, every one worse than the previous one,

Ciel closed his eyes. He wanted to sleep, but Alois' words spun in his head.

You haven't seen anything yet.

-To Be Continued-

Hello! My holiday starts now, so I don't know when I'll update the next time. I just thought that I would let you know. But I promise, in the next chapter, the beginning of something bad will occur, something bad enough to rip at least one relationship apart!

Thanks you for reading, and please review!