[A/N] This tale takes place directly after Tale 006.
Tale 011 [Part 1]
' There's much for the Demon to Swallow '
Sebastian could still be considered in shock, when they were bidden to report to the crown that following day. His Master Ciel was in a right foul mood as his impending report of failure loomed evermore near. Such was his temperamental Master's dislike for failure, that his very frame trembled with his ire. On any other occasion, Sebastian would delight in such visceral outward shows of vexation, but the creature himself had not yet fully regained his faculties.
Why, just the night previous, after returning to the manor from their gruesomely failed mission, his Young Lord had ordered a striking command.
"Mount that right in my study where I can see it. It isn't every day a Son of Adam bests a hellion I imagine; and I do so love my trophies."
He spoke of the petrified head of his brethren that Ciel had bade him to carry home. And though Sebastian felt no real kinship or empathy for the slain demon, he did feel a bubbling sensation, looking at mounted face that was eerily similar to his own. It was not a … negative feeling, though that itself was a relative descriptor. This emotion reminded Sebastian a bit of a type of hysteria that he had dabbled in a time or two, though even that correlation didn't seem quite right.
And now, as the butler sat across from his, thunderously expressed, young human, he attempted to self-diagnose just what was this feeling nearly climbing out his throat!
"I should say," His Master began, somewhere between a hiss and a growl, just as their carriage pulled around the royal promenade of Buckingham Palace. "the very next moment you can get, where there would be absolutely no way to incriminate me, kill that sodden bastard Grey for the suffering he is sure to put me through."
Sebastian felt that sensation bubble stronger. His eyes narrowed in vicious glee. "Is that an order, My Lord?" He asked just to be clear. Snake pulled their carriage to a stop. Right outside, at the very top of the grand stairs was both Grey and Phipps in their pristine, white livery.
"For now, it is a suppositional tender. You may use your discretion, my dear knight piece."
Sebastian felt his insides quiver in delight, such was the malice wafting off his small Lord. To feel needed, for his Lord to make such exact demands of him; that elusively named feeling inside the demon was swelling like a tide. "Yes, My Lord." He purred.
As usual, when visiting the Queen, the black clad creature could follow his Master but only so far; leaving his Master to receive, what was no doubt a dressing down, alone. Phipps, both vigilant and stoic, kept Sebastian company. The two servants were seated in a lounge too far from where the meeting was held for Sebastian to eavesdrop, so he kept time by counting the human's heartbeats and plotting ways to kill his colleague. When he at last could detect Ciel's unique gait, he stood at the ready. Before his Master even turned down the hall Sebastian could feel emotional pulses of power surging down his seal.
It was a peculiar thing now, his seal. Ever since the night of his illness, when Sebastian (a demon no less!) had called upon his human owner from his side of seal, the thing acted now as if its gates had been flung wide open. Strong emotions, intentions and energy was both sent and received, overall making this contract more intimate than any he had ever previously held. But lately, the breaking and forming of new records was becoming a commonplace thing for his Master Ciel Phantomhive.
The moment the door opened and Sebastian was able to set his eyes on his contractor, he was torn.
'KILL HIM' Ciel's entire countenance seemed to say, and Sebastian froze, unsure if he was hearing an order or simply interpreting emotions on his own. He paid such close attention to his human, that he missed all of what Grey was saying as he sauntered into the parlor.
'Should I simply kill him now?' Sebastian was hoping his expression was enough to convey his question. While he was mindful of the whole host of problems outright murdering the Queen's butler in Buckingham Palace could cause, it was not his place to question orders given, be they direct or not.
Ciel closed his eyes and took a deep breath, seeming to re-center himself. When he was calm, he spoke their goodbyes in no uncertain terms, spun on his heel and made his way to the exit posthaste. Sebastian followed closely. He didn't always forget about his Master's explosive temper, but the boy worked so hard to keep himself so tightly in control that it did occasionally slip the demon's mind.
It didn't happen until they were well and truly outside of London, with no more witnesses than Snake and Sebastian themselves.
Ciel took one deep breath, then two, then he screamed his fury so piercingly it frightened the horses. Sebastian also winced. The teen contained himself just enough to be able to form words. "Kill him! You kill him, Sebastian, the first goddamn moment you can! Painfully! I want him to relive every moment he has gone out of his way to ruin me and by GOD I want to be there when you do it! The sodden, fecking, diabolically-hypocritical, lying, useless sack of human waste! I won't suffer another encounter with him if he isn't screaming in agony!"
Finally, the boy fell back into his seat to regain his breath; clothes awry, hair disheveled. He'd thrown his cane and hat to the floor of the carriage in his pique.
Calmly and carefully, Sebastian picked them both up before kneeling on the floor to fix his Master's appearance. "Fear not, my Lord. You need only voice your desire and I shall make it reality."
"It cannot be borne, Sebastian." He fairly whispered. His one eye was so alight with murderous rage it seemed as if his soul was heating up the atmosphere around them. "He had my Queen questioning me. Questioning my abilities and integrity. Questioning if whether it might be better for me to give up my title. Such a thing…" he seemed to fade into his own mind before his one visible eye snapped back to their attentive audience. "Such a thing cannot be borne."
"I understand." The demon continued to assuage his human with the gentle ministrations of fixing his clothes, and when he was done with that he petted the boy in the guise of fixing his hair. "Your most humble servant shall begin planning right away, My Lord. You need not suffer such disrespect for long. Do you trust me in this?" He asked. He had never asked before, and yet his essence heated in anticipation of the answer, in anticipation of hearing such affirmation.
Ciel's stare seemed to take the butler apart, it was long and made the demon's body heat. That, too, was a new sensation. "I trust you."
Sebastian felt his cheeks heating with blood. His mouth pulled slightly with … genuine pleasure. Everything felt so new, but he gave himself over to it. He was happy. He allowed his body to show it. He lifted his eyes back up to the solitary, unblinking stare of his owner. He had so many quips prepared to say;
'As you should, Master Ciel.'
'I shall never fail you, My Lord.'
'Your humble servant thanks you for your trust.'
'Do not fret, it shall be done.'
But as saliva pooled in his mouth, as he gave himself to his genuine pleasure, as he knew he was pulsing his excitement through their shared seal, all he could manage to say was, "Yes, My Lord."
[A/N] I'm trying to take Sebastian's character somewhere I've never really seen done before. It's tricky, but well worth the effort. Let me know what you think.
Synne