Ciel woke up very early in the morning that day. No thoughts purged his mind and he filled the room with a blank stare. Half of him pushed all that happened aside and chose to burn the fragments into a pit that it will never be recovered. In a haze, he stared at himself in the mirror as though he was looking for his flaws. Is there anything different? His eyes that no longer desired, his rough pale skin that seemed exhausted and aged – is it all because of him?
He won't allow it.
His bare feet touched the warm, carpeted floor, careful to not put that much pressure on his right foot. After, he quickly undressed himself. Throwing his nightgown, he opened the creaking closet with much haste and picked a random outfit. The design is alike to the one yesterday, and it didn't matter anymore for what did is the fact that he had to be done before the demon comes in.
'I know he will.' Even if he ordered him not to, he will think of the last night's rendezvous as an excuse.
Everything he wore played within the shades of blue, and the buttoning and tying of the necessary places didn't take him as long unlike the first time. The sun is set higher and the rays peeked in through the translucent curtains. This reminded Ciel that he should be down any minute, and with a last judgement from head to toe he contemplated, "This is it." He used it to spell the end, at the same time he thought of it as a beginning.
His acting won't stop here.
He whipped around and in that split second he opened the door, the man he would want to see last stood in front of him with the same surprised look that turned into a small smile.
"Good morning, young master," His right hand placed neatly against his butler badge. His composure didn't let a single thought slip out, and in that moment the young teen almost heard a thicker wall wrap itself on to their bond.
"Good morning." Simply said, and the raven almost dropped his smooth ignorance of the situation the minute he heard the familiar, old master that didn't look at him similar to the past when they first met. Those times, his master saw him nothing but a tool – a dog - and he did think of the child as a mere soul to fill him up too. However, circumstances changed, and both knew they had a bond more than contractor and demon.
A silent chill ran up Sebastian's spine, noticing how oddly normal everything is.
The coldness and the distrust, like the younger had nothing left to say.
"Master?"
"What's for breakfast?" Ciel began to walk down the hall. He lifted his tone as much as he wanted to raise his soul. There's nothing more to do but put him on the same level. The same road they're walking on has neither closure nor distance, just a simple deal they're waiting to be done over.
Just all he wanted.
"I tried making some macarons. There are twelve flavors on the platter. To go with it, I also served some Persian tea. It complements each flavor very well." Ciel nodded, and just after a few seconds the familiar set of people came to his sight.
As of the moment, he has nothing to say to Sohma. But they will both be over it soon, since it's him.
Everything will happen as it should be.
Even if it means that he's going to distance himself from Sebastian, he will do it, just to return to the time where everything was not a big mistake.
"I heard about your foot, is it okay?" Sohma was the first to initiate the conversation. There was a ghost of concern in his tone, and Ciel noticed how his purple brows inched next to each other and how his features were rather calm. In some way, he managed to hide his emotions effectively though the more he seemed to be unaffected showed more of his swelling sadness and dejection. Ciel decided to carry along the atmosphere wherever its heading, and the rest of the servants seemed too.
'Looks like nobody knows.' Ciel thought for a second before he answered the hesitant inquiry, "It's not a big deal." He produced a dismissive huff. With a last glance at the Indian male who happily chomped off the sweet meal without any further rebuttal, Ciel then pulled his gaze back at his grinning butler. Sebastian stood beside Agni, just across the table on the other end. The blue-eyed teen considered many things before he was completely convinced.
If he avoids Sebastian, will it bother the male? Definitely not. Perhaps he might be delighted, about how his master gave up and he will have worries no more.
With that, the raven butler walked back to Ciel's side. Despite wanting to know the underlying message beneath such a small action, he kept his thoughts and bit his lip. The breakfast course flowed smoothly without any words having to fill in the silence. Both parties knew what the other needed, and the process almost came to a last.
Ciel happened to take his last sip, when a sudden phenomenon occurred inside him, literally.
Thump, thump.
He almost choked on the hot liquid, for he just couldn't help it – the thumping sounds banged in his heart and it sent ringing echoes into his ears.
Thump.
'What the hell is this?' It repeated after every second. He evened his breathing and promptly calmed his nerves but to no avail. The vigorous beating sounds did not stop.
His eyes began to narrow and widen at the same time. He sat frozen in place, still holding the China cup in a drinking position. His gardener finally noticed this and in a worried expression, he went to his master and asked.
"Master? Is something the matter?"
Ciel snapped back to reality and put the tea cup down, still in a state of confusion. "Yes." He was the only who could hear it, after all.
Thump.
He looked for the loud pulses in his blood but it gave no sign. All he could hear is the riot of an aggressive beating. His eyes travelled around until it landed on a pair of glistening, ruby eyes.
The beating grew louder, and he realized.
'This isn't mine!' The longer he gazed at his eyes, the faster it paced. Could it be – no, but can it be?
Ciel abruptly rose from his seat in shock, 'What the actual hell?'
Sebastian snapped his attention to his master as well, and his eyes grew wider as well.
"Follow me." With a menacing and demanding tone, Ciel turned towards his room and quickly ran through a flight of stairs with Sebastian in tow. Sohma halted his eating and threw a questioning look at the sudden ruckus. Bard scratched his head, and with that, he said, "We don't get them either." Sometimes they're too exceptionally capable that we turn out as dumb, but they also have sudden impulses like that that can shock the whole manor at times.
The moment they arrived Ciel already banged the door close while the sound vibrated inside the quiet confines of his room. Blood seemed to pump more in his cheeks and he panted, pointing an accusing finger at Sebastian.
"You…..what….the hell was that? I know you've got something to do with this!" Ciel could still hear it, but this time fainter. At the end of his statement, the thumping paced forward again.
"I'm afraid that-
"Stop playing mind games with me for a moment! What are those sounds? Are they from …you?" Ciel pointed at his chest to prove his point. The taller man quirked a brow, but his doubting expression quickly changed into a defensive, cold one that contradicted the screaming thumps.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I was surprised that master just, all of a sudden …" Before Sebastian knew it, the Earl already had his collar fisted between palms. An angry, dark and lowered gaze met him and a hint of shiver crawled on his sides. Sebastian was bent forward, an inch close to his master's porcelain face that's painted with anguish.
"Don't you dare lie to me. Not now." Obsidian fringes framed Sebastian's detached look until it fully shadowed his features.
"It seems so."
"Then, explain it."
"I couldn't help it, forgive me." Ciel let go of him. Red eyes met the small back of his master that shook with utmost hatred. What could he be so angry of? He has a reason for it, but it seems the Earl himself is asking all the wrong questions.
A slap came hard across his face.
"If you were that desperate to eat my soul, then just do it." Sebastian took a minute to fully comprehend what was going on. He straightened himself and watched a single tear fall. It took a second Ciel already had it gone in mere seconds that Sebastian thought it was impossible. He was so frustrated that it drove him to tears? Yet, he's willing to jump into it, and that's just how foolish he can be.
Just what has gotten in to his master?
"I had no such thoughts." Sebastian placed his right hand to his left chest and bowed in full apology.
"Liar. I know you."
Ciel fell apart.
"You don't want anything but my soul and I'm ending this. I'm telling you now." Sebastian took a few steps forward to the sitting figure and touched his small shoulder, but he got rejected either way.
He sighed. "What is it now? Don't tell me that you're giving up your revenge for such petty things? This is not you, master."
"I know! And it's all your fault."
"How it mine? Master, come on now, let's go to bed." Ciel slapped his hand away for the second time.
"Don't touch me." Sebastian stood dumbfounded as he stared back at the glossy, sapphire orbs that wanted to break out all the emotions that resided in there. Both his nose and cheeks are pinkish in color and the surrounds of his eyes are swollen. The master in his past will never allow himself to stoop so low. Right now, he was so utterly weak; so utterly human. Sebastian despised weakness more than he despised emotions. Yet….
"What are those thumps for then? You can't have a heart, you're a demon."
"You're right about that as much as you're wrong as well."
How troublesome indeed. He can't be figured out that soon.
"I don't care. What I want you to do now is kill me and just end this stupid contract." His thing fingers rubbed his eyes and he held back his sobs. Sebastian sighed for the second time, not expecting any of this.
But it seems it was already too much for his master, if you consider what happened the night before. "First of all, I can't kill you." Ciel knew he was strong, but he hated it when he used it to defy his wishes. Sebastian already has him carried and no matter how much he struggled the superhuman creature will never spare a budge.
"Let me down you useless –
"Second, there's no more contract." Ciel quitted escaping when he heard those words, wide moist eyes speaking at him with disbelief.
"What are you talking about?" Sebastian brought him on the soft bed. Gloved hands touched his sensitive cheek and wiped his tears away as he glared at the insolent fool in front of him.
"I said what are you talking about!"
"That's all for now, young Lord." Sebastian turned to leave.
"No! You damned demon don't tell anything to me. I'm ordering you to tell me what's going on-
He was cut off by a pair of soft lips and blood rushed to his cheeks. It happened with force, and he could feel his lungs running out of breath. Sebastian is kissing him. He was frozen as he felt two hands grab him by the waist. The sensation overwhelmed him and brought back his memory of the first time feeling it. Short seconds were as if long hours and his wide-opened eyes still pronounced shock. He pulled away just in time before the demon could speak, before Sebastian could feel his heart skip a beat.
How can Sebastian play these kinds of games with him? He already gave up, but why can't circumstances just allow him to move on and take on a new path?
"Don't complain, child. Also, don't throw a tantrum if I tell you. I don't want this either but for a thousand years this is the first time it has happened, and the only thing I know about is that you can never escape from it, sadly." Sebastian held his chin firmly as he licked his lips. Ciel saw him as the hungry demon that he met in the past, but his focus shifted when he heard the thumping sounds again.
Thump.
"I can't kill you it seems, and you've wasted by time. But what can I do?" He spoke without an ounce of respect, even though a smug grin played on his lips.
Thump.
"I do have a heart. And it only beats when I've met my mate. In this poor case of mine, it's you, young master." There was silence but after a few minutes, Sebastian began to fix Ciel's tie and left, back to the ever loyal and obedient servant that everyone fawns over.
'This can't be….' Nothing will ever be the same, after all.
a/n Sorry for the long hiatus because EXAMS AND CLEARANCES are all piled up on me..but heeey it's summer break in my country now! ( three months ) so mwahahahhahaa frequent updates are expected! I have much free time now so there'll be more progress in this story. I don't know what to feel about this because I feel like I just made a huge skip. Ciel just felt he got rejected and now he learns he's actually Sebastian's mate? Well will things go well from now on or will it just drive him further to despair?
Let me hear your thoughts and review! Thank you for all the support!