Chapter Eleven
One month, one whole month that Ciel was loved and pampered by the silver-haired man. One month of bringing back the Phantomhive name to toy stores across England. One month filled with a number of ways of forgetting about Ael.
The sun shone bright, birds chirping as the air was pungent with the sweet smells of the Thistles and Orchids. Ciel watched the sweet summer scene, munching on his chocolate slice, Riff watching him.
"Ciel," Riff interrupted and the Earl looked at him. "I think it has been long enough. Maybe it's time you look at the world through two eyes." Riff came close, hand just so lightly on Ciel's shoulder.
The boy nodded and relaxed under his touch, at the ready with eyes closed. The butler undid the tie at the back, the thick cloth falling with grace to the ground.
Ciel opened his eyes and blinked, looking up at Riff with those missed innocent eyes. Riff sighed. His hand cradled his lover's cheek. "Still…just as beautiful." Ciel gave a half-smiled.
Riff pulled away, fingering the cloth. "What is it?" The boy asked.
Riff looked back and mulled over everything in his mind – ignoring the bickering voice in the back of it. He placed the cloth in his waist pocket, replacing it with something in his fist. "Ciel…there is no way I can take claim of you. I could never do what Ael did." An unconscious hand touched its owner's neck, where the necklace was just fading away. "But maybe…this could say enough." Riff opened his palm.
If Ciel had ever chosen a moment to be breathless, it was now. He gaped like a fish out of water; the Phantomhive signet ring, the tanzanite stone surrounded by a brilliant frame of silver. Another token not only of his parents, but of his entire family.
He took it with the most cautious hands, looking it over with an inspecting eye. There was no sense of imitation or any sign of it either; it was the ring.
He looked up at Riff, finger curling in. Riff kneeled down, eyes ever waiting.
In a quick moment, Ciel hugged him close, eyes shedding tears into Riff's waistcoat. Riff gave a sigh, arms encircling his love back even tighter.
Ciel gave a content sigh, pulling away with courage. His inexperienced lips pushed against Riff's in a chance first kiss, one quickly reciprocated.
Maybe, when they parted, Ciel would tell him the truth. The truth, that if Riff looked hard enough, he'd find the key to his room under the door's floorboards.