A/N: Sorry guys. College hit like a ton of bricks. That's the only excuse I have for why this took so long, and I apologize.
On another note, after you read it, can anyone tell me why the chapter is named "wordplay"?
Wordplay
The maid, Emily, helped carry a few of Ciel's smaller bags down to the carriage, leaving Sebastian a hand free to steady Ciel as they walked. The young earl hadn't spoken much since leaving the hall where the party still went on, sitting quietly in the armchair as Sebastian packed his things and went to find Emily to help carry them.
"Is he all right?" she whispered to the demon once Ciel was safely inside the carriage. She handed him another suitcase to put on the roof, watching as he tied each one down with expert precision.
"He will be." Sebastian replied calmly, securing the last of the bags and climbing into the driver's seat. "He needs a good night's sleep in his own bed, and that should put him back to rights." Eyeing the assassin-turned-maid, he continued, "If anyone else were to attempt the queen or the crown prince harm, my Lord would expect you to defend them, if you enjoy this life so much as you claim to. Do not give us reason to doubt your good intentions, or you will suffer, I can assure you." His smile was perfectly blank and polite, but she could sense the truth of his words, and the danger in his eyes.
Emily stepped back from the carriage, nodding. "Yes, of course. I wish the young earl the best. Travel safely."
"Thank you." Sebastian bowed halfway, before climbing into the driver's seat and heading away from the palace. The trip back to the manor was two hours, and it was already quite late into the night. If he wanted his master in bed by a proper time, they would have to go straight home. There would be only a short break for the horses. Hopefully, when they reached the familiar surroundings of the Phantomhive Manor, Ciel would be able to sleep without nightmares.
xXx
When Sebastian pulled the horses to a stop at a small crossroads, it was just past eleven. He led them over to a small pump and trough at the side of the road, allowing them to get a drink while he went to check on his master. Often they would have conversations as he drove, as his enhanced hearing allowed him to perfectly tell exactly what Ciel was saying. But he had been silent for the drive so far, and the demon was feeling the faintest bit worried.
"Forgive my intruding, young master…" he began, opening the door of the carriage. But he stopped, a faint smile on his face at the sight before him. Ciel was curled up on the seat, his travelling cloak haphazardly bunched beneath his head as a makeshift pillow. The butler chuckled to himself, stepping inside and very gently easing the cloak from under him, folding it into a proper pillow before tucking it back under his head. He removed his own heavy woolen coat, draping it over his sleeping lord before returning outside.
Sebastian led the horses back onto the road and climbed back into the driver's seat for the last hour of the journey. When at last they pulled up in front of the manor, he scooped up Ciel, taking him upstairs and getting him prepared for bed.
"Sebastian…?" Ciel slurred, only partly awake.
"Rest now, Bocchan." Sebastian said calmly, buttoning his nightshirt and putting him to bed. "I will stay with you tonight. Nothing and no one can hurt you as long as I am here."
"Yeah…" the earl wriggled deeper into his blankets, turning away from Sebastian as his breathing evened out again. The butler settled in the armchair to watch over him. He would leave in the morning, to prepare breakfast before Ciel awoke, but for now his place was here.
xXx
Morning came as it always did, and the routine remained unchanged, though Ciel's mood remained as subdued as it had been the night before when they left the palace. It was only compounded when he realized that his gold signet ring was missing, quite possibly forgotten at the palace in his haste to leave. Sebastian tried everything he could think of, including promising to locate the lost ring, but the boy remained gloomy and irritable. All of his lessons were cancelled for the next week, and he shut himself in his office, moodily going through sales reports and prototype sketches from the Funtom Company.
Sebastian had one last trick up his sleeve. He fussed in the kitchen for most of the morning preparing a moist chocolate cake filled with fluffy chocolate mousse. He frosted it perfectly, setting it on the tea cart before going to the back door and whistling quietly.
Two black kittens, one with blue eyes and one with gold, padded up to the door, looking up at Sebastian expectantly. He shook his head, allowing them inside with a faint smile. "I'm sorry, I do not have food for you right now. But you may be allowed to stay inside from now on." The demon had been looking after these two orphaned beauties for a month or two. He'd worked with them patiently, teaching them survival skills in place of a mother cat, as well as how to behave themselves if they were ever allowed in the house. He kept them clean and well-groomed, their glossy coats soft and silky.
He was hoping that, in light of Ciel's Christmas gift to him, the kittens would be allowed indoors. He also hoped that they would make Ciel smile. They were adorable and affectionate, and Sebastian couldn't imagine that even the little earl would be able to resist them.
xXx
Ciel looked up at the quiet knock on the door and watched Sebastian maneuver the cart into the room. He lifted the stacks of papers and shifted them to the side, preparing for his lunch. But instead of a quiche or savory stew like he'd been expecting, a thick slice of mousse-filled chocolate cake was placed before him. Sebastian was pleased to see the gloom in his eyes lift a bit.
"Are you spoiling me, Sebastian?" Ciel asked softly. "I am not a child that needs comforting."
"Adults are just as apt to indulge after being stressed." the butler replied, grinning. "Chocolate is excellent for making humans feel better."
Ciel blinked. "But you never let me have just cake for a meal. You want something. And I know for a fact Bard was making quiche this morning, so you can't say there was nothing else." He took a bite regardless, savoring the fluffy mousse. It was perfect and delicious, like all of Sebastian's sweets, and he ate steadily, unwilling to admit that it was making him feel better.
Sebastian just watched him contentedly, feeling the contract sign thrum as the child's mood lifted. And he grinned broadly when, halfway through his slice, Ciel dropped his fork and yelped.
Pushing back from his desk, the little earl stared down at the floor in shock. He hadn't bothered with his waistcoat, day coat, or shoes this morning, so he clearly felt the nudge against his stocking-clad foot. He wasn't expecting two black kittens looking up at him with big, innocent eyes. "Sebastian, what is this?"
"My Christmas present, my Lord." the butler said brightly. "You said that if you approved of them, they could stay."
"So you let them loose in my study when you know I'm allergic?"
"You are not allergic to cats as a whole, Bocchan." Sebastian explained, rounding the desk and scooping up one of the small bundles of fur. "You are allergic to dander and loose fur. They are kept bathed and well-groomed to avoid your allergies." He set the blue-eyed kitten in Ciel's lap, watching him tense. "Relax. This little one's name is Sky. Try petting her."
Ciel hesitantly stroked the small head, a tiny smile quirking his lips as Sky purred and settled against his stomach. Glancing at the other one, he asked, "What is that one's name?"
"Corbeau." Sebastian replied. "He's the less energetic of the two." He set Corbeau in Ciel's lap as well, and the boy scratched behind the kitten's ear, earning another purr. "They like you." Sebastian said quietly, and Ciel smiled for just a moment before trying to hide it.
"They may stay." he said calmly, reaching for his fork again. "But you are to keep them groomed, or they're going right back into the garden."
The demon took a dish of cream from the cart and set it on the carpet beside Ciel's chair for the kittens. "Thank you, Bocchan."
Ciel was surprised by the amount of genuine gratitude in Sebastian's tone. He looked back to his cake as the small weights left his lap to investigate their dish, his ears burning red as he snapped, "I made you a promise and I'm keeping it. That's all."
"Of course." Sebastian smiled, packing up the tea cart and leaving Ciel with his cake and paperwork. The earl glanced at the kittens, who gave him an inquisitive look before returning to their own treat. Ciel set about finishing off his cake, finally allowing a real smile to cross his face.
No good to let Sebastian know how cute he actually thought the fuzz balls were.
xXx
Over the next week, Ciel gradually got used to their two new housemates. Sky and Corbeau followed him almost everywhere, finding any excuse to mewl for his attention or curl up against him. And he indulged them gladly. He enjoyed the attention and affection. Almost like when Sebastian doted on him… but he wasn't going to think about that.
On the following Saturday, Sebastian found Ciel in the library, reading in the window seat with Corbeau curled up in his lap. That answered where the other kitten was; the butler had just seen Maylene and Finny playing with Sky in the servants' hallway. Bard was working on dinner in the kitchen, and Tanaka was in the butler room, going through the financial records during one of his moments of lucidity.
"Pardon me, young master, but you have a visitor." Sebastian said, bowing halfway.
Ciel frowned. "A visitor? Who comes to visit without at least sending a note ahead of time?"
"He introduced himself as the Duke of Tenshire, my Lord. He says that he apologizes for the inconvenience, but he happened to be in the area and decided to make an impromptu visit." Sebastian replied. "I took the liberty of showing him to the sitting room, and have prepared fare for afternoon tea."
"Very well. I will see him." Ciel sighed. He nudged Corbeau lightly, prompting the kitten to jump to the floor before getting up. A bookmark was plucked from the nearby table, and once his place was safely marked the boy brushed past Sebastian impatiently. The demon couldn't help but notice the dark circle just barely noticeable beneath his visible eye, and knew that a matching one lay hidden beneath the eyepatch. Though his mood had lifted and the kittens brightened his days a bit, Ciel was still suffering nightmares. Sebastian often indulged in sleep at night if there were no other tasks to be done around the manor, but he had forgone that privilege for the past week, listening attentively and focusing on the contract mark in case his master needed him. At least once a night he woke screaming for Sebastian, and while these incidents were not mentioned during the day, Sebastian knew they were taking their toll on the young earl.
When they reached the sitting room, Ciel entered first, Sebastian close behind with the tea cart. Damien Landers sat quietly on the small couch, and he smiled when he saw Ciel.
"Earl Phantomhive. I must apologize for simply dropping in like this. I was not originally planning on making this visit, but I was in the area, and I had been meaning to speak with you."
Ciel perched himself in one of the armchairs as Sebastian began to prepare the tea. "And what is it that you wanted to speak with me about?"
Leaning back on the couch, Damien waved almost absently. "I want to get to know you better. We're very similar after all. You're the only one who would understand about what happened to my parents, because the same happened to you." He accepted a cup of tea from Sebastian, taking a small sip. "It is… troubling. My household is large, but none of my servants are particularly close to me. I have no one I can speak to about things like this."
Ciel nodded, taking his own cup. "I understand. Sebastian, you may go. We will be fine here." Once the butler had bowed and taken his leave, he settled back in his chair and took a long draught of tea. "How did your parents die, Duke Landers?"
"Please, call me Damien." the duke replied. "Ironically enough, since everyone knows what happened to the Phantomhives, my parents also perished in a fire. They were at a sort of… community gathering, and something the room ignited. Most blame the candles, saying they probably caught the drapes ablaze, but since no one survived the fire there is no way to know for sure." He stared down into his teacup, melancholy. "How have you coped with it, Earl Phantomhive? I try to put on a strong front, but I am nowhere near the man my adopted father was. I can only assume my real father is alive, but I have no way of locating him. It just seems so hopeless sometimes."
"There's no sure way to recover." Ciel said, rubbing his family ring. "I cope by knowing that one day I will find those who committed this crime against me, and I will destroy them. That is what drives me. You must find something that gives you a reason to keep going." The little earl could see something of Prince Soma in the Duke of Tenshire, but where Soma had been obnoxious in his uncertainty of how to exist on his own, Damien at least seemed to have a grasp on his own independence.
Damien offered a weak smile. "You are a stronger person than I, Lord Phantomhive. I have to admire your fortitude."
"I only do what I can." Ciel replied. He set aside his empty teacup. "Do you play billiards, Duke Landers?"
"Yes, I do."
"Would you fancy a game?"
The blond duke nodded, and Ciel led him upstairs to the billiards room, offering a brief tour of the manor along the way. They played for almost two hours, after which Sebastian came to inform them that dinner was beginning to be prepared. Ciel invited Damien to stay for dinner, but he declined, saying that he had prior engagements in London that evening and needed to go ahead and leave. He bid them farewell, expressing his wishes to visit again some time.
xXx
That evening, as Ciel finished up a final few documents for the company, Sebastian brought his evening tea and a small plate of bite-sized shortbread biscuits. Organizing the papers that had already been set aside, he commented casually, "You seemed to enjoy yourself this afternoon."
"Oh, be quiet." Ciel huffed. "He was good company, is all."
"Because he is much the same as you?" Sebastian asked curiously. "I must say, you two make an interesting comparison. My revenge-driven Bocchan versus this relatively normal duke."
Ciel finally looked up to glare at him. "Are you saying that I'm not normal?"
The butler smiled. "I did not say it was a bad thing. A normal human being is not a fitting master for a demon at all." He reached out, resting the tips of his fingers on Ciel's cheek for a brief moment before turning back to the tray and fussing with the teapot. When everything was arranged to his satisfaction, he bowed and said, "I will return later to dress you for bed. Excuse me," before leaving the room quickly. Ciel watched the door close, slightly puzzled, before returning to his documents, munching a biscuit contentedly.
xXx
Out in the hallway, Sebastian stopped near the door to one of the sitting rooms, bending down to scoop up Sky, who nuzzled up under his chin as he held her to his chest.
"Oh, little one, no matter how exquisite you are, you are a poor substitute for the sky I'd like to reach." he murmured. "I'd never considered it before, but now that I've noticed… I cannot ignore it anymore." He stroked the fuzzy head, continuing down the hallway. "It seems that those who try to reach the sky will fall and shatter, no matter how much power they have. But perhaps that just makes the challenge all the more worthwhile." Corbeau appeared from somewhere as he entered the kitchen, knowing that the butler was going to give them their evening meal. Sebastian set Sky down beside her brother, going to retrieve the dish of small fishes he'd put in the icebox after dinner. As he set the dish on the floor and refilled their water bowl, he continued to muse, a small smile on his face.
"After all, if my care is greater than my hunger… would that not be an equivalent to love?"
