A/N - Almost didn't get this posted today. So sorry for the lateness.
Also I'll get to replying to reviews tomorrow. ^^
Love ya'll!
Chapter Twenty-One
It was dark outside, the sun still tucked behind the horizon and still several hours away from its daily trek across the sky. Outside, the sidewalks were empty and the streets were almost bare, with the exception of a random car driving by.
The house was dark, all the lights shut off but it didn't stop Sebastian from moving around the house without any problems. He made it to the kitchen with ease, turning on a small light over the stove and allowing the kitchen to glow.
He pulled out some bread and a small sliver of meat, stacking the two pieces together and munching on it while he made another. Once it was set on a napkin, he filled up two bottles with water, shaking the drink mix inside it so the powder wasn't clumped at the bottom.
The light was turned off and he stayed still so he could finish eating while his eyes adjusted to the darkness once more. When they could make out the shapes, he dusted his hands off and padded back to the bedroom where Ciel was still sound asleep.
He reached behind him, pulling out a small pistol and stopped by the side of the bed. Leaning down, he snapped his fingers a few times, watching as Ciel's nose scrunched in the darkness. The younger male shifted slightly on the bed before stilling.
Smirking, Sebastian reached his hand out and lightly smacked Ciel's cheeks. The smallest of groans left Ciel's mouth and when the closed eyes started to twitch and blink open, Sebastian's hand trailed up to thread through the dark locks.
He yanked back on them as the eyes sleepily blinked up at him, drawing a yelp from Ciel. Before Ciel could say anything, he pushed the pistol into Ciel's face and watched as the blue eyes grew wide before him. "You have seven minutes to get dressed and eat before we leave. The lights will stay off the entire time and you are not allowed to ask any questions or speak."
Sebastian was only given a glare as Ciel pushed him away to have room to get up and move. It took some effort on Ciel's part not to complain about the rough treatment or the time he was being woken at. Even his heart was protesting as it beat wildly within his chest. Ciel wouldn't admit it, but seeing a gun in his face when he finally woke was unnerving.
Dressing only took a few moments; he just had to throw on a shirt and a pair of sweats. Ciel didn't even care if they matched. Who could care much when it was far too early in the morning.
When he was done, he turned back to Sebastian who pushed a sandwich in his face. Ciel wasn't hungry but he would eat as much of it as he could. He doubted he would be eating much later.
The sandwich was halfway finished when Sebastian tugged at Ciel's arm. "Time to go," he muttered and gestured to the waiting shoes with the gun. "Put them on."
The door was opened while Ciel was struggling with his shoes and a gust of cold wind blew inside, making Sebastian's eyes squint slightly. The gun was strapped to his ankle for safety and he turned back to see Ciel standing up once more.
"Outside," he grunted and pulled out his gloves. They were slipped on and he tugged at the bottoms once they were set, making sure they were snug.
Ciel looked reluctant for a moment, not feel the least bit dressed for the weather. He took a longing sideways glance to his hoodie that sat a little down the hall. Before he could even think about running to get it Sebastian had him outside and into the cold. That earned the older man his second glare of the day. Ciel was forced to shiver and shake in the cold. It had indeed snowed last night; just great.
Sebastian gestured to the car and they quickly climbed inside. A pair of sweats were waiting inside on the off chance that Ciel didn't have enough time to grab something warm. Once they were on the road, Sebastian reached back to hand Ciel the hoodie before turning down a side road.
They bounced along in silence, Ciel still wide eyed, but Sebastian knew it would only last for so long. He turned down another path and drove for a few minutes before coming to a stop outside a cabin.
Sebastian stepped outside of the car and quickly trotted to the door, letting himself in. The door closed behind Ciel and Sebastian stomped the snow off his boots. "Welcome to your first day of training," he said happily with a smile on his face.
It was far too early to be that happy, and Ciel couldn't help but feel a bit of trepidation. It did not bode well if Sebastian seemed too excited about something. Ciel was probably going to be having one hell of a day. Glare number three was tossed to Sebastian and Ciel thought that it was probably for the better that he couldn't talk. There wouldn't be anything pleasant coming out of his mouth at that point.
Sebastian shed his coat and tossed it onto a chair next to the door. With silent feet, he padded into the cleared room and gestured for Ciel to follow him. Ciel's footsteps followed and Sebastian stretched his arms up over his head. "You'll need to stretch out a bit before we do anything. This way I can see what your body can or can't handle right now, and it'll help prevent injury of course."
Ciel resisted the urge to comment that Sebastian had already experienced first hand just how flexible Ciel was, but thought better of it. If he needed to be silent, for whatever reason, Ciel would be silent. He simply nodded and got to work stretching out his still sleeping muscles and joints. A loud pop sounded as Ciel's back cracked making him pause for only a second.
Once Ciel was stretched, Sebastian moved over to him and pushed a strand of hair out of Ciel's face. "You don't have to stay silent anymore; that was just while you were getting ready. You're free to talk," he turned back around and opened the door. "Although you might want to save your breath during the run."
"You'll want to take that back sooner or later," Ciel added with a small smirk. He was sure he would turn into a smart ass eventually when he felt the need to complain. A run this early in the morning was not his prime choice of an activity. Right now Ciel would be in bed, probably drooling on his pillow.
"So you say," Sebastian answered and walked out the door, crooking his finger so Ciel would follow him. Cold wind blew over them and Sebastian let the door shut behind him before moving away from the cabin. "Ready?"
No Ciel wasn't ready, but what other choice did he have? He wouldn't complain. This is what he wanted, and Ciel was going to see this through to the end. Without a complaint he nodded his head and got ready to run whatever distance Sebastian would force him to go.
Without another word, Sebastian took off at a slow jog. Cold air entered his lungs while his breath puffed out in little white clouds of smoke. He could hear the crunch of snow behind him from Ciel following and he started to enter the woods surrounding the cabin.
It had been a good amount of time since Ciel had last bothered to take a jog. His usual exercise consisted of walking to and from his destinations. It made him nervous to think that his body wouldn't be able to hold out for long; it would be embarrassing if he couldn't make it even a mile.
"How far are we going?" He had to ask despite himself.
"Depends," Sebastian answered and weaved through the snow covered trees. Small branches snapped and broke as they passed. The snow dropped to the ground as the branches broke and Sebastian increased his pace slightly.
"Depends on what?" Ciel reached Sebastian stride for stride, looking up into his face as he breathed out hot puffs of air.
Sebastian shrugged. "The weather, how far you're willing to go. Things like that." They moved up a hill, and Sebastian's feet sunk into the thick snow covering the ground. Winter was always the best time to train due to the snow making it harder to run.
Hearing that made Ciel feel the need to push himself farther. It seemed that Sebastian had a certain amount of expectation towards how far Ciel would be able to go. There was no doubt in his mind that he couldn't out run Sebastian, but at the same time he wanted to keep up with the older male. Ciel did not want to give Sebastian a reason to say that he wasn't capable to take this job on. He would do this, his mind would just have to stay clear and focused.
The hill leveled out and Sebastian felt his pace pick up once more. The cold air bit at his nose and he felt a small drip of sweat trail down the back of his neck as they continued running. It felt good to run so freely after being on constant guard the past few weeks.
Ciel quickly lost pace with Sebastian. It was clear to see how vastly different their experience levels were. He could already feel a nasty stitch taking residence in his side. The pain grew sharper and sharper with each stride. Even the cold air seemed to be against Ciel as it dried his throat and made it scratchy and sore. There was no way he could deny that his speed was decreasing and he was falling more and more behind as they hit another up hill sprint.
At the top of the hill, Sebastian paused and turned back around to find Ciel slowly making his way up the snow covered hill. He breathed out lightly, watching as the white cloud vanished by the time Ciel stopped next to him.
"Shall we walk back?" he asked.
Hands met knees and Ciel braced himself as he caught his breath. He only paused a moment to send a glare at Sebastian. Was that four now; he couldn't remember.
Walking back sounded quite good in Ciel's opinion but he was hesitant to admit it. This run had made one thing clear. Ciel was horribly out of shape and nothing about this training was going to be easy.
'Well this should be fun,' Ciel thought bitterly as he straightened up finally after feeling less light headed.
With a small nod, Sebastian pulled a knife out from his pocket and marked the tree nearest them before sliding the knife back into its spot. "Let's head back then. We'll take a small break and let you drink and rest a bit before we start something else."
Returning the nod, Ciel followed Sebastian back at a much more sedative pace. Even with them going slow, Ciel could feel his legs wobble as if made of jello. Taking a break was a promising thought and the only reason he forced himself onwards.
"What are we doing next?" he asked to keep his mind off the fatigue.
Sebastian only shook his head as his shoes plowed through the snow, cutting a path while the falling snow covered their old track. It wouldn't be too long to reach the cabin and by that time, Ciel's heartbeat would be back down to normal and it would be time for a small snack.
He let his arms stretch up over his head, feeling Ciel's heavy gaze on his back. "It's a surprise," he finally said, not wanting to give anything away.
Ciel sighed, letting the crunch of the snow fill the sudden silence between them. He was feeling slightly better once the small house came into view. It looked warm and welcoming compared to the snowing and icy cold he was currently in.
They got to the house quick enough and Ciel set to work brushing off the snow while trying to kick his shoes off. His shoulders were damp and he frowned at the sticky feeling. Hopefully he could get dry before whatever else he'd be forced to do.
Sebastian passed him one of the drinks he made earlier before taking a sip of his own. He let Ciel shed his layers and took a seat in the middle of the empty room. His legs stretched out in front of him, toes wiggling before he finally let his body lay on the hard wood floor.
He stretched out, allowing his legs to sprawl out on the ground while he worked out the muscles. Soft footsteps signaled Ciel's approach and Sebastian lifted his head up to glance at the younger male. "You walk too heavily. I can hear you too easily."
Ciel opened his mouth to argue the comment but thought better of it. He could very well be quiet when he wanted to. That had been proven when he had followed Sebastian, but he supposed it would be good to be in the habit of doing so. Ciel just nodded, and sunk to the floor beside Sebastian's head.
His sweaty sock covered feet poked at Sebastian's cheek and Ciel couldn't help but laugh at the sour expression he received. There was no way that the smell could be pleasant at this point.
"Come here," Sebastian muttered and grabbed Ciel's foot, dragging it closer to his body. He rolled onto his side and pressed his thumb into the younger males stomach. "Your first lesson is going to be on pressure points since knowing them will give you the knowledge to fight better."
"Your going to teach me how to kill a man with my thumb?" Ciel laughed at his joked inquiry. Pressure points had never been something Ciel had thought much of. He knew where some of his where and that they hurt, but he didn't think much more could come of them then that, or Sebastian was going to quickly prove him wrong.
Sebastian shook his head. "Not exactly, but it'll help you escape from a fight if you need it or give you an advantage." He stood up and pulled Ciel to his feet so he could point out the different spots. "Hitting someone in the collar bone will make them reflexively move away from the pain in a downward motion. While a blow to the shoulder will make someone move back."
His hand moved forward, pushing against Ciel's left shoulder to prove his point as the younger males body tilted backwards away from the sharp jab.
Squeaking quite embarrassingly, Ciel felt himself falling backwards and off balance. His back met the hard floor and he could only blink up at Sebastian for a moment. Realization struck him and he gave the older man a hardened look, not pleased at becoming the example. Nor did it settle well with Ciel how easy it was to use such a trick.
"Is there any way to counter act it?", Ciel had to ask. As important as it was to learn how to exploit pressure points, Ciel couldn't help but think how important it would be to know how to keep one's self from falling victim.
Sebastian shook his head. "There's no way to stop the pain, but you can block or avoid the blows before they hit." He held out his hand to help Ciel back to his feet. He checked over Ciel's body to make sure the fall hadn't injured his back before letting his hand fall back to his side.
"Well then I suppose we ought to get started. Lots to learn you know." Ciel placed his hands on his hips in an expectant manner. He was eager to get started on something more hands on. Despite being quite efficient in fencing, Ciel had never bothered to perfect his skills with just his hands. Fist fighting was a brute sport after all and had once been beneath him.
"Very well," Sebastian answered and took a small step back. "Why don't you show me what you know. How you think you'd set your feet and protect yourself from someone coming at you."
Ciel stared down at his hands thinking of the best approach. With them being free of a rapier he didn't know really how to go about attacking. Running at Sebastian with fists at the ready seemed rather silly, but what else could he do?
He decided to set his feet the proper width apart and settled his body in a nostalgic stance. This exercise was quickly bring back memories of a time in Ciel's life that he had once enjoyed. Ciel continued to stand there for a moment in the typical stance he had learned for fencing. He studied his opponent for a moment and then rushed forward, his fist thrust out as if he were jabbing his sword at another.
A fast hand blocked the fist, knocking it to the side. Sebastian moved to the side as Ciel took a quick V-step, trying to attack once more. He dodged and then caught the next fist that was aimed at his head.
Red eyes gazed at Ciel and a small smile crossed Sebastian's lips. "You have good footwork," he commented lightly. "Quick and light on your feet too." He wouldn't say more out loud, but he was impressed with the footwork that Ciel had shown. It wasn't something that he had expected, and it pleased him to see that the younger male was already showing promise.
Ciel just smirked, he had a few tricks up his sleeve; some secrets he had yet to share with Sebastian. He spun around and avoided a counter attack from Sebastian and danced back to put a good deal of space between them. This was nothing like the proper duel that he was used to during competitions. It was much more similar to the time he had fooled around and spared with his teacher. There was no finesse about it, just the need to hit and not be disabled. This was a matter of life and death. There would be more on the line then just a trophy.
The idea spiked Ciel's heartbeat and his adrenaline pumped through him. It was a heady feeling and Ciel was falling in love with it.
Sebastian's feet glided along the floor as he avoided another attack. It was a light and easy spar, but it was still highly enjoyable for him. He gave a light hit to Ciel's stomach, forcing the younger male back and then allowed space to settle between them.
His eyes trailed over Ciel, looking over his features. Ciel wasn't breathing hard and his eyes were bright and alert. It made him smirk as the younger male came back towards him again with the intent of landing a hit this time.
Ciel's mind worked quickly to assess just how he could change the sedated course of this. It was a continuous miss, miss, and miss. He was quickly getting used to using his hands as weapons apposed to an object. It was tricky and he had to think a lot more on his feet.
Well there was a thought. Ciel was currently only using his feet to move him from point to point, but they were also a very able weapon in all of this. A well aimed kick, a slide of foot to hook an unsuspecting ankle, it could all work for his benefit; it was worth a try. Ciel was getting no where at this point.
With quick and practiced steps Ciel came forward, attacking Sebastian head on. His body twisted out of the man's range to the left, ducked and swung his leg out while supporting his body with his palms pressed to the cold floor.
Sebastian grunted as he stumbled away from Ciel, not expecting the attack. His ankle throbbed lightly from the hit and he shifted his weight to ease the pain or a moment. "Very good," he murmured lightly.
"Thank you," Ciel said, walking back to catch his breath. This was quickly wearing him out. Perhaps if they had not ran previous to this he would have been able to go on longer without growing fatigued. Running had never been Ciel's strong suit. He was small and thin and got winded easily more often then not. If he were to keep this up, Ciel would have to learn how to kill quickly and efficiently without exerting himself.
Straightening his body, Sebastian rolled his shoulders. "Would you like to stop for now or keep going?" His eyes flickered to the small windows where the sunlight was starting to filter into the room.
Ciel thought it over and shook his head. "I don't want to stop, but I'd like you to teach me to actually hit you." He smiled innocently, belying his intentions.
Sebastian chuckled. "That is a secret that you'll have to learn yourself," he stated, smirking at the irked look Ciel threw him.
Without thinking, Ciel rushed towards Sebastian. His left fist aimed for the older man's gut his other coming up to defend or block if needed. He wasn't going to let Sebastian toy with him. Ciel wanted to have the last word, or in this case, the last hit.
The attack missed Sebastian, but Ciel brought his other hand around and caught Sebastian off guard. He stumbled a few steps back, holding his side where the hit had landed. It wasn't the most proper way, but it had allowed Ciel to land a hit.
Ciel moved back, a smile on his face. "How was that?" He hadn't thought that would work, but he wasn't going to complain about being wrong.
"Not too bad for your first time," Sebastian said honestly and straightened back up. He looked at Ciel's beaming face and couldn't stop the small smile from taking over his own face.
"Well I have you for a teacher after all." Ciel sauntered up to Sebastian, a sway in his hips. Was he sucking up? Perhaps, but there was a method to his madness and he wasn't quite done yet.
Sebastian crossed his arms and leaned back slightly, his eyes dancing. "This is true," he commented, his tone light and filled with humor. "Are you going to reward me for being a good teacher then?"
"And what would you like for a reward?" Ciel's fingers crawled their way up Sebastian's chest as he leaned into the older man. He smiled warmly as he pushed himself up to give Sebastian a small kiss. Their lips met and that was all Ciel needed. He yanked the other man forward and to the side, tripping him over Ciel's foot and pushing him to the ground.
Ciel fell on top of Sebastian, straddling his waist and pinning him down. "Got you," he said with a saucy smile.
An eyebrow arched. "And what are you going to do to me now that you have me?" he asked, pushing against the hands holding him down. They held him down tight and he couldn't help the small trickle of lust that moved through his body.
"What indeed," Ciel said with a lopsided smirk. "There are so many things I could do to you right now. What would you prefer?" He wiggled slightly on Sebastian's waist, his hands splayed out upon strong shoulders.
Sebastian's eyes narrowed at the tone. "Nothing, you wouldn't give it to me anyway; even if I begged." He pressed against the hands, signaling that he wanted up again so they could continue.
That sparked a light of curiosity within Ciel. "Wouldn't give you what?" he asked, trying to keep Sebastian subdued beneath him despite the man's refusal.
"Any number of things," Sebastian commented. "Your eyes show mischief in them, like an imp. You're just teasing and taunting me, aren't you?"
"Perhaps, but you were the one who let this imp get the better of you." Ciel was indeed all smiles and mischief. He leaned down to give Sebastian a quick peck on the nose and then proceeded to release the man, letting him sit up as Ciel slid down into his lap.
Sebastian pushed Ciel off and stood up easily. His stomach cried for breakfast now that the sun was up and he wasn't one to ignore that cry. "We'll take a small break for some food and then we'll continue training."
Food sounded good, and the idea kept him from complaining about the sudden halt in their activities. Hopefully the nourishment would refuel his body and get him up and running at his full potential once again. He would definitely be needing it since it was Sebastian he was up against. The man didn't even look winded after everything they had done, whereas Ciel was trying not to drag his feet at this point.
"So what are we having?" Ciel found himself asking and he followed the older man.
"Eggs and some sort of protein, along with some other smaller sides of food," Sebastian answered, padding into the kitchen. Bard and Finny had stocked the kitchen already and were on standby in case they needed something else.
For now, Sebastian preferred to train Ciel away from the public eye and more in a place where they had privacy. This land was owned by the family and was hard to find during the winter. The woods provided a natural protection and helped to ensure the privacy for training.
They'd go home once they were done for the day, leaving Bard and Finny to restock the cabin and clean it up before the next day. They weren't complaining about the easy job and in fact, they seemed to enjoy it. Although they both knew that it wouldn't last long.
Once Ciel was trained to a certain level, Sebastian would start coaxing him into the public for training. Runs through the city, scaling alley walls, and learning to blend in with the crowd.
It was always risky to train in public, since anyone could see them and remember their actions. But it was a necessary task and one that had to be done. The most Sebastian could do was prepare Ciel as best he could now, and hope that everything worked out for the best when they moved onto the next stage
Ciel's eyes tiredly blinked open and he had to resist the urge to turn onto his side to cuddle further into the blankets of the bed. His body ached from head to toe, too many muscles over used and strained. Training had been anything but easy these past few days. Sebastian had been getting him home late and waking him early. Ciel was already running on near to no sleep.
It was all a matter of getting his body used to such extreme conditions. He knew there would be times where he would not be able to sleep for days and be expected to be at the top of his game. The expectations on Ciel were tough but he had no intent to let Sebastian down.
With a weak moan he turned and rolled out of bed, his socked feet hitting the floor. Sebastian was already up and moving about the room getting things ready. Ciel didn't even bother to inquire what the man was doing. He would be finding out soon enough.
Sebastian glanced back at Ciel to make sure that he was up this time before hoisting the bag over his shoulder. The items inside clinked together and he shifted his grip so he could pick up the box sitting on the floor.
"Five minutes," he said and moved out of the room. His sock covered feet padded over the carpet, making his body forget how cold it was outside.
They had three more days of training left before the Christmas break settled in. Even Sebastian wasn't that cold hearted to make Ciel train on Christmas and the day before. At least not at the intensity they had been training at for the past few days.
There was always something that could be taught and improved on. Moving silently through the house without thinking was the best and easiest thing to work on during the downtime.
Sebastian picked up a cup and sipped at it before moving out to the car. It was still dark outside and his eyes quickly adjusted as the bag and box were set into the trunk before he moved back inside.
Ciel was waiting for him in the entrance way, yawning and fully dressed. The young man had come to form a habit of throwing on what ever was near by, not bother to care if it matched or not. Today he wore a pair of navy running pants and a dirty brown colored shirt. It didn't help matters that the shirt was wrinkled and he had already worn it twice that week. At five in the morning Ciel couldn't bring himself to care. No matter what he wore, he was going to look like hell once he got home anyways. So why not look like hell now as apposed to waiting until later.
"Almost ready?" He asked with another yawn, moving aside to let Sebastian pass him by.
"All ready," Sebastian answered, grabbing his drink and going back out the door. The door shut silently behind him and without a word they moved to the car and climbed inside. In no time at all, they were at the cabin and Ciel was already standing near the door, ready for the morning run.
The runs were pleasant. No one else was around; no extra eyes watching them, and no heavy gazes burned into the back of his head out here. In the woods, it was just him and Ciel, save for a few woodland creatures.
Ciel had been proud of the progress he had been making. Every day he had been able to go farther and farther. He just hoped that this time he could keep up with Sebastian who seemed to be purposely trying to always be a few strides ahead of Ciel.
Sebastian gave a quick nod of his head and turned back outside so they could start their run. It hadn't snowed last night and the snow on the ground was already packed hard, making it easier to run on. When the snow was light and fluffy, he sank more and it took more work to lift his feet compared to Ciel who was smaller than him.
It was still a challenge he enjoyed though, and it made things easier when he was running in ideal conditions later on. Not that the field was ideal, but running on a hard, even surface was better than trying to run uphill on in the snow.
He glanced back at Ciel to make sure that he was still there and was pleased to see him running a stride behind him. No doubt Ciel's muscles were screaming at him to stop the torture, but the younger male had been silent about the pain most of the time.
In Ciel's mind he had focused on a rhythmic one-two, counting each step and keeping his mind off the soreness of his body. He would have time to lick and tend to his pains later, but for now his mind had to be focused and alert. Something like pain could not become a hindrance.
He had learned very early on from Sebastian that keeping a clear and functional mind during the most painful and dire circumstances could be the difference between life and death. Ciel knew that Sebastian would be dead if he hadn't of fought past his pain and gotten himself to Ciel's apartment all that time ago. Letting the pain control you was asking for death when in dangerous hands.
Throwing the rather depressing and eye opening thoughts aside, Ciel increased his pace and he tried to catch up with Sebastian. They had already passed Ciel's previous stopping point the day prior and he had no intention of stopping any time soon. He wanted to go until his legs gave out on him. Ciel had yet to push his body far past its boundaries and it was probably time to assess just how far he could go when the situation called for it.
They moved down a hill, having crested the snow capped top seconds ago. Going down was new; they had never been down the steep side of the hill and Sebastian's feet moved through the snow carefully. It was a mixture of jumping down and running as they made their way down, pace slowing down slightly.
The downward movement was far easier on Ciel's legs. He could breath a sigh of relief until the next hill came along. From the looks of things his reprieve would not last for long. It didn't help that the footing was awful. The snow had created several slick spots and Ciel was left to guess the safest course lest he find himself tumbling down the hill.
His sneaker caught a rock, an adversary he had not thought to look out for and he pitched forward. Luckily Ciel caught himself on a well placed tree. He leaned on it heavily as his fatigue finally hit him and his breath came out in heavy pants.
"We'll stop here for the day," Sebastian said, white clouds escaping his mouth as he spoke. "We don't need you to pass out and you're body is already pressed to the limit." He held out his hand, offering it to the younger male.
Ciel took it, not bothering to think of reasons why he shouldn't. His hands felt like ice, Sebastian's being no better. It seemed to be getting colder and colder with the over cast sky and the promise of more snow.
"It's cold," Ciel stated the obvious, his breath a frosty cloud against Sebastian.
"We'll warm up before we move on to the next lesson," Sebastian said and gripped Ciel's hand tighter. Their bodies bumped against each other as they walked and Sebastian felt his breathing return to normal as they continued to walk along.
The cabin finally came into sight after minutes of walking in silence and Sebastian sighed happily. His nose was cold and he was ready for some warmth.
A sharp sneeze forced it's way out of Ciel as he shed his jacket and stomped his snow covered boots. The warm cabin air had yet to penetrate Ciel's frozen skin and he found himself literally shaking in his boots.
"Some hot tea would be nice." Ciel shivered and rubbed at his arms in an attempt to warm them.
Sebastian nodded and moved into the kitchen to heat up the water. They weren't going to spar today since Sebastian had other plans, so there was nothing wrong with letting their bodies cool off more and relax.
He handed Ciel a cup of steaming tea and took his own to the almost empty room. Finny had set up a low table with cushions to sit on, so their bottoms wouldn't freeze on the hardwood floor.
Setting his cup to the side, Sebastian pulled the box he had brought closer to him. The contents jingled and he opened the lid so he could spread everything out on the table.
Ciel hovered next to him sipping his tea. The strong taste pleased him as the warmth heated his cold limbs and belly. His blue eyes intently studied the objects Sebastian handled with familiar regard. From the looks of things they would not be following the normal daily plan.
"You're already knowledgeable about guns to a small degree, but any amount helps. Since you know about patching and cleaning the guns, we'll skip that and move onto other things." Sebastian spread out several different bullets on the tables surface and looked up at Ciel. "Bullets are not made equally; you have three main types. Full metal jacket, hollow point, and soft point bullets."
Sebastian's finger pointed out each one as he listed them off before letting his hand drop back into his lap. "They can be used for both the rifle and pistol, so you never have to choose one over the other due to weapon preference." He patted the spot next to him and waited for Ciel to sit down. "Which one would you use to cause the most damage to a person?"
Looking at the different bullets, Ciel contemplated the question for a moment. "Full metal jacket?" He guessed. Ciel figured it sounded the deadliest, so why not pick it. The worst that would happen at this point would be Sebastian telling him he was wrong.
"In a way," Sebastian answered. "A full metal jacket can pierce the body and continue through a person, damaging anything behind the person. In that sense, it can harm multiple people. However, if you're wanting to do the most damage to a single person, it's best to use a hollow point."
He picked up the small rounded bullet and held it up for Ciel to look at. The tip was concave and Sebastian tapped it lightly. "This part is hollow and once it enters the body, it'll expand and tear through the body tissue."
The mental image Ciel was given wasn't pleasant, and he silently hoped he never got hit by that little bullet. He nodded, soaking in the information he was being given on the two bullets. The third and final bullet, the soft point, lay there and drew Ciel's attention.
"What about this one?" He pointed to the soft point.
"It's almost the same as the hollow point, but not used as frequently. The hollow point has a shallow penetration compared to the soft point. It has a slower expansion once it hits the target but it retains its velocity over longer distances." Sebastian answered and the bullet was nudged slightly, making it roll on the table.
"Which one do you prefer?" Curiosity of Sebastian's preferences struck Ciel and he couldn't stop himself from asking. He was intrigued which one he would come to favor and if it would match Sebastian's own choice.
Sebastian looked thoughtful for a moment and tapped his finger lightly on the table. "It depends on what I'm doing and where I'm going to be aiming at." He picked up the hollow point and smirked. "Depends on if I want the head intact or not."
There was silence for a moment as Ciel absorbed all of this like a little sponge. He poked and examined all of the bullets and let his eyes shift towards the array of weapons every now and then. An itch to touch them tickled at his fingertips but Ciel resisted. He finally sat back and calmly waited for Sebastian's next item of business.
The bullets were moved to the side of the table and Sebastian pulled out the first gun in the stack of weapons. Its barrel was long, taking up the length of the table and Sebastian resisted the urge to stroke it. "This one is used for long distance targets, for when I need to play sniper." He sighed happily. "She's my baby."
Ciel looked affronted for a moment and truly betrayed. "I thought I was your baby?" The two men stared at each other and then Ciel broke down into a fit of muffled laughter.
Sebastian smirked and pulled Ciel closer to him, pressing a kiss on his forehead. "You are. But for now, this is my baby that can kill people at long ranges."
"I'll be sure to take that title as well," Ciel gave Sebastian a sassy wink and turned his attention back to the rifle at hand. "So what is this one called?"
"Called, as in her name or her make?" he asked curiously.
"Please tell me you didn't name it." A hand went up to pinch the bridge of Ciel's nose, a look of disbelief poking around slim fingers. Expect a blood thirsty killer to name his guns like a small girl would name her dolls.
Sebastian cocked his head to the side slightly. "What's wrong if I did?" he asked, not seeing anything wrong with the idea. There was nothing wrong with praising his gun if it did a good job. It was a way to pass the time when it was long and quiet in the field with no one to talk to.
Ciel waved his hand about as if trying to grasp at the proper words. "It's just slightly psychotic, that's all." And it was. Serial killers and psychopaths named their weapons didn't they?
"Moving on," Sebastian murmured and set several smaller guns on the table. They were ones that Ciel hadn't seen before and he leaned back so the younger male could pick them up and examine them.
"And what make are these?" Ciel was sure to emphasis the word 'make' this time. He wasn't too fond of knowing just how many of these gun had actual given names.
"These two are Glock's. They come in different sizes and you can add light guided features to it. This one is a Glock 25, also known as the 'Mild Mannered Glock'. Its good for a concealed weapon."
The younger male nodded his head and hoped he wouldn't have to memorize all the names. Ciel knew he would, but it wasn't something he was looking forward to. At this point he just wanted to shoot them. Shooting had been one thing Sebastian had never let Ciel try. He could clean, and wrap bullets, but actually pulling the trigger was a taboo. Or it had been until this point.
Sebastian picked up the Glock and glanced at it. With a long suffering sigh, he pulled back the slide to make sure it was empty before placing it in Ciel's hands. "I'm guessing that I should teach you to shoot?" he asked.
"Yes!" Ciel said a little too quickly. He didn't want to sound to eager but it couldn't be helped. This was something he had wanted to do for so long.
Another groan left Sebastian's mouth and he wanted to tip backwards and just ignore the problem all together. Instead, he slid the empty clip over to Ciel along with a box of bullets. "Load the clip," he said.
Blue eyes stared down at the offered clip and then towards the bullets. It was only then that anxiety took hold of Ciel and he felt his nerves shake him. There was big difference between dreaming about this moment and then to have it actually happen. He swallowed once and steadied his hands before grabbing the clip.
Ciel had loaded clips for Sebastian many times, and it was an easy task. In fact it was finished far too quickly for Ciel's liking. His heart was beating erratically, adrenaline beginning to pump through his veins. Ciel hoped that he did not make a fool of himself in front of Sebastian. All he wanted to do was aim true and make the older man proud.
He would not let Sebastian regret his choice of giving into this training.
Once the clip was loaded, it was passed to Sebastian who took it and inspected it. He tapped the clip against the heel of his palm so the bullets would settle before setting it on the table. The empty gun was then picked up and Sebastian turned to Ciel.
His hand reached for the younger male and he pulled Ciel flush against his chest. He glanced over Ciel's shoulder and placed Ciel's hands on the gun. Careful eyes studied the grip before he guided the hands into the correct position. "Aim the gun at the wall and pull the trigger," he commented quietly.
Ciel tossed him an odd look, not sure what good it would do to pull the trigger without any bullets in the gun. Deciding to humor Sebastian, he squeezed the trigger.
Sebastian hummed thoughtfully. "You jerked the trigger, making the gun jump. Next time squeeze it back gently, using the first part of your finger. Never use your full finger to squeeze the trigger, the shot will go wide."
He reached forward and plucked the gun from Ciel's hands. Reaching to his side, he grabbed the same model of gun and handed it back to Ciel. After making a quick adjustment to his grip, a small red dot appeared on the wall.
"Squeeze the trigger with the tip of your finger. If you jerk, the red dot will move. If you do it right, it'll stay still for the most part."
"Got it." Ciel tried again, this time with only a small shift in his aim. He cursed and tried once more without having to be prompted by Sebastian.
This time, the dot didn't move and Sebastian smirked. "Again," he ordered and listened to the sound of the trigger click. The light stayed steady and he pressed a kiss to Ciel's neck. "Good job."
Ciel smirked and tilted his head to return a proper kiss to Sebastian's warm lips. It was quick and sweet, leaving Ciel to get back to the task at hand without any distraction. He aimed and pulled the trigger a few more times for good measure, before finally lowering the gun.
"Now to add bullets," Sebastian said and stood up, Ciel following his lead. He grabbed the clip and padded out of the empty room. They moved down the hallway and Sebastian unlocked a door that led to a flight of steps.
It was colder downstairs and the sound of their footsteps echoed against the concrete walls, but they were necessary for an indoor shooting range. Sebastian paused to grab some earplugs and headphones for them before leading Ciel to a shooting booth.
"Load the gun," he instructed, passing the clip to Ciel.
Once again Ciel paused before accepting the loaded ammunition. He locked the clip in place securely and felt nervous to have such a deadly thing in his hand. Unlike the time he had stolen Sebastian's gun to confront the man, Ciel didn't not have the anger of betrayal to overshadow the implications of exactly what he could do with the object.
He pushed such thoughts away and positioned his fingers into the grip Sebastian had shown him and waited for the man to give him further instructions.
Sebastian's hands rested on Ciel's shoulders. "Feet shoulders width apart, your dominant leg goes back. Lean forward a bit." He waited for Ciel to adjust and then brought Ciel's arms up, letting the younger male adjust as needed. Once he deemed Ciel ready, he took a small step away. "Shoot," he commanded.
Ciel's hands tightened on the gun and he squeezed the trigger without putting too much thought into it. If he did, Ciel knew he would over think things and end up missing his aim.
The bang vibrated in his ears, accompanied by the shock of the recoil. Ciel felt oddly high and giddy as his heart pounded and the gun shook in his grip. It was his first shot, and he knew that he would never be able to get enough of this feeling. Such power within such a small object. So much deadly power; it gave Ciel a heady feeling and he couldn't help but smile.
Sebastian reached forward and tightened Ciel's grip around the gun. "You aimed a little too high," he commented and his eyes slid towards the paper target that sported a small little hole. For now, the targets were close, but as time progressed, they'd move further and further away. "Again."
And Ciel shot again, while following Sebastian's advice. Each shot sent Ciel soaring higher and higher and he had to force the goofy grin off his face. Never did he think that shooting a gun could be this much fun!
Another round fired before the gun gave a hollow click, signaling that it was empty and Sebastian removed the hearing protection from his ears. "Did you get it out of your system?" he asked and glanced at the gun in Ciel's hands.
Ciel blinked, and relaxed his shoulders that he hadn't realized he'd tensed. They shook for a moment and he wasn't sure how to answer Sebastian. He felt as if he should be ashamed for finding such vicious joy in shooting such a weapon. It didn't help that the high came from the thought of how deadly Ciel could be. One pull of the trigger, that's all it would take.
"We'll stop here for today," Sebastian commented after a moment of silence. "I have to go into work today and your body can use the rest of the day off." He picked up the gun and checked to make sure that it was truly empty before moving away from the table.
For a moment Ciel just stood there, eyes still trained on the target, feet ahead of them. He paused, took a deep breath, closed his eyes and then finally turned to follow after Sebastian. The whole time he tried to suppress the smirk on his face. He felt winded, but regretted having to stop for the day.
The door slammed behind them and the lock fell into place before Sebastian turned around to face Ciel. "We'll come back to training with the guns, but they won't be your only weapon. They're only as good as the shooter and only last so long, depending on your ammo." He smirked at the small falter in Ciel's smile. "But I will make sure you're thoroughly trained in them."
"What else will you be training me in?" Aside from hand to hand combat, guns, and knives, Ciel couldn't think of what else Sebastian would be versing him on. He had already learned so much in such a short amount of time. Despite being a fast learner, Ciel was beginning to think that they would not be able to get through everything in the time given. Ciel could only hope that he was ready when he was forced to put his lessons to use.
Sebastian thought for a second before finally answering. "I'll train you to be a shadow," he finally admitted. "To blend in with anything around you and make yourself look like you belong. Those skills are more important than weapons. If you can avoid the fight altogether, then you lessen the chance of injury."
The words Sebastian spoke sounded alluring and dangerous. They were promises of things Ciel could become and of a life he never thought he would have. To become a shadow, and enigma of this world with only the purpose to kill. Perhaps the more Ciel thought about it, the more he romanticised it. It couldn't be helped. With each door opened before Ciel, the more he fell into a childish glee of being given something he shouldn't have, but dearly wanted.
Skills such as the ones Sebastian was currently relaying were ones Ciel knew he would have to rely on the most. Avoiding a fight would be his best bet. Having to use force would no doubt be his weakness.
"It'll be my niche," Ciel muttered to himself. "Get it done quick and quietly." Because drawing it would would be a liability.
Sebastian nodded and slipped his shoes on. It was close to noon and he would need to be opening the shop up soon as well as stock up on food for his house; they were running low there. Not to mention, he still needed to get some Christmas shopping done before they left for Ciel's aunts.
"We'll stop at home first and I'll make some lunch before I head to the parlor. Are you coming with me today?" he asked.
"Doesn't matter." Ciel shrugged his shoulders. "You know I always love bothering you while you work." He sent Sebastian a playful smirk and patted him on his bottom as Ciel went by.
Sebastian chuckled and reached forward to grab Ciel so he could pull him back against his body. His hand trailed down and squeezed the younger males ass before placing a kiss on his neck. "So long as you don't mind being bothered back."
Ciel smiled, leaning his head to the side to expose his neck. "Do I ever mind?" Yes, he minded on occasion but for the sake of flirting, Ciel was going to ignore that.
"Good," Sebastian murmured, letting his lips run along the exposed skin. His tongue came out to lap at it lightly before he pulled away. If they continued like this, it would be rushed and he'd be late for work. He'd rather have more time tonight when he came back home. "We'll continue this tonight."
"Or we could break in that office desk of yours." Ciel's body was still on edge from shooting a gun and his adrenaline was looking for an outlet. Sex sounded pretty good right about now.
Sebastian grinned and walked out of the cabin. "That sounds like a perfect idea." He opened the car door for Ciel and gave a low bow, a smirk plastered on his face. "Shall we, my lord?"
Ciel back handed Sebastian in the stomach as he ducked into the car. It irked him being called that, even in jest. Although Ciel supposed there could be times where such a title could prove to be entertaining.
The car door was shut and a moment later Sebastian was climbing in on the drivers side. The engine roared and they were off, Ciel closing his eyes as he tried to relax into his seat.
To Be Continued . . .