Sebastian was up and about in the kitchen making food for the mistress, watching Ciel out of the corner of his eye attempt to make a simple cupcake with vanilla frosting. There were only two steps and a few ingredients, a blind baby could do it but Ciel who hadn't done much in his life could barely handle it.
"Gah! There's frosting all over me!"
"How messy you are. Just look at you, you're turning into a gingerbread man."
"Oh shut up and help me!"
"Such a feeble little child still. How does one as simple minded as you go about living, honestly I'm sure sometimes you might even forget how to breathe."
"Bastard! Enough sass and get over here before I smack some sense into you."
"That would be highly improbable, for I have plenty of sense. I'm not the one struggling to make a two step dessert."
"You know what, Sebastian, forget it! I don't need you."
"Say that again," Sebastian edgily dared stepping closer to the cream covered man who was glaring angrily at him with those sapphire eyes of his, or more so eye.
"Oh so now you come over here! Well, go away. As said I have no need for you anymore."
"Is that so? You have such a lying mouth. You require my assistance in most everything, that's why we had a contract. You're lazy, selfish, and all around deprived. That is why you asked for me, is it not? If you do not need me as you so falsely state then why am I your butler? You call for me to do things every day and in the night you cry out my name with such desperation because your nightmares tormented you so. Why call me if you don't need me? Why I am the first name out of your mouth when you are in need. Face it, as much as your whorish mouth spouts dishonesty you need me."
Ciel turned away, whipping the frosting slowly, grumpily mumbling dejectedly. He knew very well he needed the man that chastised him but his still stubborn attitude and large ego would stunt him from being mature at times. Why couldn't he just say it? Sometimes he found it easy to boldly state feelings but when he was so used to locking them away it was not easy for him to expose anything to anyone especially emotions. His butler, his formally dressed, smooth voiced, lovely accent, sensual speaking, flawless butler was the only person who he could be honest with, the only one he could trust.
He put all his faith into the man, he could entrust him with any task. Used, abused, embarrassed, and demeaned the boy found it hard to trust anything; he even lost his faith in god. In the dark cage, covered in blood and semen, he called out his darkest wish for someone to save him and just like that a devil in black became his savior. From that moment forward Sebastian had been there, faithfully at his side. He was always there to save him from everything. It was so true, Ciel was weak, he could barely stand on his two legs. He needed the demon to be his cane. No matter how much power he attained he needed him.
He knew this to be true all along. If not for commands he needed him to be by his side. Lonliness was a phobia to the boy shoved into chaos and hatred from such a wonderful life. Even now as mature as he had become he could still act so childish. When he got angry he was likely to say most anything especially something false. He lifted up the metal whisk watching the vanilla cream drip slowly off it. It was an utter disaster, it wasn't even properly white, it smelled like overly sweetened bourbon, and he was sure it was going to taste like it too.
"I'm pathetic. I can't even make a simple frosting. Too much sugar, too much vanilla. Can I do anything right?! As anything I am a failure. I've had everyone baby me from the time I was born. My relatives, my staff, my servants, everyone has treated me like a child and then I would yell at them. But why was I so defensive? Because it was true, that's why. I'm but a child who can't do anything without his butler."
"You know…you're whipping that wrong."
"As I thought you've heard nothing I just said."
Sebastian came behind his butler attire clad partner in service, wrapping his arms around his waist. He nuzzled his face in his neck, breathing him in and enjoying the blush that appeared on his face.
"What are you doing, foolish butler?"
"You are wrong, again. I heard every word and soaked it in. I know very well you can't do much without me, I don't expect you to. I want you to need me, I require for you to require me. It is how I survive; I feed on your desires and needs. It's how demons earn their souls. Instead I am earning something much deeper and more powerful than all that. I know what you are capable of and I embrace what you can do but even as a grown man you can only do so much. Even if you can fight there is one thing I service as when not supplying you with sweets or skill and that is companionship. For me, this bond is enough. You need me, that much is for sure, but I need you just as much. It has always been, just now it is not the soul I need you for."
"Sebastian…your…your breath is tickling me."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Does my proximity bother you?"
"Yes it does, back away a few inches."
"You're lying again, Ciel."
"Are you going to assist me or keep fondling me like the pervert you are?"
"You know even as a man you have such feminine curves…"
"Sebastian you fiend, stop being a handsy lewd demon and help me before that fruitcake we call mistress screams her bloody head off!"
"Perhaps later then. Alright, I will show you how to fix up a proper frosting. Watch my lead."
Ciel took notes as he eyed Sebastian's handiwork in the kitchen. All it took was patience and focus for him to get it himself. Just in time to the Couer was calling for them from her bedroom. Ciel made sure to dust off himself so that he was presentable for her then covered the silver tray of cupcakes that he made. They walked together into her bedroom, finding her wearing the most scandalous of night dresses, her brown hair in messy locks sticking to her face and shoulders, dry spittle forming around her lips. She was wearing makeup and smelled like whiskey, her eyes had heavy bags underneath them and in her fingers was a package of cigarettes.
"Today we have prepared a vanilla and nutmeg spiced cupcake with a maraschino cherry center, topped with a mint sprig and a salted almond glaze. Alongside it Café au lait. Enjoy."
Ciel was certain he hadn't made all that, he had just made vanilla cupcakes, nothing so fancy as all that but surely enough when the tray was removed there stood the most perfectly iced an decadent looking cupcakes Ciel had ever seen and beside it a silver coffee pot and a porcelain cup decorated with fluer dy lys. He almost glared at Sebastian for creating this masterpiece from Ciel's hard work. Sebastian served a half sliced cupcake on a platter that matched the cup to the mistress along with her coffee. Ciel bitterly despised coffee, it was a dreadful thing to him, even now he could scarcely stand looking at it.
"This is superb. Thank you both," She had appreciated, sipping her coffee noisily.
"Thank you, my lady, but for the record both my confidant and I speak fluent French so you don't have to speak English with us."
"Oui, messieurs?" She asked, now fumbling around looking for her lighter.
Ciel found it for her. Vintage, silver, medium sized, it was decorated with an embossing of a small pinup girl wearing a risqué outfit with a fur coat and holding a long cigarette holder as if she was some one important like a movie star. Oddly though she sported bunny ears and a tail too. He flipped the lid of it back for her igniting the flame and placed it to the tip of her cigarette. He was always curious what smoking would be like but wanted to be cautious given that he knew they were unhealthy to one's tongue and Sebastian informed him that they were one of the great sins of man. A stick meant to create a sense of stress relief but only caused more and added to that slowly killed the smoker. He called it a device of homicide and the makers all murderers.
"Merci, sky.
"Mon plaisir, madame."
"So? What will you two do now? Clean my house, make more food? Is that all you can do for me?"
"Oh no, we do whatever you wish. You wanted us to apprehend the offender that murdered your child, isn't that what you asked?" Sebastian questioned, speaking fluently in French.
"That I did. That fucking prick, he set me up. I suppose you boys ought to know I'm a prostitute; I make my money by selling my body. Well then I got pregnant and wanted to give up all that. I believe my pimp hired a doctor to kill my child from inside my stomach. Destroy that doctor, and the pimp. Then take my soul, I have no use for it."
"Is that an order?" Ciel asked, starting to wonder where her contract mark was. The more close the bond the more obvious the mark. Hers wasn't on her tongue or eye but perhaps someone more hidden, like her stomach. Yes, that sounded just right.
"Yes, but I want you to kill him in front of me when you get him. I want to make him suffer and if either of them has children or a family, end them too. They don't deserve happiness."
"Yes, my lady," They both relied in perfect unison and bowed.
As they departed out the room Ciel gave Sebastian a smug grin. "What is it?"
"I was right, she was a floozy."
"Congratulations on being right for once."
"I've been right plenty of times, you asshole. Now what do we do? She gave us little to no lead to go off of. She doesn't remember the doctor's name and only remember the pimps' nickname."
"We'll start in the prostitute rings and ask around."
"What right now?"
"The sooner the better but first we must rid this house of all this debris."
"I don't think she cares whether or not her house is clean or dirty."
"Nonsense, everyone loves a clean home."
"You just want me to be put to work."
"Yes, manual labor will do you good. We can go look at hookers any time of day, they parade the streets like it's some sort of holiday for them. Now roll up those sleeves and put on a hair scarf – it's time to teach you how to sanitary management."
"This is going to be so much fun," Ciel sarcastically whined, rolling up his sleeves as said.
"For me it will be. Now use the sponge and press up and down hard onto the walls. I will do this side and you do that side."
Ciel groaned as he scrubbed the walls, barely managing to get off the first layer of filth. In the amount of time it took him to do one panel Sebastian was done with the whole wall. He stood proudly, smiling boastfully at his accomplishment. Ciel's jaw dropped upon looking at the white walls and polished picture frames.
"You arrogant bastard!"
"You know you have such a filthy mouth and you seem to be fond of calling me a bastard. The crude definition is one who is obnoxious and disagreeable. My would you look at that? That fits you to a T!"
"Come here and say that to my face."
"Oh, you're beckoning me closer? Am I but your pet again?"
"Yes you are you filthy dog! Now come here boy."
"Woof," jeered Sebastian, so close to Ciel their noses were bent against each other. "now what did you want me to say to your face?"
"Go away, I'm working."
"So indecisive, come here, go away. Which is it?"
"Go do some more work."
"By the time you finish I will have cleaned the entire house. That's not fair. It seems you have not grasped super speed."
"You make it sound and look so easy. Alright then, enough foolish chatter, teach me how to be quick."
"First, close your eyes, envision you are a cheetah, a blur, invisible to the world. Picture yourself at the end of the wall and that you've suddenly cleaned the entire thing."
"That sounds ridiculous."
"Ciel if you don't behave I will spank you."
"You will not violate me!"
"I bet you can't even clean half this wall."
"I so can! Don't make me smaller than what I am!"
"Open your eyes. You have done half the wall already."
It was true! Ciel had done half the wall, in only about four seconds. He looked at his fingers which were recovering from ware incredibly quick.
"Amazing…Sebastian make me angry again, that seems to work with me."
"You are ordering me…to make you cross? Very well, you're very immature still and can barely wipe your own behind."
"I am mature! I'm very grown up!"
"Why I believe you to be nothing but a gnat, you can't even best me at anything, especially butlering."
"Oh yeah!?"
"Oh yes."
"Yeah!?"
"Yes."
"YEAH!?"
"You are all done with this wall, Ciel. What a…decent job. I shall have to clean up after you, as always."
"You can stop bullying me now."
"I'm not trying to bully you; I'm just telling you that you aren't as faultless as I, not yet. You will be, soon enough. Try doing that other wall while I tidy up this one. By the by, you do look so cute when you're angry."
"Pardon?!"
"Must I always repeat my sexual advances on you?"
"EXCUSE YOURSELF!"
"Are you being chaste and naïve? Isn't it obvious? You've said I am a lecher, am I not?"
"Go screw that tramp to get your jollies and leave me out of it. You over sexualized demon slut."
"Be that as it may I am not about to contract herpes. I desire something a bit cleaner than that."
"You're a demon," Ciel explained, scrubbing the wall as fast as demonly possible, "You can't contract shit. If you desire innocence I'm sure there's some children for you to molest."
"In all my years I have never felt strong sexual attachment to anything with an appendage the size of their thumb. Though I once came across a noble child who drove me wild."
"What happened you ate his soul?"
"No, he grew up."
"Children often do. I am finished."
"Well you aren't one hell of a butler just yet but it will do. Let me come behind you."
"That better not be some sort of sexual innuendo."
"You are clever, Ciel, but no, I mean clean up your sloppy work."
"You are a jerk, really you are. I'm trying my hardest."
"I know," Sebastian sympathized surprising Ciel with a kiss to the forehead, "You must be so exhausted."
"Don't use that tone of voice with me! I'm not some baby! I can handle this!"
"Aww how cute, you're trying to rebel. Baby needs a nap."
"I am so through with your taunting. I'm going to sweep and dust now."
"Without any aid from me?"
"You may help but enough of your perverted humor."
"I will try to keep my hands to myself."
"Hands and other extremites!"
"Yes, my Ciel."
Within a few minutes the entire house was clean giving the men the rest of the day to find out information. They searched whore house after whore house and were not able to come up with anything until they had realized they were looking in the slummiest of places. Perhaps this pimp did not reside there. They got a tip off from another pimp that there was someone with a similar name at a ritzy hotel that had a secret room where they performed indecent sexual acts.
"Let's see hotel forte citron ceris."
"Hotel loud lemon cherry? What a strange name."
"Indeed, and very upscale. We might be able to get into the hotel's interior but…let us see what is required to get into this gentleman's club. We will encounter scandalous women- be on your guard."
"You idiot, I know that. Let us leave."
Inside was a average hotel, grande and beautiful, luxurious to boot but average looking by all means. The strolled through it without a second glance but when they came to the swanky little nightclub they felt like two fish in a shark pond. They stuck out like sore thumbs. Plenty of scantily clad women threw themselves all over the two but they both rejected them to which the women stomped of angrily saying that they weren't worth the time anyways. At the end of the club was a door and above it a symbol Ciel recognized. It was the same young woman that was on Madame Brise's lighter.
"That must be the place but look; it's got very tight security. We must find out what it takes to get inside."
"Agreed, Sebastian. Let us do some snooping around."
As soon as they agreed to become party goers they let girls flop all over them because one of those girls might know how to get in. They sat in a booth together, sipping alcoholic beverages for the sake of their ruse. One blonde girl hung onto Ciel and another lemon haired buxom miss was ready to let Sebastian take her on the table.
"Claudia, if you drink once more you shall fall down drunk!"
"Sod off will you? Besides it's only my fifth drink," She, the one hanging onto Ciel, slurred
"Really girls, for shame. I shall have to punish you both," Sebastian cooed sensually.
"OH MY! Oh how naughty, both of us? But what will your darling friend with the eye patch do?" Claudia squealed excitably.
"My dear ladies, he will be joining us."
Ciel blushed vibrantly at the look Sebastian was giving him. Like a wolf about to consume a tender sheep. "How bold! I've never tried that before! Two men at once? Madeline, have you heard of such a thing."
"Oh yes they do that kind of kinky sort of stuff in chouchou paradise."
"You mean behind that door what has the rabbit girl on it they do that?!"
"Sweet lovely girls, would you care to tell us more about this place?" Ciel asked, trying his best to sound like Sebastian sounded, confidently sexy and arousingly stimulating.
"My eyepatched luv, HIC, they do all sorts of nasty things there. They tie you up and use candle wax, what I heard," Claudia whispered in his ear though she was loud and smelly
"I've heard that too Dia! I heard they take young boys and girls!"
"No!"
"YES! Scandelous, isn't it?"
"Fetishes, that's what they call them."
"If you could tell us how one becomes a member of that club I would be most gracious, in every way," Ciel slowly worded, whispering in her ears huskily.
"Will you now? You hear that? He's talking all dirty to me! I think I caught a prize! Well, since you are offering, I will tell you. It's easy really, I learned this from a man I met in Strasbourg who heard it from his sister's cousin. Al you need is to meet with the boss, flash a bit of cash, and you're in. He'll give you a badge and in you go. I ain't got the money for it, you need to be filthy rich for that."
"Who is this boss?" Sebastian asked, stroking the woman's leg in circles.
"Oh that feels lovely my dark haired one. The boss? Well, he goes by the code name of Lion. You get in good with him and you're in. Say why do you want in so bad?"
"We're horny perverts who want to endeavor on a sexual journey of erotic fetishes," brazenly admitted, oddly enough, Ciel.
Sebastian smiled an open mouthed smile of lust. When had his master learned to be a master of deceiving woman that he was a sex god? They were about to leave, pretending they had elsewhere to be but the girls would not let them until they got a kiss. Sebastian was quick to produce a fiery kiss to the woman's greedy mouth, tasting some bile and strong French liquor. Ciel knew he must but he didn't want to. He tilted up her chin and kissed her softly but apparently she wasn't into that, she was trying to pry her dirty tongue into his virgin mouth. He was grasping for Sebastian's hands, almost choking on her tongue and trying to get him to signal him that they needed to go before she tried to do much more with that tongue.
"What a kiss," Moaned Claudia, her breast about to spill out of her tight top.
"Mine was filled with passion," sighed Madeline, fanning herself, "Now you mustn't leave me in such a state!"
"We will be returning to this place in a short while and when we do we shall ravage both of you at once. You shall not know which way is up or down."
"Oh my red eyed lover! Such a way of speaking not even I have heard!"
"What will you do to me, blue haired one?"
"As for me, mon cher, I will try my best not to tear you open. Both my cohort and I are exceedingly rough. You will see we are more monster than man."
"What seductive promises you make! I will be waiting then."
"Yes yes, I too. Come back to us and fulfill your promise."
Without too much of a goodbye they left the building with more information but more questions too. Who was this Lion? What was this club chouchou paradis? Were they like the ones who trapped Ciel, afterall the girls had admitted to seeing small children go in there. Ciel plopped down on the bed, hiccupping slightly.
"My word, I do believe you are drunk."
"Shut up, you fuckin' demon."
"And your mouth has gotten even filthier! I'd have to clean it out with soap like a mother does to a child!"
"Go stick a needle in yer eye. I 'aven't the time for..hic…this bull."
"You know that's one more things demons can do, they can get intoxicated, if they wish to. They have the power to fight it off. I suppose you have no will power after all."
"Why don't you go make me some fookin' cake, ya shit head?"
"I have a better idea. Let's discuss your actions. You said some lewd words back there. Were you aware of it?"
"Had to keep up my bloody disguise, ya fool!"
"You're starting to get an Irish brogue. Most unbecoming. I never thought you to be so open with sexuality."
"Didya forget I was penetrated by cocks that culd choke a 'orse?! Satan be damned, I know about sex."
"Still, you've never been so shameless."
"No need being like a little virgin girl. No shame in a bit of hanky panky. My 'ead feels like a bowling ball."
"I'm sure it does, it will subside. I must admit, I was quite jealous of that woman's mouth."
"Ah shut ya trap, demon. You were kissin' the other one."
"I'd rather be kissing someone else, honestly."
"I know what ya mean. So, mista butler, why don't ya do it, just hop on me and play leapfrog."
"Ha…" Sebastian chuckled, smiling with mirth. He leaned close to Ciel's face, tucking his bangs behind his ears, his lips ghosting over Ciel's hiccupping ones. "Ask me that when your sober, Ciel."
"Ya tease!"
"I agree, you are a tease."
Ciel laughed a little with a bit of a snort until he found that he could barely read his own thoughts anymore. Brise was calling for them now in her harsh voice. Sebastian placed some cold ice on Ciel's head and attended to her needs. As expected she wanted him to go all around the globe to do things for her. For someone as minimalistic as she the woman sure did require much of him. In less time than it takes to tell he did everything but he was bushed and it was late. Just like Ciel she wanted him to stay with her even when she slept and sing her a lullaby. He was certain Ciel was anxious or worried or perhaps dead drunk at this point but he would be alright. This particular contract put a strain on the butler.
"What happened to his eye?" The madame whispered, starting to fall asleep.
"Unfortunate accident, he was sparring at a knife hit him."
"I notice how you look at him. You care a great deal for him don't you?"
"…Lady Couer…"
"You should tell him how you feel. You never know when the ones you love will be taken from you. It could happen in a second. One day you're a happy mother expecting her child and then boom no more baby. So what's holding you back? Let him know before you too lose your baby."
Sebastian's face was firmly set in a concerned frown. She was right. She could see past every barrier he put in front of her. If he didn't tell Ciel soon the young man might not think Sebastian cared past a friendly fashion and then move his feelings onto another person. Perhaps another demon. He had almost lost him to Claude. He was not prepared to lose something so precious ever again. He had to tell Ciel, he had to stop hiding behind a mask. Just as Ciel had learned to be a man by becoming a demon his butler must learn to become a man by becoming more human.