Remember when I said 2 more chapters? I lied. 3 more, this is being the first. It's a bit of a go-between before the next-to-last so it's pretty short.
Warning for awkward fluff ahead and Vincent POV
Disclaimer: I don't own HTTYD or Kuroshitsuji
Vincent ran a hand through his hair, nostrils still filled with the smell of smoke and blood. He sighed; there would be no rest tonight, that was for sure. Good. He didn't want to rest anyway.
There was the reaper report to go through and paperwork to handle. And the letter to the Queen. But he would put all of that off for now.
"Are you blind?" "Are you lame?" He bit his lip, remembering the words. The words he had fired so hotly at his son- and now they were true. He left the doorway; Madame Red didn't need him bothering her. Especially when she was tending to his son.
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
The earl went down to the parlor. Maybe if Tanaka fixed him a drink- no, he didn't deserve a drink. No, he would spend the night and the next night and the night after worrying about Ciel. Like the father he always should have been.
He could hear the staff's voices ("What's being a demon like?" "I killed more than you, Finny." "I forgot the laundry!" "Will you cover me?").
"Master Vincent! How's the young master?" Finnian asked.
The gardener was kneeling on the couch, hands filled with bloodied feathers. Vincent had almost forgotten that the demon was in his home, bleeding all over his furniture. The servants were crowded around him, plucking feathers from his back. No wonder he had trouble sensing it- his presence; the demon couldn't fight his way out a paper bag at the moment.
He clenched his fists. "I don't know."
The staff fell silent. Vincent walked past them emptily.
"Demon, come with me," he said stiffly.
"Can't move."
"Finny, bring him over."
The earl stared intently at the occupant of the chair across the dining table. Sebastian looked like he was on the verge of passing out. And likely was.
"I see there's been some misunderstanding between us."
The demon cast him a surprisingly sarcastic look.
"I won't ask you to speak much. I know you care about him." He laughed bitterly. "More than I ever did."
Vincent took out a roll of parchment and slid it across the table. He picked up the wine glass and swished its contents around.
"He's quite attached to you." Then more quietly. "Thank you."
Sebastian stared blankly at the parchment. Can he read? I should have thought of that! "Let me ask you, de- Sebastian, is that your name? And where did this obsession with butlering come from?"
"Young master."
That was all he needed to hear. His eyes were hot and his chest ached thinking about Ciel.
"Did he teach you how to read?"
"A little."
"I'll tell you what it says. It's a contract, a paper contract- all my servants have one. Tanaka is getting old, and extra help would be much appreciated. So what do you say, Sebastian? Will you be my new butler?"
"No."
He said it bluntly, as if there was no other option. Vincent sighed again.
"The contract is under the Phantomhive name. Ciel is my heir. If you do not work for me, fine. Then will you work under his contract?"
"I already do."
The demon smeared a few drops of his blood on the parchment and slid it back at the earl. "Are you worried... about him, Sebastian?"
"Very."
"So am I."
"I know."
Vincent raised his glass and gestured for Sebastian to do the same. Awkwardly, the demon did so. "To the future."
They drank. Sebastian set the glass down with a satisfied sigh.
"There was a bit of tainted soul in that. One that would be going down under anyway. Does it taste good?"
The demon downed the whole glass.
"The young master wouldn't want me to give this to you, Master Vincent," Tanaka said, "but I think it's alright now."
Vincent looked up at him, sitting beside Ciel's bedroom door. Madame Red and her assistants were still working. How bloody long would it take?
The battered notebook was in his hands. "What is this?"
"Why don't you take a look, master."
Irritated, Vincent flipped to the first page: My name is Ciel Phantomhive.
And he read. And read. And read.
And read.
"So can you eat me?" Finnian asked, wide-eyed.
Sebastian didn't want to answer. Everything hurt, the bandages were itchy, and he was sure he'd never be able to enter a healing sleep at this rate. He would also spend his time worrying about the young master, although he was pretty sure the boy would be alright.
Quite sure. Rather sure. He hoped he was sure.
"Can you smoke?" Bard asked, holding a cigarette in front of his eyes. Sebastian rolled his eyes. "Is that a yes?"
"Are your eyes red or brown?" Maylene asked excitedly.
"Is Hellopnikosia a real place?"
"Can you tell the future?"
"NO."
"You think the young master'll be alright?"
He hesitated. "Yes." Then again. "Yes."
"Bard, Finny, Maylene- Tanaka needs your help in the kitchen."
Vincent stepped into the parlor and immediately the servants bowed ("Right away master!"). They clumsily left.
Sebastian was staring wide-eyed at him. "I don't have any more souls, demon. I also have no news about my son."
Sebastian's face fell. He shut his eyes, having lost interest in the earl.
"Open your eyes, that's an order."
"Not my master."
"Just do it."
Reluctantly, Sebastian did so, sitting up in the process. He still wasn't too comfortable with the earl, several aches in his body proving his point.
"I wasn't there enough for him," Vincent said quietly, sitting down beside him. "But I'm glad you were, Sebastian Michaelis."
The man put one awkward hand on Sebastian's head. The demon flinched. Vincent smiled wearily.
"I'm very glad."
He rubbed the scalp, leaving Sebastian wordless and dumbfounded.
I hope that was fun to read and please review!
510+ reviews- I can't thank you guys enough. I love you all, I really do.
Next time: Ciel wakes up, and there are some changes in London.
