Summary: There was something reassuring about being in Agni's presence, and no matter what cool demeanor he may have put on, you knew there was heat running just below the surface of him. A heat you would have loved to curl yourself around and never release.

Pairing:Agni/Reader


Or else forget about it
Oh, let's don't forget about it
Let's don't forget about it, yeah
Oh, no, no
Let's don't forget about it…

You'd grown up as a child of high society, given every luxury that money could afford and showering you with both fame and fortune.

Your parents had forged their fortune through import and foreign trade, and it was by these means that you saw a great deal of the world as you traveled with them.

Your adventures were limited to Europe while you were still young, but once your parents deemed you old enough; you were allowed to travel abroad as well.

It was these long trips that you enjoyed most because the cultures were so very different in those countries than they were in yours, and it was wonderful to see the different rituals and art and people.

Through your travels you'd gained not only knowledge and experience but also wisdom with how to handle different peoples and countries. As the only heir, you would take control of the company when your parents died, and as much as you detested the idea, you were not naïve enough to think they would live forever.

The other thing you'd discovered while traveling, was your favorite place on earth.

For a long time before you traveled abroad when anyone asked, you would say that your favorite place was England; your home.

Once you had set foot outside of Europe, however, that opinion quickly changed.

India was your favorite place, now, and whenever your father went there on business you went with him to enjoy the wonders that it provided.

The colors in India were brighter, bolder, richer than any color you could find in England. Everything, from the sky to the tiniest little bug, was more alive here than at home, and you fell in love with the place the first time you set foot on its shores.

The air was rich in a way you hadn't known air could be, and when you breathed it in, you felt as though you were richer and bolder for it.

And the people there were the handsomest you had ever seen.

With skin darker than yours by shades varying from gentle mocha and hazel brown to darkest ebony, and eyes that burned like stars in a night sky, they were breathtaking in the sheer difference from everything you had ever been used to before.

India was the place you always promised yourself you would remain in business with, no matter what came, because you refused to give up this country to something as trivial as economy and convenience.

You would not abandon the one place you had always been accepted with open arms, no matter what storms had come before.

You would stand by this brave, bold country, and they had promised to stand by you.

Man it's a hot one
Like seven inches from the midday sun
Well I hear you whisper and the words melt everyone
But you stay so cold...

When you had gone to India, you were always sure to bring things back with you. Little trinkets to give to your family or friends, and whenever Lizzy saw you come calling, she instantly knew why.

This time, you had found her to be at the Phantomhive manner, and after a good deal of fussing by Lizzy and Sebastian, you were all seated outside in the warm summer air.

Tea was currently being served, and you watched Lizzy intently as she carefully opened the box you'd presented her with once she'd been seated.

"Oh, it's lovely!" She giggled over the bracelet you had brought her, quickly slipping it on. "What's it made from?" She asked, inspecting it closely.

"Jade," you answered promptly, pleased to see she was thrilled by it, "and I knew you'd want Ciel to match, so I brought him something made from it too."

The young Earl bristled, his fingers stilling against the ribbon holding his box together. "I beg your pardon?"

You laughed at his expression, leaning forward to put a hand on his arm. "Do relax, Ciel, I didn't get you a bracelet too."

He gave you a calculating look before he finished opening the box and stared at what was inside.

You never stopped loving seeing that look on his face. The surprise mixed with genuine enjoyment and gratitude.

"Thank you," he breathed after a moment, removing the jade cane-handle from its resting place, "it will look quite nice, I think."

Lizzy frowned slightly at it. "Oh, but it's not cute!" She gave you a look.

"Oh, but Lizzy, an Earl should never look cute. At least," you smirked over at him, "not openly."

He shot you an annoyed look before he presented the handle to Lizzy for inspection and watched her instantly squeal in surprise over one of the tiny carved elephants that adorned the side of it. "You always bring us things from India, but you never keep anything for yourself," he observed, "why is that?"

Memories of one of the last handsome young men you'd seen there flashed through your mind. "I'm afraid the things I would like to bring home wouldn't make the trip." You replied evasively.

Ciel gave you a knowing look and smirked. "Well then, perhaps we can fix that." He nodded to Sebastian, and the butler moved back into the house.

"Ciel," you raised an eyebrow at him, "what are you planning?"

"Nothing you won't enjoy thoroughly, I promise."

You were about to question him further when a voice called out to you and your head snapped up to look across the patio towards the doors into the house.

Sebastian was smirking as he walked back to his master's side, you noticed, and just behind him was a boy you recognized. "Soma!" You cried, practically flying out of your seat to meet him half-way in a tight hug.

"Ah! I did not know it would you be you when Ciel told me I would be meeting an old friend today! How have you been, it has been too long since we last spoke!"

You laughed, pulling back far enough to look him over. "I've been quite well, Soma, thank you." And then you recognized the man standing behind him.

Agni looked like he wanted to hug you too, pale eyes full of emotion and light as they gazed at you over Soma's shoulder. "Hello again, Miss." He breathed softly, inclining his head and breaking the stare he'd been directing your way.

"Agni," you resisted the urge to tip his chin back up and hug him as tightly as you had Soma, "it's good to see you."

He was smiling when he looked back up, you noticed, but Soma was talking and dragging you back towards the tea table, so you followed his lead, returning the soft smile.

The entire afternoon you tried not to grin too brightly, and you thanked Ciel properly with words and a look he knew conveyed so much more. The thing you really missed when you left India was the people, and Soma and his butler more than made up for everyone else you'd had to leave behind.

As you talked to Soma, you realized that Sebastian had relinquished serving rights of you to Agni, and you tried not to melt on the spot when his rich voice asked, "Miss, would you like more tea?"

There was something reassuring about being in Agni's presence, and no matter what cool demeanor he may have put on, you knew there was heat running just below the surface of him.

A heat you would have loved to curl yourself around and never release.

My mu equita
My Spanish Harlem Mona Lisa
You're my reason for reason
The step in my groove, yeah...

While Ciel tried to keep Lizzy entertained enough to not interrupt you and Soma as you discussed your favorite place and laughed at the stories you shared, Sebastian hovered by his master's chair, and Agni hovered by his.

He would smile at the stories being told, and occasionally comment or corroborate Soma's story when requested to do so, but his eyes never left your face.

And you didn't have to look up at him to know, you just did.

The first time you'd met Soma was in India, and Agni had stared at you then as well, although not as openly. At first you had assumed it was because you were English, and he was unaccustomed to foreign visitors, but he didn't stare at your parents.

He ducked his head respectfully to them, as was expected of a servant in aristocracy's presence, but you he'd dared to look at directly.

You'd thought it strange, but had dismissed it when you left, and had forgotten it entirely until you next returned, and he did it again.

Soma didn't seem to notice, so you thought it best not to mention it, instead gently broaching the subject to the butler himself.

"I apologize, Miss," he'd touched his forehead to the floor, tone soft as he whispered against the palace tiles; "I meant no offence in my gaze. You are quite captivating, Miss, and I merely wished to take in your beauty."

Eloquence born out of serving a prince and having to apologize often, you'd assumed at the time, but something about it had struck you. "You find me beautiful?"

"Many here do, Miss, but they were not as impertinent as I with their eyes."

You'd resisted the urge to giggle. "Raise your head, Agni."

He'd done so, sitting back on his heels with his gaze averted from your face. "You may punish me as you see fit, Miss, my prince has instructed that I serve you as I would him."

You'd reached out to touch his cheek, smiling when he didn't flinch. "I am not mad, Agni, and I will not punish you; I merely wished to know why you were staring."

That was the first day you'd ever seen him blush. "Your mercy is unwarranted. I should not have stared."

"But you did, and I was not offended, so we shall speak of it no more." You stood, smiling at him again. "Now, would you be so kind as to show me the gardens? Soma has told me they are quite lovely."

Today, now, back in Ciel's garden under the summer sky, Agni was still staring.

But now you knew why, and every once in a while, you'd stare right back.

And it's just like the ocean under the moon
Well that's the same as the emotion that I get from you
You got the kind of lovin' that can be so smooth, yeah
Gimme your heart make it real
Or else forget about it...

Lizzy left just after dinner, promising to come by again soon to see you and thanking you again for the present. You'd waved her off from the steps, and then returned inside to play chess with the young Earl.

Ciel went to bed long before either you or Soma, and as the clock over the mantel slowly inched closer to dawn, you caught Soma yawning and demanded he go to bed.

"But I want to stay up with you!" He complained with a sleepy pout, barely keeping his eyes open as he slouched in his chair.

You'd rolled your eyes, laughing softly. "Agni, see him up to bed, won't you?"

Soma opened his mouth to complain, but Agni dutifully scooped him up into his arms. "Of course, Miss."

You giggled as they left, and you stood and slowly made your way out of the parlor as well.

Despite your desire to sleep, you ended up following Agni as he took Soma up to bed, and once the prince had been deposited safely on his sheets, his butler turned to look at you.

"As there is nothing my prince will request of me until later tonight, is there anything I may do for you, Miss?"

The question caught you off guard, and you stood staring at him for a moment before you opened your mouth. "I would appreciate it if you saw me back to my room… There's something about this house at night that I do not trust."

Agni smiled, bowing his head as he slipped back out the door and closed it behind him. "I understand how you feel, Miss."

The walk back to your room was made in no great hurry, and you took your time moving through the darkened halls and writhing shadows of the mansion.

You walked in silence, except for the occasional creak of floorboards beneath your feet, and you didn't want to wake the rest of the house with any comments that might be made too loudly.

The silence suited you both well, though, and there was nothing uncomfortable to it. Agni had an air to him that made it impossible to feel uncomfortable in his presence, and it was one of the many things you liked about him.

You tended to gravitate to wherever he was, whether Soma was in evidence or not, and the longer you spent around him the harder it was for you to eventually leave his presence.

A gentle touch to your arm pulled you out of your thoughts, and you turned to see Agni looking concerned, a hand on your arm and the other on the door just to your right.

"Is this not your room, Miss?" He asked in a whisper.

You blinked, realizing you'd been about to walk right past it. "Ah! Yes, yes it is. Thank you, I must be more tired than I thought." You replied, just as softly.

Agni opened the door with a smile. "A good night's rest will resolve that problem, I believe." He ushered you in gently with a hand on your waist, and you slipped past him and into the room.

The door closed behind you, and for a moment you thought that he'd left before you could say goodnight, but then his voice breezed past your ear in another whisper.

"May I do anything else for you, Miss?"

You wanted to tell him that, yes, there was something else, but you held your tongue, reprimanding yourself for letting your thoughts get out of hand again. "Thank you, Agni, but I believe I'll be fine."

A contented hum rumbled into your ear, and then you heard the door open again, a soft whisper floating across the still night air to you. "Goodnight, Miss."

You turned around quickly, and noticed that he'd waited for you to do so. "Goodnight, Agni."

A smile that tugged at you was just visible in the gloom, and then he was gone past the solid wood of your door, and you wanted nothing more than to run after him.

Well I'll tell you one thing
If you would leave it'd be a crying shame
In every breath and every word I hear your name calling me out
Well out from the barrio you hear my rhythm on your radio
You feel the turning of the world so soft and slow
Turning you round and round...

The days that followed were filled with pleasant memories and wonderful moments.

For a week all you did was sit about the mansion with Soma and talk, Agni always hovering close by with his eyes fixed on you and that same smile haunting his face.

And you seemed to be the only one who noticed.

Or, at the very least, if anyone else did notice they made no comment, and for that you were relieved.

Agni's position as butler made no difference to you, he was an extraordinary and wonderful man, but his position to Soma did make a difference.

You would never want to come between them in any way, and if you fell for Agni, you were sure Soma would notice.

Correction, if you made it apparent that you already had fallen for him.

Because there was no denying it now, not after a week spent in close company with him and trying not to blush or giggle like a schoolgirl every time he sent one of those smiles your way, or whispered something into your ear.

And Soma, so blissfully unaware of the whole situation, would merely continue to smile and share stories of what had happened since you'd last seen each other.

But the night Ciel informed you that he would not be home for dinner, having to go take care of some business in town, you felt your stomach drop because your reason for holding back was now disappearing into the distance in a carriage, and you were in the large house alone with the man you loved and his master.

You found you had no appetite at dinner, and for some reason you found it came as no surprise. "I apologize, prince, but I am not feeling well."

Agni was instantly at your elbow, a frown in evidence. "Is there anything I can get you, Miss?"

You waved him off distractedly, trying to forget the way his breath had played with the hairs on the back of your neck. "I'll be quite alright, I believe, once I lie down. Keep an eye on Soma, I'll be fine." You reinforced this with a smile, and exited the room with a straight back.

But once you reached your room you collapsed onto the bed and buried your face in a pillow. Any longer going on like this and you might explode from the pressure.

A little while later, you'd drifted off into sleep, and didn't awaken until a warm hand landed lightly on your shoulder, an even warmer voice speaking softly to you. "…Miss?"

You blinked up into concerned slate eyes and quickly sat up. "Yes, Agni, is anything the matter?"

He shook his head, expression clearing. "My prince asked me to bring you something to eat; he believed you might be hungry now, so I fixed something mild."

You noticed now the tray sitting on your desk. "Thank you, but I'm afraid I still have no appetite for it."

"What is bothering you, Miss?" He pressed, eyes reverting back to their previous emotion. "Are you unwell?"

You chuckled. "I suppose you might say that. But do not concern yourself with it, Agni, I'll be fine."

"I must concern myself, Miss," he replied gently, "my prince instructed me to serve you as I would him."

You blinked. "But that was years ago."

"He never took back the order, Miss, and even if he had, I do not believe I would have been able to obey it." The hand not keeping him propped up on the edge of the bed landed lightly atop yours. "I care for you, Miss, perhaps more than I should…" It was only the second time you'd seen him blush, and you committed the image to memory. "Please tell me if I am being too forward."

You would have laughed if you hadn't been so busy pulling him forward to press a kiss onto those eloquent lips. "Believe me, Agni; I doubt you could be too forward."

A chuckle rumbled through him, and you felt like you might melt into the covers around you. "I am pleased to hear it, Miss, but you must tell me when to stop or else I will certainly get carried away." He looked into your eyes and you saw that heat you'd always known was there rushing through them.

"I'm not sure if I will want you to stop," you managed to whisper softly, "but if I change my mind, I'll let you know."

His smile was as bright as the sun, and nearly as blinding. "Jou Aagyaa."

And if you said this life ain't good enough
I would give my world to lift you up
I could change my life to better suit your mood
'Cause you're so smooth...


This isn't a drabble, this is a battle station. XD

Angi deserves it, though, because he's my favorite butler.

But remember, kids, favoritism is bad!


The song "Smooth" belongs to: Santana

Black Butler and its related characters belong to: Yana Toboso