A/N: This (extremely late) chapter is for MistressNerd, who was my 200th reviewer and requested sleepy!Ciel. And seeing as I love sleepy!Ciel far too much, who was I to refuse? XD

By the way, has anyone else seen the second half of Ciel in Wonderland? I CRIED. T.T

Summary: Oh, good heavens, was he actually whining?

Faces

Sebastian usually considered humans worthy of nothing but disdain.

They were pathetic, easily amused but never satisfied, and oh so very fragile. Contracts were painfully easy at times, as there were always people willing to bargain their souls away for trifling amusements and temporary pleasures, never realizing the severity of the price they would pay until it was too late.

But the demon found humans fascinating at odd moments, and none more so than the little master he served. There were so many sides to Ciel Phantomhive, so many faces he showed the world, and while most got a glimpse of only one, two if they were lucky, Sebastian had the privilege of seeing them all. It was enough to keep a demon entertained for years.

There was the face of the stiff little noble, trying so hard to be proud and adult when he was still so young. There was the carefully buried rage against criminals and all who might have done him harm, held back only by the leash of propriety around the neck of the Queen's Watchdog. And there was the terrified face, that Sebastian had only been granted the gift of seeing once, the day he had been summoned, when he had gotten to watch the child shriek in fear and pain and desperation.

But it was possibly the face that Ciel was exhibiting now that Sebastian enjoyed the most. While not as entertaining as fear or rage, it was the only time the little one was vulnerable, in the half-state between sleeping and waking. He held the small hand firmly, guiding his master down the halls, as Ciel had refused to be carried. But he stumbled every so often on the plush carpet, clearly tired almost beyond functioning.

"Bocchan, you mustn't fall asleep yet. We are almost to your room. If you would simply allow me to carry you…"

"No…! I can… can walk on my…" But the words were contradictory to his actions, and he tripped again over his own feet and nearly fell. Sebastian sighed, sweeping him up easily and setting off at a much brisker pace.

Ciel squirmed for only a moment before settling against the demon's chest, humming softly. "Your coat smells good."

The demon blinked. Ciel had to be tired, to say such a thing. "Does it, Bocchan?"

"Mm-hm…" The young earl's eyes had fluttered shut, and he slurred into Sebastian's shoulder, "Smells like… spice cake… and… darkness…"

"I smell like darkness? I wasn't aware that that had a scent." Sebastian couldn't resist laughing somewhat at the strange things his master was saying. He reached Ciel's room, pushing the door open and striding over to set Ciel on the bed. Ciel promptly flopped over, curling up and nestling into the covers. Sebastian retrieved his nightshirt, sighing. "Now, now, you cannot go to sleep in your day clothes. Remain awake for a few more minutes, please."

"I don't want to… Sebastian…"

Oh, good heavens, was he actually whining? Sebastian grinned, easing him upright and beginning to shed the layers of clothes that were currently serving as impediments between Ciel and sleep. He set them aside to be put away in a moment, slipping Ciel's nightshirt on and doing up the buttons quickly. The child was currently walking the very edge between waking and sleep, barely conscious, and Sebastian tucked him in snugly before turning to put the discarded clothes away.

"My parents… My mum, she…"

The demon glanced over his shoulder, where Ciel was frowning, almost completely asleep. "Yes, Bocchan?"

"Mum used to… give me a kiss… on the forehead… when she put me to sleep…" Ciel mumbled. Sebastian blinked, dumbfounded, putting the rest of the clothes away as if on autopilot. Ciel hated to talk about his parents. He didn't like to bring up any of the happy times from before that month. Sebastian grinned. Such an interesting face it was, this sleepy and vulnerable visage of his young lord.

The demon walked over quietly, so as not to disturb him if he had already fallen completely asleep. "Goodnight, Bocchan." He leaned over to brush his lips against Ciel's forehead, smiling as he watched the frown smooth away, replaced by a peacefully sleeping face. Ciel looked so young when he was asleep. Truly, this was Sebastian's favorite of all of his master's faces: the spark of childish innocence that no one else was ever permitted to see.

He gathered up the candelabrum, making his way out of the room silently. There were still so many things to do before tomorrow, but to know that his master slept without worries… It was worth it.