A/N: Thank you everyone for your support! :3
Many, many, many thanks to Kitty Gets Loose for reading through this story and giving me advice. And to Imperial Mint for encouraging me along the way ^^ And to socialbutrfly1379 for beta-ing :)
Warnings: Language
Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroshitsuji
As a rule: There is no love without forgiveness and there is no forgiveness without love ~ Bryant H. McGill
Alois sighed and pushed his homework away. He couldn't focus on it, not since Claude left Sunday morning and leaving Alois to his chaotic thoughts. A part of Alois yearned for Claude to stay through Monday so they could celebrate his birthday together, but Alois knew the thought was just a hollow wish. Alois had no right to hope for that after everything that happened between them.
Claude had come down to visit over the weekend while Ciel went up to the ranch to talk with Sebastian. It gave each of them the privacy to sort out their problems but if Alois was honest with himself, he didn't think they accomplished much during the weekend. They had talked and Alois had bared all, but he couldn't lie and say that at their first meeting he had feelings for Claude.
The truth hurt and Alois could see the pain reflected in Claude's eyes. The only saving grace Alois could find was that Claude listened to Alois's whole story, hearing him out patiently. He told Claude everything, from how everything happened to his current feelings, silently hoping that Claude would believe him.
It felt good to get everything off his chest and it left Alois feeling even lighter for it. The only thing that would have made the situation better was if Claude had forgiven him immediately.
Instead, Claude had listened to everything with a calm, unreadable face until Alois finished talking. His expression didn't change during the entire story, making Alois nervous. It made it near impossible to know what Claude was thinking and it made Alois falter several times.
He craved a single shred of emotion from Claude. He wanted to know if his words actually meant something to Claude and if Claude still cared about what they had. Because something existed between them. Perhaps not at first, but near the end it was there. Alois knew it and he knew what he felt, but convincing Claude about those feelings was hard.
Only once did Alois breakdown in front of Claude and he clung to Claude with such an intensity that for just a brief moment, Claude showed some sense of emotion. But as quickly as it came, it left, and Alois could do nothing but cry into Claude's stomach.
The only thing Alois could remember was Claude's hand on his back, rubbing it gently before running his fingers through his hair. When Alois had mentioned it to Ciel on Sunday afternoon, Ciel said that it was a good sign. Because if Claude didn't care, then he would've left the apartment while Alois had his breakdown.
Alois clung to that hope, wanting to believe it. But as Sunday night rolled into Monday morning, Alois found his hope fading away as each hour passed without a word from Claude. Because if Claude cared, then he would've called or sent a text message saying 'Happy Birthday' at the very least.
Even Ciel had said happy birthday and for once, bought him a small personal cake. It felt odd to receive a cake from Ciel, but it seemed as though they were both turning over new leaves early this year. They had started acting nicer to each other in an effort to build a stronger friendship.
It was slow progress, as they had to break old habits, but they were willing to try despite the difficulties. There was nothing wrong with moving slow, as good friendships built over time and grew stronger as the time passed. Nothing good came from rushing something like that.
Alois already knew that Claude and Sebastian had moved on as well, getting over the small bump in their friendship without much problem. And even though it moved slow, his and Ciel's friendship was mending as well. The only thing left to tackle was their relationship problems.
It was annoying and frustrating to have that relationship stand still. Because each day that passed made Alois feel as though nothing would work out in the end. There was nothing worse than going to bed and believing that he would never hear from Claude again. It was a horrible feeling and one that kept Alois up for hours.
Alois could see the same stress in Ciel, even though Ciel tried to handle everything with a calm head and a maturity that had suddenly taken hold of him. But even with that maturity, Alois could still see the worry and fear in Ciel's eyes. In its ways, it was nice to see that they were both suffering through everything together. Because this was both their fault.
Sighing heavily, Alois turned away from the problems before him and glanced at his phone. He had promised himself that he wouldn't call Claude. Even though he wanted to hear the words from Claude, Alois wouldn't ask him to say them. It would only turn into a hollow victory that way.
Instead, Alois pushed the phone aside and stood up, in the mood for cake. He hadn't touched the one Ciel bought for him, as he wanted to keep it for as long as he could, but his sweet tooth was calling.
His eyebrow twitched in annoyance as someone knocked on the door as he entered the kitchen. Alois glanced at the cake one last time before moving towards the door, hoping that it wasn't someone selling something.
A familiar face greeted him instead when he opened the door and Alois could only stare at Claude. It felt like a dream to have Claude standing before him and Alois had to reach out with shaky fingers to see if Claude was real. When his fingers met cloth, they curled around the material and tugged at it lightly. "Claude," he murmured, still not believing that Claude stood in front of him.
Warm, calloused hands curled around his wrist, slowly sliding up to lace through clenched fingers. Claude pulled them away from the fabric easily and gave the trembling hands a tight squeeze. "Happy birthday, Alois," Claude said, bringing Alois's fingers up to his lips and pressed a soft kiss to them.
The action had Alois shaking even more and he shook his head quickly. "Don't," he begged. "Please don't tease me like this. Don't torture me by giving me what I want just because it's my birthday, only to take it away tomorrow."
Claude gave a negative shake of his head. "I would never do that to you," he answered and his hands came up to cup pale cheeks, gazing into light blue eyes.
"But you left without a word on Sunday," Alois gasped, trembling even more. He felt rough thumbs brush under his eyes and Alois reached up to clasp Claude's wrists to keep himself anchored as best he could. He couldn't believe that this was happening, that Claude was standing before him even though nothing had settled between them.
Claude's eyes lowered and he pulled Alois closer to his body. "But that doesn't mean that I didn't listen to what you had to say last weekend," he murmured. "I heard your words and had time to think about them. And even if I were still mad at you, I would have at least called to tell you happy birthday. But this way was just easier."
Alois leaned against Claude, hearing Claude's heart thrum wildly in his chest, telling Alois just how nervous Claude was as well. It wasn't easy for either of them and they were dealing with something unfamiliar. Things remained unsettled between them and Alois carefully guarded the hope that flared in his chest.
"But where does that leave us?" Alois asked, barely aware that they were standing in the doorway of his apartment where everyone could see them. It didn't matter and while he was in Claude's arm, he wouldn't let himself care.
Claude hummed and let his hand trail down Alois's back, coming to curl around his hip so they pressed flush against each other. "We're still broken," he finally answered and Alois flinched. "But that doesn't mean that we're irreparable. It will take time but I'm willing to take that time because I don't want to lose you just because I can't forgive."
Tears sprang to Alois's eyes at the words and he clutched at Claude. "What are you saying?" He asked, his voice muffled in the fabric of Claude's shirt.
"I'm saying that every relationship has its ups and downs, and small bumps along the way. Ours just happened to be bigger than most but I'm willing to take a chance." Claude's eyes closed tightly as he thought about the words and if he truly meant them. "I'm willing to take a chance to believe in you again and hope that what you say is true. That you really do care now."
Alois tossed his arms around Claude's neck, clinging to him tightly as hot tears trickled down his face. "I do mean them," he gasped. "I truly do. I never want to let you go again, no matter what." The emotions that had built up since Alois first realized his feelings for Claude came pouring out and it didn't take long before he was sobbing into Claude's chest.
They were still broken and their relationship was far from perfect but it was a start. You had to reach rock bottom first before you could claw your way back out and now they were starting the rocky ascent back to the top. No doubt, they would stumble a few times and the trust between them would never be the same, but it was better than nothing.
Because in time, that trust could be built back up until it formed a bridge strong enough to reach out over a distance. It was small and fragile now, barely holding by a thread, but it still existed. Claude hadn't severed the ties between them and Alois was more than willing to accept the cautious hand that reached out to him. He would grasp it tightly and guide Claude back to him, proving to Claude that his feelings were true.
"Thank you," Alois finally muttered. "You won't regret it I promise. I care more for you, more than you will ever know and I know you don't believe me right now, but I plan to show you every moment that I can."
Claude nodded, accepting the words as they came. "I look forward to it and rebuilding our relationship together."
Reaching up slowly, Alois's fingers brushed over Claude's cheek. They shook, worried that Claude would slap him away but Claude stayed still and let him feel again. Blue eyes slid shut as Alois traced over every feature on Claude's face, from his lips to his nose, and then under his glasses. They found themselves once more at Claude's lips, tracing the seam and every detail that he could before Alois opened his eyes.
Golden eyes stared back at him and their eyes locked as Alois's fingers stayed where they were until Claude's lips pursed and pressed a soft kiss to the pads of Alois's fingers. The action sent chills down Alois's spine and he backed away slowly. "Would you like to come in?" He asked. "I was just about to cut my cake. We can share it if you like."
Claude nodded and took a step inside, closing the door and letting the warm air wash over his body. "Would you like me to sing happy birthday to you?"
Alois shook his head. "I've never really liked the song." He laughed lowly, feeling numb with everything that was happening. He still couldn't believe that Claude was standing here with him, offering him another chance. It was like a dream and Alois had to pinch himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming.
Chuckling, Claude stepped out of his shoes and made his way to the kitchen so he could see the cake. "It looks good," he murmured, looking over the elegant piping that spelled out 'Happy Birthday Alois.' "Who bought it?"
"Ciel did," Alois answered, grabbing a knife from the drawer. "I was surprised when I saw it sitting on the table after work. This is the first time he's done something like this for me."
"Seems as though it's a time for forgiveness for everyone," Claude stated and grabbed Alois's wrist before he could cut the cake. "It needs candles before you can cut it. At least blow out the candles to make a wish if you don't want a song."
Alois shook his head, feeling heat rise to his cheeks. "It already came true," he whispered, the sentence sounding cheesy on his lips but it was the truth. If there was one thing that Alois had wished for on his birthday, it was to have Claude back again and here Claude was.
He tensed as soft lips pressed to the back of his neck and Alois felt his knees nearly buckle under the gentle touch. It came so suddenly and so tenderly that Alois could only gasp at the feeling. Claude's fingers laced through his, gripping them to keep him from shaking so much and Alois squeezed them tightly.
"Alois," Claude murmured, his lips moving slowly over pale skin. "It wasn't easy to make this decision. Please don't make me regret it or break my heart again."
Alois shook his head quickly as his eyes clenched shut. "I won't. I can't promise that I'll be perfect because I know I'll make mistakes, but never on purpose. Not again, not like that." He clutched Claude's hand. "I missed you so much. I felt so alone without you. I don't want to feel that ever again."
Claude nodded, his nose brushing against blond locks. "I know," he said softly, understanding exactly how Alois felt. They both hurt each other and felt guilty in doing so. They had to forgive themselves first before they could forgive each other. It wouldn't undo the hurt that they both suffered at each other's hands. But it didn't mean that it was the end.
Just as the seasons changed and spring breathed life back into the dead lands that winter brought, so too could they breathe life back into their relationship. The changes would come slowly, but they would come. As sure as the winter snows would melt in the spring and life was born, so too would they continue on. Learning how to move past the pain inflicted by each other's actions until it was nothing more than a small knick in their past.
Letting out a shuddering breath, Alois turned around in Claude's grip to look at Claude. "Can I…can I kiss you?" He asked hesitantly, unsure how far he could push the line so soon after getting Claude's forgiveness.
Claude hesitated for a moment, weighing the options before slowly lowering his head. "I missed you so much," he whispered. "And this just feels right." He tilted his head to the side and pressed his lips against Alois's mouth as his eyes closed without thought.
Alois sighed into the kiss, feeling as though he was kissing Claude for the first time again and he looped his arms around Claude's neck, pulling him closer. He felt arms snake around his waist, pulling him flush against Claude and he whined lowly in his throat. It felt as though he was coming home again, welcomed into a loving embrace as though nothing had happened between him.
It made Alois's world move forward again after coming to a grinding halt when everything had exploded in his face. And for the first time since everything started, Alois felt that everything would be okay. Because they could make it work. And nothing was going to keep them apart this time.
.:|As a Rule|:.
Ciel groaned as he stretched out on the couch, wrapping a blanket tightly around his body as he watched the news. The weather had grown cold and after spending the night at the library doing research for a class, Ciel couldn't wait to get a good night sleep in his bed.
He glanced away from the weather report as Alois walked through the door, blond locks tussled and cheeks flushed red from the harsh wind. "Lovely weather isn't it," Ciel drawled, sitting up slowly in order to keep the blanket close to his body. "How was your birthday yesterday? I was held up at the library."
Alois grinned widely. "It was good. Claude came down to surprise me yesterday afternoon and we shared the cake that you bought me. I saved a small piece for you too, but we sort of ate the rest." He looked slightly sheepish, but the joy on Alois's face easily overtook the embarrassed look.
Ciel blinked at the words, finding them unexpected and a small hint of despair curled around his insides. "What did y'all do?" He asked.
Alois shook his head. "We didn't really do anything, other than share a few kisses and the cake. But Claude told me that he was going to give me another chance." His smile was wide on his face as he spoke. "We know it's not perfect and it'll take time to mend the wrongs that we inflicted on each other, but we want to try again."
"That's great, Alois," Ciel forced out, trying to stay happy for Alois. This was good news for Alois and gave a small spark of hope for Ciel. But at the same time, it hurt to know that Sebastian wasn't at that stage yet and Ciel could only hope that his turn came soon.
The smile on Alois's face faltered slightly as he realized the situation. "I'm sorry, Ciel," he said quickly. "I didn't mean to shove it in your face like that. I was just happy and…" He trailed off and shook his head. "I'm sure the same thing will happen for you and Sebastian as well."
Ciel forced a smile, knowing that Alois could see through it but they couldn't do anything. "Don't be sorry, Alois. I know what I did and I can't rush Sebastian or expect him to act the same way as Claude. Whatever happens…happens. And I can only hope for the best in the end."
Alois's eyes lowered. Fate was ironic in her ways. From the start, this was what Alois wanted to see, Ciel broken before him. But now that it had happened, Alois found that he couldn't stand the sight of seeing Ciel so broken and he wished for things to return to the way they were before. But that could never happen. What happened in the past stayed in the past and it couldn't be undone. But the hope that things could change for the better drove them forward, always looking towards the future with that hope in mind.
"He'll come around soon," Alois stated, hoping to cheer Ciel up even though they both knew that it was a weak statement. Alois didn't know Sebastian's intentions any more than Ciel knew them. "He'll come around."
Ciel laughed lightly and nodded. "Yeah, hopefully soon." His eyes darted to the side as his voice lowered. "I miss him."
Alois nibbled his lower lip but didn't say anything else. At this point, there wasn't anything else to say and Alois had a feeling that his words would only make things worse. Instead, he decided to change tactics and he shifted his weight on his legs, wanting to phrase his words carefully. "Maybe it's time that you show him how much you care for him," he commented. "You gave him space, but what if you did something for him that truly showed how much you cared for him?"
Dark blue eyes slid to the side to look at Alois, filled with curiosity. "What do you mean?" He asked. "Sebastian said earlier that I couldn't call him because he would call me."
"I'm sure you could think of something," Alois said. "You're smart and you know what you want. You know what Sebastian likes. No one probably knows him better than you do right now, outside of Claude. What can you do for him that would show Sebastian just how much you care?"
Ciel hummed and thought about the question, trying to figure out the best answer. He ignored Alois as Alois started to move around in the kitchen to start dinner and barely noticed when Alois slipped into his room so he could talk to Claude. He was too lost in his thoughts, thinking of what Sebastian would like and what would show him that Ciel truly cared.
The ranch was Sebastian's life and he circled everything around it. Whatever Ciel did, it would have to involve the ranch to show Sebastian that Ciel wasn't interested in just Sebastian but his job as well. Because Sebastian wouldn't accept him if Ciel just wanted Sebastian. He had to want the ranch as well. That part wasn't the problem, as Ciel cared about the ranch just as much as Sebastian. But showing how much he cared was another problem.
Leaning back into the cushions, Ciel's eyebrows furrowed in thought. The obvious thing was to offer his help, but Ciel did that last week and it seemed rather pointless to ask if he could help. Unless Ciel just showed up and offered his help. It would be unexpected, but it would also be something that Sebastian would never expect Ciel to do.
Letting out a soft sigh, Ciel nodded to himself and looked out the window again where the wind tossed the leaves about. It could work. But there was also a chance that this could backfire against him. If Sebastian didn't see things the same way Ciel did, then Ciel could ruin everything they built last week. It wasn't something Ciel wished to see happen, but sitting around and not doing anything wasn't any better either.
If in order to make progress, Ciel first had to show how he felt, than Ciel wouldn't hesitate to do so. He wanted to show Sebastian how much he cared, by any means necessary. And if it meant surprising Sebastian and taking a risk, then Ciel would take the risk.
Ciel nodded and turned his attention back to the television. He would use the rest of his week to plan his course of action and figure out what else he could do for Sebastian. But until then, he would have to wait and hope for the best.
.:|As a Rule|:.
Gravel crunched under Ciel's tires as he pulled up to the ranch house, his heart racing with nerves. Sebastian had called late Wednesday night to let Ciel know that the auction had gone well thanks to his help last weekend. It was a step in the right direction and Ciel took that as a sign that he could continue with his plan.
He asked Alois on Thursday morning to call Claude to see if it would be all right for Ciel to show up Friday afternoon to surprise Sebastian. After everything that had happened between them, Ciel didn't want to show up without any warning. If Claude at least knew he was supposed to be there, than Sebastian would know that Ciel was acting in best intentions.
Claude had agreed, much to Ciel's surprise, as he had expected Claude to refuse him the moment Alois asked. But Claude promised to help smooth any ruffled feathers if, for some reason, Sebastian was mad at the gesture. Not only that, but Claude had hinted that Sebastian had his eye on another black kitten that lived at the local shelter. Sebastian had seen the kitten's picture while they were in town and it had stopped him in his tracks until Claude had to tug Sebastian away so they could start their grocery shopping.
It wasn't much information to go by, but it was a start and Ciel was oddly surprised to find that Claude had his back; all things considering. He wasn't sure if it was because Claude wanted Sebastian to be happy as well or if Claude got some sick kick out of watching Ciel struggle and fail to get back into Sebastian's good graces. Whatever the case, Ciel stayed wary to be on the safe side.
Climbing out of the car, Ciel shut the door quietly and made his way to the ranch house. Claude greeted him after he knocked on the door and directed him to the tack room, claiming that Sebastian was fixing some bridles and halters. Ciel thanked him and walked around the house until he reached the barn where his steps slowed down the closer he came to the barn. There was no backing out after this and Ciel wasn't about to come up all this way for nothing.
Taking a deep breath, Ciel entered the barn and found his way to the tack room. Ciel cautiously poked his head inside the room, spotting Sebastian in a second. A pile of bridles and halters rested in a pile at his feet and Ciel stepped into the room softly, clearing his throat. "Do you need any help?" He asked.
Sebastian, for his part, didn't jump but instead simply raised his head to look at Ciel, surprise evident in his eyes. "What are you doing here?" He questioned, choosing to answer Ciel's question with one of his own.
"I finished all my work and projects for the week so I had time to spare," Ciel answered. "I wanted to help you around the ranch if you would have me."
Crimson eyes bore into Ciel, searching for any hint of lie before gesturing to a stack of blankets. "Take a seat. I can always use help repairing tack." He shifted half the stack over to Ciel and picked up the bridle he had been working on.
Smiling slightly, Ciel took the offered seat and started to work on the bridle that sat on the top of the stack. They worked together silently as they focused on their task and Ciel found himself enjoying the comfortable silence. Sebastian hadn't sent him away and Ciel took that as a good sign. It meant that Sebastian didn't mind having Ciel around and that his actions of showing up as a surprise didn't bother him.
It was a step in the right direction and, provided Sebastian didn't send him home tonight, Ciel could continue helping out around the ranch. Ciel had plans, no matter how risky they were, but he hoped that they would help show Sebastian how much Ciel cared. Not just about Sebastian but about the ranch as well.
Minutes bled into hours and finally, they reached the bottom of the pile and Ciel let out a pleased sigh as he popped his back. It felt good to finish, but at the same time, brought with it more questions. The biggest one on Ciel's mind was simply, 'what next?' He glanced up as Sebastian stood up and felt crimson eyes gaze down at him.
"Hungry?" Sebastian asked and Ciel nodded quickly. A small smirk spread across Sebastian's face and he held out his hand, offering to pull Ciel to his feet. "Let's go get something to eat. It's almost dinner time."
Ciel shook his head. "Dinner sounds good, but we should feed the horses first," he stated, watching as surprise flickered across Sebastian's face. It seemed as though Sebastian hadn't expected Ciel to suggest that, but it made Sebastian smile nonetheless.
"You're right," Sebastian commented, walking out of the tack room and to the feed room where Claude was already separating feed into the correct buckets. "Horses first and then people." He passed a bucket off to Ciel and Sebastian held up a finger in warning. "Be careful with the last bucket, the mare is in heat and she tends to get cranky around her time."
Ciel nodded, committing the note to memory before walking off to distribute the feed. He wasn't going to ask Sebastian what would happen after this and instead, would take everything as they came to him.
After finishing with his stack of buckets, and nearly having his fingers bitten off at the last bucket, Ciel returned to the feed room to find stacks of buckets waiting for him. He grabbed a new set without a word and left without prompting. Sebastian and Claude were already out in the barn, giving feed just the same as Ciel and there was no need for them to wait for him. Ciel knew what he was doing, Sebastian made sure of that during the internship.
He finished the next stack quickly and Ciel returned to the room to find Sebastian picking up the last stack of buckets. "I can take half," Ciel answered, already holding out his hands.
Sebastian gave a small smile and placed half the buckets in Ciel's arms before they left the room together. "How was the mare?" Sebastian asked as he emptied the first bucket.
Ciel grimaced. "Cranky, as you said. She tried to sample my fingers but she failed in her mission luckily," he said, voice light and teasing.
"There's no way to break her of that habit either. But you can always tell when she's hit her heat," Sebastian commented. "A few days before her cycle starts, she's even worse and kicks at anything that passes. Makes it almost impossible to get near her and even when you're trying to get close, you're wondering to yourself why you're even bothering."
Ciel laughed and after meeting the cranky mare for himself, could see exactly what Sebastian was talking about. "Aren't most girls like that anyway?" He asked. "Both human and animal?"
Sebastian wiggled a finger and amusement filled his eyes. "I would be careful where you say that and who you say it to. We're simply men, so we don't understand the complicated emotions and bodily functions that females have to experience once a month. You should never call a woman out as PMS-ing. It will end horribly for you."
An eyebrow arched at the words. "Do you say this from experience?" Ciel questioned, his curiosity spiked now.
"Not personal experience, but I have seen foolish men attempt to take that road. And each time they have failed," Sebastian answered. "A female is a delicate creature yes, but never doubt the strength she holds deep inside her body. When furious, she will not hesitate to point a weapon at you if there is one nearby. A woman's fury is something to fear."
Ciel shivered at the words, knowing all too well how terrifying his mother could become when she was mad at either him or his father. The usual, tender loving woman turned into a she-devil wielding a wooden spoon. And Ciel knew from experience that a wooden spoon or ruler against either his hands or bottom would sting something fierce.
"Point taken," Ciel murmured as they made the final rounds after replacing the buckets. "That's why I'll stick with men."
Sebastian chuckled. "Do young ladies in bonnets who seem to favor the color pink not suit your fancy, my Lord?" He teased, the words falling easily from his mouth.
Ciel huffed. "There you go, acting as though you're in a movie again. Perhaps you should've been an actor instead of a cowboy. I'm sure Hollywood would've eaten you up." He paused and cocked his head. "Especially with your acting as good as it is."
A smirk settled across Sebastian's lips. "You know nothing about the true talent of my acting," Sebastian murmured before stretching his arms over his head. "Shall we head back to the ranch and get us something to eat? And perhaps a clean bed for you?"
"If you'll let me stay that would be nice," Ciel answered, not wanting to push his luck. "I'll help with the morning chores of course."
Sebastian nodded and ushered Ciel to the house. "Of course. But go shower. By the time you finish, dinner will be ready." He waved Ciel off to the bunkhouse once they stepped inside the warm house.
Ciel grinned as he trotted off towards the bunkhouse, pleased that Sebastian wasn't putting up a fuss about him being at the ranch. It was a sign that Ciel could keep pushing forward and until Sebastian said no or showed signs that he didn't want Ciel there. And Ciel would keep pushing until at last Sebastian understood.
.:|As a Rule|:.
Saturday morning, Ciel crept through the ranch house, slowly and quietly making his way to Sebastian's room. The path was familiar to Ciel and he still knew it by heart. But compared to past times where Ciel snuck in Sebastian's room so he could crawl into bed with him, Ciel had had different plans this time.
Opening the bedroom door carefully, Ciel slipped inside the bedroom and let his eyes adjust to the dark room. It was darker than the hallway and it took a second longer for Ciel to make his way to the nightstand where the alarm sat. With slow movements, Ciel reached for the device and quietly searched for the off button. He found it after a moment of fumbling and quickly flicked the switch.
Ciel held his breath as Sebastian stirred in his bed, a soft noise escaping his mouth before he wiggled further into the blankets. It would've been an endearing sight if Ciel could've seen it better and had the time to watch. But as it was, Ciel couldn't afford to stay around for much longer. He didn't want Sebastian to wake up and find him, and Ciel quickly shuffled out of the room.
He made his way downstairs and found Claude nursing a cup of hot coffee, his hands wrapped around the mug. Golden eyes narrowed slightly in confusion at the sight of him before looking up at the ceiling, wondering where Sebastian was. "I'm letting him sleep in," Ciel answered before Claude could ask. "I'll take his place instead."
A low chuckle left Claude's mouth as he lowered the cup. "You're truly trying, aren't you?"
Ciel offered a small smile. "I care for him and I know I messed up, but I just want to show him that I do care. I miss him."
Claude hummed and set the cup aside. "Well then, shall we let Sebastian sleep in and get started on the chores? I'm sure this will prove entertaining when he wakes up and realizes what happened. That alone will be worth working with you."
Rolling his eyes, Ciel headed for the door. "You still don't like me, do you?" He had hoped they had moved past that by now, but it seemed as though that wouldn't happen any time soon.
Claude shook his head. "Bingo. I'm still not a fan of you for obvious reasons." He turned to look at Ciel, giving him a firm look. "But despite everything that happened, I can tell that Sebastian wants you. As he's my friend, I want to see him happy, even if that means getting back with you. But I warn you. If you pull a stunt like that ever again, you will not live to make another mistake. We have plenty of land out here and I'm good shot. I don't think I need to say anymore."
Ciel grunted. "You don't need to threaten me. I would never do something like that to Sebastian again. I know what I almost lost because of it. It was a stupid and foolish thing to do. One that I intend to make right by any means possible." They crossed the lawn, white puffs of breath escaping their mouths. "I don't want to let go of him again."
Claude nodded. "So long as you understand the situation you're in. Although I'm certain that if you do something like that again, it won't be me that you have to watch out for, but Sebastian. He's taken a buck out before when I could barely see it in my scope. And it wasn't just a lucky shot. It was a perfect shot through the head. And he's not shabby with a knife either." He smirked slightly, proud of Sebastian for all his accomplishments. "He's not to be messed with, that much I can say."
A small shiver worked its way through Ciel's body and he nodded. He sighed and pushed the thoughts to the side as they entered the barn. Horses greeted them with hungry calls and without another word to Claude; they went to work.
It wasn't until they finished the chores and were back in the house that Sebastian finally woke up. He looked guilty for having slept in and Ciel felt bad, knowing that Sebastian believed it was his fault. "I'm sorry for sleeping in, my alarm didn't go off," Sebastian murmured, pushing Claude to the side so he could take over with breakfast.
Ciel shook his head. "I let you sleep in and took your place this morning," he stated. "I turned your alarm off this morning because I wanted you to get more sleep. I know how to do the chores and we still finished on time, so nothing was lost and you had a chance to get more sleep."
Claude chuckled. "I thought it was a good idea. You've seemed stressed lately and now that the auction has passed, you can afford a little downtime. We don't have anything else planned today other than chores and repairs on the fence. Why don't you take the day off with Ciel?" He pushed his way back in front of the stove, taking over once more. "I owe you for letting me go down to see Alois on Monday and leaving you alone with the auction preparation."
Sebastian grumbled. "If I didn't know any better, I would say that you two were conspiring against me and trying to kick me off the ranch." He circled around the counter to grab a bag of treats for Soot before looking over his shoulder at Ciel. "We'll go into town in an hour then, seeing as I have time off. We can just enjoy the sights for a while before stopping for lunch and then coming back for a ride."
Ciel nodded quickly, happy with Sebastian's plan and even happier that Sebastian wasn't mad at him. He watched Sebastian go and turned to Claude with a grin.
"You do know that by going to 'see the sights in town,' means that he's going to fawn over the kitten," Claude stated.
"I know," Ciel answered and jumped off the barstool. "And you know that you might be adding an addition to your family," he commented with a smile before walking out of the kitchen.
An hour later, Ciel sat in the truck with Sebastian as they drove into town. The sun warmed the inside of the truck but outside, Ciel could see signs that winter was slowly approaching and he found that he wasn't looking forward to winter. The only good thing about it was that his birthday would come up soon. Whether it would be a happy day or not was still unknown but Ciel hoped that it would be.
"What are we going to do in town?" Ciel asked as the truck approached the bustling town. It was such a different scene to Ciel, as he was used to the big city of Austin but at the same time, he was used to the wide and open plains of the ranch. The nearby town was a cozy combination of the two but if Ciel had to choose, he would take the ranch in a heartbeat.
Sebastian shrugged as he parked the truck at the edge of the town and turned the engine off. "Just look around," he said with a small shrug. "The holidays are coming soon and it never hurts to look for gifts ahead of time."
Ciel nodded as they started walking. Shops lined the streets and there was plenty to look at. It didn't take long before the hours slipped away and Ciel soon found himself standing in front of the animal shelter, watching as Sebastian gazed longingly at a black kitten that tumbled around inside the display with several other kittens.
"You're obsessed you know that?" Ciel commented, shaking his head. "I honestly don't know about you at all."
"She's cute," Sebastian huffed, pouting slightly and looking like a child whose parent just denied him a treat.
Ciel rolled his eyes and gave Sebastian a small push towards the door. "Come on cat-sanova. If you're going to make silly faces over a kitten, you might as well get her. I'm sure Soot is lonely during the day without you."
Sebastian grunted but allowed Ciel to pull him along. "Claude said no more," he stated as they entered the store. The moment he was in, he made a beeline towards the kitten, making Ciel shake his head even more.
"I'm not Claude," Ciel answered as he headed towards the man standing behind the counter and informing him that Sebastian would take the kitten home. Now Ciel would have to put up with two cats whenever he stayed over, if he could stay over more. But the look on Sebastian's face as they carried the kitten back to the truck was worth it and that alone made Ciel smile all the more.
.:|As a Rule|:.
Ciel sighed as he slipped on his shoes Sunday morning. While he could leave later and still make it back at a decent time, Ciel didn't want to overstay his welcome. Sebastian stood behind him, watching silently as Ciel adjusted his bag and Ciel longed for Sebastian to say something.
But Sebastian remained silent and finally, Ciel turned around to look at him. "Thank you for letting me help with the chores this weekend. It was nice to work on the ranch," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. Sebastian nodded silently and Ciel turned around to face the door again, moving through it without a word. He heard Sebastian following him onto the porch and then out to the car where they stopped next to the vehicle. "I'll see you around I guess," Ciel muttered, his eyes lowering to the ground.
He gasped as warm hands gripped his chin and tilted it up, lips capturing his in a searing kiss that seemed to suck the breath from his lungs. Ciel's eyes slipped shut and he clung to Sebastian until the kiss broke. One last breath passing between them before Sebastian took a small step back, licking his lips as though he had just tasted something delicious.
"Almost," Sebastian murmured and opened the door. "Drive safely Ciel."
Ciel nodded in a daze before he climbed into the car, letting Sebastian slam the door shut. He gave a small wave, his lips still tingling as he started the car and guided it down the driveway, Sebastian's words still ringing in his ears.
"Almost."