Author's Note: Thank you for reading to this point, I know it's been one hell of a ride, but you're going to love how it all plays out.
Chapter 54: All Things Lost….
There are two types of people in the world, those who call on others to seek justice for them, and those who take matters into their own hands. In the case of Lucius Faustus it was the second that was far more appealing to the CEO. His golden eyes fell on his mobile, he had managed to slip the card into one of the folders of Vincent's desk before leaving to spend time with his son, in reality he wasn't sure if it had been in fact the proper folder but it turned out he had been correct in his rather swift decision. Golden eyes watched the streets outside of a large concrete apartment complex keenly.
It hadn't taken long for him to figure out just where the assailant lived, all he had to do was run the face through several data bases and found the man. He had a feeling Bald-Roy wouldn't have found it since he wouldn't have thought to call in a favor from MI6 of the CIA, it was amazing with a phone call and a check could do. Lucius leaned against the brick wall casually. Thousands of ideas were running through his head as he glanced down at his hands. He had been thinking about this moment for a few days now and couldn't wait to get his hands on the man who had nearly killed Claude.
Bald-Roy showed up an hour later, cleanly shaved, showered and clothed, he didn't look anywhere near as bad as he had the first time he had seen the man. "Hello Mister Faustus," greeted the man stiffly, his blue eyes were watching Lucius nervously, which the CEO couldn't blame him this was after all an unusual request. "Hello Bald-Roy," he greeted cordially as he looked over at the complex across the street, "Now that you are here we can start," he stated simply as he slipped a broad rimmed fedora on his head and slipped his hands into his pockets. "Follow me, if you please," he directed as he jogged across the street to avoid oncoming traffic.
Bald-Roy trotted after him, a look of confusion was plastered on his face. "Sir?" he asked curiously as Lucius walked up the steps of the building he had been watching all day. "Are you a religious man?" asked Lucius after a moment he was standing just outside the door and looked over his shoulder quizzically. Bald-Roy scratched his head in confusion and replied, "I never was into going to church." Lucius chuckled darkly, his lips quirked up in a smirk, "I didn't ask if you were pious, I asked if you were religious," he stated.
Blue eyes were filled with confusion as he looked at Lucius, "Do you believe in god?" he asked after a moment. The massive man froze and looked nervous before replying, "Yes." Lucius hummed in reply and turned to face him, his shoulders were square and he stood tall, "Do you believe in the law?" he asked this time with a hint of playfulness. Bald-Roy was perplexed but replied earnestly, "Yes, it's there for a reason." Lucius hummed as he looked at the man, he was truly a good one, a rarity among the demons in Vincent's employ, it was no wonder he had been left out of most of the man's schemes.
"Do you believe in justice?" he asked finally, his eyes narrowed as he searched the other man's face. Lucius wasn't a saint, he knew that, he had clawed his way up from nothing to escape the clutches of agony. He had been steeped in the very same darkness Sebastian had been pulled into and that Vincent frequented. "Yes," replied Bald-Roy firmly as though he were asking if he would fight for his country. "Even if it is delivered by those who aren't given the right to uphold the law?" he asked cautiously. This made the massive man behind him hesitate, he looked insecure and seemed to be putting the pieces together, "You have a chance to leave now and none of this will involve you," said Lucius simply as he slipped his hands into black latex gloves. Bald-Roy cringed when they snapped against the man's wrist.
"No, I'll stay, I told Vincent I would find the man," he replied, "he didn't say he had to be in good condition." Lucius smiled darkly as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a lock pick, "Then follow me," he stated. Lucius knelt on the stoop and quickly slipped the pick into the lock, with ease he had the tumbler snapped out of place and was inside. He slipped into the foyer with the grace of a cat, looking cautiously around the home to ensure they were alone. "He won't be home for another half hour," he stated as he walked into the living room, he was thankful the curtains were closed and the flat was dark. "Who is he?" asked Bald-Roy as he walked around the room.
It stank of cigarettes and unwashed clothes, it was musty and clearly the windows hadn't been opened for a very long time. The furniture was clean but stained heavily and smelt of ash, "Marcus Deangelo, he was a professor of law at a small college in Chicago. He was recently removed from the staff and pending investigation when his paper eerily matched that of mine," commented Lucius. Bald-Roy stiffened and looked over at Lucius, the golden eyed man was smiling like a spider who had finally managed to enter the home of it's pray, now all he had to do was finish weaving his web.
"Yours?" asked Bald-Roy as Lucius steepled his fingers under his chin and grinned. He was never the kind of man to be taken lightly, "Yes, mine. It was my final thesis on international law and trade. I had my MBA before and was working on my second degree, why do you think my son is so good at business? Knowing law is one of the most important elements of being good at what you do," he stated frankly as he crossed his legs. Bald-Roy looked even more nervous standing before the man than before, he smirked at his startled expression. He had grown accustomed dot it over the years and even came to savor it as people fell into his traps. He would wait for just the right moment before wrapping them in his silk and killing them, he was ever so fond of spiders.
Bald-Roy slowly walked away from the mantel, which had several gaudy frames resting along the ledge, the photos had faded with time and looked as though they belonged on an office desk rather than a mantle in a living room. "This man, you don't think he assaulted Claude over his orientation, do you?" asked Bald-Roy carefully. Lucius hummed as he looked at the glass table in the middle of the room. "Originally no, however when I did a little digging I realized he had gotten far more radical than the last I had seen him," he said simply, "Apparently stealing my paper wasn't enough, and the other accusation was that he had raped a young man who was allegedly tempting him. The young man vanished without a trace even though there was more than enough evidence to prove it wasn't consensual," he stated simply. He could still remember the images, that same young man was now his secretary back in New York and was at the top of his game.
Lucius' eyes narrowed as he watched the door, he heard foot steps out front and the pause of the flat's owner. A smile curved his lips as Bald-Roy stood behind him, his eyes never left the entrance of the room as he sat in the dark, it was pitch black and he knew the first thing the young man would do was turn on the light. The front door swung open and the Marcus slipped into the room, he looked far more worn than his former self did in Chicago, he had bags under his eyes and was balding badly, his black eyes lost their shine. He shuffled around the room and was rather heavy on his feet. Lucius watched keenly in the dark as the man slid his hand along the wall looking for a switch, he had always been able to see well in the dark.
Thick fingers flicked the switch only for the lights to not respond, the frantic click of the switch in the wall being jostled echoed in the silence. "Fuck," he commented as he ran a hand through his hair, he walked further into the room and walked over to the sideboard to grab a torch only when Lucius reached over and turned a lamp on. The light was blinding in the dark space and he watched Marcus flinch, a hiss left his lips. "What the fuck?" he asked with irritation as he looked over to where Lucius sat, poised and still as a statue. Marcus paled as he dropped the light to the floor and shivered, "You," he whispered.
A smirk curved Lucius lips as he lowered his hands and tilted his head to the side, "It's a pleasure to see you again Professor Deangelo," he greeted, only causing the other man to tremble. The man stood ramrod straight and eagerly eyed the door, "I wouldn't do that, Professor," chided Lucius as he rose from his seat, the motion was flawless and it looked as though he had floated out of the chair. He slowly walked over to the trembling man, his golden eyes narrowed significantly as he did so, daring the man to make a move. "I came here to have a chat," he remarked. Marcus looked wildly over Lucius shoulder to Bald-Roy who had his hands before him, Lucius knew full well Marcus could tell what the man was capable of.
"About?" Marcus asked as he attempted to swallow back his fear, which was practically palpable. Lucius stood before him with a small knowing smile as he replied, "My son." Those two words hung in the air like and omen. Marcus quickly pivoted to leave the room only for Lucius to grab his wrist harshly and twist the man's arm behind his back, his lips were close to the man's ear and he could tell Marcus hadn't showered in days, "I let you go in Chicago, I won't be as nice here," he hissed as he twisted the arm sharply causing Marcus to yelp. He grinned with pleasure as the man continued to scream, but this wasn't enough, it was far from over. It was then he noticed how Bald-Roy had paled in the corner and smiled darkly, clearly the man wasn't prepared for him.
With ease Marcus was pressed against the wall by Lucius, the man struggled against his iron like grip as Lucius hissed, "Now, now, be good and I might spare your honor." He knew he was condemned, so there was little stopping him, he didn't want Marcus to lay a hand on another person ever again.
~~xXx~~
Months passed slowly, rolling away and soon the snow had melted making way for the spring. For a while hope shimmered in the flat high above the streets, there was a spark of light in Claude's eyes when ever Sebastian spent time with him, yet it vanished as quick as it came. Days passed slowly as the snow melted, and part of Sebastian wished that as the snow did melt so would the block in Claude's memory. Lucius had been a large help around the flat since in reality Claude was hesitant around Sebastian, it was as though they were never meant to be.
Sebastian stretched his arms out and hummed as he padded into the kitchen. Sitting at the island was Lucius drinking his usual black coffee. He was reading the news on his tablet, Victoria had swung by one day to give them man everything he needed to run his company from London, despite the board of directors opposition. Sebastian could remember it clearly, the sound of their elevated voices as Lucius shouted his commands at them, he was the owner of the company and he'd be damned if he allowed anyone to get between him and running it. Lucius lifted the gray mug to his lips and took another sip as he continued reading, he was twirling the pen like stylus between his fingers. Sebastian smiled as he watched the man snarl at the tablet as though it were alive and quickly amend something.
Other than Lucius' growl of irritation the kitchen was relatively quiet, "Good morning," greeted Sebastian with a smile. It seemed as though Claude's younger self slept far more than his older did. Lucius looked up over a pair of oval readers and smiled. "Morning," he greeted as he flashed a welcoming smile, "Claude's out for a run." Recently Claude ran every morning, part of him wondered if Claude had always done this and Sebastian had been keeping from it. He could still remember Claude's sculpted body beneath his fingers, the gym would be the most logical explanation, but he couldn't help but wonder why Claude was running now and not before. "Okay, how about frittata?" asked Sebastian curiously as he opened the fridge and pulled out the ingredients required to make it.
Lucius looked up and smiled, "One of Claude's favorites, I'm sure he'll be thrilled," he commented. Sebastian nodded, he could remember the stunning on Claude had made for him the breakfast after their first real night together in bed. He could still remember Claude's powerful body hovering over the encounter and his skilled hands holding the knife as though it were part of him, executing precise slices with every motion. "It's mine too," replied Sebastian softly as he began to make the same breakfast, part of him praying that somehow he would be able to jog the Head Chef's memory. Lucius slipped his glasses off and leaned his elbows on the counter. His golden eyes watched him keenly, "Claude made you one before, didn't he?" he asked slowly, as though he were testing the waters.
The knife was placed on the wooden board, Sebastian sighed as he looked at the pepper, "Yes, it was our first breakfast together," he replied sadly. Lucius nodded as he watched Sebastian pick up the knife once more and then proceeded to cut up the peppers, the sound of the knife slipping through the skin of the vegetable and then tapping against the board filled the room. "Sebastian, I know you love my son, but you can't continue doing this," said Lucius slowly. The Patissier's head shot up and his red eyes narrowed, Lucius had been more of a father than his own and yet here he was telling him to give up.
"What do you mean?" he hissed as he began chopping an onion. He wasn't' going to give up, he had been happy for just a few hours, a breath of time in which he felt safe. Claude had saved him, and he had no intention to allow Claude to wander around with no memory. "Sebastian, I understand that you want to keep him, god I wish I had your strength, but I don't want you to do this," he said sternly. Sebastian pulled a large glass bowl and quickly began separating the whites from the yolks, "Doing what?" he snapped as the sticky clear whites fell into the bowl. "Trapping yourself in the past, he may remember and he may not," stated Lucius.
Sebastian picked up a whisk and quickly began beating the whites into remission, he hated it when he was told how to live his life, he didn't want to be told what to do and yet Lucius had a point. He was in agony, he just wanted Claude back but the problem was that he did have Claude. Everyday he was reminded that the man who slept in the other room and stood in the kitchen with him wasn't the one he fell in love with, they hadn't even met. Sebastian continued working before finally responding, "I just don't know how to move forward," he whispered sadly, "Everything I want is in the past, which is sick in a way, because my past is horrible." Lucius was silent, it wasn't until he had said the words aloud that everything seemed more real. He finished with the egg whites and poured them into the black nonstick pan. Once he finished this he added mushrooms, salsa, peppers and the onion.
The flat door swung open the sound of foot steps echoed through the flat, they were off it wasn't like their owner was walking which made Lucius look up. There was a shout of glee as Claude slid into the room and Sebastian stared at a tussled Claude walking in, his hair was greasy and he had a pair of grey and lime green ear buds in. The black chords stood out against his gray shirt, it was neon green and he could see the Bose logo on the side. On Claude's arm was a band with his mobile on it and he noticed the AC/DC logo on the screen. He was swinging his hips and smiling brightly as he slid across the floor, he didn't have a care in the world. Sebastian froze as his eyes traveled over Claude's form, he was wearing a baggy shirt but a pair of very tight spandex shorts. A bead of sweat slipped down the side of his face and continued down his neck, leaving a small streak in it's wake. His legs were lightly tanned; he had tight calves and beautifully sculpted quads.
Sebastian's fingers loosened around the pan causing it to fall to the floor with a bang. His jaw dropped as Claude stretched his quads and then continued to saunter into his room entirely oblivious to Lucius and Sebastian standing there. Sebastian's eyes were glued on him as he stared at Claude's retreating form, his eyes falling on his powerful back and tight ass. He moaned and closed his eyes, heat was pooling in his groin and it took everything he had not to run after the man and join him in the shower. Lucius chuckled, "I see he still has that affect," he remarked. Sebastian was confused until Lucius pointed his black stylus to the mess on the floor. "FUCK," hissed Sebastian as he knelt on the floor to pick it up, all the while he was trying to tame his libido. He was going to have to start again.
He sighed as he once again began prepping ingredients, his knife moved swiftly as he chopped the peppers, Lucius took the liberty of throwing out the Frittata that landed on the floor. He had no idea Claude liked AC/DC and then realized there was very little he knew about the man's younger self. "Has he always liked?" asked Sebastian after a moment. Lucius chuckled and looked up at him, "AC/DC?" Lucius shrugged and replied, "Yeah, he likes Black Sabbath too, he only plays them when he's getting ready to kick ass though." Sebastian stared at him in confusion making Lucius chuckle, clearly that part of Claude had been tamed.
"When ever he was about to go make a deal he would take the fastest car and rip through the back roads, rocking to AC/DC or Black Sabbath," he explained and chuckled, "He always said it was his jam time and not to bug him. Yes he listened to jazz and such but when he needed to feel confident and own the room, Metal was the key." Sebastian smiled a little, he didn't know much about the younger man and realized that his love affair with expensive cars that went ridiculously fast was an offshoot of that.
Sebastian finished putting the pan together once again and asked, "What was he like as a college kid?" Lucius scoffed as he sat back in his seat and smiled, "He was something, clever, quick witted and utterly charming, he was the perfect son with one hell of a brain," he stated, "Women begged him to date them, which he refused." Sebastian was about to put the pan in the oven only for Claude to walk out wrapped in a towel, he ran a hand lazily through his wet hair. "Hey dad have you seen my dark blue jeans?" he asked curiously. Sebastian's eyes were glued on his sculpted chest, part of him wondered just how much time Claude spent in the gym. His fingers ached to run over his chest and abdominals. He desperately wanted to run his tongue over every one of them and nibble on his collarbone.
There was another loud crash and Sebastian looked down to see the pan once again on the floor, he groaned as Claude asked, "What happened to the first one?" Sebastian knelt on the floor as he attempted to hide his blush which he was pretty sure was going down his neck and making his ears bright red. "I…" Sebastian began only for Lucius to cut in, "He wasn't satisfied with it, so he decided to make another one." Sebastian mentally thanked the man and made a note to bring him something nice to eat later.
"Sebastian, your food is phenomenal," he began and chuckled, it was a light sound that made the Patissier's heart skip a beat, "Well I suppose that one is a bust as well, would you like me to help with the next one?" he asked. Sebastian looked up to see the man smiling at him from the doorway, which lead to the washer and dryer. He nodded numbly, Claude flashed a smile once again and slipped into the Laundry room, "Wonderful," he called. Sebastian rolled his eyes up and looked at the ceiling, "Why me?" he asked. Lucius choked a laugh down causing Sebastian to glare, "I don't want to hear it," he hissed. Lucius was grinning so broadly that he looked younger than he actually was. "You love him," he replied as he gripped his sides, tears fell from the corners of his eyes as he snickered.
"You, you're his father, didn't you teach him that rude to wander about in a towel?" asked Sebastian as he continued to clean the floor. Lucius hummed, he could hear the stylus tapping on the desk, it was a tick of Lucius' when ever he was deep in thought. "No, I encouraged it, since I know people enjoy the view," he stated. Sebastian's hands paused as he looked up at Lucius in shock, "What? At one time I didn't look that different," he pointed out. Sebastian's lips were moving as he attempted to find a reply, only for his speech to abandon him. Lucius huffed as he crossed his arms and shot Sebastian a pointed look, "Oh come now, he has half my DNA, we don't look that different," he stated.
Sebastian chuckled as he finished cleaning up the mess, "No sometimes I swear he's a Carbon Copy of you, although his eyes are a brighter gold," he mused. Lucius chuckled as he nodded, "It was frightening when I looked at my pictures as a teenager and then his, you have no idea how confused I was," he stated. Sebastian chuckled, he had a feeling they looked nearly identical, complete with determined smiles. Sebastian wiped the floor once again before rising and taking the pan over to the sink, he had to wash it before using it, again.
Claude wandered back into the room, his damp hair was slicked back and he was in a pair of black Toms, with dark blue jeans, a brown leather belt and a Black Sabbath tee shirt. Sebastian stared at him, Claude didn't dress like that often, he had seen him dress like that once but this was a shock. "So, Frittata," he commented as he walked over to the sink and began washing his hands. Sebastian nodded as he looked at the black shirt, it hugged him like a second skin, "Yeah, want to chop the veggies?" he asked slowly. He licked his lips after doing so and turned quickly to grab eggs.
Claude shrugged and replied, "Sure, so this is attempt number 3?" Sebastian groaned as he picked up the eggs and replied solemnly, "Yeah, let's just hope I don't strike out," he mumbled. Lucius snorted and remarked, "I'll be the judge of that," he stated. Claude laughed as he dried his hands on a towel and stated, "You're not the judge, honestly dad you can't stand half the meats I know of and your animosity toward venison is legendary." There was silence in the room and Claude looked at them in confusion, "What?" he asked.
The room was still as Sebastian smiled sadly, "Claude you made a dish that stunned your father using venison," he said slowly. The Head Chef stared at the man in question in confusion only for Lucius to give him a lopsided smile. "You did, I have to admit that's the first time I had deer that wasn't revolting," he stated. Sebastian stared at the egg whites in the bowl as he attempted to figure out how to push the awkwardness out of the room. "So, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, cheese, want salsa?" he asked quickly.
Claude shook his head as he began dicing the peppers and onions; Sebastian looked over curiously and noticed his technique was perfect, as expected of London's finest. Sebastian smiled as he prepped the eggs and began setting up the pan. Claude breezed through the vegetables and added them to the pan which Sebastian had the egg whites in. Sebastian picked up the pan and began to walk to the oven only for his feet to slide, before he understood what was going on the pan was out of his hands and he was falling. The Patissier closed his eyes and waited for the floor to meet him, only the pain never came.
Crimson orbs opened slowly, he felt himself being pressed into someone's chest, it was broad, warm and familiar, but the floor was under him. He slowly sat up and stared at a pair of very amused golden eyes, he was smiling, and his hair had egg in it. Sebastian blushed brightly as he placed a hand on Claude's chest in an attempt to get up, only to find himself straddling Claude. One of the Head Chef's hands was resting on his hip and he slipped a hand through his hair. "You okay?" he asked softly, his golden eyes didn't leave Sebastian's. For a moment that tender gaze was back and Sebastian smiled a little, praying he remembered something. "Yeah, you?" he asked after a moment. Claude chuckled and replied, "Well it could have been worse, looks like that frittata is a goner."
Sebastian looked at the black pan and laughed as he nodded, "Yeah, how's you're head?" he asked. Claude looked a little sad as Sebastian placed a hand on Claude's head and attempted to look for any sign of injury. "I'm fine," he said slowly, his eyes falling closed as Sebastian swept his fingers over the man's scalp. Sebastian ignored him and finished only to look at Claude's tranquil features. "Have we done this before?" asked Claude out of the blue.
Sebastian paused, his hands lingered in the man's hair, it was sticky, damp but still as soft as he remembered. "Yes, a few times, I'm rather klutzy," he replied with a chuckle at the end, even though he was in agony. Claude looked suspicious, "Klutzy? You practically glide across the floor, how are you klutzy?" he asked harshly. Sebastian flinched and remembered that it wasn't his Claude under him. He pulled away only for Claude to catch his wrist, "Sebastian?" he asked softly when his finger brushed over a piece of raised skin.
Before he even had a chance to understand what was happening Claude was sitting up and holding his wrist eye level. It was faint but still there, the scar from the knife and the razor he had tried to kill himself with. The Patissier looked away as he felt those familiar fingers trace the scars, instantly he remembered that under his clothing he was tattered and worn, ugly and monstrous. Golden eyes went wide as Claude reached out and slipped a finger under Sebastian's chin, lifting it to it met his gaze. "Talk to me," he demanded.
Sebastian stared into pools of gold and replied softly, "They're old, from another life." Claude didn't release his wrist he simply cradled Sebastian's hand, "You can talk to me, I may not remember you but… but I want to help you," he said softly. Sebastian felt tears begin to form and fought them back, "You're my only friend anyway, other than Ronald and William," he said smoothly. Sebastian shook his head, his tears began falling, he should have never said he was a friend, he didn't want to scare Claude but he couldn't take this.
"Sebastian? What's?" he began only to be cut off by the Patissier's soft lips pressing against his. Sebastian knew he was going to go to hell for praying on a man without a memory but didn't care. He felt Claude tense under him as he brushed his lips against Claude's, he needed his lover back. He pulled back only to see wide golden eyes staring at him. "What the?" asked Claude, several emotions flickered through them, confusion, curiosity, and finally anger. "What the fuck was that?" he shouted. Sebastian jumped back, "I…" he began only for Claude to rise to his feet. Sebastian jumped to his own and began backing out of the kitchen, Lucius was sitting at the table watching them both.
Claude was glaring at him, he could tell the Head Chef was grappling for words, "I'm sorry," Sebastian said in a panic before rushing out of the kitchen and dashing toward his room. He was quick to enter and lock the door behind him. His back was pressed to the back of the door and he listened to the silence from the other side. He just messed up, now he didn't have a chance. Claude would never forgive him.
~~xXx~~
Vincent sat at Ciel's bedside, he refused to move, he had to be there. Ciel was the only thing tethering him to the earth right now, Diederich tried but in truth Ciel was all that remained of the marvelous woman he loved. Ciel hadn't woken yet, each day Ciel would open his eye and say nothing, the first time he remembered how Ciel screamed he couldn't see and nearly broke a nurse's nose as he flailed. The doctors said it would take time since Ciel had sustained trauma to the head and the blindness made nothing easier. He crossed his legs and raked a hand over his face, he looked out the window idly. There was a knock at the door, yet he didn't answer, he didn't have the strength to. He could hear Diederich's powerful steps and the rustle of a paper bag, clearly the German was going to feed him again.
"Vince, look at me please," he begged, a large warm hand rested on Vincent's leg. The noble slowly turned to see the German looking as ragged as he was. "I have food, but I found this in your study, it was sitting on your desk," he said softly as he held out an envelope with Rachel's penmanship on the front. He froze as he stared at the elegant curl of the V of his name. He lifted his hand to take the envelope when he noticed a beautiful sapphire blue eye watching him. Vincent smiled as he gently pushed Dee to the side and touched the side of his son's face. "Hey," he breathed as he ran his fingers over Ciel's cheekbone.
Ciel lifted his hand to tough his other eye when Vincent grabbed it gently, "Don't, it's damaged and healing," he said firmly.
"Father?" asked Ciel slowly, Vincent nodded and replied, "Yes, Ciel." A smile curved the boy's lips as he asked again, "Dad?" Vincent smiled broader and nodded, holding back tears, he had his son. "Dad, why are you crying?" asked Ciel after a moment. Vincent left his seat and wrapped his arms around his son, "I lost her, Rachel, she's gone," he whimpered. Ciel tentatively wrapped an arm around his father and looked at Diederich. "Dad, what about Dee, I may not like the idea but you have him too," Ciel said after a moment. Vincent slowly pulled back and stared at Ciel wide eyed.
He was lost for a moment as he stared into Ciel's eyes, they were Rachel's gift to him, "You mean that?" he asked. Ciel rolled his good eye and replied, "It's not like I have a say." Vincent hummed and looked at Ciel's face again, the bandage disturbed him, but all in all it was his son before him. Ciel moaned bringing Vincent out of his thoughts and he asked, "Do want me to get a nurse?" Ciel looked over at Dee and asked, "Could you? I want to talk to dad."
Diederich looked hesitant but complied and vanished after a moment. "Why did you send him away?" asked Vincent after a moment. Ciel hummed as he held his hand out for the envelope. "You can't open it, so I will, besides she probably wanted us to read it together," he said. The nobleman smiled as he watched Ciel take the envelope from his hand, he had buried her without Ciel since he was in so much pain. He nodded after a moment, his eyes were locked on Ciel's slender fingers as they slipped under the lip of the envelope. He after a moment he unfolded it and smiled.
"Vincent and Ciel,
If you have found this, it means we are no longer together, that I have left you. Don't cry, I know you will both miss me, but I can't stand to see you in pain. I've drafted this letter so many times, and each time I've torn it up to start anew. There are so many things I wish to say and yet so few. I know my time with you is coming to an end, the doctors told me a few months, but the pain has gotten worse and the chemo isn't working, neither is the radiation.
Ciel, I know you love your father and I, it must have been a shock when you learned of his preference. Truth be told, I knew of it before he did. Let's just say Dee and your father, have been in love for a very long time. I know it's odd to have two fathers, and a hope that you come to accept them, Dee loves you very much, almost as much as I do. I love you Ciel, no matter what you do I have and will always love you. I'm proud of you, Ciel, so proud of you. Vincent is a difficult man to live with, I know, but he cares for you so very much. You managed to take the restaurant and turn it into something spectacular. Yet, I wish you did something else, something you and I when you were a child, I wish you would draw again. I wish you would smile again, and above all I wish you happiness. I'm so sorry I couldn't see you get married or your children, you'll be a wonderful father.
Vincent, my love, I've known about you and Dee for so very long. I could tell the day we married that I wasn't the only one to love you to such an extent. I'm happy you chose me, never think that I'm not, but also realize that I was upset with you for a while because you didn't choose him. It was painful to watch him be denied because we married. I love you, and never regret saying, "Yes," but I just hope you can make him smile. I miss your smile Vincent, as much as I miss Ciel's, I miss your laughter. I know we haven't had the best lives, I know we have been battling for everything we have but I just wish you would be that carefree young man I met in the meadow so long ago. You remember the one? The one who carried me back to my house after I fell off my horse and chided me for not wearing a helmet? Yes him. I miss him.
I love you both, I also love Diederich, even if he can be cold sometimes. I wish I had more time with you, but I fear it's the end and if you're reading this, then it is. Just remember I love you both, and Vincent move on. I want you to be happy, Ciel make sure he moves on, he's a stubborn as a glacier sometimes and just as cold.
I will always love you,
Rachel Marie Phantomhive"
Ciel finished and Vincent felt tears falling, she had known the entire time, and said nothing. She even told him to pursue Deiderich, his eyes burned as he whimpered, she was gone, smoke through a keyhole. He would never wake up to her smiling face, never see her sitting at her night table in her robe, never smell her perfume on his shirts again, she would be a memory. He hadn't mourned, he couldn't and yet here he was breaking apart before his son. A pair of small arms wrapped around him and he instinctively wrapped his arms around his son. "I love you," he whispered. He felt small hands rub circles on his back and Ciel replied, "I know, and I love you too, Daddy."
~~xXx~~
The Patissier sat at the end of his bed and looked at the large black suitcase he had purchased the other day, he remembered the rush he had been in to ensure that all his belongings had been removed from Claude's room before he got there. The guest room was cold and he despised the nights he laid alone. He wanted his life back, he wanted Claude to walk through the door one day and sweep him off his feet like he once had. The suitcase was sitting empty and he thought for a moment, perhaps he needed to leave, Claude wouldn't be awkward around him. Since the day in the restaurant when they made rough pastry dough, Claude had been avoiding him. It was as though he went out of his way to avoid the Patissier.
Crimson orbs fell on the view from outside the window, he envied people who had a pair of warm arms to run home to. He envied the people who had a place to call home, he wanted to go home but the place he considered home was a memory, a snapshot taken with a man who seemed to have vanished from the world. He slowly pushed himself up and kicked the suitcase under the bed. "I won't give up, not unless he pushes me out," he whispered suddenly. Claude never gave up on him, no matter how deep things became or how dark his world was, he never gave up. Claude was his knight in shinning armor and he was quite frankly tired of being the damsel in distress.
He walked over to the closet and looked at all the items hanging in it, all of them Claude had purchased for him, every last piece. Sebastian slowly touched the supple fabrics and whispered, "When was the last time I went shopping for myself and chose something I liked?" He pulled out a button down shirt and a pair of jeans before grabbing a pair of trainers, he had a few hours before work and decided it was time to do something for himself. "Going out?" asked the deep voice of Lucius Faustus.
Sebastian turned his attention to the man leaning in the doorway, he nodded firmly as he snatched his wallet from the nightstand, as well as his mobile. "I can't keep sitting here and hoping he will remember, I can't do it," he stated with irritation as he grabbed his knife bag. Lucius was quiet as Sebastian tucked one of his bangs behind his ear, "I'm going to go out and shop, I love him, I just need," he began and huffed with frustration. Lucius walked over and placed a hand on Sebastian's shoulder lightly, this gesture had become a common one, one which was used when he could tell Sebastian was falling to piece, "I shouldn't have kissed him," whispered Sebastian.
Lucius sighed as he looked over at Sebastian's bed, "Sebastian, he just needs space, he's not angry, more confused than anything," Lucius replied. Sebastian shook his head as he gently shrugged Lucius' hand off his shoulder. He knew the man meant well but things would only get worse, he had mess up badly. "I know, I just need some time to think," he whispered, his voice was rough like sandpaper from crying. Lucius nodded and stepped out of his way, "Claude is out as well, he went to Noir for prep," Lucius supplied.
Sebastian simply nodded as he walked out the door, his head was a mess, and he just needed to get away for a while. He needed to breathe and sort it all out, as well as a way to tell Claude he was leaving.
~~xXx~~
Lucius hummed as he looked at his mobile, he could still remember the scene before him as he beat Claude's assailant to a pulp. He closed his eyes and hummed, just behind his eyelids he could still see the man's face linger. Blood dripped down his chin from his nose, his nose was broken and he had shattered the man's left cheek bone, he had a cut on his head and clearly had a concussion. His arm was at an odd angle and he could see the man wheezing, thanks to the broken ribs, which he had received. He could hear the man's whimpers as his foot connected with the fallen man's ribs again.
Lucius crouched on the floor and grabbed Marcus' chin harshly, his grip was firm and he smiled as he watched the man's eyes widen. Lucius felt him tremble as he squeezed his jaw, "P-Please," he stammered. Lucius lifted the man from the floor by his chin, his eyes narrowed dangerously before slamming Marcus' head into the wall. Blood like sickening red ribbons slipped down his head as black eyes glazed over, he could see the pain he was inflicting and felt satisfaction coil inside him. "You will pay for what you did to my son," he hissed as he delivered a swift blow to his stomach.
Marcus screamed in agony as he attempted to double over and protect himself from the blows. "You, you destroyed him. You killed him," he seethed as he grabbed the man by his shirt and slammed his body into the wall again, he listened to the distinct crack of Marcus' wrist as his body made impact. "He has forgotten everything," he felt his control slipping and in the back of his head was impressed with just how still Bald-Roy had been, he expected the moral guard to rip him off the other man and tell him it was enough.
"It's as though he didn't even exist," Lucius whispered maliciously, he ached to give this man the same treatment his son had received. His eyes fluttered to the glass coffee table and smiled, "Give me a single reason why I shouldn't return the favor," he stated. Marcus whimpered as he attempted to cling to consciousness, "Nothing," he spat, "I regret nothing."
Lucius smiled darkly and in a swift motion Marcus was flying across the room, the table shattered and shards few across the room. He stared at the sea of red which was seeping through Marcus' clothing and onto the cheap carpet which lined the floor. Bald-Roy slowly walked over and pressed his fingers to the man's neck, "He's alive, he'll need stitches," he stated coolly.
Lucius pulled out a handkerchief and began whipping his hands, red flowers tainted the supple white linen in his hands. He looked less than amused and looked at the form on the floor, "Disgusting, call Madame Red and have her make him look presentable. If he's still around tomorrow I'll shoot him myself, I'll give him a day's head start," he stated as he turned an began walking out the door. Lucius wasn't the kind of man who gave in easy, death was too simple for a monster like Marcus, no, life with Lucius breathing down his neck was a far better punishment.
Lucius paused as he stood outside the flat and pulled out his mobile, slipping the handkerchief into his pocket as he did so, Vincent had been kind enough to give the man his number and naturally Lucius was texting him. "Blue skies," he typed quickly before sending it. No one was going to harm his son.
There was a ring which startled Lucius from his musings, the CEO looked over to see his mobile flashing. Vincent's number was plastered across the screen and he grinned, in moments he was answering and said cordially, "Good Morning Vincent." The noble on the other end replied coolly, "Lucius, it's rather odd we found out who assaulted Claude, a man by the name of Marcus, when I went to see him, he vanished. Only to be discovered in Chicago a few hours ago dead," he replied. Lucius paused he hadn't placed the hit, he was giving the man a head start, "Really?" he asked after a moment.
It wasn't until now he was wondering just what kind of people the man had irritated. "Yes, it's the strangest thing, he made it home and was found the next morning in a block of concrete," he said briskly, "He looked like hell." Lucius was about to ask something more when he realized his coffee had long since gone cold. He left his room and walked into the kitchen, "I must say it was a clean job, single shot to the head, execution style," he said simply.
Luicus poured himself another cup and began wondering if somehow he would get tagged with this, "Prints?" he asked nervously. He heard Vincent hum and pick up something, "Clean," he said smugly. That was all Lucius needed to hear, it meant that somehow the noble had something to do with it. "What do I owe you?" he asked. He wasn't a fool assassins weren't cheap especially one who did a clean job and then vanished into thin air, on top of the fact it was a job done on another continent. "Nothing, we share a common interest," replied Vincent.
The golden eyed CEO paused and looked at the mug before him, "What?" he asked incredulously, there was no way Vincent wasn't going to use it to tether Lucius to him, a debt which had to be paid. Vincent chuckled on the other end, it was a warm lush sound, like velvet, "I am not your enemy, besides if it was my son, I'm sure you would do the same, we are partners aren't we?" he asked. Lucius paused for a moment and remembered the contracts they had forged in the fires of the competition, they were partners, he had already signed himself to the devil known as Vincent Phantomhive. "Yes," he replied simply.
"Excellent, now I was hoping you would come to a charity event with me this evening, I believe it would be beneficial for the both of us to attend," he said smoothly, "Diederich and Ciel will also be there, but since we are business partners I think the public would be supportive of seeing us together," he elaborated. Lucius numbly thought of the man in question and realized this was Vincent's way of asking for a favor in return, "Sure, Black Tie?" he asked as he looked over at the mug, his interest in coffee had all but vanished. "Of course! Bring that beautiful woman with you, Victoria, I believe she may be of help," he stated before hanging up.
Lucius looked at the black coffee in the mug and wondered idly if his partnership would be that of master and servant to the Lord, or as equals.
~~xXx~~
The day had been long under the scorching sun and Finnian could see spots as he walked into the cave. He stared at the massive oak barrels with the winery's logo on them and the date they had been harvested. "Wow," he whispered as he trotted after Terry. He could smell the wooden barrels and noticed the musky smell he anticipated was missing. There was a roar from a bike behind him and he turned quickly to see a beautiful black bike stopping outside the building. He watched curiously as the two figures dismounted, in moments their helmets were off and he was staring at Eric and Lizzie. His jaw dropped as he looked at the leather clad noblewoman and Eric.
"Finni!" chirped Lizzie as she ran over to him, Finnian had grown accustomed to seeing them together but this was the first time he had seen her in leather. He had to admit now he understood why Eric watched her like a hawk. The tight black pants left nothing to the imagination and the leather jacket was even tighter. She took her ridding glasses off and grinned, "So how was it in the vineyard?" she asked quickly. Over the past month he learned that there were two sides to this woman, the first being the strict vineyard assistant manager and the second being the wild woman.
Finnian relaxed as Eric walked over with his hands in his pockets, "Great, we are going to have a stunning harvest," he stated with glee. Lizzie hummed as she crossed her arms and nodded, "Of course we are, now how about the wine," she asked. Finnian looked at her and responded, "No clue, just got here." The blonde grinned as she walked over to Terrie and remarked, "Well let's look together."
"Who's bike is that?" he asked after a moment as he looked at Eric who was talking to Terrie. Lizzie chuckled as she climbed on a barrel and checked the label. "Ronald's," she replied, "He was something in New York, honestly he's rather tame compared to how he was then." Finnian stared at her in confusion, he had met Ronald, although it was brief, he saw a young man with a purpose and a real sense of sincerity. "No way," he gasped and looked at her. She nodded, her blond mane bouncing as she did so, "Believe me, he was wild and William, well William loved it," she stated as though it were well known fact.
Finnian was silent, he knew William as well, in fact he had heard his name a great deal recently. It was whispered as though it were a blessing, a pray and a curse in the winery. He had met the esteemed Sommelier once, he could remember the dark figure before him with a charming smile and emerald eyes which held a spark of darkness in them. William was the epitome of grace and elegance, "I had no idea," he whispered as he thought about the pair together, it made sense as to why they appeared to always be together.
Lizzie finished getting the sample and looked at it, "Finally," she breathed as she held it up to the light. Finnian was about to ask what until he saw it, perfectly golden Chardonnay. He hadn't seen anything that clear, it looked as though they had managed to capture the Napa Valley sun and put it in a barrel. His eyes grew wide as he stared at the liquid gold, "This is Chardonnay," she said with glee as she put the sample in a jelly jar and handed it to Finnian.
The stout blonde held the jar to his lips and closed his eyes as the taste of grapefruit, spices and a kiss of oak hit his tongue. Finnian moaned before finally swallowing, it was perfect. It was silky, buttery, nutty and balanced and ideal chardoney. "Wow," he whispered. She nodded and reiterated, "Wow."
Eric sauntered over and smiled as he stole a sip from Lizzie's jar, "Okay let's bottle," he commanded, it was as though the winery sparked to life as preparations were made. "Why is William so important?" asked Finnian as he followed Lizzie to the main house to grab the ledger. She looked over her shoulder and replied, "Easy, he brought New York Wine to the world and the world liked it. He's a god and has a palate unrivaled by any other." Eric walked into the room and wrapped his arms around Lizzie, she giggled as he kissed her neck.
"What?" he asked. Lizzie hummed as she batted Eric's hands playfully, "Yup, he could taste a bottle of wine and tell you just how well it would sell, and he's always right. They didn't tell you?" Finnian shook his head, he would have never known, he only met them occasionally. "Wait, if he's so famous why does he work at the restaurant?" he asked.
Eric and Lizzie fell silent and looked at one another, they both looked uncertain for the answer, "We don't know, one day they both just vanished and reappeared in London," Eric said stiffly.
~~xXx~~
The sound of saws ripping through the air had ceased as men began painting the walls, she had selected a beautiful vine green with golden oak wood as accents. Mei-Rin hummed as she watched them paint the parched walls, no longer where they bright white from the primer but an elegant green like the vines of Napa. "Perfect," she practically purred as she watched them use a technique with a brush giving the wall texture called suede, she loved the look on the walls and had a feeling the client would be just as thrilled. She had selected the furniture and it was all ready to be put in, she was just missing one element, the key element to the place, one which would bring it all together.
She huffed as she placed her hands on her hips, it had been a month of madness and she had been informed recently that the amount of time she had left to complete the project was running out, like sand in an hourglass. There was a loud shout and she looked over to see a truck pulling up to the shop, "DHL?" she asked curiously as she walked over to the bright yellow truck, she hadn't seen it before. She walked out the door and stared as the man opened the back, "Are you Mei-Rin Vane? The owner of the Designee Firm, Vane and Co?" he asked after a moment. She nodded only to find a clipboard being shoved at her. She looked at the shipping address and asked, "Paris? I didn't order anything from there." The driver sighed as he pulled out an envelope, "I was instructed to give this to you," he stated.
Mei-Rin signed for the item and opened the envelope, "Something's shouldn't be forgotten," she read aloud before looking at the driver. "Hey can I borrow some of your guys? This thing is heavy," he complained. Mei-Rin nodded as she called, "Andre, Chris and Kale!" The three wandered out of the shop and quickly jumped into the truck, she stared at the large wooden create with a French Storage Company on it. The four grunted as they lifted it and struggled with the cumbersome package. "Fuck this thing is heavy, what the hell did you order pixie?" snapped Andre.
She watched curiously as they carried it into the shop, the DHL guy sighed as he took a seat, "I want to see what's in the fucker, I think I have a right to know since it's well over 500lbs. You do know we don't usually ship shit like that right?" he seethed. Mei-Rin waved him off as she walked over to the create with a crowbar. She slowly touched the wood before slamming the edge into the space between the lid and the side. The lid cracked loudly as she wrenched it off, only for her to stare in shock at what was nestled inside the box. "NO WAY!" she shouted with glee as she pulled the box apart.
Standing before her was a beautiful Napoleonic Era mahogany bar, it was hand carved and covered in scroll work. The wood were perfectly polished and she ran her fingers over the top, it was items like these which made her respect the French. "I can't believe it's here, I was looking for a bar, but I think he'll appreciate an old friend," she mused as she grinned, "Okay boys time to shop, I need new stools!" she called.
Review Replies
(From Newest to Oldest)
Audrey: Thank you for taking the time to review, I know a lot of people forgot he had both his eyes, until now. I had to tie the fandom in there eventually and I figured a car accident was the way to go. I also wanted a way to show Rachel mercy, I know killing her in an accident was harsh but at the same time I felt it was far better than her being in pain for so long with the chemo and radiation treatments. Ash, well I never said all his ideas were great, he tries. I'm glad you like him as the "Older Brother," it suits him. VP isn't Vincent. He has no clue what's going on. Don't worry you will learn soon enough.
Bittersweetness: I'm glad you are asking who VP is, I know it's a mystery in a half and he seems to be everywhere. I hope you liked Lucius' other side, as well as Vincent's tender loving side, I decided to show you the real Vincent the next chapter. I'm glad you love them, I love them too, no really I love writing them. I was nervous introducing Lucius but the more I write him the more I like him, he's an acquired taste.
Courtney: I'm glad you're happy about the sequel, I'm rather excited as well. I know the prequel is out and you'll see new chapters for that soon, and once that's up to speed I will start on the sequel. Rachel will be missed, but she's not gone completely, just wait for what I have in store for book 2. Claude and Sebastian, they have a natural rhythm and to be honest it's tough to throw it off. I also thought it would be fun to throw it back to Chapter 1. The cards are a cool element to work with, they're as mysterious as their master and believe me he's rather elusive. Thank you for the review and sorry for the long reply.
Mew: I've always been told I'm rather cruel, thanks for the review by the way, I assure you a bulk of your questions will be answered the final chapter, but I will carry a few into Book 2, and some will be answered in the prequel as well so be on the look out there. I like questions, it means you guys are thinking which with this work is a must. I will tell you Ash and Sebastian aren't falling for one another, you're going to see a relationship like William and Claude's form there.
