Ciel, Freckles, and a 'Special' Performance

Part Two of Four

…

Knocking on their change room door Joker cleared his throat, "Doll, Smile! Your act is up in a few minutes! C'mon now!"

Doll furrowed her brow, "Well, Joker what if we've got some reser-"

She looked back to Ciel, and he quietly repeated the word; "Reservations."

The tomboy nodded, "Reservations! Yea, what if we got reservations about these 'ere costumes?"

Joker huffed, "That's what they want you to be wearing, trust me it's all part and parcel to the performance. It's probably our most artistic endeavour yet!"

Doll opened her mouth, and folded her arms as she held back a laugh, "Artistic? I'm barely wearin' anythin'!"

Joker pursed his lips, "Come on now Doll. We're all wearing similar things." He chuckled, "You ought to see Beast's outfit."

Thankful for the door Joker let his face relax as he savoured the memory of watching the buxom Beast perform her jumps, twirls, and erotic animal show. Her pale, ivory, skin was delicately on display for their audience to lop up.

Grunting and clearing his throat he shifted his voice, "Look we do this and we're in to a whole new world of shows, 'kay? We'll be making far more on this job then when we're outside the major cities."

Knocking his fist to the door Joker let out a laugh, "So I know you two'll do great! Ha ha!"

After the knocking on wood Ciel and Doll heard the ringleader leave the dressing rooms.

Sighing and looking away from the door Doll shrugged her shoulders, "Sorry about that Smile, bu… we tried, eh?"

Ciel cringed and gulped before leaning back and smacking his head against the wardrobe.

Doll stepped forwards, and took up her costume's top, looking over the garment she smirked before looking back to her companion.

"Look, we both dress a' the same time?" she chuckled, "I promise no peekin'."

Her voice was nervous but she seemed honest.

"Joker's right we don't really haf a whole lo' of time to 'muck about."

Turning away from Ciel she cleared her throat before beginning to unbutton her blouse.

"Actually, you know. I might need ya' help. And here's a deal, you help me, an' I'll help you?"

Ciel huffed, before looking back at his 'costume'.

When they had entered the change room Ciel regarded both strange outfits with instant apprehension.

Looking back at Doll he now realised she was doing her best to try and help dampen his own nervousness. Offering a smile of solidarity, she perked up.

Shaking his head Ciel stood up and reached for his laid-out costume.

"That's okay Freckl- I mean… Doll."

She smirked before returning back to undressing, "Either one's fine with me Smile. In fact you can call me's what ev'r you want to." She let out a low chuckle before immediately speaking again, "Also, I mean, it's already too bloody late to back out now eh?" Doll laughed, "I mean we spent all day practisin' anyway! Might as well give 'em a show!"

Ciel shook his head as he slowly pulled off his shirt.

"An'… If you're worried about ya' scar, I got me an idea."

Picking up the material choker-like collar Ciel raised a brow before looking behind at Doll surreptitiously.

Gulping Ciel felt his breath tighten as he watched the tomboy's bare back move. Her skin was smooth and enticing; sweat beads from their earlier practise hadn't dried completely and made several spots along her freckled shoulders glisten.

Stealing as long a look as possible Ciel watched as she pulled on the top of her costume first.

The top was akin to a brassiere yet the straps of either cup came towards a choker around her neck, and after tying the back of the choker Doll let out a meek voice as she looked behind her, "You know… you could help tie it, if… if you want."

Ciel darted his eyes away and he held his breath before shaking his head, "N-no. That's okay."

Doll's voice was low and her words seemed unsure, but she tried to tease, "No peeking huh?"

Ciel shook his head, resisting the temptation of brushing his fingers across the middle of her back while tying off her top.

Taking his silence as a firm answer Doll nodded and darted her hands behind her. "Right, 'nuff time wasted already eh?" she laughed hollowly.

Grabbing the back straps of her top she tied a neat bow before reaching down and removing her loose, boyish, trousers.

The bottom of her costume was black and red, matching her top, but around the edges of the side straps was a thin see-through skirt. It couldn't have been a foot long, and did little to cover the scandalously thin undergarment which she now pulled flush to her body.

Ciel gulped as he took off his own pants and attempted to pull on his own costume.

It was black and red, like Doll's but the colours were inverted. The material was soft to the touch, and earlier as he examined the thin garment over he saw the sheen and tell-tale matte shine of velvet.

Similar to Doll's thong-skirt, his garment was thin and appeared to be as revealing as was conceivable.

Letting out a breath Ciel shook his head as he let slip a low groan, "Let's just get this over with…"

Doll tried not to chuckle, but she let one out as she asked, "Would it have been better if you'd have known before?"

Ciel stopped for a moment.

"I…" he cringed and clenched his teeth as he looked the small garment over.

"I honestly couldn't tell you."

Tapping his shoulder Doll nodded, "Well, look. Look a' me."

Looking down her chest at her state of revealed skin and erotic dress she let out a squeaking girlish laugh, "I mean! Really? You've not got it as bad!"

Pointing to her breasts she poked herself, "Look it barely even fits my girls!"

Ciel's face instantly reddened and he let out a dry scoff.

Jumping up and down Doll began giggling as she made her breasts jiggle and move up and down, constrained by the tight cups of her new brassiere.

"Ha! I've never worn nothin' like this before."

Ciel was breathing heavily and merely nodded quietly.

"But…" he finally forced out, "You've got two pieces to wear. I've… I've just got the one."

Doll cocked her head to the side and turned to look at the rest of their accessories on the table.

Then she nodded, bringing a hand to her mouth to hide her entertained grin.

"Well at this rate? You've not even got on the one!"

Ciel shook his head and pointed for her to turn around, "Sh-shush up!"

Laughing and nodding Doll complied, but like Ciel had done to her she couldn't help but turn and watch him.

Pausing Ciel realised he couldn't wear his underwear and the costume at the same time.

Quietly he let out his realisation under his breath, "Oh no…"

Swallowing Doll did her best to make sure he couldn't tell she was watching him, "Oh no what?"

Ciel straightened and remained rigid, "Uh… n-nothing! Just… you promise not to look right?"

Doll nodded and her throat instantly dried making her cough before admitting, "Y-yeah, yes of course!"

Ciel waited before finally, begrudgingly, taking the waist band of his underwear and pulling them down.

There were a few bruises here and there along his butt and legs from where he'd fallen during practise, but for the most part Doll couldn't help but feel a perverse, awakening, attraction to her high rise 'partner'.

Without turning completely around, and doing her best to remain undetected, Doll missed her chance to 'see' him… As Ciel kicked his underwear away and rapidly bent to pull the costume up his thin legs.

Despite missing her chance to see what hung between his legs, Doll was instead treated to an equally enthralling view of his back, legs, and little bubble butt.

Ciel pulled the tight velvet material up his legs and had to shimmy himself into them once they reached his waist. Immediately he let out a groan and whispered lowly, "Uh… it… It doesn't seem to f-fit."

Doll licked her lips as she nodded, then she snapped to and stuttered as she looked back ahead, making sure he didn't see her leering gaze.

"Oh? U-uh yo-you sure?"

Ciel grunted and adjusted the band of the garment and fidgeted with himself as he tried to get it to lie against his skin in a 'dignified' way.

"Don't look… j-just yet."

Doll nodded, but the anticipation had built in her chest to an excruciating degree.

Ciel stifled an embarrassed shudder and a childish whimper as he finally gave in, 'It's as good as it's going to get…' he thought with a wince.

"F-fine… I still think it doesn't fit but…"

Doll took this as her que to turn and immediately her eye widened and she felt a lump form in her throat.

Ciel had also shed his shirt, and now stood just a few feet away, nearly nude… The only article of clothing separating him from her unrestricted gaze was that thin, red and black, piece of costuming.

Swallowing quickly, she nodded, as she tried not to stare at the bulge poking the material in between his legs.

"N-no!" she immediately blurted out. Ciel furrowed his brow and was about to reel in embarrassment and confusion when Doll darted forwards, smiling, "H-here put on the other stuff, and I'll help you with your…" pointing to his side she nodded, "Ya know?"

Ciel's face blushed but he took hold of the other small articles of his 'costume' and nodded, "Right…"

Written on small tags tied to each piece was a brief description as to what and where the pieces were to go.

Letting out another uncomfortable breath the young earl began following the written orders, his disdain and dislike of the situation growing more and more palpable as Doll reached to the table for a jar of makeup and helped paint his body with her fingers.

"Gah! W-what are you doing?" shrieking at the feeling of the cool liquid against his bare skin Ciel looked down to watch Doll as she began adorning his skin with spots and swirls here and there.

Stifling a grin, the girl merely nodded, "Just trust me, a'right?"

Forcing his eyes back forwards Ciel began pulling the tags off the little rings of material before putting them on.

Now around both his wrists were thin black and red faux bonds. And similar to Doll he was wearing a black choker around his neck.

"There, finished!" Doll announced, wiping her fingers clean of the black paint she pointed to Ciel's legs, "Don't forget to put those ones on too."

Kneeling down and bending over Ciel forced two more black and red straps up and over either of his bare feet to rest just above his ankles.

"How come you get shoes and I don't?" he complained.

Reaching for two white shoulder pads and her black criss-crossing sandals Doll shook her head, "Man you complain a lot don'cha?"

Ciel furrowed his brow and opened his mouth to protest but stopped when he saw the look and strange stare in Doll's eye.

Shocked and embarrassed at herself Doll averted her gaze and stepped towards the door, "H-hurry up! I… I'll see you out there…"

Exiting the change room Ciel let slip a heavy breath, happy to finally be alone. But his chest wasn't yet rid of his apprehension, embarrassment, or sheer anxiety of the coming performance.

The moves and 'play' which they had been practising almost all day was an involved one; one which required them to be in close proximity as they danced and performed whirling moves and rolls over one another along the tight-walk and in the air as they swung from rope to rope.

Earlier at practise it was fine… Doll was, Freckles… she. Looked normal, he looked normal. But now?

His heart was beating harder and harder as he tried to force the fact that Doll and he were wearing what they were now wearing.

'How… how will we be expected to perform it now?' he lamented. 'I… oh goddamn it! I should have asked Sebastian to help me out with this somehow!'

Swallowing and stepping forwards Ciel looked down at Doll's discarded clothes.

Then, a perverse, yet innocent and boyish desire came to him. Completely spurred on by a moment of pure madness and opportunity…

Below him, in a pile were not only Doll's discarded shirt, her pants, socks, and shoes. But something else;

Nestled in among the clothes was something a colour brighter than the others.

Then he realised what he was looking at were her undergarments.

Gulping and widening his eye Ciel slowly bent down and tentatively began extending his fingers towards the garment.

Loudly banging at the door snapped him out of his trance and he looked up as Doll yelled, her voice betraying her own performance anxiety, "C'mon Smile! We're on stage now!"

"R-right!" he stuttered.

…

As they made their way towards the top platforms Ciel squinted his eye to see through the darkness and poor lighting of the big top tent.

Whispering down with cheekiness to her voice Doll chastised her male companion, "Oi! You best not be looking up a lady's skirt, would you?"

Ciel focused his hands on the rails as he climbed and shook his head responding in a hush, "Ha, n-no…"

Below them the spotlight aimed at Joker in the middle of the ring as he introduced them and their act. "And now! To perform their first true, death defying aerial duet! We have our darling of the sky Doll!"

Arriving atop the platform the spotlight shone on the costumed girl as she waved down towards the seats, the glare of the light made it difficult for her to pinpoint the few guests that they were performing their show for.

Under her breath and without drawing attention she whispered down to Ciel, "Remember, just as we practised, okay?"

Taking hold of a rope Doll ran towards the edge of the platform and immediately did a roll and jump in the air as she swung across the expanse.

The few watching made the stereotypical sounds of surprise and astonishment at her leap.

Joker laughed and a second spotlight shone as Ciel stood up, clenching his fingers into his fists as hard as possible he resisted the urge to shiver in embarrassment as the eyes below presumably looked towards him. Hiding his cringe his mind raced, 'Oh god… at least I can't see them, seeing me…'

"Alongside Doll, is her ever brazen and newly arrived partner Smile! Never one to stay without a grin on his face our newest addition is nonetheless our most ambitious!"

Gulping and nodding towards where he believed the crowd to be Ciel hid his fear and cringe as he 'acted' and beamed a smile while he took hold of his rope and leapt off the edge of the platform.

On the other side of the space between the platforms Doll nodded and leapt off too.

Looking like they were about to collide the two swung past one another and began their dance.

The few exclusive guests 'ooed' and 'ahhed' as they looked on and Joker narrated as Doll and Ciel swung and missed one another again and again, each pass they made was more dangerous looking and closer to one another.

"My Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen this aerial dance is inspired by the ancient stories of Angwylin and her younger lover the flower prince Caeniff!"

Finally, the two jumped from their ropes and landed atop small platforms ringing the middle of the main poles holding up the tent. Between them was a thick cable and as Joker continued to explain Doll and Ciel both extended their feet onto the cable.

Locking their eyes upon one another the duo tensed and slowed their breathing as they began walking towards one another.

"Like many ancient tragedies as the two lovers sought one another they were beset by dangers and such woes as the tide and moon! Until they shared one final beautiful night together!"

Matching one another with their movements Ciel and Doll jumped and tip-toed along the high-wire until they were mere feet away from one another.

Even from the seats on the ground one could see the chemistry and passion being acted out between the two tight-rope walkers.

Doll's chest was moving up and down, despite her veterancy and control, and Ciel's lips were parted as he continued to breath heavier and heavier.

"Their dance was the envy of all the land, until Angwylin's father forbid them to be…"

Timing their movements perfectly Ciel and Doll rushed towards one another and embraced hands, 'dancing' momentarily as they swapped positions on the wire.

Moving along and swaying in complementing motions the two maintained their balance and paused.

"The prince of the flowers Caeniff was so broken-hearted at the loss of his love that he fell, from the sky, like a star, or like a dream, and was carried away by the darkness of the sea."

At the que Wendy or Peter swung a rope towards Ciel and he made a show as he acted and 'fell' from the wire, holding onto the rope as he swung down and away from view.

Joker's voice lowered, "She looked and looked, but winter had come to the land, and the woman was left all alone, dancing now to soothe her broken heart."

Doll turned and acting as the distraught Angwylin danced along the wire, flipping, and twirling as she searched in vain for her lover.

Arriving at the centre of the wire Doll twisted her feet around it and 'fell' too, so that she was now hanging upside down. Until, like Ciel, a rope swung from off stage passed her and she took hold of it to disappear from view.

Joker bowed as the lights turned off and the few exclusive guests immediately erupted into applause.

Waiting in the darkness and panting Ciel looked over the edge of his platform as the lights came back on and Doll was smiling broadly towards him.

Lifting her hand up she gave him a thumb up as she mouthed the words, "You were brilliant!"

Smirking and wiping his chin as he caught his breath Ciel actually enjoyed a brief genuine smile of triumph before he heard a familiar voice below them and his heart sank.

"Oh absolutely marvellous! Ye muses they dost sing though I hear no sound!"

Joker looked up towards the few guests and watched as a white suited blonde man stood up and began gesticulating in the air.

"Yes I hear it! I do!" he began nodding before stepping down the seats and towards the edge of the ring. "It is decided! I must see no more! These darlings of the Noah's Ark Circus must perform for us all!"

One of the other guests stood and nodded while waving Joker over as Aleistor began closing his eyes and speaking his errant nonsense, "Oh yes, they danced like the darling robin that eludes my dreams still…"

As they were far away Ciel could barely hear what the other man was saying as he approached the colourful ringleader.

"Mr. Joker? I think I speak for us all in agreeing with Lord Druitt, these two members of your troupe must perform for us at our masquerade party."

At this Ciel's eye widened in surprise, 'W-what?'

Before he could lean over the edge and listen more closely, Doll waved her hands in an effort to steal Ciel's attention.

'Gah… bloody hell.' He swore.

Smiling towards him Doll pointed downwards before she began her climb from her platform.

Looking back down at the mysterious guests Ciel tried to look at their faces before he reluctantly had to follow Doll down.

"Bloody hell…" he repeated aloud, "I sure hope Sebastian is down there somewhere paying attention! But it'll just be us?"

Shivering as he descended, Ciel felt an eerie chill and his nerves rippled, "I've got a strange feeling about this…"

Reaching for the edge of his platform and the ladder Ciel began the climb down.

…