I own nothing but my OC.
That Butler, Scandalous 2
≤speech in Indian language≥
'thoughts'
"speech"
{setting/stage directions?}
SOUND EFFECTS
An entire sentence like this, without quotes, is narration for dreams or stuff like written letters.
=†=†=†=†= scene shift/time shift
—^—^—^— change of perspective/area of action within one specific time frame/location
Previously:
"We have finished with our business, so we will take our leave." Sebastian informed the reaper coolly as he marched straight past him, patting Ciel on the back when he coughed.
Chêne gave the reaper a quick nod goodbye before hurrying to catch up with her husband.
Will nodded back at the Code 42, but he narrowed his eyes at the retreating demon as he carried his small master away.
"As long as you are with your owner, I care don't give a toss where you go." He said, just loud enough for the demon he was addressing to hear. Sebastian decided not to dignify that response. "Now I can relax and get down to my own business." Will thought out loud to himself as he watched the odd trio depart and before opening his binder of soul collection lists.
{The Phantomhive Townhouse}
"Ciel!! You went off for two whole days without a word to me!! Just a little longer, and I would've asked the police to send out a search party!!" Soma shouted sternly, scolding them the moment they returned for worrying him, while Agni calmly greeted them with a pleasant smile behind his back, glad to see they had returned safely.
'I could've sworn I left a note telling them not to worry…' Chêne thought, sweat-dropping. It was nice to know they cared, though.
"It's none of your business." Ciel told the anxious prince shortly, slightly chagrined. That would have been extremely problematic if they had raised such a fuss. "Koff! Koff! Koff!"
"Oh, dear. I'd better get you some tea." Chêne said, immediately heading for the kitchen. Her family had an old herbal tea recipe that was good for colds and sore throats.
"Ugh…" Ciel couldn't help but grimace slightly when he realized what she was up to. That remedy of hers had worked wonders the last time he was ill, but the taste… he shuddered at the memory.
"What's wrong with you?" Soma asked, concerned when he noticed his friend's poor condition. "You look pale."
"Koff! It's nothing. Leave me alone." Ciel said calmly, trying not to cough too much in front of them. The last thing he needed was for these two to start sticking their nose into things.
"It's not nothing! You've definitely got a cold!" Soma retorted, knowing a sick person when he saw one. "Don't you have a fever—"
"No! My temperature's fine!" Ciel insisted stubbornly as Sebastian began carrying him up the stairs to his room. Why did this stupid prince have to be so sharp now of all times!?
"You're lying!!" Soma shouted, outraged that Ciel would try to hide something so important. You should never underestimate a cold!
"No, I'm not. Koff!" Ciel calmly denied the accusation as they reached his room.
"Ciel!!" Soma shouted after him, but the door slammed shut behind them before he could follow them inside.
"What's wrong?" Chêne asked upon seeing a worried Agni. She had decided to poke her head out of the kitchen for a moment after she thought she heard a door slam.
"Oh, um—" Agni said, fidgeting nervously as he turned to tell her the distressing events that had just transpired, but his prince beat him to it."
"—It's Ciel!" Soma huffed, pouting moodily at the top of the stairs. "He won't admit he's sick—which he definitely is! I'm worried he'll try to push himself too much."
"… In that case…" Chêne said thoughtfully, considering what they had just told her. "I'm still working on a special medicinal, but in the meantime… Feel free to do whatever's necessary in order to stop him." She told them, smiling brightly. Special mission from the queen or not, she was not letting Ciel go back out in the cold again so soon after his asthma attack, not while he had a cold on top of it and was still coughing like that!
Soma grinned, glad to have found another ally. He knew just what to do…
=†=†=†=†=
"Haaah…" Ciel sighed in relief when Sebastian laid him down on his wonderfully large and luxuriously soft bed. Oh, how he had missed it…
"Young Master does lie quite a lot and keep many secrets, indeed." Sebastian remarked as he picked up the water pitcher and basin normally used for washing one's face in the morning. "Even I was not aware that the Young Master has had a chronic illness from childhood. Why did you not tell me?" He asked as he poured hot water from the previously empty pitcher into the clean wash basin.
"You never asked." Ciel replied simply. Frankly, he didn't think it would matter. "Besides, I'm already over it."
"Is that so?" Sebastian asked, smiling slightly at the boy's stubbornness, as he dipped a clean washcloth into the basin and proceeded to wring out the excess water. That's not what Chêne had said. According to her, asthma was particularly dangerous because you never knew precisely when it would return and rear its ugly head again. "But better to be safe than sorry. I shall read some medical texts on the subject of asthma."
"Is that part of your aesthetic as well?" Ciel asked cynically, wondering why a demon would bother to prolong the life of his prey without being specifically ordered to.
"A butler must be able to deal with any situation that may arise." Sebastian replied matter-of-factly as he took Ciel by the wrist and pulled him into a sitting position so he could remove the boy's shirt and give him a 'cat bath' with the warm and damp washcloth.
"Hmph." Ciel huffed. That again, huh? "Anyway, hurry up and tell me what you found out about at the College of Arms…"
"College of Arms… Ah, the identity of the person to whom that device belongs, yes…?" Sebastian asked a bit absently while he focused on cleaning the young earl's hand. There was a terrible amount of dirt stuck underneath his usually spotless little fingernails. "His name is Baron Kelvin." He replied.
"Kelvin?" Ciel asked, furrowing his brow as his eyes shown with a glimmer of recognition. The name sounded familiar…
"Do you know him?" Sebastian asked.
"I don't care much for philanthropists and such, so he is not a personal acquaintance, but…" Ciel replied thoughtfully as Sebastian set aside the washcloth and began helping him dress. "… I think we exchanged greetings at a party that the previous Earl took me to… Well, that will do. Knowing his name is more than enough." He said decisively as his demon butler finished tying his tie for him, and he put on his family ring once again.
FLAP.
"We're going out." Ciel stated seriously, pulling on his cloak. If he was lucky, they just might make it out before Chêne finished that witch's brew she was making in the kitchen…
"Yes, My Lord." Sebastian replied dutifully, smirking knowingly, as he bowed and opened the door… only to find a grim and determined Agni holding his arms out, clearly set on blocking their way for some reason.
"… Eh?" The earl and demon butler said, momentarily stunned and confused. All of the dramatic tension from the previous scene had been totally destroyed. Ciel's eyebrow twitched in annoyance when a familiar laugh sounded from behind the obstructive khansama.
"Fu-fu-fu-fu-fu! Not so fast, Ciel! You won't be able to leave this townhouse that easily while I'm in charge of protecting it!!" Soma declared confidently as he popped out from behind Agni, determined to care for his friend, even if he had to do it against his will. "You have a cold. And, as viceroy of this townhouse and your best friend, I cannot overlook it!"
"Who's my best friend again? Don't joke with me." Ciel said coldly, brushing him off and sidestepping him, undaunted. He had more important matters to attend to.
"Ah!" Soma gasped, flinching in surprise. "Agni!! Do not let Ciel pass, no matter what!!"
"≤Jo Aagyaa.≥" Agni replied dutifully, unwrapping his right hand. His aura was intense. The prince's faithful Khansama couldn't be more serious.
"Now see here, you two…!" Ciel muttered darkly, furrowing his brow with irritation as a vein throbbed on his temple. "I have work to do! I haven't the time to take part in your silly games! Koff! Out of my way!" He yelled.
"Staying in bed and being nursed back to health is the only work a sick person needs to see to!!" Soma yelled back.
"I'm not like you! This is noth—!" Ciel started to shout when he suddenly felt sick and had to cover his mouth. "Koff! Ghrk!"
"Lord Ciel." Agni cried anxiously, rushing forth to check on him. "Lord Ciel, please return to bed. That wheezing sound is characteristic of asthma. You are not well at all!" He urged the boy, grasping his shoulders.
"Don't you dare touch me so casually!!" Ciel snapped, slapping his hand away. "Sebastian! Get them away from me! Koff! Koff!"
"Very good, Sir." Sebastian, who had been quietly observing the whole scene replied calmly. An order was an order, after all.
"Ah-wah-wah!" Soma exclaimed paling slightly and sweating nervously, as he took a step back, trying to get out of demonic butler's way. Agni clenched his fist.
"And you, Mister Sebastian!! How can you call yourself Lord Ciel's butler!?" Agni roared with righteous fury, startling the two boys next to him.
"—Eh?" Sebastian said, raising an eyebrow, not quite seeing what the other butler's problem was. Why was he glaring at him so?
"Let me say this as a fellow ≤khansama≥… no… as your friend." Agni continued a little more calmly, though his glare remained just as intense. "Your first priority must be your master's health! In this case, should you not consider Lord Ciel's health and stop him forcibly, even if that should mean disobeying him? To always have your master be cheerful and healthy. For that, you must wager your life. Is that not… the very essence of being a butler!?" Agni lectured Sebastian passionately. The demon's eyes widened.
"… I believe my duty is to fulfill my master's wishes, but…" He said thoughtfully, tilting his head slightly as he held his chin. "… Certainly… there is an element of truth to what you say as well." It certainly sounded like something his wife would say…
"Good. Then we're all agreed." Chêne said as she stepped into to the room, as though summoned by his thoughts, carrying a tray of medicinal tea and a biscuit to help cancel out the flavor. "You're not going anywhere, Mister." She told Ciel firmly.
"Why you…! Why are both of you agreeing with him!?" Ciel demanded incredulously. He could see Chêne going along with something foolish like this, but Sebastian, too!? "What about my orders!?"
"Denied." Chêne barked boldly. "Ciel Phantomhive, get your asthmatic butt back in bed, right now!" She commanded sternly. "We're pulling rank."
"Wha—!?" Ciel shouted, staring at her in disbelief. "Servants can't pull rank on an earl!!" He argued foolishly.
"Then we're pulling rank as adults dealing with a difficult child! Now sit down, shut up, and take your medicine. Or do I have to fetch a funnel and force feed it to you…?" She asked, narrowing her eyes dangerously. If Ciel was going to insist on being so stubborn, then it was time for some tough love…
Ciel gulped. She wasn't joking… she'd do it, too.
"And… based on that, the patient must go to bed." Soma said, yanking Ciel along before he could get himself into more trouble.
"Wha…!?" Ciel said incredulously.
"I shall see to your care personally! Thank your lucky stars now!!" Soma reassured him brightly. "Agni! Make some rice porridge and have a medicinal bath ready!" he ordered.
"Yes, Sir!" Agni replied dutifully, much happier now that young Ciel was being properly cared for.
"How dare you do as you please…!" Ciel muttered darkly, chagrined. Were they just going to ignore him!?
"Ciel's ≤khansama≥ and Miss Chêne, get his nightgown out! And an ice pillow!" Soma ordered next, getting even bolder now that he had everyone's cooperation.
"Yes." Sebastian responded.
"On it!" Chêne replied cheerfully.
"Hey!" Ciel shouted, vein throbbing on his forehead.
=†=†=†=†=
{One futile struggle between a twelve-year-old earl, seventeen-year-old prince, and three adults later…}
POOOUUUUT.
Ciel furrowed his brow in annoyance, frowning at his four unwanted nurses, waiting for the thermometer to finish taking his temperature. They had won the fight, of course, there being only one of him. So now here he was, stuck in bed with a stupid thermometer in his mouth, surrounded by a bunch of grinning idiots, who looked awfully pleased with themselves.
Sebastian and Chêne were smiling wryly at him while they waited for the thermometer to finish warming up, clearly finding his sullen expression amusing for reasons that were beyond him.
"Whew~! There we go! What a relief!" Soma said as he sighed and wiped a bead of sweat from his brow.
"Yes~!" Ani said, smiling so brightly that there were little flowers blooming around him, as he picked the tray of used dishes up to take them away.
"I said I was busy…" Ciel grumbled, coughing, as Chêne tucked him into bed.
"Not too busy to rest and take care of yourself." She told him, smiling brightly.
"We have already made many discoveries in our case, so doing as they say and taking a rest for the day should be fine, no?" Sebastian said, smirking slightly as he backed her up and gently placed his hand on their young master's hot forehead. "Oh dear… your fever has gotten to be this bad… We shall see to it all on the morrow." He said as Ciel closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
=†=†=†=†=
{Meanwhile, back at the Noah's Ark Circus…}
WHAP!
Freckles winced and grunted in pain as she fell back from the force of the harsh slap Peter had just given her.
"I told ye not to trust them strangers too much." He scolded her sternly, glaring at her angrily.
"B—But!" Freckles protested innocently, holding a hand to her poor sore face. "That Smile's still a kid like… and 'e said 'e had nowhere else to go. And we promised each other." She said earnestly.
"That right there is why yer a brat!" Peter yelled furiously, raising his hand to strike her again, but before he could, a large hand reached out and grabbed him by the wrist to stop him.
"Brother Peter." Jumbo said calmly.
"Jumbo!!" Peter exclaimed, taken aback.
"This is not what we should be doing right now." He stated reasonably. "Smile, Black, and Cat, who snuck into our tents… as well as Suit, who was as capable as those three, have all disappeared. It is dangerous to stay here for too long."
"Then as soon as the ol' chap gets back…" Dagger said, referring to Joker.
"He should be at Father's place now. Even if he hurries, it will take three days at least." Beast reminded him.
"That'll be too late. We'd be better off movin' out quick!" Wendy said.
"Father said that this target was special. We must do something about it while we are here." Jumbo said. "Any failure on our part will incur his wrath."
"Jumbo's got it right. The kid don't live nearby in town, so we gotta get to 'im while he's in London." Peter agreed. "But if we leave now, it'll be dawn by the time we make it back. Nothin' for it, I guess. We'll make a go of it tomorrow." He decided. "First thing, we gotta report this to Joker…"
"I'll go." Beast volunteered readily.
"If ye go off, we'll be short on muscle in case of an emergency." Wendy pointed out, furrowing her brow slightly in disapproval. "Doll, you go instead."
"All right." Doll replied quietly, feeling disheartened and useless after the scolding she had just received.
"… I'll get a horse and saddled for you, so c'mon." Beast told her, a little disappointed she couldn't go herself. But she knew big sis Wendy was right.
"Sorry, Sis." Freckles apologized as Beast helped her climb into the saddle. "It's all my fault."
"It's too late for that now. Just take care of yourself and get to Joker quick." Beast told her, giving the horse a little a slap on its hindquarters to get it started. There was no time to lose.
=†=†=†=†=
{On the rooftop of the Kelvin Mansion}
"Now then." Will said as he flipped through his binder of soul collection lists. "First of all, I came here to clean up after my coworker, who botched his job. Furthermore, for a member of management, like myself, this kind of work falls outside of my purview. On top of that, cruelly forcing a public servant into harsh night duty for more than a month is just… Ugh, for crying out loud." He muttered, snapping the binder shut and tucking it under his arm so he could adjust his glasses. "However… It all comes to an end tomorrow."
