The next day, the pair had returned home with their bounty, passing around candy to the younger Macken brothers, who didn't really question as to why the pair didn't come home that night. Luka assumed that either something came up or that they were still having innocent fun, since demons like them don't need sleep. Revy, however, knew better, and just didn't want to know any details. As per his master's instructions, Sebastian had taken the two younger boys to one of the festivals in order to watch the fireworks and one of the bonfires. They didn't feel too left out, in the end. They still got cake when the demonic duo returned.
Alois went to school, much to his disappointment. It was still the middle of the week, so he had classes. He still got his "good morning" kisses before he left, and he had fun the day before, so he couldn't complain. Thus, he trudged to his first class after the usual insincere complaining and trying to barter out of it. His beau, on the other hand, stayed home and prepared for that evening.
The FUNTOM anniversary event would be taking place around nightfall, and Ciel had to be ready. He prepared his wardrobe, getting the suit that Kristopherson had put together for him out. While he was at it, he did the same for Alois, so the blonde wouldn't have to when he returned. At this point in time, the Phantomhive was going over the list of guests who had sent an RSVP, confirming their attendance. He stared at the computer monitor, reading e-mails as his butler tidied up around his office.
Sebastian went about the room, dusting off the bookshelves, which were seldom touched, aside from a few books here and there. One could tell which had been read most recently from the patterns in the dust! The butler shook his head at the sight. His master had barred him from entering the office for reasons that he wouldn't specify, yet Sebastian somehow knew that it involved the blonde menace. Naturally, Ciel wished to plan yesterday's outing without the butler's embarrassing input. He still got some, however, as the older demon found something most peculiar sitting on the shelf.
"What's this?" Sebastian curiously asked, holding a plush lion in his hand. The area where it had sat had been dusted so that it wouldn't get dirty. It was an odd find, to the butler, as he didn't recall FUNTOM ever selling such a toy, nor did he have any idea as to why it had been so carefully placed. He looked to his master, arching an eyebrow, watching as the bluenette looked up. Faint pink dusted the Phantomhive's cheeks at the sight.
"That is Leopold." The watchdog stated in a matter-of-fact tone. "Don't move him, he's happy there." He jested.
"Ah, and where, pray tell, did 'Leopold' come from, might I ask?" inquired the man clad in black.
"He was a gift." Ciel answered. He would never admit it, but somehow, the fact that the blonde menace had given him such a silly thing pleased him.
"From Alois? Wasn't yesterday his birthday?"
"That's what I said, but he insisted." The bluenette stated, trying to sound somewhat aloof on the matter.
"Well, 'Leopold' doesn't seem as though he'd like to be friends with dust bunnies. They seem to live up here as well." Joked the butler, wiping the shelf before putting the toy back where he found it.
"I didn't know where else to put him- it." Ciel corrected himself, trying not to adopt the blonde's habit of talking about toys as though they were people. His butler simply shook his head at the younger demon's antics and resumed working.
"He must be important to deserve such a seat." Sebastian mused.
"I suppose…" Ciel nonchalantly stated, turning his attention back to the computer screen in an attempt to evade discussing the matter further. While he and his butler had grown to be familiar with each other over the years, they certainly didn't discuss personal matters often. Regardless, the butler wished to tease his master about the subject for a while longer, catching on to the bluenette's attempt to rid himself of the conversation. A playful smirk appeared on the man's face as he continued.
"So I take it you had fun." He said, causing a small blush to form on the other demon's cheeks.
"Yes, both of us did."
"I can tell. You were having so much fun, that you simply lost track of time, and before you knew it, it was morning." Sebastian jested. A chuckled escaped his throat as Ciel choked on his own spit. He continued to do so as the younger man coughed, trying to recover in order to reply.
"You know damn well what happened." Muttered the bluenette, furrowing his brow. It bothered him deeply that his butler knew of his more intimate escapes, but the Phantomhive knew full-well that hiding the fact from the man clad in black was a complete impossibility. All Ciel could do was pray that Sebastian couldn't decipher the full details of his more private moments. Sebastian couldn't, fortunately, but still taunted his master, all the same.
"Isn't the rule that you're supposed to save it for marriage?" the butler teased, turning to face the younger demon. "You might go to hell for that."
"Piss off." Ciel hissed, hiding his face in his work, much to the amusement of his servant. The bluenette's blush had darkened, remembering the events from only two days ago in the presence of his butler. Sometimes, he feared that if he let his mind wander around the man, Sebastian could somehow read his thoughts.
Instead, he focused on work. The anniversary was that night, after all. Ciel hated these events, as they were boring, and he wasn't fond of socializing. At least this time, however, his little "family" would be there to make things interesting.
It was then that Ciel realised something, however. He rubbed his temples as he tried to shake the thought. In order to maintain the lie that Ciel had been using for all of these years, he and the menace would have to pretend to be heterosexuals. The Phantomhive needed to maintain a plausible way to give the illusion of continuing the family line. In reality, he had been assuming the role of his children and grandchildren for decades, as he "couldn't live forever".
Knowing Alois, this could play out in two possible ways. One: Alois behaves and things go smoothly. Two: Alois uses this as an opportunity to harass Ciel without the bluenette being able to do a single thing about it. He tried not to huff out loud at the thought. He knew that the latter scenario was more likely to play out. How annoying. This was going to be a tough night to endure.
A/N: IT'S BEEN SO LOOOOOOONNNGGG! I can't stand this whole "only having the energy to post on the weekends" thing!
I'm just so tired all the time, and sleeping doesn't fix it most days...
And I have to do homework tomorrow...
Ugh.
I wanted this chapter to be more involved, but I just had nothing. Ew. Next, chapter, next chapter.
Also I'm not telling you what's up with Preston, Dan, or Kris until I tell you. For some reason, all of these reviews about it makes me want to make you all wait longer...
Suffer.
Until the next chapter, my duckies~!
