Two days later and the blonde had completed various tests like the ones from before. H.E.L.L.S. ., between this and the speculation of their magic expert, had decided that the unwitting Phantomhive's memory loss was limited to only one person. This is what the old woman meant. She specifically impacted Alois' memories of Ciel, who was unfortunately a massive part of his life. They weren't sure if they could let him go home yet because of the bluenette. Ciel himself was going to need further evaluation before they could decide.
Still, Alois was thrilled when his family visited him. Luka ran up and practically pounced on him, holding him in a grip that he wasn't sure he could remove when it was time for them to leave. The boy was happy, however, with the biggest of grins. With him was Sebastian and Revy, who hung out in back.
"Man, am I glad to see you!" the menace declared. "I've been going mad in here! I miss being around you guys." With the last part, he hugged the boy clinging him and squeezed him tightly. Looking up, however, he noticed something.
"Revy, what are you doing? Come in!" the man called out before seeing the revenant's shoulders relax.
"I was worried you might not recognise me." Revy said, causing the menace to frown a bit.
"I can recognise almost everyone in the pictures I was given, and they gave me yours, too." Alois said. "I almost have a one hundred percent proficiency rate. I'm starting to wonder if it's actually a mistake and I just don't know the person."
Now it was the turn of the others in the room to frown. They knew who he was missing, and knew how important he was. All of them knew about Ciel's situation as well, which was another reason why they were there. Thus, Sebastian piped up.
"Well, you all must have a lot to talk about." he began. "I have business that I need to take care of elsewhere in the research department."
"What is it?" Alois questioned.
"He's going to see Ciel." bluntly answered Luka, pulling away from the menace slightly in order to look up at the man. He became quiet again when Sebastian gave him a warning look.
"Who's Ciel?" the blonde questioned, turning his gaze to Sebastian since it was obvious that he knew something. He didn't think the man would lie to him, but knew that he would give him at least a partial truth. "Is that the name of specimen D-001?"
"How do you know about D-001?" the butler asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Elizabeth mentioned him. She said he was sedated at the time and made me walk fast through the hall outside that room. Nobody will tell me much else about it."
"Well, that is correct." Stated Sebastian. "I'm going to go see him. If he's doing well, you will be able to see him soon."
"Why do I need to see him?"
"You live together." the butler said as he turned to leave. Before he did, however, he addressed the younger Mackens one last time.
"Be good, you two." he said. "Don't give him too much information. It might overwhelm him."
"Okay~!" Luka replied, and with that the man was gone.
Down the hall, the butler went and through several corridors. The research team was trying to keep the duo as far away from each other as possible, but it seemed like there was no need. In the room where the bluenette was supposed to dwell, it was almost lifeless. There was a heartbeat, but it was slow and it was weak. When Sebastian opened the door, he found Ciel, but Ciel was barely there.
The Watchdog was awake, but he did not want to be. He laid on his side in the small bed with his back facing the door. When Sebastian walked in the room, he did nothing to acknowledge his butler. He was perfectly still. Sebastian took a look at him and sighed, shaking his head.
"You have to get up sometime, you know." the butler said. "The nurse said you've been like this for forty-eight hours. It's not good for you."
When he didn't get a response, he continued. "Have you burned yourself out, master? Have you given up? Alois is still here. He's still alive and well. Are you just going to lie here and mope forever?"
Still nothing. Ciel didn't move. He didn't face his butler. There wasn't even a sound of acknowledgment. The Phantomhive was not in the mood to talk or hear a rousing speech. He didn't know what he was going to do. Whether or not he was going to give up was unknown even to himself, despite being sick of just lying there.
He needed to be sad. It was perfectly in Ciel's right to be sad. It was just going to take a little while longer for him to recover. His spouse did not know him, so he had plenty to be sad about. Ciel wasn't ready to talk about it and really didn't want to. His butler was not helping his morale, although he did remind him that there was a world outside this room.
"Master..." Sebastian pleaded. "Please do not give up hope… The fight is not lost. It hasn't even begun. It starts once you leave this room."
"Doesn't matter..." Ciel spoke for the first time in days, so his voice was weak both from that and the evidence left behind of the man weeping. "I'm not allowed to see him, anyway..."
"I'll see to that." the butler said. "You need to see him badly."
"How is he?"
"He's doing well. Right now, he's talking to the others." Sebastian said, tilting his head as he didn't get a reply. "He seems lonely, though. And he's curious about you. Someone mentioned 'Specimen D-001' to him, it seems. I couldn't give him the information he sought, however."
"Why?"
"Because you need to be the one to tell him. Remind him that you exist and who you are. He wants to know."
In actuality, Ciel agreed with the older demon somewhat. He needed to see Alois and to alert the man of his existence so that they could both go home. Oh, how Ciel wanted to see the menace, but he could not hold him in his arms. He might never. That is what scared Ciel. The Watchdog didn't know whether he could handle that or not. But he would have to try.
The first thing he needed to do, however, was get up and get out of his room. He needed to walk around and ground himself a bit better. Ciel needed to gather courage and mental fortitude before he could see Alois, but he would definitely try. With this, his muscles tensed and he clumsily sat himself up with his legs dangling over the side of the bed facing the wall still.
"I'm going to go to the training field." he said, indicating that he has made his choice. It was satisfactory enough for his butler, who donned a relieved smile.
"I'll be out of your way, then." Sebastian said with a small bow.
He left the Phantomhive alone to gather himself. Indeed, it would take time before the man was alright. Ciel was still mourning his loss and would be for a while. It could be days, weeks, months, or even years before he was alright. For now, however, he had to grit his teeth and trudge forward for his husband's sake, even if the blonde was unaware of it; even if his husband was no longer his.
A/N: Nuh... Whelp... This was kind of a disappointing chapter, I feel like, but we're getting there.
On a lighter note, I noticed something whenever I draw Ciel. I always give him really nice pecs, somehow? I imagine his husband likes them a lot.
Oh, wait...
Meh, he'll figure it out eventually...
If he truly loves the tiddy, he will enjoy them without knowing them.
Pfffft
Until the next chapter, my duckies~!
