H.E.L.L.S.I.N.G. was informed of the possibility that the most wealthy vampire in all of the United Kingdom might be behind the murder of a former teacher who was out on bail. While they didn't mind the fate of the instructor for his deed, they were concerned with the idea that Thaddeus Wakefield would killing humans. The organization had already started keeping an eye on him, and investigation into his activities as of the past few months had commenced.

One of the staff members on the case was Audrey "Bones" Baines. He was fast in collecting intelligence; He was accurate, too. In only two long workdays, he was able to establish that Thaddeus had been transferring large sums of money overseas, and that he was down at the docks sometime early in the month. Wakefield and several of his flunkies had put a large crate into the back of a black van before driving off. Unfortunately, he couldn't figure out where the money was going or what he was transporting. That was more than the rest of the team was able to get in a week.

"After this, I'm planning on taking my vacation." he said to Ciel after sharing the data he collected. Tilting his head back, he allowed the contents of a pixie stick to land on his tongue.

"You should. You've earned it." the Phantomhive replied. "You've never missed a day of work, whether sick or injured. Most people wouldn't be able to keep going like you do."

"Problem is, I dunno where to go." Audrey stated while shaking his head. "I've never really taken a vacation, especially on my own."

"Well, from the sounds of it, you're looking for some solitude."

"Right."

"So probably somewhere a little secluded." his friend suggested. "Maybe a cabin in the woods, or something."

"Seeing some nature seems nice, but I'm not sure I like that idea. I've seen a horror movie or two..."

"You've lived them, as well." Pausing, the bluenette thought. "Well, you could probably ask to stay at one of the other's beach houses for a few weeks."

"Yeah… That could work..." Audrey pondered while rubbing his chin. "I'll start asking. I mean, it's cold out, but it's also secluded. Basically, I just want to live as a hermit for a few weeks."

"Understandable. There are times when a person just needs a while to be alone and reflect. I think Daniel is actually looking to get rid of his beach house. He's been trying to sell off a few of the properties he inherited."

"Not a bad idea… Depending on the price, I might consider buying. Think he'll just let me rent, though?"

"Honestly, I have no idea. You'll have to ask."

"I'll have to call him… Do you know when he gets off work?"

"I don't know that either. I feel like I should visit him sometime, though."

"You mean 'scare the piss out of him', right?" questioned Audrey, smiling despite his arched brow.

"Of course." stated the bluenette. "I see no other reason to do so."

While the two spoke in the drawing room, Alois walked through the door and took a seat. The only thing was, he took a seat on the armrest of the chair Ciel was sitting on, causing the bluenette to fidget slightly. Ciel was elated that his beloved was comfortable being close with him again. However, he wasn't certain how to interpret this behaviour, or how to respond. Thus, he acted as though all was ordinary.

"What's this about scaring Dan and why am I not part of the discussion?" Alois playfully inquired. He sat sideways on the arm, turning at the hips so that he could face Audrey. His arm rested on the back of the chair behind the bluenette's head, as Alois was starting to shift back into his old mannerisms. Embracing them felt good. It was just as Kristopherson said. It made the blonde feel more at ease and comfortable around Ciel, and the Watchdog in question didn't seem to mind.

"Audrey's thinking about going on vacation." Ciel explained. "We were discussing the possibility of him asking Daniel to borrow his beachhouse."

"He'd probably let you buy it." the menace stated, only to be informed that the idea was not new.

"That's exactly what Ciel said." replied the reaper. "Good to know you both still think similarly."

"Is that something we did often?"

"Well, I guess when people live together for long enough, they start to pick up on each other's patterns." the Watchdog suggested.

"True. I keep trying to talk all snooty, but I just can't bring myself to do it anymore." Alois said, looking down to face the other demon.

"You don't have to." answered Ciel. "I actually quite like your normal accent. It's cute." In that instant, he regretted allowing that to slip out and shrunk in his chair. There was no way around not sounding suspect. Despite this, Alois wasn't upset, although he was rather embarrassed.

"Oh, r-really?" the blonde questioned, unable to contain at least a small smile, no matter how hard he tried. He was happy. There was no way around it. While he was surprised by Ciel's words, he wasn't going to complain. "Thanks."

The display was a bit much for Audrey, though. He snickered, prompting the demons' attention, only to clear his throat into his fist in order to hide it. "So you're still getting along, I take it?"

Alois answered: "Yeah. Ciel's fun. He's hard not to get along with." This, of course, made Audrey shake his head.

"Well, I wouldn't say that, but I'm glad for you." the reaper said. "It's kind of impressive, actually. Not many people can do that."

"Now, Audrey, you're hurting my feelings." jested the Watchdog, doing his best to recover from his blunder by moving on. He didn't sound as confident as usual, but managed. With a roll of his eyes, Audrey was not impressed.

"Whatever." he said, pausing to glance at his watch. "I actually need to be heading out. I'm supposed to be getting more dirt on Wakefield."

"Undercover?" asked Alois, pointing at the man's uncharacteristically casual attire. For once, they got to see Audrey out of his uniform and in plain clothes, wearing a black T-shirt with the words "KING CITY" on it and his signature purple skull beanie on his head. It was nostalgic, bringing back a few memories for the blonde. This alone made the menace smile.

"Yeah, I'm just gonna be asking around." answered Baines. "'See any shady black vans lately?' That kind of shit."

"Good luck with your search." Ciel replied, standing up in order to show the man out. "Let us know if there's anything we can do to assist you."

"Will do." Audrey said before turning back to Alois. "Take care of yourself, Alois."

"Same." the blonde said, watching as the other two left. "Mostly I'm concerned about homework, right now. Missing that much class is not helping me any."

"Nerd." teased the reaper before heading out. With that, they left, and after a wave from Alois, he too left in order to make his way toward the office.

His schoolwork was not going well at all this semester. It was hard, as he was missing so much class from recent events that he could not keep up. With all that was going on in his life during this time, school was hard to focus on. He knew he needed to, but he just couldn't. He sat down at his desk and opened his laptop to get started on a report that was due on a subject that he knew next to nothing about. Most of his "work" for the next fifteen minutes was staring blankly at his screen while switching between tabs that held different websites vaguely relating to what he was doing. Eventually, he was rescued by his housemate, who came through the office door with a teacup and saucer in each hand.

"Working hard?" the bluenette asked.

"Something like that." answered Alois, resting his chin in his palm. "Is one of those for me?"

"No, they're both mine. I'm just really thirsty." sarcastic stated the other while regardless placing one of the cups on the desk in front of Alois. He smiled as he heard a giggle from the other, taking his own seat.

The blonde reached for the cup before hesitating. "Oh!" he began. "You wouldn't happen to have brought sugar with you, have you?"

"Already in there. Two spoons." answered the bluenette before bringing his own cup to his lips. He knew exactly how much Alois liked in his tea, which surprised the blonde.

"Thanks." smiled the menace, taking his drink in both hands and looking at his reflection staring back at him. He was startled when the phone on the section of desk between them went off, prompting the Watchdog to set his cup down and reach over to answer it.

"Phantomhive." he greeted after placing the device up against his ear. The other tuned in, finding no interest in actually working. Alois' expression changed and he focused harder as Ciel's tone grew more concerned. "What? Is that so…"

There was a pause before Ciel perked up as well. "What?" his brow furrowed and his expression became more stern. "You can't be serious..."

This conversation went on for a while and it was clear that it was nothing but bad news. Alois was concerned, but knew that he should wait to ask until the other was done talking. When Ciel hung up, Alois waited a moment before bringing it up.

"What was that?"

"I'm off the Thaddeus case temporarily." the Watchdog answered without sugarcoating the situation in the slightest. "That old woman, the one who tampered with your memories; she's dead. Murder. Sword through the heart. An investigation is under way."

"Why does that mean you're off the case?" Alois questioned. He waited for the other to reply, allowing Ciel to let out a long, drawn out sigh.

"Because I'm a suspect." Ciel said. "Swords are uncommon weapons, and I'm known for wielding one. I also have a motive. So, until I'm cleared, I am not allowed to be investigating."

"What the fuck?!" exclaimed the menace. "That's bullshit! You were here all night and all day!"

"They won't accept you as an alibi. You are considered to have a motive to lie."

"Oh yeah? Well what motive do you have to kill her?" His question was rhetorical, but the expression on Ciel's face and the silence he was met with filled him with unease. Alois' face drooped as he looked to the other. All the while, thoughts of new possibilities sank in. "Ciel?"

"She is the one who took away your memories of me." the Watchdog said with a calmness that almost seemed fragile. "When that first happened, I… expressed my resentment in a way that was not the most 'tame'. In fact, at the time I probably even meant what I said. However, I reached the same conclusion that I have now, and that is that she is an elderly woman whose own mind has almost left her. Killing her would be cruel, even though she took you from me." Looking to the blonde, Ciel was firm, but he was sincere.

"More importantly, I know that is not what you would have wanted me to do." he continued. "Therefore, I would have never killed her. It would have done more harm than good."

Really, Alois wasn't sure how to take that. It was cold-blooded, but at the same time, there was a sweetness to it. Ciel would kill for Alois, as it was with Alois where his true loyalty lied. Both Britain and H.E.L.L.S.I.N.G. were secondary on his list of priorities. It was starting to become clearer to Alois, but he didn't want to seem arrogant by assuming. Still, the fact that Ciel had even considered murder for him was oddly touching. This fact made the menace seriously question both his morals and his taste.

"So, we play the waiting game again?" he asked, earning a nod.

"Mm-hm." lazily answered the other with a weary sigh. "It's a waste of time, though. We could be working toward getting close enough to Thaddeus to question him, but now we have to wait for them to confirm that I was where I said I was and that I didn't check into Gehenna. It's obvious stuff that has the potential to take longer than necessary, if whoever is doing the investigating is incompetent."

"Yeah… Dunno what to do about it, though..." Agreed the blonde. Resting his elbows on the table, he leaned forward, subconsciously getting closer to the other. "Tell me if there's anything I can do."

Thoughtlessly, the other mirrored the blonde's gesture, leaning closer. The two looked at one another across the divider, failing to find their proximity abnormal. In fact, the blonde reached out to the other and moved a stray lock of bluenette hair back into it's appropriate place. Although the action was sudden and unexpected on both of their parts, Ciel did not flinch or move away. He simply allowed it to happen. He smiled at the other's offer and found it pleasant that Alois would fuss over him.

"I will." Ciel assured. "I'm not sure when that will be or what for, but I'll rely on you when it happens."


A/N: Hello, hello. I'm sorry this is so late. I bought a game over the weekend, and I've been distracted. My bad.

I'm still here, though, reading your feedback and occasionally writing on a chapter.

I was desperate to finish this one... I wanted to update over the weekend so bad... It just didn't happen... I'm sorry...

Agh... I need a nap so bad...

Please bear with me, all. I'm still working on it! We're not going anywhere!

Until the next chapter, my duckies~!


CHARACTER SHET

Question: "To Ciel: how are you holding up?" by Socially Awkward Oreo Monster

Ciel: "I'm still here... Things are better. I can at least talk to Jim and have a good time, at least. I still miss him. This ache in my chest just won't go away..."

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Question: "To Logan: Have you acquired a pair of comfortable pants with a tail hole yet?" by Sailyonera

Logan: "Yes, actually! The design isn't complete yet, though, but it's much, much better than before."