The next thing Alois knew, he was in the master bedroom. It wasn't the frontroom of the master suite like he had fallen asleep in, but the actual bedroom. He wanted to bolt up and assess the situation, but he couldn't move. Even his eyes wouldn't obey him, so looking around the room was an impossibility. Panic ran through him as he tried to think of what to do or even an explanation as to how this could be. Desperately, he tried to get up or even twitch a finger, but it was fruitless. He was completely frozen.

Hearing the door open, however, he discovered that he was in fact capable of movement, but he wasn't in control of it. It's as though someone else was. When his assumed puppetmaster made his body prop itself up in order to see who was entering the room, he could see the bluenette standing there with a smile and an apologetic look. The Watchdog slipped off his shoes and quietly padded over to him, making Alois frightened as to whether or not Ciel was responsible. If he was, whatever it was would have destroyed the menace. Just when he thought he could trust the man, he would have proved to be the biggest threat of all.

"Sorry, did I wake you?" Ciel asked in a hushed tone. The blonde wanted to call out and demand an explanation as to what was going on, but he couldn't.

"You wouldn't have if you actually came to bed on time." The words mumbled escaped the Alois' lips, but he did not conjure them.

"Sorry, dear." the bluenette apologised in response before sitting on the edge of the bed. Alois could still feel the other's weight weighing down on the mattress, alerting him to the fact that he could still feel with this uncooperative body of his. To his utmost shock and surprise, the bluenette cupped his cheek and leaned forward to plant a quick kiss on his forehead.

Alois couldn't think. All he could do was watch this as though it were a movie, pre-scripted from the very beginning. He didn't know right then, but it was. That's why he felt a lingering sense of familiarity to the scenario. While he had similar dreams before this, this was the first where he was aware. He was a conscious spectator, helpless to what was happening before him; or rather, to him.

"I'm all done with work for now." Ciel continued with a smile. "So that means that for the next few days, I'm all yours."

A giggle fell from Alois' lips as the other pressed his index finger to the tip of his nose. While he wasn't in control of these actions, Alois could feel the happiness that the "other him" was feeling at the information. "Good. I'm tired of competing for your attention."

"I don't, either. You know if I had my way, you would win."

"Damn straight."

"Let me get ready and I'll come to bed. Then we can talk all about what we want to do tomorrow." the Watchdog said before stunning the menace once again.

Alois could see the bluenette moving in closer before his body slowly closed it's eyes, but he could feel the bluenette's lips against his. Naturally, he was embarrassed. His heart was fluttering. This was all he could daydream about ever since he realised he had feelings for Ciel, but this was not how he wanted it. Still, he felt a sliver of happiness despite it all. He could tell it was the influence of whatever was going on, as he desperately wanted to be afraid and disgusted. Why on earth did this man have to have the uncanny of making him feel at ease just by being near him? It was more than "strange". It should be an impossibility. Yet, here he was.

Though the kiss was brief, it felt like it lasted ages to Alois and he enjoyed every bit of it. When Ciel pulled away, he stood, allowing the blonde to lay back down. "I'll be right back." he said while heading to the bathroom, and Alois' body playfully held his hand out after the man.

"Hurry" Once again, words that he did not come up with escaped him. It was like he was a voyeur in all of this. He wasn't completely "there", yet he was. He could feel the softness of the sheets and every gentle touch the other demon gave him. He could feel the happiness and contentment that his "other self" felt. It was infectious.

After that, he seemed to doze off again, waking up as the mattress sagged once more. With that, his eyes opened to the sight of Ciel wearing a T-shirt and boxers, sitting on the edge of the bed while taking off his eyepatch. Turning around, he lifted the blankets and got underneath them, pulling the blonde closer while letting out a rather pleased hum. His guard was completely down as he relaxed next to Alois with the blonde securely in his arms.

The blonde then looked at his face. There was a brief moment when Ciel's eye was open, letting out a soft purple glow before he held it shut again so it didn't disturb the other. That small flicker was enough to leave the menace in awe. Alois felt as though he was graced with knowing a secret and was intrigued by the man's now closed eye.

"Sorry for waking you again." the bluenette said in a whisper, running his hand through the other's hair.

"It's okay." softly mumbled the menace.

"We can wait to talk about tomorrow in the morning, if you want."

"I don't mind..."

"I can't bear to ruin you being comfortable, though." Ciel stated, smiling as he earned a hum of acknowledgment. "I'll just let you sleep."

"M'kay..." answered Alois. His conscious self was starting to meld with this other. Both of them were relaxing and the menace wasn't sure if he should be afraid of this fact or not. For now, he was going to enjoy the moment.

"Love you." his outer self mumbled, startling him. But even more shocking was the fact that his head was kissed in response.

"I love you too, Jim." he heard Ciel's voice say while feeling the bluenette's grip tighten.

That was even more startling. With a gasp of air, Alois jolted so he was sitting upright where he laid. Now that his body was able to move of his own free will again, he looked around. Panting, his eyes adjusted to the dark, only to realise that he was no longer in the same room. It was in fact the front room of the master suite and he was still on the sofa. Looking down, he could see that someone had carefully laid a blanket on top of him. At that moment, it felt like it was too much as a thin layer of sweat coated his skin. His face burned and his hands trembled as he tried to regain his senses.

Something was severely wrong. All of this was wrong. Why? Why was everything so wrong? And how? He couldn't figure it out. He couldn't understand any of it! Why? Why was it that his dream felt "right"?

Drawing his knees into his chest, he hugged his legs and rubbed his head. Alois' dreams were becoming progressively more vivid. He was starting to wonder if they were real or not. Perhaps they were at one point. Perhaps they weren't really "dreams" at all, but that would mean something that Alois simply couldn't accept.

"Fuck..." he let out in a whimper, burying his face in his knees. He didn't want this. It was all too muddled. It was too complicated. There was no way he could get out of this situation unscathed if this were the case. Once upon a time, it seemed like Alois had flown too close to the sun, and like Icarus, he was burned. But why was Ciel still so fond of him? He didn't understand it at all. No, he was simply too afraid to recognise the truth, so he crushed down everything that pointed him in a particular direction. Yet, there was no other path to walk on. Really, the menace wanted nothing more than to fall asleep and never wake up again, if that meant not having to deal with this.

"Are you awake?" called a voice, causing the menace to jump. Rapidly, his head turned to face the doorway to see Ciel wearing a surprised expression on his face. The man's back was illuminated by the light of the hallway, highlighting his intimidating figure. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you..." he apologised, his voice and expression sincere. In response, Alois only shook his head.

"It's okay..." he said, knowing better. He wasn't okay. Surely, he thought, the bluenette would ask him why he had fallen asleep here. To his surprise, however, he didn't and asked a different question instead.

"Alright… Do you need anything?" the Watchdog questioned. "I would have given you a pillow, too, but there's no way I could have lifted your head and not wake you up. I can get you one if you need."

"I don't care..." Alois fibbed, finally acknowledging his slightly stiff neck. Without another word, Ciel disappeared somewhere behind him, only alerting him to where he went by the sound of the bedroom door opening. When the bluenette came back, he presented Alois with a pillow, regardless.

"Just in case." he said, holding it out until the blonde hesitantly took it. "Are you hot? Cold?"

"It's a bit warm, I guess..." the menace stated. "The blanket."

"I can get you a sheet." Ciel said, turning to walk back out of the room. "Just wait a second."

"Hey, Ciel?" interrupted Alois, capturing the Watchdog's attention again. Immediately, Ciel stopped dead in his tracks.

"Yes?"

"Why are you being so nice?"

"Isn't that just what you do when someone isn't feeling well?" Ciel questioned.

"You don't seem like the type."

"Well, I'm not, really, but I am for certain people."

"Like who?"

"You, Luka, Lizzie, and maybe Revy, pretty much." the bluenette answered, turning back around to face the other. "Why?"

"No reason…" sighed the blonde, now hugging the pillow. It had Ciel's scent on it, tempting Alois to bury his face in it, but he wouldn't while the man was watching him.

To this, Ciel spent some time observing the menace in order to figure him out. After a few moments, he finally asked: "Is something wrong?" Slowly, he inched over to the menace, placing a hand on the back of the sofa. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really." Alois bluntly answered. "I'm not there yet."

"Tell me when you get to that point. Or just if there's anything you need."

"Okay..." said the menace, hesitantly glancing the other's way. "Is it… Is it okay if I stay here?"

"Certainly." Ciel answered with a soft, reassuring smile. "If it's more comfortable in here, be my guest. I don't mind in the slightest."

"Thanks." Putting his pillow down, Alois rested his head on it as he laid back on the couch. He turned on his side and tried his best to find a good position while the other took this as his que to leave.

"Goodnight, Alois." the bluenette said, heading toward the bedroom door.

"'Night." replied the blonde, watching after the other once his back was turned.

As he stared at that closed door, he thought it was odd. It was like he was on the wrong side of it. Yet, he did not want to think about why. Alois just didn't want to think anymore. He wasn't sure what he wanted. All he knew was that he longed for some time unknown to him when things were back to "normal", whatever that may be.


A/N: Yikes.

There was actually more I needed to do with this chapter, but I guess it will have to wait until next time. Oh well.

Though I'm not sure how that will factor out... This one little detail leads into the next thing...

Eh, I'll figure something out.

This is how writing this shit works. I never know what I'm doing until the time comes, and even then I'm not so sure.

I am a very serious writer, you know.

VERY serious.

Until the next chapter, my duckies~!


CHARACTER SHET

Question: "Hello Alois, I was just curious and wanted to ask you if Platypuses (or platypi) feel, in any way, significant to you?" by Hannahfanbear

Alois: "Not really. I like the way they look because they're silly-lookin', but otherwise, nah. I do really like the stuffed animal Ciel gave me. I was obsessed with them at the time because they're just so weird! I guess that's sentimental."