Gehenna was buzzing with excitement as several missing persons were able to come home. They told stories of being locked up by an organisation other than HELLSING and brutalised in inhumane experiments. They brought with them a few new faces who were squeezed into homes that already had families in them, but they were all welcomed with open arms, as is custom. Yet, a candlelight vigil was held in the streets for an entire night for the people who didn't make it out of the facility alive. They too, required acknowledgment, even if no one there knew their names or faces. Families mourned the loss of the loved ones that did not come back. It was a time of celebration, yet also of sorrow.

This was all the paper wanted to report on, really, informing the town of updates on the situation. That's how Daniel and Kristopherson found out about their friends' recent exploits, spawning a few concerned phonecalls to the Phantomhives. Bodies were still being identified by the HELLSING agents who were instructed to go back down and clean house as well as scavenge. The names in the paper changed daily. New families cried each day.

Everyone was glad that HELLSING found at least some people, at least. That was something that could be universally agreed upon. Once again, The Lion was championed as a hero to Gehennans as stories of him punching through an anti-supernatural barrier were told by the survivors. The paper wanted an interview with him as well, but HELLSING was planning on addressing the community anyway, since this affected supernaturals within and outside the walls of Gehenna. Of course, Alois would be on that panel and was working on understanding each and every detail of what had information had been acquired thus far.

Most of it was stuff that he couldn't reveal to the public just yet. Audrey was the first one to inform him that HELLSING did find that Belmont and his family had been near Manchester recently before the facility was compromised. Not only that, but he was looking to sell the land that it was located on, as it was currently in his possession. Now, HELLSING was trying to figure out where to go from there.

In the mean time, Alois' concern was to keep people safe, as they knew that residents from Gehenna had been captured already. He put together a series of steps and things to be wary of in general about kidnappings, as well as complied a list of known methods Belmont has used in the past, based on interviews with the survivors of the Belmont bunker incident. He was going to arm the community with as much information as he could muster, and the message would be sent to Pyestock as well. Unfortunately for the menace, however, that would mean that he was going to be gone for a few days.

"Your first solo business trip. I'm impressed." smiled the Watchdog while his displeased husband clung to him. The menace had just gotten the phone call and decided to make his way back to the bedroom in order to tell the bluenette the news. Naturally, he did this by crawling on top of the other man while Ciel was reading the news on his cell phone and laying his head on his chest.

"I don't want to go..." Alois whined, his voice muffled by Ciel's shirt. "It's for the greater good, but I'll be so lonely..."

"I know. I would go with you, but I still have to keep an eye on Funtom in case someone is still upset and tries something." the bluenette answered. "I also have to watch out for Belmont."

His reasoning didn't seem to matter to the menace, who just sat there, still nuzzling Ciel's shirt. The only thing this did seem to do was make Alois' grip on him tighter. As much as he loved, valued, and wanted to see Pyestock, he also didn't want to be away from his beau for a little over a week. It was true that they have been parted before, but usually, it was because kidnapping was involved. This was going to be the first time that they were separated by a business trip as a married couple. Naturally, they were both not looking forward to it.

"It's going to be hard sleeping, without you." Ciel said before placing a small kiss to his husband's head. "I'm so used to you being here."

"That doesn't help." the blonde replied. "It's gonna suck. I won't be able to sleep at all and every day is going to be thrown off because you're not there. You're part of my routine, Ciel."

"I know, I know. You're part of mine. I'll call you every day. Do you think we need to work out a schedule for that?"

"How about I just call you whenever I want to hear your voice?"

"We'll never get off the phone if we do things that way."

"Don't you want to hear me?" Alois questioned. It was meant to be kind of playful to lighten the mood a bit, but Ciel, being the man that he is, took it seriously.

"Yes, I do. That's why I said 'I'll call you,' instead of 'I can call you.' I'm going to do it, regardless of anything." spoke the Watchdog. "It's also why I don't want to text, like I normally do."

"So you're going to need some security material, too, huh?"

"I assume that means you're going to ask for some of my clothing?"

"You bet it does."

"Alright, you have a week before you leave, so you have plenty of time to pick out what you want."

"Even your coat?"

"It's the middle of June, but sure, if you want it."

"You're such a good husband." lamented the menace with a long, drawn out sigh. "I've never been reluctant to help out the supernatural towns before. It's really selfish, but I really don't want to let go."

While the duo maintained a healthy amount of distance, spending time with friends apart from each other and not interfering with each other's work, complete physical separation was going to be tough. Even if they're simply in the same room in complete silence, they were still in close proximity. Alois wasn't sure how anxious he was going to get and if just talking to Ciel on the phone was going to help him. The thought made him uneasy, but knew that if he expressed that, the bluenette might fuss over him like the worrywart that he is.

"It's not selfish." Ciel stated. "You're still going in order to do the job and tend to their needs. I think it's okay to be a bit reluctant to leave your comfort zone, so long as you do what is required of you. Then you can run straight back and I'll still be here when you do."

"Can I lay on you until I have to leave?"

"Unfortunately, you have a panel in Gehenna to attend the day after tomorrow, so I'm afraid not."

"What about when we're not working?"

"Absolutely." Grinned the Watchdog, prompting a similar reaction from his beau.

Finally, Alois propped himself up on his elbows and looked down at the Watchdog. Seeing as though he had the undivided attention of the menace, Ciel reached over and set his phone on the nightstand before brushing Alois' bangs out of his face. At the same time, however, his hands moved even though his husband looked like he was about to speak. Something about the angle he was looking at the other man gave him the idea to impulsively move the blonde's bangs out of his face entirely, smoothing them back on his head.

"Oh." he said without thinking. "You look good with your hair back."

"What do you mean 'oh'?" Alois questioned. "Are you surprised?"

"No, I just remembered and wanted to see it. It's even better when you're hair is wet."

"Y'know, I was about to hit on you, but you beat me to it. Did you just want to one-up me?"

"No. Like I said, I just wanted to see you with your hair back. Pretty eyes, nice figure, great personality… now 'nice forehead' is added to the list."

"What the hell?" the menace giggled. "You're fuckin' weird, love."

"Yes, but you love me, regardless." Ciel simply agreed.

"Do I really have a nice figure, though?"

"That's kind of a silly question. Of course you do. It's fantastic."

"Oh, yeah? What's your favourite part?" A mischievous smirk graced the blonde's face as he stared down at darkening cheeks. Yet, although obviously flustered, Ciel's brow furrowed in serious thought over the matter.

"It's hard to pick just one…" mumbled the Watchdog.

"Is it the ass?" questioned the blonde. "The hips?"

"That whole area is nice… Your thighs are really great, too… Individually, all of it's pleasant to look at, but all put together is best." Ciel appeared pleased with his answer as he nodded to himself, but alas, his husband was not content.

"Huh? You for real don't have a favourite?"

"It's usually just what I'm looking at at the time. I am a very simple man. When I see it, I want to touch it."

"What if I'm naked and you can see everything?" inquired Alois, thinking he had just caught the other in a trap. Yet, it was he who's face flushed scarlet as his spouse answered him with an expression and tone most serious.

"Then I want to touch everything." the Watchdog stated as a fact of the universe. He had stared the other directly in the eyes while he did it, not understanding the impact it would have until after the fact. The menace pulled away and sat up with his legs on either side of Ciel with his hands on the man's chest, carefully analysing they muscle with his fingers and palm.

"Wanna see it now?" The question came out in a fashion that would allow the menace to play it off as a joke if he needed, but knowing the other, it wouldn't be. A blush stained the man's cheeks as he tilted his head and puffed out his chest in an attempt to look seductive. Needless to say, it was working.

"Even if it's in the middle of the day?" inquired the other. "We have a few days left..."

"Psh, I was just joking..."

"Oh. That's unfortunate. I actually wanted it."

"Then why didn't you say so?"

"I don't know. I don't always have the best response to things."

"If someone asks you 'hey, you wanna fuck me?' and you want to do so, you just say 'yes' and then kiss me, you twit."

Regardless of his husband's playfully harsh words, the bluenette let out a laugh at the crude phrasing. "Sorry." he answered while sitting himself up. "What if I don't want to do it that way, though? What if I want to take my time so I can thoroughly indulge myself in caressing my husband?" Just as he described, his hands landed on the blonde's thighs before trailing up to the waist. His grinned widened at the other demon's shudder and darkening cheeks. "After all, I'm not going to see you for an entire week, here, soon..."

"Tease. Don't be a jerk. Show me, don't tell me!"

"Yes, your highness."


A/N: I don't remember what I wanted to write. I started a new manga and totally lost track of where I was going. Somehow, the conversation turned to this. These two need to chill like goddamn...

Ah... These whiny babies are gonna be so upset when he actually leaves lol. Will I advance the plot in the near future? Who knows~!

I have nothing else to say, really. No questions. No comments. Just me debating if I can get food without waking up the entire house.

I might just go to bed...

Until the next chapter, my duckies~!