The game was moving along much smoother, now. After insistence on Audrey's part and agreement from the others, Ciel was moved from first base to the pitching mound so he will actually play the game and not just wait until his next chance to talk to Alois. They knew him. They also knew that he wasn't very invested and hoped that being the pitcher would remedy this to an extent. So far, it had, as it forced him to be mentally present, but there was still a noticeable layer of rust on his movements. From outside, he seemed like he was pretty descent at his new position, but from his friend's perspective, they knew he could be even better.
It was something to do on the Watchdog's part. His attention was occupied and the action was good for him. Repetitive, but not strenuous. With each person, he thought about how to pitch the ball. It wasn't cheating, but a mild strategy that he wasn't particularly determined about, but it did cause a few strikes and an out or two. Overall, there was no plan and the game was progressing more naturally. It was a major relief, but he couldn't help but sense the inescapable feeling of apathy beginning to sink in.
He wasn't bored, but he wasn't interested. He simply didn't care. Eventually, this sapped up every attempt to squeeze some kind of thought into his task, and his body began moving on reflex as his mind wandered further and further away from the game. He wasn't the only one, however. In the Lions' dugout, a similar problem was occurring.
Without Alois making up schemes, a few of the players were getting nervous about whether or not they could win. The menace wasn't bothered, though, despite being somewhat disappointed that he didn't get to play with the bluenette the way he wanted to. Then again, them having a fondness for each other sort of got in the way. It was hard to manipulate another person in a way that wasn't mean or malicious, so the fact that Alois didn't want to hurt his spouse really hindered his ability to plot against him. He would just have to crush him at another game on another date, preferably after his beau was feeling better. He had undergone a rough mission and still needed some time to readjust. Perhaps it was a bit much to ask Ciel to play the game, but they were already there and could no longer quit.
As the menace leaned against one of the posts holding up the awning that they all sat under, he simply stared out at the field and sighed with a dreamy look on his face. He had to admit that there were bonuses to not being evil at the moment. After all, he could freely admire his husband's figure now and appreciate the rare sight of him in some rather form-fitting pants. While the Watchdog often compliments Alois' beauty, he was often oblivious to the fact that he, too, was a rather good looking man. There was nothing to distract the blonde from it. When they returned home, Alois knew his beau was going to need some comforting, and in a strange way, he was almost looking forward to it. All the while, his teammates were confused.
"So, we're just dropping all of out strategies?" Logan inquired while raising his hand. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"I trust that Ciel's not gonna cheat, either, so as long as we're halfway decent, it should be fine." the menace stated with a shrug. "I mean, if you wanna cheat and you're not gonna get caught, I don't really mind. I'm just not gonna give him a hard time, today."
"You're too soft." accused Baldassare while folding his arms in a huff. "A traitor, too! What, are you that desperate for a poke that you'd sell us all out to HELLSING?"
"I'm never desperate. But I'm sorry to drop you all like this. It's not a very nice thing to do, but I've got prior obligations, y'know?" answered the blonde while rubbing the back of his neck. "It's got nothing to do with HELLSING. It's more important than that. My husband hasn't been feeling well since our previous mission and it's occurred to me that I need to pull back a bit so that he can have a slightly less rough of a time."
"Can't be mad at that." Spoke Elvis, the rather muscular incubus with a pompadour that ran the hair salon. "Sounds perfectly normal to me."
Logan nodded in agreement. "I didn't really feel good cheating, anyway..." he confessed.
"You're sleeping with the enemy, too!" declared the Girasol vampire. "You're all too half-hearted about this! Don't you fucking get it?! Gehenna needs to win this to boost the overall morale of the town! It'll help keep things stable!"
"Are you suggesting that there's some horrible instability rife in the town?" questioned Tegwen with a hefty amount of skepticism. "Yeah, it would be nice, but it's not the end of the world. We've already raise quite a lot of money for the neighborhood, so we've won anyway, in that sense."
"Why do we even have to have this stupid game for money, anyway? Shouldn't the fucking lard-ass fatcats who run HELLSING be footing the bill?" inquired Baldassare. "Why do we need to pay? We're all poor enough as it is?"
"Because it gives people something to do." Alois informed while looking over his shoulder. With a mischievous grin on his face, he added: "Tell you what: I'll give you some extra motivation. If our team wins, I'll match the money we've already raised and donate it."
"Are you serious?!" The vampire abruptly stood at that and stared at the Phantomhive to confirm that he was being genuine.
"Yep." replied the menace. "All you gotta do is be better at baseball than them. Sound reasonable?"
A wicked smile twisted Baldassare's face as he put his hands in his pockets. "Alright." he said. "Guess I got no choice but to take this seriously, then." With that, he walked out onto the field, exchanging places with Chief Sybil on the field.
"Ah, he got me out." the woman began, rubbing the back of her neck. "Sorry about that, guys."
"Don't worry about it. It's just a game." the Phantomhive answered. "As long as everybody's having fun, that's what's important."
"I thought you were determined to win by any means necessary?" confusedly inquired Tegwen.
"I decided that there's more important things. As fun as it is to try and outsmart Ciel, if he's not into it, it doesn't do much for me."
"Isn't that how it is with most things?" asked Logan.
"Pretty much." the blonde stated before looking back to the field. "Alright, Baldassare's on first base. Who's next?"
"Me." spoke Elivs, raising his hand before standing up. "Whoever's up after me, don't get a home run. I wanna talk to the cutie on third base."
"You mean Daniel?"
"Yup." the incubus said before stepping out, prompting the menace to turn back to Logan.
"Is it bad that I want to get a home run now?" he inquired. "Am I a terrible friend?"
"I don't know. I don't know Daniel that well, so I'm not sure how to best respect his wishes." Mister Kendrick answered with a shrug. "He is his type, though. Why he doesn't just hit on him normally, though, I don't really get. Daniel did help him get set up to start his business, so I'm not sure why he doesn't just talk to him."
"I would assume that even incubi and succubi get shy."
"True. We do." Logan replied. "It's always kind of tough approaching people for the first time."
"Hmm..." pondered the menace. He couldn't say that he could relate, as he had only been with one person, but he still knew that there was a time when he was single. Thinking back, it was rather difficult approaching his spouse romantically for the first time, as he didn't know quite what to do. "Is it different the first time you ever try to chat someone up as opposed to having successfully done it, but it's a new person?"
"It's harder the first time ever. Practise makes perfect, but you don't really need it, do you?"
"How do you know? I could get divorced someday. The future is never certain."
"True, but you're very stable and I can't see you breaking it off very easily."
"Is it an incubus thing to be able to tell?"
"I don't know. I've never not been an incubus, so it's hard to say."
"Alois, you're up." Amber interrupted, forcing the blonde's attention back to the game. Turning his head, he raised his brows.
"Oh! I'd better be off, then!" the menace said before trotting onto the field. "Wish me luck."
He was out of it, too. It was obvious that now that the necessity to crush his beau was out of the way, he was allowed to be distracted by anything that was able to catch his interest. Unfortunately, that meant that his interest in the game had begun to wane as well. Both Phantomhives seemed to be losing interest, although for separate reasons. Alois was actually rather happy to be taking the field again, as he hoped to slip in a chance to pester his spouse.
With a wide grin, Alois took hold of the bat before blowing a kiss in his husband's direction. This time, instead of stubbornly refusing to accept it out of spite, the bluenette simply smiled back, although insincerely. Even though Alois was standing quite a distance away from the pitcher's mound, he could tell that it was forced, most likely for his benefit. Ah, this was bad. Alois didn't want to play the game at that moment. Instead, he wanted to march across the field and comfort his beau. Perhaps it was all an elaborate ruse to make him lessen his efforts? Shaking his head, he tried to discard the thought. Although Ciel was an untrustworthy person to a lot of people, Alois knew that he was the safest person for him to place his trust in. Ciel would lie. Sometimes, he would manipulate, too. Not to Alois, though. They were both experiencing the same problem in that department. Neither of them wanted to hurt the other. Instead, the most of what they wanted to do was embrace each other- Ciel to be comforted by Alois and Alois to comfort Ciel. Ah, this was annoying.
Perhaps he would follow through with his plan to prevent Elvis from reaching third base. Or, if he really wanted to make the game end faster, he would strike out. Unfortunately, he knew that the audience wouldn't like to see their hero striking out, so that didn't appear to be a viable option.
When he swung the bat, he sent the ball flying far beyond the bounds of the diamond. Seras jumped as high as the rules would allow her to in order to catch it, but it was just beyond her reach. It was a good thing, too, or the Lions wouldn't have scored anything at all.
"Home run!" shouted Lewis Knaggs, prompting the menace to toss the bat and run.
His compatriots did the same, scoring a total of three points for the team. As he returned to the dugout, he started walking backwards, placing his fingers together to form a heart as he smiled at his husband. This time, the smile on the bluenette's face appeared to be more genuine, meaning that Alois' goal was complete.
Next, a "time out" was called by Audrey, who wanted to have a word with his team's pitcher for a moment. Irritably, he marched over to the bluenette, who seemed less than thrilled. Ciel had an idea of what this conversation was going to entail and to be entirely frank, he wasn't looking forward to it. Bracing himself, he stood up straight and did his best to look interested.
"Can you at least… y'know, try to win?" Audrey questioned. "Please?"
"I thought I was?" spoke the Watchdog with a feigned look of perplexion on his face.
"You could have gotten everyone out, but you didn't." the reaper accused, throwing his hands up. "Why?!"
"I told you already. I'm just not into this." Ciel answered with a sigh. "Look, it's just a game. Quite frankly, I don't really understand why you're so upset about this."
"What's wrong with wanting to win? Most people play to win."
"I play to appease my spouse, but mostly because I said I would and I'm in too deep to back out now."
Pinching the area between his brows, Audrey huffed and said: "Ciel, please… just… Just throw the ball."
"I will attempt to do so with all the passion I can muster." nodded the bluenette, but his friend was not convinced. Defeated, Audrey had no choice but to return to his position and pray.
Each time Audrey spoke to him, it only chipped away at Ciel's willingness to play. His sense of spite and pettiness was slowly returning, but it was focused in the wrong direction. As gently as possible, Ciel threw the ball. It was hard enough to not be embarrassing for him, but it was definitely going to be a foul. Once the umpire called it as such, the Watchdog turned to the firstbaseman and smirked.
"I said to throw the ball, not gently toss it!" roared Audrey, steam practically hissing from his ears. A spark of whimsy flashed in the depths of Ciel's heart for a moment, only to be replaced again with his lingering, unwanted apathy as soon as it was gone.
Once again, Ciel got ready to throw the ball. This time, it hit, sending the ball flying right at him. Fortunately, he didn't have to think in order to solve this problem. His body was already conditioned to react by now, so he caught the ball with ease just as instantly as it came barreling toward him.
"You're out!" Mister Knaggs called out, snapping the bluenette from his trance.
From behind, Ciel could hear Audrey cheering, shouting "Finally!" as the bluenette actually did something to contribute to them getting closer to winning.
"'Finally,' indeed..." the Phantomhive said, as it was time once again to switch. He was noticeably dragging his feet now as he made his way back to the dugout with the rest of his team. The demon was strong enough to lift a car, yet he seemed to be weighed down by an invisible force that was slowly crushing him. It was unlike him to be this way, causing frustration to bubble up within the bluenette, but he was too exhausted to keep it up for very long.
Once he sat down, he completely deflated, leaning over with his elbows resting on his knees as he stared at the ground. Both his expression and his gaze were blank, but that wasn't all of it. His thoughts went unoccupied as well. It felt like eternity, but was only mere moments in actuality before a hand was placed on his shoulders. It took way more energy than he wished to expend just to look up.
"Are you alright, Ciel?" Elizabeth questioned, concern riddling her face. She looked at him expectantly and worriedly as she pondered the cause of his behaviour. "Are you ill?"
"I'm just… tired?" the bluenette answered, although somewhat unsurely. "Everything feels heavy… It's like I'm turning to stone."
"What do you think it is?" the woman questioned before leaning in. "Is it another curse?"
"No, I don't think so. I… haven't felt too well since the last mission, is all."
"PTSD?"
"Depression, is more likely, I think." butted in Daniel as he walked over. "I know a thing or two about that. The only thing you can really do is wait for it to pass."
"I don't think we really have that option, here..." Ciel replied. "The game goes on regardless to whether or not I want to play, and we're already stretched thin with the amount of players we have. There's no more replacements."
"Can you make it through the game?" the Hellsing gently questioned.
"Yeah, you seem kinda bogged down…" noted the Westley with raised brows. "Can you make it at all?"
"Probably, but I most likely won't be any good." spoke the Watchdog. "It's hard to move… Everything feels sore..."
"Are you sure it isn't something supernatural?" inquired Elizabeth, not quite sure of what to make things. Her cousin was a demon, of course, and was susceptible to magic. If her suspicions were correct, this would have made the second attack by a Gehennan on the Phantomhive family. Yet, no conclusion could be made at that moment, however, as they were interrupted by a sudden enemy attack.
"Knock, knock." greeted the menace as he stood before his rival team. "How's everybody doin'?"
"Back off, Shirley Temple!" Daniel said while shooing the blonde away with a wave of his wrist. "Go back to your own team!"
"I just wanted to pay a friendly visit!" innocently replied Alois before holding up his own hands. In them was a bottle of water and a candy bar. "Besides, that's my husband in there that's not feeling well. Family comes before sport. I just want to check on him."
"How do we know that candy hasn't been laced with rosemary?" interrogated Audrey, looking at the sweet as closely as he could without taking it. "It would be perfect for you if Ciel wasn't able to play, wouldn't it?"
"Not really. The game would have to be called off and that would disappoint the crowd. And I wouldn't poison Ciel. You, maybe, but not Ciel. I mean, look at this thing? It's unopened! Just get out of the way, alright?"
"As second in command, I'm assuming authority while Ciel is incapacitated." declared Dame Hellsing to the other members of her team. "And as my first order, I say let him through."
"You're second in command?" gawked Audrey. "I thought I was?"
"You wish." Daniel snorted.
"You're a bit too much of a 'macho, alpha-male' to be a good leader." Kristopherson agreed.
"Heterophobe." the reaper accused, causing the wolfman to chortle before saying:
"I'm not heterophobic. I just dissagree with the lifestyle."
While the other members of the Phantoms squabbled and dragged each other, the leader of the Lions stepped into their dugout and approached his spouse. Quietly, he held out his treats to the bluenette with a soft smile. "Here," he said, "you're the one that always says that chocolate is chemically able to make a person feel happier."
Despite his current state, Ciel couldn't help but smile a bit. "Thanks." the bluenette replied, accepting the offer.
"I'm sorry I dragged you into this." his husband apologised. "I'll be sure to take good care of you when we get home."
"You don't need to do that. Or apologise." spoke the Watchdog while tearing open the wrapper. "It's not your fault."
"Yeah, but like it or not, I'm your husband and it's my job to take care of you when you feel like shit. You deserve it! You took care of me while feeling like this and did a damn good job at it! The least I could do is rub your shoulders or something."
"That would be nice, actually..." Ciel replied with a slight smile. "I'll be holding you to that. As much as I'd like to chat..."
"I know, I know. I'm holding up the game. I just wanted to make sure you're okay." Taking off his cap, the menace smiled at his beau. The top of his hair was flattened, but it did nothing to hinder his looks in the slightest. Leaning down, he trailed his fingers along the other Phantomhive's jaw before tilting up his chin and kissing him on the lips. "Love you, sweetie."
"I love you, too, darling." the bluenette answered while his husband stood upright.
Putting his cap back on, Alois waved before turning around and leaving the dugout. He turned around to wave again while walking backwards, and again once he got to his position. Each time, Ciel waved back and a few of the Phantoms began judging them.
"Why do you gotta do that in front of people?" Daniel asked.
"Yeah… Get a room..." Audrey chimed in. Both stared at the Phantomhive, their faces green with envy.
"They're always like this..." lamented Revy. "They never stop… They're just so… Gross!"
"They're just so unbearably married…" the Westley scoffed.
"I don't see the big deal." Kristopherson finally spoke up.
"Nobody asked you, relationship-haver!"
"I think it's sweet." the Phantomhive's cousin said, clapping her hands together. "That's just what people in relationships do."
"Act gross?" questioned Revy, earning an immediate response from the woman.
"To put it bluntly: yes."
Turning his head, Ciel slowly tuned out his compatriots and stared out at the field, watching as Seras Victoria took the bat. Eating chocolate did make him feel a bit better and the promise that he was going to eventually be soothed did, too. Whether or not the Phantoms won the game was none of the Watchdog's concern any longer. No matter how the game went, he knew that he would eventually win the day.
"I want to go home." he sighed, attracting the attention of is team.
"Oh, no!" Audrey chastised. "Eat your damn chocolate and get your head back in the game!"
"Why would I do that when I can just sit here and wait patiently for this to be over?"
"You're useless!"
"Maybe, but you're kind of stuck with me..."
A/N: This was a tough chapter to write, because the more I wrote for Ciel, the less I wanted to do anything! Probs gonna wrap this up in the next chapter, though. Is there anything y'all would like to see before I do, though? If there is, you better tell me before I finish the next one...
Audrey is so competitive, isn't he? Chill, my dude... I worried if I made him seem like kind of a dick. He's not doing it on purpose, I promise.
Let's see... what else?
I don't have much else to talk about. I just love writing Ciel and Alois being supportive of each other. It's really fun to write and is just a plain ol' good time.
Until the next chapter, my duckies~!
