"That man at the front desk was incredibly dense." Ciel complained to his cousin as both she and him walked down the hallway of the HELLSING estate. "I would be surprised, but it happens far more often than I would like."

"Are you serious? All they had to do was listen!"

"I have no idea why. Part of me suspects that they can tell that Jim and I are together, and just want so badly for it to not be true, that they have to fabricate a different interpretation of reality where we're brothers or something."

"You don't even look similar!" Elizabeth gawked, struggling to grasp the thought process of the clerk in the scenario that Ciel was describing to her. "I cannot imagine how anyone can look at two men that are holding hands and not even suspect that they might be a couple. Do you still have those cute, matching suitcases?"

"Yes, and they were completely on display for all to see."

"Sweet Jesus..." The angel shook her head. "I am so sorry..."

"It's alright. It's always worth it when I ask for the manager and get to watch them realise their mistake." the man answered. "Anyway, enough about me. What about you? Wasn't there something you wanted to ask of me?"

"I like hearing about your adventures! I hope I didn't tear you from your meeting early or anything for this, but I have a bit of a favour I need to ask of you."

"You didn't, and go ahead."

"So, you remember Richard Belmont from the Belmont incident?" the woman questioned while maintaining a slow, steady pace. They weren't necessarily walking with a destination in mind, but rather as something to do while talking.

"Yeah?"

"Well, there's a huge database of Belmont operatives at our disposal now, and we got the idea to possibly use it for recruitment." Looking to her cousin again, Elizabeth held up a hand while she insisted. "We have been screening them thoroughly before we even consider the possibility."

"Most of them are just nerds trying to live out a hero fantasy." Ciel scoffed. "I'm not sure what you're going to get out of them."

"You could make that argument for kids who sign up for the actual military."

"Too much Call of Duty is bad for kids. I've seen that game. It's completely inaccurate. Going into battlefields doesn't make you a hero. It makes you a bullet sponge made out of meat who died for nothing."

"That's why I was hoping you might consider… maybe… training them?" the woman suggested, completely taking the demon aback.

"Do what, now?" he gawked.

"We usually have someone who trains the amateur recruits, but he's out on paternity leave, taking care of his wife and child. It won't be just Belmont out there. You'll have run of the mill newbies as well."

"Elizabeth, typically I would trust in your decision, but please forgive me if I'm skeptical." Ciel said, pinching between his eyebrows. "You want Belmont operatives to join HELLSING? Is that really wise?"

"These agents aren't really 'agents'. They're more like those men on TV who stomp around in the woods looking for Sasquatch." his cousin further explained, although it didn't exactly help to instill confidence in the Watchdog. "They know absolutely nothing of the true nature of the Belmont Organisation, which Richard Belmont is technically still the leader of. He's fully on board, and they're loyal to him."

"And you want me to train these..." the man trailed off, not knowing exactly what word he was looking for.

"Geeks?" Elizabeth suggested.

"You want me to train them to be mercenaries, somehow? What, pray tell, makes you think that I can do that?"

"You have vast military experience, including HELLSING experience, and also have taught young adults how to be police officers on more than one occasion to much success. You've been in the actual British army and have been through basic training more than once. Out of anybody I can think of, Ciel, you're the best candidate."

"I'm not going to be nice to them."

"This is war. You're not supposed to be nice."

Ciel stopped walking altogether and simply stopped in the middle of the hallway to mull things over. Furrowing his brow, he crossed his arms and tapped his foot, trying to take every factor he could think of into consideration. He stood like this for a long time while Elizabeth patiently waited on him to answer. Finally, with a grumble and a sigh, Ciel gave his reply, although emphasised his reluctance while he did.

"Alright." he relented. "But only because it's you who asked, is that clear?"

"Thank you so much, Ciel~! I really appreciate it."

With that, it was set in stone, and Ciel would train the new recruits from the amateur class. This was far different than the youth bootcamp, as it was meant for grown adults who needed to be able to take the stress in the near future. It wasn't going to be relaxed at all. It wasn't any less brutal than the "career" class, the class of the children of HELLSING operatives who have practically trained all their lives to join. In fact, it was probably worse. Ciel was not going to go easy on them in the slightest and some of the recruits might actually hate him before it's over. With any luck, some of them might make operatives that last more than a week in the field, but the Watchdog was hesitant to hope too much.

"...And that's the basic gist of it." Ciel said, having explained the situation to his husband. "I won't be home during the day as much for the time being, unfortunately."

"Elizabeth is good at what she does… She already had a uniform for you to wear and everything." his beau replied while seated on one of the sofas in the master suite's front room. Alois' eyes trailed up and down his spouse, who he made actually wear the outfit. Neither of them really questioned how she got it or how she apparently knew Ciel's exact measurements, and neither of them were going to.

In particular, Alois wasn't going to, and was actually tempted to thank her. He was especially pleased with the uniform Ciel wore. According to the bluenette himself, it was a replica of an officer's uniform that he would have actually worn during the war, with a few minor details altered and added. He had black, leather gloves on his hands and a HELLSING insignia patch on his breast. While trying it on, Ciel had combed his hair back the way he normally did for formal occasions, which Alois liked. The menace could do without the riding crop, however, and highly suspected that it was mostly to scare the recruits with rather than for actual use.

Given how the menace wasn't even making an attempt to conceal his staring, the Watchdog notice and playfully gestured to himself. "What do you think?"

"I like it. I like it a lot." Alois said, leaning back on the sofa with one leg crossed over the other and a bit of a smirk on his face. "It's really a shame that you won't be here all day."

"I'm not dressing up for you, Jim. I'm dressing up for the troops."

"The troops don't think you're attractive. I do. I should be able to call dibs."

"You don't know that they don't. Some of them might. I am a good looking man." the bluenette jested right back.

"But they won't appreciate you properly." protested the blonde with a rather silly pout. "I'm your husband and I like seeing you dressed up."

"Please don't throw a tantrum because you can't check me out all day while I'm in uniform."

"I won't throw a tantrum. I'll just politely request that you wear it for a while longer before you change so I can see it." There was a pause while Alois' husband gave him a knowing look. "How dare you look at me like that? I didn't say anything of the sort."

"I didn't say anything either?" chuckled Ciel.

"Yes you did. You said it with your eye!" the blonde accused. "How very dare you?"

"You're the one complaining about it..." the Watchdog politely pointed out. With a roll of his eye, he started toward the bedroom so that he could cross through it into the dressing room, only for his beau to get up and stop him.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait… Just another minute." Alois insisted, placing a hand on his spouse's chest. It lingered there for a moment before he trailed it up to the bluenette's shoulders and then back down to his waist. It took all of Ciel's willpower to not crack a smile, but it was only just. He was on the verge of breaking his stern character at any moment and unfortunately for him, Alois seemed intent on taking his time.

In the midst of his groping, Alois worked his way around so that he could get a view of his husband's back. He ran his hands up and down it before drawing in close. The blonde's grin widened as the other Phantomhive shuddered from both his touch and the heat of his breath against his ear.

"Having fun?" jokingly questioned Ciel, wondering just how long the other demon could keep this up. With a hum, Alois pulled away and continued his admiration.

"Almost." he said, allowing his eyes to travel down to the bluenette's rear. Unfortunately for him, the jacket was long enough to cover it. Without warning he reached out and lifted it up, startling the other for a moment before he realised what Alois was doing. "Hmmm… This outfit wasn't really made with bottoms in mind..."

"Which kind?" the Watchdog questioned, earning a laugh. Finally, Alois circled around him again so that they were facing each other before placing his hands on his shoulders again.

"Both." Alois replied. "But you still look really good. Like, really, really good. I had no idea I was even into this sort of thing."

"You learn something new everyday." Ciel stated. "Am I allowed to put this away until I need it, now?"

"Not yet." Releasing the bluenette's shoulders, Alois moved to straighten the other man's tie. "I still need it."

Ciel took the blonde's left hand in his own and gently kissed his ring. "Tell me what you need, then." When he looked up again, he was surprised at the pinkness of his husband's cheeks as the blonde floundered for an answer. It would appear that he hadn't thought this far ahead. With a chuckle, the Watchdog smiled at him and began kissing his hand, moving up to his wrist and then his forearm. "Well?"

"You could start by giving me a proper kiss." Alois suggested, prompting his beau to take the blonde's arm and place it around his neck before caressing his cheek. The leather against Alois' skin was cold, but Ciel kissed just the same as he usually did.

"How was that?" asked the Watchdog with a confident smile, but his haughtiness compelled Alois to tease him.

"Mmm… Could be better." he jested, only to yelp when Ciel picked him up and carried him bridal style.

"Right, then." the other man stated while heading toward the bedroom door. "Can you grab the knob?"

"I sure can." the menace replied, reaching down to open the door. "I can also open the door."


A/N: This chapter turned into Alois checking out Ciel and I'm so mad at myself.

Can these two shitlords chill for like five fucking seconds? No wonder their friends don't hang out with them as much anymore. "Guys, can you not look like you're about to fuck each other while we're having brunch? Jesus Christ..."

So anyways, we have Ciel yelling at new recruits to look forward too. It's gonna be fun. I have other neat tricks in up my sleeve, but we'll work on this one for now.

Until the next chapter, my duckies~!