Cruising Together

In their civvies...

'A vacation on a cruise ship after we've done our part of the job is wonderful!' Linnea squealed as both teens are in their civvies. They looked VERY out of place there as most First Classes were nobles and the wealthy in their fancy dresses and expensive suits. Their clothes are so plain in comparison. 'Young master can be reeeeal nice!'

'That's true...but let's not speak of this to the others.' Snake suggested. 'Given a vacation after a job...well...I can predict how they'll react.'

'Yeah, that'd be a real bad idea.' Linnea shuddered. 'They won't be too happy about this, but what can we do? Our rank defines our positions in the battlefield. So yeah, we tell them we did crappy work with ahem, disposal and turning it to shark food.'

'OK.'

After that, no more talk of work left their lips, instead, enjoying a holiday right next to each other.

xxx

'Hang on a minute...' Alexis Midford froze as he saw a familiar feature by the deck. Inky black vibrant, shiny hair, clearly dating a blonde boy.

'Isn't that...? Probably impossible,' Frances scoffed after pausing. 'There's no way she could afford a First-Class...if she could, it'd mean that workaholic boy brought them here for their job.'

That was until they heard the conversation and nearly tripped.

'They're here!' the couple exclaimed at each other.

xxx

'Hey.' the two teens turned to look at...the Midfords.

'O-oh! Marquis and Marchioness Midford!' Linnea exclaimed as she quickly stood up. Snake, following and both bowed.

'If you are here...that means it must be a big scale one?' Marchioness Midford twitched.

'Erm, yes ma'am.' said Linnea sheepishly. 'Snake and I did our part of the job and the clean-up while the young master and Sebastian are both stalking and gathering information on the perpetrators who are here. I implore you to inform milady Elizabeth that discretion is of utmost importance as we have no idea if these people know his true work or not. We're hoping they don't otherwise we will be mobilized to protect the public if they get violent.' said Linnea rather worriedly.

'I see...so that boy of ours is doing recon eh?' Alexis mused thoughtfully.

'And Elizabeth doesn't know discreet when Ciel is concerned.' the Marchioness sighed. 'I know our daughter loves her fiancee but still, she's loud about it.' she said in exasperation. 'But I trust he'll come by when he's done?'

'He says he would.' Snake confirmed. 'But our opponent is dangerous...with even financial support of the nobility. It would...take a while.' the two blondes exchanged perturbed looks.

'Support of the nobility eh?'

'That's as much as we can give away that we're allowed to.' said Linnea. 'The rest is to be zipped up shut.'

'Understandable.' Alexis patted their heads. 'Enjoy your rare vacation then kids. Are you two in a relationship?' he asked with a rather knowing smile.

'Well...Snake is courting me...and yes, its really his name.' Linnea answered their inquisitive looks.

'I was with the Noah's Ark Circus until December last year.' said Snake softly as the Marquis cringed. '...you heard of it?'

'Heard of it?' the man sputtered incredulously, shivering with a pale face. 'I was there when Baron Kelvin was on trial with a few circus members...and we've seen how scary it can be to have the queen royally angry because of his perversity! Considering I am Head Knight, I have to be close by alongside Double Charles, and even we are close to shaking down to our boots despite the brave game face we put on.' Alexis choked out. 'Tranquil Fury at its most frightening, easily overshadowing Ciel's anger when the reason for his disturbing hobby was to be closer to him! But I hear you're innocent.'

'Yes...because I was truly unaware of their activities even though they asked me to guard their tents with my snakes.' said Snake softly. 'But those guys...found and rescued me and gave me the name Snake because I'm pretty good at it. I had no name until then. Snake is a stage name but its better than having no name at all.' he said as two snakes peeked out of his shirt collar with just their heads, opening and closing their mouths while fangs remain folded as they hissed as the couple STARED at his neck at that with wide eyes. 'Wordsworth and Goethe say hello.' and the snakes went back in. 'Well, I'm a Footman now, no longer a Snake Dancer and I found love in Linnea, when she went undercover. I chose to follow her during the raid.'

'Well Linnea, treasure this man.' said Alexis in advice. 'I'd know love when I see one.'

'Yes. I'd be an idiot to let him leave me.' Linnea blushed while looking shyly at Snake who gave her a reassuring smile. 'He really wants me but I'm still getting used to it...its only been four months and three weeks since that day and I have no idea how this courting thing lasts.'

'Well, courting ends when both people find that they'll be happy with each other in a long, lifetime.' the marchioness chuckled. 'It's up to you.'

xxx

For Snake, courting lasts until it truly sinks in indeed, he thought. But Linnea is getting more open with the idea and her words earlier gave him hope.

He observed her wearing a wistful smile on her face while still blushing.

'Hey...we'll be together forever, right?' Linnea asked Snake, but even she knew that's impossible given their job.

She would do her damndest, even break rules herself to make it so.

'Yeah.' Snake smiled, holding her close. 'I swore that when I followed you home. Let's enjoy ourselves some more.'

'Yeah.' and they walked away together...with a sworn, unsaid promise, enjoying the privileges a first-class deck can offer...even dancing together in the 2nd and 3rd class decks since they don't have fancy outfits to even step foot in the ballroom. But at least they don't have to switch dancing partners. They only leave, to enjoy first-class food for their meals.

On the other hand, on the 19th...

'Where?! Where are they?!' a panicking Ryan Stoker cried as the front Freight Storage, was empty. 'Did you guys really pack the coffins?!' he demanded angrily at his subordinates.

'Yes sir! At the crack of dawn so nobody would see it sir!' a subordinate cried. 'It was hard lugging all those in while avoiding outsiders, we'd definitely know!'

'Then what happened?! We can't do our presentation at this rate! The Connors and our patrons will be furious!' Ryan shrieked angrily. 'I want them found now! For now we can buy time as long as the Back Storage isn't messed with...' they ran for the Back Storage, only to find that its also emptied.

'What on earth...'

From afar, Sebastian and Ciel were watching, hidden in the shadows...before they make their move.

Now that the damned zombies are gone, the only complication left was freaking Viscount Druitt.

xxx

'Hey, we'll catch a cold here.' said Snake as they were at the decks of the ship. Its now nighttime after a nice dinner with both wearing appropriate clothing.

'The Atlantic Ocean has many icebergs, Snake.' said Linnea worriedly. 'If an iceberg hits this ship and damages the hull, icy water will fill the ship and we'll sink. I've been keeping track ever since we came here while resting during the day.'

'I-is that so? Can ice really damage metal?' Snake asked her nervously.

'If certain conditions are met. May ships sank because of Icebergs and negligent morons who should be watching out in their offices.' said Linnea darkly. 'The young master wishes me to render casualties non-existent in cases he takes me to when he deems my abilities a necessity. That is my main job as Head Maid. I make sure no mess happens or I have to clean up. Once you master Sebastian's teachings, you will go with Sebastian as a pair outside now.'

'Oh...'

'I see one up ahead and its damn big.' Linnea growled, influencing him into seeing what she sees. 'I'll push that thing away to the left so we won't hit it before the ship crew sees it. I'll probably faint from loss of energy afterward though...its huge and I haven't reached my peak yet...' she contacted Sebastian regarding incoming danger she has to avert so they're on their own even if they need her.

'I'll catch you, don't worry.' Snake promised. He saw her powers flare but thankfully, humans can't see it. She is pushing the iceberg aside with all her effort until she collapsed.

'Are you alright?'

'Y-yes...just nearly spent.' Linnea gasped out, totally exhausted and barely conscious. Snake quickly took Linnea to their rooms, making excuses along the way. Upon arrival, she complained she's very cold, so he crawled in bed with her, pulling their blankets over.

She was still shivering and she was near crying.

'Are you in pain?' Snake gasped worriedly because he never saw her cry. Ever.

'N-no...its just that...I've never been so weak before...its scary...it...reminds me of how helpless I used to be four years ago...I hate it...I hate being weak...I hate it...' she choked, her voice cracking before she finally cried.

'Everything will be alright.' Snake promised her. 'I'll stay.'

They spent the night together, oblivious of what happens during the rest of the night.

xxx

Next day...

'Snake? Linnea?' Sebastian knocked before coming in.

'Yessir?' Snake quickly sat up while Linnea couldn't, still too weak. 'Did anything happen last night?'

'Snake, as Linnea is out of commission, we need you and your Constrictors and Vipers.' said Sebastian. 'I already fed the snakes well last night, so you can do this job. We have captives and you are to watch over them until we get to New York. I will bring you and Linnea provisions time to time.'

'Yessir.' with one last look at Linnea, he left their room. Sebastian then stepped in with a jumbo bowl of chicken rice congee. 'Well, this should help you recover even for a moment.' he said as he took out a funnel.

'This is weird.' Linnea stated blandly as she opened her mouth to take it in.

'But efficient nonetheless.' with careful pouring, she could eat with no trouble at all, as well as drinking lukewarm tea. 'I'll be back later.' he said, taking the funnel off her mouth.

'Alright. Thank you. Phew...' and she slept some more.

xxx

Snake can be vindictive in some ways, as he had the constrictors constrict tighter than he was ordered to, at the terrified doctors who are also surrounded by Pit Vipers, fangs bared and hissing menacingly, sensing the irritation of their master who hated being away from his intended, especially as she's ill. And to think, he'll be babysitting them until they get to New York?

At the end of a three-weeks trip...Linnea had recovered enough to lock the doctors up in specialized cells in the Campania right next to the toilet, so the family could enjoy American Sight-Seeing. The Phantomhives joined the Midfords only after getting to the root of their problems. A problem Ciel would not tell Linnea and Snake. Just that they dealt with it and they know not to ask. That, and they enjoyed America before going home as there's only so much off-days the Marquis took.

Of course, Souvenirs are an issue. And New York is where american nobles shop, and live...and upon getting home, Sebastian and Linnea are given a job.

Probe the mind of the queen if she and Double Charles knew of the Aurora Society's actions...

She doesn't, to his relief.

'Hooo? You're keeping this from her?' Sebastian mused with a raised eyebrow as when he and Linnea returned to his office, that was Ciel's decision.

'Things about the supernatural should be locked up tight.' Ciel grunted. 'Its better off that way. Who knows what she's thinking under her public persona.' he said. 'And whether or not she could be trusted with this, is up for debate so yes I'm keeping things from her just as how she keeps stuff from me regarding her intentions in sending me jobs. Linnea, the Marquis doesn't know what I was there for, right?'

'All we said is that its classified and not to be spoken about. To be sure, I locked away those memories that he and the Marchioness can never speak of it ever again until they themselves forget about it.' said Linnea. 'Tanaka won't tell, right?'

'Of course he wouldn't. He would have told me if we got a Love Letter.'