*Disclaimer: I don't own kuroshitsuji, although I would love to. Btw didn't mention this is my first fic so any feedback would be welcomed into a bear hug and given cupcakes :3 *
Once I had regained consciousness I was confused to find my back stiff and I was in my living room.
Sun leaked through the window and branded the wooden floor. It was still pretty early, around 6ish I'd say. I stretched and yawned loudly, that's when I saw him sitting at the table, I had to really think about who he was and why he was there. Ben licked my hand, I smiled. Then I remembered I was being a good little person because of the money they gave me.
"Morning, hope you didn't get too board while I was asleep. Normally I would have stayed up, but I'd been up early and I'd worked for about 10 hours in the tavern and-"
"I was perfectly fine, thank you Miss Catherine. I spent time learning about evolution, I'd say I am more informed than I was. It's a splendid idea, I don't see why humans spend so much time blaming their God for everything. Makes much more sense." I guess he wasn't religious like me. "I also made use of that paper you kindly lent me." Gosh he was polite. I walked over to the table in my kitchen, they were fantastic sketches of me sleeping. I looked innocent and Ben was snuggled into my stomach, head on my lap. I'll let the Miss and Catherine slide, since this was so perfect.
"These are amazing! Where did you study art? Surely you must have went to a specialist school."
"Actually I never studied art. It just happens to come out like this." He gave a closed eyed smile, I ruffled his hair to his displeasure. I smirked.
"You have some real talent there. Why don't you just paint the earl's fiancée? You are way better than me." I sighed, flopping down on a hard wooden chair.
"I'm sure that isn't true, Miss Catherine. Besides I have enough to do at the mansion without having to be one hell of a painter too." His eyes looked tired, like he never got a break. I suppose I could help him relax a little. I could take care of the earl while they were here, how hard could it be?
"You look like you haven't had a day off in years. I can take care of your master while we're here. Have a day off or too. Catch up on your sleep, go have a meal in the inn, it opens at 3pm. Even if its just a couple of hours, I don't mind. Its my day off from the Tavern." I held onto his shoulders and looked into his eyes, they were a strange colour. Deep red. He was the opposite to me, him with black hair and red eyes, tall and calm, slim yet he seemed strong. I however was a honey blonde with eyes with no true colour, they were mainly green but had gold, blue and grey flecks in them. I was tall for a female but he towered over me, and I wasn't fat but I certainly wasn't skinny either. I baked a lot of cake and cookies, someone had to eat them.
"That won't be necessary, I can assure you I am perfectly fine and capable of taking care of my young master. Thank you for your concern though Cat." I smiled when he said my nickname. "Now lets see some of your work."
-o0o-
I led him through the back door into my tiny garden, actually it was once fair sized but my shed took up most of it. I unlocked the door and gestured for him to go in. I opened the curtains to allow some light in. Dust floated in the air, paint was smudged on the long table next to the wall. An easel stood in the corner next to a pile of canvases and a wooden stool. A dog basket was under the table, now occupied with Ben, who had just trotted over and sat in his place. Jars with stale water created a rainbow like effect on the table, they split the light like a prism. Brushes scattered over the table, my studio was one organised mess. I knew where everything was but it just wasn't neat, like me. I picked up my battered sketchbook and handed it to Sebastian.
"This is my portfolio, its what I give to customers to look at so they know what my style in art is. It's my reflection of me. I also take photos. I'm babbling sorry." I rubbed my thumb over my hand, it was kind of a nervous twitch of mine.
"Your work is loose and free, realistic yet with an honest fantasy. I think your work would be a welcome contrast to the Midford house hold. It's beautiful." I blushed and smiled.
"Thank you Sebastian, please mention it to Ciel. I would happily work for your master." I grinned, then face palmed. "I just remembered that I need to get some extra groceries before it gets busy, would you like to come to town for an hour or so. Normally I go to the grocers and then I pop into the tea room for a cup of tea before I return home. We have to go to the next village to get shopping, our village doesn't trade any more so its a bit of a hike. It isn't too bad because Ben carries the shopping in his basket... I babbling again, its a habit sorry." My hand ruffled my hair.
"I would be very happy to accompany you, I myself need to go and make a phone call to the manor, check that its still standing. I did leave those idiots looking after it after all. I noticed your village doesn't have a phone box." He twitched when he mentioned 'those idiots'. I guess he didn't like them.
"No we don't have any, actually no businesses have any phones either. No one comes here any more, so everyone thought what was the point. If anyone needs the phone they go to Walksworth, thats where we're going, when they get their shopping." Sebastian nodded. "Right I just need to change and make myself presentable for the public. Be right back. Ben get basket and bag." Ben snuffled then trotted off. I smiled. "Ah I trained him well. I love him so much. I gather you don't like dogs?"
"People bend a dog's will with rewards and punishments, but the dogs aren't innocent either. They welcome the chain around their necks, the wish to be ordered. I can't grasp that, they don't get anything back. They are crude creatures, harsh and clumsy. They growl coarsely, its irritating. To be honest I detest dogs. Cats, on the other hand are graceful and bend to no ones will. I admire them." I backed away slowly.
"I'll just go get changed, wait for me by the door, ok?" he nodded and I dashed off.
I tip-toed upstairs trying to be quiet. I crept into my room and grabbed my clothes.
"Sebastian?" A sleepy voice called.
"No its Cat again, I'm just getting my clothes because me and Sebastian are going into town to get some shopping. Do you want anything?"
"An orange please." He never opened his eyes.
"Ok consider it done, now go back to sleep. You were up late." With that I left the room and went into the shed to get changed. I left my hair down but put my goggles on to keep it out of my eyes. I left my side fringe on my face however, I needed protection because if I kept blushing like I had been... well I don't know I could die of blood loss as it all went to my face. I had a simple burgundy long skirt on with my white long sleeved top and my leather underbust corset. I looked good. I re-did the bandage around my wrist, it was getting a little dirty but I had been using that one for a while now. There was no blood to soak up, it was just to hide something. I grabbed my purse then promptly ran to the door where Sebastian was waiting.
"Right lets go."
-o0o-
"Why are you wearing googles? Its not raining, snowing nor is there and experiment going on." Sebastian asked innocently. We were walking on the long dirt track to Walksworth.
Probably another ten minutes and we'll be there, I told myself. It was actually very awkward being alone with Sebastian for extended periods of time.
"Because goggles are cool and I usually wear them, besides I use them while I'm painting small details they act a bit like magnifying glasses. Good for if I need to check out a blemish on a peach or something." Ben snuffled me, showing he didn't care what I looked like as long as I was happy, he was a good dog.
"I see, I think. How far is long before we reach town?"
"About ten minutes, getting tired are we? Normally I run there, its nice on a November's morning. Warms me up and lets Ben use up some of his energy."
"If you wish to run, I am capable. I'm faster then you think." He smirked.
"Ok, but how's about we make it more interesting? If I win you're buying me tea and if you win... well that's up to you. I shall do what you want of me, for two hours." I stopped walking and placed my hands on my hips, he nodded.
"Sounds like a fair deal my lady."
"Ok start here. First one to the first house on the right wins. 3...2...1...Go!" We started to sprint with Ben running along side me. First off it was pretty close, then he started gaining speed at an inhuman rate. I increased my pace, I hadn't had a proper race in years, yet alone competition I actually had to try against. I pulled my goggles down, thankfully I had picked up my normal pair, without the magnifying lenses. I really started to gain speed, as a child I would run faster then the other children. My parents kept telling me it wasn't lady-like and that I should stop, so I stopped competing and only ran when alone. Today was the first time in a long time but I could be getting a free cup of tea. And as we all know free equals good.
About five minutes in I had caught up to him and stuck out my tongue. He looked pretty shocked that I was able to keep up with him let alone overtake him. In the next five minutes we kept swapping positions, it was pretty neck and neck. The overall result was a draw.
"...looks...like...it was... a...draw." I panted. Jeez that dude wasn't even out of breath, yet there was me wheezing like a smoker, red as a beetroot and doubled over as my windpipe burned. I hadn't run like that since I first started running. I wasn't always fast but children find things like that important at the time, so I trained. Then I was stopped from running then I became an adult.
"How are you not even breaking a sweat? I'm the fastest runner in the village and that was a really tough race. You are too perfect, a great artist, a fast runner, what next the perfect butler?" I laughed. "Seriously what's your secret, some kind of vegetable or drink that makes you perfect?"
"There are no tricks, I am simply one hell of a butler."
*Authors note:
So yeah updated, reviews welcomed and hugged. Will give metaphorical cookies to people who read and review :)
Muncher out*