*Disclaimer: I don't own anything apart from my OC grumbles sadly Anyways thanks for reading ,hope you enjoy the update. Sorry its been a while, just had mock exams but I tried to write when I could so sorry that it ain't very long but I tried (gold star to Louise). Enjoy ^-^ *
After gathering my breath, we wandered into Walksworth town centre. It was a pretty town, larger than most villages yet small for a town. It always seemed sunny whenever I went there, causing all the sandstone buildings to seem golden in the sunlight. Narrow cobbled streets weaved their way in between the houses, becoming the veins of the town, pumping life into the heart of the large village. The houses towered over watching us protectively while we walked through the town to a good little shop I knew. It was tucked in the corner of town and I often enjoyed taking a stroll there. It was enjoyable to feel the sun beam down on your back with a comfortable warmth, while perfect candy clouds fluffed up in the sky. It was a grand place, I truly loved Walksworth.
Before long we reached the little shop. The shop was called 'Benny's Green Things'. The name was unusual compared to others but then again Benny was strange himself. I always got discounts as Benny was my childhood friend. I missed Benny. The unusual little shop was once a house, sandwiched between two others. It was warm and convivial place, a slice of peace in the otherwise slightly crowded town. A cream and black sign hung over the bay window with a cursive, gothic font. I smiled up at the sign, it was my handiwork after all.
"I painted that." I said proudly. I nudged Sebastian with my elbow and beamed up at him, he returned a smirk.
"It is pleasant." He said curtly. I gave him a look then pushed the door open. The familiar handle felt cool to the touch and comforting. I felt like I was home again.
"Ben-nny? You there?" I called out throughout the shop. I gave Sebastian a look then held up my hand. I stretched out my fingers and slowly started to count down, lowering one finger per second. When I had no fingers left to lower, as if on cue Benny bumbled out of the back of the shop. He ran to me and immediately embraced me, nearly strangling me. I patted his back and closed my eyes, I breathed in his familiar scent. Happy I withdrew from the hug. "You were asleep again, weren't you?" I chuckled. His face grew red and he flopped his brown bangs on his face to cover his bright blue eyes. He was adorable at times.
"No-not at all, not at all. I was doing a... stock check." He looked up innocently. "Who's your friend?"
"You know Ben, I did name him after you, how could you forget?" I said sarcastically. He gave me a serious glare, we both burst out laughing. "Okay, okay. This is Mister Sebastian, him, his young master and two of his friends are staying at mine for a couple of days. Sebastian is a butler so he needed to make a phone call to check on the other servants. And... I needed more food and... to see my favouritist Benny Bens in the whole world? Please don't kill me." As I had spoken his face got grumpier and grumpier, like a storm cloud was rolling in.
"Have a look around, we have lots to offer. Downstairs has not food things, so you are welcome down there too. Catherine I need to have a word, in private." I was in some deep... mud here, he only used my full name when he was annoyed at me. I rolled my eyes but nodded. He was so darn protective. He always had been. He gestured for me to follow, and I did. He led me into his living room which was through the back of the shop. This was going to be awkward.
-o0o-
"Catherine, why do you have four men at your house, while you are alone and defenceless?"
"Okay, one Ben will protect me, its what I got him for and he is well trained. Two it is three men and a child, his young master is around ten to thirteen years old. And three, I suspect that one of them definitely won't do anything, you get what I mean. I've been in Sebastian's company all morning, and he isn't a pervert, at least I don't think he is."
"That doesn't explain why they are there." He leaned into me, his face an inch from mine. I could feel his breath on my cheeks. With one hand he grabbed my collar. He gave me a pained look.
"They wanted served at the tavern, I had finished locking up. I had brandy, they gave me money. I needed the money they gave. I slept on sofa, with Ben. He protects me, like you trained him to. I trained him to do other stuff too. Don't worry so much." He let go. Smoothing down my collar he ran a hand through his brown locks and sighed.
"I can't allow you to be by yourself with them for long periods of time like that, you remember what happened last time? We can't take any chances."
"Benny I was young and stupid back then, I should have been more careful. It was my fault not yours, so stop being so damn over-protective. I can't chuck out Ciel, he looks so much like Alfie." My eyes glazed slightly and I looked down.
"Okay, so here's the facts. You can't make Ciel leave and I can't let you live alone with them for God knows how long. How about I live with you until they leave. I need a holiday and I can protect you if needs be." I gave a weak smile and nodded. Benny grinned and grabbed my hand. He held it to his face. "I missed you so much, you haven't been here in weeks." I looked him in the eye and smiled. We both stood there for a moment, not doing much but staring. I didn't really want Benny to come back. Benny was great but he was so over-protective that you would think we were betrothed. Well once we were but that's besides the point, it was called off ages ago. I led him back into the shop.
"Thanks Benny. I'll just grab what I need then I'll get Sebastian. Finish up your hours here, we'll get tea at Morgan's while we wait. Get some bags packed or something, oh you'll also need a sleeping bag. The spare room and my room's occupied, you'll be on the floor." I grinned. I clicked my tongue, Ben came running. I went around the shop and got the things I needed. I walked between the aisles and picked up baking ingredients, I'm going to make cookies, I thought. I also got the orange Ciel wanted and picked up an apple for myself. When I was finished I went to find Sebastian.
I went down the narrow stair case into the stranger part of Benny's shop. Antiqued toys, writing utensils and small items of furniture. It was dark down there as there was no window. A few lone candles worked tirelessly to produce a slight warm glow. I eventually found Sebastian looking at a phuntom pack of playing cards.
"Thinking for the earl?" I asked quietly. He nodded. It would make sense that Ciel would get bored and I didn't really have any games that a child could play. I didn't even own a chess board, I had no one to play with. I took the pack of cards out of his hands and put it in my basket. He looked a little surprised, I winked and grinned at him. "Come on, I'll pay for these and I'll get you that tea. Then you can make that phone call." I clicked my tongue at Ben and he trotted up the stairs, basket in his mouth. I followed leaving Sebastian behind me, he just stood there staring at my back. I ignored the feeling of eyes on my back and kept walking. I could feel a grumpy atmosphere radiating from him, like dye polluting water it spread. It made the air heavy. I reached the top of the stairs and turned around to look at Sebastian at the bottom he had a blinding smile, it must have been my imagination. Rolling my eyes, I made a come hither motion with my finger and skipped off to the counter to pay for the shopping.
-o0o-
I waved at Benny as I walked away from the shop. I mouthed that I would be thirty minutes and he nodded, returning back to his shop.
"You've been awfully quiet." I stated to Sebastian. "Whatcha thinking about?" I nudged him with my elbow. He only returned a ghost of a glare out of the corner of his eye. "What's wrong?" I stopped dead in my tracks.
"Who's Benny?" Ooh he was jealous, heheh, well I am just that attractive.
"He's a childhood friend. Up until I was 10 I was betrothed to him. But then his parents died and my parents took him in, there wasn't any point in the engagement when his parents died so we called it off and became better friends. Why?"
"Oh no reason." I raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. We walked in silence for a bit, just the odd sigh from me here and there. I occasionally looked up at him only for him to completely ignore me. Soon we were at the phone box. "Here we are. I'll be sitting on that bench over there, come over once you're done." I didn't wait for a reply, if he could be ignorant so could I. I flopped down heavily. I sat with my arms crossed and again sighed. "What is his problem Ben? I haven't done anything wrong, he wanted to come into town with me and I bought him food and I'll buy him tea later. What could've happened in that roo-" I froze. Was Benny really that stupid? I face-palmed. He was. I was going to have to have a word with both of them and come clean with Sebastian.
Sebastian's P.O.V.
"MISTER SEBASTIAN!" A familiar voice yelled down the phone. I massaged the bridge of my nose, sounds like things were already falling apart.
"Finny, why are you answering the phone? Shouldn't you be in the garden? Please put Mister Tanaka on the phone." I really didn't have time for these idiots, they always had to make a simple job complicated.
"Y-yes of course Mister Sebastian." There was a small scuffle on the other end of the phone followed by Bard yelling at Finny.
"Ho-ho-ho" An elderly man's voice answered. It was Tanaka. I checked up on how they were doing and I found that the west wing had practically been demolished thanks to Bard. Well its just yet another thing added to list of things I have to do when the young master returns home. Sighing I hung up the phone. I walked over to Cat, she looked a little pale and sickly. It could be about what I saw, I'll have to have a word, I thought. After all the young master wanted me to keep an eye on her and get information, and what the young master wants he shall get.
Cat's P.O.V.
"All done?" He nodded. "Let's go get some tea and scones. I know a pretty good café." I gave a weak smile, trying to act normal. Ben snuffled Sebastian curiously much to his displeasure. He glared at the dog. "Hey none of that, he seems to like you so give him the same respect." I frowned at him.
"Of course my lady." He gave an obviously forced smile and bent down to pet him on the head as I had been doing earlier. Ben happily snuffled his hand, basket still in mouth. Then he sneezed, covering Sebastian's pristine, white gloved hand.
"Yep he definitely likes you."
"Strange, dogs normally detest me so we normally have a mutual hatred. Actually what does he do when he doesn't like someone?" He gave another blinding smile, I was getting the feeling this is what he did instead of losing his temper...
"Last time he um... marked his territory on someone's leg then proceeded to bite them on the hand. He bit their finger clean off." I smiled happily at Ben his tail wagged happily. Sebastian looked slightly impressed, and for that I was grateful. "Dogs can be as graceful as cats you know. You shouldn't judge something by its species, every individual is different and therefore should be judged individually too." I reached up with my hand to run my fingers through my fringe, my sleeve slipped down a little.
"What happened to your wrist Cat?" I rushed to pull my sleeve down, I didn't want to explain and besides he wouldn't believe me anyway. I had exposed my bandage so I could say that I... scratched my wrist on my easel. Yeah that was believable.
I was opening up my easel and I caught my wrist, no big deal." I only received a look which said 'I don't believe a word that you're saying'. Well I won't tell him yet, I'll wait until I come clean. It'll make more sense I suppose. "Anyway lets go and get some hot sweet beverage and a scone." I didn't even look back at him as I walked off. He'll catch up, he's fast enough. Sure enough when I reached the café he was right behind me, looking forward to some lovely food we entered the little café.