Disclaimer: I own nothing except the idea for this fanfic.
"Good grief." I mumbled looking out of a window that had a good view of the garden. It had only been a couple of hours since I had finished cleaning it (or what was left of it), and Finny had already found a way to kill the other half of the trees that still remained after his first catastrophe of the day.
I sighed. Well, that was a problem for another day; right now I had a more pressing issue on my mind, the Young Master. He had been acting rather strangely for a couple of weeks now, trying to avoid me and only coming in contact with me if it was absolutely necessary. Even then, he would send me away quickly, not wanting me to linger.
I had considered many possibilities as to why he had started acting this way, and until now I had thought it had to do with my performance as a butler. However, it now seemed to be another reason entirely.
I made my way to the Young Master's quarters. Despite what he had said about not helping him prepare for his evening's rest, I felt that I should. He could not even tie his own shoelaces without my help, let alone prepare for bed and it was unbefitting for a Noble to be so sloppy.
Besides, I thought with a smirk. He technically never ordered me to stay away.
I quietly opened the door to his room and was surprised to see that he had managed to change by himself, though the clothes he had worn earlier today were left in a messy heap on the floor. I picked them up and turned to leave, when I heard the boy on the bed release a shaky breath, his small frame shuddering under the sheets.
I looked back at him. Illuminated by the moon coming in through the open window, I could see his face and the wet streaks trickling down to his chin. Had he really been crying?
I took out a handkerchief and began wiping his tears. I had a tendency of forgetting that the Young Master was but a child. He has always been stubborn and strong-willed, definitely beyond the years of any twelve year-old I had come across. There were occasions, though, (today being a good example) where he would do or say things that reminded me of his adolescence.
I SAID IT'S NOTHING, DAD! STOP IT!
Is that what he saw me as, a sort of fatherly-figure? Surely, I take care of him and keep him safe, and in a way look out for what is in his best interest, but not in the same way a father would- not with the same intentions as a father.
"Dad . . ."
I sighed. Self-denial can only go so far, even then it hasn't gotten me anywhere. I have never met anyone quite like this young boy - which is saying something for the length of time I have lived – and the longer I'm with him, the more I find myself worrying about him and the decisions he makes, going, as Grell had said, "the extra mile" to ensure his health and well being. And recently I, too, have started to come to terms with what child might actually mean to me, though as surely as he would never admit to anyone that he had cried, I would never admit that I may be starting reciprocate his feelings.
What I had told Grell earlier today about altruism had been my stand point on the subject of selfless action for centuries. I personally, have never done anything for anyone without there being something for me to benefit from having done it. That was slowly starting to change with this young Earl. The irony of it was rather amusing, to think that the one finally able to contradict my philosophical views was a twelve year old boy with no intention of doing so.
The Young Master started to turn restlessly in his sleep, mumbling something incoherently that almost sounded like my name. He was obviously having a nightmare. It was strange seeing him so frightened and vulnerable for once; the sight of it was rather pitiful.
"Sebastian."
So he was calling for me.
"Sebastian. . ." He mumbled turning over. Had I not caught him he would have fallen off the bed.
"Shhh." I whispered running a hand through his hair, trying to soothe him. It was probably best if I tried to calm him before woke up to a painful, self-inflicted injury being that the nearest doctor was a half day's travel away.
Spending all this time with humans was starting to have its effects on me. I was starting to feel emotions that my kind typically didn't- no SHOULDN'T feel.
As I sat there on the edge of his bed, gently stroking his face, I began to wonder if I would actually be able to let him follow through with his end of the contract. At this point I was not completely sure I wanted the "benefits" I was to gain for my services as his butler.
Well, when the time came, I would worry about that. Until then,
"Sweet dreams, Young Master."
A/N: Okay, Sorry if its a totally cliched fanfic, but I just had the idea and decided to run with it . . . I just realized that I haven't put any disclaimers until now . . . Oops. Hehe . . . Please review!!