((Note: Was I having a little too much fun with this bit? Probably. Sorry it's shorter than the others, I'm having internet problems, and I wanted to get this up with I had the chance.))

"Well," Ciel stuttered, "is he all right?" he asked, noticing the burns on the side of Claude's face.

Sebastian nodded. "I do believe he'll recover."

"Well then," Not knowing what else to say, Ciel turned on his heel and left.

"He didn't seem particularly upset," Claude observed. It was a pleasant surprise.

Sebastian smirked. "I don't think he's quiet processed what he saw yet. He thought it was a woman that I had been sneaking into my room all of these nights."

The demons exchanged glances and laughed.

XXX

"Oh my goodness," Meirin said, as she gathered the dishes from the kitchen to (attempt to) set the table. "There's two of them!"

"Two of who?" Finnian asked, washing the dirt from his fingers at the sink. Meirin took him by the shoulders, and spun him around to face Sebastian and Claude who had just entered the room. Finnian's jaw dropped, his mouth forming a little O.

Sebastian ducked into the pantry, searching for something, leaving Claude standing awkwardly in the kitchen, facing the rest of the staff. He adjusted his glasses in irritation.

"You know, he looks really familiar…" Finny said, squinting at Claude across the counter.

Claude opened his mouth, not sure what he was going to say, not sure if he should tell the Phantomhive staff his true identity or not.

"Claude," Sebastian called from within the walk-in closet/pantry. "Could you come help me for a moment?"

Claude offered a stiff bow to the other Phantomhive servants, and joined Sebastian in the closet. A white - gloved hand, no one could tell if it belonged to Sebastian or Claude reached out and pulled the door shut behind them.

"I wonder what Sebastian needs help with in the closet?" Finny asked innocently, as the sound of things crashing came from behind the closed door.

"I don't think you want to know," Bard said, shaking his head.

Finny grabbed Meirin's sleeve, pointing frantically at the kitchen door. Ciel strolled non-chalantly into the kitchen, as though it was something he did everyday, even though the young master could count on one hand the number of times he had been in the serving areas of the manor. He had been in many places he didn't normally go in the last few days, including Sebastian's private rooms.

"Have any of you seen Sebastian?" Ciel asked his staff. "I don't know where his head is these days. He didn't bring me sugar with my tea. And he didn't even answer when I rang for him." That was the real travesty, a perfect butler would always be ready to attended his master.

Finnian and Meirin pointed mutely to the pantry. Ciel looked confused. He reached for the door handle.

"I don't think you want to go in there, Sir." Bard said, wondering if he was the only one who realized what was going on.

From the other side of the door, the assembled company could hear a muffled "Sebastian!" Ciel gritted his teeth, his cheeks flushing. He was about to turn around and leave, damn the sugar, when he heard the click of a lock sliding back. Sebastian and Claude stepped out of the closet. Claude's tie was slightly askew, and Sebastian paused to reach over and straighten it before offering a sugar bowl and pair of silver tongs to his young master.

"I heard you ask for sugar, My Lord?"

Ciel took the proffered items angrily. "You didn't answer when I rang, he said coldly."

"Forgive me, Young Master, I was otherwise engaged in a rather urgent matter."

Ciel looked accusatorily at Claude while he spoke. "See that it doesn't happen again."

Sebastian bowed. "Yes, My Lord."

XXX

When they were alone again, polishing the silver, Claude asked, "Why did you do that?"

Sebastian smirked. "Oh, don't tell me you didn't enjoy it, Claude. And besides, I did it because I think working for Alois has made you dead inside. You used to have such a great spark." He sighed, "Someone who dances like you do shouldn't be dead inside."

Claude's lips twitched in the faintest hint of a smile. "Thank you, Sebastian."

((Next time we'll get back to Alois and his evil-ness))