Tender: a tender moment between the characters
Ciel saw her, watching that happy family in the midway; the mother and father bought a carton of popped corn to share between them, and a gauzy pink fairy floss for their teddy-bear toting toddler. There was a time when such a scene would have made Ciel grind his teeth, but now he felt nothing. The same could not be said for Doll.
The tightrope walker stared longingly at the trio, aquamarine eye sad and wistful. Ciel considered avoiding her, ducking off and heading back from whence he'd come, but he found it impossible. Doll did not seem to notice when the dark-haired boy approached, but her eye flashed briefly with surprise as Ciel took her chin lightly in his hand and turned it toward him.
"What's that face about?"
"Uh. Hm? Nothin'," Doll replied, forcing a cheery grin.
Ciel rolled his eyes at the poor cover. Matter-of-factly, he said, "My parents died when I was very young."
"Oh. Yeah. I mean, Mine too," Doll said, looking away.
Ciel caught the lie instantly. He also caught the hesitation beforehand, the shame on her face, and the way her hand flew to her right eye, the one she always kept covered. He'd seen it once, when her bangs fell out of place—that hideous scar.
"You don't need them," Ciel said, "and you can't go on thinking that you do."
Doll sighed. "I know. Sometimes I just wish..."
"Wishes are useless," Ciel gave her a look, "now come on. Let's get a distraction."
When Smile set off across the midway, Doll followed instantly. They did not have to pay for their fairy floss—worker's privilege. Smile took the wand and pulled off a feathery clump, handing it to Doll. No sooner had she popped the candy in her mouth than Doll felt Smile's lips brush her cheek, quick and sweet as the melt of saccharine fluff in her mouth.
.
.
Morning: The characters wake up together
Ciel woke up with a scream dying on his lips, an arm stretched across his stomach, and a head resting on his chest. Whenever Ciel fell ill, his dreams were filled with cages and blood and masked faces, and tonight was no exception. His cry had not roused the girl curled around his side, but she started to wake as Ciel burst into hacking coughs.
"Smile?" Doll's eyes were foggy with sleep, and her long, dark brown lashes fluttered up and down. Ciel wondered how he ever could have been fooled by her boyish facade.
"You know," Ciel smirked, "this is the first time I've ever slept with a girl."
Doll laughed. She was relieved, because if Smile was well enough to be sarcastic, he couldn't be that sick. Still grinning, she nuzzled her face into his chest. "Sh. Still time t' sleep, Smile."
Groggily, Ciel nodded, but deep down he knew it wasn't true.
There will never be enough time.