Sorry for a later update than normal! Akiru Chan and I have both been busy this week, but here is the next chapter for your enjoyment! Read and review, flame if you must.
Akiru Chan and I have limited medical knowledge, so please forgive any errors you might find.
Disclaimer: Neither of us own Sebastian or Ciel, or any of the other Kuroshitsuji characters.
Mey-rin watched as Sebastian's expression changed from apprehensive to alarmed. She didn't blame him for being nervous; she could march right out of this office and head straight to the head office to report him. Why she hadn't done that yet baffled her, but she thought that perhaps she wanted to hear what he himself had to say about the matter.
There was no reason for Sebastian to play dumb or even lie his way out of this. From the look on Mey-rin's face, it was obvious the nurse knew the answer to her own question. "What are you going to do about it?" Sebastian found himself asking, wanting the final verdict out in the open.
"I'm not going to report you," Mey-rin said softly. "But I just want to make sure that you know what you're getting yourself into. You're playing with fire, and I don't want to see you get burned." Her eyes were worried as she looked at him.
Things seemed just a bit lighter then. Sebastian sighed and rubbed at his temples. "You don't need to remind me of that. I don't even know what I was thinking, or how all of this even happened." He eyed Mey-rin for a moment, and just shook his head. How did he get himself into this?
Mey-rin nodded slowly. She liked Sebastian; he was a wonderful doctor, and she would hate to see his license be revoked. He could do so much good for other people in enabling them to see once more. She shifted and said, "Well, I best be getting back to work if you don't have anything else to say."
"Mey-rin," Sebastian called as the woman made her way back to the door. "Why are you doing this? If anyone finds out that you knew this was going on and said nothing, then you'll risk your own job."
"Because you're happy, Mr. Michaelis. I can see it, whenever you're in the same room with him or talking about him. I've never seen you like this, and I don't want to be the one to take it away from you," Mey-rin smiled then quickly backed out of the room, firmly shutting the door behind her.
Sebastian blinked for a moment, surprised by the nurses words. After a moment, he found it in himself to smile and whisper a quiet "thank you" to the empty room around him.
Ciel woke with a start, bolting upright in bed. Gasping heavily, he tried to remember where he was. The room smelled of antiseptic, the surface beneath him was soft, and he could hear the buzzing of activity outside the room. He relaxed then; he was still at the hospital.
Yawning, he stretched his arms above his head. He wondered how long he had slept for, figuring that it couldn't have been more than an hour or so. Nevertheless, he felt rested and refreshed, ready to face whatever may transpire next. His face paled as he recalled that he still had the injections to go through for that day, and he groaned, holding his head in his hands. He was not looking forward to that.
A knock sounded at the door, loud in the quiet room. Seb's ears perked and he gave a small bark of acknowledgement. He was looking to Ciel, waiting for the boy to either ask for the dog's assistance to go to the door or for the boy to allow the newcomer entrance on their own.
"Who is it?" Ciel called out, even though he knew that if it was someone coming to hurt him, they wouldn't answer anyway.
"It's me!" Mey-rin pushed the door open and smiled at the boy on the bed. Ciel's hair was rumpled and messed from sleep, and he still looked slightly groggy. "It's almost time for your injections. Sebastian just wanted me to check to see if you were awake and ready. He'll come to get you in about ten minutes." For the first time Mey-rin took the chance to look Ciel over. This was the boy who had caught Sebastian's eye and she couldn't help but wonder just what was special about the boy. Ciel was handsome, a little young looking for his age but that would be a blessing as he got older.
"Oh, okay. Thank you," Ciel replied. He rubbed his eyes and shook his head to clear the fog from his mind. When he heard the door shut, he went over to his bag, grabbed a comb, and quickly pulled it through his hair. He knew that he must look awful, since he had fallen asleep in his clothing. He tried to straighten his clothes as best as he could before the doctor arrived. He paused, wondering why it was so important to him to look his best whenever Sebastian saw him. Sebastian had already seen him when he had just woken up, so he didn't see what the difference was.
The next few minutes passed by quickly and soon enough Sebastian was peeking through the door and smiling as he watched Ciel put on his shoes. "Almost ready?" he asked and stifled a laugh when the boy jumped.
Ciel yelped. "S-Sebastian?" His eyes were wide as he stared in the direction of the door. "Please don't sneak up on me like that again. I almost had a heart attack." Indeed, his heart was pounding furiously, and his breaths were shallow as he tried to calm down from the fright.
"But where is the fun in that." The doctor gave a light chuckle and moved towards the boy. He reached out and pulled Ciel to his feet, but was sure to keep the distance between them. If he had learned anything today, it was that they could never be too careful. Sebastian had gotten lucky that Mey-rin had been the one to see them, although he was still berating himself for allowing his guard to drop to such an extent. Things couldn't keep going on the way they had been.
Ciel noticed the space and was puzzled. They were alone in the room, so why was Sebastian so far away? Why did he not pull him close as he had done in the times before? Was he beginning to regret his relationship with Ciel? Perhaps the truth written inside Ciel's file had finally taken hold of Sebastian and he had realized what exactly Ciel had gone through during the Incident. No matter the reason, it hurt Ciel and he pulled his arm away from the doctor's grasp as he took a step back, an uncertain look flooding across his face.
Sebastian seemed puzzled as well and he reached out to grab at the boy's shoulder. "Are you okay?" Scarlet eyes intently searched for anything that might give a clue as to what was bothering his patient.
"I'm fine," Ciel said, carefully averting his gaze from Sebastian's. He wasn't that good at keeping his emotions from showing on his face, and he didn't want Sebastian to be able to guess at what was wrong.
"Are you sure? You can tell me." There was something off, but Sebastian had little right to pry if Ciel did not want to speak. For now he would have to put the worry behind him and hope that whatever was bother Ciel would fade as time went by.
"You read it, didn't you?" Ciel asked softly, finally looking at Sebastian. His expression was a mixture of hurt and sadness, and he willed himself not to break down and cry.
Confusion crossed Sebastian's face and he dropped his hand from Ciel. He hadn't quite expected to be asked something as simple nor as cryptic as that. "Read what?" It was the only thing Sebastian could inquire.
"My file. You read it all, I'm sure. Why else would you be pulling away from me? I'm not even sure why you went along with our relationship anyway. Do you feel sorry for me?" Ciel questioned, a tormented tone in his voice.
"Your file? What does that have to do with anything? Ciel, I don't know what you're talking about," Sebastian explained quickly. Anxiety was quickly taking hold and he frowned as he thought over what the boy could be so worried about. "I just read over your medical history pertinent to your treatment. I don't know why that would make you so upset."
"Because it tells you what happened during the Incident. The ra-" Ciel caught himself just in time before he finished the word, snapping his mouth shut. His fists clenched and hot tears pricked his eyes.
Silence filled the room and Sebastian let go of Ciel and stood back calmly. "I never read that part of your file. It's not any of my business what happened to you in the past, not when it doesn't involve your treatment." Whatever could have happened to Ciel that would cause the boy so much stress and worry over the mere reading of his file? Suddenly Sebastian wasn't so eager to find out.
"Y-you didn't?" Ciel's voice wavered. He looked hopeful, and he suddenly lurched forward, grabbing onto Sebastian's shirt desperately. "Please, don't read it! I-I don't want you to read it. I know you're probably curious, but I swear, I will tell you someday. Just...not today..." He buried his face in the older man's chest. "But please, don't read it..."
Considering the circumstances, Sebastian didn't mind showing Ciel affection. Mey-rin would be the only one walking in and Ciel needed some form of comfort. He enveloped the boy into a warm hug and whispered into his ear. "I won't read it. I promise you I won't."
"Thank you..." Ciel clung to Sebastian, unwilling to release him. He tried to control his shuddering breaths, fearing another panic attack. A small tear slipped from the corner of his eye; whether it was from relief or something else, he didn't know.
Sebastian leaned down and placed a quick kiss to Ciel's head. A few more minutes passed and they finally pulled away. "We need to go," he said is a calm and soothing voice.
Ciel grumbled and pushed away from Sebastian rather reluctantly. After ordering Seb to stay, he took hold of Sebastian's sleeve and allowed the man to lead him from the room and down the hallway. "Do I have to have the injections tomorrow, too?"
"No." Sebastian shook his head. "Just Fridays and Saturdays. Tomorrow your mother can pick you up at noon." The examination room was open and from the look of things, Mey-rin had already set up all the needed supplies. The syringes were in place and the laughing gas set up and ready.
"So I won't have to come back on Mondays, either?" Ciel sounded disappointed. It would be nice to be able to see Sebastian four days a week.
The doctor shook his head. "Only the weekends now." Sebastian wasn't too fond of the thought, but it would be for the best. During the weekends, there were fewer second parties coming in and fewer people they needed to worry about hiding from.
Ciel exhaled softly. "Okay." He didn't look pleased, and his lips formed into a small pout. He wouldn't complain, though; after all, he would be with Sebastian Friday through Sunday from now on, and that was better than just seeing him on Mondays. He easily slid onto the table, but when Sebastian began to place the mask over his face, Ciel held up a hand. "Wait. Can I try it again without the gas? I did it before, so I'm pretty sure that I can do it again."
Sebastian paused, eyes wide with shock. "Are you sure?" he asked just as the gas mask was picked up from the table.
"Yeah, I'm sure. If I freak out, then we'll know next time not to skip the laughing gas." Ciel paused. "Sebastian, I just want to see if I'm strong enough to make it without any help. I've had to face a lot of my fears during my time here, and that should help me be able to deal with them better. I don't want to be Faust all the time, running and hiding."
"You're not Faust." The gas mask was put down and Sebastian went to fetch the numbing eye drops and syringes. Putting the eye drops in was something that Ciel had done several times before and the boy no longer flinched as Sebastian administered them. But as the minutes ticked by, the tension rose and even Sebastian was becoming nervous.
"Are you sure?" he asked again as the first needle was uncapped. "This will sting just a bit."
Ciel nodded, a determined glint in his eyes. "I'm sure." His body reflexively stiffened at the thought of a needle being inserted into his eye; normally, he would be high on the gas by now and unaware of what was happening to him. But now, his senses were on high alert, and it took everything he had not to react.
Without further adieu, Sebastian moved forward and placed in a specialized tool to hold the boy's eyes open wide. He brought the needle up and with baited breath he pushed into the white of Ciel's eyes. The boy went stiff around him and Sebastian rushed to inject the fluid and pull the needle out before anything unfortunate could happen. The last thing Ciel needed was damage down to the actual eye. Sebastian wouldn't be able to reverse that.
Ciel hardly breathed as Sebastian pushed the needles into his eyes. Even when the older man announced that it was done, he remained unresponsive. His sightless eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, and he felt like he was hearing from underwater. Sebastian's voice was distorted, and he could just barely pick out a sense of urgency in the tone. His fingers twitched, but that was the only movement he made.
"Ciel!" Sebastian kept repeating. The boy looked lost and it slightly worried the older man. "Ciel, can you hear me? Ciel?" He reached out for the boy, cupping his face and rubbing calming circles on his jaw.
Ciel struggled to focus on the voice. His lips opened, though no sound came out. He slid his hand to the side, searching for Sebastian. He found the material of Sebastian's shirt, and his fingers gripped it tightly.
The only thing Sebastian could do was hold the boy tight. He was so proud that Ciel had braved his way through the injections and had allowed Sebastian to administer them without problem. It must have been a mental struggle and now Ciel was facing the brunt of it. Sebastian could only be there for him and coo encouraging words and help the boy to come back to the real world in one piece.
Slowly, the death grip that Ciel had on Sebastian began to release, and his eyes became clear and focused, though he still looked a tad disoriented. "Sebastian?" The boy rasped as he blinked owlishly.
Sebastian just smiled. "You did it," he said and leaned forward to kiss Ciel on the forehead.
Ciel's eyes widened, and a smile bloomed across his face. "I did it," he repeated in amazement. Impulsively, he leaned up and gave Sebastian a kiss.
"You did it!" The kiss was returned without much thought and Ciel was wrapped tight in the doctor's arms once more. There was a joyous fervor to the kiss and when they parted, Sebastian only wanted more.
Ciel couldn't stop smiling; he was sure he looked ridiculous with a huge grin on his face, but he couldn't help it. He was relieved that he'd made it through. He placed a gentle kiss on Sebastian's cheek. "Thank you."
"I think this deserves a treat." There wasn't much that Sebastian could do, but he supposed he could take advantage of Mey-rin being privy to the growing relationship between patient and doctor. Ciel most certainly did not deserve more hospital food and a tasty sweet would no doubt make the boy happy. "How about I take you out to eat?" Sebastian said as he pulled away from Ciel and gave the both of them some room.
Ciel turned huge eyes to Sebastian. "Are you allowed to do that?" He questioned. He knew there wasn't supposed to be any kind of personal relationship between a doctor and patient. If Sebastian were to take him out to eat and he was discovered, that could very well mean the end of his career. That thought sent a throb of panic through Ciel. He didn't want Sebastian to be fired.
Sebastian waved the concern aside. "We'll go out a side entrance. It's a Saturday afternoon anyways; most doctors in this building have left for home." It was a risk, but Ciel deserved a reward and something to promote the courage he had shown. If they did run into some trouble, then Sebastian would be more than happy to twist the truth. He wouldn't lie since lying was distasteful, but telling selected truths was another thing all together.
Ciel looked doubtful, but agreed nonetheless. He was eager to get out of the hospital, even if it would be only for an hour or two. He hopped off the table. "Should I take Seb or leave him here?"
"If you don't mind, it would be better to leave him. A dog will only draw attention to ourselves." Not to mention Sebastian wasn't fond of the animal, but Ciel didn't need to know that. Without the animal tagging along, they would be able to move faster and not have to worry about people wanting to stare.
Frowning, Ciel spoke, "Okay. But we won't be gone real long, will we? I usually don't go out in public very often anymore."
"You'll be fine, I'll be with you and no one is going to bother us." Sebastian ushered the boy out the door, not allowing him to double back and try to go back to his room. It wasn't as if Sebastian couldn't do what the dog did, and even more on top of that.
Ciel nervously allowed Sebastian to lead him, his hand gripping Sebastian's arm tightly. The further they went down the hallway, the slower his steps became. He wasn't looking forward to being out in the public eye since he disliked being around people he didn't know. By the time they reached the elevator, Ciel's face was pale and his breathing was shallow, a typical sign of a panic attack about to happen.
The moment the elevator doors shut behind them, Sebastian was drawing Ciel into his arms quickly. They only had a few minutes to themselves and he had to make this quick. "You'll be fine. I won't allow you out of my reach, I promise. No one will hurt you."
"But if they could get me at home with all the security, then they can definitely get me anywhere else," The words came out faster towards the end, and there were touches of panic and hysteria present in his tone. He clung desperately to Sebastian as if trying to draw strength from him.
"Well, they have yet to face the mighty Sebastian Michealis," the doctor said with a proud guffaw. "They'll be making a big mistake trying to pick a fight with me, let alone taking something that belongs to me." Sebastian pulled Ciel tighter against him and ruffled the boy's hair.
A blush dusted Ciel's cheeks at Sebastian's statement, and he lowered his head to prevent Sebastian from noticing. A warm feeling spread throughout his body. "I belong to you?" He asked shyly.
There was a moment in which Sebastian thought, making sure his words were pleasant before he spoke. "You are mine to protect," he said simply. "Does that displease you?"
Ciel shook his head. "No, it doesn't. It actually makes me feel good, that there's someone other than my parents who care about me."
The elevator dinged and Sebastian was forced to pull the boy away. "You'll be fine," he said once more, trying to promise things that might just be out of his capabilities. A thousand things could happen that Sebastian would not be able to save Ciel from. But thus was life, and no one could escape all of life's evils.
The elevator doors opened, and Ciel almost got swamped by a group of visitors trying to crowd onto the elevator. He managed to keep his grip on Sebastian's sleeve; otherwise, he would have been lost. He nearly tripped in his attempt to hurry away from the strangers but managed to right himself just before he would have fallen. His hands were shaking and he hoped that Sebastian wouldn't notice how nervous he still was.
"Inconsiderate flock of loons," Sebastian grumbled and brushed out his own shirt and straightened his tie. He had forgotten it was a Saturday and the busiest day when it came to visitors to the main hospital. They often parked in the side building's parking lot where it was less crowded and cut through Sebastian's building to get to the hospital itself.
Ciel's mouth was dry, and he licked his lips to wet them. His stomach growled, and he was reminded of how hungry he was. "Where are we going to eat?"
"What sort of food are you hungry for?" They were lucky that there was an array of different cafes in the area. It would give Ciel the chance to pick just what he felt like eating and hopefully lighten the boy's mood in the process.
"Pizza," Ciel stated. He'd been hungry for that for a few days now, and since he hadn't gotten it yesterday, he was determined to have it today.
A quirk of a smile settled on Sebastian's face and he rolled his eyes, not that the boy could see. "It's always pizza with you. Do your parents not feed you enough of it?" He found himself asking, not knowing any other reason for Ciel's pizza cravings.
"They say it's not healthy," Ciel muttered with a scowl. "Mom is paranoid about me getting enough nutrients and everything else I need to stay healthy. I usually only get it on my birthday or days where I just don't feel that great."
Giving in, Sebastian nodded. "Then I suppose since today is special, pizza is in order." If the doctor could help it, he'd at least make sure that one of the toppings was nutritious at least.
"Extra cheese? And pepperoni?" Ciel asked hopefully, biting his lip as he awaited the reply.
"With mushrooms or green peppers," Sebastian said, a stern look in his eye. "You need to get something healthy in you besides the tomato sauce." It was the doctor in him speaking, and being such to Ciel he needed to make sure that the boy kept his body healthy and fit.
Ciel was tempted to argue further, but he was afraid that Sebastian would then pick something healthy for him, so he grudgingly agreed, sighing. "I'll have mushrooms, then."
Seeming pleased, Sebastian nodded and moved them out the side doors of the hospital building and into the heat of the day. The sun was out but there were a few clouds in the sky to provide some shade. He turned them sharply to the right and found his car. Normally he would walk, but Sebastian figured that Ciel would appreciate a short trip. It didn't help that the only pizza place was quite a distance down the road.
Ciel was nervous, waiting for someone to recognize the two of them. He knew that Sebastian was definitely breaking some rules with this, and he didn't want the doctor to get into trouble. He breathed a sigh of relief upon reaching the car and sliding into the front passenger seat. Sebastian soon entered the car, as well, and within a minute, they were headed out of the parking lot.
"Do you eat out a lot?" Ciel asked, leaning his head back and closing his eyes.
"For lunch I do. When I'm at home I'll cook if I have the time." It wasn't often that he got home at a decent enough hour to make himself dinner, not as often as he'd like. Weekends ensured that he stayed in the office and never set foot in his home until Sunday night. Week days weren't much better but he did get to eat a home cooked meal at least every other day.
"Do you like to cook?" Carefully, Ciel rubbed his right eye. It was beginning to burn, but he didn't want to tell Sebastian because he knew the doctor would immediately rush him back to the hospital.
"I do, but it's not as fun when you're cooking for yourself. Although I do still need to make you creme brulee." If by some odd twist of fate, Sebastian had met Ciel through different circumstance then they could have been easily going to Sebastian's modest flat. There the doctor would enjoy nothing more than to make a first class meal for the boy. Such things were but dreams and he pushed such useless things from his mind.
"Yes, you do," Ciel agreed. "Then I can see how good of a cook you are." He frowned. "But wouldn't it look strange if you brought in creme brulee for me?"
Sebastian shrugged his shoulders as he pulled into the parking lot of the pizza parlor. "I'd just have to act nice and bring some in for everyone." He shuddered at the thought of his staff coming to expect such things from him. Last thing he needed was for them to have a reason to act even friendlier towards Sebastian.
"But I don't want you to have to do all that work, Sebastian. It's fine if you can't do it," Ciel assured him. "I'll live without creme brulee."
"So long as it's for you, I don't think I mind all that much." They parked and Sebastian undid his seat-belt. His gaze slid over Ciel's body for a moment, taking in the boy's appearance and seeming pleased at the relatively relaxed posture. "Ready?" Large hands reached over to undo Ciel's own seat-belt and they ended up settling on the boy's slim thighs.
Ciel jerked slightly at the pressure on his legs, not having expected it. A light pink dusted his cheeks, and even though he couldn't see, he shyly turned his head towards the doctor. "Yeah, I'm ready," he smiled.
The hand was gone and Sebastian was out of the car making his way towards Ciel's side. The door was opened and that same hand was once more upon the boy, this time the shoulder. "Do you mind holding my hand or would you prefer to just hold onto the hem of my shirt?" Sebastian didn't know which the boy would prefer so he offered two options for Ciel to choose from.
Ciel tilted his head, pondering which one would not be taken the wrong way. If he were to hold Sebastian's hand, people who could not tell at first glance that he was blind might assume that they were on a date. Sebastian was a well-known doctor, and Ciel himself was also known due to his father's company and his mother's charity work; Ciel was afraid that someone might recognize them and wonder why they were in public together, especially if it became public knowledge that Ciel was undergoing treatments under Sebastian's care. "Your shirt," he said finally.
"Shirt it is, then." Sebastian's hand trailed down Ciel's arm and grasped at his hand and brought it to his shirt. A pang of disappointment blossomed but the older man pushed it aside and ignored it. It wasn't something that needed attention or more thought.
Ciel loosely gripped the material, then cautiously pressed his hand closer into the man's side. He could feel Sebastian's body heat seeping through, and a smile tugged at his lips even though he tried in vain to keep it hidden, his thumb unconsciously rubbing small circles against Sebastian's hip.
The touch was welcomed and Sebastian found himself focusing solely on the boy as they moved into the loud and busy restaurant. It was then that Ciel pressed closer and Sebastian wrapped an arm around the boy as he pulled him to a table to sit.
Ciel felt like either hiding behind Sebastian or fleeing the pizza parlor entirely. His legs felt like rubber, and with each step he took, the dread grew and grew. The only thing that kept him going was Sebastian's hand on his arm.
Finally, they sat down, and Ciel sank onto the chair in relief. He could hear the other customers talking and laughing, and his sightless eyes kept darting from one spot to the next, as if hoping to foresee any danger that might arise.
"Ignore everyone," Sebastian's voice boomed through the chatter and mumbles. "It's just you and me, okay?"
Ciel took a deep breath and nodded. It was easier said than done to pretend that they were the only ones who existed, but he would try. It would make it easier on Sebastian, since if he ignored the other people he was less likely to have a panic attack. He didn't want to embarrass himself or Sebastian.
A waitress came and introduced herself, placing a menu in front of both of them. She then left to give them a few minutes to decide on what to order.
Ciel picked up his menu with an amused smile. "I don't think I need this."
"I don't think you do. Pepperoni, extra cheese, and mushrooms?" Sebastian asked as he recited what Ciel had said what he wanted back at the hospital. The only thing he wasn't sure of was the boy's beverage of choice.
"Yeah," Ciel murmured. "What do they have to drink?" It was frustrating to not be able to see for himself, but menus weren't written in braille. Maybe once he regained his eyesight, he and Sebastian could come back here to eat. A feeling of anticipation and thrill washed over him, and he had to bite down on his lower lip to prevent a smile from spreading. The thought that Sebastian would still be around then was a happy one, and a scenario that Ciel wouldn't mind.
His smile faltered briefly as he wondered if that would be possible. There were many things that could happen until then, and Ciel feared that Sebastian would distance himself upon learning the truth. But he didn't want to dwell on that now, so he tucked it away for later.
A moment was taken as Sebastian looked over the menu. "They have the usual. Tea, soda, water, and milkshakes." He eyed the different prices, but they didn't matter much in the long run. Whatever Ciel want, Ciel would get.
"I'll take a soda," Ciel decided quickly. Normally, he would get tea, but he didn't think that it would sit well with eating pizza.
"Well good for you, but that doesn't help me very much. What kind of soda would you like." The teasing tone was followed by a smirk and Sebastian leaned over the table to ruffle Ciel's dark hair. Ciel was far too fun to mess with and that pout just made Sebastian want to kiss those pink lips.
Ciel flushed at the contact and mumbled, "A Sprite, please." He wavered between wanting to lean into the touch and wanting to back away from it. He suddenly felt self-conscious, as if all the eyes in the room were focused on him. He swallowed hard.
When the waitress came back Sebastian order for the both of them and they were then once more left to themselves. "You're awfully quiet." Ciel hadn't said a word in a few long minutes and Sebastian wasn't in the mood to make this an awkwardly silent meal.
Ciel ducked his head. "Sorry. I just have this sense that everyone is staring at me, and it makes me uncomfortable." He looked up at the older man, an apologetic look on his face. "I'm sorry. It's really nice of you to take me out like this, and I repay you by acting like this."
"No need to apologize, but I do have to be honest with you," Sebastian said very seriously. "There is one person who is staring at you very intently."
Ciel's blue eyes flew open wide as panic bloomed. He forced himself not to move his head; perhaps whoever was staring at him would tire of doing so since he was not acknowledging him. "Who is it?" He questioned faintly.
Sebastian placed his hand over Ciel's and squeezed it lightly. "Me," he said quietly. "I'm quite embarrassed to admit that I just can't take my eyes off of you." The line was so very cliched and overly sickening when Sebastian replayed it in his mind, but it seemed to calm Ciel down and that was all that mattered. Whatever the case, it was very close to the truth. Sebastian was finding it a constant habit to allow his eyes to wander over to the younger male.
Ciel's eyes were now as huge as saucers, and a dark red blush stained his cheeks. He was uncertain what he should say, but he knew that the comment gave him a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. "Um...Thank you?"
"You're very welcome." Just then their waitress returned with their drinks followed by a waiter with their pizza. Service was always fast here and a reason Sebastian continued to come here during lunch.
Ciel barely remembered his manners; he was starving, and the pizza smelled so delicious. As it was, he practically inhaled his slice, then sat there quietly waiting for Sebastian to finish.
Moments passed as both males ate their pizza in silence, enjoying the greasy and flavorful taste. Sebastian ate two pieces and left it at that, not wanting to put too much fat on his bones. He was getting on in age, and it wasn't so easy to stay slim when his schedule didn't allow for regular trips to the gym.
"Is it good?" The doctor asked when Ciel went for his fourth slice.
"Yes, it is. Thank you," Ciel mumbled around a mouthful of food, then blushed and swallowed. "Sorry. I didn't mean to talk with food in my mouth. But they do have good pizza here." He was about to say that he'd recommend it to his family but stopped because he realized that he wouldn't be able to tell them; Sebastian was the one who had introduced him to this place, and he couldn't tell his parents that.
Sebastian nodded his head. "We'll have to come back then." Only this couldn't be a weekly thing, only on special occasions. Sebastian was determined to get the boy weened off sweets and grease as much as he could. Some fruits and vegetables would do Ciel good. The clock on the wall was glanced at and Sebastian decided that they should hurry and wrap this up. They could take the pizza back with them. "Almost done?" he inquired, not trying to rush the boy.
"Yeah, I'm done." Ciel quickly finished chewing the last bite and flashed Sebastian a smile. "This was really nice. Thanks." He knew that he had said that word quite a bit in the past few days, but it seemed as though he was always needing to thank the man.
"No need to mention it. We needed to get out of that stuffy office anyways." Sebastian waved down their waitress for the bill and a to-go box. "When we get back we can just relax." It sounded wonderful and Sebastian idly wondered if the results from Ciel's MRI would be in his office yet.
"Relaxing sounds good about now," Ciel admitted. He was tired, despite his nap earlier in the day. The stay at the hospital really took its toll on him, and he felt like he could fall asleep again. But Sebastian had said "we can just relax," and that made Ciel wonder if he meant the two of them together could relax. "Do you have things to do when we get back?" Ciel ventured, holding his breath.
"A few things, but you're welcome in my office. It should just be me, you and Mey-rin tonight." Bard usually spent his Saturday nights in a bar or whatever that man did in his spare time. He had heard some wild tales from Finny, but Sebastian was hesitant to believe everything he heard. "We should just be more careful where we fall asleep this time around."
Ciel was beginning to believe that his face would always be red, especially around Sebastian. He still couldn't believe that he and Sebastian had slept on the same bed last night, and he offered him a tiny smile. "I guess so," is what he said, even though he desperately wanted to tell Sebastian that he wouldn't mind sleeping in his arms again.
The meal was paid for and Sebastian stood. He eyed Ciel for a moment, contemplating his next move. Deciding that nothing bad could come from the act, Sebastian reached down and took hold of Ciel's hand and laced their fingers. The boy was led from the restaurant like that and Sebastian couldn't help the smug smirk that stretched itself upon his face.
Ciel also had a smile on his face, only his had more of a pleased shyness to it. He was still nervous that someone might see them, but at the moment, he only cared about the warmth and strength of Sebastian's hand.
They parted quickly as they got into the car, but Sebastian sought out Ciel's hand once more, giving it an affectionate squeeze. The boy was warm and soft and everything Sebastian never knew he wanted, but in that moment one thing he knew for sure. He never wanted to let go of that hand again.