Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji

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Chapter four: tenderness

Sebastian watched the young earl disappear into the crowd with Count Druid and discontinued his dancing.
"Thank you for the dance." the women told him, her face flushed from their swiftness.
"The pleasure was mine." he said, kissing her hand.
"Oh, well thank you. you're too kind." Her face turned a hue of pink, and he took advantage of her vulnerability.
"I noticed that Count Druid has gone. Do you have any idea of where he could be? I'm afraid I have something less pleasant than these festivities to attend to."
"Oh, well his room is on this floor," she said,"I can take you there."
The demon followed her down one of the hallways and into another lounging area. A evergreen door with gold embellishments was present in front of him, and Count Druid's mistress knocked gently.
"Love? I have a gentlemen here that requests an audience with you."
There wasn't a response, so grabbing her arms, he moved her to the side so she would not suffer from the impact. He swung his leg into the door and forced his entry.
"What are you doing?" she screamed, surprised at his aggression. She grasped his sleeves and refused to let him go any further. "Please don't hurt him."
"Get out of my way," he growled, ignoring her request,"I don't have time for this."
"No! Don't take him away from me...I don't know what he's done to you, but he really is a kind, gentle man. If you really must get revenge," she said, and opened her arms wide. "Hurt me like you would him. Hate me instead."

"Pathetic." Sebastian said, and slung her off to the side. He watched her struggle to get up but ended up back on the ground, unconscious.

There was a putrid smell that emerged from the room and he fought off a bit of drowsiness. This must be how he managed to drag them off, and he looked into the darkness to see a eyepatch lying on the carpet. He picked it up and noticed the rug remained partially upturned . A corner that had been lifted and remained hung over the center of the fabric. He lifted the mass and found what must have been the passage they took, judging by the mixed scent of alcohol and the perfume that was applied to Ciel's wrists.

"Where are we going?" the boy asked innocently.
"All will be revealed in good time." the Count answered cryptically. Ciel scanned the hallway and noticed the difference in decor.
"Are you sure this we're going the right way? This doesn't look very fun."
"Yes, it's a place I only bring special people; beautiful young ladies like yourself."
"Really?" he asked, trying to sound happy, but it leaned more towards disgusted.
"There will be more to appreciate that pretty face of yours, don't worry."
Count Druid swung the door open dramatically and beckoned him inside. It was no more than a minute when he started to cough. The air...there was something about that smell.
"Yes, that's it." he purred. Ciel's world was fading away, no matter how much he struggled.
"That's a good girl," he said, and caught the falling form in his arms.
It was a shame he hadn't grown as much as he had originally wanted. It would have bought him more time as the Count carried him to the more explicit area of his home, where countless girls before the Phantomhive had been kept.
A crowd had gathered for a chance at Count Druid's girl of choice. They came with a fair sum of their riches and a wanting for the improper. It was usually enticing for Sebastian when he sensed a soul that had experienced man's greatest pleasures, but seeing their unworthy glances thrown carelessly at his young master, he was filled with unfathomable choler.

"Ah, our little robin awakens!" A voice announced. Ciel, who was bound hands and feet and sat in a cage of sorts was still attempting to make a recovery from the toxins.
"Her eyes: enchanting like the night sky and as deep as the ocean. She can be kept in the cage, be played with, used in a ceremony, or parts of her could be sold according to what the highest bidder prefers!" the audience cheered and bickered among themselves.
"So, how about we start at a thousand?"
Almost all of the hands in the crowd were raised, but as the price raised to five thousand and quickly escalated to ten, there was only one bidder left.
"Wonderful! Does anyone else wish to challenge him with eleven thousand? Think carefully now; she's a special one." No one spoke. "Very well, our prize is hereby awarded to-"
"TWENTY THOUSAND!" someone declared. A hush fell over the room and Count Druid wiped his brow.
"It seems we have another contestant after all. Twenty thousand, is anyone willing to go beyond that? No, I guess not. Right then, our lucky winner! What's your name, sir?"
Sebastian made his way onto the stage, ignoring his master's muffled insults.
"Who I am should be no concern of yours."
"Er, right. If you would be so kind, hand over the twenty thousand and she'll be ll yours."
The demon stuck his hand into his pocket, but paused and seemed to think about his decision.
"What is it?"
"Twenty thousand is quite a bit of money for just a girl."
"You're the one who bid that much! Are you seceding?"
" I didn't say I wouldn't pay, but I want to know what my money's getting me. Release her."
"Not until I have the amount you promised, but you can test her out right here." he said.
"Very well," and Sebastian approached the lord. He knelt down , pulled the gag off, and wrapped his arms around his waist. Ciel stopped struggling and focused on the heat that spread throughout his body. He widened his eyes as Sebastian's lips brushed up against his and gasped, giving the other a chance to insert his tongue into his mouth. It didn't take long for Ceil to relax and respond sloppily but with equal vigor. It was his first kiss, after all.

"What are your orders, young master?" Sebastian asked, pulling away slightly and licking his lips in satisfaction. Ciel didn't realize he was reaching out for him until he had fists full of the butler's shirt, and it dawned on him that he was no longer bound. The boy groaned inwardly, seeing the demon's strategy. The kiss was just an excuse, and it did the job. It's not like he thought it was real anyways, but he blushed when he thought back to how much he wanted that contact.

"Defeat that bastard." he said.
"Yes, my lord." Sebastian said. He leant a hand out and helped him stand.
"Hey, what's the big idea? You-" his thoughts were cut short as the lights went out. Ciel heard mumbling and a few grunts before Sebastian allowed the dim lighting to reappear. Around them were the bodies of the men, out cold.
It wasn't the images that affected him so greatly, but he was just exhausted. The contract mark glowed and Sebastian answered the call.

"Take me back now." he said, but when he was sinking into the embrace, he could have sworn he heard something different from his butler in response. If only he had the energy to care.

"Hello, Mey-Rin!" Bard said cheerfully. She paid no attention to his fawning, as always.
"Good morning," she mumbled distractedly.
"Can I get that for you?" he asked, seeing her trying to get a spare teacup from the top shelf.
"No, I'm just fine. Im sure you have plenty to-AHHH!" she fell into his outstretched arms and dropped the glassware. She felt flustered for a moment until she saw who had saved her. Bard was smiling charmingly at her, but she could only think of how Sebastian would have saved them both.
"Mey-Rin!" Finny exclaimed, rushing through the door and running into the two, making them fall over. She struggled against Bard's weight and Finny bit his finger nails anxiously.
"Oh, that's good. You're here too, Bard."
"Yes," he said, mortified that he had nearly crushed her, "So what do you want?"
"The young master has returned!"
"What?!" Mey-rin gathered her skirts and ran to get a broom. "What will Mister Sebastian say when he sees I've broken another one of master's precious teacups?"
"He'll just have to deal with it." he said, annoyed at her care for the Phantomhive butler.
"Indeed," Sebastian said, making all three of the servants jump. "Don't dirty yourself Mey-Rin. I'll take car of it, so please fetch the master some tea. Bard, please take Finny and pick out apples from the orchid for desert tonight."
"Yes, sir!" They announced in unison.

When left alone, he used the discarded broom to leave the carpet immaculate and rested with his back against the wall. With his head in both hands, he let himself process everything he had done. He had disobeyed orders, or had twisted the meaning so he could do what he wished while still following through with the master's exact meaning. He said not to touch him unless necessary, not to call him his, but he had to go and kiss him anyways. He could have avoided contact, but it was already excruciating enough to be so painfully close to the young master but not touch him. He felt his dread increase when remembering the hurt on Ciel's features after he had untied him. He had marked him in a way that maybe he was't ready for, after all. He always misjudged Ciel. He either underestimated his strength or placed an unreasonably high standard that he expected to him meet. Was he really disappointed that the boy acted like everything was the same when he awoke? Things weren't any different, and what he did proved to be a good distraction, but then why did he feel so rejected?

"...Sebastian?" Ciel asked weakly. He heard Mey-Rin's nervous laughter and a warm clothe being applied to his forehead.
"It's good that you're awake, master. We prepared tea for you upon your arrival, and we shan't let it go to waste."
"No, of course not." he said, and sat upright, stretching his limbs with freedom he would never again take for granted.
"What are the responsibilities I must carry out today?"
"Oh, um, I'm not sure, sir." she said.
"Never mind then." he took a sip out of his cup and knew right away that Sebastian hadn't been the one to prepare his beverage. "I do not need assistance now, Mey-Rin. You may leave."
"Yes, thank you master." she scurried out of the room and left him alone.

It was unusual, but not impossible, for him to care for himself in the mornings. He choose an array of clothing articles and turned the knob for hot on the bathtub. The bathroom filled with steam and he tried to ease himself into the scalding water, gritting his teeth as the water rose to his waist.
"I see you know how to bathe yourself, though I am unsure of your outfit."
"Sebastian," he said,"I thought I told you not to sneak up on me."
He decided to avoid asking him where he had been, or what he was trying to accomplish that was more important than catering to him. The truth was that he didn't care what he had been doing, but he wondered if he was trying to avoid him. Did he regret their kiss? Was he angry about what he said?
"I would have been clearly visible if you had avoided making the water so hot."
"Don't mock me."
"I would never dream of doing such a disrespectful thing to my lord." he turned the cold water on to lower the temperature and squirted shampoo into his hands.
"May I wash you now?"
"It is pointless to ask after you've already wasted soap."
"It wouldn't be wasted it you allowed me to help you."
"Just get it done so I can start my work."
"Your schedule happens to be empty today, but I will try to move quickly so you have more time to spend at your leisure."
Ciel felt his skilled hands momentarily wash away his stress and felt good having him there. If he had hurt him or didn't care for him in the slightest, he still had to stay by his side. Even so, he thought guiltily, I should talk about it, shouldn't I? It's not fair to him if he has to deal with my stupidity.
"Sebastian?" he asked softly.
"Yes, my lord."
"I'm sorry." He didn't say anything back, so Ceil took a deep breathe and allowed himself to just say it,"What I said to you, it was unfair of me. I know that I let Elizabeth treat me like her doll, but that's because what you told me was true. She only gets me for a few more years, and she can never hold on to me. Whether I like it or not, I will always be yours."
"Master, you don't need to apologize." he said,"The fault is mine. It is true that your soul does belong to me, but you do not. Sometimes I forget that Ciel Phantomhive can never be controlled."
Ceil smiled, but he couldn't decide if that were true any more. There was a certain demon that he would do just about anything for.
"And I am also sorry, young master. I ignored your orders and...touched you without consent. It will never happen again."
"You just did what you had to, and it was-" he coughed a little,"effective."
"No, I could have handled you differently. What I did was wrong."
"Don't say that!" Ciel yelled. Sebastian stared at him in shock, mouth agape. "Don' call it a mistake. You saved me, didn't you? I wasn't hurt, and you didn't seem to mind-"
Sebastian grabbed him and pulled him against his chest. His arms held him close and Ciel's were thrown around his neck. He almost mimicked a rocking motion on the floor with the boy's head buried into his chest.
"No, I didn't mind at all." he told him, and he wished his master could grasp the words' meaning. "But I didn't follow-"
"Forget it," Ciel said,"It doesn't matter what I said. I apologized for being unfair, so there's no use going by that order anymore."
Sebastian used his finger to tip his lord's chin up and looked at him with his eyes aglow.
"Are you asking me to touch you, young master?"
"You can touch me whenever you want to."
Ciel's breathe caught and he tried to swallow his anxiety, but Sebastian simply placed a lingering kiss on his forehead.
"Thank you, Ciel."