Sebastian walked into his master's bedroom, drawing back the curtains on the windows as he did every morning.
"My Lord, it is time to greet the day," he said loudly enough to wake him, but not startle him.
Ciel groaned.
"It is a beautiful day. Perhaps you'd like to take your morning tea outside?" Sebastian suggested.
Ciel didn't move from the cocoon of blankets that surrounded him. Sebastian sighed and seated himself on the edge of the bed, the movement of the bed dipping, finally causing Ciel to open his eyes and peer at the butler over the top of the covers.
"Good morning, my Lord," Sebastian greeted, rising to his feet and going to pull the covers off his master.
This earned a low growl from the Earl as he sat up, the sound was however cut short by him erupting into a coughing fit. Sebastian removed his white glove and placed a hand to his master's forehead.
"Maybe it is wise you stay in bed after all. You seem to be running a fever."
"I'm fine," Ciel argued, "There is too much to do for me to remain in bed."
"Actually, your schedule is clear for the day, my Lord," Sebastian reminded him, a small smirk playing at his lips.
"There is..."
"I will have Mr. Tanaka take care of the paperwork you needed to see to for the company."
Ciel sighed, "So what would you have me do, then? Stare at the walls all day?"
"Of course not. I will fetch you a couple books from the library, and then I will prepare your tea. Something with some honey in it to help coat your throat."
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By lunch time Ciel was feeling worse, but was fed up with being mollycoddled. If it wouldn't have hurt his throat, he would have groaned when Sebastian came in pushing a cart containing his lunch. He did not want to extract himself from the depths of his blankets, he was too cold.
"Today, I have prepared a chicken soup with spring vegetables," he told his master.
Ciel pulled his hands from under the covers and took the spoon from his butler, surprised by how badly his hands shook from the chills he was having.
"No, no, this won't do," Sebastian said, taking the spoon back from Ciel and situating himself beside the young man.
"What are you doing?" Ciel asked, as his butler got a spoonful of soup and held it up to his mouth.
"Feeding you soup," Sebastian said, eyebrow raised as if this weren't out of the ordinary at all.
"I am not two. I do not need to be fed," Ciel argued.
"My lord, your hands are shaking. You can't hold a spoon steady enough to feed yourself."
Ciel glared, knowing the butler's observations were true. He reluctantly leaned forward and took the spoon in his mouth, muttering something that sounded like "this is ridiculous," but was hard to make out through the mouthful of food.
For all of Ciel's complaints, he would never admit that he quite enjoyed being tended to by Sebastian, nor would he admit the level of comfort his butler's presence brought him. Despite the facade he put on of not caring about anyone or anything, he cared for his staff. He cared for Tanaka, who tended him like a grandfather would, for his servants, as absolutely useless as they were as servants, he knew they would lay down their lives for him in a heartbeat, and of course Sebastian, who was there to meet his every need (Yes, this was what he was contracted to do, but recently he felt their relationship had shifted, but couldn't explain how or why).
"See, that wasn't so bad, was it?" Sebastian asked, as Ciel finished the soup.
"Just don't feel the need to make a habit out of it," Ciel replied.
"Of course not," he replied, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, "Now, try to rest, and ring if you need anything."
"Thank you, Sebastian."
