Author's Note: Here is another instalment. Set prior to the private ball for invited guests, Ciel and Sebastian. Claude is awakened by Alois being wildly unpredictable. Enjoy.

Alois and Claude Continued

Claude normally rose before any other in the Trancy household, as was his duty. However on this particular morning, he did not wake first. He awoke to the hot breath of someone whispering softly in his ear.

"Claude. Claude. Wake up Claude."

The demon butler did not want to open his eyes upon recognising his caller to be Alois in an odd mood. When he felt a weight settle atop of his torso though, he was left with little alternative. Upon opening his eyes, he was met with the sight of a naked master sprawled along the length of his body, head resting on his arms and a predatory smile etched on his face. "Good morning, Claude. Can you guess what I'm going to say to you now?"

"I'm sure I don't know, Highness."

"I was going to ask you if you want to play with me before you start work." Alois said whilst reaching forward and tracing a line down Claude's left cheek. "That old pervert Trancy used to fondle my arse for almost an hour before defiling me. I think his hands were the same size as yours. It was the only part of it all I liked. So, would you like to play with me for a while?" The demon loathed and detested this human almost more than any other he had known. The boy simply had no breeding whatsoever and was foul all the way through. Only his rare soul had any merit and even that was only as a meal. If it were not for his pact with Sebastian, Claude would have killed him already. He answered with usual politeness.

"No thank you, Highness."

"And if I ordered you?"

"I would comply naturally. You are my master until the end."

"Well, too bad, Claude because I'm never letting you near it!" Alois said with a giggle, "You're not even good enough to kiss it!" The youth added rearing up so that he straddled his butler through the bedsheets. Claude supposed it was good Alois was not an ugly child or the entire situation would definitely be beyond his resolve. He was pleasing to look at, the demon decided, so long as he did not open his mouth. Claude nodded.

"Of course not, Highness."

"Oh, I'm only teasing Claude! You're welcome to kiss it anytime you wish, I promise." Alois said before his smile faded away and he averted his eyes to another part of the room, "But just you, Claude. Nobody else is allowed to even touch me. Just you." Claude enjoyed the boy's brief moments of melancholy and unease: it at least explained why on earth he had agreed to a contract in the first place, given how manic and extrovert Alois could be on a daily basis. He also liked the boy's malicious and cruel whims. It showcased the hateful qualities that were key in flavouring the soul as well, one he now hoped never to taste. Claude nodded again.

"Of course, Highness. Would you like me to dress you this morning?"

"No, not yet. You don't even have to get up for another half-hour. I just want to lie with you for a while, just while it's still quiet." Alois said whilst settling into a half-embrace atop of his torso. Claude felt the boy shiver as he laid still. He did not want to attend to a sick child of this horrid creature's ilk and so accepted the path of least discomfort.

"Highness, might I suggest you come underneath the bedcovers? You seem cold." The demon suggested. He was met with bright and grateful eyes from his master. There was even an appreciative smile of slightly crooked white teeth. Ciel's were straight.

"That would be wonderful, Claude."

Claude bore the indignity of having a nude workhouse youth wriggle his way into his bed and then once again lie atop of him like some kind of pathetic dog desperate for attentions. The demon begrudgingly embraced Alois against him, prompting the boy to squeeze him back. Claude supposed his fragrance was not unpleasant since he had taken to regular baths. He smelled faintly of lilacs from the scented soaps used and did possess distractingly soft hair. "Are you comfortable, Highness?"

"No more Highnesses, Claude: call me Alois while we're here like this." The boy murmured, turning his head to rest just under the demon's chin. Claude loathed informality in such an arrangement. It displayed an incredible lack of etiquette and tarnished the very foundation of servitude as an institution. It bred familiarity and was above all contemptible. He could not wait for Sebastian to dispose of this one. He already knew Ciel would be so much sweeter by comparison. He nodded.

"As you wish, Alois."

"You're a sport, Claude, truly you are. The only grown-ups I've ever shared a bed with have hurt me. But not you. It means a great deal to a brat like me." Claude was tired of hearing this repeated story of plight. Alois had a penchant to tell the same story three times a day, as if it justified all his loutish behaviour and abrasive personality. It was tedious to listen to, but he tolerated it for the soul promised to him by Sebastian. Barely. He nodded.

"I appreciate your kind words, Alois."

"Well, you shouldn't, Claude. You deserve better than me. I'm too coarse and cheap for you to serve as you do." The boy told him with more than a little self-depreciation. Claude found his interest in Alois rejuvenated for the first time in months. He had never heard this particular thread of thought. It was different than the usual drivel in any case. The demon gave a brief stroke of the boy's hair to coax him into further conversation.

"Why do you think that, Alois? Am I not a good butler to you?"

"You're perfect, Claude. You should serve perfect people, not orphans like me. Old Trancy even called me a tart sometimes."

"When would he say that?"

"When he hit me. He was rough when he got going you see." Claude supposed even though there were many derogatory terms he would label his current master with, being a tart was not one of them, despite his sordid past. The boy was a survivor, not a whore.

"You are not a bad choice for a master, Alois. You're merely a little rough around the edges. You're certainly not a tart." This was at least partly true. Although Alois was not the worst candidate this race had to offer for contract, he was far greater than a 'little rough'. The boy was so uncouth, Claude thought of sandpaper whenever he saw him, no matter the circumstances. Alois sighed in response to this reply and squeezed him again.

"That's nice of you to say. I'm always safe with you, aren't I, Claude?"

"Until the time comes and you have gained your revenge, you will always be safe." This statement was only true for the time being. If Alois did not stop focusing on him and start concentrating his energies on trying to kill Sebastian, Claude would need to expedite the process. For now, this child could count on his protection. Until Ciel was ready to end him. "Is there a particular reason why you're unclothed, Alois?"

"You haven't dressed me yet."

"I haven't undressed you yet either."

"True. I guess I just wanted to see how you'd react. I was partly hoping it would annoy you."

"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you." Claude said stroking his master's hair for a longer time. Yes, distractingly soft in texture. The demon considered another incongruity of the situation. "How did you know what time I arise in the morning? I always wake you."

"Sometimes I don't sleep. I have nightmares about Luca and I can't sleep again. Don't get mad, but sometimes I come and sit in your room early in the morning. It helps me feel okay." Claude could not hide his surprise at this revelation. He had never been unaware of another presence in his immediate vicinity, even whilst sleeping, but Alois claimed to have evaded his finely tuned senses on several occasions. Judging from this morning's performance, the demon was inclined to believe him. It was a rare talent for a human to sneak up on a demon. Again, it made the boy interesting.

"I…had no idea my presence gave you that much comfort, Alois."

"After my brother, you're probably my favourite person in the whole world." Alois said coming up onto his elbows so Claude could see his smiling expression. Yes, he was pleasing to look at, very much so. The demon supposed honesty was an honourable trait, perhaps even respectable. When he suddenly felt soft lips press against his cheek for the briefest of moments, he almost felt sorry for his master's misplaced trust in him. Almost. "You're also probably the handsomest person in the world." Alois added running a hand through Claude's hair, "More so than Sebastian anyway. I think it's the gold eyes. Phantomhive's demon has awful red eyes, just like you'd expect from the murdering bastard. But not you. Your eyes are beautiful."

Claude was flattered by the compliment. The favourable comparison to Sebastian was refreshing after so many snide remarks by Alois about the other demon's superiority to him in past days. For a short time after, Claude could almost look past all his master's faults. The calluses on the boy's hands did taint the compliment slightly, but it was bearable. The demon smiled at the boy perched on his chest, prompting Alois to widen his in escalation.

"You're very kind, Alois." Claude said gripping both of his master's slender shoulders and squeezing them, "And very beautiful yourself."

"I think I could listen to you say that all day, Claude, but we should get up and prepare for their second coming. I want Sebastian dead as soon as possible."

"They shan't be here until tomorrow, Highness." Claude said, noticing there had been a sizeable enough shift in the tone of the conversation to warrant a different address. The boy had become ruthless and bloodthirsty again and all his pining was inexplicably forgotten in the aftermath. He hoped Alois would make a good show of his demise and not simply cry. The demon strangely wanted dignity for his master's death, not humiliation. The boy grinned.

"But we don't want them to get away again, do we? That means making sure everything's as it should be. I want you and the others to make sure he dies horribly. Do I have to order you?"

"No, Your Highness. I understand and will begin to make preparations as soon as you're dressed and fed."

"Excellent. Oh Claude! He's finally going to die! That evil bastard is finally going to die for what he's done and you're going to get your soul!" Alois practically crowed before flinging back the covers and leaping out of bed. Claude watched this complete switch of mood in fascination as the boy danced and skipped out of the room without any regard for his modesty. He was literally as common as muck and just as likely to be trodden on when the time came. "Come and dress me in a little while, Claude! I want to watch you prepare everything for tomorrow's fun!" Alois called from the hallway. Claude smiled as he thought of the youth's blood staining the ground and his eyes glazing over in the aftermath of confrontation.

"Yes, Your Highness."