TITLE: MALE ORDER BRIDE
SUMMARY: After being raised his whole life as a girl just to be sold as an undercover bride to a rich nobleman with some questionable choices in partners, Ciel takes matters into his own hands and arranges so that his childhood crush serves as his husband. However it's difficult when your fiancé has a boyfriend and next to no interest in your frilly clothes and girly makeup.
STORY PAIRINGS: Ciel+Sebastian, Alois+Calude
PLEASE NOTE: This story is rated M. According to the FF site, that means it has to be appropriate for ages 16+ WITHOUT explicit content, which includes adult language, themes, and suggestions. This story meets those requirements.
CHAPTER 4
"So, you're not only a rich fucker. But royalty as well," Alois said. The two had piled back into his car to escape the awkward situation.
"Yeah," he answered dully.
"And you're willing to risk potentially shaming the royal family with a male girlfriend just to make them happy?"
"Look just do this or I won't pay you," Claude sighed feeling really annoyed by now.
"Wait you're going to pay me?" Alois said grinning.
"Well, what I'm asking is worth more than a car, but payment won't actually start until I introduce you to my family as my girlfriend. Then I'll only need you for get togethers so I can show them I have a girlfriend."
"Okay… Okay…" Alois answered. His watch suddenly beeped and Alois pulled back his sleeve to check the time. "Can you drop me off back at the City?"
"You're seeing a client I guess?" Claude asked, not knowing what else to call it.
"I sure am," Alois answered leaning over to look out the window. "The most important one I have."
"Tsk," Claude frowned. The overwhelming wish of wanting to take all this back crept into his head. Kick Alois out of the car, take the clothes back and just marry whoever he was told to regardless of whether he would be happy or not… But he noticed the cutest smile had crept onto Alois' face when his watch went off, and his hand had (most likely unconsciously) came to rest on the watch as though cherishing the time. Claude wondered if he loved this guy he was going to meet. Then he supposed it was probably ridiculous that he assumed he was seeing a guy. Just because he was a male prostitute, that didn't mean his clients were going to only be male.
"Where should I drop you off? Claude asked.
"Where you almost hit me is fine," Alois answered.
"Alright, we'll start lessons in a few days. I'll pick you up here."
"I can be anything, I don't need lessons," Alois said. "Don't worry so much this is a cake walk for me."
"I don't trust you, besides I still have to get you tested," he explained. "Leave me your number."
"I don't have one," Alois explained.
"Oh, well, write your address on this," he said handing him a napkin. Alois did.
"Sure thing boss," he said jokingly as he finished handing it back.
Claude dropped him off and watched, in the rear view mirror as Alois disappeared around the nearby corner. He wasn't sure if this was going to be a good idea or not. But… worst case scenario. Alois completely screws up. He gets disowned. Then he can finally do whatever he pleases. Best case scenario, Alois passes for a girl, and his parents never suspect. Either way, Claude didn't care at this point.
Alois hurried around the corner checking his watch again as he waited for the crosswalk. Finally, it changed and he ran forward almost knocking a woman to the ground as he did. "Sorry!" he called back to her before speeding up.
Another corner and the building he was looking for came into view. He spotted it just as the bell rang and its students came piling out. A few minutes later, the brown head he was looking for came into view and Alois grinned waving at his little brother Luca.
"Big Brother!" he called running up to him happily.
"Hey squirt, what did you learn today?" Alois asked.
"I learned my times 12s."
The two walked back home together discussing everything exciting that had gone on in Luca's day.
There was a lot of yelling when Ciel walked into the kitchen the next morning and he actually had to duck as Sebastian's phone came flying at him. It zoomed past hitting the opposite wall and breaking. Sebastian was standing there looking upset.
"Sorry," he snapped at Ciel before storming over to the fridge where he took out a bottle of alcohol.
"Did…" Ciel began, not quite sure if it was his place to ask.
"Well, Grell and I are done. Again."
"Oh?" Ciel responded and realizing how happy that sounded he added another, "Oh…" The second one with a more empathetic tone.
"Eh, whatever, he'll come crawling back in a week or two. He always does," Sebastian said pouring himself a glass.
"You realize it's morning right?" Ciel asked glancing at the time.
"So?"
"Well, isn't it a little early to be drinking?"
"Never too early to get someone off your mind," Sebastian said and he felt a hand on his. Ciel was suddenly next to him delicately taking the drink from his hand. He set it on the counter.
"Come with me," he said grabbing Sebastian's hand. He went over to the door, Grabbed Sebastian's keys and the two of them walked outside locking the door behind them as they went.
"Where are we going exactly?" he asked eyeing Ciel as she went to the street out front.
"Do taxi's come down your road?" he asked.
"Nah," Sebastian answered. "We're too far away from the heart of the City. But if you wanna go somewhere I can drive."
"Okay."
"Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise," Ciel said hurrying over to the garage so the two of them could pile in the car.
Thus, they headed off. Ciel would tell Sebastian when to turn, and Sebastian would oblige. Still without a clue as to where he was going.
A forty-minute trip and they wound up outside a petting zoo.
"Really?" Sebastian sighed as he stopped the car. "Isn't this a place for little kids?"
"I took my cousin here once when she was really upset."
"She? You have a girl cousin? I thought you only had the one," Sebastian said questionably.
"Oh, no I do. Slip of the tongue… I meant he," Ciel said opening the car door. "C'mon, you'll feel better, I promise."
So Sebastian trailed after Ciel through the petting zoo, and Ciel pulled every trick he knew. He fawned over the baby animals and watched them with the most adorable eyes he could manage. At one point he purposely tripped so Sebastian would catch him. Then he pretended his ankle was hurt so Sebastian would carry him on his back. They stopped to get ice cream and got some ice for his ankle, after eating it Ciel proclaimed his leg to feel better, but he still limped on it slightly for good measure.
From Sebastian's point of view, Ciel was being absolutely adorable. She had worn and robin's egg blue sundress and had a white sun hat that had a ribbon to match. Nothing was cuter than the point where they went to see the baby Pandas and Ciel had hugged one like a Teddy bear.
On the ride home the two reflected on the day laughing and talking. He was starting to think, you know, dating a girl might not be such a bad thing after all. When he opened the door to find his Father in his home.
"Wha! Dad!" Sebastian gasped nervously. He hadn't been expecting him.
"Well, you don't call me, you don't drop me a line? Not an e-mail, not a letter? You would think in this technologically advanced world you would find some way of letting your father know you've chosen a bride."
"Uh…"
Ciel had just walked in, having been caught up with looking at his phone. He glanced up when he saw Sebastian's father.
"Oh, Mr. Michaelis… what a surprise."
"I've just heard, from a source OTHER than my son…" he snapped with another glaring look at Sebastian.
"So, you're engaged then…" he said.
"Uh…" Ciel turned to Sebastian wondering what to say. He wasn't sure how much of their story Sebastian's father knew.
"Yes," Sebastian answered. "We are indeed... Engaged… The two of us…"
His father's face split into a wide smile and he walked up to Ciel with open arms. "May I hug you sweetheart?"
"Yes?" Ciel answered nervously as he wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace.
Sebastian's father didn't a whole lot like him, but he was a handsome man, even in his older years. Ciel wasn't going to lie, if Sebastian aged as gracefully as his father he would be quite pleased to show him off in 30 years. Not that looks were important if you were in love, but they weren't really in love, so looks were very important.
"I wish your mother could have lived to see this—" he paused. Sebastian's father had reached down to take Ciel's hand, and when he brought it up to his face he stared at the ring finger on her hand. Bare as a new born babies' behind...
"Oh son," he said. "Where is her ring?"
"…" Sebastian blinked.
"You didn't get your future bride a ring? What kind of a man—" he then went off in a small tirade of how disgraceful it was to ask for someone's hand in marriage without a ring.
"Never mind him dear," he said to Ciel after finishing his spew that had begun with "back in my day." "We shall go and get you a ring now…"
"Dad, really, it's…" Sebastian began only there was no arguing with the man at this point.
"Everyone, to my limo!" he shouted, and thus they were off on a nerve racking car ride in which he asked questions like "Where did you two meet?" And "How many children are you planning on having?"
They went to a jewelry store where Sebastian's father helped him pick out a rather large and expensive ring. Sebastian was acting oddly nervous as the man behind the counter began to box it up for them.
"No need good Sir," Sebastian's father said cheerfully. "She'll take the ring now."
The clerk turned to hand it to her only his father interrupted again by smacking his son lightly upside his head. "What are you doing? Take it from him, and propose to her. The last time doesn't count because there was no ring. This one will."
Unbeknownst to Mr. Michaelis. there had never been a first time.
Sighing Sebastian took the ring and there in front of everyone in the jewelry story he got down on one knee holding it out to her.
"Ciel, will you marry me?" he asked (somewhat lamely).
Ciel didn't care though. He had thought of this moment more times than he cared to admit, so he was going to take a fake proposal just for the chance to live the moment he dreamed up so many times.
"Yes," Ciel answered, and Sebastian put the ring on his finger.
"Oh splendid," his Father said smiling. "So adorable…"
"Okay, Dad. You've seen the proposal now. You've met her. Let's go ahead and call this good for today…"
He stared at the two of them with a blank expression.
"What?" Sebastian asked frowning.
"Excuse me, but after a proposal, the couple usually kisses…"
"…"
"…"
"Go on," his father urged.
Sebastian turned to Ciel who looked absolutely nervous. He walked over to him and kissed him. It was short, it was quick, but Ciel fell warm all over from the touch and swore for a second he was going to melt right through the floor.
"Oh alright," he sighed. "My son is a bit of a downer, maybe you can liven him up a tad. You two go ahead and take my limo back. I have some business on the floor above to tend to."
They waved his Father off and the two of them got into the limo with a sigh. Sebastian rolled up the divider wall between them and the driver.
"Phew, sorry about all that…" Sebastian said awkwardly. "How did he find out?"
"…" Ciel was staring at the ring on his finger and thinking about Sebastian's father's question.
How many children are you going to have?
He sighed. None… For the first time in his life, he found himself genuinely wishing he was actually a girl…
A few weeks after the proposal they had found out that Grell had actually told Sebastian's father about them being together, which he had done out of anger. Only in the week after doing so Grell had come over many times to apologize and ask Sebastian to take him back.
Which Sebastian refused finding the fact that he told him to be a low blow.
Though at this point, Ciel and Sebastian weren't really dating either. Sebastian had proposed to him to keep up appearances in front of his father. But since then they had been living like roommates. Ciel had to secure their relationship soon to ensure Sebastian would never decide to go back on their arrangement. The only way to do that was to ensure that Sebastian actually fell in love with him. So far all of Ciel's tricks hadn't worked.
So Ciel decided to make Sebastian dinner for when he came home from work, however he had sat on the sofa waiting for the timer to go off, and fell asleep. He woke up to the sound of his name.
"CIEL!"
His eyes shot open from the sound of panic in the phrase and noticed smoke pouring from the kitchen and Sebastian standing at the door. Instantly realizing what he had done Ciel jumped to his feet and hurried for the kitchen only he was stopped.
Sebastian had rushed forward too grabbing Ciel and picking him up in his arms, he rushed out the door with him and sat Ciel on the ground. "Just stay here," he shouted before hurrying back inside.
Ciel jumped to his feet and ran to the door but it was too smoky to see anything inside. The smoke cleared out after a few minutes and Sebastian came back looking tired. "What were you trying to cook?" he asked exasperated as he reached the door where Ciel was peeking around it only half way.
"Lasagna," he answered softly. A bit like a child answering a parent after being scolded.
"Have you never cooked before?" he asked.
"I have," Ciel said. "I just… fell asleep…"
Sebastian stared at her. Only one eye visible as the other was covered up by the door pane. Her face slightly reddened from embarrassment. Sebastian couldn't help but smile. "You know, if I ever did fall in love with a girl, I would want her to be just like you."
Ciel's face got even redder at that point and she hid it completely behind the door frame.
Laughing slightly, he grabbed her hand and brought her inside taking her to the kitchen. "Well, the whatever it was is black as coal and hard as a rock… So let's go out to eat."
"I'm sorry," Ciel said softly looking down at the ground.
"Eh," Sebastian shrugged. "This shit happens."
He started walking to the doorway only Ciel didn't move. He remained staring at the ground.
"Hey," Sebastian said walking back over to her. "It's okay."
He put a hand on her chin tilting her head up, and he placed a light kiss on her forehead. "It might not be so bad… Dating a girl. Would you like to try going out with me?"
"Oh a date?" Ciel asked nervously.
"Well, we're engaged after all, we could at least try going out on a date," Sebastian pointed out. "We can go right now, unless you want to change."
"Uh, no I'm fine," she said and then she looked down. "Do you want me to change?"
Sebastian really didn't have too much preference when it came to women's clothing. As long as it was fitted and didn't look awful he didn't really care. "You look beautiful," he said smiling.
The two left after double checking that everything was turned off before they went.
Thirty minutes later they were at a beautiful restaurant that Sebastian didn't wait in line for (and there had been many people waiting).
He pulled out Ciel's chair before he sat and Ciel felt the butterflies in his stomach fluttering like crazy. The person he had had a crush on for so long and he was sitting right across from him on a date.
"What would like, order anything," Sebastian said smiling.
Ciel took the menu and glanced down the column. Everything was very expensive, it was all stuff he was very used to eating, though he also didn't want to come across as an expensive date. So he purposely picked food that fell in between the most expensive and least.
Sebastian waved to the waiter who came immediately when he raised his arm and placed their order.
That was when the worst thing that could have happened on their date happened…
"Ciel!"
Ciel looked up to find Gerard walking over to their table.
"Oh shit," Ciel cursed under his breath.
Sebastian looked up at that and his frown stiffened. He remembered instantly upon seeing his face. That day came back into his mind so clear. When Ciel had been just a little girl, when Gerard had taken her upstairs. Then the look on Ciel's face when he retold the story about how Gerard had visited their home.
He walked over grinning.
"What is this exactly? Out to eat?" he said smiling.
"We're on a date actually," Sebastian told him rather stiffly.
"Oh is that so," he said smiling and pulling a chair from another table he sat down with them, sitting a little closer to Ciel than Sebastian. "I won't stay too long then."
He immediately launched into Hotel business conversation with Sebastian, and Ciel tried to sit as far back in his chair as possible. He felt sick, if Gerard mentioned he was a boy in front of Sebastian… then…
"And how have you been Ciel darling?" Gerard asked suddenly turning to him.
"Fine," Ciel answered.
"Do you like your new house, you know mine is much bigger. It has many more rooms, and I actually have servants at my manor."
"I don't have servants because I don't want them," Sebastian snapped.
"But that is rather cruel isn't it?" Gerard said. "So what? You leave all the cleaning to this delicate angel?"
When he said the last sentence Gerard had reached over running his fingers through the strands of Ciel's wig, Ciel however couldn't back away any further without getting up out of the chair, and he didn't want to make a scene either. To Ciel's surprise Sebastian had said nothing, but merely watched as Ciel recoiled slightly from his fingers.
"Not at all, I have someone who comes and professionally cleans once a month, and in-between time we all just pick up our fair share…
"Still, Ciel isn't cut out for work, you should be kinder to her," he explained. "I would have been…"
"Yes, well, you're a touch too old for her don't you think?" Sebastian asked.
"And he's a touch too male for you don't you think? But I forgot you like that don't you?"
Ciel's heart fell through the floor at those words. However, Sebastian didn't seem to have caught what he said. Perhaps he was too angry for he snapped back rather sternly. "If you're not joining us then we would like to be left in peace."
"If you're going to be that way, fine… I shall take my leave and let you all get back to your date," he said. "Well, then. Until later Ciel…"
He bent down placing a hand on the side of Ciel's neck grabbing her throat rather firmly before tilting her head up to place a quick kiss on her forehead. He couldn't take it, Ciel jumped up claiming to need to use the restroom before hurrying off.
"Well, it doesn't take much to turn her on does it?" he teased watching her hurry off before turning to Sebastian. Apparently he mistook her running away for something other than what it was, disgust.
Gerard reached out to shake his hand and Sebastian took it firmly before swinging him around pulling his arm behind Gerard's back and shoving him into the table. Every head in the room turned looking shocked.
"I'm not a child anymore Mr. Gerard. Scare tactics won't work on me," Sebastian whispered into his ear while shoving his face into the table cloth. "If you ever lay a hand on Ciel again I'll break every finger on that hand. Got it?"
With that he let him stand back up. Sebastian's drink, which had spilled in the process of all this, was now all down the front of Gerard's nicely pressed suit.
"You've gone too far this time. I demand to speak to the owner!" He snapped turning to a waiter who looked horrified at being addressed.
"Yes, Mr. Gerard. How may I help you?" Sebastian said softly.
"Wha… I want to speak to the owner!"
Sebastian (rather lazily) pointed over to the entrance-way where a rather fancy Michaelis was shining in lights above the door.
Looking rather upset Gerard marched over to the exit without looking back.
"Someone bring me another table please, I'm not longer sure where this one has been…" Sebastian said softly. Instantly two waiters came and carried the table away bringing a new one in its place. They were re-filling Sebastian's glass as Ciel came back.
"Sorry," Ciel said taking a seat.
"No worries, I doubt Gerard will be bothering you again," he said.
"You talked to him?" Ciel asked blinking.
"Yeah… we talked…"
Sorry for the wait guys. I found myself with some time so I thought I would update. I know it's kinda short, but the next part I wanna write just didn't fit with this section. So I broke it up here. In the next chapter, Sebastian finally learns that Ciel is a boy! O.o Ohs nos! Whatever will happen now? XP Stay tuned to find out! :3
