1. Embrace
Decked out in true Indian fashion, Ciel no longer recognises his old summer home. Once drawing room is now a paradise of overstuffed cushions, rugs of exotics beats and lavish wall hangings, Ciel almost disappears into the soft furbishing as his hosts do their best to make him feel welcomed.
Per the social hierarchy, Sebastian and Agni stand docile by the doors.
Soma however, calls the all too willing Agni over from his station, dragging him down and both men lose identity of whose arm belongs to whom as the cushions literally suck and unbalance their intertwined limbs and they laugh over the scene their causing.
Ciel can't decide where to look, awkwardness written over his face and settles on glancing at Sebastian, then quickly averts his eyes before his actions can be misinterpreted. The regal Prince never misses a beat though. Shaking strands of violet out of his eyes, his smile is almost coy.
"Don't you ever think to reward your servant, Ciel?"
The Earl snorts, as if even suggesting such a thing is offensive. "Sebastian is aware that he is appreciated."
Soma pouts, at last having got all limbs back, Agni settled beside him on his stomach. The teenager has yet to realise how different their countries customs are. Thanking a butler, showing affection, it just isn't done.
"What does Sebastian say about this?"
"It is as my Master says."
Ciel shoots the chocolate skinned men a so there look. Which turns to apprehension as Sebastian continues. "However being told and shown, are two separate matters entirely."
Golden eyes light up, and Soma claps his hands together as a child does over a new discovery. "Then it's settled. Ciel, give you butler a cuddle. . . come now, that look says you would rather hug an alligator. . . oh gosh, I'm remembering the other day when we had that accident with the fireplace. A fat ember leapt out and it nearly burnt down one of the throw rugs. It would be ever such a shame if another 'accident' happened and burnt the entire house to the ground. We might even have to move back in with the Earl. . ."
"Sebastian, come over here."
"Understood."
Looking as uncooperative as ever, yet resigned, Ciel sits up a little straighter as his butler comes towards him, kneeling onto the ground to be roughly the same height. "Please look a little happier about it, young Master," Sebastian sighs. "Aren't you supposed to be showing your gratitude for all the years I've served you?"
You pig is what nearly escapes the boys lips, but he keeps them tightly closed. Loosely, his arms loop around Sebastian's broad shoulders, instinctively pulling the demon in tighter as Sebastian mimics his Master, hand span large enough to almost cover the panels of Ciel's back.
Tartly, he ignores and n'awwwwws from behind, pressing his lips to Sebastian's ear and hisses; "Prepare to get one hell of a reprimand at home."
"I look forward to it," is the dark rumble he gets in reply, trying to pass off his shivers as tossing hair out of his eye.
92. Cold
Soma stares sourly at him, arms and legs crossed on the leather hid couch. Ciel keeps his china cup to his lips, taking long, phantom sips from the tea dregs- avoiding the inevitable.
"You don't thank your butler."
Ciel's visible cobalt eye snaps to the Prince's, knuckles white from holding onto the cup for so long. Sighing forlornly, the sound of metal chiming merrily together rings out as Soma shifts his head- his layers of tops and heavy jewellery, baggy pants ill fitting for the summer heat.
"You don't thank your butler?"
Ciel feels his eyebrow tick in suppressed rage. His medical patch itches across his eye, Sebastian having swapped from typical eyepatch as the stiff leather doesn't let his skin breathe underneath in the summer heat.
"You don't th-"
"No matter what accentuation you put on it, it's not going to change!" Ciel blurts out, whacking his chine down on the table top. "This is Great Britain, who would ever thank their butler in this day and age?" the child stands with tight composure, heels clipping against the wooden floor boards as he agitatedly stalks to peer out the window.
This is the second time he's been bugged about this.
Speak of the devil- as it were- he spies Sebastian in the rose bushes in the middle of the courtyard. The intense heat this year has made them bloom beautifully. As Ciel's gaze settles on his butler's bobbing back, the head trimmers pause mid slash, and the demon turns slightly as the contract burns both of them.
Flustered, Ciel withdraws before Sebastian can catch him out on his spying.
"That doesn't make any sense," Soma grunts, picking at an imaginary spot of lint on his knee. "Your country doesn't make any sense."
"Soma," Ciel says in his no bullshitting voice. "I think it's just you. As the master of the house, it's the vassal's job to do their wishes with no complaint and expect no reward. Most are just grateful to have a roof over their heads and hot meals at night."
The Prince looks even more displeased at this. "But it's common courtesy. And I'm sure Sebastian would appreciate a gesture of gratitude once in a while. Just think about it," he tries again, as Ciel stubbornly shakes his head. "That man takes care of you and has done so much- it might not even be a stretch to say he loves you- what's a one off?"
"Hmpf," Ciel grunts, thinking that anybody who's going to end up eating him doesn't deserve one spit of thanks.
83. Choices
The maid is clumsy, perhaps a loss of footing or shaking hands, either way, the scorching pot of tea drops from her fingers and splashes all down the head of the Phantomhive's chest and legs. Ciel's eyes go round as his father's expression flickers from surprise to well controlled calm.
With shrill cries, the maid apologises blunderingly, trying to wipe up the worst of the damage. Ciel can see his father's neck slowly turning red from the heat of the tea. He expects the punishment to follow swiftly. A raised hand, striking her down, hitting her with the china set, flicking out his belt- Ciel has seen it happen hundreds of times when at luncheons with other families.
But his father doesn't do any of these.
Smiling charmingly, he taps the maid's hands, and politely tells her not to worry and to please fetch Tanaka with a fresh change of clothes.
Once alone, Ciel asks him about it.
"As the masters, we have the freedom to hurt others that cannot stop it. We have the choice, they do not. If we're forever unkind, even to those beneath us, where would it get us?"
56. Appreciate
Ciel chickens out at the last second, leaving the wrapped gift on top of Sebastian's pillow for him to discover after serving tonight's dinner.
94. Panic
The moon has just touched the top of his window, and Ciel patiently waits on the edge of his bed, internal clock telling him it's about a minute before Sebastian will routinely undress then put him to bed. Brushing back his over grown fringe, Ciel carefully pulls his medical patch off and sets it on his night table, slowly blinking his glowing eye as it adjusts in the darkness. A puddle of lavender light shadows his cheekbones.
He doesn't know why he still asks for this to be done, he's technically an adult now. Maybe because it reminds him a little of when his own parents used to tuck him in at night-
Ciel's head jerks as the doors creak open, Sebastian's face shimmering in the halos of candles he holds. The out of place red fabric around his neck catches in the orange glows, and Ciel goes instantaneously scarlet, heart doing a lunge upwards and he dives under his sheets, ramming his pillow over his embarrassed face. He can't believe Sebastian has the nerve to wear it!
"I'm fine like this!" he lies, day clothes rumple as he cocoons himself. "You can go!"
The gentle tap of the candle holder being set down and Sebastian's sly chuckle makes Ciel's freeze up, eyes squeezing shut in added protection. If possible, he feels his cheeks burn harder as Sebastian tries to tug the pillow off, other hand shimmying under the covers to grasp at his arm.
"Sebastian! I'm ordering you to lea-" Ciel plays his last, desperate, trump card, words choking off suddenly as Sebastian's wondering hand clamps down over his mouth.
"My, my, is that rude mouth of yours telling me to go away?" the Earl can hear the smile in his voice, and is only released when he stops worming about. He feels one of Sebastian's fingers trace over his bottom lip in a- keep it that way, kind of gesture. "Won't you show me your face, young Master?" he says in a voice Ciel can imagine he has used on his previous victims before licking them up.
He shakes his head furiously, fingers tightening on the only shield he has.
The faint disheartened sigh is evidence he has won. "Pride before fall is it? Very well."
Ciel feels the back of his head being exposed as Sebastian lifts the top half of the pillow up, then the hot crush of his butler's weight as he leans over to nuzzle into the revealed skull. "That was very sweet of you," Sebastian rumbles, Ciel helplessly clutching at the pillow and feeling as if he's about to die from shame.