A Dizzying Buildup

Ciel wanted nothing more than to dunk his head into ice water. His head throbbed painfully, and there seemed to be no end in sight. He crossed his legs and gripped the chair's arms, trying to concentrate on what Lord Campbell was telling him.

"…naturally, if you're still looking to go overseas, you'll have to make a couple sacrifices when it comes to the initial sales price. It's expected that some profits may drop to their lowest, while others skyrocket, depending on the country's demand."

"Of course, I understand," Ciel replied, trying not to grit his teeth. "Do you have any recommendations for which companies may be best to work with?"

Clapping his hands, Lord Campbell started listing off different companies, and Ciel automatically tuned him out. This kind of work never caused him to have headaches on this level. If anything, they only occurred when he was stressed to the extreme, and that only tended to happen when he was swamped with company work, where he had to meet a deadline, as well as having to solve a tedious case for the Queen. And let's not forget his servants' constant blunders.

"Ciel?" his father's voice called him back, and Ciel realized that he had taken to pinching the bridge of his nose. Looking up sharply and causing his vision to swivel, Ciel stood up abruptly.

"I'm sorry, I think I need some fresh air," he explained, the room suddenly hot and stuffy. "If you'll excuse me…" Before either of the men could grab him, he flew out of the room and down the hallway, heading towards the gardens.

He half expected it to be burnt down, but the gardens were well trimmed and luscious as ever. The mid-spring air was refreshing, and he could feel the heavy throb between his eyes die down considerably as he took a deep breath.

Glancing at his pocket watch, Ciel felt a little relief. At least it would be understandable to want to leave after a three hour discussion. Granted, he could've left a little more graciously, but he knew it couldn't be helped. His head felt like it was going to explode…

"Master?" a voice addressed from behind, making Ciel jump. Sebastian had appeared behind him as he turned on his heel, but Ciel relaxed at the sight of the butler.

"What, Sebastian? Don't you see I'm busy?" Ciel snapped, not in the mood to deal with the man.

Sebastian smiled and made a curt bow. Ciel noticed that he had hedge clippers in one hand, and felt a little disappointed that Sebastian had actually been doing something out here. "My apologies, I just thought you were having a meeting with Earls Phantomhive and Campbell is all."

"Just because you don't see them out here doesn't mean that our business is over," Ciel retorted, feeling weary as he looked around for other servants. He spotted two, but they were too busy and too far away to notice them disputing. "I'm just taking a short break."

Ciel knew that he was only setting himself up by explaining everything. Sebastian raised an eyebrow at him, his smile deepening. "Is the work too much for you, my lord?"

Holding back a scoff as well as a hand that just itched to fly, Ciel merely turned his back on Sebastian, intending to continue his much needed walk. Unfortunately, Ciel could hear Sebastian falling into step behind him. He kept walking, ignoring his butler.

"Don't you have something you should be doing?" Ciel asked with a hint of annoyance as he rounded a hedge. Turning around he looked Sebastian in the eye. Why was Sebastian acting so insolent?

'He's not a daemon, he's just a butler. A young butler,' his mind told him traitorously as his eyes moved down Sebastian's body on their own accord. His mind's eye replayed their night at the inn, and Ciel tried with all his might to keep a blush from tinting his face.

Because his past supposedly never happened, and this was who he'd turn out to be if everything in his life were normal, was he, Ciel Phantomhive to come to have feelings for his butler? Ever since he and Elizabeth separated, his mind ran loose, and Ciel caught himself thinking how attractive Sebastian truly was.

As a daemon, Ciel knew that Sebastian's human form held a certain handsome appeal. He'd catch all the young women's lustful gazes whenever they travelled to London, or when he had to host an event. He wasn't oblivious; he just never saw the appeal in Sebastian, knowing his true intentions. First and foremost, he knew it was because he was a guy, and secondly, even if there was some kind of attraction, it wasn't allowed.

So why was he feeling this way now? Yes, he was in an eighteen year old body, but as a fifteen year old, he had already been introduced to a world of such things. Was this reality meant for him to find Sebastian attractive, or was it something else he'd overlooked?

Was it because Sebastian was a human, Ciel knew that he wouldn't get hurt?

No, humans hurt humans, he knew that. Yet…

Somehow he had ended up on his back, his shirt pushing into the slightly damp grass. Sebastian was over him, his knee in between Ciel's open legs, pressing suggestively. His necktie was loose, the top three buttons of his white shirt undone, showing milky skin. Sebastian's musky scent overwhelmed him.

For a moment, Ciel panicked. What if someone were to see? He couldn't really see around Sebastian, but he realized that he had unconsciously led them in between two large hedges, where no one would see them. Ciel relaxed, his mind telling him that he only had spotted two gardeners when he first came out. Then his attention muddled.

Swallowing a moan as lips caressed his collarbone, Ciel once again felt a little dumbfounded as he didn't utter a single protest. Shivering against Sebastian's hot breath that trailed over his exposed skin, Ciel's hands moved involuntarily, smoothing over Sebastian's back, unconsciously pulling the butler closer.

In some way this felt…right, even though Ciel knew it was wrong. His mind was screaming it was wrong. But the senses of want and lust that he had pointedly ignored were rushing to him, ordering him to surrender. Ciel knew that this wasn't right, but he didn't want to stop.

Rolling his head back and exposing his neck, Sebastian set to the offered flesh, his gloved hands slithering down Ciel's trembling sides. A breathy moan escaped Ciel's lips as that skillful mouth moved along his jaw, hot breath circling his ear as Sebastian sucked around an earring.

"Sebas–" Ciel arched in pleasure, his breath catching in his throat as one of Sebastian's hands stole into his shirt, skimming over an erect nipple and back again. His hands tightened into the butler's jacket, as if holding onto dear life.

Somewhere his mind was trying to remind him of his past, of how much he hated to be touched. But this reality…this life he was living didn't have that horrible past. There were no traces of it. His hated brand mark was gone, and any scars were invisible. Ciel's fears didn't rise, not even with Sebastian, who was so familiar to him. It was like it never happened. It never happened.

Sebastian pulled back, his figure darker looking as it blocked the sun. Ciel's breath came out raggedly and his skin tingled. "Why?" he managed to ask, needing something, anything concrete for an answer.

The butler leaned close to him, that trademark smirk playing on his lips. "You're too irresistible a master."

Lips descended on his, and Ciel moaned, his eyes closing on their own accord. Warmth spread into his face as Sebastian's lips massaged his own, his tongue seeking entrance. Without too much thought, Ciel allowed it and their kiss deepened, their tongues battling, their breaths becoming comfortably heavy.

Ciel knew that as a daemon Sebastian only truly lusted over souls. Not the bodies or the minds, but a person's soul. All daemons were like that, and Ciel never thought twice about it.

But humans didn't lust over souls. Humans desired bodies and minds and control. If they truly proved to have heart, they desired other people with genuine love, showing their attraction and feelings toward one another.

Ciel had never experienced this. He wasn't even sure if this was it. This human Sebastian seemed to be expressing it, though. But humans could also be deceiving, couldn't they? Ciel of all people knew that.

Nevertheless, Ciel was reduced to a quivering mess as Sebastian continued his ministrations, dragging his tongue down his torso, proceeding to further unbutton his shirt to reach his barely exposed hips.

"Sebas-tian! Sto-stop!" Ciel begged in between breaths when he felt hands slide closer and closer to…to…

Sebastian looked up at him at his plea, his grin still in place. "The master would like to stop here of all places?"

The smoldering look Sebastian gave him with those dark, human eyes sent a shiver of pleasure up Ciel's spine, but he pulled himself up to sit, his trembling hands trying to re-button his shirt. As much as he found he didn't want to, Ciel knew that they had to stop…for now. They couldn't possibly continue in the garden.

Warm hands incased his own, pulling them away before he ripped the thin fabric. Catching Ciel off guard as he looked up to interrogate, Sebastian smacked their lips together one last time, purposely biting down on his master's lower lip. Ciel faltered for a second before pressing back with a desperation that surprised him.

"Allow me, my lord," Sebastian said as he drew back, his hands letting go of Ciel's to button his master's shirt back up.

Ciel breathed deeply, attempting to catch his breath as he tried to make any sense of it all while Sebastian made him presentable. However, the only thought that came to mind was that he had presently cheated on Elizabeth. Oddly enough, it didn't bother him as much as he knew it should.

Pulling his master up, Sebastian gave Ciel another look over, brushing off the grass that stuck to his back. Ciel's lips tingled, but he was able to surround himself with a comfortable and cool air again as he straightened his back.

He supposed that the only really good thing about Sebastian was that he claimed not to know him well. Ciel could act as cold around him as he wanted, and thankfully Sebastian wasn't deterred by it. Looking off to the side, he said as seriously as he could, "We'll discuss this later."

A hand over his heart and bowing low, Sebastian answered with that all too familiar line that sent one last shiver up his spine, "Yes, my lord."

"It's such a shame Ann had business out near Manchester, I was hoping that she'd have time to stop by since you're here, Ciel," his mother talked over dinner, thanking Sebastian as he poured her another glass of wine.

"When was this?" Ciel asked. During their Easter break here, Aunt Angelina had stopped by, but Ciel hadn't been able to have much of a conversation with her, as he had focused on his parents.

However, from what he'd been able to gather, Aunt Angelina was a successful doctor, and that she still lived to make appearances as Madam Red at parties all over the London area. Ciel was relieved to find that she had no business to become Jack the Ripper, but he still wondered about whether or not she had inner turmoil.

Wiping her mouth, his mother replied, "I'd say about a day or two before you came down. Such ill timing…"

Ciel waved his hand. "Don't worry about it too much, mother." Perhaps he would see her when she came back. Yes, he'd visit Aunt Angelina when she came back.

His mother and father chatted quietly as they ate, and Ciel happily listened to them tease one another over small, insignificant matters. Ciel wondered if they always did that. He never really paid that much attention when he was younger.

As Tanaka brought out their dessert, Ciel ate leisurely, finding ways to talk about news that he really hadn't read up on yet. The conversation didn't seem strained or boring like always, and he found himself enjoying the comfortable atmosphere of it all. He laughed and made small jokes, but hardened a little whenever Elizabeth was mentioned, saying the minimal.

"It just seems like yesterday when you were the child who was always sick and frightened of thunderstorms," his mother cooed with a happy sigh, lacing her fingers with her husband's. "Now you're all grown up and on your own, living life." Her blue eyes sparkled, obviously recalling the past with Ciel.

Ciel couldn't help but smile at that, said smile widening when he caught his father rolling his eyes at his wife's mushiness. "I think she's had a bit too much to drink," his father stage whispered to him.

"Oh Vincent, don't go saying something I'm not," his mother protested with a wide smile, tugging them both up to their feet and wrapping her arms around his.

"I just said you probably had too much to drink, I never said you were drunk," his father retorted playfully, wrapping an arm around her waist for good measure. "Come on, I'll take you to bed." They started to leave when his father stopped and addressed Ciel, "Half an hour?"

Wiping his mouth and nodding that he understood, Ciel replied, "Fine by me."

As Ciel sat there watching his parents leave, he could honestly say for the first time in a long time that he was genuinely happy.

"Are you feeling alright?"

"I'm fine, I just had a headache. Lord Campbell had a lot to say. I hope I didn't embarrass you in any way."

Sitting down behind his desk and motioning for his son to do the same, Ciel's father waved his hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it. Campbell's always been a longwinded fellow. You just left so abruptly."

Ciel nodded, tired of talking about his health at this point. "So what did you want to discuss?"

His father fiddled with some drawers and pulled out some files, his face suddenly grave and weary. He gave a sigh and ran a hand through his hair to show his distress, but Ciel said nothing.

"I've gotten some orders from the Queen recently," the man explained, a professional note in his voice. "It doesn't have to be immediately, but she wants you to start becoming more involved in the work, since you're next in line."

Again, Ciel found himself feigning inexperience. "This will mean training, correct?"

"Of sorts," his father compromised. "She wants you to become more hands on, rather than just looking at the paperwork. I'll have to teach you about where to go about looking for evidence, as well as who you can trust. I believe you met Undertaker the last time you accompanied me, right?"

"Uh, yeah." Ciel wondered how low his father had to go when it came to telling jokes to get information out of the weirdo. He certainly felt like filth when he was done.

"Right." His father shuffled through some of the papers and handed him some, then proceeded to explain a couple cases and the type of work he had to do to solve each and every one. To Ciel, most of them sounded rather easy, while others he decided were definitely difficult. Granted, he probably accomplished many because of Sebastian…

As Ciel listened, he filled with dread when he started to feel that dull throb between his eyes starting to return. He concentrated on what his father was saying and it didn't grow, but his throat started to itch, and he coughed, his father paying no mind to it.

"…I haven't gotten any cases from the Queen in the last three weeks, probably due to the holiday, but I've been instructed that you are to go along with me on the next one I get, as well as the next three after."

Nodding that he understood, Ciel tried his best not to start coughing like he was terribly sick. But his throat burned and itched, and his head felt stuffy and heavy, that dull pounding still there. He tried swallowing, but that only made things worse, and involuntarily, he started coughing uncontrollably.

"Ciel? Ciel!" His father shot up and rounded the large desk, gently taking his shoulders as he doubled over, hacking like there was no tomorrow. He felt like he couldn't breathe and he wheezed with a gut wrenching sound, the air not quite reaching his lungs.

Ciel felt himself starting to panic as his vision started to go. There was no doubt he was having an asthma attack, but what had caused it?

"Ciel, listen to me," his father was saying, but Ciel had pretty much tuned him out, his coughs now violent and soring his throat. He could feel himself being lowered to the floor, his back against the desk, but this position did little to nothing to help alleviate his current condition. Tears and black spots blurred his vision and he started to feel lightheaded.

The door banged, but no one ran in, so his father must've run out for help. Ciel clutched at his chest, trying to calm himself, but the lack of air was working against him. He could feel his lightheadedness turning into nausea as his stomach churned. He felt like he'd suffocate when he felt bile rising, and he clamped a hand over his mouth. Like hell he'd dirty his father's office!

Voices suddenly filled the room and hands were on his shoulders, bending him this way and that. Squeezing his eyes shut as he couldn't hold it in anymore, Ciel emptied the contents of his stomach into a bucket that appeared before him. He coughed a couple times more and desperately gasped for air as tears ran down his cheeks, his windpipe finally relieved.

"Ciel, do you remember those exercises we taught you when you were little?" his father was asking him from one of his sides. "Just take slow, deep breaths. In and out," the man coached him, and if Ciel were in his right mind, he'd be blushing in humiliation at being treated like a child.

However, Ciel did as told as someone rubbed his back, the easy rhythm helping him to take even breaths and calm his nerves. He stared at the dark carpet, too embarrassed to meet anyone's eye.

Finally, he fished for his handkerchief and wiped his mouth and sat back. His father, Tanaka and Sebastian were the only ones present. Ciel didn't meet his butler's eye.

"We'll help you to your room, my lord," Tanaka suggested, and Ciel allowed his father and Sebastian to take his arms and heave him up. They had little difficulty walking to his room and settling him on the bed. Tanaka helped him into more comfortable clothes while his father went back to his office to put things away, and Sebastian went to clean everything up.

"I won't wake your mother since you're okay," his father promised when he came back. "Of course she'll want to know, but I think you'll want to take it easy tomorrow. Feel better." He gave Ciel a fatherly smile, the one he always gave when Ciel would climb into bed with his parents during a storm. Ciel felt comforted by it, saying nothing as the man made his departure.

"Depending on your condition tomorrow, I might call in Mr. Anders," Tanaka informed him, pouring him a glass of water and setting it close by. "I must say that you haven't had an attack that bad since you were thirteen, my lord. I'll have one of the maids dust that office tomorrow."

"Mm." The last attack Ciel knew of was during that silly circus case. "Send in Sebastian, will you?"

"Right away, sir," Tanaka replied, bowing. He left the room and it didn't take long for Sebastian to take his place. Ciel motioned for him to take a seat, signaling that he didn't want the butler to leave anytime soon.

"You should consider yourself lucky," Sebastian said, watching as Ciel took a deep breath.

"Why's that?"

Sebastian smiled. "My youngest sister had asthma. Her attacks were frequent, every one or two months. I was typically the one to take care of her. Our nanny didn't have much knowledge on it, and whenever I would spend time with my uncle, I would steal into his library to read."

Ciel realized that Sebastian was sharing a piece of his past with him without too much thought. "So it only came as natural to know the symptoms."

"Precisely."

Blue eyes rolled. "You only put a bucket in front of my face."

"And if I hadn't, you would've soiled Lord Phantomhive's carpet."

Ciel swallowed, grimacing as a nasty taste hit the back of his throat. "Shut up. Hand me that glass."

Outright smirking now, Sebastian helped Ciel to sit up a little bit more and handed him the glass. Drinking it held a small difficulty and he sputtered, but managed to get the fluid down with a couple coughs. Ciel handed it back and moved back to lay down, his stomach a little uneasy. His headache wasn't completely gone either, but it wasn't quite a nuisance yet.

"I trust that you'll need nothing else, my lord?" Sebastian asked, starting to stand but Ciel stopped him with a meaningful look.

It felt weird to request such a thing at this age, but Ciel brushed the feeling away, not caring whether or not Sebastian would find it childish of him.

"Stay until I fall asleep, Sebastian."

A/N: Hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Thanks for reading and please review!