A/N: I was going to split this into two chapters but it flowed better as one, so here is a longer than usual update. Fun fact: this was originally intended to be a short story, so I was surprised to discover the plot could carry it so far. Having so much support also helps so thanks everyone, please enjoy :3

The driver helped him get Sebastian into the carriage, tactfully not asking about the demon's bloodstained attire. Luckily the wound had healed for the most part by the time Ciel went to fetch help. He spent the ride home in a sort of trance. He absently stroked Sebastian's hair where the demon's head was in his lap, replaying the past hour on loop. Alois and Grell were alive. Two of the people he had grieved were not only alive but some sort of death gods, and one had tried to cut his hand off.

"Typical Trancy," he muttered.

Processing this wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't the most normal part of his day thus far. Being attacked by his dead fellow orphan, who was saved by his dead kind-of-surrogate-parent, seemed small when considering the man passed out before him. Sebastian had disappeared and then reappeared to save him from that crazy slut with a scythe. He had been wounded and fallen unconscious, but not before he said he ate Ciel's father. Ciel took it to mean he had consumed Vincent's soul...which, for the icing on the cake, a piece of was riding around in Ciel's ring.

Sebastian was stirring by the time they reached the manor. He sat up and rolled his fully healed shoulder. His hair was a disaster, his clothes were rumpled and he was fucking lovely. Damn him.

"Do forgive my unconsciousness, young lord."

Ciel stared at him. The driver had opened the door, which he kicked Sebastian out of with one booted foot. The demon had only a moment to look surprised before he went backwards out of the carriage. He somehow landed on his feet, and had a single eyebrow raised as he extended a hand to Ciel.

"I'm fine." He walked past the outstretched hands toward the stairs, not looking at those crimson eyes lest they melt his anger.

Once they were inside the house, Sebastian said, "I suppose you have every right to be perturbed, but in my defense your father made a contract with me knowing the terms."

"I get that," Ciel snarled, rounding on him. "I've come to terms with a lot more than you might expect since you've been back in home sweet Hell. What I don't get is how you could leave me on that damn train waiting for you, come back and all you have to say for yourself is 'forgive my unconsciousness.'"

"I was as surprised by my return to Earth as you, I would have given you a more appropriate greeting if you weren't being chased by a grim reaper."

"If it was such a shock then just go back. I was alone when I found out my father was dead, I went to Dr. Sutcliff and Mr. Spears' funerals alone, I learned how to manage just fine without you so go back where you came from."

Sebastian blinked and reached out to touch Ciel's face. "It wasn't my choice to leave you, I wanted nothing more than to remain by your side."

Ciel smacked his hand away. "You knew my father was dead and you knew you weren't coming back, but you sent me back here without a care in the world. You should have told me the truth if you cared so damn much."

He felt the slightest twinge of guilt at the stung look in Sebastian's eyes but it was drown out by the sound of footsteps pounding down the hallway. They exchanged a final tense look before the foyer was filled with cries of, "Mister Sebastian!"

Ciel walked away and left the demon in the hands of the tearfully happy servants. He smirked, wondering how Sebastian was going to explain his disappearance to them. They weren't as gullible as they appeared. He shut himself in his office and leaned back against the door. Out from under that penetrating stare, he let his impassive facade slip. It was exhausting to maintain when all he wanted was to fall into his butler's arms and scream and cry away the pain he had locked up since Vincent died. However, such a luxury wasn't an option for him. He had to lead as his father had done before him.

He sat on the floor and stared down at his ring. Perhaps it wasn't mere sentiment, feeling that his father was still with him. He thought of the furious swipes of Alois' scythe. Nothing had changed, then, if he was still channeling his pain into anger and taking it out on the nearest target. He supposed the reaper had a reason to be upset with him since even the boy's death had not made him any kinder towards Alois, but he just couldn't trust these supernatural creatures. He didn't even trust humans.

A soft knock on the door snapped him out of his reverie. The visitor did not speak, only waited, which told Ciel exactly who it was. He raised his hand to the knob but did not turn it. His knuckles went white as he struggled with indecision. All he would do is end up yelling again, and get that much more frustrated with Sebastian's unfazed attitude like he couldn't possibly lower himself into understanding Ciel's bland, human emotions. Ciel let his hand fall away. He couldn't start depending on someone again just to have them snatched away.

He heard retreating footsteps and rapidly blinked away the tears rising unbidden to his eye. "Good," he grumbled, wrapping his arms around his knees. "Walk away, that's what you're good at, isn't it?"

"You're a wreck."

"Oh excuse me, I didn't have time to fix my hair before the fucking demon tried to kill me."

Grell arched an eyebrow and sat back from combing Alois' hair. "I'm not your enemy, there's no need to get sassy with me."

"Whatever."

He whacked Alois with the comb and dropped it back on the boy's nightstand. They sat across from each other on the large, plush bed, finally off work for the day. Alois had been in a foul mood since Ciel got away. Grell wasn't feeling much better; the kid had always been a brat, but he had wanted to go take that broken child into his arms, the twice orphaned young man who had just had the world dropped onto his shoulders. His priority had been Alois, though.

"I tried to tell you not to take a case concerning someone you knew."

Alois crossed his arms and readjusted himself against the headboard. "Since when are you an expert?"

"I may not be one on reapers but on unrequited love, I most certainly am."

"Love? He can bend down and kiss my ass! I hate him."

"You only hate him because he doesn't want you."

"Yeah, he can start a club with everyone else who doesn't."

Grell rose onto his knees and took Alois' face in his hands. Tears had started to stream down his porcelain cheeks, which Grell wiped away with his thumbs. "I may not remember all of my human life yet, but I know I've got plenty of experience with how you're feeling. You have to love yourself, first and foremost. Then someone else's love is just a nice bonus." He was not the authority on loving yourself by any means, but Alois seemed convinced.

"Yeah...who was the first person to break your heart?"

"I don't remember. I don't think there was just one person, though. Sometimes I get these hazy flashbacks that make me think I was in love more than once. I had one of them today when we were tracking Ciel."

"Ugh don't tell me that brat was one of them."

Grell grimaced. "He's only a child, that's appalling. He couldn't possibly handle me. No, when we passed that dingy shop with all the coffins, I got sucked into a memory. I fell asleep in front of that very shop and I was inside when I woke up."

"Soooo you got raped?"

"I hope not, but I couldn't remember anything after that. I just knew that place was familiar and warm, like an old friend."

Alois chewed on his fingernail and spit out a piece of chipped nail polish. "Why don't you go in there? It will clear up those memories."

"I probably should. Who knows, maybe our knights in shining armor will come popping out of coffins."

"I would bang a vampire in a second."

"Tall and fair, with flowing dark locks," Grell said, falling back onto the bed with his arms spread wide. "A vampire can make a meal of me any day."

He had an armful of teenager as soon as he laid down. He let Alois snuggle against him, worrying not for the first time about the attention starved boy. Alois wasn't stable but this dimension didn't seem to offer counseling. He didn't know if he would suggest it, anyway. He seemed to be the only person Alois trusted and implying the child needed help might make Alois feel like he was turning against him. There was never any telling what would set him off.

He thought back to the shop called Undertaker's. Something important had happened there, and when he got off work tomorrow, he was going to go find out what.

Ciel awoke with a start. He found himself face down on a stack of papers he was supposed to be reading, and a clock telling him it was after midnight. He sat up and rubbed his eye. How had Vincent made this look so easy? He was about to turn to the next page when he realized what had woke him up. There was a steaming cup of tea on a matching saucer right next to his paperwork. It carried the aroma of chamomile and a touch of vanilla. It was one he had become fond of in Paris, leaving no question to who left it there.

He began to sip the tea as he read the contract for a store who wanted exclusive rights to release the new Funtom collection before anyone else. They were offering a handsome price. He reached the end and placed it in the growing stack of finished work. Unfortunately, the unfinished stack was still much higher. He yawned, only then remembering that this was the tea Sebastian had made him in Paris to help him sleep.

The relaxation spreading through his body finally won out. He made sure his papers were in neat stacks before retiring to his room. There, he found the covers turned down just so, and warm to the touch. They seemed to have been held in front of the fireplace for awhile. He dressed in the nightshirt laid across the foot of his bed and crawled in. Restlessness came to disturb the sleepy contentment he had found in his tea. He ran his hand over the cooling blankets. Damn it, why did he have to make this so hard?

Cursing Sebastian under his breath, he kicked the blankets back off and pulled on his robe. He didn't need light to find his way down the dark halls to the servant's quarters. All the doors were shut except one at the very end. He peered inside, and knew from the spotless, untouched state of the room who it had to belong to. He pushed the door open just far enough to slip into the room and close it behind him.

"Sebastian?"

Candles around the room began to light. Sebastian came into view, clad only in his black trousers. "My lord?"

Ciel looked away from the miles of flawless skin on display. He forgot why he came here or if he had a plan in the first place. Sebastian drew closer and he backed up. Noticing this, Sebastian took a step back again to give him his space. His eyes were a calm garnet but glowed faintly in the low light. Ciel hated himself for the flip flopping of his stomach.

"What you said in Paris, before you left…."

"Yes?"

"You knew you weren't coming back, why would you say that? Were you just messing with my head?"

Sebastian looked down at him, long bangs casting shadows on his face in the candlelight. "I found myself in a moment of human weakness, desiring for you to know how I felt."

"You were serious." It was a statement, but Sebastian seemed to hear the question.

"Completely. Against my very nature, I have fallen for you, my young lord."

Ciel swallowed and tugged the sleeves of his robe. "You said my name, when you told me you...how you felt."

"My contract had reached its end. Technically speaking, I was no longer your butler. I indulged myself in the taste of your true name on my lips. Do forgive me."

Sebastian stepped closer, and Ciel let him, though he kept his arms folded. He knew he was on the edge of a cliff from which he could have a long, dangerous fall. He had felt that way from the moment the devil of a butler opened his carriage door to welcome him to his new home. Sebastian was dangerous to everyone around him and to Ciel's very soul. He had found a place there, and that was terrifying.

"You left me like everyone else," he whispered, fearing the emotion would be heard in his voice if he spoke any louder.

"I'm sorry." They were close enough now for him to feel the heat of Sebastian's body. "I stayed as long as I could."

Ciel met his gaze and his submission must have been written plainly on his face, for hope came to Sebastian's eyes. He detested not being able to stay angry at the demon. The last of his barriers came crashing down and he let his longing take over. He walked forward until his hands hit Sebastian's chest and the demon began walking backward compliantly. He knew Sebastian was just letting him do it; Ciel couldn't have budged him if he didn't want him to.

Sebastian sat on the bed when it hit the back of his legs. He hooked a single finger under the sash of Ciel's robe and pulled it loose. Ciel moved his arms to let it fall to the floor. Strong hands came up to clasp his waist, and he gave way to the urge that had been the most demanding since he entered the room. He expected it to be hungry and rough but every movement was measured and slow when he kissed Sebastian. Soon he was straddling the butler, his tongue exploring Sebastian's mouth.

Nimble fingers worked their way down the buttons of his nightshirt. He started to pull it off his shoulders but his hands ended up in Sebastian's hair when the demon's mouth went to his chest. Sebastian's hot, wet tongue traced his collarbone before diving between his lightly developed pectorals. He shuddered, gripping Sebastian's hair for dear life and putting his weight on the large hands on his back. His fingernails dug into the demon's scalp when that tongue flicked his nipple to hardness. His other one got the same treatment and by the time Sebastian was gently suckling them, he was shaking.

Sebastian stood up, supporting Ciel with one arm while he unfastened his pants and stepped out out of them, never breaking his mouth's hold. When he sat back on the bed it was nothing but bare flesh pressed together and the slight friction of Ciel's open nightshirt brushing his back. He took Sebastian in hand and stroked him slowly until he learned what felt the best. He settled into a rhythm of pumping him just beneath the head of his cock, palming the leaking slit.

Sebastian slid his fingers into his mouth for a minute before Ciel felt a single wet finger inside him. He gasped and rose further onto his knees to give Sebastian access. A second one was added, moving higher until Sebastian curled his finger against that spot that made him dizzy. He rocked his hips, having to stifle a moan every time Sebastian's fingers hit his hidden bundle of nerves. Sebastian's mouth went back to his chest and he couldn't help but cry out. Sebastian was merciless, using plenty of tongue on Ciel's nipples while finger fucking the daylights out of him.

He leaned forward, hips rocking back and cock brushing against Sebastian's hard stomach. There was an unmistakable heat building inside him. "Sebastian, if you don't stop..."

"I wouldn't dream of it." He brought his free hand up to rub Ciel's other nipple between thumb and forefinger, still laving his tongue over the other.

Ciel trembled, trying to balance without the demon's hand to steady him. Even as he protested he held Sebastian's head against his chest and rode his long fingers. "If you don't stop, I'm going to, oh, oh God, Sebastian!"

His release painted the demon's chest as his orgasm shattered him. He panted, trying to get his breath with no success. Sebastian had not stopped, only removed his hand from Ciel's chest to slick himself up. Ciel could hardly move until the head of Sebastian's cock pressed against his entrance. He stifled another moan as he felt it slowly fill him. His walls still throbbed with his orgasm, making the demon moan in tandem with him. Sebastian hesitated, clearly concerned with hurting him, but Ciel took that out of his hands and started moving up and down on his shaft.

Sebastian locked his arms around Ciel's waist and kissed him. Their tongues tangled together as Ciel rode him in such a way that buried Sebastian slow and deep with each roll of his hips. His bangs clung to his damp face and he felt a bead of sweat travel down the back of his neck. The air between them was stifling and unbearably intimate. If they weren't kissing then their foreheads were pressed together, trading soft sounds of pleasure against the other's lips.

"I missed you," he breathed into Sebastian's mouth.

Sebastian opened his eyes that had warmed from garnet to blood red. This sight was more comforting than it was disturbing, as Ciel had come to associate it with Sebastian letting his guard down with him. The demon stroked his spine as he matched the movement of his own hips to Ciel's. "And I you. Eternity had never felt so long until we were apart."

Ciel rolled his eye. "You're so dramatic."

Sebastian might have replied but it got lost in a deep growl as Ciel traded his steady pace for something harder and faster. He gave control to Ciel, holding his hips but not guiding them, just gripping them until there was a bruise for each of his fingers. Ciel didn't think he could handle coming again but he was almost fully erect again. Sebastian took care not to overwhelm the sensitive flesh and started stroking him with a light touch at first. In no time, Ciel wanted more.

Ciel didn't slow down until there were shallow claw marks at the center of the bruises on his hips and Sebastian's face was contorted with pleasure. His mouth was open, revealing his fangs, his brow was furrowed slightly. Ciel could have gone blind in that moment and been all too happy for that to be the last thing he saw. Devil almighty, he was beautiful.

"Let go, I want to feel you," he said quietly, cheeks burning with embarrassment at the request.

"Master," Sebastian gasped, helpless but to comply.

Warmth spread through Ciel's most intimate space and down his inner thighs as Sebastian removed himself. They were both a sweating (in Ciel's case, that is), sticky, bedraggled mess. He shifted around to lay on the bed, expecting Sebastian to join him. Instead he felt long hair tickle his belly button and then a mouth wrapped around his arousal. He cried out with surprise and pleasure as Sebastian's mouth and tongue started doing things that had surely been what sent him to Hell in the first place.

"I already...you don't have to do that."

Sebastian looked at him with a raised brow, as if to ask if Ciel could possibly want him to stop, which Ciel answered by letting his head fall against the pillows in defeat. He didn't want to win anyway. Sebastian had pulled him back to the edge in mere minutes and if he did stop, Ciel would end up ordering him to keep going. He knew he couldn't resist this...oh, never mind, that feeling right there. He stroked Sebastian's silky hair, drinking in the obscene sight of his cock in the demon's mouth.

His second orgasm didn't crash over him so much as wrap around him like an embrace. He shivered and twitched, feeling the pleasure spread from his center to the very tips of his fingers and toes. Sebastian gave a final flick of his tongue and released him. Ciel's eyes started feeling heavy again as the adrenaline ebbed and exhaustion returned to his mind and body. He turned his head to Sebastian, who was next to him laying on his side. Sebastian smiled and laid his arm across Ciel's waist.

"What are you looking at?" Ciel asked, a little shy now that it was all said and done.

Sebastian chuckled. "You act as though I haven't seen your naked body before."

"It was dark."

"You are adorable."

"Shut up. That's an order."

He shot Sebastian a glare to accompany his words but he still turned onto his side and edged further into the demon's arms. Sebastian's chin came to rest atop his head. He drew invisible patterns on the larger man's chest, biting down on the words threatening to escape his mouth. You're caught up in a moment, he reminded himself. He had only forgiven Sebastian a couple hours ago it was no time to be getting carried away. He moved slightly, only to feel the reminder between his legs that it was too late for not getting carried away.

Desperate to say anything except what was on his mind, he asked, "How did you faint earlier?"

"Well, I no longer had consciousness, which caused my body to fall to the ground. I find it a confusing process, as well."

"I know how fainting works, thank you. I didn't think demons passed out."

Sebastian hummed his agreement. "I had returned to Earth moments before I sensed you were in danger. My demonic essence had not yet fully fused with this body so I had a bit of residual human weakness."

"Human weakness, is that how you describe everything you don't understand?"

"I suppose. Human nature, after all, is likely the thing I understand least in this world."

Ciel huffed. He was beginning to wonder if he knew anything about it, himself. He pondered just how messed up his life was as he fell asleep. Nearly everyone he had become close to was dead and he was cuddling with the spawn of Hell that ate his father's soul. Also, he still had to tell his mother that Sebastian was back. He would probably skip the part about him being in love with their butler.

Barely awake, he asked, "Will you have to leave again if this ring is taken or his soul fades from it?"

"I don't know, these are unique circumstances."

He melted into Sebastian's chest. His words were so drowsy and muffled at this point they probably couldn't have been deciphered by human ears. "If you find out you have to go back, tell me this time. I want the chance to say goodbye."

"Yes, my lord."