Soo… four months' unexpected hiatus happened. Mostly, I blame starting the new job and trying to get to grips with commuting but also this chapter was harder to write than I expected! I wanted to get the dynamics of Sebastian and Ciel's changing relationship just right so yeah, this took ages. I'm sorry to all those who've been waiting on this eh heh…
Ciel has a plan to distract Sebastian whilst Sitri removes the sigils, but it doesn't go like he expects
Warnings: Lots more Sebaciel (although it's mostly a gushy Sebastian), OCxOC, swearing and grinding
That Butler, Lifted
Ciel smirked to himself as his plan blossomed inside his mind. So, angels and demons were unable to cope with having feelings? Perfect!
No doubt Double Charles had plenty of issues or fears hidden under those facades of indifference that he could use. It was just a case of finding the right levers to lift the lid on them and then take them out when their anger made them do something stupid. It was exactly how Ciel liked to take down his enemy.
But, for Sebastian…
The smirk fell from his lips as Ciel's thoughts turned to that moment in the stairwell; the feeling of those cool lips crushed on his own and the warm albeit fleeting embrace. His heart quickened at the thought and his stomach fizzed; it had felt both terrifying and exhilarating. But, what did it mean? Maybe it was just the demon's hunger, but then maybe it was something… more? And if it was, twisting Sebastian's, his butler's, feelings for him for his own purposes seemed a little…
Ciel shook his head firmly, scowling at his hesitation. He was the Queen's Watchdog! He had to use everything he could to his advantage, including toying with Sebastian's heart! What good would he be as the Earl of Phantomhive, if he couldn't even make a demon fall for him?
Again his hesitation reared, but he ploughed on with his thoughts. Anyway, this… this didn't have to include real feelings from himself; it would just have to be until the job was finished and they had Sebastian back to normal! It wasn't like it was something real!
Suddenly, Ciel felt more comfortable; yes, this was just the most logical step to take. Demons were unable to comprehend feeling emotions and using those feelings to confuse Sebastian would be the best way to hold him still for Sitri to remove the sigils. The pit of his stomach bubbled even more vigorously for a moment, all kinds of emotions running through his head; the thrill of the gamble, the determination to win now he had a plan, the strange new feelings he'd been developing recently and his old pride all fought one another for dominance. But, for now, he pushed those away to focus on the plan. He lied for a living and made deceit his finest asset. He had to get Sebastian back to normal to finish the case and this was the best method; those bastard angels would pay for this once he was done.
Fuelled by purpose now, the boy surfaced from his intense scheming and looked over towards Sitri. His ears caught snatches of Sitri's babbling,
"-Don't even know what I'd do without her now… so precious…best thing to ever happen to-" the demon mumbled. Ciel tried not to look too sickened at the overly emotional words and scowled at him.
"Shut up, Sitri! I have a plan now for distracting Sebastian and I'll need you to play your part. But, first I need some information"
A few minutes later Ciel found himself in the next room, ducked behind a crate. He glanced out at the black figure currently hunched over a dead human, tearing off chunks of flesh and consuming them. The wet, smacking sound of blood splattering the floor and the crunch of bone would be enough to turn anyone's stomach. However, Ciel was too anxious to notice; he had to work hard to slow his racing heart and flying thoughts and, instead, concentrated on Sitri's previous words.
"Tell me about the demons falling from Heaven" he'd stated flatly; it wasn't a request. The demon prince blinked in confusion then looked away, a brief flash of sadness on his face. Suddenly, he looked incredibly serious.
"I take it you have some plan to get Malphas back then?" the demon prince stated, surprising Ciel with his seriousness. Ciel nodded and Sitri sighed, the weight of the millennia showing through for an instant.
"Underta- I mean, someone told me what happened to the demons and so, I need to know just what it was like. It will be…useful for distracting Sebastian" the boy forced himself to remain professional; he couldn't let emotions get in the way now. The demon prince raised an eyebrow,
"'Useful', huh?" the demon seemed to sneer, but when there was no reaction he sighed and continued. "It was the worst possible thing that ever happened to us. Everything we knew; our family, our home, even our livelihood, were all taken from us as we were forced down onto this plane of existence. Our bodies were burned from entering the atmosphere of this realm at such high speeds and our wings broken beyond our healing abilities. We lost both our purpose in life and our most-defining physical ability; flight. There was no escape. It was… chaos at first. I mean, I had it easy since I had Jez, but some…" the demon prince's features twisted as a memory was dragged up. "Some, like Malphas... struggled to comprehend what was happening or why and many still carry the pain around inside them"
Ciel nodded in understanding as Sitri finished.
If a human was ousted from their family or all they knew, they'd become depressed too. But they tended to find ways to cope, such as working, fighting or drinking it away, until they could accept it and move on. However, that was a lot of complicated emotions to try and work through and some humans never did manage to move on. Just how well would creatures with little experience of feelings cope with such an onslaught? Not well at all.
They'd been hurt so badly that they'd bury their hearts and emotions inside themselves behind barred cages to prevent it happening again. Ciel admitted that he knew how that felt himself. Also, no doubt, the demons would blame the humans who made them Fall in the first place. In their eyes, humans had moved on, forgotten their guilt, and become happy again. It wasn't fair. No wonder the demons now hated humans so much they would kill one without batting an eye.
Ciel frowned more as he pictured the demons coping with their initial anger and fear. Screaming, lashing out and howling in despair, worse than torture; it would drive them to the brink of madness. Ciel put a crooked finger to his chin in thought.
'A lot like Sebastian currently is. Could it be that this behaviour is stemming from that time? All that pain and anguish, he has continued to carry it inside himself for eternity' Ciel found himself wishing Sebastian had told him of this pain, so he could help. But then, why would the demon ever share this with him, especially with a human like him? Nevertheless, thought the cold logical side of his brain, this information was useful.
"However, Little Lord, I must warn you of something" Sitri cut in, breaking the boy's plans. He grinned, bearing his sharp fangs "If you intend to use this type of thing as a distraction with Malphas, I suggest you get that stick out your arse first and use some compassion"
Coming back to reality, Ciel glared then shook away the memory and focused again on Sebastian.
'Stick up my arse? Hmph! That bloody bastard is a fool, but he is right. I'll have to prove I'm not a threat to Sebastian first' He noticed Sitri silently moving across the ceiling, ready to pounce on Sebastian. Once the demon prince was in position, Ciel nodded and took a deep breath.
'It's now or never!' he thought and slowly he stood up.
"Sebastian?" he called out softly. The hunched figure jumped in surprise and wheeled around to face the boy. Ciel had to stop his face scrunching in disgust at the blood and flesh hanging from those protruding fangs. He focused on the act,
"I've… I've been looking for you, Sebastian! I've been worried!" he kept his voice soft and bright. He smiled warmly at the menacing figure and reached out a hand, "Please… won't you come back now?"
The figure hunched more, wary of the boy, and Ciel risked a step closer. The demon screeched and swiped at the hand,
"Vile human!" snarled the beast. Ciel winced, stepping back. He felt the fear rising within him, it threatened to freeze his body,
'No, be strong! Remember what Sitri said!' he thought and drew himself up again.
"Sebastian, please! That's enough now! Let's get you back to normal" he tried the same tone and stepped closer again. Another roar and slash inches from him, causing the boy to jump back. Ciel sighed internally,
'This isn't working at all! He keeps pushing me away!' the boy felt frustrated as he watched the demon now rear up, looking ready to pounce. He noticed Sitri preparing to jump down and fear gripped Ciel's innards, sticking him to the spot. His mind started spinning wildly with several thoughts at once.
'Oh God, it really isn't working! This is stupid! I've left myself open for attack like a fool! This isn't right, Sebastian isn't responding to it! I guess he doesn't have feelings for me. Sitri said use compassion but... But, you know, Sebastian isn't Sitri'
Ciel blinked as, through the crashing chaos of emotions, he realised this last thought and focused on it.
'That's right, Sebastian isn't like Sitri! He's proud and independent! This soft approach wouldn't work on him, he doesn't want to be coddled or fussed over! Of course, he'll see right through it!' the boy thought fast as he watched the demon steady himself, stalking closer and getting ready to spring on him.
'Sitri would prefer a soft approach because that's how he likes to be treated, but Sebastian likes… he likes…?' the boy thought hard. The realisation hit him hard, 'He likes… to show off and has pride in what he does! He's meticulous and wants to be in control. These sigils have taken that and exposed him. I know what it's like to be humiliated like this. To lose all your family and have your vulnerabilities mocked. If I were the one lashing out after all this, I'd want to hear…'
Ciel nodded to himself, feeling calm again. He looked at Sebastian, with renewed passion,
"Sebastian" he spoke, his voice still soft but now with a firm edge. The demon stopped snarling and now watched the boy in fascination. Ciel smirked to himself, pulling himself up to his full height,
"Is this how you want to be seen? Kicking and lashing out at everyone who tries to help?" he continued, tone steady now. He stepped closer and the demon seemed to shuffle back, growling low. "You've been used, Sebastian! Made a fool of! All by those deceitful repulsive angels!" Sebastian snarled and swiped at the air in frustration. Ciel smirked; yes, he knew this feeling well.
"Do you not want revenge then? For all the pain they've put you through? Not just here, but for all that pain and humiliation they've made you suffer all through the centuries! For causing you to become corrupted and vilified!" Ciel felt pride and anger drive him on now and watched the way Sebastian's eyes widened before the demon looked away, covering his face, and howling in dismay.
'There, that's the sore point, the raw painful spot that he's kept buried' he thought briefly then, without thinking, rushed forward and grabbed Sebastian's hands. He'd turned the demon's face to look into those wide surprised magenta eyes,
"Yes, I know about all of it, Sebastian, and I don't care! I don't care that you've been humiliated and used! I don't care how easily they defeated you. I will help you destroy those who have done this because I care… I care about you, okay?" he cried.
'W-what the hell am I saying?' he thought frantically, but he couldn't seem to stop these words now. Sebastian was staring back into the boy's face now, stunned as well. Ciel felt his face reddening and he gulped,
"I care… about you, Sebastian, as my demon. Seeing you like this, full of rage against what suffering you've been through. I understand that pain. You don't want to feel it anymore, or feel the hurt and shame it brings to you. But, giving in and behaving like this just let's those bastards know they've won even more! Sebastian, you have to use this pain! Mould it! Make it your own! Turn that pain into strength and pride and use it to attack those who have wronged you! That is how to overcome this pain, Sebastian! I want to help you get through all this so you can rise again, but, right now, I need you to come back to me and be my butler, so that we can put those angels in the ground where they belong. We need you! And I…I…" Ciel couldn't keep up that intense stare any longer. He looked away as he whispered, "And I miss you a lot too"
The silence rung out like a bell now. Ciel felt his head spinning,
'This wasn't the plan! Why the hell did I say all that? I just couldn't stop myself! I even ran to him and grabbed his hands! He's going to kill me in an instant! Saying I understand his pain? What would a rabid beast care about that?'
Ciel heard the rumbling growl of the demon in front of him and risked glancing up again. Sebastian was regarding him with a look Ciel had never seen on the demon's face before. With Sebastian's currently twisted features, it looked almost like a… smile? Sebastian was smiling at him? Ciel watched, stunned, as the demon brought up a clawed hand to gently touch his cheek and fully expected to feel the sharp piercing of his flesh. Instead, the hand seemed to gently caress his face and this further stunned the boy,
"S-Sebastian?" he asked weakly.
'Is this like before in the courtyard?' Ciel considered this but found himself too riveted to move. He watched as the demon brought his face nearer to the boy's, breathing warm breath over the boy's cheeks again.
'Is he going to tear my throat out or just consume my soul right here? Either way, this is it. It seems… I was wrong this time' Ciel closed his eyes, accepting his fate, and felt his chin being tilted up. He felt the breath even closer now and a clawed finger gently stroked down his soft neck,
'This is it' the boy braced himself and suddenly felt the breath move to his ear.
"You…ng….M-Ma….sterrrr…." the voice of his butler croaked out, sounding distorted and raw. Ciel's eyes sprung open and he turned to stare into that face once more. He watched as the features shifted to reveal the impeccable face of his butler. Ciel felt his stomach do flip-flops and his heart race.
"Sebastian? You're… you're you again?" he stuttered. He leant against the demon, hands pressed on the leather-bound chest and stared into that smiling face, looking for any cracks, any signs of trickery. "You spoke! Are you… in control again?"
Sebastian's chuckle was weak and he sound breathless,
"Just… a little… but Young Master… your words… did you… mean them?" he wheezed out. Ciel blinked, confused, why was he asking that right now? Then he blushed,
"W-well yes, I did, but-" the boy mumbled, looking away again then felt the claws touch his lips.
"Despite… all that… you've seen…you would… accept a… disgusting… and weak… creature like… me...as your…partner?" he gasped out, pressing on with his questions desperately. Ciel had no idea what Sebastian meant and was getting angry, his butler dared question his decisions?
"Of course I do! You're my butler and my demon, Sebastian! I don't care what you look like! And you're not weak! You're…" the boy trailed off, blushing again. Sebastian's gasping breaths seemed to speed up,
"Then you…accept… all of me?" he panted, now leaning in close to the boy. Ciel leant back, suddenly feeling the shift in tone.
'All of him? Just what is he getting at?' Ciel felt suspicious and tried to pull away a little. 'Better to go with it for now, I guess'
"Uh… well… y-yes but- mmph!" his mumbles were cut off by the mouth pressed hard on his own, his back now pressed flat on the floor and the weight of his butler on top of him. The kiss was broken off suddenly and he panted hard, glaring as hard as he could at the demon.
"Sebastian! You bastard, get off of me! Just what do you think you're doing to your Master" he cried out, trying to pull away.
But Sebastian pressed their lips together again, this time with more force and drowned out the boy's cries. When they broke apart this time, Ciel noticed the slinking dark form of Sitri closing in on them with eyes glowing and an aura appearing around his hands. He also noticed the derisive smirk on the demon prince's face.
'That stupid bastard is enjoying this! But, if he's going to try removing the sigils right now, that means' The boy realised that he'd have to keep Sebastian distracted, which meant more of… this. He became aware that Sebastian had started to grind against his hips and was mumbling to himself, nuzzling his stained face into the boy's neck.
"Young Master… to accept a vile creature like me… so precious… so perfect…you have no idea how much I have longed for acceptance…" the demon muttered. Ciel tried to ignore the grinding and glared at such sappy words coming from his butler.
"I-idiot! Of course I've accepted you! You're my de-" he snapped until Sebastian was pressed on his mouth, tongue snaked into his mouth and forced down his throat. The boy screamed and hit at the demon's back, desperate for air.
When they broke apart this time, Ciel had to gasp for breath and felt slightly dizzy. He looked up into the gently glowing eyes and the tender expression; he glanced over Sebastian's shoulder and noticed Sitri lifting the sigils. The marks slid away silently, floating away like leaves, from Sebastian's body and towards Sitri's hands where they incinerated. It was painfully slow.
'Hurry it up, already! I don't know how much more of this I can take!' the boy tried to convey this to Sitri before Sebastian leant in again, blocking Ciel's view. The demon stroked the boy's hair awkwardly with his large clawed hand and smiled softly.
"Oh Young Master… Ciel…" the demon whispered as he gazed down at the teen. Ciel felt surprised at hearing his butler mention his name. It felt… nice to hear. Sebastian continued "I feel that… I hope… you don't think this too forward but I…" the demon murmured and he nuzzled the boy's hair.
'He sounds less out of breath now, it must be working!' Ciel noticed and then realised Sebastian was blushing as he looked down at him. As he gazed up, Sebastian smiled so warmly, so out of character for his butler, that Ciel dreaded what the last remnants of the Beast would make him do.
"Ciel… You are truly a perfect soul! Your pride, your determination, your cunning! It's all so deliciously perfect! But, for you to also accept me now you know how pathetic and weak I truly am… Ciel…I think… after all this time, I… I lov…." The demon stuttered and Ciel baulked with realisation at what his butler was saying.
'I-is he saying what I think he's saying? H-he can't be!' the boy's mind was sent reeling at this turn of events.
But then, as he watched, Sebastian's voice drifted off and the demon's expression became unfocused. Ciel managed to push himself out from under his butler and sat up; he watched the demon warily.
"Sebastian?" he asked cautiously,
"All done, Little Lord! Malphas should be back to normal now!" the demon prince call out, grinning away. The boy nodded his understanding, but his eyes did not leave his butler's face. He was starting to worry about Sebastian's silence,
"Sebastian?" he called softly, leaning in. "Are you… ok?"
The demon's eye twitched slightly, catching Ciel off guard.
'He's ok!' the boy felt relief flood his system before anger took its place. 'So why won't he answer me? Damn demon!' Ciel leaned in again,
"Sebastian, answer me!" he demanded, now furious that he'd been so worried. Sebastian responded by turning away.
Ciel, now confused, pulled at Sebastian's arm, trying to see the demon's face.
"Are you hurt or sick? Speak to me right now!" the boy ordered hotly, the worry creeping back into his voice.
Ciel caught a glimpse of the demon's face, a bright shade of red, and froze. Was Sebastian, his demon butler… feeling embarrassed?
'Well I'm not surprised. He's just acted like an out-of-control beast in his true form, attacking everything, eating innocent humans and then had… this emotional outburst' the boy's mind blocked out the attempted confession and focused on feeling sympathy for his butler's current position.
"Sebastian…" the boy spoke softly, touching the demon's much larger shoulder. "I-it's alright! All of that… stuff wasn't you, it was those sigils!"
Sebastian shook his head violently, shaking Ciel's hand off in the process, and covered his face, the claws easily masking his expression.
"No, my Lord, it's not alright! For you to see this… for me to show this… this… weakness! This pathetic side of myself! It is unforgivable of me! I-I've made a laughing stock of myself! With what pride could I possibly lift my head now? I couldn't possibly go out in public again nor go back to my realm! I've ruined everything! I ruined our plans and my reputation as a demon! I even tried to eat Rachel! And I…I tried to kill you too, my Lord. Twice. In my bloodlust… I just… I couldn't control myself… I couldn't keep everything inside myself like before… I was so hungry and so… so angry" the words were slightly muffled behind those hands as Sebastian lamented, shoulders sinking.
"Don't forget about confessing your love for your master whilst grinding on him!" Sitri piped up and Sebastian cried out in dismay, gripping his hair.
"I hoped no one had heard that!" he wailed. Ciel shot the demon prince an angry look,
"Sitri!" he snapped. Sitri winced at the shout and pouted,
"Well he did!" the demon prince sulked. Ciel glared harder before turning back to Sebastian, the demon still covering his face in shame and shaking his head in anguish. Ciel despaired at the sight,
'I seriously can't deal with this right now. I need him back to normal already!' the boy glared at his butler.
"Sebastian, none of that matters now! We have work to do!" he ordered, falling back on business in hopes it would distract Sebastian from these thoughts. He pulled on Sebastian's arm, moving it aside just enough to look into the demon's eyes "The angels will be here any minute and we have to get out of here!"
"Don't think that'll do you much good now, Earl" echoed a familiar voice behind him.
'Oh… shit!' thought Ciel. He listened to both demons growl angrily and knew instantly who it was behind him. Ciel jerkily managed to turn around, fear deadening his limbs.
There stood Double Charles on a platform above them, Grey smirking widely.
"Hello down there" he purred.
And that's another chapter down! Finally some Sebaciel action (though that'll have to wait whilst Double Charles are there being party poopers). Please rate and review as always and take care!