Hunting Season
The butler-Master duo lay there, entwined in each other's essence. Ciel, snuggled under Sebastian's chin, had slept peacefully while Sebastian compressed him against his heart. His warmth coursed through the young one's body, providing no need to light a fire throughout the night. It had been two days since Ciel had finally made a decision and they had been inseparable. The young lord couldn't stand to be without his love, for he was the only one he had natural cravings for. Sebastian found it somewhat distracting to have Ciel damn near on his hip throughout the day. But to look down at his soft face and tell him that he was being clingy was just something he could not do, for this was what he had wanted all along.
The demon slowly awakened at the usual time. He looked down to see his love sleeping gently, and smiled. "Not a toss or turn. It seems my chest may be a dream catcher." He slowly pulled his arm from under the sleeping beauty and carefully removed himself from the bed, making every effort there was not to wake the young one. He found it hard for him to leave his side sometimes, yet he knew in order for their arrangement to work, he would need to act normal. He silently gets dressed, checks his pocket watch, and leaves the room. Ciel, who had heard him close the door, slightly smiled and gripped the sheet where he had once laid. It was still exhibiting his warmth, as if it were his own private sauna. "Sebastian…" The butler heads down toward his room, and takes a shower. As the water ran down his back, he stared at his morning visitor. "I'm glad the young lord wasn't awakened by this," he murmured, with his voice blending in with the sound of the running water. Though it was what males dealt with on a daily basis, the fact that he wanted it to remain it a mystery toward his desire was evident. He, himself, always gave enough time to leave before the young master awoke and displayed his own. His urges had begun to settle themselves but were not completely under control. Should he be revealed to the young teen, he may not be able to push himself away. Especially if the young one showed himself to him. In a way, the butler felt as if they had already been moving too fast. Sleeping in his bed…even before formally accepting their fate? Yet, he couldn't picture his nightly rest being complete without the young master in his arms.
The butler proceeded to wake up the young lord as usual. He walked toward the windows to uncover nature's winter glow. Ciel squinted his eyes as the light filled his room. "Good morning, young master," the butler spoke, "It's time to get up now." Ciel's sight adjusted and he rose from his slumber. "Did you sleep well?" Ciel rubbed his eye lids. "I slept fine," he responded as the butler handed him his morning tea. "What's on my schedule today?" Sebastian gently removed his socks and began to undress him. "As of right now, you have hunting practice with Lord Midford…" "Elizabeth's father?!" Ciel's heart sped as his nervousness took over. "W-What time is he to be here?" Sebastian, who was stooped down below him, looked at his clock. "I believe he should be here in about 15 minutes." Ciel swallowed hard. He had forgotten all about their arrangement while Elizabeth was gone. "You shall go hunting with me once a month. I will teach you to protect my daughter and yourself from outside dangers and become a man…" His words floated through his head as Sebastian rose to his feet. "Is everything alright?" he asked. Ciel's face was pale, as if he had seen something terrible. "H-Hunting…?" Sebastian proceeded to clean the young Earl's head wound without wrapping again, letting it breathe. "I'm sure everything will be alright," he spoke while tying his shoes. "Elizabeth's parents have a certain expectation of me. Especially auntie. I can't get anything past their eyes," he explained. Sebastian held his trembling chin and pulled it upward. "Everything shall be fine," he stated, "Just act normal." Ciel smiled as the demon kissed his forehead and headed out of the door. "If you shall need me, just call my name." Ciel placed his hand on his knees as his palms trembled. "I don't think I know what is normal anymore."
Lord Midford arrived in his chariot pulled by white horses. Ciel rolled his eyes on how arrogant he just had to be. The carriage stopped and his uncle stepped out. "Ciel!" His voice displays the excitement of his daughter as he smiled and walked up the steps. "Hello, Uncle," he spoke, "How was your travel?" "Ah, it was a fine one," he answered, "These horses were bred by hand-picked elegant breeds and trained very well. The ride was exceptionally smooth." Ciel displayed a fake smile. "Always about your horses with you, uncle," the young Earl thought to himself. The Leader of the British Knights beckoned his personal aid to retrieve his hunting rifle. Ciel swallowed hard, hoping things didn't go the way they had gone when his aunt had come for a hunting completion. Visions from that day of her severe desire to win and them being attacked by a bear were still quite fresh in his mind. "Are you ready, young Phantomhive?" his uncle asked him. Ciel showed a small grin as Sebastian came out from retrieving his rifle. "Yes," he spoke, "I am ready."
The two soon had portable lunches prepared for them and headed on their way. They walked deep into the woods, where Lord Midford taught the young Earl how to pin point where close a bird is to land and how to recognize mating calls. Ciel aims and shoots a blue jay out of the sky. "Good show, Ciel!" he exclaims with happiness. The young one smiles a true smile and aims again. "So…are you excited about marrying my daughter?" Ciel's heart skipped a beat; he hadn't prepared for a questionnaire while hunting. "I…ugh…" The young one placed down his rifle and turned to his uncle who stood feet behind him. His eyes peered at him, as he waited for his answer. "Well…" Ciel took in a deep breath. What was he to say? "I…don't know, sir…" Ciel spoke honestly as the lord's eyes widened. "What do you mean?" Ciel pondered his thoughts carefully while thinking of his words wisely; who's to know how he would react with a rifle in his hand in the middle of the woods. His back faced him the entire time, for he thought if he faced him and shared his answer, he would be shot on the spot. "I just…" He had no idea how he would start it all. How would he explain something like this without mentioning his feelings for Sebastian? "It seems like my feelings for Elizabeth are rather expected of me," he started to explain, "I don't know if I'm ready because my love for her has not grown to where it should be. I should love her the way she loves me. The way she deserves." He closed his eyes after expressing his statement; he swore there was a cock of the gun coming. Suddenly, a hand touched his shoulder, causing him to jump from fear. "I understand, Ciel…" The young Earl's eyes widened. "Y-You do?" He was shocked; he hadn't thought that would work at all. "Yes," his uncle spoke while standing next to him, "Though nobles marry other nobles, a person's feelings for someone is also very important. Elizabeth's face glows when she's around you, or even when someone mentions you." Ciel's chest began to cave in. To hear these things about Elizabeth, knowing he didn't feel the same and slept next to someone else almost every night. "As the years go on, you'll come around…" Ciel looked up and smiled, his heart on fire with this guilt.
After hunting in the woods for most of the day, Ciel and his uncle came back to the manor, with smiles on their faces. The sun was starting to set and they had truly bonded. It seemed almost as if his aunt wanted to scare him while his uncle just wanted to get to know him. Sebastian met them at the door. The two covered in snow, mud and blood walked up the steps. "Is everything alright, my lords?" he spoke to them, "You look badly injured." Ciel's head wound had opened back up a little and his coat torn. "Oh, it was nothing," his uncle giggled, "We shot a deer and the bastard decided to fight back when we realized we were out of shells." Sebastian smiled and guided them into manor. "I guess I'll head back," Lord Midford spoke, stopping at the doorway. "You won't stay for dinner?" Ciel asked. "No, thank you. If I stay any further, Francis will have my head on a saucer." Ciel smiled. "Well, that does sound like Auntie. You shall be careful on your trip home." The lord bowed toward them as his aid took his rifle. "You have granted me a gracious evening. Thank you. You shall make a fine husband for my daughter." His guilt crept up his throat as his uncle loaded his carriage and was driven away. Sebastian looked at the young master. "I must get you upstairs, my lord. You've opened your stitches." Ciel looked down at the wooden planking of the porch. No matter how much he wanted to be with his love, his priority for Elizabeth was greater than his desires. "Yes…" He slowly headed up the stairs while his butler followed silently behind.
After dinner, he retired to his bed. His joints sore from his activities. Sebastian cleaned and dressed his wound while the young one sipped his tea. "You should be more careful, my lord," Sebastian spoke wrapping his head, "This could get infected." Ciel watched as his butler tied off his bandage. "Shouldn't you be telling that to the deer that almost killed me?" he said sarcastically, "I'm sure he would be very sorry for his actions if he were breathing." Sebastian grinned as he finished and rubbed the young one's chin. "Are you ready for bed?" he asked. Ciel grinned and shook his head with approval. The young swung his legs onto his bed and got comfortable. His skin produced goose bumps from the chill Mother Nature had shared in his room. Sebastian walked toward the fire place. "Shall I be joining you again tonight?" his butler asked. Ciel's turned his face away from him. He wanted so much to say yes, yet the thought of Elizabeth had filled his mind. He was to be married and yet, he was sneaking these nights with his companion. He swallowed his guilt and threw up his pride. "No, I'm alright tonight," the young Earl spoke. Sebastian turned and warmed the fire, wondering where his change of thinking came from. "Maybe I'm too close to the young master…" He turned back and bows toward him. "If you should need me, I am a call away." He blew out the candle stick and headed out of the bedroom, carrying the master's tea cup. "Goodnight, my young lord."
Ciel sat there in his flame lit room, shivering with his clammy skin, wishing to have his raven haired companion cradle him in his blanket of heat throughout the night. Yet, he couldn't get these thoughts out of his head. "Elizabeth's face glows when she's around you…" Yet his love for her had never been displayed, he began to feel horrible for the expression on her face if she knew what had been going on behind closed doors. He could hear her gentle voice reach the highest peak while she cursed him. "How could you do this to me, Ciel?! I loved you! You're supposed to be my husband!" He placed his hand on his head while these thoughts tore him apart on the inside. A tear ran down his eye while he heard her, call his name in hatred. Why did this feelings for Sebastian have to come? He can't hide them or he'll surely get sick. Yet, with his thoughts of disappointing Elizabeth—his aunt and uncle—he despised this feeling. He laid down his head while he began to feel the warmth from the fire place. "Is how I feel for him worth the hurt if someone finds out? Do I want that shame?" Ciel slowly clenched the ring on his thumb as he drifted to sleep. His heart slowly began to calm itself as he closed his eyes. "I want to be happy…but how many lives must I ruin to do it?"
AN: Hey guys ! Just wanted to say that today is Nov. 21 and today is my birthday! So I decided to grace you with a chapter . Hope you liked it . : ) Later !
