The warm temperatures graced themselves with the daylight, melting the thick layers of snow.
Though it would be a wonderful day beyond the manor windows, the Earl of Phantomhive sneezes and coughs, enduring the curse from the winter months.
He shivers and shakes under a blanket as an herbal tea vapor filled his red, congested nose.
Sebastian rubs his master's feet, trying to make him comfortable in his irritable state.
He tries his best to breath, yet nothing escapes his nostrils.
"I hate seeing you in such miserable condition, my lord," the butler spoke while pressing down on the young one's heel, "I should have closed the windows last night."
Ciel sneezes as his face shows his hope for release.
"It's fine, Sebastian," he states while sipping his tea, "It's just a cold."
He pushes the blanket off of him and carefully hops off the bed.
"Young master, you should stay in bed," his companion comments as he watches the young lord place his cup on the cart, "We wouldn't want your asthma to flare up."
Ciel aggressively coughs, and stumbles slightly.
"I am the Earl of Phantomhive, and I have work to do," he stated while walking down the hallway toward his study, "I will not allow a little illness to stop progress."
Sebastian smiles as he stands and heads towards the cart.
"No matter how innocent you may seem, you never accept lying on your back as an option…"
Sebastian swiftly straightens the leftovers from breakfast and proceeds out of his bedroom.
Ciel struggles to maintain his focus throughout the day.
His sickness showers him in headaches and pains while he sits in his study looking over products for the spring collection. He hadn't had the energy to do anything through the other days before that day and was tired of staying in bed.
Sebastian had stayed by his side most of the time, tending to his every wish like always, but with a different take on it.
They hadn't been intimate; they had just cuddled in his bed when he allowed him to sleep with him.
Even with their new found relationship, Ciel insisted that they had their time apart.
He coughed, covering his mouth with a tissue and trying to breath. His chest felt as if it would cave in at any moment.
"This cold isn't going to stop me from my work," he commented while trying to finish his objectives.
His vision became bury the more he tried to complete his tasks.
He had developed a fever along with his other symptoms and had trouble breathing.
"Maybe I should lay down for a while," he thought while placing his head down on his desk.
As his eyes slowly closed, Sebastian was walking into the study with more herbal tea.
"Young master…"
His eyes widen slightly as he watches the young Earl drift to sleep on his desk.
He pushes the cart into the room and walks around the table. He stoops down near his face and smiles.
"You should've stayed in your bed, young master," he whispered as he pushed his hair from in front of his face, revealing the newly developed scar from his injury he had received a month before.
Ciel's breath was heavy, for he had no choice but to breathe through his mouth since his nose had been clogged.
Sebastian noticed the whistle from his nose and heat from his head. "Come, young master," he spoke as he gently picked him and cradled him in his arms, walking toward the door, "I shall nurse you back to health in your room."
Sebastian slowly lowered Ciel into his bed and removed his shoes.
Ciel hadn't had the strength to open his eyes, let alone move, so he remained still.
"I have…to finish…my work…" he spoke, his words separated from the breaths he took in between.
Sebastian kissed his warm forehead as he removed the top layer of his clothing.
"You shall stay in bed until you have gotten better," he whispered in his ear while he unbuttoned his shirt.
The young Earl slightly felt as if he was about to be molested by the way he felt helpless and by his clothing being removed.
Yet, he tried his best to relax.
Sebastian made a paste of mint, basil and several other herbs, then gently laid them under the young one's nose.
"This shall help you breathe," the butler spoke while hovering over of his love.
Even in his state, he enjoyed the way he looked so peaceful. He closed the blinds and fueled the fire, trying his best to make the lord as comfortable as possible.
Ciel gently slept as his breathing became less difficult.
Sebastian smiled, and sat on the edge of the bed, watching over him.
"So determined even in his darkest hour," he thought to himself as he watched the young one's chest go up and down, representing his breathing.
He had placed a cool cloth on the young master's head, trying his best to calm his fever.
He wished that he could take his pain away, even if it were just for a moment.
Sebastian looked outside and observed the sunlight.
It was still pretty early, yet his master was still so exhausted.
He contemplated the things he could to the young master in his sleep but found it rather rude.
So, he simply removed his outer clothing, and curled up next to the sleeping teen, wrapping his arms around him.
Ciel, with barely any energy in his body, feels the demon's arm wrap around him and slowly snuggles it close to him, holding it with both hands.
Sebastian smiles, not tired at all, yet insists on being as close to his love as possible.
It seemed since their feelings became apparent to one another, or since Ciel began to accept his feeling for his companion, Sebastian couldn't stand being away from him, even for a moment.
He was slightly obsessed; he no longer looked toward his master as a charge, he was someone he loved and someone he didn't want to let go. He closed his eyes, and just enjoyed the moment.
Ciel's breathing became heavy again as he experienced his dreams.
He begins to moan sensually as he holds onto Sebastian's arm tighter.
"I wonder what he's dreaming about," the butler whispered as he shifted on his side, having the young one's back land on his chest.
Ciel began to react to his dream more and more, slowly rocking his hips against Sebastian.
He tried his best not to take advantage of the young teen while he slept but he began to become aroused as his motions continues.
It had been about a week and three days since the first time they had been intimate and he hadn't pressed the subject.
He recalled how awkward he had felt two days after they had made love and felt the need to let their actions sink in before making another attempt.
Yet, he craved his body daily, hoping that he would catch him in another nightly act.
Ciel's moans become more frequent and his hips become lustful, almost as if he had been doing it knowingly.
He couldn't take and decided to try waking him.
"Young master…" he whispers in his ear, trying his best not to alarm him too much.
His call goes unnoticed as his soft voice takes over his action.
"S-Sebastian~."
He moans his lover's name; Sebastian, becoming more aroused, tries his best to wake him before it becomes uncontrollable.
"Young master, please wake up."
He bites his lips as Ciel leans his head further into his arm, his breath raising the hairs on his skin. He can't help but release slight moans of his own while he enjoys the feeling of the young one's lips on his skin.
He can't take it any longer.
He pushes himself over the sleeping Earl and bites his ear.
Ciel grunts and slightly turns toward his companion, inches away from his lips.
"S-Sebastian?" he spoke quietly, "What are you doing here?"
Sebastian smiles, looking as the young one opens his eyes slightly.
"I wanted to make sure I was here just in case you needed me," he answered, "B-But my lord, your hips…their grinding…"
Ciel slightly looks down to see where he and Sebastian met and noticed his slight risen visitor.
"Oh…"
His cheeks blushed a little, for he was still too asleep and worn out to realize what was happening fully. He pushed himself upward, toward the edge of the bed, and looked up at his companion.
"I-Is that enough room…?" he asked while turning back over, preparing himself to go back to sleep.
"Yes, my lord," the butler spoke while getting comfortable and placing his hand over him, "It's perfect."
He slowly relaxes himself, knowing that he was too tired to perform such an intimate act anyhow.
He observed as his love sneezes and then begins to snore quietly. He shifts and closes his eyes, beginning to join his love in dream land.
Ciel awakens and notices the hand under him.
He sits ups slowly, having the once cold cloth land on his lap, and looks out the window.
Night had graced the Earth with its presence, covering the lands beyond.
"Have I been asleep all day?" he says to himself while seeing Sebastian asleep next to him.
He blushes as he slowly drapes his legs over the side of the bed.
Things still hadn't become quite normal for the young Earl; it seemed like every thought of him and Sebastian in bed would ultimately lead to thoughts of that night.
He gently pushes himself out of bed, feeling a little dizzy when his feet hit the floor.
He glances behind him, observing the entire bed; thoughts of that passionate night fluster in his mind before him, as if he's looking at it in another angle. He blushes, turning away quickly almost as if he didn't want to remember.
"It's just so…different now," he speaks to himself while curling up by the door.
He didn't want anything else weird to occur while he slept but didn't want to command Sebastian to get up.
He just made this small sacrifice to be comfortable, since he had yet to become comfortable with himself.
He slowly drifts back to sleep, his knees curled into his chest, trying to warm himself from the cold.
Sebastian slightly twitches his arm and notices that his love was no longer there.
He lifts himself and scans the room, spotting that the young one laid curled up under the door knob.
He rubbed his head, wondering why he had left.
"Is it uncomfortable to sleep next to me?" he thinks to himself, while picking himself out of bed.
They had become too close; maybe so close that Ciel no longer wanted to be near him.
He walks to the door, and gently, lifts him from the floor.
"As your butler, I shall make sure you are as comfortable as possible," he thought, while lowering the young one down placing the covers over him, "And as your love, I shall make sure not to crowd you too much and give you your space."
He slowly leans down toward the young one and stops inches before his lips touches his head.
"This is me…" he whispers, "kissing you goodnight."
He stands up, quickly gathers his things and exits the room.
He was slightly hurt that things were different now, yet he did not lose sight of the big picture.
He must execute the contract and make sure he had done his job, no matter how much his heart ached to be near him.
