Gambit

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the characters of Kuroshitsuji, nor am I clever enough to have thought of them on my own. This story contains male/male relationships between an adult and a child—if that offends you, please stop reading now. This story is dedicated to my amazing "husbandou," Dahlia. Without her brilliant ideas, it wouldn't exist!

Chapter 2
His Butler, Perverted

As steam billowed in elegant little puffs around his face and arms, the Phantomhive inhaled slowly. Roses… the water smelled of roses, which was different than usual. Typically, Sebastian filled his baths with lavender instead, insisting that it would help him sleep easier. It always did, though Ciel didn't pretend to understand why. The boy lifted one leg from the tub and watched as water dripped from his smooth, porcelain skin and created a rhythm of ripples on the surface. When he heard the familiar clicking of Sebastian's shoes on the tiled floor, he lowered his leg and turned to look at him.

Sebastian smiled and draped a fresh white towel over the hook on the wall before removing his tailored coat. The man expertly rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt, then knelt beside the bath tub. He bit down on the tip of his white glove at the middle finger and tugged it off slowly—first the right, then the left. They were neatly folded and placed into his pocket. "How unusual for Young Master to request a morning bath," he mused gently as he dipped the soap and a wash cloth into the tub and created a gentle lather.

"It was hot last night," Ciel explained simply, though he needn't explain himself—especially not to his butler. "What's my schedule for today?"

Sebastian smiled quietly as he leaned forward to gently wash his master, guiding the boy to lean back against the smooth porcelain of the tub as he lifted the child's perfect leg from the water. He always started with the boy's legs, and worked his way up—always thorough and gentle. "After your bath, Monsieur LaFrieri will be here for your French lesson. I will serve a jasmine and vanilla blend tea to suit his tastes with sweet Danishes and sliced fruit. After that you have a meeting to discuss a new line of hard candy with—"

"Cancel that," Ciel interrupted swiftly. "After my French lesson, I want to concentrate on the Queen's request."

Sebastian nodded his head obediently as he lowered his young master's second leg back into the water gently, and took his wrist to carefully, methodically wash his arm. "As you wish, my Lord," he said calmly. He released the boy's wrist and reached for his other one, lifting it from the water.

Ciel leaned his head back against the tub and looked to the ceiling, watching the steam swirl and twist around him. It was relaxing…it made it far easier to think. "What do we know about this magician?" he asked his butler.

"He seems to travel from place to place, picking any open spot with a big crowd to perform in. He's considered an expert illusionist," Sebastian explained as he released Ciel's other arm, and began to wash his shoulders, and chest.

"And the missing boys?"

"I will look into that this afternoon during your French lesson."

Ciel sighed thoughtfully. A travelling magician had fallen under the Queen's suspicious eye when, upon his arrival, a number of young boys began to go missing. That was all the information they had so far, but Ciel expected he would know a great deal more after Sebastian's investigation. The Queen had pleaded with Ciel to bring the boys home safely.

"I want to know what they have in common," Ciel said suddenly.

Sebastian lifted his eyes. "My Lord?"

"The boys. There must be some reason they're being targeted. There has to be something that ties them all together—age, looks…rank. Anything."

"The Queen did mention that they were all of similar age," Sebastian reminded his master. He took the boy's shoulders and leaned him forward, holding him up as he began to wash his back. He took a brief moment to take in the sweet smell of Ciel's soft, dark hair and smiled wickedly. He almost shivered. "Between the ages of ten and fourteen."

"There has to be more than that though," the young Earl muttered, hardly noticing his butler's slight distraction.

"Would you like for me to wash your hair as well, Young Master?" Sebastian asked as he gently poured water over the boy's shoulders to rinse him.

"No," Ciel said, shaking his head. He hated when his hair was wet, and he'd washed it last night before bed. "I'm done."

"Very well," Sebastian said. He reached into the water, purposefully brushing his fingers against the inside of the Earl's thigh as he reached between his legs.

Ciel gasped and bent his knees, slapping away Sebastian's arm. "What do you think you're doing?" the poor boy yelped, startled.

Sebastian had quickly pulled his arm from the tub, splashing water onto the floor. He smiled his unwavering smile at the blushing Earl. "The drain, my Lord," he said. "May I?"

The drain…? Little Phantomhive felt his cheeks burning from embarrassment as he looked down between his legs in the water. The drain plug was there, just a few inches above one perfect little knee. He felt his blood boil a little as his wicked butler chuckled at his expense. "…shut up."

"My Lord," Sebastian apologized, though that mocking smile remained as he leaned forward once again and reached his hand between the teen's legs. He grasped the chain of the drain plug, and tugged it with one swift, neat movement. Immediately a small whirlpool formed above it as the water level began to slowly lower. Without a moment's delay, Sebastian was on his feet. He snatched the soft white towel from its hanger, and waited for his humbled young master to stand carefully in the tub.

He tossed the towel around the boy and lifted him from the water. He said nothing as he gently placed the Phantomhive down on a small plush rug and knelt before him to dry his little body with quick, tender hands. And those were the hands of a demon…

.

.

.

Sebastian was as efficient as ever in getting evidence for his Young Master while the boy concentrated on his studies. They had such a perfect system worked out between them; a system that would hardly work without Sebastian's… talent. The demon returned to his master's study nearly an hour after Monsieur LeFrieri had left. He knocked lightly before opening the door, silver tray in hand. "Pardon the intrusion."

Ciel lifted his one good eye from the book in front of him. The boy looked uncomfortable. He had loosened his tie and even undid a few of the gold buttons on his black, short-sleeved blouse. His cheeks and forehead were flushed and damp with sweat. The air today was ruthlessly stagnant. Even the open window behind the Phantomhive's desk was denied any sort of forgiving breeze. Sebastian felt his spine tingle at the sight of his sweet master in such a state.

He set the silver tray down and lifted a brow as he eyed his poor young master quietly. "Shall I run you a cool bath, Young Master?" he suggested.

Ciel sighed and shook his head. "What did you find out?" he asked as Sebastian set a perfect little fruit tart in front of him.

"I retrieved pictures of a few of the missing boys, however most of them come from poor families who were unable to afford photographs. Would you prefer a cold beverage instead of tea, my Lord?"

Ciel glanced to the cup of hot tea waiting for him. The very idea of drinking something hot was enough to make him sweat more. He nodded his head and waved a hand dismissively. "First give me the photos," he said.

Sebastian nodded his head and lifted an envelope from the tray. He slid it across the desk top and set the teacup and saucer back onto the tray. "I shall return with a different drink for you, Young Master," he said as he lifted the tray.

"Not lemonade," Ciel said quickly, looking at Sebastian. He'd lost his taste for it ever since Tanaka had taken to making it on occasion…

Sebastian smirked quietly and nodded his head. "My Lord," he said with a little bow. He left the room to get his finicky young master a more appropriate beverage for the weather.

The little Phantomhive let a sigh escape him as he opened the envelope. He looked through the photos quietly. There weren't many. Most of the missing boys were commoners, poor children. He spread the photographs out in front of him on his desk and frowned thoughtfully as his gaze drifted from one, to the next…to the next. They were all healthy, young…lively. But one could say the same for any boy, really… Except Ciel. He was startled suddenly by the sound of his study door opening once more. He looked up as Sebastian stepped back into the room with a tall glass on the tray. How long had he been staring at the pictures?

"I don't know what to make of these…" he confessed as took the glass that Sebastian offered him and brought it to his lips. He sipped it, and then blinked as he held the glass up to look at it. "What is this?"

Sebastian smiled, reaching out with a handkerchief to gently wipe his master's brow and cheeks. He slid a finger down his cheek slowly, along his jaw…and then down his neck, silently delighted when he felt the boy shiver under his touch. "I had the idea of adding ice to your tea, Young Master," he said softly as he lowered himself onto one knee and leaned between the boy's legs. He unbuttoned the top few buttons of the young Earl's shirt and smiled a little at the sight of his perfect little collar bone, then looked up at the boy's face.

There was that delicious blush again.

"Is it not to your tastes, Young Master?"

Ciel cleared his throat and swatted Sebastian's hands away from his shirt. "It's fine," he said softly, setting the glass down. It was delicious, actually.

Sebastian quelled the urged to chuckle as he got to his feet with a nod and looked down at the photographs. "If I may, my Lord…" He reached down to touch the corner of one photo with the tip of one gloved finger. "Each of these boys possess qualities that I'm afraid my Lord couldn't be expected to see."

Ciel's good eye narrowed considerably with that comment. He shot metaphorical daggers at his butler's face as he leaned back in his chair. "What does that mean?"

Sebastian couldn't help but chuckle softly. He lifted one of the photographs up and smiled at his master. "In this photograph you see a young boy. A boy you might have even played with under normal circumstances. However, through less innocent eyes this boy is something very different."

"Less innocent?" Ciel scoffed quietly.

"A pervert could easily pick this boy out in a crowd of similar children as a rare beauty," Sebastian explained with that smile still on his face.

The young Earl shivered quietly and wrinkled his nose in a beautifully childish way. "A pervert," he stated quietly. He looked at the picture, and then looked at Sebastian expectantly. "And you see that too, do you?" he accused.

Sebastian's lips tugged into an amused little smirk. He gave his master a knowing look and lowered the photograph. "I am one Hell of a butler, my Lord," he reminded the boy smoothly.

Ciel was just irritated now. He waved his hand at Sebastian in an annoyed, dismissive way and turned away from him in the oversized chair he sat in. "Just get out," he grumbled quietly. "Unless you have something important to tell me, I don't feel like listening to your perverted fantasies."

Sebastian couldn't help but laugh then. He touched his chest. "Forgive me, my Lord," he said in a mock-apologetic tone. He set a crumpled up, dirty flier on the Phantomhive's desk and smiled. "You may find this to be helpful."

HASANI AGAMEMNON THE GREAT

and his extraordinary transporting glass coffin

MONDAY, 14 JUNE

in Saint James Park

Ciel snatched the flier up into his hands and looked at it quietly. His cheek twitched a bit as his lips curled up into the smallest smirk. "Sebastian…it seems we have a magic show to attend on Monday."

Sebastian grinned slowly and lowered his head as a gloved hand touched his chest in a formal bow before his master. "Yes, my Lord."

.

.

.

"Blue?" young Ciel murmured as he set his breakfast tea down onto his bed table. He was standing next to his bed, barefoot in his now-wrinkled night shirt. His dark hair was an adorable mess and those delicate cheeks were still marked from the fabric of his pillow cases. He watched as Sebastian gently draped a matching blue vest and trouser ensemble across his sheets.

"Yes, Young Master," Sebastian said, kneeling in front of the boy and reaching up to expertly undo the buttons from top to bottom. This was his favorite part of the morning.

"I prefer green."

Sebastian smirked a little. "Yet you look best in red," he insisted. He loved the boy in red…the deep color was such a wonderful contrast to his fantastically perfect white skin.

"Then why blue?"

"Did my Young Master forget already? It is Lady Elizabeth's birthday. The Middlefords should be here within the hour for brunch."

"So?" Ciel mumbled, lowering his arms as Sebastian pushed the night shirt off his shoulders and removed it entirely. He put a hand on his hip then as he stood before his butler, naked—nothing new for him. The man had been dressing and bathing him for over three years now.

"Lady Elizabeth has always said she prefers you in blue," the demon said with a mocking little smile. He helped the boy into his shirt first—a perfect white shirt with pin-tucks across the front of it on either side of the button panels. The sleeves were short, and slightly puffed, which irritated Ciel to no end. Next, came the boy's shorts. Sebastian lifted them slowly to the boy's hips after getting him to step into them, letting the fabric glide over the skin of his buttocks. He smiled a little when he saw the boy's cheeks pinken only slightly. "Have I hurt you, Young Master?" he asked in an obviously mocking tone.

Ciel narrowed his eyes and looked away. "I don't know what you're talking about. Hurry up and finish, I want to get the last of my work finished before they arrive."

"Yes, my Lord," Sebastian said. If he was disappointed, he didn't let it show. He helped his master into the blue vest and buttoned it, then added his small black tie, socks and garters. Of course as he slid the garters on, he let his hand slip against the young teen's inner thigh, up into his shorts. As a reward, his master bestowed upon him the most beautiful gasp.

Finally, Sebastian helped the boy into his boots and spats. He made sure everything was perfect before picking up the child's eye patch and leaning in to tie it carefully in place. He ran his fingers through Ciel's hair, for his own enjoyment of course…but the Earl wouldn't know the different between Sebastian's selfishness and the demon's insistence on his master's perfect image.

His butler stood, and before he left, held out a perfectly wrapped little box with a knowing smile. "I took the liberty of wrapping your gift for Lady Elizabeth yesterday after the locket was delivered," he said. He was delighted by the embarrassed blush on his master's face as the boy reached forward to take the small parcel into his hands. Oh, little Ciel…how could you think that Sebastian didn't know about the locket? "A fine choice, My Lord," he complimented shallowly as he stepped back. "Brunch will be served in the garden. It's already quite warm outside."

"That's fine," the child-Earl said, waving his hand dismissively at his butler as he turned to leave the room, staring down at the perfectly wrapped package in his hand.

As if on cue, just before the turning of the hour, Ciel could hear out his study window the steady thundering of hooves and the whir of the wheels on the carriage. The Middlefords had arrived. He stood and snatched up the present from the table, tucking it gingerly into his pocket before reaching for his walking stick. By the time Sebastian opened the door to his study, he was already halfway across the room. He walked past the man without a word as he headed down the angled staircase in time to see Maylene and Finny running for the front door.

The Phantomhive was forced to squint slightly as he stepped out into the bright, warm sunlight. He lifted a hand to shield his eyes as the carriage came around to a slow halt. Immediately, he felt Sebastian plop a matching top hat onto his head and straighten it, before walking down the rest of the steps outside and to the carriage to open the door.

"Cieeel~!" came the immediate excited cry from the carriage as his sweet, excitable fiancé emerged through the door. She took Sebastian's hand and climbed down, turning to him with a bright smile on her effervescent face. "Oh, Sebastian!" she said, curtsying to the butler politely. "It's my birthday!"

Sebastian smiled as he bowed to her. "Lady Elizabeth, my congratulations." He glanced into the carriage, and a mystified look crossed his usually composed face. Where were her parents? Before he'd the chance to ask the girl, she was running in a most un-ladylike way toward the steps and he smiled slowly in amusement as he watched Ciel's calm face contort into a mixture of annoyance and anxiousness.

Elizabeth threw her arms around Ciel's neck in a fit of happy giggles. "Ciel!" she said happily. "Mother and Father let me come alone to visit you! I get to stay for the whole weekend!"

Ciel and Sebastian's eyes both widened as they made contact with one another.

Alone?

The whole weekend?

Yaay Chapter two complete! This one was fun to write! A lot more stuff is happening now! I can't wait to intruduce Hasani for real! And oh no, a weekend alone with Lizzy! I hope you're all enjoying it! It's Wednesday, and I'm already uploading chapter two... woo! At this rate, maybe I can update twice a week? Sundays and Wednesdays? I dunno, we'll see I guess.

PS: I know in the manga Sebastian actually says to Miss Nina that he doesn't like Ciel in red... lol but I imagine he only said that out of propriety. I see Ciel in red so often in the artwork and I can't imagine Sebastian wouldn't love him in red, right?

Anyhow, PLEASE review! I can't stress that enough, your comments help! Even if it's a question or a crit, that's fine! I want to make sure that I'm as clear as possible! I'm having so much writing this... Ciel is such a miserable brat, and I love him. I hope everyone thinks they're in character enough! =D

-Lo