AN: So I decided to continue the story after all! Ty to those that favorited reviewed and followed! Well, enjoy!
What do I feel? Ciel thought when Sebastian left the room.
That simple, innocent, caress had stirred something deep inside the 15 year old. Yet he was far too naive to place it…
Ciel admitted ' attraction. Even his voice alone was charming… a smooth baritone, rich in tone and seductive in theory. Unlike Doctor Lee's voice, that was coarse and husky in all the wrong ways. Then there were the light touches, the closure of space when he had changed his bandages…He could still feel Dr. Michaelis' warmth on his skin, and the tingling sensation left on his cheek.
The more Ciel thought about it, the more it overwhelmed him. He wasn't mentally prepared for such a feeling, and it truly scared him.
So he opted to play one of his audio books as a distraction. He reached over to his nightstand, and ran his hands over the tapes. Reading the Braille titles, Ciel settled for Hamlet again. It was his favorite, and he had read it nearly a dozen times.
When he had slipped in the ear buds, he pressed play, and drowned in the tragedy being read to him…
The next morning, Sebastian came just as he said he would.
"Ciel? It's me, Dr. Michaelis." Sebastian stated as he stepped in.
"I know." Ciel replied dryly, sitting up on his bed. He rubbed the tender spot on his neck that became sore from tossing in his sleep.
Sebastian stepped closer to Ciel, and pulled up a chair next to his bed. Ciel, unlike the other patients, has the special OK to go (and not go) where he wants, during meals and otherwise.
Sebastian handed Ciel a plate of breakfast.
"A cinnamon roll. Your favorite right?" Sebastian asked gently. Sebastian didn't know exactly why, but he wanted for Ciel to like him as much as possible. He even went to the lengths of asking the other nurses and staff what Ciel's favorite foods were. But despite knowing those things, he still hadn't taken a look at Ciel's file. He made a mental note to do that later.
Ciel nodded his head feebly and brought the cinnamon roll to his lips. He inwardly sighed at the flavor.
"Is it good?"
Ciel nodded his head then replied with a mouthful of bread "Mhm."
Sebastian just watched as Ciel quickly gobbled down the sweet treat. Ciel's face was dusted lightly with cinnamon and he watched as Ciel accidentally got a bit of the icing on his nose.
"Cute." Sebastian muttered.
"Hm?" Ciel asked.
Despite himself, Sebastian face turned red in embarrassment, and at that moment, was thankful Ciel was blind.
"O-Oh? Nothing, nothing. I just said that you have a bit of icing on your nose."
Ciel would've thought more about Sebastian's suspicious answer, if it weren't for the sudden feeling of Sebastian finger on his nose.
Ciel crinkled his nose at the touch and listened to the sounds of lips smacking, following with a contented sigh.
"It is good." Sebastian confirmed, licking the reminisce of cinnamon and sugar from his finger.
Ciel cheeks turned a pretty pink when he realized what Sebastian had done and he covered his face with his hands, trying, in vain, to cover his blush.
A smirk played on Sebastian's lips.
An interesting one he is… He thought.
Sebastian then remembered the medication Ciel required to take and reached in to his pocket.
"Here Ciel" he said, reaching for Ciel's hand. He then gently placed the antidepressant pill in his palm.
Doctor Lee had mentioned that in the past, Ciel was susceptible to depression and on numerous occasions, intended to take his own life. That is when the panic attacks and nightmares frequented. Even though the daily panic attacks and episodes had died down over the years, Ciel still had nightmares every night, unbeknown to the staff of course.
After Ciel swallowed down the pill, he slowly hopped down from the bed. He then reached for his blind cane next to his bed with ease. He had remembered every detail of the room, and knew exactly where everything was placed.
"Going somewhere Ciel?" Sebastian asked.
Ciel headed to his dresser, and pulled out the black, somewhat effeminate flats his family provided him. For being in a mental institution, Ciel was dressed remarkably well. Though his parents had died when he was ten, his aunt had bought him all that he could ever want during his stay at St. John's. Despite the fact that she rarely visited, her efforts were appreciated.
As Ciel headed to the door, he said "I am going to the garden. Can you take me there?"
Sebastian nodded his head with a gentle smile. "Of course."
Sebastian took Ciel's hand, causing for the boy to shudder at the sudden casual touch. Ciel knew it was purely innocent, needed of course. He was blind after all; it was clearly the easiest way to show him around. Yet despite the words Ciel assured himself with, he couldn't help but blush all the way to the garden.
It was a nice summer day, that Ciel knew, and he couldn't help but sigh in satisfaction when the sun's warmth greeted his skin. The sweet smell of lavender filled his senses when the breeze danced briskly by. Despite being blind, Ciel could still appreciate what the world had to offer, including all its vice and splendor.
Sebastian led him to nearby bench in partly in the shade, knowing that the sun would eventually become a bother. Ciel welcomed the cool shade and relaxed on the bench, forgetting that he was still holding Sebastian's hand.
Sebastian knew this, but didn't mind. He actually relished in the fact that the boy had forgotten to let go. The boy's hand was exceedingly cold and he made an effort to warm them up in his own…
Yet only when Sebastian gave a gentle, somewhat playful squeeze to Ciel's hand, did Ciel finally let go. Ciel immediately pulled back with a flushed face and stammered "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to I just-"
"It's okay" Sebastian laughed. "You were just holding my hand Ciel, nothing to be ashamed of."
But to Ciel, that was not the case. He had convinced himself over the years that all physical touch was to be avoided, that the world is full of greed and hatred; no one is truly kind. Yet had he broken his own rules?
Sebastian felt the awkward tension develop between him and the boy. He knew that "intimate" touching, though it hardly was, unnerved the boy.
What exactly had this boy been through? Sebastian wondered.
"What do you like to do for fun?" Sebastian asked, hoping to break the awkward silence.
"Read I suppose. Well listen I guess, I have audio books." Ciel explained.
"Really? I like to read as well."
"Mm" Ciel replied.
Silence hung dryly in the air…
"So Ciel. " Sebastian interrupted "What books do you like to read?"
Ciel thought for a moment then replied "Anything I guess. Hamlet mostly."
"Ah, the Tragedy of Hamlet… I would've thought that that is among your favorites."
Ciel's interests peeked at Sebastian's words.
"Would you?" Ciel asked haughtily.
What would this man know about me? Ciel thought angrily.
"You just seem like the type of person to be into that. Don't worry, I'm not insulting you. I actually really enjoy Hamlet myself."
Ciel scowled.
"Humph" he muttered, crossing his arms into a childlike pout.
Sebastian merely chuckled at Ciel's actions.
How cute He thought.
"Do you spend most of your time here?" Sebastian asked, quickly changing the subject.
"Sometimes"
"It is quite nice" Sebastian observed. "I could see why you like it here."
"Mm" Ciel replied again.
Sebastian noted Ciel's disinterest, yet was intent on bringing the boy out of his shell. What had drawn him to the boy?
He had fallen for Ciel's tender distractions, blind to his manipulative instinct. To Ciel, it was his defensive mechanism, simply second nature. Only now is he more distant, relaxed, and even shy. Yet when Ciel begins to grow comfortable, all hell will break loose…
During the day, Ciel followed daily routine: break, lunch, more break, boring... boring…boring…per usual.
Sebastian had spent the day working on paperwork when he wasn't tending to his other patients. Some of them were crazy, some normal, some not even present… and then there was Ciel. Out of all the patients, Ciel was the most interesting. So predictable, yet then again so… not. The boy was an enigma, truly.
At the end of the day, Sebastian made an effort to bid all of his patients goodnight. When he finally arrived at his last patient's room, he found himself at Ciel's door.
He knocked lightly on the sanded wood, and then entered Ciel's bedroom.
"Dr. Michealis" Ciel stated from on his bed, pulling the ear buds out of his ears.
How had the boy known it was me? Sebastian thought.
Sebastian simply shrugged off the thought and instead answered sweetly, "Yes, it is me. I've come to say goodnight."
Ciel raised his eyebrows skeptically. "Goodnight?" he scoffed.
"Yes." Sebastian simply replied.
Ciel smirked and then waved for Sebastian to come closer. "Well, bid me goodnight then, Doctor."
Sebastian tensed at Ciel's words, it was casual, yes, but he could detect the seductive underlying tone…
He ignored the feeling and instead pulled up a chair next to Ciel's bed.
He then watched as Ciel laid his tape down on his nightstand. Sebastian also noticed the book, actual book, resting on its wooden surface.
Why does Ciel have a book? Sebastian thought.
"Ciel, why do you have an… actual book?" Sebastian couldn't help but ask.
Ciel shrugged his shoulders. "My aunt accidentally ordered it for me. Even though I can't read it, the pages feel nice…"
Sebastian cautiously grabbed the book, and examined its front.
"Pride and Prejudice" Sebastian read aloud.
"Oh, so that's what it is…" Ciel murmured.
Suddenly, an idea popped into Sebastian's head… What better to say goodnight… then to read a bedtime story? He thought.
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife" Sebastian began.
"Dr. Michaelis?" Ciel interrupted "Exactly what are you doing?"
"Why reading to you of course..." Sebastian replied.
"Why?"
Sebastian bit his lip. Why was he reading to Ciel? He hadn't spent more than 2 minutes with any of his other patients... only to say goodbye then leave. What was so different about this one?
"It will help you fall asleep." Sebastian stated.
Ciel thought for a moment, a single, crucial moment, until finally replying. "Okay, well, continue."
If only Ciel hadn't said those words… If only Ciel hadn't listened for hours upon end as Sebastian read aloud. If only Ciel hadn't drowned in the characters Sebastian would so well play, the individuality he would give them, maybe Ciel wouldn't have developed a certain, forbidden feeling... It was not only Sebastian's voice… his single, compelling voice, that lured Ciel further and further into a world unrecognizable to him. It was his smell, his warmth, his occasional glimmer of a touch… he was falling for the man. Yet if only he hadn't…
But he did. And if he hadn't … then maybe… just maybe, Sebastian wouldn't have done the same.
AN: Ty for reading! Review for the next chapter!