Shadows
Note: This drabble takes place shortly after Sebastian and Ciel first form their contract. Ciel is ten years old at the time.
Unedited so please excuse any typos.
There had been many times in Sebastian's life where he had considered breaking his contracts and simply taking what had been promised to him ahead of schedule. The temptation that came with a delectable soul was risky and quite dangerous; like waving a warm honeyed ham in the face of a starving man, the concept was much the same for Sebastian. He would go decades in between feedings and sometimes longer if a rewarding enough contract was not presented to him. Sebastian had always prided himself on his meal choices because only the best of the best managed to worm its way into his awaiting belly.
Yes, Sebastian had always thought to betray his contractors as many of them began to lose value with time. Each one growing darker and a bit more foul as the days passed until eventually the contract became far more work than the feast was worth. So yes, Sebastian had, on many occasions, chosen to break his contracts early and collect his promised goods, feasting upon what little he could salvage. But…not this time. No, not this one.
"Young Master, it is nearly two in the morning." Sebastian called to the young boy leaning over his desk and studying a pile of documents intensely. "I put you to bed a long while ago."
The boy's eyes darted up at him and flashed angrily, his ink pen looking as if it were about to snap clasped in those tiny fingers. "You did not put me to bed, demon." He snarled viciously, "And I could not fall asleep, not that it's any of your concern." He mumbled harshly after. "Besides, these documents needed looking over before being mailed off tomorrow."
Sebastian approached the snarly child's desk cautiously, hands raised almost in surrender. "I see. Does the Young Master wish for some warm milk to help him sleep then?"
The boy glared hotly and chucked his fountain pen like one would a dart, directly at the demon's face. Sebastian caught the flying weapon between his two fingers and examined it closely before giving the child a brief smirk. "Now, Young Master, that's hardly very noble behavior. I should think it may have something to do with your exhaustion from lack of sleep."
"E-exhaustion?!" The boy sputtered in outrage. "I am not exhausted! If anything I am frustrated at my servant's lack of obedience and ability to pick up on subtle hints! Go away, Sebastian!"
Sebastian frowned at the boy as he placed the pen back in its rightful place beside a stack of papers. "Young Master, I must insist that you retire for the night. You have an early appointment with Sir Clarence to discuss a trading agreement. It would be must unfortunate if you made a blunder because you were so weary from your late night document reading."
Sebastian almost smiled as the child scanned his mind for something to say. In all his lifetime, which reached far beyond any of the recorded history which cluttered the humans' bookshelves and libraries, Sebastian had never had a master quite as unique as this one. Never had he had a master that was so intriguing to him that he mourned the day he would be forced to follow through with the contract and devour him. Never. And it excited him far more than he knew it should. Demons were not meant to take interest in their souls the same way humans were not supposed to form attachments to their steaks. It was strange and abnormal, something to be frowned upon and mocked by his brethren if they should ever find out. But they wouldn't.
"I wish to stay up a bit longer, Sebastian." The boy growled warmly, almost as if asking permission of the butler to remain awake. "That room…it's cold."
Sebastian cleared away the papers cluttering the desk and organized them into a neat pile at the corner. "Come, Young Master. I shall turn up the fire for you and gather some extra blankets from the linen closet."
"That's not what I meant, Sebastian." The boy snapped, Sebastian turned in surprise at the waver he heard in his master's tiny voice. "It's so cold in there and the shadows…they mock me. They cover every inch of that foul room and dance across the walls, laughing at me. They think I'm scared of them, they think I fear them."
Sebastian paused, momentarily tongue-tied and ignorant of what to say to the child concerning these disturbing rambles. "The shadows, my lord?" He settled on questioning softly.
"They are everywhere in this damn manor, Sebastian. Everywhere I turn, every room. I can't escape them." The boy rubbed his eyes tiredly and turned away from his butler, taking to gazing out his office window overlooking the vast gardens of the manor.
Sebastian felt compelled to assure the boy that such things did not exist. There were no shadows mocking him in the dark, nothing of the sort dwelled in the Phantomhive estate or anywhere aside from the stressed mind of a frightened child. He knew such a comment would likely prove unhelpful in this case though and only assist in angering his little master.
"Perhaps these shadows remain because you are simply not frightening enough, Young Master." Sebastian answered.
The boy turned away from the window and peered up at his tall butler now spot lighted in silvery moonlight. "What do you mean?" He asked accusingly.
"I mean that a little human such as yourself would do nothing to scare away such frightful beasts." Sebastian explained, reminding himself that his ten year old master may very well still believe in the scary monsters that skulked under the beds of children and snatched them away in the night. "Perhaps someone a bit more intimidating simply needs to…step in."
The boy stared at his butler for a long while, completely silent. He seemed to be considering something very important and Sebastian merely smiled reassuringly down at him. A single sparkling blue eye finally blinked and brightened as the child apparently came to a decision.
"This is an order, Sebastian. You shall sleep in my room until further notice." The boy demanded stonily. "But none of the other servants are to know of this arrangement."
Sebastian smirked and took his master's small hand into his much larger one. "Of course, Young Master. What sort of butler would I be if I disclosed your personal business to others."
"A despicable one." The boy said. "Now let us retire."
Sebastian led the child back to his room and relit the dwindling fire, poking it thoroughly before it was roaring and warming the chilled room to a comfortable toasty degree. Sebastian's little master had already crawled back into his bed and covered himself with the soft covers. However, the child had scooted to the far right side of the large bed and left the opposite side open and the cover turned down as if silently inviting another to join him.
Sebastian couldn't help the small chuckle which broke through his lips but quickly covered it with a cough when he saw the boy's mismatched eyes bore into him. Acting upon the unspoken command, Sebastian slipped off his black jacket, laying it over the padded armchair beside the bed and kicked off his polished shoes, lining them up just beneath the edge. Sebastian met his master's eyes as he slid under the covers and leaned up on his elbow.
"Have the shadows gone, Young Master?" Sebastian asked curiously when he noticed the boy's eyes staying trained on him.
The little master's eyes seemed to scan the room hurriedly before landing back on his butler. "They seem to have retreated for now." He answered calmly.
"That's good to hear. Do you think you will be able to rest more easily now, my young lord?"
"I believe so." The boy replied drowsily. "But you are still t-to stay the remainder of the night and for every night for…for the foreseeable…f-future." The boy was gone the second he finished the order and Sebastian chuckled quietly.
The demon waited a minute before reaching over and petting his young lord's soft hair, relishing in the feathery feel to it and wishing he could do this when the little one was awake. Unconsciously, the child gave a soft groan and rolled into the butler's chest, snuggling into the freshly laundered button down shirt. Sebastian felt as if his smile would break his face as it crept across and strained his muscles.
No, never had he considered breaking this contract early. His master was far too interesting…and far too cute to ever contemplate such a disgraceful act.