A/N: Next chapter! Slightly shorter chapter but next one will be much longer, I can promise that! Hopefully things will get better for Sebastian and Ciel ^^ Thank you for reading and enjoy the chapter 8D
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroshitsuji
Ciel drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, ignoring the mass of people that walked in front of his car while he sat contemplating his next move. It wasn't as though he didn't have a move, but instead he wasn't sure how to go about it. Ciel always knew what he wanted and always planned carefully how to go about it. He knew what he needed to do but it wasn't anything easy.
It seemed as though being around Claude was a bad influence and now that Ciel had a day away from the man, he was able to see exactly how he had treated Sebastian. Whereas Claude was the voice of iniquitous and prompted Ciel to join the crowd even when something was wrong, Master was the exact opposite.
While the man ran a less than conventional business, he had his morals that he kept to and compared to Claude, was more than honorable. He had a way of making Ciel feel guilty about his actions against Sebastian and made him look at the older male in a different light. Ciel wasn't sure how the older male did it, but after the other night, Ciel had felt more than guilty with what he had done to Sebastian.
Sebastian didn't deserve to be treated that way and Ciel had let it happen, because he wanted to put on a good face in front of Claude. Show that he was worthy enough of Claude's attention by acting and feeling the same way to Sebastian as Claude felt for the other male. It was low and immature, but then again, the pressure to impress someone often did weird things to a person.
Nevertheless, Ciel didn't have to act that way in front of Master. The man found it utterly repulsive and was furious at Ciel for acting in such a way. DIE lived in the shadows and ran their company the way they wanted to, without any pressure from the outside. They didn't care that their company drew negative attention and that many people wanted them to stop producing such crude DVD's. They continued with what they wanted because it was something they enjoyed doing. Why should they try to fit into the cookie cutter shape that society provided for them? What was wrong with breaking that preformed shape?
It was for that reason that Master was annoyed with Ciel, because he had accepted the shape that society gave him. Ciel had given into that pressure to conform to what Claude wanted from him and had yelled at Sebastian. It wasn't something Ciel was proud of but at most, he could hope to right some of the wrongs he had committed.
With a heavy sigh, Ciel climbed out of his car and rubbed at his eyes. He knew what he needed to do but that didn't mean that it was going to be easy. There was a chance that Sebastian wouldn't even listen to him, let alone see him. And after all that Ciel had done to the older male, he didn't blame Sebastian.
The car was locked and Ciel jogged across the street. He paused in front of the apartment building that Sebastian lived in and grimaced slightly at the front of it. It was even dirtier looking up close and for a moment, Ciel debated about going in. He pushed the thoughts from his mind and steeled himself before opening the front door.
The air had a lingering scent of stale cigarette smoke that had Ciel's nose curling as he started to walk through the hallways. He knew what apartment the man was in and quickly made his way to the fourth floor before he could back out. Ciel stopped in front of the door, doubled checked that it was the correct one, and knocked loudly.
He shifted on his feet as his heart raced against his chest. He didn't know what was going to happen and could only hope for the best. Even now, Ciel wasn't sure if Sebastian was awake or not. The curtains were drawn again and every light seemed to be off, as though Sebastian was asleep or busy doing something.
Ciel raised his hand to knock again when the door swung open and Ciel stumbled back in surprise. "Se-Sebastian," he stammered and tried to calm his nerves. "I hope I didn't wake you."
Crimson eyes stared at him and Ciel could see the carefully guarded expression on Sebastian's face. It didn't give anything away and Ciel could only stare at the man before him, finding that the words weren't coming. Instead, Ciel was still trying to wrap his mind around the figure that stood before him and trying to figure out if it was real or not.
"Can I come in?" He asked finally, tearing his eyes from Sebastian's body so he could look back into red eyes. "I was hoping we could talk in private."
Sebastian glanced over his shoulder, as though debating about something before releasing a heavy sigh and stepping back to allow Ciel to pass. It was a clear sign that the older male wasn't happy with the choice but was acting as the more mature of the two by giving Ciel a chance to speak what was on his mind.
Ciel walked into the room slowly, his eyes trailing over Sebastian's body one last time. The man looked as though he had been getting ready for bed, his hair wet from a shower and loose sleep pants hanging low on what looked like slim hips. A slightly baggy nightshirt covered his torso and although it was loose, it wasn't as baggy as the suit Sebastian usually wore. It gave the impression that Sebastian wasn't as scrawny as Ciel first thought and made him rethink some things about the older male.
A glass of water was set on the living room table and Ciel glanced at it before turning his attention to Sebastian as the older male took a seat on the couch. The room was sparsely furnished, with just the bare minimum needed to be comfortable, but it was clean and Ciel slowly lowered himself down onto the sheet-covered couch.
"I guess I should explain why I'm here," he started, picking up the glass and holding it lightly in his hands. The glass was clean as well and Ciel didn't have any fears about drinking from it. It seemed that despite his and the buildings appearance, Sebastian was a rather clean individual and wasn't fond of filth.
Sebastian nodded at him and kept his mouth firmly shut. He sat rigid in the chair, as though Ciel was going to attack him; verbally or physically, without warning. It made the guilt inside Ciel grow even more and he took a quick sip at his water before placing the glass to the side so he could start talking.
"I wanted to apologize for my actions the other day. I was wrong and should never have yelled at you in such a way," he said, keeping eye contact with Sebastian the whole time. "It wasn't fair to blame you for causing the fight when it was Claude who was at fault for his actions. But I was too worried about what Claude would think of me if I went against him. Silly, I know."
A small snort left Sebastian's mouth and the frown on the man's face told Ciel that Sebastian still hadn't given his forgiveness. That knowledge hurt more than Ciel thought it would and his eyes lowered slightly. He knew that Sebastian wouldn't forgive him but he had hoped that at most Sebastian would acknowledge him more than what he was doing now.
Ciel shifted in his chair and laced his fingers together, trying to think about what he was going to say next. "I can't take back what I said or did, but I hope that I can at least start making things right by apologizing. I truly am sorry about what I did and I feel terrible about it." He glanced to the side, unsure if he should continue or not. He felt as though he was digging his own hole the more he kept talking.
Silence settled over the apartment and Ciel resisted the urge to shift in his chair, no matter how awkward the tension in the room was. Instead, his eyes darted around the room once more, taking everything in. The door to the bedroom was closed and Ciel turned his attention to the living room, which was still bare no matter how much he looked at it. He couldn't find anything of personal value and it made Ciel wonder if Sebastian had anything he valued in his life.
Judging by the state of his apartment, Ciel was inclined to say no. Everything in the living room and combined kitchen was probably provided by the apartment and Ciel couldn't find anything of Sebastian's around the room. It was sad and Ciel felt the urge to buy at least a picture for the man so the room wasn't so depressing.
He turned his attention back to Sebastian and flushed when he realized the man was looking at him intently. "Your apartment is very clean," he said lamely. Ciel winced at the words and felt his ears grow warm but the damage was already done.
A low chuckle left Sebastian's mouth before he stood up and moved into the kitchen. Shuffling noises met Ciel's ears before the man returned with a pad of paper and pencil. Something was scribbled down on the paper before it was passed over to Ciel, who accepted it with a small nod. Neat handwriting flowed across the paper and Ciel blinked at the words before laughing slightly himself.
'Your words, while true, are a failed attempt at covering up the fact that you think my apartment is a sad and lonely thing. Your eyes give you away.'
"I'm sorry. But it is rather bare in here. You need something to liven up the place," Ciel said with a small smile before glancing at Sebastian. "What else can you see in my eyes?" He asked almost shyly. People had always mentioned that he had nice eyes, but nothing more than that. To have someone see past the blue that everyone found attractive was something new for Ciel.
Sebastian held out his hand and Ciel passed the pad of paper back to Sebastian. He watched as the man started writing, his hand moving smoothly across the paper. Watching Sebastian made Ciel realize that the man's nails were painted black as well, just as The Undertaker's were along with Master. It made him wonder if it was a trend at DIE to have black nails.
The paper was passed back to Ciel and he accepted it gratefully, wondering what Sebastian had said. His face grew warm at the words and Ciel couldn't help but wonder if that was how Sebastian felt about him. 'I see the dedication you have for your work, how it drives you forward in your goal to better the company. There's also affection for your job and you care for it deeply, along with the people you work with. That devotion extends to the people you care about and in that look, I can see the love you have for your family and friends. It makes you look happy and peaceful, and when you smile, your eyes light up all the more.'
No one had told him such things before and Ciel itched to look into a mirror so he could see his eyes for himself, wondering what he could see when he looked into them. Ciel glanced up and gazed at Sebastian, noting that crimson eyes were still looking at him. He stood up slowly and moved over to Sebastian's side, looking down at him with curious eyes.
"You have unique eyes," Ciel murmured and reached forward to brush his fingers over the healing cut on Sebastian's lip. "I never really noticed them before." It was a shame too because the more Ciel looked at them, the more he found himself falling into wine red eyes. Eyes that hid so many emotions that Ciel couldn't list them all.
Sebastian turned his head, looking away from Ciel and making his hand fall to his side. Hurt raced through Ciel at the denial but he understood the reason behind Sebastian's actions. He had over stepped his boundaries and had acted familiar with Sebastian when they were anything but. Ciel didn't deserve to touch the older male, not after everything he had done to Sebastian.
"Sorry," he muttered and retreated to the couch. The pad of paper bounced on the cushions as Ciel plopped down on the couch and he passed the papers back to Sebastian. The pad was accepted and for a moment, they simply stared at each other. "I should probably get going. I've bothered you enough today," Ciel said finally.
The pencil scratched across the paper as Sebastian wrote out his reply and Ciel stayed in his seat, trying to wait patiently for Sebastian's answer. He nearly snatched the paper from Sebastian's hand when it was passed back to him and his eyes quickly scanned over the words. 'I forgive you Ciel, but only this time. Next time I won't turn the other cheek. Things aren't always as they appear and you don't know the whole story.'
Ciel nodded slightly, understanding the words that Sebastian wrote. It seemed as though he had been right and there was something between Claude and Sebastian that no one else knew about. He didn't say anything about it, as that was something Sebastian wouldn't tell him but there was a chance Claude would if Ciel asked him.
"Thank you for listening to me," Ciel said instead and stood up. "I should get going. I have some work to do and you look tired."
Sebastian inclined his head slightly and stood up as well. The glass of water was placed in the kitchen before Sebastian led Ciel to the door, being the proper host by showing him to the door. Ciel jumped slightly as Sebastian placed his hand on the small of his back as he guided him out the door and Ciel shifted in the hallway, unsure if he should say anything else.
"Have a good day," Ciel murmured, giving a small wave. A faint smile flickered across Sebastian's lips before the door was closed quietly and Ciel was left to stand alone in the hallway. He hissed lowly as he turned away, feeling more confused than ever before and feeling as though things had become all the more complicated.
Despite everything, Ciel had honestly enjoyed his time with Sebastian and was slightly disappointed that it was over already. The man had a quiet and easygoing personality that seemed to pull Ciel in despite Sebastian's looks. Ciel knew that he shouldn't be attracted to Sebastian as his looks alone should be a turn off but there was something there that made Ciel want to go back.
And it made him confused.
Ciel ran a hand over his face before letting out a low sigh. He was stuck in another meeting, one that Ciel was less than enthused about, especially as it was such a nice day outside. But they were debating finances and Ciel was supposed to be there to watch in the hopes that he could learn something from the debates. Claude was lucky and didn't have to be in the meeting even though he was still somewhere in the building, but Sebastian had been asked to come in, as the man understood finances and Ciel couldn't help but glance in Sebastian's direction.
The older male looked attentive but Ciel could tell that Sebastian was tired, his eyes drooping slightly. His arms were twitching slightly, as though Sebastian was trying to stay awake but as Ciel leaned back further in his chair, he could see the real reason behind the motions. An old electronic chess game rested in Sebastian's lap and every subtle move that Sebastian made would make his arms twitch just slightly.
It made Ciel laugh lightly to himself and shake his head, knowing that the game was the only thing keeping Sebastian awake right now. He looked up at the clock and cleared his throat, drawing attention to himself. "I think it would be wise if we took a fifteen minute break," he stated, seeing that everyone around him was getting a glazed look in their eyes.
A murmur of agreements floated in the air and Ciel stood up, moving towards the door behind Sebastian. He waited until they were out in the hallway before trotting up to Sebastian's side. "So who was winning? You or the computer?"
Sebastian turned his head to look at him, a small smile on his lips as he shoved his hands into his pockets. There was a small shrug of his shoulders as they continued to move down the hallway and towards the break room. Ciel took a seat at the table while Sebastian pulled out two drinks from the small fridge before setting them on the table. Ciel watched the man curiously as Sebastian pulled out the game and set it before him.
His eyebrow rose in surprise at the screen that declared Sebastian a winner and he looked up at the man. "You had it on beginner level, didn't you?" He teased. The comment made Sebastian chuckle lowly and Ciel felt himself smile in response. "I didn't know you liked chess. It's an interesting game."
Sebastian nodded his head before he started pressing some buttons. Ciel watched as the screen was cleared and a new game was set before them. Sebastian gestured at him, telling him to make the first move and Ciel stared down at the game, pondering his first move. Never before had he expected to sit before Sebastian and play a game of chess with the man. There was something soothing about it and as Ciel made his move, he found that he enjoyed it.
He let Sebastian move his pawn before making his next move. It was a silent game, but Ciel didn't mind the silence and he found that instead, it was rather enjoyable. Blue eyes watched as Sebastian made his play and Ciel studied Sebastian's face, wondering what was going through the male's mind. He could almost see the gears turning in Sebastian's head, thinking about his next move and at the same time, wondering what Ciel was playing at.
It was something that Ciel wasn't sure about either. He wasn't sure what had prompted him to sit down and talk to Sebastian about chess. Just because the man liked the game didn't mean anything. Many people liked chess and Ciel could talk to any of them, but instead, Ciel had chosen Sebastian. Which was odd for two reasons. The first being that the man couldn't talk, so it was a rather one sided conversation. But the other was the most puzzling, because before all of this had started happening, Ciel wouldn't have been caught dead in the same room with Sebastian. Yet now, here he was, playing chess with him as though they were great friends.
Ciel wasn't sure what it all meant, but he found that Sebastian wasn't as bad as he first thought. Sebastian's looks had always made Ciel believe that the older male was uneducated and someone that he shouldn't converse with. But the more Ciel was getting to see of Sebastian, the more he found himself enjoying Sebastian's company.
His eyes flickered to Sebastian's body and then back to his face, noting that the older male wasn't wearing his glasses today. They continued up, taking in the greasy looking hair and Ciel stared at it for a while. From far away, it seemed as though Sebastian didn't wash or care for his hair, but from where Ciel was sitting, he could see that it wasn't the case. He reached forward and let his fingers brush over the dark locks, ignoring the way Sebastian stiffened before jerking away from the touch.
"Its hairspray," Ciel murmured, his fingers rubbing the clump of hair together. "It's not greasy or gross, it's just hairspray."
Sebastian slapped Ciel's hands away but Ciel wasn't going to have any of it. He knocked Sebastian's hands to the side and stood up, circling around the table until he was standing next to the older male. Ciel reached forward and ran his fingers through the stiff hair, a small frown settling on his face.
"You style your hair this way, don't you," he stated, giving the locks a small tug. "It's not naturally like this but instead forced. Why would you make yourself look as though you have stringy and unkempt hair? You should know that it looks bad this way."
Crimson eyes darted to the side, noting wanting to look at Ciel and Ciel watched as Sebastian pursed his lips together tightly, a clear sign that the man didn't want to answer. He wasn't sure what Sebastian was trying to hide, but Ciel wanted to get to the bottom of it and it seemed as though Sebastian was keeping more than one secret from him.
Ciel tilted Sebastian's head back, noting that red eyes were looking everywhere but at him. "Sebastian," he called and waited until the older male finally looked at him. Crimson eyes were flooded with emotions, making Ciel suck in a sharp breath. The word stunning came to his mind and Ciel found himself rubbing his thumbs against Sebastian's scalp. "Tomorrow, don't spray your hair. Come to the shoot without it."
Sebastian quickly shook his head, a mix of anger and frustration filling his eyes. His hand dipped into his pocket to pull out his phone before quickly typing out a word. Ciel read over the word, noting that it was Claude's name and clicked his tongue at it. Claude was somehow involved in this thing as well, whatever it was.
"I don't care what Claude says. Or does," Ciel added as an afterthought, remembering the incident last time Sebastian had come to work with clean hair. "I'll handle him, so you do as I ask. Please," he finished.
The older male seemed to mull over the words before letting out a heavy sigh. He nodded finally and Ciel felt a smile cross his face as his hands slipped away from Sebastian's hair. That was what he wanted to hear and he circled around the table, sitting heavily at the table before turning his attention back to the game.
They were well past their fifteen-minute break, but no one had called them and until they did, Ciel was just going to assume that no one had missed their absence. He wanted to finish their game before the day was over, hoping to find Sebastian's skill at chess. Perhaps they could play again in the future if Sebastian's level was up to par with his.
Another piece was moved and Ciel frowned as his knight was taken, bringing Sebastian closer to victory. "You're good," he murmured and went to make his own move. "It's been a while since I was able to play chess with someone who proved to be a challenge."
Sebastian snorted in amusement before moving again and Ciel could only stare as another of his pieces was taken. The older male was quickly approaching check and Ciel wasn't sure when it had happened. It seemed that perhaps Ciel was the one who wasn't up to par with the level Sebastian was playing at.
As the game progressed, that fact was made obvious quickly and in the end, Ciel could only sit back and look at the screen as the game declared Sebastian the winner. "Seems that I have more to learn," Ciel said finally, amazed at the way Sebastian could play the game of chess. He looked up as the game was removed from the table. "Will you teach me?" He asked.
Curious eyes looked up at him and Ciel met Sebastian's gaze, wanting the older male to know that he was serious. There was hesitation in Sebastian's eyes but other emotions warred for dominance as well and after what seemed like hours, Sebastian nodded. The simple gesture made Ciel smile widely and his chest to feel light.
"Thank you," he murmured and stood up slowly, glancing at the clock. "We should probably be getting back. I'm sure the meeting is almost done by now. But I had much more fun playing chess with you. You're very good."
Sebastian stared at him and Ciel shifted on his feet before pulling Sebastian out of the chair in a subtle signal that they should head back. He wasn't sure what he was trying to accomplish, but the thought of being able to play chess again with Sebastian made Ciel anxious for their next meeting.
The older male was silent as they made their way back to the meeting room and Ciel opened the door softly. They slipped in without a word and no one raised an eyebrow at their late arrival. Letting out a small sigh, Ciel settled down in his chair and watched as Sebastian did the same. The game was pulled out again and Ciel forced himself to pay attention to the man speaking, silently hoping that this wouldn't take long.
Otherwise, it was going to be a long day.
A low hiss of impatience left Ciel's lips as he shifted his weight and glanced at his watch. They were due to start shooting the video in two hours and usually Sebastian was here by now. The crew was setting up already but they were waiting for Sebastian to lead the more complicated aspects of the job.
Ciel's fingers twitched and he wanted to call the older male, but didn't have Sebastian's phone number. He had never seen a reason before to carry it and now Ciel was finding a good reason to have it on hand. It wasn't so much a problem that Sebastian was running a little late, as there was plenty of things to do without the man. That wasn't what was testing Ciel's patience.
Instead, it was the fact that Sebastian was supposed to come to the shoot today without his styled hair and Ciel wanted to see it. It was already an interesting enough fact that Sebastian was purposely making himself look unkempt and dirty, and Ciel wanted to pull the man from that façade he had developed. He wanted to know the real Sebastian.
Ciel perked up as he caught sight of a company car pulling up to the site and he waited for the person to climb out of the car. Sebastian was the only one who drove the car to offsite shoots as he didn't have a vehicle of his own. Instead, he borrowed one of the company cars to get where he needed to be if he couldn't walk or take a bus there.
The moment Sebastian stepped out of the car, Ciel couldn't help but smile at the sight of clean hair. It looked better than the stiff and greasy looking hair that the man usually sported, and it was obvious that Sebastian was happy with the change. Crimson eyes were lighter and there was a happy shine to them that had Ciel's shoulders slumping with relief.
"That looks much better," Ciel stated as Sebastian walked up to him. Even though the man was still wearing his baggy suit, Ciel could see the difference between today and yesterday, and found that he liked it much better. "Keep it like that from now on. I don't want to see you making yourself look unattractive."
Sebastian's eyes widened slightly at his words and even Ciel felt a jolt of surprise at the words that had tumbled from his mouth. But now that the words were out, even Ciel had to admit that Sebastian's face looked attractive. If only the older male would wear something other than the baggy suit that made him look so scrawny.
Clicking his tongue, Ciel waved Sebastian on and quickly changed the subject. "We need you to get the lights set up to the equipment so we can control them from the back without having to stop all the time to change the settings. This shoot requires a lot of light change and it will be easier this way."
The older male nodded and moved past Ciel so he could start working. Ciel watched him go, noting that other people were noticing the difference in Sebastian's appearance as well. They stopped their work so they could greet him and more than once, they had to do a double take to make sure that they were seeing things correctly.
It was strange to watch Sebastian draw that sort of attention and Ciel found himself shifting uneasily on his feet, unsure if he liked all the attention that Sebastian was getting. He had been the one to realize that there was more to Sebastian than met the eye and had brought it out for everyone to see. Therefore, shouldn't he be the only one to see that side of Sebastian?
Ciel pushed the thoughts to the side, not wanting to think about them. They were only confusing and made Ciel feel strange. Sebastian had an interesting personality and maybe he cleaned up a bit, but that was it. The man had nothing on Claude and Master. They were still the two that Ciel was torn between.
That thought firmly planted in Ciel's mind, he moved away from the older male and let him work in peace. Ciel still needed to find Claude and make sure the man was ready to start the shoot in a few hours. No doubt Claude was in makeup and Ciel headed off in that direction. He needed to keep an eye on Claude after the stunt last time.
Not only that, but Sebastian had already confirmed that Claude was against the idea and that it was Claude who was the reason that Sebastian styled his hair that way in the first place. Since that was the case, there was no doubt in Ciel's mind that Claude would be furious at Sebastian for going against his wishes.
It still made Ciel want to know everything that was going on between the two brothers, as there was more there than either were showing. They were playing a good act, but it was an act that Ciel wanted to get to the bottom of. And Claude was the only one who could give him the answers that Ciel sought.
Ciel ran a hand over his face as he approached Claude, noting that he was almost done. The older male smiled at him as he approached and Ciel smiled back, giving a small wave for a greeting. "You ready for this next shoot? Seems like just yesterday we were working on it."
Claude chuckled. "Luckily it's been a few days since then and I've had some down time between shoots. Otherwise I might be too tired to work on it if the shoots were back to back." He smirked, showing that he was teasing.
Blue eyes rolled slightly. "Don't turn all pre-Madonna on me," Ciel commented as Claude stood up, stretching the kinks out of his body after sitting for so long. He ran an eye over Claude, making sure that everything was ready for the shoot. It wouldn't do to have something wrong and then trek all the way to the back of the set to fix it when they were already here now.
"Please, that's the last thing I'll be," Claude answered as they started to walk towards the set. "I worked hard to get where I am today and I'm not going to slack just because I'm famous and rich."
"So modest too," Ciel answered with a small laugh and nudged Claude slightly with his elbow. "I think we need to work on that aspect before we do anything else."
Claude waved his hand, brushing the comment aside. "I usually am. When have you ever heard me bragging about my accomplishments or shoving them in someone's face?" He asked.
Ciel cocked his head in thought before agreeing with the comment. Despite his success, Claude wasn't one to go around and shove that success in people's faces. Ciel could only figure that it had to do with the fact that Claude came from nothing and wasn't one to flaunt, choosing instead to keep that success to himself.
"Fine, but being levelheaded is not your strong suit," Ciel said instead as they drew closer to the set. "Even you have to admit that."
The older male shrugged. "I can admit that sometimes my patience is short. Usually when I have to deal with Sebastian."
Ciel nodded, glad that Claude brought up his brother. "Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about." He looked at Claude. "No more repeats of last time. I don't want either of you fighting."
Claude smirked. "I didn't know you were so concerned about me. It's rather touching."
Ciel rolled his eyes and let Claude think what he wanted. It was easier that way and kept Ciel's own confusing thoughts away. Because in all honesty, Ciel was more concerned about Sebastian and didn't want to see the look of hurt and betrayal on the man's face again. Now that Ciel was taking the time to get to know Sebastian, he was starting to realize that the older male wasn't as bad as Ciel first thought.
"I'm going to make sure all the equipment is set up and that we're ready to start in a bit," Ciel stated and moved away from Claude, letting the older male finish whatever he needed to do. Once away from Claude, Ciel made a beeline for Sebastian, wanting to see how the man was doing with the light set up.
He found the man hunched over a device that would control the lights and Ciel paused to watch him for a moment as fingers flew over the control, typing in the commands that would be needed. Ciel drifted closer until he was standing next to Sebastian's side and took a seat next to the older male. There was the slightest pause that told Ciel that Sebastian knew he was there before the man continued to work again.
Whatever it was that Sebastian was doing, it looked complicated and Ciel quickly found himself lost within the first few minutes. He turned his attention from the device and towards the male himself, taking in the clean hair. It looked soft and before Ciel could stop himself, he was reaching forward.
Sebastian's body jerked at the first touch of his fingers running through dark locks and Ciel hummed lowly in his throat, trying to soothe the man. Ciel wasn't sure what had prompted the urge but now that his fingers were touching the soft locks, Ciel didn't want to stop. They were soft to the touch and Ciel couldn't help but let a few strands slip through his fingers, watching them fall around Sebastian's face until they framed it.
"Soft," Ciel murmured and combed his fingers through the hair. They moved back up to rub against Sebastian's scalp as Master did and was rewarded with the lowest of sighs from Sebastian. Ciel smirked in triumph and shifted closer, wanting to elicit more sounds from Sebastian. "Feel good?" He asked, even though he could already see the answer.
Crimson eyes were closed in pleasure and Sebastian was leaving heavily into his touch. It made Ciel feel as though he was petting a cat, the way Sebastian responded to his touch and Ciel let his fingers trail down Sebastian's head until he brushed against the hairline on Sebastian's neck. He wasn't sure why he kept going, Ciel had already discovered what he wanted to know but there was something there.
"What's going on here?" A hard voice spoke, making them both jerk.
Ciel jerked away and his head snapped to the side to see Claude staring at them with cool eyes. He watched as Claude glanced at Sebastian first, narrowing at the sight of the man before turning to look at him. Golden eyes demanded answers and almost reluctantly, Ciel let his fingers fall from Sebastian's hair.
"We were just talking," Ciel answered. "Or rather I was and Sebastian was listening."
"About what?" Claude hissed.
Ciel shrugged. "Chess. Sebastian has an electronic game and I wanted to know where he bought the game. I like the game but I have no one to play it with."
Claude nodded tensely. "I see," he said and forced a smile on his face. "Ciel, do you mind giving Sebastian and me some brotherly time together? We have some things to talk about before the shoot."
Next to him, Sebastian tensed slightly and Ciel found that he knew exactly what they were going to talk about. "I afraid that I can't," Ciel said with a small smile and reached forward to run his fingers through Sebastian's hair again, letting it fall through his fingers. "I know why you're mad, I saw you two last time. But this is my doing, as I told him to make himself look more presentable, so I wish for him to keep it this way. He looks better now, don't you think?"
Claude faltered and for a second, the briefest hint of fear flickered through his eyes. "I suppose it's a change for the better, but it doesn't mean he's socially acceptable."
Ciel shrugged. "Perhaps. But it's a start," he answered and waved a hand at Claude, sending him away. "Now, go get ready. We need to finish the lights and then we can start shooting before it gets too hot."
Claude grunted and shot one last harsh glare at Sebastian before turning on his heel. Once he was gone, Ciel's hand slipped away from Sebastian's hair and he turned to look at the man. "I'm sorry if I just made things worse for you with your brother but you don't deserve that again."
Sebastian shook his head and dug in his pocket for his phone. A message was quickly typed out and Ciel accepted the device, reading the words quickly. 'I don't want your pity, Ciel. I can take care of myself.'
Clicking his tongue, Ciel passed the phone back to Sebastian. "It's not pity, it's the truth. You're a nice guy underneath it all and I'm just sorry that I didn't realize that earlier. You play a mean game of chess and you're actually very nice to be around." He wasn't sure where the words were coming from but Ciel found that he couldn't stop them and more than that, they were in fact the truth.
The older male was silent and Ciel could see the gears turning in Sebastian's mind, trying to decide if Ciel was playing a game with him or not. But for once, there was no game. Ciel wasn't getting close to Sebastian in order to find out the information that Claude sought but instead, wished to get closer because Sebastian had a personality that drew him in.
Crimson eyes rolled at him and Ciel knew that Sebastian didn't believe him but that didn't mean anything. Ciel knew the truth and now he just needed to show it to Sebastian.