A/N: Two chapters this week! Why? Because y'all are awesome and amazing! I didn't expect this story to receive so much attention and when I realized it was already past 100 reviews I was in awe. Thank you everyone! From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I didn't get a chance to answer reviews yet, but I'll get to them tomorrow, so be expecting that ^^ Thank you again, it really means a lot to me. 8D
Warnings: Fluff, a smidge of violence
Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroshitsuji
Ciel stared at the shelves before him, the bags mocking him before he looked back at the list in his hand. Sebastian's neat handwriting flowed across the page, telling him exactly what he needed but for the life of him, Ciel couldn't find the proper brand of flour that Sebastian wanted. A part of him wished that Sebastian was here, as the older male knew what they needed for the first cooking lesson, but Ciel wasn't about to let Sebastian step out of the apartment today.
The older male had looked dead on his feet when he answered the door and his shoulders were slumped with fatigue. After that, Ciel had pushed Sebastian back into the apartment, demanding that Sebastian get some sleep before he passed out. Sebastian had argued weakly, claiming that he would be fine, but Ciel had held firm.
In the end, Ciel had snatched the paper from Sebastian's hand and claimed that he would do the shopping while Sebastian got some much needed sleep. They could cook again at another time when Sebastian didn't look as though he would pass out any minute. Reluctantly, Sebastian had agreed, retreating into his bedroom while Ciel scanned over the list.
It hadn't looked too hard and Ciel had set out after that, Sebastian's keys a comfortable weight in his pocket as he made his way to the grocery store. Where he found himself overwhelmed almost the moment he stepped into the building. He had no idea where anything was as he rarely had any need to enter the grocery store to begin with. They had someone else for that.
For several minutes, Ciel simply wandered up and down the aisles, taking everything in and trying to familiarize himself with everything. After making a full trip through the store, Ciel had returned to the front to grab a cart and had started his mission. But that mission would've been made vastly easier if the cart didn't have a bad wheel and Sebastian hadn't been so specific about what he wanted.
Ciel had been in the store for over an hour now and only had five things out of a list of thirty items that Sebastian had listed. Pride kept him from asking for help and he couldn't just call the older male as Sebastian was sleeping. It was slightly annoying but Ciel was determined to make it through this. He could do something as simple as shop for food.
He hoped.
Glancing down at the list, Ciel re-read the words and looked at the bags of flour again. His eyes skimmed over the labels and finally settled on a small brown bag that sat innocently right in front of him. Ciel glared at the flour before snatching it off the shelf and tossing it into the cart. He continued down the aisle, pushing at the finicky cart and grumbling under his breath the whole way.
Next time, Sebastian was coming with him or the older male could just go on his own. Either way, Ciel wouldn't be doing this alone again and he let out a long sigh as he looked at the list. Irritation filled his body at the words and he slumped against the cart. "Why do you make things so confusing Sebastian?" He whined and looked at the sugar.
"You know Mr. Sebastian?" A cheerful voice said behind him.
Ciel turned his head to look at the person who was talking to him and found a blond haired employee smiling widely at him. "I know him," Ciel answered cautiously, running his eyes over the other male. Bright eyes gazed back at him and Ciel found that the male reminded him of Elizabeth in her cheerful personality. "I'm sorry; I don't think I caught your name."
A gloved hand was held out. "My name is Finny. I work here and I see Mr. Sebastian all the time."
"I see," Ciel murmured, his stomach churning slightly with a feeling he couldn't place. "Well, it was nice to meet you but I should get going. I have to finish picking up some things for him."
Finny's eyes lit up and he reached for the list, plucking it from Ciel's grip. "I can help you with that if you want. I usually do the shopping for Mr. Sebastian when he can't come in himself."
Blue eyes narrowed. "But I have his key," Ciel stated, pulling out the keys and dangling them in front of Finny.
"Oh, me too!" Finny said happily, bringing out a familiar set of keys. "He pays me to come by weekly so I can pick up his list, get what he needs, and then bring it back to his apartment. I even put everything up for him too. And if I'm lucky, he has a small sweet for me and they're the best."
"I know," Ciel answered coolly, feeling as though he needed to tell Finny to stay away from Sebastian. He didn't like that this other male knew more about Sebastian than him and was always seeing the older male. But if there was one thing Ciel had over Finny, it was age and he doubted that Sebastian would find anything interesting from this teenager. "How old are you?" He blurted out.
Finny blinked at the question, having not expected it before shrugging. "A year younger than Mr. Sebastian. Why?"
Dread started to creep into Ciel's body at the words. He had thought that Finny was younger than him, judging by the way he acted but in reality, Ciel was younger than Finny. Not only that, but Finny seemed to have more in common with Sebastian than him and Ciel's fingers tightened on the cart. "I…I should get going," he said, feeling sick all of a sudden.
"Let me help you," Finny said quickly, trotting after him. "I know this store like the back of my hand and I haven't seen Mr. Sebastian in a while. He's usually gone when I drop off his groceries in the evening."
Ciel opened his mouth to protest but Finny had already snatched the cart from his hand and was navigating it perfectly around the corner to the next aisle. Shoulders slumping, Ciel had no choice but to follow and he shoved his hands into his pockets, fingers curling around the keys that rested there.
Their weight was a steady comfort in his grip and Ciel sighed softly. There was nothing to worry about. Nothing at all. It wasn't Finny that Sebastian was teaching how to cook or play chess with. That right was reserved for Ciel and Ciel alone. Finny was nobody, just someone who made Sebastian's life easier when he was too tired or busy to make it to the store.
But even those thoughts didn't take away the growing edge that settled in Ciel's stomach as he watched Finny quickly find everything and place it in the cart. The feeling coiled and squirmed in his body, growing with each moment Ciel spent in Finny's presence. What exactly was the older male to Sebastian? A friend, a helper…a lover?
Ciel faltered and felt his body grow cold at the thought. It was wholly possible that Finny did more than just deliver groceries to Sebastian. What if Sebastian paid Finny for the favor with pleasure instead of money? No. Ciel quickly shook his head, dispelling the thoughts. He was thinking irrationally now.
Sebastian wasn't the type of person who would do something like that. If anything, Claude would make a deal like that and use Finny as a side fling whenever the urge rose. But Sebastian wasn't like that. Sebastian was the opposite of Claude in every way, something that Ciel found he enjoyed.
There was nothing for Ciel to fear from Finny and the more Ciel thought about it, the more he wondered why he was bothered by Finny in the first place. It wasn't as though Sebastian was Ciel's boyfriend and they were dating. Was he simply jealous because Finny knew more about Sebastian than him? Or that Sebastian had someone in his life that he could lean on for help when Ciel wanted to be that person?
But then again, Finny had every right to do those things, to be that person. Finny hadn't hurt Sebastian in the past and ignored him because of trivial reasons. Sobering, Ciel looked down at the floor as he walked. Finny was a better person than him and deserved the friendship he had with Sebastian. Ciel didn't deserve any of that yet. A few days spent with Sebastian didn't make up for the things that he did.
Ever since Ciel had woken up in Sebastian's bedroom after losing to Master a couple days ago, Ciel had been spending every afternoon with the older male. Ciel wasn't sure how he had ended back at Sebastian's apartment after that pleasurable session with Master, but he hadn't complained. He had been in no state to drive home that night and had ended up spending the whole night there, waking up to find Sebastian asleep on the couch.
A bag of donuts was waiting for him on the table when Ciel made his way into the living room and he would've stayed longer to thank Sebastian, if the pressing urge to get home before his parents woke hadn't been so strong. He didn't see Sebastian for the rest of the morning and had returned late afternoon to continue his chess game with Sebastian.
They hadn't talked about the previous night and Sebastian didn't bother to ask any questions, choosing instead to focus on the game until it was time for them to part. After that, they had settled into a comfortable pattern, with Ciel coming by Sebastian's apartment around three or four in the afternoon and just enjoying the man's company until he had to leave.
It worked out perfectly for Ciel as their late get-togethers allowed him to catch up on sleep after a session with Master. Today had been the exception as Sebastian had promised they would cook today and that Ciel could come earlier if he wanted. But Ciel had been too early, as he had been overzealous in his desire to cook with Sebastian.
He knew Sebastian felt bad about breaking his promise to cook today; Ciel had seen it crimson eyes. But a large part of Ciel hadn't wanted to see Sebastian looking so tired and missing sleep, just because Ciel wanted to cook. Sebastian was the one who was doing the favor for him, not the other way around. It was why Ciel hadn't been annoyed at telling Sebastian to sleep while he handled the shopping.
Because in the end, Ciel wanted Sebastian to be happy and content. Something that wouldn't happen if he were exhausted. And in a way, Ciel found that he liked doing things for Sebastian. The only thing that would make him happier was if he was doing things with Sebastian.
The thought made Ciel come to a stop in the middle of the aisle, Finny still chatting ahead of him without a care in the world. Where had those thoughts come from? It wasn't as though they were bad thoughts, but they were unexpected. A few short weeks ago, Ciel never would've thought such things but now, they were constantly filling his mind.
And it made Ciel feel warm and happy because of it.
"All done!" Finny sang in front of him, forcefully pulling Ciel from his thoughts. "Let's go check out and get these to Mr. Sebastian. I can't wait to see him again."
Ciel smiled slightly. "Me too," he admitted quietly as he trailed behind Finny.
The checkout line was short and the woman behind the register rang them up quickly. Ciel paid as Finny bagged the food and once everything was in a bag, they moved left the store. Ciel was silent as they walked back to the apartment while Finny kept talking happily about anything that popped in his mind. It kept Ciel from saying anything as they approached the apartment building and the curling feeling in the pit of his stomach found its way back again.
By the time they were standing in front of Sebastian's door, Ciel felt almost nauseous with the feeling and he glanced at Finny as the older male dug for the keys, still talking. "Sebastian's sleeping," Ciel said quickly, cutting Finny off as the door was unlocked. "We should be quiet," he finished.
"Okay," Finny chirped and juggled the grocery bags so he could open the door. Ciel brushed past him as soon as the door was open and made his way to the kitchen while Finny followed at a more leisurely pace. "Hey, this is new," he exclaimed, stopping next to the chess set.
"I gave it to him," Ciel answered as he set the bags on the counter. He started to pull things out before realizing that he didn't know where anything went and he growled lowly in frustration. He felt helpless when compared to Finny and the annoyance only mounted in his body. He wanted to help Sebastian and make things easier but he couldn't even do that right now.
Finny swept into the kitchen and Ciel watched as the older male started to put everything away in the proper spots, never missing a beat. It didn't take long before everything was cleaned up and the cloth bags were stored away for next time, leaving Ciel to mutter a quiet 'thanks' before heading back out to the living room.
"I always wanted to learn how to play chess," Finny stated as he gazed at the chessboard. He picked up a piece and examined it. "Do you know how to play?"
Ciel nodded. "I do," he answered and moved to Finny's side, snatching the piece from his hand. "But that's Sebastian's game and I don't think he would like you touching his things," he hissed lowly. He didn't like that Finny was so casually touching something that he and Sebastian shared.
Confusion flickered through Finny's eyes, having not expected the sudden action. "I wasn't going to steal it," he said, carefully taking the piece from Ciel's hand and placing it back on board. "I didn't know that Mr. Sebastian liked chess but I wouldn't mind learning so I could play with him. He's always so lonely."
"No," Ciel croaked out, the feeling in his stomach curling again and he felt sick. He didn't need Finny to have something else in common with Sebastian. "Get out, now!"
"What?" Finny asked, his eyebrows furrowing.
Ciel took a step forward. "You heard me. Get. Out." He shoved his arms forward, his hands connecting with Finny's chest and making the older male stumble backwards. He fell against the small end table and it tipped over, sending the lamp that rested on the surface crashing to the ground in the process. The sound was loud in the silence of the apartment and Ciel held his breath as he turned to look in the direction of the bedroom door.
It was still closed for now but no doubt, Sebastian had heard the crash and was awake now. Any moment now, he would come out and find the mess and Ciel would have to tell him that it was his fault. That he had lashed out in anger for some reason he couldn't explain. He shivered and looked at Finny before the door opened, drawing his attention back to the room.
Crimson eyes were alert despite Sebastian having just been asleep and Ciel watched as they darted around the living room, taking everything in before finally settling on them. No words came out and instead of fury; confusion was present on Sebastian's face as he walked forward so he could see the damage.
Pain spread through Ciel as Sebastian approached Finny first, running his hands carefully over the older male to check for any injuries and making sure that he was okay. The action made Ciel tremble where he stood as unknown emotions raced through his body. What were these feelings? Surely there weren't jealously and hurt that Sebastian was looking at someone else besides him.
"Se-Sebastian?" He called out quietly, wanting Sebastian to notice him. He froze when Sebastian turned around to look at him and he stumbled over the words as deep red eyes seemed to pin him to the spot and in their gaze, Ciel felt as though he was a child again. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to push him like that but he was touching our game and he wanted to learn so he could play chess with you. But that's our game, not his."
Sebastian shook his head slightly and guided Finny to the door. Ciel watched as Sebastian started to gesture with his hands and Finny answered back with similar motions. Ciel swallowed hard and he found that he was rooted to the spot, unable to move as he watched the actions before him. They were using sign language. They could talk fluently with each other without Sebastian having to write everything down.
After their conversation ended, Finny slipped out the door with a small wave to Sebastian before the door closed and Ciel found himself alone in the apartment with Sebastian. The older male was silent as he walked towards him and Ciel felt as though he would break down into tears at any minute under the intense look that Sebastian was giving him.
He tensed as Sebastian's arm rose and he waited for the harsh smack against his cheek that he deserved. But the blow never came and instead, he was pulled into a tight embrace that left Ciel confused as he stared up at the ceiling, breathing in Sebastian's scent. His hands came up to clutch at Sebastian's shirt and he trembled lightly in the grip.
"Do you hate me again?" He whispered, terrified to find out the answer. He didn't want Sebastian to hate him again, didn't want the older male to let him go.
Sebastian shook his head and pulled away, reaching for the pad of paper next to the chess set. He wrote his answer down quickly and passed it off to Ciel who took it with slightly shaky hands.
'I don't hate you. You simply lost your temper and knocked over a lamp. There's no damage there. I was more concerned that someone broke in and had tried to attack you. I'm glad that that wasn't the case but I am curious as to what happened between you two, let alone how you two meet.'
Ciel nodded and passed back the paper before moving to the couch. He wanted to sit down after everything and he could feel his legs trembling as the adrenaline left him. "I met him at the grocery store. He overheard me cursing your evil list and he offered to help me. He said that he helps you with the groceries and that you pay him to bring them back here when you don't have time to do it yourself."
Sebastian hummed and settled next to Ciel. Ciel watched the older male write, slowly relaxing into the cushions and feeling all the more relaxed now that Finny was out of the picture. He reached for the paper when Sebastian was done writing and read over the words.
'He does. I met Finny a few years back when he first started working at the store. His brother had just returned from the war after being honorably discharged. He lost his hearing in an explosion and was going to a school to learn sign language. Money was a little tight for them so Finny took up the extra job of stocking the shelves during the night shift and I offered to provide a little extra income, along with some practice for sign language. He's a good friend.'
Ciel flushed, feeling embarrassed about his actions now that he knew the truth. "So he's not your boyfriend or anything?" He asked, wanting to clear that out of the way. He relaxed even more as Sebastian laughed and shook his head no. "I just thought, since he had your keys and everything."
Still snickering, Sebastian wrote out his answer and passed it off to Ciel. 'There is no lover in my life, Ciel. He's simply a good friend that comes by to see me when he can and help when I need it. You have nothing to be jealous over in regards to him.'
Ciel bristled at the words and he smacked Sebastian's leg with the pad of paper. "I am not jealous!" He exclaimed and quickly adverted his eyes, the words a lie on his tongue. Jealous was exactly what he had been when he had heard that Finny knew Sebastian well and shared many similar things. "Okay, maybe a little," he muttered, correcting himself.
Sebastian chuckled lowly and reached forward, brushing his finger down Ciel's cheek. The action made him jump as the touch was unexpected but welcomed regardless. It felt good and Ciel leaned into the touch, silently asking for more. But Sebastian's hand pulled away so he could write once more and Ciel wondered how long it would take to learn sign language so he could talk with Sebastian.
'You have nothing to be jealous about, Ciel. Finny may be a good friend, but you are Ciel. We'll always have our chess games and cooking lessons to share. No one else can take that away.'
The words made Ciel's shoulders slump in relief and he felt all his energy and adrenaline drain away. There was nothing to worry about, Sebastian had said it himself and Ciel couldn't help but shake his head at himself. He couldn't believe that he had acted that way and he chuckled at how everything had turned out.
"I'm tired," he admitted, feeling drained now that everything was said and done. "And I woke you up when you were supposed to be getting some sleep."
The pencil scratched across the paper as Sebastian wrote before it was passed back to Ciel. 'You're welcome to stay here to take your nap. I would prefer that you didn't drive home when you're feeling drowsy. And when you wake up, we can go ahead and start the cooking lesson I promised to you. I'll call into work today and tell them that I won't be there. They can handle a day without me."
Ciel blinked at the words, not expecting them and he felt a smile spreading across his face. "You mean it?" He asked, searching Sebastian's face for any hint of a lie. Crimson eyes gazed back at him honestly and Ciel nodded. "I like that idea. I like it very much. And maybe you can start teaching me sign language?" He asked, feeling shy.
This time it was Sebastian's turn to look surprised at the words and something akin to hope filled the man's eyes before Sebastian nodded. The action made Ciel relax and he couldn't help but smile at Sebastian. The hesitation and caution that was so present when they first started meeting was slowly fading away and Ciel felt that they were making progress.
No doubt Sebastian still didn't trust him as much Ciel would've liked but that trust was growing with each day and Ciel could see the change in Sebastian as the days passed. The older male looked happier and content when they relaxed in his apartment and Ciel felt that he was the only one who knew the true Sebastian.
It was a thought Ciel enjoyed and he kept that knowledge close to him. The thought that he should tell Claude about Sebastian's true nature hadn't once crossed Ciel's mind and more than anything, Ciel wanted to keep the truth from Claude. He had a feeling that Claude had a small idea about Sebastian's personality that he kept hidden but that was another hurdle Ciel would have to cross later. For now, Ciel was content in letting Claude think what he wanted about Sebastian.
Waving his hand, Ciel shooed Sebastian off the couch. "Go back and get some sleep. I can nap out here until our cooking lesson." The couch wasn't anywhere near as comfortable as Sebastian's bed, but Ciel wasn't sure how Sebastian would feel about sharing a bed with him. And Ciel wasn't about to tell Sebastian to take the couch when the older male needed the sleep more than him.
Sebastian chuckled lowly and passed the paper over to Ciel who took it hesitantly. He didn't like the look in Sebastian's eyes and he gazed down at the paper, feeling his ears burn slightly. 'My bed is large enough to share if you would prefer a decent nap, which you won't get on the couch. And you can rest assure that I won't do anything to you in your sleep, no matter how endearing you may look when you're asleep.'
Ciel huffed and crossed his arms, looking annoyed but secretly happy that Sebastian thought he looked attractive. "Then you better have some clothes for me to sleep in because I'm not sleeping in my jean." He paused and then quickly added. "Or naked for that matter."
The words made Sebastian laugh and he nodded as he stood up before moving to the bedroom. Ciel trailed after him and covered a yawn as he walked into the room. It was dark but familiar thanks to the impromptu sleepover last week and Ciel settled on the bed while Sebastian pulled out some shorts and a shirt.
They were tossed at him and Sebastian turned around to give Ciel privacy while he changed. Making sure that Sebastian wasn't looking, even though they were both guys, Ciel quickly changed into the offered clothes and folded his once he was done. The clothes smelled like Sebastian and Ciel breathed in the scent before the older male could turn around to see him smelling his clothes.
"Cinnamon," he murmured as he settled on the bed. Sebastian turned around and gave him an amused look but didn't say anything as he moved towards the bed. "Thank you," Ciel said louder as he crawled under the covers. The bed dipped as Sebastian settled next to him, leaving plenty of space between them and Ciel felt a flicker of disappointment at the action.
Silence settled in the room as Sebastian rolled onto his side, facing the wall and Ciel watched as the man's body slowly relaxed until Sebastian's breathing evened out. Sighing softly, Ciel rolled onto his stomach and buried his face into the pillow that had been offered for him. It smelled like Sebastian and the scent had Ciel relaxing into the soft mattress. The man's scent was all around him, enveloping him in a warm embrace that made Ciel feel protected and safe, and within minutes, he was asleep.
"A, B, C, D…E?" Ciel muttered and cocked his head before turning to look at the book that rested on the couch next to him. He groaned and fixed his hand to give the proper letter before trying again. His movements were slow and careful compared to the quick movements that Ciel had seen Sebastian and Finny using earlier in the day.
It was a slow process of learning them, but Ciel was determined to memorize the alphabet today. Or at least half of it before he needed to leave. Sebastian had provided a simple book that had covered the alphabet with pictures that would help him memorize the way the hand was supposed to go. But after only an hour of studying, Ciel had only made in to the letter H before messing up.
"Frustrating," he groaned and turned to look at Sebastian who was in the kitchen, thumbing through a book to find a good recipe for them to cook together. They had only been up for a little over an hour, Sebastian's phone waking them up from a deep sleep that Ciel had been reluctant to leave. He had slept like a baby and couldn't remember the last time he had slept so well.
A piece of paper dangled in front of him and Ciel jumped slightly before accepting it from Sebastian. 'You don't have to learn the language, Ciel. I'm fine with writing everything out. I don't want you to be frustrated over this.'
Ciel shook his head. "No. I want to learn. I want to have a conversation with you the way you and Finny talked."
Sebastian smiled slightly and pulled the book from Ciel's hands, setting it to the side. He pointed towards the kitchen before tugging Ciel to his feet and gestured with his hands.
Ciel watched him curiously as Sebastian made a gesture of breaking something with his fingers and Ciel cocked his head slightly. "Break?" He asked and was rewarded with a nod before Sebastian pointed at the clock. "Clock. No. Umm…time. Break time!" Ciel finished excitedly, understanding now what Sebastian was trying to tell him.
He laughed to himself, feeling light as he walked into the kitchen with Sebastian. It wasn't exactly sign language and it was more like charades but at least he was able to understand Sebastian to a point and that made Ciel feel accomplished. It would be their own language, something else that was just between them; just like the chess games.
"So what are we making today?" He asked. "Something sweet like that cake or maybe the roast. They were both really good."
The recipe book was placed in front of Ciel along with a note that Ciel quickly picked up to read. 'Against my better judgment, we'll be making crepes today. I figured you would like something like that. Although it is honestly better to start with something easier and work your way up, but I think it's also best to start with something you like so you'll enjoy the process as well.'
Ciel huffed. "I'm not inept at cooking you know. I can make something's, like pasta and pizza." Sebastian gave him a look. "From the freezer," Ciel added on, crossing his arms and looking slightly cross.
Sebastian patted his head and waved him over where bowls of sugar and other ingredients rested on the counter. He pointed at the directions and Ciel glanced at them, noting that they were written in Sebastian's neat handwriting. It made Ciel wonder if Sebastian wrote everything out just for him or if the recipe was something Sebastian had taught himself.
Figuring he would ask later, Ciel picked up the small measuring cups and looked at the bag of sugar that sat innocently before him. He went to measure out the proper amount but was stopped by Sebastian's hand on his wrist. The older male shook his head at him and pointed to the ingredient that was listed first.
"But I need sugar too," Ciel protested and grumbled as Sebastian shook his head again. Sebastian's finger moved down the page, tapped the first direction and Ciel leaned over to read it. "Add flour, sugar, mix. Add egg while stirring and then melted butter while stirring. Gradually add milk. Make sure to do it in this order so the batter doesn't separate while sitting. Oh." He reached for the flour and started to measure it out before dumping it into the shifter.
A cloud of white poofed into the air and Ciel coughed as it settled back down around the bowl and on the counter. It looked as though it was snow and Ciel ran his finger through it, quickly writing out his name. Next to him, Sebastian shook his head and left to grab something to clean up the mess before deciding that it would probably be better to wait until everything was said and done. No doubt there would be more to clean up by the time the lesson was over.
Ciel dusted off his hands and looked over at the next step. "Crack eggs into bowl, and beat. I can do that," he said, although at this point, he wasn't sure who he was reassuring; himself or Sebastian. He grabbed the eggs and cracked them into the bowl before stirring them with a spoon.
The spoon was quickly pulled from Ciel's hand and was replaced with a whisk. Ciel gave a sheepish smile but continued to stir the eggs as though he had done nothing wrong. He jumped though when a warm body pressed against his back and a hand cupped his. Sebastian guided the motions and Ciel watched as their hands made short, fast circles; beating the eggs until they were mixed.
"You're really good at this," Ciel breathed, basking in the warmth that Sebastian had to offer. Now he understood why Sebastian had said that it would be best to start with a simple recipe instead of a harder one. Ciel didn't know the first thing about cooking and it wasn't just about following the recipe either. There were techniques that Ciel didn't even know about that were making all the difference. Such as beating the eggs.
Sebastian stayed behind him and pressed the measuring cup into his hand before guiding his motions to pour the eggs into the flour. Slowly the eggs were added while Ciel continued to stir the mix properly. Once the eggs were added, Ciel leaned forward to read the next step. It was specific, as were the other steps, and Ciel made sure to follow the instructions to a 'T'.
He wanted to show Sebastian that he could do this, that he wasn't terrible in the kitchen. A part of him feared that after this, Sebastian would realize that the cooking lessons were a terrible idea and would want to cancel them. Pushing the thoughts from his mind, Ciel slowly poured the milk into the flour mix while he watched Sebastian stir the mixture.
Once down, he glanced up at the older male, wondering if Sebastian was annoyed yet or not with his terrible cooking skills. But a quick look at Sebastian's face showed that he seemed to be enjoying their little lesson. His lips were tilted up in a small smile and crimson eyes seemed light, a hint of amusement shining in them.
Or maybe Sebastian was just enjoying spending the time with him?
The thought made Ciel's heart beat a little faster and he gripped the edge of the counter tightly, wondering if he was thinking crazy thoughts or if he was actually correct. He watched as Sebastian moved over towards the stove to turn it on, heating up the large skillet that rested on the surface.
"Are you regretting your choice now to teach me how to cook?" He asked, pleased that his voice came out steady and strong.
Sebastian glanced at him, surprise present in his eyes as he shook his head. The skillet was set to the side before Sebastian started to write again and Ciel reached for the paper once he was done.
'Not at all. In fact, I think it's rather fun to have someone to cook with, or in your case, teach you how to cook. I like cooking and I enjoy spending time with you, so when you put the two together, there's nothing you could do that would make me regret my choice. Even your terrible cooking skills aren't a turn off. They're more of an endearing trait that makes the whole thing all the more fun.'
Ciel flushed and his heart raced a little more at the words and he set the paper off to the side. "I'm glad," he said. "I thought I was messing everything up and you wouldn't want to do this again."
Sebastian chuckled lowly and shook his head before beckoning Ciel over to the stove. Ciel came willingly and stood next to the older male, feeling better about everything knowing that even though he wasn't the greatest cook in the world, Sebastian was still enjoying himself. He was still determined to show himself to Sebastian and he watched carefully as Sebastian poured the batter onto the hot skillet.
He watched and when it was his turn, he tried his best to mimic the same thing Sebastian had done. A few drips hit the stovetop as Ciel jerked his arm, but for the most part, the step was done right. Sebastian moved behind him again, helping to guide his movements so the outside part of the crepe would flip properly.
By the time they were done, a stack of six crepes was cooling on a rack and Ciel stared at them proudly. The top most crepe was his pride and joy as Ciel had made it by himself without any help from Sebastian. It just showed that he could learn and he waited patiently for Sebastian to show him the next step.
Bags of whipped cream were set next the plate and Ciel reached for one, swiping at the tip and licking the cream off his finger. He hummed happily at the taste and watched as containers of fruit were place before him. "Did you make this yourself?" He asked, gesturing to the bags.
Sebastian opened his mouth as though he was going to say something, realized he couldn't before reaching for the paper. Ciel watched him curiously, wondering what Sebastian was going to say as his question could easily have been answered with a shake or nod of the head.
'I could say something extremely crude to that question but I think I'll restrain myself and answer with a polite yes. Now, pick which fruit you would like inside your crepe.'
Ciel stared at the paper before his eyes darted to the bags of cream and his mind quickly made the connection to what Sebastian was saying. Laughter bubbled up in his throat and he looked at Sebastian, noting that crimson eyes were dancing with amusement. "I knew you had a sense of humor," Ciel stated. "Even if this time it was a little perverted. Should I start calling you Sexbastian from now on?"
Sebastian laughed, the sound filling the kitchen and Ciel found himself joining in. It had been a while since he had laughed like this and Ciel basked in the lighthearted feeling. Tears prickled at the corners of his eyes and he wiped them away, knowing that he would still find amusement in the name for some time.
"Right, back to work," Ciel said and picked up the first bag. He gripped it too hard, making more cream spilled from the tip, and before Ciel could stop himself, he was doubled over in laughter. He knew what it looked like now and that, added with Sebastian's comment hadn't helped matters. His mind was now in the gutter and Ciel couldn't help but reach forward and lick at the tip. "Mmm, tasty," he purred.
He gasped as more cream came from the tip, covering his cheek and he looked down to see Sebastian's hand wrapped around the bag. Blue eyes darted up to look at Sebastian to see a smug smirk on the man's lips before he mouthed the word, 'oops'.
Ciel snickered. "Someone was a little too excited," he said, laughing lightly as Sebastian set the bag aside so they could clean up the mess and start working again. "Clean up the mess you made Sexbastian." He demanded, although the laughter in his voice gave him away.
Sebastian chuckled lowly and started to wipe away the mess with his fingers, the pads of his fingers brushing softly over Ciel's face. It was a tender gesture and Ciel's eyes fell shut at it as he leaned into the touch. The only thing that would make this better was if Sebastian was using his tongue.
Blue eyes snapped open, wondering where those thoughts had come from. It wasn't as though they were bad thoughts, but they had been unexpected and left him feeling confused. "We…we should get back to work," he stammered. "All this talk has left me hungry and I can't wait to try these."
The older male nodded and picked up a bag of whipped cream before gently squeezing out some of the filling into a 'V' shape. Once done, a small stack of bananas were placed in the center before some chocolate sauce was drizzled over it. The crepe was folded and then rolled into the proper shape before it was set in a dish that held it up and a scoop of ice cream was set on the top.
Ciel watched intently before looking at his own crepe and following the same process. A neat 'V' was made and strawberries were added in the center before Ciel started to fold it. It was harder than it looked and Ciel grumbled as the strawberries slipped around and the crepe came out looking less than ideal, especially when it sat next to Sebastian's.
"I guess it's the taste that matters?" He asked as he picked up the finished crepe. Sebastian nodded and gestured for him to take a bite as he picked up his own. Ciel eyed his crepe, taking a moment to admire something that he made before sinking his teeth into the crepe. Strawberries and ice cream filled his mouth and Ciel groaned at the taste, finding it delicious. "It's good," he said, slightly surprised. He had expected it to turn out bad.
Sebastian chuckled lowly and placed his crepe to the side so he could make two more, leaving the remaining crepes for Ciel to make. Ciel watched him work as he continued to eat, feeling a sense of peace settle over him. It had been a while since he had last felt this way and Ciel found that he didn't want that feeling to go away.
He licked his lips as he swallowed the last piece of crepe and turned his attention to the last two. Ciel grabbed the whipped cream and started to make another 'V', allowing silence to settle in the kitchen as he worked next to Sebastian. It felt right, standing next to the older male and a small smile settled on Ciel's lips.
"Thank you for this, Sebastian," he said softly. "I really had a lot of fun and I enjoyed myself more than you know. I really liked spending time with you." The words were honest and Ciel could feel his cheeks heating up slightly but he wouldn't take them back. There was no need to.
His heart started to race painfully when Sebastian mouthed the words 'me too,' and Ciel could only stare at Sebastian's face. It was the first time Ciel had seen Sebastian without any of his guards up, making crimson eyes seemingly shine. Beautiful was the first word that came to Ciel's mind and he quickly memorized the look. Although with any luck, Ciel would be able to see that face again.
Because Ciel wanted to make Sebastian smile again and wanted to see the unguarded look. Wanted to see that face that made his heart skip and his stomach churn. And he wanted more.