A/N: Long weekend is long D8 But I'm really happy to post this chapter cause well...you'll see XD A big thank you to everyone for reading and reviewing; y'all are absolutely amazing, that's all I can say. I'll get to reviews soon, but I was gone most of this weekend for work, bleh. Thank you again everyone! ^_^

Warnings: Language, violence

Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroshitsuji

The soft murmur of the lunch crowd met Ciel's ears as he followed the hostess through the restaurant to a private room in the back. After avoiding Claude for weeks, the man had found a sure fire way to get Ciel's attention. Early that morning, Vincent had called to tell Ciel that Claude wanted to have lunch with him since they had barely seen each other.

His father had said that the lunch would be a good way to strength the relationship they had with Claude and had left Ciel with little choice but to agree. A quick message had been sent to Sebastian after the conversation and Sebastian had reassured him that he didn't have a problem with Ciel having lunch with his brother.

They were supposed to have another cooking lesson today, where Sebastian was going to teach him how to make lasagna, but it seemed as though that would have to wait. A part of Ciel wondered if he could cut the lunch short and at least salvage the rest of the afternoon with Sebastian before he went to see DIE's owner tonight.

"In here, Sir," a soft voice said, drawing Ciel's attention from his thoughts to the meeting that was waiting for him.

He thanked the hostess and stepped inside the room, letting the door shut behind him to give them privacy. Claude was already sipping on his drink and the man smiled at him as he approached the table.

"It's been a while, Ciel," Claude spoke, leaning forward and looking at him sincerely. "I hope you didn't think I was mad at you after the last shoot. We haven't talked since then and I know that I wasn't in the best of moods that day, but I wasn't upset at you."

Ciel shook his head. "I know, you were mad at Sebastian, am I correct?" He asked as he took a seat. The napkin was placed in his lap and spread out carefully. They were at an upscale restaurant and it wouldn't do to drip on his pants.

Claude nodded. "You know that we're not on the best of terms with each other, but lately we've been at each other throats more often than usual. He's been really rebellious as of late and he needs to remember that he's not supposed to be seen or heard."

"Why?" Ciel asked curiously. He had been waiting for a while to ask Claude these questions about Sebastian and now was his chance. "Why is it such a big deal that he's not seen or heard? He's mute, so it's not as though he can make a big fuss." The words sounded harsh but if Claude believed that Ciel was showing sympathy to Sebastian, than Ciel would never find out the truth.

The older male looked awkward and he sipped at his drink before clearing his throat. "There's a long story behind that," he said quietly. "You would never believe me if I told you that we were the best of friends growing up."

Ciel stared at Claude, slightly surprised at the words. He had suspected that there had been a time when Claude and Sebastian had been close, but to hear the man admit it was something Ciel hadn't expected. "We have all of the lunch rush," he prompted. Looking at Claude, it looked as though the older male wanted to tell the story; as though it was something he had been keeping from the world for years.

"After our father killed himself, Sebastian and I only had each other. I didn't want to be separated from him when we went to the orphanage and neither of us wanted to be adopted separately," Claude started. "Everyone wanted Sebastian because he was so young. People only look to adopt young and the older you are, the harder it is to be adopted. But Sebastian refused to go unless I was with him."

Claude grunted and adjusted his glasses. "A year after we were there, I needed glasses. I hated them because I thought they made me look unattractive, not at all like Sebastian. Everyone said he looked like an angel and I was always jealous that he got our mothers looks. But Sebastian told me that he thought the glasses made me look cool and started to wear fake, plastic ones so he could be cool too."

Ciel chuckled at the words and could picture a small Sebastian running around trying to look cool in fake glasses. It was a rather endearing thought and Ciel wondered if he could tease Sebastian with that information.

"Then Tanaka came by and our lives changed forever after that," Claude said, pushing the breadbasket around on the table. "He adopted both of us and took us into his home. Sebastian was four and I was nine at the time. Tanaka could never replace my father but Sebastian loved that man and was always with him."

Ciel hummed and picked up his menu so he could order something soon. "Around that time you would've been starting school," he stated. "Sebastian would've stayed at home with him while you were at school."

Claude nodded. "Tanaka worked at home, doing something. I never bothered to ask and I didn't care at the time. I had my own friends at school and that was the only thing on my mind. There's a five year difference between Sebastian and I, and once we were adopted, I wasn't exactly the best of brothers to him." A small wince crossed Claude's face. "We had been adopted together so there was no point in worrying about that anymore, so I tried to rebuild my life and make new friends. Sebastian was easily forgotten at times."

The older male paused as the waitress came into the room and took their orders before filling their glasses with water. The breadbasket was replaced on the table and she vanished once more, leaving Ciel to wait patiently for Claude to continue.

"It wasn't until Sebastian started school that we ran into problems. Sebastian was smart and skipped a grade, which led to teasing when he was nine. I defended him and the end result was that my friends taunted me for being such a good brother, especially to someone who killed my parents," Claude took a shuddering breath. "It was after that, that we started to drift apart. I stopped defending Sebastian and would instead tease him about being so smart."

Claude flicked the glass that sat before him and it made a soft dinging noise in the silence of the room. "I was the rebel child and Sebastian was the good, smart child. Teachers hated me and they loved Sebastian. I spent more time with my friends and Sebastian spent more time with Tanaka, doing whatever it was with his job."

The door opened and Claude fell silent as the waitress brought in their meals, placing the plates before them. They thanked her as she left and Ciel poked at his meal, wanting to hear more. "That sounds like normal brother behavior, I think," Ciel finally said and took a bite of his roast. "You didn't want to be teased for standing up for Sebastian and you were jealous of all the positive attention he received."

A hand was waved and Claude brushed the comment aside. "That's only a small part and I really wasn't all that jealous of how smart he was. I noticed how much he was teased for it and that was something I didn't want. Sometimes I was jealous, but I had more fun getting into trouble and playing around than anything." He looked at Ciel. "Plus, I wanted to be a famous singer."

Ciel smirked at the words and gestured for Claude to continue as he took another bite of his lunch.

"I told you before that Sebastian has our mothers looks but you would never know it if you looked at him now," Claude said and looked down at his plate. "When I was twenty-one, there was a scouting group in our town that was looking for new talent. Sebastian and I went because if there was one thing we shared, it was our looks and our voice. We could both sing, Sebastian more than me."

Ciel choked slightly on the carrot in his mouth and he quickly grabbed his glass, swallowing a mouthful of water. Thumping his chest, Ciel looked at Claude. "Sebastian could sing?" He asked.

Claude nodded. "We both tried out, a friendly competition between brothers to see who the best was and in the end, Sebastian won. They said that he had the looks and the voice they were looking for. Offered him a chance to be a famous." The older male looked away sounding bitter. "He turned it down, saying that he didn't want to be famous in the limelight and that he already knew what he wanted to be. At sixteen, his life could've been served on a silver platter and he turned it all down."

Ciel watched as Claude jabbed his steak with his fork and looked annoyed as he chewed. The sight would've humorous if Ciel hadn't been burning with more questions. He could barely keep himself from asking them, knowing that he had to let Claude tell the story as he saw fit. It was obviously one that wasn't told often and it seemed as though Claude had been keeping all this to himself for many years.

"After that, I didn't speak to Sebastian much. He left for college a few years later and I kept trying to get the attention of a recording company," Claude said finally. "Around that time, Tanaka passed away when Sebastian was eighteen and he was upset when the man died. He carried on though and life continues. It was around that time that your father noticed me and offered me a job at the company while I improved my skill."

A small hum left Ciel's mouth. He knew that it had taken a few years before Claude had become famous and Vincent had Claude singing at smaller venues in order to get experience. It had been a shot in the dark but his father had been willing to take it and it had paid off handsomely.

Claude pushed his salad bowl to the side and took a drink before continuing again. "Sebastian came with me to one of my venues and sat with one of the producers' who was there to watch me. When I came back from my performance, Sebastian was gone and the producer said that Sebastian had a wonderful voice and the perfect body for fame. I snapped after that."

The glass paused halfway to Ciel's mouth and he looked at Claude. "What do you mean?" He asked.

"I went to see Sebastian after that and we fought. First, it was verbal where I yelled at him for stealing the attention that should've been mine and he told me that he had turned the offer down. He said that he left so the producer could focus on me and that he didn't want the fame." Claude looked down at his plate. "I didn't believe him and punched him in the face. We started throwing punches and it turned violent after that. Furniture was broken and clothes were ruined but I finally pinned Sebastian to the ground."

Ciel's heart started to race as Claude fell silent and he had a feeling that whatever Claude had to say next was going to be the reason for Sebastian's actions and the rift that had formed between the brothers. And there was a growing sense that Ciel wasn't going to like what Claude had to say.

Claude looked down at his lap. "My hands found their way around Sebastian's neck, pushing against it and tightening around his throat until Sebastian was gasping at me. But at the time I didn't hear him gasping for breath. I was too busy screaming at him that everything bad in my life was his fault. Our parent's death, the reason the scouts didn't pick me when we were younger, and for taking away the limelight when it should've been mine."

Slowly, Claude's hands came up and he tugged lightly at his hair as he closed his eyes. "By the time I finished yelling at him, Sebastian was convulsing under me and fighting for breath. I can still hear that rattling breath sometimes. I pulled back and stood over him while he coughed and dry heaved as he tried to breathe again. I didn't feel any remorse at the time, the only thing I could think about was what Sebastian had almost taken away from me."

Ciel's grip on his fork was tight and his hand ached from the action but he couldn't make himself loosen his grip. He was shaking in his chair and found that it was hard to breathe, as though it was Claude who was choking him. He didn't know whether to feel angry with the man or a sense of pity.

"After that, I hauled him to his feet while he was still struggling for breath and told him that from then on, he was to be a shadow. No one was supposed to see or hear him. He would never threaten my spotlight ever again," Claude almost whispered. "And the only way for that to happen was if he didn't talk and if he looked unattractive. No one would give him a passing glance if that was the case."

Guilt was present in Claude's eyes and Ciel wondered how long Claude had been keeping this a secret. Now that Ciel knew, everything seemed to make sense and Ciel felt like kicking himself for not seeing it earlier. The way Claude would tense up whenever Sebastian drew too much attention and the way he had acted so violent the day Sebastian had showed up with clean hair.

Claude had tried to convince him multiple times that Sebastian was nothing more than wasted space and that nothing Ciel did would help Sebastian look better. He had practically pleaded with him, begging Ciel to say that he was more attractive than Sebastian was. It was almost laughable how insecure Claude was underneath it all, that he had to resort to such a degree but the cold truth was there before Ciel.

And while it seemed that Claude felt a small amount of guilt, he still hadn't bothered to fix anything between Sebastian and him. Because his plan had worked, really well. Sebastian didn't speak and dressed in such a fashion that no one looked at him. But Sebastian was suffering because of Claude and no one knew. No one had bothered to ask or find out the truth. No one cared.

"How long ago was that?" Ciel asked hesitantly.

"Four years," Claude answered, the guilt in his eyes flickering in and out of view. "Sebastian was only nineteen."

Ciel swallowed, trying to wrap his mind around the situation. Sebastian had been silent for four years and had been suffering for that long. It was hard to believe though that Sebastian would willingly subject himself to such a harsh punishment unless there was a type of threat behind Claude's words. "I don't imagine that he took that too well," he said carefully.

Claude shook his head. "He didn't. He yelled at me after that, his voice hoarse and raspy, that there was no way he would do something like that, even though I was his brother. That he would rather die than bend to my rules." He took off his glasses and ran a hand over his face. "I told him that I wouldn't leave him a choice and that in the end, he would have to bow to me."

"What did you do?" Ciel asked.

"Tanaka left us both a large amount of money after his death," Claude said. "But there was a clause in there that we couldn't touch it until we were twenty-three I think. I was already at the proper age when Tanaka died so it didn't bother me, but Sebastian still had a few more years to go. He had scholarships for college and a part time job that helped pay for living expenses. That job was the only thing keeping him afloat and I threatened to take it away by any means necessary"

The remaining food was pushed around on the plate and Claude's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "I threatened to tell his employer that he did drugs and was a thief, and that I could easily plant evidence to prove so. That I would ruin his college career and make him lose his scholarships. I would ruin his life. In the face of that, Sebastian had no choice but to listen to me." His glasses were placed back on his face. "When he graduated college, I had my big break but I had to make sure that Sebastian was still keeping to my rules, so I made him work for your father so I could keep an eye on him."

Ciel's stomach churned at the words and he found that he didn't know what to think of the whole situation. Sebastian was tethered to Claude against his will and there was no way for him to leave. If Sebastian so much as put one toe out of line, Claude had the power to ruin Sebastian's life. Claude had the power and influence now, while Sebastian had nothing.

"Can Sebastian still talk?" Ciel asked finally. The words felt thick in his throat and it was hard to speak.

Claude shrugged. "I'm not sure. It's been so long since I heard him and I don't know how much I damaged his vocal cords that night of our fight. He's probably forgotten how to speak by now, since he knows he can't talk."

Ciel gripped the edge of the table tightly. He wanted to ask if Claude was bothered at all by his actions in the past but he held his tongue at the last moment. As much as he wanted to shout at Claude that what he did was unfair and cruel, he had to stay silent. If Claude knew that Ciel was getting closer to Sebastian, then it would be Sebastian who paid the price. And that was the last thing Ciel wanted.

"But all that is in the past. He's adjusted well and there's no need for concern," Claude said, brushing aside the story as though it wasn't a big deal. It was his way of coping with the situation and the less he had to think about it, the better. It kept the guilt away that way. "Have you figured out what Sebastian does during his days off? It's been a while since we started this deal and nothing has turned up so far."

Ciel opened his mouth and then closed it as he tried to think of a logical answer. He didn't want to come out and say that he thought Sebastian worked with DIE. Claude would go ballistic if he found out that his brother was working at such a successful company right under his nose. "I gave up for the most part," Ciel answered. "He doesn't leave his apartment during the day and I'm certain he lives on the bare minimum. He goes to the library every now and then, along with some other free places but other than that, nothing."

Claude made a soft noise of annoyance. "We had a deal though, Ciel," he purred and stood up slowly. Ciel tracked his movements with his eyes and stayed still in his seat as Claude circled around the table. "You would tell me what Sebastian does during the day, and I know he does something. Otherwise he wouldn't be able to afford to live in his apartment and pay the bills. And in exchange, I would give you pleasure beyond your wildest dreams."

"I know," Ciel whispered as a hot mouth trailed down his neck. He found himself holding his breath as Claude nipped at his earlobe and unbidden, a spark of arousal raced through Ciel's body. It had been so long since Ciel had felt Claude's touch and he found that it was a touch he still yearned for. He had lusted after Claude for years and now the man was offering what he had wanted for so long.

"Are you saying you don't want me anymore?" Claude murmured against his ear, breath tickling the sensitive nerves on Ciel's body. "Or are you worried that I would leave you after our one night of pleasure is done? If that's the case, I can tell you now that I have no plans on letting you go after I take you. You would be mine. I would spoil you every day with pleasure and so much more."

Ciel trembled harshly in his chair at the words. Lips pressed against his temple and a hand trailed down his body, lightly palming his twitching cock, making him whimper. His mind screamed that it was wrong, that Ciel needed to stop Claude before things grew out of hand and that in doing this; Ciel was being unfair to Sebastian.

He had turned down Master's offer the other night for that very same reason; that it wasn't fair for Sebastian. But Master was just a voice, where Claude was real. He was oh so real. And Ciel had wanted him for much longer than Sebastian.

A whine left his mouth as Claude pulled away, leaving Ciel's mind to work through the haze that it was in. As it did, guilt crashed around Ciel and he struggled with the confusion that had suddenly engulfed him. He couldn't deny that Claude's touch felt wonderful and made him yearn for more. It was something that Ciel had always wanted and even though he was closer with Sebastian, those feelings for Claude never truly went away.

They were just hidden for the past few weeks but now that he was with Claude again, those feelings came racing back. Was it a bad thing to be torn between Claude and Sebastian? It didn't help that Claude was everything that Sebastian wasn't, and even though Ciel had said that it didn't bother him, he couldn't deny that he still wanted those features in a person.

"I know it's a lot to take in, Ciel," Claude said, his voice growing husky as he placed his hands on Ciel's shoulders. "But I am serious about being in a relationship with you if you prove to me that you want it. I can offer you so much. More than anyone else."

"I…I…" Ciel stammered. "Business! This is a business meeting and we're not exactly talking business right now," he gasped, pleased at how he was able to change subjects properly.

Claude chuckled at him. "Business huh? Then tell me what you think about my new song I've been working on."

Ciel's body stiffened as Claude's mouth hovered next to his ear and he started to sing softly. The words flowed over his body, deep and rich. Even without the accompaniment of music, the simple song was enough to make Ciel's eyes fall shut and he allowed himself to listen as the words surrounded him.

When Claude pulled away, Ciel's eyes fluttered open and he watched as Claude circled back around the table before taking a seat across from him. "How was that for business?" He asked, looking smug.

"I…I should go," Ciel said and moved to stand up. His legs were shaking and he felt as though they wouldn't support him but somehow, Ciel was able to make it to the door. "Thank you for lunch," he said, opening the door. He needed to get away before Claude tore down all the bridges Ciel had crossed in order to reach Sebastian.

Claude's smirk grew wider. "It was a pleasure, Ciel. And remember what I told you, I promise you won't regret it." He purred.

Ciel stiffened at the words and tone, finding them oddly familiar to what Master had uttered a few nights ago. He glanced at Claude, noting the smug smirk and for a moment, the thought of 'what if' crossed his mind. His heart raced faster and Ciel tried to push the thoughts from his mind, but a stray thought remained regardless.

He gave a small nod to Claude before rushing out of the room and into the hallway. It didn't take him long before he was outside of the restaurant, walking blindly down the sidewalk towards his car. Once inside, he collapsed on the seat and slumped against the steering wheel. Just when Ciel thought he had everything in order, something new came along and destroyed that order he had worked so hard to build.

He knew he shouldn't feel anything for Claude, especially after hearing everything Claude had done to Sebastian. That alone should've been enough for Ciel to hate him. But it wasn't. There was still a part of him that lusted strongly for Claude. It was hard to toss aside a two year or more crush within the span of a few months. It wasn't possible.

Because the cold hard truth was that a small part of Ciel still wanted Claude, despite how happy he was with Sebastian. Claude was everything that Sebastian wasn't and it made Ciel want him. It was wrong in so many ways and Ciel hated himself for it, but he couldn't stop the feelings.

"Why?" He murmured against the hot leather. "Why didn't these feelings go away?" He had spent weeks realizing that looks didn't matter and all it took was one meeting with Claude to make him question himself.

Blue eyes opened and Ciel stared down at his dashboard. Claude would be able to give him everything, he had promised that; had said that. But Sebastian would be able to give everything else. Whereas Claude would only give physical things, Sebastian would give the thing that Ciel wanted the most; emotion.

Ciel sat up straighter in his seat. "You cannot buy me, Claude," he said aloud, the words reassuring him. "You will not buy me."

He started the car and it purred to life under him before backing out of the parking lot. The words had been spoken and he believed them, but it didn't mean that the old feelings were gone. They still lurked beneath the surface, waiting for the right time to attack. But Ciel hoped that in time, they would eventually leave him alone.

It was late at night as Ciel made his way through the building. It was clear to see that DIE was wrapping everything up as most of the sets were gone and only one remained. They were still using it to film a scene but Ciel didn't bother to stay around to watch. He was tired and had a headache that had started out a dull ache after leaving the restaurant and had now changed into a throbbing headache.

But he told DIE's boss that he would be here tonight and Ciel wasn't about to pass up this last chance. He was curious as to what the man was going to give him and trusted that Master would keep to his word. Rounding a corner, Ciel made his way up the steps only to find The Undertaker waiting for him, blindfold in hand.

"Somehow I thought I would run into you," Ciel stated. "I had hoped that after all this, we wouldn't need the blindfold for my last day with him."

The Undertaker snorted. "I wish I could share your opinion," the man stated and reached forward, wrapping the blindfold around his eyes. Once secured, a hand wrapped around his arm. "Let's go see him and get this over with."

"Don't sound so enthused," Ciel commented as they made their way up the steps. He stumbled a few times until they reached the top floor and he was able to walk on flat ground once more. The door to the office swung open, squeaky on the hinges before the hand on his arm vanished and the door shut behind him.

Muffled footsteps met Ciel's ears and he could feel Master approaching. The male stopped before him and Ciel could feel him just inches in front of him. "You came after all," Master murmured.

Ciel nodded. "One last chance to say goodbye. I'll miss you and our sessions, but I feel that this is the best choice for me and I hope you understand."

"I understand," the man answered. "And I respect it. I simply called you here so I could you a final gift and finally tell you who I am."

Ciel's breath caught and his fingers twitched. "I think it would be better if I didn't know that," he said. "It makes it easier for me to walk away without any regrets."

A low hum left the man's mouth. "What if I told you that I was someone you already knew?" He asked, circling around Ciel. "That you've known me for a while now. That I've yearned for you and when you fell into my lap, I couldn't let you go. At the time I knew that making the deal with you was a bad idea, but I couldn't stop myself."

Heart racing, Ciel reached out for the older male and gasped slightly when his hand was caught. A soft kiss was placed to the tips of his fingers and Ciel trembled at the gentle touch. "We know each other?" He repeated and unbidden, Claude's face flashed through his mind and the conversation from earlier that day drifted back. "How well?"

"Very well," came the answer and fingers trailed across his shoulder, coming up to brush against the exposed skin of his neck. Ciel tilted his head to the side slightly, the familiar touches making him relax. Hands settled on Ciel's shoulders and teeth nibbled lightly at Ciel's earlobe. "But the me you see out there is very different from the one with you now."

"I can tell," Ciel breathed while making sure that Master's hands didn't drift any further than their spot on his shoulders now. He was willing to let the man tease his neck and ear, but that was it. Anything else and Ciel would push away. "So who are you?"

Soft fingers brushed against the back of Ciel's neck and he shivered slightly, find the actions very similar to how Claude had treated him earlier that day. And now that Ciel listened more, he could hear a familiar tone hidden under the smooth voice. It was deeper than how Claude sounded whenever they talked but seeing as Claude was a singer, Ciel had no doubt that the man could pitch his voice differently if he wanted.

Small tremors raced through his body at the thought. Had Master been Claude this whole time? No, because Master had been upset when Ciel had yelled at Sebastian and if it was Claude, then he wouldn't have cared. Or would he? What if Claude put on a fake front when they were in the public eye to uphold his image but in reality, truly cared about his brother?

Hope blossomed in Ciel's chest and he found a small smile slipping across his face as a tiny part of him clung to that idea. He knew that Claude wasn't as cruel as he was made out to be.

Hot breath fanned across his ear, making Ciel groan lowly. It had to be Claude. Master was mimicking everything that had happened at the restaurant today. "Wait," he gasped out, making the figure behind him freeze. There was something he had to know first before Ciel could say for sure that Master was Claude. "Will you sing to me? I just, I want to test something."

There was a moment's hesitation behind him that only helped to increase the idea that it was indeed Claude. He knew it was wrong and that Ciel should be leaving; this was more than he bargained for when he agreed to come. It wasn't fair to Sebastian, was what he told himself a few nights ago and in the car this afternoon.

But with the thought that Master might be Claude, Sebastian was far from Ciel's mind. He knew it was wrong and the last remaining parts of logic tried to remind him of that, but the way the man was pressed up against him had all those logical thoughts vanishing from his mind.

Softly, the older male behind him started to sing, the tone deep, rich, and smooth. It wrapped around Ciel in a way that Claude's words had never done before and in them. It was different from Claude's normal style but there was still something familiar about it and Ciel forced himself to believe that those differences weren't that big.

The melody seemed to caress him, pulling Ciel deeper into the song until it surrounded him and only one person was on Ciel's mind. Because only one person could sing that way. And even though it was wrong, Ciel couldn't stop the thoughts, couldn't stop himself from closing his eyes and pressing back into the figure behind him, submitting to the older male.

It was wrong in so many ways and a tiny part of Ciel was disgusted with how he was acting after everything. He was happy with Sebastian, wasn't he? So why did he need this? Why was he being turned on by Claude when he had…what was his name? Sebastian. A soft voice whispered in his mind, prompting him to remember but it was easily forgotten as lips brushed against his cheek, still singing as they moved.

They trailed back up to his ear, hot breath tickling the sensitive nerves there until at last, Ciel couldn't take it anymore. It had been hard enough to leave Master, knowing that he would be giving up that deep, husky voice for someone who was mute. And now, picturing that voice with Claude's body was enough to make Ciel regret that choice.

He moaned as fingers trailed up the back of his head, brushing lightly against the blindfold and Ciel tipped his head back to look at the spot where he knew Claude's face would be when the blindfold was undone. He wanted to see those golden eyes and familiar face right away. Nails scratched over his scalp and Ciel's mouth opened, a single name falling past his lips in a whimper.

"Claude."

Fingers jerked away from Ciel's head as though the soft cloth had burned them. They trembled as they pulled away from Ciel and Sebastian felt as though he had just been dropped into ice water. His body was numb and his heart pounded painfully against his chest. Why did that name have to leave Ciel's mouth? Anyone else and it would've been fine, but why Claude? Why the person that Ciel had lusted after?

The whole time, a small part of Sebastian had been slightly on edge with how Ciel had been reacting to his touch and a pit had settled in his stomach even though Sebastian had done his best to ignore it. The mantra of 'everything will be fine' ran through his head as he pressed soft kisses to Ciel's cheek before the younger male asked him to sing.

The request had caught him off guard but Sebastian agreed regardless. It had been a while since he sang to anyone after Claude had blackmailed him and to be able to sing to Ciel was something Sebastian had always wanted to do. To show that he was better than his brother. But now…now it seemed that after all this time, Ciel only had one person on his mind.

And that person wasn't him.

Hands reached up and touched his face, making Sebastian jerk at their touch. He looked down at Ciel as thumbs brushed over his cheeks. "Was I right? Are you really Claude?" Ciel asked breathlessly, his voice excited for the chance that he might be right. And no doubt, if those blue eyes hadn't been covered, Sebastian would be able to see longing swimming in those eyes.

"I…" Sebastian started but found that the words wouldn't come. Betrayal raced through him and Sebastian was helpless against the feeling. After all this time, Claude was still the one on Ciel's mind. Sebastian had been pushed from the younger male's thoughts without any regret.

"Claude," Ciel moaned softly.

The slap that sounded throughout the room was loud and Sebastian's hand stung as a haze of red clouded his vision. His body had reacted before his mind could process what he was thinking and in his anger, he had lashed out at Ciel. "Don't you ever, ever say that man's name before me like that ever again," he snarled, body trembling with fury. "If there is one person I can't stand, it's Claude Faustus. I am not him and I will never be him."

"What?" Ciel rasped, sounding confused as he pressed a hand to his cheek.

"That man ruined my life and I will not stand to have you utter his name in my presence." He was shouting now and probably saying too much, but Sebastian couldn't stop. For once, he thought that perhaps things would go his way and he could have a sliver of happiness but it seemed that Claude had taken even that from him. Ironic how Claude had always claimed that it was Sebastian who stole from him and now it was the other way around. Fucking hypocrite.

Ciel shook his head. "I don't understand," he gasped, trying to figure out how everything had changed on a dime.

Sebastian hissed lowly as hands stretched out to him, seemingly asking for answers and forgiveness, and he slapped them away before they could touch him. "William!" He called instead and the office doors opened, admitting Will and The Undertaker. "Escort Mr. Phantomhive off the grounds and make sure he doesn't make it back tonight."

"No!" Ciel shouted and struggled against the hands that grabbed him. "Let me explain, please!"

"Your actions and words have explained enough," Sebastian growled as The Undertaker brushed past him. He was vaguely aware of the man fiddling with something behind him but discarded the actions. "This is goodbye, Ciel."

Ciel shook his head as he was pulled from the room, shouting profanities at Will and The Undertaker chuckled lowly behind Sebastian. "I'll just go see to it that he doesn't try to come back."

Sebastian grunted, his anger waving slightly as his emotions warred with each other. "You do that, I'll be back in the morning to inspect that everything is gone. I have my own business to take care of right now. It's time to break the collar that's kept me chained down for so long."

The Undertaker smirked. "Of course," he purred and swept out of the room. He quickly located William and Ciel, it wasn't hard and he held up his hand as he approached them. He reached for the bag Ciel had with him and slipped a square piece of plastic into the bag. "A little parting gift for you, to show you what you really lost tonight," he said with a smirk.

Ciel jerked in Will's arms and The Undertaker brought his arm back before shoving his fist into Ciel's stomach. The younger male gagged and dry heaved for breath at the harsh action before blacking out from the pain.

"Been wanting to do that for a long time now," he murmured and looked up at Will. "Take him home William. Let him find out the truth tomorrow and see what his foolish actions have cost him."

Will nodded at him and carried the limp body outside. The Undertaker watched them go and crossed his arms over his chest, hoping that the damage Ciel had done wouldn't be irreparable.