Note: First order of business: everybody go look at the beautiful fanart AlexBeoulve did for me! http:/ alexbeoulve. tumblr. com /post/ 23695421385/ fanart-for-that-butler-beautiful-chaos-by (no spaces) and, while you're there, read her doujinshis and her fanfics, because they are amazingly cute and funny. /blows kisses to Alex. NEXT. Thank you all for the reviews and alerts! I'm so happy you guys like it! This chapter is pretty... emotional? Dramatic? I dunno... anyway let me know what you think and remember, next chapter is posted on Sunday
Shortly after talking with Elizabeth he managed to slip out and go up to his room. He'd lost all interest in socializing and didn't feel the need to spend any more time pretending he cared.
He sat on his bed, the rose from his lapel in his hand. There was a soft knock at his door and he glanced up. It was Sebastian – he didn't know how he was sure.
"Come in," he said, setting the flower on his bedside table.
Sure enough Sebastian slipped in through a crack in the door, closing it securely behind him.
"Are you alright, my lord? Why did you slip away like that?"
"Kiss me. That's an order."
Sebastian looked a bit taken aback, but still smirked in that all-knowing way he did. "Is that the reason you fled the party?"
"Are you disobeying me, demon?" Ciel growled, not at all in the mood to put up with his teasing.
Sebastian leaned over him, placing his hands on the bed on either side of Ciel. "Of course not," he said, pressing his lips to Ciel's. "As butler of the-"
Ciel grabbed his shirtfront tightly. "Shut up and kiss me!"
Sebastian laughed, but did as he was told. One of his hands brushed through Ciel's hair possessively, finding the knot of his eye patch and undoing it smoothly so Ciel's contract mark was visible.
"All I ever need is an order," Sebastian said, "and I will become anything you want me to."
Ciel frowned against him mouth. "I won't order you to love me," he said. "But I will request it."
"You're putting the decision in my hands?" Sebastian asked. Ciel didn't reply. "Will you still love me after the wedding?"
"Of course I will," Ciel said softly, his cheeks burning. "Weddings and fancy words won't change anything, Sebastian."
"Will you still love me in a year when you're sleeping in the same bed as Lady Elizabeth every night? And what about in two years when you'll be a father?"
Ciel remembered what Lizzie had said earlier. "In two years I'll be dead."
"Don't be so sure," Sebastian said. "I love you, my lord." He left a quick kiss on Ciel's cheek before drawing back, just in time for Lizzie to burst in.
"Why did you leave?" she demanded.
Ciel startled, scrambling to find his eye patch. "Elizabeth!" he hissed. "Don't you knock?"
"Why should I?" she demanded, then turned to Sebastian without waiting for a reply. "Go away. I want to speak with Ciel."
Sebastian glanced at Ciel from the corner of his eye.
"Don't leave," he ordered.
"Ciel! I want to talk to you alone!"
"But-"
"I understand," Sebastian said. "Excuse me." He started to leave but Ciel leapt to his feet immediately.
"Are you disobeying me? Sebastian!"
"You don't need me right now. Please calm down, my lord."
Ciel frowned, but didn't further protest. Lizzie waited until the door closed behind Sebastian to speak.
"Why did you leave?" she asked again, but a bit softer than before.
Ciel was desperately trying to tie the bow on his eye patch as he spoke. "I wasn't feeling well and it was stuffy in there. I just needed a break."
Lizzie glared at his eye patch, which he'd barely managed to tie in a loose knot. "Why do you wear that all the time" she said. "What happened to it that's so terrible no one can see it, ever?"
"Nothing, Elizabeth," he insisted. "Stop worrying about it."
"No! Why are you so secretive? Don't you trust me, Ciel?"
"I'm not being secretive."
"You're lying to me again! Tell me what happened."
"No."
Lizzie scowled, reaching forward and ripping the eye patch away from him, he immediately brought his hand up to cover his eye. "Elizabeth! Give it back!"
"Move your hand!"
"I can't!"
"You're awful!" she accused, tears forming in her eyes. "You… You're so awful to me. You lie and you keep secrets and…" She was cut off by her own choked sobbing. She wiped her eyes, trying to focus. "I… I heard you," she said softly. Ciel had a moment of panic, thinking she meant just now.
"Wh-what…?"
"When you spoke to my mother… But I ignored it. You know why, Ciel? Even though it hurt so, so badly I ignored it because I love you."
"There's nothing to ignore! I wasn't at a brothel – I never have been!"
"Prove it!"
Ciel fell silent, still unable to provide any proof.
"You know," Lizzie said, "I wouldn't have minded so much if you hadn't used me as an excuse. But it just made it so much worse… It was so much more painful…"
"Elizabeth, I was not at a brothel. I swear – I was looking into the murders for the queen."
"And even if you were you still lied to me, Ciel! You don't trust me at all!"
Ciel made an ugly sound at the back of his throat, reaching and snatching away his eye patch before pushing her toward the door. "It took you long enough to notice," he said harshly. "Now get out. Leave me alone."
Lizzie tried to smother another sob but found herself unable. She mustered the strength to stagger out of the room, leaving Ciel to stare after her in shock and irritation.
.
Elizabeth closed the door behind herself and collapsed onto the floor in the hallway. She didn't notice Sebastian until he came to kneel next to her.
He placed his hand on her shoulder. "Lady Elizabeth… What's wrong? Please, calm down."
She shoved him away with all the force she could. "Don't touch me!" she sobbed. "You have no right to touch me! Back up!"
"Lady Elizabeth, I am a Phantomhive butler and, seeing as you yourself will be a Phantomhive soon, I should be able to serve you."
"I don't want to be a Phantomhive – Ciel obviously doesn't want me to, either. I don't want to be his wife if he's going to be like this."
Sebastian smothered a smile. "He loves you very much, my lady. He's just a bit stressed right now and doesn't know what to do."
"I don't believe you."
"I can never tell a lie, Lady Elizabeth."
Elizabeth peeked up at Sebastian through her fingers, then straightened up and wiped her eyes. "I just don't understand him. What am I supposed to do when he's like this?" She sighed, leaning into Sebastian's touch a bit. "I wish he were more like you, Sebastian. You're so calm and relaxed all the time. Can't you show him how to be more of a gentleman? For me?"
Sebastian chuckled softly, standing. "I'm anything but gentle, Lady Elizabeth. I am simply one hell of a butler." He bowed. "I'm afraid I have to excuse myself. Have a good night."
Note: Oh, and guys... I need help! http:/ perplethezombie .tumblr .com /post/23778426972/next-fanfic