A man stood at the edges of the dense forest that lay west of the camp's borders. His grey eyes were riveted on the small specks of light that flickered from across the patchy field of grass. He had been watching those lights for several days, hoping to see anything that might give him hope of his master's survival.

He was aware of what he was meant to do should he not receive a signal. It had been a day over the agreed on time, and yet he could not bring himself to leave. He knew he had a duty to the others who followed him, and so, he had sent the rest of the tribe on without him, stubbornly refusing to leave until he had rescued his prince.

Ash was having doubts. He had agreed to go along with Claude under the understanding that they were to murder Sebastian. He understood that a endeavor such as that would take time and planning. It wasn't as if he was an impatient man, quite the opposite, for as a doctor he had been forced to embrace such a virtue. However, it seemed as if Claude was toying with Sebastian, doing everything in order to provoke him into some sort of action.

That was not something Ash had bargained for, nor did he think it a wise move on Claude's part. Murder should be executed quickly and efficiently. They were wasting time, and every moment that Claude stalled, they were both in danger of being found out.

Ash opened the door to Claude's office, leaving the aperture slightly ajar as he looked around. He found the room to be empty, something that struck him as rather strange since it was still early in the day. The large leather chair was vacant, as was the desk that took up most of the space in the room. There was no paperwork or anything else that might have indicated someone had been working there recently. Of course Claude was a rather fastidious man, and his workplace clearly reflected those tendencies.

Hearing a faint noise, Ash walked further into the room, looking for the cause of the disturbance. There was a small room toward the back of the office that had, at some point in time, been originally used as a restroom. As the need for extra storage space arose, it has been converted into a closet. There was nothing in there now but dusty old books and files that most likely would be burned at a later date.

And that was why is was rather strange to see the door to that room slightly ajar. Curious, Ash moved closer. As he did so, he happened to hear someone's voice from within.

The doctor recognized the voice immediately, though Claude was talking very low. "...Oh no. I won't go back on my word."

Following Claude's words, there had been a long pause, causing Ash to surmise that the other man must be talking on a telephone, though why one had been moved into the closet was a mystery to him.

He moved forward silently, intent upon hearing Claude's side of the strange call. He was not shamed by the thought of eavesdropping, instead thinking it a rather necessary measure. He did not pretend to trust the other man.

Claude didn't appear to have heard him, continued to speak after a short pause. "Of course not. He knows far too much. He could still be useful, but I cannot allow him to live. Besides, doctors can be found anywhere. Especially ones who are willing to work in a place such as this."

Ash's eyes widened as he listened, his mouth forming a tight line. Slowly, he started to back up. Claude would no doubt say more, but he had already overheard enough, and didn't wish to be caught.

Hands shaking with anger, he took a hold of the doorknob, closing it quietly as he slipped out of the room. Once in the hallway, he made sure to hurry lest anyone noticed him and report his presence to Claude.

He needed time to think. Of course this shouldn't be a shock to him, but it did rather make him aware of just how dangerous his situation was. As Claude himself had said, he knew too much. But that was where he could turn this situation around. If it came to that, he would have no choice but to betray the other man.

Agony. Endless agony. Those were the only words that could describe the way it felt to be locked into a tiny cell with no room to move.

Some might wonder if it was really as bad as all that, but in truth it was far worse. It wasn't a quick form of torture, but one that forced the victim to suffer slowly. The minutes would drag by as the prisoner waited for the sweet release that came from sleep. But it was almost impossible for even that small comfort. Standing grew uncomfortable and muscles started to cramp as the minutes turned to hours. As those hours turned to days, the walls almost seemed to press inward, suffocating those inside the tiny cell.

Soma groaned, his tongue darting out to wet his parched lips. It was no comfort however, for he was both dehydrated and stiff. "They won't ever let us out. We're going to die in here. Alone.."

Abberline moved his head slightly, though he could not turn to look at the boy. He leaned his forehead against the wall in front of him. "No. We won't die." He had been trying to distract his mind from their current situation by singing old songs or thinking about his family. It had helped the minutes pass by a bit faster, though Soma's words brought him back to the brutal reality.

"Yes, I shall!" Soma's voice grew desperate as he started to panic. "I'll die in this torture chamber. Without my clan...Alone.." His voice slowly trailed off, his breathing becoming shallow.

"Shh.." Abberline realized Soma was doing himself no favors by panicking. It only served to use up the small amount of oxygen than came down from the vent above their heads. "Listen. Try to think of something or someone you care about. Do you have family?"

Soma didn't answer for a few moments. "No..I only have my tribe...and..Agni."

"Well, then. Try to see if you can lean some of your weight on me. That will ease a little of the discomfort. And think about Agni. All the things you did together, all the memories you have of him." He paused, saying this with more conviction than he himself felt, "Don't worry. We will get out of here, no matter what might happen."

Soma did as Abberline suggested, though because of their close confines, he was not able to lean against the other man very well. It did however help, if only a little, and he started to remember the days before he had been torn away from his tribe. It wasn't a miraculous remedy to what they were facing, but keeping his mind occupied did somewhat help the hours to pass more quickly.

Sebastian stared up at the clock, watching as the minutes dragged by. It wasn't like him to be so indecisive about something, least of all something he already thought he had settled.

Tick...tick...tick...

The nagging voice in the back of his mind relentlessly spoke the boy's name, every tick of the clock distracting him from the tasks he should be working on.

There was nothing keeping him in his office. The work he had set out lay uncompleted on the desk, and likely would stay that way unless he could find a way to clear his mind.

Another glance at the clock. The minutes ticked by. Slowly. Endlessly.

Sebastian stood abruptly, snatching up the black cap that sat atop a pile of paperwork. Perhaps even just a half hour with the child would bring him enough peace to be able to complete the rest of his work.

Ciel awoke to the sound of the lock on the door being turned. He struggled to sit up, grabbing the blankets that were bunched up at the foot of his bed. He had taken another bath with the water that was still sitting in the cell, and his jumpsuit was on the other side of the room out of reach. Glancing over at the door, he pushed himself into the corner of the wall, waiting to see who would enter. He could only hope that horrible doctor would not be back to make him relive the events of the previous night.

The door swung inward and Ciel's gaze fell on the commander. He didn't know what to think, so he stayed silent and still, simply watching. To Ciel, the raven haired man looked even more frightening than usual, but that could have simply been because of what had happened to him. He instinctively pressed his back closer to the wall, clutching the blankets against his chest.

Ciel watched as Sebastian paused in the doorway. The man's eyes traveled over him, coming to rest on his face. He knew very well what Sebastian's crimson eyes were focused on, and it almost made him wish he could cover his face to hide the horrible looking bruises.

Despite that feeling, Ciel's gaze did not waver as he stared at Sebastian. He couldn't tell what was going through the commander's mind, but his own went wild with guesses. Could Sebastian simply have come to inspect the work that he had ordered to be done? Claude's words crossed his mind several times, but he was still hesitant to believe they were true.

The boy's thoughts came to a pause as he realized Sebastian's eyes had narrowed, his expression changing slightly.

Before he could figure out what that might mean, Sebastian had slammed the door, causing a loud bang as the metal hit against the door frame. The commander crossed the room, grabbing Ciel's arm roughly and pulling him from the bed.

Ciel scrambled for balance as he was forced to his feet, staring up at the commander in fear. Never in his life had he seen a man look so angry.

He flinched as his arm was squeezed in the man's tight grip, his one eye riveted on Sebastian's face. In all truth, he half expected Sebastian to hit him, for the commander looked as if he was capable of that and far worse in his current mood.

He was surprised however, when a gentle finger traced the outline of the purple bruise around his eyelid. Holding his breath, he stared at Sebastian.

"Who did this?" Sebastian's voice was harsh, his eyes burning with rage as he waited for an answer.

Ciel was confused by those words. If Sebastian was asking him what had happened, that would have to mean he hadn't known about it until now. Or perhaps he was only acting? Ciel couldn't tell. He seemed genuinely angry, but then again, the boy realized that he hardly knew this man.

The tone of Sebastian's voice told him the man demanded a quick answer, but he found his own voice wouldn't work. He didn't want to be used like this. Manipulated until he couldn't even think straight. If only he could be sure about something. Sure that Sebastian truly cared.

Sebastian watched him, realizing he had probably frightened the boy with his anger. He loosened his grip on Ciel's arm slightly, pulling the boy toward him.

Ciel stiffened as he was dragged forward, though he relaxed as he felt himself up against Sebastian's chest. The commander was warm and solid, something he needed after what he had gone through. He could hear the steady beating of Sebastian's heart as he lay his head against him, and he closed his one eye.

Sebastian's hand started to move up and down his back slowly, a soft, gentle action, so unlike the true nature of the man who was doing it. One might think Ciel wouldn't want to be touched by anyone after what had happened to him, and that would have been true, except that with Sebastian it was different. Despite everything that had happened, he wanted to be touched, to be kissed, to be loved by this man. And because of that, he was tormented by insecurity.

"You didn't fall in love with the commander did you?"

"The man who would kill you once he was done taking what he wanted from you."

"Do you really think a man like him would care about something like you?"

Claude's voice invaded his thoughts, reminding him of the truth of those words. Why did he keep fooling himself? They were true, even if everything else was a lie. Those words had to be true.

Ciel pushed himself away from Sebastian, stumbling backward onto the bed in his haste to get out of the commander's embrace. "No!"

Sebastian let go of Ciel immediately, staring down at the boy who now lay sprawled on the bed. He could not imagine what he might have done wrong, since he had simply been trying to comfort the child. "What's wrong?"

Ciel didn't answer as he wrapped the blanket across his chest, his head turned to the side. These conflicting emotions were starting to bother him, but he didn't know how to stop them. One moment he would be fine, and the next he would be so confused. Everything he thought to be true would be in question.

"Ciel."

Ciel stared at the wall as Sebastian spoke his name. Somehow it angered him. He hated himself. Hated how he had somehow fallen in love with this man.

He lifted his head to look at Sebastian, his eye rimmed in red. "You don't care about me. How can you act like you do? How can you pretend to care when all you want from me is my body? You're...just like Claude..different in some ways...but essentially the same. He only wanted to humiliate me...the same as you do. And once you get what you want out of me...you'll have me killed won't you?"

Sebastian's mind immediately focused on one part of Ciel's speech. The name of his enemy. "Claud-"

Ciel quickly cut him off, his voice rising to a shout. He didn't care what the consequences might be, it was something he had to say. "That's what you'll do isn't it? Throw me away after you're finished using me? When I no longer amuse you? I'm nothing to you. Just a prisoner. A Jew. Not even worthy of being treated like a human being." Ciel felt tears coming, but blinked them back fiercely. His voice fell to a whisper. "Why do you even care what happened to me?"

Sebastian stood silent for a moment, simply staring at the child. He hadn't known the boy had been experiencing those kinds of thoughts. Taking off his hat and tossing it heedlessly to the other side of the room, he leaned over the boy on the bed. Grasping Ciel's shoulders, he turned him slightly so his face was no longer hidden. The matter of Claude would simply have to wait. His eyes softened as he stared down at Ciel.

He was used to inspiring fear and hatred in others, so much so, that it only seemed natural when someone displayed those feelings toward him. He had loved no one, and in return, no one had ever felt anything for him. He had always taken but never given back. And perhaps that was what surprised him about Ciel. It was only natural to think that the boy hated him, for though Ciel didn't say it, he could see the fear and distrust in the child's eyes every time he looked into them.

But then, at times such as this, Ciel surprised him by saying something that went against that assumption. Could Ciel perhaps feel something for him, despite all that he had done?

Ciel stared up at the commander, quite aware of their position, as well as just how close Sebastian's face was to his own. The man's raven hair was brushing against his cheek, making him want to reach out and touch the inky strands.

He blinked, pushing that thought from his mind. He didn't need to be distracted. He was supposed to be angry at Sebastian. Still, he couldn't stop his eyes from wandering to the man's lips before darting quickly back to his eyes. It bothered him that Sebastian hadn't said anything yet. The man's eyes held something, though he could tell quite what it was.

"You're right," Sebastian paused, wondering if it would be wise to admit such things to this boy. "You were only a distraction. When I noticed you for the first time, I could only think of one thing."

Those words hurt deeply. Ciel tried to move from under Sebastian, but the commander was far stronger than he was, and it was apparent he wasn't finished talking.

"I know I threatened you. Forced you into this. But I promised I would give you a better life here than the others, and I never go back on my word, not even if it so happened to be given to a prisoner. You might think me a heartless bastard, but I would not have had you harmed like this, nor would I have you killed once you had given me everything." He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "But, do not ever compare me to Claude Faustus again. I am nothing like him. And if he was the man who did this to you, I will do everything in my power to make him wish he never had."

Ciel stared mutely at the commander, trying to process what had just been said. There had been no declaration of love. No flowery words that would mean nothing at the end of the day. Only the naked truth. Some of it wasn't exactly nice to think about, and yet, despite that, he did have to believe the commander cared about him in some way.

He realized he had hit a nerve when he mentioned Claude's name, and couldn't help but wonder what it was between them that made Sebastian react so strongly when compared to the other man. Of course he knew first hand just how vile Claude could be, but he was still curious. He wanted to ask, but decided against it, seeing as how he seemed to have upset Sebastian enough as it was.

"Now," The commander's voice still held an edge of anger despite the softness he had adopted when speaking to Ciel. "Did Claude do this?"

Ciel shook his head slowly in answer to the question. "The doctor..Ash did. Claude only.." He trailed off as he realized he had no desire to share that bit of information with Sebastian.

Of course he should have known he wouldn't be able to keep it a secret. Sebastian was not the type of man who let anything slip past unnoticed. "What did he do?"

Ciel tried to look away, hating how close Sebastian was to him right then. Would the commander perhaps think differently of him after he told him what had happened? Would he hate him for it? Be disgusted? He didn't know. Despite all the commander had said, he was still unsure about this. "H-he..touched me.." His voice was very low as he spoke those words.

Sebastian needed to be sure of what Ciel meant, though he could tell that it was uncomfortable for the boy to confess. "He molested you?"

Ciel barely nodded.

Sebastian felt the blood boil in his veins at the thought of Claude's filthy hand on the child. It was one thing for that man to turn the officers under him against his authority, but to do this was another matter entirely.

It was true that his initial intentions had been the same concerning the boy, making what Claude had done no worse than his own sinful desires. However he conveniently chose not to think of it that way. He had somehow come to care for Ciel, as foolish and as weak as that might be. And because of that, Claude had succeeded in getting him angry.

Ciel moved beneath him, causing Sebastian's thoughts to come to a halt. He shook his head. "This was never about you. None of this was. You were only used to get to me. Had I never brought you here, none of this would have happened."

He moved his hand to tilt Ciel's head forward. Leaning down, he pressed his lips gently against the boy's bruised eyelid. "Forgive me."

Ciel lay perfectly still, but even so, he almost thought he imagined the words that were whispered against his missing eye. He wasn't granted time to wonder for very long however, for Sebastian pulled away mere moments after the words were uttered.

The commander stood up, straightening his uniform before starting to head for the door. He would no longer allow Claude to do as he wished. The other man had messed with the one thing he actually cared about, and it angered him far more than anything else ever could. This time he would make sure Claude suffered for what he had done.

"Sebastian.."

The commander turned, his hand on the door. He didn't think he had ever heard the boy speak his name, and he realized he liked the way it sounded coming from his sweet lips. "Yes?"

"Be careful..."

Sebastian paused, then nodded slightly. He opened the door and once again disappeared from Ciel's sight.

The boy stood when he had gone, realizing the commander had left his hat. Picking it up, he brought it to his nose, breathing in the strong comforting smell that was Sebastian.

A/N: Sorry that took so long. After rewriting this a couple hundred times, I finally decided to update. Hope everyone enjoys it. c:

Also, I was wondering if anyone thought the last chapter was pushing the M rating? I didn't think so, since I tried to keep it as non descriptive as I could, but I really would hate for my account to be deleted. They have been doing that a lot recently.

I suppose any future lemon this may have will have to be posted on DA or simply linked to my GoogleDocs.

I was rereading some of the older chapters...so many typos. I'll have to go back and fix everything when this is complete.