Authors' Note: A BIG thank you to Flying Purple Kites for the summary – I was stuck on that for days.
This is a love story a pure romance, slice of life story… a diversion from the darker stuff I tend to write – anyway, I hope you'll enjoy it.
"I have a venti, Chai tea latte for Ciel." A barista calls out into the crowd from behind the bar.
'Lemme guess, you went to Starbucks?'
"It's what I do every morning."
A young man, with his phone pressed against his ear, uses his violin case to help him weave his way through the others who are waiting for their orders, collects his Chai and nods to the barista behind the bar who smiles in return.
Taking his time, he moves through the café and makes it to the exit.
'You are so typical.'
"Yeah, yeah I'll be there shortly. I just have to go to the shop-"
'Are you getting chocolate?'
"No – I'm not." He protests whilst his friend on the other end lets out a light chuckle.
'Then what are you getting?'
"What are you, my Aunt?" He snaps as he crosses the street and towards the shop.
'Ciel…'
"Yeah, All right, I'm getting chocolate."
'How you don't have diabetes, I'll never know.'
"Me neither. I'll be in shortly so save me a seat." Ciel breezes through the automatic doors as they open.
'How about you get here on time for once?'
"Come on Aly, save me a seat."
'Fine, whatever...' he sighs from the other end of he receiver. 'Right then, hurry up and I'll see you soon.'
He hangs up.
Ciel Phantomhive, twenty one and addicted to sweets, which he always gets at the supermarket just off of the High Street right before class and just after he gets his Chai tea latte. Being a traditionalist and shying away from frivolous things like coffee, the Chai is the most adventurous thing Ciel is willing to drink, especially as he prefers to stick with his favorite drink – tea.
The sweetness of the Chai is never enough; he always needs a top up to sate his demanding sweet tooth. With this need in mind, he completes his daily routine with a trip to the nearest store to get his favorite bar of chocolate.
Flitting through the crowded shop, he wanders downstairs. Wasting no time, Ciel knows exactly where to go. He heads straight down the aisle, right to where the candy and chocolates are.
As this is a part of his daily routine, Ciel doesn't need to take any time in deciding which one he wants. He grabs two of his favorite chocolate bars and maneuvers his way through the busy aisle and over to the self-service checkout line. There is a slight queue but he's happy to wait, as he stands behind a loud woman on her mobile. He rolls his eye as he listens in on her asinine conversation but, as she goes to the next available machine, he's soon relieved for the relative silence.
On the other side of the checkout area another man, tall, strikingly handsome with black hair and dressed in a well-tailored black pinstripe suit, charges downstairs. He weaves in and out of the aisles as he frantically scans each row, looking for something in particular but not finding what it is he is searching for. Giving up, he grabs an apple and banana from one of the freestanding shelves along the side and rushes over towards another aisle.
Finally, Ciel gets his turn to pay.
Taking his time, he strolls over to the checkout machine. Sitting everything down on the side, Ciel proceeds to start scanning the two bars, pressing the screen for the total; he pays for his chocolate, putting his money through the appropriate slots.
Finishing his purchase, he collects his chocolate bars and his chai and starts to make his way out of the self-service checkout area.
As Ciel is leaving, the black haired man hurries towards him, completely distracted; his gaze is elsewhere as he enters the checkout area through the exit.
Suddenly, there is a crash.
The lid of Ciels' drink pops open, spilling hot liquid all over his chest causing him to gasp and hiss as the heat penetrates through his clothing onto his skin.
"Oh my God, I am so sorry!" The man apologies, as he rushes over to help him. His voice is deep with a strong American accent. Ciel peels the hot soaked clothing from his body and looks at him, as he bends over to collect the dropped chocolate bars and the violin case.
"What the hell? Why would you enter through the exit? Can't you read?" Ciel exclaims, as the man stands upright again, holding out the chocolate bars.
"The exit?" He looks over his shoulder to see the sign indicating the entrance and exits. "Oh,sorry! I guess I wasn't paying attention."
"I'll say." Ciel snorts curtly as he snatches the candy from his hands.
Completely un-phased by the sharp tongued remark, the man only smiles as he pulls out a handkerchief from his top breast pocket. Ciel eyes him curiously as he watches him shake out the folds and reaches out to touch it to his chest, causing the young man to jerk backwards.
"What? This? It hasn't been used if that's what you're thinking."
"That's not what I'm thinking." Ciel mutters snarkily under his breath but the man hears him.
"Then what's the matter?"
"You're a complete stranger!" He takes another step back.
The man stops and drops his arm down.
"My name is Sebastian, Sebastian Michaelis. I work right over there in that building on the fifth floor," He points to a tall building across the road, "and I'm a media lawyer."
"Solicitor."
"Excuse me?"
"We call them Solicitors here." Ciel smiles wryly.
"Ah yes, you're right, I'm a Solicitor."
Ciel arches an eyebrow suspiciously, "Why are you telling me all of this?"
"Well, now you know me and I'm no longer a stranger. Will you let me help you now?"
Ciel begrudgingly nods, he can't refute this mans' logic and he is getting sticky from the cooling sugar in the syrup of the Chai latte. Sebastian reaches out again and gently starts to dab at Ciels' wet chest as he frowns at the contact. Sebastian notices this and stops again, "Sorry, but have I offended you?"
"No, but you did go the wrong way round the check out and crash into me, causing me to spill my very hot drink all over myself, and now you're touching me. I think I have a right to be just a little annoyed." Ciel huffs, albeit, half-heartedly.
Sebastian stands back and eyes him; he is clearly an adult but with the mannerisms of a spoilt child. Furrowed brow, hands stuffed into his pockets, full lips at a pout – he can't help but be captivated by this display of impertinence.
"You're right. At least let me make it up to you; let me buy you another cup of coffee?" He offers.
"I don't drink coffee and I'm late for class – if you'll excuse me." Ciel starts to leave, but Sebastian follows after him, leaving his fruit, and the other various items he had collected on his rush through the shop, discarded on the ground.
"Wait!" Sebastian calls after him and Ciel pauses, looking at him over his shoulder.
"What? I don't have anything else you can tip on me." He smiles sarcastically.
"That's not what I – What's your name?"
"What does it matter?" He turns around and faces him.
"Well you know mine and where I work."
"Not by choice."
"Still, now you know." He smiles, flashing perfectly aligned white teeth.
Ciel doesn't know why but even though he is wearing his drink and now is going to be late for class, he can't help but be charmed by Sebastian – perhaps it is just his Americanness, he thinks to himself as he sighs aloud.
"Ciel, my name is Ciel." He introduces himself.
"Nice to make your acquaintance Ciel." Sebastian holds out his hand and Ciel hesitates before taking it and shaking it lightly. It's at this moment, Ciel wonders if all Americans are as brash and as forthcoming as this one. He has never been to America, in fact he has had very little contact with Americans, but if they were all like this one he might have to think twice about a trip to the States.
"Okay, well I really must be going now so..." Ciel tries to pull his hand away but Sebastian holds on to it tightly.
"Please, let me buy you another drink, it's the least I can do." He insists.
"No, really, it's fine but I do have to go now." He maintains. He waits a moment as he looks at his hand then back up at Sebastian, "I'm going to need my hand back."
"Oh!" Sebastian lets go of his hand.
"It was, uh, nice to meet you Sebastian – maybe next time, try looking where you're going." He smiles politely as he turns to make his way back up the stairs. As he goes, he can feel Sebastians' eyes on him as he makes his way up, and he shakes his head slightly as he smiles to himself.