Annoyed and embarrassed because his shirt is not only stained, but the sickly sweet and spicy smell of the Chai is overwhelmingly pungent, Ciel walks into the auditorium and looks around for someone. Finally, his eye lands on a streak of blond and he walks down the stairs, maneuvering himself in between the desks and the chairs towards the friendly face amongst the other students who are starting to fill the room.

Alois Trancy, twenty-two. He is boorish but kind and he always looks out for his best friend. The pair share a flat near Brick Lane in East London. It's elegant and understated, which is typical of Ciel, but in a hip and vibrant location, which is indicative of Alois.

They have been friends for as long as they both can remember and have been everything to each other: lovers, fighters, everything in between but no matter what, they always remained friends. Doing almost everything together, it is hard to find them apart – except when it came to University. Ciel is a music major, whereas Alois, having absolutely no musical talent, has opted to go into the film department.

They share two classes, The History of Music 102 and the class they're meeting in now, Film Appreciation 101.

"Hey Aly." Ciel greets the blond with a half-smile.

Alois whips his head around as Ciel moves to stand in front of him.

"Ciel, where the fuck have you been mate? It's been hard to keep this seat free." He stops for a moment, as he looks at the giant stain on Ciels' shirt and frowns. "And what the hell happened to your shirt?"

"Some jerk plowed into me at the shop when I was getting chocolate – I spilled my Chai all over me."

"Ooo, was he cute?"

Ciel frowns.

"Seriously? Not even an 'oh, I'm so sorry Ciel, you have to walk around like that for the rest of the day?'" He snips sarcastically as he holds his shirt out in an attempt to dry it out.

"You're right, sorry, let's try this again." Alois pauses and clears his throat. "Oh Ciel," he over exaggerates, "I am so sorry, are you okay? You're not hurt are you? No burns?" Alois reaches over and tries to lift Ciels' shirt but he bats his hand away, causing the blond to giggle. "Relax, I have an extra shirt in my bag, you can borrow that but most importantly, was he cute?"

Shifting the book on the spare chair next to Alois, Ciel takes a seat next to him and folds his arms across his sticky chest.

"You have a one track mind." He sighs.

"I know," He shrugs, "but was he cute?"

"He was American, brash and rude."

"How did he crash into you?"

"He went the wrong way round the self-service machines."

"Oh, I hate it when people do that." Alois nods as he faces forward.

"So do I."

"But… was he cute?" He titters. Ciel rolls his eye and playfully slaps Alois on the shoulder.

"Yeah he was kinda cute, in an older guy kind of way."

"How old? Like silver fox old?" He asks, running his hands through his hair and shaking it out.

Ciel reaches over, picks up Alois' book bag and rifles through it.

"No, I bet he was in his early thirties. His age was like the only thing he didn't tell me." He replies as he pulls out one of the notebooks and a pen.

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh get this, so we wouldn't be strangers, he did a full introduction. I know his name, occupation and where he works."

"You just met the guy." Alois arches an eyebrow.

"I know." Ciel snorts.

"What do you mean by wouldn't be strangers?"

"He wanted to dry off my chest and I wouldn't let him because, well, who the hell was he?"

"Of course." He agrees.

"So then he introduced himself to me."

"And?" Alois asks curiously about the man who has made such an impression on his friend.

"And his name is Sebastian."

Alois grins broadly and slaps his knee as he starts to giggle, which starts to agitate Ciel.

"Ooo Sebastian..." He coos mockingly.

"Fuck off." Ciel retorts and Alois erupts in a fit of laugher, wrapping his arms around his stomach, squeezing his side.

"All right, all right. What else did Sebastian tell you?"

"He works in the media as a solicitor just down the street from here."

Calming down, Alois leans back into his seat. Turning to Ciel he puts his hand on his shoulder.

"Well fuck me. Ciel Phantomhive, grab your coat mate, sounds like you pulled."

Ciel shrugs him off. "I did no such thing, I was incredibly rude to him and left him in the shop."

"Why were you rude?"

"Look at my shirt, how would you be?"

"Yeah, I guess I would be snippy too and I presume you must have been your usual congenial self."

"I don't know what you're implying." He snorts coyly.

"Oh yes you do." He pauses as he looks around.

The auditorium is starting to fill to capacity, which is unsurprising as the waiting list for entry to this course is longer than the entry to the university. Looking back at Ciel who is writing something down in his notebook, a broad grin creeps over his lips and he nudges him with his shoulder.

"So come on, don't keep me in suspense, what did he look like?"

Ciel stops writing and leans back as he thinks about how to answer.

"He was tall, very tall, jet black hair with a choppy razor cut, nice face, you know? Sort of comforting but handsome with ruddy brown eyes." He remembers.

"Sounds cute, how was he dressed?"

"In a suit."

"Man, sometimes you have all the luck." Alois scoffs as he folds his arms across his chest.

"What do you mean?"

"I have to resort to Internet dating and some cute guy just crashes into you and starts flirting. Life is so unfair. Knowing you, you must have shot him down so hard."

"He wasn't flirting, he was just being... American."

"Okay, if you insist."

There is a long silence as the pair settle down into their seats and get ready for the lecture. Both bring out their textbooks and flip through them, and Alois jots down some quick notes as Ciel looks around the room, then back at Alois.

"Where's Lizzie and Finny?" He wonders aloud.

"Later than you. Can you believe it?"

"That's unlike them."

"They're probably fighting... or fucking, either way; I don't want to hear about it."

The room goes quiet as the professor enters, slinging his bag onto the nearby desk. The class is taught by an up and coming indie director whose fastidiousness and fierce reputation always precedes him. Although, with that said, the silence is not out of fear; it is more out of respect for the professor, Claude Faustus.

There isn't a day that goes by where Alois isn't thankful that he was even able to make it into this class, not just because it is so hard to get into but because of his one-track mind. He sees the lecturer as something more than eye candy.

Without a shadow of a doubt, the professor is gorgeous. He moves to the front of the auditorium, dressed in black boot cut jeans with a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up a little past his wrists. His hair is wavy and black with a tinge of dark violet that can only be seen when he turns his head just so in the light. His golden eyes glitter behind his glasses and Alois bites his lower lip as he stared.

"You're drooling." Ciel whispers and Alois sits up.

"I can't help it, I'm hungry and he looks delicious." He replies as he continues to regard their professor.

"Right, let's crack on." Claude announces and the students go quiet. "Today, we are going to learn about chiaroscuro and Rembrandt lighting." He states as the lecture begins.

…

The next day, Ciel goes through the motion of acting out his daily routine.

Chai tea latte in hand, he flits throughout the crowded shop like a hummingbird looking for nectar, quickly dodges the other shoppers and heads downstairs. Just like every day, he wastes no time, knowing exactly where to go. He heads straight down the aisle, right to where the candy and chocolates are.

As this is a part of the routine, Ciel automatically grabs two chocolates of his choosing, without needing to decide on which one he wants, and then wends his way through the busy aisles and over to the self-service checkout line.

"Hey, Ciel…!" A familiar voice calls out from behind him.

"You have got to be kidding me." Ciel sighs aloud as he turns around to see Sebastian grinning behind him.

"Sorry?"

"Nothing." He quickly dismisses, "What are the odds that you would be here again today?"

"I'm here every day, I work just across the street, remember?"

"Oh yes, that's right – you said."

Sebastians' eyes dart down to the Ciels' hands and he chuckles lightly.

"Getting chocolate again, I see."

"What are you my Aunt?" Ciel snorts before realizing that it wasn't what he really wanted to say. Sebastian confusedly looks at Ciel as he blushes and furiously curses himself under his breath.

"What?"

"Sorry, that wasn't directed towards you. It's just that my friend always has a go at me for getting candy first thing in the morning and that's my typical response."

"I see."

Two machines become free and they both walk through and pay for their items. Sebastian pays for his collection of fruit, whilst Ciel pays for his two chocolate bars. As soon as they're finished, they start to make their way out through the exit; Sebastian tries to catch up with Ciel who seems to be speeding away from him.

"Wait, what's the rush?" Sebastian calls after him.

"I have to get to class." He replies over his shoulder before he makes his way up the stairs.

"But I owe you a hot beverage of your choosing."

Ciel stops mid step and turns to face Sebastian, who is just a little way behind him.

"A hot beverage of my choosing?" He wonders aloud, almost comically.

"Well, seeing as though you don't drink coffee."

"Look Sebastian, that is totally unnecessary-"

"So you do remember my name?" He interrupts.

"Of course I do, how many Americans with the name Sebastian run me down?"

"Trick question." He laughs, the sound of which causes a shiver to run up Ciels' spine.

Maybe Alois is right and he is flirting with me? Ciel thinks to himself. He takes a step down towards Sebastian and casually leans against the railing.

"How about you get me a hot beverage of my choosing some other time?" Ciel compromises.

"Why not now? It'll be quick – I promise." Sebastian suggests.

"No thank you, I already have a drink and I'm really running late for class now."

"Is that why you always carry a violin? You're a music student?"

"Yes, you know the large glass building right across the street?"

"Yeah."

"That's my University. I'm a music major and I play the violin and the piano." He admits.

A woman walks up behind Sebastian and clears her throat. Glancing over his shoulder, he steps aside to letting her pass. As he does so, he desperately searches his mind for the next thing to say, as he really doesn't want to let Ciel go. Finally, his mind lands on something.

"Do you do any recitals? Maybe I can hear you play?"

"Boy, you're persistent."

"I have to be in my line of work."

"Do you even listen to Classical music?" Ciel asks.

"No, I'm more of an alternative rock kinda guy." He replies wryly.

Ciel chuckles at that admission.

So he does laugh. Sebastian thinks to himself as he chuckles in return.

"So you'd be willing to sit through an entire Classical music recital just to hear me play? Some complete stranger."

"Well, yeah." Sebastian smiles.

Ciel stares in disbelief as Sebastian seems so earnest. It is almost off putting to his British sensibilities but then again, he is kind of intrigued by this man who apparently wouldn't take no for an answer.

"Well, the University is putting on a recital for some of the other students and they have asked me to play, it's next weekend, if you're really interested."

"Oh yeah? That'll be great."

Ciel smiles wistfully as he arches an eyebrow, examining Sebastian.

"You're… different."

"What do you mean?"

"We've only really met twice and you're willing to sit through something you probably don't like and for what?"

"What can I say? I like the look of you."

"The look of me?" Ciel repeats quizzically.

He shrugs. "It's just a feeling I get."

"You're a strange man Sebastian."

"Strange? All right, I can handle strange. I've been called worse." He shrugs.

"I don't doubt it." Ciel genuinely smiles back.

Sebastian stops for a moment to take it in; it is as though the air has been sucked from his lungs.

It hit him in an instant; he wants to know everything about Ciel, who he is, where he is from – just everything. This feeling has never happened to him before, not in all the years of his life and definitely not with the others he's been with – this is different, Ciel is different. The feeling is like a rush, poles apart from the feeling he gets when he has to go into deposition. No, this rush makes his palms sweat, his heart beat faster and the fine hairs on the back of his neck stand to attention. He is completely captivated.

Ciels' cheeks start to redden with embarrassment as he notices Sebastian just staring at him. "Well, I do have to go to class."

"Okay." He agrees without thinking, completely lost in his thoughts and Ciel starts to make his way back up the steps, Sebastian watches him go for a moment. "Ciel, wait." He calls over to him as he jogs up the steps. "Can I walk you to class?"

"What is this? The 1950s? Do you want to carry my books too?" He smiles.

"No I just… um, I just want to get to know you better. Come on, since you won't let me get you a coffee or alternative hot beverage of your choosing." He jests.

"You wouldn't listen if I said no, would you?"

"I'm afraid not. I mean, I must warn you, I'm pretty good at getting what I want."

"And what you want is to walk me class?"

"To start with, yes."

Ciel rolls his eye and sighs loudly.

"All right." He begrudgingly agrees, though smiles to himself.