Authors' Note: Sorry if these chapters are coming out thick and fast – I'm just having a blast writing this story!
A BIG thank you for all of your reviews, they are very much appreciated, especially as I like to know what you all (I almost said y'all there) think.
It's Saturday evening, the night of the recital.
Lizzie stands in the middle of the room with her hands on her hips and her blond head cocked to the side. Manicured fingers drum against a tightly belted waist as she waits.
"Tell me again why he's been in such a mood lately." She calls over to Alois who enters the room, lifting up the collar of his dress shirt; he slides his black bowtie around his neck.
Her green eyes follows him as he goes over to the couch and perches on the edge, finishing tying his bowtie into a perfect bow.
"I think it has something to do with the guy he met." He sighs, just adjusting his collar back down.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"He said that he was coming tonight but now he's not." He shrugs. "Can you hand me my jacket?" He points to the black suit jacket that is draped over the back of the nearby chair. Lizzie goes over to it, picking it up with both hands and brings it to Alois.
"Why not?" She wonders, motioning for him to stand and hold out his arms, which he complies.
"I guess he's in New York? I dunno, I tuned him out after a while." He responds as Lizzie slides one of the sleeves up his arm.
"What about Spears?"
"Who knows." He shrugs again as he puts his other arm in the second sleeve. "All I know is that ever since he got that message, he's been in a right strop."
"So, what's he doing now?" Lizzie takes a step back to admire how handsome Alois looks in his tux.
"The last I checked, he was just sitting on his bed looking… sad."
"Maybe I can talk to him."
"You can try but just so you know, he bites." He warns.
Lizzie nods as she hitches up the long frilly skirt of her light pink and white dress and makes her way into the hallway, looking for Ciels' room. Finding it, she stands in front of the open door and regards him as he sits on the end of the bed, staring vacantly at the carpet beneath his feet.
"Knock, knock." She sings out as she knocks on Ciels' bedroom doorframe. Ciel keeps his head down as he picks up the two loose ends of his bowtie and starts to fumble with it. She smiles as she walks over to him, going just behind, she gets on her knees on the bed and reaches over from behind, takes the loose ends of fabric and starts to loop them around. "Are you nervous?"
"I'd like to say no."
"Oh Ciel, you're so talented, I don't know why you worry." She comforts.
"It's not worry so much." He sighs.
"Is it that guy?"
"No! Don't listen to Alois; he's a right gobshite." He snorts causing Lizzie to laugh out loud.
"Okay, calm down."
"It's just that I haven't performed in front of an audience in a long time."
"I understand."
"It's a lot, you know?"
"I'd say give it time but it doesn't make it any less hard."
"It really doesn't." He agrees.
She nods as she finishes up tying his bowtie, fixing the bow neatly just right underneath his chin. Running her hands over his shoulders, she smoothes out his shirt and then embraces him tightly from behind. Raising his hands, he gently strokes her arms that are wrapped across his chest as he leans back into her.
"You're my favorite cousin, you know."
"I'm you're only cousin." He smiles.
"True."
The pair sit in comfortable silence for a moment, until they hear the front door slam shut causing Lizzie to let Ciel go as he sits upright.
"Holy shit!" Alois exclaims from the sitting room, "Ciel, you have a delivery sent from the University." He calls out to him.
Ciel turns to Lizzie who shrugs her shoulders, gets off of the bed and straightens out her skirt.
They walk into the sitting room and there stands Alois with his arms wrapped around a huge vase that is bursting at the sides with the most gorgeous half opened long stemmed white roses he has ever seen. Alois staggers over to the coffee table and sits the vase down, taking care not to let it tip over.
"Where are these from?" Ciel asks as he goes over to them.
"The guy just said that they were delivered to Uni."
"Is there a card?" Lizzie wonders.
Alois and Ciel look around the vase and find a card on a stick poking out slightly through the bouquet. Alois snatches it before Ciel has a chance to grab it, opens the envelope with a dramatic flourish, and then raises his eyebrows as he reads the little card inside.
"Well?" Ciel and Lizzie say in unison as they await the finding.
"They're from Sebastian." He grins broadly, like the cat that got the cream.
"What?" Ciel asks breathlessly as the air feels like it was knocked out of his lungs.
Alois flicks the card over to him and he scrambles to catch it. When he does, he casts his eye over it as he reads it.
'Ciel, have them eating out of the palm of your hand, although, I have no doubt that you will. Sebastian x'
"He put a kiss at the end." Lizzie giggles as she reads over Ciels' shoulder.
"There is so much adorable going on, I feel like my head's gonna explode. He's so cunt-struck! Or in your case, cock-struck." Alois titters.
"Alois! Do you always have to be so crass?" Lizzie chastises as she folds her arms across her chest.
"What? It's the truth, this guy has it bad for you."
"Fuck him." Ciel states coldly and the pair quiet down. He looks up at Alois whose mouth drops open to reply but Ciel shoots him a dirty look. "Seriously, fuck that guy." He rips the card in half and tosses it to the ground.
"Okay, why?" Alois asks slowly.
"He made such a big deal about coming tonight and then doesn't. He knew he was going to be in New York but he tells me by text, he couldn't be arsed to tell me in person. He doesn't talk to me for days and then sends flowers? I mean, who does that?"
"Maybe he feels bad?" Lizzie suggests and Ciel rolls his eye.
"Bad? He feels bad? What about me?"
"Damn." Alois sighs to himself. "What about you? You protest that you've got no interest in him and yet, for the last few days, you've done nothing but whinge that he isn't coming."
"I know I shouldn't let it bother me but I just don't like it when people break their promises, that's all."
"Perhaps he's trying to make it up to you?" Lizzie tires again.
"He barely knows me."
"Well, never mind him, you have professor Spears coming tonight. That's pretty big." She reminds him.
"You're right." He agrees. As he thinks of his professor, Ciel starts to smile to himself. "I can't believe he's going, he never turns up for these things."
"He's going for you." She nods.
"Speaking of going, we'd better head off if you're going to get there on time." Alois interjects and the three of them get ready to leave.
...
Sebastian anxiously taps the heel of his foot down on the sticky floor of a black cab as he sits in the heavy evening traffic.
"Come on, get a bleedin' move on!" The cab driver shouts out as he lays on his horn.
"Do you know how much farther?"
"Not that long mate." The driver leans on his horn again. "Christ, what you doin?" He groans as he throws up a two fingered hand gesture at the driver in front.
As it stands, Sebastian is going to be late.
Ronald diligently rearranged his schedule to allow him to hop on the first flight back to London, which he did without hesitation. The only caveat being that has to be back in New York by Monday. Tanaka was willing to be moved but he refused to be pushed any further, so their dinner meeting on Saturday is moved to Monday and Sebastian feels that he would have enough time. He would fly into London Saturday morning, surprise Ciel, see the performance, maybe get a bite to eat with him – if he was lucky – and then back to the hotel, getting the next flight home the following day.
With that in mind, he had packed very lightly, only bringing the essentials; the tux he was wearing, a change of clothes and some toiletries. Everything was planned to the letter; however, even with the most careful planning he didn't anticipate that his flight would be more than five hours late. Once he arrived at Heathrow airport, Sebastian hopped on the Heathrow Express to Paddington and hurried to his hotel to check in. He threw everything in the room, left and quickly made his way over to the University but that was over an hour ago.
"Where are we?" He asks as he stares out of the window trying to spot a landmark that he may recognize.
"By Baker's Street tube." The cab driver responds as they pull forward by a few car lengths. Sebastian looks around and sure enough, he spots a large red circular underground sign.
"You know what, I'll get out here." Sebastian suggests as he reaches for the handle. He jumps out in the middle of the road, leaning over the passenger side window and hands the driver fifteen pounds. "Thanks, keep the change."
Sebastian ducks and dives past the tourists and the evening commuters walking towards the station on their way home as he starts to sprint off down the street, heading off to the University.
After risking his neck sprinting across the heaving traffic on Marylebone Road, Sebastian finally makes it to the University auditorium. Panting slightly, he walks in through the main foyer and looks around, unsure of where to go. After a while, someone comes out of a door and there is a sudden burst of orchestral music that fills the rooms, which then dissipates as the door closes again. Heading towards that door, his hand hovers above the handle before a stranger's hand landing on his shoulder halts him.
He turns and sees a man adjusting his glasses, as he looks straight at Sebastian.
"Excuse me but we ask that you wait until the performance is finished before entering." He requests.
"Surely no one would mind if I just snuck in and stood at the back?"
"I'm a professor here and this is my department - I mind." He replies sharply.
"Sorry-"
"Spears."
"Then sorry Professor Spears. Can I just wait here?" Sebastian points to the side of the door.
Spears nods. "If you would."
Sebastian stands to the side of the door, folds his arms across his chest and waits. Spears looks at him suspiciously as, he too, waits for the current performance by the orchestra to end.
An awkward silence hangs over them as they stand patiently.
"You know you're late for most of the recital." Spears is the first to speak.
"There was traffic." Spears nods at his response. "Besides, I'm only here to see one performer and I was told that he was going to be last."
"Oh, you're here to see Ciel Phantomhive? You're in for a treat, he's one of my prized students."
"Is he that good?"
"Good? He's brilliant. I've never heard anyone make an instrument sing so beautifully." He enthuses. "He just doesn't realize how amazing he actually is."
Sebastian tries to think of something to say in reply but the current performance comes to an end. Professor Spears opens the door and listens to the applause; he scans the packed auditorium for empty seats.
"There might be some seats in the front row." He advises.
"The front? That's great, thanks."
Sebastian quickly makes his way down the aisle towards the front. Spotting a spare seat, he pardons himself as he makes his way across the row towards the seat.
"Sebastian?" A familiar voice calls to him; he stops and looks over his shoulder to see a steely eyed blond glaring at him.
"You're Ciels' friend." He smiles.
"Alois."
"Right. How are you?"
"Never mind how I am, what the hell are you doing here?" He snaps.
"The same reason as you, I'm here to see Ciel play."
"Alois, what's going on?" Lizzie inquires as she leans over.
"This is Sebastian." He introduces.
"Who?" She wonders aloud as her eyes flick up to him and then widen as she makes the connection. "Roses Sebastian?"
Sebastian grins at her remark.
"So he got them?"
"Yes, the Uni delivered them to his flat earlier, they're beautiful." She gushes as Alois arches his eyebrows at her. "What? They were."
"Ladies and gentlemen, if you can please take your seats for the final performance." A woman standing in the middle of the stage insists with a bright smile on her face.
Sebastian takes a seat next to the scowling Alois and Lizzie crawls over his lap to get closer to Sebastian.
"I'm Elizabeth but everyone calls me Lizzie." She introduces herself as she extends her hand out.
"Sebastian." He takes her hand and shakes it.
"Weren't you meant to be in New York? I was told that you couldn't make it tonight."
"I was but-"
"Shh!" A audience member hushes them from behind, causing Lizzie to pull a face and Sebastian chuckles at her reaction.
Lizzie moves back to her seat and faces the front as the woman on the stage continues with her announcement.
"And now, we have our final performer and may I just say what a rare treat it is to have him play for us, especially as he doesn't give public performances."
As she continues with her introduction speech, Sebastian leans over to Alois.
"What is she talking about?" He whispers.
"Oh, you wouldn't know – Ciel is like, some kind of virtuoso. He's been performing since he was a kid."
"Why did he stop?"
Alois shakes his head somberly, "That's something you'll have to ask him."
"And now, without further ado, Ciel Phantomhive." She finishes to light applause as she walks off and Ciel comes on.
He walks to the front of the stage and stands still for a moment, and then he bends forwards, bowing slightly. Ciel casts his eye straight past the audience and over to the back where Professor Spears is standing, casually leaning against the wall. He smiles and nods to Ciel who takes a deep breath to calm down.
Lifting the body of his instrument to his chin, he steadies himself as he gets ready to play.
Sliding the bow against the strings, Ciel closes his eye as he starts to play. The lush sound of the singing violin fills the room as his fingers walk around the neck of the instrument. He does as instructed and feels the music as it vibrates through him; every note is played with such precision and care.
After a while, he starts to feel confident. He opens his eye and looks back at his professor but this time, he wasn't alone. A tall man with choppy cherry red hair drapes himself over his shoulders, whispering something into his ear, which causes his typically stern faced lecturer to chuckle slightly.
Upon that sight, his bow slurs on the strings, hitting a bum note.
He watches as feather light kisses are planted on the neck and chin of his professor, who in turn slides his arm around his waist, pressing him closer to his body.
The bow almost flies out of Ciels' hand as he observes this public display of affection.
The audience starts to murmur quietly to each other as Ciel starts to lose his nerve on stage.
"What's going on?" Sebastian asks Alois and Lizzie as both of their faces blanch.
"I don't know." Alois replies.
"Poor Ciel, he seems nervous." Lizzie shudders as she looks over her shoulder to see the auditorium start to whisper loudly.
"This isn't good." Sebastian mutters to himself. "What's he doing?"
Every note Ciel lands on screeches into the air at such a blood curdling sound, it causes the audience to cringe and some to cover their ears. It is almost as though he is inelegantly playing a saw as opposed to a violin.
"This is terrible." Lizzie gasps as she turns back around to Sebastian and Alois.
"Should we do something?" Alois wonders aloud.
"Something like what?" Lizzie responds as she shifts anxiously in her seat.
Sebastian looks at the both of them, then scoots forwards, waving his right hand a little to get Ciel to look at him.
"Psst, Ciel, hey...!" Sebastian whispers loudly to get his attention. Ciel looks down to the front row and sees Sebastian smiling back at him. "Just breathe, okay? You've got this, you can do it." He beams broadly as he tries to reassure him. Ciels' gaze goes back over to his professor who is just staring at him worriedly. "Just breathe." Sebastian urges. Ciel nods frantically and he closes his eye, breathing in slowly and deeply. He starts to calm down and relax as he opens his eye and looks back at Sebastian whilst Alois and Lizzie look on, impressed with how he could instantly calm Ciel down. "Good, now try again."
Bowing his head slightly, Ciel rolls his shoulders and straightens his back – standing up right. He breathes in again then, as he exhales, he lays his bow on the strings and plays again. This time, the sound that is emitted is beautiful and light.
Sebastian leans back in his chair and observes Ciel as he plays so wonderfully. He is never one for classical music but, as he watches the emotion pouring out as he plays, he can't help but be moved by it. His eyes start to tear up and water as the music takes him, crashing over him like a wave, gathering him up and sweeping him away.
Once Ciel finishes, the audience remained silent for a short moment, and then they erupt into applause. Dropping his arms, he bows politely as his eye glances over to Spears who is applauding with his partner still stood so close to him. Ciel stands upright and then immediately takes off, sprinting off of the stage.
"Where is he going?" Sebastian questions Alois, who shakes his head.
"I don't know." He and Lizzie start to get up from their seats and maneuver themselves along the row. Sebastian starts to follow after them but then decides instead to go down the aisle towards the exit.
After a few minutes, Sebastian makes his way around the back of the auditorium. Looking around, he spots Ciel, hunched over and dry heaving, still holding his violin by its neck in his hand.
"Ciel! Are you okay?" He calls over to him. Ciel raises his head for a moment then bends over further.
"For fucks sake." He groans, "Can't I just have a moment to myself?"
Sebastian shakes his head. "No."
"No? Who the hell do you think you are? What are you even doing here? I thought that you were in New York?"
"I was in New York but now I'm here. I had to see you."
"Why?" He says breathlessly as he tries to compose himself.
Sebastian shrugs, "Because, I like you."
"You like me?" He snorts. "You don't even know me."
"I know enough. Your name is Ciel Phantomhive, you have quite a sweet tooth, you go to this University and you play the violin – beautifully. That's all I need to know."
Ciel dryly chuckles to himself as he shakes his head.
"You're a real piece of work, you know that?"
"Sorry?"
"What are you doing here Sebastian? You came all the way back just to watch me play?"
"Well, yeah. I didn't want to disappoint you."
"We just met how could you have disappointed me?"
"Well, I told you I was going to come tonight and I never lie."
"You never lie?" He repeats to himself.
"No, I have never lied, not once in my life. So, I had my assistant shuffle things around so that I could make it. I have a streak to keep up with." He grins but Ciel frowns at him.
"I'm sorry to have given you such a shite performance."
Sebastian wants to say something but decides against it. Instead, they stand quietly for a moment as Ciel starts to straighten himself up, balances against Sebastian for a moment then puts his back against the wall.
"Can I ask what happened out there?"
"You can." Ciel replies curtly, and then dips his head. "I got a shock."
"Okay?"
Ciel sighs deeply and clears his throat.
"The guy I'm sorta in love with seems to be with someone else."
Sebastians' face falls at that reply, nerves he could understand but the fact that the object of his affection is in love with someone else? He wasn't quite ready for that.
"Oh." He utters, completely dejected.
"So, I'm sorry you wasted your journey."
Sebastian leans against the side of the building as he thinks.
"So, there is someone."
"Weren't you listening? He's involved with someone else."
Sebastian shakes his head slightly, "That doesn't mean anything."
"What does it matter?" He scoffs lightly.
The pair go quite again for a minute, then Sebastian pushes himself off of the wall and dusts off the back of his legs.
"Okay, we're leaving." He declares. Ciel whips his head towards him as he looks at him quizzically.
"What? I'm not going with you."
"Yes you are. You have to get out of here, clear your head for a bit."
"What about Lizzie and Alois? They'll be looking for me."
"They'll be fine. Come on, let's go, I know just the place."