Author's Note: Here is part 2 to "The Whimsical Citron" cheaper. This thank you section won't be as long simply because of the amount of time between this posting and the previous one.
Thank you for all the reviews!
Vafreek: I'm glad you enjoyed the description of Lau's gallery. I wanted to give him something rather exotic and interesting, since he didn't seem very into food in the manga. As for Sebastian's reaction, well you will see the rest of it here.
Guest: I'm glad that you enjoyed! Thank you for the compliments. I would thank you for calling me awesome, but then I would sound like Prussia and that just doesn't fit.
Promocat: LOL Naturally. Ciel isn't that cruel.
AnetteRuby, thank you for all the PMs! However I don't intend to give much away... spoilers.
Okay! On with the new chapter!
Chapter 8: Dessert 4: The Whimsical Citron: Part 2
Ciel looked at his laptop and hummed, Sebastian was making him far more money than he realized, it was only now that he had the time to take a look at the numbers. The chef had been there for about a month and he was gaining attention, which in turn made Ciel more famous. He had lent them to Lau for his use at the gallery opening, the Chinese man seemed uninterested in borrowing Sebastian until Ciel mentioned that the desert he had brought to his office was made by the man. He could remember Lau's expression as he tasted Amalie, it was almost as amusing as his own fathers, almost. After tasting the desert, Lau took Sebastian and Claude without hesitation, it was clear he wanted another reason to attend the opening.
Elizabeth had gushed the entire night after seeing Sebastian about how handsome he was, naturally Ciel was irritated with this, however he was sure he would really enjoy watching Sebastian run in circles as he attempted to prepare the hors d'oeuvres for the evening to come, "Perhaps I will stop in and see how they are," said Ciel was a smirk as he pushed his chair back and slipped out of it. He loved the fact that since they were his chefs he could do pretty much as he pleased, "Time to see what that chef's got," commented Ciel as he left his office with keys in hand.
His father was a major fan of art and theater, only for the sake of his mother, if it weren't' for Rachel he wouldn't care and Ciel knew that. Vincent wasn't like most parents, he was always busy with his company and working to make his stronghold on the toy industry even stronger. As a child Ciel saw little of Vincent, his workaholic father was relentless on his escapade to make Phuntom Toys the number one company in England. He had ignored Rachel, until one morning she found a lump in her breast. That day changed Ciel's life forever, he was in high school when he heard her crying in the living room. At first she couldn't say a word, she looked broken and sad, two things which his mother never was before. Rachel was a warm and beautiful mother, whose smile lit the room. To see her this upset disturbed Ciel, he could still remember her pained voice as she whispered, "I found a lump in my breast." He was a Junior in High school and knew what her deepest fear was, those words seemed to pull Ciel's world apart at the seams.
At first the pair worked to hide it from Vincent, at least until the results from the biopsy were back. Her family was predispositioned for Breast Cancer, she had prayed she would have it, however fate was cruel to her. The biopsy came back positive, and she was sent to a clinic where they could determine the best treatment. For a month Vincent was left out of the loop, until the doctor decided to remove the tumor. It was only then she finally told Vincent of her disease. Ciel could remember the look in his brown eyes as he listened to his wife tell him she had cancer. He looked terrified, sad and guilty all at the same time. From then on Vincent worked harder for corporate success. Leaving Ciel to look after his mother. He watched her as she moaned in pain from the chemo, it wasn't until the doctors wanted to put Rachel under the knife that Vincent paid attention.
After he heard what they planned, he took Rachel to the US for treatment, leaving Ciel alone with Tanaka. The butler served as his guardian and did well in a number of instances, however he couldn't protect Ciel from everything like Vincent could. His own father never came to England, Ciel felt as though he were loved on Vincent's terms. Even when Ciel had been beaten to a pulp by larger students his father didn't come to England. He was a forgotten child, loved only when it was convenient for Vincent. Ciel was proud that his mother fought to save her breasts and for her life. Her strength gave him the courage to keep going. He wasn't about to allow his own father to uproot him, Vincent wasn't there until he needed to sign a check. He sighed as he pulled into a parking spot on the side of the street, Rachel was alive and well, however the incident caused Ciel to pull away from his father.
He hummed as he looked at the gallery, Lau had proposed this unusual idea a year ago, and Ciel simply wrote a check. He entered the building and sighed, he had seen every piece in Lau's studio and was well aware of their plans, he could only hope that his two chefs wouldn't embarrass him. Ciel's sapphire eyes locked on the side door and swiftly opened it, "Okay then let's see," he commented as he looked inside. He was invited by the sweet smell of lemons, truffles, chocolate, berries, his stomach growled, and he felt himself drooling with anticipation. He slowly looked around the corner and stared at Sebastian who was working with a bowl of small balls of dough. He stared at the man's delicate hands as he rolled one of them flat and ran his hand over the surface, "Faustus, do they have a juice glass up there?" he called over the chopping of Claude as he worked an onion. "Yes I saw one earlier," he responded as he cleaned the knife with his fingers and turned to the cabinet.
Ciel felt slightly confused as he looked at his chefs, neither of them was in their jackets. Claude was in a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up while Sebastian was working in a tee shirt. Oddly this change in appearance didn't affect his skill, it simply made him seem even more exotic. Someone with his looks, working in a kitchen dressed as though he were going to hang out with the guys was very different from what he traditionally looked like. Ciel was silent as he watched Claude snatch the glass and pass it to Sebastian. He hummed as he watched the chef with curiosity, he wasn't sure what the glass was for. Sebastian floured the rim of the juice glass and with ease began to check the baises of his treats. Ciel face palmed once he realized his own stupidity.
Sebastian had what looked like a shallow cupcake tray beside him and lined each of the slots with one of the circles, they fit perfectly into the bottom which caused Ciel to wonder just what this chef was creating. The tray screamed cupcakes and yet he was working with dough, Ciel was never in the kitchen, he prefered to be on the floor tasting the food. His eyes narrowed as he watched the chef turn on his heel, Claude moved out of Sebastian's way as he checked the thermometer inside the oven. He didn't have to say a word to the Head Chef, the pair moved as though they were guided by their own instincts, reading each other with ease as they crafted their food. It was slightly irritating to Ciel that he hadn't been noticed by either chef. Ciel took a seat in a chair which was near the wall and watched as Sebastian picked up the tray and placed it in the oven, "Time?" asked Claude as he picked up a timer. Sebastian grabbed a carton of butter and carton of what looked like sour cream. Ciel squinted to read the large red script on the container, "Crème fraiche?" he asked in confusion.
"It's similar to sour cream, however it has a lower viscosity and contains about 32-45% butterfat. It has a lower pH than traditional US sour cream, but is able to pick up flavor easier," explained Sebastian as he turned to the stove and set up his double boiler. Ciel stared at the chef, "That sounds like chemistry," commented the slate haired young man. He crossed his arms and his foot bobbed up and down with his impatiens. Claude reached over his shoulder and held a glass measuring cup with a butter knife in it, "Thank you, and pastries are chemistry," responded Sebastian as he took the liquid measure and knife. Ciel was silent as he watched the chef cut 8 Tablespoons of butter and tossed it into the top of the double boiler. After doing so the pastry chef measured a cup of Crème fraiche and pulled a spoon from his black bag.
Ciel huffed and asked, "What are you making?" he hated being ignored, he expected Claude to ignore him as he cooked but didn't like the fact that Sebastian was. The chef slowly began to add the thick white substance to the pot and responded, "That is a surprise," he replied honestly. Ciel's eyes narrowed and he hissed, "I hate surprises." Claude was rinsing what looked like pearls in a strainer under cold water in the sink, there was a smug smile on his face. Once again Sebastian was aiming to embarrass him, "I need to know so I can tell Lau, if you embarrass me Sebastian, I will destroy you," he hissed. The burgundy eyed chef froze and looked at Ciel, there was a look of fear, "Ciel, shouldn't you be getting changed for the event?" asked Claude lazily.
The young man shot Claude a dirty look and hummed, "Not until I know the menu," he responded stubbornly. Sebastian hummed and opened the fridge, he placed a black fluted cup on a paper plate and responded, "Feel free to help yourself, I'm working on the second pastry now." Ciel looked at the small round white piece before him, it was bite sized and covered in a beautiful bright white fudge ribbons. He hesitantly picked it up and popped it in his mouth. A medley of chocolate, with a hint of lemon and something else played on his tongue. It was earthy, vibrant and sophisticated, yet when paired with the lemon it became playful. He swallowed and looked at the empty cup sadly, the moment was gone as quickly as he had popped in his mouth.
"What?" asked Ciel in confusion as he looked at the now empty fluted cup, "What was that?" he asked as he looked up at Sebastian who was now putting the double boiler off to the side and began cracking several eggs, "A dark chocolate and lemon truffle with truffle oil," he responded as he flipped the juice cup over. Ciel's eyes followed Sebastian's skilled hands as he cracked the egg singled handedly and separate the yolk from the white. The yolk rested inside the egg shell as he siphoned off the white, he transferred the yolk from one half of the shell to the other until he was satisfied. After doing so he tossed the last yoke in the pot and added a cup of refined sugar.
He plucked a glistening silver whisk from his bag and swiftly folded air into the filling, Ciel couldn't take his eyes off of this man. Every movement looked natural, it was intriguing to watch. Claude was adding juice to the pearls, and Ciel looked at him quizzically, "What is the second treat?" asked Ciel as he turned his attention to Sebastian once again. Only this time Sebastian didn't respond, he was adding lemon juice slowly to the concoction in the pan, stirring it constantly as he went.
Ciel huffed and was about to walk away when the timer went off, "I've got it," Claude stated as he turned off the obnoxious timer and opened the oven, "Hot pan," he called as he placed it on a glass cutting board near Sebastian. The smell of lemons filled his nose, it was refreshing and powerful as he watched Sebastian slowly fill the pan. Ciel watched the vivid colored yellow filling fall into the pan before Sebastian promptly placed the pan back in the oven.
"Petites tartes au citron," Sebastian replied and Ciel stared at him blankly. He had no idea what Sebastian had said, in truth Ciel spoke French but Sebastian spoke it so fluently that he had a hard time keeping up with him. "Little Lemon Tarts," Claude clarified. Ciel nodded as he pushed himself off the stool, "Ah, see that wasn't difficult. Next time just tell me," stated Ciel curtly before walking out the door, he still couldn't believe that the pastry chef was daring enough to play games with him.
Ciel hummed as he closed the door, he could still taste the truffle on his tongue. It was lush and lingered, he couldn't believe it. His fingers brushed his lips, he could remember the smooth texture as the treat practically melted in his mouth. It was as though he had been kissed. That lingering sensation on his lips, the warmth of chocolate as it had melted across his tongue and the polite zing which zapped his senses. A kiss that tasted like truffles, Ciel blushed furiously, a kiss from the haughty Pậtissier known as Sebastian.
He shook his head as he attempted to push the thought out of his mind. "Fuck, where is that frivolous bartender when I need him?" asked Ciel as he crossed his arms and went to find Alois.
~~xXx~~
Claude had finished making his dish and Sebastian stared at the brightly colored beads on the white paper plate, it looked like Roe. He tilted his head to the side and then looked at Claude once again. He hadn't seen a glass bottle of caviar in the basket, and there wasn't any in the fridge. He hummed as he attempted to understand just what he was looking at. Claude was out on the floor, at Ciel's request. Finally, he had some time to get his head in order. After Claude had stated that he was gay, Sebastian had shut everything out so he could focus on cooking. He sighed and looked at the plate as he perched himself on a stool. He honestly wasn't sure how to respond, to be honest he was slightly a little uneasy being around Claude knowing that he was like Father Francis. Sebastian shivered at the thought, his arms wrapped around himself unconsciously.
In Paris he had been hit on a number of times, but managed to turn them away swiftly or come up with some remark. Yet, when Claude stated his preference he couldn't seem to find the words. "He's free to love who ever he likes," he whispered as he hung his head, his forehead rested in his now clean palms. Sebastian didn't hold grudges against gays, however, he didn't want to be one of them. He didn't like being hit on, or treated like an object. Burgundy eyes were locked on the plate with the sample of what Claude had made. He picked up the Waterford cracker which it rested on and looked at it. The small pearls glistened in the bright orange liquid as he attempted to figure out just what he was looking at.
Oddly the image of Claude in his smashing three-piece suit came to mind. Sebastian blushed brightly and looked away from the cracker. "Damn it! Why do things have to be so complicated?" he moaned. He was pulled from his thoughts by a cough, Sebastian's head snapped up to see Claude leaning in the doorway, his head tilted to the side away from the door frame. Those powerful arms and legs were crossed, there was one thing Sebastian couldn't deny, the man was gorgeous. Claude sighed as he slipped his glasses off his nose and ran a hand through his hair, this was perhaps the most expressive he had ever seen the chef, it was unusual. "What's the matter?" asked Claude as he slipped his glasses back on and pushed himself away from the door frame. Sebastian drew a deep breath, it was useless to deny that the man was attractive, his charm seemed to work on nearly everyone. "Nothing, just tired," Sebastian admitted, he still wasn't sleeping well and he had a feeling it was beginning to show on his face.
Claude's amber eyes were locked on the cracker that he was still holding, "I was curious and there was extra," Sebastian explained nervously. He had no idea how to talk to him, he was the Head Chef, but a gay one. His head was a mess as he thought of what Francis had done to him and Claude in his suit. Claude wasn't like that man, he was tender in his own way, gentle even though he yelled at chefs and demanded the best from them, he still had their best interests in mind. He would protect them and stand up for them, like he had with Lau in the gallery today. "I was hoping you would try it, I would be lying if I didn't say I didn't reserve a few of your treats for my own selfish consumption," he commented with a smile.
Sebastian watched the tall, muscular chef open the microwave which was above the stove and pull a plat. Resting on it was a sample of all the different flavored truffles Sebastian had made, as well as the little lemon tarts. He looked as though he had managed to snag a few gold bars. "I see," said Sebastian lightly, "I hope they're to your liking, Faustus." The violet haired chef froze, it was clear he had noticed the sudden professionalism in Sebastian's voice. Distance, he needed distance to straighten his head out. Claude hummed, his face seemed to freeze as his smile vanished from his face. Sebastian noticed the glint of sadness in amber eyes and internally apologized. He didn't want to hurt him, however he couldn't handle being treated like a thing, never again.
Sebastian slipped the cracker between his lips and paused, it wasn't caviar. The pearls were nearly the same texture however not quite and it was a bright and playful watermelon flavor. It was completely unexpected from the chef who was nibbling on one of the miniature tarts. Sebastian swallowed and looked at Claude, amber eyes had fluttered closed and it looked as though he were purring with delight. "Faux Roe?" asked Sebastian after a moment as he looked at the rest of the cracker. There was one chef in La Cordon Bleu who made this constantly, he had managed to confuse the professors at first with it on a dish. Sebastian had never seen the chef, however he had heard of the spin on traditional caviar using tapioca. Why he hadn't remembered sooner eluded him, it wasn't something he would usually forget. "Oui, I wanted something a little different," Claude commented as he rubbed his fingers together to get the crumbs off, "Good?" he asked after a moment.
The raven haired chef nodded and responded, "A welcome change." Claude hummed before popping a truffle in his mouth. Sebastian stared at Claude's lips as they wrapped around the small piece of chocolate and he slowly chewed, his eyes fluttered closed and he hummed with delight. Absently Sebastian wondered what the man would look like eating Turkish Delight. "I'm okay with it," said Sebastian after a moment. Claude's eyes snapped open and he looked slightly confused, and Sebastian suddenly realized that it sounded as though he were criticizing the chef's food. "Not the food," he said quickly and held up his hands in his own defense. "With your," he paused for a moment and closed his eyes, "preference." He wasn't about to tell the Head Chef that he couldn't stand gays, or that he found Claude disgusting. It would be a lie if he did, and he certainly didn't find Claude to be disgusting. "You are free to love who ever you like, and I have no right to judge," Sebastian said smoothly, his voice was void of emotion, and he knew it.
Claude seemed to relax a little, he could tell it had been bothering Claude, "Thanks, I'm glad that you're open minded enough to not be disgusted," Claude admitted with a small smile. Sebastian nodded and hummed.
~~xXx~~
It had been an excruciatingly long day, after the gallery opening a number of the guests went to Ciel, for dinner. Sebastian had a feeling they were using the event as a form of advertising; he simply hoped that there wouldn't have been so many guests. Claude had reverted to his typical tyrannical self, it puzzled Sebastian how the golden eyed chef could switch gears. When it was simply the two of them working together, Claude was kind, and didn't seem irritated. Almost relaxed and comfortable in his own skin, yet in the kitchen he turned into a tyrant. Sebastian was quick to stop his bicycle outside of the apartment complex and dismount. The air was thick with humidity and he had a feeling it would rain any minute. The screams of a new-born echoed through the halls as well as fighting couples, his flat wasn't in the best part of London, however it was a place he could call his. He continued his hike up the stairs with his roadster over his shoulder, it wasn't as heavy as it looked, it was one of the few qualities Sebastian made sure of. He wanted a bike that was durable and light so in case he wrecked he could pick it up and carry it a good distance. He finally reached the third floor and noticed a couple making out in the hallway.
Another thing that the pastry chef was accustomed to, Parisians were rather open when it came to that side of their lives. He sighed as he walked by, it was still awkward for him to walk by though. It always made him feel as though he were intruding. He stopped outside of his flat door and paused, it was open. He had locked it that morning, he remembered doing so. He felt his heart begin to pound as he looked at the crack in the door, no one else except the land lord had the keys and he had requested a new lock to be put on the door. Sebastian's hand shook as he quietly pushed the door open, the lights in his flat were off and he began to wonder if some had simply ransacked his place. He continued inside only for a bright light to appear in the room after he had closed the door.
The raven haired chef jumped as he looked at the woman who was now sitting with her legs crossed. She had short white hair and a pair of mysterious violet eyes. Every part of him was screaming to run when he noticed the leather crop in her hands. She was smiling with glee as she rose from her seat, "Hello Sebastian," she said smugly. Sebastian stumbled backward in a feeble attempt to get to the door. "Angela," he stammered, his voice was just above a whisper and tremors of fear rushed through him. She chuckled as she grew closer, Sebastian turned to leave only to feel a two pairs of arms grip his arms. He hissed as they harshly squeezed his biceps, "It's been a while," she purred as she playfully hit the leather switch of the ridding crop in her hand. "Too long actually, I was beginning to wonder if you would ever pay us back the money your piece of shit father borrowed," she mused as she stopped before him.
Sebastian grit his teeth as she trailed the riding crop up his chest, it was cold, harsh and unpleasant. "I've sent checks," he muttered. Angela looked at him with irritation, those violent violet eyes narrowed even more. "Not enough, you're barely paying us a thing," she commented. Sebastian knew his pay was insignificant compared to the amount his father had taken. He was paid at the end of every week, and it was now that he started regretting shopping for groceries. He should have never splurged on the Simi, he should have simply sent the check along with the others. "That's all the money I'm making, I've given you my pay checks entirely," he replied honestly. She hummed as tapped his chest with the crop. "I see, consider this a warning Sebastian, pay up. I'm tired of waiting and I don't want to see your pretty face distorted after a beat the shit out of you," she purred with delight as she used the tip of the crop to crank Sebastian's neck upward uncomfortably. Sebastian swallowed nervously, "Besides, you're just as disgusting as the rest. I'll give you two weeks. Have the payments in full by then and perhaps I won't resort to selling you like bad stock."
Red eyes locked on the pair of violets, he knew she wasn't joking. She hummed as she looked at him, "Now then, just as a reminder," she commented. Sebastian paled as he felt the two massive men behind him adjust their grip. Angela pulled back with the crop in hand and delivered a harsh blow across his chest. Sebastian grit his teeth in an attempt to hold back his scream in agony. He knew he couldn't hid forever.