Hello faithful readers, I am back once again with another epic chapter of "Dead Weight". I know I promised that I would update more often as possible. However, I did also say that things may get in the way so I will be sidetracked as well. I would also like to include a word on the story thus far and people's thoughts on it. The issue of drug abuse and addiction is often taken so lightly and made out to be 'cool' in media. Unfortunately, real life paints a much more vivid and horrifying, disturbing picture of what it can lead to. Money is not always a luxurious many have and often have to suffer in silence because they have no other means or people tell them to 'deal with it on their own'. It really upsets me when parents for the sake of keeping face tell their children to keep their problems hidden because they don't want it to reflect badly on them or they will be dubbed as unfit parents. They may even often send them away just so they can assuage their guilt for having caused the problem in the first place and will try to scapegoat someone else to do so.

That is what the chapter will primarily focus on. I understand this is fanfiction but the issues discussed are very real and must not be taken too lightly. People who will read my profile will probably bark out things about me being a Christian and going about disturbing or sexual things. One of my main pet peeves are hypocritical/self-righteous people that can preach about being part of a religion but write about stuff like intercourse, murder, child abuse, or rape and then criticize others for doing the same thing despite being that religion. I am certain you have read previews or summaries for stories that end with "Don't like, don't read". Practice what you preach people.

I bring this up because people will read this chapter and make complaints about some bits. Well that is all for now. As for the rest of you, read and enjoy and review.

Warnings: drug abuse, cursing, hints of homophobia, bisexuality, some violence, bullying, social injustice, inaccurate description of medical diagnosis, and of course eating disorders.

Bold: Narratives

Italics: thoughts or conjectures

Chapter 22: Wealth is not always glamorous (Part II)

(The wisdom of hypocrisy)

The room was quiet. It was enough to be broken by the drop of a pin. Ciel glanced in shock at the reply given to him. The earl was at a standstill. What can one say when they just admitted to you of being involved in drugs? A part of Ciel wanted to reach over and slap the boy right across the face. He stopped himself mostly because one Collin was slightly more built than he was and could easily beat him easy in his condition and two; he wasn't in any position to chastise him of a great wrong but god help him…

"YOU IDIOT!"

Ciel stood up knocking his chair over and giving Collin a look of consternation. "Opium?! Dammit, do you know that stuff is illegal not to mention completely dangerous?! That is the kind of thing that can send you to jail? (1)". Collin became angry. He slammed his palms on the table causing the tea set to rattle and shake. "You dare speak to me of what is dangerous and unhealthy?!" the brunette retorted with a smirk. "At least I was not sent here because some of us were too stupid to get caught killing themselves because of personal issues!" A resounding echo broke the argument. Collin caressed his red swollen cheek from Ciel's slap. Ciel put his hand down and gave Collin a look of reproach. He slid down on to his seat and hung his head in shame.

"I'm sorry" he said quietly. "I just…just can't understand how you could…" Ciel paused unable to find the words. Collin sat back down on his chair. He gave a broken tear-stained smile. "Well, like I said, with my parents bearing further down on me to surpass you in about…everything and Devin and his gaggle of snickering toadies; it just got to a point where I needed an outlet".

Flashback…

Collin sat with his knees drawn up to his chest. He sat beneath a willow tree in the park. Tears ran down his face as he stifled a sob. Today had just been one of the most hellish days of his young life. Today at school, Devin and his lackeys decided to go one up with their usual tactics and get physical. Usually, they dished out lackluster taunts, paper balls edged with spit, and false rumors regarding his parent's professions. Today was different however. There was great debate on what took place that day. Some said that Devin made a comment speculation regarding where Collin's er…preferences lied which had many of his classmates laugh at him. Normally Collin would have let such things go but that moment, Devin and his friends crossed the line and before anyone knew it, all hell broke loose.

Collin pounced on Devin and began to give the sniveling rat the well deserved taste of his own medicine. Devin's lackeys tried to push the boy off but Collin continued to pound into the boy with the ferocity of an enraged animal. It took the efforts of several teachers and the help of different students to get him off the now unconscious boy. The state of Devin was incredible; his face was bloodied covering most of his bruised up face. (2) The constables were called in to investigate the matter. Meanwhile, in the office Collin sat between his parents who did their best to act indifferent as Mr. Norvoy raved angrily at the headmaster for the "harm" that was caused to his son and demanded that Collin be expelled. Of course Seth rose up to his son's defense suggesting suspension instead. The headmaster eventually reasoned on suspension until further notice and that measures would have be taken for the next time such incidents happened. It was complete bull but the school needed to set an example.

Once Collin arrived home, he got an earful from both his parents. Neither would listen to his side of things and sent him up to bed without his supper. He sat beneath the tree crying out his frustrations at the unfairness of it all. That bastard Devin and his gang got off scot-free while he was forced to be made the scapegoat. He wished his Uncle Trish never found that copper mine and was back in the countryside running through the lush green fields of his family's ranch. He rubbed a hand over his face ridding of the tears.

"I think I'll take a walk and then I'll head back home" he thought to himself.

I don't really quite know what brought me to that place. I guess I was looking for a way to get back at my parents or perhaps I just wanted to forget my troubles. All I knew was I found my 'outlet'.

Collin suddenly came to the realization that he was in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Nervousness gripped his being. If he wasn't careful, he could be another nameless victim in the morning paper. Upon closer observation, did he come to the shocking revelation; the run-down buildings, the garbage strewn streets, multiple shacks on either side? He was in the WhiteChapel district. His instincts were immediately telling him to turn around and go straight home. However, his peripheral caught hold of a stream of light coming out of a building. The compelling force known as curiosity took hold of him and dragged him to the shack. He walked towards it and looked through the windows. The inside looked like a restaurant of sorts. On the floor lied a carpet with Indian style designs, a chandelier hung high above shining with light, several tables lined the floor where people sat. The air hung heavy with smoke though it was not from cigarettes. Several people walked some holding girls on their arms which he surmised were prostitutes. No one paid any mind to the adolescent walking inside. Of course, that was mostly because there were several young people strewn about as well. He was pulled from his thoughts when someone spoke to him.

"Eh, sonny shouldn't ya be at home?" a man with a porkpie hat worn over his eye asked him (3). Collin gulped. "Actually, I am kind of here to pick up someone" he lied. The man was probably strung out by the state of his glazed over eyes. The man shakily sat himself up. "How about you's go and take a drag while you waiting?" the man slurred. He lazily reached behind him and picked up a metallic little object. Collin raised a brow trying to figure what 'it' was.

(A/ N: I'm not all that good at depicting Yorkshire accents or languages so just go with me on this)

"Curious boy? Let me show you howz it's done" the man stated. He opened a small box that was filled with dried, crusted leaves. He picked up a pinch of them and stuffed it into the pipe. He then took a lit match to the leaves and lit them. In an instant, the pipe emitted a strong smelling smoke. The man handed it to Collin. The boy didn't need be told what to do. With a deep breath he brought the pipe to his lips and inhaled. A strange feeling consumed him. He felt lightheaded, dizzy, heavy yet he felt light and relaxed at the same time. Where had this been all his life? He was experiencing what no amount of alcohol or fitful sleep could ever give him; Euphoria. The den was distorted into a beauteous array of colors and irrecognizable shapes. For that one time, he was not a McCrullin. He was not the son of noveau-riche parents, he was not his classmates whipping boy…he was just Collin; son of small farm ranchers, and running wild through the lush grassy plains.

Flashback stopped…

"Looking back now, I realized inhaling from that pipe was the dumbest thing I did but I don't regret it all that much" Collin smiled. Ciel glared heatedly at him. "What do you mean you don't regret it in the least" he half yelled. Collin sighed. "If not for that, I would have probably ended up running away or possibly end up killing myself". Ciel folded his arms. "I'm actually quite amazed you were able to function so normally what with being so inebriated?" he said in a sardonic tone. Collin chuckled bitterly. "It did help if only for those few moments of time. Deep down however, it wasn't enough. When we started taking lessons together, I began to learn things about myself" he trailed off turning his eyes to a different direction.

"When you came back into the picture, my parents became even more paranoid for my future and demanded I try to best you in some if not all subjects or at least befriend you so as to establish connections. Of course, I was not willing to degrade myself to befriend my competition. My only option was to best you and prove to all those self-centered wankers that I was indeed fit to be one of them!" Ciel winced when the boys fist hit the table and upon hearing the rather crude term. Collin's expression dropped and he fisted his hands into his pockets. "But it didn't work. No matter what, you were always several steps ahead of me and perfect in practically every way. I would count days to how long I could go without the den but my wish of besting you became more intense. Like I said previous, I began discovering things about myself that would send my family into quite an awful shock". Ciel raised a brow trying to find out what the boy was talking about. Collin sported a blush and grasped his right arm.

"Remember that time in the changing rooms when you called me…a dandy?" Ciel nodded. Collin glared heatedly at the blue haired earl, his teeth clenched, and fist twisted at his sides. "On one of my trips to the den;I stopped by the public bath houses. You know the ones owned by those Chinese business men?" Well, I got curious and decided to…take a peek and I know it's disgusting and people would throw me horrified looks if they knew but at that point I realized the truth about myself". Ciel sucked in a breath.

"Collin…are you…" he stammered almost afraid of the answer. Collin whipped an angry expression at Ciel and just let it out. "YES! Collin McCrullin the newest upstart of London's society is a blasted queer! A dandy! A filthy HOMOSEXUAL! Or at the very least bisexual! That day in the changing room when you made that heinous comment, you served to only make it worse!"

Ciel gawked wide-eyed at his rival. Sure, he made a few small jokes toward the taller teen but to have it revealed to be true was something different. "So…is that what Devon and his cronies…were speaking about? Those are what the rumors were?" Tears ran down the brunette's eyes as he shook. "What am I going to do?" he moaned. Ciel hung his head keeping his eyes to the ground. He did not know what to think.

"So what does this have to do with your incarceration here?" Ciel whispered. However, it was loud enough for the now miffed brunette to hear. Collin did not face him but continued to narrate the rest of his series of events.

Flashback proceeds…

"I don't quite remember all that happened before. All I knew is that I was particularly stressed from school, my parent's expectations, the Ton's treatment (4), and everything else. I must have inhaled too much because next thing I knew, I was on a white hospital bed and my parents inability to understand".

Collin sat himself up and looked around. It was still morning telling by the brightness of the day. The boy coughed a few times to get some air into his lungs. He was dressed in a white hospital frock. The bed sheets and pillow was a plain white color. Before he could utter a word, the doors to his room opened. In stepped in a man with slicked back brown hair and a grey tweed suit with a white over jacket (A/N: Guess who). The man smiled at him.

"Good morning, young Mr. Crullin. Good to see that you are awake and well. You did give us a bit of a scare the last couple of days" he greeted.

"Days" the boy croaked from disuse. The doctor nodded. "Yes about a week almost" he added. "Oh but listen to me. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Dr. Nathaniel Zephyr. I am a physician as well as a rehab specialist" he explained. "My medical team and I had to pump out your stomach as well remove the toxins resonating in your lungs to replace with oxygen. Had we waited any more, you would have surely died". Collin hung his eyes and lowered his eyes. "Before I allow your parents, perhaps we should discuss" the doctor's expression turned serious. The doctor asked Collin a series of questions though to the boy it seemed more of an interrogation. The doctor finished asking questions and explained the reason. He was the proprietor and dean of a clinic that specialized in cases like Collins. But fist he would have to seek consent from his parents. Finally the doctor called in his parents. This was the moment Collin dreaded. Odessa and Seth came in with stricken faces. Yet there was an underlying bit of anger in their eyes combined with disappointment.

"Collin, his mother began, how could you do this to us?" she screamed. "After all your father and I did for you and you do this to us" she screamed keeping unshed tears back.

"Odessa! Our boy is alive and okay. You should at least be happy!" Seth scolded his wife. Odessa did not seem to hear him. Instead she opted to wail on her son.

"You are fortunate that our friends were not there to see you cause if they did; who knows how many years it will be before we can show ourselves in public ever again!" Collin hung his head making his bangs hang over his eyes. He could feel a long withheld sensation much bigger than that time he felt with Devon. His mother continued to rant while his father idly stood by struggling not to strangle his insufferable wife.

"And above all else, I will not go back to that god damned ranch in shame because of your stupidity". That did it.

CRASH!

"S.t.u.p.i.d.i.t.y.?" Collin sneered. "Like it was stupid of you suggesting that we move to this god forsaken spit of gravel we call a city?!" Collin's brown eyes flashed causing both his parents to step back. "You want to know whose fault it is that I'm in this place? YOU! Both of you! Why did we have to move? Why did we have to sell the ranch? Why do we have to kiss up to a bunch of stuck up wankers? Because of you, mother!" Odesssa's eyes widened as her jaw dropped open. "Before we came here, I was happy. You and your delusions of wealth and grandeur brought me…us into this hellhole you call London! We were a family! At least father was always home, and you made the house light up with your warm smile and kind disposition. Then, Uncle Trish had to find that cursed copper vein" Collin's voice shook as if he were about to break down if not even more so. "Everything went to hell the minute we came here. Father, you loved work on the ranch. Sure you came home tired afterwards but it was for the right reasons. Now you're tired all the time except you do it with drunkenness. And you mother, before you were so happy and gracious and were friendly to everybody no matter who they were. Now look at you, dressing up and acting like the crème of the crop all in the name of impressing a bunch of people who think we are lower than scum! Oh by the way mother, do you know what some of the noblewomen call you when you are not looking?" he said mockingly. Odessa pursed her lips into a thin line not at all liking where this is going. Too bad. "They call you all manners of horrid names such as cakesniffer and a hook nosed frump (5)". Odessa clasped a hand over her mouth to stifle a mortified sob. Seth grit his teeth looking as though he was about to strike his son. Collin continued. "Of course, when I was being bullied by the children at school did any of you two care? No, you didn't. All you thought about was saving your own damned reputations and that I did not embarrass you in front of your colleagues! You didn't care about me then and you don't care for me now. You standing there yelling at me for socialistic reasons proves it. If I had my way, we would be back at the ranch and Trish would have never found that stupid copper vein. I would rather go back to being a middle class son of a ranch farmer".

At once Collin broke down into a sobbing fit. It all seemed to sink in because both parents either sobbed loudly or hung their head in respective shame. All hopes for a life of wealth and grandeur had become a nightmare.

Flashback ends….

"I am not a hundred percent sure my parents were genuine in their concern for my welfare. Although, they did agree it would be best that I be sent here until my 'addiction' cleared up. What bull. Once my so called problem clears up, my parents will just go about their daily lives and I will once again be thrown to the dogs (so to speak). So here I am, your new housemate".

Ciel twiddled his thumbs on the table. Collin had completed his story and sat down once again. "What do you plan to do between here and now?" Ciel asked. Collin shrugged his shoulders. "Well, the purpose of this place is to get better and find things that distract us from the source of our problem, right mate?" he asked. Ciel shrugged. Ciel stood up. He had enough 'socializing' for one night and the stress from worrying about Agni was wearing him down.

"I better get to my room. The dean is a bit of a stickler for nighttime curfew. If I am outside my bedroom for even one more minute, he might make me stay longer". It was a lie but the new influx of information was too much for the Earl. As Ciel began to walk away.

"Wait, Phan…er I mean Ciel. Before you go, let me do something first" he suggested. Ciel barely turned all the way when he suddenly felt something firm press itself at his lips. Ciel nearly gasped when he realized the new situation he was in. Collin McCrullin, the boy who claimed often enough that he hated him was KISSING HIM!" Ciel pushed away the offender making him stumbled backwards. The sapphire haired lad roughly wiped his lips. Ciel gawked at the taller lad in mortification. Collin bit his lips shifted weight on his right foot and placed his arms behind his head.

"I'm s-sorry for that. I just wanted to know what it's like" he said in a small voice. He did not get the chance to finish. Ciel broke into a run leaving the new attendant alone.

Ciel reached his bedroom and slammed the door shut behind him. He inhaled and exhaled heavily placing his palms over his heart and mouth. He then reached for his inhaler and took a huge puff before placing it down. He sat down and clutched his knees.

"What-the-fuck-was-that?" he breathed out. "What was he thinking back there?!"

Flashes of what transpired a few minutes ago, nearly caused the Phantomhive to lurch. He rushed to the bathroom in case something transpired within him. As if fate was laughing at him, Ciel's stomach gave a sharp jolt that had him run to the toilet and latch on to the rim. The sound of wheezing and gagging echoed the room. He rinsed his mouth and shakily left the room patting his now calming body. He laid down on his side and curled into a slight ball so as not to aggravate his stomach once again. He pouted grumpily nuzzling his pillow.

"God forbid if anyone should catch me partaking in that vulgar activity and with another male no less" he mumbled. No he was not homophobic. It had been instilled to him from the time he was young that such things were considered disgusting and forbidden. A homosexual in modern society may as well have a giant target sign painted on their back. Then again, Collin did say he might be bi. He looked up dizzily to the night sky and spoke to no one in particular: "Someone get me out of here soon. So that I may go back and resume my normal existence". Soon the Earl lay down to sleep.

()

I bet no one you saw that one coming, did you? I know some of you are pointing figures at me demanding to know what I was thinking when I wrote this. As I mentioned in earlier footnotes, stuff such as this is serious business. Even in 19th century England, there were some young men gunning for the "other team". I wanted to emphasize on that point. I have a sort of soft spot for Collin. He is the brainchild of my own creative imagination wanting to secrete those juices hidden so deep within. Also, was the main point of this chapter; hypocrisy.

Both Ciel and Collin are well aware of their own hypocrisy but have little desire to admit it. Ciel was brought up from an early age to uphold his family's honor and legacy by absorbing as much knowledge as he could. This included business details and social graces that could ensure him great connections seen as upstanding in London's elite culture. He realizes he in danger of bringing his family's namesake to ruin as a result of his obsession. However in his anorexic mind, it is well worth it if he can 'look' the part. Collin is a different story. Up until he was ten years old, he had little concern with the world outside his small farming town. Wealth can change things big time and not always for the better. He was put under sudden tremendous pressure to excel in his new world and it proved to be too great a burden. He and Ciel are full of too much pride to admit they even have a 'problem'. In order to compensate, they resort to the relying on typical male bravado by acting strong on the outside while hiding any negative emotions within.

Alas, I have not forgotten the other characters. They are my brainchild after all. Oh and I will be making a small sequel after this. Long story short, it will not end happily. No one will die though. That is all for now. Stay tuned for the next chapter and review.

Chapter Footnotes:

(1) Opium is a very addictive drug that can send you into a state of euphoria but can supply detrimental effects to one's own body hence the reason it is illegal. I am not sure as to how many years one served for such use in the 1800's.

(2) Constables are sort of police men in Britain but they do not posses high authority as the Queen's guards do.

(3) A porkpie is one of those short hats shaped like a mini fedora.

(4) The Ton was just a name for London's elite society.

(5) In "A Series of Unfortunate Events" one of the antagonist call the Baudelier children names such as 'cakesniffer' in reference to their orphan status and presumably destitute situation. It is a term originally taken off the term "cake eater".