A/N: Hi! Srry this one is so late.
Disclaimer: No own.
Warning: Sebastian's peeping at Felix's soul again. Kurt and Ciel get into a small lovers' quarrel. And I finally realized that I was trying too hard to follow the manga-verse to make an interesting story. I'm back on track peoples! XD
Chapter 19: That Which Is Heard
"...no." Ciel stated.
He sat with newspaper in hand, sipping his tea, obviously trying to get some work done despite the calm and sunny day outside his window. Sebastian had opened his curtains a little, allowing a light breeze to filter through and rustle the young boy's locks of cobalt blue hair. Small pale hands gripped the printing tightly in annoyance with the boy in front of him.
Kurt Bell sat with defiant green eyes that promised hell if he didn't recieve what he desired at this moment. His brown curls were tied back with a bandana he wore exclusively within the manor (Since Felix refused to let him wear it anywhere else). It had been quite a while since Ciel's 'business parter' arrived unannounced, not that the Earl cared much of that in the first place.
He was simply content with the fact he had gotten the job done and given the Queen a satisfying solution for the time being. Though...the days were slowly being ticked away; every second was another second wasted.
"You promised last week that I could get a break on Wednesday!" Kurt huffed, "I thought you of all people would understand!"
"I don't quite recall such a promise." Ciel put down the paper lightly, revealing his irritated expression.
"Besides, it's Friday is it not?" Ciel sighed and pressed his fingers to his forehead, "Wednesday is approximately four days away, so why even bring this up?"
"Because this invention will take SIX days to completely design and test out!" Kurt let out an almost guttural sound of dissatisfaction, "Not to mention the new Funtom Bear you want me to approve of, you seriously are a slave-driver; you finicky nobleman!"
"Atleast I take more pride in my work!" Ciel growled, wondering just how some pheasant was able to push his buttons so easily, "All you do is complain about the simple tasks I lay out for you!"
"PRIDE?" Kurt bellowed, "You wanna talk about PRIDE Phantomhive?"
Kurt had crossed his arms while his face resembled that of a disbelieving child; which he was. The boy and Ciel didn't often fight, some playful teasing now and then over minor disagreements, but hardly ever a fight. He and Ciel were two sides of the same coin.
"No, in FACT, this entire argument is just a simple waste of my time!" Ciel huffed and shoved a few pens to the side of his desk, causing a few documents to fall to the floor with wispy little cracking noises.
"So you think my desire for a break is a waste of your time, yet you call Sebastian in here every two hours just to bring you bloody snacks!" Kurt pointed accusingly at the empty tray littered with crumbs of some sweet concoction, "Do you see ME calling Felix to come bring me some silly crumpet simply because I'm bored?"
"Don't be absurd." Ciel scoffed and waved his hand in the air, as if to blow away the accusation against him, "I call Sebastian here for sweets once every four hours at the most, and how am I to know when and what for you call your butler."
Kurt growled in anger as his knuckles cracked from his fingers gripping the desk much too hard.
"If I were in my alley I swear you'd be spitting purple fountains-"
"Young master?" Sebastian's voice followed a light knock, halting the badgering teenagers for the time being, "Is this a bad time my lord?"
"No. Enter Sebastian." Ciel ordered before glaring at Kurt, "You don't get a break until you complete the project for this seasons set of toys, I suggest you put your best effort into it."
Sebastian opened the door only to be shoved aside by an obviously pissed off child bearing a familiar red bandana on his forehead.
"I'm not your dog Ciel," Kirt hissed as he halted by the door, "That's Sebastian's job."
He darted a glance towards the black haired butler.
"No offense." Kurt huffed before slamming the door shut with enough force to shake the room.
Sebastian sighed as he heard the angry stomps fade off into the distance. Ciel leaned back in exhaustion with Kurt's constant bickering, though a sense of guilt was lapping at his ankles.
"A disagreement, my Lord?" Sebastian inquired with a slight smirk to his gaze as he poured Ciel another cup of tea.
The blue eyed earl simply groaned and rested his head against his closed fist.
"It's troublesome..."
"If I may be so bold," Sebastian stated as he set down the cup in front of Ciel to get his attention, "I do not believe that Kurt is the troublesome part in this situation, am I wrong?"
Ciel was about to take a sip from his cup when he narrowed his gaze at Sebastian and set the cup back down on its matching saucer.
"It's none of your concern Sebastian..."
"I simply suggest that my lord should consider perhaps sparing his pride to apologize." Sebastian grinned malevolently, "After all, you can't expect to get anything from him when he's like this; Nor Felix for that matter."
"You're may leave me now Sebastian." Ciel snapped, disliking how his butler constantly judged him based on his emotions.
Sebastian bowed, a knowing smirk gracing the edges of his lips like the demon he was before exiting.
"Consider it my young lord."
Xxxxcxxxxcxxxxccxxx
"...he had the guts to call my argument a waste of time!" Kurt hissed as he threw a large pillow at the innocent armoire in his spacious bedroom; now permanently set on the second floor by the master bedroom.
Felix sighed and pulled down his reading spectacles to look his charge in the eye. He was currently writing a reply to the latest letters from the writers. Apparently, "lacking inspiration" was actually "writers block". He wondered why the other partnerships were having difficulties as well, but currently his focus was on the small boy in front of him, flailing his arms about like a bird as he paced in anger.
"Well, was it?" Felix asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Of course not!" Kurt yelled, "I deserve a break! Funtom Rider (scooter), Funtom Blade (skateboard), and even some stuffed toys were designed by me! I'm tired!"
"So is the Earl." Felix pointed out and Kurt growled before falling onto his bed with a sigh. His arm raised over his eyes.
"I...Is it okay to think of Ciel as a friend now? He doesn't treat me like friend all the time," Kurt murmured, "Lately he treats me like any other servant when I'm his damn partner. You know what? I bet if it had been me instead of Elizabeth he would've let the bear tear the shit out of me!"
"Language." Felix warned him as he turned back to his work while listening.
It was then that the most bizarre of noises sounded. The scurrying of small feet would've been normal because of rats, but this movement was slow; stalking even. The melodious sound of claws scraping the floor like nails on a chalkboard. A dark foreboding sense of danger filled the room, making Felix feel more than simply anxious. Just as he was about to stand the noise stopped.
Kurt turned to look at his guardian with scrunched eyebrows and an even deeper frown than before. There was traces of fear sprinkled inside his emerald irises.
"What was that?" Kurt asked.
"...It must've come from outside." He cleared his throat, as if to clear the air, "Surely some bird or something must be prowling about. Don't worry kid, just keep venting."
Using the familiar term for when they were alone seemed to spur Kurt back onto his usual fitted almost comical fits of anger towards his new occupation.
Despite Kurt's feelings of danger passing, Felix found that his hadn't moved an inch. Perhaps...Sebastian could come and search their room for whatever it was?
At the thought of owing Sebastian a favor out of all people, Felix quickly shook his head.
I can do it just as fine. He thought with a slightly nervous gaze around the room, Yes, it's probably just some bird...
xxxcxxxxcccxccccxcx
Sebastian opened the doors to the kitchen, it had been a while since the cold war started between Ciel and Kurt that morning as it was around the time for afternoon tea. He wasn't surprised to see Felix standing leisurely by the oven, waiting for something to finish baking as his golden eyes fixated on the outside. Sebastian noticed his frown and the increased amount of sighs coming from the publisher. His red hair was a bit lax and blew easily in the slightly colder breeze of the evening. Felix donned his usual attire of black slacks, white blouse, and a white apron. The demon couldn't help but let his eyes wander across Felix's frame for a few moments before grasping the man's attention.
"You look worn Mr. Nhell."
Felix's head snapped up as he finally realized the demon's presence in the room. He scoffed and quickly maneuvered himself back in front of the oven to keep himself busy. He was surprised his thoughts had wandered as far as they did. He missed the factory less often nowadays, but that didn't mean he wished to seek Micheal's advice once in awhile.
"I'm not, I assure you." Felix stated in a monotone voice as he reached up to pull out a glass from the cupboard.
Cain…Hello Cain…
Felix gasped and the cup fell, it surely would've broken if Sebastian hadn't caught it in his swift grasp. He looked questioningly at the red-haired butler.
"Is something the matter?"
He looked at Sebastian with an expression that could only be described as terror and confusion. His large golden irises were sprinkled with hints of the dangerous being he was inside, which Sebastian still couldn't figure out.
"Y-You…Are you deaf?" Felix felt his heart pound in his chest, "You did not…hear that?"
The butler looked curiously up at Felix with intrigued red eyes. His eyebrows were furrowed with confusion as he slowly stood up to tower slightly over the Bellingham butler. Sebastian carefully moved the hair from Felix's face and tucked it behind the man's ear. Felix flinched away from his touch.
"I did not." Sebastian stated, "Are you well?"
Felix pondered that for a moment before shaking his head and opening the oven. Warm buttery scents filled the room, making Sebastian wonder once more how the man before him was able to make satisfying pastries fit for demons. Despite this glorification, Sebastian noticed the way Felix's hands shook.
What kind of Staff Head would I be, He smirked, If I couldn't find the source of such a display?
Often, he wouldn't hesitate to force the answer out of the servant, but since Felix was a special case…
Xxxcxxxcccxxxxcccxxxxx
Sebastian brushed invisible dust from his shoulders as he landed once more in front of the looming red gate before him. The only difference being that the bizarre insect didn't come to greet him. Cautiously, he took a step forward towards the gate.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you Demon of Phantomhive." An eerily familiar voice giggled.
The demon spun towards the sound to find Felix's spinning image leisurely hanging from a tree that Sebastian had not seen upon his entrance. Nothing was permanent it seemed; besides the gate and the being before him. Sebastian composed himself before approaching the shadow of the man he'd consumed himself with as of late.
"If you were me," Sebastian smirked, "I think you would understand my curiosity."
The shadow scoffed and released the branch to face the demon head on. His red hair hadn't grown a millimeter since the last time Sebastian decided to peer into Felix's soul, and his eyes hadn't lost their mesmerizing golden hue that was usually held back in the form of Sebastian's amusing new servant.
"Don't get cheeky demon."
Sebastian didn't hesitate to dash at the unknown creature and grasp his throat. He was hardly surprised when those eyes didn't blink as the redhead leapt back up into the tree gracefully. His feet landed with the keenness of a wild cat. The demon butler didn't blink before following suit and aiming to tackle the beast to the ground.
"Ha. Nice reflexes." The Shadow chuckled and swung beneath the demon.
He didn't expect his arm to be caught in the iron grasp of Sebastian's hand. The feline-like man hissed and tried to wrench his arm from the butler. Sebastian's triumphant gaze leered down at his capture.
"Thank you." Sebastian chuckled, "I could almost say the same for you. Almost."
It was then that the golden-eyed beast leapt up, his body arching in a way that seemed almost painful, so that he was now on top of Sebastian with his hands dug deep into the neck of the demon. Sebastian's smirk didn't fade.
"My my," He narrowed his eyes, "Testy are we?"
"Shut up you vile demon." The beast hissed, "I don't need to be insulted by someone who doesn't even know his reason for coming here."
Sebastian gripped the man's wrists to hold him in his position, once again turning the tables. He flipped them over so that he was on top. He held the beast underneath him with his wrists locked in Sebastian's grip above his head.
"Ah, but I do have a reason." Sebastian stated, "Your host is having some bizarre incidents at the moment, and seeing as you are two sides of the same coin-"
"You're a fool." The beast hissed, struggling against the demon's clutches, "We are not two different people; I am him, and he is I. The question is as it has always been: Which have you come to save, Felix or Cain?"
Sebastian frowned and tightened his grip, causing the shadow to wince in pain. The sight was actually quite satisfying for the demon so he did it once more, if only to see Felix's face scrunch with an emotion other than fear.
"…and, again, I ask which is which?"
"That's up for you to decide, however," The man replied, "…the reason for my discomfort could be from the fact that the gate has mysteriously unlocked…"
Sebastian's eyes traveled back up to the gate surprised that he hadn't noticed how it was slightly ajar. The beast below him laughed almost deliriously, making the demon's eyes snap back towards him.
"That which is seen cannot be unseen." He snickered, "That which is heard cannot be unheard, and that which is lost can never be forgotten. How cruel humanity truly is! That which one wants to disappear can only be locked away!"
With that the beast sank beneath the milky floor, leaving the demon alone once more as the screams of a child ripped him from the soul he currently decided to visit.
Xxcxxxcccxxxcxxxx
The final statement from the Shadow echoed through Sebastian's skull as he watched Felix prepare the tray of tea for Kurt. He noticed that the butler had prepared a calming jasmine tea flown in from Mongolia and pheasant 'pancakes' that had become a rather popular dish within the manor; one that Sebastian still hadn't gotten the recipe of. Well, not one identical to Felix's anyway.
"I feel that I should apologize for my masters actions," Sebastian stated cordially, "Though he may think otherwise, my lord is simply a child."
Felix looked up and offered a small smile, so unlike the crazed grin hidden within. He tugged off the apron and put his tailcoat back over his shoulders before grasping the tray with gloved hands.
"Funny how I could say the same thing about my charge as well."
"Yes, amusing indeed." Sebastian smirked and allowed Felix to pass through the doorway, but not without a leer that roused a trace of fear in those golden eyes.
For the first time since the beginning of his contract with Ciel, he began to feel desire of a different fashion for his crimson haired toy.
A/N: So you like? No-like? Feel free to review. If any of you like Harry Potter or Vampire Knight, I'm starting two new fanfictions. I'm not sure when I'll be uploading them, but it should be soon!