Gaining Favor

Months went by...Allen and Ciel worked hard to stand out. Scoring high in quizzes and tests, exemplary performances in their schooling, school activities...and Allen even impressed with his musical skills and various art skills. And yes, even patisserie skills.

Unlike Ciel, his skills are actually authentic to the point that he smells like baking ingredients when delivering what's requested of him.

They impressed a lot of boys in their dorms. But true to his role, Allen plays sick once in a while by consuming medicine Sebastian hides for him so if his dorm is ever searched, they would not find his 'trick' to playing sick, and spend his days in the Infirmary...and he gets well-wishers and admirers. And it was easier to 'court' him there until Violet or Cheslock comes to chase them out.

Needless to say, Cheslock was a frequent instant visitor checking on him every hour to chase them out on his sick days.

After five months however, his visitor looked steamed. 'Cheslock? You look like someone just pranked you to hell and back.' Allen greeted jokingly.

'Well, someone's disobeyed our rules.' said Cheslock. 'Ciel Phantomhive did and the Prefects are steamed about it.'

'Uh-oh...if all four prefects are steamed, what did he do?' Allen blinked owlishly.

'The Prefects were talking about how amazing the two of you are and wanted to meet you personally. And because you're sick, we skipped you, so he was told to come to the swan gazebo at 2 pm. But Phantomhive came two hours late!' Cheslock griped. 'Violet never shows in public he's mad but Greenhill, Midford and Bluer are scary when they're mad! And witnessing their tempers is nightmare-inducing so I'm a bit mad I have to deal with that kind of mood!'

'Wait...I've known Ciel for years because mother works with the Phantomhive Family and he deals with adults that he often forgets he's just my age or how to act like one. A professional businessman who earned great respect in the business world.' said Allen with a frown. 'And because he is the Head of the House, he is anything but irresponsible, especially not tardy because he frequently attends or meets people in his home.' at this, Cheslock paused to think. 'Who was it who told him to go to the Gazebo at 2 pm?'

'Redmond's fag, Cole. Why?' Cheslock asked him with a heavy stare.

'What if,' Allen emphasized. 'Cole told him differently?' he pointed out as Cheslock froze. 'Competition to be a Prefect Fag is crazy I hear because being a Prefect's Fag is an automatic passport to Prefect-hood by hereditary succession and being Prefect has a lot of perks they enjoy and you know better than I do in that field. Sabotage is a possibility. Cole must have felt his position is threatened when the Prefects sang praises about my cousin, so he sabotaged Ciel in the eyes of the P4, taking advantage of the rules and traditions of the school. Especially regarding punctuality. You should ask the people of the Sapphire House who witnessed Cole tell Ciel the time of the meeting. You said 2 pm but what if witnesses heard Cole say differently? That should be sufficient to clear Ciel.'

'Oh yeah...Phantomhive DID look shocked when everyone blew up at him.' Cheslock frowned. 'But Cole...ah!' he gasped as he remembered Cole's actions. 'Shit! I gotta tell Violet!' and he scampered out.

'You owe me for this, cousin-mine.' Allen sighed as he drank tea delivered to him by the assistant doctor, along with his afternoon tea snacks. 'Honestly, the boys here are more savage rivals than women in regards to hereditary positions and kissing up to superiors. I'm glad I'm a sick man and I don't have to deal with this...trifling rivalry. Freedom with no worries is the best thing in the world.' he sighed in a dreamy, blissful voice, causing the doctor and assistant doctor to sweatdrop.

xxx

Gregory Violet frowned at what his fag told him about Allen's thoughts of the matter given that he's known Ciel for years as his mother closely works with him when he came to check on the House's local flower and wrote a letter to Lawrence Bluer to investigate who witnessed the invitation conversation and asked Ciel's classmates.

They all said 4 pm, not 2 pm.

Needless to say, Cole got outed too quick and got a severe scolding from the P4 and Ciel got an apology from them.

Ciel and Allen knew this, is not over.

'I owe you for this one, Allen.' Ciel grunted crossly in the infirmary to visit him and he got permission because they ARE relatives. 'That bastard...I never knew he sabotaged me! He told me the wrong time!'

'That is to be expected, cousin-mine.' said Allen with a dark chuckle. 'Unlike you whose family title fell on your lap, you never faced the crazy competition that is family succession. The competition there is the same as here.' he said. 'You should see the Barnett children doing crazy things to curry uncle Reginald's favor to be his successor...mother finds them entertaining to watch.' he said with a dark smile.

'And you don't care about being on the top for once?' Ciel retorted snarkily while drinking tea.

'No. I like where I am and my job. Its much more fun and entertaining.' said Allen. 'And Uncle Reginald let me loose due to my case and our working relationship, so I'm free to do what I want and I'm not engaged to some materialistic chit. I can marry whoever I want regardless of social status as long as I don't embarrass the family name and woman in question has valuable abilities the family will be happy to have.' he chuckled. 'Be careful Ciel. I hear from my well-wishers and admirers that Cole is super-popular as he is the most handsome boy in school until I came along, out-shining him in beauty. He may have loyal followers who are enamoured and only answer to him and may pull a stunt as revenge. Be vigilant.' Ciel nodded as he stood up and put on his coat.

'Right...I'm heading for war.' Ciel growled. 'Keep your ears peeled.' and he left the infirmary.

'Good luck~ and have a friend walk you back. I'd love to but I'm still out of it.' Allen advised as the door shut. 'I wish I can watch the show in front-row seats but I'm stuck in bed. Darn.' he pouted in a huff childishly as a senior came in. 'Hello.' Allen greeted the senior who smirked and sat by his bedside, and held Allen's face in his hands.

'Hello to you too...Barnett.' the senior kissed Allen lustfully...and they started making out. Now that the employees are gone and it's past curfew, Allen's lover could have all the fun he wants. And since Allen is known to be a sick, inexperienced virgin, he lets them do all the work. He loves being cuddled and cared for.

A complex stemming from his dark past.

But for now, going all the way is impossible as Cheslock frequently checks on him so when his lover visits, they always have it quick.

xxx

'Huh?! You invited that sheltered prince to school?!' Allen gasped as he could just picture Ciel asking Soma for a top-secret job...and good lord knows Soma is too excitable...

'I have no choice, I need a spy for Scarlet Fox because I need eyes on Maurice Cole.' Ciel grumbled. 'That way, we can see his activities inside that extremely-guarded Dormitory. They even have guards I thought I walked into Buckingham Palace!'

Allen sweatdropped.

'I hope he can be very subtle.' said Allen wryly. 'Subtlety and delicacy is very important bright now, so play your cards and words well.' he advised. 'And I'd like to hear information updates.'

'Right. and I won't forget to hire you either.'

xxx

Two days later when Allen is back to school...

Allen walks around for his classes when he was told by his classmate that someone wants to see him outside the Violet Dormitory. "It's Ciel no doubt or one of Cole's Lackeys." he thought viciously. "I'm more than prepared assholes." and indeed, there's someone hidden in the bushes outside his dorm. But when the blurs came out, Allen easily and quickly subdued them with well-placed, knock-out moves.

He called for Cheslock.

'What are the members of Scarlet Fox doing outside Violet Wolf with items needed to capture a criminal?!' Cheslock exploded in Gregory's stead as the senior's brand of fury was tranquil fury. They were all in Gregory Violet's office.

'I suppose its revenge on me as well, Cheslock.' said Allen with a rather dissonant, serene sigh, but he looks rather pale. 'But they have gravely underestimated me and now they shall pay the price.'

'Who are you?!' one of the seniors demanded while tied in ropes. 'You're supposed to be a very weak flower!'

'Indeed I am...that's why I end my fights quick.' said Allen with a cold, dark gaze after breathing through an inhaler. 'For a noble of exceptionally high rank, you sure are grossly undereducated about your peers.' he tut-tutted. 'You see, my cousin is Ciel Phantomhive and my family, my side of the Barnett through my mother as her older sister is wife to Ciel's father, has close ties to Phantomhive and we protect Britain in the shadows under the command of her Majesty, Queen Victoria. Compared to criminals we usually face, you aren't even compared to the lowest thug in the underworld...you think you can ambush me outside our dorm and take me in numbers? Puh-leeze.' he said kindly, yet condescendingly. 'Now then, because we are at school, I can't usually employ interrogation tactics as by then you're dead.' The prefect, his fag and the captured Scarlet Fox members are horrified. 'So I shall...leave your fate to...my prefect and your house's prefect.'

With that, he fell ill again and threw up.

He did take a pill before calling Cheslock to help him round up the idiots.

'We will deal with this when all prefects are gathered.' said Gregory coldly. 'Take them to a holding room and keep watch. I will take Barnett to the Infirmary...again. I will decide what to do with them personally.'

xxx

Outside the hallways, Allen found himself on piggyback.

'...shouldn't your fag be doing the lifting?' Allen asked Gregory curiously.

'He would, but he's physically better in such scandalous matters.' said Gregory. 'By what you said earlier...then what are you and Phantomhive doing here, Barnett, if the two of you are working for the Queen in the shadows?' he asked him with a wary glance, not that the redhead would see it.

'Well, there's no work recently.' Allen chimed. 'So mother and Aunt Frances...Edward Midford's mother by the way...decided we should go to school and learn how to act our age. Mostly because Ciel could not handle Lizzy's antics too well...they're engaged yet he treats her like an adult scolding his kid when she gets too hyper. Not exactly a way fiancees should act, as for me, the only places I've ever been are our houses and carriages. So we are here to learn how to be proper adolescents.' he smiled. 'The Queen gave us some time off so we're here. She's nice to kids you know. And since Edward's here, he can keep an eye on us while we learn ahem, how to be proper kids.'

'I see.'

'So Violet...if there's an attack on me, there will be one on Ciel too by our little liar.' Allen warned him. 'I can't always help out. But for now, this should not come out OK?' he asked in a cheery child-like manner. 'You see, cousin-mine is rea~lly mad and angering him results in a humiliating retribution. He'll plan something for Cole and I want front-row seats!' he chimed excitedly. 'So keep those boys in the holding room for a bit while longer before cousin-mine comes up with a grandiose performance~!'

Indeed, Ciel's next that next day. However, Ciel had craftily planned a trap, inspired from Allen's tin-can-phone trick. Only, he used gramophones.

'You really love my gramophone trick, don't you?' Allen sweatdropped as he secured the wires for Ciel in appropriate, hiding places.

'Well, this is a necessary set-up for the P4 and their fags to hear from the Swan Gazebo.' said Ciel. 'I have to pay with 7 Ys for this as I took all this from the music room.' he swore with a twitch. 'I can't write for a few days for this!'

'Then have McMillan write for you. He's your friend isn't he?' Allen pointed out.

'That's not my style and I have my pride.' Ciel huffed. 'Now hide! He's coming!' Allen disappeared into the dark as Maurice Cole came.

'Why did you call me here?' Maurice asked him impatiently. 'I have to go to the Swan Gazebo.'

'I won't waste much of your time.' said Ciel snidely. 'I just want to make sure of something.' he said with a cold smile on his face. 'Cole, I'm pretty sure what your message for me the other day was wrong.'

'Why do you say so? You shouldn't blame other people.' said Cole coolly. Yes, he said that wrong on purpose and Ciel has no proof and his alibi is solid. And as a respected fag, who would believe anyone else over him?

'My friend asked our other classmates.' said Ciel, still with his smile. 'You know, you're the prettiest boy in school until my much-lovelier cousin came along. And seeing you in our dorm was something nobody wants to miss...and 18 people testified that they overheard you mistakenly say 4 pm well clearly as there were people other than us in the halls...behind you in fact.' Cole's composure slightly fell. 'No, I should not say 'mistakenly'. I should say...deliberately.' he said with a smirk.

'Tsk, you're just blatantly accusing me!' Cole huffed.

'Well then, how do you explain Johan Harcourt and four other people?' Ciel continued in his interrogation. Cole frowned.

'Huh?'

'Those five people before me also previously invited to the Swan Gazebo, all the ones that failed to show up also said you gave them the wrong information.' Ciel said stiffly. 'I have my cousin in the Violet Wolf to thank for this as thanks to him clearing up my name as he knows me better than dear ol' hothead brother-in-law of mine(at the Swan Gazebo, Herman Greenhill and Clayton HAD to keep quiet Edward's outburst but clamping his mouth hard with their hands), I started investigating you. And guess what? I also discovered that you also make other people do your job as a fag.'

'You have no proof of that, either.' said Cole snidely.

'Oh you bet I do.' Ciel chuckled like a predator. 'The school's fags all have rough hands or scarred hands due to the upperclassman's chores, with the scars coming from needles when they want a tear or loose button fixed. Yet your hands remained pearly-white and flawless despite years of work. My hands have yet to get rough though but I do have some scars myself.' he showed Cole some needle scars(he deliberately stabbed himself with needles). 'The data Redmond asked you to gather that normally needs four people great in Math to work on...polishing shoes...and even those snacks I see you carry to the Swan Gazebo...you're doing none of that. I asked my lovely cousin how long it takes to make a Souffle Glace and the other sweets you bring and you claim to make for Redmond. It takes hours way beyond fag time just the ingredient preparation alone and I hear that Scarlet Fox's dorm has a high-class chef and patissier and being a patissier himself, Allen told me how its done. I even asked him to ask Cheslock to watch and time him while making a Souffle Glace on a weekend and indeed, it took a very long time when they recorded it(Cheslock whispered, 'So that's what its for, for evidence!'). In short, you have the dorm prepare it for you in advance. All your skills are fake!' he roared while pointing rudely at him.

'Nice imagination but you have no evidence of that, either.' Cole snorted boredly. Ciel reached for his pockets and found torn and fixed flower cards.

'They're familiar aren't they?' Ciel purred, showing Cole the cards, causing him to gasp and lose his composure.

'T-that's!' Cole gasped. 'I told them to get rid of it!' he choked in horror as in his hiding place, Allen smirked and in the Swan Gazebo, the P4 and the fags were shocked. He finally cracked and Redmond was shocked. He didn't want to believe that his beautiful and capable fag was capable of such manipulative deeds and they were fooled for years.

'I see you recognize them.' said Ciel with a nasty smirk. 'Its the cards you give your entourage to do your job. The data Redmond requested. Shoe polishing. Ironing. The snacks you ask the chef to make. There's even a time and date requirement in your handwriting and I have lots more. Lucky I got them before the trash was collected.'

'What?!' Cole was unable to believe that Ciel would go that far, rummaging in trash in his status just for...trash! Allen on the other hand, knew Sebastian did the digging. He inwardly snickered.

'They were carefully ripped and gave me one hell of a headache patching them up.' Ciel sneered as he threw the cards on the floor. 'What will Redmond think if he knew of this? As a student of this prestigious school, shouldn't you be ashamed?' he demanded angrily. 'I will forget that you deceived us if you will be honest with Redmond. Fags should be...trustworthy brothers, right?' he asked shakily and Allen inwardly applauded his superb acting skills and he was sure their listeners are just as affected.

Cole's expression darkened.

'Sure...I'll tell him everything.' said Cole before his face was twisted in a scowl. 'Fuck that. As if!' he snapped his fingers and his entourage came, holding Ciel captive.

'Wha?!'

'I would've never come here unprepared!' Cole laughed cruelly as a young student handed him the cards for him to burn. 'O~K. No evidence~!' he then grabbed Ciel's tie and roughly pulled him close. 'Your attitude pisses me off. You're getting carried away just because the seniors fancy you!' he was then roughly pushed back to his followers as Cole continued to sneer. 'Using others is also a skill you know? I'm the most beautiful in school!'

'Hmph, Allen is still the fairest, you're just an ugly witch.' Ciel scoffed, causing Cole to growl.

'Keep talking when you forget what kind of situation you're in now, boy. And don't forget I have your pretty cousin too.' Cole sneered as Ciel gasped. 'I do have a lot of fans. You see, someone like you who is a born winner will never understand the feelings of a younger son who will never get anything.' he said coldly. 'Your life changes greatly if you can become a Prefect in school. Do you know how much I worked and flattered to get to where I am now?'

'I still believe that cheating your way has no value!' Ciel grunted. Cole took out sharp scissors from his coat.

'Your acting like a good little boy gets on my nerves!' Cole snarled as he savagely slashed Ciel's uniform. 'I'll become the next Prefect of Scarlet House! And Redmond will like me more than anyone else! I'm ALSO the MOST BEAUTIFUL HERE!' he then kicked Ciel hard, causing him to grunt loudly in pain. 'You're pretty stupid to come alone and invite me to such a deserted area.' Cole smirked, feeling his victory won. 'No one will come to save you now. Let's take some pictures...the kind that makes you wanna die from shame.' he chuckled. 'This is also the same fate your cousin is in and he is worse off than you. No doubt he is well-trained by now, a well-trained outlet for special needs...this, is what you get for crossing me.'

'Hooo?' Ciel laughed. 'You seriously think I came unprepared too? DO IT!' he barked as Allen came out, armed with Tonfas, startling Cole and his entourage.

'WHAT?!' Cole gasped as Allen delivered merciless beat-downs in just fifteen seconds.

'Really now...you seriously think I'll be defeated that easily by a few trained puppies? I'm sorely disappointed in you, Cole.' Allen said coldly. 'So those men I subdued outside our dorm is hired to catch and rape me eh?'

'How are you here?! And you're supposed to be a sickly frail boy and easy picking!' Cole sputtered in disbelief yet the supposedly sick boy, is a skilled martial artist fit for Green Lion House.

'Yes, but that does not mean I am defenseless, fool.' Allen sneered. 'As a support to my dear cousin, I am trained to be a fighter too, although my health really slows down progress that its annoying. I'm not even a quarter compared to Edward's level.' he sighed wearily. 'I am his eyes and ears, moron. Meaning, I am one of his agents.' he said with a menacing stare. 'Next time before you start a fight, know thy enemy. Idiot.' he said as to Cole's horror, Allen snapped his fingers and three of the Prefects and their fags showed up.

'Greenhill...Midford...Bluer, Clayton...even Violet and Cheslock?!' Cole whimpered weakly in horror as he gazed at those six faces that no longer recognize him as a peer. Instead, he saw six judgmental glares aimed at him.

'We've heard everything, Cole.' said Herman with a cold glare. 'Beginning with the fact that you're fake down to the last detail.'

'That can't be, we're far from the Swan Gazebo!' Cole cried panickingly. 'You can't hear my voice that far away!'

'Well, sound is transmitted not by loudness...but by vibrations.' said Ciel. 'As long as you can transmit the vibrations, in theory, the sound will go very far. The old tin-can-phone trick but given that we're in a high-class school...I can't use such trash, so I used gramophones...and metal wires tied to flat surfaces and the Gramophones are at the Swan Gazebo with the P4 hearing our conversation loud~ and clear.'

'NO WAAAY?!' Cole gasped in horror.

/I listened to everything./ Redmond finally spoke. And he wasn't too happy and sounded coldly disappointed.

'R-Red...mond...' Cole whimpered as his life...is over.

/Even if you betrayed my trust in you, I am ashamed of my inability to judge people./ he continued. /You disappoint me, Cole./ he said in an upset voice. /I hereby cancel our brotherly relationship!/

'NOOOOOOO!' Cole finally broke down on all fours, weeping. He was defeated with everything crashing down on him. However, Ciel was not done yet. He would deliver the final blow. He walked towards the disgraced fag and knelt before him in one knee, holding out a handkerchief.

'Cole...I'm sure that if you started behaving honestly...I'm sure you can eventually regain everyone's trust.' he said kindly.

'P-Phantomhive...'

'So I thought...' Ciel unfolded the handkerchief...to reveal some photos. 'I'd start by showing everybody your real face.' he said in barely-concealed glee as he has photos of Cole applying make-up. Cole was horrified. 'You should be proud for having great skills in make-up. And that, is why I called you a witch.'

'Well, I am the real beauty of the school now.' Allen sighed as he has a washcloth, and a bottle of water. He then wiped his face in it. 'See, unlike you...' he showed his face that has no change. 'I'm a real beauty, au natural.' he grinned impishly. That, was the final blow.

Herman then approached the two boys. 'You're such an active person.' he said, deeply impressed. 'I can see why Midford acknowledged you.'

'You two are very interesting.' said Gregory with a smile.

'You two have deeply impressed us all.' said Lawrence with sheer acknowledgment.

'O-oh my...we just did what's right, that's all!' Allen gasped weakly while looking ill again and leaned on Edward for support.

'You boys are pure and noble...and protect the traditions of this school.' said Clayton while Herman was messing their hair playfully. 'You two are model students of this school.'

'Um, thanks, but we need the hospital again.' Ciel sighed as Allen looked sick. Again.

He ruined the moment by running for the windows to puke.

'Again?! You just recovered two days ago!' Cheslock cried in alarm.

'Hey, I shouldn't stress so much, you know?' Allen choked weakly.

Needless to say the next day, Clayton took Ciel as his fag at a ceremony in the School Chapel. Cheslock also wanted Allen as his fag, but as he is too sickly, he would not get physically stressful jobs.

However, for bringing weapons(tonfas) to school, Allen was also punished with seven Ys by his Prefect.